The Emerald Fire*
By: SilverPhoenixWings
A/N: Well, I'll get right to
it, but I'd like to say thanks to all who have reviewed so far. You have put up
with my insanity, sarcasm, and all that comes with reading my stories. I hope
you enjoy this chapter.
Dedication: To all of my
friends in North Carolina. You wonderful people overwhelmed me with long
distance phone calls on my birthday, and for the first time since I was nine, I
was talked out.
Disclaimer: ~*~13~*~ owns
the owl post.
Owl Post, Roses, and Flailing Arms
Lily slowly rotated her goblet of pumpkin juice. Whether
it was out of boredom, loss of appetite, or sheer anguish, no one knows. She
ignored the post as it came in, but something made her look up. Lily would look
back upon this day and remember the sheer terror that she felt at that moment.
A large, black owl was sitting on Dumbledore's shoulder. Lily pulled Callie out
of her seat and out of the Great Hall. Jen followed knowingly.
"Lily?
What's up?" Callie asked. Lily and Jen bit their lips.
"C'mon,
Callie. Dumbledore will be out in a minute." Jen said.
Sure
enough, the headmaster came sweeping out of the Great Hall with the boys close
behind. He led them outside, to the Quidditch pitch. The sirens had been long
gone, but people were still afraid to come outside.
"The
girls have been found." Dumbledore said shortly. Lily smiled slightly, and
Callie burst into tears.
"Professor?"
James asked, confused.
"Liane
is at St. Mungo's." Dumbledore continued. "Sadly, Voldemort killed Emily."
Dumbledore paused as Sirius muffled a cry. "I know that this is hard, but you
have to work to help Liane. The encounter with Voldemort has left her in a
Wilderness of Mirrors. She will always be looking over her shoulder. She won't
want to be left alone. But, we need to help her out of her grief."
"Do
you think we can?" Remus asked. Dumbledore nodded. Lily hugged Callie tightly,
willing her own tears to ebb away. Sirius stared at nothing, and looked as
though he were in a daze.
Dumbledore
called the students into the Great Hall. He slowly explained about Emily and
Liane. Cries went out from the girls, and gasps from the boys. That afternoon,
a service was held by the lake to honor Emily. Each student brought a rose and
piled them onto a raft. After all had paid their respects, the raft was set a
float.
James
was chosen to say a few words as the raft floated away.
"No
one knows why things happen. Nothing can explain why Emily died. We all loved
her. She was energetic and full of life. She made us laugh when she was hyper.
Emily was never that great in classes, but some how she managed to learn every
curse in our book. And believe me, body-binds aren't fun." James chuckled
slightly. "I'm up here today to remind you what a great person she was. She'll
live in our hearts forever, and surface when we've had too much sugar. As you
live out the rest of your lives, tell people what they mean to you. Tell them
that you love them. Emily was an angel. She stayed here for a very short time
to make us laugh and see the joy of everyday life. I'd say she did a pretty
good job." James smiled and looked at the raft.
The
next week, Liane returned to school. The first difference they could see
surfaced when she walked into the dorm. She took one look at Aisling and froze.
She started breathing heavily and clenching her fists.
"I
HATE YOU!!!!!" Liane screamed at the bird. "You KILLED her! I HATE YOU!!!!"
Liane's arms flailed out for the bird, but Callie, Jen, and Lily held her back.
Aisling flew out the window. Liane slowly regained control and sat on her bed.
Callie
left to find Dumbledore. She found him outside the portrait hole, ready to come
in.
"Aisling."
Callie said. Dumbledore nodded with sadness in his eyes.
"Maybe
Aisling should stay with me for a while. I had a feeling this would happen."
Dumbledore explained.
"Yeah.
Maybe that's the best thing." Callie said.