I'm going to try and post as many chapters as I can tonight so that you can see a bit of an insight into where the story is going. I hope you like! xx
Chapter Two: Memory Lane
Ally's work was fairly casual, being a writer she could work from home and only occasionally had to go to her publishing house for business related matters. So when it came to Lily moving in she was there to help along with Alice, and Alice's fiancé Frank who was enlisted by Alice to help. They levitated most of the stuff into Lily's room, there were mainly just boxes of books and clothes to be put in as Lily had decided to leave the furniture with Alice and her new room was already furnished.
The only piece of furiniture she actually brought was an antique side table which she had inherited from her Grandma who Lily had always been close with. It had a delicate Lily design on the table top and Lily loved it and could never leave it behind. She hovered it to her bedside and told her friends where to leave the boxes they had helped her with. She would put all the stuff away herself. Then Ally started to cook, she said she wanted to welcome Lily in with a meal and of course invited Alice and Frank to join them. Lily was excited to be in her beautiful new apartment.
Months passed and Lily and Ally became very close and spent a lot of time together. They would go shopping and go out after work together. Alice would also come over a lot, Frank was an Auror and often had to work away so Alice would come over and see the girls and sometimes even stay.
Although the girls lived fairly muggle lives, all were muggle born and felt they should hold onto their roots, they still knew of the gathering trouble that was brewing in the wizarding world. Dark wizards were making trouble and people were getting hurt. Lily knew first hand of some of the attacks occuring as she had to care for them at the hospital. When the first death occured on September 8th the wizarding world was in uproar. An auror, Frederick Humblebee had gone to check a disturbence near a wizarding neighbourhood in Berkshire, he lived nearby and had foolishly gone alone. He had been discovered, dead, and without a scar by a muggle who was hiking through the area. After extensive memory remodification the muggle remembered nothing but the newspapers in the wizarding community got hold of the story and everyone was terrified. There were pictures circulating through the tabloids of the body with a hovering skulls with a snake through the mouth directly over it. A terrifying sight which in the wizarding world representing a dark time hundred years before in which dark wizard who was an infamed psychopath who previously had been in Slytherin and was obsessed with snakes. The man had claimed to be a "slytherin soldier" had tormented the wizarding world along with some followers until stopped by the ministrys order. Although this occured hundreds of years ago everyone knew the stories and panic was evident with a lot of people.
Lily, Ally and Alice all got word of the secret society formed by Dumbledore by chance. They had all gone to the bank Gringotts in diagon alley as they planned to buy some new robes for an up and coming ball at the ministy which Lily had some invites to. They happened to come across Dumbledore, Lily having been head girl in her last year of Hogwarts resepcted Dumbledore greatly and said hello. He seemed pleased to see the three girls.
"Its nice to see you all, I hope these years after Hogwarts are going well for you." He said with his usual glint in his eye.
"I'm a healer Prefessor, just like I always dreamed. But how are you sir. No doubt busy with all the trouble at the moment." Lily said. Dumbledore nodded gravely.
"It is indeed keeping mepreoccupied. But as you mention it I would like you to see me soon at Hogwarts. The three of you, I would like to invite you to a society I am starting." His voice went low as he said this last part. "But this is no place to speak of such things, just flew to my office when you are free and we will discuss it." He said. Then he smiled and disappeared with a goblin into the tunnels of Gringotts. The girls were all curious and confused at to what Dumbledore wanted to see them about but they did go see him that weekend and when they did they found out exactly what he meant.
They sat in his office in three chairs in front of his desk. He sat calmly across from them smiling. Ally fidgeted, she had sat there a hundred times it felt, she had often got into trouble back in her Hogwarts days. Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"I am delighted you have all come to visit me. However I cannot talk for long sadly, I am apparating to Paris this afternoon to see the French Minister of Magic." He said, he looked tired, but the glint in his eye was still there. The girls assumed he was tired from all the trouble occuring in the wizarding world. He was very high up in the world, a senior member of the wizarding high council he would no doubt have to be directly involved with the two killings this week of two muggles in the north of england which was a wizarding attack.
"Anyway on with business, I ask you here to offer you membership to a organisation called the order of the phoenix. I started the organisation some years ago with very close friends and acquaintances of mine. The purpose is to fight in this brewing war. Yes, a war." He said this as Alice had gasped in shock at his blunt use of the word war. "I offer you a place because you are all intelligent powerful women and the order could use people like you. We have around fifty members now and are growing all the time. We have meetings and try to find out what the ministry is doing about the war which they aren't telling us about. We have members in all professions, healers, aurors, shop keepers. Anyone loyal to the side of good are welcome. I hope you will consider joining. I can't promise it won't be dangerous so I will of course give you the option and won't judge you if you decide not to join."Dumbledore finished and looked to the girls to see their answers. He obviously had no time to give them to think about it. It was now or never.
"I'm in sir. Anything I can do to help I will." Lily said immediately showing no sign of fear or apprehension.
"Me too," Alice said, "I think Frank is already a member, as he sometimes goes to meetings that he can't tell me about. And there's no way I am letting that goon get into trouble without me." Alice said smiling at the thought of the man she was in love with.
"I can reveal that yes Frank is a member, but obviously a highly secret one, being an auror and being a member of this order puts his job at risk. So he risks everything to help me and this cause which I highly appreciate as I do with each member." Dumbledore said.
"I am in. Though I don't know what use I will be. I am just a writer." Ally said slightly self consciously.
"I think we both know you are more useful than just a writer miss Gladstone." Dumbledore said mysteriously making the other two girls curious as to what he meant. But he said nothing else apart from a polite goodbye then the girls left to their apartment.
The day was a Saturday and they had little time as to think what they had just gotten themselves into. They had the ball they had bought their dresses and robes for earlier in the week and they had to get ready. They all got ready at Ally and Lily's apartment and Frank was going to come for them later and escort them all later. Ally and Lily didn't have dates because they decided to go with each other. They laughed and declared they didn't need men when they had each other, but they both new that they needed to date, but both had reason to be apprehensive.
Lily and Ally had both gone to Hogwarts, Lily was a year younger than Ally however and had never come into contact through their years. Lily had very fond memories of Hogwarts, she always brought it up with Ally but Ally rarely wanted to carry on the topic. To Lily it was strange but she never pushed it. She once brought up a boy who had tormented Lily for a few years by asking her out and teasing her constantly, by the name of James Potter, The mention of the name made Ally freeze.
"Do you still talk to James?" Ally asked.
"No, I haven't seen him since he graduated. Did you know him?" Lily asked curiously.
"Yes, I did. But not anymore. He was in my year, he was friends with... it was a long time ago. No need to dwell on those things right? Our appointments a Madame Renalto is in half an hour, want to apparate to Diagon alley and have a quick coffee before we go in." Ally said anxiously obviously keen to get off the subject.
"Yeah sure. I can't wait for tonight, the balls going to be awesome. I heard its the grandest event the ministry hold all year." Lily said. They headed off out the door apparated to Diagon alley and got some drinks before their appointments.
Madame Renalto was a fairly elderly french lady who owned a witches salon. It was famed for its amazing treatments. Madame was a lady who always had her distinguished silver hair in a smart style and her appearance was always perfect. She held herself with grace and always smiled politely at everyone. The girls greeted her with a kiss on both cheeks and smiled back.
"How have you been madame?" Lily asked politely.
"Tres bon, as always my lovely. You are both looking lovely, what could I possibly do for you to make you shine ever more?" She asked.
"Hair, skin and make up today please. So facials first please madame." Ally said. They process was basically a thick potion of secret ingredients smeared on their face, Lily was always suspicious of it as it smelt like a farmyard but it made her skin feel amazing so she didn't question it too much. A couple of hours later they exited the salon with their make up done and their hair in new style. Lily's long red hair was in a delicate up style with a few loose curls coming down and Ally had her hair down and in gentle curls with a bit of hair at the first pulled back into a pretty butterfly clip. They were running a bit late so they quickly rushed home and put their dresses on. Lily's was a emerald floor length dress, it was a delicate silk and it was completely backless but was fairly high at the front and was very sexy without showing too much flesh. Ally's was black and was strapless and fell to the floor with grace and was simple with a slight train at the back. It was simple but she looked gorgeous. They both apparated quickly to the location the ball was at then shrunk their wands and put them in their small clutch purses that matches their dresses. The ball room was at a house in the country, it was like out of a Jane Austin book, high columns at the front and a lawn that spread a a few acres with a lake at the end with swans gliding through it. It was a truly idillic setting. The girls walked up the front stairs and through the open doors a butler took their silks wraps and directed them forward to the ball room. They walked into the room and held their breathe, the room was gorgeous, they looked down from the majestic staircase. The room was already filled with many people, some they recognised but a lot they didn't. They began walking down the stairs and were immediately were ushered over by Alice and Frank, Alice looking lovely in a scarlet dress and Frank in a smart tux. Alice was pleased to see them and they went to find a table to sit at whilst Frank said he would go chat to some friends of his. He disappeared and the girls got some punch and sat and chatted about who was there and how lovely the place was.
"I heard it belongs to one of the head aurors and that the ministry have always held the ball here. I don't know who it is though, someone very rich no doubt." Alice said.
"Definitely, and whoever it is do they have a single son for me?" Lily said giggling.
"Here's hoping. Have you seen anyone interesting tonight Alice?" Ally asked.
"Well I was surprised to see the Malfoys here, and the Avery's. I suppose they are high up in the ministry circles, but still its odd to thinks of mixing with the slytherin set, at school they were always vile to us all." Alice said and the other two nodded. They could see the slimey character of Lucius Malfoy smirking at something Bellatrix Black was telling him quietly and they shivered, Lucius had that effect on people. He was more than a little creepy.
"So we need to find the owners of this palace so we can find you that son Lily." Ally said standing up. "Lets mingle a bit, come on girls." They all stood just as Frank came over.
"No need girls I have brought him to you, the heir to this place and old friend of mine, this is James Potter," Frank said. Ally immediately swallowed and felt she was going to throw up.
"Nice to meet..." The man so named James Potter stopped.
"Lily?" Then he turned, "Ally?" The shock on his face clear. He immediately turned and revealed his friend.
"Hello Ally," He said.
"Sirius," Ally said darkly, right before grabbing her purse and darting away in the direction of the ladies room. James coughed and pretended to not notice Ally's quick exit.
"Lily, lovely to see you." James said smiling charmingly. Lily only groaned inside. The pain in her arse from school just happens to own this place.
"James, it's been a while. What have you done with your time? I mean without me to torment you must have been ever so bored." Lily said dryly. James just smirked.
"It has been a while Lilykins, but have no fear I have matured immensely from those days of silliness and pranks." James said. At this a snort came from behind James. A tall man with sandy blonde hair was the culprit.
"And who are you spinning that little lie to Prongs?" The man said.
"Remus, are you insinuating that I am lying?" James said pressing a hand to his heart.
"Remus!" Lily said smiling, she hadn't seen him since school either and she had always liked him. She went over and kissed him on the cheek.
"Lily Evans, if possible you are even more beautiful than when we were at school." Remus was always a polite boy and obviously nothing had changed. Lily smiled and blushed a little. James coughed annoyed that he had not said something as witty. Sirius stood behind him, no one noticed him walk slowly away with a sombre look on his face.
"Lily would you like to dance?" James asked smiling.
"Um..." Lily said trying to think of a good excuse, "Fine. But keep your hands to yourself Potter, I remember how you dance." Referring to once dance they had in James last year when Lily finally gave in and danced with him at his final ball and he took it upoin himself to grope her more than dance with her.
"Don't worry I will be a perfect gentleman," he said bowing slightly and offering her his hand. They departed to the dance floor leaving Remus with Alice and Frank.
"That was an odd reunion." Alice commented.
"Well certain history is hard to bring up." Remus said.
"What do you mean?" Alice asked. She had not been in their year but the year below like Lily.
"Just Ally and Sirius... they have a past is all. What about James and Lily though right? He had the biggest crush on her at school." Remus said.
"Yeah I remember. Snape had the result of his anger whenever she refused him a date from what I remember. It was a long time ago. I am sure he feels differently now. I don't know about Lily though, she holds a good grudge." Alice said.
"I suppose. But looks at them. They look good together don't they..." Remus said at the gorgeous couple circling in the dancefloor.
"When did you learn to dance?" Lily asked teasingly.
"I never couldn't dance. My mother taught me a long time ago." He said smiling turning Lily gracefully on the floor her dress swishing elegantly at they did.
"You look gorgeous tonight Lily. Its been so long since I have seen you." James said smiling.
"Yeah last time I saw you, you were boarding the train and leaving Hogwarts. Why did you leave early? You left a week and half before the other seventh years." Lily asked curiously. James frowned.
"I... my..." He cleared his throat and smiled gently. "My mother had become ill and I was needed at home. She died the last week of Hogwarts." Lily gasped.
"Oh James I am so sorry." Lily said.
"Its okay, it was years ago now. I know she watches down on me and it comforts me enough to get me through the days without sadness." James said, Lily sniffed trying to not cry at James' words.
"That was lovely James, I wish I had had the strength to think like you when my mother died." Lily said. Her own tragic tale was similar to James' only that her mother was taken suddenly in a car accident when she was ten years old. Her own grief was carried with her every day though less now that she was older.
"Lily, let's not talk of these sad things. I bet our mothers are watching annoyed wondering why we are not just enjoying this dance instead of thinking of them." James said smiling. "At least my mother would be, especially as she knew of the treacherous crush I had on you at school." He carried on chuckling.
"Treacherous? Was it really?" Lily asked trying to not show any emotion.
"For me yes." James said smiling and stopping as the song they were dancing to ended they moved to leave the dance floor Lily with her hand on James' arm.
"Well don't get a big head but you seemed to have grown up nicely James," Lily said smiling. James just smirked.
"Well seeing as you found out I am the heir to this place I bet you think so," James said arrogantly. Lily frowned then went red.
"And here's when the old James shows his face. I think I will go back to my friends now," Lily said dropping his arm and going over to Alice. James cursed himself and went over to speak to some guests he had not yet greeted whilst mentally kicking himself repeatedly.
Whilst Lily and James' dance occurred Ally patted her face with a tissue trying to calm down and take a deep breath. She hadn't seen him in around five years. She could handle this. She had moved on. Though having the man who broke your heart walk into the room unexpectantly had caught her off guard. That was it. She would be fine. At least that's what she told herself, but yet a sob still was caught in the back of her throat and she breathed deeply to stop herself crying just at the sight of Sirius. That is until she saw him in the reflection of the bathroom mirror looking at her. He looked dashing in a classic black tux. His piercing gray eyes looked at her sorrowfully.
"Hey Al." He said quietly, he had always called her Al when he knew he was in trouble, she winced at the memories that came flooding back when he called her that. She turned around and looked at him, lost for words. She just stood for a second.
"Hello Sirius, it's been a while." She said sharply turning and pulling out her ruby lipstick and with a shaking hand she applied a bit to her lips.
"How have you been Ally?" He asked with his hands in his pockets tapping his foot.
"Great, I've been great. Ever since Hogwarts life couldn't be better." She said a little sharply, she stopped applying lipstick and put her hands on the sides of the sink to steady herself for a second. He stepped forward.
"Ally, it's been years. Can you not forgive me?" He asked looking so sad; she could hardly look at him because the old feeling flooded back.
"I'm sorry Sirius. But when I said I would never forgive you I meant it." Then she grabbed her purse an exited the bathroom leaving Sirius alone. Ally entered the hall again and went straight over to her friends table and sat down smiling and pretending she was fine. Lily looked over to her.
"Are you okay?" Lily mouthed. Ally just nodding smiling and mouthed back, "Yeah of course," and tried to smile as convincingly as possible.
The night carried on and just after Lily had enjoyed a nice dance with Remus she returned to the table to find a man chatting with Ally, they seemed to be getting on well as Ally was laughing at whatever the man was saying. Lily looked over to a nearby table and Sirius and James were chatting quietly but Sirius' eyes were only on Ally the whole time.
"Oh Lily, come meet Tom," she said smiling, "he's a ministry worker in the department of sports and games." Tom stood and smiled at Lily whilst shaking her hand.
"Pleasure to meet you Lily, Ally has just been telling me how she favours the Glastonbury Gladiators in quiddich even though they are bottom of the league." He said chuckling.
"What can I say? I have always been a fan on the underdog. I also come from near there so I have a soft spot for them. But don't get me wrong, the bombers are my number one team." Ally said smiling.
"Hey me too. Are you going to the final tomorrow?" Tom asked. Ally just laughed.
"Like I am going to get a ticket!" She said. Tom just smiled.
Tom was tall with soft brown hair and a good physique. He had a kind face and Lily deemed him worthy of her friend. He offered her a dance and she smiled and went with him onto the floor. Lily sat down to rest her feet and immediately a few men came up to chat with her but she smiled and said politely no that her feet were sore but that maybe later she would dance again. Obviously she and Ally were the hit of the ball.
Lily sat and chatted with a few people she knew when James Potter came over again and coughed gently to alert her to his presence, she stopped chatting and looked up at him.
"Yes?" She said blandly.
"My father asked to be introduced to the prettiest girl at the ball." James said smiling slightly. A man stood behind James of around mid-fifties and he was obviously James' father. The same face, the same charming smile. He even had the annoyingly messy hair. Though not quite as bad as James. Lily stood and went over to shake the man's hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you sir. Your house is beautiful." Lily said politely.
"I am glad you think so Miss Evans. My son used to mention you frequently in his Hogwarts years and when he mentioned you were here I was compelled to meet the young girl that captured my sons young heart so many years ago." Lily and James both blushed at this. Mr Potter just laughed.
"Miss Evans would you grace this old man with a dance?." He offered.
"Of course," Lily then took his hand and they went to the dance floor. It became clear that it was in the family genes to dance well as Mr Potter was very graceful. Lily liked Mr Potter already, he reminded her of her own father. Stern on first appearances, but actually an obviously kind hearted man deep down. He chatted casually about what her occupation was and so on. Once the dance ended she smiled graciously at him as he led her back to her friends.
"Thank you my dear that was delightful. What a treat for me to dance with the most beautiful girl here. I just hope my stupid son doesn't say something stupid to ruin his chances with you again..." Lily looked at him strangely at that comment and was about to correct him when he suddenly turned and greeted a couple standing nearby, he looked over at her whilst chatting and winked cheekily at her and she looked frustrated. She hadn't had the chance to say she had no interest in James. But she ignored her frustration and talked to Alice.
"Where's Ally?" Lily asked.
"She's dancing with every available man," Alice said pointing a finger at the dance floor where she was being turned around by a tall and extremely dashing gentleman with olive skin and a charming smile. "That's the fifth one she's danced with. I think she's trying to prove a point to someone." She said directing her gaze to a sullen Sirius Black.
"What's the history with them Alice?" Lily asked curiously.
"Well Frank filled me in on most of it. Sirius and her were dating right before they left Hogwarts, like really seriously. But then she caught him cheating on her big time with her best friend at the time. I mean really caught them; they were right in the act. She never forgave him and they both left Hogwarts broken hearted. I never asked her about it but when Frank realised it was her you were living with he filled me in. I think she's still hurting over the whole situation, and I think he still has some feelings." Alice said.
"That's pretty tough; I can't say I have ever heard her mention a serious relationship. But I am getting the feeling her seeing him tonight has sparked some revenge in her." Lily said as she looked at her friend giggle and strokes the arm of the man she was dancing with.
The ball carried on, Lily shared dances amongst a few men, a few with Remus, another with Mr Potter, one with Frank, and a couple with men she didn't know who asked her. One asked for her number and the possibility of a date and she gave him her number but did not hold her breathe for his call. Ally carried on her mission to dance with every man there, and Lily and Ally both drank as much punch as they were given. Therefore as the night ended they both sat tired, and tipsy, and were eventually ready to apparate home. They stood with their shoes in their hands and swirled their wands to take them home. All that happened was a little fizzing sound and a pop but they did not appear outside their front door. Instead they were exactly where they were sitting.
"Why isn't it working?" Ally asked.
"I don't know," Lily said trying again.
"I can answer that, you have had a few too many glasses of the famous Potter punch I believe and the apparation barrier I placed on the house is not allowing you to go home." Mr Potter said.
"But I'm not even drunk," Ally said indignantly trying to put her left shoe on her right foot.
"Boys, will you help the ladies upstairs, I am sure you can find somewhere to put them. I insist you stay here for the night, and then return home tomorrow." He said smiling nicely obviously not caring of their cheekily drunken states.
"But Mr Potter, we're inposing," Lily said hiccuping and standing. She tripped a little and just fell into someone's arms.
"Woops," Ally said giggling and Lily started giggling as well.
"Woops indeed, let's get you to spare rooms." James said who was the someone who Lily had fallen into. She realised and tried to push him off her but her balance demanded help and he rested hands around her waist and helped her up the main stairs and towards the west wing of the mansion. Ally stumbled after them, twirling to the song that was stuck in her head before she stumbled as well a little and fell into Sirius who had been standing by watching. She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed.
"You still smell like... like, I don't know. You just smell like Sirius." Ally said. Sirius just looked down at the beautiful girl he had once lost and smiled a little. He guided her up after James and Lily. Lily was still trying to push James off but finally gave up and huffily sat down on the stairs. Luckily everyone had left so no one was around to see her. She leaned her head against the railing of the banister and sleepily hiccupped away. James simply scooped her up princess style and took her more tired and willing form to a spare bedroom.
Sirius took Ally to the only room he knew was spare that night as a lot of guests who were close friends of the Potters were staying over so he laid her on the bed and pulled some covers over her. She began to slip her dress off leaving her in some very sexy underwear; he didn't blink though, just ignored it and just tucked her back into bed and hung up her dress. He kissed her forehead and stroked her hair then put a blanket down on the floor after all, she was sleeping in his bed and he had to have somewhere to sleep. He took off his trousers and shirt leaving himself in his boxers. Right before he turned the light out he whispered,
"I still love you Al', I won't give up on you." Then the light clicked off and they both went off to sleep.
James and Lily were having more of a struggle getting to sleep. Seeing as Lily had awoken from her sleep in James' arms and was now jumping up and down on his bed.
"Lily get down! You need sleep." James said laughing at her crazy antics, she had been famously uptight at school and this side of her was hilarious.
"I am the queen of the bed, the queen!" She laughed out.
"Yes you are the queen," James said sitting on the side and pulling of his shiny black shoes as they had began to rub. Lily jumped down and sat on the bed, she lay back and sighed.
"Lie next to me James," Lily said smiling over to him. After kicking his shoes off he took his place lying next to her looking at the ceiling. She too looking at the ceiling and then suddenly sat up and looked over James. He looked up at her and smiled.
"Hey," he said smiling up at the most beautiful girl he had ever seen apart from his mother.
"Hi," She said getting to her knees next to him then leaning in and kissing him gently on the lips. His immediate reaction was to put his hands on her hips and draw her to straddle him and continue the kiss, but he quite soon into the kiss he rested his hands instead on her shoulders and pushed her gently off, she just smiled at him then lay back.
"I always wondered if you were a good kisser," she said closing her eyes and smiling dreamily.
"And am I?" James asked but already she was breathing heavily and obviously asleep, he simply put a blanket over her and slept in his clothes next to her, barely able to sleep after the most mind blowing kiss of his life. Thoughts kept running through his head though, like "Idiot! Why did you stop her?" But he knew that was the seventeen year old boy in him that would have actually sold his right and left kidney for one snog with Lily Evans five years ago. But now he knew he had done the right thing, getting the kiss he had always wanted, even now, with a drunken Lily was not how the fairytale ended. Eventually through all his muddled thoughts his eyes began to close and eventually he drifted into a deep sleep only to be awoken by a slight tickling on his neck. He moved his face and tried to get the tickling to stop, but when he realised it was long hair that was doing the tickling he opened his bleary eyes to see a mass of titian hair right up in his face he knew the night before was hardly the dream he thought it was.