Chapter 51 The Tables Turn
Lily studied Snape covertly, glancing at him from under her lashes. He didn't seem at all well; Snape's already sallow complexion was even more pale and sickly, as though he hadn't been out in the sun or eaten properly since graduating from Hogwarts. His hair was disheveled and unwashed, his pupils bloodshot, and the circles under his eyes were deeply etched. All in all, Snape looked like he'd been through hell.
Lily had never been more shocked in her life than she had been when she encountered Snape at the small Muggle shop where she went to buy fizzy drinks and Muggle sweets and to pick things up after work. Lily couldn't have imagined anything more incongruous than the sight of Snape standing outside of that ordinary little shop, his black cloak billowing round him, his hood shading his face.
And asking for her help, no less. "What do you want with Professor Dumbledore?" Lily had asked him warily, feeling the familiar nausea curling in her stomach.
"I need to talk to him," Snape spoke softly and glanced over his shoulder. It reminded Lily of a bad spy film, but somehow she wasn't quite inclined to laugh.
"Well, you could always send him an owl," Lily suggested as casually as possible, her mind spinning with possibilities. "He's probably at Hogwarts for the Christmas holidays."
Snape regarded Lily coldly. "I am not in a position to run the risk of that owl being intercepted," he said rigidly.
Lily simply nodded as though this had confirmed her suspicions. Scowling slightly, Lily ran through all of the courses open to her. Taking Snape home to her own flat was out of the question; if James were to come in and find Severus Snape in his house, he was very likely to hex first and ask questions later. Nor was she eager to involve any of their other friends in her deception, because there was little doubt in Lily's mind that this encounter with Snape would have to remain a secret. And it probably wouldn't do Snape any good to be seen with her either. But Lily didn't want to go anywhere too private, just in case this did in fact turn out to be some sort of Death Eater trap.
"All right," Lily said finally, coming to a decision. She slung her handbag over her shoulder once more. "We need to go to the Hog's Head."
Snape raised a brow in inquiry, wondering why she was taking him to Hogsmeade's dodgiest pub to meet Dumbledore. But Lily merely smiled, deciding not to enlighten Snape further until she had a better grasp of the situation.
Following the Order's protocol for an emergency situation, Lily had asked the barman in the Hog's Head to get a message to Dumbledore. The barman had eyed her narrowly for a moment, then grunted in assent and started off toward the corridor, motioning to them to follow.
And here they were, staring at each other across a table in a private room in the Hog's Head, waiting for Dumbledore to arrive.
Lily shifted a bit in her seat as a wave of dizziness washed over her. Reaching into her handbag, she removed the fizzy drink she'd bought earlier, popped the tab on the can, and took a fortifying gulp. Snape eyed the drink warily as though suspecting that Lily was about to turn into a bat and fly away through the window to summon Dumbledore herself.
"Want some?" Lily asked, resisting the impulse to keel over and pretend to go into convulsions, though it was tempting to find out how Snape would react if she did.
Snape just glared at Lily, apparently deciding not to dignify her question with a response. Note to self: in future, don't make the mistake of assuming Snape must have a sense of humour, Lily grumbled to herself, sipping her drink again.
After what seemed like an interminable amount of time, the door swung open to admit Professor Dumbledore, swathed in a voluminous hooded cloak and wearing a very concerned expression.
"Lily," Dumbledore said, his voice as mild and pleasant as ever despite his concern. "And Severus. What an unexpected and pleasant surprise. Are you both all right?"
"Certainly, Professor," Lily replied, giving him her most reassuring smile.
"I didn't harm Evans, Professor," Snape said stiffly. "I simply asked her to arrange a meeting with you."
"I never assumed that you did Lily any harm, Severus," Dumbledore replied calmly. "What is it that you wish to speak to me about?"
"Perhaps I'll just wait outside," Lily suggested, rising.
"No," Snape waved her back to her seat. "You have a right to hear this as well." He took a deep breath, clearly fortifying himself for whatever he was about to say. "I know about the Order of the Phoenix," he said finally. "And so does the - the Dark Lord. He has a spy within the Order."
Lily glanced at Dumbledore excitedly, but Dumbledore's attention was focused on Snape. "We are aware that there is a spy, Severus," Dumbledore said in the tone Lily remembered well from her Hogwarts days as the one he used when he was determined to get to the bottom of something. "Why are you telling us this?"
"Because you were right," Snape said wearily. "You were right about my – loyalties. And about the Dark Lord and his cause." He shut his eyes briefly, not noticing the intent faces of his audience.
"I can't do it anymore," Snape said abruptly, looking at Dumbledore again. "I cannot pretend to an allegiance that doesn't exist any longer. Merlin knows, I have tried to remain loyal, to do what was asked of me and to uphold traditions that have gone on for centuries, to take the responsibilities that are mine. But I cannot pretend to agree with it any longer, the attacks and torture and killings........."
Snape's voice faltered, and his eyes were far away for a moment, as if he were reliving horrors Lily and Dumbledore couldn't see. He snapped out of it quickly, shaking his head as though to dislodge the images there.
Lily stood up again. "I think I ought to leave the pair of you alone now," she said quietly. Her eyes were more brilliant than usual, as though there might be tears in them, but plainly Lily didn't want anyone to know if there were or not. "I'll wait outside if – well, I'll wait."
For several seconds after the door shut behind Lily, there was no noise in the room. Then Snape began to talk, saying more than he had ever said to anyone in his life.
He spilled it all out, the interest Voldemort had taken in him and the others because of their talents and families, his encounters with Lily Evans and his role in discovering and preventing the attack on Dumbledore and the Wizengamot. Snape confessed about his mission to find the Death Eater spy and Bellatrix's belief that Lily and Dorcas were to blame for Snape's actions, his research for Voldemort and the attacks in Cornwall. He told Dumbledore everything about his involvement with the Death Eaters all the way up to the Prewetts' murder.
"That was the incident that - ended it for me," Snape explained, his voice hoarse now from much unaccustomed speech. "When Fabian – recognized me, I knew I couldn't do it anymore."
"I used to believe it was a lack in me, my aversion to Muggle-baiting and killing," Snape continued, growing detached. "Perhaps it is, but either way, I can't reconcile myself with it any longer."
"Humanity is never a lack, Severus," Dumbledore said quietly. His eyes were as mild and fathomless as ever, which was a distinct relief to Snape; he'd been expecting to see revulsion and hatred there. "Do not blame yourself for possessing it when others didn't."
With a slight flick of his wand, the Headmaster conjured a carafe of water and a glass, pushing both toward Snape. "The Order will protect you," Dumbledore went on as Snape sipped at the water. "You will go into hiding –"
"No." Snape cut Dumbledore off, his tone hard.
"Hiding is the only possible way of keeping yourself at least somewhat safe, Severus," Dumbledore explained smoothly, ignoring Snape's curt attitude.
"I did not come here asking for shelter under your wing, Professor," Snape replied stiffly. "I've come here to offer myself to you as a spy."
There was a momentary pause as Snape's words rang through the room; it seemed, Snape thought with a trace of humour, that someone had at last succeeded in surprising the great Albus Dumbledore.
"I cannot allow you to take such a risk," Dumbledore said, shaking his head. "There is nothing cowardly in asking for help, nor is there any need for you to make this offer in return."
"I don't deserve help, not from you or from anyone." Snape met Dumbledore's blue gaze levelly. "What I am asking of you is a chance to at least attempt to atone for the horrors I committed or did nothing to stop. If you do not accept me as a spy, I will find some other way to use my knowledge and talents to eliminate the Dark Lord's cause."
"And why have you chosen to offer your services to me and to the Order?" Dumbledore asked slowly, his eyes intent on Snape's face.
"Because you are the one wizard that Lord Voldemort fears," Snape answered bluntly. "And therefore, the only wizard who stands any chance of defeating him. If I am going to change my allegiance, I wish to be allied with the winning side."
There was another lengthy pause as Dumbledore studied Snape. Uncomfortable under the scrutiny but seeing the necessity of it, Snape returned Dumbledore's gaze unwaveringly, hoping that Dumbledore could find what he was looking for.
"Very well, Severus," Dumbledore spoke finally. "I accept your offer. Provided that you agree to my terms."
Snape felt relief coursing through his veins, powerful and heady as any adrenaline rush could ever be. "Which are?" he asked with an effort.
"There are only two: one is that you sign a binding magical contract that will prevent you from revealing any names, plans, or locations associated with the Order of the Phoenix," Dumbledore stated. "It is not that I don't trust you, Severus, but I made the mistake of trusting erroneously once and I cannot take any further chances with the Order."
"I understand," Snape replied. Inherently distrustful himself, Snape wondered privately why Dumbledore hadn't insisted on a similar contract from each Order member previously. If he had, a spy would have been unable, or at least partially, to report on the Order to the dark Lord.
"And the second," Dumbledore went on, "is that you allow me to teach you Occlumency in order to protect yourself. Lord Voldemort is an accomplished Legilimens, and I will not permit you to take preventable risks with your life."
"Agreed." The enormity of what Snape was doing struck him anew, and he just managed to stop himself from trembling.
Dumbledore extended his hand, eyes twinkling. "In that case, welcome to the Order of the Phoenix, Severus."
Lily eased open the front door of her flat some time later, hoping that James somehow wouldn't be there. She felt dizzy, tired, and sick, not at all in the right frame of mind to make up good excuses.
"Lily! Where in Merlin's name have you been?!" Lily felt familiar arms crush her into a familiar chest and sighed in resignation. She knew her hopes had been in vain, but she had to get lucky sometime, and tonight would have been a brilliant time to start.
"I was on Order business," Lily said into the front of James' robes, her voice muffled. "Sorry to have worried you."
"S'all right," James' attempt at casual wasn't quite coming off; he still held Lily in a death grip. "What were you doing then?"
"Er, Professor Dumbledore and I were recruiting," Lily prevaricated. James' grip relaxed a bit and she took advantage of this momentary lapse to push herself away from him and gasp for air as discreetly as possible. "What's for dinner?"
"You're hungry?" James perked up considerably. "You're actually not sick? Wait right here, I'll get you a banana." James sped off toward the kitchen.
"Bananas make me nauseous," Lily reminded him yet again, resisting the urge to shriek like a fishwife. What was this obsession with bananas? Lily had asked herself and James this question hundreds of times, but neither source had provided a satisfactory answer. What made bananas so special? Maybe there was some magical reason –
The very thought of bananas made Lily's stomach gurgle unpleasantly, and the sight of James reentering the sitting room peeling one was too much for it. Lily clapped a hand to her mouth and bolted for the loo.
"I thought you said you were hungry," James called after her. As the familiar sound of retching reached his ears, James shrugged and bit into the banana with a resigned air. At this rate, HE would be more likely to give birth to a boy than Lily.
Uncomfortable in his best dress robes, James shifted a bit and glanced restlessly round the room for what must have been the thousandth time, not sure why exactly he was so ill at ease.
James, Lily, Sirius, Frank, and Dorcas were all attending the party that Magical Law Enforcement had thrown to celebrate the end of Auror training. It was a small gathering, only the newly graduated trainees, their immediate family members, the Aurors, and a few senior department officials. Standing there in the midst of this very ordinary affair, it was hard for James to believe that his training was over and he was now a full-fledged Dark wizard hunter and expert, as had been intimated in one of the speeches made earlier. He didn't exactly feel prepared –
"What about you? Any thoughts, Potter?" James looked up to find Lily, Sirius, and Mad Eye Moody watching him expectantly.
"Huh?" he glanced round the circle for assistance.
"The baby, Prongs," Sirius prompted impatiently. "Moody just asked if you have any ideas about naming your baby."
"Erm –"James looked helplessly at Lily, who seemed equally blindsided. "Uh – that is – "
"We haven't really talked about it," Lily cut in.
"Don't want to come to any hasty decisions," Moody nodded sagely, politely ignoring Lily and James' dumbfounded expressions. "Not like the Longbottoms. Nebudchadnezzer, my arse. Thank Merlin she came to her senses about that one." With that, Moody stumped off toward the buffet.
"She did?" Lily perked up.
"Alice wants to name it Prewett now," Dorcas reported, having caught the tail end of the conversation.
"Well, it's an improvement," Sirius said doubtfully. "Where is Alice, by the way?"
"Dunno," Dorcas shrugged. "Frank said she was meeting with Dumbledore, but he didn't know what about."
Lily felt a sudden lump in her throat. Alice was hearing about her brothers' death from Snape, Lily was sure of it. Snape had wanted to tell her, and Lily and Dumbledore had agreed that Alice would want to know whatever information was available. The only thing Lily didn't understand was why Dumbledore and Snape had arranged for Alice to find out tonight, during her own graduation party.
"You okay?" James asked anxiously. "Sirius or I could get you some food or a drink."
"Like I'd trust the pair of you to do that," Lily snorted. She didn't even pretend to understand James and Sirius' newfound obsession with potassium, but her tolerance had reached its limit the day before when they'd offered to make her dinner. She'd come into the kitchen to get the plates and caught James stirring bits of banana into her tea while Sirius rubbed a banana half on the chicken. In fact, the whole incident was still a slightly sore point with Lily.
Before James could think up a proper defense, something white caught the corner of his eye. Alice, clad in white dress robes, her hair and expression a bit wild, was talking earnestly to Moody. They were drawing something of a crowd; Frank was making his way to Alice quite swiftly by elbowing people aside and even Bartemius Crouch, the department head, was bearing down on them.
Before Lily, James, Sirius, or Dorcas could go in search of information, Alice herself came rushing toward them, Frank at her heels.
"I've just come from Dumbledore," Alice panted, still out of breath. "There's a Death Eater gathering tonight and I'm leading an Auror raid on it."
"You're LEADING the raid?" Frank exclaimed incredulously. "But you're pregnant! You shouldn't –"
"Thank you SO much for that information, Frank," Alice snapped. "It's a bloody good thing you're here to tell me these things. If you hadn't told me I was pregnant, I would've just thought that I was suffering from an overactive bladder."
"But what if you get hurt?" Frank was only slightly flustered by his wife's sarcasm.
"I'll be careful," Alice replied shortly, softening a bit. "But I'm leading this raid." At Frank's unwilling nod, she turned again to James, Sirius, and Dorcas. "I – found out tonight that one of the Death Eaters who was responsible for killing my brothers will be at that meeting," Alice explained quietly. "Will you join me?"
"I will," James said.
"Absolutely," Dorcas smiled rather grimly.
"Was there ever any doubt?" Sirius pointed out, quirking a brow.
"Oh, shut it, Sirius," Alice scowled, her pregnancy hormones in fine form. "Stop trying to be so bloody cool all of the sodding time. Lily, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure," Lily tried unsuccessfully to hide her smile at Alice's newfound bluntness as she led her into an unoccupied corner of the now-buzzing room.
"Dumbledore told me that you – know," Alice began without preamble as soon as they were a safe distance away. Lily nodded, not sure what she could say.
"When – he – told me, I was, well, upset," Alice bit her lip. "And I was wondering if you could tell him that I know there wasn't anything he could have done to save them."
"I'll tell him, but you could do it yourself, you know." Lily pointed out.
"No," Alice shook her head. "I don't think I could stand to see him again, knowing how he was involved. But if you could tell him that, and if you could thank him for me. He did at least do the right thing after the fact and that took balls, I do have to give him that."
Moving as silently as swiftly as possible, Alice, Frank, James, Sirius, Dorcas, Moody, Dawlish, and Shacklebolt moved seamlessly into position, surrounding the dockside warehouse Alice's source had revealed as the meeting place for tonight.
There would be at least six Death Eaters there, the source had said, because it took six to perform the spell they were planning on completing this evening. Not willing to take any chances, Magical Law Enforcement had sent eight Aurors, the most they could spare, in case the unexpected happened, which seemed to occur fairly frequently when dealing with Death Eaters.
Satisfied that everyone was in position, Alice raised her wand in the air and sent a jet of purple sparks into the sky, the signal to enter and attack. To her left, Frank nodded at her and blasted the door open, allowing her to lead the way.
In almost perfect unison, the three other doors to the warehouse slammed open as well and the eight Aurors streamed in, hexes and shielding spells at the ready.
There were six hooded, masked figures present, gathered round a cauldron. It took them only moments to recover from their surprise before they were returning fire.
Spells, sparks, and hexes flew between the combatants, thickening the air with smoke and noise. James fought back to back with Sirius, dueling with a masked figure he couldn't quite place. He stole a glance at Alice out of the corner of his eye; her mood swings had finally found a deserving target, and Alice was dueling with Dolohov ferociously, focusing all of her energy and attention on bringing him down.
A Choking Charm caught James unawares as he watched Alice and Dolohov, and he managed to roll out of the way just in time, shooting a freezing spell at the culprit in retaliation.
Another Death Eater entered the fray and deflected James' freezing spell with a fire charm, producing a cloud of steam that enveloped the entire room. James pulled his cloak over his mouth, tense and alert for any sign of attack and shocked when none came. When the steam finally faded away, he realized why: the Death Eaters had been using the steam as a cover to make their way to the exits, apparently unable to Disapparate in the warehouse.
"Oy! Sirius! Moody! Dawlish! Everyone! They're getting away!" James bellowed as loudly as he could before starting after them, Sirius following right behind. Dorcas and Shacklebolt started toward another exit, and Dawlish and Moody made for the third.
"Alice! Come on!" Frank shouted, seeing his wife sprinting off in the wrong direction. "They're going that way!"
"Dolohov went through here!" Alice called over her shoulder. "I want Dolohov!"
Frank followed without further comment, concentrating all of his energy on catching up. If Alice was going to take Dolohov, he was going to be there to at least try to protect her.
Dolohov had run into a dingy corridor, carrying the small cauldron as though it were the Holy Grail. Alice and Frank were just in time to see a corner of his black robes disappearing round the corner.
They could hear his footsteps thundering ahead, and then come to an abrupt stop as he reached the room at the end of the corridor. Alice plunged on, determined to catch up, and paused in the doorway of the room, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the dark and for Frank to crash to a halt next to her.
"My lord!" Dolohov gasped. "We've been compromised! The potion isn't finished, but I –"
"Where are your manners, Dolohov?" an icy cold, high-pitched voice demanded silkily. "Can you not see that we have visitors?"
Eyes now accustomed, Alice and Frank looked up into the slitlike eyes of Lord Voldemort
The sun had risen before the Aurors left the warehouse by the docks. Exhausted, battered, and triumphant, they returned to Ministry headquarters bearing a book, a potion, and a prisoner.
By the time the Aurors had caught up, the five Death Eaters who fled outside and scattered had managed to Disapparate. Not wasting any time, the Aurors had hurried back inside to search the warehouse very thoroughly for any items or persons of interest that might have been left behind.
It had been Sirius and Moody who had discovered them. They'd ventured to the end of the corridor and found Frank and Alice dueling ferociously with Lord Voldemort, Dolohov lying unconscious on the ground nearby.
Seeing two new opponents preparing to join the battle, Voldemort had offered them all a very amused, very malicious smirk and Disapparated; apparently whatever charm had been cast on the warehouse did not apply to him.
Shaken but basically all right, Alice and Frank transported their prisoner triumphantly into Ministry custody and were then descended upon by assorted Aurors and Ministry officials, all of them clamoring to hear their account of the night's events and Dolohov's capture.
The Daily Prophet made much of the incident as well, calling Frank and Alice and the other Aurors who had been involved in the raid heroes and predicting that the Ministry would be able to obtain all sorts of useful information from Dolohov and the book and potion that had been confiscated.
The Order knew better, though none of its members were inclined to say so. Dolohov's capture was definitely a victory; few of them knew who Dumbledore's source was, but this raid seemed to prove that at last they had a way to get to the Death Eaters before the Order spy did.
The raid was only a small step toward avenging the Prewetts' deaths and putting an end to Voldemort's reign of terror. But finally, it was a step in the right direction.
February 1980
Peter hurried along Diagon Alley, weaving in and out of the crowd in an effort to save time. He was terribly late for lunch with Kathleen, and he HAD to get there before she left.
Since the raid on the Death Eater meeting and Dolohov's capture, Lord Voldemort and Peter's fellow Death Eaters had been in an uproar. The Dark Lord was determined to find out how the Aurors had managed to surprise them at the warehouse, and Lord Voldemort's determination was not something to be taken lightly.
Peter himself had been "questioned" repeatedly about the incident, by both the Dark Lord and by other Death Eaters as well. Peter winced at the memory and tried to push it from his mind.
He couldn't quite blame them for their distrust; Peter was, after all, a spy. Still, he didn't want to give the Dark Lord or the Death Eaters any further reason to distrust him, or, more importantly, any further reason for questioning....
Peter reached the pub where he had arranged to meet Kathleen and scanned the crowded main room for any sign of her. He finally spotted her sitting at a corner table, drinking coffee and holding a large notebook with scraps of parchment stuffed haphazardly between the pages.
"Hi," Peter said, nervously pulling his sleeve down over his left forearm. Even though he kept a Concealing Concoction on it whenever he was around his friends, Peter was paranoid that someone would see his Dark Mark. No matter how many times he told himself that no one outside of the Dark Lord's circle knew what the mark was or what it was for, he was never quite convinced.
"Hi," Kathleen replied briefly before launching into a lengthy and detailed description of her latest findings and theories about the identities of the Ministry and Order spies.
As he listened, Peter felt his stomach drop to his feet and a cold knot of fear take its place. She was so close, too close, to the truth, and it was up to him to keep her away from it, to protect himself and Kathleen and the Dark Lord's circle.
"I've been observing people at the Ministry every chance I get," Kathleen was saying as she took a fortifying sip of her coffee. "I've been looking for people who talk to loads of different people in different departments. After all, Voldemort would want information from more than one office, and the spy – or spies – would have to find a way to get it for him. I can't say I've seen any clear signs of Imperius Curses, but I'm going back on Tuesday, and –"
"Kathleen," Peter cut in, desperate to stop her, "I – I think I might have a lead."
"Really?" Kathleen smiled at him, delighted. "Tell me."
"Well –"Peter's mind was spinning with effort, "you know that bloke Arthur Weasley? He talks to loads of people, he's mostly really well liked. And he's in the Order."
"I did consider him," Kathleen replied, rifling through her notebook, "but I don't think he's senior enough. He simply wouldn't have access to all of the sorts of information Voldemort would need. And his department is too specific; he wouldn't have a reason to get information from, say, Magical Games and Sports or International Magical Cooperation. No, I don't think it's him."
"But he could be using the Imperius Curse to get whatever information he needs from other people," Peter pointed out, hoping he sounded reasonable. "Nobody has access to everything except the Minister of Magic, and we can probably rule him out."
Kathleen giggled at the idea. "True, he could be using the Imperius Curse, but I just don't think it's Arthur Weasley," Kathleen got back to the point. "It's also too neat a fit; there are probably multiple spies."
"I'll look into it again," Peter promised, casting about frantically for another name to distract Kathleen with. "Hey – what about Bartemius Crouch?"
"Crouch?" he certainly had Kathleen's attention now. "Why him?"
"Well, he fits the profile you described," Peter was warming to his idea. "He's very senior, could get information from just about anywhere or anyone, and talks to loads of other important people all the time."
"I hadn't considered him before, I thought he might be too senior," Kathleen was lost in thought. "He's really anti-Dark magic, but it's definitely worth checking out. I'll ask Alice or Dorcas or James or somebody to keep an eye on him."
"I can do it," Peter offered. "We still don't have any really good hard evidence yet, just bits and pieces. I think we should hold off telling the others till then." His heart hammered in his ears as he waited for Kathleen's reply.
"Oh, just admit it, Peter, you're having fun playing reporter," Kathleen teased. "I'll hold off for a bit yet, just to please you."
"Thanks," Peter grinned, a genuine one finally. Kathleen reached over and squeezed Peter's forearm, right on top of his still-painful Dark Mark. Peter flinched involuntarily, pulling his arm away.
"I'm sorry, Peter; are you all right?" Kathleen's brow crinkled in concern.
"Fine," Peter replied uneasily. "Just a bruise from playing Quidditch with James and Remus and Sirius." Kathleen's frown deepened, but she made no further comment, much to Peter's relief. He quickly excused himself and made his way out of the pub.
Striding away, Peter breathed in a deep sigh of relief. He'd managed it, just like he'd managed everything else. All he had to do was go on managing things, and the way was clear.
Peter permitted himself a small smile. For once in his life, he was ahead of the game.
The air among the Order members had been much mire festive since the raid, James reflected as he and Lily rose to go after the meeting. The members were actually laughing and chatting together, almost the way they used to before the spy.
Lily had said very little about this new source of Dumbledore's, but James wasn't stupid. He was fairly sure that she knew at least something about it. James planned to get it out of her eventually, but he knew Lily well enough to know that he wouldn't be able to right now. She was expecting questions; much better to catch her off her guard later on.
"Lily! James! Leaky Cauldron?" Remus called across the room. He stood with Sirius, Peter, Alice, Dorcas, and Frank, all of them clearly expecting Lily and James to join them.
"Oh, go on, Lils," Alice urged. Being touted as a hero had done little to change her sour mood; Alice still had trouble tolerating males, though her attitude toward Frank had improved, and she still preferred Lily's company to almost anyone's.
"I'm not sure," Lily hesitated. "I'm a bit tired." She continued to be exhausted, dizzy, and emotional, though the nausea had reached a more manageable stage at long last.
"Maybe we'll just go home," James shrugged.
Sirius coughed into his fist, a cough that sounded suspiciously like "Old married couple."
"We are not!" James scowled at his best mate. "You're older than I am!"
"Good Godric," Lily said in surprise. "We really ARE an old married couple!" Much to her own disgust, her eyes filled with tears.
Alice handed Lily a handkerchief. "You're NOT old," she said comfortingly. "Just pregnant, something that a git like SIRIUS could never understand." It was a very good thing that Lily and Dorcas were between Alice and Sirius, or he would have been in very real danger of being kicked in some sensitive spot.
"So you'll come then?" Sirius wanted to know.
"Not that you deserve it." James was still sour at being called old and more than a bit cross that Sirius had made Lily cry yet again.
"Come on, Lily," Alice steered her out of the Hog's Head. "Maybe we can find ice cream somewhere. I've been craving banana ice cream lately."
Lily blanched at the idea, then glared accusingly over her shoulder at James, plainly believing that he'd put Alice up to this.
James gave Lily his most innocent expression in return, sincerely hoping that Alice could bully Lily into eating some of it.
"Trust HER to want to eat bananas," Sirius grumbled next to James. "If her current mood rubs off on her baby, she's going to have the most terrifying little monster ever. He'll probably eat yours alive."
"We'll just have to make sure he knows enough jinxes to defend himself." James grinned wickedly. "Besides, you've got to think about this rationally, Padfoot: if Alice wanted YOU to eat banana ice cream with her, would YOU turn her down?"
"Lily hasn't got a chance," Sirius smirked
Author's Note: Sorry it's been such a long wait, everyone. I've been busy with papers and midterms and the like, which hasn't left me much time for writing. But I really appreciate everyone's patience, and to make up for it I'm going to try (try, mind you) to have the next chapter done in less than a week.
As always, thanks to everyone who reviewed. And, theodyssey42, I appreciate the free publicity; glad you enjoy this story despite your dislike of Marauder fiction. )
Also, I wanted to mention that Priori Incantatem is in the C2 Community The Best Harry Potter Fics Out There, which can be found on Mugglenet27's bio page.
Till next time!