The Number 2: The Moon (Balance and Unbalance, Contrast and Opposite)

The qualities shown by a 2 in personality are imagination, creativity and Loyalty. The number 2 represents two faces, on the other side, 2's are also moody, indecisiveness and withdrawn. When looking into the future the number 2 represents unbalance. We can predict events such as:

Conflict

War

Choice (Difficult choice that will have to be made)

Divorce

Assignment: Write a story based on one of the events that can be foretold by the number Two.

Crossroads

(part of the "Lies" AU)

It's a gray and cold day when Petunia opens her door and sees her (estranged) sister on her doorstep. No words pass between them as she stares at her younger sister's appearance. Lily looks tired, stressed and, Petunia determines, very unhappy.

"Would you like to come inside for some chicken noodle soup on this cold and blustery day, Lily?"

"I would like that very much, Petunia. Thank you," Lily replies, stepping into her sister's home for the first time.

She looks around the living room and it isn't what she expects from her sister. Lily expects a living room that looks unlived in; however, the room is the complete opposite. The room is tastefully decorated with framed pictures and beautiful furniture. Here and there, little touches, such as framed photos, a pipe resting on the table, toys in a corner, shows that the room is lived in. One photo in particular catches Lily's eyes but before she can look closer, Petunia calls her into the kitchen.

Even though they had not spoken to each other in years, Petunia falls into an old routine from a time when they were closer. Instead of prompting Lily to speak or filling the silence between them with useless chatter, Petunia gives her sister a serving of soup and a cup of tea. When they were girls, Petunia would fix her sister a plate of cookies and give her a glass of milk. Sipping on her own cup of tea, Petunia waits for Lily to tell her what has brought her to her doorstep.

"Remember the summer after my Fifth Year at Hogwarts," Lily asks, breaking the silence.

"Yes, I do. I asked you three weeks in why you were spending so much time indoors and not with your freak friend."

"I started crying, which scared you. I told you what happened after my exams and what was said. And instead of feeling sorry for me, you said that –"

" – you were glad that he said something that you could deem unforgiveable, so you could dump him and be the pretty little cheerleader for the captain of the team. So how does this little trip down memory lane relate to your current problem?"

"How do you know?"

"I'm your older sister, Lily. I know when you have that forlorn/guilty expression across your face, which usually means you're having trouble. Tell me what is wrong."

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Petunia listens patiently as Lily tells her everything. Lily tells her sister about the letter she received from Narcissa Malfoy as a wedding present ("Her wedding gift to me was a well-worded scolding about my treatment of her best friend and an unexpected peek into what she saw as my husband's true character. I didn't believe her.") and she relays how she found the hidden room with the Pensive and the vials of withdrawn memories.

"I've watched several of the memories when James was not at home, and they are not pretty. Everything he said about them was true. Their actions were just as bad if not worse as his housemates and I cannot believe that all this time, when I was berating him and his actions, all he was doing was defending his self and defending me."

"What I never understood, Lily, was how you went from hating Potter to dating and then eventually marrying him. Forgiving him for being a prat for years but not forgiving the boy you called best friend for years longer than you knew Potter. I understand what he said was hurtful – but did you ever think when the two of you were friends how hurtful it was for him when you to started judging him based on the reputation of his House and your housemate's opinions of him?"

An almost uncomfortable silence falls between the two sisters; however it doesn't last long when Petunia speaks.

"I apologize, Lily. I shouldn't have said that. It just – well, I've wanted to say that for years! I admit that I was jealous of Severus when you two were younger. It felt like he was taking my best friend away. And he was so – well, I know now why he was the way he was then, and I wasn't the most friendly person to him either. I always knew, however, he would watch over you while you were away. I always admired his loyalty. He stood up to me every time I was less than kind to you."

Lily silently cries and Petunia walks over to the other side of the table and hugs her sister. Despite everything that has transpired between the two of them, Lily will always be her little sister and she hates to see her hurting. Lily leans into her Petunia's embrace and eventually she composes herself. Accepting a cool, damp cloth from Petunia, she wipes her face and whispers to her sister –

"I think I want a divorce."

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Petunia looks at her sister like she's grown a second head.

"You think you want a divorce? Why?"

"Because, I'm unhappy and I've felt this way even before I found out that my entire relationship with James is based on a lie. `Tuney, I love my son and I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world, muggle or wizarding, but I wish that I would have waited. I graduated and was engaged four months afterwards. Then I married James and soon after, I felt like I was just to fulfill his needs. James was so insistent on us starting our family as soon as possible although I wanted to wait so I could study to become a Healer. I gave in to his demands because I was tired of constantly explaining to him why I wanted to wait. He convinced me that I could be both – a mother and a Healer but Harry's almost two years old and although I'm taking some courses by post, in order to be successful, I need practical experience."

"Have you told Potter that you are ready to take the steps needed to be a Healer? Or are you being passive aggressive towards him?"

"A little of both – I've mentioned to him that I think Harry's old enough now to go to daycare part-time, but he always changes the subject by reminding me that we both have obligations. Then I get upset with him and stop speaking with him for days."

"I wish I knew what to say. I am happy being a housewife. It was my choice. It seems to me that you feel that since you married your husband that you haven't had much choice in your life and you're feeling resentful."

"I don't know what to do, `Tuney."

"Yes you do, Lily. The question is - do you have the courage to do it?"

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It's late at night, early morning really, when James Potter stumbles through the front door. Past experience has taught him to keep out of the bedroom after spending a night with the rest of the Marauders. Waving his wand in a nonchalant manner, he lights the candles in the kitchen and jumps in surprise when he sees his wife, sitting at the table, still dressed in her day clothes.

"Lily, I did not see you there!"

"I wonder if you ever seen me."

"It's too late at night for you to be speaking in riddles, Lils. Can this wait till morning?"

"No, it cannot. I found the room, James, and I saw what was in the room."