Chapter One: Dark Times
By nineteen-eighty things were looking extremely bleak for the wizarding world. Lord Voldemort was becoming more and more powerful. He was gathering followers. Wizards were becoming very anxious. People were turning up dead all of the time. Wizards all over Britain were worried they would be next.
"James, I love you." Lily Evans said.
"I know I love you too." replied James Potter.
Absentmindedly Lily tried to flatten James black hair. In all the years she had known him she had never once seen his hair lie flat yet still she tried.
"I think we should get married." Lily blurted out before gaining control over her voice, "I mean we love each other. Why should we wait?"
James looked dumbstruck for a moment before answering, "Some girls would wait for the boyfriends to ask them Lily."
Lily looked completely shocked. She didn't mean to ask James like that, but she thought he was the type of guy who wouldn't mind getting proposed to but she feared she was wrong in her assumption.
After a pause James continued, "I was planning on asking you next week but you beat me to it."
"So is that a yes James?"
"Why on Earth would I refuse you Lily Ev- … Potter?"
It seemed as if Lily and James wedding brought nothing but disaster. Remus, Sirius, and Peter all hoped to be James best man. Sirius jokingly suggested they duel to decide. After several bottles of firewhisky Sirius and Remus decided it was time to settle the matter. They drunkenly convinced Peter to join in the duel. Several curses were fired. No one was gravely injured, most likely do to the fact they were so drunk. Most of the curses missed, but Lily begged James to make a decision "Before one of them dies or," taking a phrase from her mother, "Loses an eye." Lily suggested the play rock-paper-scissors, but after seeing the four men give her blank stares she realized rock-paper-scissors was a Muggle game. Once she explained the game, James was all for her suggestion. Sirius was the ultimate victor.
Lily's parents were thrilled when she announced she was marrying James. In their eyes, Lily was to special of a girl to marry a 'tuggle'. (They always forgot the correct term was Muggle)Lily's sister Petunia however was displeased. Petunia had announced her impending wedding a week before. "Isn't, it great Tuney? Both of us getting married! I can't wait to meet Vernon." Lily finally did meet Vernon but Petunia delayed the meeting as long as possible. Lily learned Vernon almost left Petunia when he found out 'what she had for a sister'. Rather than being alarmed by Vernon's feelings for Lily, Petunia seemed even surer Vernon was the man for her.
"My parents couldn't be happier about our wedding but I am afraid Petunia may never speak to me again. That man," Lily's voice showing how upset she truly was, "Is as bad as she is about magic. You would think having a witch for a sister would make her proud, it does my parents." Lily looked over at her fiancé when she mentioned her parents James face grew grim, "I'm sorry James, I know you wish your parents could come to the wedding."
"I do." James said, Mr. Potter died at eighty-nine from dragon pox, a relatively young age for a wizard. Ms. Potter died two months later from the same dieses luckily James was immune, "You're all the family I need Lily." James kissed his soon to be wife.
Lily and James's wedding was a simple affair. There closest friends and family were present as were several member of the Hogwarts faculty. Most of the teacher loved Lily and James. Many had insisted the couple start referring to them by their first names. Lily felt a little embarrassed calling her former Transfiguration teacher 'Minerva'. James seemed downright terrified…
As Lily and James greeted their guests as the reception a little of the color drained from his face as he of greeted Minerva McGonagall, "Hello M-Min-" then blushing furiously continued, "I just can't do it Professor. I well … I keep thinking about the time I tried to call you by your first name in second year and the look on your face," his eyes grew wider as he looked at Lily, "I've never been so scared in my life."
As the last of the guests arrived Lily noticed her sister was not among the guests.
Soon after James and Lily's wedding, Mrs. Evans was diagnosed with late-stage cancer and died two months later. Lily sought the most renowned healer in Britain but there was no magic which could cure the muggle disease. Mr. Evans died only a week after his wife from a heart attack. While he had had heart troubles for years, it seemed the death of his wife caused the last fatal heart attack.
With more people murdered every day; people no longer knew who they could trust. The Death Eaters always seemed to be one step ahead of the Order.
The Ministry of Magic had numerous problems, but the Unforgivable Curses used by the Death Eaters topped the list. It was hard to say which of the unforgivable curses gave the Ministry the most trouble. Deciding if those who claimed to have done the Dark Lord's bidding under the Imperious Curse were true victims or simply attempting to escape a prison sentence by saying they were under the influence of the Imperious curses. The Cruciatus curse is possibly the worse type of torture a person can endure. More than one person was left as a shell of their former selves, tortured into insanity. Then there was the Killing curse, Avada Kedavra curse. Two simple words and your opponent is dead. No warning, no defense. Barty Crouch, the head of the Magical Law Enforcement, seemed to think the best move the Ministry could make was to fight fire with fire. In an unprecedented decision Barty Crouch allowed the Aurors to use unforgivable curses on suspected Death Eaters in hope of stopping them. Soon after the Aurors were also allowed to kill those they could not capture.
"I don't know what the Ministry is thinking, Professor" Lily stated in outrage, "Killing instead of capturing, and using Unforgivable Curses makes us as bad as them"
The kind voice of Albus Dumbledore replied, "Since you are no longer is school, you may call me Albus, Lily."
"I know, but after seven years it takes a little getting used to."
"Quite alright Lily." Albus Dumbledore was a man who had a somewhat eccentric quality. Despite his appearance he did not seem like the sort of man whose advice was to be taken lightly. His voice, while not harsh, commanded a great amount of respect, "I gave Barty my opinion on the matter but he seems to think it will help in the fight against Voldemort." Albus paused slightly, "Now tell me, Where is James? I would have thought he would want to be home more, given your condition."
"I'm pregnant not sick, and James went to visit Remus. Remus had a hard time with his transformation this month. I sent James with some food. I thought that might make him feel better." Lily paused before adding, "It is a shame James, Sirius and Peter cannot be there to help him with his transformations any longer. Everyone has been so busy working for the Order. I hardly need to tell you that Albus."
"Everyday there seems to be another battle for us to fight. The Death Eaters seem to have been one step ahead of us lately."
"Do you think there might be a spy within the Order, Pro- … Albus?"
"It is a possibility that I have not ruled out yet."
James Potter entered the house, his black hair even more untidy hair than usual. He kissed his wife before speaking to Albus, "I did not know you were coming over to-night Albus. Is everything alright?"
"I was just about to ask Lily if she could spend the day at Hogwarts for me. It seems I have over booked myself. I have asked Julia Mudaliar to come restore some paintings at Hogwarts on the same day I need to interview a candidate for a teaching position at Hogwarts."
"I would be happy to help you Albus. Seeing Julia again will be nice." Lily said with a smile
"Lily, are you sure you should be alone in these time while you are pregnant? After we just escaped Voldemort?"
And escaped they had, for the third time. Lily and James were becoming legends. They were only matched by the Longbottoms, also members of the Order of the Phoenix. Three times they had found themselves facing Lord Voldemort. And three times they had escaped. Most recently Lily and James followed a known Death Eater, Bellatrix Lestrange. Hoping they would be able to find Voldemort's headquarters they pursued Bellatrix without warning anyone in the Order what they were planning.
Lily and James entered an empty room. The lights lowered and they found themselves face to face with Lord Voldemort. "Ah now I hoped you would follow Bellatrix" Voldemort's face contorted into what might have been a smile as he nodded to Bellatrix Lestrange, "You have become a nuisance, constantly disrupting my business. I think it is high time was rid of you." Lily and James while both skilled wizards, were fighting a losing battle. It was not long before James was unconscious and Lily found herself lying on her back with Voldemort's wand pointed at her chest. He spoke in the cruel manner the Potter had become to accustom to hearing, "Ah. I see today I will have the pleasure of killing three Potters. I had not noticed you were expecting a child. Pity the filthy mudblood will not live to see me take over." Voldemort's focused stayed on Lily. Behind her Lily saw James stir. "STUPEFY"
James seemed to be recalling their last meeting with Voldemort before he added, "And who is Julia?"
"I hardly think Lord Voldemort will attack me at Hogwarts, James." Lily paused slightly, "Julia and I were member of the Charms club. She graduated two years before us and was in Ravenclaw." Turning her gaze back to the headmaster Lily asked, "If you don't mind me asking why you need someone present to have some art restored?"
"As you know Hogwarts has once again found itself without a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I was hoping you might be able to help convince Miss Mudaliar to take the position."
"When you said you were going to of an interview someone I assumed you meant for a Defense teacher." said James.
"Hogwarts has two vacancies to fill this year."
"The Divination teacher is also stepping down at the end of the next school year. To be honest true Seers are so rare it hardly seems necessary to continue the class. I am sure you have heard of Cassandra Trelawney. Her great-great-granddaughter Sibyl has applied for the post."
"Are you doing the interview at Hogwarts?" James asked.
"No. I am doing it at the Hogs Head. My brother, Aberforth offered me a room at a discounted price. He has seen a drop in business of lately. People seem fearful to even leave their houses these days. Not to mention the fact Aberforth gave the Order valuable information when the Death Eaters were met at his pub; Until they realized he was a spy" Albus continued, "He overhead many of their conversations until they realized what he was doing. It cost him a good deal of business. Not to mention the fact his bar was nearly burned down twice."
"We should go to the Hog's Head for drinks more often." James said.
"The 'we' he means is himself, Sirius, Remus, and Peter. I probably won't even be invited." Lily voice aloof yet with a slight air of hurt present.
James quickly added, "You can come too."
Albus rose, "I better be off. If you could be at Hogwarts at nine o'clock Lily."
"That will be fine. Bye Albus."
"Night." James added.
"Good evening Lily, James." Albus said turning his head to them in turn. He left the house and a small pop was heard.