Disclaimer: Harry Potter, Hogwarts, or anything that has ever been mentioned in the Harry Potter books does not belong to me. I would like to own them, and make billions of dollars every year, but the only thing in this story that is mine is my plot, if you can call it one. I am simply one of those very sad people who obsess over something that isn't real. Plus, one line from Finding Nemo.So please, don't sue me, all I have that is of any value is a cello and a computer. Thank you for your time.
Chapter Five
I can't light no more of your darkness
All my pictures seem to fade to black and white
I'm growing tired and time stands still before me
Frozen here on the ladder of my life
It's much too late to save myself from falling
I took a chance and changed your way of life
But you misread my meaning when I met you
Closed the door and left me blinded by the light
Don't let the sun go down on me
Although I search myself, it's always someone else I see
I'd just allow a fragment of your life to wander free
But losing everything is like the sun going down on me
I can't find
Oh, the right romantic line
But see me once and see the way feel Don't discard me baby don't
Just because you think I mean you harm
Just because you think I mean you harm, oh
But these cuts I have, cuts I have
They need love
They need love, they need love to help them heal
Oh, Don't let the sun go down on me
Although I search myself, it's always someone else I see
I'd just allow a fragment of your life to wander free
Cause' losing everything is like the sun going down on me
Don't let the sun go down on me
Although I search myself, it's always someone else I that see, yeah
I'd just allow a fragment of your life to wander free baby, oh
Cause' losing everything is like the sun going down on me
Elton John
Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
"So, how has life been treating you?" Lily asked James as she poured him a cup of tea. No one had been in this house for years, but it was still completely stocked up on imperishable food and stuff.
"Well, it was okay. Except my head's been abused a lot recently." Lily glared at him, and he laughed. "But why did you throw a chair out the window?" He asked interestedly.
"I was angry." Lily replied unhelpfully. She really didn't want to get into this with James right now.
"Why were you angry then?" He continued doggedly. She was silent for a moment, and then replied.
"Rick."
James kept on his cheerful face, but gripped the table so hard his knuckles turned white. If that person had done anything to Lily, he would murder him. "Ah, the fiancée. Had a little lover's spat, did you?"
Lily guffawed. "Well, if you call throwing his ring at him a lover's spat, then I would say so."
James stopped attempting to squeeze the table into bits. Something bad had happened between Lily and Rick. Good, good. "Why did you do that?"
Lily raised an eyebrow. "Have you always been this curious about everything?" When James nodded, she continued. "He started going on about how I should give up my job when I marry him. You know, be a housewife, raise kids. He thought it would look bad for a politician to have such a, well, adventurous wife."
James whistled, impressed. "He doesn't know you at all, then."
Lily looked sad, "No, he doesn't. I told him once about how I decided to try to find ways around curses when my parents were murdered, as a way of trying to help another who could end up like me, but I guess he didn't care. So I told him that I didn't want to marry him anymore. He wasn't exactly pleased."
James nodded slowly, still processing all of this. If Lily wasn't engaged to Rick, she would be free for the taking… "Say, Lily," he asked. "I have tickets to a showing of AIDA in muggle London this Friday. Sirius and Remus are working, and I was wondering if you'd like to come. As friends, you know." He added hurriedly.
Lily gave him a small smile. "Sure. I'd love to."
Lily apparated home after James had given her the time and place. It was so weird, being free from everything, from Rick. She hadn't felt this way in so long, she couldn't remember the last time she had.
When you were going out with James, a treacherous voice in her head replied.
But I'm not going out with him now, she attempted to reason. It's just him asking me as a friend, since he had extra tickets.
But you want to.
Do what?
Go out with him.
No, I do not! She said to herself, a little too quickly for comfort, though.
Then why did you wish that he didn't add 'just as friends?' the voice continued. Why is it that you can never stop looking at him? Why is it that you think of him every day, even while living in France
Who are you? She asked the voice, giving up on attempting to reason with it.
I'm your conscience. We haven't spoken in a while.
Before she could answer, the door burst open. "Lily? Where are you?" Anna asked.
"I'm in my room," the confused girl answered.
Anna rushed in. "I heard the most disturbing rumor at work today," she continued. "Something about a bunch of aurors coming in from France, and one of them being named Richard…Lily, this didn't happen to be your Richard, did it?"
Lily wasn't suprised Anaa had heard. Anna was part of the Magical Law Enforcement. They were always first on the gossip vine. When Lily nodded glumly, Anna gasped. "What did James do?" she asked heatedly.
"Nothing," Lily replied, confused. "Why would he do anything?" Not being sure that she wanted to hear the answer to that, she continued. "And Rick was being a bastard. Going on and on about how I should quit my job when we get married, and how it wouldn't look good for a politician's wife, and stuff. So I broke off the engagement."
At Anna's shocked look, Lily giggled. "Chucked the ring at him as hard as I could, actually. Scratched him up pretty bad, too."
"So, what are you going to do now?" Anna hounded.
"Nothing. I'm going to work. Oh, and I'm going to see a play with James this Saturday." Lily added.
"You are? That's wonderful!"
"As friends," she finished. Anna looked especially depressed for some reason, and walked out, leaving Lily to begin arguing with her conscience once more.
James walked through the door, hands in his pocket, whistling. Going out on a date with Lily as friends was better than nothing at all, and he bet that he could convince her that he did love her soon enough.
Sirius, lying on the couch, opened one eye and glared. "Some of us are trying to sleep here. Go take your whistling somewhere else. Oh, and your mum wrote you."
James stopped mid-note. Whatever his mum had to say, it couldn't be good. He walked over to the counter, and picked up said letter. It was already opened.
"Sirius?" he asked, "Did you read my letter?" The subject of his inquiries snored.
With a shrug, James slid out the piece of parchment, and began reading.
Dear James, it read in a spidery handwriting,
How has your job been recently? I haven't heard from you, and your father and I were getting worried. However, the subject of this letter is much more serious than that.
You do remember your upcoming 21st birthday, do you not? Well, I was recently talking to Ms. Rieu. She reminded me that Alexis just turned 20 herself, and that it we had agreed that the two of you should be married when you turned twenty-one. So do come and see me, so that we can talk about your wedding. Alexis is such a lovely girl.
Love,
Mum
James cursed. Sirius looked up. "That bad?" he asked.
"I thought you read it." James returned.
"Nope, just wanted to see who it was from."
James nodded. "Yep, it's that bad. Mum's decided it's time for me to marry Alexis."
Remus apparated in right in time to hear the last statement. "What?" he exclaimed.
Sirius grinned. "Ah, yes, Moony, you don't know the tragic story of our poor Prongsy. Come, sit, and you shall hear a tale."
"Shut it, Padfoot," James growled. "My mum had a best friend growing up, Mackenzie Rieu. So, when I was born, and Mackenzie had a little girl, our parents decided we should get married when I turn twenty-one.
"That wouldn't be so bad, but Alexis is a horrible person. She's one of those haughty, arrogant purebloods, and she thinks of nothing beyond shopping, gossip, and being richer than everyone else. Since by marrying me, she gets the Potter fortune, she'd be hard to act against."
"Well, can't you just call off the engagement?" Remus asked.
"No, I can't. My mum had her heart set on this for 19 years. I can't do that to her. Blasted timing, though." He added, more to himself than the other two. However, Sirius picked it up.
"Why is it bad timing?" he asked curiously.
"I just got Lily to agree to go out with me. As friends, but still. I forgot about Alexis."
Sirius nodded understandingly. "I'm sorry, Prongs." He replied, then he left. Moony repeated the comment, and then walked into his room.
Suddenly, a phrase Moony had told him a couple of days ago, when Lily came into town, came back to him. Murphy's Law, he thought wonderingly. What is it?
He got down a dictionary, and opened it up to the M's.
"Let's see," he said aloud. "Mundane, Muppet, ah here we are, Murphy's Law."
He read the definition out loud, slowly. "If there are two or more ways to do something, and one
of those ways can result in a catastrophe, then someone will do it."
James looked out his window at the rising moon. "Someone's obviously been making choices. I just wish there was a way I could undo them."
It's sad,
So sad.
It's a sad, sad situation.
And it's getting
More and more
Absurd.
Elton John
Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word
I'm sorry for not updating in forever. I got writer's block, then I got sick, and it all went downhill from there.
Please, go review. It's been scientifically proven that reviewing releases a protein based nucleic acid that speeds up the writing process. (Right)
I'll accept any kind of review, but I would appreciate it if you wouldn't do a flame. I find them pointless and disrespectful. I'm not saying you have to respect me, but I do think you should respect anyone who is brave enough to put their work up on enough so that you don't go around giving anonymous flames. Plus, getting flames makes me angry enough so that I flame back, which is fun. (evil grin)
On the song at the beginning of the chapter, I thought it fit. You can send songs in as inspiration, too. I'll check them out. Maybe it will cure my writer's block.
Also, some of the greatest stuff comes from reviewers. The chair in the last chapter, for example. And, if you're a really good reviewer, I might just insert you in the story, like I did here.
For the readers of Trying to Forget, Trying to Forgive, I'm sorry, but I don't know when the next post will be. Same with Confusion.I have about 10 sentences on each, and can't think of what else to put.
I won't be updating for a while, I'm going to Hawaii until the new year.
Now, to answer those reviewers:
Prongsie-Jamesie- Yeah, same. Hope you don't mind me stealing your name.
fred's girl- well, no more smooth sailing.
man eating plant- Perhaps. I don't know.
InLuvWitRupert- Thanks
Lily of the Valley23- I know, but poor Jamsie has to go marry someone else. Sigh.
fiery-star90- I couldn't stand Rick anymore. And Sirius is like that. He doesn't strike you as someone who will draw things out, does he. Now James on the other hand…
nebulia- Thank you.
LostConscience- Kinda already used that one. Go read Trying to Forget, trying to forgive if you're interested. So, how does Alexis and James sound?
prongsandpaddy- Nah. For holiday I have James getting married.
Mika Rieu- Well, it will come. Hope you don't mind me using your name.
ditzychick1228- That's okay. I wrote this while I was suppose to be studying for exams.
ourlittlesecret7-I like keeping you in suspense. (cue evil music.)
NorberttheDragon- I say we duct tape him to the wall, cover him with peanut butter, and sic rats on him.
le manchot du destin- I was too.
Brighton Baby- Unknown. Take it up with the voice in my head.
missmcweir- Yes. And Bobby Watson is the name of multiple characters in some weird French play, The Bald Soprano.
PinkyTheSnowman- I'm sorry.
ThelovelyladyLily- Now I need to think of a way to get rid of Alexis.
Stella Blu- People have been begging, I had to do it.
Telwyn Dubois- I couldn't find the problem. Ah, well.
Now, to those of you who actually came all the way down here, I'm getting a premonition.
It's telling me a word, or letters.
Lots and lots of letters.
Imaginary duct tape to the first to guess right.
Reviewing makes the world go round.
Sally
