Prologue
America - 1997
Lily Potter née Evans was an average twenty one year old English woman to most of her parents' old friends and to most of her home area. She had married a respectable man and had a beautiful baby boy who she doted on. The secret to Lily however, was that she's a witch. No, she didn't kidnap kids and try to eat them. And she didn't like to fly on a broom. Though she had used Eye of Newt quite a few times. Early in her life Lily had befriended two young boys her age. The first was a wizard by the name of Severus Snape, a young man born into poverty and an abusive home. The second was a muggle by the name of Anthony Stark, though he preferred to be called Tony. Tony was the son of a famous American inventor who shipped him off to England while he dealt with a personal matter.
Life could be cruel though, Lily's friendship with Severus ended when they were fifteen in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, while Tony moved back to England when they were nine yet he still wrote to her all the time.
At the present moment she sat in Tony Stark's huge house in L.A. with tears leaking from her eyes. She was happy when he asked her to hide out over there but upset when James said no. "I'm going to fucking kill him." She shouted. "The lipstick on his collar...the scent of perfume on his skin...I called him earlier and a woman picked up."
Tony laughed at her outburst. "Look, he's young and stupid like you and me. Not to mention his police work must keep him busy. Besides, it could just be someone from that Order thingy."
Lily frowned. "The Aurors have made him retire since he's in hiding." She sighed. "I'm so glad you accidentally found out about magic. It makes it easier than lying..." She said softly. "I have no one else to talk to."
"What about Alice?" He asked softly, pouring her a glass of wine. He heard the door knock. "Damn trick or treaters." He opened the door. "Here," he tossed them some cash, closing the door. "I hate Halloween."
Lily laughed weakly. "So do I. And Alice and Frank are in hiding too." She sighed. "Worst part was, he wasn't let me take Harry trick or treating. I understand that we're in danger, but Harry's too young to be kept indoors all the fucking time."
Tony laughed. "He's only fifteen months old, Lily. He shouldn't be trick or treating yet."
Lily scowled. "Best friends are supposed to agree with each other." She said with a pout.
"Well not when it comes to kids." Tony smirked. "Speaking of, how is the boob sucker?"
Lily slapped his arm. "Stop calling him that. He's fine. I tucked him in and told him I'd be home in a week. I'm going home tomorrow, so I'll at least have my baby boy." She rubbed her hand.
"Whoa, what's with the scar?" Tony asked curiously. He carefully lifted her hand to take a look. "Why is there a lightning bolt on your hand?"
Lily frowned. "I added a protective layer to the wards in the house. If...we're found...it should ensure...that Harry lives." She said softly, her voice cracking nervously.
Tony closed his eyes. "Shouldn't have opened my mouth." He added more wine to the glass. "He'll be fine. And if you need to go home, Jarvis can drive you to the airport now."
She sipped the wine. "No. James gets to hang out with his friends all the time. I'm spending this week with my best friend." She smiled.
Tony shrugged. "So, what are you going to do about James?"
Lily sighed. "I don't know. Divorce isn't an option. The Wizarding World is biased, he'd get full custody of Harry. Not to mention I'd be labelled as a harlot. I don't know if I'll be able to forgive him."
Tony sipped his wine, chuckling. "Personally, I'm the wrong man to talk to about infidelity."
Lily snorted. "Don't I know it. Word around the water cooler is that you were found in the bed of Miss Universe last month."
Tony laughed. "Rumours, nothing more." He smirked, tossing something out of her field of vision.
Lily grinned. "Tony, you never have to hide that stuff from me. I'll never judge you. You slut." She teased at the end.
He pushed her gently. "Coming from the Virgin Lily, that's a compliment."
She rolled her eyes. "I don't think I class as one anymore, what with giving birth and all."
He shook his head. "Fair enough. Let's have a good final night. We're going dancing."
Lily shook her head. "No way. I'm wearing my mom clothes, I have granny panties on and I didn't pack any dresses."
Tony grinned. "There's a shindig in L.A. I'm supposed to be at, and my date cancelled. I had a dress for her."
Lily frowned. "Let me guess, it's just my size?"
Tony walked into his room. "Funnily enough, it is. Plus some underwear and a great pair of shoes. So get dressed, we leave in an hour." He grabbed his mobile.
She sighed, grabbing the dress. It was a lovely little black cocktail dress with matching shoes. She slipped into it. "This fits like a glove." She said softly, fixing the shoes on. "I'm going to kill you, Tony."
He popped his head in. "Why? Black suits you."
She glared at him. "A thong?! The underwear you bought her barely counts as dental floss."
He grinned. "Well usually they don't wear undies." He winked. "Come on, the jags waiting outside."
Lily grabbed her handbag, walking out with him. "I really shouldn't be doing this." She whispered.
Tony looked at her. "We're two friends, just going to a dance in L.A. to end a platonic week of catching up. I'll have you back to Godric's Hollow on my private jet by the early morning."
Lily nodded. "Sure, besides...he cheated on me..."
-HS-
Lily groaned as the alarm clock rang out. She banged it, seeing Jarvis standing over her with a sombre look on his face. "Jarvis, is something wrong?"
He handed over a newspaper. "Mr. Stark has had a subscription to the Daily Prophet since his discovery of the magical world. T-The headline mentions..."
She scanned the headline. "God...no...NOOOOOOOO!" She sobbed harshly. She tossed the paper onto the ground.
Tony sprinted in, seeing the paper. "Lily..?"
LORD VOLDEMORT DEAD!
POTTER FAMILY FOUND SLAUGHTERED!
Terrible news from the Ministry of Magic this morning as it was announced that she the bodies of James Potter, Lily Potter and their infant son Harry were found in a Ministry safe house in Godric's Hollow in the early hours of the morning.
James Potter (21), Lily Potter (21) and their son Harry (15 months) were found in the infant's nursery with the dead body of He Who Should Not Be Named.
Sources close to the Potters say that the young family had been in hiding from the terrorist organisation known as the Death Eaters for over a year now and had been hiding under Fidelius Charm.
The body of Lily Potter could not be identified by face as several burns made facial and dental identification impossible, though she was found cradling her son in her arms.
It is believed that Lily Potter may have invoked old magic to try and save her son's life. Although she didn't not succeed in saving the life of her child, it is believed that the magic used rebounded and killed the head of the Death Eaters.
Minister Bagnold released a statement this morning expressing her sorrow. 'The death of the Potters cements this government's view that LORD VOLDEMORT was nothing more than a racist fearmonger who claimed to be solving what he called the' muggleborn' problem in our society. Yet here is a family with fifteen traceable generations of Pureblooded members slaughtered by someone who claims to save the old lines. The Potters may not have been considered pure anymore since the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Potter, but this family was still respected by all aspects of our society. Let us not forget that Charlus Potter himself was one of the biggest philanthropists this country has ever seen. For this reason the Ministry has decided to hold a state funeral for the young family who died fighting against bigotry.'
We at the Prophet wish any family of the deceased our greatest sympathies. Celebrations have been organised by the Ministry to remember those lost in the war against He Who Must Not Be Named and to celebrate a new beginning.
Lily shook with tears. "I told him I hated him...I shouted at him and slammed the door in his face when he told me he loved me...I walked away from him..." She looked up at Tony. "I danced and drank while my family was murdered..."
Tony held onto her, trying to keep himself from crying. "Jarvis...s-see what time the next flight to England is...b-book four tickets."
Lily shook her head. "I'm not going back..." She sobbed. "There's nothing there for me anymore. My parents are gone...Petunia hates me and Alice has her own family to care for..." She held onto him. "They died while I was having fun...my baby's dead..." She sobbed harder.
Tony frowned. "Jarvis, go to the bathroom and get me some valium."
Lily wiped her eyes. "Get that paper away from me...please. I never want to see anything magical again...the Wizarding World cost me everything..."
He nodded. "Jarvis, cancel the subscription to the Daily Prophet while you're at it."
Jarvis nodded, returning with a glass of water and two pills. "Please Mrs. Potter, take these." He placed the pills in her hand.
Lily took the pills, drinking the water. "She was holding my son. His whore was holding my son...he died in a strange woman's arms." She said in a hollow voice.
Tony rubbed her back. "I'm so sorry, Lily..." He whispered. "If I hadn't invited you out here..."
"Then I'd be dead too...only I'd of died holding onto my son's lifeless body..." Lily lay down on the bed. "They think I'm dead..."
England - 12 hours earlier
James placed his head in his hands. "She thinks I'm cheating on her..." He said sadly. Rachel Smith chuckled softly. "Don't worry James, I've got two Aurors ready and a realistic looking baby doll. When she gets back, the three of you can go on a holiday and she'll laugh about all this."
He shook his head. "The look she gave me...I've only ever seen it once before in my life...when she stopped talking to Snape."
She pat his back. "James relax." She heard a phone ring. "That's probably the Auror." She picked up the phone. "Hello?"
James watched her hang up. "Well?"
"I don't know. Whoever it was just hung up." She shrugged. "I'll stay here tonight so it looks like Lily's here. I've enough Polyjuice to last the night." She assured him.
James sighed. "Thanks Rachel. I'd be lost without the best damn partner possible."
She smiled. "Actually, I'm in hiding too. But I don't mind pulling some strings. I've been an Auror for twelve years, I've earned a good few favours."
He smiled weakly. "Thanks. I'm going to check on Harry. He's really lost without Lily around. He's such a momma's boy."
She smirked. "You say that like it's a bad thing." She teased, taking the potion. "Lily got a hairbrush? I need some hair."
He walked into the kitchen, grabbing the hairbrush. "Here, I'll be down in a minute." He said softly.
She nodded, taking the potion once she had the hair added. She walked up to the nursery. "Maybe if I hold him it might help. Since I look like Lily."
James nodded, handing Harry to her. "Hopefully. He hasn't slept well without her." He admitted.
She rocked him asleep, hearing a loud bang. "What was that?!"
Harry started sobbing as he saw someone burst through the door. Voldemort pointed his wand at James and 'Lily' Potter. "Hand over the boy and I will allow you to live." He said coldly.
Rachel tightened her hold on Harry. "You're not taking him." She said determinedly.
James tried to find his wand. "I'll kill you, Voldemort." He shouted.
Voldemort pointed his wand at James. "Avada Kedavra!" He blasted James with the Killing Curse.
"James!" She shouted, backing away from Voldemort. "Hand over the boy and you can live." He snapped.
"No. N-Not my son." She said, trying to stay in character. "Please not him..."
Voldemort frowned, casting the Killing Curse on her. He pointed his wand at Harry. "To think a child was supposed to defeat me. Goodbye Harry Potter. Avada Kedavra!" He shouted, feeling his soul shred from his body. He fled the room as a wraith, feeling his soul weaken further.
Two hours later Sirius Black walked towards the house, seeing the collapsed roof. "JAMES! LILY!" He sprinted to the house. He saw a figure leave. "H-Hagrid?" He frowned. "What are you doing here? James? Lily?"
Hagrid frowned at him. "Dead I'm afraid..." He said sadly. "Dumbledore sent me to check on them when the wards flared up. James and Lily were dead in the nursery. Harry's alive, but he's got a scar, Sirius. Dumbledore told me to bring them to Hogwarts. I have to bring him to the castle."
Sirius nodded. "M-My bike's down the street...take it. I'll be by the castle soon for Harry. I am his godfather after all...Remus and I are all he has now..." He ran off after kissing Harry's forehead with only one thought on his mind. The rat was going to die.
-HS-
2003
The first few years passed slowly for Lily after the announcement of her family's death. She snapped her wand that day, washing her hands from the Wizarding World. Tony had gotten a new identity set up for her a few weeks after the news hit. Lily Potter was officially dead, now only Virginia Potts existed, though in private Tony and Jarvis still referred to her as Lily. She told him to refer to her as Pepper in public and faked several credentials that were needed to become his 'personal assistant' since he offered the position.
Some days were easy for her, while others were just hell. Babies were something she just couldn't be around anymore and it was that fact that made it easier to work for Tony. He had just taken the CEO position in Stark Industries and had moved her into the house with him and Jarvis.
With time she found herself growing closer to Tony and becoming more than just his friend. She never forgave herself for the words she had said to James before she left. And she had decided never to have another child in her life.
Tony of course was unaware of her feelings and continued his playboy image. She didn't mind, she wasn't really ready to open her heart again. Halloween, January and July were the hardest times for her. Christmases weren't easier either, but Tony and Jarvis made it bareable.
She sat down on one of the chairs, sipping a cup of tea as she had a rare break. She heard the door open. "Hello Jarvis." She smiled. "How are you feeling?"
Jarvis smiled weakly. "I'm as well as can be. She'd been ill for some time now." He sat across from her.
Lily placed her hand on his. "It still must be hard." She whispered.
Jarvis poured himself some tea. "If anyone would know it would be you, Lily. Come to think of it...how are you today?" He asked softly.
She raised an eyebrow. "What's..?" She dropped her cup. "It's the 31st..." She whispered. How could she have forgotten about it? She never forgot. "He would've been seven years old today..." She put her hand over her mouth. "Crap. The cup..."
Jarvis handed her a handkerchief. "Don't fret over the cup." He smiled kindly. "Seven years old. May I ask you something?"
She nodded. "Of course."
He poured her a fresh cup of tea. "Do you do anything on his birthday?"
She shook her head. "It's...too painful to do anything." She whispered sadly.
"I think you should." He sipped his tea. "My dear brother lost his wife and two children in the war. On their birthdays he'll eat something they liked. He'll do something they'd like to do. Sometimes he just visited their graves."
Lily sat down across from him again. "I can't..." She whimpered. "I can't go back there. I failed him...Jarvis. That spell should've saved him. I read the spellbooks for weeks."
He looked at her. "Lily, you did all you could. He wouldn't want you to blame yourself."
She bit her lip. "He was too young to understand why he was killed..." She kissed his cheek. "My break is over." She placed two files on the table. "Undertakers and the local synagogue. I rang them earlier today." She smiled sadly.
He stroked her hand. "You're a blessing, Lily. Thank you." He said softly, kissing her hand.
"I'm here for you and Tony whenever you need me." She whispered softly. Six months later Jarvis had continued his duties, wearing his wife's favourite flower to remember her.
2008
She was a nervous wreck. Tony had been kidnapped by terrorists and no one could find him. She sat rocking her legs in her arms, tears falling down her eyes. Rhody had came by a few times to check in on her and to give her updates on the search. She sighed as the phone rang. "Jarvis, could you answer the phone please?"
The beep activated. "Pepper?" A voice called out. "It's James. We've found him." Rhodes' chuckled through the line. "He's on his way state side. I'm sending an army escort to pick you up."
Lily wiped her eyes. "Can I talk to him?"
"He's asleep right now. Apparently a surgeon who had been locked up with him saved his life. He's got some weird thing on his chest." Rhodes explained. "He's alive, Pepper. Don't worry."
She hung up the phone, grabbing her bag. "Jarvis, I want you to contact Obadiah Stane. Tell him that Tony's back and I'm bringing him straight to the hospital."
"Of course, Miss Potts. You make sure that imbecile knows how worried we've been." He responded.
Lily fixed her make up as much as she could, walking out to the escort once she heard the horn beep. Once the car arrived at the landing strip she ran towards the plane, smiling as she saw him.
Tony began walking towards her, smiling with his arm in a sling. "Some tears for your long lost boss?"
Lily chuckled weakly. "Tears of joy, updating my résumé would've been hell."
He smirked. "Well vacations over. Now come on, I want an American burger and then I want you to hold a press conference."
She shook her head, things would never change.
A/N: Ok, so I decided to make this chapter a lead up to the main plot of the story. I hope you all enjoyed it and I'll see you all in two weeks.