disclaimer: anything you recognize herein belongs to J.K Rowling. I'm merely borrowing for my own amusement. And yours too. I hope.

Chapter Nineteen

Lily's feet hit hard ground with teeth-jarring abruptness.

The wind and swirling colors stopped.

Dizzy and more than a little disoriented, Lily turned on the spot, taking in her new surroundings.

Gone was her bedroom. She now stood outside, at the door of an unfamiliar cottage home, that was, as far she could see with only the light of the full moon, appeared to be located somewhere deep in the rolling countryside.

A portkey, Lily marveled inspecting the snowglobe with renewed interest. A tricky bit of magic. Even for a skilled charmer. Similar to Apparition, one had to be very precise or the results could be disastrous. She'd read about portkeys several times in her studies.

And yet, the thought had not occurred to her...

Perhaps, pointed out a voice in the back of her head, if she hadn't been quite so readily spinning up conspiracy theories...

Grimacing sheepishly, Lily turned back to the door. There was a brass lion's head door knocker at its center; she gave it a few loud taps and waited.

"State your name."

The disembodied voice that rumbled out into the night made her jump.

"L-Lily Evans," she replied, clearing her throat to regain composure.

"What," came the deep, slow voice again, that she now saw was, in fact, coming from the brass lion's mouth, "begins with a flower and ends like violins?"

Lily stared.

"I ... sorry - what?" She blinked helplessly, bewildered.

The lion repeated the absurd question.

No, not a question, Lily corrected herself as the words sunk in, a riddle.

What begins with a flower and ends like violins? It sounded like something right out of Alice in Wonderland. Utter nonsense.

Were all party guests being given this riddle? she wondered. And why? She could only presume the answer was the key to opening the door.

It seemed a bit strange though forcing your guests to answer a riddle to gain admittance.

James had alluded his parents were on the more-than-cautious side of things, wary of unwelcome gatecrashers. Perhaps it was a test to determine one was not a Death Eater in disguise, having intercepted the portkeys intended recipient. That seemed a reasonable possibility.

But why ask a riddle? Silly, though it was, one could not assume a Death Eater wouldn't work it out. What was really needed here was proof of identity. Was that was this really about? Not so much a game but a test.

And if it was an identification test, it would logically follow everyone would be asked a different question. A specific one. One only they would guess the answer to.

Which meant she knew the answer. She just had it bring it forth.

What begins with a flower and ends like violins?

What did begin with a flower?

Well...she did. Her name, Lily.

And ends like violins...? Violins...

Ends like vio-

The answer hit her so swiftly, her eyes rolled. She was surprised the combined forces didn't freeze a permanent look of exasperation on her face.

"Lilykins," she all but sighed.

The door swung open.

A little House-elf with immensely large ears appeared.

"Welcome, Miss, please do come in," it squeaked graciously, beckoning her inside, "Quickly, please. Before the next guests are arriving on top of you."

Lily hastily heeded the elf's warning and took the step over the doorway. It was not, however, into a cozy little foyer befitting that of the modest country cottage she'd stood outside of. Rather, Lily found herself in a foyer one would expect from a stately manor home. What with its rich wood paneled walls and intricately carved staircase, enormous crystal chandelier and finely woven tapestries, vast size and high ceiling.

"Your portkey please, Miss."

Snapping her mouth closed, Lily passed the snow globe off to the House-elf who vanished it with a click of the fingers.

"If you'll follow Batty, please Miss," the House-elf requested politely, "Young Master Potter has requested I escorts you to him."

Wordlessly, Lily nodded and followed behind the elf as he led the way.

They crossed the length of the entry into another, large hall beyond and then embarked through a series of rooms. First, a formal drawing room dotted with numerous tufted settees and wingback chairs, underlaid with a fine Persian carpet, and gold filigree wallpapered walls that twinkled in the candlelight of yet more crystal holdings. Then, a second drawing room, not much different from the first, if a bit smaller and less formal. Next a library, complete with catwalk and books up to the ceiling. Followed by a study, a long corridor, and then another set of closed doors.

For a creature that's legs were a third the length of Lily's own, Batty kept a surprisingly brisk pace. Then again, he was no doubt used to walking these rooms and focused on his assigned task. Which had been to deliver Lily to James. Not guide her on a leisurely stroll that allowed her the time to register some of her shock and awe.

So it was, Lily was in a bit of haze when Batty pulled open the lastest door and therefore, it took her a moment to register what she was seeing.

At first glance, she thought it a door to the outside. She had only just begun to wonder why she was being led outdoors when she realized it was actually a glass-enclosed room. Not just any room though, a ballroom. With a twenty foot Christmas tree decorated with candles and baubles at its center. Around which a few dozen witches and wizards stood mingling and helping themselves from the levitating trays of drinks and savories that moved amongst them, as blase as one could be. As if they were not standing in a bloody ballroom!

Open mouthed, and not even a bit concerned with keeping a level of decorum, Lily followed Batty across the gleaming wood floor.

Of course, Lily was well aware James came from elite wizarding family, countless generations old, that had, over the course of all those centuries not only built up a highly respectable and esteemed name for themselves but a considerable wealth as well. She had never really given much consideration to all that might entail though.

It was one thing to know someone had wealth. It was quite another to come face to face with the realities of it. This wasn't just the type of riches that could easily replace a hundred galleon broomstick lost in a silly wager. Or pay for a set of silk dress robes for the sake of propriety. This was a type that had, and knew, very little bounds.

What must it have been like to grow up like that? She wondered. To grow up here?

"Young Master Potter, I has brought you Miss Evans as you is requesting, sir."

Batty's squeaky voice roused Lily from her thoughts.

She saw the elf had indeed brought her to James. He was standing before them in a pair of cobalt blue dressrobes, different from the olive pair he'd worn to Slughorn's party. His hair looked tidier now than it had then, too. As if he had actually combed it. Albeit not entirely successfully.

"Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?" Batty asked James, sinking into a sweeping bow that was as impressive as it was mildly disturbing.

"Not right now, thank you Batty," said James, in the most formal tone she'd ever heard of him, "You may return to your duties."

"Thank you, sir."

Dismissed, Batty straightened up, snapped his fingers again, and he, like the snowglobe, vanished.

"Well," Lily started conversationally, "I reckon I'm beginning to understand how one grows such a big head. I might've too, if I lived in a place like this, being bowed to and called Master."

James took her remarks in stride.

"And a Happy Christmas to you as well," he returned.

"Happy Christmas," she relented.

"You're looking smart this evening," he said, giving her a once over. "I like the robes."

"Do you?" She smoothed the silk. "They mysteriously arrived in the post for me this morning."

"Did they. How coincidentally fortunate," he noted innocently.

"Not entirely," she countered, "They did cause me a fair bit of trouble..."

At this, James looked surprised.

"Why's that?" he asked.

"My mother was there when they arrived," Lily explained. "They...left an impression on her."

He frowned at her careful wording.

"What sort of impression?"

"The sort that you're plotting to get into my pants."

James choked on air. Then spluttered.

Lily held back her laughter.

"What?! How does she - how did she - What in the name of Merlin gave her that idea!" he finally managed to spit out incredulously. If a tad loudly.

"Certainly not me," said Lily. "I told her it was ridiculous but she's convinced otherwise. She reckons this - the party, the robes - are your attempt to woo me. Despite the fact that you have a girlfriend. It's all in very poor taste in her eyes, I'm afraid," she clucked.

For a moment all James did was blink back at her, but then a look of sneaking suspicion crossed his face.

"Hold on...You're taking the mickey aren't you?"

This time she did laugh.

"No, I'm really not," she assured him, "I'm completely serious. She tried to forbid me from coming here tonight. We had a row. She's a bit cross with me right now," she admitted.

"Well, I'll set her straight," said James decisively, "I'll tell her myself-" but Lily waved him off.

"Fat load of good that would do. She's far too stubborn to listen to reason -"

"Oh, she is is she?" interrupted James with a heavy dose of pointed irony, "Imagine that. Family trait of yours, is it?"

Lily ignored him.

"You know," she informed him, "you really needn't have worried in the first place though. I had no intention of showing up at another party in one of my sister's hideous dresses."

If James had been taken off guard her first admission, he was positively dumbfounded by the second one.

"You...Knew? You did it on purpose," he slowly stated, with dawning comprehension.

"You did say to have fun," she reminded him.

James was quiet for a moment.

"Not bad, Evans, not bad," he finally said, with something akin to approval. "Word to the wise for next time though," he added, dropping into an undertone, "The objective in a prank is to humiliate the other person, not yourself included."

"It was worth it, Lovemuffin," Lily assured him.

James grinned.

"Enjoy my little riddle?"

"If by enjoy, you mean rolled my eyes at."

"Come now, Evans, I worked hard on that-"

"Speaking of which," Lily interrupted, "How did you get a hand in it? I thought you said you weren't involved in these matters?"

"I'm not usually," said James. "But I know you and Sirius better than my parents, so naturally I was tasked with coming up with your questions."

"Black's here?" Lily glanced around but didn't see him. "I didn't imagine this was his sort of party. Are Remus and Peter here too?"

"Peter's down in Cornwall, visiting family. And Remus couldn't make it. Not that he would have if he could," James added, almost ruefully.

"Not a fan of parties?" she guessed.

"No," said James, "He's just a stubborn arse."

It was Lily's turn to be surprised.

"What do you mean?"

"He's not one to accept help," said James, though that did little to clarify things.

Help? Was James, she wondered, referring to the same kind of 'help' she was receiving? But -

"Why should he need your help?" Lily finished the thought aloud. "Remus is brilliant."

Now Peter she could see needing 'help'. Bless him, but the boy, while sweet, was dimwitted at the best of times.

"A brilliantly stubborn arse," humphed James.

Lily scoffed.

"You just reckon the only way to get anywhere in life is with the Potter name."

"Of course I don't," said James. "It's just easier."

"You are such an arse," she scowled.

"And you're much too easy."

Before she could reply to that, another voice cut in.

"Uh oh," it sang, "Another lovers-tiff? Better hide the pheasant."

Sirius had appeared at James's side. He was dressed in a pair of dark maroon robes with gold piping. A nod to Gryffindor? A bit of an odd choice for dressrobes though he wore them well.

"There isn't any pheasant," said James.

Sirius clapped him on the shoulder.

"Lucky for you, mate."

"I wouldn't get too comfortable," interjected Lily coolly, "I've still got my wand."

To her complete and utter surprise Sirius gave a loud bark of laughter at that and said, "You know, Evans, you're not so bad."

Lily rose a shrewd eyebrow.

"Been nipping at the Firewhiskey, Black?" she surmised.

"D'you want some?"

Sirius gamely reached into the pocket of his robes and produced a small, silver flask which he held out to Lily, who stuck her nose up at it.

"No thank you," she said primly, "I usually wait until after dinner to get pissed."

"Pissed?" repeated Sirius with good-natured offense, "After a few swigs? What do I reckon I am, Evans? A lightweight?"

"Apparently," she shot back drily, "If all you've had is a few swigs."

Again to her surprise, Sirius laughed. Then he slung an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side.

"I like your cheek, Evans."

She pushed him away.

"And I like my personal space, Black. Especially with your breath."

"What're you two lovebirds rowing about now anyways?" Sirius asked, unscrewing the top of his flask.

"Lily's underestimating my moral character again."

"We were discussing Remus's absence tonight," Lily explained, ignoring James.

"Ah, yes. Remus has got his furry little problem to contend with tonight," said Sirius, adopting an oddly grave tone. He took a sip from his flask.

Lily frowned at his change in demeanor.

"Furry little problem? Didn't Remus give away his rabbit ages ago?" she wondered, thoughtfully.

"He can never be truly rid of it, though, can he? It's a curse, really-"

"Sirius," James interjected sharply. Lily stared at him. "I reckon Lily's right. Why don't you go down to the kitchens and get some coffee."

It wasn't a suggestion.

Lily looked between the two boys. She had never heard James reprimand one of his friends like that before. Had never seen him giving one such a hard, warning look either as they briefly appeared to have a silent conversation of sorts.

Then,

"Nonsense," said Sirius returning to his former, jovial drunken self, "I haven't even started singing yet."

Lily noticed him pocket the flask and James's shoulders relax.

"Singing?" she repeated, still trying to work out what had just happened.

"If you can call it that," said James flatly.

"I've been informed, on several different occasions, it's something terrible," agreed Sirius proudly.

"What's this I hear?" yet another voice broke in. This time it was Mrs. Potter who joined their circle. She was looking very elegant in a pair of dusty silver robes and matching hat, as she glanced between her son and his friend suspiciously. "Sirius, you haven't reached that point of the evening already have you?"

Any real disappointment Mrs. Potter might've hoped to instill in him was rendered somewhat ineffective, given her fond smile.

"'Course not, Mrs. Potter," said Sirius staunchly. "I'm working my way up to it still."

"Might I ask," she suggested, "you save the serenade for the end of the evening, this year? Hello there, Lily," she added warmly, abruptly turning her attention to her, "So happy you've joined us! James, you should have told us Lily had arrived. Have you been introduced around yet? Or have these boys been monopolizing all your attention?" she asked Lily, giving the boys in question a shaming look.

"We never monopolize, Mrs. Potter. Women are just drawn to us."

"Not this one. She's far too clever for that," Mrs. Potter replied smartly winking at Lily. "James," she instructed her son, "take Lily and go say hello to Alastor. He's off by himself in the corner, that unsociable man," she tsked, pushing Lily and James off in the direction of Alastor, presumably. "And you dear," Lily heard her say to Sirius as he made to follow after them, "You'll come with me. I have a lovely, big cup of coffee with your name on it in the kitchens."

"Who's Alastor?" Lily asked James as they continued in the direction they'd been shoved, Sirius's mild protests fading away.

"Alastor Moody."

"As in Mad-eye Moody?"

"That's the one. Nothing to fret about," James added, mistaking Lily's silence, "He's harmless so long as your not a Death Eater."

"I'm not fretting," she said, "I'm just..." Nervous, she finished. Though she didn't say it aloud.

Mad-eye Moody was something of a legend. He had come from a long line of Aurors but quickly proved himself not just the product of family tradition. He was the most skilled dark wizard catcher the Ministry had at the moment. You couldn't pick up a Daily Prophet without seeing his name mentioned somewhere. They'd only ever had a picture of him once before though in the paper. A grainy one that had shown only the briefest of glimpses before he'd reached out a hand and pushed away the camera.

In person, Alastor Moody was a tall, bulky man. With longish dark hair pushed back from a rough face that was raked with a few scars, some old, some newer fresher looking ones. The most notable feature, however, was the electric blue eye that was roving around, searching the room independently from the other, normal brown eye.

"Hello, Moody," greeted James upon reaching him, "Enjoying the party?"

"Potter," Moody grunted with a nod, his good eye settling on James while the other continued to roam the room.

"You're looking a bit different from the last time I saw you," said James. "Lost some weight, I heard."

"Aye," said Moody. "And a leg."

Automatically, Lily looked down and saw, with horror, that where Moody's left foot should have stuck out from under the hem of his robes, a wooden stump did instead.

"Shame," said James, who hadn't looked, "Hope you got the bastards that did it."

Moody gave a dark chuckle Lily took as confirmation.

Uncomfortable with their cavalier attitudes on this subject, Lily elbowed James pointedly.

He took the hint.

"Moody, this is a friend of mine."

"Lily Evans, sir," Lily said promptly, sticking out a hand.

"Remember that name," said James, "You'll be seeing lots of her in the future."

"Will I?" Moody, who'd been warily eyeing her hand, finally took it and gave her a brief, firm shake.

"I'm looking to be accepted as an Auror when school is finished, sir," she explained.

"That so?" Moody fixed both eyes on her. Lily tried not to shift under his gaze. It was somehow more disconcerting than when they were working oppositely. "Looking for a fight are you, girl?"

Bristling slightly at the dismissive moniker, Lily squared her shoulders back.

"Yes. I am," she said definitely.

"Won't be a hero, you know," Moody informed her briskly, unmoved by her show of resolve. "Wouldn't die as one either," he added gruffly.

Lily hadn't expected Mad-eye Moody to be a cuddly fellow, but she hadn't exactly expected him to be quite so ... uncouth either.

"I'm not looking to be a hero, sir," said Lily honestly.

Moody grunted.

"Evans, was it?"

"Yes."

"Not particularly attached to any of extremities are you, Evans?"

Lily faltered at that, unsure how to respond to such a loaded question. She wasn't sure it was an entirely serious question.

"I…Not particularly," she said after a pause. "Though they are rather attached to me, sir."

James laughed, and the first time Lily was grateful for his presence.

Moody was not so amused. He was considering her again. More carefully this time.

"I suppose," he allowed, "I could keep a look out for your application."

Lily tried not to let too much of her shock show. She recognized she'd just been granted a high honor.

"Thank you, sir."

"Right, now that that's all sorted," James said to Moody, "Why don't you go off and make the rounds? You know my mother will just keep sending me here to pester you if you don't."

Moody grudgingly agreed with that.

"I reckon he likes you," James said to Lily as Moody hobbled off, his wooden stump clanking.

"I reckon he likes you," said Lily. "I just...interested him."

"Impressed, you mean."

"You reckon?" she asked, betraying a bit more than hope then she dared feel.

"You did good, Evans," he confirmed. "Ready for the next one? I see Parker Owens over there."

Lily looked, as if she had any idea who Parker Owens was and could recognize him, but someone familiar did catch her eye.

"Alice!"

Blond curls bounced as Alice turned her head to see who had called out her name.

A warm smile broke across her round face as she spotted James.

"James!"

James and Lily walked over to meet her.

"Didn't know you'd arrived," said James, as Alice gave him a hug. "Happy Christmas. Hello Frank," he added to the man at Alice's side, shaking his hand. "Happy Christmas. You remember Lily don't you?"

On cue, Alice and Frank turned their attention to Lily.

"Oh. Yes," said Alice after a pause. "Hello," she smiled politely.

"Nice to see you again," said Lily. "It's been a while. I reckon the last time I saw you both, we had just had run in behind the tapestry on the fourth floor wasn't it?"

Actually, that had been the first time Lily had met the couple. She'd been out on a nightly patrol as a fifth-year Prefect when she'd come across seventh-years Frank and Alice in the middle of a serious snogging session in the dark, secret passageway after hours. They had both been so mortified at being caught out Lily hadn't even had the heart to give them detention.

There had always been a friendly nod across the Great Hall or a kind hello when passing in the corridors from them after that.

"Yes," said Alice, memory successfully jogged, if the slight flush to her cheeks was at all telling, "Yes, that's right. Lily. Good to see you again."

"Congratulations on the wedding," she wished them both.

"Thank you."

"Er, not to be rude," said Frank frowning thoughtfully between Lily and James, "but am I wrong in remembering you two as being on decidedly unfriendly terms?"

"Not rude of you at all. A bit frank, maybe-"

"We've come to an understanding recently," Lily explained cutting across James, "Occupational hazard and all that, seeing as we're Heads together."

Frank looked quickly at James.

"Really? You're Head Boy."

"Through no fault of my own," James assured him.

"That's a high achievement," said Alice appreciatively. "Well done. Both of you," she added tipping her head to Lily.

"Dumbledore always was a bit of a mystery," noted Frank, letting out a soft 'oof!' as Alice elbowed him.

"That's one way of putting it," said Lily wryly.

"As you can see, not much has changed," James said to Frank, "Lily's still got some decidedly unfriendly feelings toward me."

"As I recall," Alice pointed out smartly, "they wouldn't be unwarranted."

Lily shot James a satisfied look.

"Let's not get started down this road again," he said loftily, "It's a party after all. We should be discussing more agreeable things. Like the war."

"Same old, same old," shrugged Frank. "Voldemort's getting stronger. The Death Eaters are getting bolder. And we're being picked off one by one."

"We lost Quincy Motts the other day," Alice shared sadly. "New recruit. He'd only been on the job three days, poor bloke."

James shook his head.

"Merlin. That's got to be a record."

But Lily had another thought.

"Do you reckon that's why Moody was trying to scare me off?" she asked him.

"Ol' Mad-eye's here?" Frank perked up, searching the room.

"I just introduced Lily," said James. "You know how he is."

"You shouldn't take it personally," Alice advised Lily sympathetically, "He likes to keep people at bay. Takes him a while to warm up to you, that's all."

"I reckon it might've been more than that," said Lily. "I was telling him I plan to become an Auror too, after graduation, and he was trying to warn me off it. I think."

"Looking to join the cause are you?" Frank eyed her with newed interest. "Good on you. We can use all the help we can get. Still, as Alice said, don't take it personally. Moody's a tough one. But not a hardened one. He doesn't like death. Of any kind. You know," Frank lowered his voice, "the Ministry's been considering lifting the ban on Unforgivable curses for us. Aurors, that is. They reckon we need to start fighting fire with fire if we're gonna have any chance at winning this. Almost the whole Auror departments for it..."

"Not Moody, though?" guessed James.

"Reckons it's a step in the wrong direction," confirmed Frank.

"He's worried," whispered Alice. "He reckons if we start going down that road there'll be no line between our side and theirs anymore."

"What do you reckon?" Lily asked them. "Are you for it?"

"Well, I'm for it," Frank admitted. "Can't say I'd ever use one of them. But..." he sighed "as it stands right now...we're just sitting ducks, really."

"You're coming to a gunfight with a knife," Lily assessed.

Which only caused everyone to frown at her in confusion.

"A what?" James asked.

"Muggle phrase," she explained, "Means you're ill-equipped compared to the opponent."

"You're right about that," said Frank.

"What about you?" Alice asked Lily and James. "What do you reckon?"

"I don't know if I'm necessarily for it," said Lily, "But I understand it."

"I reckon I'm with Moody on this one," said James.

"Probably smart," agreed Frank.

"How did you settle on becoming an Auror? If you don't mind me asking," Alice said to Lily, "It's just," she went on, "you've always been an academic, haven't you? I'd expect you want something that puts that to use. Not that you don't need brains as an Auror, mind you. You need them plenty. But you also need to be a bit...well, stupid too. I just reckoned you too sensible for it, I suppose," she finished apologetically but Lily wasn't offended.

"I did consider becoming a Healer first," she admitted. "But then, with all the news in the Daily Prophet...It sort of begs one to take a more active role, doesn't it? I mean, I'm Muggleborn. I've got two reasons for wanting to see Voldemort and his supporters taken down."

"Well," said Frank to his wife, "I reckon she's checked that last box."

"What?" Lily looked between them, not understanding.

"You shouldn't say things like that," Frank warned her. "It's not safe."

"What? His name you mean? I'm not going to be intimidated by a silly-" Alice interrupted Lily's protests.

"Not just his name," she said. "You shouldn't - it's just not wise to go around sharing you're Muggle-born," she advised after a brief struggle for the right words. "Especially not if you're going to be an Auror."

"I won't be frightened into being ashamed of what I am," said Lily defiantly, folding her arms.

"It's not about being ashamed. It's about keeping yourself alive," said Frank seriously "Don't go asking for extra trouble. You'll have plenty of it as it is, believe me. Don't be too proud to be scared. Scared keeps you on your toes. It's the cocky ones that are killed first."

"In that case," said Lily, in an effort to disperse some of the sudden tension, "I'm not the one you should be worried for."

"Don't listen to her," said James, readily rising to the occasion, "Contrary to what Lily thinks, I do know something about a time and a place. I haven't got a death wish. I'm far too handsome to die young."

Everyone laughed at that, including Lily.

"Speaking of handsome," said Alice, "Where's your mate got to? He's here isn't he?" she asked James.

"Oh, he's here," he replied.

"He was with us not long ago," Lily added.

"Am I just expected to ignore the fact my wife's eagerly asked after another man, then?" Frank asked the group at large with comical displeasure.

"You know I'm just asking because I'm hoping he'll perform another rendition of I Saw Three Broomsticks for us this year," said Alice, "I did so enjoy it last year."

Frank grunted.

"That's only because you think he's handsome."

"That's not true," protested Alice, smiling unconvincingly, "It's endearing, is all. Off-key and awful as it was, you can't deny it was festive."

"I'm fairly certain there's a good chance there'll be a repeat performance," James assured her.

"Excellent!"

"Really Alice, you could at least try to hide your eagerness for another man from me."

"Oh, shush." Alice waved her husband away. "You know I adore you."

"You don't really fancy Sirius, do you?" Lily asked her quietly once the boys had taken up discussing Quidditch.

"'Course not," she whispered back. "I just like to get Frank wound up."

And they giggled together.

Sadly, Lily had to bid goodbye to Frank and Alice for the time being not long after that, as she and James remembered they were supposed to be introducing her around and Mrs. Potter had just made the announcement dinner was forthcoming.

Lily met several more Aurors after that, including Parker Owens. Who turned out to be a rumbled man who didn't look like he could take down a fly so much as a Death Eater, but was apparently a very highly skilled dueler.

Also, Tarquin Battersby, a thick Scottish accented wizard who had a grudge against the Daily Prophet and their supposed leaking of confidential Ministry information to the public.

"Blasted fools," he'd growled, "Can't see past the end of their quills! Going to get us all killed at this rate! How are we supposed to operate in a stealthy manner with the likes of them, I ask you?"

To which Lily had replied perhaps the problem wasn't so much with the Prophet, it was their job to report after all, as it was with the people who had blabbed to them.

Lily wasn't sure if it was her assessment or the blunt way in which she'd said it that had Battersby taken aback, but she had the feeling it was the latter. Either way, he'd taken it well, after he'd gotten over his initial surprise. He'd hastily excused himself to discuss opening inquiries into it with Moody. Or perhaps, he'd just wanted to get away from Lily. James was of the opinion it was both.

She'd also met Clara Ratcliffe, a young witch in her mid-twenties. Lily had found her to be the most useful contact. She'd shared her own experience when applying at the Ministry to become an Auror and had given Lily several helpful tips and suggestions. "We girls got to stick together!" she'd said after Lily's grateful thanking of her time. Clara had even extended Lily the invitation to write her if she had any future questions.

Overall, Lily decided as she settled into bed much later that night, having received the portkey snowglobe back from Batty the House-elf at the end of the party and been transported back into her bedroom, it had been a surprisingly enjoyable evening. Her favorite moment of the night though had to be Sirius's awful performance of Deck the Halls during the last course of dinner. Alice had been right. There was an endearing quality to it. Even though it'd been cut short in the third chorus by Sirius losing his balance and toppling off his chair. He was a true showman though. He'd resumed singing as James had dragged him off to bed, fa-la-la-la-la-ing all the way.

Lily hummed the cords as she fell asleep.

xxx

Naturally, it followed, after such a great high, came a great low. 'Twas the way of the world. She really should have been expecting something like what transpired next.

Surprise!

I know it's a bit short, and I do have more written, but it's not fine-tuned yet and I wanted to share something you with guys. I hope you enjoy it.

Plus, who can resist a cliffhanger?

More to come. Much love,

GoddessoftheMaan