A/N: I still don't own anything you recognize.

I do not know what wizarding Russia is like, I'm just taking a guess. If I have something wrong, just go with it. I am also sure people speak English in Russia, they just happen to be speaking Russian in this story.

Word count: 1308

It had been three days. Three days of Lily rearranging everything in Igor's home. Three days of fussing baby sounds echoing, three days of Igor nearly losing his mind.

"We need a plan," he finally stated sitting Lily down at the kitchen table. He poured himself a cup of mead, took a long drink.

"I've been thinking about that. I know England isn't safe, not with him in power." Ahh, Lily still thought the Dark Lord still reigned, great. If he told her, she'd leave. He debated the idea. Of course, she'd probably stay regardless. She had nothing left in England, not with Severus dead. Igor remembered Severus mentioning Lily's husband and young son had also been murdered. That was part of the reason for the memory modification, to keep her from the pain.

"No, England is not safe." The lie slid from his lips. She nodded.

"I could stay here. Maybe not with you, Igor, I know you value your privacy. I don't even know where I am, honestly."

"Siberia."

"Oh."

"It's home. I am from here. You are right, you will be safe here, but I made a promise, Lily. I will protect you and Hyacinth. You are welcome to stay in my home until I say otherwise. We need to something about your name though. Lily is a very pretty name, but it will stand out, especially if He Who Must Not Be Named is searching for you. I'm worried Severus was found out a spy and that is why he was murdered."

"Oh. What do you suggest."

"Illyana, I knew a girl named Illyana once. She was strong like you. We can use Illy as a nickname if you wish."

"And Hyacinth?" He glanced at the baby.

"Does anyone know her name?"

"Severus. You."

"She should be safe enough, but if you wish to change her name also." Lily shook her head. She remembered how hard it had been for her and Severus to agree on a name. The memory felt a little fuzzy, but she dismissed the thought.

"No, Severus helped me name her, I want to keep it, in honor of him." Igor nodded wondering if Severus had actually had anything to do with the baby. The child had red hair like her mother and baby blue eyes. They would most likely change as she grew older. Was it possible the child was Severus'? That would certainly change things.

"We're starting to run low on a few things, food for example."

"I'll go." She glared at him. He nearly smiled. She was a feisty one.

"We will all go, Igor. I need to see my new home after all. Besides, do you know everything Hyacinth needs? What size diapers? Which wipes? Formula?"

"The formula comes in a yellow tin."

"My point exactly. Do we live in a wizarding town?"

"Yes. As if I would live with muggles." He had to nearly pause to make sure he used the right word. He'd almost called them 'mudbloods'. That would not have gone over well with his new house guest.

"I also need new clothes, I don't think I have anything warm enough, I know Hya doesn't."

"Fine, fine, come with, but I don't want to hear any complaining. And remember, you don't speak any Russian."

"I pick up languages quickly. Will that be a problem?" He considered it for a moment.

"No, I can always claim I bought you at auction, having a muggle-born pet is not unheard of for a Death Eater. Can you read Russian?" She shook her head. Good. He'd managed to get the Prophet stopped. He didn't want her to read about the Boy Who Lived as they were calling the Potter boy. He wasn't entirely sure, but he wondered if somehow Lily was connected to him. Severus hadn't told him much about her past, only that she was the love of his life, she'd lost her husband and son in a Death Eater attack, and she had to be protected. He realized he didn't even know her last name. He figured it was probably Snape, since she was Severus' witch.

"Let's get going," he said. She nodded pulling out a winter coat from the suitcase and what looked like a quilted body suit for the baby. He nodded. She'd be warm enough for now. He opened the door and led her outside. She had the baby in a harness against her chest.

"Can she breathe in that thing?"

"Yes. Are we walking to the market?"

"Yes, it's not far from here. Besides, walking is good, the air is good." Lily had no problem keeping up with Karkaroff, despite carrying Hyacinth. Soon they reached an open air market.

"Best of everything," he announced. A woman came over to them. She studied Lily for a second before turning to Karkaroff. They spoke in Russian for a few minutes before the woman nodded and went her own way. Lily almost asked, but decided it was most likely none of her business. If it was important, Igor would tell her.

They made their way through the market, people greeting Karkaroff occasionally. Lily wondered if they were friends, or if they just feared him because he had been a Death Eater. She noticed a few people glance at her, but none approached her.

"Will the little one drink goat's milk?" Lily looked down at her daughter, her green eyes meeting Hyacinth's blue ones.

"She's never had it before. I know babies aren't supposed to have cow's milk until they're older."

"We will have to get the formula elsewhere. There is a small shop nearby, they should have it."

"Alright. Do we have everything else?"

"I have all the groceries you wrote on the list. Was there anything I missed?" Hyacinth had fallen asleep by this point.

"I don't think so." He led her from the market to the small store, as he'd said, they carried formula, of course everything was written in Russian.

"Can you read these for me, I'm pretty sure I need this one, but I want to make sure." He complied, reading the labels for Lily.

"Igor?" He turned and nodded a man.

"Wayne, it's been awhile." Lily blinked in shock, the other man Wayne, was speaking English!

"More than a while."

"Who's this?"

"Illyana, she's the widow of a friend. Illy, Wayne and I went to Hogwarts together." She nodded trying to remember if she had known this man, but drew blank. It must have been before her and Severus had attended.

"It's nice to meet you," she said. Hyacinth stirred slightly.

"The pleasure is all mine." Wayne nodded at her before turning back to Karkaroff. The two exchanged a few words in Russian before Wayne left the group entirely.

"What did he say?" Lily asked.

"Said I should be careful, things are heating up in England. The Ministry is falling apart. And that I should keep you close," Igor lied. The other wizard had in fact said pretty much the opposite. Things in London were cooling off, the reign of Lord Voldemort being over. The Ministry was stronger than ever. The part about keeping Lily close had been true, just a little more crude than Igor was admitting.

"I wish this war would end. It's caused so much pain, I mean, can you imagine all the lives lost?" Igor nearly smiled thinking about some of the ones he'd taken.

"It is horrible. Have you got everything."

"Yes."

"Let's go, Hyacinth probably wants to sleep in her crib." Lily smiled. The crib had been shrunken inside the suitcase. Apparently Severus had packed everything they would have needed to start a new life. Igor wondered who had killed him, and if he should avenge his death or give the person a gift basket. The witch was starting to grow on him.