Dragongurl4- Um…hi!  Thanks for reviewing!  I've got nothing else to say since you're standing right here next to me reading this!

MPPSexxySiriusJamesRemus- I guess everyone wants to kill Lily because they're jealous of her infinite beauty and talent. ^_~

SjabRox- One of those above guesses is correct.  Congratulations!  You win the award!

BlackLupin- Oh, right.  Gotcha. ^_~  Hee… we should make a play about this!  You'd be an awesome actress!  You seem to remember the characters' roles better than I do!  Caitlin can't win Padfoot back, of course- remember, she didn't want to let him go, but she did because she thought it would be easier than getting hurt, and less painful, too.  Guess you got proven wrong… and Padfoot will show ya!

cherri ookami- Well, like I told MPPSexxySiriusJamesRemus(whoo, long name), Nikki's jealous of Lily's… ability to win James' heart when she can't even get him to say a nice word to her.  Don't worry; I can't kill her off!  But someone WILL get injured…*rubs hands together and cackles*

Lorealgal- Wow, Nilu!  You are so awesome!  Thank you, I will!  (I didn't even know what to do with that part anyhow…)

Jane Park- Thank you so much!  Wow, I'm amazed at the kindness you put into your review!  Thank you soooooooooooo much!  I'm flattered!

Nilu- Yes, once I finish HTF, I will continue this.  Once I finish this, I have some other great ideas for future fics.  Seventh year will certainly have some twists in it!

A/N: I have to tell you guys something- this probably won't be like a regular chapter… at least, I'm not planning on it.  It's just what happens generally over the summer, ok?  Enjoy!  (And the next chapter will be on the train ride back, I think.)

To Be Young Again

Chapter 20: Summer Passes By…

Petunia had brutally refused letting Lily even attend her wedding, much less be one of her bridesmaids.  Lily didn't care at all for her sister's wedding, and didn't want to attend.  It's her bloody wedding.  She wouldn't want me to be there, Lily reasoned darkly.  She had long given up trying to be sisterly to Petunia and accepted her cold shoulder.

But Claire Evans, being the mother she was, 'forced' Petunia to extend an invitation to her sister.

            "But Mum," Petunia protested, "I've already told Vernon about… Lily… being a… you know, and he doesn't like it just as much as I don't.  He wouldn't want-"

            "Now, Petunia, of course if you described Lily to Vernon, he would have the same views as you.  You've been jealous of your sister for the longest time, darling.  I'm sure Vernon wouldn't mind Lily being at your wedding.  She's your sister, Pet." Claire used her 'pet' (A/N: Get it? ^_^) name for her oldest child.  Petunia groaned, rolled her eyes, and left with her bridesmaids (minus Lily) to pick out the perfect wedding dress.

*

Lily fidgeted, waiting for her sister to walk down the aisle.  She watched Petunia and Vernon say their vows and noticed Jane, Caitlin, Amanda, Arabella, and Luke in the large crowd.  She watched as her sister and her husband share their first kiss as a married couple.

*

            "Hey Luke." Bridget, Petunia's blonde, fair friend sidled up to Luke Walker.  "Remember me?"  She batted her long, mascara-covered eyelashes.

            "Uh, yeah… does your name have something to do with water?"

Bridget didn't look insulted.  "It's Bridget.  Remember?" she asked flirtatiously.

            "Ah yes.  I recalled something about a bridge.  Don't you have a boyfriend or something else to drool over?"

Once again, Bridget seemed unaffected by Luke's words.  "Oh yeah.  I did.  I dumped him."

            "When?"

            "Oh, approximately…" Bridget glanced at the large clock, "thirty-five…no, thirty-six seconds ago."

            "I see.  Well, you'd better hope he still wants you, because I certainly don't," Luke said icily.  Bridget didn't take the hint and lingered.

Right on cue, as if they'd practiced it a dozen times, Lily came behind Luke and kissed his cheek.  Luke wrapped his arm around her waist.  Bridget's face fell and she ran, yelling, "No, Jeff, I didn't mean it!  Don't leave!  I… I-!"

Lily smiled to herself as Luke let out a low chuckle.  "How… who invited you?"

            "Couldn't you guess?" Luke nodded his head toward the stumbling Bridget.  Lily rested her head on Luke's shoulder.  If she had looked at the large, partially stained-glass window on the side of the church, she would have seen the shape of a James Potter-like head peering through the window and a Sirius Black-shaped head twirling his wand.

*

            "James, this is BO-ring," Sirius whined.

            "Stop acting like a grumpy nine-year-old," James snapped.  He peered through the window again.  "She's with that Luke character.  Why doesn't she leave him alone?"

            "Potter, you airhead, sometimes I think you're the stubborn nine-year-old kid here.  Let me make this plain for you.  Black and white.  Look at me.  HE.  IS.  HER.  BOYFRIEND.  Get the picture?"

James muttered something incoherent under his breath.

            "Can I go?" Sirius asked, twirling his wand idly between his fingers.

            "No, you whining, pathetic nine-year-old."

            "What if I told you I was a nine-year-old?" Sirius asked, wiggling his eyebrows convincingly.

James gave him an incredulous look.  "Black, I think you're dehydrated.  Here."  A stream of water shot out of his wand and knocked Sirius out of the tree with its force.

            "Oops."

            "Wait till I get my hands on you, Potter… Ooh.  Ooh, I can't move.  Ooh."

            "Shut up, you big baby." Sirius shut up, save for the occasional moan.

            "Come on, we're going in."

            "I… can't… move.  No… go… in."

            "Oh, come on, you moron.  Hey, I can rhyme!" (A/N: Though they are the top in the year, Padfoot and Prongs can be quite stupid when they want to.)

            "We… weren't… invited."

            "Ah, so what?  They won't notice."

            "No," Sirius whispered, acting as if he was breathing his last.

            "Hey, Caitlin's here!" James said.

Sirius jumped up.  "Come on, mate, we're goin' in!  What's taking you so long?  Sheesh."  He was at the door even before James was out of the tree.  They entered and were greeted by Claire.

            "Who are you?  I don't seem to recall ever meeting you, or extending an invitation to you."

            "We're-" Sirius started.

            "Friends of Lily's," James finished.  "From school.  She invited us," he said without missing a beat.

Claire's smile widened.  "Oh , well, in that case…" she scanned the sea of guests, "she's over there."

            "Thank you." James headed over to Lily, with Sirius in tow, scanning the crowd for Caitlin.

*

            "What is it now, Payne?  I don't have time for your whims and moans," the cold, high-pitched voice rang out through the silence.

            "My lord, my um…my girlfriend, you know her, my lord, she… she wants a favor…" Drew Payne mumbled through his mask.

            "A favor?" Voldemort shrieked.  "What kind of favor?  I don't just stand here and give out favors, you know.  Which girlfriend is it this time?"

            "Um…Alicia, my lord…Alicia Morono… she's in Slytherin…"

            "Ah, yes, the slut."

            "Well, sir… Lily Evans, a mudblood at Hogwarts… um…. Could you… do away with her?  Somehow?"

            "Meaning end her life?"

            "Well, yes."

*

Caitlin gasped.  She clutched Arabella's arm.  "Hide me," she whispered.

            "What is it, Taylor?"  Arabella didn't like the idea of someone touching her.

            "It's him…" Caitlin whispered.  Amanda, Arabella and Jane turned their heads toward the two male figures heading over to Lily.  Caitlin crept behind Amanda's taller form and crouched slightly.

            "Oh, Taylor, get up.  Be proud.  He doesn't care about you, you don't care about him.  Capeish?"  Arabella asked.

            "I…I-"

            "Don't be a baby," Arabella said.

Jane sighed.  "Caitlin, keep your dignity," she said softly.  "He's a worthless playboy.  You knew this would happen, it did, and now you're moving on with your life.  He has a girlfriend, surprising as it may seem, and you need to find yourself something to keep you busy and not look back," she said wisely.

Caitlin nodded.  "You're right."  Her expression changed.  "Oh, God, he's coming here!  Quick- hide me."  Amanda shot her a look and she shut up, but still looked fearful as the handsome Gryffindor made his way over to her.  Caitlin squelched a squeal.

            "Why hello there," Sirius said smoothly.  "Fancy seeing you here."

            "Oh, go away," Arabella snarled, but Caitlin stopped her.  "No.  I want to hear what he has to say.  So Black," she said, turning to him, "what brings you to this neck of the woods?"

            "A pathetic nine-year-old," Sirius informed her, and Caitlin looked wary.  "Right…"

            "So," Jane started, "where's your twin?"

            "Over there," Sirius said, nodding his head toward Lily.

            "Oh no," Amanda breathed and led the group away from Sirius and to James.  Caitlin, however, lingered.  But that was only because Sirius grabbed her arm.

            "Let go of me, damn it," she said, trying to wriggle free.

            "Caitlin," his soft blue eyes sparkled with warmth, "why… why did you dump me?"

Caitlin almost melted, but she held her ground.  "Because, you idiot, you were a player, and you were going to break my heart.  I'd rather not have it broken, thanks."

            "So you were going to break mine instead?"  Sirius' eyes swam with tears.

It's just an act, Caitlin told herself fiercely.  Just an act… he doesn't really care.  Come on, Taylor, be strong.

Unfortunately, she didn't keep her vow.  "I…I…"

            "Just tell me that you actually did care," Sirius whispered. 

            "But…" Caitlin regained some of her strength, and it came back in quantities.  "You're the one with a new girlfriend!  You're the one who rejected me when I came to apologize!  You're the one who refused to listen!  You said it was too late!  You-"

            "You're wrong.  I never said it was too late for second chances.  That was Snyder."

            "Yes, it was, but you agreed with it.  I didn't hear you protest.  So she's not Vylette anymore, huh?  So this is what you do when no one's looking?  Specifically your current girlfriend?  Try to get others behind her back?"

            "Caitlin, you don't understand-"

            "Don't understand?  What is left for me to understand, Sirius?"

            "I…I-"

            "You what?"

            "Give me a chance, damn it!  I was going to say that I…I really…I really do care for you, Caitlin, and-"

            "That's crap, Black.  If you had really cared for me, why…why didn't you give me a second chance when I asked for one?  Why didn't you come after me?  If you had really cared, you wouldn't have let me go."  Caitlin turned on her heel and went to join Lily and her group of friends.

*

            "Oh, God, no…" Lily muttered. 

            "What?  Oh…" Luke tried to steer Lily away from James, but he wasn't quick enough and James caught up to them.

            "Hey Lily!  Great party!" James called, raising his hand in greeting.

            "It's not a party," Lily said through gritted teeth.  "It's my sister's wedding."

            "Ah, well, yes, whatever.  Your mother seems to like me."

            "And I would care why?" Lily asked.  "And don't call me Lily again, or you'll get it from me."

            "Lils, I-"

            "It's Evans."

            "I don't care.  I just wanted to say that… rather, ask you that… why… why do you hate me?"

            "Oh, shut up, Potter.  Do you really want to know?  Do you want to hear it again?  Is it not enough for you that I blow up at you repeatedly?  Well, I suppose I'll just have to tell you.  Maybe this time it will get through your thick skull, but I doubt it.  You're an airhead, Potter.  You're a playboy.  You mess up your hair because you think it's cool to look like you've just gotten off your broomstick, you show off with that stupid Snitch… you make me sick, Potter.  You disgust me.  You're arrogant.  You think everyone wants you.  You-"

            "Ah, yes, thank you, I get the picture," James said in a wounded voice.  Lily held her guard up and didn't let this act affect her.  The only problem was, it wasn't an act.

*

            "So you want me to do you a favor?" Voldemort said.  "Disgrace my power with helping a vile, hormonal teenager?"

            "Well, yes, my lord," Drew replied, afraid to disagree.

            "Fetch your girlfriend.  The slut one.  Is she here?"

            "She… she isn't, my lord." 

The Dark Lord sighed irritably.  "Very well, bring her before me."  Drew instantly Apparated.

*

            "Caitlin, I swear-" Caitlin turned her back to Sirius, pretending to be engrossed in conversation but really curious about what he had to say.

            "Caitlin, please, I-"

            "Caitlin, I didn't want-"

            "Damn it, Caitlin, will you listen to me?"  Sirius's loud voice echoed through the now quiet church.  Petunia looked scared, then started up conversation again, and the church became noisy once more.

            "Why, Sirius?  What's the point?  So you can come groveling on bended knee, asking for me back?  I…I don't have time for that."  She turned away and started talking animatedly to Jane.

Sirius sighed.  He turned on his heel and left, crushed.

Caitlin watched him go.

*

Drew Apparated back to the Dark Lord, clutching Alicia's elbow.  Alicia looked scared yet happy at the same time that Drew was touching her.

            "So, this is her," Voldemort asked, hit question not really a question at all.

            "Yes," gulped Drew.

            "Girl, sit."  Alicia sat on the chair that had magically appeared behind her.

            "You dared to ask me that I kill a teenager going to Hogwarts for your girlfriend's benefit?"

            "Well, no, my lord, it was Alicia's friend that-"

            "Silence!  I will not tolerate this!  I knew from the beginning you were pathetic, and you have hurt me more times than you've helped…you're destroying the whole plan!  I think there's only one thing to do with you…"

Thin, snakelike cords shot out from the Dark Lord's wand and bound Alicia to her chair.  She screamed.

            "Now you must watch as he dies…" the Dark Lord hissed.

Features of fear took place on both Alicia and Drew's face.

            "…But not before I give him this."  Voldemort poured a clear liquid down Drew's throat.  He choked, spluttered, and then regained calmness. 

            "Do you love this girl?" Voldemort thundered.

            "No," Drew said, his voice a monotone.

            "Do you like her in the slightest bit?"

            "No," Drew said in that same monotone.  Alicia eyes welled up with tears.

            "Why did you agree to date her?"

            "Because she was worth a good make-out session."

Tom Riddle smirked at Alicia.  "Crucio!" he yelled, and Drew's body shook with pain.

Drew Payne died a slow, painful death. And Alicia Morono witnessed every minute of it.

*

Caitlin, dearest,

Caitlin tossed the letter into the fire without even bothering to read what it said.  I'm not letting him play me again, she thought with fierce determination.

A/N: Crappy ending, I know.  Oh well.  Live with it or live without it. 

Next chapter will have them going back to Hogwarts, I think.  Ignore typos, please.  Too lazy to re-read.

I'll try to update faster next time.  Oh, and I'm starting a new story… I haven't found a title for it yet, but when I do, PLEASE R&R!  Thanks!

~*OutofAzkaban*~