James dove forward and caught her, then looked at her and dropped her. Who was she, anyway?
Sirius was staring at James. He turned to Dumbledore and asked the same question that just couldn't make the transition from James's brain to his lips- "What the fuck just happened?"
The people in the forest were laughing and cheering like it was New Years. Dumbledore made his way over to Lily, James, and Sirius.
"My office, then?" he asked quietly, handing them a branch from a nearby tree. "Hang on, ...3... 2...1.."
A swift jerk behind the navel later and they were in Dumbledore's office. Sirius just looked at James, gave him a supportive nod. He sensed his friend wasn't exactly up to talking at the moment.
The sun had fully set, but Dumbledore's office was lit by a roaring fire. Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix, wasn't on his perch.
"Well well well," said a smug voice behind them. "I've seen her before." It was one of the ex-headmasters' portraits.
"Yes," said another one happily. "It's about time she's come back to us."
"To tell the truth," another one said with a grin, "I've thought it was Evans all along."
"SHUT UP!" James yelled, and they fell silent. Dumbledore finally entered, through the door.
He smiled his calm, serene smile and gestured to the chairs in front of his desk. "Allow me, James." He patiently walked over to Lily and studied her, then pointed his wand at her and said "ennervate." Lily woke up and frowned.
After realizing she was in James's arms, she re-closed her eyes and muttered "Remind me not to eat the roast again." Sirius laughed.
"Lily?" James whispered. She once again opened her eyes; they looked so tired. "Do you know what just happened?"
She nodded. "I was eating dinner, and I think I passed out."
James stared hard at Dumbledore. The headmaster nodded and sat down.
"Lyla Dubaer attended Hogwarts. She secretly took care of the unicorns in the forest, as they were creatures of purity that were being persecuted. Dark wizards were killing them off in her time, looking for immortality. She protected them, and in return they protected her when she needed it. On this date, 300 years ago, she was going out to see them when she was attacked by dark wizards who snuck into the school. Back then, Hogwarts did not have all of it's protection measures. For example, it was easy for anyone to apparate into the grounds."
"Wait," Sirius said, suddenly realizing something. "How did all of those people get in today?"
Dumbledore nodded. "The Order has known about a possible attack tonight for a very long time. That's why I was in the forest, it's where they tend to hide. You think they'd learn. We didn't know if it would happen or not, but we made emergency portkeys. The Order got in by using them. The others.. Ah, it seems I need to explain a bit more. The ministry has received reports on these cloaked figures we see everywhere. They refer to each other as Death Eaters."
James shuddered. "Death Eaters?"
"Yes, but the ministry is still trying to figure out just who it is they're following." Dumbledore's blue eyes suddenly held rage. "Apparently their lord doesn't wish to be known until he is ready. Anyway, I assume they have spies in the school who set up portkeys for them, though as a headmaster it is not fair for me to accuse my students of being in league with these Death Eaters."
"I can name a few," Sirius snarled. "Snape, Malfoy, probably Malfoy's cronies, Rosier-"
"Thank you Sirius, that's enough," Dumbledore cut him off. James was still staring at Lily, who was trying to figure out what was going on.
"Anyway, Lyla was attacked all those years ago, and the very creatures she was taking care of protected her and gave her the power to defeat Slytherin's supporters. The glow you witnessed tonight would be an echo of their power. It's symbolic in a way, the light conquering the dark. The phoenixes had been sent in by Bryant himself, as he had a way with them. He sent them to protect her because he could not go to her himself; I believe he was being attacked by more of these evil wizards. They had been sent to kill him, along with his brother and father. The Gryffindors knew Slytherin wanted them gone. Bryant knew an attack would come. He sent the fire birds to protect her. The phoenixes gave Lyla the flight you also witnessed tonight, and alas, more symbolism: Good rising above evil."
There was a moment's silence. Dumbledore glanced at Lily, who was now sitting in James's lap rather than laying in it. She was frowning at the white dress she was still wearing- where had it come from? He then continued.
"Miss Evans, tonight you channeled the spirit of Lyla to a place where the miraculous happening took place again. You became her, in a way, to defeat those who came tonight. They were sent to kill James."
Lily gasped. "Why?"
"He is the last blood descendant of Godric Gryffindor. Slytherin's heir, whomever he is, knows it. Gryffindor's heir must come from him." Dumbledore paused and flicked his wand; four glasses of water appeared on his desk, and he passed them around. "You must be thirsty after such a night."
"But, how did the Order and Death Eaters know something would happen tonight?" James asked, still looking a bit shocked at the fact that he could have died tonight.
Dumbledore nodded again. "The Death Eaters didn't. They came, as I said, just to attack you. They were in the forest only to hide until they had the chance to attack. The Order has it's ways of finding things out. We knew the Death Eaters would attack, so we made the portkeys. We were also aware of the date. So many of us arrived because, if Lyla showed herself, if she appeared again in that spot after all of these years, we would finally know who the second prophet is. We would know who we've been looking for. We would know who's body holds her spirit. And now we know."
"The celebrations?" Sirius asked.
"Now that we know, Mr. Black, we know that Bryant's plan worked. We know that they've survived time and will create a hope for us to overcome evil. Not for always, as there has to be a balance of evil for there to be good. But we have hope to defeat Slytherin's heir."
"I'm so tired," Lily whispered.
"Professor," James said seriously. "If Lily turning into Lyla proved it was her, then how do we know for sure that I'm Bryant? I mean, why didn't I change?"
"Ahh, my favorite part," Dumbledore said with a grin. "We know that you are Bryant because Lily saved you."
James blinked at him.
"You don't see it?" the old man continued. "Ok, Lyla saved Bryant all those years ago when she came across Slytherin's followers in the forest. That's why he fell in love with her in the first place, and why this date is so significant. Anyway, you were in danger tonight. Now, of course none of us would have let anything happen to you- your parents were here, as well as most of the Order. But it was Lyla's love for Bryant, or Lily's love for you, that saved you. She came to the forest as Lyla and saved you, because she knew who you were. At least, Lyla did. She knew you were in danger. Lyla knew Bryant was in danger. Do you get it? There is no power greater than a woman's love. And if that isn't proof enough, I don't know what is."
They sat in silence for a few minutes, Lily still very confused. Finally Dumbledore stood.
"You must be tired. Now that you know what happened, I'll see you all to the hospital wing where you won't be disturbed."
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Confident that his students were sleeping peacefully, Albus Dumbledore made his way to his headmistress's office.
"Albus," She said, opening the door before he even got to it. "Now that we know, what do we do?"
"We wait," he said simply.
"Could the heir be one of them?" Her tartan nightgown rustled as she nervously fluttered about.
"Minerva," he said, giving her a look that said whatever he was about to say was to remain a secret. "I think those two will parent the heir."
"Parent? Albus, I don't understand."
"A baby, Minerva. No time soon!" he said, laughing at the look of horror on her face. "The witch in the portrait in your classroom has informed me that James wants to eventually ask Lily to marry him. We always said they would have to work together to produce the heir, what did we think, they would make it out of dough? There is no other explanation, Minerva."
"It's genius, really. Albus.. Did you erase their memories?"
"Ahh." He looked away from her now. "I know the Order decided it would be the best thing for them, to live life as normally as possible. But truthfully, there is nothing normal about the situation at all. And they deserve to know the truth."
"I agree, and if you remember, I've thought so all along. It was Cistibal's decision to erase their memories." She frowned and looked away as if she were biting her tongue. She didn't now or ever approve of Gus Cistibal.
"Cistibal certainly makes his opinions heard. Nonetheless, he is in the order, and I trust him."
"As you see it."
"Such a day," he murmured absently. "The Ides of March. A day of pain."
"It was the birth of Lyla," McGonagall whispered.
"Yes, but it was also the birth of a doomed love."
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A/N: OKOKOK. I meant to make this chapter longer, but the things I left out will have to wait for the next chapter, because my reviewers weren't too pleased with the wait, hehe. As far as the story goes, there's only about 2-3 chapters left. I'm already planning a possible sequel. (Yeah, I know, I thought this was my last long story too, but.. I dunno.) So, there's your explanation. Now here's your shoutouts :0) (I'm only doing for this chapter)
OHH, and the7bells pointed out that I had turned off unsigned reviews.. Well, now I turned it back on, so if you were trying to leave an unsigned review before, now you can. Lol I forgot it was off. Thanks the7bells!
Flame Of Desire: hehe, thank you so much! You're so nice, I'm glad you like my fic. I get so tired of it sometimes, but getting reviews like that makes me want to keep writing. Thanks :0)
refallen: ZEEEE. Haha. Well, now you know what happens. I lurrrrve you
knoxjazzbabe: hehe sry about the scariness! Ah, now you know why James didn't come back too: she came back to save him. I love reading your reviews, they always make me want to update faster.. :0)
tucker529: (ok technically this review was for a different chapter but shh hehe) Thank you, as I said before, I love getting reviews like that. And I'll update asap :0)
Lorelei6: Aw Rae I'm sorry, haha. I luuurrrve you too. And hah, Friendly's, I thought u were fired!? Anyway, I would have jumped right into that conversation. Yeah, I love the randomness.. That chapter is the reason I even wrote this story- It's been written for soo long. Hmm, a little slash? Maybe I"ll put something discreet in, though, im sorry, it won't be a major storyline. Maybe I'll write something else with it. Thank you for being my wonder-BETA! You get a rose o)> -------- Thanks love :0)
Ideal Menagerie: Haha, sry about the ending! The Bitch is updated.. And almost done. Yeah, Rachael said she wanted sex/slash too. Haha. Luuuurrrve! :0)
the7bells: Ahh, thank you, I forgot I had turned unsigned reviews off. Oh, the7bells, where to start.. One of my favorite reviewers! I love reading your reviews. I mean, yes, you told me I was cruel, but then you compared me to JKR and told me I could be a marauder, so I luv you! Haha. See, I would have done Lily's POV, but Lily doesn't really know what happened. I think I might do the last chapter to Destined in POVs. Thanks for being a great reviewer, I hope you keep reading.. :0)
The ORIGINAL Meathead: Sam, I love your reviews. My life is random too.. So, now you know why James didn't turn into Bryant. I hope this chapter explained everything. I'm sorry for the suspense, hehe but now you know what happens next! Like I said, I love your reviews, they always make me want to update faster. I hope you keep reading :0)
Ok, those are just responses to chapter 18. If you guys want, or have any questions, I'll do that again in the next chapter.
A Special Thank You to my BETA, Rachael, and part-time BETAs, Zee and Sam.
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o)>--------flowers for my BETAs. :0) (the 'at' key didnt work for roses hehe)
Ok, see you all in chapter... 20.
-Ria