Catch Me If You Can
Chapter Thirty Four ll Home Sweet Home
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"Come on Lily... the feast's about to start," Paige called to the latter, who was bent over, rummaging through her trunk.
"I'll -- I'll be down soon, go on ahead," Lily said, trying to keep her voice calm.
She could almost feel Anna and Paige's cautious glances at each other.
"Alright Lily," Anna said softly, pressing her hand gently on Lily's shoulder, "Just don't take too long, okay?"
"Yeah... right," Lily said, as the door to her dormitory closed shut. She remained bent over her trunk for a few more seconds, before straightening up and sitting on her bed.
She let out a deep sigh.
She and the others had returned back to Hogwarts, after a teary goodbye with Cloudeia and the others. Dumbledore had been at Beauxbatons when they had returned from the castle, and he took them right back to Hogwarts after he had spoken with Madame Lafille. He seemed to know what had happened to Di.
The others seemed to be a little shaken up over her death, but they moved on quickly. They were just contented that they had made it back.
However, it was a different story for Lily. She had been completely shunted off the cliff when she saw Di sacrifice herself... the scene kept replaying through her mind. Di... plunging the dagger into her stomach... falling off the bridge.
Lily's eyes brimmed with tears. She couldn't help but feel like a murderer.
She took several more deep breaths before moving over to her trunk. She finished rearranging her books neatly, and moved towards her suitcase.
It took her almost ten minutes to fold up her robes and other clothes. She had just zipped up her suitcase, before the scene played in her mind and she broke down in tears.
Sobbing bitterly, she collapsed onto the floor and wiped them away. She had never known anyone that was close to her die. And it was all too much for her to handle.
There was a knock on the door, and Lily guessed it was either Paige or Anna that had came back up to ask her why she wasn't at the banquet.
She calmed herself down, and kept silent. Perhaps they would just go away.
The door opened slightly, and James' head poked in. Lily looked away when her eyes met his hazel eye gaze.
"Lily, the banquet's about to start," he said gently, walking in, "Are you coming down soon?"
Repetition... Lily thought in her mind angrily, God, I hate when people seem to ask the same question over and over.
"I'm not hungry," she said shortly.
"Listen, I know how you feel," James insisted, "And Dumbledore's going to give a little speech about Di. She'd never forgive you if you didn't come down and listen to it."
Hearing him mention her name moved something in Lily.
"You never really liked her," she said a bit frostily.
James looked around uncomfortably, "Well, she was a bit dodgy."
"You knew."
"No, I didn't. Honestly. I always thought there was something strange about her, but that was it," James said truthfully.
Lily blinked away a tear. James moved over to her and hugged her.
"I can't stand to see you like this," he murmured quietly, obviously thinking she couldn't hear him. But she did, and his words helped her.
"Listen, Di didn't like to see you upset. She liked it when you smiled and laughed. I like it when you smile and laugh," James said softly, "So come on, let's go to the feast and try to enjoy ourselves, okay?"
Lily looked at him, and a small smile broke across her face, "Okay then."
With a smile on his face, James took her hand and led her down to the Great Hall.
Lily knew she would always cherish that moment.
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"Diana Vessie was student that would make the school proud. Her wit and intelligence will always be remembered. Her loyalties to her friends, however, show outstanding courage and stability. Blessed be our sister, friend, and fellow student."
Every student and teacher were on their feet, hanging their heads in rememberance. A few girls had tears running down their face.
For once, the Great Hall was completely silent. After a minute of silence, Dumbledore's quiet and low voice said, "Please be seated."
There was a low rumbling as the students and teachers resumed their places in their seats. The five long tables were then filled with food, and a quiet murmur of chatter began as they ate their end-of-year banquet.
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Lily dragged her suitcase off of the train, and onto her trolley. She pushed it a little way and tried to look for her family. It was like finding a needle in a haystack. Platform Nine and Three-Quarters were full of roaming witches and wizards, all looking for their own family.
"Found your mother yet?" James asked, pushing his trolley beside her's.
She shook her head.
Just as she was about to walk over to Anna's parents, she heard a cry.
"Lily! Over here!"
The redhead turned her head, and saw her parents and Petunia. Something emotional rose in her, as she discarded her trolley and flew over to her family.
They hugged for several minutes, with Petunia chattering away nineteen to a dozen about all the gossip Lily had missed out on since Christmas.
James made his way over, and was greeted with warm hello's and a hug from Rose. He had managed to push Lily's trolley over, as well as his own.
"Thanks," she said gratefully, with a smile.
"It's no problem."
"Hey James, did you look after my little sister?" Petunia asked with a teasing smile.
"Of course I did!"
Lily nudged both of them, rolling her eyes.
Anna and Paige, and the other three Marauders came over, and the friends had their share of goodbyes and hugs and promises to owl and visit during the summer. They had all found their parents and siblings, and were contented that it was finally time for a good, long break.
Lily watched as her friends disappeared through the barrier, back into the Muggle world.
"Time to go, Lily?" Rose whispered, holding her daughter close, "We're going to travel back with the Potters."
With a nod and a small smile, Lily wheeled her trolley through the barrier. It was time to return home.
When she reached her house, Lily stared at it for some time, hardly able to believe she was going back. Petunia helped her out of the car, and led her up onto the porch. Will and Rose got her suitcase and trunk from the boot of the car.
Lily stared at her front door, and smiled lightly. She knew wherever Di was, she was enjoying herself.
She slid out of Petunia's grasp and crossed over to James. They said goodbye sheepishly, but their hug was a little more intimate.
Then she finally went inside of her house, and the whole atmosphere seemed to change.
She was home.
Home Sweet Home.
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---->A/N: That chapter was pathetic. I am terrible at ending stories, mark my words on that. As many of you might already know, I am not writing any more stories after this. I will just be finishing off my Wedding Invitations story, and that'd be the end of my 'career' on FF.net. Sad, right? But writing takes up alot of my time, so I'll be giving it up for a long time. There'll be an epilogue after this, so stick around! Thank you for reading, it means alot! --MSQ.