A/N: I had this ready, too, because ff.net was down when I had chapter 14 ready to upload, and I haven't been allowed online since then … so I uploaded them both together. Don't forget to read 'Blackbird,' too. Just click on my username!!
DISCLAIMER: The songs belong to the Fab Four (mostly Lennon/McCartney or Harrison. Published by either Northern Songs (bleh) or Harrisongs). JKR owns the characters, as everyone in the entire universe knows …
Chapter 15: And the Walls Came Tumbling DownThe tapping on the window became louder. Lily looked up. She was in her dormitory, alone, listening to the Beatles while writing a very sticky Potions essay. Looking around, she wondered who'd be sending post at this time … she opened the window, and the owl stepped in, holding a letter addressed to her. She opened it, and sat on her bed, but the owl didn't fly away. Curiously, she scanned the letter.
Lily,
I figured since you won't talk to me, you might just read this letter. It's the only way I can think of to get you to hear me out, or at least read me out.
I know you don't believe me, but I really do like you. I'm not messing you around. I'd just like to give it a try, and if we are terrible together (which I doubt we will be) we can just leave it. Please?
What would Paul McCartney have said if Linda was scared of what the press would say, and never gave him a chance? Or John if Yoko did the same?
Please write back, even if it's only to tell me to 'bugger off.' Send your reply with Quaffle (my owl).
James.
Lily screwed the parchment up and threw it in the bin. It hopped straight out and landed on her bed, unfolding perfectly. She tried ripping it up several times, but it always joined together again (no matter how far apart she scattered the pieces). And Quaffle (stupid name for an owl, she thought) wouldn't leave.
Right, she'd show him what they'd say … Grabbing her quill and parchment, she scribbled a short reply. She took an album from her collection and wrapped it in a pillowcase. She charmed it to be weightless and tied it to Quaffle's leg.
That'd show him …
*****
James grinned when he spotted Quaffle at the window.
"You are the best owl in the world," he told her, offering her an owl treat and a drink of water, as if she'd just been on a thousand mile journey. She looked surprised at this lavish treatment, but accepted the gifts.
"Will you meet me here tomorrow for another delivery?" James asked. "Just after breakfast?" Quaffle moved her head in what James was sure was a nod, and flew away. James opened the pillowcase and pulled the album out. He read the cover: Help!. Grinning, he unfolded the accompanying parchment.
James,
Bugger off.
This is close to stalking! Leave me alone!
And, if you want to know what Lennon/McCartney would say, play track 3!
Go away!
Lily.
It was something, he thought, transfiguring his Ancient Runes book into a record player.
'Here I stand, head in hand …' it played, but it wasn't until the chorus that James saw what Lily meant …
'Hey! You've got to hide your love away …'But James didn't give in that easily. He left the record playing and grinned as he formulated his plan for the following morning …
*****
"You still have ink on your nose," Lena told Sirius.
"I bet you find it sexy," he said, leading her into a small room on the seventh floor.
"Oh, yeah, I can't help myself," she said sarcastically. Sirius rubbed his nose with the cuff of his robes. "Do you take all your girls here?" she asked, looking around.
"No, it's where we used to hide things for pranks," he said. "But we've found a better place now."
"Where?" she asked.
"That'd be telling," he replied.
"So this is what you dragged me away from my homework for," Lena said, taking in the bare room.
"Isn't my company worth it?" he asked.
"You've done nothing to prove it so far," she said. He took her hand.
"Well, lets see if I can make it worth your while," he said, leaning against the wall and pulling her close.
"Hmm … slightly more fun than Arithmancy," she admitted a few minutes later, slumping down to the floor. He joined her, smiling. She rolled her eyes. "Your nose," she said, rubbing it with her thumb, "its still covered in ink." She grinned. "God, I'm turning into my mother," she said, rubbing the last bit of ink from his nose.
"It could be worse," he said, smiling. "You could be turning into my mother."
"They say men go for women like their mothers," Lena mused.
"You are nothing like my mother," he said quickly.
"Thank you," Lena said, kissing his forehead. "When did you leave home?" she wondered.
"That was never a home," he said. "I left that house the summer after fifth year."
"Why?" she asked. "I mean, what was the last straw."
"I don't know," he said truthfully. "I had always planned to leave when I turned 17, but I just got sick of it a year early."
"Where did you go?" she asked.
"James'. His mum was great, didn't ask questions, just said 'Suppers on the table. I'll move your trunk to the spare room.' But I got my own place last summer."
"Really?" Lena asked. "Why didn't you move in?"
"Well, it's not exactly what you'd call cozy," he said. "Plus, I had fun at the Potters. I had intended to move out of your house, but your spare bed was way more comfortable than the mattress in the flat. Plus, I was just having too much fun playing Quidditch and watching Python."
"I'm flattered," she said. "You only like me because I can throw a Quaffle and have Python videos."
"Oh, there are other reasons," he assured her. "You can catch a Quaffle, too." She swatted at his head. "And more reasons, not connected to Quidditch, like your bubbly personality," he went on, grinning. "Why are you going out with me?" he wondered.
"'Cos you're pretty," she teased. "No, 'cos I like you. You're a good friend, and I have a feeling you'll make a good boyfriend, too."
"Will I?"
"Yeah," she said. "You have so far, anyway."
"I'd better continue my good work, then," he said, leaning close to her.
"Sirius," she said.
"What?" he asked, pulling back slightly.
"Your family – do they care what you do anymore?" she asked.
"They never really did," he said scornfully.
"So they don't mind who –who you go out with?" she went on nervously.
"I don't care if they do," he said, realizing why she was worried. "If they day one thing about you – one thing – I'll make sure that I am the last remaining member of the Black family," he vowed. She smiled. She knew that he'd never do what he was threatening to do, but she couldn't help feeling extremely lucky once again.
*****
Lily spotted James at the Gryffindor table the following morning, but to her annoyance, he wasn't looking in her direction. The one time she wanted to get her attention, and he wasn't bothered …
She caught up with him as he ascended the marble staircase after breakfast.
"I want my album back," she hissed.
"It'll be waiting for you, along with my reply, in your dorm at break time," he said calmly, and hurried on. Lily stood in the corridor, dazed, for a second, before heading to Arithmancy, her mind racing.
The next two classes flew by, and Lily found herself making an excuse to the girls and racing to the dorm. Sure enough, her pillowcase lay on the bed, and she hurriedly checked to make sure that her record was still intact. She then turned her attention to the parchment.
Lily,
Nice try, but I won't 'Hide my love away.' I'd like to point out what views George Harrison has on the situation. Play track four,
Bye,
James.
Lily put the record on.
'You don't realize how much I need you,
Love you all the time and never leave you,
Please come on back to me,
I'm lonely as can be,
I need you…'Lily rolled her eyes, but didn't stop the song.
'I didn't realizeAs I looked in your eyes,
You told me,
Oh, yes, you told me,
You don't want my loving anymore,
That's when it hurt me,
And feeling like this,
I just can't go on anymore …'Lily glanced at her watch … she was going to be late for Transfiguration … she'd sort this out at lunch. She turned off the record and hurried to class.
*****
James grinned when he saw the owl waiting for him after dinner. He took the pillowcase, and thanked the owl with an owl treat. He hid the pillowcase in his trunk, and grabbed his broom and Quidditch robes.
He returned two hours later, refreshed and enthusiastic. He headed up to the room ("To change," he called to Sirius, Remus and Lena, who were still discussing the practice). He transfigured his Runes book again, eager to see what Lily had to say this time …
James,
He also says something else, see track four.
I want this back too,
Lily.
James looked at 'Let it Be' for a few seconds, before putting on the correct track.
'All through the day,
I, me, mine
I, me, mine
I, me, mine…'James grinned, she was calling him selfish. Well, he'd show her … he scanned the track listing …
*****
Lily opened his reply the next morning, while Lena was in the bathroom and Ally and Kim were still dozing …
Lily,
Tracks 1 and 8 are my favorites on this album,
James.
She played them, curious in spite of herself.
'Two of us, riding nowhere,
Spending someone's
Hard earned pay
You and me, burning matches,
Lifting latches,
On our way back home …' sang Paul and John on track one. She moved the needle to track 8 …
'I've got a feeling,
A feeling I can't hide, oh no …'
She scribbled a reply quickly and let Quaffle out the window as Ally stirred.
*****
James lingered on as the others went to breakfast, and then pulled out the pillowcase quickly.
James,
Take Paul's advice, it isn't worth it,
Track 6,
Lily.
James did his bit of Transfiguration yet again, thinking that he must invest in a record player soon …
'Let it be,
Let it be,
Let it be,
Let it be,
Whisper words of wisdom,
Let it be …'He grinned and scribbled a reply …
*****
Lily,
I also quite like track 11, what do you think?
James
Lily rolled her eyes …
'Because you're sweet and lovely, girl,
I love you.
Because you're sweet and lovely, girl,
It's true,
I love you more each moment I'm with you …'*****
James,
I prefer track 12,
Lily.
James grinned as Paul sang …
'Get back,
Get back,
Get back to where you once belonged …'*****
Lily,
I saw a song in your scrapbook … I think it's called 'Love me Do.' Listen to it.
James.
Lily rolled her eyes again, knowing how the song went …
'Love, love me – do.
You know I love you
I'll always be true,
So please,
Love me – do …'*****
Several days later, and many trips by both Quaffle and Orion between the two dorms, no one had noticed Lily and James' continually improving moods.
"How about a prank tonight?" James asked brightly one morning. "Lucie and Snivelly have had it pretty easy so far this year."
"Yeah, alright," Remus said. "Just nothing too dangerous."
"Can Lena come?" Sirius asked. The other three boys stared at him.
"Lena?" Remus asked. "Come to play the prank?"
"If you don't want her to, it's ok," Sirius said quickly.
"Did she ask if she could come?" James asked.
"No, I just thought she'd enjoy it," he shrugged. Remus and James exchanged glances.
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt … if she wants to," James said. Sirius smiled. "So how serious is this?" James asked him. Sirius shrugged again.
"I don't know," he said. "We haven't talked about it. If it gets serious, cool. If not, that's cool too. I'll go ask her," he went on, draining his pumpkin juice. "See you in Potions."
"That's a first," Remus commented.
"He really likes her," James said.
"Yeah, it's more serious than they realize," Peter put in.
"You two don't mind her coming, do you?" James checked.
"No," they said in unison.
*****
"Come with you?" Lena asked incredulously.
"Yeah."
"What brought this on?" she wondered.
"What does everyone find the suggestion so strange?" he wanted to know.
"No one's ever gone on a prank with you before," she said. "And, well, especially not your girlfriend."
"You," he said, kissing her hand, "are special."
"Ok," she shrugged. "I'll come."
*****
James sat on his bed that evening, leafing through the notes he'd received from Lily …
James,
'Love Me Do' is on 'Please Please Me'. I always liked 'For Sale' better, particularly track 10.
Lily.
He smiled as he remembered the song …
'Ah-ah,
Well, honey don't
Honey don't
Honey don't
Honey don't
Honey don't
Honey don't
Say you will when you won't
Ah-ah, honey don't …'But he liked his reply better …
… I like the way you call me honey … I could get used to that. I also like tracks 1 and 2 …
Which went …
'This happened once before,When I came to your door,
No reply.
They said it wasn't you,
But I saw you peep through
Your window …'And …
'Of all the love I have won and have lost,
There is one love I should never have crossed,
She is a girl in a million, my friend,
I should have known she would win in the end.
I'm a loser
And I've lost someone that's near to me,
I'm a loser,
And I'm not what I appear to be …'He particularly liked her reply …
… I couldn't agree with you more – you are a loser. And if you play track 7 on 'Magical Mystery Tour,' you'll see what we'd be like together …
She was picturing them together! …
'You say yes,
I say no,
You say stop,
And I say go, go, go.
You say goodbye,
And I say hello …'He had replied.
…but in the words of John on track 11, 'All you need is love' …
Her reply had been even more promising – she had sent him a copy of 'Abbey Road' and instructed him to play track 16, …for the title only, because that's where we are, at 'The End' …
But James liked the lyrics …
'Oh, yeah,
All right,
Are you going to be in my dreams
Tonight?
Love you,
(I really)
Love you …'So he replied cheerfully …
… I do like those lyrics, though, aswell as those of tracks 2, 4, and 6 …
Which went:
'Something in the way she moves Attracts me like no other lover …' on track one,'Oh! Darling,
Please believe me,
I'll never do you no harm …'… and …
'I want youI want you so bad it's driving me mad
It' s driving me mad …'The best letter he's received from her was accompanied by 'A Hard Day's Night' and said …
… just play track 3 and don't read too much into it …'
But he did read into it …
'If I fell in love with you,
Would you promise to be true,
And help me understand?
'Cos I've been in love before,
And I found that love was more,
Than just holding hands …'She was considering it! And it wasn't just the song that lead him to this conclusion. She was sneaking glances at him during meals, and she actually smiled at him in Ancient Runes. He was really enjoying this …
*****
Lily sat listening to her record and thinking of James' letter …
… I really liked your last song, and don't worry, I'm not reading into it. (By the way, I would!). They took the words out of my mouth on tracks 2 and 5 …'
Lily grinned as John sang …
'I should have known better with a girl like you,
That I would love everything that you do,
And I do.
I never realized what a kiss would mean,
This could only happen to me …'But she had always loved track 5 herself, and the thought that James felt that way about her made it even better …
'I give her all my love,
That's all I do,
And if you saw my love,
You'd love her too
And I love her …'She tried not to grin too broadly, as Lena was sitting on her own bed, scribbling away at their Potions homework. Lena had nearly completed the five necessary feet already, while Lily was still trying to focus her mind on her own essay. Lena stopped writing to glance at her watch. She put down her quill and handed a scrap of parchment to Lily.
"It's my plan," she explained. "I saw you struggling. It might give you some clues. I'll take a look over it tomorrow, if you'd like." Lily grinned.
"Thanks," she said gratefully. "Where are you off too?"
"I don't know," Lena admitted. "I'm going somewhere with the boys."
"To play a prank?" all asked.
"Yeah," she said. "I know," she added, seeing astonished faces. "Siri asked me if I wanted to go."
"Well, have fun, and don't hurt anyone," Lily said.
"Ok," Lena said, hand headed down the stairs.
*****
"Ready?" Cephus Malfoy asked, Apparating into Mulciber's drawing room.
"Yes," he said. "We're late."
"I know," Malfoy replied. "This should have been done weeks ago."
"Let's go," Mulciber said, pulling his hood over his head.
*****
Miles away from Hogwarts, and Mulciber's mansion, in the little town of Wainscotting, Dorset, Helen and Matthew White were sitting in their living room, watching late-night TV sleepily.
"Arthur wants to know if we can go to his for dinner on Saturday," Helen said, conjuring up two cups of tea.
"Sounds fine," Matthew replied.
"He's lovely, isn't he?" Helen went on.
"Yes," Matt replied. "Bit … eccentric though, isn't he? I mean, even by wizarding standards." Helen grinned.
2Yes," she agreed. "But he's lovely to work for, and well, he means well. And Molly – she is too kind."
"Yes … but how many questions can you ask about lawnmowers?" Matt wondered, grinning.
"Lena wrote back," Helen said, just remembering.
"Having lots of fun and getting into lots of trouble with Sirius, as far as I can tell," she replied. She yawned. "I'd better head to bed," she said, standing up. Matt turned off the TV, yawning also.
"Me too—"
CRACK
Helen grabbed her wand instinctively. Matt sprung up, looking around, though the noise had come from the kitchen.
"What—" he whispered. "Was that someone Apparating?"
"Sounded like it," she whispered back. "It could be Arthur," she went on hopefully, though she knew he'd never come over at this hour.
CRACK
"It's coming from the kitchen, isn't it?" Matt said anxiously. Helen nodded. "What do we do?" he wondered.
"I'm going to go in and see," she said.
"Is it … them?" he asked. Helen didn't need to ask who he meant.
"It could be," she said.
"Then I'm coming in with you," he announced.
"No!" she exclaimed. "I don't even stand a chance if it is Death Eaters, and I have a wand."
"Oh, yes, of course I'm going to stay here after hearing that," he said. "If you go, I go."
"What about Lena?" Helen challenged.
"I'd be no use to her with you gone," he replied.
"Well, I'm not waiting here for them to come out and kill us," she said.
"Then lets go," he said. They shared a look before heading towards the kitchen, hand in hand.
*****
Lena flopped into bed, smiling. Lucius would gat a surprise tomorrow! She drifted easily off to sleep.
*****
In Wainscotting, CJ had woken up to use the bathroom and was stumbling sleepily towards her bed again. As she lay down, she saw something green and glittering on the other road, but she was asleep before she had a chance to wonder what it was.
*****
About an hour later, Lena woke up. She had the strangest feeling that someone was watching her. She was right; an owl was perched at the end of her bed.
"Hello, what do you have that's so important you're here in the middle of the night?" she asked, taking the letter. She hadn't even got it unfolded properly before he was gone. She shrugged and read the letter. She choked, tears rolled down her cheeks and she felt her entire world fall apart. She ran out of her room and down the staircase without having any idea where she was going.
The letter fell from the bed onto the floor.
Lena found herself going through the door to the boy's dorm, and running to Sirius' bed. She opened the curtain.
Sirius woke with a start. Lena was standing over him, sobbing hysterically. Huge tears were rolling down her cheeks. Instinctively, he grabbed her hand and pulled her to him, engulfing her in a giant hug.
"Shhh," he soothed. "What happened? What are you crying?"
"M-M-my p-p-parents," she sobbed. "Th-th-they're d-dead."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Stop throwing things at the screen!! Another chapter will be along soon!!
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