Chapter 7- Meeting old friends
Lily arrived home to find Remus waiting eagerly for her. The house was
spotless and Remus' grin could've given James' grin from Christmas
competition.
"Welcome home Lil's." He said. She gave him a warm smile and sat down.
"Thanks rem, what's up?" She asked curiously.
"I got a new job!" He exclaimed, unable to keep it in any more.
"That's excellent." Lily exclaimed with just as much enthusiasm. She hugged
him. "What is it?" she questioned.
"Uh, I can't say." He replied suddenly awkwardly.
"Why not?" Lily asked confused. Remus blushed.
"You'll laugh." He said quietly.
"Remus, come on you know I won't." Lily sympathised with him.
"Ok but don't tell anyone. I'm going to train to be a hairdresser." This
took Lily by suprised.
"Ow..." She paused. "A hairdresser? A... with Claire Potter??" Remus
nodded.
"She is going to train me. She even has an apartment for me to move into
above. I'm moving in just after new years. Are you ok with that?" Lily
smiled brightly.
"Ow Remus I'm glad this has worked out for you. In fact I am moving out too. I wanted to make sure you would be all right first of course, but I can no longer stay here. I have come to the stage in my life that I need to settle down. I can't tell you all the details now, but you will know within the next few days, provided things go to plan." She had a smile on her face
that Remus only just found very familiar. It was the one he saw look at James with all those years back. He only just then noticed that on her left
hand, she was wearing a ring. An engagement ring.
"Lily... are you... You're getting married?" He gasped. She looked into his
eyes, her own wide with fright.
"I can't talk to you about it now. But Remus, please promise me, however this turns out, please don't judge me. I loved James, I always will." Remus nodded, James seemed to move on, and it wasn't her fault that she hadn't felt the same way as he had. But he did feel that he somehow was betraying his mates trust in even just talking to Lily. "Don't worry, you've shown me
kindness in which I hope I will be able to repay one day."
"No need." Lily said taking his hand, squeezing it and then heading upstairs. Later they decided she would move out the day before New Year's
eve. Remus had offered her help, but Lily refused.
Within the next few days, Lily had moved in with James. Remus would be moving out come New Year. James had invited all his mates over for New Year's eve and that was when they were going to be told about their engagement. It was a beautiful morning and Lily woke up for the first ever time sharing James' bed. No correction- Their bed. She lived there now, she shared it. She looked up at her fiancée who was just grinning at her. He always woke up first, but never got up. He would just stare at her.
"Morning red." He smiled. She returned it.
"Don't call me red." He just smiled more.
"Ok red." he continued.
"I mean it." She said with a mischievous look on her face.
"What would you do if I didn't... Red!" He teased.
"THIS!" She yelled climbing on him and pinning his arms to the bed. She began tickling him mercilessly. Only to find that he wasn't ticklish.
"Oh sh!t!" Came from the doorway, and both Lily and James looked round to see the door closing.
"Who's there?" James called.
"Hey Prongs it's just me!" Sirius yelled through the door. Lily and James looked at each other- had they been caught.
"We may as well tell him now." James sighed. He walked out the door, as Lily quickly put a dressing gown on.
James reached Sirius only to find him grinning from ear to ear.
"What's up Padfoot?" He questioned confused.
"Finally!" Sirius exclaimed. "You're over Lily!"
"Actually, Sirius, he was under me." Lily said coming out in her dressing gown.
"Lily? You... what?" Sirius' facial expression hardened.
"WHAT. ARE. YOU. DOING. HERE?" He spat.
"First of all, Hi to you too. And second, what did it look like I was doing?"
"No, I mean why are you here?" He said his eyes narrowing dangerously.
"I'm here to be with James again." She replied more quietly.
"Why so you can just break his heart again!" Sirius said sarcastically. Lily felt her eyes well up, she hated this subject.
"Look, I'm not about to break James' heart again. I love him ok? So just leave it." She said shakily.
"Only trust a cheetah by the colour of his spots! How do I know you won' leave him again?"
"Hello, I'm here! I can look out for myself mate!" James said. Sirius ignored him and continued laying into Lily.
"Two years you've been gone and you just come back expecting him to take you back?"
"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IN MERLINS NAME YOU ARE SAYING SIRIUS BLACK! LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING, WHAT IF SOMEONE KILLED YOU PARENTS AND THEN THAT SAME SOMEONE TOLD YOU THAT IF YOU DID NOT BREAK UP WITH THE ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD THAT HAVE LEFT TO LOVE, THAT HE WOULD KILL THEM TOO. WELL I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IF YOU LOVED THAT PERSON AS MUCH AS I LOVED JAMES YOU WOULD STAY THE HELL AWAY TOO! THERE YOU GO. ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?" She turned to hide her tears and James wrapped his arms around her glaring slightly at Sirius.
"I'm... I'm sorry." Sirius stuttered, then regained his confidence. " But if that was the case, then what are you doing back here?"
"I found her." James said proudly. "We met up again at Frank and Alice's wedding- she was the maid of honour which Frank kept trying to set me up with." James said proudly. "I kidnapped her and told her that a life where I'm not with her, to me isn't a life without living anyway. In fact..." He smiled guiltily. "We've been dating for about 6 months and we're engaged!" Sirius' mouth opened wide.
"WELL WHEN WERE YOU PLANNING ON TELLING ME?"
"New years eve. Same as everyone else."
"Ow yeah, Sirius suddenly remembered that's why I'm here! What time did you want us round?" Sirius said. He still wasn't completely sure he was happy with the situation.
"8 O'clock sharp. Ow and Padfoot please don't tell anyone about us, I wanted to break the news gently."
"Ok. see you then..." and with a devilish grin he added, "As you were." causing Lily to blush and James to grin and then he was gone.
"That went well..." James sighed. He knew Sirius wasn't 100 per cent convinced yet.
New years eve rolled along ever so quickly and Lily had never seemed more nervous in her life. She had seen how Sirius had taken her re appearance. Now she had to face the others. James had noticed how she had closed her self up, much like when he first met her. She was being very quiet and never gave her opinion- she would just agree with him.
By 8 o'clock they were both dressed and ready for their visitors. James was wearing red dress robes with gold trimming. Very Gryffindor. He was after all a Gryffindor- both in heritage and at heart. Lily wore a short green dress with a white robe which fitted nicely over the top she looked very pretty indeed. Her petite figure had filled out just a little since her days at Hogwarts.
The doorbell went and James got up off the couch that they had been waiting on to answer the door. Lily waited as she had been instructed so. As Remus and Claire entered, their eyes instantly fell onto Lily. Claire was astonished (not in a good way), but Remus didn't look too surprised- just thoughtful, slowly piecing all the information he had gathered in his mind. His thoughts wondered to her engagement ring. He just shook his head smiling to himself; he could be such a dunder head sometimes.
The doorbell went for a second time and Sirius and Andi entered. Sirius smiled sarcastically at Lily and Andi couldn't suppress her smile, she ran over to Lily and hugged her, what ever her husband said- Lily had still been a good friend in school- one whom she hadn't seen for a while. She of course had been told by Sirius about his encounter and she had had a bit of time to adjust.
Finally, Peter and Haley came in. Peter stopped dead in the doorway, and Haley's mouth dropped. "What the hell is she doing here?" She exclaimed. The dark lord would not be happy with this. James walked over to his fiancée and took her hand protectively.
"Ow James you pr@." Claire sighed. James glared at her. "Ok, before we can ENJOY tonight," James started forcefully, "I have an announcement." "Gee I wonder what that could be!" Claire said sarcastically. What was her brother doing? James glared at her again. "Lily and myself are.."
"JAMES POTTER WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING? WHY HAVE YOU TAKEN HER BACK? DID YOU NOT REALISE WHAT SHE REDUCED YOU TO? AND YOU JUST WILLINGLY TAKE HER BACK LIKE THE IDIOT YOU ARE SO SHE CAN DO IT TO YOU AGAIN? YOU STUPID IDIOT!" "TO RIGHT!" Peter backed her up.
"Well I suppose that means you don't want to be invited to the wedding." James laughed. Everyone, Lily and Remus included, looked at James weird. They had all expected him to yell back. "We. wedding?" Claire questioned. This made everything different, if Lily was willing to commit. then maybe she wasn't that bad, maybe there was a reason for her to have left so abruptly. James nodded a gleeful excited look in his eye. They were brother and sister, they were all the other had ever had, and they had an understanding that no one else had ever known. Not Peter and Remus, both being only children as well as Haley. Not Sirius who had lost his sister before even knowing her, not Andi, who had sisters, who got on with them, but never needed and relied on them like James once had. And not Lily who didn't get on with her sister. They shared a special bond.
"Maybe," James started softly, "Maybe we should give people second chances and the benefit of the doubt before we go a head accusing them of all sorts. Maybe, choices made aren't always the right one. Maybe we should let Lily explain her self before we start after her." Claire set her eyes in a stone cold glare and directed it at Lily.
"I said if you hurt my brother you would pay!" She growled. Lily stepped foreword, looking more confident then she felt. "Well, I'm not sure what to do as of yet. You hurt my brother. Explain why." Claire challenged.
Lily started explaining the whole story. This was her defence. "When my parents were killed and I attended their funeral a lady approached me. She told me that she knew me, that she was one of our kind. She seemed very familiar, even though I have never seen her in my life. She was very pretty, almost hypnotising. She sympathised with me although it made me feel uncomfortable. She told me that my parents were killed and that it was mostly my fault- that they would have never been killed if it weren't for me. She commented on how she knew James and myself were going out.
It was scary- she seemed to know more about me than I did. Then she told me how if it were her, she would keep away from James, that she wouldn't want him killed because of her. That set the ball rolling. I loved James and I didn't want him to get harmed. But we were at Hogwarts; I knew that he would be safe. I also knew that there was no way of avoiding him. I knew that he would try and find me, that he would persuade me to stay with him. I knew I couldn't let that happen. When James proposed to me for the first time I was heart broken. The only thing I ever dreamed of from an early age was a being with a man I loved, when I first kissed James, I knew it was him. I ran away, far away. I even fled the country."
Lily was sobbing by now. James stood astonished along with every other member in the room (Well one just pretended) "Whilst I was abroad, I encountered many different branches of magic, mostly medical, some ancient, some dark. Every now and again I would get some figure in a hooded cloak approach me, asking, bribing and attempting to force me into the dark arts. I never gave in. I realised that however hard I tried to for get him James would always be in my heart.
Finally, I returned to England, to do, as I have wanted since I was a 5th year- to become a healer. I wanted to be able to help people even though I could never help myself in the way I wanted to. But I found that class was quite easy, the magic I had learnt abroad seemed very useful. But also when I returned, I met a new friend. She always tried to help me be more happy, she was lovely. When she asked me to be her maid of honour at her wedding I obliged. But when she tried to set me up with the best man, I was less keen. It came to the wedding rehearsal. It was only then that I realised who the best man was." She turned her gaze away from the glares of the people surrounding her and into the loving eyes of her past present and future love. "He really was the best man. I tried my best to stay away from him, to not give in to the inevitable. But he wouldn't let me. He helped me realise that however long my life was, or his for that matter, it was meaningless without each other. James I need you. I need you more then I need oxygen to breathe."
James smiled and put his arm around Lily's waist. Claire looked at them- they were in love, they had something special.
"What a load of hippogriff droppings!" Haley exclaimed. She needed to keep them split up; her life would depend on it.
Ever since the dark lord had recruited her, it had been her job to keep a close eye on the heir of Gryffindor. He had been getting weaker and weaker; the dark lord was making plans to strike. He had, and the heir had gotten away, the job at the tube station was supposed to finish James off, but for some reason he had come out smelling sweeter then roses. It had been the worst punishment any of her fellow death eaters could remember. This was not good, James' power when he had been with Lily before had been catastrophic. "You believe that? James, she's just a gold digger. She never loved you in Hogwarts- she doesn't now." Haley spat.
"I don't love James for his money. Why would I? I have enough to keep me going, I'm starting a highly sought after job in the New Year. Why would I need James' money?" Lily asked Haley. Her voice was deadly quiet, just above a whisper. Her eyes looked deep into her opponents, they held an expression of disappointment and resentment.
"I. you. well." She stuttered. "Question, Lily. The woman who approached you at your mothers funeral- what did she look like?" Sirius spoke up ignoring the prior conversation. Lily looked at him confused, did he not believe her?
"She was very pretty, dark brown eyes, I noticed them because they were very heavy lidded, it made her seem dark, mysterious. There was just something about her. she. she." "She seemed untrustworthy, yet you couldn't help but believe her. She kind of mesmerised you with a glance?" Lily looked at Sirius curiously.
"How did you know?" She asked. "It was Bellatrix. Bellatrix Black. well now Lestrange. She's my cousin, not that I can stand her. She disowned my father when he married my mother. Said she was a muggle lover. I heard she's in with a rough crowd- Malfoy's lot." His glance swiftly turned to Claire and James. "She has always had a certain magic to make you seem to want to trust her." Sirius believed her finally. "Look, I still don't like what you did with James, but well. we all make our mistakes." He exchanged a small smile with Remus. Lily jumped at him hugging him. And Andi gave him a peck on the cheek; she had wanted Sirius to forgive Lily. She could have her old mate back. Lily stood back and glanced between the two.
"Well, well, well who would have thought? Andromeda Mills and Sirius Black together?" She exclaimed. "Actually Lil's, it's Andromeda and Sirius Black now." Andi said, then she added. "And It's not Andromeda- I told you, Andi!" Lily gasped.
"You're married?" Then she turned on James. "You never even told me they were going out, let alone married!" she said angrily. James just blushed.
"Can't we talk about this later Hun?" he forced. Lily remembering her situation reluctantly left the topic. "So Remus, what do you think?" She questioned him, he had said the least all night. He paused thoughtfully.
"Well, I don't think he has much ground to stand on, seeing as he's been living with you for the past few months!" James glared at his mate. Remus looked at James apologetically. "Sorry." He croaked out.
"JAMES!" Lily exclaimed. Sirius turned angrily to look at Remus. Remus. Remus cowered at his glare.
"Please tell me that is not true." He asked in a quiet voice. Remus just bowed his head. "Oh dear lord. You mean to say that whilst he's been moping around like it's the end of the world cause she left him, you thought it would be a good idea to hunt her down and shack up with her!" Sirius said sarcastically.
"Sirius it's not like that. I had no choice in the matter." Remus replied in a quiet sorrowful voice, Lily and only Lily felt sorry for him.
"So the house we had Christmas dinner in. that that was the house you and Lily were sharing?" Claire gasped horrified. She felt betrayed. In all her life she had never met anyone like Remus and he had been lying to her. Not only her, but her brother/ his best friend also. Remus just nodded.
"Ok will everyone just calm down for a minute." Andi tried to break the argument up.
"She what's happening to us, we're all arguing. And it's all because of Lily!" Haley exclaimed in the process of trying to mix everything up.
"Haley's right you know!" Peter backed her up. "Why on earth did you HAVE to shack up with James' ex?" Sirius confronted Remus.
"Siri." Andi tried to calm her other half. "Yeah Remus. Why?" James agreed.
"James I told you the circumstances!" Lily screamed. "You told him?" Remus turned to Lily. "I asked you not to tell any. wait you were going out with James before I moved in? James why didn't you tell any of us guys?"
"WHY'D YOU THINK? CAUSE YOU'D ALL ACT LIKE THIS!!!!" James shouted.
"I had to tell him, there had to be a reason why he couldn't come and visit me anymore at my house. I'm sorry. I don't see why you couldn't tell any of these guys any way. Remus, there your best mates. They're not going to laugh at you.
If anything they'll help you." Lily said softly. This caught everyone's attention. They all stared at Remus intently, all wondering what he Lily and James were talking about. Lily was right, he had to give in.
"Well, it's not much of a problem anymore, well it might be." Remus looked at Claire gravely. "You see, I was struggling to get a job because of my. of my condition. You know." He raised his eye brows at Peter, Sirius and Andi (Sirius had told her about moony. She had reacted similar to Lily but was now used to it.) They all gained knowing looks, finally understanding.
"Well, I was pretty much homeless, then I met Lily one day. She was working in the Hogs head pub in Hogsmeade." Lily blushed. "I accidentally spilled my situation, seeing as she already knew half of it anyway. and well she offered me house and food, in exchange for a little cleaning and house work. I wasn't in a position where I could refuse and so I took it." He finished apologetically.
"What condition? Why couldn't you find a job?" Claire demanded. Remus looked at her. He had bags under his eyes and a wary smile, with the gaze he had set he looked instantly 10 years older.
"I'll tell you later, in private." He replied softly. James looked at them weird, why was his sister bothered? "No, if I'm employing you I want to know what it is which makes you so unemployable!" She spat back. "Employed?" James announced. "Moony, you becoming a hairdresser?" He grinned. Remus blushed. "Moony?" Claire questioned.
"Listen sis, I reckon you should wait a bit and Remus'll tell you in the morning about, his condition. It's a bit of a head case job. It'll take a bit to sink in." James compromised. Claire didn't like it but she backed down because her brother told her to. "Moony," Sirius started. "Why didn't you come to us? We would've helped you if you were stuck." Remus glared at him. "That's exactly it, you would've felt sorry for me. I don't need you pity!"
"AND YOU'RE OK WITH STAYING WITH THE GIRL WHO BROKE YOUR BEST MATES HEART?!" Sirius yelled. "Yeah I bet that wasn't all he was after- a roof over his head. Bet there was more going on then that!" Haley stirred. James went pale and turned to Lily.
"That's not true is it?" He asked. "Of course it's not!" She said glaring at Haley. "I'd never do that!" Remus said defensively. "Sure you wouldn't." Haley retorted.
"He was saying things like, you know James still loves you or you were allot happier when you were with James to me every 5 seconds. I couldn't have thought of any one but James even if I wasn't going out with him!" Lily said. "What's you problem anyway Haley? Why do you have anything to do with anything?" She argued.
"WELL I CARE FOR JAMES CAUSE HE'S PETER'S BEST FRIEND! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU HURT HIM AGAIN!" She screamed.
"I LOVE JAMES I'M NOT GOING TO HURT HIM! I LEFT HIM BEFORE BUT IT WAS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE I EVER MADE!!!!!"
"SHUT UP! ALL OF YOU STOP ARGUING!" Andi bellowed. "YOU SOUND LIKE A PACK OF FIVE YEAR OLDS, ALL STARTING ON EACH OTHER! NOW WE HAVE FIVE MINUTES TILL IT'S THE NEW YEAR, I SUGGEST YOU ALL SIT DOWN AND THINK FOR A MINUTE, THEN WE'LL ALL APOLOGISE TO EACH OTHER. Listen," She started more softly. "Lily left James and hurt him. She also hurt herself, she made a mistake. But she realised it and now she's back. James found it in his heart to forgive her and so should we. There obviously in love and there getting married. Now I want us all to be able to start the New Year as friends." She finished. Everyone stood looking at Andi silently. They all realised what fools they'd been and one by one they sat down.
"You're right huni." Sirius said taking his wife's hand. "Lily, I'm sorry. You made a mistake, if James can forgive you, then I can!" Lily smiled at him.
"Yeah, same goes from me." Claire said. Peter nodded and Remus just smiled at her. Haley, sat down with peter. Andi smiled triumphantly at them all, and together they counted down the New Year. Starting it as they meant to go on. As friends. Well all except one.
Lily arrived home to find Remus waiting eagerly for her. The house was
spotless and Remus' grin could've given James' grin from Christmas
competition.
"Welcome home Lil's." He said. She gave him a warm smile and sat down.
"Thanks rem, what's up?" She asked curiously.
"I got a new job!" He exclaimed, unable to keep it in any more.
"That's excellent." Lily exclaimed with just as much enthusiasm. She hugged
him. "What is it?" she questioned.
"Uh, I can't say." He replied suddenly awkwardly.
"Why not?" Lily asked confused. Remus blushed.
"You'll laugh." He said quietly.
"Remus, come on you know I won't." Lily sympathised with him.
"Ok but don't tell anyone. I'm going to train to be a hairdresser." This
took Lily by suprised.
"Ow..." She paused. "A hairdresser? A... with Claire Potter??" Remus
nodded.
"She is going to train me. She even has an apartment for me to move into
above. I'm moving in just after new years. Are you ok with that?" Lily
smiled brightly.
"Ow Remus I'm glad this has worked out for you. In fact I am moving out too. I wanted to make sure you would be all right first of course, but I can no longer stay here. I have come to the stage in my life that I need to settle down. I can't tell you all the details now, but you will know within the next few days, provided things go to plan." She had a smile on her face
that Remus only just found very familiar. It was the one he saw look at James with all those years back. He only just then noticed that on her left
hand, she was wearing a ring. An engagement ring.
"Lily... are you... You're getting married?" He gasped. She looked into his
eyes, her own wide with fright.
"I can't talk to you about it now. But Remus, please promise me, however this turns out, please don't judge me. I loved James, I always will." Remus nodded, James seemed to move on, and it wasn't her fault that she hadn't felt the same way as he had. But he did feel that he somehow was betraying his mates trust in even just talking to Lily. "Don't worry, you've shown me
kindness in which I hope I will be able to repay one day."
"No need." Lily said taking his hand, squeezing it and then heading upstairs. Later they decided she would move out the day before New Year's
eve. Remus had offered her help, but Lily refused.
Within the next few days, Lily had moved in with James. Remus would be moving out come New Year. James had invited all his mates over for New Year's eve and that was when they were going to be told about their engagement. It was a beautiful morning and Lily woke up for the first ever time sharing James' bed. No correction- Their bed. She lived there now, she shared it. She looked up at her fiancée who was just grinning at her. He always woke up first, but never got up. He would just stare at her.
"Morning red." He smiled. She returned it.
"Don't call me red." He just smiled more.
"Ok red." he continued.
"I mean it." She said with a mischievous look on her face.
"What would you do if I didn't... Red!" He teased.
"THIS!" She yelled climbing on him and pinning his arms to the bed. She began tickling him mercilessly. Only to find that he wasn't ticklish.
"Oh sh!t!" Came from the doorway, and both Lily and James looked round to see the door closing.
"Who's there?" James called.
"Hey Prongs it's just me!" Sirius yelled through the door. Lily and James looked at each other- had they been caught.
"We may as well tell him now." James sighed. He walked out the door, as Lily quickly put a dressing gown on.
James reached Sirius only to find him grinning from ear to ear.
"What's up Padfoot?" He questioned confused.
"Finally!" Sirius exclaimed. "You're over Lily!"
"Actually, Sirius, he was under me." Lily said coming out in her dressing gown.
"Lily? You... what?" Sirius' facial expression hardened.
"WHAT. ARE. YOU. DOING. HERE?" He spat.
"First of all, Hi to you too. And second, what did it look like I was doing?"
"No, I mean why are you here?" He said his eyes narrowing dangerously.
"I'm here to be with James again." She replied more quietly.
"Why so you can just break his heart again!" Sirius said sarcastically. Lily felt her eyes well up, she hated this subject.
"Look, I'm not about to break James' heart again. I love him ok? So just leave it." She said shakily.
"Only trust a cheetah by the colour of his spots! How do I know you won' leave him again?"
"Hello, I'm here! I can look out for myself mate!" James said. Sirius ignored him and continued laying into Lily.
"Two years you've been gone and you just come back expecting him to take you back?"
"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IN MERLINS NAME YOU ARE SAYING SIRIUS BLACK! LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING, WHAT IF SOMEONE KILLED YOU PARENTS AND THEN THAT SAME SOMEONE TOLD YOU THAT IF YOU DID NOT BREAK UP WITH THE ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD THAT HAVE LEFT TO LOVE, THAT HE WOULD KILL THEM TOO. WELL I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IF YOU LOVED THAT PERSON AS MUCH AS I LOVED JAMES YOU WOULD STAY THE HELL AWAY TOO! THERE YOU GO. ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?" She turned to hide her tears and James wrapped his arms around her glaring slightly at Sirius.
"I'm... I'm sorry." Sirius stuttered, then regained his confidence. " But if that was the case, then what are you doing back here?"
"I found her." James said proudly. "We met up again at Frank and Alice's wedding- she was the maid of honour which Frank kept trying to set me up with." James said proudly. "I kidnapped her and told her that a life where I'm not with her, to me isn't a life without living anyway. In fact..." He smiled guiltily. "We've been dating for about 6 months and we're engaged!" Sirius' mouth opened wide.
"WELL WHEN WERE YOU PLANNING ON TELLING ME?"
"New years eve. Same as everyone else."
"Ow yeah, Sirius suddenly remembered that's why I'm here! What time did you want us round?" Sirius said. He still wasn't completely sure he was happy with the situation.
"8 O'clock sharp. Ow and Padfoot please don't tell anyone about us, I wanted to break the news gently."
"Ok. see you then..." and with a devilish grin he added, "As you were." causing Lily to blush and James to grin and then he was gone.
"That went well..." James sighed. He knew Sirius wasn't 100 per cent convinced yet.
New years eve rolled along ever so quickly and Lily had never seemed more nervous in her life. She had seen how Sirius had taken her re appearance. Now she had to face the others. James had noticed how she had closed her self up, much like when he first met her. She was being very quiet and never gave her opinion- she would just agree with him.
By 8 o'clock they were both dressed and ready for their visitors. James was wearing red dress robes with gold trimming. Very Gryffindor. He was after all a Gryffindor- both in heritage and at heart. Lily wore a short green dress with a white robe which fitted nicely over the top she looked very pretty indeed. Her petite figure had filled out just a little since her days at Hogwarts.
The doorbell went and James got up off the couch that they had been waiting on to answer the door. Lily waited as she had been instructed so. As Remus and Claire entered, their eyes instantly fell onto Lily. Claire was astonished (not in a good way), but Remus didn't look too surprised- just thoughtful, slowly piecing all the information he had gathered in his mind. His thoughts wondered to her engagement ring. He just shook his head smiling to himself; he could be such a dunder head sometimes.
The doorbell went for a second time and Sirius and Andi entered. Sirius smiled sarcastically at Lily and Andi couldn't suppress her smile, she ran over to Lily and hugged her, what ever her husband said- Lily had still been a good friend in school- one whom she hadn't seen for a while. She of course had been told by Sirius about his encounter and she had had a bit of time to adjust.
Finally, Peter and Haley came in. Peter stopped dead in the doorway, and Haley's mouth dropped. "What the hell is she doing here?" She exclaimed. The dark lord would not be happy with this. James walked over to his fiancée and took her hand protectively.
"Ow James you pr@." Claire sighed. James glared at her. "Ok, before we can ENJOY tonight," James started forcefully, "I have an announcement." "Gee I wonder what that could be!" Claire said sarcastically. What was her brother doing? James glared at her again. "Lily and myself are.."
"JAMES POTTER WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING? WHY HAVE YOU TAKEN HER BACK? DID YOU NOT REALISE WHAT SHE REDUCED YOU TO? AND YOU JUST WILLINGLY TAKE HER BACK LIKE THE IDIOT YOU ARE SO SHE CAN DO IT TO YOU AGAIN? YOU STUPID IDIOT!" "TO RIGHT!" Peter backed her up.
"Well I suppose that means you don't want to be invited to the wedding." James laughed. Everyone, Lily and Remus included, looked at James weird. They had all expected him to yell back. "We. wedding?" Claire questioned. This made everything different, if Lily was willing to commit. then maybe she wasn't that bad, maybe there was a reason for her to have left so abruptly. James nodded a gleeful excited look in his eye. They were brother and sister, they were all the other had ever had, and they had an understanding that no one else had ever known. Not Peter and Remus, both being only children as well as Haley. Not Sirius who had lost his sister before even knowing her, not Andi, who had sisters, who got on with them, but never needed and relied on them like James once had. And not Lily who didn't get on with her sister. They shared a special bond.
"Maybe," James started softly, "Maybe we should give people second chances and the benefit of the doubt before we go a head accusing them of all sorts. Maybe, choices made aren't always the right one. Maybe we should let Lily explain her self before we start after her." Claire set her eyes in a stone cold glare and directed it at Lily.
"I said if you hurt my brother you would pay!" She growled. Lily stepped foreword, looking more confident then she felt. "Well, I'm not sure what to do as of yet. You hurt my brother. Explain why." Claire challenged.
Lily started explaining the whole story. This was her defence. "When my parents were killed and I attended their funeral a lady approached me. She told me that she knew me, that she was one of our kind. She seemed very familiar, even though I have never seen her in my life. She was very pretty, almost hypnotising. She sympathised with me although it made me feel uncomfortable. She told me that my parents were killed and that it was mostly my fault- that they would have never been killed if it weren't for me. She commented on how she knew James and myself were going out.
It was scary- she seemed to know more about me than I did. Then she told me how if it were her, she would keep away from James, that she wouldn't want him killed because of her. That set the ball rolling. I loved James and I didn't want him to get harmed. But we were at Hogwarts; I knew that he would be safe. I also knew that there was no way of avoiding him. I knew that he would try and find me, that he would persuade me to stay with him. I knew I couldn't let that happen. When James proposed to me for the first time I was heart broken. The only thing I ever dreamed of from an early age was a being with a man I loved, when I first kissed James, I knew it was him. I ran away, far away. I even fled the country."
Lily was sobbing by now. James stood astonished along with every other member in the room (Well one just pretended) "Whilst I was abroad, I encountered many different branches of magic, mostly medical, some ancient, some dark. Every now and again I would get some figure in a hooded cloak approach me, asking, bribing and attempting to force me into the dark arts. I never gave in. I realised that however hard I tried to for get him James would always be in my heart.
Finally, I returned to England, to do, as I have wanted since I was a 5th year- to become a healer. I wanted to be able to help people even though I could never help myself in the way I wanted to. But I found that class was quite easy, the magic I had learnt abroad seemed very useful. But also when I returned, I met a new friend. She always tried to help me be more happy, she was lovely. When she asked me to be her maid of honour at her wedding I obliged. But when she tried to set me up with the best man, I was less keen. It came to the wedding rehearsal. It was only then that I realised who the best man was." She turned her gaze away from the glares of the people surrounding her and into the loving eyes of her past present and future love. "He really was the best man. I tried my best to stay away from him, to not give in to the inevitable. But he wouldn't let me. He helped me realise that however long my life was, or his for that matter, it was meaningless without each other. James I need you. I need you more then I need oxygen to breathe."
James smiled and put his arm around Lily's waist. Claire looked at them- they were in love, they had something special.
"What a load of hippogriff droppings!" Haley exclaimed. She needed to keep them split up; her life would depend on it.
Ever since the dark lord had recruited her, it had been her job to keep a close eye on the heir of Gryffindor. He had been getting weaker and weaker; the dark lord was making plans to strike. He had, and the heir had gotten away, the job at the tube station was supposed to finish James off, but for some reason he had come out smelling sweeter then roses. It had been the worst punishment any of her fellow death eaters could remember. This was not good, James' power when he had been with Lily before had been catastrophic. "You believe that? James, she's just a gold digger. She never loved you in Hogwarts- she doesn't now." Haley spat.
"I don't love James for his money. Why would I? I have enough to keep me going, I'm starting a highly sought after job in the New Year. Why would I need James' money?" Lily asked Haley. Her voice was deadly quiet, just above a whisper. Her eyes looked deep into her opponents, they held an expression of disappointment and resentment.
"I. you. well." She stuttered. "Question, Lily. The woman who approached you at your mothers funeral- what did she look like?" Sirius spoke up ignoring the prior conversation. Lily looked at him confused, did he not believe her?
"She was very pretty, dark brown eyes, I noticed them because they were very heavy lidded, it made her seem dark, mysterious. There was just something about her. she. she." "She seemed untrustworthy, yet you couldn't help but believe her. She kind of mesmerised you with a glance?" Lily looked at Sirius curiously.
"How did you know?" She asked. "It was Bellatrix. Bellatrix Black. well now Lestrange. She's my cousin, not that I can stand her. She disowned my father when he married my mother. Said she was a muggle lover. I heard she's in with a rough crowd- Malfoy's lot." His glance swiftly turned to Claire and James. "She has always had a certain magic to make you seem to want to trust her." Sirius believed her finally. "Look, I still don't like what you did with James, but well. we all make our mistakes." He exchanged a small smile with Remus. Lily jumped at him hugging him. And Andi gave him a peck on the cheek; she had wanted Sirius to forgive Lily. She could have her old mate back. Lily stood back and glanced between the two.
"Well, well, well who would have thought? Andromeda Mills and Sirius Black together?" She exclaimed. "Actually Lil's, it's Andromeda and Sirius Black now." Andi said, then she added. "And It's not Andromeda- I told you, Andi!" Lily gasped.
"You're married?" Then she turned on James. "You never even told me they were going out, let alone married!" she said angrily. James just blushed.
"Can't we talk about this later Hun?" he forced. Lily remembering her situation reluctantly left the topic. "So Remus, what do you think?" She questioned him, he had said the least all night. He paused thoughtfully.
"Well, I don't think he has much ground to stand on, seeing as he's been living with you for the past few months!" James glared at his mate. Remus looked at James apologetically. "Sorry." He croaked out.
"JAMES!" Lily exclaimed. Sirius turned angrily to look at Remus. Remus. Remus cowered at his glare.
"Please tell me that is not true." He asked in a quiet voice. Remus just bowed his head. "Oh dear lord. You mean to say that whilst he's been moping around like it's the end of the world cause she left him, you thought it would be a good idea to hunt her down and shack up with her!" Sirius said sarcastically.
"Sirius it's not like that. I had no choice in the matter." Remus replied in a quiet sorrowful voice, Lily and only Lily felt sorry for him.
"So the house we had Christmas dinner in. that that was the house you and Lily were sharing?" Claire gasped horrified. She felt betrayed. In all her life she had never met anyone like Remus and he had been lying to her. Not only her, but her brother/ his best friend also. Remus just nodded.
"Ok will everyone just calm down for a minute." Andi tried to break the argument up.
"She what's happening to us, we're all arguing. And it's all because of Lily!" Haley exclaimed in the process of trying to mix everything up.
"Haley's right you know!" Peter backed her up. "Why on earth did you HAVE to shack up with James' ex?" Sirius confronted Remus.
"Siri." Andi tried to calm her other half. "Yeah Remus. Why?" James agreed.
"James I told you the circumstances!" Lily screamed. "You told him?" Remus turned to Lily. "I asked you not to tell any. wait you were going out with James before I moved in? James why didn't you tell any of us guys?"
"WHY'D YOU THINK? CAUSE YOU'D ALL ACT LIKE THIS!!!!" James shouted.
"I had to tell him, there had to be a reason why he couldn't come and visit me anymore at my house. I'm sorry. I don't see why you couldn't tell any of these guys any way. Remus, there your best mates. They're not going to laugh at you.
If anything they'll help you." Lily said softly. This caught everyone's attention. They all stared at Remus intently, all wondering what he Lily and James were talking about. Lily was right, he had to give in.
"Well, it's not much of a problem anymore, well it might be." Remus looked at Claire gravely. "You see, I was struggling to get a job because of my. of my condition. You know." He raised his eye brows at Peter, Sirius and Andi (Sirius had told her about moony. She had reacted similar to Lily but was now used to it.) They all gained knowing looks, finally understanding.
"Well, I was pretty much homeless, then I met Lily one day. She was working in the Hogs head pub in Hogsmeade." Lily blushed. "I accidentally spilled my situation, seeing as she already knew half of it anyway. and well she offered me house and food, in exchange for a little cleaning and house work. I wasn't in a position where I could refuse and so I took it." He finished apologetically.
"What condition? Why couldn't you find a job?" Claire demanded. Remus looked at her. He had bags under his eyes and a wary smile, with the gaze he had set he looked instantly 10 years older.
"I'll tell you later, in private." He replied softly. James looked at them weird, why was his sister bothered? "No, if I'm employing you I want to know what it is which makes you so unemployable!" She spat back. "Employed?" James announced. "Moony, you becoming a hairdresser?" He grinned. Remus blushed. "Moony?" Claire questioned.
"Listen sis, I reckon you should wait a bit and Remus'll tell you in the morning about, his condition. It's a bit of a head case job. It'll take a bit to sink in." James compromised. Claire didn't like it but she backed down because her brother told her to. "Moony," Sirius started. "Why didn't you come to us? We would've helped you if you were stuck." Remus glared at him. "That's exactly it, you would've felt sorry for me. I don't need you pity!"
"AND YOU'RE OK WITH STAYING WITH THE GIRL WHO BROKE YOUR BEST MATES HEART?!" Sirius yelled. "Yeah I bet that wasn't all he was after- a roof over his head. Bet there was more going on then that!" Haley stirred. James went pale and turned to Lily.
"That's not true is it?" He asked. "Of course it's not!" She said glaring at Haley. "I'd never do that!" Remus said defensively. "Sure you wouldn't." Haley retorted.
"He was saying things like, you know James still loves you or you were allot happier when you were with James to me every 5 seconds. I couldn't have thought of any one but James even if I wasn't going out with him!" Lily said. "What's you problem anyway Haley? Why do you have anything to do with anything?" She argued.
"WELL I CARE FOR JAMES CAUSE HE'S PETER'S BEST FRIEND! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU HURT HIM AGAIN!" She screamed.
"I LOVE JAMES I'M NOT GOING TO HURT HIM! I LEFT HIM BEFORE BUT IT WAS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE I EVER MADE!!!!!"
"SHUT UP! ALL OF YOU STOP ARGUING!" Andi bellowed. "YOU SOUND LIKE A PACK OF FIVE YEAR OLDS, ALL STARTING ON EACH OTHER! NOW WE HAVE FIVE MINUTES TILL IT'S THE NEW YEAR, I SUGGEST YOU ALL SIT DOWN AND THINK FOR A MINUTE, THEN WE'LL ALL APOLOGISE TO EACH OTHER. Listen," She started more softly. "Lily left James and hurt him. She also hurt herself, she made a mistake. But she realised it and now she's back. James found it in his heart to forgive her and so should we. There obviously in love and there getting married. Now I want us all to be able to start the New Year as friends." She finished. Everyone stood looking at Andi silently. They all realised what fools they'd been and one by one they sat down.
"You're right huni." Sirius said taking his wife's hand. "Lily, I'm sorry. You made a mistake, if James can forgive you, then I can!" Lily smiled at him.
"Yeah, same goes from me." Claire said. Peter nodded and Remus just smiled at her. Haley, sat down with peter. Andi smiled triumphantly at them all, and together they counted down the New Year. Starting it as they meant to go on. As friends. Well all except one.