Heaven Sent
Time Stands Still
Him and her
Life is turned
The day I knew you would leave
I can barely breath
Can you hear me scream?
Thrown in all directions
You epitome of perfection
She's lost her will
(She's lost her will)
Time is standing still
He walks her home
Now he walks alone
The days they turn into years
The eyes they drown in tears
Can you hear me scream?
Thrown in all directions
You epitome of perfection
She's lost her will
(She's lost her will)
Time is standing still
The way we are
The way we were
(It's just a shadow of what's wrong)
The time with you
The time is stirred
(I love you for so long)
The hearts they turn
They turn away
(She says to go, please don't you cry)
Love lost was found
Night turns to day
Thrown in all directions
You epitome of perfection
She's lost her will
Time is standing still
Thrown in all directions
You epitome of perfection
She's lost her will
(She's lost her will)
Time is standing still
Time is standing still
-Times Stands Still- The All American Rejects
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It was the Tuesday before Halloween and Lydia had finally found some free time to have the meeting that Remus had practically been begging for. It wasn't actually that hard to find a spare moment, not since her meltdown on Sunday. She had not, like she promised herself she would, apologized to Morrie and Elle, seeing as they were doing just fine without her. It appeared that the lovely Emmaline Vance was doing a great job of replacing her. Not that Lydia really minded. It was just... never mind.
Her only real commitment was Severus at this point, and since he had excused himself to work with Professor Cluny tonight, Lydia now had a block of time just for her and Remus. This was something that had not happened since the last Hogsmeade weekend. And so what if she told Severus she would be working on the translation? Lydia needed some time for herself, right?
Somehow, she still felt a bit guilty. Hopefully, he wouldn't find out.
But that couldn't matter now. She was waiting nervously in the Great Hall for Remus to come down. For all the ease she had felt with him, it did nothing to catch the butterflies in her stomach just before he arrived.
Without the aid of Morrie and Elle, Lydia had to put a great effort in her choice of wardrobe and she was still unsure. She had picked out a classic cut blouse colored in deep blue and a pair of jeans. Her dark hair she left in a loose French braid, stray strands framing her high cheeks.
She stood patiently, her frail hands clasped behind her back, looking for some sigh of the shaggy haired boy she had grown to fancy. It seemed hours for him to descend those stairs, but to the clock it took but only five minutes. She smiled at him as he trotted down.
"Hey," he greeted her with a grin, coming to stand before her. He hands were burrowed deep within his trouser pockets and a crimson sweater that he wore reached his neck.
"Hello," Lydia said, still picking a bit at her nails.
"You look nice," he commented, holding his hand out. She smiled uneasily.
"Thanks," she murmured, fitting her palm in his. He started walking down the staircase right of the Grand, where Lydia had only been once or twice. She was certain it lead to the Hufflepuff Common Room. She trailed behind him, "Listen, I'm sorry about being so busy lately. I know it can be hard to fit any time in between us, but-"
"Lydia," Remus cut her off good-naturedly, "Don't worry about it. I completely understand."
Lydia smiled again, all of her previous anxiety seeming to depart, "So where are we going?"
"Someplace where no one will find reason to report some 'very scandalous kissing.'"
Lydia groaned, "That was awful. Do you know the time Morrie and Elle gave me?"
"Don't worry about it. James and Sirius just don't- think sometimes…" he said, as they reached the bottom landing and started walking down the dim corridor. Remus had a set look in his eyes.
"So, are you going to tell me what you have planned?"
Remus scoffed, "No, it's a secret."
A secret? She liked that idea…
Remus continued to lead her own, determined, as they spoke in simple talk, relating to their last week or two. He told of the recent going-ons in his knit of friends including the latest attempt of James to woo Lily Evans. Lydia thought of Elle at this, but did nothing to voice it.
When Remus inquired about how her own affairs were going, she didn't have much to talk about. She didn't really feel like talking about the whole Elle/Morrie situation (she doubted Remus would understand anyway) and Severus she had deemed as a bad subject. So, she just mingled her and there with the topic of their latest DADA practical test- one she had not done so well on.
Remus was just explaining the correct way to defend yourself against a full winged harpy, (Lydia could tell you easily how to do it in theory, but with actual curses and hexes, she was a mess) when the corridor ended with a large painting depicting a bowl of fruit.
Remus finally let go of her hand, and she had to say she was happy for it. (His hand was getting sweaty and unpleasant to hold.)
"Here we are," Remus said, throwing up his arms to display the painting. Lydia's expression was puzzled. This was the big thing (date, you could say)? She looked around for any sign of a door or exit that he might actually be planning to visit, but there was nothing.
Carefully, he moved forward and put his hand to the large pear in the painting, scratching it- no- tickling it? The pear jerked and transformed into a handle, which Remus took and pull towards him. The painting moved away from the wall, showing a large opening in the wall. Lydia came closer; peering in to catch sight of what must have been hundreds of house elves scurrying about great, roaring fires and clanging pots and pans.
"The kitchens," Lydia murmured, looking back to Remus. His expression was set in one of the good natured grins she was beginning to grow quite fond of.
"That's right," he said, stepping through the cavity. Lydia followed, bewildered by the masses of elves hurrying around. The picture lurched behind them and snapped shut. She had barely taken in a breath before a house elf wearing a fairly stained tea cozy approached them hastily.
"Mister Remus!" it squeaked. Lydia guessed it was a boy by the more than average hair breeding in his ears, "Tibby was not expecting you, sirs."
Okay, maybe she was wrong…
"Is it a bad time?"
"Oh, no, Mister Remus! Please do not go! Tibby is sorry for making Mister Remus feel unwelcome!" The house elf cried, grabbing the nearest frying pan and proceeding to hit her head, "Bad Tibby! Bad, bad Tibby!"
Lydia's eyes widened, looking frantically to Remus, who quickly went to grab the frying pan from the creature, "No, Tibby, it's all right! You don't have to do that!"
"Tibby must be punished!" she insisted, jumping back from Remus and slamming the frying pan down on her head again.
"No, Tibby! Stop that, I need your help!" This grabbed the house elf's attention, which suddenly dropped her torture utensil and hopped into a stiff, military-like position.
"Tibby is ready to serve, Mister Remus," the creature barked. Remus was relieved.
"Tibby, this is my good friend Lydia," Remus said, gesturing to the somewhat frazzled girl beside him. Tibby smiled and dropped before Lydia in a bow.
"It is Tibby's pleasure to finally meet Mister Remus's object of affection."
Lydia choked, coughing. Object of affection? Alright, so she was taken a little off guard by that comment. Remus smiled lamely, rubbing the back of his neck. Lydia finally came over her fit, and straightened, "It's nice to meet you also," she said uncomfortably.
"You are right, Mister Remus! Mistress Lydia is very, very pretty!" Tibby exclaimed.
Lydia's mouth dropped just a bit. Okay, so she was taken off guard again. What the crap had Remus been telling this house elf? Remus looked even scratchier, smiling again nervously, before fading into a mournful look.
"Thank you?"
"Look, Tibby," Remus said, taking charge, "Lydia and I were hoping to get a bite to eat?"
"Oh, yes, of course! Right this way, Mister Remus and Mistress Lydia!" the house elf said, making towards a small table by the huge brick fireplace, "Please, please, take your seats." Remus pulled out on of the simple chairs, Lydia following his action across from him. As soon as they were seated, Tibby stood straight and pulled a small pad of paper from somewhere in her tea cozy dress, "What can Tibby get you folks tonight for drinks?"
"Pumpkin juice," Remus said promptly.
"Yes, one pumpkin juice, very good," Tibby scratched something down on the pad, "And you Mistress Lydia?"
"Eh… water?"
"And one water for the lady, very good! Now, what will Mister Remus and Mistress Lydia be having for munchies?"
Lydia was still a tad bewildered by the house elf, and looked to Remus to order first, "Do you have any nachos?"
Nachos? Eh… what was she going to ask for now?
"Of course! Tibby will get some for Mister Remus right away!" Before leaving the house elf turned to Lydia.
"Um…" Lydia picked at her thumbnail, "Perhaps a salad?"
"Oh, yes, good choice," she scribbled it down on the pad, "Now what kind of salad- would that be the mixed green, the Caesar, wilted spinach, chicken, or the niswa?"
Lydia's expression was in dilemma, "I guess… the mixed green."
"Very good! Now what will you have for your dressing- honey mustard, ranch, Thousand Island, Italian, poppy seed or French?"
Lydia looked to Remus, "I don't know… French."
"Very good, very good! Now would that be the Northern French or Southern French because the Southern has a certain tang to it." Tibby looked at her expectantly.
"Southern?"
"Very good! Now, for your soup!"
"Soup?" Lydia asked.
"Yes, of course! We can't let Mistress Lydia go without soup! Salad does nothing to fatten up too skinny, lanky Mistress Lydia."
"Oh…" she said, horrified. Remus smiled sheepishly again.
"Now would that be the pilla, the gumbo, the gazpacho, the tomato, or Tibby's personal favorite, the alphabet?"
"Alphabet?" Lydia said lamely.
"Very good! Very good! Bowl or cup?"
"Cup, I suppose…"
"Very, very good! And now for the pasta!"
Lydia swallowed, "Pasta?"
"Yes, yes of course! Tibby and Mister Remus are trying to put some meat on Mistress Lydia's pointy bones!" Tibby clapped gaily.
This was too much. Lydia shot a displeased look at Remus, who just shrugged it off. This made Lydia frown even more.
"Where was Tibby?" said the house elf, scratching her chin, "Oh, yes! Pasta! Now would that be- tortellini, vermicelli, ravioli, cappellini, mostacholi, manichotti, rigatoni, fetachini?" The house elf took a deep breath, "Metzalunna, agnoletti, cascarrechia, fedelini, faralle, bigoletti, pansotti, buchantini?" Another breath, "Calzeti, linguini, callenoi, umbrichella, taglioni, fusil, and papdeli," Breath, "Pomadore, marinare, Bolognese, primavera, gnocchi, or spaghetti?"
Lydia's mouth was open, "I don't really think I need pasta."
Tibby looked miffed, and pouted, "Fine, if that's the way Mistress Lydia wants it… Your meals should be arriving shortly." The house elf turned around and stormed off, not looking entirely happy.
Lydia slouched in her chair, not entirely happy herself after that ordeal.
"Tibby's really great. She's been helping me out down here for years." Remus said pleasantly. Lydia pursed her lips together.
"Very nice," she said.
"Yeah, she's been real helpful to all of my friends when they come down here, with dates and such, you know."
Oh, so this was just another hot spot to take a date?
"Really?" she said noncommittally, turning her head to the fireplace.
"Yeah, Sirius takes Elle here all the time in fact, and I came here once or twice with Emmaline. Tibby always has been the first to come to aid."
Lydia's mind stopped for a second there. Emmaline?
"Do you mean Emmaline Vance?" she said darkly. This made Remus finally realize how much he had said, and instantly his amused nature failed.
He gulped, "Yes."
Lydia's jaw clenched, "Hmm…" That was all she could get out. Inside, she was seething, her blood boiling. Not only had that vile harpy replaced her with Morrie and Elle, she had also done the good job of taking Remus around the block. What was this?
"Oh, look, her comes Tibby with the food," Remus pointed out, looking much relieved for the change of subject. The house elf waltzed over, holding a tray.
"One pumpkin juice, and nachos," she said, dropping the items in front of Remus, "And one water, and spaghetti."
Lydia looked at the plate as the house elf put it down in front of her, "Excuse me, I didn't ask for spaghetti."
Tibby put her arms in front of her in coy surprise, "Tibby swears you said spaghetti."
"No, no, I believe I asked for a salad," Lydia said, trying as hard as she could not to snap.
"Mistress Lydia says 'I wants the spaghetti,' and Tibby gets it. Mistress Lydia wants spaghetti."
"No, I assure you, I did not." She was tense now. This stupid little house elf was getting on her nerves.
"It really doesn't matter. Why don't you eat the spaghetti instead, Lydia? It won't hurt, will it?"
That was it.
"No, of course not," she hissed, "Why shouldn't I just settle and eat the meal I don't even like much less want when the meal I originally asked for was a hassle just to order?"
"Lydia-"
"No, it's fine. I'll just eat the damn spaghetti, but rest assure, I'm taking it to go." She stood up quickly, pushing the chair she had sat in over and grabbing the plate of spaghetti in front of her. She sent Remus one last dark look before tromping out of the kitchens, and up the stairs to the Entrance Hall. The first trash can she saw, she slammed the pasta into, turning and heading up another flight of stairs.
It was still early, and she could get some of the translation done, no problem.
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A/N- Yeah, I'm back! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!
This chapter twisted completely from where I wanted it to go, but Lydia decided to snap so. And it's not just Lydia being overdramatic everyone. I have reasoning for the recents snaps, have no fear. And no! She is NOT pregnant!
And just about all the food in this chapter is spelt wrong. That whole ordering bit was inspired by the show With Relish. I was actually in it last October, and I did play the annoying waitress. The list of pasta is really a show number called the Pasta Rap (very orginal) and is a lot longer. Yes, I did rap pasta- me, the whitest girl this side of the pond. Pretty sad I tell you.
I'd like to thank all my fabulous reviewers! You guys are great and I don't care what anyone says about you! No, I'm just kidding, but you are awesome. I literaaly thrive off reviews and they are my number one motivation, so maybe more reviewers means more updates…
risi- Yeah, this about the point in the story when Lydia starts to go through and my writing is starting to get exciting! Really it's a win/win situation… unfortunately, I'm a bad person and put nothing about the main-main plot in this chapter… eh…
krirobe- Hey, why are there quotes around "time consuming"? I send a suspicious glare at you. I you suggesting that I am setting things up- ME? No, I'm just kidding…hehe… And thank you! You have no idea how great that makes me feel. Whenever I see this horrible stories with tons of reviews I think, "Ok, I must really, really suck then and my instinctive defense of denial is telling my brain I really am relatively good at writing." That just proved all my horrible self conscious doubts wrong! Thank you!
Kerichi- Perhaps you might have a tendency to overanalyze? No, just joking. We all know Sev's growling is possibly the sexiest sound ever made by the human race. Lydia just doesn't know it yet… Oh, man, I just love your reviews. When ever I'm down in the writing dumps, your reviews just crack me up. Oh man, I am such a bad person. I need to catch up on Simply Irresistable and A Tale of Two Matchmakers. And I will! Give me a week, I swear! Good god, I hate AP Social Studies…
Montana- Thanks for reviewing! Yes, Brand New is awesome. Actually, I've been pretty lazy about the whole music thing. At first, I tried to work chapters around songs, but then I got to hasty and just wanted to post chapters and not deal with that. You can tell how little the songs have to do with the chapter. It's pretty bad, and usually just what I'm listening to at the time. I listen to everything sadly… not country though. Don't do the cowboy thing. And no fear, I'm taking a peek at your fic the first chance I get.
skytten334- Thanks for reviewing and to answer your questions
1. Yes, this is a Snape/OFC story, though it may not seem that way now. I assure you, it is a Snape/OFC story, although Lydia was developed from many canon ideas and I've made her to fit canon ideas.
2. Oh, man, I hate this question, seeing as the answer is sort of complicated. As I stated before, Lydia is meant to fit with canon. Obviously this means she will not be around in the time of the series or at least she will not be prominent. She is not going to be part of the Order of the Phoenix or anything like that. She also is not going to be married to Snape with three kids either. This means, I have two main ways of ending the story, one is extremely fluffy, and part of me loves it- the other is not so nice. I cannot tell you what ending it will be, because honestly, I have no idea. I seriously have no idea. And if you don't want to continue with the story because of that, I completely understand.
So, thanks to you all! This is possibly the longest A/N ever… and I am not reading it over… too tired…
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ALL I ASK ARE FOR SOME RAMBLY REVIEWS!
Hey, I think I deserve it for the slaving I do over this computer.
Yes, I'm a vile, vile harpy…