Harry ran to Dumbledore as Dumbledore returned. He wasn't the only one to look anxiously. Half the Order had come back to Grimmauld place. The news of Lily's sudden leave had spread so fast it was amazing.
"What's happening?" James asked anxiously. Jenny had finished healing him up and he was probably the most anxious person there was. "Where is she?"
"At Godric's Hollow." Dumbledore said, "Or returning there."
"Why isn't she there already?" Harry asked. Dumbledore sighed and looked at the crowd in the kitchen.
"Everyone. I am afraid we have lost another member of the order. No one is to use magic in the presence of Lily Potter nor talk about it. She has decided to cut any communications with the wizarding world with the exception of her family and her closest friends" Dumbledore announced. He turned to James. "I'm sorry James, it was her decision. I tried to talk her out of it. The only thing she would keep was her wand." Harry looked at Emma. Emma's jaw dropped and she looked Harry shocked.
"How could mum do this to us?" Emma asked. "She promised me she wouldn't do anything if I didn't do anything!" Harry didn't respond. He thought for a few moments before grabbing Emma's wrist and heading to the living room.
"What are you doing?" Emma asked as Harry loosened a floor board and pulled out a small bag.
"Floo powder." Harry said. He looked at the fire in the hearth.
"What? But that's illegal!" Emma hissed at him.
"Oh, and you're one for following the rules?" Harry said, "If mum's given up magic, she'll be the first to go. I can't lose mum. I can't lose anyone close to me," Emma nodded and took the first pinch of Floo Powder.
"Godric's Hollow house at Godric's Hollow." Emma said before throwing the powder into the fire. The flames turned a slightly acrid green. She uncertainly stepped into them. Harry followed suit and landed on top of Emma in their living room at Godric's Hollow. They heard a door opening and their mum entering the house. Harry and Emma scrambled to their feet.
"Mum!" Harry shouted. Lily looked into the living room with a frown.
"What-"
"You can't leave us. Not now, mum, please come back." Emma begged. "PLEASE!!" Lily looked slightly startled as Emma hugged her tightly.
"I'm not leaving you, I'm just not using magic." Lily stammered as she pulled Emma off her.
"That means you're as good as dead, please mum!" Harry said, "we'll do anything, I'll train harder, I need you to teach me occlumency!"
"You never try anyway Harry." Lily said, "I'm sorry, I just can't cope with it anymore."
"Does that mean you don't love us?" Emma asked, crossing her arms. "Because you hate everything to do with magic and we're magic, so you hate us." Lily sighed and pulled Harry and Emma to her.
"I love both of you, I just can't handle the pressure that I have with Magic." Lily said. "I said this once before when I was nearly twenty-one, I wanted out. After I knew what being a member of the order meant I didn't want to be one any more. I'll always be your mother though, Just look at me as a Muggle mother." Lily said hopefully. Emma's jaw dropped again and Harry looked at her in an expression between amazement and shock
"You can't be a muggle!" Emma said, "You're magic through and through, you can't be a muggle!"
"You just said that." Lily said quietly.
"Why?" Emma asked. "Why can't you just-"
"LILY!" James shouted as he apparated into the house.
"He sounds angry." Harry said with a frown. James stormed into the room and looked at Lily. Emma and Harry moved aside to watch their parents. James didn't even seem to notice their presence.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING??" James shouted at Lily. "Do you want to kill yourself?" Emma held onto Harry's arm in shock.
"James, you've known how I've felt about this since the beginning." Lily said.
"I didn't know it was this big." James said. "Just come back and everything will be safe and alright. We can get you back in the order" James said, his tone getting gentler
"I'm not going back into the Order James. If you want me to come back then leave the order." Lily said crossing her arms. James looked at her.
"You're joking right?" He asked.
"No, I'm not James. Leave the order or I'm not using my wand again." Lily said sternly.
"After everything we've been through you're going to discard everything just like that!" James asked, clicking his fingers.
"Yes James, everything except the Children and you." Lily said, "But I can't live the way we do, in hiding all day, every day. The children don't have the chance to be proper teenagers because of the order and all the shit that's going on around them." Emma and Harry glanced at each other uncertainly.
"She has a point." Emma muttered to Harry.
"You know it's for their safety. As for growing up, there's always after Harry defeats Voldemort." James said. Lily shook her head at James.
"I can't believe you James. Don't you remember when we grew up, the freedom we had then. The things we were able to do that Harry and Emma don't have the chance to do all because we're members of this fucking order!" Lily asked. "I don't want the family living like that."
"It's too late Lily. Look, we can smooth all this out, you can come back into the order or you don't have to, just come back into the magical world." James said "Harry and Emma need you at Hogwarts and I need you-"
"I'll always be here James." Lily said, "It's not like I'm divorcing you I'm still your wife."
"You've effectively divorced me." James mumbled. Emma inclined her head to agree with her dad.
"I would never do such a thing." Lily said, "I love you James, I really do, but I can't live knowing that any member of our family will or can die at any moment, when Voldemort wishes it to be so." James looked at Lily.
"No, I don't think you can just give up magic just like that. You depend on it too much." James said.
"I was a Muggle once James, I can be a muggle again." Lily said, "It's not something that's hard to forget."
"You still won't be able to do it." James said. Lily looked at him defiantly.
"Watch me Potter." Lily said as she walked past James and left the living room. James looked vaguely shocked.
"What did you call me?" James asked turning around to face Lily. Lily turned in the doorway and smiled at James.
"Nothing dear." Lily said with a smile before heading for the kitchen. By this time Harry and Emma's mouths were nearly touching the floor they were so shocked and surprised by the argument between their parents. James looked like he was trying to control some kind of emotion. Emma looked at Harry uncertainly.
"Um, dad, are you ok?" Harry asked carefully. James looked at the two.
"What are you two doing here? Get back to Grimmauld place." James said, making a portkey for them.
"Mum will cool off after a while." Emma said.
"Get back to Grimmauld place" James said. Emma and Harry stayed silent until they got back to Grimmauld place. Emma looked at Harry uncertainly again.
"Do you think mum and dad will split u-" Emma started to say but Harry cut her off.
"You even finish that sentence and I will hex you." Harry said. "Nothing will happen to them." Emma nodded uncertainly but Harry gave her a hug. Emma really looked like she needed one.
Hermione sat and watched Harry and Ron playing each other at Wizarding chess. Ron was winning due to the simple fact that Rhia was sitting on Harry's back and whispering random little things into his ear. Ron didn't mind at all, it meant that Harry lost again. Hermione rolled her eyes as she read her book on Ron's bed.
"Take his pawn." Rhia whispered as she moved to lie on top of Harry's back. Harry looked at Ron with a slight look of discomfort. Ron smirked and looked at Rhia.
"Um, I don't want to sound rude but why aren't you with Emma?" Ron asked.
"She's braiding Kaylee's hair." Rhia answered simply.
"But we're going to school tomorrow" Hermione asked, glancing up from her book.
"Uh huh." Rhia said, "And she doesn't feel like talking. She's still depressed about Lily."
"Aren't we all?" Harry muttered. Rhia hugged Harry from behind and kissed his cheek. Ron moved his queen and check mated Harry's king.
"HA!" Ron said. "I win again."
"Only because Rhia was distracting me" Harry said. He turned and pulled Rhia onto his lap as he moved into a sitting position.
"Hermione is just there!" Ron said pointing to Hermione.
"But was I whispering things in your ear." Hermione said cheekily.
"No." Ron said. "Hm…" Harry looked at Ron curiously.
"What?" He asked.
"You heard from your mum?" Ron asked.
"Of course, April and Jenny went to see her last night. She's going to be at Kings Cross." Harry said with a smile.
"I wonder why she just suddenly gave up magic, just like that." Hermione said closing her book and laying on her front on the bed. She hung her arms over Ron's shoulders and linked her fingers. "I never thought she'd just…up and leave." Hermione said.
"It's a bit of morale killer." Rhia said. Harry stayed silent. He had secretly vowed to try and work a bit harder for his mum's sake. She had given up magic because of him, he knew that. She couldn't take the pressure of memories. Harry still had one or two memories from before Voldemort had attacked him. They weren't very clear but they were almost all of his parents being stressed or aggravated. Even in his childhood the after effects of Lord Voldemort's defeat had it's repercussions.
"She's just fed up. She'll come back." Harry said quietly. "I just have to make sure no one gets killed or hurt."
"It's not your fault if someone does get hurt or killed." Hermione said. "Tell him Ron." Ron nodded his agreement.
"It's not like you have control over the universe mate." Ron said. Harry shrugged.
"DINNER!" Molly Weasley shouted up the stairs.
"We better go" Harry said getting up. He held Rhia in his arms and refused to let her stand on her own. Rhia gave into being held and put her head against his chest. "You two coming?" Harry asked.
"Yep." Ron said getting to his feet. Hermione reluctantly let go of Ron and then got up for herself. The four left the room and Harry final let Rhia stand for herself just outside the kitchen. He put his arm around her waist and held her rather closely. Rhia smiled at him and they went into the kitchen. Sirius watched them rather carefully, he still didn't seem to trust Harry. Harry gave him a smile and sat down between Ron and Rhia. Emma came in next with Ginny and the twins. Half of Kaylee's head had been braided and it didn't look that bad.
"Hermione, how do I look?" Kaylee said tugging on Hermione's sleeve. Hermione looked at her vaguely surprised.
"Absolutely beautiful." Hermione said, deciding to keep the young girl amused. Hermione sat down with Ron and Harry. As they began eating soft conversation started to be exchanged across the table. Harry thought about returning to school and the protection it would offer him. He only wished that his mum was returning as nurse. He thought about his dreams that had plagued him for a while. He had decided he would tell Dumbledore once he got to school but that would mean he wouldn't be able to look for the book in the library, he was sure that once he told Dumbledore of the dream his freedom would become more limited. He knew that the book had something to do with the veil, that much he was certain of. There was something in that book to do with it but what the name of the book and its contents were unknown to him. Harry started to attention when he felt Rhia touch his hand. He turned to look at her. She frowned at him slightly.
"Are you ok?" She asked. Harry smiled and kissed her cheek.
"Sorry just thinking." Harry muttered.
"That's never good." Rhia mused. Harry smiled.
"I know." Harry said before going back to his food. It seemed different and wrong to be having dinner without his mum at the table. His dad wasn't there either and a neither was Jenny or April.
"Where's Dad?" Harry asked.
"Some stuff at the ministry" Sirius said.
"Like…" Orion said waving a hand, wanting more information.
"Like stuff that isn't your business." Sirius snapped. Orion started slightly and looked at Rhia. Rhia shrugged. Harry turned to Hermione and Ron.
"When you have time I want to tell you something." Harry whispered to Hermione, "Tell Ron." Hermione nodded and turned to Ron. Harry continued to eat but noticed Rhia looking at him strangely.
"What?" Harry asked. Rhia shrugged.
"You seem really distant." Rhia said.
"I'm just a little distracted at the moment." Harry said, he decided that he couldn't really finish his dinner, his appetite had left him. "May I go Mrs. Weasley?" Harry asked.
"Aren't you going to finish your dinner?" She asked.
"I'm not hungry, and I've got a few things I have to pack before I go back to school" Harry said. Molly nodded and let him go. He left the room with a confused look from Rhia. Harry sat in his room and threw his last few things into his trunk. He picked up a sheaf of Parchment with his quidditch plans on them. He had spent a few days with Ron coming up with them to keep his mind off the rift that had developed between his parents. He was just putting them away when the door opened and Ron came in closely followed by Hermione.
"Lock the door, I don't want anyone else to hear this." Harry said. Hermione turned around and turned the key in the lock.
"What is it?" Ron asked. Harry scowled slightly and sat down on his bed.
"Um, well, a few nights ago, I had this dream-" Harry started. He waited while Hermione sat next to Ron. Harry noticed vaguely how Hermione seemed to lean into him and hold his hand, he was pleased that they were getting closer.
"Was it a dream from Voldemort?" Ron asked.
"I don't know, let me just finish this." Harry said. He explained to them everything except the fact that the grave had been his own grave. He didn't want them to get more anxious then they already looked.
"Have you told Dumbledore?" Hermione said straight away.
"I'm going to tell him at school, at least I'll have some degree of privacy there." Harry said, "Here he'd probably get the Order to assemble and they'd go and do some stuff, exclude us again."
"The order will do stuff anyway." Ron said. Harry nodded.
"Yeah, I know. What do you think it means. I've had the dream going into the library before but I don't know what it means." Harry said. Ron frowned slightly then held up a hand.
"We must consult Trelawny!" He said. Ron suddenly looked sober. "You will die a horrible death! You see the Veil, it is DEATH!!" Ron said dramatically. Ron and Harry started laughing while Hermione scowled.
"That isn't funny!" Hermione said, "I mean what if it was Harry's gravestone. It would make sense if Rhia was over it. You know Harry and Rhia are like inseparable." Harry looked at Hermione.
"It could easily be Emma's Grave" Ron said, "But that isn't a reassuring thought." Harry shifted uncomfortably.
"But why would it make an emphasis on Rhia being there?" Hermione asked.
"Because Rhia and Emma are like sisters"
"Oh please, don't say that, it's kinda disturbing." Harry said.
"Sorry, but it's true, it could easily be Emma's grave, or even Orion, Sirius, April, any of our graves!" Ron said.
"No, I don't think it is." Hermione said. She looked straight into Harry's eyes. "You know that if you see your own death or something that signifies your death in your dreams it means you're probably going to die." She said seriously.
"Merlin Hermione! You're beginning to sound like Trelawny." Ron said.
"He has a point." Harry said, though he completely believed Hermione. He knew exactly what that bit of his dream meant. "Will you guys help me find the book in my dreams?" He asked. Hermione and Ron frowned slightly.
"Are you sure that's a good idea mate?" Ron asked.
"I won't understand what it means until I find that book." Harry said, "What else can I do?"
"Tell Dumbledore and let him take care of things." Hermione said simply. Harry didn't know what to say. That would be the most logical thing to do but he knew that he couldn't just leave it up to the adults. Hermione and Ron sat in silence for a while and then Ron shrugged. Hermione sighed.
"Alright, we'll help you." She said
"We will?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, besides, it could be…interesting" Hermione said though she looked sceptical.
"Thanks." Harry said with a smile.
"If it'll help defeat Voldemort!" Ron said optimistically.
"Now…Rhia isn't here, how about a game of Chess?" Harry asked. Ron grinned.
"Bring it on Potter!" He said.
"Weasley." Harry acknowledged. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Boys." She muttered as she let Ron get up to get his chess set
"Where's Mum?" Emma asked James.
"I don't know" James muttered.
"Where is she?" Emma demanded, "You said she'd be here!"
"Look Emma, I haven't spoken to her for a week now!" James snapped. "I don't know where she is." Emma started and retreated to Rhia.
"Oh my god." She said slightly scared.
"It's ok, Oh look, there's Kara." Rhia said. She pointed to where their friend was buying a cookie from one of the food stores in the station. Rhia and Emma hurried over to her. Harry watched them and scanned the station for his mum's red hair, it was what marked her out. He looked at Hermione and Ron slightly concerned.
"She'll be here, she did promise you didn't she?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded and looked towards the station entrance where he saw his mum walking in with April. They were laughing and walked over.
"Mum!" Harry said happily.
"Heya." She said. She gave Harry a very quick hug. "Where's Emma?" She asked.
"Eating." James said. Lily looked at James and gave him a quick smile.
"How have you been?" Lily asked.
"I've been better." James said coldly.
"Ok, now that we've had this happy reunion." April said coming between Lily and James. "What's the time?"
"They have another half an hour." Sirius said looking at April with a smile. April smiled back and looked at Kaylee and Jessie, who were offering a passing muggle man what looked suspiciously like a canary cream.
"Sirius." April sighed. "Must you let your children out of your sight?" April said as she walked to Kaylee and Jessie.
"What?" Sirius asked cluelessly. Ginny chuckled and wondered off to find her own friends. Bo found Katie Bell as she passed by. He said a quick bye to his mum before following Katie. Harry stayed with his parents for a while longer. He was intensely of the awkwardness between them. There was also a tension that he'd never sensed before.
"So how's the muggle life?" James asked Lily in an effort to break the silence between them.
"Very good actually, I don't have to worry about whether I'm using the right spell or anything." Lily said with a smile. James simply glared at her.
"I still don't understand how you could leave me for that!" James said. Lily sighed.
"I haven't left you." Lily said, "I just don't want to use Magic any more." She said quietly. Harry watched his parents anxiously.
"Then why do you say that so quietly, are you ashamed of it?" James asked.
"No, there are muggles around." Lily said.
"I thought you had given up Magic and yet you still call them muggles. And you still abide by some of our laws." James said shaking his head. He sounded as though he was making fun of Lily.
"Excuse me?" Lily asked, "You are so immature James. You know what will happen if I tell anyone about magic." She said.
"No but you've given up your wand, it must be on it's way to the land fill sites by now." James said. Lily crossed her arms.
"Actually, it's in my dresser." Lily said. "Just in case I ever happen to need it again."
"So you haven't given up magic." James said. Lily looked at him annoyed.
"I have, I just put it there in case. I made a few promises to my friends and that was one of them. If April and Jenny hadn't convinced me to keep my wand it would be in a landfill site by now!" Lily said, her voice level was rising slowly.
"Oh, and that's a bad thing?" James said, "Look, just come back to our world, the one you're used to and I'll forget about you leaving me." He said. Lily's mouth dropped open.
"Leaving you?! I told you I haven't left you!" Lily snapped, "Our bedroom door is always open for you to come, just because I don't live at Grimmauld place doesn't mean I've left you. I just prefer to live where the temptation to use magic is less." Lily said. James took a few deep breaths and looked at Lily.
"No, you left me. The moment you decided to give up magic you left me." He said almost hatefully.
"Everything revolves around you doesn't it James Potter?" Lily asked. "You always things revolve around you, not everything is about you James." James moved closer to Lily.
"This isn't about me, it's about us." James said
"You're the one who said we've split up, not me. I told you I'm still your wife, I always have been and always will be but it was you that made the assumption James just because you see me leaving magic as a weakness to your position. It's all about you! You haven't changed at all! Not since school." Lily said.
"I'm not worried about me, I'm worried about you, giving up magic is not safe." James said, "Especially from you." Harry pushed between his parents.
"Mum, Dad please!" Harry said, "Leave this to another time, not here." He begged. He caught glimpse of Draco Malfoy strutting through the station.
"Alright." James said. "You're right, not here." He glared at Lily. Lily returned his glare and then looked away. Harry looked worriedly between his parents.
"I'm going to go with Hermione and Ron to the train, Are you coming?" Harry asked.
"Of course." Lily said, "Come on." She said. She led the way forwards. Harry looked at James and was about to turn when James started talking to him.
"Work hard ok, try and build up your strength and power, you don't know when you'll next meet Voldemort." He said quietly. "I have to go, I can't stand to be around your mum any longer." Harry frowned.
"Dad, why do you think that she's split up with you, she's just given up magic, it's nothing that big." Harry asked.
"It's complicated but basically she's given up magic, and all my life pretty much revolves around magic, I'm magic born, all my ancestors were magical. It feels like she's rejecting me as well. But I'll talk to you about it soon. Just work hard at everything ok." James said. Harry nodded and James left to find somewhere to apparate from. Harry ran to catch up with his friends and his mum.
A/N:-HELLOOOOO everyone. This is not the end of my break but i'm getting paranoid. I had this chapter for like...months now and then last weekend my computer completely crashed and I cant get into windows, so I've pretty much everything i've written since last July, as well as my holiday photos and ALL my revision notes and school work that i had on my computer. It's soo annoying but fortunately i'd sent this to Kaylee and she sent it back to me (being the LOVERLY person that she is) and so i thought i'd post it before i lost anymore. Thanks for all your reveiws. Dunno when i'll have time to start writing again because i'm so busy at the moment and dying of anxiousness. It's that time of my life when i apply to universities and I'll be hearing from the university that i REALY REALLY REALLY wanna go to today or tomorrow. So you know, gotta get myself ready for rejection. That just makes being accepted twice as sweet. n e wayz, moral of thisA/N is tht i dunno when i'll be able to update again but thanks for ALL your suport. Love you all