Note From Nikki
At last! I am updating. I apologize for taking so long. I haven't felt motivated to do anything since my Dad's accident and haven't had time anyway. He's improving, but he's still really bad. Again, I apologize for taking so long. I made this chapter longer to make up for it! And I promise to update weekly from now on. No reviewer notes today, I don't have time. But thanks to everyone who reviewed!
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Dorcas woke the next morning and gazed blearily at her ceiling. Nothing seemed to have color anymore, she realized. Everything was an odd shade of gray. Or maybe it was simply because she was so exhausted. Sighing deeply, she closed her eyes and rubbed them vigorously, hoping to return them to their normal feeling.
She sighed and opened her eyes. Things seemed to improve a little so she sat up slowly and swung her legs to the side. She gazed out of her window at James and Sirius who were laughing and pushing each other around.
How could they be so happy when her world was completely dead? Dark thoughts entered Dorcas' mind but before they could overpower her, she pushed them impatiently away. She couldn't blame people for being happy. Gideon's death was no one's fault but Voldemort's and his spy. Her heart filled with rage. Why wasn't this spy just outing them all? What was he or she waiting for?
Dorcas sighed deeply and stood up shakily. She couldn't dwell on Gideon every second. She knew that if she did, she would end up in the darkest, deepest pit of hell. And she didn't want to end up there. If there was one thing that she wanted to do before she died, it was to find his murderer and make sure that he was killed. Or, even worse, thrown into Azkaban to rot for the rest of his life. Not that Azkaban was really that dangerous. The evil, soul sucking Dementors broke in and freed whatever prisoners they could. It happened, but thankfully not often. The best Auror's guarded the prison from the intrusions. For the most part.
Dorcas was startled out of her vengeful reverie when a pounding boomed from her front door. She quickly pulled on some robes, did a quick hair combing charm, and walked to her front door. Lily and James greeted her, their faces beaming in false happiness.
"How are you?" Lily asked brightly, even though Dorcas was sure she was dreading her answer.
"I'm. . ." she was about to say miserable but changed her mind midway, "m-okay."
"That's great!" James said, smiling by his wife's side. "You can come with us to Lily's sisters house then."
"Lily's sisters house?" Dorcas asked, clearly bemused. "Why would you want me to go there?"
"Well," Lily began uncomfortably, "I told her about what happened."
"And she wanted you to come over for dinner with us," James finished quickly, seeing the look on Dorcas' face. "Because we were going to go anyway. She hasn't seen Lily since before she got pregnant."
"I don't need anyone's sympathy," Dorcas said coldly. She turned abruptly on her heel and walked to her kitchen, hoping that they would take the hint and leave.
"She's not giving sympathy," Lily said, following after her. "She just wanted to meet you and tonight is a perfect time."
"Lily, I really don't feel like going anywhere."
"You can't stay cooped up in this house all day," James replied impatiently. "We know you're miserable but Gideon wouldn't want you to lose your life to laziness."
Dorcas closed her eyes and sighed. They were right of course. And why shouldn't she go? She had absolutely nothing else to do but sit around and cry out her sorrows. Doing that was certainly not going to bring Gideon back.
"I thought you didn't get along with her too well," Dorcas said.
"Oh, I hate her with all of my heart," Lily said brightly.
"Then why on earth are you going to dinner with her?"
"She asked! I have quite a few things I would like to rub into her face too," Lily said, rubbing her swollen belly.
"If she's such a horrible person, why did she invite me to come along?"
Lily shrugged. "Petunia is odd like that. She likes to see people in pain. Your sorrow will probably bring her joy."
Dorcas scowled. "And you still want me to come?"
"She asked. You need to get out. And I need someone other than a uncombed baffoon to keep me company."
James was nodding in agreement until he suddenly realized what she had said. "Hey!" he cried indignantly.
"So let me get this straight, you want me to go to your sister's house to keep you company while she experiences great joy in my misery?" Dorcas asked.
"Something like that," Lily agreed.
"I'm in," Dorcas said, smiling briefly.
--
Privet Drive was a boring little street. Dorcas could already see the type of people Lily's sister and her husband were. They were neat, perfect little muggles who's greatest passion in life was outing the neighbors with their greater wealth. Their lawn was perfectly cut and clean and Dorcas could have sworn someone had scrubbed the driveway with soap.
She walked by Lily as they made their way up the drive. Lily and James were holding hands and Dorcas felt a surge of pain before turning away. She pulled up her skirt awkwardly, feeling odd in muggle clothing. She had never worn muggle clothing before. Her mother had disapproved of it because of course it was a muggle invention. Lily had brought over some of her clothes because, apparently, her sister had insisted they not wear robes.
Dorcas stepped past a vehicle (she thought it was called a car but she wasn't sure) and followed Lily to the front steps where she knocked rapidly on the door. Lily's face was looking rather grumpy, almost as if she dreaded seeing her only sibling.
A tall, horse-faced woman with a long neck answered the door abruptly. She had on what appeared to be her best dress and her hair was done very elegantly. Dorcas noticed her protruding stomach and wondered why Lily had failed to mention that her sister was pregnant.
"Petunia," Lily said, nodding curtly.
No hugs, no cries of welcome, only looks of deep contempt on each other's face. Dorcas thought she was the only one with a dysfunctional family. Apparently, this was not the case.
"Lily," Petunia replied. "Please, come in."
"Surely you remember my husband, James," Lily said, squeezing James' hand.
Petunia's eyes narrowed. "How could I forget?"
James scowled but chose not to say anything.
"This is Dorcas," Lily said grabbing Dorcas' wrist and pulling her forward.
Petunia's eyes narrowed even further. "Were you once normal, like us?"
"Umm," Dorcas said uncomfortably. "Well, I was raised in a Wizarding-"
"That's enough!" Petunia cried, looking scandalized.
"Oh. . .okay."
"Vernon!" Petunia called. "They're here!"
A very large man, also dressed in his best, walked into the room. He had a rather bushy mustache and no neck at all. He wore a look of deep loathing as he looked at the people at the door. "Welcome to our home," he said shortly.
"Oh, yes," Lily said, looking around her. "It's er. . .very. . .clean?"
Dorcas could already see the differences between the two sisters. Lily wasn't at all clean. Her house wasn't messy but it surely wasn't spotless, especially since Lily had gotten pregnant. This house, however, was completely clean. It almost looked unnatural. Petunia was a person who didn't want to be different from anyone. Lily didn't care what people thought and was a free spirit.
"Please, come into the dining room," Petunia said.
It was then that Lily seemed to notice her sister's protruding stomach. "OH MY GOODNESS!" she shrieked.
James leapt backward, clutching onto his ear. "Lily!" he cried.
Lily grabbed a hold of his hand again and quickly followed with, "Your pregnant?"
Petunia smiled triumphantly. "Yes, yes I am."
"Oh that's wonderful!" Lily said cheerfully. Dorcas could tell she was making a valiant effort to be nice.
"Congratulations," James said, apparently because of the tight squeeze that nearly left his hand paralyzed from Lily.
"Er. . .yes," Dorcas added. "Truly wonderful."
"Well, obviously it's excellent news," Vernon said. "We already know it's going to be a boy."
"Ours too!" Lily said.
"Have you thought of a name?" James asked, attempting to be nice to Lily's only living relatives.
"Dudley," Vernon replied.
Dorcas rolled her eyes. That was a horrible name! The poor boy would likely be teased and picked on his entire life. It sounded like a pig and she wondered fleetingly if their son would come out looking like Vernon.
"And yours?" Petunia asked.
"Harry," James answered.
"Ugh," Vernon said. "Such a dull common name."
There was a very awkward silence that followed this statement. Lily cleared her throat uncomfortably, Dorcas could tell she was furious. "Well, perhaps our children could play together."
Petunia laughed coldly. "I don't think so! No son of mine will be mingled with freaks like you."
That was when Lily lost it, she leapt at her sister with the full intention of attacking her.
James grabbed onto her waist crying, "Lily! No!"
"I'm gonna kill her!" Lily yelled, struggled against his grip.
"Not if I kill you first!" Petunia bellowed.
Vernon had no intention of stopping his wife so Dorcas had to do it. She dashed in front of her and held the woman back by the shoulders. Meanwhile, James was dragging Lily out the door, still cursing loudly.
"I hope you rot in hell! You hate me because mom loved me more!"
"She did not!"
"Did too!"
"Not!"
"I never want to see you again!"
"I don't either!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
Dorcas let go of Petunia and ran after James and Lily, who had shaken him off and was stomping away on her own accord.
"Well, that didn't go so nicely," Dorcas commented lightly.
"I hate her," Lily screeched. "I don't know why I even came."
"Lily, she is your sister," James attempted as they made their way to the abandoned park where they could Disapparate without being seen.
This was not a very good thing to say. Lily started yelling at him about being so heartless and rude.
It was perhaps because of this that they didn't hear the slightest footstep behind them. Lily's angry shouts drowned out any other sound. But there was a footstep nevertheless and Dorcas spun around when she heard another one while Lily was drawing a breath.
It was Voldemort. He stood there, alone, his wand raised at their unsuspecting backs. James and Lily had not noticed that Dorcas had stopped, frozen in her footsteps. She couldn't warn them verbally so she gave a loud gasp.
James heard it and spun around, quickly followed by Lily whose ranting stopped midway.
"We meet again, Potter," Voldemort said inclining his head bemusedly. Dorcas had no choice but to stand there, unmoving.
"Indeed," James replied. He always seemed so brave in the face of danger. Dorcas could almost see his mind trying to figure a way to get out. Dorcas wasn't so optimistic.
"Dorcas," Voldemort said, not taking his eyes away from James. "It is time you let them in on your secret."
Dorcas bowed and turned to a quivering James and Lily. "I am a faithful servant and follower of the all powerful Dark Lord."
The couple looked stunned, not because of what she said, but because they had already known that but had forgotten that they weren't supposed to.
"H-how could you?" Lily managed to choke out, much to Dorcas' relief. It would have been obvious if they had not shown some surprise.
Dorcas reluctantly pulled out her wand and aimed at her friends.
"No," Voldemort said coldly. "They are mine."
"Why do you want to kill us so bad?" James asked bravely.
"Because you irk me," Voldemort replied, humoring them. "Twice you have escaped my grip and twice you have been too lucky. But you Potter, you are the one I want. Your wife can leave, she is of no danger to me."
"I'm not going anywhere," Lily replied.
"Lily leave," James said firmly.
"B-"
"Leave."
Lily straightened up and Disapparated. Voldemort laughed. "You are so easily predictable."
Lily, who had Disapparated behind the Dark Lord, gasped. He turned around, almost lazily. "Not a very intelligent girl, are you?"
"Far more intelligent than you," James bellowed.
He ran forward and kicked Voldemort in the back. Dorcas had never seen the Dark Lord fall before. But fall he did. He tumbled to the ground losing grip on his wand. James and Lily Disapparated before he could get it back.
He roared angrily. "WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP THEM?"
"They were too quick My Lord!"
Voldemort had not been expecting something not to do with magic. He never suspected anything like that. James was incredibly bright for suspecting this. Dorcas could feel her heart relax with both relief and pride.
"I will get Potter some day," he said angrily. "He will die at my hands, I swear it."
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A/n: Sorry if it sucks. I haven't written for a long time.