Chapter 46: The Accident
"Why didn't Lily receive our letters??" Stefanie asked the group who were gathered together at the Potter's Manor once again in the summer holiday. Her owl, Precious, had returned again without making the delivery.
"Could something have happened to her??" Arabella asked fearfully.
"I can give her a call to her house."
"Is her house connected to the Floo Network??"
"I think so, let's try." They walked into the Potter's fireplace, which was large enough to hold all five of them.
"Evan's House!!" They chorused. After spinning and passing many fireplaces, they stopped and ended up the living room of Evans'.
"Lily!! Are you there??" Arabella called out.
"No one at home." Stefanie commented.
"Why don't we go and ask their neighbours or something??" James said.
"I think we go will do. You guys stay here and don't let anyone know that we're inside the house." Stefanie said as she and Arabella exited the house.
"Yes??" Lily's neighbor opened the door and asked the two girls.
"We're Lily's friends and we hasn't heard from her for a week, do you know what happened to her family??"
"We've no idea. I was trying to contact Dawn for the last couple of days."
"Thank you." Arabella and Stefanie walked back to the house.
"They can't just disappear."
"Oh no!!"
"Look!!"
"The death mark!!" Arabella and Stefanie quickly ran into the house and pulled James, Sirius and Remus back to the fireplace.
"Faster floo back home."
"W-what happening??"
"We'll talk when we get back."
"Potter's Manor." They shouted and returned to the Potter's living room in no time. The five quickly dashed into James' bedroom.
"So can you explain what happened now??"
"There's a death mark on top of Lily's house." Arabella said in a horrified tone.
"WHAT??"
"Let's get to Dumbledore." A knock from the door suddenly interrupted their conversation.
"Master James, you've a visitor. Madam wants all of you to go down immediately." James' butler reported.
"Let's go." The five of them dashed down the steps.
"Dumbledore, something happened to Lily!!" James said in a worried tone.
"I'm here to tell you that." Dumbledore said in a rather graved manner.
"Is Lily alright??" Stefanie asked fearfully.
"She's alright now. In Hogwarts with Poppy." Dumbledore explained. All of them were listening to Dumbledore intensely. "Her family met with a car accident. The car lost control and collided into the tree at a deserted road. They were only found two days after the accident, which was yesterday. Lily's parents had died in the crash, while she had survived. She was sent to muggle hospital. Minerva and I had gone to fetch her to St Mungo for a check up and right now she is in coma and resting at Hogwarts."
"Can we go and see her??" Arabella asked anxiously.
"Of course you may."
"But Dumbledore, I don't think it was just a car accident."
"It wasn't. Voldemort had sent deatheaters to meddle with the brakes of the car." All of them gasped in horror at the fact. "How did you know that??"
"We went to her house and saw the death mark."
"I think Voldemort had found out about the six of you."
"Lily!! Can you hear us??" Arabella called out to a comatose Lily, holding her left hand.
"Lily, it's us. Your best friends." Stefanie held her right hand.
"Stef, why don't you enter her dreams??" James suggested. Stefanie nodded and closed her eyes, holding onto Lily's hand.
Lily, can you hear me?? It's me Stefanie!!
Lils, I'm Bell!!
Where are you??
Can you wake up??
We miss you.
Lily!!
Lils!!
What??
Lils!!
What's happening??
You're in a coma!!
I'm very tired, I want to sleep.
You've been sleeping for ages already.
Wake up now!!
We're all so worried about you.
What happened to me??
Get up and talk.
Ok.
Lily stirred in her sleep and opened her eyes, blinking several times to adjust to the lights.
"Lily!! You're up!!" Sirius exclaimed dramatically.
"Huh, yeah."
"We're all so worried about you." James said with concern.
"Who are you??"
"I'm James, he's Sirius, that's Remus and Peter." James introduced, rather confused.
"Stef, who is James??" Lily asked.
"James is our friend." Stefanie replied, looking from James to Lily and Lily to James.
"You don't remember us??" James asked.
"I don't remember you." Lily said honestly.
"Do you remember us??" Remus asked.
"Yes, Remmy."
"We better get Madam Pomfrey." Madam Pomfrey hurried over and examined the just awaken Lily.
"What happened to her??"
"I think she lost part of her memory." Madam Pomfrey explained. "It could be temporary or permanent. It's very common to suffer from amnesia after a car accident."
"Car accident??" Lily said to herself. "What happened to me??"
"You met an accident." Arabella said soothingly.
"Then??"
"Then you ended up in a coma. Stef and I have to go and wake you up."
"What about my parents??"
"They are.. dead." Stefanie said in a soft whisper. All of them looked at her, awaiting some sort of response.
"Oh dear. I'm a healer and yet I can save them." Lily said, starting to tear.
"It's not your fault."
"I know."
"We're here for you."
"Thanks Stef, I'm fine."
"Was it Voldemort??"
"Yes."
"How did you know??"
"I had a dream of my parents meeting an accident that day. No matter how much I persuaded them not to go, but dad said it was an important business meeting. The only way I thought I could protect them was by going with them." Lily said, trying to remember the details.
"Well.."
"Don't worry. I'm sad. But people will have to die some day. My parents just left me earlier than I thought."
"I'm glad you aren't brooding over it."
"I'm not such a person. I don't fear death just like I don't fear Voldemort."
"Remember, we're here when you need us."
"I need a shoulder to cry on."
"C'mon." Stefanie sat next to Lily. She leaned her head on her shoulder and started crying.
"You'll feel better after letting it out."
"I know." Lily whispered. I'll be strong. Stronger and braver than ever. She continued sobbing until she just dozed off on Stefanie's shoulder.
Stefanie and Arabella put her back to bed and pulled up the covers. Then they settled at the next bed and started talking softly.
"Is she really alright??" James asked, looking at the tear-stricken Lily.
"I trust her. She had always been an optimist." Stefanie said.
"I agree. We know each other for four years. This is the first time I ever seen her cry." Sirius said.
"Crying is a form of releasing her sadness. She cries to mourn for her parents. She won't breakdown just like that." Arabella said.
"Let's hope so." Remus whispered.
"I'm sure. Lils is one of the strongest girl I know." Stefanie said confidently.
"You really have no recollection of me at all??" James asked Lily. They had come to pick her up from Hogwarts. Stefanie had asked Lily to stay with her and Arabella at the Black's Mansion.
"Nope. I don't remember. But I think your memories should have fill up the empty spaces in my head." Lily smiled.
"I hope so."
"Definitely. I'm sure someday I'll remember you again. If not I just have to get to know you all over again."
"Hey Bell, Stef, I need to go home to collect my stuffs first."
"We'll go with you."
"Thanks guys."
"Don't ever come back here again, freak!!" Petunia shouted at Lily the moment she entered the living room with her friends.
"Don't worry, I won't." Lily retorted. "I stayed here because of Mum and Dad. Now that they're gone, there's nothing left for me here. You can be assured I'm gone for good this time." Lily climbed up the stairs with Arabella and Stefanie closely behind her.
"You alright??"
"Yup. Don't make it sound like something might happen to me or something." Lily
said, and gave an assuring smile at them.
"We're just worried, you know."
"I understand. Thanks. Hey, help me grab everything possible. I need to get everything for good."
"No problem."
"Let's go." Lily said, after getting several more things around the living room.
"Don't ever come back."
"I won't."
"Lils, done??"
"Yup. Let's go. Bye Petunia."
"Why do you say bye to her??"
"Anyway I won't see her again. Why not??"
"Now you've us!!"
"Thanks James."
Bell, let's read Lils' mind. I'm worried about her.
I know. Let's read for at least two hours.
Mummy, Daddy, I miss you. I'll be strong and live on. Don't worry. You'll live on in my heart till the day I die. Finally I'm free from Petunia. But that means losing both of you. Anyway mum, dad, you're the best parents anyone could have!! Lily yawned and turned around to hug a pillow and dozed off instantly.
She is really fine.
I'm totally convinced.