Chapter Six: Final Straw

* “Lily!” She turned her head wearily to see Andy running towards her. “Brilliant! Lils, you were brilliant! You beat the pants off those Death-Eaters!”

“One got away.” Lily told her sadly.

“But nine! How many wizards can say they’ve tangled with nine Death-Eaters and won? You’re a hero Lily!”

“James has.”

“Oh Lily!” Andy shook her head laughing. “And I love what you did with the last two.” Then Lily did break into a large grin.

“Well, the way I figure it is that in school the others always thought I transfigured people into frogs. I’m just trying to live up to my reputation, that’s all.” Two or three people around her laughed, and Lily looked around taking in damage stock.

“This place is a wreck.” She muttered.

“Yeah. Those people went crazy!” Andy shuddered.

“Well, a person is smart. But people, together, in a crowd? They are large, dumb, panicky creatures, magic or no. That is human nature plain and simple.”

“Lils, it’s a good thing you’re around.”

“Only for some people.” Andy laughed. “Andy, do me a favor?”

“Sure.”

“I’m going to stay and help with damage control. But someone needs to run over to the Ministry and let them know what’s happened.”

“But won’t they already know?”

“It’s after hours. Not many of them stay around, and those that do are usually asleep by now. James should still be there with his nose buried in paperwork. Go find him and tell him to get over here?”

“I’ll go as quickly as I can.”

“Thanks.” As she watched Andy run off, Lily looked around. The mass chaos that had wrought the restaurant was enough to make her feel sick to her stomach. Remembering vaguely from her years at Hogwarts, she let her eyes close and her memories flash before her dropped eyelids. She saw the books that she had read on how to deal with just such a situation, and then she could make out text, only slightly at first, and very blurry. Then the text became more vivid, and as her eyes snapped back open, she was renewed with a sense of knowledge and serenity she had almost forgotten.

Lily moved to stand on one of the still standing chairs, and then pointed her wand. One quick swish, a gentle flick, and five words later, and the room had suddenly stopped still, all occupants with their attention solely focused on her. Taking a deep breath, she began her speech, slowly and carefully.

“Will everyone please remain calm! Please do not panic! The men who caused the damage have been subdued, and they are no longer a threat. Now I need your cooperation in helping the Ministry sort out this mess. If you are uninjured, please come see me. Of you are injured, even so much as slightly cursed, please remain where you are. And please, under no circumstances are you to leave.”

As quickly as she had calmed the room down, the noise level rose again, but this time it was more controlled. Lily found herself surrounded by nine wizards and three witches, all willing to help her. Sighing in relief, she began to assign jobs.

“Alright. I’ll need five of you to gather the Death-Eaters that caused this mess and keep an eye on them. Please don’t pull their hoods down; it will only cause more problems. Just put them in a corner and don’t let them escape.” Immediately all three of the witches and two of the wizards left to gather the bodies of the Death-Eaters.

“As for the rest of us, we’ll need to begin helping to undo any of the curses that have been placed on the victims. This is slightly more difficult. Unless you know exactly what curse was placed on them, don’t touch them, or you might make it worse. Any of them that have been layered with more than one curse, bring over here to me, I’ll sort them out. If there are physical injuries, not magicked, tell them to sit down and wait for treatment unless it’s life threatening.”

“I’m a doctor!” One of the wizards shouted. Lily beamed.

“Wonderful. Then you can treat those physical injuries immediately. The rest of us will get to work undoing any curses left behind. IF there are any problems, come see me immediately. The DADA Department of the Ministry should be arriving fairly soon, so we’ll just have to hold out until they get here.”

“Hey, Little Red!” One of the older wizards snickered. Lily looked over at him with sad, tired eyes. Another horrible nickname. Would it ever end?

“Yes sir?”

“Who are you and why should we follow your orders?” Lily sighed.

“You don’t have to follow my orders. But it seems to me like unless someone takes charge, you’ll all start running around like chickens with your heads cut off again.”

“Well maybe I think you don’t have any right to take charge. Maybe I’m the one who should be calling the shots around here.”

“Maybe you’re right. Maybe I don’t have the right to take charge. But the last time I checked, I’m the one that was able to keep my head and stop the Death-Eaters in their tracks.”

“You stopped them?” Murmurs rose through the remaining wizards.

“I did. And anyone who doesn’t believe me can check the magic signatures. It’s a fairly simple procedure, I’m sure one of you must know how to perform it.”

“I do!” Spoke out another wizard. He raised his wand and cast a charm towards the corner where the Death-Eaters were being held captive. Both Lily and the Death-Eaters began to glow a dull bronze, and gasps and whispers went up through the room.

“She did stop them all!”

“Well, even if you did stop them, who are you to be in charge of us?”

“No one. I’m a nothing to you. My name is Lily, Lily Evans, and I’m simply part of the Muggle Department in the Ministry.” Silence befell the crowd, and the old wizard who had been giving her so much cheek bit his tongue and spat out the blood.

“You’re Lily Evans? The one who turned down the job of auror? The one who Mad Eye Moody claimed was third only to James Potter and himself? The one who stopped the vampire rebellion of eighty-nine? That Lily Evans?”

“That Lily Evans.” She nodded her head grimly; slightly surprised the old man was making such a huge deal out of this. She was who she was, end of story.

“Well, then Zanar, it looks like Little Red is more than qualified to take command of this situation, so stop arguing about it and just do what she said. There are people who need help!” One of the younger wizards spoke out. There were murmurs of agreement, and instantly the older wizard backed off grumbling.

“Very well. You are in charge until the Ministry gets here Miss Evans.” Lily shuddered and balked in remembrance of that terrible name, then gathered herself together and put on a brighter face. She would let none of her depressed mood show to the crowd.

“Thank you. Now let’s get to work!” She clapped her hands, and the wizards broke apart and began working to sort out curses and spells around the restaurant.

>>>)(<<<

“James, James, James!” Andy cried as she flew through the Ministry’s doors on her broom. Not stopping when she was yelled at by several other witches and wizards, Andy hurried to the office that read DADA on the door, calling out to James the whole way.

A full head of black, messy hair met her as soon as she reached the doorway, and her hopeful gray eyes met tired, empty blue. “Who is making all that noise? Some of us are trying to concentrate!” He growled darkly, flashing his wand. Then James blinked the sleep out of his eyes and lowered his wand hesitantly. “Andrea White?” He hadn’t seen her in years! In fact, he hadn’t seen her since his last final exam at Hogwarts. And now here she was, blonde hair and all, screaming her head off and looking for him.

“James! Oh James, it was horrible!” The girl jumped off her broom and flung herself into James’ arms.

“What’s going on? Andrea, what’s wrong?”

“Death-Eaters James! We were attacked by Death-Eaters!” Finally James started to respond. His slumped and haggard appearance was replaced instantaneously with the childish smile and mischievous eyes Andy remembered from Hogwarts. She his spirit wasn’t all dead- just buried and tired.

“An attack? By Death-Eaters? Where? When? And who?”

“Lily and I were in that new upscale restaurant, the one you made the reservations at for tonight? I think it’s called ‘Tae Magicks’. Anyway, there we were, just about to dig in, and ten Death Eaters appeared. Lily…”

“Good god! I forgot!”

“Oh, don’t worry, Lily will forgive you for forgetting, I’m sure.”

“What? Forgetting Lily? What are you talking about? I forgot to sign my name on the bottom of those affidavits!” James rolled his eyes. “Oh well, Death-Eaters take first priority.”

Andy stood in her place, absolutely stunned and astonished by James Potter’s lack of care for his fiancée. It was hard to believe this was the same boy whom had proposed on their graduation day in front of the crowd of parents, students, and teachers. In fact, it wasn’t the same man. That James Potter never would have acted this way. Andy was appalled, and suddenly she knew why Lily had seemed so wistful earlier.

“James Potter, you unbelievable jerk! Didn’t you hear anything I just said? About the restaurant? About the people? About Lil-”

“Yes, yes, I heard you, and I fully agree. I’m a jerk not for caring more about those poor people. Besides, what an opportunity to capture Death-Eaters! Let’s go Andy, show me where this place is!” Andy managed to keep her jaw from dropping open in utter shock and awe, and instead replaced her anger and disbelief with a strangled cough.

“Fine James, let’s go.” She whispered. He grabbed a broom from the wall next to the door, and shouted over his shoulder some directions to other Ministry officials which Andrea neither heard nor cared about. She was more worried over her two friends than any other issue that could arise.

Not ten minutes later they had arrived back at the restaurant, jumping off their brooms and racing inside to be greeted by the onslaught of disaster and massacre. But while the room itself looked like it had been though a tornado, the people were beginning to look more and more like people than mutated creatures. They were working together peacefully to get everything back in order, and Andy almost laughed. She should have known Lily would be able to do so much in such a short amount of time.

“What happened?” James muttered.

“Death-Eaters happened James.” Both he and Andy turned on their heels to see Lily standing beside an older witch. She flicked her wand, and instantly the green growth that had surrounded the old witch’s eyes disappeared.

“Lily? What are you doing here?” James asked dumbly. Since when did his Lily go out without him?

“The point is Death-Eaters attacked us!” The witch threw herself at James’ feet. “You’re a big strong auror, why didn’t you save us sooner?” She cried.

“I’m sorry m’am. I would have if I’d known. So you say the Death-Eaters walked in here, claimed they were purging the record scrolls of the muggle-borns, and then started cursing people? Typical Death-Eater style. Did they say anything else? Was there a Dark Mark?”

“No, there was no Dark Mark. This looked like it was unofficial- they were scattered, didn’t take command the way a Death-Eater posse usually does. It was chaos. Not to mention their leader abandon them when he found out that all of his buddies had been caught. If this had been run by Vold-”

“Ahh! Don’t say his name! Are you daft girl? You’ll provoke his wrath!” The old witch screamed in fear and clung more tightly to James’ legs.

“Nonsense.” Lily rolled her eyes. Half-wits. No one should fear a simple name; it only served to fuel that person’s psychological hold over one’s mind. “As I was saying. If this attack had been a product of Voldemort’s planning, he never would have run- it would have incurred a punishment too harsh to bare.” As Lily spoke, James nodded.

“Good analysis. Do you have any more details? Where they stood? How they got there? How many people apparated away, and how many people were hit by what curses?”

“I-” But Lily was cut off.

“Lily! This man over here needs attention! I don’t know how many layers of spells and curses are on him, but I can’t unravel any of it.”

“I’m coming.” She replied tiredly.

“No, Lily, I need you to tell me what happened first. Let him be taken to the hospital if he’s so seriously cursed.” James arrogantly snorted, removing his glasses to wipe them on his robe.

“Excuse me?” Lily breathed quietly.

“I said…”

“I heard what you said. I just cannot believe that you said it. James, what has gotten in to you?”

“Because I want to know what happened from my fiancée before she goes off and helps some strange wizard. Is that so much to ask?” He rolled his eyes and placed his glasses back on his nose. James couldn’t believe Lil was refusing to tell him what happened. Didn’t she understand that while the wizard who was cursed could eventually be healed, others like him would suffer until he caught Voldemort? Lily should know something like that, so why was she suddenly playing dumb and not using her brain? All he wanted to do was help others before it was too late!

“James Potter!” Andy stepped in. “You have no right to speak to Lily that way.”

“No, it’s alright Andy.” Lily whispered to her, grabbing her robe lightly and pulling her back.

“I don’t have any right to speak to her how? Did I say something to offend her? No. I simply asked for an explanation.” James’ eyes then narrowed, and his already frowning mouth deepened even more. “Speaking of explanations, Lily, why are you even here?”

In that very moment, the entire room, which had secretly been watching and listening to the famously perfect couple, inhaled and held their breaths. Everyone in the room had already guessed what was happening, and to see that James Potter had not yet realized his mistake was a jolting shock.

Lily’s glass heart shattered instantly upon hearing James ask her that. He had… completely… forgotten…Tears threatened her emerald eyes, and her vision blurred. Her throat felt as if she had swallowed glue, and her face grew white. This man in front of her, he didn’t care. He truly, honestly, and whole-heartedly did not care for her any longer. Finally Lily opened her mouth and licked her lips, half sighing and half sobbing.

“James, I was supposed to have dinner with you tonight here.”

“Dinner? You and me? Tonight? Here?” James scratched his head. “We were?”

“Yes, we were.” She whispered, backing away from him, her thin white arms crossing in front of her chest, as if to protect herself from intangible and invisible enemies and attacks.

“Lily,” James paused, licking his own lips and trying to find words. Had, had he really made reservations?

~

“Sirius, Lily is not upset! She understands perfectly well how important this job is to me. She knows.”

“Keep telling yourself that James. This isn’t the first time you’ve done this, you know, but it is the worst of all the other times you have. She’s not going to stand for it much longer James.”

“Shove off Si. She isn’t mad. Lily doesn’t get mad.”

“Fine. Look here. Maybe I’m wrong. But maybe I’m right. Why don’t you just call her and ask her out to dinner, just incase. That way you can make it up to her, or at least surprise her.”

“Is that all you want? If I make reservations at some restaurant, will you leave me in peace?”

“Yes.”

“Fine. I’ll make reservations and then take Lily out tonight.”

~

He had! James shut his eyes behind his glasses and swallowed hard. He had completely forgotten. Of course she would be at the restaurant, he hadn’t even remembered to show up, let alone to owl her and cancel.

“I just got caught up in my work, and…”

“You’re always caught up in your work James.” Lily told him gently. He looked up, expecting to see her gorgeous, forgiving eyes sparkling in his direction with understanding and love. But… her eyes, they were closed tightly, and as he watched on, a single, clear, salty tear leaked out and rolled down her porcelain cheek leaving a clear tear streak on her dusty face.

“Lily, I-”

“No.” She whispered. “No.” She repeated, louder. “Let me finish James. You’re always caught up in your work. You live work, breathe work, sleep work, and love work. You don’t smile, you don’t laugh, you don’t care. I thought you cared James. But like all the others, it was only another lie. James, I love you, how much, you’ll never know or understand. But I can’t stay and be used. I may be a freak, but I won’t be exploited at your discretion.”

“Lily, I, what are you talking about? I would never use you!” But Lily couldn’t answer; she could only shake her head in pain and let her tears fall ashamedly.

“I have to go. Good bye James.”*

~~~Please be patient with me and my updates… I have a bunch of things to take care of in real life: Getting a prom dress, getting a prom date, going to the prom, visiting my college, passing physics, and fighting writers block. Oh, and I have three or four 20 page research papers due. But those are not NEARLY as important as that prom dress… lol. But I promise to try and update once a week. Look for me! Much love and thanks, and PLEASE REVIEW, Vixen~~~

PS:

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