Well here it is, kids. It's done. It's over. It's finished. I'm really... missing it already. The end bit in italics is half directly stolen from JK, (Sorry!), so lawyers, please don't shoot me. It's hers blah blah blah.
But thanks for sticking by me and reading. This story has taken 5 months to completer. Ack! Such a long time. Anyway, still review. ILY XOXO
In the morning, Lily got up early, and hadn't slept a wink. She lay in her bed, waiting desperately for the 7 o'clock bell. She leapt up, already dressed, having not changed last night, and went downstairs. It was a Saturday, so no one was up yet, except a few sixth years. She raised a hand to them in greeting, and sat on the sofa in front of an unlit fire. At 7.30 she started flicking through an inane magazine, called Teen Cosmowitch! She was bored after the first page, and slowly felt herself slipping into dreamland. She shook herself awake, and at eight walked down to the Great Hall for breakfast. After spending as long as possible at the Gryffindor table, she went to the prefect's bathroom for bubble bath and a strong coffee. Finally it was ten o'clock and a reasonable hour to wake her friends.
It was eleven by the time everyone was up and ready for breakfast, and it was only after her second breakfast that she managed to corner James.
"Where's Remus?" James looked uncomfortable.
"Visiting his mum. She's ill at the moment."
"Every month?" She sounded grumpy, but that was only because she was grumpy.
"No! She's just ill this weekend."
"And had been every single third weekend of every single month for the whole time I've known him, James!" The room was suddenly very quiet. As was James.
"Lils, what's wrong?" He placed a hand on her arm.
"Come with me." She pulled herself away and left the common room. After a quick puzzled glance to his friends, James followed, not saying a thing to Lily until she pulled him into an empty Charms classroom.
"I saw you last night." Lily sat down heavily. James remained standing his eyes wide. "I know Remus becomes a werewolf, and I guessed all of you are animagi."
"We were going to tell you it's just a bombshell and there wasn't really a moment and –"
"I'm not angry about that yet. However, will you please explain to me why you were beating him to an absolute pulp last night?! He's meant to be one of your best friends! And then, I was watching you, looking out to see if you were alright – all of you, and suddenly I see you and Sirius attacking him so bloody viciously I thought he was dead! Explain that to me James."
"We can't let him near the castle."
"What?!"
"He has like, this sense, that tells him when humans are near, and then when he gets that he has to run and find them. And bite them. We can't let him near the castle because there are so many people here. Remus doesn't want anyone else becoming a werewolf because of him."
"Yes, but James I saw you go under the whomping willow! Why didn't you just stay there?"
"He got out! I have no idea how or why. Just, this time someone opened the entrance to the whomping willow on the shack side, and he ran through it towards the castle."
"The shack?"
"The shrieking shack. It's where Remus goes to transform."
"Well why do you even go with him? It's too dangerous!"
"When we're animals he doesn't see us as human. He won't bite us. But we have to keep him away."
"Why did you tell me though? Can't you trust me? Dumbledore seems to be able to."
"No, we promised no one would know. We were going to tell you soon, it's just a bit thing to reveal, and – Dumbledore what?"
"He told me Remus was a werewolf."
"He what?! Why?"
"I went to see him about my dreams. I dreamt about a werewolf, and then I overheard a conversation he was having about werewolves and I pretty much guessed it was someone I knew and then he told me."
"…You dreamt about a werewolf? And then that day you found out about Remus?"
"Yes! That's what I've been trying to tell everyone! These aren't normal dreams!"
James suddenly looked very scared.
"You dreamt about the Dementor thing too, didn't you?" Lily nodded mutely.
"And you dreamt about us! And the argument! And falling." Lily nodded again. James was silent for a long time. "Oh…"
There was another long pause. James got up and pulled Lily into a hug, and she sniffed pitifully. Before she knew it, tears were leaking out of her eyes, dripping onto his t-shirt.
"I'm really scared James, really, really scared."
"Sssh, it will all be alright. I promise."
"But what if I dream something terrible? What if I dream about someone dying!? It will come true and it will be all my fault!"
"It won't be your fault Lil, and don't let yourself think that." Look at me. He tilted up her heart shaped face towards his, and gently wiped away a tear with his thumb. "You're perfect. No one can take that away, and these dreams, whatever they are, are not your fault. You're just the vessel, and I promise they'll stop. I promise." Lily sniffed again.
"Thankyou."
Lily and James returned to the common room shortly after, where the rest of the group were gathered. "Moony, Wormtail, Prongs. Come here a sec." He motioned to them, and they sat down in some chairs, far across the other side of the room. Lily joined Sasha and Evangeline.
"Jesus Lily, are you ok?" Sasha jumped up and pulled her into a hug, seeing clearly she had been crying.
"I'm fine it's nothing." She nodded and attempted a smile, which turned into a yawn.
"What's up?" Sirius plopped into a chair, his legs swinging out from the side.
"She knows everything." James bit his lip, and the others stared at him.
"Everything?" Remus looked worried.
"Yes. About the furry little problem, and being animagi and everything."
"You told her!" Remus looked incredibly angry. "She'll hate me forever! I can't believe you, Prongs."
"That's where you're wrong. Dumbledore told her." There was another pause, as Remus was cut off.
"Dumbledore told her?" He crossed his arms. "I don't care. She'll never speak to me again, and Evangeline and Sasha won't and – Oh Jesus what will Sasha say?"
"She doesn't hate you! She's really worried. Because she dreamt it and now it's come true."
"She dreamt me being a… werewolf?"
"Yup." All the boys were silent as they thought about the implications of Lily's knowledge. Sirius was the first to speak.
"We'll have to tell them." They all nodded. "But first, what's this about you and Sasha, hmm?" He winked. Remus flushed, and folded his arms.
"There's nothing to tell."
"Go on Moony!" Sirius grinned.
"I like her. She likes you. End of." He sat down mulishly and frowned. "We should go tell the girls." With that he stood up again and walked over to the group of chairs where Sasha, Evangeline and Lily were sitting.
"Lily, is that you?" Sasha's sleepy voice sounded as she padded downstairs in her slippers. As she entered the common room she shivered – it was freezing. "Lil, it's 2 in the morning, and we have a Charms test in the morning! Come to bed."
"I'm not tired. And I'm revising." She gestured at some long abandoned text books lying beside her.
"It doesn't look like it. Please, sleep, otherwise you'll barely be able to stand up tomorrow. And you didn't get any sleep last night either."
"I'm not tired Sash!" She stifled a yawn with her hand, and Sasha crossed her arms.
"Well it looks like you are. Lily, come up right now or I'll go to McGonagall."
"Fine, I'm coming." Lily rolled her eys, waving her wand to gather up her books. They fell into a messy pile in her arms, and Lily carried them upstairs. She changed into her pyjamas.
"Finally, some piece and quiet. Sleep tight Lil!" Sasha turned off the light silently and the dorm was plunged into darkness. But Lily had no intention of sleeping. She pulled on an itchy, too tight jumper her mother had sent her and shoved the duvet off. It was freezing cold.
That means I won't sleep. I won't! I can't or I'll dream about something dreadful. And then it will happen. And it will be all my fault.
Her thoughts chased her endlessly, taunting her. After about an hour, Sasha's breathing had slowed and she snored lightly. Lily scooched herself up and leant against against the headboard. Her back was pressed against the gaps in the wood, and it was fairly uncomfortable. Next she brought her knees up to her chest and leant her head on them
No one ever falls asleep sitting up, noone.
She opened her eyes wide and stared out into the blackness that was night. A few hours later Lily had cramp. Her legs were seizing up and her neck ached from being side on for hours. Gently she eased herself out and stood up next to the bed, swaying slightly. She felt light headed, and decided some hot chocolate was in order, so slipped on her owl slippers and ambled down into the kitchens.
When she was finally standing by the giant unmoving picture of a pear she paused.
How do you open it? James taught me last week. But I can't remember. She furrowed her brow, and leant against the picture, her hair brushing against the pear. Suddenly it giggled and Lily fell through the opening, landing on the kitchen floor with a thump.
For a few minutes she lay there, deciding what to do. At her odd angle she could see a lone house elf sweeping the floor on the other side of the kitchen, but alerting it to her presence didn't seem to be the right thing to do, so she stayed put. She must have lain there for another ten minutes before finally she rolled onto her front and pushed herself up.
"Um, excuse me?" Her voice echoed loudly and brashly in the huge, empty kitchen and the house elf dropped his broom with a clatter.
"Yes, I am very sorry Miss! I did not see you there, please let me punish myself!" Before she realised what was happening, the elf had snatched up a broom and thwacked himself over the head.
"Don't!" She put out a hand. "Please don't. Would it be a huge hassle to get some coffee?"
"Oh no Miss! It would be a pleasure!" The elf scampered off and Lily looked around. There were no chairs, so she transfigured a brass pot into a stool and sat. A few minutes later the elf returned, carrying a huge mug of creamy steaming coffee on a tray above its head.
"Thank you so much. I really needed this." She smiled gratefully at it and it blushed.
"Anything for you Miss, anything. Please be enjoying it." It bowed low and scurried off backwards. She sipped her coffee quickly. It was delicious. Once she was done she left the mug on a counter top and changed the stool back into a pot. Silently she left, and headed back to the common room.
Lily felt a hand on her shoulder and she whipped around. "Hmm?"
"Lil are you okay?" James's eyes looked into hers.
"Yes. Why?" He hopped over the back of the sofa and slumped next to her.
"Well, you've been really off with everyone today…I was just wondering… if everything's okay?"
"Fine, thanks." She yawned widely. "I'm just not getting much sleep."
"Sasha said that you stayed up 'til 2 this morning."
"Mmm."
"And you weren't in your bed when she got up at 6…"
"I wasn't tired. I got coffee."
"You didn't sleep the night before. Are you sure you're okay?" He slipped an arm around her shoulders, and she leant into him.
"I'm just scared of dreaming…"
"Lily, you won't dream anything bad! You can't just not sleep!"
"I can." She shut her eyes and made herself comfortable. After a few minutes she realised what she was doing and sat up straight.
"Are you okay..?"
"Fine, I just have absolute tons of work." She leant over and grabbed a potions paper and began to scribble furiously.
"Lil, you have to sleep!" He pulled her back.
"Get off me, James!" He just looked at her, but let his hand drop.
"Fine I'll go to bed now!" She stood up and stormed off. Once In her dorm she began changing viciously. Her clothes were strewn everywhere, but for once Lily just didn't care.
She got into bed and pulled the covers up over her head, lying flat on her back, not allowing her eyes to close.
Hours later she heard Evangeline and Sasha come in silently, and change in the dark so as not to wake her up. Hahaha how wrong they are! She smiled under the covers. Finally Sasha and Evangeline's breathing slowed down and Lily played a game where she'd try to breathe in time to their slow inhalations. Slowly she drifted off.
"Lily watch him! He's perfect!" James picked up the dark haired toddler and swung him around. "Woosh! That's what it's like being on a broom, Harry. I was a seeker" He brought Harry close to his chest. "Promise me something Harry."
"Goo." The toddler Harry seemed to nod.
"Yes, m'boy, promise me you'll join the quidditch team. Be a seeker like your old man!"
"James, don't encourage him! That broom Sirius bought him is already making him go flying crazy! I'll be proud whatever he does" Lily snuggled herself deeper into the sofa, making the fire brighter with her wand while James laughed and spun Harry even faster. The rain pounded on the windows, and the wind whipped at the trees, leaving them stark and bare of leaves.
"It's freezing here, James. Sometimes I wonder why we moved to Godric's Hollow at all."
"Old Dumbley lived here, didn't he? Nice to keep the family heritage going too." He grinned at Lily then finally set Harry down on the ground, watching him crawl fondly.
"Yeah, well as long as Harry doesn't turn out like your Uncle Toby then we'll be fine…"
James burst out laughing, and slid onto his stomach.
"No Harry, you're not to turn out like Toby. I'll disown you!"
"James!" Lily poked him in the back with her wand and a puff of green smoke shot out. The baby gurgled delightedly and pointed.
James whipped out his wand. Poof! Poof! Poof! More puffs of smoke appeared from the end of his wand. Harry clapped and tried to reach the smoke.
"Another one?" James tickled Harry who laughed like a drain. Poof! Another puff appeared, this time a shocking fuchsia. Lily laughed and pulled her jumper closer.
"Okay Harry, fun over. Time for bed, little guy." James scooped him up and passed him to Lily who held him close, her red hair falling over her face. James chucked his wand on the sofa and took a flying jump at it, reclining once had landed, stretching his hands above his head. He leant up to give Harry a goodnight kiss and suddenly there was a bang.
James was on his feet looking at the door. Lily clutched Harry to her breast, she could feel the adrenaline pulsing its way through her chest, her heart beating like a drum.
"Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off-" She turned and sprinted up the stairs, still holding onto Harry for dear life.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
Lily screamed, tears pouring down her face. Feeling a sense of solidarity Harry began screaming too, his cries piercing her heart. Once they were in the nursery Lily shoved Harry into his cot and began stacking desperately, pushing the old rocking chair against the table, her hands scrabbling at the ancient key to try and lock the door.
She could hear footsteps coming up the stairs, and she ran, desperately to the dresser, pulling at it, trying to barricade herself in.
But it was no good. With another bang Voldemort blasted his way in, and she turned to face him, spreading her arms wide open, in one last futile attempt to protect Harry. She could feel the sick in the back of her throat; feel the hot, salty tears at the corner of her mouth. She could hear Harry crying piteously, and she could hear her own screams, pleading for mercy.
"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!"
"Stand aside, you silly girl…stand aside, now…"
"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead –"
"This is my last warning –"
Not Harry! Please…have mercy…have mercy… Not Harry! Not Harry! Please – I'll do anything-"
"Stand aside – stand aside, girl –" A green flash, and then nothing. It was blackness.
"Lily!" She sat up, straight backed in her bed. She was curiously wet, and once she had adjusted to the sudden brightness she could see and empty glass in Sasha's hand.
"Are you okay? You were like twitching and fitting in your dream."
Lily nodded, and wiped away a tear. She could tell it was a tear because it was salty. She stared at Sasha and Evangeline.
"You've been blacked out for like fourteen hours. Everyone was worried when we heard you like, rocking about. And we couldn't wake you up. We've been calling for you for ten minutes."
"Mmm."
"Sorry we got you wet."
"It's fine." She stood up and pulled on some tracksuit bottoms and slippers. Then she went down into the common room and plonked herself next to James, who was still in morning mode.
"I heard you were dreaming." He said, looking at her. "Was it okay?"
Lily nodded. "It was really scary. You and me… we had a son." She blushed. "And he was called Harry, and then we were sitting in… Godric's Hollow I think it was called…And then Voldemort came. And he killed us." She started breathing heavily. "I don't want to die James!"
But James was smiling.
"Don't you see? You're cured! We don't have a son! And Voldemort isn't after us! And we don't live in Godric's Hollow!" He smiled broadly and hugged her. Slowly relief washed over Lily in huge, luxurious waves. She smiled too and kissed James quickly on the lips. "In celebration I think we should –"
"Eat!" James's eyes lit up.
"Actually, I'm off to bed, I have a lot of catching up to do!" She smiled and went back up to her dormitory.
"Are you okay now?" Evangeline looked concerned, as Lily slipped under the duvet.
"Yup, everything's going to be alright."
Ack cheesy ending, but I couldn't help it. I might add an epilgoue, to make it more emo but at the moment I'm cool with it. x