His face looked grim. "Luckily, this isn't one of those stories." He spoke warmly and smiled. All three girls started talking rapidly giving thanks and telling about their relief. Dumbledore simply raise his hand to silence them.
"But of course all actions have their consequences as I'm sure you are well aware. Valentines Day must have some special event, such as a dance or party. It's to be for three hours and for the 4th years and up. The students have put me under fire and I'm afraid I don't have the necessary skills." Lily could not help but smile at this man. He really could do anything; she knew that with all her heart.
" I'll have to make you serve a detention in the next few weeks, but of course you understand. Now, any questions?" Dumbeldore said softly. Again all three girls spoke at once. Dumbledore smiled. "Ms. Darling, you may ask first." Rachael thought for a moment, trying to find the words that would best describe her question.
"How did Slytherin go… I guess go so wrong?" I mean look at the love and compassion he shows" Rachael asked solemnly. She seemed rather upset about the whole ordeal.
"Ah, a good question indeed, one I do have the answer to. Salazaar Slytherin is still today one of the greatest wizards of all time. Yet he endured a trial so terrible that nearly broke him, one that has broken many peoples spirits before. Hmmm, I know of someone else who recently went through some of what Salazaar went through in his earlier years. But then it got worst for him. Then again another tragedy was forced upon him. It finally defeated him." Dumbledore replied rather cryptically. Lily not seeing any other explanation coming forth she raised her hand hesitantly into the air. He nodded his head for her to proceed.
"What happened?" Lily whispered almost afraid to hear the answer. Dumbledore gazed deeply at each girl, possibly checking to see if each one could handle it.
"As Salazaar's parents slept, four muggles came into their village home and murdered them. Salazaar woke to his mother's screams. He ran into the run to see the plunge of the weapon deep into his father's chest. He barely escaped with his life. Salazaar later met with the rest of the Founding Four. His wife and two kids of three were murdered, again by muggles, while he was away. The last straw was when he fell in love again, only to have his love stolen away by his best friend Godric. He loved Rowena, but never spoke of his feelings." Dumbledore's breathing had become deep and his voice seemed to be getting fainter.
"Sir, who had their parents murdered before them at this school?" Lily inquired successfully deducing that no one at this school had lost a love to a best friend or had their wife and kids killed.
"That, my dear, I cannot reveal to you."
"What happened to the weapons?" Jenna requested with quite the quizzical look on his face. It occurred to Lily that Jenna probably had a profound interest in these medieval weapons. Lily found herself also very interested. Dumbledore smiled and cleared his throat.
"Disappeared to my knowledge. I do know that they are still here at this school, hiding somewhere. But I believe that the time will arise when the weapons will be needed once more. But that is only a guess." Dumbledores tone told them that he was pretty sure of his guess. Was he hinting something to them? Lily never knew what to believe when dealing with the headmaster. Sudden thought came to Lily.
"How many descendents are there left from the Founders?" Lily asked rather quickly almost excitedly.
"Two for Gryffindor, One for Slytherin, and I dare say you know who that is… Yes Lord Voldemort. One for Ravenclaw and none for Hufflepuff." Dumbledore stated. "I hope to not see you three again in the maze, unless with permission. Dangerous act. Wiser I thought the three of you were. Please, anymore questions will have to wait for a later time." Dumbledores voice told them that there was no room for argument, plus, they owed very much to this man. Why did he show them the memory? Why did he let them off? Who were the descendants? Who was the suffering student who had just lost his parents? Lily had millions of other questions swirling through her head. Dumbledore interrupted her thoughts
"Please send James to see me when you get back to class." Lily looked to the clock. They had one class left in the day. 'ONE CLASS left in the day!' Lily's thought.
"Yes sir." They started to walk down the halls towards their class. "Ha, I hope James gets in trouble." Lily thought a loud. Jenna and Rachael looked at her a little oddly. "Well, he sort of gets on my nerves, 'Yes I'm sure you've heard of me, yes I'm the incredibly smart guy and I think…well I know women want me, they might as well wrap me up and put a little bow on me, because I surely am a gift…' Honestly though, I mean he's not super bad but omigosh sometimes I want to shove…something right down his throat. Seriously though, has he not realized that he's a prick?" Lily let out a little growl. She couldn't believe she had just said all that. Maybe she was cranky from being tired. She sort liked James, well at least didn't dislike him. But now that she thought about it, he sure was cocky. Lily heard footsteps behind her. She turned her head and saw James, walking at a couple feet behind them. His face was expressionless. Rachael and Jenna were fighting not to laugh.
"Uh…Dumbledore would like to see you James." Lily spoke weakly. He stared at her for a second
"Alright, thank you. You three aren't in trouble are you?" He asked with a looked of genuine concern in his voice. Lily expected some snide remark, but none came. She shook her head and then threw an elbow at Jenna who had ventured to close to her. " Well that's real swell" His redneck accent eased the tension for a moment. He smiled at them for a moment, and then walked ahead and opened the classroom door for them, making a sweeping gesture for them, signaling their entrance. Rachael and Jenna curtsied when they passed. James told the teacher he had to speak with Dumbledore and was gone, but not before he gave a lavishing bow and dramatic spin, which brought Sirius to his feet clapping.
"Maybe he didn't hear me," Lily said hopefully to Rachael. She turned with one eyebrow raised
" To be honest we saw his face, and he did look a little hurt." Jenna whispered. "He's really not that bad."
"I know…but it's just recently… I don't know maybe I should apologize to him?" Lily said as much as asked. She slumped her shoulders. No it was James fault. She decided that he didn't like the way he treated people, almost looked down on them. Nor the way he thought he was so great and wonderful.
Lily was so glad that it was Friday night. After the previous days memory adventure and the maze adventure she was about dead. She had brought her monkey down to show everyone and tell her story. Sirius had to interrupt her, rather rudely by spitting water out of his mouth.
"What!?!?! You were in the maze… Well, this makes things real interesting doesn't." Sirius waved his hand for Lily to continue. She got to where she explained the monkey. This time it was Remus who disrupted the story.
"You took the monkey? That sounds like something Sirius would do?" Remus jeered, a grin spreading wide on his face. Sirius looked horrified.
"I put Joey back, how was I suppose to know what it really was, it didn't have it's horns yet…and never compare me and Lily, we are totally in different leagues."
"As I recall we seemed to almost die, break about a dozen rules, and not get in trouble…" Lily trailed off as she looked at Sirius, Remus, and Peter's heads shaking at her.
"I personally would have let you get in trouble but someone took the wrap for ya… of course we wouldn't say who or nothing…very secretive business." Sirius leaned into Lily to finish with a whisper. As he finished, he looked left and then right, as though he was looking for someone who might be listening, holding a very ridiculous look on his face. Lily almost laughed but then realized that Sirius had again gotten the best of her.
" Whatever…jealousy doesn't become of you two." Lily began to giggle, but suddenly realized that her friends were not. Jenna and Rachael walked over.
"You were all on grounds for expulsion, but someone stepped in. Oh and that memory thing, James already told me about that. But Lily if you would really like some help I would be willing to give you a few pointers." Sirius grinned, knowing that Lily might blow up any minute.
"Or we could just share some of our stories." Remus shot in.
"I got it… name your monkey Howie!" Peter squealed. Fortunately he did so or things might have turned ugly. Lily hadn't thought about what she was gonna name him. The portrait door opened and James walked in; his face set stern and eyes narrowed. Sirius leaped to his feet.
"James, what did Dumbledore say!?" He yelled across the room. James stopped walking. Lily noticed a hint of pain.
"What do you think Padfoot!? Now back up off me." He said harshly. He started walking up the stairs.
"Prongs you gotta stay, I need you… I can't live without you… well now I've totally crossed the line and you know none of that is true, but dude, come on you can't go." James turned on the stairs and stared. Lily and the rest of the commons room had made their way towards the stairs.
"I can't stay here, open your eyes, use your head Sirius. You know what's happened, we all knew it would…I knew what would happen if I chose to do what I did, but all three of them were worth it to me." James stormed up the stairs. Sirius showed the most emotion Lily had ever seen him show. He wiped a moistened eye.
" James…the world is totally ours buddy, I'm coming with you!" Sirius's eyes lit up as he thought through it. Lily could see that James was going to say no before Remus and Peter could join in it. But she wasn't listening anymore. It had just clicked in her mind. Dumbledore probably asked James if it was the truth about them, and he kept the secret. As much as she didn't want James to get kicked out, she couldn't help but feel a little glad. James came down a minute later with his stuff and walked out the door, but before he reached it, he turned and threw a silver cloak and piece of parchment and then whispered into Sirius's ear. Sirius read the parchment and then handed it to Remus and Peter.
"Whoa…he finished it!" Peter exclaimed.
"Whoa…dude…we knew that!" Remus mimicked Peter and then punched him in the arm.
"Whoa…James just made me Quidditch Captain." Sirius was shocked and troubled. "Well I don't even see the point of playing anymore… Can't hit James… only reason I wanted the job in the first place." Sirius was muttering to himself.
"Tomorrow is still Quidditch try out day. I'm sure Sirius will be more then ready to hit things at people tomorrow." Remus announced drawing some subdued chuckles from the crowd. Lily thought it was best that she comfort Sirius, he had just lost his other half. She started to feel a bit guilty for the way she had treated James. She thought back to his reaction. He had let it slide off his back. The usual pompous jerk had let it slide right past in the face of her obvious embarrassment. Come to think of it James had only ever played tricks on those who deserved it. 'No wait, that's not right' Lily thought.
Lily started to remember all the nasty tricks he had played on her. There was one that when they had flying lessons, James yanked on the back end of Lily's broom, sending a very fragile Lily over the front of her broom. Sirius caught her 10 feet from the ground. Both of them were hysterical. Lily was in tears and Sirius was laughing like a lunatic. Then there was the time he had transfigured her hat into a spider's web. It had almost completely ruined Lily's hair. Again later, James had hid dragon dung in her book bag. No one came within 15 feet of her for half the day until she figured it out. People still every once in a while would walk by her plugging their nose. The only reason she didn't hate him was because he always found creative ways to apologize and make it up if he did really upset her.
Remus accidentally bumping into her brought Lily back from her contemplations a minute later. Sirius had gone up to bed. It looked like she would have to wait until tomorrow to help him with losing James. She wondered how long she would have until James got back.
"So far, you've had a pretty weak adventure… but if you didn't get expelled what happened?" Peter casually asked. Lily determined that he didn't know what James and Sirius were talking about, but he didn't seem to really realize that James was gone for a while.
"We have to plan some grand event for Valentines Day. So that gives us…63 days." Lily said. She had a masquerade ball in mind, but she decided that Jenna and Rachael would have to tell her what was best. Lily looked around for them both. She spotted them back by the fire, playing with her monkey. He was quite the rambunctious creature, and she still hadn't named him yet. As Lily neared, she saw that her friends were all a little depressed looking.
"Hey, stop feeling down, just go ahead and turn that frown upside down!" Lily recited the cheesiest saying she could think of. Not even a smile from either. Lily thought it was probably because of James, they had both had a huge crush on him a while ago, at the same time. But now it was Remus they both were crushing on. They liked to make it a game between them.
"Lily, not only could we have been expelled or killed, but… I think James took the wrap for us." Jenna looked like the guilt was eating away at her. It all hit Lily, it made so much sense; he had even said "but all three of them were worth it to me" How stupid could she be! But no, James wouldn't do something; he held no feelings for anyone but himself. Lily didn't know what happened, but she knew who did know. She hated to have to ask, but Sirius was her only link.
