AN: Take a chapter of "get away from the world for a time"
oooOOooo
Rash
"The elves know how to make Harry's afternoon meal. But we should be back before then." Lily was checking if she had everything she needed in her shoulder bag while she was talking to Severus – who had Harry on his arm – walking towards the floo room.
They walked around Tom, who stood in front of the small altar in the hallway, eyes closed, lips moving silently – a few herbs were smouldering in an earthen dish – trying not to disturb him.
"Lily, don't worry. I might not have a lot of experience with small children, but I certainly know how to ask the elves for help if I need to. And I'm able to contact the boy's father if there is need. We'll be fine." Lily had to concede that Severus, while still very nervous around Tom, seemed confident in handling Harry, expertly moving in a swaying motion with Harry on his hip.
"And we'll be quick." Tom came up behind them, shrugging into a coat that would pass in Muggle London without problem, his hand briefly trailing along Lily's back.
Tom hissed something at Harry, who waved at his father and hissed as well.
Lily smiled. The two of them were constantly communicating like this, Tom visibly delighted. And as Harry's grasp on English was steadily improving as well, Lily wasn't worried that he would have problems there because of the magical language he had been born with.
A short floo trip later the two of them were standing in a very muggle-looking living room in a very muggle-looking flat.
"The ward stone is in the kitchen, over here," Tom said the moment he stepped out of the floo, striding in the direction of the door into the hall. "After that you can easily apparate to the Leaky, while I walk there." He didn't seem to mind, and as he was being Tom the Squib today, it was sensible to keep up the pretence.
"And while you pick up your new brewing supplies, I'll try to find someone able to sell me wood, brushes, and mirrors in a quality I can actually work with." Lily rolled her eyes and Tom chuckled. She had been ranting about the fall in quality provided by her usual supplier several times over the past week. Tom's amusement was a much better reaction to her short temper whenever she worked on an order, than James' usual reaction of dismissive disinterested every time one of her projects wasn't going the way she wanted it to.
"Good luck," Tom said with a smile.
"You too. Don't haggle to much with poor Mr. Jiggers."
Lily grinned when Tom made an innocent face. "Me? Haggling? Never."
They parted ways laughing and in good spirits. Lily's good mood held through her arrival in the Leaky Cauldron and her inquires in several shops that traded in raw materials and tools that were not potions-related. Those shops and offices attached to storage rooms were mostly located in offshoots of Diagon Alley, and so Lily heard the commotion before she could see anything.
Maybe she should have returned home, to Harry, but her need to make sure people were safe was stronger. Harry was safe with Severus, and had his father to care for him should something happen to her. But she was good, and had been training, so why should something happen?
With her wand in hand – placing her bag with samples and catalogues down against one wall – she carefully crept along one wall towards Diagon Alley and the sounds of people fleeing. People were hurrying into the narrow street and past Lily as she came to a table stacked with cauldrons, blocking her view of the street, but also providing her with some cover.
People in robes of red, orange, yellow – a flame pattern – stood surrounding a building which housed a bakery as far as Lily could remember. Some were facing the front of the shop, others were facing the street, guarding the backs of the others. They all were wearing masks, and the fact that they had a feather like texture and beaks, made Lily feel ill.
They were imitating a phoenix.
Why? Oh, why would they do this?
Moody truly had lost all connection with reality.
It looked as if the people facing the shop were trying to break down some wards. A few figures were on the ground, and spells were being fired at witches and wizards, even children. People were running away from the bakery, ducking behind merchandise presented on stands and tables in front of other shops along the street.
She spotted a witch with a girl, maybe seven years old, stuck between a wall, a stack of trunks, and the order members. Quickly looking up and down the street Lily decided that she could risk protecting two innocents in this madness.
She sprinted across the street, deflecting a stunner sent her way by one of the masked attackers with a hastily erected shield, and came to crouch near the witch and the child.
For a moment Lily felt like she was seeing things as the witch looked up from trying to calm down the child in her care. She looked a lot like Bellatrix Lestrange, if a little less prone to violence. The eyes of this witch were missing that mad sparkle Lily had seen there that afternoon at Malfoy Manor. Because if Bellatrix Lestrange had been here she certainly would have been fighting, not cowering behind insufficient cover, trying to calm down herself and protect a child. She had heard of the middle Black sister – Sirius and James had mentioned her – but never had had any real contact.
"Are you hurt?" Lily asked, turning her attention to the surrounding area so as not to be surprised by her former allies. Because if they had started using the same methods as the Death Eaters had done, than they could be nothing but former allies.
"No, we're fine." the other witch answered, her voice low and rough.
Lily nodded. "I'll shield you, while you try to get over to that book store over there." She pointed at a store on the other side of the street and a little further in direction of the Leaky. "On three." She got a nod, and the witch encouraged the little girl to get up from her knees while still keeping her head down.
"One." Lily turned to have a good view of the attackers. "Two." She prepared herself to cast a shield on a moment's notice. "Three!" She felt and heard the two behind her get to their feed and run, getting up herself, casting a shield, and distracting the Order by drawing their attention to her.
Then suddenly several cracks announced the arrival of more people, deep red robes identifying the new arrivals as Aurors. Lily retreated towards the wall of the shop behind her, using the distraction provided to draw herself out of the fight, and to take a breath and look around.
The shop that had been attacked was indeed a bakery. Jona's Delicious Baked Goods was looking quite cosy. The decoration inside the window looked similar to what Tom had put on his altar a few days ago, which probably was the reason the Order would attack a shop in Diagon Alley.
Before Lily had a chance to decide if she should leave or stay, a broad-shouldered figure in Auror robes came up to where she was standing, blocking her way. She looked at the Auror and was surprised to recognize Frank Longbottom. "Lily, long time no see. I assume you were a witness to what happened here? I'll have to ask you to accompany me so I can take your statement."
That didn't sound right. The Order had fled, but Frank was part of them, so he probably would try erasing evidence. If Lily was to go with him she was more likely to wind up with the Order then in the Ministry.
"Frank, don't you think it might be better to stay and help?" Lily stalled while her mind was racing.
All Members of the Order who were part of the Auror Corps – Sirius, Alice, Frank, Moody, and James while he was still alive – had intervened in favour of the Order, and always had speculated about Death Eaters among the Aurors. Was one of them here? Would they be able and willing to help her? And how in all worlds was this her life? If she didn't know better she would be tempted to take Petunia's opinion on infidelity a little more seriously. If she could manage to leave here on her own or make it to the Ministry with a neutral or at least non-Order Auror, she probably would be fine.
"No," Frank answered, shaking his head. "There's no reason for us to stay. Take my arm, I'll apparate us over to the Ministry." He tried to smile and seem friendly, but the tension in him was very obvious to Lily.
"Hey, Longbottom!" another Auror called, carefully stepping over some broken glass, and then inclining his head in Lily's direction. "Mrs. Potter. I heard that you helped Mrs. Tonks and her daughter get out of a pinch today."
Frank took a step back and looked as if someone had forced him to bite into a lemon. "Senior Auror Proudfoot."
Maybe Lily's life wasn't cursed because of one night after all, this man was one of those the Order suspected of being a Death Eater. Maybe there was a way to get out of here unscathed.
"Senior Auror Proudfoot," Lily greeted, slowly relaxing her stance, letting the arm of her wand hand hang at her side. "Mrs. Andromeda Tonks? Are she and her daughter unharmed?"
"They both are," the wizard with crow's feet around his eyes said. "If you're agreeable, it would be good if you could go with Junior Auror Dawlish so he can write down what you've seen." The older wizard turned towards Frank – both clearly not fond of each other. "Longbottom, you're needed with cleanup and checking of the wards on the shop." Frank nodded tersely and went to do as he was told.
And Lily did the same, accepting the young Auror's arm followed by being side-apparated to the Ministry, walking along corridors in the building, before she sat down in a chair next to a desk right there in the middle of the big open-floor-plan office that was used by the Aurors.
Not far from her, Andromeda Tonks was giving her statement to another Auror, her daughter sitting on her lap.
It was not very thrilling to be here, and she really hadn't much to say. She wanted to go home, but answered some preliminary questions anyway. "I first noticed that something was wrong when I heard the noise of people running away. I set my bag down…" She trailed off in shock. She had forgotten about her bag! "I didn't go back to get my things."
"You could send a house-elf to get it," Auror Proudfoot suggested. "The Potters do have at least one, I would guess."
Lily nodded and called the Potter elf to send it to collect her things. Before the elf was back, a small commotion at the entrance to the Auror office drew everyone's attention. Lily felt her eyes go big the moment she recognized Bellatrix Lestrange striding into the room as if the world should bow to her, followed closely by the new Minister of Magic, Lucius Malfoy. Both Death Eaters – and wasn't it strange how she knew and still was glad to see them – walked straight to where Andromeda Tonks was sitting, greeting her as if they were concerned.
Lily couldn't help it, she stared. She had been under the impression that Andromeda, just like Sirius, had been cast out from the family.
"Mrs. Potter?" Auror Dawlish tried to gain her attention right before Lucius Malfoy looked up from where his two sisters-in-law were talking with each other, and their gazes met.
When he walked over, both she and the Auror got to their feet.
"Mrs. Potter, I hear that you were so kind as to help my sister-in-law and my niece today. Let me express my sincere thanks for that." And it seemed that he was actually telling the truth. His public behaviour was so different from what he'd shown the one afternoon with Tom and the children.
Lily spotted Sirius walking along one wall, looking shifty, and made a split-second decision. She couldn't risk falling into the Order's hands.
"No need, really. I simply did what I felt I should." She smiled, and looked down to where her bag had appeared right next to the chair she had been sitting in. "My friend Rose told me that you're looking for an assistant, Minister. Any success? Maybe I can recommend someone." There was a flicker on Malfoy's face that let Lily know that he had picked up on her slight change in tone. Bless Slytherins and their quick uptake on subtle hints.
"Dawlish, do you have all you need from Mrs. Potter?" the Minister asked, not waiting for an answer before placing one hand on her elbow and guiding her in direction of Andromeda Tonks and Bellatrix Lestrange. "Wonderful. Do you want to join us for tea in my office? I'm sure I can get one of our elves to bring the cake your friend liked on her last visit."
"I'd rather try the shortbread she told me about." Hopefully Tom would be all right with her deciding to reveal her identity to some of his followers. But generally he had said more than once that it was her decision, and had let her set the pace of their relationship. And the direction. With a sigh, Lily slung her bag over her shoulder and let herself be led by the Minister of Magic to his office, from where he probably would inform the Dark Lord and father of Lily's little boy of her presence there.
One thing was for sure, if the Order hadn't suspected that she was against them before, now they would know for sure.
oooOOooo
When Tom finally arrived at Malfoy Manor and stepped into the drawing room, he was very glad to see Lily sitting there, unharmed.
He didn't pay Narcissa any mind, as she first rose and then went down into a curtsey with a murmured greeting, but went to sit across from Lily without hesitation. "How are you?" Lucius had informed him via Barty, who was a junior member of the Ministry staff, easily someone who could be sent on seemingly unimportant errands without rising suspicion.
"I'm fine," Lily said, her tone suggesting that she had been asked the same question too often, and then sighed. "Unhappy that someone is doing something like that… Why did they attack a bakery?"
Narcissa settled into the last remaining loveseat, carefully crossing her ankles, hands folded in her lap, expertly blending into the background. Tom had always thought that the youngest Black sister was an exemplary Slytherin and a good match for Lucius.
"They do sell preserved fruits and baked goods that are part of traditional meals served for different occasions. To celebrate a birth, when wishing someone well in a new home. All those traditions are… well, they are considered old-fashioned, sometimes frowned upon. Not illegal, though." Tom watched Lily carefully while he explained. She frowned and rubbed one hand over her brow.
"Was anyone hurt? Or caught?" Her green eyes sought out his own, and they locked gazes for a moment.
"The attacking magicals were able to flee. No one was caught, and as they were all wearing masks, we don't know who they were, but the colours of their robes and masks have sparked rumours." Tom could see that Lily had come to the same conclusion but had trouble actually accepting the possibility. "No one was killed or seriously hurt."
Her gaze was assessing while she sat there, watching him. "It would be a good way to discredit the Order of the Phoenix further."
"It could be. But this is the first time such robes, those masks, have been seen anywhere. Sure, what I have been told matches what one would expect. Flames, feathers… Frankly, I think it seems rushed. Unplanned." With Dumbledore dead the Order had lost the one who had held so many different people together. It seemed possible that the more zealous members had broken off and decided to get more violent.
Lily nodded. "Maybe." She tilted her head and once again searched Tom's face. "You had nothing to do with this." She seemed sure, and it was the truth, so Tom simply nodded. "But was it the Order?"
Tom shrugged. "I currently don't know. I'm sure the Auror Department will find a few leads. But currently the chances are not great." He smiled at Lily. "I'm glad that you're fine, and not surprised that you couldn't stand by." That brought him a mild glare. "Do we want to go home?"
"Yes." Lily stood and turned towards Narcissa. "Thank you very much for your hospitality, Mrs. Malfoy. I hope your sister and niece will be fine."
Narcissa gave a smile – friendly but unsure as far as Tom could tell – and a nod in return. "Bellatrix brought her home, the two of them will be fine. But thank you for your concern and help."
They were home right after that. Lily seemed to be in shock, and Tom was unsure how to help her and not cross boundaries too hastily. Before he could come to a conclusion as to whether his hand on her arm would be enough or a hug too much, she started to talk.
"I really don't know what to think. Now I'm no longer so sure, but when I saw those robes, I knew that it was the Order. I can't see them all agreeing to do something like that." She started pacing. "They wouldn't hesitate to attack you, or this house, if they could. Moody might go that far. But I can't see them all agreeing to that…" She waved her hand through the air, clearly agitated.
Tom let her rant. She was carefully not mentioning any concrete names of people she didn't know he already knew were members of the Order.
When she had run out of steam, Tom suddenly found himself in an embrace. Totally perplexed, he needed a few seconds before he managed to raise his arms and return the hug. "It's possible that the Order is falling apart. Keeping such a diverse group together is constant work, and Dumbledore might have been able to do that work, but Moody certainly is not the type." He sighed. "It's quite possible that your friends were not there, Lily."
"Didn't know you were that much of an optimist," Lily mumbled into his shoulder, before releasing him from the hug. "I'm going to free Severus from babysitting duty."
"I have some organising to do. For one, money so that the bakery can be repaired quickly." He didn't add that he had some spies to instruct and reports to gather, as well as some orders to give. But he was pretty sure that Lily knew anyway.
When the house elf opened the door to Abraxas' study, his old friend was already expecting him. Tom stepped in – trying to ignore the elf as best he was able – took a deep breath, and accepted the glass of fire-whiskey that Abraxas was offering him.
They sat down in armchairs in front of the fireplace, angled towards each other with a small table between them. Tom soaked in the warmth of the fire, took sips from the very excellent whiskey, and tried to relax. This had been a crazy day.
"I know it isn't any of my business, but I do wonder how exactly… you and Lily Potter?" Abraxas wasn't looking at Tom, but focused on the fire, just as Tom had been a moment earlier.
For a second or two Tom mused how he would have reacted to such a personal question when the two of them had been much younger. How the others in Slytherin had taunted him for his used robes, his lower-class accent, and the way he had worked to be better than them, so he could show them how wrong they had been.
Luckily for Abraxas, Tom had managed to overcome most of his insecurities, and need to prove his superiority by now. "That's a very personal question, Abraxas." He took another sip.
"Maybe it's presumptuous of me to assume that you came here to talk about… all of it," Abraxas said, moving his hand holding the glass in a vague motion.
Tom snorted, turning his gaze back to the fire. "I mostly had to get out of the house. Give Lily space to process the day, spend time with Harry. A lot happened today, a lot she wasn't ready for yet."
He hoped that this wouldn't set them back. He still wasn't sure what exactly he wanted their relationship to be, but he knew for sure that he didn't wish for Harry and Lily to vanish from his life. This day had forced Lily to take a stance more publicly, had pushed her to see former allies more firmly as enemies than before. She was stubborn and determined, but everyone had a breaking point. And it was not easy to know exactly where that point was. If this was Lily's, she might decide to run and leave everything behind. She had enough money and resourcefulness to find a way if she wanted to.
"You live together?" The incredulity in Abraxas' voice brought Tom's attention back to the cosy, if lavishly decorated, study.
"She fears for Harry's safety if she were to stay at Potter Manor. The Order came to her door, unannounced, in force. She fled." Tom sipped again and contemplated how much he should tell his friend. Maybe he needed to talk to someone to get some clarity. And if there was someone he could trust, it would be Abraxas. "The night I realized that Harry is my son, I left a message for her. Some time after that we started communicating. Letters, mostly. I offered her a place to shelter should she need it." Tom gave a one-shouldered shrug.
"How did that even happen?" Abraxas asked, incredulity still clear in his voice. "There is at least a thirty-year age difference between you."
That surprised a laugh out of Tom. "Of all the things that make this whole situation hard to believe, you get hung up on our age difference?"
"Well," Abraxas answered in a defensive tone, "you live together, in the same house, and you're still unharmed, very much alive. She trusts you with her child. That much is obvious. She came here… by all that I heard today about that attack by the Order, she stood against them, and later made sure not to leave with someone we suspect," Tom snorted because they did more than suspect that Frank Longbottom was a member of Dumbledore's little group, "of being a member of said Order, and then took the opportunity to leave with Lucius. There can't be much of an ideological difference."
Tom snorted and carefully set his glass down. "Lily is a lioness protecting her cub. What do you think Alastor Moody would do if he knew I had a son?"
Abraxas expression grew sombre and he conceded the point, nodding. "I see what you're trying to say." For a moment they sat in silence. "If you need someone to talk to, I'm willing to listen."
Tom nodded and then made sure Abraxas wouldn't talk with anyone about his current situation without his approval. A simple order was enough as the other wizard was wearing his Mark. Lucius would receive the same order. Which was another reason Tom had come back this evening.
Lily's decision to stand against the Order of the Phoenix was public now. But her ties to Tom himself were still mostly hidden. Better to keep it like that. At least for now.
oooOOooo
AN: Thank you for your comments which help me stay motivated to write.
First published 10th of October 2020
Thanks to Jordre and Jake for helping to improve my spelling!