A.N. / I might not update for a few days, I have another fic I haven't updated since I left Texas. So I'm going to do a chapter or two, and do some of these chapters. Been writing up a storm since my husband is off at sea. Oh well, good news for y'all, huh? Here's the next chapter. Read, Review, and enjoy!
Chapter 19
Lily and James returned five minutes before six, which six was an hour before dinner. "Lily?" James asked before she headed to Dumbledore's office to meet Snape for thier Prefect rounds.
"James can this wait?" Lily wined, "I'm going to be late!"
"I was just going to ask you if you wanted me to bring your costume to Cassidy, so she could bring it to your room?"
Lily ran up to him and handed him her garment bag, which held her costume inside. "Thanks James, your a sweetheart." She gave him a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek. "See you at dinner!" Lily ran up to the staircase to the second floor, while James walked up to Gryffindor Common Room.
"Sugar Quills!" Lily yelled at the stone gargoyle in front of Dumbledore's office. Lily ran into his office, "I'm so sorry sir I'm late...I tried my..."
"Don't mind her Professor, she always makes up excuses." Amos Diggory said with a laugh.
"Mr. Diggory, I don't believe Miss Evans nor I asked your opinion." Dumbledore said, his usual sparkle in his eyes wasn't there.
"But...but she's late..."
"No Mr. Diggory she is not, by my watch Miss Evans is not late so please shut your mouth." Amos blushed from being talked to so harshly. "Now Miss Evans, Mr. Black and Mr. Pettigrew hexed Mr. Snape, he is in the Hospital Wing. Mr. Pettigrew and Mr. Black have had fifty points deducted from Gryffindor and have a month worth of detentions with Mr. Filch."
Dumbledore sighed and went on, "So I contacted the Head Girl to ask who was next up for Prefect patrols and she said Mr. Diggory. I am very sorry about this."
"Sorry?" Amos asked outraged, "Lily Evans is lucky to have me patrol with her."
"Mr. Diggory," Dumbledore's eyes looked as if they were on fire. "You may hold your tongue. I must have forgot to tell you, the Wizengamot has just owled me before either of you were here, with letters to the both of you, I believe the letters are pretty much the same."
"What does the Wizengamot want with us?" Amos asked eyeing Dumbledore.
"Your father might have been able to pull string s with the school governers, bu the night that Miss Evans claimed you tried to rape her and Mr. Potter stopped you, Professor McGonagall tried to seek to expel you with my permission. The Wizengamot said it wasn't possible with a proper trial, so I'm giving you a proper trial. You may read you letter."
"My father will get a lawyer!" Amos yelled.
"I figured he would. Miss Evans you are also allowed to get a lawyer. You two are excuse from Prefect duties tonight so you may contact your parents," Dumbledore turned to Amos. "Or your lawyer. The Head Boy and Girl are taking your rounds, dismissed." Amos storemed out of the office, but Lily didn't move from her spot and opened the letter to read it. It said:
Dear Miss Lily Marie Evans,
The Wizengamot has contacted you on the account of the happening that happened between yourself and Mr. Amos Lyle Diggory. From the beginning of the night, when you met in Gryffindor Common Room until Mr. Potter was in St. Mungo's with you.
We have called to the case to testify are listed below, if you need anyone else tell you may owl us. We have called: Mr. Amos Lyle Diggory, Mr. Albus Dumbledore, Mr. James Harry Potter, Mr. Sirius Cole Black, Mr. Peter Wayne Pettigrew, Mrs. Minerva McGonagall, Miss Cassidy Nicole O'Brian, and yourself, Miss Lily Marie Evans.
Any questions owl us, if you wish to go along with this trial owl us. This trial is all up to you. If you wish to put Mr. Amos Lyle Diggory to trial, the trial date will be December 1st.
Have a nice day.
The Wizengamot Court
Lily was stunned, "Professor?"
"Yes Miss Evans?" Dumbledore asked with that sparkle back in his ice blue eyes.
"This trial is pointless and not worth the Witches and Wizards tax money to pay for."
"Oh really?" Dumbledore asked putting his hands together.
"Yes Professor, there's no way Amos will ever tell the truth." Lily sighed feeling beaten already.
"Well, the court will have your testimony, Mr. Potter's, Professor McGonagall, and whatever your friends and I knew over Mr. Diggory's."
"I just feel like this is a waste of time." Lily sighed.
Dumbledore reached into his desk and pulled out a spare piece of parchment, dipped his quill in some green ink, and began to write something. When he was done he handed the parchment to Lily. It read:
Kendal A. Bernett
405 Diagon Alley
London, England
"Mr. Kendal A. Bernett?" Lily asked.
"No, Miss Kendal A. Bernett. Best Wizard Lawyer I ever met, and between you and me that's saying something. She's expecting to hear from you."
"But Professor, if she's one of the best, won't Amos's parents try to contact her?"
"Why yes they will Miss Evans, but Miss Bernett wants to represent you."
"Me?" Lily asked looking flabbergasted, "Why me?"
"Well, I've talked to her about what happened between Mr. Diggory and yourself last year, and she told me that if Mr. Diggory's parents go after a lawyer that she wanted to represent you."
"How did she know..."
"That Mr. Diggory's parents would go after a lawyer?" Lily nodded, and Dumbledore sighed. "That's just how Mr. Diggory's family acts."
"But why does Miss Bernett want to represent me? She doesn't even know me."
"But this case is close to her," Lily gave a look of wonder, she knew this would be a story. "Miss Bernett's kid sister and only sibling was raped and killed at your age, three years ago, while Miss Bernett was at Wizarding Law School."
"At sixteen!" Lily couln't believe this...this young girl's life was cut off so short.
"Yes Miss Evans," Dumbledore sighed deeply. "One of Voldemort's supporters, a Death Eater. But we never found out who. Anna Bernett's rape case had become a 'Cold Case' I think that's what you call it in the Muggle World. Since Miss Anna's rape and murder, her sister, Miss Bernett has sworn to take on any attempted rape or actual rape case that flies her way. To bring happiness to the family...the happiness her family never got.
"So go back to Gryffindor Common Room and consider whether you'll use Miss Bernett...write your parents, Miss Bernett, and the Wizengamot."
"Yes sir." Lily grinned and left Dumbledore's office and looked down at her watch, it was five minutes to seven, dinner was about to start. She knew she'd been in Dumbledore's office for a while, but she didn't think it had taken about an hour already. She figured she should head to dinner, her friends were probably already there waiting on her.
"Lily!" Cassidy yelled when Lily entered the Great Hall. Lily looked for Cassidy and smiled. Cassidy was sitting next to Sirius with James across from them and James had saved a seat for Lily, of course.
When Lily approached them she acted surprised to see a seat saved for her. "A seat for me?!" She asked dramatically and then looking around she frowned. "Where's Peter?"
"Sitting with Amy."
"Getting serious aren't they?" Lily asked sitting down next to James.
"Do do think so, sad too. She's not all that pretty." Sirius sighed, and then gasped as Cassidy smacked him in his head, but from the back this time. "Peter to be the first to settle down?" Sirius rubbed the back of his head going on with his talk. "Yuck, I thought he'd never find love and end up like Snivellus will." Milk shot out of James's nose from laughter and Lily rolled her eyes. "Always thought Remus would be the first to settle down, but he's so hooked on Gabriella, that he won't even glance at another girl." Sirius began to whisper now where only James, Lily, Cassidy, and himself could hear. "From what I've heard Ludo either already or is about to pop the question."
"WHAT?!" The other three exclamied making everyone turn their heads.
"Remus will kill himself if Gabriella becomes Bagman's fiancee." James sighed, Sirius nodded agreeing with James.
"I'll want to skip that Wedding," Cassidy said in disgust. "Any Wedding where Bagman is the Groom, I'm not attending."
"That could be a problem, Cassidy. As we're probably Bridesmaids, and Alice the Maid-Of-Honor." Lily pointed out to Cassidy.
"No no no no no no! Why does she have to be with that over-sized loaf!" Cassidy yelled, making people turn around to look at them again. "Will you mind your own damned business!"
"Besides Cassidy, it's odd that Sirius would say that." Lily commented.
"Why is this so odd? They've been dating forever! Has to happen sometime."
"Well I heard they were on the rocks."
"Ooooh! Really?" Sirius sounded like the two school gossips...Rita Skeeter and Bertha Jorkins.
"Yeah, there'rs a rumor going around that he cheated and still is on Gabby with Paris or Heather."
"Or both," Cassidy said grossed out.
"Or both," Lily went on. "I heard the only reason Gabriella is sitll with him is because she has no proof he has cheated on her."
Sirius turned to James, "We need to talk to Peter about, Operation: Break-up Gabriella and no brains."
"Yes," James smiled. "And then, Operation: Hook-up Remus and Gabriella...correct?"
"Yes!" Sirius tried an evil laugh, only it iddn't work and he began to choke on his chicken fried steak.
On Tuesday Remus returned to school looking very ill, but Lily knew not to say anything. When the time was right Remus would tell Lily, until then she'd just have to play stupid. Wednesday's Muggle Studies class was very weird for Lily, especially since Tyler couldn't keep his eyes off of her. He even called her after class, James wanted to stay behind. Lily told him it was okay that she'd be fine and meet him in the common room. Even though James was going against his better judgement, he did what Lily requested.
"Lily," Tyler said approaching her and resting his hands on her shoulders. "I know how uncomfortable I made you Saturday and I'm terribly sorry. I didn't know."
"Know what? I told you that you were making me uncomforatble."
"No Lily, the other thing...About what Amos and some muggle tried with you on two different times."
"How do you know?!" Lily's eyes bugged out and she was whiter than usual. "How on Earth did you find out?"
"The files Grandfather has in his office..."
"That's for staff use ONLY!" Lily screamed.
"Lily!" Tyler tried, "I didn't know this would upset you."
"Upset me? Of course you moron these events will upset me! I have nightmares about them every night!"
"Lily, please."
"No Tyler," Lily's voice was shaking. This piece of shit had invaded her privacy...or so it felt like it. "Forget my name and me. I am only a student to you now, and I can't hlejp you after school anymore. And you just try and bring your grandfather into this and I'll tell him what you did! I'll tell him you invaded the Teacher-Student Privacy Act. YOUR ONLY A SUB, Mr. Smith. For now on I am Miss Evans to you!" She stormed off and to the Gryffindor Common Room.
The rest of the day, even after she'd told Cassidy, James, Sirius, and Remus, was Lily still pissed.
At Breakfast the next morning Professor Dumbledore announced that Professor Smith's last lesson would be next Wednesday. Lily groaned, 'Why couldn't his las lessons be on Tuesday?' Professor Smith had to start preparing for the Quidditch Season coming up. Professor Nelson still wasn't back, so Muggle Studies lessons and club were cancelled until Professor Nelson returned.
Of course this news only brought joy to Lily's ears, that Tyler was getting away, far away from her after next Wednesday. Only left a wide space for James to slide in now.
"He's leaving?" Cassidy asked leaning over to her best friend. "Does this have anything to do with the conversation you had with him last night?"
"No clue," Lily said shrugging her shoulders. "Don't care either."
"Lily you should go talk to him," Cassidy looked worried. "As much as I prefer you to stay as far away from him and go for James...I do believe you should appologize for last night."
"Me apppologize?! He looked in my file! He violated my privacy!"
"True Lily," Cassidy nodded. "But don't you want to know why he's really leaving? For a while you were confused on who you were going to give your heart to, Tyler Smith or James Potter."
"You just want me to know because your being noisy again, right?" Lily asked her giving her a knowing smile.
Cassidy nodded, "I can't help it!" She blushed. "And your probably the only one who could get an honest answer out of him and find out why he's actually leaving...so what do you say?"
"Your lucky your my best friend, or I'd say no. Besides, I guess I should at leastsay good-bye." Lily winked at her, Cassidy giggled Lily had that look in her eye. The look that only a prue journalist carries.
"That's my girl!" Cassidy giggled. Lily got up and headed for the Muggle Studies classroom. She figure dTyler would write her a pss ot class or if worse came to worse she could afford to be a little late for Herbology.
"Where's Lily going? We've got class in ten minutes." James questioned Cassidy.
"No clue," Cassidy lied. James turned to try and find answers with Sirius, but all Sirius had was a joke for him.
"Prongsie, what does Australia and sixty year old women have in common?"
"Geez Padfoot I don't know if I really want to know this."
"Puh-lease!"
"Fine what?"
"No one knows or cares!" Sirius began to laugh into fits and Cassidy looked grossed out.
James rolled his eyes and his thoughts fell back on Lily. James figured it had something to do with Tyler Smith, but he thought Lily was done with that loser. James was getting sick of these games, if Lily didn't figure out who her true feelings were for James would pull his ticket out...permantly.
Lily approached the wooden door and took a deep breath before she knocked lightly. She heard Tyler's voice saying, "You may enter." So enter Lily did.
Tyler looked up and gave her a look Lily's eyes couldn't actually find a meaning behind. "You weren't at breakfast," Lily tried to start this conversation.
"No I wasn't. Your ver observant. I'm guessing grandfather told the school I'll be gone after next Wednesday's lsesons?" Lily nodded her head, "So Miss Evans," he dragged her name a bit. "What brings you into my presence?"
"To appologize."
Tyler let out a little chuckle, "You appologize? You made it so clear that I was the wrong one last night and you were the right."
Lily nodded, "I stand by what I said last night. You invaded my privacy last night."
"Then do explain to me what you are appologizing for?"
"Saturday at Hogsmede. I shouldn't have gotten up and walked out."
"Well you did, so get over it."
"Tyler, why are you being so mean? I'm trying to have a decent conversation with you."
"Oh, I am so sorry. When I want to talk to you, you say no. But when you want to talk to me, am I suppose to drop everything I'm doing and listen to you? I'm sorry I didn't know the rules."
Lily was insulted, "Are you telling me that the manner that I act is improper? I believe you tried to kiss me on a first date. I was brought up to kiss on a first date is tactless of a girl. Then add you are five years my junior."
"Yeah, yeah." Tyler sai rolling his eyes, "So what are you up here for Miss Evans? I already know you have picked Potter over me."
"I wanted to know exactly why you are leaving."
"You mean Miss O'Brian wants to know."
"No, I want to know." Lily half lied. "Does it have to do with me picking James over you?"
Tyler sighed he let down his walls he had built up. " A little. Your too much like her, and if I can't have you...I can't be around you."
"What are you babbling about?" Lily questioned him.
"Well," Tyler said pulling out a chair for her as he sat down on one of the desks. "I'm guessing you've heard the rumor about me being a Quidditch Player of England and owing grandfather?" Lily nodded and Tyler wnet on. "Well most of that rumor is true. Except I wasn't stalking the Muggle girl. We were in love, and wanted to get married. Her father and I didn't get along much, but he promised us his blessing to our marriage if I had a proper job to support his daughter with. I figured I should tell him the truth, for when Elizabeth and I had children...they too would most likely be accepted to Hogwarts as we were going to live in Britian."
"Elizabeth?" Lily asked, "Who is she?"
"She was the love of my life, my fiancee."
"Oh, okay."
"Her father forbid our marriage once he knew that I was a Wizard. You see Elizabeth's aunt, her father's sister, was murdered by the Dark Wizard Grindelwald."
"But your grandfather Albus Dumbledore defeated Grindelwald in 1945!" Lily protested getting more into the story than she thought she would.
"Yes, Lily I know that." Tyler sighed, "I tried telling her father this. He told me he'd never let a freak like me make his daughter and future grandchildren filth like I am. Elizabeth and I tried to elop, but he caught me trying to sneak her out. Elizabeth's father made her press charges against me. A year later her father forced her to marry one of the men he worked with...he beat my sweet Elizabeth! That filthy bastard beat her until she died!" Tyler screamed feeling grief take over his body again.
"Oh!" Lily leaned over to try and console Tyler. "That...that's so terrible!"
Tyler sat up trying to hid hte few tears he allowed to roll down his face. "You look and act so much like my sweet Elizabeth. I guess that's why I've been acting so illy. Why I tried to get you to kiss me. It was like old times again for me, please forgive me Lily. I hope we can at least still be friends."
"Tyler can I ask you something?" Tyler nodded to Lily's question. "Were you only attracted to me becasue I look and act how you remember Elizabeth?"
"No, grandfather has spoken so highly of you that I wanted to get to know you. Then having you help me out after classes got me to really know you. Yes sometimes you are so much like my Elizabeth, but you are also your own person. All those things attracted you to me. Good luck to you with Potter. Could you do me a favor though?"
Lily smirked at him, "Depends. But tell me what the favor is and I'll tell you if I can or if I can't."
"If things don't work out with you and Potter, you'll give me a ring? Not to hook up, just to hang out. Because we both know as long as you and Potter are together, he'll never trust me around you."
Lily smiled, "You were trying to be a tough guy to get over your loss...how long ago did Elizabeth die, if you don't mind me asking."
"A year and a half ago." Tyler said with sadness taking over those ice blue eyes he shared with his grandfather.
"Look Tyler," Lily said smiling at him and grabbing his hands in hers. "I don't know if James wand I will actually get together, but I really hope we do. But no matter what you and I will be friends, I swear. James will just have to accept this."
Tyler smiled and squeezed Lily's hands, "Your a sweet girl, never change." Tyler looked up at his clock, "You should go, your already late for Herbology. Let me write you a pass." Lily nodded and waited to get her pass and left Muggle Studies class to Herbology. All day Cassidy tried to talk to Lily to find out what had happened, but in every class they'd been swamped and that evening Lily was too busy with Prefect duties to even have dinner with her friends.
When Lily entered the Gryffindor Common Room at nine thirty, she notice something. Cassidy and Sirius were no where to be found, probably up in his bed have a good snog; Peter wasn't around...but he'd been with Amy a lot now and you hardly ever saw him. Remus wasn't around either, but that wasn't the strangest thing. The strangest thing was James was sitting on 'Lily's Couch' in the middle seat where neither Lily nor Cassidy ever sat, but James Potter was actually reading a book. As Lily got closer, she gave herself a giggle, James Potter was actually reading, Gone With the Wind, the Muggle Study book that was suggested to read. Lily remembered when James swore up and down he'd never read taht book.
"That book any good?" Lily whispered enough for James to hear her and jump.
"You scared me," he sighed clutching his heart.
"Seems we've turned the tables, James Potter." Lily said smiling at him.
James smiled back at Lily and marked his place with a bookmark in his book. "Share a seat with me?"
Lily nodded and sat in her usual spot, "Good bok isn't it?"
"Yes," James agreed putting an arm around her shoulder in which she snuggled in to. "Ready for the ball?"
"A little," Lily twisted her body a little. "Just don't want it to end like the last one we went to."
"I promise you, I won't let it." He kissed the top of her head and he heard her sigh. Maybe Cassidy was right, maybe there was still something between them.
"Where's Peter?" Lily asked sitting up to meet his beautiful eyes.
"With Amy, third floor broom closet."
Lily gave him a funny look, "And how do you know that?"
"Sirius and Cassidy informed me of it, thirty minutes before you came in. They ran into Peter and Amy in there, but it wasn't the first time."
"Oh?" Lily asked,"Well where's Sirius and Cassidy now?"
"No clue, took my invisiblity cloak and the map."
"Wait," Lily frowned. "I'm confused. Why didn't they just go to your dormitory and snog there? Peter's in a broom closet with Amy, your down here, and Remus..."
"Is upstairs."
"With?" Lily asked while her brilliant green eyes bugged out a bit.
"Gabriella," James said with a smirk to his face.
Lily's mouth would have dropped to the floor if it could have reached that far. "Gabby?!" Lily whispered incase she hadn't heard correctly. James nodded his head yes. "But what about her relationship with Ludo?"
"From what I heard between her sobs when she ran in here looking for you, this was before Remus caught her in his arms and began to console her, but after he was in here after the two of you Prefect duty. Bagman proposed to her on the last Hogsmede weekend, she accepted, been wanting to tell you and Cassidy but could never find the two of you together. Anyways, she did a charm on her engagement ring before she went to meet Bagman at thier ususal snog spot, and she found out that the diamond was fake. She was outraged, so she went to meet him at thier usual 'spot', and caught him...shagging Paris."
"No!" Lily gasped feeling deeply sorry for her friend.
"Yes," James nodded now gosspiping and feeling like a fourth year girl. "Gabby threw the ring in his face and broke up with him. She then broke down when she got in here. She wouldn't respond when Cassidy, Sirius, or I would speak to her. Remus come in saying you'd be a little late and saw Gabby crying her eyes out on the floor, and that's when he picked her up in his arms and brought her upstairs to let all her emotions go."
"Poor Gabby," Lily sighed. "I knew she was too good for that slimeball. You think she'll start dating Remus?"
"I don't know," James said scratching his head. "I don't know if she'll trust for a while, but I hope Remus finally gets her."
"Me too," Lily said smiling. "It's funny all our friends are together now."
"Yeah," James said smiling. "Lily?"
"Yeah?"
"I've been wanting to ask you something for a while now." James started to get butterflies in his stomach.
"Yes?" Lily asked hopeful.
"Lily I was wondering if you'd..."
"LILY!" Someone screamed as they entered the Common Room. Lily turned her attention to the person, and James swore under his breath and also turned to see who this was.
"Alice?" Lily asked getting up to see what was the matter.
"I've been looking for you since dinner!" She huffed from running obviously.
"What did you need?"
"Your owl went to Professor McGongall because she coulndn't find you. When she showed up she was all bloody, I had detention with McGonagall and she ordered me to go get Hagrid. When Hagrid and I showed up there was nothing we could do...she was dead. Your owl is dead."
"My owl?"
"Yes, she carried a letter with her too." Alice handed Lily the letter which Lily began to read.
Mudblood Evans,
I have written your filthy muggle parents, and I'm assuming they've contacted you, but you still ignore my threats? Not very wise for a Mudblood or her family. Stay away from James Potter or it will be the death of your filthy family and the death of you.
Lord Voldemort
LIly turend paler than usual and handed the letter to James so he could read it. after he readit he looked disgusted. "Alice had Dumbledore or McGonagall read this?"
"No, You-Know-Who put a curse on it that only Lily could open it."
"James," Lily whispered with tears filling up her brilliant green eyes. Alice and James turned to look at Lily, "They never told me. I...I could be the death of my family!" She began to sob.
"Alice thanks, we're going to find Dumbledore." James picked up the very light weighted Lily Evans and ran with her in his arms, while she curled into him crying her eyes out, on their to Dumbledore's office.
