Chapter 5
August 1, 1982, Hogsmeade
Lily sighed as she pulled the pitcher of cold lemonade from the fridge. The morning had not started well. Albus Dumbledore had sent her an owl from Hogwarts to inform her that her official introduction to the faculty had been moved for tomorrow, in order to facilitate and combine it with the arrival of the other new addition to the staff who was to teach Defense Against The Dark Arts, as well as assume his duties as the new Head of House for Slytherin since Horace Slughorn had retired soon after the end of the last term in June. The Headmaster wished to introduce both Lily and the new Defense teacher together in a single ceremony rather than host two different events.
Lily had nothing against the idea, it was convenient and pragmatic, and in her opinion the school needed more work and less ceremonies after the war had ended... but it had also smashed her plans for conducting the interviews for Harry's babysitter over the course of the following week. Unfortunately, she couldn't exactly tell the Headmaster to shove it because she had other things to do. Like it or not, Evans, Dumbledore is your official boss now.
So Lily had not had much of a choice except to move a few of the interviews early. She had already gone through two teenage girls from Hogsmeade earlier today, but so far she was not convinced either of them was the perfect pick. Teenagers were too young and easily distracted for the nearly-permanent position Lily required, and Harry was not going to be given anything but the perfect babysitter as far as Lily was concerned.
Not for the first time, she considered taking Narcissa up on her offer to lend her a couple of the Malfoy house elves for a few years. The blonde claimed that they were trained to take care of babies, but Lily had her reservations. A house elf was too… subservient and eager to please. As much as Lily adored her boy, she knew Harry needed a keeper just a tad sterner than a whimpering house elf.
If only Dora was older, Lily sighed. But, being only nine, Nymphadora Tonks was far too young for such a responsibility. She needs a sitter herself, Lily thought and smiled, remembering that Andromeda and Ted had mentioned that they had wanted to go out on a date tonight and they had left Dora in Narcissa's care who had volunteered to give her niece a sleepover at the Manor.
So, teenagers are too young, huh, she mused as she made her way back to the living room where awaited the next person to be interviewed.
Arabella Figg had been recommended to Lily by Dumbledore himself when she had explained her predicament to the Headmaster. And she was no teenager. The woman seemed old enough to be Harry's grandmother. Dumbledore had mentioned she was a widow and a squib, Lily remembered, but she didn't recall him saying anything about her having children. She frowned, reminding herself to keep an open mind.
"So, Mrs. Figg," Lily said lightly as she poured them lemonade and sat on the armchair across the elderly woman. "I would like to explain my situation first, and then, if the conditions are agreeable for you, you can tell me more about yourself and how we could proceed. Would that be alright?"
"Perfectly alright with me," Arabella Figg answered solemnly. She was a small, thin woman. Her brown hair was streaked with a few grey hairs here and there, hidden beneath a hairnet. A small kneazle cub with soft, white fur streaked with silvery spots was purring in her lap as she petted it softly. Does she go everywhere with a cat? Lily wondered, remembering the tomcat James had adopted in Godric's Hollow before forcing her mind to focus.
"As I'm sure Dumbledore has told you," Lily began, "I am to start my job at Hogwarts in September. But I expect to start going there often in the next four weeks because I need to prepare the Dungeons." She respected Horace's approach to teaching Potions, but she had a few ideas of her own about the place she needed to implement before the term began. "Once the term starts, I will have to be there every day, Monday to Friday. I will be home every evening, at around nine, as well as for the weekends, as I don't need to be in Hogwarts to grade the students' essays and homework, but on certain events I may need to be present even if it's not during the working week, for which I will try to always duly inform you. During the holiday breaks for Christmas and Easter, I will be, of course, home, so you won't have to sacrifice your plans."
"All sounds very reasonable," Mrs. Figg nodded, then cooed at the kneazle in her lap, "Doesn't it, Snowy?"
Lily blinked. Okay, what? Truth be told, James had also loved to talk to their cat, as if the animal could understand him... but Arabella Figg was projecting a bit too much of an eccentric vibe, to the point where Lily was almost sure that the hunt for Harry's babysitter would have to continue past Mrs. Figg and her kitten. Still, Dumbledore vouched for her, it would be rude not to even hear what she has to say and offer.
"Alright," Lily cleared her throat and took a sip of lemonade. The cold, slightly tart drink felt good in the almost sweltering summer day. "As to my son, I have to warn you, Harry can be a handful at times. He has a toy broom, but he is not to fly it inside the house. He likes to test his boundaries, so I try not to spoil him rotten, but any disciplining measures you take will have to be confirmed with me beforehand, Mrs. Figg. I'm sure you understand."
The conversation continued on like that and after Mrs. Figg left with her little kneazle in tow, Lily leaned back in her chair, sighing heavily. She had to admit that the elderly woman seemed a better option than some girl from Hogsmeade, but Lily was far from convinced yet. I will have to continue with the interviews after we get done with that ceremony tomorrow. And how was she supposed to juggle between that and the renovation she had planned for the Dungeons at Hogwarts, she had no idea.
Glancing at the clock, Lily saw that it was almost time for lunch. Harry was napping upstairs after he had sneaked into her bedroom and awoken her at dawn to make her play with him on the quidditch play set, but he was going to be awake soon. Just as she was getting up from her chair, she was startled by the sound of her front door crashing open.
"Lily?" she heard Sev's voice echoing urgently in the hallway as heavy footsteps thudded across the floor.
"Sev? What's going on?" she cried when he almost ran into the living room, flanked by his three Aurors.
She gasped. Sev's face was pale and taut, his jaw was bruised and his eyes exhausted and sunken beneath heavy shadows. Is that... blood? she asked herself, looking at the dark splatters on his shirt. He wore the same clothes he had yesterday, on the birthday. The Aurors did not look much better, covered in soot, their faces tired. One of John Dawlish's eyes was swollen and blackened as if he had been in a fistfight, and the edges of Kendra Shacklebolt's heavy longcoat looked singed.
Lily jumped up and rushed to Sev who immediately embraced her.
"Sev? What's happened? Are you alright? Where were you?" she babbled, unable to stop herself. Her heart was beating madly inside her chest. "Are you hurt? Is everything okay?"
She heard a small chuckle from one of the Aurors, Gawain Robards, she thought.
Sev did not answer her. Instead he lowered his head and let out his breath as if he was relieved. Then, with Lily still in his arms, he turned to Shacklebolt, "Search the house," he ordered curtly. "Make sure there's nobody here but us. John," he added, looking at Dawlish as the black Auror climbed swiftly upstairs. "Wards. Everywhere you deem necessary, and then put more."
"Sev!" Lily was almost ready to panic. She gripped the collar of his grey shirt and forcefully turned his head so she could look up at his black eyes. "What is going on?! Tell me!"
"Oh, nothing much, just a bunch of Death Eaters escaped from Azkaban last night," she heard Gawain Robards say lightly. "Don't worry, Ma'am, John, Kendra and the boss'll round them up before you can blink."
Sev turn to glare at the bearded Auror who was leaning casually on the wall at the edge between the living room and the hallway. An old, worn-looking duffel bag was laying on the floor at his feet.
"Shut up," Sev nearly hissed at Robards through clenched teeth. "And start unpacking. The guest room is above. Check up with Shacklebolt while you're at it." Then he turned his gaze back to Lily, his eyes immediately softening. "Lily," he said gently, "have a seat. We need to talk."
It's starting again, she thought as Sev guided her back into the chair she had sprung from. Oh, Merlin, it's starting again. Then, panic gripped her.
"Harry!" she cried, clutching at Sev's arms. "I have to get Harry!"
"It's okay, calm down," Sev urged her as they both heard the stairs creaking and turned their heads to see Kendra Shacklebolt descending towards Lily's living room.
"All clear," the Auror said to Sev. "Your son's still asleep in his bed, Ma'am," she added when she saw Lily's expression, trying to sound reassuring.
And then Sev proceeded to briefly explain to her something about a riot in Azkaban, and fiendfyre and a small gang of Death Eaters managing to escape from the island in the chaos. Lily didn't really comprehend his words, at least not fully. All she could think was that the nightmare had come back.
Sev apparently noticed it, because he grabbed her small hands in his, caressing her skin with his long, strong fingers. "Don't be frightened, Lily," he whispered. "I don't really believe that they'll come for you or Harry, but I had to be sure. They'll try to escape from Britain or go into hiding, but I'm going to find them and I'm going to stop them. For good. I promise. I'm not going to allow them to harm a single hair on your head. I promise, Lily, I promise."
He continued on like that until her breathing calmed down and she could think rationally.
And when that happened, Lily had already found the core of cold, iron determination buried deep beneath her fears and instincts. I will not cower. Not this time, not after Godric's Hollow. Never again. If I do, they win. She took a deep breath and lifted her head, looking straight at Sev's dark eyes. He returned her stare, a look of mild surprise etched on his weary face.
"I am not afraid," Lily declared. "You said you're going to find them, Sev?"
"I will."
"Good," she said. "Because if you don't and they come after Harry, I'll kill them all."
She heard Robards whistling cheerily as he walked down the stairs to join them. "Quite the lady you got there, boss. Good for you."
Sev took a deep breath and turned towards the Auror who was grinning sheepishly at him. "I am not going to miss you at all, Gawain."
The blonde Auror grimaced. "Oh, come on," he sighed. "Just because you three get the fun job, it doesn't mean you have to rub the salt in."
"This is not about having fun," Sev growled at him. "I mean it. I better not learn you did not take your duties seriously when we get back."
Robards' smile waned and he looked at Sev with a serious expression in his eyes. "I'm not going to put her at risk, boss. I'm not an ass."
"You absolutely are," Kendra Shacklebolt smirked as she elbowed her fellow Auror, then she sobered when she saw the expression on Sev's face. "He won't muck it up, boss. And neither are we."
"Wait, wait a minute," Lily raised her hands, cutting into the Aurors' banter. "What are you all talking about?" she asked, a suspicion already sneaking inside her mind.
"I'm not about to leave you without protection, Lily," Sev said simply. "Robards will stay here with you until we've managed to capture them. If the worst happens and they attack you while we search for them, he will contact us immediately and we'll come."
Lily shook her head. "No." She looked at the blonde Auror and added, "No offense, Mr. Robards, but I don't need a bodyguard. I am starting at Hogwarts in September, I can't have you following me into the school."
"Lily, this is not up for a debate," Sev frowned. "Robards stays."
"The boss will catch those bastards before the school year starts, Ma'am, don't you worry," the Auror gave her a crooked smile.
"Harry is the one that needs protection, not me," Lily said to Sev, her aggravation slowly building.
"Which is why you have to write to Dumbledore and tell him to find another to fill your place." Lily could see his jaw clenching stubbornly.
"Absolutely not!" she exclaimed. "You know I already agreed to take the position! I'm not going back on my word just because of a bunch of escaped convicts!"
Sev cocked his head slightly, studying her. "And what about Harry?" he asked, trying to guilt her into accepting his decision. "Are you going to leave him here just so you don't disappoint the old man?"
Nice try, Sev. "Harry will be with me at all times," she said calmly, her decision made. She would just have to add a few more tweaks to the renovations of the Dungeons so he wouldn't disrupt the lessons too often. At least I won't be bothering with prospective babysitters anymore.
"And so will Robards," Sev stressed.
"No."
"Damn it, Lily!" his face darkened in anger. "Are you really going to fight me on this? Now?"
"You'll need him more than I will," Lily said. "I'm going to be spending most of my time in Hogwarts, and Harry will be with me there. I doubt the Death Eaters can do much to us there." She knew from experience that Hogwarts was far from invincible... but with Voldemort dead, his agents would have to be insane to try and break into the school, especially when they were on the run, with the whole Ministry on their trail.
"I can write to Dumbledore myself, you know," Sev said sullenly. "I can convince him to find someone else."
"And if you do that, Severus Snape," Lily said quietly, the very image of tranquil fury, "I'll make those Death Eaters seem like a walk in the park to you."
Sev just watched her for a few moments. Then he sighed and got up, grunting softly as his hand rested on his bad leg. "Fine," he said, looking down at her. "You win. You can go to Hogwarts and waste your time trying to teach something to those dimwitted brats there to your heart's content. But," he raised a finger, "Gawain will be coming with you and that's final. Kendra, John" he nodded as the last of the Aurors came into the house from the backyard, apparently finished with placing wards around the property, "let's go. We have work to do. Goodbye, Lily. This will be over soon."
As he left with Shacklebolt and Dawlish, Lily stared at him, feeling strangely empty inside. After she had shaken the initial wave of fear off and had found the strength within, she felt surprisingly tired. But her determination did not waver. Sev thought she was being stubborn, but he could not understand. Lily doubted that anyone could.
She had been afraid once. She had listened to that fear and had went to hiding with James and Harry. And all that accomplished was to make them gnaw on that growing terror, standing still like the prey hypnotized by the predator. Until one night, on Hallowe'en, that predator had come for them and all that hiding gave them nothing but a house to die in. She knew it in her bones. James had died at Godric's Hollow, and if it hadn't been for Sev, she and Harry would have met the same fate, crying, terrified and weak.
Lily had clawed her way out of sorrow and loss, step by agonizing step. She had fought at Hogwarts and even though she hadn't been the one to land the killing blow on Voldemort, she had made sure that he had felt at least a fraction of the suffering he had brought her.
And she refused to be weak again, now when danger loomed above them once more. If the Death Eaters wanted to come, she would face them. She would not cower, wallowing in terror and tears. Wand against wand, and she would do whatever it took to defend her son. She would die for Harry, and if needed, she would kill for Harry too. Whether Sev likes it or not.
"So," she heard Gawain Robards clearing his throat. "This is a little awkward, yeah?"
She turned to look at him and studied him for a few seconds. He was a bit older than her and Sev, but not by a lot. The shaggy mop of hair, the bearded face, the leather uniform beneath a heavy brown coat... an Auror, head to toe. She knew that Sev had had his pick from the whole Auror Office when he had first formed his team, and she trusted his judgement. She had to admit that if it came to a fight, it would be better to have one of Sev's Aurors on her side... but his presence was only to make matters at Hogwarts even more difficult than they were going to be. Lily vaguely wondered what was Narcissa going to make of all this when she got up from her chair and headed to check on Harry.
"Make yourself at home, Mr. Robards," she said to him as she climbed up, "I guess we're stuck with each other for now."
Later that evening Lily was sitting on the couch, staring blankly at the flickering light of her TV. The image was not very good. Back when Lily had moved in, Ted had explained that the signal was never broadcasted well over wizarding villages due to the high residue of magic energy everywhere. Still, it was watchable. Harry was dozing in her lap, sleepy after dinner. Gawain Robards was sitting on the edge of his chair, the plate of half-eaten leftover birthday cake forgotten in his hands. He was enraptured by the TV and the face of the woman who was reading the news. He's from a pureblood family, or close enough, Lily noticed. It was easy to get to that conclusion, for wizards and witches who hadn't grown up with at least a touch of muggle life tended to be utterly fascinated by it. Sev had told her once of a wizard in the Ministry who was downright mesmerized and even obsessed with all things muggle, having become something of a laughingstock because of it.
Thinking of that made Lily wonder how was Narcissa faring. Has she heard about the escaped prisoners? Lily frowned suddenly. What if the Death Eaters targeted her instead of Lily and Harry? No, Lily shook her head. Malfoy Manor was a very secure place, and the Death Eaters would risk too much for something that would be nothing but petty revenge for Lucius' decision to turn against them at the very end. If Lily had escaped from Azkaban, she wouldn't have wasted time on petty revenge. Then again, who knows how much the stay in Azkaban has warped their brains? It wasn't exactly as if Voldemort's servants had been among the most mentally stable people in the first place.
Still, Lily hoped that her friend was going to be alright.
Then, suddenly the fireplace was filled with green, crackling flames.
"SHIT!" Gawain Robards yelled, waking Harry up. He jumped on his feet, cake flying into the air, and whipped his wand out if its holster on his belt. He pointed it sharply at the fireplace, ready to blast whoever came out of it into oblivion.
Lily jolted up, holding Harry with one arm, the other reaching for the wand left on the table in front of her.
Her eyes bore into the whirling flames, trying to make out a shape or anything. She thought she saw movement...
... and then Dora stumbled out from the fireplace, falling on her knees on the carpet.
"Aunt Lily!" the young girl cried plaintively. "Help!"
"Dora?!" Lily rushed towards the child, her heart beating madly. "Lower that, damn you!" She snapped at Robards who was holding his wand pointed at Dora. "She's my best friend's niece! You'll scare her! Dora, sweetie," she knelt next to the daughter of Andromeda and Ted, cupping her face with her hand, "What's going on? Are you okay?"
The girl was panting, ready to start crying. Her hair was changing color from her usual wavy brown to bone-white, a clear sign of her distress.
"Aunt Cissy sent me here," she hiccuped, "We got afraid... She thinks there's s-something... She went to check on Draco... Please, Aunt Lily, you have to help! There was someone inside the Manor!"
