Hi Lily
Hi sweet pea, I hope you're alright, we miss you here so much! I must admit the owl was a bit of a surprise, but like you said it would bring the letter straight back. Sorry we haven't written back to you sooner but Petunia refused to have the bird anywhere near her.
I'm glad you're enjoying your school, from what you've told us it sounds like we made the right decision to send you there. But the house is awfully quiet without you around, but Petunia has been keeping us busy and your father's been very busy with work recently, I do miss baking our cakes, which I have enclosed for you.
Your granddad's been asking after you as well, he still can't believe you're a witch, he says it comes from the welsh side of the family but I still can't see it myself personally. Apart from that life here is pretty dull. I hope you're having more adventures than us sweetheart, and I hope you have this power thing more under your control. Plus I'm glad to hear that you're making some friends, I just hope you'll only open up at let them in. The boys don't worry about them, all boys are a little immature at that age so just try to get along with them, and you never know when they might come in handy.
So all that's left to say is carry on working hard and that we can' wait to have you home for Christmas. Which isn't long considering I'm only writing this in the middle of October! So take of yourself sweetheart and I'll be seeing you soon, your father and Petunia send their love to.
Love Mum.
Lily brushed the tears away from her eyes in the dark but relative comfort of her four poster bed. It had arrived at breakfast and she had only just managed to summon the strength to open it now. She gulped and wiped away more tears, she wanted to go home, to have her mum hug her, have her dad shout at her to turn her radio down. Her radio.
It hadn't worked since she came to Hogwarts, all she got was static from the transmission. She needed it to work so the world didn't feel so lonely anymore. But no one knew electronics, everything was lit by torches, and there were no books in the library on it. She looked back at the letter, her mother was right. It was only October now, she'd been at Hogwarts for an entire month. Lily felt that she had got through ok, she was top of the class in potions, about the only class, she was second or third in the rest because of one person.
Potter.
It seemed like he possessed some superhuman intellect. He would get high ninety's on his homework when all he seemed to do was muck about with his friends. It was so effortless to him. It annoyed her no end. She would spend hours raking through books and the library but he would seem to lounge about and it would all work out for him. It irritated her, but she knew that Potter was just one of those people who was good at anything he did. He just had that gift. He was training with the Quidditch team now, he was top of nearly every class, he was popular and charismatic, friends with everyone. Well, almost everyone. Not a day went past when Sev would comment on how he strutted along the corridors with a little fan club. Lily didn't see the harm, he wasn't hurting anyone, and always gave as good as he got. He only gave it to the Slytherin's. Mainly to Gibbs, but Dorcas had told her that there is bad blood between the two of them.
But the way Sev would go on and on about him made Lily's head hurt, it was as if the world had to revolve around Potter and his stupid hair, his arrogance, his constant pranks on them. It almost made her resent him, but he hadn't done anything to her so she tried to remain civil around him. He was a laugh from time to time, but he did do some stupid things that could get him hurt.
But it was his knack of getting better grades than her that really cheesed her off. She took little solace in the fact that she was better at him than potions, she wanted to be the best at it all.
Lily placed the letter in her bedside table and turned pillow over to the cool side. The clock read one and she groaned. Home sickness in a way was worse than actually being sick. Mainly because it was all in the mind. Lily didn't need to be home, Hogwarts had everything she needed. Security, safety, friends, companionship, food, a roof over her head, and yet somehow something was still missing. She sighed and nestled herself further into her duvet. Maybe tomorrow would bring something different.
The Marauders Proudly Present James Potter and Lily Evans In: The Marauders Year One
Chapter Fourteen
Letters Home
Written By Chambers10
Lily fiddled with the knob again but to no avail. Nothing, just static. She grunted in frustration which bought a couple of strange looks from the other people in the common room.
"Face it Lily, it won't work." Said Dorcas from her parchment. Lily sunk into the sofa and folded her arms. It's what she did when she was annoyed.
"Hey girls." Isabel and Jess sauntered over and sat down next to Dorcas.
"Still can't get it work?" Lily sighed and nodded.
"Can't get what to work?" Lily jumped as Potter rested his head on the sofa looking curiously at the radio.
"Lily's radio won't work, all she get is static." Potter hummed thoughtfully before jumping over the back of the sofa and next to Lily.
"Do you mind?" he asked pointing at the radio.
"Sure." Said Lily handing it over to James, she looked over at Dorcas.
"James is quite good with things like this." She said. James pulled out his wand and turned in his fingers before pointing it at the back of the radio. He muttered an incantation and the screws in the back started to screw out of their own. Potter gathered them out and pulled the back off. He placed the back on the table and inspected inside.
"Is this a muggle radio?" he asked looking at Lily.
"Uhm…yeah, my granddad got it for my birthday. Do you know what's wrong with it?"
He didn't answer and peered back in, he seemed to be running the wires through his fingers. Studying the circuitry with almost surgical precision. He hummed and leaned back and scratched his chin.
"Well, can you?" Lily asked hopefully.
"Maybe." Said Potter, he leaned in and ushered her to do the same. Lily leaned in to so she could peer inside as well.
"Things is about Hogwarts is that it's designed to scramble electrical equipment." Said Potter, "Hence why you only get static."
"Can you get wizarding radios?" asked Lily.
"Yeah, they have what's call An Electro-magical-pulse. E.M.P for short. It basically sends out a signal that coats the radio so it can work.
"So I would be able to listen to it?" said Lily.
"Yeah, but we have to attach one." said Potter.
"It that a problem?"
"Small one." said Potter, "But…I should be able to make you one." he said looking round, "Just need to find a couple of things first."
"What do we need?" asked Lily, clinging on to hope she might be able to listen to her radio. Potter ran a hand through his hair, making it more untidy than it had been.
"We need some wire, probably a coat hanger would do. A sponge, and some stuff from my room." He looked over at Lily.
"You get the coat hanger and a sponge and I'll go to my room real quick. Back in five?"
"Ok." Lily made off towards her room, while James went off towards his dorm.
"What just happened?" asked Isabel.
"Lily fell for Potter's charm." Said Dorcas shaking her head. "Or she just really loves that radio."
Lily almost tore a dress of her hanger and nearly broke her neck trying to get a sponge from the bathroom. Potter was already sat at the sofa with the radio with an assortment of small electrical things around him. He looked up and then went back to sorting out what he'd brought down.
"Will these do?" asked Lily holding up the sponge and hanger.
"There great." Said Potter. "Come on, sit down, I'm gonna need your help." Lily sat down excitedly and handed James the hanger. James pulled out his wand again, twirling it in his fingers. He muttered another charm which began to strip the hanger down so it was nearly the length of a wire.
"Ok, heat that up until its glowing red." Said Potter handing it to Lily. She started to heat it up as Potter attached a few instruments together. Lily noticed his brow frowning in concentration.
"So…what are you using to make this emp thing?" asked Lily.
"Well, it's a small mapping system my dad uses." Said Potter holding up a small black box. "It emits a signal that can map a certain area, but instead of emitting the mapping thing, it's going to emit the magic pulse which will make the radio work."
"You heated it up yet?" he asked without looking up.
"Uh…yeah." Said Lily carefully handing it over.
"Now wet the sponge please." Lily did as she was instructed; it looked like he was soldering a few things together inside her radio. He pulled his wand out and inspected his work before going back. He wetted his wand on the sponge and handed the hanger back to Lily.
"Is it nearly done?" asked Lily.
"Patience Evans." Said Potter with a slight smirk, his eyes narrowed but then he delved in deeper.
"Come on you…" He leaned back out and pointed hiss wand inside. "If this works you have act impressed." He said.
"Sitsonus." He said, he put his wand back and turned the radio back round. He turned it on, and as before there was static. Lily's heart fell. Potter on the other hand started to turn the knobs more until it crackled into life.
"Welcome to BBC radio one."
"Done." Said James placing the back on the radio. "There you go Evans. Have a nice night." James gathered his stuff together.
"Wait!" said Lily, Potter turned his head, raising his eyebrows questioningly.
"How? How did you do that?" asked Lily.
"Just did." Said James twirling his wand in his fingers before slipping it in his pocket.
"No, most kids our age can do things like that." Said Lily, "Where did you learn to do that?"
"Read about it." said Potter.
"About electronics?"
"Can't a guy have a pass time?"
"Electronics though, seriously? All I've seen round here are torches." Potter grinned.
"What if I told you that I could bake as well?" said Potter, Lily looked on confused as Potter laughed.
"I have a huge library at home." He explained, "My mum would make me read a book and then ask questions on it. Helps that I have an eidetic memory."
"That's why you know so much." Said Lily. He smirked again and stood up.
"Enjoy you're radio." He said, "Girls, always a pleasure." He walked away up the boy's staircase. Lily was now smiling un-controllably and tuned the radio to radio 2 and flopped down on the sofa.
"Told you he was good with stuff like that." Said Dorcas.
"It sounds like home." Said Lily gently. Her expression changed from one of happiness to longing. It still wasn't the same without her mum there to listen with her, or her granddad. She almost curled up into a ball as she listened to the dullest tones, Dorcas and Isabel tried to look understanding. But really, no one really knew, not really. Lily was happier than she had been in years, but it came with her darkest feelings and thoughts as well.
Hey Handsome!
Thank you for the letter, a huge shock coming from you since you almost always refuse to write! Maybe I'm the special case, hope I am or I'm going to stop teaching you those tricks I taught you.
And you took pictures as well. Who are you and what have you done with my James Potter! But no, seriously Hogwarts looks beautiful, and so do the…no, I'll refrain, might make you blush. (You're still so cute when you do that.) I'm sorry to hear about the Quidditch, they let the first years here try out, but they hardly ever made the side unless there stupidly good. But don't go doing anything stupid, and don't roll your eyes at me, you know I'm right. Just accept it and move on. It'll only a year till you can play anyway, and I know you'll ace it.
Speaking of which, I'm being inundated with letters from Herschel Gibbs. I know you and him don't see eye to eye so I've tried to give him the message that I'm not interested. But he doesn't take no for an answer, so I'm hoping you can do something from your end, nothing to malicious mind.
Things here are boring, as per usual, second year is the most pointless by far in terms of school work. But alas, I am on my Quidditch side, as a replacement seeker. So you'll have to catch up quite quickly.
I have some more photos enclosed for you, and hopefully you can send some more to, and that last request you put in there (I know it was you Sirius Black.) has been…granted. Enjoy the treat boys. I should hopefully be visiting again soon, but the offer still stands for you to come to California. You might have to put up with my cousin (Who's an annoying little shit now he's here to.) but you always seem to place him on edge whenever I mention your name. You must teach that trick to me.
Enjoy the photos, and speak soon Handsome.
Lots of love
Leanne.
James, Sirius and Remus where gathered round a photo James was holding. Each of them with a look of awe on their faces as the gaped at the photo in front of them.
"Damn James, you have her feeding out of the palm of your hand." Said Sirius.
"And she's a year older to." Said Remus, "How?"
"Just have the gift of the gab." Said James, "But California over the summer seems appealing."
"Well if she has a bikini like that she can go in, I'm there." Said Sirius.
"Yeah, like I would let you get near her." said James.
"She is pretty." Said Remus.
"Even more so in real life." Said James.
"How did you meet."
"Through her cousin." Said James, "Earl Fredrick's, me and Sirius would play…"
"Pranks?"
"Yeah, let's go with that, pranks." Continued James, "Anyway she came over a couple of summers ago and we really hit it off."
"Like a house on fire." Said Sirius, "I don't think I've ever seen your mum more mortified after what you and her did to the Fredrick's cat."
"Fun times." Said James. "Yeah, we just keep in touch, she's a right hoot."
"Maybe the three of us could do California in the summer if she can arrange it?" said Sirius.
"Can't see why not? Her folks would probably be ok with it." said James, "They were quite liberated when I met them."
"All things considered." Said Sirius.
"Just for that…" James took the photo away, "You can't look at it anymore." He placed it in his top draw. Sirius moaned and sulked away to his bed while Lupin went to his. Sirius was working on his potions while Lupin was working on the defence against the dark arts essay. James had his both works lying next to him completed while reading the letter from Leanne. He couldn't help but feel a little jealous of her being her Quidditch team, even if it was just a replacement.
"Can you do something, because you doing nothing is unnerving." Said Sirius.
"That's-"
"Correct." Said Lupin, "Just because it all doesn't come to us all naturally." James smirked and leaned back. He picked up another letter and began to read.
Dear James
Hello sweetheart, I can't believe it's already been a few months since you've gone away. But the house is very quiet since you've gone. But since I've gone back to the office I haven't noticed it so much until we get back from missions or days off. I know your father misses you to. He does cut a lonely figure watching catch of the day without you, and tinkering in your garage as well.
At the moment he's on a mission in the south, you'll like this since you're into your demonology and cryptozoology, he's hunting a man who is raising Infernius.
I thought that would keep you excited, I'm sure he'll tell you all about it when you come home for Christmas.
Enjoy the rest of your year and we can't wait to have you home. And ask Sirius and the rest of your friends to come over Boxing Day for a little get together, it'll be nice to meet your new friends.
Love Mum and Dad.
James smiled and put the letter on his bedside table and stretched on the bed. He looked over to the window on his right and saw little spattering of rain on his window. He turned over and looked at his friends.
"Do you fancy going for a walk?" he asked. Sirius raised an eyebrow.
"Not in this weather mate."
"Fine, suit yourself." James got up from his bed and walked out the dorm.
Sirius looked over at Remus who had raised his eyebrows. "He has this fascination about rain." Explained Sirius, "Every time he sees it he has to go out in it."
"Strange."
"His mum hates it." said Sirius. "And when we met I had to go out with him as well, now I hate it."
James walked through the common room and got to the portrait and tried to open it, only to find it locked.
"Hey, what gives?" he asked.
"Its past curfew Potter." James looked backed to see Alice walk towards him and rub his shoulder, "You can't go out unless you're a prefect you little daredevil." James wasn't listening; he was watching the arch to the portrait hole.
"No, there's always a way out." He said. Alice laughed.
"You haven't changed a bit." She said sweetly. "No trying to kill yourself ok, I almost had a heart attack when you and Sirius climbed to the top of the Bones Building, how high was that?"
"Six stories." Said James smiling at the memory. He then looked up to the dorms. "On second thoughts, I might get an early night. Night Alice." Before she could respond James was running up the stairs, he bypassed his dorm and went straight to the top of Gryffindor tower.
"Lumos." James lifted his wand to the see the top of the roof and he saw the hatch that went to the roof. James but his wand between his teeth and jumped. He caught the hatch and it opened up to reveal a ladder. James smiled and climbed up to the attic.
It was very dusty but James saw what he was looking for. An old window arch. James pulled the ladder up and walked over towards the arch and ran his hand over the stone. He nodded and pointed his wand at the stone.
"Bombarda!" the curse hit the stone and rebounded back at James so fast he nearly forgot to duck. The curse slammed into the wall opposite and whispered away. James stood up and ruffled his hair.
"Ok…" he said with a wicked grin. They certainly weren't about to make this easy. James walked again over to it and looked at the arch. Pretty simple concrete mixture. James ran his fingers along the connections of the brickwork.
James held his wand at the wall.
"Aquamenti Retracto." Nothing happened. James frowned.
"Aquamenti Retracto!" the connections then turned to dust and a ball of water manifested itself and the tip of his wand.
"AQUAMENTI!" The water smashed into the bricked up window and scattered the bricks outside on the spiral roof. The wind howled and blew against his face as he stepped out onto the top of the spiral.
"No way out, heh. Roparo." A lasso sprouted from the tip and James tied it to the guttering. He jumped over the side. James laughed as the wind whistled in his ears, when he was about half way down he pulled on his wand and the rope went taught. James then abseiled down to the ground.
James grimaced but made his way forward into the night. Not really knowing where he was going, but relishing the coldness against his skin now. He walked down the stone steps towards the forest and the whomping willow. He could just make out the branches thrashing in the darkness, with the taller trees in the background of the forest swaying as well.
James pulled out his wand. "Lumos maxima." The tip of his wand burst into life, lighting the way in front of him. He pulled away a branch and wandered into the wood.
His father had told him about a small clearing that was untraceable at Hogwarts. He had to go in by Hagrid's hut and walk till he came to the clearing. His Dad had told him this was where he used to go when he was angry or annoyed. Well, James was both now. After a while he found it. The wind howled as her entered.
He could see what his dad meant about it being nice and tranquil. He walked over to a log and sat down.
Lily was still curled up on the sofa, everyone else had gone to bed hours ago. She had stoked to fire and was staring down into the flames. Her homework was done in a neat pile on the table in front of her, the books from library there next to the piles of parchment, read and information absorbed.
She looked at her radio ad wondered whether she could get away with playing it at this time. Then again, maybe some would be averse to listening to it at three in the morning. It was getting worse. The insomnia. She hadn't slept properly in weeks, she just…needed to be home. To hear her parent's voices again, to be in her room, her living room, heck the cupboard under the stairs would be good enough.
She was drifting in and out of consciousness when the portrait hole opened. Lily looked up to see someone climb through. He stretched and his body clicked.
"Damn." He said, he looked down and inspected his shoulder. He sighed and shook his arm. He held his shoulder and walked into the common room. It was Potter. He was covered in mud, and cuts. His hair was more ruffled than usual and he looked windswept. But then again, looking outside.
"Potter?" he looked round and saw Lily sitting on the sofa. He didn't look shocked, he instead seemed to laugh slightly.
"Waiting up for me?" he asked with a glint of amusement in his eye. He rotated his shoulder till it clicked. "I never thought you the maternal type."
"Insomnia." Said Lily quickly, not really caring about why she was down her now, "What? No, where have you been?"
"Outside." Said Potter. As though it was the most obvious thing in the world. They were caught in a mini stare off. He raised his eyebrows, prodding her on.
"Ok…why?"
"Needed time to think." Said Potter. Lily shook her head disbelievingly and looked back outside.
"Think?" she said now crossing her arms across her chest. "In this weather." She half laughed. "Everyone's right, you are mad."
"The definition of mad is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."
"Albert Einstein." Said Lily Surprised. "How did you know that?"
"As I said. I read."
"It still doesn't explain why you were outside in a storm to think." Said Lily, maybe a little shrilly for her own liking, maybe a too little like petunia.
"You sound like my mum." Said Potter half laughing, "I was outside thinking because the rain gives me clarity."
"How does it give you clarity?" Potter shrugged his shoulders.
"It just does." Said Potter. "I've always liked the rain, it's how I make the big decisions in my life."
"Now," he said quite suddenly that I made Lily Jump. "I'm going to have a shower." He walked past her up towards the dorms.
"Anyway, is the radio still working?" Lily stuttered, she hadn't expected the conversation to take that sort of twist.
"Uhm…its great thanks." She said lightly.
"Pleasure." Said Potter, "See you tomorrow, I can't make any promises about the morning." Despite herself Lily smiled.
"Wait, Potter." He made a non-committal sound to show he was listening. "How did you get all those cuts and bruises." Something changed in his face, he looked over her. His eyes which always seemed so playful and kind now looked at her hard and calculating. Gauging whether she was trustworthy or not. His eyes suddenly reverted to their normal selves.
"Rough and tumble, Evans." He said now smiling. "Goodnight."
"Night." Said Lily. Potter disappeared up the stairs, she felt very isolated in the room and she yawned. She gathered her stuff and walked towards the staircase and listened to the shower. She smiled and made her way upstairs. She opened the door into her dorm. The other girls were asleep. Lily quietly made her way into her own bed.
"Lily?" Lily shot round to see Dorcas looking bleary eyed at her, "It's three in the morning, what are you doing?"
"Just needed the toilet." Lied Lily smiling. Dorcas mumbled and fell back into her bed. Lily climbed into her bed and looked at the rain lashing against the window.
"How does anyone think in that weather?"
Southern England
The graveyard had an eerily beautiful feel at night, alone with your thoughts it's really a rehearsal for death itself. Or so Alec thought anyway. He was walking through one such graveyard, where the tombstones where high and covered with mould.
The trees where tall and bare from the cold winter, but somehow bright in the full moon night. The chill was sufficient enough for Alec to wear his long black coat. His boots crunched the small twigs lying around the tombstones.
"A sorcerer who raises the dead who hangs about in a graveyard. How fitting." Said Alec. Low fog was now spreading along the floor. Alec stopped and looked over his shoulder.
"He's a newbie from what we can gather." Said Stanford parks from the other end of the line. "He's been raising Inferni from graves all over Southern England for a few weeks.
"No man has the power to raise the dead." Said Alec.
"The dead is a very loose phrase when it comes to Inferni." Said Parks. "They have no minds to speak off, and blindly follow orders to their death again."
"Good thing I bought Rebellion with me." Said Alec. He reached under his coat and pulled out a handle to a sword. It had a long handle with what looked like skull at the top with the opening for a blade coming from the top of skull.
"Shouldn't that be in the ministry archives." Asked Parks.
"It was given to me." Said Alec. "And now, it is serving its usefulness." Alec looked up and saw the church tower. It was built in the 14 century and had been disused for since the turn of the new. From the darkness of the fog, Alec could see a red light emanating from the bell tower. So that's where this guy was doing his thing.
"RAHHHHH!" Alec turned around quickly and saw an Inferni jumping through the air at him. Its teeth bared at him and arms out stretched ready to grab him.
Alec gripped the base of the sword handle and when he turned a blade erupted from the skull. As Alec fully turned the blade took off the Inferni's head. The head fell at his feet while the body flew over his head and smacked into a tombstone.
Alec got to his feet. The blade itself had now grown so it was as big as Alec, but it was still as light as a feather in Alec's hand.
"You ok Alec?" asked Parks.
"Fine." Said Alec, he twirled the sword in his fingers and then holstered it on his back. He kneeled down and inspected the body that had smashed the tombstone.
"It was a scout." Said Alec running his finger over the flesh. "He knows I'm here now." Alec sighed.
"Now the fun begins."
Alec stopped and checked his supplies, his guns were loaded, his was wand was at the ready and his belt full of trick pellets. He took one last look at the body and walked up towards the church.
Alec walked up to the big oak doors and slowly pushed them open. The door groaned and Alec walked in. His slow footsteps echoed on the stone floor, and he looked around at the dark shadows that climbed the wall like never ending tapestries. Alec looked up at the stain glass windows and looked at one where Jesus was preaching. He huffed and walked towards the bell tower at the back.
He past the altar and went towards the door that led up to the bell tower.
"AHHHHHHH!"
Alec gripped the sword and turned quickly, three Inferni where now in the middle of the church staring blankly at him. Alec gripped the sword and flew towards them. Before the Inferni could move Alec brought the sword back and slashed across one of them splitting him into two.
The other Inferni went to hit Alec. Alec blocked him with his arm and then swiped at him with the sword. It to split him in half and with the momentum Alec kicked the last one through one of the windows.
"More scouts." Said Alec. "He clearly wants a showdown."
"What makes you say that?"
"A whole graveyard to raise and he only sends four scouts after me, he knows he has to face me eventually."
"Maybe he's saving his best for that?"
"No, he's cocky." Said Alec, "He wants to do this in a blaze of glory." Alec holstered his sword and found the door that went up to the bell tower.
"Do you reckon there is a person out there that can raise the dead?" asked Parks. "For real."
"The only artefact I've heard that can do something like that is the resurrection stone." Said Alec.
"That's only a myth." Said Parks. "Along with the other deathly hallows."
"Yeah." Said Alec as he opened the door to the tower and looked up the dark spiral staircase. "A Myth." He looked up the stairs.
"But people around here wouldn't know the difference." Said Alec. "They think their zombies." Alec began to walk up the stairs. "But there not, they have don't have any conscious to speak off. There merely puppets to their risers bidding. There incredibly strong, and don't feel pain."
"No wonder Grindewald used them."
"But this sorcerer hasn't harnessed their full potential." Said Alec as he made his way further up the tower. "They hardly move or fight back. So he's a novice and very easy to take down."
"Not lulling you into a false sense of security."
"No." said Alec as he continued his ascent. "He hasn't figured out how to use them properly. Three Inferni should be enough to take out any man but they never fought back when I attacked them. So he has no idea how to really control them."
"So…he could just be an idiot enthusiastic." Said Parks. "But the amount of things these Inferni have stolen?"
"Muggles are stupid and thought the dead had risen." Said Alec as he neared the top. "Time to put junior in his place." Alec stopped outside the door that lead to the top of the bell tower and kicked it down.
"For that last time stop kicking the door down." The voice was young and irritated. Alec sighed, it was a bloody teenager. "You could just…"
The bell room was a large room with wooden flooring and two windows either side of the room that let in the moonlight. Hanging from the roof where a circle of six ropes that attached to the bell which was just seeable from the top of the roof.
The middle of the room was around ten Inferni with a boy that was leaning over something that Alec couldn't quite see, but it did have candles.
"…Knock." The teenager turned round and saw Alec and gulped. The Inferni turned slowly and groaned at his presence. He must have been sixteen; he was stall, a little thin and had brown hair, a little unkempt.
"Who are you, where are my Zombies?" he asked. Alec frowned.
"My name is Alec Potter." He said de-sheathing his sword. "And I'm here to stop you from raising more of these things."
"But, there mine." The teen said.
"Hardly." Said Alec pointing the sword at him.
"Wow, that's…That's Rebellion!" the teen said. Alec now looked at him curiously.
"How did you know that?" he asked.
"It is, isn't It." the teen said again. "Used by the legendary demon hunter Dante. Right."
"Yeah, you clearly know your demonology." Said Alec. "So, since you know what it is and what it can do, I suggest you send these things back to their graves before I have to use this."
"Why?" he asked in a cocky voice. "I've been doing this for months, and you've never been able to catch me."
"This is the first time someone's tried." Said Alec. "You are dealing with things you don't understand."
"I doubt it." he said. "You may have a relic demon sword but I can raise the dead. I can raise an army to take you down." He added cockily.
"Try it kid."
"Kid." The teen laughed. "Well, let's see you blush a pretty pink before I kick your arse! Attack!" He pointed his finger at Alec and the Inferni scuttled towards him. Alec twirled rebellion in his hand and then sprang forward. Alec pulled the sword back and swung it. He knocked five of them out of the way. The teen gasped in both shock and awe, Alec then pulled out a pistol from the holster and pointed at one coming towards him.
"Sempra!" The gun glowed before shooting a blade like light which severed the head from the Inferni.
Alec swivelled the blade and stabbed another Inferni, he turned and threw it off the blade and out one of the windows. Alec turned the pistol on another and the same blade shot out the gun and severed the Inferni's arm. Alec the turned and chopped its head off in a single movement.
With all the Inferni down, Alec turned on the kid who backing away from him.
"Uhm…Ok, listen maybe we can." Alec picked him up and slammed him against the wall, he then pulled back rebellion and stabbed him into the wall by the teen's jacket.
Alec walked over towards the candles to see what charm this kid had used the raise the Inferni in the first place. It looked like a face made from powder and bits of twigs, with what looked like a…
Alec turned round sharply and grabbed the kid and dragged him over to the creation.
"Where did you find this?" he asked.
"I…I…I don't know."
"Sure you do." Said Alec. "He threw the teen across the room and pulled out rebellion and pointed it at him.
"You have five seconds to tell me where this came from or I'm going to cut you in two. Five."
"Look man, I swear I don't know!"
"Four."
"Jesus man if I did wouldn't I tell you!"
"Losing my patience, three." Alec pulled the blade back to strike.
"Oh shit!"
"Two."
"A BOOK!" he screamed, "I FOUND IT IN A BOOK!" Alec brought the blade down. So it landed just next to the teen who had sweat pouring from him after the scare. Alec kneeled down in front of him.
"Show me." The teen scurried into his ruck sack and pulled out a dusty book and handed it to Alec.
"Where did you get this?" he asked flicking through the pages. Inside where all sorts of dark spells and magic, potions that turned people inside out, a spell that disembowelled your enemies, and one that people grow hunchbacks.
"I found it in my attic, ok." Said Teen panted. "I…I just tried the first one I thought I could do." Alec turned to the front and found it.
The Omega curse.
Alec saw the picture of a satanic star in the background, on top of that was a skull with a snake coming out of its mouth. The sign of Salazar Slytherin. Alec read through instructions, it was certainly something easy enough to make, all the ingredients where easy enough to find. Though how he got squirrel semen he didn't ask.
"Was there anything else with this book." asked Alec turning round. "A stick perhaps?"
"Yeah, urgh…" the teen routed through his pockets and pulled out what looked like half a wand. Alec took it from him and inspected it. It was certainly half a wand, made of elder wood if he guessed. But even half a wand couldn't raise the Inferni.
"You need to go home." Said Alec.
"What…why?" he asked.
"Because you have been playing with forces far beyond your control." Said Alec. He inspected the wand closer. "I think even I might be." He turned round.
"What's your name?"
"Thomas…Thomas Royce." He said.
"I have my eye on you Mr Royce." Said Alec. "And if you raise anymore Inferni, I shall know."
"Who the fuck are you?"
"That. You don't need to know." Said Alec snapping the book shut and placing the wand inside his inside coat pocket.
"Evans, payback." Lily looked up from her homework on defensive spells to see Potter and Black sit opposite her. Lily looked confused.
"Payback?" she said slowly. "I haven't done anything to you."
"You haven't done anything." Said Potter, "It's for fixing your radio." Lily went back to her work. "I'm not doing your homework for you." Said Lily.
"Humph, like I want to be second in the class."
Lily looked up at him with narrowed eyes. She slowly went back to her work.
"Smooth mate." Said Black rolling his eyes.
"No Evans, I need to borrow it." Lily flipped it off and leaned back into the sofa.
"Ok…why?" Lily asked.
"Catch of the day."
"I didn't know you fished."
"Quidditch, Evans." Said Potter sighing. "It's the Quidditch highlights." Lily stared to laugh.
"Am I missing the joke?" asked Potter turning to Black who just shrugged. Lily calmed herself down, but let out little bursts of laughter every so often.
"Evans."
"Sorry." Lily said laughing again, she sighed and was smiling uncontrollably. "You see, back home, the muggle football highlights are called match of the day." Lily shook her head laughing again.
"Yeah, I know I watch that to." Said Potter. Lily laughed to herself and shook her head and looked up.
"God Potter so you're so stupid." She said smiling and handing him the radio. "Here. Just return in when you're done."
"You want to listen with us?" asked Potter. Lily smiled politely and shook her head.
"I'm kinda busy." She said, "Maybe some other time."
"Suit yourself." Said Potter, "Come on Sirius, let's get Remus, some grub and listen." Lily smiled as they wandered off.
"You let him borrow your radio!"
"He did fix it for me." Said Lily shaking her head to move some stray hair.
"But its Potter." Said Severus.
"It doesn't matter Sev." Said Lily, "He returned it, not broken, not damaged in any way, shape or form." Lily and Severus where walking through the corridors.
"He's using you." Lily laughed.
"That is the stupidest thing I ever head. To what end."
"I don't know." Said Severus.
"See, he's just being friendly. He is with everyone." Said Lily. They walked outside into the chill of the late October day. Lily pulled her cloak around her and snuggled into the soft fabric.
"He's a conceited prick." Said Severus. Lily huffed.
"Maybe if you spent some time with him you might see he isn't all bad." Said Lily. Snape snorted dismissively.
"Saturday Night Evans, you know what that means." Lily faked an exasperated sigh and handed Potter the radio.
"Uhm…keep it there. I need to do some work." Potter placed some work on the table between them and flipped on the radio. He changed the station to a wizarding one that Lily had always thought was just static. When he got the strongest signal he began to do his work.
"You don't mind if I read here do you?" Potter looked up.
"You were here first." he said with a slight laugh, he went back to his work. "You can tell me to sod off it you like." Lily smiled and went back to her book. She was reading about different types of potions, she was fascinated about the make-up of different potions. Chemistry was always her favourite subject, one thing that seemed to remind her of home. She looked up and saw Potter. She had to laugh at him fighting a losing battle with his homework while the radio was going.
"Eyes front Potter." Said Lily going back to her book. James snapped out his trance and smiled weakly before going back to his work. Lily made some notes on this potion that had caught her eye and went back to her book.
They stayed that way for a while. Lily making notes while Potter fort with his attention between the radio and the work he was doing. Around eleven he switched the radio off and concentrated fully on his work. When Lily looked up next he was looking at her. She felt her cheeks go warm.
"What is it, Potter?" she asked.
"Nothing, I was just watching you research." He said in that playful tone he always used. "Just the way you would find something, go wow and make a note of it."
"Does it distract you?" asked Lily apprehensively.
"Me? No." said Potter, "I sometimes forget you're a muggle-born."
"You forget?"
"I mean you're smarter than most purebloods." Said Potter, "Just seeing you like this reading something I might consider ordinary and getting excited about it reminds me that you're muggle-born." Lily found a smile tugging at her lips.
"I like reading." She said, "Though the notes help me remember, I want to be the best witch ever."
"Good for you." Said Potter going back to his work.
"Though you seem to be in my way." She said faking annoyance.
"Jealous much?"
"No. I finally have some competition." She said. Potter looked up. "In my primary school I was smarter than anyone, it's nice to play catch up for once."
"I read about your schools." Said Potter, "Wish I went to one instead of that bloody finishing school." He said bitterly.
"What were wizards schools like?" asked Lily. HE thought for a moment.
"I had to go to a school where I was taught manners." Said Potter. "Boy did that backfire on them."
"What did you do?"
"What makes you think I did something?" he asked.
"Don't you usually." Replied Lily, he laughed and leaned back on the sofa he was sitting on.
"And what have I done to gain that reputation."
"Blowing up the Slytherin cake." Said Lily, "Then bewitching the school brooms when the Slytherin's had their flying lesson, and when you made Adam Rotherman's cauldron sprout legs and run away. And that's off the top of my head. Who knows what else you've got up to."
"Suppose I earned that." Said Potter, "Hey, First Quidditch match of the season on Saturday, you going?"
"Uhm, no." said Lily, "I don't really do sports."
"It doesn't matter, come on, house pride." Said Potter.
"I don't know." Said Lily, "Everyone else says I should."
"See, come on a big day out, plus there'll be a party afterwards."
"Really?"
"Usually is." Said Potter, "Let me guess, Dorcas asked you to go. She's into her Quidditch." Severus had asked her to go, but she said no because she didn't do sports.
"Uhm…yeah, she had, but I declined." Said Lily.
"Ah come on, go." Said Potter, "You'll really enjoy it."
"I don't know." She said hesitantly.
"Come on Evans, its Gryffindor – Slytherin. The best house match of them all, come on." Lily knew this was a fighting battle.
"I'll even take you and explain it to you." Said Potter.
"Well that's made up my mind." Potter's face lit up. "No." It dropped again.
"Oh Evans don't be a kill joy." Said Potter. "Come on, all the first years are going, we'll go have a good time."
"Argh, all right." She said in a genuine exasperated tone. "But just this once ok. Christ your persistent."
"Only for the things I want." Said Potter. "I have a question for you."
"Ask away."
"Well, it's one in the morning. Why aren't you in bed?" Lily looked around, sure enough the common room was empty and it was one in the morning. She looked back at Potter.
"I burn the candle at both ends." She said. Although it was really because she was missing home. Maybe he could help, he was resourceful, maybe he could find a way to get her to speak to home beyond a letter. Something about the look on his face told her that he knew she was lying.
"If you say so." He said, his eyes still scanning her.
"Look, I'm going to bed, see you tomorrow."
"Good night." She said, he smiled and made his way upstairs. Lily opened some parchment and began to write.
Dear Mum.
I know it's been a while since we've spoken, but I have been really busy with my school work recently. More so since we now know the basics, I can do so much more now than I was able to. I can transform a pencil into a teacup, and make this potion that can cure a common cold.
I didn't pursue the flying lessons in the end, turns out I don't have very good co-ordination on a broom at a few hundred feet. And for your information I have a very good circle of friends now, we do talk a lot and I'm getting to know them better, don't worry they getting to know me as well. We're all going to a Quidditch match on Saturday. It a wizarding sport that all the first years are going to. Even the boys as well, there's one who's training with our house team at the moment. He's really good at it apparently, but like football, I don't see the appeal.
I'll take some pictures and send them to you , maybe it's something dad might enjoy more than anything. Say hello to Granddad for me as well, I have enclosed some more pictures so you can show him and Tuney as well.
Lots of Love
Lily.