A/N Another long wait. I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry!!! But here it is, so I hope you enjoy it!
December arrived with a bang. A blizzard on the first of the month caused freezing drafts to blow throughout the castle. It also made the trek to Care of Magical Creatures a long, sordid affair.
"Ew. My feet are soaking wet."
"Yeah, yeah Emmeline, mine are too."
"This is disgusting. How much longer is it?"
"Alice, stop whining. Class hasn't even started yet."
"But, how are we going to stay warm?"
"Honestly," Lily broke in impatiently. "Are you all stupid?" The girls exchanged glances.
"Um, no?" Lily sighed.
"Do warming charms ring any bells?" There was a long pause.
"Oh yeah."
"But what about now?" asked Emmeline. "My feet are still freezing." Lily looked down at her own dry shoes. She rolled her eyes.
"Let me go ahead." The girls obediently stepped aside. Lily began walking again, waving her wand in a complex pattern. At the end of each sequence, ten more feet of dry path would appear ahead of them.
"Wow, that's amazing," said Dorcas.
"No it's not," said Lily, "it's just a simple charm."
"Yeah," said Alice. "A simple charm none of us can do."
"What?" Lily stopped and looked at them. "None of you can do this charm?" They shook their heads. She looked confused. "Then why can I? I'm not even Pureblood."
Alice gave a little smile. "You're powerful Lily. You don't need to be Pureblood for that." Lily just shook her head and kept going. The five of them fell silent for the duration of the walk.
Professor Kettleburn was not an engaging man, but as he led them through the woods, Lily couldn't help but be fascinated by the beauty. The recent snow had left powdery whiteness coating the branches of the trees, and they hung down, looking like the finest white lace. Stopping in the middle of a clearing, Lily tilted her head up towards the sky. A sudden gust of wind cause some snow to blow off the trees. It curled and danced through the air around Lily, and she laughed with delight, slowly spinning around. She ended a turn to find Emmeline smirking at her.
"What?" Emmeline just shook her head.
"Oh, nothing. What do you think we're learning about today?" Lily shrugged.
"No idea. But I guess we'll find out."
Just then, Professor Kettleburn hurried into the clearing. He cleared his throat hurriedly.
"Good morning class. Today we will be looking for Snow Bells. Does anyone know what they are?" The class exchanged glances. Finally, a Ravenclaw put up her hand.
"Well, they're small, fluffy creatures that resemble snowballs and they can only be found after the first snowstorm of the year. They have all sorts of undiscovered magical properties and they're also supposed to be good luck to whoever sees them. But, um…" There was a pause.
"Yes?" prompted Professor Kettleburn.
"They supposed to be mythical, aren't they?" The professor smiled.
"Very good, ten points to Ravenclaw." He turned to address the class. "Yes to all of the above, except the myth. Snow Bells may or may not be good luck. But either way, they do exist. Snow Bells also resemble snowballs, but don't be fooled: They have a habit of taking to one person whom they will guard jealously. Upsetting them is unwise. And do be careful what you pick up and throw." The class looked confused. "Go. Try to find some. They are usually in and around this area. If someone finds one, please let me know and we will all go over quietly and observe. If we do not see one, your essay and drawing tonight will be based purely upon your readings." The class groaned, but went off as they were instructed.
"Snow Bells," mused Alice. "Do you think we'll have better luck together or apart?" Emmeline and Dorcas looked at one another.
"I don't care," said Emmeline. "I'm not going alone in here." Dorcas nodded an affirmative and they walked off.
"Lily?" asked Alice. Lily snapped back to attention. She had been staring around at the winder wonderland.
"Oh, um, I actually think we'll do better individually, but don't get too far away, just in case."
"Ok," said Alice. "I'll go this way." She gestured to her right. Lily nodded vaguely.
"I'll just…walk around." Alice gave her a strange look, but headed off with a, "suit yourself."
Lily stood alone in the silent clearing. She rotated slowly on the spot, looking around. Just then, a beam of sunlight fell from the sky, illuminating a small pathway. Lily hurried to the opening and pushed aside a branch that was blocking the way. She slowly followed the path further into the Forest. A few minutes into her journey, she heard a soft fluttering noise. She stopped and tilted her head slightly. The noise came again. To the right. Lily stepped off the path and came upon a small ravine in the snow. In it, a tiny, white bird lay struggling. Lily slowly knelt down in the snow.
"Hey," she said softly. "Are you ok?" The bird just looked at her. But it stopped struggling. It gave a pitiful chirp.
"Did you hurt yourself?" Lily looked at it. "Can I see?" Slowly, slowly, she reached out towards the bird. Carefully, she picked it up. It lay trembling and warm in her glove. She gently stroked the downy feathers with one fingertip.
"What happened to you?" she whispered. A small pearl of bright red blood rolled slowly down one wing and onto the snow where it lay on the icy crust. In horror Lily looked at her hand. The bird's blood was slowly staining her glove a crimson red. Lily felt sick. The bird gave one last twitch and lay still. Lily felt her breath coming in short, quick gasps. The bird had just, just died…in her hand. She carefully picked up the still-warm body and laid it on the snow. Taking off her glove, she slid the body into it. Sadly, she scooped out a hole in the snowbank. She laid the body inside, wrapped in her glove, and covered it with snow. She closed her eyes and winged a prayer for the little white bird. Then, she slowly stood up.
She looked for the path and realized it had vanished. She took a deep breath, hoping to quell her rising sense of panic. It worked, but only a little. She slowly started walking again, wand in hand. The sun was still shining, but the forest canopy was becoming denser, and now the sunlight merely dappled the ground here and there. Just then, something flashed in the corner of her vision. Turning, Lily saw a puff of snow rise up. Re-tucking her scarf into her cloak, she headed towards the settling snowflakes. Just then, there was another flash further in front of her. Lily paused, confused. She walked up to the location of the first flash and crouched down. One of her knees gave a soft crack as she leaned forward to examine the area. She saw a small divet in the snow. It was grooved, like something hairy or spiny had disturbed the drift. She stood slowly and headed towards the next flash.
Just as she came upon the location of the second flash, there was a third flash further up. Lily stopped short and looked around. The morning sun was still shining brightly, and the snow glimmered in the patches of sunlight. Nothing seemed out of place. However, to be safe, Lily drew her wand and followed the third flash. Then a fourth, fifth, sixth; the flashes kept coming. She looked around nervously as she walked, but the flashed seemed to be leading her out, not in. As she walked on, the dapples of sunlight were becoming larger, and gaps began appearing in the trees. Finally, she walked around an enormous old oak to come upon a clearing. She gasped in surprise. It was beautiful. On the far side of the clearing, the ice-covered lake glistened into the distance. On either side, huge trees bent under the weight of sparkling snow piled on their branches. Snow covered the ground of the clearing, still pristine, undisturbed. Smiling slightly, Lily stepped into the clearing. A soft breeze blew some snow off the branches and it whirled and sparkled around her. Lily laughed in delight. As she laughed, the snow seemed to dance ever more gaily. Soon, she was spinning around in the midst of a silvery white vortex. In the distance, she could hear a noise that sounded like so many tinkling bells, laughing with her.
While she was spinning, a small white blob seemed to detach itself from the vortex. It floated closer and closer. As it neared her face, Lily could make out two black eyes.
"Snow bells," she breathed.
The black eyes twinkled at her. Slowly, slowly, it drifted closer. It came nearer and nearer, until it touched her face. Instead of the warm furry nudge Lily had been expecting, ice shot from her forehead and raced through her limbs. Paralyzed with ice and fear, Lily felt her heart race. Blood careened in her veins. Lily felt her magic almost singing. The power grew and grew until it hurt. Her eyes squeezed shut, two tears sliding down her cheek. As the tear tracks froze on her cheeks, the power grew. The pain built and built into a crescendo of racing blood and pumping hearts. Bells rung wildly and Lily's head spun. Her eyes flew open unwillingly, and Lily saw that she was almost glowing. She lifted her right hand in awe, staring at she pearly sheen on her skin. Just then, the pain began receding from her limbs. Beginning in her fingertips and toes, it slowly ebbed away towards her heart. As the ball of pain and terror coalesced in her heart, Lily couldn't breathe. Just then, a red glow rose up from her chest. Lily watched with wide eyes as it traveled down her arm. Her arm straightened of its own accord, palm up, fingers stretching, reaching. The ball stretched into a vivid red line that bent and twisted. As it formed a lightning bolt, it began to settle into her wrist and fade. The Snow Drop moved away from her forehead to settle squarely in front of her face. Salvaeri, she heard in her mind. Head still reeling, Lily whispered the word.
"Salvaeri."
A bolt of white-hot light shot from her extended hand. A white bird twittered and flew away, across the lake. Eyes wide, Lily saw spots gathering at the edges of her vision. Then everything went black.
*&*
"Lily!" The voice sounded worried. It was a man's voice, deep and resonant. Lily wondered vaguely why someone was calling her name. She moaned softly, black was everywhere. Footsteps crunched in the snow. Then she heard her name again.
"Lily!"
She didn't move. The footsteps came closer and paused.
"Lily!" This time the voice sounded panicked. The person rushed closer and Lily felt a presence kneel down beside her. "Lily," it whispered. She felt a hand on her neck. She tensed, afraid. "Are you awake? Are you ok? What happened?" the voice asked.
"Gideon?" she whispered. There was silence. Her eyes flew open. More black. Lily's overextended brain couldn't comprehend. She blinked a few times. Open, shut, open, shut. Black. Lifting a hand, Lily touched her eyelids to make sure they were closed. She felt her eyelashes brush her finger as her eyes opened. Black. Darkness. "Your eyes…" the voice whispered. Then she understood.
"I can't see," she croaked. Her voice raped painfully in her throat. She swallowed and winced. It felt like strep. "I can't see." Her nose ran and she felt a tissue press into her hand. "You're freezing." She blew her nose and tucked the tissue into her pocket. Her hands were engulfed by larger, warm ones. She shivered violently, aware now of just how cold and wet she was. Then she remembered. She pulled her hands away.
"Gideon?" She asked again. The voice didn't answer. It wasn't Gideon anyway, she knew. His voice didn't sound like that. She tried a new name.
"James?" No answer. Then the voice spoke.
"Come on, let's get you up to the castle. You're freezing." Lily resisted.
"No, how do I know you won't take me somewhere else, I can't see anything, I wouldn't know." Her voice rasped through the silence with a surprising amount of bitterness. Lily bit her lip, tears welling up. She blinked, and felt a warm tear track its way down her cheek. There was a crunch as the person stepped closer. Suddenly, she was engulfed in a warm hug. Her stomach dropped and even her scalp tingled. The person was clearly taller than she was, as she could feel heat radiating even on top of her head. At first, she relaxed into the warmth; she was so cold…She pulled away.
"I need to go."
"Come on."
"No, how do I know-"
"Trust me." The voice cut her off. Lily stood in the cold snow, the tingling feeling still faintly in her stomach. And she did, she realized with a wrench. She trusted the voice. Laughing to herself quietly, she reflected on how crazy she sounded: "I trusted the voice." But she did. So she let the warm hand take her small, cold one once more and lead her slowly out of the forest.
In the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey the new, young nurse fussed and tutted.
"Oh you poor dear, hold on one moment, let me get you some dry clothes."
Now in warm, dry pajamas and sitting up in a comfortable bed, Lily slowly recounted her tale, omitting the part with Salvaeri. She felt a little guilty as Madam Pomfrey asked her one last time if that was all, but it seemed better to keep that particular bit of information quiet. She could feel Professor Dumbledore's eyes boring into her face-he had been summoned to hear her story-as she stared sightlessly down at her lap, where her fingers were entwined nervously.
"Is there anything else?" He asked. She shook her head.
"You are, of course, certain that there is nothing further you wish to tell me?" She paused.
"Actually," she said quickly before she could lose her nerve, "who brought me here? I didn't get their name to thank them."
"Ah." There was silence. Lily waited.
"This particular young man does not wish to have his name revealed. He assures me he just wants to see you get better, and is not looking for thanks."
"But…" Lily trailed off.
"If he does not want his name revealed," Dumbledore said, "than you have done everything you can regarding the matter. He does not wish to be thanked, thus you have no need to thank him."
Lily nodded.
"I will send your friends down to bring you up to your room. I will also send along a Dictation Device and a Magical Guide for your temporary use until you can see well enough."
"Thanks Professor."
"You are quite welcome Miss Evans. Have a good day." She heard him get up slowly from the chair and walk to the door. It shut with a quiet thunk and there was silence.
*&*
"Lily!"
"Are you ok?"
"Oh my god, what happened?"
"You just disappeared and then-"
"We couldn't find you. We tried though."
A warm hand slipped into Lily's.
"We were so worried," Alice said in a tiny voice. Lily's eyes watered as she held her arms out. Alice pulled her into a hug. Someone else added on and shortly thereafter, the Gryffindor girls stood in a tangled mass in the hospital wing.
Later that night when Lily was safely in bed in the Gryffindor girls' dorms, the other girls clustered around. After the chatter died down, Lily discerned that Alice was sitting on the bed next to her with Emmeline on her other side. Dorcas was sitting on the floor with Mary.
"So," ventured Dorcas. "What happened?"
Lily sighed.
"I went down a small path to look for the Snow Bells. I don't know why, it just felt like that was where I should go. After a few minutes on the path, I heard this rustling noise. I, I stopped to look, because whatever it was, I didn't want it to come after me or anything." Lily gave a short laugh. "It turned out to be a bird. A little white bird." She paused, seeing the poor twisted figure clearly in her mind's eye. "I wanted to help it, so I picked it up. It was…bleeding. It was sort of staining my glove…and then it died. I wrapped it, in my glove, and buried it in the snow. Then there was nothing else I could do, so I kept going. I walked until I came into a clearing by the lake. No one had been there yet, and it was beautiful. The snow was sparkling and everything. The wind picked up some of the snow and started tossing it around. I was laughing, when a small white creature came out of the vortex of snow."
"Snow bells," Emmeline breathed. Lily nodded.
"It touched my face and suddenly, it was like I was dying. My heart started pumping really fast, it was pounding so hard it hurt." Lily touched her chest, remembering. "I didn't know what to do. My vision started flashing, but I couldn't move. I saw this glowing red ball travel down my arm and settle…quick! Look at my wrist," Lily demanded. "Is there something on it?" She felt Alice take her arm. Her arm was twisted one way, then another.
"Stop," said Mary's voice. "Right there." A cool finger slowly traced the jagged line. "Like a lightning bolt…" There was dead silence. "But you can barely see it. Most people wouldn't notice it." The silence continued. Lily swallowed hard. She could hear her heart beating.
"Anyway," she said. "I heard this twinkling noise, sort of. I don't know how else to describe it. But I heard the noise say something in my head. It said this word, and then 'our gift to you.'"
Lily's sightless eyes swept around the room, perplexed. "Our gift to you. What does that mean?"
She heard a rustling noise, followed by a throat clearing.
"Right," the voice said hurredly. "Er, we don't know. What was the word?"
The room fell silent for so long, it seemed like an eternity. Into the black void of silence, Lily whispered the word. "Salvaeri." There was a rustling. The shades rattled, the window creaked. Then silence once more. Lily felt Alice shiver next to her.
"It felt," she whispered. "It felt like my magic was being pulled into my blood stream and racing around. I saw a white bird fly away across the lake. Then everything went black."
The girls sat in silence again. Then Lily felt Alice lean her head onto Lily's shoulder. Emmeline pulled the two of them into a hug. The bed creaked as Dorcas and Mary got on and joined the huddle. And for the second time that day, the Griffindor girls sat huddled in silence.
*&*
Lily's parents were notified, and immediately, Lily was bombarded with letters asking question after question. Was she ok? Did she want to come home? And others of the sort.
"It's making me rather crazy," said Lily one day. "I understand that they're worried, but this is ridiculous." She grabbed the paper from Alice's hand and shook the third ten-page letter she had received that week. "It's like my parents have gotten in league with McGonagall to give me as much homework as possible!"
There was a snicker from beside her.
"Oh hush," said Lily with a mock glare. "You wouldn't like it either if your parents started fussing."
"Lily," Alice reminded. "They're only concerned."
"I know," Lily groaned. "But couldn't they show their concern some other way than sending me letters that I can't read anyway?"
As it was a week later, Lily had begun to see bright colors, light and dark contrast, and blurry outlines. She had started trying to write her own papers, although she suspected that Professor McGonagall had been strongly hinting that she switch back to the Dictation Device on her last paper. Though she could write without running off the page, her handwriting was apparently not very legible.
Alice snickered. "Why don't you practice for McGonagall and write them a letter?" she asked innocently. Lily flushed.
"Shut up. She didn't actually say anything."
Alice laughed, and imitated McGonagall.
"Miss Evans, here is your latest paper. You may ask Miss Stockwell to read the comments." Alice cleared her throat with a very McGonagall-like cough, then switched to a 'Lily-voice'.
"Yes Professor?"
"Miss Evans, I was wondering if you had…lost your dictation device?"
"Er, no Professor."
"Ah, yes, well then."
"That proves nothing," Lily insisted, flushing.
"Yes, well I'm sure the numerous red comments on your paper were enough to clear up any misconceptions."
And Lily had to agree that she did, in fact have a point.
*&*
Within another week, Lily could see well enough to write her own papers, so she handed back the dictation device. As she rode down the spiral staircase from Dumbledore's office, she allowed herself a small smile. She could see again, mostly. But either way, vacation was fast approaching. As much as Lily enjoyed her schooling, she did admit that she was looking forward to seeing her parents again.
She stepped off the moving staircase and almost ran into James Potter.
"I am so sorry!" she exclaimed. "I wasn't looking where I was going at all. Are you all right?"
"Fine," he said curtly. "And you?"
"Oh, I'm fine. What are you…"
But he was gone, the gargoyle door sliding shut with an echoing scrape.
Slightly hurt, Lily stood for a moment in the corridor. Ever since she had started dating Gideon, James had been noticeably cool with her. It was almost like the beginning of the year when he had hated her. Although she wondered sometimes if she hadn't been privy to his moment of weakness, would he even speak to her? Was he only speaking to her out of some feeling of guilt or a desire not to have his secret revealed? She shook her head. Whatever his motives, James was no concern of hers; she had Gideon.
Additionally, they had a lunch date. She headed towards the kitchens, smiling. Gideon really was the perfect gentleman. He made her laugh, a bought her roses, he had been enormously helpful when she couldn't see. And because she still didn't see well at night, he had been generous enough to move their weekly dinners to Friday afternoons rather than evenings, though she was sure that the new time significantly complicated his schedule.
Turning the corner to the kitchens, she saw Gideon standing outside the portrait. She walked a little faster.
"Hi!" she said, smiling up at him.
"Hi yourself," he replied, grinning down at her. He moved his hand to cup her cheek. Gently, he bent down to kiss her. She wrapped her arms around his back and kissed him. It lasted for a moment or two, then he pulled away.
"How are your eyes?" he asked.
Lily rolled the startlingly green orbs for effect. "Fine," she said impishly.
He smiled. "Good. But seriously."
"Well, I can't see very well at night, but other than that, I'm fine. However, right now I'm rather nearsighted. If my sight doesn't come back after break, I will most likely have to wear glasses."
Gideon looked at her. He pictured her in glasses. "I can live with that," he said, smiling. "In fact, I;m sure you'll look even more beautiful in glasses."
Touched, Lily reached up to kiss him again. This one lasted a little longer. Finally, they broke apart.
"After you," Gideon swept his arm towards the portrait.
"Aren't you quite the gentleman," Lily teased. "But aren't you supposed to open the door first?"
Gideon mock glared at her. Then, he took a step forward. Lily raised an eyebrow. He pounced.
"Stop, stop, stop! You win…just stop tickling me!"
Gideon laughed. "Ok, but who's the best?"
Lily took a step back. "Me." She grinned and dove through the now open portrait hole. Gideon followed her, laughing all the way.
*&*
In Dumbledore's office, James Potter stood staring out the window at the snowy grounds. He could see students having snowball fights. Some older kids were bewitching snowballs to follow people around. James remembered when he would have thought that was funny. He didn't now. It just seemed stupid.
"James," Dumbledore's voice came from behind him. "Have a seat, won't you?" James turned around and walked to wards Dumbledore's desk. There was now a squishy armchair facing the headmaster's desk. He sat down.
"Lemon drop?" Dumbledore asked.
James shook his head. "No thank you," he replied curtly. Dumbledore sighed.
"I shall not waste your time. As you know, the man who calls himself Lord Voldemort is gaining power. New supporters are constantly joining him, and more people die every day. As the situation is such, I would like for you to remain at Hogwarts over the Christmas break."
James nodded silently. He had always, always gone home for break. The idea of staying at school had repulsed him. Unfortunately, there was now no home to return to.
"Mr. Black will be staying also; I have already spoken to him." Dumbledore paused, his blue eyes surveying James carefully.
"I would not ask this if I did not think it was important."
James nodded once. "I know."
"You will, of course, be sleeping in the Gryffindor dorms. I believe Mr. Black has already…completed the arrangement."
There was another long pause.
"If there is anything you wish to talk about, please do not hesitate to find me." James nodded yet again and stood up. "May I go?"
Dumbledore looked at him sadly.
"Just remember that it is all right to grieve. No one will think less of you for thinking about people you have lost. Just do not bottle it up. You will find, I am sure, that it is quite unproductive."
But the last part of the sentence was lost as the office door closed behind James. Dumbledore heard the gargoyle grind shut and echo into silence once more.