AN: Hope the paragraphs are okay! Thanks to all those who reviewed so far; your kind words keep me going! :)
This one¡¦s for Indiangurl: Oh, don¡¦t worry. I have something in mind for James next chapter¡K
Disclaimer: Common knowledge.
Chapter 18: To Separate
Sirius glanced at the window again. He sighed. Lily hadn¡¦t written in a week. He supposed she was busy helping plan her sister¡¦s wedding. But it didn¡¦t change the fact that he missed her. Come on, Padfoot, Sirius told himself. You have better things to do than hang around feeling sorry for yourself. He tried to think of someone he could hang out with, then he sighed.
¡§Remus: in love. Peter: busy, James: missing. Have I no life?¡¨
He jumped up when he heard the fluttering of wings. Finally, an owl! He practically ripped off its leg in his hurry to get at the letter. He finally unfurled the parchment. It was from Lily.
Sirius,
Back in town.
Meet me at The Three Broomsticks.
I have something to tell you
Lily
Sirius smiled. So that was why Lily hadn¡¦t written! She had wanted to surprise him. With a crack, Sirius Apparated to Hogsmeade in an instant. Pushing open the door to The Three Broomsticks, he caught sight of a lone red-headed figure staring into her butterbeer. He headed over and planted a kiss on her cheek.
She barely reacted. ¡§Hello, Sirius.¡¨
He sat beside her, concerned. ¡§Lily, is something wrong?¡¨
She forced a smile. ¡§Let¡¦s wait for Remus and Peter.¡¨
This stopped Sirius. ¡§Is it--?¡¨
¡§Lily!¡¨ Remus called out jovially as he swept in, his girlfriend in tow. ¡§Four butterbeers,¡¨ he called to Madam Rosmerta.
Peter followed meekly behind. ¡§Lily,¡¨ he squeaked.
Lily raised her eyebrows at Remus and Phoebe. ¡§I guess I don¡¦t have to ask how you two are.¡¨ She shifted her gaze to Peter. ¡§Haven¡¦t seen you in a while.¡¨
Peter fidgeted nervously. ¡§B-been busy.¡¨
They all sat. ¡§I have something to tell you guys,¡¨ Lily began.
¡§Yeah, we kinda got the gist of that in the letter,¡¨ Remus quipped.
¡§I saw James.¡¨
That got their attention. ¡§James¡Kour James?¡¨ Sirius ventured.
Lily¡¦s face crumpled in tears. ¡§I met him on the street, and I found out he doesn¡¦t remember anything. He¡¦s got amnesia.¡¨
Remus looked confused but Phoebe instantly stepped in to explain. ¡§It¡¦s a condition. It usually happens when someone is hit on the head. Basically, the person¡¦s memories are blocked.¡¨
Lily sniffled as Sirius patted her back. ¡§He¡¦s so different now,¡¨ she continued. ¡§He¡¦s so polite and kind and actually humble.¡¨
Phoebe cleared her throat. ¡§Actually¡K¡¨
¡§We saw James as well,¡¨ Remus confessed. ¡§In Muggle London a couple of weeks ago.¡¨
Sirius turned to him, eyebrows raised. ¡§How was it possible that I did not know about this?¡¨
¡§We were going to tell you¡Xremember when we wrote you to meet us here? But Lily left for home that same night. We didn¡¦t want her hearing about it last, so we postponed the announcement.¡¨
¡§Oh.¡¨
Lily let out another sniffle that instantly reminded them about her.
¡§We¡¦ll find him,¡¨ Remus declared. ¡§We¡¦ve seen him twice; we¡¦ll see him again.¡¨
Sirius was walking Lily home. A few sips of butterbeer and a gazillion comforting words had finally calmed Lily down. They¡¦d hung out like they¡¦d always had again, but Sirius knew things weren¡¦t normal anymore. When they got to the sidewalk outside Lily¡¦s place, Sirius stopped and looked her in the eye. ¡§What are we going to do?¡¨
Her eyes filled with tears. ¡§I don¡¦t know, Sirius. I don¡¦t know anymore.¡¨
Next chappie: The Return of Jamesie the Superwizard and A Run-In With the Death Eaters¡K