Disclaimer: Not mine. Never will be. Let's leave it at that, shall we?
Chapter 8, ladies and gentlemen.
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Lunch was nearly over, and there was still no sign of Lily anywhere. Every few minutes, Juliet would look up from her food and away from Remus and stared at the entranceway, hoping to catch a glimpse of her friend. But alas, Lily did not show up.
With about ten minutes of lunch left, Juliet excused herself from the Gryffindor table and told Remus, Sirius, James, and Peter that she was heading up towards the dorms to put Lily's papers back on her desk. If Lily showed up, they should tell her that Juliet was already in their room. The guys agreed.
Sensing that Lily might be up there—Lily oftentimes went to her dorm before heading to the Great Hall to retrieve some books—Juliet wrapped a sandwich neatly in a paper napkin and placed it in her pocket. She walked swiftly through the hallway toward the Gryffindor Tower.
She walked through the Portrait Hole, and up the stairs to the dorms. The door was closed and she opened it, believing that no one was in there. Walking into the room, she notices Lily's trunk open with all of her belongings scattered all over the floor. Juliet was worried. Did someone ransack their room? She called out for Lily.
"Lily? Are you in here? Lils?" She ran to Lily's bed, where the curtains were shut. She heard a muffled sob.
"Lily, sweetie, I brought you some foo—oh my God." Juliet stopped when she saw Lily's tear-streaked face. She saw the picture frame tight in Lily's grasp and she dropped the sandwich on the ground. She hugged Lily.
"Oh my God, Lily, are you alright? What happened? What's wrong?" Lily continued to cry harder, as Juliet quietly brushed her hair out of her eyes, and took out her lace handkerchief. She dabbed Lily's eyes and gave Lily the handkerchief. Lily mumbled a "thank you" before whimpering again.
With pure concern and sympathy, Juliet crawled into Lily's bed and hugged her friend again. "Lily, you have to tell me what's wrong. I was worried sick when you didn't arrive for lunch today."
Out of breath and hiccuping because of her crying, Lily pointed at her parents' picture. "My Mum and Dad are dead, Jules…they're…they're gone…" She began to cry again. Juliet felt tears forming in her eyes too.
"Oh, Lils, I am so sorry. I am so sorry." Juliet rocked Lily back and forth as she stroked her auburn hair. Having met Lily's parents a couple times, Juliet knew how special they were to Lily. They loved Lily with all their heart, and they didn't turn their back on her when she received her Hogwarts letter. In fact, their unconditional love for Lily was probably a main reason why Petunia despised her so much. Lily's being a witch made her only more special in the eyes of her parents. Juliet stifled a sob.
Lily spoke softly. "I don't know what to do, Jules. I don't know what to do. I am all alone. I have no one." Juliet shook her head, holding Lily's shoulders so she could face her.
"No, Lils, you are not alone. You have me. You will always have me. You have lots of friends who love you here. You have lots of friends who will always support you. You are never alone." Lily smiled before dissolving back into her tears.
"Petunia probably hates me. She's all I have left as a family, and she hates me. I don't know what I am going to do." Lily sobbed. Juliet took a moment to carefully choose her words.
"Petunia doesn't hate you, Lils. She is just jealous that she had to share your parents' affections with you. She's probably crying just like you. You are her SISTER. She loves you." Lily nodded weakly and put her head on Juliet's shoulder. She crying had slowed down substantially, but tears were still streaming from her eyes. Lily spoke again, in a small voice.
"It's just that…I'm no one's little girl anymore, Jules. I'm no one's little girl." Lily started to cry, and this time, Juliet cried with her too.
~*~
Meanwhile, downstairs in the Great Hall, the guys were discussing Quidditch. Ever since Slytherin's humiliating defeat to Hufflepuff, there was a great chance that Gryffindor will have chance to steal the House Cup from Slytherin this year. That was the topic of James, Sirius, Remus, and Anton's discussion. Peter was off in his own little world, staring at his crush, Elmyra Lonstein, a Hufflepuff.
Practices had been going well, despite the frightful weather outside ("You guys are going to get skewered, I swear" Lily would assert as often as she could when James would attempt to grab his broom), and the team was about as polished as they could be to play against their formidable foe, Slytherin. After a minor scare with some lightening last practice, which included a few bruises and bumps and James' hair sticking up more than usual, everyone was ready to play.
At the Gryffindor table, James turned to Anton. "So what exactly are our chances of beating Ravenclaw at the end of the week?" Anton took large sip of his pumpkin juice and answered James' question.
"A really great chance, mate. The winner Saturday's game will play Slytherin for the House Cup. And considering our track record versus Ravenclaw's this season…we definitely have a chance of playing against Slytherin and winning the House Cup." Anton smiled brightly.
James grin got even wider. "Yes! That's spectacular! We have a chance! I cannot wait for the end of the week to come! We have a chance!" Sirius and Remus were smiling also, and cheering. Peter managed to tear his eyes away from Elmyra and offer a congratulatory cheer to his fellow Gryffindors too.
By the time lunch was nearly over, all the Gryffindor Quidditch players were at the end of the table and were psyched for their game on Saturday. James felt as if nothing could diminish his happy attitude that lunch period.
~*~
After crying some more with Lily, Juliet realized that it was time for her to go back to class. She did not have an excuse if she was tardy, and she especially did not want to be late to Charms. Juliet patted Lily on the back and untangled herself from Lily's hug. She used her handkerchief to wipe Lily's eyes once again.
"I'm sorry Lils, but I have to get back to class. I will be thinking of you, though." Juliet picked up the sandwich that fell on the ground, still wrapped in the napkin. "Here, have a bite of this. You haven't had any lunch."
Lily took the sandwich, but placed it on her bed. "What's the point of eating? What's the point of living?" She said sadly, as she glanced at the picture of her parents once more. She began to cry again, slow sobs coming from her pretty face. Juliet's voice became louder and more determined.
"Lily Evans, get a hold of yourself. Listen to me: YOU HAVE TO EAT. I know this is difficult for you, and that life doesn't seem very fair right now, but you must take care of yourself. That is what you parents probably want you to do…not mope for them and go down some self-destructive path. They want you to be healthy and happy and live a wonderful life." Juliet opened the sandwich and gave a half of it to Lily, who started taking slow, cautious bites.
"Besides," Juliet continued, "You are slim enough as it is. We don't want people to think you're sickly. You have to take care of yourself." Lily smiled a weak smile to Juliet, as she began to take more bites of the sandwich. Lily was too sad to hear that her stomach was grumbling, having missed lunch and parts of breakfast.
"Thanks for everything, Jules. I don't know what I would do without you here." Lily said quietly, as she hugged Juliet once more. Juliet kissed Lily on the cheek and began to grab her books.
"Anything for you, Lils. I know this is rough, and it's going to take some time to heal, but remember, I am always there fore you. We are all here for you. We are going to get through this." Juliet smiled. "I'm going to go back down to the guys, okay? I'm going to tell them you're here, so they won't be worried."
At that statement, Lily's face fell. She shook her head. Juliet turned. "What's wrong, Lily?"
Lily stammered, "Don't tell the guys that my parents died, ok? Don't tell anyone…I don't need pity right now. People already think of my as weird, being a Muggle-born and all, and I don't need anymore of their looks and whispering when they find out that my parents died." Juliet looked confused.
"But Lils, Sirius, Remus, James, and Peter won't do anything like that. They will help you. They love you. Sirius will feel horrible and James will take care of you." Lily shook her head.
"Don't Juliet, please. Just for right now. I'll tell them later, when I feel ready. I don't want Sirius or Remus to worry about me. And I surely don't want James to go out of his way to help me, because he will, I KNOW he will. I'll tell them when it's time, ok? Just for right now, tell them that I am sick." Lily pleaded to Juliet.
Juliet sighed. "Alright, whatever you want Lils. But we'll always be there fore you. I'll be back after class to check on you, ok?"
Juliet left the room, and shut the door quietly behind her. Lily sighed and wiped some extra tears from the corners of her eyes. She began to clean up all of the stuff she threw out of the trunk. She wanted to speak to Dumbledore as soon as possible.
~*~
Dumbledore was surprised that Lily wanted to speak with him only a few hours after he told her the news. Lily was no longer crying, but had a strong look of determination and strength on her face that Dumbledore admired. 'That's a Gryffindor alright,' he thought, glancing at Lily's stoic, yet sad demeanor when she arrived at his office. 'Things may be troubled on the outside, but always brave and strong on the inside.' Lily sat down and listened intently as Dumbledore told her about her family situation.
"Ms. Evans, I have been speaking to various people in the Ministry who have spoken to your family. In your parents' will, they left the house to you and Petunia, and your Aunt Lavinia is coming over to live there until you and Petunia are financially able to live on your own." Lily smiled a weak smile.
She loved her Aunt Lavinia dearly, she was her father's younger sister, and she was glad that Lavinia wanted to come and stay with them. Dumbledore continued.
"Your parents' funeral, as arranged by your mother's side, has been tentatively scheduled for this Friday. Now, I am able to grant you a leave of absence from school from Friday until Sunday. Is that alright with you?" Dumbledore asked Lily, to make sure she was okay with the plans. Lily nodded.
"That sounds good, Professor Dumbledore." Dumbledore nodded and proceeded with his talk.
"Very well, then. Hagrid will escort you to the train station early Friday morning, and your family will meet you at the station later that day. Hagrid will also be at the station when you return to Hogwarts on Sunday, and bring you back to the castle." Lily nodded, and thanked Professor Dumbledore for helping her out.
"Please, do not thank me, Lily. I am very sorry about parents. If there is anything that I, or Professor McGonagall, or anyone else can do for you here at Hogwarts, please feel free to come to my office and tell me." Lily smiled and left Dumbledore's office.
~*~
Juliet had told the guys that Lily wasn't feeling very well and that she was lying down in bed. Naturally, everyone hoped that Lily was doing alright, and they wanted to see her. After convincing James and Sirius that Lily did not want to be seen, and practically throwing herself in front of their dorm room to block the two guys, Juliet persuaded everyone attention back to their homework and the excitement about the Gryffindor-Ravenclaw showdown for the chance for the House Cup on Saturday.
By the time Friday arrived, Lily, who had returned to classes two days prior, was packed and ready to attend her parents' funeral. She tried to put on a happy face to everyone in her classes, but Juliet could tell it was a strain. Lily was hurting inside, and she needed the closure of her parents' funeral and the comfort of her family to feel better. In the morning, Juliet was hugging Lily again as Lily was gathering her trunk by the doorway.
"I'm going to miss you, Lils. Please take care of yourself. Even though I can't go with you back to your house, I am with you in spirit. Always." Lily smiled a teary-eyed smile as she hugged and Juliet again.
"Thanks Jules. You don't know how much that means to me. You have been such a good friend to me this entire week. I know it must have been hard for you to sleep with me crying all night." Lily's façade of happiness crumbled in the nighttime when she cried herself to sleep. Juliet was there for her, every night, comforting her and reassuring her that everything would be okay.
Juliet helped Lily with her trunk as Lily walked through the Common Room toward the Portrait Hole. Sirius, Remus, and Peter were there, wishing Lily good bye too.
Sirius came up to Lily first and said, "Bye, Lils. Have a safe trip. Hope you sort out the 'family business' okay. I'll cheer extra loud for you at the Quidditch game tomorrow." Sirius smiled and hugged Lily. Lily had told everyone that she had to leave for 'family business' on Friday, and she would be returning Sunday.
Peter hugged Lily next and wished her a safe trip. "Thanks Peter. Take care too." Lily said, as Remus approached her.
Remus hugged her and whispered in her ear, "Please take care of yourself Lily. I am very sorry about your parents." Lily nodded, holding back her tears again. Juliet told Remus about Lily's parents, and Lily did not mind. Remus had been her friend for a while, and it was alright that he knew, since he was dating Juliet and Juliet told him everything. Lily hugged him and sniffled. She waved goodbye to her friends as she stepped out of the Portrait Hole toward the entrance of the castle to meet Hagrid.
She was walking down the long corridor when she saw James running toward her clad in his entire Quidditch uniform. His robe was swinging wildly just before he stopped in front of Lily.
"Oh gosh, I thought you'd already left, Lily. Didn't want you to leave without saying goodbye first." Lily put down her trunk with a genuine smile as James held out his arms. Lily hugged James, who hugged her back.
"Yeah, I'm really sorry I'm missing your Quidditch game, James, with the House Cup at stake and everything. I know how much it means to you. But be careful out there, and I'll see you Sunday." She whispered, embracing him.
"Hey, it's alright…don't worry about it. Family is more important than Quidditch. Say hello to your parents and Petunia for me. Please send them my regards." James said, holding firmly to Lily.
'If only you knew the true impact of those words.' Lily thought ruefully in her mind. "Thanks a lot. Just grab the snitch, Jamesie, and I'll talk to you later. Good luck." She kissed him on the cheek and started to pull back as James reluctantly released Lily from his grasp.
"Will do, ma'am." They shared a smile as Lily tried to smooth out some of his hair that had flopped characteristically out of place. Glancing at James' watch, Lily picked up her trunk again, and began to walk back down the corridor, her silky hair flying loose behind her.
James turned. "Are you sure you don't need any help out?" He yelled to Lily's fleeting figure. Lily turned her head, mouthed 'No, thank you', and waved. She continued to walk to the entrance where Hagrid was waiting for her.
A smile slowly crept across James' face and with a new burst of energy, James ran through the Portrait Hole toward his room to get his broom for a final Quidditch practice.
~*~
The next day was the big game. James could barely sleep, and Remus had to put a Sleeping Spell on him in the middle of the night to keep James from getting up and pacing. By the time morning came, everyone in the dorm was groggy. During breakfast, James managed to calm down as he quietly ate his oatmeal with Remus, Sirius, and Peter.
"So," said a drawling voice from behind them, "What do you deem the odds are of Gryffindor winning today?"
"Probably," said James, without looking up from his food, "the same as the odds that you never wash your hair, Snape." Sirius, Remus and Peter laughed.
"How can we help you, Slimy?"
"You think you're so funny, Potter," retorted Snape. "I'll have you know I take a shower every day."
"What are you trying to do, Snape? Fill my pure mind with disturbing images of you naked? I don't really care, though I am surprised there are showers in the Slytherin common room." James had said all this without looking up, but when he did, he was face to face with an angry-looking Snape. You could practically see the steam coming out from his ears. James smiled an internal smile. He loved winding people up – especially since he really didn't have a temper at all.
"C'mon," said Snape resentfully to his fellow Slytherins, who had just arrive next to him, "let's leave the losers."
"Yeah, c'mon," said James, mimicking Snape's high-pitched voice. He waved to Peter and Remus. "Let's let the losers leave." Snape shot him a look of pure hatred, and all four of them burst out laughing.
"He looked like he'd swallowed a lemon," said Peter, giggling.
"Oh poor Snapey," said Sirius. "So ugly, so friendless, and so brainless. What a shame."
"Except in Potions," Remus reminded Sirius.
"Uggh, thanks for reminding me," said Sirius, now looking as though he'd swallowed a lemon also.
After a few more minutes, James had to leave to go to the changing rooms, and they guys wished him the best for luck for the game. Juliet, who was passing through the corridor with some other girls, wished James luck also. He nodded his appreciation. James suddenly imagined Lily with those others girls and remembered her wishing him good luck in the hallway the day before. Rubbing his cheek, James grinned stupidly and headed quickly to the changing rooms.
~*~
There was a party in the common room that night. There was no major reason, except for the fact that Gryffindor was now in the running with the Slytherins for the House Cup.
The weather was nice and accommodating at the stadium that afternoon and the Ravenclaws put up a amazing fight against the Gryffindors. Both teams were tied 0-0 for the entire afternoon, until James finally ended the game by grabbing the snitch before the Ravenclaw seeker. Chasers and Keepers of both teams were relieved and worn out by the time the snitch was caught. James was just glad the anxiety was over with. At the end of the game, after an earth-shattering cheer from the Gryffindor side and a colossal groan from the Ravenclaws, the partying began in the Gryffindor Tower.
James and Sirius provided food and drinks, much to the delight of the other students. A group of second-years were impressed with how they had managed to find the kitchens and bring back all the food, and find three secret passages within the castle. James smiled an enigmatic smile, remembering his awe when he first discovered them, and made sure, however, not to tell anyone about his secret weapon, the Cloak.
~*~
A/N: Sorry…to all those I said Chapter 8 brought some serious L/J action…I meant Chapter 9 and 10. Some little tidbits in here…but more later, I promise!
Lily's ordeal is almost over with. The loose ends are tied up in the next chapter. I'm heading toward Christmas time too! Yippee.
Sorry somewhat short…I'm in a lot of pain and I have a horrid headache. Anyway, thanks so much for reading my story (I cannot BELIEVE I'm headed toward Chapter 9 already!), and review!
Take care, my darlings.
~ Stellar
MY AWESOME REVIEWERS! WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT YOU?
(probably sit around and type, all by myself, that's what…)
THANKS!
Ariana – I know! Poor Lily…so sad! I'm glad you like the story! Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Seshat – Alrighty, so Chapter 8 was rather lame in the 'L/J Action Meter'…but once Christmas comes, I swear, things will definitely start to heat up. Anyway, thanks for reading and reviewing! But yeah, James survived the stormy Quidditch weather! Can't have HIM die yet! (Nooooooooo!)
Skye – Thanks so much for reading and reviewing! I'm happy you like the chapters (though they were very sad). Next one's here! Thanks for reviewing 3 times! I am very appreciative!
Snow Flurry – Hehe, I'm very glad that you like my story! I am trying my very best to write a good one! Yeah, I try to post as quickly as I can…since it's Spring Break now, I'm writing even faster! Thanks so much for reading and reviewing…L/J action coming up now (and I promise Sophie will be done with soon! Uggh, I can't even stand her, and she's my own character!) And as for those secretive glances…well….read and see! ^-^
Quinn – I know! Poor Lily has to go through this alone…thanks for reading and reviewing. It is very much appreciated. My faithful reviewer of 4 reviews! ^-^
Thistlemeg - Thanks for the compliment about my Dumbledore/McGonagall news part. Yeah, that was somewhat hard to write…I have the whole storyline in my head, but now I have to transfer it on paper. Thanks for reviewing every chapter; it means a lot to me. Take care! Here's the next installment.
Slytherin Sweetheart – Oh gosh…thanks for the wonderful compliment! I am trying the best I can to write this story (not exactly the most eloquent or brilliant author out there, believe me). Thanks so much for reading and reviewing!
LupinsLover – Hey! Thanks for reviewing after every chapter! I really like feedback, in any shape, way, or form. I am very glad you like the story! Muchas gracias for all the reviews and the comments. L/J action is on its way!
KittyKat – No problemo for telling you about the next installment, if you want other ones, please tell me and I would gladly do so. Next chapter is up! Glad you like the story so far! Thanks very much!
THANKS AGAIN TO ALL MY REVIEWERS! I APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK VERY MUCH!
Chapter 8, ladies and gentlemen.
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Lunch was nearly over, and there was still no sign of Lily anywhere. Every few minutes, Juliet would look up from her food and away from Remus and stared at the entranceway, hoping to catch a glimpse of her friend. But alas, Lily did not show up.
With about ten minutes of lunch left, Juliet excused herself from the Gryffindor table and told Remus, Sirius, James, and Peter that she was heading up towards the dorms to put Lily's papers back on her desk. If Lily showed up, they should tell her that Juliet was already in their room. The guys agreed.
Sensing that Lily might be up there—Lily oftentimes went to her dorm before heading to the Great Hall to retrieve some books—Juliet wrapped a sandwich neatly in a paper napkin and placed it in her pocket. She walked swiftly through the hallway toward the Gryffindor Tower.
She walked through the Portrait Hole, and up the stairs to the dorms. The door was closed and she opened it, believing that no one was in there. Walking into the room, she notices Lily's trunk open with all of her belongings scattered all over the floor. Juliet was worried. Did someone ransack their room? She called out for Lily.
"Lily? Are you in here? Lils?" She ran to Lily's bed, where the curtains were shut. She heard a muffled sob.
"Lily, sweetie, I brought you some foo—oh my God." Juliet stopped when she saw Lily's tear-streaked face. She saw the picture frame tight in Lily's grasp and she dropped the sandwich on the ground. She hugged Lily.
"Oh my God, Lily, are you alright? What happened? What's wrong?" Lily continued to cry harder, as Juliet quietly brushed her hair out of her eyes, and took out her lace handkerchief. She dabbed Lily's eyes and gave Lily the handkerchief. Lily mumbled a "thank you" before whimpering again.
With pure concern and sympathy, Juliet crawled into Lily's bed and hugged her friend again. "Lily, you have to tell me what's wrong. I was worried sick when you didn't arrive for lunch today."
Out of breath and hiccuping because of her crying, Lily pointed at her parents' picture. "My Mum and Dad are dead, Jules…they're…they're gone…" She began to cry again. Juliet felt tears forming in her eyes too.
"Oh, Lils, I am so sorry. I am so sorry." Juliet rocked Lily back and forth as she stroked her auburn hair. Having met Lily's parents a couple times, Juliet knew how special they were to Lily. They loved Lily with all their heart, and they didn't turn their back on her when she received her Hogwarts letter. In fact, their unconditional love for Lily was probably a main reason why Petunia despised her so much. Lily's being a witch made her only more special in the eyes of her parents. Juliet stifled a sob.
Lily spoke softly. "I don't know what to do, Jules. I don't know what to do. I am all alone. I have no one." Juliet shook her head, holding Lily's shoulders so she could face her.
"No, Lils, you are not alone. You have me. You will always have me. You have lots of friends who love you here. You have lots of friends who will always support you. You are never alone." Lily smiled before dissolving back into her tears.
"Petunia probably hates me. She's all I have left as a family, and she hates me. I don't know what I am going to do." Lily sobbed. Juliet took a moment to carefully choose her words.
"Petunia doesn't hate you, Lils. She is just jealous that she had to share your parents' affections with you. She's probably crying just like you. You are her SISTER. She loves you." Lily nodded weakly and put her head on Juliet's shoulder. She crying had slowed down substantially, but tears were still streaming from her eyes. Lily spoke again, in a small voice.
"It's just that…I'm no one's little girl anymore, Jules. I'm no one's little girl." Lily started to cry, and this time, Juliet cried with her too.
~*~
Meanwhile, downstairs in the Great Hall, the guys were discussing Quidditch. Ever since Slytherin's humiliating defeat to Hufflepuff, there was a great chance that Gryffindor will have chance to steal the House Cup from Slytherin this year. That was the topic of James, Sirius, Remus, and Anton's discussion. Peter was off in his own little world, staring at his crush, Elmyra Lonstein, a Hufflepuff.
Practices had been going well, despite the frightful weather outside ("You guys are going to get skewered, I swear" Lily would assert as often as she could when James would attempt to grab his broom), and the team was about as polished as they could be to play against their formidable foe, Slytherin. After a minor scare with some lightening last practice, which included a few bruises and bumps and James' hair sticking up more than usual, everyone was ready to play.
At the Gryffindor table, James turned to Anton. "So what exactly are our chances of beating Ravenclaw at the end of the week?" Anton took large sip of his pumpkin juice and answered James' question.
"A really great chance, mate. The winner Saturday's game will play Slytherin for the House Cup. And considering our track record versus Ravenclaw's this season…we definitely have a chance of playing against Slytherin and winning the House Cup." Anton smiled brightly.
James grin got even wider. "Yes! That's spectacular! We have a chance! I cannot wait for the end of the week to come! We have a chance!" Sirius and Remus were smiling also, and cheering. Peter managed to tear his eyes away from Elmyra and offer a congratulatory cheer to his fellow Gryffindors too.
By the time lunch was nearly over, all the Gryffindor Quidditch players were at the end of the table and were psyched for their game on Saturday. James felt as if nothing could diminish his happy attitude that lunch period.
~*~
After crying some more with Lily, Juliet realized that it was time for her to go back to class. She did not have an excuse if she was tardy, and she especially did not want to be late to Charms. Juliet patted Lily on the back and untangled herself from Lily's hug. She used her handkerchief to wipe Lily's eyes once again.
"I'm sorry Lils, but I have to get back to class. I will be thinking of you, though." Juliet picked up the sandwich that fell on the ground, still wrapped in the napkin. "Here, have a bite of this. You haven't had any lunch."
Lily took the sandwich, but placed it on her bed. "What's the point of eating? What's the point of living?" She said sadly, as she glanced at the picture of her parents once more. She began to cry again, slow sobs coming from her pretty face. Juliet's voice became louder and more determined.
"Lily Evans, get a hold of yourself. Listen to me: YOU HAVE TO EAT. I know this is difficult for you, and that life doesn't seem very fair right now, but you must take care of yourself. That is what you parents probably want you to do…not mope for them and go down some self-destructive path. They want you to be healthy and happy and live a wonderful life." Juliet opened the sandwich and gave a half of it to Lily, who started taking slow, cautious bites.
"Besides," Juliet continued, "You are slim enough as it is. We don't want people to think you're sickly. You have to take care of yourself." Lily smiled a weak smile to Juliet, as she began to take more bites of the sandwich. Lily was too sad to hear that her stomach was grumbling, having missed lunch and parts of breakfast.
"Thanks for everything, Jules. I don't know what I would do without you here." Lily said quietly, as she hugged Juliet once more. Juliet kissed Lily on the cheek and began to grab her books.
"Anything for you, Lils. I know this is rough, and it's going to take some time to heal, but remember, I am always there fore you. We are all here for you. We are going to get through this." Juliet smiled. "I'm going to go back down to the guys, okay? I'm going to tell them you're here, so they won't be worried."
At that statement, Lily's face fell. She shook her head. Juliet turned. "What's wrong, Lily?"
Lily stammered, "Don't tell the guys that my parents died, ok? Don't tell anyone…I don't need pity right now. People already think of my as weird, being a Muggle-born and all, and I don't need anymore of their looks and whispering when they find out that my parents died." Juliet looked confused.
"But Lils, Sirius, Remus, James, and Peter won't do anything like that. They will help you. They love you. Sirius will feel horrible and James will take care of you." Lily shook her head.
"Don't Juliet, please. Just for right now. I'll tell them later, when I feel ready. I don't want Sirius or Remus to worry about me. And I surely don't want James to go out of his way to help me, because he will, I KNOW he will. I'll tell them when it's time, ok? Just for right now, tell them that I am sick." Lily pleaded to Juliet.
Juliet sighed. "Alright, whatever you want Lils. But we'll always be there fore you. I'll be back after class to check on you, ok?"
Juliet left the room, and shut the door quietly behind her. Lily sighed and wiped some extra tears from the corners of her eyes. She began to clean up all of the stuff she threw out of the trunk. She wanted to speak to Dumbledore as soon as possible.
~*~
Dumbledore was surprised that Lily wanted to speak with him only a few hours after he told her the news. Lily was no longer crying, but had a strong look of determination and strength on her face that Dumbledore admired. 'That's a Gryffindor alright,' he thought, glancing at Lily's stoic, yet sad demeanor when she arrived at his office. 'Things may be troubled on the outside, but always brave and strong on the inside.' Lily sat down and listened intently as Dumbledore told her about her family situation.
"Ms. Evans, I have been speaking to various people in the Ministry who have spoken to your family. In your parents' will, they left the house to you and Petunia, and your Aunt Lavinia is coming over to live there until you and Petunia are financially able to live on your own." Lily smiled a weak smile.
She loved her Aunt Lavinia dearly, she was her father's younger sister, and she was glad that Lavinia wanted to come and stay with them. Dumbledore continued.
"Your parents' funeral, as arranged by your mother's side, has been tentatively scheduled for this Friday. Now, I am able to grant you a leave of absence from school from Friday until Sunday. Is that alright with you?" Dumbledore asked Lily, to make sure she was okay with the plans. Lily nodded.
"That sounds good, Professor Dumbledore." Dumbledore nodded and proceeded with his talk.
"Very well, then. Hagrid will escort you to the train station early Friday morning, and your family will meet you at the station later that day. Hagrid will also be at the station when you return to Hogwarts on Sunday, and bring you back to the castle." Lily nodded, and thanked Professor Dumbledore for helping her out.
"Please, do not thank me, Lily. I am very sorry about parents. If there is anything that I, or Professor McGonagall, or anyone else can do for you here at Hogwarts, please feel free to come to my office and tell me." Lily smiled and left Dumbledore's office.
~*~
Juliet had told the guys that Lily wasn't feeling very well and that she was lying down in bed. Naturally, everyone hoped that Lily was doing alright, and they wanted to see her. After convincing James and Sirius that Lily did not want to be seen, and practically throwing herself in front of their dorm room to block the two guys, Juliet persuaded everyone attention back to their homework and the excitement about the Gryffindor-Ravenclaw showdown for the chance for the House Cup on Saturday.
By the time Friday arrived, Lily, who had returned to classes two days prior, was packed and ready to attend her parents' funeral. She tried to put on a happy face to everyone in her classes, but Juliet could tell it was a strain. Lily was hurting inside, and she needed the closure of her parents' funeral and the comfort of her family to feel better. In the morning, Juliet was hugging Lily again as Lily was gathering her trunk by the doorway.
"I'm going to miss you, Lils. Please take care of yourself. Even though I can't go with you back to your house, I am with you in spirit. Always." Lily smiled a teary-eyed smile as she hugged and Juliet again.
"Thanks Jules. You don't know how much that means to me. You have been such a good friend to me this entire week. I know it must have been hard for you to sleep with me crying all night." Lily's façade of happiness crumbled in the nighttime when she cried herself to sleep. Juliet was there for her, every night, comforting her and reassuring her that everything would be okay.
Juliet helped Lily with her trunk as Lily walked through the Common Room toward the Portrait Hole. Sirius, Remus, and Peter were there, wishing Lily good bye too.
Sirius came up to Lily first and said, "Bye, Lils. Have a safe trip. Hope you sort out the 'family business' okay. I'll cheer extra loud for you at the Quidditch game tomorrow." Sirius smiled and hugged Lily. Lily had told everyone that she had to leave for 'family business' on Friday, and she would be returning Sunday.
Peter hugged Lily next and wished her a safe trip. "Thanks Peter. Take care too." Lily said, as Remus approached her.
Remus hugged her and whispered in her ear, "Please take care of yourself Lily. I am very sorry about your parents." Lily nodded, holding back her tears again. Juliet told Remus about Lily's parents, and Lily did not mind. Remus had been her friend for a while, and it was alright that he knew, since he was dating Juliet and Juliet told him everything. Lily hugged him and sniffled. She waved goodbye to her friends as she stepped out of the Portrait Hole toward the entrance of the castle to meet Hagrid.
She was walking down the long corridor when she saw James running toward her clad in his entire Quidditch uniform. His robe was swinging wildly just before he stopped in front of Lily.
"Oh gosh, I thought you'd already left, Lily. Didn't want you to leave without saying goodbye first." Lily put down her trunk with a genuine smile as James held out his arms. Lily hugged James, who hugged her back.
"Yeah, I'm really sorry I'm missing your Quidditch game, James, with the House Cup at stake and everything. I know how much it means to you. But be careful out there, and I'll see you Sunday." She whispered, embracing him.
"Hey, it's alright…don't worry about it. Family is more important than Quidditch. Say hello to your parents and Petunia for me. Please send them my regards." James said, holding firmly to Lily.
'If only you knew the true impact of those words.' Lily thought ruefully in her mind. "Thanks a lot. Just grab the snitch, Jamesie, and I'll talk to you later. Good luck." She kissed him on the cheek and started to pull back as James reluctantly released Lily from his grasp.
"Will do, ma'am." They shared a smile as Lily tried to smooth out some of his hair that had flopped characteristically out of place. Glancing at James' watch, Lily picked up her trunk again, and began to walk back down the corridor, her silky hair flying loose behind her.
James turned. "Are you sure you don't need any help out?" He yelled to Lily's fleeting figure. Lily turned her head, mouthed 'No, thank you', and waved. She continued to walk to the entrance where Hagrid was waiting for her.
A smile slowly crept across James' face and with a new burst of energy, James ran through the Portrait Hole toward his room to get his broom for a final Quidditch practice.
~*~
The next day was the big game. James could barely sleep, and Remus had to put a Sleeping Spell on him in the middle of the night to keep James from getting up and pacing. By the time morning came, everyone in the dorm was groggy. During breakfast, James managed to calm down as he quietly ate his oatmeal with Remus, Sirius, and Peter.
"So," said a drawling voice from behind them, "What do you deem the odds are of Gryffindor winning today?"
"Probably," said James, without looking up from his food, "the same as the odds that you never wash your hair, Snape." Sirius, Remus and Peter laughed.
"How can we help you, Slimy?"
"You think you're so funny, Potter," retorted Snape. "I'll have you know I take a shower every day."
"What are you trying to do, Snape? Fill my pure mind with disturbing images of you naked? I don't really care, though I am surprised there are showers in the Slytherin common room." James had said all this without looking up, but when he did, he was face to face with an angry-looking Snape. You could practically see the steam coming out from his ears. James smiled an internal smile. He loved winding people up – especially since he really didn't have a temper at all.
"C'mon," said Snape resentfully to his fellow Slytherins, who had just arrive next to him, "let's leave the losers."
"Yeah, c'mon," said James, mimicking Snape's high-pitched voice. He waved to Peter and Remus. "Let's let the losers leave." Snape shot him a look of pure hatred, and all four of them burst out laughing.
"He looked like he'd swallowed a lemon," said Peter, giggling.
"Oh poor Snapey," said Sirius. "So ugly, so friendless, and so brainless. What a shame."
"Except in Potions," Remus reminded Sirius.
"Uggh, thanks for reminding me," said Sirius, now looking as though he'd swallowed a lemon also.
After a few more minutes, James had to leave to go to the changing rooms, and they guys wished him the best for luck for the game. Juliet, who was passing through the corridor with some other girls, wished James luck also. He nodded his appreciation. James suddenly imagined Lily with those others girls and remembered her wishing him good luck in the hallway the day before. Rubbing his cheek, James grinned stupidly and headed quickly to the changing rooms.
~*~
There was a party in the common room that night. There was no major reason, except for the fact that Gryffindor was now in the running with the Slytherins for the House Cup.
The weather was nice and accommodating at the stadium that afternoon and the Ravenclaws put up a amazing fight against the Gryffindors. Both teams were tied 0-0 for the entire afternoon, until James finally ended the game by grabbing the snitch before the Ravenclaw seeker. Chasers and Keepers of both teams were relieved and worn out by the time the snitch was caught. James was just glad the anxiety was over with. At the end of the game, after an earth-shattering cheer from the Gryffindor side and a colossal groan from the Ravenclaws, the partying began in the Gryffindor Tower.
James and Sirius provided food and drinks, much to the delight of the other students. A group of second-years were impressed with how they had managed to find the kitchens and bring back all the food, and find three secret passages within the castle. James smiled an enigmatic smile, remembering his awe when he first discovered them, and made sure, however, not to tell anyone about his secret weapon, the Cloak.
~*~
A/N: Sorry…to all those I said Chapter 8 brought some serious L/J action…I meant Chapter 9 and 10. Some little tidbits in here…but more later, I promise!
Lily's ordeal is almost over with. The loose ends are tied up in the next chapter. I'm heading toward Christmas time too! Yippee.
Sorry somewhat short…I'm in a lot of pain and I have a horrid headache. Anyway, thanks so much for reading my story (I cannot BELIEVE I'm headed toward Chapter 9 already!), and review!
Take care, my darlings.
~ Stellar
MY AWESOME REVIEWERS! WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT YOU?
(probably sit around and type, all by myself, that's what…)
THANKS!
Ariana – I know! Poor Lily…so sad! I'm glad you like the story! Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Seshat – Alrighty, so Chapter 8 was rather lame in the 'L/J Action Meter'…but once Christmas comes, I swear, things will definitely start to heat up. Anyway, thanks for reading and reviewing! But yeah, James survived the stormy Quidditch weather! Can't have HIM die yet! (Nooooooooo!)
Skye – Thanks so much for reading and reviewing! I'm happy you like the chapters (though they were very sad). Next one's here! Thanks for reviewing 3 times! I am very appreciative!
Snow Flurry – Hehe, I'm very glad that you like my story! I am trying my very best to write a good one! Yeah, I try to post as quickly as I can…since it's Spring Break now, I'm writing even faster! Thanks so much for reading and reviewing…L/J action coming up now (and I promise Sophie will be done with soon! Uggh, I can't even stand her, and she's my own character!) And as for those secretive glances…well….read and see! ^-^
Quinn – I know! Poor Lily has to go through this alone…thanks for reading and reviewing. It is very much appreciated. My faithful reviewer of 4 reviews! ^-^
Thistlemeg - Thanks for the compliment about my Dumbledore/McGonagall news part. Yeah, that was somewhat hard to write…I have the whole storyline in my head, but now I have to transfer it on paper. Thanks for reviewing every chapter; it means a lot to me. Take care! Here's the next installment.
Slytherin Sweetheart – Oh gosh…thanks for the wonderful compliment! I am trying the best I can to write this story (not exactly the most eloquent or brilliant author out there, believe me). Thanks so much for reading and reviewing!
LupinsLover – Hey! Thanks for reviewing after every chapter! I really like feedback, in any shape, way, or form. I am very glad you like the story! Muchas gracias for all the reviews and the comments. L/J action is on its way!
KittyKat – No problemo for telling you about the next installment, if you want other ones, please tell me and I would gladly do so. Next chapter is up! Glad you like the story so far! Thanks very much!
THANKS AGAIN TO ALL MY REVIEWERS! I APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK VERY MUCH!