I've put off writing this for long enough. I want to thank those who reviewed *7!!! I can't believe it* You are the absolute best! Anywho, my muse seems to be taking a lot of time off right now (slacker!) so I really have been trying to rack my mind with later chapters. I have to tweak Voldemort's age a little bit in here. I believe that Harry was born in 1987 but it won't work with Voldemort, so just pretend that the diary Harry found in book 2 was really 30 years old instead of 50. There is going to be a song or part of a song for every chapter. On three you can read…one…two…THREE!!!
Useless Information: Not a quote today, be happy, but a rather weird menu. Here are some examples of what the rich ancient Romans would eat; Baked Parrot, Fried Flamingo, and Jellyfish with eggs.
Disclaimer: There is no way in this world that I could get this published as my own story. (Although, I think someone did publish a Potter parody) That already belongs to J.K. Rowling and Marion Zimmer Bradley.
If Time is All We've Lost
Chapter 2 - Goldenrod
'The past is now another land,
far beyond my reach.
Invaded by insidious,
Foreign bodies, foreign speech.
Where the timeless joys of childhood
Lie broken on the beach.'
-Elton John and Tim Rice/ 'The Past is another land'
Lily continued to tell them the rest of the story. It seemed that Petunia had succeeded in convincing the family that Lily and Narcissa stopped considering themselves their true daughters. When Lily had tried to explain this, they shooed her away, sixteen year-old Petunia with a triumphant, snotty nose in the air. Lily had also met up with Minue Figg, who had had another daughter, Arabella.
With Lily's hasty return, Minerva decided that they would go to Diagon Alley the next day. They slept quietly in the house of maidens and Minerva returned to her small house. She sat there, as one of the young priestesses began to unplait her long, dark, fine hair. As soon as the girl was done, Minerva wished her to bed, and, about an hour later, Minerva finally fell into an uneasy sleep.
She had a very odd dream, or a vision from the Great Mother, which it was, she couldn't tell. She was rushed into a chamber, filled with dark signs of the deepest dark arts. Four limp figures were bound in the entrance of the high arch twined with serpents.
Lily was inside the chamber, there was no mistaking her auburn hair, clearly cowering from two dark-haired men, one with his wand and one without. There was a blinding flash of light, and an Avalon sickle knife lay on the ground, splashed with blood, and a silence that was eerie hung in the air. There was a yell from the hall and before Minerva could see what happened, she woke up in a cold sweat.
There was a faint noise outside. Minerva rushed to her window to see what it was. Narcissa was outside, with her harp, plucking a solemn tune, her voice as pure and sweet as honey. Minerva looked longingly at the young woman, and then a thought struck her…Why hadn't Narcissa been in the dream? None of the bounded figures had her shimmering hair…and she knew that Lily and Narcissa were inseparable…and yet…?
Minerva sat near her bed. This plan could not go awry, she had worked too hard. Once she found that the Goddess would not give her any children, she knew it was her job to find heirs. She had waited 15 years for Alia to come along. And after that it was another four to wait to take them to Avalon. And the Merlin, …she had to talk to the Merlin. She ran to the shores of Avalon, plucked the herbs and flowers she needed, and got out her battered bronze mirror.
'No'…She thought… 'I can't trouble him with this right now, I'll talk to him soon enough.' And with this uneasy resolution, Minerva drifted off to sleep.
They next day dawned bright in Avalon, but as soon as Lily, Narcissa, and Minerva stepped into the mortal world, it turned cloudy. Lily and Narcissa knew by now that since Avalon is almost in a world of its own, there can be very distinct changes in the real world than in Avalon.
They made their way out of rural England and into the busy bustle of the city. Then into the grubby little pub called the Leaky Cauldron. They wandered through the secret passageway and into the winding road of Diagon Alley.
They stopped at Madam Malkin's and got their robes, not unlike their dark blue gowns they wore on the island. Minerva almost had to curse Lily and Narcissa out of Flourish and Blotts, they had never seen so many books in their lives. Then to the Apothecary, where the girls weren't really surprised. They had grown up with things such as chamomile infused mint leaves and blue dragon scales.
"Ollivander's," said Minerva, sighing deeply, recalling when she too had been taken here by her foster-mother. "This is the only place to get your wand, no other else will suit you right." She clasped her hands on Lily and Narcissa's and they set off into the tiny shop.
"Minerva, how I have been expecting you!" said Mr. Ollivander happily. "And this must be Narcissa and Lily. I have been expecting you two, must be two of my most important customers." He smiled gently at them. The two girls giggled together.
"Well, who will be first?" he asked the girls. Lily and Narcissa looked at each other apparently settling this question without the use of words. Mr. Ollivander looked curiously at them and then smiled in Minerva's direction, who returned his smile whole-heartedly.
"I will," said Lily bravely. She had always been the go-getter, the girl was fearless. Lily stepped up to the counter and allowed herself to be measured for the second time that day. Mr. Ollivander went into the back of his shop and returned with two wand boxes.
"You have to be one of the oddest customers I've ever served and for once I am sure that one of these two wands will be yours." He looked at her with elementary intrigue. "Like I said, I have never been as sure that a wand belongs to a person like this before. So, try this one first; Pine, 14 inches, and a Unicorn tailhair."
Lily took the wand from him apprehensively, while in the post of the speech, and gave it a wave. Nothing happened. "Hmm…then it must be this one, I'm sure of it. Here you go; Willow, 10 inches, and containing one dragon heartstring." Mr. Ollivander now stared at Lily with complete interest.
Lily took the wand in her hand and gave it a wave. In a jet of blue and red sparks, the dark crescent moon appeared in the shop. As the smoky sign disappeared, Mr. Ollivander said thoughtfully, "Only a true priestess would have made that appear."
Lily sat down in the single, spindly chair, looking very proud of herself. Narcissa walked slowly up to the counter.
"There is a reason that I said that you two were my most important customers," his sapphire eyes reflected the ones so much like his own. "I had a feeling that you would take the one that didn't fit Lily, try this one." He held up the first wand that he had offered Lily. Narcissa waved it and the same mark appeared in the room. Lily and Narcissa paid for their wands, and left the shop, now tired and distraught after their long shopping trip.
Minerva had booked two rooms in the Leaky Cauldron for one night and when they headed back to the entrance to the muggle world. She felt this feeling of utmost failure and fear. She dismissed the feeling with an impatient glance at the nearest shop.
They ate in the pub that night. Minerva sent the girls to get bread and berries from Tom when she couldn't help but notice who was motioning her to sit beside him.
It was Voldemort. She remembered his mother vaguely. She had been recommended by one of the younger priestess's as a potential student, although Minerva sensed the girl was weak in her mind and soul and therefore unfit to become a priestess. She had rejected his mother and Voldemort thought that she and all the other people involved in Avalon should be murdered and Avalon shunned back into the heavens, never to return.
Unfortunately, Voldemort had obtained a small, very unclear, portion of the Sight.
"Minerva," he said in mock surprise, "fancy seeing you here."
"Ah," said Minerva reminiscently. "Why do you want to talk the one that supposedly ruined your life?" She looked at him intently. Voldemort was not really that old, barely out of Hogwarts; he had graduated only two years ago.
"Well," he said, looking over his shoulder as if expecting something to fling a dead rat at him. "Some of us have our reasons to conduct a civilized conversation with the ones the hate most." He raised his dark eyebrows expectantly. He looked almost like the figure in the tapestry that was Mordred.
"What have you seen?" She asked impatiently; she had been ready for this.
"I know that both of girls cannot be the Lady of the Lake because you, conveniently, forgot to tell their mother to have their middle names start with s. I know that that is an important factor, as it was said by the very first Merlin. "And that they will marry two death-eaters.:
Minerva was overwhelmed for a moment. She couldn't believe that both Lily and Narcissa would end up almost destroying Avalon's chances at survival much longer.
After that moment, she felt shame. It was she that had forgotten to tell Alia to have her girls' middle name start with s. She had planted her and the Merlin's royal Avalon blood inside the lotion. The plan was flawless, until she thought about it in Avalon later, and then she knew that she would have to wait to see what kind of children Lily and Narcissa would bear; the Goddess would let her know if their children would be suitable for her plan.
At that moment, both girls reappeared with the food. Minerva hastily told them to sit in the table next to them. The girls sat down and chatted merrily about their day's adventure.
"You know that I can totally defeat you in this, telling the death-eaters whom they marry to never allow them to bear a child alive. What would you do then, oh Lady" He said in a sarcastic type of praise.
"You cannot assume that you know all, Voldemort. The Great Mother has her own reason for everything." As she said this, she noticed that Voldemort was not looking at her, but at Lily. This was not the stare that Mr. Ollivander had given her, but one that showed that Voldemort's heart was racing and his mind ticking with a horrible plan. Lily didn't seem to notice. "What are you looking at?" She asked urgently, trying to break his piercing stare.
"Nothing," he said in a faraway voice, but his eyes lingered on Lily for a little more and then he turned to Minerva, with a look that plainly told her that his mind was made up and that his evil plan had just broken its shell. "What would the Great Mother think if I made sure that Lily or Narcissa never had children? What if I make her mine and leave the other to my most faithful death-eater?"
Minerva gaped at him, in pure white horror. Surely he wouldn't, he couldn't. She didn't mind about the death-eater thing, she was sure Narcissa could overcome him easily, but Lily married to Voldemort? No, the Goddess would have her way with this whole situation.
"Something to dwell on and to haunt your dreams at night." He told her cheerfully, obviously enjoying her expression. He swiftly got up from his chair and left through the muggle world entrance.
Minerva slept fretfully that night and eventually woke up at 1:00 AM frantically trying not to think of the new plan that Voldemort had. She had to call the Merlin to her know. There was no avoiding it now. She took out the herbs and flowers that she had saved from the night before. She placed her mirror by the fire and broke the plants into the fire, the fire glowed purple color. "Merlin, I want to speak with you, it's urgent!" she shouted into the fire before the purple turned into a bright yellow and a man emerged from the flames; Albus Dumbledore, current Merlin of Britain.
"What is it, Minerva?" Dumbledore asked her.
Minerva explained the whole conversation with Voldemort and the plan he had. Afterwards, Dumbledore stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Voldemort cannot do anything while I am headmaster, he knows that. After Lily graduates from Hogwarts, we need to make sure she is kept in Avalon."
"Albus," she said critically. "That's right, but for some reason, it seems too easy. Well, the Goddess will have her way eventually and if she wishes to take Avalon from this world, then it will be that way."
"I'm sorry I must leave you, Minerva," Dumbledore said, throwing floo powder into the fire. "But I have to get back to Hogwarts. I'll expect you soon." And with one last smile, he shouted "Hogwarts!" into the fire and sped off toward his destination.
Minerva sat there for nearly an hour later, just wondering. She knew that Dumbledore depended on this as much as she did. He knew that he wasn't to have an heir, and hopefully Lily and Narcissa would either bear a son or daughter, just as long as they had at least one son and daughter between them. (A person can also not become the Merlin without a middle name beginning with s.)
She hadn't thought about Lily really. She knew that Lily was too smart to be taken by Voldemort, she knew about his treachery and pain in the wizarding world. And with that girl's nerve, she knew what to do and what not to do. And yet again, Minerva fell into her third uneasy sleep in two nights.
A/N: I want to thank those who reviewed a million times over. (I hope I didn't disappoint you with this chapter) Review, please. Next chapter may be a bit belated (I'm going on a camping trip with my youth group) but by only a day at the most. Red sweaters and chippy nail polish to my reviewers. Thanks for reading, Epequa ;)
Useless Information: Not a quote today, be happy, but a rather weird menu. Here are some examples of what the rich ancient Romans would eat; Baked Parrot, Fried Flamingo, and Jellyfish with eggs.
Disclaimer: There is no way in this world that I could get this published as my own story. (Although, I think someone did publish a Potter parody) That already belongs to J.K. Rowling and Marion Zimmer Bradley.
If Time is All We've Lost
Chapter 2 - Goldenrod
'The past is now another land,
far beyond my reach.
Invaded by insidious,
Foreign bodies, foreign speech.
Where the timeless joys of childhood
Lie broken on the beach.'
-Elton John and Tim Rice/ 'The Past is another land'
Lily continued to tell them the rest of the story. It seemed that Petunia had succeeded in convincing the family that Lily and Narcissa stopped considering themselves their true daughters. When Lily had tried to explain this, they shooed her away, sixteen year-old Petunia with a triumphant, snotty nose in the air. Lily had also met up with Minue Figg, who had had another daughter, Arabella.
With Lily's hasty return, Minerva decided that they would go to Diagon Alley the next day. They slept quietly in the house of maidens and Minerva returned to her small house. She sat there, as one of the young priestesses began to unplait her long, dark, fine hair. As soon as the girl was done, Minerva wished her to bed, and, about an hour later, Minerva finally fell into an uneasy sleep.
She had a very odd dream, or a vision from the Great Mother, which it was, she couldn't tell. She was rushed into a chamber, filled with dark signs of the deepest dark arts. Four limp figures were bound in the entrance of the high arch twined with serpents.
Lily was inside the chamber, there was no mistaking her auburn hair, clearly cowering from two dark-haired men, one with his wand and one without. There was a blinding flash of light, and an Avalon sickle knife lay on the ground, splashed with blood, and a silence that was eerie hung in the air. There was a yell from the hall and before Minerva could see what happened, she woke up in a cold sweat.
There was a faint noise outside. Minerva rushed to her window to see what it was. Narcissa was outside, with her harp, plucking a solemn tune, her voice as pure and sweet as honey. Minerva looked longingly at the young woman, and then a thought struck her…Why hadn't Narcissa been in the dream? None of the bounded figures had her shimmering hair…and she knew that Lily and Narcissa were inseparable…and yet…?
Minerva sat near her bed. This plan could not go awry, she had worked too hard. Once she found that the Goddess would not give her any children, she knew it was her job to find heirs. She had waited 15 years for Alia to come along. And after that it was another four to wait to take them to Avalon. And the Merlin, …she had to talk to the Merlin. She ran to the shores of Avalon, plucked the herbs and flowers she needed, and got out her battered bronze mirror.
'No'…She thought… 'I can't trouble him with this right now, I'll talk to him soon enough.' And with this uneasy resolution, Minerva drifted off to sleep.
They next day dawned bright in Avalon, but as soon as Lily, Narcissa, and Minerva stepped into the mortal world, it turned cloudy. Lily and Narcissa knew by now that since Avalon is almost in a world of its own, there can be very distinct changes in the real world than in Avalon.
They made their way out of rural England and into the busy bustle of the city. Then into the grubby little pub called the Leaky Cauldron. They wandered through the secret passageway and into the winding road of Diagon Alley.
They stopped at Madam Malkin's and got their robes, not unlike their dark blue gowns they wore on the island. Minerva almost had to curse Lily and Narcissa out of Flourish and Blotts, they had never seen so many books in their lives. Then to the Apothecary, where the girls weren't really surprised. They had grown up with things such as chamomile infused mint leaves and blue dragon scales.
"Ollivander's," said Minerva, sighing deeply, recalling when she too had been taken here by her foster-mother. "This is the only place to get your wand, no other else will suit you right." She clasped her hands on Lily and Narcissa's and they set off into the tiny shop.
"Minerva, how I have been expecting you!" said Mr. Ollivander happily. "And this must be Narcissa and Lily. I have been expecting you two, must be two of my most important customers." He smiled gently at them. The two girls giggled together.
"Well, who will be first?" he asked the girls. Lily and Narcissa looked at each other apparently settling this question without the use of words. Mr. Ollivander looked curiously at them and then smiled in Minerva's direction, who returned his smile whole-heartedly.
"I will," said Lily bravely. She had always been the go-getter, the girl was fearless. Lily stepped up to the counter and allowed herself to be measured for the second time that day. Mr. Ollivander went into the back of his shop and returned with two wand boxes.
"You have to be one of the oddest customers I've ever served and for once I am sure that one of these two wands will be yours." He looked at her with elementary intrigue. "Like I said, I have never been as sure that a wand belongs to a person like this before. So, try this one first; Pine, 14 inches, and a Unicorn tailhair."
Lily took the wand from him apprehensively, while in the post of the speech, and gave it a wave. Nothing happened. "Hmm…then it must be this one, I'm sure of it. Here you go; Willow, 10 inches, and containing one dragon heartstring." Mr. Ollivander now stared at Lily with complete interest.
Lily took the wand in her hand and gave it a wave. In a jet of blue and red sparks, the dark crescent moon appeared in the shop. As the smoky sign disappeared, Mr. Ollivander said thoughtfully, "Only a true priestess would have made that appear."
Lily sat down in the single, spindly chair, looking very proud of herself. Narcissa walked slowly up to the counter.
"There is a reason that I said that you two were my most important customers," his sapphire eyes reflected the ones so much like his own. "I had a feeling that you would take the one that didn't fit Lily, try this one." He held up the first wand that he had offered Lily. Narcissa waved it and the same mark appeared in the room. Lily and Narcissa paid for their wands, and left the shop, now tired and distraught after their long shopping trip.
Minerva had booked two rooms in the Leaky Cauldron for one night and when they headed back to the entrance to the muggle world. She felt this feeling of utmost failure and fear. She dismissed the feeling with an impatient glance at the nearest shop.
They ate in the pub that night. Minerva sent the girls to get bread and berries from Tom when she couldn't help but notice who was motioning her to sit beside him.
It was Voldemort. She remembered his mother vaguely. She had been recommended by one of the younger priestess's as a potential student, although Minerva sensed the girl was weak in her mind and soul and therefore unfit to become a priestess. She had rejected his mother and Voldemort thought that she and all the other people involved in Avalon should be murdered and Avalon shunned back into the heavens, never to return.
Unfortunately, Voldemort had obtained a small, very unclear, portion of the Sight.
"Minerva," he said in mock surprise, "fancy seeing you here."
"Ah," said Minerva reminiscently. "Why do you want to talk the one that supposedly ruined your life?" She looked at him intently. Voldemort was not really that old, barely out of Hogwarts; he had graduated only two years ago.
"Well," he said, looking over his shoulder as if expecting something to fling a dead rat at him. "Some of us have our reasons to conduct a civilized conversation with the ones the hate most." He raised his dark eyebrows expectantly. He looked almost like the figure in the tapestry that was Mordred.
"What have you seen?" She asked impatiently; she had been ready for this.
"I know that both of girls cannot be the Lady of the Lake because you, conveniently, forgot to tell their mother to have their middle names start with s. I know that that is an important factor, as it was said by the very first Merlin. "And that they will marry two death-eaters.:
Minerva was overwhelmed for a moment. She couldn't believe that both Lily and Narcissa would end up almost destroying Avalon's chances at survival much longer.
After that moment, she felt shame. It was she that had forgotten to tell Alia to have her girls' middle name start with s. She had planted her and the Merlin's royal Avalon blood inside the lotion. The plan was flawless, until she thought about it in Avalon later, and then she knew that she would have to wait to see what kind of children Lily and Narcissa would bear; the Goddess would let her know if their children would be suitable for her plan.
At that moment, both girls reappeared with the food. Minerva hastily told them to sit in the table next to them. The girls sat down and chatted merrily about their day's adventure.
"You know that I can totally defeat you in this, telling the death-eaters whom they marry to never allow them to bear a child alive. What would you do then, oh Lady" He said in a sarcastic type of praise.
"You cannot assume that you know all, Voldemort. The Great Mother has her own reason for everything." As she said this, she noticed that Voldemort was not looking at her, but at Lily. This was not the stare that Mr. Ollivander had given her, but one that showed that Voldemort's heart was racing and his mind ticking with a horrible plan. Lily didn't seem to notice. "What are you looking at?" She asked urgently, trying to break his piercing stare.
"Nothing," he said in a faraway voice, but his eyes lingered on Lily for a little more and then he turned to Minerva, with a look that plainly told her that his mind was made up and that his evil plan had just broken its shell. "What would the Great Mother think if I made sure that Lily or Narcissa never had children? What if I make her mine and leave the other to my most faithful death-eater?"
Minerva gaped at him, in pure white horror. Surely he wouldn't, he couldn't. She didn't mind about the death-eater thing, she was sure Narcissa could overcome him easily, but Lily married to Voldemort? No, the Goddess would have her way with this whole situation.
"Something to dwell on and to haunt your dreams at night." He told her cheerfully, obviously enjoying her expression. He swiftly got up from his chair and left through the muggle world entrance.
Minerva slept fretfully that night and eventually woke up at 1:00 AM frantically trying not to think of the new plan that Voldemort had. She had to call the Merlin to her know. There was no avoiding it now. She took out the herbs and flowers that she had saved from the night before. She placed her mirror by the fire and broke the plants into the fire, the fire glowed purple color. "Merlin, I want to speak with you, it's urgent!" she shouted into the fire before the purple turned into a bright yellow and a man emerged from the flames; Albus Dumbledore, current Merlin of Britain.
"What is it, Minerva?" Dumbledore asked her.
Minerva explained the whole conversation with Voldemort and the plan he had. Afterwards, Dumbledore stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Voldemort cannot do anything while I am headmaster, he knows that. After Lily graduates from Hogwarts, we need to make sure she is kept in Avalon."
"Albus," she said critically. "That's right, but for some reason, it seems too easy. Well, the Goddess will have her way eventually and if she wishes to take Avalon from this world, then it will be that way."
"I'm sorry I must leave you, Minerva," Dumbledore said, throwing floo powder into the fire. "But I have to get back to Hogwarts. I'll expect you soon." And with one last smile, he shouted "Hogwarts!" into the fire and sped off toward his destination.
Minerva sat there for nearly an hour later, just wondering. She knew that Dumbledore depended on this as much as she did. He knew that he wasn't to have an heir, and hopefully Lily and Narcissa would either bear a son or daughter, just as long as they had at least one son and daughter between them. (A person can also not become the Merlin without a middle name beginning with s.)
She hadn't thought about Lily really. She knew that Lily was too smart to be taken by Voldemort, she knew about his treachery and pain in the wizarding world. And with that girl's nerve, she knew what to do and what not to do. And yet again, Minerva fell into her third uneasy sleep in two nights.
A/N: I want to thank those who reviewed a million times over. (I hope I didn't disappoint you with this chapter) Review, please. Next chapter may be a bit belated (I'm going on a camping trip with my youth group) but by only a day at the most. Red sweaters and chippy nail polish to my reviewers. Thanks for reading, Epequa ;)