Chapter 12

A/N: Yes, I know. I'm incredibly sorry that it's taken so long to update. Life has been hectic. There were assignments, and exams…

Sorry. The last chapter was just a filler, because I didn't want you to think I was neglecting you. But this one will, I hope, make up for it.


"Are you ready, Lily?"

"Almost!"

Anakin rolled his eyes.

"I heard that! I heard you roll your eyes!"

He rolled his eyes again.

Just then, Lily the door between them.

"Wow. Lily… Wow."

"Do I look that good?"

Lily's hair was loose, falling in soft, red-brown waves down her back. She wasn't wearing her disguising contacts, and her eyes shone vibrantly green. Her dress was a dark spring green, to match her eyes. It was a close-fitting boob-tube, but with a gypsy-like flarefrom her waist. It fell to about mid-calf.

He took her in his arms, and kissed her. "You look absolutely gorgeous."

She smiled. "You don't look too shabby, yourself."

Anakin's dress-robes were reminiscent of a Muggle tuxedo. Lily couldn't help thinking he looked very elegant.

"Are we ready to go?"

Lily grinned. "Almost."

Anakin stared at her. "Almost? What now?"

Lily, still grinning, began hissing. "Hssiss? Where are you?"

A gold-speckled green python poked his head out of a bag. "I'm here."

"I was planning on using you as a necklace tonight. Is that ok?"

"Sure," he replied, languidly.

"Thanks, sweetie."

Hssiss slithered over to Lily, who picked him up and settled him around her shoulders, more like a boa than a necklace.

"Now are we ready?" asked Anakin.

Lily, smiling, answered, "Yes, Ani. We're ready."


Lily collapsed, laughing, into a chair. "I'm exhausted!"

She and Anakin had been dancing.

"You may be exhausted," hissed Hssiss, "but I need to – how do you humans say it? – stretch my legs?"

Lily laughed delightedly. "Where'd you pick that one up?"

If snakes could have shrugged, Hssiss would have. "I'm not sure."

"Well, it's very clever of you." Lily gently lifted the python off her shoulders. "Ok, here you go, gorgeous. But don't be too long. And try not to scare anyone."

Hssiss flicked his tongue at her, in a very human way. "You take all the fun out of my life."


Hssiss slithered around the hall, and out the door into the Entrance Hall. He was sure he knew that scent...

"Master!"

A kindly voice answered him softly. "Hello, Hssiss. I take it that Lily is here, then?"

"Yes. Do you want me to go and get her for you?"

"That might be a good idea. Someone seeing me would change the timeline too much – and I'm assuming Lily's trying to keep the sequence of events fairly close?"

"She and Anakin both are – though there were some almost-slip-ups."


Harry watched the green and gold python slithering hurriedly back to Lily.

"That was quick, Hssiss."

"Come, come!" The snake was excited. "Your father's here!"

"What?" Lily looked alarmed. "Damn it! I didn't think he'd be able to figure out the spell!"

Anakin had just returned with drinks. "That was some pretty vehement hissing, Lily. What's wrong?"

"Dad figured out the spell." She took a cup from him, and drank deeply.

Anakin frowned. "I thought you'd made it up yourself?"

"I did. And I was expecting him to figure it out eventually – but not this quickly!"

"How do you think he got it so soon?"

"Well, we've worked together to make spells before."

"Like that updated Patronus charm?"

"Exactly. So he'd know my style of work. That would have helped."

"Come on!" broke in Hssiss. "He wants to talk to you!"

"Alright, Hssiss. Where is he?"

There was a commotion at the door to the Entrance Hall. Mad Eye Moody was pointing his wand at a figure hidden in the shadows, just outside the door. "Alright, you! Come out into the light, so we can see you!"

"He's over there."

Lilylooped Hssiss around her shoulders, and she and Anakin moved towards the door, and the growing crowd. Harry followed them.

The figure had stepped into the Great Hall, but his face was hidden by the hood of his cloak.

"Alright," growled Moody. "Slowly, and with no trickery, move that hood back so we can see your face –"

"Don't you dare!" hissed Lily.

The hooded face turned towards her. "Lily. I thought I might find you here."

"Don't be such a smart arse, Dad. If you don't behave, I might just let the fake Moody blast you."

Amused, he answered, "Yes, Ma'am." Then he laughed. "You're getting more like Molly all the time."

"Good! Everyone respects Grandma."

The crowd had parted, allowing Lily and Anakin to come to the front.

"You know this guy?" growled Moody.

"Yes," Lily answered, still glaring at her father. "He's not a threat – just a pain."

"Thanks so much, darling."

"Your not welcome," she told him in English, then switched to Parseltongue again. "You're not to speak English. Someone will recognise your voice if you do."

"That's not likely –"

"Remember Murphy's Law?"

Anakin was saying to Moody, "Don't worry about it. Get everyone back to dancing – we'll deal with him."

Unhappily, Moody nodded. "Fine."

Harry felt a hand on his collar. He turned to see Dumbledore. "Come with me, Harry."

Dumbledore led him to a corner table, and beckoned him to sit. Dumbledore remained standing. "They were speaking in Parseltongue, weren't they?" It was more a statement than a question.

Harry nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Did they say anything important about who that man was? Actually, just tell me everything they said."

Harry nodded again. "He's Lily's father. She said they used to work together to create spells. And she and Anakin – and now her father – used a spell that Lily made up to get her – though I'm not entirely sure what they meant by that." Harry was trying to remember everything that he'd overheard, both in English and in Parseltongue. "Lily's grandmother's name is Molly. And Lily thought someone would recognise her father's voice if he spoke English." He frowned. "Molly – isn't that Mrs Weasley's name?"

"Yes, it is," replied Dumbledore absently. He was comparing the information Harry had given him with what Lily and Anakin had told him at the start of the year.

"Professor," asked Harry, breaking into his thoughts, "what's going on?"

Dumbledore looked at him sadly. "I'm sorry, Harry, but I can't tell you. But don't worry; you'll understand eventually."

"Yes, Professor." You bet I will. I'm asking Hermione what she thinks about it.

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A/N: Thanks for reading! Next chapter will be up ASAP. Sorry it's taken so long to get this one done!