Author's Note: This story was partially planned after the first Fantastic Beasts movie, but before any of the others. A such, some matters WILL NOT mesh entirely with canon revealed after the first movie. Thank the stars for that… I've been picking away at this chapter for months now. Only now do I feel like it's reached an acceptable length. Hope you enjoy it. As with my 'Witch/Wizard/Mechanic story, I will have a section below the story discussing some writing issues I'm facing.
Newt and Tina Scamander stared at the woman across from them in surprise. Finally Tina gave herself a shake. "I'm sorry, did you just say you are Lily Potter?"
Newt winced at his wife's skepticism. It was obvious to him really, given his familiarity with his wife's mannerisms. He shot her a cautionary look, which she caught when she glanced his way. She paused, collecting herself, drawing herself up a bit at Lily's nod. "I'm sorry, I'm just confused, but how is that possible? It is widely believed that Lily Potter is dead."
The other woman smiled thinly, not taking her attention off of the boy in her arms. "I don't know, not truly. In fact I suspect I know only a little more than your husband does at present.
Tina looked questioningly to her husband who was nodding slowly. "When I entered the house the Obscurus was drawing blood generated from the wards, your blood I assume?" He got a small nod from Lily, who he was staring at intently, so he continued. "It was…sculpting her from it, pouring its magic into the creation." He paused, glancing at Tina. "The Obscurus was consumed in the process."
Tina frowned, "And how is that possible?" She'd unfortunately been exposed to an Obscurus before, and had learned quite a bit about them from her husband. To say such a thing was unheard of would be a colossal understatement.
To her surprise it wasn't Newt who answered, it was Lily. "I sacrificed my life to anchor those wards around my son, Missus Scamander. In forcing Voldemort to kill me before he could go after my son, I poured everything I had into the enchantments I had woven around my child. My life, my magic, my soul…" She confessed.
Here she frowned and looked at them blankly while she thought on that. "Dumbledore found the protections when he examined my son after my death I suspect. He knew I'd crafted similar, but far less potent wards around my sister, and drew a false conclusion from it…"
At their curious expressions she sighed. "It's a long, sad story, one we do not have time for right now. Suffice it to say that the protections were, I believe, altered to protect this residence based on the familial relationship between my son and my sister."
She looked back down at her son. "When the Obscurus killed Dumbledore, it discovered the blood wards, and my son wanted nothing more than for me to be there for him…"
Newt let out a small gasp of understanding as something clicked for him and Tina looked to him expectantly. He bobbed his head, smiling a touch uncertainly. "An Obscurus is a force of primordial, visceral magic, it exists to serve its host. For most abused and terrified children this means lashing out, as I suspect it did here…" he mused looking around himself at the ruined house.
"When it found the blood wards however, and what remained of his mother. It changed, trying to give young Harry exactly what he wanted. A parent to comfort him." Newt murmured, looking to the young boy and his mother speculatively. "The question is, how successful was it?"
Lily smiled sadly at him, "I don't know that Mister Scamander. I know that I feel like Lily, and I believe I have all the right memories, but I can't honestly tell you who's soul it is that inhabits this body. Not for certain."
Newt nodded seriously, and opened his mouth to speculate further, but was cut off as a bright light flared into the room. The glowing form of a corporeal patronus, an American Pit Bull by the look of it, was now standing in the room with them.
The voice of Alastor Moody emanated from it's mouth, "I'm sure whatever it is you're discussing is very interesting Newt, but you might want to wrap things up quickly. The Minister and her lot are getting antsy. I'll try to hold them off you for a bit, but I'll be wanting to hear later just how it is that you're talking with a supposedly dead friend of mine."
The Pit Bull vanished.
"We're not going to the Ministry, not yet." Lily said, tone and gaze suddenly steely. At their surprised expressions she elaborated. "I might be convinced to go somewhere with you, but we're not going to the Ministry," she said firmly, clutching her child tightly to her.
Tina cleared her throat carefully. "May I ask why not?"
The other woman snorted, "Because if we go there, without proof I am who I say I am, there is a good chance we won't be coming back out. What?" She said, derisively at the looks on their faces. "Do you think the Unspeakables would give up a chance to turn my son and I into their latest experiments under the current circumstances."
Newt winced, and began nodding, followed by Tina a moment later. The Unspeakables were not their favourite group within the Ministry. They were callous, and dangerously inquisitive at times. Never asking whether or not they should do something just because they could.
Newt looked to his wife, grimacing slightly. "I tend to agree, you know what Croaker's lot can be like Tina. Harry's identity won't change that if they find out what has happened here. And without Dumbledore to curtail them…"
Tina nodded slowly, agreeing with the statement. "I not sure I entirely understand what has happened here. Despite the explanation…" Tina began, but held up a hand to stall any further conversation. "That said, this isn't the place to find out more. You're not wrong about the Unspeakables however…"
She paused considering. "Would you consent to coming to our home perhaps? It should be reasonably safe there…"
Lily frowned, "That might work, but I'd rather return to Potter Manor. It is almost certainly still secure, and there is the added benefit in that if the wards accept me it will help confirm my identity."
Newt shared a look with Tina. "We could try that, but I believe it'd still be necessary for us to accompany you. There are too many unanswered questions here to leave Harry alone in your care until we know more." Tina ventured eventually, her tone apologetic. She had no desire to quarrel with the woman over this when they were short on time.
Thankfully Lily nodded slowly, frowning slightly in thought. "That should be acceptable."
Newt smiled ruefully, pushing to his feet. "Well, if that is sorted, the question then becomes what do we tell the people waiting outside?"
Lily's lips quirked in a tired approximation of a smile. "Perhaps, but I can think of one further issue as well." At their questioning looks she explained. "What do we do about Dudley Dursley?"
Newt stepped out onto the porch, trying not to think about how he'd just, yet again, stepped over the body of his former headmaster. He was slightly surprised when he felt some water spatter against his face and looked up.
Above him, skulked sullen grey clouds, lit faintly by the dawn's early rays. It was starting to rain once more. He cast his eyes about him and noted the way the bloody stains on the pavement leading up to the door were slowly washing away.
He sighed, shaking his head before starting down the front steps onto the path and down towards the street. Alastor Moody was waiting for him and nodded as he approached. Unfortunately others had noticed his departure from the house and were bustling over.
"Newton, what can you tell us? We need to—" The Minister began before he raised his hands to stop her, Newt stepping back slightly before she could invade his personal space.
"The situation is in hand Minister, I'll have a report for you and the wizengamot shortly.
She frowned at being rebuffed so. "Newton—Mister Scamander, I need a report now. I need to be able to tell the public we have matters in hand."
Newt hid a grimace with a small duck of his head. He knew enough about such things to spot when someone was being pressured. And Minister Bagnold was showing all the telltales of that. He wondered just who it was that was applying that pressure.
He sighed, he knew that she wouldn't be leaving him alone until she got something from him. He wouldn't meet her eyes, not unusual for him given his general discomfort around most people, but he was being particularly careful given the presence of Unspeakables.
"There was an obscurus here Minister Bagnold. There was, but now there is not." He said idly patting his briefcase. A careful misdirection. "Tina is still in there working to calm down the child—"
"And just what is this child's name Mister Scamander?" Murmured one of the Unspeakables, and he stilled very briefly. Thankfully Bagnold waved that off as immaterial to the matter at hand.
"That can wait. Am I to take it then that we can have our people get started on clean up?" She demanded, casting a nervous look about.
That explained some of her attitude then. She wished to get things handled before the muggles arrived in even greater numbers.
"Yes, I should think so Minister," he allowed.
She sagged slightly in relief. Newt was once again reminded just why he held her in such distaste. She held a clear bias against those without magic. Though her bias took a slightly different bent than it did with most. Where others looked upon muggles with scorn and a sense of their own superiority. She looked upon them with fear.
"Very good," She said to herself, before nodding more firmly. "I shall inform the necessary parties. When should we convene the wizengamot to hear your report Newton?"
He shrugged, annoyed slightly by her persistence. "I do not believe an emergency session shall be required. The matter is in hand as I said. The report shouldn't take more than a day or two to compile. Yes, perhaps two days from now…" he said, and smiled thinly at her. "I need to ensure the child is properly settled and the obscurus contained." Again that seemingly absent tapping on his briefcase. "I will need to speak more with the child to get all the details."
A beat of silence while those present absorbed that, "One of these days you'll have to allow us Unspeakables to take a look at the beasts…" The Unspeakable said staring at Newt intently.
Newt frowned, glaring at the cowled man. "No, I really don't think I shall."
Bagnold apparently sensed the tension as she chuckled weakly. "Yes, well, I think that is everything for now. Come along, let us leave Newton to his work—" She began.
"Before you go minister there are a couple other matters which need to be discussed," He interrupted, cringing slightly at the necessity of it.
"Oh?" She asked.
"I'm afraid I happened upon a dead wizard when entering the house…" He began, and those present stiffened, attention suddenly fully back on him. "I'm sorry to say that it was the chief warlock."
He really was sorry to say this actually, whatever his…complicated relationship with the man had been, he had never wished him dead.
Bagnold blinked, then swore heartily. "Well, damn it. I suppose that explains why he hadn't shown himself yet." She sighed. "Thank you for informing me Newton. Once you have taken the child away from this place, the Aurors will deal with collecting the body."
She looked then to Crouch, who had thus far held his peace. He merely nodded agreement.
She turned on her heel and walked away, Unspeakables trailing along in her shadow, leaving Newt mildly irritated that he had not had a chance to relay the second matter. Still he hid his grimace well he thought as he looked to Crouch who gave him a questioning look.
"The second matter I wished to discuss, is that the house was home to another child who was not present during affairs tonight. I suggest that you ensure he is properly cared for when he shows up."
He could have said more, but it would likely have revealed much about things he didn't think he should discuss with Crouch.
"Name?" Crouch asked brusquely.
"Dudley Dursley."
Crouch nodded, then turned away. "I'll tell the Aurors to keep an eye out for him." He said before walking away, leaving Newt wondering why this had happened twice in a row without people bidding him farewell.
Newt didn't bother to watch him leave too, shaking his head in consternation. He walked over to Moody who began casting privacy and detection spells at him as he approached. He quirked an eyebrow at the man.
"Can't be too careful with Unspeakables around lad." Moody began, before sighing when his sweep came up clear. He shook his grizzled grey head ruefully. For the first time Newt can recall, Mad Eye looked sad. "Damnit Albus, what were you doing?"
Newt understood, Mad Eye and Dumbledore had been friends for a long time. He patted the old auror consolingly on the shoulder. "It is a tragedy. He was a good man, but for now we have the living and a minor mystery to sort out…" He said a touch heartily.
His assertion that he was a 'good man' was a vast oversimplification of the man who was Albus Dumbledore. However, in times like these it didn't do to speak ill of the dead.
Mad Eye nodded, and moved to follow him as he led the way back towards the house. "I got Amelia to let me help you out. Care to explain why you didn't report our 'little anomaly' to them though?"
Newt grimaced. "She was concerned about the reactions of the Unspeakables. She had no desire to end up as one of their experiments, and I can't say I blame her."
They made their way back up to the doorway, where they cautiously stepped over Albus' body. Mad Eye paused eyeing the mortal coil of his long time friend, before sighing. "I'm sorry old friend." He murmured before following Newt further into the house.
They found Tina kneeling next to Lily and Harry. The young lad it seemed was asleep now, cradled in his mother's arms. "He wore himself out." She murmured, sniffing slightly and dashing away some tears, before turning her eyes to the newcomer. "Mad-Eye."
Moody eyed her stoically for a moment, before nodding. "Well, you recognize me, that's something I suppose. You look like a dead friend of mine," he said in his characteristically blunt manner, earning a sad nod from her. "Funny that, considering I helped bury her. Saw her body myself."
She smiled thinly, "Thank you for that. I'm more than willing to explain as best I can, but first why don't we get out of this house first?" She suggested.
He nodded, casting a disparaging eye over the wreckage. "Fair enough, but I'll be holding you to that explanation."
Tina helped Lily stand without unduly disturbing Harry. "Let's get out of here. I think Harry's spent enough time in this place. Potter Manor will be much better."
"Anything of his we need to collect before we go?" Tina asked.
Lily shook her head. "No, they gave him nothing more than they absolutely had to. Some castoff clothes were all he had. Forgive me if I don't particularly wish to bring them along."
The others grimaced at the implications of that, and nodded. "Very well, Tina, if you'd side along with Lily and her son to their home. Alastor and I will follow on in a moment. I assume you know the way?" He said, looking to Mad-Eye.
Alastor nodded shortly in agreement.
Tina cocked her head at them. "Are we sure the wards are down now?"
The gristly old auror nodded, "Aye lass, checked that over myself when that thing finished draining them. They're gone."
Newt's wife nodded, gently placing a hand on Lily's shoulder as the other woman prepared herself. "See you soon Newt."
Then, Lily turned on her heel and with a pop the three vanished.
Mad-Eye looked to Newt. "Ready to go, or was there something you wanted to talk about?"
The magizoologist nodded, before sighing. "Whatever the nature of that woman, I agree that I can't see the Unspeakables leaving her be. Nor can I see her involvement escaping notice for long…" He said before trailing off.
"Wondering what to do?" Mad-Eye asked.
Newt nodded, but Alastor just shrugged. "I don't know any better than you do lad. But I'm hoping she has some answers. Come on lad, I know the way, lets go hear what she has to say for herself."
Mad-Eye placed a hand on Newts shoulder before the pair disapparated, leaving the house now totally devoid of life.
Lily was busy chastising herself as Mad-Eye and Newt arrived with a crack in the middle of a country lane lined with trees. She should have known better she remonstrated herself, as she rocked her child. Harry had been sleeping. One did not apparate with a sleeping person. Poor Harry had awoken in the maelstrom of motion that was apparition and had started flailing in distress trying to regain his bearings as soon as they come out of it, before simply curling in on himself and sobbing.
"Shhh, shhh Harry, I'm sorry. I should have woken you up before we did that, mummy is sorry." She said tearfully, while cradling him. "Mummy's sorry. She's sorry, she didn't mean to scare you."
Harry's sobbing abated somewhat, but he remained closed off. She sighed and looked up at the new arrivals, feeling the tears tracking down her cheeks. "Mad-Eye, Mister Scamander." She greeted, as Tina patted her consolingly on the back.
Lily looked around, regaining her bearings before nodding towards a section of hedge next to a rather gnarled tree. "This way, the entrance is still concealed from when we went into hiding…" She explained, leading the way over to the tree and caressing one of the ancient branches. She allowed some of her magic to channel into the branch. "Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home."
There was a shimmer and a gate and gate house seemed to grow out of the hedges, forcing them aside as it appeared, a path seeming to grow from beneath the grass as it finished.
She stepped out into the middle of the newly formed lane, still bouncing a bit to soothe her son. She eyed the gate, which was still sealed. She looked to Mad-Eye who was standing nearby and smiled wanly. "I'd hoped when I eventually returned here it would be with James beside me."
She grimaced a bit, feeling a swell of emotion at the thought of her dead husband. "Being disincorporated does a lot to numb the pain, as does time. Still…"
She paused considering. "Tina, would you mind taking Harry while the wards test me? Just in case…" Tina nodded and she handed off her son to the other woman who began to rock him as well.
Lily stepped up to the gate and touched the crest at the centre of it. She could feel the wards reaching out to her as she made contact with it. The metal cool to the touch. It was difficult to describe the questing sensation of the magic as it roved over her, awaiting her next actions. At felt both like a coiled serpent preparing to strike and similar to an old dog welcoming its masters home.
"I, Lily Marie, wife of House Potter do request entry to these, the lands of mine house. If I be not whom I claim, let the Potter magics take their due per the old ways." She said, and braced herself before speaking once more. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."*
The first part was ritual, a traditional request for entry by one of her position and circumstance. The magic of the wards would just her spirit to confirm her identity. Powerful magics put in place ages past.
The Potters might have been a light or grey family, but their wards were no more merciful to those who tried to deceive their way into their lands than those of the Blacks or Notts. Especially if one intended harm when doing so.
She didn't intend harm of course, but if she wasn't the real Lily Potter…she didn't know what would happen.
The second phrase was a password of sorts. Something which really spoke to the collective spirit of the Potter family in general.
There was a pause, and they all tensed waiting. Then, a small crackle of magic and a wave of magical energy cascaded over the gates. There was a clunk, and the lock disengaged allowing the gate to swing inwards. She huffed a sigh of relief. She was who she thought she was!
She turned to the others who were now staring at her. "Is that sufficient evidence I am who I claim?" She asked.
There was silence for a moment then Mad-Eye chuckled. "Aye lass, that should do for now. Wouldn't hurt to have the goblins confirm it, to make it nice and legal though."
Newt was shaking his head, though not in denial. "Oh dear, that really does complicate things even further doesn't it?" He mused as Lily took back her son from Tina.
Tina snorted at her husband's understatement. "It should suffice for now, yes Lady Potter. My apologies for my skepticism earlier."
Lily inclined her head at the woman. "Forgiven, it's not everyday you see the dead return to life," she noted with a rueful smile.
She turned and regarded the path leading up to the house which she could see faintly in the distance beneath the eaves of the trees lining the avenue. She stepped through the wards and turned to regard them as they slowly moved to follow. "Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home." She repeated. "If you mean those who dwell here no harm, please, be welcome."
The ritualistic words for allowing a guest through the wards.
Mad-Eye stepped forward first, and the wards allowed him to pass. Newt offered his wife his arm and she took it, before they stepped through as well, unhindered.
Lily turned, with a once again sleeping Harry in her arms and started down the path towards the house. The grounds lay in hushed silence around them, not that she trusted that impression, she was aware of some of what protected Potter Manor and its environs which Lily could only catch glimpses of through the trees and hedges lining the road.
The light on the horizon was greater now than when they had left Privet Drive, but not significantly so as yet, casting the house and lands thereabouts in shadowy twilight. Finally they came to the end of the avenue and the trees clear, allowing them both a full view of Potter Manor, and to meet the next challenge to their journey.
The manor itself was modest by the standard of country homes in England, but still was far larger than the homes of most of the common citizenry. A stone edifice with sections of carefully tended ivy and other vined flowering plants climbing the walls in places.
She could even see the carved wooden doors atop the steps. James had commissioned them not long after they got married. The door on the left had a stag carved into its surface, the right one, a doe.
Of course, reaching the doors would have to wait a bit, as the pair of Griffons laying on the door step had noted their approach, and were rising to their massive, clawed feet. She recognized the first of the pair by his marking. "Horus…" She greeted speaking carefully and clearly.
Horus took a running leap off the steps and was immediately airborne, gliding briefly to come to land before them. She heard Alastor swear, followed by a murmured remonstration from Newt.
The Imperial Griffin, a great beast larger in size than even a full grown bengal tiger stalked towards her, before coming to a stop a few feet away, sniffing the air about her. She waited patiently while he did so, allowing the other Griffin, one she did not recognize the time to pad down the steps to join its fellow.
Horus took another step forward, icy grey avian eyes regarding her carefully. Then Harry chose that time to shift in his mother's arms. Horus' eyes zeroed on the child in her arms and he stopped. He sniffed again, this time more carefully before seeming to nod to her and bowing in a manner similar to that of a hippogriff.. She smiled and offered up a hand to him as she continued to hold Harry on her hip. "Hello Horus, it's been some time."
Horus allowed her to pet him, scratching behind the ear tufts on his head.
"They're beautiful," Newt murmured, cautiously stepping up behind her. She glanced his way to see him bowing to the other griffin, which paused briefly before returning the gesture. "I'd heard the Potter lands were guarded by Griffins, I admit I hadn't credited it as anything more than rumour. Had I known…perhaps I would have visited?" Newt said, in an awed voice.
She smiled again as the others stepped forward introducing themselves. "You would have been most welcome. Dorea and Charlus had only good things to say about you."
He gently joined her in petting the Griffins, scratching behind the other's ears. It started to make an odd rolling noise she knew to be the Griffin equivalent of purring.
"Charlus and Dorea were good people. I had regretted not visiting them while they lived." Newt said.
She remembered James' parents wanly, it had been very sad when they had passed. Dragon Pox. It was one of those diseases which could strike down even those who had survived it once before as Dorea had. The means of innoculating a person against it were only effective if you'd not had it before. She was grateful she had sprung for Harry's innoculations before they'd gone into hiding.
"Okay Horus, you and your friend need to let us through now. We need to get Harry inside, he's had a bad day." Lily said gently, earning a small trilling growl from the the griffins as they stepped aside.
She led the way up the steps to the doors, Newt only reluctantly trailing after them, casting many a long glance back at the beasts, who watched them go. She ran a hand over the carved stag on the door. "I'm so sorry James…" She murmured, as the others waited patiently, before moving her hand to the handle and pushing open the door.
It swung open on well maintained hinges. She stepped through and the others followed. Mad-Eye was closest behind her, but stopped to close the door behind the others. She stood staring at the entry hall of the Manor she'd once called home.
The glass ceiling overhead letting in the faint light of morning. The dust sheets over everything. Well…almost everything.
There was a statue standing in the centre at the far end of the hall between the staircases leading up into the wings. It depicted a wizard, one James had claimed was a Potter who had been one of Merlin's companions.
At its feet, propped up against the statue, sitting amongst a small constellation of floating candles was a large photograph of their family in a wooden frame. Arrayed around it were dozens of smaller pictures, frameless each depicting James, his parents, her and her parents, the marauders and finally little Harry.
Just beneath the little shrine, in a small silver bowl, were gathered an odd assortment of things. A coin or two, a ribbon, a small but finely crafted silver letter opener, an auror's badge, a Lily flower and finally an embroidered crest, the Potter coat-of-arms.
And just like that she knew who had made this little shrine. She recognized the ribbon and the silver letter opener. This shrine had been made by the Potter Elves. She'd given that ribbon to her lady's elf as a gift.
She paused as a sound off to the side drew her eyes away from the little shrine. There, creeping out from behind one of the pillars which lined the furthest wall of the entrance hall, was an elf.
"Who bes entering the home of Tinker's Master and Mistress? Auror Moody, what yous be doing here?" The little elf asked and Lily felt a small gasp escape her lips. It was Tinker, her personal elf.
"Tink?" The name slipped past her lips almost unbidden.
The elf's eyes swivelled to her before widening. "Mistress Lily?" She breathed, taking a tentative step forward. "You—you cant's be Mistress can you? Tinker buried you with Mister Moody! But—yous be heres. How?"
Lily smiled fondly at the little elf. "That's a long story Tink. It really is me. The wards recognized me."
Tinker looked uncertain. "Mistress…Mistress is Mistress, bonds tells me sos." Tinker murmured, absently tapping at a point on her chest over her heart, burgeoning hope in her voice and awe in her face.
Then her eyes fell on the child in Lily's arms. Is…is that little masters Harry?"
Lily smiled. Tinker had been over the moon when Harry had been born. Almost as though he were her own. She nodded. "It is," She knelt and Tinker hurried forward, hoping for a better look at him.
"Ohs, but he is being so small. Harry has not been eating well!" Tinker groaned, tugging at her ears. Lily stifled a frown at that, thinking on just why that was.
"No, he hasn't Tink. The people who were…who he was living with, while I was gone. They were not doing a good job, I'm going to need your help to get him back to normal."
Tinker nodded firmly. "Tinker bes happy to help!"
Lily smiled and pulled Tinker into a one armed hug, causing the elf to squeak slightly, before she settles into it making a happy mumbling sound. Eventually she had to back away though, and looked to the others who were waiting patiently for them to finish getting reacquainted.
"Ohs, but Tinkers bes very sorry. She is being very rude. Hows might Tinker be helping the Lady Potter's guests?"
Lily smirked in amusement at Tinker, before frowning slightly as she considered what to do next. She looked worriedly to her guests. "I think the first thing I need to do is get Harry to bed Tinker. Then we'll call for a healer to come take a look at him. Does that sound good?" She asked, looking to Newt and Tina who both nodded firmly.
"Yes, we really do need to be checking up on young Harry's wellbeing," Newt agreed.
Tinker nodded, causing her eyes to wag a bit. "Tinker be waking the others, wes will have the main bedroom ready shortly," she promised, getting a determined look. "Then Tinker will bring a supply of potions for the healer."
Lily smiled again, "Thank you Tink, you're the best!"
Tinker blushed at the praise. "Thank you Mistress Lily."
She clicked her fingers and popped away. Lily turned to the others. "Come, the bedroom is this way."
The others followed her up the stairs and along a corridor. Lily tried not to think on how uncomfortably silent the house is without the rest of the Potter family. It felt like a tomb.
They arrived at the bedroom in time to see Tinker and another house elf finishing up preparing the bed. "Thank you Tinker, Tot," Lily greeted the pair, recognizing the other elf, who quivered with excitement before bowing and popping away.
Lily lay Harry on the bed and stepped back. "We'll need a healer, and we'll need someone to go get them."
Tina nodded, "I can handle that. Assuming you're comfortable with Mad-Eye and Newt for company…"
The other woman nodded, "They'll be fine. If at all possible, I'd like to request Andromeda Tonks, she should be a healer at Saint Mungos."
"I'll ask for her. Anything else?" Tina asked.
Lily shook her head and Tina kissed Newt on the cheek, before nodding briskly to Mad-Eye and hurrying out.
Mad-Eye began to pace, as much as was possible with his artificial leg. While Lily continued to kneel beside the bed, gently running her hand through her son's hair. "I assume you wish to hold off on that explanation until Andromeda gets here lass?" He said.
She nodded, "Yes, simpler to explain it all once. I confess I don't understand all of it myself." He inclined his head in understanding, and returned to pacing, his magical eye darting this was and that as it surveilled the house closely.
It was a few minutes before Tinker popped in again. "Mistress, Auror Scamander and Healer Tonks bes at the gate. They request permission for the healer to enters through the wards."
Lily nodded, once again murmuring the pass phrase aloud, knowing it would be enough to grant them access. Tinker nodded, then popped away again. Lily noticed that a couple other elves had snuck into the room to peer at them in awe.
A minute later they heard the sound of approaching footsteps in the hall. Andromeda bustled into the room ahead of Tina, stopping when she spotted Lily. "My gods, she wasn't kidding, I mean—she told me what to expect, but I still wasn't sure." She stammered.
Lily just smiled, and pushed to her feet before pacing over to Andromeda and pulling the other woman into a hug. "It's great to see you again Andy, and I'll tell you everything about how this all came about. I promise, but first I need you to look over Harry."
She indicated the bed with a nod, and Andromeda's eyes widened upon seeing the sleeping boy there. "He's so small, I—"
Andromeda shook that off and hurried forward drawing her wand. "I know a good deal of what you'll find Andy, so be prepared. He was in Petunia's not so loving care until an hour or so ago."
Andromeda paused mid cast and stared at her. "Petunia? Your sister? Dumbledore placed him with Petunia?" She asked, outrage clear on her face. Lily had spoken with her at length about her broken relationship with her sister before.
Andromeda shook that off and started casting, a determined look on her face. Runic sigils began drawing themselves in the air above Harry's sleeping form. Lily didn't look at them, she knew most of what they'd day anyways.
Finally, after a minute or so Andromeda sighed and allowed the diagnostic sigils to fade. "He's poorly off, but nothing I can't fix given time. He's stable enough for now, though I do detect a couple anomalies on him."
Lily glanced at her and inclined her head, indicating Andromeda should explain. "The first is that there is a lingering residue of something, not dark per se, but powerful, I don't recognize its signature off the top of my head."
Lily nodded, and sniffed a bit, feeling some wetness welling in her eyes again, before shaking off her misery irritably and explaining. "That may have something to do with the fact that as recently as half an hour ago Harry was an Obscurial."
Andromeda's eyes widened in shock and an appalled look graced her face. Lily nodded soberly. "Petunia won't be hurting anyone ever again, Andy. Nor will her husband or sister-in-law." She paused, nodding to Newt. "Mister Scamander here can testify that the Obscurus is gone now though."
Andromeda gave a start, noticing Newt there for the first time. "Ah, Mister Scamander! My apologies, I didn't see you there."
Newt smiled crookedly at her, if not a bit sadly too. "It is no problem, and I can indeed testify to the Obscurus' absence, though I admit it's…removal, was highly atypical."
Andromeda nodded, and Lily looked to her again. "And the other anomaly Andy?"
The healer gave a small start. "Ah, yes, well there's a dark residue around his curse scar, very dark. I'm not sure what it means, and frankly I'm disinclined to go poking at it if he's survived this long with it attached like that."
Lily cocked her head at the woman curiously, so Andromeda explained. "Some dark magic reacts adversely to being prodded, even with diagnostic spells. In his current state I feel it would be better to leave it be for the moment. Until he's healthy and we can get a good curse breaker to take a look at it."
Lily nodded understanding, then sighed. "I suppose I owe you all a better explanation now," she said, looking to Mad-Eye and Andromeda. She steeled herself and continued.
"What do you know about the Fidelius charm and blood magic?"
*Christian Bible, King James Version, New Testament, John 15:13.
Author's Note: Alright, so here's the deal, while I can come up with new story ideas like crazy lately, I've been struggling to put one sentence in front of another. I'm honestly not certain what is causing all this. Bad writing habits? My depression and anxiety issues? Burn out? No idea. So it is with a heavy heart I put out this warning, if this writing slump I'm in doesn't let up soon I may need to consider taking a serious break from writing. Put some distance between myself and writing in general until I'm desperate to write again and see what happens. I really do hope my ability to write properly returns soon.
Thank you very much for all the support from the readers. But extra thanks goes to my various betas. Temporal Knight, Volksbrot, twilliams1797, zcnk, mordreek, howinmadhowie and bearmauls (from all those years ago). I'd also like to thank Q Elwyn D for the help with bouncing new story ideas recently.