Lily Evans: A History

Chapter 13 - The Prediction

    Much as it did the year before, time flew after Christmas holidays. The snow stopped falling, the grass grew greener and the school grounds came alive with new life. The Marauders seem to be pulling more pranks than usual, to show their feelings about the warmer weather. And Lily and Kassie had even fell victim a few times. Kassie had resorted to trying to get them back; but usually ended up failing miserably. After all, what could she do that they hadn't already thought of?

    With a happier outlook on life since the news Professor Dumbledore had given Lily on Christmas, she experienced no new visions. Which wasn't exactly a sore spot with her. As much as she loved helping the Longmire family, she hated the stress that came with her visions.

    Kassie had a few, but hers didn't seem to focus on the Dark Lord's upcoming attacks, but more on trivial things. The lack of visions were disturbing only to Professor Trelawney, whose solution to the problem was to spend more time in the enclosed Divination room staring into tea cups and crystal balls.

    After one particularly long session the end of May, even Kassie was aggravated. "How stupid!" she cried as they descended the stairs from the North Tower, rushing to catch the last of dinner. Lily's stomach was grumbling with hunger. "Thinking that if we were hungry, we'd have a vision. The only vision I'm likely to have is throwing Trelawney off the Astronomy Tower. I wonder if she's Seen that?"

    Lily giggled despite herself. "She might have, which is why she finally let us go to dinner. I hope we get there in time."

    "If not, you can always get one of the Marauders to nick us some food. They seem to know their way around the kitchens pretty well."

    "Actually," Lily said, jumping over a trick step and rounding a corner. "I haven't seen them except for class. I wonder what they have been up to lately?"

    Kassie shrugged, unconcerned. "I'm sure it's against at least fifty school rules, whatever it is."

                *         *

    "That is against at least one hundred school rules," Remus stated, watching his three best friends with something akin to horror on his face. "Not to mention against the wizarding law in general. We'll all get thrown out of Hogwarts if we're caught. There's no way!"

    "What they don't know won't hurt us!" James argued back, pacing back and forth across their dormitory. He looked much like a muggle barrister making a defense case. "We're very good at spells, even McGonagall admits it. And we've read up on it." He nodded to Sirius, who brought out a book from under his bed. James flipped it open. "See? Werewolves are only harmful to humans. But not animals."

    "And we could keep you company if we were animagus," Sirius stated.

    Remus shook his head, still unconvinced. "We will get expelled. Do you understand that?"

    "We'll only get in trouble if we get caught. And we won't get caught," James said, equally as convinced of his argument.

    "It's dangerous," Remus pointed out desperately, knowing he wasn't dissuading his friends one bit.

    Sirius shrugged indifferently. "We'll learn the counter spells first."

    Remus sat on his bed, burying his face in his hands. "I'm not going to talk you out of this, am I?" he asked hopelessly.

    "Nope," James and Sirius replied. The four of them sat in silence for about five minutes while Remus shook his head in dismay.

    Finally, he sighed deeply, looking up at three pairs of expectant eyes. "Ok. Fine. What can I do to help if you insist on doing this?"

    "YES!" James cried, giving Sirius a high five.

    "You know, Remus, we wouldn't have done it if you hadn't given in," Peter said, laughing.

    "Speak for yourself," Sirius replied, grinning from ear to ear.

    Remus shook his head. "You're mad. The lot of you."

    "Thank you," the three replied, bowing.

    James brought out another book and flipped it open, showing it to Remus. "These are the counter spells. Each of us should learn them, especially you, Remus. In case something goes wrong. I figure we can learn them in no time. But doing the actual animagus transformation is suppose to take years."

    "We can do it faster than that," Sirius huffed, looking at a picture. "Ten years, indeed. I say it will take us one, two at the most."

    "Don't be dense," James said wisely. "It's very advanced magic. And we'll have to do it one at a time. This isn't the same as apparition, it's more complex."

    Peter bit his thumb nail, glancing at the book. "I hope it isn't as painful as it looks."

    "Shouldn't be," Sirius replied.

    "And how do you know?" Remus asked.

    Sirius shrugged. "Just a theory. Say, what do you think we'll turn into?"

    "We won't know until we do it, will we?" James said. "Each transformation is unique to the wizard."

    "I wonder why?" Sirius asked thoughtfully, glancing at the registered animagi list. "I wonder why McGonagall is a cat?"

    "Well, think about it," James pointed out, ticking off a list on his fingers. "Cats are cunning, clever, supposedly dignified. And that's about how McGonagall is." He made a weird face. "In a way."

    "So that would make me, what, a dog?" Sirius replied, laughing. It did sound rather like a dog's bark.

    "Why would you say that?" Remus asked.

    Sirius grinned, running his hand through his hair. "I'm cute, loveable--"

    "And laugh like a dog, will take a pee anywhere--" James continued.

    "Hey!" Sirius replied, shoving James off the bed and into the floor. "That was uncalled for!"

    "Tis the truth," James quipped, getting up and rubbing his bottom. "That'll hurt tomorrow."

    "Do you realize that our nice long discussion about this has carried us through dinner?" Peter asked.

    Sirius laid back on his own four poster, still looking at the book of counter spells. "I'm not really hungry, but I'd eat if someone was to go get the food."

    "Who's turn is it?" Remus asked distractedly, not looking up from the book he held open. There was a groan across the room that made all three boys look up, grinning.

    "Bring back plenty James!" Sirius laughed.

    "For someone who isn't hungry..." James muttered going out of the room.

                *         *

    Lily and Kassie came into the Great Hall just as desert was disappearing from the tables. Grumbling, Kassie sat down in the middle of the walkway and crossed her arms. "That's it, there is going to be one less Professor here by tomorrow morning."

    "Miss Phillips, I do hope you are not serious." Both girls whipped their head around to see Professor McGonagall standing behind them, her arms crossed.

    Kassie uncrossed her arms, if only for the purpose of burying her face in her hands. "Sorry Professor," Lily quickly apologized, seeing that Kassie didn't look to be speaking any time soon. "We just had a-- erm, meeting with Professor Trelawney, and missed dinner..." Lily could have sworn she saw something like annoyance flint across her Head of Houses' face.

    "I see. Well, in hopes that you will keep yourself from speaking ill of the staff," McGonagall continued, and both girls thought her words sounded rather forced. "Follow me and I can see to your dinner."

    Kassie and Lily, not honestly believing their luck, followed the stern witch into the Great Hall and sat at the Gryffindor table. With a wave of her wand, a plate of different sandwiches appeared, as well as two goblets of pumpkin juice.

    "Thank you Professor," Lily said, taking a sandwich.

    "Yrrs," Kassie said, her mouth full of food. Professor McGonagall frowned as Kassie swallowed. "Thank you."

    "You're quite welcome." And with that, they were left alone.

    They sat in silence for a few moments, both eating and drinking and thinking about different things. Their thoughts were only disrupted by a crash that seemed to be coming from a room behind the staff table. Both girls looked at each other, shrugged and were just about willing to ignore it when someone went running through the Great Hall so fast that, at first, it was hard to tell who it was.

    "POTTER!" The figure stopped as Professor Walsh emerged from the same hall he had just left. Lily could see James' mind doing some very quick thinking as he turned.

    "Yes. Hi, Professor." The Deputy Headmistress came striding over to where James stood, her dark navy robes billowing as she walked. Lily quickly took a rather large bite of another sandwich and laid it in front of the seat next to her, giving Kassie a meaningful glance across the table.

    "Potter," Walsh snarled, coming to stand beside him. "I believe this is the third time I have caught you coming out of the kitchens."

    "Professor, I wasn't in the kitchens," James replied smoothly, looking completely puzzled.

    "Really?" The Potions Professor continued in an icy voice, crossing her arms. "That will be twenty points from Gryffindor for your all out lie. And thirty points for being in the kitchens. I believe perhaps a detention, as well..."

    Lily stood up, wiping her sweaty hands on her robes. "Professor Walsh, if I might--"

    "Hold your tongue, Evans. This doesn't concern you," Walsh snapped.

    Lily held her ground. "Professor, James was with us." As the professor turned, Lily tried her best to keep her face straight. One small twitch and Walsh would probably land them both in detention.

    "With you?" she repeated, her dark eyes scanning the table. "And where might you have gotten this food at? Dinner has ended."

    "Professor McGonagall," Kassie replied honestly. James looked dumbfounded behind Walsh, but when she turned back to him, he wore an earnest expression as well and nodded.

    "Yes, Professor, I was just eating--" Lily was making all sorts of gestures behind Walsh's back, pointing to the sandwich she had taken a large bite out of. "Sandwiches," James continued, not missing a beat. "With Lily and Kassie." James slowly made his way back to the table, standing next to Lily and showing the Professor the half eaten sandwich.

    Walsh's eyes raked over the three of them, her face becoming an odd shade of red. "The three of you are lying. You stole that food from the kitchens and now you will--"

    "What is the meaning of this?" another, sharper voice, cut in as Professor McGonagall re-entered the Great Hall through the open doorway, her square spectacles gleaming in the candle light. Lily stood and began talking before the Potions Master could get a word in edgewise.

    "Professor, we were just explaining to Professor Walsh that James wasn't in the kitchens--"

    "Because we got this food from you," Kassie continued.

    "They did," McGonagall affirmed, turning to Walsh. "I left them here not fifteen minutes ago." Lily and Kassie both crossed their fingers, praying their Head of House continued to 'forget' that James hadn't been with them when she left.

    For a long moment, Walsh seemed to be trying to stare down the younger professor. In the end, she gave a great huff and stalked out of a door next to the fireplace that Lily hadn't even known was there. As soon as she was gone, McGonagall's sharp eyes turned to the three at the table.

    All three tried to look as innocent as possible. Their Head of House smiled slightly, turned on her heel, and walked back to the door. "Please be sure to make it back to your common room before curfew," she said as she departed.

    They waited until they could no longer hear her footsteps and James dropped down in his seat, wiping his hand across his forehead. "That was bloody close," he muttered. "Detentions I can handle. Detention with Walsh is a whole other story."

    "Tell me about it," Lily replied, taking another bite of her sandwich. "Remus and I got that pleasure over Christmas holidays, remember?"

    "Ah," James chuckled, sitting up and taking a large bite off the sandwich Lily had started for him. "I do recall something about an incident with enchanted snowballs."

    Lily rolled her eyes and finished off her pumpkin juice. Kassie picked up the last sandwich and three more took it's place. James did a double take. "Did that plate just refill itself?"

    Kassie laughed. "Yeah, you know -- magic?"

    "Are you done with it?" James asked Lily, ignoring Kassie's sarcasm.

    "I am," Lily replied, Kassie nodded.

    "Can I take it? We all missed dinner, too," James explained at Lily's puzzled look.

    She nodded. "Thanks." James took the plate, and started out the door. "By the way," he called back. "I owe you one."

    "Anytime," Lily grinned.

    "So he was in the kitchens?" Kassie asked.

    "Did you ever doubt it?"

                *             *

    Time continued to speed along for Lily. Subjects started getting even more hard as exams were only two weeks away, and work load increased to just about unbearable. And to make matters worse, they were greeted one Thursday afternoon in Transfiguration by Professor McGonagall handing out parchment to everyone. Lily looked at hers, looked at Kassie's, and then gave a confused expression.

    "These," McGonagall began, done handing out parchment and now standing back at the front of the room. "Are the subjects you may choose to take next year on top of your existing subjects. You are required to pick two, you may take more if you wish. I expect all of you to have reported to me by the end of the week what subjects you want."

    Lily felt herself groan as she stared at the parchment before her, Kassie doing the same. "Now, if you will turn to page three hundred fourteen in your books--" McGonagall glanced up, an eyebrow raising. "Yes, Miss Phillips?"

    Kassie brought her hand down slowly. "Erm, Professor, you said the end of the week -- isn't that tomorrow?"

    "Yes," McGonagall replied impatiently.

    "Ten points to Gryffindor! Kassie knows the days of the week!" Sirius quipped. James snickered beside him but stopped when McGonagall gave him the look. Sirius grinned innocently.

    "Now, as I was saying, if you would please turn to-" the Professor stopped again as another hand rose into the air and made an exasperated noise in her throat. "Yes, Mr. Pettigrew?"

    "Professor, the day after Sunday is Monday, right?" James and Sirius both snorted, but tried to cover it up. Sitting next to Peter, Remus had a surprisingly calm expression about him that even Lily had to admire. Kassie growled.

    "Pettigrew, do not raise your hand again unless you have something to ask about this class," McGonagall said sharply, clearly not amused. Peter pulled his hand down, throwing a grin in Kassie's direction.

    James raised his hand in the air suddenly, this time before Professor McGonagall could start to say what page to turn to. She ignored him for a moment or so, but when he started waving his hand about and nearly knocked Sirius in the head, she gave him an impatient look. "Yes, Mr. Potter?"

    "On Friday, the end of the week," here he glanced at Kassie and Lily saw McGonagall's face turn an odd shade of red, "we don't have this class. Do we just bring them to you?"

    "Yes, Mr. Potter. Now open your books to page three hundred fourteen, now!" she barked, leaving no room for further argument -- or remarks from four certain boys.

    It was perhaps the Marauders' ongoing remarks about the order of the days of the week that had Kassie in such an uproar after class. Or, perhaps she was as nervous as Lily about picking her new subjects.

    Either way, the dark haired girl stayed in bad temperament for the rest of the day. By the time they were suppose to see Professor Trelawney that afternoon, she was in no mood to put up with the woman.

    "I'm not going," she suddenly announced as they headed to the North Tower. "I can't deal with her today."

    Lily stopped, turning on the step in front of her best friend. "You mean you're going to leave me to deal with her alone?"

    Kassie gave Lily an apologetic look. "Sorry Lil, but honestly-- I'd probably land myself in Azkaban if I go in that room."

    Lily shrugged as Kassie turned away, heading back down the stairs. "See you in the common room later," she called back, leaving Lily quite alone in the stairwell.

    "Great," Lily muttered, continuing up the steps. She had no desire to go into the perfumed infested room, and especially not alone. As the silver ladder fell from the circular door in the ceiling, Lily had half a mind to go the opposite direction. Instead she took a deep breath, prayed to whatever Gods that might be listening that Trelawney would have something else to do, and climbed up.

    The room was as dark and misty as ever. The stretch of perfume was so thick in the air that she could see it, and candles littered every table and the walls, giving the room a eerie glow. Lily didn't see Professor Trelawney right away, and supposed that she should go ahead and sit down.

    As she made her way to one of the small circular tables, Professor Trelawney came out of a room adjoining the classroom that Lily hadn't noticed before then.

    "Good evening," Trelawney said in her same mystical whisper that sounded like she had a bad sinus infection.

    "Good evening," Lily replied.

    "Miss Phillips isn't joining us?" she asked, sitting in an armchair in front of Lily and folding her hands before her.

    "No," Lily replied, one eyebrow lifting. "Of course, you knew that, right?" she added, almost sarcastically.

    "Of course. But when you're all knowing, you don't necessarily want everyone else to know that."

    Lily looked at her skeptically. "Right."

    Either she didn't hear the tone that Lily was using, or was ignoring it. She pushed her glasses up her nose, making her eyes seem all that much larger, and leaned back. "Have you had an visions since we last spoke?"

    "No," Lily replied.

    "Have you tried to?"

    "No."

    Trelawney opened her eyes wider, her wrist bracelets dangling together as she leaned forward. "You must try to induce your visions, or they will not come as often. You will loose your ability if you don't try to See often enough."

    "I never asked for this," Lily complained, knowing she was talking to the wrong person about not wanting visions. "I don't like it, and I don't want to have more."

    Trelawney, instead of getting upset like she normally did, nodded her head and sat back. Lily felt the heat of the room getting to her, and tried to calm her nerves so she could with stand the rest of the session. Suddenly the older woman tutted loudly. "I have Seen your future, Lily. I was just looking at your chart, and know that hard times will befall you, and soon. Alas, you can not stop them if you don't See them for yourself."

    "The future can be changed," Lily said definitely. "I Saw a family of wizards be killed, and they were saved. Professor Dumbledore told me."

    Trelawney waved her hand impatiently, as if Lily was talking nonsense, and pulled a crystal ball in front of her. She motioned for Lily to do the same, and, reluctantly, Lily did so. The two sat in silence forever it seemed, while Lily gazed into the depths of the crystal ball. But all she could see was white cloudy mist, and the edge of her vision was becoming black from staring so hard.

    "Professor, I really don't think I--" Lily looked up and rolled her eyes. The other woman's head was slumped over to the side and her eyes closed. "Great, I stare at a crystal ball and she goes to sleep."

    Deciding that the best thing she could do was to leave, Lily began gathering her things in her bag when suddenly Trelawney's head snapped up and her eyes flew open as she started shaking.

    Lily gasped, looking at her expectantly. The Professor's eyes were open, but all Lily could see was the whites, her eyes were rolled back in her head. "Professor?" she asked uncertainly, feeling her heartbeat pick up. For a moment there was silence, an eerie silence that made Lily feel like her breathing was as loud as the beat of a drum.

    Suddenly Trelawney jerked and she began speaking in a hollow, monotone voice:

"THE NIGHT THE WITCHES AND WIZARDS PLAY, HE WILL COME. WITH THE RAT'S HELP THE DARK LORD WILL COME TO KILL THE LAST OF THE BLOODLINE OF HIS ENEMY. AT MIDNIGHT IT WILL HAPPEN TO A CHILD BORN AT THE HEIGHT OF SUMMER. THE MOST POWERFUL WIZARD. THE LAST BLOODLINE WILL NOT BE GONE. THE DARK LORD WILL FALL. THE LINE... AT MIDNIGHT... HE WILL COME..."

    Just as suddenly as she began, Trelawney's head flopped forward and her eyes shut. Lily stood, rigid, where she was, not sure what she should do or if she should do anything. For a short stretch the room was silent and, attentively, Lily stepped forward. "Professor?"

    "Oh!" Trelawney said, once more in her mystical voice that Lily had grown to hate. "So sorry dear, must be a little drowsy," she said.

    Lily just stared at her. "What is it, dear?"

    "You--" Lily gulped, her heart still racing. "You just said... something about the Dark Lord coming at midnight, and the last bloodline..."

    "What?" Trelawney replied, giving Lily a look that suggested she was the one that was mad. "What are you talking about?"

    "But you said--"

    "I said nothing." Trelawney rose, giving Lily a haughty look. "I imagine you need rest as well, if you are hearing things of that nature."

    Lily stared at the older woman incredibly for a moment, but decided against any retort she had in mind. It was obvious that Trelawney couldn't remember what she had done. But that haunted, shallow voice was embedded in Lily's mind and it scared her.

    As quickly as she could, she finished packing up her bag and left the North Tower at a run. She wasn't exactly sure where she was headed, Merlin knew she wasn't paying attention. But within a few minutes she found herself in front of the Gryffindor common room entrance.

    "Hinky Puff," she said and the portrait of the Fat Lady swung open. Without stopping to notice who was in the common room, Lily made her way up to her dormitory and sat heavily on the bed. Her thoughts were jumbled up so badly she could hardly remember to breath. What had just happened? Had Professor Trelawney actually had a real prediction? And, if so, what did it mean?

    Hurriedly Lily got out a piece of parchment and quill, writing down what Trelawney had said. She stared at it, willing herself to believe that the woman was simply trying to scare her. But why, she couldn't figure out. Lily already believed in visions, she had them herself! Though nothing of this sort, that was for certain.

    The dormitory door opened slightly and Lily shoved the parchment under her pillow. A dark head poked around the corner and Lily was surprised to see James looking in. "Lily? Can I come in?"

    "Of course," Lily replied, trying to look dignified, but failing miserably.

    James walked further in and stood before Lily, watching her worriedly. "Are you ok?"

    "Certainly," Lily said automatically. She attempted to grin, but couldn't manage it. "I'm ok, why do you ask?"

    James gave her a disbelieving look. "Well, because you just ran through the common room like you were running for your life. And, well, you didn't look alright from what I could see..."

    "I'm fine," Lily insisted. James really didn't look like he believed her.

    "Are you sure? Do you want to talk about it?"

    "No, I'm ok. But I am hungry," Lily added as an after thought.

    James glanced at his wrist watch. "It's dinner time. You heading down, then?"

    "Yeah, I'll be along in a moment," she said. James nodded, gave her another look that clearly said he didn't believe her, and left the room. Lily knew he would ask her again later, but at the moment, she didn't think she could put her fears into words. Besides, who was to say that Trelawney wasn't just trying to scare her into having a vision?

    Lily got up, put her stuff away and headed downstairs. But in the back of her mind she kept hearing Trelawney's words; and she knew that if she kept this up, she would have another vision. If that was what the Divination teacher was after, it might just work.