A/N: Stardust here revising again in 2006. This chapter, as it is now, is chapter four but it is replacing what once was chapter four AND five. It still ends in the same spot only both chapters are now one. Therefore the story is a chapter shorterthan it used to be(although if you look at number of words it's actually longer than it was before…) I tried to clear up any confusion and I added a bit and changed a bit so that, I think you'll find, everything is a bit more cohesive.
I realize that by revising chapter by chapter instead of as an entire entity I may be confusing the story a bit. I am trying not to change details but in the interest of cohesiveness (when it's finished, at least) and in the interest of the actual telling of the story it makes sense to smooth out the rough edges. So, if anyone is confused and has questions I can of course reply to reviews but am also happy to receive e-mails; (AT, you know, doesn't like the e-mail formatting...)
The Last Laugh
Chapter Four: Mirror Insights
By: Stardust
Before the blinding flash of green light had subsided the death eaters had vanished, leaving their eerie dark mark to loom overhead. With a start Lily was suddenly in a sitting position.
"Are you alive?" Lily asked frantically, reaching out to James.
"Yes, I think so. Are you?" He asked, sitting up more slowly as he was focusing on the aches all over his body.
"I feel alive," Lily replied slowly her eyes searching around in the darkness. Most of the people seemed to have fled and most of the lights had gone out.
Dumbledore, standing near them, lit his wand tip and illuminated the small group.
"Lily, oh my God!" Sirius shouted stumbling toward them. Lily quickly rose to her feet and so did James beside her. "I heard you scream and I thought the worst…" He said, his voice faltering and his face twisted in pain.
"Oh my Heavens!" They heard Professor McGonagall gasp nearby.
There were ministry officials swarming around by now and Dumbledore was directing the removal of a body--of Angela Star's body.
Sirius immediately started to move toward them but McGonagall held out an arm to stop him. She shook her head once at him and then bowed her head and dabbed her tears silently.
"Sirius!" Lily cried, grabbing him around the middle and giving him a squeeze. Sirius, after his initial response, was too horrified to react. He just watched them carry Angela's body away--her blonde hair trailing over someone's shoulder--an empty expression on his face. James instinctively started to back away from Angela's body as the officials started in their direction. His foot crunched something on the ground.
Curiously, he picked up a ministry ID tag and illuminated it with his wand. The bland face staring back at him was that of twenty-one year old Dale MacMillan. James recognized him as a Hufflepuff who graduated two years before he did. With a shock James realized he must have knocked it from the death eater he tackled. His head snapped up to look into the ghastly face of the dark mark and then back down at the ID tag.
Near him he could hear Lily's sobs and Sirius's sniffs. Sirius had an absentminded arm around Lily's shoulders. Officials were clearing Angie's body away on the other side. And here he, James, was with a damning reality check. Everything had happened so quickly. No one had had time to think, just react. The death eaters had caused untold destruction—taking the breath out of a life. And they had escaped…
Staring at that picture James suddenly realized how serious the situation had become. Dale MacMillan had been a Hufflepuff, a quidditch player, a few years older than him, someone he would have trusted. Not only that he was a ministry official. And now he was part of an organization that participated in senseless killing. Angela Star was dead and he or Lily could just as easily have been dead. No one was safe.
Suddenly James felt like he was going to be ill.
Long after Angie was gone Sirius's eyes had dried but he continued to stare at the place where her body had been. Tonight was Halloween. Three years ago her mother had been murdered on the exact same night, possibly by the exact same person.
Eventually officials from the ministry dared to venture over to the three. It took James a minute or two to get a hold of his voice and then his wits. He had to explain what had happened and turn over the ID tag.
Lily gathered herself up enough to relay what had happened to a couple wizards. James was awed by her amazing ability to compose herself. The last thing she remembered was seeing Angie get to her feet, her wand outstretched in front of her. James had reached her by then… and suddenly green light everywhere and she felt herself pitch back and slam into the ground.
Lily could barely swallow everything that had happened tonight. She had lost her best friend, and nearly lost her own life. Angie's life was possibly taken by someone they had gone to school with; someone they would have probably trusted; someone who had worked for the ministry.
Eventually Professor McGonagall made her way back to the small group. Most of the ministry officials had gone by now and the Dark Mark had finally been erased from the night sky. "Professor Dumbledore asks that you three come up to the castle for what's left of the night. Madam Pomfrey is anxious to check you over." The three nodded solemnly and they made a somber procession up to the castle. At that point McGonagall could have suggested they all re-take her Transfiguration N.E.W.T. and they wouldn't have had the will to protest.
The night seemed eerily quiet after the excitement of earlier. The happy chattering, cheers, and laughter had changed into screams of terror…it all echoed in the far off reaches of the mind now… Lily could feel the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end as they made their silent way across the dark Hogwarts grounds. The light of the full moon only seemed to further creepify the landscape. How many times had she walked these grounds in the dark? Now they all seemed unfamiliar and scary. She moved closer to James and he gave her hand a tight squeeze.
Dumbledore cautiously woke Madam Pomfrey who fussed over the kids and forced chocolate on them. They were all silent and took beds without protest. Even though they were all physically exhausted, bruised, and sore sleep was impossible or troubled. The horrors of the night would take time to fade.
Lily awoke sometime late the next day. The hospital wing was carefully darkened but sunshine was peeking in around the edges of the draperies. She felt worse this morning than last night. Her limbs had stiffened considerably and her head was pounding. After lying in the dark for a few minutes she slid back the curtains around her bed. She looked over to the bed just left of her and nearly shrieked aloud.
There was James, but he looked to be about fourteen years. He had that same untidy hair so black it almost seemed to have violet undertones in the right light. He had black-framed glasses, but underneath them were brilliant green eyes--not unlike her own. She blinked. Staring open-mouthed, unable to speak for a moment, her eyes traveled over the contours of his face and fixed on a thin scar that, with careful examination, turned out to be shaped like a bolt of lightening.
A bushy brown-haired young girl with a sagging bag stuffed with books was saying her good-byes to the James look alike. Lily continued to stare, unable to help herself. After the brown-haired girl left the boy had no choice but to acknowledge Lily who couldn't tear her eyes away from him.
His cheeks turned slightly pink under her gaze and she realized, finally, that she was being rude. "I'm sorry," Lily murmured softly. "You remind me of someone…"
"Uh…" The boy said, unconsciously flattening his bangs over the scar on his forehead. "I get that often," He mumbled.
"Oh," She replied, still eyeing him curiously. She knew she was making him uncomfortable but she just couldn't help it. She was tracing his profile in her mind and noting the similarities between this boy and James.
"Lily? You awake? LILY?" A voice was calling her. She blinked and turned to her right. James was sitting up in bed. He gave her a sad smile.
She quickly whipped back around to her left. There was a boy sitting there, probably about fourteen. But he didn't have black hair and he didn't remotely resemble James.
Had she somehow just dreamed all that up?
"Hey!" The boy said a little loudly to get Lily's attention. "I asked you if you were Lily Evans."
"Yes," Lily replied somewhat surprised. "But how did you know?"
"You were head girl here last year, weren't you? But what are you doing here? You've graduated now…haven't you?" The boy pressed, his brows drawing together in thought.
"I'm sure you can read all about it in the paper," James told the kid as he hid his face in his hands. He felt like hell.
"What's going on? Are you in trouble?" The boy asked becoming excited and sitting up straighter in his bed. A spark warmed his eyes.
James sighed and let his hands slide down his face. "We were attacked last night in Hogsmeade," James said simply enough.
"Wow!" The boy exclaimed, his eyes widening. "Did you catch your attacker?"
"One, maybe."
"What happened?" The boy asked almost breathlessly. He was sitting up, nearly on the edge of his bed now. Lily, giving James a sympathetic look started to explain briefly. When she got to the part about Angie dying she wasn't sure if she was going to be able to keep going. It was getting harder to make her voice work.
"Angela? Angela Star?" The boy repeated encouragingly.
"You remember her?" Lily asked, nodding sadly.
"Yeah, anyone who was in Gryffindor when Sirius and Angie were going out knew who they were. They also knew every detail of their relationship because they would scream at each other for hours." He said rolling his eyes. "But," He frowned. "She's here." He pointed toward the end of the hospital wing.
"What?" Lily exclaimed, sitting bolt upright. She felt a shoot of pain rip across her head but she could barely pay attention to it. "You must be mistaken."
"No, it's her, I swear."
"That's not possible." Lily whispered. All the same she leapt out of bed and ran to the other end of the hospital wing. James, who was listening, followed anxiously.
There was a bed hidden by curtains which Lily threw out of the way only to discover a bed, with a body in it. A body that was almost completely hidden by blankets.
"Oh!" Lily exclaimed and put a hand on her mouth. There Angie lay but she had the pale of death in her face. Her hands had been folded carefully and she looked ready for the casket.
Lily slowly sank to her knees, tears blurring her vision. She realized how incredibly weak she felt, she never really thought that being close to a powerful curse could effect you so much, but it had. Even after eating more chocolate than she ever cared to dream about she still felt weak and defeated.
"You'd better lie down," James said gently laying a hand on her shoulder. He carefully closed the curtains and led Lily back to bed where she continued to cry silently.
James lay awake and let his mind wander freely. He thought about what last night almost was. Then he thought about school. He'd have to go back tomorrow; he'd have to go back until Christmas. He'd write Lily everyday, every single day, he promised himself.
He had flashes from last night. He remembered the horrible, sick, empty, feeling he got when he saw Angie lying there. He remembered staring at that ID tag, looking into eyes of the person in the picture on it. He felt himself get cold and he felt sick again. He grabbed a piece of chocolate and forced himself to swallow.
Pictures of the Dark Mark and Angie's body morphed into the horrors of the night his parents had died. He kept hearing screams—some were his own, some were others but they all carried a certain note in them. There was a difference between a scream of terror and a scream of death. When death was near the voice changed subtly but perceptively.
The feeling of helplessness and death was engulfing his body. His heart was racing but he felt paralyzed. His breath was fast and shallow and his chest started to ache. James grabbed his chest, feeling like he was suffocating.
Suddenly he sprang from his bed and paced up and down the corridor for a few moments. He forced himself to stop thinking about dying and to start thinking about breathing. Finally he stopped, collapsed onto the bed, and cried.
Lily hadn't realized that she had fallen back asleep again. James and Sirius were now sitting on the same bed talking in hushed tones. The rise and fall of their voices had eventually penetrated her slumber and she reluctantly stretched and opened her eyes.
Hopefully she could go home soon, write a letter to her Mom, and maybe she would feel better.
At the other end of the hospital wing Lily could see Madam Pomfrey emerging from behind the wall of thick curtains and a new sense of sadness overwhelmed her.
"How are you feeling dears?" She asked kindly.
"I'm just sad," Lily replied. Sirius and James gave her meaningful looks. Madam Pomprey nodded sadly in agreement.
"Your body feels better though, yes?" She asked. They all confirmed with nods.
"I have a favor, if you wouldn't mind having something to do to take your minds off things? I shall require the assistance of the Potions master very soon and I imagine the Headmaster will want to talk to you as well. Tell Professor Henner to please hurry."
"Certainly," Lily said hopping out of bed. She ran a hand through her hair and pressed down a few wrinkles in her clothes and headed to the door. James sidled up beside her and put his arm around her waist, giving her a little squeeze. She leaned closer to him for a moment, acknowledging his concern.
"You two go get Henner, OK? I'll get Dumbledore," Lily said when they were all in the hallway. They silently agreed and set off towards the end of the corridor until they went their opposite ways.
Henner, of course, was the potions master. He was an excellent teacher, a tad grumpy at times, but as he explained he was near his retirement and had earned the right to be grumpy with students who were a quarter of his age. He had, unfortunately, fallen victim to many pranks from the marauders.
James and Sirius walked on for quite a while in silence. They had been carefully avoiding last night's events in their previous discussions but it hung over their heads like an over-protective parent on a teenager's first date.
"Hey James!" Sirius exclaimed suddenly stopping in the middle of the hallway. His voice, no longer flat, had regained some of it's old vitality. "You never did it, did you? You never pulled out the ring!"
James stared blankly at Sirius and shook his head. He put his hand deep into the pocket of his robes and clasped the little box in his hand. "What now?" Sirius asked.
James shrugged. "It doesn't seem right now," He said. "Not that I still don't want to marry Lily; happiness just seems wrong at a time like this." Sirius remained silent and they continued their walk.
James couldn't get the image of Lily being carried off, screaming and reaching for him, out of his mind. She was in the center of that ring of masked-evil. A shudder ran through his body and his throat started to constrict.
Almost as if Sirius could read his mind he spoke, raising his voice up a little louder.
"What do you think Madam Pomprey needs Henner for?"
"Dunno," James replied, finally able to shake the images out of his head. "A cure-all?"
"Is there such a thing?"
"I don't know, like I ever paid attention in potions," James said letting his lips curl up in what would normally have been a smile. They reached the classroom door and knocked, but they didn't wait for a reply, instead they burst right in, in the middle of a class of seventh year Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs.
A wave of chatter swept across the room. Sirius smiled smugly, glad to see he hadn't lost his touch. He was still a bit of a legend at school, especially among last year's sixth years.
"MERCY!" Henner screamed when the terrible twosome entered. "I've died and gone to hell!" He proclaimed throwing his wand down on his desk. "Don't tell me you two failed!" Sirius grinned broadly and winked at James, his eyes having regain some of their old spark. Henner had caught the worse end of many of their pranks and jokes over the past seven years since they had always had his class after lunch.
"You're assistance is needed in the hospital wing." James said simply. Henner raised an eyebrow.
"What?" He asked blankly.
"Well, you know, I'm sure we could find a filibuster firework if you really want..." Sirius suggested.
"No, no, no. I'm coming. You two just stay and watch..." He seemed to consider what he was saying. "NOBODY MOVE UNTIL I GET BACK!" Henner yelled at his class, the vein in his head popping menacingly. "You two," He said with a nasty edge in his voice as he rounded on them. "Come with me," James and Sirius shrugged. They both turned and waved to the class as they disappeared out the door.
As soon as it had closed, an excited buzz rose about the classroom, it was mostly the girls talking and giggling madly... James and Sirius were most definitely NOT nonentities at the school. In fact, they were something like legends. They were insanely popular quidditch stars and held detention records.
Henner began to walk down the hall, then stopped and turned to the two boys behind him. Clearly not wanting to become the next victim to another one of their jokes he made a signal for them to walk in front of him.
James and Sirius exchanged amused looks as they led the way to the hospital wing. Even in their wildest dreams they couldn't have imagined they could have made such a lasting impression.
"So, boys, am I to take it you did not fail and are now fine upstanding citizens? Ah, well then, what are you two up to?" Henner asked, pleasantly, trying to make conversation now that he was safely behind them.
"Been going to school," James explained.
"Really?" Henner sounded slightly startled, and then he reminded himself that even if James was a troublemaker he was still head boy last year. "Where?" He asked curiously.
"Auror training in Ireland."
"Going to be an auror, eh? And what about you Sirius, going to be an auror also?" Henner chuckled at his own joke.
Henner couldn't see the brief flash of anger that sparked in Sirius's eyes but James could. "No," Sirius replied flatly. "I've no desire to chase after criminals."
"Smart move, that one," Henner agreed. "I always figured I'd be pretty safe as a Professor, come to think of it. Fancy my surprise when I met you two," He added, grinning.
"Did you hear about last night?" James asked, tired of the small talk. Henner suddenly brightened and walked a little closer too the boys. He had been anxious to discuss this subject but he couldn't bring himself to ask them about it.
"I hear talk that one of our former students was mixed up in the whole thing."
"Yes, it appears to be so." James said sourly; Macmillan's face suddenly blazing in his mind. Henner was eager to press on but at that moment Lily and Dumbledore arrived at the end of the corridor where the hospital wing was.
"Good to see you three up and about," Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling moistly. The whole lot of them walked quietly into the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey came to meet them, chocolate in hand.
"Eat!" She instructed Sirius, James, and Lily as she forced chocolate into their hands.
"Headmaster, Professor," She motioned for them to follow her. The three of them disappeared behind the mass of curtains at the end of the wing. As soon as they had disappeared the remaining three simultaneously turned and tossed the chocolate in the trash.
"I didn't think it was possible but I'm sick of chocolate!" Lily exclaimed. "I just want to go home."
"Lily," James murmured, pulling her to his chest and rocking her gently from side to side. Sirius unconsciously wrapped his own arms around himself.
Suddenly they all jumped as a loud scream followed by a shout, echoed through the hospital wing. Sirius went ghostly white. Lily's jaw dropped. James sort of lost his balance and almost fell. That voice was deadly familiar, especially to Sirius with the way it was yelling.
"UGH!" The female voice spluttered. "What the hell is that? POISON?" It yelled from behind the curtain.
Sirius, Lily, and James all looked unbelievingly at each other; as if someone had just told them aliens had invaded the planet.
"You must drink it," Madam Pomfrey implored, her voice cracking hysterically.
"No way, not even if hell froze over!" Lily released James in surprise. Sirius' mouth dropped open and hung there, dumbly.
"Oh my God!" Lily exclaimed jumping up and kissing a startled James. She seemed to be the only one who was able to react.
"Lily?" Suddenly the curtains were ripped back and there stood Angela Star. She was very much alive and she was grinning, her blonde hair hanging loosely over her shoulders and framing her pale, but animated face. Lily almost stopped breathing. Angie was alive and well.
Lily ran over and flung her arms around her. "You're OK." Lily said after they had hugged.
"Of course, I'm OK." Angie said. "Did you think I was about to let some idiot death eaters be the end of me? Dream on." Angie looked at both boys who were just staring still unable to react. Sirius' mouth was still gaping wide open. "OK, you can put your eyes back in now," She said critically.
Both boys quickly snapped out of it as they usually did when obeying one of Angie's commands. "How, are you--what happened?" James asked.
"You must drink the potion," Madam Pomfrey cut in. "A curse of such magnitude at such close range—"
"I know, I know," Angie cut in, annoyed glaring at the half-full vial of bubbly brown liquid.
"Drink it then."
"I'd rather eat all the chocolate in Honeydukes," Angie declared gravely.
"It helps you recover from strong curse side-effects," Henner explained again.
"I am awake and walking and talking and as far as I know I don't have any brain damage—" Sirius snorted derisively and Angie glared. "--So I would say I recovered pretty well on my own, thank you!"
"Here," Lily said taking the flask. She took out her wand and muttered a charm. The potion swirled and turned a soft blue, momentarily, before returning to its normal color. "There," Lily said handing the flask to Angie. "It should taste much better now." Angie eyed her suspiciously before finally deciding to take a drink.
"Mmm," Angie said quickly drinking it. Lily smiled pleased. She was very good at charms. Angie handed the flask back to Henner with an are-you-satisfied? Look.
"How are you alive?" James repeated his question.
Angie sat down. Henner got closer anxious to hear everything. "I remember being dragged away, carried and then thrown to the ground. I wasn't about to let those assholes get away with anything," She declared. "So, I reached for my wand and struggled to my feet. Then Mr. Rugby Star comes blasting through the circle, tackling someone like an idiot instead of using his wand. (Fine auror you'll make.)" Angie added scathingly. James couldn't help but blush ever so slightly. "I yelled stupefy just as I heard someone yell the killing curse. I saw the green light and the red light from my wand clash in mid-air, I felt myself get thrown backwards and then nothing. I thought for sure you two were done for."
"Us?" Lily croaked, disbelievingly. It seemed so improbable yet possible.
"So, when can we bust out of this old castle anyway? Dad, is probably worried sick," Angie said. Sirius stared at her in awe and wonder.
"Any time, I expect." Dumbledore replied. Madam Pomfrey looked furious but she didn't say anything. "But there will be reporters and the investi-wizards will want to question you, I'm sure. I advise you to say what you will immediately and forget about the whole incident." The advice sounded good and meant well but the James, Sirius, and Lily seriously doubted if they'd ever forget.
After Madam Pomfrey had pressed more chocolate on them and satisfied herself that they were all going to make a full recovery they said their good-byes to Dumbledore and stood together in the entrance hall.
Silence ensued for a few minutes as words and past events closed in around them. "Jesus," Sirius whispered, reaching out to a startled Angie and pulling her into a hug. "We all thought you had left us for good."
Angie tried to come up with some response to lighten the mood but she found she couldn't. Her throat was constricting and her eyes were filling with tears. She had flirted with death last night whether she wanted to admit it to herself or not.
"And I thought you guys…" She couldn't finish the sentence. Angie released Sirius and embraced Lily who was crying again. Lily gave her a tight squeeze and then released her, wiping her eyes.
"Aw James," Angie said, starting to laugh. "Come here."
"I'm glad you're OK," James whispered to her as they hugged.
"Me too," She said, smiling. Sirius gave Lily a hug too, playfully mussing up her hair in the process.
"Come on boys," Angie said. "Your turn."
Sirius and James contemplated each other for a few moments. Angie looked from one to the other and watched as their expressions softened and they started to grin. A second before it happened she had an inkling that trouble was coming her way but she was too slow.
One second James and Sirius were grinning at each other, communicating wordlessly as only they could, the next they had sandwiched Angie in between them. She yelped helplessly and Lily dissolved into laughter.
Angie elbowed her way out of the middle and glared at the two as they congratulated each other on a job well done. "Lily, watch out!" Angie cried, as the two started for her.
With a startled cry Lily pushed the door open and ran out onto the steps the boys in pursuit.
The four went back to James's house and the girls agreed to make dinner.
In the kitchen Angie stood washing vegetables at sink and Lily was chopping them next to her. Lily, carefully leaning to look at the door and make sure the guys were busy in the other room, leaned over to Angie and said softly.
"You are Sirius were getting pretty cozy on the dance floor last night." Lily grinned and watched out of the corner of her eyes for a reaction.
"What ARE you talking about?" Angie asked, glancing around to make sure that they were indeed alone. "It was just a dance. I'm not allowed to dance with him?"
"Just a dance? Is it ever just a dance?" Lily asked, grinning.
"Wipe that grin right off your face Lily Evans," Angie ordered, under threat of soggy head of lettuce. She started to say more, thought better of it, narrowed her eyes at Lily and went back to washing the lettuce. Lily just laughed.
"He obviously still has feelings—"
"Stop it Lily!" Angie said, rather shrilly.
"OK, OK…"
"I haven't forgotten what he did to me," Angie said after a while.
"Of course not," Lily agreed. "But you know how Sirius is."
"Is that supposed to be some kind of excuse?" Angie demanded.
"No, I'm just saying, you could give him another chance."
"Been there, done that," Angie said bitterly. But she still couldn't get the feeling of his arms around her out of her head. He had been so thoughtful last night even if he had brought up her mother… "Why should I give him another chance?"
Lily shrugged. "Maybe just friends, then?" She suggested.
Angie snorted. "With us, I don't think that's possible…"
Later, Sirius was seeing Angie too the door while Lily started cleaning up from dinner. James, picking up a plate brought it to Lily and the sink. Setting it down he wrapped his arms around Lily and kissed her neck. "I love you," He mumbled.
"Mmmm…" She replied, leaning against him.
"I'm not going back tomorrow," James said, his chest vibrating against her body as he spoke. Lily laughed and gave him a squeeze.
"Of course you are."
"No Lily, I mean it. I won't leave you again." His tone was so serious Lily let go and took a step back.
"James that's ridiculous," She declared.
"No it's not; I don't need a degree to get a job."
"James!" Lily rebuked. "You are not dropping out now. The last few months will all have been a waste if you do."
"The next few months will be a waste without you in my life! Lily if something happened to you…" He swallowed hard, his mind seeing her screaming and dragged off by the masked devils.
"I am going to be just fine. And you here isn't going to make a difference if—if—oh if nothing James. No ifs."
"No Lily. It's either both or none of us; not just one, I couldn't live like that."
"Stop it James!" Lily demanded, her cheeks flushing and her eyes moistening. She wasn't sure why but all his talk was getting to her fast. "The ministry needs highly trained professionals and that's what you are going to be. You'll be paid better—to support me and a future family—and you'll be better equipped to survive in the field and protect me."
His eyes held her gaze for a moment and then drifted off, a sigh escaping his lips. He couldn't argue with her—not on those points.
"I know it's hard to go to school again but it's just until Christmas. If I can manage you can too," Lily said, stepping back into his hug. She rested her head on his shoulder and he kissed her lightly on the top of her head.
Sirius held the door open for Angie and then followed her outside. At the gate they stopped and Angie turned to look at the house and sighed. "I can't believe this is James and Lily's house," She said. "Hey—do you think he's going to propose tonight?" Angie asked, suddenly, turning to Sirius expectantly. He shrugged.
"James said it didn't seem right to propose in the aftermath of what happened yesterday…"
"Oh…I guess I can kind of see that," Angie admitted. "So now what? He waits until Christmas?"
"I guess he'll have to."
"Awesome Christmas present," Angie said. "How do they practically have a complete life already? I feel like I'm just getting used to not going to Hogwarts anymore."
"At least you have your own place," Sirius mumbled.
"Awww," Angie cooed sympathetically. Sirius shrugged again.
"I don't really care. I guess if I had any particular feelings regarding the subject I'd do something about it."
"I'm sure Lily enjoys your company. I bet she gets lonely; I know I do." She glanced quickly at Sirius and then back at the house. She had meant to say 'I know I would' but instead 'do' had come tumbling out. Was that too obvious? She didn't exactly, per se, mean to come off sounding desperate… She felt exposed and readable like a newspaper.
Sirius was regarding her carefully. He had, of course, not missed the veiled hint; if it was that. He was currently trying to decide if she had meant that to sound like an invitation or was merely a coincidence.
Angie felt her pulse quicken as the silence wore on and panicked. "Listen Sirius, it was great to see you again. I should go reassure my Dad that I'm OK. I'll see you around," She said quickly, words spilling out of her mouth.
"Yeah, see you," Sirius replied just in time to see her disapparate. Sighing, he glanced skyward, dwelling on his thoughts for a moment before turning back to the house.
James couldn't sleep that night. Recent events were still playing out in his mind with chilling clarity and the ever present passage of time was weighing heavily on his heart. Lily was lying peacefully asleep next to him.
Somewhere around two in the morning he decided to get up and right a letter—hoping to take his mind off everything else. He scribbled out a quick message to Peter—asking if he was OK. In the aftermath of the Halloween disaster he hadn't heard from any of his friends.
James took out another piece of parchment and started to right to Remus. But he kept stopping and seeing that Ministry ID tag of Dale MacMillan, the twenty-two year old former Hufflepuff turned death eater, in his mind. After scratching several things out and trying again James finally abandoned the parchment. He didn't know what to say.
Still restless, James wandered downstairs and into the living room. Sirius was noisily felling trees in the forest in his sleep on the couchand James muttered a silencing charm. Pleased at the effect, he watched amused for a few moments as Sirius's mouth opened and closed with no sound.
Shaking his head he turned to the mirror and nearly jumped when it spoke. This was, of course, normal for the mirror to be talking—he just hadn't expected it.
"You're up late," It said.
"Yes," James agreed, gazing at his own reflection. He looked pale and tired in the dim light of the nearly dead fire.
"Something's troubling you my dear, why don't you tell me about it?" The mirror asked kindly. James looked very intently at it and himself. Was his MIRROR asking him to talk to it like he might a psychologist? It was strange but he didn't see the harm in it. So, he unloaded the entire story of what had happened on Halloween.
The mirror was ever so kind and just like a real person. She gasped in all the right places and waited breathlessly for more. He went in to great detail about everything and about his fears of leaving Lily, etc.
"I remember when my grandfather was murdered by the Dark Lord," James explained. "My Father was so broken up about it—unfinished business between them, you know? I feel that way sometimes about my parents being gone. I just feel so without closure because there were no bodies—they just disappeared. I don't want my time with Lily to suddenly come to an end before I say all I have to say and do all I want to do."
"I remember when your grandfather was murdered," The mirror replied, her voice suddenly very solemn, like a real person. "Your father was very upset. It's so sad that even now they continue to target your family. I guess they are still angry."
"Angry? Who's angry at me for what?" James demanded, absolutely transfixed with his mirror.
"The Dark Lord and his followers are bitter at you for being on the light side," The mirror replied gravely.
"Naturally," James agreed. "They are angry at a hell of a lot of people for that reason."
"They think your betrayed them specifically by being so...good. Oh dear, how do I explain this?" The mirror sighed. "I suppose I should start from when I was created." James frowned intently but didn't notice. He had stopped gazing into the glass and started to study the moldings. It was strange to hear a voice and not be able to analyze any facial expressions. "Many, many, many, many, many, many, years ago I was created," The mirror continued. "I was the first of my kind. Intelligent, talking, mirrors capable of feeling emotion and other such human qualities, you see.
"In order to accomplish such a thing not only must the wizard be extremely powerful but he must also be very intelligent. And both of those things Salazar Slytherin was, even when he was sixteen years old."
"Slytherin?" James interrupted. He ran his fingers gently along the bottom of the frame, noting the intricate carvings. Now, he could see that there were tiny serpents intertwining complicatedly all along the wood.
"Yes! Salazar Slytherin," The mirror agreed, a mixture of emotion seemed to be in her voice.
"As I was saying, Salazar Slytherin was sixteen years old when he first created me. I've seen the complicated magic that was performed. It was all put down in his little diary that was later used to create more of my kind. Although, I am the only mirror who is capable of feeling human emotion. I am quite sure of that much.
"You had to be near genius to understand the complicated spells and charms you must use in the process of making me. I believe he left something out in his notes or there was something that could not be deciphered because to this day mirrors can talk but there isn't a one, besides me of course, that can feel emotions.
"Speaking of emotions, James, would you mind if I got stripped and revarnished?" The mirror asked suddenly, interrupting her own narrative. "I feel so terribly old and unimpressive. Look I'm peeling, just there, up a little, yes, you see?"
"I'll tell Lily," James replied absentmindedly. The mirror, seemingly pleased with this, resumed her dialogue.
"Like I was saying, Salazar created me so that I could talk to him. He mounted me on his wall over the fireplace and everyday he would tell me things and show me his latest invention. Eventually, though, he found other human friends and people to talk to. As time progressed he still kept me but he only talked to me on occasion when he needed to unload all of his problems.
"Godric loved me! He would ask me all kinds of questions," The mirror continued reminiscently. "Godric was so clever and brave and an excellent wizard but he just didn't have as much intelligence as his cousin Salazar did. He also didn't understand Salazar. He had a hunger for knowledge and power; it was something that Godric, who thoroughly loved life, could never grasp. I remember some of their conversations…
"But anyway, back to the story. For a time after Hogwarts was created I was placed in the Ravenclaw common room. I was meant to be a gift to Rowena, of whom Salazar was extremely fond. But soon I was taken back and placed in the dungeons where a much older Salazar would talk to me once again.
"He would be very angry most of the time. Saying that Godric and the other two didn't understand what he was trying to do. Mostly, Salazar wanted to teach the dark arts so that the students could defend themselves. But the others would absolutely not have it.
Finally, Rowena bent a bit and they allowed a Defense Against the Dark Arts class, which Slytherin taught, but he was not satisfied. He became increasingly angrier as the other three started to allow non-purebloods into the school. They said it was best because the student numbers were dropping.
"Salazar was very old school, pardon the expression; he didn't believe in half and muggle born wizards. He started creating many dark arts type things. He insisted they were not evil things he was just creating them for muggle protection, as he put it. At the time I didn't really understand, of course. And, really, what could I have done?
"To eliminate muggles who were cruel to witches and wizards he used one of two things: One of his terrible torturing devices or one of his hideous monsters that he created. The one he liked the most was the werewolf. Man by day but rabid wolf by night." James shuddered as he thought of Remus being in Salazar Slytherin's army.
"One of Salazar's right hand men was an old fellow, about 50, with a daughter of about 20. His name was Perfectius Potter, your long distant kin. He was a strong believer of purity and such things, very extremist, I suppose, like Salzar. He gave his daughter to Salazar to be married. They had one child, a boy.
"Salazar grew tired of her quickly though and soon re-married. This time he married a young little thing, she was only 15 and forced into marriage by her father Malicius Malfoy. She produced two sons before her nineteenth birthday. She died before giving birth to a sixth when she was twenty-five.
"Perpetuia was now on her own and very, very poor. Her son took her name of Potter and when she died and Perfectius Potter took him in. He was only eight. Salazar later tried to recruit him but he wasn't as smart as Salazar may have hoped. He soon gave up on the boy and thus starts a long line of Potters branching off from the Slytherins." James sucked in his breath at this new damning family tree realization. "Over time the Potters mellowed out and changed sides becoming close with their cousins the Gryffindors.
"Five sons of Malicius Malfoy and Salazar Slytherin took Slytherin's name. The last boy however chose Malfoy when he got older. He was very good friends with his cousins the Gryffindors. Over time, however, the Malfoys remained vindictive and very much a part of the dark side.
"So, you see James, you betrayed your kin, you strayed from Slytherin where you came from and went over to the light side.
"After Salazar's downfall I was placed in storage on Hogwarts grounds for about one long, lonely hundred years. Then I was sold and moved around and around from family to family until 116 years ago when I was acquired by a Potter. I have been in your family ever since."
The mirror finished and James just stared. He was related to Salazar Slytherin? This was a hell of a lot to digest—especially coming from a mirror.
"I don't know what to say," James replied honestly. He went over to the nearest chair and flopped into it in a semi-dazed state of mind. His head was spinning with ancient thoughts of days gone by mixed strangely with the present and visions of Lucius Malfoy.
He heard a stair creak and his muscles tensed suddenly. Lily appeared, her eyes heavily lidded on the landing.
"James, come back to bed. You have to get up in three hours." He followed her with out a word to the mirror; the clock said 3:00AM.
At 6:30AM an annoying little alarm went off near James head. James already lay awake. He had slept for about an hour and then lay awake turning over the things the mirror said in his mind. He was actually anxious to discuss other things with the mirror now that he knew she had memories. He had so many questions about his family and Slytherin and she hadn't been very detailed in her description.
He rolled out of bed only semi-conscious. Lily stirred and forced herself to get up.
"Go back to sleep. It's all right," James said quietly as Lily sat up.
"Are you kidding me? I have to say good-bye."
Lily walked briskly out of the room to prepare some breakfast. As she set some steaming pancakes and syrup on the table she heard a laugh from the living room. It startled her because she had never heard that laugh before. As Lily entered the living room James appeared at the foot of the stairs his shirt only half buttoned.
Sirius was standing up and appeared to be yelling, but no sound was coming out. He was gripping his throat and his mouth was moving but he was silent. Lily frowned and James started laughing along with the mirror. James took out his wand and muttered a few words and all at once the household could hear the invective spilling from Sirius's mouth.
As soon as he heard his voice he stopped, massaged his throat and then promptly rounded on James. "What the hell did you do to me? And why is your MIRROR laughing at me?" James chuckled.
"Last night you were snoring awfully loud," James explained. "So, I put a simple silencing charm on you. I forgot to take it off; I'm very glad that I forgot, you have no idea how hilarious it was to see you shouting with no sound coming out of your mouth."
"You better watch out, Potter. You know I always get the last laugh." Sirius said threateningly, but his grin betrayed his tone of voice.
"Well, now that that's cleared up, who wants breakfast?" Lily asked clapping her hands together and looking at them expectantly.
"Isn't someone perky this morning?" Sirius asked, his eyebrows raised in James's direction. James rolled his eyes and followed Lily into the kitchen, buttoning his shirt. Sirius was grinning amusedly.
"I can't waste too much time; I really have to get back to school," James told Lily with a grin in mock serious tones as she pushed the plate of pancakes toward him. Lily smacked him lightly on the head.
"You're going back to that school and you're going to like it," She declared.
"Well, I'm going back at any rate," James conceded.
At seven ten the supply of pancakes was cut short and Lily brought James his traveling cloak and broomstick. He sighed deeply at them and took them reluctantly.
"I still don't want to leave you," He mumbled into her hair they hugged.
"I know," She replied, pulling his cloak over his shoulders. James just gazed at her for a few moments trying to take in her appearance and memorize every curve. Reluctantly he turned toward Sirius.
"Padfoot, old boy, I'll see you soon," James said, patting him on the shoulder "Take care of Lily for me," He continued as they shook hands. Lily rolled her eyes.
"Lily, I'm going to miss you. But, I'll owl you all the time and I'm leaving you in the watch of Sirius Black, the all noble watch-dog."
"Are you leaving me WITH Sirius or are you leaving me to keep an EYE ON Sirius?" Lily asked, winking at Sirius.
"Both, unfortunately," James replied. "Lily I…" He reached up and gently stroked her cheek. "You know I love you," He said and he kissed her briefly. Knowing good-byes were hard they had said their official ones the night before.
"I love you James," Lily said, giving his hand one last squeeze.
"I'll be home for Christmas," He sang, grinning. Lily grinned too and then, forcing himself not to linger, he gripped his broom firmly and stepped outside.
"Good-bye!" Lily called as he kicked off the ground and flew into the air.
Sirius came up beside Lily in time to see James take flight. He knew what a wrench it must have been for his friend to leave Lily. She was, as James had so carefully explained, all he had left in the world. As an afterthought he had included Sirius.
Lily sighed and watched James go, a horrible aching inside of her. Knowing she wouldn't see him again for almost two months made her feel miserable. She was grateful Sirius was standing at her side.