A/N:-Just a quickie before the Chapter. I really like this chapter and i felt like being really nice. This Chapter is for both my reviewers that go by the name of Jessie (Jessie Flower and Jessie xxx) and for Lady of Masbolle (how was it having your parents together?)
Lily's POV – June 1981
I stood outside my house in the back garden staring up at the sky. Harry was crawling around my legs. He was fascinated by the outside world, he hadn't seen it properly yet. It was the first time I'd actually been outside in a while. Dumbledore had said as long as we stayed near the house we could go outside. I looked up in the sky as I saw about seven dark dots flying quite high up. They were flying strangely and I knew they were owls. Even from this distance I could see the colour of the envelopes that they carried. They were the owls from the ministry sending owls to those in Ireland informing people of their dead loved ones. It happened regularly but there had never been as many owls as this. I frowned and then looked down as I felt a tugging on my trouser leg.
"What is it Harry?" I asked crouching down and ruffling his messy hair. Harry tried to stand up and put a hand on my knee as he pointed ahead where Sirius was coming from with two broomsticks. Next to him was a large beautiful stag that sped up when he saw us. I smiled and picked Harry up as he watched the stag curiously.
"Hi darling." Sirius said with a smirk as he came and hugged me. I gave him a weird look.
"Are you ok?" I asked.
"Yeah, I'm trying to make prongs jealous." Sirius said with a grin. At that Prongs hit Sirius with his antlers. "Ow" Sirius muttered. I smiled.
"Well it wont work, come here Prongs." I said. The stage obediently came over and I kissed the end of it's nose. "I love you but I prefer my husband"
Oh really funny Lily said a voice in my head. I gave him a smile, Harry looked around curiously.
"Daddy?" He said. Sirius laughed and I gently held Harry so he could try and stroke Prongs.
"Harry, this is Prongs. He's a friend of Snuffles" I told Harry. When Harry had met Padfoot he had given him the name Snuffles.
"Pongs" Harry said. I smiled and let Harry stroke Prongs as Prongs lifted his head and nuzzled Harry. Sirius laughed slightly as one of Prong's antlers nearly knocked me out so I decided to put Harry on the floor. It would be safer. Prongs sat down next to Harry as Harry got up and went over to him. I went to a sun lounger that I had gotten out and sat on it. Sirius came over and sat on the ground next to it.
"How are you and April?" I asked him with a smile. April seemed so much happier now that she was dating Sirius again. It hadn't been obvious before but now the change in her was quite astounding, though she was slightly ill at the moment, I had my suspicions though as to why she was ill.
"We're great. Her dad really seems to like me, it's rather strange, parents aren't supposed to like me."
"Well I guess that gives you the go ahead to propose to her." I said with a cheeky smile. Sirius looked at me slightly shocked.
"I can't propose to her." He said. "I mean I don't think she wants that kind of thing and I know I'm far from ready to make a proper commitment but I suppose I will if she wants to but I'm really not sure." He said almost shyly. I smiled at him
"Is Sirius Black nervous about asking my April to marry him." He went slightly red and I sat up. "Oh my god, you're serious." I said seriously and looking at him.
Sirius is serious about what? I heard James say in my head. I looked over to Prongs, where he was looking at us.
"Nothing." I said, "I just need to talk to Sirius quickly, look after Harry." Prongs nodded and he quickly turned into James. Harry started in surprise but grinned when he saw James. Sirius helped me to my feet and I went to give James a quick kiss before going for a walk with Sirius. We went to a small valley between some hills that James and I had often gone for midnight walks soon after we got married.
"Are you serious that you want to marry April?" I asked Sirius with a slight frown. Sirius shrugged with his hands in his pockets.
"I don't know. I mean I really love April I don't want to lose her again but I don't know if I should propose or not because, well personally I'm not sure if I could handle such a big commitment and I'm not sure if April wants it" Sirius said nervously. I couldn't help but smile. Sirius Black, what shall we do with him? "I mean last time she broke up with me because I hadn't matured much but do you think that if I proposed then that'd show I'd grown up?" He asked, he stopped and looked at me. He looked so scared and nervous, I'd never seen him like this, well once and that was on April and Sirius' first Valentines day.
"Well I really don't know. As for the commitment thing, do you remember what James was like?" I asked Sirius with a smile. I sat down on a small rock that was firmly planted in the ground while Sirius sat on the grass. Sirius laughed.
"Yeah, he was really the player wasn't he?" Sirius asked.
"Yep, and look at him now." I said proudly. "But seriously Sirius..." I frowned slightly. Sirius smiled. "Wow, how often do you hear that word with your name in the same sentence?"
"That's the point Lily," He said, "I want to be more mature, I want to change myself for April, I'm not going to risk losing her again." He said. "I mean I always loved her, I always wanted her." I frowned as I thought of my cousin, Yasmine.
"So what was that with Yasmine?" I asked slightly less happily. Sirius bit his lip.
"Yeah, she was like a rebound, she knew that, she said she wanted to help me get over April. I think generosity runs in your family." Sirius said. I smiled slightly.
"Well, I'll talk to April but as to whether you should propose or not what does your heart tell you." I asked. Sirius looked at me.
"You can't be serious can you? What is it with you girls and following your heart?" Sirius asked. I rolled my eyes.
"Oh, come on. If us girls didn't 'follow our hearts' where do you think Jenny and I would be?" I said. Now that I thought about it if Jenny and I had done what we thought we wouldn't be were we were. She would have followed what she had thought and stayed away from Remus when she found out what he was and I wouldn't have given James the time of day. It was that kiss that he'd given me at the masked ball that got me, I knew I should have just left him but that kiss. I smiled, it always made me smile as I thought about it.
"I suppose. It's just you and Jenny are different to April. You two are actually sensible." Sirius said with a smirk.
"Have you seen April nowadays? She's really taking things in her own hands, she really is." I said. Sirius looked at me.
"When did you last speak to her?" He asked with a smile.
"Yesterday." I said, "Her parent's bed huh?" I asked him. He grinned and shrugged.
"It was her idea."
"That's what James said about the park." I said. "Come on, I think I should be getting back to the house before anything bad happens to me." Sirius nodded and we both got up.
"So what should I do?" Sirius asked as we walked back to the house.
"I think you should follow your heart, what does it tell you Sirius." I said to him. Sirius seemed to think for a moment and then smiled.
"Thanks Lily." He said, he put an almost brotherly arm around my shoulders. "James is lucky to have you."
"Everyone says that" I said with a smile. "Don't tell him but it's only because he's a good kisser." I said. Sirius and I started laughing. We went to the house and instead of going inside Sirius went to where he had his motorbike parked by the side of the house. He gave me a hug and then went. I waved him off before heading into the house.
"James?" I called.
"In here." James called back from the living room. I went into the living room to find Harry attacking his dad on the floor. It was quite an amusing sight, a boy who was barely one attacking his dad. I went and sat on the sofa and lifted my legs up on it and watched happily. I still, to this day couldn't believe I had this family. I played with my wedding ring as I thought about my parents. Even if they weren't alive anymore they'd still be happy that my family was doing so well. I felt a pang of guilt as I thought about them, however. Petunia was right, they were dead because of me, because of who I was and who my child was.
I was so deep in thought that I didn't notice that James and Harry had stopped fighting. I was only pulled out of my reverie when I felt Harry play with my sock covered feet. I looked at Harry, who was pulling at my socks and wiggling the toes he could get hold of. I gave an amused frown then turned to James. He gave me a smile and got up off the floor. He climbed onto the sofa and pulled me on top of him so I was lying on him.
"Sickle for your thoughts?" He asked, hugging me tightly and giving me a kiss.
"I was just thinking about stuff" I said. James gave me a smile.
"Like what?" He asked. I had to move my feet then as Harry began to tickle the bottom of them.
"Harry, stop playing with mummy's body parts." I said to him. Harry gave me a look of confusion before deciding to play with James' feet.
"Are you ticklish my dear?" James said in a strange voice. I lifted myself up slightly on his chest.
"No James." I said warningly.
"Or what?" He asked pulling me into kiss. He pulled me closer to him. I couldn't really thing of anything that would follow my threat through. James gave me a cheeky grin and I got up quickly.
"James, no." I said as I headed to the door but not quickly enough. James grabbed me around my waist and pulled me to the floor and started tickling me. "James please." Harry was laughing and clapping his hands while James tickled me even more. "JAMES!" I shouted.
"Lily!" He shouted back. I hit his chest and eventually managed to push him off me. I lay on the floor panting.
"You...are...pure...evil" I said between breaths. James grinned. Harry walked over slowly and sat down next to me. I looked at him and gave him a smile as I put a hand on his back.
"Oh, you know you love it really." James said as he leaned on his front and put his head on my stomach.
"No I don't love being tickled." I said sounding slightly annoyed but looking at him with a smile. He lifted my shirt slightly.
"But you love it when I touch you though, don't you?" He asked as he put a hand on my stomach and kissed me.
"Aren't I supposed to be the one who does this kind of stuff to you?" I asked with a smile. James shrugged.
"Well you turn me on a bit too quickly and as we'll have to wait until tonight because Harry's awake and he's obviously very happy for some reason- " James reached across my body and ruffled up Harry's small mop of hair. "Hello Harry" He said in a babyish voice.
"Daddy." Harry replied.
"Yes, and who is this?" James asked pointing to me.
"Mummy."
"And who are you?"
"Harry." He said. James grinned.
"There's a good boy. Lily can I please take him on a bro-"
"No!" I said propping myself up on my elbows. "I am not letting you take Harry out on a broom it's too dangerous, don't you dare give me that look." I tried to keep my stern face as James gave me the innocent pleading look that he always gave me when he wanted something. "No." I said but my will power was slowly breaking down.
"I'll take you out for a midnight walk again, like last time." James said as he came closer to my face and whispered the last bit in my ear.
"We can't. And it's too dangerous to let Harry out of the house."
"I won't take him high, like, just fly him to the bedroom window and back to the ground again."
"What if you drop him?" I asked worriedly.
"Do you really think I'll drop my own son?" James asked me. He ended that by giving me a kiss. He hooked an arm around my body and I had to put an arm around him, it was too difficult to resist.
"Ok, fine but only right outside the house where I can see you." I said. James grinned and practically dropped me back on the floor as he picked up Harry and rushed to get his broom.
"Oh for crying out loud." I muttered as I got to my feet. By the time I was in the kitchen James had already mouthed his broom and had somehow managed to transfigure something into what looked like a baby seat for a broom. Harry was seated in it. I opened the back door and leaned in the frame watching uncertainly as James launched him and Harry into the air. The problem with living here was that there were a lot of Muggles around but because my house was so far out of the way they didn't really notice all the strange goings on. I felt my stomach flutter as I watched James fly Harry around. Harry look ecstatic but I just couldn't help feeling that James was going to drop him, despite the baby harness.
"Oh, relax Lily, I won't do anything." James said as he saw me and flew past slowly.
"Sorry it's just that-JAMES!!" James did a barrel roll on the broom with Harry on. I felt my heart jump. James started laughing when he saw my face.
"Lily, relax!" James said.
"How can I relax when you do things like that on your broom with my son!" I said frantically.
"Don't worry, Harry's enjoying it, aren't you Harry?" James asked the baby.
"Moe, moe!" It took me and James a moment to realize that Harry was trying to say more.
"Ok." James said.
"James, no." I said but James wouldn't listen to me. I sighed, gave up and went back into the house.
It had been quite an exhausting day. As today had been the first day that we'd been able to take Harry out of the house at all, we'd tried to make the best of it. Right now I was having trouble locating my husband and my baby son. I'd been thinking all day about the stuff that Sirius had been talking to me about. It would be lovely if April and Sirius would get married but I think I had to agree with Sirius when he said that he didn't think April wanted it quite yet but it was a kind thought, nonetheless. I locked the doors and picked up a mug of hot Chocolate, which I made on a whim, then headed upstairs. I knew they weren't in the living room because I'd just been in there doing more reading on the Fidelius charm. The house had been strangely quiet for a while now, I hadn't actually noticed until about ten minutes ago.
I went to Harry's play room, where his cot now was. But no one was in there. I sighed as I saw one of his toys trying to escape so I waved my wand and tidied it all up. I closed the curtains and then headed out of the room, tucking my wand in my pocket and taking a sip of my hot chocolate. I headed to my bedroom. There wasn't much chance of them being in the guest room. My guess had been right. On the bed James was fast asleep with Harry asleep over his arm. I couldn't help but smile. I put my mug down on the dresser and went to the bed and sat on the edge. Both boys were both sound asleep. I pulled the duvet free slightly and put it over the two of them. I leant over and kissed James gently on the lips then stroked Harry's hair out of the way. Boys!
I smiled to myself and stood up. I felt quite happy right now and perfectly content, I had almost everything I wanted in life. I can't remember why I got so worked up over having to quite my job. I think it had to be one of the best things I'd ever done. I don't think I could go back to work now that I had Harry to look after, I never wanted to leave him. I picked up my mug and went back down to the living room and sat on the sofa. I got out my wand and summoned the coffee table closer so I could put my mug on it. I was just getting comfortable and ready to begin reading the books on Fidelius Charms again when there was a loud crack. I jumped, someone apparating in was the last thing I expected. I grabbed my wand and pointed it at the door. Someone pushed it open and stood in the doorway. I relaxed when I was it was only April in her auror cloak.
"What are you doing here?" I asked. I was happy to see her but it was really late. April just ignored me and went to the window and parted the curtains slightly. I got up curiously and went to the window with her.
"Death Eaters" She whispered as I looked out as well. I saw a few shadowy figures walking about in the streets outside. I gasped and let the curtain fall back.
"Oh my god, how did they find us?" I asked her anxiously, "how do you know?" April fingered her wand then turned to me, she lowered her hood and shook her head free.
"We've got a few people who follow certain Death Eaters. I was following Bellatrix Lestrange and she kinda came here. I thought this would be the safest place to come." April said.
"That's Bellatrix Lestrange?" I asked not believing what she said. April nodded seriously.
"Malfoy's out there as well." She said. "Lily, I really think you should try and do something for your protection." She said worriedly. "I don't want you guys getting hurt." I sighed and went back to the sofa, looking anxiously at the window.
"Dumbledore did tell us to consider the Fidelius charm." I told April. "I've been reading up on it, like trying to figure out how to do it."
"The Fidelius Charm? That's like, really serious." April said sitting down on the sofa next to me.
"I know. I don't want to do it but I think I'll have to." I said, "It's a really complicated spell but I think I can do it." April looked at me. I was suddenly reminded of what Sirius had said and I looked at April curiously.
"April." I said.
"Lily." She replied.
"You know your relationship with Sirius?" She immediately broke out into a very girlish grin.
"Yes" she said.
"Well, what do you want to happen with it?" I asked. April looked at me and I looked away so she couldn't read my mind.
"Oh that's not fair," she complained.
"Just answer my question April, please. I'm really curious." I said, looking into my mug.
"I don't know." April said with a shrug. "I guess one day I would want to marry him I suppose. I mean I've seen how happy you and Jenny are with your marriages but I don't know if I could cope yet." April admitted "Why? Has Sirius been talking about me?"
"Yes." I said with a slight smile.
"What did he say?" April asked seriously.
"He just wanted to ask me whether I knew any ways that would make him be more mature. He knows what you think about his maturity and he wants to change it." I said. "It's quite sweet really."
"He doesn't have to change for me." April said with a smile. I grinned and put my mug back down on the table. "So, where's James?"
"Asleep."
"Harry?"
"Asleep with him." I said with a smile. "It's quite cute." I picked up another book and began reading it. "Will you be staying here to watch the Death Eaters tonight?" I asked April. She nodded.
"If you don't mind."
"Feel free. I just have to finish reading this then I'm heading to bed...if I fit on the bed." I added as an afterthought. April smiled.
"I'm sure you will, you're in great shape." She said.
"Thank you" I said when she gave me the compliment. I began to read the book and slowly my decision over what I should do was beginning to become clearer.
The Fidelius charm, although very complicated, allows the caster to hide in complete secrecy. The place that is protected by the charm cannot be found by anyone unless the chosen secret keeper gives out the address. The full charm takes a month to make. A small amount of potion it needed to help transfer the magic, though once this is done there is a highly complicated spell. The details of which can be found below. This is the safest form of hiding and once the charm is conducted the caster will never be found. The charm can be lifted by death of the Secret keeper or by feeding the secret keeper a potion that reverses the effect of the Fidelius charm
I flicked my gaze over the potion recipe and the charm details. It looked relatively ok to me. I could do this, I'd done a few more complicated procedures in Healer training. I closed the book slowly and glanced at April. She was looking at the window like it was about to suddenly shatter and the shards of glass attack her. She was a fairly good auror from what I'd heard and she looked like she was quite good.
"I'm going to bed." I said, "see you in the morning if you're still here."
"Ok." April said, not taking her gaze away from the window.
"Help yourself to any food." I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, I thought a hug might disturb her concentration and walked off to bed. I silently changed, not taking my gaze off of James, he looked so handsome in his own particular way. He suited the part of a father. Once I'd changed I went and picked up Harry and took him to his room and placed him in his cot. Before I left his room I felt a slight shiver going down my spine, I don't know what it was but I suddenly found myself at the window. I put my fingers by the edge and moved the curtain very slightly and looked out. There were two figures whispering right outside the house. I wasn't sure if they knew I lived here but it was highly disconcerting. I felt an enormous sense of fear rising in me. I'd never actually felt this scared before. They were joined by another and they walked off. One figure seemed to turn around and look straight at me like that figure knew I was watching. We kept eye contact for a moment, his eyes were a stone grey colour. He gave me a look that told me everything that I needed to know.
I didn't know who it was but after a few moments I broke eye contact and let the curtain fall back into place. I pressed myself against the wall and put my hands on my face and covered my eyes for a moment. While I had held eye contact with the person too many thoughts had run through my head and the urge to cry was suddenly overwhelming me. They knew where we lived, they were going to kill us I knew they were, they would try.
Suddenly my sense of security shattered and I felt helpless. I started crying and looked at Harry and picked him up out of the cot again. He muttered in his sleep as I moved him again and my tear stained face touched his skin. I wasn't going to leave him on his own. I took him back to my bedroom and got into the bed with Harry sleeping on my shoulder. I lay him between me and James and held Harry tightly. Even in his sleep he didn't seem to mind. James seemed to sense me there and moved closer to me. I didn't want anything to happen to us. I was too happy like this, as a family where I was loved. James' eyes fluttered open and he gave me a tired smile then looked at me seriously.
"What's wrong?" he croaked tiredly. I shook my head and he came closer.
"Nothing." I whispered. He put a hand on my damp face and frowned, he clearly didn't believe me but he wasn't going to press me for anything, it was too late at night. "I'll tell you tomorrow" He gave a sombre smile and kissed my forehead as he hugged me as best he could with Harry between us.
"Everything will be alright." He whispered as he slowly fell back to sleep. I let his sleep and I held my sleeping boy close to me. Nothing would happen to them, I wasn't going to let them get hurt if I could help it. Tomorrow I'd tell James that I'd agree to the Fidelius charm. Update him a bit more about it and then tell Dumbledore our decision.
"Mummy seeping" I heard a baby mutter.
"Yes, be quiet though, she looks tired." I heard James say. My eyes were closed and I could feel someone moving around on the bed. Someone very small and someone I loved a lot. I rolled over and felt something next to me. I opened my eyes to see James sitting in the bed next to me watching me with a pleasant smile on his face.
"Hey." I said tiredly. "What time is it?"
"It's about seven in the morning." He said gently
"What?" I muttered. "Oh sh-" James put a hand over my mouth and stifled the rest of the word.
"What time did you finally come to bed?" James asked.
"About three." I muttered. I replayed the events of last night in my head. That Death Eater who saw me looking at him. April! She was probably still downstairs. I got up quickly and rushed out of the room. April was still in the living room, this time she was by the curtains. She turned in surprise with her wand out as I went in the room.
"Oh, only you." April said with a smile. "Well they've gone. I might have to come back tonight though"
"You'll have to, they know where we live." I said fearfully. April frowned.
"What? How?"
"One of them saw me." I said quietly. I sat down as I remembered the fear I felt last night. "He saw me and I knew that he was going to tell Voldemort. We're not safe anymore." I said. I think April heard the fear in my voice. She sat down next to me and pulled me into a hug.
"You'll be perfectly safe here." She said into my ear as we hugged. "No one is going to hurt you. James is a fully qualified Auror and you have me, you know how to contact me if you need my help." I nodded and she let go. "Merlin, Lily, you look a bit worse for wear, I think last night might had been a bit much."
"I did have a break down." I told April quietly. She frowned.
"You should go back to bed. I'll take up your breakfast then I'll go back to work. You just get some rest." I nodded and April helped me to my feet. James was still in the bed when I returned.
"What happened?"
"I needed to talk to April. She came here last night because there were Death Eaters in the streets. They know where we live James" I said looking at James seriously.
"How?"
"They saw me looking at them, well one of them did." I said. James scowled.
"Well then there's nothing we can do for now." He said.
"I want to perform the Fidelius Charm James. I want to do it to protect us, it's the only way." I said. James nodded. He'd been for the charm since the beginning.
"Alright. I'll owl Dumbledore later and you and him talk about it. I don't know much about it." I nodded and he held me tightly. I could feel everything lift from my shoulders.
"Thank you James." I said.
"Any time." He said with a smile. I looked at Harry who was currently a bump under the duvet. I felt a hand on my leg, under the duvet and I lifted the duvet to see Harry looking at me with a baby smile.
"Boo." I said. Harry started laughing and I reached to pull him back towards me. He let me pick him up and hugged me briefly before scrambling under the duvet again. I rolled my eyes and James pulled me towards him. I gave him a kiss, which he seemed more then happy to return. We both lay down on the bed and I just lay in his for a while. I liked having him here all day everyday, it meant that we got to spend more time together. There was no rush to get anything done. I closed my eyes and pressed my face against his chest.
"I'll send a letter to Dumbledore later." He said. I nodded and felt sleep take me again but again Harry popped his head out from under the duvet.
"Mummy." He said like he was going to continue.
"Yes Harry." I said, looking at Harry. He started babbling, the only words I made out was Bo, what I thought was Broom, and bekkie, which meant breakfast.
"Leave mummy alone for a while." James said. Harry looked slightly annoyed at that.
"You can sleep with me for a while. Come on." I said pulling Harry towards me. He let me hug him patiently and stuck his thumb in his mouth.
A/N:-Ok, i thought this chapter was pretty cool, one that i thought was a bit of a turning point in the story, i'm not totally sure yet if it is, I think the next one is slightly pivotal as well. Anyway, you won't be able to read the next chapter until Friday at the latest because I've got to go to the Isle of Wight for a stupid Biology Coursework field trip...Please kill me so i don't have to go, i don't want to go!!! holds onto doorframe while biology teachers pull legs...though i'm in my favourite teacher's teaching group and coach so it shouldn't be that bad...hopefully, salt marshes, estuaries and Rock pools.....joy (!!)
Jessie Flower, i'm afraid i've ditched the R rated Remus chapter, it just wasn't working and didn't really fit in with the rest of the story. Also, i couldn't really make it more then about 3000 words, i'm struggling with a Peter chapter right now and that does fit in with the story line. But, I've made an R rated Lily chapter, I hope that makes up for it in some small way. I promise you i did try and i'll send you my attempt next weekend if you want it.
Also, just to answer a question that i found rather amusing, yes i have gotten off with some of my best friends and close friends but i must tell you that it did involve large quantities of alcohol and a spinning bottle
The next chapter will be Peter's POV.....chapter tbc