Author's Note- So, Chapter 15. So, word has spread that there is a Dark Lord. Lily just found this out. Hogwarts just found out. And guess what else: It's Christmas. So, we'll continue with Christmas and the next half of the school year. Ok, there will be no fights this time because I have a really important something happening. Disclamer: Really, I don't own anything.
Lily's Lake
Chapter 15
So, how do you break it to your family that if you don't join the Dark Side your life is at stake?
That's what I wondered as I stood in the kitchen refilling my cup of EggNog. Anya had just left to tell Andrea and Netta.
"Lily! Are you almost done in there? What's taking you so long?" Violet asked, poking her head into the kitchen.
"I'll be out in a minute, Vi," I answered, pouring some more EggNog into my cup.
So, I knew I had to go back out into the Living Room. My parents and sister were waiting.
"What was that all about, Lily?" Mum asked.
"Anya just wanted to tell me that… um… the test scores of this really hard test we took came out. I did fine but she was kinda embarassed to tell me her's in front of adults," I lied.
My parents nodded, but Vi looked at me strangely. Maybe my answer didn't sound truthful.
The next morning, after we opened gifts, Mum made this huge breakfast. I told everyone all about school, and then we bundled up to go to Aunt Lucy's for the Christmas party (for once it wasn't at our house). They lived two hours away, and it was a very long car ride.
I didn't go to Aunt Lucy's house often. But the house was wonderful. Aunt Lucy was a widow. Her husband had left her this huge amount of money, and a whole bunch of shares in the American Stock market (he was American), so she had a lot of money. Their house was huge, and they lived like most of your multi-millionare families.
"Oh! The Evans are here!" Aunt Lucy cried when we appeared in the door of the party room, where the rest of the family had gathered.
"Lucy, I'm so glad to see you," Mum said, hugging Aunt Lucy.
Vi and I each got hugged, then Aunt Lucy went to hug Petunia who, of course, wasn't there.
"Where's Petunia?" Aunt Lucy asked.
"She's off with her fiance, Vernon Dursley. I thought I told you," Mum said.
"You might have. I forget. Mellie has her boyfriends here, and I have some of my butler watching them," she said, then leaned over and whispered, "They just got into a fight over by the punch bowl. Ruined my white silk table cloth!"
I laughed, and then was embraced by two arms that I knew to be my cousin Melissa's.
"Lily! Violet! Oh, you must come with me! Come and meet my boyfriends!" Melissa said.
We followed her across the room where her three boyfriends sat in three chairs two feet away from each other, shooting glares at each other.
"Boys, these are my cousins, Lily and Violet. Girls, these are my boyfriends," Melissa said.
We nodded, and smiled. Each of the boys were bruised from trying to kill each other.
"Here, let's get some punch. I think they've put out another bowl by now," Melissa said.
The three of us got some punch and turned back to look at the guests.
"All three have proposed to me, girls. I don't know who to say yes to," Melissa told us.
"Well, if they keep trying to beat each other up you'll know, since there will only be one left," I said.
Melissa nodded, then looked towards the boys. She rolled her eyes as one of them reached over and punched another.
"I think we should move. There's another fight brewing," Melissa said.
We stayed until nine o'clock, then returned home. The rest of the vacation I did my homework and watched old muggle programs I hadn't seen since I was her age. Petunia came home on the last day to confirm with me that she would rather I not be part of her wedding and just watch, oh yes, from the back of the church. But, if Mum and Dad had their way, both Vi and I would be in it.
The next day Dad drove us all to King's Cross, even Petunia since he was taking her to go shopping directly afterward. I had double checked twice to make sure I had everything while I was at home, and I was ready to go.
"Bye, Lily! I can't wait to see you this summer!" Vi cried, and hugged me.
I hugged my sister, shook hands with Petunia, who was scowling, and hugged Mum and Dad. Then I walked towards the barrier and disappeared.
My friends were waiting.
"Lil'! Lil!" they cried.
"Hi guys, what did you do over Christmas?" I asked as we walked towards the train.
"Nothing really. My mum took me to this really weird festivle though. It was good for one thing though, lots of bangle bracelets!" Andrea said, holding up one of her arms that had about fifty silver bracelets that bangled.
"I took some pictures and…that would just about end my story," Netta said.
Anya shrugged.
"My sister just came home to tell me she didn't want me to be in her wedding, since she is planning it for next summer," I said.
"And you would want to be in that wedding because…" Anya asked.
"I don't, but my parents will make me. They are always pushing the three of us to get really close," I said.
"Oh."
Hogwarts had never looked better than when we rode up from the train. It was cold, and little snowflakes were drifting from the sky. The castle looked very warm and very inviting.
"Oh, I hope the fire is going. My hands are numb from standing outside waiting for a carrige," Andrea complained.
"I just hope it's warm," I said, getting out of the carrige.
"Come on, let's hurry and get inside," Andrea said.
We walked towards the Hogwarts tower. The hallways had a slightly different feeling around it, like fright. My friends felt it too.
"Ok, for the first time, and hopefully last, I'm going to say: This is creepy, you guys," Anya said, looking around.
"It's like… I don't know… a haunted house," I said.
"It's so quiet. It shouldn't be, the Ravenclaw Common Room is just behind the wall over there, it shouldn't be this quiet," Netta said.
"How did you know the Ravenclaw Common Room is just over there?" I asked.
"When you know James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter, you get to know a lot about the school," Netta answered.
"Come on, let's just get to the Common Room so I can warm up!" Andrea cried.
The Common Room was quiet too, but it was full. It was also more cozy then the cold hallways.
"Ok, that was creepy," Anya said, once we had settled into our usual seats by the fire.
"Let's drop that subject and warm up, I'm still freezing," Andrea said, and put her hands in front of the fire.
The next day at breakfast the Great Hall was noisy, just less than usual. All through the day that's how it was, until we got to our last class, Transfiguration, and we were told what was wrong.
"What's wrong with everyone today? Is it… like… a post-holiday virius?" Professor McGonagall asked once the whole class had failed to change a cactus to a porcupine for a pop quiz.
The whole class just slumped, including my friends and me.
"Just because somethings going on outside the Hogwarts walls doesn't mean we have to stop our studies!" Professor McGonagall said.
"Yeah! Just because people are being killed for hardly any reason at all doesn't mean we should stop trying to transfigure a cactus!" someone cried, and it sounded like Sirius.
Professor McGonagall crossed her arms and glared at the whole class. Her eyes paused on everyone for a few seconds.
"I can't force you to do your studies, but I will say you will be no help to anyone if you don't. If you want to make it in the world you have to study, and this world is not a good place to be without money," Professor McGonagall said.
Her eyes did another look around the classroom, and she said, "OK, let's try that lesson again."
This time the class did a little better.
Mail became the one thing everyone hated. In the morning, everyone looked up at the owls, seeing if they reckonized one.
Mail could bring good news: a letter from home, some packages, or sweets. But, now, mail could also bring bad news: a family member had been killed, both your parents were dead, a family friend was dead. The bad news were mostly deaths. Everyone hated opening thier mail. Even the muggle borns, like me, were afraid, since Lord Voldemort, or You-Know-Who, as he was starting to be called, was also against muggles.
One day, Anya got a letter. Since everyone hated opening mail, she didn't want to open it.
"What if it's good news, and you don't open it?" Netta asked.
"Usually it's more bad news than good news!" Anya countered.
"You'll never know unless you open it, and then you'll worry all day. At least, now, if you open it, you'll know for sure," I said.
It was a lie, a small one, but still a lie. Most people worried the whole time, even if they did get mail. That was everyone, except the Slytherins mostly.
Anya bit her lip, and opened the letter. A second later she let out a long sigh, a sigh of relief.
"My parents… they wrote me to tell me they're ok. They didn't want me to worry," Anya said, showing us the letter.
"See, it was good news," Netta said.
One morning, a small second year Gryffindor got the letter everyone dreaded to get. I was just about to start on my second pancake when she let out a wail. Everyone turned to face her. She crumpled up the letter she was holding, and threw it. It landed in a Ravenclaw's pumpkin juice. She ran out of the Great Hall, crying. At the teacher's table the Professors looked at one another, and then turned to Professor McGonagall. It was her student. She stood up and followed the girl out of the room.
"Poor girl," Andrea whispered.
"Do you know her?" Anya asked.
"She lives down the street from me. It must have been her parents, she has no other family," Andrea said.
"Oh, the poor thing. I would hate to be all alone in the world like that," I said.
Andrea just nodded, her eyes still on the door.
"She's a really nice kid, has a lot of muggle friends," Andrea said.
Weeks later, I returned to the Common Room to find all my friends looking strange. They had been like this for some time, but I had tried to pay no attention. On three separate days my friends had returned to the Common Room in shock. James, Sirius, and Remus were also, like that, and a few other kids too, from every House. Peter and I were the only ones among our friends who weren't in shock.
"What's wrong with you guys?" I asked.
No answer. My friends just looked as if I hadn't even spoken.
"Hello! Come on, is anyone listening to me?" I asked, waving a hand in front of Anya's face.
"What? Huh? Oh, hi, Lil'," Anya said.
"What's the problem? You three looked like vombies," I said.
"Oh, nothing. We were, um, just thinking about the homework Professor McGonagall gave us," Netta answered.
"Really?" I asked.
They nodded.
"Speaking of homework, I went to the library and got out that book we needed for Potions, for that essay," I said, and turned to my bag.
I dug through my bag, and then sat up.
"That's strange, I remember putting it in my bag, but it's not here. I must have left it on the table in the library," I said.
"Oh well, we just won't hand the essay in tomorrow, that's all," Andrea said.
"No, because we'll lose points. I'm going to go get it," I said, stood up, and grabbed my bag.
"Wait, Lil'! Don't go!" Anya cried.
"What? I have to go get the book," I said, looking at Anya as if she was insane.
All my friends wore the same look, fright mixed with shock.
"Bring James' invisibility cloak then," Anya said.
"Why?" I asked.
"The teachers! They'll catch you!" Anya said.
"Don't worry, I'll be careful!" I said, and started across the Common Room.
"Don't go!" Anya cried.
"Too late!" I said, and went through the portrait hole.
The fat lady was sleeping, so I tip toed down the hall towards the stairs. I was careful to make sure there was no one around, and went down the stairs.
The library was deathly quiet. It was dark. The candles had been blown out, and it was cold. I went through the tables to where I had sat earlier. It was empty. On the table next to it, my book lay. It was right in the center of the table, neat as can be.
"How did it get here?" I asked myself quietly, and stuck it in my bag, and hurried from the library.
The hallways were dark and creepy. I turned towards the stairs, and found another hallway.
"That's strange, I thought there were stairs here… It must be down the next one," I thought, and went down the hallway.
Before I knew it, I found myself lost in a dark hallway. It was cold, and there were no doors around. I had no idea where I was.
"Oh great, this is just great. Now what am I going to do?" I asked myself, looking down another hallway to see if I reckonized anything.
"That was just the question I was going to ask you," a creepy voice said from behind me.
Author's Note- Would I end it here? Nah, I'm not that mean, am I? So, just keep reading, peoples!!!!
I went to turn around, so I could see who was behind me. The sound of the voice told me it wasn't a teacher, they didn't have voices like that.
"Make a move and I'll blow you into bits," the voice warned.
I froze. Not even an earthquake could have moved me. I was frozen with fear. Here I was, in the dark hallways, lost, and, on top of that, there was somebody threatening to blow me into bits.
I felt a wand jab my back.
"Now, turn around, I want to see your face," the voice said.
I slowly turned around. The figure's face was hidden, and they wore long black robes, that mixed with the hallway.
"Throw your bag over there, and throw your wand down too," the figure ordered.
I tossed my bag aside without hesitation, and then dropped my wand from my pocket a second later.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"Don't speak until I tell you to!" the figure ordered.
I shut my mouth.
"I am a messanger for the dark lord. What is your name, witch?" the figure asked harshly.
"Lily… E…E…Evans," I answered.
"Lily Evans, is it? Good. You have been chosen because of your superiour skill to join the Dark Side," the figure said proudly.
"What? Join the… the… Dark Side?" I asked.
"That's correct," the figure said.
"You are the people who have been killing all those families! You are the people who are ruining us!" I cried hatefully.
"Silence!" the figure cried.
"I would never join you, even if my life depended on it!" I cried.
"We can make that so," the figure replied cruelly.
I froze with fear.
"Oh god, oh god, he's going to kill me," I thought.
"Let me ask you that question again. Crucio!" the figure cried, his wand facing me.
Pain engulfed me. I didn't know where it was coming from, but it was pain, terrible pain. I wanted to scream out, but his hand covered my mouth. I sunk to my knees.
"I'll ask you again," the figure said, and withdrew the spell. "Will you join the Dark Side?"
"Never!" I whispered.
"Fine then, Crucio!" the figure cried.
The pain started again. I cluthed my stomach. Tears welled up in my eyes. I wanted so badly to scream. I just wanted to scream! But his hand covered my mouth.
In one motion I lifted my mouth and bit him as hard as I could.
"Ow!" he cried, jumping back.
I screamed as loudly as I possibly could. The figure glared at me, and hit me in the head.
He removed the spell, and said, "You brat, you will pay!"
"I thought you refered to my kind as 'Mudblood'?" I asked.
He snarled, and hit me around the head again. This time, things got dizzy, and I fell to the ground in a heap. Everything just blacked out, as I saw the figure move away.
A/N- Don't worry, I'm not ending it here.
"Look! Look! She's awake! Madame Pomfrey! She's awake!" Anya screamed.
"Shush! This is a place for healing, not screaming! If you want to scream go out in the hall!"
I looked around. It was white everywhere. Madame Pomfrey? I must be in the hospital wing.
"Lily! You're awake! Oh, good!" Anya said, hugging me.
I looked around. It was the hospital wing. Anya, Andrea, and Netta sat in chairs next to where I lay. Professor McGonagall was talking to Madame Pomfrey over in the corner.
"Good, your awake. We were worried," Professor McGonagall said.
"What happened?" I asked, startled.
"We heard your screaming and came to found you. You had been knocked out, and weren't breathing very well. So they brought you here," Professor McGonagall said.
"What time is it? I have class," I said.
"It's dinner time, the next day. Your friends skipped to come see you," Professor McGonagall said.
I looked around, and was slightly disappointed not to see one face among those of my friends.
As if to answer me, Netta said, "The Potter Gang went to get us all some stuff to eat from the Great Hall. They'll be back soon."
I nodded.
"And after that, Dumbledore would like to see you all," Professor McGonagall said.
"What! Miss Evans needs rest! She looks like she went through a tornado!" Madame Pomfrey cried.
"Headmasters orders," Professor McGonagall said.
The door opened and the boys walked in with arms full of apples, bread, and tarts.
"Lil's awake! Great!" Sirius cried.
"I just woke up," I said.
"Good, well eat up and then I'll lead you to the Headmasters office," Professor McGonagall said.
"We all want to know what has been going on these past few weeks. Last night Miss Evans was found on the floor in one of the hallways, knocked out," Dumbledore said.
"I don't know who it was, but I know who sent them. They said they were a messanger from the Dark Lord, and he wanted me to join him," I said.
My friends and the boys nodded in agreement, all except for Peter. When we had told him what had happened, he was startled. He hadn't gotten anything like that.
"We all went through that, except Peter. I guess he didn't make the cut," Sirius said.
"Tell me, each and every one of you, what happened. I want to announce it to the school so anyone else who went through anything similar can know they are not alone," Dumbledore said.
Anya had met the same kind of person in the hallways. He had threatened her, and then used the same curse that he used on me. Only once, because once he took it off she ran away.
Everyone else's story was just the same, basically. Netta, James, Remus, and I had both gone through two attacks. The three of them had run after that, but I was the one that bit his hand and screamed, so he knocked me out.
"Thank you for sharing this with me, all of you. Now, you can return to your Common Room, and I want you all to get as much rest as possible. You need it and you deserve it," Dumbledore said, and wrote something on a piece of paper.
The next morning, during breakfast, Dumbledore stood up. Everyone looked up to face him. My friends and I exchanged glances. We had decided last night to call no attention to ourselves during the speech.
"We at Hogwarts have tried to keep whats happening on the outside off the school out. But, instead, it came in. Over the past few weeks seven students, and I am sure there are more, were attacked by a messanger of the Dark Lord, wanting them to join the Dark Side. All seven refused, and were attacked. But they all survived. This is important. We must know everyone who was attacked. The seven were brave enough to confront me, and I want to know everyone who was attacked so that Hogwarts can become safer. Remember, the Dark Side is evil, they have been killing your classmates families, and I assure you, they are not right for any of you," Dumbledore said.
The whole school was in shock. Then people started to buzz.
While in the hall later that day I heard rumors about who it was. One of them included me.
"We all heard that screaming the other night. I know who it was. It was Evans, the girl from Gryffindor!" someone said.
"She's a prefect! They say she may be headgirl next year! And she's really smart! No wonder they would want her!"
Some people confronted me, asked me if I was one of the victims. I just hurried away to catch up with my friends.
The end of the school year was a relief. I could finally go home to see my family. I couldn't wait. My friends and I boarded the train, and I thought about the end of the year.
I was still pretty friendly with James, and I often forgot about our fight. But when I remembered I just got mad. My friends and I had refused the Dark Lord, and survived, and we were still friends. I was still a prefect, and the rumors about me being the next headgirl were a possibility. And now, I would get to see my family, finally.
* * *
Meanwhile…
"Did we get a spy?" a cruel voice asked.
"Yes master, and no one suspects them," the smaller voice answered.
"Good. What about the others? This one, is a Mudblood? Word must not get out, or our reputation will be ruined!" the cruel voice said.
"So what am I to do?" the smaller voice asked.
"Take care of them all… this Mudblood first," the cruel voice said.
"Yes, master. We shall make plans right away!" the smaller voice said.
A/N- Ok, I am finally ending this. Sorry this took so long, but I only have like fifteen minutes to write each day. So, the next part will be up soon, I promise. Oh, and read the story in my favorite, and review it to (she needs 180 reviews before the next chapter goes up, and I really want to read it). Bye! Come back later to read the next part!