(Oiy! Guess who's never uploading a chapter in text form again! That was yucky looking.
Ug, now that I look at it…this is awful short. Don't worry, the plot can pick up now that I've gotten this situation out of the way)
A/N: Hey guys. College and writer's block hate me.
So, to everybody who's been waiting for…Oh, lord, 2 months…?
Sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry. J
Milady's Eyes:
By Adia
Chapter 5: Repose
Dumbledore's eyes bored into her head. It seemed that Lily was doomed to certain explanation. She wondered if he could tell if she chose to lie. Although she had already been caught red-handed, a part of Lily didn't want to drag Sirius and…James…down with her.
I'm not sure it matters at this point, she thought, suddenly recalling that this incident was a result of her already disregarding their feelings.
You don't have much to lose.
The thought made her unusually melancholy.
She swallowed, and began to talk.
Dumbledore listened calmly and silently as she spoke of the portkey, the broomstick, and how she had tried to stop them, and had ended up at the willow's mercy, and the rest of the selectively revealed details.
Lily finished and cast her eyes back to the sheets. A few moments of painful silence passed. Then Dumbledore, amazingly, began to laugh.
She looked back up into his eyes, which were twinkling and seemed to be free of the seriousness that pervaded them only a moment ago.
Lily felt perplexed.
Dumbledore reached forward and pulled a strand of hair out of Lily's face in a grandfatherly fashion.
"You'll have to forgive me, my dear, for that unorthodox reception, but…considering the circumstances…it is a bit of a relief that your troubles were a result of prefect mischief."
He paused.
"Miss Evans, someday, when you are much older, you'll gather your children around your kitchen table and tell them a story like this, and I don't hesitate in saying that you might laugh as well."
He sighed.
"But I'm afraid…it isn't quite as amusing right now, is it?"
The question, though rhetorical, was not meant to be scathing. Rather, Dumbledore spoke very empathetically as Lily flinched from the pain.
"In a few days, you should be up and about again-at which point it will be so close to Sept. 1st, I think you'd prefer to remain here for the duration of the holidays, I presume?"
Lily nodded.
"I will see to it that your things are transported safely to the prefect's dormitory, and that your family is informed of your whereabouts, of course. I've no doubt they must be worried."
Lily felt a little sick at the thought of her parents knowing she was cavorting around at midnight. In the company of two magically dangerous boy, no less. But nevertheless, her heart gave a little leap. If Dumbledore was taking her things to the prefect's dorm, then all couldn't be lost.
"But," he interjected into her thoughts, "What transpired this evening was very serious. You have been appointed a prefect in order to ensure the safety and well being of your fellow students. However, your first duty, of course, is to take care of yourself."
Lily felt her face go slightly pink with shame.
"I have no doubt in your leadership abilities, Miss Evans, and I would be hard pressed to revoke them from you permanently. But I am a little disappointed. I think it would be best, for yourself and for the school-"
Lily held her breath.
"If you were put on probation for a couple of months. I have a feeling-" Lily exhaled, and Dumbledore smiled. "That this is a bit of an isolated incident. However, if I am proven wrong, you do know the consequences."
Lily nodded soberly. "Yes, professor."
Dumbledore nodded. "Very good, then. You would do best to try and get some sleep now. Although I have a feeling I didn't need to tell you that." He smiled, and walked out of the ward.
Lily fell back on her pillow. She had the feeling that her life had danced precariously on the fence between ruined and wonderful that evening, and for once…it hadn't been entirely her fault.
Oh.
As though Dumbledore's presence had been holding back the thoughts, Lily was suddenly awash in the guilt of hurting her friends.
I hope they're all right…she wondered. But her eyelids were becoming very heavy, and the words were once again becoming a foggy jumble in her head. She slowly began to drift off to sleep.
She could hear the wind whistling through the trees and down the lawns through the open window as though everything she heard and felt were part of a wonderful and serene dream. The cool feeling of the sheets, the Luke-warm air of the room…and, as though out of nowhere…very soft footsteps.
Must be people outside the ward…she mused dreamily.
"…Lily…?"
Who's that?
"…Lily…? Are you alright…?"
I must be losing my mind.
"Lily…? I'm so sorry. I really am…I didn't mean to hurt you…"
Where is that coming from?
"I just…wanted to have some fun. But I when heard that...crack…I'd thought I'd lost you…Can you hear me? Lily?"
Sounds so familiar…
"Oh, Lily, please be able to hear me…please…I'm so sorry. If you can find in your heart…"
Oh…
"To forgive me…I promise…I won't hurt you again…
I know…
"Sleep well…"
It's…
Lily suddenly opened her eyes.
There was no one in the ward. Only the whistling of the wind and the air underneath the door could be heard.
…James…?
A/N: Hey again. I will, I really promise, try really hard to start writing more regularly, although I officially hate ETAs… J You can thank Trinity Day for yelling at me, and making me finally get myself (and this story) together. R/R.
