AN:
Hello All. Welcome back to your monthly chapter of The Bodyguard.
If I'm honest, I was a little hesitant to release this chapter. Why? Mainly because it's a very sharp shift in perspective from the last chapter. Some might see this as pure filler, but it served my purposes as a way of showing a huge timeskip (almost 10 years from Chapter 3; 7 years from Chapter 4). This is also part of my effort to avoid bashing and try to show how James and Lily handled the aftermath of Voldemort's attack and why Harry was shipped off to the Dursleys and eventually left to suffer.
The main focus of this chapter is through the eyes of Lily, so I ask your forgiveness if some of it may seem odd. As a bachelor, trying to portray the feeling of a married woman who's also a mother was difficult to say the least. I watched a lot of older TV sappy romance and some old sitcom shows to try and get a rough approximation. Her interactions with James and her children are what came out of my research.
I hope you enjoy. I promise next month's chapter will be back on track with the story, and I intend to move quickly to his start at Beauxbatons, and the eventual trip to Hogwarts.
Till next time.
"Merlin!" Lily Potter yelped as she came face to face with two grotesque masks that were oozing slime. Hand on heart, she heard the laughter coming from behind them and grew irritated.
"Richard and Charles Potter! How many times have I told you to not wear those hideous masks in the house?!" she reprimanded them loudly.
The two boys now identified as Richard and Charles Potter were cracking up on the floor as their mother shouted at them.
"We got you good, mum! Admit it!" Richard choked out while gasping for air.
His twin Charles' response was to laugh louder as he rolled around.
"That was not funny! I almost hexed you both in fright. Where is your father? Did he and your mangy dogfather put you up to this?"
Finally able to control himself, Charles answered. "Nah, mum. Dad and Uncle Siri are outside flying with June. We were bored. So, we pranked you!" He cheerfully finished, as if he hadn't scared her half to death.
"Well just for that, dinner for the next 2 days will be boiled vegetables." She harrumphed.
Their eyes went wide, and they looked at each other in horror. "Veggies for two whole days! You can't do that to us mum! Please?! We promise we won't scare you again!" Richard begged.
"Promise!" Charles echoed.
She turned around as they pleaded and pulled at her sleeves. After making them sweat for a bit, she gave an out. "Well, if you two behave like the good boys I know you are for the rest of the week, and finish all of your reading and homework, perhaps we can all enjoy some nice Macaroni Cheese instead."
The twins shot each other looks and through a series of eye rolls, nudges, and grunts, they nodded as one before replying together. "We promise."
"That means no pranks. At all. Got it?" She added another caveat.
A solemn look was shared between them before they replied. "Deal."
Smiling, Lily ruffled their hair before sending them off to work on their assignments. Seeing them happily run off made her sigh in exasperation. Those two mischievous gremlins always had her running around after them. Still, she wouldn't change them even if she could. From birth, they had brought a lot of joy and laughter into a household that had become heavy and morose following Voldemort's attack.
Turning her gaze to the picture frame at the edge of the living room, she was overtaken by nostalgia. It was an older photograph that showed a baby Juniper being held by James and a smiling black-haired, green-eyed boy sat upon her lap while beaming at the camera. A frown unknowingly took hold on her face as she thought about her eldest son.
It had been years since they last visited him. After the last time, Alecto and Amycus Carrow had somehow managed to track her and James to Privet Drive. It was only due to Dumbledore placing a ward around the whole street that they were able to respond in time. Both had been arrested and sentenced to rot in Azkaban for their actions as Death Eaters during the war.
Even though the threat had been neutralized, Lily had been deeply disturbed by how close she had come to losing her son and sister, not to mention the other members of the family. Both she and James had come to the decision that they would not visit Harry to avoid his location getting leaked to any Death Eaters.
After how many of them had bribed their way out of imprisonment, it was the only thing they could do to protect them all. The thought of what if they hadn't gotten there in time had haunted them. So, they took measures to prevent that nightmare from ever becoming reality.
It broke both of their hearts to not be there for Harry.
While they would have loved to have him stay with them in Potter Manor, Harry had a bad reaction to environments with a lot of magic. When they had first brought him home from the hospital, he had collapsed and started shaking as if suffering from a seizure.
The experts at St. Mungo's spell damage ward didn't know what was happening to him and were less than helpful with how eager they were to experiment for their research. It was Dumbledore that had suggested Petunia's home, and while it had worried her initially, their weekly visits encouraged her that she had made the right decision.
Harry hadn't been happy with living separately from them, but he knew that his magic was having problems. Dumbledore had promised them that he would personally consult with experts from various circles to help Harry. With how brilliant the man was, Lily was confident that perhaps one day, he might find a solution. However, dangling that hope in front of Harry without knowing how long it might take was too cruel for her.
Even in the magical world, their family had a couple of scares. A few hired wands had attacked them in Diagon Alley one day and it had been a huge mess. Several people had been injured, and somehow, all the perpetrators had the best defense attorneys that money could buy to help argue their sentences down to a slap on the wrist.
It reeked of the Dark Houses, specifically Malfoy and Nott, financially backing the assassination attempt on their family. Unfortunately, they were also very good at hiding their indiscretions, meaning no proof had ever been found. Their family had stopped going out into public often and kept themselves sequestered within the powerful wards of Potter manor.
It pained her to think that her children couldn't go to primary school as she had done. They would never be able to make friends with other children their age and truly experience the Muggle world and all it had to offer. Still, if it meant keeping them safe, she was willing to make sacrifices to ensure that no harm would come to them. Besides, she enjoyed teaching them all the things they needed to know.
She had taken the opportunity to give them a head start in understanding basic magical theory and how spells worked. Potions had also been a joy to teach, seeing as she had a particular flare for the subject. They would be going into Hogwarts as knowledgeable and competent brewers.
She had heard the kind of potion accidents that were occurring inside Hogwarts, and it agitated her that Severus was doing such a horrible job in preventing them. He had a passion and talent for Potions that surpassed her. Yet he had devolved into a cruel professor that insulted and berated his students for their lack of ability, when he should be encouraging them and helping them learn from their mistakes.
After that horrible night when Voldemort himself confirmed that Severus had wanted her as a "reward", she had broken off any contact with him. Any chance at mending their friendship, which had fractured in their fifth year, had been destroyed. It had taken a lot for her to not outright curse him to pieces when they first met after she recuperated from her injuries.
His mere presence in Hogwarts was enough for her consider sending her children elsewhere for their magical education. The only thing stopping her was the potential public outcry that inevitably occur. If they learned the Girl-Who-Lived, arguably the most famous British witch in all of Europe, was not attending Hogwarts, their family and reputations would be dragged through the mud.
She was all too aware of the British Ministry's pettiness. They would sic their attack dogs in the Daily Prophet to harass and incite the public to shun them. While Rita Skeeter was a sub-par journalist, she was a skilled propagandist. She could collectively turn a lot of people against the Potter family by blowing the "scandal" out of proportion. The only reason she hadn't touched them at all was because of Juniper's popularity. Otherwise, they would be an open target for her poisonous quill.
If push came to shove, she would have no issue moving out of Britain. The only problem was that she would never be able to forgive herself for hurting James that way. He would move with her in a heartbeat if she was serious about it. She knew he loved her that much.
To her, it would be cruel to ask James to abandon his home. The country that his family had lived in, fought, bled, and even died for. Also, it was the coward's way out. If everyone capable of fixing the many ills of Magical Britain simply left, then the corrupt system would chug on in perpetuity.
Change is always an uphill battle. One that she was dedicated to fighting.
Long after her, there would be still muggleborns in Britain. It was her responsibility as their predecessor to lay the groundwork to build a just an equal society, where they would be welcomed as fellow magicals instead of shunned as second-class citizens. It was her duty to fight against the stigma against half-bloods like her children. To ensure that they had a future in their own home.
They had made great progress too.
Piggybacking off Voldemort's downfall, the most influential Dark houses had nearly all been financially impacted by the numerous bribes they had paid to avoid Azkaban. With less money to throw around, it became simpler for the Light faction to push bills that worked on improving the status of non-purebloods in Magical Britain. Several bills were put in place that protected the legal rights of muggleborns in magical courts and closed several loopholes that could be exploited by Purebloods in the name of "defense".
Along with the improvement in legal status, the bribe money had been put to good use. They had subsidized new equipment for Hogwarts students, scholarships and educational programs that would help inform muggleborns about the world they were entering.
They were on a roll, and she would be damned if she abandoned the work halfway to run.
Still, her heart ached whenever she looked at her eldest son's joyous smile. She hadn't seen him for almost 10 years. How much would he have changed by now? Was he okay?
She stopped herself from asking questions. They would only cause her to break the security measures they had enacted. It was better, and safer for all those involved if she stayed away.
Nowadays she just couldn't help but think about him.
Juniper was growing up, and from how well she was performing in her assignments, she would be a wonderful student from the moment she entered Hogwarts. It was a running joke between her and James that she would be the first Potter to enter Ravenclaw. Her daughter had taken after her with a love for books and studying.
That got her thinking about what house Harry would have joined if he had had the opportunity to go to Hogwarts. Perhaps Gryffindor like her and James? He had always been an energetic and outgoing child. Maybe Hufflepuff? With how kind and helpful he was, that was also an option.
That line of thinking just made her sad again. With how badly Harry's magic reacted to Potter Manor, attending Hogwarts was wishful thinking. A building steeped in centuries of magic, housing students who cast spells daily, would be impossible for him to handle. He would never have the opportunity to learn about the wonders of magic as she had, and that upset her more than anything.
This world, despite its many flaws, had become her home. It was a place of wonder that never ceased to remind her of how little she truly knew about magic. She had dedicated her life to studying the many intricacies and mysteries it held. Something that Harry could never properly wield, according to Dumbledore.
The man had been doing his utmost to research Harry's condition, just as he promised. However, he had become so busy that he was rarely able to visit them over the past few years. Whenever he did drop in, he mentioned that his efforts had yet to yield any fruit, an answer both she and James became used to hearing.
James had struggled with not seeing his son. He had questioned their decision many times, and it had been her who had to persuade him to not go and visit. After many arguments, he decided to focus his efforts on the children he could interact with daily.
Juniper had grown up hearing many stories of the Marauders and their pranks. Quidditch also became a sport she grew to love, and James was all too happy to help her train for making her future House team. Richard and Charles both also grew to fill the gap that Harry had left, if only temporarily.
Sirius had been inconsolable after they had chosen to not visit Harry. He loved his godson so much that it hurt not being there for him. Sadly, with Harry's condition, frequent visits would only exacerbate the issues. It had taken a long time for him to get over the fact that his godson might never be able to live in a magical household nor attend Hogwarts.
He had used the many connections and significant wealth of the Blacks to completely censor all news about Harry. Other than close family friends, almost no one knew about his volatile condition. Harry's name was temporarily stricken from the Hogwarts register, seeing as Dumbledore was still searching for a cure, so it had not been called out last year at the Sorting Ceremony when he was meant to start.
To ignore his pain and regret for not being there on that night, he threw himself into Auror work and managing his family. The reputation of the House of Black had been heavily damaged by Bellatrix after the attack on Longbottom Manor. His grandfather had stepped down as the Lord Black and begged him to bring them back to greatness.
That's exactly what he had gone on to do.
In a stunning political move, he had taken away the Black seat from the Dark faction and firmly planted it among the Light. He publicly apologized for Bellatrix's actions and cast her out of the House of Black in front of the entire Wizengamot. After paying the new Dowager Augusta Longbottom extensive reparations, he had somehow managed to avoid a blood feud from forming.
Upon his grandfather and aunt's request, Sirius had married a Pureblood lady from a foreign noble house. Diana Marchetti was an Italian witch from a family that owned a sizable share of the European magical alcohol market, with wine being their main specialty. She was a beautiful, elegant witch who did not hold any bigoted views towards muggleborns, werewolves, or other magical creatures.
Needless to say, she was a hit among their circle of friends.
After a few years, their family had grown with the arrival of two daughters and a son. His eldest daughter Cassiopeia, named for his favorite aunt who had passed shortly after the wedding. His eldest son Antares was born a year after his sister Cassie. His youngest daughter Lyra was born 2 years later and had every one of them wrapped around her little finger.
Cassiopeia became best friends with Juniper, while Antares and Lyra often played with the Potter twins Charles and Richard. Seeing them all laughing and interacting with each other helped James and Sirius cope with Harry's absence. Whenever they could, they would schedule play dates for their children and when it came time for June to head to Hogwarts, Cassie was already raring to follow her come next year.
Lily smiled fondly at the thought of Diana and the children. Sirius had done very well for himself when he married her. She had grounded him in a way that was previously thought impossible to accomplish. Her goddaughter Cassie was the sweetest little girl, and a great friend to Juniper.
Sighing, she looked at the clock. It was closing in on a month since June's birthday and their trip to Diagon Alley. They had been mobbed in the Leaky Cauldron, but they managed to handle it well. June had been overwhelmed by the excitement and gratitude expressed by all the people who came to shake her hand.
She and James had decided to let her know of her fame early on and were careful to ensure that it never went to her head. Their plan had worked perfectly, and Juniper turned out to be a kind and humble girl who didn't flaunt her status. The greatest test, however, would be at Hogwarts itself. With all her peers growing up hearing stories about that dreadful night, maintaining humility and not seeking special treatment would be difficult.
In a couple days, Juniper would officially start at Hogwarts, and she didn't know how to feel about it. With Dumbledore in the castle, she was confident that safety wouldn't be an issue. The thought of not seeing her daughter for several months made her anxious. She had already given up seeing one child. Seeing another one leave the house would be difficult to handle.
James had been a great help in dealing with the stress. He assured her of their daughter's safety and did his best to train Juniper in self-defense. His experience as an Auror gave him access to numerous spells that the general public wouldn't know. Spells to check for traces of malicious magic, poison or other potions in food, and several wards for protecting a room and her possessions.
While it was frowned upon for children to learn advanced spells before Hogwarts, they both made an exception to ensure their daughter could protect herself should the need arise. Their confidence in the staff notwithstanding, they had both attended Hogwarts during the peak of the war. The professors couldn't be everywhere at any given time.
The front door opened, and the sound of laughter filled the living room.
"That was so fun, Dad! How did you manage to do Callian's Corkscrew right through a goalpost?"
"Well, Junebug, your old man still is one of the best players to ever grace the Hogwarts pitch. In fact, I had several offers to go pro right out of school, but there were more important things I wanted to pursue." James boasted proudly.
"And just what, pray tell, was more important than your professional Quidditch career?" Lily interjected.
He beamed at her. "How could a career in Quidditch ever be more important than having you in my life, Lilyflower?"
"Nice. I give it a solid seven and a half." Sirius snickered from behind.
"Seven and a half? That was easily a nine. Possibly ten. Did you hear how smooth I was?!" James indignantly retorted.
Lily chuckled and kissed him. "That was pretty smooth."
James' trademark half-grin lit up his face. "I know, right? Perhaps its worthy of a… reward?"
Lily made a show of thinking. "Hmm. Perhaps. Do you have something in mind?"
His grin became heated. "Oh darling, you wouldn't want to know some of the things I have in mind."
Sirius cleared his throat. "Well, this has been fun, but I need to head home. Cassie has started asking for lessons before attending Hogwarts and I promised to show her a few things. I'll have to start looking for a tutor to get her up to speed before she starts next year."
"Why don't you send her here? I can teach her all she needs to know." Lily offered.
"That's kind of you, Lily. Now that I think about it, I might just take you up on your offer with how well June turned out. We still on for tomorrow?"
James nodded. "Yes. Richie and Charlie have been looking forward to having Antares and Lyra over. In fact, why don't you and Diana pop on over as well? We can have a picnic out on the pitch. June's leaving for Hogwarts in a couple days, so it'll be like a sendoff party."
Lily chimed in. "Don't worry about the food. I can put something together. We'd love to have you all over before June heads out."
Sirius scratched his chin. "I'll have to ask Di, but I'm pretty sure you can count on us being there. I'll Floo you later tonight and let you know."
"That'll be great. I'll expect your call."
"Sounds good. We will see you tomorrow then. Have a good evening!" Sirius waved as he walked out the door.
"By Uncle Sirius! See you tomorrow!" Juniper called while smiling brightly.
After Sirius had left, the Potters retired to the living room. Lily flicked her wand and summoned a few cups of tea along with some biscuits.
"How was your day, sweetheart?" she asked her daughter.
"It was great, mum! Dad showed me how to pull off evasive maneuvers against Bludgers while trying to score a goal." She excitedly spoke while dipping a biscuit into her tea.
Lily sighed. "I sometimes wish you weren't so happy to play such a dangerous game. The number of injuries that I saw happen in just seven years was enough to last a lifetime. I can't believe that somebody hasn't gotten killed by those Merlin-forsaken Bludgers at Hogwarts."
"That's because the Hogwarts Bludgers are purposely enchanted to go at slower speeds. Even after being hit by a Beater, they don't fly as quickly towards a target. It's a safety measure that was put in long ago after too many students were heavily injured by the professional Bludgers." James enlightened them.
"That makes sense. Still, I can't help but think June will be hurt badly. The speed of a broom is nothing to scoff at. If she crashes…" Lily stopped. She didn't want to think about the possible consequences.
She felt an arm around her shoulder. "Don't worry Lilyflower. I'd like to think that my training over the years has made her a decent enough flyer. Nothing's going to happen to her. Besides, she'll not have to worry about Quidditch for at least a year. Next summer, I'll make sure that she'll be safe when she makes the House team."
Lily raised an eyebrow. "You're pretty confident that she's going to make the House team. Don't most players usually start off in the reserve team?"
James harrumphed. "The daughter of Quidditch extraordinaire James Potter on the reserve team? Perish the thought, woman! June's going to be the best player in Hogwarts during her years there. I guarantee it." he confidently stated.
Lily chuckled and tweaked his nose. "Any more talk and you're already swollen head will grow even bigger."
June laughed at the byplay between them. "You gotta admit Mum, Dad is pretty good at Quidditch."
"Pretty good?! I'd say I'm a lot better than pretty good." James indignantly squawked.
Lily laughed at James' reaction. These were the times that made her remember all the good things that she had going for her. A loving family and the best husband she could have asked for.
"Finish your tea and go take a bath sweetie. Dinner will be in an hour, and I need to make sure your brothers have finished their homework before then."
Gulping down her lukewarm tea, June set the cup on the table and rushed upstairs. "I'm going, Mum! See you at dinner."
The loud thumps of her steps faded into the distance and left a calm silence in the living room. James sighed and cast a Heating charm before taking a sip of the now piping hot tea. Lily nibbled on a biscuit as she followed his lead. Moments of total silence and peace were rare, and they had learned to treasure the brief respites that came with childrearing.
"Can't believe she's about to leave for Hogwarts." Lily broke the silence.
James nodded. "Makes me wonder where all the years have gone."
"It makes me feel old, seeing her grow up so quickly."
"You look more beautiful than the day we graduated Hogwarts. I don't think you'll have to worry about feeling old for at least another 20 years." James guffawed.
Lily smiled and leaned into her husband. He always knew just what to say to cheer her up. It was something she loved about him.
"It's been almost 10 years since we last saw him, Lily. Have you heard back from Petunia at all?" James asked calmly.
Lily immediately straightened up and looked at him. "James. We've been over this too many times to count. He'll never be safe if we're in his life. It wouldn't take much effort for Malfoy and his ilk to find out where he is, especially with their contacts at the Ministry."
James pinched the bridge of his nose. "I know. I just feel that it's gone on long enough. We left him there because there was no other choice. Malfoy probably doesn't even remember that we have an older son at this point. What's the harm in popping in for a quick visit?"
Lily shook her head. "All it takes is one slip-up. Just one, and both he and my sister's family would be in danger. I'm not going to risk their lives like that. They don't have any way of defending themselves if the Death Eaters find out about them!"
"You think I don't know that Lily? I know what they're capable of just as much, if not more so than you. It has been a decade, Lils! Ten years since we've last seen him. Petunia doesn't respond to any of our cards or letters and sends them all back unopened. How do we even know if he's alright?!" James countered heatedly.
Lily's eyes narrowed. "James Charlus Potter. Are you suggesting my sister wouldn't treat her own nephew well? That she'd hurt him?!"
James didn't back down. "Your sister might not do anything, but you know what her husband is like! That man hated our very presence in his home whenever we visited. I caught him threatening Harry one time when we went there. Who's to say she would stand up for Harry against him?"
Lily snarled. "I know my sister better than you, James. She may have let her jealousy come between us during my Hogwarts years, but we made up. We buried the hatchet after she had Dudley, and I know that Harry wouldn't be treated any different. She can stand up to Vernon and I have no doubt she would if he threatened Harry's wellbeing."
"I don't know about that, Lily. Without having seen him, we can't say how exactly your sister treated him. I'd like to think that everything's okay, but I have a bad feeling. Please. Let's go see him. At least once after June leaves. If all is well, then we can both sleep easier knowing he's safe."
Lily frowned. As much as she didn't want to break the protocols they had instituted for her son's safety, James' impassioned plea struck a deep chord within her. She missed her baby boy terribly. There wasn't a single day that passed where she didn't wish he could be here with them.
She was mulling it over when she looked up and saw James' eyes lightly shining with unshed tears. The hurt and longing in his eyes made her wilt in on herself. Isolating Harry and Petunia's family had been a joint decision, but one she had pushed for with more fervor than James. Her love for her sister had been the driving force. The desire to keep her safe had influenced her decision far more than she cared to admit.
Seeing James' desperation made her feel like a horrible wife and mother. For all intents and purposes, she had abandoned her son to her sister's family. Oh, the excuses of his condition were all there for her, but she realized that when all of that was stripped away, it was the simple and harsh truth.
She and Petunia had made up, but James' assertions of Vernon's behavior still rattled her. Doubt plagued her as she sat there, trying to work up the courage to deny her husband one of his greatest wishes.
Taking a deep breath, she prepared herself to dash his hopes only to find herself unable to utter a single word. Shaking, she closed her mouth and sunk her face into her hands. It was torture. Plain and simple.
As she wallowed in self-pity, she attempted to reflect on why she was hesitant, only to freeze as the answer came very quickly. She was terrified. Terrified of the possibility that her husband might be right.
"Okay". Her answer was whispered and barely audible, but loud enough for James to hear. She felt his arms around her, pulling her tightly against his broad frame. Drops of water plopped onto her neck as she felt his chest shake. She hugged him back as tight as she also lightly sobbed.
They needed to see their darling Harry. For both their sakes.
Dinner was a subdued affair, and their consternation was palpable at the table. Their children noticed, but the heavy atmosphere dissuaded them from asking any questions. Both her and James were thankful. They didn't know how they would answer them on what was going on.
Richard and Charles were both born long after Harry had already been dropped off at her sister's home. They hadn't seen him even once, and while she and James had informed them of Harry's existence, he was merely an idea to them. They knew they had an older brother, but they had no idea about what kind of person he was.
Truth be told, even she and James did not know. A decade of no physical contact left them bereft of any idea of what kind of boy he was. How had he grown up? Was he tall? Short? Most importantly, was he happy?
They didn't know, and that worried them. When Petunia stopped replying to her letters all those years ago, she had simply thought that Harry wasn't interested in writing to them. She thought that he was probably angry at them, so she didn't make a big deal about it. She understood and knew he had every right to be upset with them.
Petunia herself had also been cold and not really bothered writing a whole lot even before she stopped writing back. It was more a matter of time than anything. Still, the thought of their safety was what allowed her to ignore the ache in her heart and move on. Even if her son hated her, she would withstand it.
It was all to keep her loved ones safe.
The next morning came, and a good night's rest had taken the edge off. Breakfast was a happy and slightly chaotic affair, as usual. The twins were excited that their best friends were coming over, and Juniper was already planning out what she would do with Cassiopeia in the afternoon.
Lily bustled around the kitchen as she prepared some short eats ahead of time. The main course would be simple, but filling. No doubt Diana would bring a nice bottle of wine and Sirius would bring dessert, as usual. That allowed her to get creative and try out new dishes. Today, she thought a Mediterranean pasta dish would be a nice change.
The Black family arrived at 11 and after a few quick greetings, the children split up into their groups to play. June dragged Cassie with her to the pitch to show off her new moves. Richie and Charlie took Antares and Lyra to their room, no doubt getting their assistance to pull off some prank or the other later. She swore the little hellions would become the next generation of the Marauders when they started at Hogwarts.
She and James enjoyed a lovely conversation with Sirius and Diana as they caught each other up with all the happenings.
"I can't believe little Junebug is leaving for Hogwarts tomorrow. Can you believe it's already been 10 years, Prongs?"
"I've seen it happen in front of my eyes Padfoot, but I'm still working on believing it. Time flies so quickly. In the blink of an eye, she'll become a wonderful witch, and I'll be hexing the boys away from her."
Sirius barked out a laugh. "Don't you worry Prongs. I'll be right there next to you keeping those hooligans away from Cassie as well. Ah, the worries that come with a daughter."
Diana elbowed him. "You will be doing no such thing. Cassie will be able to handle herself. No boy is going to even think about doing anything once I'm finished training her."
"The same goes for Juniper." Lily added in.
The men glanced at each other with a knowing look. Both of their wives were strong and confident women. With their daughters learning from them, no doubt they would become a force to reckon. Still, it was their right as fathers to worry over their daughter's safety. Not to mention planning out how to put any lovestruck young punks in their place.
They laughed and joked around for an hour until calling all the children in for lunch. Lily's pasta dish was a huge hit, and Diana insisted that she give the recipe so she could try it at home. The children all loved it and took multiple helpings as well.
As she was tucking in June for the night, she heard her daughter call out. "Mum?"
"Yes, sweetie?"
"I don't want to go tomorrow."
Lily sat down. "Oh darling. Wasn't it always your dream to go to Hogwarts?"
Juniper sniffled. "Yes, but I don't want to leave you guys. If I go, I won't see you for months!"
Lily gave her a hug. "Don't worry sweetheart. Winter hols will come before you know it, and you'll be right back here with us. Besides, you're going to make so many friends who will be there for you."
Juniper cocked her head to the side. "Really? You think so, mum?"
Lily chuckled. "I know so, dear. Now try to get some sleep. It'll be a big day for you tomorrow. We'll get to King's Cross early to avoid another incident like Diagon."
Juniper frowned. She didn't enjoy what happened last month in Diagon, but from a young age, she knew that she would eventually have to deal with her fame. It was equal parts disconcerting and exhilarating to learn just how much society at large adored her. She didn't remember anything about that night, and yet, they loved her for it.
She didn't hold her special status over everyone. Her parents had raised her better than that, but secretly, she enjoyed it a little. Her mum was right. She was going to a lot of friends at Hogwarts. She could only hope they wanted to be her friend because of her and not because of the title the Prophet had given her.
Lily could see the storm going on in her daughter's head as the cute frown that appeared. She called it June's "thinking face". Whenever she was deep in contemplation, almost unknowingly, she mirrored the same expression that she herself often wore during times she hit roadblocks in her research.
James had attributed it to all the moping she had done after they had dropped Harry off with Petunia. Her face must have looked like that so often that June imitated it after observing it for so long. Giggling to herself, she kissed June's forehead and left the room.
Entering her bedroom, she slipped into bed next to James and closed her eyes. Tomorrow was the big day. After they dropped June off, they would drop Richie and Charlie off at the Blacks for a bit while they popped over to Privet Drive. They were unsure how long it would take, but they wanted to speak to Harry. Just to mitigate whatever worries they had.
To prevent anyone from tracing them, they would be apparating directly from the Black Townhouse. Sirius knew their intended destination, and wanted to also come along, but James convinced him that they should be the ones to first see him after so long.
She struggled to go to sleep. The anxiety of seeing her son after so many years weighed on her conscience. As she laid there, breathing deeply to try and calm herself down, she felt James' arm snake around her stomach and pull her close.
"Can't sleep?" he asked.
"No. I'm worried, James. Despite my feelings about Petunia, I can't help but think if you're right… I wouldn't know what to do with myself."
His head nuzzled hers. "Hey. None of that. I was just speaking in hypotheticals. We're going to see Harry tomorrow, and I know that everything's going to be alright. I'm sure of it."
Lily turned around to face him. "Really?"
He smiled. "Positive. Now, let's get some sleep. You wouldn't want him to see you with bags under your beautiful eyes now, would you?"
She huffed but smiled. He always knew just what to say. Without another word, she closed her eyes and drifted off peacefully in his embrace.
The next morning was full of hustle and bustle. Even though they had helped Juniper pack the previous evening and triple checked that everything was there, she couldn't help but check the contents of the trunk once more, just to be certain. After a hearty breakfast filled with June's favorites, they Floo'd over to the Black Townhouse in London where they were greeted by Sirius.
"There's the Hogwarts girl! You excited to leave, Junebug?"
Juniper smiled brightly. "Yeah, Uncle Sirius! I'm gonna make lots of friends and learn cool spells!"
Sirius chuckled and ruffled her hair. "That's the spirit. Almost feels like yesterday when I boarded the Express for the first time. I was all alone in my compartment when some prat with a bird's nest for hair barged in and told me I looked lonely."
"That's because you were moping around like an angsty teenager Padfoot. It was my duty to lighten the mood." James snarked.
"Lies, I assure you, dear Juniper. Your dad was a nervous ball of energy and needed my calm and cool demeanor to keep himself from fainting." Sirius stuck up his nose as he sniffed imperiously.
Juniper giggled at their byplay.
Diana came downstairs and immediately wrapped her in a hug. "I can't believe the little girl I used to babysit is off to Hogwarts. If you keep growing so fast, your Aunty Diana's going to feel old."
"Really? You've always looked the same to me. Are you sure you've grown older at all?" June innocently asked.
Diana looked up at Lily with knowing smile. "You've done an excellent job with this one. Her professors are going to love her."
Lily grinned. "Thank you. I'm sure once Cassie is off next year, they'll both be charming their professors with ease."
James interjected. "Oi, I'd like to think I also had a hand in raising my wonderful daughter."
Lily rolled her eyes. "Yes, of course, darling."
James looked at Sirius. "Is it just me? Or was that sarcastic?"
"Dunno mate. Then again you can never tell with women." Sirius shrugged.
"Alright everyone. It's time to head to the station. We want to beat the crowds and the press. Especially the press." Lily called out.
Cassie, Antares, and Lyra joined them in the living room, and all said their goodbyes. Cassie cried at June's departure and made her promise to write every week, to which June agreed. Sirius accompanied them to the platform and kept an eye out for anything suspicious as they stepped through the Floo at King's Cross.
The platform was sparsely populated with only the conductor, a couple guards, and a few other families milling about. Sirius took lead with James bringing up the rear. Lily wore a wide brim hat that contained her hair, and her hand was glued to Juniper's shoulder. Her eyes flicked back and forth, searching for threats, as the last time there was an attack, it had come out of nowhere.
Juniper's birthday was well-known, so almost the entire British wizarding world knew that she was going to board the Hogwarts Express today. It was one of the best times for an ambush. While they could have asked Dumbledore for permission to Floo to Hogwarts directly, both her and James did not want to do so.
Taking the Hogwarts Express wasn't just for tradition's sake. It was a perfect environment for students to catch up with friends and make new ones. Her husband had met three, scratch that, two of his best friends on the train. The closeness of their bond was something she slightly envied, especially during the stressful times in the war.
As much as she wanted to mitigate any risk to her daughter, she couldn't bring herself to take away something so important. She was already going to constantly deal with people who wanted to be friends due to her fame and status. Handicapping her social life from the get-go and alienating her from her year-mates would be a foolish move.
This in turn also made her feel like a hypocrite. She had abandoned her son in the name of safety, and yet she was willing to make exceptions for her daughter. It would be disingenuous to say that they both should be treated the exact same, as Juniper's fame was something that would always influence certain decisions. Harry's condition also made it difficult to justify similar concessions, seeing as he might never be able to attend Hogwarts.
Still, it didn't make her feel like a good mother.
Tearing herself away from the guilt she felt, she focused on escorting Juniper. They made it to the center of the train and James went inside to scope out the inside of the entire carriage. Satisfied, he came back out.
"Well, this is it Junebug. You'll be off to Hogwarts soon."
"Don't worry, Dad. I'll write you and mum every week!" Juniper chirped.
Lily hugged her from behind. "Please do, sweetie. Otherwise, your dad and I will go spare with worry."
"Not to mention Cassie." Sirius piped in.
Lily ignored him as she forged on with her pre-prepared speech. "Make sure to pay attention in class and take good notes. Do your homework early and submit it on time. Don't eat too many sweets during meals. Brush your teeth every night. Don't worry about laundry, the house-elves will take care of anything you put inside your hamper, so always wear clean clothes. I also don't want to hear about you getting into trouble from your Head of House.
Finally, please be careful. I don't want you to be prejudiced, but there are a lot of children in Slytherin house that fought for the other side in the war. Be polite, but on guard in all your dealings with anyone from the house. I'm not saying don't make friends but know who to be friends with. If anyone gives you trouble, I want you to let your Head of House know and send us a letter as well. Understood?"
Juniper nodded with wide eyes.
"Come here, darling." Lily hugged her tightly.
"Mummy is going to miss you so much. If you ever need me, for anything, let me know and I'll come there as soon as I can, okay?" Lily's voice choked a little as she held back tears.
James joined their hug. "I believe your mother covered everything already Junebug. Stay safe. Anything you need, just let us know."
Juniper teared up a little as she was embraced by her parents. The speech made it all too real that she wasn't going to see them for a while. That she was leaving her home and family behind to go to Hogwarts.
"Come on, Junie. Pick a compartment and your Uncle Siri will help you get settled in. My niece Nymphadora will be there for you in Hogwarts. She's currently in her sixth year, and she's also a Prefect. If you need any help with homework, or you just need to talk to someone, you can reach out to her. She's a Puff, so she'll be more than willing to help."
Juniper sniffled. "Thanks Uncle Siri."
He ruffled her hair. "No problem kiddo. Now, let's get your trunk onboard."
A flick of his wand levitated the trunk into the carriage and once Juniper selected a cabin, he sent it to the top rack. Giving her one final hug, he wove a set of wards around the door, having gotten permission from Dumbledore as a protection measure. Anyone with less than noble intent would not be able to find the door, and any inside who tried to harm Juniper… would receive a very painful lesson on why that was a bad idea.
Lily waved at her daughter and blew her a few kisses. Juniper smiled and waved back. With their goodbyes finished, they walked back towards the Floo. On the way, Sirius shot a Patronus to send a message to the Tonks family that Juniper was safely onboard.
Stepping through the Floo at the Black Townhouse, Lily took a few deep breaths to center herself. There was no turning back now. With a glance and a nod towards James, they said goodbye to Sirius and apparated directly to the end of Privet Drive.
Both tensed, unconsciously guarding each other's backs. After waiting a few seconds, they lowered their guard and started making their way to Number 4, with James keeping his head on a swivel.
It hadn't changed at all. The houses were all practically the same drab color. Each looked almost the exact same, with very little in the way of personality.
What was it about suburbia that caused such a stifling of any form of creativity or personality?
Stopping in front of Number 4, she gazed at the house where she left her son behind. Her breathing quickened, and she her legs felt heavy. As much as she wanted to walk up to the door and knock, her body wouldn't budge.
She felt her hand being squeezed and looked up. James was smiling at her with that blasted half-smirk that made her shiver.
"You can do this, Lilyflower. We owe it to him." he encouraged her.
Nodding, she felt the weight on her chest lessen, as they stepped forward as one. Upon reaching the door, James took the initiative to knock.
The sound of steps rung out from behind the door, and the lock clicked. The door opened and a greeting was on Lily's lips when she saw who opened the door.
"Hello? Can I help you?" The lady asked while blinking curiously.
Lily stuttered, but James came to her rescue. "Good morning. We seem to have the wrong house. We were looking for Number 4."
The lady smiled. "Well, you've found it."
Lily, after getting over her initial surprise asked "I'm sorry, but my sister's family lived in Number 4. Petunia Dursley? I wasn't aware that she moved."
The lady's gaze darkened. "Dursley? The previous residents? That monster was your sister?"
Lily balked. "Monster? What on Earth are you talking about?"
The lady's eyes flicked back and forth between them before widening. "Oh goodness. You don't know?"
James interjected, anxious at what was happening. "Know what? Could you please let us know where she is?"
The lady gulped. "You mentioned she was your sister? Well, I think you both should come in. Please."
Lily stepped in, worry threatening to overwhelm her. James followed her inside with a look of dread. Judging by the tone of their host, something had happened. Something bad.
The lady guided them to the living room and sat them down on the sofa. "Would you like some tea?"
"No thank you, Miss…?"
"Oh, dear me. Please pardon my manners. Sophie Livingston. A pleasure to meet you Mr…?"
"Potter. James and Lily Potter. You called Petunia a monster. Would you please elaborate?"
Sophie sat down nervously. "I don't know if you are aware Mrs. Potter, but your sister and her family… have passed on."
Lily froze. "What?" she managed to choke out.
Sophie nodded grimly. "She and her family went on holiday to Egypt. They never came back. The consulate reached out to Mr. Vernon Dursley's sister Marjorie. There was a cave-in in a pyramid while they were inside. Neither they nor the tour guide made it out. The neighborhood learned of it when she came with the movers to pack their things."
Lily's eyes burned as the tears formed. Her sister was gone. After all she had done to protect her, it hadn't been enough.
"When did this happen?" James questioned. She could tell from his monotone voice that he was utilizing Occlumency heavily to control himself.
"Roughly six, maybe seven years ago. The neighbors were shocked to hear it. It was all so sudden. When Marjorie came with the movers though, they found… certain things. Things that painted a very terrible picture."
"What exactly did they find?" James pressed.
Sophie looked down, as if unsure whether to say anything.
"Ms. Livingston. Sophie. We left our son in Petunia's care. Please. Any information you could give us would be greatly appreciated." James calmly pleaded.
Sophie gasped as both her hands went to her mouth. "You were his parents? Of course. Potter. The boy's name was Harry Potter. Dear God..."
Lily shook. "Please. Tell me what happened. I need to know."
Sophie looked at her with pity. "When the movers came, they discovered something in the cupboard under the stairs. It was a room, where a little boy slept. They immediately called the constables, who came and started collecting evidence."
She took a stuttering breath. "The boy, Harry Potter, had been abused terribly. He was forced to sleep in the cupboard with all the cleaning supplies. Not a single photograph existed of him in the house. They found a room filled with junk that was also stained with… blood. Lots of blood."
Lily couldn't hold her sobs any longer as she collapsed into James and wept.
James gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, desperately trying to keep his magic from destroying his surroundings in anger. Sophie stopped talking and started tearing up a little as she gazed at Lily breaking down in his arms.
She took a deep breath and forged on. "The police charged Marjorie Dursley on multiple counts of child endangerment and abuse, as she had visited several times and never informed the authorities. It was the biggest scandal in Surrey. Several teachers from St. Grogory's primary school were investigated and a few were fired for negligence. The school nurse being one of them.
The police have all the evidence in the case file. If you want to learn more, you can visit the Surrey police department. I'm very, very sorry for your loss, Mr. and Mrs. Potter. That you had to find out like this..."
James hugged Lily close, trying to soothe her while barely maintaining control over himself. "Thank you, Ms. Livingston. We won't take up more of your time. We're sorry you had to be the bearer of bad news."
Lifting her up, he supported her and walked out of the door. Lily sobbed all the way down the street and James kept silent, doing his best to hold her close. Making sure they were clear, he apparated them to Potter Manor.
Richard and Charles came running at the sound of her crying. "Dad, what's wrong? Why's Mum crying?" Richard worriedly called out.
"Your mother received some terrible news, boys. She's not in the mood to talk. Go to your rooms."
"But.." Charles started.
"Go. To. Your. Rooms. Now." James brooked no argument.
They nodded and ran back faster than he had ever seen them run before. Sighing, he carried Lily up the stairs to their bedroom. Laying down on the bed, he sat down next to her.
"He's dead James! My little Harry is dead, and it's all my fault!" she sobbed.
"Shhh. It's not your fault, Lilyflower." He tried consoling her, to no effect.
"Yes, it is! How is it not my fault?! You were right. Petunia and Vernon abused him! They hurt my son and now he's dead! My baby boy died alone! How he must have hated me! I'm a horrible mother! I killed Harry! I killed my son!" she blubbered as she beat her chest.
James grabbed her arms to stop her and pulled her close. She cried and cried, until there were no more tears left, and he held her the whole time. His arms shook as his thoughts went back to the distant past, when Harry was living with them. The time before Voldemort.
Lily collapsed into a fitful sleep, and he stayed with her all night, trying to suppress his own anguish. He needed to be strong.
For his remaining family.