Rifts
"Why would you do something like this? You know I don't approve," Lucius told Li in his most disapproving voice. He sat down in his chair and swirled his red wine.
"I don't ever remember asking your opinion," Li snarled.
"I'm giving it to you anyway. It's James Potter for crying out loud! You know, the prick with whom we used to fight back in school? How can you forget what a bastard he was? He's a Griffindor, the only thing lower is dating a Griffindor muggleborn, no offense."
"I don't see how this is your business," Li shouted.
"It is my business! You're my friend and I have to look out for you."
"I appreciate the sentiment but I'm old enough to take care of myself thank you very much."
"We tolerated your continual playing of Quidditch and even your refusal to take sides, but this is too much! You cannot go allying yourself with someone like him."
"Tolerated my Quidditch playing! You bloody bastard! Last time I checked I didn't have to ask your approval to run my life, Dad!" Li said the last word sarcastically.
"Severus, talk some sense into her!" Lucius demanded. Severus sat back in his chair.
"I'm staying out of this one but my opinion is that I dislike Potter greatly for reasons known to both of you and I don't like the idea of Li dating him, but it is her life and I have no say over it even though I disapprove," Severus said.
"You bloody wanker! You're a wimp! Go hide in your dungeon and keep the light out! Go and disappear like the pathetic human you are!" Lucius roared.
"You're the one who asked his opinion you prick so if you don't like it's your own bloody fault!"
"I see it is up to me to talk sense into you," Lucius voice became a strained calm. "We are living in a dangerous world Li. In case you haven't noticed people are dying."
"And you're the one killing them but you don't see me getting involved in your affairs," Li snapped.
"While you're in my house you will listen to me! People are dying and I would be too if I weren't on his side! If I took a stand against him my family would all be killed!" he calmed down again. "You need to decide whose side you're on. Are you going to be on theirs with the dirty arrogant bastard and be killed? Or are you going to be on our side and live? It's self-preservation. Join Voldemort and be saved. We're trying to do something here! We have a cause! We are trying to rid the world of those who are unworthy!"
"Am I unworthy of your grand presence, Lucius? Am I dirty too? Are you ashamed to have me for a friend?" Li withdrew her wand from her pocket.
"Li! You know that's not what I mean!"
"And I don't see why I should have my life approved by you! This is the first thing I've ever done you haven't liked or I haven't consulted you about first. You want to control me! That's what this has been about from the beginning! Well guess what? I don't want to be controlled anymore! Let me make my own decisions!" Li roared. She shoved her wand under Lucius' chin.
"I'm not trying to control your bloody life I'm trying to keep from getting killed but if you don't want help then fine! Go get yourself murdered for all I care! Get out of here! Get out of my house!" Lucius shouted. Li looked at him straight in the eye and with a crack disappeared. Severus rose and drew his wand.
"Yes, you go follow her! You'll never have her you know! You never will because you're too whimpy to say something! You're going to lose her to him! To a goddamned bloody Griffindor! To a POTTER!" Lucius screamed. Severus gave him a look Lucius had never before truly seen on his friend. It was resolve, hurt, pain stubbornness and betrayal. "Severus..." and Snape was gone.
"The trio split up, I'd never thought I'd see the day," Narcissa drawled from the doorway.
"Don't you start woman! Don't use that tone with me! Don't talk of things you know nothing of!" Lucius yelled.
"If my sisters heard you yell now they'd come and take off your head. I'm a Black don't you ever forget that," Narcissa said threateningly.
"You're my wife and you'll do what I say!"
"If you're going to have that attitude then no wonder she wouldn't listen. If you hadn't noticed little Li is turning into Lily and you're releasing all control of that transformation. This could come back and bite you in the arse. If I were you I'd approve of this, all she's doing is defying you. If it was an easy relationship she'd get tired of it and fall right into Severus' arms where you want her."
"Shut up!"
"I don't have to take this, I'm leaving you too. All alone in your misery," Narcissa told him. "I'm sure Bellatrix will be thrilled to hear how you've been treating me." She apparated away. Lucius slammed his fists into the leather chair.
"Hey Jim! How's the girl going? When are you going to dump her?" Sirius asked putting his beer down on the counter.
"Would you stop it with that? I really like her, I'm not going to dump her anytime soon," James argued.
"We've heard that before," Remus grinned. "With Lindsay, Katie, Genna, Janice and Tina."
"Don't forget Henrietta, Lori, Diana, Helen and Olivia," Pete piped in.
"Exactly, what makes this fling so different?" Remus questioned.
"I really like her so get off my back," James snapped.
"Ok man, whatever you say. Be careful with her though, she could get you back for hurting her unlike the others," Remus warned.
"I don't see why you have to date her of all people. She's one of them. She's working for the dark lord. Are you willing to betray your house, your family, your loyalties and all that hard work you've put in to stop Voldemort just for her? Are you going to betray us?" Sirius asked his voice rising.
"Sirius, don't make me chose between you and her," James warned his friend. "If you made me chose I'd have to chose you but I'd be damned angry about it!"
"You're both being unreasonable," Remus cut in.
"Don't you start," James growled. Remus leaned back a bit on his barstool almost to the point where he'd tip it over. He cracked his neck slowly, thinking about what he was going to say. He came back up setting the front two legs of the stool back down with a thump.
"Sirius does have a point. It's not the time to be looking for girls particularly ones as dangerous as she is. With any girl would be distracting. You'd need to spend time with her better spent training. It's dangerous out there and with her, well, we don't know James. We knew Evans in seventh year. She was prime suspect for being a death eater. I know you played Quidditch with her, but if she's capable of lying to the Cannons that proves she can easily lie to you too," Remus reasoned.
"You're just bloody agreeing with him cause you have a crush on him," James muttered under his breath.
"What did you say?" Remus asked eyes narrowing. James had better not betray a secret he'd told James long ago.
"Nothing Remus," he snapped. His voice got soft again; "You bloody fairy."
"James stop it with the under the table insulting of Remus. I have no idea what you're bloody saying but would you stop it?" Sirius demanded. "What's Remus ever done to you?"
"Then you stop attacking my girlfriend!"
"Stop going out with someone who might kill you! Even if she weren't really bad, her friends are. Malfoy is as bad as they come but Snape is not far worse. They're bloody death eaters! They're dangerous! They go poking around where they're not wanted!"
"And we didn't Sirius? Can you remember all those times when we stuck our noses into other people's business?"
"But we're good James! We're not trying to kill anyone," Sirius argued.
"You did a bloody good job proving that," James told him sarcastically. "I remember when a prank of yours almost got Snape killed."
"That's because he was poking around in our business."
"Which he was doing so he could get blackmail cause we were poking around in Evans' business."
"That's besides the point. She's unstable! She dressed up as a bloody man for over ten years and fooled everyone. You're dating a gender confused person."
"She is not, she would never have been recognized or have gotten as much power or pride as she did if she had dressed like a girl. She's a tomboy like your niece. Remus, I don't understand you not liking her. I thought you two reached an understanding back at Hogwarts."
"That was Hogwarts. That was before the real world, things change. Here you need to be cautious James," Remus said.
"It's my bloody life! I will do with it what I want!" James roared.
"You're only saying that because you know we're right. You know she's dangerous, you know she will betray you one day and you know that we disapprove so now you're coming back with the only card you have left. It's your bloody life. Do with it what you like, see if I care. Don't expect me to pick up the pieces," Sirius snapped. He threw money down on the mahogany bar with a thud and stormed away.
"Are you two leaving as well?" James asked nastily.
"Only if you drive us away James. I won't stand in your way, but I warn you to be cautious with her. I wouldn't want to be on the bad side of her anger," Remus suggested. "I'll be calling it a night. I have to go job hunting in the morning. Bye." Remus walked away.
"See ya!" Peter called over his shoulder.
"What do you think?" James asked Peter. Peter froze clearly not used to being asked.
"I think that..." he trailed off. "That..."
"Come on Pete, have a bloody opinion," James sneered. "You don't know who to agree with do you? Grow up and get a bloody opinion for yourself!" James threw down his money and left the bar.
"Why would you do something like this? You know I don't approve," Lucius told Li in his most disapproving voice. He sat down in his chair and swirled his red wine.
"I don't ever remember asking your opinion," Li snarled.
"I'm giving it to you anyway. It's James Potter for crying out loud! You know, the prick with whom we used to fight back in school? How can you forget what a bastard he was? He's a Griffindor, the only thing lower is dating a Griffindor muggleborn, no offense."
"I don't see how this is your business," Li shouted.
"It is my business! You're my friend and I have to look out for you."
"I appreciate the sentiment but I'm old enough to take care of myself thank you very much."
"We tolerated your continual playing of Quidditch and even your refusal to take sides, but this is too much! You cannot go allying yourself with someone like him."
"Tolerated my Quidditch playing! You bloody bastard! Last time I checked I didn't have to ask your approval to run my life, Dad!" Li said the last word sarcastically.
"Severus, talk some sense into her!" Lucius demanded. Severus sat back in his chair.
"I'm staying out of this one but my opinion is that I dislike Potter greatly for reasons known to both of you and I don't like the idea of Li dating him, but it is her life and I have no say over it even though I disapprove," Severus said.
"You bloody wanker! You're a wimp! Go hide in your dungeon and keep the light out! Go and disappear like the pathetic human you are!" Lucius roared.
"You're the one who asked his opinion you prick so if you don't like it's your own bloody fault!"
"I see it is up to me to talk sense into you," Lucius voice became a strained calm. "We are living in a dangerous world Li. In case you haven't noticed people are dying."
"And you're the one killing them but you don't see me getting involved in your affairs," Li snapped.
"While you're in my house you will listen to me! People are dying and I would be too if I weren't on his side! If I took a stand against him my family would all be killed!" he calmed down again. "You need to decide whose side you're on. Are you going to be on theirs with the dirty arrogant bastard and be killed? Or are you going to be on our side and live? It's self-preservation. Join Voldemort and be saved. We're trying to do something here! We have a cause! We are trying to rid the world of those who are unworthy!"
"Am I unworthy of your grand presence, Lucius? Am I dirty too? Are you ashamed to have me for a friend?" Li withdrew her wand from her pocket.
"Li! You know that's not what I mean!"
"And I don't see why I should have my life approved by you! This is the first thing I've ever done you haven't liked or I haven't consulted you about first. You want to control me! That's what this has been about from the beginning! Well guess what? I don't want to be controlled anymore! Let me make my own decisions!" Li roared. She shoved her wand under Lucius' chin.
"I'm not trying to control your bloody life I'm trying to keep from getting killed but if you don't want help then fine! Go get yourself murdered for all I care! Get out of here! Get out of my house!" Lucius shouted. Li looked at him straight in the eye and with a crack disappeared. Severus rose and drew his wand.
"Yes, you go follow her! You'll never have her you know! You never will because you're too whimpy to say something! You're going to lose her to him! To a goddamned bloody Griffindor! To a POTTER!" Lucius screamed. Severus gave him a look Lucius had never before truly seen on his friend. It was resolve, hurt, pain stubbornness and betrayal. "Severus..." and Snape was gone.
"The trio split up, I'd never thought I'd see the day," Narcissa drawled from the doorway.
"Don't you start woman! Don't use that tone with me! Don't talk of things you know nothing of!" Lucius yelled.
"If my sisters heard you yell now they'd come and take off your head. I'm a Black don't you ever forget that," Narcissa said threateningly.
"You're my wife and you'll do what I say!"
"If you're going to have that attitude then no wonder she wouldn't listen. If you hadn't noticed little Li is turning into Lily and you're releasing all control of that transformation. This could come back and bite you in the arse. If I were you I'd approve of this, all she's doing is defying you. If it was an easy relationship she'd get tired of it and fall right into Severus' arms where you want her."
"Shut up!"
"I don't have to take this, I'm leaving you too. All alone in your misery," Narcissa told him. "I'm sure Bellatrix will be thrilled to hear how you've been treating me." She apparated away. Lucius slammed his fists into the leather chair.
"Hey Jim! How's the girl going? When are you going to dump her?" Sirius asked putting his beer down on the counter.
"Would you stop it with that? I really like her, I'm not going to dump her anytime soon," James argued.
"We've heard that before," Remus grinned. "With Lindsay, Katie, Genna, Janice and Tina."
"Don't forget Henrietta, Lori, Diana, Helen and Olivia," Pete piped in.
"Exactly, what makes this fling so different?" Remus questioned.
"I really like her so get off my back," James snapped.
"Ok man, whatever you say. Be careful with her though, she could get you back for hurting her unlike the others," Remus warned.
"I don't see why you have to date her of all people. She's one of them. She's working for the dark lord. Are you willing to betray your house, your family, your loyalties and all that hard work you've put in to stop Voldemort just for her? Are you going to betray us?" Sirius asked his voice rising.
"Sirius, don't make me chose between you and her," James warned his friend. "If you made me chose I'd have to chose you but I'd be damned angry about it!"
"You're both being unreasonable," Remus cut in.
"Don't you start," James growled. Remus leaned back a bit on his barstool almost to the point where he'd tip it over. He cracked his neck slowly, thinking about what he was going to say. He came back up setting the front two legs of the stool back down with a thump.
"Sirius does have a point. It's not the time to be looking for girls particularly ones as dangerous as she is. With any girl would be distracting. You'd need to spend time with her better spent training. It's dangerous out there and with her, well, we don't know James. We knew Evans in seventh year. She was prime suspect for being a death eater. I know you played Quidditch with her, but if she's capable of lying to the Cannons that proves she can easily lie to you too," Remus reasoned.
"You're just bloody agreeing with him cause you have a crush on him," James muttered under his breath.
"What did you say?" Remus asked eyes narrowing. James had better not betray a secret he'd told James long ago.
"Nothing Remus," he snapped. His voice got soft again; "You bloody fairy."
"James stop it with the under the table insulting of Remus. I have no idea what you're bloody saying but would you stop it?" Sirius demanded. "What's Remus ever done to you?"
"Then you stop attacking my girlfriend!"
"Stop going out with someone who might kill you! Even if she weren't really bad, her friends are. Malfoy is as bad as they come but Snape is not far worse. They're bloody death eaters! They're dangerous! They go poking around where they're not wanted!"
"And we didn't Sirius? Can you remember all those times when we stuck our noses into other people's business?"
"But we're good James! We're not trying to kill anyone," Sirius argued.
"You did a bloody good job proving that," James told him sarcastically. "I remember when a prank of yours almost got Snape killed."
"That's because he was poking around in our business."
"Which he was doing so he could get blackmail cause we were poking around in Evans' business."
"That's besides the point. She's unstable! She dressed up as a bloody man for over ten years and fooled everyone. You're dating a gender confused person."
"She is not, she would never have been recognized or have gotten as much power or pride as she did if she had dressed like a girl. She's a tomboy like your niece. Remus, I don't understand you not liking her. I thought you two reached an understanding back at Hogwarts."
"That was Hogwarts. That was before the real world, things change. Here you need to be cautious James," Remus said.
"It's my bloody life! I will do with it what I want!" James roared.
"You're only saying that because you know we're right. You know she's dangerous, you know she will betray you one day and you know that we disapprove so now you're coming back with the only card you have left. It's your bloody life. Do with it what you like, see if I care. Don't expect me to pick up the pieces," Sirius snapped. He threw money down on the mahogany bar with a thud and stormed away.
"Are you two leaving as well?" James asked nastily.
"Only if you drive us away James. I won't stand in your way, but I warn you to be cautious with her. I wouldn't want to be on the bad side of her anger," Remus suggested. "I'll be calling it a night. I have to go job hunting in the morning. Bye." Remus walked away.
"See ya!" Peter called over his shoulder.
"What do you think?" James asked Peter. Peter froze clearly not used to being asked.
"I think that..." he trailed off. "That..."
"Come on Pete, have a bloody opinion," James sneered. "You don't know who to agree with do you? Grow up and get a bloody opinion for yourself!" James threw down his money and left the bar.