My readers, here's my belated Thanksgiving present for you all! Haha, hope you don't mind too much—I feel terrible for not having updated for so long but you know how it goes with the whole school thing..grr….Let me just clarify a few things.
The Potters never heard of the prophecy, because Dumbledore never got around to informing them. I haven't had time to actually research whether Lily and James knew that Harry was the one Voldemort wanted and I'm still a little unclear on that. Whatever the case scenario is, I'm going to make it AU. Dumbledore will get around to telling them later.
Why don't they just go straight to Dumbledore? Now, I'm not sure the Fidelius Charm does this for real (it probably doesn't) but I was thinking that although it's possible for someone to come into the area of secrecy, it's impossible to apparate or Floo out.
Special thanks goes to memory-flower for a fabulous idea, the shattered for her outstanding beta work, and Margarita Limes who has been my first reviewer from the start. Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling, no matter how hard I wish. Okay, enough chit chat. Enjoy and please review:)
The atmosphere was fraught with tense silence. The only sounds were those of Harry happily banging his spoon against the table as he crawled on all fours. Lily could hardly breathe. It didn't make any sense. Peter was the shy blonde, awkward compared to the other Marauders but still loyal at heart.
"Tell me this is a joke," James said hotly. "Very funny. I really don't believe you, Padfoot."
Sirius sank into a chair, his gray eyes ablaze with frustration and anger.
"Would I ever be lying to you about this?" he said at last, his fist clenched.
Lily felt like sprouting two wings to soar out of England and never return. She began to understand the fishy glances Wormtail would throw at her and James when he last came over to visit. Why he was sobbing uncontrollably over the death of the McKinnons. Why he gave those sniveling little comments about the Order, as if he really cared about what was going on. It was all a façade, she thought bitterly. What a rat.
Lily stole a glance at James and saw that he was not at all ready to believe this bit of information. She walked over to him and took his hand in hers. James only sullenly stared into space.
"Prove it!" James interrupted abruptly. His cheeks were flushed. "Wormy would never turn on us."
Sirius tried to assume a calmer voice with less melancholy and failed. Lily waited for Padfoot's words with bated breath.
"I saw him with Malfoy, Rookwood, and Macnair," he said in a dark voice. "I was patrolling Hogsmeade and I saw him with them."
Lily gave a mixed expression of horror and disgust. James looked up at Sirius with tormented eyes, and Sirius continued in a more hurried tone.
"He raised his arm and showed them the Mark. He said something about a big reward. The effing moron is Voldemort's man through and through. And—I'm sorry."
Sirius's last sentence came out as a bare whisper, like he was confessing his sins. Lily still sat in half disbelief, her face a mix of confusion, terror, and sorrow.
"Why should you apologize, Padfoot?" she said softly to him across the table. "You only wanted what was right for us."
She hesitated, as the reality of the situation washed over her once more. So, they were no longer safe. The rat would disclose the password to Voldemort and then he would come and finish them off. How lovely.
"We can't change you back to Secret Keeper because he already has the password," Lily said, keeping up a strong, defiant appearance.
Hell, she was not going to allow any Dark Lord to get to her husband or son without a good fight. Her Gryffindor spirit flared into action, and the adrenaline began to rush through her body. In truth, Lily felt like an unsuspecting rabbit out in the open, just seconds away from being killed by the predator in the wild brush.
"When are they coming to kill us?" she said, in a matter fact way. She might as well approach the case scenario with bluntness. It had all been a matter of time, but they needed a plan. Fast. And looking at a devastated James who seemed absorbed in his own thoughts, Lily knew that she would have to take charge.
Sirius looked taken aback at the way she expressed the matter. Lily was a bit shocked at herself, in actuality, but gazed determinedly at Sirius.
"Well?" she demanded. "Do you have any ideas of when he's coming?"
"Will you stop being so god damn cheerful about this whole thing?" snapped James angrily, coming out of his reverie.
Lily flashed him a look of hurt. How dare he think she was being happy about this? She was only trying to do what would be right, by calculating an escape plan. Her blood began to boil and with a flushed face, she slowly stepped out of her chair and went to stand before him.
"You think I'm happy, James?" Lily said, her voice smothered with rage. She grew a bit louder. "You think I want this to be happening? You're off in your own little world, having a little temper tantrum about your precious Wormtail!"
James swiftly abandoned his chair and came up to her face. Lily was a bit surprised. Usually, James would not argue with her or he would change her ranting into a comic statement. Today was a little different.
"Just like you to say that, Lily," he said in an equally angry voice. "When we're about to be killed, all you're thinking about is what I did wrong or what I said in the wrong way and—"
"I never trusted that little rat!" Lily practically shouted. "And like idiots, we made him Secret Keeper! Voldemort is going to come strolling along, and he's going to make me watch you and Harry die before he kills me! Merlin, he's going to—"
Lily could not take it any longer. She tried to choke back a sob and instead, succeeded in breaking down into salty tears. It was all madness and seemed like an illogical dream.
James rushed towards her and cradled her in his arms. Lily sobbed even harder and gripped his shoulders, unwilling to let go of him. James opened his mouth, made a strangled sort of sound, and held onto her more tightly. For moments like these, Lily knew that no apology was needed. Their silence spoke a thousand words as they hung onto each other.
Clink. Harry had dropped the metal spoon to toddle up to his upset parents with concerned, emerald eyes.
"Seewee?" he questioned, as if Sirius could answer the cause for the strange behavior. But Sirius was too busy looking out the window, a few silent tears trickling down his face like James.
Without any words, Lily got off of James and sat Harry onto his father's lap. They made such a lovely picture, almost identical father and son. Except for the eyes, as she was constantly reminded…The two people who meant the most to her in the whole entire world. And to think that they would never have that chance to live like a normal family, with ordinary happenings and sweeter days to come.
Lily brushed the dampness from her eyes which began to sting with tears immediately afterwards. This was no way to act, she scolded herself internally. There had to be a solution.
"You never answered my question, Padfoot," she said, finally breaking the stifling quiet. "We need to know when he's coming."
Sirius tore his sight off of the window and said shakily, "I don't know but I'll warrant that it'll be soon. He won't come in the daylight though. I'm guessing sometime tonight, to be frank."
Lily bit her lip. That was too soon, as she had expected. It made sense for Lord Voldemort to come at night, when the last rays of the bright, joyous sun disappeared from the sky and the dark blanket of night covered sinning deeds.
"We're not staying here, that's for certain," Lily heard herself say. Her mind on Harry, she looked at her son who was tugging on James's sweater. Harry only made her accept their hazy plan for escape with more confidence. It was for her small son's safety that she continued, "Should we go to Headquarters?"
"Too obvious," James murmured, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration. "Too many people and there might just be another traitor there."
James had a good point. Lily was confused beyond doubt.
"What about Dumbledore?" Lily said, thinking that was a more realistic option.
"We can't Apparate or Floo out, remember?" James said in a grim way. "Sirius came in but we can't get out."
"Do you want to leave the country?" Sirius suggested, as if they were discussing something as normal as the weather. "We could go to France or maybe the States."
"There are Death Eaters everywhere." Lily answered wearily. She felt quite the opposite of her former vibrant self earlier in the morning. She began to drift into her own thoughts while James and Sirius discussed other possibilities. Lily knew that they needed a plan that was unexpected and that they needed to go to a place that Voldemort would never dream of going.
"Wait, what's today's date?" she interrupted.
"I think it's the thirty first," said James, and went back to talking their options over with Sirius while holding a quiet Harry.
Lily's thoughts began to sharpen. It was Halloween and for a brief second, she traveled back to a time of Hogwarts feasts and carefree lives where her greatest concern was that the annoying James Potter liked her. Digging back even further into her memories, before she got her letter, Lily remembered how she and Petunia would dress up in ridiculous costumes and go from house to house.
Realization came upon Lily faster than a flying broomstick. She broke into the conversation between the two Marauders.
"I think I have an idea," Lily said hastily, determination blaring in her eyes. "It sounds stupid but I don't think he'll ever guess."
"Nothing you say is stupid, Lilyflower," James said, taking his glasses out of Harry's wondering fists.
"What is it?" Sirius asked urgently. He still looked guilty.
"We'll act like Muggles and go to Petunia's place," Lily confessed, watching for a reaction. "We could apparate to Dumbledore from there."
It was instantaneous. James almost dropped Harry and Sirius sat with his mouth hanging wide open.
"Are you insane?" James said at last.
I'm cruel, I know. Ok, so please drop a comment—it really helps me to do better. Until next chapter!