Well, it's been a while! I've been hideously busy, and struggling with writer's block. It's no excuse, I know. I thought I'd better give my readers a heads up that I'm still alive, still writing, and still intending to finish this fic!
That, and give you a new chapter…
Disclaimer – the characters aren't mine. They are, in case you can't guess, JK's. Oh, and the song isn't mine either. It was written by Phil Knightley, with a few tweaks by Kate Rusby. It's called Exile, by the way, hence the chapter title.
Chapter 10 - Exile
Remus was worried. Very worried. He threw himself into an armchair by the dying embers of the common room fire, but no sooner had he sat down than he was up again, pacing the now long-deserted room restlessly.
He paused by the window, drumming his fingers on the windowsill. It was gone two in the morning. Where on earth could Lily have got to? She should have been back from the library hours ago.
He glanced out of the window, flinching slightly as he saw the waxing moon. It was nearly full, casting silvery shadows across the lawn and highlighting the shimmering lake. The night was mild and misty and breathtakingly beautiful, so much so that Remus was distracted from his anxiety. The wide lawns were coated with sugar-spun frost, and the forest faded into the night, dark and intriguing. Remus's eyes were drawn inexorably to the Whomping Willow silhouetted against the starry sky, until he tore his gaze away, scanning the scene. Suddenly a coppery glint caught his eye down by the lake – the moonlight reflecting off something there. He leaned out of the window to get a better look.
"Lily!"
He had discerned a figure beneath shining red hair – the shade belonging to his best friend.
"Lily!"
He raced out of the portrait hole, and made his way as quickly and quietly as he could out into the grounds and across the lawns. Even Pringle the caretaker seemed to have gone to bed as he didn't see a soul.
Approaching the lake, he slowed. About to call out, he stopped as the sound of soft singing reached his ears.
I feel a shadow passing over me
It could stay for evermore
Like a wave I'm breaking far at sea
And there's no one to hear the roar
And the days are drifting into seasons
They're the hardest I have known
What if I could cross a hundred borders?
There's no going home
No going home
The melody Lily was singing was so impenetrably sad, that almost against his will he could feel his eyes tear up, and it was all he could do to keep stood up and silent.
And when the thunder breaks the empty skies
I will be there
No one to hold you when the storm birds fly
Is there no one left to care?
I'm searching rumours with my hollow plans
When all I wanted is what's mine
A shudder ran through Remus's soul with every note. The words echoed in his head, and without quite knowing why, he burst into tears.
I'm lost and lonely in this foreign land
I'm left too far behind the lines
I want to tear down these walls between us
I can't do it on my own
A million spaces in the world to fill
There's a generation waiting still
We've got year after year to kill
But there's no going home
No going home
Remus sniffed hard, tears streaming down his face, as Lily's song dissolved into sobs. Her deep sadness had wrenched on his heart strings, as though it were his own pain she sang of.
Lily, possibly startled by some sound he had made, turned and looked around, petrified, for whoever was going to catch her. Remus stepped out from behind a tree, approached her and wrapped his arms around her.
"Oh, Lil. That was beautiful. Incredibly sad, but beautiful."
Lily turned towards him and gave a weak, watery smile.
It was then that he noticed that her arms were covered with cuts and bruises and even, looking closer, with nasty looking boils. There was a streak of blood marring the white bandages on Lily's face.
"Lily, what happened? What are you doing here?"
Lily sighed, wiped her eyes, and said, "Bloody Slytherins, that's what happened."
She shivered, and Remus suddenly realised how cold she was.
"Come on, Lil. Let's get you indoors. Tell me about it when we get back to the common room."
Lily nodded wearily, and turned back towards the castle. She winced in pain as she started to walk, and Remus saw that she was limping heavily.
"Bloody hell! They're gonna regret this, Lil," Remus promised earnestly, a slightly bloodthirsty glint in his eyes. Lily raised her eyebrows and gave a sad shrug, expressing without words her incredulity at any such thing.
"Come on, you'd better lean on me, or it'll be dawn before we make it back to the tower."
***
The figure, lurking by the lake, watched the pair leave with a fond smile. His eyes twinkled mischievously, although a left over tear still clung to the lashes, while his quick brain pondered the options he had and speedily formulated a plam. The mild smile became a grin, as the twinkling eyes lit up. This could be interesting…
***
Lily and Remus had finally made it back to Gryffindor tower. As soon as they were through the portrait hole, Lily dropped Remus's arm as if it burnt her, and stumbled towards the stairs to the girls' dorms.
"Night, Rem. I'll see you at breakfast, OK?"
She had almost made it to the stairs when Remus's pleading voice called her back.
"Lily…"
Sighing, she turned to face the inevitable.
"What happened? I was so worried."
"OK, here goes." Lily opened her mouth but couldn't quite get the words out. She pulled herself together, curled up in a chair beside the fire and started again.
"I guess it was my own stupid fault. I was coming back from the library – I wasn't paying attention. All of a sudden I was surrounded. I got in a few good insults, but they got really livid and brought out their wands. I decided to make myself scarce – I almost made it, with only a Furnunculus curse – " she waved a hand towards the boils " – but then one of them got me with a bungled tripping jinx – hence the limp. They caught up, and started gloating, so I saw red and punched one of them. Merlin, Rem – you should have seen his face – I've never seen anyone so shocked! But then – " Lily gave a shudder " – they started on me. I gave as good as I got for a while – one of them has a black eye, and another a broken nose, I shouldn't wonder. Then the memories started to get too much. It was so like Dad. And then I got dizzy and confused, and I thought it really was Dad. Next thing I know I woke up in a bloody heap in a deserted corridor. I think I must've blacked out. I couldn't face a common room full of smug Gryffindors in that state, so I just went out to think things over by the lake. I guess I just… lost track of time. I'm sorry, Remie."
Remus waved away her apology. "But who was it? Who bloody did this to you, Lils?"
"Dunno. They covered their faces. By size there was a couple of fifth or sixth years, and maybe seven younger students. But one of them… the voice… I would've sworn it was Snape's…"
***
Two weeks later, and it was very nearly the end of term. Lily couldn't wait – she was looking forward to spending the holidays with Arabella. That, and the fact she desperately wanted to escape the horrendous festive spirit that had gripped the castle – even the portraits had taken up carol singing! But before the desirable event took place, she had one more ordeal to cope with. The Christmas talent contest.
***
Festive gaiety reigned in the Gryffindor common room… except for in one corner.
"Rem, do I have to go?"
Remus gave a sigh. They'd been through this so many times.
"Please, Remie, don't make me go. What'll I miss? A few third years massacring 'Eternal Flame' and Hufflepuffs telling bad jokes."
"Lily, we've been over this. It's compulsory. You have to go. And anyway, it might be fun."
"Fun? Remus, you really are optimistic to the point of being delusional."
"Aww! You know you love me."
***
Lily winced and clapped unenthusiastically as a group of sixth year Slytherins finished a staggeringly abysmal rendition of 'Try a Little Tenderness'.
"I really should have brought earplugs," she remarked in an undertone to Remus.
"Sorry, what did you say? I seem to have gone temporarily deaf."
"It's alright for some. Wish I was bloody deaf."
The MC, Head Girl Rebecca Bamford, introduced the next act, a dance routine by a Hufflepuff bimbo of the name Alexandra Ingham.
"Ugh, way too much flesh, there," Lily remarked, shielding her eyes.
This show seemed to have been designed to show just how talentless the Hogwarts students were. Admittedly, not all the acts were terrible – just the vast majority. One of the Ravenclaw fourth years, Adam Stokes, was a wicked guitar player, there had been several very funny skits and sketches, and one of the Gryffindor second years, Nessa Hobbs, was a truly incredible gymnast. However, these redeeming features had not stopped the evening being an excrutiatingly painful experience, especially for the ears.
Lily turned back to the stage as Alex trooped off to scattered applause.
"And now," Rebecca was saying, "I'd like to welcome our final act of the evening." At last! thought Lily, as relief washed over her.
"The sensational singing stylings of Miss Lily Evans…"
Quick as a flash the relief had vanished, replaced by a dozen eels in her stomach, a very dry mouth and a rising sensation of horror.
"Miss Lily Evans, would you come up to the stage, please…"
There you go! I hope it was worth the wait. I promise not to take so long to update next time…
How'd you guys like the singing scene? I really struggled with it, and it still doesn't seem quite right. Please suggest any improvements you would like. Oh, and any suggestions for what Lily could sing? I have something in mind, but again, it's not quite right…
Hope y'all had a good Christmas, and good luck for the new year – my resolution is to update more often – hope you're all grateful!