I certify that this story is based on the Harry Potter world of JK Rowling.

Chapter Twenty-One

Lily saw an owl drop a letter on the kitchen table. Almost lazily, she bent to pick it up, opened it, and began reading. The blood drained from her face as she looked over the parchment. James walked in. "Lily, what's wrong?" he asked. He grabbed the letter from Lily and scanned it rapidly. "Let's go, then," he said. He grabbed Lily's hand and turned on the spot.

They arrived in St. Mungo's, where James angrily waved off the Healer asking everyone how she could help them. He strode up to the witch at reception, asking, "Mr. and Mrs. Potter, where are they?"

The witch shook her head. "I'm sorry, I cannot give that information out."

"I'm their son! Where are my parents?"

Just then, a Healer from upstairs came by. "Mr. James Potter? Here to visit your parents?"

Seeing James' impatient face, Lily broke in. "Yes, please. Where are they?"

"If you would just follow me." The Healer led them to a curtained off room.

James ran up to the couple lying in the beds. "Mum! Dad!"

"Hello son," Mr. Potter said. He motioned to his sleeping wife. "I know this looks serious, but we should be all right soon."

"What happened?" James asked.

He sat up and pushed down the covers. "You see son, we first thought I might be coming down with the pox a few days ago. Then, last night, we saw the spots on your mum, too. So we thought we should check ourselves in here for a day or two just to stay safe."

"But nothing serious happened?" Lily thought back to the times she'd heard of individuals with dragon pox. Many times they passed out from the fever or began bleeding from the sores.

"No, nothing of that sort. No fainting or bleeding. But since we are a little older than most with dragon pox, we thought that for sure something would happen if we didn't consult the Healers."

Lily nodded. "That's smart thinking. So, do you have plans to return home?"

"Yes. We think we will stay here overnight, and then we will hire an assistant to travel between here and home to care for us."

James said, "Of course. I will make sure you have whatever you need."

The next day, sure enough, they were at home. But just a fortnight later, they were at St. Mungo's again.

"At least the Healers seem optimistic," Lily said. "They'll be fine, they will." She laid an arm on James' shoulders. But he shrugged his shoulders until it fell back. Lily sighed. The situation with Remus had, it seemed, done more lasting damage than she had expected.

James raised his eyes. "Are we okay?"

"Yes," Lily said firmly. "We always were."

"You've forgiven me then?"

Lily nodded. "It's all over. But there is one thing you'll need to put right."

"You're going to make me make up with Remus, right?"

"You can do it in your own time," Lily said. She added, "But I think you should."

That evening, they ate dinner with the Marauders. "So," Sirius asked, "how are they doing?"

"Mum and Dad are back in St. Mungo's," said James.

Remus asked Lily, "What do the Healers say?" He drew back, though, when he saw James watching them.

"The Healers are fairly optimistic," Lily said. "They have had a few cases like this before, and they have always gone well. They just prefer to have them both in the hospital wing to be extra cautious."

"That's good, then," said Peter, with a few furtive glances between his friends.

Lily cornered James as soon as they got home. "I saw the way you were looking at Remus and me. And James, this has to stop! Right now!"

"Should I be the only one trying to make friends with him?" James asked. "I mean, he did things to make me mad too. Shouldn't he be trying to befriend me?"

Lily sighed. He was right. "This wasn't all one-sided. And yeah, you did most of the shouting, but not all of it. If you want, I can go to Remus and get him to do more to befriend you-"

"No!" said James.

"Well, see, I can persuade you to befriend him, but I cannot convince him — without making you mad, it seems." Lily smiled, and James did too.

"Good point there. Fine. I will do more. But it seems to me that I should not befriend someone who does not want to befriend me."

"He wants to. I promise he does." Lily sighed. "He just doesn't know how to."

Over the next few weeks, the Potters seemed much better. James still stayed home from the Order most days, spending all of his time at St. Mungo's. Lily visited whenever she could find time from the Department of Mysteries. And of course, the Healers were always there. But one day, despite the care they received, they were much worse. St. Mungo's sent James and Lily an owl that morning, just as Lily was about to go.

James scanned the letter and handed it to Lily, saying, "I'll go now, then."

Lily frowned. "I've already taken too much time off at the Department; I have to go. But my shift ends before visiting hours do; I'll be there as soon as I get off in the evening."

James nodded.

Sure enough, Lily Flooed to St. Mungo's as soon as she left work. When she walked in, though, the hospital seemed somehow different. Nurse Jones looked at her sympathetically and shook her head. Trying her best to dispel the worst feelings, Lily ran up the stairs to the Potters' room. There she saw James sitting in the hallway, his head in his hands. He looked up as Lily sat next to him.

"Lily," he said. She squeezed his hands. "They're gone. This morning. I have no parents now."

"I know," she said. "I know. And I'm so sorry — for you, for me, for us all. The kindest couple ever, who took me in after I lost my parents too..."

He looked up at her. "And now, just like Voldemort said-"

"No. I understand what you're feeling, because I worried about it too, with my parents. I know you remember. But this was checked by Order members and Healers - it was dragon pox, nothing more. Death is a terrible, terrible thing, but sometimes it happens for no reason at all."

James nodded and stared blankly at the clock. A few minutes later, Sirius ran in, with Remus and Peter following. Sirius tapped James on the shoulder and looked at his with a furrowed brow. "Mate..." He gasped. James stood and hugged him. Remus and Peter soon joined in. Remus turned his head and shot Lily an understanding look. She half-smiled in response, but neither of them moved a muscle toward each other. Sirius, instead, was the one who welcomed Lily into the hug, whispering, "I know. They were like parents to me too."

One of the Healers approached the group, and James stepped forward, as did Lily.

"Mr. and Mrs. Potter," he said. "I am so sorry for your loss."

"Thank you," James said.

"Have you had a chance yet to think about the funeral arrangements at all?"

"I was thinking of this weekend," James said. "Would that work for everyone?"

"Of course, mate," Peter said.

"Certainly, sir," said the Healer.

"Yes, and it should be at our family plot, in Devonshire."

"That sounds right."

The funeral took place a windy afternoon at the Manor. A few Healers were there, as well as various representatives of the community the Potters had helped. Somehow, Lily had never before considered the social aspect of their lives — she knew, of course, that Mr. Potter's legacy was a significant one, but... James saw her looking at all of the visitors. "I know," he said. "They have their community, just as your parents did too."

Lily looked at the crowd. If she had grown up in the wizarding world, would she be just like James?

She noticed a familiar black coat and scowled. Why did he have to go to every event she attended? At least this time he was in the back of the crowd and would not see her or James. Next to him there was ...a man with red eyes? Could it really be? Lily gripped James' arm as he saw them, as he began to edge closer, closer -

A group of Aurors passed between them. Lily looked again at the clearing, but this time saw nothing but grass. She thought clearly, "You see? They were not killed by magic, after all," and smiled.

The next day of work, Augustus Rookwood called her to his office. "Lily, he said, the Department of Mysteries would like to offer you a full-time job with us. I would still function as your partner, and you would have one week to consider this opportunity."

Lily repeated, "One week. And if I agree, it's the same as before?"

Rookwood handed her a paper. "Almost the same. You would work from 8 to 5 each day, not the part time hours from before. I would still work as your partner. Also, there would be a few more reports you would have to fill out. However, yes, your work would be essentially the same until the point at which you would be able to mentor youth of your own, as I have mentored you."

Lily nodded. "Good, Rookwood. Thank you for telling me. I appreciate this, truly. I hope to have an answer by the end of the week."

"Right, Lily. Thank you."

The first move Lily made was to Apparate to the Order headquarters, where she told Dumbledore what had happened and then asked, "But I should say no, right?"

"Well, maybe," said Dumbledore.

"What?"

Dumbledore began to describe her choices. "If you say yes, it is true that you will not have the time for the Order that you did before. You will have to pass from being a part of the administration to being a general member, like Anna Thomas."

Lily asked, "But the Order needs all the help it can get, right, sir? How could that be a good thing?"

"One other thing would be possible. You are familiar, for example, with Mr. Alastor Moody?"

Lily nodded. "Yes, sir. Mr. Moody is an Order member, and he also is an Auror."

Dumbledore smiled. "Precisely. Through his position in the Ministry of Magic, he is able to solidify our position, not merely on the war, but also with the Ministry."

Lily widened her eyes. "Oh. So he passes us information on Barty Crouch?"

"Yes, he does."

"But I think that his position as Auror better enables him to pass information."

Dumbledore steepled his fingers. "So it does. But your position as an Unspeakable would enable you not only to do that, but also to study matters of interest to the Order."

"I see."

"Yes. Also, the government rather suspects there might be spies, but it erroneously believes that if there are, in fact, spies, they would be in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Therefore, they are careful about information distributed to the Aurors, but not nearly so attentive regarding information passed to the Unspeakables, who, as their name suggests, talk to no one," Dumbledore clarified.

"So I'd be a spy?"

Dumbledore tightened his mouth. "Yes. For the Order. Because we are in a delicate situation, you see. We fight this war, and as such we oppose the Death Eaters - and Voldemort. However, we also are an illegal organisation. We need help in dealing with the Ministry as well, especially with the movements of Barty Crouch, who now is the head of, among other things, the Department of Mysteries."

Dumbledore looked at her. "You can do this, Lily. People - they like you, they tell you things, they listen when you speak. But I know it is a lot to repeat what they say. There is no way we would even try to make you do this if you don't want to."

Lily remembered how easily she had lied in Llanfair. "No, I'll do it. After all, this war touches us all, and I must do what I can to stop it."

"Very well." Dumbledore cleared his throat and stood up. "Then let them know that you do indeed want the job. How do they expect the information to come?"

"In person. I will tell them myself before work tomorrow." Lily stood. "I guess I have many years to look forward to with Rookwood, then."

"With whom?"

"Augustus Rookwood, my partner. He has always seemed a bit odd to me. I can't think exactly why, though." Lily turned to leave. "I'll go talk to James, then. Thank you for meeting with me, Professor."

Lily stepped outside the office. But how would she talk to James about this? Just after her parents died - Lily had been unable to think of even the simplest things. And how would he be able to work in the Order of the Phoenix?

When she got home, she was amazed to discover that Remus was there, sitting next to James on the sofa as if nothing was wrong. "I know, James," he was saying. "I should never have thought so little of you. You are the same person who has given up everything for me."

"And you are the same person for whom I would do anything."

Lily stepped into the room. "So you two are friends now?"

James smiled at her. "Do you know? I do not think there was even a second when we weren't."

"Good! It is so good that we're all together."

"I know," said Remus. "The Marauders together really are most of the Order of the Phoenix. How would it ever get along without us?"

Lily took a breath. "I was just talking to Dumbledore," she said.

James asked, "What about?"

"See, Augustus Rookwood offered me a permanent position in the Department of Mysteries."

"And Dumbledore thinks you should take it?"

"Yes, she does." Lily faced James. "James, I know this means I will not be at home so much, and will not be able to do as much paperwork for the Order as before, but it will give me much more spy opportunity on the Ministry of Magic. Also, being an Unspeakable will give me unlimited access to their stores of information. What do you think?"

"I agree. It is difficult, though, mentally challenging, to live as a spy. Do you think you can do it?"

"Well, I'll find out, won't I?"

"I guess so." James smiled. "Go for it, then."

Remus grinned. "You can do it, I'm sure." And when he hugged Lily in encouragement, James even grinned at the two of them together.

Lily walked from the Ministry fireplaces to the Department of Mysteries. Before she could enter her office, though, Rookwood walked into the hallway. "Lily, I need your help.

"There's a bit of a mess in the Hall of Prophecies, and I'm afraid we can't spare an intern to clean it up."

"Okay. So you and I will?" Lily asked, already knowing the answer.

Rookwood smiled. "I have a few reports to finish. Would you mind if I met you there when I finish them?"

"Of course," Lily said. She went into her office and set down her tea mug. Good thing it was self-warming. She rolled her eyes and then set off to investigate what had gone wrong in the Hall of Prophecies.

"Oh, surely not," she said as she surveyed the tilted bookcases. Of course. They couldn't call an intern to do this. An intern would just want to organise it all by hand. She sighed and pulled out her wand to reposition the orbs. First one, then another, and another...

After hours of straightening the orbs, Rookwood finally walked in. "How's it going, Lily?" he asked.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Fine, I guess. But I'm still not done yet. Wanna help?"

Rookwood raised his wand to help Lily. The use, however, of two wands rather than one changed the density of the air around the room, until one of the orbs tilted even more and began to fall to the floor. Lily, to keep it from falling, instinctively reached out a hand to grab it.

Rookwood yelled, "Lily, no!" But right then, Lily found that she had the orb in her hand. She tilted her head and shifted in to her other hand, then examined the newly free appendage. It was not burned or bleeding, not bruised or broken.

"Lily?" Rookwood said cautiously. "Are you all right?"

"It seems — that I am," she said slowly. She shouldn't be. Not after this. There had to be something wrong, right?

"But the prophecy..."

She turned it over. S. P. T. to A. P. W. B. D. 1"I'm not in it. Not any party."

"Then, how? Did that not count as taking it off the shelf? I mean, it was on the shelf, that was its last fixed location."

"And if your name doesn't appear on the label... Are you sure? Have you ever seen it happen?" Lily asked. "I mean, I learned about it in my Divination classes, but I never saw it happen. And people think all the time that things are true that aren't really."

Rookwood's eyes darkened. "Yes, I have seen it. Around five years ago."

"And what happened? The injury was instantaneous, was it not?"

"Yes, it was. It presented as a burn on the palm of the hand. And there was no delayed reaction." Rookwood looked at Lily's hand. "I don't know how this could have happened. Maybe you should get yourself checked out at St. Mungo's."

"But - this-"

Rookwood took the crystal from her hand. "I'll finish in here, Lily. It's all right. Just go."

"But there's nothing wrong with me!"

"Nothing that we can tell. I am a professional wizard, but not a Healer. They can tell more, I'm sure."

She walked quickly back to the Ministry's fireplaces and Flooed to St. Mungo's. A Healer walked up to her. "Hello. What seems to be the problem?"

"I - I don't know," Lily said. She thought for a minute. "Something happened — and it's like I should have something wrong with me — but I don't know."

The Healer replied calmly, "Then you will want a general checkup, I think. Let me see about getting you a room, and then we can see."

It was not until all other patients seemed to have vacated the lobby that the Healer returned. "This way, please, to your room."

Another Healer waited in the room. Once Lily came in, she asked, "So, what do you think is the problem? You are uncertain?"

Lily shook her head. "No, I don't have a clue what it is. But something happened at work today that made me want to check."

"What happened? Did you, perhaps, slip or fall? Did you cut yourself?"

"No, I did not injure myself, nor am I even certain that I have been injured. If I do have any injury, I think that it should present as a burn. I just would like to consult here as a result of some confidential items I was viewing. It is a part of my work as an Unspeakable," Lily said. The Healer raised her eyebrows, and she said, "All right, we'll not mention it, then. But do you have any reason to think yourself in danger? What would be wrong with you?"

"No, I do not. I do not have any pain, and my body shows no injury. Since I wished to consult a Healer, though, I am here for a checkup visit."

"Very well, then."

The Healer checked Lily over. In many ways the checkup seemed the equivalent of a visit to a Muggle doctor, but it involved far fewer pieces of equipment — the Healer carried everything out with her wand. At the end of the checkup, the Healer asked, "Mrs. Potter, do you think you could be pregnant? Have you been trying? Sometimes it takes a few weeks of pregnancy to feel its effects on your body."

"My husband and I have been trying," Lily admitted. "I suppose that could answer the question, although I'm not sure it would qualify as something 'wrong' with me. But wouldn't it be too early to tell? Perhaps I am pregnant, but it is too early in the pregnancy to detect it through tests."

The Healer stood. "Mrs. Potter, as a result of our improvement of the testing process over hundreds of years, we can tell whether females are pregnant within a week of conception. If there is any uncertainty regarding the test results, a warning signal will let us know of that.

"Now, please lie back for me."

The Healer placed her wand on Lily's abdomen, and then extracted a glowing substance, which she tipped into a vial. She then left the room and returned in another half hour. "The results say that you are indeed pregnant, Mrs. Potter. There is no sign of uncertainty or doubt, so we can rest assured of the results. Congratulations!"

Lily raised a shaking hand to her mouth. She was? Really? Then - was it possible that the Harry Potter on the prophecy label was her son? "Madam? Can you tell me the gender of the baby?"

"I am afraid your body hasn't decided what it should be yet."

"It hasn't decided?" How was a decision to be made on what the prophecy had said already?

"The baby, it seems, was conceived about two weeks ago, so there are parts of the pregnancy that are still being decided. Your Healer for the pregnancy process will be able to give you more specific information."

Lily squinted. "And - forgive me for all of my questions, but I am Muggle-born and not used to wizarding pregnancy care."

The Healer shook her head. "No, that's quite all right. Don't worry about that — that's what you pay us for."

"Thank you," Lily said. "How then will I choose a Healer for my long-term process?"

"The receptionist will send you a questionnaire in a day or two. Part of that will be the method of choosing a long-term specialist. You may change hospitals, but we do not advise that. You should do that well in advance of your first appointment at two months. As always, if you have any questions, we advise you to make an appointment in person."

"Thank you." Lily paid for the visit and returned home, where she made some tea, remembering the tea in her office that she would never get a chance to drink now. James was there, home for lunch from his meeting with the Order. He looked at her questioningly. "Shouldn't you be at work?"

Lily blinked. She knew where she should be. "James, I was just at St. Mungo's."

His eyes narrowed. "Why? Are you all right?" he asked instantly.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine." She tried in vain to contain her smile. "I have some news for you."

1 Found in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix page 780