Chapter Fourteen - Quarrels and Concessions

There they are, the traitors! The words rang relentlessly inside Lily's head as everything around her fell deathly silent. James stood next to her, and though she had not glanced at him, his surprise was almost tangible. Whatever she had been expecting to happen on account of Malfoy's nastiness, she hadn't expected it this suddenly and this upfront. The castle might as well have tumbled over on top of her head, for all the sense she currently had.

Cavillors and Auscultos alike filled the room, their eyes focused intently on the Heads of Hogwarts; their leaders of sorts. Many faces wore different expressions. Some were simply glaring, nothing but the purest anger apparent in their demeanor. Others looked confused, or were glowing with that knowing-it-was-wrong sort of curiosity. Many faces remained unreadable to Lily's stunned eyes.

She let out a strangled noise at the same moment the sixth year Cavillor who had spoken last stepped closer to them, shaking his fist. "You are a disgrace," he sneered. She realized that the boy was speaking more to James than to her.

She allowed herself to steal a glance at James, attempting to read his reaction to this. He appeared rather like she felt, apparently not knowing how to solve this sudden confrontation. He swallowed, meeting the boy's gaze. "I am not," he asserted softly, firmly.

Lily felt compelled to do something, her hands itching to make some sort of movement, to bring her body out of its shameful pause, so she inquired, "What have you heard that would make you so quickly assume this?"

The boy turned on her, his glare becoming more frigid. "Malfoy said that you two have been talking together, conspiring something. Did you not realize that wasn't allowed?" His voice dripped with sarcasm and disdain, and Lily felt like allowing herself to melt right there.

Instead, her temper flared at the insolent look she was getting. "Of course I knew!" Lily snapped. "Everyone knows! Who are you to believe a Slytherin before anyone else?"

Everyone else, the crowd of people surrounding them, causing all types of intimidation, was still silent. The boy's glare subsided briefly and his bright blue eyes flickered between Lily and James, landing back on her. "Are you denying it?" he demanded.

Lily opened her mouth, but it was James who answered, "No."

The boy's head snapped back to his fellow Cavillor. He looked utterly disgusted. "Potter, I would have thought much better of you, of all people. Have you decided to join the Auscultos, then?" The derision in his voice became more pronounced with this single word.

James hesitated, but it didn't matter. Until then, not one Ausculto, or any other Cavillor for that matter, had uttered a single word. Now one of the Auscultos, who Lily recognized as Kathleen, opened her mouth, "Lily! We trusted you! What are you doing with him anyway? What have you been planning? We have a right to know!" Her voice was demanding and harsh, a side of her Lily had not witnessed until now.

Lily sighed. "James and I have only been acting civilized with one another, as you, all of you, have obviously not yet learned to do. Are you enjoying this? Does it give you a thrill to be so divided?"

Kathleen looked confused over her answer, and she was not the only one. "That doesn't answer what you've been planning, Ausculto." A girl from the Cavillor side shouted, arms crossed. Her gaze landed on James and she shook her head bitterly, as if she could not believe he was standing where he was.

Lily shifted, not knowing how much she should reveal, or how she should say it, but James once again sighed beside her, a sound of resignation. "We wanted," he began loudly, clearly not wanting to have to repeat himself, "to show everyone what a disgrace we are with these groups. It needs to be stopped." James did not think elaboration would help him here. They wanted an answer; well here one was. Not at all what Lily and James had planned for their revelation, but time had caught up with them. Then again, they had never expected to be mobbed, and so soon. There was no time for precision now.

Some people gasped, many others stared. It was not something they heard each day. A girl to Lily's left mumbled something along the lines of "not in five years…" When Lily's green eyes focused on her, she dropped her surprised gaze to the floor.

"I think," the icy boy from before said with a twisted tone, "that you're mad, James Potter. I already knew that Evans must be, since she is what she is, but I thought better of you."

"He isn't mad!" Lily felt like grabbing the boy by the neck and giving him a good shake. How were they all so stupid and blind? If they would only open their eyes and realize what exactly was going on…she glared at them all. "If you would only give us a chance, we could explain everything! You're the mad ones!"

Chaos ensued. Up until then, they had all remained on bated breath, waiting for a reason for what they suspected was going on, some explanation that would soothe their worries. The one they had received was completely unexpected, and nobody looked particularly thrilled about it either.

"What do you mean by this?"

"They can't be Heads anymore, they're crazy!"

"Traitors!"

"You're not an Ausculto anymore, get out of my sight!"

Lily glanced around warily, wondering when it would come to push and shove. She saw a streak of dirty blonde hair rush past her; she had not realized that Kristen and Selene had been standing just to her left.

"Shut the bloody hell up!" Kristen's voice rang out beside her, angry and impatient. Lily swung her head sideways to stare in disbelief at her usually quiet friend.

"Shut up!" Kristen said a little less loudly. The crowd, though still quite energetic in their disapproval, had softened somewhat. "Are you all too stupid to listen to reason? Hear them out! You don't have to agree, but how can you know anything if you just stand there and scream obscenities and act like little kids!"

Everyone in the common room was now staring at her. Her face become heated as she realized what she was doing. She cleared her throat and glanced at her feet. Remus, who had previously been standing next to Sirius and Peter on the side of the common room, had found his way over to them. He stood next to James. "I agree," he didn't need to say it loudly, because everyone had fallen silent once more, staring at the seventh years. "They deserve to be listened to, whatever you might think. This is ridiculous."

Lily and James were staring at Remus and Kirsten with expressions almost as bemused and searching as everyone else's. Were they actually coming to Lily and James's side? Was this a sign of forgiveness? After they had acted so angrily the past week? Selene and Sirius both looked more confused than disgusted as they gazed at their friends.

Silence prevailed for a few long moments, while Kristen and Remus had both become red-faced and dazed. Then, one by one, people began to filter out of the common room. Many of them scowled once more at Lily and James, making it clear that this battle was not over.

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Lily had retreated to her dorm, thinking it best not to go with her previous plans and eat in the Great Hall. She could not afford another outburst, and she wasn't sure how she was planning on facing everyone now, especially since she would have classes the next day, and like hell would she miss those. She was still Lily Evans, no matter what anyone thought. A sickened air remained about her. She flopped onto her bed, burying her face into her pillow. The door creaked open.

"Lily?" A voice called from the door as it clicked shut again.

Lily was obliged to look up, and saw Kristen standing just inside the room, appearing apprehensive.

"What do you want?" She made her tone even; after was had happened, she was not entirely sure what to think of her friend, or what to expect of her, anymore.

Kristen tentatively sat on her own bed, which was next to Lily's, and watched her with intense brown eyes. "I'm sorry Lily, I was an ass, you were right about that." She attempted to smile.

Lily sat up, gazing at the blonde girl with an unreadable expression. "Yeah, well, tell that to your twin ass."

Kristen grinned. "I haven't seen her since I…well, I'm not sure that she's going to be talking to me either now."

"Her loss." Lily had now turned back to her pillow and was staring absentmindedly at her bedspread.

"Lily, I'm…I don't know. I've been having doubts about all of this ever since we walked in on you and James."

Emerald eyes analyzed her face. "What do you mean?" Lily inquired carefully.

"I mean that I agree with you. I don't know what I was thinking before."

Lily smiled softly. "You know, I always thought you were much brighter than you let on."

They both fell silent. Lily was feeling a little lighter than she had a few minutes ago. At least she had one friend back, or so it seemed. Not that James wasn't a friend, it was just…well, there was no reason to start thinking about him again.

"Will you help us then, Kristen?"

"What?" Her friend's head snapped up, dark eyes focusing on Lily's face.

"Will you help us?" She repeated gently.

Kristen hesitated, but nodded slowly. "I'll do what I can. I don't know that I'm very good at this sort of thing."

"Well you stood up for me back there."

"Yes, but…" Kristen's cheeks were flushing.

"Tonight then," Lily continued, "we'll go to the Heads room tonight, and work with James."

Kristen swallowed, but had no chance to reply, as the door was pushed open slowly. A head poked in, messy black hair appearing.

"James!" Lily stumbled off her bed and pulled him inside, shutting the door firmly. "I thought you leaned your lesson last time!"
They both managed a slight blush, remembering exactly what had transpired last time he'd been in her dorm. Lily cleared her throat and said in a warning tone, "You're going to get caught."

He snorted. "A little late for that, now isn't it?"

"It won't stop everyone from actually doing something if they find you here, instead of merely arguing with us. We got off pretty easily, I should think."

James fixed wary eyes on Kristen for a moment, and then looked back at Lily, his eyes scanning over her entire face. "For now," he mumbled. "I have a feeling it's far from over." He began cursing Malfoy under his breath, causing Lily to stare at her hands. Then she bit her lip, her eyes shooting up to meet his.

"Malfoy!" She exclaimed, her forehead wrinkling.

James frowned, staring at her. "Yes, you know, the slimy git who…"

"I know, James, it's just…I forgot to tell you before. I heard him, in the library, and I didn't connect…oh god."

James was suddenly grabbing her arm with a worried expression. "What?"

"Well, I should have known. But I was preoccupied, and then I saw you in the Heads common room and," she blushed here, "I just forgot."

"Well it doesn't matter, we knew it was coming anyway."

Lily nodded. "He said he was planning…more."

James shrugged, clearly not offended by this news. "He's always planning more."

"Yes, but…"

"Lily," he finally took his hand off her arm, and she sighed. "We can't worry about this now. You could drive yourself crazy. Malfoy is always planning something, and even when he's not, he lies about planning something."

Lily was silent for a moment, letting his words sink in. She glanced back at Kristen, who was listening to them with a tilted head. "Kristen has agreed to help us," Lily said suddenly.

James glanced over at Lily's friend, and they met one another's gaze. Neither looked unpleasant, exactly, but there was a bit of tension Lily wished was not still there. "Right. And I'm sure Remus would be willing to help."

"Oh, good." Kristen put in faintly.

Lily glanced at Kristen inquiringly. Why should she care about Remus? Lily made a mental note to ask her later what exactly had happened in detention.

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Dumbledore sat behind his desk, surveying Selene and Sirius, who were seated in front of him and glaring at nothing in particular. Professor McGonagall was sitting to his left, looking very displeased. Her mouth was in as thin a line as he had ever seen it.

Sirius tapped his foot against the floor impatiently. "What is all this about?" He demanded.

"Black!" McGonagall snapped. "You do not address the headmaster in that fashion!"
Dumbledore raised a calm hand, effectively silencing all parties. "It's alright, Minerva." He paused, watching as Selene shot Sirius a look of pure hatred. "I have called both of you here to offer an alternative to your week's worth of detentions."

Selene glanced up. "What kind of alternative?" She inquired carefully.

"It's simple, really," Dumbledore explained, in all seriousness. "Just one therapy session."

"Therapy?" Sirius seemed to be choking on something. "What d'you mean therapy?"

"There are wizards who do therapy just as Muggles do, Mr. Black."

"But-" Sirius spluttered.

Selene was merely staring at the headmaster as if he had gone mad. "You can't be serious. One therapy session?"

"Yes, unless of course we feel that more sessions would benefit you."

Silence fell. McGonagall, who apparently was thinking that Dumbledore was slightly odd for making this suggestion, was watching the teenagers sharply.

Selene suddenly began chuckling. "I feel as if I'm dreaming. But, since it seems I'm not, I'll do whatever the blo-" She glanced at McGonagall, "whatever you mean by this therapy session…"

"Good. And you, Mr. Black?"

Sirius simply nodded, a perplexed expression on his face, as if he was not entirely sure what he was agreeing to.

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"Er- right." James was standing next to Lily in the Heads room. Remus and Kristen sat on the couch, keeping a good distance from one another. The tension in the room was unavoidably evident. "We should get started, I suppose."

"What are we supposed to be doing?" Remus asked, glancing around warily. "I'm not sure that I understand."

"Well, for the past couple of months, Lily and I have been discussing how to go about addressing our ideas to the school for the first time. But with what happened in the common room today…well, I don't know what we're doing now." James looked uncomfortable, shifting on his feet. Lily pulled two chairs over, and they sat down to face their friends, the fire warming their backs.

Lily continued, "So, as you can see, nothing has happened as planned, which means that this is going to be a whole lot more difficult now. I don't know how James and I are going to manage tomorrow, what with classes and all." They had so far spent time only in the Gryffindor tower, avoiding everyone for fear of something worse than arguing occurring.

"We'll have to present everything more gradually now," James put in. "We haven't confronted everyone yet…there's still the rest of the Cavillors and the Auscultos to go, not just the Gryffindor ones…"

Lily felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. "I don't know…I don't know how to go about it now." She glanced over at Kristen, and her eyes flicked to Remus briefly. "Any ideas?"

"Well, I did have one, actually," Kristen said quietly, surprising the other three. Nobody had expected any progress to be made tonight, it seemed. "I thought we could compile a book of sorts." Everyone was puzzled, so she continued, "It would be filled with facts or whatever proofs we can find regarding the groups and how they shouldn't be…oh, I don't know."

All three of the others were staring at her, causing her to shift self-consciously. "That's a really good idea, Kristen," Lily said. Remus nodded, and James smiled softly, not looking like he was completely used to the idea of working with two Auscultos. Lily was one thing…

"I'll help you." Remus said from beside her. They glanced at each other, then quickly glanced away.

"Thanks, I'm sure I'll need help."

Lily watched them carefully, while everything was silent for a long moment. She turned to James and looked slightly embarrassed. "I'm not sure how bad everyone is going to be once the shock of all of this wears off. I don't think anyone will do anything extreme, but…I thought maybe we should start, well-" She was turning red.

"Sleeping here?"

"Er, yeah."

James smiled softly, his eyes dark. "It crossed my mind too. Let's see how bad it gets, and then we can decide."

She nodded quickly, ready to drop the conversation, or any words that made her think of sleeping with James so close beside her, so in reach. Remus and Kristen were watching them. Kristen had a very small, almost indiscernible, sly grin on her face. Remus was just staring, trying to figure out what exactly was going on.

Lily realized that she had been staring at James's mouth, and turned away, her face suddenly feeling like an oven. "I had another idea," she announced after clearing her throat.

"What's that?" James asked.

"Well, I thought maybe we could post a notice in the Great Hall. Everyone will know about us soon enough, if they don't already, so it wouldn't really matter. It could be a sort of sign up sheet. If people want to talk to us, or help us, or something, they can sign up and we'll contact them."

"But I don't think many people are going to want to print their names down like that." Remus pointed out.

Lily bit her lip. "You're right."

"Well," James said, "we could have a sort of…large meeting or something in the Great Hall, and present all of ideas then, since we didn't really get the chance today. We could post the date and time of it, and then people could come if they wanted."

"Yes, that's a good idea. But when?" Kristen asked.

"It's the beginning of November now…we'll need a bit of time…what do you say about December, the week before Christmas holiday?"

"Sounds good. Before everyone leaves for break, you mean?"

"Of course."

"I think we should put up a sign up sheet with it, just in case," Lily persisted.

Kristen nodded slowly. "I guess…"

"Are we all in agreement then?" James looked over them all, his gaze remained on Lily a bit longer than the other two.

"Yes," they chorused. Lily felt rather pleased with the way this was going. It was almost enough to make her forget about how most everyone now hated her and she most likely shouldn't go anywhere alone. Almost.

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Selene looked horrified.

"Imagine you are a flower, blossoming in a broad field…" The man had his eyes closed, and was looking very intent. This was what they called a therapist? Selene was pretty damn sure most therapy sessions were not like this. Wasn't he supposed to be asking them questions? Dumbledore had picked a right mental one. Selene had felt that something was off about him from the moment he walked into McGonagall's classroom and said, "Are you ready to return to peace?" Then he had smiled in what he must have thought was a comforting way. And now he was talking about flowers…

Selene's eyes could not possibly widen further. It was a fact now. Dumbledore had completely lost his marbles.

As if reading her mind, Sirius muttered from beside her, "He's gone off his rocker."

This was almost enough to make her think that Sirius was a nice, sane person. When they had first entered the room, they had been glaring daggers at one another. Now, as she glanced up at him, his expression seemed to mirror her own feelings; shock and revulsion.

She tuned back into the therapist, briefly. He was sitting cross-legged in front of them, his hands gripping his knees and his voice steady. His eyes were still closed, and he looked oblivious to the fact that there were two people sitting with him, thinking he was mad.

"Your petals open to the sun, and you absorb the warm energy. It flows golden through your veins, giving you new life. All impure and tainted thoughts drift away." He carried on. Selene was now having a difficult time containing her laughter. She bit down on her lip, looking around for something that might help. But there was nothing, just all of McGonagall's usual supplies and decorations. She had volunteered her classroom for their use, but only after speaking to Dumbledore about what was going on. She seemed to have decided that he was not mad, as Selene still thought.

"You are floating in the wondering energy. A butterfly lands on your petal. You are the butterfly. You soar like the butterfly."

That was it. Selene threw her head back and cackled. Sirius glanced in her direction and, although he still looked very bewildered, began to laugh as well. The therapist, however, seemed regally unaware of their amusement. He continued with eyes still closed.

"You land in a field full of animals. The animals are your friends. You are all of the animals. Become the animals."

Selene choked and began to cough violently. Sirius smacked her back, still laughing himself, a little more freely now. What the hell was going on? Neither of them had any idea, but if they were going to be holed up in here with him, they were going to make the bloody most of it.

"No anger remains. The world is free, blue and beautiful. You can fly, fly with graceful wings."

Sirius was howling, and Selene looked out of breath, her black hair streaming out behind her, a bit tangled.

The therapist finally opened his eyes, which held a misty quality of their own. He glanced at Sirius and Selene, and gave them the same smile he had upon entering. "Yes, laugh, my friends. Laughter is the object of peace."

Selene stared at him, very puzzled. "Is this finished yet?" She managed to get out.

"Do you feel cleansed?"

"Er-"

"I feel blue and beautiful," Sirius announced very seriously.

"Good, very good." The therapist smiled. "I will inform Headmaster Dumbledore of your improvement." He approached the door, adding before he left, "Remember the power of the butterfly."

Once he left, Selene launched into another batch of laughter, and Sirius was not able to keep his serious face for long either. At the end of it, they stared at one another. Both fell silent. They had forgotten, during the course of the therapy session, who they were in this room with. It was all coming back now.

Selene's lip curled slightly. Sirius's face tightened. "What the hell was that, Black?" Selene asked warily, rubbing her temple.

"Which part?" He was glancing at the door in a slightly nervous way, as if he expected the man to walk back in and resume his madness.

"Ugh. I feel as if I'm having the weirdest dream of my life."

"Unless we're sharing it, Ausculto, that's very unlikely." Sirius's tone had become stricter, more confined. He knew that they shouldn't be talking at all.

Selene suddenly cursed. "You know, I bet all of our friends are together someplace discussing everything cozily…"

"Well the hell with them. I'm certainly not joining in."

She opened her mouth to agree, then realized what agreeing with him meant, and who she was talking with, and closed it. "I can't believe this."

"Well, I still have Peter. He hasn't turned on me yet."

Selene looked at him, her eyes running over his face. She tried her best to look full of contempt for him, but it was harder than usual.

"Don't worry, this doesn't make us friends." Sirius growled at her.

"Like I was even thinking along those lines, you self-centered pig."

"Oh," he smirked, "I'm sure you were admiring my handsome features. All the other girls do, didn't you know?"
Her mouth thinned. "Do I need to show you again what happens when I take my wand out?"

Sirius shrugged, attempted nonchalance. "I remember you being injured, just the same as me. How do you think that happened?"

"Two to one, Black," she muttered.

"Want a rematch?" he challenged, scowling at her.

"Maybe I do!" Selene growled. They glared at each other for a second, before Selene knocked him over. She smirked. "Not very good reflexes, huh, Black?"

He glowered at her, and when she turned to leave the room, caught her foot and knocked her down. The only problem was, she landed half on top of him with a painful,

"Damn you, Ausculto!" coming from Sirius.

Her face hovered next to his. "Well if you weren't so stupid to accept that I could kick your ass any day, I wouldn't have landed on you, now would I?"

He didn't seem to have a reply to that, so they stared fiercely at one another instead. Neither knew what was going on as the look faded from Sirius's face. He frowned. "You remind me of myself," he grumbled.

Selene's eyebrows shot up, and she removed herself from her rather squishy and comfortable position. "How the hell am I supposed to answer that?"

Sirius shrugged. "Only you're mad. And I'm not."

Selene stared at him. "Right."

"Now I feel like a butterfly." Sirius said, the corners of his mouth twitching. Selene shook her head, disbelieving. What was wrong with him? And why did she not care that this was Sirius Black, a Cavillor? Why did she feel like he was right, and knowing this, feel unable to argue this point?

"You most certainly are mad, you great git."

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A/N: Hmm. A little strange, I know. Must be my brain. I'm really glad I did get this finished now though, because my boyfriend (for another ten days lol) is supposed to get home tomorrow, and I haven't seen him in two months…so yeah, we'll see if he calls or...I have absolutely no idea what to expect. We both know I'm leaving for school in just over a week, so yeah. We can "watch movies" or something, lol. No, I'm not entirely sure what I mean by that, so don't ask. I don't know anything at this point.

Thanks for all of your support with this story; it means a lot to me :)

GoddessoftheMaaN- Yes, all in good time...they wouldn't be such good friends if they were incapable of that, right? Thanks again!

Helen- Yes, I think the torturing only makes it better in the end. Or at least more quickly. Lol, anyway, I'm really glad you're still enjoying the story, thank you again :)

Shadyday9- I'm glad you remember it :) It couldn't have been too terrible then, at least. I left it pretty much intact, because I liked that part too. Actually, I left most of this chapter intact. It was pretty refreshing lol. Thank you, once again!

Mila- I always saw Dumbledore that way too, so thank you, those were some of the most difficult parts to write. He's such a huge character, and we are all so acquainted with the real Dumbledore (well…real by my standards, lol), that writing a fanfiction Dumbledore is difficult. But yes, Dumbledore was never going to give away his plans. And he still won't. I like your theory, as it seems.

-Emily