"The Killing of the Phoenix"
Chapter Three: The Innocents
Lily smiled happily as the other women around her laughed and talked amongst themselves.
"So, Lils, how does it feel to be having the baby of the infamous playboy James Potter?" Lucinda Howard asked. She and Kate Bones, both fellow Aurors of Lily, had been responsible for throwing her a surprise baby shower. Lily laughed.
"Unreal. It's almost as unreal as our wedding was- when I finally snagged the 'infamous playboy James Potter.' He seems really excited about it- almost more excited than I am," Lily said. James had spent the last week and a half getting the baby's room all ready; the walls were painted a nice neutral shade of yellow, the crib and changing table were all set up and fully stocked, and the dresser was even filled with unisex clothes. Lily, however, suspected that the child would be a boy and a Quidditch player at that, from the way he kicked. James told Lily that he didn't care what sex the baby was, but she knew he secretly wanted a boy so that he could carry on the Potter tradition at Hogwarts.
"Is it true that Alice Longbottom had her baby?" Leïla, the newest member of the Auror team, asked. Lucinda and Kate exchanged glances.
"Did something happen?" Lily asked, setting her mug of tea down on the table and standing up.
"Frank had to leave the office early last night because Alice was having contractions….but we haven't heard from them since…oh, Lily, don't look like that. I'm sure they've just been too busy with the new baby and all to contact anyone…Don't get so upset Lily, you'll harm the baby," Lucinda said. Lily turned pale and started to shake.
"Sit down, Lils, drink some of your tea. Calm down, honey. Luce, go get James, will you? Lily needs him. If she doesn't calm down she'll hurt the baby," Kate said.
"Quit talking about me as if I'm not here," Lily snapped. Please god, she thought, Please let them be all right. You of all people know how much happiness those two- or anybody these days- deserves. Moments later James arrived. He looked around the room and quickly spotted Lily. In three strides he was by her side and hugging her. "Tell me they're all right," Lily said.
"Shhh, calm
down. Let's get you home and into bed. Sirius promised he'd make you some
zucchini bread tonight, remember?" James led Lily to the hallway where the
fireplace was and they went home.
Lily looked around the bedroom
while she waited for Sirius or James to come upstairs. She plucked nervously at
the blue silk sheets. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the door
opened and both James and Sirius came in. They each sat on one side of Lily and
hugged her. In that moment, she knew. They'd lost another Order member- possibly
two- and an innocent life. Lily broke down into sobs, not only for Alice and
Frank, but for the baby. She suddenly didn't want the child to come, and to
have to grow up in a world where innocent babies were killed before they were
born.
And that's when she felt it. It was time. Her child was on its way.
* * * *
DISCLAIMER: all characters/events/places/etc. belong to J.K. Rowling and I am merely borrowing them for my own amusement.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Next chapter (hopefully): Harry is born, horrible news comes, and tragedy may or may not strike. So this chapter didn't go quite to plan…but I have new plans for this story. Muahahaha.