Chapter 5 - Aftermath

Author's note(supplied by maniaclot): Howdy, humans. Thank you for all your patience with both me and the other dude *sniggering*. It's been a weird couple of months, moving apartments and a bit overstressed with work.

Now everything will fall into place. Fingers crossed.

Hope you've been paying attention to the text and the story. Why? We have been sprinking it with a fair amount of easter eggs. I know, it's not Easter yet, but enjoy the hunt.

Wait, what sort of easter eggs do we have? red? green? blue? nah, just song lyrics, characters from other fandoms, and all that rot.

Found an easter egg? Let us know. Found more than one? Found them all? Let us know. We'll answer any plot-related question if you got them all, except for shipping.

P.S : This is most definitely a not-too-subtle way of begging for more reviews. This chapter contains 1 such eater eggs. Happy hunting

Flowers, a scent of flowers, always on his mind so he deceives [...]\ Only now does she know

"Tergeo!" The blood on her young son's face cleared up and retreated within the lightning bolt shaped gash. Lily inspected it as best she could. The cut didn't look serious, only covered by a bit of dust from the debris. However, the room was still permeated with the magical residue of the battle.

'Jeanne, could you tell if any magic seeped through Harry's wound?' Lily asked as she held the palm of her right hand on Harry's forehead. The ruby pulsed twice slowly.

'Other than yours and his own, I feel no foreign magic running through his veins. '

"Episkey!" she said, replacing her right hand with the tip of her wand. The gash was closing slowly, when she heard a noise coming from downstairs, forcing her to break the spell before it took full effect. All that remained left was a faint trace of the lightning bolt shaped cut. She would need to finish this up later.

Summoning clothes for herself the second time that day, Lily picked Harry up in her left arm and kept her wand at the ready in her right. She exited the nursery and, cautiously, made her way down the stairs. The hallway showed little of the battle that took place just minutes before. Her eyes eventually fell on James' body. She approached slowly. Even though she knew there was little to no hope of him being alive, she kneeled to check on her so-called husband. As expected, there was no sign of a beating heart, nor any imperceptible shallow breaths. The signs of the Killing Curse were obvious. 'Family tradition must be observed,' she said picking up his wand. "I'll make sure this finds its way back to the Potter vault."

Before she could do anything else, she spotted an almost unnoticeable movement just outside her field of vision. The door was edging open.

'I really hate this day,' she thought to herself as she levitated the sleeping boy in an armchair facing the fireplace and away from the door. As the door opened a little more, she shot a Diffindo at the head level of the new intruder. The Severing Curse slashed the air and cut… nothing but the tip of the intruder's hair.

"Lily! W-wait! It's m-me, P-Peter!"

'Isn't he the one with the secret, Lily?' Lily heard the Witchblade chimed in suddenly.

"Hands off your wand. Keep them where I can see them," she said, not letting her guard, or her wand down.

"L-Lily…" Peter looked dishevelled, his hair standing on end, as though he just escaped his own grueling battle. He walked towards her, ignoring her warnings. "Y-you need to c-calm down. W-where is J-james? I came as s-soon as I g-got away from D-death Eaters."

"Stop right there!" Lily's voice was cold as ice. Pettigrew froze in place.

"Lily?" Peter looked worried. "I-is everything O-OK?" His words made no impact on the young mother. She still had him in her sights, her wand tracking his every move. But the Witchblade had different plans. Red-tinted tendrils impaled Peter's shoulders and picked him up so his feet could barely touch the floor.

"Why, aren't you quite the little duelist, you rat." Lily's eyes changed to a darker green as she spoke. "Got away from the servants, did you?" Peter's eyes widened.

"Lily, what are you doing?"

"You're looking wonderfully uninjured for someone who supposedly fought against hardened Death Eaters. Do tell… who is your instructor? He did a marvelous job of whipping a whimp into a lean mean fighting machine," Lily said as she continued mocking her husband's so-called friend.

"You wouldn't know him… he's… a foreigner…" said Peter, as he tried wriggling out of the tendrils' grip. All he managed to do was to end up upside down. Lily drew him closer and rested the tip of the wand on his forehead.

"In case your rat-sized brain has forgotten, let me remind you that I cast the Fidelius charm, therefore I KNOW that the Keeper must willingly share the secret. No form of coercion or magical intrusion is able to pry it from your lips, unless you would be stupid enough to carry a written copy of it. And, let's admit it, you are not that stupid. Are you, Peter?"

"The Dark Lord… you have no idea the things he can do… the weapons he possesses… What would you have done?" Peter looked like he was crying.

"Pa-the-tic. James would have died for you, just like Sirius or Remus. If it were me, I would have tried to claw his eyes out or tear out his throat with my bare teeth, had the occasion arisen."

The familiar pop of someone apparating caused Lily to lose focus for just a second. Long enough for the tendrils to loosen their grip. Long enough for Peter to notice and he didn't need to think too much. He started shrinking, but before he could slip through his bonds, a new set of tendrils sprouted. They tried wrapping around their target, but they missed wildly. However, they did manage to lop off index and middle fingers of the rat's right hand. The injured animal scurried across the floor and under the debris, and all tendrils retreated.

"Sectumsempra!" Lily's curse ripped through the wood and rubble, but Peter disapparated before the spell hit its mark. 'Shit!' Her frustration was starting to get the better of her.

'You must exhibit patience,' the Witchblade whispered in her ear. 'You have downed one enemy, but this war is far from done.'

'We could have used him! He has a lot to explain. To me. To the authorities.' Lily's thoughts were cut short by the sound of footsteps coming from outside the broken living room window. She moved quietly and peeked outside, aiming her wand towards the intruder. A familiar silhouette showed itself from the shade of the rowan tree. The man dropped a heavy cloak to the ground and started running, almost crashing through the door. Once in, he looked around panicked, scanning the aftermath of the battle fought minutes before. His eyes quickly fell on Lily's wand, pointed straight at his head. He raised his empty hands to show he came in peace.

"Thank Merlin you are safe!" Snape said, with a sigh of relief.

"Well, if it isn't Severus Snape." Lily said with a mock-cheerful tone. "How the hell would you know where I live, Severus?" she continued, tilting her head to the side.

"The Headmaster… told me."

"It was not his secret to share. And, even so, it would have been a useless bit of information. Unless… it wasn't Dumbledore who told you." She started pacing, piecing together the information she had. "Which would mean that it would have had to have been Peter. But, that would be impossible, since you aren't exactly on speaking terms."

"I am telling you, I am here under Albus' orders. Please believe me." Snape's voice was still shaking, a mix of anxiety and shock.

"I doubt he would have had a loose piece of paper with my address written by Peter. Which would mean you would have had to find out this location from the rat himself. That can only mean that you would be in league with the goon squad that attacked us tonight. Now, tell me, what exactly is stopping me from blowing you to bits right where you stand?" asked Lily, feinting an attack.

"WAIT! You're right! I am - I mean I was! Put down the wand, let me close the door and I'll explain!"

"Sure, where are my manners? Please do come in and close the door. Hope you don't mind me not trusting you enough to lower my defenses just yet. I haven't forgotten your duels with… my late husband." Lily nodded towards James' corpse.

"If only I had known He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named would attack tonight, I would've…"

"Spare me the what-ifs. You said you're here under Dumbledore's orders. Why? Why would he send YOU, out of all people? You are not even part of the Order."

"He thought there might be a traitor in the Order's midst. One who would sell you to the Dark Lord in a blink of an eye," said Snape. "He didn't know who could be trusted…"

"Again, why would he trust you, a Slytherin, with connections to known Death Eaters?"

"Because of the Prophecy." Lily stepped closer.

"How do you know about the Prophecy?" she asked, the tip of the wand now inches away from Snape's crooked nose. "And how would that even matter?"

"I overheard it when it was made. And, to my shame, I was the one… who told the Dark Lord about it."

"So you're the reason we became that bastard's targets in the first place. You are his spy! You know, this isn't helping your case. You have sixty seconds to explain why I shouldn't redecorate the house with your innards."

"Because I told Dumbledore who was the Dark Lord's target."

"Not helping!" Sparks flew from Lily's wand. Snape had to step back and cover his face.

"Remember what the prophecy says. It doesn't name your son. As soon as I heard the Dark Lord say the names of the two boys whom he considered could possibly pose a threat to him… I ran straight to Dumbledore."

"Still doesn't explain why would he trust you of all people. I doubt he gave you Veritaserum. Not that you wouldn't know how to counter it. So tell me, how could you possibly convince the old coot?"

"Because of this!" In a flash, his wand was out. "Expecto Patronum!" Lily did not expect the thin silver wisp to quickly form into a sleek doe and to nuzzle up against Snape.

"That… can't be! Since when?" asked Lily, lowering her wand.

"Can't actually say… I think it was soon after we both graduated from Hogwarts. I started catching glimpses of what we had before you decided to fall for James."

"Glimpses? Of what? What exactly are you talking about?"

"Of our past friendship. The glimpses were blurry until I started practicing Occlumency. I may not be proficient yet, but it allowed me to remember enough."

"But why didn't you say anything?"

"Because you looked like you either didn't care or didn't remember. Either way, I need you to know that, even though you might have broken my heart, I care about you and always will do everything I can to protect you," Snape said as he tried to take her hand in his, but Lily pulled back before he could do that.

"So you did everything, risked your life on glimpses of shattered memories?" Snape turned his head in embarrassment.

"I should probably go. My wife will get worried if I am late."

"Severus…" she started to say, but she heard a small chime.

'I advise caution with the information you provide him,' the Witchblade said.

'I won't tell him too much. Just that… he needs to know. He might still prove a useful ally in the future.' Lily composed herself and said: "Severus, there's something you should know… The truth behind those memories. And I want your promise that you will not judge me for what I am about to say."

"Of course."

"Yes, we were friends. And close ones. Then something… happened." She walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. "Take a seat, let me tell you what I myself have recently unlocked."

Lily proceeded to recount the tale of the bauble incident, leaving out the way she came by the truth of what happened that night. The more of the story she told, the more Snape looked he was piecing things together.

"So let me get this straight. He had you bound to him, under threats he would murder your entire family and myself. And the reason I don't remember any of it is because he probably altered my memory when he did yours. And has been doing it since that winter break," Severus summed up Lily's tale.

"Pretty much sums it up."

"That would explain how the memory flashes started soon after graduating. Potter no longer had access to me to mess with my mind. He should have been a Slytherin."

"Probably. Sirius too."

"So what are you going to do now? With the Dark Lord and Potter both dead…"

"I still have something to live for. Or rather someone." Lily got up from the couch and walked to the armchair in which Harry was sleeping. "And I hear you do too."

"Yes…" Severus said with a sheepish smile on his face. "My wife and daughter. She's just a little older than your son." Before he could continue, however, they were interrupted by a very distinctive sound - the bark and purr of a familiar motorcycle.

"Shit," Lily said as she jumped to her feet. "You need to go, now!"

"I'm not leaving you alone." He had his wand ready.

"You don't understand." Lily looked worried. "It's most probably Sirius. If he sees you, he won't wait for an explanation of what happened here before he tries to kill you."

"I can take him!" Snape said with a growl.

"I know you can, but you don't HAVE to. And, if things go my way, you might still be able to help me later on. I'll send you an owl in a couple of days." He nodded, summoned his cloak and ran off as quietly as possible.

For the fourth timethat night, someone came crashing through the door. The hinges felt the stress.

"Where is he?" asked Sirius Black as he stormed in, a grim expression on his handsome face, disheveled clothes and windblown hair. "Where is he!?" he asked again looking around.

"Calm down, Sirius. You'll wake up Harry," Lily said calmly. His grey eyes finally fell on the young mother, sitting beside her son.

"Shit… Lily, what the hell happened here?" She could see he was making an effort to keep his voice calm.

"What do you think? Voldemort happened."

"I heard voices. Who was here? Was it him?"

"No, it was Professor Dumbledore's spy, with a warning that his master was coming for us. Late… as was the help Dumbledore promised us."

"Where's James?" Lily pointed to the body in the corner of the room. Sirius fell to his knees when he saw his friend just lying there. He slowly pulled himself in a seating position right beside his deceased best friend. "The Killing Curse?"

"Yes."

"How did this happen? I thought you were all protected? Albus's wards are known to be infallible."

"It was his shoddy handywork that got us into this mess." Lily picked the still sleeping Harry in her lap and started telling the story of what happened that night. "The alarm wards didn't trip when Voldemort Apparated in the area, and the house's wards fell in mere seconds. When James tried to raise the alarm himself, the signalling runestone broke. No one came, so he had to fight him, keep him busy long enough for me to grab Harry and take a portkey to your old haunt, the Shrieking Shack. Of course that failed too," she said, tracing a finger through her son's hair. "Hell, the thing nearly burned my hand off. Next thing I know, Voldemort is in the nursery, bruised and bleeding. That meant that James managed to get some damage in. But that bastard being in the room with me and my son meant that my husband was dead downstairs. I tried put up quite a fight, but he was too strong. To the point of being unbelievably careless… I managed to throw a cutting curse that separated his head from his shoulders. I could have stopped there, waited for the Ministry. But he broke into my house, killed James and threatened me and my son, so… his head met with a Reducto." Sirius sat speechless for a couple of minutes, trying to process her story.

"If only "Grrah!" he blurted out a guttural snarl. "For Merlin's sake! How could he have done this? How could Dumbledore have thrown you to the wolves like this? Has he lost his damn mind?"

"We'll deal with him later."

"So… what now?" asked Sirius, but, before he could get an answer, they heard heavy footsteps practically running towards their house. Lily set Harry aside and rushed to the window. What they both saw was a half-giant stumbling his way through the front yard. "What in seven hells does he want?"

"He is most likely here for Harry," said Lily. "I forgot to tell you about the wards in his room, set to trigger upon James' death and mine." The half giant was almost at the door.

"Shit…" Sirius muttered. "Where's James' cloak?" Lily summoned it to her hand. "Quick, put it on. I'll deal with him." She nodded and got under the cloak.

The front door could not take any more abuse and fell off its hinges at the slightest touch from the huge man's hand. The half-giant had to bow upper body in order to enter the house.

"Stop right there! Not a step further! Why are you here, Hagrid?" asked Sirius, wand pointed towards the man's forehead.

"Oh! Ehm… Evenin' Sirius. Didn' see yeh there… Mind if yeh point tha' thin' som'where else?" Hagrid asked, holding an ugly pink umbrella too small for him in his right hand. Few knew that it actually housed the remains of his wand, snapped in half when he was expelled from Hogwarts.

"Not until you tell me why you are here."

"I'm 'ere on Professor Dumbledore's orders," said Hagrid, puffing his chest out, a self-important smile creeping on his face. "I'm to take 'Arry to 'im, since 'is parents are…" His smile faded just as fast as it appeared.

"And how would you know that his parents are no more?"

"I know 'cause Professor Dumbledore told me. Since 'is parents are dead, I'm to take 'im ter a safe location."

"I am afraid I can't let you do that. You see, I have my doubts about what happened here. If Dumbledore did cast these wards correctly and Voldemort... STOP CRINGING, YOU BIG BABY! If Voldemort still managed to kill James and Lily, that would mean our dear professor is starting to show his old age. I'm concerned what would happen to Hogwarts if any Death Eaters decide to attack when he's not around."

"But, Professor Dumbledore said I'm ter take him to his auntie…" said Hagrid, after shaking his head, still reeling from hearing that name. "Little Harry needs his family now more than ever."

"Look, would you kindly remind Albus I am the boy's godfather? I can take care of him for the time being. Taking him to a Muggle family right now is too dangerous, not without the proper protection."

"But ter protection is already in place." This particular comment caused Sirius to raise an eyebrow.

"Reeeeally now?" he asked in his most sarcastic tone possible. "Same protection this house has? Or should I say had? Should we ask the owners how that worked out for them? James is dead and Lily's missing." Anger started boiling to the surface and hot sparks shot out of the tip of his wand and landed on the half-giant's face.

"Oy! Watch'it!" Hagrid said, tightening his grip on his umbrella.

"Or what? You're gonna curse me with that broken wand of yours?"

"How… how did yer know?" Hagrid took a deep breath and calmed down. "Doesn't matter, we all know the boy's place is with 'is family. Nothing will protect him better than blood bonds. And, if the Headmaster says it is for the Greater Good, he must know what he's talking 'bout."

"Headmaster Dumbledore can take his Greater Good and shove it where the sun don't shine, Hagrid. MY godson is staying with me until I can find out what happened to Lily," Sirius said with increasing venom in his voice. His anger became apparent once again as his wand, which until then was glowing red, started turning to a sickly green. "Now I would recommend you run along to your master, Hagrid, before I let you see what a Killing Curse looks like from 2 feet away. I may hate the dark part of my family, but you will see what a Black can really do if pissed off."

Hagrid turned on his heels and raised his umbrella. Sirius thought it was to attack. Instinctively, he stepped back and attempted to cast a Full Body Bind curse, but, before he could utter the first syllable of the incantation, ropes of flowing metal wrapped around the half-giant's legs and launched their target headfirst through the window, into the rowan tree. Sirius watched in awe as the ropes of metal retreated under the edge of the Invisibility Cloak.

"What the…?" a gobsmacked Sirius started to ask as Lily removed the cloak and stuffed it in the baby's diaper bag. She turned towards him and, putting the tips of her fingers on his chin, closed his mouth for him. An unnatural tingle coursed through him.

"Sirius, we're going. Are you coming or not?" Shaking his head, Sirius reached and took Harry from his mother.

"Where to?" he asked, forcing himself to smile.

"Greengrass Manor. I need Evelyn's help."

"How did you do…..THAT" Sirius spoke waving his arm in a whip cracking motion "to Hagrid?" Lily turned towards Sirius, caught his waving arm, lowered it to the marauder's side and said with a wink.

"Swear an oath to keep my secrets, and I'll tell you… maybe."

-section break-

"Any news from the protection detail assigned to the Potters?" asked Professor McGonagall.

"Nothing yet. I am sure they'll check in soon, Minerva." Headmaster Dumbledore was pacing in his office under the watchful eye of his deputy. He needed the peace and quiet to plan his next move, but, since she heard of the possibility Voldemort would attack them, the woman was relentless. A small tingle drew his attention from his colleague - his informant was ready to report his findings. "It is getting late, my dear, you should get some rest. I will let you know if anything comes in, as soon as it does."

"You'd better. Remember, you promised them help if they needed it. I'd hate to see something happen to them," McGonagall said, scowling. "Not to mention, you of all people know the risks of excessive secrecy. You know what it did to the Ministry and why we can't rely on most of them."

"You have my word," Albus replied with a reassuring smile on his face. He walked her out of his office and, while bidding her goodnight, he checked if anybody else was lingering about. No one could know the identity of his spy, in case he would need a scapegoat. He went back into his office and entered the hidden passageway behind the mirror. The cloaked man had his face obscured in the shadows of his hood and his wand, lit and pointing at the old man's face.

"No need for such excessive measures my boy," Dumbledore said.

"I will be the judge of that, Headmaster," the man said with a growl, lowering his wand. "James Potter is dead. And the Dark Lord has been killed." If the cloaked man didn't know any better, he could have sworn that the man before him was happy about one part of the news, but couldn't say which part, exactly.

"What about Lily Potter?" the Headmaster asked.

"She wasn't there. As for the child, I thought I heard him cry, but before I could ascertain his condition and location, someone had arrived," the cloaked man replied with no emotion in his voice. "I had to retreat, or risk being discovered, which, I am sure, is not in our best interests."

"How did Voldemort die? And how can you be sure it wasn't one of his acolytes?"

"The manner of the Dark Lord's death was inconclusive, however his unique magical signature was all over the house, and there was a body in the nursery. And the one who came there after me wasn't a Death Eater. By his voice it was one of James Potter's friends." The report was presented in the same emotionless, growling voice.

"Are you sure there was no sign of Lily Potter?" Dumbledore asked, covertly probing his mind. However he was met with a solid fortified mental shield. Upon feeling the intrusion, the cloaked man repelled it with the equivalent of a sledgehammer. His wand was back up in Professor Dumbledore's face. The old man reeled, but kept his footing.

"If you doubt my sincerity, Headmaster, be so kind as to tell me so in words. You certainly are capable," the man replied angrily. "I've had my fill of power crazed megalomaniacs rummaging through my head with the finesse of a rampaging hippogriff." He turned on his heel to leave, when Dumbledore stopped him.

"Severus, my boy. Please wait," the Headmaster tried to plea, placing his hand on the now named man's shoulder. His hand was pushed away.

"I refuse to be subjected to this kind of indignity, Headmaster. I have presented my report on the Potter attack, all other matters can wait until morning. I have brewing to do and a family to feed."

The Headmaster was distracted for a moment, his wards notifying him of Hagrid and Professor McGonagall on their way to his office. As Severus Snape turned to walk away, the Headmaster summoned a parchment from his desk and threw it to him. Severus stopped it in mid air and grabbed it.

"What is this, Headmaster?"

"Consider it an incentive for you to take up professor Slughorn's old position. You certainly deserve it. With your previous 'employer' deceased, I'd hate to see you waste away in some apothecary. Your talents would be better put to use here, at Hogwarts."

"I'll think about it Headmaster." the young man said, without turning, and walked further down the passageway.

-section break-

Headmaster Dumbledore put on the face of the slightly senile old man he used in front of Hagrid and the other teachers and he walked into his office once again. The first thing he noticed was that the half-giant looked worse for wear.

"I was under the impression you had retired to your quarters for the night, Minerva." The Deputy Headmistress rolled her eyes.

"I had the displeasure of running into a very haggard Hagrid." She was using her professorial voice, when she was about to dish out detention. "When I asked him what had happened, he didn't want to say, only muttered he wanted to speak to you. Something about the Potter family. It only made sense to bring him to you." She turned to Hagrid and said, "Go ahead." Hagrid looked sheepishly at her and, then, at the Headmaster.

"Go on, my boy, what news have you of the Potters?"

"Dark Lord's fall'n 'n Godric's Hollow." Dumbledore's face remained emotionless, while Minerva McGonagall's jaw fell in shock and surprise.

"How did this come to pass?" she asked.

"He attacked the Potters, Professor. The house's a mess, James's dead, and Lily, she's gone missin', so's 'Arry. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is lyin' in the nursery missin' 'is 'ead." Streaks of anger poured over the deputy Headmistress look of surprise.

"When did this happen, Headmaster? What of the guard you assigned them?"

"Less than two hours ago, Minerva. That is troublesome. Fabian and Dorcas were under strict instructions to contact the rest of the Order, as soon as they saw any sign of trouble. Any sign of them, Hagrid?" Before the half-giant could answer, McGonagall interrupted.

"You pompous windbag! You sat behind these walls, in your comfy chair at the Halloween Feast, stuffing your face and making polite conversation like nothing was wrong, while the Potters were facing the most powerful dark wizard of this century? With only two people to back them up?"

"Minerva…" Dumbledore tried to stop her.

"And then, what do you do? You send Hagrid, who, at best, is a hinderance in combat? Sure, he's big, but what can he do against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? Wave his hands at him and scare him off?"

"The Headmaster sent me ter fetch young Harry and bring 'im here so he can be taken ter 'is Muggle relatives." Hagrid piped in before Dumbledore stopped him. The Headmaster covered his face with his hands and let out a frustrated sigh. Professor McGonagall now looked positively murderous.

"He sent you to do WHAT? Let me get this straight, Albus. You were waiting for a sign to send additional support, which by the way, NEVER CAME. And then you somehow KNEW to send the Groundskeeper to take the child from his parents' house and deliver him to his Muggle relatives, knowing full well how they treated his parents? You might as well have sent Argus Filch to clean the house out while you were at it."

A slight tap on the window interrupted McGonagall's tirade. An eagle owl was patiently awaiting to be let in. The Headmaster opened the window to let it in and reached for the letter. The owl screeched at him and flew to the deputy Headmistress. The letter it carried bore the seal of Gringotts. With a trembling hand, Minerva broke the seal and pulled out two pieces of parchment. As she read through one, her eyes widened, and the letter dropped to the desk.

"What is it Minerva? Is it the letter?" Dumbledore asked, looking startled.

"It's from Gringotts. James' will reading is tomorrow at 10." She turned to leave. "This discussion is not over, Dumbledore. Not until we get to the bottom of how this could have happened."

A.N no 2 (shadeslayer): We apologise for the probably-poor approximation of Hagrid-speak. FYI dear readers, as a writing convention from now on, when House Elves speak proper English, it means their family took the time to teach them to speak properly. In our little AU, only mistreated elves, especially Dobby, speak broken English.