Be Here Now
Disclaimer: Oh, how I wish I had the brilliant idea of the amazing world of Harry Potter.
A/N: I've been on a streak! I hope to update every day, but once I get back into the swing of things, I doubt I'll be able to. We've just finished state standardized testing part 1, so my teachers have been going easy on us, but they'll start piling again soon. :/
Neogirl31: First, I just want to say thank you for being one of my most consistent reviewers, if not my MOST consistent. I really appreciate it! Yes, I do too. There's nothing as hurtful as seeing your parents torn apart…
Eclare LJ and Percabeeth: Thank you SO much! It means a lot to me! And it is very touching to hear you say that it is the best LJ story going right now… and there are a lot! I literally felt my heart swell at that, lol! I'm sorry if I cause you to break your computer screen. :'( Maybe I'll buy you a new one. ;) I would too, but Lily is Lily, and she takes her position very seriously. :D Thank you and I hope you enjoy this chapter too!
dracosnapeslytherin: Thank you, thank you, thank you! We'll see… ;)
Princesschloe72: And thank you isn't enough to express my gratitude. :D
And without further ado… CHAPTER EIGHT!
x.o.x.o.x.
The next morning, Lily awakens to the sound of Hilary's angry voice drifting from the Head Common Room up to her dorm. Groaning lightly, she steps onto the lavender carpet, waving her wand lazily to dress herself. Grabbing her bag from a lone wooden chair, she walks down the stairs, wand in front of her.
"What in the name of bloody Merlin is going on here?" she exclaims.
James and Hilary are engaged a full-out fight, screaming at each other.
"What do you mean, I betrayed you?" James cries angrily.
"Are you honestly that daft, Potter?" Hilary asks incredulously. "Accio treaty!"
Lily watches in amazement as a piece of parchment zooms into the room into Hilary's outstretched hand. She thrusts it at her brother, and Lily reads it discreetly.
We, James and Hilary Potter, hereby agree to stand by each other's side until death, no matter the circumstances. Significant others will never be more important than each other, unless the other tells you that it is alright. Our motto forever and ever will be: Blood is thicker than water, and as twins, we have even thicker blood. We will forever be by each other's sides like true twins should be.
Lily takes a step back, eyes filling. She and Petunia had made almost the exact same pact when Lily was five years old. Days after she received her Hogwarts letter, Petunia burned the paper in front of Lily's eyes.
"Hilary, we wrote that nearly eight years ago," James protests.
"We signed it forever," Hilary spits. "But apparently 'forever' means nothing to you!"
James glares at her.
Lily finally speaks. "Cherish your close relationship, because it hurts to be betrayed by your own sibling. It hurts more than anything in the whole world. Your heart could get broken time after time, but to be betrayed by a sibling, especially one you have been close to, is terrible. Be grateful for the kind of relationship you have." With that, she turns on her heel and walks away, aiming to find Marlene and Alice.
x.o.x.o.x.
"Lily, you really should tell the Marauders," Marlene urges that evening as they sit in front of the Head Common Room fire.
Lily hesitates. "I…"
"Marlene's right. At least, tell Sirius and Remus," Alice backs up Marlene's urgency.
"Don't tell the piece of worthless crap," Hilary advises, referring to her twin brother.
"Hilary, it isn't good or healthy to view your twin that way," Marlene admonishes lightly, glancing at her.
"He apparently views me that way," Hilary retorts venomously.
Lily stops the conversation before Hilary can go off into a rant as she had so many times before. "Fine. I'll tell Sirius and Remus, but only Sirius and Remus," she concedes.
"When?" Alice questions.
Lily purses her lips slightly. "Tomorrow."
"Today!" argues Marlene.
"Don't push your luck, Marlene," warns Lily.
"Rip the Band-Aid off quickly, Lils; get it over with quickly," Alice offers.
Hilary stays oddly silent during the advice.
"Hilary?" Lily ventures.
Hilary's eyes snap to Lily's.
"What's your take?"
Hilary stares at the ceiling. She sighs. "It's your secret. You can tell them if you want."
Lily mulls this over. "If you tell them, Marl, I will too."
Marlene glares at Lily. "Such a blackmailer, Lily."
"Not exactly," Alice points out, eyes laughing.
The girls burst into laughter, relishing the moment of just being alone.
"Fine. How about now, though?" Marlene consents after a bit of thought.
Lily sighs. "Very well."
The two boys are called in and arrive promptly, slightly worried.
"Is something wrong?" Sirius asks concernedly, sitting down next to Hilary, who manages a slight smile directed at him.
Lily bites her lip lightly. "Not exactly," she replies slowly.
"Lily and I just wanted to tell you guys about… our problems because in a friendship, we feel that no secrets should be kept," Marlene continues.
Lily holds up a hand. Standing, she withdraws her wand and mutters several spells, sealing the portrait and performing more than a few silencing spells on the common room. She nods at Marlene. "Going first?"
Marlene licks her lips. "Alright," she agrees.
"You're worrying us, Marlene! Tell us already!" presses Remus.
"Calm your hippogriffs," Marlene cries. "I- Well, my father had quite the longtime affair with a secretary of his. They have five children together, including two daughters and three sons. Mum just found out, and they are separating for a bit, though divorce isn't definite. Mum is heartbroken, and Stacey is worried about her mental health. My family's basically been torn apart," she finishes.
Sirius and Remus gape at her.
"I'm sorry," Remus says finally, softly.
Marlene tosses him a small smile.
"I understand, Marlene. If you ever, and I mean ever, need to talk, I'm here. I'm kind of torn from my family as well," offers Sirius kindly.
Marlene grins at him. "Thank you, Sirius," she whispers.
"Lily?" Alice prompts.
Lily sighs. "M-My parents died in fourth year," she says quietly. "My sister, Petunia, basically disowned me afterward, blaming me. Voldemort killed her. Since then, my home is an alley."
Sirius gets up now and hugs Lily tightly. Remus simply stares at her. "That's why Dumbledore never contacted your parents," he realizes.
Lily nods slowly.
"That's terrible, Lily," Remus sighs.
"Hilary," Alice persists.
Hilary glares at her. "My secret wasn't in the bargain!" she argues.
"Tell," urges Lily.
"Fine," sighs Hilary, relenting just because she knew her friends weren't going to cave. "In Wizarding primary school, Naomi Riley and I were the best of friends. We stayed that way until the year we turned ten. She turned into a right bitch, she did. Backstabbing me, spreading outrageous rumors about me, and saying how I was a disgrace to pureblood families. During that time, the only person I could ever go to was James. Mum and Dad doted on Naomi because Mr. and Mrs. Riley were their best friends. After the truth was told, though, they fell out with Mr. and Mrs. Riley, and even Naomi. James was my best friend during that time; acting the way all of you act toward me ever since first year."
Sirius's grey eyes are stormy. "And he betrayed you? He chose Maya's side over yours?"
Hilary nods mutely.
"That… That scum! How dare he?" explodes Sirius.
"I've been wondering that as well, Sirius," Hilary whispers.
"Hils, Lils, Marl, we're here for you. And you too, Alice, should you need anything," Remus assures them kindly.
"Thank you," the four girls say in unison.
Remus smiles sadly. "It's the least I could do. Compared to what you're doing for me, it is nothing."
x.o.x.o.x.
Mr. Potter and Miss Evans-
Would you do me the honor of visiting me in my office this evening at eight o'clock? I do hope your classes are going well; as well as your personal activities.
Albus Dumbledore
P.S. I quite enjoy the Muggle sweet Hershey Kisses.
Lily finishes the letter and chucks it at James's head hard.
James grabs it out of the air just in time, pulling away from Maya. "What was that for, Evans?" he snaps, all good thoughts evaporated as he had had to separate from his girlfriend.
Lily rolls her eyes. "With your mood swings, I would have guessed you were pregnant… or on your time of month," she sneers. "That was for you to actually read it." With that, she leaves the common room, intending to find her friends.
x.o.x.o.x.
"Hershey's Kisses," Lily says softly to the gargoyle. It springs aside, and she steps onto the moving staircase. Lifting a hand, she knocks several times on the door.
"Come in," the headmaster calls.
Lily twists the brown knob and enters the office for neither the first nor last time. "Good evening, Professor," she greets the kind old headmaster.
Dumbledore smiles at the young witch. "Good evening, Miss Evans. Where is Mr. Potter?"
"Probably with his girlfriend," Lily informs him with a hint of bitterness that even she misses.
Dumbledore, however, notices it with a sense of curiosity. "Did he not receive my note?"
"Oh, he did, Professor. I made sure of that. Whether or not he read it, however, I have no clue."
Dumbledore nods briskly. "Good. We shall wait a few minutes."
A few minutes were not needed, because no more than a minute later, the two hear James Potter shouting at the gargoyle.
Dumbledore chuckles lightly. "Quite the charmer, isn't Mr. Potter? Why don't you go down and inform him of the password, Miss Evans? I have no doubt you will do a sufficient job," he remarks, eyes twinkling.
Lily smiles at the headmaster and jumps off her chair, stepping back onto the moving staircase.
"Oi, Evans! Good! This blasted gargoyle won't let me through!" an enraged James cries.
"Perhaps you didn't give the correct password," Lily guesses smoothly.
"Chocolate frogs!" James yells.
"Keep it down, Potter! We don't want students to know the password! The real password is Hershey's Kisses, Potter. Didn't you read the postscript?"
"Of what?" James queries, though not unkindly, as he steps next to Lily on the spiraling staircase.
"The parchment I chucked at your head earlier!" exclaims Lily.
"Oh." James looks sheepish. "I didn't actually read it," he admits.
"What? Why did you come, then?" Lily asks.
"Well…" James scratches the back of his neck. "I had a problem," he says finally.
Lily looks at him suspiciously, but ignores it and walks into the office.
"Ah, wonderful! You have arrived, Mr. Potter!" Dumbledore exclaims. "We can begin."
"My apologies, Professor," James apologizes quickly.
"No worries," Dumbledore waves it off. "I have some news." Seeing the Head Boy and Girl's alarmed looks, he chuckles. "Good news," he specifies.
x.o.x.o.x.
A/N: I feel like I portrayed Dumbledore terribly. Oh well. I hope you enjoyed that chapter. As always, reviews are appreciated. Until chapter nine…
~TrueLoveis4ever