Days in Avalon

Chapter Forty-Seven: Don't Panic

Lily and Andy said nothing to each other the moment they got back to Hogwarts. As they walked into the Gryffindor common room, no one took any real notice to them. It wasn't until they reached the stairs to the girls' dormitory that they were stopped.

"Where have you two been?" Felicia asked. She and Kelly quickly came up behind them with concern looks on their faces.

"You missed dinner. What took you guys so long? And what happened to your clothes?" Kelly asked as she took in the dirt on Andy's face and on Lily's cloak.

"We went to Hogsmeade. Grabbed dinner there, and lost track of time. On the way back I fell down and ended up taking Lily with me," Andy said smoothly.

Lily was slightly impressed with her friend's ability to come up with a story spot on. Even she was starting to believe it were true rather than being chased by a werewolf that happened to be a classmate and friend.

"Are you okay?" both of them asked.

"Yes, we're fine," Lily chimed in. "But right now I think we both need a bath."

With that said Andy and Lily made their way up to the seventh year room. Once they were inside, Lily motioned for Andy to take the first shower since she was more injured. Lily quietly sat on the spare bed that she hardly slept in anymore since she was given the title of Head Girl. She tried with all her might not to replay the events that had occurred only about an hour or so ago. Luckily within a few minutes Andy stepped out of the bathroom dressed in an old grey Qudditch t-shirt and a pair of blue pajama pants.

Lily silently went into the bathroom, while Andy quickly swallowed two aspirin tablets from her secret bottle that she kept on hand whenever she felt to jittery to create a potion or tonic for pains and headaches. As Lily let the water warm up a bit, she peeled off her ruin clothes and slightly wondered whatever came of the dress she had gotten while in town. At that moment she rather dwell on that trivial item then face the fact that she and her best friend almost died at the hands of their dear friend Remus.

By the time Lily finished with her shower, she walked in to find Andy asleep in her bed. Thinking it wise to not go back downstairs, Lily followed suit and climbed into the bed that she hardly slept in since becoming Head Girl. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she was out like a light.

Andy silently drifted in and out of consciousness until she heard her friends come up from the common room and ready themselves for bed. Within an hour, Andy could hear the slight snoring coming from Felicia's bed and knew she was the only one awake. As silently as she could, she grabbed a hold of her robe and made her way back down to the common room to find that the embers were still glowing. It was nearly two in the morning and she was grateful that her fellow classmates had gone to bed to leave her alone.

She knew there was no real point in going back to bed since she continued to replay the night's events over and over. The sight of Remus in his werewolf form coming at her and Lily, the feeling of his paw grazing her backside, the sight of James and Sirius in their animagus forms coming in to help; all of it seemed like a dream, yet Andy knew it was all too real.

After years of pushing the limit and taking reckless risks, Andy was beginning to think her late-gran was right; she needed to start slowing down and enjoying life rather that throwing it away, especially the way the world was now.

Andy noticed that someone had left a newspaper on the table. When she picked it up, a slight chill ran down her spine when she read the bold headline, "FOUR MISSING PEOPLE FOUND DEAD! The work of You-Know-Who".

The fact that a person like Lord Voldemort was in the world was enough to scare anyone. But what truly scared Andy was the fact that anyone could be taken in an instant by his hand. So many people that she knew were now either missing, dead, or in leagues with that monster. She wished and prayed with every fiber of her being that nothing happened to her friends and family that would force them into this war. A war she knew that she might eventually have to play a hand in as the head of a powerful and very influential family that has the know reputation of not shying away from battle.

The sudden scraping noise from the main painting door brought Andy out of her thoughts. She saw two figures walk into the dimly lit room. The presence of someone in the common room caused James and Peter to stop in their tracks. Peter looked from James to Andy and thought it best to not say a word. Instead he placed the shopping bags he was holding on a nearby chair and quickly disappeared up the stairs.

James continued to stare at Andy trying to find the words to say, but he didn't know what to express: anger, concern, fear, all of which were coursing through his body. Finally it was Andy that ended the silence.

"Where's Black?" she asked.

"With Remus," James answered. "Lily?"

Andy nodded that she was fine. "She's asleep upstairs."

She watched as James let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. With Andy's words, James felt a large weight had been lifted off his shoulders knowing that Lily was safe and whole.

"Are you okay?" he asked as he tried to keep the anger at his friend from bubbling out.

Andy was silent for a moment before everything she had been keeping in was suddenly breaking free. "Not really," she answered with a shaky voice.

All of the anger James was holding back quickly disappeared as he saw his best friend begin to break down. He quickly wrapped her up in his arms and could feel her shake. Andy repeatedly kept apologizing to James for everything that had happen tonight.

"Shhhh. It's okay, Andy." James said gently as he continued to rub her back soothingly. After a few more minutes James could feel her begin to calm down, and guided her over toward the couch. He quickly pulled out his wand and re-lit the fire for some warmth.

Once Andy had gotten a hold of her-self again she began to speak. "I never saw him that close before."

James gave her a quizzical look before he realized what she was talking about. He nodded in understanding and allowed her to continue.

"I knew the lots of you were up to something and when I found out what that was exactly…"

James saw in the look in her eyes, and knew where this conversion was heading. "Andy, listen to me. It's all right."

"No it's not James," Andy pleaded as she shook her head. "This is dangerous, even by my standards! And that is saying something."

"Miranda, relax. We are completely safe. Plus we have fail safeties in place. We did not go into this situation lightly. Why do you think we spent so much time in the library back then? We have thought of every scenario, every possible hiccup that could happen," James said while looking her straight in the eye.

Andy knew that it would be nearly impossible to get through to her friend. She knew deep down that the four of them thought this through, and what James and Sirius had overlooked, Remus would have thought of it.

She gave a small sigh of defeat before meeting his hazel eyes once again. "Just promise me you'll stay safe."

"I will," said James. "Only if you promise to not fight Remus like that again."

"Deal," Andy said as she put out her hand in agreement. "I don't think I'll be willing to see his other side anytime soon."

Andy watched as James became lost in his own thoughts. "You have no idea how scared we were tonight," he said after a moment.

James felt her grab ahold of his hand and give it a tight squeeze. "I'm fine. So is Lily."

"How is she doing? I mean when you got back," said James in a small voice.

"She was fine; a bit shaken up, but no major injuries to report. I did spike her water glass with a sleeping potion. She should sleep soundly until morning."

James gave a sigh of relief as he watch her turn and gaze at the bags across the room.

"What are those?" Andy asked.

"We found your bags in the forest. What were you two doing in Hogsmeade?" James asked for a change in subject.

Andy shrugged slightly as she inspected the bags. When she came across the garment bag that held Lily's dress, she quickly pulled it up and inspected the bag. She noticed a small tear and prayed that the dress was not ruined. Once she got the dress into view she noticed a small tear in the seam, but other than that the dress was still sound.

"Dress shopping," she said with a sigh when she found James still watching her.

"Oh. Who's dress?" he asked.

"Lil's. Found it while browsing the stores," Andy said.

"It's not ruined…is it?" James asked uncertain of what else to say.

"If it was in anyone else's hand, it would be," Andy replied with a smirk.

James gave her a puzzled look. "I'll take that as the dress is not ruined."

"The dress is fine, Jay," Andy laughed. "Thank you for bringing our bags back to the castle."

"It was no trouble," James a little too casually. "Soo…does Lily have a date yet for the ball?"

Andy tried very hard not to giggle at her friend's question. After taking a calming breath she responded. "I'm not really sure. I don't think so. Why do you ask?"

"Just wondering is all," James replied as his cheeks turned a slight shade of pink.

"Are you thinking of asking her?" Andy asked after a moment of silence.

"I don't know," James said as he scratched the back of his head causing his hair to be even messier than before. "I mean…we are supposed to open this ball together. But…I don't know. Who knows? Maybe I'll ask some else."

James turned toward Andy and gave her a challenging look, daring her to say something to convince him to ask Lily. However Andy knew better than to take the bait.

"It's your choice Potter," Andy replied with her hands yielded. "No one said the two of you had to go together."

"Right," James replied with a nod. He looked at the clock in the common room and saw that it was now just after two thirty in the morning. "It's getting late. We should head off to bed."

"You're right," Andy agreed. She began to pack up the bags into her hands but before heading up the stairs she stole a quick glance at the door.

James on the other hand saw what her action. He softly placed a hand on her shoulder. "He'll be out there all night watching over Moony. He probably won't be back in the castle until dawn."

He watched as Andy's cheeks turned a bright shade of magenta before nodding her understanding. "Okay," she said softly.

Andy tried to make her way up the stairs but was stopped but James's hand on her shoulder once more.

"Look…Andy," he started. "I don't know what is going on with the two of you, but just know that…"

Andy waited a moment for his reply. "Know what James?"

James sighed heavily before he answered her question. "In all the years I've known him, I've never seen him like this before. He's my best friend, Miranda. Hell he's practically a brother to me. I'm asking you…please don't hurt him. I don't think he could take it."

Andy swallowed thickly at her friend's words. "I think it's time we headed off to bed now, Jay."

With that said she quickly turned on her heels and headed for the stairs. As she got about the third step she heard James's voice once more.

"Miranda."

She stopped in her tracks and turned back toward James. Seeing the solemn expression on his face was possibly scarier than the thoughts and feelings that threatened to bubble over and swarm her tired mind. Andy blinked slowly before answering his request. "All right, James."

The two friends then parted ways for the night.

As the bright morning sunlight shown through the window, Remus groaned loudly as he began to stir. For a moment he had forgotten he was in the dingy room of the Shrieking Shack that is until he began to stretch his limbs and felt a bolt of white hot pain that shot through his body. He winced slightly as he began to pull the blanket across him up his body. The softness of the blanket felt nice against his skin and for a moment he relished in its warmth.

'Waitasecond', Remus thought as he began to remember where he was exactly and the fact the blanket he was usually covered up in after his transformation was a bit scratchy not soft. It was then that he recognized the smell of hot coffee nearby.

Remus sat up quickly, regretting it a second later as he tried to get some bearing over what was going on.

"Good morning Rem," said a soft voice in the shadows. Remus turned to his right and was shocked upon seeing his morning visitor.

"L-lily?" Remus croaked as he watched her smile slowly while sitting on the floor a few feet away from him, under the high window. "W-what are you doing here?" he asked as he pulled the blanket over his torso more.

Lily sat there for a moment trying to find the right words to say. In all honesty she herself didn't know why she was there at all, but felt the need to see him when she had awoken a little more than an hour prior to arriving. "I figured you might need this," she said as she pushed over a dark bag toward Remus.

He curiously took the bag and found a large thermos in there. Upon opening it he caught the whiff of sage and old gym socks and nearly gaged at the aroma of the healing potion.

"It's for your injuries. Andy's private stash," Lily said as she to cringe at smell of the potion. She watched as Remus quickly drank the majority of the potion in one swig. Almost instantly she saw him looking much better as the color returned to his skin tone.

"Thank you," he said after a finishing the potion. A second later, he saw Lily's hand holding a small mug of coffee that she had brought with her as well. The warm liquid easily replaced the dreaded aftertaste of the healing potion.

The two of them sat in silence for a moment before Remus had to ask her once more. "Lily…why are you here?"

"You don't remember…do you?" Lily asked him. "About last night I mean."

Remus looked at her puzzled until flashes from the previous night came back in fragmented pieces. Visions of Lily and Andy walking down a path to the Shack. Both of them running away from him while flashes of light pass by him. Hearing Lily's screams. Hearing Andy's yells as she jumped out of his way quickly. See both girls frighten of him before being hit hard by someone.

"Oh shit," Remus whispered as he hung his head. He ran both hands through his hair as the revelation of what he almost did last night hit him like a ton of boulders. "I…I did it again…I almost…"

Lily could see his internal battle and saw the panic attack begin to rise in him. She quickly scooted over to his side and placed a calming hand on his bare shoulder. "You didn't." she said simply making him look at her face. "You didn't. Both Andy and I are fine."

Remus gulped down air into his lungs and tried to calm his racing heartbeat. For a moment he wondered where Sirius was since he remembered seeing him in his dog form last night before he blacked out again from exhaustion.

"What is it?" Lily asked seeing the look on his face.

"Are we alone?" Remus asked in a slightly weak tone.

Lily looked at his puzzled before answering "Yes".

"There is no one else here?" he asked. "Andy?"

"No, she's is back at the castle. There is no one here but us. When I got here I found you on the floor near that old wool blanket," Lily said. "Why do you ask? Where you expecting someone?"

Remus took another swig from his mug before answering. "Sometimes Madam Pomfrey will come out to check on me. I didn't know if she was here or not."

"I guess this is not one of those times. It is just the two of us," Lily said softly. Remus watched her for a moment before she started speaking once more.

"Remus I'm not here to degrade you or anything like that. I just wanted to make sure that you were all right."

"Really?" Remus inquired.

"Yes. I'm your friend Remus, no matter what," Lily said with a small smile. Her smile was infectious for soon Remus was smiling as well as the two friends chatted before heading back to school for morning classes.

Lily quickly rushed into Transfiguration knowing she was the last person to arrive. Professor McGonagall simply glared at Lily for her interruption for a moment before continuing on with her lesson. She took a seat next to Karen and quickly scanned the room to see where everyone else was. Normally Felicia and Andy would be at the table next to them, but today Lily only found Felicia doodling on her note pad.

She glanced around the room until she caught sight of Andy's blonde hair sitting in the back of class next to James.

"Where's Black"? Lily mouthed to Karen.

She shrugged quickly before responding, "Don't know. Andy walked in with Potter and sat with him."

Lily nodded in response while taking down a few notes of what Professor McGonagall was writing on the blackboard.

"I also heard that the two of them were up talking late last night," Karen whispered.

Something deep inside Lily did not sit well with her upon hearing this news. "Where did you hear this?" she asked

"This morning at breakfast. Some second year claims that she heard them when went looking for her sick cat. And supposedly saw them snogging in the dark," Karen said comically. Lily on the other hand stayed quite for a moment.

"What happened last night with the both of you?" Karen asked curiously.

"Nothing. Andy just fell and took me down with her," Lily said plainly before turning back to McGonagall's lecture.

"Right."

Lily could not stop thinking about what Karen had said about the second year's claim. 'Sawthemsnogginginthedark'. Could they really be back together again? No. That can't be true. Not after what Andy had told her last night at the pub. Then why would they be together like that talking late into the night?

Before she knew it, the bell had rung dismissing class. By the time Lily looked over at the table Andy had been sitting at she only found James there packing up his books into his bag. Feeling compelled to talk to him, Lily made a beeline for the door to catch him.

"Hi James," she said a little too brightly.

James was slightly taken back by her sudden appearance but welcomed it none the less. "Hi Lily. How are you this morning? I heard about your tumble."

"Oh, I'm fine. Nothing major broken. Um…where did Andy go?" she asked in what she hoped was a casual tone.

"I don't really know. She bolted out of class before I could ask her. Though knowing her she's probably letting the other team members know about when the next practice will be," James replied.

"Practice? Oh…right Qudditch season," Lily said. 'Thatmusthavebeenwhattheyweretalkingaboutlastnight.' Lily remembered a number of times walking in on Andy and James in the middle of the common room acting out plays that they could use to show during practices.

"Right," James said a little confused at Lily's reaction. "So…are you heading off to Herbology?"

"I am. You?" she asked a bit awkwardly knowing full well that he did.

"Yes. Can I walk with you to class?" he asked a bit shyly, which Lily found very sweet at that particular moment.

"Sure. I'd like that a lot," she replied with a grin. It was then that Lily noticed the wrapping around James's arm when he adjusted his bag.

"What happened to your arm?" she asked out of concern.

"Hmm? Oh, that? Nothing to worry about. Just snagged my arm on a branch while practicing last night. The guys and I spent hours trying to find that damn snitch," James said smoothly. Of course at that moment his mind wandered back to the events of last night and seeing Lily on the ground with a werewolf coming toward her. The fear that he felt right at that moment was almost crippling.

"Did you ever get it?" Lily asked as she saw him lost in his own thoughts.

James blinked back into reality and acted as if he had not spaced out for a moment. "Yes we did. Just out of curiosity, why where you and Andy in Hogsmeade last night?"

"Supply shopping for the ball," Lily said simply. "And then Andy insisted on getting this dress for the ball."

"Wait, Andy is wearing an off the rack dress? Is she trying to kill her mother?" James said with a raised eyebrow.

Lily laughed at his reply in knowing Andy's family so well. "No. The dress was actually for me."

"Oh," James said simply. Lily waited a moment for him to bring up something about the ball and whether or not they should go together but he remained silent. Instead she decided to take measures into her own hands.

"So…about the ball…" Lily started.

"Hey Lily!" yelled someone up ahead of them. The two of them saw a tall dark blond haired Fifth year boy running toward them. It was Andy's younger brother Jason.

"Jason?" Lily asked as she saw the worried look on his face.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" he said a bit out of breath. "Hi Potter."

"Hey Jason. I'll let you two talk. I'll see you in class, Lily," James said before heading down the hall that led to the greenhouses.

"What's wrong Jason?" Lily asked.

"Have you seen my sister lately?" Jason asked sheepishly. He realized his actions were causing a false alarm and tried to apologize for them. "She's not in the greenhouses and I know she has Herbology this hour."

"No sorry. I haven't seen her since last period. Is something wrong?" Lily asked.

"No. I just have a free period now and I wanted to talk to her. I haven't seen her much since school started. It's almost as if she's avoiding me."

Lily pulled him toward a window so that they were out of the flow of student traffic and could have a bit more privacy. "She's not avoiding you Jason. She's just been busy. You know how she can get."

"Right. Just like dad. The two of them are too much alike," Jason said darkly.

"So I've heard," Lily said with a laugh to try to lighten the mood.

She could see that the young boy before her was having a difficult time with everything that had happened to his family. The first time she had met Jason, he was a bright energetic eleven year old, ready to take on the world. Now at the age of fifteen he seemed to have lost some of his spark. But who could really blame him. In just a few short years he had endured his parent's divorce and now a feud between his father and sister, it's a wonder he hasn't acted out like Andy had a few years ago.

"This past summer I take it wasn't so great for either one of you? Was it?" Lily asked.

"Not really," Jason snorted. "Dad wasn't home much since Andy left that night. Hell I don't even think he opened his presents yet. They're probably still sitting on the side table in the dining room back home."

"Presents?" Lily asked.

"My dad's birthday presents. We were going to have him open them after dinner, but that didn't happen. Instead the war happened," Jason said sarcastically.

Lily stayed quiet for a moment as she remembered when Andy had joined her family back in the middle of August.

"Your father's birthday is in July, right?" Lily asked.

"Yeah, first part. Why? What's wrong?" Jason asked seeing Lily's face going blank for a moment.

"Nothing. Never mind. I'll let Andy know you are looking for her when I see her," Lily said with a comforting smile.

"Thanks Lily. I'll let you get to class now. Bye."

With that Jason took off down the hall, leaving a slightly confused Lily standing in the now half empty hall, wondering why her best friend had lied to her for months and wondering where she could have been for nearly three weeks during the summer holiday.