Chapter 5- an unexpected call
The next month for James was bliss. He was either round hers or she was round his. They both worked (No matter how much James tried to persuade Lily she didn't need to.) Lily was also up holding her healer training. She had done most of her theory work and was now doing 4 days in a hospital (St mungos) and one day theory. She was loving it. James was still at the ministry working as an Aurour, he was a little disappointed as he hadn't actually been out on the feild as of yet.(Lily was glad of this though) All he'd done was paper work. That was until now.
A week after Frank had returned off of his honeymoon a massive muggleborns attack had been launched. All Aurours were needed on hand. Frank and James both rushed to their posts. They were being led by Alistor Moody.
When they arrived at the scene, they were horrified. They were led down in to the central London underground. There were people screaming and running out of the passages, fire everywhere and men in black cloaks firing curses all over the show. Bodies littered the ground, some dead, some just badly injured. This is what the world had come to.
Moody turned to his men.
"Stun, block and hex- DO NOT KILL! Understand me? All the Bast**ds captured chuck in there." he pointed to a hole in the ground that he had just blasted with his wand. He then went on to charm it so no one could break free once they had been captured. "If anyone gets injured, leave them behind. Anyone who falls behind stays behind. Otherwise more lives are at risk. Ok go catch some scum!" James rushed off, throwing and dodging curses. He had caught about 3 deatheaters and was going back for more.
"MOODY'S DOWN!" He heard someone scream. "NOW WHAT?" James turned and saw Moody laying on the floor. Nobody was taking over. James needed to do something. His natural instinct kicked in.
"Do as he said- Leave him!" He called. "Frank- you get those 2 deatheaters over there." Frank ran in the direction James pointed. "Atkins you get that one. You two get that big one and I'll go after him." Everyone did as they were told and finally the last of the deatheaters had been either caught or had dissaperated. James instructed 4 members of his newly adopted team, to escort the deatheaters they had captured (5 of them) to Azkaban where they could be locked up and await a trial. Whilst he and Frank went around sorting through bodies. There had been a total of 30 deaths, 27 muggle and 3 magical. Thankfully moody was ok, just roughed up a bit, well actually alot. He would have a few scars that healer wouldn't even be able to get rid of.
Crouch came onto the scene.
"Potter, wheres Moody?" He asked.
"He got taken down sir. I've sent for mediwizards to come and collect everyone. 4 of our team are escorting the captees to waiting cells and obliverators will be coming soon too." James stated to his cheif.
"You took control Potter?" James nodded. "I'm impressed. Not many wizards of your age and experience could've handled this situation, which couldve been alot worse if you hadn't taken control. I'll have to talk to moody once he comes round, but I think a promotion may be in order."
"I just did what I thought was best." James said modestly.
"We could use alot more of your thinking then. Now get yourself to the hospital and get checked out. We need you in good working order for work on Monday."
"But I can still hel..."
"Go now. I've got it covered. The minister will be informed of your help today!" Crouch held up his hand to silence James, so James just grinned defeatedly and apperated to St Mungos.
Lily was standing by, they had been told a big battle had been held and lots had been injured. It was all healers on deck, even the trainees were needed. Lily and Alice were greeting all the new patients and taking them to rooms, they would assess the patients and report the most dire ones to the healers.
James apperated to the apperation point in St Mungos. It was a big room, which led into the hospitals waiting room. He wasn't badly injured, but a few hex's had hit him and he didn't exactly feel or look to great either. He walked into the reception and read a sign, which had been put up.
"BATTLE PATIENTS WAIT FOR ASSISTANCE IN G SECTION. OTHER PATIENTS SEE RECEPTIONIST FOR DETAILS. WARDS HAVE CHANGED." James made his way to the section of seating which had been marked with a G especially. A few other mildly injured people were also waiting. Obviously all the emergency cases had been rushed to the front of the queue and were already being seen to. 4 healers all kitted out in white, wearing hats with green crosses on, came out to see them. One of them was Lily and another was Alice. James could see them both scanning the room looking for the most serious looking injuries.
"James." Lily mouthed when her eyes set on him. She rushed over.
"Oh my gosh! Hunny, are you ok? What happened?"
"I got to fight." He grinned proudly. Lily rolled her eyes.
"Well I gathered that seeing as you're an aurour and your in the special section we marked off for the battle. But what did you have to do? Your not hurt badly are you?" Lily took his hand and led him to a hospital ward, as he explained what he did and what mr crouch had said to him afterwards. She gasped in all the right places. Then Alice came running in.
"James where's Frank? He's ok isn't he? Please tell me hes ok!" She started shaking James not giving him the opportunity to say anything.
"ALICE!" He finally shouted. She calmed down. "He's ok, he was just helping sort through the bodies. I'm sure Crouch will send him in soon." Alice looked relieved and left to carry on with her job. Lily gave James a once over and started diagnosing him.
"Ok so you have quite a bad wound on your chest, it's gone quite deep. I'll have to get a healer to seal it up for you, but I can't promise you won't be left with a scar. Other than that a couple of bruises and a few scratches. You'll be fine." She smiled.
"A scar?!" James asked not listening really to what she had said after. "I'm going to be left with a scar?" Lily grinned at him.
"Now Mr Potter what is wrong with a small scar?"
"It's ugly." He replied.
"Well, I don't know…" She paused thoughtfully. "I think it's kind of attractive, you know, sexy." She said smoothly, choosing her words right. James grinned.
"Oh well maybe it won't be THAT bad then." Lily laughed. "I may even get Peter to like help charm my hair a different colour or something- I'm bound to get a few more scars from that." Lily smiled at him.
"I wouldn't go that far if I was you. One scar is sexy- makes you seem like a war hero or something but too many scars is just saying you want sympathy or something." She said as she charmed his wound, to disinfect it.
"Miss!" Someone from another bed in the room called.
"Ahh I have to go, you'll be alright now. I will be back to check on you soon." She opened the curtain and walked across the room to another bed. James just watched through the gap. Dam she looked hot in her healer uniform. He watched her for about five minutes before turning round.
"Boo." Someone said scaring the life out of him.
"Merlin Sirius! How long have you been standing there?" James said in panic.
"Long enough to wonder what you were staring at." Before James could shut the curtains Sirius peered out. Oh god- not now. James thought. Don't find out now. Sirius looked out to find James' vision directed at a woman in a white dress, bending over someone's bed. He turned back round smiling. Smiling? James thought. That wasn't the reaction he was expecting. Sirius was pleased with him? Only seeing Lily's rear end, Sirius hadn't realised who it was. He had just seen James perving on the nurse in a typical male minded thinking. A woman in a nurse's uniform type thing. That explained the guilt on his face anyway. But the reason Sirius was happy was because this meant James was finally over Lily!
"Ahh cute nurse." He remarked. "Want me to go talk to her for you?" Sirius asked him. James inwardly laughed. He hadn't worked out who it was. "No it's ok Padfoot. I'll just give her the charm of Prongs later when she comes to examine me." This was true James thought. It wasn't as if he was lying.
"Ok," Sirius smiled. "So what you been up to?" he asked.
"Something along the lines of fighting in a battle, being told I'm maybe going to get a promotion and getting sent to hospital." James replied dryly. "You?"
"Ha ha!" Sirius retorted. The boys continued talking and making jokes for a while. At one point Lily was going to re-enter the cubicle, but swiftly turned around when she heard Sirius' voice. She waited until she saw Sirius leave then went in quickly.
"Yeah, he'll be back in a minute. Just went to get a couple of teas for us." James replied.
"He hasn't seen me has he?" She worried.
"No we just about got away with it. He saw me looking at you, but he couldn't have gotten a very good view cause he just thinks I was perving on a nurse."
"Ok good. Well the healer should be in to see you soon. Then you should be able to go. So I'll probably see you at mine tonight?" She said the last bit hopefully.
"Of course. Wear that, I want to have a proper game of doctors and nurses." He said wriggling his eye brows. She slapped him playfully. "Hey careful I'm a wounded soldier."
"Yeah I'll wound you in a minute." She laughed.
"Sounds like fun!" He replied kinkily. "But, Sirius will be back in a minute. We don't want him to catch us yet. So what time do you finish?"
"6. But I may be a bit late- depends if they have the situation sorted out by then. I'll see you later." She kissed him on the forehead and left him smiling.
Ten minutes later, Sirius came back in with two mugs.
"The tea ran out but I got you hot h…" As he looked up, he smiled cheekily. "Merlin Prongs your quick!" He exclaimed.
"What?" James asked.
"Well lets see, I'm gone 15 minutes and I come back to find you grinning from ear to ear like some deranged idiot and with a big lipstick smudge on your head." He started laughing as James blushed crimson wiping furiously at his forehead.
"Don't you dare tell Moony and Wormtail!" he threatened.
"Oh but Prongs this is too good." Sirius laughed harder.
"I'll tell them about you going dress shopping with Andi the other day!"
Sirius sat up suddenly serious. "You wouldn't!" He said ferociously.
"Oh I would." James grinned evilly. Just then the healer came in. So Sirius just stared daggers at James and left at the healer's request.
20 minutes later James left his wound sealed and bandaged. Sirius stood up in the waiting room.
"So where you going now? Want to do something?" He asked his mate.
"Uh no it's ok Padfoot, I can't. I err think… I'm just going to go home and sleep, I'm quite tired after today's work." Sirius looked disappointed so James quickly added. "But I have tomorrow off we can do something then." Sirius brightened up.
"Yeah ok. But it'll be just the 2 of us. Wormtail's working and Moony said something about some werewolf convention."
"Oh ok then. I'll apparate to yours about noon." They shook hands and apperated off to their respective homes. Well Sirius to his own James to Lily's. He was going to surprise her and cook dinner for her, before she returned home.
Lily arrived home that night at 7.30 exactly. She had been worked off her feet and was exhausted.
"James? James are you in?" She cried taking off her jacket. She was still in her work uniform, she hadn't eve had time to change. The day had not only been physically trying but also mentally. She had seen so many people who had been cursed and hexed beyond mentality. They looked horrible- scars all over their bodies, limbs blown off, patches of hair missing- these were the lucky ones. It made her feel grateful that she knew James was all right. And Frank for that matter.
"James?" She called again. James came out of the kitchen wearing her pink frilly apron.
"Dinner will be ready in thirty minutes. Why don't you go upstairs, have a shower and get more comfortable. I'll call you when it's ready." Lily smiled.
"You cooked dinner? You're so sweet." She put her arms around his neck and kissed him softly on the lips. "I'll go up and get changed." James looked her up and down.
"On second thoughts, you don't have to get changed." He grinned wriggling his eyebrows. She smiled sarcastically.
"I'll stay like this if you keep that apron on." She retorted.
"Ok deal. What ever floats your boat." He replied enthusiastically.
"I was joking." She said dryly.
"Ow." He grinned. "Ok go up and get ready." He sighed jokingly. So Lily went up stairs and enjoyed a nice long shower, then put on a smart yet comfortable dress, leaving her hair to dry naturally. She returned downstairs to the lovely smell of a traditional roast dinner, fit with all the trimmings. James greeted her in the hall, he had taken off his apron and was wearing a smart shirt and trousers. He escorted her into the living room where a small table for two (Which he had transfigured) was sitting in the middle. It had a pretty tablecloth, a small vase in the centre with single white rose in and 2 plates of food sat opposite each other. The lights in the room had been dimmed and candles had been lit all around the room.
"Oh James, this is beautiful." She smiled turning to her boyfriend.
"No as beautiful as you." He whispered into her ear. She grinned then started dragging him to the table. He pulled her chair out for her and placed her napkin on her lap.
"This is safe to eat right?" she grinned.
"Do you not want it then?" He mocked picking up her plate.
"NO!" She screamed grabbing her plate. "I was just joking." She smiled. They talked all through dinner, laughing and joking like they used to. Lily felt 100 times better.
"I'll wash up, since you did everything else." She said picking up the plates and walking towards the kitchen.
"NO! That's ok." James said jumping in front of her and taking the plates. "I'll do it. You go and sit down."
"No I'll come and help." James and Lily, fought, James trying to keep lily out of the kitchen. Finally she pushed him out of the day and made her way in. James buried his head in his hands.
"Look Lily, I'm sorry." James apologised. Lily's kitchen wasn't in a very good state. There were dishes everywhere, food on the floor, up the walls all over the surfaces. Knifes and forks scattered over the counters. It looked like a bomb had gone off. "I will tidy it all up." He stuttered. To his dismay Lily started laughing.
"Do you not cook to often James?" She laughed.
"Err no?" He said. "I normally get take away." Lily smiled warmly at him, the turned round, raised her wand and muttered a spell.
"Scorigify." Everything started cleaning it's self and in two minutes flat the room was spotless. James was gobsmacked. He turned to his girlfriend and kissed her.
"You're so clever." He stuttered.
"Yep!" She smiled leading him to her bedroom. She was tired and wanted to sleep. She had work in the morning.
*DING DONG*
"Ahh whats that?" James screamed jumping up in bed. Lily rolled over sleepily.
"It's the doorbell, silly. Answer will you please?" She yawned. James got up still half asleep himself. It was the Saturday morning, he was meeting Sirius to get up to god knows what and Lily was due in at work around midday. The pub didn't open till around then. James' usual Saturday would consist of going and sitting in the hogshead pub, watching Lily wait on people and ordering things at the bar himself- mainly to get to talk to her. He ran down the stairs and answered the door. You would've thought as prior headmaster and teacher to James that Professor Dumbledore would be somewhat suprised that the young man had answered the door of the young woman that he had so publically split with, and in his boxers too. But Dumbledore seemed neither suprissed nor taken back by it.
"Mr Potter, so nice to see you." He said warmly.
"Pr.. Professor Dumbledore. To what do I owe this pleasure?" He came back quickly after the initial shock.
"Well, I wanted to speak to Miss Evans really. This is her place of residence is it not?" He said.
"Yes it is. Do come in, I'll just go get her." He looked down uncomfortably, "And a few more items of clothing, i think." He sat Dumbledore in Lily's living room and ran upstairs.
"Lil" He said softly. Lily was still sleeping. "LILY." No movement. "LILY!"
"Wha... James what is it?" Lily asked sleepily, still not opening her eyes.
"Uh, professor Dumbledore is downstairs waiting to talk to you." He replied.
"Jaaames, stop mucking around." She replied.
"I'm not." He said dryly. Honestly you play a couple of pranks in school and your labled forever more as a joker.
"You're not? YOU'RE NOT?" She jumped out of bed and grabbed a dressing gown to cover up her nightie, and ran down the stairs.
"Professor." She greeted. "To what do I owe this pleasure?" She smiled. Dumbledore smiled back warmly.
"Well I wanted to talk to you about something, seeing as Mr Potter is here with you I would like to talk to him also. It is ever so nice to see that you are once more enjoying each others company." Lily blushed at the professors observations, and luckily was spared an answer by James joining them, now fully clothed. They sat Lily and James hand in hand, facing proffessor Dumbledore.
"Now, as you like many others know, there is a dark lord rising. I heard you both performed admirably the other day when he attacked the underground. I feel I have use for both of you in a little organisation I have started which is designed to work against the dark side." Lily and James looked at each other. "Now I understand that both of you have been affected by the dark lord in past years. And you have both also been aproached by him asking you to join his forces. You are not obligued to join my group, however I know that the dark lord is interested in both of you to join him. You are very powerful individuals and as one you can perform miraculasly. There was a reason that you were chosen to be head boy and girl in your seventh year other then grades. In having declined his positions lord Voldemort will not be pleased, and he will see it fit to desroy you both before your power increases. You feed off each other. Think about my offer. You would be a great asset to our organisation." Lily looked into James' eyes and instantly knew his answer.
"Professor, there is no need. We would be honoured to join your organisation. I wouldn't have wanted my parents to have died in vain. The dark lord almost made me lose everyone I love in my life." James smiled at her.
"Yeah, we want to join." He said.
"No this decision is not one to be taken lightly. By joining you will be putting yourself even more at risk. It will also be an irriversable decision."
"We know, we still wish to join." James said finally.
"Well then, may I be the first to welcome you to the Order of the Phoenix." Dumbledore smiled proudly at two of his finest students. He told them he would contact them when it was safe to and that they would be taken to their first meeting soon.
Dumbledore had given Lily and James quite a bit to think about. The way he had described his secret society, they knew it would be dangerous but the also knew deep in their hearts they were willing to sacrifice all, so other people wouldn't have to go through what they had.
After hi breakfast and a goodbye kiss, James left to hang out with Sirius. Lily tidied up, got showered and ready for work. When she arrived, Archie the manager (An old git) grumbled something about being prepared for a lot of people- that there was to be some kind of meeting to be held. And sure enough at 3 o'clock, people began to pour in. Lily was sure that she had been imagining it, but they all seemed to give off some sort of aura. A familiar aura at that. She was running around like a headless chicken. Pouring Flagons of butter beer, cherry ale- you name it she poured it. It wasn't until a gruff "Heh hem!" was sounded that she looked up. And there staring her stonily in the eyes was none other than Remus Lupin.
"May I help you?" Lily said sweetly, hoping beyond hope that he wouldn't recognise her. She knew it was almost impossible.
"Lily cut the cr^p!" He replied in a very un Remus like voice.
"Ow Remus, how have you been?" She asked, trying a different approach.
"Lily." He replied, she sighed.
"Ok, I'm no good at pretending. How's James?" She gave in. He knew what she (would've) wanted to ask.
"He's doing great, no thanks to you." He said coldly.
"Does he hate me? I wouldn't blame him if he did. I hate myself." she blagged.
"He should." Was the only reply she would get out of Remus.
"Well do you hate me?" Remus paused.
"…no… no lily I don't. I don't understand why you did it, but I know you had your reasons. Maybe when you see James again …"
"NO! You can't tell James where I am!" She almost shouted.
"Why not?" Remus frowned.
"Come on, don't you think it would be harder for him if he knew I was here. It would bring all the memories he was trying to forget back to him."
"Don't you love him any more? Wouldn't you get back together with him?" Remus asked. Lily hated this.
"I… um… no. No I wouldn't." Lily lied. She had a note of finality in her voice.
"Ow, well then I suppose it would be harder for him."
"What brings you here anyway?" Lily asked him.
"Werewolf convention." He said quietly.
"Ohh… so all these people are… you know?" Remus nodded. "Oh cool." She smiled at him.
"Listen I'd love to catch up with you, if you're free when I finish here, around 6?" Remus smiled at her.
"Sure sounds like fun." He thought it would make as a good opportunity to see if she really didn't love James any more.
In Remus' opinion, he still like Lily. She had always been nice to him, she accepted his condition once she got used to it and she had always treated James well. He truly believed that she hadn't meant to break James' heart. Remus always believed he should hear both sides of the story before judging any one situation. And that was what he planned on doing. That was how he would like to be treated, even if it wasn't always returned to him.
"Hey Remus." Lily said as she came through the bar. "How'd your conference go?" She asked. The exited the bar and walked down the road towards a small tearoom.
"It was ok, no new developments. Just a few new laws passed. That's it." Remus shrugged.
"Aw…" Lily said as they sat down. "So what are you doing at the moment, you know work wise?" Remus looked down.
"Well, you see it's almost impossible to find work these days. Me being a werewolf and all." He whispered. He was really in a low these days. Life was treating him rough.
"So… so what have you been doing then?" Lily stammered.
"Just you know, bits and bobs. Earning money where I can."
"Does James know? And Sirius and Remus?" She quickly added.
"No. And I'd prefer that they didn't." Remus said sternly. The last thing he wanted was for them to find out that Moony was broke and jobless.
"Well it's not as if I COULD tell any of them!" She lied. "Where are you living then?" She asked. Remus shuffled his feet. "Remus?"
"Here and there." He sighed.
"Oh Remus!" Lily went over to him and hugged him. "Where are you staying now?"
"At my parents, they'll always have me, but I don't really feel comfortable putting them out." What could she do? This was Remus- one of her boyfriend's best mates, who was to proud to get off his high horse and ask for help. He had never let her down and even now when he should hate her- he didn't. He took the benefit of the doubt and belived that she had a good enough reason to break James' heart. Of course Sirius being James' best mate thought that no reason was good enough and would hate her as long as he could. She did some fast thinking and came up with a rash decision.
"Well it just so happens that I have very little free time these days. I could do with someone to help me by cooking dinners and doing house work. I could do with some company in my little house too. So do you maybe fancy helping me out in exchange of food and board?" Lily smiled.
"Lily, I couldn't." Remus said modestly.
"Come on Remmie it'd be fun!" Remus smiled- he couldn't pass up and opportunity this sweet not whilst he was in dire need of it. But what would James say if he found out?
"But what about James?" He said.
"What about James? Will he ever have to find out?" Remus still looked sceptical. "Come on I know James- he'd rather you have a home then worry about it being with me. It's not as if were in a relationship."
"He may see like that." Lily smiled.
"I'm sure he wouldn't." Something in the way she said that made Remus feel at ease. And made him accept.
"Ok then you've twisted my arm." He gave in.
Lily smiled to herself. One down 2 to go! Of course she'd have to tell James about this new arrangement- but it could be worked around. Godric's hollow was more fun anyway!
The next day, after Lily had talked to James, Remus moved in. James hadn't been happy at first. He felt slightly betrayed, by one of his "So called best mates"- Remus didn't know that James was back with Lily. He was supposed to be siding with James. But once Lily had told him of Remus' desperate circumstances, he soon changed him mind. This was good overall anyway- it meant that when they were ready to reveal their relationship Remus couldn't have any problem with it. Afterall- he was lying to James.
Lily felt guilty for betraying Remus' trust but she knew it was for the best.
Remus only had about a trunk of belongings. He had never really come from a rich family, they were always modest in what they earnt. He took his stuff up to Lily's spare room and unpacked.
"Feel free to redecorate." Lily smiled at him. The room was currently pink, with a cute daisy border- not very manly (Or werewolf like!)
For his transformations, Remus would be going to a pen in a disolect forest, his parents had set up for him many years ago, before Hogwarts. He had been using in ever since he had left. And no matter how busy his fellow Marauders had been, no matter whos bed they had been sleeping in and no matter how far away they were, they still followed him to the pen, they still transformed with him and they were still there for him like the true friends they had always been.
Once Remus had unpacked, Lily took him on a tour of the rest of the house. It didn't take long.
"This is the kitchen, the living room/ dining room, the hall." Remus followed her through the rooms and up the stairs. "Your room, the bathroom and this is my room." She took him in to a mauve room which had a few yellow stars on the wall. It wasn't very tidy, Lily had been true to her word when she had said she wasn't good at cleaning. Just as well that Remus was. On a closer inspection of the room Remus noted that on her shelf, just behind her curtain was a familliar photo frame. He remembered it well, Christmas a few years back, James debating on what to get Lily. Then deciding on a photo frame- a hand made photo frame. One which displayed memories of each step in their relationship. He remembered helping James charm it, he remebered sifting through pictures to help James choose an appropriate on to go in the middle and he remembered James' proud face with the finished item, he was going to send. Lily still had it, she still looked at it. That meant that she WAS still holding on. She may still like him or even love him.
"So what do you think of our house?" Lily asked.
"I love it!" Remus smiled, then went over and hugged Lily, and in a muffled voice he said; "Thank you." She had shown him kindness rivalled with his best mates.