Till Next Time Chapter 4
I know! I finally have a title. Thanks a bunch to Caitlyn62442 who suggested it. If you don't like it here are the other choices;
Unfogging the Future
20 years of change
Future Revealed or Revealed Future
Get in your votes people! Or it will forever remain UNTITLED. (Cue eerie music here) dun dun daaaaaaaaaa.
Ok I'll stop now. On to the story. :-
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When we last saw our characters:
With a determined face Ginny pushed the insecurities, the pain, the uncertainty aside, spun around quickly and said the first thing that came to her mind.
"HI!"
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"HI!" Lily jumped at the girls sudden movement. She felt James squeeze her hand reassuringly and unconsciously began to relax. Enjoying the feeling of James hands around her own.
Figures Lily thought, I've somehow jumped twenty years in the future, and the only thing I can think of are Potters hands. Just bloody Figures.
Her internal scolding was interrupted by said Potter's voice. "Umm...hey?" he replied awkwardly.
Lily nearly laughed out loud at the irony. James Potter, awkward, and girl. Those words just didn't fit together.
But then again, Lily mused, in this time he would be old enough to be her father. In fact...maybe the girl was his daughter? Then an unbidden thought crossed Lily's mind.
Maybe she's my daughter!
She studied the girl closer in the dim lighting provided by the partially open office behind. Her hair looked to be red...
Like me!
She was shorter than Lily, but not too short. Average, Lily thought. Just right, no...perfect! She beamed at the girl, thinking that she most likely got her pretty features from her mother.
"Umm...how are you doing?" the girl asked James softly, looking up shyly from where she had been burning a whole into her shoe.
And then, suddenly Lily didn't like the girl so much.
She reasoned it was because she was too short. Much too short. And she was blocking their way from going to see Dumbledore. That's why.
It had nothing to do with the way she was currently looking at James. Smiling at him in that sickening hopeful puppy-dog look that most girls wore around Sirius.
"Okay" James responded again. And Lily wondered how long he could keep up this conversation with just one-word answers.
The girls smile wavered, but she kept it on her face firmly. She seemed determined to continue this tense pointless exchange of words.
She pushed her hair behind her ears, ( red Lily noticed again, but not with the same glee as before), and began to look down. "What are you...
Her words suddenly faltered and her smile slid off her face. Lily followed her searing gaze back to where her and James's hands were clasped tightly together. Her eyes had traveled back up slowly and locked onto Lily's.
The girls features twisted into a look of accusing betrayal, piercing right through Lily. An unbidden sense of guilt washed over her, and she let go of James hand with a start.
The girls gaze flicked briefly in Sirius's direction before turning back to James. A mask of indifference set coldly in place. "...here" she finished. "What are you doing here?" the words seemed to come out much more strained than the last time. Carrying along with it, an unspoken hint of hostility.
James posture had stiffened as well, his body tensed with anger at her words. When he spoke his voice was also strained. But much less controlled.
"Look," he said exasperated, "we just needed to use the fireplace alright?"
Lily didn't understand where his anger was coming from, he sounded frustrated with the girl. Was it because she was wasting his time, or.. Another unbidden thought (she seemed to be having a lot of those lately).
Was it because I let go of his hand because of her?
"So if you'll excuse me..." James finished, brushing past the girl into the room.
Her brow furrowed, and a mingled look of deep hurt and confusion had crossed the girls featured once more.
Sirius had shrugged carelessly before following James in. But Lily had stopped in front of the girl, to give her a sympathetic smile. Which, the girl either didn't notice, or blatantly chose to ignore.
But as Lily walked into the room, shutting the door behind her, she had a strong feeling though. That it was the latter.
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Ginny stood rooted to the spot, as darkness enveloped her, in a state of deep shock.
Harry had just brushed her off, coldly. Acted as if he didn't even know her. Didn't even had time for her...
Ginny swallowed, trying to keep out the familiar lump that was forming in her throat. She had thought that the tightness in her gut that had appeared on the day of Dumbledore's funeral would lesson. But she was wrong. Her stomach twisted and turned, to the point where she felt she might hurl.
She didn't understand! What did she do to make him act that way? As if she was a common stranger in the street asking for his autograph. Not his best mates younger sister. The girl he risked his life for in the chamber first year. The girl he went out with for have of the last. One of his best friends...his girlfriend.
Make that ex-girlfriend. Ginny thought glumly. Maybe this was his way of dealing.
Then she remembered with a pang that he had ignored Cho as well, for the entire year in fact. And they had only gone out once!
And then he had moved on...with her.
Was that what was happening now? Had he moved on to that little bitch he was holding hands with?
Ginny felt her anger grow, as she heard the muffled voices inside the office...and then laughter.
Were they laughing at her?
Who were they anyhow? At first glance, Ginny had quickly overlooked the two and focused on Harry. Believing them to be Ron and Hermione.
But when she had looked again, there was a boy with dark hair and a girl with bright. Hidden in the shadows, blocked from view partially by Harry, and partially by the narrow aisle.
When she first spoke she had been berating herself for her stupid entrance. Hi? Out of all thing she had said hi. And while she was internally planning to smack her head on the next hard object she saw...repeatedly. She's missed the 'hand caught in cookie jar' look that flashed across his face. But no other hint of recognition.
Had he changed that much in just the few weeks when she hadn't spoked to him? He'd gotten taller, wider (in a good way) and his voice even seemed a little different.
So what! He had a new look decided he needed a new attitude to go along with it? New freinds?
New girlfriend?
Another pang, that smell that she always associated with him, the smell of newness, wood and chocolate that she remembered burying her head into..was gone. Granted she hadn't really gotten close enough to actually smell him. He had just brushed past.
Making sure to avoid touching her.
She heard a light giggle on the other side of the door. That girl. The little witch that thought she was doing her a favor. Giving her pity smiles as if saying 'better luck next time, this ones mine'.
White-hot anger burst through Ginny. She saw spots in front of her eyes. Who did he think he was? Harry bloody Potter, the Chosen One. The Boy- who-bloody-won't-die. Did he think he could use her and then throw her away? Like an unwanted garden gnome?
Ohhhh no no! no!
All conscious thought had left her by now, all she could see was Harry not even looking at her, telling her he couldn't be with her. Harry standing in front of her, telling her to move. Harry holding hands with another girl, Harry laughing with the other girl.
She pulled out her wand, under-age magic be damned. With the amount of attacks going on who would care less about under-age restrictions. She was going to teach Harry a lesson, NOT to mess with a female Weasely. And of course NOT to mess with her.
In a thoughtless blind rage, Ginerva Weasely turned around and banged open the door.
"BANG!"
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Sirius walked into the room to find a nice cozy looking office with a fireplace to one side and two identical looking desks on the other. Behind him, he heard Lily enter and close the door with a click.
" What is going on? How come everyone recognizes me here?" James moaned.
"Isn't it obvious? You've got a son that looks just like you!"Sirius said nonchalantly, looking around the fire-place for the floo-powder.
"What!" both Lily and James now. Giving him identical looks of shock mingled with horror.
"I have a son?" James exclaimed at the same time Lily said, "Someone procreated with Potter?"
He rolled his eyes, honestly sometimes he felt like he was talking to children. He turned to James, "yes, remember when your dad showed us those pictures of himself when he was our age? How he looked just like you except had blue eyes. And how he said all Potter men had the curse of 'The Potter Mane'. And that you lot all look the same, dating back since your line began?"
James blinked at him twice, "you remembered all that?" he said, a hint of awe in his voice.
Sirius didn't respond, instead turned to the dumbstruck Evens who's mouth seemed to be doing an imitation of Peter's during a Quidditch game. "And yes Lil's, I'm sorry to say that Prongs did knock up some poor unsuspecting Lass "
Once again he received a glare from Evens and a "OI!" from James. He turned back to trying to find the floo powder.
"I'm not just going to knock-up someone you know," James was mumbling, turning a deep crimson from the indignant glare Evens was sending his way. "I'd marry her you know"
"How nice of you," she dead panned. "If only all men were like that!"
"It's not like I've knocked her up now!" he responded.
"Well you might as well have!"
"GUYS!" Sirius held up the bag of floo-powder. "Found it!" he grabbed a handful of the sand out of the bag. "I'll go first," he offered. Mostly to get away from the bickering old married couple.
He stood inside to fire place, through the powder down and yelled "Dumbledore's Office!"
A great flash of green later and...he was still in the same place. "What the?" he asked stepping out of the fireplace. He'd never heard of floo dis-functioning before. Sure the network had been over-filled sometimes but it always took you someplace else.
He turned back to his companions, "what do you reckon happened?" he asked scratching his head.
Lily's face had gone red and her and James where on the floor, kneeling down...
Laughing their ass's off.
Lily, still laughing, pulled out a small mirror from her pocket and handed it to Sirius.
Sirius took the mirror cautiously and held it to his face, he did not like what he saw.
He had horns. And he was green.
"Bloody Hell!" he swore.
"Should have known not to trust anything from a joke shop mate," James patted him on the shoulder, still grinning.
"How do reckon we get to Dumbeldore now then?" he asked crossing his arms.
That set off Lily again and a giggle escaped from the hands she had clamped tightly over her mouth.
"Will you stop laughing at me Evens!" Sirius said exasperated. "I'm in Slytherin colors!"
"I'm sorry it's just you hav a tail..
"BANG!" the door burst open, revealing a very pissed off red-head.
Pointing her wand directly at James.
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