Chapter 13: Party Favors
The children had gone off to bed about an hour before. The older ones and the adults cranked up the music and were dancing. Right now all the couples were on the floor dancing. Teddy was off at the other end of the lit floor talking with one of the older Weasley girls. Snape and Dumbledore were speaking with McGonagall and Flitwick. Looking back at the red head that Teddy was talking to she shook her head. She went from having no relatives to having so many nieces and nephews through Harry that she couldn't count them all.
The five that used to live at Sanctuary had taken off awhile back to go visit some friends.
She ducked out of the tent quietly and strolled across to the woods. Her thick cloak wiped in the wind. She came up to the orphanages memorial to Voldemort's War, she never liked that name but that's what the papers coined so they were stuck with it. Sitting next to it she stroked the names and became lost in thought.
"Oh are we interrupting?" George asked stepping out of the shadows with Fred.
"No, was about to come back," Lillian said getting up.
"Is this…" Fred started.
"Yes this is our memorial to the war. I come out and talk to them sometimes," Lillian said after Fred trailed off.
"But you can talk to them for real using the ring." George stated confused.
"Yes but this is more relaxing most of the time I'm looking for someone to rate at. Why are you out here anyway? Aren't you two the partiers?"
"Usually but it gets annoying to be around so may love birds." George said shrugging.
"That's understandable," she said walking over to them. "How about this I'll go back with you and you two can trade out who dances with me since there are no other females that are around your age and aren't related to you."
The twins took her up on this and turned with her to walk back to the tents. As they turned Lillian saw a glimmer of movement near the memorial, but when she looked more closely she didn't see anything. Not thinking anything of it she followed the twins.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
About seven dances apiece later she begged out for a breather. They agreed with her and followed her over to get drinks and to talk.
"Oh I found the kitchens my first year as well," Lillian said, then she smiled and continued, "though I did cheat I followed you around my first two years."
"I thought I heard someone following us all those years ago," George chuckled, "How'd you do it?"
"If you'll excuse me gentlemen I would like to borrow Lillian for a bit," Professor Snape said to Fred and George with more kindness then he ever showed them in life. They just nodded mutely as Lillian stood.
Lillian smiled to herself seeing their confused looks turning to her old friend she asked, "What can I do for you Severus?" following him to a darker corner.
"What your brother here as well would you please get him," he responded.
"Okay, give him a minute," // Harry //
// Yes Lillian? //
//Severus wants to talk to us. //
// Uhh give me a moment //
Across the tent she saw Harry detangle himself from Mrs. Weasley. She met him half way and pretended to ask him over. "Thanks she was fussing at me again for keeping Theodore back a year."
"Why'd you do that?" Lillian said confused, she thought that Theodore had already graduated.
"Andromeda and I talked about it and decided to send him later on because he kept developing werewolf tendencies near the full moon," seeing her look of concern she continued, "No, no he doesn't transform but he does get overly irritable and easily frustrated around the full moon.
Reaching his old Potions Master Harry asked, "What can we do for you Professor?"
"Call me Severus, Harry as your sister does," he said with a small smile, becoming more serious he spoke in a quieter tone, "I wish to ask you both a favor. During the summer five years before either of you came to school I met a woman, a Muggle woman, we had a daughter. Unfortunately Sheila died eleven years after Catharine's birth in a house fire but Catherine survived. She married and had a family, but here is where you two come in. She and her husband died recently in an automobile accident leaving her ten year old daughter and five year old triplets. Lillian their magical but because they are muggleborn you're going to have to find them. They are in a orphanage outside of Manchester."
"What do you want us to do actually? I mean I know this is the only magical orphanage but you seem to want something else." Harry said.
"Sheila, Marvin, Catharine, and I have talked, we want to name you two as godparents. We know you will take care of them."
Lillian blushed and said, "I would be honored to be their godmother."
"I would be proud to call your grandchildren family." Harry said smiling at the man he used to hate.
"We would like to include Lillian as Theodore's godmother," Remus said from behind them. Unbeknownst to Harry and Lillian the most of the rest of the people in the tent had come up behind them and had been listening. "Even if he is of age," Remus finished.
Lillian blushed a deeper red and said, "Sure but I want to leave that choice up to Theodore," she looked past Tonks and asked, "Do you wish to have another guardian?"
Caught off guard he answered hesitantly, "Sur… Sure why not." He finished with a chuckle.
Lillian stumbled slightly but this time no one but Tonks saw it. She glided closer and whispered, "Tired dear?"
"A bit," she muttered back.
Severus heard this and looked at her with guilt in his eyes, "You don't have to go get them this minute Lil. I just wanted to tell you."
Harry came and hugged her shoulder and said, "You're tired why don't you go on to bed."
"I think you're right. The children will be up early."
"I think we will all be going to bed soon," Harry said looking around. The other guests were also tired looking. "Everyone come over here please," Harry called. Once they all settled around them closer so that they could hear easily Harry continued, "I don't know about you but, I'm tired and so is Lillian."
"It is time for us to be leaving. It has been lovely seeing everyone. Say your good byes," Dumbledore said coming over to Harry and Lillian resting his hands on their shoulders.
As his hand touched her shoulder Lillian felt a wave of dizziness and collapsed against the tent wall, her eyes rolling up in her head. Harry made to kneel down when Dumbledore shook his head.
The twentieth anniversary of Voldemort's fall is nearing; the Potter legacy once again is instrumental to the battle. Old foes must become allies, ones that were lost must be found, and lessons must be remembered. The Dark has learned from the past mistakes of others and will not make many of those same mistakes. Born under the third blue moon of the year, eight years after the defeat, who were harmed by the last war will be marked soon after the initiation of their education as the ones to combat this new danger. Then they must lead multiple, diverse groups together to the next victory. For evil shall never be extinguished, just as the righteous can never quit battling it.
Lillian opened her eyes and looked around, "Why does this always happen around you?" she said looking at Dumbledore.
"You mean that this has happened before?" Harry said helping her to a chair.
"Yes, twice before as far as I know of all of them in his presence," she said nodding towards Dumbledore.
"I do not know why it happens, but you are also very tired when you prophesize. Which reinforces Harry's earlier comment about us leaving." Dumbledore smiled and nodded to them and backed out of the way. Fred came over so when he took off the ring he could hand it directly to her.
Without hesitating she reached up and touched his elbow instead of reaching for the ring. Instantly the dead guests became solid and stood in surprise, Harry glanced at her and said hurriedly, "Hug and so on quickly she is draining herself to give you this chance." There was a flurry of hugging and kissing, Lillian felt herself being hugged and guessed that it was her parents. As they released she started to slid out of her chair, Fred caught her and then nodded to them all and slowly took the ring off making the spirits fade away each of them waving.
Harry conjured a stretcher and helped Fred life Lillian onto it. Covering her up well the partiers made their way across the lawn. The wind had picked up and the snow fell heavier. Good thing we decided to leave now, Harry thought, otherwise we might have been stuck in there until the storm passed. Reaching the back entrance hall they shook the snow off and hung up their cloaks except for the professors.
"Tell her when she wakes that I'll be by tomorrow to give that test to Lucillia and Henry." McGonagall said smiling at Harry and his unconscious sister.
Harry smiled and waved good-bye. The children had fit themselves into two enlarged rooms so that the adults could have some privacy so they shared the other enlarged rooms and a guest room.
"I'm going to get her to bed and I'll be back," Harry told Ginny. "Kreacher," he called.
"Yes master," responded the short wrinkled house elf at his knee after a small pop.
"Please lead me to Lillian's room."
"Yes master. Is Mistress Lillian well sir?"
"Oh she'll be fine after some bed rest. She was silly and overextended herself," Harry to the elf with a grin.
"Sounds like another wizard," muttered Keacher as he led Harry up some stairs behind Lillian's office, his comment causing Harry to grin even more.
Opening the door to her room Harry shook his head. There was just enough room for a small bed, a chest of drawers, and a couple of bookshelves. Gently lifting her off the stretcher he was startled when Lillian whispered, "Thanks."
"You're welcome little sister," he vanished the stretcher and turned to leave. Hesitating he turned back and asked, "You said that you've foretold things before. Where were they about?"
Lillian struggled up to a sitting position leaning against the wall. She patted the bedspread beside her before starting. "One was about you the other not so much. The first was in the hospital wing after you watched Voldemort rise again. I had snuck in to see you, but Dumbledore caught me. We went into the isolation room and I foretold that the only way to defeat him would be after his other selfs had been destroyed including a part of you. That's when Dumbledore realized that you were a horcurse; that Voldemort had even made horcurses," she sat there breathing softly, waiting.
"And the other?" Harry whispered.
"I foretold Dumbledore's death and Snape's seemingly betrayal. I tried to help Dumbledore with the curse injury but my powers weren't developed enough. Severus and I slowed it down enough to keep him going long enough to get you started," she finished tears streaming down her cheeks.
Harry hugged he and said, "It's alright, and he had no regrets."
"I know we've talk several times since I go the ring," she yawned, wiping the tears away, Harry took this as a cue to leave.
"Get some sleep. It's Christmas Day tomorrow."
She nodded and lied down pulling the blankets over her as he closed the door.
She stayed that way for several minutes unable to sleep before she got up. Going to the bathroom she changed into some pajamas. Glancing at the mirror over the sink she thought she saw someone at the door, but upon looking back no one was there. Must be tired, she thought shrugging. She climbed back into bed and fell right to sleep.