Infinite

Chapter Three

Brent Paddock

Have you ever been so high on bliss that it seemed as though you were on a cloud that would never fall? Oh, if you haven't, then you haven't met Brent Paddock. He makes you feel so exceptional and lovely inside. Just the way that he said he would see me at the next prefect meeting made the rest of my day so enjoyable. He always says that to me now. Ever since September 2^nd, every day he would say that line. It's now Saturday morning, the first weekend! Yay to the thousand! I'm meeting Brent today by the lake. He wants to 'hang out' and get to know each other better. My fantasy since third year is finally coming true. Can life get any better? Better yet, nothing can bring me down.

Lily closed her journal with a content smile on her face. She put the journal under her pillow and emerged from her bed to see Rhia flipping through a magazine. August was lounging around reading a book. Kelly Watson was doing what Kelly Watson did best, writing long notes about all the gossip in the school. Allyson Calhoun was doing homework. Well, when everyone else doesn't have a life, Lily does! That's a first. Hurrah!

"Where are you going, Red?" Rhia's voice spoke.

"I'm meeting up with Brent," Lily replied lazily.

"Paddock?" Allyson questioned as she looked up with a dreamy look in her eyes. "He's so cute."

"Is he your boyfriend?" Kelly asked as she paused from writing her note to see if there was a new scandal to spread around the school.

"You know what, Kelly, maybe you should keep your nose out of everyone's business," Lily commented as she forced a smile onto her face. "That was a really nasty rumor you started about Sirius Black having kids, you know."

"You were the one who told Cromwell over there."

"I was joking, Watson. Don't you know a joke when you hear one?"

It was so horrible what happened after that rumor started spreading around school. It was two days after the rumor originated when all hell broke loose in the Great Hall during breakfast:

"Pass the syrup, Johnny-Bunny," Rhia requested while she leaned over towards her younger brother with a smile dancing on her face.

"Get it yourself, Arsewhip."

"Tsk. Tsk. You know, if mother knew you were using such coarse language, Johnny, she would... well... you know," Rhia spoke sweetly with a smirk.

Even in a public place, the two siblings were still bickering and calling each other names. It reminded Lily of her own relationship with Petunia. They often acted just that way. That was when Lily turned eleven. Beforehand, the two got along famously.

"POST!" a second year cried in overexcitement.

Hundreds of owls flocked in the Great Hall and went to their masters. They dropped packages and letters. Sirius Black, who was sitting not too far away from the girls, received a scarlet letter. The boy turned pale and looked panicked. It was then that the letter exploded and all eyes were on Sirius.

"YOU DISGRACEFUL SCOUNDREL!" a shrill female voice shouted. "GETTING TWO GIRLS PREGNANT! HAVE YOU NO SHAME? YOU HAVE RUINED THE BLACK NAME! I DO HOPE THOSE GIRLS ARE FROM RESPECTABLE PUREBLOODED FAMILIES BECAUSE IF THEY AREN'T YOU WILL WISH YOU WERE NEVER BORN! YOU IMBECILE! ONE MORE TOE OUT OF LINE AND YOU WILL BE COMING STRAIGHT HOME UNDER LOCK AND KEY!"

The letter then it burst into flames and piled itself upon Sirius's breakfast. The boy looked livid. Every student and teacher's eyes were on Sirius Black. Several students started to snicker at the humiliation of one of the most popular boys at Hogwarts.

"Sirius, let's go," James Potter ordered as he stood up and grabbed his best friend's arm and then whispered so that only a few could hear him, "We can skive off class."

"I'll get the firewhiskey," Sirius whispered as he stood. "You get the cigs."

Sirius then stormed out of the Great Hall and as soon as he left, the whole dining hall burst out in laughter. James looked around disgusted before he too stormed out of the dining hall.

"It was still your fault, Evans," Kelly spoke in icy tones.

Lily, who felt extremely bad about how everything turned out, stormed out of the dormitory and made her way towards the lake. Brent would understand and make her feel better. She knew it. Lily stepped out into the brisk September air and looked around the lake for the scrumptious Ravenclaw. She saw him sitting there all by himself with a book opened on the grass. Lily felt like a little kid, and she impulsively ran towards Brent.

"Brent!" Lily shouted as she fell down on the grass next to him.

"Hey, Lily," Brent smiled widely.

"I found you," Lily spoke as if it were a game. "I won!"

"But I wanted to win," the Ravenclaw whined slightly.

"Maybe next time," the redhead smiled.

It was then that Brent leaned forward and kissed Lily tenderly on the lips. She was being kissed! This was her first kiss! Was she doing it right? She didn't know what to do. How far do you open your mouth? How long do you stay like this? Do you -

Before another insecure thought could fill her mind, a yellow spell came hurdling towards them. Brent bit Lily's bottom lip, and she could taste blood in her mouth. The two pulled back just as Brent was hit with a spell that made him fly backwards. Lily looked at him as he twisted his face in pain. She turned to where the spell was emitted. No, the bastard. James Potter stood there with his wand out.

"Stop it!" Lily cried as she crawled over towards Brent.

"You don't know what he's capable of!" James shouted as he walked closer to the two prefects.

"Stay away! Stay the hell away!" Lily yelled while she stood up and withdrew her wand.

"Lily, I don't want to see you get hurt! He's bad news!"

"No, he's not! You're the one that's bad news!"

"You don't even know him!" James shouted back.

"I hate you," Lily mustered the most serious voice she could.

"No you don't -"

"I HATE YOU!" Lily yelled so loud that she thought her throat would burst open.

James stumbled back slightly at the harsh tone Lily spoke in. Sure, she had said those exact same words before, but never that callously and sincerely. The redhead's face was beat red and there were tears burning in her eyes. She didn't dare let them fall though, she didn't want James Potter - of all people - to get the best of her. She would never let him see her cry.

"You're my everything," James spoke softly, "and I just can't stand back and watch him hurt you."

"Well, you're nothing to me."

"You barely know me! If you just give me a shot, I could be the best thing that's ever happened to you."

"I highly doubt that," Lily said as her jaw clenched. "You're a jerk and that's all you'll ever amount to. Now if you'll excuse me, Brent needs medical attention."

Lily pointed her wand at Brent and levitated him up in the air. She then took him as quickly as she could to the hospital wing. She walked into the infirmary to see Madam Pomfrey reading the newspaper. She immediately looked up when Lily called out her name.

"What happened? Was there an attack?" Madam Pomfrey asked frantically as she motioned for Brent to be put down on a bed.

"Potter. James Potter, attacked him," Lily spoke anxiously.

"Potter?" questioned Pomfrey with a confused look on her face as she ran her wand over Brent. "I would have never imagined him to go dark."

"Dark?" Lily questioned. "He was just jealous that Brent kissed me."

Three hours sitting in the hospital wing was not fun, not fun at all. It was quite tedious and extremely depressing. Lily learned from Madam Pomfrey that Brent would be okay and the spell that hit him wasn't even that bad of a one. She also learned that Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore gave Potter a month worth of detentions for attacking a fellow student. They even took off all the points that Gryffindor acquired in the short week of school. .

"Lily?"

Lily turned her head towards where her name had been called. Brent was up and smiling at her. How could one person make her feel so good? The redhead smiled widely and sat down on the corner of his bed. She didn't know what to say, but she didn't have to say anything for Brent talked first.

"I guess James Potter is an angry person, eh?"

"Yeah, angry people just need some hugs... or really sharp objects," Lily replied.

"He's obsessed with you. You know that, right?"

"I know, and I wish he wasn't. I don't understand. I'm nothing special -"

"You're beautiful, smart, and witty. You have an exceptional personality. You have a strong will -" it was now Lily's turn to interrupt.

"You really do wonders for my ego. Pretty soon I'll be the most arrogant person known to history."

"Somehow I doubt that whatever is said to you actually penetrates you."

It was then that Madam Pomfrey came wandering into the infirmary. The woman shooed Lily out, stating that Brent needed his rest. What was a redhead to do then if not wait in the hospital wing? Well, she could go to the Astronomy Tower and clear her mind, but no. She couldn't for there would be the crazy professors attempting to stalk her. She could talk to Professor Flitwick about the latest charm featured in 'Charmed Chronicles' magazine, but the tiny Charms professor was too disappointed in her.

She was just about to find a hole to crawl in and die when Rhia came into her view. The dark-haired girl had her arms crossed over her chest in a bored fashion. No words were exchanged when Rhia grabbed her best friend's arm and dragged her off. The two walked around the corridors of the castle until they reached the main entrance. Rhia pulled Lily outside and they walked towards the Quidditch Pitch. Where were they going?

It was then that Lily saw where her best friend was taking her. They hid behind a tree so that they could see two dark-haired boys smoking and drinking secretly behind the Quidditch locker room. Black and Potter were actually smoking and drinking! Did they want to die young or something? Lily was about to go out and yell at them, when Rhia held her back.

"Listen," the girl whispered forcefully.

"A fucking month of detention? Merlin, James, why the bloody hell did you attack him anyways?"

"He's a Paddock, Sirius, what was I supposed to do? Kelly was saying how Lily fancies him, and I couldn't let her fall for him."

"Evans isn't your concern, James," Black sounded almost furious. "If Evans wants to go and get herself killed, then that's her prerogative."

"She's a Muggleborn, Sirius," Potter replied, "she doesn't understand who his family is. She doesn't understand what they represent."

"She's too bloody trusting for her own sodding good."

Rhia grabbed Lily's arm and dragged her away from the two boys. They walked with their arms linked around the lake to a spot where no one else was around. It was then that Rhia started talking in a very serious tone. It kind of scared Lily to hear the weightiness of her best friend's voice who was rarely ever serious.

"The Paddocks are an old Wizarding family like mine... like James's and Sirius's families. Some old families have old ideals like Brent's and Sirius's. Others could care less like James and mine. You've heard of the Dark Lord emerging, haven't you?"

"Why is every being so cryptic about this guy? Oooh, the Dark Lord! I'm shaking in my knickers," Lily snorted.

"This isn't a time for one of your jokes, Lily, this is a serious matter. It shouldn't be dunked thick in sarcasm."

"Sarcasm is just one of the many services I offer."

"Lily!"

"If this is so serious then tell me what this guy's name is."

"Lily-"

"No, tell me. Come on!"

"People don't speak his name, Lily, because if you speak his name then it's said you're his next victim!"

"Gobbledygook!"

"This isn't a joking matter! For once in your life can't you just be serious?" Rhia asked, exasperated.

"Yeah, well it's kind of hard to take this serious when I don't know what the hell is going on!"

Lily, with her redheaded fiery, stormed off towards the castle. She didn't see the big idea about this wizard. As if anyone could be more powerful than Professor Dumbledore. The headmaster would never let anything happen to his students. Lily wasn't even going to care about this so-called 'darkest Dark Lord' until she found out who he was. If he didn't even go by a real name then how bad could he be? Wouldn't it be funny if his real name were Oliver Clothesoff or something equally ridiculous like that?

Lily made her way to the library to research for her Charms essay that was to be written on the Fidelius Charm. As if that would ever be useful in life, Lily thought. She knew that if you used the charm you would have to trust the person completely, but nobody would keep that secret if his or her life was at stake. She grabbed several of the most complex charm books and found herself a table to sit and research at.

"Mind if I sit?" Remus Lupin asked shyly as he sat a stack of books - double the stack of Lily's - down on the table.

"Go ahead, Remy," Lily smirked.

"Potions or Charms?" inquired Remus as he opened a book called 'Restricted Potions of the Dark Arts'.

"Charms," Lily replied with a smile. "Polyjuice just seems like a really easy potion to do an essay on."

"There are a lot of variables that you can talk about in your essay."

"Like what?" asked Lily as she looked into the amber orbs of the prefect.

"Well, what if you take a hair from a person who can change their appearance? Do you change into their original image or into the image they are changed into or do you change with that person under the influence of the potion?"

"You mean like one of those metamorphous people? They are so cool. If I was one I'd get rid of my freckles that have invaded my nose and cheeks."

Remus laughed as he seemed to be counting her freckles on her face. Once you got Remus Lupin to open up and talk to you, he was a really pleasant person to hold a conversation with.

"Excuse me. My friends and I were wondering what it is like to be a prefect," a flirty male voice asked.

Gosh! Where do these people come from? Is it "sneak up on Lily and scare the crap out of her month"? Argh, it was a first year. Ickle first years were so irritating. Did they actually care what it was like to be a prefect or did this kid just want to impress his friends by talking to an older girl? It would be so typical really if it were the latter of the two.

"Well, Remus and I pretend to work, and they pretend to pay us."

"Really?" the kid seemed not to have understood what Lily had just said.

"No, actually it's a thankless job, but I have to build up my karma level."

"Karma level?" the boy asked in wonderment.

"Just do something very bad at the end of your fourth year and you won't ever have to worry about becoming prefect."

The first year boy walked away and practically jogged to his group of friends. Sometimes Lily wished that she could be a little kid again. They didn't have a care in the world. When you're a teenager, you have crazy hormones.

"You're so encouraging, Lily," Remus commented with a smile on his face.

"I know; I can't help it," Lily said before her face grew serious. "Do you know anything about this 'Dark Lord' idiot?"

Lily didn't even know why she cared so much about this wizard. It's not like he would affect her life. At least she hoped not. There was a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach about it though. It was twisting inside and eating away at her.

"Yeah, he's apparently gathering followers to get rid of Muggleborns."

"Are you a pureblood?"

"No, half actually. My mum's a Muggleborn."

"Do you know this guy's name?"

"I know the name he goes by, but not his birth name," Remus said as he seemed extremely uncomfortable with the subject.

"What is it?" Lily pushed.

"Lord Voldemort," the boy whispered and Lily seriously doubted that she heard anything at all.

It took Lily a couple seconds before she burst out laughing. Everyone in the library turned to watch the eccentric prefect chortle. Some burst out laughing with her, as laughter is very contagious. It was then that Madam Pince came over with a piercing glare. It was as if there was chocolate in the library or something.

"Out!" she shrilled. "You are disturbing the learning environment!"

Remus and Lily grabbed their bags and books. They then scampered out of the library. As soon as the library doors were closed behind them, they both burst out laughing. Lily dropped her books all over the floor and fell over with them. Remus leaned up against the wall and chuckled with amusement.

"What - what's so fun-funny?" Remus asked between chortles.

"Lord - Lord Vol-Voldymelts!" Lily exclaimed as she rolled over onto her back as tears of joy poured down her face. "Who would call themselves that?"

Remus stopped laughing and stared at the hysteria that was Lily Evans. It seemed as though the boy didn't know what to make of the redhead. He had never realized just how free-spirited and entertaining Lily was until now. How she could take the most serious situation and still be able to make people laugh?

"Apparently that guy," Remus said with a smile.

This made Lily burst out in a fit of giggles. Her pale face was slowly turning the color of her hair. It was quite an amusing sight to watch the fifteen-year-old not have a care in the world. It was a reassuring scene.

"Remy! Promise me we can always joke about him and not make him into a big thing."

Lily reached out a hand for the boy to help her up. He did so and the two found themselves closer then they had ever been. They could feel each other's breath dancing on their faces and necks. It was almost intoxicating.

"Tuesday we patrol," Lily commented as she pulled back.

"Yeah," Remus replied with a slight smile.

"I should probably take these books up and write my essays," announced Lily while she started gathering up her books, "since I have no life and all."

"I don't either," Remus sighed as he sat his own books down and started to help Lily collect hers. "Hey... we'll never have Voldymelts work his way into a conversation of ours - not unless it's to make a royal mockery of him."

"Thanks," Lily smiled brightly before walking off.

Why was life so complicated at every turn? Why couldn't feelings just be easy? She thought she loved Brent, but Remus gave her the same feeling. Then what were James Potter and Sirius Black talking about while they drank and smoked it up? Then Rhiannon Cromwell warned her as well. How did you know the difference between good families and bad families? How could you tell the difference between purebloods, half-bloods, and Muggleborns? Why was it so important for purebloods to know other's blood?

It didn't make any sense to Lily. Nothing ever seemed to make sense to the redhead. Maybe she was just so naïve that she couldn't discern what certain things meant. On the other hand, maybe she just didn't want to understand the Wizarding World because she was so used to the Muggle World. Whichever it was, it was tremendously annoying.

Lily wasn't going to get anywhere with her essays so she figured, why try? There really wasn't any point to just stare blankly at a piece of parchment when your mind was on something totally different. The redhead reached under her pillow and grasped her beloved journal.

I never thought much about a person's linage. It seems to be really important in the Wizarding World. Some people take things all too seriously. I mean, if the world was going to end there would really be nothing that could be done. Fate is fate and destiny is destiny. If I were to die tomorrow, then who says that it's supposed to stop? Who rules this crazy little thing we call life? Who pulls the strings? Who controls us? Well, I suppose this a very awful thing for me to be writing, since I'm Christian. If my mother ever found out... well let's just say that she would hang me like in the olden days. It was very hard for my mother to grasp the idea that I was a witch, but she was proud that I was special nevertheless.

Lily closed her journal with a slight new outlook on life. She wasn't going to let some thick wizard rule her life. So what if this Lord Voldymelts or whatever his name was wanted to kill all Muggleborns? She wasn't going to die at the hands of him. No, she had made up her mind. She was stronger than that. She was incredibly stronger than that.

"Oh, Lily Evans!" a female voice said in an annoying tone.

Oh, joy. Kelly Watson. Did she find it impossible to leave Lily alone? Well, if Kelly wanted a fight, she'd get one. Lily pulled opened the curtains surrounding her bed and stuck her head out. In a singsong voice Lily said, "Oh, Kelly Watson! What ever would you like?"

"There seems to be rumors, Lily, that you were caught kissing Brent!"

"Who me?" said Lily putting on a shocked face. "That can't be right! I just aimlessly wander around!"

"Lily, don't be annoying."

"Well, Kelly, you can't stop being daft so why should I stop being annoying?" Lily shot back.

"Have you ever tried being nicer?"

"Have you ever tried being less dim?"

Kelly looked as if she wanted to smother the living daylights out of Lily, but this only made the prefect smirk. This made Kelly flare even more. The girl looked about ready to strike the redhead. Kelly opened her mouth and uttered the words, "What's so funny?"

"Oh, I'm just trying to visualize you with a personality."

"Merlin, Lily, you're just so... irritating!"

"Thanks," Lily said icily. "I'll take that as a compliment."

The girl stormed out of the dormitory to leave Lily alone. The redhead flopped down onto her bed and smiled in accomplishment. There was a secret plot forming in Lily's mind. She wanted, by the time she graduated, to make Kelly Watson see how horrible of a person she was. How gossiping and spreading rumors was mean and hurtful. She also planned on getting back at James Potter and Sirius Black and showing them that they were horrid people. Yes, that was Lily's goal.

It wouldn't be until a year and a half later that Lily realized she was in love with James Potter. It wouldn't be before long that Kelly Watson would meet her sticky end. It wouldn't be long before Lily would realize how important blood was to some wizards and that would tear the redhead apart slowly. Then again, nothing seemed to be on Lily's mind except Brent Paddock and Remus Lupin. How could two boys make her feel so good? Which would be the best fit for her? She knew, however - in the pit of her stomach - that neither of them was right for her, but a girl could live in the moment, right?