Chapter 37

Lily stumbled at the top of the stairs. A small smile spread to her lips as she caught the banister and righted herself. Sometimes it was funny when she stumbled or tripped because it reminded her of being so much younger. She didn't seem to trip so much these days, even in her high heels! As she reached the bottom few steps she jumped and landed lightly as though a child jumping from a swing.

"Who's that?"

"Just me Pa!"

She walked into the kitchen to find her grandfather at the table with a cup of tea and toast. The oven was on and a turkey sat there browning lightly. Pa Evans was starting to look old to her and that scared her. She knew that he was old but he had always been a fit old, but things were starting to take their toll on him and he tried easier these days.

Picking up a cup she poured herself some tea and helped herself to her Pa's toast. He shot her a look as if he was mad as she settled herself on the chair next to him. She didn't need to ask where the rest of the house was because she knew.

"Your dad still sleeping?"

It was said lightly but she knew Pa was worried. Her father was worse than he had been in a long time. There was a feeling of it wasn't long now before it would be over. She felt certain that this was their last Christmas as a family and that upset her.

"Yeah. He's catching up on what he missed last night."

She had heard her father in the bathroom well into the night. He was finding it difficult to keep anything down. He needed to be in hospice or a hospital but refused. He wanted to be at home, and he wanted to be with his family this Christmas. Lily found it strange referring to Pa's house as home but that's what it had become.

"What about that Dursley lad?"

Vernon Dursley, Petunia's husband. Lily thought he was an obnoxious man who was below her sister. Yet she could tell that her sister was in love and you couldn't help who you fell in love with. Lily just wished that Vernon wasn't spending Christmas with them. She looked at her Pa with a strange look.

"He's in the shower. I want to know how we're expected to sleep with him in the house?"

Pa laughed gruffly.

"His snoring would wake the dead."

"His snoring would wake a mountain troll!"

Her Pa laughed not entirely getting the joke. Mountain trolls were some of the worse creatures to wake and she was sure Vernon Dursley could do it. She bit into her toast and looked at the clock.

"Nine thirty and Petunia hasn't opened any gifts. She must be ill!"

"Now Lily."

"Well she's usually up at six on Christmas Day!"

Lily was startled as a knock resounded through the house. She looked at her Pa. Everyone who was expected was already at the house. Who could that be? She stood to answer it when she heard someone running downstairs and a yell from Petunia that she'd get it. They heard the door open and then the shocking sound of her sister's voice.

"What are you freaks doing here?"

Pa Evans raised a brow at the term but Lily wanted to groan. Petunia reserved the word freak for her. That meant that whoever was at the door was for her. It was bound to be one of her friends. But who would be coming round? Maybe it was James with a gift. He had hinted the other night that he wanted to see her on Christmas Day.

"Nice to see you too Petunia. Is Lily in?"

That wasn't James. That was Amanda. There was something about her tone though. She was tired. Lily could tell even from here. But why would Amanda be here? Then a thought struck. Something bad had happened. Lily rose to go into the hall when she heard her father.

"Petunia let them in."

"But dad – Hey!"

Petunia's voice rose and Lily could see why. Somebody had pushed her out of the way and was running towards her. James was almost like a blur but she recognised him. Strangely he was only in a pair of tracksuit bottoms. She wondered about that and felt sure that her father or Pa would make a comment about a half naked boy in the kitchen but she didn't have time to consider what as his arms wrapped around her. His grip was tight and his head went straight to her shoulder. Something felt wrong.

"James –"

"I had to check. Frank said … but I couldn't … what if … thank Merlin!"

He wasn't making sense. She couldn't say anything as his lips brushed against hers in a gentle quick kiss. Then his cheek was against hers as he pulled her closer to him. She was positive that he wasn't going to let go of her anytime soon.

Something in the door caught her eyes. Amanda was stood there. Like James she was half dressed in boxers and a vest. Her face was set in a hard manner that Lily had seen too many times in the last few years. Something had happened. That's why James was clinging to her. But she couldn't ask what because Vernon and Petunia were pushing Amanda aside and her father was taking a seat. The silence was broken by Vernon Dursley of all people.

"Petunia who are these people?"

"A pair of freaks that shouldn't be welcomed here."

"That's enough Tuney."

Her father was sounding tired but there was a determined sound to his voice. Petunia looked as though she was about to ignore him but she reframed from saying anything else. It was Amanda who spoke next. Her eyes were on Lily's and she knew it was just for her she was speaking.

"We're very sorry to intrude uninvited on Christmas. But he wouldn't stay put. Not until he made sure you weren't dead."

"Why would she be dead?"

The four others spoke as one. It sounded such a strange mixture of voices. Lily understood that someone was dead though. She looked around and spotted the chair. It was too far for her to walk too. There was only one thing to do. The chair moved across the room and stopped next to her. She positioned James into it and stood facing him. Her Pa was looking around amazed.

"How'd that chair move?"

Lily didn't respond. She could see Petunia saying something to Vernon but her eyes were now locked on the other girl in the room.

"Who?"

Amanda looked at the floor a moment before answering.

"Jacqueline."

Lily gasped as her hands went to James. She held him tightly as she looked down at him. The tears were already in her eyes. Not another death! Lily felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up. Amanda was there with a bottle of firewhisky.

"Rosmerta gave it to us. Figure he may need a glass now."

Glasses appeared from thin air around them and Lily placed them on the table.

"How'd she do that?"

Petunia spoke with hatred in her voice to answer Pa's question.

"Remember I told you Lily was a witch and you said I was being silly. Doesn't look so silly now does it? She goes to this freak school where she's taught how to do magic with other freaks like those two."

"Enough Tuney."

"Maybe I'm the only one who can see what a freak she really is."

"I wasn't such a freak when you wrote to Dumbledore asking him to let you go to Hogwarts was I?"

Petunia opened her mouth and closed it. She looked outraged as she stared at them for a moment. Then she was on her feet storming out of the room. Lily watched as Vernon looked at the three of them before following behind his wife. Lily lowered her eyes to James then. She didn't care.

"I'm sorry this isn't how your Christmas was supposed to be."

She gently traced her finger across his face. There was a slight amount of stubble that was unusual for him. Her voice was gentle as she spoke.

"Nobodies Christmas was supposed to be like this."

Their eyes were locked and she could see all the pain locked behind them. She had never seen him look so vulnerable. It frightened her to the core that he could get shaken this badly. She had always thought of James as a strong person, even through the tragedies he had been strong. This must have been really bad.

"Here take this."

Amanda's voice was powerful and clear. Lily realised that she had yet to hear any emotion in her tone. She sounded tired but she was sure and confident. It was clear that Amanda was in charge and James took the glass without second thought. He downed the drink and it was topped up instantly.

Lily took the glass that was offered to her and held it as Amanda moved around the kitchen. Her Pa took the drink silently as did her father. They were both watching the girl as she picked up one herself. She raised it to her lips and sipped at it. Lily didn't touch hers as she looked at her friend.

"What happened?"

Amanda turned and met her eyes. There was a flash of something behind them but then it was hidden. The bottle she had been holding was passed to James. Lily was horrified to find that he had finished his second glass and was starting his third.

"It was just after midnight. I had said I was tired and Jacqueline decided that we should all go up to bed. I was in the room with Alice talking about …"

Her voice faded and she took a large gulp of her drink before continuing.

"There was a scream. It was …"

Again Amanda stopped and finished her glass. Using her wand for the first time in the house she moved the bottle from James hands and it poured herself another glass. Her eyes at all times were now on the floor. It was as if she were trying to hide the emotions. Lily understood Amanda well enough to know now that she was trying to be strong. She needed to be in control of this situation.

"We all ran onto the landing. Jacqueline was in single hand combat with one of the Death Eaters on the stairs. She had still been downstairs. Then there were five others firing at us. Sirius said something but I crawled away. I went to my room and James' and got our brooms."

Her eyes came up at this bit and there was a twinkle in them.

"James and I are good enough to out manoeuvre anything on a broom. I thought that we would be able to attract their attentions and aim. Then when they were trying to get us Sirius and Alice could take them out. It was working too."

Lily waited. She noticed how James and Amanda both took swigs from their glasses. James' eyes were starting to brim over with tears again and as Amanda spoke there was a quiver to her voice.

"Jacqueline was hit. She just went down and James dived at the Death Eater. He got knocked from his broom and was sprawled out over her. I didn't have time to do anything sensible. I knew what the bastard was going to do. It's what I would do in his place. His wand was high and he was going to kill James. So I sent a numbing spell. I missed but it did brush his shoulder and his wand dropped a bit. So I jumped from my broom and grabbed his leg. And then I got us out of there…"

Her voice faded and Lily knew that she wouldn't say anything else. Her left hand came to her face and Lily watched as the girl pinched the bridge of her nose. This was new.

"I don't understand any of this."

Lily looked at Pa Evans and shook her head slightly. He had never been told about her life in the wizarding world. He assumed she went to a private boarding school in Scotland. He assumed that she had won a scholarship there and that was why Petunia had never gone. But it seemed that it was time for the truth.

"Pa I'm a witch."

He shot her a look and she held her wand up high.

"I go to a school that teaches young witches and wizards how to control their powers and how to use them in a sensible manner. There are loads of us there."

"And these two are friends of yours."

"Yes. This is James and Amanda. They are both in the same year and the same house as me."

"I'll explain it to you later dad. Amanda this attack it's that Voldiemurt guy that's done it?"

Lily could sense the way both Amanda and James tightened at this. But the girl did answer.

"Not personally no. He sent his followers. But he is behind this attack."

"Why did he attack Jacqueline?"

"Why does he attack anyone Mr. Evans?"

Amanda spoke softly and Lily knew that it was to comfort James. Lily was trying to get her father's attention. These questions could wait for later as well. It was clear that James was really hurt. But if her father understood her look her grandfather didn't. He asked the question that sent James into spasm.

"Who was this woman?"

Lily was quick to answer this.

"James' mother."

Silence engulfed them all. It was a few minutes before Amanda broke the silence.

"Lily are you okay to keep an eye on James for a while."

"I'm not a baby."

"That's good it means Lily won't have to worry about dirty nappies then."

It was the usual joking that went on between the pair but it didn't sound right. James' eyes had left Lily and were on Amanda.

"Where are you going?"

"I need to see Remus and Pete. The Prophet and WWN will be all over this story soon. I'd rather they hear from one of us."

"Then you'll come back."

"I'm going to Frank's then."

"Why?"

"I need to see Sirius and Alice."

"Then you'll come back."

She nodded gently.

"Yes then I'll come back here and take you back to Hogwarts."

"I don't want –"

"You have no choice in the matter James. Dumbledore ordered us up to the school and we've already snuck out. Plus I promised Branwen that we'll be back there tonight."

"But –"

"No arguments James."

The two shared a look. Then Amanda was across the room and wrapped in his arms. It was strange watching her boyfriend and his ex in a tight embrace. Any other girl would be jealous but not Lily. She had nothing to worry about from Amanda. The pair had experienced something during the night that she wasn't part of. She understood that something was making James worry.

"I'll see you in a couple of hours okay."

She kissed the top of his head and turned. She hadn't left the kitchen when Lily spoke up.

"You can't go like that."

She turned.

"What?"

"You look like hell."

"Lily –"

"Come on I've got some clothes you can borrow. It won't be the first time."

Lily squeezed James' hand as she left with Amanda. As they walked up the stairs Lily knew that this wasn't going to be the Christmas that she had wanted. But she was just thankful for the fact that things hadn't turned out worse. She would stay with James all day; she loved him enough for that.