Disclaimer: JK Rowling is the creator of the HP universe and its characters. I do not own anything except the rather strange plot bunny, and I solely profit in reviews.

Years Ago From Now: Chapter Sixteen

The next day, Hermione's luck ran out. She and Lucius had taken Draco out to the gardens, laying him out on a thick blanket in the grass undeath an adolescent willow tree. She had taken a switch and was dangling the feathery leaves over him, occasionally tickling the baby's bare stomach and watching him squirm. She imagined it would be more fun when he was older, but it was still cute to watch his reaction now.

Lucius was looking on with an admiring gaze, leaning gently against the trunk of the tree.

"I don't know, Lucius… just take the opportunities. I wish I could say your hands won't get dirty, but we both know they will. Fortunately, we both know that a big break is coming as well."

Lucius nodded, continuing their passing discussion, "The only upside to all of this being that eventually we win and are safe, right?"

Hermione looked at him with a sigh and reached out, taking his hand. "I have no reason to believe that we come out of this badly in the end. Narcissa seemed confident that she had your freedom in hand. When I say I am sure about something, it is almost always beyond a shadow of a doubt."

Lucius squeezed her hand, and then they both jumped slightly as a voice sounded from afar. Both looked up to see Bellatrix walking toward them from the back entrance to the manor with her husband on her arm.

"Don't you two look cosy?" she said once within normal speaking distance.

Rodolphus was looking at their joined hands with an eyebrow raised, and Bellatrix's gaze had switched targets, landing on Draco. Hermione felt herself stiffen as she put down the willow switch and, instead, picked up the baby to her chest. "Bella," she greeted with a nod.

Bellatrix nodded back before gracefully dropping to the other side of the blanket, pulling Rodolphus down as well. "What a beautiful day for a picnic," she said, sounding ingenuine. "I grew tired of waiting for the invitation to meet my own nephew," she said with a frown, looking at Draco.

Hermione nodded, "Yes. Recovery has been challenging."

Lucius came to her rescue. "Some hormonal thing. She barely lets me touch him. A little overprotective."

Bellatrix raised an eyebrow, "He must be something then. Maybe I could hold him?"

Hermione hesitated, and she saw the flash of anger in Bellatrix's eyes. It would be most unusual not to let her sister hold them baby, wouldn't it? Besides… why would Bellatrix want to hurt him? He was her own pure, magical blood.

"Of course," Lucius said, politely.

Hermione scooted across the blanket to sit next to Bellatrix and handed the baby over, trying to relax. Still, being here at Malfoy Manor handing over the child she had birthed to the woman that would live to torture her here… it was hard.

Bellatrix held the baby naturally and seemed rather happy with him in her arms. She looked at Rodolphus curiously, and he pursed his lips.

"We are considering when might be best to continue the Lestrange line. I plan to wait until our Lord has a stronger grip on the ministry, though. I am needed too much until then. Still… he is a lovely child. Any show of magic so far?"

Rodolphus snorted. "Probably a bit too early for that, Bella. He is less than a month old."

Bellatrix waved an arm about. "Posh. It's entirely possible, Rodolphus. He is a Black! I was once told that my father vanished my grandmother's top when he was hungry. He was only a few months old at the time, they say."

Hermione shook her head, "I am not sure I believe that story. Regardless, no. Nothing yet, but I am not concerned in the least. He will be a fine wizard."

"There is no doubt. And imagine! From the beginning having a mentor of sorts like the Dark Lord! He'll go to Hogwarts worthy of being a third year; I am sure of it."

"Mentor?" Lucius asked.

Bellatrix nodded. "Oh, our Lord is most pleased that so many of his followers are starting families. He is very excited about your own, though. He believes that a Black-Malfoy child will have a lot of offer coming generations. He's hoping that his aspirations on behalf of your family will also lead you to take a more active role in the cause, of course, Lucius."

Lucius inclined his head. "That is good to hear. I am hoping to become more involved. It is important we set good examples for our children, and Draco deserves the best."

Bella looked at him appraisingly for a moment before smiling. "You know, perhaps Rodolphus is right, and you are better suited to Cissy than Rabastan is."

Hermione looked at Rodolphus. "I didn't realize you had an opinion on the matter. Not that your opinion matters, Rodolphus."

Rodolphus laughed at the insult, unbothered by its implications. "Oh, yes, I've been rooting for you for a few years. People seem to forget what Lucius is capable of, but I know very well how knowledgeable he is. As if Abraxas Malfoy would let his son simply be some political placeholder. I think you will be pleased to know, Narcissa, that Rabastan seems to be finding plenty of women to cast his affections on."

Rodolphus looked to her, assessing her reaction to the idea that Rabastan was sleeping with a lot of women. Fortunately for Hermione, her distinterest was not difficult to muster.

"Good for him. I wish him all the best in finding a worthy spouse, just as I have."

Lucius smiled, inclining his head at his wife.

Bellatrix had been looking down at Draco and ran a long red-painted fingernail across his puffy cheek. "He's so… content."

Hermione smiled, "Yes. He's much less finicky than I was told to expect of a newborn. As long as his belly is full and his nappy is not, he likes to just relax and take note of his surroundings."

Bellatrix smiled, angling Draco so he could see around them a bit easier, "Oh, yes… Auntie Bella will be able to teach you so many fascinating things," she whispered to him. While it genuinely seemed to be said innocently by a Bellatrix that wasn't near as mad as she would one day be, the thought of Bellatrix teaching Draco the ways of the world sent a shiver up his parents' spines.

Hermione and Lucius walked into the tiny bakery, Lucius's hands pushing the pram through the door with the slightest of struggles even with Hermione holding the door open for him. "Got it?" she asked, glancing around as he rolled his eyes.

"I hate this thing. Next child, I get to be in control of the owl ordering, thank you," he said, nose wrinkling as he finally managed to get the entire family inside out of the blustery London weather.

Hermione didn't respond to him. She had never outright said that Draco was an only child, but she had assumed that Lucius would have picked up on it. Still, she had told him many times that unless he needed to know, it was best for him to just live life and take it as it came.

She filled the silence by looking around the café, spotting Lily sitting at a small table for four in a corner. It was the last day of June, and she had finally managed to find the chance to sneak out and meet them.

"I never thought I would say this, but thank God for Quidditch. James couldn't resist going to see one final Arrows game," Lily said by way of greeting, giving Hermione a slightly awkward hug. She then met Lucius's gaze over Hermione's shoulder and stood very still, as if waiting for something.

"Mrs. Potter, it is a pleasure to meet you," Lucius said, genuinely, holding out a hand to Lily and shaking hers firmly.

Lily held his eye as they shook hands and finally pulled her hand away with a nod. "Mr. Malfoy, please call me Lily."

"Lucius, then. Thank you for meeting with us. Can I get you something from the counter?"

Lily shook her head, gesturing to her cup of tea on the table she had stood from before looking at the stroller. "Oooohhh, the baby! Can I see him?" Lily herself was looking quite pregnant, but nowhere near the size Hermione had felt at the end.

"Of course. How much longer do you have?" Hermione, of course, knew this answer to the day, but it seemed polite to dote over the baby to come with his mother.

Lily raised an eyebrow with a frown in a look very reminiscent of Severus Snape and how he would feel at being humored in such a way, gesturing toward the chairs. Lucius stopped a waitress, requesting two cups of coffee for their table before taking a seat across from Lily and next to Hermione. Lily walked around the table to take a quick look at Draco, smiling warmly as she did, before taking a seat.

"He looks just like you, Lucius. You must be very proud."

"We are," Lucius said, looking at his sleeping son with a smile. "I assume you have some privacy set up for us?"

Lily nodded, "Yes. A spell an old friend made. No one can focus on what we say," she confirmed, taking a seat. "Down to business, shall we?"

Lucius and Hermione nodded, watching as Lily rested her arms on the table, folding her hands to stop their shaking.

"It was incredibly fortuitous to be able to meet you today. I had an… interesting conversation with Albus Dumbledore last night."

Lucius raised an eyebrow as Hermione felt her heart sink.

"It has happened?" Hermione asked in a solemn voice.

Lily nodded. "Yes."

"I feel as if I am a bit in the dark," Lucius interjected, looking unamused.

Hermione looked at him. "You definitely are. The next piece to the puzzle then, a lot of which Lily knows as it more directly concerns her. You see, a prophecy has been made foretelling the fall of the Dark Lord. You know that this eventually happens, but you don't know how. The answer is… Lily's child is destined to defeat him."

Lucius's eyes travelled to Lily's swollen abdomen.

"Okay. How does that play into today or yesterday?" he asked, seeming to take her words in stride. She supposed he was growing accustomed to living a certain amount of crazy at this point, though.

"The prophecy was shared… recently, I suppose, if Albus is asking questions now. The Dark Lord will learn of the prophecy, but not all of it. He will act, and we will then have that long period of peace between that I mentioned to you."

Lily cleared her throat. "I will be going into hiding tonight after James returns. The methods to keep us hidden are still being figured out, so initially no one will know where we are save Dumbledore. Even I don't know where we will be going. James wanted an outing with the boys to see the Quidditch game and explain things to them. I told him I needed to get some things in order concerning my parents' estate with the muggle bank, and he assumed I would be safe enough there. Now, the prophecy… are you sure it is about my son?"

Hermione nodded, "Yes. I'm sure."

Lily nodded. "Then as to your question earlier, I am technically due the 14th of August, but I suspect that the baby will be arriving a bit earlier than expected."

Lucius tapped a finger on the table. "When will this confrontation with the Dark Lord occur?"

Hermione looked at Lily, trying not to display the sorrow in her eyes. No one should know they are to die. "Another year or so. By Christmas of next year, the Dark Lord will be gone."

Lucius laughed in disbelief, "You are telling me that a baby manages to banish the Dark Lord?! Preposterous!"

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Preposterous, but true."

"How would a baby stand against him?" Lucius said, looking at her with warring emotions.

Hermione took a deep breath. "His mother's love for him will protect him," she said. "That's all I know. Lily will come up with a way to protect him."

Lily cleared her throat, "While I imagine myself being willing to do anything I can do protect my son, how do I manage that? How does the Dark Lord try to kill him? What will I be protecting against?"

Hermione shook her head, unsure how to answer. She finally got the words out though.

"The killing curse."

Lily went blank. "So I…. I jump in front of it?"

Both were staring at Hermione with strange looks on their faces which only grew stranger when she shook her head. "No… the killing curse hits the baby, but… it rebounds. He will survive it, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named will not."

"Impossible!" Lucius said. "No one can survive being hit by the killing curse."

Hermione nodded, "Yes… He can. I don't know how, but he can. He will."

Lily shook her head. "You must be here to help me then. I have no clue of any protection so strong! There is… I…" she broke down in tears, dropping her head to the table. The waitress came and set down the cups of hot coffee, looking at the crying woman sympathetically before walking quickly away.

"What else do you know of when it happens?" Lucius asked, curiously.

It was a question Hermione could answer but desperately did not want to. She looked at Lucius, pleading with him to drop it so they could get away from that particular question. It was at that point that Lily looked up. She stopped crying abruptly as shock and then resignation came over her face in quick succession.

"I get it now."

Hermione looked at her, eyes growing wet.

"I… I thought it was funny when we met. You had all of this information about what I was supposedly like, but none of it was personal. It was all second hand. What… what kind of kid doesn't introduce his mother to his best friend?"

Hermione felt herself blanche, and Lily nodded at the change. Another tear fell down the redhead's cheek, and she furiously wiped it away before continuing.

"And when you write to me… you always ask such frivolous questions. What is my favorite book? Music? What were my parents like? Where did James and I go on our honeymoon? All of these things you could easily find out if you had once visited my home."

Lucius had stiffened at this point, looking at Hermione in shock.

"I won't survive. He… Harry… he's just got James. Or… wait…. Nooooooo,". The last game out in a pathetic, painful moan as Lily started to cry again.

Hermione reached to Lily, wrapping her arms around the woman tightly as she cried. She held her there for several minutes, both women crying.

When Lily pulled back, she was seemingly composed once more. "Okay… okay. It's out now, so… so you must tell us what you can if I am going to save him. Just.. not the day. I cannot stand to have some kind of awful expiration date attached to us."

Hermione wiped at her eyes nodding as she forced the words out. "You… you are in your home, and he comes. You are told to take Harry and run. You go upstairs to his nursery. It happens there. He… you first and then Harry."

Lily nodded. "Is it quick? Do I cast anything that you know of?"

Hermione shook her head. "You… plead for his life. Your life for his. He askes you to stand aside but… he doesn't care. Then… it's quick. You. Then, Harry. There is some kind of explosion, but Harry is fine save a cursed scar to the forehead."

The horcrux… that was no good to Lily Potter and would only torment her more. The decision to keep the stuff Harry would have to deal with to a minimum was made within a split second. She would fill the journal with tales of Lily Potter's stupid, reckless, tempermental… kind, selfless, loving son.

Lucius was solemn when he spoke. "This was meant to happen."

Hermione looked at him with a frown. "Well, obviously as it has happened…"

Lucius glared before looking at Lily seriously. "Mrs. Potter… Lily… Powerful magic so strong to save a life from the impossible, end a life, and cause an explosion with no wand. Runic magic is the answer. It must be. I'll help, and we will find a way to save your son."

Lily looked at him, "That stands to reason, but are you well versed in Ancient Runes and their uses?"

Lucius smirked, "I am. Kiran Bleshin. Nice to meet you."

Lily and Hermione's eyes widened.

"As in related to Yuri Bleshin?" Lily asked, stunned.

Lucius shrugged, looking very proud of himself. "In a way. Mr. Bleshin was happy to allow me to use his last name as part of my pen name, hoping it would renew interest in his older texts. Having his name attached to my work has the advantage of having it taken seriously despite my being a relative newcomer to the field."

"When you said you had a few books, I thought…" Hermione trailed off. To be honest, she had not been great about showing interest in Lucius's finished projects. She had been so distracted and stressed with herself that she had never asked about Lucius's books. She knew what he was working on now though.

He looked at her with a light smile, shaking his head slightly to show he had not taken offense. Draco started to fuss, and Lucius quickly leaned to the pram, scooping the small baby out of it. Lily immediately leaned in, cooing at Draco.

"Gods, he is just so cute!" she said, looking for a distraction as she wiped her eyes.

Hermione smiled, watching as Lucius stood up and handed the baby to Lily to hold. She accepted him gratefully, as Hermione forced the conversation back to topic.

"So… you said Albus spoke to you. What all did he say?"

Lily sighed, "Well, to be honest, he's been encouraging more prominent order members to go into hiding for a little while now. We are being targeted, as… well, I am sure you know," she said, looking from Draco up at his father.

Lucius nodded. "Yes. Going into hiding is not a bad idea. Even known light families that aren't closely associated with the Order are in danger. Did you hear about the Cressells?"

Lily looked down as she nodded. "Gloria was a very nice woman. She was a prefect when I started Hogwarts. Helped get my foot unstuck from a trick stair my second day there and helped me out with my grip on my wand being too choked."

"So you already planned to go into hiding?"

Lily shrugged, "We were discussing it seriously, but it is definitely happening now. He said that he had heard that Voldemort was going to be targeting a few light families with babies due around the end of July. I told him I was not due for another few weeks after that, but he suggested we go anyway. I reminded him that Alice Longbottom is due at the end of July. That's all really. He was not his usual twinkly self, though."

Hermione nodded, frowning. "Well, he wouldn't be. For as much as I don't really trust how he operates, I do believe he cares."

Lily sighed, "Are you sure that you can't… you know, help us out a bit?"

Hermione smiled. "Help is coming soon, and we intend to give it a nudge when we can. The Malfoy family will not be directly involved in spying, though.

Lucius sighed, "Unfortunately, I have to agree. It doesn't look as if I will be seen for who I am for… a very long time. Aside from my reservations with being in Dumbledore's pocket, I don't like the idea that people knew and… I'd rather… well, be left to rot than feel like I was left out in the cold with people knowing."

Lily nodded, looking at Lucius with a small smile. "Well, we are grateful for whatever you can do for us. Do you truly think runes can be the answer?"

Lucius looked at Hermione, "Correct me if I am wrong here, love… When he attacks, Lily doesn't try to defend herself. She doesn't even head to the floo or use a portkey or attempt apparition… instead…."

Hermione nodded, feeling as if something was clicking in her brain. "Yes! I've been there… the layout. She.. she ran upstairs to a room with no fireplace alone with the baby. The… the nursery had to have been special for her to go there. She would have had better ways to escape had she wanted to."

Lily was seeming to pay quite a bit of attention to the baby in her arms rather than relive the upcoming event of her own death.

"A runic circle, set up in the nursery and concealed… he walks into it and as long as it is set up correctly, it can account for it all. I mean, it is definitely… the idea of him surviving the curse, but… there must be a way if it happens. I'll put everything I have into it."

"I'm happy to help as much as I can," Hermione said, nodding at Lucius and glancing at Lily.

Lily exhaled slowly and looked seriously at the other couple. "Thank you both. I will also brush up on it. While I enjoy studying runes, it was always more interest based rather than practical application."

"A crying shame, that. It's an incredibly useful disclipline, especially when it comes to warding and protection. My father… well, it's a family talent of sorts. You would be an idiot to try to infiltrate Malfoy Manor."

They were quiet for a few minutes before Lily broke the silence with a question away from the topic. "Lucius, you were friends with Severus Snape, right?"

Lucius nodded, "Still am, in fact. We just named him Draco's godfather."

Lily looked surprised by this, throwing a look at Hermione. "And Hermione allowed that? A Death Eater? I mean, he is, isn't he? One of them?"

Hermione sighed, thinking over her words. "Lily, you used to be Severus's best friend, right?"

Lily nodded.

"To the best of your knowledge of him, would anyone with a shred of intelligence ever classify him as someone that is 'uncomplicated'?"

Lily snorted in response before looking at Hermione and Lucius more carefully.

"Is help truly coming to the Order?"

Hermione smiled, "Not yet. And… well, it still won't be the same. But… he's never stopped caring about you. Never will as far as I know."

"I haven't either," she said, quietly, looking down. "Will he… be okay?"

Again, she thought, some truths just don't need to be shared if they will only cause pain. "I promise, Lily; he will be recognized for doing good, and he will find peace. He will even care for Harry... in his own way."

Lily sighed, nodding with a sense of relief. "I'm glad. I suppose we shall all find peace, though… just not necessarily in this life," she whispered, looking back down at the peacefully sleeping Draco once more.

Author's Note: So, we are getting to a point in the timeline that is a little tricky. I'm not sure if it was (inconceivably!) a mistake on JKR's part, or if I just misunderstand it. Still, I'm doing my best to commit to the actual timeline of events, and if I'm wrong... too late now.

Prior to Harry's birth, prophecy is given to Dumbledore (the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches).

Then, a whole year at least passes before Severus becomes aware that Lily is in danger. He discovers Harry is a child of the prophecy and goes to Dumbledore. He doesn't know anything of Peter.

Peter hears the prophecy roughly a week before Halloween in 1981. So for some reason, Snape goes all that time not knowing its Harry. Over a year passes between the prophecy being given and Peter being made secret keeper. It's weird, and I don't totally get it. Still, I have made plans to explain it all.

There's been one other timeline issue where things are messy (which I think legitimately was an oversight on JKR's part, but it isn't as important). I was forced to alter one small thing- namely when the photo of the Order of the Phoenix was made. Still, we will get there when we get there.

Thanks for all of your awesome reviews! I am polishing up Chapter 28 right now and approaching the end of the first rise.