To Have And To Hold.
Summary: Lily Evans and James Potter must go back in time to save a small boy from Death Eaters. He conceals a secret that could change the lives of everyone in the wizarding world. As expected there will be a lot of L/J love/hate (Which may get annoying). It's not a great plot, I know, but I'm thinking of one-two more and I need to practice somewhere. Bear with me and R/R!
DISCLAIMER: I own the plot. Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, so leave me alone.
A/N: BEFORE I BEGIN: There was an error in the last chapter which I apologise for.
The picture was not moving, and James and Lily understood that he couldn't have been a muggle.
Correction: The picture was not moving, and James and Lily understood that he couldn't have been a wizard.
More reviews! I don't deserve all this adoration. But since I'm getting it, what the heck, huh:P... Now, the inductees.
Siriusly Pranked: Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! You. Are. Wonderful. When you come to India, I will buy you a shop to take back :D. And exams restart from Monday since we had the flood problem (which was really bad). Anyhow, THANKS!
Aoms: "SMITE ME, OH MIGHTY SMITER!" Ehehe. Thank you.
Varsha: Please! That's stretching it to the LIMIT! Snap! I think I hear it break. Thanks, anyway.
Anurima: Thank you! I doubt it's going to be very funny, but I'll try to put some humour into it, anyway. Can't help it with J/L huh?
AnTiAnGeL: Thanks, again. You're very kind, but let's not degrade Ms. Rowling. Comparing her to me indeed. Anyhow, thanks.
Cloney: Loyal as always, my loyal Clone! Thank you, though I think you may be a little biased.
Prongs101: Thanks a lot. I will try.
apotterlover: Thanks.
I am also now making a conscious effort to make the chapters longer. I never expected to get any reviews for this, but since I'm getting them, I guess I'll be more serious about this story. I've written a one shot also (instead of updating…LOL, sorry!) I wasn't too unhappy with it, so I'd like it if you'll checked it out (Read reviewed :P) let's get on with it then. This chapter is VERY pointless but like I said before, bear with me. I'm suffering from a HUGE case of writer's block. I'm supposed to have written an editorial as well, which I haven't got around doing as yet. Any suggestions? Okay, okay, enough personal problems. .:Ahem:.
Chapter 3:Redeyesand probabilities
The room was dark. It was also small. A strangely musty odour lingered over it like a thick shawl. In the centre of the room, on a rather large armchair sat- for lack of a better term- a man. And yet he looked less than a man than anyone has probably looked. His face was ghostly pale and flat. His eyes were a deep, glowing red, devoid of any emotion. Any feeling. The once-handsome features were empty and cruel. The glow of the eyes was not a sparkling, warm glow. It was rather dangerous. In fact, everything about this seated individual reeked of danger. Danger and power. A fearsome aura hung around him like some sinister veil.
He seemed, in some strange way, to be akin to the snake that was slowly circling his chair.
"My beautiful Nagini."
The voice was raspy and cold. Yet a soft, almost loving, touch hinted upon the voice as the man turned his attention to the snake.
"My beautiful, beautiful Nagini. It has been almost thirty three years now, my lovely. Thirty three years since I was a foolish mortal. Not anymore, though. Never again. I am neither foolish now, nor mortal. My lovely, Nagini."
The snake hissed back in reply.
A high pitched, cold laughter rang through the room.
"You are right, of course. Always right, Nagini."
He shook his head.
"It has been a long time. I was but a foolish boy. Well aware of my future goals, but I was young. So young, Nagini. Entranced by foolish idea of beauty... Her beauty."
The pale man gave an uncharacteristic sigh.
"I wonder now, how I could have let myself be that way. But it can all be forgotten now. It has all been taken care of."
Another peal of high pitched laughter rang throughout the room.
"All been taken care of. As always. There is no place in the world of Lord Voldemort's mistakes."
--- ---
The street was empty. Except for a beggar, there was no sign of human life that night. An unusual thing for a Mumbai street. Especially since it was only eleven pm.
But perhaps it was an unusual night all round. There was a blue moon that night as well. The beggar sat and smoked his cigarette, strangely having enough money to buy one. It was a damp night after a long evening of rain. Perhaps that was the reason people had decided not to venture out.
The sound of footsteps echoed on the street as someone rounded the curb. A young man with dark hair walked as the light of the moon fell on his face periodically, depending on whether there was a tree in the way. He seemed to be in no hurry to go anywhere. His feet dragged on the pavement.
Somewhere in the middle of the street he was pulled out from his reverie when the beggar said,"Gareeb aadmi ke liye do rupaye chhod jaao." (Spare two rupees for a beggar.)
The man pulled out some coins from his pocket and put them in the bowl of the beggar.
The beggar looked at him gratefully. "Bhagwaan tumhaari raksha kare." (May God be your protector.)
The man smiled and walked on, leaving the beggar muttering about the kindness of 'Goras' (White men).
Nearly fifteen years in this place, the man thought to himself. He spoke their language better than some of the socialites. Yet he would always be the 'Gora' to them. Always the outsider. He would never feel like he belonged again.
He laughed silently as he walked on. It was his thirtythird birthday. And all he had to show for it was a ritzy job at a ritzy hotel. No wife, no girlfriend, no child, no real friends... Not even a dog.
He sighed and then immediately regretted that particular breath. No time for self pity, he reminded himself. Scolded, rather. He was, after all, a lucky man. A very lucky man. He was walking, talking and breathing. If it weren't for those two, he would have been lying in a cold grave somewhere.
STOP! I will not think about it, he mentally said. I will NOT think about it. It's over. It's the past.
The moonlight peeked through a gap in the trees onto his face. It was not a bad face. Not especially hard to look at. Handsome, even, if you looked passed the scar running down his hollowed cheeks. His broad shoulder and steady walk betrayed the sports he had played as youth.
He walked on to another street. This one wasn't as deserted as the previous one. There was a couple there, walking arm in arm having just got up from one of the many benches laid out. They seemed completely content as they walked down the street, oblivious to the presence of the dark haired, pleasant faced individual behind them. If they had, they would have noticed the lost expression that he wore as he stood near the signpost of the street and stopped to enquire. They would also probably have gotten a headshake and a smile in return.
However, they didn't notice and they walked on, onto another street and Mr. Pleasant-faced was left standing there all by himself wearing the same lost expression.
Fifteen years...
No! I WON'T think about it!
They saved you...
Stop it!
You'll never see her again...
I- don't- want to- think about- it!
Those green eyes... those beautiful green eyes...
ARGH!
And with that cry he fell onto the bench as the moon disappeared behind the clouds. He kept telling himself he shouldn't... shouldn't think about it... about what happened... about her.
"She's nothing to you. NOTHING. It's foolish to let your mind wander there. You've been like this for fifteen years and it's time to move on. She's probably married to the messy haired fellow with three beautiful children by now. You're probably a breakfast topic for them. They don't care. And you shouldn't either. MOVE ON!"
"Excuse me?" a voice asked tentatively.
He looked up.
"Are you alright? I mean, you were shouting, and I was wondering..."
"Yes, yes. I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I'm sure."
He got a closer look at the person with the gentle voice who had come to enquire about him. The girl standing there looked about twenty-seven. Her hair was tied back and she was quite slim. He couldn't see much else, since the night was dark.
"Well," she said. "It looks like it's going to rain soon and no one deserves to have their best suit spoilt because of rain. I have an umbrella with me. Can I drop you anywhere?"
He was about to refuse, but just then the moon came out from behind the clouds. Blue eyes. He smiled inwardly.
"Sure. Thanks that'll be great."
"I'm Suhani, by the way. You look like a Gora, but you don't have an accent! Mixed breed, huh?"
"No, actually I've lived here for fifteen years. So... Justin, by the way. Justin Jones."
He was only thirty three.
A/N: I'm SORRY. I'm REALLY sorry. I hate to do this but I'm supposed to study history and I was feeling bad that I hadn't updated. I really am sorry. I'm suffering from a bad case of writer's block. Anyway, I GOT ON SOMEONE'S FAVOURITE AUTHORS LIST! (YAY!) .:Does happy dance:. Sorry about that. I can't help it. I'm a brainless teenager, after all. I don't think I'll be able to update for another two-three days. I'll try but I doubt it. I know I left it at a cliffy but I'm still wondering where to take that since Dumbledore's character sketch has come out so awful. He's so rambly and weird instead of being the cool guy he is. .:Shudders:. Anyway, people, please keep the reviews coming and let me know if it sucks too badly. See y'all when I update!
NOTE TO REVIEWERS AND READERS: Please inform me if I get on your favourite authors or stories list. It's tiresome to go and check it myself and I'm very vain. LOL. Thanks!