A/N:
Last part! Yeah! I hope you enjoy the conclusion! N,
please R/R!
Usual disclaimers apply.
Beyond Fate- Part 2
by Iris Marie
"I don't understand it!" James complained, staring at the
piece of parchment and trying to turn it into a flying swan. The
paper had gone through numerous transformations. Ranging from a
paper crane, to a real crane itself. "Why won't it turn into a-"
he stopped himself from cursing, glancing towards Lily's direction.
He continued, substituting the curse to, "-freaking swan."
"You're not concentrating enough," she said mildly, picking
up the parchment. Muttering the incantation and thinking of 'swan'
and all it's adjectives, a swan materialized and began to flap his
wings. Lily smiled, clasping her hands at the pretty beast, but
James was scowling.
"Sure, you can, but I can't," he said rather bitterly.
Rolling her eyes, she clicked her fingers and the swan was
once more a piece of parchment. "Just think of a swan and all that
it reminds you of," she said. "Now, what do you think a swan is,
James?"
"An animal."
"Adjectives!"
"Animal can be-"
Lily growled, and James sent her a wide grin. "All right,
all right! Now, let's see. A swan is white and graceful." The paper
turned blank white and then into a small ballet figurine.
"What else, James?"
"Well, it really is beautiful," he said. And then, the
parchment changed to show a figurine, the exact replica of Lily.
James flushed, not realizing what he was doing, but Lily was smiling.
"Think of it like this, James," she said. "At least you're
getting somewhere." She took the figurine gently in her hands, turning
it about. To her surprise, it was the replica of her when she first
entered Hogwarts with her glasses. Glancing towards James in surprise,
he had his head bowed and his ears were bright red.
Before she could say anything, he said, "Well... you were the
first girl who actually didn't gawk at me and stuff. I mean, no one
else automatically began to yell at me."
"And you find that beautiful?" she asked slyly, enjoying the
warm feeling that had spread through her body. She had never thought
that anyone found her beautiful. Especially not when she had glasses...
not when she was in her first year!
He luckily didn't have to answer since then Peter came bounding
into the common room and stood in-between the two. "James, tomorrow is
that day," he said quietly. He glanced towards Lily to see if she
understood, and since she nodded her head, he walked off again.
James gathered his books, trying to stuff his quill and the
figurine in his backpack.
"James?" Lily asked before he left.
"Yeah?"
"Can I have it?"
"Have what?"
Lily blushed, gently touching the figurine that was in his
hands. "Can I have that?"
James, confused, asked why. "To... well... remember that you
actually could find me... well." she trailed off, hoping he understood
what she was saying.
James smiled shyly, handing out the figurine for her to have.
"Sure, Lily."
And then when it was in her hands, he turned and went up the
steps, a large grin plastered on his face. Lily, finding out how cute
he was when he grinned like that, didn't even smack herself for thinking
such a thought. For, after all, James found her beautiful. She got up
with the figurine and climbed her own stairs in a daze.
-------
"Oh, how cute!" Sirius whispered when Peter had come back under
the cloak. Remus was fidgeting a bit, a regretful frown on his face.
"That wasn't meant for us to see," he said, trying to escape the
cloak, but Sirius and Peter held him in. "How would you feel if someone
spied on you in a moment like that?"
"It wasn't like they kissed," Peter replied, walking towards where
the two lover birds were. "All they did was smile."
"But-" Remus dropped it, not knowing how to express what kind of
vibes he felt. Vibes? Now, was that the proper wording for it? He didn't
know, but he knew that that meeting between the two was going to be
special in the long run.
"Now... who wants to bug James in the dorm room?" Sirius asked,
already forcing the two up and dashing up the steps.
-------
"All right then. Good night Remus!" Lily said as she watched Remus
exit the common room. The remaining trio sat on the couch, waiting for
the proper time to sneak under the cloak and exit the castle.
"SO?" Sirius asked quite loudly, his face showing a full smirk.
Peter and him exchanged knowing looks, each face equally mischievous.
"So what?" James asked, annoyed. If Sirius was going to make fun
of him again about liking Lily, in FRONT of Lily, he was positive that
he'd put a hex on him.
Sirius, catching the warning signs from his best friend, continued
undaunted. "What have you two been up to lately?"
Lily, confused, asked, "What are you talking about Sirius?"
"Don't play stupid," Peter said, slapping James on the back.
"We know. There's no need to hide it."
"Hide what?"
Sirius and Peter rolled their eyes, pushing James forward so
his face was only inches from hers. Both turned awfully red, but their
eyes unwavered from each other's hold.
"Hide that," Sirius muttered.
Snapping out of it, Lily said, "I still don't know what you're
suggesting at Sirius, and quite frankly, I'm getting annoyed."
"For a girl who is known as being awfully smart, you're also
awfully stupid."
James kicked him for saying such a thing, but Sirius just smiled
warmly back. "Why getting all defensive for her, James?"
"He doesn't have to, Sirius," Lily snapped, straightening her
back while standing. "I can take care of myself perfectly fine." And
with that, she walked up to her dormitory. Her cheeks were burning
by the time she closed the door behind her, wondering what that
conversation might have lead to. She didn't have the time nor the
energy for a relationship/crush.
Placing her books upon her desk, she paused momentarily as her
eyes swept the parchment that had just been delivered to her that night.
Taking it, she took out a roll of tape and stuck it beneath her table,
wanting it to disappear, wanting it to vanish.
'I can't attend,' she thought, trying to give herself some sort
of relief from the news her mother told her. 'I can't.'
She laid back down upon her bed, trying to think of something
other then the contents of the letter. But, it was a failed attempt and
despite the hardness that she felt in her chest, her eyes still blurred,
wanting more then ever to cry, but knowing she couldn't... wouldn't. The
door swung open and her fellow classmates entered and began to talk to
her.
The world seemed to fade, the words echoing that her father died
still ringing in her mind. And then, the funeral service she couldn't
attend. How could she? She had school... work... OWLS. There was absolutely
no way she could make time in her hectic schedule to miss school for a
week or two. Her father would want her to excel in her studies anyway.
However, despite all the excuses of not attending her father's
funeral whirled in her mind, the truth stood out like an ant to a whale.
She *didn't* want to go. It wasn't because she couldn't, it was because
she *didn't* want to go there and cry. She didn't want to cry. She
closed her eyes, her lashes already wet. Pulling the blanket above
her head, she told the other girls that she was going to go to sleep.
They nodded and continued to talk. Through it all, Lily stared at the
cloth above her, yelling at herself at the tears that had already fallen.
The other girls finally closed their lights and fell asleep. And
Lily continued to stare at the blanket above her, the tears still continuing
to fall, and the hardness in her heart gone, but rather replaced by
something else as fragile as a china doll.
---------
James grinned with his friends at the breakfast table. Last night
was one of their best escapades. They had gone through the Forbidden Woods,
met with a talking SPIDER that called himself Aragog, and even escaped
from his children's clutches when they had stated they were hungry. Then,
they met with some centaurs. Well, they ran away from some centaurs. At
least, Sirius and James made sure that Remus ran away. He just couldn't
wait to tell Lily what had happened. However, when she didn't come down,
he got concerned.
"What are you thinking about?" Remus asked, not quite over the
effect of turning into a werewolf the previous night. He still felt
rather drained, but also unusually alert.
"Huh? Oh, just wondering why Lily hadn't come down by now. Do
you think she's sick?"
"Why don't you check on her?" Sirius asked, already pushing him
off his chair. "Go on!"
James flushed, wanting to actually go, but embarrassed that if
he did, then Sirius would never allow him to deny that he at least
cared about the girl. Attempting to sit back down, he was saved when
Lily opened the breakfast room doors and sat down at the empty seat in
front of him.
At first, he was relieved, but then the concern came right back
in him when he caught sight of her bloodshot eyes and the bags underneath
them. "Lily, what's-"
"I studied really late last night," she quickly replied, staring
down at her plate. She really didn't feel hungry. She looked at the
boy's concerned faces and she gave them a smile. "So? How was your
time last night? Any good adventures?"
Before they could reply, the Owl Post came bursting through
the windows. Just like every other day, the owls came and dropped
parcels and packages about. To Lily's surprise, an owl gently lay
upon her shoulder and dropped an envelope on her lap.
"Who's it from?" James asked, leaning over and seeing that
it was from her mother. And, to his surprise, Lily was staring at
it as if it was a Howler. "Hey, Lily? You okay?"
But, her eyes had become blurry, and as if she realized it,
she stood up so quickly that her chair toppled. The room fell silent
as everyone looked towards her, and as it did, she walked stiffly
out of the room, the letter clutched tightly in her hand.
-------
"Is she all right?" James asked Nancy, one of Lily's roommates.
"I mean... well... what's wrong with her?"
Nancy shrugged, looking at him with worried eyes. "She won't
talk. She won't even let anyone touch her bed. She's just lying there
looking at the ceiling and stuff. Madison went and called Madame Pomfrey,
but for some odd reason, Dumbledore called her off and told her to let
Lily be." She paused then, looking down at her books. "The letter she
got this morning is still in her hand... crumpled. It must be something
about that. Anyway, James, I have to get cleaned. She's not allowing
anyone to talk to her, least stay in the room."
"All right. Thanks."
"No problem. I wish I knew what was wrong. She had been acting
weird all this week, though."
"Yeah. See ya."
"Bye."
-------
"What are you going, James?" Sirius asked as his friend opened
the chest at the foot of his bed. When he caught sight of the silver
cloak, however, he shut his mouth and went back to his book.
"I-"
But, Sirius shook his head, pointing towards his book and gesturing
him to leave the room. James smiled in gratitude as he slipped on the cloak.
------
Lily was on her belly on the bed, her head buried in her pillows.
Her eyes were burning holes into the letter that just came. It was bad enough
that her father died, even worse when your own mother would yell at
you for not coming. 'There's a reason why I won't!' she thought viciously
to the paper, her eyes blurring again. 'Why won't you see that!?'
The door creaked open and Lily didn't have to think twice on
who it was. "Potter, get out," she said without attempting to turn around.
Instead of hearing the door close again to signal that he left, the letter
that was crumpled on her bedpost was being lifted into the air and being
read. Lily jumped up, trying to grab for the letter, but failing since
James was still a full head taller then she.
Giving up, she flopped down upon her bed, her face in the other
direction. So what if he knew? Everyone will know anyway by the end of
the week. Would they be casting her out like her dear mother or just
pity her like what most of her relatives were doing. She closed her eyes,
defying the tears from falling.
"Lily..."
She clenched her teeth, a sob wanting to be let out at the way
her name was being uttered so softly... so tenderly. She needed to be
held, like the times when she would fall and get a cut. She could remember
her father scooping her up, hugging her pain away. A tear fell, and she
wiped it harshly against her pillow.
"Leave me alone," she said instead, trying to be cold and mean,
but failing when her eyes fell upon his tender brown ones. His cloak was
forgotten on the floor, and he continued to look to her and then to the
letter.
"Shocked, James?" She asked now, sitting up and shaking with
both frustration and anger. How dare he look at her like that! She needed
no pity... especially not from him. "I didn't even go to my own father's
funeral! How cold and awful of her to not attend! She never cared for
the man that supported her, comforted her, was her father," her voice
faltered, the thought of her father hurting her even more. Gaining
strength by the pain that her mother's words inflicted upon her, her
voice gained volume and conviction as she continued. "No, not Lily.
Petunia went. Yes, Petunia did, but not Lily. Not that ice-hearted witch.
She doesn't care for her father. She doesn't care about anyone!"
James watched her as she now stood upon her bed, yelling
down upon him, unknown tears falling down her cheeks. "Lily-"
"Lily what James? Are you going to chastise me to?" She grabbed
the letter from him, re-reading a section in it and then laughing.
"Oh, look here, James. Look what she tells me! 'All the years I thought
you were the kind, sweet daughter I had. But now, you disgrace me. You
disgrace this family's name. Have you no respect for your father? You
don't show up at the funeral. You didn't come to visit him as he was
in the hospital. And now, here you are, not even returning the messages
that I have to send to you! You are no daughter of mine!'" Lily
laughed again, throwing the letter into the air and then dashing
towards her desk and revealing the first letter she received.
Before she unfolded that one to read aloud, James was in front
of her, his arms around her body, his face buried into her hair. "It's
all right, Lily," he said softly, his insides aching watching her torture
herself like this. "It's all right."
Lily, shocked and confused, tried to wretch away, but his hold
held and he continued to whisper comforts into her ear and hug her.
"Let go, James!"
"Just let it out." He ignored her, ignored her attempts to be
released, and continued to hold her till her shoulders began to shake
and her head lowered. "It's all right, Lily. I'm here. Your mother was
wrong. You're not cold hearted. You have the warmest heart I know of."
"I didn't go to the funeral!" she cried out, sobs already
racking through her. "I didn't go! I'm cold, I mean, I-"
"You the sweetest and brightest girl in Hogwarts."
Despite her will to not cry, his words and comforts were stirring things
in her that had been buried from her. "You didn't go because it hurt too
much. I understand, Lily. She'll understand, too. It's all right. Come
now, Lil, everything is all right. Just let it all out."
And, she did. She cried in his arms till who knows when.
But when the sobs finally subsided, he let her go and looked into her
red eyes.
"You okay?"
Lily didn't respond. Instead, she leaned into him once more,
wrapping her arms around his waist and holding him as close as possible.
"Thanks, Potter," she said sincerely, already feeling a fresh batch of
sobs coming. She didn't understand what she felt, but she knew that she
needed and that was his arms around her. That's all she knew at the
precise moment and that was all she cared to know.
James stared at her in his arms, stared at her sweet face and
eyes. He gathered her up again, holding her as tight as he could without
hurting her, and knew one thing at that precise moment. He didn't want
to let her go. And then, before he knew what he was doing, he pressed
his lips upon hers without warning, and it lasted as long as it did
to make her smile again.
------
"Now that's CUTE!" Sirius exclaimed, taking a picture and handing it
to Remus to hold. Peter was giggling behind his hands, and Remus was now
really fidgeting.
"Now I KNOW we weren't supposed to see that guys!"
Sirius shrugged, making sure that all three of them were still
underneath the discarded cloak. "Think of it like this, Remus, my pal.
This here," he waved the picture in front of them, "-is the ticket to
teasing and blackmail. Oh, and a whole YEAR of enslavement." He kissed
the photo, but was careful to not disturb the kissing couple. "Plus,
anyway, it's not much different from before."
"But this time they DID kiss!"
"And?"
"And!? It's MUCH different!"
Sirius rolled his eyes, nudging Peter closer. "Remus, before, they
were just denying the whole love business thing. This time, they're
accepting. Well, accepting till they see this photo and start freaking out-"
"SIRIUS! REMUS! PETER!" Lily shrieked as the cloak was pulled
from above them and James stood glowering. Sirius smiled, happily
holding up the picture.
"Na-ah-ah! Now, James, as your new master-" But, he was cut short
as a red head came forward and grabbed the picture away. Sirius, pouting
and annoyed at being so rudely deprived, crossed him arms and stomped his
feet. "NOT FAIR!"
"C'mon, Sirius," Lily said with a smile of her own. "I really must
have a memory of the moment."
"So are you two an item now?" Peter asked. "Are you two in *love*?"
Lily and James exchanged glances, both shrugging, but grinning
at the same time. "Who knows?"
"Why not ask the picture?" Sirius asked, already trying to swipe
it from Lily. But, she held up a finger and wagged it in his face. "Nope.
No can do."
"Oh. C'mon! It's so unfair!" Sirius had now come down to whining,
staring about the room for support. Instead, Remus muttered a brief apology
and snagged Sirius's hood. "Let's make a duplicate then! PLEASE!!!!!!"
James shook his head, and Sirius finally began to walk on his own.
"Fine! Be mean!" Taking Peter and Remus, he shoved them out the door and
followed suite with a huff.
"You know he's going to try again," Lily said as she walked slyly
into his arms.
James nodded, grabbing the cloak and wrapping it around them.
Lowering his lips onto hers, she giggled, saying, "I really have to get
me one of these cloaks." James laughed with her, kissing her again.
"Oh damn it! That's completely UNFAIR! PETER! I TOLD YOU
TO GET THE CLOAK!"
"I did!"
"THAT'S A MATTRESS YOU IDIOT!"
Lily and James continued to laugh, held into each other's arms. Lily
let go suddenly, bending down to retrieve the crumpled letters. She glanced
at the words and then smiled towards James who was looking at her with
comprehension. "I really should write to them, James. Tell them about it.
Why I just couldn't go. How I couldn't..."
James nodded, leading her to her desk and handing her a quill. Spotting
the figurine that he conjured, he took it and a whole new image came forth.
The figurine had no longer the painting of a 10-year-old girl with glasses
and frizzy hair. Instead, there stood a figurine of Lily, sitting on her desk,
writing a letter that she was putting her whole feelings into.
Lily stared at it in amazement and then James began to speak. "That,
Lily, is what I must define as beautiful." And with that, without anymore
words, was the picture that Sirius got and preserved.
~*~*~* (Years later- Harry in his 5th year)
"That's them?" Harry asked, looking down at the picture that his
godfather showed him. He had looked through all of their albums, but none
had it when they were still in Hogwarts. Ginny was staring behind his
shoulder, watching as Harry continued to stare oddly at the two people.
"Yeah... your mother took away the picture of their first kiss,"
he shook his head, smiling at the remembrance. "So, of course I needed
another one to make it up. And I think this is a pretty good replacement."
Harry nodded, standing up and lending the picture back to his
godfather. "Thanks for showing it to me, Sirius."
Sirius nodded, glancing at Remus and looked back down towards the
picture. He was shaking his head, a gloominess sweeping in. "Your father
and mother were good people Harry. Good people."
Harry nodded and he felt a warm hand go into his. He smiled at
Ginny, as she wrapped her arms around him. "Well, we better get going. I'll
come tomorrow."
Sirius nodded, watching Ginny and Harry walk out. Remus moved
towards him and took the picture out of his hands. "This picture showed
how much they loved each other. How they fell in love, even though they
wouldn't admit it till graduation."
"Yeah, and you were complaining that 'we shouldn't be seeing it.'"
"We shouldn't have."
They became quiet as they stared towards their two best friends.
The two people who had fallen in love at first sight, but had never
realized it till that one moment in the picture.
The End
It was rushed, even I know that! Newayz, I still think it was decent,
don't you? Please r/r!
© Iris Marie 2000
Last part! Yeah! I hope you enjoy the conclusion! N,
please R/R!
Usual disclaimers apply.
Beyond Fate- Part 2
by Iris Marie
"I don't understand it!" James complained, staring at the
piece of parchment and trying to turn it into a flying swan. The
paper had gone through numerous transformations. Ranging from a
paper crane, to a real crane itself. "Why won't it turn into a-"
he stopped himself from cursing, glancing towards Lily's direction.
He continued, substituting the curse to, "-freaking swan."
"You're not concentrating enough," she said mildly, picking
up the parchment. Muttering the incantation and thinking of 'swan'
and all it's adjectives, a swan materialized and began to flap his
wings. Lily smiled, clasping her hands at the pretty beast, but
James was scowling.
"Sure, you can, but I can't," he said rather bitterly.
Rolling her eyes, she clicked her fingers and the swan was
once more a piece of parchment. "Just think of a swan and all that
it reminds you of," she said. "Now, what do you think a swan is,
James?"
"An animal."
"Adjectives!"
"Animal can be-"
Lily growled, and James sent her a wide grin. "All right,
all right! Now, let's see. A swan is white and graceful." The paper
turned blank white and then into a small ballet figurine.
"What else, James?"
"Well, it really is beautiful," he said. And then, the
parchment changed to show a figurine, the exact replica of Lily.
James flushed, not realizing what he was doing, but Lily was smiling.
"Think of it like this, James," she said. "At least you're
getting somewhere." She took the figurine gently in her hands, turning
it about. To her surprise, it was the replica of her when she first
entered Hogwarts with her glasses. Glancing towards James in surprise,
he had his head bowed and his ears were bright red.
Before she could say anything, he said, "Well... you were the
first girl who actually didn't gawk at me and stuff. I mean, no one
else automatically began to yell at me."
"And you find that beautiful?" she asked slyly, enjoying the
warm feeling that had spread through her body. She had never thought
that anyone found her beautiful. Especially not when she had glasses...
not when she was in her first year!
He luckily didn't have to answer since then Peter came bounding
into the common room and stood in-between the two. "James, tomorrow is
that day," he said quietly. He glanced towards Lily to see if she
understood, and since she nodded her head, he walked off again.
James gathered his books, trying to stuff his quill and the
figurine in his backpack.
"James?" Lily asked before he left.
"Yeah?"
"Can I have it?"
"Have what?"
Lily blushed, gently touching the figurine that was in his
hands. "Can I have that?"
James, confused, asked why. "To... well... remember that you
actually could find me... well." she trailed off, hoping he understood
what she was saying.
James smiled shyly, handing out the figurine for her to have.
"Sure, Lily."
And then when it was in her hands, he turned and went up the
steps, a large grin plastered on his face. Lily, finding out how cute
he was when he grinned like that, didn't even smack herself for thinking
such a thought. For, after all, James found her beautiful. She got up
with the figurine and climbed her own stairs in a daze.
-------
"Oh, how cute!" Sirius whispered when Peter had come back under
the cloak. Remus was fidgeting a bit, a regretful frown on his face.
"That wasn't meant for us to see," he said, trying to escape the
cloak, but Sirius and Peter held him in. "How would you feel if someone
spied on you in a moment like that?"
"It wasn't like they kissed," Peter replied, walking towards where
the two lover birds were. "All they did was smile."
"But-" Remus dropped it, not knowing how to express what kind of
vibes he felt. Vibes? Now, was that the proper wording for it? He didn't
know, but he knew that that meeting between the two was going to be
special in the long run.
"Now... who wants to bug James in the dorm room?" Sirius asked,
already forcing the two up and dashing up the steps.
-------
"All right then. Good night Remus!" Lily said as she watched Remus
exit the common room. The remaining trio sat on the couch, waiting for
the proper time to sneak under the cloak and exit the castle.
"SO?" Sirius asked quite loudly, his face showing a full smirk.
Peter and him exchanged knowing looks, each face equally mischievous.
"So what?" James asked, annoyed. If Sirius was going to make fun
of him again about liking Lily, in FRONT of Lily, he was positive that
he'd put a hex on him.
Sirius, catching the warning signs from his best friend, continued
undaunted. "What have you two been up to lately?"
Lily, confused, asked, "What are you talking about Sirius?"
"Don't play stupid," Peter said, slapping James on the back.
"We know. There's no need to hide it."
"Hide what?"
Sirius and Peter rolled their eyes, pushing James forward so
his face was only inches from hers. Both turned awfully red, but their
eyes unwavered from each other's hold.
"Hide that," Sirius muttered.
Snapping out of it, Lily said, "I still don't know what you're
suggesting at Sirius, and quite frankly, I'm getting annoyed."
"For a girl who is known as being awfully smart, you're also
awfully stupid."
James kicked him for saying such a thing, but Sirius just smiled
warmly back. "Why getting all defensive for her, James?"
"He doesn't have to, Sirius," Lily snapped, straightening her
back while standing. "I can take care of myself perfectly fine." And
with that, she walked up to her dormitory. Her cheeks were burning
by the time she closed the door behind her, wondering what that
conversation might have lead to. She didn't have the time nor the
energy for a relationship/crush.
Placing her books upon her desk, she paused momentarily as her
eyes swept the parchment that had just been delivered to her that night.
Taking it, she took out a roll of tape and stuck it beneath her table,
wanting it to disappear, wanting it to vanish.
'I can't attend,' she thought, trying to give herself some sort
of relief from the news her mother told her. 'I can't.'
She laid back down upon her bed, trying to think of something
other then the contents of the letter. But, it was a failed attempt and
despite the hardness that she felt in her chest, her eyes still blurred,
wanting more then ever to cry, but knowing she couldn't... wouldn't. The
door swung open and her fellow classmates entered and began to talk to
her.
The world seemed to fade, the words echoing that her father died
still ringing in her mind. And then, the funeral service she couldn't
attend. How could she? She had school... work... OWLS. There was absolutely
no way she could make time in her hectic schedule to miss school for a
week or two. Her father would want her to excel in her studies anyway.
However, despite all the excuses of not attending her father's
funeral whirled in her mind, the truth stood out like an ant to a whale.
She *didn't* want to go. It wasn't because she couldn't, it was because
she *didn't* want to go there and cry. She didn't want to cry. She
closed her eyes, her lashes already wet. Pulling the blanket above
her head, she told the other girls that she was going to go to sleep.
They nodded and continued to talk. Through it all, Lily stared at the
cloth above her, yelling at herself at the tears that had already fallen.
The other girls finally closed their lights and fell asleep. And
Lily continued to stare at the blanket above her, the tears still continuing
to fall, and the hardness in her heart gone, but rather replaced by
something else as fragile as a china doll.
---------
James grinned with his friends at the breakfast table. Last night
was one of their best escapades. They had gone through the Forbidden Woods,
met with a talking SPIDER that called himself Aragog, and even escaped
from his children's clutches when they had stated they were hungry. Then,
they met with some centaurs. Well, they ran away from some centaurs. At
least, Sirius and James made sure that Remus ran away. He just couldn't
wait to tell Lily what had happened. However, when she didn't come down,
he got concerned.
"What are you thinking about?" Remus asked, not quite over the
effect of turning into a werewolf the previous night. He still felt
rather drained, but also unusually alert.
"Huh? Oh, just wondering why Lily hadn't come down by now. Do
you think she's sick?"
"Why don't you check on her?" Sirius asked, already pushing him
off his chair. "Go on!"
James flushed, wanting to actually go, but embarrassed that if
he did, then Sirius would never allow him to deny that he at least
cared about the girl. Attempting to sit back down, he was saved when
Lily opened the breakfast room doors and sat down at the empty seat in
front of him.
At first, he was relieved, but then the concern came right back
in him when he caught sight of her bloodshot eyes and the bags underneath
them. "Lily, what's-"
"I studied really late last night," she quickly replied, staring
down at her plate. She really didn't feel hungry. She looked at the
boy's concerned faces and she gave them a smile. "So? How was your
time last night? Any good adventures?"
Before they could reply, the Owl Post came bursting through
the windows. Just like every other day, the owls came and dropped
parcels and packages about. To Lily's surprise, an owl gently lay
upon her shoulder and dropped an envelope on her lap.
"Who's it from?" James asked, leaning over and seeing that
it was from her mother. And, to his surprise, Lily was staring at
it as if it was a Howler. "Hey, Lily? You okay?"
But, her eyes had become blurry, and as if she realized it,
she stood up so quickly that her chair toppled. The room fell silent
as everyone looked towards her, and as it did, she walked stiffly
out of the room, the letter clutched tightly in her hand.
-------
"Is she all right?" James asked Nancy, one of Lily's roommates.
"I mean... well... what's wrong with her?"
Nancy shrugged, looking at him with worried eyes. "She won't
talk. She won't even let anyone touch her bed. She's just lying there
looking at the ceiling and stuff. Madison went and called Madame Pomfrey,
but for some odd reason, Dumbledore called her off and told her to let
Lily be." She paused then, looking down at her books. "The letter she
got this morning is still in her hand... crumpled. It must be something
about that. Anyway, James, I have to get cleaned. She's not allowing
anyone to talk to her, least stay in the room."
"All right. Thanks."
"No problem. I wish I knew what was wrong. She had been acting
weird all this week, though."
"Yeah. See ya."
"Bye."
-------
"What are you going, James?" Sirius asked as his friend opened
the chest at the foot of his bed. When he caught sight of the silver
cloak, however, he shut his mouth and went back to his book.
"I-"
But, Sirius shook his head, pointing towards his book and gesturing
him to leave the room. James smiled in gratitude as he slipped on the cloak.
------
Lily was on her belly on the bed, her head buried in her pillows.
Her eyes were burning holes into the letter that just came. It was bad enough
that her father died, even worse when your own mother would yell at
you for not coming. 'There's a reason why I won't!' she thought viciously
to the paper, her eyes blurring again. 'Why won't you see that!?'
The door creaked open and Lily didn't have to think twice on
who it was. "Potter, get out," she said without attempting to turn around.
Instead of hearing the door close again to signal that he left, the letter
that was crumpled on her bedpost was being lifted into the air and being
read. Lily jumped up, trying to grab for the letter, but failing since
James was still a full head taller then she.
Giving up, she flopped down upon her bed, her face in the other
direction. So what if he knew? Everyone will know anyway by the end of
the week. Would they be casting her out like her dear mother or just
pity her like what most of her relatives were doing. She closed her eyes,
defying the tears from falling.
"Lily..."
She clenched her teeth, a sob wanting to be let out at the way
her name was being uttered so softly... so tenderly. She needed to be
held, like the times when she would fall and get a cut. She could remember
her father scooping her up, hugging her pain away. A tear fell, and she
wiped it harshly against her pillow.
"Leave me alone," she said instead, trying to be cold and mean,
but failing when her eyes fell upon his tender brown ones. His cloak was
forgotten on the floor, and he continued to look to her and then to the
letter.
"Shocked, James?" She asked now, sitting up and shaking with
both frustration and anger. How dare he look at her like that! She needed
no pity... especially not from him. "I didn't even go to my own father's
funeral! How cold and awful of her to not attend! She never cared for
the man that supported her, comforted her, was her father," her voice
faltered, the thought of her father hurting her even more. Gaining
strength by the pain that her mother's words inflicted upon her, her
voice gained volume and conviction as she continued. "No, not Lily.
Petunia went. Yes, Petunia did, but not Lily. Not that ice-hearted witch.
She doesn't care for her father. She doesn't care about anyone!"
James watched her as she now stood upon her bed, yelling
down upon him, unknown tears falling down her cheeks. "Lily-"
"Lily what James? Are you going to chastise me to?" She grabbed
the letter from him, re-reading a section in it and then laughing.
"Oh, look here, James. Look what she tells me! 'All the years I thought
you were the kind, sweet daughter I had. But now, you disgrace me. You
disgrace this family's name. Have you no respect for your father? You
don't show up at the funeral. You didn't come to visit him as he was
in the hospital. And now, here you are, not even returning the messages
that I have to send to you! You are no daughter of mine!'" Lily
laughed again, throwing the letter into the air and then dashing
towards her desk and revealing the first letter she received.
Before she unfolded that one to read aloud, James was in front
of her, his arms around her body, his face buried into her hair. "It's
all right, Lily," he said softly, his insides aching watching her torture
herself like this. "It's all right."
Lily, shocked and confused, tried to wretch away, but his hold
held and he continued to whisper comforts into her ear and hug her.
"Let go, James!"
"Just let it out." He ignored her, ignored her attempts to be
released, and continued to hold her till her shoulders began to shake
and her head lowered. "It's all right, Lily. I'm here. Your mother was
wrong. You're not cold hearted. You have the warmest heart I know of."
"I didn't go to the funeral!" she cried out, sobs already
racking through her. "I didn't go! I'm cold, I mean, I-"
"You the sweetest and brightest girl in Hogwarts."
Despite her will to not cry, his words and comforts were stirring things
in her that had been buried from her. "You didn't go because it hurt too
much. I understand, Lily. She'll understand, too. It's all right. Come
now, Lil, everything is all right. Just let it all out."
And, she did. She cried in his arms till who knows when.
But when the sobs finally subsided, he let her go and looked into her
red eyes.
"You okay?"
Lily didn't respond. Instead, she leaned into him once more,
wrapping her arms around his waist and holding him as close as possible.
"Thanks, Potter," she said sincerely, already feeling a fresh batch of
sobs coming. She didn't understand what she felt, but she knew that she
needed and that was his arms around her. That's all she knew at the
precise moment and that was all she cared to know.
James stared at her in his arms, stared at her sweet face and
eyes. He gathered her up again, holding her as tight as he could without
hurting her, and knew one thing at that precise moment. He didn't want
to let her go. And then, before he knew what he was doing, he pressed
his lips upon hers without warning, and it lasted as long as it did
to make her smile again.
------
"Now that's CUTE!" Sirius exclaimed, taking a picture and handing it
to Remus to hold. Peter was giggling behind his hands, and Remus was now
really fidgeting.
"Now I KNOW we weren't supposed to see that guys!"
Sirius shrugged, making sure that all three of them were still
underneath the discarded cloak. "Think of it like this, Remus, my pal.
This here," he waved the picture in front of them, "-is the ticket to
teasing and blackmail. Oh, and a whole YEAR of enslavement." He kissed
the photo, but was careful to not disturb the kissing couple. "Plus,
anyway, it's not much different from before."
"But this time they DID kiss!"
"And?"
"And!? It's MUCH different!"
Sirius rolled his eyes, nudging Peter closer. "Remus, before, they
were just denying the whole love business thing. This time, they're
accepting. Well, accepting till they see this photo and start freaking out-"
"SIRIUS! REMUS! PETER!" Lily shrieked as the cloak was pulled
from above them and James stood glowering. Sirius smiled, happily
holding up the picture.
"Na-ah-ah! Now, James, as your new master-" But, he was cut short
as a red head came forward and grabbed the picture away. Sirius, pouting
and annoyed at being so rudely deprived, crossed him arms and stomped his
feet. "NOT FAIR!"
"C'mon, Sirius," Lily said with a smile of her own. "I really must
have a memory of the moment."
"So are you two an item now?" Peter asked. "Are you two in *love*?"
Lily and James exchanged glances, both shrugging, but grinning
at the same time. "Who knows?"
"Why not ask the picture?" Sirius asked, already trying to swipe
it from Lily. But, she held up a finger and wagged it in his face. "Nope.
No can do."
"Oh. C'mon! It's so unfair!" Sirius had now come down to whining,
staring about the room for support. Instead, Remus muttered a brief apology
and snagged Sirius's hood. "Let's make a duplicate then! PLEASE!!!!!!"
James shook his head, and Sirius finally began to walk on his own.
"Fine! Be mean!" Taking Peter and Remus, he shoved them out the door and
followed suite with a huff.
"You know he's going to try again," Lily said as she walked slyly
into his arms.
James nodded, grabbing the cloak and wrapping it around them.
Lowering his lips onto hers, she giggled, saying, "I really have to get
me one of these cloaks." James laughed with her, kissing her again.
"Oh damn it! That's completely UNFAIR! PETER! I TOLD YOU
TO GET THE CLOAK!"
"I did!"
"THAT'S A MATTRESS YOU IDIOT!"
Lily and James continued to laugh, held into each other's arms. Lily
let go suddenly, bending down to retrieve the crumpled letters. She glanced
at the words and then smiled towards James who was looking at her with
comprehension. "I really should write to them, James. Tell them about it.
Why I just couldn't go. How I couldn't..."
James nodded, leading her to her desk and handing her a quill. Spotting
the figurine that he conjured, he took it and a whole new image came forth.
The figurine had no longer the painting of a 10-year-old girl with glasses
and frizzy hair. Instead, there stood a figurine of Lily, sitting on her desk,
writing a letter that she was putting her whole feelings into.
Lily stared at it in amazement and then James began to speak. "That,
Lily, is what I must define as beautiful." And with that, without anymore
words, was the picture that Sirius got and preserved.
~*~*~* (Years later- Harry in his 5th year)
"That's them?" Harry asked, looking down at the picture that his
godfather showed him. He had looked through all of their albums, but none
had it when they were still in Hogwarts. Ginny was staring behind his
shoulder, watching as Harry continued to stare oddly at the two people.
"Yeah... your mother took away the picture of their first kiss,"
he shook his head, smiling at the remembrance. "So, of course I needed
another one to make it up. And I think this is a pretty good replacement."
Harry nodded, standing up and lending the picture back to his
godfather. "Thanks for showing it to me, Sirius."
Sirius nodded, glancing at Remus and looked back down towards the
picture. He was shaking his head, a gloominess sweeping in. "Your father
and mother were good people Harry. Good people."
Harry nodded and he felt a warm hand go into his. He smiled at
Ginny, as she wrapped her arms around him. "Well, we better get going. I'll
come tomorrow."
Sirius nodded, watching Ginny and Harry walk out. Remus moved
towards him and took the picture out of his hands. "This picture showed
how much they loved each other. How they fell in love, even though they
wouldn't admit it till graduation."
"Yeah, and you were complaining that 'we shouldn't be seeing it.'"
"We shouldn't have."
They became quiet as they stared towards their two best friends.
The two people who had fallen in love at first sight, but had never
realized it till that one moment in the picture.
The End
It was rushed, even I know that! Newayz, I still think it was decent,
don't you? Please r/r!
© Iris Marie 2000