b 3. A Magic Night of Horror /b
'No.' Lily thumped down onto the couch at home and put on her most stubborn face.
'You really believe them? What makes you think they're telling the truth? You're actually telling me you believe in magic? Yeah, right!'
Her parents sat opposite her, wincing at her every word. It was going to be hard work convincing their daughter. Glancing at each other, they silently decided to let Lily's mother do the talking.
'Lily, darling, just listen to us for one second. Imagine, just for one moment, that magic really does exist. I remember when you were little how you used to believe in magic…'
'Yeah, until you had the talk with me. The "there's no magic" talk? So how come now you're telling me magic i is /i really?' Lily's mother look as if she might break down and cry at any moment. Lily's dad decided it was time to intervene.
'We were scared, sweetheart,' he said in one long sigh. 'I don't think that you can remember, but when you were still in diapers some very strange things would happen around you.'
'For example, one time your mother and I walked into your bedroom to tuck you in, and we found you floating over your crib with all your favorite toys swirling around you. Another time we wouldn't give you your teddy because you had been bad and cut off his tail, and you simply held out your arm and teddy soared through the air to get to you.'
'We were scared, darling, that there was something wrong with you. Then mom signed you up for drawing classes and all the strange things stopped. It was a miracle. We were so happy. And then we told you the truth, about how we adopted you, and it happened again, just once. The moment you slammed into your room the fireplace blew up.' Her dad drew in a deep breath, and looked closely at his daughter. She sat stock still on the couch, her back straight as a board and her face as white as snow. Gingerly, she looked up into his eyes.
'Magic?' Lily asked in a mortified whisper as a hooded figure entered the living room.
--
Lord Voldemort looked down upon Lucius Malfoy. Deep inside himself he felt a cold shiver of excitement about the horrors he had planned for tonight, but he let none of this show on his face. His servant also shivered, of the cold and damp of the dungeon rather than excitement. Malfoy had come for some last instructions for the attack.
'I have come, My Lord.'
'Yes, you have Lucius, you have. You very well know the fate that would befall you if you did not, don't you?' Malfoy stiffened, expecting torture at his master's words, but none came.
'You have come for your last instructions for tonight's events, have you not? Very well, come close, and listen well, or my mercy might just run out.'
--
Minerva McGonagall sat down with Harry Potter, handing him the photo she had taken from Lily's parents.
'This is your sister. Her parents will tell her tonight about her magic and her heritage,' she told him. Harry studied the photo. His sister was beautiful. She looked exactly like their mother, but for her hazel eyes and dark brown hair. She was happy, laughing at the camera. Vaguely, he wondered if he had done the right thing in bringing her into the wizarding world. He brushed back all his whispering doubts, and focused instead on the headmaster. Dumbledore had been more open with him, but there was nothing he could do about that.
'I would like to go and meet her tonight, with the others,' he said. It wasn't a question, and he wasn't asking for her permission. He had decided that he was going to meet his twin, and he wasn't going to put it. His determination must have shown through his eyes, because Minerva McGonagall did not try to stop him.
'Go on, Harry,' she sighed with exhaustion. She stood to leave the room, before remembering something else. 'Watch out. This is the night Voldemort would probably attack her. The address is 13 Golden Crescent. Good luck.'
As Harry stepped into the green flames of McGonagall's fireplace, some part of his mind whispered that he would need all the luck he could get.
--
He came out of a fireplace, but it was not his sister's. A group of wizards and witches was already assembled there, among them Remus Lupin. Some people were whispering while others checked for their wands. Something was clearly wrong.
Lupin saw Harry and walked over. Confusion was written deep in his eyes, and he walked over to Harry as if the younger boy would have the answers. Harry ignored his friend and went over to the door.
i 'Alohamora!' /i
The door turned to dust, as the disembodied, chilling, high voice Harry knew so well whispered,
'Just in time for the show, Potter… Enjoy!'
--
Panic erupted at the sound of the Dark Lord's voice. Remus Lupin yelled at Harry to wait for him as the wizards and witches inside the room ran out of the house in search for Lily Potter. Reluctantly, Harry obliged. Something was nagging him. For some reason he had to go on to Lily as fast as possible. Something horrible was about to happen he could feel it. Lupin caught up and Harry continued walking.
'Where's number 13 Golden Crescent?' he asked. Before Lupin could answer a scream pierced the air. At the same time as Harry's scar erupted into pain more terrible than ever before. He turned and ran towards the scream. Lily was in pain, he could feel her soul disintegrating. Lupin yelled at him to stop, but nothing mattered more than getting there. He rushed towards the scream, and then into the house from which it had come.
Lily was standing in front of and overturned couch. On the floor lay the man Harry knew to be her adoptive father. Harry could tell he had been protecting his wife and daughter. In front of the man's corpse stood the hooded figure of a Death Eater. Now Lily and her adoptive mother stood huddled together, holding each other in their arms.
Arms grabbed Harry from behind. He fought them, trying to end the horror he now saw, but they were too strong for him. The hooded figure held up its wand and pointed it at Mrs. Smith.
i 'Avada Kedavera,' /i it hissed.
As Lily screamed out in pain and horror the hands that held him let go. Harry rushed forwards and caught his sister a moment before they both blacked out.
--
i Author: I have to apologize about updating so slowly. Excuses aren't very good, but here's mine anyway. Firstly, I have been on holiday for a while with my mom and dad. Secondly, as the end of the Australian school year approaches, I am being faced with a succession of huge exams and test, one after the other.
Things have been a bit hectic, but here it is, chapter three. Finally, the action has started, and Lilly has been thrust head first into the wizarding world.
Thank you so much for reading my fic, and please review! It only takes a few seconds, and you have no idea how much I appreciate it! I purposefully won't update until I get about five reviews, so please do!
Love,
Lillian Potter /i