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Thanks to Cylobaby for reviewing this is just for you ;).
Chapter 46: Black Envelopes
Enjoy:
It was finally an early April night when Carly was left alone from what people called themselves, 'the future fans,' or the TFF for short. James and Lily where called to Dumbledore's office for a Head meeting and Sirius, Remus, and Peter where all off doing something. Most likely against school rules. She sighed sitting down on the far bank her back towards Hogwarts. She was thinking about everything that had happened to her. No, she didn't cry this time, and she didn't get angry she was just simply thinking. Like what would have happened had she not of changed schools. Would Danny, Sue, Doug, Ben, and Jack do the same things Sirius, Lily, James, and Remus had done for her? Would Danny save her like Sirius had? Would Danny be there for her whenever she needed him? No, Carly thought, he wouldn't have. He would have been off snogging some girl. What if I never went to ASM in the first place? What if Lily and I had been best friends? Would I have hated the Marauders just like she did? Would I be with Sirius now? What if…What if…None of that happened so why are you worrying about what if? I don't know. Do you think that if I wasn't ever born that any of this would have happened? I mean would Lily, James, Sirius, and Remus have to risk their necks by joining the order? Listen they all would have done it anyway so don't worry about it. You have other things to think about. Like what? Like…umm…what kind of wedding gift are you going to get Lily and James? What do you mean? Their not getting married. Not yet, but remember it is April…
And so April came and went. It was the first day of May that things started to get all technical again. Many students had begun to receive black envelopes during breakfast. No one knew what a black envelope meant until the first one was received by a third year Ravenclaw by the name of, Karen Kross. She eyed the envelope with suspicion thinking that her crazy cousin was playing another prank on her, but the silver writing on the front of the envelope was not her cousin's hand. She slowly ripped open the letter and opened the cream parchment inside. What she read made her heart rip in two. Without making eye contact with any of her friends she bolted out of the Great Hall sobbing. Her friends all looked at each other and one picked up the letter and began to read it aloud,
Dear Miss. Kross,
It is with our most sincere regret that we are not telling you in person. Yesterday evening there was a Death Eater attack on your house. Your parents and kid sister where found two hours later in the rubble. You will be returning to your aunts in two weeks time for the funeral.
Ministry of Magic
Karen's friends all shook their heads and ran out of the Hall following their friend. Not seconds after the doors had shut behind them the Daily Prophet arrived and the story about the Kross' was printed on the front page with a large picture of their house and the dark mark above it.
Ever sense that fateful May first students of all ages where receiving black envelopes their names printed in silver ink on the side.
Sirius, Remus, Lily, James, and Carly where all sitting in the boys dorm on May fourteenth. Four students had received a black envelope today, "Well," Sirius said slamming down today's issue of the Daily Prophet with the stories of the students families, "I wish they'd come to my house." He said darkly. Carly swatted him, but said nothing.
"It's just a good, in a sad sort of way, that none of us got one." James said stretching out on his bed.
"Yet." Lily added biting her nails. Lily had been on edge ever sense the first black envelope. Karen Kross was a muggle born just like Lily. If Voldemort had attacked Karen's parents for no apparent reason what was stopping him from attacking hers?
"Don't think that way." Remus said flipping through a book titled Dark Creatures and Where to Find Them, "If any of us should be worried it's me." He added as an afterthought,
"Why's that?" Carly asked looking over his shoulder to see what he was reading,
"Well Dumbledore told us in the meeting with him last night that Voldemort has been trying to recruit as many dark creatures as he can. He's already got some Vampires, most of the Dementors, what's stopping him from coming after the werewolves next?" He said timidly looking around at the group.
"Oh, please. He knows you're with us." James said.
"Are you dense?" Carly whispered, "They could come after Remus' parents as blackmail. They could come after you guys. After Sophie just to get Remus to join them." James laughed at shook his head, but Sirius spoke first,
"Never." He said in a flat tone, almost as if he didn't believe himself. Lily eyed him between her bitten finger nails.
"You should really stop that. It's a bad habit." James said taking Lily's hands in his own to stop her from biting her finger nails. Lily rolled her eyes,
"Let's just hope that Voldemort is just a really bad dream." She said pulling away from James and leaving without another word. The boy's turned towards Carly.
"What?" She asked. James sighed and pointed to the door,
"Oh, fine. I know when I'm not wanted." She sniffed and flicked back her hair in a mocking way before exiting.
The next morning was a Saturday and of course everyone slept in. Students that received the black envelope would be able to read them in the privacy of their own dorms.
Sirius rolled over groaning, "Why did I chose the bed by the window?" He mumbled pulling his covers over his head shutting out the light. Remus walked out of the bathroom and closed the drapes,
"Better?"
"Much." Sirius grumbled opening an eye. He surveyed the dorm. There was James sleeping a frown on his face. There was Remus pulling out a pair of socks, and there was Pe- wait no. Peter wasn't there, "Where's Wormtail?" Sirius asked sitting up,
"Went to breakfast early." Remus said flopping back down on his bed and opening up a book. There was a tap on the window. Sirius stood up and opened the drapes. There was an owl wanted to get inside. Sirius saw the black envelope clutched in its talons.
"No." Sirius gasped quietly. He shut the drapes immediately hoping the owl would just go away. Remus looked at him awkwardly, as the tapping became more rapid.
"Just let the dumb owl in." Remus said not even knowing what the owl was holding.
"No." Sirius said more forcefully. Remus sighed, got up and pulled open the drapes behind Sirius. Remus gasped at the owl and shut the drapes just like Sirius did a few moments ago.
"What do we do?" Remus whispered.
"Keep the drapes shut and hope it goes away." Sirius said wishfully.
"What if it's just a distant aunt or third cousin?" Remus said. That would be sad too, he thought, but not as sad as a parent.
"Yeah, maybe it's for Peter." Sirius said. Remus rolled his eyes and opened the curtains slowly. The owl was still there looking thoroughly annoyed.
"Just open the damn window, Remus." Sirius said. Remus slowly opened the hatch and the owl barged in. He nipped both boys in the ear hardly before flying around the room twice and resting on James' night stand. Both Remus and Sirius cursed loudly. James' eyes began to open slowly, but they quickly opened seeing his two best mates leaning over him both of their faces expressionless. He grumbled at them before reaching on his night stand for his glasses. Once those where on his face he felt around for his watch, but came in contact with feather's instead. The feathers in his hand hooted before fluttering and landing on his chest. James raised an eyebrow at the owl before it stuck out its leg reveling a black envelope. James didn't waste any time ripping it open.
Dear Mr. Potter,
It is with our most sincere regret that we are not telling you in person. Last night at around midnight your parents where on a mission and where killed by two Death Eaters. Earlier this morning your Aunt was also found at her house to the East of your estates both her and her three cats where murdered. Sense you are of age you will be returning to the Ministry of Magic for the reading of their Will.
Ministry of Magic
James crumbled. Sirius and Remus caught him on the way down. James clutched to Sirius as a lifeline and let it all out on his shoulder. Remus edged away from Sirius and James mouthing to Sirius, that he would break the news to the girls.
"Why?" James cried into Sirius' shoulder. Sirius could have cared less at that moment about manly-ness as he hugged his friend close tears flooding down Sirius' cheeks also. That was where Lily found them a half an hour later. Remus had tried to track them down all over the school. He finally found both of them in the kitchens. After breaking the news to them Lily ran off. She opened the door and was about to run to James but she stopped seeing Sirius holding James tight as James cried. Lily could faintly hear Sirius whisper,
"I'm sorry." Over and over again. Finally after standing there for a good two minutes she was soon joined by Carly and Remus. Carly looked at the scene before her and instantly burst out in tears. It was like water works. Once Carly stared Lily started. Both of them clutched to each other. They soon invited Remus in, who too, was shedding tears.
It was late afternoon when James regained himself. Sirius had let Lily take over as he took a shower. Carly and Remus sat on Remus' bed leaning on each other. No one knew what to say except Lily who was whispering in James' ear as his tears dried up. "I wish I was there. I could have stopped him." James whispered breaking the silence.
"Shh…so do I." Lily whispered back running a hand through his hair. James pulled away from her and stood up wiping his tears,
"That's it. No more crying. Everyone up." James ordered. Sirius who had just walked out of the bathroom had a sad grin on his face,
"What now, Prongs?" Sirius asked,
"It's time to see Dumbledore and get some answers."
Not very good at all this depressing stuff…but I guess you all figured that when something good like last chapter happens that something bad will happen right afterwards…eh
Thanks for RR,
-Tandemswipe