Thanks for all my reviewers, sorry I didn't thank you last chapter!
Disclaimer: I OWN HARRY POTTER…NOT! Did I get you?
~Lily~
"Morning Kari. What time is it?"
"Morning Lils. Its about seven, you still have an hour."
"Yeah, ready for breakfast?"
"Remus'll be down in a minute if you wanna wait for him."
"Sure." I plopped squished myself in the chair with Kari.
"Comfortable?" she asked, smiling a little.
"Yeah, your big butt's a good for something…a pillow."
"Hey! That wasn't very nice."
"I know, but it made me feel a little better."
"Well then go ahead, insult me all you want." Kari stuck out her lower lip.
"That's a nice new look for you Kari."
"Shove it Lupin."
"Nah, that's no fun. Ready for breakfast?"
"Yeah." I stood up.
"I can feel my butt again!"
"Watch it…"
"Come Remus, escort us lovely Gryffindors to breakfast." Kari slung her arm through Remus'. I got the hint and did the same to his other arm.
"I hope Liz doesn't kill me," he laughed looking at both of us.
"She'll more than likely kill us."
"Yeah, you're probably right, she adores you Remus." I noted, smiling at the pink tinge that appeared in Remus' cheek.
"I see you feel a little better after some sleep." he said jokingly.
"Yes, I might start going back to a normal sleep pattern. Insomnia is no fun. Plus, I don't need my mom worrying over me now, and that's all she did all summer when I wouldn't sleep."
"Well then start sleeping again. I'm not stopping you." Karina said, a little indignantly.
"No, but Gina and Denise are."
"Well, lock them out, or you could sleep in the common room with us while we talk, or there's always the 'room'."
"Yeah. I might start charming my bed, that could work…"
"Good idea, you should start sleeping again, Kari can't really help it, and neither can I, but you are, compared to us, normal, so you should sleep like a normal person." Remus said firmly.
"Wow, getting all, maternal on me Remmy?" I said in a sickeningly sweet voice, batting my lashes at him.
"No, just looking out for one of my friend's well being."
"Well I'm flattered."
"Speaking of well being, and why we don't sleep, Remus, you have anything to tell us?" Karina said suddenly.
"Wh-what do you mean?" he stuttered, looking suddenly nervous.
"Oh Remus, stop hiding it. Just tell us!" I said, taking the hint from Kari. Maybe he'll admit to us finally what's wrong with him. We're pretty sure he's a werewolf, but we're not for positive sure, I mean, we haven't known him all that long.
"Admit to what? That my mother gets sick and I have to see her? That I've never been a good sleeper?"
Looking at Kari, and then at my watch, which read seven fifteen, we both grabbed one of Remus' arms and dragged him to the 'room'.
"Don't tell anyone about this place, especially those no good friends of yours." I said, letting go and walking three times down the corridor thinking about a place Remus will tell us finally his secret.
"How did you do that?"
"Magic, Remus, you're in Hogwarts. And I thought you were smart." Kari tsked him.
"Oh never mind."
I opened the door, and it was furnished with three comfy looking armchairs and an overstuffed couch.
"Come sit." Kari ordered, pushing him through the door and towards the middle chair.
He sat, and pulling the chairs around to face him, I said, "Admit it. Please Remus, we're your friends, we don't give a shit."
He looked at us pleadingly, but I know I saw Kari give him a stern glance, and he sighed.
"My mom gets really sick, and my dad has to work a lot, so he needs my help sometimes."
"Don't pull that crap on us Remus. We want the truth! Do we not deserve it? Do you not trust us? You know our secrets, now its time to reveal yours. If you don't fine. But don't expect much from us after this. If you really trust us, you'll tell us."
I almost said something to back up Kari, but realized that might be a little too hard. He looked away from us, and then turned back.
"I…can't do this." He said tightly.
It took a while to register.
"Fine." Kari said coldly. She got up, and looked at me.
"See you around Lupin." I said, putting emphasis on his surname.
We left the Room of Requirement and headed down to breakfast.
"Do you think we were a little harsh? I mean, we did just start getting to know him." I said a little timidly.
"No. He knows almost all about us. If he was really our friend, like he says, he would trust us enough to tell us."
"Yeah, I suppose you're right."
We walked into the Great Hall and walked to our tables in a weird silence.
"Cereal!" I dug into my bowl.
Kari laughed. It worked.
"You and your cereal." she said picking up a doughnut.
"Me and cereal? What about you and your doughnuts?" I said smiling.
"Give me a break."
"Hey Lils, Kari. What's up?"
"Hey Sarah. I'm waiting for it to be eight. I still have about twenty minutes. Sit with us."
She sat down and no sooner had she, when Callie came storming in and plopped down next to Kari.
"Uh oh. What did your lovable dorm mates do this time?" Kari said cautiously.
"Stupid bitches had the NERVE to tell me that you guys were below me! They rambled on last night til about eleven while I was trying to sleep about how pathetic you were and that they were glad that Voldemort killed off your family! They knew I was awake too!" Callie finished in a huff, and by the time she was done my hand was clenched around my wand and I was ready to blast some Slytherin third year girls.
"Hey Lily, Kari, why is Remus so…pouty, this morning…whoa what happened?" Liz came up.
"Stupid Slytherins being dumb asses!" Callie said through clenched teeth.
"Guys, calm down, deep breaths. We'll get them back once Lily comes back." Sarah, the peacemaker, said firmly.
"Yeah, when I come back. Sounds good to me. Anyways, what did you say Liz?" I said, taking in a deep breath.
"What's up with Remus this morning, He isn't happy at all, and he won't tell me what's wrong."
"Well we don't know either." Kari snapped, grabbing another doughnut and stuffing it in her mouth.
"Sorry, I think I'm going to go sit at my table where I'm welcome. Seems all the Gryffindors are bitchy today." Liz stood up and walked over to her table. I followed her with my eyes and saw that Jason and Michael were there talking. Michael felt my look and turned to face me. He smiled and waved, and I smiled and waved back.
"What happened with Remus you two?" Sarah asked calmly, picking up some toast and a goblet of pumpkin juice.
"I wish I could taste pumpkin with out breaking out into hives." Kari said, looking at the goblet Sarah held wistfully.
"Don't change the subject." Callie said, grabbing some bacon.
"Nothing that we can talk about." I said hastily.
"Alright, but you will tell us if it's serious right?" Sarah asked, concern in her voice.
"Yeah." I sighed, looking down at the table towards Remus. He was poking at his food with his fork unenthusiastically. "So anyways, you guys will look after Kari while I'm gone, I mean who knows what trouble she'll get into without me!"
"You're always getting into trouble right beside me!"
"Well yeah, but without me, you might do something incredibly stupid!"
"Like sneaking into the boys dorms, taking baby pictures and putting them in the common rooms for the house to see?"
"That was you!?" came a startled voice from behind me.
Whipping around, Potter and Black were staring at us incredulously.
"I couldn't let you get away with that god awful prank you pulled on me! Stupid gits." Karina said, glaring at them.
"How did you even know that I had those?" Potter asked, sitting down next to me, to my great distaste I inform you.
"Don't talk about it so loudly next time it happens. 'Sirius, mom sent some awful pictures of me, where should I put them so Remus and Peter don't see them?' 'How about in your bedside table drawer?' 'That's so simple it might work!'" I said, repeating the conversation we had heard last year.
"Anyways, what did you want?" Kari said coldly, as Black sat next to her and grabbed a doughnut of the platter.
"We wanted to know if you knew why Remus was so touchy this morning?"
"Well Black, he is your friend, why don't you know?" Kari said, grabbing the doughnut out of his hand a putting it in her mouth.
"Well, last time we checked he was your friend too and that's the last time we saw him, walking down to breakfast with you. And why did you take my doughnut?" he looked at her reproachfully.
"First, the doughnuts on that platter are mine. Made especially for me by the house elves. Second, Lupin doesn't concern us anymore."
"What happened with you guys?" Potter asked, taking a piece of sausage.
"Yeah, and why are these doughnuts made specially for you?"
"If you need to know, get it out of Lupin, it doesn't matter to us." I said, pouring another bowl of cereal.
"These doughnuts are mine because they're mine. Unspoken rule down at this end of the table."
"Fine, we'll leave then. I can take a hint." Black said sarcastically.
Potter and Black got up and went back down to their end of the table, leaving us to finish breakfast in peace.
"Well I guess I should go." I stood up brushing the crumbs that somehow managed to get on me.
Kari stood up next to me and pulled me into a tight hug.
"You'll be alright won't you?" she asked me in a whisper.
"I hope so." I whispered back.
Sarah flung herself at me and I returned her hug, in a less enthusiastic way mind you.
"Owl us ASAP!"
"I will." I promised.
"Bye Lils. You'll be alright. Be thinking of a revenge plan while you're gone alright?" Callie said, smirking.
"Oh yeah, you know it."
We hugged briefly and I walked to the Ravenclaw table.
"Lily, where are you going?" Michael asked, looking at me oddly, "We have class soon."
"I'm not going to be here for a while. Family emergency. I'll tell you about it when I can, I just can't talk about it now." I said, my throat getting tight just thinking about having to face my family.
He pulled me into a tight hug and kissed the top of my head.
"Do you want me to walk with you?"
"No, I'll be fine. You need to go to class." I said firmly, knowing full well he just wanted to skip Herbology.
"Aww come on Lil," he said teasingly.
I had to force a smile and shook my head.
"I have to say bye to Liz. She's a little mad at me at the moment."
"Ok, good luck."
I nodded and walked down to where Liz was sitting with a girl I recognized as Alice Prewett.
"Liz…" I started tentatively.
"What?" she snapped.
I flinched, and she turned around.
"God, Lily, I'm so sorry, mood swings. Bad time for me. I think I'm going to see if Madame Pomfrey has something for me to take or else I might just sleep all day." Liz grinned sheepishly.
"Its alright, I just wanted to say bye. I'm leaving."
"Bye Lils." she hugged me something fierce and pulled away all teary eyed.
My smile came a little easier this time.
"You definitely want to go see Pomfrey. You're terrible."
"I will." she sniffed.
"Bye Liz."
"Bye Lily."
With that I walked out of the Great Hall. I noticed as I passed by the Slytherin table, they all started sniggering, but I ignored it and made my way to Dumbledore's office.
I walked up to the stone gargoyle and it seemed almost automatic when I said the password (ice mice), climbed up to revolving stairs, and walked into his office.
"Hello Ms. Evans." Dumbledore said kindly.
"Good Morning Professor." I said dully.
"No luggage?"
"No, I have things at home."
"Surely Ms. Evans. Have you ever traveled by Floo powder?"
"Yes sir."
"Well, I have had your house connected for today. Please owl me when you wish to return and I will tell you the time."
"Alright sir."
"Here, " he held out a container with some glittering sand in it.
I grabbed a handful and threw it into the fireplace, and as I walked in, I could have sworn I heard Dumbledore say, "Good luck Lily."
"15 ROSSMORE LANE!" I yelled clearly into the fire.
Some five minutes later I'm stumbling out of my fireplace at home.
"Mum! Daddy? 'Tunia?" I called to the quiet house.
"Lily? Is that you?"
"Daddy!" I squealed and rushed into his arms.
"Lily Flower, when and how did you get here?"
"I just Flooed in."
"Flooed?"
"By fire, its magic Daddy."
"Of course sweetie."
"Jim? Was that Lily?" a snuffly voice from the hall said.
"Mummy?" I disentangled myself from Daddy and looked to the hall. My mother was standing there, all in black, eyes red rimmed and nose pink.
"Oh Lily!" she hurried towards me and smothered me in an embrace.
I quickly hugged her and I felt tears stinging my eyes.
"Mum, I should get dressed, what time is the service?"
She sniffed. "The service starts at nine."
"I have to take a shower. I have forty five minutes."
"Okay Lily Flower."
I once again disentangled myself from a parent and headed up the stairs to my room. On my way, though, I met an unpleasant surprise.
"So our precious Lily Flower is back?" Petunia mocked.
"Shove it Pet, I'm not in the mood."
"Sure, freak." she hissed as I passed by. For the second time that day I flinched.
I walked down the hall and into my room. My solace. The one place I'm not criticized. Just my room. Nowhere else. Even in the place I now call home, Hogwarts, I'm looked at and judged. My own sister thinks lowly of me. No, my room is my place of comfort.
It screams my name when you walk in. The walls are a teal color with pictures of me and Kari spread all over. Some posters are up, not many, ones of movies I love, like the "Wizard of Oz", and things like that. Kari helped me decorate it. It's wonderful. There's my double bed and a desk and a bookshelf, filled to the brim with every kind of book and magazine imaginable. The bathroom is attached to my room by a door, and on the other side of the bathroom is another door connected to Petunia's room.
I went into my closet, grabbed a long black dress, some black stockings, and some black shoes. Going into the bathroom, I hear Petunia on the phone with a friend of hers, probably Yvonne, talking about going to the movies on Friday. I turned on the shower all the way to hot, and waiting for it to get there, I look around the bathroom thinking all the while of why this had to happen to them. The question has been on my mind since I read the letter yesterday, and the only words of comfort I have are those that Professor Dumbledore gave me.
"No one really knows what compels the minds of evil. It could be ambition, or revenge, we may never know."
Evil. That's definitely the word I would use to describe Voldemort. None of that Dark Lord crap.
Shaking my head, I stepped into the shower, and after the initial shock of the hot water, I let it pour down my clammy body.
~Thirty minutes later…~
"Freak, hurry up, I have to get ready too!" Petunia screeched, and banged on the door to the bathroom.
I sighed and unlocked the door to her room, and went out the door to mine.
Looking around my room, I could see someone taking it as a 'normal' person's room. Nothing in it indicated that I was a witch. I guess in a way that's a good thing. In another way though, it's bad. If someone decided that they liked me because of my room, (I don't know who would) they wouldn't know the real me. They would know the me I used to be. When we put pictures up, we had the choice of putting up moving ones from Hogwarts, but something made me say no.
I sat on my bed, and turned the radio on. A talk show. I should have known. It's a Monday morning and people are going to work.
Lying back against my many pillows, I looked at the ceiling and thought of the summer, when this was all I did at night. Lay and look at my ceiling. Mum always tried to get me to sleep by sending me to bed, but I couldn't, so I ended up staring at the ceiling.
"Good Morning, and what a lovely morning it is too! The sun is shining, and the weather is just right! All you people heading into work, open your windows and let the breeze in, walk across the street to the little bakery, just don't waste this beautiful day!"
I shut off the radio. It seems like the weather was just mocking me, my family. Today is not a lovely day. It's not even a good day. My family is grieving, a little girl is being buried years to early, and an evil wizard is on the loose.
"Lily! Petunia! We're leaving in five minutes! Hurry up!" my dad yelled up the stairs.
I looked over at the clock and saw it was eight forty-five. I rolled off my bed, smoothed the wrinkles out of my dress, and walked downstairs.
"Oh good, you're ready Lily. Go out to the car with your mother while I get Pet."
"Yes Daddy."
I went out to our car and saw mum sitting in the front seat, wringing her hands. I sat in the back seat waiting to leave. Waiting to get it over with.