Author's Note: This chapter was a bit altered so go start again from the first chapter! Thank you. >.<
Chapter 2
The teaspoon was already scraping at the bottom of the delicate china teacup, making a tinny sound irritating to the ear.
As if she wasn't irritated by now.
Lily was not blessed with having eyes at the back of her head but this she knew very well. Her coworkers were whispering furiously at one another. No need for extra eyes or ears to sense also that she was the one they were talking about. You could positively hear them a mile away.
She took a sip of the tea that was already only lukewarm after her vigorous stirring. It didn't have its usual effect of soothing her. It only made her edgier. The reason was attempting to seat herself right in front of Lily.
To think that it was her lunch break, the only time in her whole work hours where she could at least rest and relax a bit after taking care of patients all morning. Being a Healer was not wholly her idea of fun.
Lily forced herself to place the teacup gently down on the saucer and not bang it down the table and smile at the 'reason'. It was just as pleasant as being forced to smell a rotten egg.
'So,' she started, the corner of her mouth twitching at her effort, 'May I ask why are you sitting in front of me all of the sudden?' Lily's eyes were throwing daggers at the woman directly opposite her, no less than Kaye Summers a.k.a. Miss Can't-Zip-It who was unfortunately, another Healer in St. Mungo's as she was so she had no other choice but to tolerate her, highly nerve-fraying and everything.
The other woman smiled sweetly at her but by no means hiding the great desire to twist the words she hears into stories so grotesque but not unreal enough to believe in. 'Don't be such a sore tush, darling,' Summers giggled in an annoying high-pitched sound not much different from a rich widow's poodle whining. In her opinion, calling everyone with terms of endearment would make you seem closer to them although you are really not.
Closer? Lily thought. That's a load of bloody crap. 'OK. I won't be. So why are you in front of me?' she snapped coolly.
The curving smile slid up Summers' face more and probed Lily's own. 'Oooh…so tart today, darling. Is that a product of something, hm? Maybe a fight?' she edged nearer to Lily. 'Or a third wheel in your love life? Come on, dear. There's nothing to be ashamed of. You can tell me!'
Lily could feel every single cell in her brain telling, commanding her hand in piercing screams to hit that bitch of a Summers, even if it would end up in her books.
Thankfully enough, the intruder had sensed Lily's intense displeasure. Giving up, Summers leaned back into her own chair with a huff.
'Boy, you got some real problem there girl. Don't be so uptight. Every single one of us know about you and your yummy boy-toy. I don't know why you're being so close upon the subject of your own love l-'
Lily's teeth were grinding so hard that if she would put on more force upon it, the enamel would come off. Through these, she hissed back in a sharp mutter. 'James is not my boyfriend or as you say it, boy-toy. Summers, I am asking you politely now to please stay out of that subject and leave me in peace.'
The older woman's eyes widened in disbelief in hearing the first statement and ignored the more important latter part of what Lily said. 'Is NOT!!! Come on! Darling, how can you deny that? Don't you know how almost everyone of us girls are so green with envy because of that fantasy love of yours that we could claw your eyes out!'
'You really don't understand, Summers, do you?
'Oh my god, that scene you and James made in the Longbottoms' wedding in the dance, you were like the sweetest things on earth that you looked like as if it came from a best-selling romance novel! You were dancing like you've been dancing that way since the beginning of time and you are the only existing pair in the whole world. If I knew any better, you both can't hardly wait to rip your clothes off and-'
'why won't you SHUT UP!!!'
The anguished words came out of Lily before she could do anything to stop it. And to her horror, she felt two hot drops escape behind her eyes. Without another word, she stormed off, upsetting her chair and leaving the dumbfounded woman in her wake. She didn't care if anyone or rather, everyone was staring at her.
Why of, all people, would it have to be Summers to tell her how sweet she and James were that night? Why would Summers have to her tell in that particular way that both of them looked as if they were meant to be together when they were…when they were…
Lily slammed the hospital washroom's door and locked it severely before collapsing on her feet.
…when they were not…
Lily didn't know how much time she spent there, crouched on the cold tile floor and waiting until she felt less worse. She only decided that it would be time to go out when she realized that her tailbone was already killing her and her rear had a temperature alike the floor.
She shouldn't be thinking of James. She shouldn't be thinking of the two of them. She shouldn't think at all.
Therefore, she had to come up with ways to divert herself.
The idea of getting drunk first entered her mind. But she was at least not that muddle-headed to do that, so she came up with another decision: binge on sweets. Yes, sweets and bingeing. That meant a big serving of ice cream, with warm, home-made, soft batch, chocolate deluxe cookies. Comfort food of the desperate and depressed.
To hell with it if she'll feel worse after the sugar-rush had died down. But so what? She needed as much comfort as she can. Right here. Right now.
The door behind her suddenly made a sound, making Lily jump. And when she remembered that doors didn't usually do that, she hit her head soundly. It was a knock and nothing more, she told herself.
If it was Summers again, she had no other choice but gut her alive. The thought of it made Lily smile for the first time that day.
She undid the locking charms and swung the door open, ready to face the bitch.
What she didn't expect was this.
'Is that you, Miss Evans, inside?' a pair of critical eyes ran over her features and, seeing the puffy eyes, smiled brightly. 'Yep, it's you, all right.'
It took a long time before the face registered into her brain. The sugar would definitely have to wait a long time. Before her stood the Minister of Magic.
'Minister?' her voice squeaked in her surprise. But what was even more surprising was the reaction.
'Oh bloody crap. Not the Minister.' The man muttered under his breath and cleared his throat. 'Actually, I am not. I just do look like the Minister, but I assure you dear I am not.' He smile congenially at her.
For a while, she was confused on what to do. Should she be happy that there was a stranger speaking to her while she was still in shambles or should she be fluttering around him since she was sure he was the minister although he claimed he wasn't.
Realizing she was dumbfounded, he spoke up: 'Well, Miss Evans. Don't you find it so uncomfortable talking like this?' He gestured at her, standing still inside the women's wash room.
Really stupid of you, Lily. 'Oh yes, yes. I'm sorry, sir.' She rapidly recovered and walked out of the tiled room to face the stranger-slash-minister. 'Why is it that you are here to talk to me, sir? Is there anything I can do for the Ministry?' she ventured to ask.
A small mouth opened in a perfect circle before shutting again, as if changing his mind about speaking up. 'It is like this-and would you stop calling me sir! It's bloody irritating. I said I am not the Minister!' his voice grated. 'I'm going to kill that little-'
'Pardon, sir? I mean, pardon, mister?'
'No, nothing.' He waved his hands frantically before producing a wrinkled, white hanky to wipe the perspiration beading his forehead. 'Geez, this is hard.' A cough before he continued.
'Very well. Miss Evans, there is a matter of great importance and discretion I have to discuss with you today.'
'Anything, sir.'
'No, sirs! Hrm… anyway, as I was saying, matter of importance and discretion. I hope I could trust you with this? With your loyalty to the Ministry and your life?'
A nod from Lily.
'Good. There is a man admitted in St. Mungo's, this hospital, a bit earlier today. And I want you to keep close guard on him. There should be no one to come close to him other than you and the other staff members. No contact from the outside, gifts or so. And I expect a daily report about him or if ever he would say something coherent. The task wouldn't go without pay. Five hundred Galleons per month, if you keep with the contract. Understood me so far?'
The rush of information just clouded her mind more. Who was the man? Why was it so important and secret? Why so big a pay? And most important of all…
'Why did you ask me for that job?' she blurted out abruptly.
The man seemed frozen for a split second and answered with hesitation. 'You see, you are a Healer in St. Mungo's with a special access to all patients, so you can keep a close eye on the invalid. Why you specifically, is that you have a close tie with one of our contacts, if you get what I mean.'
Lily didn't get what he meant but one thing was for sure. 'I don't need the galleons, I'm fine on my own. I think I am not the right person for this and I do not know who is that contact you are speaking of that I have a close tie with!' she cried out rapidly before taking a deep breath and continuing. 'I'm sorry, Mister -I-don't-know-who-you -are, but I cant help you with your job.'
A muscle clenched at the jaw of the man. 'You don't understand me. I have give to you high-profile information and unless I erase your memory, there is a chance you might reveal it to someone else. Reject the offer, lose your memory and your job. Accept it without almost anything to do plus a letter of recommendation to your Head Healer and-let me see-two thousand galleons per month. Such an offer is rare and so profitable. I'm sure the right answer has never been more obvious.'
Blast everything that was happening to her. She could not think straight. Sure the answer was cut-glass clear but it was all too good to be true. And the man sounded so serious. She felt she was plunging headlong into something she couldn't turn back and any mistake she'll make would break her neck. She had no choice.
Or rather, she had a choice. She could say no. But then again, she need something else to think about other than what has been recently on her mind. And she had spent her whole lifetime on her safety zone, saying no to the things that she wasn't sure of. She wanted to be reckless for at least once.
'Fine. I'll accept.' She quietly decided and the man broke into a broad smile.
'Good, good. Wise of you. Here,' he handed her a black quill and little black notebook from his robe. He flipped at a page where dozens of names, some she knew, were scribbled hastily under a yes and no column. 'Oops, wrong page.' He apologetically smiled and flipped to a blank page. 'It's invisible ink,' he assured her, 'Sign your name and we're finished.'
Wary, she took the quill from him quickly and signed. Suddenly, she felt a cutting pain on the back of her hand, making her drop both parchment and quill on the floor.
Her signature was cut in her flesh and her blood spelled out her name on the paper.
'Sorry about that. Shit. Want a bandage or something?' he pocketed the contract and quill as he spoke. 'Geez, I'm bloody frigging sorry!'
'No, I'm fine. It's all right. I can manage.' She wincingly assured the man. It hurt but, surprisingly, the wound had healed. But her shock sill hadn't.
The way the man sounded like all of the sudden and how he reacted when she was cut struck a cord in her fogged mind.
Realizing she was gaping, she brushed the thoughts away and asked 'By the way, who's the patient, my contact and how am I going to get my pay?'
'Let's see… Patient is Alfred Kennings, Ward 58-just check your hospital records. Your pay would come through the mail. I'll be your contact. If ever you need me, just send an owl-letter. Say it's for "Snuffles".' He paused thoughtfully. 'Yeah, Iris would know its for me.'
He poised himself before her before bidding his goodbye. 'And Miss Evans?'
'Sir?'
'Not sir! I told you that! Anyway, a word of advice. Cheer up a bit. Try to patch up your love life because perhaps you only misunderstood what your man did to you, all right?'
The green eyes widened at the words. 'My what!'
But the man had already Apparated.
……
Knockturn Alley wasn't given a bad reputation for nothing. But compared to what James had "visited" in the past, the dark alley was just a big joke. Nevertheless, it was a dangerous place to be in, especially if you did not belong in there.
Which was just what James is now. And it wasn't even his "territory" and he was off -duty.
And still, the young man stood there, still amidst the hungry stares of the brooding men. Before him glimmered a shining blue diamond as large as his fist.
Several hundred carats of the rarest and perfectly cut gems to be found on the face of the earth. And so unfortunately, the most cursed.
A slight smile played at the corner of his mouth. Breathtakingly beautiful though it was, why the hell would he give such an accursed diamond to someone he loved? He may be sometimes eccentric but he wasn't that twisted.
And besides, Lily's green eyes would just overwhelm them, making it look like a giant hunk of blue-coloured coal.
Then, a bitter rush of memory swept through his thoughts. He had no right to think of Lily as his. She never was. She never can be. And if there was even a most miniscule speck of a chance that she would be his, it was dashed to oblivion by his own undoing a few nights before.
'…let's not talk about this tonight, alright?…'
Smooth as ice, James Potter. Really smooth.; he thought sardonically and buried his rapidly freezing hands in his pockets.
You're going nowhere, James. Forget about her. And you know the reasons why.
'If only it was so easy to do so…' he mumbled to himself before cursing. He didn't expect it would get so cold fast so he neglected putting on a scarf and gloves, and now his fingers were numbing, as well as his face and neck. But as he lifted his head, he saw something that caught his eye.
Someone was staring at him a few blocks away.
Apparently, whoever that was noticed the movement and fled into fast trot.
Damn! He was an open target for far too long. He mentally kicked himself before calculating the movements of his surveyor. He let himself break into a small jog until he was met by a small crowd that coincided with a curb from small alley. Quickly, he was gone from the main street.
The slushy , partially melted snow mingled with a bit of mud scattered in the poorly paved way did not hinder his running but he hated the way a bit that entered his shoes and squished as he took a step. But he was to worry about that later.
Third block, a left turn, two more blocks and then, James drew his wand from his pocket and aimed it at his target as soon as he got in the only remaining exit of Knockturn alley.
'James! You're scaring the shit out of me!'
It took a while for him to recognize the one who he was aiming at. 'Peter? What the hell are you doing in here!' He cried in disbelief. His target had escaped from him. And his seniors were going to have a fit if they knew that. Stupid, stupid, stupid!
'Should ask you the same thing! For the love of-put that thing away from my face, will you?' The other was slightly squirming at the end of James' aimed wand.
'Sorry.' The wand disappeared into his deep pocket. 'I was looking for something. What were you thinking of looking back at me?'
'Got lost. Been wandering around for a couple of minutes in here. Can we get out of here? People here are giving me the creeps.' He breathlessly explained before tugging at James towards Diagon Alley.
James gave his head a shake. 'N-no, you go first. I haven't found what I was looking for. Exit is just straight ahead.' He spoke in a scattered manner. He needed to think for a while at what he was going to do.
'You all right?'
'Yeah. Just a bit shaken.' He gave a little laugh. 'I'm a bunch of nerves lately.'
Peter scrunched his round face for a while and said. 'About Lily running away from you, you shouldn't feel bad about that. It's her fault if she doesn't want you, that little b-'
'I get the point, all right.' He cut the words short, growling under his breath. 'Go on, now.'
Peter gave him one last look before walking hurriedly towards the other side of the dark alley, leaving James alone.
Peter doesn't understand. It was my fault. And I'm the filthy little basta-
James hadn't had the chance to finish his thoughts as a cold endpoint of something thin and wooden pressed firmly upon his nape. His heart came into a painful halt.
'You were open from behind, kid.' A harsh voice growled at him, but nevertheless, James' heartbeat resumed its beating. 'If I were someone else, I would've killed you ages ago.'
Feeling safe, James turned around and met Alastor Moody's cold glare. 'Sorry,' he groaned. He tried to push the wand away from his face but the elder man wouldn't budge.
'Too open. If you go one being like this, you shouldn't have been an Auror in the first place. I'm in a good mind to give you a bad one.' He continued to growl, his words referring to a penalty curse. But the wand lowered and was tucked in an inner pocket before he spoke again. 'Not today. I'm busy. Just don't do it again. Get me, kid?'
'Yeah.' James answered shakily. Bad that Moody was cross at him, worse still if he would get a curse from the veteran.
'Come, I have to talk to you.' He muttered and walked towards Diagon Alley.
''Bout what?' James squinted at the sudden impact of the white light as they entered the bright alley.
'Go buy yourself food first. I hear your stomach complaining.' Came as an answer.
True enough, it was the reason why James was there. At the sudden turn of events, James had forgotten that it was his lunch.
Entering the nearest restaurant, they settled to the darkest corner. A dwarf took heir orders and stalked away.
'What do you want with me?' He asked, stirring the cup of tea that appeared magically in front of him.
'I want you to apologize to Lily.'
The words made James drink the coffee way to quickly and scalded himself. Choking he cried, 'What!'
'I said, apologize to Miss Evans.' The old man waved at the air with a piece of buttered toast, before sniffing it cautiously then nibbling at it.
'H-How did you know?' James could only stutter.
'I have my sources. You may say that it's none of my business, but I'm making it mine. You're under my team, and for the past few days you've been so goddamned distracted, its laughable.'
James could only curse inwardly at what he was saying. It was enough that he was tormenting himself with playing and replaying the night in his mind, but realizing that Moody knew even that, he was already burning in humiliation and indignation.
'Besides,' the weary Auror continued, 'Evans has taken part in something we couldn't handle for ourselves. See for yourself.' He pushed to James a scrap of paper with Lily's signature on.
Recognizing the blood quill's ink, he realized that Mad-eye was serious. 'A contract? What for?'
Moody hissed. 'Not in here, kid. Later. I'd be out for an hour but when I'm back, meet me at my office. Then, we'd talk.' He stood up, leaving his coffee untouched and walked out of restaurant, leaving the young man with his thoughts.
…..
Lupin warily eyed the things in front of him despite the fact that he was starving: a steak, baked potatoes, buttered vegetables, clean plate and glasses. But his grey gaze was lowered at something else.
With a cautious finger, he tentatively touched his knife. The moment he pressed his hand on the metallic surface, he expected to feel a reaction similar to being branded. Fortunately, it didn't feel burning against his finger. It had no traces of silver whatsoever. That was one thing good in Hogshead: they were so cheap they didn't trust to serve with silverware. Happily, he dug into his late lunch.
Moments later, a bleary eyed Sirius ambled to the seat opposite him and gave him a sharp look.
He gulped down a mouthful of chewed potato before speaking. 'You know it was Polyjuice Potion, Padfoot. You don't expect it to taste like pumpkin juice!'
'But the friggin' Minister of Magic! Frigging wicked hell! You know I couldn't stomach him, much less be him.' He crossly retorted at the mock innocent-eyed werewolf.
'But you said a convincing person! Hence, the Minister.' He beamed back beatifically. 'Sacrifices need to be made for the greater good.'
'What exactly is the greater good?'
'Ensuring the survival of a future generation.'
'Ooohh, I'm gonna get you for this, Moony.' He said between gritted teeth as a similar meal was brought by the bartender.
Remus wiped his mouth on his napkin before speaking again. 'So, what did Lily say? Did she find out it was you?'
'Fat chance she'd recognize me. She agreed but she's pretty suspicious about the whole thing.' Sirius munched thoughtfully on his steak. 'Say, were you the one who gave me that blood quill?'
'Contracts are made with blood pacts. Necessary. The document is genuine. And besides, Moody said anyone we knew who was working in St. Mungo's would do. Lily was. We didn't really violate anything.' A pause reigned for a few moments. 'Did we?'
'Nah. Even Moody approved of it.' Sirius brushed the sudden cold that crept in his veins. ''Course not.' But his voice wasn't so assured. 'Oh hell, what's done had been done. If all goes well, James and Lily would be fine again. We'll just give both of them a scare and we'll hear wedding bells soon enough and the tinkle of sweet money in our pockets.'
'Won't James be angry if he finds out about this?'
'Angry as a troll. That's why we both should shut up.'
Remus swilled the dregs of his Butterbeer before offering them to the bartender for a refill.
The doors of the dingy inn swung open and a dark-cloaked figure walked straight at them and plopped at the seat at the right of Remus.
'Everything's fine?' Remus ventured to ask the newcomer.
A quick nod.
Sirius signaled for two Butterbeers and gave one to him. 'All is set then. A toast for the completion of the first set.'
The three mugs clinked in unison, then the three sipped the hot drink in silence.
Sirius stretched his arm to pat the newcomer's shoulder.
'We owe you one, Moody. We really do.'
'Sure. Anything for those two.' Moody carefully tested the drink first before helping himself to the Butterbeer.
…..
Lily walked down into the well-tread path of corridors leading to the isolated Ward 58 where Alfred Kennings was still kept for the nth time just that day. For the past weeks, he hadn't moved an inch or spoken a word. She was beginning to feel guilty at being paid a lot for doing nothing except watch the man's chest fall up and down in a shallow breathing pattern. Every night without fail, she sent her owl, Iris, to the 'Snuffles' slash Minister person. It was awfully strange how the owl came back quickly too with a hastily scratched note saying keep watching.
It struck her weird, then she grew suspicious of the stranger but still she couldn't remember where she heard the way he cursed.
At first she thought her life was to change drastically and all would turn out like some espionage thing like the ones she read about. But her hopes had died and now, her life was still as dull as it had been.
Nevertheless, she still checked up on the patient as frequently as she could.
She sighed before opening the Ward door, expecting to see nothing had changed.
And she was right. The man was lying there like a dead man, his blanket stiffly tucked as she had left it the visit before.
Her eyes scanned tiredly for something to do in the room. Seeing the dead flowers by the bedside, she crept quietly to retrieve them and place them in a receptacle.
Her hands hadn't even reached the table when suddenly a steel grip brought her down on the patient, wide eyed and breathing harshly.
'Its her!!!-sigil tree- loaning- professing-guiness-' his hot breath prickled her skin uncontrollably as she tried to pry herself away from the vise-grip of the man. When she succeeded, she pulled the nearby emergency bellrope.
Then she realized, it was all too quiet.
She glanced back at Alfred Kennings but all she saw was a fresh corpse.
Yet what Lily could think about now was what the meaning of his words were.
……