Plans

"Andreas!"

Lily's head pounded as she stirred, trying to remember where she was. The sheets were soft and she pushed herself up, taking in a deep breath, trying to clear her thoughts. She still wore the green dress. She reached behind her, zipping it up. She grappled around her for a wand before remembering she hadn't gotten to Eoin's.

Eoin strode in. Lily pushed herself up against the headboard as he came to her, gripping her arm. His eyes were unfocused, pupils dilated. His hair was a mess and he, too, still wore his clothes from the day before. Lily tried to pull away, her muscles still asleep as he yanked her towards him, grabbing her other arm and setting her on her feet.

"What?" she asked, shaking. "What did I do?"

Eoin didn't respond as he pulled her with him towards the nursery. She felt the bruises on her arms developing as her mind reeled. He pushed her in front of the crib.

"Where's Andreas?" he demanded.

Lily shook as she stared down. She had hastily thrown the sheet back inside the night before, but it was unkempt, covering the lion. "I don't know," Lily whispered. She placed her hands on the railing gripping tight as tears rose in her eyes, rolling down her cheek. She shook her head back and forth, trying to think. She needed to say the right thing, but nothing was coming.

"Where is he?" Eoin yelled into her ear. Lily twitched. "You saw him last night?"

Lily cried, her bottom lip trembling as she nodded. Eoin's voice rung in her ear.

"They took him," Eoin said to himself. "They kidnapped him. How?"

Lily looked over. Eoin's eyes shifted in calculation. He ran his hands through his hair, pacing away from Lily and then back again. His hand wrapped around his wand. Lily looked down at it, waiting for the blow. Lily wasn't sure if he'd blocked his own magic in here as well, but his fist could do enough damage on its own. She looked around her, trying to find anything she could use to defend herself when Eoin fell on his knees in front of her.

"They took him," he cried. Lily stiffened, raising her hands as his arms wrapped around her middle. He buried his face into her stomach. Lily covered her mouth and sobbed, terrified of what was certainly coming next. He continued clinging to her. "They took him from us. How did they get in Lily?" he asked.

Carefully Lily reached out her fingers, running them through his hair as wracking sobs took Eoin over. He asked the same questions over and over into her. Every time he spoke, Lily cringed.

After what seemed an eternity Eoin pulled back and looked up at Lily. He reached up, pulling her down by her shoulders to kneel in front of him. He grabbed her face, his fingers spread as a thumb wiped at her tears. Lily only cried harder. Eoin leaned in and took her lips in his. She closed her eyes, not even sure what she was doing as he moved his lips against hers. His grip remained firm as he pulled back.

"I'll find him again," Eoin promised. "Lily, we'll find him. Alright sweetheart?"

He kissed her again, fierce and insistent. As he finished he pulled Lily into him. Her arms reached around his neck. She covered her face with her hands behind him as he whispered words of comfort, rubbing Lily's back.

Lily knew she had to find a way out. Eoin was allowing himself to believe what he wanted. He was being willfully ignorant, and Lily knew as soon as that was over, she would pay for what she'd done. Eoin pulled away, helped Lily up, and guided her back to her room.

"I'm going to see if I can track them," Eoin said. "I'll be back, okay? I'll send breakfast here. They can't get to you in here."

He kissed Lily again, then turned to go. She walked into the bathroom, seeing her pale reflection as she bent over the sink. As everything set in, Lily turned, bent over the toilet and vomited. She sat on the ground, reaching up to flush her sick away as she wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"Get it together," she whispered to herself. "You have to figure this out."

Lily took several deep breaths before she stood, washed her face, and changed clothes. She could keep pretending. She had to keep Eoin believing she was a victim in the latest turn of events as much as him. He'd given her the lifeline she needed, and now Lily just had to embrace it.

Lily wondered if she'd have to earn his trust again. She had done it once. She could manage. He would allow her freedom within the house. Even without a wand, all she needed was a chance to get hold of a knife or something sharp enough to finish him. Then she could leave. Then she could find her way home. She wondered if she could keep Eoin at arm's length in the meantime. Kissing was one thing, but if last night was any indication, he had higher expectations of their relationship now. Would he give up on Andreas and decide they should have one of their own? The thought made Lily feel ill again.

When Lily came out of the bathroom, a tray with toast, apple juice, and sausages lay on the bed. She took the juice first, drinking it in one. Andreas was safe now, she told herself. Andreas was home. That was enough. It had to be enough.

It was nearly two hours before Lily heard Eoin enter the house again. She stood and walked away from the vanity to the door. For all the time she had sat trying to convince herself her family was out of harm's way, she hurried to make sure he didn't have Andreas again. Her heart stopped when she saw him coming down the hall. Bloodied and slumped forward, hands tied behind his back as Eoin pushed him forward with magic was Lorcan.

Lily opened her mouth but Lorcan shook his head at her, one eye swollen nearly shut as Lily dug her fingernails into palms to keep herself from saying anything. Eoin pushed him. Lorcan stumbled. Lily's mind raced as her feet froze in place.

Eoin turned down the hall where Lily found Etta. She left her room, quietly closing the door behind her as she walked towards another corridor. Lily flattened herself against a wall, her breath catching as she waited. She held her breath as Eoin left the prison, slamming the door and stomping her direction. He passed by, and Lily stood silently. She listened as he made his way through the house. The front door opened and shut. Lily could swear the whole place shook from the force.

Lily waited another minute before she eased along the walls, hurrying to the prison room. She opened the door. The stench she first experienced here was gone. Eoin must have had the house elves sanitize the space. She turned to Lorcan. He sat against the bars of the nearest cell, breathing heavily and holding his side.

"Lorcan," Lily whispered. She rushed beside him, holding the bars as he turned. She knelt in front of him. Lily reached a hand through, gently pushing back the curls of hair draped down his forehead. "What are you doing here?"

"Couldn't leave you alone," he replied.

Lily swallowed. "He hurt you," she cried. Lily bit her bottom lip. She didn't have anything to help him with. She carefully used the back of her hand and wiped away the blood under his nostrils. It smeared and she tried again until it was dried and spread, rather than the bubbled pools under his broken nose. "What did he do?"

"Nothing I can't survive," Lorcan said, grinning. "I'll be alright. You need to go somewhere safe and lay low."

"I'm not leaving you here," Lily said.

"Lily, listen—"

"No," she said again. They looked at each other in silence for a moment. "Andreas?"

"Home with Imogen," Lorcan said.

"She's really alright?"

"It's going to take a while," Lorcan replied. "She lost most her strength. Someone has to help her move around, but she'll be fine in the end."

Lily nodded. She leaned closer to Lorcan. He closed his eyes taking labored breaths, stretching in an attempt to relieve the pain in his side.

"Megra didn't know what you were doing coming here, did she?" Lily asked.

"No," Lorcan replied. Lily swallowed, feeling her heart sink. "No, I broke it off."

"What?"

"I couldn't marry her."

"You couldn't?" Lily wasn't sure whether to believe her ears. Maybe this was all a delusion she'd been driven to by the month of living in Eoin's own fiction.

"I didn't love her," Lorcan said, turning his head close to hers. "Not like I love you."

Lily smiled through her tears. Lorcan lifted a hand to her face, wiping the tears from her cheek. Lily moved forward, turning Lorcan's face cautiously, their lips touching between the bars. Slowly, carefully, she kissed him. His hand lifted, touching hers, his fingers trailed the skin of her arm and Lily wished they didn't have the barrier between them.

She rested her head against the metal, her lips close to Lorcan as they breathed each other in, their fingers entangled inside the cell when the door slammed open. Lily turned, eyes wide as Eoin entered, the crazed look from the morning returned.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice low.

Lily swallowed. She pulled her hand from Lorcan and stood in front of him, between Lorcan and Eoin.

"You know him?"

"Yes," Lily said. Once again someone else's life was in her hands. Someone she couldn't lose.

"Who is he?"

"No one," Lorcan said. Eoin narrowed his eyes. "Family friend."

It was too late to follow that line and Lily knew it. He'd seen them, lips almost touching, as close as they could manage. "He's important to me, Eoin. Please, please, let him go."

Eoin's eyes shifted between her and Lorcan. "You've been cheating on me."

Lily didn't know how to respond. Lorcan was stuck here. She couldn't get him out. She needed to calm Eoin.

"I… I used to… that is, I can't undo what we used to have, but if you let him go, I'll stay here with you."

"No, Lily," Lorcan hissed from behind her. Lily ignored him.

"Why do you care what happens to him?" Eoin demanded.

Lily didn't say anything, but looking pleadingly at Eoin. He didn't soften.

"Do you love him?" Eoin asked.

Lily didn't respond. She didn't move.

Lorcan shifted. From the corner of her eye Lily saw him trying to stand. He was taller than her. She could only cover him so much if he did that. She tried to reach behind her with one hand through the bars, touching Lorcan's arm. He didn't stop.

"Kathy was right about you," Eoin said quietly. He drew his wand. His hand shook. "Do you know what it was like? To watch her suffer? To watch the life drain from her? Maybe it's time you did."

"Do not touch him," Lily growled.

"She held out for an hour," Eoin said. "Not sure how long most people last."

"Lily, run," Lorcan whispered the warning. "Listen to me for once."

"Over and over," Eoin continued. "I was sure I would die of pain myself from watching her writhe."

Eoin's eyes flicked towards Lorcan, hate searing through his gaze.

"Leave him alone," Lily said.

With a flick of his wand, Eoin yanked Lily away from the cell. Her body pounded against the opposite wall. The wind knocked out of her as Lorcan shouted, shaking the bars. Eoin turned her around, pinning Lily with his arm pressed across her chest. Lily felt desperate to get back in front of Lorcan. She tried to kick Eoin, but he was too close to do any harm.

"Don't you touch him!" she screamed. "Don't!"

Eoin turned his wand, pointing it at Lily's chest. "Crucio!"

Lily's mind drained of all else as every bit of her surged with pain. She screamed, curling against Eoin's arm, still holding her up. She closed her eyes her limbs feeling as though they were being twisted at odd angles. She slumped against Eoin's arm as it stopped. It was then she heard Lorcan.

"Please! Please stop! Take me instead!"

"I begged, too," Eoin told him. "They left me alone to watch. Every person working with the Federation. They were supposed to protect her. I was supposed to protect her! But you can't! You can't do anything! Crucio!"

Lily screamed again, this time worse than before. She felt the blood in her veins pulsing against the never ending pressure of bone and sinew inside her, being manipulated in ways only magic could do. He stopped a second time. Lorcan yelled obscenities as Eoin started again.

Lily wanted to die. She wanted this to end. She couldn't do this for an hour. It had to end. He held it longer this time and the pain surged in waves.

When it stopped again, Lily fell to the ground. Unable to control any part of herself, she fell on her side, a crack in her left arm causing her to cry out. She shook as she heard a cacophony of new voices, shouting out blocks and jinxes. Gentle arms pulled her up and she forced her eyes open to see her mother's warm, brown eyes looking down at her. Ginny pulled Lily into her body wrapping her up as Lily looked over. Lorcan still stood, holding the bars and looking at her, his eyes filled with terror. To the right, Eoin fought Albus, James, and Harry. Lily had never seen her dad work so furiously, blocking one spell after another. Eoin didn't stand a chance between the three of them, being pushed farther back to the edge of the room.

"Mum," Lily choked out.

"Shhh," Ginny whispered into her ear, gripping her.

Harry slashed his wand and Eoin's face was thrown to his right, blood spilling from his cheek. Albus disarmed Eoin, taking his wand and training his own at Eoin's chest as the three surrounded him. Eoin backed up, hitting the corner and sneering, impotent.

"What are you going to do?" Eoin spat.

"Nothing less than you did to Roma and Baldo," James replied.

"Only we're humane enough to make it quick," Harry added. He raised his wand. Eoin closed his eyes.

"Wait," Lily said. She struggled to use her muscles. "Wait! Don't kill him!"

Ginny tried to make her relax, but Lily pushed herself up, unsteady on her feet. She used the wall to walk towards the others. Eoin's eyes flicked towards Lily uncertainly. She turned to look back at Lorcan. A white haired man opened the cell and supported his weight, bringing him out. They had won. The truth was that for as clever as Eoin was, he had no one in the world.

"I need your wand, James," Lily requested, still holding to the wall. James's eyes flit between her and Eoin. Harry and Albus still had their own pointed to him. James stepped over to Lily, giving her his wand. He tried to hold her up, but Lily put shook her head and he stopped. She turned the tip of the wand to Eoin, her left arm useless and broken by her side, throbbing, though she ignored it. She leaned back using her shoulder to keep herself upright.

"You helped them take Andreas, didn't you?" Eoin asked.

"You better believe it," she answered. "He didn't need you, he needed his family."

"I would have given you anything," Eoin said to her. "I would have given you the world on a silver platter. And this is how you repay me?"

"Albus?" Lily asked, glaring at Eoin. "Could Dad be exonerated for bringing him in?"

"Probably not with the Ministry. Not while Atteberry's there," Albus said. "But I'm guessing the Federation might have something to say on the matter."

"I would imagine international immunity would probably be in order," the white haired man added. "Might not be able to go to England just yet, but you wouldn't have to hide anymore."

"That sounds like a decent trade off to me," Lily said. She pulled on every last bit of energy she had left to stand on her own, rounded James's wand against Eoin so that his body was thrown back, his head cracked against the plaster wall. He collapsed to the ground, unconscious, and Lily did one more charm, ropes wrapping around Eoin's hands and feet.

Lily turned to give James back his wand, but lost the ability to hold herself up. James tried to steady her as Harry ran forward and caught her under her arms, pulling her into him. Lily reached around as Harry held her tight. His hand cradled her head and Lily felt like a child again, safe in her father's arms. Lily closed her eyes, crying into his robes as he held her close.

"My brave girl," Harry whispered into her ear. "My brave, brave girl."

Harry and Ginny sat on either side of Lily in McMann's living room as a member of the federation had her recount everything that happened from the moment the Imperius Curse took her over until that morning.

"Why was he charming you to look like Kathy?" Mika Venton asked her. She had a notebook and a quill recording everything Lily said.

Lily looked over to Harry before answering.

"He wanted me to have dinner with him. Like a date," Lily responded. "He kissed me."

"He forced it?"

"Sort of," Lily admitted. "It happened more often after then, too. If I hadn't, he would have taken it out on me in other ways... would have taken it out on Etta or something."

Lily was glad Lorcan wasn't here to listen to all of this. Clive contacted the Federation after they unblocked McMann's floo connections and a team came shortly after. Clive and Albus had volunteered to take Lorcan back to Maryland as soon as they were allowed. James was helping with the search of the house. Lily wanted to talk to Lorcan, but now that the uncomfortable questions were being asked, she was glad she only had to deal with Harry's reactions.

"And you said he killed his house elf?"

"Comet," Lily said. Tears rose at this. She cleared her throat. "She helped take Etta to the others and he knew she was somehow involved."

"But he didn't do anything to you?"

Another glance at Harry. "Not until after Comet died," Lily said. "I, er, I said something about it and he… he grabbed me around my neck…"

Harry leaned forward as she continued. His hands stayed in fists by this point. Lily was grateful her mother didn't react, but kept rubbing her back and holding her hand. She needed the even tempered anchor. It made it feel like just another bedtime story. It made it easier.

They made it up until that morning, where Lily found it more difficult to talk about. She rubbed her arm, which a healer from the Federation took care of on their arrival. She described Eoin's reaction, how she played along, and then how he left to find Andreas.

"When he came back," Lily tried to have the same even tone as the rest of it, "he had Lorcan with him." Lily choked up, closing her eyes as tears leaked from the corner.

"She went to check on him," Harry picked up for her. "And McMann attacked her with the Cruciatus."

Lily leaned over into his arm, thankful for his interruption.

"Well, we need to come to Maryland and speak with Etta, if that's okay," Mika said. "But it will be good to close the book on this one. Thank you, Ms. Potter. We know you've been through quite an ordeal."

They took a portkey back to the house. Imogen was sitting on the couch, Andreas on her lap. Lily used the furniture to get next to them as quickly as possible, sinking down next to Imogen. Andy leaned over. Lily held his hand, cupping his cheek as she looked to Imogen.

"I'm so sorry," Lily cried.

Imogen just smiled, her own eyes glistening with tears as she pulled Lily into a hug. "Thank you," she whispered into her ear. "We know everything you did for us."

They had been gone long enough that Hermione had given Lorcan a potion and ordered him to rest before they got home. She tried to do the same for Lily. When Lily broke down, pleading and declaring she would only have nightmares, Harry stepped in and said it could wait. She sat with her family in the living room she had once thought she hated, glad to be back. Imogen hardly let Andreas out of her reach, even as James took him for a changing. Lily knew that would be a wound that would take a long time to heal. If Imogen had been reluctant to leave him before, she would probably never hire a sitter now.

Lily's entire body ached, but she wanted to see Lorcan, so she stayed awake, ate lunch, played a game of chess with Albus, and then stood on shaky legs when Harry said he wanted to show her something. She put an arm around his waist and he held her weight as they walked out and to the south side of the house. There was a new building attached there. Mostly bare bones, though the floor was complete and the roof looked newly built, with some loose tiles still sitting on top.

"Wow," Lily said. "You were working on this?"

"Yeah," Harry replied. "We should be able to make quick work of the last of it now."

Lily had never much liked other people helping her. Once when her leg was broken by a bludger, Lily had refused any assistance off the field, getting a long lecture from the healer about how much more difficult such injuries were to mend when they'd been strained. When they got to the center of the main room, Lily pulled her dad's arm gently off her and sat, crossing her legs to look around the space. He sunk down beside her.

"So I'm guess this is a guest house?" Lily asked.

"No, it's yours," Harry said. Lily looked at him, he was grinning, pleased with her expression. "If you want, of course. With immunity, no one can rightfully harass you on our whereabouts anymore, if you wanted to go home. I'm sorry I didn't make being here easier on you."

"Dad—"

"Either way, you'll have your own porch to snog on now," he continued. Lily chuckled. It hurt her ribs. "I just want you to be happy."

Lily looked away, trying not to cry for the hundredth time that day.

Harry pointed out different features, telling her what Imogen had done, what him and James had worked on, and what they were still planning. As they made their way back to the main house, Ron and Hermione were working on dinner, announcing it would be ready in half an hour.

"I think I'll go take a nap," Lily said. "Do I need to get out a cot?"

"Why don't you take our room," James offered. "Imogen is having a hard time with the stairs and we already brought down Andy's crib."

"What about Etta and Clive?"

"They said they're going home after dinner," Ginny said. "Do you need help upstairs?"

"No," Lily said. Of course it took her nearly ten minutes and two stops to rest before she finally got all the way up. Lily laid out on the top of the blanket and fell right to sleep.

When she woke hours later, someone had placed a thin throw over her and it was dark outside the window. She rubbed her eyes, looking around for a clock, but she couldn't see. She felt along the side table out of habit before remembering they still hadn't found her wand at Eoin's, then looked for a lamp, turning it on.

Sitting in a chair beside the bed was Lorcan. He was slumped back, eyes closed and legs stretched out so that his feet rested on the edge of the mattress. He looked slightly better. Just like Lily's arm, some of the wounds must have been made without magic, making them quick work for Hermione or whoever else had been in charge of his care. His eyes were still dark underneath and there was a bandage over his nose, holding it straight.

Lily leaned over, feeling stiff, but in less pain. She shook his leg. "Lorcan," she whispered. "Lorcan, that can't be comfortable."

He took in a breath as he adjusted himself, sitting up straight and rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "I came down after dinner and they said you were asleep," he said, his voice groggy. He yawned. "It seems we keep missing each other."

"Yeah, seems so," Lily said with a little smile.

"I guess I fell asleep. I'll… I'll go back down—"

"Please don't," Lily said. He looked at her and Lily had a rare moment of blushing, looking down. "I've been wanting to talk to you. Besides, I doubt there's anywhere comfortable enough to sleep down there."

"I've got one of the cots."

"My point exactly," Lily whispered. She moved over on the bed, patting the space beside her.

Lorcan let out a breath and moved over, leaning back against the headboard with a groan holding his side. Lily moved to her knees and reached over for the bottom of his shirt. She looked at his face before pulling it up carefully. His rib cage was wrapped and on his left side the bandaging had been soaked in blood, though it was now dry. Lily tensed.

"It's really fine," Lorcan said. "Hermione said it will just take some time and a potion we have to go get more ingredients for tomorrow. She only had one dose left."

"What else did he do to you?" Lily asked. She dropped the shirt, but kept her hands on Lorcan's sides. He reached out, taking her left wrist gently in his hand.

"He took my wand and threw a few curses, but when I didn't really fight back he just made me start walking. Took me to the house. Just like what we had planned," Lorcan said. "Honestly the worst part was seeing what he did to you."

Lily looked up at him. Lorcan expression was one she'd never seen on him. It was dark and angry. She leaned closer and moved a hand up to his chest, trying to avoid the wrapped wound.

"I actually got it," he said. "I mean, what he did was unforgivable, but I get it now. How someone could lose it after seeing that." Lorcan leaned forward and kissed the top of Lily's head. "I wanted to kill him. I've never hated anyone so much."

"I doubt you've ever hated anyone at all," Lily whispered. Lily waited as long as she could in silence before what she really wanted to know came bursting from her lips. "What exactly happened with Megra?"

Lorcan cleared his throat and told her about all of it. How he had heard her. How he immediately knew he had to break it off. He spent several minutes apologizing for not speaking back until Lily stopped him by placing her fingers on his lips. He told her how Megra took it—which gave Lily devious pleasure—and how he came to talk to her only to find out what happened.

"I was so afraid I would never see you again," Lorcan said. "I had waited so long for you to say you loved me and the first thing I should have done was come to you."

Lily looked up to Lorcan. "I never should have let you go in the first place."

"Why did you?"

Lily licked her lips. "If I made you wait and things didn't work out I would have been awful and selfish. So I told you to date other people to ease my conscious."

"Why didn't you accept it all those times I said that's not what I wanted?"

"I was being stubborn," she admitted. "I wanted to be right and didn't really stop to think what life would be like without you. It was unbearable."

Lorcan leaned down and took Lily's lips in his. None of her pretending could compare to the real thing. He was loving and attentive. He seemed to know just when to move, just when to pull her closer, and just how to pull away so that Lily felt a pleasant tingle of sensation at the loss. Lily kept her eyes closed and swallowed. She moved to straddle his body and gripped his shoulders as she kissed him more deeply. Lorcan grimaced as she moved her hands down and she stopped, pulling away.

"I'm sorry," she said.

"It's okay," Lorcan replied, still holding the spot she had hurt. "It's just bruised there."

Lorcan let out a breath and took her hands, placing them around his neck. Lily smiled at him and leaned in, keeping her face close to his.

"So I'm thinking we have the wedding here next weekend," she said.

Lorcan tilted his head. "Next weekend?"

"Sure," she said. "I already made the mistake of waiting way too long once. I don't feel much like repeating the experience."

"But… we have family and plans and—"

"Okay, two weeks," Lily suggested. "Just family and a few close friends. Emily will be my bridesmaid, I'm sure, and Lysander can be your best man. Unless you wanted someone else?"

"Wait, wait, Lily," Lorcan laughed, tilting his head. "We haven't dated in close to two years. And it's not like we were engaged before that."

"So?"

"So," Lorcan was obviously trying to find sound reasoning. He let out a breath. "Do you know how infuriating you are sometimes? For years, I try and get you to see how it can work and try to convince you to move in, and now you don't even want to take time to plan a proper wedding? Not to mention, you didn't let me actually propose."

Lily's smile faltered. "Is that a no?"

Lorcan groaned and turned back to Lily. "Of course it isn't," he said. "What all will we need to do?"

Lily smiled wide, digging her fingers into Lorcan's hair and kissed him again.

The yard at the Haddock house completely decked out. Lily had insisted they let the extended family know they were under no obligation to attend.

"It's like you don't even know your own family," Ginny told her.

Each aunt and uncle volunteered for various jobs. George and Angelina took charge of the party, Percy insisted he had connections for a good officiant, Bill and Charlie had worked out the decorations, Fleur almost immediately arrived at the house to help take care of finding a dress, and, of course, Grandma Weasley was squarely in charge of food.

Harry and James had taken the deadline as a personal challenge to finish the small apartment addition, even though Lily pointed out that her and Lorcan were planning to move into his flat after the wedding anyway. Albus helped on the weekend in between and now Lily stood in front of a mirror, the bedroom freshly white washed and filled with her grandparent's luggage. She wore a strapless wedding gown with her hair half up.

Lily turned towards Emily, who pulled out the lipstick to finish off Lily's makeup. "Perfect," Emily said, capping it. "Now we just need to put on your veil."

The door opened and Harry, Ginny, and Luna entered. To her dad's credit, he took the news of her and Lorcan's engagement well. He choked on his pancakes when she added that they would be married in two weeks, but eventually even that didn't seem to bother him too much.

Harry leaned against the door frame between the small sitting room and the bedroom. He swallowed. Lily smiled and stood up, holding out her arms. "What do you think?" she asked.

"Why has nobody invented a charm to keep daughters young?" he replied.

Lily stepped forward and leaned into his arms. He took a deep, steeling breath. "Oh, daddy," she said.

"Just don't forget about us," he whispered and kissed her cheek.

"I have something for you," Luna said cheerily. Lily pulled back from her dad to see a box Luna had in her arms. "Only if you want it, of course. I know your Aunt Fleur already went shopping with you and everything."

Lily smiled and opened the box. Inside was another veil. Lily pulled it out carefully. It was made of a soft, nearly translucent material. Monarch butterflies fluttered along the bottom, smaller butterflies attached at more sparse intervals halfway up. "Did you make this?" Lily asked.

"Yes," Luna said. "When Lorcan sent us an owl I started working on it. It used to be completely covered, but Rolf suggested that maybe less would set it off better."

"I love it," Lily said. She moved in front of the mirror and sat, draping the veil behind her head, leaving the other abandoned on the bed. Luna stepped up behind her, pinning it in as Ginny took the goblin made tiara all the Weasley women wore when getting married to top it off.

"Thanks for humoring me," Luna whispered into Lily's ear as she kissed her cheek. "I better go take my seat."

"I'll come with you," Ginny said, dabbing at her eyes and giving Lily another hug before leaving.

Emily grabbed her own small bouquet and gave Lily hers before Lily turned to Harry, looping her arm through his. They followed Hermione's instructions as she lined all of them up. Everyone stood as the small procession made its way through the audience of Weasleys, Scamanders, Potters, and Lovegoods.

Lily didn't notice anyone else when she saw Lorcan at the end of the aisle, his own grey eyes trained on her as well. Harry kissed her cheek before allowing her to go with him and Lorcan leaned in as they stepped up in front of everyone.

"You could have said no if you wanted," he whispered.

"I know that," Lily said. "You don't like it?"

Lorcan shrugged as he turned towards her smiling. "It's different. It's very Mum."

"It's perfect," she whispered back. "This is all perfect."

The officiant welcomed everyone and began the ceremony. Lily knew she wouldn't remember the words spoken or music played. The one part of the whole event she would always remember was the way Lorcan looked at her, waiting for the moment they were pronounced husband and wife.

Ginny put the last of the wedding pictures into a frame and set it on their coffee table in their house outside of London. She sighed. "Harry?" she asked.

"Yeah?"

"Do you mind putting these ones above the others?"

"Not at all," he said, carrying over two cups of tea. He gave one to Ginny, leaning over and kissing her on the cheek. "Everything pretty well set back to rights?"

"I think so," Ginny said.

Nine months had passed since Lily and Lorcan's wedding. Andreas was nearly a year and a half now, and Imogen and James had just shared the good news that another grandchild would be on the way. At the dinner they shared this, Lily looked to Lorcan and said they had some catching up to do, suggesting they start straightaway. Everyone laughed as Lorcan blushed.

Lily and Lorcan had spent a month back in England just after their wedding. Atteberry—increasingly desperate to keep control—began making Lorcan's life at work miserable, having him written up for even small or debatable issues and using it as a reason to ask all sorts of questions about the Potters, trying to find something that might destroy their international immunity. After discussing their options, they got out of their lease and took up residence in the apartment Harry had built for Lily. Lorcan found an independent American company doing similar work to the Department of Mysteries and Lily started working with Ginny on her project, which had become a mother-daughter account of playing for the Harpies. Ginny was in talks with a publisher now that they were back in England.

Not long after Lily and Lorcan moved back to Maryland, Hermione and Harry began a campaign exposing Atteberry's tactics to the public. It still took time, but Atteberry was under investigation for blackmail and Hermione became Minister of Magic in his place almost immediately. Albus was allowed the happy task of signing the arrest order for Atteberry, delivering it to Broker himself.

"I got an owl from Neville," Harry said. "Actually, it was two letters included."

"Oh?" Ginny asked. "How is he?"

"Fine, fine. Did you know that Professor Waters is retiring?"

"The Defense teacher?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah," Harry said. He picked up each of the frames, looking at the pictures. He held one where Lily smashed cake into Lorcan's face, laughing just before Lorcan wiped it off, throwing the excess frosting at her.

"Who was the second letter from?" Ginny asked.

"Headmistress Sinistra," Harry replied, looking over to her. "She asked if I might… consider taking the post. Ridiculous right?"

"You want to do it don't you," Ginny said, grinning at him. He always called ideas ridiculous when he was looking for permission to pursue them.

Harry was supposed to pick up his head of department position the next week. James had already jumped back into work, but Harry told Broker he wanted time to settle into the house. He had met with Broker to get a rundown of what was going on in the department just two days before.

"I'm too old to change careers now," Harry said. "But, of course… it would be safer. Presumably. Broker seems to have things well under control. And I think it might be good for James to have someone else telling him what to do. You know how he gets when it's me. He's a good auror, but he's a better one when his personal and work lives aren't entangled."

Ginny smiled. "What else is it?"

Harry sighed. "I'm so tired, Ginny. I'm tired of my whole life revolving around the worst of the worst. All of what's terrible. Other than, you know, McMann, Maryland really made me realize what it's like to not go to work everyday and hear about people being killed or tortured or... can you just tell me I'm being insane already so I can get it out of my head?" Harry requested.

"There's a problem with that request," Ginny said. "I don't think it's insane at all."

Harry smiled, looking down at his mug. "Are you sure?"

Ginny snaked her arm through Harry's, leaning over and taking his lips in hers. "Positive," she whispered.

Harry let out a breath, his whole body relaxing as he jumped into a long monologue about the lessons he had been thinking of. Ginny's smile widened with each idea, certain he had built out his entire curriculum in his mind already.

"Thank you," he said as he wound down.

"For what?" Ginny asked, grabbing the two empty mugs, getting ready to stand up.

"For being everything I never knew I would need," he said. "For all of us."

Imogen held Andreas as she gave a long list of instructions to Albus.

"And if anything happens, this—" she opened a side table drawer where a purple orb sat "—is a call. Like apparating, you just have to concentrate on the location. Our meeting place is—"

"The Burrow," Albus said. James was surprised there was no exasperation in his voice after at least an hour of this.

"Exactly," Imogen said, letting out a breath. She kissed Andreas again. "Maybe I should just stay home. You could always take my seat, Al."

"You know I don't like to go to these kinds of events," Albus said.

"Besides, we already told Mum and Dad we were coming," James added. "Lily and Lorcan are going to be here any minute for us all to go together."

There was a knock at the door. "Speaking of," Albus said, going to answer for them. Lily and Lorcan came in, all smiles as Lily reached out to take Andreas. He squealed in delight. It had been a couple months since she had been around.

"How's everything going?" she asked, making the rounds with a kiss on each cheek.

"Imogen's still trying to decide if she's going to go," James said.

Harry was being recognized for services to the Ministry. The week before he was supposed to take his job back, he unexpectedly resigned. James had been shocked, but it made more sense when he got to his parents house and was told about the new job his dad would be taking up. Broker officially became head of the department and James continued working there. Hermione had to work a great deal to convince Harry to let them plan a dinner in his honor, but he eventually caved. Mostly because she finally pitched it as a dinner honoring a couple other major figures for their own services as well. The only reason Imogen relented was because Albus was willing to forego the dinner to watch Andreas and because this was such an important event.

"How can you be so calm about this after the last time?" Imogen asked.

"Because I know that we need to do these sorts of things," James said. "It's good for Andreas to have time alone with his aunts and uncles, and it will be good for baby Chaser too."

"We are not naming her Chaser," Imogen said. She stepped beside Lily, kissing Andreas over and over, running her fingers through his hair.

What James hadn't told Imogen was that he had put his own precautions in place. On his lapel was a pin which, like the bear, would sound if Albus spoke into a vase on the mantel. Then he got a couple trackers from a friend still with the Federation. He made Albus take one, then smashed half of the other up and put it into Andreas's milk that morning. Of course he hadn't told Imogen this. If she knew both of them had doubt, there was no way she would leave.

"We better get going," Lorcan said, looking at his watch.

"Alright, over to Uncle Al," Lily said, handing Andreas over.

Imogen grabbed her clutch and James held out a jacket for her. Lily and Lorcan made their way out the door and James held out his arm when Imogen turned around. "Just one more kiss," she said, striding over and taking her time to plant kisses all over his little, round face. "Mum loves you, sweetheart."

Imogen stood straight and, with a great deal of stoicism, walked out with James. They were halfway down the drive when James stopped. "I forgot something," he said.

"What?"

"Just… I'll be right back." He turned around, leaving Imogen with Lily and Lorcan and hurried back into the house. Albus had already sat, bouncing Andreas on his knee. James walked over, kissed the top of his son's head, and ran his hand through the mop of hair that sat on top. "Love you, Andy," he said, then walked out the door.

A/N: And that's all folks! I hope you enjoyed the last chapter. If you have been following along silently, I would love to hear your thoughts! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed up to this point. It really tops everything off to hear from you :)