DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. Most of the nouns and a few of the adjectives,
verbs and phrases belong to the wonderful author of the Harry Potter
series. This is fan fiction, you should know that. The only point I'll
defend myself on are the ideas and the arrangement of the words. The mirror-
soul-mate trick is actually stolen with love from Mark Twain. Professor
Metoki is mine (baring some strange cryptomnesia), as are any other
characters you don't recognize. SELF DEPRICATING STATEMENT: this is my
first fan fiction, so it probably sucks.
Divination was one of Lily's best subjects, so as she lifted her mirror, ignoring the giggling girls, she had no doubt that she would see something. Professor Metoki said she obviously had psychic talent; perhaps she was one of the rare true seers. Lily had researched in advance on today's project; it was supposed to be so easy that even most muggles could do it, if they chose the right day. Every one of the giggling girls would get it right.
Lily nervously extended her right hand as far as it would go and gazed easily into the mirror. It quivered slightly in her hand, but immediately she saw something. Something that almost made her drop the mirror.
She had been prepared to see someone other than her boyfriend. She had even prepared herself for the rare possibility that she wouldn't even see a boy or a person her own age. She was not remotely prepared to see a great hulking deer! Sure, it was a very impressive looking, beautiful, almost silver Stag with a splendid rack of antlers, but that didn't change the fact that it was not even human!
"Professor, I'm sure I did this wrong, tell me what I'm doing wrong," she shouted frantically. The professor smiled and walked over to her kindly.
"You look like you did everything perfectly, Lily. Don't worry. Even if you saw someone you don't particularly like, or someone who isn't very attractive, there is no guarantee that you'll ever meet your soul-mate in real life. I know you're probably disappointed that you didn't see your boyfriend, but."
"Screw my boyfriend, I didn't even see a human," Lily interrupted, knowing how rude it was, but not caring.
"What do you mean, child," the grandmotherly professor inquired anxiously.
"I mean, I saw an animal! A great, big stag shining silver in the moonlight with an enormous rack of antlers was the only thing in my mirror. There wasn't even a person standing next to it or anything," Lily felt tears spring to her eyes. She would much prefer not to have a soul-mate than to have an animal for one.
"Well," Professor Metoki tried to think of something comforting, "Maybe your soul-mate is an animagus, or was transfigured by a dark wizard. There are enough of them running around. Don't worry too much about it. In fact, you should put it out of your head. If you would like, you are excused from the rest of the lesson, as well as any homework relating to this assignment, even though I'm sure you've already completed it. There will be no questions about this on the exam."
"Thank you professor," Lily said, trying to smile, but failing. She gathered her things and walked to the back of the classroom, leaving her mirror perched on the edge of the table.
"Lily, wait up," Peter said, running out of the classroom after her. "I couldn't help but overhear, actually, the whole class couldn't, but did you really see a stag?"
"Peter," Lily said, turning to him, the tears starting to fall, "would I make that up?"
"Of course you wouldn't, I mean, though, are you sure it was a stag and not a horse or something?"
"What the fuck does it matter," Lily yelled. Immediately she regretted losing her temper. "Sorry, Pete, yes I'm sure it was a stag. It was a very nice looking stag, too, just a very, very disappointing one."
"I'm sorry Lil', I don't know why I asked suck a stupid question. You don't need to apologize for blowing up. Don't worry about it, Metoki is right, you're soul mate is probably just an animagus."
"Nope," she said, lowering her head despondently.
"What do you mean, nope?"
"I did a report on animagi my third year, not one of them could turn into a stag and there have only been five registered animagi in the past century. So unless they've been transfigured (in which case I'll never meet them), my soul mate is a deer."
"Well, it could be worse. At least it's the monarch of the glen, not the mouse or a snake."
Lily laughed and wiped away her tears. "Thanks, Peter, you Marauders always know what to say to cheer a girl up. That said, I'm glad you're the only one taking divination with me. I'd have hated for all of you to see me blow up like that. I won't ask you to keep it a secret, but if you wouldn't mind downplaying it, I'd be much obliged."
"Anything for our flower," Peter said gallantly, bowing in a comical fashion.
Lily nodded in acknowledgement and proceeded back to the Gryffindor common room. Peter watched her go with a strange smile on her face before turning back into the classroom.
"Eeek! What are you doing back, Lily," Sirius asked, quickly hiding something as he saw the Head Girl enter the common room far earlier than expected.
"Not that I should need to ask, seeing as you're sitting with the incredibly guilty looking Head Boy, but what are you hiding and why aren't you in Arithmancy right now?" Lily had hoped for a little peace and quiet to sort through her thoughts, but maybe the distraction of handing out a pair of detentions would suffice.
"Actually," James cut in, "Professor Vector had an emergency; a family member was killed by a Death Eater only a few hours before our class so it was canceled. There was no available substitute."
"That's terrible," Lily gasped. "I'm sorry for accusing you." She let the information sink in. It was rare that a day went by without hearing rumors of the growing dark forces. She was very, very afraid. Then she realized that Sirius still had his hands behind his back and he was trying to inch away from her without being noticed. "That still doesn't answer question number one. What are you hiding Sirius?"
"That, we don't have to answer," James said cockily. "I, as Head Boy, give you my word that it is not contraband of any sort."
"James, you're a Marauder, your word as Head Boy is worth about as much as the square of toilet paper you'd write it on."
"I love you, too, Lily," he said, grinning at her.
"I don't have the energy for this today, boys, I'm going up to my dorm."
"Hey," James called, when she was almost to the stairs. "What about you, shouldn't you be in Divination?"
She turned back to face him, and he absolutely hated what he saw in her face when she said, "I have a special dispensation. I'll see you in Care of Magical Creatures."
"I hope she's okay," Sirius said, removing the Filibuster Fireworks and notebook from behind his back, then getting up to fish for a firework that fell into the seam of the chair.
"Me too," James replied, not at all sure that she was.
Thirty minutes later, Peter came into the common room, chatting lightly with Frank Longbottom. He headed straight for James, looking like he'd just discovered that Severus Snape slept with a teddy bear named "Pookie".
"What is it," James asked, still a little worried about Lily, but catching wind of the fact that something wonderful was about to be told.
"Lily is your soul-mate. Or, you are Lily's soul mate. I don't know how it works, all I know is that we did the soul-mate spell in Divination today and Lily saw you." James was ecstatic for 6.251 seconds; then he sank back into the chair, utterly deflated. "She didn't want to see me. She is in love with Amos. That is why she is so depressed. That's why she looked at me with a broken heart when she said the word 'dispensation'. Shit, what do I do, Sirius?"
"Remus will know," Sirius replied, putting his hand on James' shoulder. "If anyone can find out what someone else is thinking, it's Moony."
"Wait, James, you don't need to worry about that, she didn't know it was you she was seeing," Peter interjected, finally cottoning on to why James was so depressed.
"What do you mean, Wormtail," James asked, looking sharply at him. "I thought that was a very straight forward spell, you see the reflection of your soul mate, no strings attached, no interpretations."
"It is. She just happened to see you as Prongs. She's pissed because she thinks her soul mate is either a wild animal or someone transfigured by a dark wizard. Which puts us in a tight spot."
"I'll say. James can't exactly waltz up to her and say, dump Amos for me because I'm your soul-mate, because then she'd know Prongs was an animagus, and it wouldn't be much of a guess to discover other secrets. At all costs we protect Moony." Sirius looked at James, for once in his life living up to his name.
"Protect me from what," Remus asked, walking up to the group.
"James' temptation to run up to the girl's dorm and tell Lily that he's an animagus," Peter replied with a grin.
Remus paled slightly, "I understand you don't want to lie to her, but it isn't like she's your girlfriend or anything."
"Moony, you've walked in at the middle, and I wasn't the one who suggested telling Lily anything," James said, gesturing for his friend to sit down. "Long and the short of it is, Lily did the soul mate spell in divination and saw a stag, meaning I'm her soul mate, but she doesn't and can't know it."
Remus regained his composure, and looked straight into his friend's eyes. "You can tell her if you want to, Prongs. Lily has a kind heart; she would keep the secret even if she did stay away from me after she found out."
"Moony, I'm sure she wouldn't shun you," Sirius said.
"Padfoot, do you remember when there was a Bogart in the first years' dorm and Lily went to expel it? It turned into a werewolf." Remus smiled slightly, "It isn't her fault. I am a terrifying creature, and as brave as Lily is, it will take her time to get used to the idea."
"You are jumping to conclusions, I'm not telling her anything just yet." When the three other Marauders looked at him in surprise, James continued. "For one thing, Lily likes rules far too much to date an illegal animagi, and for another, she really does love Amos. She is happy with him, and he is a good guy. I can't swoop in and take her just because we've discovered third hand that she might be my soul mate."
"James," Remus said, disbelievingly, "this is LILY. This is your chance to be with LILY."
"It won't be the last opportunity to tell her how I feel, but if she turns me down because she's dating Amos and she loves him, I'll never have the courage to try again. If we are soul mates, then we're destined for each other, right? And if I'm wrong, then I'll stop her wedding by dramatically turning into a stag and catching her veil with my teeth, telling her I'm the one she should be with."
"I guess," Sirius began, only to be interrupted by the subject of discussion coming down to the common room and skipping up to the group.
"Guys, you'll be late to Care of Magical Creatures if you sit here much longer." She gave them one of her dazzling smiles and grabbed her friend Elizabeth, rushing out ahead of them.
"Looks like something cheered her up," Peter said, puzzled.
"Doesn't matter what it was," James said softly, "as long as it keeps that smile on her face."
"That's so sweet I think I'm gonna go Technicolor yawn," Sirius whimpered playfully. "Come on, we'll be late for ol' peg-leg's class!"
***
Professor Kettleburn had taught everyone to charm their voices to attract non-magical creatures, so his lesson had been very enjoyable. Lily felt even better after eating dinner at the Hufflepuff table with her perfect boyfriend Amos. He was so willing to listen about her soul mate spell even though it hadn't depicted him that she almost felt guilty about her plan.
Not guilty enough, however. At midnight she levitated herself out of her window and down to the grounds. Knowing exactly how many, and which, school rules she was breaking, Lily crept stealthily toward the Forbidden Forest. 'Safe' under the eaves of the wood, she lit her wand and immediately began her search.
Lily's luck did not stay with her. Out of the canopy, a giant spider attacked her. Before she could raise her wand, it had fallen on her, crushing her to the ground under its weight. She could hear its mandibles clacking; feel its sharp, coarse leg hair scraping up against her arm. Then, there was no weight pressing her and no spider over her. Something had hit it and it had scattered back into the forest. Lily sat up, shaking her head to clear it.
The stag, upon seeing her get up, shied away to leave. It looked exactly like the stag from her vision, there was something here that needed an explanation, but Lily wasn't sure how to get it.
"Wait," she croaked, "please don't leave!"
The stag halted abruptly and stood there, looking uncertain, if a stag can look uncertain.
"That answers one question," Lily whispered, standing up. "If you weren't a perfectly normal stag, my voice charm wouldn't work on you."
The stag strode tentatively forward and nuzzled her shoulder.
"Hello to you, too," Lily said, grinning. She stroked its head a little, then stooped to pick up her wand. When her wand was firmly in hand, the stag began to push her. For a moment she was worried, but it still didn't seem dangerous and she noted that its gentle shoves were very much toward the edge of the forest.
"I guess I will just have to come back tomorrow to pick up a moon flower. I don't feel up to facing anything in the forest anymore." She walked along with the stag, as it seemed determined to escort her out of the forest. "I guess you're wondering what a girl like me is doing in a place like this?"
The stag snorted suddenly, Lily would almost swear it was a stifled laugh.
"Well, as it turns out, you are my soul mate, or another stag that looks an awful lot like you. No offense, but stags pretty much look the same to me unless they have really identifying marks. So I found another spell I can use to see the person I am meant to be with, which isn't exactly the same thing as a soul mate. Hopefully, I won't see a deer this time." Lily smiled and chuckled softly. To her surprise, the stag continued walking with her after they left the forest. When they were a safe distance from the edge she stopped.
"I hope I see you tomorrow. I'll bring sugar and some apples in case I do, after all, I owe you something for saving my life." She kissed the stag's nose, and turned around to sneak up to the castle.
If she had been looking, Lily would have sworn the stag was grinning.
Divination was one of Lily's best subjects, so as she lifted her mirror, ignoring the giggling girls, she had no doubt that she would see something. Professor Metoki said she obviously had psychic talent; perhaps she was one of the rare true seers. Lily had researched in advance on today's project; it was supposed to be so easy that even most muggles could do it, if they chose the right day. Every one of the giggling girls would get it right.
Lily nervously extended her right hand as far as it would go and gazed easily into the mirror. It quivered slightly in her hand, but immediately she saw something. Something that almost made her drop the mirror.
She had been prepared to see someone other than her boyfriend. She had even prepared herself for the rare possibility that she wouldn't even see a boy or a person her own age. She was not remotely prepared to see a great hulking deer! Sure, it was a very impressive looking, beautiful, almost silver Stag with a splendid rack of antlers, but that didn't change the fact that it was not even human!
"Professor, I'm sure I did this wrong, tell me what I'm doing wrong," she shouted frantically. The professor smiled and walked over to her kindly.
"You look like you did everything perfectly, Lily. Don't worry. Even if you saw someone you don't particularly like, or someone who isn't very attractive, there is no guarantee that you'll ever meet your soul-mate in real life. I know you're probably disappointed that you didn't see your boyfriend, but."
"Screw my boyfriend, I didn't even see a human," Lily interrupted, knowing how rude it was, but not caring.
"What do you mean, child," the grandmotherly professor inquired anxiously.
"I mean, I saw an animal! A great, big stag shining silver in the moonlight with an enormous rack of antlers was the only thing in my mirror. There wasn't even a person standing next to it or anything," Lily felt tears spring to her eyes. She would much prefer not to have a soul-mate than to have an animal for one.
"Well," Professor Metoki tried to think of something comforting, "Maybe your soul-mate is an animagus, or was transfigured by a dark wizard. There are enough of them running around. Don't worry too much about it. In fact, you should put it out of your head. If you would like, you are excused from the rest of the lesson, as well as any homework relating to this assignment, even though I'm sure you've already completed it. There will be no questions about this on the exam."
"Thank you professor," Lily said, trying to smile, but failing. She gathered her things and walked to the back of the classroom, leaving her mirror perched on the edge of the table.
"Lily, wait up," Peter said, running out of the classroom after her. "I couldn't help but overhear, actually, the whole class couldn't, but did you really see a stag?"
"Peter," Lily said, turning to him, the tears starting to fall, "would I make that up?"
"Of course you wouldn't, I mean, though, are you sure it was a stag and not a horse or something?"
"What the fuck does it matter," Lily yelled. Immediately she regretted losing her temper. "Sorry, Pete, yes I'm sure it was a stag. It was a very nice looking stag, too, just a very, very disappointing one."
"I'm sorry Lil', I don't know why I asked suck a stupid question. You don't need to apologize for blowing up. Don't worry about it, Metoki is right, you're soul mate is probably just an animagus."
"Nope," she said, lowering her head despondently.
"What do you mean, nope?"
"I did a report on animagi my third year, not one of them could turn into a stag and there have only been five registered animagi in the past century. So unless they've been transfigured (in which case I'll never meet them), my soul mate is a deer."
"Well, it could be worse. At least it's the monarch of the glen, not the mouse or a snake."
Lily laughed and wiped away her tears. "Thanks, Peter, you Marauders always know what to say to cheer a girl up. That said, I'm glad you're the only one taking divination with me. I'd have hated for all of you to see me blow up like that. I won't ask you to keep it a secret, but if you wouldn't mind downplaying it, I'd be much obliged."
"Anything for our flower," Peter said gallantly, bowing in a comical fashion.
Lily nodded in acknowledgement and proceeded back to the Gryffindor common room. Peter watched her go with a strange smile on her face before turning back into the classroom.
"Eeek! What are you doing back, Lily," Sirius asked, quickly hiding something as he saw the Head Girl enter the common room far earlier than expected.
"Not that I should need to ask, seeing as you're sitting with the incredibly guilty looking Head Boy, but what are you hiding and why aren't you in Arithmancy right now?" Lily had hoped for a little peace and quiet to sort through her thoughts, but maybe the distraction of handing out a pair of detentions would suffice.
"Actually," James cut in, "Professor Vector had an emergency; a family member was killed by a Death Eater only a few hours before our class so it was canceled. There was no available substitute."
"That's terrible," Lily gasped. "I'm sorry for accusing you." She let the information sink in. It was rare that a day went by without hearing rumors of the growing dark forces. She was very, very afraid. Then she realized that Sirius still had his hands behind his back and he was trying to inch away from her without being noticed. "That still doesn't answer question number one. What are you hiding Sirius?"
"That, we don't have to answer," James said cockily. "I, as Head Boy, give you my word that it is not contraband of any sort."
"James, you're a Marauder, your word as Head Boy is worth about as much as the square of toilet paper you'd write it on."
"I love you, too, Lily," he said, grinning at her.
"I don't have the energy for this today, boys, I'm going up to my dorm."
"Hey," James called, when she was almost to the stairs. "What about you, shouldn't you be in Divination?"
She turned back to face him, and he absolutely hated what he saw in her face when she said, "I have a special dispensation. I'll see you in Care of Magical Creatures."
"I hope she's okay," Sirius said, removing the Filibuster Fireworks and notebook from behind his back, then getting up to fish for a firework that fell into the seam of the chair.
"Me too," James replied, not at all sure that she was.
Thirty minutes later, Peter came into the common room, chatting lightly with Frank Longbottom. He headed straight for James, looking like he'd just discovered that Severus Snape slept with a teddy bear named "Pookie".
"What is it," James asked, still a little worried about Lily, but catching wind of the fact that something wonderful was about to be told.
"Lily is your soul-mate. Or, you are Lily's soul mate. I don't know how it works, all I know is that we did the soul-mate spell in Divination today and Lily saw you." James was ecstatic for 6.251 seconds; then he sank back into the chair, utterly deflated. "She didn't want to see me. She is in love with Amos. That is why she is so depressed. That's why she looked at me with a broken heart when she said the word 'dispensation'. Shit, what do I do, Sirius?"
"Remus will know," Sirius replied, putting his hand on James' shoulder. "If anyone can find out what someone else is thinking, it's Moony."
"Wait, James, you don't need to worry about that, she didn't know it was you she was seeing," Peter interjected, finally cottoning on to why James was so depressed.
"What do you mean, Wormtail," James asked, looking sharply at him. "I thought that was a very straight forward spell, you see the reflection of your soul mate, no strings attached, no interpretations."
"It is. She just happened to see you as Prongs. She's pissed because she thinks her soul mate is either a wild animal or someone transfigured by a dark wizard. Which puts us in a tight spot."
"I'll say. James can't exactly waltz up to her and say, dump Amos for me because I'm your soul-mate, because then she'd know Prongs was an animagus, and it wouldn't be much of a guess to discover other secrets. At all costs we protect Moony." Sirius looked at James, for once in his life living up to his name.
"Protect me from what," Remus asked, walking up to the group.
"James' temptation to run up to the girl's dorm and tell Lily that he's an animagus," Peter replied with a grin.
Remus paled slightly, "I understand you don't want to lie to her, but it isn't like she's your girlfriend or anything."
"Moony, you've walked in at the middle, and I wasn't the one who suggested telling Lily anything," James said, gesturing for his friend to sit down. "Long and the short of it is, Lily did the soul mate spell in divination and saw a stag, meaning I'm her soul mate, but she doesn't and can't know it."
Remus regained his composure, and looked straight into his friend's eyes. "You can tell her if you want to, Prongs. Lily has a kind heart; she would keep the secret even if she did stay away from me after she found out."
"Moony, I'm sure she wouldn't shun you," Sirius said.
"Padfoot, do you remember when there was a Bogart in the first years' dorm and Lily went to expel it? It turned into a werewolf." Remus smiled slightly, "It isn't her fault. I am a terrifying creature, and as brave as Lily is, it will take her time to get used to the idea."
"You are jumping to conclusions, I'm not telling her anything just yet." When the three other Marauders looked at him in surprise, James continued. "For one thing, Lily likes rules far too much to date an illegal animagi, and for another, she really does love Amos. She is happy with him, and he is a good guy. I can't swoop in and take her just because we've discovered third hand that she might be my soul mate."
"James," Remus said, disbelievingly, "this is LILY. This is your chance to be with LILY."
"It won't be the last opportunity to tell her how I feel, but if she turns me down because she's dating Amos and she loves him, I'll never have the courage to try again. If we are soul mates, then we're destined for each other, right? And if I'm wrong, then I'll stop her wedding by dramatically turning into a stag and catching her veil with my teeth, telling her I'm the one she should be with."
"I guess," Sirius began, only to be interrupted by the subject of discussion coming down to the common room and skipping up to the group.
"Guys, you'll be late to Care of Magical Creatures if you sit here much longer." She gave them one of her dazzling smiles and grabbed her friend Elizabeth, rushing out ahead of them.
"Looks like something cheered her up," Peter said, puzzled.
"Doesn't matter what it was," James said softly, "as long as it keeps that smile on her face."
"That's so sweet I think I'm gonna go Technicolor yawn," Sirius whimpered playfully. "Come on, we'll be late for ol' peg-leg's class!"
***
Professor Kettleburn had taught everyone to charm their voices to attract non-magical creatures, so his lesson had been very enjoyable. Lily felt even better after eating dinner at the Hufflepuff table with her perfect boyfriend Amos. He was so willing to listen about her soul mate spell even though it hadn't depicted him that she almost felt guilty about her plan.
Not guilty enough, however. At midnight she levitated herself out of her window and down to the grounds. Knowing exactly how many, and which, school rules she was breaking, Lily crept stealthily toward the Forbidden Forest. 'Safe' under the eaves of the wood, she lit her wand and immediately began her search.
Lily's luck did not stay with her. Out of the canopy, a giant spider attacked her. Before she could raise her wand, it had fallen on her, crushing her to the ground under its weight. She could hear its mandibles clacking; feel its sharp, coarse leg hair scraping up against her arm. Then, there was no weight pressing her and no spider over her. Something had hit it and it had scattered back into the forest. Lily sat up, shaking her head to clear it.
The stag, upon seeing her get up, shied away to leave. It looked exactly like the stag from her vision, there was something here that needed an explanation, but Lily wasn't sure how to get it.
"Wait," she croaked, "please don't leave!"
The stag halted abruptly and stood there, looking uncertain, if a stag can look uncertain.
"That answers one question," Lily whispered, standing up. "If you weren't a perfectly normal stag, my voice charm wouldn't work on you."
The stag strode tentatively forward and nuzzled her shoulder.
"Hello to you, too," Lily said, grinning. She stroked its head a little, then stooped to pick up her wand. When her wand was firmly in hand, the stag began to push her. For a moment she was worried, but it still didn't seem dangerous and she noted that its gentle shoves were very much toward the edge of the forest.
"I guess I will just have to come back tomorrow to pick up a moon flower. I don't feel up to facing anything in the forest anymore." She walked along with the stag, as it seemed determined to escort her out of the forest. "I guess you're wondering what a girl like me is doing in a place like this?"
The stag snorted suddenly, Lily would almost swear it was a stifled laugh.
"Well, as it turns out, you are my soul mate, or another stag that looks an awful lot like you. No offense, but stags pretty much look the same to me unless they have really identifying marks. So I found another spell I can use to see the person I am meant to be with, which isn't exactly the same thing as a soul mate. Hopefully, I won't see a deer this time." Lily smiled and chuckled softly. To her surprise, the stag continued walking with her after they left the forest. When they were a safe distance from the edge she stopped.
"I hope I see you tomorrow. I'll bring sugar and some apples in case I do, after all, I owe you something for saving my life." She kissed the stag's nose, and turned around to sneak up to the castle.
If she had been looking, Lily would have sworn the stag was grinning.