Until Death Do Us Part
Harry Potter theme and related characters are property of J.K. Rowling. Plot idea is accredited to the original author, J.K.Rowling. Plot angle and revisions idea of Melissa Pomeroy. Character Verissa Station (name borrowed with permission from an aquaintence) property of Meisako Pyoko-Chan (Melissa Pomeroy), 2002. Any and all reviews appriaciated.~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
chapter TWELVE: All in a Nut-Shell
*****
Welcome to my version of 'life before Harry'. This is the story of James, Lily, and the gang in their seventh year of Hogwarts to the begining of the Harry Potter series as we know it... Please read my rendition of Harry's fifth year, Harry Potter and the Fallen Angel at Hogwarts (complete), and his sixth year, Harry Potter and the Children's Crusades (work in progress).
****
(*Author crawls in and slides into her chair at the computer, hoping to not be noticed* Uh, where was I? Lily and James... oh ye- Ouch! Who threw that? *picks up projectile* Hogwarts, A History? Oh no! *ducks the onslaught of thrown objects, which included cauldrons, books, and Trevor* Okay! Okay! I'm-a-writting! And please forgive me! I'm stuck in a corner and so this chapter will be rushed.)
"Get up, Lily!"
Lily groaned as the toe of a foot nudged her ribcage softly, the kicker's shoe snagging on the folds of her heavy robes. "Go away." She brushed the foot off of her.
"Lily, you're sleeping infront of the door and it's time for breakfast," said Analisa irratabley. Lily opened her eyes and sat up quickly, taking in her surroundings. She sat on the bare floor, her green winter robes still on from the night before. Her close encounter with the werewolf fresh in her memory, playing tricks on her mind as the dorm room's usual shadows snarled and leered at her. Evelyn and Analisa were bent over her, mischevious grins plastered lopsidedly on their faces. They looked ridiculous.
"So, where were you last night, that you're all dolled up and sleeping on the floor?" Analisa grinned her silly little grin and added, "Out seeing someone?"
Lily didn't answer, but stood and wiped her eyes, trying to rid them of a heavy sleep that was overcoming her again. Analisa took her silence as a "Yes, we had a shaggingly splendid time, thank you for asking," apparently.
"Oh my God! Who?"
"D'you think it was that Slytherin cutie with the long black hair? Severus Snape, isn't it?" squealed Evelyn, "Details, Lily, details!"
"Oh Lord! You two give it up! I'm still with James, remember? You know, my boyfriend?" Lily brushed past them, ignoring their rolling eyes, and locked herself in the bathroom. After she heard them leave, she stripped off her winter robes and took a long, hot shower.
Soon as she had dressed, Lily marched down the stairs to the common room, ready to head out to breakfast. No one smiled to her in the Common Room, or in the corridors. Lily felt her stomach drop into a pit of nothingness. All she wanted to do was cry. She felt so alone. Without James' hand in hers, she felt empty. In the Great Hall, he smiled at her. All of them smiled. The Marauders looked up from their seats at the Gryffindor table, flashing welcomed grins in her direction. At first, Lily was slightly unnerved because she hadn't been expecting it. Something inside her wanted to scream for joy, but it didn't. She pressed it down to a shy smile and sat in the nearest available seat, which happened to be seven spaces down, right next to the Lohman twins. She was feeling slightly bubbly as she downed her goblet of juice. Every once in a while, when she wasn't taking projectile objects from Madison or pulling gum out of Mac Kenzie's hair, she'd glance down the table and catch James' eye. It made her all, well, floaty. Perhaps things would get better after all.
Or not.
The whole Great Hall became deathly silent as a large, black owl with grey beak swooped in and circled above the students. Lily had never seen a black owl before. Had she not been so terrified by the thick silence that drowned them, she might have been intrigued. The owl dropped a glossy black envelope from its talons and flew out of a nearby window. She gasped when it floated down and landed infront of James Potter. So did half the school.
Many students overted their eyes, while others craned their necks to see his reaction, which was not a pretty reaction, at that. James shook slightly and slowly removed his glasses, placing them gently on the breakfast table. With a quavering hand, he made to touch the envelope, but recoiled immediately and burried his face in Sirius' shoulder. Sirius put his arm around his friend tightly and said in a soft voice, "It'll be alright." He patted James' back gently. "Who was it, Moony?"
Remus looked to Peter, his eyes grazing over Lily as he lifted the envelope and tore off the top. Out he pulled a greyish bit of parchment. Silently he read. Everyone seemed to hold their breath until he put it down and rubbed his temples with long fingers. "Prongs, I'm so sorry... Your mum... and your dad were both... I'm sorry, mate-" James burst into loud, violent sobs and Peter shook his head in sorrow.
"Mum- Dad!" James sobbed. Lily looked at the black envelope and realization slowly dawned on her. Dear God, James' parents were... Her eyes filled with tears and her throat clentched shut completely. She remembered only too well that both James' parents were both Aurors. they had the most dangerous jobs in the Wizarding World. That must have been how it all went down. With Professor McGonagall's assistance, Sirius helped James out of the Hall and down the corridor.
It was a sickly silence that filled the room then. Lily looked down at he unfinished breakfast and decided that she wouldn't be able to finish. Her stomach was doing strange flip-flops and she wanted to vomit. Verissa walked over and held Remus' hand as he struggled to hold back tears. An uneasiness rolled over Lily and she rushed out of the Hall. No one thought twice of it.
Her face was hot and it pounded with every irratic beat of her heart. Lily ran into the second floor bathroom and locked herself in the stall. Thick tears spilled out of the corners of her eyes and she sobbed into her knees as she sank to the floor next to the toilet. A small knock sounded on her stall door.
"Hello? Are you alright in there?"
Lily hadn't realized there were other people in the bathroom, too.
"Ooh! Someone must have teased her something horrible!" said a familiar voice. Oh no... not her! Anyone but that awful ghost!
"Oh, hush, Myrtle!" The other girl knocked again. "You were crying, are you okay?"
"Yes," she sniffed, "I'm okay... it's just... Just-" Lily began to cry again. Her door swung open slowly, with an eerie creak. Lily looked up with swollen eyes to see a girl, about her own age, with short black hair and dazzling honey-cloured eyes. Behind the girl was a ghost with ugly horn-rimmed glasses, laughter hidden beneath her transparent face.
"Oh! I didn't realize it was you, Lily. Are you okay?" said the girl.
"How did you know my name?"
The girl helped Lily to her feet. "You're Head Girl. Everyone knows you."
Lily blushed at her own stupidity. "Oh, I nearly forgot... I haven't been doing my duties, lately."
"Some Head Girl then, huh, Dye? Not even-"
"Oh, go flush yourself down the toilet, Myrtle," snapped the girl, Dye.
Mrytle narrowed her eyes and her bottom lip quivered. "Oh, I see how it is. Awful Moaning Mrytle! Tease Myrtle because she hasn't got any feelings! Because she's dead! Let's throw things at Mrytle because she can't feel it!" Moaning Myrtle threw her arms into the air for emphasis.
"Well, you can't feel it, Myrtle. You are dead," said the girl. Mrytle began to wail and dove into the toilet with a particularly loud splash. "She'll get over it," said the girl, turning to Lily, "She always does."
"I will not!" shouted Myrtle from the U-bend in the plumbing.
Lily had to smile. These two girls were funny sort of friends. "So, is there anything I can get you? To make you feel better, Lily?"
Lily shook her head. "No. I just had a fight with my boyfriend a couple weeks back and now he really needs someone, and I want to be that someone, but I don't know if her wants me to be that someone. I don't think there's anything you can do."
"Oh sure I can!" Dye took Lily's shoulders in her hands. She had an amazingly good grip. "I've got advise for you and James. The most famous couple in Hogwarts should not disolve into shambles because of shyness; or stubbornness for that matter. Go up to him, and say, 'I'm sorry.' That's it. Then give him a nice hug and find a big cupboard to snog in. It always works, believe me." The girl smiled. "Alright?"
Lily nodded dully. "Okay, but-"
"No buts about it! Look, I'll even go with you!" She grabbed Lily's arm and called to Myrtle, "I'll be back around lunch to say hi!" She got a gargled "O.K." in response.
"So, where is the lucky young man?" asked Dye.
"Hospital Wing, I'd assume. He just got a black letter by owl this morning and-"
"Oh my God! Was it his Mum or Dad?"
Lily looked at her feet. "Both, I think. I didn't actually read the letter, see, and then he was whisked away because he started to cry and..."
The girl put her arm around her shoulder. "You poor thing. See, now I know that it's just that much more important for you to be there for him!" They walked the rest of the way to the Hospital Wing in silence. Many times, Lily wished to suddenly turn around and run the opposite direction, but Dye held a firm grip on her shoulder. "Here's the door, Lily. Go on. Go to him."
Lily heaved a heavy sigh and nodded. She took a step forward, then spun around to look Dye square in the eys. "You've been so kind to me. I only wish I could repay you somehow, and- And I don't even really know you!"
The girl with black hair smiled. "My name's Dyendra Ashelm, but Myrtle calls me Dye. And as far as paying me back goes..." A mischevious smirk danced carelessly across her face. "You're friends with that Sirius Black, aren't you? The handsome guy with black hair and striking brown eyes?" Lily nodded slowly. "And the Easter Dance is coming up soon..."
Lily laughed. "I get it. Set you two up, right?"
Dyendra nodded, "Yeah, but don't tell Sirius what house I'm in, alright?"
"Hufflepuff?'
Dyendra lifted up her sleeve to show a thick stripe of green fabric. "Slytherin. He might not go with me because I've heard most Gryffindors don't like Slytherins."
"Oh, stereotypes. I like Slytherins just fine. But I heard Slytherins simply detest Gryffindors."
"Oh, that's true." Dyendra smirked. "I'm just the exception." She looked at Lily hard, then nodded towards the door. "Go on, then."
Lily nodded, then pushed her way through the threshhold, letting the door click softly closed behind her. She slowly made her way to the only occupied bed in the Wing and pulled back the curtains. She saw James lying, fully dressed, on the bed, sobbing.
"James?"
He looked up with red, blood shot, tear-stained eyes. "Lily?"
Lily's heart flipped in her chest and she crawled onto the bed with him, putting her arms tightly around his neck and pulled him close. James cried silently onto her chest as she rocked him. "I'm sorry, James. God I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for everything..." She kissed his forehead and began to cry with him.
James put his arms around her waist and hugged her like he would never let go. "Just hold me, Lily. I want to know that you are really here," he said in a quiet voice, hoarse from crying.
She kissed his forehead again. "I'm here, and I'm sorry, James. Forgive me. I love you."
"I love you, too. But for now, just hold me?"
~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
I'm sooo sorry it took so long. But everything's better now, right? I mean, no more fighting! It wasn't a horrid love/hate fi!
Please email me! Slytherin_Angel@MostlySunny.com
Harry Potter theme and related characters are property of J.K. Rowling. Plot idea is accredited to the original author, J.K.Rowling. Plot angle and revisions idea of Melissa Pomeroy. Character Verissa Station (name borrowed with permission from an aquaintence) property of Meisako Pyoko-Chan (Melissa Pomeroy), 2002. Any and all reviews appriaciated.
chapter TWELVE: All in a Nut-Shell
Welcome to my version of 'life before Harry'. This is the story of James, Lily, and the gang in their seventh year of Hogwarts to the begining of the Harry Potter series as we know it... Please read my rendition of Harry's fifth year, Harry Potter and the Fallen Angel at Hogwarts (complete), and his sixth year, Harry Potter and the Children's Crusades (work in progress).
****
"Get up, Lily!"
Lily groaned as the toe of a foot nudged her ribcage softly, the kicker's shoe snagging on the folds of her heavy robes. "Go away." She brushed the foot off of her.
"Lily, you're sleeping infront of the door and it's time for breakfast," said Analisa irratabley. Lily opened her eyes and sat up quickly, taking in her surroundings. She sat on the bare floor, her green winter robes still on from the night before. Her close encounter with the werewolf fresh in her memory, playing tricks on her mind as the dorm room's usual shadows snarled and leered at her. Evelyn and Analisa were bent over her, mischevious grins plastered lopsidedly on their faces. They looked ridiculous.
"So, where were you last night, that you're all dolled up and sleeping on the floor?" Analisa grinned her silly little grin and added, "Out seeing someone?"
Lily didn't answer, but stood and wiped her eyes, trying to rid them of a heavy sleep that was overcoming her again. Analisa took her silence as a "Yes, we had a shaggingly splendid time, thank you for asking," apparently.
"Oh my God! Who?"
"D'you think it was that Slytherin cutie with the long black hair? Severus Snape, isn't it?" squealed Evelyn, "Details, Lily, details!"
"Oh Lord! You two give it up! I'm still with James, remember? You know, my boyfriend?" Lily brushed past them, ignoring their rolling eyes, and locked herself in the bathroom. After she heard them leave, she stripped off her winter robes and took a long, hot shower.
Soon as she had dressed, Lily marched down the stairs to the common room, ready to head out to breakfast. No one smiled to her in the Common Room, or in the corridors. Lily felt her stomach drop into a pit of nothingness. All she wanted to do was cry. She felt so alone. Without James' hand in hers, she felt empty. In the Great Hall, he smiled at her. All of them smiled. The Marauders looked up from their seats at the Gryffindor table, flashing welcomed grins in her direction. At first, Lily was slightly unnerved because she hadn't been expecting it. Something inside her wanted to scream for joy, but it didn't. She pressed it down to a shy smile and sat in the nearest available seat, which happened to be seven spaces down, right next to the Lohman twins. She was feeling slightly bubbly as she downed her goblet of juice. Every once in a while, when she wasn't taking projectile objects from Madison or pulling gum out of Mac Kenzie's hair, she'd glance down the table and catch James' eye. It made her all, well, floaty. Perhaps things would get better after all.
Or not.
The whole Great Hall became deathly silent as a large, black owl with grey beak swooped in and circled above the students. Lily had never seen a black owl before. Had she not been so terrified by the thick silence that drowned them, she might have been intrigued. The owl dropped a glossy black envelope from its talons and flew out of a nearby window. She gasped when it floated down and landed infront of James Potter. So did half the school.
Many students overted their eyes, while others craned their necks to see his reaction, which was not a pretty reaction, at that. James shook slightly and slowly removed his glasses, placing them gently on the breakfast table. With a quavering hand, he made to touch the envelope, but recoiled immediately and burried his face in Sirius' shoulder. Sirius put his arm around his friend tightly and said in a soft voice, "It'll be alright." He patted James' back gently. "Who was it, Moony?"
Remus looked to Peter, his eyes grazing over Lily as he lifted the envelope and tore off the top. Out he pulled a greyish bit of parchment. Silently he read. Everyone seemed to hold their breath until he put it down and rubbed his temples with long fingers. "Prongs, I'm so sorry... Your mum... and your dad were both... I'm sorry, mate-" James burst into loud, violent sobs and Peter shook his head in sorrow.
"Mum- Dad!" James sobbed. Lily looked at the black envelope and realization slowly dawned on her. Dear God, James' parents were... Her eyes filled with tears and her throat clentched shut completely. She remembered only too well that both James' parents were both Aurors. they had the most dangerous jobs in the Wizarding World. That must have been how it all went down. With Professor McGonagall's assistance, Sirius helped James out of the Hall and down the corridor.
It was a sickly silence that filled the room then. Lily looked down at he unfinished breakfast and decided that she wouldn't be able to finish. Her stomach was doing strange flip-flops and she wanted to vomit. Verissa walked over and held Remus' hand as he struggled to hold back tears. An uneasiness rolled over Lily and she rushed out of the Hall. No one thought twice of it.
Her face was hot and it pounded with every irratic beat of her heart. Lily ran into the second floor bathroom and locked herself in the stall. Thick tears spilled out of the corners of her eyes and she sobbed into her knees as she sank to the floor next to the toilet. A small knock sounded on her stall door.
"Hello? Are you alright in there?"
Lily hadn't realized there were other people in the bathroom, too.
"Ooh! Someone must have teased her something horrible!" said a familiar voice. Oh no... not her! Anyone but that awful ghost!
"Oh, hush, Myrtle!" The other girl knocked again. "You were crying, are you okay?"
"Yes," she sniffed, "I'm okay... it's just... Just-" Lily began to cry again. Her door swung open slowly, with an eerie creak. Lily looked up with swollen eyes to see a girl, about her own age, with short black hair and dazzling honey-cloured eyes. Behind the girl was a ghost with ugly horn-rimmed glasses, laughter hidden beneath her transparent face.
"Oh! I didn't realize it was you, Lily. Are you okay?" said the girl.
"How did you know my name?"
The girl helped Lily to her feet. "You're Head Girl. Everyone knows you."
Lily blushed at her own stupidity. "Oh, I nearly forgot... I haven't been doing my duties, lately."
"Some Head Girl then, huh, Dye? Not even-"
"Oh, go flush yourself down the toilet, Myrtle," snapped the girl, Dye.
Mrytle narrowed her eyes and her bottom lip quivered. "Oh, I see how it is. Awful Moaning Mrytle! Tease Myrtle because she hasn't got any feelings! Because she's dead! Let's throw things at Mrytle because she can't feel it!" Moaning Myrtle threw her arms into the air for emphasis.
"Well, you can't feel it, Myrtle. You are dead," said the girl. Mrytle began to wail and dove into the toilet with a particularly loud splash. "She'll get over it," said the girl, turning to Lily, "She always does."
"I will not!" shouted Myrtle from the U-bend in the plumbing.
Lily had to smile. These two girls were funny sort of friends. "So, is there anything I can get you? To make you feel better, Lily?"
Lily shook her head. "No. I just had a fight with my boyfriend a couple weeks back and now he really needs someone, and I want to be that someone, but I don't know if her wants me to be that someone. I don't think there's anything you can do."
"Oh sure I can!" Dye took Lily's shoulders in her hands. She had an amazingly good grip. "I've got advise for you and James. The most famous couple in Hogwarts should not disolve into shambles because of shyness; or stubbornness for that matter. Go up to him, and say, 'I'm sorry.' That's it. Then give him a nice hug and find a big cupboard to snog in. It always works, believe me." The girl smiled. "Alright?"
Lily nodded dully. "Okay, but-"
"No buts about it! Look, I'll even go with you!" She grabbed Lily's arm and called to Myrtle, "I'll be back around lunch to say hi!" She got a gargled "O.K." in response.
"So, where is the lucky young man?" asked Dye.
"Hospital Wing, I'd assume. He just got a black letter by owl this morning and-"
"Oh my God! Was it his Mum or Dad?"
Lily looked at her feet. "Both, I think. I didn't actually read the letter, see, and then he was whisked away because he started to cry and..."
The girl put her arm around her shoulder. "You poor thing. See, now I know that it's just that much more important for you to be there for him!" They walked the rest of the way to the Hospital Wing in silence. Many times, Lily wished to suddenly turn around and run the opposite direction, but Dye held a firm grip on her shoulder. "Here's the door, Lily. Go on. Go to him."
Lily heaved a heavy sigh and nodded. She took a step forward, then spun around to look Dye square in the eys. "You've been so kind to me. I only wish I could repay you somehow, and- And I don't even really know you!"
The girl with black hair smiled. "My name's Dyendra Ashelm, but Myrtle calls me Dye. And as far as paying me back goes..." A mischevious smirk danced carelessly across her face. "You're friends with that Sirius Black, aren't you? The handsome guy with black hair and striking brown eyes?" Lily nodded slowly. "And the Easter Dance is coming up soon..."
Lily laughed. "I get it. Set you two up, right?"
Dyendra nodded, "Yeah, but don't tell Sirius what house I'm in, alright?"
"Hufflepuff?'
Dyendra lifted up her sleeve to show a thick stripe of green fabric. "Slytherin. He might not go with me because I've heard most Gryffindors don't like Slytherins."
"Oh, stereotypes. I like Slytherins just fine. But I heard Slytherins simply detest Gryffindors."
"Oh, that's true." Dyendra smirked. "I'm just the exception." She looked at Lily hard, then nodded towards the door. "Go on, then."
Lily nodded, then pushed her way through the threshhold, letting the door click softly closed behind her. She slowly made her way to the only occupied bed in the Wing and pulled back the curtains. She saw James lying, fully dressed, on the bed, sobbing.
"James?"
He looked up with red, blood shot, tear-stained eyes. "Lily?"
Lily's heart flipped in her chest and she crawled onto the bed with him, putting her arms tightly around his neck and pulled him close. James cried silently onto her chest as she rocked him. "I'm sorry, James. God I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for everything..." She kissed his forehead and began to cry with him.
James put his arms around her waist and hugged her like he would never let go. "Just hold me, Lily. I want to know that you are really here," he said in a quiet voice, hoarse from crying.
She kissed his forehead again. "I'm here, and I'm sorry, James. Forgive me. I love you."
"I love you, too. But for now, just hold me?"
I'm sooo sorry it took so long. But everything's better now, right? I mean, no more fighting! It wasn't a horrid love/hate fi!
Please email me! Slytherin_Angel@MostlySunny.com