Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
A/N: Hey sorry for the long wait I had several exams and I actually still have more to come, unfortunately. Here's Ch.44 it's the funerals, hope you like it. Please review when you're done, I'd appreciate it. Also; for those in the U.S. have a great memorial day.
Ch.44: Grievances
For being January it was cold as expected, but it was raining, a condition which James Potter hated, like many people weather changes changed his mood, whenever it rained he became depressed, he couldn't go out flying or do anything outdoors, he became agitated if it started raining during his magical creatures class and especially if it was during a qudditch match, but today was a day where the mood in which the rain brought for James was suitable. It was the day of his parent's funeral.
James woke up and went to the bathroom to get cleaned up. he took a shower and brushed his teeth. He headed back to Lily's room where he saw her door open and her sitting on the bed reading something. James stepped into the door way and knocked.
Lily turned around, still wearing her night clothes and hair a bit frizzy.
"Hi," Lily said quietly.
James entered the room and sat next to lily on the bed. James looked down and saw a letter in her hands
"What's this?" he asked eyeing the letter.
Lily looked down.
"It's nothing, don't worry about it." She said starting to put the letter away into its envelope. As she did this, James saw the cover of the envelope.
"It's from the hospital, what's wrong?" he asked concernedly. Lily sighed a little.
Lily took the letter out again.
"It's from a muggle hospital in London. The London Hospital, A few weeks ago I went to the hospital on account of being injured in one of the fights against Voldemort. While I was there they took several tests, that I needed done, and to save time they just did them then, these are the lab results." Lily said looking up to James whose face was filled with worry.
"You're alright, right?"
"Yes, it's just, well I'm fine, but I have to get another test, a mammogram, which is just an examination, no big deal."
"What's that, a mammogram?"
"Well, Breast Cancer, a disease runs in my mother's family and every two years or so I have one done, to make sure I don't have it, it's not a problem I was actually going to go to the hospital after you parent's funeral to make an appointment, I thought you'd wan't some time by your self or with the guys after the services."
"Oh, would you like me to go with you?"
"No, not that I don't want the company but a hospital isn't the greatest place to be on a day such as this."
"I've been to a hospital before lily."
"Yes I know that but that was a wizarding hospital wasn't it?"
"So?"
"James this is a muggle hospital, they don't use magic and honestly it a depressing site to see. Doctors and nurses are very physical when it comes to healing people, there's blood, baby's crying, doctors yelling, and it's not very nice to be, true I won't be near any of that but I have to travel through it to see a colleague of my parent's, so it would be better if you stayed here, plus today is supposed to be a morning and grievance of your parent's death, going to the hospital would just make you feel worse."
James looked away, "Okay, well we better get ready, the services are a eight," James said and stood up. Lily stood up as well and hugged James.
"Don't worry everything will be alright." Lily whispered.
James smiled a little and pulled away.
A little while later lily got out of the shower and dried her hair magically, she entered her room and pulled a black dress from her closet and got dressed. She then applied her make up. She shut the lights off and headed downstairs where everyone sat, Remus had conjured a plate of muffins and carafe of juice and coffee.
"Good morning Lily," Emily said and hugged Lily.
"Morning, how are you?" She asked.
"Good."
A half hour later the group was ready to apperate to Anthony Gregor Cemetery, it was the wizarding cemetery in which high ministry officials were buried.
They all traveled to Dumbledore's office, where they would then be given a port key.
The door opened to Dumbledore's office, a tall graying man man sat behind the large desk and looked up.
"Good Morning," He said somewhat cheerfully.
"Morning Professor," they all droned.
Dumbledore stood up and walked to a far table, on the table lay two keys, one of them had a ring around it.
"Please come over here," He said to the group of students.
This Port key with the ring is your parent's funeral, hence the ring, so all of you can attend. This key with out the ring is for you Ms. Evans to Ireland for later, you may take it now or later, when ever you wish."
"Thank you Professor," James said.
"Thank you," Lily said.
All of the students took hold of the port key and then they suddenly began spinning, spinning fast. They spun for several minutes; lily thought she would be sick.
They suddenly landed at the gates of the cemetery.
James looked around and recognized several ministry aurors and other officials that his parents knew. They began walking down to where services would take place. They found seats.
"Uh guys I'll be back I'm just going to say hello to several people," James said.
They nodded in response.
James walked up to where several other aurors stood and thanked them for coming, and shook their hands.
"Thank you for coming," James said to a tall man, by the name of Dright, William Dright an auror who his father knew very well.
"Thank you James, you father and mother were both excellent aurors they will be remembered and missed." The man said truthfully.
"Thank you," James said and then in the corner of his eye he caught glimpse of Dumbledore talking with other ministry members.
Suddenly Nathanial Dorsinger, the Minister of Magic came up to James.
"Hello Minister, thank you for coming," James said shaking his hand.
"Thank you, how are you?" he asked
"Fine, thank you,"
"I'm sure this has been hard for you, my sympathies go to you,"
"Thank you, sir,"
The minister walked away and James went back to his seat. Soon every one took their seats and the services began. Many tears were shed from other guests including Dumbledore, which James had never witnessed before.
It was now time for James to give his little speech he had prepared. He stood up and made his way to the podium.
He looked up at the many guests who were here to morn with him for his parent's death., though it was raining outside the entire space in which the funeral was, was protected by an invisible shield so that no one would get wet.
"Hello and Good morning. I first would like to thank all of you for coming today." James said. he looked up and looked over to Lily, he smiled a little and continued.
"I have heard from many people that my parents were good people, and great aurors. I have been told this since I was around ten years old and every time I was told I didn't think much of it, I never really knew what they did; all I knew was that what ever they did they were good at it. When I was near the age of thirteen, it was the summer; my dad took me into work with him one day so I could see what he did. The whole day we sat in his office, he was filing through paper work, and I was completely bored out of my mind, but then he told me something that I'll never forget, he looked up from his paper work and realized I was bored and he asked me if I knew what he was doing, I said no and I was in a bit of a mood because I was so bored but he told me he was helping a lot of people. I said "How are you helping a lot of people all you're doing is filling out paper work?"
He looks at me and tells me "This isn't just paper work, these are documents for a muggle family who had been attacked by death eaters, they lost everything, their home, one of their children, they have no place to go." I then asked him then what are you doing?" he said I'm giving them a second chance, the documents that are laying on my desk are muggle documents for a house in Oxford, and a new job for the husband." When he told me this I at first didn't know that the ministry helped muggles that way by giving them money to start their lives over, but I soon found out that they don't and that my father decided to do that on his own. My father was great man and my mother a great woman, both well accepted in society and they both shared this trait of helping others, no matter what the situation. They will always be remembered for how they helped others and those in need, hopefully you all will as well. Thank you."
James stepped down and many clapped. James sat back down next to Lily and took her hand into his.
The services soon ended and the burning of the tombs brought tears to lily's eyes along with Sirius's, Emily's, Remus's and Alicia's.
Guests left and Dumbledore came up to James and the group.
"You are by far the bravest student I have ever known, Mr. Potter; I assure you that no one will forget Amelia nor Robert." He said sincerely.
"Thank you Professor," James said
"I will see you all a little later," Dumbledore said and he disapperated form the spot.
James thanked the remaining guests.
And turned to the guys, Lily, Emily and Alicia thought James would like some time with his friends.
"How are you Sirius?" James asked. Sirius looked up his face a still bit red from crying.
"Don't worry about me, how are you?" he said
"Mate your like my brother, I'm alright given the situation."
"Ah, come here," Sirius said and pulled James into a brotherly hug. They patted each other on the back. They pulled away and James gave a Remus a hug and thanked both of them for coming.
"James do you think we wouldn't he come to help you through this?" Remus asked
"No I guess not." James said with a laugh.
A silence came between them.
"Was it this hard for you Remus last year?" James asked
"Yeah it was, but with friends it goes a lot smoother, "
"Yeah, you're right."
Suddenly the girls came back over.
"Hey you guys ready to go, when do you have to go to the . . ."
James said to lily.
"Um any time from now untill the evening, but since we're in London now I was going to go now. Dumbledore knows I spoke with him before the services"
"Where are you going?" Emily asked
Lily turned to her.
"I have to settle a few family things before the funeral later." Lily lied. Lily gave James an odd glance. Lily kissed James goodbye and left.
"Well we should get back unless you wanted to stay longer, James" Sirius said.
"No, let's go."
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Lily left the cemetery and headed south to the hospital caught a cab, so she wouldn't be seen apperating into a muggle facility.
Once there she paid the cab fare and walked into the hospital.
The smell of Hydrogen peroxide filled her senses and the sound of babies crying filled her ears. She walked up to the front desk where a woman sat, she was on the phone. She wore blue scrubs with teddy bears all over them.
"I'll be right with you ma'am," she said. Lily waited several minutes until the woman had finished her call.
"Yes how can I help you?" she asked
"I'm here to see Doctor Foster, I'm Lily Evans," Lily said. the woman looked up.
"Robert and Linda's daughter?" the nurse asked
"Yes,"
"Oh, I'm sorry for you loss, they were great doctors." She said with a small smile.
"Thank you,"
"Calling Doctor Foster, Doctor Foster to the front desk Thank you." The woman called on the loud speaker.
"He'll be here in just a few," the woman said kindly."
She was right Doctor Foster came with in five minutes. He was Lily's father's best mate they had gone to med school together, but he worked at the London hospital while lily's parents were in Oxford.
"Lily, it's so good to see you," he said embracing her in a tight hug.
"It's good to see you Rupert, gosh it's been so long," Lily said.
"How are you, other than the obvious, but you look good, how's school?"
"It's good, I'm head girl at Hogwarts and I'm at Brighton now." Lily said.
"Good, good, well lets go to my office to have a chat." He said. he led lily to his office on the third floor.
They entered and lily sat down.
"Tonight is the service which I will be attending," he said
"Yes tonight the services, thank you," lily said, she then looked down into her lap. Rupert looked at her.
"Is something else bothering you other than tonight's events?" he asked worriedly.
Lily looked up.
"Well has Petunia talked to you about our parent's will?" she asked
"I was the one who gave it to her, Robert had given me access to it incase anything happened them."
"Well then you know that they had left us some money about a thousand pounds each for school and to live on in general."
"Yes, Petunia told you, I asked her to."
"She did, but her and I sort of had a falling out about a few weeks ago, it ended up me leaving the house for good, she sold it and basically took her half of the money and left me with nothing. I'm of age in the wizarding world but not yet in the muggle. I plan to go to auror academy after this year, but I need a place to stay, and I have enough money to buy an apartment, but because I'm underage I need an adults approval of it. I was wondering if you'd possibly sign the contract and you don't have to pay for anything I just need you signature."
"Petunia left you with nothing?"
"Wll not nothing she did give me the amount left to me."
"How much is that in wizarding currency?"
"Around 500 galleons; this isn't a lot."
"Well do you have the contract?"
"Yes I do," lily said pulling out the contract from her purse. She handed it to Rupert.
He signed it and handed it back.
"I'll have a talking to Petunia, you being a witch is no reason for her to leave you like that!"
"Really it's alright, I'm better living in the wizarding world rather than in the muggle when I know I'll probably see her once in a while.
"Well, she's actually moving to Surrey with her fiancé, Vernon."
"Oh right the wedding."
"You are going right?"
"I was but now the whole thing has changed and she'll probably uninvited me which is fine with me, she shouldn't even be marrying that man, he is disgusting."
"Lily . . ."
"What it's true Rupert and you know it."
"Well if she loves him and he loves her it's her decision."
"Fine. . . . Actually Rupert I actually came here to have a mammogram done, I was wondering if I could have it done now?"
"Mamogram did you find something or have you been feeling sick or . . ."
"Well a few weeks ago I recived some medical work done and they think they may have found something."
"Really? alright I'll set up the room I don't think there is anyone scheduled for one."
Doctor Foster set up Lily's mammogram and did it, within a half hour she was done. Doctor Foster took her into one of the examination rooms to look over the x-ray. He put it up to the white lit screen.
He glanced at it.
"Well?" Lily asked nervously
"Well, I don't see anything, there's no tumor that is clearly seen, but perhaps we should get a second opinion."
He stood up and went out of the room, two second later he came in with a woman.
"Lily this is Doctor Carter, our chief gynecologist.
"Hello the young women said. Lily shook her hand.
Mel, could you take a look at this, this is Lily's mammogram x-ray.
Mel looked at it and turned to lily.
"Has there been a history of Breast cancer in you family?"
"Yes, my grandmother an mother both had it," Lily said.
"Well looking at the x-ray it looks like you have the very early stages of it, which is good, um Rupert what do you think?"
"Well when I looked at it I didn't see anything off hand at first but now after hearing what you've said I see where it's just the beginning stages. The left part is becoming a bit more white."
"Have you been feeling off at all, have you been injured or well not injured but have you been tired more then usual?
"No not really," lily said
"Well I'd like to take a few more tests just to make sure this is what is really going on." Mel said
"Do you have time now?" Rupert asked.
"How long will it take, because I have to get back to school and I leave for Ireland tonight for a family event which I can't pass up."
"Well it will only take a few hours." Mel said
"Right now it's twelve thirty." Rupert said looking up at the clock
"Alright if it's just three hours I can stay." Lily said.
Rupert took her to a separate room and signed her in. Lily changed into a paper robe and footers made of paper.
Hogwarts
The group sat in the Common room drinking butter beer and thinking. James was thinking about Lily and wondering when she was coming back.
"James where's Lily?" Alicia asked. James looked up a bit startled from her question for he was in deep thought.
"Wa what? Oh she's in London."
"We know that but for some reason we don't think she's talking with Petunia, I mean they did have a falling out."
"So where is she, for real?" Emily asked more sternly."
James sighed
"She's at the hospital, seeing an old friend of her fathers and getting a mamogran done."
"You mean a mammogram?" Remus asked
"Yeah, that." James said
"What's that for?" Alicia asked
"Something about cancer, it's a disease that runs in her family."
"Is she going to be okay?" Emily asked
"I don't know she said she would but I don't think she knew." James said.
Suddenly the portal door opened and in came Lily looking a bit tired and wearing several ID bracelets.
"Lily." James said
"Hi, how are all of you?"
"Fine what about you, do you have Cancer?" Emily asked
Lily looked to James
"Sorry, they wanted to know." Lily looked back to Emily
"I'm fine I'll know in a couple of days they ran some tests so that's why I'm a bit late, but I need to get ready for later so if you all would excuse me." Lily said and walked up to her room.
An hour past and Lily was ready for the funeral. She came downstairs and saw that James had changed in to a pair of black trousers with a blue button down shirt.
"Hey are you ready?" Lily asked
"Yeah, are you?" he asked taking hold of lily's hand
"Yeah, I guess. Well see you guys a little later." Lily said to the others. Her and James walked down to Dumbledore's office and retrieved the port key.
They once again began to spin fast. Once they hit hard surface lily looked up and found that they were definitely in Ireland. Lily took James's hand and led him to where the services would be. They were at a small church forty minutes outside of Dublin. Lily looked around and saw the snack table as she guessed Vernon was there.
She looked around and saw Petunia.
"C'mon, there's petunia. Lily didn't want James to meet her, but she didn't want to leave James by himself surrounded by people he didn't know.
"Hello Petunia," Lily said. Her sister turned around. She wore a black dress and had shoulder length blond hair, with pursed lips and anger in her eyes.
"Why did you bring him? I told you not to." She said angrily.
"Because he is my boy friend whom I care about and who cares about me and how I feel, he is the only person here who gives a damn about me other than Rupert." Lily snapped
"Look Petunia, I know you hate me but could you at least be civil with me tonight for mum and dad's sake?"
"Fine, but if anything weird happens I'll know who to blame." Petunia said and stalked off.
Lily stood in silence
"I'm sorry you had to meet her, why don't we sit down, I don't fell much like talking to anyone."
James led her to a seat.
He looked around and saw many of the guests were mingling, then he noticed another man, a man that was coming towards them. It was Rupert.
"Hello Lily," Rupert said Lily looked up and hugged him.
"Thanks for coming."
"U Rupert this is James my Boyfriend he goes to Hogwarts as well, he's actually head boy." Lily said introducing Rupert to James.
"James this is Rupert Frost, he was my Father's best friend, he is the colleague I told you about earlier, who I went to see."
"It's nice to meet you James" Rupert said he shook his hand.
"It's nice to meet you as well, sir." James said.
"Please call me Rupert."
"Oh well it's nice to meet you."
"Would you excuse me I'm just going to say hi to Petunia." Rupert said and went off to find her.
"So he's the doctor you saw today?" James asked
"Yes, he's actually my godfather; he's helping me move into a flat over the summer, since I'm not of age yet in the muggle world."
"So are you alright, I mean health wise?" James asked
"Could we actually talk about that later, I just don't want people over hearing us." Lily said.
"Yeah sure; sorry,"
The services began and lasted for an hour, the graves were buried, flowers were laid on both of them, Lily cried as she saw the caskets being lowered down. Petunia was also crying. James wrapped his hands around lily and held her tight.
Once the funeral had ended Lily took James to her favorite Pub in Ireland, for she didn't want to go to the after party.
They sat down near the back. Lily ordered and glass of wine and James ordered a beer.
"Thanks for coming James it means a lot to me." Lily said.
"It's nothing, I'm here for you."
"Today has been so, odd, sad, weird, and tiresome, I just want it to end." Lily said and took another sip of wine.
"I know how you feel." James said.
Lily smiled a little.
"About earlier and your question of how my health is, well I said I was fine to Emily and Alicia, but the truth is, is that I may indeed have cancer, but the good news is, is that if I do then I have caught it early with increases my chances of healing it."
"There is a cure for it right?"
"Only treatment, there is no cure, but I'm sure that it won't be a huge deal, if there are the beginning stages of it I can always have surgery to remove the tumor."
"When will you know?"
"By wednsday, hopefully, might be a bit longer do to getting tests done take a long time."
"Why don't you go to St. Mungos, I'm sure they'll be able to heal it,"
"I don't know it's a muggle disease it only derives in muggles and muggle-borns."
"Well it's worth a shot, isn't it?"
"Yes I suppose so, I'll think about it I have to see if I have it first."
"Alright,"
James and Lily finished their drinks and headed back to school.
A/N: Hey this was a long chapter. Please don't kill me about the whole cancer thing I had originally thought of it when I first began this story it ties in with something else about the book of Vlasco so please don't be mad. Thanks. Um I just wanted to say thanks to all of my readers and reviewers I appreciate it very much. The next update probably won't be up until next week because of what I said earlier, I still have more exams which I need to study for. This is ending sadly soon. But I'm starting up another story over the summer, I don't a have title yet, just ideas and some of the plot made up. I have a lot going on right now with school, I receive my SAT score on Wednesday which I'm nervous about, so please bare with me on my updates I' update ASAP, most likely but next weekend, but I can't promise anything, due to next weekend being PROM, I'm excited. So anyway have a great rest of the weekend and a great week.
Loundand proud84