Rain inside and out
A/N : Read the poem people. It takes a minute.
I love you too much to let you go,
I know I have no power over which way the river flows.
You were supposed to be here beside me,
Not with them where death equals glee.
When they said you would be away and take a different path
I knew it would come down to death and wrath.
I'll always love you and I hope you will love me too,
But until you're not with them I can't believe anything's true.
- Elizabeth Vornbrock
Chapter 3 : Slytherin Newcomer
I entered the Great Hall ( after having dried myself using a simple charm ) which was decorated majestically as usual : hundreds of candles hung in mid air illuminating the place, while the light they provided reflected into the gleaming silverware placed on each of the four house tables. I decided to forget whatever it was that had happened with James - Why was I calling him James all of a sudden ? Anyway, I sat down at the Gryffindor table next with Adriane and Roxy; Potter joined the Marauders who were seated further down which felt pretty strange : they had always been next to us during every start-of-term feast ever since first year ( first year by coincidence and it just became a sort of tradition for them after that ), not that I minded their absence : Potter's arrogance had never been welcome.
" What took you so long ? " Roxy asked me.
" Nothing, " I replied absently.
" Seriously, what happened with James ? " Adriane pursued. I turned to look at her. Could she have possibly read my mind ? I couldn't get out of it now.
" I tripped, he caught me, I told him to let me go, he didn't, I slapped him, " I answered as though it were an everyday thing.
" That's it ? " Roxy questioned.
" Nothing else ? " Adriane added.
" Well... there was this... feeling kind of... thing but it doesn't matter. It means nothing, how could it mean anything ? Let's leave it at that, " I concluded. My friends nodded their agreement although I knew they didn't mean it or believe me when I said it meant nothing. Even though I fought hard to convince myself of the truth in my words, I couldn't quite believe of its' existence either but as I had asked, it was left at that.
As more and more students started filling the empty spaces between students, so did the staff at its' table. A tired Dumbledore was joined by a troubled Professor Sinistra as a young Trelawney walked slowly to her seat accompanied by the ghost that was Professor Binns. Soon enough, Professor McGonagall arrived followed by a rather large group of first years. She placed the Sorting Hat on a wooden stool and to the first years' foreseen general surprise, it began to sing :
It was centuries ago that.
Hogwarts' founders came together
With a will to teach the young ones
Magic to become great sorcerers
Behind them they left
The best school there is today
They left me along with it
To choose who goes which way
Every year I sort
Sitting on this old stool
Into four grand houses
The newcomers of this school
Ravewclaw takes the cleverest
Who's mind will take them far
While Hufflepuff the honest
Who's loyalty is clearly sure
Gryffindor accepts the bravest
For which challenge is an attraction
While Slytherin takes the cunning
Who come with great ambition
Dark times are nonetheless ahead
So the four must stand together
As one school united
For soon it won't be over
Unlike our great founders
See past our differences we must
For we cannot survive
Without compassion and trust
I shall now tell you
In which house you belong
It's what I was sown to do
And never I've been wrong "
The Great Hall filled with applause as the hat ended his song, although his words just reminded everyone of the terror that reigned all too close of the very walls of the school.
" You're requested to sit on the stool and place the hat on your head when I call your name, " Professor McGonagall's voice rang throughout the room. She was holding a long piece of parchment and began reading :
" Albee Michael ! " A brown haired boy who looked rather tall for his age made his way towards the hat, which shouted a few seconds later :
" Hufflepuff ! " Loud cheers erupted at the Hufflepuff table.
" Brown Mariana ! " McGonagall continued. This time, a red head came determinedly forward. Unlike the others, she didn't seem nervous in the least, as if she already knew what was going to happen and wasn't afraid to face it. Somehow, I felt a sudden pinch of admiration towards her, like she was someone I could recognize myself in and I was glad to see she was sorted into Gryffindor. The Sorting Ceremony droned on as the new first years were sorted into their houses. I tried talking to Roxy but she hushed me before I could say three word consecutively :
" Wait, my sister's being sorted ! " she squealed excitingly. Indeed, the young Gin Strider had placed the hat on top of her head and was waiting for it to say in which house she would be. Roxy was staring avidly at her sister, without blinking as if afraid she'd miss the most memorable moment when her sister would be placed into Gryffindor. To her, that was as obvious as 1 plus 1 equals 2 and she could have bet my life on it. Very luckily, she didn't.
" Slytherin ! " the hat shouted after over a minute. Gin took the hat off her head and looked anxiously at Professor McGonagall as the Slytherins, unknowing, cheered. The teacher looked flabbergasted : Roxy had always been one of her best Transfiguration students and this is not what she had expected... at all.
" Well... go on dear, " she said finally motioning the Slytherin table.
" NO ! Something's obviously wrong ! My sister can't be a Slytherin, she just can't be ! " Roxy shouted, looking desperately at Dumbledore. She had gotten up and was shaking frantically, as if she had just heard the worst possible news.
" Miss Strider, I know this might seem highly unusual, but the Sorting Hat decided your sister would do best in Slytherin and I dare say he's never been wrong in sorting anyone, " Dumbledore declared solemnly.
" But - " Roxy gasped weakly. She just couldn't understand, she had been so convinced yet... A tear ran down her cheek as she looked at her sister, heartbroken. Gin couldn't believe it either but she made her way towards the Slytherin table when Professor McGonagall announced the next name on her list. I got up and pulled Roxy back down so she wouldn't attract any more attention.
" How can this be ? " she whispered to me in a bewildered voice as we sat back down.
" I don't know, but it's OK Roxy, it's not - " I tried to comfort her.
" She should be here, sitting right next to me ! " she cried, the tears still sliding down her face.
" It'll be all right, I promise you, " I replied pulling her into a hug, " you'll still see her outside of classes. "
" But why Slytherin, of all houses ? Why not Ravenclaw , or even Hufflepuff ? Why did she have to be a Slytherin ? Why ? " Roxy kept asking me, getting angrier by the second.
" Look, it just wasn't meant to be and it's not like she'll become a - " I started but didn't dare finish. Roxy froze completely and faced me. She knew exactly what I meant.
" Oh god, " she gasped, " what if she... "
" Roxy, don't even think about it, there is no way Gin will become a Death Eater, you hear me ? Get that out of your head ! " I commanded.
" Why would she be in Slytherin then ? " Roxy questioned abruptly.
" Not all Slytherins turn out bad, just because most Death Eaters were Slytherins doesn't mean your sister will become one. In fact, there's no chance. She's never had anything against me ! " I announced.
" Right... " Roxy said. She took a deep breath, wiped her tears and looked over at the Slytherin table where she saw her sister talking to another first year with short black hair. Gin looked up and smiled slightly as her gaze met Roxy's. Roxy smiled back, nevertheless reluctant to admit the situation and desperatly wishing for things to be different.
" Well then, " Dumbledore called after the Sorting was over, " now that our first years are sorted, we might as well welcome our new older students, no ? "
The entire Great Hall stared at their headmaster perplexed as he spoke. What new students ?
" It's rarely happened at Hogwarts for us to accept students other than first years, but all the same, I'd like you all to welcome a new seventh year, who was sorted into Gryffindor earlier in my office, Kathryn Desner, " he declared before clapping and was soon joined by everyone in the Hall, especially by Gryffindors. I looked around to see the new comer. All eyes were drawn on a rather tall girl with long, coal black hair and fascinating blue-grayish eyes which perplexingly shot sparkles by way of the candlelight. No doubt about it, she was beautiful. Something about her made her seem familiar. I felt like I recognized her, knew her, yet I doubted I had ever met her in my life. This Kathryn was smiling at everyone who would present themselves to her, but I felt like she would rather not. For some reason, she had an expression that said that she hadn't chosen to be here.
" You know her ? " Adriane asked me, breaking me out of my trance. I had been staring at the new seventh year for over a minute, without realizing it.
" Who, the new girl ? No, never met her, " I answered.
" Well, you don't seem to be the only interested. Look at Sirius, " Roxy jumped in, glancing in Sirius' direction. Indeed, my enemy's best friend was staring avidly at the new girl.
" Pervert, " I concluded, " she's probably on his girls-to-date-and-dump list already. "
" I think it's more than that, he never looks at girls that way, no matter how gorgeous they are. It's just not Sirius. Unless... " Adriane started thoughtfully. Roxy and I couldn't stand Adriane's "unless..." sentences, for they rarely ever ended with an answer. Our dear friend would just stare into space for the longest time and leave without a word.
" Not again, " Roxy sighed.
" Adriane, unless WHAT ? " I questioned importantly. She had been focusing on Sirius who was still focusing on Kathryn before she turned to look at me. Without prevention, she broke into laughter.
" Forget it Lily, we'll never find out, " Roxy confirmed my intuition on the subject.
" OK I know this might seem... highly delusional but... love at first sight ? " Adriane suggested hesitatingly. I burst into laughter, followed a bit less extravagantly by Roxy.
" Yeah right ! Black fall in love ? You've thought the unthinkable ! " I said, laughing hilariously.
" Well, he hasn't stopped looking at her for the past three minutes, " Roxy noticed coldly.
" I don't see why you still bother with him ! " I responded.
" Yeah me neither, " she replied still eyeing him regretfully. While we had been talking, Dumbledore had started his speech, which we had heard enough times already :
" There are a couple of rules here at Hogwarts that are to be respected and I think it wouldn't be pointless for these rules to be reminded to a couple of our older students as well. " I noticed he was looking in the direction of the Marauders who seemed to take it as a compliment. Sirius had finally stopped watching the new girl and was grinning mischievously along with his friends.
" First off, " he explained, " the Forbidden Forest, as its' name indicates it, has forbidden access to all students. I've also been asked by our caretaker Mr. Pringle to remind you that no magic is allowed in the corridors and between classes. Now to the feast : enjoy the food ! "
As soon as Dumbledore waved his wand, all sorts of delicious foods appeared out of thin air and on the tables. Soon, everyone had served himself with salmon, roast beef, boiled potatoes, tofu, soybeans and basmati rice. By the end of the feast, I was stuffed to explode. Roxy on the other side, seemed to have just started. How that girl could eat so much and stay so fit was way beyond me. Finally, Dumbledore told us all to get to bed and added ever so nicely that he wanted to meet the Head Boy and Girl in his office immediately.
" Oh great, it's bad enough Potter has to be Head Boy without Dumbledore lecturing me about how we're going to have to get along, " I said as we got up to leave the Great Hall with the others.
" It might not be so bad, you know, " Adriane replied.
" Knowing Potter, smoothly is not the word to describe how this year is gonna go, " I said, not only thinking about his arrogance.
" Well, we'll leave you to your doom then, " Adriane grinned as she climbed the stairs to the common room while Roxy hesitantly made her way to Gin and I headed down the hall.
" Hey Lily ! " a voice I knew all too well called behind me seconds later. I ignored it and picked up the pace.
" Would you mind not ignoring me for once ? " Potter asked. It seemed like it had taken him half a second to catch up with me for he was already walking by my side.
" Yes, I actually would, " I replied coldly.
" Come on, can't you be civil ? " he asked.
" I'm not being civil ? " I snapped.
" Hell no you aren't, " he retorted. I had stopped walking, so had he. He was facing me and looking so smart, so goddamn hot, yet the stupid grin I had expected him to paste on his face was lacking once more. Why wasn't he being his normal self ? It would have made the whole situation so much easier. ( A/N : who said life was always easy, dear ? )
" Fine, whatever Potter... " I replied before taking a left turn.
" You can call me James, you know, in fact you already did, " he whispered the last five words into my ear as he followed me closely from behind. It send shivers down my spine. I turned around to face him.
" Please, I'd really like to forget whatever it is that happened outside, " I declared even though deep down, I knew that was unconditionally impossible.
" Why ? " he asked in a sort of pained voice.
" It just... it wasn't me, I wasn't... Please don't do this, " was my answer.
" Whatever you say, " he responded, though I could tell he was disappointed. But why did I even care ? This was Potter..." But considering we're going to have to work together, we might as well get along and forget a couple of differences we've been sharing for the past six years, " he suggested.
" All right, but this doesn't mean we're friends, " I clarified. He said nothing. Maybe I was being a bit harsh on him...
Two flights of stairs later, we arrived in front of the gargoyles :
" Caramel Cherry, " Potter said, and instantly, the stairs to the headmaster's office appeared.
" How do you know the - " I asked curiously.
" I just do, " he interrupted nonchalantly as he began climbing the stairs.
" But how come you - "
" Evans, you're not gonna get an answer out of me, so there's no point bothering. " he responded coldly. And he was the one talking about being civil ! Yet somehow, the fact that he had called me Evans didn't leave me indifferent. I guess I had gotten used to Lily ever since the end of last year. Damn Potter.
We finally arrived in front of the grand oak door leading to Dumbledore's office. He knocked, we entered the overly furnished room as usual. Unidentifiable spinning globes and other crazy objects found their place on every table and cupboard or hung wildly from the ceiling.
" M. Potter, Miss Evans, do sit down, " the wizard said motioning to the seats in front of his desk. We did as instructed.
" First of all, I'd like to congratulate you both on making Heads. "
" But with all due respect sir... why me ? " Potter interrupted hastily. Did he have any idea how rude that was ? To interrupt the headmaster like that ?
" Well, you are the best students in this school and the professors - well most of them anyway - found that you would be most capable for the job, " Dumbledore explained.
" But I wasn't even a prefect ! "
" Well, back then you weren't exactly... suitable but I decided to make an exception for once. I dare say I knew I'd name you Head Boy ever since you first came to Hogwarts, M. Potter, " Dumbledore declared.
" What ?! " I exclaimed astonished. I looked at Potter, who was grinning his oh-ever-so-famous-grin which I completed loathed and he knew it. I turned to face Dumbledore who was making a similar face even though no one and I mean no one, not even Black, could manage Potter's mischievous grin. What the hell was going on ? I was beginning to think Potter was controlling Dumbledore somehow. Then I realized he couldn't possibly have the power to do that. It was just as probable as him being an Animagus.
" It's been quite some time since both Heads came from the same house, I'd say a couple decades but nonetheless, I trust you to do the right things and take the best decisions. You'll have lots of responsibilities this year, such as hall patrol, prefect meetings, taking care of any problem that might come up and you'll also be required to organize an... entertainment, " he added finally, having been looking for the right word.
" You mean like a school party ? " Potter said excitingly.
" Yes, I suppose you could call it that, " Dumbledore confirmed.
" But this didn't take place last year or the year before... " I noticed.
" For the simple reason that I didn't feel the Heads could pull it together any of the past couple of years but when it comes to you two, let's just say I'm looking forward to a bit of fun, " he said. Potter looked simply ecstatic about the idea. I seriously doubted whether it came from him or Dumbledore.
" If you have no more questions, then you may go to your common room, " he concluded. Potter and I rose from our seats, thanked Dumbledore and walked out of his office.
" Lils, this is gonna be sweeeet ! " Potter exclaimed as we walked down the third floor corridors.
" For the last time, don't call me Lils, " I said annoyed.
" No can do, Lily darling. Why don't you cheer up ? We're gonna be planning the greatest entertainment, " he said imitating Dumbledore, " this school had ever seen ! "
" You're gonna help plan this ? Now that'd be surprising since unless I'm terribly mistaken, you have no sense whatsoever of responsibilities ! " I cried.
" Then you're terribly mistaken, Lils, because not only am I going to organize the best party ever known to this castle, I'll be following all the damn responsibilities a Head Boy is suppose to follow ! " he declared.
" I'll believe that when I see it, " I snarled.
" And believe it you will, " he grinned.
" In your dreams, " I spat.
" What kind of dreams Lils ? " he asked mischievously.
" Shut up Potter, " I snapped. He smiled just to anger me a bit more. Why did he love pushing my buttons so much ? We arrived in front of the Fat lady's portrait and I realized I didn't know the password. Dumbledore must have forgotten to give it to us.
" Hazel Crow, " Potter said and the portrait swung open.
" Do you know every password in Hogwarts ? " I asked unbelieving and outraged.
" The ones I need to know, " he answered casually.
" Which are ? " I continued.
" Do you seriously think I'm gonna answer that ? " he grinned.
" Worth a try, " I grinned back. I quickly looked away. What the hell was I doing ??? Thank god he didn't reply to that for I would have been embarrassed like hell. We entered the common room which was filled with students of all ages as usual. I parted from Potter and went to join Adriane and Roxy in a corner by the fireplace. They didn't notice me coming, what with all the noise, and I caught the last bit of their conversation :
" It's totally obvious - "
" What's totally obvious ? " I asked. Roxy went suddenly quite red.
" Um... that... Snape will be pranked tomorrow... " Adriane started not exactly sure of herself.
" At breakfast, " Roxy added quickly.
" Let me tell you something : you can't lie, " I stated smiling.
" But that doesn't mean you won't believe us, " Adriane grinned.
" Oh yes it does, what were you talking about ? " I demanded. My two best friends looked at each other uncertainly. An idea popped into my mind and I knew instantly I had understood :
" Hell no ! Potter and I are not obvious, OK ? We've never been and we never will be ! " I exclaimed.
" If you say so, " Adriane said. The conversation turned to other matters, such as the fact that there would be a party sort of thing and that Potter was absolutely overjoyed about it. By eleven thirty, only seventh years were still in the common room, the rest had gone to bed. Adriane, Roxy and I were seated on a couch by the fire discussing my sister's unconditionally despicable boyfriend before noticing a couple of people surrounding us : the Marauders had taken seats on the other side of the table, discussing matters we didn't want to be informed of and Kathryn was talking with the other seventh year girls in our dorm my friends and I didn't really appreciate much.
" Roxy, are you listening to me ? " Adriane asked.
" Hun ? " Roxy jumped and looked at Adriane.
" She was too busy staring at Black again, " I informed her. Sirius was observing the new girl again, it was definitely getting strange.
" Whatever, " Roxy sighed, setting her gaze on the fire. I hated to see her like this. I kept discouraging her to go out with Black because I knew he'd hurt her being the player that he is, but I couldn't help feeling bad about it. I looked at the guy she loved for a second : still staring at Kathryn. What was it with him ?
Suddenly, his confused gaze became knowing, conscious, as if he had just found out what he was searching for. His eyes grew wide as if he couldn't believe whatever it was he had realized. I looked over at Kathryn who was giving him a similar look, the fright apparent in her eyes. It was as though they were connected by a secret only they were aware of. They continued staring at each other for another minute, as though to make sure they were really seeing what they were seeing, their expressions unchanging. The whole room was watching the scene with interest, no one daring to break the silence that had fallen. No one had ever seen Sirius Black this way and no one had expected him to say the following sentences he was about to pronounce.
A/N : If I were you, I'd send the crazy author of this story hate mail. I hate cliff hangers too. Please review ! And before you ask, when Molly Weasley was at Hogwarts, Pringle was the caretaker ( book 4 ) so I'm just guessing James and Lily went to Hogwarts at the same period as her. And if you were wondering, YES, the impression that Lily's parents like Lily better than Petunia is not just an impression and there will be a development of that subject later on.
Thanks to :
Amalynne O'Hara : hey, thanx for being a faithful reviewer ! I tried to make my characters somewhat realistic ( so many fictions out there where lily's friends are pure stereotypes, urgh... ). Thanx for reviewing, good luck with your fictions !
Gwen : I swear if you harass me about this I really will call the R.M. lol. Thanx for reviewing darling, I'm glad you like the story ! For future reference, there will be some more of James' POV and narrator's POV too. When's your fiction due ?
Jess : thanks for the luck, I need it, lol. Chapter 4 will be up in a next week-end if everything goes right.
Nat the Termite : thanx for reviewing my chérie, what happened to pointing out the bad points though ?
xxxLeaxxx : hey love, thanx for pointing out all the bad stuff. Hope you like this chapter. Yes, so you see ( thanx to you ï