Secrets Can Kill: Waiting in the Dark

Secrets Can Kill: Waiting in the Dark

(Re-done and re-introduced!)

Chapter One:

The Ultimate Decision With a Side Order of Lizards

Fifth year Lily Evans shook her red hair out of her eyes as she added Boomslang skin to her bubbling cauldron. She giggled loudly when her best friend, Mackenzie, whispered in her ear. It was the last class of the day and everyone was beginning to get a little lazy.

"Miss Evans," said a stern voice behind her.

Lily wheeled around in her seat to face a brown haired professor with blue eyes that glittered madly. "Oh, I'm terribly sorry Professor Darin. I promise it won't happen again," she said smoothly and began to busy herself with her potion.

"Thank you for your apology, but you are requested in the Headmaster's office," the professor told her, "take your things with you. The class is almost over."

"Okay Professor," Lily gathered up her books and stuffed them in her bag.

"You don't think that Headmaster Clarke knows about the lizards, do ya Lils?" Mackenzie asked before bursting into a silent giggle fit at the memory.

"I don't know, Mack. If he did, he would call both of us, wouldn't he? Meet me in the dorms before supper and I'll tell you," she added sliding out of her chair and walking out of the door.

Lily walked down the long corridor, past the pictures of famous witches and wizards that were previous students of Lutran Academy in Salem, Massachusetts.

Lily laughed out loud as the memory of the lizards came into her head. Jessica had always hated Lily and Mack, and they hated her right back. She was the stuck up, really pretty girl that everyone hated, yet was unusually popular. She could get any boy that she wanted. (you know the type) Lily and Mack were just as pretty, just as popular, and all the guys wanted to date them, yet they were actually nice...sometimes. Lily could still hear Jessica's screams.

~Flashback~

Lily and Mack were sitting on her bed when Jessica's shrill shriek pierced the silent air. They doubled over in laughter, knowing what had happened, and ran down the stairs to the common room of the girls' dorms, trying to get themselves to calm down. They managed to stop laughing when a very unhappy Jessica ran down the stairs to their right. Jessica was frantic and started babbling incoherently.

"Don't worry Jessica, we'll go see what's wrong," Mack told her and she and Lily ran up the stairs to find Jessica's bed covered in slimy, green lizards. Laughing hard once again, the girls quickly took off the charm and ran back down the stairs.

"Gee, Jessica, we didn't see anything," Lily said innocently.

"Wha...wha...how?" Jessica sputtered, pushing through Lily and Mack. She ran up the stairs to find her bed empty and everything exactly how she had left it.

"You two did this!!" she said, in a rage, stomping back down the steps.

"Now Jessica, how dare you accuse us of doing anything. There was nothing there. I think you better go see Madam Sorew. Maybe you hit your head on something," Lily said in mock outrage and sympathy.

The two girls stomped out of the room and ran back up to their dorm.

~End Flashback~

Lily smiled to herself and didn't even notice that she had passed a tall, narrow staircase. Any one who hasn't been to the Headmasters office (Lily had, many times before) would just think that it was a regular (but extremely small) staircase. It had an invisible force field and could only be unblocked with a password.

Lily opened her mouth but stopped abruptly when a shaggy old wizard came down the carpeted steps. The wizard was wearing old, deep blue robes and a frayed blue hat.

"Headmaster Clarke," Lily said respectively.

"Miss Evans," the Headmaster replied, "please follow me." He began to travel back up the steps.

Lily followed him and was lead to large oak doors. Clarke pushed open the doors to reveal a huge, round office. He walked to a fireplace that was on one side of the room.

"Miss Evans, if you could please sit in this chair," he said, pointing to a cushy armchair opposite the fireplace.

Lily sat and stared expectantly at the old man as he paced back and forth in front of the hearth.

"Lily," the Headmaster said gently, settling himself in the chair next to her, "I wanted to talk you about an excellent opportunity for you."

Lily breathed a sigh of relief, "Oh, that's all? I thought it was..."

"Was what?" Clarke asked her, his eyes twinkling.

"Oh nothing. Now what was that opportunity you were talking about?"

"For years, out school has hosted a student exchange program, along with another school in Britain. You have been invited to participate in this program. This chance is only awarded to our best scholars. Should you choose to accept this invitation, you will spend the remainder of the school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. By doing so, you will earn points toward your next year.**

Lily stared open mouthed at him for a few moments before she finally spoke, "so you're saying that I get to for to a totally different school, in another country, where I don't know anyone, for a whole year? Oh yeah, I'm ecstatic. I just can't wait!"

"I understand that there are many reasons why you wouldn't want to go but I want you to understand that this would benefit your education very much," the Headmaster informed her.

"Thank you, sir, but I need some time to think about this," she responded.

"Certainly Lily. Be sure to inform me of your decision soon."

Lily nodded and got up to leave. She walked down the narrow flight of stairs and down the hall to her dorm.

"Well, well. Who do we have here?" she heard a voice say behind her.

Lily spun around to face a sandy haired boy with hazel eyes. Her eyes narrowed as she glanced at him.

"Lily Evans. What are you doing roaming the halls?"

"Jerk off, Rob," she spat.

"Ouch, Lily. That hurt," he said walking toward her. Lily backed up yet he continued advancing. Her back hit the wall and Rob walked up to her. They stood toe to toe. He placed his hands on either side of her and put his face within an inch of hers.

Rob let out a howl as Lily's knee collided with his groin. He collapsed to the ground and rocked back and forth, groaning.

Lily laughed in his face and sauntered down the hall. She heard his voice call out, "I'm not done with you yet, Evans."

Lily turned around and, walking backwards with a smile, said, "That's not the brightest thing to say to me in your...uh...current condition." She laughed once more and sauntered down the hall.

Lily was jerked form her thoughts when she reached a spiral staircase.

Before she even put one foot on it a voice said, "Lily Evans, get up here now!" immediately followed by the head of her best friend poking out from above.