Disclaimer- It would be nice to be a billionaire, but sadly I'm not, so I don't own anything you recognize. You won't be coming back
And I didn't get to say goodbye
I really wish I got to say goodbyeAnd I'm sure the view from heaven
Beats the hell out of mine here
'The View From Heaven', Yellowcard
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"...And although they cannot be here with us anymore in person they will forever remain present in our hearts as spirits." The priest finally put an end to his sorrowful speech with that last vow. The graveyard slowly began to thin its active human presence, as people began to amble back to their cars.
There, surrounded by many beings both alive and dead, she'd never felt so alone. She supposed she could walk away too, like everyone else who attended the sermon, but where to? In front of her were the people who had fed, clothed, and unconditionally loved her all her life. Now what? Was she expected to shed a few tears and walk on through her life like it was going to be all right? Because it wasn't, that much she definitely knew, because upon returning from her sixth year at school Lily Evans stumbled upon some rather appalling news.
There had been a massacre, a slaughter of muggles, at Kings Cross-Station. As soon as the Hogwart's Express turned up to the station, she knew there was something wrong. Out the window there was Wizards pulling out there wands and disappariting by the second, frantic mothers calling out to their children on the train, Ministry Officials looking frazzled and rushing up to meet the train looking anxious to explain the mayhem.
The conductor made a solemn announcement over the train, there was an active attack on the Muggle side of the station and all students would remain perfectly safe in their compartments until the Ministry had fully dealt with it. By the look of the Officials, it looked like they hadn't even began to assess it, let alone deal with it.
Fear coursed through her blood, her parents were out there, defenseless. She prayed that somehow they had been late, their car broke down, their train was late, but no. Lily would never have such luck. She was told her mother went first, it was painless for her, they had explained like it made an honest difference instead of it being a useless act of comfort. Then her father, like the true selfless being he was-, had been, like he had been jumped in front of a fatal curse to save an Auror.
She didn't know whether to feel proud or angry with her father for this action.
The redhead shook her head finally letting the tears fall that she had promised herself would not come today. A terribly cold hand was unexpectedly placed upon her shoulder causing Lily to recoil. Whoever it was, she wasn't seeking any comfort.
'Died as true hero's you know, both of 'em did,' A gruff voice filled her ears. Turning to meet the intruder of her wallowing, she almost blanched. She regained composure quickly, ashamed of her immediate distaste, and had the decency to nod at least.
Lily bet the man had more scars on his face than he could recall, but could probably retell every battle in which receiving them. He wore his experience well though, in a sort of uncut stern fashion, vanity was clearly not an object to him.
Although his sudden appearance and state seemed to catch Lily of guard she knew who he was. Alastor Moody was one of the highest ranking, best aurors in the field, and just by looking at him you could certainly tell why. He had made many said sacrifices for his job, including an eye.
'Miss Evans, I am truly sorry to interrupt your state of grieving, but there is some one who wants to meet you urgently.' Lily suddenly wondered if this was a trick. Would a death eater sink as low to pose as another?
'Your card?' she said blankly, one eyebrow raised, inquiring he show her proof of his said identity.
A wry grin covered his face. 'Always on your toes, are you Evans,' a question not really aimed to be answered, "We could use more like you down at the department. Constant vigilance, that's what I always say."
Lily studied his card for a moment, which lay in his hand, complete with the official Ministry seal. She should ask where they were going or whom they were seeing, but at that moment, she couldn't make herself care.
The Auror Department of the Ministry consisted of a hallway with many small offices branched off of it. Lily followed Moody patiently until his quiet uneven footsteps ceased. He opened the door quickly and the name on the front of it blurred before it fully reached her eyes. Inside she could make out a man talking in a stressful tone to a face in the fireplace. This office was clearly bigger than the rest in the wing.
'No, no, you have to run it in the paper, the people should be aware of the events....' The man became quickly alert of the presence in his room and sighed, ending the argument. 'Well I think Bagstrode is making a mistake, yes alright, I'll be in touch...'
The man quickly swiveled around to meet his company. 'Ah, Lily Evans, I am very glad to see you,' the man attempted a smile but it immediately dies on his lips, and they were set once again in a grim line. 'What dire circumstances we must meet under though. Have a seat,' he said gesturing to a leather chair adjacent to his desk.
Lily's eyes widened, even if she hadn't seen him frequently decking the pages of the Daily Prophet, she would have recognized him instantly, simply by lineage. There was only one family tree where those eyes and that hair were practically trademark-
'Potter.'
'Actually I prefer Harold, but I s'pose if you favor Potter, I wouldn't entirely mind that either.' Lily was immediately chagrin at her slip, after all although he was responsible for the spawn of a prat; he was still the Head of the Department of Aurors.
Mr.Potter turned to his other, momentarily forgotten, guest and nodded. It must have been Moody's cue to leave because a second later he was shutting the door behind him, leaving a very uncomfortable Lily behind.
Mr.Potter stared at her intently, 'I have to say, my son does you little justice in his description of you, I'd hardly call your hair a mango color.' Lily immediately blushed wondering what other horrid stories James had sprung to his father about her.
'Well, sir,' she added to be respectful, 'I don't think your son has quite grasped the concept of the names of colors yet, or anything else above the pre-school level of learning.'
Mr.Potter grinned with vast amusement, and Lily realized how seldom he must have laughed these days. The humor was short lived though because it quickly faded from his face.
'Miss Evans,' he said sternly making eye contact with her, 'the real reason I asked you here was to inquire you on your living conditions?'
Lily was thrown off and at a loss for words, in truth, she wasn't even sure about it. She didn't think Petunia would house her for much longer, her and her lumpy husband could barely stand the sight of her.
Her speechlessness provoked Mr.Potter to go further, 'Am I falsely under the impression, that currently, you are without a definite place of residence?'
'No sir, you are correct.'
'Well then, it's settled,' he said a bright smile coming over his face. Lily frowned and furrowed her eyebrows, confused. What was?
'Excuse me?'
'I won't have you out on the street, and I refuse to see you in a muggle foster home. You'd have to attend a muggle school while you should be in Hogwarts. It would be a terrible waste of talent.'
'Sir, you couldn't be suggesting-'
'You will stay at Potter Manor for the remainder of the summer.'
'You can't be serious!' Lily exclaimed, forgetting her manners. This was some kind of sick joke, right? She'd bet anything right then that Potter had somehow set this up. Him and his quartet of mayhem were behind this.
'Oh, but I am entirely serious Miss Evans, I owe you-'
'You don't owe me anything, I don't want any kind of charity.'
'But I do owe you Miss Evans, or at least I owe your father, my life.' A pained, guilty expression came over his face. There was pity in his face, but Lily didn't want it.
She was shocked; he was the Auror her father had saved. Well, this was certainly ironic. Her father saved her sworn enemie's father, it really is a small world after all. Could he tell she had spent many sleepless nights wishing it were he instead of her father? Did he know that she had, indirectly, wished him death? She swallowed guiltily.
'I can't accept this offer Sir.'
'It is an offer you can't refuse Lily, your sister has already signed the papers making me and my wife, Helen, your legal guardians,' he said softly, guiltily. 'She couldn't do that soon enough.'
'But what about James?' Lily asked, her defense crumbling around her.
Mr.Potter's brows furrowed slightly, 'James will not mind-' Want to bet? '-he is very excited to know that you are coming.' Lily could see the lie behind the statement, clearly, James hadn't been told yet.
Mr.Potter, however, ignored her raised eyebrows and continued, 'Moody will escort you to your sister's house to pick up your belongings, and take you by floo to Potter Manor.
' I am very grateful for what your father did for me, he was a hero, and I'll understand completely if you resent me for it. He showed me that there is still good left in the world. But I just want you to know that I'm not only doing this to repay him, this if for you too, it's what is best for you.' He looked very deeply into her eyes and spoke slowly in a compassionate way towards her.
Crystal Drops began to grace her face, 'I suppose it wouldn't do much to tell you that I snore very loudly in my sleep?' Lily said meekly. Shedding away the sobriety of the moment.
Mr.Potter laughed, suddenly alive with humor again. 'Like a snowballs chance in hell Lily.'
To say that Lily Evans and James Potter hated each other might have been the understatement of the century. The truth was the simply loathed the sight of one another to a point where the animosity between them was practically tangible.
This happened to be one of many reasons Lily was nervous about going to the Potter's. Nevertheless, she found herself standing in front of a fireplace ready to leave her sister's unwelcome abode, and go to a new unwanted home.
Petunia was conveniently absent for the occasion of Lily's departure, as was Vernon. With Moody behind, her she was trapped. She felt as if she was running the gauntlet line making her way to the fireplace, every second she felt worse than the last.
'Lets get this over with Evans. Going slower isn't going to make it not come,' Moody grunted from behind her in an impatient voice. Lily rolled her eyes; he had the Auror's curse of anxiousness.
Taking the floo powder in one hand, and her bag in the other, she felt like the enormous sense of dread that had been building up in her stomach was about to explode. It really hit her then, in less then five minutes she was going to be living with Potter. She felt weird, like she was betraying herself by entering her archenemy's headquarters. As if her life wasn't terrible enough, she had a nagging feeling it was about to get a whole lot worse.
Reluctantly, after being threatened by Moody several times (and finally his wand), she finally threw the powder down and said, 'Potter Manor.' In a flash her world was a blur, then the spinning stopped and she looked up to see a black haired figure standing over her. Welcome Home.
Alright, honestly I'm kind of unsure about this whole story. It really depends on what kind of response I get, as to whether I continue. Your feed back is much appreciated, good or bad. Thanks
P.S. If my grammar and spelling royally suck, I'm really sorry, it's really not my best area...at all.