Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters you recognise in this fictional story belonging to Joanne Kathleen Rowling, Warner Bros., and whoever else…Bloomsbury and Scholastic. Some characters are based on childhood friends, I made them into this fiction therefore I own them. I also own the plot. And the dates… coz they're terribly wrong. I also don't own the pretty song… *looks down* ('Cemetry'- Silverchair)
Need a
change
Not to imitate
But to irritate
All the ones who hate
I may
be late
Always seem to get the wrong date
Well, I guess it's fate
I live
in a cemetery
Full of good will and integrity
You see, I have no specialty
Chapter VI- [Indifferent]
Lily is…the nurse…how could that be… why would she be in disguise…? numbly, Remus made his way up to where Sirius and James were and there he sat there; just thinking.
~*~*~
He glanced at his uncle and aunt; they were probably more shocked than anything else. Sarah had gone behind all of their backs and sought out information they were always uncomfortable about.
He supposed that if he was in her position he'd do that as well. But she had kept it from him for so long… months maybe, he didn't know. Then the thought struck him hard, there could be so much more she was hiding from him and everyone else…
She asked for the adoption papers, the whole lot. Her bioligical parents were apart of the Ministry in Asia, they wanted her to be play the part of the Ministry in international relations. Power was gained by blood and the Ministers of Asia found a missing link. But another heir was found and the whole fiasco was to be put in the past…
Bloody hell, he couldn't believe it.
He barely noticed his aunt and uncle exit the office and speak to Sirius outside.
~~~*~~~
After a talk with Sirius, Remus entered Sarah's private room silently.
He decided that next time the nurse was in he'd confront her…or at least try to. But apart of him said that the truth had to come out slowly…piece by piece.
"What are your secrets Sarah? I know you're hiding something from us; you've been hiding a lot of things lately haven't you? The letter to the ministry, your parents… I know you're hiding more… I just know it…what do you know about Lily?"
He looked up at the machines and listened intently to her heart rate, Sarah twitched a little, Remus jerked his head back towards her, he saw her eyelids were moving rapidly… she was dreaming of something right now. He looked up at the machines again, her heart rate was getting faster… too fast.
"Sarah… come on… calm down…. Oh holy crap!" Remus started to really panic, he rushed out of the room.
----------------------------
Misty. Sarah was in a plain of mist and it was huge. In the distance, there was something moving and getting bigger…
She squinted her eyes, the object was getting closer…. She started to walk towards the black figure? Yes… it was someone coming towards her, with each stride she took, the more dizzily she became, and the person she determined was a woman yes, definitely.
Grey mist started to divulge her view of the woman, curiosity nagging her brain. Sarah quickened her pace, avoiding the denser mist, the figure was becoming clearer now.
Average height…red hair… Sarah froze, but the woman didn't, she continued walking towards her… Sarah couldn't move. "Lily…" She breathed.
It was Lily all right, and she had just smiled!
Then, a white light appeared on her right, it was so beautiful… music was coming from the light…something inside her was telling her to go to it. All thoughts of Lily flew out of her head; Sarah turned to go to the light…
-----------------------------
As the limo drove off down the road, Lily sighed… her first day on the job and she was going home early. Even though Ernie had told her she wasn't a failure… she felt it…exhaust and sorrow came over her. Lily wiped her tears as they fell down, "driver? Where are you taking me?"
"Oh…Mr. Banks orders were to take you to Madame Malkins in Diagon Ally! To get your dress fer the ball! I'll be your body guard fer today"
"Body guard? I can take care of myself thanks it's okay"
"Sorry, no can do. Mr. Banks orders again Miss… after Madame Malkins, I'd be takin' you to the society building again. No training fer today he said. Rest fer you…"
"Oh ok… thankyou"
"No problem! We'll be awhile now, an hour at the least, buzz if you need anything Miss Evans. Also, the book on the table is fer you miss, from Mr. Banks""
"I will, thankyou again," Lily replied as the window between the driver and passenger was closing.
She tried not to think that Sarah was going to die…but clouds of doubt and despair swirled in her mind. Lily took up the book, but put it down again…she was overcome by a sudden wave of drowsiness.
She closed her eyes and slept silently…
------------------
Mist? Yes… it was all misty, Lily looked down, she could barely see her own feet, and she noticed she was in her natural form, her hair what was happening?
Then it hit her… she had studied this in Extreme Auror training…she had been summoned by someone close to death. In English the name of it would be translated to death's sleeping wish…
"Oh my god! Sarah…" Lily started to walk… she had to find her…before it was too late.
Only the person summoned could help the one who summons them subconsciously… Lily was the one person Sarah wanted to see before she died, ergo summoned.
Lily had to find her quickly and persuade her to stay away from the white light…to stay away from her own death. But where was she?
A path of mist cleared up and there she was; Sarah in her hospital dressing gown and all frail and wondering around. Had this really been the younf woman she had bumped into in the supermarket? Lily quickened her pace… she couldn't run, or speak too loudly if she did, she'd wake up. And Sarah would be lost…
As Lily was ten steps towards Sarah, she saw her best friend freeze on the spot. Lily moved towards her closer, she smiled through her tears--Sarah had recognised her, "Lily…"
Lily smiled even bigger but then a blinding light on her left made her smile fade suddenly, She saw Sarah turn to the light…
"Sarah," Lily said warningly, touching Sarah's hand.
Sarah jerked out of her trance, it was like she felt pain at Lily's touch.
Lily watched in despair as Sarah started to walk three steps closer to the light. Lily couldn't move from her spot ten steps away from the light "Sarah! Its Lily…Lily Evans…Sarah, don't go near the light, please! Don't Sarah!"
Sarah turned to her, "If you're Lily then your touch wouldn't shock me like that... who are you? Voldemort?" Sarah talked as if in some sort of trance…she stepped towards the light.
Lily was taken aback, "No…Sarah…please you have to listen to me… listen to yourself…inside…the light is possessing you…please stay away."
Sarah stood still swaying on the spot, tears welling up in her eyes, "I never asked for this to happen…you know…. my best friend disappeared and she was head boy… I never asked to be born into a power hungry minister, Sirius Lupin has a dog… I never asked Lily to disappear from my life… I never meant to keep it all from James… he must hate me now, and the others too, and my parents… they know I went behind their backs Dumbledore told them… I never asked for all this to come down on me…I just want my life to be back to different."
"I'm here now, if you block out the light it won't hurt you when I touch you please Sarah…if you go into the light you'll die…I don't want you to die….please…"
"If you're really Lily then why'd you leave!?" Sarah cried out to her,
"Sarah, I can't tell you but if you'd just step closer to me-"
"I don't understand…what did I do? What did we do?! You're the devil! Stop it! Stay away from me!" She took another 5 steps toward the light….death had almost got it's way. "I'm going to heaven…"
It seemed the light was stronger than she had thought…she didn't understand what Sarah was saying, it was all nonsense. The light was getting to Sarah, now that she was so close.
"Sarah Potter…listen to me. Remember the time we made a promise? I wouldn't tell a soul that you wrote a letter to the Ministry! And you'd tell me your middle name…it's been 5 years now Sarah!
"I know I haven't been around and I'm sorry! I'm so sorry; I know that if I hadn't left you wouldn't be here! Sarah, please stay away from the light!
"I know that I'm dead to you but you're not dead in me so please don't give in! I don't want you to die! You haven't even told James that I loved him!" Lily said louder.
Sarah turned around, "How did you know what Lily and I did together?"
"Sarah! I am Lily! Please stay away from the light; it isn't your time yet! Please take the steps back to me Sarah, you have to live…Oh God, why are you doing this to me… this isn't her time yet!" she muttered to the white sky.
"Even if I live I won't see you again, I have no hope left for you…"
"No Sarah…don't die! This isn't what life is about. You have a choice, now make it. Life isn't about giving up, not just yet. Don't do this to me, don't do this to everyone else…"
She turned around to Lily and choked a sob, "Lily… I don't want to die… I don't…"
The light disappeared, and Lily breathed with relief, Sarah wasn't going to die…not today anyway, but now the death was gone, she wasn't going to stay for long.
Lily tears fell from her cheek freely as ran towards her and she pulled Sarah into a big hug.
After a minute of letting a lot of more crying out for Lily; Sarah said "You're going to go soon aren't you?" She asked still in the hug.
Lily wiped her tears, they pulled away and she sorrowfully nodded.
"When?"
Sarah watched in horror as Lily started to fade slightly, "No, not now……Lily… I've just found you again, you can't go now!"
"I'm sorry Sarah"
"Are you? Are you really?"
"I didn't mean to leave-" Lily started
Sarah held her hand up to stop her words, "Yeah…you did, you know you'll always be my best friend, always, I don't care if you're a deatheater which you might be, because I haven't seen you in the last 5 years! Or… have I?"
Lily didn't know what to say.
"Have I?"
"…"
"Oh my god…I have…when Lily?"
"I can't…tell you"
"I'll find you Lily…I know you're alive now, I saw you in your apartment that got burnt down, I'm seeing you now and I'll see you again, you can tell James that you love him…" Sarah said with tears in her eyes.
Lily shook her head, "Sarah… you can't you'll be in danger"
"Danger? What exactly happened to you Lily?"
"I-I can't…"
"Why did you leave?" Sarah yelled after Lily as Lily turned around, "Face me… Lily, damnnit!"
She turned back around, "I can't tell you!"
"Don't hide things from me, you know I know when anyone is lying….so don't even try. We both know you can, you just won't. Why?"
"Why?! The same reason I'm here right now. I don't want you dead."
Sarah saw that Lily was getting more transparent, "I can't believe we're arguing when time is slipping away…I'll find you."
"I won't let you."
"Lily…I don't know where you have been these last years of our lives but lately, I've seen you… haven't I? Why are you in disguise? Who are you hiding from Lily? Why are you doing this to James? I see it in your eyes…it was you at the market!" Sarah finished with wide eyes.
Lily shook her head but they knew she was just kidding herself.
Sarah looked down at Lily clothes and her hands flew up to her mouth. She's a nurse at the hospital! Oh my god…
"Don't go looking for me Sarah, don't! you don't know what you're getting into if you do!" And at last Lily finally faded into nothing.
------------------
Lily woke up in a cold sweat; she rolled down the window to the driver and asked him, "Driver? How long have I been asleep?"
"Oh! It's been about 2 minutes, tops… I'd say."
"Oh…" Lily responded, she rolled up the window again and fell into a restless sleep.
~*~*~
Dingle Dingle!
As Lily entered Madame Malkins the bell above the door dingle-d, the driver, who introduced himself as Blist as her newly appointed 'body-guard' for the day always beside her, at this she thought the idea was absolutely ridiculous seeing as she was an Auror, an Extreme Auror as well, Ernie was such a good father to her in that way…
"Hallo darlinks! Velcoom to Mada-ame Ma-alkins!" cried a very large lady from some of the clothes racks as she rushed to them. "Youse are ver-ee velcoom 'ere!"she grasped Lily's hand and shook it violently, "Vell…aren't youse a ver-ee pree-ety vooman! Youse 'ave joost cooms atzee pairfeect mooment!"
Lily felt like her hand had been strangled by a boa constrictor , "hi, I'm here to see Madame Malkins"
"Oooh…zhee iz atzee ba-ack, I veel gets he-er for youse"with that the lady waddled her way to the back of the store at a surprising rate of speed.
The back door opened again and a young lady came out,Lily recognised her straight away, it was Rosy Malkin, she was a grade below Lily in Hogwarts, she was in Ravenclaw, and even though they weren't ever that close she was very friendly. Her grandmother first started the shop "Hey! Welcome!" she said with a nice smile.
"hi, umm… I'm here for a fitting for the ministry ball?"
"You are? wow! Alright, my mother will come out soon ,she's very busy but I'll start to take your measurements now if that's okay with you?"
"Alright then, thanks! Oh hang on also I'm supposed to give this to you or whoever" Lily handed her an envelope.
"yup okay, step into this room please and stand on the bo- oh okay you've been here before have you? seeing as you know what to do, oh and by the way I'm Rosy Malkin! My grandmother founded this place" Rosy chattered as she put the envelope n the front counter, "all the females have kept their maiden name and given it to their daughters you see, we're all very proud of you we are!"
As Rosy went on, Lily just nodded as the magical measuring tapes measured her. Blist was looking around and occasionally looking her way.
"Rosy!" a woman shouted from the back door.
"yes grandmamma?"
"come here!"
The measurements stopped and Rosy said to Lily before going off, "Well, I'm done!"
Lily and Blist shared an amused look as they heard Madame Malkin Sr. scold Rosy, "why didn't you call me earlier? Hmmm? This is from the ministry! Official business! But instead you started to chatter to one of the best Extreme Aurors that our saving our wizarding world!"
Lily saw Rosy look back at her with awe, Lily just smiled at her.
Finally Madame Malkin came over to her, she didn't look very old, no greys in her hair or anything "Come down from there dear" Lily got off and Madame Malkin smiled warmly, "I read the letter, Ernie wrote it himself! how sweet, we dated in our Hogwarts days you know… well anyway! Rosy has already got your measurements so that's grand! Come in the afternoon, just before the ball which is the day after tomorrow, then your dress will be ready and I'll make more beautiful then you already are! Marma!"
The large lady from before came bustling toward them , "Yesh, Mada-ame?"
"All appointment for the day after tomorrow? Cancel them ,"
"Oiha! Yesh Mada-ame!" Marma bustled away.
Lily had a big grin on her face, "you and Ernest Banks dated?"
Madame Malkin grinned back, "oh yes…anyway, in the end it just did not work out, I broke it off with him! but he got over it! He ended up marrying my very best friend in the end! Too bad she died before they could have any children, I do truly miss Laura…everyday…well, enough with my old stories, I know what kind of business Ernie deals with, if I'm wrong correct me, but that isn't what you really look like is it?"
Lily looked down, "you're right, this isn't what I looked like really, I change my appearance a lot" It was easy letting things out like that to Madame Malkin, Ernie said that she could trust her.
"Oh" Madam Malkin touched her hand, "you poor dear but please tell me… will you be changing your appearance by the time of the ball, you didn't see anyone you knew at the hospital did you?"
Lily was confused, "How did you know I work-?"
"Your uniform dear…"
Lily looked down , and went pale, that meant that Sarah had seen, had known that she worked at the hospital! "um… I will be changing appearances actually, blonde long hair, hazel eyes…I'm sorry Madame Malkin, I've got to go" with that Lily rushed out of the store.
Blist's little yet hasty footsteps gained on her, and opened the door of the limo, she got in and Blist asked, "are you ok miss?"
"yeah, no actually, I've got to talk to Ernie, now!"
"No need to say it twice miss, he should be at the hospital "
And the limo drove off.
~*~*~
Remus skidded down the hall and found James with his head in his hands and Sirius beside him, "Someone! Help!" he shouted.
When doctors, nurses, Sarah's parents and James arrived into Sarah's private room she was shaking madly, the machines were beeping and her pulse was raging.
"Nurse! Get the sedatives now! Double the usual dose!" the doctor yelled.
Everyone except the staff was shoo-ed out of the room, leaving everyone to go back to the waiting room. Soon after the nurse came back and said that before they had given her the sedatives she had calmed down by herself, every one sighed in relief. James and Sarah's parents made their wayback into the room but Sirius nudged Remus, "Hey man…I'm going out for a walk, call my on my mobile if anything happen alright? I need some air… you can come if you want."
Remus nodded, they told James and then they started down the road Sirius wrapped his coat around him slightly tighter, "You know what, Remus? If I knew that we'd have to go through all of this in 7th year…I'd've kill myself before we got onto the train."
"Would you-" Remus said but was interrupted.
" I know, I know… a 'would you really?' speech… " Sirius said.
"How-" Remus started again but was interrupted for the second time.
"How did I know? Remus, in so many ways, you are way too predictable. You'd've said, "Would you really Sirius? Kill yourself? And what good would that do? you're young and so maybe these years haven't been what we were expecting when the gang got out of Hogwarts with Lily missing, Sarah sick, Peter gone somewhere, Adela and Calista not keeping in touch and James being so depressed lately and finally with us being the ones without bigger problems. But we're damn lucky to have them to at least be in our lives, the thing they've done for us, the things we've done together with them, even though life now seems pretty shitty, hope will see us through thing because it's all we really have right now…'" Sirius rushed.
"Well, no actually, I was going to ask you if you'd tell James that I'll come by tomorrow, I've got to do some things at home… and I was going to say how you could've been so sure I was going to say 'would you? Would you really?' but close enough, if situations were different I might have said all that you thought I was going to say… I couldn't have said it better myself. Sirius, you wise old codger." Said Remus, grinning.
Sirius snorted, "If situations were different, I'd be bespectacled nerd and you'd be a were-duck, Lily would be a horse that can't disappear, Sarah would be a farmer and Peter would be the president of-"
Remus laughed, "All right, that's enough. But couldn't I be a farmer?"
"You may be a tad smarter than me, Remus… but you sure are L-A-M-E."
"Anyway… I'd better head off, I'll be seeing you Sirius."
"Bye Remus…"
As they both went into their parting ways, they would never expect what they would come across soon enough.
~*~*~
Upon the grounds of a cemetery, there was a tall frail-looking young woman, she was about in her early 20's. Her clothes were putridly filthy, she was walking as if delusional…she stumbled upon her steps and was muttering words under her breath…she started onto the streets, a man her age started to yell after her and then…she collapsed.
~*~*~
"Holy shit…" Ferox, Lord Voldemort's not-so-respected psychic breathed as he turned way from his crystal ball.
Quickly scribbling down in his note book he muttered, "She did not die! She lives! Wormtail has failed, now the curse is not complete, this is bad….very bad. Even though she doesn't have her memory, she'll soon start to remember leading Wormtail to master and then….the whole plan will be a failure! I must tell him at once!"
Ferox ran out of his chambers and up the spiralling stairs towards where his master was.
Knock, Knock, Knock!
A Death Eater opened the door and sneered, "What is it now Ferox you old crack? Our Lord is attending to more important things than your occasional bull from your stupid crystal ball of yours!"
"Oh, shut up you incompetent fool. Do not speak of things you know nothing of!" He spat at the Death Eater's face. "I have some news for our Master, and he won't be too pleased with it, but it's important! Believe me, it is vital for all our futures!"
Inside the chamber Wormtail was still shaking with fear with both Zabulus and his master towering over him, Zabulus (still in mist form) noticing the commotion outside, he sent a glance at Voldemort.
"Who is it Buther?" a cold voice rung out from the darkened chamber.
Buther glared at Ferox and turned around as said, "Just Ferox, the psychic, Master…"
"Send him in…"
After a more glares, Ferox went into the dark chamber, he rushed toward his master and kissed the hem of his robes and bowed lowly in front of Zabulus, "Master, your evilness…I have brought news from my seeings, I think you will like it not at all."
"Well, what is it now Ferox can't you see I'm in no mood for your twaddle." Voldemort said glaring at him.
A noise came from Zabulus, almost a snort or something, "Riddle, I can't believe you just said --ugh-- 'twaddle'…"
Voldemort sniffed, "Well, there is no other word to describe his…absolute rubbish."
Zabulus turned away from Peter and floated over to Voldemort, "What is your news Ferough? Be hasty, for time is of the essence and I have no time, nor patience for folly."
Ferox dared not correct the devil himself, his body shook with horror as his gaze fell on Wormtail, his bruised and bloody body upon the pole, he bowed low and turned to his master, "She is alive," he proclaimed alarmingly.
Voldemort glared at him and Ferox shivered, "Many 'she's' are alive Ferox, be more specific, fool or get to the point."
Zabulus smirked at Voldemort's incompetence. Bloody moron of a dark lord.
Ferox, "I speak of the pureblooded witch… I know not of her name but I have seen her alive on this very day, she roams the streets as we speak. And she is on the verge of being discovered by Muggles…she is supposed to be dead!"
Voldemort clenched his fists until bright blood dribbled from them, "Pettigrew! What is he talking about?"
"Uh….per-perhaps…C-C-al-"
"SPIT IT OUT!"
"Calista! Master! Calista!"
Fury glowed in Voldemort's eyes, "Was it your order?"
"U-uh…"
"WAS IT YOUR ORDER?!"
"Y-yes!, you told me to bury her alive master… and I swear it on my lowly life Master. I buried her alive, right under the blank tombstone in that muggle cemetery as you ordered Master, as you ordered!"
Zabulus glanced at Voldemort and slyly spoke, "What was your point, Riddle? To give the witch a little scare? Burying her alive…oh quite original Riddle, I must congratulate you on your success."
Voldemort looked…quite ashamed but only for a fleeting moment, "My plan was not to kill but to spread an epidemic, Lord Zabulus. Even though she was not supposed to escape, a whole lineage of Muggles will be gone before the year will end the same way the curse went from the young child who died recently, all her relatives will perish. It was all apart of my plan…"
"Sneaky Riddle…your failure has turned to some good… for you, but I the devil himself does not care about wizards and muggles, I do not care about wiping out non-wizards…but if you care about getting your immortality then you'll give me my soul now!"
"Lord Zabulus, you are too good to me. You will not regret giving me the gift of immortality." Voldemort turned to Ferox, "Do not mind the girl, her presence out from her grave will only kill more muggles, but for wasting my time…you will be punished, Avada Kedavra!"
Ferox felled to the cold hard ground and was dragged away by two Death Eaters.
"There is a reason why they call immortality a curse, Riddle." Lord Zabulus said softly, "I do not question your judement, Riddle but are you aware of the reason as to why Dark Lords never kill off their Seers? The curse to see can never be taken lightly, it cannot be taken away that lightly either. You are a fool."
Voldemort raised his wand toward the shaking Peter, chants were heard from Voldemort's mouth and Zabulus had a small smile, "Young and power are never a good mix. You certainly learn from your mistakes, once he fails he'll be rewarded…"
"Candesartan cilexetil candesartan cilexetil candesartan cilexetil."
An evil grin came upon Voldemort's face as a white mist started to rise from Peter's body, his screams of agony were piercing everyone's ears but the sight blocked it away.
"That my dear Death Eaters is Pettigrews soul, in exchange for that, your master will receive immortality…oh yes" Voldemort told the crowd of horrified Death Eaters.
Peter's veins were pulsing from his head and arms, his bruises were getting more purple and blue and his mouth was emitting shrieks of torture and suffering. His eyes were bulging with pain with his body arched with distress.
Zabulus was holding out a small black vial, he took off the stopper and muttered under his breathe, his opened the top of it and held it out to… Voldemort, "You fool! Riddle, you're such a bloody fool!"
Voldemort looked towards Zabulus, confused but then he felt his heart rate going faster and faster he looked towards Pettigrew the white mist had gone back into him. He looked at his hands they were shaking madly, then a slow thought popped into his mind.
My soul; he wants mine!
Peter was semi-unconscious on the pole and a Death Eater untied him. Last thing he heard was a horrible shrieking similar to his before being dragged out of the chambers.
Malfoy had taken order now, he ordered a Death Eater to take Pettigrew away, the power emitting from Zabulus and his master was too much, everyone stood back and watched their master suffering under the wrath of his most evilness. The devil had betrayed his master…the devil was taking his master's soul and he couldn't do anything but watch…
~*~*~
Blurred was her vision, uncoordinated was her step, her clothes were dirty…Her frail body landed on the ground she struggled to get up and eventually she started to wonder down the semi-dark street…
Who am I ? where am I?
~~*~~
Sirius was thinking, several months after graduation everything was going fine, even though Lily and James were still shy they had progressed slightly.
But then that one night when Lily had disappeared everything had seemed to go downhill, for 5 years living in silent misery, struggle and doubt he was pretty sick of his life, but maybe since it is 5 years already gone to waste, maybe if no one else was going to try and find answers again maybe he should be the first to start again.
He remembered when Lily had disappeared every one was pretty down… especially James and Sarah, no one else knew except for Sirius but James was going to actually ask Lily out the week after she had gone. Of course Sirius had been there for James but nothing could get him to be the same.
The biggest blow after her disappearance was when they went to her parents house, Petunia had moved out and was no where to be found but her parents house had burnt down. There was no trace or clue to where they were. They wrote letters to the ministry, wrote Dumbledore, but they either had no right to give information or they just didn't know.
A year after living with suspicion, they had openly given up but Sarah didn't want to claim her as dead. So the case was never closed but more abandoned, they'd never know what happened to Lily or her parents.
Sirius had walked for a good half hour now, he was close to the cemetery and kicked pebbles along the way until he saw a woman coming out from the cemetery passing the front gate, it looked like Calista…same brown hair, same build but definitely thinner.
He walked a bit faster, he noticed her clothes were all dirty, she turned around while stumbling, the resemblance was uncanny, as he advanced toward her (he was quite far away from her) he was pretty sure it was her, "Cal!" either it wasn't her or she didn't hear him… Sirius didn't know so he walked faster toward her he saw she fall down. Sirius broke into a run , "Hey you, OK?"
As he was pretty close to her now he realised it was Calista! She got up again and started to wander off again, she wasn't in a good condition, "Calista! Calista!"
She turned around dazed but fell down again, Sirius was fast to catch her, "Whoa there! Calista! What the hell happened to you?"
She struggled up, "O-off with your hands! you stranger! Wait… what?" she said faintly.
"Calista…what is wrong with you?" was she drunk?! Sirius was too much in shock.
"Calista? Who's that?" she asked him curiously, she reached up to the head and winced in pain. "Ah! I'm bleeding!"
It was Sirius saw she had a gash on her head, bright red oxygen blood was slowly drooling down her forehead, "Oh crap! Ok breathe Calista, breathe…" he got a handkerchief and tried to wipe her hand but she pulled her hands away shaking like crazy.
She started to hyperventilate, "I'm going to die! Oh no… oh god" then she fainted but this time Sirius couldn't catch her.
"Oh shit!" Sirius picked her up and rushed her to a nearby bench and called an ambulance with his mobile.
~*~*~
Severus Snape walked into Madame Malkins, "Hello, I'm here for some robes for the ministry ball." he drawled lazily to the lady at the counter.
"Oh really? Wow! Second one today; you are. Step up onto the box over there!" she pointed to the box in the corner surrounded by mirrors.
Severus did so and looked expectantly at the young woman, "Well? Aren't you going to measure me?" he asked.
The woman looked at him curiously and said, "You don't have a letter with you do you?"
Severus narrowed his eyes at her "Should I have one?"
She put her hands on her hips, " I don't know! You tell me... i need to know these things. i don't want to get yelled at like Rosy."
"Well I don't…"Severus sneered.
"Very well then."
The measuring tapes started to measure and Severus remembered what she had just said before about him being the second one today. To get robes for the Ministry ball, he supposed. "Excuse me, what do you mean second one today? you mean someone else came for their robes?"
"Oh, I'm Lara Malkin by the way. My grandmama founded this place when she was just fresh out of Hogwarts. I went to Hogwarts myself, did you? You look about my age really. Oh! Well, another customer came in today, she was very pretty, looked about my age really, but I don't remember her from Hogwarts or anything."
"She?" Severus asked, intrigued. "What was her name?"
"Oh... she never gave it to me. After my sister Rosy measured her, my grandmama dealt with her herself! She had a letter from the ministry. Official business, I suspect... Well, so I wasn't eavesdropping but not only was she an extreme auror... she also said something to my grandmama about how she was going to have long blonde hair and hazel eyes." Lara scrunched her face up as she said that, "Right…your done now!"
He couldn't help but feel shocked. The stupid woman had almost told him everything he needed to know! Bloody hell. she was as daft as a doorknob. "When will it be ready?" he asked her snidely.
"I'll do it myself, it'll be ready by tomorrow, you know when we're open. What's your name and what colour would you like your robes to be?"
"A simple but formal black robe," he said coldly while walked to the counter, he tossed a bag of galleons, "That should be suffice."
"All right but-"
"A bit of advice, Malkin... you'll be sure to find yourself upon a number of hit lists by the end of the week if you don't shut your insufferable trap about the confidential information of the Ministry that you had a chance to get a hold of by eavesdropping. You don't even know who I am and you just blabbered on to me about Extreme Aurors and planned disguise." Severus spat, "I could be a dark wizard for all you know..."
Lara's eye grew wide, "I- oh merlin..."
"But I'm not... so you won't get into too much trouble with your grandmama." he made his way out of the store as quickly as he could.
"WAIT!" Lara cried after him, she followed him hurriedly, "I need your name!"
He turned around and held out his wand, preparing to Disapparate, "Snape." He was gone in a flash.
~*~*~
After Remus had gone separate ways with Sirius, he went behind a bush and Apparated to in front of Sarah's apartment, he took the spare key from inside the doorbell and rushed inside, he ran to her room and took the framed photo and took the backing off, he took the key inside and opened the box from underneath her bed and took some of the documents, he put everything back and Apparated to in front of the hospital, an ally.
He shoved the documents into his jacket and made his way through the ally but a figure laid sprawled near some bins gave him the shock of his life, "Mr. Banks!"
Remus ran to him and checked his pulse, it was barely there, blood was everywhere, he had been stabbed "Mr. Banks! Oh no! some body help!" just as he was going to stand up, a voice stopped him, "Mr. Lupin…(gasp) no use…(gasp) in getting help (wheeze)."
"Just hold on, Mr. Banks! hold on!"
The older man shook his head, "No (gasp) use... my... will."
A nurse ran into the ally, "Oh my gods! What happened?"
The hospital staff got him into the hospital, but in the end… it was too late. Even though he was a great wizard, he was still human and he had lost too much blood. It was thought that he was caught off guard from behind by a mugger.
When Remus told James and Sarah's parents, they were even more devastated. Too much was happening today…too much. James and Remus went inside to see Sarah, she was shaking slightly every once in a while. After awhile of silence; James spoke, "I never knew Mr. Banks that well, not personally, he was like a distant uncle or something people underestimate Muggles. Well, anyway... the doctors said she'd be ok. But they still don't know what happened just before though…"
Remus looked at the pale Sarah, "We knew she'd pull through..."
"Oh, I'm sorry Remus, must've been hard seeing Mr. Banks like that."
"No, it's OK. I mean- I've seen worse... let's get off this topic," Remus replied nervously.
"Right..."
It was then that there was a comfortable silence, but then Sarah shot up into a sitting up position, her eyes were wide and her chest rising and falling at extreme rates. They yelped.
James hugged her tightly, "Oh thank god…"
She gripped James' arm, "Oh my god…"
James let go and looked worried, "What is it? Sarah?"
"James? Remus!" she gave him a gaze of strange acknowledgement then turned away; turning back to her cousin. "James…if you had gone into hiding for 5 years what sort of danger do you think would be involved in?" her voice was strangely strangled.
James looked at worried, "Sarah… I think you should rest, you've been out for a couple of days now…where'd you get all this energy from?"
"No! James I don't need rest!" Sarah said excitedly, "Can you get a nurse in here?"
Remus looked at his friend sceptically, he had a hunch where this would lead… he slipped out unnoticed.
Once the nurse came in, Sarah shot at her with questions, "Do you know a nurse? Who is of average height, long auburn hair and emerald eyes?" she started to make gestures with her arms but James restrained her.
"Umm…not that I know of, I know all the nurses here..."
"How can she not be here! I saw her! She saved my life!" Sarah cried out, her arms flailing around with frustration.
"Why don't you rest Miss Potter"
"No! she's here I know she's here! I saw her uniform!"
"Sarah…" James put his hands on her shoulders trying to get her to calm down. He was worried, she was asking for a nurse that had the same description as Lily. Everything she could say beyond this was going to worry the hell out of him as well.... She kicked him away.
She stood up and tried to tug at the tubes and wires attached to her body, "James, this is great! get off your arse-- we're going to find her. I've got to find her... I was going to die" her voice lowered to a whisper, " I was... I was literally a step away from death a minute ago. But then she saved me. She talked me into saving myself, James! Now I can fulfil our promise! Everyone will be so proud."
The nurse looked at her weirdly and turned back out of the room, "Get a doctor in here, please."
"Don't get the doctor! I'm fine! So what? I lost a couple a kilos, and I look-" Sarah jumped off from the bed and looked in the mirror, "Like shit... But I'm fine!"
Remus leaned against the wall just outside the door. Lily saved her... how? he made his way back downstairs hurriedly.
He waited and waited, from when he saw Mr. Banks and Lily together he knew they were almost like father and daughter.
Lily would be crushed to hear about Mr. Banks' death. By chance, he didn't know… but at that moment; in came Nurse Newberry.
"Lily…" he murmured as he started to walk toward her.
~~~~~
"Yes?" Lily asked cautiously.
"Can I talk to you alone?"
"Uh…what is this about? If it's about the patient then I believe you should be talking to the doctor. In fact, I was just about to go and find him myself-"
"No... the information you need can only come from me." Remus replied sternly.
Lily winced inwardly, "The information I need."
From when he saw Mr. Banks and Lily together he knew they were almost like father and daughter, Lily would be crushed to hear about Mr. Banks' death. by chance, he didn't know but then in came Nurse Newberry. Or Lily should I say? "You might want to sit down, it's bad news..." he wavered and started again "Look, when I was coming back from a walk I saw a figure sprawled-"
"I'm sorry, but why are you telling me this?" Lily asked nervously.
"Because you need to know Li-Nurse Newberry, you'll find out anyway... but I want to tell you."
Did he just almost call me Lily?! No…couldn't be, no one knows.
"Please let me continue…" Remus looked her in the eye and waited with bated breath, "Mr. Banks is dead. I'm sorry..."
Lily went numb. Those words hit her like a major blow to the head. Everything in her line of vision began to blur and unfocus, she wasn't sure whether it was the tears or initial shock. Did Remus actually mean her Ernie Banks? dead? how? what? She looked up at him, he was concerned...
"You're lying…" She breathed, disbelieving.
"I'm not…I'm really sorry, you know I would never lie to you,"
Lily shook her head slightly, trying to keep her composure, " I don't recall knowing you-" She murmured.
"I wouldn't ever lie to you Lily…" Remus finally got out. When he saw her shake her head violently he stared into her eyes; trying to force her it was true. "I'm really sorry, I have every reason to believe you were close with him, which makes me wonder about a lot of things." Remus lifted her chin with his fingers.
She jerked her head away forcefully, how dare he pin her down like this when she was so vulnerable. Anger surged through her... She had to find Ernie.
She stood up and left him there, standing. He wondered if that was the right thing to do.
A/N- Go Remus and his working-outty skills!
