A/N: Well, what to say. Sorry (puppy dog eyes) had no inspiration at all! Feel better now…so here it is, hope its good :D.
You guys know the drill (:P)… R & R
Chapter 11: Never let me go- part I
The wind blew softly over the grounds. Autumn was slowly cloaking the ground in its magnificent golden plumage. Auburn, tan, golden-brown leaves were strewn everywhere.
Lily waded through the leaves, heading back to school after a walk. The mellow sunlight shone through the sparse canopy, formed by the few leaves that were desperately clinging to the branches.
"Lily!" shouted a blonde haired girl from the Hogwarts entrance. "We've got lessons soon, and you've got a package!" She waved a square package, wrapped up in plain brown paper. There was a letter attached to it.
"Ok, ok I'm coming." yelled back Lily, speeding up.
Lily arrived at the stairs, breathing heavily with rosy cheeks. She sat down next to the blonde-haired girl. "Let me have it, baby" she growled jokingly.
"You got it baby," laughed the girl tossing the package to her. "Here, I brought some toast along for you."
"Thanks, 'Lyssa," mumbled Lily to Alyssa, through a mouthful of toast. She finished off the toast and picked up the package.
There was obviously some sort of box inside. Lily carefully unwrapped it, without ripping the paper. Like she'd guessed there was a box inside. Lily gave Alyssa a dubious look. Alyssa returned it with an eager one, craning her neck to see what was inside. Her eyes, at a normal state would've been watery green, but because she was excited had gone bright blue.
Lily pried off the lid of the box gently. Crazy ideas sprung to her mind. Maybe it was a box of scorpions, a bomb, a cobra, an exploding cake, a murder weapon, a mutilated body part … a necklace.
A ruby necklace.
Tears.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"Miss Evans, are you feeling alright?" asked Professor McGonagall impatiently for the millionth time.
"Yes, Professor, I'm sorry." answered Lily, trying to make the golf ball in front of her become a glass of milk. McGonagall gave her a disapproving look as she accidentally made the golf ball turn into something ... that wasn't anywhere near a glass of milk. The boys in the room cringed and all the girls erupted into laughter. Lily went bright red and tried to turn it back. Suddenly it smoothly changed into a glass of milk.
"Mr. Potter! I do not recall asking you to demonstrate the transfiguration!" said McGonagall sharply.
James frowned slightly before replying, "Sorry Professor, but I felt disturbed and compelled to intervene."
The class laughed at his answer and Lily, by now, was red as her hair. She whispered 'Thanks' to James as McGonagall dismissed the class.
"S'alright," said James with a smile. "How exactly did you get it so accurate?"
Lily threw an empty inkpot at him, which he caught easily with his instantaneous reflexes. "Shut up!"
The two of them left the room together, joking and laughing, ignorant of the figure which tailed them in the shadows.
Lily left James when they got to the Common Room, to read the letter that had come with the stunning necklace that morning. She unfolded the rich parchment.
Dear Lily,
I take you liked your present?
Goes wonderfully with your hair, don't you think?
I would like it if you wore it for the upcoming ball.
Yours truly
Prince
Lily finished reading the letter and sighed. Who was this prince? Why all the secretiveness? And why did he send her an obviously expensive necklace? She didn't have a clue who he was.
She picked up the ruby necklace. It was heavy. The dark blood red stones shone deeply. She slowly fastened the weighty necklace around her neck. The stones were cold against her skin and they glowed eerily. As she looked in the mirror, it seemed as it they were drops of blood against her skin, she snatched her eyes reluctantly away from the mirror as she heard footsteps. She took it off and quickly hid it along with the letter in a secret storage place in the headboard.
Kaytlin barged through the door. "Lily, you coming? We're gonna go play Quidditch for a bit." She grabbed her broom.
Lily considered the idea for a while. "Alright," she said, following Kayt.
Alyssa was chatting animatedly with Remus. They we're having a debate about Rights of Magical Creatures, for a piece of homework. On seeing her two friends she greeted them and raised her eyebrows when Lily said she was going to play Quidditch.
"I'm not that bad!" said Lily indignantly.
"Uh huh," said Alyss and Kayt at the same time.
"Well, you're alright but after a while in the air you get really dizzy, and then it gets a bit dangerous." continued Alyssa quickly.
Lily huffed and marched over to join James and Sirius who were standing at the portrait hole. Kayt joined them and the four students traipsed down to the pitch.
"I could beat you any day in a race!" declared Kayt haughtily.
"Really?" smirked Sirius amusedly. "How about a race then, eh?"
"I'm game if you are," said Kayt without hesitation.
"Fine, three times round the pitch, around the posts, no cutting 'cross or disqualification," said Sirius quickly quirking an eyebrow at Kayt.
"Alright with me. Having second thoughts are we?" smiled Kayt confidently.
"Don't get your hopes up," drawled Sirius throwing an arm around her waist.
Kayt shrugged him and jabbed him with her broomstick. "Look, but do not touch," she said sternly.
Lily and James were talking seriously about the Slytherin Quidditch team. It looked more like a dissing competition.
"Lyther! Dunno how he became Captain … or on second thoughts better him than Ford, he'd probably break an iron broomstick,"
"Screw Lyther, think 'bout Hersler. Gawd, he could rip the Whomping Willow out of its roots without even pulling a muscle."
"Heh, tell me 'bout it! Wow the Slytherin's really are sensational!"
"Hahaha,"
"Yo dawgs, break it up break it up" shouted Sirius sounding kind of crazy.
"Erm … o-kay then …" said Lily, raising an eyebrow.
Kayt giggled fanatically.
"Ok you guys referee!" shouted Kayt to Lily and James, zooming around the pitch.
Lily jumped onto a broom she'd borrowed and slowly rose into the air confidently. James sped into the air and disappeared into the clouds. He came back a minute later, drenched.
"We're gonna have rain later," he grinned.
Kayt and Sirius lined up at the goalposts nearest to the School.
"You ready!" yelled Lily.
"Yeah!" shouted back the two.
"Ready, Set … GO!" bellowed James, tailing them as they shot off to ensure no cheating.
Kayt was ahead of Sirius but not far enough to be comfortable. She urged her broom forwards, leaning against it to be more streamlined. Sirius caught up with her easily and grinned at her. She frowned and pushed forward.
It was the last lap, and Kayt was tiring a little. She put a burst of speed on as they raced to the finish line. Sirius and Kayt were both neck and neck, shooting like bullets toward the goalpost when suddenly there was a scream, a dull thud and a cry of indiscernible emotion.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Lily slowly opened her eyes. She was in the Hospital Wing, with loads of people crowded around her.
"What happened?" she said quietly to Kayt who was nearest to her.
"You fell off your broom honey," replied Kayt gently.
"Oh," said Lily softly, looking around. James was watching her worriedly from the foot of her bed. Alyssa, was to her right, Kayt to her left, and Remus and Sirius were at the corners. She also caught sight of Peter slouching in the background.
"I'll be fine, you got lessons. Shoo!" said Lily lightly, smiling.
"Okay then. We'll come and visit you as soon as we can. We brought food along, get well soon, Charms is gonna be boring now," said Kayt pulling a face.
Everyone said bye to her and left, apart from James. He lingered behind, wanting to talk to her privately.
"Sorry," he said awkwardly.
"It wasn't your fault, you don't need to be sorry,"
"I feel as though I should've kept an eye on you,"
"James, you can't do everything at once,"
"I suppose, anyway how did it happen,"
"I really dunno, 'cos normally I'd get dizzy and I'd just get off before I fall off, but I wasn't dizzy or anything this time, so I haven't got a clue,"
"I might just be imagining this or maybe just being a bit paranoid but I thought I saw a cloaked figure in the Forbidden Forest, moments before you fell off, and it'd gone when I searched afterwards. Either something's going on or that was scarily coincidental,"
"Probably coincidental, don't worry yourself. It really was nothing I'll be fine by tomorrow! Just forget about it James,"
"I can't help being worried about you Tiger."
"I can look after myself,"
"Okay then, hurry up and get well, I'm missing you already,"
"Shutup and go to your lesson before I force feed you shit flavoured Bertie's Bott's!" threatened Lily jokingly.
"Okay, okay!" laughed James. He kissed her on the forehead. "Later Tiger."
"Later Kitten," she said sarcastically.
He gave her a weird look before striding out of the Hospital wing.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Plan A hadn't gone well. She was supposed to be higher but she was only 12 foot off the ground. There wasn't enough damage to Kill her cleanly. Now he'd have to use Plan B. This wasn't going to be nice. He'd waited so long for that moment, so long. When it came he'd savour it, treasure it, love it. Nothing will ever stop him and anything in his way would have to go to. The Prince is here to rule.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"LILY!" screeched Kayt in delight. "You look … a-mazing hun!"
"Look at you Stunnerella!" replied Lily with a laugh.
"Haha! Where's 'Lyssa, is she ready yet, stupid girl only remembers there's a ball a minute before it starts."
Lily and Kayt giggled for a while. Lily straightened out the ruby necklace in the mirror. She was dressed in a dress her mother had given her for her birthday. It was a beautiful metallic pink dress that was very form-fitting. It was made out of shimmery, thin water like material. A thin silver chain ran around her waist which was attached at the front with a small heart-shaped silver pendant that had a key hole. There was also a key hanging off the chain. If you looked closely, you see an inscription.
The holder of this key holds the key to my heart
Her mum and dad had got together when she had been wearing this dress for a Valentines Day Ball, so it was considered a lucky dress.
Alyssa and Kayt had continuously teased Lily about it and always coincidentally begin humming the Wedding tune whenever James was around.
"I'm ready guys, lets hit the dance floor!" said Alyssa running somehow gracefully out of the Dorm.
"Hi beautifuls, got your dancing shoes?" joked Lily amusedly.
Alyssa and Kayt both lifted up their skirts and tapped the heels of their shoes together. "What about you Dorothy?" they chanted in unison.
Lily grinned, picked up her skirts and tapped the heels of her red shoes together three times.
It was one of those tradition things that had started back in First Year. Lily had worn her favourite red shoes to the Christmas Ball, despite it clashing terribly with her dress, and since she always wore them her friends called her Dorothy and made her tap her heels together. So the tradition was; someone would say 'Let's hit the dance floor!' then Lily would answer 'Got your dancing shoes?' and then they'd both tap their heels together and say 'What about you Dorothy?' and then Lily would tap her heels together three times.
Lily hugged her two best friends feeling so happy to have them. Alyssa looked wonderful in a pale yellow ball gown that was very classic with a full skirt and gloves etc. Kayt looked more modern in a mid thigh length cerulean dress, with spaghetti straps. Kayt and Lily had left their hair out; Kayt's in ringlets and Lily's in soft curls. Alyssa had quickly put her hair up in a stylish, complicated bun (with the help of magic, obviously).
They walked to the Great Hall together, talking about their dates.
"Well, Remus asked me the other day, and it was just so cute!"
"Aw! Lucky you! Sirius just assumed I'd go with him, and when I was like 'So, am I going to the Ball with you?' he said 'Suppose so,' without even looking up at me and I got a bit pissed off so I said, 'Well, I dunno cos I was thinking about going with Callum -' and before I could finish he suddenly jumped up and said 'Come to the ball with me' with the sweetest puppy dog eyes I've ever seen apart from 'Lyssa's that is. So I yeah that's how I was asked out."
"Stop whining you guys, I haven't got a date!"
"What!"
"No!"
"I thought James asked you!"
"What bout the Prince dude?"
"OK OK GUYS! Slow down! First of all yes I have no date, number two no James didn't ask me, number three I'm assuming I'm with Prince though not technically." shouted Lily over her friends' voices.
They arrived at the Great Hall where their conversation was drowned by screams of delight.
"What's going on?" said Lily to a passing student.
"Erm the Contenders for the HSC have to perform in front the school and Miranda's doing something called Gimnarstics. It's muggle-themed so they have to do muggle things." said the girl before hurrying off.
"Ooo! She's doing gymnastics, wow! I wonder James's going to do…" mumbled Lily, sitting down at their table and watching her.
The long House tables had been replaced by several round tables that seated 8 people. Everyone had been allocated a place for dinner. Lily tore her eyes away from the hall as soon as she heard the announcement.
"Next, is James Potter of Gryffindor!" announced a fifth year.
James walked on to the makeshift stage. The audience seated at their respective tables leaned forwards eagerly.
He was wearing a tuxedo. He took off his coat of flung it onto the back off the chair on the stage. The first button on his shirt was unbuttoned, his sleeves were rolled up and he loosened his tie before sitting down. He was holding an acoustic guitar. James waited until the Hall was completely silent. He adjusted a microphone clipped to his shirt. All the lights dimmed and a spotlight was placed on him. A spotlight was also placed on Remus, Sirius and Peter who had suddenly appeared there with drums, guitar and a piano.
James said into his mouthpiece, "This is dedicated to a very special person." He looked straight tat Lily.
Peter began to play the piano and Lily immediately recognised the song.
James began to softly sing:
Did I disappoint you or let you down?
Should I be feeling guilty or let the judges frown?
'Cause I saw the end before we'd begun,
Yes I saw you were blinded and I knew I had won.
Lily let out a little squeal of excitement. It was one of her favourite songs. She absolutely loved it. (A/N: Wow! Aren't Lily n I similar … heh!). All of a sudden James looked directly at Lily and sang:
I know you well, I know your smell
I've been addicted to you
Goodbye me lover,
Goodbye my friend,
You have been the one
You have been the one for me.
Lily felt unbelievably sad as James sang to her. It was as if it was only the two of them there. She stood up to walk to him but was brought back to down to Earth by Kayt hissing at her and everyone was giving her weird looks. She sat back down; repressing her want to run onto the stage and kiss James like there was no tomorrow.
Half –way through the song, a note zoomed into Lily's hand. She unfolded the parchment, knowing it was from Prince.
Meet me at the Entrance,
I'll be waiting…
Prince
Lily detected a slight menace in the note but ignored it. She didn't want to leave, James was singing this song for her and it would kill him to see h er leave in the middle, but she'd also promised to meet this Prince guy and she was very curious.
Lily got up slowly trying to remain inconspicuous, but she stood out, glittering like a firefly in the darkness. She crept to the entrance of the Great Hall where she looked back at the stage. James was watching her confusedly; he stumbled over the chords he was playing as he gave her a searching look. She smiled apologetically before leaving the hall, without looking back.
She arrived at the Entrance and found it empty. The Doors were open and moonlight flooded in, casting its pale glow over everything. Lily spotted a petal lying on the stone step. She picked it up. It was a lily petal. Further down the path lay another petal. Lily walked forwards and picked it up. Another few metres away lay another petal. Lily followed them picking them up one by one. They were obviously fresh. She continued lost in thought, not noticing where she went, and by the time she did … she was lost, somewhere in the Forbidden Forest.
No one knew where she was.
Apart from one person.
One, single person.
The one that had brought her here.
And they weren't going to let Lily leave.
Ever.
…to be continued in part II…