Of Deer and Flowers

Chapter Eleven

The Dark Lord

July 2,

Dear Diary,

My last diary, Kate, is full. I have used her for two years after all. Would you mind if I called you Jane?

July3,

Dear Jane,

Today I've discovered a person I like even less then Snape or Rosier, Vernon Dursley! Believe me when I say I believe the feeling's mutual!

Peter sat at the kitchen table of the Potter house with Remus and Sirius to either side of him. James was rummaging through the cupboard looking for the cereal, while his father, Richard, sat reading the morning paper and sipping coffee. Julian Potter, James's mother, was busy frying eggs.

Peter watched as Mr. Potter's face went white and he stared at the Paper.

"Is there something wrong?" he asked. Mr. Potter frowned as if wondering weather to explain. Setting the paper down he said.

"I trust you boys have heard of this Dark Lord?"

"Isn't that the guy who goes around Killing Muggles?" Sirius asked, "doesn't he call himself Voldimort or something?" Mr. Potter nodded as Mrs. Potter looked up from the eggs.

"Richard there hasn't been another attack has there!"

"I'm afraid so Julian!"

"Who?"

"The Gryils!" Mrs. Potter gasped and James took the cereal box in a death grip. Sirius sat back in his chair suddenly pale and Remus nearly choked on his orange juice.

"Who . . . Who are . . ." Peter managed to ask.

"Current Minister of Magic, he and his wife are both dead!" Mrs. Potter fainted, "their daughter survived." Richard said Grimly, "She's to attend Hogwarts this fall, and until then she's to live with her grandfather. Good thing Alastor's an Arorer." He set the Paper down and looked over at his wife who'd just been brought around by James.

"These are grim times, grim times indeed!"

~*~*~*~*~*~

It was late Tuesday night and every body was at the house including Petunia's boyfriend Vernon. Lily was in her room trying to avoid a scene like the one that had taken place earlier that evening.

It was after dinner and the youngsters were in the living room playing a rousing game of Monopoly, when the conversation turned to where Lily went to school. When Petunia's frantic change of subject failed, Lily was forced to resort to the oldest lie in the book. Her great aunt in Switzerland had offered to put the girls in a private school as a favor to the family. Petunia had stayed because she wanted to be with her friends.

Vernon to say the least hadn't believed a word of it. There was a furious argument, in which Petunia had sided with him claiming that Lily was leaving stuff out, which ended with a vase exploding and Lily retiring to her room.

She could hear Petunia now, arguing with her mom about apologizing. A moment later their was a thump on the stairs and Petunia appeared in the door way.

"I'm sorry Lily . . . I'm sorry you don't know when to keep your mouth shut!" Lily sighed as Petunia turned to leave, it wasn't much of an apology, but it'd have to do.