Lily
Mrs. Potter and her son Harry, of number 4 Godric's Hollow, were not a normal family, thank you very much, not even by wizards' standards. For starters, they were very famous and their house was always full of people, ranging from the Minister himself to muggles. The house was filled with so much magic that sometimes you could feel it in the air like an electric storm.
Lily was a med witch working at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. She was finishing her residency when our story begins. Finally, after years of hard work and raising a child semi-alone, she got to a place in her life when she was feeling accomplished.
The "semi-alone" part referred to Sirius and Remus. Remus did get his Qualified Teacher Status in the meantime, but they were pretty much always there. Sirius and Remus lived together in London. A few doors from each other, but technically together, as you could usually find them at Sirius's place.
Severus Snape, Lily's best friend that worked as a teacher at Hogwarts, was less present, but always there at important events.
Besides them the house occasionally sheltered a colorful bunch of people. The Tonks, Neville Longbottom and his grandmother, Narcissa Black and her son, various Hogwarts teachers and Peter Pettigrew. Sometimes even Lily's relatives would show up to turn up their noses and sit primly on the sofa till Sirius chased them away.
Harry grew up pretty happy. He started showing signs of magic when he was only a few months old. At age one he got his first broom from Sirius and was banned to ever fly again on it till Hogwarts, at least according to Lily. Sirius had other ideas and often sneaked the boy out to the Borrow where the Weasley held weekly Quidditch matches.
Lily tried to shield him from the rest of the wizarding community as much as possible without denying him anything the other kids had. He was homeschooled till age 11, but that was mostly due to Remus being an actual qualified teacher. Every day he would go downstairs and floo to Remus and Sirius's for his classes. Remus already had a few kids in his care. In Harry's „class" there were Draco, Neville and Ron as he helped all the Weasley children. In the later years his classes got bigger and they were thinking of moving to a bigger location.
Lily would make her son breakfast and floo to work after he was gone. Harry usually got home before her, but only moments since she and Sirius would have a mirror conversation going around during the day. When she was running late, Harry had dinner at Sirius's place and either slept in his room or flooed home once she got there.
Today was Harry's birthday and Lily was up before dawn to get everything ready. Harry of course knew about the party, because little Ginny screamed it at him last week. But Lily was confident he would act surprised and enjoy it anyway.
She and Molly had spent the whole day yesterday cooking, while Remus and Sirius had taken Harry to the zoo. Harry loved the zoo, although during his first visit he did accidentally let a four meters long python out of its enclosure and then proceeded to chat with it for ten agonizing minutes till Sirius cleared the area of muggles and they got it back inside.
Harry was inconsolable for days afterwards, being sad for the snake. They had to sit Sirius down and explain why they couldn't break into the zoo. Or else he would have released all the animals to make his godson smile again. In the end, Lily sent an email with the complaints the snake had posing as an animal activist.
Then started Harry's „snake phase" at they called it. He didn't want a snake in a terrarium, but he did chat with any he found. He often held whole conferences with a variety of garden snakes and one memorable time with the escaped python.
He did it less as he got older, but at least once every few months he would be hissing away in the garden. On the plus side, they never had a rodent problem and Sirius believed they could have a guard snake system if only Harry tried a bit more.
Lily let all the food on the table and sorted the presents in a neat pile. She cast a Tempus, plenty of time to get Harry his birthday breakfast till the guests get here. She made him pancakes and was just adding sprinkles when he barged down the stairs.
„Morning, sleepyhead," she smiled and hugged him. „Eleven, that is a big number."
„I know, I can't wait to get my Hogwart's letter," Harry's eyes shined as they did every time he talked about the school. Lily blamed Sirius's stories – mostly. And also Severus.
„All in due time, munchkin, pancakes now," she smiles and put the plate in front of him.
When the food entered the picture Harry was gone while he threw it in his mouth at an alarming speed.
„Slow down, there is no rush," Lily smiled fondly.
Harry grinned with the food in his mouth and for a moment Lily was taken aback by how much he looked like James. From his wild hair to his complexion, he was all James. Her chest felt tighter, not the burning loss of a few years ago, but a hollow echo that she suspected would always be there.
In October, it would be ten years since James passed away. The first months she couldn't breathe through the pain; she and Sirius were like ghosts in the house. God bless Remus that took care of Harry till Lily could see anything else than her grief. The fact that he died a hero was no consolation; he died protecting her, triggering a spell that would make her untouchable while he dealt the final blow to Voldemort.
„Mom?" Harry's voice made its way through the fog.
Lily shook her head of rattling thoughts. „Sorry, what?"
„I asked when the others will arrive," Harry grinned at her.
„To the secret party you know nothing about?" She teases „ At noon."
„Can I go in the garden when I am done?"
„Sure, honey. I will call you when they are close to arriving. Say hi to the snakes for me," Lily smiled and gathered their plates.
Harry kissed her cheek and bounced off outside.
Remus and Sirius arrived first as expected. Sirius put a big bulging present on the pile, spoiling Harry as usual, while Remus put a smaller one, books by the looks of it.
„ Where's the birthday boy that definitely has no idea?" Remus asked after saying hello.
„In the garden with his snakes as usual," Lily said.
Sirius stepped into the kitchen, „I was wondering, will his Animagus form be a snake?"
„You are not to encourage my son to try some dangerous magic without proper help like you did!" Lily pointed an accusing finger at him.
„Well... we did it for a good cause," Sirius said and nudged Remus with his shoulder.
„That doesn't make it less dangerous!" Remus said long-suffering. „Especially paired with the present you just got him!"
Lily glares at Sirius. „What? It is his anyway!" Sirius defended.
„What did he do?" Lily turned to Remus that usually cracked faster.
„He decided to give his eleven year old godson the Invisibility Cloak," Remus sighed.
„ Sirius Orion Black!" Lily's voice was high enough to break glass.
„James would have loved him to have it!" Sirius defended.
„At some point, not when he just got into the school!" Lily screamed and just hoped Harry was deep enough in the garden not to hear it. He hated when people raised their voices.
„Actually, James would have given it to him at this point too... Let's not forget James was quite a trickster too," Remus muttered.
„Fair, but that doesn't mean it is a good thing!" Lily kept glaring daggers at Sirius.
Sirius glared right back. „What trouble can he get himself into? He has too much of your goody two shoes genes."
„I do not want to choose sides here, but Hogwarts is a safe place for him!" Remus chimed in.
„Safe? The Forbidden Forest is just across the road and do I have to remind you what is down there!?" Lily's voice got to an alarming volume again.
„No werewolves anymore," Sirius's said in a small voice.
Lily looked murderous enough for Remus to step in.
„He is a good kid. We need to start trusting him at some point and have this whole debate if and only after he screws up," he said glaring at each in turn.
„But what if something too bad happens in the mean time?" Lily asked, her voice dropping significantly.
„Then you have good old Sev there to watch over him," Sirius said the name with a turn of his nose like he smelled something bad.
„Pads! Moony!" Harry barged in and hugged each in turn with a big smile on his face.
„You weed, I saw you yesterday and I swear you've grown," Sirius smiled broadly and ruffled his already messy hair.
„You should not be here!" Lily said closing the door to the living room with a flick of her wand.
„Do you want to go to the garden with me, Pads? I have a new snake," Harry jumped up and down excited.
„Sure, Bamby," Sirius smiled and followed him out.
Lily turned to Remus.
„Do you have a back-up present for when I take Sirius's?" She sighed long suffering.
„You will crush his heart, Lily," Remus pleaded with his big eyes.
„But what if Harry gets hurt because of it?" She chewed her upper lip.
„Severus would know and he would never let anything bad happen to Harry. You need to let him have more freedom, see what he does with it and then decide if he uses it in a bad way or not."
„I know... Why do they have to grow up?"
„So we can get more than a few hours of sleep at a time," Remus deadpanned.
„What did you get him?" Lily asked just to save her fried nerves.
„Hogwarts: A History and some books I had from my first year. They may be outdated now, but can make for a fun read."
„What is your plan now that the big kids are going away?"
„I still go on with Ginny, and I have a new student, Luna Lovegood, starting soon. I am also tutoring Dora for the Auror exams and Charlie for his Dragon taming one. So, I should get a decent flow of students in." Remus smiled.
„You lost most of the class now that everyone is eleven," Lily sighed. „I still don't understand why you do not try for that position at Hogwarts. I swear Defense Against the Dark Arts is always open."
„And cursed," Remus joked. „ I told you, I prefer to stay home and have a smaller sample of students."
„You mean you prefer to stay home with Sirius!" She teased.
„Not this discussion again." Remus sighed. „Where are your guests? Did everyone leave all of a sudden?"
„They are conveniently and fashionably late," Lily smiled.
„Sirius is not a big factor in my carrier making decisions," Remus replied with a more edge to his tone than he intended judging by his widen eyes.
Luckily for Remus, the floo fired up saving him from this conversation.
„This is not over," Lily whispered to Remus as she went to greet her guests.
There was a lot of rustling coming from the living room.
„We got `arry's letter, figured we can save the owl a trip." Hagrid grinned and handed Lily the letter.
„We should get him here, I want to film when he opens it," Lily grinned.
„Muggle technology," Severus Snape huffed „A pensive is way more accurate."
„Maybe, but I want my memories intact and this is to keep me company all those moths he will be gone."
„He will be perfectly safe, Lily," Severus said primly.
„Where's the boy?" Hagrid asked.
„In the garden again," Lily smiled.
„I `ave the cake," Hagrid said and put a squished looking box on the table.
Lily laughed. „Thank you so much, I can't believe we forgot to bake the cake of all things!"
„Don't worry `bout it. I'll go to `arry, I always like when he talks to his snakes," Hagrid smiled broadly and exited through the backdoor.
Severus left his presents in the pile that started looking more like a mountain by the minute.
The floo glowed again and half of the Weasley clan piled through. Molly was leading holding Ginny and Ron's hands; the twins were behind her grinning widely.
„I am so sorry. Arthur got hold up at work and couldn't make it and Charley still studies for his entrance exam." Molly said while she was barely inside.
„And Percy is just a..." Fred started looking at Severus's stern face, „a recluse."
„Bill is still abroad then?" Remus asked.
„Yes, it is possible he will be away the whole year in Egypt." Molly said marching her whole troop into the living room.
Ginny slipping out of her mother's hand flocked to Remus and gave him a big hug.
„Mrs. Lily, I didn't mean to tell Harry about the party." She said hiding behind his leg.
„It's alright, Ginny, he will be happy anyway." Lily smiled wide.
After nodding to all the adults Ron ran outside.
Soon the Floo shined again releasing Neville and his grandma followed shortly by the Tonks and Narcissa Black and Draco.
By the time most of the guests arrived, Harry and his little gang were out of the garden. The adults were chatting in the kitchen while the kids were circling the presents mountain in the living room.
Lily spent most of the day making sure everyone had drinks and the kids weren't hungry. She and Remus were working themselves between Sirius and Severus at regular intervals. Even after all these years, they still used every opportunity to take a stab at each other.
Andromeda and Narcissa were sitting primly on the sofa discussing the Hogwarts curriculum and Ted and Hagrid were enthusing the twins with stories about the creatures Ted worked with at the Ministry.
As always Lily's sister and her family were absent. Lily tried not to let that bother her, but sometimes she wished Petunia would make an effort to catch at least an event a year. She did send Harry a present, a t-shirt that Lily would have to prod and beg Harry to wear just once.
Peter was absent as well, but he did let her know beforehand. Something about pressing work at the Ministry that needed his attention.
By the time the cake was cut and Harry opened his presents she was feeling exhausted. The sugar only gave the kids more energy, but at least tomorrow she was free from work. She promised Harry to take him to Diagon Alley.
Molly left first, herding her kids out by the Floo. Neville and his grandmother were next, although the boy protested loudly. In the end she was left only with Severus as Remus pushed a giggly Sirius in the floo.
„Do you need help washing up?" Severus asked while they were collecting plates from all over the house.
„I will just Scourgify everything tomorrow," she yawned.
„What happened to the girl that wanted to do everything the Muggle way?" Severus teased.
„She got a kid," Lily deadpanned. „Thank you for the cauldron, even if Harry was not as enthusiastic. I know how important it is to get a good one in the first year."
„It was hard competing with Black's gift," Severus muttered.
„Well, thank Merlin it is not a race then. That kid has plenty of love to go around."
„You raised a fine boy! I still hope he will get in Slytherin."
„Blasphemy! Sirius will go green and that is really not his color," Lily smiled.
„I should really get going..." Severus said, but kept fidgeting with stuff in the kitchen.
„Thank you so much for coming!"
„My pleasure. Do you still want to come to Hogwarts before the year starts?"
It was Lily's turn to fidget now. „Just to... take a look around."
„I keep telling you, he is perfectly safe at Hogwarts!"
„That is what Dumbledore said and he was the one with the back-up plan to let Harry be raised by Petunia if I died," Lily snapped.
„Fair enough," Severus sighed. „I will come and pick you up then."
„Thank you again," Lily grinned and hugged him briefly.
And again like with any type of physical contact, Severus melted into it and then immediately held back like a hedgehog.
„Good night," he called and rushed out.
Lily thought about staying and cleaning everything up, but... No guests were supposed to arrive tomorrow and if she had to endure everyone staring in Diagon Ally she needed her eight hours.
Harry was up bright and early jumping down on her bed in screaming excitement. For a few seconds the prospect of him away at school for the long months seemed amazing, but Lily knew she would miss him something fierce.
„Mum! Mum!" The lump on her bed screamed.
„Breakfast first!" Lily muttered and left her blanket cocoon reluctantly.
„I want cereal!" Harry called and thundered down the stairs.
Lily sighed, but followed him. While Harry happily munched away she had some time to finish her morning ritual of shower and coffee and to cast the strongest Glamours she knew on herself and Harry. They may fall at some point, but she did her best.
Harry was buzzing with excitement. She was worried about accidental magic from all the emotion he radiated. She knew he wanted to go for a long while now, all his other friends went to Diagon at Christmas at least, even Draco and he was more sheltered than Harry. Lily couldn't risk it. So many Death Eaters were never caught and she wouldn't put Harry in danger again, not after the first time...
Lily took Harry's hand and guided him through the Floo to the Leaky Cauldron. The bartender threw them a funny look, but with a lot of new families and even muggles shopping for school supplies for their children, Lily was sure that the look was not due to them being recognized.
She was surprised she managed to do this alone without any of the boys tagging along, but her happiness was short lived when a huge black dog jumped on Harry and licked his face.
„I promise I did try," a voice interrupted behind them and Remus's face was at least apologetic.
„At least he is less annoying like this," Lily sighed.
Padfoot glared at her in a very non-dog way while Harry patted him.
„We can go home, I can drag him..." Remus began.
„It's fine, I know keeping him away was only wishful thinking," Lily sighed. „Bad dog, Pads, bad dog."
Padfoot ignored her and wigged his tail as excited as Harry. They kept running on ahead, Harry with a sure hand in the dog's fur.
„Where to first?" Remus asked and offered Lily his arm like the gentleman he was.
„I reckon Ollivander's. Get the wand first," Lily called.
Harry and Padfoot strode on ahead blissfully unrecognized even if Remus turned a few heads. They walked into Ollivander's and the help stopped them from entering with Padfoot and Remus and Lily laughed till they were red in the face. In the end, only Harry and Lily were in the store when the owner appeared.
„I wondered when I'd be seeing you, Mr. Potter." He said and Lily flinched. The store was empty, but she had to recast the charm afterwards anyway.
„Miss Evans, always a pleasure. How is your wand? 10¼" long, made of willow unicorn core," Ollivander murmured.
Lily pulled out her wand for inspection and the Ollivander seemed pleased with its state.
„Now let's see." Ollivander took out a box from the stacks behind him and handed the wand to Harry.
Harry picked it up, swished, but nothing happened.
„Apparently not," Ollivander picked a new one and handed it to Harry. He gave it a wave and a shelf exploded in the back of the store.
„Merlin! I am so sorry!" Lily started.
„I didn't have a challenge like this in years." Ollivander's eyes lit up and he handed them more wands to try.
Each one caused a little explosion till Lily was scared for their safety.
„I wonder..." Ollivander gave Harry a dusty box and took out a wand.
Harry picked it up and sparks lit in the air.
„Curious, very curious," The wandmaker muttered.
„Sorry, but what's curious?" Harry asked politely.
„I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr. Potter. It just so happens that the phoenix, whose tail feather resides in your wand, gave one other feather, just one. It is curious that you should be destined for this wand when its brother killed..."
„Absolutely not!" Lily's tone scared even herself.
„The wand chooses the wizard, Miss Evans. It's not always clear why, but I think it is clear that we can expect great things from your son. After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things...terrible, yes, but great."
„I am not paying for that. We will sit here and try every wand you have till we find one that is not tainted!"
„But miss Evans..."
„It is Potter! And I admire the work you do, but I am not giving my kid that." Lily's tone was cold, but sure of herself. Harry's survival instincts made him stiff momentarily under her hands.
Ollivander stared at her for a few long moments, but obliged and two hours later they got out with a 9 inch English Oak with a Phoenix feather core.
Remus and Sirius – now switched back – were waiting for them outside.
„I was five seconds away from storming in." Sirius hugged Harry even if her son got embarrassed about public displays of affection nowadays.
„But we could also see you through the glass." Remus deadpanned. „What happened?"
„He wanted to give Harry You-know-who's brother wand or something" Lily huffed.
„He wanted what!?" Sirius bristled still holding a now squirming Harry.
„Mom didn't let him give me the twin of the wand that killed dad." Harry's voice was muffled by Sirius's chest.
Lily flinched and Sirius held him just a little bit tighter.
„But now I have a Phoenix Feather!" Harry called in the tense silence that settled.
„That's great, puppy." Sirius said and finally released him.
„How about we look in the pet store and then ice-cream?" Remus took Lily's arm.
„Sounds great." She smiled faintly.
Somewhere along the way Lily's Glamour charm wore off. They got mobbed and had to take a refuge in the inn. By that time, Harry picked a pet, a snow owl he named Hedwig.
„I am sorry about ice-cream, baby." She said watching her son coo at the bird cage.
„How about I sneak out and then meet you in Godric's Hollow with a tub of it and we can have it safely behind wards?" Remus asked ruffling Harry's hair.
Harry nodded and smiled broadly. Lily was scared he would stop being such a happy child as he grew up, but he was proving her wrong every day.
„Take the dog too, he needs a long walk." She whispered conspiringly.
Padfoot growled playfully at her and jumped around Remus waging its tail.
Lily asked to use the Inn's Floo. A young wizard behind the counter agreed with shaking hands and awe in his eyes. Harry didn't notice, totally enraptured by the bird. Lily smiled politely and grinded her teeth. She never liked the attention, the mobbing, the fan mail. All she did was protecting her family. Killing the Dark Lord was a side effect and most of that was James.
She took a big calming breath and grabbed some powder in her hand.
Harry seemed unaffected by today's events. He had to live all his life with strangers being too forward, insensible or weird. He knew about James and how he died before he got to even walk outside, because they were too worried he would find out on the street by a stranger yelling it at him. At least the law protected him against reporters and Lily was known to hex some that still got a bit daring.
They let themselves in the small cottage and the wards fizzled in around them. Lily was always sensible to magic and the wards they had placed on the house always felt like mist around her, shrouding them, keeping them safe.
„Are you hungry or just ice-cream today?" She asked Harry making her way to clear some of the mess in the kitchen.
„Ice-cream!" Harry replied from the living room.
„Why did I even ask?" She rolled her eyes fondly.
It took about twenty minutes for Remus and Sirius to appear. She was notified when they got into the town, but they had access to the house wards. They did not choose another secret keeper after last time and Lily hoped they never would again.
Sirius padded in as a dog, but switched back to human as soon as he was in the house. Remus strolled behind him carrying a grocery bag.
„Any problems getting back?" He asked getting into the kitchen.
She was clearing the table of plates from the party. „No. Did you?"
„No one bothers me when I am alone, or with my dog in this case."
„He is a scarily convincing dog!" Lily remarked.
„He is part dog most of the time," Remus laughed and helped her get the bowls.
Harry and Sirius made their way to the kitchen. Harry chanted ice cream all the way till he got a first bite and then he just speed ate it.
„Wasn't Narcissa supposed to come today with you?" Sirius asked.
„She decided to owl order everything instead," Lily said looking down.
Narcissa stopped going into the wizarding world. She held her head high and glared at everyone the few times she had to. She still did when she was alone. But she kept Draco firmly out of it. She could stand the sneers and the jokes and the insults, but not when they looked at her son like he was going to combust. Lily knew all this and tried to get them both out more, but they were choosing muggle places lately. Quiet parks, small coffee shops, book shops, places where neither of their names or faces meant anything to the passerbies.
Sirius clenched his fists and Lily knew she would have some chosen words if Harry had not been there.
„So, Harry, excited for Hogwarts?" Remus steered the conversation away.
„Yes! I am so worried about the sorting ceremony though," Harry said between spoonfuls of ice-cream.
„No reason to be, all the houses have something important to teach you and you will be great in either one."
„Even Slytherin?" Harry asked innocently.
Sirius proceeded to choke on... air, Lily assumed, since he just stirred his bowl and not ate anything.
„Yes, even Slytherin. Aunt Narcissa and Aunt Andromeda are Slytherins and so is Severus and we like them," Lily piped in.
„For some reason," Sirius muttered and Remus elbowed him hard.
„I am done. Can I go and play with my owl now?" Harry asked and put the bowl in the sink.
„Of course, be sure to feed her though," Lily called after him.
„My godson, Slytherin, the audacity!" Sirius grumbled unhappy.
„He is turning more and more into an old man!" Remus complained to Lily.
„Next time he will scream about the lawn!" She whispered to Remus and they both smiled.
On the morning they had the train to Hogwarts, Lily and Harry were late. She did try to arrive on time, but nothing seemed to go how it should. They were supposed to meet everyone on the platform, but they ended up having to run through the station holding on the trolley.
Harry was a bit scared of going through the portal between 9 and 10, but he did it eventually. He ran straight in and Lily stepped right behind him. The wave of nostalgia that hit as soon as she got on the platform was so strong it was almost tangible.
The Weasleys were a ginger group in the middle getting everyone boarded. Lily walked to Remus and Sirius waiting on the side with Narcissa.
„You know it is perfectly normal to be nervous," Sirius told Draco.
„ I am not uneasy." Draco said.
„I know. I am only trying to say it's okay if you were," Sirius went on.
„I am worried!" Harry said joining them.
Draco looked up and glared at Harry. Lily could never understand their relationship. They had known each other all of their lives, but Draco always tried to keep away from the others. And the more he pulled away, the more Harry pushed and prodded him. Till Draco snapped, then he took some time away and when he got back the whole circle started again.
The train whistled and the platform bustled with children boarding and families hugging.
Narcissa hugged her son and held him a bit tight.
„Write to me straight after the ceremony tonight," She instructed.
„And then me!" Sirius said and hugged his nephew that squirmed in his arms.
Lily hugged Harry so hard she feared she would break his bones.
„Everything is going to be fine!" She said more to herself than him.
„Of course it will!" Harry beam at her.
Remus took his turn hugging Harry and then they all took a shot at each kid and at the end of it Draco was faking annoyance and Harry was beaming pleased.
The kids then ran to the train and the adults remained on the platform. Lily made half a step forward, but Narcissa stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.
„They will be fine, they have each other!" She said trying to convince herself as well as Lily.
„I asked all the students I have that are still in Hogwarts to keep an eye on them," Remus said.
„If not we can always take them to Ivermorny. America is great this time of year," Sirius supplied.
„They will love Hogwarts, as much as we did." Remus assured him.
„I sure hope so!" Lily said watching the train slowly making its way out of the station.
