hi!!!! [Congratulations, this is the 501st post!!!!!!]

You know, this story's going better and better and you guys, specially Caitlyn, are soooo great!!!!! As great as thestory goes!!!!

I'm happy that Lily got away in time but what will happen to James??? please son't get him tortured or demented when they find him....pleeeeeease.....my heart won't take it *wimpers*...please have him safe and alive....
and...

PAMS!!!!!!I'm really loving this story!!!!!!!

Man, I didn't get to finish writing it yesterday; I was soo mad! Well I'm finishing it right now!!

Candace- Thanks! I'm glad you're excited!! =]

Hibbah- Haha, do you really? Yes, it does give a clue to the story... all my siggies have!

Rose[it's what they call you on your thread, so I will, too]- You updated?! YESSSS. I can't wait to read it! Yeah, I get those mindblocks too, to where I just sometimes sit there trying to figure out WHAT IN THE WORLD I'm supposed to write. lol. Ahh, don't talk about chocolate OR ice cream. Prom is tomorrow and I've been cutting back my food intake for it 'cause I want to look skinny!

Monika- WELCOME BACK! It's awesome to have you back again! =]

lychan14- Haha, sorry, I'm bad with namessss. Ah, well. You're awesome! Haha you made me smile when I read your comments! I'm really glad that you think the story it well, & thanks for the congrates on my 501th post!

WE DID IT YOU GUYS!
WE REACHED 500 POSTS! YAY!

PROM IN ONE DAY- TOMORROW!!!

Writing!

Posting!!!

When I got home I found James and Remus at the kitchen table. Remus was a pale white, and he was looking around nervously; James was tapping his fingers in a repeated da-dum rhythm. They jumped at I slammed the front door.

“Oh my gosh, Lily, we were so worried,” Remus said, rushing to my side and hugging me. “Are you all right?”

“Yeah… well, all right as I can be,” I replied softly. “I went to see Dumbledore. I told him everything. He’s supposed to be taking care of it tonight and he’s going to come by tomorrow.”

“Will he tell us anything?”

“He’d better,” James said bitterly. “We’re members now. Voldemort has hit someone really close to me…”

I pushed my hair back from my face. “How’re you guys handling… it?”

“Not so well,” Remus replied. “He’s helped me in a way that no one else ever has… I didn’t even get to say thank you…”

“Trust me,” I smiled a little encouragingly. “He knew. He knew how much it meant to you… he loved you guys so much. When we were practicing, he’d refer to you as ‘his boys.’”

James’ eyes watered up a bit.

“Hey,” I whispered. “It’s all right. Mr. Orson wouldn’t want you to be sad. He’d already accepted it and-”

“What do you mean, ‘he’d already accepted it?’ Accepted what? He knew he was going to die?”

I stood up abruptly. Mr. Orson hadn’t told them. I didn’t know what to do; after following my instincts, I ran upstairs and buried my head into my pillow and began to cry.

It finally really hit me. I thought seeing his body would be enough proof; most would think touching his cold skin would show, but I hadn’t really accepted it.

I didn’t want to believe he was dead.

Suddenly, white-hot anger built up inside of me; how could he just leave us like this? Why didn’t he protect himself?

I punched my mattress hard, and I knew it wasn’t his fault.

He was dead, and there was nothing I could do about it.
I’d never felt so helpless in my life.

Sorry so short- the next post is going to be long!!

<3 Caitlin

omgosh .. poor lily i feel so bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*that was short* but nevertheless awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ur prom is so soon!!!!!!!! u must be super excited

Great story. I feel terrible for Lily, but there is always the first death that someone will have to understand. I can't wait for a new post to find out what happens next!

Have a great time at your prom tonight!

-Monika

ohhhhh.......*sniffs*I'm so sorry for Lily....I hope she accepts Mr. Orson's death soon... It's hurting her so much...

That post was a bit short but still great!!!!!!

PAMS!!!!!PAMS!!!!!

Fantastic!! I don't mind the shortness; it was still a post!!! I have those days were I feel like I could write forever 'cause words just keep pouring from me in prefect order, but then there are days when I want to just quit writing. And you don't need to be skinny to be beautiful, but then again what do I know? Have fun at prom!!!

~Rose

great update i love it soo much

aaawww... poor lily.
POST MORE SOON.

Well...that was awsome....that's all I can say...... Have fun at prom!!! Prom's today here in Indy too.....but its not like i'm going!!! Ok....I'm still a little upset about Mr. Orson.......so yea........I'm sad.....ok how about I try a PAMS chant....haven't done one of those in a while...ok.....Auntie Pam walked into a Market. She went up to the cheese section, she was a little preoccupied with how at the Chinease place had taken so long. She was thinking when all of a sudden these people in prom dresses and tuxes nearly ran her down. She regained balace and start yelling at the promers and stared back. Once Auntie Pam was done she started to walk away and sliped on a puddle. When she was on the floor she said to herself,"See this is what happens when you are thinking about PROMS and PAMS."

And by the way it wasn't going to have anything to do with the prom, but I thought this was the opportunity to get it in.....so......PAMS LIKE AUNTIE Pam...

~Sama~

Can't wait for more, I hope you had a good time at your prom!

-Monika

I don't care if its short!I love your story!Great post!But Lily, you knew that he knew he was going to die soon enough, and he wanted to die that way.Its not your fault!PAMSOID!!!Please post soon!!!I seriously mean that!POST SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!PLEASE!!!!COME ON!POSTPOSTPOSTPOSTPOSTPOSTPOSTPOSTPOST!!!!!

Did you have a nice prom?

WOW YOU GUYS RULE.

Sama, that was funny <3

Jeez, you guys are the best readers ANYONE could EVER have!

So. PROM. Wow it was AWESOME. The whole theme was "A Night Out in Paris" so there was this twelve-foot Eiffel Tower and everyone kept taking pictured in front of it- and guess who got to take it home? ME! lol! My parents were laughing the whole time, IT WAS AWESOME!! Now I just have to find a place to put it! Lol! & I kept getting so many compliments on my dress; I'll post up pictures soon! =]

So right now I have the strep throat. When I woke up yesterday it was just sore, but this morning I couldn't move. My whole body was weak and I was shaking... I also slept for fourteen hours. So I'm really sorry, but I can't post today; my mom is only giving me a couple of minutes to get on then she's making me go lay back down. The good news is.. I just saved a bunch of money on car insurance by switching to Geico! Haha, not really. She says if I feel better tomorrow then I can go to the play... & then I can post! Yay! I'll be writing tonight until I fall asleep, so all I have to do is get on tomorrow & post...

So you guys ultimatley RULE. I could not be prouder. <3

im glad prom was so good!!!! aww dunt worry u go bak to bed!!! i hope u feel better 2morrow!!!!!!

I'm glad you had a great time at prom! Get some sleep

-Monika

you got to take home the eiffel tower?

Eek I'm SO sorry I didn't get to post yesterday. A LOT happened.

1. I went to the school play [Beauty & the Beast- it was AMAZING] with this boy Cris... he's my ex and my "boyfriend's" best friends. Yes, it was a date. We held hands.

2. Got home, got in a fight with Bryan. We broke up. [Jeez, FINALLY. That boy can't take a hint.] I just didn't want to hurt him...

3. Babysat, talked to Cris.

4. Around 8:30 my little brother and sister were in bed so I got on to write. I got about a paragraph into it and my mother came home and took the computer from me.

So, now I feel horrible and I am going to write my LONGEST POST EVER. Prepare yourselves, ladies and gentlemen, because I'm not leaving this computer until it's written and posted!

Oh, and I noticed that a lot of you changed your signatures. =] I love them all!

Postingggg!

Around twelve o’clock in the afternoon, Dumbledore came. He looked solemn; he was wearing a set of dark maroon robes and the frown wouldn’t wash off of his face. He nodded curtly to us as we let him enter. James led him to the living room and Dumbledore’s deep, immaculate voice slowly spoke through and bounced off the walls. “I have met and talked with the Order about Mr. Orson. We will hold a funeral for him tomorrow, friends and family only. Members will be patrolling it consistently, making sure that no mischief of any sort occurs.”

“Do you expect any?”

“Well, we’re not sure,” he said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “But there’s still that chance that we’re not so willing to take.”

“What’s going to happen if Death Eaters do show up?”

“War,” he said softly. He handed over a piece of folded up parchment and left. “See you tomorrow.”

I unfolded it.

You are respectfully invited to attend the funeral of Mister Nivy Jackson Orson, husband of late Mrs. Sydney Orson, from his late residence, yesterday morning at 8 o’clock.

Funeral services are at the Waycaster Long Church at 10:30 o’clock.

The next morning we all woke up slowly. No one wanted to go; yet at the same time, we did want to be there. It was almost like turning in a paper: you could work so hard on it and want to turn it in just for that reason, but you’d rather just forget it all and not get a grade whatsoever.

We Apparated at the designated area in the church and looked around nervously; not many people were there and the ones that were: we didn’t recognize them.

Remus sighed and I took James’ hand. It was as cold as ice… almost as cold as when I found Mr. Orson…

I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind, a task I’d been doing very well for the past few years, and we went to the room where his casket would be placed. The funeral director smiled at us weakly as we went in and offered his “sorry,” which I didn’t really accept, because he most likely didn’t know Mr. Orson or even really care that he was dead. It was just more money for him.

This funeral was a lot different than my great-great grandmother’s, whom I’d only met once when I was six and didn’t even remember. However, I could automatically tell this was a wizard’s funeral; instead of paintings of fruits and valleys, there were moving horses and trees blowing in the breeze. I looked at them thoughtfully before James pulled me to a seat under the ‘Friends’ section.

“James, why are we sitting here?”

“We’re not family.”

“We’re the most family he has; look, there’s not even anyone sitting over there.”

I stood up and a man in a black suit approached us. “Are you Miss Evans and Misters Lupin and Potter?”

“Yes…” Remus said nervously, and I saw him tense up.

“Before Mister Orson died, he instructed in his will a few things, some which will be discussed with you at a later time. However, right now, it was his last words that certain friends of his, though not blood related, would sit in the ‘Family’ section.”

I nodded. “See, James?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “I just thought it would be rude to go over there like that. I guess not.”

Then it started. Two slow songs were played that sort of made you think about Mr. Orson; how original he was and how sad it was to see him gone.

Then people came up; a friend talked about the first time they met, another spoke about their times in college; a boy got up and said how one of his Healing potions had saved his life.

The funeral director turned to the family section them smiled down on us. There were now about three other people there, all with tears in their eyes. “Would any of the family members like to say anything?”

Remus stood up. We clasped him on the back as he went up to the podium. “Hi, my name is Remus Lupin. I don’t know any of you, and I’m not really related to Mr. Orson, but I feel I should be. I’ve know him since I was just a kid, when I was bitten by a werewolf.”

A few people gasped, and I actually saw one woman pull her daughter closer.

Remus continued, despite the announced hostile atmosphere. “As many of you know, Mr. Orson… God all mighty, my father, the closest thing to a father I’ve ever had, made many accomplishments in his lifetime. He made a potion to make me reasonable when I transform into a werewolf, so I can understand what’s going on, so I can easily fight the urge to bite people. This potion has helped me so much because not once, not once, have I lowered myself to the level of those who bit me. Mr. Orson taught me how to trust people when those I trusted abandoned me. He took me in a cared for me when no one else would… He helped me realize that what had happened to me… it’s not a problem. It’s something I can learn from and help others with. I just hope you all realize that this man… he’s gone. He was a light of hope in our steadily darkening world, and he’s gone. I just hope that you all have a part of him in you that you can carry onto others.”

Remus stepped down and came back to sit with us. His body was shaking slightly and he had tears dropping down from his eyes. I looked around and saw a few others crying, some just looking sad and murmuring to each other.

“Anyone else?” the funeral director asked, and before I knew what I was doing, I went up there.

“Hello… I’m Lily Evans. Remus Lupin, who just spoke, is one of my best friends. For the past few months, the potion that has helped Remus stay so sane… well, Mr. Orson has been teaching me to make it. When I first met him, I thought he was crazy. He was wearing plaid pajama pants with a purple vest, and bunny slippers like they were the best thing in the world.” A few people laughed, and I was sure that they had known his odd fashion sense too. “At first, Mr. Orson had seemed a little weak… and then I noticed his gold pipe he was always chewing on. I’d asked him a couple of times why he did that, but he never really answered me. Then, a bit before Christmas, which he spent at our house, he told me a secret he’d been keeping. He was dying.”

I saw James’ mouth drop open and a few people gasped again.

“He had two cancers that were taking over his lungs, throat, and mouth. He didn’t tell anyone because he didn’t want anyone worrying. I think he only told me because he wanted to stress the importance of me finishing the potion in time. I accomplished it the day before he died. Now I’ve never met a man who drinks tea late at night or who doesn’t have anyone to spend a Christmas with except for three teenagers, or a man whose favorite colors are lime green and bright orange put together… but I’ve never lost one either, until now. Mr. Orson was ready to die, but I wasn’t ready to see him leave. I’m going to miss his quirky smiles and his over-used phrases such as ‘Call me Nivy’ and ‘Almost, Miss Evans.’ I just pray that, for the sake of you all, you knew him well enough to miss those things, too.”

With that said, I went to sit back with James and Remus, who were both crying softly now.

“Why didn’t you tell us, Lily?” James asked as we walked out to where he was to be buried.

“I don’t think he wanted me to,” I replied, and took his hand. I was relieved when he didn’t pull away. “He didn’t want to be treated any differently by you two. I mean, you were his sons… he didn’t want you to be his caretakers. And don’t tell me you wouldn’t have tried, because you would’ve. He just wanted you to love him for who he was, not that he was dying.”

We were almost to the graves when we were pulled aside by the same man. “I’m sorry to bother you now… but there is simply no other time to address this matter. Please confirm again that you are Miss Evans and Misters Lupin and Potter?”

“We are,” we agreed in unison.

“All right,” he said, and he pulled out a long, rolled up piece of parchment, which he quickly unfolded. Mr. Orson’s handwriting was scribbled all over it. “To Miss Evans… Thanks you for everything you’ve helped me with. I’ve never had a daughter or a woman in my life since my wife died. I learned so much from you as a person. I want you to have one hundred galleons. Put them to good use.

“To James, my son. You are an amazing man, and you will go far. I want you to have all of my books on how to become an Auror. I also give you one hundred galleons. Put them to good use.

“To Remus, my son. We’ve been through so much together. You’ve grown up right before my eyes, and I don’t think you’ve ever known how much I cherished seeing you every month. I give you my twenty acres of land, my house, my plane, and one hundred galleons. Put them to good use.”

The man coughed. “He also has a joined gift: To James and Lily, the future Nivy and Sydney. I give you the house you’ve been residing in. I’ve never seen it in such good hands.”

James and I looked at each other, and all we could do was smile.

“He was an amazing man,” I said. “Scratch that. He is still an amazing man.”

James nodded. “Yeah. But what is this about a plane?”

“Mr. Orson was never one for Apparating,” Remus grinned.

We got to his casket and I let James and Remus go first. After they were gone, I approached it. There he was, lying as if he was asleep. Of course, I could see the makeup, and I could feel how cold he was from were I was standing, but it was kind of nice just to pretend.

“Hey,” I said quietly, and I began to cry. “Thank you for everything. Thank you for trusting me and helping me… thanks for the house. I just hope I gave something back. I love you… Nivy.”

We left shortly after. It was time to go home, pack out things, and return to Hogwarts.

That was one of the longest posts I've ever read!!! Good going!!!! Mr. Orson was so generous to give that much to each of them....

And, by the way, the same thing happens to me sometimes...my mother would take the computer from me and if I don't she would threaten to cut me from it forever...so I know the feeling...

PAMS!!!!PAMS!!!!!!!PAMS!!!!!!!!PAMS!!!!!

Haha, yeah, I figured you all deserved a long post...

And now, since we have all of the funeral things out of the way, we can return back to Hogwarts! Yay! The story is really about to pick up... I smell DRAMA...

It was a lovely, long post!!! I loved what Remus said about Mr. Orson! It was so...*thinks* touching. I can't wait till they get back to Hogwarts.

I'm glad you had a good prom! And I hope you feel better!

And you are too sweet!!

~Rose