Sequel to Road to Happiness. It's been four years since Lily Potter said goodbye to her life in England and left for new adventures. She's avoided going home for most of that time for one reason or another but certain events are about to transpire that will make further avoidance impossible. Times are changing, new and old threats emerge, and questions must be answered. Jack is still filled with anger and is reluctant to let Lily back into his life. He knows that he wants to move on in a number of ways but he still can't seem to get his mind off the one that got away. Little do Jack and Lily know that destiny has bigger plans for them. Harry and Ginny stand hoping to help Jack and Lily realize that sometimes happiness is worth fighting for.
Revealing Destiny
Chapter One: Don't Look Back
The sun shone incessantly over the small town in Southern California where twenty-one year old Lily Potter currently called home. Over the last few years she'd been many different places, but this one was perhaps the most unnerving: the constant sun got to her, the people were constantly cheerful, and sometimes it seemed that no one could be trusted. In ways it seemed like they were hiding something.
She lived in a small flat above a bike shop in the middle of the small downtown area. It had been a few months since she had moved in, but the place still felt like a hotel. Most of her things remained in boxes or duffle bags and the apartment was not decorated at all—no pictures, mementos, or keepsakes. If it weren't for the bathroom, bed, and kitchen, one might think the space was used simply for storage.
Lily was asleep at the moment, sprawled out on her bed under nothing more than a sheet. The window was open, allowing the soft breeze to blow some black curls off of her face. It was nearly noon and the small city was alive below her, but as she had just fallen into bed at nine o'clock that morning she could hardly be seen as lazy.
In the corner stood a large open cage where Lily's only companion also slept. The only other occupant of the room, Lily's owl Flash had his head tucked under his wing to shield himself from the light. Unopened letters were stacked on her nightstand as well as scattered all around the bird's cage. It was clear he was getting upset that she wasn't even bothering to open the letters he brought for her, so he simply resorted to tossing them on the floor.
Unfortunately for Lily, had she answered any of those letters she may have been granted a few more hours of much needed sleep. If she answered the letter her cell phone may not have rang at exactly twelve fifteen. The silver metal object came to life beside her on the nightstand with both light and sound.
Sitting up straight in bed as fast as lightning, Lily looked around the room for several seconds before she realized what was making all the noise. She grabbed the cell phone and flipped it open angrily.
"Potter," she said into the receiver, silently cursing whoever was on the other end of the receiver.
"Lily, it's your father."
Oh man, I'm definitely in trouble, she thought to herself as she looked around the room at the unopened mail.
"Are you there?" Harry Potter's voice asked with much irritation.
"Yeah, Dad, I'm sorry. You woke me up. I was working last night," she said in a voice she knew was several octaves below her normal speaking voice as it was laden with grogginess.
"It's been two months, Lily. Two months we haven't heard from you! What's going on over there?"
"I've just been busy," she said lamely. "I'm sorry I haven't answered your letters. I was working on a big case that I just closed this morning."
There was a pause on the other end of the phone followed by a long sigh. "Honey, we worry about you when we don't hear from you. It's one thing to not be able to see you everyday, but it's another to not hear from you for weeks on end."
"I know, Daddy, and I really am sorry."
"Since you're between cases at the moment, why don't you come home for the weekend? It's Dominique's second birthday on Saturday and we're having a party."
"Wow, his birthday again already? I can't believe he's already two years old!" Lily said, trying to lighten the mood.
"That would be understandable seeing as how you haven't seen him since he was nine months old."
Lily shook her head, thinking, No go. There's no sweet talking my way out of this one.
"I'll be there," she said without further argument. "Tell Mom to expect me Saturday morning."
"I'll tell her you'll be arriving sometime in the early afternoon on Friday and that you might be staying the following week," Harry corrected forcefully.
"Now, Dad I--"
"I don't want to hear it, Lily," Harry cut her off. "You're coming home and I'm not letting you leave until you and I have talked at length about your lack of interest in your family."
"It isn't lack of interest--"
"We'll talk about it this weekend. I'll see you in a couple of days, sweetheart. I love you."
Lily gritted her teeth but said nothing else in dispute. "Alright, this weekend then. I love you too."
She ended the phone call and flopped back against the mattress. Why was it that he could still make her feel like a child? It was surprising, considering that he was never around for her childhood. He's probably just making up for lost time.
Lily got up out of bed after deciding that she wouldn't get any more sleep. She walked over to Flash's cage and collected the letters on the floor. She thumbed through all of them, as well as the ones piling on her nightstand. They were all from her parents.
After sitting there for a moment, she stood up and changed into some running clothes. In no time she was hopping down the stairs to the shop below and being greeted by the storekeeper.
"Good afternoon, Christina," the middle-aged man said.
Lily smiled and waved, used to being acknowledged by her current fake name. "Just off for a run, Mr. Wagner."
Several minutes later she found herself running down Main Street toward the long country road heading out of town. Running was always a good way for her to get away from herself and her own thoughts—at least it usually was. However, she could tell that this run was going to be different.
It had been over four years since she'd left England and embarked on her new life here in America. She had been doing undercover work for the American Auror Department ever since she arrived. This was the reason she lived as a Muggle, and also the reason her father saw fit to call her on her department-issued cell phone to yell at her whenever she wasn't responding to his owls.
She knew that she was hurting him and the rest of her family by staying away, but she was set in her solitary ways at this point. It almost felt like she was truly on her own sometimes, though she had to admit she missed being apart of their lives.
Ginny had given birth to a baby boy the fall after Lily had left. Lily had been able to make it home for the birth though she only came to see Harry, Ginny, and the baby. She avoided everyone else. Harry and Ginny named him James Arthur after his grandfathers. Nearly two years after James was born Ginny gave birth to another son whom they named Dominique Sirius. Lily had been on a top-secret mission at the time, and didn't even know her step mother was pregnant until the mission was complete. She saw her younger brother on the only afternoon she could spare before heading off into the sunset once more.
Hermione had shocked everyone by giving birth to a girl a week after Ginny had James. They named her Anna Maria, and she was the apple of everyone's eye. Lily was able to go see the baby about a week after she was born, but she hadn't seen her since then. Ron and Hermione's other children were all getting older as well, and Lily was sad to admit how distant they had become over recent years.
Jack was, perhaps, the biggest mystery of all. Lily knew that the hurt she had caused him by leaving in the manner that she had ran deep, she just didn't know how deep. She wrote to him for the first eight months but he never wrote back. For the first two years she had sent him birthday and Christmas presents, even though she was never able to make it home for the holidays.
It was that second Christmas that he sent them all back—every letter she ever wrote him, every gift she ever sent: all unopened. He sent no card or letter with the items. They simply arrived looking as if she had sent them yesterday. It was then that she had learned just how many times one person could break your heart. It wasn't that she blamed him, but she had hoped that she would have meant more to him than that. Even though she didn't like to admit it, Jack was the reason she stayed away. Silently she was hoping that he would send her some sign that it was okay to return. Part of her didn't think she could handle seeing him again if he hated her and the other part wanted to stay away for his sake so he could move on. Part of her was hoping that maybe there could be reconciliation between them, but that Christmas sealed the deal: it was over. She may have ended it by leaving, but he ended any chance they had at friendship by not responding to her letters.
After he sent everything back she decided to move on in more ways than one. She started dating casually. The men she dated these days never really knew the real Lily. She went out with a few muggles while she was on assignment and a couple people who worked with the American ministry. There were a few guys she could have seen herself in a relationship with but her lifestyle made it next to impossible for her to maintain a relationship because she was undercover so much.
Life on her own was hard at times. She had made friends within the department who she went out with on occasion, and her partner Adam Wright was a great guy who she got along with really well. After a year of working together they bought a house in Chicago where they lived when they weren't working. Adam was four years older than she was. His fiancée had been murdered three months before their wedding when he was Lily's age. He was completely devoted to his work now even more so than Lily.
Lily pulled herself out of her memories as she realized how far from town she'd come on her run. She didn't know how long she had been running at this point, but she decided it was probably a good idea to turn back and head into town. She had some packing to do if she heading home for the weekend.
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"Baby, have you seen that gray sweatshirt I wore here a few weeks ago?"
Jack Weasley looked up from the paperwork in front of him and into the brown eyes of his girlfriend. "I don't know, Allie. Did you look in my dresser?"
"Yeah, I can't find it in there," Allie said as she walked away from him and back into his bedroom. He got up from his desk to go help her look. His quarters at Hogwarts weren't that large, but things still had a way of disappearing. The two of them looked together for a few minutes until there was a knock at the door.
"I'll be right back, love," Jack said as he left her to her search. He made his way to the front door quickly, and pulled the wooden door open to reveal his father standing there with his hands in his pockets.
"Hey Dad," Jack said as he opened the door and motioned for him to come inside.
"Hello, Jack," Ron said stiffly.
Jack followed his father into the sitting room. "What's up?"
"I just wanted to remind you about Saturday," Ron said once they were face to face once more.
"Saturday…?"
"Dominique's birthday party," Ron said in a somewhat strained tone of voice.
"Oh right, good thing you reminded me. I'll have to make sure Allie is free."
"It's really just a family thing, Jack," Ron told him, shifting his weight from foot to foot.
"Since when does that mean I can't invite my girlfriend?" Jack asked accusingly.
Ron sighed and decided to give up in order to avoid a fight, "Okay, son, do whatever you want. I don't care if you bring a clown with you, just be there."
"I will be."
"I found it!" Allie came running into the room with a triumphant look on her face, holding the sweater up in the air. Her smile fell immediately when she saw Ron standing there. "Oh, um…Mr. Weasley, I didn't see you there. How are you?"
Ron smiled but the happy expression never reached his eyes. "I'm fine, Allison. I was just reminding Jack of his cousin's birthday party this Saturday."
Allison turned to Jack. "But Jack, we have those theater tickets for Saturday night."
Jack scratched the back of his head with his hand. "Well, we'll just stay at the party for a while and leave early."
"Then you'd better come early," Ron commanded more than suggested.
"Fine, Dad." Jack said tensely. "Anything else?"
"No, I think that's all for today," Ron replied. "I'll see you on Saturday then."
Once Ron had gone, Allison collapsed on the sofa in a huff. "He hates me."
Jack sat down next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "No, he doesn't."
"Yes he does," Allie argued. "Your whole family does."
"They just haven't gotten used to you yet."
"Jack, we've been dating for a year and a half. You'd think they would at least try."
Jack thought for a moment before leaning down and capturing her lips with his. He pulled back and looked into her eyes with a determined expression. "Who cares what they think?"
Allison's eyes twinkled and she wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him down to her once more.
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On Friday morning, Harry made his way down the stairs of this home in search of his wife. She was always up in the morning before he was in the summertime.
"Ginny," he called, looking around.
"In the kitchen, love," he heard her reply happily.
He quickly walked down the rest of the stairs, through the living room, and into the kitchen where he found Ginny sitting at the table with their two children and feeding them breakfast.
"Appies," Dominique said through fits of giggles.
"Apples, that's right, baby," Ginny said, laughing, "You're so smart!" She looked up and saw him staring at them from the doorway. "Care to join us?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Harry said, shaking his head, "sorry. Hey there, birthday boy!" He picked Dominique up from his seat and held him in his arms.
"Daddy!" Dominique squealed.
Harry smiled and ruffled James' black hair. "Good morning, son."
"Morning," James said through a mouthful of pancakes. Harry looked over at Ginny's upturned face and couldn't help himself. He shifted Dominique in his arms and leaned forward to kiss her soundly on the lips.
"Gross, Dad," James said in disgust.
Ginny laughed and got up to fix Harry a plate. He took a seat and turned Dominique around so that he was facing the table as well.
"When is Lily getting here?"
"She said sometime this afternoon," Harry said, taking a sip from the juice glass in front of him.
"She said she'd be here this afternoon, or you told her to be here this afternoon?" Ginny asked accusingly as she walked back to the table with his breakfast on a plate. She set it down in front of him.
"We haven't seen her in over a year, and even then it was only for an afternoon in New York City when the boys weren't with us."
"She's a busy girl."
"She needs to remember that she's got a family that wants to see her."
Ginny sighed and sat down. "Harry, she's twenty-one years old. She deserves to have a life of her own. I'll admit that I'd love for her to be around more but if this is what truly makes her happy, then we need to accept that. If she shows up here and all you do is nag her then she's not going to want to come home more often."
"I know," Harry admitted. "I guess I don't really understand. She left to find herself. She wanted to be independent and on her own. She has that now. You know how much she's changed over the last few years, Gin. She's become everything she ever wanted to be. Why won't she come home?"
"Come home to what?" Ginny asked rhetorically. "She has family, of course, but sometimes that isn't enough. I don't think she feels needed here. I know she's tried to contact Jack while she was away but he won't have it. Her job isn't here anymore; it's in the States. I know she's made friends there. Maybe she feels at home there more so than here."
Harry shook his head. "It's really too bad about Jack. They were such good friends and they're meant to be together."
"If it's truly meant to be, then they'll find each other again," Ginny stated wisely. "Look at us," she added with a smile.
Harry put down his fork and took hold of her hand that had been resting on the table. "Yeah, look at us." He kissed his son's forehead while gazing into his wife's eyes, hoping that one day Jack and Lily would be as happy as he was right at this very moment.
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DING DONG
"I'll get that," Harry said. He and Ginny were upstairs getting the boys ready for the party. There was still about an hour before everyone was supposed to start arriving.
He left Ginny struggling with Dominique, trying to get his shirt over his head. Taking the stairs two at a time, he ran to the door and skidded to a halt.
Yanking open the door he was pleasantly surprised to discover who their unexpected visitor was. "Jack! A bit early isn't it?"
Jack shifted he's weight from foot to foot with his hands in his pockets. "Yeah I know, but Allie and I have to leave early tonight because we have plans. I thought I'd stop by early to make up for it."
Harry smiled and pulled his godson inside. "That's sounds good. Speaking of Allie, where is she?"
"She'll be by later. She got caught up at work," Jack said as Harry led them up the stairs.
"Does she like it at the Ministry?"
"She doesn't talk about it all that much. I assume it's fine."
"What department is she in?"
"Muggle Relations," Jack answered.
"Bet your Grandfather gets along with her quite well," Harry commented, laughing while thinking about Arthur Weasley.
"No, he actually doesn't seem too fond of her," Jack answered flatly.
By now they had reached Dominique's room where Ginny had been able to persuade Dominique to wear his shirt after all. He was playing with his brother on the floor with their toy Quidditch set. Ginny was sitting on the bed and catching her breath, but she stood up and went to Jack the moment he came into the room.
"Oh Jack, it so good to see you!" she exclaimed as she hugged him enthusiastically.
"You too, Aunt Gin. You look good," Jack said, returning her embrace sheepishly.
"Jack came early because he's got to leave early tonight," Harry explained.
"Well, that's lovely. Why don't we take the boys downstairs and I'll make us some tea?" Ginny suggested. Jack and Harry shrugged and then nodded. Harry picked up Dominique and Jack took James' hand and together they walked down the stairs.
"You're staying at Hogwarts this summer, right Jack?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah, I'm going to look for my own flat sometime next year. Actually, Allie and I were thinking about moving in together," Jack answered quickly.
"Bet your mother loves that," Harry said under his breath.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Jack asked, turning to face his godfather on the stairs.
Harry stuttered, "Well, I…you know…Your Mum is kind of old-fashioned about those things. She'd probably rather you got married first."
"She'd rather I not be involved with Allison," Jack said darkly.
"She likes Allie," Ginny said ahead of them. She had reached the bottom of the stairs and was making her way to the kitchen.
"Let's just drop it, alright?" Jack suggested. James let go of his hand and went to go play in the living room with his brother. "They're getting so big," Jack commented, staring after them.
"I know," Harry said fondly. "They grow up too fast."
The three of them had just taken a seat the table when there was a ringing noise. Jack looked around and saw what he distinctly knew to be a telephone base sitting on the kitchen counter.
"Since when do you use a Muggle telephone?" he asked, sounding amused.
Harry and Ginny exchanged apprehensive looks. Harry got up to go looking for the phone hand piece which seemed to have gone missing.
Ginny was left to explain, "Well, it's the only way we've been able to…to talk to--"
Jack immediately knew who she was talking about halfway through her sentence and decided to put her out of her misery. "It's okay, Aunt Ginny. You can say her name in front of me. It hasn't killed me yet."
Ginny sighed and nodded. "She's just always working undercover and she carries a cell phone. Sometimes she's too busy to write and fireplaces are hard to come by in Muggle America." The phone was still ringing in the background, and Harry came into the room looking flustered.
"I can't find it," he said, throwing up his hands.
"Just use the speakerphone, love," Ginny suggested with a wave of her hand.
"Right," Harry breathed, running over to the counter. He pressed the speaker button and the room was filled instantaneously with noises from the other end of the phone. It sounded like there were a hundred people speaking all at once in the background. Car horns could be heard along with babies crying and rustling trees.
"Hello," Harry said loudly.
"Dad!" Lily's voice said sounding out of breath. She had to shout over the background noise to be heard.
Jack stared straight ahead of him and didn't blink. It was the strangest thing, hearing her voice after so long. Somehow he had expected it to be different, but it sounded just the same. Even her voice was beautiful.
"Lily, where are you?" Harry asked.
Ginny got up from the table when the pot on the stove started to scream, signaling that the water was boiling. She opened the cupboard and pulled out three mugs.
"We're outside the station in San Francisco. But it's a madhouse here. I don't know what's going on but I don't think we'll be able to make it until later tonight."
Harry looked back and Jack who was staring off into space. He probably should have told him she was coming.
Lily's voice brought him back to their conversation. "Dad, are you there? Hello?"
"Yeah, I'm here, honey. Just be careful and get here as soon as you can," Harry said soberly. "We're all excited to see you. I haven't told anyone you're coming, so it will be a little surprise."
"That probably wasn't the best idea," Lily said before pausing for a long second. "Hold on, Dad," she said, sounding annoyed. There were some rustling sounds and then Lily spoke again, but this time she clearly wasn't talking to her father. "Adam! Come back here! We'll loose our place in line! Wright, where the heck are you going? I know you hear me!" More crackling noises followed and then she came back to the phone, "Dad, I'm gonna have to let you go. He's gone off somewhere and I need to find him. I'll see you later alright. I love you."
"I love you too," Harry replied. He hung up the phone after he heard the other end click. He slowly turned to face Jack who was now tightly gripping the cup of tea Ginny had just placed in front of him. "Jack?"
"Huh?" Jack said, looking up at him as if he didn't know anyone was in the room.
"I'm sorry…I should have given you some kind of warning that she was coming tonight," Harry said with a sympathetic look.
Jack faked a reassuring smile. "It's alright. She's your daughter and Dominique is her brother so it makes sense that she would be coming. I don't know why the thought didn't cross my mind before now."
"Probably because she usually doesn't come to these things," Harry suggested. "She's usually busy but I guess she's between cases at the moment. They have to travel using fake names so they can't use department apparation zones. They're at the civilian station."
"That's good that she's coming," Jack declared. "I look forward to seeing her again."
Ginny and Harry exchanged looks and shrugged behind his back. They both knew he was lying. He didn't want to see Lily anymore than he wanted to jump off a cliff. Everyone had noticed how much he loved to pretend she had simply fallen off the face of the Earth. They'd just have to wait and see if Jack would hide his distain for Lily that evening when she arrived. Admittedly, they both knew this meeting could be just one disaster waiting to happen.
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Jack, Allison, Andy, Andy's girlfriend Lisa, and Kyle all sat around the bonfire in the back of the house with Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Arthur and Molly Weasley were over talking to Remus and Tonks, and the rest of the children were all scattered around visiting with each other. Jack sat in a lawn chair, holding Allison's hand in his.
She leaned forward and whispered in his ear."How much longer?"
He kissed her forehead and looked at his watch. "An hour at the most."
"So Jack, how's the Quidditch program going?" Harry asked from across the circle.
"Pretty fair," Jack answered. "I'm trying to vamp things up for next year though, maybe play some other schools in Europe."
Harry smiled and looked back up towards the house. Something he saw made his smile broaden and he stood up. Ginny looked at her husband with a curious expression before following his line of vision and standing up as well. Jack turned his head and couldn't help it when his jaw dropped.
There walking towards the group in a short cutoff jean skirt and black tank top was Lily Potter, her hair flowing behind her in waves of black and her green eyes sparkling with her smile. When she saw they were all looking at her, she ran the rest of the way and almost jumped into her father's arms. Harry's hug lifted her off her feet and she squealed as she was twirled around in a circle.
"Merlin, it's good to see you!" she said in a voice that was muffled against his shirt.
"You look magnificent, Lily," Harry said when he sat her down and pulled away to have a better look at her.
"I'm sorry I couldn't make it here sooner. But the good thing is that I have a week or so off that I can spend with you all," Lily offered diplomatically.
"I'll accept that," Harry conceded, not looking angry in the slightest, though he had been thoroughly disappointed that she hadn't made it home before the party so they could have caught up a bit before everyone got there.
Jack wasn't really listening to their conversation. He was trying to figure out what was different about her. She was thinner than she was when she left four years ago, her skin tan and her smile more alive. She wore light make-up which made her green eyes stand out brilliantly. She looked great; even he couldn't deny her that. He was surprised how happy she looked. Somehow he had expected her to be the same girl that had left him standing at Hogwarts gates over four years ago. Clearly that wasn't the case.
It was in this mist of his examination of how she'd changed over the last four years that he noticed she hadn't come alone. There was a tall young man standing behind her with longish brown hair and gray eyes. He was good-looking and probably a few years older than she was. He was physically fit and had a sense of power about him.
"You must be Adam," Harry said when he noticed him as well. The man nodded and reached to shake Harry's hand.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Potter," Adam said in a voice that carried nothing but self-confidence. He accent was unmistakably British.
Harry smiled and waved his hand at the air. "Call me Harry, son."
Lily began walking around the circle giving out hugs after she spoke with Ginny for a few quick moments. Jack watched as his mother released her from a hug with tears in her eyes. His father pulled her into a bear hug and messed up her hair for good measure. They both looked like Father Christmas had come early this year.
"Lily! I can't believe it!" Andy said when she reached him. He too pulled her to him in a brotherly embrace. He had grown a few inches since she'd seen him last when he was sixteen and now he stood four inches taller than she was. "It's so good to see you!"
"You too," Lily said, grinning. "Boy, look at you all grown up! And you, Kyle all done with school yet?"
Kyle nodded, "Yeah, I start training to join the ministry in the fall."
Jack shook his head. Even after all these years and all the things Lily had missed in their lives, they still loved her as much as they had when she was still a part of their everyday lives. Once Kyle finished telling Lily about his internship, he and Andy looked at Jack expectantly. Lily followed their gaze and nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Her smile faltered a little bit as she looked at him for the first time. This was the moment Jack been dreading for the past four years.
"Hey, Jack," she said, sensing that he wasn't going to make the first move.
"Hey," Jack replied, managing a small smile. Not really sure if he should hug her or not, he took a step forward and after a moment of contemplation held out his hand in a very formal gesture as if he was greeting someone he was about to do business with. She looked down at his hand for a second or two before slipping her hand into his and giving it a quick shake. Her small hand fit into his for only a second, and he found himself missing its presence once it was gone. Funny how some things never change, he thought.
"How are you?" she asked formally. Before this her voice contained a lot of excitement, but now it was void of anything other than simple obligation. It was as if she could sense that he didn't want to be near her.
"I'm good," Jack replied, nodding his head.
She waited for a second to see if he was going to ask her how she was in turn but he remained silent. When she felt that she'd waited long enough, she turned back to her father. "Where's the birthday boy?" she asked excitedly.
"He's with inside playing with Anna Maria and James. Brandon's watching them with Joe," Harry said, nodding toward the house.
Lily walked back to Adam. "Come on, I want you to meet them," she said, taking his hand and leading him towards the house. "We'll be right back," she called to everyone as they walked away.
Jack's eyes followed them all the way to the house. He took his seat again next to Allison who had remained strangely quiet throughout the whole exchange.
"So that was her?" Allison asked softly so no one could hear.
"Yeah, that's her alright," Jack replied with a sigh.
"Are they seeing each other?" Ron wondered with his eyes still in the direction Lily and Adam just left in.
"No, they work together," Harry dismissed. "To be honest I think he may fancy her a bit, but she won't have any of it."
"I don't see why," Hermione stated. "He seems like a nice young man."
Harry looked conflicted, "Well, Lily's just…" Jack could have sworn he saw Harry glance quickly in his direction before he settled on, "careful."
Jack didn't listen to the rest of the conversation. For the most part he just sat there and stared off into space deep in thought. He wasn't quite sure how seeing Lily again made him feel. Truth be told, he had spent much of the past four years pretending Lily Potter didn't exist. He was glad she had decided to stay away from every family gathering, because that would have meant he'd have to face how he felt about her leaving. He knew he was still angry about it; he just didn't know what else he should be feeling. They obviously weren't friends anymore, but at the same time he didn't exactly know how to not be her friend when she was around. It was easy with her half a world away, but a completely different situation with her at home.
The conversation went on, and about a half hour later Lily and Adam came walking back over to the group.
"He's gotten so big!" Lily proclaimed as they took seats in the two chairs her father had conjured for them. "And James! He looks just like you, Dad."
"Yeah he does, but Dominique looks like his Mum," Harry said leaning over and kissing his wife on the cheek.
"So Lily, how do you like it in the States?" Ginny asked, eager to hear all about Lily's mysterious life.
"It's hectic and sometimes strange. Not much has changed there since I left to start school," Lily said, crossing her legs and leaning back in her chair.
Jack found himself mesmerized by her. Yes, she is different now, he decided. She was grown up.
"Is it dangerous?" Hermione wondered cautiously.
Lily and Adam exchanged looks before Lily answered, "It is at times. But it's really exciting. I enjoy it a lot more than I thought I would."
"You'd better be looking out for her," Ron said to Adam warningly.
Adam looked over at Lily once more, "Sir, Lily can take care of herself better than anyone I know."
"We watch out for each other, Uncle Ron," Lily said quickly to smooth things over.
Ron seemed satisfied with that answer, for he nodded and let the issue drop.
"What about you, Dad?" Lily asked, turning to her father. "Still love teaching?"
"Absolutely," Harry answered without missing a beat. "You should--" Harry was interrupted by the sound of a phone ringing. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound which just happened to be Adam's pocket.
"I'm sorry," Adam said regrettably. "I'll take this over here," he said, standing up and quickly walking away from the circle.
Harry went on with his thought, "You should think about it when you're done with the Auror Department, Lily. I know you'd make a brilliant professor."
"But the top spot is taken," Lily said jokingly. "How could I possibly hope to have any chance at teaching defense when you've got dibs on it?"
"At the moment," Harry said, "but it isn't always going to be that way. You can't keep on doing what you're doing forever, can you?"
Lily looked uncomfortable and again Jack could have sworn he saw her glance in his direction for a split second. "I don't know, Dad. I kind of like my life the way it is right now."
Before he could stop himself, Jack opened his mouth and began talking for the first time since she arrived. "You like running all over the globe, risking your life for people you barely know?" he asked in a condescending tone of voice.
She looked just as shocked as he did that he was actually speaking to her without being forced to. "Yes, I do," Lily replied with her head held high.
"You must like deserting your family then," Jack said coldly. His eyes bore into hers but she wasn't backing down.
She glared just as coolly back at him. "I haven't deserted anyone, Jack. I'm merely living my life the way I want to live it. If you see that as desertion than perhaps you need a lesson in happiness more than I do."
Jack probably would have said something in return but by that time Adam was walking back to the group with his cell phone in his hand. He must have heard the end of their little disagreement because he too didn't look too happy with what Jack was saying. He shook his head at his partner's former best friend and grabbed hold of Lily's shoulder to get her attention.
"You might want to take this one, love," he said, holding the phone out for her to take. Lily continued to stare at Jack for a lingering second before she took the phone from her partner.
"Potter," she said in a business voice. She was silent for a second before the expression on her face changed drastically. Her eyes met Adam's and he nodded. "Tell Luca I'm not even in the same county…No, I'm at home with my family," she said, getting up and walking towards the house for some privacy.
"Who is that she's talking to?" Harry asked.
"Dennis O'Connor," Adam informed him.
"What does he want?" Ginny said. It had been a while since they had heard about Dennis. Lily technically didn't work for him, and Jack had left the department when Lily left the country.
"He has some news," Adam said vaguely. He looked back to Harry, "We had a small run in with Malfoy."
"What? Where?" Harry asked, bewildered. That was another name they hadn't heard in a while. Lily never spoke of him, claiming that he no longer exerted influence over her, and no one had seen hid or hair of him in over two years. He honestly believed Lily was not telling the whole truth about Malfoy's influence over her but he wasn't about to push the issue now unless she was ready.
"I don't know exactly where. You'll have to ask Lily when she comes back," Adam said again, taking his seat.
"Don't worry. I will," Harry stated firmly.
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Forty-five minutes later Lily still hadn't returned to the circle. Jack and Allie stood up to make their exit so they could make it to the theater in London on time. They said goodbye to everyone outside and made their way to the house so Jack could say goodbye to his other siblings and cousins. He found Brandon, Joe, Anna Maria, James, and Dominique inside. They were playing with a toy snitch and the toddlers stumbled around the room trying to catch it. Jack walked into the room and only then did he notice Lily sitting on the floor with Anna Maria on her lap.
"Oh, I um…didn't know you were in here," Jack said nervously, shoving his hands into his pockets
"Clearly," Lily said flatly. "It was good playing with you, Anna Maria," she said to the small child on her lap.
"Bye, Lily," Anna Maria said before climbing off her lap to go play with Dominique and James. Brandon and Joe both looked between their brother and Lily as if expecting one of the two of them to start yelling.
Lily stood up and walked toward the door. That was when Jack decided to speak up. "This is my girlfriend Allie. Allie this is Lily."
Allie held out her hand and Lily shook it firmly. "Nice to meet you," she said kindly.
"You as well," Allie said with a fake smile. Once they were done shaking hands, she took hold of Jack's and stood by his side.
"Well, I'll just be going then," Lily said awkwardly as she swept from the room. Jack pulled Allie with him as he walked after her.
"Leaving so soon?" he asked once they were far enough way that the younger kids wouldn't hear them, which meant they were in the kitchen. He spoke to her back, and for a few seconds she didn't answer nor turn to face him.
When she did, her face was set, her shoulders back, and her head high. "I have something I need to take care of," she told him.
"More important than being with your family?" Jack asked condescendingly.
"I decide what is important in my life, Jack. My family is very high on that list. I do the things I do to make the world a safer place for kids like my baby brothers in there. If you have a problem with that, then I'm sorry, but frankly I don't care all that much about your opinion of me."
Jack laughed sadistically and shook his head, "Is that so?"
"Yes," Lily re-affirmed with wide eyes. "And to be honest with you, from the limited information I've been able to gather, you are certainly not one to lecture me on obligations to family and friends."
If she could have said anything to set him off more than he already was, that was it. "I've seen them more than you have," he reminded her venomously.
"This isn't a contest, Jack. I didn't come here to fight with you. I came here to see my brother on his birthday and hopefully spend the week with my family catching up. Unfortunately something has come up and I have to leave right now for a little while, but I will be back as soon as I possibly can."
"Yes. Well, I know all about your promises now, don't I?" Jack muttered angrily.
There were a few moments of tense silence before Allie became uncomfortable. "You know what, love," she said, turning to Jack, "I'm going to go wait for you on the front porch."
Jack nodded and forced a smile. She kissed him quickly on the lips and left the room quickly. He looked back at Lily to find her with her arms crossed over her chest and her gaze down on the floor.
She spoke before he could get the chance to in a voice so wounded that it nearly broke his heart. "Contrary to what you may think, Jack, I do love my family very much. I love them as much as I love you. I thought that maybe, just maybe, I could come here and you'd have grown up enough to want to at least try to be friends like we used to be. Clearly that isn't the case. Now I see the way things are and I can put the issue to rest."
"Well, I'm glad you're at ease then," Jack said in response.
She sighed and turned around to face the window overlooking the backyard. She spoke again but she didn't turn back around. "I'll always have this memory of you in my mind. This vision really. Jack Weasley, kind and steadfast and honorable and pure. There was a time in my life when you were all I thought I wanted."
Jack shook his head and pleaded, "Lily, don't do this."
She turned around, realizing this was the first time he'd said her name in a conversation other than the introduction a moment ago. "Don't do what? Don't tell it like it is? You don't know how glad I am that I didn't settle for what I had four years ago if this is what you were destined to turn into. The Jack Weasley from my memory no longer exists. I know that now. I guess I can no longer feel guilty for loving him. He was ten times the man you will ever be."
He said nothing. He simply looked at the floor and felt her take a few steps closer to him.
"And you are not my boyfriend, nor are you my friend as you have made blatantly clear, so I would appreciate it if you would spare me any further lecture on how much you think I have let my family down. And I'll thank you to remember that I have every right to be here just as much as you do. I don't deserve to be attacked by you. I am not looking for your approval."
She let her words sink in before she moved to walk away. Jack, however, seemed to have come out of his trance and there was no way was he letting her have the last word. He ran quickly and blocked her path.
"Is this because I moved on? You're angry because I didn't wait for you! It's been four years, Lily!"
"It isn't about waiting, Jack! I knew the moment I made the final decision to leave that it was over between you and me. I knew you'd never understand why I had to go. This is about friendship! Friends don't do things to intentionally hurt the other!"
"And leaving me behind wasn't a way of intentionally hurting me!"
"For once, Jack, it wasn't about you. It was about me. I needed to grow up and learn how to take care of myself. I needed to learn to respect myself and believe that I deserved to be loved as much as you said you did. And if it's a question of waiting, then you sure as hell better know that I would have waited for you if the situation was reversed. I would have waited forever."
Jack stared into her eyes and knew she wasn't kidding. That fact, however, didn't stem his anger. "How was I supposed to know that you'd come back?"
"It doesn't matter. I told you this isn't about not waiting."
"What did you want me to do then? Just forget about it? Forget about the things we promised each other?"
"You want to talk to me about promises, Jack? What about all the things you promised me? You said you'd always be there when I needed you. You promised me that you'd always care. You promised that no matter what we'd still be friends at the end of the day. What happened to that?"
"You can't possibly expect me to be your friend after what you pulled."
Lily ignored his comment and went on, "How many letters have I sent you since I left? Do you even know? I've thought about you every single day I've been away. And I tried to be your friend! I put forth the effort, but I'm done now! If you ever want anything from me other than indifference, it will be on you. You're the one that's going to have to make the move."
"Whoever said I want anything from you?" Jack cried.
Lily made a noise of frustration and pulled at her hair. "Then what the hell are you doing? If you don't want anything from me then leave me alone! I tried for years to get you to talk to me and now I can't get you to lay off! You're the one claiming to have moved on. You look happy. You've found some brilliant girl who clearly cares for you. You don't care about me! Is that right?"
"Yes, that's right!" Jack yelled furiously.
"Then start bloody acting like it!" Lily screamed.
Jack took a step away from her and shook his head. She was right. If he didn't care than he should just let it go. But he couldn't. He knew he'd never be able to. He looked at her standing there with her fists clinched at her sides and all the emotions from when she first left came rushing back. All the hurt and anger and misunderstandings. With renewed purpose he walked right up to her again and stood towering over her.
"I could care less what you do. Go off to America chasing Malfoy for all I care. Get yourself killed over some stranger and I wouldn't bat an eye. What I care about are the people here; your brothers, my parents, my baby sister and my brothers. For some ungodly reason they still care for you. They still love you. I don't want you to hurt them anymore than you already have. Sooner or later you're going to bring them misery. We both know it's what you do best."
Lily took in a sharp breath and tore her eyes away from his. Her hands were clasped together over her stomach now and he distinctly saw them shaking.
It was alarming how much a person could change in a matter of moments before your eyes. Seconds ago she was the one telling him off. Now she was the same seventeen-year-old girl he'd known so well four years ago. She was the same girl and she was hurting. And this time it was his fault. He put the fear in her eyes. He put the tension in her face. His words caused her this pain. He felt sick over it. He had thought for years that telling her off would make him feel better. He was dreadfully wrong. It made him feel worse. So much worse.
Lily swallowed the lump in her throat and continued to look away. When she found her voice she said meekly, "Goodbye Jack," before turning around quickly and walking out the back door.
A/N- What do you think?
