A/N: Another chapter written without clue as to whether I am doing it well. I will just assume by the lack of lynch mob outside of my house that things are ok. You all might not really like this chapter, sorry dears. Perhaps you will think a certain girl is acting OOC, but I think… well, this story is exactly what I think, so read it already! LOL… Enjoy!
Sinners and Saints
It was early in the morning on the day of the wedding, and Lily found herself unable to sleep. She and Striker had been quietly bickering, though Lily was certain that no one knew. They were keeping it rather hushed, and it centered on Lily and James. Striker didn't like how much time he, Striker, was not spending with Lily. Each time they had tried to become more intimate, it seemed like a sensor went off in everyone's heads and drove them to interrupt Lily and Striker.
Lily knew she wasn't helping things. She hadn't been discouraging the others to leave her alone. To be completely honest, she was having second thoughts about many things. Being back in the Potter's house reminded her how much she and James had loved each other, and about how much she still loved James. That was the source of her confusion. He was acting as if they were both back in summer, but that was months ago. He had a girlfriend, and Lily had a boyfriend.
Lily sighed and pulled her robe on over her sweat pants and tank top. She sprinted to the house barefoot and entered the kitchen. She knew she had seen some delicious white chocolate chip cookies. She found them easily, and put a few on a plate. She turned and nearly dropped the plate. James was standing there in shorts and a shirt, with a glass of milk. He seemed to be just as surprised as Lily.
"What are you doing up? It's like four in the morning," James said. Lily couldn't help but grin and hold the plate of cookies.
"Do you want to take them back to my place?" Lily whispered. She didn't know why she asked him, she shouldn't have, but they found themselves in her bed, eating cookies and drinking milk.
"God, Summer really hates me," Lily said. James shrugged.
"She's jealous," James said.
"Of?" Lily asked.
"Because when I kiss her, she never makes me feel like this," James said as he kissed her. His hand went to the back of her head, the cookies pushed aside. Neither of them seemed eager to realize what they were doing was wrong. They just lived in the minute, or the hours as it was.
"We should stop," Lily murmured as her fingers explored his body, eager to touch every surface of his flesh.
"Yes, we should," James agreed as his mouth explored her body. Lily could feel the strength of James as her fingers touched his powerful arms. She could feel his heart racing as she removed his shirt, and when he removed her shirt, she was certain he could feel it too.
"Have you ever, you know?" James murmured in her ear as he nipped at her ear.
"Yeah, I have. Don't worry," Lily breathed.
Though they were no strangers to physicality, neither was prepared for the intense feelings that coursed through their bodies. Not once did their minds focus on any person not immediately in that room with them. For both of them, it was as if they had never done this before, never been physical. Each touch, each movement felt as if it was the first time ever. All physical encounters prior to James and Lily seemed to fade into the nothingness beyond the bedroom door.
They were still for a while afterwards, not touching and not talking. Lily glanced at the window, seeing that the hours between her sleeplessness and now had raced by rather quickly. Soon, she would have to attend a wedding with her boyfriend, sit there under the eyes of God while two people professed their undying love while she sat there as a stain on an otherwise perfect day. Oh, dear God, what had she done? What would she say to Striker?
"You have to go," Lily said to James as she turned away from him, her face hot with embarrassment. She had thrown herself into a shameful situation, sleeping with her ex-boyfriend with her actual boyfriend not but fifty meters away.
"I love you," James said as he looked at her hesitantly. Lily practically burst into tears.
"James, what happened here, between us, can never be spoken of or happen again," Lily said as she pulled her shirt on over her head. James watched her.
"It doesn't change that I love you," James said. "Tell me what to do, Lily. I will dump Summer in a minute, Lils. I want you back, Lily."
"I can't!" Lily said. "I have a boyfriend, you have a girlfriend."
"We can dump them," James insisted as he pulled his shorts back on.
"No, we can't James. It isn't right," Lily said as she handed him his shirt. "Go, now, before someone realizes that you are gone."
"Just tell me that you still love me," James pleaded. Lily slammed the door and headed straight to the shower. She prayed to God that the little lapse in judgment wasn't evident on her face.
"Lily, good morning," Mrs. Potter said as Lily sat dressed at the table. With her coming in from outside, she was the only one dressed. The rest were in their robes.
"Good morning," Lily said.
"You looked flushed, are you ok?" Striker asked concerned as he put his hands on her cheeks.
"Must be from all the excitement," Lily lied. She bit into a piece of toast and chewed.
"I can not believe I am getting married today," Auntie Potter said excitedly. Everyone felt that same excitement, and they all ate quickly to start their preparation for the wedding. Lily headed to Striker's room with him. She sat on his bed and watched as he dressed in his suit.
"You look nice," Lily said. Striker nodded as he brushed his hair out of his face.
"When you get dressed, so will you," Striker said.
"I want to leave tomorrow morning, early," Lily said quickly. "I don't want to stay for Christmas."
"Why?" Striker asked.
"I… I…" Lily faltered. Why did she want to leave? She loved James and James loved her. The rest was irrelevant. "I think James is coming between us."
"Oh, honey, that's not possible," Striker said as he hugged her.
"I just think it is enough that we stayed for the wedding. Let's go spend Christmas just the two of us, or back at Hogwarts," Lily said quickly.
"Just the two of us?" Striker asked with a smile.
"Yes, just the two of us," Lily said quickly. "We can check into a muggle hotel under false names. You are already eighteen, so they won't worry about it. No one will know where we are, so no one can bother us. We will duck out midway through the reception."
"Ok," Striker said and he kissed her. Lily kissed him back, but inside her heart was shattering. There was no heat to Striker's kiss, not the way that James' seemed to burn her from within her.
The wedding was one of the most beautiful weddings that Lily had ever been to in all seventeen of her years. Snow fairies fluttered around while a very serene snowfall set the mood for the wedding. Lily's golden color dress looked marvelous with her auburn hair, and she really did look beautiful. Striker stayed by her side the entire night, anything to keep James at bay.
Summer was blond, but she wasn't stupid. She had noticed James gone that morning, when she proceeded to sneak into his room. She saw the way James looked at Lily, and they way Lily seemed flustered. Summer could feel the anger within her boiling up. She looked at her watch. Just a few more hours, and she wouldn't have to worry anymore. Lily would be no more.
"Can I speak to you?" Mrs. Potter asked Lily, taking her by the arm and leading Lily away from Striker.
"Yes, ma'am," Lily said as the two women walked along a path.
"My sources tell me that you plan to leave before the reception is even over," Mrs. Potter said. "Seems like you are sneaking away into the night."
"I am sorry, Mrs. Potter," Lily said quietly. "I just need to put some distance between James and myself."
"I can understand that," Mrs. Potter said quietly.
"I am living my life, that is all I can do," Lily said with a pleading look in her eyes, hoping Mrs. Potter understood.
"Ryan and I just wanted to make sure you got this," Mrs. Potter said smiling as she handed Lily and envelope.
"What is it?" Lily asked.
"A fund, to make sure you have enough to go to ATA full time," Mrs. Potter said.
"Oh, I can't take this. The Auror Training Academy is very expensive," Lily said with tears in her eyes.
"Lily, we love you as if you were one of our own. You are the daughter I never had," Mrs. Potter said quietly as she hugged Lily tightly. "Whatever happens, you will always be welcomed in our house and in our family. If Striker makes you happy, then embrace it. If he doesn't, keep looking for your happiness, Lily. Never settle."
"I can't thank you enough," Lily said quietly, tears glistening in her eyes. "I love you as much as my own mother."
"One day, you will be a mother, and you will really understand how much I do love you," Mrs. Potter said.
Lily and Striker left a few minutes later under the cover of darkness. They apparated to a hotel rather far from London, the school, or Potter's house. Finally, they were alone where no one could find them or interrupt them. They would finally get a chance to be together.
As Lily lay with Striker, hours after their breathing had returned to normal and Striker had nodded off, Lily couldn't help but feel a bit regretful. She knew Striker was adequate, no doubt, but he wasn't great. Not like James. James was greater than great. He was on his own playing field. All in all, Lily loved James. She did not love Striker. They both knew it, they could feel it in their touches and kisses, see it in their looks.
"Lily, could you get that damn owl to shut up?" Striker groaned as he rolled back into his pillow. "Isn't it a bit early to have the Daily Prophet delivered?"
"I don't know," Lily said as she stood and opened the window. The bird flew in and dropped the letter at Lily's feet. She scooped it up, familiar with the Hogwarts seal and Professor Dumbledore. She broke the seal and read it to herself.
Lily, there has been an attack on the Potters. Mr. and Mrs. Potter have been killed. James is in grave condition at St. Mungo's, the others are in serious condition. I want you to go their immediately. Remorsefully, Albus Dumbledore
"Striker, there has been an attack on Mrs. and Mr. Potter. They are dead," Lily cried aloud. "I have to go."
"Lily, no. There is nothing that we can do for them," Striker said as he pushed himself up off the bed to look at her.
"I have to go," Lily said.
"Damn it, Lily, I am trying to be understanding, but every time we close to a meaningful relationship, someone always intrudes," Striker said as he watched her dress in record speed.
"Intrudes? They died, Striker. James is practically dead, and who knows what will happen to the others," Lily yelled at him. "I am leaving. Are you coming?"
"No, damn it. I am not," Striker snapped at her. "It's always boils down to James, doesn't it?"
"I can't deal with you right now," Lily yelled at him. She apparated right out of the hotel room and to the street in front of St. Mungo's. She ran up the steps, not surprised to see the place was a mad house.
"Can I help you?" A woman asked wearing a white uniform.
"I am Lily Evans and Professor-…" Lily started.
"Right, come this way. We have been expecting you," the woman said as she jumped up and lead Lily though a maze of twists and turns. "We need you to identify the bodies."
"What?" Lily squeaked.
"You were the last one to see them alive other than those who are here in the hospital," the woman in white said. Lily nodded and took a deep breath, cursing Striker for not being here with her. The woman pulled back the two white sheets that covered other wise unknown forms. Lily looked at the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Potter. They looked absolutely perfect, aside from the look of sheer terror on their faces. It was the killing curse, Lily was certain.
"That's them," Lily said quietly as tears slipped down her face. The woman nodded and the two of them headed through some other mazes. Lily could focus on anything but the big white blur in front of her as they headed to destinations unknown.
"The baby was untouched, remarkably," the woman said as Lily and she looked through a window. Though a little shaken, Christopher looked perfect. He was sucking his thumb while his mother and new father sat by and watched him carefully. They both looked like they had been crying.
Lily saw James next. He looked unreal. His glasses had been removed and his hair was caked with blood. He was battered and bruised. His arm was suspended, probably broken. He was breathing, but he looked ghastly pale under the fluorescent lighting.
"May I stay with him?" Lily asked. The woman in white nodded.
"The others are in the next two rooms," she told Lily. Lily nodded through tears and sat down at James' bedside. He was alive, that was saying something. Did he know that his parents had been killed? Lily stood after what seemed like an eternity and headed to the next room. Sirius and Remus were laying in bed, looking like they had been on the wrong side of a bad curse.
"Lily," Remus breathed. His ribs were bandaged.
"What happen?" Lily asked as she hugged him carefully.
"Death Eaters," Sirius moaned from his bed. "Unforgivable curses were shot every which way. It was awful."
"No one knows why they attacked, but no one ever does," Remus said.
"How is James? How is everyone?" Sirius asked. Lily started to tear up.
"Mr. and Mrs. Potter are dead," Lily said as she wiped her eyes on the back of her hand. "James looks like hell. I just don't know."
"No, they can't be," Sirius said with tears in his eyes. Remus and he looked away from her quickly. Lily hugged Sirius tightly, each of them crying on each other's shoulders.
Three days; that was all it took for it to get out that the Potters had been killed by Death Eaters. None of the attacked, sans Christopher and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Kenney, had been well enough to attend the funeral of Mr. and Mrs. Potter. James was still in his coma, so whether he even knew his parents were dead was another story completely. Lily stood in the grave yard and watched as another set of parents were lowered into the ground.
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