Sorry it took so long to update!! But I'm back!!! And I think I've found some renewed vigor for writting my fics, recently I've just been struck with random ispiration. Hopefuly that helps!!
alright... I'm gonna skip the disclaimer, cause really. Haven't you people already figured out I'm not her??
.....
Thought so.
CHAPTER 3: As the Tides Change
James Let his head slump into his palm, while his elbow supported it, pushing into the hard wood table.
This was the fourth date he'd gone on this week.
Well, more like forced on.
He looked at the woman who sat across from him. She had chestnut hair, and blue eyes clearer than rain.
He'd have to be a fool to not admit that she was stunning. And smart too. That was mostly the reason Sirius and Remus had picked her out for him. They kept going on about how he needed to 'move on' and 'let go'. But he couldn't, that was the worst betrayal.
Yet he hated going home each night, alone and empty, to his dark apartment in London.
James could tell that his friends were beginning to worry about him. Much to their dismay, instead of establishing a relationship with someone, he would go back to their places, quickly bed them, then be on his way early the next morning.
This was becoming some kind of unfortunate pattern.
Remus and Sirius were determined to break it. They just needed to find the right girl.
He looked back to his date. Feeling bad for not listening to a word she had said, he tried to catch on in the converstation.
"...It's just fasinating, don't you think?" the woman asked.
"Erm."
She chuckled softly, earning an odd look from James.
"You weren't listening were you?"
"Uh.... well, I mean, no, no i wasn't... sorry." He stuttered.
She laughed again, it vibrated around the space, tinkling like bells.
"So would you mind telling me what's actually on your mind?" She asked.
James grimaced lightly, and rubbed the nape of his neck with his free palm.
"Don't worry. You don't have to think of me as a date."
James sent her yet another questioning glance.
"Honestly! I know that's what Remus and Sirius intended this to be, but I know... well I sort of know how you feel."
"Right." He scoffed. This was probably just another girl who had heard what happened, trying to sympathise with him, in hopes for another date.
"I do." She defended. "Four years ago, my boyfriend was killed on a mission for the Auror Department. I was devastated." She looked down, blinking back tears.
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"Look, Charlotte. I know you mean well. But well, I just don't know if I'm ready yet." James replied.
Charlotte nodded.
"Plus, there was never any body, so there's a chance that she could still be out there somewhere!" James cried.
She looked at him with understanding eyes.
Who was this girl? Most of his dates would get fidgety by the time her discussed his fiance... well ex fiance. But no, instead she was trying to talk to him about it?
He had to admit, this was new.
James slumped back in his chair. Only minutes into this conversation and he was already exhausted with it.
"James," She began.
He lifted his head up to meet her cool blue eyes.
"I'm not telling you to forget about her, nor am I say that she's dead. From what I've heard Lily seems like a wonderful person to be around."
James flinched at her name.
Charlotte continued, "But I'm sure, where ever she is, she wouldn't want you to waste your life away, brooding over her."
"I do not brood." James whinnied slightly.
She smiled softly, "No, of course you don't, but you will. In time, trust me."
He shook his head, attempting to clear his thoughts. So many memories had been recovered from the far back corners of his mind, and had begun to hit him full force. But the clearest thought that stayed securely in front oh his eyes was wondering where Lily was now.
X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X
She arched her back. The muscles dully stretched beneath her skin. Throwing back her dark hair, she sat up and looked out the window. It could hardly be seven AM. She hadn't even had a full six hours of sleep yet, last night's mission took longer than expected, dragging out into the ungodly early hours of the morning.
Falling back against her old matress, she let out a groan, then turned to her side facing away from the light streaming in through the glass.
This was the part of the day she despised the most.
Waking up.
In her dreams, her thoughts pooled around the fantasy that she was no longer in this place, but somewhere far, far away accompanied by a certain raven haired man.
Tossing and turning, willing herself to fall back into her imagination, taking her away from this wretched place.
It was no use. She was up, and it seemed as if she was going to stay that way.
Sighing she pulled herself from the bed, grabbed her wand and quickly padded down the cold, stone corridor, in search of something to eat.
-
Luckily the kitchen was empty. Apparently everyone else had either gone home or had the same thoughts she had just moments ago, and stayed in bed.
Quietly, she snatched a couple slices of bread from a drawer, and went to retrieve the jam from the cupboard.
She settled down at the small, rickety old table by the stove, and slowly chewed her toast, dreading - like always - the day that was to come.
Lily glanced at the clock.
8 AM.
she swiftly scanned the room.
No one was there.
She sighed, and ran her petite, tanned hand through her long, dark locks - a habit she had picked up from her last boyfriend.
fiance.
No. She couldn't bring herself to admit that was what they had been. It only made the hurt burn, ten times stronger.
She pushed herself from the table, stowed her dishes in the sink, and quietly padded her way back down the hall.
-
She had met no one going to and from the kitchen.
That was odd. Usually by at least seven thirty, the small space would be packed with the foul characters.
Lily groaned.
Of course, she was also a part of the group now to.
And how she despised everyday of it.
She hated thinking about what had been, and soon found herself jogging along the secluded paths around the mansion.
Stopping by a large boulder, she took many shallow breaths.
Slumping against the cool rock, Lily closed her eyes and incidentally let her mind wonder.
-
"Victoria!" Cried a harsh voice.
Lily was suddenly wrenched from her thoughts.
Fuck.
She was late. That was never a good way to start off a meeting.
Lily wondered who it was, this time, that was sent to find her.
"VICTORIA!" called the voice again.
Admitting defeat, she reluctantly walked along the narrow path back towards her personal prison.
"Alright, alright! I'm here, don't get you're nickers in a tiwist, dammit." She responded when she was only a few paces away.
"Victoria." He hissed.
"Don't you know what happens when your late to the meetings?"
"Oh for Merlin's sake Snape. Shut your bloody trap." She snapped. "I don't need to hear the fucking speech again."
"Lil-,"
"Shh!" She quieted him harshly.
"You know you can never call me that here!" Lily scolded.
''Well then, Victoria, will you please come with me now? The Dark Lord is beginning to become impatient, we must return quickly."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." She replied, allowing herself to be dragged across the grounds by Severus Snape.
She supposed it could've been worse.
He could've sent someone like Lucius Malfoy.
She shuddered.
Now, hewas absolutely atrocious.
-
She took yet another shallow breath. Yet this time, instead of leaning against the cool boulder, she was now facing a pair of heavy-set doors, that loomed dangerously before her.
"Just go." Snape hissed from behind her.
Lily positioned herself in a different manner. With her head held high, and a cold blank look in her eyes, she confidently gave the large doors a solid shove and swiftly walked through the passage. At the end of the poorly lit corridor Lily found herself faced with a ring of about a dozen figures clothed in black robes, surrounding a sinister looking man seated in a high backed silver chair.
Without hesitation she cut between to figures and made her way to the middle of the circle, deeply bowing to the man in the chair.
"My Lord." She said, her eyes cast downward towards the man's dark dragon hide boots.
"Ah, Victoria. I was beginning to wonder when you were going to grace us with your presence." The man drawled.
"I'm sorry master, I was on a jog along the paths."
"There is no excuse." He stated simply.
"Yes." Lily agreed, her eyes trained on the stone ground.
"And of course there shall be a punishment." The man continued.
"Of course my lord."
Without a second thought Voldemort lazily flicked his wand at Lily.
Her piercing screams shot through the silence like a knife. She had learned early on that if you reacted in the appropriate way, i.e. screaming, then it wouldn't be as bad.
Soon, his game was over and she was sent to take her place in the ring, while silently pulling on her black robes and mask.
Voldemort sat higher in his seat and coolly glanced through every mask, his eyes piercing into each of the minds, leaving nothing secret.
"So my friends," He began. "It has come to my attention that the foolish Aurors are going to try to intercept our little exchange."
Quite murmmurs broke out at this statement.
"Yes, yes." He waved his hand absentmindedly.
"Quite ridiculous that this were ever plausible, but we still must take action."
The figures nodded in compliance.
"I also have received word that the Order is to aid them." Voldemort added with a slight venom.
Lily glanced nervously around at this statement.
"No matter though. This shall not deter us from our main goal. I have no doubt that we will effortlessly overpower them."
A few people nodded vigourously in response.
"And with a bloody idiot as a leader in their plan, it shouldn't be hard."
Lily blinked. Who?
"Who, my lord?" a brave voice rang out.
"James Potter." He spat.
Lily's eyes grew significantly in size behind the slits in her Death Eaters' mask.
Voldemorts eyes found hers, and burned into her retinas. He had predicted her reaction.
"Victoria," He said as if he just realized something. "You will be the one to head this operation."
"But my lord-" broke in Lucius Malfoy.
"Silence Lucius. Victoria must be the one." And he left it at that, his red eys still searing holes into her once green eyes.
YES! Another chapter down!!! I'm excited! I think this story is going quite well, and smoother than i actually expected. I'm glad!
I really do hope you enjoyed it, like the title's name, this chapter was really more of a catch-up on their lives and a slight look into what could possibly happen. I hope i got that across.
but PLEASE REVIEW and tell me your thoughts!!! :D
always,
Living my chaos.
till next time....