Lana
James never questioned why Severus was in the room with her, nor did he ever ask why she had been threatening to kill him. Ever since Harry was born, he had been trying to make his actions up to her, knowing how mad Lily truly was.
She was a good mother, never leaving her son's side unless he was with James. Harry had green eyes, the same color as Lily's, and black hair, which both Severus and James had. The two agreed to get the blood test done on Christmas, 1981, after Harry turned 1.
Severus was attending Death Eater meetings nearly three times a month now; he saw Peter Pettigrew regularly, as he also saw him at Dumbledore's meetings, which were also increasing. Severus gave the group as much information as he could, barely noticing how little Peter was providing.
In early October, 1981, Voldemort started targeting
more powerful wizards than before. On his list were the Potters; he was
still convinced Lily was the worst thing that ever happened to one of his
most prized Death Eaters. The fact that the Potters were also coming closer
and closer to discovering a counter curse to Avada Kedavra made him slightly
nervous. That was the first step.
Severus warned Dumbledore of Voldemort's plans.
The next day, October 15th, Dumbledore called a meeting to inform the group
of Voldemort's targets.
"Lily, James, Severus has informed me of Voldemort's plans to end the Potter line." Dumbledore said that evening. Lily had already been forewarned by Severus, and she kept rocking Harry back in forth compulsively in her arms.
"Is there any chance of us escaping?" James asked gravely. Once Voldemort had targeted a family, there was little chance of survival.
Dumbledore thought for a moment, "There is an old and highly complicated spell; the Fidelius Charm. It will protect you from Voldemort – he could be looking through your window and not be able to see you. However, it requires a secret keeper."
Both Lily and James were silent for a moment. Finally, Lily nodded, "Let's do it."
Dumbledore nodded, "You two shall choose your secret keeper. Make sure they are to be trusted; do not tell anyone. I shall give you instructions later on, including a place to hide."
"Yes Papa," Lily nodded, "but what if that person's attacked?"
"Then the charm will be useless, if the Secret Keeper tells Voldemort where you three will be hidden." He looked around the room, "I trust everyone in this room with my life. However, I am fully aware of the fact one of you is a spy, as one of my other spies has informed me. Which one, I am not sure, but I can assure you, the moment I find out who it is, they will spend the rest of their like in Azkaban. I realize Voldemort will be aware of our plans; so be it. However, the details will be discussed in private, along with one person who the Potters choose. The Secret Keeper will not be known to me, only Lily and James."
The group nodded, all glancing around with a newfound terror. Severus looked Peter straight in the eyes; he was almost certain it was him. However, James was looking at Severus as if he was positive he was the one giving Voldemort forbidden information. Severus knew he would be targeted, at least by two of the three true Marauders. Remus trusted him, Severus was thankful for that. However, Sirius was always going along with what James told him, and Peter knew the truth; Severus was almost sure of it.
It's Peter.
Lily looked up from Harry, surprised. Honestly?
Severus nodded. I'm almost sure of it.
But… He's admitted to being part of the Death Eaters. What makes you so sure?
What makes you so sure it's not me? Severus asked.
Because I know you would never do that, no matter what anyone thinks of you.
Thanks baby.
You're welcome.
They were in hiding a week and a half later, October 30th, in a secluded cottage at the edge of Godric's Hollow. Dumbledore was sure Voldemort would look everywhere but there.
"Damn it James… Tell me who you made Secret Keeper!" Lily didn't care if she was waking Harry up; she knew, regardless of how many times she had warned him, James insisted on keeping Peter on his list of possible Secret Keepers.
"I told you, it's none of your concern." He answered back snidely. The two were in their bedroom, having one of their most heated arguments to date. James refused to tell Lily who their Secret Keeper was, as long as she refused to tell him why she thought Peter was the Spy.
"Why can't I know, James? I'm just as apart as this as you are." Lily said, pacing back and forth.
"Tell me why, and I'll tell you who." James answered back, stretching out on their bed.
"No, not as long as Voldemort's still after us." Lily snapped. "Can't you just trust me for once?"
"Lily, last time I trusted you, you ran off with that filth, Snape."
Lily felt a surge of anger rise through her chest. She slowly took a deep breath, and then turned to face him. Her anger hadn't subsided a bit; it only grew stronger as James insisted she was untrustworthy.
"Do you want to know James, do you really want to know?" Lily shot back nastily. "Because I promise you, it will ruin your day."
This caught James' attention. Sitting up, he looked at her with a curios expression. "Tell me Lily, tell me something you think I don't already know."
Lily was seething now; clenching her fists with rage, she glared at him with such fury even he considered backing down. "Do you really, really want to know James? Because it could ruin your life."
James smirked, "What, you're a werewolf? That would explain where you go every month or so."
Lily shook her head, "This is much, much worse. I daresay you'll threaten to kill me; perhaps even carry your threat out, or attempt to."
"What did you do, Lily?" James said, his voice rising. "What the hell is so bad you can't even tell me?"
Lily stood there silently, shaking with madness. James got up and walked over to her, putting his hands on his shoulders. "Tell me baby."
Lily stepped back violently, attempting to escape his grip. "I told you, you don't want to know."
"God damnit Lily, tell me or I swear to God I'll make you."
Lily gazed up at his with glazed over eyes. "You mean you'll beat it out of me? Is that what you mean? Is that how little you care about me?"
James shook his head, "That's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean, James? Tell me, I want to know."
He was silent. A moment later, his frame stiffened and he raised his hand, then brought it down. She felt it connect to her face with a sensation of pain she had almost forgotten. From the force of the blow, she fell down to the ground, only to get back up once more.
"I was right then. You really are a cruel, heartless bastard. Why did you marry me then, if you hate me so much?" Lily muttered through clenched teeth, her hand covering the spot where he had punched her.
James was silent once more. Finally, he sighed in exacerbation. "I wanted an heir."
Lily laughed heartlessly, "Is that all? You could have gone to any girl in that school. Why me?"
"Because you were beautiful. You still are." James said quietly, his eyes still upon her like a hawk.
"Then why did you hit me?"
"Because you deserved it."
Lily laughed once more, then took her hand away from her face. "I gave you a child. I went through nine months of hell while you just sat around and got drunk, The rare chance you did do something for me, you only did for show; to make me see you as the boss. And this is how you repay me? By hitting me? Is that how much you truly wanted an heir?"
James shook his head, "What are you keeping from me?"
"Answer my God damned question."
"Answer mine first."
Lily smirked, "I can read thoughts. So can Severus. He knows what's going on right now; I'm talking to him."
James smirked right back at her, "Is that it? You can read thoughts and you're talking to him? So you know Peter's the Secret Keeper. Why even bother?"
"That's not all." Lily said quietly, disturbed by the news Peter was their Secret Keeper. "But I don't think you can handle the rest; not without killing me or Harry."
"I would never kill either of you."
"Great way of showing it." Lily mumbled.
"Tell me.'
She took in a deep breath, "You asked for it." She then moved around James to the bed and sat down. She then reached down her robes to fish out a chain around her neck. She then took it off and threw it at James. "This is the rest."
James examined the chain for a moment; hanging off the end was a ring. "What do you mean? Isn't this the engagement ring that slimy bastard gave you?"
Lily shook her head, "No."
James was now thoroughly confused. "Then what is it?"
"It's not my engagement ring to Severus." Lily took her wand out of her pocket and pointed it at James, "It's my wedding ring."
James dropped the chain, a shocked expression on his face. "You mean… You and him…?"
Lily kept pointing her wand at James, "Yes. We got married on December 26th; the day after he found out Voldemort killed our child. The day after he found out we would both be killed if we didn't break up."
"So you got married for a month? Is that it?" James asked, bending over to pick up the ring.
"No." Lily shook her head, "We're still married."
James' face turned red, "Why the hell did you marry me then?"
Lily smiled ironically, "To keep up the image of a normal life – without my husband."
James sank down to the floor. "You mean these two years we've been married have been a total joke? Illegal and everything?"
"Oh no," Lily replied, "It was legal. Papa made sure of it."
"So Dumbledore's in this, too…" James sighed. "Is that all?"
"Remus knew."
"The God damned werewolf knew and I didn't?!" James exclaimed, "Why the hell not?"
"Because he was smart enough to figure it out; you weren't." Lily said.
"While you and I have been married… Answer this for me… Did you f-ck him?"
Lily sat perfectly still.
"ANSWER ME! DID YOU F-CK THAT BASTARD?" James yelled. Moments later, Harry's cried were heard. Lily got up to go to him, but James held her back.
Lily slowly turned around, facing him. "Your child needs me."
"Answer me."
"I need to see Harry."
"You'll get him after you answer my question."
Lily pulled her shoulders out of James' grip, then walked towards the door. Turning around to face him, she answered him with a malicious tone.
"Yes James, I did. Multiple times. Countless times... And I enjoyed every moment of it."
Peter Pettigrew came trotting into his Lord's hideout. Bending down to kiss his robes, he unleashes his secret.
"It has happened, My Lord. The Potters have made
me their Secret Keeper."