Chapter 28: Prongs

"Thank you for having me here, Mrs and Mr Potter," said Lily. "I really had nowhere to go before I find a job."

"You just finished a very exhausting school year, dear," cried Mrs Potter. "You can´t think of finding a job immediately!"

"I have to. I have no home and no money to pay for one. I need a job and very soon."

"Don´t talk like that! Here´s your home!"

"I can´t be your guest forever."

"Our guest! You´re a family member, isn´t she, Harold?"

"Of course," Mr Potter agreed. "Jamie´s girl is a family member. As is his best friend." He smiled at Black.

"So it´s settled," said Mrs Potter. "You enjoy your holidays and relax. You can find a job later."

-x-

Although Lily accepted the Potters´ offer to stay gladly, she started reading the wanteds in the Daily Prophet. She didn´t want to miss a good job. It was then that she noticed the reports about deaths, deseases and funny accidents. Soon Lily spent hours every day studying the newspaper.

"What are you reading this for?" asked James one morning. He had been talking about going fishing for days. "Come, the fish won´t wait for us!"

"Where would they go, dear?" Lily asked and looked at him over the paper. "Are you aware that the socalled dark side is actually killing people? Read the paper! People are frightened."

"I heard rumors," admitted James. "Oh come, let´s go! We can discuss this when my fishing rod is cast and we´re waiting for the fish to bite. I thought you were eager to spend a whole day with me. So this is your chance! Sirius visits his uncle and we can go to the lake."

"Don´t sound so accusing! I´m coming." Lily folded the Prophet and laid it on the table. "I haven´t ever been fishing. Do I need something special?"

"No, sweetheart. I do the fishing and you can roast what I catch."

"So I´ll take some sandwiches," said Lily with a teasing smile.

"Don´t you dare!" James laughed.

-x-

They went to a small lake in the Scottish highlands. James led the way to a bay where he cast his rod and fastened it with some rocks.

"That´s it," he explained. "Now we wait." He magicked a blanket out of thin air and stretched on it.

"That´s all? You dragged me through half the country for that?" Lily pointed at the rod. "Five seconds and now we wait?"

"Waiting can be very pleasant! Come!" James patted the blanket beside him.

Lily eyed the boy suspiciously. "You took me here to lure me on that blanket!" She sounded quite accusing.

"What do you think of me!" James was scandalized. "That´s how fishing works! You let the fish come to you and enjoy the wait. You relax. You look at the clouds. And if you don´t like lying in the grass you use a blanket. Come, don´t be shy. I won´t bite you."

"Sorry," Lily muttered and sat beside James.

"No need to apologize. You weren´t all wrong. I really thought of some kissing," James admitted. "But it´s a pity I have to lure you here. I hoped you´d come by your own choice."

"I like to be lured if the right person does it," grinned Lily. She bent down and kissed her boyfriend. "Does this meet what you were thinking about?"

"Exactly!" James smiled at her.

Their little tete-a-tete was interrupted by a soft splashing noise.

"Argh, can´t that fish wait a little?" James got up to take care of the rod. "You greedy little thing!" he scolded the unlucky fish while he dragged it towards him. "You disturbed me in the middle of a flirt! I´ll eat you as a punishment! Ah, what a beauty!" James showed his prey to Lily. "Start a fire! We can cook supper!"

"We finished breakfast only half an hour ago!"

"You can´t catch a fish and not eat it!"

"I´m not talking about not eating it, I´m talking about eating it later! By the way, who´s going to gut it?"

"Isn´t that women´s work?"

"No! Not that I know of."

"OK, I´ll do it. But you start the fire."

"That´s a deal."

Half an hour later the fish – a big trout – was roasting on a spit. Lily sat on the blanket and James joined her.

"Well done!" he pointed at the fish and kissed her.

"Uuuuurgh," Lily moved away from him and turned up her nose. "You smell!" She glanced at James teasingly.

"Message to self: Invent odourless fish." James grinned.

"Show me your hands!" Lily took her wand out and cast a spell.

"Wow," James sniffed. "The stench is gone. Where did you learn that?"

"Beauxbatons Academy."

-x-

James had just drawn Lily to his side when a yell disturbed the silence of the forest. James sat bolt upright and listened. Lily pricked up her ears. Nothing. She already thought her hearing had played her a trick when she heard a wail.

"This sounds like someone is hurt!" she whispered.

James nodded. "We have to see whether we can help." He got up. "Keep your wand at the ready."

"Do you think this is something dangerous?"

"Probably not. Maybe a hiker sprained his foot. Nevertheless – better be careful."

They went into the forest towards the source of the cry, watching out to see before being seen.

They heard something before they saw.

"Stop that now! We have orders!" The angry voice of a man.

"Why can´t we have a bit of fun on our way?" The voice of a second man. "I hate being sent around by a kid! – Crucio!"

Another cry of pain was heard.

Lily paled. Someone was using an unforgivable curse. James signaled her to move very cautiously.

"This kid is brewing the healing draughts we desperately need. Now stop it and help me look for these herbs."

"Come on, five more minutes! Let him wait a bit! He can´t expect us to run to do his bidding. He´s none of us. He´s not even a pureblood!"

"The blonde says he will be one of us soon. All he needs is a little push in the right direction."

"We accept vermin in our ranks now?"

"If this vermin is an ingenious potion brewer and the Dark Lord himself wants him to join we do! You´ve played enough! Kill that muggle and start looking for... Ah, I wish he had a better handwriting!"

There was some murmur in front of them while the two men debated what they were supposed to look for.

Lily and James tiptoed closer. The person who had screamed was indeed a hiker. Only that he had not sprained his foot. He was lying on the ground and struggling for breath.

´You take the left´ James mouthed. Lily nodded. Her heart raced. She wasn´t a bad dueller but never before had she duelled a dark wizard. James silently counted to three and they attacked.

They had the element of surprise but the two men were ready to hurt and to kill while Lily and James were used to taking care not to injure their opponent. Nevertheless the two did well in the beginning. But soon they were fighting a desperate defensive battle.

Everything seemed lost when Lily lost her wand and one of the men broke it in two with a spell. James aimed a jinx at him before he could attack the wandless girl. "Run!" the boy cried.

Lily turned on the spot. Without a wand she was useless in the battle. If she stayed James had to protect her. If she ran one opponent would possibly go after her which gave James a chance to survive. He couldn´t fight both dark wizards at the same time. As quickly as possible Lily disappeared between the trees trying to get a distance and some bushes to restrict his sight between herself and her persuer.

"Stop running and I´ll grant you a painless death!" she heard him shout behind her.

Lily sped up and tried to think of a hiding place. She noticed too late that she was running to the lake. You can´t hide on a beach. In the distance were some big rocks. She could hide behind one of them if she made it there before the man saw her.

She had not come far, when she heard a cold voice behind her. "Stand, redcap, or I´ll stop you!"

Lily froze to the spot and turned. The man who had tortured the muggle moved in on her. A cruel grin played around his mouth.

"So, I got you," he sneered. "What to do with you, beauty." He stroked his wand with his free hand. "I can´t kill you quickly, for this was your reward for not running away. You don´t deserve that."

Lily retreated a step.

The man flicked his wand and a pungent pain touched her left cheek. "Stand, I said," he ordered.

Lily glanced around in fear. What could she do?

The man lifted his wandarm.

Suddenly a huge stag broke forth from the forest and attacked the man with its antlers. The wizard screamed with pain and dropped his wand. The stag stepped on it and broke it. It snorted angryly. The man fled.

Lily watched the animal anxiously as it stamped its hoofs. It looked after the running man until he disappeared between the trees. Then it turned to face her.

Lily retreated some steps but had to stop when she reached the water.

The stag stood still and watched her with warm hazel eyes. After a little while it bowed.

Could it be? Lily stepped nearer cautiously. She raised her arm but didn´t dare to touch the animal. The stag took a step towards her and touched her hand gently with its snout.

"Prongs?" Lily whispered. The stag snorted softly. "Prongs!" Lily sighed with relief and embraced the animal. Tears wetted her face. She slid her fingers into the stags soft fur and kissed it.

After some minutes Lily let go and wiped her tears. Before her eyes the stag changed back into her boyfriend.

"It´s over," he whispered softly and hugged her, "we´re safe!"

-x-

Slowly Lily recovered her breath.

"You´re an animagus!" she exclaimed.

"I am, and an unregistered one. You won´t sell me, will you?"

Lily chuckled. "I won´t," she promised. "Who´s that?"

A man had stepped out of the forest and waved.

"Our rescuer. He apparated in shortly after you ran. He took over and I went to find you as fast as I could."

"Hello!" cried the man. "Are you OK?"

"Yes, thank you, Sir!" James shook the proffered hand. "We wouldn´t if it was not for you though!"

"Thank you for your help!" Lily shook hands with the stranger, too.

"I´m Alastor Moody, Auror," the man introduced himself, "and you are?"

"Lily Evans and James Potter."

"You did a good job back there for someone that young," Moody said. "If it wasn´t for you, that muggle´d be dead."

"Did you catch them?" James asked.

"Only the one who went after the lady, the other disapparated. Had no time for an anti-disapparition shield."

"How did you find us?" Lily wanted to know.

"I didn´t find you. We detected an unforgivable curse. I went after the dark wizard who cast it and arrived just in time."

"Thanks again for your help." James smiled.

"Did they recognize you?" the auror asked.

"Recognize us? I don´t think so. Why?"

"Well, you fought them and one of them got caught. They might want revenge. Depends on how important our capture is for the dark side. We haven't identified him yet."

"Do you think we are in danger?"

"Hopefully not. They may not even know who you are. But you better watch your back for some time! If there are any difficulties, contact me at the ministry. ´Alastor Moody, Auror Office´ will do as an address."

"Thank you, Sir."

-x-

They went back to James´s rod and their fish when Mr Moody had left. The fish was burnt.

"I´ll catch us a new one," James promised and cast the rod.

Lily sat on the blanket. James joined her and lay an arm around her shoulder.

"Are you OK?"

The girl nodded. "I´m just a little shocked. I never met a dark wizard before."

"Nor did I."

"I lost my wand."

"We´ll get you a new one."

"I´m practically a muggle without my wand."

"I´ll do all the magic you want for you."

"That´s sweet. But I feel kind of naked without my own wand." Lily sighed. One year ago she had been unable to do magic herself, too, and another boy had done it for her. The memory was a bit hurtful.

"Let´s enjoy what´s left of today and recover a bit. We can go to Diagon Alley tomorrow."

"I don´t have the money for a new wand."

"Don´t be stupid! My parents will pay your wand gladly." James kissed her cheek.

"Do you think we are safe here? Should we go home?"

"Mr Moody said the aurors will be investigating in the forest. The dark wizards won´t come back."

"Did you tell him what we overheard?"

"Yes. He found it very interesting, although it´s rather useless information as no names were mentioned."

"Look, I think you have caught a fish!"

James got up and made the fish ready for the spit. Soon it was roasting and James returned to Lily´s side.

"Can you remove the odour?" James held his hands out. "You can use my wand."

"I have no objections to try and make fire with your wand. But never ever will I cast a spell at you with a wand I don´t know!"

"You´re right, it´s too risky. Can you stand the stench?"

"Of course! I was only teasing before." Lily bent over to kiss her boyfriend.

-x-

"Oh my god! Dark wizards!" Mrs Potter exclaimed when they told her about their adventure in the evening. She had to sit down.

"Are you injured?" asked Mr Potter.

"No, dad, we´re both OK. Only Lily´s wand was broken."

"So this was really dangerous!" Mrs Potter cried.

"It was, mum, but it´s over and no harm done. I´d like to take Lily to Diagon Alley tomorrow. Can I have the money for her wand?"

"Of course. Take it from the family vault at Gringott´s."

"Thanks, dad."

"I´ll pay it back when I have a job," said Lily.

"If you like, dear, but you need not." Mrs Potter smiled.

-x-

James took Lily side by side to London early the next morning. They popped out of thin air in a park, hidden behind some bushes.

"I nearly forgot the advantages of side by side apparition," purred Lily and embraced James a little longer than necessary.

"So you don´t want a wand?"

"Are you mental? Of course I want a wand!" Lily let go of James and led the way to the Leaky Cauldron.

James laughed and followed her.

Their first stop at Diagon Alley was the wizard bank, where a goblin took them in a small cart down to the Potter family vault. Lily had never before been in the caves below the white building as her parents always had changed muggle money at one of the counters in the entrance hall of the bank.

The ride itself was interesting, a little like going in a rollercoaster. When they reached their goal, James gave a small key to the goblin who opened a vault for him. Never before had Lily seen so much money. Piles of coins filled the vault to its corners.

James filled his purse. The goblin locked the vault and gave the key back.

-x-

"Let´s get the wand first," James suggested. "We can look at the other shops later."

Lily agreed.

They went straight to Olivander´s. They had to wait for a little while because Mr Olivander was busy finding a wand for a kid who must be a Hogwarts first year. The boy – small and brunet, with very pale blue eyes – waved wand after wand but none reacted to his presence. His parents were watching with increasing concern.

"Don´t despair," said Mr Olivander in a comforting voice. "I´ve found the right wand for every young wizard so far. I´m sure I have one for you, too. We have to be patient." He handed the boy another wand.

The kid took it and waved it. Blue sparks shot out of the wandtip. His parents were delighted.

"Brilliant," cried MrOlivander. "Oak with a core of unicorn hair. Why didn´t I think of it at once!"

The boy´s parents payed the wand and Mr Olivander wrapped the box in brown paper. When the family left the shop they were already discussing where to get the boy´s school robes.

"Ah, I remember you! Miss Evans and Master Potter!" Mr Olivander greeted his next customers. "What can I do for you?"

"I need a new wand," said Lily.

"What happened to your old?"

"It was damaged beyond repair," sighed Lily. "I hope I can get one which fits me equally well."

"Let´s see," MrOlivander smiled. "You had willow last time. Springy. Excellent for charms. I take it you´re good at charms."

"Yes, Sir. Charms and Potions."

"Charms and Potions. Not a very common combination." Mr Olivander started scanning the shelfes for boxes. "Let´s stick to willow. Willow is good for charms. And," he climbed a ladder to get a box from the top shelf, "a core of unicorn hair. Unicorn hair is used in potion brewing. So this combination might suit you."

He offered Lily a wand to try. She waved it and sparks of green left the wandtip, but only few.

"Ah, a good start. If we are lucky," the wandmaker pointed out, "we may only need experiment with the length."

Lily tried out five wands of the same materials each a quarterinch longer than the last. Each produced some sparks but none very many. She knew she had found her wand when she touched the sixth. A cosy warmth ran up her arm and covered her very being. When she waved it sparks and little white flowers left the wandtip and rained down on her and the two men. An eerie music seemed to fill the room though she wasn´t sure whether it was not only inside her head.

"We got a hit, obviously," smiled Mr Olivander. "Do you want it in a box or will you take it like it is?"

"I won´t need a box, thank you," said Lily and pocketed her new wand. James paid.

-x-

"Did you find what you needed, Miss Evans?" asked a cool voice when they left the shop. A blonde man in his twenties was turning to them. Seemingly he had been viewing the shop window which was strange seeing that it held only one very old wand. Lucius Malfoy smiled a calculating smile.

"I found what I came for," said Lily.

"I´m pleased to hear that," Malfoy went on, "ah, Mr Potter. I see the rumors are true."

"The rumors?"

"Rumor has it that your little mistletoe episode had consequences. Anyway, have fun with your new wand, Miss Evans." Lucius Malfoy nodded at them and disappeared in the crowd.

"We need to contact Mr Moody at once," said James. "Let´s go home."

-x-

Alastor Moody called at the Potter house less than three hours later.

"What is it you want to discuss with me?" he asked and shook his head at the offered cup of tea.

"We went to Diagon Alley today to get a new wand for Lily," James reported. "We ran into Lucius Malfoy in front of Olivander´s. He knew that it was Lily who needed a wand, not me."

"You´re quick on the uptake, Mr Potter. Lucius Malfoy is suspected of being a Deatheater but we have no proof."

"A Deatheater, Sir?"

"That´s what the Dark Lord´s followers call themselves. So Mr Malfoy waited in front of Olivander´s to find out which redhaired woman came for a new wand. That´s bad."

"Why is that bad?" asked Lily.

"Lucius Malfoy rolls in gold. He has servants to lace his shoes. If he takes the effort to find out who you are himself, it must be really important for him."

Lily held her breath. "So the man you caught yesterday was important?" she asked after a pause.

"Not really, he´s only a low rank in Voldemort´s organization. When we identified him, I was sure you were in no danger."

"We should have waited some days to get my wand."

Mr Moody shook his head. "If you´re important enough to get Lucius Malfoy to Diagon Alley, you´re important enough to have Olivander´s observed for a long period."

"Will you arrest Mr Malfoy? He´s the blonde those two were talking about yesterday." James pointed out.

"Oh dear, no. Though I believe that he indeed is the blonde mentioned we have no proof for it. And today he was only viewing shop windows. That´s no crime."

"What are we to do?"

"You must regard yourselves targets of the dark side. Don´t go anywhere alone. Don´t go out in public if you don´t have to. Watch your back. And you, Miss Evans, get familiar with your new wand as quickly as possible. I may have a way to protect you but it requires decisions I´m not authorized to make. I´ll be back when I´ve spoken to the person in charge." Alastor Moody got up. "Thanks for the tea. Take care."

-x-

Mrs Potter had followed the conversation in silence. As soon as the auror had left she started to cry.

"Oh, my boy," she lamented, "a target of the dark side! Don´t go out in public! Sentenced to a life in hiding! Oh my boy!"

James sat by her and hugged her and patted her back. Nothing he did or said could comfort her.

Lily went to the kitchen and made a calming tea for Mrs Potter and though the woman accepted it gratefully it had no effect on her.

"I really wish dad was here," said James helplessly.

"When will he come?"

"Only in the evening. Mum, you really have to calm down!"

In the end James called a healer. The elderly wizard took a close look at Mrs Potter and had James tell him what upset her so much. At last he decided that Mrs Potter should stay at St. Mungo´s over night.

"The excitement can be dangerous for a person her age. We don´t want to be uncautious," he explained. He contacted the wizard hospital through the floo network and within minutes two ambulance wizards came through to help him with his patient.

-x-

Lily and James waited for Mr Potter in the darkening living room. Neither felt like turning the light on. They sat side by side holding each other´s hand like frightened children.

"Hello, anyone at home?" Mr Potter´s merry cry broke the silence and lifted the rigidity off James and Lily.

"We are here, dad, in the living room," James cried.

"What are you doing in the dark?" asked Mr Potter and lit some candles with a flick of his wand. "Ooops, I didn´t disturb you, did I?"

Lily blushed.

"Where´s your mother? There´s no light on in the kitchen."

"Mum is at ´s." James reported what had happened.

"Merlin! Targets of the dark side? And mum in hospital! Can we see her?"

"The healer said we can go tomorrow. They gave her a calming potion and she´s fast asleep now. If everything goes well, we can take her home tomorrow."

"Thanks god! You gave me quite a shock!"

Lily got up. "I´ll make supper," she said and left for the kitchen to give father and son time to discuss matters in private.

-x-

James and his father went to St. Mungo´s the next morning to take Mrs Potter home. Lily stayed behind to prepare a meal for the patient.

Mrs Potter looked very pale and tired when she returned to her home and James and her husband observed her with concern. They insisted she take a nap immediately after lunch.

-x-

Black returned from his uncle later that day and James had to tell what had happened one more time. This time the tale was even longer because he mentioned the part where he had rescued Lily in his animagus form.

A thought of comprehension crossed Lily´s mind. Prongs. And Padfoot. And Wormtail and Moony.

"James," she said when the latter had finished, "if you are Prongs, a stag, what is Padfoot?"

James glanced at Black nervously. Black smirked. "I guess she can´t sell me without selling you," he said and transformed into a big shaggy black dog. Moments later he was a young man again.

"This is really difficult magic," gasped Lily. "You have been using these names since our fifth year!"

"It took us two years to find out how to do it," said Black with pride.

"So what animals are Wormtail and Moony?"

"This is not our secret to tell," said James, "you have to ask them."

"Did you follow the auror´s advice?" Black changed topic. "Did you get accustomed to your new wand?"

"Not yet. We were so busy." And paralyzed by fear. She didn´t say the last aloud.

"You better get started. Seeing the danger you´re in, you should practice duelling."

"You´re right, Padfoot," said James. "Come, Lily, we´ll go outside and practice."

-x-

Lily wasn´t happy to practice with her new wand in Black´s presence. She couldn´t be sure of her magic with a wand she knew not well. Facing a person with whom she shared mutual hatred seemed not inviting for her.

Black must have read her thoughts on her face for he stepped nearer and whispered softly "No need to be concerned. I can distinguish between a childhood grudge and a dangerous situation."

"Do some easy spells first," suggested James and Black agreed. Lily nodded. She started with levitating some stones, continued with summoning them to her side and finished with arranging them in a pyramide.

James clapped his hands. "Not bad! Go on, don´t stop!"

Lily put her new wand through its paces. She transfigured the stones into various gardening objects and back into stones. She sorted the stones by color and size. She let the stones zoom around in the garden in a complicated dance and made some of them glow and blink.

"I think we can risk a training battle now," cried Black. "As you´ll need to defend yourself, we´ll attack and you´ll try to beat us off."

The suggestion made sense and so they followed it. The two boys started with easy jinxes and moved on to more serious curses. Lily did well in defending herself.

When it grew too dark to go on, they went inside. Lily had to go to the kitchen and cook for Mrs Potter was too weak to do it.