A/n; It's ok to admit you cried when you found out Misty died! I cried while writing it because I knew I killed off my own character! * looks sad * But I'll bet you that you thought Lily and James would've actually had a 'moment' outside on the Quidditch Field. * guilty face * I was actually going to make them have a 'moment' but decided against it! Hahaha…
Oh my God, I love all of you guys! 150 reviews! * faints in shock * I'm so thankful to have everyone who reads my story! I never thought it would get this far, honest to God.
Thank you to Cate and Mary and Cat, from my school (Cat happens to be my Beta Reader) but thank you SO much to Mary and Cate because you guys are my best pals in science (Phrase of the Day rules) I LUV YOU GUYS!!!
Peace out, smoke weed – (not really) – IceAmethyst
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Every step I take
Every move I make
Every single day
Ever time I pray
I'll be missing you
Thinking of that day
When you went away
What a life to take
What a bond to break
I'll be missing you
{P. Diddy, 112 and Faith Evans: Tribute to the Notorious B.I.G.}
Lily woke up, feeling as though someone had sucked up her soul and given her a dead, used, tattered and weathered one instead. Her head was resting on James' shoulder and although she'd probably be shrieking at the top of her lungs otherwise, she couldn't bring herself to hate him just then. He didn't deserve it; no one did. Her best friend had just died and she was in no mood to be worried about carrying on with her petty problems.
James, having slept in a very awkward position, groaned as he awoke. Lily slowly lifted up her head, her neck severely cramped and her dried hair sticking to her face.
"How are you doing?" James asked quietly.
"Not good," Lily said miserably.
"Well, you will be," James said smiling a bit.
"You think so?"
"I know so," James said. "You're Lily Evans. Nothing keeps you down for long."
Lily smiled weakly, blushing. "Then why does it hurt so badly?"
"Because it's supposed to. No one ever said death was easy," James commented.
"I know that," Lily said biting her lip, "but why'd it have to happen to me? What did I ever do to deserve this?"
"Well you have to admit, you're an awful bitch when you want to be!" James said indignantly.
This time Lily really did smile. "I know."
"So… maybe Misty's death will teach you something about being more humane towards people," James said. Her emotions like quicksilver, Lily's face darkened and she fixed James with a sinister look.
"Don't use Misty's death as an excuse to get me to ever think twice about being nice to you," she said viciously. "You don't deserve my attention!"
"God Lily, don't do this," James groaned.
"Don't do what? You're the one who comes in here to be my friend and all you do is insult me and make me feel like hell when my best friend has died! How's that for being humane, Potter?" Lily snapped.
"Look, I'm sorry ok? This whole thing has me upset too!" James said gloomily.
Lily sighed deeply and sat up, away from him. "Maybe it'd be better if you left."
"I'll come back later… if you want," James said tentatively.
Lily smiled. "I'd like that."
He was halfway to the door when Lily's small voice came from her bed. "You can be pretty cool sometimes."
James smiled kindly at her. "Yeah, you can too… when you're not being a first class, grade-A bitch."
(a/n; Oops sorry… had a Faculty moment… sorry! Resume, please)
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Lily sat on her bed, crying once again, with no James to comfort her this time. Strangely enough, the pain seemed to be much sharper without his strong, reassuring arms around her to soothe away the pain.
Bloody hell Lily, you're getting soft in your moment of pain, she thought wryly.
She'd received several letters, each more tearstained than the last until she finally received the last owl, Sabrina's.
Fearful of what Sabrina's letter might say, she tossed it to the floor like her fingers had burned from touching the parchment.
She looked out at the bleak sky; her emerald eyes filled with tears unshed. It wasn't snowing and it wasn't windy. It was just… still, calm, unmoving; like her world. It had shattered last night when James knocked on her door and then rebuilt itself in his arms, although the world she once knew, the happy Lily she once knew, was confused in this new world of pain and anguish.
Lily wondered, as a few tears wandered down her cheeks, who could have the motive and insanity to kill Misty. No one she knew of was that sinister and hated Misty, and Lily or any of her friends could never hate enough to actually kill someone. Lily supposed it could've been Severus or Lucius but discarded the idea quickly - the only thing they'd be capable of doing is a meek prank.
Maybe it was an accident… maybe she'd gotten in front of a car or something. Lily quickly dismissed this thought: someone had deliberately killed her because no one else had been hurt or affected in any way. Someone had been after Misty… and hit their target.
Shivers went up her spine. They weren't the good kind she got from James… they were the kind that made you look over your shoulder to confirm that there was no one behind you - and left you wondering nonetheless.
The death of Misty was sure to plague her mind far beyond after all of the misfortunes had been cleared up. You just don't forget a best friend being murdered in a snap.
Lily wondered just how different her life would be, without waking up every morning to Misty's cheerful whistling or her seeming never-ending happiness. She never really understood the saying 'you don't miss something until it's gone' until now. She'd never hear Misty's cheerful call or see her complaining about everything at Hogwarts when she was in a bad mood. As the tears started again, Lily felt she'd sell her soul to see Misty one last time.
"Lily? Are you all right?" James asked in a concerned voice, rapping on the door.
Lily sniffled and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "I'm fine!"
"Come on out, it's nearly noon!" James coaxed.
"I'm not hungry," Lily said blatantly.
"Come on out anyway," James replied.
"No," Lily said flatly.
"Do you want me to come in?" James asked. He sounded genuinely concerned
Lily sighed. He's still a pain even when he doesn't want to be.
"Lily? You there?" James asked, knocking on the door again.
"Yeah," Lily said in a tiny voice.
"Please come out, I can't stand the fact you're in there alone," James said, sounding a little whiny.
"I'm fine in here!" Lily said. In years to come, she would learn to loathe coming back into that dormitory.
"Lily, open the damned door!" James barked.
"All right! I'm coming out," Lily sighed getting annoyed and threw the door open, nearly knocking James over.
James grinned nevertheless. "Glad to see you've come out."
"Yes, I've decided to grace Hogwarts with one last presence of Lily Evans before I completely hole myself up in the dorm and cry some more," Lily said lightly, walking down the stairs. Her tone was completely serious, though, and left no doubt that she would be doing just that.
James scratched his head, shrugged, and walked down with her to breakfast.
Nearly everyone in the Great Hall stopped what they were doing, be it eating or talking, and looked up at Lily as she walked past, whispering amongst themselves. The whisperings were rather loud considering there were maybe twelve students at each table. It was all Lily could do to keep from running away and crying: getting empathy was something new to her… her parents never cared enough to wipe away her tears if she scraped her knees or got in trouble at school.
She sat down stiffly and sat straight up, like there was a steel rod up against her back, giving her perfect posture. A few Gryffindors said across the table to her how sorry they were; she barely regarded them.
James sat with one elbow leaned on the table, leaning his head on his fist. He picked at his eggs morosely. Neither of the two felt like eating.
Lily's unwavering gaze on the saltshaker suddenly shifted to the teacher's table, as if some force lifted it there. Not one of them was making small talk and they were all focused on their plates. Professor Hughes wasn't trying to impress Professor McGonagall with his Charm skills like he usually did and Professor McGonagall wasn't laughing at Professor Hughes' antics. Even Professor Dumbledore, young as he was, looked solemn and drawn.
To look at her teachers, to see the people who made Hogwarts such a happy place, was hard and even painful for Lily. She swallowed a sob trying to wriggle its way out of her.
"Lily, I'm sorry," a first year boy said with light brown hair.
"Oh, thank you," Lily said smiling sadly.
"Hey Marvin! Practicing Quidditch?" James asked brightly.
"Yes, sir, Mr. Potter sir!" Marvin said shooting out each word with precision.
"I hope you'll be on the team next year, you'll be a good asset against those dirty Slytherins!" James said enthusiastically.
"Are you going to be Captain next year?" Marvin asked.
"I want to be, but there's Jonathan Quigley who's in his fifth year this year… he might be captain next year," James said with a glint of determination in his eyes.
"Jonathan is attractive," Lily said monotonously.
James grimaced. "He's a lady killer."
"Well, I'll see you guys! I've got to go finish off some homework!" Marvin said waving.
"You're a lady-killer as well," Lily said shifting her gaze back to the salt and peppershakers.
"Thanks… I think," James said uncertainly.
"I'm not hungry," Lily declared, standing up. James swiftly stood up as well.
Professor Dumbledore rose, telling Lily and James to stop.
"I wish to talk to you after breakfast, please," Dumbledore said to Lily.
Lily nodded meekly and walked out of the Hall, towards Dumbledore's office.
"He probably just wants to talk to you about the funeral arrangements," James said quickly.
Lily shrugged. "I'm not going."
James thought he'd heard her incorrectly. "What? Sorry, run that by me again?"
"You heard me: I'm not going!" Lily said with a lump forming in her throat, "I can't take it."
"But – ok, it'll be hard to finally say goodbye… but you owe it to Misty to see her one last time!" James reasoned.
"I don't want to see her one last time being packed into a box!" Lily shouted, her eyes welling up at the awful thought.
"Just think of it as her final resting place, where she'll finally be at peace," James said reasonably.
A lone tear streaked down her face and she quickly wiped it away. "I'm not going."
"Not going where, Miss Evans?" Dumbledore asked with his brow furrowed. Professor McGonagall was hovering behind him.
"Nothing, Professor," Lily mumbled.
"Come with me, Miss Evans," Dumbledore said, uttering the password and stepping inside. "Mr. Potter, you'd better come too."
Confused, James followed them in. It was warm and welcoming in Dumbledore's office, but Lily could feel nothing but the cold stab of sorrow.
"Sit there," Dumbledore said. He pointed towards the two chairs Lily had seen Sierra and Jaden sitting in when they'd first arrived.
They both sat obediently. Professor McGonagall sat down in a chair opposite them, as did Dumbledore. He looked at them intently, as if trying to read their minds. The fingertips of his fingers were pressed together, his elbows resting on his desk.
"Misty Hamilton has died. I'm sure you're both very aware of this," Dumbledore said at last.
"Yes…" James said uncertainly. He… dragged them into his office to confirm what they'd already known? Lily sniffled and answer, and James patted her on the arm. He hoped she would not erupt again, though.
"Professor Dumbledore, I believe they are already aware – " Professor McGonagall began but was interrupted by Dumbledore.
"Most people will tell you that her death was an accident Muggles in partcular cling to this idea," Dumbledore said in his same calmly grave voice. "But it is indeed no coincidence that she had died."
Lily's jaw dropped. Her distress was forgotten for a second and replaced by a new feeling of dread. "What're you talking about?"
James looked just as alarmed as she did. "Professor, are you sure you know what you're talking about? I mean, things like this happen all the time…" His sentence remained unfinished, lingering in the air.
"Things like murder do not happen every day just because of coincidence," Dumbledore said severely.
Lily's eyes flew open, her heart plummeting like she was on a roller coaster. "Did you just say that Misty was murdered?"
Professor McGonagall looked at Dumbledore in shock. "Professor, we have had no information that Misty Hamilton was murdered. It was a mere fluke, she was hit by a car in France!"
Dumbledore gave Professor McGonagall a very level look before fixing Lily and James with a severe stare that made them both squirm.
"Lily, James, Professor McGonagall," Professor Dumbledore said quietly. His voice was more serious than before, and his face was grim, "what I am about to say you cannot utter to another living soul."
James and Lily looked at one another, confused.
"Please, promise me, you will not mention this to anyone," Professor Dumbledore said sternly. It was not a question, but more of a demand.
"We promise," James said for the two of them.
Dumbledore sighed heavily, leaning back in his chair. "For some time, we've been tracking a new dark power on the rise. Worse than Grindelwald and his followers, they've got enough power and malice to launch an assault upon the entire Wizarding World."
Lily, in all of her fear, looked over at James. His face was set and he seemed to be taking it all in with an open mind.
"I've heard about them," James mused aloud. "They call themselves the Death Eaters. They go around doing horrible things wizards; blackmailing them, tormenting them, even killing loved ones all to persuade them to join the dark side."
"Death Eaters?" Lily asked, coming out of her torpor. "Weren't they the people who set fire to Sierra's house?"
"Ah yes, the Lethesines. Certainly not evil, but caught in a bad circle. A man by the name of Victor, we believe, was in close relation to the family and sold them out," Dumbledore said grimly.
"With all due respect, sir, all of this makes very little sense," Professor McGonagall saidm obviously perturbed. "Why would they deliberately go after Misty if there was no reason to?"
"She was a pureblood," Lily said helpfully, thinking back to that fateful day when she, Misty and Sabrina had all met.
James waved his hand, dismissing the idea. "She had no reason to be killed."
"I suppose it will remain a mystery until we learn more about this new darkness that descends," Dumbledore said gravely. His words gave Lily an ominous chill down her spine.
"Thank you Professor," she said unsteadily. Though she didn't really know if she was thankful. Did she really need to know about the Death Eaters and their plan to seduce the Wizarding World into complete darkness? And the more she learned about Misty's death, the more mystery surrounded it. Lily knew it sounded crazy, but she felt there was something that Dumbledore didn't tell her.
"You're welcome," Dumbledore said. "You may go now."
"Come on, Lily," James said, patting her shoulder as they got up.
"Oh, and Lily?" Professor Dumbledore called. Lily turned around, hoping he'd shed more light on the topic. "I'm sorry for your loss."
Lily smiled sadly and gave a slight nod before she and James walked out the door.
"Oh, Albus, what are we going to do now?" Professor McGonagall asked, looking distressed.
"I don't know, Minerva. Lily seemed to take it all so well… I don't want to alarm her in her vulnerable state," Dumbledore said.
"She must know, Albus. She must know before it's too late," Professor McGonagall pressed.
Dumbledore suddenly gave her a small smile. "Don't worry, dear Professor, James Potter wouldn't let a hair on her head be harmed."
Professor McGonagall smiled as well. "He tries so very hard to hide it, I see it day by day. I declare, he's been in love with her since the first day I knew them!"
"Quite true," Dumbledore agreed.
Professor McGonagall's smile sobered suddenly. "I hope you know what you're doing, Albus… they must be old and mature enough to handle it."
Dumbledore heaved a heavy sigh. "All in good time, Minerva. All in good time."
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A/N: Oooh… ominous. What is this they're talking about? And what of Lily and James' romance??? Hmm… tune in next time to find out… um… more stuff and interesting plot twists! R/R