Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

I decided that I'm going to try to update my stories at least a couple of times a week since I am on Christmas break until Jan 20th. Today is my birthday (I'm twenty). So I'm dedicating this chapter to all my readers. And I can do that because it's my birthday. (sticks out tongue)

From last chapter:

Darkness...so much darkness...fingers grasping...head thrashing...eyes open.

"And you can't see who it is?" Blaise asked.

Harry shook his head.

OoOoOoOoO

"Ava is not responding to the potions. I know it seems like a simple summer flu but this is scaring us."

Snape sat and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and finger.

" There's also more news."

Severus looked at the two Black sisters.

"Her magic is depleting."

OoOoOoO

"Dumbledore has gone mad."

The man obviously has not been sleeping. You can tell that from the dark circles under his eyes. I had a meeting with him and he dozed off, it seems that he talks in his sleep and was begging "them" to leave him alone."

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"What did you dream about?" he asked.

"Blood. So much blood. So much screaming." he said shaking his head.

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"Ava." Severus called startling her. She looked up at them.

"Hi guys." she said softly.

Severus rushed over and took her vital signs. All were normal.

"How?" he asked.

She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. One minute I was feeling like hell. The next minute I'm fine."

OoOoOoO

Ava rolled her eyes and walked to the door. Kingsley is always forgetting his keys.

She opened the door and nearly fainted right then and there.

Right in front of her

Covered in blood.

Was Lily Potter.

memories

Chapter 26: Bound Even In Death

Ava did the one thing she could think of after seeing her supposedly dead lover at the front door.

She pointed the wand at her chest.

Lily did not even flinch.

"Who sent you?"

Lily raised an eyebrow. "Ava-"

"Was it Dumbledore? How did he the hairs to make the polyjuice potion? Or did he use a glamor?

"Ava!"

Ava growled poked her chest with a wand. A curse on her lips.

"Ava look at me. Really look at me."

Ava did look at her. The look of love and adoration on her face nearly brought her to tears. But she wouldn't fall for it.

Ava shook her head. "No. Lily Potter is dead. I prepared her body for burial. I saw her body lowered into the ground."

Lily smiled sadly. " If you don't believe me, then you know what you can do."

"What do you mean?" Ava asked confused.

"What did you master over the summer of our sixth year?" she smiled.

"I-"

"It's the only way I can prove to you who I am."

Ava stepped back. After taking a deep breath she pointed her wand at Lily.

"Legimens!

Within seconds Ava was in her mind. Eleven year old Lily greeting her on the Hogwarts train. Comforting Lily her first night in the castle. Lily meeting Remus for the first time. Working on their third year DADA project. She and Kingsley defending Severus from the Marauders. Walking in the Yule Ball fourth year wearing Gryffindor red gown. Lily wearing Ravenclaw blue. Their weddings. Their bonding. Their first kiss.

"It is you." she whispered.

Lily smiled. "It's about time you figured it out." Before she could say another word she was crushed by Ava in a crushing embraced.

"Ava. Ava shush." she said and she combed her fingers through her hair to sooth her as Ava started to sob uncontrollably.

Ava untangled herself from Lily's embrace and wiped her tears. She looked at Lily in horror.

"The blood! You're-"

"Fine." Lily finished. "It isn't mine."

"Then whose is it?"

Lily bowed her head but said nothing.

She grabbed Lily's hand. "We got to get you cleaned up." She headed upstairs but ran into Bella before she could enter her bedroom.

"Ava!" Bella exclaimed in surprised. " I was about to check on you and-" she stopped with she caught the sight of Lily.

"Hello Bellatrix." Lily said.

"Lily?" Bella croaked.

Ava caught her before she fell to the floor.

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After laying a fainted Bella on her bed, she ushered Lily to the bathroom, who immediately began to take off her clothes. She didn't care that she filled the white tub to the rim nor that water poured over the tub as Lily sat in the tub. She took a sponge and gently wiped the blood off Lily's face.

"How?" she asked.

"How I came back or how am I covered in blood?"

"The former."

Lily looked at Ava nervously. "You're not going to like it."

Ava smiled. "Humor me."

Lily sighed. "Well, just because the body dies doesn't mean the soul does. I've been trying to come back for awhile and...well... I realized that even though I was dead, that didn't mean that the bond was broken between us. So I borrowed some of your magic.

Ava jaw dropped. "Is that why I was so sick for the last week."

Lily slowly nodded.

"You know, when you were a ghost and everything you should have told me that."

Lily laughed. "What's the fun in that. Plus you love surprises."

Before Ava could respond, the bathroom door busted open and in walked a pale Bellatrix. Her eyes squared on Lily.

"Sweet Merlin! And I thought I was dreaming." she said.

"How are you Bellatrix?" she said as she took the sponge from Ava and started to get the blood off herself.

"Don't you "how are you Bellatrix" me! You're suppose to be dead! " she screamed.

"Really." Lily said in mock surprise.

"I..I...I need a drink." Bella stammered and went to Ava's liquor cabinet.

"I'll leave you to bath." Ava said getting up and left the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She saw Bellatrix taking shots of vodka.

"How?" Bella asked.

"She used my magic to get back. That's why I was sick for so long."

"You think we should tell the others?"

Ava nodded. "Either that or watch everyone have a heart attack when she comes down for breakfast."

"The latter is actually-"

"Shut up Bella." Ava rolled her eyes left to wake up the rest of the occupants of the manor.

OoOoOoO

Ava knocked on the Malfoy's door a quick three times. Behind her was her jaw-dropped son and wide-eyed Draco and a note taking Hermione. He had to Ennervate Draco twice. Her son was speechless. Hermione was going though a list of what books to look for in the library for information.

McGonagall was already in her room she assume tending to Lily. She had never seen such tears in the Head of Gryffindor's house when she told her the news.

After a few seconds, the door was opened revealing Lucius sleep tussled head.

"What is it?" he asked groggy.

"Wake up Cissa, I have something to tell you."

After rousing a swearing Cissa out of bed, she and Lucius were led outside their door.

"What wrong Ava?" she asked.

Ava took a deep breath.

"Lily. She's alive. She's here." she said calmly.

The Malfoys stared at Ava. After a heartbeat or two Narcissa rushed to Ava's room. Lucius hot on her trails.

"Let's follow them." Draco said.

"But-" He was dragged by Draco before he could finish. Hermione slowly followed them.

Ava knocked on the next door.

"Remmy! Wake up!"

The door calmly opened revealing a sleepy Remus.

"Ava, what is it?" he asked in concern. "Is it Kingsley?"

Ava quickly shook her head.

She took Remus by the shoulders and led him outside the room. She knew she had to handle this delicately. Lily's death and Sirius betrayal hit Remus the hardest and went into depression for months.

"I want you to take a deep breath then go to my door. Before you open it, take another deep breath and open the door." she said carefully.

"Ava...what-"

"Do as I say Remus. Please."

Remus took a deep breath as instructed and walked to Ava's bedroom door. After another deep breath he opened the door and walked in.

She swore she heard a body hit the floor.

OoOoOoO

Severus opened the door.

"Ava?" he asked.

Before she could say anything Harry came to the door. He looked at Ava dead in the eyes.

"Where is she?" he whispered.

Ava stammered for a minute. "In my bedroom."

Before she could say anymore, Harry rushed by her like the wind and to her bedroom. Severus followed and Ava taking up the rear.

When Harry opened the bedroom door he stood there shell-shocked expectant. His mother was sitting on the edge of the bed combing her finger through Remus hair, who was silently weeping in her lap.

"Mum?"

When his mother looked into his eyes it was as if everything was alright in the world. That he did not have to worry about anything anymore. Because his mummy would take care of it.

But that's just a fantasy.

Harry put one hand over his mouth to stop from crying out as the sobs shook his body. Lily rushed to her son and fell to her knees. She hugged him so tightly as they both cried into each other's shoulder.

His worries may not be over, but now he is one of the best weapons that he considered more powerful than his wand.

His mother's love.

OoOoOoO

I know this chapter suppose to have answered some questions but I decided to put Harry reuniting with his mom then let the questions be answered.

Congrats to Kichinheaven26 who figured out how Lily was able to come back. And thanks for those who tried to guess as well.

Next chapter: So just whose blood was on Lily's clothes?