Author's Note: Wow it feels like forever since my last update. Oh well. I've gotten very far with more chapters, so you guys don't have to worry about any delays in the future month or so. This chapter's not too funny... It's mostly romance and stuff, I guess... This chapter has been betad, by the way! Here are review responses for all reviews posted after 1-17-2007:
marauders rox, Cristipotter, blueholly, kluvhp, SouthernWitch13, rohosluvsrolos, Truth in the Moon, hp'sginny, MyMuSiC, 1Malone, Isolde Eris, PotterSnitch7 - Thank you! -huggles- It's actually not Petunia. Hehe! I hope I update soon enough. Thank you so much for the review!
HedwigandHermes7- I checked out your fanfictions, and I thought your newest oneshot was so great. I was in tears. Thanks for the review!
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Disclaimer: Me? Own Harry Potter? What have you been smoking, kid?
Chapter Nine: Jealous Friends, Tickling, and Homicide
There, in all her glory… If she had any… stood Arielle McKinnon.
I hate that girl.
"Arielle…" Lily began quietly, removing her arms from around me.
Arielle shook her head and stepped closer, "I can't believe you. I mean Potter…. Of all people…"
Yeah… Sure, it's not like I'm here listening…
Lily frowned and stood up herself, her Santa hat tipping off to a side, "So what if I was hugging James? What's so bad about it, huh?"
Arielle seemed to falter and looked a little deflated, "You… You just said you'd hate him forever."
Lily let out a mirthless laughter, throwing her head back, "Oh, you know I know that's not it."
Wow, girls are creepy. Well except for Lily. Wait, maybe she is. Why am I thinking that?
"Then what is it?" Arielle shot back, stepping forward even closer, and eyes still piercing Lily.
I stepped forward, too, unable to control myself, "If you're going to do something stupid, warn me so I don't miss it," I said to Arielle, glaring hard at her. I smirked in satisfaction as she went red, realizing I still remembered that very embarrassing moment she had last May involving turnips, some pink hair, and a very restless toddler.
But then again, that was pointless to say, because even if I miss her doing something stupid today, she'll do something just as stupid tomorrow.
"James, stay out of this," Lily muttered, pushing me onto the couch.
SQUEEE! SHE TOUCHED ME!
I really have been hanging around with Peter too long.
"I know for a fact that you only became my friend so you could make James sound like a totally horrible guy to me so I wouldn't go out with him," Lily continued.
Wait. I don't get it. Huh?
"Why didn't Arielle want you to go out with me?" I asked numbly.
Arielle stepped back, defeated and Lily smirked, "She wanted you all to herself."
Wait, hold on a second…
Did she just say Arielle wanted me? Not that I can blame her, but excuse my ill-mannered, yet very necessary comment of 'that is the most disgusting thought imaginable'.
"That – That –" Arielle stuttered.
Lily laughed again, shaking her head, "For your information, James and I are just friends, and that's all we'll ever be." She then took my hand and pulled me up, and dragged me out of the living room.
But I was feeling empty. So empty that it scared me. Just friends, she had said. That's all we'll ever be.
She continued pulling me until we arrived in front of a nicely-sized fireplace in a nearby room and she whirled around to face me.
The flames were our only source of light and Lily's porcelain skin and saddened face was barely visible. Still, in the faded light, I could see tears welled up in her eyes yet again.
What is it with girls and crying? You would have thought we'd all have drowned by now by all the tears they've cried.
"Can you Apparate?" She asked softly, taking my hand into hers. I felt my stomach flip-flop and nodded.
"Good," she continued, "Do you think we could go somewhere else for a while? Just for a little while?"
I nodded numbly, "Of course, Lils."
"Thanks," she paused, "Arielle and I don't normally snap at each other so easily. It's just that I've been really upset about mum and dad and I guess I just had to take out on someone."
"You could have taken it out on me," I said quietly, gazing at her solemnly.
After all, she had hated me less than an hour ago.
Lily let out a small chuckle, "I could've but I couldn't."
And they all call me stupid. How could I not be stupid with answers like that in the world?
"James, do you know how there are certain people – Like your Marauders, for example – Who you just know will forgive you no matter what you do? Before today, I wouldn't have cared if you forgave me or not, but now that we're friends, I don't want to just throw us away like that."
I wanted to be one of those people for her. A lot.
I smirked, unable to control myself, "There's no getting rid of me now, baby."
Lily rolled her eyes and gave me a small, playful shove, "Come on, let's go. I can't Apparate yet, so you'll have to try side-by-side."
I quirked my eyebrow. The amazing Lily Evans couldn't even apparate? No wonder the world's going to the dogs. No, wait, no wonder the world's going to the Siriuses. Deciding not to press the matter, since I am such a mature and sexy gentleman, I slipped a hand around her waist, took a second to get the fact that my arm was around Lily Evans, did a few breathing exercises so I didn't pass out, and disapparated from the spot.
I opened my eyes and looked around. Darn it, I missed.
Lily opened her eyes a few seconds, took a few steps forward, and looked around in the darkness. "James, exactly where are we?"
"I was aiming for my house, but I think I missed by a few miles," I muttered, running a hand through my hair.
Lily's eyes widened, "Do you know where we are?"
"Yes, this is still our land, just not where my house is," I said distractedly. I smirked as I saw Lily's mouth drop open in surprise.
I can impress babes without even trying. Do you see why I have at least half of the female population in the palm of my hand?
I began walking towards my house, the only source of light being the half-moon in the sky, and Lily followed, smiling.
"So, you never mentioned Arielle was staying with you," I said quietly, pulling a snitch which had been tucked deep in my pocket out. I let it escape and caught it again, because I just rock at that. Even though it was pitch dark. Do stags have night vision?
"She is. It was sort of last minute," Lily responded, giving my snitch a disapproving look.
I grinned and pretended not to notice, "Any other visitors you wanna tell me about?"
"Well, my elder sister Petunia is staying at our house, but she's out with her boyfriend tonight," Lily said slowly, trying her best to ignore my little catch game.
"I see. Nice to have siblings, isn't? I'm an only child," I said, trying to keep the conversation going. Of course, I counted Sirius as my brother, but I didn't really want to say that so she wouldn't get all annoyed.
You see, I don't think she's very fond of Sirius.
"It's not that exciting. We argue about everything, although I've never done anything to upset her too much," she replied.
I laughed and tossed the snitch. It fluttered right in front of Lily's face and suddenly it was gone. I blinked.
Wow, now I'm a delusional loser. Scratch that, I'm a popular delusional loser. What else could a guy want?
I then looked over at Lily, who was smiling, and down at her hand. There, clasped in her small hand was a fluttering, almost defeated looking snitch. I frowned.
"Hope you're wearing your running shoes today, Evans, because no one catches James Potter's snitch," I said slowly.
Lily gave me a playful look, "Looks like I just did."
I laughed and lunged towards her. She shrieked and took off running. I smirked and pursued her, right at her heel. I let her run for a few minutes until she collapsed on the ground, panting. I kneeled down next to her and held out my hand, "Hand it over."
Lily giggled, "Never!"
Can you believe that one year ago, she would have given me a solid kick for even saying two words to her?
I smirked and began tickling her. She burst out laughing, squealing, and squirming.
"Stop it," She sobbed between gasps of breath, "That's cheating!"
"I didn't know we had made up rules," I replied, grinning broadly.
I tickled her for a few more seconds when she suddenly froze and turned pale. I pulled away, shocked.
"Lily?" I asked nervously.
She pulled herself up, staring blankly ahead, "James," she whispered.
I blinked, "What?"
"Turn around," she replied softly, still looking extremely fearful.
I slowly turned around, bracing myself. But not even I could have been prepared for what I saw.
There stood my house, still standing tall. But it was the thing above it which I staring at. Right above my house, was a large, foggy, green skull with a snake in place of a mouth, replacing its tongue, illuminating the dark sky.
No. No. No. This can't be happening.
"Why?" I whispered hoarsely to no one in particular.
"James, don't go inside," Lily directed fearfully.
And then, for the first time in my whole entire life, I ignored Lily Evans. I stood up shakily on my feet and began walking numbly towards the house.
Sirius and Mum… It was Christmas Eve… I couldn't live without either… My brother and my Mum. Why me?
The very thought of either of them being dead made me run. I ran as fast as I could. Nothing could stop me. I didn't care if there were any bloody death eaters in my house.
I threw open the front door and looked around. There were no signs of struggle. The only difference was the fact that the lights were out. I closed my eyes, inhaling so I didn't collapse in fear.
Then, from the kitchen, I heard a loud sob. It was Sirius.
I felt half of the heavy weight lift off my chest. Sirius was okay.
I took off running towards the kitchen, "Sirius!" I called, my voice still quiet and hoarse. The only response I got was another sob.
I raced into the kitchen and looked forward, an overwhelming, shocking sight in front of me.
Mum was dead.
I stared at her wide eyed, fear in me burning like an untamable flame. She lay on the floor, lifeless eyes like saucers, mouth shaped like an 'o', and arms twisted in an awkward way.
"James?" Sirius croaked, looking up at me. He had been kneeling down next to her, face buried in his hands. His eyes were bloodshot from crying.
I didn't reply. I couldn't anything; I couldn't cry, talk, or move.
"James," Sirius repeated. He slowly pulled himself up, sobbed again, and pulled me into a hug.
I simply stood there, both in shock and denial.
We may have stayed in that position for hours – Sirius crying softly, me frozen, when I finally felt a hand on my shoulder.
I slowly turned around to see a fearful looking Lily, concern filling her eyes, "James, what happened?"
I didn't reply. I could only stare at her.
"James, we have to talk about what happened," Lily said quietly.
I closed my eyes and hung my head.
» ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♥ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ «
"Are you sure that's all?" Cornelius Fudge, head of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad asked Sirius patiently, many Aurors scribbling in little notebooks behind him.
Sirius gritted his teeth, "Yes, for Merlin's sake! She just collapsed on the floor while cleaning the dishes. I've said that only fourteen times!"
I sat on a couch in the living room, my head in my hands. Sirius was sitting in an armchair, glaring up at the many people who were questioning him.
Cornelius shook his head and pulled off his lime green bowler hat, "That makes no sense, boy. People don't just collapse on the floor from dragon pox. And that's no explanation for the dark mark over the house." He began twirling bowler hat, causing me to twitch.
"I KNOW, GOD DAMNIT! I KNOW JUST AS MUCH AS YOU AND YOUR BLOODY LAP CATS! SO LEAVE ME ALONE!" Sirius yelled.
We stared at him in alarm.
"Lap cats?" Someone finally asked after a few minutes, breaking the silence.
"Move onto the other boy," Fudge directed wearily, bowling hat twirling away. The whole entourage turned to face me, quills ready to write. I buried my face in my hands, overwhelmed.
Fudge looked down at some parchment, "So, you're James Charlus Potter, eh?"
I didn't respond, just merely nodded my head, still not revealing my face.
"The son of Dorea Potter, who was the target of this attack. Interesting, very interesting." He looked up at me, "So, where have you been, James?"
"I was at a friend's house," I mumbled. I heard the quills begin scribbling again.
"On Christmas Eve, boy? This friend must have been very close to you."
"I am," I heard Lily say suddenly. I turned to see Lily standing at the entrance of the kitchen, hands on her hips. She had been helping with my mother's autopsy.
I have to admit, even after not sleeping for one whole night with her hair in a loose ponytail and wearing a large shirt she had conjured, she still managed to look gorgeous.
What am I doing? My mum just died and I'm drooling over Lily. I must have been a horrible son.
"And who are you, girl?" Fudge asked, averting his gaze to Lily.
"Lily Evans. I go to James's school. We had a fight, so he came over to apologize. As simple as that. He had nothing to do with the death," Lily stepped closer, causing the bowler hat to spin off Fudge's finger and hit one of the Aurors in the face, "So stop bugging him."
Fudge was shocked. And truthfully, I loved it. He regained his composure and stepped forward, frowning at Lily, "And how, Evans, do we know that you weren't trying to get James away from the house so the attack could go smoothly?"
My head shot up and I glared at Fudge. How could even think that? Lily would never do something like that.
"Sir, the results of the autopsy are in," a nasal sounding healer interrupted, stepping into the room. We all looked at her.
Oh Merlin…
"So, what is it, woman?" Fudge asked anxiously, picking up his bowler hat and putting it back on.
She cleared her throat, "Dorea Potter's death can be put under many categories. We've considered natural death, as she died from dragon pox. But it may also have been accidental, as she got the sickness from inhaling a deathly potion which also killed her husband. Finally, we have come to a conclusion that the death was homicidal, because we've been able to determine that the potion was sent by a very clever death eater."
I couldn't handle it. I stood up, kicked the glass coffee table in front of me, and watched it shatter into pieces. I then showed a very rude hand gesture to Fudge and rocketed upstairs towards my room.
I didn't stop until I reached the balcony in my room and collapsed against the railing.
She had been murdered. Both my parents had been murdered by some bloody wanker who decided it would be fun to give a potion to my dad.
"James?" A quiet voice asked.
I closed my eyes and whirled around, "What?" I demanded.
The figure who had been hidden in darkness stepped out onto the balcony. It was Lily, filled with concern. I felt myself deflate a bit and wearily turned around to face the darkness, leaning against the railing.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
I'm just spiffy.
"Do you really have to ask that?" I replied.
Lily walked over to the railing and leaned against it next to me, "Sorry, it was one of those reflex questions."
We stood there in silence looking ahead, both deep in thought.
I suddenly let out a quiet laughter, causing Lily to look at me in alarm. I looked back at her, "You know, I haven't cried at all. It upsets me. I should be crying like Sirius, grieving for my Mum's sake, yet all I can do is sit there and stare."
"Do you really think that, James? Do you really think your Mum would want you here sobbing your head off?" She replied firmly.
Maybe.
"No, you're right," I sighed, looking down.
Lily put a hand on my arm, causing butterflies to fill my stomach, "She's gone, there's nothing you can do about it. You're a brave guy. Respect her and show her what a great man you've turned out to be. Make her proud."
I stayed quiet.
"You've shown me, Potter. Come on," Lily said quietly.
I turned to face her again, "You're right, Lily. To hell with the death eater who thought that they could put me down by killing my parents. They've been here for me, and I'll make them proud. I'll go back to school next week like I'm supposed to and show them."
And Lily pulled me into an embrace, making me feel bigger and braver than ever.
A/N: Ah, emotional chapter. Please review. I need something exciting to happen in my life. I feel like a total loser. ( I promise you guys a very humerous chapter within the next few chapters, by the way! Expect the next update early next week, as it's not too good of a chapter in my opionion. You'll see why soon. Enjoy!
