Getting things right
Lily slipped past Janice, who was still on duty and slipped behind the nurses' station in St. Mungos. She had an idea as to who might have taken James. Yes, her and James had fallen out but Lily hadn't really meant any of it. She just wanted him to have the cold shoulder for a little while. She didn't think that whatever she did was enough to distract James so much that he got caught, and by people who wanted to kill their son! Lily had an idea but if it turned out to be wrong then she'd get into a LOT of trouble. She wasn't really one for one to one combat, or for duelling. Lily liked the peace and the quiet. She preferred to stay out of duels if she could help it.
Lily sat down and looked at the desk, there were several files on the desk that Lily recognised, apparently Mr. Kinery would be ok. Lily put her wand on one of the files.
"Lucius Malfoy" She whispered. The file immediately changed from Mr. Kinery to Lucius Malfoy. Lily picked up a quill and a scrap of parchment and wrote down Lucius Malfoy's address. She folded it up and put it in the pocket of her jeans. She quickly changed the file back to Mr. Kinery and got up. She made for the stairs but dipped into a ward when she saw an auror she didn't recognise go into the Janis Thickley ward. She didn't know why she was hiding. She went to the door.
"April, you're wanted at the Potters, apparently there's been an attack." Said the auror.
"What?" April asked, "When? Are the Potters ok?"
"That's not for me to disclose at this moment but you'll be updated at the house." The auror said, "I've been sent to cover your shift. They need you there."
"Alright. Um, I've got everything. Thanks Karen." April came out of the ward and went through the doors to the stairs. Lily followed her and put a hand on her arm. April turned and got her wand out at the same time.
"It's me." Lily said. April sighed with relief.
"What happened? Karen said there was an attack." April said.
"There was." Lily said, "Sort of" She added. "I need your help." Lily held onto April's arms. April looked into her eyes, they looked like they were searching for something, Lily could see vague images of the attack flick through her vision.
"What-" April started to say, "We can't, you need a warrant." April finished.
"You're an auror, get one." Lily said. "It's my fault this has happened."
"No it's not Lily." April said, "James is-"
"James was distracted because we had a slight argument before we left, we never argue April." Lily said anxiously. April frowned and seemed to be considering it.
"Alright, but I could lose my auror status because of this." April said.
"Oh then don't-"
"Lily, I said I'd help and I will help." April said. Lily smiled and gave April a hug. April hugged her back, "Now lets go before they do something to James."
April and Lily crouched by a bush near Godric's Hollow.
"Ok, just apparate in and get the invisibility cloak." April said to Lily.
"Wouldn't it be better if you went, you're supposed to be there, make an appearance, get the cloak, put it on and come out again?" Lily asked. April looked at her.
"Good idea. I'll see you in a bit." April said. She disappeared with a crack and then appeared again in Lily's living room. A Death Eater was sprawled unconscious on the floor while another one who looked like James was nursing his hand. April recognised the bite marks on his arm, Padfoot. April rolled her eyes and then turned to see Moody right behind her. Damn! April thought, Moody could see straight through invisibility cloaks.
"Where have you been Marsden?" Moody growled
"I haven't been a Marsden for three years" April said.
"Oh yes, married that Black fellow." Moody muttered, he looked back at April, his new magical glass eye was whizzing round in circles in his eye socket. As April watched it she felt her stomach churning slightly. She shook her head and forced herself to look away.
"Where were you?" He asked.
"I went to check on Lily Potter, you know, see if she's alright" April said. She tried to avoid Moody's real eye as well. Last time she had looked into it she'd gotten a bit too curious and had searched his memories. She really didn't want to fall into that trap again. The only people who really knew how to block her were Sirius, Dumbledore and April's parents.
"Apparently she's gone missing as well. I bet you anything that she's been kidnapped." Moody said.
"You're such an optimist." April said with a pleasant smile.
"None of your cheek Mars-Black." April smiled. "Anyway, Where is she? She's wanted for questioning."
"I'm afraid she won't be coming out until she has her husband back. I would like to request for a group of four Aurors to go and find James Potter" April said. Moody looked at her.
"You know where he is?" Moody asked.
"No, but we can find out." April said. Moody stared at her with both eyes.
"Don't do anything stupid" He said. He moved away. April called over the nearest Auror.
"Nancy, go back to Headquarters and bring a vial of Veriteserum." April said. The auror nodded. April was quite pleased, both her and James were getting quite far up the Auror ranks when they were such a young age. Rank VIII to be exact. Of course, James had almost technically been an auror longer then April. James had all those years in hiding while April had Pregnancy leave. Their total years as Aurors were pretty much the same. April loved having so much command over everyone.
"Kingsley, help me get this guy unmasked. Take that-" April stopped as the man who had looked like James suddenly changed. It was like watching Sirius turn into Padfoot. Every Auror had their wands out and were pointing them at the man. Once he'd finished changing he looked completely different to James. He had blonde hair, blue eyes and looked a bit chubbier then James. He looked at the aurors in fright as they watched him carefully.
"Take him to Azkaban." April said with a smile. The Aurors moved forwards and picked him up roughly.
"But my hand!" The man said.
"It'll be seen to in Azkaban." Kingsley said. The man whimpered slightly. April was reminded vaguely of Wormtail when they'd dragged Wormtail to Azkaban. Of course, April didn't want to go near the Azkaban guards, for fear of what they'd do to Rhia while she was in the womb, but she had watched them drag him from the ministry.
"Say hi to Wormtail for me" April muttered gravely as he passed. The man looked at her uncertainly before he was taken out of the house. April turned to face the still unconscious Death Eater on the floor.
"Wormtail?" Kingsley asked.
"Pettigrew." April muttered, "Stupid traitor." She kicked the Death Eater over and waved her wand. The Death Eater went to the wall and his hood was pulled back. This was the man who had been talking to Lucius Malfoy, though April didn't know that. She looked at Kingsley and Kingsley put a charm on the Death Eater so that he was tied to the wall and he couldn't get free. The Auror called Nancy tapped April on the shoulder and gave her the vial of Veriteserum. Nancy was quite sweet really, she'd only just come out of training. April crouched next to the Death Eater and woke him up.
"Ennervate" April said. The Death Eater woke with a start.
"You-"
"Silencio" April said. The Death Eater settled for glaring at her. "Open your mouth." April said. He shook his head.
"She said open your mouth, don't make us force you." Kingsley said. The Death Eater glanced at the vial of clear liquid in April's hand and kept his mouth firmly shut. April rolled her eyes and sighed. She got out her wand and forced the Death Eater's mouth open. Kingsley tilted his head back and April dropped three drops of Veriteserum on the Death Eater's tongue. The Death Eater gave them a look of disgust.
"Who are you?" April asked.
"My name is Ferdinand Travers." He said in a monotonous voice.
"And what are you doing here?" Kingsley asked.
"I came to see if my follower had killed Lily Potter or not." He said. "I told him to Kill Lily Potter so that we could kill Harry Potter. Once Harry Potter has been killed then we can kill James Potter and the Dark Lord will come out of hiding and regain his strength." Travers said, "Then he will reign again. But until we-"
"Shut up." April said impatiently.
"April." Kingsley said. April ignored him.
"Where is James Potter?" April asked.
"He is in a building on an island in the north of Scotland. The Orkney islands. No one can get to him and he is guarded by a Welsh Green"
"Dragon." April muttered to Kingsley.
"I know, I'm not stupid." Kingsley said.
"How do we get past the Dragon, and why is he guarded by a stupid Dragon?" April asked.
"He is guarded by a dragon because we knew that someone would try to get to him so we needed a powerful deterrent and guard. I do not know how you get past the dragon,"
"How do you get past the dragon?" April said impatiently, emphasising the fact it was a personal question.
"I apparate inside the building." April stood up.
"Kingsley, do what you need to with this piece of shit. Ok, I want Jackson, Miller, um, Yates, Freddie and Nancy, you come with me, we're going to go and fetch James." April left the room and went up to Lily and James' bedroom. On the back of the door was the invisibility cloak. April went to the window and looked out. Lily was looking at the window slightly annoyed. April gave her a shrug and a be-there-in-a-moment look. April turned and went downstairs. The aurors she'd picked were ready to go with her.
"Moody, I'm off." April said.
"Where you going?" Moody asked.
"Fetch Potter." April said.
"Ok, when you come back you send him to St. Mungos if he's injured, we'll tidy this place up and make sure you get Lily Potter to come home. If she's not kidnapped-"
"She's not kidnapped, I just saw her." April said. Moody narrowed his eyes suspiciously. April waved her hand, "Oh, whatever." April walked out the back door and went to where Lily was.
"What took you so long?" Lily asked.
"Sorry," April said, "Moody was there and I couldn't sneak past him so we got some information out of the Death Eater that attacked you." April said. Lily looked at the Aurors that were following April to where they were.
"Right, and this lot are coming why?" Lily asked.
"James is being guarded by a Welsh Green" April said.
"What? Why? He's not that dangerous is he?" Lily asked.
"Oh, it's not to keep him in, it's to keep us out. But fortunately, we know how to get past the Dragon." April said.
"So why bring the cloak?" Lily asked.
"Just in case, you take it." April said, handing the silver cloak to Lily. April turned to the Aurors who had just joined them. "Alright people, all apparate to the Scottish branch of the ministry and we'll liase at the Auror department there, from there we'll decide what to do." April said. The aurors nodded and disappeared one by one. April turned to Lily. "You want to come? I know you don't really like violence." April said.
"I'm coming, James is my husband." Lily said. April looked at her anxiously.
"But what if you get kil-"
"No, I'm going April." Lily said. April nodded.
"Yeah, I knew that, I was just checking, so Scottish Ministry." April said. Lily nodded and closed her eyes. She held onto her wand, it was a long apparition, it was going to take a lot of magic. Lily heard a loud crack and then it was closely followed by another one. She opened her eyes and she was in a fairly small lobby area with posh wooden benches going down the centre of the hall, there were plants growing around the benches and gave the room a greenhouse feel. There was a small desk at the side of the room and a corridor that led off to the various departments. April apparated next to her and held onto Lily's arm.
"Stick with me, they know me here so you don't have to worry." April said. Lily gave her a long look. "Sorry, I'm just in official business mode, it's hard to mix the two."
"I forgive you." Lily said. "Lets go and find James then." April smiled.
"You know, I would never do this for Sirius."
"I know." Lily said, they walked down the corridor and April counted a few doors. "So why aren't you feeding your husband?" April smirked slightly.
"Oh, it was his fault, he emptied the fridge last night." April said. "So I couldn't feed him." April went to a door and pushed it open. Lily read the small label on the door. ANIMAL CONTROL. Lily scowled but followed April in.
"Hey, Dennis." April said. A fairly tall man with strong broad shoulders appeared from behind a stack of crates.
"April!" He said with a grin. He looked fairly red, like he'd spent a lot of time in the sun. He glanced at Lily, taking her in. "Who's the friend?"
"She's a Healer." April said. Dennis' grin widened, "And James Potter's wife," April said with a smirk. Lily had to try not to laugh as Dennis' expression dropped.
"Man, the guy gets everything." He said.
"I know, it's unfair." Lily said sweetly. Dennis gave her a slightly defeated shrug.
"Anyway, Welsh Greens, you up to put one down?" April asked.
"I can't put it down without a warrant but I can knock it out and move it to where it should be. Why?"
"Welsh green up in Orkney, we're going to go up there, we know how to get up there but we're not leaving a damned Dragon up there." April said.
"Why's there a Dragon there?" Dennis asked as he gathered up some equipment.
"James was captured and his hair was used for a Polyjuice potion in an attempt to kill me and my son. Now we're going up there to get him." Lily said. "This is just like a precaution but you know, Dragons aren't the best of things to leave unattended on an island to snack on innocent Muggles." Dennis smirked.
"Too right, well. You headed up there now?" Dennis asked.
"As soon as we can." April said.
"Right, will see you in the Lobby." Dennis said.
"Thanks." April led Lily out of the room.
"I'm impressed." Lily said. April looked at Lily with slight confusion.
"About what?" April asked.
"The impression I got from James about your Auror skills wasn't really very positive. You're quite good."
"Oh please." April said, "You think this is impressive, you seen the work you do? I couldn't remember half the stuff you know. How do you remember symptoms, diseases, cures, spells, potions and all that? All I have to learn are a few spells." Lily shrugged. They went into another room. The aurors were standing around patiently.
"Ok, we don't know this place that we're going to but we're going to have to go anyway." April said lightly. "We have Dennis the dragon man waiting and ready to take down our Welsh Green. So all we need to do is find James. You'll go in pairs, me, Miller and Lily will make a three" The Aurors nodded. Lily could swear that some of them looked so much older then April but she could tell that April was a higher rank by a little badge on their robes.
"Ok, Orkney islands, lets go." April said enthusiastically clapping her hands. She turned to Lily. Lily knew what she wanted to know.
"I can do anonymous apparitions." Lily said. April grinned.
"Brilliant. Never doubted you."
"Yes you did."
"Yeah, you're right, but only because I'm worried." April said. They all went to the lobby where they met Dennis. He had a huge rope coiled around one arm, a bag on his shoulders and what looked like Dragon skin armour.
"Like it?" He asked Lily.
"Very fetching." Lily said. Dennis laughed and looked to April. April nodded and everyone closed their eyes ready for the apparition. Again Lily heard a crack as she apparated. Instead of willing herself to go to where April had set the meeting point she ended up somewhere else. On the second crack she stayed still. April had set an outside point. That meant the air should be fresh. Why did this air smell stale? Lily opened her eyes. The room was dark.
"Lumos." Lily whispered. A disk of light skimmed across the walls. Lily looked around when the light went to a shape on the floor. A familiar shape.
"James." Lily gasped, she dropped the cloak and dropped to James' side. He was unconscious, like he'd been put into an enchanted sleep. Lily could recognise the signs easily. She'd used the draught enough times on her patients. Lily put her wand to James head and muttered a small incantation. James eyes flickered open slightly.
"Lily?" He asked groggily. He sat up and looked at her.
"James." Lily said, she hugged him tightly. James seemed a bit taken aback and surprised to find himself where he was.
"It's alright." James said. Lily let go and James pulled her into a kiss. "It's ok." Lily nodded and James gave her a weak smile. "We've been in a worse position. Now, how did we get here?"
"You were kidnapped, I did an apparition that went wrong." Lily said.
"Where were you supposed to go?" James asked.
"I was supposed to meet April." Lily said. Lily quickly filled James in on everything "I'm really sorry if our small tiff yesterday got you-"
"It's fine." James said, "As long as Harry and Emma are alright." Lily nodded.
"They're safe." Lily said. James smiled and stroked Lily's cheek gently in a small moment. He kissed her before getting shakily to his feet. Lily picked up her wand and the cloak and got up as well.
"Ok, have I got my wand?" James patted his body and grinned, "They're stupid Death Eaters aren't they?" He said as he pulled his wand out from a hidden pocket in his auror's robes.
"Well, Padfoot did get the better of them at home." Lily said. James smiled into the dark. He could see Lily's light shining on what must be the door. "Alohamora." Lily said. Nothing happened. She frowned slightly. "Finite Incantatum." There was a slight squelching noise and the door opened. Light spilled into the room from the corridor. She turned to James.
"Come on, I want to get out of here as quickly as we can." Lily said. James stepped up to her and looked in the hall in a way that reminded Lily of a James Bond movie she'd watched a while ago. James took her hand and led her down the corridor.
"Stay really quiet." James said. He looked at Lily and smiled, "I didn't need to tell you that did I?" He asked. Lily shook her head. James came to a door and let go of Lily's hand. He pushed it open slowly with his left hand, his right hand holding onto his wand. Was it wrong that Lily was finding this all rather arousing? She shook herself and got ready for a battle if she needed to. James pushed the door open and stepped through the threshold of the door. He walked in and immediately had to retreat back to Lily and slam the door shut as a jet of red light narrowly passed his head.
"Ok, Death Eaters in there" He said.
"I noticed" Lily said. James looked at Lily.
"You ready for a fight."
"No"
"Ok, lets go." James opened the door and turned around. "Expeliarmus, petrificus Totallus, immobulus" He shouted, firing the spells quite accurately but never quite hitting.
"Stupefy!" Lily shouted, she hit a Death Eater square in the back. There were only Three so it wasn't that unfair. "Immobulous." She shouted.
"Prtoego" The Death Eater said in return. The spell rebounded. Lily ducked and rolled to the door. The spell hit the spot Lily had just been. She peered around the door.
"Expeliarmus" She said. The spell just clipped the Death Eater and he lost his wand.
"Accio wand." James said, the wand flew to him
"Stupefy." Lily said, stunning the Death Eater. One more to go.
"Petrificus Totallus" James said, throwing the jinx at the Death Eater. He froze and fell to the floor with a thud just as the door opened and more figures came in. "Lily, stay where you are" James said. "Stupefy!"
"Stupefy" Someone else shouted. The spells collided in midair and seemed to rebound off each other. James dived towards Lily and came to a stop in a crouch just beyond the protection of the door. He held his wand ready as the other figure looked at him.
"James?" She said. James grinned and turned to Lily.
"It's alright, it's April." He said. James got to his feet and Lily followed him out of the protection.
"Lily! That's where you were. You got us so worried." April said engulfing Lily in a hug. James cleared his throat and April let go.
"She's mine." James said putting his arms around Lily's waist.
"I'm not an object." Lily said with a smile, she happily leant against James.
"Alright, I don't want to split this up but we have to get back. James you hurt?" April asked.
"Nope." James said, April nodded and turned to Miller.
"Get the others to clear this place out. Once Dennis is through with the dragon, pay him off and then we're done here." Miller nodded and started back to where they had come from. April turned again.
"You two!" She scolded. "Break it apart!" She went to Lily and James and pulled them off each other.
"Sorry." Lily said. "You know me and James."
"James, you're a professional Auror...act like one!" April said. James grinned.
"Sorry." James said, "There's a reason I persuaded Lily to be a healer."
"You did not persuade me, I decided for myself." Lily said turning to look at James. She crossed her arms.
"And who helped you make that decision?" James asked. Lily grinned. April stepped between the two.
"James, Lily, you have to go home now."
"Our pleasure." James said.
"And you have to go and collect the kids and I'm off back to the headquarters" April said, trying to be serious.
"Tell Jenny and Remus to keep Harry and Emma for another night." Lily said.
"Or two." James added. April gave a soft whine and hit her head with her palm.
"Why!" She asked. Lily gave her sweet smile.
"You're as bad with Sirius." Lily said. "Oh." Lily turned to James, "Guess what?"
"What?" James asked, managing to get past April and get his arms around Lily again.
"Sirius is Pregnant." Lily said. April's serious expression melted away and was replaced by a grin. James' mouth dropped open.
"How?" He asked.
"You remember that thing I was threatening you with when I had Emma?" Lily asked.
"The thing that made people see what it was like to be pregnant, like it lasts for nine months?" James asked. Lily nodded. James burst out laughing.
"Guess who's got that on?" April asked. James' laughter seemed to double, he had to hold onto Lily for support.
"Oh Merlin, that's funny!" James said, "So he feels...and you can...and he..." He seemed to have lost the ability to finish a sentence. Lily and April looked at each other.
"It really isn't that funny." Lily said.
"Yes it is!" James said. "Oh, this is going to be so fun!" He was sitting on the floor clutching his stomach. Lily and April glanced at each other again. April shrugged and Lily pulled James to his feet.
"Lets get home." She said. James's laughter seemed to subside slightly and he had a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
"Oh please." April muttered.
A/N:-Ok, so that wasn't all action but i'm still proud of hte chapter. There is actually a Death Eater called Travers.....i just made up his first name..hehe. Anyway, Hope you liked this chapter, hope it explained some of your questions, e.g. Where's James, where's Lily. and all that. I forgot to write in (a few chapters ago) just before James got kidnapped what he was thinking. He was very distracted because he had a fight with Lily earlier tht day, true it wasn't much of a fight but it's the first fight they had really, as a couple since Voldemort. Hm...anything else. Ok, so next chapter will be a bit like a relaxing chapter, nothing very big will happen (though i think Emma gets a present) I've lost track of what happens in what chapters. Hope you like this chapter, I'm still loving your reviews, so cool. Oh and Rhia....ROCK ON!! (I'm really hyper at the moment)