Chapter Twenty Four
After everyone gathered in Dumbledore's office, Lily took a seat and let out a sigh of relief. Here she was safe from harm, safe from death, here with her friends, with Dumbledore - with James. She had been mere seconds away from death - twice! And that poem . . . it sounded like her, but it also sounded so familiar somehow . . .
While she was listening to the cold loud voice of Voldemort, it had triggered a memory, from her very first year of Hogwarts. Sitting on a stool in front of the entire school, with a ridiculously large hat on her head, she remembered . . .
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A nervous eleven year old girl slowly walked up the steps and took a seat on the stool. Her life had changed drastically over the past few months. After finding out she was a witch and was being summoned by a completely secret wizarding world to attend school - as a witch, was all a new but welcoming life. But seriously - a talking hat?
"May I ask your name, girl?" she heard a voice say, and she tried to swallow the lump in her throat so she could speak.
"L-Li-Lily Marie Evans." she mumbled.
"Lily Marie . . ."
"What are you going to do?" she whispered.
"Just sort you into your house, child. Now, hush." said the voice gently.
After many long moments, the hat finally spoke again. But what it had to say startled Lily.
"Are you Lily Marie?
Are you bold and true?
After so many years,
could it really be you?
Well, Lily Marie,
if you are brave and strong,
if you have courage and brains,
then I know to which house you belong.
Now listen, dear child
so young and so pretty,
for I know you are
cunning and humble and witty,
Let me give you some counsel
Some words of advice,
Though I may look ugly
I am overly wise.
Don't be afraid of love!
Listen though I am old
And now as I sort you,
let your story unfold.
GRYFFINDOR!!!!"
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Yes, the poem was definitely familiar, yet . . . different somehow. And how could that silly old hat know, seven years in advance, that she would be afraid of love? If ever she needed comfort or guidance or explanations - it was now. Yet through all the fear and pain for the past few hours, who was at her side the entire time? James.
She stood there, in the middle of the amazing room that was Dumbledore's, staring at a large tattered hat sitting on a table in a corner. Without asking or thinking, she walked over to the table and picked up the hat gently, waiting for it to open his eyes.
"Please, you must tell me, what does all this mean? That verse you said to me that day that you sorted me into Gryffindor - please, I know you know!" Lily pleaded as she gently shook the hat. Dumbledore came up behind her and put a soft hand on her shoulder, tenderly taking the unchanging hat from her hands, and placing it back on the table.
"Please come have a seat, Miss Evans. I will explain everything."
Lily turned to see all four of the Marauders sitting quietly in chairs by the desk, James watching her closely. She sighed in frustration as she sat by the window and listened intently.
"You four know of the legend of Lily Marie, as you have grown up in the wizarding world. But Miss Evans, being muggleborn, knows not of it, so I must ask you to be patient as I explain it to her, then I will reveal everything in due time." They nodded, still recovering from their experience.
Turning to Lily, he looked at her over his half-moon shaped glasses and began. "Lily, in your studies, I'm sure that you have read anything and everything there is to know about this school and how it began. Well, before the separation of the four founders, Godric Gryffindor had a prophesy, which came to him in a verse. That prophesy has become legend, as it has been several hundred years since his passing. It is now a very well known verse in out world, much like a muggle fairy tale, if you will. But the prophesy has now been fulfilled - it has become reality. Now, you are here."
"But what does it mean?" Lily asked.
"It means that there is a power inside you. Some saving power of love; some extraordinary power of life. And Lord Voldemort, being the evil creature that he is, wants that power of life that you have, so he can live forever, cleansing the world of dirty blood, meaning half-bloods and muggleborns, like yourself."
"I don't understand."
"Lily, there are many things that we will never understand, that will remain unknown, so many questions that remain unanswered. And these prophesies are some of the hardest things to understand. There is really nothing you can do until this has been further investigated, and with the help of the Ministry, we will keep you safe, Lily. All you can do is continue to live your life as you do, day by day. I'd prefer that you don't go anywhere by yourself. Mr. Potter, as Head Boy, I would ask that you please see to that." James nodded, refusing to look at Lily. "Please do not wander the grounds alone, especially after night fall. That would make it too easy for him to accomplish his wicked plan.
"That is all I ask. Please keep your guard up boys, and keep a sharp eye on Miss Evans, if you please, until we can be sure that she is out of harms way."
All four boys nodded.
"I must also ask you not to speak of this to anyone. Please be cautious, but you may go."
James, Sirius, Remus and Peter nodded and walked out the door. Lily reluctantly followed but suddenly turned.
"Professor, may I have permission to tell my two close friends? I only ask to tell them because they are so close to me and they will worry . . ."
Dumbledore sighed. "As long as you understand the seriousness here, Miss Evans. You nearly lost your life twice today. Only to be saved by myself and Mr. Potter."
Lily nodded. Yes, James had saved my life.
"But yes, you may tell them."
Lily smiled up at the old man. "Thank you." She paused, before continuing. "Professor, I have one more question. When the sorting hat sorted me all those years ago, he spoke in verse that was terribly familiar to the prophesy. Would you know why?"
"Well, think about it for a moment, Miss Evans. Godric Gryffindor contributed to help create the hat, did he not?"
Lily nodded. "Yes, he did, sir."
Lily smiled and turned to leave again, preparing to run to the common room to tackle her two friends with this incredible news.
"Oh, Miss Evans, one more thing."
She paused. "Yes?"
"I don't know what the sorting hat might have said to you, and I don't care about anything in that prophesy. I just want to tell you one thing."
"Of course."
"Don't be afraid of love, Lily. Embrace it. Though it may be painful at times, love is the ultimate life saver."
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A/N: Okay, one more chapter, coming up.....
