The Almost Prank
Chapter 20
James found Lily mixing a potion in the lab that he had sown her a few days before. Judging from the stiff way that she carried herself he had a feeling that she had something on her mind and he just hoped that it wasn't something he had done. "Lil, what are you doing?" James asked with worry evident in his voice.
"Working," Lily replied with a slight catch in her voice. Lily did not turn around afraid that James would see the tears that were running down her checks and hoped that he did not notice the way her voice had caught on that simple word.
"I can see that," James remarked walking up behind Lily. Lily's short remark only solidified James suspicion that something was bothering her. She usually would welcome company even when she was brewing a potion and was never short with him. No she had been short with him several times but that had all changed when they had gotten together. "Do you want to talk about it?" James hoped that this approach might get more answers.
"What is there to talk about?" Lily countered still mixing the foul smelling green potion. "There is nothing that you can do to change what has already happened."
If James had not known before that something was bothering Lily he knew now. What had Snivillous done to her to make her feel like this. There was no way that the greasy haired git was going to get a way with hurting Lily, James vowed to himself. James knew who was meeting with Lily after all, the map never lied. None of them did for that matter. James was if nothing else a perfectionist who prided himself on the identification charm that he placed on all the maps he made. Rather they were of Hogwarts or his home or his friends home. In his opinion he had learned from the best. He had learned the charm from his father who was, in James opinion anyway, the best charm worker the ministry had.
"What did he do?' James pressed wrapping his arms around Lily from behind and placing his chin on her head.
"Nothing," Lily muttered trying to stop her shoulders from shaking as she let a silent sob escape with the words.
"Then what is wrong?" James murmured in a soothing voice. He had to get this out in the open before they went up to talk to Dumbledore. James was sure that Dumbledore had come with an assignment for them and that it would require their full attention and Lily was unable to give that at this point, even though the potion she was working on seemed to have her full attention.
"How did you know that Severus was here?" Lily countered feeling betrayed. "Do you not trust me, James Potter?"
"I trust you," James whispered turning Lily in his arms to face him. "I knew he was here the same way you did. I say his name on the map."
"Then you noticed the other name." Lily muttered. It was more a statement then a question and James knew it although he needed to tell her.
"I noticed another name, yes," James started. "However I didn't recognize it. I have never meet anyone by that name, nor have my parents mentioned anyone by the name."
"It was his younger sister," Lily supplied. "Siusan is almost two. She is the sweetest little thing. It was just hard seeing her. It was just a reminder aof all the things that we both will miss."
"You mean because of what happened with our own children?" James understood Lily's reluctance and down mood now. It had to have been hard to see the little girl and be reminded of the daughter she was forced to give up.
"They would have been the same age," Lily sobbed into James shoulder. "She looks so much like what I had hoped my daughter would have looked like." James had started robbing Lily's back when he felt the hot liquid tears on his chest were Lily's head rested. He had no idea what t do to help her other then to be there for her. She had been there for him when he needed her even though her heart had to be breaking . Yet during that dark time in his life she had never told him about her little girl. In fact the first James had heard about her child was when she was under the potion. Then she was not even aware of the fact that she was telling him about it. James doubted that Lily had talked to anyone about what had happened. She had hide the fact from everyone for almost two years suffering in silence and a lone. "You don't have to do this a lone," James muttered in to lily's hear. "We are all here to help you. I love you, Lil. Let me if no one else help you. Lean on me."
"Don't even think about breaking out in song," Lily scolded with a sad smile.
"What do you mean?" James wondered. Lily couldn't help it,the confused look on James face was so funny, so burst out laughing. "What is so funny?"
"Lean On me is the name of a muggle song," Lily gasped trying to stop laughing. "I'm sorry. I thought you knew that. But the look on your face was just so funny."
"Are you feeling better?" James asked looking into Lily's eyes.
"Yeah," Lily muttered with a weak smile. "Thanks."
"Good, because Dumbledore is here to see us. HE is out in the garden right now. Mum is having lunch serve out there. Picnic style."
"The Potter's in all their aristocracy still have picnics."With a smile now on both their faces the two headed to the gardens where there was indeed a picnic in progress. However it was not an ordinary picnic. Instead of sandwiches and potato salad they was a wide selection of fried chicken and mashed potatoes with pictures of ice cold lemon-aid, iced tea and butterbeer. Even though it was midday there was a fire burning in a pit so they could roast marshmallows for dessert. Lily also noticed that there was graham crackers and chocolate squares. "You never mentioned that you liked smores," Lily commented to James with her eyes twinkling.
"Actually, we were hoping you could show use how to make them," Remus muttered. "We heard about them in Muggle Studies but never dared try to make them."
"I would be honored," lily replied. She was relishing the thought of teaching Dumbledore how to make the bonfire delicacy. For once he would be the student and she would be the student. She just hoped that James and his friends would behave themselves and not make a mess of the marshmallows. The picnic was nearing an end when Richard, Andrew and Minnerva McGonagal arrived.
"Hi, dad," James exclaimed seeing his dad walk into the garden. "You are just in time. Lily was just going to teach us how to roast marshmallows."
"Sounds like fun," Richard muttered sitting down by his wife and asking the other two to join them around the fire.
Linda turned her face to give her husband a quick kiss when she noticed the pained look on his face. "Is there something wrong, dear," Linda asked in a worried tone.
"After the marshmallows," Richard muttered. "It can wait for a while. It is not important. Now, Lily, how do we roast marshmallows. And what is the chocolate and graham crackers for."
"While if somebody," Lily stated while casting a disapproving glance at Remus and Peter, "would stop eating all the chocolate and graham crackers we are going to make s'mores with the marshmallows."
"Sounds interesting," Richard said. "So what do you need for this little adventure?"
"Some sticks for the marshmallows," Lily muttered getting up from her spot on the ground. "Those two over there were suppose to be getting the sticks, but as you can tell they got side tracked. So I guess I will just have to do it myself." Lily walked over to the table before conjuring a stick from the air and stuck a marshmallow on the end. "If you two are done eating the rest of the supplies we can get started."
Lily lead the two reluctant boys over to the fire and sat down next to James holding the marshmallow out over the fire until it turned a golden brown. With a wave of her wand summoned a piece of chocolate and two graham crackers. After she had placed the chocolate on one of the graham crackers she placed the marshmallow on the chocolate. Placing the other graham cracker over the marshmallow she slid the marshmallow off the sick. "That is how you make a s'more." When she said this she turned to James and stuffed the whole thing in his mouth. "So how does it taste?"
"Wonderful," James replied around the s'more. "I think I just might be in love." He then leaned over Lily and landed a giant kiss on her lips. "Why didn't you show us how to do this before?"
"You never asked," Lily replied with a grin. She then started the whole process over again well the rest copied what she had done.
"Ah, Lily," Sirius started when his marshmallow began to burn. "Do I have to feed mine to someone or can I eat it?"
"You can eat your own," Lily replied eating the s'more she had just made. "However if you don't get the marshmallow out of the fire you won't have any left. You are burning it." The whole group roasted marshmallows and made s'mores until they were full and the sun had finished its majestic decent and the almost full moon had risen.
"Now I believe it is time," Dumbledore suddenly remarked looking at James and Lily. The three rose and went into the house followed by Richard, Linda and Anthony. "I needed to talk to the two of you about a private matter concerning the Order, but since the rest of you are involved on the Order I see no reason to exclude you. I would like Lily and James to act as guards in Hogsmead for the next week. They will be taking the night shift. I believe that James has a clock that will be most useful."
"You can't be serious, Albus," Linda exclaimed. "They are both still children. They cannot guard a whole city by themselves."
"They will not be by themselves," Dumbledore replied. "Moody and Shakelbolt will also be on duty. Plus they will have the cloak so they will be unseen. I received word that an attack on Hogsmead is in the near future. All the other Order members will be on standby and ready to assist them in every way should an attack happen. I have spent quiet some time figuring out the roster."
"We'll be fine, mum," James muttered giving his mum a reassuring smile. "If anything happens we will call you. Besides Lily and I have faced these people before. We now what we are doing."
"But what about Sirius and Peter," Linda began. "Remus cannot for obvious reasons. Not for a few days anyway. But the other two can. As I remember you faced them together."
"That is why I have made the rooster as I have," Dumbledore murmured. "As soon as Remus is able he and Sirius will be taking the day shift. And Peter will be working the split shift with another Order member. All of you are welcome to stay at Hogwarts when not on duty."
"I thank you Headmaster," Lily started. "But I have things I will have to do here during the day. I believe I will be going between for now."
"That is understandable," Dumbledore said. "Now, I believe that Andrew and Richard have some news to share." Dumbledore's ever present twinkle suddenly seemed to darken as he glanced at Andrew then back to Lily.
"I seem to have bad news," Andrew whispered looking at Lily. "I have recently tracked down a child that could be yours. Everything matches including the magical signature. However I fear that getting the child to you might pose a problem."
"Where?" Lily asked from her spot next to James. "Who has my baby?"
"I believe that the baby is in the costudy of the Snapes," Andrew muttered looking at the floor. "I must ask that you do not go over there. We, as in the Order members and my colleges are doing everything we can to reuniot you with your child. However these things do take time."
"No," Lily screamed as her knees bucketed. "It can't be. Severus was not the one that was there. I know he wasn't. I would know if he was."
James caught Lily just as she began to slip to the floor and turned her to face him pulling her head down onto his chest. "I can not say I am surprised," James muttered over Lily's head. "The child that came today did look a lot like Lily. What seems to be the hold up in getting the child?"
"The child is in the custody of it's father," Andrew replied. "Unless something happens to the eldest Snape we will have a long battle on our hands. Plus he now knows we are watching him. If we could prove that he is a Death Eater we might be able to get the child a way from him. However we need concrete prove which we do not have. Without it we could be accused of slander."
"So what do we do now?" Richard asked with a concerned look in his eye. "You don't expect us to sit here and do nothing."
"That is exactly what I would hope you would do," Andrew muttered. "Maybe even get in good graces with them. Lily and the younger Snape seem to be friends. Keeping being friends with him. Stay on good graces. We will figure something out"
"You want us to let a suspected Deatheaters son into our house?" Richard stormed. "To welcome him with open arms. To pretend that we are not working to bring down his father."
"There is no other way, dear," Linda murmured from the table were she sat. "We have to do this for Lily. He was here this morning. With the little girl. Hattie told me. If we are lucky it will only be for a little while. I need you to promise me not to do anything stupid. We will do whatever Lily wants for now. We will keep fighting to get the child back."
"Her name is Siusan," Lily exclaimed in a steadier voice then she thought possible tears were still running down her face. "She is a lovely little girl. If you want to talk about my daughter please at least use her name. I can't believe that Severus would do this to me. I was at the house several times last year and he never said anything. Nor did he say anything during the school year. Why?"
"Because he is a slimy..." James started only to be cut off by his mother.
"James Potter, you will watch your language," Linda admonished with a stern look.
"I have to go," Lily muttered standing and walking out of the room. As she got to the hall she walked down the hall and opened a small door that lead into the kitchen. Once there she began to measure flour and an assortment of other ingredients.
"Let her go, James," Linda murmured. "She will be alright. She just needs sometime to come to terms with this. It is a lot to deal with all at once. Wait for a little while."
"I can't bear to see her like this," James muttered stopping just inside the the room. "I have to do something."
"I know," Linda replied going over to her son. "She will come to you in due time. Just give her an hour before you go to her. She is feeling betrayed."
An hour later James found Lily in the kitchens taking a pan out of the oven. Man did he love the view of her bending down to get something with her behind in the air. "What are you doing, Love?" James asked turning red at the thoughts that were going through his head.
"Baking cookies," Lily muttered returning to the table and the bowl that held a somewhat wet pale brown substance in it. "Were did those chips go? They were just here. James get your hand out of the batter," Lily admonished smacking James hand a way. "There are some already made on the counter over there. You are worse them Sirius."
"I take that as an insult," James retorted smiling at Lily before going over to the counter and picking up one of the cookies that Lily had just taken out of the oven. "So what kind are you making now?"
"Chocolate chip," Lily responded still searching for the missing chips. "Where did they go? I can not find them anywhere."
"Did you try looking behind the bowl?" James asked smirking. "It looks like something is there. Or maybe under it."
"Your my hero," Lily gushed when she picked up the bowl and found the chips. "You may have another cookie. They are best when they are warm."
"As you are, my dear," James stated before taking Lily into his arms.
Just as James and Lily were starting to have a romantic snogging scene Sirius came in and exclaimed, "Eeeeeeeeewwwwwwww, get a room you two. I can't believe the two of you. Snogging in the kitchen."
James looked up from kissing Lily and with his forehead still pressed against Lily's and stated, "This was a room before you came in. Now leave before I hex you to from here to Hogwarts and back."
"The cookies," Lily muttered quickly pulling out of James grasp and running to the stove.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Padfoot," James muttered as Sirius reached into the cookie batter to swipe some. "Lily already yelled at me. I would hate to see what she will do to you."
"Both of you get out so I can finish," Lily demanded brandishing the spatula she had used to take the cookies off the pan. Sirius took one look at Lily before he headed out the door with a smirk.
"Are you feeling any better?" James asked before he followed Sirius out the door. "If you need me just call."
"A little," Lily responded mixing the chips into the prepared batter. "If you sit quietly you may stay. But stay a way from the batter."
"Yes, dear," James muttered pulling a chair up beside Lily. "What are the cookies for?"
"Baking helps me relax," Lily remarked. "It also cheers me when I am in a bad mood. Besides we need them for the meeting tomorrow. If I can keep the three of you out of them."
"We are perfect little angels," James replied eyeing the cookies from his seat. "We wouldn't take the cookies without you knowing."
"Yeah right. And I am Merlin himself. I know how you three are."
"Are you alright with what happened today? You seem to be taking it fairly well."
"I can't say that it came as a big surprise. It just confirmed what I suspected after this morning. Something just told me. Don't ask me what. I just knew."
"Do you want the Marauders to get even for you? They would never know what hit them."
"No. I lost her once I can deal with this. At least this time I have the hope of someday being able to hold her without having to give her back."
"We'll get her back, Lil. I promise. I can not let your little girl grow up with dark wizards. none of us can."
a/n: Thank you to everyone that has stuck around for this long. We have also updated "Snape's Revenge". A oneshot as also been updated at this time. It is called "It Happened One Night". It is my hope that you will read these and review. As always thank you for reading.