A/n Thanks for the reviewsJ Well, here it is. The next part to A Glimmer Within a Trial will be out tomorrow morning, I promise (well…morning for me is generally around eleven, eleven-thirty since I'm on Spring Break right now)!!
Before the Glimmer…
Part
7: The End of an Era
Lanie started walking down the isle in her purple Maid of Honor dress, Sirius (the best man) beside her. She couldn't believe two of her best friends were getting married. Two years out of Hogwarts, James popped the question to Lily. He certainly surprised his friends, including Lily who was beginning to think James would never propose to her.
Lanie winked at Peter seated in the front row as she took her place at the altar. She nervously began to play with the locket Peter gave her last year. It had a picture of her and Peter together at the ball their seventh year at Hogwarts. Ever since she and Peter officially became a couple, she wore it constantly.
Lanie glanced to another part of the crowd to where Remus was seated with Bonnie. She had only seen Remus twice since she graduated so she was anxious to speak to him later at the reception. She also couldn't wait to speak to Shelby and Liberty, whom she hadn't seen since graduation. She thought about the potion vile Liberty had, and wondered if she would give it to Lily and James.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
At the reception, Lanie saw Remus bickering with Bonnie behind a tree. Curious, she tiptoed to the other side so she could accidentally 'overhear' their conversation.
"Why can't we just go now? We've been here long enough," Bonnie whined.
"These are my friends, Bonnie. I haven't had much of a chance to talk to them in the last two years so I would like to spend some more time with them."
"Can't you spend time with them by yourself? Why do you need me?"
"I don't. I just didn't want you to be left out."
"I feel left out being here. How many times do I have to tell you Remus? I am uncomfortable around your friends. Especially that Lanie girl!"
"I don't see why you don't like Lanie. She has never done anything to you."
"I just don't like her, end of story. Can I go now?"
"I can't hold you here against your will. I think the proper question is, can I stay?
"Fine! Just don't be here all night. You have to get up and go to work tomorrow."
Lanie heard a slight pop as she disappeared. She quickly ducked down into the shadows of the tree so Remus would not see her eavesdropping as he headed back to the reception. He walked on by without a glance in Lanie's direction. As soon as he was out of eyesight, she turned back to the party. She couldn't believe Remus was still putting up with Bonnie after three years of whining! She was glad she found someone that at least appreciated her; Bonnie clearly didn't appreciate Remus or his friends.
From there, the rest of the party went great. Lily and James proved to be a happy couple, and left the party early for their Honeymoon to France. Liberty confessed that she left the vile in Lily's suitcase along with a note explaining what it was for. They teased Shelby over her disastrous love life (her latest break-up was with a rich Muggle man who went crazy after witnessing Shelby unthinkingly changing her outfit with the flick of her wand). The evening ended with goodbyes and promises to get together again soon.
"I can't believe little Harry is a year old today," Lanie chided, picking the small child up and giving him a hug as she arrived. Peter apparated right beside her. As she set Harry back down, she looked around the room spotting Lily, James, Shelby, and Remus seated around the table. "Where are the others?"
"Most of them are out back. Liberty and Sirius haven't arrived yet," Lily greeted her, pulling her into a tight hug.
"And how are you all doing," Lanie asked, joining them at the table. "And where is Bonnie?" She aimed the last question to Remus.
"Bonnie and I broke up," he answered. "Don't worry. It was a mutual break up," he added, seeing the concern well up in Lanie's face.
A few minutes later, Sirius showed up, arms full of presents. "I'm here now, it's time to get the party started!" He picked up Harry and said, "How's my Godson?"
"'iri," Harry exclaimed.
"He's fine Sirius. And we can't start yet, Liberty's not here."
"That's her though luck. You snooze, you lose."
"Lose what," Liberty asked, finally appearing by floo powder. "He's gotten so big Lily. So, is Dumbledore here?"
"He's out back with the rest of the guests."
"So we aren't considered guests," Sirius chided.
"No, you're family," James answered, leading them out to the party in the back yard. "Coming Lily," he asked, noticing her straggling behind.
"I need to stay and get the cake out of the oven."
Nonsense! You should be out visiting your guests. I'll take the cake out when it's ready," Lanie told her.
"Are you sure?"
"It's no problem Lily. Peter can stay and keep me company." He was about to agree, when James whispered something in his ear. Peter nodded his head, and turned back to Lanie. "Well…I was sorta wanting to talk to James and Sirius about something," he objected.
Lanie thought something seemed a little suspicious. "All right, I'll just keep myself com…"
"I'll stay with you," Remus offered. They all agreed, and left Lanie and Remus to tend to the cake. "What was that all about," she asked when they had gone.
"I don't know…I'm really worried about them, with all that's going on though."
"What's there to be worried about," she asked, sitting back down.
He took a chair beside her. "Didn't they tell you? I didn't hear about it until Sirius owled me last week, but I was sure they would tell you…you being Lily's best friend and all."
"Tell me what," she asked, getting impatient.
"You-Know-Who knows about the viles."
"The ones Libby's parents made?"
"Yes. He already broke into Libby's house. Luckily, she was at work, but the vile was missing. If she would have been home, who knows what would've happened."
Lanie worriedly pulled her hands up to her face. Remus grabbed them, and set them down on the table, not letting go. "It gets worse," he whispered. "James has been researching the potion that Libby gave them. He is close to finding the ingredients. If You-Know-Who finds out, Lily, James, and even little Harry are dead meat."
"When is it all going to end? All this killing," she whispered, tears running down her cheeks.
"I wish I could tell you that." He took his hands off of hers, and brought them up to her face, cupping it in his hands. "Cheer up Lanie. We have to be strong."
"I know he will be stopped. I have faith in the good side; I just hope the good side will come through before too many loved ones are killed," she confessed. "Remus," she said, changing the subject. "What happened to you and Bonnie?"
"She didn't like any of the people I care the most about," he answered.
"Oh," she said, looking into his eyes. Slowly, he came forward and kissed her.
At first she kissed back; she had wanted this to happen for such a long time. But, suddenly she pulled back. "I can't…Peter…"
"Oh, right…"
"I'm sorry. But, I love Peter."
"Sorry Lanie. I don't know what came over me."
"Lanie, I know that this is a tough time. Lily and James are forced into hiding, You-Know-Who is coming to power quickly, and many of us do not know if we are going to be alive tomorrow. What I'm trying to say is…well, Lanie…I don't know if I'll wake up to see another tomorrow or not, but I do know that I love you…will you marry me?" Peter blushed a bright purple. Lanie looked up at the bright October sky and searched for an answer. However, an answer didn't come. Not the one she wanted to come anyway.
"Peter, I…I…" She didn't finish the sentence. She ran. She ran until she was out of breath. Then, she apparated to the first place she could think of.
"Lanie, what are you doing here," came Remus' voice when she appeared into his living room.
"I…I don't know."
"Here, sit down," he said, pulling a chair up to her.
"Thanks," she said. She sat down and remained silent, calming herself. She finally calmed herself to the point that she could speak. "Peter asked me to marry him."
"And what did you say?"
"I didn't, I just disapperated. I needed time to think…so, I came here. Oh Remus, what should I do?"
"What do you want to do Lanie? That's what's important."
"I think…I think I want to marry him."
He reached over and grabbed her hand. "Are you sure Lanie? Do you really love Peter? You know," he finished softly, "you do have a choice."
"What choice?"
"You could be with me," he said sincerely.
Lanie paused, was he asking her to marry him? She remembered her Hogwarts years. She would've done anything for this to happen someday. But, that someday didn't come soon enough. She fell in love with someone else. "I'm sorry Remus. But, I'm going to marry Peter." She smiled, and put her other hand over his. "You don't love me Remus. And that is okay, because Peter does, and that is all that matters to me right now. Thanks."
"That's where you're wrong. I do love you Lanie, but because of that, I'm going to let you go." With that he smiled back at her. "You better get back to Peter."
"Bye Remus," she gave him a hug, and disappeared back into Peter's house. She appeared in the Study, and heard voices coming from somewhere in the house. She tiptoed slowly into the living room, where the voices got louder. She ducked behind a couch, safely out of their sight. She saw a large man, draped up in dark looming robes. The only distinctive feature was his red beady eyes, glowing out of his cloak. Standing around him were several others, all dressed in black cloaks that covered their identities. The man with the red eyes was taking to Peter.
"It's time. You shall direct me towards them."
"Yes, my lord. May I have the permission to write a quick note?"
"Fine," he shot. "But hurry. We don't have time to mess around." Peter scribbled a note, and they left; all of them. Lanie slowly crept out from behind the couch, checking to make sure they were all gone. She carefully picked up the note, and read it slowly.
Lanie,
My master has come. He is going to kill James and Lily.
I'm sorry Lanie. I can't resist his pull anymore. I have gone to
Join my master. I wish he didn't have to kill them, but that
is
How it must be. I'm sorry. I just want you to know that I love you.
I've always loved you, and you've
always loved Remus. Don't be
Surprised Lanie, I know. As you get this, James Lily and Harry
Will all be dead, and my master will
have risen above all. I'm sorry
Lanie.
All my love,
Peter.
"No Peter, you couldn't," she cried. She quickly apperated to Godric's Hallow to warn James and Lily and to stop Peter. She apperated beside their house, to find it in shambles. The only sound she could hear was a faint cry of a baby. 'I'm too late,' she realized. 'It's all my fault. If only I didn't leave Peter this morning. None of this would've happened.' She saw explosions, and several flashes of green light. She didn't know what to do, so she did what had come so easily to her. She ran.
"Lanie?" She heard Sirius gasp, passing her on his way to the Potter's.
"My name isn't Lanie. I'm no one," she called back. She didn't stop running. She ran and ran until she couldn't run anymore. She was never to be seen again.
A/n Didn't that part just make you want to scream out, 'No Lanie, forget Peter and go with Remus'. Sorry, but she couldn't for the sake of the plot. I'm sorry the ending is so abrupt. I didn't want to put too much detail into James and Lily's death in fear that I would make it totally indifferent from the book. Please reviewJ