Disclaimer – I do not own anything but the plot
Author's Note – Yeah, sorry about all the long waits. I'll try to write more now that it is summer.
Date Chapter Started: Thursday, August 3, 2006
Date Chapter Ended:
Date Chapter Updated:
Half a truth is often a great lieBenjamin Franklin
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"Yeah," Sophia replied. "We haven't told Dumbledore yet because we were hoping you guys had some weird way to find out where she is," Sophie finished.
"Well, there is one thing we can use," Remus said, heading to James' trunk. "Sirius, where did you leave the map?"
It was silent and then Sirius whispered, "I didn't leave it anywhere. Lily has it."
Chapter 11 – The end of the beginning
"Lily has it?" James growled. "She could be anywhere." He paused and then added "Wait, does she know how to use it?"
Sirius nervously chuckled, "Uh, that would be a yes."
"We are in serious shit," James said, resting his head in his hands.
Remus decided it was time to take over. "Sophia, go back to your room and check through all Lily's stuff, making sure she doesn't have parchment in any weird places. If so, come back and show them to Peter. Peter, you stay here and wait for Sophia. Sophia also get everyone else to look for Lily in the girl's bathrooms and the library. James you take first and second story classrooms and hallways. I'll take the other floors. Sirius, you check all secret passages and maybe take a stop in Hogsmeade to look for her there. We all meet at dinner," Remus said and dismissed everyone.
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Everyone had been searching for a couple of hours and met at dinner with still no news of Lily. They had searched after dinner as well, but were finally left to the conclusion that if she didn't show up by tomorrow night they were going to have to tell Dumbledore.
All of them were going to cover for Lily and take notes for her in the hope that when she did show up, she would appreciate having them to catch up on what she missed.
They all went to sleep that night with worried looks and restless sleep.
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Lily, having found the Marauder's map very helpful, had made her way to Hogsmeade and checked in at a small hotel. She just needed one night by herself to clear her head. She knew everyone was probably worried about her, but everything was so messed, one more day of craziness wasn't going to matter. Lily had, had dinner sent up to her room and not left it since she had first arrived. Finally at some odd hour of the night she had found sleep.
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END OF DAY TWO
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Lily awoke in the late afternoon. She had not gotten to sleep that late in a long time. She pulled the covers closer around her and enjoyed to soft comfort she received from them. She pushed all thoughts of the last two days out of her head and just enjoyed how relaxed she felt lying there. She didn't want to have to think about anything for a whole day.
She lay there, unmoving, for a few moments and then got out of bed. She pulled the curtains open and saw that the sun was out and the day looked pleasant. She could have just stayed there by herself forever, she thought, until her stomach let out a loud agitated growl.
"Food," she muttered and moved away from the window, quickly changing and exiting the hotel room.
Lily made her way downstairs to the small coffee shop that was bellow the hotel. She found a table and sat down by herself after she had ordered a blueberry muffin and an espresso.
After her muffin she headed back to her room and went back to sleep. She slept most the day, waking up at two o'clock. Lily got up and packed all her stuff together. She lazily dragged her bag down the stairs, gave the room key back at the desk and wandered down to the small park down the street.
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Back at Hogwarts James, Sirius, Remus and all Lily's friends covered for her in class, the whole time worrying about Lily and where she was. James was now on speaking terms with Sirius, but he referred to him at Black and usually only responded with grunts and small talk.
The day seemed to pass slowly for everyone and by the time it was diner everyone was extremely anxious because Lily had not shown up. Sirius, through the day, had become deep and thought and had even stopped trying to get James so talk to him. Sirius was slowly remembering his conversation with Lily. He had told her to meet him in Hogsmeade. It was the only shot he had at finding out where Lily is and he was going to take it in the hopes that James would forgive him if he brought Lily back.
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After diner, Sirius made his way to the secret passage in Hogsmeade. He had left James, Remus, Peter and the girls in the common room thinking up a way they were going to break the news to Dumbledore. Sirius had pretended that he didn't feel well and so excused himself to go to the nurse. He began to think what would happen if Lily didn't show up and never came back to school. James would probably become severely depressed and so Sirius had to find Lily.
Sirius got to the entrance and quickly made his way to Hogsmeade. He was soon standing out on the street and trying to decide where Lily would have gone if she were going to meet him. He soon settled on going to the Three Broomsticks first. He jogged down the road and opened the door. Sure enough, Lily was sitting on a barstool at a table near the east window. She looked wrapped up in the book she was reading, not even looking up to see who had entered.
Sirius could tell why James was so infatuated with her. Lily looked so adorable wrapped up in her maroon robes, her nose pressed excitedly into the pages of her book. She had a small smile playing across her lips like she was really enjoying what she was reading.
Sirius quietly made his way over to her table and sat down across from her. Without looking up or even acknowledging his presence Lily said, "Hey Sirius. I was wondering when you were going to show."
Sirius jumped a little bit at her sudden greeting. "Hi Lily."
Neither of them said anything, but after a few minutes passed Lily closed her book and set it on the table. "What do you want?" Lily asked gently.
"Everyone's worried about you. James even started talking to me again just because you disappeared without telling anyone. Why did you leave?" Sirius gushed.
"I needed to be alone," Lily replied evenly. "I was planning on coming back tonight."
"Oh," Sirius responded and it was silent again.
"We need to fix this Sirius and you are going to help me. I know we haven't been friends in the past and that we barely know each other, but in the last few days you seem to not be so bad. I also have realized that no matter how horrible I thought James was, he is just a person and he doesn't need me to break his heart. That is why you and me are going to go by to Hogwarts right now and talk to James. We are going to fix your and his friendship and I am going to put thing straight between him and me. Then maybe this drama will finally end," Lily stated and then paused and continued. "Plus, I'm sorry about kissing you. I was just so caught up in being pissed I thought maybe James would see us and get even more mad at you. It was a really bitchy thing to do, so I'm sorry for that too Sirius." With that, Lily stuck our her hand and offered it to Sirius, "Truce?"
"Truce," Sirius replied and they shook on it.
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Lily had gotten all her stuff ready in less that five minutes and met Sirius on the street. They walked back to Hogwarts in silence and made their way to the Gryffindor common room. When they walked in, they first noticed their friends huddled in a heated discussion. They didn't even look up as Lily and Sirius walked over to them.
"Hi guys," Lily said cautiously.
They all turned around and Chloe squealed, "Lily where were you? We were so worried." She ran up and pulled Lily into a huge hug.
"I just need some alone time," Lily replied softly. More firmly she added, "Can Sirius, James and I talked alone for a little while guys?"
"Sure," they responded in unison and split up, heading back to their rooms.
James sat alone on a chair, not looking at either of them, but even he couldn't hide the look of relief on his face.
"James," Lily began.
"Yeah?" he replied finally looking up at them.
"Can we talk to you," She asked.
"Sure," he mumbled.
Lily sat down on the couch and Sirius took the chair across from James. No one said anything for a long while.
"James, look I'm sorry," Sirius finally managed to get out. "I should have gone behind your back and talked to Lily. I should have had you confront her and I'm sorry that you had to hear what she said, but I think you missed some parts of our conversation. I bet you left before I told Lily that if she ever hurt you I was going to get her back ten times worse. You may think I betrayed you James, but you are like a brother to me and I would never let a girl get in between us."
James said nothing and gave no intention what he thought of Sirius' confession.
"Ok, my turn," Lily said, taking over. "So you probably think I'm a bitch for doing what I did. Well James, do you know how many times you have made me cry because of your relentless teasing. You are the only one who could me as upset as I have been, but regardless what I did I know realize was horrible. No matter how much we don't get along, you don't deserve to be hurt in the way I planned to hurt you. If I had realized this earlier maybe I could have spared us at least some of this drama, but what is done is done. Maybe we can put this behind us and try something we never tried before. Friendship is all I can offer you and I will completely understand if you never even want to talk to me again. I've been a horrible person," Lily said and went silent just as Sirius had done.
James opened his mouth as if to replied, but then closed it again and thought some more. So Lily and Sirius had apologized. He knew he had to forgive Sirius. They had been best friends since before he could even remember. Also, if what Sirius had said was true then he was the best friend James had ever had and there was no way he was letting Lily come in between that.
But when it came to Lily, James was confused on what to do. Yes, Lily had finally come out and done the courageous thing. She was straight with him and he admired that in her, but she had hurt him. She had hurt him for no good reason or at least it seemed that way James. What if he had really made her cry? If he had ever made cry then he really would have to forgive her. It would be horrible if he had made her cry.
"Lily, did I really make you cry?" James whispered.
"Yes," Lily replied calmly and looked down at her feet.
"Sirius, I'm sorry I got so mad at you and I'm sorry I never listened to what you had to say. I don't know how I could live without you. And you aren't like a brother to me, you are my brother," James replied and Sirius grinned from ear to ear.
"It's good to gave you back, Prongs," Sirius said and got up and gave James a huge hug.
"Same to you, Padfoot," James said and hugged Sirius back just as hard.
When they were done with their manly bonding, James turned to Lily. "I forgive you, but that doesn't mean we can be friends. For one thing I do not trust you and the only good kind of friendship is based on trust. If you ever pull anything like this again I don't think I will be even able to look at you. I'm sorry I made you cry though, I really am," James said.
Lily gave him a weak smile, "I'm sorry I made you cry to James. I'll see you around."
"Yeah," he agreed.
Lily quickly stood up and giving the two boys one more weak smile she ran off to her room.
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Author's Notes – You are going to shoot me for this, but that is the end, the complete end of the story. I decided to just make it a short little fic, but before you kill me WAIT! I am going to write a sequel so be sure to read it. I hope you enjoyed the story.
-The oh so psycho one