Body
All In The Name of Love
Chapter 21 - Reign of Terror
The summer term was progressing swiftly, and all too soon the eight mischief-makers would be undergraduates no more. As they considered career options, one thing became abundantly clear. The world was fast becoming an unsafe place. Lord Voldemort was rising fast, even for him. The threat he posed was so well publicised that none but the most naive believed that he was anything other than dangerous.
Lily, James, Flick, Sirius, Remus, Cee, Ellie and Peter were all studying hard for their NEWT's.
"I'm never going to pass!" Peter moaned at one point.
"You have to." Cee said, shortly. "Come on Peter, optimism! If you don't believe in yourself, nothing will happen. There are enough people in the world who are prepared to put you down, without you helping them!"
"Cecelia Hall being philosophical!" Sirius exclaimed. "I don't believe it! Look, Peter, stop worrying okay. The rest of us can do without it. You know, in a couple of weeks we're leaving this joint forever. We might never see each other again!" His tone took on a gloomy note.
"Not you too!" Flick exclaimed. "James, Remus, have you been giving them Pessimism Potions?"
"Not that I know of!" James grinned.
"First and foremost, we are not going to lose touch. Especially not you boys. You're like this!" she crossed her fingers. "Besides, if you don't get together, you'll all get boring."
"So what are you planning on doing?" Ellie asked, curiously.
"I'm not sure." Flick told her, honestly. "I mean, being an Auror, that would be fantastic, but it's risky. And I'm not good with risky." Lily nodded her head at that. "Lily de-ah! Your supposed to argue with that! Anyway, I don't want to go into the Ministry. They're just a bunch of incompetents pretending that they know what they're doing. On the other hand, I quite fancy going into medicine."
"I pity your patients!" James laughed. "If they say one thing wrong, you'll poison them!"
"I would not! Anyway, what're you going to do?"
"I am going to be start a League Against Voldemort, and then detain all his supporters." James replied.
"Not ambitious at all then! And don't you think that perhaps there already is a League Against Voldemort?"
"Well if there is then I'll join that." James told her seriously. "Look at what he does, apart from go on and on and on about being 'pure' blood. That's a joke! Seventy five percent of the wizarding population have Muggle ancestors of one description or another, and Squibs usually marry Muggles. And I heard that he's a half-blood."
"And Remus, Peter and I will be doing exactly the same." Sirius informed the girls. "We talked about it the other day."
"I'm going to be a writer." Cecelia told them, excitedly. "And then I'll be able to report on your guerilla warfare."
"Right." Sirius was dubious.
"Look, don't worry! I'm not going to make you sound bad or anything." Cee assured them. "I'll just tell it how it is."
"Lil's dead set on Charms." Ellie announced. "And I'm going to make the most of a huge inheritance and do nothing."
"Really?" Cee asked, astonished.
"Well, not exactly. I'm going to work for free, voluntary work you know. I thought I'd go into tactics."
"Right." Cee nodded her understanding. There was no need to say whom it was that Ellie was going to work as tactician for, it was blatantly obvious that she was another of Voldemort's enemies.
A few days later the exams were over and done with, and there was only a week left of school. The eight of them were laughing by the lake when Professor McGonagall arrived.
"Miss Howell. I need to speak to you in my office."
"All right Professor." Flick grimaced at her friends behind Professor McGonagall's back, and followed her into the castle.
"I wonder what all that was about?" Lily said, looking after her friend, anxiously.
"Ah, Flick's probably pulled off another prank, and McGonagall's hauling her over the coals."
"I don't think so. She'd have told one of us if she was plotting something. Perhaps something's wrong."
"Stop being such a fusspot, Lil." Ellie said, genially.
Flick entered Professor McGonagall's office, confused. As far as she knew, she had done nothing to warrant a visit to her head of house. Still, anything was possible.
She saw a Hit Wizard as she entered, and her heart entered her mouth. Something had gone badly wrong.
"Miss Howell?" The tall man quizzed her.
"Felicity Howell. That's me." She informed him.
"Miss Howell, I'm not really sure how to tell you this. There's no easy way to do it-"
"What do you mean?" Flick asked, hoping against hope that the news wasn't bad.
"Miss Howell. My name is Gerald Hilinas and I'm a Hit Wizard, as you may have gathered. I'm terribly sorry, but your parents are dead."
"No. You've got it wrong. My mother died years ago. Daddy- Daddy's still alive, he promised he'd stay alive." Felicity whispered in anguished tones. Hilinas looked at Professor McGonagall inquisitively.
"Felicity's mother died when she was five. It was her father and step-mother." the Professor explained.
"I see. Miss Howell, I know this is hard for you, but there's more. Your father and step-mother were murdered by Voldemort-"
"What about Kat?" Flick choked. "My baby sister."
"There was a baby in the garden. She was sleeping when we arrived, which is probably why she did not perish. How many people know about her?"
"Only my friends, Mags and Dad. Dad said I wasn't to tell the world, that there were bad people out there."
"Your father was a wise man Miss Howell. Did you know he was working against Voldemort?"
"No." Felicity said bluntly. "He never told me about his work - he said it was top secret."
"Your father and step-mother were murdered because of your father's involvement in the fight against Voldemort. I understand how hard this must be for you, but we need to talk about arrangements. Your sister-"
"I'll look after her."
"But-"
"Look, she's lost her mother and father, and I've lost mine. She's the only relative I've got left, and if you think I'm going to let some stupid authority put her in an orphanage, you've got another think coming. I have one week left until I graduate, and then I'm spending a year at MedSchool. I'm commuting, so I'll be home at night and in the morning. My friend, Lily Evans is sharing a house with me, I'm sure she'll keep an eye on Kat when I'm not there."
"But you're too young!"
"People younger than me have the same sort of problems. I'm eighteen. Old enough to marry. And Kat and I will stay together if I have to defy every law in this country to achieve it. I'm glad that's settled. Good day, Mr Hilinas." And Felicity fled from the room before they could see the tears running down her face. She ran and ran, and eventually reached her favourite haunt, a secluded tree in the Forbidden Forest. Once she was ensconced in its branches, she gave way to grief, and cried her heart out for the father who had been everything to her, and the step-mother who had never tried to mother her, rather to be her friend.
Lily found her there and hour later, still shaking with sobs.
"Flick? What's the matter?" she asked softly. The red eyed girl in front of her was not the Felicity of laughing eyes she knew.
"Daddy- Daddy- He's- Lily, he's-"
"Something's wrong with your father?" Lily asked.
"He- He's dead Lily. Him and Mags. Murdered. By Voldemort. It's only Kat and I left."
"Flick! I'm so sorry! I had no idea! Look, you can't stay here. Let's get back to the castle, and I'll take you to the hospital wing. Madam Flooey will know what to do."
Lily helped her friend to the hospital wing, and within ten minutes she was in a sleep mercifully devoid of dreams.
When Flick joined the others the next day her eyes were still red and swollen, and her face grave and sorrowful. But they were supportive, and she knew that in time the ache would get better.
Chapter 22 - End Of Term
The end of term rolled up in no time. For the seventh years it was the last time they would ever see their school as a student. In a way, it was exciting, but it was also with regret that they sat down to the feast.
Gryffindor had won the House Cup, by a landslide, due in the main to points that the eight mischief-makers had earnt when they had foiled the Lead Group's plan to discredit Dumbledore. After the speech and food was over and done with, it was time for the final night in Hogwarts.
The next day saw eight people once again squeezed into one compartment. Flick was sandwiched between Lily and Sirius. She wasn't going home. Lily had come up with a solution to her problem with her sister and her work.
"Flick, come and stay with my parents and I, until we can find a house. Mum'll look after Kat. She's a dab hand with babies. And you can't go back to your house, there're too many memories. You'll have to go back someday, but someday isn't now." So Felicity was joining Lily in her house in Kent.
"It's weird you know," Lily began. "I mean, seven years I've been waiting for this day, and now it's come, I wish I could have those seven years all over again."
"Yeah, but think of all the years you've got ahead of you. I mean, this time next year you could be married and have children." Cee grinned wickedly at James.
"Wait up! Who said anything about children?" Lily asked. "Kat will be plenty for now, thank you very much. More to the point listen to you wishing my life away! Didn't you ever think that perhaps I want to be young, free and single forever?"
"The only problem I can see with that is that you're not single. Besides, you're the marrying type."
"Stop! Stop it! I AM NOT GETTING MARRIED!! OKAY!!! Good. Now, if you'll excuse me!" Lily left the compartment in a huff.
"Come on James! Hurry up and pop the question!" Sirius teased.
"I don't know what you're talking about." James replied, loftily.
"Pull the other one. I need to know when you're planning on marrying her so I can save for the present."
"Shut up Sirius!! Weren't you listening? She wants to be young free and single for the rest of her life."
"Yeah, and my name's Albus Dumbledore!" Sirius snorted.
"It is?" Lily asked from the doorway. "And I always thought it was Sirius!" there was an edge of sarcasm to her tone.
"Ah, Lily darling, I believe Jimbo over there has something to ask you."
"What?" Lily demanded.
"Nothing." James said, hurriedly. "Ignore Sirius, he mad."
"James, he's always been mad."
"Oh."
They sat chatting companionably for a while, and then Cee shrieked.
"I've just realised! We can do magic even when we're not at Hogwarts."
"Cee, where've you been for the last half a century?" Flick asked. "Of course we can. As long as it's legal." She sent a warning glare to the boys.
"But all the fun stuff is illegal!" Sirius whined.
"And why do you think that is?" Flick asked, sarcastically. "Take a wild guess you end up-" she stopped, and looked suddenly sad.
"What do you-" Peter began, and earn himself and elbow in the ribs from James and Remus who were sitting either side of him.
"What did I say?" he cried.
"Oh, Flick, I thought I'd better mention Petunia." Lily said, hurriedly. "She sent me a letter, and let's just say I'm not her favourite person right now. So if she's rude to you, just ignore her. I do. It's easier."
"Why does your sister have this complex?" Remus asked, curiously.
"If I knew then she wouldn't have one." Lily informed him. "It doesn't matter. She'll probably disown me sooner or later."
"Such a happy family." Peter muttered sarcastically.
"Pardon?" Lily turned on him.
"Nothing." He smiled at her.
"Yeah right, I believe you." she came back.
Eventually they reached Platform 9¾. Slowly they disembarked. Lily stood for one last look at the train. It was old fashioned, quaint, yet she cared for it far more than any of the modern Muggle trains. To her it meant Hogwarts, and she wasn't going to forget that in a hurry. Then she and Flick moved their luggage through the barrier and joined the Muggle world once more. Waiting for them were Lily's parents and Katherine. Lily flung herself on to her parents, and Flick seized the eleven-month old baby.
"Fee!" the strawberry blonde haired, cobalt blue eyed child cried.
"Kat! How're you doing sweetie? Having a good time?" The little girl just flung her arms around her sister. Lily meanwhile was talking animatedly to her parents. The five of them made their way to the Evans's car.
They arrived at the pretty cottage nestled in countryside. This was Lily's home, but now it was Flick's too. Lily's parents made sure of that. She had started with calling them Mr and Mrs Evans, but Lily's mother had soon put a stop to that.
"I hope you don't mind, but Kat calls us aunt and uncle. You can too if you like, or we'll just be Evie and Hugo. It's up to you." Flick, grateful for the gesture that made her a member of the family adopted her sister's strategy, and 'Aunt' Evie and 'Uncle' Hugo made her very welcome. She had Petunia's room as her own. Evie had said that Petunia wouldn't need it, and as Lily needed hers, and the spare room had become Kat's nursery it made sense for Flick to have the remaining room. It was smaller than her room in her father and step-mother's house, and still decorated to Petunia's rather garish taste. Lily had offered to help her paint it, however, so it would soon be Flick's room.
Within a week of the holidays Felicity truly belonged in the Evans household. Evie was prone to asking her to fetch the post, and Kat toddled around as if she owned the place. The entire community of the house worshiped her, and she adored being the centre of attention. She was very close to Flick, and her sister was glad of that. Because she and Kat would always be Howells even if they were adopted Evans'.
Chapter 23 - NEWT Results
Lily woke early one morning at the beginning of August. Her sunshiny room was light and airy, but she dragged herself out of bed, and made her way to Felicity's. At the doorway she paused to smile. When it had been Petunia's room, Lily had never troubled to enter it. But since Flick had taken over, it seemed she spent more time there than in her own room. She could hear gurgles from inside which meant Flick was up, and Kat was with her. She pushed the door open, and looked around the pale blue room. Flick smiled at her.
"Morning Lil! You're up early aren't you?"
"I couldn't sleep. Too nervous."
"You worry about everything!" Flick laughed.
"I do not. Aren't you worried?"
"Petrified!" Flick grinned. "But we'll be fine. It's a good thing I'm here. If you'd have woken Aunt Evie up she'd end up in the nearest hospital. Lily Evans out of bed early on a day she could sleep."
"Ah, shut up!" Lily laughed. She chatted for a while, then left Flick to it, and went and got dressed. At half past seven Lily, Felicity and Katherine joined Lily's parents at the kitchen table.
"Morning girls!" Evie called chirpily, stacking toast in the rack, and stirring scrambled eggs haphazardly. "Lil, go and get your father. He'll be late for work if he doesn't hurry. Flick, I don't suppose you'd be an angel and get the post? Thanks! And how's Kat this morning? Hungry darling? Look! You can have some porridge, okay."
Lily and Felicity left the cosy kitchen to do as they were bidden, and Kat was placed into an old fashioned highchair, and fed porridge.
"I've got post!" Flick said, amazed, when she returned to find Lily, Kat, Evie and Hugo sitting around the table.
"Really!" Lily was interested. "Open it, who's it from?"
"'Dear Felicity, I am worshipping you from-' Lily, you never said that you had nut cases living around here.
"We don't!" Lily said, smiling. "Here, let me see." She took the letter glanced at it, and then smirked at Flick. "It's from Sirius. It's a wind up. Now eat your breakfast."
They had just about finished, and were doing the washing up when an owl arrived, bearing a letter with the Hogwarts seal.
"They're here then." Lily said gloomily.
"Shall we open them together?" Flick was nervous.
"Might as well. Then you can pick up the pieces!"
"Lily, you know as well as I do that you did fine."
"So did you. Come on, we might as well get the worst over and done with!"
They ripped open the envelopes, and Flick looked at Lily in delight.
"Six. Damn good I say! Most people only get four!"
"Seven. What did I get that you didn't?" Felicity peered at Lily's paper.
"Muggle Studies. You'd think I 'd manage something like that! My mum was a Muggle, for goodness sake!"
"She did die when you were five, Flick. You have been living a pureblood lifestyle for twelve years."
"True. If I did it again now though, I bet I'd do better. It's living here."
"I'll never forget mum's face when you tried to fry eggs in the toaster!" Lily went off into peals of laughter. "Honestly, it was priceless."
"Lil, lets face it, Professor Jordan was a complete disaster. I doubt he has ever worked a Muggle appliance in his life. Is it any wonder that I didn't pass?" Professor Jordan had been the Muggle Studies professor, a pureblood, and a clueless pureblood at that!
"Not really." Lily admitted. "I wonder how the others have done?"
"Well, as we're not likely to see them for a while, we'll have to rely on good old Morgana to keep us informed." Morgana had been Felicity's father's owl, and when he had died, had been left to her.
"Poor thing!" Lily exclaimed. "Last time we sent her to Sirius she was there for a week, and when she came back, she was rather the worse for wear!"
"What did you expect?" Flick retorted. "He'd spent the week trying out various enchanted owl pellets on her, although why he couldn't use his own owl, I don't know."
"Somehow, I don't think she'd be appreciative if we'd tried sending her to any of the boys. On the other hand, I suppose we could wait. It's only a fortnight until graduation, after all."
"Thank the stars!" Flick exclaimed. "Then it's only a month until I'm off to MedSchool, and what'll you do then?"
"Join the boys." Lily said, simply.
"Pardon?" Flick looked at her curiously.
"Join the boys." Lily repeated.
"Hold on a minute. Ellie said you wanted to do Charms!" Flick exclaimed.
"Flick, come on, let's face it, Aurors use Charms as much as the next person, besides, do you think I'm going to let those four have all the fun?"
"I see your point - you poor thing! All day every day with those four madmen. I can't say I envy you."
"I 'spect you'll envy me even less when I come to you for repairs." was Lily's cynical reply.
"You'd better not. Aunt Evie and Uncle Hugo would freak! So would Kat, and so would I! Understand?"
"Loud and clear sarge!" Lily mock saluted.
"And don't you get cocky young lady!" Felicity laughed. It was a routine the two of them often went through, one taking the role of mother, the other of a naughty child, found with her hand in the biscuit tin.
Chapter 24 - Graduation
A boiling hot day in the middle of August. The Evanss, the Dursleys, and the Howell, were all inmates of a moderate sized house near to Hogwarts for the week, on account of Lily and Felicity graduating.
On the morning of graduation, Lily and Felicity were up early.
"Why oh why oh why?" Lily moaned, when Flick woke her.
"Because sweetie, if we're not there on time we have a minor problem."
"And I'm supposed to care, why?"
"Because honey, your meeting lover boy's parents, and a great impression you'd make if you didn't turn up!"
"Oh - I'd forgotten about that...Flick!!"
"What?" Felicity asked, patiently.
"What about Petunia?"
"What about her?"
"She's here."
"Well duh!"
"But she'll hate everyone. She hates me, and I'm her sister."
"Nah. She'll get on just fine with James. He'll exercise his charm-"
"What charm?" Lily asked.
"And all will be well. Besides, didn't they meet at her wedding?"
"Um, not exactly." Lily said, smiling.
"Okay! Spit it out!"
"We sort of, um, hid when she came in our direction." Lily's reply was sheepish.
"You're hopeless."
"Never mind. Didn't you say I had to get up?"
And so, Lily and Felicity prepared for their graduation. After lunch, Lily, Felicity, Mr and Mrs Evans, and Vernon and Petunia Dursley travelled to the Scottish train station, where, at Platform nine and three-quarters they took the train to Hogwarts.
The Great Hall was arrayed in regal splendour, the four houses colours hanging artistically around the walls. The second they entered, Lily and Felicity were pounced on by Cee and Ellie.
"Come and meet my parents!" Lily said, eagerly. The two girls followed her to where the Tevallions and Katherine stood, looking rather bemused by the whole affair.
"Mum, Dad, these and Cee and Ellie, my friends."
"We've heard so much about you!" Evie Evans exclaimed. "Lily and Flick sing your praises all the time! How are you?"
"Fine thank you Mrs Evans. Mr Evans." Ellie was at her most polite. Looking at the Evans's she could see that Lily got her Celtic good looks from her father. "I'm terribly sorry, but we have to rush off - Dumbledore wants to see us."
"What've you done now?" Lily grinned.
"Wouldn't you like to know." Cee replied, mysteriously. And with that, the two girls disappeared.
"How rude." Petunia said prissily. "They could at least have said hello. I mean, are Vernon and I invisible." Lily hid her frustration. As Petunia and Vernon had hidden behind her parents when Cee and Ellie approached, it was hardly surprising that they didn't speak to her.
"Sorry 'Tunia. They'll speak to you later, I'm sure."
"This place freaks me out." Was the sullen reply. Lily gave up trying to be pleasant. It was fighting a losing battle anyway.
"You didn't have to come!" she snapped. "You just had to satisfy your curiosity."
"And she wanted to meet James, Sirius, Remus and Peter." Flick added in an aside. She had seen enough of Petunia to work out her motives, and decided that the bony woman wanted to ensure that her little sister's male friends weren't merely figments of the imagination.
Before Lily could reply, hands covered her face, and a voice whispered in her ear.
"Guess who."
"Grow up!" She muttered, pulling the hands away, and smiling at James. "Where's Sirius?"
"Having an emotional reunion with Flick by the looks of things." He replied, pointing towards Felicity and Sirius. "Honestly, some things are not meant for public places."
"Come on smarty!" Lily chastised him. "We have to go and say hello to my lovely family, and move Kat before she sees a side of her beloved sister that babies were never meant to see."
"Lucky me!" was the wry reply. Still, he followed her, and greeted her parents.
"Hello! How are you?"
"Fine thank you James, dear. Goodness, you've grown. You're almost twice as tall as Lily!"
"Don't exaggerate Mum!" Lily exclaimed, blushing.
"I'm not Lily love, it's the truth."
"Your fault mum, for giving me the wrong genes."
"Don't blame it all on your poor mother!" Mr Evans smiled at his daughter. "Your Great-great aunt Ethel was even shorter than you are!"
"Poor woman!" Lily said in heartfelt tones. "Come on Jimbo, 'Tunia's dying to meet you."
"'Tunia?" He whispered in her ear. She ignored him, and smiled prettily at her sister and brother in law.
"Petunia, Vernon, this is James Potter. My friend." she said genially. Petunia looked at the tall boy with his blue black hair and sparkling blue eyes, and then looked at her husband, appraisingly.
"There's not much fat on him is there?" She asked Vernon. Lily glanced at James, and went off into a coughing fit, his face was such a picture.
"He needs to do something about his hair." Vernon replied, studying James intently.
'Sorry' Lily mouthed at her boyfriend. He rolled his eyes at her, and she didn't miss the mischievous twinkle that suddenly graced them.
'No," she mouthed. James pulled a 'who me?' face, and then spoke to Petunia.
"I know what you mean. It's absolutely hopeless. Lil's told me to brush it a million times, but you know, I have a phobia of hairbrushes and combs, so it's impossible. Lovely to have met you. Must go." And he grabbed Lily's hand, and pulled her away before going off into peals of laughter.
"James Potter!" she exclaimed. "You are the biggest liar on the face of the earth. Honestly - 'I'm scared of hairbrushes!'" Suddenly Petunia squealed.
"James! What did you do?"
"Nothing." He said, too innocently.
"Really?" came the polite reply. Too polite. "Then why is my sister running around, being chased by what seem to be an army of cornish pixies?"
"Not guilty." James told her. She glared at him. "She deserved it." He amended. "For calling you a freak."
"I'm not even going to ask," she said wearily.
"Good." came the self-satisfied reply.
"James!" A middle-aged man with bright blue eyes clapped his hand on James' shoulder. Lily looked at him, and saw where James' captivating gaze came from. This man, who was almost certainly his father had the same glint of hidden steel in them, and the mischievous light that was the only tell tale sign that James Potter was not as innocent as you would have him believe. His hair, although unruly, was blonde rather than black. "And you must be Lily!" the man smiled at her. "I'm Edward Potter, James' father. My wife is over there, talking to Sirius' mother. Oh, and who did you use the Foaloun hex on James? It seems to be working rather well." Lily's gaze hardened.
"He used it on my sister." she said, precisely. "And I had nothing to do with it."
"He did-"
"What's he done now? I'm Helena, by the way, his lordship's mother." The short woman had grey-green eyes, but the same blue-black hair and features as her son.
"He cursed Lily's sister." her husband informed her.
"He did what? James Matthew Potter! How many times have I told you not to curse people? Especially not your future sister-in-law-"
"Excuse me?" James blinked at his mother. Fortunately for him, Lily had been dragged off by Felicity and Kat while his mother and father had been discussing his misdeeds.
"Oh come on James! I'm your mother! I can read you like a book. I knew exactly what you were thinking when you were two minutes old. You love that girl, and you're going to marry her. I know it!"
"I have just realised the folly of having a mother who's also a very proficient Divinator." James informed his father. "Where's Lil?"
"A young whippersnapper with a baby dragged her off when your mother got as far as the 'how many times have I told you...' routine."
"That would be Flick and her sister-" Any further remark on James' part was cut off by a loud echoing yell.
"Lily! I'm going to kill you! I must have been mad to agree to come to this freak house!" Petunia was clearly irate, and Lily was bearing the brunt of her anger. All eyes turned to the centre of the great hall where two girls, one tall, skinny and blonde, the other short, slim and strikingly beautiful. The latter was known to all those graduating as Lily Evans. The identity of the other was unknown. Lily faced her sister, and sparks seemed to emit from her eyes.
"You didn't have to come. It's not my fault you had to satisfy your morbid curiosity."
"It is your fault that your freaky boyfriend has a warped sense of humour."
"Well if you hadn't been so rude his 'warped sense of humour' wouldn't have come into it."
"I should have known better than to think that anything or anyone you like would have been worth meeting!" Petunia spat. That caused an outcry.
"Well sister dear," Lily hissed, "you've known for a long time that our tastes differ. I can accept that. But I swear if you insult my friends once more, I'll never speak to you again in my whole life." She turned on her heel and marched off, pretty nose elevated.
"Feisty friend you've got there." Edward Potter remarked to his son. "She'll get on well with your mother."
After Petunia's outburst, graduation continued without incident. As James' father had predicted Lily and Mrs Potter got on like a house on fire, and the Evans' and the Potters had a civilised conversation. James, Sirius, Remus, Lily, Ellie, Flick and Cee were at the top of their year, surprising no one. After all, in spite of their protests to the contrary, they were intelligent, and once they put their minds to it, nothing was beyond them.
Chapter 25 - Lily and James
After they graduated, Lily and James kept in regular touch, with the help of his owl, and her detailed instructions on how to retrieve Muggle post. They met up as often as they can, but it wasn't until the Auror training classes began in October that they saw each other for a prolonged length of time.
"I thought you were doing Charms!" was James' first remark on seeing Lily.
"Nice to see you too!" she replied. "Well someone had to prove that girls were just as good as boys. Besides, I rather liked the sound of this. It uses pretty much everything."
"Right." was the flat reply.
It was the beginning of December, and James and Lily were being sent on a practise assignment. They were to pose as husband and wife, and they would meet with a couple in a league with Voldemort. (As it was a training exercise, the Voldemort supporters were played by experienced Aurors.) When Felicity heard of Lily's assignment, she sent her an owl.
'...Dumbledore clearly likes to stir the pot. I hope you enjoy being Mrs Potter. If you're lucky, James might enjoy it too, and perhaps the two of you could make it permanent. You've been acting like a married couple for ages, you might as well make it official...'
And so, on a very cold December night, a train pulled up at a station in London. Very few people alighted, but among them was a couple. They could not have been more than eighteen. The young man helped the dainty girl out of the carriage, and laughed at a remark she made. His reply made her frown at him, before smiling, and kissing him on the lips. Their teacher, who knew nothing of the relationship between two of his most promising students, gave them marks for making their cover story look authentic.
"Well," James began, "I believe there's a pleasant apartment waiting for out arrival."
"Good. I'm knackered." was Lily's heartfelt reply.
"Come on then, Mrs Amelia Blotterfield. Let's go home."
"What did you call me?" she hissed in his ear.
"Amelia Blotterfield. It's your code name. Make the most of it sweetie. It won't last long. And incidentally, you look better with red hair." Lily had performed a simple hair dying charm to disguise her features, and the mahogany tresses made a stark contrast with her fair skin and green eyes,"
"Well you look better when you shave." she informed him. James had grown a beard, and affected a limp. "That beard is prickly."
"Sorry hon. You'll have to get used to it." James offered her his arm, and she took it smiling. Together they left the station.
Seven days later and two young people, obviously together were having a showdown in the leafy grounds around the training school.
"James, remind me never to go out with you again." Lily said hotly.
"It wasn't supposed to hit you!"
"It wasn't supposed to hit anyone! You weren't supposed to do it."
"So I improvised."
"Next time don't! You have no idea how much I hated having six extra arms."
"Well, apart from that bit it was fun."
"James, it wasn't supposed to be fun. We were tracking deranged lunatics-"
"Two rather good actors, actually." James interrupted her.
"And you were supposed to be scared stupid."
"I preferred it when it was supposed to be fun."
"Yeah, it was great fun, spending a week in the hospital wing because your partner cursed you."
"Well you have to admit it was kind of funny."
"James, are you never serious?"
"Sometimes."
"Like when."
"Like now." After kissing her, he began to speak again. "I reckon you'd make a good wife."
"I know you'd make an awful husband, but do go on." she said, smiling wryly.
"And I'm not sure that I like the idea of you being someone else's good wife."
"I have to say that I'm not overly keen on you being anyone's awful husband, but there we go."
"Lily, be serious."
"This from you."
"Okay, I give up. If you're not going to listen..."
"I am." she said, softening.
"Lily, listen. I love you."
"I love you too - when you're not hexing me!"
"What do you think about marriage?"
"I wouldn't say I'm against it."
"Good." He got down on one knee. "So, Lily Evans. Will you marry me?" There was a pregnant pause.
"Yes."
THE END
Disclaimer: I was not J. K. Rowling, I am not J. K. Rowling, and I will never be J. K. Rowling. Therefore, none of this is mine. Well, the plot is, but the characters aren't. Actually, her characters aren'tyou know what I mean!
Thanks to everyone who's reviewed this at some point. When I chaptered it, before the rewrite to make it consistent with the information Rowling has provided us with recently, I lost all of my reviews, so I can't thank you all personally. But I do really appreciate feedback – it's nice to know that people do actually read my scribbles. For those of you agitating for the sequel, fear not. It's already written. I have yet to submit it for editing, as I have a WIP that is currently taking priority. As soon as From This Day Forth is edited, I'll post it, providing ff.net is feeling co-operative. Thanks for all your encouraging words, feel free to drop me a line at hallieu@hotmail.com or talk to me on Aim (I'm Hallie2985), or to check out my website – The Marauders Den As always, reviews are welcome! Thanks guys.
Hallie