Disclaimer: See first chapter
The Passageway
Lily woke up the next morning with no one in the room. She was grateful, when Potter had left the night before she had quickly changed and gotten deep into the bed and pretended to be asleep. She didn't want to have to talk to him again. He was just confusing her. He was nice for awhile but then he was such a prat. Lily sighed as she got up and changed. She had decided that although she had her clothes from the Anderson family and the store load of clothes from Mrs. Potter (Mrs. Potter had bought her so much that in order for her to have a place large enough to store it, they had to enchant her closet and put rods all over the walls and have circular racks on the floor as well.) that she would still wear what she wore when at home… her REAL home. She had worn, at the Anderson's place and to Diagon Alley, what they had gotten her. But that was because it was the only clothes there.
Lily left her room and went to find the dinning room to find some breakfast. It didn't take her long to find it though, all she had to do was follow the noise that James and Sirius were making. But when she came in, all the noise stopped.
"Um, hi." She said awkwardly, "can I have some breakfast? It's just that well, umm,"
"OF COURSE!" James almost shouted causing Lily to cover her ears, "Oh, erm, sorry. Yeah, of course you can have breakfast! Why wouldn't you be able to? Oh, and Lily? I just wanted to let you know, I told what's his face, erm, Melvin? That you were here and would be staying for a while."
Lily had to contain her laughter as she shot mean glares at James. "It's Kevin."
"Umm, yeah right. Anyway, I told him."
"Left him a note underneath his trunk more like." Sirius mumbled under his breath to James, and thankfully for him Lily didn't hear it.
James shot him a look, "Lily? Also, your friends Dani and Sarah had to leave here this morning. Dani's dad came back and Sarah's parents were never to keen on the idea of her spending the summer at a "boy's house". As if! Well anyway, my mum said that you could go over there if you want and all…"
"You didn't tell them that I was here did you?"
"Noooo, well sort of. I told them that you wanted to go back to Diagon Alley to be with Calvin-"
"KEVIN!!"
"And they kind of mumbled something I couldn't quite hear and then they left. Why, did you want me to tell them?"
"Well, umm, not really. I don't necessarily want to go back yet either. I am really tired and the Jusketeers would want to do some crazy stuff that I am not up to quite yet."
"Umm, excuse me but the Jusketeers?"
Lily stopped and turned white. It was an unspoken agreement between Kevin, Matt, Isaac, and her that no one at Hogwarts was to find out, NO ONE. She couldn't really think of anything to say but, "Huh what are Jusketeers? Some kind of candy bar?"
Now James was REALLY confused. What was Lily talking about? She had just said something about some Jusketeers and now she was pretending that she had no idea what was gong on. He tried to catch Lily's eye but she wouldn't give instead she stood up and said, "I'm kind of tired. I'm going to make my way back to my room. Sorry, breakfast was great by the way." Then she left the room in a hurry.
James looked quizzically at the Sirius before getting up and following her. He was having a tough time keeping up too, she was a fast runner even if she didn't look like it, and she was already most of the way down the corridor to her room. He sighed, this was going to be a lot of work.
Lily ran into her room, slammed the door and collapsed on her bed. She paid no attention at all to James' pleas for her to stop running and wait. Then a few minutes later she ignored the creak of the door opening and shutting. She ignored it when someone, most likely James, put their hand on her back and start to rub. She just ignored everything and started to sob, all of her life catching up to her, her mind blanking as she remembered some of the things that James had done to her and her friends, especially to Severus.
Everyone thought that they hated each other. Especially after the O.W.L.S. at they end of last year, but that was all a stage, technically.
Lily and Severus had been talking about what they feared the most. Lily had told Severus that the thing that she feared most was of some one learning her secret (which she hadn't told anyone not even Dani, her best friend), but she was trying to find out his. He just refused to say it. Lily kept bugging him day after day and finally he gave in. He was scared of James ever going out with her, he didn't like it that James had a crush on her and he had thought that Lily had felt the same way. She had told him that she hated James Potter with a passion and wouldn't go out with him if her life depended on it but he ignored that and told her that he had a plan to prove it. He wanted to set up/plan it so that James and his buddies would prank him, if Lily stood up for him and refused James pleas to go out with him (him as in James) then he would believe her.
Lily had thought that it was simple enough, obviously she hated James and Severus was her friend, the easiest proof that she had ever made. But, something had happened. Someone had put Severus under an imperious charm. Not a really full one, so it wasn't an unforgivable but still, it was one just the same. Everything had gone as planned and then some mad him say it. They made him call her a mudblood. Lily didn't like to hear that, she had a feeling that he wasn't the one who said it but there was no way to prove it.
Severus had apologized many times but Lily just couldn't seem to talk to him. She believed him, but every time she was ready to forgive him, the night before in the common room, James would tell her that she shouldn't stick up for him, that he called her a mudblood and that it was pointless, so it ruined it. But she had forgiven him on the train, better late then never, and he had been extremely happy. But now that she was stuck with Potter all summer he would think that she didn't believe him again, he always was extremely paranoid. Lily was extremely confused, but she continually blocked out the voice that was trying to speak to her.
"Lily," James whispered, "Lily, it's ok." Lily was crying and he didn't have any idea what to do. He started to rub her back but that made her sob even more so he stopped. "Lily," he said again, "is there anything I can do to help? I don't even know why you are crying!"
Lily started to stop crying. She heard what someone was saying but she couldn't really place who it was. It sounded a lot like Potter but it was more gentle, sweet almost. She looked up when it said something else, "Lily, please tell me why you are crying."
It was James Lily saw, although it was comforting in a way the way that he was sitting on her bed next to her disturbed her. It reminded her too much of Kevin and the Jusketeers. She backed off to the other side of the bed and stood up, still staring at James, her face growing whiter and whiter. "P-potter? W-what a-are you d-doing in here. J-just leave me be, PLEASE!" Lily pleaded.
James looked at Lily, she was not in a state to be left alone but he didn't want to make her even more upset. She had been through a lot in the past few months. The problems with her family, the hooded stranger, fainting in the Leaky Cauldron and waking up here at James' house too. He didn't want to add to it so he left.
He went back to his room sulking, it was almost 10:00 already, Sirius and he would be leaving at two for Diagon Alley again. They had forgotten to buy everything that they needed from Zonko's. They still needed the new Preferred Customer Joke and Prank book, and they had forgotten to get a good supply stock. They needed A LOT more. They had forgotten to get some things last year and by the end of the year they had been out and couldn't find what they needed at the small joke shop in Hogsmeade.
After James had left, Lily went over to the desk. She took out some parchment and started to write a letter to the Jusketeers.
Dear Kevin and the rest of you all,
I miss you all terribly. As James said he told you, I am at his place. I want to go back to Diagon Alley to be with you, but I feel really weak yet. I am really sorry. I did something (well more or less said something) that I shouldn't have. I said "Jusketeers." They (Potter and Black) don't know what it means of course but well, they are not that stupid. I'm really s-
Lily stopped writing. She had heard a noise in the room. Unsure of what it was, she turned around. Her face grew completely white and a forgotten memory flashed in front of her eyes, making her want to scream.
It was the hooded man from last month, though it seemed much longer ago. She didn't really even remember it. He had told her that no matter what, he was going to do… something. Lily couldn't remember what it was.
"Lily Evans," the man hissed. " Come here, I want to talk to you."
Lily glanced around the room looking for a way to escape. Then she noticed a crack, like that of a door that she had never seen before, in the wall right next to the desk. Lily's gaze quickly went back to the hooded man, hoping he hadn't seen where she had looked.
"Never, I don't want to talk to you. I don't even know who you are."
"Lily, Lily, Lily. You know exactly who I am. You may hate me, but you do know me."
"I hate many, many people mister so that doesn't help me out at all."
"A child full of hate, that is not a good thing. You shouldn't hate people it's not very nice!"
Lily gulped, she was thankful that he hadn't moved any closer but his eyes never left her, giving her no way to sneak away. "I AM NOT A CHILD."
He just ignored her. "And now your precious James isn't around to save you. To bad, I guess this time you will have to come with me."
"James is NOT someone I would consider precious to me. I hate him." Lily snarled.
"Then that is another thing we have in common."
"Who, you and me or you and James."
He didn't answer, instead he decided to say something else to get Lily more upset. "I notice that you are now calling him James, not Potter. You actually do like him don't you? Don't lie now."
Lily hadn't noticed that. Was she really? She despised James, hated him more like, was she really starting to do that? "Shut up! I am just trying to show a little kindness for someone who helped me out and is allowing me to stay with him over the summer. I really HATE J- Potter."
The stranger chuckled and turned a ways to the door, now was Lily's chance; with a quick movement she had dashed to the opening and slipped through. She quickly found a lock and locked the door, hoping and praying that he wouldn't be able to get in.
Lily quickly kept on going down the passageway, unsure of what was really going on. She was going so fast she wasn't paying any attention to her surroundings and was completely shocked and froze when a bright yellow light went off around her.
Lily jumped. What in the world was that! She glanced back to see the door she had locked still secure. She looked around on the walls and saw something written on them.
I hope you like your picture taken,
But that is why you came I reckon
There is no need to worry
And no need to fret
You're safe right now
But don't you forget.
Your picture if perfect is sent beyond,
Because you crossed the yellow line.
Pick up your passport with the Master,
Moony, Padfoot, and Prongs, make things faster.
Well at least now she knew what had happened, her picture had been taken. How and why she had no idea. She just kept on going, and jumped when there was a loud crash behind her. He had gotten through. She kept on running, hoping to get to the end of the passage soon, very soon.
James was in his room, doing a potions essay for their cruel (except for to the Slytherins) potions master Professor Tweening when a beep went out through his room. It normally wouldn't have surprised him because that beep told him that someone (normally Sirius) was coming through the passageway. But Sirius was in his room across the hall (or still eating) and the only entrance to it was in Lily's room. Wait. Lily. That was it! She was coming through.
James quickly got up and went to the entrance to the passageway. He looked at the counter that showed how many people were in there and was surprised to see that the number was two. Maybe Sirius was showing it to her, he figured. All of a sudden there was a crash and Lily fell through the wall on top of James. Her face was white, deathly white, he noticed when he got up. He glanced down the passage and saw someone coming. Getting out his wand he pointed it down there, daring the intruder to come any farther. There was a pop and the figure disappeared.
He shut the door and went right to where Lily was still laying, motionless on the floor. He had no idea whatsoever on what to do. Deciding that because he had no idea how to treat anyone who is in that condition he got up to go get his mum to help him with her. He was almost to the door when he heard something, a faint whisper.
"N-no. D-don't go. Please s-stay here. H-hold me James. Please just hold me."
James stopped dead in his tracks. Lily Evans, the person who hated him the most (well besides Snape and Malfoy) in the world wanted him to hold her? He must have heard her wrong.
"P-please j-just hold me. Please?"
But there it was again. Unsure of what to do he went over to her and picked her up in his arms, sitting down with her on his bed. Rocking her back and forth he heard her mumbling things. Strange things like "…hate…child…precious…you and James…kindness…hate…" none of which made any sense though so he decided to ignore it.
James, seeing that she had fallen asleep, got up to go to find his mum. But he was stopped, for the second time.
Sirius had barged into the room hyper as could be, very loudly. "Hey James! Listen, I was thinking maybe we could go early to-" He stopped suddenly when James pointed to his bed and hissed at him to be quite. He started again in a whisper, "What the heck is she doing here? She is going to kill you when she wakes up! What did you use? One of our droughts?"
James shook his head. "It was that guy in the cloak again…" He went on to explain what happened, leaving out the part about Lily asked him to hold her. He didn't really want Sirius to know that. Lily probably wouldn't even remember that when she woke up so there would be to point.
"Sooo, you put her in your bed huh? I still don't believe a word that you are saying. She is so going to kill you when she wakes up!"
"Sirius! Shut up! You'll wake her up and then she will be furious! Why don't you go find my mum and tell her what happened. Then go… wait, just come back here when you finished telling my mum."
Sirius nodded, chuckling to himself as he left the room, oh what fun he could have with his talk to Mrs. Potter.
James went back to Lily and just stared at her. This was the second time this summer that this happened to her, well the third really. It was his fault entirely too. This probably wouldn't have happened if he didn't force his parents to take Lily back with them! Now she was lying in bed, his bed, and unconscious. She was going to be really mad when she woke up, he could already tell.
He got up and went to the passageway again and found what he was looking for. Two pictures were in a small box right next to the door. One was of Lily, she looked scared and shocked looking all around her in search of something. But the other one was what he really wanted to see, (not that he didn't want to look at Lily, he just needed to see who that person was.) James was shocked at who it was. James never forgot a face, he knew exactly who it was. He had to hide it from Lily. She couldn't know. She would… he didn't know what she would do but he didn't want to find out.
He put the picture behind a brick in his fireplace and went back over to Lily who was stirring.
Lily woke up two hours later but didn't open her eyes. She was too comfortable. She hadn't slept that well for a long time. As soon as her happiness came it was gone again. She wasn't in her bed. It smelled a lot different. It smelled like, Potter. What in the world was she doing in POTTER'S bed! She opened her eyes quickly and tried to get up but was stopped.
"Lily, you have to rest. You can't get up right now as much as I know you want to."
"You planned this Potter and you know it. Let me out now!"
"Lily don't you remember what happened? Any of it?"
"Remember what exactly. The last thing I remember was being in my room way on the OPPOSITE SIDE of the living quarters writing a letter to my boyfriend. Then I-" Lily suddenly stopped. For once she felt almost grateful for Potter's presence. This was too much.
"Lily? What's wrong?" James prompted. "Can't you remember? Anything?"
Lily looked up at him. "Potter, what I remember I want to forget. I want to forget that it ever happened. I just can't, I don't want to remember what he said to me either time. I just want to forget."
James looked at Lily with eyes full of compassion. "Lily, I am sure that you want to forget, but I really want to know what happened ok?"
Lily glared at him. "Fine Potter, but I won't be telling you the whole thing. This guy in a large cloak with a hood came in my room. The first time before I met Kevin and the gang and the second time just now. Both times he said something to me, I won't be telling you what, and this second time…" Lily shuddered, "I just don't want to say anything else ok. Just leave me alone."
James knew this already, he had wanted to learn what the man wanted. He was rather scared for Lily. Seeing that Sirius had never come back with his mom, he left to go find them.
Thanks to Monkeygurl1, xxxGreenBayxxx, DIFFENDOOFER, trashcan, holley-evans, and Elfobsession2931 for the reviews.
xxxGreenBayxxx - yes, kevin has that.... and the thing about Isaac? he .. ... . .......... ..... .. There. that is the answer! :D
DIFFENDOOFER - Lily is going into her sixth year... so she will be sixteen on September 2nd... (her birthday)
Now, just to let you know. I will be on vacaction next week (going to LA) so i definatly will not be able to update. Sorry! i will update when i get back though.