-1A/N: Hey, I'm back! Sorry it took so long, I've just been really busy.
Anyway, so I wanted to clear up some stuff. A bunch of people asked me the same question: Is Lily a witch? No, in this story Lily is not a witch, but James IS a wizard.
Another thing, this Tuesday, the 27th, I'll be going on vacation for two weeks, so I won't be able to update. Sorry!
Also, my friend, who's fanfic name is Amethyst Misty (check out her awesome stories! She will be posting another one soon!), helped me a lot, and gave me a lot of the idea for the new female character in this chapter. The one Sirius meets.
Thank you so much all you reviewers, it makes me so happy to see that you're all interested in my story! To those who didn't, REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! --------Please?
Ok, so…Chapter two!
Meetings, Mysteries, and Madness:
Sirius Black stood by a cocktail bar, wine in one hand, girl in the other.
It had been two hours since James had disappeared to go to the 'lavatory', and Sirius was wondering where he had gone. Usually James would come back after the speeches and all the formal stuff, just in time for the cocktail party that followed.
So Sirius had started the fun without him, already having found a pretty blonde to keep himself occupied. This was usually his pastime at these parties. Sirius could never let down the chance for a good catch. He was what James called a "womanizer".
James on the other hand, was not a 'womanizer' in the least. Sure, he could've been if he'd wanted to be. He was very handsome with his messy black hair and piercing hazel eyes. He just wasn't attracted to these fake, rich, giggling types. At these parties he preferred to either sulk, tune out while 'listening' to his mother lecture him, or play a prank on a group of unsuspecting muggles. Not a mean one of course, just one that a muggle wouldn't expect.
"Would you excuse me for a moment darling? As much as I hate to leave your pretty face, there's something that needs attending to." Sirius said to the girl, not waiting for a response. He walked away, towards the large wooden double doors at the other side of the room.
He pushed his way through the crowd of world leaders, young debutants, and rich tycoons, until he reached the door. He was almost at the door, when he accidentally rammed into someone, landing them both on the cold marble floor.
For a second all he could see was a tangle of black hair and the white ground. He thought to himself that this was the kind of situation he would laugh at James for getting into. Sirius was a very cool, self controlled person. Things like this didn't happen to him. He quickly pulled himself to his feet, clinging on to as much pride as possible.
He helped the girl he had knocked over to her feet. Then he could clearly see her.
The first thing that came to his mind when he saw her was how beautiful she was. She had long, pin strait black hair cascading down to her waist, bright turquoise eyes, and a perfectly slim figure covered in a curve-hugging turquoise cocktail dress that perfectly matched her eyes.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going." Said the woman.
"Oh, don't be." Sirius replied with a sexy growl in his voice. Then he realized that he was supposed to be looking for James, not flirting with pretty women. He darted away without saying goodbye, trying to create an air of mystery.
He ran up the spiraling staircase, and out to the small garden where he new James would be sitting.
Why are there so many damn steps?
James sat on a stool by the side of a huge bed, staring into the beautiful face of the girl who had passed out in his garden.
After she had fainted, he had picked her up off the ground, and carried her into this room, put her on the bed, and called a maid to fix up the room for her. The estate nurse had also come by, and put some ointment on the cuts that covered the girls hands, and the scratches on her face.
James was dying of curiosity. Who was this mysterious woman? Why was she so hurt? Why had she been on his estate? Where did she live? What was her name? James could hardly wait for her to wake up.
He sat there, pondering on all of these questions, trying to think if he had ever seen her at a party or a formal dinner before. He couldn't remember her from anywhere, and he was sure that if he had seen her before, he would've remembered the bright auburn hair and perfect complexion right away. Maybe when he saw her eyes…
Then, out of nowhere, James' house elf, Aggie, appeared.
"Master! Aggie came right away when she heard of the young lady." Aggie said, considerate enough to whisper.
"Oh, thank you Zippy. So how's the party coming along?"
Well Zippy thinks he aught to tell Master that Mister Black is looking for him."
"Oh, good, then it won't be long before he finds us will it? Maybe he'll recognize her."
James sat on the stool, whispering to Zippy, but all the time thinking of this mysterious woman.
When Sirius looked around the garden, there was no James to be found. Oh, that's just terrific. I ran up those stairs for nothing. This is not my day.
He decided to look in James' room next. Where else would he possibly go?
He strode down the hall, making his way down to the other side of the hallway. He passed some rooms, all of which were empty. However, the next one he walked by seemed to have whispers coming through the door. Maybe it's the house elves.
Deciding to take a look, Sirius opened the door a crack. He peeked through and saw who had been whispering.
On one hand, Sirius had been right. It was a house elf whispering. However, the elf was not whispering to another elf, but to James. And they were not the only ones in the room. On the large queen sized bed behind James was a mass of bright auburn hair on a pillow.
"Ooooh now I get it. Jamie has finally found himself a girl! But sleeping together already?" Sirius said out loud, a smirk plastered on his face.
"Sirius!" James yelped, nearly falling out of his seat. The girl behind him stirred in her sleep.
"Sirius!" James whispered. "Why the hell are you here?"
"Now now, is that any way to greet me after I took the time and effort to come all the way up here to find you?"
"Urgh. Never mind that. Sirius, do you recognize this girl from anywhere? God only knows how many girls about her age you've, er, 'met'."
"Sorry can't say I have. But you-"
Sirius got cut off by a middle aged woman, barging into the room and whispering loudly.
"Out! Out you two! This poor dear needs quiet!"
Knowing not to mess around with this nurse, James pulled Sirius out of the room, and into the hallway, where they continued discussing the mysterious girl, every few sentences getting way off topic.
Lily was in a garden. Somehow it looked very familiar.
"Where am I?" She asked herself out loud.
She wandered around the garden, looking for anything she recognized. She walked behind a tall bush and-
"THERE YOU ARE!" Miss Smeldings jumped out of the bushes, grabbing Lily's wrist, right on the biggest cut. The cut began to sizzle and burn. Everywhere that the horrible old hag was touching felt like a thousand needles pushing into her skin.
"AHHH! Let go of- ME! Lily yelled with one big tug.
Just as Miss Smeldings was about to yell again, something tapped Lily on the shoulder.
She turned around, and standing there was a young man with messy black hair and deep hazel eyes. He seemed very familiar, but Lily just couldn't remember him.
"I demand you let go of this young lady!" He shouted at Miss Smeldings. He pulled out the long mental cane that Miss Smeldings had used on Lily, and raised it over Miss Smeldings. She shrieked and ran away.
The young man then stood to face Lily and said, "I will escort you to the ship, but then I will have to leave."
"But-no! Wait! What ship? Leave where? Who are you? Where am I?" Lily asked frantically.
The next thing she new the man had dragged her to a huge harbor, and onto a small boat. On the boat were two other people. A man and a woman, who both looked in their
mid-twenties.
The man with the messy hair walked off the boat.
"Good bye! I'll see you soon!"
"Wait, what? You'll see me soon? When? Don't leave!"
The boat departed from the harbor, and they were zooming across the water towards a large piece of land.
Lily turned towards the man and the woman. They looked familiar too. However, Lily new who they were in a second.
"MOM??? DAD???"
"Um, hello. We're Mr. and Mrs. Evans. I'm not 100 sure, but I think this boat is going to India, that little island over there." Mr. Evans pointed.
"O-over there? That little thing is India? Urgh this is too weird." Lily sighed in frustration.
They reached the island, and they all got off the boat. They were on a vast beach, with huge waves and palm trees everywhere. Lily took a deep breath and smelled the salty smell of the air.
All of a sudden something very unexpected happened. A huge wave was coming toward them. It got bigger and bigger, as it got closer and closer. Soon it was towering above their heads.
"Oh no. It can't be. It's a tsunami. The tsunami that-that KILLED MY PARENTS!" Realization dawned on her. She new that they would die.
"Come on Mr. and Mrs. Evans, we have to get out of here!"
Why? I like it here." They seemed completely unaware that a 70 foot wave was coming at them.
Before she could say another word, the wave hit.
At first, Lily lost all her senses. She didn't feel a thing. Everything was happening in slow motion. But then she heard something.
"We love you Lily!" Although she was under many feet of swirling water, and she was starting to feel it, she saw her parents whoosh by, directing the statement at her. Then they were gone.
Then, she felt it. The weight of the tsunami finally hit. She was spinning out of control. Her ears were ringing and she was in such pain. She couldn't breathe. She began to panic.
Soon, it began to go dark.
"No! No! I can't die! I can't!" She yelled under the water.
All of a sudden she couldn't see. Then she began to see again. But it wasn't the tsunami anymore. She saw her life.
She was in her crib, her parents kissing her goodnight before they left for India.
She was being shipped off to Lady Grey Orphanage, after being informed of her parents death.
She was being whipped by Miss Smeldings for the first time.
She was being shown to her small dusty attic.
Then she heard voices.
"Wake up! Darling, wake up!"
"I can't I can't!" She yelled.
"Wake up! Darling wake up!"
"AAAHHHH!" Lily shrieked, bolting upright into a sitting position. She was panting and sweating, unaware of her surroundings.
"Darling calm down, it's all right. You're awake now."
"Awake?" She asked, out of breath. She looked around for the first time. She was not in 'India' anymore, but in a large bed in a beautiful, large room. Before her stood an elderly woman with a nurse's uniform.
"Oh. I- I was dreaming, wasn't I." She felt slightly embarrassed, yet slightly relieved. She must have been thrashing and yelling in her sleep.
"Yes dear, you-" The nurse was cut off by Lily's shriek of disgust.
"AH! What is that thing?!" Lily yelped. For out of the corner of her eye, she had spotted a very little- dwarf?- with large ears, and wearing a pillow case!
"Oh, um, heh heh! Don't mind that, that's just, er- one of my patients! He was a midget, but he got…he got…burnt! Yes, he was burnt in a fire. Very misshapen." The nurse said, panicking, realizing that the girl must be muggle, and had never seen a house elf.
Lily looked again, and the thing was gone.
Then, a tall handsome man with messy black hair and bright hazel eyes, with a very muscular form, burst into the room. It was- no!- it was the man from the dream!
"Is everything alright? I heard yells, and-oh! You're awake!" James said, suddenly looking at Lily.
"I guess I should introduce myself." James said, walking over to Lily's bed. "Lord James Andrew Potter, of Milberg Estate!" He said, spreading his arms out to indicate the estate.
"Um…hello." Lily said.
"I suppose you're wondering where you are?"
"Um, no actually, I've figured that much out. I'm in the mansion of that garden that I passed out in. My question is, who are you?" Lily asked, looking up at James.
"Who am I? I am the man who saved your life from the great outside world of my back garden. Why- I am your savior!" James said enthusiastically.
"Yes, my very large-headed savior by the sound of it." Lily mumbled quietly.
"What?" James asked.
"Oh, uh, nothing! Just- thank you so much for um, bringing me in, but I think I should probably leave now.
"Leave? Now? When we were just getting to know each other? I don't think so."
"No really, I feel fine, and I really must be going. My friends will be wondering where I've gotten to."
"Oh all right. But at least let me walk you home. These streets are dangerous for a young lady at this time of night."
"Thank you, but I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself." Lily said confidently.
"Fine then, not for you. I just feel like a stroll tonight. You're the perfect reason to get one!"
"Urgh. I can see I'm going to lose this one, aren't I?"
"Oh, I think you already have." James said with a smirk.
"Alright, fine. Wipe that stupid smirk off your face, and I will give you the honor of walking me home." Lily said. However, his words didn't cause her as much annoyance as she thought they would. He has a nice smirk…Wait! What am I thinking? Maybe I bumped my head when I fell. Lily was about to say something fresh to get out the strange butterflies that were fluttering around in her stomach when she looked at James. However, he spoke first.
"But first, and I absolutely insist, that you change out of that cold, damp uniform and into a nice warm dress. Come, you can use some of my mothers old things."
Lily was about to protest again, but then she realized how cold she really was, and she quickly changed her mind.
"Well, I suppose, I mean, if your mother doesn't mind."
"Great. I'll head downstairs, and Hilda can show you where to change."
"Hilda?" Lily asked, confused.
Lily felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around, and standing there was a woman in a maid uniform.
"Oh. Alright…" But when Lily turned back to James, he was already gone. She watched as the door closed hard behind him.
"Well miss, if you'd please follow me, I'll show you to the dressing room." Hilda said to Lily.
She followed Hilda down the steps, through a long hall, and into a small room with a mirror.
This is the Mistresses' old changing room. Here's the dress you're to wear. Do you need some assistance putting it on dear?"
"No, I'll be fine. Thank you." Lily took the very large, extremely poufy dress from Hilda, and locked the changing room door.
Lily shook out the dress. It was the most beautiful dress she had ever seen, let alone wore. If she were not so shocked from the whole situation she was in, she would have squealed with glee.
The dress was red silk with gems lining the neck, and some light embroidery down the front. The skirt poufed out from all the petticoats. The neckline was very low, and the whole bodice looked tight. Lily rolled her eyes. I suppose James picked out this dress.
She slipped it over her head, and buttoned the red velvet buttons that lined the back. Lily was very good at reaching those.
She unlocked the door and stood before Hilda.
"Alright, lets go down now. My friends will have heart attacks if I don't return soon."
"You look lovely miss. Master James will be very pleased." Lily could tell that Hilda was trying desperately not to smirk.
They walked down the stairs, and into the room where James would be waiting for her.
Sirius walked back downstairs, through the halls, and back to the big wooden doors.
He had left James waiting by the door of the girl's room. He had been bored and had wanted to go back down to the party.
He pushed open the doors, and walked back through.
The party looked the same as when he had left it. Crowded, full of food, and with a big dance floor.
Sirius walked over to the bar and grabbed a beer. He preferred plain things from fancy wines.
He leaned against the bar an looked around. Then he saw her again. It was the girl Sirius had bumped into earlier.
Sirius gapped openmouthed at her. He noticed how her teeth were perfect. White, straight, and all the same length. How they sparkled when she laughed. Then he snapped himself out of it. Wait Sirius, you don't gape at women! They gape at you!
The girl parted herself from the crowd of people, and headed over to the bar. The next thing he new, she was right next to him.
She poured herself a drink, and stood there by the bar, drinking it. Yes! I've got her alone!
Sirius walked over to her. He put his hand on her shoulder, and turned her to face him.
"Hello young lady. I'm sorry to interrupt your one on one with the wine glass, but you seemed familiar. Have we met?" Sirius said, pretending not to remember where he had seen her.
"Oh, yes actually, we have. You're the man who rammed into me by those doors." She said, pointing to the big wooden doors.
"Well actually, most people just know me as Sirius. Sirius Black." He said, with a handsome grin.
"Well hello then, Mr. Sirius Black." She said, rolling her eyes, catching on to the fact that he was hitting on her.
"So, may I inquire as to your name?" He asked.
"Hmmm. No, I don't believe you may." She answered, smirking.
"But that hardly seems fair. After all, I've told you mine, both first and last."
"Well Mr. Sirius Black, who said life is fair?" She said, smirk widening. She walked away with the wine in her hand.
"Wait!" Sirius called.
"Yeeeeees?" She said, turning halfway around.
"How come a beautiful lady like you, is all alone without a dance partner?"
"Well I don't know. Maybe you should ask all the men who've invited me to dance tonight." She replied, the smirk returning.
"Well then, you would have nothing to lose allowing one more handsome young man to a dance." Sirius answered.
"Are you asking me to dance?"
"It would seem so."
"What makes you think I don't have better things to do?"
"Well, the fact that you're not clubbing me over the head in annoyance for one. For two, what better thing could you possibly do?" He answered, this time taking his turn to smirk.
"I-" But she got cut off by James' mother, standing up front with a microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen. Thank you so much for joining us tonight. However, every good thing eventually comes to an end. But before you all leave, I'd like to make a special thank you to…"
Sirius rolled his eyes, waiting for the long list of people to end.
"Thank you so much. You may exit through the small wooden doors on your right"- She pointed- "and on your left. Thank you, and have a very good night."
The girl turned her head back to Sirius.
"Well, goodbye Mr. Sirius Black. I don't suppose I'll be seeing you soon."
And before he had a chance to say anything, she turned around and walked away, towards the wooden door on the right.
Sirius watched her go. Then, on the back of her head, he saw something very interesting. One the chinese chopsticks holding up her half up half down hair style looked strangely like a wand…
James stared. His mouth fell open in shock and amazement. Lily had just walked in the room.
If James thought Lily had been beautiful before, now he saw what she was really like.
The red dress brought out her perfect auburn hair, and the sparkling of the gems made the glistening in Lily's bright emerald eyes shine brighter than ever.
"Wow, you look, er…great." James said, out of breath.
"Thank you. Now lets get going before my friends go into convulsions."
They walked outside and out the gates of the mansion.
"So first things first. I've told you my name, and yet, I still don't know yours." James said to Lily, taking a sideways glance at her.
"Well if you didn't notice, I was hardly in the shape for small talk back there."
"I hardly think telling your savior a simple name is small talk."
"My savior? I really think you should know, that you're hardly my savior."
"Fine. Do you prefer the term hero?" James asked, smirking.
"Surprisingly not." Lily should have been furious at that smirk. Normally she would. But there was just something about it that stopped her from smacking James over the head with the nearest tree branch.
"So…where are you taking me? Where exactly is home?" James asked.
"Oh, well actually, it's Lady Grey's Orphanage for Girls." Lily said, looking away from James.
"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that."
"Oh, don't be." Lily said, looking into his eyes. Lily was surprised by how deep and knowing they actually where.
They walked in silence for a while. Then after about fifteen minutes, they reached the orphanage. Lily led him around the side to the tall tree.
"Well, this is my stop." Lily said, holding on to the tree.
James looked at her strangely.
"Wouldn't it be a bit more, er, sane, to use the door? You know, the opening device in which one walks through to enter a building and/or home?" James asked.
"Not in this case. In fact it would be completely insane to go through the front door tonight."
"Alright…well, do you need a hand climbing that?"
"I can assure you James, I'll be fine."
Lily quickly climbed up the tree, and into her bedroom window. James stared, amazed at how nimble she was.
"Wait there James, I have something for you!" She yelled out the window.
James saw her pull the dress over her head, careful not to let James see anything.
She threw the dress out the window, and pulled a nightgown over her head. James caught the dress.
"One more thing James!" She yelled out the window.
"Yeeees?"
"My name is Lily."
James grinned and walked away, overjoyed from all that had happened that night.