Chapter 25

"Okay so now you've seen them all can we start business Albus?"

Lily watched as the old man folded his fingers and looked around the room.

"Yes of course and let me start with some terrible news…"

They all looked at him and Lily caught a twinkle playing in his eye as he watched them

"We missed out on our party because of Larry's death and I know how much we were all looking forward to a good night out. So I have some good news to make that up. We shall be having a small get together in the Hogs Head in three weeks times to celebrate my brother's birthday, a hundred and twenty five who'd have thought it."

Lily was smiling again as she saw James and Sirius high five at the prospect.

"That isn't important business Albus!"

"No Alastor it is very important. We've all been working extremely hard the last few months and we need an excuse to kick back and relax. If you recall our excuse was going to be a wedding but a birthday will do."

They all fell silent at this point and she felt eyes on her. Lily however just smiled kindly.

"Okay I've had enough! Stop pussyfooting around me this instant okay. Larry is dead yes I'm upset but I'm alive and need to keep living. It's what Larry would want and you all know it. A party sounds good Albus, an excuse to let my hair down and wear a nice dress."

"Is it going to be that pretty little white number?"

"No it's not Sirius so shut up."

A few chuckles sounded and Lily was sure she heard Edgar asking Hagrid if she and Sirius were always like this. Then Albus was speaking again.

"Okay onto serious stuff now. I'm opening the floor anybody got anything they want to say?"

Lily looked around and was surprised when Peter stood up a grimace on his features.

"I've got bad news. I can confirm that Crispin Pepper is under the Imperius curse."

Lily looked around her. Nobody seemed shocked by the fact that their Minster was one of them, working for Voldemort.

"I expected as much Peter thank you. Alastor this means that we're going to need to be more careful within the ministry about what is said."

"Aren't you going to try and remove him?"

Albus smiled kindly at her the way that an adult smiles at a small child when they're missing the main point.

"If we do that who's going to take his place?"

"What about Millicent Bagnold? She's a decent enough woman and I'm sure we could trust her."

"Yes but what's to stop her being gotten to as well Lily?"

She understood what Albus was saying. Nodding gently she sat back into her chair as they all went silent. A moment passed before Marlene stood up.

"The goblins are staying neutral. I've tried to convince them that they want to join us against Voldemort but wizards have given them such a bad deal they don't want to know."

That too was understandable and then Alice stood up slowly and pulled the bottle from her pocket.

"We're going to have to be more careful someone was following Dorcas. It was only because she saw the guy that we weren't seen. Lily and I had to hide for twenty minutes before we could go collect the bottle."

"Thank you Alice. We shall need to contact her and let her know to keep hidden for a while."

"I don't think there's a need Albus. If I know Dorcas as I think I do she'll remain hidden for a little while, collecting up her memories."

He nodded and Alice sat down and Albus looked at them all.

"Anymore business?"

When they remained silent he gave them the nod and they all began to leave in small numbers. Alice and Frank were among the first and Lily waved as Alice disappeared from the room. She saw Remus, Peter and Sirius walk out, or more like run out yelling about being a Snivellus.

Before Lily realised she was left alone in the room with Moody, Albus and James. Her old peer smiled and offered her a hand.

"May I escort you home? We don't want anything to happen to you now."

She grinned as they left and headed for the path down to Hogsmeade. They were silent as they walked both seemly lost in their own thoughts and Lily was surprised to find herself in her parent's garden. She didn't even remember leaving Hogsmeade.

"Well night Lily."

She just looked at James before sighing and sitting down on the grass.

"Lily are you okay?"

"Will you stay a little bit; I think I need to talk with someone."

He nodded and dropped to the floor next to her. They were both quiet for a moment and then she spoke up.

"James why do the boys call you Prongs?"

"You asked me that once before."

"I know. You didn't answer me then."

"It's just a nickname."

"Yeah well Peter called my patronus Prongs so I think there's a story there."

She saw the way his hand went to his hair and he rumpled it in the way he had always done when he was trying to impress her.

"Alright but you can't tell anybody. This is a major secret alright."

She nodded and he looked at her closely.

"You know about Remus' condition don't you?"

"Yeah he told me. Why what's that got to do with it?"

"Well I became an illegal animagi to try and help him."

"YOU WHAT?"

"Shh Lily. Sirius, Pete and I found out how to do it and well since our fifth year we've been animagi."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing as she looked at him. Then she realised what Peter had meant.

"You're a stag aren't you?"

He grinned and nodded, but she felt completely confused. She'd once read that the patronus of a person could take on the shape of a loved one. If hers was a stag did that mean that she loved James? That he was her soul mate?

"Lily you okay?"

She nodded and looked back at him.

"Sirius is a dog isn't he. That's why he calls his patronus Junior."

"Yep and Peter's a rat. It takes on a bit of something inside you; it's just like your patronus shows a part of you that maybe you didn't know was there, or something that you need."

She nodded and looked back up at the sky.

"A patronus shows your personality from within doesn't it?"

"Yeah and it hints towards your perfect partner as well sometimes. I mean it can take on a shape that has the personality of somebody you love, or belong to."

She knew what he was hinting at but tried to ignore it as she continued to watch the stars.

"I don't get why Peter's is a Chameleon."

"I don't know. Maybe because he has the ability to be in places and nobody notices him. I mean when we're all out people notice Sirius because of his fame, they notice me because of my good looks and Remus because he's good looking I suppose but he doesn't dress as well as us, there's always that shaggy look hanging there. People don't see Pete when we're around."

"Oh so the Chameleon can blend into its background just like Peter."

He nodded and she could still feel his eyes on her.

"I like Remus'. A Unicorn signifies nobility, selflessness and purity."

James laughed and she gave him a stare.

"Sorry it's just I've never heard it that way before. I suppose that's Remus. I mean the purity of the unicorn is the opposite of the wolf in him. It's fitting really and he is selfless. I mean he always puts others before himself."

"But James did you know that the Unicorn will only fight when it is cornered."

She chanced a glance and he was still watching her.

"I shall tell Remus that."

She nodded and leaned back a little.

"I would have thought you'd have mentioned Frank's. I mean how it's a perfect patronus signifying him and Alice."

"What do you mean?"

"Well it's the lion of Gryffindor and an Eagle which is pretty close to Ravenclaw. I mean it's a lion and a bird joined together just like Alice and Frank."

"I never thought of that. I was too moved by the way it was guarding Alice just like Frank would."

"She's his treasure."

"What?"

"Oh come on Lils you're suppose to be a smart girl. Wizards employ Griffins to protect their treasure. So that's why it protects Alice."

"Oh that's sweet. Did you see Moody's?"

"You mean the Erumpent?"

"Yeah how perfect is that. I mean it has the thick hide that repels most charms and curses, well lets face it Moody can do that too. Then it only attacks when its provoked well we both work with Moody and well he doesn't go out attacking the Death Eaters like Crouch would. He only fights for defence."

James nodded and grinned.

"Fabian's is fabulous as well. I mean a Demiguise they can turn themselves invisible just like he can be almost invisible when he's on a job. Oh and did you know that their hair is used to make invisibility cloaks?"

She shrugged as she watched a plane's lights flash along the sky wondering where the destination was.

"Gid's was cool. It's got a smile like his. Its useful too I guess I mean what with the fact that the pustule glows red to warn when muggles are near by. I suppose its good for keeping watch when we need it."

"Are we done with the small talk now?"

"What small talk?"

"Lily I'm trying to give you space to get over Larry I am but it's difficult. I mean being so close to you and not being able to hold you or kiss you. Lily I need you."

"It's not that simple."

"Lily I love you and I know you love me. For crying out loud I'm part of you, your patronus showed us that. I just want …"

Lily didn't let him finish his sentence. Screw the world, screw mourning for Larry she needed to move on, tomorrow she might be dead. She pushed her lips onto James' forcing herself entry into his mouth. Her hands found his neck and hair and she pulled herself closer as his arms came to her waist.

Nothing had changed after three years this was the same kiss as it was then, filled with the same want, with the same need and care as it always had been. Then something clicked in her brain and she tried to pull backwards but as she went James came with her.

Finally she managed to break the kiss. Her breathing was heavy as was his but as soon as they had pulled apart she wanted to kiss him again; it was as if she was made to kiss him and no other man.

"James you should leave?"

"But –"

"Goodnight James."

She stepped inside the kitchen closing the door on him leaning against it. This wasn't good in the least. She wanted him more than she had ever wanted him and yet she felt guilty because Larry hadn't been gone three months and she was kissing someone else and then there was the baby to consider.