Beaubaxtons to Hogwarts
Disclaimer: The plot and Tia Vargas belongs to me. Anything else is J.K. all the way. Hey, that rhymes!
Author's Note: I apologize for the delay here. Schoolwork and exams have decided to punish me. -sigh- Well, I'm back...even though I'm supposed to be researching for a project. Shhuuu. My dad doesn't know yet. Well, here's chapter 13. Sorry for the mixup. I forgot that I wasn't supposed to do an author's note. Now, the chapters are all screwed up but as long as you follow the story, it doesn't matter much. Oh, also, uh...I thought I'd change about the staircase part. Sorry to confuse you people. I sometimes forget myself which is why this story gets messed up a bit.
Summary: Lily suffers at her old school so she decides to run away. She came to Hogwarts under an alias name hoping to make friends somewhere else. However, she was wrong. She met James and his gang and they decide to play pranks on her just for the fun of it. But will James's feelings change as well as Lily's?
----------------------
Chapter 13- The Truth Behind Everything...Almost Everything
----------------------
In Chapter 12-
James' eyes widened.
"I had the same dream too."
----------------------
Lily's eyes too widened.
"Y-you...had the same dream?" Her voice squeaked out. James nodded and Tia kneeled on the floor next to the bed.
"What happened?" Tia demanded calmly. She didn't know who she was asking, James or Lily, or herself. James spoke up first.
"Everything she said, the green flash, me dying and Lily trying to save the baby, it was all in my dream...and it felt so real." He shuddered a bit. Witnessing deaths wasn't exactly a "sweet" dream. "What I don't understand is why Lily has the same dream as me and why we have it."
"Maybe we really should take this to Dumbledore." Lily shook her head at the idea.
"No. I told you. I don't want to trouble Dumbledore. Besides, I'm sure it's nothing." It sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than her friends.
"Since when is having the same dream as James nothing?" Tia excalimed. She then sighed and rubbed her temples. "Ok, since you're so into this thing about not telling Dumbledore, we won't tell him. But I think you should really be careful from now on Lily. I think someone may have put a spell on you and James and make you think that this will truly happen and that it's some sort of trick to lure you somewhere and then kill you."
Lily and James stared at Tia, increduously. "What?" She asked innocently. They only shook their heads.
"Look, I really don't think anyone is capable of doing something so stupid like that. I'm sure it's normal at times when someone will get the same dream as another person."
"How long did you have it for?" James demanded. Lily looked up for a second and pondered for a moment.
"I think about a month." She stared at James. "Why?"
"I had it for about a month too." His voice trailed off.
"Ok, now that is beyond creepy. Lily, please reconsider!" Tia protested. Lily crossed her arms and stared at her, stubbornly. "I guess that means 'no'." Tia said glumly.
"You got that right. Now I don't want you to mention this again. You got that? It's making me feel depressed." She sighed and got up and tied her hair into a ponytail. "Ok, since it's a saturday, I think I'll head myself down to the library. Nobody follow me or else I'll hex you all the way to China!" She gleamed at them dangerously, grabbed her bookbag and closed the door quietly behind her.
She marched down the stairway and headed towards the library. She knew her friends meant well but sometimes, she just wanted to be left alone. So many things happened and everything aggrivated her these days. Her parents' death, her sister slapping her, her...having feelings for a certain someone. They all just poured into her head causing one big irritating headache.
She sighed as she entered the library and sat down on one of the comfy sofas. Settling down comfortably, she opened her muggle novel up and began to read. But somehow, she couldn't read. She furrowed her brows but the words wouldn't respond into her head.
"Enjoying yourself?" She jumped and looked up to see Lucius Malfoy towering over her, making Lily feel extremely small and vunerable.
"Go away Malfoy." She gritted with her teeth and returned to her reading. As if she were doing any.
"Now now, that isn't a way to treat someone." He sat next to Lily, very closely, as she observed. "You should learn manners." He added huskily. Lily only inched away, revolted by the stench of his breath.
"Have you ever heard of toothpaste?" She scrunched her nose as she blocked herself away from Lucius's hand. Lucius only ignored her comment and only crawled closer to her.
"Oh come now Lily. Don't be afraid of me. I won't bite you...much." He grinned as he licked his lips.
"What are you doing?" She hissed at him. "I'm a mudblood remember? You aren't supposed to associate with filth like me."
"I'm appalled. I'm not that cruel. I had a change of heart as you could say."
"More like you're daft." She muttered to herself as she stood up. "I think that you should check with a doctor at St. Mungo's. Obviously you aren't yourself." She said primply as she walked past him, her cloak billowing behind her.
"Oh, that's where you're wrong my dear Evans. That's where you very wrong indeed." He said to himself as he too got up. James watched the whole thing behind his invisibility cloak with a concerned look on his face.
"What are you up to Malfoy?" He muttered to himself, shaking his head. He had to watch Lily now and watch Lucius as well. Something definately was not right and something fishy was going on and he intended to find out.
----------------------
The Next Day
"Lily! Wake up! You'll be late for class! Merlin, what did you do last night to get you like this?" Lily groaned. She rolled over to see Tia standing next to her with her hands on her hips, obviously angry and concerned.
"Nothing. I just read for a while and probably slept late. What time is it?"
"Almost 9 o'clock." Lily's eyes widened as she jumped out of bed.
"Shit!" She shrieked. "Why didn't you tell me?!? I don't even have time to shower!" She quickly threw on some clothes and grabbed her book bag which she, thankfully, packed last night. Tia and her hurried down to Transfiguration.
"Ah, so nice of you to join us. Fortunately, it's a just a little past nine and seeing that you aren't the type to be late, I will let go of this for now." Professor MacGonagall said with a stern tone in her voice.
"Thank...you...Professor." Lily said, panting. She collapsed in her seat next to James and clutched onto her chest.
"You ok?" James asked. "You don't look so well."
"I'll be fine." They had to end their conversation since MacGonagall was looking their way. She was talking about their project and how she expected it to be handed in at the end of the year, completed and organized as always. James and Lily looked at each other. They had only done taking notes and the end of the year was coming up soon.
James slipped a note to Lily. He anxiously waited as he anticipated for her to open it. Lily did and quickly read it.
Lily-
How about we meet in the library tonight? We could work on the project...and talk or something.
James.
Lily scribbled back. James recieved it and grinned. He nodded to Lily and they both continued listening to MacGonagall's lecture on Animagi.
----------------------
Later in Evening
They both met up according to plan and worked silently, only asking for information the other had recieved. Thankfully, since Lily was studious and James basically knows everything about transfiguration. They had done most of the work and decided they had done enough for tonight.
"Oh, I hate projects. Assignments, it would be a breeze but I hate loathe transfiguration and projects. So basically, I hate this project." She threw her quill down and sighed as she leaned against the back of her chair. James remained quiet, staring at his quill which he twirled with. Lily arched a brow at James but shrugged her shoulders. She sighed and got up.
"Well, I'm done now. I think I'm going to go for a walk around the Quidditch field. Care to join?" James shook his head so Lily once again shrug her shoulders. "Suit yourself. Night James."
"Night." He mumbled back, still concentrating on his quill. Lily questioned James' odd behaviour but nothing of it. James suddenly had a bright idea and saw Lily exit the library. He quietly followed her as she walked down the Quidditch field.
He stepped into the shadows near the Forbidden Forest and saw Lily settle down near the lake and the Quidditch field. He transformed into his stag form once again and trotted towards Lily. He nudged her and Lily nearly screamed. She turned with her hand to her chest and sighed with relief.
"Never do that to me again!" She lightly patted his nose and shook her head. "It's been a while since I've seen you. Well, I'm glad that you're here because I need somebody to talk to while they just listen."
She then hugged her knees and rocked back and forth as she stared up at the moon.
"Today was scary. I had a dream where I witnessed my own death, my husband's and possibly my child's." She shuddered and James nuzzled her to keep her warm. Lily smiled. "Thanks. Well, what was more scary was that James had the exact same dream as me. How could he? Things like that aren't normal." James kept wondering what was going on through that pretty little head of Lily's.
She let out a small laugh, to relieve the tension that was surrounding her and sighed.
"Well, James is much more nicer than before. So many things have happened but I'm not entirely sure the relationship between James and I are. I have a small confession to make. You promise not to tell anyone?" James let out a small snort as if to respond to her question. Lily took it as a yes.
"I have a tiny crush on James. I don't know, I guess his looks attract me as well as his personality. He's fun to hang around with once you get to know him. I have to admit though, he's a little too overprotective over me but he means well. I guess cause so many things have happened that he's just concerned and is on the lookout for me. I wouldn't be surprised if he's overhearing this conversation now."
She laughed as she plucked some grass from the ground and began to twirl it around her slender fingers.
"The moon is so beautiful. It makes you feel comforted sometimes the way it gleams over the world, like a guild to help you in the dark." She rubbed her crossed arms and exhaled softly. The silence wasn't one of those awkward ones but it was a comforting one.
"I better be heading back before some kid rats on me or something." She muttered something about "little buggers" while brushing off the dirt on her clothes. "Thanks for listening to me." She gave a small pat on Prongs' head and walked away slowly, her cloak billowing behind her.
Once inside Hogwarts, she wandered aimessly through the halls until a high-pitched, blood-curling scream was heard echoing through the dark halls. Gasping, she turned and noticed that the scream had come from the Owlery.
Almost tripping over her robes, she managed to steady her balance and rush up towards the Owlery Tower. She opened the doors and panted, leaning against the doorway but the sight did take her breath away.
There in front of her was a bloodied mess of dead owls. It was a horrifying and vulgar thing to see. She felt like throwing up right there and then if she didn't notice a sobbing girl in a dark corner.
"A-are you alright?" Lily asked quietly. The girl looked up and glared at her.
"Does it look like I'm alright?" She snapped back. Lily rolled her eyes.
"Sorry I asked." Lily muttered. The girl sighed and pulled her head back, showing her tear-streaked face as well as looking irritated.
"Do you want something? If you want to mail a letter, it seems that your luck ran out." She sarcastically said, jerking her head towards the dead animals. Lily cringed a little, fidgeted on the spot she was on. She was a bit uncomfortable with this...girl who was just being sardonic and being extremely...well, preoccupied at some level.
"Uh...no, I heard a noise and I was curious as to why someone would scream in the middle of the night. I mean, you don't exactly hear screaming every night do you?" The girl sighed, annoyed at the pressure she's dealing with and with Lily.
"Wouldn't you scream if you saw a million dead birds with blood all over them in front of you?" Lily snorted a laugh.
"Look, I don't know what your problem is but I just wanted to come up here and help someone out but it seems that you're capable of doing it by yourself. I'm leaving, I don't have time for all this bullshit." She turned to leave when she felt a tug on her arm. She turned to see the girl, her big brown eyes staring deeply in the pools of Lily's emerald orbs. The girl sighed and dropped her arm.
"Look, I'm sorry if I snapped at you. I'm just under a lot of stress. My owl that my grandmother had given to me before she passed away died and that was the only thing I had left that reminded me of her. You have to understand that." Lily nodded and turned so she could face the girl properly.
"I'm Lily Evans." Lily stuck out her right hand. The girl gratefully took it and shook Lily's hand with a smile.
"Audrey Harlett. I know who you are." Audrey hesitated. "My house talks of you all the time." Lily arched a brow.
"In what way?" Audrey mumbled a response and Lily leaned in closer to hear better.
"Sorry?" Audrey sighed and raised her arms up in frustration.
"They call you a mudblood ok? I'm in Slytherin. I guess this is the cue for you to leave." She returned back to her corner and sat down, staring up at the moon and the stars once more. Lily stood where she was, pursing her lips before she walked towards the girl and sat down next to her.
Audrey looked with surprise and arched a brow.
"I thought you were going to leave." Lily patted her hand on Audrey's arm with a reassuring smile.
"Well, I know you're not that kind of person. You're not like most Slytherins." Audrey gave out a cold, bitter laugh.
"Well, you only met the cold ones. The ones that think they're better than everyone kinds. Not all Slytherins are bad you know." Audrey pointed out to Lily, as if talking to a small child. Lily laughed.
"I guess so. Judging by you, I'll take your word for it." Audrey gave a weak smile.
"Thanks." Lily then looked around and cringed.
"So...what happened here?" Audrey sighed.
"I have no idea. All I did was come here and all of a sudden, I scream at this bloody mess!" She shrilled and then maintaned calmness. "Sorry about that. I mean, it's not everyday you see bloody animals here." Lily nodded her head.
"I understand." Before they could continue talking, they heard a crash behind them.
----------------------
Gryffindor Common Room
"Oy James! Get over here mate! You look depressed and we need to cheer you up!" Sirius said cheerfully to his friend. James only sighed and stared up at the ceiling. "What's got you so down anyways? Is it because of Lily?"
"Sirius, I think it's best if you leave James alone for a little while, try to get his thoughts in order and such. I mean, James would do the same to you if you were ever depressed...not that it's a likely chance anyways." Remus grinned and hid behind his book. Sirius only shook his head.
"Better to let it out then kept bottled in." Remus looked at Sirius with a skeptical look.
"Where did you learn that from?" Sirius shrugged his shoulders.
"Something someone told me a long time ago." His eyes darkened a little but they returned to its usual mischevious glint. Remus knew that look Sirius had before and decided not to pressure him about it.
"While you two badger on, I'll go to my room." Remus and Sirius protested. James shook his head.
"You two are impossible." He said as he sat back down on the couch. Sirius gave out a laugh.
"Well, you, my dear good sir, are very incapable of managing to solve problems." As soon as Sirius had said that, the portrait door opened and in walked Tia, a little out of breath.
"Has...any of you seen...Lily?" They all shook their heads, a little confused at why Tia was out of breath.
"Why are you out of breath?" Sirius asked for the group. Tia collapsed on the couch between James and Sirius.
"Something happened near the Owlery Tower and now all the teachers are worried and people are rushing around." Sirius's ears perked up.
"What happened?" Tia shrugged her shoulders.
"I have no clue. All I heard was a crash while walking down the hallways. I'm a bit worried for Lily. The professors are a bit concerned and have asked everyone to go back to their house common rooms. That's why I asked if Lily was here. I haven't seen her around anywhere and I wouldn't dare go near the towers, especially the Owlery." James stood up.
"We have to go find Lily." He demanded. "Who knows what could happen to her?"
"Being the knight in shining armour now, eh James?" Sirius chuckled and shook his head. "Boy James, you really are desperate. Go be her saviour then. I'll stay with Tia." Tia placed her hands on her hips and glared at Sirius.
"How can you joke at a time like this? Lily could be de-" There was a blood-curling scream that startled the students. "What was that?" Tia shrieked as she clutched onto Sirius. Sirius rubbed Tia's arm and hugged her tightly.
"I don't know but it sure didn't sound good. Come on, we have to inspect. Tia's right, Lily could be in danger." Tia, shaking, stood up, still clutching onto Sirius's arm.
James, shaking his head, dragged them both out.
"Come on, we have to go to Lily." They found their way up to the Owlery Tower and opened the door with precaution. Tia gave a little squeak as they stepped inside. She was scared of course but she knew she had to muster up some courage to save Lily. Who knows what is going on in Hogwarts right now.
"Oh my god! What happened here?!?" Tia shrieked at the top of her voice. James and Sirius both shuddered.
"Whatever happened, they sure didn't do a clean job of it." Sirius whispered. It was one thing just to see blood but spread across dead animals was another. "I just hope the same fate didn't happen to Lily."
"Lily?!?" Tia called out hoarsely. "Lily, where are you?" Her voice echoed and they heard a crash from behind them. They turned to see a girl crawl from a secret room, coughing as she hastened to get out. Shuddering, she looked up at the trio.
"Who the hell are you?" She croaked, still coughing. Sirius eyed the girl with suspicion.
"We should be asking you the same question. Why are you up here anyways? Didn't you hear, something dangerous is going around Hogwarts?"
"Then why the hell are you here?" She glared at them, challenging them with her eyes...and her tongue. Sirius rolled his eyes and snorted a laugh.
"We're here because we want to commit suicide, that's what."
"Don't be a dumbshit. If you're looking for Lily Evans, they took her." James suddenly snapped and both he and Sirius both grabbed the girl.
"Where is she?!?" James demanded. "I swear if you hurt her, you will never see daylight again."
"Ooh, I'm frightened, look at me shaking. Come on, your threats won't trigger me to break down and cry. Merlin." She rolled her eyes and remained where she was, pinned to the cold, hard wall with the two Gryffindors at a fighting stanze.
"Don't be sardonic with me. I want to know where Lily is."
"I told you! I don't know! They took her somewhere!" The girl sighed with frustration and looked up at the ceiling angrily.
"Who is 'they'?" Sirius growled, his knuckles turning white as his fists were clenched. He cared for Lily deeply and would kill anyone if he saw her hurt.
"'They' are weird wizards with cloaks. They came with brooms and took Lily away. She screamed and I had to scurry away before I was killed. I should've saved her I know but with hexes and curses flying around, it was near impossible."
"Do you know where they went?" She shook her head.
"I was in the small room the whole time." She shuddered again and it looked like she was truly going to cry. Tia stepped forward. She was silent for a while, just watching the girl but now her heart went out to see her vunerable now in front of James and Sirius.
"Guys, lay off. Let me talk to her. Boys." She rolled her eyes. "Are you alright?" The girl shook her head.
"I'm fine. Just a little queasy."
"You look like you're going to be sick though." Tia said gently. She wasn't trying to push the girl's buttons. She wanted to help but also to try to get information about Lily quickly. The girl glared.
"I said I was fine. Don't you understand bloody english?!?" Tia was taken aback.
"Hey, I was only trying to help, no need to get all snappish with me." Her voice had a tone of annoyance in it. There was one thing Tia couldn't tolerate and that was rudeness. Tia wasn't a patient one so her temper quickly flared easily.
"I'm claustrophobic alright? It was hard enough just stepping forward in that stupid room but the only way to save my sorry arse was to be in that bloody room." She groaned and slid to the floor.
"Maybe we should take you to Madame Pomfrey."
"No, I'll be fine. You need to save Lily, remember?"
"We want to know who you are first." The girl eyed Sirius with a skeptic look and shrugged her shoulders.
"If you honestly want to know and insist, then I'll tell. I'm Audrey. Audrey Harlett." James and Sirius had arched brows. They knew who she was, she can tell.
"Audrey from Slytherin? Sixth year?" Audrey glared.
"Seventh." She hissed at them. "I don't look that young do I?" Tia shook her head.
"No, not at all. Do you happen to have the slightest idea where they could've gone?"
"Geez, you boys are surely daft. The only place where people fear the most, Forbidden Forest." Before you knew it, James and Sirius ran down from the tower to their room to grab their cloaks and their brooms and rush to the Forbidden Forest without anyone noticing them.
Audrey crossed her arms and stared at Tia with a crossed look on her face.
"What?" she asked icily. Tia raised her hands in defence.
"Nothing. Just wondering how you happen to know Lily if you're a Slytherin." Audrey didn't respond so Tia left it at that and saw the boys dashing across the Quidditch field towards the Forbidden Forest.
"I just hope that Lily would be fine." Tia sighed. "Why don't you tell me what happened...with these owls?" Audrey flinched before explaining.
----------------------
The Forbidden Forest
"Ow! Oy James! Where are you mate?" Sirius exclaimed in pain as he was scratched on the face by a few branches.
"Right here." Sirius jumped when he realized that James was under the invisibility cloak.
"Merlin! Don't scare me like that!" James grinned smugly under the cloak before he frowned.
"Ok, sorry mate. Enough goofing around. We have to know where they could've taken Lily." He took off the cloak and placed it on his arm.
"They would probably take her to the centre of the forest." He started rummaging in his pockets for his wand. Sirius had his in his hand and muttered a spell to point North.
"Shouldn't we get a professor or something? Or the headmaster? Dumbledore would surely take care of it." James didn't hear. He was too busy looking for his wand.
"My wand! It's gone! I must've dropped it!"
"You pathetic boys." Sirus stuck his wand out and from the shadows came a wizard in a black cloak.
"Show yourself." He growled. "We're not as pathetic as you, hiding behind some stupid cloak." The wizard smirked as he took his hands out from the sleeves and placed his hood down. The boys winced.
"Snake." James growled. Snake only laughed bitterly.
"Of course. How could I forget? The famous Marauders out to prove thier mischeif once more."
"We're not here to pull a stupid prank. We're here to save Lily unless you're thick enough not to realise it." James thought for sure Snake would pull a hex but he only grinned.
"Yes Mr. Black, I understand fully well why you would venture off to this dangerous and dark forest. In case you haven't noticed, I pulled a sarcastic remark but you, my good sir, are too thick enough not to realise it." Sirius cursed under his breath, his wand still aimed at Snake's chest. "Put away that wand of yours boy. You're no match for me. You see, I've been a top student for Defence Against the Dark Arts and no one had beaten me in a duel and surely my streak hasn't lost its touch."
Sirius still held the wand. It was his only protection and he needed it. For himself and for James.
"Mr. Potter, I see you've lost that wand of yours. No need to panic, I've got it right here in my palm." And indeed it was, standing vulnerably on his palm, just eager to be held by its original owner. James stared subconsciously at the wand, millions of thoughts flying everywhere. Sirius on the other hand, acted quickly.
"Exp-" But before he could, he was knocked off his feet by Snake who had used his own wand when he detected the movement shifted underneath Sirius's feet. James quickly held Sirius up who was panting hard because of the pain in his chest.
"Never underestimate the word of a professor Mr. Black."
"What I'd like to know is why you're out here Professor Snake." Snake gave out a harsh laugh.
"Why, I thought you knew already! Considering the fact that all Slytherins are as evil as evil can be." Sirius and James both shuddered. "Well, enough chit chat." Before they knew it, James and Sirius were both bound and gagged by invisible robes and were being levitated and carried off with Snake in the lead. "Oh, don't worry, I'm sure to take real care of you." Sirius and James both looked at each other. That tone of his didn't sound good and they were positive that they wouldn't be a getting a luxurious type of treatment, especially from Snake.
----------------------
Safiya Femi: I'm sorry it took really long but I have so much to do! This is the only time I can get on (holy cow! 11:52 PM!! I know ishn't it crazy?!?) Well, I hope you enjoyed it. I tried to make it as fun as possible. One thing is for sure, I CANNOT write evil people! They're just not evil enough.
Disclaimer: The plot and Tia Vargas belongs to me. Anything else is J.K. all the way. Hey, that rhymes!
Author's Note: I apologize for the delay here. Schoolwork and exams have decided to punish me. -sigh- Well, I'm back...even though I'm supposed to be researching for a project. Shhuuu. My dad doesn't know yet. Well, here's chapter 13. Sorry for the mixup. I forgot that I wasn't supposed to do an author's note. Now, the chapters are all screwed up but as long as you follow the story, it doesn't matter much. Oh, also, uh...I thought I'd change about the staircase part. Sorry to confuse you people. I sometimes forget myself which is why this story gets messed up a bit.
Summary: Lily suffers at her old school so she decides to run away. She came to Hogwarts under an alias name hoping to make friends somewhere else. However, she was wrong. She met James and his gang and they decide to play pranks on her just for the fun of it. But will James's feelings change as well as Lily's?
----------------------
Chapter 13- The Truth Behind Everything...Almost Everything
----------------------
In Chapter 12-
James' eyes widened.
"I had the same dream too."
----------------------
Lily's eyes too widened.
"Y-you...had the same dream?" Her voice squeaked out. James nodded and Tia kneeled on the floor next to the bed.
"What happened?" Tia demanded calmly. She didn't know who she was asking, James or Lily, or herself. James spoke up first.
"Everything she said, the green flash, me dying and Lily trying to save the baby, it was all in my dream...and it felt so real." He shuddered a bit. Witnessing deaths wasn't exactly a "sweet" dream. "What I don't understand is why Lily has the same dream as me and why we have it."
"Maybe we really should take this to Dumbledore." Lily shook her head at the idea.
"No. I told you. I don't want to trouble Dumbledore. Besides, I'm sure it's nothing." It sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than her friends.
"Since when is having the same dream as James nothing?" Tia excalimed. She then sighed and rubbed her temples. "Ok, since you're so into this thing about not telling Dumbledore, we won't tell him. But I think you should really be careful from now on Lily. I think someone may have put a spell on you and James and make you think that this will truly happen and that it's some sort of trick to lure you somewhere and then kill you."
Lily and James stared at Tia, increduously. "What?" She asked innocently. They only shook their heads.
"Look, I really don't think anyone is capable of doing something so stupid like that. I'm sure it's normal at times when someone will get the same dream as another person."
"How long did you have it for?" James demanded. Lily looked up for a second and pondered for a moment.
"I think about a month." She stared at James. "Why?"
"I had it for about a month too." His voice trailed off.
"Ok, now that is beyond creepy. Lily, please reconsider!" Tia protested. Lily crossed her arms and stared at her, stubbornly. "I guess that means 'no'." Tia said glumly.
"You got that right. Now I don't want you to mention this again. You got that? It's making me feel depressed." She sighed and got up and tied her hair into a ponytail. "Ok, since it's a saturday, I think I'll head myself down to the library. Nobody follow me or else I'll hex you all the way to China!" She gleamed at them dangerously, grabbed her bookbag and closed the door quietly behind her.
She marched down the stairway and headed towards the library. She knew her friends meant well but sometimes, she just wanted to be left alone. So many things happened and everything aggrivated her these days. Her parents' death, her sister slapping her, her...having feelings for a certain someone. They all just poured into her head causing one big irritating headache.
She sighed as she entered the library and sat down on one of the comfy sofas. Settling down comfortably, she opened her muggle novel up and began to read. But somehow, she couldn't read. She furrowed her brows but the words wouldn't respond into her head.
"Enjoying yourself?" She jumped and looked up to see Lucius Malfoy towering over her, making Lily feel extremely small and vunerable.
"Go away Malfoy." She gritted with her teeth and returned to her reading. As if she were doing any.
"Now now, that isn't a way to treat someone." He sat next to Lily, very closely, as she observed. "You should learn manners." He added huskily. Lily only inched away, revolted by the stench of his breath.
"Have you ever heard of toothpaste?" She scrunched her nose as she blocked herself away from Lucius's hand. Lucius only ignored her comment and only crawled closer to her.
"Oh come now Lily. Don't be afraid of me. I won't bite you...much." He grinned as he licked his lips.
"What are you doing?" She hissed at him. "I'm a mudblood remember? You aren't supposed to associate with filth like me."
"I'm appalled. I'm not that cruel. I had a change of heart as you could say."
"More like you're daft." She muttered to herself as she stood up. "I think that you should check with a doctor at St. Mungo's. Obviously you aren't yourself." She said primply as she walked past him, her cloak billowing behind her.
"Oh, that's where you're wrong my dear Evans. That's where you very wrong indeed." He said to himself as he too got up. James watched the whole thing behind his invisibility cloak with a concerned look on his face.
"What are you up to Malfoy?" He muttered to himself, shaking his head. He had to watch Lily now and watch Lucius as well. Something definately was not right and something fishy was going on and he intended to find out.
----------------------
The Next Day
"Lily! Wake up! You'll be late for class! Merlin, what did you do last night to get you like this?" Lily groaned. She rolled over to see Tia standing next to her with her hands on her hips, obviously angry and concerned.
"Nothing. I just read for a while and probably slept late. What time is it?"
"Almost 9 o'clock." Lily's eyes widened as she jumped out of bed.
"Shit!" She shrieked. "Why didn't you tell me?!? I don't even have time to shower!" She quickly threw on some clothes and grabbed her book bag which she, thankfully, packed last night. Tia and her hurried down to Transfiguration.
"Ah, so nice of you to join us. Fortunately, it's a just a little past nine and seeing that you aren't the type to be late, I will let go of this for now." Professor MacGonagall said with a stern tone in her voice.
"Thank...you...Professor." Lily said, panting. She collapsed in her seat next to James and clutched onto her chest.
"You ok?" James asked. "You don't look so well."
"I'll be fine." They had to end their conversation since MacGonagall was looking their way. She was talking about their project and how she expected it to be handed in at the end of the year, completed and organized as always. James and Lily looked at each other. They had only done taking notes and the end of the year was coming up soon.
James slipped a note to Lily. He anxiously waited as he anticipated for her to open it. Lily did and quickly read it.
Lily-
How about we meet in the library tonight? We could work on the project...and talk or something.
James.
Lily scribbled back. James recieved it and grinned. He nodded to Lily and they both continued listening to MacGonagall's lecture on Animagi.
----------------------
Later in Evening
They both met up according to plan and worked silently, only asking for information the other had recieved. Thankfully, since Lily was studious and James basically knows everything about transfiguration. They had done most of the work and decided they had done enough for tonight.
"Oh, I hate projects. Assignments, it would be a breeze but I hate loathe transfiguration and projects. So basically, I hate this project." She threw her quill down and sighed as she leaned against the back of her chair. James remained quiet, staring at his quill which he twirled with. Lily arched a brow at James but shrugged her shoulders. She sighed and got up.
"Well, I'm done now. I think I'm going to go for a walk around the Quidditch field. Care to join?" James shook his head so Lily once again shrug her shoulders. "Suit yourself. Night James."
"Night." He mumbled back, still concentrating on his quill. Lily questioned James' odd behaviour but nothing of it. James suddenly had a bright idea and saw Lily exit the library. He quietly followed her as she walked down the Quidditch field.
He stepped into the shadows near the Forbidden Forest and saw Lily settle down near the lake and the Quidditch field. He transformed into his stag form once again and trotted towards Lily. He nudged her and Lily nearly screamed. She turned with her hand to her chest and sighed with relief.
"Never do that to me again!" She lightly patted his nose and shook her head. "It's been a while since I've seen you. Well, I'm glad that you're here because I need somebody to talk to while they just listen."
She then hugged her knees and rocked back and forth as she stared up at the moon.
"Today was scary. I had a dream where I witnessed my own death, my husband's and possibly my child's." She shuddered and James nuzzled her to keep her warm. Lily smiled. "Thanks. Well, what was more scary was that James had the exact same dream as me. How could he? Things like that aren't normal." James kept wondering what was going on through that pretty little head of Lily's.
She let out a small laugh, to relieve the tension that was surrounding her and sighed.
"Well, James is much more nicer than before. So many things have happened but I'm not entirely sure the relationship between James and I are. I have a small confession to make. You promise not to tell anyone?" James let out a small snort as if to respond to her question. Lily took it as a yes.
"I have a tiny crush on James. I don't know, I guess his looks attract me as well as his personality. He's fun to hang around with once you get to know him. I have to admit though, he's a little too overprotective over me but he means well. I guess cause so many things have happened that he's just concerned and is on the lookout for me. I wouldn't be surprised if he's overhearing this conversation now."
She laughed as she plucked some grass from the ground and began to twirl it around her slender fingers.
"The moon is so beautiful. It makes you feel comforted sometimes the way it gleams over the world, like a guild to help you in the dark." She rubbed her crossed arms and exhaled softly. The silence wasn't one of those awkward ones but it was a comforting one.
"I better be heading back before some kid rats on me or something." She muttered something about "little buggers" while brushing off the dirt on her clothes. "Thanks for listening to me." She gave a small pat on Prongs' head and walked away slowly, her cloak billowing behind her.
Once inside Hogwarts, she wandered aimessly through the halls until a high-pitched, blood-curling scream was heard echoing through the dark halls. Gasping, she turned and noticed that the scream had come from the Owlery.
Almost tripping over her robes, she managed to steady her balance and rush up towards the Owlery Tower. She opened the doors and panted, leaning against the doorway but the sight did take her breath away.
There in front of her was a bloodied mess of dead owls. It was a horrifying and vulgar thing to see. She felt like throwing up right there and then if she didn't notice a sobbing girl in a dark corner.
"A-are you alright?" Lily asked quietly. The girl looked up and glared at her.
"Does it look like I'm alright?" She snapped back. Lily rolled her eyes.
"Sorry I asked." Lily muttered. The girl sighed and pulled her head back, showing her tear-streaked face as well as looking irritated.
"Do you want something? If you want to mail a letter, it seems that your luck ran out." She sarcastically said, jerking her head towards the dead animals. Lily cringed a little, fidgeted on the spot she was on. She was a bit uncomfortable with this...girl who was just being sardonic and being extremely...well, preoccupied at some level.
"Uh...no, I heard a noise and I was curious as to why someone would scream in the middle of the night. I mean, you don't exactly hear screaming every night do you?" The girl sighed, annoyed at the pressure she's dealing with and with Lily.
"Wouldn't you scream if you saw a million dead birds with blood all over them in front of you?" Lily snorted a laugh.
"Look, I don't know what your problem is but I just wanted to come up here and help someone out but it seems that you're capable of doing it by yourself. I'm leaving, I don't have time for all this bullshit." She turned to leave when she felt a tug on her arm. She turned to see the girl, her big brown eyes staring deeply in the pools of Lily's emerald orbs. The girl sighed and dropped her arm.
"Look, I'm sorry if I snapped at you. I'm just under a lot of stress. My owl that my grandmother had given to me before she passed away died and that was the only thing I had left that reminded me of her. You have to understand that." Lily nodded and turned so she could face the girl properly.
"I'm Lily Evans." Lily stuck out her right hand. The girl gratefully took it and shook Lily's hand with a smile.
"Audrey Harlett. I know who you are." Audrey hesitated. "My house talks of you all the time." Lily arched a brow.
"In what way?" Audrey mumbled a response and Lily leaned in closer to hear better.
"Sorry?" Audrey sighed and raised her arms up in frustration.
"They call you a mudblood ok? I'm in Slytherin. I guess this is the cue for you to leave." She returned back to her corner and sat down, staring up at the moon and the stars once more. Lily stood where she was, pursing her lips before she walked towards the girl and sat down next to her.
Audrey looked with surprise and arched a brow.
"I thought you were going to leave." Lily patted her hand on Audrey's arm with a reassuring smile.
"Well, I know you're not that kind of person. You're not like most Slytherins." Audrey gave out a cold, bitter laugh.
"Well, you only met the cold ones. The ones that think they're better than everyone kinds. Not all Slytherins are bad you know." Audrey pointed out to Lily, as if talking to a small child. Lily laughed.
"I guess so. Judging by you, I'll take your word for it." Audrey gave a weak smile.
"Thanks." Lily then looked around and cringed.
"So...what happened here?" Audrey sighed.
"I have no idea. All I did was come here and all of a sudden, I scream at this bloody mess!" She shrilled and then maintaned calmness. "Sorry about that. I mean, it's not everyday you see bloody animals here." Lily nodded her head.
"I understand." Before they could continue talking, they heard a crash behind them.
----------------------
Gryffindor Common Room
"Oy James! Get over here mate! You look depressed and we need to cheer you up!" Sirius said cheerfully to his friend. James only sighed and stared up at the ceiling. "What's got you so down anyways? Is it because of Lily?"
"Sirius, I think it's best if you leave James alone for a little while, try to get his thoughts in order and such. I mean, James would do the same to you if you were ever depressed...not that it's a likely chance anyways." Remus grinned and hid behind his book. Sirius only shook his head.
"Better to let it out then kept bottled in." Remus looked at Sirius with a skeptical look.
"Where did you learn that from?" Sirius shrugged his shoulders.
"Something someone told me a long time ago." His eyes darkened a little but they returned to its usual mischevious glint. Remus knew that look Sirius had before and decided not to pressure him about it.
"While you two badger on, I'll go to my room." Remus and Sirius protested. James shook his head.
"You two are impossible." He said as he sat back down on the couch. Sirius gave out a laugh.
"Well, you, my dear good sir, are very incapable of managing to solve problems." As soon as Sirius had said that, the portrait door opened and in walked Tia, a little out of breath.
"Has...any of you seen...Lily?" They all shook their heads, a little confused at why Tia was out of breath.
"Why are you out of breath?" Sirius asked for the group. Tia collapsed on the couch between James and Sirius.
"Something happened near the Owlery Tower and now all the teachers are worried and people are rushing around." Sirius's ears perked up.
"What happened?" Tia shrugged her shoulders.
"I have no clue. All I heard was a crash while walking down the hallways. I'm a bit worried for Lily. The professors are a bit concerned and have asked everyone to go back to their house common rooms. That's why I asked if Lily was here. I haven't seen her around anywhere and I wouldn't dare go near the towers, especially the Owlery." James stood up.
"We have to go find Lily." He demanded. "Who knows what could happen to her?"
"Being the knight in shining armour now, eh James?" Sirius chuckled and shook his head. "Boy James, you really are desperate. Go be her saviour then. I'll stay with Tia." Tia placed her hands on her hips and glared at Sirius.
"How can you joke at a time like this? Lily could be de-" There was a blood-curling scream that startled the students. "What was that?" Tia shrieked as she clutched onto Sirius. Sirius rubbed Tia's arm and hugged her tightly.
"I don't know but it sure didn't sound good. Come on, we have to inspect. Tia's right, Lily could be in danger." Tia, shaking, stood up, still clutching onto Sirius's arm.
James, shaking his head, dragged them both out.
"Come on, we have to go to Lily." They found their way up to the Owlery Tower and opened the door with precaution. Tia gave a little squeak as they stepped inside. She was scared of course but she knew she had to muster up some courage to save Lily. Who knows what is going on in Hogwarts right now.
"Oh my god! What happened here?!?" Tia shrieked at the top of her voice. James and Sirius both shuddered.
"Whatever happened, they sure didn't do a clean job of it." Sirius whispered. It was one thing just to see blood but spread across dead animals was another. "I just hope the same fate didn't happen to Lily."
"Lily?!?" Tia called out hoarsely. "Lily, where are you?" Her voice echoed and they heard a crash from behind them. They turned to see a girl crawl from a secret room, coughing as she hastened to get out. Shuddering, she looked up at the trio.
"Who the hell are you?" She croaked, still coughing. Sirius eyed the girl with suspicion.
"We should be asking you the same question. Why are you up here anyways? Didn't you hear, something dangerous is going around Hogwarts?"
"Then why the hell are you here?" She glared at them, challenging them with her eyes...and her tongue. Sirius rolled his eyes and snorted a laugh.
"We're here because we want to commit suicide, that's what."
"Don't be a dumbshit. If you're looking for Lily Evans, they took her." James suddenly snapped and both he and Sirius both grabbed the girl.
"Where is she?!?" James demanded. "I swear if you hurt her, you will never see daylight again."
"Ooh, I'm frightened, look at me shaking. Come on, your threats won't trigger me to break down and cry. Merlin." She rolled her eyes and remained where she was, pinned to the cold, hard wall with the two Gryffindors at a fighting stanze.
"Don't be sardonic with me. I want to know where Lily is."
"I told you! I don't know! They took her somewhere!" The girl sighed with frustration and looked up at the ceiling angrily.
"Who is 'they'?" Sirius growled, his knuckles turning white as his fists were clenched. He cared for Lily deeply and would kill anyone if he saw her hurt.
"'They' are weird wizards with cloaks. They came with brooms and took Lily away. She screamed and I had to scurry away before I was killed. I should've saved her I know but with hexes and curses flying around, it was near impossible."
"Do you know where they went?" She shook her head.
"I was in the small room the whole time." She shuddered again and it looked like she was truly going to cry. Tia stepped forward. She was silent for a while, just watching the girl but now her heart went out to see her vunerable now in front of James and Sirius.
"Guys, lay off. Let me talk to her. Boys." She rolled her eyes. "Are you alright?" The girl shook her head.
"I'm fine. Just a little queasy."
"You look like you're going to be sick though." Tia said gently. She wasn't trying to push the girl's buttons. She wanted to help but also to try to get information about Lily quickly. The girl glared.
"I said I was fine. Don't you understand bloody english?!?" Tia was taken aback.
"Hey, I was only trying to help, no need to get all snappish with me." Her voice had a tone of annoyance in it. There was one thing Tia couldn't tolerate and that was rudeness. Tia wasn't a patient one so her temper quickly flared easily.
"I'm claustrophobic alright? It was hard enough just stepping forward in that stupid room but the only way to save my sorry arse was to be in that bloody room." She groaned and slid to the floor.
"Maybe we should take you to Madame Pomfrey."
"No, I'll be fine. You need to save Lily, remember?"
"We want to know who you are first." The girl eyed Sirius with a skeptic look and shrugged her shoulders.
"If you honestly want to know and insist, then I'll tell. I'm Audrey. Audrey Harlett." James and Sirius had arched brows. They knew who she was, she can tell.
"Audrey from Slytherin? Sixth year?" Audrey glared.
"Seventh." She hissed at them. "I don't look that young do I?" Tia shook her head.
"No, not at all. Do you happen to have the slightest idea where they could've gone?"
"Geez, you boys are surely daft. The only place where people fear the most, Forbidden Forest." Before you knew it, James and Sirius ran down from the tower to their room to grab their cloaks and their brooms and rush to the Forbidden Forest without anyone noticing them.
Audrey crossed her arms and stared at Tia with a crossed look on her face.
"What?" she asked icily. Tia raised her hands in defence.
"Nothing. Just wondering how you happen to know Lily if you're a Slytherin." Audrey didn't respond so Tia left it at that and saw the boys dashing across the Quidditch field towards the Forbidden Forest.
"I just hope that Lily would be fine." Tia sighed. "Why don't you tell me what happened...with these owls?" Audrey flinched before explaining.
----------------------
The Forbidden Forest
"Ow! Oy James! Where are you mate?" Sirius exclaimed in pain as he was scratched on the face by a few branches.
"Right here." Sirius jumped when he realized that James was under the invisibility cloak.
"Merlin! Don't scare me like that!" James grinned smugly under the cloak before he frowned.
"Ok, sorry mate. Enough goofing around. We have to know where they could've taken Lily." He took off the cloak and placed it on his arm.
"They would probably take her to the centre of the forest." He started rummaging in his pockets for his wand. Sirius had his in his hand and muttered a spell to point North.
"Shouldn't we get a professor or something? Or the headmaster? Dumbledore would surely take care of it." James didn't hear. He was too busy looking for his wand.
"My wand! It's gone! I must've dropped it!"
"You pathetic boys." Sirus stuck his wand out and from the shadows came a wizard in a black cloak.
"Show yourself." He growled. "We're not as pathetic as you, hiding behind some stupid cloak." The wizard smirked as he took his hands out from the sleeves and placed his hood down. The boys winced.
"Snake." James growled. Snake only laughed bitterly.
"Of course. How could I forget? The famous Marauders out to prove thier mischeif once more."
"We're not here to pull a stupid prank. We're here to save Lily unless you're thick enough not to realise it." James thought for sure Snake would pull a hex but he only grinned.
"Yes Mr. Black, I understand fully well why you would venture off to this dangerous and dark forest. In case you haven't noticed, I pulled a sarcastic remark but you, my good sir, are too thick enough not to realise it." Sirius cursed under his breath, his wand still aimed at Snake's chest. "Put away that wand of yours boy. You're no match for me. You see, I've been a top student for Defence Against the Dark Arts and no one had beaten me in a duel and surely my streak hasn't lost its touch."
Sirius still held the wand. It was his only protection and he needed it. For himself and for James.
"Mr. Potter, I see you've lost that wand of yours. No need to panic, I've got it right here in my palm." And indeed it was, standing vulnerably on his palm, just eager to be held by its original owner. James stared subconsciously at the wand, millions of thoughts flying everywhere. Sirius on the other hand, acted quickly.
"Exp-" But before he could, he was knocked off his feet by Snake who had used his own wand when he detected the movement shifted underneath Sirius's feet. James quickly held Sirius up who was panting hard because of the pain in his chest.
"Never underestimate the word of a professor Mr. Black."
"What I'd like to know is why you're out here Professor Snake." Snake gave out a harsh laugh.
"Why, I thought you knew already! Considering the fact that all Slytherins are as evil as evil can be." Sirius and James both shuddered. "Well, enough chit chat." Before they knew it, James and Sirius were both bound and gagged by invisible robes and were being levitated and carried off with Snake in the lead. "Oh, don't worry, I'm sure to take real care of you." Sirius and James both looked at each other. That tone of his didn't sound good and they were positive that they wouldn't be a getting a luxurious type of treatment, especially from Snake.
----------------------
Safiya Femi: I'm sorry it took really long but I have so much to do! This is the only time I can get on (holy cow! 11:52 PM!! I know ishn't it crazy?!?) Well, I hope you enjoyed it. I tried to make it as fun as possible. One thing is for sure, I CANNOT write evil people! They're just not evil enough.