A/N: Enjoy The Marauders! This story updates on Mondays, but I missed posting yesterday! AGAIN! Should be a post next week though!

Also another note!

I'm looking for someone who has time, is a great artist & wants to draw a webtoon… I've got writing skillz, but z.e.r.o. perspective when it comes to drawing! This is just for fun, maybe we'd start a for our team & story(ies) at some point, but if you're interested then message me for more information!

―

Lily didn't find Heather Hollis on that venture, she did get an earful from Lewis when she found her though. Potter had a way of wiping the mind of anything but him. Accidentally enigmatic. It was no wonder he was Petunia's favourite.

"Potter!"

Still, he pushed. For pictures now, he wanted to take a million and one with her. She'd allowed the first two, but that was a mistake because he wasn't satisfied. She was certain he'd taken several while she was eating and by the time that was done Kendra was on the warpath. Not because Lily was late for anything, she wasn't & she'd been keeping an eye on the time, but because she didn't 'check-in'.

Now Kendra sat with other adults, sipping a coffee and watching Lily far too closely.

"If I'm staying," she muttered. "Then Lewis can't keep that spot."

He was forward, arm around the back of her chair, but it wasn't so bad. Felt nice to be flirted with because what else could it be? Yet, it wasn't serious and that made it alright. For once, she didn't want to care about what Petty might think and it was better to get along with Potter.

Though there were other people eyeing the situation and none look pleased.

That could pose a problem, but she knew this would be the case. The role of Lily Evans, if that was how it turned out, was really too big for anyone to step into. The show was so well established that it didn't matter who got the part, they'd be facing a sea of opposition.

A serious love interest for the Marauders.

There it was. The first time she'd allowed herself to fully acknowledge it. That meant kissing scenes, that meant holding hands and blushing. Acting the part of a girl in love when that'd never been her.

It also entailed furious fangirls ready to critique every move she made and Petunia, plus all her friends and their friend's friends, would be counted among them. No matter how well she did it wouldn't be enough for some; they'd always attribute it to editing.

Hollis wasn't just asking her to act, she wanted Lily to live a whole new life and the producer didn't seem to care a whit about that part. The show was what mattered.

And she wanted Lily Evans for the role.

Maybe asking 'Why' didn't matter, maybe knowing the answer wouldn't help. She might as well ask Hollis why she chose Potter for his part or Black for his. It wasn't about that. The woman was a visionary and her reasoning wouldn't make sense anyway.

It wasn't even about the acting anymore, Lily was reasonably confident she'd be able to make it work. That earlier exercise was a huge boost and her main hurdle in that department was confidence.

No, what mattered now was the future. The real future. Not just next month or even next year. What would happen after this was done? Would she have to live in some gated community, forever asked for her autograph and/or fearing assault by fans of the show?

No one thought it through! Her parents signed her up and what about them? What happened when people saw her, recognised her, and went to her house? Did they have a plan for that?

The people she needed to talk to were her parents, but now she had to leave Potter and he was off too, with his gang of populars who'd left them alone throughout breakfast though they all appeared at once several minutes back.

Lupin, she recalled as Lewis led her away with something of a snarl, was the reason Black didn't come storming over. It was clearer than ever that Sirius Black was not a fan of Lily Evans. She supposed he thought her more like her sister, a clingy enthusiast or something, and if that was the case then only time could fix that.

Time she wasn't sure she wanted to give.

As soon as possible, she'd be calling home, but until then she had other things to do. This morning saw her first stop at a meeting with potential security detail, which was enlightening because it seemed they would soon be more out within the public. A very cautious introduction, but still.

And that was one of her biggest worries. In general, UK actors enjoyed more freedom than those of the US, if her memory served her, but The Marauders was an exception, especially since they'd all been hidden from view.

In fact, they joined in for that second part of the meeting. Potter not so overly excited to see her, at least not openly, though he did insist on sitting beside.

"The plan is to bring out the smaller roles first and with that, we'll gauge how much larger the reaction will be for the boys and, by that time, you," a nod to Lily. "We're thinking it'll be sort of a package deal. All five at once, let the explosion happen and then, possibly, things will calm."

Lily didn't believe that for a second.

―

"Moving?!"

Felicity Evans was fairly sure that wasn't part of the contract.

"If you're up for it," said the person on the end of the line, whose name was long gone from Felicity's mind. "It's just an offer, a safety thing. Not too far from where you are now, a gated spot with security."

It wasn't that it didn't cross her mind, that it might someday be a necessary maneuver, but the girls weren't even on the show yet!

She'd stepped out of the office to take the call on her cellular. Work was her saving grace these days; home life without the girls was boring at best, somewhat depressing at worst. She was glad for their opportunities of course, but missing them was hard. This was far worse than any sleepover.

"The thing is we're going to be engaged in staggered release shortly."

She got the message. Allowing audiences to see their stars, coming soon to an arena near you.

"Obviously very secret."

"Of course," Felicity muttered. What else could it be?

"But with that will come, well, you can guess. As it is a few families have already taken up residence on this plot. It was built with them in mind. We're moving families in as the houses are completed. Totally detached, gardens, it's own little community. We're calling it 'Godric's Hollow'. A backer of the show is a developer and, as you might expect, it's not totally free to live there, but a far cry from what you might be expecting. After all, you're only living there because you've allowed your child to be part of the show, an integral part at that, and we think it's a good opportunity for families of the children to have one another to commune with."

It sounded so idyllic, but the truth, briefly mentioned, was that this was about safety.

"I'll...have to talk to my husband-"

"Oh, of course, take your time, but just know we do have a timeline to follow."

How in the world was she supposed to focus on work now? Fortunately, Felicity thought as she returned indoors, it was a calm day. An upcoming conference call to discuss who would be taking what cases and maybe she'd need to recuse herself. Moving was no easy thing.

It'd somehow escaped her, the thought of how much this could change all their lives. For Lily, though she could still back out, it was one thing. For Petunia something else. But this was actually about all of them. Neither Lily or Pet were totally unknown in the neighbourhood, either would be quickly recognised once their episodes aired.

They wouldn't be able to deal with a sudden influx of nosey neighbours looking for dirt and they would. They all would. Everyone watched The Marauders and that said nothing of school friends.

She needed to call John.

―

Lily was wholly unaware of what her mother was currently going through, she was taken up with her own crisis. She was going to watch filming. The Marauders and an encounter with Snape. She didn't want to see it. It was an unknown kind of pressure, something she'd never experienced before. She wasn't to be on camera, but the nerves were setting in any way. Just seeing it happen was making her sweat.

If she couldn't take this, how could she deal with being on the other side?

It was also her first taste of the sets. As Potter said, the area was truly amazing. Hogwarts was real here. Like, really real. There was an actual castle and a lake and a forest.

"-not using the entire thing, of course, it's privately owned in reality, but it makes for an experience."

Marcy was back in the role of guide.

"We've a couple of sound stages and a backlot full of animatronic creatures, props, etc. You'll have that full tour in a bit. Bit of fun trivia for you, most of the books within Dumbledore's office are actually leather bound telephone directories!"

Interesting, but Lily was still a nervous wreck and she wasn't sure why. All she could do was remind herself that she wasn't going to be on camera this time, it wasn't her it was someone else. It was fine.

But, when she saw the boys emerge from dressing trailers, she realised why she was so shaken up. This was making it real. They wore school robes now, carried wands, and it was like the mass of crew faded from existence.

"...-ater today you'll start watching the series from the start..."

Seeing it like this, Potter was right. It felt real! How was that possible and how could she live in this world?

When "Quiet on the set" was called Lily had no problem clamming up; she'd not said more than a word or two in the last hour anyway.

Watching them act, Snape dropping hints about something dark and the Marauder's furious at his taunting, it made her feel like she was there. Like she could be there, like she could be part of that world, and almost wanted to. No. Now, she did. She wanted a role. She wanted to wear the robes, have a wand, and be magic.

She was going to be Lily Evans.

―

Heather Hollis stood off to the side of filming. She always watched the boys first takes of the day, it'd become something of a ritual. This morning though, she was more watching the red-head. In all honesty, she'd expected a quicker turn-around with Lily. She wouldn't want to lose to her sister and Hollis assumed she'd be ready to commit two days ago. More cautious than expected, level-headed. She was one to think out the problem and take her time.

That was interesting.

But, today, it was there. The same spark she'd seen in Snape, in Black, Lupin. Potter and Pettigrew. All the ones picked for big spots. Seeing everything in action, it would be near impossible to turn it down. Everyone wanted to live in this fantasy world.

Especially Heather.

But, that wasn't her talent so she built it, filled it with people, and now she watched over it. Not quite good enough, but close. Her only hope that it outlived her. That there would always be fans, that new generations would watch The Marauders and feel the pull of her creation.

This was her crowning achievement.

Still not yet finished and would it ever really be? She was already plotting it out into the far future…

Well, her years were sucked in and everyone else was going down with her.

In any case, they'd recently heard back from Evans elders and the offer was accepted. Hollis had already put in the call to get their set aside house opened up. Movers were waiting in the wings and the mission would shortly be accomplished. As single-minded as she was, she wasn't totally unaware of the challenges families of the stars faced and the upcoming releases would add to those concerns.

With the need to begin filming in more public locations it was necessary.

So safety measures were a thing they had to tackle. Anytime the kids went home they needed to be protected. God forbid something happen to one of them! She didn't even want to think of it. There could be no replacing a single actor, at least none at the forefront.

Now the first takes were done and she had other things to do. Heather slipped away unnoticed by any of the child actors, off to take care of a myriad of scheduling conflicts and sponsorship offers.