A/N: I'm sorry it took me a while to get this chapter up, but I haven't
really had time to edit my chapters lately, I hope you like this chapter,
some of my previous readers might remember this chapter, as it is the
pivoting point of the whole story, at least I think so.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and his wonderful world.
Chapter 15 ~ The Unexpected Events
The snow started to melt, the Quidditch Cup Competition was in full swing (in which Gryffindor was on the lead), and the seventh years had noticed the increase of class work. They were now near the end of March, spring was beginning and it was time to start preparing for end of the year exams.
Seventh years had twice the work load than all the other students. N.E.W.T. exams were just around the corner and the preparations for the Seventh Year Ball were falling in nicely.
James, Lily, Emma and Sirius along with other seventh years were meeting in the empty Transfiguration Class that night. At the moment the seventh years were reading a long parchment sitting in front of them. They were all reading in silence, occasionally, the scratching of a quill could be heard.
James lifted his head and looked around to see who else was finished with the parchment. He noticed that only Lily was ready to resume. He smiled at her and she smiled back.
After a few minutes everybody else was ready to go on with the meeting.
"What do you lot have to say? Should we keep it as it is, or does it need some changes?" Asked James.
"I think it's fine as it is, that idea of Sirius was perfect, it will give the garden that sense of mystery that we wanted to accomplish." Said a Hufflepuff girl looking flirtatiously at Sirius. Sirius beamed from her praise while Katie glared at both of them.
"Well I don't know if I agree but it would serve." She said crossing her arms. Sirius turned a hurt look at her but she just ignored him. Lily had to cover her mouth with her hand to keep from laughing. James was the only one who heard her muffled giggles.
James cleared his throat and resumed. "So we all agree to buy a colony of fairies then. It would become a good investment, once the Ball is over we can build a colony for them in the Forest and the school can use them again for balls in the future."
"And the garden will look so magical, I'm really looking forward to dancing underneath a cloud of fairies." Said a Ravenclaw girl with a sigh.
The rest of the girls seem to agree with her, and the boys groaned knowing that at one point during the Ball they were going to have to leave the Great Hall to dance beneath the stars in the garden.
"Yes well, let's continue." Said James.
The meeting continued. New ideas were created, some of the previous plans were changed and debates sprung any time something new came up. James had a great time, he liked debating, he always thought that he would've liked to join a debate team if the school had something like it, but unlike muggle schools that had the opportunity to have one, Hogwarts was out of the way and debating would not be something that would make schools in other countries want to travel.
Lily was very quiet that night, she usually joined in the debates and in most cases was the voice of reason within the group, but this time, she didn't join in and as a result several fights almost broke out and James had to subtract points off from several students.
James was the only one to notice that Lily was distracted. She hadn't said anything but he planned in finding out. All he had to do was wait for the right time.
"It's getting late, off you go to bed. Remember that our next meeting will be in one month, I expect you lot to bring materials to start with the decorations. We only have ten weeks to prepare and two of those weeks we are going to be too busy with exams." Said James as the group started to leave the room. The group groaned at the mention of the exams, they would've preferred if James hadn't reminded them.
Lily was putting her notes again and checking that nobody had left anything behind. James waited patiently on his chair, looking at Lily waiting for her to be done. Lily started to get her things together; she was still distracted and hadn't noticed that James was still in the room.
James was quite surprised when he saw her leave the room without looking back. He quickly followed her and soon caught up with her.
"Lily, something wrong?"
"Huh? Oh James, I didn't see you there." She said with surprise.
"I noticed. What is wrong?"
"Are you sure you want to know?"
"Of course I want to know. Maybe I can help."
"I doubt it."
"Just try me."
Lily battled with her indecision for a few moments but James knew that she wouldn't hold out for long. Lily wasn't like that. She needed to talk about her problems, it helped her to see things clearly and put her problems into perspective.
"Do you remember I told you about my sister and her boyfriend?"
"Yeah?"
"I received a letter today."
"And?"
"I found out just how much my sister hates me. She got engaged a week ago and decided that since I wasn't important enough for her, she wasn't going to wait for me to be able to go to her engagement celebration. She had an engagement party last Saturday. She didn't even had the courtesy to invite me, even if she knew that I couldn't attend."
"I'm sorry Lily, but she isn't worth it you know. She can have her bloody party and her bloody wedding, you don't need her."
"Oh I know all that, but it still hurts to think that my sister hates me that much. I always thought that it was a matter of time until she accepted what I was."
"Prejudiced people live from the beginning of time Lily. The magical world wouldn't have gone into hiding in the Dark Ages if it hadn't been so. There was a time when muggles and wizards worked and lived together but people are always afraid of what they don't understand."
"I know that, but you would think that family at least would be supportive. My parents are wonderful, I don't know where Petunia got all her bigotry from."
"Don't worry about her, you are better off without her. Besides, after Hogwarts I'm sure you won't see much of her."
"It depresses me to think that my kids will never meet their aunt and that I won't meet my own nieces and nephews."
"You are not missing anything, knowing them, their kids will be fat, short and dumb." James said with a snort.
"Really James! That was mean." She chided through her laughter.
"You know it's true, your kids don't need to get involved with people like that."
"Maybe. Thank you James, you really know how to make me feel better." She smiled sweetly.
"That's what I'm here for." He smiled back. Lily stood on her toes and kissed him. They were standing in front to the Fat Lady portrait, who smiled indulgently at the pair.
After some minutes the pair entered the common room and met their friends who were waiting up for them.
"What took you so long? Katie and Sirius have been here for hours!" Exclaimed Peter. Remus nudged him in the arm and the others glared at him. "What?"
"We were just talking, there is no need to glare at Peter." Said James shaking his head.
"See! Thank you James." Peter said.
"If you say so. What are going to be doing this spring break, we have one whole week to rest." Asked Sirius.
"I don't know about you lot, but I want to study for the exams, we have eight more weeks to prepare for them." Said Lily
The group groaned.
"Why did you have to remind us Lily, now we won't have fun thinking of these exams." Whined Sirius.
"Honestly Sirius, you sound like a child. And it isn't Lily's fault that you are not ready for those exams, and I agree with her. I'm going to join you to study Lily, that is if you don't mind." Said Emma.
"Of course I don't mind."
"I'll go with you as well, I need some help with Charms and you can help me with it Lily." Katie left her seat and started walking toward the stairs. Lily and Emma followed her out.
"Told you, now we aren't going to have fun." Grumbled Sirius.
"We might as well join them. I have a feeling that everybody is going to be too busy during this spring break." Said Remus as he watched the girls disappear from sight.
"I think so too. Let's go to bed, we'll know what we need to do later." Said James as he lost his battle with sleep and gave a big yawn.
"Tired?" Said Peter as the group started up the stairs.
"Very. I hadn't expected all this load of work to be given to us. I honestly thought that it couldn't be any worse than the load given to us in fifth year in preparation for the O.W.L.s."
The others just shook their heads. What was the world coming to? They though, how could it be possible to have a whole week off from school but still have lots of assignments to do?
James was dreading the arrival of the next week. His birthday was coming up and he knew that his friends would be planning a surprise party in Gryffindor common room for him. They did so every year and they always thought that he had no idea but after six years he knew the routine quite well.
Sirius and Remus would become secretive, Peter would be off somewhere and never be able to be found. The only difference this year was that the girls seemed to have joined in the planning. Now Sirius, Remus, Katie and Emma were being secretive and Peter was missing.
Lily seemed to have plans on her own but unlike the others, she wasn't so obvious about it. James knew that she planned something, she had told him so, but he expected that it was just a gift, but he did wonder what was Lily doing when she disappeared for hours every day.
The dreaded day arrived, and as usual, he was woken up by pillows hitting his face.
"Would you lay off. Nice way of waking a body up on his birthday." He groaned.
"Hurry up, I want to see what you got." Sirius was saying in an impatient tone.
"Really Sirius, it's hard to believe that you are over seventeen and that you are almost out of school." Mocked Remus shaking his head.
Sirius responded by hitting him with his pillow. Soon a pillow fight ensued when James and Peter joined in the fun.
"And I thought that they were quite grown up." Said a voice from the door.
The boys stood still and turned to see who had interrupted their game. Lily was giggling, Emma was laughing and Katie just smiled.
"Want to join in?" Asked Sirius from underneath Remus. James was kneeling on the bed with his pillow above his head and Peter stood by the bed with his pillow in his hand.
"No thank you, we've outgrown that behavior years ago." Katie said.
Sirius snorted. "Yeah right." Remus had rolled from him and Sirius now stood up. His boxers were quite colorful as zooming broomsticks moved from one corner to the other.
The girls laughed.
"Nice boxers you have there." Said Lily as she entered the room. The others followed her in and Emma closed the door behind her.
"What are you doing here? You are not supposed to enter the boys' dorms." Hissed James into Lily's ear as she gave him a hug and a peck on his cheek.
"Just came to wish you Happy Birthday. Are you sorry we did?" She asked as she turned to look at him with a pout and sad eyes.
James groaned, she knew that he couldn't say no to her when she turned those pouting lips at him.
"Will you at least give me some privacy, I need to dress you know." He said.
"Very well, we'll wait for you lot in the common room." Lily said and led the girls out of the room closing the door behind them.
"We better get dressed, if we don't join them soon they might come back and read us a lecture on punctuality." Said Sirius from his bed. He had laid down on his bed and returned his pillow to its proper place.
"Accio clothes." Whispered James and made a run to the bathroom before the others got to it first.
"Hey!" Three voices said as the bathroom door closed behind him.
The girls were sitting in their customary seats when the boys joined them. The common room was empty still, many students were still out for Spring break and the ones who had stayed behind were still in bed. Only the Marauders and the Sirens were known to be up at an earlier time.
"Should we go to breakfast first or open the presents?" Asked Emma as the boys sat with them.
"Couldn't we do both?" Asked Sirius.
"I don't see how, I'm sure James wouldn't like to open his gifts in the Great Hall where everybody would walk in." Said Lily putting her arms around James giving him a tight hug.
James smiled and hugged her back.
"Well the same could be said about this place. If we stay here, the others will soon be down and want to join us." Said Remus.
"Why don't we go to the astronomy tower, nobody will be there, the weather is nice and we can have a picnic, well sort of a picnic." Said Katie.
"That's a great idea, we will need only half an hour to get some food from the kitchens and you girls can take some pillows and blankets to make it cozy." Said Sirius, warming up to the idea.
"Why don't we get Minnie to get the food for us and then we will all work on the tower, somebody will need to take the presents up there." Said Peter.
"It would be easier, and quicker." Said Remus.
"Ok, I'll get Minnie to bring us food to the tower and you lot get it ready." Said James.
Everybody got on their feet and ran around the Gryffindor tower looking for the things they will need. James stayed in the couch and waited. A minute later, a pop was heard and Minnie appeared before him with her eyes wide open.
"Did Master James wanted something from Minnie?" She asked hesitantly. Elves were connected to their masters, as a result the masters only needed to think of the elf for the elf to appear before them. Minnie seemed very surprised that James had called her. Usually it was Minnie who asked James if he needed her.
"Yes Minnie, my friends want to do something special for my birthday and we'll be having a picnic in the astronomy tower, can you bring us some food there while we get the tower ready?"
"Oh yes Master James, Minnie will bring food to the tower. Right away Master James." There was another pop as Minnie disappeared.
James sighed and got on his feet ready to join the others.
Half an hour later the astronomy tower looked exquisite. Warm blankets covered the floor and colorful pillows surrounded the walls. If James didn't know any better, he would've said that he was in the castle of a sultan.
"It looks great!" He exclaimed. The others smiled and congratulated themselves they really wanted to give James something to remember on his birthday, considering that it was going to be the last one they were going to celebrate together. Minnie appeared in that instant with several trays in her arms.
"Minnie, you didn't need to bring all of this." Chided Lily reaching for the trays to try to relieve Minnie of their weight.
"Minnie wanted to bring special breakfast for Master James." Said Minnie looking a bit hurt.
"That's sweet of you Minnie." Said Emma. "I'm sure that Master James will enjoy it very much, but you didn't need to bring it all at once you know, you could've brought only a bit now and a bit later. This lot is always hungry." She said with a smile. Minnie seemed to cheer up and smiled back.
"Does Miss wants something else?" Minnie asked. She really liked James' friends, they didn't treat elves like slaves as others did.
"No Minnie, this will be all." Katie said with a smile. She had never met an elf who was so fond of her master before, it showed how well the Potters looked after their employees, she knew that they didn't look at their elves as slaves but as employees who just happened to belong to them.
Minnie smiled and with a pop left the group on their own.
"Well, now that the food is here let's get this show on the road, shall we?" Said Sirius with enthusiasm.
The others agreed. Soon the sound of laughter and joy filled the air. Professor Dumbledore smiled as he heard the noise from one of the windows of one of the upper towers. Professor McGonagall's smile seemed rare in her otherwise austere expression.
"They seem so young and carefree Minerva. It seems too bad that this joyful atmosphere will be disturbed too soon."
"Are you sure you read the signs correctly Albus?" She asked with hesitancy.
"I'm sure Minerva, I spent the whole night trying to make sure."
"Oh dear."
The day was full of surprises for James. Minnie had delivered a first rate breakfast for him, consisting only of his favorite foods. His friends had given him loads of things that he had no idea what to do with them.
The sunny spring weather allowed the group to have fun on the school grounds much to the consternation of Hagrid, who had to keep an eye out for them, they were quite known to get into trouble too often.
Hagrid sat on a bench in front of his cabin, carving some wood and a young puppy at his feet.
"Hello Hagrid, where did you get this pup?" Asked Lily as she led the others to the cabin.'
"Hello Lily, got 'im for Christmas I did. Gift from Dumbledore." He said with a happy smile.
"Oh he is so cute! What is his name?" Asked Emma as she scratched the puppy behind the ears. The puppy blissfully let her and stayed panting on the floor.
"Fangs." Hagrid said.
The group turned a surprised look to Hagrid, the name didn't seem to suit the puppy at all.
"Hmmm.no offence Hagrid but the name doesn't seem to suit the puppy." Said Remus with a smile.
"Oh, I though' it was cute." Said Hagrid with a sad expression.
"Oh it's cute Hagrid, Fangs is a great name for a puppy." Exclaimed Katie with a glare toward the boys. They seemed to get her unspoken mandate and stayed quiet.
Hagrid cheered up and invited them to stay for tea and biscuits. The group had learned from early on not to accept any edibles from Hagrid if they didn't want to hurt his feelings and brake their teeth at the same time.
"No thanks Hagrid, we have to return soon to the castle we still have lots of class work to do." James said quickly.
"Ok. See you lot later then." Said Hagrid as he waved to them.
The group slowly made its way to the castle. A pair of eyes following their every step. The day had been loads of fun and joy nobody thought that a dark cloud hanged above them.
Dinner had been a joyful occasion. Hogwarts Express had returned early that evening with the students who had chosen to go home for the break. Dumbledore had given his customary welcome back speech as well as a Happy Birthday for James and to James' surprise and embarrassment a birthday cake appeared before him as the Great Hall broke into song. If people had paid close attention, they would've noticed the jealous silence from Slytherin Table and speculative expression from one of its members.
Dinner was soon over and everybody had gone up to their respective common rooms. James had stayed behind at the request of Dumbledore. Lily had left him with a promise to a special surprise for him at his return to the Tower.
James walked down the corridor with a preoccupied air. Dumbledore had wished him a happy birthday before asking him about the signet ring that had made him sick on the previous fall. James had forgotten all about it and it seemed out of place for Dumbledore to ask about it now after so many months. James wondered what had happened to make Dumbledore ask about that ring, did it have anything to do with the news he read on the Prophet the day before?
A report had appeared in the Daily Prophet about a Dark Wizard named Lord Voldemort. Nobody knew what he looked like or where he had come from but it seemed that he was the one in charge of the group of Dark Wizards that had terrorized the magical community for the last six years. The terror now had a name and the Ministry a new target. But what did it have to do with James?
Everything seemed to become too complicated, thought James, how was a young wizard to survive in a world where terror and darkness seemed to be getting the upper hand. He didn't notice when he passed by the portrait of the Fat Lady until she called him back.
"Where are you going?" She called to him. "Are you feeling all right?" She looked at him as he turned back to stand before her. "You seem quiet, too quiet. I just hope that it doesn't mean you and your friends will keep me up until too late."
James smiled. The Fat Lady always complained whenever they had a party in the common room but he knew that she enjoyed herself as well.
"Don't worry, as far as I know there is no party, unless you are saying that there is." He said in a speculating voice, even though he knew that his friends had planned one but it wouldn't do to let it be know that he knew.
"I'm not saying anything, you better get in, there is no need for you to stand there, go on say the word."
"Very well, gibberish." He said and the portrait opened for him.
As he had expected, a yell of 'surprise' greeted his entrance. And as expected from those inside, he acted surprised and pleased. He was lead to a place of honor by the fireplace where he was piled with more gifts and well wishes. He opened the gifts and thanked each giver as it was oohed and aahed by the inmates of the tower. After all the presents had been opened, music was heard through the room and the party began in earnest.
The dancing and the chatter lasted until Professor McGonagall barged in on them and asked them all to retire for the night. The room soon emptied and only James, Lily and Sirius were left behind.
"I'm going to the kitchens, I may need a midnight snack." Laughed Sirius and with a wink left the room.
Lily laughed as she snuggled against James on one of the couches in front of the roaring fire. The fire had been bewitched to light up but to not give off any heat.
"Had a fun day?" She asked as she felt James' arms tighten about her.
"The best." Lily felt James kiss the top of her head and smiled.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it, I still have one more gift for you." She said sitting up and looking up to him. "Do you prefer to have it now, or do you want to wait for tomorrow?" She asked as she noticed James yawning.
"Hmmm.maybe we should wait for tomorrow, it seems that I'm too tired for now."
Lily nodded and kissed him softly on the lips before whispering. "Good night then." And soon James saw her ascending up the stairs toward the girls' dorms.
James closed his eyes and was nearly asleep when he heard the portrait door opening and closing.
"Hello James! Thought I'd come and wish you Happy Birthday." A husky voice whispered in his ear.
James sensed the hairs at his nape tingle and promptly opened his eyes. When he saw who was there with him, his eyes widened with surprised and his jaw dropped.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
"You are awake! And here I thought I would have the pleasure to wake you up." Jezebel said with a sly smile.
"You haven't answered me, what are you doing here?" James asked once more.
"Does it matter?" She asked with a pout and he felt her sit on his lap.
"Of course it does, you are not supposed to be here. How did you get in anyways?" James asked in horror and swiftly stood up nearly sending her to the floor, but she was too quick for him and saved herself from being unceremoniously thrown.
"I don't see why you should know. It really doesn't matter now, does it?" She said as she walked toward him.
James tried to keep his distance from her and walked backward keeping his eyes on her. Unfortunately this didn't work as he had hoped as he walked right into the wall. He was trapped. He couldn't move to the side because a wall was at his right and a couch at his left. He couldn't escape her and prayed that this situation would somehow be salvaged.
"Now really James, I'm not life threatening you know." She said in a cajoling tone. "I'm sure I can make you enjoy my company more than you do that girlfriend of yours."
"I doubt it." He exclaimed in a cold tone.
This didn't seem to make her lose interest however, it only made her advance more rapidly.
"Let's see what you say tomorrow morning." She replied.
James gulped, what did Jezebel have in mind?
"You should learn to relax James, you seem so tense." She teased him.
"I'm not tense." He croaked and tried to clear his throat.
His mind was completely blank. He had to get her out of here, this would look bad for him if somebody walked in. How else would a Slytherin come into the Gryffindor common room unless a Gryffindor let her in?
"Really?" She asked with a lift of her brows. She shrugged and swiftly closed the distance between them.
"What do you want?" He asked with bravado in his voice. He was too confused to think how silly he would look to his friends if he saw him cowering on the wall because of a girl.
"Can you really not imagine?" She whispered against his lips.
He felt her hands resting against his chest. Sweat broke on his brow. Lily had been the only girl to make him feel comfortable as she touched him. The touch of another girls just felt so wrong.
"Er.you better leave." He said trying to push her away from him but he was unsuccessful.
"Now why would I do that?" She said before leaning against him and pressing her lips against his.
James stood there totally surprised that he didn't hear the portrait opening once more.
"James, what the hell do you think you are doing?" An angry voice said.
James pushed Jezebel away from him and gaped at Sirius who was angrily staring at the pair.
"Good night James, we'll talk later." She said and swiftly passed by Sirius and left the room. James stood still where he was as Sirius turned to glare at him.
"What are you doing bringing her in here. Really James I thought better of you!"
"It's not what you think!" James yelled back. How can his best friend think that he would get involved with a girl like Jezebel?
"What else could it be? I come in and see you kissing with her. Honestly James! If you are going to cheat on Lily you could at least do so where nobody could walk in on you."
"That's not what- What do you mean by that?" James was truly angry now. How could Sirius think that he would do that to Lily?
"How could you do this to Lily?"
"I didn't do a damn thing!"
"Are you saying that Lily means nothing to you?"
"It didn't mean a thing I tell you!"
Sirius eyes opened with surprise and James heard a gasp from the stairs. He quickly turned and his jaw dropped when he saw Lily standing there. Her hand on her lips and tears starting to emerge from her startling green eyes. How long had she been standing there? James thought.
"Lily!"
"How could you James?" She exclaimed before turning back up the stairs.
James heard her running up the steps sobbing, her sobs seemed to snap him out of the trance he had felt he was in and turned to run after her. He took the steps two, sometimes three, at a time trying to catch up to her.
"Lily wait! It's not you saw, please hear me out!" He said as he caught up to her.
"There is nothing more to say, you have said enough! How could you James, I really cared about you and you just turn to someone else as soon as I leave." She cried.
"It's not like it seemed Lily, I don't care for her, I care for you." He exclaimed desperately, he had to get Lily to believe him. How would he live without her?
"That's a lie and you know it. Let me go James, I don't want to see you again." She tried to pull from his grasp but the more she pulled the more tighter his hold on her arm became.
"Please Lily, listen to me." He said urgently, if he didn't fix this situation now, he would lose her forever.
"Let me go James, you are hurting me!" She said trying to pull away from him.
James let go but Lily had stepped back too soon and she seemed to lose her balance. James tried to grab her but it was too late.
Sirius was sitting in the common room thinking over the scene he had walked in. Maybe James wasn't lying, everybody knew how relentless Jezebel had been in her pursuit of James, and she was sneaky enough to have found a way to get into the common room and catch James by surprise. If that was what had happened, he hoped that James could bring Lily around and get her to listen to him. They were the perfect couple.
He continued musing when he heard a commotion on the stairs. He looked startled toward the stairs as he heard a yell followed by a shriek from James.
"LILY!"
Sirius quickly ran to the foot of the stairs and stared in horror as he noticed a body lying on the floor. James was running down the stairs and kneeled by Lily.
"Lily please, answer me damn you." James cried, tears running down his cheeks. He turned to look at the horrified Sirius standing still as if he was a statue.
"Sirius, go to the infirmary, get Madam Pomfrey in here." James directed.
"James, what happened?" Sirius whispered.
James tried to move Lily's hair aside and was horrified when he found his fingers covered in blood. "Go Sirius, quickly, get her here." He yelled.
Sirius didn't say anything more and ran out of the room. Above them people were stirring and voices could be heard as doors opened and steps could be heard walking down the stairs.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and his wonderful world.
Chapter 15 ~ The Unexpected Events
The snow started to melt, the Quidditch Cup Competition was in full swing (in which Gryffindor was on the lead), and the seventh years had noticed the increase of class work. They were now near the end of March, spring was beginning and it was time to start preparing for end of the year exams.
Seventh years had twice the work load than all the other students. N.E.W.T. exams were just around the corner and the preparations for the Seventh Year Ball were falling in nicely.
James, Lily, Emma and Sirius along with other seventh years were meeting in the empty Transfiguration Class that night. At the moment the seventh years were reading a long parchment sitting in front of them. They were all reading in silence, occasionally, the scratching of a quill could be heard.
James lifted his head and looked around to see who else was finished with the parchment. He noticed that only Lily was ready to resume. He smiled at her and she smiled back.
After a few minutes everybody else was ready to go on with the meeting.
"What do you lot have to say? Should we keep it as it is, or does it need some changes?" Asked James.
"I think it's fine as it is, that idea of Sirius was perfect, it will give the garden that sense of mystery that we wanted to accomplish." Said a Hufflepuff girl looking flirtatiously at Sirius. Sirius beamed from her praise while Katie glared at both of them.
"Well I don't know if I agree but it would serve." She said crossing her arms. Sirius turned a hurt look at her but she just ignored him. Lily had to cover her mouth with her hand to keep from laughing. James was the only one who heard her muffled giggles.
James cleared his throat and resumed. "So we all agree to buy a colony of fairies then. It would become a good investment, once the Ball is over we can build a colony for them in the Forest and the school can use them again for balls in the future."
"And the garden will look so magical, I'm really looking forward to dancing underneath a cloud of fairies." Said a Ravenclaw girl with a sigh.
The rest of the girls seem to agree with her, and the boys groaned knowing that at one point during the Ball they were going to have to leave the Great Hall to dance beneath the stars in the garden.
"Yes well, let's continue." Said James.
The meeting continued. New ideas were created, some of the previous plans were changed and debates sprung any time something new came up. James had a great time, he liked debating, he always thought that he would've liked to join a debate team if the school had something like it, but unlike muggle schools that had the opportunity to have one, Hogwarts was out of the way and debating would not be something that would make schools in other countries want to travel.
Lily was very quiet that night, she usually joined in the debates and in most cases was the voice of reason within the group, but this time, she didn't join in and as a result several fights almost broke out and James had to subtract points off from several students.
James was the only one to notice that Lily was distracted. She hadn't said anything but he planned in finding out. All he had to do was wait for the right time.
"It's getting late, off you go to bed. Remember that our next meeting will be in one month, I expect you lot to bring materials to start with the decorations. We only have ten weeks to prepare and two of those weeks we are going to be too busy with exams." Said James as the group started to leave the room. The group groaned at the mention of the exams, they would've preferred if James hadn't reminded them.
Lily was putting her notes again and checking that nobody had left anything behind. James waited patiently on his chair, looking at Lily waiting for her to be done. Lily started to get her things together; she was still distracted and hadn't noticed that James was still in the room.
James was quite surprised when he saw her leave the room without looking back. He quickly followed her and soon caught up with her.
"Lily, something wrong?"
"Huh? Oh James, I didn't see you there." She said with surprise.
"I noticed. What is wrong?"
"Are you sure you want to know?"
"Of course I want to know. Maybe I can help."
"I doubt it."
"Just try me."
Lily battled with her indecision for a few moments but James knew that she wouldn't hold out for long. Lily wasn't like that. She needed to talk about her problems, it helped her to see things clearly and put her problems into perspective.
"Do you remember I told you about my sister and her boyfriend?"
"Yeah?"
"I received a letter today."
"And?"
"I found out just how much my sister hates me. She got engaged a week ago and decided that since I wasn't important enough for her, she wasn't going to wait for me to be able to go to her engagement celebration. She had an engagement party last Saturday. She didn't even had the courtesy to invite me, even if she knew that I couldn't attend."
"I'm sorry Lily, but she isn't worth it you know. She can have her bloody party and her bloody wedding, you don't need her."
"Oh I know all that, but it still hurts to think that my sister hates me that much. I always thought that it was a matter of time until she accepted what I was."
"Prejudiced people live from the beginning of time Lily. The magical world wouldn't have gone into hiding in the Dark Ages if it hadn't been so. There was a time when muggles and wizards worked and lived together but people are always afraid of what they don't understand."
"I know that, but you would think that family at least would be supportive. My parents are wonderful, I don't know where Petunia got all her bigotry from."
"Don't worry about her, you are better off without her. Besides, after Hogwarts I'm sure you won't see much of her."
"It depresses me to think that my kids will never meet their aunt and that I won't meet my own nieces and nephews."
"You are not missing anything, knowing them, their kids will be fat, short and dumb." James said with a snort.
"Really James! That was mean." She chided through her laughter.
"You know it's true, your kids don't need to get involved with people like that."
"Maybe. Thank you James, you really know how to make me feel better." She smiled sweetly.
"That's what I'm here for." He smiled back. Lily stood on her toes and kissed him. They were standing in front to the Fat Lady portrait, who smiled indulgently at the pair.
After some minutes the pair entered the common room and met their friends who were waiting up for them.
"What took you so long? Katie and Sirius have been here for hours!" Exclaimed Peter. Remus nudged him in the arm and the others glared at him. "What?"
"We were just talking, there is no need to glare at Peter." Said James shaking his head.
"See! Thank you James." Peter said.
"If you say so. What are going to be doing this spring break, we have one whole week to rest." Asked Sirius.
"I don't know about you lot, but I want to study for the exams, we have eight more weeks to prepare for them." Said Lily
The group groaned.
"Why did you have to remind us Lily, now we won't have fun thinking of these exams." Whined Sirius.
"Honestly Sirius, you sound like a child. And it isn't Lily's fault that you are not ready for those exams, and I agree with her. I'm going to join you to study Lily, that is if you don't mind." Said Emma.
"Of course I don't mind."
"I'll go with you as well, I need some help with Charms and you can help me with it Lily." Katie left her seat and started walking toward the stairs. Lily and Emma followed her out.
"Told you, now we aren't going to have fun." Grumbled Sirius.
"We might as well join them. I have a feeling that everybody is going to be too busy during this spring break." Said Remus as he watched the girls disappear from sight.
"I think so too. Let's go to bed, we'll know what we need to do later." Said James as he lost his battle with sleep and gave a big yawn.
"Tired?" Said Peter as the group started up the stairs.
"Very. I hadn't expected all this load of work to be given to us. I honestly thought that it couldn't be any worse than the load given to us in fifth year in preparation for the O.W.L.s."
The others just shook their heads. What was the world coming to? They though, how could it be possible to have a whole week off from school but still have lots of assignments to do?
James was dreading the arrival of the next week. His birthday was coming up and he knew that his friends would be planning a surprise party in Gryffindor common room for him. They did so every year and they always thought that he had no idea but after six years he knew the routine quite well.
Sirius and Remus would become secretive, Peter would be off somewhere and never be able to be found. The only difference this year was that the girls seemed to have joined in the planning. Now Sirius, Remus, Katie and Emma were being secretive and Peter was missing.
Lily seemed to have plans on her own but unlike the others, she wasn't so obvious about it. James knew that she planned something, she had told him so, but he expected that it was just a gift, but he did wonder what was Lily doing when she disappeared for hours every day.
The dreaded day arrived, and as usual, he was woken up by pillows hitting his face.
"Would you lay off. Nice way of waking a body up on his birthday." He groaned.
"Hurry up, I want to see what you got." Sirius was saying in an impatient tone.
"Really Sirius, it's hard to believe that you are over seventeen and that you are almost out of school." Mocked Remus shaking his head.
Sirius responded by hitting him with his pillow. Soon a pillow fight ensued when James and Peter joined in the fun.
"And I thought that they were quite grown up." Said a voice from the door.
The boys stood still and turned to see who had interrupted their game. Lily was giggling, Emma was laughing and Katie just smiled.
"Want to join in?" Asked Sirius from underneath Remus. James was kneeling on the bed with his pillow above his head and Peter stood by the bed with his pillow in his hand.
"No thank you, we've outgrown that behavior years ago." Katie said.
Sirius snorted. "Yeah right." Remus had rolled from him and Sirius now stood up. His boxers were quite colorful as zooming broomsticks moved from one corner to the other.
The girls laughed.
"Nice boxers you have there." Said Lily as she entered the room. The others followed her in and Emma closed the door behind her.
"What are you doing here? You are not supposed to enter the boys' dorms." Hissed James into Lily's ear as she gave him a hug and a peck on his cheek.
"Just came to wish you Happy Birthday. Are you sorry we did?" She asked as she turned to look at him with a pout and sad eyes.
James groaned, she knew that he couldn't say no to her when she turned those pouting lips at him.
"Will you at least give me some privacy, I need to dress you know." He said.
"Very well, we'll wait for you lot in the common room." Lily said and led the girls out of the room closing the door behind them.
"We better get dressed, if we don't join them soon they might come back and read us a lecture on punctuality." Said Sirius from his bed. He had laid down on his bed and returned his pillow to its proper place.
"Accio clothes." Whispered James and made a run to the bathroom before the others got to it first.
"Hey!" Three voices said as the bathroom door closed behind him.
The girls were sitting in their customary seats when the boys joined them. The common room was empty still, many students were still out for Spring break and the ones who had stayed behind were still in bed. Only the Marauders and the Sirens were known to be up at an earlier time.
"Should we go to breakfast first or open the presents?" Asked Emma as the boys sat with them.
"Couldn't we do both?" Asked Sirius.
"I don't see how, I'm sure James wouldn't like to open his gifts in the Great Hall where everybody would walk in." Said Lily putting her arms around James giving him a tight hug.
James smiled and hugged her back.
"Well the same could be said about this place. If we stay here, the others will soon be down and want to join us." Said Remus.
"Why don't we go to the astronomy tower, nobody will be there, the weather is nice and we can have a picnic, well sort of a picnic." Said Katie.
"That's a great idea, we will need only half an hour to get some food from the kitchens and you girls can take some pillows and blankets to make it cozy." Said Sirius, warming up to the idea.
"Why don't we get Minnie to get the food for us and then we will all work on the tower, somebody will need to take the presents up there." Said Peter.
"It would be easier, and quicker." Said Remus.
"Ok, I'll get Minnie to bring us food to the tower and you lot get it ready." Said James.
Everybody got on their feet and ran around the Gryffindor tower looking for the things they will need. James stayed in the couch and waited. A minute later, a pop was heard and Minnie appeared before him with her eyes wide open.
"Did Master James wanted something from Minnie?" She asked hesitantly. Elves were connected to their masters, as a result the masters only needed to think of the elf for the elf to appear before them. Minnie seemed very surprised that James had called her. Usually it was Minnie who asked James if he needed her.
"Yes Minnie, my friends want to do something special for my birthday and we'll be having a picnic in the astronomy tower, can you bring us some food there while we get the tower ready?"
"Oh yes Master James, Minnie will bring food to the tower. Right away Master James." There was another pop as Minnie disappeared.
James sighed and got on his feet ready to join the others.
Half an hour later the astronomy tower looked exquisite. Warm blankets covered the floor and colorful pillows surrounded the walls. If James didn't know any better, he would've said that he was in the castle of a sultan.
"It looks great!" He exclaimed. The others smiled and congratulated themselves they really wanted to give James something to remember on his birthday, considering that it was going to be the last one they were going to celebrate together. Minnie appeared in that instant with several trays in her arms.
"Minnie, you didn't need to bring all of this." Chided Lily reaching for the trays to try to relieve Minnie of their weight.
"Minnie wanted to bring special breakfast for Master James." Said Minnie looking a bit hurt.
"That's sweet of you Minnie." Said Emma. "I'm sure that Master James will enjoy it very much, but you didn't need to bring it all at once you know, you could've brought only a bit now and a bit later. This lot is always hungry." She said with a smile. Minnie seemed to cheer up and smiled back.
"Does Miss wants something else?" Minnie asked. She really liked James' friends, they didn't treat elves like slaves as others did.
"No Minnie, this will be all." Katie said with a smile. She had never met an elf who was so fond of her master before, it showed how well the Potters looked after their employees, she knew that they didn't look at their elves as slaves but as employees who just happened to belong to them.
Minnie smiled and with a pop left the group on their own.
"Well, now that the food is here let's get this show on the road, shall we?" Said Sirius with enthusiasm.
The others agreed. Soon the sound of laughter and joy filled the air. Professor Dumbledore smiled as he heard the noise from one of the windows of one of the upper towers. Professor McGonagall's smile seemed rare in her otherwise austere expression.
"They seem so young and carefree Minerva. It seems too bad that this joyful atmosphere will be disturbed too soon."
"Are you sure you read the signs correctly Albus?" She asked with hesitancy.
"I'm sure Minerva, I spent the whole night trying to make sure."
"Oh dear."
The day was full of surprises for James. Minnie had delivered a first rate breakfast for him, consisting only of his favorite foods. His friends had given him loads of things that he had no idea what to do with them.
The sunny spring weather allowed the group to have fun on the school grounds much to the consternation of Hagrid, who had to keep an eye out for them, they were quite known to get into trouble too often.
Hagrid sat on a bench in front of his cabin, carving some wood and a young puppy at his feet.
"Hello Hagrid, where did you get this pup?" Asked Lily as she led the others to the cabin.'
"Hello Lily, got 'im for Christmas I did. Gift from Dumbledore." He said with a happy smile.
"Oh he is so cute! What is his name?" Asked Emma as she scratched the puppy behind the ears. The puppy blissfully let her and stayed panting on the floor.
"Fangs." Hagrid said.
The group turned a surprised look to Hagrid, the name didn't seem to suit the puppy at all.
"Hmmm.no offence Hagrid but the name doesn't seem to suit the puppy." Said Remus with a smile.
"Oh, I though' it was cute." Said Hagrid with a sad expression.
"Oh it's cute Hagrid, Fangs is a great name for a puppy." Exclaimed Katie with a glare toward the boys. They seemed to get her unspoken mandate and stayed quiet.
Hagrid cheered up and invited them to stay for tea and biscuits. The group had learned from early on not to accept any edibles from Hagrid if they didn't want to hurt his feelings and brake their teeth at the same time.
"No thanks Hagrid, we have to return soon to the castle we still have lots of class work to do." James said quickly.
"Ok. See you lot later then." Said Hagrid as he waved to them.
The group slowly made its way to the castle. A pair of eyes following their every step. The day had been loads of fun and joy nobody thought that a dark cloud hanged above them.
Dinner had been a joyful occasion. Hogwarts Express had returned early that evening with the students who had chosen to go home for the break. Dumbledore had given his customary welcome back speech as well as a Happy Birthday for James and to James' surprise and embarrassment a birthday cake appeared before him as the Great Hall broke into song. If people had paid close attention, they would've noticed the jealous silence from Slytherin Table and speculative expression from one of its members.
Dinner was soon over and everybody had gone up to their respective common rooms. James had stayed behind at the request of Dumbledore. Lily had left him with a promise to a special surprise for him at his return to the Tower.
James walked down the corridor with a preoccupied air. Dumbledore had wished him a happy birthday before asking him about the signet ring that had made him sick on the previous fall. James had forgotten all about it and it seemed out of place for Dumbledore to ask about it now after so many months. James wondered what had happened to make Dumbledore ask about that ring, did it have anything to do with the news he read on the Prophet the day before?
A report had appeared in the Daily Prophet about a Dark Wizard named Lord Voldemort. Nobody knew what he looked like or where he had come from but it seemed that he was the one in charge of the group of Dark Wizards that had terrorized the magical community for the last six years. The terror now had a name and the Ministry a new target. But what did it have to do with James?
Everything seemed to become too complicated, thought James, how was a young wizard to survive in a world where terror and darkness seemed to be getting the upper hand. He didn't notice when he passed by the portrait of the Fat Lady until she called him back.
"Where are you going?" She called to him. "Are you feeling all right?" She looked at him as he turned back to stand before her. "You seem quiet, too quiet. I just hope that it doesn't mean you and your friends will keep me up until too late."
James smiled. The Fat Lady always complained whenever they had a party in the common room but he knew that she enjoyed herself as well.
"Don't worry, as far as I know there is no party, unless you are saying that there is." He said in a speculating voice, even though he knew that his friends had planned one but it wouldn't do to let it be know that he knew.
"I'm not saying anything, you better get in, there is no need for you to stand there, go on say the word."
"Very well, gibberish." He said and the portrait opened for him.
As he had expected, a yell of 'surprise' greeted his entrance. And as expected from those inside, he acted surprised and pleased. He was lead to a place of honor by the fireplace where he was piled with more gifts and well wishes. He opened the gifts and thanked each giver as it was oohed and aahed by the inmates of the tower. After all the presents had been opened, music was heard through the room and the party began in earnest.
The dancing and the chatter lasted until Professor McGonagall barged in on them and asked them all to retire for the night. The room soon emptied and only James, Lily and Sirius were left behind.
"I'm going to the kitchens, I may need a midnight snack." Laughed Sirius and with a wink left the room.
Lily laughed as she snuggled against James on one of the couches in front of the roaring fire. The fire had been bewitched to light up but to not give off any heat.
"Had a fun day?" She asked as she felt James' arms tighten about her.
"The best." Lily felt James kiss the top of her head and smiled.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it, I still have one more gift for you." She said sitting up and looking up to him. "Do you prefer to have it now, or do you want to wait for tomorrow?" She asked as she noticed James yawning.
"Hmmm.maybe we should wait for tomorrow, it seems that I'm too tired for now."
Lily nodded and kissed him softly on the lips before whispering. "Good night then." And soon James saw her ascending up the stairs toward the girls' dorms.
James closed his eyes and was nearly asleep when he heard the portrait door opening and closing.
"Hello James! Thought I'd come and wish you Happy Birthday." A husky voice whispered in his ear.
James sensed the hairs at his nape tingle and promptly opened his eyes. When he saw who was there with him, his eyes widened with surprised and his jaw dropped.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
"You are awake! And here I thought I would have the pleasure to wake you up." Jezebel said with a sly smile.
"You haven't answered me, what are you doing here?" James asked once more.
"Does it matter?" She asked with a pout and he felt her sit on his lap.
"Of course it does, you are not supposed to be here. How did you get in anyways?" James asked in horror and swiftly stood up nearly sending her to the floor, but she was too quick for him and saved herself from being unceremoniously thrown.
"I don't see why you should know. It really doesn't matter now, does it?" She said as she walked toward him.
James tried to keep his distance from her and walked backward keeping his eyes on her. Unfortunately this didn't work as he had hoped as he walked right into the wall. He was trapped. He couldn't move to the side because a wall was at his right and a couch at his left. He couldn't escape her and prayed that this situation would somehow be salvaged.
"Now really James, I'm not life threatening you know." She said in a cajoling tone. "I'm sure I can make you enjoy my company more than you do that girlfriend of yours."
"I doubt it." He exclaimed in a cold tone.
This didn't seem to make her lose interest however, it only made her advance more rapidly.
"Let's see what you say tomorrow morning." She replied.
James gulped, what did Jezebel have in mind?
"You should learn to relax James, you seem so tense." She teased him.
"I'm not tense." He croaked and tried to clear his throat.
His mind was completely blank. He had to get her out of here, this would look bad for him if somebody walked in. How else would a Slytherin come into the Gryffindor common room unless a Gryffindor let her in?
"Really?" She asked with a lift of her brows. She shrugged and swiftly closed the distance between them.
"What do you want?" He asked with bravado in his voice. He was too confused to think how silly he would look to his friends if he saw him cowering on the wall because of a girl.
"Can you really not imagine?" She whispered against his lips.
He felt her hands resting against his chest. Sweat broke on his brow. Lily had been the only girl to make him feel comfortable as she touched him. The touch of another girls just felt so wrong.
"Er.you better leave." He said trying to push her away from him but he was unsuccessful.
"Now why would I do that?" She said before leaning against him and pressing her lips against his.
James stood there totally surprised that he didn't hear the portrait opening once more.
"James, what the hell do you think you are doing?" An angry voice said.
James pushed Jezebel away from him and gaped at Sirius who was angrily staring at the pair.
"Good night James, we'll talk later." She said and swiftly passed by Sirius and left the room. James stood still where he was as Sirius turned to glare at him.
"What are you doing bringing her in here. Really James I thought better of you!"
"It's not what you think!" James yelled back. How can his best friend think that he would get involved with a girl like Jezebel?
"What else could it be? I come in and see you kissing with her. Honestly James! If you are going to cheat on Lily you could at least do so where nobody could walk in on you."
"That's not what- What do you mean by that?" James was truly angry now. How could Sirius think that he would do that to Lily?
"How could you do this to Lily?"
"I didn't do a damn thing!"
"Are you saying that Lily means nothing to you?"
"It didn't mean a thing I tell you!"
Sirius eyes opened with surprise and James heard a gasp from the stairs. He quickly turned and his jaw dropped when he saw Lily standing there. Her hand on her lips and tears starting to emerge from her startling green eyes. How long had she been standing there? James thought.
"Lily!"
"How could you James?" She exclaimed before turning back up the stairs.
James heard her running up the steps sobbing, her sobs seemed to snap him out of the trance he had felt he was in and turned to run after her. He took the steps two, sometimes three, at a time trying to catch up to her.
"Lily wait! It's not you saw, please hear me out!" He said as he caught up to her.
"There is nothing more to say, you have said enough! How could you James, I really cared about you and you just turn to someone else as soon as I leave." She cried.
"It's not like it seemed Lily, I don't care for her, I care for you." He exclaimed desperately, he had to get Lily to believe him. How would he live without her?
"That's a lie and you know it. Let me go James, I don't want to see you again." She tried to pull from his grasp but the more she pulled the more tighter his hold on her arm became.
"Please Lily, listen to me." He said urgently, if he didn't fix this situation now, he would lose her forever.
"Let me go James, you are hurting me!" She said trying to pull away from him.
James let go but Lily had stepped back too soon and she seemed to lose her balance. James tried to grab her but it was too late.
Sirius was sitting in the common room thinking over the scene he had walked in. Maybe James wasn't lying, everybody knew how relentless Jezebel had been in her pursuit of James, and she was sneaky enough to have found a way to get into the common room and catch James by surprise. If that was what had happened, he hoped that James could bring Lily around and get her to listen to him. They were the perfect couple.
He continued musing when he heard a commotion on the stairs. He looked startled toward the stairs as he heard a yell followed by a shriek from James.
"LILY!"
Sirius quickly ran to the foot of the stairs and stared in horror as he noticed a body lying on the floor. James was running down the stairs and kneeled by Lily.
"Lily please, answer me damn you." James cried, tears running down his cheeks. He turned to look at the horrified Sirius standing still as if he was a statue.
"Sirius, go to the infirmary, get Madam Pomfrey in here." James directed.
"James, what happened?" Sirius whispered.
James tried to move Lily's hair aside and was horrified when he found his fingers covered in blood. "Go Sirius, quickly, get her here." He yelled.
Sirius didn't say anything more and ran out of the room. Above them people were stirring and voices could be heard as doors opened and steps could be heard walking down the stairs.