LILY POTTER AND THE CHANGE OF TIME
Warning – This is the sequel to Harry Potter, Time Traveler. If you have not read, Harry Potter, Time Traveler, I would highly recommend it as this story will get very confusing. You may not recognize many of the characters and may have no idea what is going on if you do not read it.
Summary – Harry Potter is supposed to be dead. But thanks to the Book of Time and a little time traveling back in his fifth year, he is now alive. Now Lily must overcome the obstacles of being a typical teenage witch and finding out where time got changed because you never want to mess with fate. Sometimes it does not always come out for the best…but yet…sometimes it does.
Disclaimer – I do not own Harry Potter, the characters, or the Harry Potter world. They all belong to the fabulous J.K. Rowling. However, while I do not own their names, the characters and the personality traits of Lily Potter, Eddie Weasley, Daris Malfoy, Christof Nott, as well as Asher Lazard and Robyn Andrews all belong to me.
Chapter 11 – Between Father and Daughter:
Lily stormed through the corridors, her fists were clenched so tight that her knuckles were turning white, her face was red with fury and her eyes were looking rather glassy, but of course Lily Potter was not crying, for she did not know how to cry. But, that did not stop her heart chest clenching tightly in heartache and her fingers were trembling as she continued to replay Eddie's words over and over in her head. Each time she did so, the feeling in her chest became tighter and traveled to her throat.
"Lily?" a voice shouted, echoing throughout the corridors, sounding desperate and panicky. Lily immediately recognized it as Asher and she sighed and took a deep breath before responding.
"I'm over here, Asher," she called out bitterly without turning around to see if he was behind her or not. But, she did hear Asher's heavy footsteps running to catch up with her and the sound suddenly stopped when she felt somebody's presence beside her. Lily kept her jaw locked, face impassive, and kept her eyes glued ahead of her.
"Are you alright?" asked Asher, his voice coming from her side as he gently put a comforting hand on her shoulder. Lily had never heard such tenderness in his voice before and her heart went out to him in gratitude.
"Oh, I'm just jolly, Asher!" mumbled Lily sarcastically, still not looking at him. "What could possibly have made you think otherwise?"
"Please, don't get sarcastic with me, Lily," whispered Asher softly, but there was an edginess in his voice. "I'm only here to help you. And I'm just as confused and angry about this Eddie situation as you are."
At the mention of Eddie, Lily immediately felt her defenses come crumpling down and she buried her face in her hands, letting out a dry sob, but no tears came. Asher also crumpled at the sight of Lily looking so heartbroken and vulnerable and he reached out to her, pulling her into a warm, comforting embrace. Lily leaned into it and buried her face into Asher's shoulder, trying to control her breathing and her rage.
"I just don't understand what's happening to him," Lily mumbled into his shoulder, clutching on to her friend tightly. "I almost hate him for this. He had no right to say that about me and Harry. Harry changed time! He was never a Death Eater! And I would never…ever…!" Her voice trailed off and she buried her face into his shoulder again.
"I know, Lily Billy, I know," whisper Asher, interrupting her, using his nickname for her to calm Lily. He stroked her hair gently. "I wish I had the answers but I don't." Asher sounded just as anguished and tired as she felt. "Maybe he's just going through a hormone change or something. I really don't know what to tell you." Lily pulled away and looked up at him with a small smile on her face.
"Really, Asher? A hormone change?" she asked chuckling. Asher grinned back at her and shrugged.
"Hey, it was just a thought. Can you think of a better reason why he's acting so strange?" asked Asher, smiling, but with somber tone in his voice.
"No," Lily said with a sigh. "I wish I could explain all of this though…"
"Explain what? Who's acting strange?" a deep voice asked from the shadows. Lily and Asher both gasped as they pulled out their wands and pointed it where they heard the voice. Without noticing, Asher pulled Lily protectively beside him as she narrowed her eyes.
"Who's there?"
"Whoa, take it easy Tiger;" the voice said in amused tone, "it's just me." Harry Potter stepped out of the shadows grinning at his daughter and her friend.
"Merlin, Harry, do you enjoy sneaking up and frightening me all the time?" asked Lily with exasperation as she stuffed her wand into the pocket of her robes. Harry chuckled and grinned again.
"Only when you don't actually hex me," he said grinning. "I thought I heard voices in the corridor. Can you two tell me why two young Gryffindors, such as yourselves, are wandering around the corridors at one o'clock in the morning?" Harry realized what he just said and raised a very suspicious and intimidating eyebrow at Asher.
"Oh, Harry, it's nothing like that," said Lily quickly, reassuring her father. Harry let out a soft breath of relief. "I just lost my temper again over something and stormed out of the Common Room. Asher was just making sure that I was alright." Harry nodded in understanding.
"Well, you two are lucky I caught you instead of Professor Snape," said Harry grinning. "That cranky old berk would probably throw a hissy fit to try and get you two expelled." Lily and Asher both chuckled and Harry grinned again.
"So, what's going on?" asked Harry, wiping away all humor.
"Nothing," both teenagers said quickly, automatically, and in unison. Harry raised a disbelieving eyebrow.
"You two do know that you're talking to a retired Auror?" asked Harry, his eyebrows raised to his forehead and his voice dripping with concern. He watched the pair of them intently as he crossed his arms over his chest. Lily sighed and looked at Asher, who looked back at her. They both nodded before Asher turned to face Harry.
"It's about Eddie," Asher said simply.
"Eddie Weasley?" Harry questioned, clearly startled.
"The one and only."
"What about Eddie? What's wrong with him?" asked Harry, his voice aching with worry; it did concern his godson.
"He…he…just…" Lily could not seem to find the words. They got lost in her throat. "He's been acting…he's acting so…strange…"
Harry stared at the pair of them for a moment, looking thoughtful. It were as if he were thinking something over in his head; having an internal struggle with himself. His gaze then shifted to Lily and intently looked at her, scratching his chin before furrowing his eyebrows. Lily felt uncomfortable under his intense gaze. Asher must have noticed because he looked at her nervously.
"Asher, why don't you head back to Gryffindor Tower," suggested Harry, though it sounded more like a demand. "I need to speak to Lily alone. If anyone questions you, tell them that I've already spoken to you about wandering the corridors after hours." Lily looked at Harry quite startled.
"Yes sir," said Asher, knowing better than to argue with Harry when it concerned Lily. "I'll be waiting in the Common Room until you get back, Lils."
"Alright," said Lily, almost breathlessly. "I'll see you later." Asher gave her one last hug before starting down the corridor and towards Gryffindor Tower. He waved at her before disappearing around the bend. Harry and Lily watched him until he disappeared before Harry turned to look at his daughter.
"Come on Tiger Lily," said Harry as he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Let's have a cup of tea in my office. We need to discuss some things." Lily shrugged as Harry guided her in the direction of his office.
The walk to Harry's office was awkward and uncomfortable. But, at the same time, it comforted Lily because Harry's hand never left her shoulder and she knew that he would never leave her side. It was situations like this that showed Lily how much her father truly and genuinely loved him.
Once inside the office, Lily took a seat at Harry's desk as Harry took the hot kettle and poured two cups of tea.
"Extra sugar?" asked Harry knowingly. Lily nodded eagerly. Her father truly knew her too well. Harry smirked and handed a steaming, hot cup of tea to Lily. Harry sat next in the chair next to her, rather than across from her, with his own cup and looked at her somberly, yet full of affection.
"So, tell me," started Harry, taking a sip of his tea, "what's this I hear about my godson acting strange?" Lily sighed defeated and timidly drank her tea, considering her words.
"I don't know how to explain it," whispered Lily honestly. Harry did not comment; he just waited for her to continue. Lily appreciated this because if he had interrupted, she was not sure she would have been able to continue. "He's just…not acting like Eddie. There's no other way to explain it except that he's being strange."
"How do you mean by strange?" asked Harry sternly, trying to hide the panic in his voice. Lily bit her lip and hesitated. Harry too note of this, leaned forward, and placed a hand atop of her own. "Tiger, you need to tell me. I have a right to know and so does Hermione."
"The truth?"
"The truth."
"He…well…he's been acting like a…like a Slytherin," said Lily awkwardly, not liking the comparison that she had used. She chanced a glance at Harry and saw that he looked confused and startled. Lily knew that out of all the things he had expected to hear, it certainly was not that.
"A Slytherin?" Harry asked incredulously, after a long pause.
"Yes."
"A Slytherin?" Harry repeated. "How does one act like a Slytherin?" Lily sighed and ran a frustrated hand through her long, blonde hair.
"He called Robyn a Mudblood," said Lily slowly. Her voice sounded so ashamed that one would have thought that she was the one to have called her friend such a horrible and derogative name.
Lily knew that Harry was going to react badly to this comment from Eddie. She knew how sensitive hw was about people calling Muggle-borns 'Mudbloods;' especially since Harry's own mother and one of his best friends were Muggle-born. In fact, Harry was not the only one who felt this way. Over the years, Ron had become very strict when it came to that and for Merlin's sake, Eddie's own mother, Hermione, was Muggle-born.
"Eddie did what?" asked Harry disbelievingly as he jumped to his feet, startling Lily and spilling hot tea all over the carpet. Lily was so startled that she also spilled her tea on her lap. "Why on earth would he call Robyn a Mudblood?"
"He claimed that she was annoying him," said Lily in a tired voice. Harry raised a confused eyebrow and she knew that she had to explain. "Eddie and Britta were snogging in the Great Hall and to be honest it was quite disgusting. So Robby told them to stop and when they didn't, she took off a few points from Gryffindor away and he just blew up at her." Harry frowned.
"Well, Ron, Hermione, and I are going to have a long talk with that boy," snarled Harry angrily. "But, before I say anything to them is there anything else that Eddie has done that I should know about?"
"Erm…he punched Jairus Engers for snoring," said Lily uncertainly, trying to sound casual.
"I beg your pardon?" Harry could not seem to believe his ears but Lily sighed and once again, explained.
"Jairus Engers; he was snoring because he has sinus problems and I guess he forgot to take his potion or something. I reckon Eddie got frustrated with the snoring, woke Jairus up, and punched him in the face."
"Eddie just punched him? For snoring?" Lily could not find anything else to do but nod helplessly. She hated hearing what she was telling Harry.
"Is there anything else?" asked Harry, as he took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose with his forefingers. He looked so frustrated and unsure of the situation that Lily was almost afraid to answer him.
"There are quite a few things actually," said Lily slowly. "This morning, he hexed Asher for using all the hot water and using his comb. Then, he missed Quidditch try-outs because he was too busy making-out with Britta Dirdel. Then, he…" Lily stopped speaking abruptly, almost afraid to say the next few words.
"He…what?" asked Harry gently, sensing her hesitation and fear. Lily looked at him and bit her lip again. She shook her head and whispered, "I can't…"
Harry kneeled down in front of his daughter and turned her chin so that she was facing him; looking him directly in the eyes. Lily felt the shame of Eddie's words build up inside of her. Harry gazed at her intently and stroked her hair affectionately. "Lily, you can tell me. You can tell me anything. I'm here for you and I want to help you, with whatever you need, Tiger." Lily sighed and knew that there was no use arguing with him. As he stated earlier, he was a retired Auror and would probably get it out of her eventually.
"He…he said I was not worthy of being his friend because I'll just turn out to be a good for nothing Death Eater…like my father had…" Lily whispered quietly, unable to look at him, afraid of his reaction.
"Tiger?"
Slowly, ever so slowly, she raised her head and her gaze fell on Harry's face. Emerald eyes met emerald eyes; it was like looking into a mirror. Harry's eyes were filled with hurt, pain, rejection, and so many other emotions that Lily could not even begin to comprehend what he was feeling.
"Is that what you believe?" asked Harry quietly, as though afraid to hear the answer. His eyes may have been filled to the brim with emotion, but his face; his face was blank and void of emotion. It was expressionless and pale. Lily was just caught up in his eyes and face that she unable to answer right away.
Lily was startled at such a question and she frowned slightly at the thought of her father feeling that way. Taking a deep, shaky breath, Lily looked at Harry again and smiled. The smile was soft and small, but it was true.
"That's the last thing I believe," whispered Lily. Harry looked at her disbelievingly. To reassure him, Lily widened her smile. "Harry, even though I may not always show it, I love you, more than you'll ever know."
Harry stared at Lily; not saying a word. Lily was not sure if it was because he had been rendered speechless or if it was because he was searching for the words in his head.
It was the latter: "Then, why do you want things back to the way they used to be? Why do you want me to change time back to how it was?" Lily sighed and rubbed her eyes.
"I already told you; I have my reasons," was all she said.
These words ended the conversation. Harry knew he was not going to get anything else out of her tonight, so he just dropped the subject. Suddenly, Harry stood up and pulled Lily up with him before hugging her fiercely. Lily was extremely shocked at first and did not return the hug right away. Harry must have noticed because just as he was about to pull away, Lily wrapped her arms around her fighter tightly. Harry smiled to himself, grateful for the affection that his daughter was showing him.
"Tiger, I want you to forget everything Ed said to you," Harry whispered into Lily's ear. "You're the farthest thing from a Death Eater. If anything, Ed is on the right path to becoming a Death Eater.
"Please, don't listen to him Tiger. You have a stronger will power and more love in your heart than anyone I've ever known. You're going to amount to something one day. I don't think you realize how special you are.
"Do you understand me?" asked Harry, pulling out of the hug and holding Lily by her shoulders so that she was looking directly at him. "Don't you dare listen to a word that boy says. Do you understand me?"
"Alright," whispered Lily, nodding. "I understand."
"Good," whispered Harry, still continuing to hug and rock Lily. "I love you, Tiger."
"Me too, Harry."
A note from the Jitterbelle. I thought this was a sweet chapter. Please enjoy and don't forget to review! And to those who have reviewed, I appreciate it soooo so so much!
Coming in Chapter 12 - Death Eaters and Voldemort…
