Chapter Seven: Life's Quirky Challenges
Author: sorry bout the delay, I've been really busy. The next chapter is written, and I'll put it up as quick as I can, probably Sunday or Monday. Thank you all soooo much for the reviews! I feel so warm and fuzzy when I get them! ^_^
Lily Evans stared numbly at the page of the Daily Prophet that she was reading. It wasn't possible…never would she have thought…
"Lily!" James pale face appeared for a moment, then a blur.
Mass Muggle Murder
Homes have been destroyed, lives lost, and families torn apart. On the spot Ministry Employees have confirmed the appearance of two giants on the scene, who apparently were there on the orders of he-who-must-not-be-named. What they were looking for is as of now unknown. They tore up multiple buildings and twelve muggles were killed, several more injured. A squad of trained wizards appeared in time to kill the giants, undoubtedly saving many more lives. Ministry officials have released the list of names. No wizards, fortunately, were killed, although several officials came out with bumps and bruises…
Lily was at a loss for words. "Its not them Lily, I just checked…" James's voice faded in and out like a kind of far away echo. She didn't look anywhere in particular, just anywhere but at the people in the great hall.
"Some of our friends…." James came back into focus. "Ginger, your roommate…"
"My Parents? Petunia?" she asked hoarsely.
"They're fine. It wasn't anywhere near there, thank goodness…" he hugged Lily, who cried in relief. "Oh, I couldn't bear it if they…Petunia's getting married this summer…the danger…"
James held her up, stroking her dark hair. He knew people who were affected directly, but as long as Lily was all right, it was ok.
Lily went to class in a daze of relief and unbelievable fear. What if it had been her parents? What if it had been Petunia? And after fighting with her about the wedding too. She hated her sister, but definitely didn't wish her dead. One of the girls in her dormitory, Ginger Geoff had both her parents and two younger muggle siblings killed. That was the worst of it. A boy in Ravenclaw third year lost an aunt, and a Hufflepuff first year lost a third cousin, but everyone with muggle families were extremely worried.
Ginger went home to her grandparents to get her affairs in order before returning to Hogwarts to finish her education and take Newts. Lily, as Head girl, was to help keep her up with her schoolwork. She and Ginger had never been close, but after seven years of sharing a dormitory, you got to know a person pretty well. Lily went with her to the door of the Great Hall, helping her to carry her belongings for her trip home.
"It could have been any of us." She told Ginger with a hug. Ginger didn't say a word, but hugged Lily back tightly for a moment, then turned and followed McGonagall out to the carriage that waited to take her back to the train station.
Dear Mum, Dad, and Petunia,
Bad stuff has been happening lately, and I am writing to tell you to be very careful. Do not tell anyone that you even know about the magical world, and do not talk to anyone who you think is a suspicious character, even if they say that they know me.
I should have told you before, but it isn't too late. Not all wizards are good. In fact, some are just plain evil. One such wizard, called Voldemort or he-who-must-not-be-named, is becoming very powerful. His followers enjoy killing non-magic people, especially blonds. (Just kidding Petunia)
Please promise me that you will be careful. The safest place for me is Hogwarts, and the safest place for you is right where you are. After this letter, I will not use owls to communicate. It is much too conspicuous, and may make you targets. I love you and miss you and James sends his greetings as well.
All my Love,
Lily
"Lily, it'll be ok." She and James were studying in the library, and Lily was still not concentrating like she should on her homework. "Besides, Remus sure doesn't look worried."
Lily glanced over at where Remus was sitting with a girl, bending over a book and nodding enthusiastically. She couldn't see who it was… Then he sat up and smiled, and a blond head appeared.
"Sara!" Lily said. Saraline Stokes, Lily's best friend was laughing at something with Remus. James shushed her.
"Didn't you know they were dating?" he asked. Lily's jaw dropped, fear of her family dying momentarily forgotten.
"Sara never told me, and neither did Remus!" She moved to stand up, but James pulled her back down.
"Oh leave them, they're happy."
"At least some people are." She muttered. James sighed.
"I miss happy Lily." He said.
"Happy Lily is on vacation. She'll come back when Newts are over, Voldemort is gone, and Petunia turns into the nice, sweet, person that my parents are telling me she is." Lily knew that she sounded bitter and mean, but it was all true. How could she be happy with Newts looming over her, not to mention all that other stuff? She was sending homework to Ginger every day on top of Head Girl duties. It was all too much.
"I'm sorry James, I must be annoying." She said.
"You're never annoying. I told you that a long time ago, and do you remember what you said?"
"No,"
"You said that you didn't care what I thought, because I was a great, stuck up, idiot."
"I did? I don't remember that."
"Yes. Third year, I cried myself to sleep for three days."
"Really?"
"No, but don't ask Sirius because he'll deny it."
Lily laughed. James was the only one who could make her smile at a time like this, and he prided himself in it. Her smile was so attractive…
James glanced over at Remus to make sure he was still absorbed with his little girlfriend, and then leaned over the books spread out on the table and kissed Lily softly on the lips.
"Not here James," Lily began, but it was too late, she was swept away, just like she always was. She remembered the first time she ever kissed James, on a dare in the sixth year, before she was "enlightened to his charms" she liked to say. It was a lot more timid and sweet, but still so much James. He didn't hold back and was very passionate, something that Lily cherished. She had had a few boyfriends before him, but they were never serious. She was always preoccupied thinking of him, even if it was thoughts of ways to curse him into leaving her alone.
"AHEM." Madam Pince the Librarian interrupted them. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but the Library is a place of learning, not snogging."
James was ready for this however.
"I'm learning how to kiss Lily," he said. "And she's learning how to make me—"
"James!" Lily exclaimed, pushing him away and gathering up her books. "I'm sorry Madam Pince, I got distracted, it won't happen again."
Madam Pince was busy looking over at another certain couple however, who seemed to have gotten into a forceful face attachment charm.
"Honestly!" she said, bustling over to reprimand the pair. Lily and James took that opportunity to escape, hurrying out of the Library and chuckling at the idea of Madam Pince's expression when she found that it was two of her favorite students, Saraline and Remus, making out.
Time flew by, and Lily's seventeenth birthday came and went. Her parents sent her a package for the first time since they had received her letter telling them not to, and even Petunia signed her name at the bottom of the card. Ginger returned from visiting her family, not the same cheerful girl she had been, but she was speaking and laughing at last. Remus and Sara dated secretly (or not so secretly, since everyone knew), and Lily and James remained the perfect couple.
One morning, Lily was sitting at breakfast in the great hall and Sara came over to the Gryffindor table in tears. Lily made room for her on the bench and took Sara's hand.
"Lily," Sara said. Her baby blue eyes were teary, and she removed her glasses to wipe them, making her look young. Alice and Frank watched her nervously from across the table.
"Sara, what happened?" Lily demanded. Sara shook her head. "Is it Remus?"
"How do you know about that?" Sara asked, and then waved it aside, nodding tearfully. "Yes, he's told me—" She stopped looking over at Alice and Frank, and then began to cry again.
"See you guys," Lily told them, ushering Saraline out of the Great Hall, thinking sadly of her half eaten breakfast.
"Sara, tell me what he said." Lily demanded. Sara shook her head though, horror stricken.
"I can't. That's just it. I can't tell you, and I can't stand this. What am I supposed to do?" she sniffled, turning away from Lily. "I can't tell anyone."
"Why don't you talk about it to Remus?" Lily asked. She half wanted to vehemently ask why Sara had kept the relationship a secret from her, and half wanted to comfort her friend.
"Remus doesn't want to talk about it. You know how he is…He just left me to sort it all out…only I can't." She looked angry, and threw her transfiguration notebook onto the floor.
"Is it about his secret illness?" Lily asked finally.
"You- you know?" Sara asked. Anger seemed to have dried her tears for the moment, and surprise was quickly taking over.
"Yeah. James told me, it was very personal. I couldn't tell you, and I wasn't supposed to know about you and him anyway…"
"Oh Lily, tell me what it means. Can we still be together? Can I still date him? Can I ever tell my parents this?"
"Calm down, first thing," Lily said gently. "And think about it. Do you love him?"
"Yes. I don't know if I should, but I do. Oh Lily!"
"Calm down. Think, why did he tell you?"
Sara, back in a subject she could relate to, relaxed a bit. "Obviously he knows I would never betray his secret, and that I won't mind."
"And to protect you." Said a voice from behind. James was there, quiet and serious. "He loves you, and he's giving you a last chance to get out of it. But he also does trust you."
"You know too?" Sara asked weakly. James nodded.
"Sirius convinced him to tell you and I agree that it was the right thing to do. If he is going to get involved with you this intimately, you have a right to know." Sara blushed. James continued, ignoring her discomfort. "But he was afraid…of this."
"Of what?" Sara asked. Her eyes were teary again.
"That you wouldn't love him anymore." Lily told her softly.
"But I do. Oh Lily, I thought you would be so mad if you knew, but I love him so much…" Her gaze drifted over to Remus, who had just come down the marble staircase and was watching the scene with a sad, bitter expression on his face. Sara saw him and rushed over. He flinched at first, and then was stunned when she hugged him, crying into his robes.
James took Lily's hand and led her away.
"Privacy, Lily. I don't want to see them make up. It'll be slobbery. Moony always drools in his sleep, so he probably slobbers when he kisses."
"James! That's gross, don't say things like that! Besides, drooling in your sleep had nothing to do with it." Lily said. "Because I saw you drooling once anyway."
"Only because I had a nerve killing potion after I was pushed off my broom during Quidditch practice!"
"Pushed? You mean fell." James went to correct her, but Lily just laughed and followed him back to breakfast happily. Of all the things that had happened to Remus, falling for Saraline Stokes had to be the best. And Saraline? Lily's smile widened. No guy could keep the exact balance of studiousness and interesting quirkiness that Remus had and Sara needed.
Author: Thanks and see you!
