Um...yeah, I was very excited about this chapter because I've been waiting forever to explain all of this wonderful stuff I thought up. Stupid TNT, killing off Charmed for two whole entire days just so they could show some stupid golf tournament. Seriously, who gives a crap about the British Open...who even plays golf anymore? Ugh...
Yeah, so read and review ppl, read and review (and add some comments about how stupid golf is)
Oh, and I was ground for two weeks, hence the fact that this is up so late...and um...my parents have made me go to bed at like 10:30 now and since I did most of my writing between 10:00 and 12:00 before (which is why I made such fast progress before, cuz I was tired and confused)...the pace is gonna slow down...a lot...maybe...and school starts in 2 weeks...but nothing happens 'til like 3 weeks into school...I'm sure I'll get to at least chapter ten them...hopefully. Yeah, on with the story now.
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Chapter Eight :: James
James wandered aimlessly through the streets, his hands in his pockets, his feet taking tiny, shuffling steps. Night came quickly and the neon signs of the bustling city came alive. They flashed and changed colors and a million other things that usually would've fascinated James. But not today, and maybe not ever.
If this was reality, how was he suppose to live in it. How was he suppose to live in a world where he didn't know how to do anything? Where he didn't really like anything? How could he have imagined half of his life? A car whizzed by, swerving just in time so that it didn't hit him. The driver shouted some profanities, which were drowned out in the noise of the city. James laughed ruefully. Maybe he's imagining that he's imagining thing. As he kept on walking, the city scene passed and he came upon the suburbs. A sweet, cloying scent filled his nostrils. James looked up. he was standing in front of a flower shop. It was filled with lilies. Lilies which came in just about every color and hue visible to the human eye. They blossomed beautifully, each and every one of them perfect with out a single torn petal or bent leaf.
"James?" Someone called out from behind him. Her turned around and his eyes widened.
"S...Star?" He stuttered. Sure enough, there was Steorra, in all her Asian elegance.
"I was just about to leave," she said, "Do you need a ride?"
James stared at her some more. She, like Lily, was also older, yet seemed much more...normal than the hysterical Lily.
"Are you all right, James?" she waved her hands in front of his face.
"Uh...yea," James grunted.
"So do you need a ride home or not?" Steorra repeated her offer.
James looked out the door behind him and realized that he did not know where he was at all. "Yeah, thanks," he said.
"Okay, hold on, let me get my jacket," Steorra took off the cream-colored apron that said "Lily Burst by Star" and hung it up on a took. She took a light blue jacket on another hook and put it on, grabbed her purse and headed out. James followed her. Steorra paused to lock the door to her flower shop before heading behind the store. From what James could see, the shop was located in a very posh neighborhood, right by a large cluster of manor estates. James was led to a shiny, sleet, silver car. Even though he knew nothing of muggle cars, James could tell that it was very expensive just by the look of it and wondered how Star made so much money with a flower shop that sold only lilies.
"So how did you get all the way out here?" Steorra asked as they drove.
"Walked," James replied.
Steorra gave a small laugh, "No, seriously."
"I seriously did!" James nodded his head vigorously, as if to assert himself.
"But you must've walked at least twenty-five miles!" Steorra exclaimed.
"Oh, well, I've been meaning to get some exercise," James said rather unconvincingly.
"Exercise," Steorra retorted, "Look at you! You're all skin and bones!" She sounded very much like a mother to James, "Why don't you and Lil have dinner with me and Sirius tonight?"
James' face snapped over to Steorra, "Sirius? He's here too?"
"What do you mean, 'he's here too?' He's always been here! You guys have been best friends since like sixth grade!" Steorra said.
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Lily was pale and trembling as she looked into the eyes of Albus Dumbledore, which held none of that usual life and sparkle Lily was used to seeing. This only sank Lily's heart more.
Sirius spoke, "He's dead, isn't he?" Lily gasped.
Dumbledore shook his head, "No. He is on the border between life and death."
"Yes, we know that," Lily said.
"No, no, no," Dumbledore said, "I mean literally on the plane border between that of this world and the next." He received blank looks from Lily and Sirius.
"Have you heard of angels?" Dumbledore asked.
Sirius gave a dry laugh, "Yeah. They're oversized fairies muggles thought up, aren't they?"
"I'm afraid not, Mr. Black. Angels are real," Dumbledore leaned forward, as if about to begin a fantastic tale, "They are the most powerful of magical beings, even more so than wizards. They take the shape of a human and appear in every aspect of being human, other than their powers." Dumbledore paused, "Powers such that only a select few have witnessed before. They angels, they control destiny and fate. In a way, every event that has taken place, every victory and failure of not only wizards, but also muggles have been planned and conceived by the angels. They are neutral in the universe. They are neither good nor evil. They work only to keep the balance, so that either side will gain too much sway over events."
"Wait, so they help dark wizards too?" Sirius asked, not quite believing Dumbledore's tale.
"Yes, when the scales are tipped," Dumbledore replied.
"So why don't they just make fate so that nothing is every unbalanced or something?" Sirius asked.
"Ah, even being able to control the elements, from water to wind to fire, the angels cannot control one thing. Free will," Dumbledore answered, "The angels cannot do anything if a human does not want his or her destiny. They can only do so much to manipulate events."
"But what does this do to explain about the stuff that's happened?" Lily questioned.
"Everything, Miss Evans, from Mr. Potter's undead state to Mr. Black's lack of injuries. I'm surprised I didn't figure it out when Miss Hallicomb was killed." Dumbledore went on. "Some beings are pre-destined to play a vital part some time in their life regarding the balance. Such beings are given a guardian angel to protect them throughout their lives, or until their part in destiny is fulfilled. The angels watch over their charges every moment of everyday, if not physically, then in some way no one knows of. They...destroy their charge's enemies and anyone who may bring harm to him or her, as long as their charge wishes it...and they also," Dumbledore looked directly into Sirius' eves, "They also transfer any injuries, both physical and mental, onto their own bodies, perhaps even avert death for their charge."
Sirius comprehended the magnitude of this statement and his face paled. He felt dizzy and nauseous. "Excuse me," he mumbled and ran out of the infirmary.
Dumbledore continued, as if this was the reaction he'd expected all along from Sirius.
"You saw the light emitted by Miss Ming, did you not?"
Lily nodded.
"That light is meant to protect a guardian angel's charges. Anyone other than Sirius who was trapped in it would be in a state of eternal sleep, consumed by their worst fears," Dumbledore finished. His face seemed slack and colorless, his hair was much more white than Lily had remembered.
"But when Star saw Sirius bleeding...she kept on screaming 'I'm still here.' What was that about?" Lily asked.
Dumbledore shook his head, "That...you can probably only find out from Steorra herself, and even she may not know or remember."
"Will he ever wake up?" Lily asked, looking mournfully toward James, afraid of the answer.
"Supposedly, the only way to bring them out of their sleep is for the victim to overcome his or her fears. Unfortunately, I don't thing anyone has ever been able to do that," Dumbledore gave a heavy sigh and looked over at James with hopelessness.
Lily shuddered involuntarily as she imagined what James what be going through. James didn't seem to be afraid of anything. What was going on in his mind? Were their screaming banshees? Fierce dragons? Unbearable pain? A gruesome death? Her heart sank more and more as these ideas suggested themselves in her mind.
"A Pensieve," Steorra had woken up and moaned weakly from her bed, "Use a Pensieve."
"What?" Lily rushed over to Steorra's side, "What's a Pensieve?"
"A container for one's thoughts," Dumbledore answered her question, "And that is a most excellent suggestion, and I thing I happen to have one in my office somewhere." Dumbledore, seemingly hopeful, walked off.
Not long after he left, Sirius entered, a bit more composed than before, and yet still pale. "So we have a way to wake up James?" he asked offhandedly.
"Yeah...I guess so," Lily answered.
An awkward silence ensued.
"I'm sorry, Lil," Steorra finally said.
"What for?"
"Well, just about everything," Steorra paused, "and especially about James."
Lily looked at Star for a little bit, as if comprehending whether Star was really worth it to be a friend with. Finally, she broke into a smile, "We'll get James back, don't worry, and I'll forgive you for any future occasions where an apology is necessary, okay?"
Steorra nodded and smiled back. She turned her gaze towards Sirius, "And how's my eye candy holding up to everything?"
"Fine," Sirius said darkly, "Other than the fact that the Gryffindor Quidditch team is down a Chaser and a Seeker and the first match is in two weeks and you guys haven't practiced all season."
"Oh, shut up. It's not like you're even on the team," Steorra said teasingly.
"Yeah, well, i bet a lot of galleons on Gryffindor winning the Hogwarts Championship, and even more on you guys winning over Durmstrang," Sirius sulked.
"Don't be such an insensitive ass, Sirius" Lily chided, "Can you see that this isn't the best time to talk about all this?"
Sirius muttered, "Sorry," and sat back on the bed by Steorra's. There was more awkward silence until Dumbledore finally came in with a silver basin filled to the brim with a silvery liquid.
"One Pensieve, as ordered," Dumbledore said. He had that old air of enigma back, as if he knew exactly what to do that noe one else could possibly think of. "I assume that you two will be going?" He looked at Lily and Sirius. They gave him affirmative nods, thought not exactly sure what was going to happen to them.
"Me too," Steorra said from behind them.
"Oh, I don't think that's quite possible as I do not look forward to being cursed by madam Pomfrey," Dumbledore said, "An I do think it best if you stayed in bed."
Steorra was about to protest when Sirius shoved a hand in her face and said with an irritated look, "Ming, you head the man. bed rest. So stay, be a good girl, and daddy will bring you some candy," Sirius paused and after some thought, added, "Maybe."
Steorra made a rude gesture and watched longingly as Dumbledore beckoned the other two forth.
Lily and Sirius watched in awe as Dumbledore touched the tip of his wand to James' temple and pulled out a long strand of silvery stuff that was placed in the basin.
"Inside, no, now." Dumbledore motioned, "And remember that only James will be able to see you, not his thoughts."
"Right, but how exactly do we get inside?" Lily asked uncertainly.
"By sticking you heads into his thoughts, of course," Dumbledore said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Sirius eyed the silvery liquid with suspicion, but closed his eyes and dunked his head in, expecting to hit the bottom of the basin. But he felt a cold surge as the rest of his body was sucked in. Sirius found himself in the middle of a black and white world in front of a tall, elegant skyscraper. He looked up, hoping to see the reassuring face of Dumbledore looming in the sky. Nothing, only a dark sky and tiny twinkling stars. Lily suddenly appeared beside him. They seemed to be the only bits of color in this strange, unfamiliar world of James Potter's thoughts.
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All right, chapter eight is finally done. And most puzzles are solved...kind of...not really. But don't stop reading and reviewing, because there's more excitement and adventure to come! Yes, that's right! Keep on reading this story cuz it'll only get better...I hope. Anyway, if this chapter is especially horribly typed, you should've looked at the original...I like forgot how to conjugate or something. Anyway, we're getting a new roof and the endless pounding that woke me up at 8 this morning is still going at...6 in the afternoon...oy...and it's like 86 outside...what's the point of living in Michigan if I have to put up this kind of heat? I mean, I already deal with the freezing winters, why the sweltering summers??? Life isn't fair I tell ya, not fair!!! Grrr...