I am really excited with where this story is going (which is why i am updating so often). It's not predictable, but i am staying as close to the cannon as possible. All i will say is BIG THINGS ARE COMING.
So now i'll shut up and let you read. Ps comments serve as great motivation and i enjoy reading them.
The group stayed silent, too afraid to speak of the terrors they were all thinking. Instead, just sitting at the table, listening to the words of comfort spoken by the other students trying to calm those crying.
James let out a relived sigh as he saw the large group of students pile into the hall. Remus was among the goup, practically holding up a sobbing Violet Dodge. They all stood, catching Remus' attention with a wave and waited for their friend and a distraught Dodge navigate through mass of students hugging.
Dodge's sobbing stopped momentarily when she spotted Sirius standing next to James and Ella. She shrugged off Remus and ran the rest of the distance to Sirius throwing her arms around him, "Siri…she's…she's gone," she barely got out between the sobs.
Sirius looked slightly uncomfortable at first but as the girl continued to cry in his arms, James saw his friend wrap his own arms around her and whisper soothing words in her ear.
"I'm glad your safe mate…sorry we didn't take the train i-" James said as he pulled Remus into a hug.
"Don't worry, I was busy with prefect duties the whole ride." He looked towards Dodge and lowered his voice, speaking only loud enough for James and Ella to hear. "This is bad James. People are upset and I'm not sure how much longer Hogwarts will be safe here."
"Dumbledore will protect us."
"Dumbledore may not be able to, I heard my father talking over break. The ministry thinks he's trying to form an army. They want him removed from Headmaster."
James was shocked, "That's bollicks! Dumbledore isn't forming anything-"
"Da said they had proof. Do you remember Alaster Moody?"
"Do I remember him? Mad-Eye's the bloody scariest auror in the ministry."
Remus nodded. "Right. Well, his sister was part of it…and she died on a mission for Dumbledore."
James eyes widened. Dumbledore was forming an army to fight Voldemort? It had sounded quite preposterous at first; ramblings of old men, but now that James thought about it the idea had merit.
"You reckon he'll let us join?"
Remus smiled at his friend and affectionately patted him on the shoulder. "I'm glad your okay Prongs."
James chuckled, "Yeah, I'm fine," and added, a bit louder for every one else at the table to here, "although, I thought I was a goner for a second when I met Lilys mother." He shuddered as if in horror, "frightening woman."
Lily, who had been anxiously scanning the crowd of incoming students, searching for Daphne, turned when she'd heard her name mentioned.
She rolled her eyes. "It's my Dad you have to worry about, James."
James nearly fell off his seat at the sound of his name rolling of her lips. Lily must have been severely distracted, because she missed the raised eyebrows and chuckles at the table.
Her eyes focused on a frizzy haired blonde at the entrance and she jumped to her feet, her face lighting into a smile. She ran to her friend and they both laughed as they wrapped each other in a hug. James couldn't hear what they were saying, but he was extremely happy that Lilys face was lit into a smile for the first time all day.
The girls made their way back over to the group and Daphne smiled at all of them,
"Everyone all right?"
They all nodded as Ella stood to hug the girl. "I'm glad you're okay Daph."
"No worries Ella. Besides, if I'd been caught I think I'd just talk old Voldy to death."
Sirius, who had sat sometime in the last minute, with Dodge still crying on his lap, added the sentiment they were all thinking.
"But No one was caught."
Daphne looked toward his friend as if he were daft. "Yes, Thank you for pointing out that cheerful thought, Sirius."
"Attention Please…Attention," McGonagall yelled from the back of the hall.
Silence fell and those distraught tried to quite their cries.
"Dinner will start shortly, but first I'd like to speak to Prefects and the head boy and girl." No one moved, so she continued a little sharper…"In private. Right now, please." She spun and walked out through the wooden doors, leaving the hall in murmers.
Students spread all around the hall, including Remus and Lily stood from their tables.
"Give Kyle Hodger's my regard!" Daphne winked toward her friend.
Lily rolled her eyes, "I don't speak to the head boy unless absolutely necessary."
"And my regards are of no importance?"
"He knows you loathe him, excepts for the times your snogging his face off."
The group chuckled and James noticed the two friends banter had lifted Lilys mood even further.
Daphne sighed, a bit dreamily. " Yea. he's got a wicked tongue."
"Ella. We've got to go," Remus reminded her.
"Alright. Make sure to leave some roast for me!"
James winked at her, "No promises."
He watched as his willowy friend and Lily walked out of the hall, his eyes lingering on Lily's behind for a moment too long. He turned to find Daphne looking expectantly at him. He had always enjoyed the girls company. She was altogether hilarious when she spoke that legal jargon and James had seen her verbally rip apart a bloke more than once. After today, however, James decided he was extremely thankful for her and Lilys friendship. The two girls were so in sinc that simple banter had served better than soothing words or tears.
The thought of crying made James turn toward Dodge, who was still silently distraught, sitting on Sirius's lap. The pair were across the table from James, seated next to a very uncomfortable looking Ella.
James wondered why she looked so sour.
"You know, I'm obligated to tell Lily, as dictated in our best-mate contract, that you were staring at her arse, right?"
He shrugged toward the girl. "She knows already."
"You think so, huh?"
He smiled, instantly feeling a bit guilty for the gesture, in a time of such sorrow.
"Why else would she wear those jeans?"
The group laughed and then immediately stopped when Violet flinched at the sound.
She seemed to have stopped crying. She was clutching onto the fabric of Sirius's shirt and she looked extremely lost. "We used to do that," she said as she stared into the distance. "We laughed all the time…she was my best mate, you know?"
She had directed the question toward Sirius by turning her small face up and staring hopelessly into his eyes.
Sirius kept eye contact with her, his gaze filled with empathy. "I know, love."
"We laughed a lot. About teachers, and films… and…about you." Despite clinging onto Sirius, the girl looked like she was lost.
"Remember that time, in the pitch locker rooms? You got your hand caught in that bucket while we-"
James saw Sirius wince and glance quickly toward Ella, who-for some reason- was glaring at Sirius.
He nodded, cutting off her words.
Violet didn't notice the exchange. "We used to laugh about that all the time…she'd call you…" Whatever Milda had called Sirius, no one would be sure because the girl dissolved into tears once again.
"Shh, It's okay," he quieted her as he tucked her face into the crook of his neck.
"Maybe you should take her to the hospital wing." Ella suggested, avoiding eye contact with Sirius.
He shook his head. "She needs to hear what Dumbledore says. We all do."
They didn't have to wait long, as the Headmaster and teachers strolled in, with the prefects and Head Boy and Girl following. A hush fell across the hall, and those who had been standing quickly found their seats.
The teachers and prefects stood behind Dumbledore. A united front, James thought.
"Good Evening. It is with great sorrow that I welcome you all back early from your travels and even greater sorrow that you return in smaller numbers than you left."
Violet squeaked at the reminder of the loss.
"The attack yesterday on ten of your classmates and their families is truly a tradgedy, one that will forever leave a space within our hearts. And I despair to tell you that this is only the beginning of dark times. Voldemort's power is growing. His followers and resources are gaining, making him bolder and twice as dangerous. Many would rather I not tell you this, but instead ask you to put your faith in your ministry. Alas, I cannot ask you to do a task that I find impossible. Therefore, I ask you instead, to put faith in yourselves- in each other. For it is better to light candles than to curse the darkness. This world needs all of our power and love to survive, and each of us has something that we can give. We must each contribute if we wish to survive.
I will not insult you by pretending your lives are not in danger. Muggle-borns are not the only ones at risk. However, their peril is slightly more eminent..."
James glanced behind Dumbledore, to catch a strange look cross Lily's face. She was standing stiff and James swore he could see her face whitening.
"...For all muggle-borns wishing to seek protection for yourselves or your families, please come to Minerva or myself."
He paused, looking slightly sad.
"I know that words are of little comfort for you all on this eve, so please take comfort in each other- find strength in each other and enjoy your meals."
The tables filled with the usual feast, but no one moved to eat. James had never seen such an unenthusiastic response before at a feast. The prefects and heads made their way through the tables. Lily sat next to James and was the first to reach for the food.
Her face hadn't gained any of its color.
"Whats wrong?" he whispered.
"Nothing, I'm fine."
"Bollicks. You're as white as Nearly-Headless Nick."
She glanced at him, gageing how intent he was on knowing.
"it's… i'll tell you-"
"Oi, I'm not going to have to move my bet up am I?" Daphne yelled across to them. "if you're already letting him whisper sweet nothings then I need to speak to Alice and Frank immediately."
Lily shook her head and attempted to eat, despite looking paler by the moment.
They were all walking out of the hall- minus Sirius who had taken Dodge to the hospital wing shortly after the feast began- when James' patience ran out.
Lily hadn't spoken once throughout dinner and James had caught tears in her eyes.
He grabbed her arm, "we'll meet you back there."
His friends nodded as he pulled Lily down a corridor. Daphne snickered, "oh, young love."
They stopped after a few turns and he faced her, noticing how she hadn't put up any fight with him whisking her away.
Before he could ask she said, "My parents."
He waited for her to elaborate. "They're in danger and they've no way to protect themselves."
"Lily you cant blame yourself."
"Cant I?... they could die! All because I'm a witch."
"You didn't ask to be a witch."
"But I love it! I love this world. I'd be miserable if I was muggle! And meanwhile my parents are being punished for it."
"it doesn't matter if you love it. If you could stop being a witch, just to keep your family safe, would you do it?"
She looked confused, "Of course i-"
"then that's all that matters. You can't stop being a witch, but you need to stop feeling guilty about it, because if you could control it, you would give it all up for their safety."
"I wish I could do it. I'd be miserable, but I'd do it for them."
"Well, that's impossible. So there's nothing to be done about it."
"You're wrong."
"What?"
She frowned, "I've already made my decision. I'm not going to sit by and watch him kill them."
"what are you talking about?"
"I'm relocating them..I talked to Dumbledore."
"What do you mean?"
"He agreed to re-locate them."
"oh…"
James thought about how hard it would be to leave your entire life behind.
"You're not going with them, are you?"
"of course not. Theres a war, i have to help."
James thought he understood her earlier despair. No contact with her parents until the war was through, it would be hard.
"You're upset you'll miss them then?"
"No..well..Yes- but that's not what I'm upset about…It's just, they wont leave willingly, i'll have to wipe their memories."
James eyes widedned, "what?"
She nodded absently, "They don't know how dangerous it is. They wouldn't go on their own and they certainly wouldn't leave me. I have to do it James, they'll die if I don't."
"Lily, that's… what about your sister."
She scowled, "Shes engaged, she'll be under a new name and she already avoids anything to do with magic…I'll have to charm her to believe they've died or something."
"when will you do it?"
A tear slid down her cheek. "This summer I guess. They've always wanted to live somewhere else. I'm going to send them there, wipe their memory of their children... and the wizarding world. When the war is done…if I'm alive, I'll get them."
More tears fell down her face and James stepped forward to wrap her in his arms. She shook slightly and he wished he knew what to say. She was taking a huge risk. Obliviating her parents could save them from Voldemort only if no record was kept of their whereabouts, a paper trail would be too damming if anyone went looking.
And no doubt Lily wanted to tell as few people as she could where she would send them, the cruciatus or veritaserum was all too good for revealing secrets.
If Lily died before the war ended, her parents would be lost, not remembering they had two daughters or of their home or jobs.
James let go of her, looking into her eyes.
"It will be fine. You'll get them back."
"what if I'm not strong enough. What if I can't do it."
"Then you can lean on me. I'll help you."
She nodded through the tears and deeply breathed, wiping away the wetness on her face.
When she looked decent, they made their way back to the common room, both hoping that they were strong enough to do what must be done.