~*~Chapter 11~*~
Lily was one of those seldom few people who changed the phrase 'Early to bed, early to rise' to the phrase 'Late to bed, early to rise'. Her roommates chitter-chatted the night away and she didn't fall asleep until roughly 2am, yet she was up at seven that morning as busy as a bee.
When her internal alarm clock buzzed, she was happy to see that everyone was still tuckered out, giving her some peace and quiet before the common room hubbub. After brushing her teeth, she took a seat on the window ledge to catalogue yesterday's events and people in her journal.
'I've made many new friends,' she wrote. 'But I'm not so sure about one of them. Her name is Sibley Bogus and she's a second year, where I should be. I haven't yet made up my mind about her. Sure, she's nice, funny, and -- judging by a conversation I had with her on complex potions -- has also got a brain the size of Scandinavia. There's a lot of good qualities that's she overflowing with, but there's just something about her that I can't explain.
'James, Sirius, and Remus sure liked her at first glance, especially James, and it's no mystery why. She's got black hair as fine as anyone could wish for, though it's not very tidy... great big almond eyes, she's from Spain -- Everything I'm not.
'Last night she went on a tour with them for 3 hours. I didn't even get to spend time with them, not really. You think on their first day back, they'd want to associate with me because it's been months since I've seen them. Plus, I was almost abducted and was in 'great peril' according to Dumbledore, but oh no. Not one word to me about it.
'...Not that I want a pity party or anything, but...
'Oh dear, now I'm making it sound like I'm jealous of her -- which I most certainly am not! -- or something. I think I'm blowing this all out of proportion anyway. For God's sake, I was just locked in a castle with James for six weeks! I should be sick and tired of him! But I'm not...'
Lily continued writing -- more like trying to convince herself she wasn't jealous -- until her roommates woke her up an hour later.
"Oh good! You all are up. Breakfast has started; we should get down there."
"Good morning to you too," Adalya yawned. "In a rush to talk to those boys of yours?"
"'Boys of mine'?"
"Yeah, you know what we mean." Celeste winked.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. In no way are they leashed to me or I to them," she huffed.
Adalya shrugged. "Anyways, while we're getting ready, why don't you go get Sibley? She'll probably want to eat with us."
Lily thought quickly. "Naw -- She's probably... meeting her dorm mates," she said, hoping it was the truth.
The Great Hall was nothing but madness. Lily was sure that if everyone's hyperactivity was a notch higher, they'd start flinging food at eachother, just for laughs.
As she and her roomies took their seats, she saw that Sibley and the boys were already talking away, and to her horror, she realized that James was yacking to her about the sorting hat prank. Now that was just a step too face. They had agree to tell no one and he was letting a stranger in on it!
Deciding not to sit by them for that reason, Lily sat next to Ashley and Kristy.
"Hey girls," she smiled.
They didn't even reply, just both began scooting down the bench, making it evident they were shrugging her off.
"What -- What'd I do?"
"Can you honestly not figure it out? I would think that someone brilliant enough to skip a year wouldn't be that thick," Kristy snapped rudely.
Lily stared at them, dumbfounded. "I seriously don't know." She was getting agitated by their stubbornness. "It'd be great if you could fill me in a little here."
Ashley picked up a muffin and stood up, saying, "Let us show you what it feels like to be ditched." Without another comment, she and Kristy walked over and sat at the Slytherin table to eat.
In frustration, Lily slammed her fork on her plate with a clank and accidently spilled water in her lap. She looked up to find everyone's eyes locked on hers. "D'ya mind? How's a girl to eat with twenty pairs of eyes mentally lashing her out?"
Lexi, Adalya, Celeste, and Skyler's heads shot down as quickly as possible. It was obvious her morning was going a little rough - more so than expected, anyway.
Lexi glanced up meekly. "Lily, do you want to --"
"--Yes!" Lily cut her off, groping for her band and schedule McGonagall had just handed her. "I'd love to go to the library before class starts."
She took no time in waiting for response because she didn't expect one. She just walked causally out of the hall, her face as red as her hair, then started to run. She'd rather not have the whole school following her.
Once in the deserted library, she took a look at her schedule and groaned. "Well, I can tell you right now," she said outloud to no one in particular. "This definently hasn't been the best first day of school ever: James and they boys haven't spoken to me, Kristy and Ashley rudely leave me for a pack of Slytherins, I spilt my drink all over myself, and to top it all off, first class of the day is double potions with Satin's Children."
As foreshadowed, potions was a cauldron of rotten luck. Nothing was going right for her today. That is, until at lunch when the headmaster declared that Gryffindor quidditch try-outs would be in two days. She leapt at the oppportunity of beating the socks off James when she made the team and he didn't. Yeah, most people thought he was a star on a broomstick, but truth be told, be was as clumsy as a wet noodle trying to stand on a tennis ball when in front of crowds of under any pressure at all. This thought greatly satisfied her selfish lust toward him.
She went out to the pitch to practice a bit the night before tryouts, but she saw there was someone already there. Not flying, but dancing.
Skyler was moving slowly, gracefully, in her ballet slippers to the piano music coming from a magical record player.
"Oh, I'm sorry Lily," she apologized, turning off the music. "You can practice if you'd like. It won't bother me."
"Why are you dancing out here, of all places?"
"Oh, it's the only place that was isolated and didn't carry the threat of Peeves floating in on you with his dirty tricks."
Lily chuckled. "That's smart. Well, I'm gonna practice for a bit, eh?"
"Eh." Skyler mumbled in reply, placing her arms and legs in fifth position to begin an Adagio.
Lily smiled, loving Sky's deep passion for dance. She could rely on it to relieve stress and to be her future companion. It was something she truly adored and was fantastic at.
Lily only wished there was something in her life that had the same effect on her, other than textbooks.
It was nearly two hours later before Lily felt she was truly prepared for try-outs and found her way back down to the ground.
�Lily, you�re really good,� Skyler hailed. �I watched you once I finished my dancing. You definently stand a good chance tomorrow, especially considering who your dad is. That outta earn you a few bonus points.�
�Thanks Sky, but I�d rather make it on talent, rather than something as petty as a last name.�
�Who else do you know is trying out?�
�Well, James and Sirius for sure.�
�Are they any good? � I suppose James must be. After all, it�s said he was raised on a broomstick.�
�Maybe, but he isn�t as great as people think. He tries too hard to show off that it cause him to make huge mistakes.�
�Ouch... You think he�ll make the team?�
�We�ll see, Sky. Tomorrow should be a good show.�
~~~~~~
And a very good show it was.
At the end of try-outs, the captain, Tristan Hitt, brought all of the new team members into the locker room to congratulate them.
�Yes, I know we usually wait until the next day to post the results, but this year will be an exception. I have to say, fantastic playing. Welcome to the Gryffindor quidditch team!�
As they all clapped, Lily looked at the others who had also made it. There was Bediviere Groves, a keeper in his 5th year, herself, Sirius, and James.
She did a double-take; how could that be? Sirius was a really good chaser; he had both the speed and hand-eye coordination. But James, he had neither. In her opinion, his try-out had been terrible.
How on earth could he have made the team!? She asked herself. He dropped the quaffle so many times she had lost count, he scored only once; he was a ball-hog, and he almost fell off his broom on account of showing off, surprise surprise.
It just didn�t make sense! Taylor Elwes, a 4th chaser who tried out, but didn�t make it, was far better than James. Not that she minded James being on the team, but what in God�s name was Tristan thinking?!
�Lily ��
She snapped back at the sound of her name being enunciated.
�I was very impressed at the passion you have as a beater. Smashing animate objects appeal to you?� Tristan gave her an encouraging grin.
�Sure does.�
�Well, in that case, I�ll be sure to try your temper before we play a match. I can just imagine how you�d play after being ticked off.
�Now team,� he signaled for everyone�s attention. �I have some awesome news. James here has offered us a huge opportunity. Before try-outs, he told me � brace yourselves � that he could arrange to take the Gryffindor quidditch team to Steepridge for a weekend of training! What do you all think of that?�
Lily didn�t even hear the team whooping and cheering. She was too focused on James� triumphant face. �Oh, so that�s how you play the game...� The fury was all but causing her to spit fire.
After the meeting, she cornered him in a hallway and shoved her broom ruthlessly into his chest.
�Bet you thought that was real clever, Potter. How low can you possible force yourself to go?�
He knew better than to pour more gasoline on her already blazing fire. �What are you talking about, Lily?� He asked calmly, mildly pushing her broom away.
�As if you don�t know! I can�t believe you did something like that!�
�Like what, Lils?�
�Oh don�t you butter me up with �Lils�, Potter. You know perfectly well what.� Her arms flew threateningly in every direction, making it impossible for him to leave. ��Oh, so I�m sure it�s just coincidence that you happened to stroll up to Hitt before try-outs and mention a little field trip to him, then get out on the pitch, play lousily, and still make the team? Coincidence!?�
James listed back and forth on the spot, speechless.
�Don�t worry James, I�m not about to destroy our friendship over your stupidity, but take it from me: money does not buy happiness, nor does it buy friends. And if you expect me and the rest of the team to stay on speaking terms with you, you had better not really suck at quidditch matches as much as you did today.�
One hot-temper and shoulder bruise later, James could still hear her stomping through the corridors.
~~~~~~
"Try throwing it straight, Potter! There's not even any wind, yet you can't throw it straight," Lily scolded him from the other side of the pitch.
It was only their first practice of the season and already she could see that Tristan regretted falling for James' suave 'my daddy owns Steepridge' gag. Lily's last nerve had been pinched by this time, making her bludgers fly around aimlessly.
In the middle of an impossible, at least for this team, play, Tristan impatiently blew his captain's whistle. "Get down here, team!"
"What's up, Hitt?" Twinklia Starre, their sporty seeker vocalized sarcastically as the rest of the team hit ground around them.
"Listen up --" He closely eyed each of them. "This is no joke. I was hoping you'd be psyched, this being our first practice, but I have never seen such playing. Have you no dignity? We're going out there against Slytherin in a matter of weeks, and you're playing worse than a bunch of second-string Hufflepuffs!"
"But Hufflepuff almost beat Slytherin last year, Hitt, so I'd say we're not doing too shabby." Sirius laughed.
"Don't give me that, Black. If you think McGonagall will take a team like this over to Steepridge, you're insane."
"What do you mean 'a team like this'?"
"I said shut it, Black! We have nothing but new chasers this year, so if I were you, I'd be whipping your section into shape."
Sirius was about to fling a crude comment back, but Tristan cut him off again.
"-- Speaking of whipping into shape, get some rest tonight."
"Why?" Celeste, Lily's roommate and chaser, asked. "Tomorrow's Saturday. There's no classes."
"Exactly, which means we can all be out here running laps by 6am."
"Well there goes my plan for tomorrow," Lily said.
Celeste nudged her. "What was the plan?"
"To avoid everyone at all costs."
~~~~~~
"Hey Hitt, whoever said that running laps consisted of carrying over 100 pounds worth of teammate on your back?" Sirius panted, falling behind Lily who was jogging under the weight of Celeste "James...he's no feather..."
"Maybe you should have been smart and picked someone like Twink over there. She's the lightest one on the team."
"Yeah yeah..."
"Come on Sirius!" Lily said, slowing down a little for him. "I don't think either of you could bear losing against girls. Why don't you make James run? He's the one who needs the conditioning."
James had opened his mouth with a comeback, but Lily had already sped up, leaving them behind. "Why does she always cut me off like that, Sirius?"
"Why not?"
"Thanks a lot, pal. I knew I could count on you for a boost of confidence."
Ten laps later, Tristan's whistle echoed throughout the pitch, and the team rejoiced as they all but skipped into the locker rooms.
Once they'd all taken showers, Lily left with her friends to go back to the castle and hopefully catch up on her Z's. She'd slept very little after she took a look at her schedule for Monday. Finally she asked the question that had been prying on her mind.
"Do any of you know who our Care of Magical Creatures teacher is this year? I assumed it was Figg until I saw that there was a blank space next to that class on the course list."
"Well remember, last year she left early to tend to some relative of hers," James said.
"Oh no, she wasn't helping anyone," said Sirius. "Au contrair, the Ministry said that's a complete lie."
"The Ministry? Since when do they care about someone's ailing family members?"
"Since Figg was banished, duh."
"Banished!?" Lily and James yelled simultaneously.
Sirius looked at them, surprised. "Honestly James, if my dad were the Minister, I'd sure as heck know what was going on in the world."
"Excuse me for being basically imprisonated in a school for over a month --"
"James, shut up!" Lily slammed her hand against his mouth, then put her eyes back on Sirius. "Tell us what happened."
"Let's go to the library. They have a Daily Prophet archive, so you can read the article. -- But anyway, remember that attack last year during that auror meeting where three of the attackers got away?"
"Right," said Lily, turning down the corridor that led to the library. "They said it was possibly a man and two women..." A thought immediately occured to her. "Oh my gosh, I remember that because that morning, Dumbledore announced she'd left!"
"Exactly, she --" Sirius began but was quickly pushed aside.
"Lily!" It was Kristy, who had been searching the entire castle for her. "I need to talk to you! You won't --"
She gave an exhasperated sigh and quickened her pace. "I'm sorry Kristy, but I can't talk right now, I'm too busy."
"But's it's --"
"I can't! Please excuse us."
"--important..." Kristy sighed. Lily had made it painfully obvious that they should still be mad at eachother. "I guess it'll have to wait until later." She decided that this wouldn't be easy to talk to Lily about face-to-face, considering their present 'I'm not talking to you' status. "A letter will have to do."
An hour later, she yawned and stretched after finishing writing the lengthy letter. "Ok," she said to herself. "I'll save her the stress of an encounter and just have my owl deliver it to her in the mail tomorrow. Yeah, that'll make it easier for the both of us..."
After putting on her slippers, she was walking through the corridor, completely on edge because of what she'd just discovered, when Peeves loomed in front of her, singing.
"Kristy, wisty, she's so dumb.
Teasing her is lots of fun.
My oh my, what shall we do?
She deserves to be locked in the loo!"
"I've got a lot on my mind, Peeves. Sod off," she grumbled.
"Or what?"
"I heard the Bloody Baron is in a particularily foul mood today..."
"Oh." He turned even more pallid than the usual paleness of a ghost. "I'll be on my way then. See you soon with a water ballon!... 'Kristy wisty she's so dumb...la la la la la...'"
Kristy rubbed her temples and continued walking toward the owlry. "Sorry Peeves, but I hope to God I never see you again."
Little did she realize how she'd taken Peeves for granted, for her hope had become a reality; it would, in fact, be the last time she'd ever see him.
~~~~~~
Meanwhile, in the library, Lily, Sirius, and James were pouring over recent editions of the Daily Prophet.
"...Opening of Steepridge...Author Boswaldi McDier... Fordesque's 75th birthday...Aha! Here it is! 'Alleged Terrorists Caught and Convicted'!"
Lily snatched it from him and read:
'ALLEGED TERRORIST CAUGHT AND CONVICTED
After an extended search for the three auror-massacre escapees, a vital clue was found as to their whereabouts. Two of the three suspects were caught and tried with conspiracy to murder. Proceeding a 21-hour interrogation, the name of the co-assassin was reluctantly handed over.
The Ministry is pleased to announce that all nine terrorists have been caught, six of which are behind Azkaban bars.
One of the three not in Azkaban, Miss Arabella Figg, the last to be captured and originally thought by the Ministry to be male, was to be tried with her co-conspirators for murder until a strange event occured the morning before her trial: the two to be tried, who in fact were the two to betray Figg and turn her in to the authorities, mysteriously died in the night.
For lack of further witnessed interrogation, the jury had no choice but to drop the publically hoped-for Azkaban sentence.
Figg, though, was not yet in the clear. There was still enough evidence of an attempted, yet not performed, muder and various other minor crimes committed in the past.
It is to be noticed that for this, Arabelle Figg has beene forth-with banished from the wizarding world under pain of a lifetime Azkaban sentence.
Figg's wand was officially snapped and she will be on probation for one month. If she is seen residing in an all-magical community or in possession of a wand, the Ministry is to be contacted immediately.'
"Man Sirius, and you never said anything to us?" James was astounded.
"I was wondering why you hadn't said anything to me," he replied.
Lily shivvered as they put away the newspaper and made their way to the common room. "It's creepy isn't it?"
"What is?"
"That two weeks before school ended, we had a suspected homocidal maniac living in our school teaching us about cuddly muggle pets."
Sirius almost snorted. "You put it that way, yeah, it is creepy."
They stopped dead in their tracks once they were around the next corner. Before them was almost the entire school staff, either standing around, unable to find suitable words, or quiety - almost solemnly - wondering outloud what could have happened. Lily had barely enough time to get a glimpse of a lump on the ground covered by a large cloth, which she knew instantly was a dead body, before Professor Dumbledore came up to them.
He held up his hand, signaling silence. "No questions. Go up to your dorm immediately."
The moment they were through the portrait hole, someone physically slammed into Lily, crushing her in a very distressed hug. She could already feel the tears soaking the back of her shirt.
"Oh Lily..."
She looked down into the sad eyes of Ashley, her face completely drenched in a tidal wave of depression, before she clutched her tightly again.
Lily could barely understand what Ashley was saying between the loud, muffled sobs.
"I don't know how it happened! She's... I was looking for her... just found her there... Lily... I don't know what to do... She was my best friend!"
The realization of what was going on hit Lily like a sledge hammer smashing into her chest. "Oh my God..." She felt the tears well up in her eyes; her breaths came in short, rough, wheezes. "Oh God, oh God..." She felt she was going to have cardiac arrest. "It was her..."
Chapter 10 ~~~~~~ Chapter 12
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