FOREVER
Year three
Part five
Subtitled: Skeletons in the closet (AKA All is explained!!!)
A/N: okay everyone, if I get fifteen reviews for this chapter I'll post the next part. I really didn't want to do this but 17 reviews for the whole story is EXTREMELY pitiful! ::sniff:: L ::sniff:: I didn't get ONE review for the last chapter! I was really disappointed! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! I've resorted to begging PUHLEEEAASE!!!!!!! Ahem…Okay sorry I'm done beggingJ . I also decided to try a new font to liven it up, because black gets old to write with after awhile J . SO Please R/R. In case you forgot, on Christmas Day Lily's parents were murdered and she got another official letter which she hadn't read yet, but James had. This chapter starts out the day after Christmas and Lily has just read the second letter.
*****
"No, this can't be right." Lily shook her head in disbelief. "Are you sure this is right?" She looked at James. He shrugged helplessly.
"I don't know Lil." He said softly. She nodded feeling slightly disoriented and extremely weak. The world seemed to spin around her and what she had always grasped onto had just spun out of control. First her parents were dead and now this. She looked down at it again, hoping to find something to say otherwise from what she thought it said.
Dear Ms. Evans,
By now I'm sure, by now, that you're aware of the deaths of your parents. You have our deepest condolences. Unfortunately there are some matters that need to be discussed right away. I don't know if you are aware of this, but your late father, Thomas Evans, was actually your stepfather. Your late biological father, one Trifid Black, was killed in a dueling accident twelve years ago. We, at the Ministry of Child Services, have appointed your aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Cruis Black, to be your guardians. Your twin sister Petunia, due to her nonmagical nature will be living with your aunt Violet Miny; your late mother's sister. If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact us. Your guardians have been informed.
Sincerely,
Sean Anderson Head of the Ministry of Child Services
Sean Anderson
"This is too weird." Said Lily, hardly daring to believe it.
"So what does this mean?" James asked searching the paper for answers.
"It means that… that I'm Sirius' cousin." James looked up quickly in alarm.
"Do you think he knows?" Lily asked, hoping that he didn't. James shrugged, and, not for the first time that day, he didn't know what to do.
*****
Sirius jumped off the train with happy scream.
"We're going ho-ome. We're going ho-ome!" He chanted over and over again until finally, Tina, in a fit of annoyance that often comes from spending a lot of time with Sirius, put a silencing charm on her friend.
"I don't know how you stand to live with him." She said to Remus as they boarded a wooden, horse-less carriage. "I mean I lived with him for two weeks and I nearly lost my mind." She shook her head in disgust as Sirius continued to mouth the words "We're going ho-ome."
"What do you mean nearly?" Anna asked playfully shoving Tina. Tina glared at her.
"Why were you at Sirius' house anyway?" Remus asked delighted at the blush that formed on her cheeks. She uttered something unintelligible about her parents being out of town and stared out the window. Outside sleet threw itself against the windows making the gray day even more depressing to look at. Seeing Tina's obvious discomfort Roslyn (AN - I kinda forgot about her and Peter! Sorry Hehe) changed the subject.
"How do you think Lily's holding up?" She asked ripping her brown hair out of Sirius' reach. Tina shrugged.
"Well, I hope. She sounded okay in her letter, like, her parents didn't even die." Said Tina rejoining the conversation, but, Remus was pleased to note, she was definitely avoiding Sirius' eyes.
"Her parents died?" Anna gasped. "When, how?" She looked to her friends for answers before a whole wave of guilt surrounded her. "I feel so bad now, I had no idea. My letter was just about my brother and how cold it was."
"It's okay Anna, I'm not sure she even knew! In the letter she sent me she sounded really confused." Remus sighed. "I hope we don't have to tell her, that would be really hard."
"Not to mention awkward." Tina pointed out as she desperately tried to keep Sirius away. He now had out a pad of paper and was demanding she take the charm off of him. A smile grew on her face.
"Oops." She said feigning shame. "I forgot the counter spell." She shook her head. "Darn, What a shame." She snapped her fingers. Sirius started shooting daggers at her and before she knew it, he was on top of her tickling her. Tina was extremely ticklish and was screaming with laughter. After 30 seconds she gave up.
"Alright." She gasped. "You win." Satisfied he removed his body from hers and sat Indian style opposite her. He had his arms crossed expectantly and his eyebrows were arched. Sighing Tina got out her wand and said the counters spell.
"That's MUCH better!" He said, returning to his seat. Suddenly Remus, Anna, and Roslyn burst out laughing.
"You…::laughs:: should…::laughs:: see… ::laughs::.. yourselves." Remus laughed, clutching his stomach. Tina and Sirius exchanged looks that clearly said you're crazy. When everyone had calmed down Peter spoke up.
"What's so funny?" He asked, clearly confused. This sent Remus, Anna, and Roslyn to laughing again. Sirius shook his head.
"Have no idea Peter." He said looking at his friends sadly. "I have no idea."
*****
Lily looked out the window, pulling back her curtain. Below her throngs of people entered the castle.
"They're back." She said, glee absent from her voice. She didn't feel like dealing with them, least of all Sirius. James nodded, having gone through the same thing.
"Why don't you take a walk, I'll deal with them." He said, pulling her cloak off the hanger. "Here." She stared at it hesitantly for several seconds before nodding and putting it on. He handed her her broom. "Go out the back window." She took it and looked at him for a long while before finally tearing her gaze away.
"James… I… thank you." She said quickly as she disappeared out the east window. He nodded.
"I know Lil… I know." He said before slipping out the door. No one was in the common room yet but they soon would be. Sighing, he chose his favorite chair by the fire and resignedly got out his Charms essay. He was careful to arrange his features in a look of reserved boredom, so as not to have his friends suspect anything. Just when he had settled in the masses began to pour in, at first it large groups and eventually in a trickle. Adam and Annabelle, two exchange students, were among the first to come in. They said hi to James before walking up to their dorms. His friends, though, were among the last to come in. They were all laughing uncontrollably and both Tina and Sirius were soaking.
"What happened?" He asked watching Tina and Sirius at the rest of the group.
"Oh hi James." Remus said between giggles. "Tina pushed Sirius in the lake and he pulled her in after."
"It's NOT funny." Tina said looking extremely put out.
"Yeah, Ok riiiight." Said Anna, plopping down besides James. Tina glared at her and stomped up stairs to change with Sirius following closely behind.
"So, where's Lil?" Remus asked as casually as he could. He sat down opposite of Anna. James shrugged and avoided Remus' gaze.
"I dunno, detention, I think." He said, trying very hard to concentrate on his Charms. Remus raised an eyebrow.
"Detention? Lily? Why?" Remus asked finding it extremely unlikely that Lily would get a detention. James thought quickly. Part of the problem with lying on the spot is that you have both make it up as you go along AND make it sound believable.
"Well, you know McGonagall, run in the hall ways and you're dead." He said hoping his voice didn't betray him. He was always much better at lying to adults than his friends. Remus seemed to buy it though because he only nodded and started talking to Anna about the Potions essay that was due when classes started up again. James breathed a sigh of relief. Lily was safe, for now.
*****
Lily soared as high up as she could go, but she was getting cold. She had been outside for hours and the cold January wind bite relentlessly at her warm cloak. She would rather be outside and cold than inside and awkward. She glanced quickly at her watch. Her mother had given it to her last year for her birthday. She desperately wanted to chuck it away into the clouds. She was hurting, and bad. Suddenly her body erupted in sobs and she shook painfully. Finally she flew her broom to the ground and lay there sobbing for a very long time.
When her cries had subsided, she knew what she wanted to do. Suddenly everything was very clear. She climbed onto her broom and flew up to her window to her dorm. She peeked in. No one was there so very quietly she climbed in the window. With ghostly silent steps she approached her trunk and opened it. She sifted through her things until she found the very thing she had been searching for: the book James had given her for her birthday last year. The book was magical and showed what the people you loved most were doing at that moment. It had all ways showed her parents and with luck she might be able to see if they were OK, if they had gone on. With a stalled breath she opened the book open. Her eyes were shut and she didn't dare look at first finally she found her courage and stumbled with the inscription James had put on there. When she turned the page she read over the page and gasped. She threw the book down, and backed away from it, leaving it still open. She shook her head continually. And with a tortured sob she flew out the window.
*****
"It's upstairs." Tina said motioning for her friends to follow her. James, Sirius, Anna, and Remus walked behind her. Tina pushed open the door. "It's just over there." she said gesturing toward her new broom she bent to pick it up when she saw Lily's book. Tina read the first few paragraphs before her eyes grew wide. She picked it up .
"That's your broom Tina?" Anna asked, laughing.
"No this is the book James gave Lily for her birthday. Remember because she was homesick. It shows what the people you love most are doing." Tina explained looking slightly annoyed. Sirius shrugged.
"So?" He asked.
"So, it usually shows Lily's parents but read the first page," Tina shoved the book into Sirius' hands. He rolled his eyes.
"Her parents are dead. How can it show them?" He asked not reading it yet.
"Exactly, read it." He said and began to read.
"Oh." He gasped and handed the book to Anna and Remus. Their eyes grew wide.
"I want to see it." James said reaching for the book.
"I don't think that's a good Idea Jamie." Sirius said snatching the book out of his reach.
"What? Why? I have as much right to read about her parents as you do." He said angrily reaching for it. Sirius began to smile evilly.
"James buddy." He said putting an arm around James' shoulder. "Have you ever considered going out with Lily?" James looked at him strangely.
"What?" Sirius shook his head at his confused expression and handed him the book.
'You've got an admirer." James read over the page. The person Lily loved most was James. He shut the book calmly.
"Sirius, buddy, there's something I need to tell you." Everyone looked at him expectantly.
"Lily and I have been going out for three months." He then very calmly and completely collected left the room where everyone stared after him. Of all the things they had expected him to say. That was not it. Finally Sirius found his voice.
"You what?" he called after him. James just smiled to himself.
A/N- Okay I really want to know what you think so remember fifteen reviews I continue! And the reason Lily was so upset when she read that was that she's having a kinda overwhelming day and she was really disappointed that it wasn't her parents. Besides you can go out with someone and not love them so it probably came as a shock.
Disclaimer - I own nothing.
