The Last Sabi

The First Ingredient

 

Dear Lia

Inclosed is a photo of Celia's reaction, (courtesy of Sarah-Jane). Notice how the vein on her temple is all swelled up? And how come you aren't coming home for the holidays? Because you're busy? How can you be so busy that you can't spare two weeks for you charming friends? Clar, (who is reading this over my shoulder), just pointed out that you do have a boyfriend at the moment and that is most likely the reason, so we should blame Sirius.

Luv and sunshine

Tahnee


I felt like I was drowning. Not in water, which would have been easier, but in unanswered questions and mysteries. One rather boring night in the common room Sirius wrote a list of them:

1) What is the reason behind Blue's dreams?

2) What enchantment were put on me?

3) What does the prophecy mean?

4) Did Blue's mum mean Sloan as in Rachel Sloan?

5) Does McGonagall know what we're up to?

"There's not that many," I said, looking over his shoulder.

He shrugged, "I'm probably forgetting some. And besides, they're damn big questions."

"It's the prophecy that bothers me," Remus said, holding the prophecy that Sirius and James had dug up. "I mean, 'she'll save the child then leave our world fast,' what's that supposed to mean?"

I shrugged, "I suspect we'll find out soon enough, but let's stop talking about it here. We're attracting some odd looks."

"And glares from Lily," Ellie observed.

"I've tried talking to her so many times the past few days," I complained, "and every time she ignores me. It's not good for ones confidence to be ignored."

"You're not the only one she's not talking to," James said. "She hasn't said two words to me since we found out."

"And now you're going through withdrawals," Sirius muttered.

He was prevented the curse which James was no doubt planning to inflict upon him when Professor McGonagall arrived to take down the names of those staying for the holidays.

James, Sirius and I put our names to stay. Lily, surprisingly enough, also decided to stay and so did Peter. All the other fifth years were going, (including Remus and Ellie.)

"Is Rachel staying?" James asked me.

"Of course she is," Sirius said, "we can't do anything without our fearless leader."

"Yeah, she's staying," I sighed. "And she's decided I've been slacking off too much lately and need to practice more."

"If she doesn't become a professor when she's older," said Remus, "I'll eat my robes."


The next day everybody left for there relaxing holiday. If I'd thought my holiday was going to be relaxing, I was terribly mistaken.

"This is the perfect opportunity to practice," Rachel said by the lake after lunch, "don't looked so pained Sirius!"

Sirius grinned, "yes mum."

"Ok, Lia? You're ok at lifting things now,"

"Just not at putting them down," James muttered.

"You'll get the hang of that eventually. But I think we need to try something new." She placed a small rock on the ground in front of me. "Melt it."

"Say what?"

"You can melt it with your eyes. Glare at it. Go on."

I sat there glaring at the rock, trying not to listen to Sirius' laughter.

"This isn't achieving much," I pointed out, "except for giving me a head ache."

"You'll get it in the end," she said, smiling. "It'll take time, like the lifting did."

I sighed and flopped onto my back, "I know you're right. I just have this feeling that time isn't something I have right now."

Sirius played with my hair, "I'd leave the divination to the experts Pumpkin pie."

James snorted, "pumpkin pie?"

"It's better than lamp chop."

Rachel coughed, "back to work!"


"Blue?"

"Yah?" I put down my book, (which was boring anyway), and looked at Sirius.

"Why do you think our parents never got together?"

I shrugged, "who knows? Though in a way, I'm glad they didn't, 'cause if they did you and I would never have been born."

He grinned at me, "what if they were getting it on secretly? And I'm your half brother?"

"Ew!" I shoved him, "don't even say that! Ew!"

He laughed, "'twas only a thought, don't stress."

"You would think something like that Mr. Black."

Sirius smiled then turned serious, "I wonder how Remus is."

"It's a full moon?"

"Yeah."

"I'm sure he'll be fine. He's a big boy after all."

"You're right," he looked at his watch, "c'mon let's go check out the moon from the astronomy tower."


"Please don't tell me we're glaring at more rocks today," I moaned as we assembled by the grass again the next day.

Rachel grinned, "nope. We need to figure out how we'll find the ingredients of the potion."

"No glaring?"

"No glaring."

I smiled, "good."

"Uh potion?" James looked confused, "what potion?"

We explained the potion to him while Rachel went to get the list of ingredients.

"Ok," She said once she got back, " we'll need Serpent venom, Unicorn tailhair, ordels snare, tristifico flower, water, sugar, mint, lemon juice, a werewolf hair, a hair from the head of a Sabi and a drop of blood from an enemy."

"Easy," I muttered.

Rachel sighed, "stop looking so worried! If we just take it one ingredient at a time, it'll will be easy." She took two small black bags from her robes, "these bags are enchanted so you can fit anything. I'll take one and you guys take one. It will only take about the week to get the easier stuff."

Sirius nodded, "yeah, you're right I suppose. Come here for a second Blue."

I went and sat next to Sirius, who plucked one of my hairs out.

"Ow! What was that for?" I asked him.

He grinned and added it to one of the bags, "the first ingredient. The hair from the head of the Sabi."

I poked my tongue out at him, "next time, give me some warning before you start ripping out my hair."

He laughed, "your wish is my command princess Lia."

James coughed, "if you two are quite finished? How are we going to get the rest of this stuff?"

We scanned the list again, "blood from an enemy?" I said, "were's Snape when you need him?"

"Most of this stuff can be found in the forbidden forest," James said, with a glance in the forest’s direction.

"A trip to the forbidden forest. Fun, fun, fun."

Sirius thought for moment, "look on the bright side Blue. If a Unicorn starts to talk to you, at least you'll know you're not loony."

 

Forbidden Foraging

 

"She is training again my lord."

"Good. Have you stopped the memories yet?"

"We are working on it."

"Well hurry."


Dear Tahnee,

that's right. Blame Sirius. Just make sure Clar doesn't curse him ok? That may bring our relationship to a sudden halt. On a different matter, could you send me some serpent venom from good ol' Hemsley's private stores? Don't ask what it's for, as I am incapable of answering.

Luv Lia


"Lily?"

She turned the page of her book, purposely ignoring me.

I sighed, "ok, so you're still mad."

No reply.

"Well, I thought you should know, chances are, I'm going to be eaten alive before dawn, so it was nice knowing you ok?"

She still refused to speak, so I went to meet the guys in the common room.


Rachel, James, Sirius and I stood at the edge of the forbidden forest.

"Well, this is going to be fun," muttered Sirius.

"We're not getting any ingredients by standing here staring at it you know," Rachel said, "c'mon, let's go in."

So, clutching my little black bag, I followed the others into the forest. Trying to take my mind of the seemingly never-ending blackness, I thought about my last trip to the forest with Sirius. It seemed like a life time ago, when really, it was only a few months in the past. So much had happened since then, some of it good, some of it bad.

I was so busy pondering this that I didn't see the plant until I tripped over it.

"Uh guys?" I called as the ordels snare wrapped itself around my leg. "Guys?"

"Yeah Blue?" Sirius turned, then, "oh."

"Yeah, oh. Could you please GET THIS THING OFF ME!"

The snare started to move faster, covering me with it's thick green leaves.

"Don't yell Lia," Rachel warned, "you'll only aggravate it."

"I tend to yell when I'm not calm. And guess what? I'm not calm!"

"What do we do?" James asked, rather stupidly.

"Kill it," Rachel said simply.

"We gathered that," Sirius snapped, "but how? And hurry, before that thing eats Lia."

The snare had made it's way up to my neck now, preventing me from moving. The feel of the slimy leaves made my skin crawl and I had resist the urge to scream or vomit or both.

"I'm not really sure how you kill an ordels snare." Rachel admitted, "I honestly didn't think we'd find one."

Sirius held out his wand, "uh, aquaries!" A stream of water hit the snare and, needless to say, had little effect.

"How's water meant to stop it?" James asked, sounding slightly panicked.

"Well, you think of something!"

I ignored them and glared furiously at the stupid snare, which was slowly cutting off my air ways. To my surprise, hissed and drew back.

"Oh, wow!" James said. I wanted to hit him.

"Keep glaring Lia," Rachel whispered, "you're melting it!"

I looked and sure enough, parts of the ordels snare were liquefying and the cursed plant was unwrapping it's self, trying to get away.

"Oh wait," Rachel remembered, a tad to late, "hit it with a rock!"

Not wasting any time, Sirius snatched a large rock off the near by ground and struck the snare with it several times.

The snare flopped seemingly lifeless to the ground and I gratefully shook myself free.

"Wow Blue," James said, poking the ordels snare, "you really did melt some of it!"

"Serves the dumb thing right," I muttered, checking my ribs to see if they were broken.

"I wonder what it was doing here," Rachel said, thinking aloud. "Ordels snare doesn't usually grow in this climate."

"Who cares what it was doing here?" Sirius asked, giving me a concerned look, "let's just grab some of it and go back."

"No, we don't have to leave," I said quickly, "I'm fine. Let's just find the rest of the stuff."

"You sure?"

I gave Sirius a big smile just to show how fine I was, "yup. Let's go!"


So we continued along the tiny path. If you could even call it a path, it was more like a trail of dirt were the plants didn't grow quite as thick.

"Are there any cliffs near here?" I asked, keeping a watchful eye on the path so I didn't trip over any more plants, "'cause tritifico flower only grows under cliffs."

"There's a few small cliffs in Hogsmead," Sirius said helpfully, "but I don't know if there's any trisifico flower. I've never looked."

"When's the next Hogsmead visit?" Rachel asked him.

It was James who answered, "not until school goes back. We could sneak out I suppose."

"The cliffs are near the cave," Sirius added.

I half smiled, "you know, I still haven't seen all of Hogsmead? Every time we go, a certain Sirius Black seems to distract me."

James snorted and Sirius grinned, "aipama wadli," he said.

Rachel may have rolled her eyes, I couldn't tell through the darkness, "can we pay attention here?" She asked, "in case you forgot, we are surrounded by rather lethal animals and plants."

"Uh right," I looked around, "what are we looking for now?"

"Well, a Unicorn," Rachel said, "not that I think we'll find one."

"Of course we will," said Sirius almost tiredly, "go on Blue, call your old buddy."

"Huh?" Said James, Rachel and I.

"You know, the Unicorn that you had a good ol' gossip with on our detention."

"Oh, yeah." I thought, then, "how the heck am I meant to call it?"

He shrugged, "I dunno. Just call it."

"What are you two talking about?" James asked, looked confused.

"Why, hello there."

"What?" I asked looking at my friends.

"What are you and Sirius talking about?" James repeated.

"No," I shook my head, "what did you say after that?"

"Nothing," James said, giving me a 'have-you-finally-gone-insane?' look.

"Strange, strange indeed."

"There!" I said, "did you here that?"

Sirius, Rachel and James shook their heads.

I looked around, "uh, hello?"

"I've already greeted you lass, did you not hear?"

"Uh, yeah, I did. It just confused me that's all," I felt rather stupid, talking to something Rachel, Sirius and James could not hear. If it hadn't happened before with the Unicorn, I might have thought I was insane.

Sirius clicked, "oh. Is an animal talking to you Blue?"

"I think so," I looked around again, "um, where are you?"

"I'm right here."

"Uh, yes. But I can't see you. I like to be able to see what I'm talking to."

"Yes, you can talk to me. Strange, strange."

"Um, yeah, it is, isn't it? If you don't mind me asking, what are you?"

"What am I? Rather stupid question, I know what I am."

"But I don't."

"Ah. I see."

"So what are you?"

"Why, I'm a Griffin."

"You're a Griffin?"

"It's a Griffin?" Hissed Rachel, sounding slightly hysterical, which is unusual for Rachel. "A griffin? we have to get out of here! Now!"

"Yes lass, I am a Griffin. The bravest of the brave. And you, are food."

 

Griffin Food

 

"The ordels snare didn't kill her my lord, but it did advance her powers."
"I am pleased, you have done well."
"Thank you, my lord."


"What!" I shrieked, "did you just say food?"

"What about food," asked James sounding very worried.

"Yes, that's what I said lass. I am hungry and you are food."

"Uh guys, I think we should leave. NOW!"

Rachel nodded quickly, still mildly hysterical, "that's what I said before. C'mon, let's go!"

"Leave? No, that will not do. That will no do at all."

The bushes rustled, and the Griffin stepped into view.

It looked exactly like the Griffins in fairy tails. The size of a lion, (though a slightly more golden in color), it could almost be mistaken for a lion, except for the curved beak, the taloned feet and pair of wings sticking out of it's back. It was actually rather beautiful, though it was hard to think that when it was planning to eat you.

"Blue!" Demanded Sirius, "what did that thing say to you!"

Rachel was shaking, "it's a bloody Griffin Sirius. Whatever it said, I can assure you it won't be good."

"It kinda called us food," I said, feeling somehow responsible.

"Food?" Repeated James and Sirius at the same time.

"Yeah, as in I'm hungry and you're food."

"That can't be good," said James as he and Sirius whipped out their wands.

"How are your wands going to help?" Snapped Rachel, "are you going to spray water at it?"

"Oh do put your wands away, or I shall kill you both slowly."

"Guys," I said, "if I were you, I'd put your wands away."

They did.

"Who shall I eat first? Tell me strange one, who shall be first?" The Griffin cocked it's head at me, I could almost see a grin.

"He wants to know who he should eat first," I reported, trying not to faint.

"What?" Cried Rachel and James. Sirius snapped a four letter word which I don't care to repeat.

"Oh, wait!" Said James, "tell him we're in Gryffindor."

"How will that help?" asked Rachel, wringing her hands.

"Gryffindor, Griffin, sounds the same. Gryffindors are like Griffins aren't we?"

"I'm in Ravenclaw!"

"He doesn't know that, just lie Blue."

"Dammit, she can't lie!" Cried Sirius, chewing on his lip.

"Uh, we're Gryffindors, you don't want to eat us."

The Griffin thought about this, "yes, I can see this. You are all in Gryffindor?"

"Yes."

He sauntered over to Rachel, who gasped, "even this one?"

"Uh, yes."

"No, no this one is of the treacherous Raven. You lie."

There wasn't much I could say to that.

"What's happening Lia?" Demanded Sirius.

"I shall eat this one, for she is of the raven." Decided the Griffin, nodding at Rachel. "And I shall eat you because you lie to me, the bravest of the brave. But the others shall live."

"Lia? What's happening." James asked.

"He's going to eat me and Rachel, but not you two."

"Like hell," yelled Sirius, "you tell him that he eats all of us or none of us."

"Are you insane Sirius! Just go!"

"No!"

I sighed, "eat all of us or none of us Griffin."

The Griffin actually laughed, "oh yes, you are of Gryffindor. And who am I to argue with my own? I shall eat all of you."

"He's going to eat all of us," I announced, again feeling responsible.

"Good one Padfoot," muttered James. But then he grinned, "tell it to eat me first."

Rachel shook her head, "don't be stupid you two, it was going to let you go!"

James and Sirius shrugged, though their bravado act was starting to waver.

"So tell me strange one, who shall I eat first?"

I sighed, "eat me."

"Blue!" Sirius grabbed me "what did you say that for!"

The Griffin made it's way towards me and facing death for the second time that night, I squeezed my eyes shut tight.

Nothing happened for a few seconds so I opened my eyes again, the Griffin looked absolutely furious.

"Aren't you going to eat me?"

"You are lucky strange one, you are protected."

I felt a glimmer of hope, "I am?"

"The Unicorns are in debt to you and they have commanded that you live. But if we meet again, you will be my meal."

And, amazingly, it turned and stalked away.

"Where's it going?" Sirius asked, "did it forget the salt?"

Before I could answer, a Unicorn stepped appeared in front of us, it came rather close, but still kept it's distance from James and Sirius.

"Wow," breathed Rachel, already forgetting the Griffin. "Wow."

"Look at the scar," whispered Sirius, "that's your Unicorn Blue!"

Sure enough, there was a faint scar down the Unicorns side.

"Thank you," I said, feeling that I should say something. "You saved our lives."

"Like you saved mine, Sabi."

"Yeah, still, thanks."

The Unicorn nodded, then said, "you need a tailhair."

"What? Oh yeah. We do."

"Then take one of mine, and my debt truly will be repaid."

I walked slowly towards the Unicorn and carefully pulled out one of the tailhairs. "Thank you" I said again.

The Unicorn nodded and gracefully walked away.

Sirius' mouth opened and closed several times before he managed to get any words out. "What the hell just happened?"

"I'll explain in a minute," I said, "but first, let's just get out of here before something else decides to eat us, ok?"


"Where have you been!"

Lily was waiting for us when we entered the common room. And as mad as she was, I was glad she was at least talking to us.

"Us? Where have we been?" Asked Sirius, grinning. He was happy. We all were. Not only had we escaped death twice, (well, twice for me, once for the others), we'd got to meet a Unicorn.

"Were have you been?" She repeated, softer this time, but still an menacing voice.

"Do you care?" I asked wanting her to say yes.

"Just tell me were the hell you've been!"

"We've been fighting Griffins and ordels snare," James told her.

Sirius hit him, "you were meant to lie Prongs!"

"Can't remember you three, er, two helping much anyway. I mean, water for crying out loud!"

Sirius grinned rather sheepishly, "yeah. Sorry 'bout that."

Lily stamped her foot and we all looked at her. "Griffins and ordels snare?"

We nodded.


James and I winced, Sirius put a finger to his lips, "shh Lily, you'll wake everyone up."

She glared at us, for a moment I had images of her cursing us, then she turned and stalked away.

"Do you think she's mad?" Sirius asked.

 

The last Dream

 

"We have a plan my lord."

"A plan?"

"Yes my lord."

"Explain."


Dear Lia,

you will find that I have attached Serpent venom to this letter. (Hope Otto doesn't drink it...) I won't ask what you need it for, (I don't really think I want to know), but I do hope you're not breaking the law, as I don't want to be put in Azkaban for being an accomplice. Actually, Hemsley caught me taking this but I told him a was the potion fairy and could he please get me some Serpent venom. So of course he did.

Luv and sunshine

Tahnee


"So, this is it."

He nodded sadly, "yeah. This is it."

"It might be all right, if Tom, I mean, you-know-who is over thrown, you won't have to hide anymore."

"Do you remember what I said when we were kids, after you nearly drowned in the lake?"

She smiled, "yeah. If you die, I'll be dead too, so don't go dying any time soon, 'cause I kinda like my life."

"I meant it. I'm going into hiding because I want to see Sirius grow, because I want him to remember me. But I'll be dead, just like you."

"I may be dead, but you can bet your bottom dollar I'll come back to haunt you."

He chuckled, "there's always Lia and Sirius. Maybe they'll get a better chance at it."

"If Lia makes it to Hogwarts that is."

"She will. With the Sloans agreeing to help, the enchantment of Sirius and all the charms we've put on her she'll be sure to make it."

"Knock on wood."

He wrapped the wooden bench they were sitting on with his knuckles then looked at his watch. "I have to go."

All at once she burst into tears, "when did our perfect world break? We're the Siamese twins, it wasn't meant to end like this!"

"Maybe it was," he shrugged, "we'll never know what could have been, heck, I don't think we'll ever know what is. I just hope there'll always be someone who knows what was."

"I love you Vinnie."

"I love you too Mel."


"Lia, are you all right?"

I sat down on the cave floor, "when do you think the others will get here?"

Sirius shrugged, "not for a while, we're pretty early. But are you ok?"

"I had another dream last night. I think it was the last one."

"Oh. What happened?"

I described the dream to Sirius, trying not to cry.

Sirius didn't say anything for a while. "I never even knew my dads name. I didn't think to ask as a kid and I didn't dare bring it up with mum after he died."

"Vinnie. Vincent probably. Vincent Black."

"Vincent," Sirius smiled, "if I ever have a son, I'm calling him Vincent."

"If?"

"Was that a proposal?"

"No!"

"Lia Black," he winked, "has a ring to it. Though I'm not too sure about this Blue Black business."

I hit him, "you're full of your self!"

"Mrs. Lia-" He paused, "what's your middle name?"

"Not telling."

"I'll make one up then. Let's see... Lia Maria Black?"

"Lia Maria? You realize that rhymes?"

"Ok, Lia Fred Black? Lia Dog Food Black?"

"Now you're just being stupid."

"Who's being stupid?" Asked Rachel, entering the cave with James on her heels.

"Sirius."

Sirius paused, as thought waiting for something. He turned to James, "what's the matter with you Prongs? That was the perfect opening for about fifty jokes..."

James mumbled something.

I grinned, "he's depressed 'cause Lily isn't speaking to him."

"Aww, poor ickle Jamsie poo."

Rachel rolled her eyes, "can we please go look for some tristifico flower now?"

"Uh, yeah," I said, standing. Then I remembered, "I had another dream last night."

Rachel looked at me and James stopped moping. "Oh?"

"Yeah, it was the last one. The Sloans were mentioned again, you sure that's not you?"

Rachel shook her head, "I don't see how it could be. Are you sure it's the last one?"

I nodded.

"Then you'll probably still have one more. A dream of the future."

"Great."

"Is it Megan?"

"What?"

"Your middle name."

"No."

"Penny?"

"No."

"Hannah?"

"No."

"Anna?"

"No."

"Victoria Jane Ellis-wayne the third?"

"Sirius?"

"Yeah?"

"Shut up!"


"Can you see any James?"

"I don't think so, lower me down a bit more Blue. But don't drop me!"

I lowered him a bit more, trying to ignore images of James falling fifty feet to the ground. I could just see the headline: Last Sabi sends boy over cliff!

"Hey, I think I see some! I can't tell for sure though, what did you say it looks like again?"

"Like a flower," called Sirius helpfully.

"It's purple, with a black crescent moon sort of shape on each petal" Rachel said, ignoring Sirius.

"Yeah this is it then. Move me across Lia."

"Which way?"

"Left."

I moved him.

"No, the other left!"

I moved him again.

"Ok, I got it, lift me up quickly, I'm feeling dizzy."

I lifted James back over the edge of the cliff and (amazingly) deposited him safely on the ground.

He shook his head, "ugh. Never doing that again."

"It's meant to make you smarter," Sirius said, "having all your blood rush to your head. Do you feel smarter Prongs?"

"If smart people feel like they're going to be sick, then yes."

"Sick. Lia, is your middle name sick?"

"What? No!"

"Why do you want to now her middle name anyway?" Asked Rachel, "I didn't think males cared about stuff like that."

Sirius grinned, "well, what am I meant to say when we get married. I take thee Lia Blank Strummings?"

James snorted, "when's the wedding?"

I kicked James and hit Sirius. "What's your middle name then?" I asked.

"Uh, can't tell you that."

Rachel rolled her eyes and muttered something about 'idiot males.'

"Is it Bob?"

"No."

"Jack?"

"No."

"Oscar?"

"No."

"Romeo?"

"Yeah, that's right, Sirius Romeo Black. That's me."

Rachel then threatened to curse us if we didn't shut up, so we walked the rest of the way in silence.

The Warning

 

Dear potion fairy,

thanks for the venom, it'll come in handy. We're not doing anything illegal as such. Not really... How about if I don't say anything?

Luv Lia.


"Uh, Lia?"

I jumped and fell off the bed. "Were you talking to me?" I asked Lily trying to regather my pride.

"No. The other Lia."

"Oh, you were talking to me. Um, yeah?"

"Is there any reason why you're glowing?"

"Say what?"

"You're glowing Lia. Why?"

I looked down at my hands, which to my surprise were really glowing. "Oh! Um, ok, this is new." I thought for a moment, "do you think you could get Sirius for me, I don't think I should leave the room whilst glowing."

She got up and left the room. I hoped she really was going to get Sirius and not going to get McGonagall.

A few minutes later not only Sirius but James followed Lily back into the room. James saw me and did a double take, but Sirius grinned.

"I don't think this is funny." I snapped at him.

He laughed, "my dad used to love doing that."

"How did he stop?" I asked feeling rather unnerved by the fact that I looked like a, well, a glowing thing.

"Um," Sirus thought for a moment. "I don't know. He used to just stop. Oh wait! He had to sneeze sometimes."

"Sneeze?" Asked James and I. Lily watched all this with a curious look on her face.

"Yeah."

I thought this over, "does anybody know any sneezing charms?"

"Rachel would," said James instantly.

"Does anybody in this room know any sneezing charms?"

"I do," said Lily.

"Oh. Could you please charm me then?"

Lily rolled her eyes and picked up her wand. "Achooinate!"

I sneezed. I sneezed again. And again. And again.

"You'll keep sneezing for about three minutes," Lily told me.

Well. At least I'd stopped glowing. Sirius laughed, "I reckon you looked better when you were glowing. You looked like an angel. Hey! Is that your middle name?"

James groaned and dragged him from the room.

Lily sat and watched me until I'd stopped sneezing.

"Uh, thanks. I think," I said, while checking yet again to make sure my skin was normal.

"You're welcome," said Lily, smiling softly.

"Look Lily," I said at the exact same time she said, "Listen Lia."

I laughed, "you first."

"No you."

I sighed, "ok. I was just going to say that I was sorry."

She smiled, "me too. Though I don't know what you have to be sorry for. I overreacted that's all. I guess I was scared that you'd get hurt."

I grinned, "well, that's a good thing isn't it?"

"I suppose. I really am sorry. Do you think James and Sirius and Ellie and Remus'll forgive me?"

I was still grinning, "I can guarantee you James will. He's been moping about like a lost chicken ever since you stopped speaking to him."

"Really?"

"Yup. Sirius reckons he likes you."

"You're not just saying that?"

"Nope. Night Lily." I pulled shut my curtains and left Lily to think that one over.


The next day I talked Lily into coming with me to the cave. On the way I told her all of my dreams.

"Oh that's so sad!" She said once I finished, "I mean, it's the ultimate tragic romance isn't it? They were in love, but left it too late and couldn't be together."

"Yeah, I suppose it is. I don't like to think about it too much, it's depressing."

"Yeah. Hey isn't Rachel's last name Sloan?"

"Yeah. But she doesn't think it could've been her family in my dream. After all, Sloan's a pretty common name isn't it?"

"I guess. Is that the cave?" She pointed and I nodded.

"Yeah let's go, the other's be up there already."


I think the last person James and Sirius expected to see with me was Lily.

"Hi, um, Lily isn't it?" Said Rachel, smiling.

Lily nodded shyly and sat down next to me.

"Tahnee sent me some serpent venom," I said placing it on the floor with the rest of the ingredients.

"And James and I got the what we needed from the kitchen," said Sirius, as James was busy making eye contact with Lily.

"So all we need now is," Rachel consulted the list, "werewolf hair. Were in heck are we going to find werewolf hair?"

James, Sirius and I pretended we had no idea of were we could find a werewolf.

Rachel shrugged to herself, "oh well. We'll think of something. Lily, I presume Lia has filled you in on everything?"

Lily nodded, "most things. Like the potion and her dreams."

Sirius grinned, "did she tell you her middle name?"

Rachel groaned, "Lia, just tell him your middle name so we can have some peace!"

I shook my head, "not until he tells me his."

"I have this strange feeling that I should run away," said Lily, giving us all strange looks.

"She's one of the smart ones," whispered Sirius loudly.

Rachel grabbed a small rock, "we've got to start practicing again. Melt this Lia, the same way you melted the ordeals snare."

I glared at the rock, which bubbled, shook a little then melted.

"Oh! Cool," Lily grinned, "wish I could do that."

I rubbed my temple, "no you don't. It hurts."

"That'll stop once you get used to it," said Rachel nodding, then she grinned. "Sirius tells me you can glow now."

"I can't. It just happened."

"It just happened?"

"Yeah."

"It just happened," mocked James.

I glared at him, "watch it Jamsie, or I'll melt your head."

"You could actually melt his brain if you wanted," said Rachel helpfully.

"Really?"

"Don't give her ideas!" Cried James, moving away from me.

I laughed, "you'd better run Potter, I'm coming to get you!"

James poked out his tongue "then come get me baby."

"If I were the jealous type," said Sirius, "I'd probably punch you now Prongs."

"But Padfoot, you are the jealous type."

I rolled my eyes, "let's go, before blood is shed."


"Were have you guys been?" Asked Peter as soon as we got back, "I've been looking all over for you."

"Well Peter," said James, "we thought you would have jumped at the chance to be alone with Nancy."

Peter blushed slightly, "yeah well, some guy was looking for Lia."

"Some guy?" Asked Sirius, "geez, if I wasn't the jealous type before I will be by the end of the day."

"He wasn't a student," Peter said quickly, "at least, I don't think he was. He didn't look like one. He was freaky, I didn't like him much. I think he was insane."

"How old did he look?" Asked Lily patently.

"About nineteen, twenty?"

"What did he want?"

"He told me to tell the Strummings girl that the games were over and the blood bath was ready to begin."

 

Where’s Celia?

 

Dear Lia,

I have decided that I really do not want to know what you are up to. Clar does though, she’s decided that you’ve joined the Mafia. You haven’t have you?

Luv and sunshine

Tahnee

P.S. Have you heard from Celia? She went home for the holidays and we haven’t received one annoying letter from her.

 

Peter must have been confused at our reactions to the message he passed on. But he didn’t act like it, he just left us there all pale and shaking, (or at least I was), and went to meet his fourth year girlfriend Nancy.

"It could have just been some random sicko," said James, pacing around the chair we were sitting on.

"Who just happened to know my name?" I shook my head, "we all know the explanation that fits."

"I wonder how he managed to get inside the grounds anyway," said Lily, "I mean, he couldn’t have apparated."

‘We should go tell Rachel," Sirius gave me a worried look, "are you all right?"

"I’m fine. C’mon, let’s go tell Rachel."

"No, I’ll go tell Rachel," Sirius stood up, "you’ll wait here."

"Says who?"

"Me." And he turned and left the common room.

 

Rachel, Sirius reported when he got back, was very worried about my warning. She figured it must have something to do with you-know-who, but she couldn’t think of any rational reason of why they’d let me know they were on to me.

"They’re has to be a reason," said Sirius. He fiddled with Padfoot, (the teddy he gave me). "I mean, they wouldn’t do it with out a reason."

I shrugged helplessly. "Maybe they just wanted to freak me out. Maybe we’re making to much of it, maybe it has nothing to do with you-know-who."

"And maybe pigs’ll grow wings," muttered James.

Lily sighed, "it’s late and we’re not achieving anything by sitting around stressing. Let’s all just go to bed and see how we feel in the morning."

I did feel better in the morning. Sleep may not solve all of you’re problems, but it’s the next best thing.

I met up with Sirius in the common room and we walked to breakfast together.

"You ok?" He asked me.

I nodded, "yeah. If they know were I am there’s nothing I can do about right? So what’s the point in getting all stressed?"

"You’re right I guess," he sighed, "Blue, when did things all get so complicated?"

I shrugged and smiled at him, "cheer up Sirius. If you keep worrying you’ll give yourself gray hairs."

"Do you think gray would suit me?"

Everything was back to normal. Well, not really. Not even close. But it was normal enough and that’s all that mattered.

 

The rest of the holidays passed rather uneventfully. As each day went by without any more work from Mr. Man, as we had dubbed him, we all grew more and more relaxed. Even Rachel couldn’t be bothered trying to make me practice and a lazy hazy stupor settled nicely around Hogwarts.

All good things must come to an end of course and before we knew it classes were ready to start again. One good thing about this was the return of Remus and Ellie. (Who, I might add, had grown rather close on the train ride to and from Hogwarts.)

We filled them in on everything that had happened during the holidays, (Remus loved hearing about the griffin), and I demonstrated my new melting abilities.

Remus also brought several strands of werewolf hair with him. He told some story about there being a werewolf attack near were he lived and I pretended to believe him.

"This means," said Sirius, "that we have all the ingredients we need to start the potion."

Everybody seemed to think this was a good thing, I wasn’t nearly as sure.

But I acted happy and exited like the others then went to bed.

 

My first class the next day was History of Magic. I leant against Sirius (who was asleep) and let my mind drift.

About half an hour later, Lily, (who actually paid attention to Professor Binns), poked me and hissed in my ear, "Lia, you’re glowing again!"

"Oh no!" I purposely pushed my quill of the desk and dived down out of view. Lily followed suit.

"I don’t think anyone noticed," she said, "just about the whole class is asleep."

"Good, quick, charm me again."

"All right. Achooinate."

Unfortunately, she over did it slightly and ten minutes later Professor Binns sent me to the nurse to stop my sneezing.

 

"This glowing is becoming a problem," said Rachel that night. "I mean, what if you were in the great hall, or at a quiditch match?"

"I know, I know. But I don’t exactly do it on purpose you know."

"Sirius, do you have any idea how your dad did it?"

Sirius shook his head, "nope. No idea."

I sighed, "wonderful."

"Maybe it happens when you let you thoughts wonder," said Lily, "I mean, when you did it the first time you were nearly asleep and who pays attention to professor Binns?"

"Other than you?" Asked James sweetly. Lily glared at him.

"You’re probably right Lily," said Rachel, "but right now, we need to start on this potion."

"We can’t do it here," said Remus, "we need a better hiding place. The caves to far away though."

"How about in the secret passage on the third floor," said James, "it’s caved in, so it doesn’t g anywhere. But it’d do for this."

We all nodded.

Ellie looked at her watch, ‘we’d better go," she said, "classes tomorrow."

"Are you ever going to tell me?" Asked Sirius sitting down next to me the next day in the common room.

"Tell you what?"

"Your middle name!"

"Oh. Are you still on about that?"

Sirius nodded seriously. "Yes, I am."

I laughed and kissed him on the nose, "as much as I’d love to tell you, I’ve got to go."

"Go? Where?"

I pulled the note I’d received at breakfast from my pocket. It read:

 

Miss Strummings,

please meet me in my classroom at six thirty tonight.

-Professor McGonogall.

 

Sirius’ brow wrinkled, "that’s strange. Wonder what she wants."

I shrugged, "who knows. Bye." I stood up.

"Do you want me to come?" Asked Sirius, still looked at the note with a worried expression.

I rolled my eyes, "I’ll be fine Sirius. You worry too much."

The classroom was empty when I got there. I’d half suspected it might be. Though on Professor McGonagalls desk there was a note:

Do you know where Celia is?

 

The potion Begings

 

"Is the plan working?"

"Yes my lord. She is completely distracted from the dreams."

"Have they ended yet?

"We think so and she is training again. We have also discovered the weak link."

"Excellent. Who is it?"

"Black."


Dear aunt Kath,

How are you? How’s Celia? I am well and I am doing very good in all of my classes. Sirius and Lily say hello.

love Lia


"She’ll be ok," I said to the others in the common room. "I mean, if anything had happened to her, then Aunt Kath or someone would tell me.

Lily read the note again and said slowly, "didn’t Tahnee say she hadn’t heard from Celia?"

I shrugged, "that doesn’t mean anything. There’s hundreds of reasonable explanations."

"I suppose you could be right," Remus scratched his head, "you’d better write to your aunt anyway. Just to be sure."

"This is stupid!" Sirius jumped up and started pacing, "I mean, why are we letting them, whoever ‘them’ is, jerk us around like this? We’re sitting ducks, they could take us anytime they wanted! We don’t we do something?"

"Like what?" Asked Rachel calmly, "like you said Sirius, we don’t know is actually doing this, so how can we stop them?"

"They haven’t really done anything anyway," said Ellie, ‘I mean, only a warning and a note. Which may or may not be legit."

I sighed, "I’m going to write a note to Aunt Kath, then I’m going to bed. This is probably just going to fizzle like the ‘warning’"

James nodded, "You’re most likely right. Yeah, we should all go to bed. I saw Filch stalking about before, we should go before he finds us. Besides, it’ll all be clearer in the morning."

"What we need," I heard Sirius say to James as they made their way out of the astronomy tower, "is a map..."


"The next morning at breakfast I kept an eye out for Nona. Which was stupid really, as it would take her at least two days to get to Australia and another two to get back. I did get a short note from Rachel though:

meet me in passage tonight. bring ingredients.

I showed the note to the others.

"Ugh," said Jessie wrinkling her noise at her timetable, "we’ve got potions first.

Hannah groaned, "but my essay’s still an inch and a half short."

Sirius looked alarmed, "we had an essay?

I rolled my eyes, "duh Sirius. The one on invisibility potions, remember?"

"Uh, no. Can I copy yours?"

"Only if you tell me your middle name."

James laughed, "yeah, c’mon Padfoot, what is your middle name?"

Sirius thought for a moment then looked at his watch, "well, I’ve still got four minutes to write an essay, so I’ll be off now."

Remus threw a piece of toast at his retreating back.


"Did you bring the ingredients."

Remus nodded and handed them to Rachel, "did you bring everything else?"

Rachel nodded, "yeah. C’mon, we better get started."

"How long will this take?" Asked Lily, "and how long will it work for once Lia drinks it?"

"The potion will take about a week to actually make," said Rachel, "but the effects are permanent."

I wasn’t sure I liked the sound of that.

"Don’t worry," Rachel assured me, "it’s perfectly safe."

"If you say so," I watched as Lily conjured up a green fire and as Remus and Sirius set up the cauldron above it.

"What do we add first?" Asked Ellie, her eyes darted around the dimly lit passage.

"The water and the lemon juice," said James, reading the parchment Rachel had given him.

"Good grief," I muttered, "we’re making herbal tea, not a potion."

Sirius grinned reassuringly, "you’d just better hope it tastes like herbal tea."

"Now we add blood from an enemy," said James.

Ellie added the blood she’d managed to collect when Snape was bitten by a Hippogriff in her care of magical creatures class.

"What next?" I asked, trying not think about the fact that I’d be drinking Snape’s blood.

"We leave it to boil until tomorrow," James said yawning, "good thing too, I’m dead tired."

"How can you be?" Ellie asked him, "we’ve had far later nights then this."

"Yeah, but Padfoot, moony, wormtail and me have been wo-" He was cut off when Sirius kicked him.

"Uh yeah, right." James grinned, "never mind. Night all!" He, Sirius and James raced from the passage without a backwards glance.

Lily, Ellie and Rachel wore bewildered looks, (and I’m sure I did too).

"Doesn’t matter what happens," said Lily, "those four still manage to keep scheming."


The next day and still no reply from aunt Kath. Not that I expected one, but still... I wasn’t interested in watching everyone watch Lily and James flirt with each other, so I left for class early.

"You still worried about Celia?" Sirius asked softly, coming up behind me.

"yeah, I am. I mean, we never really got along, but she was like my annoying sister you know?"

Sirius nodded. "Did you know I used to have a sister?"

"No," I turned to face Sirius, "what happened?"

"She died when she was only two months old, but even so, it felt like losing someone I’d known all my life."

I sighed, "you know what Sirius? Life sucks sometimes."


The potion was still merrily bubbling away when we arrived at the passage that night. Rachel was exceedingly happy about this.

"Any word from your aunt?" She asked me as James and Sirius added the werewolf hair and my hair.

"No, but Nona probably only just reached Australia, it’ll still be a few days."

Rachel nodded then looked around. "Where’s Remus and Ellie?

James snorted, "probably making out in a closet somewhere."

"You and Lils have a lot of experience in that area dontcha Prongs?" Sirius grinned as Lily and James both went red.

"Why Sirius," said Lily, "are you implying that I, Lady Lily, have even stepped foot inside a closet?"

Sirius laughed, "my mistake."

"Can we get back to business here?" I asked them, poking the cauldron with my foot.

"Yeah, business," Sirius struggled to keep a straight face, "back to business."

 

Learning to Lie

 

After adding the hair, there wasn’t really much else we could do, so we all went to bed. When Lily and I reached our dorm we found Ellie waiting for us.

"Where were you tonight?"

Ellie grinned, "sorry ‘bout that, but Remus and I got... Sidetracked."

"In a closet I bet." I muttered, Lily giggled.

"Not in a closet," Ellie said, pulling a face, "in the empty Transfiguration room..."

Lily raised an eyebrow, "gee, kinky."

I rolled my eyes and went to bed.


The next day at breakfast, Nona brought aunt Kaths reply.

"That was quick," I said, giving Nona the rest Sirius’ toast.

"Open it!" Hissed Lily softly, so Hannah and Jessie wouldn’t hear.

Dearest Lia,

So nice to hear from you. I’m glad to hear your classes are going well, just as I knew they would be. Celia sends her regards.

Love Aunt Kath.

"See," I said, feeling immensely relieved, "Celia is fine."

Sirius nodded, "they must have known that you’d soon find out that Celia was ok. They’re not doing these things to drive you mad with worry, they’re doing these things for another reason."

But not one of us could think what the ‘other reason’ could be.


"Miss Strummings, are you listening to me?"

"Um, no." Professor Hopkins wasn’t expecting that. Behind me Remus snickered.

"Oh, and why not?"

"I was thinking about other things."

"Yes, Lia, I could see that, but what other things?"

Well, you see sir, the dark forces are messing with my mind, I have an illegal potion bubbling away in a secret passage which I’m going to drink soon, I start glowing at inconvenient times and my boyfriend won’t tell me his middle name.

"Uh, just stuff."

"I see. Try to think only about Ancient Runes in the future will you please?"

"Sure thing sir."

"Blue," I heard Remus whisper, "we have got to teach you how to lie."


"Now, Blue," Sirius said grinning, "the first thing you need to know about lieing is, you never actually lie. Just, stretch the truth."

"Or in your case," I said sweetly, "boomerang it to the moon."

"What’s a boomerang?"

"Never mind."

"Anyway, say you’re sneaking around late at night to see your one hundred and one percent perfect boyfriend, i.e.. me, and you get caught by professor McGonagall, what do you say?"

I shrugged.

James groaned and slapped his forehead, "this is going to take some work."

Sirius sighed, "you’d say something along the lines of," he thought for a short moment, "sorry professor, I just wasn’t feeling very well, so I was going to go see the nurse, but the walk made me feel much better, so I’m just heading back to the common room."

"That’s not stretching the truth Sirius, that’s lying."

He waved his hand, "doesn’t matter. Anyway, I want you to lie to me."

"You don’t hear that in most relationships," said Lily.

"Lie to you? What about?"

He shrugged, "anything. Just lie."

"Ok then." I sat in silence for a while, "Sirius Black is gods gift to the world."

Remus snorted. Sirius shook his head, "I said lie, not tell the truth."

James groaned again.

"You see, lying itself isn’t hard t all, it’s just making up lies on the spur of the moment that gets most people stuck."

I rolled my eyes, "should I be worried that you’re such an expert on lying?"

"I’ve never lied once," Sirius said grinning, "but still, you really do have to earn how to tell porky pies Lia. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone more hopeless at lying than you."

"Gee, thanks."

"So, imagine this. I’ve just walked into my dorm to find you and James, er, trading saliva shall we say,"

"Hey!" Said James, Lily and I.

"Now, I am about to murder James with my own bare hands, so you have to fast talk your way out if it. What do you say?"

"I’d let James do the talking."

"You can’t because I’ve already rendered him unconscious."

"Oh. Then I’d say, umm, that James was eating, uh, something... A chocolate frog! And he started to choke. So I, uh, had to give him mouth to mouth resuscitation."

Sirius nodded, "that was almost believable. Except you have to cut out all the uh’s and pauses. Say it with confidence!"

"Well, if you’d just been caught snogging your boyfriends best mate, you wouldn’t really have much confidence would you?"

"How would you know? You haven’t been snogging Prongs have you?"

"Yeah, the weddings next week."

"Hah!" Everyone looked at Sirius in surprise, "there! Lying is just like being sarcastic, except without the sarcasm. It’s that simple."

"Oh, ok." I thought about his. "But how do you now James and I aren’t getting married next week?"

"Yeah Padfoot," said James grinning, "for all you know, me and Blue could have two kids and a house."

"You’d better not," said Lily. She then realized what she’d said and went rather red.

"Why would you care Lils?" Asked Remus sweetly.

Lily shrugged, ‘I don’t. I was saying it for Padfoots benefit."

"Of course you were," I said winking as if I knew a big secret, "so that wasn’t James’ name you were mumbling in your sleep last night?"

"Nope."

"You sure?"

"Yep. Night everyone!"


"Uh, add the unicorn tailhair."

I dropped the silvery hair into the potion, it bubbled and changed colors from red to gold to blue and back to red.

"This is going to taste horrible," I moaned, scowling at the potion.

"You don’t know that," said Lily, "it could taste like chicken for all you know."

"And it could taste like boogers."

James wrinkled his nose, "I’m glad you’re the one who has to drink it."

Remus added the ordeals snare to the now yellow potion and said, "there’s nothing more we can do until tomorrow now, so let’s go back."

Sirius yawned, "good. I’m glad it’s the weekend."

"But after every weekend there’s a Monday," said Ellie nodding wisely.

"I like Mondays." Rachel grinned at our shocked expressions, "what do you expect? I’m a Ravenclaw after all."


Dear Tahnee,

tell Clar I have joined the Mafia and if she doesn’t stop stealing the chocolate frogs from under Sarah-Janes pillow, I will send Big Tony to kill her.

Luv Lia

 

The middle Names

 

"We are entering the final days my lord."

"Excellent."


Dear Lia,

I had the strangest feeling in divination today. (Don’t roll your eyes at me!) No, seriously, we were revising crystal ball gazing and I just got this feeling. Like a case of the willies, but more so. I was sure you were dead or in trouble. It took me a whole ten minutes to convince myself you were fine. So, please, write back and tell me you were in mortal danger so I can stop thinking I’m insane.

Luv and Sunshine

Tahnee


"Lia, pass me the Tristifico flower," said Rachel, holding out her hand.

I gave it to her and she crushed it and added it to the potion nodding with satisfaction. "It’ll be finished by tomorrow."

James stopped gazing at Lily and looked at her in surprise, "already? Wow."

I sighed, stood up and dusted off my robes. "I’m going for a walk. I think I’m allergic to icky potions I don’t really want to drink."

Sirius stood up instantly, "I’ll come with you." He grabbed my hand and led me from the passage.


We ended up by the lake, watching the giant squid scare the pants off a group of first years.

"Are you ok?" Sirius asked after a moments silence.

"Yeah, why do you ask?"

He shrugged, "you’ve just seemed a bit down lately that’s all."

It was my turn to shrug, "I just feel, I don’t know, sad. No, not sad. More like the feeling you get when you miss something."

Sirius looked puzzled at this, then said. "I know what’ll make you feel better."

"What?"

He grinned, "I’ll tell you my middle names."

"Names? As in plural?"

"Yup. And just because I’m such a wonderful guy and because I happen to like you a whole heap, I’ll tell you both of them. But you’ve got to tell me yours."

"Ok, deal."

He looked around, as if expected someone to be listening in, then said, "James."

"Where’s James?" I looked as well, expected to see my messy haired friend.

"No, that’s one of my middle names. James."

"Oh," I started giggling, "does James know that?"

Sirius wore a mock look of aggression, "no, and you’d better not tell him missy. He’d never shut up about it."

"I won’t. Sirius James Black. Has a nice ring to it. What’s the other one?"

"Buhthemlew," Sirius muttered to his hands.

"Eh?"

He sighed, "promise not to laugh?"

I promised.

"Bartholomew."

I bit my lip and clutched my sides to stop from laughing, Sirius looked at me in a peeved way, "ok, go on then, laugh."

And I did, It was a good five minutes before I managed to speak. "Sirius James Bartholomew Black. Actually, it doesn’t sound that bad."

Sirius wrinkled his nose, "to you maybe. Ok, let’s hear your middle name then."

"How do you know I even have a middle name?"

"Tell me or I’ll tickle you."

I remembered the night Sirius had discovered my feet were incredibly ticklish. I didn’t really want a repeat of the experience, so I told him.

"It’s Juliet."

"Seriously, Juliet? As in, Romeo and Juliet?"

"I think now that it was my mums last joke," I said, remembering what Lily had said when I told her about the dreams. "I mean, her and your dad had the perfect tragic romance didn’t they?"

"Yeah, they did. Hope we don’t end up like that."

I smiled again, "ah, but Sirius, we already have."


The next day the event I was most certainly not looking forward to came to be. The potion was complete and ready for drinking.

"This is going to taste awful," I moaned, looking down at the vial filled with the now aqua colored potion.

"Just pinch your nose and scull it right down," said Sirius with a helpful grin.

"This won’t have any side effects on me will it?" I asked Rachel, still stalling the consumption of the vile drink.

"Uh, your ears may fall off and your hair could turn green."

"What!"

"Kidding, Lia, I’m just kidding. Drink the damn potion! Geez, it’s not like it’s full of poison."

I wrinkled my nose, "if I die, you can have my stuff Lily, but share it with Sirius ok."

"Hey, thanks."

I shut my eyes and downed the potion in one big gulp. It tasted strange. Not bad exactly, more like medicine. It doesn’t taste all that bad, but you think it does, so you convince your brain that it tastes foul. I suddenly staggered and Sirius grabbed me so I didn’t fall.

"Ugh, why is the world spinning?" I asked, blinking several times.

Rachel nodded, "that’s good. That’s meant to happen. It means the potion worked."

"Oh good, I think. Sirius? Will you help me back to the common room, I don’t think I’ll be able to walk."


Much later that night, when my surroundings had stopped moving, Hannah, Jessie, Ellie and I set to work on Lily.

"Lily, you know you like him, " said Hannah.

"And he obviously likes you," I added.

Jessie and Ellie nodded knowingly.

Lily shrugged, "how can you be so sure? I don’t know, do you think I should?"

We all nodded eagerly.

Lily bit her lip, "I want to. But I don’t know how. I have zero experience with stuff like this."

"We’ll do it!" Cried Hannah.

Lily shook her head, "no, that’s tacky. I’ll do it."

"Now?" I asked her, looked pointedly at the door.

"In a minute, I have to prepare myself first."

I shrugged, supposedly uncaring, "whatever, I’m going to see Sirius."

"Don’t you meantion anything to James!" Lily yelled as I left the room.

I turned around and smiled, "me? Do something like that? Never!"


I flopped onto ton Sirius’ bed. "Hi, James, hi Remus, hi Peter, where’s Sirius?"

James, Peter and Remus said hello and James pointed to the bathroom.

Peter looked at me curiously, "how much do you like Sirius?"

James rolled his eyes, "what kind of stupid question is that? They’ve been going out for ages, she must like him a fair bit."

I nodded, "yup. What James said."

Peter nodded and seemed to make a mental note. I was about to ask him why he cared when the bathroom door swung open and Sirius stepped out wearing nothing but scooby doo boxer shorts, saw me, and stepped back in again.

I burst out laughing, "scooby doo? Honestly Sirius, scooby doo?"

"Don’t knock scooby!" Came his reply, "and go away! I need to get some clothes."

"You don’t need clothes, I’ve already seen you naked."

"I was three! And it was a photo! Which, James, you still haven’t told me how you got hold of!"

James was saved by Lily, who chose that moment to walk in, looking rather ill. "Can I speak to you for a minute James?"

"Yes! Do you hear that Padfoot, I gotta go speak to Lily! See you!" James ran out the door pulling Lily with him.

"Moony? Wormtail?" Sirius called, sounding rather self pitying, "could you bring me some clothes?"

"Oh, Padfoot you big baby," I shouted to him, "come get ‘em yourself."

"Fine, but no scooby doo jokes!"

"Yes sir, Bart sir!"

"Bart?" Asked Remus and Peter together.

Sirius darted out of the bathroom looking rather red, I smirked at him, (of course, I didn’t notice how good his chest looked...)

"Bart?" Asked Remus again.

Sirius pulled on some robes and glared at me, "one word..."

I just laughed.

 

Calm before the Dream

 

"Is she of full power?"

"Not yet my lord, but we have run out of time. We must proceed now, or never."

"Make it now."


Dear Lia,

do you like this leaf? I was sitting in our old tree. Do you remember when we were little, we used to sit under it and play barbies? Or when I got my first kiss, you were so surprised you fell out of it and broke your arm? I think I may be turning into a sentimental old fool. Who knows, maybe I’ve always been one, and I’ve only just found out...

Luv and sunshine
Tahnee


"You look like a Christmas tree."

I poked my tongue out at James, but, as I was grinning, he didn’t take me too seriously.

"It’s good that you’ve figured out how to control it," Rachel said, "at least now you won’t start glowing in the great hall."

"Stop flashing!" Lily shielding her eyes, "I feel as though I surrounded by cameras.

I had figured out how to control my glowing and was showing this by , well, flashing like a Christmas tree.

"When did you figure this out anyway?" Sirius asked, nodding in time to my flashing.

I shrugged, "I didn’t sleep much last night, so I laid there working this out."

Truth was, I hadn’t slept at all the night before. Rachel was becoming more and more certain I was about to be having a future dream and I was not looking forward to it. Sirius knew this, but didn’t say anything.

"That reminds me," Rachel peered at me closely, "you haven’t bee having any side effects have you? From the potion?"

"What?" I stopped flashing, "you said there weren’t any!"

"There aren’t. At least, I don’t think there are."

"If my toes turn green, I’m blaming you."

"Green?" Remus got a dreamy look on his face, "green olives. Mmmm."

"You’re weird," I told him, "everyone knows olives make your hair go curly."

"No, I think that’s crusts."

I looked at Lily, "is it? I always thought it was olives."

"And you’re calling me weird? Hey! Put me down!"

I lowered Remus back to the ground and we went to breakfast.


It’s hard to concentrate in Charms when you have an annoying muggle song stuck in your head going around and around.

"The sweetening charm is a simple one, all you have to do is rase you wand like so and..."

How much is that doggy in the window?

Be careful to keep the tip of your wand well away from the object..."

The one with the waggley tail?

I wondered if madam Pomfrey had anything to get the song out of my head, because all hitting my ears did was attract strange looks.

"Sir?" I raised my hand and, startled, Professor Flitwick dropped his wand.

"Yes miss Smiggs?"

Smiggs? "Can I please go see the nurse?"

"Oh, yes, I suppose so."

Sirius gave me a pleading, ‘take me with you’ look. I smirked at him and gladly left the classroom behind.


The corridors were empty and rather errie. So I half walked half ran down them singing softly. "How much is that doggy in the window?"

"Oh, about three galleons I’d say."

I jumped slightly and looked around, "oh, hi Peter."

He gave a slight wave, "that’s muggle song isn’t it?"

"Yeah, how’d you know, I thought you were pure blood?"

"No, only half blood."

"Oh."

Peter cocked his head and me and smiled softly, "I used to love that song."

"Used to? Why’d you stop?"

He shrugged, "people change, you know Lia? At least, they try, but it’s hard sometimes. You know?"

"Uh, right, listen Peter, I gotta go to the nurse all right? See you."

I turned and almost ran down the hall without waiting for Peter’s reply.


"It was really weird you know? Like, I don’t know, like he was trying to tell me something."

"Uh huh." Sirius appeared to be listening, in truth he was trying to look down my robes.

"Sirius!" I hit him not so lightly, "were you listening to a word I said?"

‘Of course. You were telling me something about Peter."

"What about Peter?"

"That he, uh, used to like dogs?"

I sighed angrily at him and went to find Lily.


"What’s up with you?" She asked when I flopped down on her bed.

"Sirius is such a male!"

Lily raised an amused eyebrow, "really? Who would’ve guessed? Do you think James’d like this or these more?"

She held pale blue and emerald dress robes in front of her.

I shrugged, "he’s male too, I’m sure he’d rather you go naked."

Lily rolled her eyes, "pale blue it is then. C’mon, tell aunt Lily what Sirius did."

I shrugged, "nothing too big. Lily, what do you think of Peter?"

"Why? Don’t tell me you like him!"

I shuddered slightly, "no! It’s just, well, do you think he’s weird?"

"I don’t really know him all that well. He’s always so quite. James trusts him though, so he can’t be too bad."

"James trusts everyone except Snape. Anyway, don’t worry about me, go have your date with James and make sure you enjoy yourself."

"I will, don’t wait up for me."

She went to meet James in the common room and I soon fell asleep.


The astronomy tower looked like a bomb had hit it. Bits of everything melted everywhere and all sorts of things in places they shouldn’t be because Remus and Rachel couldn’t be bothered fixing them once I let them drop.

"You do realize that somebody’s going to notice this place is slightly messier than usual," Lily said, looking around.

I winced as a telescope didn’t quite make it to the floor. "They’d never blame us, we’re far to innocent."

I heard Sirius snort from the general direction of a box of upturned star charts.

"Shut up Bart!"

"Make me Shakespeare!"

"Scooby!"

"Romeo!"

"James!"

"Huh?" James looked very confused, "huh?"

Sirius untangled himself from the star charts and grinned. "Don’t worry Jamsie boy, Blue here is just insane."

I tossed me hair in a snobbish way, "yes, well, even the insane need beauty sleep."

"You don’t need it," Sirius winked, "you’re all ready beautiful."

"Flattery gets you no where Black. Good night everyone."


It was a few hours before I finally drifted into slumber land. And when I did I started to dream...

 

Dream of the End

 

Flash!

Somebody, a girl, running. Crying, sobbing, gasping to get enough air. The same words over and over; I’m sorry Lia, I’m so sorry.

Flash!

A boy, a young man really. He looked familiar... Was it? Yes, it was Sirius. He was chained to something... A wall? He was bleeding from a cut above his eye and he looked scared? No, more angry and something else. Was he worried? His eyes were focused at something I couldn’t see, something I wasn’t sure I wanted to see.

Flash!

A dorm... My dorm. The beds are all full with sleeping girls except for one... My bed, it’s empty, cold. As though no one has ever slept in it.


It’s been about five hours since I has the dream. I’ve spent that five hours here, at Lily’s desk, (as Sirius broke mine), writing everything down. No, not everything, for that would take months if not years. But everything that has happened since that day on the Hogwarts express, which, I suppose is everything you need to know.

I’m not sure what’s going to happen now. Something big, I can feel it. It would be pointless for me to hope to live. For I know that I will die. All I hope for is that Sirius will be ok. For as long as there is Sirius there is me.

So this is it. I’m not sure how to finish this. ‘The end’ doesn’t seem appropriate, but no does ‘to be continued. Perhaps I’ll leave you to make your own ending, but just make it a happy one, ok?


Dear Tahnee,

this is most probably the last letter I’m ever going to write to you. You remember when we were kids and we promised each other that whoever died first, would make sure they’d say good-bye to the other before they went, no matter what? Well, this is it. I’m saying good-bye. Because I am going to die, I don’t know when exactly, but soon. I hope you get a better go at life then me Tahnee dear.

love forever

Lia.

The first Spy

 

Lia Strummings dropped her pen and sighed somewhat sadly. She knew her death wasn’t as certain as she had made it out to be, but what else could the be the cause of the growing dread in her stomach?

She was far too tired to think too much about any of these things, so she put her head in her hands and fell asleep.


Lily Evans was quite concerned when she awoke to see her best friend asleep at her desk.

"Lia, wake up!"

One bleary eye opened, then another.

"Oh, Lily, hey. What’s the time?"

"It’s still early, but why are you asleep at my desk?"

"Sirius broke mine."

"Uh right," Lily, like she normally did, gave up trying to get sane answers.

Lily stood slowly and peered around at her roommates.

"Where’s Ellie?"

"Gone to meet up with the Hufflepuff seeker."

"Right."

Lia was defiantly worried about something. Lily knew that if she asked what was wrong she wouldn’t get and answer but asked anyway.

Lia shrugged, "nothings wrong, I’m going to see Sirius, ok?"

"Yeah, ok."


Lia had to struggle to stop herself from running all the way to Sirius’ dorm.

She knew, rationally, that Sirius would be fine, but all rationality’s aside, Sirius was in trouble.

"Where’s Sirius?" She asked, bursting into the room.

James mumbled something into his pillow.

"What? James! Where is he!" She kicked him for good measure.

James sat up, "Peter had something to show him, they left about an hour ago. Nothing to worry about."

Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no.

"Do you know where they went?"

"Uh, not really."

She turned to Remus, "do you?"

He shook his head, "Blue, what’s going on?"

Lia shook her head in frustration, "I don’t know! I think Sirius is in trouble somehow. Are you sure you don’t know where he went?"

James crunched up his face, "Sirius said something, umm, Apa Wadi? Apma Wali?"

"Aipama Wadli?"

"Yeah, no idea what that means. Are you sure he’s in trouble."

James received no answer, for Lia was already out the door and finally going somewhere. The cave.


Remus pulled his cloak tighter around himself and turned to his two friends, "are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, do any of you know what Aipama Wadli means?"

Lily thought for a moment, "I think I remember Clar saying something like that in Australia. It’s got something to do with caves."

"Caves," James blinked against the strong winds, "our cave?"

Remus shrugged, "it’s worth a try, but if Lia’s not there, I’m going back to bed."


Lia didn’t bother to wipe the rain from her eyes, she was sitting on the same rock she and Sirius had sat on all that time ago and staring up at the same cave.

Sirius was up there. She couldn’t hear him or see him, but she knew he was up there.

"Lia!"

Lia jumped and turned around to see Lily, James and Remus seemingly appear out of thin air. In truth, she hadn’t seen them because of the heavy rain.

"What are you guys doing here!?"

James shrugged and grinned, his teeth almost glowing in the dark, "come off it Blue, if Sirius is in trouble, we’re helping him out too. Besides, I thought we agreed we’re in this together."

"I suppose. Just be careful, ok? Where’s Ellie and Rachel?"

"Ellie’s with the Hufflepuff, remember? And we couldn’t find Rachel in time."

"Ok, did you bring your wands? I forgot mine."

Silence. "Uh, we didn’t think we’d need them..." said James rather sheepishly.

"Great." Lia shifted nervously, "I’m not sure Sirius is in trouble you know."

"But you think he is?"

"Yeah."

"Then let’s go."


The climb up to the cave was a difficult one. The rain made the normally easy to climb rocks wet and slippery. Impossible to climb on.

In the end, Lia fought her way up and lifted her friends one by one to join her.

"This is riduculuas," said Lily, trying to shake the rain from her hair, "are you sure he’s in there Blue?"

Lia nodded, "he’s not alone either." She remembered her dream. "He’s bleeding and he’s chained to something, I don’t know what."

"How do you know that?" Remus asked, peering into the looming darkness of the cave.

"I had the dream. The future one, like Rachel said I would."

"Oh."

"Oh."

"Oh."

"I’ll tell you what happened later," Lia said, silently wondering if there would be a later.


Inside the cave the dark was everything. You couldn’t see your own hands let alone the people around you.

"You know," James’ voice came from somewhere to Lia’s left, "there could be a great big hole in the ground and we’d just walk right into it."

"That’s a lovely thought," said Lily and she, as did everyone else, stopped moving.

"Oh, I know," Lia concentrated for a moment then started to glow.

The light she gave off cast a dim glow of the cave walls. There was no hole in their path, but Remus had been just about to walk into a large rock.

"This just gets better and better," muttered Lia, trying not to think about what lay ahead.

James shrugged and started to walk again, "we have our human torch so we’re all set. Let’s go."


"Footsteps."

At Remus’ words the small group froze and listened. Sure enough, the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps reached their ears.

"Hide!" Hissed James, but no body could see the point in this as there was no where to hide.

"They’re crying," whispered Lily, "listen, whoever is coming is crying."

They were not left much time to ponder this because all at once, the owner of the sobs and footsteps came into view.

Lily rushed forward, "Ellie!"

At the sight of her friend Ellie collapsed into gasping for breath, still sobbing. And the same words, over and over; "I’m sorry, oh god Lia, I’m so sorry."

"Sorry? Ellie, I don’t understand, what’s wrong?"

"I told him everything Lia! Everything! Not just me, he did as well, but oh Lia, I didn’t want to! But he made me, he threatened me, I was scared! And Sirius! He has Sirius!"

"Ellie, who made you? Tell me Ellie! Was it you-know-who? Damn it Ellie, what have you done!"

"I didn’t tell him everything Lia, I didn’t betray you completely, the potion... He doesn’t know... Oh god he’s coming, he’ll find me, oh god..."

Lia moaned, "oh Ellie, what have you done?"

But her friend was to weak to answer, she was slowly but surely slipping into unconsciousness, though she was still weeping and muttering, "sorry, sorry."

Lia but her lip, "stay with her Lily, we’ll go on."

Lily shook her head, "Lia, if this is he-who-must not be named we’re talking about... Look what he did to Ellie!"

James swore, "this is too deep, we have to get someone, we have to get help..."

"Look, you three take Ellie back and get help, I’m, I’m going to keep going."

Lily grabbed her friends hand, "no Lia! Don’t be an idiot! You’re in over your head, think about what Ellie must have told him Lia! He knows everything you can do!"

Lia shook her head, "just make sure you get help all right? Tell Dumbledor and make sure you get Ellie to madam pomfrey."

"Lia!"

Remus may well have saved his breath, for Lia had already gone.

 

Forgotten

Without her friends with her, Lia seemed to think all the dark shadows were supporters of the dark lord, just waiting to jump out and kill her.

She wished, for the millionth time, that she had gone with them to get help. But she knew, somehow, that this was something she needed to do alone.

Strangely enough, the cave seemed to grow lighter as she moved deeper into it’s depths. Or perhaps her eyes were growing accustomed to the light. Either way, she was able to stop glowing and still see clearly.

She froze suddenly straining her ears. She could hear the vague pounding of rain and the rustling of the cave dwellers rushing back and forth, but there was something else as well.

A swish, like feathers, and the clip clap of taloned feet. Strangely familiar...

"I told you we should meet again, didn’t I strange one?"

Lia peered into the darkness but, like their last meeting, the Griffin remained hidden from sight.

"No Unicorns to protect you this time, nobody to protect you at all."

"Why are you here? You live in the forbidden forest." She was stalling, the Griffin most probably knee this, but it answered her anyway.

"Just because I am often found in a place does not mean a must stay there strange one. And when given the offer to catch the one I lost, who could refuse?"

"You’re going to eat me?"

"The one of the lieing raven called upon me, I would have eaten her, but she told me where to find you."

The lieing raven... "What, you mean... Not Rachel?"

Lia could finally see him. He circled her like a shark would a school of fish. "Names do not matter strange one, nothing matters."

"But, Rachel... She told you to eat me?"

"She is of the raven, what did you expect?"

Lia felt sick. She was going to die because her friend betrayed her. She was going to die before she could save Sirius.

She tried to ignore the clip clap of the Griffins talons and focused on one of the many large boulders.

It wobbled a bit then slowly began to rise.

Lia hoped the Griffin would think the sweat on her forehead was due to fear, not the strain of keeping the bolder in the air.

It moved, slowly but surely, until it was above the now stationary Griffin. With a sigh of relief Lia let it drop.

The Griffin, unfortunately, somehow heard it coming and attempted to moved. He wasn’t quite fast enough though and the bolder succeeded in crushing his leg.

He howled in pain and Lia had to dive out of the way of it’s claws.

"I will make you pay, strange one!"

"My name isn’t strange one!" Lia yelled, half climbing the wall as the Griffin lunged at her.

The crushed leg prevented the Griffin from actually catching Lia, but she was tiring and dodging the large creature was proving more and more difficult.

Finally, it seemed he had her. The Griffin pinned Lia under one of his large talons.

"You put up a good fight strange one, but I am the Griffin, bravest of the brave."

"For the last time you overgrown turd, my name isn’t strange one it’s Lia!" And she kicked the Griffin in a place no male, human or otherwise, likes to be kicked.

Lia scrambled to her feet quickly and once again lifted the bolder. Though this time when she dropped it, the Griffin didn’t move.


Once she was out of the Griffins sight Lia collapsed worn and shaking to the ground. She wanted to cry, but found she couldn’t. She didn’t want to believe that Rachel had betrayed her. Two of her closest friends had deceived her and she hadn’t seen it coming.

The more she thought about it the more it hurt, so in an effort to step, Lia forced herself to stand and keep moving, the thought of Sirius driving her onwards.

With every step she took Lia felt a growing sense of urgency, and soon she was sprinting ahead, the sound of her footsteps in rhythm with the sound of her heart.


"Sirius!"

He was chained as her had been in her dream to the cave wall. The gash above his eye was there and his eyes were closed..

"Sirius!" Lia knelt down in front of him, "can you hear me."

"Lia?" Sirius raised his head groggily, "what the hell are you doing here? Go, run!"

Lia ignored him, "what happened?"

"Peter," he spat out the name as though it was poison, "told me he wanted to show me something. The little bastard hit me from behind and I woke up here. You have to go Lia, don’t you get it? I’m the bait, he’ll use me against you!"

"Ellie and Rachel," Lia said sadly, "betrayed us as well. I don’t think Ellie wanted to, but Rachel set a trap for me."

"Lia, go, please," Sirius looked desperate, "he’ll kill you Blue. And if you die, I’ll die as well."

"If I go," Lia said, "he’ll kill you and god knows who else to get to me. This has to happen now, there’s no running away."

Sirius nodded, wincing slightly. "I’m only fifteen Lia, I have no idea what’s what, and I guess most people would think I’d have to older and know more and I have experienced more to be able to say this. But I love you Blue and I don’t want you to die."

Without saying a word Lia bit her own hand, causing blood to flow, she raised to the cut above Sirius’ eye and let the blood mix.

"Now you’ll be protected, whatever happens."

Sirius looked as though he was about to say something, but shut his mouth and glared at something Lia couldn’t see.

She turned slowly and saw Peter smirking at her. "So you came," he said, sounding much unlike his usual self, "master said you would."

"Master said I would? Does this master have name? Or a body perhaps?"

"He is coming," Peter said nodding, "he will be here soon."

"What if I kill you before then you little rat?"

Peter seemed surprised at Lia’s reference to his animagus form but quickly recovered and grinned, "you won’t do that Lia, you’re far to nice."

He was right of course.

Peter grinned again as he heard footsteps approaching, though it seemed slightly forced, "master approaches Lia, can you hear him?"

‘Why doesn’t he just apparate?" Lia asked, trying not to think at all.

"Too close to Hogwarts," Peter said absently waving a hand, "none of your concern anyhow."

Further ‘pleasant’ conversation was prevented by the arrival of Peter’s "master."

He bore no resemblance to the Voldemort of today. He still looked like the school boy Tom Riddle and under different circumstances could have mistaken for an ex boy scout.

"Hello Lia," his voice was soft but deadly. "We finally meet."

Lia said nothing; she couldn’t, so he continued to speak. "For fifteen years I have been searching for you Lia. Your mother made it difficult, but then, she always did find ways of surprising me. Who would have thought she’d send you to a sister she could not remember? It wasn’t until you reached Hogwarts that I found you."

Lia balled her shaking hands into fists, trying to force the fear out of her.

"But you’re here now Lia and I have a favor to ask of you." The dark lords grin transformed his face in such a way that nobody would ever mistake him for anything less sinister than an evil madman.

"You see Lia, I am still only young and already my name envokes fear in the hearts of all who oppose me. But I want more, I want immortally. This, of course, is virtually impossible unless you happen to have a Sabi on hand."

"What makes you think I’d ever die for you?" Lia tried to sound brave and strong, but feared she failed miserably.

"I admit, sweet Lia, that I thought the very same thought, many times. Why, I needed a weak link! Peter here proved useful at first, but I needed more. You did not realize what you were and I needed you to be aware of your powers. I had Peter attack the Unicorn that you predictably saved and you soon knew the truth. But it seemed Lia, that you didn’t trust Peter enough to tell him what you were. How was I to know the right time to stroke? How was I to find the weak link? Young Ellie wasn’t hard to persuade, all I had to do was threaten her family and she was putty in my hands."

Voldemort stopped to sneer at Sirius, "I should’ve known Black would be the weak link I was searching for. He’s far too much like his father for my taste."

"He was a better man than you’ll ever be!" Spat Sirius, he was silenced by Peters chubby fist.

Lia glared at the dark lord with little effect. She wanted to kill him, the thought surprised her, but did not change.

"And still your mother continued to surprise me. The Menoris and Futuris charms were very bothersome. And Sloan! I should’ve killed her the second I heard her name!"

He grinned at the look on Lia’s face. "I quite like your friend Rachel. She’s is smart, ruthless and did prove a tad helpful. She trained you well but almost ruined everything. Had the Griffin she left for you succeeded in killing you then how would I ever become immortal? "

Lia turned as more figures entered the chamber. A hooded man was dragged a young girl. Rachel.

"Yes, she almost foiled my plans. Would you like me to kill her Lia? After all, she did try to kill you."

Rachel ignored the dark lord and turned to Lia and said in a strangely flat voice, "the Sloans Lia, in your dreams... They are my parents. They brought me up and tought me how to train Sabi’s... How to train you... I couldn’t let you-know-who get you Lia... Please, try to understand..."

"Enough chit chat," Voldemort turned to Lia, "would you like me to kill her?"

"No."

"Oh, well, I’m afraid that’s just to bad."

The hooded man tossed Rachel onto the dirt, only now did she show any signs of fear.

"Avada Kedavra!"

"No!" Lia tried to move to her friends side but found she could not. It was as though her feet were glued to the ground. Voldemorts doing, no doubt.

"Yes, well, like I said. That should’ve been done long before." Voldemort grinned again, "so Lia, back to business. I want to become immortal and it is you will make this so."

"Go to hell."

He grinned again with the same effect, "I’ve been there Lia, it’s highly overrated. But perhaps my loyal servant here will be able to change you mind."

The hooded man moved toward Sirius drawing a long dagger from his robes.

Peter gasped, "you said you wouldn’t kill him!"

"Do not worry Wormtail, I won’t. Unless Lia wants me to?"

Sirius caught Lia’s eye, "let him kill me Lia! Don’t give in!"

The hooded man held the dagger to Sirius’ neck, as he did so the hood fell back, revealing not a man, but a tall sinister looking woman with black hair and icy blue eyes. She grinned cruelly at Lia and pressed the dagger deeper until a thin line of blood appeared.

"I can kill him slowly," the-dark-lord said in a conversational tone, "and I will, unless you agree to make me immortal."

Lia bit her lip, not at all sure of what to do. Let Sirius die, or forever be known as the idiot girl who made the most evil wizard on Earth immortal.

"I’ll make a deal with you Lia," Voldemort knelt down beside the woman and looked at Sirius. Peter stayed where he was, white and trembling. "If you agree to make me immortal, which you will, or I will kill this strapping young man here, nobody will ever know."

"And how to you figure that?" Lia snapped, she avoided looking at Sirius, for she knew his eyes would beg her to let him die.

"As I said before Lia, I am a powerful wizard. I can make it so nobody knows you even existed. Why even wormtail and Lilita here will not remember you. Everybody, your friends, family, will not recall ever knowing a Lia Strummings."

"Lia! Don’t do it! Don’t be an idiot! Don’t do it, don-" Sirius was cut off as Lilita pressed the dagger even further, causing him to gag.

Lia couldn’t make Voldemort immortal. He’d kill hundreds, thousands of muggles and wizards and he’d never be stopped. Unless... Did he know of the potion? She vaguely remembered Ellie saying she hadn’t told him about it, so how could he know?

Lia sighed, "fine, fine. I’ll do it."

"Lia! No! Are you insane? Don’t do it!"

The dark lord ignored Sirius and pulled another dagger out of his robes, he gave it to Peter who gave to Lia.

"Will you die for me Lia?" He grinned as he said it.

"Yes."

The last thing she remembered were Sirius’ shouts and hoping that Rachel hadn’t screwed up the potion.


Sirius Black awoke in his bed with the strangest feeling. Like he was forgetting something important. But he couldn’t for the life of him think of what it could be, so he blocked out Peters snores and went back to sleep.


And as a young man was falling asleep, hundreds of miles away a baby was born. The last of her kind. The last Sabi...

 

Epilogue



Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road,

time grabs you buy the wrist, directs you where to go,

so make best of this test and don’t ask why,

it’s not a question but a lesson learned in time,

it’s something unpredictable but in the end is right,

I hope you had the time of your life.


Good Riddance (time of your life)
-Green Day




I am sitting on a jetty looking out on an almost too perfect ocean. I don’t know where I am or even if the water lapping at my ankles is real and I don’t know the name of the woman sitting next to me. But I know I want answers and I know the woman will be able to provide them.

"Did I do the right thing?" I ask, smiling as a school of fish tickle my feet.

The woman shrugs, "everything is as it should be."

"But did I do the right thing?"

"It is hard to tell what is right or wrong Lia. I will show you what happens and you can judge that for yourself."

I nod and the woman begins to speak.

"The potion you made worked. The dark lord Voldemort is not immortal, but he is stronger than the average human and almost impossible to kill. The side effects of your spell left him mutilated and warped beyond recognition."

I fell grim satisfaction at that. Perhaps drinking Snapes blood was worth it.

Lily and James will go on to marry after they graduate. They will have a son, Harry."

I grin inwardly as I imagine what the child will look like. Would his hair be red, or black like James?

"Voldemort will target Lily and James as possible threats and he will kill them. But because of you Harry will survive."

"I don’t understand."

"Sirius will pass on the protection you left him, he will not know why he does it, but he will do it all the same. Voldemort will be unable to kill Harry because of this, indeed, the spell will backfire and he will be left a mere shadow of his former self for eleven years."

"But he will kill Lily and James?"

"That is how it must be. They will die because Peter will go on to betray them and Sirius will be blamed because Peter will frame him. Sirius will go to Azkaban for twelve years before he escapes."

"No!"

"Harry will live with his mothers sister and husband. His upbringing will be an unhappy one, but in the long run he will be better off for it. He will reunite with Sirius and Remus the future after this is uncertain."

"What do you mean, uncertain?"

"You will soon find out Lia, but you must be patient."

I’m not sure which I fell more, sadness or guilt. Because of me Lily and James would die and Sirius would spend twelve years in hell.

"But because of you," says the woman, seemingly reading my thoughts, "Voldemort will be defeated and because of you Harry will go on to achieve great things like no wizard before him. Your friends suffering will be for a reason Lia, it is not without cause."

I still have more questions, indeed, my questions seem never ending. But I have learned all I need for one day and the rest could wait.


It’s something unpredictable, but in the end it’s right

I hope you had the time of your life.