Authors Note: Sorry about the owl mix up. If you'll remember, that was the chappie that was co written by me and Vivi, so I didn't actually write that part of it.... but whatever. My fault, I apologize, Lily has an owl that looks like James. All is good. She does not need to buy a new owl. Also, I am on the verge of killing fanfiction, because I have had this chapter in here for like ever and it wouldnt let me post!! grr.
Chapter 3
A Meeting
Lily rose the next morning to sunlight streaming through her thin curtains. It must have been very late in the morning, because she could see the sun rising high in the sky already. Lily stretched and yawned and got out of bed, realizing that she had been so tired last night that she had failed even to change out of her clothes. She quickly changed and headed to the bathroom, brushed her teeth, splashed water on her face, and dried it with a towel. She pulled her hair off her face into a ponytail and headed downstairs. She entered the kitchen and was reaching for the cupboard when someone opened it for her and grabbed her a bowl, placing it into her hand.
"Morning sunshine!" James said cheerily from behind her, as she looked around to see who had handed her the bowl. She smiled at him and opened the drawer for a spoon. She walked over to the fridge and grabbed the milk. Then she turned again to see James holding the cereal.
"Thanks." She said, taking it from him and sitting down at the table. He sat across from her.
"Good sleep?" He asked.
"Yeah, thanks, you?" She asked. "How did the bed treat you? Or did you stay up all night playing with the remote?"
"Well, I got some sleep. That bed was great. So was the remote." James responded sheepishly.
"What time is it?" Lily asked, still a little drowsy.
"Almost 11. You had a nice long sleep." He informed her.
"I'm sorry, what time were you up?" She asked.
"Nine I think." James told her.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. You could have woken me." She said, spooning cereal into her mouth.
"Ah, that's fine. Petunia and I bonded." James offered.
"Really? She spoke to you? Without saying freak?" Lily asked.
"Oh, I thought that was a term of endearment, never mind, we didn't bond." They both laughed.
"Where is Pet?" Lily asked, looking around. She did not hear any movement in the house.
"Out with friends I think. Your mom went shopping earlier. About an hour ago I think."
"Have you been all alone here? I'm so sorry. You really should have woken me. What did you do? Never mind, let me guess, watched TV?"
"Yes." James laughed.
"Did you get some breakfast at least?" Lily asked him.
"Yeah, your mom made pancakes, they were really good too." He told her. She had done no such thing, he had had some cereal. But he did not want Lily to feel bad.
"I don't believe you." Lily told him, fixing him with her inquisitive stare.
"Why not?" James asked quickly.
"Because my mom never makes pancakes, never has. And we don't have pancake mix." Lily told him, laughing a little.
"Oh. Okay you caught me; I had some cereal a little while ago. It was really good though, don't worry about it." He told her, watching her finish her first bowl of cereal and pour a second.
"James, I was thinking." Lily said around a mouthful.
"Oh?" He replied, encouraging her to continue.
"About what Petunia said." Lily told him.
"And what did Petunia say? That we're freaks?" James asked.
"Well that. But also that mom won't let me go back to school. Do you really think they could stop me?" Lily asked, her nerves entering into her tone.
"Honestly? Yes, they could. And you wouldn't be able to do a thing because if you use magic, you're out of Hogwarts anyway." James said somberly.
"So what do I do?" Lily asked, somewhat scared as to what the answer would be.
"I suppose we'll just have to wait for Dumbledore and find out." James replied, a little overly calm in Lily's mind.
They did not have to wait long. The two were lounging outside under a tree when the knock came. Lily stood and went to the door, puzzling over who it could be.
Surely it could not be any of the neighbors. If they had heard any screaming then they would have come before now. And if it was not because of the screaming, then what other reason could there be for one of them to come by? Lily opened the door slowly, in the back of her mind thinking of four hooded men. She needn't have feared, however. It was only Dumbledore.
"Professor? I didn't expect you." Lily said simply, standing in the door and staring at Dumbledore. James, who had followed behind her, greeted Dumbledore and said hello. "Do come in professor." Lily said after a moment, remembering her manners.
"Thank you." Said Dumbledore, who had been scanning the room from the entrance. He stooped to enter, and when he did he seemed to make the room a good deal smaller than it had been before.
"Have a seat, professor." Lily said, motioning towards the couches in the sitting room. They all sat, Lily and James on a couch across from the professor. "Have you found out who it was that took my father yet?" Lily asked, as soon as they were seated.
"I know very little, and what I do know I cannot tell you. It would only endanger you further than you already are. If Voldemort were to get his hands on you, it would be all the worse if you knew more than you should." Dumbledore said briefly.
"So." James said after a few moments of silence.
"I'll go make some tea, shall I?" Lily suggested after a few more moments of silence.
"That won't be necessary." Dumbledore told her. He then revealed his wand from inside his robes. With it, he conjured a platter of cakes and cookies, a teapot that had a thin trail of steam coming from the spout, three plates, three cups, three saucers, three spoons, sugar, and milk.
"Can we eat it?" Lily asked skeptically, eyeing the cookies with distaste.
"Of course you can!" James said, scandalized. His plate was already loaded with cookies and he had chocolate crumbs on his chin. Of course, he was used to living in the magical world where cookies and tea were conjured all the time.
Lily laughed, pouring herself, James, and Dumbledore tea. She looked at him and took a napkin, wiping his chin with it. He held her eyes a few moments longer than neccessary. She shook herself, remembering where she was, and looked back at Dumbledore, ignoing the chill she had just felt. Lily inhaled the aroma and was immediately soothed.
"So, Lily, tell me everything you know about these four men who took your father."
"Not much, I came home from the store and my sister and mother were wrecks. My father was gone. They told me it was my fault and that I couldn't go to school again." Lily started.
"Well, actually I believe that was Petunia who said that, not your mother." James corrected her.
"Oh, yes. Silly me. Well anyway, they told me that four tall men in black cloaks had come and taken him." Lily continued.
"One of them had blonde hair." James added.
"Yes, one had blonde hair. But anyway, they came in and went looking for my father-" Lily began again. Before she could continue, James cut in again.
"Yes, after they pushed your mother down." James almost growled. Apparently the idea of four grown wizards pushing around a defenseless muggle woman was slightly more than aggravating to him. Lily could hear his knuckles cracking as he spoke.
"So anyway." Lily continued. "They said they were looking for me, and then they took him. Who do you think it was, professor?" Lily asked.
"Well-" Dumbledore started.
"Isn't it obvious?" James asked.
"Who do you think it was, James?" Lily asked patiently.
"The Death Eaters of course. Who else could it be? We know they wear cloaks. Besides, who else would want to take your father?" James asked.
"That is definitely a possibility, but let's not rule out the other options-"
"What other options? There are no other options." James interrupted the professor again. Lily's patience was waning; she put a hand on James's knee to shut him up. He was apparently surprised, and he sat back, closing his mouth. He just stared at her hand on his knee.
"So professor, who do you think it was?" Lily asked.
"I already told you, Ms. Evans, I cannot tell you such things. It would be too dangerous." Dumbledore told her calmly.
"But who would want to do this?" Lily asked, close to tears again. James sounded as if he was about to speak, but Lily squeezed his knee as a reminder and a threat. He sat back again
"As we've discussed before Lily, you're powers are imperative to this battle. We need you on our side to tip the scales in our favor. Voldemort will be after you too now." Dumbledore told her. "He knows how important you are, obviously."
"But how?" Lily said. James was looking puzzled, but she ignored him.
"Again Ms. Evans, as I have told you, Lord Voldemort is also a powerful legilimens. No doubt he has already tried to find out our plans. Fortunately he cannot penetrate my defenses, but the defenses of other wizards, such as Cornelius, or the minister, are much weaker. I doubt they have even grasped the gravity of the situation yet." Dumbledore told her with a sigh. He was so muchyounger than Lily had always supposed, Lily noticed.
For such a young man he was a very highly regarded and powerful wizard, but it was obvious that he was aging fast under such pressures. He was already growing a few more gray and silver hairs than the last time Lily had seen him. No doubt he was working harder than any of them could imagine to stop the storm from breaking for just one more day.
"What should I do, professor?" Lily asked, a slight quiver in her voice.
"One thing is clear, you cannot stay here." Dumbledore told her. "If indeed your family fails to allow you return to Hogwarts, or if the Death Eaters should attempt to try for you again and you are at home this time, everything would be ruined. You are key in my plans Lily. You must continue your studies. I will explain more when I can, when I know that you are safe." Dumbledore told her.
"But where will I go? Will I go back to school?" Lily asked him.
"No!" Dumbledore said, almost too quickly. "Things at school right now They will be worked out over the summer. Before school starts certainly. But right now not even Hogwarts is safe for you. Do you have no friends from school who can take you in for the summer?" Dumbledore suggested. Lily thought for a moment.
She supposed she could go to Caroline's, though she hated to impose again. There was always Holly, although she was also part muggle, so that might not be much safer. There was also Janette, but she had muggle parents, so that would be even worse than going to Holly's.
"She can come stay with me." James said quietly.
"Oh, no, James that's very kind but I couldn't" Lily said.
"Why not, you've got nowhere else to go." He said astutely.
"I wouldn't want to impose on your parents." Lily stared to explain.
"It's no imposition. Besides, what else would you do? You can't go to Holly or Janette; they're both muggle born. And Caroline is in Europe, isn't she?" James asked. There seemed to be a note of hopefulness in his tone. How could Lily have forgotten? Of course. Caroline was on vacation with her family and Ben and his family.
"Well, yes." Lily conceded.
"And you can't stay here. You'll be kidnapped, or kept away from school, or killed." James said, embellishing the facts only slightly. At least Lily hoped he was. She cringed a little as he voiced it in such words.
"Yes, I suppose so." She admitted.
"So why not come to my house? I can't leave you here, and you can't stay here. And you have nowhere else to go. Honestly Lily, it's no imposition. My parents will love to have you." James said enthusiastically.
"They don't even know me! You haven't even asked them! How do you know they'd love to have me? They might already have plans for the summer." Lily protested.
"They don't." James said flatly. "Listen Lily, you're sweet to think they'd care, but really, they won't. They're good people, they love to help."
"I'm sure they do, James, but I couldn't force myself on them like that." Lily said, still trying to think of excuses, much as she did want to go.
"They'll love you. You're coming, it's settled." James told her. Professor Dumbledore had remained silent throughout this repartee, the corners of his mouth twitching. Lily tried to read what he was thinking in his clear blue eyes, but to no avail. He was mentally blocked more now than he ever had been. He apparently noticed her staring at him intently, and winked, letting her no that he knew what she was up to. He then shook his head at her.
"So it's settled then. Lily will be at the Potter's; I'll know where to contact you then. I'm off. This meeting has been most...illuminating." Dumbledore said, walking towards the door. No sooner had the door shut than James started talking at full speed.
"Let's pack up your stuff, and then we'll go meet my parents. You're going to have a lot of explaining to do tonight young lady." James informed her. Lily smiled sweetly and innocently and ran up the stairs without responding.
Authers Note: Hope you enjoyed, I'll try and get another chappie out as soon as possible!!
