A/N - Hey guys, I'm BAAAACK! This is the sequel to The Last Resort. If you've just come across this story and haven't read my first one then I suggest you go do so. Without reading TLR, you will not understand much of this story and will ask many questions. Warning to you all… I've decided to post this, even though in TLR I told you I wouldn't do so until it was finished and I was finished with a few others, but I feel that as my civic duty as an author, I must (since I have this written) to post the first chapie. It may take me a while to post more. I am also going to most my other stories, in case you feel like showing your love for me and reading those as well. Love you all! MUAH
Summary – Years after the events in there fifth year, four years after Hogwarts, Lily is an Auror. Now transferred to the Department of Mysteries because of her amazing gift to see the future, she is face once again to James Potter, who has blatantly ignored her for the past six years. Her dreams become more frequent and she seeks advice from her old guardian. Will she follow her hear, or let Fate take its course? A LE/JP fic
Rating – right now it's only about PG-13, but it will become R later on
Disclaimer – not mine, not mine, not mine… maybe in a disillusioned world it is, but sadly the only thing here that is mine is the plot.
-------------------------------Fate's Course-------------------------------
Chapter 1
"Any change, even for the better, is always accomanied by drawbacks and discomforts."
Arnold Bennett
Sirius had marched out of the house and had his wand gripped tightly in his hand, red sparks flaring out. He stomped his way out of the country and all the way into London. The sky now tinged pink as the sun began to rise. He took his want up and smiled evilly.
"Locomotus Wormtail," he said and his wand pulled him further into town. He stopped in front of an abandoned warehouse and his want vibrated and then stopped all movement.
He waited there, till the sun was high in the sky and the church bells rang noon. The door creaked open slowly and out walked a nervous looking Peter Pettigrew.
"I've been waiting for you," Sirius said in a deadly whisper.
RING! RING! Lily woke with a start. RING! Shaking the images from her dream out of her mind, she answered the phone.
"What?" she snapped groggily.
"Morning Sunshine!" said a sarcastically cheery feminine voice.
"Nice to talk to you too Mol. You woke me up," she said in a grumpy voice as she got out of bed.
"It's already 11:30 and you're still in bed?"
"WHAT? Look, I'll call you back ok? Bye."
She hung up the phone and got dressed quickly. All the while running her unfinished dream through her head. They had continued all the way through the end of school and her Auror training. Now, at age 20, she still had them. All different sorts. Mainly of different Death Eater attacks. But she had a few reoccurring dreams of the attacks on her and James and the following events.
"Not like any of those will come true," she thought almost sadly as she pulled out her dream diary. Her "gift" was revealed halfway through Auror training. Her dreams had the ability to predict. The Magical Defense Unit (MDU) used this to their disposal and made her keep track of them. She didn't see how any of the ones with her and James would come true though, since she hasn't had a decent conversation with him since fifth year.
She sighed heavily, putting the diary away and moving into her kitchenette. Her apartment was modest, but enough. Pulling out some Lucky Charms, she made a bowl of cereal single handedly as she called Mollie back.
"Hello?" her friend's voice rang in her ears.
"Okay, now that you've woken me up and I've actually gotten awake; tell me what the hell is up!" she demanded, sitting down and starting her "brunch" of sorts.
"You'll never guess what happened last night!" she said, her voice full of excitement.
"Let me see… little green Martians have made an advanced civilization in your nose," Lily said sarcastically.
"For once in your life take something seriously!" Mollie said scathingly.
"Okay, I'm sorry," she said sighing heavily. After thinking for a minute she said, "I can't think of anything."
"He proposed!! Remus proposed!!" she screamed almost as if she were a teenager again.
"That's… that's great," Lily said, disappointment ringing in her voice.
"Well don't start jumping for joy just yet!" Mollie said sarcastically.
"I'm sorry sis… I just haven't quite woken up yet," she hastily said to cover herself. "I am happy for you."
They talked a bit more and then Lily had to get ready for work. She was quite a few hours late. But then again, what're a few more minutes??
She rushed into her office, dropping her papers on her desk.
"Please, please don't let Craver get too mad at me," she begged aloud.
"Not me you'll have to worry about Lily," her boss said from behind her back, making Lily jump in surprise.
"Merlin Josh! You scared me!" she exclaimed, her hand over her heart as she turned around to face him. He just laughed at the look on her face and shook his head. "And what do you mean I don't have to worry 'bout you?"
"Lily, you've been transferred. More like promoted. And if you'd have read anyone of these numerous notices on your desk you would've known," he said with a bit of laughter in his voice as he motioned to her desk which was covered in many unopened pink notices.
"Tr-transferred? To where?" she asked, shocked a bit.
"Where else would you be promoted to Lily? One of the greatest witches to come from Hogwarts, an amazing Auror and a seer to boot!" he said, the smile wider across his face.
"You don't meant… the DoM, do you?" she asked, her mouth agape.
"Once again I'll ask, where else?" he laughed at her as she scrambled to grab her things. "Don't muck with that. Get goin'! You were supposed to be there hours ago! I'll have one of the boys take care of it."
He then pushed her out of her cubicle and into the elevator. She nervously stood there and then remember to push the button. Giving her boss a crooked smile, she went lower underground. Finally reaching level five, she got out and nervously walked up to the secretary's desk.
"Hi… um… I'm-"
"The newbie. Down the hall and to the left. You're late," the secretary said without so much as a glace. Lily muttered her thanks and huffed and went off in the proffered direction.
She entered the office, which was decorated in deep burgundy and royal blue. The furniture, which included a large Victorian styled desk, were of black cherry wood. The desk was centered towards the back and covered in papers and pink notices. Dark detectors stood all around her; on shelves, tables and even on the floor. Behind the said desk was a high backed black leather chair, facing the wall behind it with a large map of England hanging on it.
Closing the door with a bad feeling in the bit of her stomach, she sat down in a small chintz chair.
"You're late," a deep voice said from behind the chair. "Quite late. Four hours, thirty-six minutes and forty seconds late to be exact." The chair spun around and Lily was met with the most intense blue eyes she had ever seen. "I believe in my notice I told you to be here at Eight AM sharp. Isn't that right Miss…?"
"Uh… Evans," she said stupidly.
Her new boss looked at her with curiosity. Tilting his head to the side and examining her, searching her soul it seemed. He leaned forward onto his desk, still looking over her.
"Well well, so it is. It's been a long time hasn't it? Never imagined that you'd be working for me," he said softly with laughter in his voice. He now seemed less strict, but more guarded. Lily was quite confused as to where he knew her from though. She looked at his face, the bad feeling returning tenfold.
"Do I know you?" she blurted out without thinking.
"Knew Miss Evans, you knew me… long ago," he said, remorse ringing in his voice. "Welcome to the Department of Mysteries Miss Evans. I'll be your boss, Potter… James Potter," he said, offering her his hand.
-------------------------------Authors Note-------------------------------
Just so you know, the Martian reference is not mine. I got that from the Nickelodeon cartoon Hey Arnold. Hope you like so far. Any ideas or suggestions are welcomed. Comments and constructive criticism is welcome as well.