Disclaimer: I in no way, shape, or form own any of the characters contained in my story. They are the property of J.K. Rowling and the Harry Potter universe. Not all of the ideas contained in this story are original; I just thought I'd try my hand at writing what I considered fantastic concepts. I do not make any money from my writings. I write for the enjoyment it gives me, and the possible enjoyment reading gives others. With that being said, taking something from another writer without crediting them is plagiarism, and it's against the law. So please don't do it.
Chapter 10
Lily was overly quiet Tuesday morning as James sat across from her in the Great Hall. They were the only seventh year Gryffindors at breakfast, having escaped the dorms before their friends could barrage them with more questions.
"I stayed up reading one of the books Flitwick gave us," said James. "I think you'd understand more of what's going on if you read it."
Lily looked up from the Defense Against the Dark Arts text in front of her. "I have other reading materials to occupy my time, thank you."
James continued as though Lily hadn't spoken. "It's quite interesting. There are only three other documented cases similar to ours. It is so rare because the powerful drawl needed between couples is almost never experienced. Or if it is present, the emotions aren't shared equally between both partners."
Lily kept her head down in the appearance of ignoring James while she was actually watching him through her eyelashes as he filled his plate with breakfast. She listened intently. Though she wanted to know the details behind their predicament, she was afraid that reading about it would make it too real.
"As we have shown with our use of conjoined magic, our powers work well together. And you know my feelings for you have only grown stronger in the past seven years. I can only assume that your feelings for me are beginning to mirror mine for you; otherwise, this magical pull to combine our powers wouldn't exist." James stared at Lily until she raised her eyes to his. "It's not as bad as you want it to be. We can control it."
"How can I control what I don't understand?"
"Mister Potter, Miss Evans."
"Good morning, Professor," James said as Professor McGonagall approached the Head Boy and Girl.
"I have been informed of your situation, and would like to see the two of you after Transfiguration, during your morning break."
"Yes, Professor," said James.
Lily nodded her assent before returning her attention to the text in front of her.
James waited until McGonagall was out of earshot before continuing their conversation. "The book I read last night, Unknowingly Bound, goes into a personal account of the first documented couple to experience this phenomenon. They bound themselves together unknowingly in the late 900s, and when they went to be bound in marriage to other people, the marriage bounds were rejected because of their power bindings. It took ages for their families to understand what happened."
"What eventually happened to them?" Lily asked.
"They married each other, and learned to harness their powers to work most productively."
"So we would need to marry to fulfill the law and not harm other people," Lily said.
James scratched his head. "I don't really know. We should wait until we talk to McGonagall before we go jumping to conclusions."
Lily nodded and then waved at their friends after she spotted them waiting in the doorway to the Great Hall. "I think they're afraid of us."
James smiled. "No, they're just worried about us. But we'll be alright."
"What about not jumping to conclusions?"
"I'm not jumping. We have no reason to believe that we can't work with this and use it to our advantage."
"From my point of view, it works to your advantage, not mine."
James quickly reached across the table and squeezed Lily's hand. His voice was low to prevent their friends, who were quickly approaching the table, from hearing. "I don't see this as a 'you versus me' situation. It's about us, and how we need to work together. So it's not my advantage, it's ours." James pulled away as Sirius slid into the seat next to him.
"Well, it looks like our friends have some explaining to do," said Sirius.
"Not now, Padfoot," James said, narrowing his eyes at Sirius to prevent any further inquiry.
Sirius ignored James' stare, but his eyes caught Remus' across the table. "Fine, but I'll let you know that we are worried, and want to know what is going on. We don't appreciate our questions being ignored, and if we don't find out soon, the Head Boy and Head Girl of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will have a bit of a riot to control." He looked at Lily and smiled. "Please pass the sausages."
Lily closed her Defense textbook and watched as her friends began to pile food on their plates. They were interrupted as the Owl Post made its morning arrival.
"Hey, Lils. Isn't that your owl?" asked Dorcas.
Lily petted Vita when she landed on the table. "It's from my parents."
"Are they keen on setting you up with the nice wizard who lives next door?" Sirius asked mockingly.
"Actually, I haven't told them about the marriage law yet."
"Lily, you need to tell them. Don't you think they'll be suspicious come January when you marry?" Remus fed Vita bits of sausage from his plate as he relayed his concerns to Lily.
"I know. But with my sister's wedding coming up, I thought it would be best to wait as long as possible." Lily ripped open the letter.
Our dearest Lily,
We hope everything is well. It has been ages since we've heard from you. Are you studying hard? We understand that this is an important year for you, but please, we enjoy hearing from you, no matter how briefly.
Your sister's wedding plans are coming along nicely. You will have your final fitting for the bridesmaid dress during your Christmas break, and then everything should be ready for the wedding during your Easter vacation. It is so great that it is all working out swimmingly.
And we talked to your sister, dear. She continues to wish that you keep your talents hidden from the Dursley's, and unfortunately Vernon shares her sentiments. Please, just this once, follow her wishes. It will only be for a few days. We want everything to go smoothly.
Our strongest love,
Mum and Dad
Lily refolded the letter and returned her attention to her friends.
"What did they have to say?" asked Marlene.
"Just some stuff about my sister's wedding." Lily tried to smile, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"When's the wedding?" asked Peter between mouthfuls of bacon and eggs.
"The beginning of April, during our Easter break."
"So you'll get to bring your husband with you," Peter commented.
Lily paled. "I never thought of that," she said.
"Were you going to get married and then try to hide it from your family, Lily?" asked James.
"I just didn't think—"
"Oi, we need to get moving or we'll be late for Transfiguration," said Sirius.
Everyone except Lily and James stood and moved towards the doors.
"Don't ever try to hide who you are, Lily," said James, "you're much too special for that."
"I'm not hiding anything, Potter," Lily said as she gathered her books and left the table.
James fell in step next to her. "You are hiding, Lily. And I think you need to face reality."
Lily stopped short. "Do you think that maybe reality is a bit difficult for me at the moment." Her voice rose as she twisted James to face her. "We're less than three weeks into the school year and my life has been turned upside down. Not only do I have to study for N.E.W.T.s and prepare for a career outside of Hogwarts, but I also have to handle the duties of Head Girl. Plus, I have to shield my family from the horrors of the wizarding war we're in. They don't need to die because of my 'talents'. Then, I'm told I have to marry someone I don't love within four months. And to top it all, I share some freak power with you, whom I've loathed since our first year, that I don't understand and am now forced to try to control it. I think I may need a break from reality for the moment, but if I do that, we'll be late for Transfiguration." With that, Lily turned and marched out of the Great Hall, leaving a stunned James in her wake.
"Lily," Alice called out from the large doorway.
Lily pushed past her friends and continued in a light run to Professor McGonagall's classroom where she finally paused to breathe.
"I heard your little demonstration," said Snape as he walked towards Lily from behind.
"You wouldn't have been the only one," Lily replied. The classroom was empty save the two of them. Lily glanced nervously at the door.
"You know I could help you with some of your problems. I have ways of protecting your family."
"I would hope you would protect my family because you are a good person, Severus, not because of the mark on your arm."
"You don't know—"
Lily whipped around to face Snape. "How long are you going to deny what I know to be true? I hear the whispers; I see who you hang around. Just because the more evil of your comrades are no longer here to draw attention to the growing power of Voldemort doesn't mean the other students aren't aware of his minions."
"You have no right saying his name," Snape snarled.
"I dare you to say it. Say it, Severus. Voldemort."
Snape stood still, his teeth clenching as he seethed from Lily's bravado.
"I feel sad for you. He doesn't frighten me like he does you."
"You know nothing," said Snape from between clenched teeth. "You should be scared. You, Potter, and your friends. There will be no saving you if you continue this path you're on."
Lily slammed her books on the desk. "Come off it, Severus. The bad guys won't win forever. They never do. Good will triumph."
"So you think. But how many will die in the process, Lily? Will you die to save your family? Your friends? What about your precious Potter?"
Lily's face turned pink at the mention of James. "Leave them out of this."
"Is everything alright?" asked James from the doorway. He had been listening from the hallway, but could no longer hide as Snape increased his mental pressure on Lily.
Lily's blush went deeper. "Everything's fine. Thank you." She turned and sat at her desk, her breathing returning to normal as Alice sat next to her.
While James normally enjoyed Transfiguration, he was distracted. He kept glancing at Lily as she practiced turning a feather into a pillow.
"Hey, James, are you in there?" Remus waved his hand in front of James' face.
"She's scared."
Remus nodded. "You need to make her understand that what you share is not something to be afraid of. Because the moment she hesitates because of her insecurities, something seriously wrong will happen."
"You read one of the books."
Remus looked around the room. Seeing McGonagall with a group of Hufflepuffs, he continued. "You left them out last night. The two of you need to be in sync with each other; otherwise, it's an open ground for destruction."
"Will you talk to her, tell her this?"
Remus shook his head. "This is for the two of you to figure out. I have enough of my own problems to sort out."
James flicked his wand at is feather, turning it into a double stuffed, goose-down pillow. "Have you talked to him yet?"
Remus kept his head down, refusing to look at the man who had been staring at him for the past thirty minutes. "I don't know what either of us would say that hasn't already been said."
"You could start with 'I'm sorry'."
"I don't know if I am."
"Remus, the two of you need to have a civilized conversation. Don't run from what feels right."
"Don't you think you should be saying this to our red-headed friend up there?"
James openly stared at Lily. "I will. Give me time."
The bell rang and Remus moved to walk out of the classroom. "Aren't you coming to the library? We could do some additional research on your new situation. I'm sure it will help with Lily," said Remus as James remained seated.
James shook his head. "No, I have a meeting with McGonagall now. I'll meet you in Muggle Studies."
Remus waved and walked out of the classroom with the other students. Within minutes, only Lily and James remained.
With a flick of her wand Professor McGonagall closed the door. "Let's begin, shall we? To start, I need to see how advanced your combined magic is, and determine the threat it poses to others. Please stand and join me up here in the front of the room."
Lily rose reluctantly from her desk. Since their conversation with Flitwick, she had been more aware of her emotions and how James affected them. Also, she was more aware of James. Throughout Transfiguration she could feel his desire to transfigure larger, more complicated objects.
Professor McGonagall laid out various objects in front of Lily and James. "I want to see what you are capable of without restricting you. Do what you will with these objects, but do it together."
James tried to remain calm as he felt Lily's nerves course through him. With a circular motion of his wand, and a downward flick of Lily's, the feather in front of them turned into a Pink Footed Goose. James breathed a sigh of relief as he saw Lily smile.
Next, they turned a Care of Magical Creatures textbook into a bowtruckle, a hand held mirror into a dittany plant, and a few muggle coins into a niffler.
"You have a strange desire for live creatures," commented Lily.
James scratched the back of is head. "You could have changed the way we were going if you wanted."
"I didn't have a strong desire for any one thing, and you did. It felt best to go with your instincts."
Professor McGonagall watched the interaction with interest. The two students in front of her were oddly more comfortable with each other after performing the magic than the moments directly before. "Miss Evans, please describe what you felt as you and Mister Potter worked together."
Lily saw the intensity in McGonagall's eyes and knew she had to be one hundred percent truthful. "I felt drawn to him before you even called us up here. It began during class; I knew that turning a feather into a pillow was mundane to him. He craved something complex."
"Perhaps you heard him saying this to Mister Lupin during class?" asked McGonagall.
Lily shook her head. "No, I couldn't hear him during class. We were too far apart, and there were too many students in between us. But I could feel his magic. It was a quick flick of his wrist and the feather was a pillow, and then back to a feather. It felt easy. And when I transfigured my feather into a pillow, I felt as though I was taking James' ease with transfiguration and using it to help my magic."
"I couldn't feel you then. And I was scared. While I was talking to Remus I could see you working with Alice, but I couldn't feel you and I worried that the connection was lost." James wanted to grab hold of Lily's hand. He wanted to be reassured that she hadn't reverted back to her hatred of him.
Lily shook her head, her long hair swaying back and forth.
McGonagall stood back and let James and Lily communicate their insecurities with each other. As the conversation turned from magic to emotion, she noted the expressions on each student's face. Lily kept her head slightly bent, her hair swishing with each movement, and a slight smile on her lips. James continuously ran his hands through his hair and pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. The tips of his ears were pink, but his teeth glowed with each quick smile.
McGonagall didn't need to ask whether Lily's feelings for James had evolved into a more reciprocal position, she was witnessing their transformation. Professor Dumbledore would be pleased with the slow development.
As the pair continued to converse, they righted the objects on the desk in front of them, seemingly without thinking about it. Soon, McGonagall was staring at a feather, a Care of Magical Creatures textbook, a hand held mirror, a few muggle coins, and two pairs of slightly embarrassed eyes.
"Well, this has been a rather informative lesson for all of us. You share most of your classes, correct?"
James nodded. "All but one. Muggle Studies for me and Arithmacy for Lily."
"Good. I shall be speaking with your professors, I would like you to work together, as a couple, using conjoined magic whenever possible. I'm sure each individual situation will be different, but it will be a learning experience for all involved."
"That doesn't seem too difficult," said James.
Lily's eyes grew wide, but then softened as she shook her head. "No. It doesn't sound too difficult."
McGonagall softened her features. "Please, sit. There's more."
"Professor, is everything alright?" James asked as he and Lily sat in the proffered chairs.
"There is one book Professor Flitwick purposely failed to give to you. Professor Dumbledore and I have been searching through it for any answers it might give us. It appears that informal power bindings like yours serve a higher purpose."
"What purpose?" asked Lily, her voice shaking with fear.
"It changes each century. Professor Dumbledore and I feel that your binding has to do with the upcoming war. Before now, only Pure Blood witches and wizards had bound themselves together. There has not been a documented case of a Muggle Born being unknowingly bound to anyone. The magic that the two of you share is rare, and should be treated with caution and respect."
McGonagall could see the fear and the desire to run in Lily's eyes. "Do not fear it, my dear," she said as she gently laid her hands over Lily's. "With practice, you will learn the boundaries of the magic you share, and with that knowledge comes a far greater power than Voldemort could ever create."
James' hand itched to hold Lily's in comfort. "Will we be able to see this book, Professor?"
"Yes. I will see that you get it. I recommend that you read the others first, and do your own research outside of those texts Professor Flitwick gave you. Become familiar with the other situations and how those couples learned to use their magic together. Only then will you be able to understand the other book.
"If you have no more questions, then you are dismissed. If you would like, I can excuse you from the rest of you classes today."
Lily shook her head. "Thank you, Professor, but that won't be necessary. We need to learn how to act together in all capacities, and we should start now."
James reached out and grabbed Lily's hand in his. He felt her give a tiny squeeze. "We'll start on the other books, Professor, and we'll let you know when we're ready for the other one."
Professor McGonagall watched as the two students stood and walked out of her classroom, their hands firmly clasped between them.