Hello everyone, I know, I know, I'm a bad, terrible evil person that can't update fast enough. But this time I must say it really wasn't my fault. I was almost done with this chapter when my laptop just went puff! No more HD for me. And its still not working. So now I had to retype everything on my mother's computer, which she only allows me to use once in a blue moon. Anyway, I hope you like it! Review if you please! PA
Chapter 9 – Riders on a Storm
That morning was nothing short of a nightmare. He felt like he had been sucked into a hurricane's eye; a whirlwind of emotions had rushed through his skin as he prayed silently that one of those dark envelopes wouldn't have his name on it. Again. And as he held in the tears he began to feel everything at once, anger, tiredom, sadness. And something he swore he would never yield to: fear. And as he looked around he could tell it was the same for everyone else in that room. It was overwhelming; all those sounds of pain, but he had sworn to himself that he would do everything within his power to help stop them from winning. He had sworn to never give in. And before even he himself knew what he was going to do, he was doing it. He gave instructions and distributed tasks, all done decidedly and surely. He didn't second guess himself or stop to think. He leaded. That was just who James was, a leader.
The entire afternoon was spent the same way; in mourning. Whether it was listening, sitting quietly with others or simply smiling sympathetically at them, he and his friends had made clear they could count on the Marauders if they needed them. In time, he and his friends had become somewhat of a school institution and it gave them the last thing they would ever have expected: responsibility. So now there they were, huddled together plus two going over the details of their newest plan, just this time it didn't involve pranks or jokes. It was bigger than that.
They felt satisfied with the scheme they came up and decided it was good enough to be set into motion and each part began executing their tasks and that was why he was walking towards that spiraled staircase. This time they needed backup, and they needed it to be official. He reached the all too familiar gargoyle and said the first candy name he could think of and immediately stairs appeared. He climbed up easily but deep in thought, his mind resting far away with his friends and just as his knuckles were about to touch the door in front of him, it opened softly and he was met by his Transfiguration teacher's stern look.
"Come in, Mr. Potter."- She said tiredly. "We've been expecting you."
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It was unsettling sometimes how omniscient he could be. As she said his name she was quite sure it would cause shock and awe, since their previous relationship hadn't been exactly stellar. But as the words "James Potter" came out of her mouth the headmaster gave her that familiar smile, the one that said subtly that that was what he expected all along. Sometimes she had a feeling nothing inside the school walls escaped him, not even a school girl crush. It was very unnerving. Very.
"Well, Miss Evans, I believe Mr. Potter will be pleasantly surprised." - Albus Dumbledore said and for the first time that day she recognized a happy twinkle in his blue eyes. "But we'll know soon enough. Minerva, would you please be so kind as to let him in?"
Once again she stared at the headmaster in shock as the professor opened the door silently. For a moment she doubted Dumbledore and thought it was a practical joke. She said his name and he was there: ta-da! What a trick! But then her eyes traveled to opened door and she met his gaze. Those eyes. Dear Lord, those golden hazel eyes. She wanted to smile and look away but in truth she was hypnotized and she couldn't take her eyes away from him. He wasn't wearing his robes anymore, just his white shirt, black slacks and tie. His sleeves were rolled up and his hair was mussed up as always and she wondered if he had always been that appealing. And when he smiled and sat beside her, her breath caught on her throat for unexplainable reasons and she suddenly wondered if picking him to work with had been the smartest choice. She held in a sigh when the headmaster started talking once again and tried to pretend she was indeed paying attention. Because she knew that her attention now just wouldn't settle on the old wizard.
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As he entered the rounded room, he shot his transfiguration teacher an inquiring look, but he wasn't surprised. He knew it took a lot to actually get something past their all-knowing headmaster. But when his eyes fell on the redhead sitting to his left he felt his heart beat just a little bit faster. He hadn't seen her all day. As Head Girl she had been helping organize the return home of some students, instructing prefects and basically running around the school trying to do a million things at once. And he loved her for it. He was proud of her for stepping up to the plate when she was needed, and even more so for doing it with kindness and grace. He smiled at her and took the seat the headmaster had motioned for him.
"Mr. Potter, we were just discussing some matters concerning you." - The Headmaster said and James lifted a surprised eyebrow. "But I do believe you have something you need to address as well, since it's a very rare occurrence to have you here at your own accord." - To this comment James tried to hide a smirk, as did everyone else in the room.
"Too true, sir." - James said in an amused tone of voice, making Lily wonder how he could be so at ease at a time like this. "I just came because we, I mean me and some other Gryffindor students, feel that we should do something concerning the events of this morning." - He paused and Lily noticed that McGonagall had a proud look on her face. "I think it's important we stand together and the others agree. Since tomorrow lots of people will go home or attend some of the services we devised a plan and we feel it would be best to set it in motion tonight." - James spoke with confidence and the redhead beside him couldn't help but smile and admire his easy confidence.
"I think it is a marvelous idea, James." - Dumbledore replied with a smile. "And before you can explain to us the exact details of your plan, I think we should talk about another pressing matter." - The old wizard paused gravely and received a nod from the hazel-eyed boy in agreement. "As you know, Amos had to leave, and at the time of his departure he chose to abdicate his Head Boy position." - The man's blue eyes were now staring sharply at the young wizard. "I know we have talked about this before, but I must say this time I am hoping for a different outcome."
"But Albus, what about...?" - James replied in a hushed tone and the Head Girl was absolutely stunned at the exchange that had just passed.
"I know James, but I think you are needed here more at the moment. And I'm sure Moody would agree," - Dumbledore paused and gave the other a meaningful look. "So, Mr. Potter, we, me, the Headmistress and the Head Girl, would like to offer you the Head Boy position. Do you accept it?"
James felt his breath caught in his throat. Since his father's death he had looked for a way to join the fight against Voldemort and finally at the end of last term he had found it. The Order of Phoenix. He and Sirius had sustained the murderous training Alastor Moody had designed for new recruits and he was eager to fight. So when previously Dumbledore had asked him if he would like to be Head Boy, he had talked to Moody and decided that he rather be available for missions. But now he was torn. He could feel the mood inside the school walls tumbling and as a Gryffindor it broke his heart. He loved that school, it was his home away from home. He looked at the beautiful girl beside him: she was looking back at him with expectant eyes. He felt himself smile slowly and she smiled back at him.
"Of course, sir." - He replied in a way that sounded as if there had never been any doubts whatsoever over his acceptance. "I'd be honoured."
"Excellent." - the Headmaster replied. "Then I believe it is important we discuss some things concerning your new position." - He paused and looked at the two women in the room. "I'll make sure Mr. Potter finds you when we're finished here."
Quickly Minerva McGonagall and Lily left the room leaving the two men to talk about James' new position and its responsibilities and duties.
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Lily walked down the corridor absorbed in her thoughts. She felt stupid for not being able to restrain her thoughts from him when there was so much going on that needed her attention but she couldn't help it. James was Head Boy now. They would be working together, planning together, practically living together. And still he was riddle she couldn't crack. From Dumbledore's words she had gathered that he had been asked to be Head Boy before but hadn't accepted and that was absolutely puzzling. On top of that he had addressed the Headmaster with a level of familiarity that was just unexpected. And what did Moody, the Head Auror, have to do with anything? Her head was spinning.
She wanted to ask a million questions, she wanted to grill him and know the answers she was sure she wouldn't get. Sometimes she felt he had an entire life she didn't know anything about. And she wanted to. She wanted to know everything about him, what made his lovely hazel eyes sparkle and what made his blood boil. She was a curious person, it was in her nature, but this was more than just curiosity. She wanted to know, but more than anything, she wanted him to tell her.
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As he looked at the powerful man's face he wondered why he had chosen him. He wondered why from the hundreds of boys inside the castle walls it had to be him. He wasn't sure he wanted that kind of responsibility. He had never even really considered it. He was a Marauder. And now he was a fighter. He didn't care about balls, prefects and decorations. But he wasn't stupid and he knew that this year there was more to it. He could see people turning to Lily and Diggory for support, but in the end one of them couldn't provide it. The hufflepuff boy had been broken himself. And now he was sitting there, listening to rules and duties, hoping that the man in front of him was right. That the best choice was the one he had just made.
"James, I believe you made the right choice." - Dumbledore said as if reading his thoughts and he instantly smiled for he knew that might have been exactly the case. "Hogwarts needs leaders now. And that you are."
"Thank you, sir." - He replied honestly.
"You can call me Albus, James. And also, on a personal note, I think you will form a brilliant team with Miss Evans." - He paused when he saw the Head Boy's lips twitch upwards. "One for the records, I'm sure."
"I've been saying that for years." - He replied with a smile and stood up. He heard the headmaster chuckle before he could open the door to leave.
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When she entered Gryffindor tower she was surprised to find a buzz of busy people, no longer the quiet sad mood she had seen before. She saw Sirius talking to some of the members of the quidditch team in the corner, his hands gesturing forcefully, and found Alice to be instructing some first years with Remus on the opposite side. She walked towards her best friend taking in the movement and trying to figure out what was going on. But then it hit her. James' plan. That was it. She reached the brunette's side and smiled as she heard her telling the young students to meet them at the precise time and that they would be paired with an older student to participate. She stood there quietly, understanding the beautiful plan her friends and he and his friends had come up with. It was perfect and she would never ever have come up with something so perfect. It took a degree of daringness and a creative mind to come up with something like that and again she wanted to pick through his brain.
When he entered the room maybe a half hour later she knew he was there before she even turned around. People stopped talking the minute the portrait hole opened and looked expectantly at the door. He paused gravely but then smiled widely and shouted "It's on people!". Cheers erupted and she was dazzled. The students mood had been completely altered. It was the most stunning feeling. People were still saddened but now they also felt empowered; like they were part of something bigger. Like they were doing their part.
She watched as he crossed the room to join his best friend. The impressively goodlooking mates talking quickly almost without needing words. She bit her lip when she saw him approach Marlene. The blonde girl looked at him with adoring eyes and he gave her a kind hug. She turned from the scene and began learning the spell Remus had pointed out to her. Was that pain in her stomach jealousy? She had never felt that before. She shook her head lightly repeating the words from the notes in front of her absently. Be strong, she repeated inside her head. Be strong. You are Lily Evans.
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With each step he took he said a little prayer inside his head. He hoped everything would go ok. He knew that at times like this people needed hope and that was exactly why they were doing it. Because hope is something much more reachable if you're not alone. Hope, as happiness, grows stronger when shared with others. And he wanted the school to hope. He wanted these people not to surrender to fear and terror. So he walked decidedly, each step he took resounding strongly through the stone beneath him, trying to convey to them some security. But inside his head he was praying. Just like everybody else.
He could see Remus and Peter talking quietly through the corner of his eye, the first one reassuring the second he would do alright. He didn't need to look, he knew Sirius was walking quietly beside him, in much the same way he was doing. And he knew she was right behind him. Walking in her poised manner. He could feel her radiant smile: its warmth enveloping him and giving him all the reassurance he needed. He reached the large oak doors and saw that the school staff was already outside waiting for them. He leaded them towards the pitch and sat down, waiting for the other houses to join them. Soon enough the quidditch pitch was filled with people from every house and Professor McGonagall nodded for him to stand up. He picked himself up slowly, and walked up to the front of the hundreds of students. He looked for her mesmerizing green eyes and silently told her to join him where he stood. As she reached his side in that calm stride, she smiled at him, the same smile he knew was there but hadn't been able to see before.
The headmistress made a small movement with her wand beside him and a wave of silence engulfed them all. The Head Girl looked at him and gave him a shy grin that meant "go on". He took one step foward and breathed in deeply. Here goes nothing.
"Today started with dread. With sadness. And fear." - James started in a loud tone, his husky voice carrying through the silence. "And we know it's normal and it's what's expected after what happened. But just because it started this way, doesn't mean it has to end the same way. If we stand together we can change things. Standing together here tonight we can cry on each other's shoulder and be sure someone else is there to catch us. No one inside this castle is alone. No one inside this castle has to surrender to fear. We are all here together and while we are together we can all hope. Let's make this night not about death, but about a celebration of those we loved. Let's make this night about beauty and hope." - He finished as people stared at him with admiration. He lifted his arm and said "up" and his broom zoomed into his grip.
All around people got to their feet and paired up, each pair holding a broom. When everyone was ready and set they looked at the man in the centre, beside him stood a third year boy with short curly hair. They looked at him waiting for the final word but it didn't come from his mouth, but from the redheaded girl beside him.
"To hope." - Lily's sing-song voice vibrated through the night air as her companion's feet pushed their broom off the ground.
"To hope." - Repeated many voices copying them and flying towards sky.
They were all high now, the soft breeze blowing whilst they reached the agreed formation. And then it was time. The teachers and older students reached out their hands and with an intricate movement said its matching enchantment. They watched in amazement as the flashes of light combined themselves into one silvery cloud high up. And soon enough the rain came down. It was warm, golden rain, beautiful and yet simple. It embraced everyone in a heavenly cry for those that had departed. And than he flew in right in the middle of them all; he plunged his broom in vertical dive and did a pirouette which caused his young partner to let out a cry of delight. And it was Sirius turn and then Alice's. And pretty soon, people were flying like there was no tomorrow. They let the warm storm wash away the feelings of sorrow and hugged, cried and laughed together. People swapped partners and managed to tell each other just how much they meant to them. It was a suiting homage.
And as he soared through the air with his cloathes soaked and his hair staying flatly against his head for the first time in his life, he couldn't help but smile. This time they won.