Hello Everyone!
Chapter 26 here! So, here we have James and Lily, interacting with each other and their world as only James and Lily can. They have very distinct personalities, don't they? But anyways, the issue of the Evans' murder continues, and Lily is doing a very good job of putting up a front about it, but she's going to have to break down eventually. At least I think she'll break down eventually. She doesn't in this chapter, but we'll see how long she can handle her façade.
Of course, a huge thank you goes out to all my reviewers, especially, Queenie's Broken Heart, Hello-again 931, Fi, , EnglishGrlVerity, victoriam549, SecretlyAGryffindor, lana-bear, and hplover. Thank you all so much! Your reviews were fantastic!
And another big thank you goes out to everyone who liked my story enough to add it to their favorites/alerts lists. That always makes me feel good about my story, so thank you.
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When I woke I couldn't help kissing Lily into consciousness. Just soft little kisses along her neck, but it woke her, all the same. And I bet it was a better way to wake than listening to that infernal coo-coo-clock she has in her room.
She stirred and snuggled in closer to my chest.
"Wake up, love, the world didn't stop just because you finally realized what I knew in first year. We still have to get to transfiguration on time," I said cheekily as I stroked her hair.
Honestly, I would love to stay here with her all day and never move.
She groaned and rolled over. "You are never going to let me live that down, are you?" She asked sleepily.
"What? That I knew we were meant to be years before you did?" I asked, grinning as she nodded. "Oh no, sweetheart, because this officially means I'm smarter than you."
"I don't even have enough energy to argue that right now. Can you repeat it after I've had breakfast? And maybe lunch?"
I grinned and pulled her close. Merlin I love sleeping next to this girl. "I love you."
"I love you too," she said back, burying her face deeper into my chest.
If I said that I live to hear her say that, it wouldn't do the joy justice.
It wasn't until twenty minutes later that we were both running to transfiguration, without any breakfast. Maybe that coo-coo-clock does have its uses after all.
We rushed into our seats as the bell rang, and for once McGonagall didn't even bother glaring at us. Huh. I guess being late with Lily makes it okay, but being late with Sirius doesn't.
Oh well, at least now I know.
We were barely taking notes for thirty seconds before Sirius's writing appeared on my parchment.
So we were thinking that the best way to take care of the Slytherins right now is to make sure everyone else stays on patrol – SB
Why? I scribbled back, hoping McGonagall didn't notice. She's a real stickler about passing notes, and she always notices.
So that the four of us can keep up with watching Lily and figuring out what happened to her mum and dad, dunderhead – SB
Oh yeah.
Right, right. So we'll need to draw up another patrol schedule, right? – JP
No, Remus, Peter and I were working on that this morning. We didn't need to make many changes to the old one, honestly – SB
Well that's a relief. How are we going to get everyone to a meeting tonight, then? We definitely can't send owls – JP
Oh no, that's too easy to intercept. And unreliable. We need them to know by tonight, and some of those school owls can't even fly straight – SB
I sighed to myself. Well, we could always just find people in the halls—
The paper disappeared from under my hand.
I looked up. I hadn't noticed McGonagall walking our way.
"What have we here, Mr. Potter?" She asked sternly as she looked over our note. I tried to stay calm-looking, for the sake of keeping up appearances in class. I knew we wouldn't really get in trouble, but she might have to do something if I looked too guilty.
"My notes, Professor?" I asked, pretending to be confused.
She frowned at the note for a moment longer before she said, "Excellent notes, Mr. Potter. See me after class so that I can copy them for Mr. Patil."
"Why—"
"Madam Pomfrey has already informed me that he has been in the infirmary and won't be attending classes today," She told me with a silencing glare.
I listened to what the glare told me. I was silent.
Class finally ended, and I shuffled up to the front of the room. "Yes, Professor?"
"Potter, into my office, please, we don't want anyone to overhear," she said quietly. I shuffled in behind her and she closed the door.
"Now, then. I have the solution to your problem. I will inform your group of the meeting tonight. Now, I assume that Miss Vance, Miss McKinnon and Mr. Longbottom are the only ones you might have trouble reaching?"
She knew everyone that was in the group? I mean, the Gryffindors make sense, but how did she know all the others? I made up my mind to ask and started only to be cut-off.
"Well, of course, the headmaster has his ways of knowing things, Potter, and naturally he tells me so that I can keep an eye on you. Now, Miss Vance, Miss McKinnon and Mr. Longbottom, then? Am I missing any?"
"No, Professor, the rest are Gryffindors."
"Very well, then. Fortunately I shall see them all in class today. Now move along then, you don't want to rush into your next class just as the bell rings."
She ushered me out of her office just as the classroom was beginning to fill with new students. I bolted off to the charms corridor.
And I didn't rush in just as the bell rang.
I rushed in right after.
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"Okay," Lily said, standing and clearing her throat. "We all know why we're here. Everyone at this table has agreed to spy on the Slytherins to try to stop them from attacking anyone else."
She paused and looked down at me, hoping for support.
She got that support from Sirius.
"So you'll all be wondering why James, Lily, and I aren't on the schedule. Well, Lily's recently…suffered a major loss…" he glanced toward her right then, trying to gauge her reaction. When she didn't blanch he continued, trying to make his voice lighter, "And Dumbledore has decided that our lovely Lily needs to be protected. James and I will be seeing to that."
I could tell that Longbottom, Vance, and McKinnon had questions. Only the boys and Alice had been told about Lily's parents. Longbottom was the only one to say anything though, and he asked the most tactful question.
"Is Lily going to be alright?"
"Yes," Sirius and I both answered at the same time.
Although honestly I was a bit more vehement.
Longbottom just nodded, and pulled one of the schedules toward him. "So we'll be taking a couple of extra shifts? That's fine by me."
"Me too," Marlene added, pulling another schedule toward herself.
"I'm okay with that," Emmeline added, nodding and avoiding Sirius's eye. After a moment, he stopped trying to get her attention.
"Actually," I said, standing to make sure I had their attention, "Dumbledore thinks that the whole plan from last week was to get at Lily, not William Smethy." Alice's eyes got a little bug-eyed, I guess Lily hadn't told her that. "So that's why we're taking this extra precaution."
"Makes sense," Emmmeline said, "You annoy the hell out of them, Lily. They can't stand that there's a muggle-born at Hogwarts that's smarter than they are."
Sirius and Frank both snorted. "It's not hard to be smarter than a Slytherin," Sirius said cuttingly. To which Frank nodded his head vigorously.
Awesome display of unity, but we really need to get back on topic.
"Well, anyways, is there any problem with the schedules? You guys can definitely rearrange the extra shifts if you find that you have one you can't make. I mean, we have three people out of rotation now, that's a lot of slack to pick up—"
"James, we can handle it," Marlene cut in.
"Right…right. Well, I suppose that's it for the meeting then," I said in a falsely chipper voice. "Who's up for a butterbeer?"
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"So." Lily said.
"So?" I asked, knowing she was about to start.
"So you two are just going to babysit me then?"
Sirius and I both nodded.
She groaned and dropped her head into her hands. "Why me?"
"Because James fell in love with you, Miss Lily," Sirius answered her smartly. She glared in response.
"Really, though," she sighed, "Why are they so intent on getting me?"
"Because you're everything that they don't want a muggle-born to be, love," I told her earnestly. "You're beautiful, and brilliant, and dating the hottest guy in Hogwarts—"
"Excuse me? I am most definitely the hottest guy in Hogwarts—"
"Are not!"
"Am too!"
"Are not!"
"Well, Sirius, you had two girls at our meeting ogling you, James, you only had me," Lily cut in.
"No fair! There were only—You were ogling me, Lily?" Her words finally registered in my brain.
She nodded, giving me that beautiful smile of hers.
I wrapped my arms around her but turned to face Sirius. "You can have all the other girls at Hogwarts, Padfoot, I've got the one I want."
"Hermes!" Lily suddenly yelled, drowning out Sirius's reply as she ran to throw the window open. "Do you have news for me?"
The snowy owl hooted and dropped a letter into her outstretched hand before flying into the room and settling on my shoulder.
"How come Hermes likes you better than me?" Lily and Sirius both pouted at the same time.
I laughed. "Well, I transfigured him, remember?"
There were disgruntled mumbles in response and then Lily slit her letter open and began to read. I watched light and dark play across her face as she went through the letter.
"Well?" I finally asked, losing my patience.
"They've found a cause for the fire," She said, looking up. "Entirely muggle."
"Well of course it's entirely muggle!" Sirius burst out, exasperated, "It's the muggle law enforcement!"
Lily shook her head. "No, Sirius, this is from the Ministry. Arthur Weasley's been down to check, and the cause was entirely muggle. But…"
"What?" I nearly whispered. I'm not sure why I whispered but I suddenly realized that I was standing right next to her anyway and she heard the whisper easily.
"But he still suspects some sort of foul play," She whispered back, looking up at me as I slipped me arms around her waist.
No one said anything for what seemed like a long time.
No one knew what to say.
I mean, if what Lily told us before is any indication, then she already knows who murdered her parents. Some muggle named Tom or his wife, Janice.
I was really hoping for someone to break the silence, but Sirius seemed to have decided that it was not his place to speak and Lily was speechless.
"The muggles then?" I asked as softly as I could, as if asking the question more quietly would make it more tactful. "Tom and Janice?"
She turned to me and nodded.
After another endless silence I asked, "How do you feel, sweetheart?"
She took a moment, then collected her breath and looked up at me.
"Relieved."
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Disgusted though I was at that relief, it was short-lived anyway.
Two days later, Hermes was rapping at the window again, and even as I went to let him in I dreaded the letter in his claws.
I pried the letter open.
Miss Evans,
I'm deeply sorry to inform you that there has been an unfortunate development in the case of your parents' deaths. According to the muggle law enforcement, the suspects are pleading something called 'temporary insanity.' While this may seem an unsubstantial muggle defense, it does require further investigation by the Ministry of Magic as it bears resemblance to the effects of an Unforgiveable Curse.
Please be assured that we are investigating the case thoroughly and will inform you of any further developments in a timely fashion.
My Condolences,
Pertius Stovepipe
Head Warlock of the High Court
Ministry of Magic
My hand shook slightly as I read, making it difficult to read the words and giving them a surreal quality. That was a good thing, because I don't think I could handle really processing that letter. I don't want this to be Death Eaters, I really don't, and if they're thinking that Tom and Janice were under the Imperius Curse…
I didn't so much sit in the nearest chair as fall into it, and that's when I got Sirius and James's attention. They were by me in a flash.
"Did the owl bring bad news?" James asked, worry evident on his face.
I nodded.
I didn't have words, so I just thrust the letter at him.
I watched his face turn dark as he read. Finally he gave Sirius the letter and took my face in both his hands.
"Now you listen to me, Lily Evans," he said sternly, "This is in no way your fault. Do you hear me? This isn't your fault."
I shook my head. How could it not be?
"They hate me, James," I whispered. "This is all my fault."
Sirius clenched the letter in his hand, about to go into some sort of tirade, but James raised a hand to stop him. "No, Lily. This is not your fault at all."
I couldn't believe him, no matter how badly I wanted to.
"I'll keep repeating it until it sinks in, Lils," Sirius added. "It's not your fault."
I didn't realize that I was crying until James started wiping tears from my cheeks. I looked him straight in the eyes.
"I wanted it to be muggles," I confessed in a whisper. "I wanted it so badly."
James pulled me into a tight hug, and I knew he wouldn't let go any time soon.
I was completely okay with that.
"It's not your fault."
Right then, I didn't care that it was a lie.
I needed to hear the lie.
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"So we're going to have to go to the Ministry, then?"
"You don't have to come, James, I'm a big girl, I can handle it—"
"Really, Lily? You think they're any way that you can keep me from coming with you?"
I sighed. Of course he wanted to come. He wanted to be supportive.
I understand that, I really do, but he's wasting too much time on me.
"James, I will be fine on my own."
"No. You won't. You need me there for moral support and protection."
"I do not need moral support or protection," I snapped as I raised a hand to knock on Dumbledore's door. "I can handle myself—"
"Come in," came a strong, clear voice.
James held the door for me and we both stepped inside.
"Miss Evans, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore greeted, nodding at us both. "Won't you both sit down?"
"How are you, Professor?" James asked as he took his seat.
"Quite well, thank you," Dumbledore answered, though his expression didn't tell me that he was in a good mood. In fact, I'm nearly certain that he has bad news about Mum and Dad for me. "I must talk to you briefly, however, about the little excursion you will be taking into the muggle world."
"Professor," I interrupted at this opportunity, "I know that you're concerned about any possible mistakes that we might make with muggle contact, but I can assure you that won't be a problem."
"Not at all, Miss Evans, I have complete faith in your ability to interact with muggles. In fact I am counting on your prowess to guide Mr. Potter and Professor McGonagall. I have more important matters to discuss."
"Professor McGonagall?"
"Yes, she will be accompanying you as an extra precaution. I do not believe it wise to allow you out of Hogwarts unattended, Miss Evans, you are, as they say, a hot commodity."
James blanched at that. I felt more than saw him tense, and I hurried to cut off his tirade at that epithet.
"Really, Headmaster, I should be fine—"
"Lily, you most certainly will not be fine. You will be accompanied by Professor McGonagall and I will not hear any complaints from you. Now, Mr. Potter, as for your role in the matter—"
"Only Professor McGonagall?" James cut him off. "Why not more? They're after her, Professor, surely you see the danger."
"I do indeed, James, but I believe that Professor McGonagall will be enough protection for the time being."
"But, why? Why would that be enough protection? If you're counting me, Professor, I know I won't be good enough to keep her safe from twenty Death Eaters—"
"James, calm down. There will not be twenty Death Eaters."
"But how do you know?" He insisted, pounding a fist on his armrest, "You don't know, do you? You're just guessing—"
"James! Calm down!" I said, pulling him back down into his chair as he was standing. I mean, what was he going to do? Threaten Dumbledore? "Sorry, Professor," I apologized for him.
"Quite alright, Lily, and quite understandable. Unfortunately, there is a reason why I know that you will not be pursued with…I suppose I shall call it, the greatest of Voldemort's forces."
And then he just stopped.
I waited for a moment.
Then I waited another moment.
I might have been able to hold out a little longer, but James was bursting next to me so I spoke for him again. "Are you going to tell us this reasoning, Professor?"
Dumbledore's brow furrowed, and his eyes clouded over. "Well, Lily, James, it appears that Voldemort is interested in recruiting both of you."
"Oh," I said, relaxing back into my chair.
"You already knew this," Dumbledore accused.
"I heard Bellatrix Black say it," I shrugged.
James turned to me, finding someone else to direct some anger at. "You knew this?"
"Yes."
"Anything else you would like to share?" James asked, still angry.
"Bellatrix is a Death Eater," I added, deciding to get that out in the open.
Both of them just stared.
"How do you know!" James yelled at the same time that Dumbledore asked, "How did you come across this information?"
"I saw her Dark Mark."
More bug eyes.
"Last week, while she was getting her things to leave," I added, thinking now was a good time to tell the whole story. "Sirius and I were on patrol, watching the Slytherin common room, and we followed her out onto the grounds. And when she walked past us I saw her mark."
They were both silent for a moment before James asked, "Why didn't you tell me?"
I shook my head. "I wasn't sure if Sirius saw, and you know how he gets about his family. I didn't want you three to badger him about it if he didn't see."
James just stared.
I didn't know what to say, and I didn't expect to feel guilty about doing what I thought was the best thing. And I really did think it was the best way to handle the situation! But there was just something in his eyes right then, I felt so guilty. I should have told him.
"I'm sorry, James," I whispered.
He shook his head. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want Sirius to be upset if he didn't know."
"Well, who did you tell then?" He asked, his voice turning accusatory.
"I didn't tell anyone, James! I really didn't!" And then I remembered Alice. Yeah, it would probably be better not to mention that right now.
He was fuming, but he stopped arguing and turned in his chair to face Dumbledore. "So we'll be going to the muggle court with Professor McGonagall, then, Professor Dumbledore? And she will accompany us to the Ministry of Magic s well?"
I was in trouble, that was for sure. He's never bee this angry at me before.
"Yes, James," Dumbledore said calmly, acting as though I had not just dropped two bombs on them both. "That is correct."
I concentrated on breathing so that I wouldn't have to see James's livid face.
"Is that all, then? Can we go?"
Good Merlin, he loses all sense of tact when he's upset, doesn't he?
Or maybe that's just because he's thinking that I came between him and Sirius.
But I didn't! That's not what I meant at all, and obviously Sirius didn't see, or else he would have been brooding for the past week—
"Yes, you are free to go to lunch."
"Thank you," James said, before sweeping me out of the office.
Oh, yes. I was in trouble.
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I hope you liked it!