Disclaimer: I, unfortunately own absolutely nothing that I am about to
write. Well that's not true, the plot is mine! All Mine!
A/N: this is basically just a transitional chapter, not really much happening here.but it's long anyway because I can't seem to shorten anything, ever, so bear with me.
~*~Lily was so elated as she was walking down the street that she almost forgot her purpose. Oh yes, she thought. She was supposed to be going shopping. She laughed to herself and paid absolutely no attention to the outside world. She almost began to skip when she saw the postman eye her suspiciously. She retained normal character but never once did she lose her amazing smile.
She was feeling slightly overheated even though it was charmingly cool out. She had almost forgotten what it was like to be kissed like that, with so much force and passion. She missed being kissed like that and it had been so long since it had actually happened. It felt good. No, it felt amazing. She got a certain high off it that she couldn't explain. She had to stop herself from running back through the door and jumping into his arms. She really did want to be consumed by him. She wanted to give herself to the man she loved with full force, and feel the rapture that was his everlasting embrace.
She was fantasizing for so long that she had no idea how long she had been walking. Had she turned? What street was this? When she realized that she was only four blocks away she remained calm and centered her mind on the direction of the market. She walked, almost skipped there with the energy of a small child.
She was still wearing her muggle clothing so she remained inconspicuous. She walked in the market, her thoughts centered on what she should buy and what they needed. She passed down every aisle in a daze, floating as if she was on a cloud. She paid no attention to the voices around her or the mindless conversations of strangers. She simply caroused around, picking up items here and there and placing them in a basket. Then she came to the desert aisle. She wanted to pick up some ice cream for after dinner. Yes, she thought. James would like that. She searched for Chocolate Chunk but there seemed to be none left. She walked to the end of the aisle and wanted to check on the last shelf but someone was blocking her way. His back was to her.
"Excuse me Sir, but would you mind stepping out of the way..."
The man turned abruptly, almost startling her. He looked oddly familiar but she couldn't quite place him.
"Well, well, well if it isn't the pretty little Gryffindor, have you lost your way again?" he casually remarked. Lily was still very unsure about where she had seen this man before, but his voice seemed to strike some familiarity within her mind.
"I'm sorry, do I know you?" she suspiciously asked. He just grinned at her. It was an evil, sort of unfriendly grin, and one that seemed to think it knew more about certain things that were common. The grin, she thought, seemed to see right through her.
"We met, briefly.." He started. "You were lost, and you found yourself in a little shop on the not so safe side of London. Have you forgotten already?" He began to circle her slightly, she felt uncomfortable. "The opal necklace...the one that fascinated you?"
She suddenly remembered. This was the man from Borgin and Burkes. The one she didn't care to see again. She thought it odd that he had remembered her. It seemed so long ago that they had their brief encounter. She remembered feeling like a child next to him. His voice seemed to calm her and frighten her at the same time. These unsure feelings made her think twice before answering him.
"Oh yes. Uh, how do you do?" This didn't feel right at all. She felt that these formalities were futile, and only seemed to amuse him.
"Well I do fine Miss. And yourself? Have you come to terms with whatever was troubling you last time we met?"
"I'm not quite sure what you mean. I was perfectly.." She began, confused that he sensed so much.
"Now, now there is no reason for you to be dishonest with me, my dear. I could sense it. I can smell fear and heartache just as you can smell that jasmine scent you're wearing, or the sweet honey you have purchased in your quaint little basket. And I sense now that you are more confident, more sure of what you are about to do. You have successfully completed a long awaited task and you are proud of yourself. You are proud of your ability to resist temptation. An ability I happen to personally prize."
"Well, how fortunate for you. I will have you know sir that you must dispose of your theories. I don't know where you think you have the right to judge me and patronize me but I won't have it.."
"Hush. That smart mouth won't get you out of everything, you know." He warned. She became increasingly uncomfortable.
"Works for me quite well, thank you." She said, trying to leave. He just walked slowly behind her.
"It's rude to abruptly leave people you know." He said, and she stopped. Then she turned around again and looked him strait in the eyes.
"Well then, what else can I do for you sir? This small talk isn't exactly proper you know." Again with the honesty, she thought. What the hell was the matter with her?
"Do I frighten you?" he casually remarked, changing the subject.
"No sir, you do not." She bluntly said.
"Well, I'm glad. You know, there are not many people like you who would say such a thing. You must be very bold."
"People like me?" she said, confused. "Whoever would be afraid of you sir would have to be mad. I don't know what you think of yourself but you are not exactly threatening, not to me." She stayed strong. He began to snicker.
"You must be very sure of yourself my dear. I like that. Yes I suppose one would have to be mad to be afraid of an old bloke like me. I don't understand it really."
"Alright then. Well it has been really lovely chatting with you but I really must be going now. Good day sir." She said, turning to leave once more. She tried to smile at him but she found that an impossibility. She hurried over to the register and paid for the few things she actually bought. She never did reach for that ice cream. She was so intent on getting out of there in a hurry and the whole time she felt eyes on her, watching her.
She exited the market only to find that man standing outside, leaning against the brick wall of the establishment.
"You know, you are not being very polite. Now I'm afraid you have no choice but to tell me your name." He suavely annunciated.
All Lily wanted to do was get rid of him. That was all she wanted. It's just a name, she thought. It means nothing really and she hated herself in his presence so badly that she would say anything to make him leave.
"Oh alright. If I give it to you will you leave me alone?" she nervously asked the stranger.
"Of course my beauty. All I want is the name of the vision that has been brought to me not once, but twice this month."
"Um, ok. My name is Lily, Lily Potter." His eyes seemed to widen in surprise at the mention of her name.
"Lily Potter. That is a beautiful name. Yes, I have heard all about you, and your husband. James is it?" How did he know that? She thought. He was beginning to cross the line.
"Now why would the beautiful Mrs. Potter be in such a rush to get home at this hour? It is not quite dinnertime is it?"
"Well it is a little past four now.I should be getting back.."
"Yes I suppose your husband will be waiting for you. He is quite the impatient boy really...suppose he'll be wanting a treat when you arrive."
"Please stay out of my affairs sir. They are none of your business whatsoever." She spat.
"I didn't mean to intrude my dear. I am just merely delighted to finally meet the woman I have heard so much about over the years. You are just as pretty as they say, you know."
"Well thank you, I suppose. Who exactly have you been speaking to?" she was a bit curious as to who could have possibly told this stranger about her. She would definitely kill them later, she thought.
"Oh just some friends of mine, and yours. One of them though, has not been round to see me lately, and I am worried. We will have to have a long chat about that."
"Well sir as you can see that it is getting dark soon. It was interesting seeing you again but I really must be off." She walked over and shook his hand, much to his own amusement. He just snickered as she left.
"Farewell Lily Potter. I do hope we chat again in the future. Goodnight." He called after her.
She was so delighted to be rid of him but she couldn't escape the slight rumbling of her stomach. She wasn't sure if she was hungry or nervous. She was just relieved to be rid of him. Who was that strange man? She thought. She didn't like him, not at all. He made her uncomfortable. What was worse is that now he knew her name. What was odd was that she felt he always knew it, but was keeping it as his own little secret.
She was on her own street at last and she was so relieved to see her door that she jogged to it.
"Well we are in a hurry now aren't we?" she heard a voice say. It was that same man. She looked up to see him leaning against a lamppost. How the hell did he get here that fast? She thought. She rushed all the way home to purposely avoid him. She just stared in disbelief.
"So this is where the Potters live? Charming little place really." She just nodded and rushed into her house. She made sure to lock the door behind her. She also pulled down the blinds. She was very jumpy and almost screamed when she felt a pair of large, strong hands on her shoulders.
When she turned around she saw James and she gasped a sigh of relief. Confused by her behavior, he smirked and picked the packages off of the floor. She had apparently dropped them.
"A little jumpy are we?" he jokingly asked. "Lily, are you alright?"
"Yes. I'm fine." She said, peeking out the window. He was gone. Thank god, she thought. "Just a little paranoid." She said, dismissing her jitters. She strolled into the kitchen and put all of the groceries away. It only took her a minute. She hadn't bought much. He is still eyeing her with that hint of suspicion in his eyes. She paid no attention to him.
"I'm just going to go upstairs to change, ok?" she said, not even looking at him. Without waiting for his answer she hurried up the stairs and ran into her bedroom. She didn't even bother to close the door. She just felt that she had to get out of those clothes, she was uncertain why.
She grabbed a random shirt from her dresser and tossed it on the bed. Then she lifted up her turtleneck over her head and threw it, inside out, on the floor. She was so preoccupied that she didn't even hear footsteps climbing the stairs.
She was standing in front of the mirror but not really looking at her reflection. Before she could reach for the shirt on the bed she heard a loud gasp. It startled her and she was taken back. She didn't have to turn around to realize that it was James. He had his hand over his mouth and his eyes were open wide. At first she was confused but then she noticed something.
All she was wearing was her bra and when she briefly glanced back at the mirror she saw her injury. She had never told James about it, and it clearly upset him.
She was speechless. All she could do was stare back at him until his hand left his mouth.
"Come here!" he forcefully commanded. She just shook her head.
"James really.."she started. He rushed over to her, anger evident on his face. She tried to cover it with her hands but he just pulled them away. He absentmindedly held them tightly while he just stared at her.
He then saw that she was slightly afraid so he calmed himself down.
"Oh my god." He said, shaking his head and staring at the floor.
"Its really not that bad." she said, still trying to calm him down. He let go of her and began pacing back and forth.
"How did it happen?" he cut her off. He was obviously freaking out and she was suddenly upset that she hadn't told him about it earlier. It was just that it never seemed to be the right time, and she hadn't even been there a full day.
"Well..." she began
"No, you know what, just hold on..just one second.." He said, rubbing his forehead. He breathed in and out a few times and then lifted his head. "Ok, I'm ok...When did it happen?" he said, in a calm, but equally nervous tone.
Lily bit her lip. "Um..a couple of weeks ago." She flinched.
"Weeks? Weeks!" he started pacing again. Shit, she thought. "How could you not have said anything? All this time.."
"Well it's not like you were around or anything." She said, getting a little annoyed, as if it was her duty to tell him strait away. "What did you expect me to do, run strait home? I can take care of myself, thank you."
"Has Diana seen this?" he asked, changing the subject. "Does she know?"
"She was there when it happened." She said.
"Oh really, well she could have told me. It's great to know that I have such honest and trustworthy friends. That makes me feel so great. What else don't I know Lily?" he said, frustrated. He was constantly finding out things lately and he hated not being informed.
"Oh will you cut that out. I've never kept anything from you ever, and you know that. I just didn't feel it was right, that's all. There were other things that had to be discussed first. You are really making this into a bigger deal than it is."
He sighed. "Well I don't think so Lil. I mean think about it. A husband walks in the room to find that his wife has a serious and unexplainable injury, for which she gives no information about, and then acts as if it's a mere paper cut. I mean, have you even gotten that thing looked at?" he said.
"Well no." she reluctantly said. He just sighed again.
"And why not?" he said, as if he couldn't believe she could have been so careless.
"Because they would start asking questions..and they would have looked at you."
"Don't even say that, you know I would never purposely.." he said, pointing to her.
"I know." She stopped him. "But you know doctors, and it's not like I can tell them the truth."
"I suppose you're right." That part made sense to him, but he was still curious. "Would you care to tell me the truth Lily? Would you mind letting your husband know what's going on?"
"You were there." She said, grabbing the shirt and slowly putting it over her chest. James turned around and sat on the bed.
"What do you mean? ..oh." he suddenly remembered. "It was that night, at Katrina's. Frank said so, why don't I remember it clearly? You went up to her, you tried to fight them off.."
"That came afterwards." Lily began, growing sadder. "She was already dead." She was entering a frame of her mind where guilt and sadness reigned. It had happened so quickly. She had never actually properly grieved for her friend. She was always so busy.
"Oh, I didn't know..."
"Her husband was there..." she started, not listening to him. "He seemed so distraught." Tears were forming in her eyes. James got up and went to her, noticing the drastic change in her mood. It was clear to him that this had hit her hard. When he was next to her he put his hand on her shoulder. She brushed it off and walked in the other direction.
"Lily." James began.
"He didn't understand. That poor man...driven mad by his wife's death." She was really crying now. He followed her again, and put both hands on her shoulders.
"It was a real tragedy." He whispered. "She of all people didn't deserve it."
Lily shook her head in agreement. "There was a Death Eater who escaped." She said through her teeth. "I couldn't do her justice because of it."
"Was he the one? The one who did this to you?"
"Yes. But only after I injured him worse." She slightly smiled and turned around.
"Now there's something. See, that's my girl." He said, smiling back at her. He was trying to cheer her up a bit.
"I bet he's still limping." She said.
"So you know it was a man?" he asked.
"Yes, no woman could do that. I just know it wasn't a woman. Something about the way he walked.."
"Well still." James said. "How did he do it, there was no spell?"
"A sword. He was actually quite good at it. I became distracted and he struck me. Then Diana came in and tried to curse him but she missed. I was in too much pain to try. When we tried to gather ourselves he slipped passed us. It was my fault."
"Don't say that, it couldn't have been helped. You had to think of your safety and your health. If he had tried again you could have died."
"I suppose. But at least he would have been killed, or better yet, caught." She said, annoyed at herself for forgetting what was, to her, the most important objective.
"Oh how could you say that? I don't like it when you talk like that." He said, sitting back on the bed.
"You don't like when I talk about what?" she asked.
"When you put them before you. You act as if that is the only thing you live for."
"It's our job." She spat. "That's all we're supposed to care about. You heard Crouch." she began, getting slightly angry.
"Yes I did, and he's an asshole. There are more important things in life then that."
"Oh really. Like what? You?" she mockingly asked him. She knew, after all, that it was what he wanted her to say.
"Well, your family, and yes, me I suppose." He said, matter-of-factly.
"Well don't you think of yourself in high regard. You have now transformed yourself into a reason to live. That's amazing." She said, sarcastically.
"So what you're saying is that if you were to die, you wouldn't care at all about my feelings?" he asked, astonished. He wasn't all together sure if she was joking with him.
"Well I'd be dead, but you'd get over it. You're resilient." She said wistfully. "I would just be the first wife. Within a month of my passing you'd be remarried."
James just stared at her. He was hurt and confused. "Are you serious?" he chuckled. "I can't believe you just said that. Come over here."
"Now that is the second time you have ordered me about Mr. Potter. I really don't like it." She playfully exclaimed. In her own way she was play fighting with him, but deep down she really did think that, if for any reason, she should die, that he would get over her easily.
"Well I refuse to get up and I don't want you all the way over there." He said and she nodded. She walked over to him and sat down next to him. She sighed and folded her arms. He reached over and pulled them apart. Then he hugged her.
"What do I have to do to get it through to you? If anything ever happened to you Lily, well, I just don't know what I would do." She pushed herself away.
"You don't have to embellish your words for me James. It's too much of a corny speech anyways." She let out a nervous laugh. "Listen I know you love me but.."
"No, no buts. I'd never be the same if you were gone. You should have seen me lately. I was inconsolable and you were only across town for god's sake."
"Let's not go there." She said.
"Fine. Well what would you do, I mean, if I died?"
"Well that all depends." She bluntly said.
"Depends? Depends on what?" he asked, annoyed.
"On the circumstances. There's how you died, and why, and whether or not you're going to leave me all alone to take care of a child. If that happened, there would always be a hint of resentment." He just stared at her and smiled. She was so precise, and logical. It amused him to think she had actually thought of this.
"So you would resent me if we had a kid. More than you do now I expect? Well remind me never to have kids with you. I don't want a grudge against me when I die."
"Sure. We'll just forget about it then. We can just go on being the selfish adults that we are, and die miserable and alone. Sounds like a plan." She said, getting up to go to the bathroom.
"Hey, you'd miss me." He said after her.
"Probably at first." she said. "But then I'd suck it up and find someone else more attractive then you are, and with neater hair." She smirked.
"What are you talking about, no one is more attractive than me." He said. They were obviously joking with one another now. Things were certainly getting easier.
"I don't know James, Sirius is looking pretty sexy lately. And since he and Diana are fighting I think I should be fine without you. After all, he and I always were very close."
"Don't even fucking kid about that. Not to mention that he is like your brother and it is so disgusting that you just said that. And that was mean, dismissing Diana like that. I'll make sure to tell her your secret plan to steal her husband." He joked as he laid his head down on the pillow.
"Fine, go ahead." she said, coming back. "You were never good for anything anyway."
"I beg to differ." He amusingly stated.
"I mean, above the waist, James." She said, rolling her eyes and shaking her head.
"I'm glad you acknowledge my strengths." He said, grinning.
"Shut up. It's really not great enough to boast about." she said, picking up her discarded shirt, and throwing it back in her drawer. "I'm going downstairs. When you're done pleasuring yourself, you can come too."
"Bitch." He said, without a thought.
"Pervert." She said, with the same carelessness.
"I love you." He said, without really meaning to. She sort of just looked at him, nodded, and said "Thanks," before jogging down the stairs.
Lily was back in the kitchen only this time there was yet another letter in the fruit bowl. She sighed and walked over to it. This one was different, however, because this one was red, and it was from Barty Crouch Sr.
"Shit." She said. "What the hell does he want?" She was pissed. Crouch only called when it was an emergency, or to remind them of a useless meeting. This envelope was red, which could only mean one thing.
"James!" she yelled.
"What?!" he answered, coming down the stairs. He joined her in the kitchen. She lifted up the envelope so he could see it.
"Who's it from?" he asked.
"Crouch, he sent us a howler. I guess he didn't think written words were nearly as threatening." She said.
"Shit. Well I guess we had better open it now, it'll just be worse is we wait. Maybe it's important." He said.
"You do it, I don't have the patience." She said. She was so sick of Crouch that even a mere letter changed her mood to annoyed all over again. She handed it to him. He looked at her and tore open the seal.
"POTTERS!" They winced. "WHERE ARE YOU TWO? THIS LETTER WAS DELIVERED PRECISELY AT 4 PM AND I KNOW YOU WAITED TO OPEN IT! THERE IS AN ERGENT CALL FROM THE MINISTRY AND WE NEED YOU TWO TO GET YOUR SORRY ASSES DOWN HERE NOW! DETAILS WILL BE GIVEN THERE SO DON'T BE LATE!!!! THE MINISTRY NEEDS YOU NOW HURRY UP AND MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!"
"Ugh." Lily said, rubbing her temples.
"Alright we had better go. The Ministry needs us." James said, in a slightly mocking tone.
"Do we have to?" Lily asked, irritated. "We still have a couple of days left of vacation."
"Now, now, you can't be like that. You know what the world is like now. We have to go. Besides, everyone else will be there."
"That, and if we don't go, Crouch will personally make his way up here and kill us both." Lily said as she went to the closet in the hallway. She grabbed her and James' robes and threw them at him.
"Good point. Can we say, anger management." James said. She chuckled. Lily and James grabbed their wands and tucked them under their robes, which were tucked under their arms. They couldn't very well walk outside with wizard robes and wands in the middle of Muggle London.
They simply looked at each other, smiled, and headed out the door into the darkness. They had no idea what was in store for them out there, which is why before they reached the bottom step, James stopped. A thought had just stuck him and he became slightly afraid. He looked at the sky to see quite a disturbing image, and his stomach began to turn. He had to get something out of the way before he continued.
"What are you doing? Lets go." She said, a tad frustrated.
"I just want you to promise me something." He said.
"Ugh, fine, what?" she said.
"If anything happens, I mean, anything at all, to me or you..promise me you'll forgive me when it's all over."
"Forgive you? This is no time to be sentimental James, and if nothing happens."
"Will you just say yes..please? I need to know I have that before I go in there risking my life." She looked at him strangely.
"What makes you think something's going to happen?" she asked.
"I don't really know. But I have a feeling this isn't an ordinary meeting." He said pointing at the sky. Through the pale twilight he could see a shade of green evident in the sunset, and it didn't look right. There was a sinister breeze in the air, and when Lily saw it she shivered. It perplexed then both to see such an unusual color in the sky, and as they stared it only seemed to expand.
"Alright." Lily said. "I promise." She wasn't sure if she meant it or not, but it was all she could say to him then. She even forgotten what he had asked her, but she could tell he was nervous for some reason. It unnerved her to see him this way. But, he went down the remaining couple of steps and they walked side by side, growing nearer and nearer to the sylvan fog.
(I'll leave you there considering I haven't written anything else yet. I have a strange feeling that something terrible is about to happen, I don't know where that one came from, hmmmm, I guess I should just follow it. Thanks for the reviews! I really do love them. They are a great motivation! Don't stop them! I am going to continue when I get 35, possibly 40 because I do have to go to school occasionally. But I will do my best : )
A/N: this is basically just a transitional chapter, not really much happening here.but it's long anyway because I can't seem to shorten anything, ever, so bear with me.
~*~Lily was so elated as she was walking down the street that she almost forgot her purpose. Oh yes, she thought. She was supposed to be going shopping. She laughed to herself and paid absolutely no attention to the outside world. She almost began to skip when she saw the postman eye her suspiciously. She retained normal character but never once did she lose her amazing smile.
She was feeling slightly overheated even though it was charmingly cool out. She had almost forgotten what it was like to be kissed like that, with so much force and passion. She missed being kissed like that and it had been so long since it had actually happened. It felt good. No, it felt amazing. She got a certain high off it that she couldn't explain. She had to stop herself from running back through the door and jumping into his arms. She really did want to be consumed by him. She wanted to give herself to the man she loved with full force, and feel the rapture that was his everlasting embrace.
She was fantasizing for so long that she had no idea how long she had been walking. Had she turned? What street was this? When she realized that she was only four blocks away she remained calm and centered her mind on the direction of the market. She walked, almost skipped there with the energy of a small child.
She was still wearing her muggle clothing so she remained inconspicuous. She walked in the market, her thoughts centered on what she should buy and what they needed. She passed down every aisle in a daze, floating as if she was on a cloud. She paid no attention to the voices around her or the mindless conversations of strangers. She simply caroused around, picking up items here and there and placing them in a basket. Then she came to the desert aisle. She wanted to pick up some ice cream for after dinner. Yes, she thought. James would like that. She searched for Chocolate Chunk but there seemed to be none left. She walked to the end of the aisle and wanted to check on the last shelf but someone was blocking her way. His back was to her.
"Excuse me Sir, but would you mind stepping out of the way..."
The man turned abruptly, almost startling her. He looked oddly familiar but she couldn't quite place him.
"Well, well, well if it isn't the pretty little Gryffindor, have you lost your way again?" he casually remarked. Lily was still very unsure about where she had seen this man before, but his voice seemed to strike some familiarity within her mind.
"I'm sorry, do I know you?" she suspiciously asked. He just grinned at her. It was an evil, sort of unfriendly grin, and one that seemed to think it knew more about certain things that were common. The grin, she thought, seemed to see right through her.
"We met, briefly.." He started. "You were lost, and you found yourself in a little shop on the not so safe side of London. Have you forgotten already?" He began to circle her slightly, she felt uncomfortable. "The opal necklace...the one that fascinated you?"
She suddenly remembered. This was the man from Borgin and Burkes. The one she didn't care to see again. She thought it odd that he had remembered her. It seemed so long ago that they had their brief encounter. She remembered feeling like a child next to him. His voice seemed to calm her and frighten her at the same time. These unsure feelings made her think twice before answering him.
"Oh yes. Uh, how do you do?" This didn't feel right at all. She felt that these formalities were futile, and only seemed to amuse him.
"Well I do fine Miss. And yourself? Have you come to terms with whatever was troubling you last time we met?"
"I'm not quite sure what you mean. I was perfectly.." She began, confused that he sensed so much.
"Now, now there is no reason for you to be dishonest with me, my dear. I could sense it. I can smell fear and heartache just as you can smell that jasmine scent you're wearing, or the sweet honey you have purchased in your quaint little basket. And I sense now that you are more confident, more sure of what you are about to do. You have successfully completed a long awaited task and you are proud of yourself. You are proud of your ability to resist temptation. An ability I happen to personally prize."
"Well, how fortunate for you. I will have you know sir that you must dispose of your theories. I don't know where you think you have the right to judge me and patronize me but I won't have it.."
"Hush. That smart mouth won't get you out of everything, you know." He warned. She became increasingly uncomfortable.
"Works for me quite well, thank you." She said, trying to leave. He just walked slowly behind her.
"It's rude to abruptly leave people you know." He said, and she stopped. Then she turned around again and looked him strait in the eyes.
"Well then, what else can I do for you sir? This small talk isn't exactly proper you know." Again with the honesty, she thought. What the hell was the matter with her?
"Do I frighten you?" he casually remarked, changing the subject.
"No sir, you do not." She bluntly said.
"Well, I'm glad. You know, there are not many people like you who would say such a thing. You must be very bold."
"People like me?" she said, confused. "Whoever would be afraid of you sir would have to be mad. I don't know what you think of yourself but you are not exactly threatening, not to me." She stayed strong. He began to snicker.
"You must be very sure of yourself my dear. I like that. Yes I suppose one would have to be mad to be afraid of an old bloke like me. I don't understand it really."
"Alright then. Well it has been really lovely chatting with you but I really must be going now. Good day sir." She said, turning to leave once more. She tried to smile at him but she found that an impossibility. She hurried over to the register and paid for the few things she actually bought. She never did reach for that ice cream. She was so intent on getting out of there in a hurry and the whole time she felt eyes on her, watching her.
She exited the market only to find that man standing outside, leaning against the brick wall of the establishment.
"You know, you are not being very polite. Now I'm afraid you have no choice but to tell me your name." He suavely annunciated.
All Lily wanted to do was get rid of him. That was all she wanted. It's just a name, she thought. It means nothing really and she hated herself in his presence so badly that she would say anything to make him leave.
"Oh alright. If I give it to you will you leave me alone?" she nervously asked the stranger.
"Of course my beauty. All I want is the name of the vision that has been brought to me not once, but twice this month."
"Um, ok. My name is Lily, Lily Potter." His eyes seemed to widen in surprise at the mention of her name.
"Lily Potter. That is a beautiful name. Yes, I have heard all about you, and your husband. James is it?" How did he know that? She thought. He was beginning to cross the line.
"Now why would the beautiful Mrs. Potter be in such a rush to get home at this hour? It is not quite dinnertime is it?"
"Well it is a little past four now.I should be getting back.."
"Yes I suppose your husband will be waiting for you. He is quite the impatient boy really...suppose he'll be wanting a treat when you arrive."
"Please stay out of my affairs sir. They are none of your business whatsoever." She spat.
"I didn't mean to intrude my dear. I am just merely delighted to finally meet the woman I have heard so much about over the years. You are just as pretty as they say, you know."
"Well thank you, I suppose. Who exactly have you been speaking to?" she was a bit curious as to who could have possibly told this stranger about her. She would definitely kill them later, she thought.
"Oh just some friends of mine, and yours. One of them though, has not been round to see me lately, and I am worried. We will have to have a long chat about that."
"Well sir as you can see that it is getting dark soon. It was interesting seeing you again but I really must be off." She walked over and shook his hand, much to his own amusement. He just snickered as she left.
"Farewell Lily Potter. I do hope we chat again in the future. Goodnight." He called after her.
She was so delighted to be rid of him but she couldn't escape the slight rumbling of her stomach. She wasn't sure if she was hungry or nervous. She was just relieved to be rid of him. Who was that strange man? She thought. She didn't like him, not at all. He made her uncomfortable. What was worse is that now he knew her name. What was odd was that she felt he always knew it, but was keeping it as his own little secret.
She was on her own street at last and she was so relieved to see her door that she jogged to it.
"Well we are in a hurry now aren't we?" she heard a voice say. It was that same man. She looked up to see him leaning against a lamppost. How the hell did he get here that fast? She thought. She rushed all the way home to purposely avoid him. She just stared in disbelief.
"So this is where the Potters live? Charming little place really." She just nodded and rushed into her house. She made sure to lock the door behind her. She also pulled down the blinds. She was very jumpy and almost screamed when she felt a pair of large, strong hands on her shoulders.
When she turned around she saw James and she gasped a sigh of relief. Confused by her behavior, he smirked and picked the packages off of the floor. She had apparently dropped them.
"A little jumpy are we?" he jokingly asked. "Lily, are you alright?"
"Yes. I'm fine." She said, peeking out the window. He was gone. Thank god, she thought. "Just a little paranoid." She said, dismissing her jitters. She strolled into the kitchen and put all of the groceries away. It only took her a minute. She hadn't bought much. He is still eyeing her with that hint of suspicion in his eyes. She paid no attention to him.
"I'm just going to go upstairs to change, ok?" she said, not even looking at him. Without waiting for his answer she hurried up the stairs and ran into her bedroom. She didn't even bother to close the door. She just felt that she had to get out of those clothes, she was uncertain why.
She grabbed a random shirt from her dresser and tossed it on the bed. Then she lifted up her turtleneck over her head and threw it, inside out, on the floor. She was so preoccupied that she didn't even hear footsteps climbing the stairs.
She was standing in front of the mirror but not really looking at her reflection. Before she could reach for the shirt on the bed she heard a loud gasp. It startled her and she was taken back. She didn't have to turn around to realize that it was James. He had his hand over his mouth and his eyes were open wide. At first she was confused but then she noticed something.
All she was wearing was her bra and when she briefly glanced back at the mirror she saw her injury. She had never told James about it, and it clearly upset him.
She was speechless. All she could do was stare back at him until his hand left his mouth.
"Come here!" he forcefully commanded. She just shook her head.
"James really.."she started. He rushed over to her, anger evident on his face. She tried to cover it with her hands but he just pulled them away. He absentmindedly held them tightly while he just stared at her.
He then saw that she was slightly afraid so he calmed himself down.
"Oh my god." He said, shaking his head and staring at the floor.
"Its really not that bad." she said, still trying to calm him down. He let go of her and began pacing back and forth.
"How did it happen?" he cut her off. He was obviously freaking out and she was suddenly upset that she hadn't told him about it earlier. It was just that it never seemed to be the right time, and she hadn't even been there a full day.
"Well..." she began
"No, you know what, just hold on..just one second.." He said, rubbing his forehead. He breathed in and out a few times and then lifted his head. "Ok, I'm ok...When did it happen?" he said, in a calm, but equally nervous tone.
Lily bit her lip. "Um..a couple of weeks ago." She flinched.
"Weeks? Weeks!" he started pacing again. Shit, she thought. "How could you not have said anything? All this time.."
"Well it's not like you were around or anything." She said, getting a little annoyed, as if it was her duty to tell him strait away. "What did you expect me to do, run strait home? I can take care of myself, thank you."
"Has Diana seen this?" he asked, changing the subject. "Does she know?"
"She was there when it happened." She said.
"Oh really, well she could have told me. It's great to know that I have such honest and trustworthy friends. That makes me feel so great. What else don't I know Lily?" he said, frustrated. He was constantly finding out things lately and he hated not being informed.
"Oh will you cut that out. I've never kept anything from you ever, and you know that. I just didn't feel it was right, that's all. There were other things that had to be discussed first. You are really making this into a bigger deal than it is."
He sighed. "Well I don't think so Lil. I mean think about it. A husband walks in the room to find that his wife has a serious and unexplainable injury, for which she gives no information about, and then acts as if it's a mere paper cut. I mean, have you even gotten that thing looked at?" he said.
"Well no." she reluctantly said. He just sighed again.
"And why not?" he said, as if he couldn't believe she could have been so careless.
"Because they would start asking questions..and they would have looked at you."
"Don't even say that, you know I would never purposely.." he said, pointing to her.
"I know." She stopped him. "But you know doctors, and it's not like I can tell them the truth."
"I suppose you're right." That part made sense to him, but he was still curious. "Would you care to tell me the truth Lily? Would you mind letting your husband know what's going on?"
"You were there." She said, grabbing the shirt and slowly putting it over her chest. James turned around and sat on the bed.
"What do you mean? ..oh." he suddenly remembered. "It was that night, at Katrina's. Frank said so, why don't I remember it clearly? You went up to her, you tried to fight them off.."
"That came afterwards." Lily began, growing sadder. "She was already dead." She was entering a frame of her mind where guilt and sadness reigned. It had happened so quickly. She had never actually properly grieved for her friend. She was always so busy.
"Oh, I didn't know..."
"Her husband was there..." she started, not listening to him. "He seemed so distraught." Tears were forming in her eyes. James got up and went to her, noticing the drastic change in her mood. It was clear to him that this had hit her hard. When he was next to her he put his hand on her shoulder. She brushed it off and walked in the other direction.
"Lily." James began.
"He didn't understand. That poor man...driven mad by his wife's death." She was really crying now. He followed her again, and put both hands on her shoulders.
"It was a real tragedy." He whispered. "She of all people didn't deserve it."
Lily shook her head in agreement. "There was a Death Eater who escaped." She said through her teeth. "I couldn't do her justice because of it."
"Was he the one? The one who did this to you?"
"Yes. But only after I injured him worse." She slightly smiled and turned around.
"Now there's something. See, that's my girl." He said, smiling back at her. He was trying to cheer her up a bit.
"I bet he's still limping." She said.
"So you know it was a man?" he asked.
"Yes, no woman could do that. I just know it wasn't a woman. Something about the way he walked.."
"Well still." James said. "How did he do it, there was no spell?"
"A sword. He was actually quite good at it. I became distracted and he struck me. Then Diana came in and tried to curse him but she missed. I was in too much pain to try. When we tried to gather ourselves he slipped passed us. It was my fault."
"Don't say that, it couldn't have been helped. You had to think of your safety and your health. If he had tried again you could have died."
"I suppose. But at least he would have been killed, or better yet, caught." She said, annoyed at herself for forgetting what was, to her, the most important objective.
"Oh how could you say that? I don't like it when you talk like that." He said, sitting back on the bed.
"You don't like when I talk about what?" she asked.
"When you put them before you. You act as if that is the only thing you live for."
"It's our job." She spat. "That's all we're supposed to care about. You heard Crouch." she began, getting slightly angry.
"Yes I did, and he's an asshole. There are more important things in life then that."
"Oh really. Like what? You?" she mockingly asked him. She knew, after all, that it was what he wanted her to say.
"Well, your family, and yes, me I suppose." He said, matter-of-factly.
"Well don't you think of yourself in high regard. You have now transformed yourself into a reason to live. That's amazing." She said, sarcastically.
"So what you're saying is that if you were to die, you wouldn't care at all about my feelings?" he asked, astonished. He wasn't all together sure if she was joking with him.
"Well I'd be dead, but you'd get over it. You're resilient." She said wistfully. "I would just be the first wife. Within a month of my passing you'd be remarried."
James just stared at her. He was hurt and confused. "Are you serious?" he chuckled. "I can't believe you just said that. Come over here."
"Now that is the second time you have ordered me about Mr. Potter. I really don't like it." She playfully exclaimed. In her own way she was play fighting with him, but deep down she really did think that, if for any reason, she should die, that he would get over her easily.
"Well I refuse to get up and I don't want you all the way over there." He said and she nodded. She walked over to him and sat down next to him. She sighed and folded her arms. He reached over and pulled them apart. Then he hugged her.
"What do I have to do to get it through to you? If anything ever happened to you Lily, well, I just don't know what I would do." She pushed herself away.
"You don't have to embellish your words for me James. It's too much of a corny speech anyways." She let out a nervous laugh. "Listen I know you love me but.."
"No, no buts. I'd never be the same if you were gone. You should have seen me lately. I was inconsolable and you were only across town for god's sake."
"Let's not go there." She said.
"Fine. Well what would you do, I mean, if I died?"
"Well that all depends." She bluntly said.
"Depends? Depends on what?" he asked, annoyed.
"On the circumstances. There's how you died, and why, and whether or not you're going to leave me all alone to take care of a child. If that happened, there would always be a hint of resentment." He just stared at her and smiled. She was so precise, and logical. It amused him to think she had actually thought of this.
"So you would resent me if we had a kid. More than you do now I expect? Well remind me never to have kids with you. I don't want a grudge against me when I die."
"Sure. We'll just forget about it then. We can just go on being the selfish adults that we are, and die miserable and alone. Sounds like a plan." She said, getting up to go to the bathroom.
"Hey, you'd miss me." He said after her.
"Probably at first." she said. "But then I'd suck it up and find someone else more attractive then you are, and with neater hair." She smirked.
"What are you talking about, no one is more attractive than me." He said. They were obviously joking with one another now. Things were certainly getting easier.
"I don't know James, Sirius is looking pretty sexy lately. And since he and Diana are fighting I think I should be fine without you. After all, he and I always were very close."
"Don't even fucking kid about that. Not to mention that he is like your brother and it is so disgusting that you just said that. And that was mean, dismissing Diana like that. I'll make sure to tell her your secret plan to steal her husband." He joked as he laid his head down on the pillow.
"Fine, go ahead." she said, coming back. "You were never good for anything anyway."
"I beg to differ." He amusingly stated.
"I mean, above the waist, James." She said, rolling her eyes and shaking her head.
"I'm glad you acknowledge my strengths." He said, grinning.
"Shut up. It's really not great enough to boast about." she said, picking up her discarded shirt, and throwing it back in her drawer. "I'm going downstairs. When you're done pleasuring yourself, you can come too."
"Bitch." He said, without a thought.
"Pervert." She said, with the same carelessness.
"I love you." He said, without really meaning to. She sort of just looked at him, nodded, and said "Thanks," before jogging down the stairs.
Lily was back in the kitchen only this time there was yet another letter in the fruit bowl. She sighed and walked over to it. This one was different, however, because this one was red, and it was from Barty Crouch Sr.
"Shit." She said. "What the hell does he want?" She was pissed. Crouch only called when it was an emergency, or to remind them of a useless meeting. This envelope was red, which could only mean one thing.
"James!" she yelled.
"What?!" he answered, coming down the stairs. He joined her in the kitchen. She lifted up the envelope so he could see it.
"Who's it from?" he asked.
"Crouch, he sent us a howler. I guess he didn't think written words were nearly as threatening." She said.
"Shit. Well I guess we had better open it now, it'll just be worse is we wait. Maybe it's important." He said.
"You do it, I don't have the patience." She said. She was so sick of Crouch that even a mere letter changed her mood to annoyed all over again. She handed it to him. He looked at her and tore open the seal.
"POTTERS!" They winced. "WHERE ARE YOU TWO? THIS LETTER WAS DELIVERED PRECISELY AT 4 PM AND I KNOW YOU WAITED TO OPEN IT! THERE IS AN ERGENT CALL FROM THE MINISTRY AND WE NEED YOU TWO TO GET YOUR SORRY ASSES DOWN HERE NOW! DETAILS WILL BE GIVEN THERE SO DON'T BE LATE!!!! THE MINISTRY NEEDS YOU NOW HURRY UP AND MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!"
"Ugh." Lily said, rubbing her temples.
"Alright we had better go. The Ministry needs us." James said, in a slightly mocking tone.
"Do we have to?" Lily asked, irritated. "We still have a couple of days left of vacation."
"Now, now, you can't be like that. You know what the world is like now. We have to go. Besides, everyone else will be there."
"That, and if we don't go, Crouch will personally make his way up here and kill us both." Lily said as she went to the closet in the hallway. She grabbed her and James' robes and threw them at him.
"Good point. Can we say, anger management." James said. She chuckled. Lily and James grabbed their wands and tucked them under their robes, which were tucked under their arms. They couldn't very well walk outside with wizard robes and wands in the middle of Muggle London.
They simply looked at each other, smiled, and headed out the door into the darkness. They had no idea what was in store for them out there, which is why before they reached the bottom step, James stopped. A thought had just stuck him and he became slightly afraid. He looked at the sky to see quite a disturbing image, and his stomach began to turn. He had to get something out of the way before he continued.
"What are you doing? Lets go." She said, a tad frustrated.
"I just want you to promise me something." He said.
"Ugh, fine, what?" she said.
"If anything happens, I mean, anything at all, to me or you..promise me you'll forgive me when it's all over."
"Forgive you? This is no time to be sentimental James, and if nothing happens."
"Will you just say yes..please? I need to know I have that before I go in there risking my life." She looked at him strangely.
"What makes you think something's going to happen?" she asked.
"I don't really know. But I have a feeling this isn't an ordinary meeting." He said pointing at the sky. Through the pale twilight he could see a shade of green evident in the sunset, and it didn't look right. There was a sinister breeze in the air, and when Lily saw it she shivered. It perplexed then both to see such an unusual color in the sky, and as they stared it only seemed to expand.
"Alright." Lily said. "I promise." She wasn't sure if she meant it or not, but it was all she could say to him then. She even forgotten what he had asked her, but she could tell he was nervous for some reason. It unnerved her to see him this way. But, he went down the remaining couple of steps and they walked side by side, growing nearer and nearer to the sylvan fog.
(I'll leave you there considering I haven't written anything else yet. I have a strange feeling that something terrible is about to happen, I don't know where that one came from, hmmmm, I guess I should just follow it. Thanks for the reviews! I really do love them. They are a great motivation! Don't stop them! I am going to continue when I get 35, possibly 40 because I do have to go to school occasionally. But I will do my best : )
