Things Change: Chapter 8
"Brooms, Aliens, and Snakes"
(All right, you know the disclaimer: Harry Potter characters are not mine, it's fanfiction! On another note: Sorry it's taken me so long to get this up. I wanted to have up to Halloween chapter done so I could post it on Halloween, but four hurricanes bombarding your house and tearing off your roof will put a set back in plans. But my kitchen is all fixed now, and we have a new roof! And the kitchen looks so pretty...Anyways, I also had problems with this chapter, because it was the one I had writer's block on. The next couple chapter's should come out pretty quickly (should, cause you never know what will happen). So enjoy! Oh, and wherever you see the chapter's name in parenthesis, that represents a change in time. That was the only way I could make it show up. )
"Speed it up, girl!"
"Higher! You'll never get there!"
"I'm going as fast as I can! And stop your snickering, Sirius!"
Their words started fading as they flew higher up in the air, as if disappearing in the clouds. Lily tried to keep her eye on Zora, but when her friend flew into the sun, Lily had to avert her eyes. She looked down on the pitch, where a handful of Gryffindor students were clutching their broomsticks. One boy looked particularly nervous, dropping his broom twice within a matter of seconds. On the other hand, a determined looking girl had her broom slung over her slim shoulder like it was a bat.
"Do you think Zora will make it?"
Lily turned to who had spoken. Danyel was leaning on the railing, overlooking the Quidditch field. Kassie was hovering in front of her, leaning casually on her broom.
"Don't likely know," Kassie replied. She suddenly ducked as a whizzing sound came towards them and a Bludger passed over where her head had just been.
"Sorry!" Henry O'Connell shouted, flying past them to catch the Bludger before it hit their Keeper.
"If you're just having tryouts for a Seeker, why is everyone else on the field?" Greta asked. She was sitting next to Lily in the bleachers, her eyes following Henry around as he managed to strike the Bludger away from Bridget before it hit her.
"Potter wanted the Bludgers to be out here, because Seekers have to avoid those, too. Then he decided the whole team should practice. Something about team work.
"I'm surprised you're not trying out, Remus," Kassie called, looking over Lily's head.
Lily turned to see Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew sitting a few benches above them, watching the sky as well. Remus was looking much better than he had on the train last week. He was leaning his elbows on the seat behind him, looking quite casual next to a nervous Peter.
"I enjoy staying on the ground, thank you very much," Remus smiled.
"You don't need any more scars on your face, either," Peter grinned.
"Why don't you try out?" Lily asked, looking at Peter.
He seemed surprised that she had spoken to him. His small eyes widened in awe, and he started stuttering. "Y-you think I c-could make it?"
Lily smiled warmly. She didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable. "Sure. You're small enough."
Lily thought she saw his smile flicker slightly.
"Well, I don't like flying, either."
"Lionel! Get your arse over here!"
Kassie rolled her eyes at Black's rude tone. "I guess that's my cue." She waved and flew down to the ground, meeting with the rest of the team. Lily peered over the railing, glancing Zora rubbing at her arm.
"Do you think it went well?" she asked Danyel, who had come back to sit on her other side.
"Well, she caught it, but then a Bludger hit her and she lost her hold on the Snitch." Danyel pulled her hair back into a ponytail and sighed. "This is a stressful game!"
"Just think what it'd be like when they're against another team," Lupin sarcastically remarked.
"It gets worse?"
"You really need to start coming to the games, Danyel," Greta sighed, twirling one of her golden curls around her finger. "It's better to see it in person than us explain it to you."
"Why doesn't Potter just play the Seeker position again?"
"Because, Evans," Lupin replied, "he prefers Chaser. He's taller than he was in his fifth year. You need a smaller framed person to play Seeker."
"That makes sense," Lily muttered, turning her attention back to the field. The determined looking girl was now up on her broom, waiting for Potter to release the Snitch. Black was leading Zora off the field, and she was still rubbing at her arm. "I'll see you guys later," Lily called to her viewing companions and hurried down the stairs.
"Are you sure you're all right?" Lily heard Black ask.
"Quit your fussing! I'll be fine."
Lily stopped short, standing in the dark doorframe of the stair well. She was planning on just walking out and joining them, but something aroused her curiosity, and she decided to wait under the tented stairs and watch for a moment.
Normally, Zora and Sirius were throwing comments at each other, teasing left and right. Not a day went by without some verbal bashing from the other. But today, for the first time ever, maybe, Lily saw Sirius Black act in a way she thought impossible: caring.
"You really need to see Madame Pomfrey, Zora," he said, holding her shoulder so she wouldn't run from him.
"All right. But I can go myself. You don't need to go with me. It's just a broken arm." Zora hugged her injured limb to her torso, and tried to pull away from Black. But his grasp was too firm. "I said I'll be fine, Sirius. I'll see you later."
Lily stepped out from the covered stairwell, nearly surprising the two of them. "Zora, what happened?"
Black looked relieved to see Lily. "Evans, can you take her to the hospital wing? She doesn't want to listen to me. She's stubborn." He smirked at Zora.
"Not so much as you," Zora replied.
"I'll take her. You need to get back to your practice." Lily took Zora's free arm and led her away, waving to Sirius. Once they were out of earshot, Lily leaned in closer to Zora. "What was that all about?"
Zora looked at her, slightly confused. "What do you mean?"
"Didn't you notice? Black was actually acting…humane. It was sort of odd."
Zora nodded, looking at the ground as it turned into stone steps. "Yeah," she muttered. "Odd."
Lily smiled slightly. "You wouldn't happen to fancy him, would you?"
Zora's shook her head. "No," she said, "we're just friends. That's all."
Lily couldn't help but feel she sounded a little bit sad when she said that.
They walked some more in silence before Zora suddenly spoke up in her usual peppy voice. "Do you think I did well? Despite getting injured like that. I doubt they'll pick me since I lost the Snitch."
"You did wonderful!" Lily replied, trying to reassure her. "Even the best Quidditch players make their mistakes. I doubt Potter and Black have never fallen off their brooms or been attacked by balls."
They looked at each other and giggled, disappearing into the castle.
("Brooms, Aliens, and Snakes")
"Miss Alti! What happened to your arm? Did the dinosaurs eat you? Well, if you were eaten, you wouldn't be here, would you? Maybe you're really a robot recreated by the aliens who found the dinosaur who ate you!"
Lily tried to hide her laughter as Crystal Marx went on in her eccentric ways. Zora was handling it rather well. They had been sitting at the Gryffindor table, preparing to eat a long awaited dinner, when the hyper Ravenclaw had suddenly appeared.
"Yes, and the aliens told me to let you know they'll be here on Halloween to pick you up to go Trick-or-Treating," Zora replied, her voice as serious as possible.
Crystal's eyes widened as her mouth opened wide in awe. "I knew they'd come back for me," she said in a hushed voice, and then retreating back to her table.
"Is she for real?" Kassie laughed, pointing at Crystal with her fork. "She seems lost in her own world."
"Maybe she was abducted by aliens. Did some experiments on her that scrambled her brain and personality. Think it's possible?" Zora laughed.
Lily smiled. "Yes, but it wouldn't be the same if she was different."
"If who was different?" Black asked, sitting down across from Lily and Zora and next to Kassie. Potter sat next to him, and they both look rather refreshed. They seemed to have come from the showers.
"That Marx girl," Zora replied, pointing with her bandaged arm.
Sirius cringed slightly. "Don't remind me."
Lily noticed that he touched his nose, as if making sure it was still securely attached. "Are you still paranoid about being around her?"
Sirius looked at her, like a confused puppy looked at someone when he heard a strange noise. "Me? Scared of her? Why would you say that?"
Lily smiled. "No reason."
"Crystal is as harmless as…a bunny," Kassie said, "despite her bouncy personality, if that's what it is called. Are you telling me you're afraid of a wittle bunny wabbit?" She looked at him, her eyes sparkling with laughter.
Sirius shook his head. "I'm not afraid of something that makes a tasty meal." He grinned back at her, and then bit hungrily into a turkey leg, as if to finalize his point.
Zora leaned over the table, careful not to put weight on her mending arm. "So, have you picked a Seeker yet?"
By the way Potter and Black looked at each other, the girls could tell it wasn't good news for Zora.
"Don't worry about it," Zora said quickly. "I couldn't even catch the Snitch."
"We went with Bernadette Briars, the third year with the curls," Black replied.
"Oh, she was really good," Kassie awed, then flinched. "Sorry, Zora."
"I said I'm fine," Zora smiled.
"Well," Potter continued, "you were next on the list, so if anything happens to Briars that keeps her from playing, you are the substitute."
"Groovy!" Zora perked up some, and then stuffed a dinner roll in her mouth.
"You're picking up Black's eating habits," Kassie said in a singsong voice, as if she was being a tattletale.
"I don't care," Zora replied, spraying a few moist breadcrumbs on the table.
Lily slid to her right to avoid the mess, and found herself bumping into someone next to her. She hadn't realized that Remus Lupin had sat down beside her. "Sorry," she said, scooting back over.
"It's all right. You can bump into me any time."
Lily didn't notice the glare Potter sent to his friend.
After a few more moments, Danyel and Greta appeared, having spent the time before dinner to do some work in the library. They were actually getting along quite well, even with the occasional remarks from Black and Lupin. They were teasing the girls, and Black even started to throw his peas down the table at a group of first years. But Lily noticed something odd: James wasn't participating in their antics at all.
"Owl coming in!"
Many heads turned up towards the high windows in the rafters. Normally, owl deliveries were during breakfast, but for some reason, a lone barn owl flew in, diving for the Gryffindor table.
"Wonder who it's for?" Kassie said, as the owl came closer.
It spread out its wings, slowing its large body down. It landed gracefully in front of them, turning to Lily. She watched it curiously as it stretched out its leg, revealing a letter for her. She wondered whom it was from as she took it from the owl, offering it some of her grapes.
"Love letters at this time of night?" Greta teased.
Lily turned the envelope over, finding her name neatly printed in the center. She slipped her finger under the flap, slowly tearing it open.
"Enough with the suspense," Sirius whined, "just rip it."
Lily rolled her eyes at Black's impatience. Everyone was watching her, and she suddenly felt rather nervous. What if her mother had finally replied? She didn't want her friends to see the letter. She wasn't sure if she was ready to explain to them what was going on. Not yet, any way.
There was two pieces of paper in the envelope. The first was a white piece of cardstock, similar to an invitation. Actually, it was an announcement. And Lily couldn't feel less happy about it.
"That's a wedding announcement!" Zora said, plucking it from Lily's hands. She paused to read it, and then looked at Lily with the most disgusted face. "Someone's marrying your sister? What'd she do: beat him with her abnormally stuck up nose?"
"Can they do that?" Danyel asked.
Sirius chuckled. "Yeah, like this!" And he proceeded to whack Potter with his own nose, like he was rubbing it on his sweater.
"Stop, you ninny!" James growled, shrugging him off.
But Lily wasn't paying them any attention. She had opened the second paper, which was a letter. But it wasn't from her mother.
"Sorry, guys. I'm tired, so I'm going to bed." She shoved the paper in her pocket and stood up, upsetting the table slightly. Zora made to grab for the cup that knocked over, but she did it with her bad arm, and couldn't catch it. The water spilt all over Lily, and she shrieked. Jumping back, Lily tripped over the bench and fell over backwards, landing hard on her backside.
She heard a roar of laughter behind her, as well as from her own table. Sirius Black was the loudest of them all. Fighting back the tears of embarrassment and frustration, Lily stood up, ignoring the offers of help from Greta. Lily hurried out of the room, and the last thing she heard was definitely Crystal's voice:
"I knew it! The dinosaur's are taking over Miss Evans!"
("Brooms, Aliens, and Snakes")
Lily sat at her desk, the candle in her lantern starting to diminish in size. She had been sitting there for quite some time, choosing not to acknowledge her friend's concerned voices at the door. They gave up after a while and went to bed, leaving Lily to sit and stare at the letter in front of her.
She picked it up for the umpteenth time, reading it once more.
Mother insisted that I send you a wedding announcement, and I agreed, seeing as how it is the proper thing to do. You and your kind may not have manners, but I do.
But something has come up that is most upsetting, and I know it is your fault. Mother has been acting rather peculiar lately. She doesn't go outside much anymore, and she's always cold. Have you put a… you know what on her? How dare you! Leave poor Mother alone. It's bad enough, what with Mother fretting about your welfare, when she seems ill. If you care at all about Mother, you'll release her from whatever spell you've put her under, you…witch!
Lily let the paper slip out from her hands. Petunia had always been cruel to her. Lily had thought maybe she was jealous of all the attention she received about being a witch. But she never imagined Petunia would be so harsh. Why would she think that Lily had cursed their mother? There was no need to. Lily had a good sense to curse Petunia, however, but she wouldn't. Not only was it illegal, but she also didn't want to sink to that level of inhumanity. Maybe Black would do it for her…
Lily sighed and put her head down on her hands, watching the flames dance in the lantern. Was her mother really sick? Petunia made is sound that way, but her sister was also a worrywart. Lily vaguely remembered her mother having chills on the way to the station, though. Had it gotten worse?
Lily thought to write another letter to her mother, but thought better of it. She hadn't answered her last letter. Perhaps she hadn't received it. Maybe Petunia found it and threw it away. Or her mother was avoiding answering it. Whatever the reason, Lily wasn't able to figure it out, because she eventually drifted off to sleep.
Lily wished it could have been a dreamless sleep, but that didn't seem possible. If she had had her way, she would have wanted a dream filled with candy and flowers and all things that made a girl feel happy. But no. She wasn't having a dream. This was a nightmare.
Lily was home, and by the looks of it, she was going to Petunia's wedding. She was wearing a putrid dress, covered in stiff lace and dyed a stomach lurching orange. Lily feared that maybe this was reality, but her house was infested by multicolored rabbits. That didn't happen in real life. Lily was trying to get away from all the animals without squishing them, but when she ran up to her room, the stairway never ended. She turned around, and there was Petunia, hidden beneath a mass of white frill, and carrying a broom. She was trying to poke her with it, and Lily turned to run again. Her mother was at the top of the stairs, and to Lily's surprise, she was wearing a Hogwarts' uniform. She tried to call out to her, but then what happened next woke Lily from the dream.
There was a paper stuck to her face as she jolted from her seat. Lily ripped Petunia's letter from her cheek, throwing it across the room. It was dark, the lantern light long been burnt out. She must have screamed, because her throat felt sore as if she had yelled at the top of her lungs. She had every right to: wouldn't you scream if your mother had turned into a large, venomous snake?
