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D/c: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters in this story. Sad day indeed.

Chapter Nine: Ready the Troops

"What are we supposed to do now?" Narcissa sighed, glancing across the common room to her sister. "Evans was the only leverage over Potter we had. How are we supposed to convince him to join us now?"

"She wasn't the only person Potter was close to," Bellatrix answered quietly. "There are others we can use."

"None of his friends will give us the same result as the Mudblood," the blonde insisted with a thoughtful frown. "If we put anyone else's life on the line, they may find a way out of it. Evans will be weak without her magic. Once she's defenseless, Potter will know she'll have no way to escape and he'll join us in order to save her."

Bellatrix sighed softly and stared into the snapping fire in front of the dark green leather couch she was draped across.

"Well," she spoke at long last, standing to move to the fire and throw in a handful of Floo powder to return home, "it sounds like we're just going to have to find a way to get her back."

Dear Lily,

Well, I made it in one piece. Potter hasn't tried giving me any trouble yet, which is odd for him. Seems like the whole school has gone quiet without you. The Gryffindors aren't quite so fierce now, and even the Slytherins have stopped pranking and plotting, for today at least. It's only the first night, I know, but the place feels like a funeral home now. Slughorn looked like he could have cried. I expect Dumbledore alerted the staff before the feast. Hogwarts hasn't changed much yet, so you're not missing anything for now. I hope you can convince y our parents to let you return. I miss you so much. I wouldn't have seen you much tonight anyway, but just knowing you aren't here makes it so much worse.

I've got to get to bed. Regulus is complaining about the light, the prat. Heh. Only joking. He's not so bad for Sirius Black's brother.

Goodnight, Lils. I love you.

-Sev.

Lily scanned over the letter for the third time, sitting sadly on her bed. She was still tucked under her blanket. Light was only now beginning to stream into the window on the east wall, and the clock read seven twelve am. Were she at school, she would be getting up and showering, making herself ready for the day.

Realizing that she needed to stay on top of schoolwork no matter what, she did that, starting off as she would a normal school day. Once she got out and dressed, she wrote back to Severus.

Hey, Sev,

Don't worry. I don't plan on being home very long. I'm sneaking out to Diagon Alley to buy my schoolbooks. Even if I'm not at school, I'll still find a way to practice. Let me know what you get for work in your classes with Gryffindor. I plan to keep up so I'll be able to hand in my work when I return. Try to stay positive. Don't worry. It won't be long.

I love you too.

-Lily

As soon as she sent it off, she pulled on shoes and a heavy jumper, grabbed all the money she had, both Muggle and Wizarding, and snuck out.

"A little late to be buying your schoolbooks, isn't it?" the man at Flourish and Blotts inquired curiously.

"I'm still trying to convince my parents to let me go back," Lily sighed, pulling out her wand to levitate her books. "I plan on being there soon. Thank you for all your help," she smiled and left the store, books floating behind her.

When she returned, she snuck carefully up the stairs and hid her books under her bed. Another two letters had shown up on her pillow. With a sigh, she picked them up and walked downstairs to the kitchen where her parents were already eating lunch. Thankfully, Petunia had left for college as well. The house was at least tolerable now.

"Hi, sweetheart," Todd greeted brightly, smiling as he slid a cup of juice toward Lily.

She scoffed quietly and went to the coffeemaker, pouring herself a mug and adding creamer and sweetener.

"How are you?" he continued, voice much quieter now that he knew the mood his daughter was in. "You have letters," he noted hopefully of the letters she held in her hand, as if they would make Lily happy.

"Yes," she answered shortly. "From the people who actually care about my happiness."

"Lily," Annabel pleaded, "we do care."

The young redhead shook her head simply and opened the first letter as she sipped at the coffee she'd poured. It was from Emmeline, declaring how unfair it was that Lily had been made to stay home and how solemn and horrible Hogwarts was without her. For once glad of Emmeline's dramatics, Lily slid the parchment to her parents and went to the next letter.

Hey Lily,

James was going to write something, but without you keeping him in line, he's already started scheming. Nothing bad, I promise. I'll make sure he doesn't get anyone killed… or himself, for that matter. He's just upset, I think, about you not being here, so he needs an outlet to help him deal with that. We all miss you loads. Hogwarts is so much darker now. Thought it might be nice for you to know how much of an impact you've made here. We really hope you make it back to school soon.

The letter went on to describe upcoming events like the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff --an easy win for Gryffindor-- and a ball that was already being planned for Christmas. It then concluded-

Try to be back before too long. We love you and miss you and can't wait to see you again. If you aren't back by Thanksgiving, we'll visit you.

Love, Remus

"I think this is a little over the top," Todd declared softly of Em's letter. "Things can't be that bad without you."

"You don't get it, do you?" Lily snapped at him. "I made an impact on people, dad. I'm growing up. I can make my own decisions regarding my own happiness. I've gotten three letters already and they all say how dark and solemn the school is without me now. Three different people have said the exact same thing. Does that sound over the top to you?"

"That's enough, Lily," Todd scowled. "You obviously have too much time on your hands. Go upstairs," he frowned. "You start normal school tomorrow."

Her eyes widened. "I'm not going to a stupid Muggle school!"

"Yes, you are. Now go to your room," he demanded.

Looking about to cry, Lily snatched her letters and coffee, stomping up the stairs. She slammed the door to her room and locked it. Once she had, she set down her coffee and threw herself down onto her bed, shaking with sobs.

She stayed that was for about ten minutes before pushing herself up and scribbling a letter to Severus.

'I hate it here,' she told him. 'My parents are making me go back to a Muggle school. When am I supposed to have time to practice magic? I bought all my books today and everything. I hate this so much. Why won't they just let me go back to Hogwarts? Can't they tell I'm miserable here? I miss you so much. I miss everyone. I miss school. I even miss the Slug Club, I'm so desperate. Write to me soon and visit if you think you could get away on a long weekend.

I love you. I miss you terribly. Hope to see you soon.

Love Lily'

After the first three letters, nothing came for weeks. Lily was forced to enroll in a Muggle high school in her junior year. For the first time, she was swamped with homework she didn't understand, and struggled to catch up with the other students who had started school weeks earlier. She barely had enough time to study, eat, and sleep, so worries about her friends rarely crossed her mind. She just didn't have the time.

Her magic was building up uneasily within her, and she became jittery and restless without an outlet to release the pressure overwhelming her. She was just about at her wit's end.

"Lily, quit pacing and do your homework," Todd sighed, folding over the newspaper he was trying to read from his seat on the couch.

The lights began to flicker and Lily stopped in her place, groaning as she pressed a hand to her temple. "Stop it," she pleaded to herself, squeezing her eyes shut. "Stop."

"You're not going to get in trouble for this with that Ministry, are you?" Todd couldn't help but stare at the lamp beside him in fascination.

"I don't know," she whispered in distress. "I can't stop it," she gasped out quietly as the lights grew unbearably bright, and then burst.

Todd covered his head quickly with the paper he'd been reading, eyes widening in surprise and wonder.

Ignoring the glass littering the floor, Lily collapsed, head in hands. AS she started trembling, the bright blue sky outside darkened and a sudden onslaught of rain pelted at the windows.

Todd dropped his paper and kneeled quickly beside her. "Don't cry, sweetheart," he pleaded, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her tightly against him. "What happened?" he whispered.

"I can't…" she choked out, throwing her arms around his neck. "I can't control it anymore," she whimpered. "My magic…I need to use it again. I-it's getting dangerous."

"It'll be ok," Todd assured gently, holding his daughter and rubbing her back. "It's not that bad. We can clean it up, don't worry."

"No, I can't do this anymore!" she sobbed. "I can't! I hate school so much! I don't know anybody and I can't understand the work, and now I'm blowing out lights and making it rain! What's wrong with me?!"

"There's nothing wrong with you, sweetheart," he soothed, guilt creeping into his conscience. "It'll be ok."

Lily whimpered and hid her face in his shoulder, clutching to his shirt for support. He didn't get it. It wouldn't be ok. She couldn't keep bottling her magic up like this, or something much worse could happen.

They stayed like that for a few minutes before an owl flew into the room, landing on the floor. When neither of the redheads responded to it, the tawny creature pecked sharply at Lily's arm.

"Ouch! Stupid bird--oh!" Lily started to whine, quieting as soon as she saw it was an owl. She rubbed her arm and took the letter, tipping with the spare Sickle she had in her pocket. Hopefully this would help things, because she wasn't feeling very good at the moment. As the bird flew off and she opened the letter, however, she paled.

Lily,

Tons of attacks on Muggle towns. We think yours is next. Be ready.

A/n: Hope you guys enjoyed that one. Not much to enjoy in it, I suppose, but don't worry. Things will look up eventually. I promise. Hang in there, and while you're at it, why not review? Thanks!