Miley’s new toy, Albus’s Gift – the Remeyerall, was keeping her quiet occupied than to get into any mischief and both Lily and James were surprised that she had not been upto any prank since Albus and Sirius’s last visit and with Harry’s first birthday arriving the next weekend the people had a reason to celebrate. It had already been two weeks since the visit and things back home were going on at better than a normal rate but of course there were sad moments too, on nonsensical and mass killings going on in the outside world, there were still innocent people getting killed and the ministry was turning deaf ears and blind eyes towards such stuff. What the hell was happening to the world why wasn’t anyone coming out in open to protest such doings, but yes, protest meant inviting harm to you and your own family too and its was not stupid to keep oneself safe.
But, Lily had other things too, to worry about. Miley, in case had changed a lot since she got her gift. Was it the gift or just Lily’s imagination that Miley was actually showing great signs of magic, which was getting on Lily’s nerves, and more so, James too had started agreeing with Lily on the matter. Miley was showing strange signs, for instance she could already disapparate, disillusion, and due to the fact that she could not control any of her magic she just used to disappear when she used to be excited or frightened. Which actually was driving Lily mad as no one could help or control the situation and it was impossible to try keeping it a secret, and these days it was getting creepier, she was getting strange nightmares. Nightmares of hooded men or a man…green flashes…and blasts…usually she dint remember the details but one such night Lily and James woke up to find Miley screaming and when they rushed to check, she was up and sweating…
Lily and James rushed towards her switching on the lights to find her all sweating and frightened, she had had a bad dream yet again…and was already in tears. Seeing James and Lily she clung to them as lifelines. Yet again she could not remember the details, just a hooded figure…a green flash… and a blast... It was actually getting confusing, and when they had no one to consult to. James and Lily both agreed that the situation was getting out of both their hands and something needed to be done. They had to talk to Albus, to help them, and to start training Miley. They knew it would be for the first time ever that a child was being trained prior to admission at Hogwarts, but that was the only thing that could be done. It just could not wait.
As if this was not enough, Bathilda too, was getting a bit awry, she obviously did not remember the encounter with Snape but, still she was in great shock and somehow her instincts told her of some happening. Yes, Snape had done his job well with the memory charm. But still she remembered the disrupted room and Lily arriving later to calm her down.
Lily knew and fully understood that things were getting out of her control, the more she tried hard to make herself believe that all was fine, deep down she herself could not believe all was well. In all this frenzy, they had an unexpected visitor. Just a weekend before Harry’s Birthday, Wormtail paid them a visit. It was for the first time since their hiding that Peter was visiting them, he obviously had been made the secret keeper, but him visiting was quite not acceptable to Miley, who had a personal disliking to him and his methods, especially his mouse-like behavior. It was his visits that usually upset her, and these were the time that she was all on with her pranks and up for getting on his nerves, and she hardly feared him.
Lily was upset all day, and cried on account of recent deaths of the Mckinssons. The house had a mellow environment on the weekend Peter paid them a visit. It was good that he visited, but was kind of surprising for both James and Lily, that he was visiting them without sending them a letter to inform of his visit. He was unlike his normal self and was quiet low on the mood and did not eat much, that for Lily was a matter of concern, but he said it was because of the recent deaths and also Mckinssons deaths were a blow, it was not that they were close but still, hearing of a death of someone you knew always upsets, that too a death that is un called for and un reasonable.
Peter usually did not talk much and paid much attention to food, but today it was different, he refused to eat, and took just bits on being pushed by both Lily and James. Miley was all up with her pranks on Peter, but was sent away by James with good scolding, as this was obviously not the time for all that stuff.
Lily thought Peter’s strange behavior a major matter of concern; he was actually acting strange and was lost, and refused to eat.
What had happened? Was something wrong? He was looking tired and frightened and lost. What was eating him up? Or did he fear about them, or was he getting burdened under the responsibility of being their secret keeper. Was it the right decision to make him the secret keeper, she had always doubted it, but James believed him, and it was all that mattered, friends, whom you could put all your faith in. Yes, she believed in what James had faith in. She had already had the taste of her beliefs with Snape and Tunie. She could not doubt James’ and Sirius’ Beliefs.
Snape, why had he come that day? What was his motive behind the visit? Was she wrong in not listening to him? In not giving him a chance, Was Albus right, on what he said about Snape? Was it after all her fault? Was she wrong in not believing in her friends and relations, in not giving them her full faith, was she not a better friend after all, did she lack in her relationships unlike James, who had put blind faith in his friends and knew how to maintain his relationships. Was it right to put blind faith in people? Oh there were so many questions her mind was coming up with, but she knew this was not the time, she had to put all this thoughts at the back of her mind and chose the priorities, Miley and Harry were her priorities and she knew, it was them who needed her badly other than James.
Harry’s Birthday was this week and family had a reason to celebrate and to put other things off. After all the day was special, it was Harry’s first and a reason to celebrate. Harry obviously was too small to know it was his birthday but other’s who knew had to make it special somehow. All the people close to the family were invited, but yes no one was forced as duty came first and in such times safety too was a matter of concern.
The most excited was Miley, and had been busy the whole past week organizing the best gift for Harry, and she finally came up to the best she could come up with, she had packed all her chocolate frog cards in a box with James’ help to give it away to Harry on his first, which was quiet touching. Chocolate frog cards were so precious for children, who collected them with such an enthusiasm, and Miley had been doing it, since she had come to know about them from James’ collection, and giving all her collection away as a birthday gift actually meant a lot, at how special she took Harry to be.
The big day finally arrived, with Sirius’ owl first arriving with a gift. Sirius had sent a toy broomstick, and Harry had much fun with it. Just a year old and he was all zooming in and out of the rooms on his toy broom. The broom rose just an inch or two from the ground but Harry was having a time of his life. James was already doting on him of being a great Quidditch player, over which Lily just laughed and said, “Only time will tell.”
“Oh common Lily, I’ll be coaching him and would be standing on the stall to watch him play his first match against slytherin and beating them badly.” He replied with a smirk on his face. To which Lily just shook her head and said, “At least don’t get them against each other before he even enters school.”
They just could not leave him alone for a moment, for they had got the hint while they left him, when he zoomed over Tasha, and almost killed her of shock, and further crashed into the vase Tunie had sent as a Christmas present, which for James was quiet funny. Miley was all excited and busy bucking up Harry, and was shouting all kind of stupid made up slogans. The scene back home was one of amusement and none could tell, they were living under such pressures.
They finally settled down for a quiet evening tea with Bathilda, who was all up with strange stories of Albus, which were quiet, unbelievable. Lily thought, people were finally right about her when they said, her mind was going personally.
After a quite family dinner, the party again shifted to the living room. Lily cleaned the table, helped by Sirius, and then went off to put the kids to bed. Harry was already half sleepy in her arms, where Miley was always hard to put to bed, and with guests around. Her gift had consumed her but now she too seemed tired for all the antics and did not object when told to go to bed.
Now that Lily helped her changed and put her to bed finally, sitting on the side of Miley’s bed her eyes fell on the pendant, Remeyerall, or whatever it was, it was indeed a remarkable object, she was mazed to see so many colored smokes sweeping inside the conical crystal pendant. It, in itself had some magic going around it, that took Lily in to a long trail of thoughts…Her life before she could ever had guessed of her magical attributes, her first hands at magic – which obviously noone could understand, her first meeting with Snape…. She did not know why everything went to Snape, why everytime she looked back, Snape came back too. The more she tried and harder she tried to Shake him out of her mind, the more he crawled back, “Why..?”, may be because, for whatever time or reason, he indeed was her closest confidante and she, his. When Petunia got, all berserk at her, Snape was all that she had in those times. Her starting years at Hogwarts were good and she really liked to see the way people accepted her immediately, unlike her very own sister, who called her a freak, oh how terrible it felt, your own sister not accepting you as who/ what you are. Snape was her only comfort in those moments. Hogwarts was a big contrast to what, she faced in, what you say the Muggle world. She remembered that day when Snape once reassured her that being a muggle born did not make any difference, tears came to her eyes because that memory brought along the day of her last O.W.L’s, how could she ever forget it, that day will haunt her whole life. She came out of the Hogwarts building to see James, Sirius and others again up on their ways and Snape suspended in the air, how angry she was, how she wanted to help him out of the situation, but before she could do anything, the words came out of Snape, “…….MUDBLOOD..!! , it felt like her whole world had collapsed, the only person she was ever close to and meant the most to her, called her a …., she had cried for weeks and went without having food, but no, why was she doing it, He was after all a Slytherin and was going to join his Lord’s charade. She knew how difficult it was for her, to compose herself in front of him, when Mary had come to her, telling that Snape was waiting outside the house doors and threatening to stand there until Lily came out. He had come for forgiveness, if it had been sometime different she would have thought about it, but now, it was too late, it was time to decide, either this way or that, and she knew, for her it was a different road much different than Sev’s ambitions. It was time to part ways. It had finally convinced her, that it was different in that world for someone like her, but James, Sirius and everyone, whom she used to dislike, totally disregarded it, For them blood status meant nothing.
It took time, yes, time for her to regain that lost attitude, but yeah Snape always came back. She knew how difficult it was, being different. Now, it was Harry, marked to be different, no she would do anything to protect him from that. Miley, too was growing up, and showing splendid signs of magic, but her magical abilities gave her those chills, James always said, it was normal and in this age children cannot control their magic, it just comes out. But, that could not convince her, Miley, she knew was extra-ordinary, she was proud but scared too. It was just one person whom she could look forward for guidance and she knew he was the best.
Albus, she was surprised to see him today, as if he had heard her heart, and came for her. She saw Miley, sleeping unaware and far from the nuances of the world, but the smokes still moving inside her pendant. She got up from the bed gave a sweeping look on Harry snuggled in the cot, switched the lights off and got out of the room, silently closing the door behind her. She was startled to see Albus standing in front of her.
“Hello, Lily. Sorry for giving you such a shock.”
“Oh.! Albus, no I just..”
“got startled…did you..?”
“Uh….well, I need ..”
“…to talk to me….and same reasons bring me here too.” He said still smiling. “I wish to talk to you about Severus.”
“But, what about him? His chapter is closed for me. Mile—”
“But, yet again, being human is strange, we think what we want to talk about is more important than what the other has to offer.”
Lily looked at him, with a strange expression in her eyes, she couldnot understand why Albus, all of a sudden wanted to talk to her about Snape. Dint he know, they had parted ways long ago, or he thought that whatever time she had spent with Snape, held the key to their safety, or Voldemort itself.
“Well, Lily, I don’t know exactly what went wrong between the two of you, but don’t you think that every one is entitled for a second chance.”
Lily expression was that of shock, she was surprised at what Albus was suggesting, did he know about her encounter with Snape, at Bathilda’s. Why all of a sudden was he taking a defensive of Snape, when he clearly knew that he was the one, who gave them away.
“We just go on with our lives, and blame others for changing towards us, never realizing or even thinking, may be it could be the other way round too. Or we never gave them any chance to prove their best to us.”
“Albus but, what are you suggesting? Can you be a bit more clear?”
“I, as you very well know, am talking about Severus Snape, your friend.”
“He is no friend of mine. He never was.” Said Lily with contempt. “I am ashamed of ever having him and believing him to be my friend, His loyalties were never meant for me.”
“But, Lily.” Albus was surprised at such a retort. Lily had started crying, with her back on the wall. Dumbledore patted her on the shoulder and said, “We should not judge people by what they did or could do, judging people by what they are is the best possible way Lily. You were friends, he came to you seeking forgiveness but you never listened to him and parted ways, following your better judgment. You never thought about, what he would have felt at that very stage to be forced to say something like that to a person who meant everything to him. You too oversaw your relationship at that stage. If you blame Severus then you too are equally responsible for what he is today.” He stopped to see Lily attentive, took a breath and continued “May be, if you could have given him a chance then, he could have been someone else.”
Lily was shocked to Dumbledore’s theory and every moment spent with Snape came alive in her mind. A new set of tears formed in her eyes, which slid down when she closed her eyes, leaning her back on the wall.
Dumbledore still continued, “You could see Snape giving you away to Voldemort, but you couldnot see the Snape who went all terrible at the realization of Voldemort hunting your family down post the prophecy. You could see Snape – The DeathEater, who could just hurt or kill, but you could not see the Snape, who came to you yet again at Bathilda’s, waiting for you to show up, to see you safe with his own eyes and talk to you. He tried talking to you, but you were not ready. Oh! You should have realized the better of him, when he did not kill Bathilda, how could have that mattered him – the Death Eater.”
“Snape is but, a victim of circumstances, forgive him if you can.” Saying this Dumbledore turned and left Lily crying on the wall.
The scene downstairs had not changed much, James and Sirius were still busy reminiscing the past and talking about the future, Voldemort, current ministry issues and safety measures. They could not guess what made Dumbledore to go upstairs after Lily, who came down after quite a while followed by Lily fifteen minutes later, who looked quite lost.
“I think I should leave.” Announced Sirius glancing at the watch.
“Oh, but how could you, I mean Lily wanted to talk to us about Miley, which is worrying her a lot – the issue of course.” Said Dumbledore instantly, which surprised Lily. Both James and Sirius got quite alert at this.
“But, Lily you did not tell me anything about this. What is it is?” asked Sirius worried. “Everything alright?”
“Yeah…uh…I mean.” Lily took a long breath and started after a while. “well as you all know, Miley is growing up, children start showing early signs of magic by now, and five being a tender age, no one can control their magic, but Miley’s magic is extra ordinary, way ahead of what I or James could ever do, or can do.”
“What do you mean, extraordinary?” asked Sirius. Dumbledore was all ears.
“She can already apparate.”
“WHAT…!!!” exclaimed a very surprised Sirius.
“Yes, we saw her do that.” Replied James.
“But you need a wand to do that.”
“Yeah. She used mine.”
“But, how did she know how to do, the exact method I mean.”
“That’s what the question is. She just said, she wanted to be here and did it. It just happened, according to her."
All this while Albus was quite with a smile on his face.
“The other day, I am sorry James for not telling you, she just disappeared, I think it was something close to Disillusion charm, which even I have a difficulty in doing, on being asked she replied – ‘I was here all this while’, it amazes me, yes, but worries me lot more.” She looked at Albus with pleading eyes.
Dumbledore was beaming when he said, “But she is a witch, Lily.” When he saw every eye on him for a explanation, he continued, “Miley, ah, Ana, I actually am doting on her. I knew she is going to be a great witch, since I saw her, at the very first meeting mind you. I don’t think there is anything to worry about.” “I think you are not aware but she is even capable of wandless magic, which you could have ignored assuming it to be Underage-uncontrolled magic. Miley is already much accomplished, what she needs is but proper training. I know what your concern actually is Lily, but don’t worry, she will be under good wizards at Hogwarts and I promise you, I will pay extra attention and nourish her under my personal self.” By that he stood up and announced to leave and Sirius joined him, after going to kids room to kiss them.
Heya, well its a show on the Harry Potter Costumes - with excerpts of the designers, Actors etc etc... Got it From the YouTube.!...You can find them here. Njoi...!!!
Part - 1
Part - 2
Part - 3
[ I hold no rights to these videos. All the rights are held by YouTube and the Uploader on YouTube - ManicStreetPreacher and the Channel.].
Labels: Videos
Tension rose in the room and every second felt like an hour. Time was ticking away and there was utmost silence in the room where minutes before was a party.
The door would open any minute now and they were all ready to cast or repel a spell. So, many things were running the minds of the three people standing alert in the room. Who could it be? How did he/ they get to know the secret? None knew what they would encounter once the door opened.
The doorknob turned, every hand held their wand tightly. The door gave way and was being pushed open.
Finally, the door opened and a tall thin figure of a man with long silver hair and a long beard, wearing half-moon spectacles and sweeping robes of the color of the night sky patterned with stars and moons, presented himself. He was beaming at them with twinkling, blue eyes, “I am sorry, for breaking and entry.”
The three of them were undeterred and did not loosen their defenses. Before James and Sirius could say anything Lily said, “Introduce yourself!” with a cold tone.
“But, it is surprising Lily, never experienced such a cold tone from you.” He said still being and added, “I am Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the founder and leader of the "Order of the Phoenix, of which you three are a member."
Where James and Sirius started putting their defences down, Lily again asked, “What muggle….?”
“Hey..! Lily, its ok he is Albus.” Said James and Sirius agreed nodding his head.
“Its alright let her ask.”
“What muggle ever wrote you a letter asking for an admission to Hogwarts?”
Both James and Sirius were shocked and surprised at the question and looked at Lily with strange expressions, they had never heard a thing like that.
“But, what are you suggesting Lily?” said James half laughing ans trying to suppress his laughter again said, “This is imp…//”
“But, of course Lily, who would know it better than yourself, its surprising I had always thought it was just between me and her.” He was still smiling and looked at Lily tilting his head, and his blue eyes as if scanning her mind. “Petunia, isn’t it. How is she anyways?’
Lily blushed, as she half suggested reading that letter to Dumbledore without Tuny’s knowledge. “Ah..Um..yeah she is fine. Got married and has a son.” She answered lowering her wand.
Both James and Sirius were too surprised to say anything, more so James, Lily had not told him anything, She actually never much talked about her, they were sister and were at average good terms and ever if visited each other, their only correspondence were few letters and exchange of Christmas gifts every year. That was all.
“I am really sorry. But, I had to check, right!”
“Indeed Lily. You were good.” He replied still beaming at them. “Well, if all’s been done, wont you invite and old man to sit, who is tiresome after a long journey?”
“Oh sorry, yeah do come in. Its such a pleasant surprise to have you.” Said Lily directing him to wards the sofa, where James and Sirius were still standing. They came forwards and shook hands on by one.
“Eh..!! I can smell, chocolate, hmm the cake looks delicious Lily, mind if I have some.”
“Of course not Albus, do have them, I’ll serve it for you.”
After Lily served him a big slice she went in the kitchen, to prepare for dinner. As, she opened the door she saw Miley up on the kitchen slab, having chocolates, sandwiches, and juice all at the same time, seeing Lily she got a bit afraid, but sensing her change of mood, carried on. “Oh, Miley, you actually will drive me crazy. Get down and wash your hands. And Albus is here, wish him, but before that go wash yourself.”
Meanwhile, in the other room.
As, Lily left for the kitchen, James asked Albus “What brings you here? Everything alright?”
“Well, James as you would very well have heard, there have been many deaths in the past few months and ministry is busy hushing up rather than try find solutions. I come here for two accounts. One is of course to check your well being and secondly to warn you from leaving the boundaries, Lupin told me about your little meeting. Well, James you must try not leaving the house that often, but my question is, how come Lupin met you when no Order member sighted you in the market?”
James beamed at him “I will just tell you my little secret.” And saying that, he got up and walked towards the coat hanger.
Lily had entered the room with a tray of butterbeers and more cake. She heard James saying that and when putting the tray on the table in front of Albus, she looked up at Sirius with curious eyes. Sirius beamed and winked at her saying, “Seems like, Jamie’s li’l secret’s gonna be a secret no more.”
James returned with a dark maroon cloth and handed it over to Dumbledore, saying “this is my little secret, and this is the reason that always kept us undetected and saved us from getting caught at Hogwarts.”
Dumbledore took it, what now seemed like an old worn out cloak.
“Its an invisibility cloak, my family’s heirloom.”
But, Dumbledore may or may not have listened, as the moment he set his eyes on the cloak; he seemed so engrossed in analyzing and feeling (touching) it. His eyes had a gleam. How could this happen? How could this be true? Is this actually what he was thinking it to be? Yes, he was so very sure about it. The thing he had been looking for, for more than a century lay in his hands and may be had been so close to him all those years.
He had given up the search long back, for so very obvious reasons. No, he wont let it overpower him yet again, no one in the room except him could even dream, that there at that very moment in that very room were two Hallows, after which many people had lain their very lives just searching for them. James obviously could not know that it was a Hallow. “But, James! This is cloak with unusual qualities, how do you own it?”
“Ah..well, , It is an heirloom, getting passed over from father to son for centuries in the family.
“James, I have not seen a cloak of such likes and this is but curios too see it has not lost its power after all these centuries. May I borrow it for a while.”
“Yes. Of course! Why not.”
“Think about it mate… No excursions…” said Sirius.
“Shut it Padfoot.”
“Lily, where are the children?” asked Albus.
Just then Miley entered the room and rushed towards Dumbledore.
“Good Evening, professor.” Saying this she kissed him on the cheek.
He beamed at her and kissed her back. Holding her back with his two hands he looked at her too his eyes fill and scanned her, she had not changed much.
“When will I get my letter, professor.”
He smiled and looked at Lily, “Ah, so you have started telling her stories of the school.”
“Pretty soon, my dear, pretty soon. Till then, you can have this.” He took out a frog chocolate box and, an old velvet wrapping from inside his robe’s pocket.
She took them saying thanks and started opening the chocolate box.
“Hope, you share them with me too.” Said Dumbledore with a smile.
“But, Albus you are spoiling her, everytime you come visiting you get her something.” Said Lily.
“Ah..Lily, feels good to give gifts and when even I can have a share.” He smiled.
Miley set the box on the table and started opening the velvet wrapping, she opened it with intricacy of a mature person and handled it delicately, which was curious at her age. There lay a conical crystal see-through pendant (a size of a half finger) with a silver chain, Lily took it from Miley and pulled the chain in her hands, looking at it with amazed eyes. All eyes were set upon it now.
“But, this seems to be a valuable present to give to a child, Albus.” Said Lily.
“Ah.. Lily you are so easy to get worried about such things.”
“What is it, exactly?” asked Sirius.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, now that you are gifting it to her, it has to be something special and invaluable. What is it.” Pressed upon James.
“Well, this is a pendant.” Albus smiled and continued acknowledging their curiosity, “It’s a Remeyerall, and only one in the whole world.”
They looked at each other; none had heard anything about it, not even Lily.
“Please elaborate.” Said Sirius.
“Rem-eye-rall, is just one in the whole world. It works just like a Remembrall does. Where a Remembrall shows red smoke when the holder forgets something, a Remeyerall is just opposite. See the cone, its empty right now. But once she wears it, it will start filling up with smoke of the color of all your eyes, the people ho love her and care for her the most and whom she loves the most and under whose presence she feels protected. Maximum can only be ‘seven’ most important people in her life. Whoever’s love for her is the maximum, the smoke will dominate the rest, it will cover up the boundary, and the others would be visible in layers in the background. Once the people go out of her life, forget her or die, the smoke will apparently disappear. See for yourself.” Saying this he took the chain from Lily’s hands and put in around Miley’s neck.
Every eye saw in awe at the crystal cone in which, as it touched Miley’s skin started producing smokes of various colors. Once the smokes started collecting one on one as a layer that they could make out the colors.
Ø Green: Lily
Ø Hazel: James
Ø Grey: Sirius
Ø Blue: Albus
Ø Green: Harry
Ø Brown: Lupin [I am using this color myself, coz JKR has never talked about his eye color.]
Ø Green: …(which obviously none noticed, because Lily and Harry too had that color for eyes.)
“But, Albus this is just so amazing and a wonderful gift anyone could have. Thank you so much.” Asserted Lily.
The most excited was Miley, though she did not realize the importance or value of the gift, still it was a new strange and amazing thing to have, which she had understood was rare and special.
Albus looked at Miley’s excited expressions and her happy figure took him back to his own memory of a young girl, of her age who had gone out of his life so long back, it was just in memories that she remained. How he regretted losing her, and how he had and would always blame himself for her death. How he regretted not giving her the attention and love and care she deserved and demanded. How he, who was left to care for her, was responsible for her death. How he had been so blind that he could not see what he was actually doing. How could his parents ever forgive him? How could Ariana and Aberforth ever forgive him? How could he ever forgive himself? He controlled his racing thoughts before he could lose control over them, and came back.
Lily had got up and served dinner already. She came back to call them all to the table.
The inhabitants of the corner house, at Godric’s Hollow, had a reason to be, all jubilant. After all this time they were expecting a relative (well, Sirius after all was family.) after such a long time. In many weeks, everyone seemed so happy and had actually been looking forward to the evening. Lily had been busy all day, (they had already arranged for bottles of Butter-beers, Pumpkin and pineapple juices, sandwiches for snacks and bacon and scrambled eggs for dinner) baking cakes one chocolate fudge and other vanilla and black-currant essence with lots of nuts, , which she knew was Sirius’s favorite and she had tried hard to learn from her late Mother-in-law.
Oh god! How much time it had taken her to consume all those intricacies for the ingredients to clean up and mix well and that too accordingly or it could spoil up the whole thing. Lily laughed at the idea, she remembered her potions classes at Hogwarts, how she and Snape would compete to be the first to brew a potion, and how Snape would lose, even after being all that good (he actually used to do it knowingly and made Lily win), Lily could not believe she was thinking about Snape all over again. How could she…just how could she…. After all this!! She tried to shake off the idea out of her mind.
She imagined someone calling her name. Oh no, it was James, standing right beside her. How long had he been there, how long had she been thinking about Snape and how consumed was she..?/////
“Hey, Lily…You fine! I had been calling you, you just didn’t listen.”
“Um..uh..yeah was just, busy …”
“Lily darling, I know you are upset. You were thinking about Snape right.”
Lily looked full in his face. “Lily I can understand how you feel, but its no good in blaming yourself about it.”
“But, I had once been his friend…” tears filled her eyes. “How could I ever be friends with such a person, why didn’t I realize, he was…” “He seemed so different.” “WHY….!!!!!!………..just why…I always thought I could change him.”
“Lily some things happen for good, as they say, if you had been friends with him, you would never had as far as looked at me, or fallen for me….a toerag…heheh that’s what you said…”
“Wha…..how do you….”
“UMM…..never mind..” He hugged her.
They were disturbed by a sound from the living room, which was coming closer
.
“Heyyyy,……..llllllllloooooooooo…..anybody there…?////”…Hey mates what is this…not acceptable…you call someone for dinner and when the special honored someone arrives theres noone but an old cat to welcome him…?/// said Sirius in his usual tone and wearing the same famous smile.
“Hey…mate..good to see you” James took 3 steps, and rest were covered by Sirius and they hugged. Sirius came to Lily and kissed her on the cheeks. Lily welcomed him with her warm smile and they together went to the living room and seated.
“Hey..!! So where are the kids.?/”
“yeah..oh I’ll just bring them down.” Said Lily getting up from the sofa.
“No, Lily wait. I want to discuss few things, before that.” Said Sirius.
It was not often that you saw Sirius, to be that serious. Lily sat down.
“Well, I read what has happened here in the past weeks, and Albus had asked two order members to keep watch, one of them being Moony, but the watch is called off. Fidelius charm is working too well. And they sighted some death eaters in the vicinity” “no victims” he added on seeing their changed expressions.
“So, my mind has been thinking hard and it has finally come up with an idea.”
They exchanged looks. “Confused? Well I’ll explain” “Prongs and me are very good friends and more of an extended family, this is a worldwide known fact.” He said making an inverted comma kind of a gesture in the air.
“I could be the secret keeper, even a troll can come upto the conclusion.” He tried to laugh. “And here we are dealing with death eaters and Voldemort himself. Reckon, why they could not come upto the same conclusion? Making me the secret keeper was not all that a big idea after all, no they could not know the secret, even over my death”
“What are you suggesting?” asked James.
“Prongsie, don’t you reckon! We need to change the secret keeper. That would be much more safer and that too someone whom no one could ever put a doubt again. And, this time I want it to be just between the three of us. Looking over all the facts, I feel that this could be the best idea.” “Any, Questions..?”
He looked enquiringly at both of them and when none of them said any thing, he went on “Well, I have already thought about it a lot, and I think Wormtail would be our best take.”
“WORMY..!!” both of them said out aloud.
“Yeah.! I know it’s a bit strange to believe,” said Sirius his smile coming back to him. “But, look at it. With Wormy’s reputation noone could ever put the facts together. Noone could think it could be him. It is the best idea. Don’t you think, to put someone – a less obvious one.” He finished saying and looked at both of them, from Lily to James. Who were still not any near to responding?
“Hey mate..! what in this is making it so undigestable..?/”
“But..Padfoot” said James, “Albus decided upon you to be the secret keeper. How can we take a new decision without involving any one, even Moony or Albus for instance.”
“Look, Prongs, You very well know, Moony has to be with his own folk, as the Order’s spy and Albus on the other hand is always busy making so much plans. And don’t you think it to be a foolproof thing to do. Do you doubt it?”
“Well, on second thoughts I do think the idea is good enough, chosing someone less obvious. And obviously fro me all of you are equally believable, I could never mistrust any one of you or put any one on a different pedestal.”
“So, I reckon my idea is accepted..!”
All this while Lily had been silently listening, But seeing James agree she said “Are, you both gone mad. How could you take such a big decision without informing Both Albus and Moony, and specially Albus.” She almost screamed.
Both of them looked at her and tried hard to talk her out of it, but still she needed much of logic. Finally, she did agree but still added “I don’t know and am not much sure, its just that not telling anyone is giving me those chills and goosepimples. Something seems just so wrong with it. But, if you feel its right, then go on.”
The air in the room was getting serious, but immediately Sirius announced, “Heyloo…you call someone at dinner and get him welcomed by an old scowling cat, and when he himself announces his arrival, you just sit there staring at his face, then you don’t bring down the kids to give him a warm welcome and don’t even ask him for a drink or a snack leave away food.” The scene changed to a happy one and the air lightened up. It had always been Sirius’s speciality.
Lily got up, to first bring out snacks and juice and then call up the kids. James followed her back to the kithen, to help her out with the trays. They re-entered with juices and Sandwiches. Sirius’s expression was one of happiness filled with contentment.
“It feels so great to know, that, out there somewhere you have people who think of you, who care for you and wait for you, its fells so good to have a family of your own.” Finished Sirius, looking up as if in a trance, and looking over them. Lily noticed a speck of tear in his eyes but before she could say anything James said, “But, you do have a family, and its right here.”
“But, of course James this is my family, since the time I left them, and I know I left them for good.” He said with a tone of completion.
“Um..well did you find out anything about Regulus?” James asked suddenly.
“I do not wanna talk about it.”
(Lily decided to leave them alone for a moment, and left for upstairs to bring down the children.)
“But you told me he had been owling you a lot, before his disappearance.”
“Yeah..and that is all I know, he was trying to contact me but I obviously was not much interested. But, now when I think of it, may be I should have gone and try to find out what he wanted to contact me for.”
“Well any news did you try finding out about him?”
“Yeah. I have got a bit of an idea. I think he, well as you too very well know, was quite obsessed with hid Dark Lord thing. And followed just like other of his types went after him. What I think, would have happened is, he would have gone all obsessed and would have had got all scared by being at the center of the thing and to find what actually he was running after and, he just panicked and got killed by their own.”
“Hmm..and about your mother.”
“Look, James just leave it. Its all over, now.”
Before James could say anything he saw Sirius looking over his head and went towards the staircase, James turned to see Lily coming down with Harry up in her arms and Miley beside her. And the moment Miley put eyes on Sirius, she gave a squeal and ran towards him, Sirius took her in his arms and hugged her. She hugged him with all the strength in her little arms. She kissed him on the cheeks repeatedly, what more could he ask for. After a while he put her down with all his biggest of smiles and declared, “If you actually wanna know how to welcome someone and make him feel special, then learn it from her.” He said with a big grin towards James and Lily who were all smiles. Sirius went towards Lily and took Harry in his arms and kissed him, “Well, hope she gives all the lessons to him too.” They all laughed.
“Sirius, so what did you get for me?” enquired Miley with a curios look, hands croosed. Sirius gave her a full look.
“Oh..well she’s just got into a bad habit of calling everyone with their names. That needs to be corrected.” Said Lily worriedly.
“Never mind Lily, I actually liked the tone. Makes you feel answerable..si finally Sirius Black is cornered by a lady..eh?/”
He bent down to get to Miley’s level and with a big smile took aout the box of chocolates from his coat’s pocket and handed it out to her.” She was so happy and started jumping excitedly.
“Miley dear thank him.” Said Lily.
She hugged Sirius again and ran to kitchen. Sirius looked curiosly at Lily at this.
“Oh.. probably gone to fill her chocolate box container. She actually had been missing your chocolates a lot.”
He looked towards the kitchen and said, “ Miley, Mia….I love her, she actually knows how to make your day.” Lily patted him on the back and gestured him to the sofa. He got up and sat on the sofa.
They were soon busy, filling each other up with the news, talking about the bygone days and much much more. The best part of the evening was when Lily brought in the vanilla and black-currant essence cake with lots of nuts, Sirius said “ Well, even you know how to make someone’s day, and Lily thank you for making it This special. I could never thank you more.”
“Padfoot! You are family, you don’t have to thank us.” She retorted back.
The party was going on good and Miley again was up with her pranks and Lily filled Sirius with all news on Miley, her pranks and her magic, the last she discussed with a serious tone. “But, it’s a reason to be proud Lily, we have got a gifted one here.” Said Sirius with a big grin. She just couldnot decide what to say.
Noone could ever say that this place could ever had been mellow. Air was all full with happiness.
Just when Lily announced time for dinner, they felt some disturbance at the front gate. Everyone went quite and Lily took the children to the kitchen and came back closing the door.
It was already weekend, and Miley had been excited all these days, and was being extra nice, and trying hard to not get into any pranks, which had become her second nature and even if she tried hard to avoid, she pulled one out. She reminded Lily a lot of James’ and Sirius’ ways in the school.
She was already five and her magic was all showing out and it was so very different and amazing to what they had experienced in their childhood. It left them (Lily and James) thinking hard, as to how Miley at such a tender age perform such magic and how could she control it. Because no child without proper training could even half control the magic they have got inside. Most of the times it went on ok, but sometimes, it gave her those chills.
Miley was not an unusual child. She was normal for any five years old. She was just so normal. But her magic, her magic was indeed unusual, unusual for a child of her age.
And now with Harry already being at someone’s lookout. She did not want Miley too, to be a matter of attention to anyone.
She knew it was only Albus, who could guide her the best.
