Before it Began
By. SkyQuill
Summary
James knew he was in love at first sight, but what would it take for Lily to love him back? Read their story leading up to their deaths and discover the dangers they faced and the loves and friendships they shared.
Disclaimer
I do not own most of the characters and places or anything else that may seem familiar. J.K. Rowling has the exclusive claim to this as well as the general plot that formed this fanfic.
Chapter 35: Reappearences
As the warm May sunshine gave way to the more intense heatwaves of June, Voldemort and his supporters seemed to grow more and more active. While Dumbledore was true to his word, and did not request the Potters or the Longbottoms to partake in any dangerous missions, Lily couldn't help but wonder whether they weren't at just as much risk while not doing anything.
Becoming more and more protective as the weeks went by, James took it upon himself to apply several new security charms and spells on their household. Before no one had been able to apparate directly inside the house, but now they could no longer apparate anywhere on the property. He had also applied a series of intruder alert charms which would go off the second anyone set foot in, or out of the house.
Early one Thursday morning while James was at work, Lily found herself startled out of a novel she was reading by one of these such alarms. With a sigh she got to her feet and performed the spell that would enable her to determine who the arriving person was. To her immense relief, it was only Cadence and Callidora, bringing with them, Alice.
"Hey." Lily greeted her friends as she opened the door to let them in.
"Lily! You shouldn't just open the door to anyone!" Cadence exclaimed, a slight disapproving note in her voice. "What if we were death eaters under the influence of polyjuice potion?" Lily raised an eyebrow at her friends as she allowed them to enter the house.
"The intruder charms James put on the property require a spell to shut them off and show who the intruders are. It's not affected by polyjuice potion, so i'd know your identity anyways." she explained patiently.
"Oh." Cadence said, "Clever."
"Indeed. So what brings you all here today then?" Lily mused with a smile. Callidora returned the grin and said airily,
"Well, we haven't been able to do too much together lately with you and Alice being so far along, and all the recent death eater activity, so we figured we could make it a girl's day out."
"They arrived at my house at six this morning." Alice said feigning grumpiness, "Frank nearly blasted them into next week, he was so startled by their early call. Can't say I was overly impressed either."
Cadence grinned, not abashed in the least. Lily couldn't help but laugh.
"Well, it sounds fine to me. What did you girls have in mind?"
"The insane asylum." Alice said promptly, jerking her head towards Cadence and Calli'. Lily laughed again, as Cadence gave Alice a reproachful look.
"We were actually thinking of diagon alley. Probably safest there." Callidora explained calmly, though still grinning slightly.
"Brilliant." Lily replied. "Shall we set off immediatly then?"
"Let's." the others agreed in unison. Lily quickly collected a few galleons and sickles and stuffed them into the pocket of her black robes. Then as she and the others exited, she turned and quickly activated all the security spells.
"Frank's been like that too." Alice said, gesturing to the house. "Seems to think having a baby in the house will attract you-know-who even more."
"Yeah, James is pretty paranoid." Lily agreed, ignoring the slight chill that went up her spine at Alice's words. "Still though,we can't complain overly."
"True enough." Alice said simply.
"Hurry up you two!" Cadence called from where she stood on the road leading to Godric's Hollow. She and Callidora were already waiting ahead of them. Lily shook her head slightly and hastened her steps. Moments later, the foursome had apparated to the Leaky Cauldron.
The barman hardly flinched as they appeared in the midst of the pub, but looked up hopefully. Lily shot him an apologetic smile as they exited the smoky room and stepped into the sunny courtyard outside of it.
Callidora quickly used her wand to tap the bricks in their assigned order, then stepped back as the wall opened up to diagon alley.
"I haven't been here in ages." Lily commented, glancing at all the shops reminiscently. "Branched out a bit, hasn't it?"
"Oh yes." Callidora said as she led the way down the busy street. "There are loads of new shops and restaurants. In fact, the one we're going to just opened the previous week."
"You'd think business would have slowed down some considering all the news." Alice said thoughtfully.
"I reckon everyone's rushing into things because of it though." Cadence said in reply. "I mean, look at the rubbish that's popped up too." And she gestured towards a series of booths set outside Ollivander's wand shop. With a keener glance, Lily saw that they seemed to be selling protective potions.
"Dark spell deflecters." Lily read outloud as they passed a kiosk selling defensive amulets.
"Yep. They don't work though." Cadence said, shooting the saleswitch a dirty look. "Just trying to make a quick knut."
"We're here." Callidora said, straightening her blue robes. "Crusset's Cuisine." With curious expressions the others followed her into the restaurant. There was a very warm and friendly atmosphere about the place. Everything seemed to be decked in blue velvet, from the curtains to the chairs seats surrounding the tables.
"This is nice." Alice commented, casting an appraising eye around the place. Lily didn't have a chance to agree for at that moment, a witch approached them.
"Table for four she asked?" peering at them with her dark brown eyes. She had curly blonde hair, and two inch nails painted turquoise.
"Yes." Cadence answered, following the witch as she beckoned them towards a booth. Lily settled herself next to Callidora, while Cadence and Alice sat opposite to them.
"My name is Loreen and i'll be your server today. Can I get you anything to drink?" the witch inquired politely.
"Yes thanks. A gillywater." Callidora replied.
"Butterbeer." Cadence chimed in happily.
"Gillywater." Lily added. Alice hesitated before saying,
"And i'll have the same as her."
"Right then." Loreen said, summoning a series of menus with her wand as she scribbled down their orders with a quill. "Be back in a moment." She bustled off, winding through the other occupied tables.
"So how're you feeling?" Callidora asked when no one else spoke up. Her question was directed towards Alice and Lily.
"Fine." they both replied at the same time.
"Exhausted though...i'll be glad when the baby's born." Alice added. Callidora smiled gently,
"Kenneth wants to start a family." she said somewhat dreamily. "I think we might get married this fall."
"That's great Calli'!" Lily exclaimed, feeling a burst of happiness for her friend.
"Bit soon isn't it?" Cadence asked.
"Not really. I mean," and Calli' blushed here, "We're in love and all so..."
"Well i'm happy for you." Alice said with a broad grin.
"Thanks." Callidora replied.
"What about you and Sirius, Cadence?" Alice inquired. "You two have been together...since...well, forever."
"About three years." Cadence corrected her. "And what about us?"
"Well...don't you...want to get married or something?" Alice asked, slightly awkwardly. Cadence shrugged non-chalantly.
"We're actually pretty content. I mean, we know we're in love...we see no reason to tie the knot just yet. Maybe after you-know-who is defeated." she said.
"Understandable." Callidora commented just as Loreen arrived back with their drinks. She quickly handed them out and then took their orders for their meals beforing disappearing again.
Before long, their food arrived and the girls tucked in eagerly. The food was delicious, and Lily felt content. Their wasn't much conversation until they had all finished eating and Cadence spoke up,
"So, we know that in the light of recent things, Lily and Alice haven't had the chance for a proper babyshower." Lily and Alice exchanged curiously surprised glances.
"And so," Callidora continued, "We thought we'd have a small celebration of our own."
"You shouldn't have." Alice admonished lightly, but there was no real conviction in her voice. Callidora and Cadence summoned two brightly wrapped packages each with their wands.
"Here you go Lily, and here Alice." Cadence said, handing them each a package, as did Callidora. "Hurry and open them." she added eagerly, as she and Calli' sat back to watch.
Smiling slightly, Lily gently removed the lilac wrapping from around her gift. She gasped as an exceptionally soft material fell into her lap. Holding it up, so she could see it in all, she saw it to be a beautifully designed baby's blanket, with a pattern of the night sky on it. Due to it's magical nature, the stars twinkled and comet's streaked gently across the threads."
"Thanks Calli'!" she exclaimed breathlessly.
"Don't mention it." Callidora said happily. Now Lily turned to the package from Cadence. Tearing the bright red paper off of it, she found inside a medium sized box.
"It's a toy." Cadence blurted, unable to contain her excitement any longer. Lily laughed as she opened the box and found twenty four blocks flashing different colours."
"Thanks Cady." Lily smiled appreciatively.
"Yeah, thanks you two." Alice added, looking slightly teary eyed. Both Calli' and Cadence nodded, looking quite pleased with themselves.
"Well I suppose we'd best be off." Cadence said, getting to her feet. "I'll just go pay the bill."
"Oh, here." Lily said, fishing in her pockets for some coins but Cadence shook her head firmly.
"It's on me. Consider it a gift from Sirius." and she grinned mischieviously, revealing a handful of galleons that had certainly not come from her vault. Lily rolled her eyes but made no protests. Stubborn as she was, Cadence was known for her persistance.
After Cadence had found and paid Loreen, the girls exited the charming restaurant and decided to hit some stores before heading home.
They stopped at Madam Malkin's where Alice and Lily watched gloomily as Cadence and Callidora tried on various robes and cloaks.
"Oh don't look so pouty." Callidora said lightly as she studied herself in the mirror, modelling a satin grey cloak. "There's a maternity section over there." Lily wrinkled her nose while Alice flatly refused.
"As if I need to be reminded that i'm the size of an elephant." Alice said dryly.
"Well it's only temporary." Cadence reminded her exasperatedly.
"Still. I'm perfectly content with what I already have." she retorted.
After thoroughly picking through the entire store, the four of them continued on their way up the street. Callidora stopped at a Quidditch supply store to replenish her stock of broom polish and Alice dragged them into a stationary shop for new quills.
Before long, hours had passed and evening was upon them.
"I should pick up some stuff for supper." Lily mentioned. Cadence scanned the street,
"I dunno if you can Lily, everything's closing." Lily groaned,
"I really don't want to be stuck with just stew tonight." she complained. "Hmm, maybe we can just stop in the muggle grocery store on the other side of the Leaky Cauldron?"
"What's a grocery store?" Callidora asked curiously, while Alice gave her a similiarly questioning look. Lily sighed,
"It's where they sell food. You three can wait in the pub for me if you'd prefer."
"Alright, but don't you think you're going to attract unwanted attention?" Cadence replied. Being a half-blood she understood fairly well. "You can't just march in there wearing your witches robes."
"Oh, right." Lily mused, glancing down at her attire. "Well then here." She pulled it over her head so that she was only wearing jeans and an oversized t-shirt, then passed her robes to Cadence.
"See you in a minute then." she said and dashed up the street and back to the brick wall. Tapping in the pattern, she hurried through the gateway, through the pub and out into the muggle street. For a moment she stood there in bewilderment, trying to recall where the shop was located (it had been awhile since she had been in muggle company).
"Oh right," she muttered, finally locating it. She quickly made her way through the crowd and to the shop.
Eager to be out of there quickly, she hurriedly collected the supplies she needed and went to stand in line at the checkout.
"Lily?" came a curious voice, laced with disdain. Lily spun around in surprise and jumped. Standing behind her was Petunia Evans-Lily mentally smacked herself-Petunia Dursley, she corrected. And what was more, she was pregnant as well.
"P-petunia?" Lily stuttered in shock. Both sisters were silent for a moment as they stared at each other blankly. Lily was the first to break the silence,
"Er...um...congragulations." she said feebly. Petunia nodded,
"You too." she said stiffly. Lily eyed her sister interestedly and was not surprised to see that hardly a thing had changed. Her sister still had wispy blonde hair, pale eyes and an unnaturally long neck. She would have been as thin as ever as well had it not been for her bulging stomach. Her look of disgust also signalled that her feelings towards Lily remained unchanged as well.
"Er, how've you been?" Lily asked akwardly, taking another brave stab at conversation. Petunia's eyes narrowed shrewdly,
"Fine." She did not return the question.
"Right." Lily murmured, placing her purchases on the check out so the clerk could bag them. Lily then swore. She had completely forgotten she would be needing muggle currency. Petunia's gaze switched back from Lily's frustrated expression the expectant clerk and her gaze seemed to harden. Looking as though she'd rather be giving her life savings to a monkey, she took out the required amount and pushed it on the countertop. Lily felt like pinching herself to check if she was dreaming.
"Thanks." she mumbled awkwardly, collecting her bags. Petunia nodded again wordlessly and paid for her own groceries. Lily made to leave but then turned around as she reach the doors.
"Er, Petunia?" she called. Her sister gazed at her, looking murderous that she dared address her so publicly. "Will you tell me, when...when my nephew, or niece is born?"
"Fine." Petunia agreed, sounding very unwilling.
"Thanks." Lily said softly, and without a backwards glance, she hurried outside, not knowing that she would never again see her sister.
000
Later that night, both James and Lily sat curled together on the couch. James was going through several reports he had to read for auror training and Lily was supposed to be reading her novel. However, she couldn't help but be distracted by thoughts of her earlier encounter.
Petunia must care...somewhere deep down because she helped me, right? I know she hates me...but maybe family bonds can survive through that? Well no, look at Sirius's family... Lily's mind was swimming with all her thoughts and she couldn't seem to order them.
"Lily!" James said sharply, bringing her out of her reverie. "That's the eighth time i've called you." he said more gently, looking at her in some concern. "Are you okay?"
"Oh, uh, yeah." Lily replied, mildly startled. "Sorry, I guess I just zoned out."
"Yeah." James agreed. "Anyways what's up? You've been distracted since I got home."
"Just thinking about today with the girls." Lily replied evasively. James didn't seemed convinced.
"Did everything go alright?" he asked in concern.
"Yeah, everything was great. It's just well...I ran into Petunia." Lily explained, finally giving in under James keen gaze.
"Oh," he said in some surprise. His eyes then narrowed, "She didn't give you a hard time, did she?"
"No," Lily replied. "Well, she wasn't exactly friendly, but she did help me out with money, since I forgot about muggle currency."
"Right then." James said.
"Yeah..and she's pregnant too." Lily added.
"Really?" James asked brightly. Then his tone faltered, "Er...is that good?" he asked meekly. Lily laughed at his sheepish expression.
"Well it's not bad." she mused. "I reckon she's pretty far along, further then me anyways."
"Oh...well, I guess we'll have a little niece...or nephew then, eh?" James said.
"I suppose. I doubt it'll do anything to mine and Petunia's relationship though...she loathes me. She won't want a 'freak' like me around her child." Lily explained, a hint of sadness in her voice. James muttered a very unkind word.
"James!" Lily reprimended though she looked mildly amused.
"Sorry Lils." he muttered, smiling apologetically. "But it's true." he then added in an undertone. Luckily Lily didn't catch it however, the intruder charm had just gone off, casting a high-pitched whine into the air.
000
After having gone back to Lily's and then Alice's houses, Callidora had headed back to her own flat. Cadence had gone to Sirius's to spend the night, and so she and Kenneth would have the place all to themselves.
He was very pleased to see her, and the two of them wasted the evening away drinking firewhiskey and wine, while sharing stories of their childhood and upbringing. It was a conversation that never got old between the two of them. Callidora was a pureblood, while Kenneth was muggleborn and so they spent endless hours comparing the two lives.
As the clock struck midnight, a loud knocking came from the door. Callidora looked up from the sink where she was washing some glasses with magic.
"Do you want me to get it?" Kenneth asked kindly, rising to his feet. Calli' flashed him a smile,
"No i've got it. It's probably just Cadence. You can finish off the dishes though, if you like." she said. He shrugged and took over by the sink.
Brushing a soap bubble from her raven dark hair she hastened to get the door. Quickly she undid the locks and charms with her wand and opened the door. The man standing there was enough to send her mind reeling in shock.
"B-briac?" she asked in bewilderment. He laughed harshly, his dark eyes piercing in the night. Callidora took in his appearence with relative unease. His brown hair had grown out somewhat and it looked as though he hadn't shaved in days. He had dark shadows under his eyes and looked more menacing then ever.
"Callidora, what a pleasure to see you again." he rumbled, his tone almost...mocking. Calli' felt a prickle of anger. The last time she had seen this prick he had been cheating on her with another girl.
"What do you want?" she asked brusquely, keenly aware of Kenneth listening from the kitchen.
"Aren't you going to invite me in?" Briac asked slyly, and without waiting for a response he pushed past her. He stopped dead once he saw Kenneth at the kitchen.
"Who're you?" he asked, now sounding annoyed.
"I'm her boyfriend." Kenneth replied, his voice steely. Callidora edged warily towards the two. She felt strangely uneasy.
Briac lifted his wand, as did Kenneth. Callidora froze,
"No, don't!" she protested but neither man heeded her.
"Crucio!" Briac bellowed in response to the furnunculus curse Kenneth had just wielded. Briac's curse hit Kenneth, sending him to the floor, while the other spell merely bounced off of the oncoming jet of light and was sent riccocheting towards Calli'. With a scream, she dropped to the floor and covered her head. The wall above her exploded and a large chunk of rubble collapsed onto her.
"No!" she screamed, ignoring the pain in her arm. Kenneth was writhing on the ground in agony. "STOP IT!"
Briac obliged, but not before stunning Kenneth. Callidora felt tears flood to her blue eyes.
"What do you want?" she sobbed. Briac seized her roughly and pulled her to her feet. He pushed back the sleeve of his cloak and revealed his left arm. Calli' gasped spectacularly. There, burnt into the skin, was the dark mark, looking both sickening and eerie.
"You're a smart girl Prewett. Very unlike your cousins." Briac hissed, addressing her by her last name.
"What are you talking about?" Callidora asked in alarm. "What have you done to Gideon and Fabion? Is Molly okay? You haven'-"
"Dead." Briac said simply, a maniacal gleam in his dark eyes. "Gideon and Fabion were killed because of their resistance to the Dark Lord. You'd be best off not following their path."
"What?" Callidora asked fearfully, deathly afraid of what he was telling her. Tears were pouring down her face now. Two of her cousins were dead, and she was sure she would among them soon. If only she could reach her wand, which was lying on the floor from when she had ducked.
"You're a pure blood Callidora." Briac hissed menacingly. "And a very talented witch. Think of what use could be made of your skills under allegiance to the dark lord...and you've got very...valuable connections too."
"If you think i'd ever join you scum then you're more of an idiot then I thought!" Callidora exclaimed vehemently, engulfed by her sudden fury and courage.
"I don't think it's me that is the idiot here." he snarled as he gave his wand a quick jab. Callidora wrenched away from him and dove towards her wand. Her fingers clasped around it and as she whirled around, prepared to defend herself Briac hit her a spell that sent a streak of purple flames across her chest.
Immediatly she felt her conciousness fading and Briac's arm collect her slender figure. As her world succumbed to darkness she couldn't help but think of the afternoon she'd had with her friends. And as Briac carried her swiftly out of the flat, her bright blue eyes closed as her future plunged into the unknown.
Author's Note: So here it is, chapter 35. My longest yet, or one of them anyways. I hope you all enjoyed it. I know the beginning was a bit dull, and i wasn't going to add the ending till next chapter, but I figured I had room. I'm also quite pleased with the cliffhanger.
Anyhow, your reviews are greatly appreciated. You all are so great. Oh and please, please check out the forum for this story if you have a moment. Until, next time!