A/N: --UPDATED-- Let's all yell at my wonderful teachers who decide to bring finals on top of me, shall we? :p

- Cellie

Note: It is advised that you read I Never Knew before trying to tackle this piece.

Disclaimer: Evan Rivera, Wendy Figg Rivera, Venna Rivera, Cellie Rivera, James Metz, and Cassie Black Woods (No relation to Mother's Curse) are all mine. The plot, however odd, is mine. Annie (Andromeda) Black is loosely based on a character created by the great and mighty fanfiction writer Kaydi. The Potters, and anyone else I may mention are property to J.K Rowling, and her alone—I can't think of anything to say..—That's nice, Cassie.

Chapter Sixteen
First Warnings


Cellie was still reeling as she and Harry walked down the seemingly endless corridors. She was in too much of a state to even notice the castle around her. As they walked, Harry was pointing things out to her, but his voice sounded oddly muffled. Dumbledore and James had probably gone ahead, seeing as how no more blurry shapes traversed down the hallways with them.

Suddenly, a gray shape materialized in front of her. Cellie stumbled back, surprised at the movement. The shape, Cellie noticed, now had faint features—was that a ruffled collar around its neck? Odder still, the shape started talking.

Ary.. nut scare.. d I? It said cloudily. Harry replied with something equally confusing, then helped Cellie up.

D'um.. im.. host.. Harry muttered. Cellie nodded mutely and tried to form an apologetic smile at the thing, which she assumed was a ghost. It only floated away in response. They walked for a few more minutes before stopping again, in a narrow corridor. Cellie noticed another figure which seemed to glitter. She blinked her eyes in confusion. Did all magical hats blind you and muffle your hearing, or was it just this dratted one?

The figure murmured something, and the walls on either side of Cellie swung open. Cellie slammed herself to the floor, a look of sheer terror on her face. She had no interest whatsoever of being reduced to the slimness of a pancake. A warmth was suddenly felt on her shoulder, and Cellie looked up warily to see Harry. Surprisingly, he was the only one she could see relatively clearly.

At least that means that I'm not gonna be blind, Cellie thought to herself. She began to realize that the walls that had swung out were in fact doors of some kind, and because of the narrow hallway's look, they both nearly swung to meet in the center, making them seem to be connecting.

Cellie got up, rubbing her eyes, which felt as if peroxide had touched them. She saw with great difficulty that inside one of the doors', a small suite was hidden inside, with a four poster bed, something brick that looked like a fireplace, and a wooden desk of sorts off to the right side.

'Ry.. Hat.. id sorting .. Harry's voice told the shimmery figure whom Cellie still couldn't make out. She groaned at the word hat'.

Don't mention it, she whispered. Harry looked visibly surprised.

Cells, what?

That bloody hat, don't mention it. It's giving me a headache. The shimmery thing and a second figure, who Cellie hadn't seen at first, looked towards her, incredulously. The auburn haired teenager was fast losing her patience. They had no reason to treat her like she had cancer.

What, just because I can't see, and everything I hear comes out muffled, that's reason enough to assume I'm practically an invalid? She spat out, crossly, narrowing her bleary green eyes.

Cellie.. o.. c'mon— Harry tried to reason, but she cut him off.

I'm tired. She said, plainly, changing the subject. Let me sleep before I kill someone. Harry nodded reluctantly, and gave a look to Shimmer, who gestured to one of the open doors'. Cellie tried to give her best glare at the trio before climbing—stumbling was a better word—into the suite. The door creaked shut after her, and she got the vague feeling of being locked in. The last thing she remembered before falling onto the bed was the sinking suspicion that the hat was not a normal hat—even for a magical one. However, this thought had disappeared from her head by morning, as had the vision and hearing problems.




Harry shut the portrait hole up after Cellie had entered, a look of frustration on his face. James and Dumbledore, who had been there the whole time, had on very different faces. For Dumbledore, it was a look of calm, which Harry usually associated with the headmaster being in deep thought. James, however, was chuckling.

Harry asked his.. well, something. He didn't know exactly how to classify James. He was Harry's father, but only in the weakest sense. It was like saying that Cellie and Harry were siblings in another life—not completely absurd, but close.

James gave Harry a grin. Women. Be glad, Harry, that you didn't know your mother at this age. Harry cocked an eyebrow.

She was that bad? Harry questioned. James shuddered.

He stated.

Suddenly, Dumbledore got a look of apprehension on his face.

If you'll excuse me, James, Harry.. It seems that I have two rather feisty visitors in my office. With that, he left. James and Harry each gave each other a look.

He's still like that? James said incredulously. Harry nodded.

James shook his head, a cocky grin on his face.

You know, I think Cellie might be right about us.

That being.. James let out a short chuckle.

She can see where you get your character. He said plainly. Nope, I can't see a bit of Lily in you.. with the exception of your eyes. His tone softened at the last part. Harry frowned, slightly.

You miss her, don't you? He asked. My mum? James nodded abysmally.

It would've been different if I had married her, Harry, and died with her, even. But I haven't seen her in eighteen years, and I haven't been able to even enjoy another woman's company since. He sighed. You had the more to lose, though. After all, she was your mother.

Harry looked up at James's saddened face, and put on a pitiful smile.

Hey, if you think about it the way Cellie always is, you were technically married to her. He said, trying to cheer James up. The elder Potter smiled slightly.

I guess... But I'm not sure what's worse: Having known that I truly loved her, but she was murdered, or never knowing. James sighed. You should probably go to sleep, it's been a long floo ride. I'll take the next portrait over. Harry nodded silently, and entered the portrait room across from Cellie. Only as he was falling asleep did he realize that the third chamber James was supposedly taking had not been unlocked by Dumbledore.




James saw off Harry to his room, gently pushing the portrait back against the wall. He leaned against the wall that Cellie's room had been on, closing his eyes slightly. Sirius was coming with Arabella; well, hopefully those two would work their problems out.

And then, he yawned, When they come here I think I'll just have them unlock another portrait..

It was only moments later that James heard a creaking. His eyes flew open, and enlarged to moons as he saw the guard of Harry's portrait—no longer a courtier, but a teenage boy with uncontrollable black hair and a fiendish smile grinned back at him, decked out in red and gold quidditch robes. The plaque aside it read, Head Boy of 1976, James Henry Potter, Gryffindor Head Boy Suite.

James took a sharp breath. The tradition of having the Head Boy Suite of each house decorated with a portrait of the last Head Boy to take up residence there hadn't gone, but—surely Gryffindor had found a Head Boy in the eighteen years he had been gone—Slytherin couldn't have taken the title for all those years—could they have?

A feeling of dread mounting within him, he jumped up from the wall he was leaning on and spun around to look at the portrait where Cellie had entered.

Oh, no.. He breathed. Lily's smiling face shone back at him. In the flesh.



Sirius was surprised to find that not ten seconds after arriving at the school with Arabella in tow, Dumbledore appeared in his office.

Go figure, Sirius thought. Dumbledore gave him a warm smile.

Ah, Sirius.. Both Potters were quite anxious about your absence, Dumbledore said. If there was any sign of Arabella's amazement being gone in the first place, it reappeared, accompanied by a look of apprehension.

So.. What Sirius said.. it's true? James.. he's.. She stuttered, trying to find the right words. Dumbledore only nodded slightly in return.

Sirius speaks of the truth. Although he knows quite a bit more than I currently do, seeing as how he's been with Mr. Potter for a day or so more than I have, so he must know his story. Sirius acknowledged this remark with a bob from the head.

I'd tell you now, Professor, but there are still some parts I don't understand myself.. also.. He demonstrated his also' remark with a large yawn. Dumbledore gave him an understanding smile.

Your companions were of the same state you are in now. I sent them down to the guest rooms in the south corridor. I'm sure you remember them well, Sirius.

Sirius swallowed a lump in his throat. Ya—Yeah. I remember them. They were only where Annie stayed.. Sirius shook the thought from his head.

Albus, the passwords? Arabella interrupted Sirius's chain of thought by asking.

Thank you, Bella. Dumbledore scrunched up his brow.

Crystal fog and tea leaves, I believe. At Sirius's odd look, the headmaster got a glint of laughter in his eyes.

If I remember correctly, back when you lot were in schooling, Professor Moissant used to teach in that corridor, using each room as a different divining device. The classroom was moved up to the North Tower, however, in your sixth year, because we needed guest rooms. I must have forgotten to change the passwords. Dumbledore explained.

Arabella agreed rather quickly. Yes, I remember, don't you, Sirius? Now, come on. And with that, she tugged him out of the room and towards the moving staircase.

As soon as they were out of Dumbledore's earshot, Sirius turned to Arabella. What the hell was that? He spat.

An excuse. I was tired. She said, plainly. Sirius scoffed.

You just want to see James. He said, with a hurt look in his eyes.

Arabella glared at him. So what if I do? I haven't seen the man since Harry was a year old, Sirius. That should account for something. They had gotten off the moving staircase and bypassed the gargoyle, walking towards the south corridor.

Sirius tried to hide the jealousy as he muttered, Well you haven't seen me in that long, either.

She asked, a bit crisply. What was that?

Nothing, Arabella, nothing. He replied, just as icily.

I'm a really horrible friend. Here James is, alive, and all I can think of is Arabella's attention. I'm downright awful.




James stumbled back, his back edging up against his portrait. Lily bit her lip in confusion.

What is it, James? You look like you've just seen the Bloody Baron, and Godric knows that he can't get into the Heads Hall. James blinked, the rest of his body frozen. This was LILY. But she was eighteen..

She called out, again. James, for the love of Godric, answer me. You can't possibly be drunk or anything before your last quidditch match of the season... can you? Oh, jeez, if Remus and Sirius got you DRUNK.. Her face went from worried, to annoyed, to angry. James just stood there. He remembered this. It was two nights before the Graduation Ball. But.. what was he doing here.

However, all thoughts washed from his head as Lily put a hand on his shoulder.

She asked, a tender tone to her voice. Hey, what is it? James blinked back the tears that were unwillingly starting to form. Here she was. Lily. She was alive. She was here. No matter how he got back into the past, no matter. He couldn't duplicate himself, not again. He had to tell her now. He had to avoid the Timekey. He had to.

Without anything more on the subject, James leaned in and kissed Lily. Suddenly, as he pulled away, it was as if time was speeding forward, with him standing in the same place. He saw flashes of events before his eyes.

A funeral—I can't read the tombstone..

Wedding..

What.. Hospital.. Mungo's? The hospital suddenly flushed into view. A nurse was talking to him.

I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Potter. We tried all we could, but we couldn't save her.

James asked dumbly.

Your wife. Her child, a girl, was dead upon birth. James gasped.

He breathed. It can't be..

Suddenly, the scene swam out of view, and he heard a voice calling to him.

He croaked.

No, James. The voice was still hazy, a female's..

Suddenly a good, sharp kick in the side brought his vision back from the black tide.

He yelled. Son of a..

You shouldn't have done that. My way would've worked better. The female said.

Your way is SLOW. The male's voice was more familiar.

James asked, as his friend's face zapped back.



I'm gonna kill you for that. Sirius chuckled weakly.

The way you were thrashing about, James, I'm not sure you could do anything. Remembering the visions, James shuddered.

It was just a dream. James stated. Sirius nodded.

More like a nightmare, it seems. The female came into view, and James sat up in surprise.

He exclaimed. My god.. Arabella gave him a shaken smile. Obviously, she was still getting over the shock of seeing him.

Hullo, James.. Long time, no see. She tried to say lightly. James gave her a weak smile. Sirius, however, still had the frown on his face.

James, you look like hell. C'mon, Bella and I can share a portrait room and you can have the other. Arabella narrowed her eyes.

We will NOT.. I'll take one room, Sirius, and you and James can share the other.

Arabella, he needs to sleep!

Well so do you, you idiot! You look worse than he does! She blurted out. Sirius stopped arguing and looked at her.

You, my lady, are the single most confusing woman I have ever met. He stated. And James should sleep alone. I get nightmares, so I'd wake him up.

You know I'm still here, right? James questioned. Both looked at James sheepishly.

Sorry, James. They replied.

You're right, Sirius. Arabella relented. James, can you get up? He nodded. All right. Portrait next to the one of Helga Hufflepuff. Password is tea leaves. She left for the other one after telling him, leaving both men behind.

You're sure you're all right. Sirius asked. James gave a curt nod.

For now. Say, who named the passwords? Sounds like Divination.

James, my friend, it's a long story..



A/N: I know, I'm awful for not updating. My teachers have an intricate plot to keep me from this story, I swear..

Jelli Bean: You'll be pretty surprised, I'll assure you..

ra-chan: Finals = evil things. That's all I have to say.

Tarawen: As for the hat, it wasn't acting of it's own preference, I'll assure you. However, Voldie has no control over the hat. Three-Peat.. I guess I should be excited, but it was too easy..

WeasleyTwinsLover1112: ROFL!! I should..

Lilygurl: You're close, but Voldie isn't in the hat.. As for Cassie, you'll see her in a chapter or two.

Sarah Teer: Unfortunately, Draco won't play a big part in this story. He'll be mentioned when school starts for Harry and co, though.