Author's Note: Hi... *waves feebly* Sorry for it being so long since my last
update. I'm a horrible author I know and I feel terrible. I was sick so
much in the last few months that I was having a terrible time catching up
with homework, not to mention I'm a procrastinator of horrendous
proportions, so I was extremely stressed out. Now, on Tuesday (the 17th) I
start at a new school, with supposedly less homework and hopefully more
time to update. So I will give my thank yous and let you get to the story:
Dee Ann- Multiple personalities I see. I'm sorry for angering the bad side.
Captain Oblivious- I think that people think that the Snape/Lily letters are going to make it take longer for James and Lily to get together, so they dislike them, or they just don't like Snape. You think Catherine is a Death Eater? Hmm... I can't tell ya sweetie, but keep reading and you'll find out which way she does swing.
Don Raphiel- I'm glad you love the plan. They do not need a partner for the costume ball, though they can bring a date or whatever if they wish. It's basically for anyone.
Anarane- Thanks.
R.T. - I'm glad you love it and I'm sorry I've kept you waiting on the chapter. Thank you for reviewing... and do it more often... O_o... or at least as often as I update. ^_^ Ah, I understand the obsession with darling Remy then.
Victoria- Sorry to disappoint, but Peter will be a fixture in the story for quite a while, which I despise with a passion, but alas, I have to write it. I'm glad you like the story though!
Lady Arwen Gryffindor- The second person to think Catherine is a Death Eater. Hmm... alas I cannot say if you are right or if you are wrong. It would ruin the plot so terribly, but trust your instincts and you may be right.
LJstagflower4e/JCtigerwolf4e- The lady of two names... Well, the plan was developed during a four am writing session with my muse, so it is flawed and such, which is the point, though I admit your version of things would make much more sense. I never said Catherine was a genius, nor Lily... but you shall eventually see how things go, and so will I as I haven't written it yet. *sigh*
Black-cat-on-the-wall- Thanks, and I'm terribly sorry how long this took. I hope that my reviewers don't hate me too badly.
Kristatwen- Odd moods are just fine considering that pretty much all I have written has been done in an odd mood. Sorry to keep you waiting!
Optical Illusions- Are you alive? ^_^ I've been trying to get this out for a little bit, sorry for such a horrible wait.
Acacia Jules- "Arabella deserves it if Sirius moved on to Catherine" Well, I have other plans for dear Catherine, but I completely agree with you about Bella and Sirius. It's horrible, and I feel horrible for writing Sirius into all these horrible situations. Poor Sirius.
Coffechick- Wow... This I think is the longest review I have ever gotten. ^_^ I'm glad that my story was memorable enough for you to search for it. That makes me just go squee! Snape's letters to Lily are of his own volition. I'm sorry that the Marauders are a bit mature. Remus, I've always believed to be the most mature one, so he's pretty much how I pictured him at Hogwarts. Sirius, well, I feel that he's forcing himself to grow up because of Bella and all. James, well, in my story he didn't have the whole "I'm obsessed with Lily to the point of annoyance" thing and so he's a little more mature, not to mention his job. Arabella's character is slipping because I despise writing it now that I know the truth... and Cath, well, she's Cath. I'm trying to get more Voldy activity in, and I keep forgetting or stretching the story out more. I'm such a putz, but I'm glad that you like my story.
Banny- Sorry for the wait and I'm glad my story is different then the other's that's what I like to hear about my writing. It shows I'm being original and that my 'voice' is coming out. If only I could do that with something I could publish for money. Anything Lily/Snape will be purely as friends, I promise.
Sissy-6- I wonder myself sometimes. Sorry for the delay.
Angelzsweet90- Thanks. Sorry it took so long.
Jen-Jen3- Thank you! One of your favorites you say? ^_^ I'm glad you think its original... and I have kept writing, just not online. *sighs* I write everything in notebooks before I type it up, allows me to carry it wherever I go.
Don Raphiel- Again. I'm still very honored about your proposition. Go ahead with putting it up.
Akirel35- Don't worry about not reviewing for so long its just good to know you're still around. There may or may not be something between them. You'll have to wait and see. I'm glad she's one of your favorite characters, its good to know an OC can do that.
dL1255- I see. Thank you for reviewing.
Now, on to the story as I know you have all been waiting far too long for this update.
Chapter Forty-Seven: Unmerciful Potions
When Catherine left Remus spoke up. "Would you like to work on defense until Catherine returns?" he asked quietly.
"Sure," Lily said and Remus smiled before digging out a list of things from his pocket.
And so they worked out of the books, Remus speaking to Lily about boggarts to start with. "Then hide in dark enclosed spaces and the only way to get rid of them is with laughter," Remus explained. "If I knew where a boggart could be found in James' house I would go look for one but I'm not sure if there is one," he said. "But anyways, the spell is 'Riddickulus' whatever shape the boggart transforms into is your worst fear and when you say the spell you have to concentrate on something that would make this fear humorous," Remus skewed up his face. "Is this making any sense? It's so much easier to just do it to a boggart," he sighed and leaned back in the chair. "How about you read the section on boggarts in the book and Sirius and I will go see if we can dig one out," Remus said as he turned to Sirius for confirmation but Sirius had disappeared when Remus has first mentioned boggarts to look for one.
So Lily got to reading while Remus and Sirius searched high and low to see if a boggart had decided to set up shop in James' house. They managed to find one in an old jewelry box in the basement.
"Found one," Remus said happily as he carried in the old jewelry box. "Did you finish the section?" he asked as he set down the box which proceeded to make the box shake and shudder every couple seconds. The feeling that the boggart brought with it made Lily feel sick to her stomach.
"Do we have to do this today?" Lily asked as her stomach clenched involuntarily and she felt like she was going to either vomit or faint.
Remus looked as her curiously for a moment and then gave Sirius the box. "Go put this in my room would you," he said and Sirius nodded quickly taking the boggart infested box out of the library. "Lily, what is it? What are you afraid of?" he asked quietly as he crouched in front of her chair.
"I'm not sure. I don't know what I'm afraid of," Lily said and ran her hand through her hair nervously.
"Can you remember ever being frightened of anything?" Remus asked as he gently put his hand on hers in comfort.
"My parents leaving, being alone, things like that," Lily said quietly, "but this feeling is different because they're already gone and I've been alone since they died. I can't explain what I'm afraid of because I don't know," she said slowly as if she was trying to work through what she was feeling.
Remus looked thoughtful. "Lily, my only suggestion is that the sooner you see what it is you're afraid of you'll be able to get through it," he said with a warm smile. "And I'll be right here to make the boggart go away because it is only a boggart," he said and rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand gently to reassure her.
Lily sighed. She knew if she let herself worry about what she would see when the box opened that she would forever be afraid of meeting a boggart. "Bring it back. I'll do it now," Lily said as she straightened her backbone and took a few calming breaths.
"Really?" Remus questioned uncertainly. "I don't want to pressure you," he said and bit his lip a little.
"You're not. I can't be afraid of this, I would never be able to do this alone if I don't know now what I'm scared of," Lily said strongly and Remus nodded before heading upstairs to get the boggart again.
Catherine knocked loudly for what seemed like the millionth time on the dark brown door of the brown brick house. The door opened angrily and Severus Snape stood there in graying robes with a scowl on his face. His eyes squinted to avoid the sunlight. "What do you what?" he snapped as he looked at Catherine through the slits of his eyes and was tempted to slam the door shut.
"To talk," Catherine said slowly and quietly.
Snape looked at Catherine with curiosity now before saying, "In," and opening the door a little wider. "What do you want?" he asked again after Catherine stepped in and he closed the door.
"I helped you out at Hogwarts and now I've come to claim the debt you owe me," Catherine said and eyed Snape coldly as she hoped he would help.
Snape snarled. "I owe you no debt. We got detentions for that stupid stunt you pulled," he said angrily as his eyes glinted in the dim light.
"I helped to keep you from more embarrassment Severus. You owe me," Catherine said defiantly.
Snape glowered his eyes still glinting angrily above his hooked nose. "What do you want?" he asked again as his meager supply of patience was beginning to wear thin.
"Two things, one of them won't take five minutes, the other is going to take longer," Catherine replied and crossed her arms over her chest.
"What are they Catherine? I'm growing more impatient by the minute," Snape said and he too crossed his arms making him resemble a giant bat.
"A list of books to teach Lily Potions from," Catherine said and noted that Snape's body language altered slightly. "And for you to make the Polyjuice Potion," she said seriously.
Snape's eyebrows rose imperiously. "Polyjuice Potion? That's an intriguing request, why do you need it?" Snape asked and watched Catherine closely.
"It's none of your concern why I need it just that you need to make it," Catherine said with a scowl.
"And why can't you? I seem to remember you getting exceptional grades. You were one of Henderson's favorites," Snape snapped at her trying to anger her. It would be easier for him to tell if she was lying if she was angry.
"I might make it wrong and do serious damage to myself. If you make it I can trust you to have it perfect," Catherine replied lazily and she knew that was the real reason she'd gone to Snape. She wanted to survive this little plot of hers and she didn't want Lily to be hurt either.
"Polyjuice Potion is dangerous Mcgeogehegan. How do I know you're not lying?" Snape asked silkily and leaned against the door with his arms crossed.
"Fine. You want to know the truth? I don't trust myself to make it correctly and if it was just me I'd say to hell with it but it's not just me," Catherine said loudly and eyed Snape with an annoyed glare.
"Who else?" Snape asked curiously.
"I cannot say, they made me promise not to tell you that much," Catherine said quietly feigning defeat and keeping her eyes locked with Snape's.
Snape growled and walked down to the basement. "Follow me," he called and heard Catherine descending the stairs behind him.
The candle lit room was dim and gray and Catherine knew why he'd squinted now considering how little daylight he saw. There was an unmade twin bed in one corner and a potions laboratory in the rest of the large basement. Snape was over at a desk writing out something. "That list," he said and foisted the sheet of parchment at Catherine before walking over to a shelf and pulling down a battered copy of "Moste Potente Potions" and opening to a page somewhere in the middle, his long spindly finger moving down the list of ingredients. He walked to his store cupboards and opened jars and bottles to check his supply. "You're lucky I have all the ingredients necessary. When do you need it by?" Snape asked looking over his shoulder.
"The costume ball announced in the Daily Prophet, August 12th," Catherine said lightly trying to conceal her pleasure at Snape's acceptance.
"You're even luckier that I picked fluxweed just last week," Snape grumbled as he'd been hoping to have an excuse not to make the potion.
"It seems as if Fate has smiled on me," Catherine said with a smirk. "We really appreciate this," she said a moment later.
"We? So you speak of yourself in third person these days Mcgeogehegan?" Snape said in an amused tone of voice.
"Oh yes, all the time, multiple personalities you know," Catherine said scathingly.
Snape rolled his eyes. "I will owl you when it's ready. Good day," Snape said as he pulled his jars and bottles off the shelves of his store cupboard and set to work as Catherine left. She headed to Diagon Alley to purchase the books Snape has recommended for Lily's lessons and that's when it struck her as odd that he hadn't asked more about why Lily needed schooling in Potions. Anyone who didn't know would have been innately curious and Snape was no different then any other person. The only explanation was that Snape had a source, someone that knew Lily had just found out about her powers.
A confused Catherine stepped into Flourish and Blotts and came out a little later with a heavy bag of books. "Trust Snape to suggest heavy books," she said and went back to the Leaky Cauldron to disapparate to a small house in northern Scotland where a message was scrawled in bold block letters on a plain piece of parchment lying on an unfinished wooden table. She read it quickly and grimaced at what she had to do but she resigned herself to it and went back to James' house after lighting the message aflame and letting it burn to ashes in the grate.
Catherine appeared in Lily's room out of familiarity and silently crept out of the room slipping into Remus' room where an old jewelry box caught her attention and she walked over to it. The box started to shake and Catherine nearly jumped out of her skin. She was just about to open it when the door into the room was pushed open, as she'd left it ajar, and Remus stood there with Sirius for company. "Catherine, what are you doing in my room?" Remus asked curiously.
"I just got back and I apparated to Lily's room and was coming down to find you when I heard something, this box actually, making a lot of noise," Catherine fabricated on the spot without a blush and without a hint that she was lying. "Is it a boggart or something else?" she asked as she looked back at the box.
"Yes, I was going to help Lily with it," Remus said slowly.
"Are you sure she's ready for boggarts?" Catherine asked worriedly.
"No actually I'm not, but you're here now and you can help her with Potions. We'll worry about the boggart tomorrow or later in the week," Remus said actually relieved that Catherine had showed up and that Lily would be able to think of something lest frightening to her. She'd looked so ill just with the boxed boggart that he wondered what Lily was afraid of but didn't want to rush her.
Sirius walked into the library head of Catherine and Remus and said, "Look who we found upstairs," as Catherine walked in the door with the bag full of books.
"You're back!" Lily said delightedly when she spotted Catherine and set her book aside.
"Right in one, so do you want to get started with the Potions?" Catherine asked as she set the books down on the table in front of Lily.
"Absolutely," Lily said eagerly trying to keep from showing her immense relief over not having to face the boggart.
"Wonderful, let's get started," Catherine said and pulled the books out of the bag. They worked together studying the books before getting started on a potion which Catherine chose because it was the first potion Henderson has set in her first year. After 45 minutes Catherine and Lily were arguing. "You're doing it wrong," Catherine said angrily.
"You aren't paying enough attention to what's happening, you're the one doing it wrong," Lily protested when a loud whistling started coming from the cauldron. Lily and Catherine looked at the cauldron and then at each other with wide eyes. "Not again," Lily said and the two of them ducked below the table just as the potion exploded splattering across windows and the furniture covered by charms. A moment after the potion exploded and the small parlor they'd been using was unrecognizable under the slime of the potion. Lily and Catherine looked out from under the table that was dripping orange sludge and then looked at each other. They began to chuckle and then laugh; soon they were rocking back and forth at the hilarity of the scene before them.
"J-James is gonna kill us," Lily managed to say before bursting into another round of laughter that Catherine quickly joined.
The two laughing girls brought Remus and Sirius into the room. Sirius took one look at Lily and Catherine and doubled over laughing. "What happened?" Remus asked his eyes wide as he tried to refrain from laughing.
"What does it look like? They blew up the potion!" Sirius shouted his voice ringing with laughter down the hallway where someone had just appeared.
Footsteps coming down the hallway announced their arrival. "What's going on here?" James asked from behind Sirius making the young man jump and the two girls crouched under the table screech in surprise.
"James, aren't you home a little early?" Lily asked awkwardly as she looked out from the table beneath her red hair.
"Moody let me out early," James said lightly. "So tell me what happened," he said quietly.
"Can you clean up the mess so we can get out from under the table?" Catherine said with an annoyed tone.
Sirius pulled out his wand. "Evanesco," he said and with a wave of his wand the orange slime disappeared and the melted remains of the cauldron went with it.
Remus and James walked over and helped Catherine and Lily up respectively. "Thanks," Catherine said and smiled at Remus.
"Not a problem," Remus said and smiled back.
"Now can you explain?" James asked patiently even though it had been a shock to walk in and see the room covered with exploded potion and Lily and Catherine hiding under the table.
"We blew up a potion," Lily said meekly as she exchanged glances with Catherine.
"Why?" James asked quietly as he knew that Catherine was adept at potions and got decent marks at Hogwarts.
"I'd say it was meant to be," Catherine mumbled to herself.
Lily shot Catherine a look. "It was an accident James," Lily said quietly and pushed her hair back from her face with one hand.
"It's okay, nothing was damaged. It's just lucky no one walked into the room before it blew up," Sirius said mildly and led the way out of the room.
"Catherine, can I talk to you upstairs?" Lily said quietly as they filed out of the room.
"Sure," Catherine said and followed Lily upstairs to Lily's room.
James, Sirius and Remus exchanged looks. "That was odd," Sirius said as he hadn't heard was Catherine had said.
"Just a little," James said and wondered what Lily and Catherine were going to talk about before realizing that Peter was missing. "Where's Peter?" he asked.
Sirius wrinkled up his forehead in thought. "I don't know he disappeared after breakfast. Maybe Lily knows where he went," Sirius said and shrugged nonchalantly.
"I saw him go upstairs after breakfast but he never came down," Remus said slowly. "Maybe it was something for the funeral tomorrow," he said quietly.
"Probably," James said as they made their way toward the kitchen.
Peter had gone to check on funeral plans but he'd also stopped somewhere else. There was an abandoned farm south of Inverness, Scotland and Peter was standing in the barn where remains of farming equipment lay rusting and old hay bales decomposed. "What is it you wished to speak about Wormtail?" said a cold harsh voice from behind Peter making him jump. The owner of the voice laughed mercilessly making Peter nervous.
"M-master," Peter said and crawled forward kissing the hems of Voldemort's robes.
"Stand up Wormtail," Voldemort hissed sounding very much like a serpent waiting for a meal.
"I have news," Peter said shakily and kept his gaze down as he rose to his feet.
"Well, what is it?" Voldemort said coldly and Peter had almost wished he's shouted as the words were filled with so much contempt.
"Evans and Potter aren't pursuing a relationship. They seem to be waiting for something," Peter said trying to keep from stuttering.
"Like what?" Voldemort asked as if curious for Peter to continue.
"I'm not sure but its Evans' decision," Peter said quietly trying to work up the courage to ask what he really came to ask.
Voldemort closed his eyes. "What did you really wish you speak with me Wormtail?" he asked lazily when he opened his eyes which showed his impatience with his spy. Peter swallowed nervously. "I-I k-know y-you a- asked me t-to st-stay with P-Potter b-but I-I think t-they m-may g-get s- suspicious of m-me if I-I s-stay m-much longer," he stuttered and wrung his hands nervously knowing that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named could kill him in moments if he chose.
"So," Voldemort said making the word seem to last forever, "what you're really asking is for my permission to move out," he said slowly.
"Y-yes M-master," Peter said. He was so close to crying that it was absurd. He was such a coward! He was surely going to be killed.
"Wormtail," Voldemort began and then paused. "Request denied," he said and brought his wand out from within his robes and pointed it at Peter.
Peter's eyes grew wide as he looked down Voldemort's wand. "P-please don't k-kill me!" Peter squealed tears spilling over onto his cheeks.
"I'm not that merciful and you're still of use to me. The only way I will allow you to leave is if Potter kicks you out. Now remember you are my spy and you will do as I say without question or face the consequences," Voldemort hissed angrily.
"C-consequences?" Peter asked fearfully.
"Pain beyond imagination," Voldemort said and then shouted, "CRUCIO!" and Peter's screams of pain mingled with Voldemort's madman like laughter until Peter passed out and Voldemort looked down upon the rat. "And that is what one gets when they don't follow orders," Voldemort said as several Death Eaters slunk out of the shadows, not all of them, just Lucius Malfoy, The Lestranges, Rookwood, Avery, Nott, Crabbe and Goyle along with a new recruit who was being shown the 'ropes'. "Leave him there, he will wake eventually," Voldemort cackled and disappeared the Death Eater's following in his wake.
Peter lay unconscious for at least two hours before he woke screaming until he realized Voldemort had left him. Peter sat up shakily and cried for a while before checking to see that he wasn't hurt any further then the Cruciatus Curse. When he was sure of that he went back to London, found himself a public restroom and cleaned himself up before returning to Godric's Hollow and hoping that he wouldn't be questioned about his dreadful appearance.
A/N: Alright ladies and gents, tell me how you liked that chapter and I will give you a present, another update! Sorry, I'm fishing for reviews at the moment because I'm sure everyone hates me for not updating in ages. Hope you liked this chapter! ~Frankie~
Dee Ann- Multiple personalities I see. I'm sorry for angering the bad side.
Captain Oblivious- I think that people think that the Snape/Lily letters are going to make it take longer for James and Lily to get together, so they dislike them, or they just don't like Snape. You think Catherine is a Death Eater? Hmm... I can't tell ya sweetie, but keep reading and you'll find out which way she does swing.
Don Raphiel- I'm glad you love the plan. They do not need a partner for the costume ball, though they can bring a date or whatever if they wish. It's basically for anyone.
Anarane- Thanks.
R.T. - I'm glad you love it and I'm sorry I've kept you waiting on the chapter. Thank you for reviewing... and do it more often... O_o... or at least as often as I update. ^_^ Ah, I understand the obsession with darling Remy then.
Victoria- Sorry to disappoint, but Peter will be a fixture in the story for quite a while, which I despise with a passion, but alas, I have to write it. I'm glad you like the story though!
Lady Arwen Gryffindor- The second person to think Catherine is a Death Eater. Hmm... alas I cannot say if you are right or if you are wrong. It would ruin the plot so terribly, but trust your instincts and you may be right.
LJstagflower4e/JCtigerwolf4e- The lady of two names... Well, the plan was developed during a four am writing session with my muse, so it is flawed and such, which is the point, though I admit your version of things would make much more sense. I never said Catherine was a genius, nor Lily... but you shall eventually see how things go, and so will I as I haven't written it yet. *sigh*
Black-cat-on-the-wall- Thanks, and I'm terribly sorry how long this took. I hope that my reviewers don't hate me too badly.
Kristatwen- Odd moods are just fine considering that pretty much all I have written has been done in an odd mood. Sorry to keep you waiting!
Optical Illusions- Are you alive? ^_^ I've been trying to get this out for a little bit, sorry for such a horrible wait.
Acacia Jules- "Arabella deserves it if Sirius moved on to Catherine" Well, I have other plans for dear Catherine, but I completely agree with you about Bella and Sirius. It's horrible, and I feel horrible for writing Sirius into all these horrible situations. Poor Sirius.
Coffechick- Wow... This I think is the longest review I have ever gotten. ^_^ I'm glad that my story was memorable enough for you to search for it. That makes me just go squee! Snape's letters to Lily are of his own volition. I'm sorry that the Marauders are a bit mature. Remus, I've always believed to be the most mature one, so he's pretty much how I pictured him at Hogwarts. Sirius, well, I feel that he's forcing himself to grow up because of Bella and all. James, well, in my story he didn't have the whole "I'm obsessed with Lily to the point of annoyance" thing and so he's a little more mature, not to mention his job. Arabella's character is slipping because I despise writing it now that I know the truth... and Cath, well, she's Cath. I'm trying to get more Voldy activity in, and I keep forgetting or stretching the story out more. I'm such a putz, but I'm glad that you like my story.
Banny- Sorry for the wait and I'm glad my story is different then the other's that's what I like to hear about my writing. It shows I'm being original and that my 'voice' is coming out. If only I could do that with something I could publish for money. Anything Lily/Snape will be purely as friends, I promise.
Sissy-6- I wonder myself sometimes. Sorry for the delay.
Angelzsweet90- Thanks. Sorry it took so long.
Jen-Jen3- Thank you! One of your favorites you say? ^_^ I'm glad you think its original... and I have kept writing, just not online. *sighs* I write everything in notebooks before I type it up, allows me to carry it wherever I go.
Don Raphiel- Again. I'm still very honored about your proposition. Go ahead with putting it up.
Akirel35- Don't worry about not reviewing for so long its just good to know you're still around. There may or may not be something between them. You'll have to wait and see. I'm glad she's one of your favorite characters, its good to know an OC can do that.
dL1255- I see. Thank you for reviewing.
Now, on to the story as I know you have all been waiting far too long for this update.
Chapter Forty-Seven: Unmerciful Potions
When Catherine left Remus spoke up. "Would you like to work on defense until Catherine returns?" he asked quietly.
"Sure," Lily said and Remus smiled before digging out a list of things from his pocket.
And so they worked out of the books, Remus speaking to Lily about boggarts to start with. "Then hide in dark enclosed spaces and the only way to get rid of them is with laughter," Remus explained. "If I knew where a boggart could be found in James' house I would go look for one but I'm not sure if there is one," he said. "But anyways, the spell is 'Riddickulus' whatever shape the boggart transforms into is your worst fear and when you say the spell you have to concentrate on something that would make this fear humorous," Remus skewed up his face. "Is this making any sense? It's so much easier to just do it to a boggart," he sighed and leaned back in the chair. "How about you read the section on boggarts in the book and Sirius and I will go see if we can dig one out," Remus said as he turned to Sirius for confirmation but Sirius had disappeared when Remus has first mentioned boggarts to look for one.
So Lily got to reading while Remus and Sirius searched high and low to see if a boggart had decided to set up shop in James' house. They managed to find one in an old jewelry box in the basement.
"Found one," Remus said happily as he carried in the old jewelry box. "Did you finish the section?" he asked as he set down the box which proceeded to make the box shake and shudder every couple seconds. The feeling that the boggart brought with it made Lily feel sick to her stomach.
"Do we have to do this today?" Lily asked as her stomach clenched involuntarily and she felt like she was going to either vomit or faint.
Remus looked as her curiously for a moment and then gave Sirius the box. "Go put this in my room would you," he said and Sirius nodded quickly taking the boggart infested box out of the library. "Lily, what is it? What are you afraid of?" he asked quietly as he crouched in front of her chair.
"I'm not sure. I don't know what I'm afraid of," Lily said and ran her hand through her hair nervously.
"Can you remember ever being frightened of anything?" Remus asked as he gently put his hand on hers in comfort.
"My parents leaving, being alone, things like that," Lily said quietly, "but this feeling is different because they're already gone and I've been alone since they died. I can't explain what I'm afraid of because I don't know," she said slowly as if she was trying to work through what she was feeling.
Remus looked thoughtful. "Lily, my only suggestion is that the sooner you see what it is you're afraid of you'll be able to get through it," he said with a warm smile. "And I'll be right here to make the boggart go away because it is only a boggart," he said and rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand gently to reassure her.
Lily sighed. She knew if she let herself worry about what she would see when the box opened that she would forever be afraid of meeting a boggart. "Bring it back. I'll do it now," Lily said as she straightened her backbone and took a few calming breaths.
"Really?" Remus questioned uncertainly. "I don't want to pressure you," he said and bit his lip a little.
"You're not. I can't be afraid of this, I would never be able to do this alone if I don't know now what I'm scared of," Lily said strongly and Remus nodded before heading upstairs to get the boggart again.
Catherine knocked loudly for what seemed like the millionth time on the dark brown door of the brown brick house. The door opened angrily and Severus Snape stood there in graying robes with a scowl on his face. His eyes squinted to avoid the sunlight. "What do you what?" he snapped as he looked at Catherine through the slits of his eyes and was tempted to slam the door shut.
"To talk," Catherine said slowly and quietly.
Snape looked at Catherine with curiosity now before saying, "In," and opening the door a little wider. "What do you want?" he asked again after Catherine stepped in and he closed the door.
"I helped you out at Hogwarts and now I've come to claim the debt you owe me," Catherine said and eyed Snape coldly as she hoped he would help.
Snape snarled. "I owe you no debt. We got detentions for that stupid stunt you pulled," he said angrily as his eyes glinted in the dim light.
"I helped to keep you from more embarrassment Severus. You owe me," Catherine said defiantly.
Snape glowered his eyes still glinting angrily above his hooked nose. "What do you want?" he asked again as his meager supply of patience was beginning to wear thin.
"Two things, one of them won't take five minutes, the other is going to take longer," Catherine replied and crossed her arms over her chest.
"What are they Catherine? I'm growing more impatient by the minute," Snape said and he too crossed his arms making him resemble a giant bat.
"A list of books to teach Lily Potions from," Catherine said and noted that Snape's body language altered slightly. "And for you to make the Polyjuice Potion," she said seriously.
Snape's eyebrows rose imperiously. "Polyjuice Potion? That's an intriguing request, why do you need it?" Snape asked and watched Catherine closely.
"It's none of your concern why I need it just that you need to make it," Catherine said with a scowl.
"And why can't you? I seem to remember you getting exceptional grades. You were one of Henderson's favorites," Snape snapped at her trying to anger her. It would be easier for him to tell if she was lying if she was angry.
"I might make it wrong and do serious damage to myself. If you make it I can trust you to have it perfect," Catherine replied lazily and she knew that was the real reason she'd gone to Snape. She wanted to survive this little plot of hers and she didn't want Lily to be hurt either.
"Polyjuice Potion is dangerous Mcgeogehegan. How do I know you're not lying?" Snape asked silkily and leaned against the door with his arms crossed.
"Fine. You want to know the truth? I don't trust myself to make it correctly and if it was just me I'd say to hell with it but it's not just me," Catherine said loudly and eyed Snape with an annoyed glare.
"Who else?" Snape asked curiously.
"I cannot say, they made me promise not to tell you that much," Catherine said quietly feigning defeat and keeping her eyes locked with Snape's.
Snape growled and walked down to the basement. "Follow me," he called and heard Catherine descending the stairs behind him.
The candle lit room was dim and gray and Catherine knew why he'd squinted now considering how little daylight he saw. There was an unmade twin bed in one corner and a potions laboratory in the rest of the large basement. Snape was over at a desk writing out something. "That list," he said and foisted the sheet of parchment at Catherine before walking over to a shelf and pulling down a battered copy of "Moste Potente Potions" and opening to a page somewhere in the middle, his long spindly finger moving down the list of ingredients. He walked to his store cupboards and opened jars and bottles to check his supply. "You're lucky I have all the ingredients necessary. When do you need it by?" Snape asked looking over his shoulder.
"The costume ball announced in the Daily Prophet, August 12th," Catherine said lightly trying to conceal her pleasure at Snape's acceptance.
"You're even luckier that I picked fluxweed just last week," Snape grumbled as he'd been hoping to have an excuse not to make the potion.
"It seems as if Fate has smiled on me," Catherine said with a smirk. "We really appreciate this," she said a moment later.
"We? So you speak of yourself in third person these days Mcgeogehegan?" Snape said in an amused tone of voice.
"Oh yes, all the time, multiple personalities you know," Catherine said scathingly.
Snape rolled his eyes. "I will owl you when it's ready. Good day," Snape said as he pulled his jars and bottles off the shelves of his store cupboard and set to work as Catherine left. She headed to Diagon Alley to purchase the books Snape has recommended for Lily's lessons and that's when it struck her as odd that he hadn't asked more about why Lily needed schooling in Potions. Anyone who didn't know would have been innately curious and Snape was no different then any other person. The only explanation was that Snape had a source, someone that knew Lily had just found out about her powers.
A confused Catherine stepped into Flourish and Blotts and came out a little later with a heavy bag of books. "Trust Snape to suggest heavy books," she said and went back to the Leaky Cauldron to disapparate to a small house in northern Scotland where a message was scrawled in bold block letters on a plain piece of parchment lying on an unfinished wooden table. She read it quickly and grimaced at what she had to do but she resigned herself to it and went back to James' house after lighting the message aflame and letting it burn to ashes in the grate.
Catherine appeared in Lily's room out of familiarity and silently crept out of the room slipping into Remus' room where an old jewelry box caught her attention and she walked over to it. The box started to shake and Catherine nearly jumped out of her skin. She was just about to open it when the door into the room was pushed open, as she'd left it ajar, and Remus stood there with Sirius for company. "Catherine, what are you doing in my room?" Remus asked curiously.
"I just got back and I apparated to Lily's room and was coming down to find you when I heard something, this box actually, making a lot of noise," Catherine fabricated on the spot without a blush and without a hint that she was lying. "Is it a boggart or something else?" she asked as she looked back at the box.
"Yes, I was going to help Lily with it," Remus said slowly.
"Are you sure she's ready for boggarts?" Catherine asked worriedly.
"No actually I'm not, but you're here now and you can help her with Potions. We'll worry about the boggart tomorrow or later in the week," Remus said actually relieved that Catherine had showed up and that Lily would be able to think of something lest frightening to her. She'd looked so ill just with the boxed boggart that he wondered what Lily was afraid of but didn't want to rush her.
Sirius walked into the library head of Catherine and Remus and said, "Look who we found upstairs," as Catherine walked in the door with the bag full of books.
"You're back!" Lily said delightedly when she spotted Catherine and set her book aside.
"Right in one, so do you want to get started with the Potions?" Catherine asked as she set the books down on the table in front of Lily.
"Absolutely," Lily said eagerly trying to keep from showing her immense relief over not having to face the boggart.
"Wonderful, let's get started," Catherine said and pulled the books out of the bag. They worked together studying the books before getting started on a potion which Catherine chose because it was the first potion Henderson has set in her first year. After 45 minutes Catherine and Lily were arguing. "You're doing it wrong," Catherine said angrily.
"You aren't paying enough attention to what's happening, you're the one doing it wrong," Lily protested when a loud whistling started coming from the cauldron. Lily and Catherine looked at the cauldron and then at each other with wide eyes. "Not again," Lily said and the two of them ducked below the table just as the potion exploded splattering across windows and the furniture covered by charms. A moment after the potion exploded and the small parlor they'd been using was unrecognizable under the slime of the potion. Lily and Catherine looked out from under the table that was dripping orange sludge and then looked at each other. They began to chuckle and then laugh; soon they were rocking back and forth at the hilarity of the scene before them.
"J-James is gonna kill us," Lily managed to say before bursting into another round of laughter that Catherine quickly joined.
The two laughing girls brought Remus and Sirius into the room. Sirius took one look at Lily and Catherine and doubled over laughing. "What happened?" Remus asked his eyes wide as he tried to refrain from laughing.
"What does it look like? They blew up the potion!" Sirius shouted his voice ringing with laughter down the hallway where someone had just appeared.
Footsteps coming down the hallway announced their arrival. "What's going on here?" James asked from behind Sirius making the young man jump and the two girls crouched under the table screech in surprise.
"James, aren't you home a little early?" Lily asked awkwardly as she looked out from the table beneath her red hair.
"Moody let me out early," James said lightly. "So tell me what happened," he said quietly.
"Can you clean up the mess so we can get out from under the table?" Catherine said with an annoyed tone.
Sirius pulled out his wand. "Evanesco," he said and with a wave of his wand the orange slime disappeared and the melted remains of the cauldron went with it.
Remus and James walked over and helped Catherine and Lily up respectively. "Thanks," Catherine said and smiled at Remus.
"Not a problem," Remus said and smiled back.
"Now can you explain?" James asked patiently even though it had been a shock to walk in and see the room covered with exploded potion and Lily and Catherine hiding under the table.
"We blew up a potion," Lily said meekly as she exchanged glances with Catherine.
"Why?" James asked quietly as he knew that Catherine was adept at potions and got decent marks at Hogwarts.
"I'd say it was meant to be," Catherine mumbled to herself.
Lily shot Catherine a look. "It was an accident James," Lily said quietly and pushed her hair back from her face with one hand.
"It's okay, nothing was damaged. It's just lucky no one walked into the room before it blew up," Sirius said mildly and led the way out of the room.
"Catherine, can I talk to you upstairs?" Lily said quietly as they filed out of the room.
"Sure," Catherine said and followed Lily upstairs to Lily's room.
James, Sirius and Remus exchanged looks. "That was odd," Sirius said as he hadn't heard was Catherine had said.
"Just a little," James said and wondered what Lily and Catherine were going to talk about before realizing that Peter was missing. "Where's Peter?" he asked.
Sirius wrinkled up his forehead in thought. "I don't know he disappeared after breakfast. Maybe Lily knows where he went," Sirius said and shrugged nonchalantly.
"I saw him go upstairs after breakfast but he never came down," Remus said slowly. "Maybe it was something for the funeral tomorrow," he said quietly.
"Probably," James said as they made their way toward the kitchen.
Peter had gone to check on funeral plans but he'd also stopped somewhere else. There was an abandoned farm south of Inverness, Scotland and Peter was standing in the barn where remains of farming equipment lay rusting and old hay bales decomposed. "What is it you wished to speak about Wormtail?" said a cold harsh voice from behind Peter making him jump. The owner of the voice laughed mercilessly making Peter nervous.
"M-master," Peter said and crawled forward kissing the hems of Voldemort's robes.
"Stand up Wormtail," Voldemort hissed sounding very much like a serpent waiting for a meal.
"I have news," Peter said shakily and kept his gaze down as he rose to his feet.
"Well, what is it?" Voldemort said coldly and Peter had almost wished he's shouted as the words were filled with so much contempt.
"Evans and Potter aren't pursuing a relationship. They seem to be waiting for something," Peter said trying to keep from stuttering.
"Like what?" Voldemort asked as if curious for Peter to continue.
"I'm not sure but its Evans' decision," Peter said quietly trying to work up the courage to ask what he really came to ask.
Voldemort closed his eyes. "What did you really wish you speak with me Wormtail?" he asked lazily when he opened his eyes which showed his impatience with his spy. Peter swallowed nervously. "I-I k-know y-you a- asked me t-to st-stay with P-Potter b-but I-I think t-they m-may g-get s- suspicious of m-me if I-I s-stay m-much longer," he stuttered and wrung his hands nervously knowing that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named could kill him in moments if he chose.
"So," Voldemort said making the word seem to last forever, "what you're really asking is for my permission to move out," he said slowly.
"Y-yes M-master," Peter said. He was so close to crying that it was absurd. He was such a coward! He was surely going to be killed.
"Wormtail," Voldemort began and then paused. "Request denied," he said and brought his wand out from within his robes and pointed it at Peter.
Peter's eyes grew wide as he looked down Voldemort's wand. "P-please don't k-kill me!" Peter squealed tears spilling over onto his cheeks.
"I'm not that merciful and you're still of use to me. The only way I will allow you to leave is if Potter kicks you out. Now remember you are my spy and you will do as I say without question or face the consequences," Voldemort hissed angrily.
"C-consequences?" Peter asked fearfully.
"Pain beyond imagination," Voldemort said and then shouted, "CRUCIO!" and Peter's screams of pain mingled with Voldemort's madman like laughter until Peter passed out and Voldemort looked down upon the rat. "And that is what one gets when they don't follow orders," Voldemort said as several Death Eaters slunk out of the shadows, not all of them, just Lucius Malfoy, The Lestranges, Rookwood, Avery, Nott, Crabbe and Goyle along with a new recruit who was being shown the 'ropes'. "Leave him there, he will wake eventually," Voldemort cackled and disappeared the Death Eater's following in his wake.
Peter lay unconscious for at least two hours before he woke screaming until he realized Voldemort had left him. Peter sat up shakily and cried for a while before checking to see that he wasn't hurt any further then the Cruciatus Curse. When he was sure of that he went back to London, found himself a public restroom and cleaned himself up before returning to Godric's Hollow and hoping that he wouldn't be questioned about his dreadful appearance.
A/N: Alright ladies and gents, tell me how you liked that chapter and I will give you a present, another update! Sorry, I'm fishing for reviews at the moment because I'm sure everyone hates me for not updating in ages. Hope you liked this chapter! ~Frankie~