Yay! It's edited now! But still no Authors Note. It's too early to write one. Allie: Thanks for editing this so quickly, I think you did within a few hours, didn't you? Okay, enough of my babbling.
As We Go On...
Part 7
Do you know the feeling of about a million thoughts racing each other through your head as if it was some kind of competition, and every single one is trying to get all your attention? Five minutes and your headache is killing you, ten minutes, and you're ready to relieve the headache of killing you. Because you're ready to do it yourself.
Lily, her back turned to the entrance and therefore also to the cause of the seemingly huge shadow, didn't have the time for a headache, but a million thoughts were racing through her head anyway. Only did she not have the five minutes, therefore, she didn't have to be afraid of an aching head - but of everything else.
Her first reflex was to just stay the way she was, not facing who- or whatever the intruder was. The ostrich-version: As long as I can't see you, you can't see me either. The second reflex was to whirl around and try to push past the figure and out of the cave before it had the time to react. She did none of those, however. Ever so slowly, not sure whether to close her eyes or keep them wide open, she turned.
The next sound that could be heard was the choked - and almost hysterical - laughter of relief that escaped Lily. Who would have thought that Nero's tiny figure could create such a huge shadow thanks to the water reflected sunlight? The cat just sat in the entrance, waiting for her to finish her packing, tail curled around his body and ears twitching from time to time if hearing an interesting sound.
Lily shook her head at herself. Am I getting paranoid? Maybe leaving this place isn't such a good idea.
Nero seemed to sense her hesitation to leave, and all of a sudden, he was on his paws and strolled out of the cave, then back in and out again. Obviously attempting to tell her to follow him, and with a shrug of her shoulders, the girl took a quick last look around and finally followed Nero out and into the bright sunlight.
At first, she had to close her eyes, but after she had adjusted to the light, she climbed the wall of rock, using the now almost familiar path. On top, she paused, ignoring the impatient behavior of her companion. Which direction should she choose? She didn't intend to stay too close to Edinburgh, so she couldn't go to the left, but everything else was possible. Closing her eyes, Lily spun around in a circle, then stopped and took a step forward. Okay, south it is. Searching for Nero, she discovered that he was already a short distance ahead, seemingly eager to leave this place. Laughing, she followed, and soon, the willow that bent over the edge of the wall of rock was no longer in sight.
Lily never found out what happened to the place after she had left it, but when she passed it a few days later, she almost didn't recognize it. The willow had been split in two, as if struck by lightning- only that there hadn't been a thunderstorm. The entrance to the cave was blocked, and a few rocks had been ripped out of the wall. All in all, it looked as if some giant had been in a very bad mood while passing the place.
***
The house of Sarah's aunt, Larissa Kinley, had a great view all over Diagon Alley, and even though the girl had other, more important things on her mind, she couldn't help but admire the view. The place was busy as always, groups of wizards were roaming the streets, discussing animatedly, gesticulating towards the windows of the shops, little children were happily slurping their ice cream, important looking wizards and witches in dress robes were hurrying down the Alley, some of them talking to their business partners or employees through the balls of light that were flowing in front of their faces.
Sarah almost choked when she recognized two of the figures down there, one holding the other and comfortingly stroking their back. Sirius, And James. It was hard to see them properly, men were passing by and occasionally obstructing her sight, but a glance was enough for her to know what was going on.. She had been expecting it for a while now, James had been strong, but she had known that it would be only a matter of time until he broke down.
But Sirius was with him, and that's why Sarah wasn't worried. James needed to let it out, and then he would be able to go on and do everything necessary to get Lily back. As long as he wasn't alone, everything would turn out to be all right in the end, and Sirius was a good friend. Few of the people, who didn't know him very well, would believe it, but Sirius was an amazing listener. One who could make people feel better, just because he listened to them, calm and without judging their actions, taking in everything that was said and in the end, after making sure that he knew the whole story, offering his advice, but not expecting the other to follow it. It was one of the reasons why she had fallen in love with him. And why she still loved him.
When the voice of her aunt jerked her out of her thoughts, she was thankful for the interruption.
"Ready to tell your parents?"
"Uh..." Sarah hesitated, knowing that it had to be done, but dreading it at the same time.
A calming hand landed on her shoulder. "Come on, you can't avoid it forever. I'll support you, but you are the one who has to do the explaining."
"I know." Defeated, the girl hung her head and let herself being led to the fireplace, where her aunt had already prepared everything for the conversation spell.
***
Sirius could feel eyes on him and James, but when he looked around, no one was watching them, and he decided to shrug it off. "Feeling better?"
At first, no answer came, but eventually, James nodded, sniffing a little, but visibly gaining his strength back. "Sorry 'bout that."
"You don't have to be sorry, James. It's okay. God knows how I would go insane if Sarah were in danger. I'd rather not think about it."
"Thanks anyway." James was standing on his own feet again, wiping his face with the sleeve of his robe, then stretched. "Let's go! The sooner we have everything and can meet up with the rest, the better it is!"
With newly found energy, the boy sped off in direction of the pharmacy, Sirius following closely behind, shaking his head at his friend who was practically skipping the whole way there, but glad to have the James he was used to back.
***
The five friends met up about two hours later in the Leaky Cauldron where they had decided to have an early lunch before continuing their journey. Jessie and Remus were the first to arrive, soon followed by Sarah. It took James and Sirius about five more minutes to burst through the door, both carrying a bag with the moving logo of Grint's Potion's Ingredients Shop, a wizard with a long snowy-white beard who was stirring his potion and occasionally gave a wave at whoever happened to be in his sight. The two boys dropped their burden and sunk down in their chairs, panting heavily because they had been running the last few minutes in order not to be any later than they already were.
Ignoring the curious looks they were given, the two ordered their meal before the others were able to get any information about what they had bought. Which wasn't much information, though. Sirius just shrugged his shoulders and explained that he hadn't the faintest idea for which potion or spell they could use things like Fleeting Leaves or a red, clay-like material called Mahrey. And all James said was that he would give them an explanation as soon as they were really alone and not in the middle of a pub where everyone could overhear their conversation. Knowing that this was all they would hear from him, at least for now, the rest of the group turned back to their meals.
***
"Hey, Sirius? Could I talk to you for a minute?"
Immediately, Sirius stopped dead in his tracks and gave up on following Jessie, Remus and James to the bar. Instead, he sat down again, taking the chair opposite of the one Sarah was occupying, hope and confusion mixing in his eyes, but waiting for the girl to start the conversation.
She took a deep breath, then forced herself to meet his eyes. "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for how I treated you lately. I should have given you the chance to explain."
He shook his head. "What's there to be sorry about? I was the one who messed it up. I am the one who betrayed your trust. And I am the one who's sorry."
"Sirius, why... Why did you do it?"
The silence lasted for a few minutes, and then Sirius let out a depressed sigh. "Because I was afraid. Afraid of loving you too much, of losing myself."
"Are you still afraid?"
"No."
"Are you sure? Because you're dead if you screw up one more time."
His face looked like the one of a child who was waiting for St. Nicholas: Happy and full of anticipation, but at the same time a little afraid and timid. "Do you mean it?"
She nodded. "I do, Sirius. You have your chance, but you also have to earn my trust."
"I will."
***
"You want to spend the night here? But... Lil's already one day ahead, we can't let her get any further away from us, James!"
"We have to," clearly not happy about it, but nevertheless sure about doing the right thing, James sat down on the bed of the room they had just rented. "It's the only place I can think of at the moment where we are able to brew the potion we need without any interruption."
"So you're finally going to explain the big secret to us?"
"Yeah."
A common sigh of relief followed this announcement, and everyone sat down on the floor, heads turned to James, patiently waiting for him to start speaking.
*****
Sorry to stop it here, but don't worry: I actually do have an idea of what James is going to explain to them. Aren't you all proud of me? Hopefully, those of you who wanted to see Sirius and Sarah back together are happy after this part, even if I know that it is a short one.
Disclaimer: Not created by me. Wish they were, though, but I won't deny that Joanne K. Rowling's the better creator. BTW: Does anyone know when the fifth book will come out? Did they already set a date in the UK and the USA?
January 2002 I think
