A/N thanks to the few people that reviewed thus farJ This chapter skips around a lot. I'm thinking there will be two more. And don't worry, my next chapter to A Glimmer Within A Trial will be out soon!!
Before the Glimmer…
Part
V: Sixth Year Secretes
Lanie knew sixth year was going to be bad as soon as she loaded on the train. Not only did Snape stick out his foot to trip her as she was climbing into her compartment in the train, but everyone was in such a grave mood. Upon asking, Lanie found out that Voldemort has been going on killing sprees and many wizarding families have been strongly affected. She was relieved to see all of her friends, safe and sound on the train.
The first few weeks went by with uneasiness, but then they started to get back into the flow. Lanie knew that they were safe as long as they were in Dumbledore's hands. However, their families were in serious danger. Lanie would never forget the day Liberty got The Letter.
She was sitting in the common room, playing a card game with Lily. Shelby was sitting with Sirius getting 'cozy,' and Liberty was chatting with James, Remus and Peter. One of the barn owls swooped down, and handed a letter to Liberty.
"I hardly ever get letters," she said excitedly. However, as she read it, the excitement wore off fast. As she finished reading, her face fell.
"What did your nasty brother do this time," Shelby asked.
Liberty didn't answer. Instead, she stared down at the ground expressionless. The room suddenly began to grow quiet.
"What's wrong Libby," Lily asked, putting her hand on her shoulder.
"N-nothing," Lanie didn't think she ever heard Liberty speak so softly before. "I-I think I'm going to go to bed."
"At seven o'clock? Are you nuts," Sirius asked.
"I'm tired."
"What's wrong? Did mommy and daddy forget to send you their love from snob hill?"
"I wouldn't know. I don't have a mom or dad."
"Oh, so now you're going to disown your family? What did they do? It honestly can't be that bad!"
"They're dead," Liberty said, monotonously. She dropped the letter and ran up the stairs in tears leaving behind her open-mouthed friends. Lanie picked up the letter to examine it.
Shelby started to tear up. "Is Libby the only one left? I have to know, they were like a second family to me."
"It's only her and her older brother," Lanie said, holding out the letter to her.
"We should go talk to her," Lily said, turning towards the stairs. Sirius grabbed her by the arm to stop her. "Wait," he said, "I'll go. I was the one that upset her." He gave Shelby a comforting hug, then broke off and headed for the girl's dorm. Some third year girls gave him a dirty look as they saw him head up the stairs, but he just ignored them and continued up.
After that day, everything changed. They found out that Liberty's parents had found a potion that would weaken the effects of the unforgivable curses. They were staying in Hogsmead for a few days, ready to present the ministry with the ingredients of the potion the very next day. Voldemort found out and burned down their hotel room. All of her family, except for Liberty's older brother whom was not with them at the time, were burned along with the recipe for this life saving potion. The only thing left is a bit of the potion, saved in a little vile, that was tucked away safely in an old drawer in the Farhen's house.
Liberty started to shy away from her friends. She sat alone in the corner of the common room most nights, silently reading, or looking out the window. One day Sirius said he could not take any more of her moping in her little corner all by herself. He walked up to her, and after a few minutes Lanie was sure she caught Liberty give him a faint smile. She couldn't believe it, Liberty actually smiled! Little as it was, it was reassuring.
Whatever Sirius said to her that day helped a lot. Liberty still got into her little moods where she needed to be by herself, but less often. Lanie was proud at how well Sirius could handle the situation. He would take walks with Liberty, just quiet walks according to Liberty, but Liberty told Lanie that they helped her to become aware of her surroundings, realize that life was still going on.
As time went on, however, Shelby did not seem to be liking their little walks.
"Why can't Liberty come to one of us? Why does she always have to run off with my boyfriend," Shelby asked Lanie and Lily one day in the early spring.
"I think she just needs time," Lanie told her.
"She's had a lot of time. I miss talking to her, and I defiantly miss hanging out with Sirius. He's always with her."
"Liberty needs him right now. You just have to accept it."
"Well, I need him too. And he's my boyfriend."
"Don't worry Shelby. James hasn't talked to me in weeks, always busy with Quidditch. I am doing fine without him. You don't have to be around Sirius all the time, you know," Lily told her.
"I suppose you're right. Thanks Lil," Shelby reached up and gave her friends a hug. "Now, let's go down to supper."
On their way down, they ran into the last person they wanted to see, literally. Severus Snape was exiting out the door to the Great Hall just as the girls were entering. Lanie was turned, talking to Lily as she ran right smack into him.
"Watch where you're going," he sneered.
"Why don't you?"
"Come on Lanie," Remus said, grabbing her by the arm. "He's not worth getting into a fight over."
"Remus? What are you doing here?"
"James just got out of Qudditch, so we came down to get a bite to eat," he said, nodding towards James who was standing behind Lily. Lanie started to follow Remus in when Snape yelled out, "Gee, Rogers and Lupin together at last. What does little Pettigrew think of that?"
"Snape, shut up and leave them alone!" Lanie turned around, shocked to see his offender. Shelby was glaring at him, grasping the collar of his robe tightly in her hand. "You know, I always thought you were different. Guess I was wrong." She turned down the hall.
"Lanie, wait," he said, running after her.
"That was strange," Lanie said, speaking to Lily, James, and Remus.
Stranger yet, after that day, Shelby seemed to be disappearing just as much as Liberty and Sirius were. Lanie tried to question her, but she just made excuses about going to the library. Lanie happened to know she was lying because she went to the library one day in search of her to no avail.
Lanie found the common room getting smaller and smaller. Peter seemed to take this to his advantage by sneaking his arm around Lanie every now and then. Lanie still didn't know how she felt about Peter having such a crush on her, but she didn't object. She could see that no one else was going to ask her out any time soon, so when he asked her to Hogsmeade with him the last weekend in May, she accepted. She found out that Remus had asked some pretty Ravenclaw girl to go to Hogsmeade with him. She didn't even know he liked anyone.
The day before Hogsmeade, Lanie sat on the couch, braiding Lily's hair. James walked in and plopped on the floor next to Lily.
"So, going to Hogsmeade with me tomorrow Lil?"
"Why do you ask me James, since we both know you'll spend most of the day trying your hardest to ignore me?"
"I don't ignore you," he protested.
"Well, you certainly don't talk to me. No offence James, but I just cannot see why you ever ask me out in the first place. You never pay attention to me."
"Lily, please, go with me."
"Why?"
"Because, er, because…I like you. There, satisfied now?"
"They why don't you pay more attention to me?"
"Because I get nervous. I don't know what to say to you…always afraid to mess things up," he mumbled, looking down on the floor. Lily gave him a reassuring smile.
"I um, think I'm going to bed," Lanie said, leaving them alone. "Night guys."
The next morning was fun. Liberty joined them in the trip, and started conversing like old times. Sirius and Shelby were back together, and holding hands. Peter and James bought Lanie and Lily some rainbow daffodils, which Lanie thought were beautiful. Everything seemed to be getting back to normal. Except, Lanie didn't know what to think of Remus' date, Bonnie.
"Do you like my hair Remus," she asked so sweetly Lanie had to stifle a giggle.
"Yes, it's lovely Bonnie. I like it when it's up."
"I do too. But, it does look quite stunning down as well, don't you think?"
"Er, yeah, I guess."
They walked on to the Three Broomsticks. As they took a seat, Shelby whispered something to Sirius and took off out the door.
"What was that about," Liberty asked, looking at Sirius.
"She said she had to run to a few shops to get some potions for class next week. Apparently she forgot about them until now."
"Remus, could you get me a butterbeer," Bonnie asked in her sickly sweet voice.
"Of course," he said, motioning the bartender to bring a butterbeer over. "So Lanie, what are your plans for the summer?"
"Well, my parents are planning on vacationing to France. I'm so excited! We are going to…"
"Oh, France is nothing. My family is going to America this summer. Don't know if I'm going though. I kinda like the idea of having the house all to myself."
"You would rather stay home than go on vacation," Lanie asked.
"Yes. What fun is a vacation with your family?"
"It can be a lot of…"
"Look, Miss Congeniality, not everyone enjoys being around their family!"
Lanie noticed that even though Bonnie's words were aimed at her, Liberty started to get tears in her eyes. "What is wrong with wanting to be with your family before it's too late. Maybe one day you won't have a family anymore, and you'll wish you spent more time with them."
"Yes, you have some nerve. At least you have a family," Sirius spat.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you or anything…" But Lanie couldn't take any more of Bonnie. She got up and walked out, not stopping until she reached an alleyway a couple blocks away. She sat against a brick building, and tried to get her thoughts in order. She couldn't figure out why Bonnie insisted on being so hostel towards her. She decided she would just have to go back, and try her hardest to stay away from Bonnie.
She slowly got up, and took a deep breath, preparing herself to go back into the Three Broomsticks and not start a fight with Bonnie. She saw some commotion further into the alley. When she looked, she recognized Snape and Shelby, and they were fighting.
"Leave her alone," she said, advancing towards them.
"Lanie?" Shelby said her name with a look of fear in her eyes, and quickly dropped Snape's hands. This was when Lanie realized that they were not fighting in the alley; they were kissing.