I know it isn't Sunday, but I realized I'm going to be out of town for the weekend, and I figured that since the chapter's ready, it's better to update early than late. Thank you to all of you who have reviewed, favorited, or alerted this story; you all know who you are. I hope you all enjoy this chapter (and review, too, because reviews are wonderful : )

Lily paused and tilted her face up towards the sky. Though the day was cool, the sun felt nice on her skin. She would give anything to be able to simply enjoy the afternoon with the twins at the park. She sighed and continued on her way; instead, she was bringing Emily with her to visit Mary Freeman and ask if she would mind taking care of Emily while the rest of the family went into hiding.

In fact, in case Mary agreed, which in her heart Lily knew she would, Emily was already packed. Lily had placed everything she thought her daughter would need, and more, into a small bag with an Undetectable Extension Charm which was currently hiding in Lily's pocket. Lily smiled ruefully at the one-year-old in her arms. I miss her already, she thought. It seems so selfish, to want to keep her close even though she's safer farther away.

The one-year-old in question interrupted her melancholic thoughts by suddenly squirming around in her mother's arms to look Lily in the eye and crying, "Mummy! Birdie!" Emily pointed up to the sky, and Lily laughed.

"It is a birdie. Good eye, Emily." Emily was quiet but kept squirming and craning her neck to look for more birds. A few minutes later, though, her search was interrupted by her mother's knocking; they had arrived. They didn't have to wait long before the door was opened by a four-year-old with sandy blond hair and brown eyes.

"Hey, Stacey," said Lily. "Is your mum home?" The girl nodded then turned and shouted into the house,

"Mum, Lily and Emily are here!" Lily stepped inside, still holding Emily, as a woman with brown hair and brown eyes came down the stairs.

"Lily!" she cried, hugging her friend. "It's so good to see you. And little Emily, too," she added patting the one-year-old on the head. "But this is unexpected. What are you doing here, Lily? Don't you need to work?"

"I need to ask you for a favor," admitted Lily. Mary looked at her quizzically but didn't ask Lily what she meant. Instead, she said, "How does a cup of tea sound? I was just about to make some, and then we can talk."

"That would be great," agreed Lily following her friend back to the kitchen. In the doorway Lily stooped to set Emily down, and the girl was promptly knocked over as a Stacey's twin, Jake, streaked into the kitchen followed by his younger brother, Max, who was screaming.

"Boys!" cried Mary picking up Max and attempting to soothe him. "What did you do, Jake?"

"Nothing," he cried, not convincing her, or Lily, in the slightest. Mary raised her eyebrows at him, and his shoulders slumped. "I took his toy," he muttered.

Lily smiled to herself shaking her head as she checked to see that Emily was all right. The girl was quiet staring at the scene in front of her, thumb in her mouth. Lily never had brothers, so she'd never experienced what she was sure Emily would in the coming weeks.

"What do you say to your brother?" she asked.

"Sorry," said Jake not looking at Max.

"And to Emily?" Jake stared at his mother confused. "You knocked her over when you ran in here," she explained.

"Oh. Sorry."

Setting Max on the floor, Mary said, "Why don't you boys show Emily the toys in the other room and play nicely together while Lily and I talk?"

Immediately, the boys were off; Emily looked up at her mother. "Go on," said Lily nudging her after them. "Go play." And then Emily was off as well, her hair streaking out behind her as if it were on fire.

"She looks just like you," commented Mary watching Emily run after the boys. Lily smiled,

"Except she has her father's hazel eyes. I only wonder whose personality she'll inherit."

"Oh, she'll be a fine mix of the two of you with some unexpected twists, I'm sure," answered Mary heating a kettle of water on the stove. The two of them chatted about their school days, their work, their families, and the war as the water heated and Mary stirred in the tea leaves.

"Now," said Mary as she set a cup of tea in front of Lily and settled into her chair. "You mentioned earlier that you needed a favor."

Lily nodded then said in a rush, "Last night, Dumbledore told James and me that Voldemort was going to try to kill Harry." Mary flinched at the sound of his name, but Lily ignored her and continued. "He told us to go into hiding, but he said since Emily wasn't the target, she'd be safer elsewhere. And so James and I thought. . ."

Mary nodded looking at Lily with understanding. "You thought that Emily could stay with us." Lily just looked with pleading eyes at her friend. "Well, of course, she can, Lily! Emily can stay however long is necessary."

"You're sure?" asked Lily, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears. "It wouldn't be any trouble?"

"Of course not. I'll tell Mike when he gets home tonight, but I know he won't have any problem with it."

"Thank you," whispered Lily reaching across the table to grasp Mary's hands. "How can we ever repay you?"

"You don't have to," she said shaking her head. "This is what friends are for. Besides, I have a responsibility to Emily as her godmother. And I know you would do the same for me if I needed it."

Lily smiled and reached into the pocket of her jacket hanging on her chair and took out the small bag. She handed it to Mary. "Emily's things are in there. Extension charm."

"Of course." The two women stood up and headed to the room where the children were playing.

"Emily," said Lily. At the sound of her voice, Emily looked up and immediately came running to her mother. Lily smiled. She knelt down and unclasped the locket hanging around her neck and placed it around Emily's. "You're going to stay with Mary and the boys for awhile," she told her daughter. "You'll be living with them until I come to get you. Do you understand?" The little girl nodded, hearing her mother but not understanding what the words really meant. Lily hugged Emily tightly and kissed her cheek. Emily kissed her back. "Goodbye, sweetie. I'll see you soon," said Lily standing up.

"Bye, mummy," replied Emily watching her mother leave with Mary.

The two women stopped at the door and hugged each other tightly. "Good luck, Lily," whispered Mary.

"Thanks. You too."

They released each other, and Lily opened the door, stepped outside, and closed the door behind her. Mary returned to the three children watching them play. Behind her Stacey, who had been listening from the stairs, asked, "How long is Emily staying?"

"I don't know, honey," her mother replied. "However long is necessary."