Ch.15

Ava Mercendez

A/N: I went back and edited chapters 1 through 6 since they didn't fit in with the story… so you guys might want to reread them so they fit. They took me hours to change!

Is anybody out there


Does anybody see


That when the lights are off

something's killing me

I know it seems like people care


Cause they're always around me


But when the day is done

and everybody runs

X-X-X-X-X-X-X

"Wait," Lily said and James and Marcie turned to look at her. "We can't go to VIMA yet."

"Why not?" James asked.

"We need to visit St. Mungos," Lily replied. "And try to talk to Ava Mercendez. We can't just barge into VIMA without some background information on what happened."

"Barging in is fun!" James smiled but froze when Lily glared at him. "St. Mungo's…right."

"Okay," Marcie dragged five large trunks over, breathing heavily. "I'm all packed."

James and Lily eyed the trunks wearily.

"Erm," James began but Lily cut him off.

"Marcie," Lily sighed. "We're going to be gone for a few days, not five years!"

Marcie frowned. "I know!"

"So-er, all these trunks," James pointed to the column behind him. "They are for a few days?"

"Yup!" Marcie nodded, smiling happily.

James groaned. Lily threw him another look.

"Marcie, how do I say this?" Lily paused. "We're only bringing a few things with us. You can't apparate with all that!"

"Ohhh…" Comprehension finally dawned on Marcie. "Ah well, I can just buy more stuff there!"

James snickered but stopped when he saw Lily's face.

"Okay, great," Lily clapped her hands together. "Let's go."

"Not without us you aren't," Sirius replied from the doorway with Madeline, Kaleen and Remus behind him.

"Padfoot! Moony!" James grinned in surprise then frowned. "Where's Wormtail?"

"He went off saying something about the house-elves needing a food taster," Remus smiled, while the rest of the group roared with laughter.

"You're not leaving without us," Madeline stated firmly and the others nodded.

"Yeah, how dare you skip school and not tell me Lils?" Kaleen asked, an indignant look on her face.

"Look, you don't know why we're going," Lily started but was cut off by Sirius.

"As a matter of fact I do," Sirius replied proudly. "Remus's eavesdropping skills are undeniable."

Remus grinned sheepishly. "I couldn't help myself."

"It's okay," Marcie assured him with a dreamy smile on her face. "You are more than welcome to come with us."

"Marcie!" Lily glared at her but Marcie only shrugged and kept smiling at Remus.

"The more the merrier, right?" James smirked, watching Lily turn a delicate shade of tomato red.

"You're just wasting more time here arguing with us," Sirius observed. "We're all packed. Marcie has no objection and neither does Prongsie here." Sirius patted James on the back.

Lily gave in reluctantly. "Fine, but we're going to St. Mungo's first."

X-X-X-X-X-X-X

The group apparated outside a muggle department store and walked through the display glass. The lobby of St. Mungo's was nearly empty seeing how it is late evening.

"Where do we go?" Kaleen asked, looking around.

"Spell damage, fourth floor," James said quietly, looking forlorn. No one else noticed except for Lily but she said nothing at the time.

"Great! Let's go," Sirius bounded over towards the stairs.

"Wait," Marcie said, stopping everyone in their tracks. "Let's split up. We can't all go. Madeline, Sirius, Remus and I will wait here. Kaleen, you should go get us some tea. James and Lily, go on ahead."

Sirius grumbled, muttering something about not being able to see crazy people, but no one raised any objections.

"Well that's settled," Lily motioned for James to follow her. "C'mon."

X-X-X-X-X-X-X

"Mr. Potter and Ms. Evans," A Healer opened the door. "This way, please."

Lily walked slowly over and looked down at the face of a girl who seemed to be peacefully sleeping.

"This is Ava Mercendez, miss," the Healer introduced her and then left, closing the door shut with a click behind her to give them some privacy.

James stood facing the window, his back towards Lily, not saying anything. Lily gave him a glance but turned her attention towards Ava.

She was a genuinely pretty girl and looked about seventeen with light brown hair tumbling down her shoulders. Thick black lashes surrounded her closed eyes and her tan hands were clasped shut. Lily noticed a photo on her beside and picked it up.

"James?" Lily called out and James spun around. "Look at this."

He strode over and took the picture.

It was a picture of three girls in what looked like a forest. They had their arms around each other and wore smiles of extreme happiness on their faces. The one on the left looked like Ava, with light brown hair and gray eyes. The one on the left was an unfamiliar girl but she had dark brown hair and laughing brown eyes. He looked at the girl in the middle and started. It was Harmony. Except, in the picture she had light blonde hair. But it was the same striking blue eyes and knowing smile. There was also a faint image of a boy, gazing adoringly at Ava.

The Harmony in the picture was watching the two other girls push each other around with a grim smile on her face. Her expression turned sour when the unknown boy came over and grabbed Ava, spinning her around in the air. The other girl smiled and clapped her hand and Harmony joined in, laughing as well, but her cold eyes remained fixed on the happy couple.

Lily stood behind him and gently turned the photo over. There was an inscription. James read it aloud.

VIMA: fifth-year

Ava MercedeHarmony Mckinnon, Claire de Velaquez

Friends Forever

Someone had drawn a question mark near the end and crossed out Ava.

Lily looked at James with a questioning look on her face. James looked from the photo to the sleeping girl and then met Lily's gaze.

"Claire de Velaquez." He declared and Lily nodded.

James set the photo down and Lily immediately replicated it with a wave of her wand. Taking the replica with them, they left the room.

As the photo fluttered to the ground, a pale hand grabbed it. The same hand brought the photo up to the owner's face. A pair of bright blue eyes swept over it, stopping on the image of Ava. The blue eyes moved over to the sleeping girl on the bed and a satisfied smile worked its way over the owner's mouth.

X-X-X-X-X-X-X

A/N: REVIEW!

Man. I am disappointed in you people…very few of you reviewed on the last chapter…. Is this story that bad?

Reviews are the only thing keeping me going on this story…and if you readers don't review…that's like telling me I should stop with Unexpected…

I would hate for that, so please review! And let me know you people actually like this story…

XOXO

Cynthia