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CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - TO LEARN AND TO INHERIT
June came. The exams, the plans, the holidays. It welcomed Lily, Julia, Sirius, James and Lupin with something more than that: with the Ancient Magic Classes, which did Dumbledore or McGonagall carry on. The students had to spend lots of hours in library, studying both their usual subjects and the ancient. Sting, Black and Potter never really had had problems about learning. But Lily and Remus, who loved repeating and repeating, were both mentally and physically exhausted. They were over-learnt.
'God, I need to rest. I need holidays, please!!!', Lily kept muttering. That was so funny, because she was doing great. Sirius and James didn't seem to worry at all, laughing and talking and preparing brand new pranks. Lily didn't criticize them anymore. They behaved stupid, this fact was publicly known, but never wanted to hurt the innocent. The truth was that Lily liked James, even if she didn't want to agree yet.
They had a different problem with Julia: she was more and more often missing. Nobody knew why. She attended the lessons and exams but was leaving them just after that. No talks, no explanations. She had always been a lonely type, but since they all were friends and especially since her relation with Sirius changed, she had spent more time with other people. Now she was rarely seen, talked to and she didn't smile so often. He friends thought she just needed more time to get over the news they had been given. Well, Julia was happy that they didn't follow her every time. This is nice to be with people, but all the time???
Albus Dumbledore was content of the results of their extra lessons. The students were working hard and doing their extra homework even more carefully that the ordinary ones. They collected all sorts of information connected with the ancient magic, kilograms of parchment were used on their notes. Lily and James did the majority of the research work: they had more time and the practical sessions weren't exhausting for them. Potter was very grateful to the stars that he could spent so much time with Lily Evans. And, what is so important, she didn't seem to be angry because of that.
Julia and Sirius had to learn how to control and use their unusual power during the sessions. They had to concentrate hard on the spells and charms they were using, concentrate their minds on many different things at a time. After each lesson Julia looked paler than usual, very strange, like a white wall if such existed at Hogwarts. Sirius, however, was only more worn- out, but seemed happy. At last he was doing something needed. This first good feeling made him even more handsome!
The fact that boys were exhausted made happier the caretaker: since the battle no stupid pranks had occurred. The school seemed quiet.
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
'Julia, your concentration is gone', the headmaster criticized her slightly. Julia's mind was absent and she didn't know why. 'Once again: pillow, window and Potter's jersey. You can do it.'
They were practicing using of several spells at a time. They had already mastered one spell used on few things. That wasn't difficult: they could wave their wands and shout. Even Lily and James managed to do this: the fire was all over their world, not only within them.
Now, however, the task Dumbledore chose for them was more complicated. They couldn't shout the spells: they had to use three at once. The possibility to move wand wasn't helpful: which one to choose? He wanted Julia to open the window, "accio" the pillow and change the colour of James' jersey.
'Julia, dear, concentrate. I'll take your wand if you don't stop thinking about it', Albus threatened her with a laughter.
'I've done it. Almost.', said Sirius and all of them laughed: he managed to open the pillow, so all feathers came out of it and spread around the classroom; he changer the colour of window glass, so it looked like a stained. But the thing they laughed about was that he drew up James' jersey so Potter was left with bare chest (muscular and slender, Lily noticed to her great surprise).
'Yeah, maybe you're just in a good mood for that', said Julia. 'I'm so tired.'
'Maybe we will finish?', asked Lily but the headmaster said.
'You need to practice. You were given a special gift and you have to learn how to use it wisely. Ms. Sting, do I have to remind that without practice this can be dangerous, you can burn yourselves or damage something. You need to control this. Now! Eye contact and a spell. Do it.'
Julia normally was mad when somebody shouted or criticized her attention to tasks. Now, however, Dumbledore's firm speech woke her up and she managed to do this (jersey turned into a paler shade; the window loudly opened and shot; the pillow hit Julia's head). Professor smiled and said.
'Exactly, this is what I want you to do, but without anger, remember?'
'I know. I just. I haven't felt well lately, you know', Julia said her eyes glancing at her shoes. 'It's all so complicated.'
'Said a not complicated girl at all', laughed James but stopped because of Lily's angry glance.
'Mr. Potter', Dumbledore turned to James. 'I understand this all is still fun for you but some other people have to their lives complicated. And all I want you to do is support, not mock.'
'Yes, Sir. Sorry', said James seriously. Seriously!!!
'Well, I guess we will end for now. Julia, take some rest. The others - remember about our next task, get prepared following Sunday', with these words the headmaster left the chamber. They stayed to talk longer in peace but Julia said she needed rest and left too. Her friends began to worry seriously. What problems did she have?
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\//\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\//\\
Sirius was late for dinner. The Hall was crowded but he found his friends, sat and began to eat the marvellously prepared chicken. James and Lupin were discussing some aspects of attitude towards ancient art in the Middle Ages and Lily was listening.
'Well, we all had wonderful ancestors! They made wands to scare the Muggles', Sirius interrupted their discussion. They turned heads to listen to him. He wanted to go on but Lily waved her hand and asked, scared.
'Where is Julia. Wasn't she with you?'
'No. I thought she spent.I wanted to show her something', he began. 'Shit! I'll look for her.'
He left the Hall, his friends shocked and worried about Julia. None of them had seen her during the day. She didn't talk much with them since the battle, and even Lily didn't know what is wrong.
Sirius ran out of the great hall and stopped. Where should he go to look for her? Oh, the castle was huge and there were so many places to hide when one didn't want to be found. He sighed. He could spend hours rambling around the castle and the surrounding grounds. Why was she leaving his so often lately? They didn't talk, this was strange, because he loved her voice and knew that she enjoyed chatting with him. Where should he go? He decided not to leave the castle, Julia wouldn't have escaped outside the building. The owlery or greenhouse weren't her favourite places. Firstly he decided to run across the staircases and corridors, the empty and deserted. He knew there were so many of them that he could spend months looking for her. He ran upstairs and downstairs, along the corridors and called her name eve in the bathrooms. He was loosing his hope, exhausted because of the long run, when he saw a small, dark figure sitting under the wall on seventh floor. That corridor hadn't been used since ages, very dusty and dark. With a relief he approached her.
Julia was only sitting, her arms around her legs, her bag lying by her feet, one book opened but abandoned. She looked so miserable and lonely that this sight almost broke Sirius' heart. His girl, his love, his friend, so alone. He kneeled and kissed her forehead. She didn't react or something. She just sat still. He embraced her, stroked her hair and asked gently after a while.
'Now we should talk, honey. What's wrong?', no answer. 'Julia, sweetheart, what is wrong. I so much love.talking to you. Your jokes and mockeries. Baby? I miss your smile. You make me sad, you know?'
She moved her head and laid it more comfortable on is shoulder. Julia really didn't feel like talking (anymore to anyone), but something so strange was in Sirius that she just had to follow his request to talk. She sighed and took his hand. She loved his gentle fingers.
'I have always loved lots of tasks and lessons, but now it's too much, I mean', she didn't know how to express her fear about the future, about their skills that she didn't look forward to improve. She was scared and sad. And angry, oh, anger she could express. 'Why they hadn't told me, am I immature or stupid. They should have trusted me. But no. A girl should be grown up in peace and light-hearted. And.'
'Hey', Sirius had to interrupt, she had to breathe and he had to stop her speech. She either didn't speak at all or was talking fast and breathlessly. He sighed quickly and continued, trying to be convincing. 'I am also afraid', strange, but she didn't tell him about this yet 'But running away is not the solution. We should be, stay together to fight the fear and to become. aware of what we can. And you should be happy', now he was criticizing her playfully, she smiled and he felt at home. 'at least you have parents who want to take care of you, baby.'
'I know, I'm so sorry', she turned to him n kissed his cheek, longer than they both had expected. 'It's hard to have such a selfish, egoistic girlfriend, isn't it. We haven't talked for so long!!', Sirius giggled in her ear and she laughed. At last!
'Well it is. That's why you should spend more time with well-behaved boy, like me', he sounded self-centred, but funny. 'And thanks God my parents are so stupid, because if they were cool I wouldn't have received this letter', he waved a paper in front of her nose, she tried to catch it, but he put it away from her arms. 'And now you are so interested, right, no way. You've been hiding for over a month and you think everything is all right???'
He joked but Julia went quiet and spoke slowly.
'I'm sorry I was doing so. And I am sorry you felt offended or left alone. I'm just not used to being with someone. I've never enjoyed anybody's presence that much. But. All the things that have been revealed and. And I am scared. I sometimes feel so lonely though I know I am not. My grandma died because of that ancient stuff. And now all of you began learning that. It is dangerous and w can't escape. I wouldn't survive if anything happened to any of you. And.'
'I don't feel offended, Julie. And I am scared too. I want you to be happy and safe. And as long as we will be together, everything will be fine, I promise', he hugged her tighter and kissed her head. She put her hand on his head and ruffled his hair.
'So, what was that letter about?'
'My uncle's notary wrote it. My dear uncle, a shame for my family and a great friend of mine, died and chose me as his heir! Look!!!', he pointed at the letter. 'An account at Gringot's and a nice cottage house, a castle I would say. Now, when I'm old enough I can move in and stop eating everything from Potters' fridge!'
'Wow, baby. So you can live on your own now? Hmm. That's interesting', she turned around and smiled uncannily at him, her eyes flashing, her fingers hidden in his hair. She leaned to kiss him.
'I don't know if I can follow your changing moods, Sting', he whispered and joined the kiss.
/*/*/*/*/*/
A/N: sorry, it was hard to write it, I don't know why. Maybe because I'm leaving tomorrow and don't know when I will be able to update. But I promise I will. Be patient, guys!!!
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - TO LEARN AND TO INHERIT
June came. The exams, the plans, the holidays. It welcomed Lily, Julia, Sirius, James and Lupin with something more than that: with the Ancient Magic Classes, which did Dumbledore or McGonagall carry on. The students had to spend lots of hours in library, studying both their usual subjects and the ancient. Sting, Black and Potter never really had had problems about learning. But Lily and Remus, who loved repeating and repeating, were both mentally and physically exhausted. They were over-learnt.
'God, I need to rest. I need holidays, please!!!', Lily kept muttering. That was so funny, because she was doing great. Sirius and James didn't seem to worry at all, laughing and talking and preparing brand new pranks. Lily didn't criticize them anymore. They behaved stupid, this fact was publicly known, but never wanted to hurt the innocent. The truth was that Lily liked James, even if she didn't want to agree yet.
They had a different problem with Julia: she was more and more often missing. Nobody knew why. She attended the lessons and exams but was leaving them just after that. No talks, no explanations. She had always been a lonely type, but since they all were friends and especially since her relation with Sirius changed, she had spent more time with other people. Now she was rarely seen, talked to and she didn't smile so often. He friends thought she just needed more time to get over the news they had been given. Well, Julia was happy that they didn't follow her every time. This is nice to be with people, but all the time???
Albus Dumbledore was content of the results of their extra lessons. The students were working hard and doing their extra homework even more carefully that the ordinary ones. They collected all sorts of information connected with the ancient magic, kilograms of parchment were used on their notes. Lily and James did the majority of the research work: they had more time and the practical sessions weren't exhausting for them. Potter was very grateful to the stars that he could spent so much time with Lily Evans. And, what is so important, she didn't seem to be angry because of that.
Julia and Sirius had to learn how to control and use their unusual power during the sessions. They had to concentrate hard on the spells and charms they were using, concentrate their minds on many different things at a time. After each lesson Julia looked paler than usual, very strange, like a white wall if such existed at Hogwarts. Sirius, however, was only more worn- out, but seemed happy. At last he was doing something needed. This first good feeling made him even more handsome!
The fact that boys were exhausted made happier the caretaker: since the battle no stupid pranks had occurred. The school seemed quiet.
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
'Julia, your concentration is gone', the headmaster criticized her slightly. Julia's mind was absent and she didn't know why. 'Once again: pillow, window and Potter's jersey. You can do it.'
They were practicing using of several spells at a time. They had already mastered one spell used on few things. That wasn't difficult: they could wave their wands and shout. Even Lily and James managed to do this: the fire was all over their world, not only within them.
Now, however, the task Dumbledore chose for them was more complicated. They couldn't shout the spells: they had to use three at once. The possibility to move wand wasn't helpful: which one to choose? He wanted Julia to open the window, "accio" the pillow and change the colour of James' jersey.
'Julia, dear, concentrate. I'll take your wand if you don't stop thinking about it', Albus threatened her with a laughter.
'I've done it. Almost.', said Sirius and all of them laughed: he managed to open the pillow, so all feathers came out of it and spread around the classroom; he changer the colour of window glass, so it looked like a stained. But the thing they laughed about was that he drew up James' jersey so Potter was left with bare chest (muscular and slender, Lily noticed to her great surprise).
'Yeah, maybe you're just in a good mood for that', said Julia. 'I'm so tired.'
'Maybe we will finish?', asked Lily but the headmaster said.
'You need to practice. You were given a special gift and you have to learn how to use it wisely. Ms. Sting, do I have to remind that without practice this can be dangerous, you can burn yourselves or damage something. You need to control this. Now! Eye contact and a spell. Do it.'
Julia normally was mad when somebody shouted or criticized her attention to tasks. Now, however, Dumbledore's firm speech woke her up and she managed to do this (jersey turned into a paler shade; the window loudly opened and shot; the pillow hit Julia's head). Professor smiled and said.
'Exactly, this is what I want you to do, but without anger, remember?'
'I know. I just. I haven't felt well lately, you know', Julia said her eyes glancing at her shoes. 'It's all so complicated.'
'Said a not complicated girl at all', laughed James but stopped because of Lily's angry glance.
'Mr. Potter', Dumbledore turned to James. 'I understand this all is still fun for you but some other people have to their lives complicated. And all I want you to do is support, not mock.'
'Yes, Sir. Sorry', said James seriously. Seriously!!!
'Well, I guess we will end for now. Julia, take some rest. The others - remember about our next task, get prepared following Sunday', with these words the headmaster left the chamber. They stayed to talk longer in peace but Julia said she needed rest and left too. Her friends began to worry seriously. What problems did she have?
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\//\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\//\\
Sirius was late for dinner. The Hall was crowded but he found his friends, sat and began to eat the marvellously prepared chicken. James and Lupin were discussing some aspects of attitude towards ancient art in the Middle Ages and Lily was listening.
'Well, we all had wonderful ancestors! They made wands to scare the Muggles', Sirius interrupted their discussion. They turned heads to listen to him. He wanted to go on but Lily waved her hand and asked, scared.
'Where is Julia. Wasn't she with you?'
'No. I thought she spent.I wanted to show her something', he began. 'Shit! I'll look for her.'
He left the Hall, his friends shocked and worried about Julia. None of them had seen her during the day. She didn't talk much with them since the battle, and even Lily didn't know what is wrong.
Sirius ran out of the great hall and stopped. Where should he go to look for her? Oh, the castle was huge and there were so many places to hide when one didn't want to be found. He sighed. He could spend hours rambling around the castle and the surrounding grounds. Why was she leaving his so often lately? They didn't talk, this was strange, because he loved her voice and knew that she enjoyed chatting with him. Where should he go? He decided not to leave the castle, Julia wouldn't have escaped outside the building. The owlery or greenhouse weren't her favourite places. Firstly he decided to run across the staircases and corridors, the empty and deserted. He knew there were so many of them that he could spend months looking for her. He ran upstairs and downstairs, along the corridors and called her name eve in the bathrooms. He was loosing his hope, exhausted because of the long run, when he saw a small, dark figure sitting under the wall on seventh floor. That corridor hadn't been used since ages, very dusty and dark. With a relief he approached her.
Julia was only sitting, her arms around her legs, her bag lying by her feet, one book opened but abandoned. She looked so miserable and lonely that this sight almost broke Sirius' heart. His girl, his love, his friend, so alone. He kneeled and kissed her forehead. She didn't react or something. She just sat still. He embraced her, stroked her hair and asked gently after a while.
'Now we should talk, honey. What's wrong?', no answer. 'Julia, sweetheart, what is wrong. I so much love.talking to you. Your jokes and mockeries. Baby? I miss your smile. You make me sad, you know?'
She moved her head and laid it more comfortable on is shoulder. Julia really didn't feel like talking (anymore to anyone), but something so strange was in Sirius that she just had to follow his request to talk. She sighed and took his hand. She loved his gentle fingers.
'I have always loved lots of tasks and lessons, but now it's too much, I mean', she didn't know how to express her fear about the future, about their skills that she didn't look forward to improve. She was scared and sad. And angry, oh, anger she could express. 'Why they hadn't told me, am I immature or stupid. They should have trusted me. But no. A girl should be grown up in peace and light-hearted. And.'
'Hey', Sirius had to interrupt, she had to breathe and he had to stop her speech. She either didn't speak at all or was talking fast and breathlessly. He sighed quickly and continued, trying to be convincing. 'I am also afraid', strange, but she didn't tell him about this yet 'But running away is not the solution. We should be, stay together to fight the fear and to become. aware of what we can. And you should be happy', now he was criticizing her playfully, she smiled and he felt at home. 'at least you have parents who want to take care of you, baby.'
'I know, I'm so sorry', she turned to him n kissed his cheek, longer than they both had expected. 'It's hard to have such a selfish, egoistic girlfriend, isn't it. We haven't talked for so long!!', Sirius giggled in her ear and she laughed. At last!
'Well it is. That's why you should spend more time with well-behaved boy, like me', he sounded self-centred, but funny. 'And thanks God my parents are so stupid, because if they were cool I wouldn't have received this letter', he waved a paper in front of her nose, she tried to catch it, but he put it away from her arms. 'And now you are so interested, right, no way. You've been hiding for over a month and you think everything is all right???'
He joked but Julia went quiet and spoke slowly.
'I'm sorry I was doing so. And I am sorry you felt offended or left alone. I'm just not used to being with someone. I've never enjoyed anybody's presence that much. But. All the things that have been revealed and. And I am scared. I sometimes feel so lonely though I know I am not. My grandma died because of that ancient stuff. And now all of you began learning that. It is dangerous and w can't escape. I wouldn't survive if anything happened to any of you. And.'
'I don't feel offended, Julie. And I am scared too. I want you to be happy and safe. And as long as we will be together, everything will be fine, I promise', he hugged her tighter and kissed her head. She put her hand on his head and ruffled his hair.
'So, what was that letter about?'
'My uncle's notary wrote it. My dear uncle, a shame for my family and a great friend of mine, died and chose me as his heir! Look!!!', he pointed at the letter. 'An account at Gringot's and a nice cottage house, a castle I would say. Now, when I'm old enough I can move in and stop eating everything from Potters' fridge!'
'Wow, baby. So you can live on your own now? Hmm. That's interesting', she turned around and smiled uncannily at him, her eyes flashing, her fingers hidden in his hair. She leaned to kiss him.
'I don't know if I can follow your changing moods, Sting', he whispered and joined the kiss.
/*/*/*/*/*/
A/N: sorry, it was hard to write it, I don't know why. Maybe because I'm leaving tomorrow and don't know when I will be able to update. But I promise I will. Be patient, guys!!!