A/N: Here is the first chapter of the second part of my story. I'm glad
that many of you liked the last three chapters, even though they were a bit
sad (there are more sad parts to follow, so I think it's safe to warn you,
although not in this chapter), I hope that you like this part as much as
you liked the first.
Disclaimer: (I forgot to put it in the last three chapters) I own nothing besides the plot.
~Legacy of Two Generations~ Part II ~ New Beginnings
Chapter 1 ~ Three Years Later
"Are you sure dear that you have everything?" Asked Mrs. Evans as she helped her daughter with her packing.
"Yes mum, all is here." Said Lily with a smile. For the past three years she had been living with her parents as she continued with her therapy after an accident left her unable to walk for a month during her last year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
She was now leaving her home for good. Her old Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, had offered her a position as an apprentice at Hogwarts. She was now packing to start a new life away from home. Her parents were not too happy about it.
"You know dear that you don't need to work. Your father is quite wealthy. You can stay here with us." Said Mrs. Evans in a last try to get her daughter to stay. She was sorry to see her go. For three years, Lily had been a companion and a joy to her.
Her older daughter, Petunia, had married a man named Vernon Dursley the summer Lily returned from her last year at Hogwarts. Mr. and Mrs. Evans had made it clear that they wanted their younger daughter to attend the wedding otherwise they would not pay for any expense. Petunia wasn't very fond of her sister, but she had no choice. If she wanted to have the large wedding she was planning, she had to wait for Lily for the wedding to take place. This made her dislike Lily more than before.
"I know mum, but I want to work. You know I'm not one of those debutantes that can only go to parties every night and sleep late until noon. That's not me." Said Lily.
"You could work for your father. He needs an assistant."
"You are his personal assistant mum. Besides, I want to work in the magical world, there is so much that I can do."
"I'm going to miss you Lily." Exclaimed Mrs. Evans. "But perhaps you are right. You are too talented a witch to stay behind. But you will write often, won't you?"
"Yes mum, I'll owl you everyday."
Mrs. Evans nodded in satisfaction. "How are you going to get to Hogwarts? Is the train going to pick you up?"
"Oh no mum. I'm going to apparate. Professor Dumbledore sent me the coordinates of the apparating point in Hogsmeade. There will be a carriage waiting for me."
"I'm not sure I like that form of transportation Lily, it sounds very dangerous to me." Frowned Mrs. Evans.
"That's why a license is needed from the Ministry. If it's not done right anything could go wrong. But I've had my license for more than two years mum, there is nothing to worry about."
"Humph!" Snorted Mrs. Evans, she obviously didn't agree with her daughter.
"Where is daddy?"
"He is in his bookroom, he had to make a call to his office."
"Well, I'm all set." Said Lily with a sigh of relief. It had taken her quite a while to decide what to take with her but she was finally done.
"I'll go get your father. Where are you going to leave from? Do you need to go to a special place to do so?"
"No mum, I can do it from anywhere. I can go with you to daddy and I'll dissapparate from the bookroom." Said Lily as she started to collect her things.
Mother and daughter started to descend the stairs toward Mr. Evans' bookroom, it was his special place where he could go to be alone away from the women of the house. It smelled of tobacco and musk. A scent that Lily would always connect to her father.
"Edward get away from that phone, our daughter is ready to leave." Exclaimed Mrs. Evans as soon as she opened the door.
"I'll talk to you later McCoy, my Princess is leaving now. Yes, thank you, I'll tell her." Mr. Evans hung up the phone.
"Really daddy, there is no need to tell everybody." Said Lily smiling at her father.
"Sorry Princess, I can't help it. McCoy wishes you luck by the way." He said approaching the two women as they stood in the middle of the room with Jocasta's cage. Lily had shrunk her trunk and had put it away in her cloak.
"It has been a while since I've seen you wear witches' robes." Said Mr. Evans as he looked over her daughter. He thought the emerald cloak, which covered her burgundy robes looked quite fetching on her. But in his opinion, his daughter looked fetching no matter what she wore.
Lily laughed. "I know. I had to go to Diagon Alley and replenish my wardrobe. Emma, Katie and I had a great time."
"Yes I imagine you did." Said Mr. Evans with a smile. "Do you need us to take you somewhere, we really didn't discuss how you plan to get to Hogwarts." Mr. Evans frowned. At least, he didn't remember if they had discussed it.
"I'll be apparating daddy, I can do it from here." Said Lily with a smile. "I'll miss you both." She said as she hugged her mother and her father.
"We will miss you too Princess. We will be looking for Jocasta everyday." Mr. Evans said as he hugged his daughter. Mrs. Evans was sobbing quietly in a handkerchief.
"Bye." She said as she took the cage from the floor.
"Bye dear."
"See you Princess."
Lily disapparated with a pop.
"Do you think she will be alright?" Asked Mrs. Evans as her husband took her in his arms to comfort her.
"I'm sure. We have an intelligent daughter, love, she knows how to take care of herself.
"Mother, I will not tolerate any more house parties, I have way too many things to take care of to be bothered with guests at the moment. Maybe later we can have a house party or something, but not now." Said an exasperated James to his mother one morning.
"Oh James please don't be like that, you know it's the season to have parties, besides how are you going to find a suitable young lady to marry if you stay here all the time. If you don't want me to organize too many house parties here in the estate then you need to go to the city more often and socialize, I don't want people to think that you have become a hermit." Mrs. Potter had become very interested in her son's single status. The first year after James return from Hogwarts had been a quiet time, a time of mourning for Mr. Potter and Elizabeth, the Potters' daughter and James' older sister. Mr. Potter and Elizabeth along with her husband had been killed in an attack previously that year. James had been left as guardian of his twin nieces. But for the last year, Mrs. Potter had resumed in her search of a mate for her son. She had given it up while he was still in his seventh year because she liked the young woman her son had a relationship with, Lily Evans. But that relationship was broken and to Mrs. Potter's dismay, James had not been interested in any other girl since.
"Mother, I socialize, I was in the city just last week and it wasn't on business."
"You were with Sirius, and don't think that I don't know what you and your friends do when you get together, and it's not socializing. Going to bars and clubs, you can't meet suitable ladies that way."
"We meet women, and that's enough for us. Mother, I know you want what is best for the family and the estate, but don't worry, when it's time for me to marry I will, I know I have a duty to do so. But I'm 21 I still have a lot of time to think about it, let's concentrate in Elizabeth's children now and do what is best for them."
"They need a mother's touch, I cannot give them that James. I'm a grandmother. They need somebody younger that will lead them and train them for their time at Hogwarts."
"Mother I don't want to discuss this! Now, I've thought of building a school for the estate children, Cassie and Francie can attend the school along with the other kids, after all, they will all study together when they get to Hogwarts, they might as well learn to work together."
"You're right, the children should get to know each other, that way there are no surprises when they leave and go to Hogwarts. Do you suppose we can find somebody who would agree to teach a group of children?"
"I don't know, Remus would agree but I don't know where he is at the moment. I suppose I could owl him and hope he receives my letter, if he agrees to do so we're set, otherwise we can owl Dumbledore, there are always graduates who stay at Hogwarts to train as teachers, any of them would be perfect for our purposes."
"That is an excellent idea! Now dear, I must get ready, I'm expecting someone today."
"This friend of yours doesn't happen to have a daughter does she?"
"Oh no, she's single!"
"Mother!" But Mrs. Potter had already left the room, leaving behind a resigned James.
"Come in my dear, I've been waiting for you." Said Professor Dumbledore when he heard a knock on his door.
The door opened and Lily walked into the room.
"How did you know it was me professor? Or do you call everybody dear?" Asked Lily with a mischievous smile.
Dumbledore laughed. He liked people who had a good sense on humor and the girl standing before him certainly did. Especially after surviving seven years with the most notorious pranksters the school had ever had. He hoped that it would be some time until Hogwarts house another set like them.
"Now my dear, ready to join us." Asked Dumbledore as soon as his laughter receded.
"Oh yes Professor." Said Lily eagerly. She was looking forward to join the staff in the castle.
"I asked you to come weeks before the students did because I want you to work with the teachers as they plan their lessons. Think of it as a type of orientation."
"I understand Professor." Said Lily with a nod.
"Now Lily, you don't have to call me Professor anymore. Dumbledore will do." He said with a smile.
"Sorry Pro- I mean Dumbledore. It will take me a while to become accustomed."
"Oh don't worry. We'll go down to luncheon now. I'm sure you are eager to reacquaint yourself with the others." Said Dumbledore as he stood. Lily followed him out of his office toward the staff room.
Later that week.
"What are you doing out here?" Said a voice. James turned to look behind him and smiled at his friend.
"Trying to avoid my mother." He said.
Sirius laughed as he joined James and watched as the grooms exercised the horses.
"Perhaps you should get on one of those horses and go for a ride. When I went up to the house your mother seemed very disappointed that you weren't there to meet her friend." Said Sirius with a chuckle.
"I bet she was. You would not believe the number of visitors she has had during the last months. Thank god fall is soon here and all the socialites will be leaving the country to return to the city and start on their usual rounds of parties and balls."
"Oh, is Mr. Potter not joining in the usual rounds this season?"
"No. I told her I wasn't going. She is miffed at me. In any case, I want to stay here and take care of some business. I'm building the school and I still haven't been able to hire a teacher."
What about Remus, did you talk to him?"
"I sent him an owl, he says he is in Africa right now. He is working for a medicine man and they are trying to find something to help him with his illness. He doesn't know when he will be back. I just sent an owl to Dumbledore asking if one of his trainees would accept the position."
"He would have been perfect." Sighed Remus.
"I thought so too. But you know how self-conscious he is about his illness. He says he doesn't want to put anybody in danger. That's why he broke it off with Emma just last summer."
"Big mistake, that." Sirius shook his head. "Katie wrote me a scathing letter telling me to do something about it. But what can a man do? I'm not getting involved. It's not my business."
"Lily wrote me as well. She was angry. But it's not my fault. And I'm not going to get involved either. I made the mistake of telling my mother. She took Emma's side of course."
"No wonder you are hiding from her." Laughed Sirius. "How is Lily doing? I haven't spoke to her lately."
"She just took a job, but she didn't tell me where."
"Oh, she would be a good person to hire as a teacher."
James shrugged. He wasn't sure if he agreed. Lily would be a good teacher. But they have a history between them and he still had feelings for her. He wasn't sure if he wanted her nearby and be treated as just a friend by her.
The last three years had been generous to our favorite group. Lily had continued her therapy and been able to recover fully. She still had some trouble with her back, but she found that a cup of tea would soothe her. James had been working tirelessly around his estate. The twins had kept him on his toes but he had great fun keeping an eye on them. He dreaded the time when they would be ready to join Hogwarts. They were two bundles of energy and he dreaded the owls he would receive from Professor Dumbledore about their behavior. Sirius was a carefree young man who delighted in being thought a frivolous young man. He took part of the social rounds taking place in the magical society. The fact that Katie was always seen on his arm drew speculations from the society gossips but he had given no clue if he meant it to be a permanent relationship, no matter that they had been seen together for four years now. Katie enjoyed taking part of the social rounds with Sirius, but she was soon tiring of it. It angered her that Sirius sometimes took her and their relationship for granted and if he didn't change their status quo soon, she would be giving him a piece of her mind. Remus had been going from one job to another. The year before he had decided to leave the country and travel around the world looking for a cure to his problem, his parents were well off and had decided to fund his research. As a result of his travels, he had become acquainted with creatures and magic theories that he had never been exposed to before. When he returned during the summer he had made a decision. He had decided that in order to keep those whom he cared about safe, he needed to keep them away from him. His monthly transformations had become more aggressive and dangerous and didn't think that his friends would be able to help him. He had broken up with Emma for that reason. Emma had been considerably hurt by his decision. She had understood why he thought he needed to do so, but she had been his partner for so long that it was hard for her to let go. Emma had become a researcher for the Ministry of Magic. She was working with the Committee of the Preservation of Magical Creatures and she enjoyed it. But even her love for her work didn't help her to keep her mind of her troubles with Remus. Her friends had stepped in and helped her to get through it. Peter had been busy taking care of his mother who had fallen ill soon after he graduated from Hogwarts. As a result he had been cut off from society and didn't see his friends too often. It was something that all parties would eventually come to regret.
"Professor, did you ask for me?" Asked Lily as she entered Dumbledore's office.
"Yes Lily, please sit down, I have something important to tell you. I have just received an owl from a very prominent family in our world; they're looking for a tutor who would be available to tutor two little girls. You have done outstanding work here as an assistant and I thought you would like to take this job. If you don't want to that's all right, I'm sure I can find someone else."
"I would like to take it Professor, it will be a great opportunity for me. What can you tell me about the family?"
"You would be going to a small household; as I said before it is a very respected and wealthy family. You would be working with two little girls, seven year-old twins; they're in the custody of their Uncle, a very young man about the same age as yourself, and of their grandmother. They would be the only ones you will meet around the house, except for the servants of course. I'm sure you will be happy here, I've met the family on several occasions and I've always known them to be very social."
"When would I be needed to Apparate to them?"
"As soon as you can be ready. Why don't you pack your belongings and get some rest; tomorrow will be good enough."
"Very well Professor. Have a good night, and thank you."
"You have no need to thank me Lily, you've been an exemplary employee as you were a student, and it is time for you to create your own future. Remember that you can always come to Hogwarts whenever you need help, I will never close the doors to those who need me."
"I know Professor. Good night." Lily kissed Dumbledore's cheek and walked toward the door.
"Good night my dear, sleep well." Said Dumbledore watching her with a twinkle in his eyes.
Oh dear! I overslept; I hope I don't forget anything. Thought Lily as she checked all the corners of her room. I wonder what kind of family they are; I forgot to ask the Professor the name of this family. If he says the guardian of the little girls are about my age, then he might've been here in Hogwarts at about the same time I was. Oh dear, I'm so nervous!
Lily was walking along the corridor toward the Great Hall for breakfast. It was still very early in the morning but most of the teachers were already seating at their table eating. Lily walked up to the table and sat besides young Professor Vector, the Arithmacy teacher. Lily chose something to eat and looked toward the students, who had arrived just last night, and where now getting their class schedules. Lily had missed the Sorting Ceremony and the Banquet last night, she had spent her time packing for her new job.
"Good morning Lily, I've heard about your new job, I must congratulate you not many young witches would be considered for this position."
"Thank you Professor, I'm really looking forward to this. I really hope I know enough to make my employers happy."
"I can't think of anyone more qualified for this position than you. Don't you worry, we are very proud of you, you were the best student we have had in many years and I don't think we'll have another for quite some time."
"Thank you Professor, I really enjoyed my time here in Hogwarts, as a student and as an assistant to all of you."
"Lily dear," said a smiling Professor McGonagall, "if you follow me I'll give you directions to your new job."
Lily left the table following Professor McGonagall. They finally entered the latter's office, where Lily noticed her belongings waiting for her.
"Here Lily, these are maps of the area, and here is the name of the exact location you will need to apparate. We're really proud of you dear!" Said Professor McGonagall with a few tears in her eyes.
"Thank you Professor, I promise I won't let you down!" Said Lily as she hugged her mentor. "Good Bye!" And with that she disappeared down the main hall toward the carriage waiting for her at the entrance.
"James please be ready to greet our new teacher this afternoon." Said Mrs. Potter at breakfast.
James looked up in surprise. "Teacher?" He asked. "What teacher?"
"For our school silly. Don't you remember that we have been looking for a teacher for the estate children?"
"But mother, the school is not built yet and Dumbledore hasn't responded to my owl."
"Oh he did, I opened it for you. I sent him an owl saying that we could receive the teacher he is sending today." She said as buttered a piece of bread.
James looked at his mother with a mixture of anger and uncertainty. "Mother, you were supposed to talk to me about it. The school is not built yet, where do you expect this person to teach if there is no place to do so." He exclaimed with anger.
"She can teach the twins while you build the school. There is no reason for you to become concerned." She said with a shrug. "Besides, you and our tenants are wizards. You can build the place in no time."
"Mother, have you forgotten that our neighbors are muggles. They will see it as a miracle if we build a school from one day to the other. You know that we must do things the muggle way around here. True that we use magic with subtlety but we make sure nothing seems out of place. Really mother, you seem to forget things sometimes." Exasperation filled his voice.
"James Potter don't you speak to your mother in that tone! You will apologize and be ready to greet the teacher this afternoon. I raised you to be a gentleman." Mrs. Potter exclaimed. James flushed and muttered "sorry" before she stomped out of the room.
Roberts, the butler, had been standing by the door the whole time James and his mother were eating. He now hurried forward to clear Mrs. Potter's emptied place.
"Roberts. What do you know about this teacher that is coming today?" James asked. He knew that in big households, as his, the servants tended to know everything before the masters did. Gossip always seemed to travel faster than owl post.
"I'm sorry Sir. Nothing has been mentioned about her. I just know that it is a young woman and that Professor Dumbledore had recommended her highly." Roberts said as he took out his wand to clear the used plates and dispose of the remains.
James nodded. He was soon lost in contemplation and didn't notice as the table was cleared by Roberts and one of his footmen. By the time he noticed that he was still sitting at the table, the dinning room was empty and Roberts had returned to his post by the front door. James shook his head and started to leave the room as he heard a pair of small voices giggling and whispering just outside the door.
He smiled. "What are you two up to?" He said looking down at the two girls kneeling beside the dining room door.
"Hello Uncle James."
"Good Morning Uncle James."
"Humph, you two want something." He said with suspicion.
The two little girls turned to look at each other and started to giggle once more.
"Ok, out with it, what do you two want?" He said.
"Can we go with you?"
"To the fields."
"Please."
"Pretty please."
James looked warily at the pair. He would take them with him as he was only planning to visit a tenant of his who had fallen as he was repairing his roof and had broken his leg the previous day, but he didn't want to be in his mother's black books for much longer.
"What did your grandmother said?" He asked.
"Hmmm."
"Er."
The girls turned to each other. "All right, let's go and look for her and see what she has to say." He sighed and took the two little hands that had reached out to him.
He was happy to have the two little girls with him. After his father's and sister's death he had been devastated. He had a very close relationship with his family and to have half of it gone at the same time was hard to comprehend. At first, he had been scared when he was told that he had become the guardian of his two three year old nieces, but now he didn't want it any other way. The little girls had brought laughter and joy to a house that had been dressed in black and full of depression. James and his mother had pulled themselves out of their sorrow and grief in order to give these little girls the love and attention that they needed. The last three years had been generous to them. Both girls were now seven years old and were as rambunctious as they had been at three. James was always teased by his mother and the servants whenever he had to deal with a mischief the girls had done. "It's your reward for giving your father and me too many white hairs so early in life." His mother always said, and he had come to believe that perhaps it was so. He dreaded to think what his own children would be like.
The trio walked quietly toward the front parlor, where James hoped to find his mother. The sun was shining brightly through the wall-length windows. The walls were richly decorated with expensive works of art. There were several small tables placed strategically throughout the room on which little figurines and flowers were placed. The furniture pieces were made in the Regency Era style. Even though they seemed rigid and conservative they were surprisingly comfortable and sturdy; only those with advanced magic training would have noticed the Cushioning Charm and the Strengthening Charm that had been used for the furniture.
Mrs. Potter was sitting in front of the large windows with her yarn and needles busy making warm woolen scarves and gloves for the children on the estate, which she always gave away at the beginning of every winter.
Mrs. Potter looked up as he heard the door open. She smiled when she saw her son enter leading her two little granddaughters.
"Good morning dears. How was your breakfast with nurse?" She asked as the two little girls ran to kiss her cheek.
"It was good Nana."
"We had strawberries today."
"With porridge."
"And cream."
"And milk."
The little girls exclaimed.
Mrs. Potter laughed, it was good to see them full of excitement, even if it was about breakfast.
"And what are you going to do now?" She asked as she put away her material so she could speak with her granddaughters.
"We want to go with Uncle James."
"Please, Nana."
"And where is Uncle James going today?" She asked. The two little girls turned to look at James with curious expressions. Mrs. Potter smiled and turned to look at her son.
James was leaning against the mantle on the other side of the room, smiling at the sight in front of him.
"I'm going to see the Morrisons mother. John had an accident yesterday and I want to check on him." He said.
"Oh dear, that's right you told me about it at dinner. Would you take a basket with you? Some preserves and cakes perhaps."
"Of course mother."
"I will tell Roberts to tell Otty to prepare one right away." Mrs. Potter quickly stood up and was about to leave the room when she was stopped.
"Nana!!!" The twins screamed.
Mrs. Potter turned to look at them. "Yes dears."
"We want to go."
"With Uncle James."
Mrs. Potter turned to James.
"Are you taking Sultan James?"
"Yes. It's easier to get to them by horse than by carriage of car. Although, I can take the motorcycle as well."
"I will not let you take the girls on that contraption. I don't know what Sirius was thinking when he gave you that thing for your birthday." Mrs. Potter exclaimed. She didn't like to think of her son on top of that particular motorcycle and the thought of her small granddaughters on it made her hair stand on end.
"Horse it is then. I'm sure Sultan will like a nice trot." He said.
"Well, make sure that the girls are in their riding clothes before you go. I'm sure Sultan will not mind a little more weight, he is a huge beast and strong if he can handle you."
James nodded and watched his mother leave the room to prepare a basket for his tenant.
"Well? What are you two waiting for? Go and get dressed, or I will leave without you." He said.
The girls squealed and ran out of the room.
James laughed.
Half an hour later, the nursery maid took the two excited little girls to the stables. James was waiting by the door as the horse was readied for him.
"There you are. I will have them back safe Nurse, don't worry."
"You better Master James." The old nurse shook his finger at him. "I know you since you were in shorts, and I know in how much trouble you can get yourself into."
James laughed. "Don't worry Nurse, we will return soon."
Lily apparated in a middle of a dense forest. It was a sunny day and she could hear cars passing nearby. She went behind some bushes and quickly changed into muggle clothes. She had to cross a muggle town and it wouldn't do to stay in her witch's robes. She shrunk her trunk and hid it safely into her sweater's pocket. She made sure Jocasta's cage was completely covered. She picked up her belongings and started walking toward the road. She had memorized the map that Professor McGonagall had given her of the area, she only had three miles to walk until she got to town from there she could hire a taxi or any kind of transportation to go to the estate. She looked around as she walked.
The sun was bright, there was a soft breeze that made the tendrils of hair escape from the bun at the nape of her neck. She passed some fields. She saw sheep, horses and cattle all over the place. The flowers grew wild everywhere she looked.
"Oh this is going to be a great place to live." She exclaimed as she saw a couple of rabbits hopping by the road.
It wasn't long until she arrived at the small bustling town. Small stores lined the square of what seemed to be the center of town. It reminded her of that small town where her family and friends spent Christmas with James' family. Godric's Hollow. How she missed those simpler times.
She walked toward the largest building in the square. She saw the large sign in front of the main door. The Golden Brook. She entered the inn. The large room she found herself in was relatively empty. It looked like a bar room. A large counter was in front of the door where a man stood cleaning the glasses. Bottles of what she assumed was alcoholic drinks were behind him. A color TV was on showing the local news. Two old men sat in a booth beside the counter, both drinking from large tankards as they watched the news closely.
"And for the southern region it looks like a perfect weather awaits us. Perfect for harvest. So to all farmers out there, it is time to take out your baskets and start gathering your produce. Now let's go back to John." The weatherman was saying when Lily walked up to the counter.
"Excuse me." Lily said to the man behind the counter.
The man turned to look at Lily with surprise. "Yes Miss. What can I do for you?"
"Hi, I'm supposed to go up to the manor but I'm not sure if there is a mode of transportation to get there." Lily said with a smile.
"Are you the teacher they hired for the young misses?" Asked the bartender.
"Yes."
The man nodded and walked to a door that was behind one of the cases. "Oy, Martin. The teacher is here." He said.
A large man came into the room and looked toward Lily. Lily looked apprehensively toward him.
"Are you Miss Lily?" Asked the man with a kind voice. Lily smiled this man reminded her of Hagrid.
"Yes, I'm Lily Evans."
The man nodded and got around the counter. "The mistress sent me to come and pick you up. If you will wait here for a moment I will go and bring the car to the entrance." The man left the room without waiting for a response.
"Don't let him scare you. He seems big and gruff but he is kind." Said the bartender.
Lily smiled. "I have a friend like that. Some people are afraid of him when they first see him but once you get to know him he is just the best person alive.
The bartender nodded. "Would you like something to drink something while you wait? I have non-alcoholic drinks if you prefer." He quickly added when he saw Lily looking at the bottles behind him with an expression of disgust.
Lily nodded and asked for a soda. She sat on a table near the entrance and sipped her glass. The men on the booths had barely glanced her way. The bartender had returned to his cleaning and Lily now had time to look around.
She had barely started to look around when she heard a horn of a car. She quickly stood and walked to the entrance. A black car awaited her. The man who had left the room before was standing by it holding the door open for her.
"If you are ready Miss, I will take you up to the Manor." He said. Lily nodded and with a deep breath got into the car.
The car sped down a narrow path, it was big enough to let two cars pass side by side. Lily looked out the window trying to see the countryside. It looked wild and natural. She liked it. After growing up in the city, the countryside would be a nice change for her.
"What is your name?" She asked to the driver.
"Martin Miss." He responded.
"Are you a wizard too Martin?"
"Yes Miss. My family has served our masters for centuries and they have always made sure that we had what we needed to complete our training." He sounded proud to be part of the household.
"You mean they hire somebody to train you?"
"No Miss. They buy the books and robes and materials that we need to go to Hogwarts and when we come back after the seventh year we have a place to work."
"Oh! Have they always done that?"
"Yes Miss. The current master is planning to have a school build in the state to teach the young ones before they are ready to go to Hogwarts."
"Oh, that sounds like a lot of fun. Are there many kids in the estate?"
"Not many Miss. There are only about 15, from the age of two to nine, including the young Misses."
"What are they like? I know they are twins."
Martin chuckled. "You are going to have your hands full with them Miss."
Lily laughed.
"We are here Miss."
Lily looked toward the house. She gasped at the sight of it. It was a large house. The front was covered with Ivy but it looked like it had been trimmed to let the light shine through the windows. The windows didn't see too large, just like small circles here and there. Two large marble columns stood at each side of the front door, which stood open at that moment.
"Miss?" Lily turned to look at Martin who was standing outside holding the door open for her. Lily blushed. She was so busy looking at the house she didn't notice that Martin had been waiting for her.
She stepped out the door and walked up to the front door. She could see a woman standing by it.
"Welcome Miss, I'm Mrs. Nichols, I'm the housekeeper." The woman said with a smile.
"Hello Mrs. Nichols, very nice to meet you." Said Lily.
"If you follow me Miss. The Mistress is waiting for you in the back parlor." The housekeeper motioned one of the footmen to take the Lily's luggage. She took out her trunk from her pocket and handed it to him along with Jocasta's cage.
Lily was lead across the entrance hall. Several benches lined the walls. Large paintings covered every space of each wall. Next they passed a narrow corridor. The paintings were smaller but like those in the entrance hall they were clearly muggle paintings.
Next they passed a large corridor. Weapons of all kinds lined the walls. Daggers, axes, swords, etc. "This is the armory." Said Mrs. Nichols as she watched Lily looking around.
"An exquisite collection." Lily said.
"They have a protective charm around it. The Master was afraid that the young Misses would become too curious and would hurt themselves."
"Good precaution."
They continued down the corridor but Lily noticed that the weapons were now gone, in their place large portraits lined the walls. They were clearly family portraits and unlike the other paintings she had seen these were wizard paintings as the subjects of the portraits moved and whispered to each other. Lily didn't have time to look at the portraits closely but she thought that they seemed somewhat familiar.
"We are nearly there Miss." Mrs. Nichols said.
"Come girls we have to hurry up. I told your grandmother I was going to be there when your new teacher got here." Urged James as soon as they had returned to the stables after visiting his tenant.
"Coming Uncle James."
"Uncle James?"
"Yes?" He cautiously asked. When the girls used that tone he knew they wanted something.
"Can we have puppy?"
"Please?"
"Pretty Please?"
"The Hortons have puppies."
"Oh? And where do you plan to keep it?"
"With us."
"In the nursery."
James laughed. "I don't think Nurse would like that very much."
"The stables."
"Dick can keep an eye on it."
"You have dogs."
"Lots of dogs."
"They are hunting dogs. I'll speak with mother see what she says about it."
"All right." Both girls said and ran ahead of him playing an impromptu game of tag.
James walked purposely toward the back terrace, which opened to the back parlor.
James opened the glass doors and the girls sneaked past him as they ran to Mrs. Potter.
"Nana."
"Nana."
"Guess what?"
"We are going to have a puppy."
"You little rascals, I said that we would see." James exclaimed.
"You might as well give up James, these two can get past your barriers and get away with anything." Laughed Mrs. Potter.
James only shook his head. "Am I on time? I have not missed meeting this teacher you hired did I?"
"No, she hasn't arrived yet." Mrs. Potter said as she gave cookies to both girls and little cups of tea. The cups had been made especially for them and they enjoyed playing grown up as they took tea with grandmother.
"Very well."
"Why do we have to have a teacher?"
"You can teach us what we need."
"We don't want a teacher."
"What if she is mean?"
"She is not going to be mean, I'm sure that you both will like her." Said Mrs. Potter.
The girls didn't seem to believe that.
"Why don't you two go up to the nursery? I'm sure that Nurse is waiting for you." Urged James. The girls out aside their empty cups and ran out of the room.
"They are going to be a handful mother, I hope this person you hired will be up to it." James said with a worried tone. "What if they take an instant dislike of her?"
"Oh don't worry James, everything will be fine, you'll see." Said Mrs. Potter.
"Madam." A footman called from the door.
"Yes Lyle."
"The teacher has just arrived, Mrs. Nichols is bringing her over."
"Thank you Lyle. Please bring a fresh pot of tea, I'm sure she must be parched." Commanded Mrs. Potter. The footman bowed and promptly left the room.
They soon heard footsteps coming their way. James was standing in front of the large windows looking out toward the gardens. Mrs. Potter was silently waiting for her guest to arrive.
"Madam." Mrs. Roberts called.
"Come in Mrs. Nichols." Commanded Mrs. Potter. James heard the housekeeper enter but he didn't turn around. "Hello dear, it has been a while since I've seen you I hope your trip was uneventful"
"Hello Mrs. Potter. Everything went fine thank you." A familiar voice responded. James quickly turned and his breath escaped as he spied the person who had just entered.
"James dear, you remember Lily."
"Hello James." Lily said in a breathless voice.
"Hello Lily." James replied.
Both stood looking at each other. Mrs. Potter looked from one to the other with a pleased smile.
"Well, why don't you sit Lily, I'm sure you must be tired. A fresh pot of tea should be arriving soon." Mrs. Potter said as she motioned Lily to take a sit.
James and Lily looked away from each other.
"Thank you Mrs. Potter."
"Oh no problem my dear. How are your parents doing? I haven't spoken to them for quite a while."
"They are doing very well."
"How is your sister? Are you an aunt yet?"
Lily laughed. "I honestly cannot see Petunia as a mother, but no, she doesn't have children yet."
A footman entered the room carrying a tray with a fresh pot of tea and extra cups.
"Thank you Lyle."
The footman bowed and left the room.
"Here you go Lily." Mrs. Potter served her a cup of tea. James continued standing beside his mother leaning against the mantel.
"Tell me Lily dear, how was your trip? I hope you didn't have any trouble finding us."
"I was fine Mrs. Potter, Professor McGonagall gave me maps to help me along."
"Oh good. I will send Lyle to show you your room after you are done with your tea. I'm sure you would like to unpack and get settled."
"Thank you Mrs. Potter, I will like to do so. In fact, I am ready now."
"Very well, James dear, go and get Lyle please."
James quietly opened the door and talked to somebody outside.
"I hope dear that you will be rested enough to join us for dinner tonight. We don't use the formal dining room when we are with family so we will be using the small dining room. I will tell Roberts to lead you to us so you won't get lost."
"Thank you Mrs. Potter." Said Lily with a nod and turned toward the door. James stood holding the door open to her and the footman awaited her. "Thanks." She whispered as she passed James.
After the door closed behind her, James turned angrily to his mother.
"Mother, what are you up to? Why didn't you tell me that Lily was the teacher you hired?"
"I thought I did dear, I must have forgotten." She said with a shrug.
"How could you have forgotten mother? I do not believe that. You are up to something." He scoffed.
"Really James, I do not see why you're so excitable about this. I expected her to write and tell you."
"Well obviously I didn't know. Don't you think that I would like to know if the person who was hired to teach my nieces is one of my friends?"
"Honestly James, if you are reacting like this I want you to go to your room."
"Mother, I'm an adult. You can't send me to my room, I'm not a child." James protested.
"When you act like a child I will treat you like a child. Go to your room and get ready for dinner." She exclaimed.
James walked out of the room.
"Honestly!" Mrs. Potter exclaimed in the empty room.
Lily walked down the front staircase. She saw the butler waiting for her on the bottom step. She sighed with relief, she wasn't too keen on wandering about the house trying to find her way.
"Hello Roberts." She greeted the old man. She remembered him from those days she spent at the Potter's house during the holidays when she was in her seventh year at Hogwarts.
"Good afternoon Miss. Master James and Mistress Susan are waiting for you in the back parlor. The family dining room is just across the hall from it."
Lily walked along with the butler the same way that his sister, the housekeeper Mrs. Nichols, had led her earlier that day.
"Here you are Miss." He said with a bow as he opened the door for her.
"Thank you Roberts." She said with a smile as she passed through the door.
"Hello Lily dear. I hope your room is to your taste." Greeted Mrs. Potter.
"Indeed it is Mrs. Potter, I never expected a room like it. I thought I would be sleeping near the nursery close to the girls." Said Lily. She had been quite surprised the moment she was shown into her room.
It was a pleasant room. Floral wallpapers, flowers adorning every table in the room. A large canopy bed stood in the center with heavy curtains surrounding it. A large fireplace on the side wall. The mantel above it adorned with small picture frames. On the wall in front of the bed was a large entertainment system, a color TV, a stereo, everything she would ever need. The floor was carpeted with lush, colorful rugs. A wall length window opened to a balcony, on which, to her joy, she could see a wonderful view to the gardens. It was a room worthy of a family friend, not of the teacher hired to teach a couple of little girls.
"Oh I thought that you would enjoy that room much better." Mrs. Potter intruded upon Lily's thoughts. "You are not just a teacher Lily, you are a friend as well. A room in the nursery floor is not enough." Mrs. Potter said with a wave of the hand.
"Thank you. I really like it."
"I'm glad dear. James' and my rooms are in the same wing, so if you have any problems you can let us know."
Lily looked down, she thought she would never have enough courage to go and knock on James' room to ask for anything. She made a mental note to ask for its location so she wouldn't knock on it by mistake.
"Here I am mother, the girls will be here soon." Said James as he entered the room. Lily quickly looked toward him and sighed. Even in muggle clothes he looks good, she thought.
"Very well dear. Roberts should be coming soon to tell us that dinner is ready." Said Mrs. Potter. She then turned back to Lily. "The girls always join us for dinner. I think that is the best way to show them how to comport themselves at the table. I hope you don't mind."
"Oh no, that is fine. I would like to meet them."
"Oh that is right you haven't met them yet. I'm sure you will come to love them. James quite dotes on them. I'm afraid that he will spoil them."
"Mother really. You are going to make Lily think that I have no backbone at all. Don't believe her Lily, she is exaggerating." He exclaimed. "Would you two ladies like something to drink as we wait for dinner?"
"Yes dear, a sherry will be fine." Said Mrs. Potter.
"Just a little please." Responded Lily.
While James poured the wine, the two women started to talk about the latest news in wizard society.
"And of course I couldn't let her go on with such a miscomprehension." Mrs. Potter was saying when the door opened and two small faces peered inside.
"Well come on you two, there is somebody here who is eager to meet you." Said James to the little girls.
The girls turned to look at each other and walked quietly into the room.
"Lily, these little devils are Cassandra and Francesca Sivini. Girls, this is my friend Lily Evans, she will be preparing you for Hogwarts."
"Nice to make your acquaintance Miss Evans." The two little girls said with a curtsey.
Lily laughed with delight. "Oh please call me Lily, Miss Evans makes me sound so stuffy. I hope I will soon be able to know you better and know who is who. James, I'm going to have problems, perhaps we can give them name tags." She said with a smile.
James laughed. "Perhaps we should, you are not the only one who would have that problem and they like to change places on us. Maybe we should charm the tags so they wouldn't be able to take them off."
"Oh no Uncle James."
"We don't want tags."
The girls said in horror.
"Don't worry girls, they are only teasing you." Said Mrs. Potter with a smile.
The girls sighed with relief and turned to look at the young lady their uncle said was his friend with curiosity.
"You are pretty."
"How old are you?"
"Girls really don't you know it's bad manners to ask a lady her age." Laughed James. "Lily will think that we haven't being doing a good job raising you."
The girls looked at their uncle. Even though he laughed a lot and always seemed happy especially when Uncle Sirius and Uncle Remus where here, they had never seen him in really good spirits before. On that instant, they decided that if this Lily was going to make their uncle happy then they would behave themselves and make no trouble for her.
"Madam." A voice said from the door. The group turned to notice Roberts. "Dinner is served."
"Thank you Roberts." Said Mrs. Potter. "Shall we go in?" She said to the group.
James led his mother to the small dining room while Lily followed with a girl in each hand.
Family dinners were quite informal in the Potter's household. The food was placed in the middle of the small round table, made to seat only eight people. Baked ham, salad, grilled chicken, marinated trout, fruit, and steamed vegetables were placed on the table. Five settings had been prepared and each sat whenever they liked. James sat at what Lily assumed was the head of the table. Mrs. Potter sat next to him and motioned Lily to sit on his other side. The girls sat on the two remaining seats, Roberts promptly placed two cushions for the little girls to sit upon.
James served the two ladies as they helped the little girls to choose.
"How was John, James? You said you were going to see him today." Asked Mrs. Potter once everybody had been served.
"Oh he is doing fine now. Old Doc patched him up really quick." Said James in between bites.
"John is one of our tenants, Lily dear. He broke his leg yesterday when he tried to check on his roof." Said Mrs. Potter when she noticed Lily trying to follow the conversation.
"Oh, is Old Doc a mediwizard then?" Lily asked with curiosity.
"Yes and no." James said. When he noticed Lily's confusion he added. "Old Doc is muggle born you see. His father was a doctor, his mother a nurse, so when he was over with his training at Hogwarts he continued with his education in muggle medicine in Cambridge, his father's old school. After he graduated from medical school he went into apprenticeship in St. Mungos'. He then set up practice in his father's clinic in London, conveniently near Diagon Alley. Before father was born, the town lost its doctor, and grandfather as leader of the community, put a notice in the London paper searching for a doctor. Old Doc saw the notice and remembered my grandfather's name, after all, the Potters are very well known in wizard society, and he came to apply for the job. Grandfather was happy to hire him, the town would have a new doctor and he wouldn't have to send for a mediwizard in London every time one of our tenants was hurt. So Old Doc has been with us for years now."
"That is a very interesting story. Your grandfather was very lucky to find him, mediwizards with muggle medicine training are very rare to find." Said Lily.
"They are. Old Doc has seen most of the children born and grow up in this area. He doesn't accept money from the town's people, so they pay him with food and services, like fixing anything he might have problems with. The owners of the big houses around the town pay him. We all pool money and pay him a salary." Said James.
"What will you do when he retires? He is going to be hard to replace." Lily said.
"His daughter will come to us. The town and the owners of the manors have decided that when the time comes for him to retire and his daughter decides to come to us, she will have the job." Said Mrs. Potter.
"Is she trained in both forms of medicine as well?" Lily asked. It would be a shame if she wasn't.
"Oh she is. He has two daughters you see, both are witches, but only one decided to get training in muggle medicine." Said Mrs. Potter.
"I see, so the one with the muggle training will be taking his place if she chooses." Lily said. "What about the other daughter, is she working in St. Mungo's?"
"Oh you know her dear, his eldest daughter is the nurse at Hogwarts, Madam Pomfrey. Her younger sister is the one that we are hoping will replace Doctor Pomfrey. She is working in the clinic her grandfather had originally built. She is doing quite well on her own." Responded Mrs. Potter.
"Oh, I didn't know that about Madam Pomfrey, but then again, she is not very talkative is she?" Said Lily with a smile.
"Well, she is very protective of the Potters, she has a great sense of honor and thinks that she has to treat us with special attention because we were the ones that hired her father. I don't think the girls or my own children for that matter, will escape from her special attentions." Grumbled James.
Lily laughed, but an unbidden picture of a small boy that looked very similar to James came to mind, and she wondered if James' son would look like that.
The day was a bright fall day. Lily woke up at the sounds of giggling and whispers. She smiled. It seemed that the twins decided to pay her a visit.
"Shhh! You will wake her."
"Did you bring it?"
"Yes. Here it is."
More giggles.
"I suggest you girls be more quiet if you want me to stay asleep." Lily said.
Two small gasps were heard and then silence.
"Come, what are you two doing here?" Lily said as she sat up on the bed. She slid the curtains and let the bright sunshine hit her bed.
The two little girls stood by the end of the bed with their hands on their backs.
"What do you have in your hands?" Lily asked with suspicion. What were these two up to?
"Nothing."
"Nothing."
"Show me your hands. You don't want your uncle or grandmother to find that you were pulling a prank on me, do you?"
"It wasn't a prank."
"We don't know how to pull one."
Lily laughed. "There is no way a Potter would not know how to get in trouble, it just follows them."
"But we are not Potters."
"We are Sivinis."
"But you are daughters and nieces of a Potter, that is enough. Come show me your hands."
The girls turned to look at each other and bowed their heads as they brought their hands to the front.
Their small hands were full of flowers.
"Oh, are they for me?" Lily exclaimed. She thought it was really sweet of the girls.
The little girls nodded.
Lily smiled and slid off the bed to kneel in front of them. She took the flowers from their hands and placed them on the table beside the bed. She then turned back to the two little girls who stood watching her. She smiled. They smiled back.
"Thank you, they are beautiful." And hugged them tight.
"Are you ready."
"To get up."
"It's late."
"Breakfast is ready."
"Will you girls join me for breakfast?" Lily asked as she got up and went toward the dresser. She opened the closet and started to rummage around looking for something to wear. Francie and Cassie jumped on to the bed and watched her choose her clothing.
"No, we ate already."
"Uncle James is getting ready now."
"He can keep you company." They said as Lily closed the door of the bathroom behind her.
"From that I gather that you already paid him a visit." Laughed Lily behind the closed door. The girls could hear the shower ran and movement inside the room.
"Oh yes."
"We like to wake him up."
"He doesn't mind."
"Oh I'm sure he doesn't." Said Lily. "Why don't you two run along and entertain yourselves. I will be ready soon. I'll visit you at the nursery once I've taken my breakfast."
"Ok." Both girls said and Lily heard them ran out of the room.
Lily chuckled. I think I'm going to like this place. She thought.
James was serving himself some ham and toast that was set in a platter in front of his seat when Lily came into the room.
"Good morning." She greeted him.
"Morning Lily. Did you have a good night?" He asked. He watched her as she stood beside the table laden with food. She picked up covers and looked into the trays trying to make a decision on what to eat.
"Oh wonderful night." She said as she chose some cereal and fruit salad. She then turned to take a seat near James.
"I'm glad." He said with relief. "I hope you are well rested, the twins can be quite a handful sometimes."
"I had a taste of their exuberance this morning." She said with a chuckle. James stopped from taking a bit of his toast.
"Oh, no. Don't tell me they woke you up? I really have to do something about their need to wake everybody up."
Lily laughed, nearly spilling the milk from her plate. "I gather that they do it often." She finally managed to say.
"I say. Sirius and Remus don't mind it. They think it funny. And they don't do it to mother, which I don't understand why. But they like to make sure that everybody is up at an ungodly early hour." James complained. He continued buttering his muffin and continued eating.
"Do you have any plans for them today. I'm not sure if you want me to start with their training right away." Said Lily following his example and buttering one of the muffins found on the middle of the table.
"Hmmm.Maybe you should just spend the time getting to know them first. They won't be paying you any attention for a while, they will be asking you questions after questions until they know everything there is to know about you." James said in between bites of his toast.
"Oh dear." Lily laughed. "I think I will enjoy teaching your nieces James, I wonder if you were like that as a child."
"Good god no, I was quite an angel." He replied as he tried to look angelic.
"I beg to differ. I don't think you have an angelic bone in your body." Exclaimed Lily. She put her napkin on her empty plate and stood up. "I told them to meet me at the nursery so I will be joining them now. See you later James." She turned to leave the room.
"Good luck Lily!" James yelled behind her. He could hear her laughter as she made her way to the nursery. He smiled. He was glad it was Lily who would be teaching his nieces. Very glad indeed.
Lily walked toward the nursery in trepidation. It was one thing to say that it would be fun teaching; it was quite another to be able to do so. What would it be like teaching two little girls who seemed to have more energy than a snidget?
As she neared the nursery she noticed that it was eerily quiet. She thought it was strange for a room where two little rambunctious little girls where so supposed to be in, to be so quiet.
She carefully entered the room and looked around. The room was like any other play room for little kids. Toy chests and shelves lined the wall. A small table stood in the middle of the room with four chairs around it and two teddy bears sitting in two of them and a tiny tea set on the wooden table. A large doll house stood near the large windows across from the door in which Lily stood. Dolls and books were thrown around the room. On a darkened corner of the room was a large couch. A large woman was sitting on it.
"Excuse me?" Lily asked.
"Yes dear, come on in." The woman said. Lily carefully approached her. She noticed that the woman was older than she thought. She seemed to be around seventy to eighty years of age. She was wearing a black dress made in the style of the last century and a pristine white apron on top of it.
"I gather you are the new teacher then?" The old lady asked.
"Yes I am. My name is Lily Evans." Lily said with a nod.
"Ah, the twins told me that an old friend of Master James had come to teach them. Is that true? Are you a friend of his?" The old lady asked with peering eyes.
"Well, yes. We were in the same year at Hogwarts. I was Head Girl when he was Head Boy." Lily said. She stayed standing in front of the old lady. She sensed that she was on a sort of trial and that this lady was the judge. She preferred to be on her feet if it was so.
The old woman nodded and stayed quiet looking fixedly at Lily.
Lily shifted her weight from one foot to another, was this inquisition over?
"You'll do." The woman suddenly said.
Lily was surprised. It seemed that she just passed a test.
"Hmmm.can you tell me where the girls are? I told them that I would meet them here after my breakfast." Said Lily.
"Wake you up, did they? That means they like you. They only do that to those they like. I'm their nurse you see. I know them pretty well. I have been raising Potter children since Master Aliaster was born." Nurse said.
"Glad to meet you. But where are the girls? I was expecting to see them running around in here." Said Lily with a swept of her hand.
"Oh they never stay in one place for long. They were here for half an hour and then they slipped by me to go to the kennels." The old Nurse said.
"How do you know they went to the kennels?" Lily said with a frown.
"Oh they've been going there on the last couple of weeks to see the puppies. One of Master James' hounds had puppies and the girls found out about them. They are trying to get Master James to let them have one."
"Oh poor James. I gather he is not too keen to the idea." Lily laughed.
"You seem to know him very well if you think that." The old lady said with a pleased smile. "He is not, but he will give in eventually. He usually does. He cannot say no to those girls."
"Perhaps I should go and look for them. It wouldn't do to let them make trouble in the kennels, James would not be too happy about that." Said Lily and waved goodbye to Nurse as she left the room.
"She will do very well for him. I see what Mistress Susan means. She will do quite well." Nurse muttered as she heard Lily walking away from the nursery.
A/N: I'm quite happy with myself that I could have this ready for you so soon. I hope you enjoy it. This is the beginning of a new part of my story and there is more to come.
Disclaimer: (I forgot to put it in the last three chapters) I own nothing besides the plot.
~Legacy of Two Generations~ Part II ~ New Beginnings
Chapter 1 ~ Three Years Later
"Are you sure dear that you have everything?" Asked Mrs. Evans as she helped her daughter with her packing.
"Yes mum, all is here." Said Lily with a smile. For the past three years she had been living with her parents as she continued with her therapy after an accident left her unable to walk for a month during her last year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
She was now leaving her home for good. Her old Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, had offered her a position as an apprentice at Hogwarts. She was now packing to start a new life away from home. Her parents were not too happy about it.
"You know dear that you don't need to work. Your father is quite wealthy. You can stay here with us." Said Mrs. Evans in a last try to get her daughter to stay. She was sorry to see her go. For three years, Lily had been a companion and a joy to her.
Her older daughter, Petunia, had married a man named Vernon Dursley the summer Lily returned from her last year at Hogwarts. Mr. and Mrs. Evans had made it clear that they wanted their younger daughter to attend the wedding otherwise they would not pay for any expense. Petunia wasn't very fond of her sister, but she had no choice. If she wanted to have the large wedding she was planning, she had to wait for Lily for the wedding to take place. This made her dislike Lily more than before.
"I know mum, but I want to work. You know I'm not one of those debutantes that can only go to parties every night and sleep late until noon. That's not me." Said Lily.
"You could work for your father. He needs an assistant."
"You are his personal assistant mum. Besides, I want to work in the magical world, there is so much that I can do."
"I'm going to miss you Lily." Exclaimed Mrs. Evans. "But perhaps you are right. You are too talented a witch to stay behind. But you will write often, won't you?"
"Yes mum, I'll owl you everyday."
Mrs. Evans nodded in satisfaction. "How are you going to get to Hogwarts? Is the train going to pick you up?"
"Oh no mum. I'm going to apparate. Professor Dumbledore sent me the coordinates of the apparating point in Hogsmeade. There will be a carriage waiting for me."
"I'm not sure I like that form of transportation Lily, it sounds very dangerous to me." Frowned Mrs. Evans.
"That's why a license is needed from the Ministry. If it's not done right anything could go wrong. But I've had my license for more than two years mum, there is nothing to worry about."
"Humph!" Snorted Mrs. Evans, she obviously didn't agree with her daughter.
"Where is daddy?"
"He is in his bookroom, he had to make a call to his office."
"Well, I'm all set." Said Lily with a sigh of relief. It had taken her quite a while to decide what to take with her but she was finally done.
"I'll go get your father. Where are you going to leave from? Do you need to go to a special place to do so?"
"No mum, I can do it from anywhere. I can go with you to daddy and I'll dissapparate from the bookroom." Said Lily as she started to collect her things.
Mother and daughter started to descend the stairs toward Mr. Evans' bookroom, it was his special place where he could go to be alone away from the women of the house. It smelled of tobacco and musk. A scent that Lily would always connect to her father.
"Edward get away from that phone, our daughter is ready to leave." Exclaimed Mrs. Evans as soon as she opened the door.
"I'll talk to you later McCoy, my Princess is leaving now. Yes, thank you, I'll tell her." Mr. Evans hung up the phone.
"Really daddy, there is no need to tell everybody." Said Lily smiling at her father.
"Sorry Princess, I can't help it. McCoy wishes you luck by the way." He said approaching the two women as they stood in the middle of the room with Jocasta's cage. Lily had shrunk her trunk and had put it away in her cloak.
"It has been a while since I've seen you wear witches' robes." Said Mr. Evans as he looked over her daughter. He thought the emerald cloak, which covered her burgundy robes looked quite fetching on her. But in his opinion, his daughter looked fetching no matter what she wore.
Lily laughed. "I know. I had to go to Diagon Alley and replenish my wardrobe. Emma, Katie and I had a great time."
"Yes I imagine you did." Said Mr. Evans with a smile. "Do you need us to take you somewhere, we really didn't discuss how you plan to get to Hogwarts." Mr. Evans frowned. At least, he didn't remember if they had discussed it.
"I'll be apparating daddy, I can do it from here." Said Lily with a smile. "I'll miss you both." She said as she hugged her mother and her father.
"We will miss you too Princess. We will be looking for Jocasta everyday." Mr. Evans said as he hugged his daughter. Mrs. Evans was sobbing quietly in a handkerchief.
"Bye." She said as she took the cage from the floor.
"Bye dear."
"See you Princess."
Lily disapparated with a pop.
"Do you think she will be alright?" Asked Mrs. Evans as her husband took her in his arms to comfort her.
"I'm sure. We have an intelligent daughter, love, she knows how to take care of herself.
"Mother, I will not tolerate any more house parties, I have way too many things to take care of to be bothered with guests at the moment. Maybe later we can have a house party or something, but not now." Said an exasperated James to his mother one morning.
"Oh James please don't be like that, you know it's the season to have parties, besides how are you going to find a suitable young lady to marry if you stay here all the time. If you don't want me to organize too many house parties here in the estate then you need to go to the city more often and socialize, I don't want people to think that you have become a hermit." Mrs. Potter had become very interested in her son's single status. The first year after James return from Hogwarts had been a quiet time, a time of mourning for Mr. Potter and Elizabeth, the Potters' daughter and James' older sister. Mr. Potter and Elizabeth along with her husband had been killed in an attack previously that year. James had been left as guardian of his twin nieces. But for the last year, Mrs. Potter had resumed in her search of a mate for her son. She had given it up while he was still in his seventh year because she liked the young woman her son had a relationship with, Lily Evans. But that relationship was broken and to Mrs. Potter's dismay, James had not been interested in any other girl since.
"Mother, I socialize, I was in the city just last week and it wasn't on business."
"You were with Sirius, and don't think that I don't know what you and your friends do when you get together, and it's not socializing. Going to bars and clubs, you can't meet suitable ladies that way."
"We meet women, and that's enough for us. Mother, I know you want what is best for the family and the estate, but don't worry, when it's time for me to marry I will, I know I have a duty to do so. But I'm 21 I still have a lot of time to think about it, let's concentrate in Elizabeth's children now and do what is best for them."
"They need a mother's touch, I cannot give them that James. I'm a grandmother. They need somebody younger that will lead them and train them for their time at Hogwarts."
"Mother I don't want to discuss this! Now, I've thought of building a school for the estate children, Cassie and Francie can attend the school along with the other kids, after all, they will all study together when they get to Hogwarts, they might as well learn to work together."
"You're right, the children should get to know each other, that way there are no surprises when they leave and go to Hogwarts. Do you suppose we can find somebody who would agree to teach a group of children?"
"I don't know, Remus would agree but I don't know where he is at the moment. I suppose I could owl him and hope he receives my letter, if he agrees to do so we're set, otherwise we can owl Dumbledore, there are always graduates who stay at Hogwarts to train as teachers, any of them would be perfect for our purposes."
"That is an excellent idea! Now dear, I must get ready, I'm expecting someone today."
"This friend of yours doesn't happen to have a daughter does she?"
"Oh no, she's single!"
"Mother!" But Mrs. Potter had already left the room, leaving behind a resigned James.
"Come in my dear, I've been waiting for you." Said Professor Dumbledore when he heard a knock on his door.
The door opened and Lily walked into the room.
"How did you know it was me professor? Or do you call everybody dear?" Asked Lily with a mischievous smile.
Dumbledore laughed. He liked people who had a good sense on humor and the girl standing before him certainly did. Especially after surviving seven years with the most notorious pranksters the school had ever had. He hoped that it would be some time until Hogwarts house another set like them.
"Now my dear, ready to join us." Asked Dumbledore as soon as his laughter receded.
"Oh yes Professor." Said Lily eagerly. She was looking forward to join the staff in the castle.
"I asked you to come weeks before the students did because I want you to work with the teachers as they plan their lessons. Think of it as a type of orientation."
"I understand Professor." Said Lily with a nod.
"Now Lily, you don't have to call me Professor anymore. Dumbledore will do." He said with a smile.
"Sorry Pro- I mean Dumbledore. It will take me a while to become accustomed."
"Oh don't worry. We'll go down to luncheon now. I'm sure you are eager to reacquaint yourself with the others." Said Dumbledore as he stood. Lily followed him out of his office toward the staff room.
Later that week.
"What are you doing out here?" Said a voice. James turned to look behind him and smiled at his friend.
"Trying to avoid my mother." He said.
Sirius laughed as he joined James and watched as the grooms exercised the horses.
"Perhaps you should get on one of those horses and go for a ride. When I went up to the house your mother seemed very disappointed that you weren't there to meet her friend." Said Sirius with a chuckle.
"I bet she was. You would not believe the number of visitors she has had during the last months. Thank god fall is soon here and all the socialites will be leaving the country to return to the city and start on their usual rounds of parties and balls."
"Oh, is Mr. Potter not joining in the usual rounds this season?"
"No. I told her I wasn't going. She is miffed at me. In any case, I want to stay here and take care of some business. I'm building the school and I still haven't been able to hire a teacher."
What about Remus, did you talk to him?"
"I sent him an owl, he says he is in Africa right now. He is working for a medicine man and they are trying to find something to help him with his illness. He doesn't know when he will be back. I just sent an owl to Dumbledore asking if one of his trainees would accept the position."
"He would have been perfect." Sighed Remus.
"I thought so too. But you know how self-conscious he is about his illness. He says he doesn't want to put anybody in danger. That's why he broke it off with Emma just last summer."
"Big mistake, that." Sirius shook his head. "Katie wrote me a scathing letter telling me to do something about it. But what can a man do? I'm not getting involved. It's not my business."
"Lily wrote me as well. She was angry. But it's not my fault. And I'm not going to get involved either. I made the mistake of telling my mother. She took Emma's side of course."
"No wonder you are hiding from her." Laughed Sirius. "How is Lily doing? I haven't spoke to her lately."
"She just took a job, but she didn't tell me where."
"Oh, she would be a good person to hire as a teacher."
James shrugged. He wasn't sure if he agreed. Lily would be a good teacher. But they have a history between them and he still had feelings for her. He wasn't sure if he wanted her nearby and be treated as just a friend by her.
The last three years had been generous to our favorite group. Lily had continued her therapy and been able to recover fully. She still had some trouble with her back, but she found that a cup of tea would soothe her. James had been working tirelessly around his estate. The twins had kept him on his toes but he had great fun keeping an eye on them. He dreaded the time when they would be ready to join Hogwarts. They were two bundles of energy and he dreaded the owls he would receive from Professor Dumbledore about their behavior. Sirius was a carefree young man who delighted in being thought a frivolous young man. He took part of the social rounds taking place in the magical society. The fact that Katie was always seen on his arm drew speculations from the society gossips but he had given no clue if he meant it to be a permanent relationship, no matter that they had been seen together for four years now. Katie enjoyed taking part of the social rounds with Sirius, but she was soon tiring of it. It angered her that Sirius sometimes took her and their relationship for granted and if he didn't change their status quo soon, she would be giving him a piece of her mind. Remus had been going from one job to another. The year before he had decided to leave the country and travel around the world looking for a cure to his problem, his parents were well off and had decided to fund his research. As a result of his travels, he had become acquainted with creatures and magic theories that he had never been exposed to before. When he returned during the summer he had made a decision. He had decided that in order to keep those whom he cared about safe, he needed to keep them away from him. His monthly transformations had become more aggressive and dangerous and didn't think that his friends would be able to help him. He had broken up with Emma for that reason. Emma had been considerably hurt by his decision. She had understood why he thought he needed to do so, but she had been his partner for so long that it was hard for her to let go. Emma had become a researcher for the Ministry of Magic. She was working with the Committee of the Preservation of Magical Creatures and she enjoyed it. But even her love for her work didn't help her to keep her mind of her troubles with Remus. Her friends had stepped in and helped her to get through it. Peter had been busy taking care of his mother who had fallen ill soon after he graduated from Hogwarts. As a result he had been cut off from society and didn't see his friends too often. It was something that all parties would eventually come to regret.
"Professor, did you ask for me?" Asked Lily as she entered Dumbledore's office.
"Yes Lily, please sit down, I have something important to tell you. I have just received an owl from a very prominent family in our world; they're looking for a tutor who would be available to tutor two little girls. You have done outstanding work here as an assistant and I thought you would like to take this job. If you don't want to that's all right, I'm sure I can find someone else."
"I would like to take it Professor, it will be a great opportunity for me. What can you tell me about the family?"
"You would be going to a small household; as I said before it is a very respected and wealthy family. You would be working with two little girls, seven year-old twins; they're in the custody of their Uncle, a very young man about the same age as yourself, and of their grandmother. They would be the only ones you will meet around the house, except for the servants of course. I'm sure you will be happy here, I've met the family on several occasions and I've always known them to be very social."
"When would I be needed to Apparate to them?"
"As soon as you can be ready. Why don't you pack your belongings and get some rest; tomorrow will be good enough."
"Very well Professor. Have a good night, and thank you."
"You have no need to thank me Lily, you've been an exemplary employee as you were a student, and it is time for you to create your own future. Remember that you can always come to Hogwarts whenever you need help, I will never close the doors to those who need me."
"I know Professor. Good night." Lily kissed Dumbledore's cheek and walked toward the door.
"Good night my dear, sleep well." Said Dumbledore watching her with a twinkle in his eyes.
Oh dear! I overslept; I hope I don't forget anything. Thought Lily as she checked all the corners of her room. I wonder what kind of family they are; I forgot to ask the Professor the name of this family. If he says the guardian of the little girls are about my age, then he might've been here in Hogwarts at about the same time I was. Oh dear, I'm so nervous!
Lily was walking along the corridor toward the Great Hall for breakfast. It was still very early in the morning but most of the teachers were already seating at their table eating. Lily walked up to the table and sat besides young Professor Vector, the Arithmacy teacher. Lily chose something to eat and looked toward the students, who had arrived just last night, and where now getting their class schedules. Lily had missed the Sorting Ceremony and the Banquet last night, she had spent her time packing for her new job.
"Good morning Lily, I've heard about your new job, I must congratulate you not many young witches would be considered for this position."
"Thank you Professor, I'm really looking forward to this. I really hope I know enough to make my employers happy."
"I can't think of anyone more qualified for this position than you. Don't you worry, we are very proud of you, you were the best student we have had in many years and I don't think we'll have another for quite some time."
"Thank you Professor, I really enjoyed my time here in Hogwarts, as a student and as an assistant to all of you."
"Lily dear," said a smiling Professor McGonagall, "if you follow me I'll give you directions to your new job."
Lily left the table following Professor McGonagall. They finally entered the latter's office, where Lily noticed her belongings waiting for her.
"Here Lily, these are maps of the area, and here is the name of the exact location you will need to apparate. We're really proud of you dear!" Said Professor McGonagall with a few tears in her eyes.
"Thank you Professor, I promise I won't let you down!" Said Lily as she hugged her mentor. "Good Bye!" And with that she disappeared down the main hall toward the carriage waiting for her at the entrance.
"James please be ready to greet our new teacher this afternoon." Said Mrs. Potter at breakfast.
James looked up in surprise. "Teacher?" He asked. "What teacher?"
"For our school silly. Don't you remember that we have been looking for a teacher for the estate children?"
"But mother, the school is not built yet and Dumbledore hasn't responded to my owl."
"Oh he did, I opened it for you. I sent him an owl saying that we could receive the teacher he is sending today." She said as buttered a piece of bread.
James looked at his mother with a mixture of anger and uncertainty. "Mother, you were supposed to talk to me about it. The school is not built yet, where do you expect this person to teach if there is no place to do so." He exclaimed with anger.
"She can teach the twins while you build the school. There is no reason for you to become concerned." She said with a shrug. "Besides, you and our tenants are wizards. You can build the place in no time."
"Mother, have you forgotten that our neighbors are muggles. They will see it as a miracle if we build a school from one day to the other. You know that we must do things the muggle way around here. True that we use magic with subtlety but we make sure nothing seems out of place. Really mother, you seem to forget things sometimes." Exasperation filled his voice.
"James Potter don't you speak to your mother in that tone! You will apologize and be ready to greet the teacher this afternoon. I raised you to be a gentleman." Mrs. Potter exclaimed. James flushed and muttered "sorry" before she stomped out of the room.
Roberts, the butler, had been standing by the door the whole time James and his mother were eating. He now hurried forward to clear Mrs. Potter's emptied place.
"Roberts. What do you know about this teacher that is coming today?" James asked. He knew that in big households, as his, the servants tended to know everything before the masters did. Gossip always seemed to travel faster than owl post.
"I'm sorry Sir. Nothing has been mentioned about her. I just know that it is a young woman and that Professor Dumbledore had recommended her highly." Roberts said as he took out his wand to clear the used plates and dispose of the remains.
James nodded. He was soon lost in contemplation and didn't notice as the table was cleared by Roberts and one of his footmen. By the time he noticed that he was still sitting at the table, the dinning room was empty and Roberts had returned to his post by the front door. James shook his head and started to leave the room as he heard a pair of small voices giggling and whispering just outside the door.
He smiled. "What are you two up to?" He said looking down at the two girls kneeling beside the dining room door.
"Hello Uncle James."
"Good Morning Uncle James."
"Humph, you two want something." He said with suspicion.
The two little girls turned to look at each other and started to giggle once more.
"Ok, out with it, what do you two want?" He said.
"Can we go with you?"
"To the fields."
"Please."
"Pretty please."
James looked warily at the pair. He would take them with him as he was only planning to visit a tenant of his who had fallen as he was repairing his roof and had broken his leg the previous day, but he didn't want to be in his mother's black books for much longer.
"What did your grandmother said?" He asked.
"Hmmm."
"Er."
The girls turned to each other. "All right, let's go and look for her and see what she has to say." He sighed and took the two little hands that had reached out to him.
He was happy to have the two little girls with him. After his father's and sister's death he had been devastated. He had a very close relationship with his family and to have half of it gone at the same time was hard to comprehend. At first, he had been scared when he was told that he had become the guardian of his two three year old nieces, but now he didn't want it any other way. The little girls had brought laughter and joy to a house that had been dressed in black and full of depression. James and his mother had pulled themselves out of their sorrow and grief in order to give these little girls the love and attention that they needed. The last three years had been generous to them. Both girls were now seven years old and were as rambunctious as they had been at three. James was always teased by his mother and the servants whenever he had to deal with a mischief the girls had done. "It's your reward for giving your father and me too many white hairs so early in life." His mother always said, and he had come to believe that perhaps it was so. He dreaded to think what his own children would be like.
The trio walked quietly toward the front parlor, where James hoped to find his mother. The sun was shining brightly through the wall-length windows. The walls were richly decorated with expensive works of art. There were several small tables placed strategically throughout the room on which little figurines and flowers were placed. The furniture pieces were made in the Regency Era style. Even though they seemed rigid and conservative they were surprisingly comfortable and sturdy; only those with advanced magic training would have noticed the Cushioning Charm and the Strengthening Charm that had been used for the furniture.
Mrs. Potter was sitting in front of the large windows with her yarn and needles busy making warm woolen scarves and gloves for the children on the estate, which she always gave away at the beginning of every winter.
Mrs. Potter looked up as he heard the door open. She smiled when she saw her son enter leading her two little granddaughters.
"Good morning dears. How was your breakfast with nurse?" She asked as the two little girls ran to kiss her cheek.
"It was good Nana."
"We had strawberries today."
"With porridge."
"And cream."
"And milk."
The little girls exclaimed.
Mrs. Potter laughed, it was good to see them full of excitement, even if it was about breakfast.
"And what are you going to do now?" She asked as she put away her material so she could speak with her granddaughters.
"We want to go with Uncle James."
"Please, Nana."
"And where is Uncle James going today?" She asked. The two little girls turned to look at James with curious expressions. Mrs. Potter smiled and turned to look at her son.
James was leaning against the mantle on the other side of the room, smiling at the sight in front of him.
"I'm going to see the Morrisons mother. John had an accident yesterday and I want to check on him." He said.
"Oh dear, that's right you told me about it at dinner. Would you take a basket with you? Some preserves and cakes perhaps."
"Of course mother."
"I will tell Roberts to tell Otty to prepare one right away." Mrs. Potter quickly stood up and was about to leave the room when she was stopped.
"Nana!!!" The twins screamed.
Mrs. Potter turned to look at them. "Yes dears."
"We want to go."
"With Uncle James."
Mrs. Potter turned to James.
"Are you taking Sultan James?"
"Yes. It's easier to get to them by horse than by carriage of car. Although, I can take the motorcycle as well."
"I will not let you take the girls on that contraption. I don't know what Sirius was thinking when he gave you that thing for your birthday." Mrs. Potter exclaimed. She didn't like to think of her son on top of that particular motorcycle and the thought of her small granddaughters on it made her hair stand on end.
"Horse it is then. I'm sure Sultan will like a nice trot." He said.
"Well, make sure that the girls are in their riding clothes before you go. I'm sure Sultan will not mind a little more weight, he is a huge beast and strong if he can handle you."
James nodded and watched his mother leave the room to prepare a basket for his tenant.
"Well? What are you two waiting for? Go and get dressed, or I will leave without you." He said.
The girls squealed and ran out of the room.
James laughed.
Half an hour later, the nursery maid took the two excited little girls to the stables. James was waiting by the door as the horse was readied for him.
"There you are. I will have them back safe Nurse, don't worry."
"You better Master James." The old nurse shook his finger at him. "I know you since you were in shorts, and I know in how much trouble you can get yourself into."
James laughed. "Don't worry Nurse, we will return soon."
Lily apparated in a middle of a dense forest. It was a sunny day and she could hear cars passing nearby. She went behind some bushes and quickly changed into muggle clothes. She had to cross a muggle town and it wouldn't do to stay in her witch's robes. She shrunk her trunk and hid it safely into her sweater's pocket. She made sure Jocasta's cage was completely covered. She picked up her belongings and started walking toward the road. She had memorized the map that Professor McGonagall had given her of the area, she only had three miles to walk until she got to town from there she could hire a taxi or any kind of transportation to go to the estate. She looked around as she walked.
The sun was bright, there was a soft breeze that made the tendrils of hair escape from the bun at the nape of her neck. She passed some fields. She saw sheep, horses and cattle all over the place. The flowers grew wild everywhere she looked.
"Oh this is going to be a great place to live." She exclaimed as she saw a couple of rabbits hopping by the road.
It wasn't long until she arrived at the small bustling town. Small stores lined the square of what seemed to be the center of town. It reminded her of that small town where her family and friends spent Christmas with James' family. Godric's Hollow. How she missed those simpler times.
She walked toward the largest building in the square. She saw the large sign in front of the main door. The Golden Brook. She entered the inn. The large room she found herself in was relatively empty. It looked like a bar room. A large counter was in front of the door where a man stood cleaning the glasses. Bottles of what she assumed was alcoholic drinks were behind him. A color TV was on showing the local news. Two old men sat in a booth beside the counter, both drinking from large tankards as they watched the news closely.
"And for the southern region it looks like a perfect weather awaits us. Perfect for harvest. So to all farmers out there, it is time to take out your baskets and start gathering your produce. Now let's go back to John." The weatherman was saying when Lily walked up to the counter.
"Excuse me." Lily said to the man behind the counter.
The man turned to look at Lily with surprise. "Yes Miss. What can I do for you?"
"Hi, I'm supposed to go up to the manor but I'm not sure if there is a mode of transportation to get there." Lily said with a smile.
"Are you the teacher they hired for the young misses?" Asked the bartender.
"Yes."
The man nodded and walked to a door that was behind one of the cases. "Oy, Martin. The teacher is here." He said.
A large man came into the room and looked toward Lily. Lily looked apprehensively toward him.
"Are you Miss Lily?" Asked the man with a kind voice. Lily smiled this man reminded her of Hagrid.
"Yes, I'm Lily Evans."
The man nodded and got around the counter. "The mistress sent me to come and pick you up. If you will wait here for a moment I will go and bring the car to the entrance." The man left the room without waiting for a response.
"Don't let him scare you. He seems big and gruff but he is kind." Said the bartender.
Lily smiled. "I have a friend like that. Some people are afraid of him when they first see him but once you get to know him he is just the best person alive.
The bartender nodded. "Would you like something to drink something while you wait? I have non-alcoholic drinks if you prefer." He quickly added when he saw Lily looking at the bottles behind him with an expression of disgust.
Lily nodded and asked for a soda. She sat on a table near the entrance and sipped her glass. The men on the booths had barely glanced her way. The bartender had returned to his cleaning and Lily now had time to look around.
She had barely started to look around when she heard a horn of a car. She quickly stood and walked to the entrance. A black car awaited her. The man who had left the room before was standing by it holding the door open for her.
"If you are ready Miss, I will take you up to the Manor." He said. Lily nodded and with a deep breath got into the car.
The car sped down a narrow path, it was big enough to let two cars pass side by side. Lily looked out the window trying to see the countryside. It looked wild and natural. She liked it. After growing up in the city, the countryside would be a nice change for her.
"What is your name?" She asked to the driver.
"Martin Miss." He responded.
"Are you a wizard too Martin?"
"Yes Miss. My family has served our masters for centuries and they have always made sure that we had what we needed to complete our training." He sounded proud to be part of the household.
"You mean they hire somebody to train you?"
"No Miss. They buy the books and robes and materials that we need to go to Hogwarts and when we come back after the seventh year we have a place to work."
"Oh! Have they always done that?"
"Yes Miss. The current master is planning to have a school build in the state to teach the young ones before they are ready to go to Hogwarts."
"Oh, that sounds like a lot of fun. Are there many kids in the estate?"
"Not many Miss. There are only about 15, from the age of two to nine, including the young Misses."
"What are they like? I know they are twins."
Martin chuckled. "You are going to have your hands full with them Miss."
Lily laughed.
"We are here Miss."
Lily looked toward the house. She gasped at the sight of it. It was a large house. The front was covered with Ivy but it looked like it had been trimmed to let the light shine through the windows. The windows didn't see too large, just like small circles here and there. Two large marble columns stood at each side of the front door, which stood open at that moment.
"Miss?" Lily turned to look at Martin who was standing outside holding the door open for her. Lily blushed. She was so busy looking at the house she didn't notice that Martin had been waiting for her.
She stepped out the door and walked up to the front door. She could see a woman standing by it.
"Welcome Miss, I'm Mrs. Nichols, I'm the housekeeper." The woman said with a smile.
"Hello Mrs. Nichols, very nice to meet you." Said Lily.
"If you follow me Miss. The Mistress is waiting for you in the back parlor." The housekeeper motioned one of the footmen to take the Lily's luggage. She took out her trunk from her pocket and handed it to him along with Jocasta's cage.
Lily was lead across the entrance hall. Several benches lined the walls. Large paintings covered every space of each wall. Next they passed a narrow corridor. The paintings were smaller but like those in the entrance hall they were clearly muggle paintings.
Next they passed a large corridor. Weapons of all kinds lined the walls. Daggers, axes, swords, etc. "This is the armory." Said Mrs. Nichols as she watched Lily looking around.
"An exquisite collection." Lily said.
"They have a protective charm around it. The Master was afraid that the young Misses would become too curious and would hurt themselves."
"Good precaution."
They continued down the corridor but Lily noticed that the weapons were now gone, in their place large portraits lined the walls. They were clearly family portraits and unlike the other paintings she had seen these were wizard paintings as the subjects of the portraits moved and whispered to each other. Lily didn't have time to look at the portraits closely but she thought that they seemed somewhat familiar.
"We are nearly there Miss." Mrs. Nichols said.
"Come girls we have to hurry up. I told your grandmother I was going to be there when your new teacher got here." Urged James as soon as they had returned to the stables after visiting his tenant.
"Coming Uncle James."
"Uncle James?"
"Yes?" He cautiously asked. When the girls used that tone he knew they wanted something.
"Can we have puppy?"
"Please?"
"Pretty Please?"
"The Hortons have puppies."
"Oh? And where do you plan to keep it?"
"With us."
"In the nursery."
James laughed. "I don't think Nurse would like that very much."
"The stables."
"Dick can keep an eye on it."
"You have dogs."
"Lots of dogs."
"They are hunting dogs. I'll speak with mother see what she says about it."
"All right." Both girls said and ran ahead of him playing an impromptu game of tag.
James walked purposely toward the back terrace, which opened to the back parlor.
James opened the glass doors and the girls sneaked past him as they ran to Mrs. Potter.
"Nana."
"Nana."
"Guess what?"
"We are going to have a puppy."
"You little rascals, I said that we would see." James exclaimed.
"You might as well give up James, these two can get past your barriers and get away with anything." Laughed Mrs. Potter.
James only shook his head. "Am I on time? I have not missed meeting this teacher you hired did I?"
"No, she hasn't arrived yet." Mrs. Potter said as she gave cookies to both girls and little cups of tea. The cups had been made especially for them and they enjoyed playing grown up as they took tea with grandmother.
"Very well."
"Why do we have to have a teacher?"
"You can teach us what we need."
"We don't want a teacher."
"What if she is mean?"
"She is not going to be mean, I'm sure that you both will like her." Said Mrs. Potter.
The girls didn't seem to believe that.
"Why don't you two go up to the nursery? I'm sure that Nurse is waiting for you." Urged James. The girls out aside their empty cups and ran out of the room.
"They are going to be a handful mother, I hope this person you hired will be up to it." James said with a worried tone. "What if they take an instant dislike of her?"
"Oh don't worry James, everything will be fine, you'll see." Said Mrs. Potter.
"Madam." A footman called from the door.
"Yes Lyle."
"The teacher has just arrived, Mrs. Nichols is bringing her over."
"Thank you Lyle. Please bring a fresh pot of tea, I'm sure she must be parched." Commanded Mrs. Potter. The footman bowed and promptly left the room.
They soon heard footsteps coming their way. James was standing in front of the large windows looking out toward the gardens. Mrs. Potter was silently waiting for her guest to arrive.
"Madam." Mrs. Roberts called.
"Come in Mrs. Nichols." Commanded Mrs. Potter. James heard the housekeeper enter but he didn't turn around. "Hello dear, it has been a while since I've seen you I hope your trip was uneventful"
"Hello Mrs. Potter. Everything went fine thank you." A familiar voice responded. James quickly turned and his breath escaped as he spied the person who had just entered.
"James dear, you remember Lily."
"Hello James." Lily said in a breathless voice.
"Hello Lily." James replied.
Both stood looking at each other. Mrs. Potter looked from one to the other with a pleased smile.
"Well, why don't you sit Lily, I'm sure you must be tired. A fresh pot of tea should be arriving soon." Mrs. Potter said as she motioned Lily to take a sit.
James and Lily looked away from each other.
"Thank you Mrs. Potter."
"Oh no problem my dear. How are your parents doing? I haven't spoken to them for quite a while."
"They are doing very well."
"How is your sister? Are you an aunt yet?"
Lily laughed. "I honestly cannot see Petunia as a mother, but no, she doesn't have children yet."
A footman entered the room carrying a tray with a fresh pot of tea and extra cups.
"Thank you Lyle."
The footman bowed and left the room.
"Here you go Lily." Mrs. Potter served her a cup of tea. James continued standing beside his mother leaning against the mantel.
"Tell me Lily dear, how was your trip? I hope you didn't have any trouble finding us."
"I was fine Mrs. Potter, Professor McGonagall gave me maps to help me along."
"Oh good. I will send Lyle to show you your room after you are done with your tea. I'm sure you would like to unpack and get settled."
"Thank you Mrs. Potter, I will like to do so. In fact, I am ready now."
"Very well, James dear, go and get Lyle please."
James quietly opened the door and talked to somebody outside.
"I hope dear that you will be rested enough to join us for dinner tonight. We don't use the formal dining room when we are with family so we will be using the small dining room. I will tell Roberts to lead you to us so you won't get lost."
"Thank you Mrs. Potter." Said Lily with a nod and turned toward the door. James stood holding the door open to her and the footman awaited her. "Thanks." She whispered as she passed James.
After the door closed behind her, James turned angrily to his mother.
"Mother, what are you up to? Why didn't you tell me that Lily was the teacher you hired?"
"I thought I did dear, I must have forgotten." She said with a shrug.
"How could you have forgotten mother? I do not believe that. You are up to something." He scoffed.
"Really James, I do not see why you're so excitable about this. I expected her to write and tell you."
"Well obviously I didn't know. Don't you think that I would like to know if the person who was hired to teach my nieces is one of my friends?"
"Honestly James, if you are reacting like this I want you to go to your room."
"Mother, I'm an adult. You can't send me to my room, I'm not a child." James protested.
"When you act like a child I will treat you like a child. Go to your room and get ready for dinner." She exclaimed.
James walked out of the room.
"Honestly!" Mrs. Potter exclaimed in the empty room.
Lily walked down the front staircase. She saw the butler waiting for her on the bottom step. She sighed with relief, she wasn't too keen on wandering about the house trying to find her way.
"Hello Roberts." She greeted the old man. She remembered him from those days she spent at the Potter's house during the holidays when she was in her seventh year at Hogwarts.
"Good afternoon Miss. Master James and Mistress Susan are waiting for you in the back parlor. The family dining room is just across the hall from it."
Lily walked along with the butler the same way that his sister, the housekeeper Mrs. Nichols, had led her earlier that day.
"Here you are Miss." He said with a bow as he opened the door for her.
"Thank you Roberts." She said with a smile as she passed through the door.
"Hello Lily dear. I hope your room is to your taste." Greeted Mrs. Potter.
"Indeed it is Mrs. Potter, I never expected a room like it. I thought I would be sleeping near the nursery close to the girls." Said Lily. She had been quite surprised the moment she was shown into her room.
It was a pleasant room. Floral wallpapers, flowers adorning every table in the room. A large canopy bed stood in the center with heavy curtains surrounding it. A large fireplace on the side wall. The mantel above it adorned with small picture frames. On the wall in front of the bed was a large entertainment system, a color TV, a stereo, everything she would ever need. The floor was carpeted with lush, colorful rugs. A wall length window opened to a balcony, on which, to her joy, she could see a wonderful view to the gardens. It was a room worthy of a family friend, not of the teacher hired to teach a couple of little girls.
"Oh I thought that you would enjoy that room much better." Mrs. Potter intruded upon Lily's thoughts. "You are not just a teacher Lily, you are a friend as well. A room in the nursery floor is not enough." Mrs. Potter said with a wave of the hand.
"Thank you. I really like it."
"I'm glad dear. James' and my rooms are in the same wing, so if you have any problems you can let us know."
Lily looked down, she thought she would never have enough courage to go and knock on James' room to ask for anything. She made a mental note to ask for its location so she wouldn't knock on it by mistake.
"Here I am mother, the girls will be here soon." Said James as he entered the room. Lily quickly looked toward him and sighed. Even in muggle clothes he looks good, she thought.
"Very well dear. Roberts should be coming soon to tell us that dinner is ready." Said Mrs. Potter. She then turned back to Lily. "The girls always join us for dinner. I think that is the best way to show them how to comport themselves at the table. I hope you don't mind."
"Oh no, that is fine. I would like to meet them."
"Oh that is right you haven't met them yet. I'm sure you will come to love them. James quite dotes on them. I'm afraid that he will spoil them."
"Mother really. You are going to make Lily think that I have no backbone at all. Don't believe her Lily, she is exaggerating." He exclaimed. "Would you two ladies like something to drink as we wait for dinner?"
"Yes dear, a sherry will be fine." Said Mrs. Potter.
"Just a little please." Responded Lily.
While James poured the wine, the two women started to talk about the latest news in wizard society.
"And of course I couldn't let her go on with such a miscomprehension." Mrs. Potter was saying when the door opened and two small faces peered inside.
"Well come on you two, there is somebody here who is eager to meet you." Said James to the little girls.
The girls turned to look at each other and walked quietly into the room.
"Lily, these little devils are Cassandra and Francesca Sivini. Girls, this is my friend Lily Evans, she will be preparing you for Hogwarts."
"Nice to make your acquaintance Miss Evans." The two little girls said with a curtsey.
Lily laughed with delight. "Oh please call me Lily, Miss Evans makes me sound so stuffy. I hope I will soon be able to know you better and know who is who. James, I'm going to have problems, perhaps we can give them name tags." She said with a smile.
James laughed. "Perhaps we should, you are not the only one who would have that problem and they like to change places on us. Maybe we should charm the tags so they wouldn't be able to take them off."
"Oh no Uncle James."
"We don't want tags."
The girls said in horror.
"Don't worry girls, they are only teasing you." Said Mrs. Potter with a smile.
The girls sighed with relief and turned to look at the young lady their uncle said was his friend with curiosity.
"You are pretty."
"How old are you?"
"Girls really don't you know it's bad manners to ask a lady her age." Laughed James. "Lily will think that we haven't being doing a good job raising you."
The girls looked at their uncle. Even though he laughed a lot and always seemed happy especially when Uncle Sirius and Uncle Remus where here, they had never seen him in really good spirits before. On that instant, they decided that if this Lily was going to make their uncle happy then they would behave themselves and make no trouble for her.
"Madam." A voice said from the door. The group turned to notice Roberts. "Dinner is served."
"Thank you Roberts." Said Mrs. Potter. "Shall we go in?" She said to the group.
James led his mother to the small dining room while Lily followed with a girl in each hand.
Family dinners were quite informal in the Potter's household. The food was placed in the middle of the small round table, made to seat only eight people. Baked ham, salad, grilled chicken, marinated trout, fruit, and steamed vegetables were placed on the table. Five settings had been prepared and each sat whenever they liked. James sat at what Lily assumed was the head of the table. Mrs. Potter sat next to him and motioned Lily to sit on his other side. The girls sat on the two remaining seats, Roberts promptly placed two cushions for the little girls to sit upon.
James served the two ladies as they helped the little girls to choose.
"How was John, James? You said you were going to see him today." Asked Mrs. Potter once everybody had been served.
"Oh he is doing fine now. Old Doc patched him up really quick." Said James in between bites.
"John is one of our tenants, Lily dear. He broke his leg yesterday when he tried to check on his roof." Said Mrs. Potter when she noticed Lily trying to follow the conversation.
"Oh, is Old Doc a mediwizard then?" Lily asked with curiosity.
"Yes and no." James said. When he noticed Lily's confusion he added. "Old Doc is muggle born you see. His father was a doctor, his mother a nurse, so when he was over with his training at Hogwarts he continued with his education in muggle medicine in Cambridge, his father's old school. After he graduated from medical school he went into apprenticeship in St. Mungos'. He then set up practice in his father's clinic in London, conveniently near Diagon Alley. Before father was born, the town lost its doctor, and grandfather as leader of the community, put a notice in the London paper searching for a doctor. Old Doc saw the notice and remembered my grandfather's name, after all, the Potters are very well known in wizard society, and he came to apply for the job. Grandfather was happy to hire him, the town would have a new doctor and he wouldn't have to send for a mediwizard in London every time one of our tenants was hurt. So Old Doc has been with us for years now."
"That is a very interesting story. Your grandfather was very lucky to find him, mediwizards with muggle medicine training are very rare to find." Said Lily.
"They are. Old Doc has seen most of the children born and grow up in this area. He doesn't accept money from the town's people, so they pay him with food and services, like fixing anything he might have problems with. The owners of the big houses around the town pay him. We all pool money and pay him a salary." Said James.
"What will you do when he retires? He is going to be hard to replace." Lily said.
"His daughter will come to us. The town and the owners of the manors have decided that when the time comes for him to retire and his daughter decides to come to us, she will have the job." Said Mrs. Potter.
"Is she trained in both forms of medicine as well?" Lily asked. It would be a shame if she wasn't.
"Oh she is. He has two daughters you see, both are witches, but only one decided to get training in muggle medicine." Said Mrs. Potter.
"I see, so the one with the muggle training will be taking his place if she chooses." Lily said. "What about the other daughter, is she working in St. Mungo's?"
"Oh you know her dear, his eldest daughter is the nurse at Hogwarts, Madam Pomfrey. Her younger sister is the one that we are hoping will replace Doctor Pomfrey. She is working in the clinic her grandfather had originally built. She is doing quite well on her own." Responded Mrs. Potter.
"Oh, I didn't know that about Madam Pomfrey, but then again, she is not very talkative is she?" Said Lily with a smile.
"Well, she is very protective of the Potters, she has a great sense of honor and thinks that she has to treat us with special attention because we were the ones that hired her father. I don't think the girls or my own children for that matter, will escape from her special attentions." Grumbled James.
Lily laughed, but an unbidden picture of a small boy that looked very similar to James came to mind, and she wondered if James' son would look like that.
The day was a bright fall day. Lily woke up at the sounds of giggling and whispers. She smiled. It seemed that the twins decided to pay her a visit.
"Shhh! You will wake her."
"Did you bring it?"
"Yes. Here it is."
More giggles.
"I suggest you girls be more quiet if you want me to stay asleep." Lily said.
Two small gasps were heard and then silence.
"Come, what are you two doing here?" Lily said as she sat up on the bed. She slid the curtains and let the bright sunshine hit her bed.
The two little girls stood by the end of the bed with their hands on their backs.
"What do you have in your hands?" Lily asked with suspicion. What were these two up to?
"Nothing."
"Nothing."
"Show me your hands. You don't want your uncle or grandmother to find that you were pulling a prank on me, do you?"
"It wasn't a prank."
"We don't know how to pull one."
Lily laughed. "There is no way a Potter would not know how to get in trouble, it just follows them."
"But we are not Potters."
"We are Sivinis."
"But you are daughters and nieces of a Potter, that is enough. Come show me your hands."
The girls turned to look at each other and bowed their heads as they brought their hands to the front.
Their small hands were full of flowers.
"Oh, are they for me?" Lily exclaimed. She thought it was really sweet of the girls.
The little girls nodded.
Lily smiled and slid off the bed to kneel in front of them. She took the flowers from their hands and placed them on the table beside the bed. She then turned back to the two little girls who stood watching her. She smiled. They smiled back.
"Thank you, they are beautiful." And hugged them tight.
"Are you ready."
"To get up."
"It's late."
"Breakfast is ready."
"Will you girls join me for breakfast?" Lily asked as she got up and went toward the dresser. She opened the closet and started to rummage around looking for something to wear. Francie and Cassie jumped on to the bed and watched her choose her clothing.
"No, we ate already."
"Uncle James is getting ready now."
"He can keep you company." They said as Lily closed the door of the bathroom behind her.
"From that I gather that you already paid him a visit." Laughed Lily behind the closed door. The girls could hear the shower ran and movement inside the room.
"Oh yes."
"We like to wake him up."
"He doesn't mind."
"Oh I'm sure he doesn't." Said Lily. "Why don't you two run along and entertain yourselves. I will be ready soon. I'll visit you at the nursery once I've taken my breakfast."
"Ok." Both girls said and Lily heard them ran out of the room.
Lily chuckled. I think I'm going to like this place. She thought.
James was serving himself some ham and toast that was set in a platter in front of his seat when Lily came into the room.
"Good morning." She greeted him.
"Morning Lily. Did you have a good night?" He asked. He watched her as she stood beside the table laden with food. She picked up covers and looked into the trays trying to make a decision on what to eat.
"Oh wonderful night." She said as she chose some cereal and fruit salad. She then turned to take a seat near James.
"I'm glad." He said with relief. "I hope you are well rested, the twins can be quite a handful sometimes."
"I had a taste of their exuberance this morning." She said with a chuckle. James stopped from taking a bit of his toast.
"Oh, no. Don't tell me they woke you up? I really have to do something about their need to wake everybody up."
Lily laughed, nearly spilling the milk from her plate. "I gather that they do it often." She finally managed to say.
"I say. Sirius and Remus don't mind it. They think it funny. And they don't do it to mother, which I don't understand why. But they like to make sure that everybody is up at an ungodly early hour." James complained. He continued buttering his muffin and continued eating.
"Do you have any plans for them today. I'm not sure if you want me to start with their training right away." Said Lily following his example and buttering one of the muffins found on the middle of the table.
"Hmmm.Maybe you should just spend the time getting to know them first. They won't be paying you any attention for a while, they will be asking you questions after questions until they know everything there is to know about you." James said in between bites of his toast.
"Oh dear." Lily laughed. "I think I will enjoy teaching your nieces James, I wonder if you were like that as a child."
"Good god no, I was quite an angel." He replied as he tried to look angelic.
"I beg to differ. I don't think you have an angelic bone in your body." Exclaimed Lily. She put her napkin on her empty plate and stood up. "I told them to meet me at the nursery so I will be joining them now. See you later James." She turned to leave the room.
"Good luck Lily!" James yelled behind her. He could hear her laughter as she made her way to the nursery. He smiled. He was glad it was Lily who would be teaching his nieces. Very glad indeed.
Lily walked toward the nursery in trepidation. It was one thing to say that it would be fun teaching; it was quite another to be able to do so. What would it be like teaching two little girls who seemed to have more energy than a snidget?
As she neared the nursery she noticed that it was eerily quiet. She thought it was strange for a room where two little rambunctious little girls where so supposed to be in, to be so quiet.
She carefully entered the room and looked around. The room was like any other play room for little kids. Toy chests and shelves lined the wall. A small table stood in the middle of the room with four chairs around it and two teddy bears sitting in two of them and a tiny tea set on the wooden table. A large doll house stood near the large windows across from the door in which Lily stood. Dolls and books were thrown around the room. On a darkened corner of the room was a large couch. A large woman was sitting on it.
"Excuse me?" Lily asked.
"Yes dear, come on in." The woman said. Lily carefully approached her. She noticed that the woman was older than she thought. She seemed to be around seventy to eighty years of age. She was wearing a black dress made in the style of the last century and a pristine white apron on top of it.
"I gather you are the new teacher then?" The old lady asked.
"Yes I am. My name is Lily Evans." Lily said with a nod.
"Ah, the twins told me that an old friend of Master James had come to teach them. Is that true? Are you a friend of his?" The old lady asked with peering eyes.
"Well, yes. We were in the same year at Hogwarts. I was Head Girl when he was Head Boy." Lily said. She stayed standing in front of the old lady. She sensed that she was on a sort of trial and that this lady was the judge. She preferred to be on her feet if it was so.
The old woman nodded and stayed quiet looking fixedly at Lily.
Lily shifted her weight from one foot to another, was this inquisition over?
"You'll do." The woman suddenly said.
Lily was surprised. It seemed that she just passed a test.
"Hmmm.can you tell me where the girls are? I told them that I would meet them here after my breakfast." Said Lily.
"Wake you up, did they? That means they like you. They only do that to those they like. I'm their nurse you see. I know them pretty well. I have been raising Potter children since Master Aliaster was born." Nurse said.
"Glad to meet you. But where are the girls? I was expecting to see them running around in here." Said Lily with a swept of her hand.
"Oh they never stay in one place for long. They were here for half an hour and then they slipped by me to go to the kennels." The old Nurse said.
"How do you know they went to the kennels?" Lily said with a frown.
"Oh they've been going there on the last couple of weeks to see the puppies. One of Master James' hounds had puppies and the girls found out about them. They are trying to get Master James to let them have one."
"Oh poor James. I gather he is not too keen to the idea." Lily laughed.
"You seem to know him very well if you think that." The old lady said with a pleased smile. "He is not, but he will give in eventually. He usually does. He cannot say no to those girls."
"Perhaps I should go and look for them. It wouldn't do to let them make trouble in the kennels, James would not be too happy about that." Said Lily and waved goodbye to Nurse as she left the room.
"She will do very well for him. I see what Mistress Susan means. She will do quite well." Nurse muttered as she heard Lily walking away from the nursery.
A/N: I'm quite happy with myself that I could have this ready for you so soon. I hope you enjoy it. This is the beginning of a new part of my story and there is more to come.