Just Keep Breathing: Chapter Three
"Non-verbal spells!" Professor Kadan, the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher announced.
"Save the speech," Jeremy Goyle sniggered. "We've had it from all our other teachers."
"You know, Jeremy," Sirius said, "I'm genuinely surprised you passed your Defence Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. Who did you pay to sit it for you this time?"
"Felix Mark Jacobs," he grinned.
The rest of the class raised their eyebrows and giggled. Goyle, apparently, appeared not to realise that he'd said something he shouldn't have. The teacher pretended not to hear this exchange.
"Well, now that you're at N.E.W.T. Level, you should all be able to master the non-verbal spell. How does one accomplish this Miss..."
At this, Kadan looked down the list of his student's names, and finally landed on one that he thought would be good. "Miss Evans."
There was silence throughout the class, and as some of the student's exchanged awkward glances, Kadan looked around at the class, confused. "Well?" he asked, looking around.
James, who was sitting at the back of the class, raised his hand.
"Yes, Mr..."
"Potter," James supplied. "Professor, Evans didn't return to Hogwarts this year."
"Why not?"
"I don't really think that's any of your business," Alice snapped from towards the front of the class.
"Your name is?"
"Alice Prewett," she replied. "Now, Evans isn't here, but I would gladly answer the question for you."
"Please," Kadan answered.
"Well," Alice began, "it's basically just like doing a spell anyway – you actually have to imagine the effect it's going to have as you cast it. And only if you can do that will the spell work. If you imagine it right, you won't have to use the incantation."
"And what advantages does this method of spellcasting bring?"
"Your opponent is unaware of what type of magic you're about to use, giving you that split-second advantage."
"Very good," Kadan replied. "I would like you to practise these incantations for the rest of today's lesson. Get into pairs. One of you will cast a spell on the other; the other should be able to properly deflect it with an unspoken shield charm. Off you go."
James and Sirius immediately headed to the back corner of the classroom, as did Remus and Peter, and Alice and Mary.
"What do you think of him?" Sirius asked Mary. "The teacher."
"I dunno... He's a bit of a -"
"I don't like him," Alice injected. "I mean, he's been nice enough today, but there's just something about him."
"Your instincts are usually pretty good," Mary said doubtfully. "Remember that time in fourth year -"
"That was Lily. I only said it because she didn't want to."
"Oh."
An awkward silence hung over the group of six for a few moments. "I wish Lily had come back," said Peter.
Everybody stared at him.
"What? She was nice!"
"I think you'll find she still is nice," James said. "She's not dead, Wormtail."
Alice's jaw dropped, a sudden thought striking her. "Maybe that's it!"
"Maybe what's what?" Remus asked, glancing at her in confusion.
"What if Lily's sick family member is Lily? What if Lily's dying?"
James felt as though his stomach had been ripped out and torn apart, then jumped upon. He couldn't bear it if Lily died, but he would completely understand why she didn't tell anybody anything if she was.
"Probably not the best thing to say, Prewett," Sirius said. "Come on, Prongs, let's just get on with the classwork." He shot Alice a dirty look before dragging his friend to the other corner.
"Evans!" Lily's new boss, Anthony Dursley barked. "Come here!"
Lily closed her eyes and cursed silently to herself. She wondered what she'd done wrong this time – if she'd done anything wrong at all! She wasn't at all used to how an office operated, and all the work she'd been given was doing her head in. Dreading what was going to come, she got up from her desk and through a door to her boss' office.
"You asked for me?" she asked.
"Take a seat, please," he said, gesturing to the chair. "Tea? Coffee?"
"No, thank you," Lily answered, bewildered.
"Lily, I feel that since we're going to be working together, we should at least get to know each other a little better. It's better working together when you know something about the other person. Besides, I need a little background information on you for when I have to introduce you as my secretary."
"That sounds like a good idea," Lily replied doubtfully. "So, what do you want to know?"
"Well, where were you born? What's your family like? Why did you want to work for Grunnings?"
"Well, I was born in Surrey," Lily said. This situation was making her feel rather awkward. "My two parents are teachers, and I have one older sister, who I don't really get along that well with..."
"Why not?"
"I got accepted into this really prestigious boarding school in Scotland, on a scholarship, and she didn't even get accepted. She was quite upset about it, and it ruined the relationship that we had."
"What's the school called?"
"St. Jeanine's Academy," Lily said, making up a fancy sounding name on the spot.
"And you're only sixteen... Why did you leave?"
"Personal issues."
"And why did you want to work for Grunnings?"
"Well, the same reason I left school. I need a job close to home in case anything happens, and my house is literally right around the corner – and I like working with people, but not too involved with them, so I thought being a secretary was a good way to go about it. I'm sorry, but this is sounding remarkably like a job interview, and I thought I already had the job."
"I'm sorry," he said, shaking his head. "Okay, let me tell you a bit about myself. My wife, Patricia, and I have three children. Vernon, the eldest, is your age and goes to Smeltings Academy. You've heard of it, I assume?"
"No, actually," Lily said, "but I'm sure it's a wonderful school."
"It is," Anthony agreed. "And our youngest two, Marjorie and Leanne, are eleven, and starting high school this year. I started Grunnings because I knew that there was a never-ending demand for drills, and for my first job, I was actually working on a construction site, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. What's the thing that you enjoy most in the world?"
"School," Lily answered automatically. As soon as she realised what she'd said, however, she blushed. "That sounds incredibly nerdy of me, I'm sorry," she said.
"You like school? That's good, most people hate it."
"I do like school," Lily said, her voice a very small whisper. "May I be excused?"
"Of course," he said. "In fact, you're done for the day, so why don't you go home?"
"Thank you," she said, and left the office.
For the short walk home, Lily was thinking about what she'd said in her boss' office – she loved school, she really did. So why on Earth would she even have thought about leaving? If her dad was perfectly healthy, she would be there right now. If he hadn't said anything to her and her sister about his illness, she wouldn't be working at a drill company, in a job she didn't particularly enjoy all that much. But her decision to leave school had been for her family, right?
As though fuelled by this notion, Lily walked straight past her house and headed for the hospital to visit her father. Her mother would be there, no doubt. She spent most of her time there, and the school year hadn't started in England yet.
She walked into her father's room this time, and this time she did not break down in tears. She walked straight over to her mother, and whispered something in her ear.
"Okay," Mrs Evans answered, getting up from her seat. "I'll see you later, dear," she said to the both of them.
Lily smiled encouragingly at her dad when her mum had left, but sadness showed in her face, betraying her.
"Lily flower," he smiled. "Are you okay?"
"Dad, what did your parents say when you told them that you wanted to be a teacher?"
He furrowed his brow in concentration. "Well," he started, "they weren't happy at first... But they came around, I guess. They said 'teaching isn't a respectable occupation for a man of your intelligence', but eventually they were saying things like 'he needs to follow his heart'."
"'Follow your heart'?" Lily quoted, turning the words over in her mind.
"What's wrong?" her dad asked, and sounded just like he had when Lily come home on the first day of the Summer holidays, heartbroken. And she felt exactly the same way now as she did then.
"I was talking with Mr Dursley, my boss? And he asked me what the thing I enjoyed most in the world was, and I said school. And do you remember when I told you I was dropping out of Hogwarts, you told me to follow my heart. Well, now I'm wondering if following my heart meant doing what I want to do, or sticking with my family."
"Oh honey," he said, holding a hand up to brush Lily's cheek. "You're too young to be facing a dilemma like that. I told you that you didn't have to stay in London."
"Yes, I know, but I'll feel so guilty if I went back. And besides, I've been away for five years – I wasted any time I could have had with you, and I already feel guilty for that."
"Then don't go back," her dad said. "You should never, ever feel guilty for something that you want to do, so, if you're going to feel guilty, don't go."
"Yeah," Lily said, ignoring the thoughts that had been gnawing at her since she'd left work. "I'll see you later, dad."
Dear Lily,
Are you crazy? Of course I forgive you! You're my best friend, and nothing will ever happen for that to change. I'm really disappointed that you're not coming back, and so is most of the class. Just one question about this – you're not dying, are you? Because if you are, I know a lot of people that would break out of this place and WALK to your house just to see you. You may not know it, Lily, but everybody here loves you.
You know that weird thing where the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher only lasts a year? Well, the new one is called Professor Kadan, and I don't really like him. Mary reckons I was crazy, but there's just something about him. I mean, I don't think he's evil or anything, but he's just not very nice.
Anyway, if you're going to change your mind and come back, please do it soon. If you're not going to change your mind, just remember that I'm here for you, and so is Mary, so you can talk to us anytime. Please reply saying you're not dying.
Love, Alice.
PS: How are you liking your new job?
Hey guys, how are you? Like the chapter?
It's weird, I'm still having trouble believing that I only started this story less than two days ago - it feels like so much longer. But then, maybe I've been working on it subconsciously, because it's all coming so easily to me. Anyway, thanks to the people who reviewed the last chapter... Lycoris B and princessofdarkness23.
The fact that you guys even read my story means a lot to me - and if you have any suggestions, questions, criticism, or would just like to say hi so that I know who's reading, I would really, really love it. At the moment, writing is my number one priority and pastime, so feedback is greatly appreciated!
Thanks again for reading,
Love, gabiellexx