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Chapter 24: Saying good-bye, but not forever

The weeks passed and the snow slowly melted away and April quickly spun onto everyone's wizard calendar.. and even Sirius's Veela one too. James was polishing his new broom he got from Lily that faithful Christmas morning and was scrubbing the handle until he saw his face shine. The Thunderclap 3000.

"Prongs, if you keep it up, you're going to wear away the wood-" Said Sirius, from under a mountain of magazines he was going through.

" I have to agree with Padfoot, Prongs." Commented Remus, from behind his book he was studying from.

" Since when did you two take sides, huh?"

"Since a minute ago, I guess?"

"Sure.."

"Hey, where's Lily?"

"How should I know?"

"You're her boyfriend-"

"-Probably in her room, Moony. Don't get your knickers in a twist now.."

.

James was right, Lily was in her room, but alone and crying.. Crying? Oh yes indeed, for Lily had just come out of her afternoon shower when she noticed an owl perched on her four-poster bed, hooting respectively at its surroundings and her entry. Lily threw the brown barn owl a quizzeled look, but walked over to it and handing an owl treat over. It nibbled potently at her wet hair, falling in front of its eyes as she searched it over for her letter.

But then she suddenly found it- a shinny black letter with a white wax stamp saying 'The Ministry of Magic'. Not aware of such letters- she opened it like any old letter. She only got a few glimpse of words like,' we are very sorry',' Lord Voldemort (You-know-who)','your father', 'and killing curse', before she broke down into many warm tears.

Only her gray cat that just stalked in, heard her loud sobs of frustration and sadness.

.

James was getting worried, he hadn't seen Lily that morning and it was driving him slowly insane. But she was okay, right? He sighed loudly and got out of his seat while walking over to the portrait door and scrunching his hair up. Usual habit and first sign of frustration.

James paid little attention to his group of fan girls, shooting bubblely looks of desire and sympathy for him -going out with a muggle-born, he never did. Ever since he got Lily. That thought made him smile, when he admitted he loved her during that night..

Just as he was picturing his little red-head, a girl with puffy eyes and curly red hair ran in front of him, sniffling out loud.

He shook his head and called after his girlfriend," Lily!"

Running, skidding, and swerving out of people, he managed to catch up to her, heaving for breath. And he took a good look of her face, her messed up long bangs and those crisp green eyes.

Taking his hand up to her face, he softly caressed her rosy-red cheek," What's wrong, love?"

Those bright-green eyes of hers quickly became glassy, and he regretted asking what was wrong. It was quite clear she was crying over something, and was in no mood to talk about it. Instead of answering him, she flew into his arms and hugged him tightly, while letting her hot tears stain his black robes.

"Lils, it's okay. You don't have to tell me- come on, lets go to lunch."

.

After calming Lily down, to the point when no tears fell, he served her a plate of food for lunch and comforted her. The Great Hall was noisily chatting, and people eating up their lunches- so there wasn't really a time to ask her yet.

He watched as she gracefully dipped her spoon into her soup and then brought it to her mouth. Smiling, he noticed a small piece of her deep-red hair, un-touched behind her ear. She was too cute, for her own good. James slowly leant in and kissed her briefly on her smooth cheek.

And then he slowly saw her blush run to her cheek, and that same amazing smile rip across her face.

He loved her too much.

Then something happened, to what no one ever expected..

A loud screech was heard, followed by many others. People gasping and owl screeches filled the room as the owl's swooped in- all a brown color. Millions of them began to swoop around the room, dropping off black letters with the same white wax.

Parents of many witches and wizards died that day..

Both of hers..

A large owl flew over Lily's head as it dropped a black letter in her golden goblet of pumpkin juice- just like the one she had got earlier about her father.. Only cries and people fleeing the room sounded, as pure silence struck them like a lightening bolt.

The shaking hands of hers tried to grab the letter on her glass rim, but she already knew why she was sent another letter- her mother had passed on.. dieing from a green light.

Her hands were getting shakier and her face had gone pale- her family's death just arrived in the mail..

Only one word flashed brightly in Lily's head- Dumbledore

Slapping her hands down on the table with anger and sorrow, she too fled from the room like many others. But they weren't doing something drastic, but she was.. she was leaving.

...

"Miss. Evans, are you sure you are ready to commit?-"

"Lily!"

The Headmaster's door had quickly burst open, and a wheezing James Potter stood, leaning against the door. Lily Evans and Dumbledore stood by his desk, holding a stack of papers and quills, as long with a golden bag that was woven by thin silk.

Lily's clothes were replaced with long black ones, her red hair was now a caramel brown and her eyes were a soft gray, and some of her freckles James loved, had disappeared. She looked more mysterious and she had a thin line sketched on her lips.

" What do you want, James?" She said, almost hissing.

This was unusually like her; she was more soft, fairy like, and caring. But she had quickly turned to a frosty profile.

Something was up.

Dumbledore stood behind his desk, and was looking at the paintings on the walls- ignoring the couple's nervous spat. He wore his same dark blue robes that had silvery stars, but he was looking more tired and weary than before.

" I'll let you two discuss for a few moments, I'll just be in lounge room outside the door.." The old man said, in a light whisper.

Taking sift steps to James, he closed the door softly and left the two alone.

"Lily, what's going on?" James said nervously, taking small steps towards her.

Lily only took steps backwards at the fireplace.

"Lily? Lily?"

She turned her head, showing him the side of her face, and letting many tears escape her eyes to fall down her chin. Her eyes were shut and leaking streams, as he just stared in awe at her behavior.

"Lily, please tell me. What's happening?"

Those tears were down running down her face like hot rivers, which she managed to smudge away from her red lips.

"James I- I, I have to go.." She said, breathing deeply into the musty air.

"What? Lily, what are you talking about?"

"It's time, for me to go.. James, I have to.."

But before he could say anything back, she had sized the pouch of golden powder on Dumbledore's desk, stepped into the fire place and yelled out a name-

" The Order!"

A swirl of gold smoke and she was gone.

Not one soul saw the tears of sorrow streaming down his young face- except for the pictures of old Headmasters, adjusting their glasses, shifting around in their frame, and patting down their robes. And that was how it was left- a man loosing his only meaning of life, and crying his power away.. until something happened.

He realized that for the first time in his life, that Lily Evans was his center. His everything, she was his soul and his true reason for living his life to its fullest..

But she was gone..

.... Luv, Asereje~