Later that night as Lily made her way to bed, she found a familiar looking owl sitting on the window. It hopped towards her and stuck it's leg out.
"Hello!" Lily whispered, "You look awfully familiar, have we met before?"
The owl hooted softly, before taking off into the night. Lily unfolded the letter, it was from Sirius.
Dear Flower- power,
It was great to see you here. Gave Jamesie some hope it did, ah! The healing power of love! Dumbledore could write a musical about-
Enough Sirius! Dear Lily, What Sirius really wants to say is that It did both James and Sirius some good to see you today and we that is Sirius, Peter and I think it would be good for all of us if you could come for the funeral tomorrow. It's your choice; you don't have to come-
But we are really begging you to come. Please do come. Please! I knew you wouldn't say no to this deviously handsome face. See you tomorrow! Okay?
Goodnight!
Love
Sirius & Remus
P.S.: Don't listen to him, he is being a prat. Come if you want to, we would however be happy to see you.
I am not being a prat. And Lily will come. We will see you tomorrow Lils.
Would you two maniacs just send the letter already? James is coming.
Bloody hell, Remus! Little Peter is such a sneaky charmer, putting in messages through a spell from across the room.
But he is right, I can hear James coming!
You heard the man Lils. James is coming. Gotta go! Love you.
Lily bit her lip as she finished the letter, she did not really know James well, but the boys insisted that she should come attend the funeral of a woman she had never met. She didn't know, what to do, what would she say to anyone. She got out of bed and tiptoed to Marlene's room. Lily knocked, she could hear voices from inside the room, Marlene opened the door to reveal Damien and another young man that Lily assumed was Charles.
"Lily?" Marlene asked surprised. "Hey, come in. Is everything alright? Do you need something?"
"Not really. No. I hope I am not disturbing anything, I just wanted your advice on something."
"Oh no!" Charles said, "You were not disturbing anything, we were just chatting. Charles Mckinnon." He said extending his hand, Lily took it graciously and smiled.
"Hey come here Lily, sit." Damien said, getting up from Marlene's bed. "We would leave you girls alone. Good night, Lily, little sis."
Marlene shut the door after he brothers and turned to look at Lily, who held up the letter from the boys for Marlene. Marlene frowned as she read through the letter and looked at Lily with a sad smile.
"He is trying really hard." She said finally.
"Potter?" Lily asked.
"No, Sirius. He is trying really hard to stay cheerful for everyone, but it's not the same, he doesn't know how to deal with this."
"Oh! But what should I do? Should I come to the funeral?"
Marlene stared out her window for a long moment before nodding to herself.
"I think you should. I think Sirius needs you more."
"Why do you think so?"
Marlene looked at Lily and smiled. "I have known him since he was 11. Generally, all pureblood kids know each other but the Blacks have always locked away their kids. From what I do know of him, it's very difficult for him to accept himself as a part of the Potter family or household. He loves all of them with his heart, but he feels a familial tie with only Mrs. and Mr. Potter and James. That's how he has always been; he has always seen himself as an outsider. But with you, he sees you like the sibling he needed; he sees you as family. And he needs you tomorrow to help deal with this sense of loss he feels; he also needs you to keep him sane enough to help James. And of course! James really does need you."
Lily nodded. "Okay, for Sirius, I guess but I don't have any appropriate dresses."
Marlene waved her hand dismissively. "Borrow one of mine. Now off you go. Mum and Dad would drag us early to the Potters tomorrow."
Lily, almost fell again, but this time because she had side alonged for the first time. An amused Lukas caught her, before smirking at her glare and walking away. They were standing outside a massive gothic church. Lily walked alongside Marlene, but as they entered the church, Lily noticed that there were no symbols of Christianity along the panels of the church.
"Marlene." Lily said nudging Marlene lightly, "What is this place?"
"The old church at Eagle's Nest." Marlene whispered back, "It was taken over by Wizards a few centuries ago; they got rid of the priests and everything. Muggles think it's a condemned building. Wizards who live here in the village, now use it for their own ceremonies. The Potter family has been buried here for centuries, some however, do get buried at Godric's Hollow which is nearby, depends on the Potter really."
"Oh!" Lily answered, looking around in curiosity.
She knew that Potters were practically royalty but she did not know that more than half the wizarding world would turn up to pay their last respects to Althea Potter. As they walked ahead Lily could hear snatches of conversations.
"Such a gifted magical historian-"
"-Bertha said in a couple of years Althea would have-"
"- Now, dear, make sure you look forlorn, Perseus is a little vulnerable at the moment-"
"Is that Dorea Potter? Wow, one good hex-"
"I think maybe we should wait till she dies, James is a better-"
"-You think any of the Potter boys, even Black would be devastated enough to make it easy?"
Marlene swore under her breath. "Really?" She said angrily as they joined Alice and Frank. "Percy's mother just died! James and Percy are devastated and all these little idiots could think of is marriage with a Potter."
"Hey! It's a sad reality." Frank said evenly, "More than half of them are here to gain something. And everyone with a daughter is hoping for a grief induced romance. Good, pureblood housewives after all feel their husband's pain acutely." He said bitterly.
"Let's just make sure the fools stay away from the family." Alice said firmly. "One of us should always be there with Percy or James. I will go tell Fabian and Gideon."
"I will go tell Damien, Charles and Lukas to keep an eye out for opportunists." Marlene said walking away.
"I should go stay with my Uncles and Mum. You would be fine by yourself?" Frank asked.
"I will be fine. I think I will find Sirius and Remus and talk to them about this, they would make sure Potter isn't alone." Lily replied.
Frank nodded. "Sirius is with Aunt Dorea, you will find the others around her too. She is in the waiting room, just go through the door on the left, the first door on your right is hers."
Lily nodded before following Frank's instructions, Remus answered the door.
"Lily!" Remus exclaimed, pulling her in a hug. "Its good to see you. Thank you for coming."
"Glad to be of help." Lily said with a small smile, "Now listen, there are a lot of women out there who are hoping that Potter, his cousin or Sirius would be devastated enough to fall in love with them. Make sure, all three are not left alone even for a moment."
Remus nodded. "Who is it Remus?" A voice asked from inside.
"Oh! Where are my manners? Come on in Lily." Remus said.
"No." Lily said stepping back. "I just wanted to say this. I wouldn't want to intrude."
But before Remus could reply, a boy came over to Remus's side and opened the door wider. Lily was shocked at the resemblance, this boy was an exact copy of Potter but he was a little taller than Potter, had blue eyes and was not wearing glasses.
He looked at Lily, his curiosity giving way to surprise which ultimately gave way to a warm smile. He stepped out and held his hand out for her. "Perseus Potter." He said with a small smile, "You must be Lily Evans. I have heard so much about you. I am sorry we meet under such unfortunate circumstances."
Lily shook his hand gingerly, and before she knew it she was pulled into the room. Dorea Potter was lying on a settee and running a hand on James' hair who knelt beside her, his head buried in his hands. Sirius was looking out of the window, his jaw set. Remus was talking quietly to a young woman with shockingly violet eyes. The woman looked at Lily and flashed a smile in her direction, before going back to her conversation with Remus, Percy had joined them and she held Percy's hand firmly.
Lily walked over to Sirius. He flashed a small smile in acknowledgment before going back to stare at the window. Lily was about to say something when a man with messy brown hair and stormy grey eyes entered and announced that they were ready. They helped Dorea in a wheelchair and soon everyone was out on the grounds for the burial of Althea Potter.
After the burial, James and Percy ushered Dorea Potter home in a rush. The graveyard emptied pretty soon after that, but Lily was attracted to the church. It looked peaceful, it made her feel calm. She told Marlene and her family to leave her behind; she promised she would use the floo from the apothecary nearby and come home soon.
Lily sat on the stairs to the graveyard and watched Anthony Potter who was the man with the messy brown hair and stormy grey eyes; leave. She sighed and stared at the new resting place of Althea Potter. Sirius came and sat next to her quietly.
"You didn't leave?" Lily asked.
"Neither did you." He replied.
"I- This place is peaceful." Lily said with a sigh.
Sirius smirked, "Of course. Is that the only reason for you to stay here?"
"No. I am thinking about Prongs."
"The Marauder?"
"Yes."
"Why are you thinking about him?"
"I wish I could write to him about all this. But he hasn't contacted me all summer! Maybe he doesn't want to talk anymore."
"Or maybe he is not in a position to talk right now." Sirius said nudging her shoulder.
"Yeah. Maybe." Lily said with a sigh.
"Thank you."
Lily looked at Sirius quizzically.
"For coming. James has been a mess since he saw her this morning, Aunt Dorie, well they loved each other like sisters and Percy, he has been coping better than we thought."
Lily nodded and started as she felt a shadow move near the graves.
James Potter stood by his aunt's last resting place. Slowly, he squatted down near her and started talking. Lily couldn't hear what he was saying, but she had never seen him look so vulnerable, so broken. He was not the cocky, arrogant prick, but a young boy who had lost someone precious. Soon, he was joined by Percy. The two boys sat together talking to each other for a long time.
Lily and Sirius kept watching the two Potters interact.
"Loss is a funny thing." Sirius said suddenly, "Sometimes, it drives people apart, sometimes it brings them close."
"It depends on the way we heal, doesn't it? My gran used to say, 'a family that heals together, stays together." Lily replied.
"So, I guess you are my family then. We are healing together, with the help of each other." Sirius said swinging his arm around Lily's shoulder.
"Yes. Thank you for the chocolates you sent over the summer. Helped deal with Severus' betrayal and gain a few pounds of fat."
"Meh! What do you care about fat?" Sirius asked with a smirk, "James wouldn't care even if you had a third eye and webbed feet."
Lily smacked Sirius' shoulder and laughed.
"I am not lying." Sirius said solemnly, Lily rolled her eyes. "Ask James."
"Ask me what?" Lily and Sirius jumped when they realized that Percy and James were standing in front of them.
"Nothing." Lily said blushing, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Do you think Lily is fat?" Sirius asked.
"Sirius!" Lily protested.
"I don't think so. But I wouldn't know what constitutes fat these days, those fashion magazines have crazy size standards." James said.
"And anyway, beauty is a social construct and is culture specific." Percy added.
"Say what you may, Perce. I am gorgeous in every culture." Sirius said with a grin.
"Wow! You are so humble, Sirius." Percy replied dryly, "Now come on, let's get home. Would you like to join us Lily? I believe the McKinnons would be joining us for dinner. Stay with us till then."
"Okay, sure."
Percy nodded before conjuring a Patronus, a bald eagle and sending it away with his message.
"You know how to conjure a patronus? And you can send a message through it? That's really advanced magic!" Lily exclaimed, awed, as she watched the eagle fly away.
James rolled his eyes, "All of us can produce a Patronus. Although, we are having trouble using it to send messages, somehow, it could be apprehended easily."
Lily watched on awed, as Percy explained the importance of thinking about the receiver clearly. Sirius jogged ahead to ask him about something and Lily suddenly was walking next to Potter.
"You could produce a corporeal patronus?" Lily asked softly.
Potter blushed and rubbed his neck. "Yes."
"That is really advanced magic."
"Both my parents are Aurors. I had to learn about all this from a younger age, we were always under some kind of threat."
"Are all Aurors threatened?"
"Not all. My parents are very vocal against Voldemort and his ideas. It doesn't sit well with the exclusive 28."
"Exclusive 28?"
"Well, they are purebloods and believe that they alone carry proper wizarding pride. My family has always supported muggles and muggleborns, even married a few of them, so we have been kept out of the exclusive 28."
"But aren't you wizarding royalty?"
Potter laughed, "All of these 28 families are. Doesn't really matter. It's just that, since Potters are as old as the Blacks, we have a lot of political goodwill and old money."
"Oh! I have never heard you brag about your money and connections."
Potter shrugged. "I didn't do anything, I inherited them. The only thing I am proud of is my ability to learn magic quickly."
Lily nodded. "I am sorry for your loss. I heard she was a very gifted witch."
James nodded. "She was, knew a lot of ancient magic. Percy knows a lot too. But that's not why I miss her. She was a great human being. So full of love and positivity; she taught me to look at the brighter side of everything. She taught me that the world might be treacherous but we have to value friendship and loyalty. She-" He stopped abruptly.
Lily held his hand instinctively, "She sounds like a wonderful person."
James nodded his grip tightening around her hand. "It doesn't hurt that she is gone." He said slowly, "I am glad she is not suffering anymore, its just that she would not be there for a lot of important moments in my life. You know she always told mum that she would be the most excited person on the day of my graduation from Auror academy, or that she would give the something borrowed to my wife on our wedding. She would name my kids… Now, she won't be there for any of this." He said choking.
"She would be. In her own way, she would find a way to be there for all your big and small moments. My Nana always said, that she would find a way to be there for us in our times of need from beyond the grave. Sometimes when I am upset about something, I can almost feel her around me."
"You think, Aunt Thea would be around us too?"
"Yeah. As long as you love and remember her, she would not really be gone from your life."
James smiled and let go off her hand before he pulled her in a side hug. "Thank you Evans. That means a lot."
"Anytime, Potter."
AN: I am SO sorry for not updating sooner. I was suffering from a block and my work life caught up with me. But here is another chapter! I don't really know why I wrote it though. Maybe to create a kind of-sort of functional relationship. Anyway, there would be another chapter on some summer fluff between Lily and James and how she bonds with his family. And then we would be back to school.
Now, has anyone read the Cursed Child script book? It is fanfiction, and I have read better ones at that, someone should have introduced Kurinoone- Darkness within series to these people.
Anyway, Please do read and review! I would love to hear your opinion.
Happy reading.
Much love,
The fishes.
