Chapter 2: Stuck
Analeigh breathed in, at least she thought she did, it was sort of hard to tell. If it was air it was extremely thick and clung to the back of her throat, it also tasted vaguely of cigarettes but she wasn't sure if she'd just smoked one so it didn't cause her too much concern.
She also wasn't entirely aware if she was stood up or sat down, though that was less of a concern and more of an odd, amusing curiosity. A giggle passed her lips and she opened her eyes wide in surprise, she didn't remember allowing it out of her mouth but there it was.
She was on around about her third drink or was it the fourth? Maybe even the fifth. She'd lost track right around the time that cute Hufflepuff fifth year had started talking to her. At least, she thought he was a Hufflepuff; he had that sort of Hufflepuffy look about him. Anyway, that didn't really matter right at that minute with the world spinning around her and her hand planted firmly on his arm.
She wasn't really sure that she would be able to stand if she removed her hand from him. Anyway, she liked his arm: it was soft and firm. It held her steady in a time when the rest of the party seemed to be swimming in and out of focus. And so what if she didn't like his voice? She was managing to tune that out pretty well; she saw his lips move in slow motion but no words hit her eardrums.
Blissful silence. She threw her head back laughing once more, clutching on tighter as she wobbled in her insane heels, this only caused her to laugh harder which influenced Mr Fifth year Hufflepuff to laugh too.
Maybe one more drink wouldn't hurt, came the singular thought from the jumbled mess that was her drunken thoughts. And suddenly she found a shot of fire whiskey in her hand and then down her throat.
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Lily watched her friend cling to a frankly slimy looking boy she recognised from the year below and rolled her eyes. "Such a lightweight" The redhead thought, watching as Ana nearly fell straight into the punch bowl only to be caught at the last minute by the fifth year. Providing him with a great view down her top to her cleavage.
Lily clenched her fist around her plastic cup, watching as he slipped his arm around her clearly inebriated friend and stick his slimy tongue down her ear. Ana looked almost as if she wasn't really aware where she was, which could quite possibly be true.
She couldn't stand watching her friend be quite clearly taken advantage off, that little creep would not get what he was after, not with a determined Lily in his way.
"Hello." Lily said cooly, stalking over to where her friend and her pervert stood.
"Erm Hi." The could-be-Hufflepuff replied, flicking his eyes away from Ana's chest for about five seconds before returning his gaze to her admittedly quite ample bosom.
"Lily!" Ana cried, her words slurring. She flung her arm around Lily's neck and pulled her closer. "Come join us!" She shrieked, practically shattering Lily's eardrum.
The boy looked Lily up and down and then smirked, "Yeah, join us if you want." He winked and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"Fuck off." Lily spat, her face the very definition of disgust. She then turned her attention to one of her best friends, who was swaying drunkenly propped against Lily's side. "Come on An" She said, her voice turning softer and tender.
"I'd rather find some birds where I don't have to fight against that fucking stick in her arse!" The unnamed boy called after them, spitting on the floor at his feet.
"Lilllyyy." Ana moaned, her feet dragging against the wooden floor. "Lillyyy I am soooooo tired." She put an insane amount of emphasis on every word, and it took all of Lily's strength for her not to laugh.
"I know, I know." Lily hushed, a chuckle managing to escape her mouth. She shifted her grip on the girl, jostling to share her weight evenly.
Suddenly she spotted a familiar blonde bobbing through the crowd in their general direction. "Mar!" Lily called out, her voice coloured with relief.
"Hey Lil," Marlene said, pushing her way through the sweaty, heaving crowd of horny teenagers. "And hello Ana!" Marlene laughed, taking in the sight of the fiery brunette looking so utterly lost.
"Yes, yes she's very drunk." Lily hurried, "I just need you to hold my clutch while I try to find somewhere to prop her up. Preferably away from creepy, perverts." She shot a harsh glare at the fifth year they'd just left behind.
"Sure," Marlene said, unable to hid the laughter still in her voice. The exchange was made and Marlene was once again swallowed by the crowd, leaving Lily alone with Ana.
"Right." She sighed, pulling Ana's arm tighter around her. "How does some fresh air sound?"
"Smurhgakwg." Ana replied, her head lolling as it was unconnected to her neck.
"Outside." Lily gritted her teeth, "We just have to make it outside." She had to hoist the girl closer against her, hobbling through the mass of dancers to make it towards the back door. This door she knew, from previous party experiences, led outside to a small patio with a couple of benches spread out against the wall.
They reached it through Lily's sheer force of will, bearing the brunt of the force as Ana just flopped along beside her like a rag doll. She had to lean Ana against the wall in order to force the stiff door open, the palm of her hand aching where she shoved it against the door.
"Liiiiiilllllyyy." Ana groaned, pressing her hand against her stomach.
"Jeez Ana." Lily sighed, "Please, please don't throw up. Usually you save that for the morning after."
"Too tired Lil." She said, her voice small and quiet like a little girl.
"I know. Almost there." She gave one last push and the door creaked open, she gave a huge sigh of relief. The end was so very nearly in sight.
"Please try to walk for me Annie." Lily muttered, using the pet name only allowed when Ana was too far gone or too upset to reprimand her.
"Eurgh." She mumbled, grabbing hold of Lily' arm for support and stumbling through the doorway.
They practically fell through the doorway, the door slamming shut behind them; Lily used all her strength to prevent her best friend from face planting against the thick slabs of rock that constituted the floor. Gratefully she gently pushed her friend to a sitting position on a peeling, wooden bench. The drunker girl immediately lay down and curled up against the cold wooden slats, her eyes drooping shut as soon as her head hit the bench.
"Merlin Evans, is she even breathing." Came a voice from behind her.
Lily whirled around to find James Potter, his brown eyes twinkling behind his glasses. His black hair as mussed up as usual, a lit cigarette held between his smiling lips. His mouth twitched as he took in the quite clearly flustered girl who stood in front of him.
"She is thank you very much for asking." She replied, "I know it's quite a miracle when James Potter deigns to concern himself with the likes of us commoners."
"Ah well, I'd hardly call you a commoner Evans." He smirked.
Lily was about to respond, but was interrupted by a muffled groan from the girl lying next to her. Immediately she turned her attention towards her. "Ana?" She called urgently, "Are you okay?
"Sleepy." The girl responded slowly, sounding like she was talking from someplace far away.
Lily laughed, "Sure sweetie. Sleep." She smoothed down the girl's caramel hair as if she was a mother tucking her daughter into bed, Ana mumbled softly and snuggled down onto the hard bench, her eyes fluttering shut.
Lily resisted the urge to roll her eyes and chuckle, Ana was a notorious lightweight with a little too much liking for alcohol. It was one of the reasons Lily hadn't wanted to come to the party, she hated seeing one of her best friends go so overboard and be taken advantage. Of course, If Lily had known half of what would happen on that party she would have crawled back into bed with the covers over her head, and stayed there.
Unfortunately for her, she was there. With him.
Said him was still stood behind her, looking amusedly at the two girls in front of him. He mused that the one person who would find him was the one person he was avoiding. Yet he was pulled towards her, like so many times before.
"Are you sure she's okay?" James asked, his voice laced with genuine concern.
Lily sighed, turning around to face him. "Yes, she is."
He smiled a crooked grin, taking another pull on his cigarette if only something to do with his hands. She rolled her eyes, placing a pale hand on her hips. This unwittingly drew his attention to her body, something he may have not been proud of but he was only male. She was wearing a simple dress in a light gold colour, nothing particularly flashy or sexy, which obviously made her more attractive to him. She just didn't even have to try very hard to be the most enticing girl in the room.
At least to him.
Her fiery hair hung loose, falling across her right shoulder and highlighting her creamy skin. Further illuminated by the halter-neck style of her dress, it stopped just before the knee giving the impression that her legs went on for ages.
He chuckled to himself as he realised she wasn't making it easy to forget about her. As quickly as possible he tore his eyes away from her legs and towards her eyes, currently glaring at him.
"You know," She said sarcastically, "You could leave any time you want."
He looked around the deck as if he was considering it. "Nah, I'm perfectly good here thanks."
She resisted the urge to growl in frustration, instead settling for scowling at him. He shrugged at her, feeling his masochistic side in full bloom.
"Honestly," She continued with fake earnest. "I'll even open the door for you, and then all you have to do is walk through." She made a sweeping gesture towards the creaking doorway, tapping her foot impatiently.
He made no move to leave but instead stood his ground, smiling nonchalantly at her. She sighed and stomped over to the door, grappling with the rusty doorknob.
It creaked painfully, the noise jarring against their ear drums. She cursed under her breath, struggling to force the door to open.
"Oh for god's sake!" Lily cried out, futilely shoving her palm against the door in an attempt to make it open.
James sighed, stamping on his cigarette and moving over to help her with the door.
"Come on let me help." James said, placing his hand on the doorknob.
She moved out of the way slightly, her arms folded across her slight frame. She watched over him as he struggled almost as much as she did, trying to shoulder the door open. The hinges made a dangerous squeaking noise as it fought against his weight.
He bent down to peer through the key hole, seeing various shapes flicker past his eyes. He half-heartedly rattled the doorknob but he could see it was no use.
He straightened up, running his hands through his dark hair in mild frustration. "It won't open."
"What do you mean it won't open?" She demanded, "Of course it will open."
He shrugged sort of awkwardly, simultaneously hating and relishing in the situation he was placed in. "When you shut the door behind you it locked." He sighed.
She looked from the door to him in disbelief.
"We're stuck Evans, there's no getting out."
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Sirius looked across the room, surveying the scene with an odd sense of melancholy. This was unusual for him. Normally he embraced parties with open arms; he was the main cajoler to force James to come to this one. Parties were his thing. James and he were renowned for being the first in their year to throw a party, and for throwing the best.
Yet that night, he wasn't really feeling it.
This was particularly strange considering the girl he was talking to. Natalie Clarke had been laughing at something he said, her head thrown back making her inky cap of hair shine under the artificial lights. She was gorgeous, there was no use denying it. With those sorts of impish lips seeming made for pouting and smirking. Sirius had been vying for her attention for weeks now, and here he had it. Albeit, a slightly drunken version of it.
It took him a few minutes to realise she'd stopped talking.
"Sorry," He shook his head, "you were saying?"
She smiled wryly and looked down at the empty cup in her hand, "I'm going to get a drink Sirius Black. Enjoy the party."
He looked a bit taken aback at her sudden departure, though he did admit he could have been more attentive to what she was saying. In fact, he couldn't even remember what they'd been taking about. Perhaps he'd been staring into space for longer than he thought.
He looked down at the empty cup in his hand, tracing the rim of his cup and looking contemplatively at the dregs of drinks that remained. Maybe a drink would do him good. With that resolved he headed towards the drink table, hoping that the answer to his problems would lie at the bottom of the nearest drink.
Casually he manoeuvred his way through the crowds of inebriated guests and groping teenagers towards a table containing a large punch bowl filled with some vaguely fruity concoction that stank of alcohol. He thought he saw Natalie's short black locks disappearing through the crowd but she disappeared before he could verify it, he couldn't blame her if she was avoiding. He hadn't exactly been the most pleasant person to be around: lost in his own thoughts.
Sirius winced as he took a sip of his syrupy drink, looking across the mass of heaving bodies hoping to find someone not utterly repugnant he could talk to. He knew that James was on the deck, hiding from Lily Evans under the pretence of having a smoke. There was Remus and Peter but he was sure he'd seen Pete rambling about a duel and a drinking game somewhere in the house. No doubt he could go and egg them along, watch Peter get drunk under the table.
Nah, it didn't appeal.
He tapped out a tune on the side of his cup, wondering why the hell he was being such a moody bastard. He knew if James was acting like this, that he would tell him to snap out of it and just have fun. Suddenly he found it very hard to take his own advice.
Everything just seemed boring, same old faces in the same old places.
How Sirius would wish later on that everything had stayed as boring as possible.
He looked to his right, spotting a petite girl he didn't recognise stood alone in the corner. She was oddly pretty. The type of girl that Sirius wasn't normally attracted to. She had bright blue eyes, so big they seemed to take up most of her face, barely leaving any room for her small pink mouth and slight nose. Her hair was a spiralling mass of blonde curls; they didn't seem to have any type of order to them but they framed her face in messy disarray. She looked altogether too innocent for Sirius to have any interest in her.
Yet, he wasn't really being his normal self. Something about her made him curious. He wondered why she was alone, why she was curled up in the corner as if to attract as little attention as she could. He wondered why her lips were downturned and whether or not he would see tears in her eyes if he got any closer. He wondered if she had any friends at this party and if not then why was she here and if she did then where were they.
As each thought crossed his mind he found himself walking closer and closer towards her, his feet moving before his brain properly had time to catch up. Soon he found himself right next to her, so close he could reach out his arm touch hers.
"Hello." He said, clearing his throat somewhat awkwardly.
The girl jumped at the voice, her tiny face turning round to face him, her eyes widening making them seem even bigger. If that was even possible. Yet the strangest thing about it was her expression, she looked extremely terrified.
"Hi." She said, her voice no louder than a whisper.
"I'm Sirius" He replied, holding out his hand as if he meant to shake hers. His eyebrows furrowed at the expression on her face, the abject terror in her eyes.
She looked away from him now, her hand clenching around the plastic cup she held in her hand, as if she'd forgotten it was there. A golden bracelet was fastened around her right wrist, catching the light occasionally. She cleared her throat as if to say something but stopped. Her eyes focused on a point somewhere in the distance.
He cleared his throat, trying to get her attention again. He knew she clearly didn't want to speak to him and it was probably a good idea to leave her alone. But Sirius couldn't, he couldn't explain why he couldn't but he just couldn't.
She turned her face back to his, the fear replaced by a blank look that may have been scarier to look at. "I'm Violet."
It suited her, the thought came unwanted into his head. Yet it was true. She was pale and delicate looking, the sort of girl Sirius should have stayed far, far away from. He knew this and she probably knew this. Despite this he found himself leaning against the wall, leaning more towards her.
Violet's eyes flashed with an odd emotion, but before he could put his finger on it, it was gone. And so was she.
"I have to go." Her tone was completely devoid of emotion and she avoided eye contact as she wormed her way through the crowd.
Sirius was left gazing after her, wondering who the hell she was and why the hell he found her so intriguing.
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"We're stuck!" Lily shrieked, throwing her hands in the air with frustration.
"Yes for the millionth time we're stuck."
"I can't bloody believe it!" She seethed.
Ana stirred behind them, but merely cracked open an eye before going right back to sleep.
"Well we can just use your wand. We are magical you know." He said dryly.
She looked up at his words before her eyes shot wide open; she looked around wildly for a second, like an answer would just suddenly appear before her. "Bloody double fucking shit."
"Language Evans." James trilled, out of habit more than anything else.
"Oh piss off," Lily sighed. "For Merlin's sake I haven't got my wand."
"Haven't got your wand?" He repeated incredulously, "Well where the hell is it?"
"In my clutch," She replied, "Which I gave to Marlene when I had to carry this lump outside for some air." She gestured towards the sleeping girl on the bench beside her, a sour expression on her face.
"Well that's just fucking great." He murmured under his breath.
"Well," She said, "We can just use yours."
No reply came.
"James. I said we can just use yours? Right?"
He tried to ignore the little thump of his heart when she said his name, "Well..." He ran a hand nervously through his hair.
"Tell me we can use your wand..." She replied, her voice getting more and more agitated and high pitched as the seconds ticked by.
"Funny story," He said somewhat sheepishly. "I gave my wand to Peter so that he could have some kind of two wanded duel to prove who was better or something. I'm not really sure."
"So," She began, her voice shaking slightly. "You're telling me, that we are trapped out here. With just each other. With no wand to get us out."
"Sort off." He shrugged, hoping she wouldn't kill him.
"Perfect." She muttered bitterly, slumping to the floor in defeat. She looked heaven ward rather than at James, whose expression was somewhere between amused and annoyed, she vainly hoped that the stars would hold some answers.
The feeling to apologise rose up in James, though he had no idea why. This time, he hadn't actually done anything wrong. Normally things tended to be his fault, but in this case they were both to blame. He tried to shake the feeling off, deciding to sit down next to her instead.
She moved her face away from the sky to turn towards James, a desperate expression gracing her face. "What if we tried banging on the door to get attention?"
"Nah," He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully, "Too loud, with the music and the talking you can hardly hear yourself think, let alone too people banging on a door. It'll just blend with the music."
Lily glared at him, trying to convey in that look that it was entirely his fault; she then steadfastly ignored him to bang on the door. The sound echoed in the deck but seemed to make no impact on the people inside.
James sighed, knowing it was futile but wanting to help nonetheless. He joined Lily in banging at the door creating a cacophony of noises that did nothing to attract attention and everything to give them a headache.
"Let us out."
"Help!"
"We're trapped!"
After a few minutes of this James grew tired of the incessant wrapping on the door, something that was getting them nowhere. He stopped, slumping down against the door in defeat, watching as Lily continued to bang against the door: still clinging on to her last hope.
"Lily." He said, trying to get her attention away from the door.
She refused to look at him, staring defiantly at the door as if she could will it open with the force of her hand and the strength of her will. James rolled his eyes at her; she was always stubborn as hell and this time was no exception.
He caught her wrist mid tap, "Lily, for Merlin's sake no one's gonna hear us."
She turned her angry gaze to him, "Well what the fuck are we supposed to do." She threw her arms in the air as a hopeless gesture. Despite this, she stopped the banging. They sat in silence for a few minutes, the only noise the heavy breathing and snuffles of Ana lying asleep on the hard bench.
"I can't believe," Lily murmured, half to herself and half to James. "That I am stuck out here, with you."
"Well it wasn't exactly my first choice either." James replied bitterly, staring at the cold floor beneath him.
"If you just hadn't been here." She muttered, so quietly he wasn't sure if he was meant to hear it.
"Well I'm so sorry for ruining your day." He drawled sarcastically.
She gave him a pointed glare but ignored him, huddling her body closer in so as to conserve heat. James felt a yearning to offer her his jacket, even though he knew she wouldn't take it. She would never take anything from him.
"If you just had your bloody wand." She moaned frustratedly, looking dejectedly at the ground.
"I seem to remember I wasn't the only one without a wand."
"Yes," She allowed, "but I had a perfectly good reason."
He glared incredulously at her, trying to understand how she could simultaneously infuriate and infatuate him. "It wasn't as if I was expecting to be locked out with you, was I!"
"It's bloody common sense Potter!" She cried, knowing she was being a little unreasonable and not caring at all.
"If you want to place blame Evans," He replied, "You were the one who shut the fucking door behind you!"
"You're doing this! You're actually blaming me!"
"Blame where blame is due." He shrugged, regretting his words as soon as they left his mouth. He knew this night would only contribute to Lily's hate for him. He was wrong, although he didn't know it yet.
"If we're talking blame Potter," She spat out his name as if it was a bad taste in her mouth. "Why don't we discuss what happened by the lake!" She wasn't really sure where she was going with this, all the hate and anger that had festered inside her since that fateful day at Hogwarts was streaming out in globs of insults.
"Really? You want to discuss that now?" He cocked an eyebrow at her and she stared him down determinedly. "Fine! You want to talk about it we can talk about it. You want to blame someone! Why don't you place blame on that pathetic rat Snivellus!" They'd scrambled to their feet now, cirlcling each other like two animals looking for a weakness.
"This has nothing to do with him!" She shrieked shrilly. "This has everything to do with you being a bullying bastard with a head so large I'm surprised it doesn't weigh you down on your broomstick!"
"This has nothing to do with Snape," He said disbelievingly. "He was the one, the one who called you a – a..." He stuttered over the last word.
"A mudblood." She said, the word filled with quiet anger.
"I would never, ever call you that." He said, his voice shaking with uncontainable rage.
"Maybe," She replied, "but that doesn't mean you aren't a disgusting toad who gets off on other people's pain."
He looked at her; he could see in her eyes that she meant what she said. She hated him, she really really did. Of course, this wasn't really news to James. After all, she'd been rejecting him for years and insulting him along with it. But he could see it in her eyes, this time was different.
"I'm sorry," He said, his voice sounding like all the fight had drained out of him. "I'm sorry about what happened with Sniv—erm Snape. I'm sorry you hate me so much."
Her expression faltered slightly, but resolved with just as much anger as before. "Sorry isn't good enough."
"Jeez Evans," He ran one hand through his black hair, a nervous habit he couldn't shake. "Sorry isn't good enough."
She shrugged, avoiding his glare in favour of looking over towards Ana.
"You know," He said, "I reckon you'd even forgive Voldemort and his band of merry followers if they said they were sorry. In fact, you'd probably give him hug and tell everyone he was just misunderstood."
Lily rolled her eyes at his frank description of her, her arms crossed close to her body as if she was trying to hold in the heated insult on the tip of her tongue.
"Not me," He murmured bitterly, "Never me. For anyone else you'd forgive and forget if they just said sorry. Why me Evans? You won't forgive me."
The stared at each other, locked in a battle of wills. A battle about what no one was entirely certain was about, all they knew was that it was nothing good.
Suddenly the door flung open, filling the deck with loud music and flashing lights. A girl stood illuminated in the light from the door, her expression betrayed the oddity of the situation as she looked from James, to Lily, to Ana and back again.
"Marlene!" Lily cried, her voice coloured with relief.
"Erm hey Lily." Marlene said, her confusion showing through in her tone. "You were just gone a while so I came to look for you. Just in case Ana passed out on you or something."
"Thanks Mar," Lily said, looking like she could kiss Marlene with relief.
"Erm, you're welcome?" She replied, suddenly her expression changed from confused to knowing. She noted the close proximity between the two teenagers and the quite frankly crimson cheeks of Lily. "You know, I could just leave: if you two want to be alone..."
"No." Lily all but shouted, the answer leaving her mouth quicker than you could say Avada Kedavra. She shot a glare at James. "We can go, as long as you help me with Ana."
"Sure." Marlene said, raising an eyebrow at James' now foul expression. Although, if she was being honest, James glaring at Lily was not really a new thing: he either scowled at her or gazed at her like a love sick puppy. With the two girls sharing the weight of Ana they managed to manoeuvre themselves out of the room, with Lily rebuffing James's every offer to help and Ana's occasional moans. After a little effort they managed to prop Ana against a wall inside, James loitering somewhere else in the party.
Lily squinted to note the time on the small clock on the wall opposite. "It's nearly three and Ana can barely stand, I reckon it's time to go home."
"Right." Marlene agreed, leaning back against the wall to catch her breath.
"We just need to find Alice." Lily said, eyeing the heaving mass of people she was faced with. It seemed a gargantuan task.
"Liiiiiiiiiiilllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyy." Ana moaned, one glassy eyeball open. "Maaaaarrrr."
Marlene sighed, "Look I'll floo with Ana to hers ahead of you while you find Alice. We can meet there once you've found her."
It seemed like a very sensible idea, considering that a drunken Ana was probably not the best person to be with when you needed to search through a crowd of teenagers. They would be bound to lose her or she would collapse in the middle of the dance floor or something else not at all good would happen. Something not at all good happened anyway.
"Yeah, sounds good." Lily said, "Are you sure you're alright to get her home?"
"Course, one of us had to stay sober. Well, sort of sober." Marlene replied.
"Okay," Nodded Lily, "I'll go find her, stay safe."
"Aye Aye Captain!" Marlene mock saluted, her arm now wrapped around Ana's weight to support her.
With that, Lily was gone and Marlene was left alone with a near unconscious Analeigh.
She carried most of the other girl's weight as they half hobbled half walked towards the nearest fireplace. Ana wobbled and teetered in her skyscraper heels, her eyes nearly rolling back into her head with each step they took. Luckily the fireplace was not surrounded by too many people that they were forced to battle through.
There also was not floo powder disaster either; a small silvery jar clearly contained the emerald green powder they would need to get home. Marlene took a pinch, juggling Ana as she did so. They both stepped into the fireplace, well it was more like Marlene pulled Ana in.
"Mar, think I gonna be sick."
"I swear to god if you throw up on me on the way to yours." Marlene pulled a disgusted face, "Just hold on. Urquart Manor." The last part was not spoken to Ana but instead to the world, Ana clung steadfastly to Marlene as everything began to spin.
And then they were gone.
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Lily battled through the crowds, searching for any hint of mousey hair that may have belonged to Alice. So far she was having no luck. She had waved manically to girl she thought was her friend only for her to turn round at reveal herself as some unknown seventh year. Lily had blushed furiously and scurried off to another area of the room.
Eventually Lily spotted Sirius leaning on a wall against the makeshift bar; since not many of the people she'd seen were even vaguely familiar, she was glad to see him. Even if he was a bit of a prat. There was also a good chance that he'd seen Alice recently and she needed every chance she could take if she was ever going to leave this party with her friend in tow.
"Oi Black." She called out when she was close enough for him to hear.
He looked up from the drink he was clutching and grinned, albeit a grin that wasn't quite up to Sirius's usually high wattage. "Evans! How've you been? Break James's heart again?"
"Of course not, I doubt he has a heart to break." Lily said, coming to a stop next to him.
Sirius snorted but made no comment, preferring instead to look out across the party.
"I actually came to ask if you've seen Alice?" She continued.
"What? You didn't come here just for my stellar conversational skills?" Sirius replied in mock outrage. It was Lily's turn to snort. "Well sorry to disappoint but I can't say I've seen her. Isn't she off with Longbottom somewhere?"
Lily shook her head and scowled a bit, wondering how long it would take to find her now and cursing her friends for forcing her to go to the party in the first place.
"Have you tried..." Sirius began, but he never got a chance to finish that question before a loud crash stopped him mid-sentence.
The crowd parted, a sea of confused faces looking around to find the cause of the confusion and noise. In the centre of the room a girl stood, her face stuck in a blank mask as she stared straight ahead, looking as if she wasn't seeing anything. Her arm was still stretched out as if she could grasp the shattered bottle of Butterbeer that lay at her feet. Her hand shook as she gazed out in front of her. People began to mutter, some wondering if she was okay and others speculating if she was just really drunk.
Sirius recognised the bright blue eyes and curling mass of blonde hair, it was Violet.
She cleared her throat as if she was about to say something but people had lost attention. They were turning back to their friends and their drinks, paying no attention to the slightly crazy clumsy girl in the middle of the party.
Then, the music stopped.
The girl in question raised a wand to her throat, her eyes as utterly blank as they were before; she murmured an incantation under her breath. Her face was now turned towards the milling, distracted crowd.
"Attention." She called out, her voice magically amplified. People looked around confused; the loud booming voice not looking right emitting from such a petite girl. "I am here with a message from the Dark Lord."
The room grew silent, the tense sort of silence that seemed to become a real physical presence that surrounded every available space in the room.
Then the buzzing began.
Panicked muttering turning louder and louder as people looked for the source of the threat. One small teenager ran for the door, his face set in a mask of horror. The nearest door flung shut with a flick of Violet's wand, yet her face remained trained on a spot in front of her. Mass panic was near to breaking out.
"Silence." Violet called out, her voice clear and ringing.
A circle began to form around the girl, people scrambling backwards to avoid contact with her. Everyone's faces mirrored each other's: fear mixed with confusion.
"I have a message from The Dark Lord." She reiterated, "And you may not contact anyone. The floo line is temporarily cut off and, I have the power to destroy you with one word."
She lifted her arm up, a thick gold band was fastened tightly around her wrist, and it pulsed and glowed menacingly in the light. No one said anything, it was too much of a risk.
"I require a Mudblood." She called out, "A sacrifice."
The room exploded into talk, taut faces staring at each other in disbelief. Quick words were exchanged with their next door neighbours, nobody knew what to do.
"No." A lone voice cried from the back of the room. Voice soon followed, soft and quiet at first. Then louder. Not everyone, there were a few who were too frightened or too prejudice to respond.
But there was enough.
"You are really so attached to the scum? The filthy mudbloods." The emotionless voice was effective in once more silencing the crowd. "One word and I destroy this place. A mudblood will come with me or we will all die."
The protests died out, fading into nothing like the last note of a long forgotten song.
"I will. I will go with you." A girl stepped forward: pale skin, flushed face, red hair, determined eyes. Lily Evans.
"What are you doing Lily?" Sirius hissed, his hand gripping her arm as she tried to pull her back into the crowd. She shrugged him off and took a step forward.
"Lily no." Sirius repeated more firmly, tugging her back a few steps.
This time she turned to look at him, her green eyes shining with repressed emotion. There was a reason Lily was in Gryffindor: she was not one for stupid acts of pointless courage but for stepping up when real danger was felt. "Let me go Sirius." She said fiercely under her breath.
"Lily you can't!" Came a high pitch shriek from the other side of the room. Figures were being shoved aside as Alice made her way towards the front and the girl in the centre.
"I can. And I will." She replied, her feet carrying her another few inches forward.
"Are you a mudblood?" The girl demanded rather unfeelingly.
Lily gave one sharp nod.
"Good." She held out the hand not holding a wand, the hand where the golden bracelet winked menacingly.
"No. I won't let you take her." The voice came, husky and distraught from only a few feet behind her. James Potter was stood, his eyes burning as he raised his wand and pointed it straight at Violet's forehead.
"Potter," Lily said coldy, "You'll kill us all, just, just let me go." Her voice broke on the end, betraying the battle of emotions occurring inside her.
"Merlin Lily, if there's ever a time for first names. It's now." James said, leaning back on their familiar relationship.
Lily rolled her eyes and turned her head back to the girl, moving forward.
"I'm warning you." James said, taking his own step forward.
"Oh I wouldn't do that." Violet said tonelessly; as quick as a flash she reached forward and span Lily round, creating an iron lock around her waist. Her wand was pressed harshly into the temple of Lily's head, so hard it would create indentations on the skin.
James faltered, she'd moved to quickly for him to react without endangering Lily, she had her now. His wand remained pointed at Violet's head, his face torn and pained.
"I think that settles this." The messenger said. The crowd were shocked into silence, Sirius drew forward at touched James's arm; James flinched at the contact but stepped back. Across the circle Alice was frozen, her face stuck in the dark expression of horror and pain as silent tears of disbelief streamed down her face. She couldn't offer to take Lily's place because she was a pureblood.
"Lily," Alice whispered. "I-I..."
Lily laughed humourlessly, "Me too Alice. Me too."
"All sorted," Violet said, stepping backwards with Lily, her wand still jammed against her head. Everyone's eyes followed them as they stepped further and further backward until they touched a door. Without removing her eyes from ahead she removed the arm that restrained Lily, keeping her wand trained on her, and opened the door. They stepped through the door and it slammed shut between them.
Leaving them trapped on the other side of the door.
{}
The first sound that emerged when the door shut was James. "What the fuck are we going to do?"
People's eyes swivelled around to stare at each other, each hoping that the other person would hold the answer that would save them from this mess. Because, frankly, they had no chance.
They were so utterly unprepared people would've laughed if the situation hadn't been so far from funny. They were a bunch of teenagers, half of them had no wand and the other half was drunk. And up until that moment Voldemort had seemed like a far off threat, a story told to scare children and ensure they didn't stray of the right path.
Now he was real, he was there and he was dangerous. And no one had any idea what to do.
Alice's eyes hardened, her cheeks still stained with tear tracks as she stepped towards James. "I'll check if the Floo works, it may have been unblocked."
James nodded once at her, unable to produce anything more sympathetic. "What about Apparating?" He raised his voice so the whole crowd could hear, "Can anyone here Apparate?"
A few people nodded and raised their hands, James suddenly switched into Quidditch Captain mode as he spoke. This was what he knew: how to lead a team. "Right, try to Apparate. If you can't we know they've put wards up.
"Someone try the door." Sirius said, quickly following James's lead and supporting him, just like a game of Quidditch.
The girl nearest to it crept forward; staring at the door like it would suddenly attack her. Tentatively she turned the door knob quietly, it was as if the whole world stopped as everyone stared at the door. It didn't budge.
"Try Alohomora." Someone in the crowd suggested, but it made no difference as the door remained firmly stuck.
By this time Alice had reached the fireplace and was desperately trying to get it to work. She threw the green powder into the fire, closing her eyes as if she could wish it to work. "Ministry of Magic!" She cried out, the flames spluttered and turned a blazing green for a few seconds before fizzling out.
It was hopeless.
She frustratedly wiped the tears away with the back of her hand, refusing to look weak. "The Floo network is still down." She called back to them, her voice deceivingly steady.
"Damn it," James muttered under his breath, pacing backwards and forwards in a desperate hope to come up with an idea.
"James." Sirius said, trying to grab him as he passed. "James, calm down. Just think and breathe. We can come up with something."
He stopped pacing and instead stared unseeingly at the ground, his mind whirring as he tried to think. The crowd surrounded them whispering and muttering. They were locked in a house with who knew how many wards surrounding them. The situation was dire.
"We're running out of time!" James growled, slamming his hand against his forehead. "Think! Think! Think!"
The sound seemed to buzz around him, whirling around him and surrounding him as his brain worked overtime to figure out how the hell they could solve this unsolvable problem.
"Everyone shut up!" He cried out, tried to focus, people grew silent. "I've got it. Goddamn it Sirius, I've got it."
Sirius's face lit up for a second before turning urgent, he stepped forward to grip James's forearms. "What James? What?"
"House elves." James murmured, his voice marvelling. "They can get through the wards. Kreacher?" His voice lilted up hopefully at the end.
"No," Sirius stepped back, "Too risky, I don't know if we could trust him."
James cursed underneath his breath.
"What about Sookie?" Sirius offered.
James let out the first grin in what seemed like days, though in reality it was probably only hours.
"Perfect."
{}
Lily stumbled into the room after Violet, barely resisting the urge to start shaking or screaming. As she stood up and caught her breath she saw the other girl was already standing stock still, her wand still aimed directly at Lily.
This managed to get Lily to stand up straight, the fear forcing her to look the girl directly in the eye. She would not let her know that she was afraid, not until she was dead or tortured would she let the girl know she had won. Even if the war had only just begun.
"You are the hostage," Violet said, "The Dark Lord requires a Mudblood to make an example of. When you're friends are worked up enough we leave, and you will be publicly executed to let the world know to listen to our Lord Voldemort."
"I least I won't die for nothing." Lily said defiantly, "You think you can win but you can't. Using puppets to do your work," She pointed to Violet, "You are merely a pawn in their games, charmed into submission. This isn't the way you win a war. I may die but others will live and fight and win."
"Stupid, filthy..." The girl said, but then faltered. Her mouth opening and closing as if she was gasping for air but no words came out. The gold band burned so brightly Lily shielded her eyes as a reflex.
Suddenly Violet's eyes flashed gold too and she shook her head as if she was trying to dislodge something stuck in the recess of her brain. "I... I. What?" Her eyes were fuzzy and clouded, but they were no longer chillingly blank.
"Are you okay? Are you here?" Lily said urgently, stepping closer and letting hope colour her tone. Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance she was free from whatever was holding her.
"I don't.." Her eyes flashed gold once more, the bracelet mimicking it. Her wand snapped to attention once much and she raised her head higher, jabbing her wand at Lily. "Stay away from her you filthy Mudblood." She spat. Her eyes no longer held any expression.
Lily looked down disappointedly at her feet; she'd lost the slim chance she had to survive. And this girl had no chance to retain her free will.
"Fine." Lily said, taking a step backwards to avoid being speared by the end of her wand.
"We will be gone soon. And our kind will be eradicated." Violet said stiltedly.
"Our kind?" Lily asked, anything to keep the girl talking and to prolong both their lives.
"Disgusting Mudbloods and half-bloods." The girl replied. "Disgust..."
Her bright blue eyes widened until they took up most of her face as the words she was about to say became stuck in her throat. Once more there were flashes of gold. "I'm... Oh Merlin."
She looked down in horror at the golden band attached to her wrist, "Oh Merlin." She looked up from her wand to Lily and back again. "I'm so sorry, I am so so sorry. They... I need to tell you the plans, it's in my head. They're..."
Lily stared intently at her, moving closer towards her with concern and eagerness.
"They're..." Violet reiterated, her voice shaky. The bracelet pulsed and glowed as she spoke, she looked down at her wrist and her face twisted. "They've activated it. Step back."
Lily looked alarmed but jumped back, "Are you okay?"
Violet looked up skywards as Lily spoke, unseeing and unhearing, the band wouldn't stop glowing into the dark room. She opened her mouth as if to shout, but nothing came out. The girl sank to her knees, her features contorting until she no longer resembled an ordinary human being.
Lily screamed.