A/N: So, here it is. Thank you so much, to everyone who has stuck with this story until the end. I hope this fits your expectations, however high or low they may be.
Again, thank you! Thank you, thank you to everyone! For my Christmas present, leave me one last review, telling me bye-bye. :( (Sorry, I hate it when authors ask for reviews - you don't have to. Just a request. Haha.)
Stick around, folks, I'll be writing more soon! School's killin' me right now, though, so it might not be for a while.
So, for the last time. . . . HAPPY READING! :D
Green
"Come stop your cryin', it'll be alright; just take my hand, hold it tight; I will protect you from all around you; I will be here, don't you cry - for one so small, you seem to strong; my arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm; this bond between us can't be broken; I will be here, don't you cry - 'cause you'll be in my heart . . . yes, you'll be in my heart - from this day on, now and forevermore. . . ."
- Phil Collins
Green. The everlasting favorite thing James Potter loved about Lily Evans - the vibrant color of her eyes.
James didn't know what had gotten into him. He knew he shouldn't have said it, and that it was stupid, and that she wasn't ready. And yet he found himself saying it anyway.
James and Lily would be found by the lake in a rather intimate position on the grass, a couple months before their life at Hogwarts was over. James was sitting closely to Lily, his hands on either side of her face, and she had her hands entertwined in his hair as they kissed each other deeply.
That was when it hit James, after a few minutes of this going on. He needed to say it, or it would keep eating him up inside. So he broke away from her and put his forehead against hers.
"Lily," he said, and found his voice was deeper and more serious than it usually was. Her eyes widened, as if she realized what he was about to say. "I lo - "
"Oh, dear Merlin," she muttered, trying to squirm out of James' grip, "Sorry, James, I just remembered, I have to - "
"Lily," James sighed.
" - study for Advanced Potions, and it just can't wait, so - "
"Lily," he said more forcefully, refusing to let her wiggle away from him.
" - I'm just going to go, because I can't - " she broke of, looking at him. "I can't."
And he understood what she meant. But he - surprise, surprise - refused to listen to his conscience, which was usually the case.
"Lily," he said quietly, and this time she was stock still with wide eyes, staring at him. "I love you. Whether you're ready to hear it or not - I love you."
He stared at her for a moment, into her deep green eyes that he loved so much, and, when he was sure she wouldn't say it back, he stood and started walking away. Not in angry manner, just accepting to let her have her space.
"Hey, uh, James," she blurted, and James turned, his eyebrows raised. She was sitting with her legs folded beneath her, her hair splayed out over her shoulders. "I . . . I love you, too."
James grinned.
Green. The color of the grass below them when Sirius and Dorcas sat in each others arms - the last he saw her alive.
Sirius and Dorcas sat in the grass at one of the local parks in London, where they were free of the troubles and burdens of the war. It was simple - they weren't talking, just watching the children shrieking gleefully and accidently tripping on their shoelaces while the ditressed parents tried to catch them. Dorcas found this sweet in a way, while Sirius found it hilarious.
"Look at that one bloke trying to catch his kid - the one who's jumping off the slide." he chuckled, pointing to an especially mischeivious-looking black haired boy, who grinned at his wide-eyed father before he leaped off the playset, rolling onto the ground. His grin widened as he stood up, the father striding over and scolding him, "Joseph, what is the matter with you? Have you lost your mind? Come on, we're - "
The boy ignored his father, climbing up on the playset, and away from his dad's prying hands, to do it again.
Dorcas snorted, leaning into Sirius' chest. "Yeah, reminds me of someone I know."
"What, I'm the little boy and you're the father?" he guessed, snickering.
She rolled her eyes. "No, I'm not the father. That's more like McGonagall or someone. Maybe Filch. I'm more like that little girl over there, swinging. She looks innocent enough." she said, watching a little girl with blonde hair like hers, who was gently swinging by herself.
"Yeah, and Lily's that one over there reading her book." Sirius added.
Dorcas quirked her mouth to the side thoughtfully and scanned the playground. "Oh, there's Emmeline, the one flirting with the boy," she giggled, "And Remus is the one playing with the bugs. Peter's the little boy who looks lost over there."
Sirius laughed and nodded to Jospeh, his little boy clone, who now was talking to another little boy. "Look, my twin has a friend now. That's James. Oh, look, they're trying to climb that little spiderweb dome thing. Ah, there goes James, falling off. But he's getting back on. Ah-hah! I was the first one up!"
Dorcas snorted. "You're so mature. James is just as coordinated as you and you know it."
"Shut it, Meadowes." he said, laughing despite himself.
But she wasn't paying attention anymore. She was watching as "her" little girl stopped swinging and stared at the boys climbing the dome. The blonde girl and Joseph made eye contact, and the girl blushed, looking away.
"Aw, look, she's shy." Sirius murmured, chuckling lightly.
"You're not so much." Dorcas smirked as Joseph hopped off the dome, heading toward the blonde girl with a slightl smile. The boy who was James rolled his eyes and started swinging his legs at the top of the dome, watching.
"Joseph! We are leaving!" Joseph's father had found him and started to drag him away by the collar from the girl when he was within a few steps of her. He protested angrily, but the father tugged on him nonetheless.
The girl frowned, and stood to say something, but then thought better of it, sitting back down. The boy who was James looked between the two, then jumped off the dome and went over to the girl.
"That's Joseph." he said just loud enough for Dorcas and Sirius to hear, pointing back to the boy being dragged away grudgingly.
"I noticed by the way his father screamed it." she snapped, eyeing the boy suspiciously.
Sirius snorted. "Fiesty."
"Hey, watch it." she warned, becoming defensive of the little girl, which she found amusing.
"Well, he comes here every Monday, if you're interested," little boy James continued, "You can play with us if you want. I'm Darren."
"I'm Sophie." she said after a pause.
"I know you like him. I'll try to get you two to hold hands." Darren offered, shrugging.
Sirius and Dorcas snickered.
Sophie blushed. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yeah, sure," Darren smirked, then said, "Come on, let's go play tag with the guy playing with the bugs."
Sophie shrugged. "Okay."
And they went over to the Bug Boy, invited him to play tag, and then they started running around playing, carefree.
"Aw," Sirius cooed, "I wish we could see if they make a little couple."
"We can come every Monday and see what happens." Dorcas offered, turning her head to smile at him.
Sirius wiggled his eyebrows. "Seems like a love story's a-brewin'."
Dorcas smiled and kissed him. "Yes, it does."
Green. The color of the dress Emmeline was wearing when Remus first told her he loved her.
Emmeline and Remus sat together at a table at the Three Broomsticks, and Remus had been trying all night to try and tell her how he felt, but they kept on getting interrupted by something or other. And it was really starting to get on his nerves.
"Emmeline, there's something I need to tell you," Remus said, grabbing her hands when he thought the coast was clear, "We've been dating for a long time, and I just wanted - "
"Another round?" Madam Georgina asked, coming around with a tray.
Remus smiled tightly. "By all means."
Madam Gerogina smiled uneasily at the look on the seventeen year olds face and quickly set the drinks down before scurrying away.
Remus sighed, looking back to an expectant Emmeline. "Like I was saying. I just wanted to let you know that I - "
"Remus, m'boy!"
Merlin. Remus knew that voice anywhere.
Siruis and James came barrelling through the tables, grinning. When they caught sight of Emmeline, they both grinned and acted just as childishly as Remus expected.
"Actin' gentlemanly with the pretty lady, I dearly hope." Sirius said, raising his eyebrows as he took a seat between Remus and his girlfriend. James grinned and took the other seat between them.
"Right, guys, this isn't exactly the best time - " Remus started through clenched teeth.
"Pish posh, Moony," James scoffed, looking to an expaserated Emmeline. "So, how's it fairing, my good lady?"
"It's fairing fine, James," she sniffed, "but I would be better if you would leave me and Remus alone for a while."
Sirius and James frowned grandiosely at each other.
"Do we have to?" James complained.
"We want to stay." Sirius added in a whiney tone.
"Leave." Remus said through a tight smile.
James and Sirius stifled laughter.
"I've never seen Remus like this. He must need to say something really important." Sirius said, wiggling his eyebrows. But he stood, which is all Remus wanted.
James stood, too, smirking. "Take the best of our luck, Remus, m'boy."
They started to leave. Remus let out a relieved breath and turned to Emmeline once again.
"Alright. What I wanted to tell you. I - "
But then Sirius turned, frowning. "Oh, Remus, do you have that Transfiguration essay? It's due tomorrow and I need - "
"FOR MERLIN'S SAKE!" Remus yelled, standing for no apparent reason, and looking down at Emmeline. 'I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU I LOVE YOU!"
Emmeline sat there, shocked, and James and Sirius were not in a much better state.
"Okay," Emmeline squeaked after a moment. "I love you, too, Remus, but you don't have to yell."
Remus let out a breath and a shaky laugh. "Yes, well . . . "
Then, Sirius and James did exactly as Remus suspected - they whooped and jumped around like children.
"Yeah, get it, Remus!"
"You're finally an official couple! I'm crying tears of joy right now!"
Remus and Ememline exchanged an exasperated glance, and kept their hands clasped tightly around each others under the table.
Green. The color of the ugly-headed jealousy's eyes, buried deep inside Severus Snape.
A seventeen year old Severus Snape searched the halls of Hogwarts for his ex-best friend, Lily Evans. He would apologize and leave the stupid Voldemort-worshipping clan. He would do it for her, do anything for her. He would do whatever it took, just to be with her. And he if he had to wait forever, he would; if he had to apologize for all time, he would; if he was forced to be only her friend, he would.
He would, for her.
He finally stopped when he saw two dark spots in the whiteness outside and scrambled down the stairs, knowing it must be her. It must be her with Vance or Meadowes or -
Potter.
They were out there, together, and - and Potter was on one knee, looking hopefully up at her. With a ring in his hand. Severus hurriedly ducked behind one of the stone pillars, watching closely for Lily's answer. She had to say no. She couldn't say yes, it'd be the greatest mistake of her life. Her and Potter just didn't go together, and never would. If she said yes, he wouldn't know what to do with himself, he wouldn't know if he could go on -
She nodded, and threw her arms around him, causing them to fall in a laughing pile in the snow. Severus looked away before they kissed, closing his eyes. He rested his back on the pillar and slammed his head lightly against it.
What was he supposed to do now? She wasn't his anymore, not even a little bit. She'd moved on, forgotten about their friendship, about how he'd first taught her to use magic, about how he'd made her strong when her sister first started to resent her, forgotten that he was the one who knew her best.
She'd forgotten about him.
Then, something broke inside him. It was the part of his heart that belonged to Lily, which was nearly all of it . . . and he'd never be able to fix it, no matter what he did.
Green. The color that would haunt Peter Pettigrew forever, knowing he was the reason it was the last thing Lily and James saw.
Peter had made a mistake. Or did he? . . . Did he? He was protecting himself, he'd chosen the right side, the side that won.
These are the thoughts that plagued his mind as he scurried through the udnergorund sewer, away from where he had just framed his childhood friend, Sirius Black, for the "murder" of him and other civillians. His finger was bleeding horridly, but he was so completely lost in thought, he didn't even notice - which was very unlike Peter Pettigrew, to ignore pain instead of wallow in it.
He had killed James and Lily. James, one of his best friends, and now he'd pretty much sentenced his other friend to life in Azkaban. And did Peter regret it? Maybe. . . . But he - he chose the right side and the others were surely foolish to have not. . . . Although . . . although, he could've told them. He could've tried to make them see reason. Reason in survival. And, in order to survive, he had to join the side that would most likely win.
Though, Peter knew that the others wouldn't have listened, not with their Gryffindor pride. Peter supposed he was sort of a defect - he wasn't meant to be in Gryffindor.
But that changes nothing, Peter thought as he wiggled up into another street through a sewer opening, it was all over. I have no more enemies, except maybe Remus, but that frail thing was nothing to worry about. The Dark Lord would surely take care of him.
Peter stopped in his tracks. He was ashamed, and he knew it. He just killed two of his best friends, and there was no denying it.
So, Peter bowed his head and let himself mourn them for a while . . . before he scurried off again, always on the quest for the easiest way out - the easiest way to survive.
Green. The color that flashed before his eyes before young Harry Potter watched his mother fall.
There was a crashing in the foyer. James and Lily looked around, alarmed, and James seemed to realize before Lily that -
"Lily, it's him! Take Harry and run!" James shouted, pushing her toward the staircase.
Lily gripped Harry and sprinted toward the staircase, running to the top before looking back at her husband. He faced a tall, black-hooded figure and James looked back at Lily for a split second, but it seemed like ages. There was no hope for them, and they knew it.
I love you, James, she thought and tears welled unstoppably in her eyes. She blinked and James was looking back toward Voldemort. Lily ran down the hall toward the nusery.
"Avada Kedavra!"
She flinched, repressing a sob, and ran into the nusery, slamming the door behind her before setting Harry gingerly in his crib. He looked up at her with his wide, innocent green eyes - she envied him. He didn't know what was going on. He didn't know he was about to lose both his parents. Grief filled Lily as the thought struck her, and love for her baby boy filled her like no other time before. He reached up with his little hands toward her, as if sensing something was wrong. Lily took one of his little hands and stroked his head.
This is it. This is where it ends. . . , she thought as she stared at Harry.
"Mommy loves you, Harry, and daddy does, too, okay?" she whispered, holding his tiny hand to her mouth. "We know you're going to be a great wizard, and just as great a man. I love you, Harry, so much. I won't let him hurt you - I'll protect you. Forever."
The door crashed open and Lily whirled around to face the famous and cruel Lord Voldemort.
"No." she breathed.
"Step aside." he hissed in a high, unfeeling voice.
"No, take me, please! Take me, not Harry!" she pleaded in a last desperate attempt, but she should've known better.
Voldemort raised his wand with no mercy in his penetrating red eyes. Then, everything from there seemed to go in slow motion for Lily. Maybe it was because they were her last moments of life - maybe it was because she wasn't ready to leave Harry -
But she knew it was time. So, she clung on to one last thought as she stood stock still and faced her fate.
"Avada Kedavra!"
I love you, Harry. . . .
A jet of green light shot out of Voldemort's wand.
Lily screamed.
Harry lay in his crib, unscathed so far at the commotion that had taken place. Suddenly, a dark hood enveloped his vision and he looked up at the intruder with his big green eyes. A cruel smiled formed on the monster's white face and his red eyes were wide with twisted anticipation as he raised his wand to the one-year-old boy.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Harry Potter did not know that the greatest and most evil wizard of all time had fallen right before his eyes. Harry Potter did not know that he had just made a legend out of himself at only one year old. Harry Potter did not know that his mother had ultimately saved his life simply with her love. Harry Potter did not know that he would spend the first eleven years of his life in a cupboard under the Dursley's stairs. Harry Potter did not even know that he was a wizard yet.
Harry Potter did not know, in fact, how much greatness he was yet to achieve.
