Chapter 20-Mixed Emotions
Lily and James had not been able to see Professor Dumbledore that day. According to Professor McGonagall, he was away at the Ministry for some trial. Lily was beginning to worry. When they had needed their Headmaster most he had failed at being there. James trusted Dumbledore with his life but lately the man had not been living up to his reputation.
Katy and Remus had been watching their friends that day. The Common Room was not it's usual lively self. It was almost Halloween, which meant the Masquerade Ball was coming. Usually the students would be making dates, talking about their dress robes, and bragging about something or another. Yet, when Remus and Katy looked around they saw a saddened sight. Lily and James were sitting on the couch they had slept on previously. They hadn't moved since they went to find Dumbledore. Lily was on the verge of tears and James was trying to remain strong for the both of them.
Sirius on the other hand had been dating as much as possible since his break-up with Halle. He had a new girl every day, maybe even every hour. Halle had seen this and shuddered in disgust. Many of the girls were on their third time around, thinking they were the special one. At the moment, Sirius was talking to a fifth year blonde in the corner, whispering in her ear.
Halle had not been herself either. She had been just like Sirius before she dated him. Going out with every guy she could until she was bored with them. She just couldn't face anyone but Sirius. She was so in love it hurt her to think about him. She hated him for it and wished he would just leave. If he was gone her stomach wouldn't get butterflies when he walked by, her face wouldn't turn beat red when she saw him, she wouldn't have to hide in her dorm to escape the torture. She wouldn't have to feel rage and clench her fists every time she saw a new girl on his arm. It had been her there just a week ago.
Halle ran up to her room. No one would see her in tears. It happened almost daily. She'd begin thinking of Sirius and then feel the tears force their way from her chocolate eyes.
"What's that all about?" Remus asked Katy as he saw Halle run up the stairs.
"Not sure. But I think it has something to do with your friend flaunting in front of her. Sirius just doesn't get it," she replied. She looked over at Sirius and cast a look of disgust almost identical to the one Halle had made previously.
"What do you mean?" Remus asked her alarmed. Sirius was one of his best friends. He didn't see why Sirius had to sit around and wait for Halle to come around.
"I mean that she had no choice but to break up with him," Katy said simply.
"Why? I thought she told him she was in love," Remus said.
"She was, I mean still is. She didn't want to get hurt. She was getting threats and she didn't want to deal with it anymore," Katy replied sadly, coming to the aid of her dear friend.
Remus looked at Sirius again and felt no sympathy for him anymore. When Halle had dumped him, Remus felt bad for Sirius. But now, Sirius was just rubbing it in her face.
"Seriously though, Halle will get over it in a couple hours. But, Lily and James? What's with them?" Katy asked. She looked at the two once more. Lily had moved closer to James, tears silently streaming down. Today was just not anyone's day.
"They said it was a dream. I really don't know what could shake them up this much," Remus said.
"Well, that whole scene with Peter did not help at all," Katy stated, remembering the uncomfortable situation the had previously been in.
"Yeah, true," he said, reflecting on the scene that had happened earlier.
- Flashback -
"Uh-oh," Peter said as he looked around and saw James and Remus glaring at him with anger and shock. Lily and Katy just looked flabbergasted.
What was a Slytherin doing in the Common Room with Peter? And Snape of all the Slytherins?
"Peter, what the hell are you doing?" James screamed. Peter looked from James to Snape and cast Snape a pleading look.
"Um, well. I was just, um, I was bringing Snape in here so you could finish him off. He met me in the hall and said he wanted a proper duel," Peter said. He looked at Snape. Snape cast a look of pure hatred towards Peter.
Snape couldn't deny Peter's lie because then Peter would say where they really were and why they were there.
"Why would you bring him in the Common Room?" Remus asked.
"I didn't trust him to show up while I waited for James," Peter said.
"Snape, what's got you so antsy to duel me?" James asked. He knew that he and Snape disliked one another. But James hadn't even been harassing Snape lately. He had been too busy to do so.
"Potter, why wouldn't I want to duel you is the better question," Snape sneered. Hey, he couldn't dig stuff up on James but at least he could have some fun dueling Potter. It was like losing a penny and finding a dollar. It was an added bonus.
"You really want to duel Snivellus?" James asked. He really did not want to duel anymore. He felt that he didn't have to anymore.
"God Snape, just leave James alone," Lily intervened.
"And you Peter, you should be ashamed of yourself. Bringing a Slytherin in here. I should report you to Dumbledore," Lily said.
"Lily, it's ok. Really, we don't have to report Wormtail. He's learned his lesson. Sorry, no duel Snape. Maybe some other time," James said.
"You don't have to protect him. He's a big boy," Katy said.
"No," Remus said.
"What? Remy, he brought Severus Snape in our Common Room. That is not a good thing. That is the reason there are separate houses," Katy replied back.
"I said no. He'll be fine. Just don't even think of it next time Peter," Remus said.
"Snivelly probably forced him too. The slimy git," James said under his breathe.
"Out," Lily said. She looked at Snape and pointed to the door.
"Watch it Evans. You and Potter better watch yourself. It might not be me who comes through this portrait hole with Peter next time," Snape said as he walked out the portrait hole. Peter looked nervously at his friends and followed Snape back out.
Katy and Remus looked at each other warily. What had he meant?
James and Lily on the other hand, felt the color drain from their faces. Snape knew. He knew something. And it fit
right in with their dream.
-Flashback over-
The next week passed as fast as it came. The Masquerade Ball was that night and the Common looked as it was expected to; busy. Lily and James had been too busy preparing to worry about their dream. They barely saw Dumbledore. They were members of the Order of The Phoenix and they had crucial information and they hadn't even had a chance to see Professor Dumbledore.
Lily had gone to Halle and Katy's dorm to get ready for the Ball. Halle was going with the Hufflepuff Quidditch Captain Ludo Bagman. It hadn't been her top choice but he had asked her. Lily wanted tonight to be a special night between her and James. They hadn't really had time for romance with all the drama and whatnot. She wanted to look her best and make sure nothing spoiled their evening.
The girls went up to the dorms two hours before the dance started in order to do their hair and makeup and so on. Lily had brushed out her long red hair so that it rested halfway down her back gently. She hadn't put too much make-up on because when she was with James, she felt she didn't need it. Halle on the other hand had put on large amounts of make-up but she still looked pretty. She on the other hand had put her long, thick, brown hair into a messy but elegant updo on top of her head. She had navy blue dress robes and would be wearing a pale blue mask. Katy had pulled her perfect blonde hair back into an elegant knot and was wearing robes of lavender. They accentuated her bright blue eyes. She chose a gold mask to top off her outfit. She wanted to look her best for Remus. Lily had gone all out with her dress robes. She had them specially ordered and sent to Hogwarts. They were white. But not plain white, white with emerald green cuffs and two gold stars on the back. She looked like an angel. She put a gold mask on as well.
The three girls walked down the stairs together. James and Remus gasped for air as they saw how beautiful their dates were. They weren't the only ones who were in shock. Sirius's breathe had been taken away as well. The sixth year brunette he had on his arm was forgotten. His eyes were on Halle. She felt him staring and refused to look back. Now he could feel the torture she had been feeling the last couple of weeks.
She walked by Sirius without a mere glance at him. She headed out the doors towards the Great Hall where she was going to meet her date.
"Lily, you're so beautiful," James said as he looked at her once more.
"Thank you," she whispered. She had turned red. She knew she looked alright but she hadn't expected that sort of reaction from him. He looked good as well. He was wearing robes of red. His messy dark hair was still messy, but seemed right at that moment. His eyes were even more enchanting that night, they were looking right at Lily's. He had been holding something in his hand but had forgotten about it until that moment. It felt as though he was lost in her eyes.
"Oh, I got you something," he said hastily.
"James, you shouldn't have," she said blushing.
He pulled out a slim box. He handed it to her and she accepted it with a quiet "Thank you." He wanted to get her something nice. Something she would cherish and remember whom she had gotten it from.
As she opened the box she saw a slim gold necklace with a lily hanging off of it. It had had the initials JPLE 4Ever inscribed on the back and now it was Lily's turn to lose her breathe.
"James, you really shouldn't have. This must have been expensive," Lily said, admiring the perfect gift he had just given her.
"I love you. And no amount of money is more important than that," he said.
She looked at him. She knew he had changed so much and that is what she loved about him. But at that moment, it overwhelmed her. James Potter had done so much for her. He changed his whole persona for her. Well, not changed. He was always a nice guy, but over the past few years, he had to work and work for her to accept him. She felt a pang of guilt as she looked at the necklace once more. Words from sixth year were floating through her mind.
-Flashback-
"James Potter, how many times do I have to tell you? I don't like you, never will like you. Unless maybe there's a nice guy in there somewhere. But the one in front of me right now, is not one I would ever consider dating," Lily had said.
-Flashback Over-
"There's more to it," James said. He leaned in towards her and opened the lily. It was a locket. Inside was a picture of a lily and a stag. It looked beautiful, but it was hand-drawn. Lily looked closer. The initial JP was scrawled very tiny and very messily in the corner of the drawing. Lily looked at him.
"James, you did all this for me?" she asked him. It must have taken a long time to draw that picture for her.
"Yeah," he said quietly. Lily saw Katy and Remus leave the Common Room waving goodbye to them. She took James's hand and led him over to the couch. The Common Room was practically empty by now.
"Was I really that mean to you James?" she asked him.
"No," he answered after a few moments.
"I wasn't?" she asked, surprised. She was embarassed by the way she had treated him.
"Being mean required talking to me," James said. He wanted to forget their past. Why was she bringing it up? He knew he hadn't deserved her last year. Was she changing her mind again?
"James. I am so sorry," she said, frowning.
"You're what?" he asked surprised.
"I'm sorry. I don't think you were the only one who needed to change," she said quietly. He looked at her. He raised her head so that her eyes were on his. He whispered 'I love you' and then kissed her gently.
Meanwhile..
"Professor. It's urgent. Peter Pettigrew and Severus Snape are dueling in the Astronomy Tower," Luscious Malfoy said, out of breathe.
"How can that be?" Dumbledore asked.
"Well, Snape wanted a dance with Peter's date and Peter said no. They both got really jealous and started going at it. Then Peter started running. You know how disadvantaged he would have been against Snape," Malfoy said.
"Get Professor McGonagall and your head of house. Tell them to meet me up there. Then find the Head Boy and Girl. They should be able to look over the dance while I sort this out," he said.
"Yes, sir," Malfoy said.
Malfoy grinned maliciously. It was all going to plan.
Lily and James walked into the Great Hall to see everyone dancing and enjoying themselves. Dumbledore was nowhere in sight, but this didn't even phase them.
"May I have this dance?" James asked and kissed Lily's hand. She giggled. He was so silly.
"Why of course," she said.
They danced out on the dance floor. Even though it was a masquerade, everyone pretty much knew who everyone else was. Except the new girl in black satin robes and with a black mask on. Everyone seemed to be staring at her in one way or another. Everyone except James and Remus. Sirius on the other hand, was being very rude to his date. He kept looking at Halle. She was paying no attention to her date but when she saw Sirius looking she acted like he had said the funniest joke on Earth. Ludo Bagman, being as thick as he is, started laughing because of the heck of it.
Sirius needed to retaliate. His date wouldn't make Halle jealous. But if he danced with the new girl, maybe she would see how desirable he was.
Sirius started walking over to the new girl. She was in the middle of the Hall and was dancing with a guy Sirius didn't recognize.
'Probably a Slytherin. They're all shady, never can tell them apart.' he thought.
"Um excuse me beautiful, can I cut it?" Sirius asked in his voice he thought was sexy.
The girl turned around and just grinned.
"That would be Bella to you cousin," the girl said.
Sirius's face turned to disgust and he screamed. The guy she was standing next to became more and more familiar to Sirius. His eyes widened in horror.
"JAMES! GET LILY AND RUN!" Sirius screamed.
Lord Voldemort had found his way into Hogwarts.
A/N: Just so you know, at this point in my life, while I was writing this story, I seemed to enjoy cliffhangers. I
know, I was a mean kid. For some reason, I got more responses. So, I won't laugh evilly. Please
review.