Chapter Thirteen: Dirty Laundry
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, I just write fan fiction.
Author: Coming to a close…. The next chapter is an epilogue chapter. Thank you fro the reviews and nice comments!
Lily packed away the last of her things into a box and set it on top of the bed. Leaving. Hiding. She understood why…but it was still hard. Little Harry gurgled happily at her from his crib, oblivious to his mother's worries. Lily was happy in a way that he didn't know what was going on. Leaving everything to hide from someone so evil that he wanted to kill the child. Lily went over and stroked Harry's soft black hair, and he drooled a little bit and stomped happily on his blanket.
A year. It had been a year since he had come, and he had been nothing but a blessing. Too often Lily and James would pick him up at his grandparent's house, injured and shaken, and laughed with him all night, cherishing the time that they had with their only son. Hopefully after all this mess was over, they could plan to give Harry some little siblings to keep him company. Lily had always sort of envied Saraline for having a big, happy (or not so happy always) family. It was a gift to each of the children to have another person to love and play with. She herself remembered Petunia and her playing dolls and dress up in their earlier days, and even Sirius mentioned wrestling with (beating up) his little brother.
But this mess wasn't over. Lily, James, and their baby son Harry would have to hide, live like muggles, until it was safe. Sometimes she wished that Harry could have a normal life, not grow up to be some kind of child of heroes, child of the dark ages. But if that meant that things would have changed, she took it back. Alice and her wouldn't have been so close if not for Voldemort, Dumbledore and Sirius and Remus and Peter would just be friends, not loving relatives.
That evening Lily sat up waiting for James, looking through the pictures from their wedding two years ago. Did Petunia feel this way when she was with Vernon? Did she think about him every moment that he was away from her? Lily shook her head, ignoring the little bit of guilt she felt about not being able to share these kind of things with her sister. When they were young, they talked about getting married and living next door to one another. Now? They barely spoke. Lily didn't think it was such a loss really. Peering at a picture of James and her and Sirius waving merrily, she told herself that she had a new family now. Her picture self was squashed between the two handsome men, one holding on to each arm. Then picture Lily and picture James exchanged a quick kiss, causing picture Sirius to turn red and make a face like getting sick.
There was another one, of Lily dancing with James. It was so perfect, so right. Both of them looked happier than ever. She wished that she could live as that picture forever.
Then there was one of Dumbledore, and he looked like…Yes! He was drinking a glass of wine. Lily smiled. Caught in the act professor!
She turned the page of the album and looked through a few of the group pictures at the wedding. There was Remus, Sirius, Peter, James, Hagrid, Herself, her parents, the Potters, and…who was that. Lily looked closer at the witch in plain black robes that she hadn't noticed before. The lady was shifting uncomfortably and glancing in irritation at Hagrid, who was flailing a mug of ale widely. Lily poked the picture to make that witch come to the front, and stared with interest…blonde hair, pale green eyes.
Lily dropped the album. No way. Noooo way. None at all. But…she picked up the album and stared intently at the blonde witch…who wasn't a witch after all. It was Petunia.
It seemed that she and her sister still thought alike. Lily reminisced for a moment about once when they were in primary school and wore matching colors at least once a week, purely by coincidence.
That must have taken lots of guts, Lily thought, still gawking at the picture. Where had Petunia gotten those robes? And that witch's hat? And without her husband knowing? Why did she go at all?
Maybe, Lily thought, maybe she wanted to see me happy, one last time, before we went our separate ways. Because we are sisters after all.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of many someones apparating into the next room. Lily shoved the album into the box of stuff she had been sifting through and went to greet them and scold the loud voices. Harry was still asleep!
"Lily!" James rushed over to her and steered her towards a chair. Peter and Sirius looked anxiously at the pair. "We have to do this now, and in a hurry alright?"
"Sure, but why?"
"There's been attacks. My parents…your parents…"
"Oh no, oh god! Are they alright?" she asked. James looked strained.
"Lily, I'm sorry, the houses were destroyed. We got there too late."
"Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my…" Lily breathed heavily, overwhelmed with guilt, then grief, then relief. "Harry…was supposed to be with them tonight…oh my god James, what if I hadn't stayed home to do the laundry…oh my god…"
James looked grimly at his wife, feeling numb to everything at the moment. His parents and In-Laws murdered all in one night…it was so dumbfounding that he could hardly comprehend.
"We decided to switch too…Peter instead of Sirius. We think…it would be too obvious. Like Dumbledore, obvious right? And he can't afford to hide."
"Oh my god, oh my god…" Lily hadn't even stopped to consider who did what…Harry had nearly died. Good fortune had saved her son from death. James's words were only an echo in her mind. She bolted from the kitchen and ran into the bedroom as fast as she could to check on Harry…. There he was sleeping peacefully in his crib.
"Oh Harry!" Lily picked up the sleeping child and rocked him in her arms, crying. "I almost lost you today Harry." She told him. James appeared at the door.
"Lily, we have to do this now." He said, but he sounded unconvinced. He walked over to Lily and Harry and wrapped them both tightly in his arms. Harry struggled a little in his sleep, but was otherwise undisturbed by the happenings of the night.
In the kitchen Peter and Sirius sat silently considering things. Both were pale and sweating, having just come from the wrecked houses of The Potters and The Evans. It was quite a scene, bodies lifeless and staring, dark mark hovering in the sky eerily. Sirius wished he could tear it out of the sky, summon the dark wizards and kill them one by one. He almost felt remorseful about thinking these things…but in the end, he didn't even care. People were dying and people would keep dying. Evil would never be gone completely. He glanced over at Peter, who was shaking slightly. Probably terrified, poor boy. He would be a target as soon as anyone found out that the secret-keeper duty was transferred to him, something that Sirius was still unsure of.
Peter was a good kid, but under pressure…well even back at Hogwarts he would tattle if it meant his own hide was on the line.
James and Lily appeared in the kitchen, both red eyed.
"Ready?" Sirius asked.
Lily nodded, but she wasn't ready. Not really. She just wanted to sit and hold James and Harry and cry. But she couldn't and she wouldn't. If she could have anything she wanted, she would sit and have tea with Saraline, be a babysitter to her best friend's many sandy haired children, eat ice cream with her mother and sister… James took her hand and sat her down at the table across from Sirius, who gazed at her fondly as if she was his own sister.
"No offense Peter," Sirius said. "But you guys are sure you don't want to use me?" James nodded grimly. Lily was silent. Peter looked so scared, so worried for them…
"I know I can trust my friends." Lily said softly. It was settled. Everyone pulled out their wands. It was the beginning of a long and tiring night.
But Lily just couldn't stop thinking…Harry's life had been saved by a few bags of dirty laundry.
***
"No wands" James muttered angrily, soaping up the dishes in the sink. "I can't believe I am doing this." Lily was playing patty cake with Harry and trying to get him to eat the rest of his crackers. They were shaped like pumpkins, special for Halloween. She grinned at James's attempt to scrub the dishes without getting his shirt all wet. "I feel like I'm in detention or something."
"Look Harry, Daddy's in detention!" Lily said, pointing at an increasingly wet and annoyed James. Harry giggled and pointed at him, clapping the other hand on his high chair top and scattering crackers everywhere.
"I don't want my son to grow up a muggle." James said, but he smiled fondly at Harry anyway, forgetting about the dishes and overflowing the water in the sink so that his shoes were splashed.
"I grew up like a muggle and I turned out ok." Lily commented, and James smiled enchantingly.
"Lily m'dear, you could have grown up with a herd of hags and still turned out alright."
"Didn't you ever pay attention in school? Hags don't live in herds!"
"If I paid attention, you think I would have gotten so many detentions?"
Lily laughed, shaking her head. Harry laughed too; he always did if Lily did. Green eyes crinkling and messy hair flopping. Lily tried tying into a little ponytail once, but James took it out immediately, indignant that his son would look like a girl. James watched his wife and child. How he ended up such a lucky guy was beyond him. While Lily saw so much James in Harry, James saw a lot of Lily in Harry. His personality, beyond the daring ventures to climb everything in sight, was quieter and more natural than usual for a baby. Sometimes he looked at his father and James could swear the kid was trying to trap in that gaze…but then seconds later he would tug at his dad's glasses and laugh. Such a happy baby…
"Was Sirius coming by today?" Lily asked.
James nodded and pointed out the window where a scruffy looking muggle was approaching the door. He abandoned the dishes and went to greet his friend.
"James," Sirius said, stepping inside the small house quickly and speaking under his breath.
"What's the matter?" James asked, equally quiet.
"It's Peter, we can't find him anywhere. No one's heard from him in two days, and he was supposed to check into headquarters yesterday."
"He wouldn't." James said quickly.
"No, but what if he's captured, hurt? I'm going to look for him, but be on your guard. If he's killed, then the charm will be broken."
"Right. Happy Halloween Sirius. Come say hi to Lily and Harry?"
"Can't. I have to go. Give 'em my love though, alright?"
"Sure. Be careful."
Sirius turned and left, disappearing mysteriously after walking only a few houses down. James closed the door and went back to the kitchen, where Lily and Harry were both munching on the crackers. She must have decided that eating and having Harry copy her was the most effective way to get him to eat.
"Was that Sirius? Didn't he come in?"
"No, he couldn't stay." James sat down and took a cracker from Harry's plate, but the boy howled in anger and tried to take it back.
"Noooo!" he said loudly.
"Sorry!" James said, giving him back the cracker and watching as the boy shoved it in his mouth along with another fistful. Lily handed James one from the plate, and Harry didn't even seem to notice the crime.
"What did he say?" Lily asked.
"Peter's missing." James answered. "It's been two days."
"Is he alright?" Lily sounded anxious. She knew what Peter was like, careless sometimes.
"No idea. Sirius is out to find him. Sends you guys his love."
"He should have come in. I haven't seen much of him lately. Haven't seen much of anyone lately."
James nodded. Being in hiding meant that friends couldn't just stop by. Even owls were a risk, because they might lead people to believe something was going on.
"I was hoping Alice could bring Neville over to play with Harry. You know he must get bored of his old parents sometimes…" Lily said. Not that she didn't love spending time with him, but she worried that his social skills would be hindered by being an only child with no company his age. Plus she wanted to visit with her friend Alice. It had been a while since anyone had come by, because of all the risks.
"No…I guess we should just stay here and celebrate Halloween as a little family." James smiled, remembering Hogwarts Halloweens. The great hall must look awesome about now, after coming back from a day at Hogsmeade.
"That's fine then. I guess I can make some cookies."
"Cookie!" Harry exclaimed, looking around.
"I have to make them Harry," Lily explained. "Cookies, later. Not now."
James tried again to steal a pumpkin cracker, but was caught again and forced to return it to the plate. He pretended to look sad, and finally Harry offered him a slobbery handful, which James ate delightedly.
That night, the Potter family was indeed celebrating Halloween in their own little way, when there was a blast at the door.
"Honestly!" Lily said, starting to get up. She figured it was some wild trick-or-treaters, but James stopped her.
"Get to the bedroom Lily, take Harry, I'll hold them off."
"Death Eaters!" Lily whispered. She didn't hesitate, but pulled her wand out of her shirt and scooped up Harry. "James, be careful!" She kissed him on the cheek and ran to the bedroom, shutting the door and sealing it with as many spells as she could think of. There were yells coming from the living room.
James! She thought. But there wasn't time for tears. Peter must be dead now, who knows what happened to Sirius when he went to find them. If James was captured…she would be the only one to save Harry.
The baby was nervous, sensing the anxiousness in his mother and he whimpered a little. Lily hugged him and wrapped him in a blanket.
"I love you Harry."
There was more yelling, screams, a booming voice, and then the entire house shook. Harry cried out.
"It's alright Harry, you'll be safe with me." Her mind was flying, thinking of any spells that might deter the Death Eaters.
"FIND THEM!" The horrible voice screamed. Lily shut her eyes and tried to calm Harry down.
She knew it was coming. Then, the door. It took them three tries to blast it open, but it came off. Lily felt a cut on her face from the explosion, but she shielded Harry with her body.
"Where's the child?" Lily turned and faced the voice. Him. It was him. All her worst nightmares were coming true.
"Where's James?" She croaked. The horrible man laughed bitterly.
"You think one man, one puny pathetic mortal man could stop me? He fought bravely, yes, but he is dead. Hand over the child woman."
"You'll have to kill me." She said. It was Voldemort. The one person that everyone she knew was afraid of. His skin was pale, almost transparent, and his eyes burned red with inner fire. His mouth was a gaping hole in his mouth; robes hid the rest of him from view, thankfully.
Lily hid Harry behind her, but he was scared and crying. She didn't want his little eyes to see this horrible monster.
"You'll never get Harry." She said. "Never."
Now Voldemort laughed again, it should have been impossible by the shape of his mouth, but the sound came, then again.
"Stand aside girl." He ordered. Lily stood fast. "Stand aside!" Lily shook her head.
"Kill me. Just do it. What's one more life?" instead he threw her out of the way, hand burning her flesh, wand poised to attack the child.
"No! Not Harry! Me, Just kill me, leave Harry alone!" Lily screamed, crying. "Kill me!"
"So eager to die?" The Dark Lord asked. "But then, who will protect…Harry?" he said it with an air of distaste, as if it seemed dumb to call such a useless creature by name.
"I will." Lily said stubbornly. Her arm was throbbing and swollen from where he had touched her. Voldemort laughed again.
"I may grant your wish then." He said, turning and pointing at Lily. "Avada Kedavra!" Lily looked right into the green light.
Just let Harry Live. I love you Harry.
Lily was dead. Harry screamed, as if he knew that his mother was gone from him forever. "Foolish girl." Voldemort said. He turned to the little boy, who was crying and reaching for his mother's lifeless body.
The rest is History.
*****
Author: One more to go! It will be up tomorrow!
