A/N: We're starting a HP fic as well as LOTR. Hopefully we won't get mixed up with doing LOTR at the same time as this, though that would be hilarious. Think of the possibilites...
Two girls walked down the street from the London train station. They were following a tall man in a dark cloak, a man they barely knew; their great-uncle. He was all they had left in this world and somehow they felt they had nothing. Their mother had recently died and they were shipped off to their last remaining relative. The two girls walked hand in hand, as odd as it was for their age, 16, it gave them a comfort. They walked slowly against the strong August wind as the clouds opened into a torrential downpour. The shorter, blonde, girl bowed her head.
"Lilly, do you think mom's watching us now?" The other, a redhead smiled softly at her.
"Sara, do you remember that song mom used to sing?" Sara stared at her blankly. Lillian opened her mouth and began singing quietly.
-1- "There's holes in the floor of heaven ...And her tears are pouring down
That's how I know she's watching,
Wishing she could be here now
And sometimes when I'm lonely
I remember she can see
'Cause there's holes in the floor of heaven
And she's watching over you and me,"
Sarah smiled at her sister. "Do you think she's watching now?" She asked softly.
"I know she is," They walked, following their great-uncle to a car, each carrying a suitcase. They got in the car and sat in silence as he drove off. Sara stared at the scenery outside the window of the car, blurred with raindrops. She saw, with a heavy heart, people going about their business as if it were just a regular day, and maybe it was to them. To her though, it was the worst day of her life. She began crying, tears streaming down her cheeks as she rested her head against the window. Lillian put her hand on her sister's shoulder.
"It's going to be okay," She comforted quietly, though she felt like crying herself. Sara looked at her with a sad expression.
"It's not fair. To either of us, especially not you. How do you bear it?" Lilly looked at her and sighed.
"Time will ease your pain. Life's about changing, nothing ever stays the same." She sang, her voice a haunting melody of truth and despair. -2-"How can I help you to say goodbye? It's okay to hurt, and it's okay to cry. Come, let me hold you, and I will try. How can I help you, to say goodbye?" Sara rested her head against her sister's shoulder. They would get through somehow, together they would make it through.
Their great-uncle, as they found out upon reaching his house, was quite rich. He owned a large mansion on the outskirts of London. Sara and Lilly stood quietly as their uncle introduced them to one of the servants then followed her down the hall to their rooms. Their rooms were adjoining, and connected by a door in the middle. The servant girl, Becky, left them in Sara's room.
"It's too big," Sara observed, staring around at the large room. "For one person, that is," She amended quickly. Lilly smiled at her with a hint of wickedness.
"I have a brilliant idea, but I'll need your help," Sara looked at her curiously. "We drag my mattress in here, put yours on the floor, and the room will be just the right size. We can use my room for puzzles and such," she grinned, and Sara doubted they'd be doing many puzzles, more like plotting evilness, practical jokes, and the like. Nevertheless, she agreed, and helped Lilly drag her mattress over and pull her own to the floor. Lilly stood up and walked across the room, opening another door. "Ooh, Sara, you've got to see this bathroom," Sara walked over and peered over Lily's shoulder.
"I think I like our great-uncle already," There was a large Jacuzzi tub on one side of the bathroom, and a gold faucet in a long white marble countertop. A toilet sat against the rear wall and a full-length, three-way mirror sat on the floor next to the counter.
"Very nice," Lilly purred, examining the sink. "Exactly how rich is this guy? And is this real gold?" Sara glanced at it.
"I doubt it," she said dismissively. "And as for your first question, I have no clue. I hadn't heard of him until after mom died," Her voice trembled. "First, I heard of him was when we got shipped here,"
"Getting shipped here isn't looking so bad anymore. I hear that the school we'll go to here is really good. What was it called again?" She looked to Sara.
"Hogwarts, I think. Does great-uncle know about magic? If not, we could have a slight problem," Lilly shrugged
"Nobody mentioned that. I'm not even sure the lawyers knew about us being magic. Do you think we should tell him?" Sara shrugged.
"I think we should get ready for bed, it's late. We have plenty of time to talk tomorrow," Lilly nodded, walking into her room to get her suitcase. She came back with her pajamas and slippers on. Her pajamas pants were black, and her top read: I'm out of bed, what more do you want?
"I call bathroom first," she said, running in and locking the door. Sara rolled her eyes and changed into her pajamas. They had clouds on them. "You still have those?" Lilly asked, walking out of the bathroom, rolling her eyes. Sara smiled at her.
"Yes, I do. And I like them, so kindly shut up about them or I will have to tickle you,"
"NO, no, the horror!" Lilly moaned in mock fear. "Don't do that, anything but that, your merciful highness," The two girls laughed together as Sara threw her pillow at her. This, of course, started a war. "I'm so gonna get you for that," Lilly growled, chucking the pillow right back at her. She picked up her own pillow and chased Sara around the room with it held over her head.
"Can't get me!" Sara yelled, ducking into the bathroom and locking the door. Lilly pulled a pin from her hair, and in fifteen seconds had the door unlocked and opened. She stuck out her tongue at Sara before whacking her with the pillow.
"I win," she said with a grin, extending her hand to help Sara off the floor. Sara rolled her eyes, but took her hand and stood up.
"I think it's time for bed," Sara said wearily. Lilly smiled and nodded.
"If you say so sir," she mock-saluted before lying down on her mattress. Sara picked her pillow up off the floor and walked to her own mattress, next to Lilly's.
"Goodnight, annoying one," Sara said, pulling the blankets up and keeping her hands up to ward off anything thrown at her.
"Goodnight, bossy one," Lilly shot back sleepily. They both laughed for a second, then Sara spoke up again.
"Goodnight sister of mine,"
"G'night sis," Lilly mumbled back, before they both fell asleep.
-Passing of weeks-
"It's time to wake up, it's time to wake up, it's time to wake up in the morning!" Lilly sang cheerfully, turning on the light and opening the curtains.
"Go 'way," Sara mumbled, pulling her pillow over her head with a groan.
"Don't think so. Today we go back to school, so rise and shine or I'll find a nice cold pitcher of water and hold it above your head, then slowly pour it on you," Sara groaned again, and took the pillow away.
"Okay, okay, I'm up,"
"Oops, too late," Lilly said, as Sara got drenched with water. "I'm…sorry?" She tried timidly. Sara glared at her.
"If we weren't going to the train station soon, I'd kill you," Lilly smiled brightly.
"Good, you're up and not homicidal. Let's go. We've got…" She checked her watch. "Half an hour before we leave," Sara gasped.
"Oh my god!" She stood quickly, grabbing her clothes. "Why didn't you wake me sooner? I'm not nearly ready,"
"I tried," Lilly informed her. "You hit me. I've been up since forever, and with nothing better to do, I packed your stuff," Sara stopped fretting and stared at her.
"You did that for me?" Lilly nodded. "Wow. What can I say…"
"Try, thank you my darling sister,"
"Thank you," Sara said, walking into the bathroom to get ready. They arrived at the train station an hour later, waving goodbye to their uncle, who thought that they were going to a regular boarding school.
A/N: There you have it. I'll close off by saying, please check out the separate fics that we are writing. Mine (A.N.L) is Harry Potter and The Horcruxes and Anne's (loriela) is Broken Angels. Please check them out and read, review, all that jazz for boththis and the others.
-1- Holes in the floor of heaven by Steve Wariner
-2- How Can I Help You To Say Goodbye by Patty Loveless