Hi! I can't believe I have 31 reviews! Please, if you have any suggestions, tell me. You can email or just include it in your review. For those that have read 'The Mists of Avalon', Lily was dressed as Igraine for the ball. For those that haven't, Igraine is King Arthur's mom. Just needed to clarify that. You guys are so awesome! Here goes chapter 6 in which a lot of things happen. That's pretty much it. If that tiny little summary is enough for you, then you can back out and read another story, but if you're actually interested in why, when, and where these things happen, then you can read on.
Useless Information: I finally found a quote that went along with this chapter, sort of. Here it is: There is nothing half so sweet in life as Love's Young Dream." - T. Moore
Disclaimer: This disclaimer is based on the song "I got a name" by Jim Croche. (Heck, I don't even own that idea!) Like J.K. Rowling and Marion Zimmer Bradley, I got a story, I got a story. But everything belongs to them and I just get the addiction of people liking my story!
A/N: The chapter name is brought to you by one of my lovely reviewers, thistlemeg!
If Time is All We've Lost
Chapter 6 - Cerulean Sky
"I'm up on the tight wire
One side's ice and one is fire
It's a circus game with you and me.
I'm up on the tight rope,
One side's hate and one is hope,
But the top hat on my head is all you see.
And the wire seems to be the only place for me,
A comedy of errors and of falling.
Well, maybe you're just too blind to see."
- 'Tight Rope' ~ Leon Russell
James just gaped, open-mouthed at her. He thought he had problems, getting the snitch in Quidditch, or not arriving late at the Head meetings. But this girl had endured more in 17 years (A/N: I think messed up in chapter 5, back to the story) than most people went through in their whole life. Love was something that she really hadn't been introduced to since she was four. Minerva had her trust, but not her love. She loved her sister, but it was almost becoming automatic. But James had held a secret from her, well from everyone at that.
And yet, the most amazing thing was that she didn't show any emotion about the subject. No hate, fear, or sadness; just a placid, emotionless face stared back at James.
"There's never someone who cares to listen and understand?" James whispered, why, he didn't really know.
"Exactly, no one stopped and took a second glance," She said, looking at him.
"How do you hide what you feel?" He was now even more astounded than he had ever been.
"Taught on the Isle of Avalon," she thought that a very weird question but answered it anyway. "But how come I make fun of those, other than my closest friends, when they show emotions? Why shouldn't I care and console that person?"
"No one has ever paid attention to your eyes," he answered simply.
"No one except the last person in Hogwarts that would even stop to care," Lily smiled up at him.
"I noticed in our fifth year. When I pretended not to care, I was really trying to figure out how your mind worked," this time she looked at him with genuine surprise. "I'm dead serious. Well, I don't mean Sirius is dead, but you get the point. As soon as I learned how to hate you, I wanted to see if there was a way for you to love."
"I can't believe I underestimated you that much," she almost laughed in relief. "That proves that there is always more than the eye can see. I thought I was hiding something, but you've blown me away James."
There was a silent pause, a very awkward pause at that, after Lily called him James. It was really the first time she had done so without having a negative tone in her voice. Then soft music could be heard from the Great Hall.
"That must be one of the last songs of the night," Lily sighed, it was finally over. "It's one of my favorites."
"Same here," he looked intently at her. "Would you mind to dance?"
"Not at all," she said. Lily took his hand in hers, while his other wrapped around her waist. Her other reached toward his shoulder as they began a dance. If there was one thing they could do together, it was dancing.
'It's a little bit funny…'
The moonlight seemed to envelop every step they took, as if nature and the Goddess both approved of it.
'This feeling inside…'
There was so much more to both of them than the other knew, it was kind of scary.
'I'm not one of those who can easily hide…'
What would have been animosity forever,
'I don't have much money, but if I did…'
formed itself into the most complicated version of…
'I'd buy a big house where we both could live…'
friendship and…
'If I was sculptor, but then again no, or a man who makes potions in a travelling show…'
most amazingly…
'I know it's not much, but it's the best I can do. My gift is my song and this one's for you…'
love.
'And you can tell everybody
that this is your song,
it may be quite simple, but
now that it's done.
I hope you don't mind,
I hope you don't mind,
That I put down in words,
How wonderful life is, now you're in the world…'
"James, this isn't fake is it?" she looked meaningfully into his eyes.
'I sat on the roof, and kicked of the moss, well, a few of the verses, well they've got me quite cross…'
"Lily, if you love and are loved back, you are richer than any queen or king that has ever spent time on the earth," he thought about the situation for a moment. "What is so fearful about love to you?"
'But the sun's been quite nice while I wrote this song, it's for people like you that keep it turned on…'
"There's a story that keeps reappearing in my Sights…
'Excuse me, forget, but these things I do, you see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue…'
"Among better parts in the tales and stories of Avalon, one holds a story about listening, and what happens to those who don't…"
'Anyway, the thing is, what I really mean, those are the sweetest guys I've ever seen…'
She stopped and her eyes widened, as if she just noticed something wrong.
'And you can tell anybody
that this is your song.
It may be quite simple, but
Now that it's done.
I hope you don't mind,
I hope you don't mind,
That I put down in words,
How wonderful life is,
Now you're in the world.
I hope you don't mind,
I hope you don't mind,
That I put down in words,
How wonderful life is,
Now you're in the world.'
They finished their dance and then sat on the stone barrier. Lily began to explain why she had been so apprehensive about him. "The story is about Gwenivere, and how she took no heed to Morgaine's warnings. She was to visit a man who claimed to be her brother at her old home. Morgaine said that she should take an entourage, but Gwenivere thought that it would be no more than a short conversation outside, so she rebuked Morgaine's words and left with only a few escorts and a young waiting lady, in case she needed to stay overnight."
"What happened?" asked James apprehensively.
"He raped her," Lily almost cried out. "He was killed, but still…"
She was searching around desperately for a reason for her fear. "He was harmless, and I've seen what you're capable of, in your ways of thinking and things, and I don't mean to be rude, but the caution is still to be taken…" she trailed off.
"I see your point, but why would I do it?" James asked, wanting more than that tiny answer.
"You're friends with Peter Pettigrew," she said, she knew that there was going to be a lot of suspicion about when she finished. "There is something about him I really don't like. He almost thrusts himself into the Marauders, I mean you had to help him become an animagus and everything, I'm not saying he's not bright but, there's a mystery about him, there has to be."
"Okay, anything else?" James waited expectantly.
"Her 'brother' was someone that she knew hardly anything about him and in that way, he was able to get her exactly where he wanted her." She looked down in an ashamed sort of way.
"Lily, I will never betray you, got that?" he laid his hand on hers. "No matter what happens, I'll be there to listen. Even if I have a Quidditch Game the next day and two star charts to complete, I'll stop and listen."
"James, you don't think the inevitable might be happening, do you?" she said as their fingers entwined together.
"What's the inevitable?" he said, mildly surprised.
"Us, falling in love," she answered.
"You mean this…" And just as his lips softly touched hers, the most unwelcome news was watching them. It wasn't Malfoy or Snape, not Voldemort or Dumbledore, but…
~About five minutes before the kiss~
Minerva had been searching for Lily everywhere. She had walked around the Great Hall at least twelve times. She decided to go beyond there and out into one of the closest corridors. Lily was a responsible person, and she doesn't go far away from other people with someone she doesn't know. Minerva finally spotted two figures sitting out on the balcony. She noticed one as Lily. Just as she was about to approach them, they kissed.
"Oh, no," She whispered. She thought that she could have Lily refrain from ever truly loving someone. This was the last thing she would have thought could happen.
She saw the two figures moving towards where she stood. She stepped out and said. "Miss Evans, I must have a private conversation with you immediately, Mr. Potter, will you please excuse us?"
"Of course, Professor," he kissed Lily's hand as he left.
Minerva saw Lily blush as James walked towards the Gryffindor Common Room. 'Ah… I remember being in love like that… Look at me now… I can't let her turn out the same way… she must learn that there are more powerful forces in the world than love… And how to use them.'
"Lily, you know that you have a task in life. Do you know what it is?" She asked hurriedly.
"Yes, Lady," Lily answered, dumbstruck. "To do as the Goddess wills and to produce an heir to the royal line of Avalon."
"Lily," Why was this so hard? "You must marry Snape to keep the royal line flowing, it is as the Goddess wills."
Lily stared at Minerva, horrified. "The Goddess would not torture one of her priestesses that way!"
"It's what She wants," said Minerva calmly.
"She wants me to renounce Avalon?" Lily said hotly.
"No, She wants to keep her kingdom on earth alive and the way you can help is to keep your promise and produce an heir of royal blood," Minerva still stayed calm.
"If it's about blood, then I see no reason why it couldn't be James's child! He's of noble parentage!" Lily argued.
"Not what She wants," Minerva refused.
"I'm not marrying Snape, for I see no difference in marrying him or James for a child to the Goddess," Minerva glared back at her. "I will not renounce the Goddess or my faith, but I renounce that I ever loved you! You use me like Morgaine was used and I will not be a pawn in your power games! Done is done and I have no regrets about my decision!" And with that she stormed up the stairs.
Minerva had lost another, for she had taken the command in the wrong way. There was no changing Lily's mind now. Minerva just had to be patient and see what the Goddess would bestow on Lily and what knowledge and wisdom She would grant her in this new dilemma.
Lily couldn't believe it. Minerva had commanded Lily to do something only for power. James had shown her that there was more to life than just power, there was love to live for. Just as she was passing the Great Hall, she met her sister coming up from the dungeons, or, more specific, the Slytherin Common Room.
"What were you doing down there?" She asked.
"Trying to fall in love with my future husband," Narcissa answered simply and was surprised to see Lily's scared face. "What?"
"She did it to you too?" said Lily incredulously. "No, sister, Why?"
"It is my fate for the Goddess's will," Narcissa said, just as calmly as Minerva had been earlier. "I will be transferring to Slytherin tomorrow and will reside there for the rest of my time here at Hogwarts."
Lily couldn't take it she had lost both her foster mother and sister in one dreadful night. She pelted up the stairs, staircases ahead of Narcissa, and burst into the Heads room, barely having enough time to yell the password at the solid wall with the gold, bronze, iron, and silver sconce and the candle that burned the House colors.
James looked up from his Muggle Studies homework (Could the unmagical [muggles] survive without peanut butter?) and saw Lily clamber through the archway of stone.
"Hey, James," she said breathlessly as she plopped down on the couch beside him. "Remember that 'No matter what I'll listen thing'? It looks like I'm ready for a test drive.
And with that, Lily told James of what had happened, and they just talked. With nothing to hide from each other, they had become as inseparable as a retainer to the roof of its owner's mouth. And then came in the impossible chance of love when power was the reason that could possibly ruin it all in the end.
A/N: Wow! That was really fun! Anyways, ten billion crates of 'Thanks' to my reviewers, but that's not all. Most people would expect to pay 1/7 of their life savings for this odd package of gifts that will never come to their doorstep. But the package, which includes one ticket on the midnight train to Georgia and those fresh smelly thingys you plug into the wall, but you also get A BASKET THAT APPEARS TO MADE OF CINNAMON STICKS!!!!! Hope everyone's enjoying the Olympics as much as I am. And happy February 19th to everyone! Love, thanks, and sincerity (from me, yeah right!) Epequa ;)
Useless Information: I finally found a quote that went along with this chapter, sort of. Here it is: There is nothing half so sweet in life as Love's Young Dream." - T. Moore
Disclaimer: This disclaimer is based on the song "I got a name" by Jim Croche. (Heck, I don't even own that idea!) Like J.K. Rowling and Marion Zimmer Bradley, I got a story, I got a story. But everything belongs to them and I just get the addiction of people liking my story!
A/N: The chapter name is brought to you by one of my lovely reviewers, thistlemeg!
If Time is All We've Lost
Chapter 6 - Cerulean Sky
"I'm up on the tight wire
One side's ice and one is fire
It's a circus game with you and me.
I'm up on the tight rope,
One side's hate and one is hope,
But the top hat on my head is all you see.
And the wire seems to be the only place for me,
A comedy of errors and of falling.
Well, maybe you're just too blind to see."
- 'Tight Rope' ~ Leon Russell
James just gaped, open-mouthed at her. He thought he had problems, getting the snitch in Quidditch, or not arriving late at the Head meetings. But this girl had endured more in 17 years (A/N: I think messed up in chapter 5, back to the story) than most people went through in their whole life. Love was something that she really hadn't been introduced to since she was four. Minerva had her trust, but not her love. She loved her sister, but it was almost becoming automatic. But James had held a secret from her, well from everyone at that.
And yet, the most amazing thing was that she didn't show any emotion about the subject. No hate, fear, or sadness; just a placid, emotionless face stared back at James.
"There's never someone who cares to listen and understand?" James whispered, why, he didn't really know.
"Exactly, no one stopped and took a second glance," She said, looking at him.
"How do you hide what you feel?" He was now even more astounded than he had ever been.
"Taught on the Isle of Avalon," she thought that a very weird question but answered it anyway. "But how come I make fun of those, other than my closest friends, when they show emotions? Why shouldn't I care and console that person?"
"No one has ever paid attention to your eyes," he answered simply.
"No one except the last person in Hogwarts that would even stop to care," Lily smiled up at him.
"I noticed in our fifth year. When I pretended not to care, I was really trying to figure out how your mind worked," this time she looked at him with genuine surprise. "I'm dead serious. Well, I don't mean Sirius is dead, but you get the point. As soon as I learned how to hate you, I wanted to see if there was a way for you to love."
"I can't believe I underestimated you that much," she almost laughed in relief. "That proves that there is always more than the eye can see. I thought I was hiding something, but you've blown me away James."
There was a silent pause, a very awkward pause at that, after Lily called him James. It was really the first time she had done so without having a negative tone in her voice. Then soft music could be heard from the Great Hall.
"That must be one of the last songs of the night," Lily sighed, it was finally over. "It's one of my favorites."
"Same here," he looked intently at her. "Would you mind to dance?"
"Not at all," she said. Lily took his hand in hers, while his other wrapped around her waist. Her other reached toward his shoulder as they began a dance. If there was one thing they could do together, it was dancing.
'It's a little bit funny…'
The moonlight seemed to envelop every step they took, as if nature and the Goddess both approved of it.
'This feeling inside…'
There was so much more to both of them than the other knew, it was kind of scary.
'I'm not one of those who can easily hide…'
What would have been animosity forever,
'I don't have much money, but if I did…'
formed itself into the most complicated version of…
'I'd buy a big house where we both could live…'
friendship and…
'If I was sculptor, but then again no, or a man who makes potions in a travelling show…'
most amazingly…
'I know it's not much, but it's the best I can do. My gift is my song and this one's for you…'
love.
'And you can tell everybody
that this is your song,
it may be quite simple, but
now that it's done.
I hope you don't mind,
I hope you don't mind,
That I put down in words,
How wonderful life is, now you're in the world…'
"James, this isn't fake is it?" she looked meaningfully into his eyes.
'I sat on the roof, and kicked of the moss, well, a few of the verses, well they've got me quite cross…'
"Lily, if you love and are loved back, you are richer than any queen or king that has ever spent time on the earth," he thought about the situation for a moment. "What is so fearful about love to you?"
'But the sun's been quite nice while I wrote this song, it's for people like you that keep it turned on…'
"There's a story that keeps reappearing in my Sights…
'Excuse me, forget, but these things I do, you see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue…'
"Among better parts in the tales and stories of Avalon, one holds a story about listening, and what happens to those who don't…"
'Anyway, the thing is, what I really mean, those are the sweetest guys I've ever seen…'
She stopped and her eyes widened, as if she just noticed something wrong.
'And you can tell anybody
that this is your song.
It may be quite simple, but
Now that it's done.
I hope you don't mind,
I hope you don't mind,
That I put down in words,
How wonderful life is,
Now you're in the world.
I hope you don't mind,
I hope you don't mind,
That I put down in words,
How wonderful life is,
Now you're in the world.'
They finished their dance and then sat on the stone barrier. Lily began to explain why she had been so apprehensive about him. "The story is about Gwenivere, and how she took no heed to Morgaine's warnings. She was to visit a man who claimed to be her brother at her old home. Morgaine said that she should take an entourage, but Gwenivere thought that it would be no more than a short conversation outside, so she rebuked Morgaine's words and left with only a few escorts and a young waiting lady, in case she needed to stay overnight."
"What happened?" asked James apprehensively.
"He raped her," Lily almost cried out. "He was killed, but still…"
She was searching around desperately for a reason for her fear. "He was harmless, and I've seen what you're capable of, in your ways of thinking and things, and I don't mean to be rude, but the caution is still to be taken…" she trailed off.
"I see your point, but why would I do it?" James asked, wanting more than that tiny answer.
"You're friends with Peter Pettigrew," she said, she knew that there was going to be a lot of suspicion about when she finished. "There is something about him I really don't like. He almost thrusts himself into the Marauders, I mean you had to help him become an animagus and everything, I'm not saying he's not bright but, there's a mystery about him, there has to be."
"Okay, anything else?" James waited expectantly.
"Her 'brother' was someone that she knew hardly anything about him and in that way, he was able to get her exactly where he wanted her." She looked down in an ashamed sort of way.
"Lily, I will never betray you, got that?" he laid his hand on hers. "No matter what happens, I'll be there to listen. Even if I have a Quidditch Game the next day and two star charts to complete, I'll stop and listen."
"James, you don't think the inevitable might be happening, do you?" she said as their fingers entwined together.
"What's the inevitable?" he said, mildly surprised.
"Us, falling in love," she answered.
"You mean this…" And just as his lips softly touched hers, the most unwelcome news was watching them. It wasn't Malfoy or Snape, not Voldemort or Dumbledore, but…
~About five minutes before the kiss~
Minerva had been searching for Lily everywhere. She had walked around the Great Hall at least twelve times. She decided to go beyond there and out into one of the closest corridors. Lily was a responsible person, and she doesn't go far away from other people with someone she doesn't know. Minerva finally spotted two figures sitting out on the balcony. She noticed one as Lily. Just as she was about to approach them, they kissed.
"Oh, no," She whispered. She thought that she could have Lily refrain from ever truly loving someone. This was the last thing she would have thought could happen.
She saw the two figures moving towards where she stood. She stepped out and said. "Miss Evans, I must have a private conversation with you immediately, Mr. Potter, will you please excuse us?"
"Of course, Professor," he kissed Lily's hand as he left.
Minerva saw Lily blush as James walked towards the Gryffindor Common Room. 'Ah… I remember being in love like that… Look at me now… I can't let her turn out the same way… she must learn that there are more powerful forces in the world than love… And how to use them.'
"Lily, you know that you have a task in life. Do you know what it is?" She asked hurriedly.
"Yes, Lady," Lily answered, dumbstruck. "To do as the Goddess wills and to produce an heir to the royal line of Avalon."
"Lily," Why was this so hard? "You must marry Snape to keep the royal line flowing, it is as the Goddess wills."
Lily stared at Minerva, horrified. "The Goddess would not torture one of her priestesses that way!"
"It's what She wants," said Minerva calmly.
"She wants me to renounce Avalon?" Lily said hotly.
"No, She wants to keep her kingdom on earth alive and the way you can help is to keep your promise and produce an heir of royal blood," Minerva still stayed calm.
"If it's about blood, then I see no reason why it couldn't be James's child! He's of noble parentage!" Lily argued.
"Not what She wants," Minerva refused.
"I'm not marrying Snape, for I see no difference in marrying him or James for a child to the Goddess," Minerva glared back at her. "I will not renounce the Goddess or my faith, but I renounce that I ever loved you! You use me like Morgaine was used and I will not be a pawn in your power games! Done is done and I have no regrets about my decision!" And with that she stormed up the stairs.
Minerva had lost another, for she had taken the command in the wrong way. There was no changing Lily's mind now. Minerva just had to be patient and see what the Goddess would bestow on Lily and what knowledge and wisdom She would grant her in this new dilemma.
Lily couldn't believe it. Minerva had commanded Lily to do something only for power. James had shown her that there was more to life than just power, there was love to live for. Just as she was passing the Great Hall, she met her sister coming up from the dungeons, or, more specific, the Slytherin Common Room.
"What were you doing down there?" She asked.
"Trying to fall in love with my future husband," Narcissa answered simply and was surprised to see Lily's scared face. "What?"
"She did it to you too?" said Lily incredulously. "No, sister, Why?"
"It is my fate for the Goddess's will," Narcissa said, just as calmly as Minerva had been earlier. "I will be transferring to Slytherin tomorrow and will reside there for the rest of my time here at Hogwarts."
Lily couldn't take it she had lost both her foster mother and sister in one dreadful night. She pelted up the stairs, staircases ahead of Narcissa, and burst into the Heads room, barely having enough time to yell the password at the solid wall with the gold, bronze, iron, and silver sconce and the candle that burned the House colors.
James looked up from his Muggle Studies homework (Could the unmagical [muggles] survive without peanut butter?) and saw Lily clamber through the archway of stone.
"Hey, James," she said breathlessly as she plopped down on the couch beside him. "Remember that 'No matter what I'll listen thing'? It looks like I'm ready for a test drive.
And with that, Lily told James of what had happened, and they just talked. With nothing to hide from each other, they had become as inseparable as a retainer to the roof of its owner's mouth. And then came in the impossible chance of love when power was the reason that could possibly ruin it all in the end.
A/N: Wow! That was really fun! Anyways, ten billion crates of 'Thanks' to my reviewers, but that's not all. Most people would expect to pay 1/7 of their life savings for this odd package of gifts that will never come to their doorstep. But the package, which includes one ticket on the midnight train to Georgia and those fresh smelly thingys you plug into the wall, but you also get A BASKET THAT APPEARS TO MADE OF CINNAMON STICKS!!!!! Hope everyone's enjoying the Olympics as much as I am. And happy February 19th to everyone! Love, thanks, and sincerity (from me, yeah right!) Epequa ;)