Author's notes: This chapter was brought to you in a quick and orderly manner mostly because my family decided to drive all the way from South Dakota down to Arizona this past week and my father graciously decided to bring his laptop along with him. Seeing as though Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico do not have the most interesting scenery, I was bored out of my skull and pretty much no distractions. But this laptop only had two hours of battery service (not even) and I had to conserve time wisely, so not much was accomplished the first driving days nor while we were in Phoenix because I was busying myself with a getting a tan so I don't look horrendous in my prom dress. Then, my wonderful and glorious father bought a power converter for the drive back home and I could use the laptop as long as I wanted. Muwahahaha. Thus, completed and betaed chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any references to James Cameron's Titanic.
Chapter Twenty
12:30 AM
R.M.S Titanic
Second Wireless Operator Harold Bride hovered anxiously behind John Phillips, resisting the urge to lean over his shoulder and read what he was scribbling with his stubby pencil. Phillips had stopped dictating messages to him a few minutes ago, concentrating on a conversation with a particular ship, and had stopped tapping messages in return too, thus leaving Bride in the dark as to what was taking place over the wire.
They had made contact with several ships, including Titanic's sister ship Olympic, and although many were preparing to come and help, most were too far away to be of any help. The Olympic's position was at least five hundred miles away from theirs!
The last message Phillips had ground out had been an angry: "Come at once! We've struck a berg!" He was currently listening to their response, an unreadable expression on his face. Half the responding ships didn't seem to understand the seriousness of the situation.
Suddenly, Phillips threw off his headphones and thrust the piece of paper he'd been writing on at Bride.
"The Carpathia says she'll come; she'll make twenty-seven knots at full steam and she's fifty-eight miles away," he explained in a rush of breath. Bride took the card, staring at it. "Took me a bit to get the message across – the idiot on the other side was asking me how our sailing was…clearly wasn't listening at all – "
"She'll be here in four hours then," Bride interrupted, doing the calculations in his head. "Do you think…I mean, will the ship stay afloat that long?"
Phillips shrugged, reaching for his headset again.
"At least she's coming, right? She's much closer than the rest of this lot," he said, swatting the pile of messages from other ships.
"What about the Californian?" Bride asked, remembering the exchange they'd had earlier in the evening. The other operator had interrupted the Cape Race work and earned Phillips's wrath in response. "That spark was nearly on top of us, I could hear it halfway across the room…Couldn't they…?"
"I think they've shut off their headset," Phillips said uneasily. "Anyway, the Carpathia's our best hope until the Californian decides to get back on the line. Would you run that to the captain for me so I can keep sending messages?"
Bride nodded and made a move toward the door, paper in hand. He paused in the corridor, remembering something they had discussed before, and turned, leaning around the door.
"Oy, Phillips!"
The other operator pulled off one ear on the headset and turned expectantly.
"Why don't you try out that new distress call…whatsit called, SOS?" Bride suggested, gesturing at the wireless set with a tight grin. "Might be our only chance to use it, you know."
12:34 AM
"Oooh, I'm not taking one step on that thing," Mrs. Dursley sniffed, staring disdainfully at the lifeboat they had gathered in front of. She turned to Lucius, a pitiful expression on her face. "It looks quite unsafe…can't we just stay on the ship?"
Tom resisted the urge to roll his eyes, though if the circumstances had been any different – if this were actually a drill – he might've agreed with her and demanded to stay on board Titanic. But Mrs. Dursley didn't know what he knew…
Severus hadn't told her what he'd overheard below decks; she hadn't read Thomas Andrews's expression when he'd passed by in daze in the foyer. She didn't know that within in a few hours that this ship would become a death trap, that she was turning up her nose at one of her only means to get off alive.
He didn't understand this chivalrous nonsense Captain Smith and his officers were pulling, only letting women and children on board first. The men – the first class men, anyway – should have an equal chance of taking a seat on a lifeboat, especially considering half the women on the Boat Deck would rather stay on board the ship. Just because women were weak little things didn't mean that they needed priority seating.
"I need women and children only, please!" Second Officer Charles Lightoller called, waving people over to his boat. Despite that the first of the boats were ready, very few passengers were out on the Boat Deck. Most were still inside in the Grand Staircase foyer, avoiding the cold as long as possible. Tom was certainly glad he had followed his steward's advice and bundled up.
He couldn't say the same for others in his group. Beside him, Evans's teeth were chattering most annoyingly. Lucius had noticed this too and had pulled her into a tight embrace, giving off the impression that he was trying to keep her warm. Most likely, he was trying to keep her from running off.
"Don't worry, Petunia," Evans said in a falsely cheerful tone, reaching out a hand and touching her sister's arm. "I'm sure the lifeboats are safe. They wouldn't be putting us on them if they weren't."
Tom glanced at her again, noticing the fear in her green eyes. So Evans knew too. The Weasley whelp had probably told her while they were getting cosy on the staircase. Her sister was the only one in their group who did not know what was happening then, and that was probably for the best. Mrs. Dursley would be the first to panic if she knew what was truly going on. Tom had to give Evans credit, however – she, in failing at everything else, could at least keep a cool head when faced with a crisis.
"Yes, well…" Petunia trailed off, watching as the crew began helping the first of the women on board. She shuddered dramatically, probably thinking about doing that herself.
"Oh, Tom! There you are!"
Tom turned. Approaching from the stern was Lacerta Black, dressed in many furs and wearing a hat almost as ridiculously large as Mrs. Dursley's. Behind her, Regulus trailed, and the oldest Black brother was not in sight.
"Lacerta," he said, kissing the back of her hand in greeting. "Wonderful evening, isn't it?"
"Morning, Tom," she corrected, laughing and looping her arm with his. "I suppose you haven't seen my wayward son either, have you? Regulus has gone and lost him."
This question surprised Tom. Lacerta usually ignored Sirius at every opportunity. He shook his head and she sighed.
"Oh, that boy! I never know where he is…I didn't see him at luncheon and he wasn't in his stateroom. Do you think he knows about the lifeboat drill?"
"Don't worry, Mum," Regulus said, before Tom had the chance to reply. He laid a hand on his mother's shoulder and leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. "I'll find him."
Regulus then turned to Tom and, looking slightly embarrassed, asked, "Would you mind watching over my mother until my brother and I return? I think it would make her feel better if she had company."
Tom looked down at Lacerta, who was busy eyeing Evans and Lucius with much distaste. She didn't look worried yet, but her sons - even Sirius - meant the world to her. If they didn't show up, especially if things started getting bad, Tom was sure she'd break down into hysterics…If she became too distraught, there was a chance that she'd need someone to escort her onto a lifeboat, someone she knew –
"It would be my pleasure, Regulus," Tom responded, a slow grin spreading across his face.
Regulus nodded, looking pleased, and turned to his mother again.
"Sirius and I will be back in time to see you off."
Lacerta waved him away, saying something about how Regulus had always been such a good boy. Tom did not listen and watched as Regulus melted into the crowd beginning to form astern.
If he had any say about it, Lacerta would never see either of her boys again.
12:38 AM
Sirius and Remus had passed many other gates on their way to the main stairwell, but all were locked and would remain so. Some people had gathered at those gates, imploring the stewards on the other side to let them through, but the stewards would having none of it, directing them back to the main stairwell.
Many believed, Remus included, that the main gates would be open then and they would be able to head to safety.
There was no such luck.
Since they had arrived, more and more people had crowded into the stairwell, carrying their possessions and hoping to gain passage to the upper decks this way. The gates, however, remained locked and the three stewards on the other side were telling all the passengers to calm down and wait until everything above decks was ready.
Remus was at the bottom of the steps, leaning against the wall, his small bag at his feet. Sirius had insisted on being in the middle of the crush of people on the stairs, but Remus would have none of that madness and said he'd wait where he could actually breathe.
Sirius, already fed-up with the way this operation was going, jumped straight into the crowd and started shoving his way up to the top, mostly likely to vent his spleen on one of the stewards. He had disappeared from sight a few minutes ago, but Remus was sure that he was near the top.
"Please, everyone, you must stay calm!" the voice of the leading steward floated down the stairwell. Remus snorted. His fellow passengers, aside from some very loud grumblings, were completely calm. The steward was clearly overreacting. "It's not time to go up to the boats yet!"
Across the foyer, Remus could see Sigrid, heavily bundled and wearing a lifebelt, surrounded by her father and brothers. She caught Remus's eye and he waved. She smiled, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder, but made no move toward him.
Briefly, Remus wondered where James was. His anger at James had faded the moment Sirius had told him about the flooding – how could he stay mad at James for completely stupid reason when something this serious was happening?
Surely, Remus figured, if the ship were critically damaged, the Master at Arms wouldn't leave him locked up at the bottom of the ship. That would simply be inhumane.
Perhaps James was already up on the Boat Deck, trying to find him or Sirius. Maybe the Master at Arms was using the 'criminals' he had arrested to help load boats. Maybe James had escaped – he had to have taken his lock-picking tools this morning. Maybe, maybe, maybe…
Wherever he was, Remus hoped with all his heart that it wasn't in the lonely little Master at Arms office with no means of escape.
12:41 AM
After reaching the top of the staircase and staring out from behind the locked gates, Sirius was unimpressed with the White Star Line hands keeping him locked below decks. The steward in charge was a small man, who was quickly growing frightened as the stairwell below continued to fill with people. The two crewmembers assisting him were no better, paling as the curious inquires of passengers began changing into outraged shouts and demands.
"Open the bloody gate!"
"Let us out!"
"I don't understand – why can't we go up?"
These cries were only coming from some of the passengers, mostly the ones close enough to the gate and those growing frustrated with the head steward. Sirius was one of those people, but he had already been furious as he had elbowed his way up the stairwell.
How could the captain issue such an order, locking passengers down below when the ship was in danger? How could the crew treat paying passengers like animals, throwing lifebelts at them, herding them into cramped corridors like this, and not even explaining the situation properly to them?
Sirius was absolutely positive that his mother and brother would know what was happening. They were probably up on deck, in line for a lifeboat right now, socialising and laughing with their friends, wearing warm coats. They were probably being shown how to put their lifebelts on properly. They wouldn't have to wait for the other passengers to fill up the limited space in the lifeboats.
Like Lily, Sirius had listened to Thomas Andrews during most of their tour earlier today. He remembered, almost too vividly, Andrews casually mentioning that there weren't enough lifeboats for half on board.
That was the thought that had first run across his mind when he had seen those people run by with their trouser legs soaked. If something were wrong with the ship, only half the passengers would get off safely.
He hadn't told Remus this – there had been no time, no proper place. He couldn't very well blurt out that there weren't enough lifeboats for everyone in the middle of a crowded corridor. He'd cause a panic and that was the last thing anyone – even this pompous steward – needed right now.
"Excuse me," Sirius said, raising his voice. "But do you think you could open the gates now?"
The steward looked, most likely surprised to hear a cultured tone among the unwashed masses. His gaze moved downward, taking in everything from Sirius's rumpled designer suit to the gold pin stuck in his lapel to his shined leather shoes. The steward's face turned as white as he shirt.
"Muh – Muh – Mr. Black, sir!" His exclamation was loud, and Sirius winced. The stairwell quieted and the balding English passenger standing next to him understandably stiffened. It wasn't everyday that you got to stand next to a member of the infamous Black family. "What…What are you doing here, in steerage?"
The steward seemed not altogether shocked. The practice of "slumming" was quite common among his peers, who thought the steerage passengers were too dull to tell the difference.
"That's none of your concern, I think," Sirius responded. Though his tone was quiet, his voice echoed ominously throughout the stairwell. "Do you mind opening the gates? I've had about enough of White Star Line's so-called service tonight."
"Y – Yes! Certainly, sir!"
Sirius felt a stirring of relief in his belly. He glad for once that throwing around his name and status was a benefit to others and not an embarrassment to himself.
The relief, however, lasted only a moment.
Sirius glanced at the balding man next to him. Instead of appearing relieved or even grateful, the man glared hatefully at him. He looked around, noticing the other passengers were glaring similarly or sharing a contemptuous whisper. Sirius couldn't understand why, until the steward spoke again.
"Here, move aside, you! Step back, we need to let a first class passenger through!"
They were opening the gates, but they were only going to let him through.
Only him.
A great wave of indignation ripped through Sirius and, gripping the gate tight in his grasp, he demanded, "What are you doing?"
The steward stopped mid-wave, surprised once again.
"I – I'm opening the gates, sir, just like you – "
"You're only opening the gate for me."
The stairwell seemed even more cramped than before – he could hear every baited breath from those behind him, he could feel all the eyes focused on the back of his neck. This only made his determination stronger.
"Yes. That's what you requested, isn't it?"
"No," Sirius said slowly, making sure he got the point this time. "I asked you to open the gate for everyone."
Sirius caught the balding man's shoulders soften just a bit out of the corner of his eye, and he was sure the other stares suddenly became less hateful. The steward looked over his shoulder at his two lackeys, both of whom shrugged.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Black, sir," the steward said, turning back. "I have my orders…I'm not to open the gates until the captain gives the command."
"But you'll let me through?"
"Yes, if that's what you want – "
"That's not what I want, goddamn it!" Sirius interrupted, his fury exploding. He shook the gates as hard as he could, wishing that he were shaking the steward instead. "I don't want to be let out if I have to leave everyone else down here behind! I have friends down here! Let us all out, right now!"
"Mr. Black, please remain calm! I can do nothing until - "
Sirius drew himself up to his full height and glowered. He swore he saw the steward tremble just a bit.
"Nothing? You bloody well can do something! No one else on this damned ship is locked below like animals! Shouldn't we all have a chance?"
The steward's feeble attempts to explain were drowned out by cries of agreement from the other passengers. Sirius's outburst had ignited the fires burning in the men and women standing next to him. More began to demand to be let out while others followed his example and shook the gates.
Instead of slinking back in fright, the trio on the other side seemed to be emboldened by this show of defiance and grew more forceful in their denials. One ran off to get more reinforcements while the other ducked away for a moment and reappeared with an axe.
Sirius realised then, as he glared down at the steward, that this was going to be a tougher fight than either he or Remus had anticipated. Not for the first time, he wished that James had let his tools collect dust at the bottom of his trunk.
12:45 AM
Unfortunately for both Remus and Sirius, James was in that lonely little office with no hope of escape and was completely incapable of using his lock picking tools, which had been stored away in one of the Master's cabinets.
He had the means, but escape at this point seemed futile, considering the only two other occupants in the room were another man chained to the same pipe and a sadistic undertaker with a gun, who was currently amusing himself by rolling a bullet continuously down the sloping desktop.
James had been morbidly fascinated with this activity when the undertaker had first started. It was completely shocking, watching that bullet roll down a surface that had been completely level an hour before. The slope only seemed to get steeper and their situation more and more dire as minutes passed.
Until that bullet had rolled down the desk, James had refused to believe what Snape had told him. The Titanic couldn't be sinking – she was safest piece of machinery afloat and it was her maiden voyage too! It was so improbable that it couldn't be the truth.
But then that bullet had rolled and James knew, with a sudden terror, that this was no lie.
Snape had been right!
Now James knew it just wasn't his imagination that was making him feel the gentle sloping of the chair beneath his feet or hear the increasingly louder groans from below or see the tiny bit of water lapping just at the edge of the porthole.
Titanic was sinking, and if their situations didn't improve within the next hour, he and Jack would be having a very watery meeting with the Grim Reaper –
No!
James was not going to die like this, betrayed by her and forgotten by those he held most dear, and he wouldn't let Jack go that way either. He would escape this death trap, no matter what. He'd find Sirius and Remus, and together they'd find away up to the top decks. If death were to be his destiny tonight, he would die with his friends by his side.
Not like this.
If the undertaker would just leave, they could escape. James had a plan, he had all the means, he knew exactly how to do it – but he couldn't do it with him watching them! His entire plan hinged on the undertaker's departure and every minute he spent rolling that damn bullet was a minute closer to their doom.
"You know," the undertaker spoke at last in a drawling tone. James's head perked up. The undertaker let his bullet roll one last time before snapping it up and loading it into his pistol. "I do believe this ship is going to sink."
If that wasn't the understatement of the century, James didn't know what was.
12:48 AM
Lucius wasn't sure when he had last held Lily like this. It certainly hadn't been in any recent weeks and, if it had, their embrace had been a brief, cold affair. It was still cold tonight, but Lily's head was resting against his chest and his arm was wrapped around her shoulders. There was no question to the passerby whom she belonged to - this was her place, not beside that wretch, Potter.
He had first taken her into his arms as a precaution. She had threatened to run back to Potter - even after he was proven to be a criminal! - and he was taking no chances. As much as she had angered and embarrassed him, he still had her safety foremost in his mind and he'd be damned if he let her run off on her own on a sinking ship.
Her ceaseless shivering had been another cause for their embrace. She had forgotten to bring a coat and her teeth had been chattering loudly. After Tom shot him an annoyed look, he pulled Lily toward him to pacify him. Lucius had been expecting Lily to resist and create a scene, but she calmly accepted his embrace and burrowed into his arms for warmth and security.
Like the other women on the deck, she was probably frightened of boarding a lifeboat. Lucius didn't like the idea of sending his fiancée out in the middle of the dark ocean in that little craft any more than she probably liked the idea of getting on it in the first place.
Severus had told both him and Tom what he'd heard below decks, about the ship flooding, perhaps even sinking. Lucius didn't believe that the ship was sinking. Flooding, maybe, but Titanic was a marvel of technology. All the articles he had read on her all said the same thing - she was unsinkable. She could stay afloat with several compartments flooded.
But, once again, he was taking no chances with Lily's life. If there were even the slimiest chance that she might be in danger by staying on board the grand steamer, he'd get her off as soon as possible.
And once she was gone, he could figure out a way to get on a boat himself. Just like Tom, he was disgusted with this 'women and children only' nonsense. There was enough room in the little crafts for both men and women, he was sure.
Lucius glanced around. Tom and Lacerta had bunkered down on a set of deck chairs nearby, watching the other passengers being loaded and seemingly unconcerned by the activity going around them. As he watched, Lacerta waved off the attempts of an officer trying to persuade her into boarding.
"Excuse me," Lucius called, garnering the officer's attention. "But will there be any room for a gentlemen on this boat?"
"Not on this one, sir," the officer replied with a thick accent. "But I expect you'll be able to board another one quite soon. Might want to try the starboard side, though."
Lucius nodded his thanks. In the background, Second Officer Lightoller called out for more women and children. Lucius gave Lily a small little push – it was now or never.
Lily hated standing here, in a public place, embracing Lucius. It felt wrong on so many levels and it was not because they were expressing emotion where everyone else could see them. It was because they had been fighting just moments before, because she didn't love Lucius any more, because she knew she fit so much better in the arms of James Potter. Every moment she stood there, letting Lucius hold her, was a new betrayal to James. How could she just stand her while he was locked below?
But she'd had few other options. Either it was shrug away his arms and risk his wrath again, or freeze before she could be of any help.
She had to do something and soon. Lucius had moved closer to the lifeboat, intending to place both her and Petunia on the little thing. Lily was terrified about stepping on one of those boats - terrified that with that one step, she would lose everyone she knew and loved on Titanic, that her life would change again and she would have no hand in the direction it swung. She couldn't take one step on that boat, even though Bill's warning rang sharply in her head. If she didn't take a spot on one of those boats, she was giving up her chance at surviving tonight.
Yet, would surviving be worth it if James would not be at her side? Would she able to live with herself, not knowing James's fate and always wondering what she could've done differently? Would surviving be worth that pain?
Lily didn't think so. She had to do all she could to save James.
"Get behind your sister, Lily," Lucius instructed, letting go of her suddenly. Surprised, she stared at him, not moving, until he placed gentle hands on her shoulders, turned her around, and shoved her in front of him.
He had put her in the very short line for the lifeboats. There were five women in front of her, including her sister, and one was being loaded at this moment. She couldn't - not now -
She turned back around and gripped Lucius's overcoat tight.
"No! I can't!"
One of his eyebrows rose inquisitively. "Why not?"
"Because I...I…" she stumbled for a response. "I need to go back to my stateroom! You can't possibly expect me to go out on one of those things without a coat! I'll freeze!"
He looked convinced by her plea. His eyebrow fell back into place and a thoughtful expression crossed his face. Lily closed her eyes, hoping beyond hope -
"You can have mine."
She opened her eyes and watched as he pulled off his heavy overcoat and placed it around her shoulders. She was torn at being furious with him and shocked at his generous behaviour. Wasn't he supposed to be mad at her?
"Lucius – I – "
Her search for another excuse was interrupted by the hassle her sister was making about boarding the lifeboat. In the short time that Lily had been talking with Lucius, the crew had already loaded four women!
"Come on, miss...Into the boat."
Lily turned, just as Petunia tugged her arm away from a startled crewman. Lightoller threw the man a dirty look and started over to smooth Petunia's ruffled feathers.
"Excuse my crew's behaviour, Mrs…?"
"Dursley," Petunia sniffed.
"Mrs. Dursley, but I strongly insist that you board this lifeboat."
Petunia looked at Lightoller for a long moment and then glanced over her shoulder at Lily and Lucius, a long-suffering long on her face. "Must I, Lucius?"
Out of curiosity, Lily stepped out of line and leaned closer to the edge of the ship. Between the ship and the lifeboat was a gap that opened up to the dark water far below. It was no wonder why Petunia was hesitant about stepping aboard – the drop frightened Lily herself, but she, of course, would not be boarding.
"It's for the best, Petunia," Lucius said, nodding impatiently.
She sighed and then surrendered her arm. Lightoller guided her personally toward the edge, muttering some words of encouragement to her. Just as Petunia was preparing to step aboard, light exploded over the deck. Several passengers cried out in alarm and Lily glanced up, missing her sister's descent into the boat.
The remains of a white rocket rained down from the black sky over the bow of the ship, fading elegantly before it hit the water. It reminded her of falling stars, like the one she and James had wished on the other night –
"Distress rockets," Lucius remarked from behind, hand settling on her shoulder. "I suppose you were right, Severus...The ship must be in trouble."
"I hope you didn't think I would lie to you about such matters, Lucius."
"Of course not...Pity, isn't it? If I had known this was going to happen, I wouldn't have had to go through all that trouble of framing that boy...But at least I know he'll be out of the way for good now."
For a complete moment, Lily's heart stopped beating. She whipped around, her chest heaving with emotion and her eyes wide.
"You – you – " Her voice and shoulders shook with disbelief and a sudden, all consuming anger. Lucius stared down at her, his startling compassion gone as soon as it had come, his expression unreadable. "You utter bastard! How could you? How could you?" She shoved him hard in the chest, wanting to make him hurt, wanting him to feel half the pain that he had caused her. "You foul, you evil – "
He had framed James! He'd done it and she, like a fool, had believed him! Hate flowed through her and she shoved him again.
Lucius was ready this time though. He grabbed her hands and pulled her close to him again. To anyone else on the deck, it looked like they were sharing a passionate goodbye, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. Lucius's grip on her wrists was painful and his glare was lethal.
"Yes, I did it. I framed your beau - I was going to have him killed once we got to New York, but it looks as though the Atlantic Ocean will be doing the job for me," he said calmly, as if he was talking about something as mundane as the weather. "Severus has just informed me that the lower decks are flooding…Do you know what that means, Lily? Your precious Potter is going to drown in a matter of minutes from now. He's going to die, trapped and alone, believing that you hate him." Lily shook her head, trying to block out his horrible, smug voice. "And there's nothing you can do about it. Absolutely nothing, do you hear me?"
"You're wrong. I can do something, if you'd just let go of me!" she replied, trying to pull out of his tightening grasp.
"I apologise, darling, but I can't do that. I have your safety in mind. I don't think Potter would want you risking your own life to save his any more than I want you to." Lucius took a step forward, forcing Lily backwards. "He and you both will appreciate this in the future, I promise."
He gave her a hard shove and she stumbled backwards – right into the arms of two waiting crewman. Gripping her by the upper arms, they wheeled her around toward the lifeboat.
"Lucius!" she cried, now truly panicked. She glared over her shoulder at him. "You can't do this to me! You can't – please – ! Put me down, I don't want to get on – No!"
The crew ignored her cries and hoisted her bodily over the gap between Titanic and the lifeboat. Once her feet touched the bottom, the two men let go. She stumbled into a seat next to her sister in the back of the lifeboat, raising cries from the other women as the boat rocked perilously. Recovering instantly, Lily desperately stood and lunged for the edge –
"Lily!" Petunia shrieked, grabbing her by the wrist and dragging her down again, hard. Petunia's grasp was almost was painful as Lucius's. "What are you doing?"
"Let go, Petunia! I have to get back on board – " she said, tears leaking down her cheeks. "You don't understand...James – Lucius framed him – "
"Of course he did," Petunia replied carelessly, adjusting the brim of her hat.
Lily stopped struggling and stared at her sister in horror. She could barely hear Lightoller's barked orders over the sound of her own harsh breathing.
"You...you knew? You knew he did this and…and you didn't tell me?"
Petunia sniffed and shifted. "Who do you think told him about your meeting this morning? I couldn't just stand by and let you toss away your future for some worthless London pickpocket."
Lily couldn't bear to listen to more; she covered her ears and screwed up her eyes, trying to stem her steady flow of tears. Her own sister had known and had had a part in this deception! She'd let Lucius break her heart and tried to act concerned about her later! How could she? What kind of person was she?
The lifeboat jerked and Lily heard the muffled sound of ropes creaking. She pulled her hands away and looked up. The crew on the deck was cranking the ropes on either side of the lifeboat through their pulleys. They were lowering away already! The boat gave another unsteady lurch, eliciting shrieks from some of the other women, and sank a foot below the deck.
Lucius came by the edge of the deck and stared down at her, a smirk gracing his lips. He waved, looking like a demon dressed in a fine dining suit.
"See you in the morning, darling," he called.
Lily gulped down a sob as the lifeboat descended lower, light and hope fading with each lurch. She was leaving James, just as she had left him hours ago. She felt as though her heart had been ripped in two; by taking this seat, she was condemning James to death.
Tears blurred her vision as she stared longingly at the Boat Deck, now far above her head. Another distress rocket burst into the sky, illuminating Lucius's outline. She glanced away, refusing to look at him a moment longer. There was no one on earth she hated more than Lucius Malfoy.
And then, she saw it.
Possibility.
The edge of the lifeboat was just nearing the open Promenade on B-deck.
Cold air rushed into her lungs as she watched they descended even closer to the deck and her thoughts were suddenly very, very clear. She knew what she had to do, consequences be damned. Wiping her tears away, Lily steeled herself and stood.
The other women on board and some of the men allowed on cried out in alarm, but the boat did not stop moving. They were now even with the Promenade.
Petunia grabbed the back of her coat and, sounding fearful, echoed an earlier demand, "What are you doing, Lily?"
She turned to her sister, wrenching her coat out of her grasp, and said calmly, "Throwing away my future…Goodbye, Petunia."
She lunged.
The boat rocked, Petunia screamed in terror, and Lily Evans jumped.
I think we've already established that I am completely evil.
Thank you all for reading and reviewing! I have now hit over 300 reviews and 8000 views and it's all because of you! So thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
I'll try to have Chapter Twenty-One up soon. While on that horrific car ride, I planned out the next five chapters and started on the next, but work on NoE has been pushed aside because I'm writing another, quick Lily/James one-shot that is incredibly less fluffy than my last few fics. I decided that there wasn't enough pointless snogging between the two of them on this website. Anyway, be on the lookout for it soon and PLEASE REVIEW!
Thanks again!