The Last Laugh
Chapter Seventeen: Bills, Bills, Bills (No this has nothing to do with Destiny's Child!)
By Star*dust
A/N: I've had a lot of questions in all your latest reviews and in time they will be answered. I understand things are slightly confusing but don't worry all that stuff will eventually be explained. (Like, the reason why Holly Mischel and Angela Star don't have the same last names {and why they hate each other} And will Angie and Sirius… reunite? What's with Sirius's older sister, and of course Lily and James's wedding) Not all of that stuff is going to happen in THIS chapter but it all will eventually get answered. And, if you read the sequel some of it will REALLY make sense, but that's beside the point.
Anyway, I think I'm done talking for now… on to the story!
~*~
"Sisters?" Lily gasped. "But… how is that possible?"
"Ask them," Sirius said. Lily looked uneasily over at Angie and Holly who were in deep conversation. Somehow, she knew this was not the time for that kind of question.
"I don't think I'm going to go to the funeral." Holly was saying.
"WHAT?" Angie cried. "How can you not go? He's your father too! And Mom was your step-mother for how many years?"
"Yeah, their titles were Mom and Dad. That doesn't mean they acted like it. And, frankly, I could care less. I don't feel any need to pay any last respects because I didn't respect them! I endured them for all those years because I had to! I don't want to go and I don't see why that's a problem!" Holly shouted.
"You have no idea everything they did for you!" Angie screamed.
"Let's see, Mike, he left my mother, when she was PREGNANT, for your mother. He didn't care about me; I saw him maybe three times my entire life before I was forced to live with you because my mom died. I hate him so much I don't even have his name! And, then there's Sarah. Let's see, she played favorites, she told me I was a failure, and a nuisance. She was a real bitch and she didn't try to hide it. She talked about my mom all the time and she hated me! But that was OK, because I hated her too! They may have been great people to you, but they weren't to ME! If I would have had a choice I would have lived in a freaking orphanage!" Holly screamed back.
"Well, maybe you never heard the other side of the story,"
"What is there to hear? They were mean and horrible parents and I don't give a damn about them!" Holly screamed and stomped out the door. Angie slammed the door so hard the windows rattled and the mirror shook.
So, they must have been half sisters. The hatred between them must have been caused by their parents.
How had they kept this sister thing from Lily and the Marauders? They had lived together for a while, it sounded like. It was obvious they hadn't wanted anyone to know they were sisters. But this was a little crazy.
~*~
Angie came and sat down in a huff on the couch next to Sirius, who was looking very stunned. Suddenly an owl seemed to come out of nowhere and swoop down on him. A letter dropped in his lap. He took it and opened it up. He took one look at it and chucked it in the fire.
"Why can't she leave me the hell alone?" He asked. "Vanessa," He said catching James's inquisitive eye.
"This is a first, I think. Sirius Black is dodging a girl," James said with a grin.
"This isn't a girl. This is my sister. And, I think she's married." He added thoughtfully.
"So, Sirius Black is our new found millionaire? This sure is interesting. I do hope you'll remember all the time you've spent here and all the food you've eaten when you turn 25."
"Yeah, yeah," Sirius said. He wasn't amused and James dropped the subject.
"Angie. Have you figured out when you're going to have the service?" Lily asked.
"I want to have it as soon as possible. That way I can just get it over with."
"Did they even know that you were… pregnant?" Lily asked cautiously. Angie shook her head, her eyes were wet.
"I'm sorry," Lily whispered as she hugged her friend.
"It was all so sudden," Angie said through tears. "I didn't get to say good-bye. I just feel so… alone," And with that she broke into a wave of hysterics. Sirius motioned to James and they left.
"I don't think I can take much of this," Sirius said to James. "Everything is happening all at once. I think I need a vacation," James started laughing. He laughed right out loud. And, it was loud. He couldn't stop. For some reason he just kept laughing, and it felt good, almost like a medication.
"YOU need a vacation!" James laughed. "You don't even work!"
"I work sometimes," Sirius retorted. But, it didn't sound as clever as it had in his head.
~*~
After the Star's funeral, which Holly had attended briefly, Lily went home and wrote her parents. She made plans to have dinner with them at their house in three days. The trick was, getting James to come.
"James!" Lily called. She came into the living room and saw James rubbing the cats belly and talking to it. When he saw Lily he jumped up like lightning and tripped over the coffee table. Not only had he let Lily discover that maybe he liked the cat, but he also made a complete and utter fool of himself.
"Perhaps you're not ready for this," Lily said.
"Not ready for what?" He asked struggling to his feet.
"Not ready for dinner with my parents," He tripped again. "I know, that table is tricky. It moves so much," Lily said.
"Why wouldn't I be ready for dinner, dinner with your parents," He said, almost as if he wasn't sure that's what she had said.
"Well, I just thought, that maybe we should tell them we're engaged now," Lily said.
"You haven't told them?" He shouted, and there he goes again, on the ground. This had to painful.
"Walk much?" She asked.
"You haven't told them yet?" He repeated.
"I was waiting for the right time," Lily said nervously. James rolled his eyes.
"When exactly is this little celebration planned for?"
"Three days,"
"Lily, you do realize that I might have to leave before then,"
"No you won't, not if you don't want to wake up in the middle of the night with pillow over your face."
"That's just scary." James said. "Not that you would have the strength to successfully suffocate me, but your parents do."
"You'll be fine. They like you, I think," Lily said.
"Very reassuring," James said sarcastically.
~*~
Three days later…
"Honey! Are you ready yet?" Lily called.
"Ready as I'll ever be for a fun-filled night with the in-laws, without magic," James said, coming down the stairs.
"Are you wearing THAT?" Lily asked.
"What's wrong with this?" James asked looking down.
"Dear, that tie does NOT go with that shirt," James lifted his tie, which was crooked, and looked at it. "And you better iron those pants or my mother will do it for you," James glanced down, "Not to mention your hair," Lily added. James looked upwards and tried to flatten his hair with his hands. "Don't forget the flowers," she called as he marched back up the stairs. Immediately he stopped, turned around, and went outside. In a minute or two he came back with a handful of flowers from the garden.
He came downstairs again for inspection.
"Shine your shoes; dad will make a comment about it. That shirt just does not work, my dad hates that color. Try a white shirt, and you should change your tie. A dark green, will work. Dad likes that, he thinks it makes people look important. And you know what; black pants work best, and don't forget to iron everything. And you better let me do your tie so it's straight and I thought I told you to do something with that hair!" James stood speechless for a moment, before saying anything.
"I can see this is not going to work so why don't you come and dress me properly so we don't have to do this anymore?"
~*~
About an hour later, they arrived at the Evans's. James was now properly dressed and holding the bouquet of flowers from the yard.
"Lily!" Her neighbor Josh Martin greeted her. "Haven't seen you since before last Christmas!" He said. "How's it going?"
"Great," Lily said. "How are you?"
"I'm doing alright. Having dinner with the folks tonight?"
"Yep,"
"Who's this? I don't think we've met." Josh said, referring to James.
"Oh, this is James," Lily said as they shook hands.
"Her fiancé," James said dryly.
"Really? Congratulations Miss Evans! Am I invited to the wedding?" James instinctively stiffened.
"Well," Lily said nervously. Of course he wasn't invited to the wedding. He was a muggle! The only muggles at the wedding would be her parents. "We're not doing a big thing. It's just going to be a small wedding," Lily said. "Over seas," She quickly added. Josh didn't have a chance to answer because at that moment Mrs. Evans opened the door.
"Lily!"
"Mum!" Lily exclaimed hugging her mother.
"And you must be James," Mrs. Evans said pinching his cheek as if he were her nephew, or something. "Oh!" She said receiving the flowers. "Thank you! They're beautiful. I'm going to put them in some water right now! Come in, come in!" Lily followed her mother and James followed awkwardly behind Lily.
Dinner was quite an experience. And James had no idea when Lily was going to tell her parents that she was engaged. Her parents kept asking him all these questions. Her father was very interested in politics and religion and that sort of thing. Not to mention the armed forces and other things that James didn't know much about. Lily had to keep reminding them that he was a magical person and that he had no idea what they were discussing.
Then, her father, who also happened to be a retired mechanic, was always talking about cars. James enjoyed listening about cars, as he was with most muggle things.
"Lily, he's a bit strange. But, he's your kind of person, I guess, a magical one, but, I think I like him." Her father declared over desert. James wasn't sure whether that was a compliment or a put-down and he was still pondering that as Lily and her mother started clearing the table.
Her father took James outside to have a look at the car while Lily and her mother did the dishes.
~*~
"Lily, are you and James, serious?" Her mother asked her.
"Serious, I guess you would say that. Yes, you would definitely say that,"
"When are you two going to settle down and have a family, get married? You've been living with him for a while now,"
"Yes, I know." Lily said. "Maybe I better go see what Dad is doing to James," Lily said quickly walking towards the garage.
~*~
Out in the garage, without Lily's protection James was interrogated.
"James, my boy, are you serious about my daughter?"
"Well, yes sir,"
"Do you love her?"
"Of course, sir,"
"Do you want to marry her?"
"With your permission, of course," James answered.
"Good answer," Her father said, momentarily taking a break from his line of questioning. "Have you slept with her yet?" James sort of lost his balance. Luckily at that moment Lily opened the door.
"Having a good time? James, I think that maybe we should head out now?" Lily said. Her father passed by her and James whispered to her as they walked back to the kitchen.
"I've just been interrogated by your father. We better tell them now!" Lily bit her lip.
"OK," She whispered back.
~*~
Back in the kitchen, James stood with his arm around Lily. "Um," Lily looked down uncomfortably. "We have something we should tell you," She said, starting to play with her ring. "We're engaged!" Lily said. Her mother gasped.
"WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!" She exclaimed throwing her arms around James's neck and nearly choking him.
Her father just stood there and looked at James for a while. "Not bad," He finally proclaimed; and then walked off to the den.
"Oh honey, I'm so proud of you! Well, let's see the ring dear," She said anxiously. Lily showed her mother the crystal lily. "Oh my, he's a keeper," Her mother said. Lily smiled at James who was awkwardly standing a short distance away. After about ten minutes of shock and questions and congratulations her mother finally made a suggestion.
"Lily! I saw this new movie out! It would be wonderful! Let's go see it, dear. It's about a young couple, and they're getting married. It fits perfectly in with everything that's happening. Come on, let's go!"
"Oh, Mom, I don't know…" Lily said looking sidelong at James. "It's not the sort of thing James is used to,"
"Oh, it'll be fun," Her mother insisted.
"It's OK. I've never been to a movie before," James said, interested. Lily looked uneasy but her mother was overcome with joy.
"WONDERFUL! We'll go right now!" She said grabbing her car keys and purse. "We're going to the movies dear, do you want to come?" She asked her husband.
"No, you have a good time,"
And with that they were ushered into the garage and into the car. James sat in the passenger's seat and Lily sat in the back.
"Mum, I didn't bring any… regular money with me," Lily said.
"Oh, I'll take care of it dear," Her mother said starting the car. As they backed out of the driveway Lily noticed James was gripping the car nervously. She giggled.
"It's OK, dear. You don't have to hold on; you have your seat-belt on. Haven't you ever ridden the Knight Bus before?" Lily asked.
"No, actually. Mum, insisted that we always use floo. And if we couldn't do that Dad would fly everywhere anyway because he loved to fly. And sometimes we rode on a magic carpet, but you're not supposed to know that,"
"That's illegal!" Lily gasped.
James glanced nervously at Lily's Mom. "I know, but we would only use it in the back yard." James said.
"OMG!" Lily suddenly cried. "Is it still in our basement!?!?"
"Well,"
"JAMES!" Lily shouted. He was becoming increasingly aware of Lily's mother. "YOU'RE KEEPING AN ILLEGAL FLYING CARPET IN MY HOUSE! ARE YOU CRAZY!? YOU'RE BECOMING AN AUROR!"
"Lily," James said quietly. She gave him a look, but she was also aware of her mother, so she shut up.
~*~
The movie theater was, to the great annoyance of James, packed with muggles. (Of course) They went to see a really sad chick flick and James quickly became very bored. At first he was interested in how they did this without magic but it quickly became his worst nightmare. Before he knew what was happening he had fallen asleep.
"JAMES!" Lily hissed sharply in his ear. He quickly sat up and realized the movie was over. Her mother was putting a tissue away in her purse.
Back in the car, she was interested to know what James thought of the movie. Somehow, he managed to generalize his answers and survive the car trip back to the Evans's.
~*~
"I am avoiding dinner with your parents at all costs," James said when they had finally returned home. "That was not what I would call a pleasant experience," James said.
"I know the movie was boring for you, but what was so bad?" Lily asked massaging his shoulders.
"Your father was asking me whether we had slept together or not." James snapped.
"What did you tell him?" Lily asked quickly.
"I didn't say anything, you interrupted, but he had also asked a series of other questions before that," James said.
"I'm sorry. I should have known daddy would be up to something." Lily said.
"It's all right, now they know everything. Now, I'm free to have you," Lily smiled and kissed him.
"Thank you, James," She said. "Thanks for having dinner with the muggles."
"Hey, I guess it wasn't a total loss," He said as they walked up the stairs to their bedroom. "I did get to ride in a car. I guess I did ride once with you that one summer… But your Dad did manage to show me a few things in between asking me if I was in love with you,"
~*~
Sirius Black was not having a good day. Try as he might, he was just seriously lacking in the optimistic department today. It was late morning and the skies were gray and it was raining. The rain felt like ice, thousands of cold nails pounding your flesh and the wind chilled you to the bone. November was showing its cold furious rage and on a day like this, you wouldn't be anything but depressed.
And Sirius Black was depressed.
Depression was not something he normally had to deal with, so for about two hours now he had just been sitting in a chair by the fire staring into its fathomless depths. He had barely moved at all, and was lost inside his head.
He kept hearing his sister's screeching yells echo inside of his seemingly empty head. For a while he had been avoiding the subject, among his friends and whenever, Vanessa, a.k.a. Gemini Black, sent him a letter. He had chose not to think about it for a while but seeing as the problem wasn't going away Sirius realized he was going to have to do something sooner or later.
As he stared into the flickering flame and memory suddenly bubbled up from the depths of his mind. It had been a warm day, actually, a very hot day. Sirius was a young child, probably around 7 or maybe 8. Vanessa must have been nearly 20 by that time. This was one of his last summers that he would spend at the orphanage but not because his sister, who was perfectly capable, was going to care for him.
He hadn't seen her for almost a year. And, at that time, it saddened him. She was the only person he had known as long as he could remember. She always seemed very beautiful and that was something Sirius liked about his sister. He also liked her nickname, Gemini, which he had started calling her because she was a Gemini. At any rate, she had brought him ice cream.
It was blue moon, his favorite kind of ice cream. Ice cream was not something you usually got in the orphanage so he was very grateful, especially because it was so hot outside. She had sat next to him on the swing-set at break time while he ate his ice cream.
Sirius couldn't recall exactly how long she was there or exactly what they talked about, but a particular conversation had stuck out in his mind.
"Sirius, I went to the big bank today. Gringotts. I was talking to them there," Vanessa was saying sweetly as Sirius licked his ice cream cone gratefully. "They said that if you say it's OK, I can borrow some of your money out of your vault. You would let me borrow some of your money wouldn't you Sirius?" Vanessa asked him. Sirius didn't say anything as he was mid-lick and he wasn't quite sure what to say anyway. "I brought you ice cream and I used to play with you all the time, now I need some money. You would help me, wouldn't you Sirius?" She continued.
Sirius slowly nodded.
"That's a good boy. I knew you were a good boy. You always like to help out your sister because she's nice and brings you ice cream,"
"But Gemini," Sirius had protested suddenly remembering something his headmistress had said to him. "Madame says that I should keep my money. She says that it's mine and nobody else should have it," Sirius used to think this memory was a particularly good one, but now he saw what Vanessa was really doing to him.
Her cheeks started to redden with anger and frustration. "But I'm not taking your money, I'm just going to borrow it," She said. "And I'm not just anyone, I'm your older sister, and I'm nice and brought you ice cream," Sirius stopped halfway through a lick and considered this for a moment.
"But Madame says-"
"I DON'T CARE WHAT MADAME SAYS!" Vanessa shouted. "Are you going to let me borrow some money or not?" She continued shouting in rage but Sirius was too young to realize.
"I will get in trouble and get locked in the garage." Sirius told her. At this point in time Vanessa started muttering to herself and Sirius sat happily licking his ice cream. She had always been after his money which he had inherited from both parents when they died. That situation was an interesting one.
"Well, bye Sirius! I hope you like the ice cream. When, you're ready to stop thinking about Madame and help your sister I'll come back," She said and started to leave.
"Bye Gemini! I'll miss you!" The happy eight year old with the ice cream called after her, he did not understand.
Sirius blinked his eyes for the first time in several minutes. Why hadn't he understood at an earlier age?
~*~
"Hey Lily! Have you got any names for me yet?" Those were the first words out of Angela Star's mouth as she walked in the door to the Potters. She walked into the living room and saw Sirius sitting there, alone. She had a questioning look on her face and with a shrug Sirius understood and pointed upwards. She rolled her eyes and Sirius understood the 'thanks' she implied and then she went up the stairs. It was funny how they could have silent conversations. If someone would have walked into the room during one of those they would have started laughing and talking about how crazy the two of them were.
As she went up the stairs Sirius heard her repeat her previously stated question and after a moment or two he heaved himself out of his chair and followed her up the stairs.
"Lily! Do you have any names for me-OH MY GOD!" She yelled as she ran out of the room and ran into Sirius. "Don't go in there," She said. "Believe me. Don't go in there," A couple of minutes later Lily came out. She was blushing, to say the least.
"Hey Angie, what's up?" She tried to say casually. Sirius had a huge grin on his face.
"Um… I was just wondering if… you had some names for me?"
"Oh yeah! I have a list!" She said opening the door. James was standing in front of the mirror trying to gel his hair down. Lily started rummaging through her desk drawers. "James, where's the name list?" She asked throwing a paper here, a sock there. "Oh! Here it is, thanks dear," James rolled his eyes and started to comb his hair again. Sirius couldn't stop grinning; his day was already getting better.
"OK, if it's a girl, I have Lily-sorry I just had to say it- Michelle, Julie, Alexandria, Christie, or Paige." She said, looking up expectantly.
"Yeah right…well…not bad…too much…not enough…maybe…" Angie said according to the order of the names Lily read.
"OK," Lily said. "For the boys I have James- again I just had to do it- Matthew, Jonathan, Joseph, Thomas, and Michael."
"Yeah right, again, maybe…no way… not a chance… you're dreaming…too common," Angie said. "Come on Lily, don't you have anything better than that?" She asked.
"Sorry," She said in a sarcastic voice. "I'll keep trying…hey what about Josh?" Angie rolled her eyes.
"You're killing me." Lily laughed.
"Hey, I kind of like the name Sirius," Sirius said.
"God no," Angie said.
"What's wrong with my name?" He asked.
"We DO not need another one of you," Lily said.
"I like my name." Sirius protested. "And anyway, I'm a star," He said proudly. Angie snorted.
"But you can't find yourself," She said remembering the night of the reunion when he was walking around Hogsmeade trying to decide which star he was. Suddenly she looked at him and gasped. "Sirius," She whispered. He looked at her strangely. She started breathing quickly. "I have to go," She said starting to quickly walk away.
"But you just got here," Lily said. She seemed not to here her and in a moment she was gone.
"That was strange…" Sirius said.
"Yeah," Lily agreed.
"Pregnant women," James said rolling his eyes.
"What do YOU know about pregnant women," Lily questioned.
"Not much, I just know she's strange," He said.
"You're strange seeing that you have half a bottle of hair gel on your head and your hair still sticks up all over the place!"
~*~
"Sirius! Which one do you like better?" Lily asked him one afternoon in late November. "This one or this one?" She asked holding up two colors of deep red.
"Is this a trick question?" He asked.
"No! Why would it be a trick question?" Lily asked.
"Because I swear that those are the same color,"
"What do you mean the same color, this is clearly darker than this one and this one is much shinier," Lily said.
"OK…" Sirius said. "Then… that one," He said pointing to the one on the right.
"Oh," Lily said, sort of dejectedly.
"But this one is much better. I like this one, that is pretty, but this one definitely." He said pointing to the one on the left.
"Really, I like that one too," Lily said. Sirius rolled his eyes. "OK, that's going to be the color of the bridesmaid's dresses. Now, I've been looking at tuxes and I'm thinking about going with this dark green and black patterned vest with plain black and then I definitely know what shoes to get, but you guys will have to try on the tuxes. Two weeks you have your first fitting at Madam Malkin's so don't forget."
"Madam Malkin's carries muggle tuxedos?" Sirius asked.
"Oh yeah, they have them in the back for weddings. For muggle-borns with loads of muggle relatives. I can't believe that I actually talked James into wearing muggle clothes, I know my parents will feel so much better this way." Lily said. Sirius just nodded and agreed with anything she said. He was getting very good at that, especially after shopping for three hours for invitations and flowers. And he knew addressing the invitations would come next along with making centerpieces for the tables at the reception and not to mention picking out the food and everything else. And the CAKE! He had completely forgotten about the cake! This was far from being over.
"So, when does James come back?" Sirius asked.
"Um… I think he's supposed to be back in four days, no five days." She said. "Yeah, five days is right." Sirius silently prayed for that day to come sooner, either that or James to come home sooner.
"Is it now?" James Potter asked with one eyebrow raised. Sirius reeled around and Lily snapped her head up to see him leaning in the door way.
"JAMES!" Lily cried. "What are you doing here?" She asked running over to him and giving him a huge smooch. Sirius meanwhile looked upwards and thought *Fast service. Not bad, thanks!*
"I'm just home for tonight. I have to leave again in the morning," James was explaining. The rest of the day was happily spent making wedding plans and filling out invitations.
~*~
The next morning brought the mail, as it always did, but this morning James Potter had actually decided to sort the mail and possibly read some of it. So, after breakfast he heaved a bag nearly bigger than he was down the stairs and into the kitchen.
"What's that?" Sirius asked.
"The mail bag," Lily explained. "James sorts it about once a month,"
So, James sat down in a chair and began sorting the mail.
"…bill; letter for Sirius; bill; bill; Lily; Sirius; Sirius; Sirius. He gets more mail than I do! Lily; junk; junk; Sirius; bill; wrong address; junk; Sirius; bill; bill; bill. How am I going to pay for all this? Lily; Sirius; Sirius; junk; Sirius; bill; me, for once; bill; junk; junk; junk; Sirius; Lily; Sirius; bill; junk; bill; junk; junk; junk; Sirius; Lily; Sirius; bill; junk; bill; junk; junk; junk; Sirius; Lily; Sirius; bill; junk; me again. Whoa," He said sniffing a letter and waving his hand in front of his face. "Lily does your Aunt Edna wear that really strong daisy perfume?"
"Yeah,"
"This is for you," He said handing the letter to her and continuing on with his sorting. Sirius was very much enjoying reading all his love letters and letters from Peter.
Lily opened the letter but immediately discovered that is was not from her Aunt Edna.
Dearest, most affectionate and wonderful James,
How I miss you. I can't wait to see you gorgeous face again. I love you James Potter. Forget about Lily, marry me…
The letter continued in much the same fashion and Lily's eyes grew wider and her mouth fell open wider and wider as she read the love letter. When she had finished the letter she laid it on the table and stared at James. Her first thought was one of sadness and hurt that he was cheating on her, but as the moments continued a great fury built up inside of her.
"…bill; junk; letter from Dumbledore. I'll open that one. Junk; wrong address; junk; yet another bill; and yet another love letter for Sirius… What?" James asked suddenly seeing Lily.
"Am I not enough for you?" Lily asked him in a would-be normal voice. James frowned.
"What are you talking about?" He asked utterly confused.
"What am I talking about?" She asked in a quiet sort of defeated voice. "I'll tell you what I'm talking about!" She started screaming at this point in our story. "Oh James, I love you with all of my heart. Don't stay away from me another moment!" She said reading dramatically from the letter. James didn't quite catch on and raised his eyebrows in confusion.
"Lily, I'll only be gone a few weeks at the most. It's OK," He shook his head and went back to his sorting.
"Sirius; Sirius; Sirius; Sirius; Sirius; Sirius again; damn! How many lovers do you have? Sirius again;"
"JAMES FUCKING POTTER!" Lily screamed as loud as she could. Sirius dropped his glass of orange juice right in his lap and James nearly fell out of his chair, dropping his bill in the wrong pile. "Who the hell is Ginger? And why is she going to meet you at midnight tonight?" Lily shouted but not as loudly.
"What the hell are you talking about?" James shouted looking at her in bewilderment.
"Don't play dumb you dumbass!" Lily shouted.
"Isn't that rather redundant?" Sirius asked but they both ignored him.
"I don't know what the hell you're talking about. Take a chill pill," He said. "Must be that time of the month," He muttered to Sirius.
"DAMN YOU POTTER! I don't know why I even trust you!" She screamed. Sirius stood up and hightailed it out of the danger zone only to rush back in two seconds later and grab his love letters sitting on the table and rush out again. Both Lily and James were too busy to notice.
"What the hell is all this about?" James yelled.
"THIS!" She screamed shoving the love letter into his hands and running off crying.
James stared down at the piece of paper in his hands. He read the letter and raised his eyebrows. Sirius had come back and started reading over his shoulder. He whistled when he had finished.
"I'm proud of you James," He said sarcastically. "Your first love-letter," He wiped fake tears from his eyes. "My little Jamesie is growing up," James gave him a look that clearly said this is no laughing matter. Nevertheless he couldn't help but make a comment.
"I guess I'm just a hell of a guy,"
"That's my James!" Sirius said with a laugh.
~*~
"Lily," James said softly knocking on the bedroom door. "Lily?"
"Go away,"
"Oh come on Lily," James said. "Do you really believe this letter? She probably is just some whacked out girl who knows me from school," James as quietly as he could opened the bedroom door. Lily was sitting out on the balcony. He came up softly behind her.
"Are you jealous?" He asked. Lily jumped.
"That's not what this is about." She said sharply.
"You are," He said.
"Yes, and with good reason. And no I am not afraid to admit it! Just think of everything you did to me in school, why should I trust you? And frankly I'm not all convinced you don't know her," She added nodding towards the letter.
"Lily get real!" James said grabbing her shoulders and looking her straight in the eye. "There's only one red-haired green-eyed girl for me," He said. "And her name's Katie," He added. "I'm just kidding!" He said laughing as he tried to dodge a smack on the arm.
"I don't know James," Lily said becoming serious again. "It's not just that," She said.
"What is it?" He asked.
"It's nothing,"
"No, it's not anything. We have to be honest here; we're going to get married."
"It's just that I'm always so worried about you when you're gone. I don't know where you are and I don't here from you. And sometimes I do wonder if you ever… get lonely," She said not looking at him. To her surprise James started laughing.
"All the time, baby," He said. "That's why I keep a picture of you," Lily rolled her eyes. "I'm serious! Just ask Frank Longbottom or Sirius or Peter. But, hey, if you don't trust me-"
"I do trust you!" Lily interrupted.
"Oh," He said. "Because I seem to recall a 'why should I trust you?'"
"That's the whole problem!" Lily said. "I have no reason to trust you or even love you because you're an inconsiderate, arrogant, good-looking jerk and yet I still do."
"And you are a rude, loud, good-looking girl but I still love you," Lily smiled.
"I'm sorry," She said. "It's just that I don't want anyone to so much as look at you. I want to keep you all to myself," She said wrapping her arms around his neck.
"And I want you all to myself," He said. They were just about to kiss when suddenly a fire sprung up in the grate and Dumbledore's head floated in. Lily jumped and they sprang apart in shock.
"Oh excuse me," Dumbledore said. "Am I interrupting anything?"
"No," They both said quickly. Dumbledore raised his eyebrow.
"How are you two?" Dumbledore asked.
"Great," Lily said. "And you?"
"The usual," Dumbledore said. "Very busy. I heard about the incident in Godric's Hollow. Bit of a shock for me. I meant to owl, but like I said, I've been busy," James and Lily exchanged dark looks remembering that night. "I have a question to ask of you Ms. Evans." Dumbledore said.
"Yes?" Lily said expectantly. It was not often someone as important as Dumbledore asked Lily Evans a question.
"A favor, I suppose you would call it. Our Charms Professor, Professor Pacific, has gone ill. Madam Pomprey sent him to St. Mungo's and he probably won't come back for the rest of the year. Next year we'll probably replace him, you know how old the fellow was, but I need a Charms professor for a week or two. No more than that, I promise, and the pay won't be bad. Would you please be so kind as to come and teach for us?" Dumbledore asked her. Lily just stared for a second. She was shocked.
"M-me?" She stuttered. "Be a p-professor?" Dumbledore nodded. "Well, of course!" She exclaimed. "I can't believe you're asking ME," She said.
"You are a fully qualified witch and you are excellent at Charms. You'd be perfect for the job. Anyway, I hope you will be able to join us for dinner at the latest. If you apparate to Hogsmeade station then you can leave your things with the train conductor and walk to the castle."
"I'll be there!" Lily said excitedly.
"Mr. Potter, I've a message from Alastor Moody. He would like you to contact him as soon as possible. Something about taking a mission to South America to track a suspected death eater ring. You and another person,"
"Me? He wants me? I haven't been on a real assignment like that yet!" James exclaimed. "Thank you headmaster,"
"Thanks accepted. I'll see you at dinner Ms. Evans. Good day Mr. Potter and thank you. I'll talk to you later you still have to tell me how you managed to get forty of my house elves to plant dung bombs in the Slytherin common room and the teachers offices in seventh year," He said and then disappeared.
"I remember that!" Lily exclaimed with laughter. "Talk about going out with a bang. It was perfect!"
"Well Lily, I'm probably off until Christmas or so. Good luck at Hogwarts. I'll write if I can. Say bye to Sirius and tell Peter where I am,"
"'K," She said giving him a kiss. "I'll miss you!" She said. And then he left. Left her again.
~*~
Dinner at Hogwarts was one of the most fun nights Lily had had in a very long time. She talked endlessly with all her teachers and countless students she had known (and that was a lot seeing as she WAS head girl)
She studied her class schedule for the next day and made sure that she knew how to do everything Professor Pacific had planned to do. Then she slept peacefully in a comfortable four-poster Hogwarts bed.
The next morning Lily had her first class. It was seventh years and most of them Lily knew.
"Lily Evans! No way! Is that you? Are you and James still going together? What's up?" All these things and more were shouted as the students came into the classroom. Before she could even get through roll the bell had rung. She had spent the last class talking to her students.
*How did I manage to waste an entire class period?* Lily thought as her second class entered the classroom. The second class was just like the first class. Asking questions and everything. *Oh well,* Lily thought. *I wasted the whole first class period why be unfair? I have to waste this one too*
So, quite unintentionally Lily spent her first day of classes sitting on top of her desk having animated discussions with the students.
*How did I manage to waste an entire day?* Lily thought as she got ready to go to bed. *Oh well. At least I'm having fun*
~*~
Lily fell into an uneasy sleep that night. She saw James. He looked slightly different but not much; perhaps older; or maybe he was more sobered. He looked a terrible panic and suddenly there was a lot of green light and sharp pain and horrible ugly and twisted laughter. Lily's eyes flew open and she sprang out of bed clutching her bosom. Her heart was racing and a terrible sharp pain grabbed her in the chest.
Breathing hard she raced to Dumbledore's office to tell him about her vision before she forgot it just like she did every other dream she had.
So, this is how Dumbledore was awaked at 1:27AM. Lily was standing over him and a house elf prodding him sharply in the arm. "Professor," She hissed.
"Headmaster," The little elf said in its loud and squeaky voice. Dumbledore sat straight up in bed.
"MISS EVANS!" He shouted in surprise. The house elf shrank away towards the door. "AND PINNOCHIO!" He said seeing the house elf.
"Forgive me professor but I asked him to wake you," Lily explained.
"Very well then," Dumbledore said and the house elf named Pinocchio left. "Ms. Evans you must tell me how you manage to do such things. You and Mr. Potter have a way with making the house elves do exactly what you please. You must share your secret," Dumbledore said putting his glasses on.
"Headmaster I am sorry for waking you like this but I just had a horrible vision, a dream. My chest still hurts." Lily said.
"Tell me everything," Dumbledore said with a concerned look in his eyes. Without warning the lights sprang on.
"Well, I can remember James he looked different and he was scared. I could tell that much. And he had his wand out. Then I remember feeling lots of pain and a strange sensation that reminded me of last Halloween when… when we got attacked. And there was horrible high-pitched laughter," Lily said putting her hands over her ears. Dumbledore furrowed his brow.
"That's very strange. It's less than comforting. That's for sure," he said slowly. "I think you should just go back to bed for now. Come to me immediately if anything like this happens again." Lily nodded.
"One more thing maybe you should know," Lily said. "This isn't the first time this has happened. I often see strange things I don't understand and they usually aren't good." She paused as she wondered whether to tell him about the Bones incident where she had had a dream about a girl being stabbed on a hilltop the same night when the Bones's died.
"Is there something else?" Dumbledore asked still looking at her in concern.
"Yes," She said slowly. "Sometimes I have dreams about things that actually happen. When the Bones's were…murdered… I had a dream about a woman being stabbed with a knife on a hilltop." Dumbledore looked at her with a grave expression.
"Where were you?" He asked after a long pause. Lily thought for a while and wondered why that had anything to do with it.
"I was in my house. In the hallway. At the time we thought someone, like a robber, was in the house. We kept hearing footsteps and when the person-who turned out to be Peter- was coming around the edge of the hallway I blacked out and had this vision." She said remembering how afraid she had been.
"What time was it?" Dumbledore asked. Lily frowned. Why was he asking all these questions?
"Night time. It must have been late because I remember Sirius, Angie and I being out in back for a long time roasting marshmallows and that sort of thing," She said. Dumbledore quickly rose to his feet and threw some floo powder into the fire that suddenly sprang out of nowhere.
"Alastor Moody," He demanded and very sleepily Moody's head appeared in the fire. "Terribly sorry sir for waking you," Dumbledore said. "Did you by any chance speak with James Potter this afternoon?" Dumbledore asked. Lily couldn't help but stare as Moody's magical eye swiveled all around constantly moving.
"Yes," He said eyeing Lily suspiciously.
"Where is he now?" Dumbledore asked.
"Why do you ask?" Moody said narrowing his eye.
"I have reason to believe he might be in some kind of danger." Dumbledore replied simply.
"Stay here," Moody said gruffly still looking at them suspiciously. A moment later he reappeared.
"James is in absolutely no danger and is very safe for the moment," Moody said. "Now, tomorrow is another day and he will be heading to South America so he will doubtless be in grave danger," Moody said. Lily bit her lip not liking the sound of that.
"You must be Lily Evans," He said suddenly. "Not to worry though. James is a bright kid, strong and brave. He'll come back and he'll come back with several death eaters," Moody said. "Weren't you with him when the Stars were killed?" He asked. Lily nodded. "Yes that's right. Saved his life, you did. But not to worry, he's not usually so off his guard." Moody said.
Lily was feeling very uncomfortable and she thought if this conversation continued much longer she would probably burst out crying. She was very worried about James with this dream and with Moody talking like this.
"Thank you Alastor. Tell James to be on his guard at all times," Dumbledore said.
"What makes you think he's in so much danger?" Moody asked narrowing his eye once again.
"Ms. Evans has had a terrible nightmare," Dumbledore said though Lily wished he hadn't for now she feared that Moody thought of her as an insecure paranoid little girl. And she also didn't want him to tell James. She didn't want them to think she was a wimp; but her chest had hurt, badly. Something wasn't right with that dream!
"Good night then Albus," Moody said and disappeared.
"Well, at least we know James is still OK. Try and get some rest Lily. Tomorrow is another day of classes," Dumbledore said sounding exhausted.
"I'm terribly sorry professor," Lily said with a yawn.
"No problem," He said sleepily as he closed the door behind. There was definitely something wrong with this whole situation.
~*~
The next couple of days were rather uneventful. Lily had no strange nightmares and classes resumed to a somewhat normal state as Lily did manage to start a lesson or two. Teaching wasn't as easy as it seemed though since everyone kept talking to her and before she knew what was happening she was sitting down having a conversation with someone until she caught herself.
On Saturday December 1st Lily went visiting all her old teachers. Professor McGonagall was first and she spent close to an hour talking and catching up with her. Next she decided to go up and visit her Divination teacher: Professor McFogge.
She climbed up into her old classroom and spotted Professor McFogge gazing into one of the crystal balls. Lily stood quietly by the trapdoor waiting for her not wishing to disturb her concentration. Lily stared into the crystal ball just thinking about some things and before she knew what was happening she had slipped into some sort of dream.
It was a very strange dream. She was floating in the pool one summer and suddenly she was floating in the lake on Hogwarts ground but this was perfectly normal. She was chatting with the giant squid and there were students swimming in the water they were laughing and suddenly someone screamed and there was a body floating in the water.
Lily screamed too and before she realized what she was doing she found herself standing in the middle of the divination classroom screaming her head off and Professor McFogge looking as if she had seen a ghost.
Lily's eyes flew open and she stopped suddenly. She could still feel the wet water on her but she wasn't wet at all. She started breathing quickly.
"Lily?" Professor McFogge asked. "Lily are you OK?" But Lily wasn't listening she felt like she had to tell Professor Dumbledore.
She jumped down the trapdoor somehow not breaking any limbs and sprinted to Dumbledore's office. He wasn't there but Professor McGonagall was.
"Lily!" She said when Lily burst through the door. "Is something wrong?" She asked her seeing the distraught look on her face.
"Where's Dumbledore?" She asked.
"I think he went out to the greenhouses," Professor McGonagall said. She was about to say more but Lily turned around and bolted down the stairs and out to the grounds. She spotted Dumbledore walking over the grounds and just as she was about to take a step she heard a bone-chilling scream. The same one she had heard just minutes ago in the Divination classroom.
She ran as fast as she could; faster and Dumbledore was behind her. She reached the lake and there were people screaming and pointing and Lily saw a mass of black robes and hair floating on the water. She flung off her black robes and ran out into the lake. The water was freezing, in forty degree range (Fahrenheit) {It was December} but she wasn't paying attention. She reached the student floating in the water and a horrible sense of nausea and foreboding settled in on her but she somehow managed to rescue the first year.
~*~
Two hours later she woke up in the hospital wing. She sat straight up in bed breathing quickly. She had just had yet another vision. If this didn't stop soon she was going to have a nervous break-down!
This time she, herself, was not in the dream. In fact she wasn't sure who any of these people were but they all looked somewhat familiar. Remus was there, though he was much older. He was on the Hogwarts express. He looked very tired and his robes were patched and frayed. There had been several teenagers that she didn't recognize except one that greatly resembled James. Dementors had come on the train. She remembered feeling very cold and that's when she woke up.
Dumbledore suddenly came striding into the hospital wing followed by a worried looking witch and wizard. The three of them all walked straight towards Lily.
"Lily!" Dumbledore cried when he saw her awake. "Thank goodness you're awake!" He said with a weak smile.
"Professor I-" Lily started but Dumbledore held up his hand to silence her.
"We'll talk later. Right now I would like you to meet Jack and Jill Gillette. They are the parents of Michael Gillette whom you pulled out of the lake." Dumbledore said. Jill had tears in her eyes.
"Thank you so much Ms. Evans," She said with a cry as she hugged Lily. Lily's eyes got wide in shock as the woman sobbed on her shoulder; this was the last thing she had been expecting.
"I always told him he was going to get in trouble one day. That boy always was a risk taker," She said standing up again. "I can't thank you enough. I'm a reporter for the Daily Prophet. Later I want to interview you so I can write a thank you at least." She said wiping her eyes. Lily didn't know what to say so she didn't say anything. Mr. and Mrs. Gillette walked away and went to talk to their son who was being fed a potion that warmed you up.
"How do you feel?" Dumbledore asked.
"OK, I guess," Lily said leaning back against her pillow.
"What made you come outside?"
"I saw it happen," She said softly. "Not exactly the same way, but I heard the girl scream and I saw the boy floating in the water. I actually was going to find you, but I heard the scream and I just ran to the lake. I don't even really remember it." Lily said. Dumbledore's eyes pierced her.
"Get some rest Lily. I've got to talk to a few people. I'll come back later," He said and with that he left.
~*~
Dumbledore came back later and Alastor Moody live and in person walked with him. "Lily," Dumbledore said. "I think that maybe you are a seer or something of that sort. If that's true you could greatly help out the magical community. Alastor has something here that might help me prove my theory true." And Moody reached into his cloak and brought out a dagger. It glinted but Lily shut her eyes and put her hand over her mouth.
"Put it away!" She said quickly as the chilling vision of the cloaked figure standing over Mrs. Bones with that exact dagger. Moody put it back inside his robes.
"Do you know what that is Ms. Evans?" He asked. Lily nodded opening her eyes and removing her hand.
"They killed her with. They stabbed her right behind her house," Lily said.
"Who?"
"Kara Bones," She said. Alastor and Dumbledore exchanged looks.
"How did you know?" Moody asked.
"I just do. I can see it all happening in my head," Lily said with a horrified expression on her face.
"How about this?" Moody asked pulling out a pearl necklace. "It was discovered on Kelly Prewett's grave site after the tombstone had been taken out of the ground and smashed." Lily got a pained expression on her face; Kelly had been one of her good friends. Lily reluctantly took it from him and gently ran her fingers over it.
"Narcissa Malfoy," Lily said disgustedly tossing it down on the bed. Alastor Moody stared at Lily.
"How do you know?" He asked in shocked disbelief staring straight at her with both eyes.
"I can see her in front of her mirror in a wedding dress. I'm guessing her mother is putting the necklace on her and she's smirking," Lily said even more disgustedly than before.
"We have no idea where it came from." Moody said slowly looking at the necklace. "Are you sure?" he asked.
"Definitely,"
"Of course we can't prove it," Moody said. "At any rate have you ever considered getting a job with the IAA? (International Auror Association) You would be incredibly helpful in cracking cases and leading us away from dead ends."
"Are you offering me a job?" Lily asked in disbelief.
"After what I just saw here there's not a trace of doubt in mind that you would be fully accepted and start full time immediately with a huge salary." Moody said.
"I guess I would. Well, yes I would take the job." Lily said. "But James probably won't be happy about it."
"He'll get over himself," Moody said dismissively.
"Now wait a minute I have to find a Charms Professor before you a job on me!" Dumbledore said. Lily laughed.
"Good work today Ms. Evans. I'll talk to you after Dumbledore has found his Professor. But I must run. I must go interrogate Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy. Perhaps we might be able to punish them anyway," He said seeming very happy as he walked out of the hospital wing.
"Congratulations Lily. Now I must run too. I'm very busy dealing with Daily Prophet reporters over this whole lake incident and trying to find and Professor and all. See you later!"
~*~
Monday December 3rd Lily's classes once again consisted of her wasting the entire class talking to them and discussing the Daily Prophet article that had come out that morning and what happened on Saturday and everything else you could possibly think of from why muggles take calculus to why broccoli is green.
Lily started writing out her wedding invitations and consequently that's what she happened to be doing during her third class period on Friday when the new charms professor came to greet her while the students were charming their books to sing the school song.
"Hello Ms. Evans. I'm Professor Flitwick. I'm going to be taking over your position on Monday," A tiny little man said in a squeaky voice extending his hand to her. Lily stared for a moment at the man who was smaller than the height of the desk she was sitting at. She quickly recovered and shook his small hand.
"I'm pleased to meet you and pleased to find Dumbledore has finally found a replacement." Lily said.
"Lily! You're leaving!" Someone shouted.
"I told you guys this wasn't permanent! I'm getting a job with the IAA," Lily said. This sent the class into chaos. Everyone started talking at once. Lily didn't want to seem like she couldn't control the class in front of this new teacher so she stood up on top of her desk and whistled as loud as she could.
The room immediately fell silent. "That's better," She said. "I'm sure you all will like Professor Flitwick," Lily said. *At least he's amusing. He must only be three feet tall!* "You will actually get something done!" Lily said.
So, Lily left Hogwarts on Sunday. Monday the 10th of December she started her job at the IAA. She didn't actually do anything she was just shown around the place and taught some of the basic rules and policies.
For the next two weeks she would just be going through some very basic training. Just to get the feel of the work force. She was still worried about what James was going to say but now that she was also working for the IAA she would be able to get constant updates on his situation.
Currently he was somewhere in the Amazon Rainforest. Not that that was particularly comforting but at least she knew where he was.
She wrote a letter to Angie, whom she hadn't spoken to in about two or three weeks!
Dear Angie,
What's up girl? I haven't talked to you in like forever! I hope you're doing well, even with the whole pregnant thing. Don't be depressed about it. Maybe Josh will finally fess up and marry you! That would be exciting wouldn't it?
Speaking of exciting, I've got some exciting news: I got a job with the IAA!! And no I'm not kidding. We totally have to get together so I can tell you all about it. I still haven't talked to James yet (he's away on assignment) but I think he'll be OK with it.
I've been writing out the wedding invitations. I think I'm going to send them out tomorrow. I'm getting so excited! You should see my dress! You're going to love it! By the way, the first fitting for the bridesmaids is on the 18th. I know that you'll be growing like a lot being pregnant and all. And they know that, so don't worry too much if the dress is like really big on you now.
Well, I think that's all I needed to tell you. You have to come over some time soon! I've got training for the next two weeks but you could come over in the evening sometime and help me decide on a few more things for the wedding. I still have to find somewhere to get the cake.
I'm so excited! Can't wait to hear from you!
~Lily
~*~
Yo Lil,
What's up? Haven't heard from you in ages. I had to hear about the whole love letter incident from Sirius! Like major dis! Talk to the hand OK. Actually I think in your case it would be the parchment but whatever works.
The whole pregnant thing is going OK I guess although I'm starting to get really strange cravings and stuff. Can you believe I will be four months pregnant at the end of this month!? I'm starting to show just ever so slightly. You probably wouldn't notice but I do. It's so depressing. But Josh has been really great about everything. He's so cute when we shop for stuff for the baby. He hasn't said much about marriage though… That's all right. He's really supportive about the baby.
I definitely have to come over, but I'm working too. I heard from Jill about your heroic act at Hogwarts! Do I have to hear everything second hand? And how the hell did you get a job with the IAA?!!? That's like a major thing and James had to go to school and everything! Ha! You have to tell me what he says when he finds out!
I'm definitely coming over sometime though. I can't wait to talk to you live and in person. I have so much stuff I have to tell you that I just couldn't put in a letter.
By the way, you have to tell me what you were doing at Hogwarts in the first place. I mean, from the article I gathered you were teaching charms. But why? I guess you'll have to tell me when I see you!
Thanks for the letter! Cheers!
*Angie
~*~
"LILY!"
"ANGIE!"
"Ow," Sirius said putting a hand on each ear as Lily and Angie met up for the first time in a really long time. "Well, you girls have fun. I have a date tonight," Sirius said. "Wish me luck,"
"I hope she pushes into the lake!" Angie shouted as he left.
"I hope Lily pushes YOU into a lake!" He shouted in reply.
"So what's up?" Angie said turning back to Lily.
"The ceiling,"
"What is happening?" Angie said with an eye roll.
"Well, first of all I have to tell you all about this whole job thing…" Lily and Angie got into a huge detailed conversation about everything that had happened and how the house elf's name had been Pinocchio.
"Pinocchio!" Angie exclaimed when they came to this point in the story. "Oh that's a hoot and a half! I wonder who named the poor guy."
"NO way! Narcissa! That bitch! I can't believe she would be so disrespectful to the dead! I can't believe this Lily. You had no idea about this whole seer thing before?" Angie interrupted.
"Well, I knew I had strange dreams but now maybe I'll be able to figure them out," Lily said.
"Well, anyway it sounds like good things are happening in the life of Lily Evans,"
"Yep, things are great. You don't sound like you're too bad off either,"
"I always have problems, but things are working out OK," Angie said.
"Have you heard from Mischel lately?"
"The last I heard she was in Texas with her uncle." Angie said.
"Yeah me too. I really miss her. And Sierra and Peter and Remus and Elizabeth too! And James. I wish James would come back."
"You really do love him don't you?"
"Desperately," Lily replied. "Um Angie," Lily said looking down kind of nervously.
"Yeah?"
"How did you, um, know that you were pregnant?" Lily asked.
"Well, Josh and I f-" She suddenly cut off. "LILY ARE YOU PREGNANT?!!?" She burst out. Lily blushed and looked away.
"I'm not sure…"
"Are you late?" Angie asked.
"Yeah,"
"Go see a doctor or something. OH MY GOD!" She squealed. "I can't believe this! When did you have time to do this?"
"Like one afternoon in November, I guess," Lily said going slightly pink. "But don't say anything! I don't want anyone to know yet, I mean, I'm not really sure that I am… you know… pregnant," Angie nodded.
"OH MY GOD!" She suddenly burst out and the two of them squealed and hugged like girls do.
"Oh my god," Lily said. "I just realized something, I told you before I told James,"
"He's not here, that's his problem!" Angie said.
~*~
A week later Angie got a letter.
Ang,
I'm pregnant. For real! I'm kind of nervous because James doesn't even know I have this job yet and now this… but I can't believe it! I'm going to have a baby! OH MY GOD!!!
~Lily
PS Don't say anything to anyone yet. I haven't even said anything to Sirius, so keep your mouth closed!
Angie squealed right in the middle of breakfast and Josh gave her a really strange look.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Oh, um, Elizabeth Hoffenmeijer got engaged," Angie lied.
"Really? When's the wedding?" Josh asked.
"Oh… they don't know yet," Angie said quickly. "I have to go brush my teeth," She said running up the stairs and writing a letter to Lily.
~*~
"Moody? Do you know when James is supposed to be home?" Lily asked on December the 22nd. "She knew that he was due back yesterday and was getting anxious with the Christmas holiday so close at hand,"
"First week of the year," Moody replied gruffly.
"What!?" Lily exclaimed. "I thought he was supposed to be home yesterday!?"
"He was but a new situation developed down there. All units are staying there just to check it out."
"But he's been gone since the end of NOVEMBER!" Lily said. "He has to be home for Christmas! You can't do this to him!" Lily protested.
"Evans!" Moody cut in. "You should be thankful that he is staying down there and protecting us all! He'll be home in the first week of the year." He said with a tone of finality. Lily left very angry.
~*~
Christmas was depressing. James was gone and she had gone home to her parents. The muggles were worse than usual and the neighbor was hitting on her and trying to catch her under the mistletoe. Petunia was a bitch as always and her mother and father wouldn't keep their noses out of her business.
"Why isn't James here?" "You should do this for the wedding," "James this," "You should that," Lily was glad to leave after Christmas.
She was kind of mad at James even though she knew he didn't have a choice. It just didn't seem fair that he couldn't come home for Christmas at least.
She was looking forward to him coming home. Everyday she asked Moody when he was coming. And finally on the 4th of January James showed up around 7:00PM.
"James! I'm so glad you're back! I missed you! I wanted to here so badly!" Lily said when she saw him. She kissed him but he didn't kiss back with as much enthusiasm as you would think after not seeing her for over a month.
He looked terrible. His eyes were bloodshot with huge dark circles under them. He looked thin and weary. He collapsed on the couch and rubbed his eyes.
"What's wrong?" Lily asked.
"I don't want to talk about it right now," He said. And that's all he said for the rest of the night. Lily was rather put off by this behavior. She understood he must be incredibly weary but to completely ignore her and not even say more than ten words to her was just down right rude she thought.
The next day she cooked breakfast early before she had to go to work but James never came downstairs. Lily was really starting to get pissed off when she came home that night and called and there was no answer.
She eventually found him in the library staring out of the window.
"James, what's wrong? You've been ignoring me ever since you got home. I have some really big news to tell you," She said.
"OK, in a little bit Lily," James said.
"NO!" Lily said suddenly becoming angry. "I want to talk to you right now! I want to know why the hell you couldn't come home for Christmas and why the hell you won't talk to me now when you haven't seen me in over a month. You barely said an entire sentence to me yesterday and you didn't even get up for breakfast this morning. I want to talk to you so we're going to talk," James just stared at her.
"I have been living off of three hours of sleep a night, sometime less for over a month. I had one meal, or less and I traipsed all over the god damn Amazon Rainforest tracking fucked up death eaters. I am weary and grumpy so I'm sorry if I'm not really in the mood to talk to you,"
"Don't get all upset with me! It hasn't been exactly a piece of quiche here you know! I've been swimming in the lake at Hogwarts. I've had horrible nightmares, mostly about YOU. And I've had to do it all by myself just like you. I understand that you're a little tired but at least you could talk to me!"
"Don't give me this crap! You have no idea what it was like for me down there! I'm sorry about this but I just need some time, OK? Is that too much to ask?"
"No, I'm sorry but show a little consideration and so will I. If you weren't such a dick about everything," She said muttering.
"Don't give me this when you're sitting here being a bitch right back!"
"OH! Forget it! I don't even want to talk to you right now. I'm sure you don't want to know that I got a job and I have something really important to tell you!" Lily stormed off and James sat fuming.
~*~
The next day after Lily came home from work James was much more cooperative but their conversation soon turned into a scraping verbal fight.
"Lily," James said. "I'm really sorry about everything. I'm just really irritable right now. Forgive me?" He asked with a weak smile handing her a lily.
"Of course," She said kissing him.
"So what's this job of yours?" James asked.
"OK, now don't fly off the broom on me," Lily said. "But I have been hired by the IAA. Alastor Moody specifically," Lily said looking straight at James to see his reaction.
Angie and Sirius were anxiously watching all of this from behind a doorway unknown to both parties.
"WHAT?" He finally asked after about a minute of shocked silence.
"It's all a very complicated process but I guess it starts out that day back in November when Dumbledore asked me to temporarily teach the charms class…" Lily launched into her story about her nightmares and Pinocchio and saving the child from the lake and the pearl necklace. Most of this was new to Sirius who hadn't been hanging around the Potter's quite as much as usual and hadn't completely caught up on the Lily gossip. James just stared at her showing little or no emotion as Lily told her story.
When Lily had finished James just stared at her, still. *blink, blink* "Say something," Lily finally said.
"The house elf is named Pinocchio? What's up with that? Narcissa!?! The IAA! I can't believe this!" He finally said jumping to his feet. "Lily, this is a lot more dangerous than you seem to think this is!"
"I am not 6 years old James! I don't need someone there to constantly look over my shoulder!"
"So, this is your big news?" James asked in an unpleasant tone.
"No, but I don't think you want to hear what I have to say right now,"
"Did I say that? I never said that, did I Sirius or Angie?" James asked not even turning around to where they stood behind the door.
--"How the hell did he know we were here?" Angie hissed to Sirius who shrugged.—
"I thought maybe you'd be happier to hear this but-"
"Are you going to tell me or not?" James snapped.
"I'm going to have a baby!" Lily yelled. "There are you happy? That's it! That's the news! Congratulations to us!" She yelled storming out of the room past Angie and Sirius.
"She's pregnant?!" Sirius exclaimed.
"Yeah," Angie said as if she was saying 'duh!'
~*~
A/N: I am a horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible,*takes deep breath* horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible,*takes deep breath* horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible,*takes deep breath* horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, person.
I can't believe it's been this long until I updated! I really feel horrible. I hope you guys like this chapter, I had actually planned on making it ever so slightly longer but then I decided that this was a much better place to end the chapter. This was in no way influenced by your responses to my little e-mail poll. (Thank you to all the people who responded, by the way) The next chapter was actually going to be incredibly short. This way I can lengthen it up quite a bit.
Anyway, I really hope you enjoyed this chapter. The next chapter is the wedding. Who-hoo! Finally, right? Thanks for reading now please review. I will really try to update quicker this time and next time I'll write out some thank yous!
~Star*dust
Chapter Seventeen: Bills, Bills, Bills (No this has nothing to do with Destiny's Child!)
By Star*dust
A/N: I've had a lot of questions in all your latest reviews and in time they will be answered. I understand things are slightly confusing but don't worry all that stuff will eventually be explained. (Like, the reason why Holly Mischel and Angela Star don't have the same last names {and why they hate each other} And will Angie and Sirius… reunite? What's with Sirius's older sister, and of course Lily and James's wedding) Not all of that stuff is going to happen in THIS chapter but it all will eventually get answered. And, if you read the sequel some of it will REALLY make sense, but that's beside the point.
Anyway, I think I'm done talking for now… on to the story!
~*~
"Sisters?" Lily gasped. "But… how is that possible?"
"Ask them," Sirius said. Lily looked uneasily over at Angie and Holly who were in deep conversation. Somehow, she knew this was not the time for that kind of question.
"I don't think I'm going to go to the funeral." Holly was saying.
"WHAT?" Angie cried. "How can you not go? He's your father too! And Mom was your step-mother for how many years?"
"Yeah, their titles were Mom and Dad. That doesn't mean they acted like it. And, frankly, I could care less. I don't feel any need to pay any last respects because I didn't respect them! I endured them for all those years because I had to! I don't want to go and I don't see why that's a problem!" Holly shouted.
"You have no idea everything they did for you!" Angie screamed.
"Let's see, Mike, he left my mother, when she was PREGNANT, for your mother. He didn't care about me; I saw him maybe three times my entire life before I was forced to live with you because my mom died. I hate him so much I don't even have his name! And, then there's Sarah. Let's see, she played favorites, she told me I was a failure, and a nuisance. She was a real bitch and she didn't try to hide it. She talked about my mom all the time and she hated me! But that was OK, because I hated her too! They may have been great people to you, but they weren't to ME! If I would have had a choice I would have lived in a freaking orphanage!" Holly screamed back.
"Well, maybe you never heard the other side of the story,"
"What is there to hear? They were mean and horrible parents and I don't give a damn about them!" Holly screamed and stomped out the door. Angie slammed the door so hard the windows rattled and the mirror shook.
So, they must have been half sisters. The hatred between them must have been caused by their parents.
How had they kept this sister thing from Lily and the Marauders? They had lived together for a while, it sounded like. It was obvious they hadn't wanted anyone to know they were sisters. But this was a little crazy.
~*~
Angie came and sat down in a huff on the couch next to Sirius, who was looking very stunned. Suddenly an owl seemed to come out of nowhere and swoop down on him. A letter dropped in his lap. He took it and opened it up. He took one look at it and chucked it in the fire.
"Why can't she leave me the hell alone?" He asked. "Vanessa," He said catching James's inquisitive eye.
"This is a first, I think. Sirius Black is dodging a girl," James said with a grin.
"This isn't a girl. This is my sister. And, I think she's married." He added thoughtfully.
"So, Sirius Black is our new found millionaire? This sure is interesting. I do hope you'll remember all the time you've spent here and all the food you've eaten when you turn 25."
"Yeah, yeah," Sirius said. He wasn't amused and James dropped the subject.
"Angie. Have you figured out when you're going to have the service?" Lily asked.
"I want to have it as soon as possible. That way I can just get it over with."
"Did they even know that you were… pregnant?" Lily asked cautiously. Angie shook her head, her eyes were wet.
"I'm sorry," Lily whispered as she hugged her friend.
"It was all so sudden," Angie said through tears. "I didn't get to say good-bye. I just feel so… alone," And with that she broke into a wave of hysterics. Sirius motioned to James and they left.
"I don't think I can take much of this," Sirius said to James. "Everything is happening all at once. I think I need a vacation," James started laughing. He laughed right out loud. And, it was loud. He couldn't stop. For some reason he just kept laughing, and it felt good, almost like a medication.
"YOU need a vacation!" James laughed. "You don't even work!"
"I work sometimes," Sirius retorted. But, it didn't sound as clever as it had in his head.
~*~
After the Star's funeral, which Holly had attended briefly, Lily went home and wrote her parents. She made plans to have dinner with them at their house in three days. The trick was, getting James to come.
"James!" Lily called. She came into the living room and saw James rubbing the cats belly and talking to it. When he saw Lily he jumped up like lightning and tripped over the coffee table. Not only had he let Lily discover that maybe he liked the cat, but he also made a complete and utter fool of himself.
"Perhaps you're not ready for this," Lily said.
"Not ready for what?" He asked struggling to his feet.
"Not ready for dinner with my parents," He tripped again. "I know, that table is tricky. It moves so much," Lily said.
"Why wouldn't I be ready for dinner, dinner with your parents," He said, almost as if he wasn't sure that's what she had said.
"Well, I just thought, that maybe we should tell them we're engaged now," Lily said.
"You haven't told them?" He shouted, and there he goes again, on the ground. This had to painful.
"Walk much?" She asked.
"You haven't told them yet?" He repeated.
"I was waiting for the right time," Lily said nervously. James rolled his eyes.
"When exactly is this little celebration planned for?"
"Three days,"
"Lily, you do realize that I might have to leave before then,"
"No you won't, not if you don't want to wake up in the middle of the night with pillow over your face."
"That's just scary." James said. "Not that you would have the strength to successfully suffocate me, but your parents do."
"You'll be fine. They like you, I think," Lily said.
"Very reassuring," James said sarcastically.
~*~
Three days later…
"Honey! Are you ready yet?" Lily called.
"Ready as I'll ever be for a fun-filled night with the in-laws, without magic," James said, coming down the stairs.
"Are you wearing THAT?" Lily asked.
"What's wrong with this?" James asked looking down.
"Dear, that tie does NOT go with that shirt," James lifted his tie, which was crooked, and looked at it. "And you better iron those pants or my mother will do it for you," James glanced down, "Not to mention your hair," Lily added. James looked upwards and tried to flatten his hair with his hands. "Don't forget the flowers," she called as he marched back up the stairs. Immediately he stopped, turned around, and went outside. In a minute or two he came back with a handful of flowers from the garden.
He came downstairs again for inspection.
"Shine your shoes; dad will make a comment about it. That shirt just does not work, my dad hates that color. Try a white shirt, and you should change your tie. A dark green, will work. Dad likes that, he thinks it makes people look important. And you know what; black pants work best, and don't forget to iron everything. And you better let me do your tie so it's straight and I thought I told you to do something with that hair!" James stood speechless for a moment, before saying anything.
"I can see this is not going to work so why don't you come and dress me properly so we don't have to do this anymore?"
~*~
About an hour later, they arrived at the Evans's. James was now properly dressed and holding the bouquet of flowers from the yard.
"Lily!" Her neighbor Josh Martin greeted her. "Haven't seen you since before last Christmas!" He said. "How's it going?"
"Great," Lily said. "How are you?"
"I'm doing alright. Having dinner with the folks tonight?"
"Yep,"
"Who's this? I don't think we've met." Josh said, referring to James.
"Oh, this is James," Lily said as they shook hands.
"Her fiancé," James said dryly.
"Really? Congratulations Miss Evans! Am I invited to the wedding?" James instinctively stiffened.
"Well," Lily said nervously. Of course he wasn't invited to the wedding. He was a muggle! The only muggles at the wedding would be her parents. "We're not doing a big thing. It's just going to be a small wedding," Lily said. "Over seas," She quickly added. Josh didn't have a chance to answer because at that moment Mrs. Evans opened the door.
"Lily!"
"Mum!" Lily exclaimed hugging her mother.
"And you must be James," Mrs. Evans said pinching his cheek as if he were her nephew, or something. "Oh!" She said receiving the flowers. "Thank you! They're beautiful. I'm going to put them in some water right now! Come in, come in!" Lily followed her mother and James followed awkwardly behind Lily.
Dinner was quite an experience. And James had no idea when Lily was going to tell her parents that she was engaged. Her parents kept asking him all these questions. Her father was very interested in politics and religion and that sort of thing. Not to mention the armed forces and other things that James didn't know much about. Lily had to keep reminding them that he was a magical person and that he had no idea what they were discussing.
Then, her father, who also happened to be a retired mechanic, was always talking about cars. James enjoyed listening about cars, as he was with most muggle things.
"Lily, he's a bit strange. But, he's your kind of person, I guess, a magical one, but, I think I like him." Her father declared over desert. James wasn't sure whether that was a compliment or a put-down and he was still pondering that as Lily and her mother started clearing the table.
Her father took James outside to have a look at the car while Lily and her mother did the dishes.
~*~
"Lily, are you and James, serious?" Her mother asked her.
"Serious, I guess you would say that. Yes, you would definitely say that,"
"When are you two going to settle down and have a family, get married? You've been living with him for a while now,"
"Yes, I know." Lily said. "Maybe I better go see what Dad is doing to James," Lily said quickly walking towards the garage.
~*~
Out in the garage, without Lily's protection James was interrogated.
"James, my boy, are you serious about my daughter?"
"Well, yes sir,"
"Do you love her?"
"Of course, sir,"
"Do you want to marry her?"
"With your permission, of course," James answered.
"Good answer," Her father said, momentarily taking a break from his line of questioning. "Have you slept with her yet?" James sort of lost his balance. Luckily at that moment Lily opened the door.
"Having a good time? James, I think that maybe we should head out now?" Lily said. Her father passed by her and James whispered to her as they walked back to the kitchen.
"I've just been interrogated by your father. We better tell them now!" Lily bit her lip.
"OK," She whispered back.
~*~
Back in the kitchen, James stood with his arm around Lily. "Um," Lily looked down uncomfortably. "We have something we should tell you," She said, starting to play with her ring. "We're engaged!" Lily said. Her mother gasped.
"WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!" She exclaimed throwing her arms around James's neck and nearly choking him.
Her father just stood there and looked at James for a while. "Not bad," He finally proclaimed; and then walked off to the den.
"Oh honey, I'm so proud of you! Well, let's see the ring dear," She said anxiously. Lily showed her mother the crystal lily. "Oh my, he's a keeper," Her mother said. Lily smiled at James who was awkwardly standing a short distance away. After about ten minutes of shock and questions and congratulations her mother finally made a suggestion.
"Lily! I saw this new movie out! It would be wonderful! Let's go see it, dear. It's about a young couple, and they're getting married. It fits perfectly in with everything that's happening. Come on, let's go!"
"Oh, Mom, I don't know…" Lily said looking sidelong at James. "It's not the sort of thing James is used to,"
"Oh, it'll be fun," Her mother insisted.
"It's OK. I've never been to a movie before," James said, interested. Lily looked uneasy but her mother was overcome with joy.
"WONDERFUL! We'll go right now!" She said grabbing her car keys and purse. "We're going to the movies dear, do you want to come?" She asked her husband.
"No, you have a good time,"
And with that they were ushered into the garage and into the car. James sat in the passenger's seat and Lily sat in the back.
"Mum, I didn't bring any… regular money with me," Lily said.
"Oh, I'll take care of it dear," Her mother said starting the car. As they backed out of the driveway Lily noticed James was gripping the car nervously. She giggled.
"It's OK, dear. You don't have to hold on; you have your seat-belt on. Haven't you ever ridden the Knight Bus before?" Lily asked.
"No, actually. Mum, insisted that we always use floo. And if we couldn't do that Dad would fly everywhere anyway because he loved to fly. And sometimes we rode on a magic carpet, but you're not supposed to know that,"
"That's illegal!" Lily gasped.
James glanced nervously at Lily's Mom. "I know, but we would only use it in the back yard." James said.
"OMG!" Lily suddenly cried. "Is it still in our basement!?!?"
"Well,"
"JAMES!" Lily shouted. He was becoming increasingly aware of Lily's mother. "YOU'RE KEEPING AN ILLEGAL FLYING CARPET IN MY HOUSE! ARE YOU CRAZY!? YOU'RE BECOMING AN AUROR!"
"Lily," James said quietly. She gave him a look, but she was also aware of her mother, so she shut up.
~*~
The movie theater was, to the great annoyance of James, packed with muggles. (Of course) They went to see a really sad chick flick and James quickly became very bored. At first he was interested in how they did this without magic but it quickly became his worst nightmare. Before he knew what was happening he had fallen asleep.
"JAMES!" Lily hissed sharply in his ear. He quickly sat up and realized the movie was over. Her mother was putting a tissue away in her purse.
Back in the car, she was interested to know what James thought of the movie. Somehow, he managed to generalize his answers and survive the car trip back to the Evans's.
~*~
"I am avoiding dinner with your parents at all costs," James said when they had finally returned home. "That was not what I would call a pleasant experience," James said.
"I know the movie was boring for you, but what was so bad?" Lily asked massaging his shoulders.
"Your father was asking me whether we had slept together or not." James snapped.
"What did you tell him?" Lily asked quickly.
"I didn't say anything, you interrupted, but he had also asked a series of other questions before that," James said.
"I'm sorry. I should have known daddy would be up to something." Lily said.
"It's all right, now they know everything. Now, I'm free to have you," Lily smiled and kissed him.
"Thank you, James," She said. "Thanks for having dinner with the muggles."
"Hey, I guess it wasn't a total loss," He said as they walked up the stairs to their bedroom. "I did get to ride in a car. I guess I did ride once with you that one summer… But your Dad did manage to show me a few things in between asking me if I was in love with you,"
~*~
Sirius Black was not having a good day. Try as he might, he was just seriously lacking in the optimistic department today. It was late morning and the skies were gray and it was raining. The rain felt like ice, thousands of cold nails pounding your flesh and the wind chilled you to the bone. November was showing its cold furious rage and on a day like this, you wouldn't be anything but depressed.
And Sirius Black was depressed.
Depression was not something he normally had to deal with, so for about two hours now he had just been sitting in a chair by the fire staring into its fathomless depths. He had barely moved at all, and was lost inside his head.
He kept hearing his sister's screeching yells echo inside of his seemingly empty head. For a while he had been avoiding the subject, among his friends and whenever, Vanessa, a.k.a. Gemini Black, sent him a letter. He had chose not to think about it for a while but seeing as the problem wasn't going away Sirius realized he was going to have to do something sooner or later.
As he stared into the flickering flame and memory suddenly bubbled up from the depths of his mind. It had been a warm day, actually, a very hot day. Sirius was a young child, probably around 7 or maybe 8. Vanessa must have been nearly 20 by that time. This was one of his last summers that he would spend at the orphanage but not because his sister, who was perfectly capable, was going to care for him.
He hadn't seen her for almost a year. And, at that time, it saddened him. She was the only person he had known as long as he could remember. She always seemed very beautiful and that was something Sirius liked about his sister. He also liked her nickname, Gemini, which he had started calling her because she was a Gemini. At any rate, she had brought him ice cream.
It was blue moon, his favorite kind of ice cream. Ice cream was not something you usually got in the orphanage so he was very grateful, especially because it was so hot outside. She had sat next to him on the swing-set at break time while he ate his ice cream.
Sirius couldn't recall exactly how long she was there or exactly what they talked about, but a particular conversation had stuck out in his mind.
"Sirius, I went to the big bank today. Gringotts. I was talking to them there," Vanessa was saying sweetly as Sirius licked his ice cream cone gratefully. "They said that if you say it's OK, I can borrow some of your money out of your vault. You would let me borrow some of your money wouldn't you Sirius?" Vanessa asked him. Sirius didn't say anything as he was mid-lick and he wasn't quite sure what to say anyway. "I brought you ice cream and I used to play with you all the time, now I need some money. You would help me, wouldn't you Sirius?" She continued.
Sirius slowly nodded.
"That's a good boy. I knew you were a good boy. You always like to help out your sister because she's nice and brings you ice cream,"
"But Gemini," Sirius had protested suddenly remembering something his headmistress had said to him. "Madame says that I should keep my money. She says that it's mine and nobody else should have it," Sirius used to think this memory was a particularly good one, but now he saw what Vanessa was really doing to him.
Her cheeks started to redden with anger and frustration. "But I'm not taking your money, I'm just going to borrow it," She said. "And I'm not just anyone, I'm your older sister, and I'm nice and brought you ice cream," Sirius stopped halfway through a lick and considered this for a moment.
"But Madame says-"
"I DON'T CARE WHAT MADAME SAYS!" Vanessa shouted. "Are you going to let me borrow some money or not?" She continued shouting in rage but Sirius was too young to realize.
"I will get in trouble and get locked in the garage." Sirius told her. At this point in time Vanessa started muttering to herself and Sirius sat happily licking his ice cream. She had always been after his money which he had inherited from both parents when they died. That situation was an interesting one.
"Well, bye Sirius! I hope you like the ice cream. When, you're ready to stop thinking about Madame and help your sister I'll come back," She said and started to leave.
"Bye Gemini! I'll miss you!" The happy eight year old with the ice cream called after her, he did not understand.
Sirius blinked his eyes for the first time in several minutes. Why hadn't he understood at an earlier age?
~*~
"Hey Lily! Have you got any names for me yet?" Those were the first words out of Angela Star's mouth as she walked in the door to the Potters. She walked into the living room and saw Sirius sitting there, alone. She had a questioning look on her face and with a shrug Sirius understood and pointed upwards. She rolled her eyes and Sirius understood the 'thanks' she implied and then she went up the stairs. It was funny how they could have silent conversations. If someone would have walked into the room during one of those they would have started laughing and talking about how crazy the two of them were.
As she went up the stairs Sirius heard her repeat her previously stated question and after a moment or two he heaved himself out of his chair and followed her up the stairs.
"Lily! Do you have any names for me-OH MY GOD!" She yelled as she ran out of the room and ran into Sirius. "Don't go in there," She said. "Believe me. Don't go in there," A couple of minutes later Lily came out. She was blushing, to say the least.
"Hey Angie, what's up?" She tried to say casually. Sirius had a huge grin on his face.
"Um… I was just wondering if… you had some names for me?"
"Oh yeah! I have a list!" She said opening the door. James was standing in front of the mirror trying to gel his hair down. Lily started rummaging through her desk drawers. "James, where's the name list?" She asked throwing a paper here, a sock there. "Oh! Here it is, thanks dear," James rolled his eyes and started to comb his hair again. Sirius couldn't stop grinning; his day was already getting better.
"OK, if it's a girl, I have Lily-sorry I just had to say it- Michelle, Julie, Alexandria, Christie, or Paige." She said, looking up expectantly.
"Yeah right…well…not bad…too much…not enough…maybe…" Angie said according to the order of the names Lily read.
"OK," Lily said. "For the boys I have James- again I just had to do it- Matthew, Jonathan, Joseph, Thomas, and Michael."
"Yeah right, again, maybe…no way… not a chance… you're dreaming…too common," Angie said. "Come on Lily, don't you have anything better than that?" She asked.
"Sorry," She said in a sarcastic voice. "I'll keep trying…hey what about Josh?" Angie rolled her eyes.
"You're killing me." Lily laughed.
"Hey, I kind of like the name Sirius," Sirius said.
"God no," Angie said.
"What's wrong with my name?" He asked.
"We DO not need another one of you," Lily said.
"I like my name." Sirius protested. "And anyway, I'm a star," He said proudly. Angie snorted.
"But you can't find yourself," She said remembering the night of the reunion when he was walking around Hogsmeade trying to decide which star he was. Suddenly she looked at him and gasped. "Sirius," She whispered. He looked at her strangely. She started breathing quickly. "I have to go," She said starting to quickly walk away.
"But you just got here," Lily said. She seemed not to here her and in a moment she was gone.
"That was strange…" Sirius said.
"Yeah," Lily agreed.
"Pregnant women," James said rolling his eyes.
"What do YOU know about pregnant women," Lily questioned.
"Not much, I just know she's strange," He said.
"You're strange seeing that you have half a bottle of hair gel on your head and your hair still sticks up all over the place!"
~*~
"Sirius! Which one do you like better?" Lily asked him one afternoon in late November. "This one or this one?" She asked holding up two colors of deep red.
"Is this a trick question?" He asked.
"No! Why would it be a trick question?" Lily asked.
"Because I swear that those are the same color,"
"What do you mean the same color, this is clearly darker than this one and this one is much shinier," Lily said.
"OK…" Sirius said. "Then… that one," He said pointing to the one on the right.
"Oh," Lily said, sort of dejectedly.
"But this one is much better. I like this one, that is pretty, but this one definitely." He said pointing to the one on the left.
"Really, I like that one too," Lily said. Sirius rolled his eyes. "OK, that's going to be the color of the bridesmaid's dresses. Now, I've been looking at tuxes and I'm thinking about going with this dark green and black patterned vest with plain black and then I definitely know what shoes to get, but you guys will have to try on the tuxes. Two weeks you have your first fitting at Madam Malkin's so don't forget."
"Madam Malkin's carries muggle tuxedos?" Sirius asked.
"Oh yeah, they have them in the back for weddings. For muggle-borns with loads of muggle relatives. I can't believe that I actually talked James into wearing muggle clothes, I know my parents will feel so much better this way." Lily said. Sirius just nodded and agreed with anything she said. He was getting very good at that, especially after shopping for three hours for invitations and flowers. And he knew addressing the invitations would come next along with making centerpieces for the tables at the reception and not to mention picking out the food and everything else. And the CAKE! He had completely forgotten about the cake! This was far from being over.
"So, when does James come back?" Sirius asked.
"Um… I think he's supposed to be back in four days, no five days." She said. "Yeah, five days is right." Sirius silently prayed for that day to come sooner, either that or James to come home sooner.
"Is it now?" James Potter asked with one eyebrow raised. Sirius reeled around and Lily snapped her head up to see him leaning in the door way.
"JAMES!" Lily cried. "What are you doing here?" She asked running over to him and giving him a huge smooch. Sirius meanwhile looked upwards and thought *Fast service. Not bad, thanks!*
"I'm just home for tonight. I have to leave again in the morning," James was explaining. The rest of the day was happily spent making wedding plans and filling out invitations.
~*~
The next morning brought the mail, as it always did, but this morning James Potter had actually decided to sort the mail and possibly read some of it. So, after breakfast he heaved a bag nearly bigger than he was down the stairs and into the kitchen.
"What's that?" Sirius asked.
"The mail bag," Lily explained. "James sorts it about once a month,"
So, James sat down in a chair and began sorting the mail.
"…bill; letter for Sirius; bill; bill; Lily; Sirius; Sirius; Sirius. He gets more mail than I do! Lily; junk; junk; Sirius; bill; wrong address; junk; Sirius; bill; bill; bill. How am I going to pay for all this? Lily; Sirius; Sirius; junk; Sirius; bill; me, for once; bill; junk; junk; junk; Sirius; Lily; Sirius; bill; junk; bill; junk; junk; junk; Sirius; Lily; Sirius; bill; junk; bill; junk; junk; junk; Sirius; Lily; Sirius; bill; junk; me again. Whoa," He said sniffing a letter and waving his hand in front of his face. "Lily does your Aunt Edna wear that really strong daisy perfume?"
"Yeah,"
"This is for you," He said handing the letter to her and continuing on with his sorting. Sirius was very much enjoying reading all his love letters and letters from Peter.
Lily opened the letter but immediately discovered that is was not from her Aunt Edna.
Dearest, most affectionate and wonderful James,
How I miss you. I can't wait to see you gorgeous face again. I love you James Potter. Forget about Lily, marry me…
The letter continued in much the same fashion and Lily's eyes grew wider and her mouth fell open wider and wider as she read the love letter. When she had finished the letter she laid it on the table and stared at James. Her first thought was one of sadness and hurt that he was cheating on her, but as the moments continued a great fury built up inside of her.
"…bill; junk; letter from Dumbledore. I'll open that one. Junk; wrong address; junk; yet another bill; and yet another love letter for Sirius… What?" James asked suddenly seeing Lily.
"Am I not enough for you?" Lily asked him in a would-be normal voice. James frowned.
"What are you talking about?" He asked utterly confused.
"What am I talking about?" She asked in a quiet sort of defeated voice. "I'll tell you what I'm talking about!" She started screaming at this point in our story. "Oh James, I love you with all of my heart. Don't stay away from me another moment!" She said reading dramatically from the letter. James didn't quite catch on and raised his eyebrows in confusion.
"Lily, I'll only be gone a few weeks at the most. It's OK," He shook his head and went back to his sorting.
"Sirius; Sirius; Sirius; Sirius; Sirius; Sirius again; damn! How many lovers do you have? Sirius again;"
"JAMES FUCKING POTTER!" Lily screamed as loud as she could. Sirius dropped his glass of orange juice right in his lap and James nearly fell out of his chair, dropping his bill in the wrong pile. "Who the hell is Ginger? And why is she going to meet you at midnight tonight?" Lily shouted but not as loudly.
"What the hell are you talking about?" James shouted looking at her in bewilderment.
"Don't play dumb you dumbass!" Lily shouted.
"Isn't that rather redundant?" Sirius asked but they both ignored him.
"I don't know what the hell you're talking about. Take a chill pill," He said. "Must be that time of the month," He muttered to Sirius.
"DAMN YOU POTTER! I don't know why I even trust you!" She screamed. Sirius stood up and hightailed it out of the danger zone only to rush back in two seconds later and grab his love letters sitting on the table and rush out again. Both Lily and James were too busy to notice.
"What the hell is all this about?" James yelled.
"THIS!" She screamed shoving the love letter into his hands and running off crying.
James stared down at the piece of paper in his hands. He read the letter and raised his eyebrows. Sirius had come back and started reading over his shoulder. He whistled when he had finished.
"I'm proud of you James," He said sarcastically. "Your first love-letter," He wiped fake tears from his eyes. "My little Jamesie is growing up," James gave him a look that clearly said this is no laughing matter. Nevertheless he couldn't help but make a comment.
"I guess I'm just a hell of a guy,"
"That's my James!" Sirius said with a laugh.
~*~
"Lily," James said softly knocking on the bedroom door. "Lily?"
"Go away,"
"Oh come on Lily," James said. "Do you really believe this letter? She probably is just some whacked out girl who knows me from school," James as quietly as he could opened the bedroom door. Lily was sitting out on the balcony. He came up softly behind her.
"Are you jealous?" He asked. Lily jumped.
"That's not what this is about." She said sharply.
"You are," He said.
"Yes, and with good reason. And no I am not afraid to admit it! Just think of everything you did to me in school, why should I trust you? And frankly I'm not all convinced you don't know her," She added nodding towards the letter.
"Lily get real!" James said grabbing her shoulders and looking her straight in the eye. "There's only one red-haired green-eyed girl for me," He said. "And her name's Katie," He added. "I'm just kidding!" He said laughing as he tried to dodge a smack on the arm.
"I don't know James," Lily said becoming serious again. "It's not just that," She said.
"What is it?" He asked.
"It's nothing,"
"No, it's not anything. We have to be honest here; we're going to get married."
"It's just that I'm always so worried about you when you're gone. I don't know where you are and I don't here from you. And sometimes I do wonder if you ever… get lonely," She said not looking at him. To her surprise James started laughing.
"All the time, baby," He said. "That's why I keep a picture of you," Lily rolled her eyes. "I'm serious! Just ask Frank Longbottom or Sirius or Peter. But, hey, if you don't trust me-"
"I do trust you!" Lily interrupted.
"Oh," He said. "Because I seem to recall a 'why should I trust you?'"
"That's the whole problem!" Lily said. "I have no reason to trust you or even love you because you're an inconsiderate, arrogant, good-looking jerk and yet I still do."
"And you are a rude, loud, good-looking girl but I still love you," Lily smiled.
"I'm sorry," She said. "It's just that I don't want anyone to so much as look at you. I want to keep you all to myself," She said wrapping her arms around his neck.
"And I want you all to myself," He said. They were just about to kiss when suddenly a fire sprung up in the grate and Dumbledore's head floated in. Lily jumped and they sprang apart in shock.
"Oh excuse me," Dumbledore said. "Am I interrupting anything?"
"No," They both said quickly. Dumbledore raised his eyebrow.
"How are you two?" Dumbledore asked.
"Great," Lily said. "And you?"
"The usual," Dumbledore said. "Very busy. I heard about the incident in Godric's Hollow. Bit of a shock for me. I meant to owl, but like I said, I've been busy," James and Lily exchanged dark looks remembering that night. "I have a question to ask of you Ms. Evans." Dumbledore said.
"Yes?" Lily said expectantly. It was not often someone as important as Dumbledore asked Lily Evans a question.
"A favor, I suppose you would call it. Our Charms Professor, Professor Pacific, has gone ill. Madam Pomprey sent him to St. Mungo's and he probably won't come back for the rest of the year. Next year we'll probably replace him, you know how old the fellow was, but I need a Charms professor for a week or two. No more than that, I promise, and the pay won't be bad. Would you please be so kind as to come and teach for us?" Dumbledore asked her. Lily just stared for a second. She was shocked.
"M-me?" She stuttered. "Be a p-professor?" Dumbledore nodded. "Well, of course!" She exclaimed. "I can't believe you're asking ME," She said.
"You are a fully qualified witch and you are excellent at Charms. You'd be perfect for the job. Anyway, I hope you will be able to join us for dinner at the latest. If you apparate to Hogsmeade station then you can leave your things with the train conductor and walk to the castle."
"I'll be there!" Lily said excitedly.
"Mr. Potter, I've a message from Alastor Moody. He would like you to contact him as soon as possible. Something about taking a mission to South America to track a suspected death eater ring. You and another person,"
"Me? He wants me? I haven't been on a real assignment like that yet!" James exclaimed. "Thank you headmaster,"
"Thanks accepted. I'll see you at dinner Ms. Evans. Good day Mr. Potter and thank you. I'll talk to you later you still have to tell me how you managed to get forty of my house elves to plant dung bombs in the Slytherin common room and the teachers offices in seventh year," He said and then disappeared.
"I remember that!" Lily exclaimed with laughter. "Talk about going out with a bang. It was perfect!"
"Well Lily, I'm probably off until Christmas or so. Good luck at Hogwarts. I'll write if I can. Say bye to Sirius and tell Peter where I am,"
"'K," She said giving him a kiss. "I'll miss you!" She said. And then he left. Left her again.
~*~
Dinner at Hogwarts was one of the most fun nights Lily had had in a very long time. She talked endlessly with all her teachers and countless students she had known (and that was a lot seeing as she WAS head girl)
She studied her class schedule for the next day and made sure that she knew how to do everything Professor Pacific had planned to do. Then she slept peacefully in a comfortable four-poster Hogwarts bed.
The next morning Lily had her first class. It was seventh years and most of them Lily knew.
"Lily Evans! No way! Is that you? Are you and James still going together? What's up?" All these things and more were shouted as the students came into the classroom. Before she could even get through roll the bell had rung. She had spent the last class talking to her students.
*How did I manage to waste an entire class period?* Lily thought as her second class entered the classroom. The second class was just like the first class. Asking questions and everything. *Oh well,* Lily thought. *I wasted the whole first class period why be unfair? I have to waste this one too*
So, quite unintentionally Lily spent her first day of classes sitting on top of her desk having animated discussions with the students.
*How did I manage to waste an entire day?* Lily thought as she got ready to go to bed. *Oh well. At least I'm having fun*
~*~
Lily fell into an uneasy sleep that night. She saw James. He looked slightly different but not much; perhaps older; or maybe he was more sobered. He looked a terrible panic and suddenly there was a lot of green light and sharp pain and horrible ugly and twisted laughter. Lily's eyes flew open and she sprang out of bed clutching her bosom. Her heart was racing and a terrible sharp pain grabbed her in the chest.
Breathing hard she raced to Dumbledore's office to tell him about her vision before she forgot it just like she did every other dream she had.
So, this is how Dumbledore was awaked at 1:27AM. Lily was standing over him and a house elf prodding him sharply in the arm. "Professor," She hissed.
"Headmaster," The little elf said in its loud and squeaky voice. Dumbledore sat straight up in bed.
"MISS EVANS!" He shouted in surprise. The house elf shrank away towards the door. "AND PINNOCHIO!" He said seeing the house elf.
"Forgive me professor but I asked him to wake you," Lily explained.
"Very well then," Dumbledore said and the house elf named Pinocchio left. "Ms. Evans you must tell me how you manage to do such things. You and Mr. Potter have a way with making the house elves do exactly what you please. You must share your secret," Dumbledore said putting his glasses on.
"Headmaster I am sorry for waking you like this but I just had a horrible vision, a dream. My chest still hurts." Lily said.
"Tell me everything," Dumbledore said with a concerned look in his eyes. Without warning the lights sprang on.
"Well, I can remember James he looked different and he was scared. I could tell that much. And he had his wand out. Then I remember feeling lots of pain and a strange sensation that reminded me of last Halloween when… when we got attacked. And there was horrible high-pitched laughter," Lily said putting her hands over her ears. Dumbledore furrowed his brow.
"That's very strange. It's less than comforting. That's for sure," he said slowly. "I think you should just go back to bed for now. Come to me immediately if anything like this happens again." Lily nodded.
"One more thing maybe you should know," Lily said. "This isn't the first time this has happened. I often see strange things I don't understand and they usually aren't good." She paused as she wondered whether to tell him about the Bones incident where she had had a dream about a girl being stabbed on a hilltop the same night when the Bones's died.
"Is there something else?" Dumbledore asked still looking at her in concern.
"Yes," She said slowly. "Sometimes I have dreams about things that actually happen. When the Bones's were…murdered… I had a dream about a woman being stabbed with a knife on a hilltop." Dumbledore looked at her with a grave expression.
"Where were you?" He asked after a long pause. Lily thought for a while and wondered why that had anything to do with it.
"I was in my house. In the hallway. At the time we thought someone, like a robber, was in the house. We kept hearing footsteps and when the person-who turned out to be Peter- was coming around the edge of the hallway I blacked out and had this vision." She said remembering how afraid she had been.
"What time was it?" Dumbledore asked. Lily frowned. Why was he asking all these questions?
"Night time. It must have been late because I remember Sirius, Angie and I being out in back for a long time roasting marshmallows and that sort of thing," She said. Dumbledore quickly rose to his feet and threw some floo powder into the fire that suddenly sprang out of nowhere.
"Alastor Moody," He demanded and very sleepily Moody's head appeared in the fire. "Terribly sorry sir for waking you," Dumbledore said. "Did you by any chance speak with James Potter this afternoon?" Dumbledore asked. Lily couldn't help but stare as Moody's magical eye swiveled all around constantly moving.
"Yes," He said eyeing Lily suspiciously.
"Where is he now?" Dumbledore asked.
"Why do you ask?" Moody said narrowing his eye.
"I have reason to believe he might be in some kind of danger." Dumbledore replied simply.
"Stay here," Moody said gruffly still looking at them suspiciously. A moment later he reappeared.
"James is in absolutely no danger and is very safe for the moment," Moody said. "Now, tomorrow is another day and he will be heading to South America so he will doubtless be in grave danger," Moody said. Lily bit her lip not liking the sound of that.
"You must be Lily Evans," He said suddenly. "Not to worry though. James is a bright kid, strong and brave. He'll come back and he'll come back with several death eaters," Moody said. "Weren't you with him when the Stars were killed?" He asked. Lily nodded. "Yes that's right. Saved his life, you did. But not to worry, he's not usually so off his guard." Moody said.
Lily was feeling very uncomfortable and she thought if this conversation continued much longer she would probably burst out crying. She was very worried about James with this dream and with Moody talking like this.
"Thank you Alastor. Tell James to be on his guard at all times," Dumbledore said.
"What makes you think he's in so much danger?" Moody asked narrowing his eye once again.
"Ms. Evans has had a terrible nightmare," Dumbledore said though Lily wished he hadn't for now she feared that Moody thought of her as an insecure paranoid little girl. And she also didn't want him to tell James. She didn't want them to think she was a wimp; but her chest had hurt, badly. Something wasn't right with that dream!
"Good night then Albus," Moody said and disappeared.
"Well, at least we know James is still OK. Try and get some rest Lily. Tomorrow is another day of classes," Dumbledore said sounding exhausted.
"I'm terribly sorry professor," Lily said with a yawn.
"No problem," He said sleepily as he closed the door behind. There was definitely something wrong with this whole situation.
~*~
The next couple of days were rather uneventful. Lily had no strange nightmares and classes resumed to a somewhat normal state as Lily did manage to start a lesson or two. Teaching wasn't as easy as it seemed though since everyone kept talking to her and before she knew what was happening she was sitting down having a conversation with someone until she caught herself.
On Saturday December 1st Lily went visiting all her old teachers. Professor McGonagall was first and she spent close to an hour talking and catching up with her. Next she decided to go up and visit her Divination teacher: Professor McFogge.
She climbed up into her old classroom and spotted Professor McFogge gazing into one of the crystal balls. Lily stood quietly by the trapdoor waiting for her not wishing to disturb her concentration. Lily stared into the crystal ball just thinking about some things and before she knew what was happening she had slipped into some sort of dream.
It was a very strange dream. She was floating in the pool one summer and suddenly she was floating in the lake on Hogwarts ground but this was perfectly normal. She was chatting with the giant squid and there were students swimming in the water they were laughing and suddenly someone screamed and there was a body floating in the water.
Lily screamed too and before she realized what she was doing she found herself standing in the middle of the divination classroom screaming her head off and Professor McFogge looking as if she had seen a ghost.
Lily's eyes flew open and she stopped suddenly. She could still feel the wet water on her but she wasn't wet at all. She started breathing quickly.
"Lily?" Professor McFogge asked. "Lily are you OK?" But Lily wasn't listening she felt like she had to tell Professor Dumbledore.
She jumped down the trapdoor somehow not breaking any limbs and sprinted to Dumbledore's office. He wasn't there but Professor McGonagall was.
"Lily!" She said when Lily burst through the door. "Is something wrong?" She asked her seeing the distraught look on her face.
"Where's Dumbledore?" She asked.
"I think he went out to the greenhouses," Professor McGonagall said. She was about to say more but Lily turned around and bolted down the stairs and out to the grounds. She spotted Dumbledore walking over the grounds and just as she was about to take a step she heard a bone-chilling scream. The same one she had heard just minutes ago in the Divination classroom.
She ran as fast as she could; faster and Dumbledore was behind her. She reached the lake and there were people screaming and pointing and Lily saw a mass of black robes and hair floating on the water. She flung off her black robes and ran out into the lake. The water was freezing, in forty degree range (Fahrenheit) {It was December} but she wasn't paying attention. She reached the student floating in the water and a horrible sense of nausea and foreboding settled in on her but she somehow managed to rescue the first year.
~*~
Two hours later she woke up in the hospital wing. She sat straight up in bed breathing quickly. She had just had yet another vision. If this didn't stop soon she was going to have a nervous break-down!
This time she, herself, was not in the dream. In fact she wasn't sure who any of these people were but they all looked somewhat familiar. Remus was there, though he was much older. He was on the Hogwarts express. He looked very tired and his robes were patched and frayed. There had been several teenagers that she didn't recognize except one that greatly resembled James. Dementors had come on the train. She remembered feeling very cold and that's when she woke up.
Dumbledore suddenly came striding into the hospital wing followed by a worried looking witch and wizard. The three of them all walked straight towards Lily.
"Lily!" Dumbledore cried when he saw her awake. "Thank goodness you're awake!" He said with a weak smile.
"Professor I-" Lily started but Dumbledore held up his hand to silence her.
"We'll talk later. Right now I would like you to meet Jack and Jill Gillette. They are the parents of Michael Gillette whom you pulled out of the lake." Dumbledore said. Jill had tears in her eyes.
"Thank you so much Ms. Evans," She said with a cry as she hugged Lily. Lily's eyes got wide in shock as the woman sobbed on her shoulder; this was the last thing she had been expecting.
"I always told him he was going to get in trouble one day. That boy always was a risk taker," She said standing up again. "I can't thank you enough. I'm a reporter for the Daily Prophet. Later I want to interview you so I can write a thank you at least." She said wiping her eyes. Lily didn't know what to say so she didn't say anything. Mr. and Mrs. Gillette walked away and went to talk to their son who was being fed a potion that warmed you up.
"How do you feel?" Dumbledore asked.
"OK, I guess," Lily said leaning back against her pillow.
"What made you come outside?"
"I saw it happen," She said softly. "Not exactly the same way, but I heard the girl scream and I saw the boy floating in the water. I actually was going to find you, but I heard the scream and I just ran to the lake. I don't even really remember it." Lily said. Dumbledore's eyes pierced her.
"Get some rest Lily. I've got to talk to a few people. I'll come back later," He said and with that he left.
~*~
Dumbledore came back later and Alastor Moody live and in person walked with him. "Lily," Dumbledore said. "I think that maybe you are a seer or something of that sort. If that's true you could greatly help out the magical community. Alastor has something here that might help me prove my theory true." And Moody reached into his cloak and brought out a dagger. It glinted but Lily shut her eyes and put her hand over her mouth.
"Put it away!" She said quickly as the chilling vision of the cloaked figure standing over Mrs. Bones with that exact dagger. Moody put it back inside his robes.
"Do you know what that is Ms. Evans?" He asked. Lily nodded opening her eyes and removing her hand.
"They killed her with. They stabbed her right behind her house," Lily said.
"Who?"
"Kara Bones," She said. Alastor and Dumbledore exchanged looks.
"How did you know?" Moody asked.
"I just do. I can see it all happening in my head," Lily said with a horrified expression on her face.
"How about this?" Moody asked pulling out a pearl necklace. "It was discovered on Kelly Prewett's grave site after the tombstone had been taken out of the ground and smashed." Lily got a pained expression on her face; Kelly had been one of her good friends. Lily reluctantly took it from him and gently ran her fingers over it.
"Narcissa Malfoy," Lily said disgustedly tossing it down on the bed. Alastor Moody stared at Lily.
"How do you know?" He asked in shocked disbelief staring straight at her with both eyes.
"I can see her in front of her mirror in a wedding dress. I'm guessing her mother is putting the necklace on her and she's smirking," Lily said even more disgustedly than before.
"We have no idea where it came from." Moody said slowly looking at the necklace. "Are you sure?" he asked.
"Definitely,"
"Of course we can't prove it," Moody said. "At any rate have you ever considered getting a job with the IAA? (International Auror Association) You would be incredibly helpful in cracking cases and leading us away from dead ends."
"Are you offering me a job?" Lily asked in disbelief.
"After what I just saw here there's not a trace of doubt in mind that you would be fully accepted and start full time immediately with a huge salary." Moody said.
"I guess I would. Well, yes I would take the job." Lily said. "But James probably won't be happy about it."
"He'll get over himself," Moody said dismissively.
"Now wait a minute I have to find a Charms Professor before you a job on me!" Dumbledore said. Lily laughed.
"Good work today Ms. Evans. I'll talk to you after Dumbledore has found his Professor. But I must run. I must go interrogate Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy. Perhaps we might be able to punish them anyway," He said seeming very happy as he walked out of the hospital wing.
"Congratulations Lily. Now I must run too. I'm very busy dealing with Daily Prophet reporters over this whole lake incident and trying to find and Professor and all. See you later!"
~*~
Monday December 3rd Lily's classes once again consisted of her wasting the entire class talking to them and discussing the Daily Prophet article that had come out that morning and what happened on Saturday and everything else you could possibly think of from why muggles take calculus to why broccoli is green.
Lily started writing out her wedding invitations and consequently that's what she happened to be doing during her third class period on Friday when the new charms professor came to greet her while the students were charming their books to sing the school song.
"Hello Ms. Evans. I'm Professor Flitwick. I'm going to be taking over your position on Monday," A tiny little man said in a squeaky voice extending his hand to her. Lily stared for a moment at the man who was smaller than the height of the desk she was sitting at. She quickly recovered and shook his small hand.
"I'm pleased to meet you and pleased to find Dumbledore has finally found a replacement." Lily said.
"Lily! You're leaving!" Someone shouted.
"I told you guys this wasn't permanent! I'm getting a job with the IAA," Lily said. This sent the class into chaos. Everyone started talking at once. Lily didn't want to seem like she couldn't control the class in front of this new teacher so she stood up on top of her desk and whistled as loud as she could.
The room immediately fell silent. "That's better," She said. "I'm sure you all will like Professor Flitwick," Lily said. *At least he's amusing. He must only be three feet tall!* "You will actually get something done!" Lily said.
So, Lily left Hogwarts on Sunday. Monday the 10th of December she started her job at the IAA. She didn't actually do anything she was just shown around the place and taught some of the basic rules and policies.
For the next two weeks she would just be going through some very basic training. Just to get the feel of the work force. She was still worried about what James was going to say but now that she was also working for the IAA she would be able to get constant updates on his situation.
Currently he was somewhere in the Amazon Rainforest. Not that that was particularly comforting but at least she knew where he was.
She wrote a letter to Angie, whom she hadn't spoken to in about two or three weeks!
Dear Angie,
What's up girl? I haven't talked to you in like forever! I hope you're doing well, even with the whole pregnant thing. Don't be depressed about it. Maybe Josh will finally fess up and marry you! That would be exciting wouldn't it?
Speaking of exciting, I've got some exciting news: I got a job with the IAA!! And no I'm not kidding. We totally have to get together so I can tell you all about it. I still haven't talked to James yet (he's away on assignment) but I think he'll be OK with it.
I've been writing out the wedding invitations. I think I'm going to send them out tomorrow. I'm getting so excited! You should see my dress! You're going to love it! By the way, the first fitting for the bridesmaids is on the 18th. I know that you'll be growing like a lot being pregnant and all. And they know that, so don't worry too much if the dress is like really big on you now.
Well, I think that's all I needed to tell you. You have to come over some time soon! I've got training for the next two weeks but you could come over in the evening sometime and help me decide on a few more things for the wedding. I still have to find somewhere to get the cake.
I'm so excited! Can't wait to hear from you!
~Lily
~*~
Yo Lil,
What's up? Haven't heard from you in ages. I had to hear about the whole love letter incident from Sirius! Like major dis! Talk to the hand OK. Actually I think in your case it would be the parchment but whatever works.
The whole pregnant thing is going OK I guess although I'm starting to get really strange cravings and stuff. Can you believe I will be four months pregnant at the end of this month!? I'm starting to show just ever so slightly. You probably wouldn't notice but I do. It's so depressing. But Josh has been really great about everything. He's so cute when we shop for stuff for the baby. He hasn't said much about marriage though… That's all right. He's really supportive about the baby.
I definitely have to come over, but I'm working too. I heard from Jill about your heroic act at Hogwarts! Do I have to hear everything second hand? And how the hell did you get a job with the IAA?!!? That's like a major thing and James had to go to school and everything! Ha! You have to tell me what he says when he finds out!
I'm definitely coming over sometime though. I can't wait to talk to you live and in person. I have so much stuff I have to tell you that I just couldn't put in a letter.
By the way, you have to tell me what you were doing at Hogwarts in the first place. I mean, from the article I gathered you were teaching charms. But why? I guess you'll have to tell me when I see you!
Thanks for the letter! Cheers!
*Angie
~*~
"LILY!"
"ANGIE!"
"Ow," Sirius said putting a hand on each ear as Lily and Angie met up for the first time in a really long time. "Well, you girls have fun. I have a date tonight," Sirius said. "Wish me luck,"
"I hope she pushes into the lake!" Angie shouted as he left.
"I hope Lily pushes YOU into a lake!" He shouted in reply.
"So what's up?" Angie said turning back to Lily.
"The ceiling,"
"What is happening?" Angie said with an eye roll.
"Well, first of all I have to tell you all about this whole job thing…" Lily and Angie got into a huge detailed conversation about everything that had happened and how the house elf's name had been Pinocchio.
"Pinocchio!" Angie exclaimed when they came to this point in the story. "Oh that's a hoot and a half! I wonder who named the poor guy."
"NO way! Narcissa! That bitch! I can't believe she would be so disrespectful to the dead! I can't believe this Lily. You had no idea about this whole seer thing before?" Angie interrupted.
"Well, I knew I had strange dreams but now maybe I'll be able to figure them out," Lily said.
"Well, anyway it sounds like good things are happening in the life of Lily Evans,"
"Yep, things are great. You don't sound like you're too bad off either,"
"I always have problems, but things are working out OK," Angie said.
"Have you heard from Mischel lately?"
"The last I heard she was in Texas with her uncle." Angie said.
"Yeah me too. I really miss her. And Sierra and Peter and Remus and Elizabeth too! And James. I wish James would come back."
"You really do love him don't you?"
"Desperately," Lily replied. "Um Angie," Lily said looking down kind of nervously.
"Yeah?"
"How did you, um, know that you were pregnant?" Lily asked.
"Well, Josh and I f-" She suddenly cut off. "LILY ARE YOU PREGNANT?!!?" She burst out. Lily blushed and looked away.
"I'm not sure…"
"Are you late?" Angie asked.
"Yeah,"
"Go see a doctor or something. OH MY GOD!" She squealed. "I can't believe this! When did you have time to do this?"
"Like one afternoon in November, I guess," Lily said going slightly pink. "But don't say anything! I don't want anyone to know yet, I mean, I'm not really sure that I am… you know… pregnant," Angie nodded.
"OH MY GOD!" She suddenly burst out and the two of them squealed and hugged like girls do.
"Oh my god," Lily said. "I just realized something, I told you before I told James,"
"He's not here, that's his problem!" Angie said.
~*~
A week later Angie got a letter.
Ang,
I'm pregnant. For real! I'm kind of nervous because James doesn't even know I have this job yet and now this… but I can't believe it! I'm going to have a baby! OH MY GOD!!!
~Lily
PS Don't say anything to anyone yet. I haven't even said anything to Sirius, so keep your mouth closed!
Angie squealed right in the middle of breakfast and Josh gave her a really strange look.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Oh, um, Elizabeth Hoffenmeijer got engaged," Angie lied.
"Really? When's the wedding?" Josh asked.
"Oh… they don't know yet," Angie said quickly. "I have to go brush my teeth," She said running up the stairs and writing a letter to Lily.
~*~
"Moody? Do you know when James is supposed to be home?" Lily asked on December the 22nd. "She knew that he was due back yesterday and was getting anxious with the Christmas holiday so close at hand,"
"First week of the year," Moody replied gruffly.
"What!?" Lily exclaimed. "I thought he was supposed to be home yesterday!?"
"He was but a new situation developed down there. All units are staying there just to check it out."
"But he's been gone since the end of NOVEMBER!" Lily said. "He has to be home for Christmas! You can't do this to him!" Lily protested.
"Evans!" Moody cut in. "You should be thankful that he is staying down there and protecting us all! He'll be home in the first week of the year." He said with a tone of finality. Lily left very angry.
~*~
Christmas was depressing. James was gone and she had gone home to her parents. The muggles were worse than usual and the neighbor was hitting on her and trying to catch her under the mistletoe. Petunia was a bitch as always and her mother and father wouldn't keep their noses out of her business.
"Why isn't James here?" "You should do this for the wedding," "James this," "You should that," Lily was glad to leave after Christmas.
She was kind of mad at James even though she knew he didn't have a choice. It just didn't seem fair that he couldn't come home for Christmas at least.
She was looking forward to him coming home. Everyday she asked Moody when he was coming. And finally on the 4th of January James showed up around 7:00PM.
"James! I'm so glad you're back! I missed you! I wanted to here so badly!" Lily said when she saw him. She kissed him but he didn't kiss back with as much enthusiasm as you would think after not seeing her for over a month.
He looked terrible. His eyes were bloodshot with huge dark circles under them. He looked thin and weary. He collapsed on the couch and rubbed his eyes.
"What's wrong?" Lily asked.
"I don't want to talk about it right now," He said. And that's all he said for the rest of the night. Lily was rather put off by this behavior. She understood he must be incredibly weary but to completely ignore her and not even say more than ten words to her was just down right rude she thought.
The next day she cooked breakfast early before she had to go to work but James never came downstairs. Lily was really starting to get pissed off when she came home that night and called and there was no answer.
She eventually found him in the library staring out of the window.
"James, what's wrong? You've been ignoring me ever since you got home. I have some really big news to tell you," She said.
"OK, in a little bit Lily," James said.
"NO!" Lily said suddenly becoming angry. "I want to talk to you right now! I want to know why the hell you couldn't come home for Christmas and why the hell you won't talk to me now when you haven't seen me in over a month. You barely said an entire sentence to me yesterday and you didn't even get up for breakfast this morning. I want to talk to you so we're going to talk," James just stared at her.
"I have been living off of three hours of sleep a night, sometime less for over a month. I had one meal, or less and I traipsed all over the god damn Amazon Rainforest tracking fucked up death eaters. I am weary and grumpy so I'm sorry if I'm not really in the mood to talk to you,"
"Don't get all upset with me! It hasn't been exactly a piece of quiche here you know! I've been swimming in the lake at Hogwarts. I've had horrible nightmares, mostly about YOU. And I've had to do it all by myself just like you. I understand that you're a little tired but at least you could talk to me!"
"Don't give me this crap! You have no idea what it was like for me down there! I'm sorry about this but I just need some time, OK? Is that too much to ask?"
"No, I'm sorry but show a little consideration and so will I. If you weren't such a dick about everything," She said muttering.
"Don't give me this when you're sitting here being a bitch right back!"
"OH! Forget it! I don't even want to talk to you right now. I'm sure you don't want to know that I got a job and I have something really important to tell you!" Lily stormed off and James sat fuming.
~*~
The next day after Lily came home from work James was much more cooperative but their conversation soon turned into a scraping verbal fight.
"Lily," James said. "I'm really sorry about everything. I'm just really irritable right now. Forgive me?" He asked with a weak smile handing her a lily.
"Of course," She said kissing him.
"So what's this job of yours?" James asked.
"OK, now don't fly off the broom on me," Lily said. "But I have been hired by the IAA. Alastor Moody specifically," Lily said looking straight at James to see his reaction.
Angie and Sirius were anxiously watching all of this from behind a doorway unknown to both parties.
"WHAT?" He finally asked after about a minute of shocked silence.
"It's all a very complicated process but I guess it starts out that day back in November when Dumbledore asked me to temporarily teach the charms class…" Lily launched into her story about her nightmares and Pinocchio and saving the child from the lake and the pearl necklace. Most of this was new to Sirius who hadn't been hanging around the Potter's quite as much as usual and hadn't completely caught up on the Lily gossip. James just stared at her showing little or no emotion as Lily told her story.
When Lily had finished James just stared at her, still. *blink, blink* "Say something," Lily finally said.
"The house elf is named Pinocchio? What's up with that? Narcissa!?! The IAA! I can't believe this!" He finally said jumping to his feet. "Lily, this is a lot more dangerous than you seem to think this is!"
"I am not 6 years old James! I don't need someone there to constantly look over my shoulder!"
"So, this is your big news?" James asked in an unpleasant tone.
"No, but I don't think you want to hear what I have to say right now,"
"Did I say that? I never said that, did I Sirius or Angie?" James asked not even turning around to where they stood behind the door.
--"How the hell did he know we were here?" Angie hissed to Sirius who shrugged.—
"I thought maybe you'd be happier to hear this but-"
"Are you going to tell me or not?" James snapped.
"I'm going to have a baby!" Lily yelled. "There are you happy? That's it! That's the news! Congratulations to us!" She yelled storming out of the room past Angie and Sirius.
"She's pregnant?!" Sirius exclaimed.
"Yeah," Angie said as if she was saying 'duh!'
~*~
A/N: I am a horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible,*takes deep breath* horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible,*takes deep breath* horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible,*takes deep breath* horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, person.
I can't believe it's been this long until I updated! I really feel horrible. I hope you guys like this chapter, I had actually planned on making it ever so slightly longer but then I decided that this was a much better place to end the chapter. This was in no way influenced by your responses to my little e-mail poll. (Thank you to all the people who responded, by the way) The next chapter was actually going to be incredibly short. This way I can lengthen it up quite a bit.
Anyway, I really hope you enjoyed this chapter. The next chapter is the wedding. Who-hoo! Finally, right? Thanks for reading now please review. I will really try to update quicker this time and next time I'll write out some thank yous!
~Star*dust