(Disclaimer: I own nothing.)
(Author's Note: Here's Chapter Ten…I'm going to try to make this long. Bear with me please! By the way, I changed James to being a chaser and Frank to being the seeker. Thanks a bunch for telling me what they were!)
Chapter Ten
James felt a lump jump to his throat at the site of the teachers. Beside him, Sirius stumbled and fell so he caught the other boy. Lily helped hold the black-headed boy up. Professor Jenkins conjured a stretcher for Sirius and was asked by Professor Dumbledore to escort the unconscious boy to the hospital wing. The teacher obliged and with one last stern glance at the three remaining students, she strolled off.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Evans, and Miss Forester, please follow me," said the headmaster. He turned to stroll down the hall as they looked at each other warily; then they followed. When at his office, Professor Dumbledore sat on his great armchair and smiled softly at them. Nearby, Fawkes, his phoenix, burst into flames.
Lily jumped up in surprise and looked to James and Hallie who were looking back at the headmaster. "Er – Professor Dumbledore, your – your bird burned up," she stuttered. Why wasn't anyone else as interested in the sudden incident as she was? Burning birds weren't normal to muggles, but she should hope they weren't normal to the magical community as well. In that room, she was the only muggle born student.
The headmaster smiled. "Yes, Miss Evans, I am aware of that." She looked at him for a further explanation and his smile widened. "Phoenixes are magical creatures. When they die, they burst into flames and their lives are renewed. Just watch the ashes." She did as was told and watched as a baby bird came out of the ashes. Surprised as she was, she gaped openly and the headmaster laughed. "Wonderful, isn't it?" Lily nodded. "Miss Forester, what is it you are doing?" he asked with amusement in his voice. Lily looked at her best friend.
Hallie had picked up a medium sized snow globe. "Looking at this funny thing," she mumbled softly. He chuckled, which made her look up and when she did she blushed. "I – I mean – er…Professor Dumbledore, headmaster, sir, er – what is this?" He held out his hand and she handed it to him.
"Hmm…I have never seen this before. I don't recall having it here or placing it on my desk…" he looked at her. "When did you see it?" She shifted in her seat uncomfortably.
"I – I just sat down and when you were talking about the phoenix I – er, sorry Professor, but I wasn't particularly interested so I looked around…I saw that thing right here." She pointed at the arm of the chair she sat at. The headmaster looked at all three of them and nodded at her.
"I see." He placed the snow globe onto his desk. "Now, we have an incident I would like to be informed of. Mr. Potter, would you care to share the events of this past night?" The boy looked up. Pale blue/gray eyes bore into bright sea blue ones.
"I brought Lily with me to the platform next to the Shrieking Shack. Sirius and Hallie came looking for us and found us there. That was when the winds started coming. It was as if they were trying to hurt us or something because it blew Sirius into the wall of the shack and Hallie over the cliff." Dumbledore put up a hand.
"Winds you say? What sort of winds?" James looked to Lily and Hallie who looked back at him.
"Well, they were really strong. Hallie did a spell and then told us the winds were enchanted." At this, the headmaster turned to Hallie who blushed a bit.
"What spell did you use, Miss Forester?" he asked in a quiet but stern inquiring voice. She looked at him and then to her lap.
"I – I don't remember, sir." Lily looked at her with shock.
"Don't remember?" she asked incredulously. "How can you not remember?" Hallie glared at her.
"I just don't." The professor was looking at all three of them searchingly.
"All right, Mr. Potter, Miss Evans, do either of you remember the words used in her spell?" Lily pondered this.
James said, "Chantebra Lengorio." At once, when the words were spoken, winds slammed the doors open and swept around him, the girls, and Dumbledore. They were levitated into the air.
"Infinite Incatatem!" yelled the headmaster. Instantly, the winds disappeared and they were dropped into their seats except for the teacher who came down slowly. Hallie was trembling and Lily was looking around in wonder. Professor Dumbledore's breathing was a bit off normal but he looked calm. "That is a spell from long ago, a very powerful one at that." To Hallie he said, "And you say you don't remember the spell?" She shook her head. "Do you know how or when it came to you?" She pondered over this for a few short moments. Her expression turned to one of slight fear but she quickly composed herself.
"It came a little while after Sirius was thrown against the wall. Lily was telling James he couldn't go to him. It was too dangerous. I'm not sure how it came to me," she replied.
"Who told or taught you that spell, Miss Forester?" he asked in a very calm and quiet voice. She looked at him levelly.
"I'm not sure," there was a finality in her tone that Lily recognized well. It was the tone in which meant that the conversation was over and that no more information would be given by her. His eyes twinkled and he just nodded.
After James told the rest of the recent event, the headmaster looked at all three of them in interest. "It seems as though you all have had a very wondrous time last night. You have all been through a lot so I suggest you try to rest for the remains of the day. Class can be pushed back. However, you all will get a week of detention starting the week after the next because I think Miss Forester is already busy this coming week." Hallie blushed again. "I'll leave Professor Jenkins to choose your punishments." They stood to leave when he said, "Here, Miss Forester, I believe that this belongs to you." He handed her the snow globe. She looked at it, and then back at him.
"Professor, it's yours, it was on your armchair." He shook his head.
"You should take it." And he put it into her hand. She shrugged and followed Lily out with James trailing behind them but the headmaster's voice stopped them once again. "Mr. Potter, please stay for a moment." James stopped and slowly turned to look at him. There was an odd light in the boy's eyes, which made Lily take his hand and squeeze it comfortingly. He looked at her with a smile and then close the door behind them.
"We should go see how Sirius is doing," said Lily into the silence. Hallie looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Why?" The other girl rolled her eyes.
"He's our friend, that's why; and he's hurt." Hallie folded her arms across her chest defiantly.
"Good for him." Lily nudged her.
"Don't be mean." And then she grabbed the girl's hand and pulled her to the hospital wing where Sirius lay looking up at the ceiling with an annoyed expression upon his face. When they stepped in, he turned and grinned at them. "Hey, Sirius, how are you feeling?"
"I'm all right. Madam Pomfrey fixed me up in a jiffy." Lily laughed while Hallie took a seat next to the door and looked at her snow globe.
It shimmered with fairy glass and inside it snowed with real ice. The four figures inside waved and walked around. The black haired girl threw a snowball at the redheaded one and ducked another one thrown back. The two boys seemed to be keen on dumping bunches of snow on each other.
"Accio round thing!" she heard someone yell. The snow globe flew out of her hands and into Sirius'.
"Hey!" she yelled indignantly. He just smirked and shook the ball making the snow fall and whirl around with the figures inside yelling silently up at him.
"Wow, what is this?" Lily laughed.
"It's a snow globe," she replied
"And it's mine, so give it to me!" yelled Hallie. She ran over and tried to grab it from him but he kept it away. She hit his stomach making him curl up and so she was able to take her globe back.
"Ow," was all Sirius said. Madam Pomfrey ran into the room and looked around.
"What is the meaning of all the yelling?" Hallie turned around and walked out leaving Lily with a hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh and Sirius clutching his stomach.
"N-Nothing, Madam Pomfrey," he croaked. She looked at him, then to Lily, and then to the door in which Hallie had exited.
"I don't believe you, but I'm going to pretend nothing happened in here and that I didn't hear anything," she said and walked out. Lily laughed when the woman was gone.
"It's funny how Poppy and her mother are so alike," she told Sirius who just nodded.
"What's our punishment?"
She looked at him strangely. "Punishment?"
"Yeah. For our little midnight trip." She smiled.
"A week of detention week after next." His eyes widened.
Incredulously he asked, "Really? That from Dumbledore? A single week? How am I supposed to reach the Hogwarts record of most detentions at this rate!"
Remus and Peter walked down the halls to the dormitory. "I'm sure they'll be all right," said Remus. Peter didn't look consoled in the least.
"Of – of course. There's just – just a feeling, and it's not right." Remus looked at him strangely.
"What sort of feeling?" The other boy just shrugged.
"Remus, can I ask you a question?" The boy nodded. Peter looked uncomfortable for a moment.
"It's fine, Peter, I don't mind you asking," said Remus reading his friend's thoughts. Peter just nodded.
"Er – when did you – er – get the, um – bite?" he stammered softly. The other boy put a hand through his light brown hair.
"I was seven. I was with my friends and it was getting late. Our parents were calling us in by that time but since we were young, we – of course – didn't listen. Somehow, I got separated from the group…that's when I got bitten." Remus paused and sighed. He was busy looking at the floor. "I – I was kind of afraid to go home for a few days. My parents got really worried and sent out a search part. I was only seven so…I wasn't too smart at that time." Peter chuckled which made Remus let a small smile escape his lips. "Dad found me up in our tree house. The rest is history really. I told them what happened, they tried to find a cure and a doctor who would help…so on." Peter nodded.
"I'm – I'm really sorry, Remus." The other boy waved a hand to dismiss the apology.
"Not your fault." They had arrived at the common room. Peter suddenly jumped.
"I'll be right back, I forgot my bag in the Great Hall."
Remus asked, "Do you want me to go with you?" The other boy shook his head.
"That's all right, I'll be fine." He strolled out of the portrait hole and down the corridor. When he rounded the corner, he was dismayed to find Lucius Malfoy, Severus Snape, and surprisingly, Gwen. When he tried to walk past them unnoticed, Lucius laughed and stopped him with an outstretched harm.
"Where would you be off to, Pettigrew?" Gwen's eyes widened as she looked at Peter and then in disgust she turned to Lucius.
"You leave him alone! How dare you pick on him!" Lucius looked at her strangely for a moment before understanding dawned on him.
"But Gwen –" Severus started but Lucius elbowed him in the stomach making the younger boy double up in pain.
"Come on, Peter, let's get away from these losers," said Gwen.
She led him down the hall and was about to turn the corner when Peter said, "I have to go to the Great Hall." It seemed as if she hadn't heard him or noticed that he had stopped in his tracks so he said again, "I have to go to the Great Hall," except more loudly this time. At this, Gwen turned around.
"Huh? Oh, right, well, I'll see you in the common room then, all right?" He opened his mouth to reply but she was already briskly walking away. Shrugging, he went to the Great Hall and got his bag. Then he returned to the common room where he saw Remus sitting with Lydia at a round table nearby. He walked to his friends and took a seat. Remus grinned at him and Lydia smiled. Peter told him what had happened but then James, Lily, and Hallie came down from the dormitory steps.
Remus, Peter, and Lydia jumped up. "Where have you been?" they questioned simultaneously. Then they looked to each other and broke into laughter. The other three came down and took seats at their table.
Remus looked at them and noticed someone was missing. "Where's Sirius?" James looked to the two girls beside him.
"He's in the hospital wing." Lydia's eyes widened noticeably.
"You are going to tell us the whole story." And for several long moments, each of the three took turns telling parts of the story. About an hour after, they were sitting around doing nothing at all but enjoying themselves with the peacefulness of the empty common room when Sirius stumbled in. He climbed through the portrait hole and grinned when he saw them all there.
"What're you all doing up?" he asked taking a seat next to Remus on the couch.
"Nothing at all." He nodded and looked extremely bored. Then he smiled.
"I know! Let's set off fireworks in the Slytherin common room!" he exclaimed. Then his face fell. "Oh yeah, I forgot. You took them and used them all," he said pointing at Hallie. She was looking into the fire and didn't seem to hear him. His face contorted. "Hello?" She didn't move so he nudged her with the end of his shoe. She suddenly jumped up and dropped the snow globe that was in her hands. It fell, but because fairies made it, it didn't shatter.
Picking it up, she turned to her friends. "What time is it?"
"Half past ten," replied Lily. She nodded.
"I'm going to bed now, goodnight guys."
Sirius watched after her and muttered something about maniac witches before he too went up to sleep.
"But I do love you!" she screamed at him as he loomed over her. Any time before he would have smiled at her and forgiven her, but now was not then, things had changed.
"Don't lie to me, I know all about you and him," he replied in a deathly calm voice. Anger coursed through his veins and he was making an effort to control himself. She stood and looked at him.
"Serpise, please, please listen to me. You don't understand!" Tears filled her eyes and fell down her cheeks. How he wanted to brush them away, but it wasn't him she wanted to hold her now, he thought. He hated the look in her eyes when she looked at him. Pity, fear, brotherly love…that wasn't the way he wanted to be seen. It used to be different. She used to love him.
"You said you'd love me forever. That you wouldn't ever leave me."
"But I will love you forever! And I will never leave you! You just don't see the way it is! You don't understand!" she pleaded with him. If only Ric were there, he would know what to say, what to do. Where was he?
"Foolish girl, how I despise you. Why do you lie to me? To my face?" he spat out viciously. His glare bore into her and made Rowe take a step back.
"Serpise, Serpise please!" she cried desperately. He turned away from her touch.
"Don't call me that, I don't want to hear that name fall from your lips. You who I gave my heart to, you who I loved and gave everything to, you who would deceive me." He shook his head and backed away, looking at her in disgust. "I want nothing to do with you."
At that moment, the door opened and Elle walked in. She looked thoroughly concerned. "What's wrong?" Her eyes darted from Serpise to Rowe who was standing before him, sobbing into her hands. She strolled briskly to her friend. "Rowe? Rowe, dear, what is the matter?" She cried into Elle's deep green robes, which brightened the green of the redhead's eyes. "Serpise, what has happened?" He glared at her.
And before he stormed off out of the room, he whispered one word, "Betrayal."
James sat up and looked around wildly. His curtains were pulled back and light was pouring through the windows. His breathing was labored and he was sweating through his nightshirt. That was a dream different from all the others. He didn't know what to make of it.
Sirius walked over to his best friend. "Good, you're up, I was wondering when you were going to get up." James looked at him through dazed eyes. "You missed breakfast by the way, but I didn't want to wake you because you slept so late last night." Sirius suddenly noticed the 'out of it' gaze in James' eyes. "Er – James?" The other boy didn't move a muscle. "That's what I thought." He walked off.
James was lost in his thoughts. Every one of the three people in his dream seemed so familiar. Rowe, Elle, Serpise…the names were familiar as well. It was just so familiar.
He was suddenly jolted away from his thoughts when a bucket of water was poured over him. Soaked to the bone, he blinked bewilderedly around and caught site of a wickedly grinning Sirius. "What?"
The other boy laughed. "Time for Care of Magical Creatures." James blinked at him for a few short moments before getting up slowly to get dressed. He, Sirius, Remus, and Peter walked out of the Gryffindor house and to their class. The four of them sat in a group and in the middle was a cage. Sirius was looking extremely bright today, more so than normally. "I've had a wonderful idea. It just suddenly came to me in this weird dream I had." The rest of his friends looked at him expectantly. He leaned into the middle of the table and motioned for the others to do so. "We should become Animagi."
(Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews!
I finally changed James to being Chaser like he was supposed to be. Thanks for telling me that he was supposed to be that instead of seeker guys!
Thank you to Lissa May, Star, and Care! I appreciate the info and your comments! Lotsa love from Sea Chelle)
