Holding Onto Hope
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Les Miserables
Beta: Cookies and Cream1234567
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"There's a grief that can't be spoken… there's a pain goes on and onnnnn. Empty chairs at empty tables…mmm-mm-mm," Lily sang and hummed the song as she plucked little weeds from her strawberry garden.
It was a terribly depressing tune really, but she found it beautiful. How could she not? The succession of the notes was magic and the words struck a chord in her very soul. Les Miserables had been a favorite musical of hers since she was rather young and the songs still snuck their way into her mind. She couldn't shake the heartbreaking reality of the story.
"Do you hear the people sing, mmm-m-mm-m-m, it is the music of a people who will not be slaves again."
"What're you singing?" James asked, sneaking up behind her. She had gotten used to it and no longer jumped at the mere sound of his voice behind her. He walked with a sophistication that gave no clue that he was coming.
"Songs from a musical."
"Sound of Music?" he asked, remembering the story she had told him about the von Trapp family and their nanny Maria.
"No," she sighed. "I'm afraid this musical isn't such a heartwarming tale."
"Well what is it?" he asked sitting down beside her. The grass tickled his wrists that were supporting him. She leaned into him, grateful for having an excuse not to bend over the weeds anymore.
"It's called Les Miserables. It's French for 'The Miserables'."
"Yeah…doesn't sound too cheery," James noted with a chuckle.
"Victor Hugo, he wrote the book ages ago, changed France completely. They turned it into a musical."
"Have you read it?"
"Well, seeing as I refuse to read the abridged version of books, it took me a while, but I did. It's over a thousand pages."
"A thousand pages?" He exclaimed. "What can you write about in a thousand pages?"
"Well, the ancient language of argot, the poor of Paris, the thoughts of the politicians in the story, and the French sewer systems. It's a beautiful love story, however, gorgeous really."
"Tell me about it," he said, lying back on the grass. She lied down next to him, her head resting on his arm.
"Well, there's Marius and Cosette and they see each other in a park. He's instantly enamored with her, goes back every day to see her."
"Enamored? Sounds familiar," he smirked. "I was quite obsessed with you, Potter."
"Potter? Quite a bit different from Evans isn't it? I like it," she smiled.
"Anyway, go on."
"Oh yes. Marius and Cosette. She moves eventually and he tries desperately hard to find her, searches high and low. He ends up getting help from his friend Eponine who is in love with him though he hardly realizes it."
"That's sad."
"She dies…towards the end. It was the first part of a book that ever made me cry."
"Wait, she dies?"
"Along with half the other characters I'm afraid."
"I can see why it's called 'The Miserables'," he frowned. "Keep telling their story now."
"You like it?" she smiled.
"Well enough…for a girly love story," he scoffed. Lily laughed; she could tell he was truly interested. He was just trying to stay 'manly' in front of her.
"Okay then. Well, Marius finds Cosette right? There's this incident with Eponine's father…who was the caretaker of Cosette when she was younger by the way. That's what makes Mr. Hugo so genius, all the characters are connected. Eventually, however, they finally get to officially meet. At that point they're both in love with each other."
"Just like that? Had they even talked before?"
"No. They just had this…connection. They met in this beautiful garden; it was one of my favorite parts of the book."
"Do they die?"
"Cosette and Marius? No, they're actually some of the only characters that don't,"
"Love still prevails," he chuckled, intertwining their fingers.
"Incredibly cheesy, James," she yawned, getting tired. "Anyway, how are you? What did Dumbledore want?" she asked.
Though they had just been at the Order meeting the night before, Professor Dumbledore had called James to his office that morning. James sighed deeply and tangled his fingers in her fiery hair.
"He was…warning me."
"About what?"
"Nothing important really, just something he wanted me to know about," a frown graced his chiseled features.
"Why didn't he want to meet with me as well?" Lily asked, genuinely confused. She snuggled deeper into James, getting chilled in the darkening air.
"He didn't want to worry you…it's not sure it's…accurate information. If you really want to know I'll tell you Lily, I really will. I don't want to keep secrets from you,"
"Well James…do you think I should know?" She felt him shake his head.
"No, it'd be a burden…one you don't need," he added. She nodded in understanding, trusting his answer completely. James wanted what was best for her and she respected that he'd be honest with her. She yawned deeply before choosing to change the subject.
"Have you heard from Remus?"
"He's still in his job…for now at least," James grimaced and Lily shook her head despairingly.
Remus, after being rejected the post of Auror, had found a job in the Transportation Office of the Ministry. It was low pay, dismal-working conditions, and by no means something he enjoyed. It was, quite simply, the best job he could find considering how the Ministry had extensive files on him. They had extensive files on them all, actually. Lily was actually surprised those files hadn't been used against them more often. Granted, the files were likely the way the death eaters found addresses of Muggleborns, but little else seemed to be done with them. Very little had they affected Lily and her friends, besides Remus, of course. He would likely be fired from his job once the next full moon came around and he'd have to take a few days off work.
"Invite him over for dinner, okay James?" Lily persisted.
"Sure…when do you want him over?"
"Whenever he wants to come. It'll be nothing formal. We need a night to…relax. How old are we James? Not very old and yet we still act like the elderly with all of our worrying and responsibilities."
"Elderly?" he asked with amusement in his voice. "I can see that I guess."
"So you'll invite him?"
"Of course...by the way…Sirius is spending the night."
Lily froze, taking in what James had just said. He spoke the sentence rushed, obviously anticipating her reaction.
"Please repeat yourself," she breathed, closing her eyes to calm herself.
"Sirius is spending the night," he rushed again. She stood up and began pacing, her hands clenching at her sides. "Look Lils, I know what happened last time, it won't happen again, I promise!"
"What won't happen again, James?" she whirled on him, eyes blazing. "You two won't get drunk off of Firewhiskey and trash the house with muggle silly string and pillow feathers?"
That night brought on a boat load of horrid memories. Lily remembered it quite well really. She was tired, exhausted actually, and had just gotten home from a long day of filing that caused multiple paper cuts. She walked into the house to find Sirius standing there with a pillow tucked beneath his arm and a red and gold blanket draped around his shoulders. His grin spoke of utter chaos and mischief…. Lily didn't know how she hadn't noticed it. She also hadn't noticed the bulges in his pillow, which turned out to be multiple bottles of wizard alcohol and muggle silly string.
"N-no…not at all Lils, I promise!" James stuttered.
"Do you know how long it took me to clean that mess up, Potter? HOURS! I'M PREGNANT JAMES POTTER! AND WHOSE FAULT IS THAT? YOURS!" She realized she was getting off topic, but didn't really care. When was the last time she had actually vented? That was the thing, she couldn't remember.
"Look Lily, I'm sorry. We're both really sorry about the mess that one time. I know you're stressed and have pregnancy hormones but-"
"Pregnancy hormones?" she whispered angrily.
"Wrong thing to say?" he winced as her hair flipped him in the face when she turned away from him.
"Deep breaths Lily, deep breaths. It's okay, handle this like an adult," she said giving herself a little pep talk. James knew better than to laugh. She turned back around, hand on her forehead and eyes closed. "You promise?"
"Would you mind…telling me…what I'm promising exactly?" he worded it carefully.
"Absolutely no alcohol…actually just water, you can only have no water; none of my sodas and no butterbeer. No silly string either…no muggle anything."
"Liilllyyyyy," he whined. "What about the telly?"
"Fine," she sighed. "You guys can watch the telly,"
"Thanks Lils, you won't regret it," he grinned,
rushing forward to peck her on the cheek and hug her tight. She squirmed a bit before relaxing into his arms.
"I'm sorry James," she murmured into his shoulder. "Just please, please, don't make the house a mess. Why's he coming over, anyway?"
"What, is he finally getting on your nerves?" James teased.
"He's always gotten on my nerves," she laughed. "But no, that's not it, I'm just curious. Last time he came over it was because Marlene kicked him out."
"I'm pretty sure this is a similar situation…" James sighed.
"What he do this time?"
"Nearly burnt their apartment down, left the stove on during the Order meeting last night."
"Of course he did," she chuckled. "When's he coming anyway?" James glanced up at the sky at her question, but didn't need to answer for the loud roar of a motorcycle came up to their house.
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I'm going to have to apologize again for an extremely late chapter…one whole week without warning, I am so sorry guys. I feel horrible and hope I'm forgiven. I should have said something last chapter seeing as I expected this to happen. My beta and I just went through our last week of school, so things have been hectic. has been giving me problems with logging in as well. Is any one else having those? Anyway, so sorry!
Chapter five! I loved writing this chapter and am very excited for the next because it's sure to be a fun one :). Sirius will be spending the night at the Potters. Thanks all for your reviews last chapter, I'm sorry I wasn't able to respond to the majority of them. I appreciate you all so so very much! Thanks as always, to my beta as well.
-Sweets5236