Author's Note: Thank you so much to all my faithful and loyal reviewers! After many hours of thinking this over (okay, maybe that was an exaggeration) I have decided to have Remus and Lily kiss. *cowers at the glares of the James and Lily fans* I know! I know! James and Lily are meant to be together! Geez...but don't worry, I feel the same way so the story isn't over yet, okay? Another thing, I am going to develop Torrance a bit more. You see, she was suppose to be kind of a mystery at the beginning but not anymore. And I know that in this story Remus is a bit out of character but I didn't want him to be all brooding and serious all the time. Lily brings the fun and good out in him. Got that? Good...
Chapter Title: Torrance's Secret
Disclaimer: I own everything! Everything I tell you! Muahahaha! *JKR's lawyers throw tomatoes at the author* Eep! I was just kidding...I wanted to see what you would do. Honest. Oh, and the song I'm using in this chapter isn't mine either.
***JAMES' POV***
After the Shakespeare incident in the Great Hall, James was very much disturbed. Was he in wacko world? Did his best friend Remus recite poetry to his bride-to-be Lily? Okay, he was ready to wake up now...any minute. It wasn't working. Nope...this really was reality.
The Marauders were heading on their way towards the Quidditch pitch to change for their upcoming game against the notorious Slytherin team. They were about an hour early but when you're Quidditch-crazy like James, you wanted an extra hour to warm up.
James kept on taking quick glances at Remus as if waiting for him to say "Got ya Prongs" and smack him on the back, but it never came. He could only hope that his worst nightmare had not yet come true.
"So Lily turned the big one seven today, eh? What are you going to get her Prongs?" Sirius asked
"I dunno...It would have helped if I actually knew her birthday was today. Moony?"
"Hmm?"
"How did you know?" James asked casually.
"Know what Prongs?"
"Know that Lily's birthday was today."
"I asked a long time ago and happened to remember." Remus answered solemnly.
Okay, maybe it wasn't what he thought. I mean, a lot of things come up in casual conversation. Pet names, hobbies, and birthday dates...right? Of course he was right. It was absurd to think that Lily would choose Moony over him.(A/N: Can we say egotistical?)
"So what shall I get her? Hmm...maybe some jewelry? Girls like jewelry, right? I can get her one with a stone in the middle." James thought aloud.
A grin spead upon Sirius' face. "You know what would be better? Buy her some knickers with the middle cut out of--"
"Padfoot! I don't think Lily would accept that gift. It would be too--"
"Hard? No it isn't. You can make homemade ones. Just take some panties and some scizzors and--"
"What I meant to say was crude. Lily would permanently charm the panties to my forehead if I gave her that!" James said half thoughtful and half jokingly.
"So, are we going back to the jewelry?" Remus asked
"Guess so. I'll get her a ring with a colored stone in the middle. Now, do any of you fellas know what her favorite color is?"
"Uh...green? I see her wear a lot of green." Sirius said as he scratched his head.
"No...I think it's blue. Didn't she say it was blue in fourth year?" James asked.
"It's red." Remus said bluntly
"Red? How do you know?" Sirius asked
"Just trust me, it's red."
What was Moony playing at? He could handle Remus giving his Lily a nickname all her own, skipping class with her, reciting poetry for her, but knowing the hard known facts of Lily Evans? James didn't think he could handle this any longer.
James shot Remus a look. Was he cute? James took another fast glance. No matter how often he took one of his fast peeks, James just couldn't decide. Was Moony cute? Well, what he meant was, would Lily think Remus was cute? It was a hard call. There were some things like kittens or fuzzy ducklings, that were pretty much no-brainers. Definitely cute. But Moony. James was pretty much clueless, although he had heard from a fifth year Hufflepuff that Remus' eyes were a brilliant shade of blue. And eyes, they were important to girls, right?
Even if that Hufflepuff thinks Moony is cute, it doesn't mean that Lily thinks he cute, James told himself. And even if Lily does think he's cute, that doesn't mean anything. I mean, admit it, you think other girls besides Lily are cute. Like Torrance. Be honest, you think Torrance is walking, grinning cuteness.
But Lily. Whoa. Lily was so beautiful, it practically made him dizzy everytime he saw her. She affected him the way no other girl ever did or ever would. And that's what he wanted Lily to feel about him. And that's most assuredly what he didn't want her to feel about Remus. Not like she did. Or at least, he was pretty sure she didn't. But if Remus was cute, she might.
Wasn't there some study about how when a woman looked at a man and found him attractive, her pupils dilated? Maybe that's how he could tell if--
If Sirius or Peter could hear what you're thinking, they wouldn't let you live it down for the rest of your days, James told himself.
"Okay mates, time to set our minds toward the match. Ready?" James asked as he entered the team's changing area.
"Born to beat Slytherin." Sirius muttered as he shed his clothing for his Quidditch robes.
Moony was being awfully quiet. James wondered what he'd been thinking about as they had walked up here. Was he thinking about Lily? Was--
James told himself to shut up and changed into his robes.
***LILY'S POV***
Lily walked side by side with her best friend Torrance down the second corridor towards the library. This was all too normal for Lily because she had been to the library countless times...but Torrance? Now, that just didn't fit. Not only had Torrance never been in the library but she had no need to. She was a natural genius...she could even make up her own spells and they would actually work!
That's why Lily knew that there had to be something wrong. She wasn't stupid. Neither was Torrance. They were going to the library because no one would be there...not on a Quidditch day at least...so Torrance and Lily could talk, alone.
As they entered the Hogwarts library, Torrance motioned to the far corner of the room where one small table sat. Lily followed Torrance quietly. Silence...
"So...Torrance? What's going on?" Lily asked cautiously
Silence...
"There is something you wanted to tell me? Right?"
Silence...
"Come on. Talk to me!" Lily whispered loudly.
Torrance finally looked up from where she was staring at the table and made eye contact with Lily. She noticed there was an uneasy fear in her best friends eyes that didn't belong there.
"Lily...I had another one..." Torrance said
Through a sharp intake of breathe Lily asked,"Bad?"
Torrance nodded.
Oh Merlin! This can't be happening again! Not to Torrance...not to her.
"What about?" Lily was almost scared to know.
"You."
"Me?"
Torrance nodded.
"When?"
"This morning." Torrance answered.
"Do you want to tell me?" Lily asked
Torrance shook her head vigorously.
"Then why did you bring me here?" Lily questioned
Silence...
"That's what I thought. Come on, let's get on with it."
Torrance looked as if she was going to be sick, but she met her friend's demands. She started to fumble with her locket around her neck nervously.
"I had a flash. It wasn't clear but all I know is this." Torrance paused, her eyes questioned if she really had to do this.
"Go on." Lily insisted.
"I'm outside, what looks to be the Hogwarts grounds and it's at night time. I'm on the edge of the lake, in your body, when suddenly I was blinded by all sorts of lights, possibly curses. I scream in pain. Then the next thing I know, I'm on the ground in agony...I look down and I see my arm covered in blood and a huge slash through my stomach. Then I wake up."
Silence...
Lily was shocked. Why wasn't she used to this? Torrance has had plenty of these vision things. This one wasn't any different. Well, except for the fact that this one was about Lily this time.
"Talk to me Lils. What's going on in your head?" Torrance inquired.
"I think that we should just...forget about it. It probably doesn't mean what you think it means anyway. Let's just celebrate my birthday today and worry about my death tomorrow."
Torrance flinched as the word 'death'.
Lily forced a chuckle,"I'm not going to die. I was probably having menstual cramps that day or something." Lily said doubtfully.
Silence...
"Okay, well, you want to head to the game? It's probably started by now." Torrance asked. She still looked at Lily as if she might explode with emotion.
"Nah. Gryffindor is going to win anyway. I need to study for Transfiguration, want to help me?"
"Yeah sure, why not? We don't want to see a repeat of third year, now do we?" Torrance smiled weakly as she said this.
"Hey! Potter wouldn't give me back my homework so I could finish studying! What was I suppose to do? Giggle and turn red?"
"You could have asked..." Torrance replied.
"Do you think that would have worked?" Lily smirked.
"Good point. But you didn't have to go and try to choke the life out of him. One second I'm writing down how to change a rat into a goblet the next second I'm trying to haul you off of James. Oh...I miss the old days. Good times." Torrance sighed. Lily laughed.
"Hey at least I can control my temper. What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Do I have to remind you of the summer of fifth year or do I have to refresh your memory?" Lily and Torrance had now walked back to their common room and took a seat next to the fireplace.
"I did not lose my temper." Torrance said stubbornly.
"Did too."
"Did not."
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Okay, what do you call slamming your fist into my sister's jaw? Talk about anger management issues."
"She deserved it." Torrance said darkly.
"No she di--." Lily thought about it. "Okay, maybe she did."
The two best friends laughed. The vision completely forgotten.
***Torrance's POV***
Lily was Torrance's best friend. Her sister. Her right half. She had great respect for Lily and Torrance swore that she would do anything for her. Torrance trusted Lily with everything...including her secret.
Yes, her secret. Now, that's a long story. She had had the "inner eye" since the first time she showed traces of magic. It was hereditary. Her mother had it, her grandmother, her great-grandmother and so on.
Why is being a Seer such a secret you ask? That's what Torrance asked her mother when she was twelve and her exact answer was, "People would want to take advantage of you. They'll befriend you only because they think they can find out what the future holds for them. We can't trust anyone."
And that's what Torrance did. Trust no one...until she met Lily. Since then, if you saw one of them the other wouldn't be far behind. Now that Torrance thought about it...she was very grateful for Lily. Other people might not have even touched her, scared that Torrance might see into their ugly past if she made skin contact. But not Lily.
That's why she was heart broken when she had a "vision" about Lily. Especially such a dangerous one. How would you like it if you had to tell your best friend that they were going to die? You wouldn't like it would you? Yeah, I didn't think so.
"Come on Lils," Torrance whined "We've been studying your Transfiguration paper for an hour. Let's go up to the quidditch pitch and see what the score is."
Lily glanced at her watch. "Oh, alright. Stop being such a baby."
"I resent that!"
"Why am I not surprised? You resent a lot of things."
"Do not. Name five."
"Fine. First, there's formal dress wear, cats, Malfoy--" Lily named them off, counting each one on her hand.
"Hey! Being in a room alone with Malfoy and his pet cat is equivalent to covering yourself with Spam and running nilly-willy throughout the Forbidden Forest." Torrance interrupted
Lily kept naming them off as if she didn't hear Torrance's comment. "--potions, and typical romance movies because the prince charming never exists in real life."
"Okay, you know me to well." Torrance said as she and Lily headed out of the common room, towards the game.
***Remus' POV***
Gryffindor had won. It was not easy, mind you. It took a good part of four hours to catch that damned, fast snitch and when James finally did he was even too tired to have a full out celebration.
And now it was nearing bed time. The Gryffindor commons were deathly quiet because the spectators had screamed themselves hoarse and everyone was exhausted. But not Remus. No, he had one more thing to do...give Lily her last birthday present.
He had watched with smug happiness when, after the game, James gave Lily her birthday present. To be honest, Remus thought that Lily would faint. James, being the rich boy he is, had bought Lily the most expensive ring Remus had ever laid eyes on and it had the red jewel in the middle and everything. After about a hundred 'thank-you's' from Lily, she had finally turned in for the night.
Now was the time to put his plan in action. After taking a hot shower and slipping some clean pajamas on, he slid underneath his covers and waited for the snores from his fellow friends to come. When he was positively sure the rest of the dorm was asleep he crawled out of bed soundlessly and snatched his broom from out of the closet.
Heading towards the window, he pushed it open and shivered as the night air hit his skin. Everything was going according to plan. He had already set up everything he needed so all was left was to retrieve the birthday girl. He kicked off out of the window and headed towards the girl's dorm window.
Remus looked up at the sky. So close. It was so close to the full moon that he could practically feel the beast within. He always felt that way. Felt as if his body was losing strength by the hour. He could feel his senses sharpen as the werewolve craved to be out. Remus didn't like it.
He slowly stopped in front of the girl's window and tapped lightly on it. He remembered exactly where Lily's bed was positioned from his previous visit so the window he tapped on should be right above her bed. He was wrong. Instead of seeing Lily's pale skin and red hair he saw a girl with carmel skin and long dark hair...Torrance.
She opened the window quietly with an expression on her face that clearly said 'what the hell are you doing here'. He was right this time.
"What the hell are you doing here?" a confused Torrance asked.
Oh no. Not again. Speak Moony, you dolt! Anything would be good right now.
"Remus?"
'Say something! Anything!' Remus' mind screamed.
"Uh...erm...girl." Remus stammered. 'Not that.'
"Huh? Remus, it's the middle of the night, you're in your pajamas and about 100 feet in the air...what are you doing here?"
"Lily...birthday...get her?" Remus choked on his words horribly.
Torrance smiled apparantly thinking this was a funny situation. Well, Remus didn't.
"Yeah hold on." Torrance disappeared through her window and Remus waited as he hovered in mid air. Next, out popped Lily's head.
"What is this? Are you hired room service?" Lily asked groggily.
"Hardly. I have come to take you away to the tallest tower where I shall give you your next gift." Remus said as he pointed to the North Tower.
"This had better be good Lupin because if you haven't noticed, it's in the middle of the night!"
Remus chose to ignore the comment and hoisted Lily on the back of his broom and headed up to the North Tower where he landed gracefully on the balcony.
Little did Remus know that his dream was finally coming true...Torrance watched with slight envy...as Remus and Lily became a dot in the sky.
***LIlY'S POV***
When Lily dismounted Remus' broom the first thing she did was glance around the room. What was she expecting? Well, if someone woke you up in the middle of the night to give you a present you would expect it to be real big, right? To her dissappointment, Lily didn't see anything. Not one thing except a comfortable looking couch in the middle of the balcony.
"Okay Remus. What's going on? Where's my present?" Lily asked eagerly.
"Who said anything about a present?" Remus asked sweetly.
"What? You mean to tell me you brought me up here for nothing?" Lily hissed.
"Of course not. Don't worry your pretty head. Have a seat and I'll be right back." Remus' gestured towards the couch and Lily took seat. Remus disappeared behind what looked like a small curtain in the corner of the balcony.
*I Don't Want to Miss A Thing by Aerosmith starts to play*
Lily jumped. She couldn't figure out where the music was coming from. She searched the balcony with her eyes but couldn't find anything. Then...Remus appeared.
*I could stay awake just to hear you breathing
Watch you smile while you are sleeping
While you're far away in dreaming
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender*
Lily was floored. She couldn't help but stare at Remus with her mouth hanging open with awe. His voice wasn't loud and shrill but it was deep, rich, and soothing. Remus Lupin, werewolf and quiet Marauder, was the best singer Lily had ever heard. Who would have guessed? Because it beats the hell out of her.
*I could stay lost in this moment...forever
Every moment spent with you is the moment I treasure.
I don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep because I'd miss you baby
And I don't want to miss a thing
Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream won't ever do
Because I'd miss you baby and I don't want to miss a thing.*
Remus' voice filled the balcony and Lily could get lost in it forever. Then she remembered something. He had said that he would never sing...to anyone. So that would mean...that would mean she was the first to ever witness this.
*Lying close to you, feeling your heart beating
And I'm wondering what your dreaming
Wondering if it's me you're seeing
Then I kiss your eyes and thank God we're together.
I just want to stay with you in this moment forever
Forever and ever.*
Just then several bright lights simultaneously flickered in every which direction creating the effect that she was in a muggle concert. Remus sat down right by Lily and looked at her as he sang his final note.
*I don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep because I'd miss you baby
And I don't want to miss a thing.
Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream won't ever do
I'd still miss you baby and I don't want to miss a thing.*
If Lily had anymore tears left inside of her, she would have probably cried as the music died down and Remus stopped singing. He was quite red. Probably from being nervous.
"So? How did I do? Be brutal if you must." Remus asked.
"Honestly? I thought that was the best birthday gift I could have ever asked for." Lily said affectionately.
"Good, because I'm never going to do that again."
Meanwhile...
Torrance was thrashing in her sleep having the same vision she had the night before.
Cold night air. Dark, all was dark. Then suddenly flashes of light engulf her then a slicing pain through her lower stomach. Pain. Dizziness as she looked down and saw the blood pouring out of her. Pain.
Torrance shot up from her bed, eyes wide with fear. Her night shirt stuck to her body from the cold sweat that ran down her back. Water. She needed a glass of water. She inched her way to the end of her bed and stood up slowly as she raised her arms above her head to stretch.
Pain. A familiar pain. Torrance looked down and there it was, just like in her dream. A deep cut ran through her stomach to both of her sides...and she was losing blood quickly.
Next chapter: Lily and Remus have an unofficial kissing lesson and Torrance beats the hell out of Malfoy.
Chapter Title: Torrance's Secret
Disclaimer: I own everything! Everything I tell you! Muahahaha! *JKR's lawyers throw tomatoes at the author* Eep! I was just kidding...I wanted to see what you would do. Honest. Oh, and the song I'm using in this chapter isn't mine either.
***JAMES' POV***
After the Shakespeare incident in the Great Hall, James was very much disturbed. Was he in wacko world? Did his best friend Remus recite poetry to his bride-to-be Lily? Okay, he was ready to wake up now...any minute. It wasn't working. Nope...this really was reality.
The Marauders were heading on their way towards the Quidditch pitch to change for their upcoming game against the notorious Slytherin team. They were about an hour early but when you're Quidditch-crazy like James, you wanted an extra hour to warm up.
James kept on taking quick glances at Remus as if waiting for him to say "Got ya Prongs" and smack him on the back, but it never came. He could only hope that his worst nightmare had not yet come true.
"So Lily turned the big one seven today, eh? What are you going to get her Prongs?" Sirius asked
"I dunno...It would have helped if I actually knew her birthday was today. Moony?"
"Hmm?"
"How did you know?" James asked casually.
"Know what Prongs?"
"Know that Lily's birthday was today."
"I asked a long time ago and happened to remember." Remus answered solemnly.
Okay, maybe it wasn't what he thought. I mean, a lot of things come up in casual conversation. Pet names, hobbies, and birthday dates...right? Of course he was right. It was absurd to think that Lily would choose Moony over him.(A/N: Can we say egotistical?)
"So what shall I get her? Hmm...maybe some jewelry? Girls like jewelry, right? I can get her one with a stone in the middle." James thought aloud.
A grin spead upon Sirius' face. "You know what would be better? Buy her some knickers with the middle cut out of--"
"Padfoot! I don't think Lily would accept that gift. It would be too--"
"Hard? No it isn't. You can make homemade ones. Just take some panties and some scizzors and--"
"What I meant to say was crude. Lily would permanently charm the panties to my forehead if I gave her that!" James said half thoughtful and half jokingly.
"So, are we going back to the jewelry?" Remus asked
"Guess so. I'll get her a ring with a colored stone in the middle. Now, do any of you fellas know what her favorite color is?"
"Uh...green? I see her wear a lot of green." Sirius said as he scratched his head.
"No...I think it's blue. Didn't she say it was blue in fourth year?" James asked.
"It's red." Remus said bluntly
"Red? How do you know?" Sirius asked
"Just trust me, it's red."
What was Moony playing at? He could handle Remus giving his Lily a nickname all her own, skipping class with her, reciting poetry for her, but knowing the hard known facts of Lily Evans? James didn't think he could handle this any longer.
James shot Remus a look. Was he cute? James took another fast glance. No matter how often he took one of his fast peeks, James just couldn't decide. Was Moony cute? Well, what he meant was, would Lily think Remus was cute? It was a hard call. There were some things like kittens or fuzzy ducklings, that were pretty much no-brainers. Definitely cute. But Moony. James was pretty much clueless, although he had heard from a fifth year Hufflepuff that Remus' eyes were a brilliant shade of blue. And eyes, they were important to girls, right?
Even if that Hufflepuff thinks Moony is cute, it doesn't mean that Lily thinks he cute, James told himself. And even if Lily does think he's cute, that doesn't mean anything. I mean, admit it, you think other girls besides Lily are cute. Like Torrance. Be honest, you think Torrance is walking, grinning cuteness.
But Lily. Whoa. Lily was so beautiful, it practically made him dizzy everytime he saw her. She affected him the way no other girl ever did or ever would. And that's what he wanted Lily to feel about him. And that's most assuredly what he didn't want her to feel about Remus. Not like she did. Or at least, he was pretty sure she didn't. But if Remus was cute, she might.
Wasn't there some study about how when a woman looked at a man and found him attractive, her pupils dilated? Maybe that's how he could tell if--
If Sirius or Peter could hear what you're thinking, they wouldn't let you live it down for the rest of your days, James told himself.
"Okay mates, time to set our minds toward the match. Ready?" James asked as he entered the team's changing area.
"Born to beat Slytherin." Sirius muttered as he shed his clothing for his Quidditch robes.
Moony was being awfully quiet. James wondered what he'd been thinking about as they had walked up here. Was he thinking about Lily? Was--
James told himself to shut up and changed into his robes.
***LILY'S POV***
Lily walked side by side with her best friend Torrance down the second corridor towards the library. This was all too normal for Lily because she had been to the library countless times...but Torrance? Now, that just didn't fit. Not only had Torrance never been in the library but she had no need to. She was a natural genius...she could even make up her own spells and they would actually work!
That's why Lily knew that there had to be something wrong. She wasn't stupid. Neither was Torrance. They were going to the library because no one would be there...not on a Quidditch day at least...so Torrance and Lily could talk, alone.
As they entered the Hogwarts library, Torrance motioned to the far corner of the room where one small table sat. Lily followed Torrance quietly. Silence...
"So...Torrance? What's going on?" Lily asked cautiously
Silence...
"There is something you wanted to tell me? Right?"
Silence...
"Come on. Talk to me!" Lily whispered loudly.
Torrance finally looked up from where she was staring at the table and made eye contact with Lily. She noticed there was an uneasy fear in her best friends eyes that didn't belong there.
"Lily...I had another one..." Torrance said
Through a sharp intake of breathe Lily asked,"Bad?"
Torrance nodded.
Oh Merlin! This can't be happening again! Not to Torrance...not to her.
"What about?" Lily was almost scared to know.
"You."
"Me?"
Torrance nodded.
"When?"
"This morning." Torrance answered.
"Do you want to tell me?" Lily asked
Torrance shook her head vigorously.
"Then why did you bring me here?" Lily questioned
Silence...
"That's what I thought. Come on, let's get on with it."
Torrance looked as if she was going to be sick, but she met her friend's demands. She started to fumble with her locket around her neck nervously.
"I had a flash. It wasn't clear but all I know is this." Torrance paused, her eyes questioned if she really had to do this.
"Go on." Lily insisted.
"I'm outside, what looks to be the Hogwarts grounds and it's at night time. I'm on the edge of the lake, in your body, when suddenly I was blinded by all sorts of lights, possibly curses. I scream in pain. Then the next thing I know, I'm on the ground in agony...I look down and I see my arm covered in blood and a huge slash through my stomach. Then I wake up."
Silence...
Lily was shocked. Why wasn't she used to this? Torrance has had plenty of these vision things. This one wasn't any different. Well, except for the fact that this one was about Lily this time.
"Talk to me Lils. What's going on in your head?" Torrance inquired.
"I think that we should just...forget about it. It probably doesn't mean what you think it means anyway. Let's just celebrate my birthday today and worry about my death tomorrow."
Torrance flinched as the word 'death'.
Lily forced a chuckle,"I'm not going to die. I was probably having menstual cramps that day or something." Lily said doubtfully.
Silence...
"Okay, well, you want to head to the game? It's probably started by now." Torrance asked. She still looked at Lily as if she might explode with emotion.
"Nah. Gryffindor is going to win anyway. I need to study for Transfiguration, want to help me?"
"Yeah sure, why not? We don't want to see a repeat of third year, now do we?" Torrance smiled weakly as she said this.
"Hey! Potter wouldn't give me back my homework so I could finish studying! What was I suppose to do? Giggle and turn red?"
"You could have asked..." Torrance replied.
"Do you think that would have worked?" Lily smirked.
"Good point. But you didn't have to go and try to choke the life out of him. One second I'm writing down how to change a rat into a goblet the next second I'm trying to haul you off of James. Oh...I miss the old days. Good times." Torrance sighed. Lily laughed.
"Hey at least I can control my temper. What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Do I have to remind you of the summer of fifth year or do I have to refresh your memory?" Lily and Torrance had now walked back to their common room and took a seat next to the fireplace.
"I did not lose my temper." Torrance said stubbornly.
"Did too."
"Did not."
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Okay, what do you call slamming your fist into my sister's jaw? Talk about anger management issues."
"She deserved it." Torrance said darkly.
"No she di--." Lily thought about it. "Okay, maybe she did."
The two best friends laughed. The vision completely forgotten.
***Torrance's POV***
Lily was Torrance's best friend. Her sister. Her right half. She had great respect for Lily and Torrance swore that she would do anything for her. Torrance trusted Lily with everything...including her secret.
Yes, her secret. Now, that's a long story. She had had the "inner eye" since the first time she showed traces of magic. It was hereditary. Her mother had it, her grandmother, her great-grandmother and so on.
Why is being a Seer such a secret you ask? That's what Torrance asked her mother when she was twelve and her exact answer was, "People would want to take advantage of you. They'll befriend you only because they think they can find out what the future holds for them. We can't trust anyone."
And that's what Torrance did. Trust no one...until she met Lily. Since then, if you saw one of them the other wouldn't be far behind. Now that Torrance thought about it...she was very grateful for Lily. Other people might not have even touched her, scared that Torrance might see into their ugly past if she made skin contact. But not Lily.
That's why she was heart broken when she had a "vision" about Lily. Especially such a dangerous one. How would you like it if you had to tell your best friend that they were going to die? You wouldn't like it would you? Yeah, I didn't think so.
"Come on Lils," Torrance whined "We've been studying your Transfiguration paper for an hour. Let's go up to the quidditch pitch and see what the score is."
Lily glanced at her watch. "Oh, alright. Stop being such a baby."
"I resent that!"
"Why am I not surprised? You resent a lot of things."
"Do not. Name five."
"Fine. First, there's formal dress wear, cats, Malfoy--" Lily named them off, counting each one on her hand.
"Hey! Being in a room alone with Malfoy and his pet cat is equivalent to covering yourself with Spam and running nilly-willy throughout the Forbidden Forest." Torrance interrupted
Lily kept naming them off as if she didn't hear Torrance's comment. "--potions, and typical romance movies because the prince charming never exists in real life."
"Okay, you know me to well." Torrance said as she and Lily headed out of the common room, towards the game.
***Remus' POV***
Gryffindor had won. It was not easy, mind you. It took a good part of four hours to catch that damned, fast snitch and when James finally did he was even too tired to have a full out celebration.
And now it was nearing bed time. The Gryffindor commons were deathly quiet because the spectators had screamed themselves hoarse and everyone was exhausted. But not Remus. No, he had one more thing to do...give Lily her last birthday present.
He had watched with smug happiness when, after the game, James gave Lily her birthday present. To be honest, Remus thought that Lily would faint. James, being the rich boy he is, had bought Lily the most expensive ring Remus had ever laid eyes on and it had the red jewel in the middle and everything. After about a hundred 'thank-you's' from Lily, she had finally turned in for the night.
Now was the time to put his plan in action. After taking a hot shower and slipping some clean pajamas on, he slid underneath his covers and waited for the snores from his fellow friends to come. When he was positively sure the rest of the dorm was asleep he crawled out of bed soundlessly and snatched his broom from out of the closet.
Heading towards the window, he pushed it open and shivered as the night air hit his skin. Everything was going according to plan. He had already set up everything he needed so all was left was to retrieve the birthday girl. He kicked off out of the window and headed towards the girl's dorm window.
Remus looked up at the sky. So close. It was so close to the full moon that he could practically feel the beast within. He always felt that way. Felt as if his body was losing strength by the hour. He could feel his senses sharpen as the werewolve craved to be out. Remus didn't like it.
He slowly stopped in front of the girl's window and tapped lightly on it. He remembered exactly where Lily's bed was positioned from his previous visit so the window he tapped on should be right above her bed. He was wrong. Instead of seeing Lily's pale skin and red hair he saw a girl with carmel skin and long dark hair...Torrance.
She opened the window quietly with an expression on her face that clearly said 'what the hell are you doing here'. He was right this time.
"What the hell are you doing here?" a confused Torrance asked.
Oh no. Not again. Speak Moony, you dolt! Anything would be good right now.
"Remus?"
'Say something! Anything!' Remus' mind screamed.
"Uh...erm...girl." Remus stammered. 'Not that.'
"Huh? Remus, it's the middle of the night, you're in your pajamas and about 100 feet in the air...what are you doing here?"
"Lily...birthday...get her?" Remus choked on his words horribly.
Torrance smiled apparantly thinking this was a funny situation. Well, Remus didn't.
"Yeah hold on." Torrance disappeared through her window and Remus waited as he hovered in mid air. Next, out popped Lily's head.
"What is this? Are you hired room service?" Lily asked groggily.
"Hardly. I have come to take you away to the tallest tower where I shall give you your next gift." Remus said as he pointed to the North Tower.
"This had better be good Lupin because if you haven't noticed, it's in the middle of the night!"
Remus chose to ignore the comment and hoisted Lily on the back of his broom and headed up to the North Tower where he landed gracefully on the balcony.
Little did Remus know that his dream was finally coming true...Torrance watched with slight envy...as Remus and Lily became a dot in the sky.
***LIlY'S POV***
When Lily dismounted Remus' broom the first thing she did was glance around the room. What was she expecting? Well, if someone woke you up in the middle of the night to give you a present you would expect it to be real big, right? To her dissappointment, Lily didn't see anything. Not one thing except a comfortable looking couch in the middle of the balcony.
"Okay Remus. What's going on? Where's my present?" Lily asked eagerly.
"Who said anything about a present?" Remus asked sweetly.
"What? You mean to tell me you brought me up here for nothing?" Lily hissed.
"Of course not. Don't worry your pretty head. Have a seat and I'll be right back." Remus' gestured towards the couch and Lily took seat. Remus disappeared behind what looked like a small curtain in the corner of the balcony.
*I Don't Want to Miss A Thing by Aerosmith starts to play*
Lily jumped. She couldn't figure out where the music was coming from. She searched the balcony with her eyes but couldn't find anything. Then...Remus appeared.
*I could stay awake just to hear you breathing
Watch you smile while you are sleeping
While you're far away in dreaming
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender*
Lily was floored. She couldn't help but stare at Remus with her mouth hanging open with awe. His voice wasn't loud and shrill but it was deep, rich, and soothing. Remus Lupin, werewolf and quiet Marauder, was the best singer Lily had ever heard. Who would have guessed? Because it beats the hell out of her.
*I could stay lost in this moment...forever
Every moment spent with you is the moment I treasure.
I don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep because I'd miss you baby
And I don't want to miss a thing
Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream won't ever do
Because I'd miss you baby and I don't want to miss a thing.*
Remus' voice filled the balcony and Lily could get lost in it forever. Then she remembered something. He had said that he would never sing...to anyone. So that would mean...that would mean she was the first to ever witness this.
*Lying close to you, feeling your heart beating
And I'm wondering what your dreaming
Wondering if it's me you're seeing
Then I kiss your eyes and thank God we're together.
I just want to stay with you in this moment forever
Forever and ever.*
Just then several bright lights simultaneously flickered in every which direction creating the effect that she was in a muggle concert. Remus sat down right by Lily and looked at her as he sang his final note.
*I don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep because I'd miss you baby
And I don't want to miss a thing.
Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream won't ever do
I'd still miss you baby and I don't want to miss a thing.*
If Lily had anymore tears left inside of her, she would have probably cried as the music died down and Remus stopped singing. He was quite red. Probably from being nervous.
"So? How did I do? Be brutal if you must." Remus asked.
"Honestly? I thought that was the best birthday gift I could have ever asked for." Lily said affectionately.
"Good, because I'm never going to do that again."
Meanwhile...
Torrance was thrashing in her sleep having the same vision she had the night before.
Cold night air. Dark, all was dark. Then suddenly flashes of light engulf her then a slicing pain through her lower stomach. Pain. Dizziness as she looked down and saw the blood pouring out of her. Pain.
Torrance shot up from her bed, eyes wide with fear. Her night shirt stuck to her body from the cold sweat that ran down her back. Water. She needed a glass of water. She inched her way to the end of her bed and stood up slowly as she raised her arms above her head to stretch.
Pain. A familiar pain. Torrance looked down and there it was, just like in her dream. A deep cut ran through her stomach to both of her sides...and she was losing blood quickly.
Next chapter: Lily and Remus have an unofficial kissing lesson and Torrance beats the hell out of Malfoy.