Chapter 18 ~ Merry Fucking Christmas

            "A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic."

          ~ Joseph Stalin

"When I have been asked during these last weeks who caused the riots and the killing in L.A., my answer has been direct and simple: Who is to blame for the riots? The rioters are to blame. Who is to blame for the killings? The killers are to blame."

          ~ Dan Quayle

James went to his room and dug into the bottom of his trunk.  Inside he found exactly what he was looking for.  A small box with intricate cursive writing that read Blarney on the top.  He lifted the lid and looked admiringly at the pieces of jewelry inside.

"I'm sure she'll love it! I just hope she accepts it…" he said to himself.  He began to wrap it in paper as quickly as he could.  He couldn't help but being anxious.  He knew that all Christmas vacation he was going to be waiting for a response.  After that was done, he grabbed a piece of parchment and began to write.

          Dear Lily Flower,

Hey, it's me, James… this is for you.  I hope you like it.  I picked it out especially for you.  The real reason I'm writing this letter to you is to apologize.  I should have never said what I did that day.  I just hope that you will forgive me.

He paused for a minute and thought it best not to tell her he loved her just yet.

Take it slow, you don't want to rush her, he thought.

I hope that we can be friends again… There's more to this, but I'd like to talk to you in person.  Happy Christmas and I'll see you soon.

James

That should do it!  He rolled up the parchment and tied a red ribbon around it.  He pasted it to the gift and tied that to his owl's leg.

"Now you take this to Lily Evans, you hear?  She should be at Hogwarts, but I'm not sure… take it to her… just find her," he let the owl fly out the window and stared after it for a while, thinking.

Now there's nothing to do! He thought dramatically

"Bored?" he heard come from the doorway.

"You've got no idea," he sighed.

"I probably do, it is the title of my life story."

Lily, AKA Lana, sat down next to James.  She didn't know why she was doing this.  She was supposed to be mad at him.  But she isn't Lily here; she's Lana… a totally different person than Lily.

"Penny for you thoughts?" she said, the American in her showing.

"Just thinking about someone… You thought about telling him yet?  I know I'd want to be informed of something like that!" he said in a joking manner.

Ha! You don't know how hard it is to tell you!

"Yea… but you've gotta see it through my point of view.  I've gotta think about the future of two people now," Lily explained.

"Well don't ya think the kid would like to know its dad?" he said logically.

"I want it to know its dad… I just don't think he's ready for such a big thing, the dad I mean.  He… let's just say he's not as mature as he needs to be.  And I think I will tell him… it'll just take me a while."

"I see… well good luck," he said.

"Yea, I'll need it," she said quietly.


♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

"Mr. Potter, I really appreciate all you've done for me, but I'd like to spend Christmas by myself.  I don't want to intrude on your family traditions," Lily said standing in the study of the Potter's quaint cottage.

"You're not intruding dear," he said calmly.

"I'd feel more comfortable by myself.  This is my first Christmas not spent at home.  I'd like to have sometime to myself," she explained softly.

"I understand.  Chelsey will be upset though.  She's taken a liking to you," he said while smiling.

"She's taken a liking to Lana, not Lily."

"You're still the same person, just a new face.  But no worries.  We'll go tell her now," he said while standing up.

Lily followed him out to the kitchen where Chelsey was sitting sipping her tea.

"Chels, Lana had decided to go to her own cottage for Christmas Eve and Christmas," he explained.

"What?  Why?" she asked shocked.

"I'd like to be by myself.  This is my first Christmas without my parents," Lily said, trying to stay calm but wavering a bit.

"You poor dear!  Of corse I understand!  But you're coming over here for dinner," she commanded.

"That's alrigh-"

"It's settled already!  You're coming over for dinner!"

"Leave it," whispered Mr. Potter, "you can't change her mind." Lily finally nodded in agreement.

"I'll just get my stuff."

She walked back into her room and went to grab her stuff but found it already gone.

"I took the liberty of charming your things your cabin," Mr. Potter said behind her.

"Thank you."


▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪

Lily took out her wand and charmed the living room to look more festive.  An evergreen tree appeared in the corner, decorated in wonderful muggle lights and balls; it glowed with Christmas cheer.  A red stocking appeared tacked on the mantel covering the stoked fireplace.  The piano now played carols without a pianist.  A tear came to Lily's eye at the sight.

Every year, she, her parents, and a grudging Petunia would decorate the whole house.  Starting with the stocking and finishing with the tree.  She sighed and waved her wand yet again, the decorations that were on the tree appeared in three different boxes.  She bent over the first box, which was full of lights, and began twirling them around the whole tree.  She continued until all the lights in the box were gone.  She then turned to the other boxes which contained all the Christmas balls.  She sang along to the music floating out of the piano as she decorated the entire tree.

Time flew by quickly and by the time she ws done, the sun was already rising over the back of the cottage.  After she placed the angel on top of the tree, she stood back to admire her handwork.  Surprisingly enough, the tree looked even better than before.

"Beautiful, simply beautiful," she sighed.  The song What Child Is This? began playing and a tear streaked down Lily's face.  This year she did it by herself, alone…

She jumped in surprise when the clock on the mantel struck eight.  She looked out the window in astonishment, not believing that much time had passed.  She wasn't the slightest bit tired though, so she went out to the kitchen to fix herself some breakfast.  In the middle of making pancakes, an owl flew in and dropped The Daily Prophet on the counter beside her.  Idly humming Jingle Bells, she put a Knut in the bird's bag and it flew away.  She then picked up the paper with her free hand and unfolded it so she could read the cover.

The minute her eyes lay on the first page, the humming stopped abruptly and the spatula fell.  Lily's mouth fell open as well.  There on the front page was a picture of the cabin next door.  It was decimated, nothing left but the broken logs that had once been a beautiful cottage.  Overhead was the opaque green skull that ws still imprinted in her mind.  She began to read frantically.


Top Aurors Assassinated

Mr. Michael Potter and his wife, Chelsey Potter, was both murdered last night by He-who-must-not-be-named.  The top aurors for the Ministry of Magic, these people were the most elite in there profession.  They were vacationing at the shore for Christmas with their son, James Potter, who is the only survivor, now in his 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  He was taken there late last night with only a few mere bruises.

We here at "The Daily Prophet" aren't quite sure the reason these two wonderful citizens were killed.  Some believe it's because they were aurors and close to solving a way to defeat He-who-must-not-be-named.  Others believe it's because they wouldn't join his side.  And yet most of the population suspects something else was the motive of this sick mind.  Like said earlier, we aren't sure.  But if our top fighters against this dark force weren't safe from his powers, then how can we be?  Is there now any hope for the end of this war and the defeat of this great evil?  All we can do is pray.

Lily's hands were shaking furiously as she reached the end, making it hard to read.  Her cheeks were sore with streaking tears.  Not believing what she had just read, she ran out and looked towards where the cabin should have been.  Instead, there was nothing, NOTHING!  She broke down into tears.  The people who had taken her in and treated her as if she were family were gone.  She felt like she had known them her whole life.  She and Mollie were not the only orphans now.

By now she had collapsed in the sand and was fully crying.  She felt something drop in her lap.  She looked up and saw a pitch black owl flying away over the cottage.  She looked down to her lap and saw a black envelope with her name written on it in red letters.  Her hands, now trembling even more, reached for the letter and lifted it.  She turned it around to open it and saw a wax seal on it.  The emblem was that of the dark mark.

She dropped it in fear, as if it would explode and kill her.  She slowly reached out for it and began to open it with great caution.  She pulled out the black paper and carefully unfolded it.  Reading the blood red letters, she lapsed into tears yet again.

          Mudblood,

You probably already know what this is about.  If you don't then you're dumber than I thought.  You've still been a bloody prat and decide no to join my ranks.  I told you that you would pay.  I told you that your parents were just the beginning.  But you did not heed my warning.  So you went gallivanting around with that Potter kid.  I thought you knew better than to get close to anyone.  But nonetheless, it helped me out in my torture of you.

                             JOIN ME OR SUFFER!!

There was no signature, but there needn't be one.  Lily knew exactly who it was from.  In rage, she crumpled the letter and threw it out into the ocean.

"FUCK YOU, YOU GOD DAMN BASTARD!  I'll NEVER fucking join your god damn army!  I'll DIE first!" she screamed to no one particular.  She then stormed into the house, picked up the muggle pen that Dumbledore had given her and yelled, "Take me the hell home! Take me home!"  She felt a tug behind her navel and was soon spinning around.

She landed in a crumpled heap on the floor of Dumbledore's office, broken down in tears yet again!  She kept mumbling to herself under her breathe.

"All my fault.  Everything!!  DEAD!  Because of ME!  Don't deserve to live! Stupid Mother Fucker!"

She kept repeating this to herself amid her cries.  Soon, she felt arms wrap around her sholders and she leaned into the warm chest of her Headmaster.

"Shush my child.  Don't say such things!" he crooned to her as he continued rocking her back and forth, his hands rubbing her up and down her back; just like a mother would do to calm her screaming baby.

Once the gentle rocking had lulled her to calmness.  She looked up into the sad face of her old friend.

"I'm sorry sir," she said quietly.

"For what my dear?" the bearded man said in the kindest voice anyone had ever heard him use.  "You've done nothing wrong."

"They're DEAD!  Because of ME!  They treat me like their own daughter and how do I repay them?  By getting them killed!  And James!  I've ruined yet another person's life!" she yelled out in agony of the heart.

"My dear, please stop this nonsense.  You've been through quite a lot and I believe a night in the hospital wing would do you good," he said in a parental tone.

"But it's still morning!" Lily complained.  She may have wanted time alone, but not spent in the hospital wing.  Madame Pomphrey looked down upon her as if she were something vulgar.  Besides, at least in her room she had something to do.

"I know that Lily.  I said night and I meant night.  Today is Christmas… It's supposed to be a happy day.  Please try to enjoy yourself.  And after dinner, it's up to see Poppy."  Lily only nodded in agreement.  "No speaking of where you've been and what happened.  Act as though you were just a regular person who had read it in the paper.  Merry Christmas Lily!" he said as she walked out.

"Yea… Merry Fucking Christmas!" she said sarcastically.


6969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969

Thank you all sooooo much! I'm glad you all like my story. Alas tho, I am nearing the end. I'm estimating about three chapters left. I apologize for killing off such new characters. One person who reviewed said that they really liked James' parents, but it had to be done. Anyway, I don't feel like going through all of my thankyou's today, so I'm going to stop here. This chapter is a little shorter than some others, but I couldn't add much more without making it almost two chapters. But fear not, for I am in the progress on #19!

Franie!