Sunday 10th June 1979

Marlene's Flat, 14:30

"I guess you won't be wanting to get a flat together then," Marlene said with a sigh.

"Well, I wouldn't rule in completely out," Lily replied.

Marlene gave her a hopeful look even though she wasn't sure how that was going to work.

"Really?"

"James and I haven't decided when we want to have the wedding," Lily explained. It could be next year. We could still go in on a flat until then."

"Really?"

That would be just amazing. She had been really looking forward to getting a flat with her. Two best friends and all that. She thought that that was going to go down the drain at Lily's announcement of her engagement (though, don't get her wrong, she was incredibly happy for them - there were no two better suited people and that was a fact). But it looked like it was back on the table. Maybe.

"Yes. It should be fun. Even if it is only for a short time."

Marlene couldn't help but pump her fist in the air in celebration. Which made Lily laugh at her but she didn't care. This was going to be fun!

Can we even get a short rent agreement?" Lily asked through a laugh.

"I don't know but were going to find out."

Marlene was going to be enthusiastic and positive about this. It was going to happen. And it was going to be great.

"This is so exciting," Lily said, rubbing her hands together.

"That's good," Marlene said quickly, just in case Lily changed her mind. "Because I already have a few lined up that we could go see."

"Brilliant. When's the first one?" Lily asked, looking eager.

And now it was time for Marlene to look sheepish.

"Um... tomorrow?"

"Marlene!"

Thursday 14th June 1979

Knockturn Alley, 18:00

"Are you sure that this is the place?" Lily hissed apprehensively as they went down a very narrow alley.

"Yes," James reassured her, giving her one of those warming smiles of his. "This is exactly where we're supposed to be."

Lily looked around them in askance. It was dark and dingey and it smelled. And not a pleasant smell either. Lily didn't even want to think about what that smell was. Yuck. Just yuck.

The things the Order made them do. Because that's why they were here. For the Order. It was a bit weird for Lily. Everything she had been asked to do for the Order so far was research that sort of lined up with her Charms Mastery and work in the Department of Mysteries. Which made sense because she wouldn't be able to share certain aspects of her research once, she made her first vows to the Department. Which would be soon according to Croaker.

But today she wasn't doing research or feeling out possible people for the Order. No. Today she was doing something far more physical. At least she was with James. He was used to doing this sort of thing. She would just follow his lead if they needed to go on the defensive. Which hopefully they wouldn't. She wanted this to go nice and smooth.

And there was no reason why it shouldn't. She was just to go in and chat about a book. And about other people who were interested in it. A fishing for information sort of information. She had already exchanged a few letters with the bookstore owner because just going in and talking about it would be a massive red flag and she wouldn't get anywhere.

Oh, and did she mention that the person who was interested in the book was Voldemort? Possibly anyway. That's what they wanted confirmed so that the Order could maybe get an inkling to what he was planning.

"Come on you know you're the best person for this," James encouraged, picking up on her nerves. "You know exactly what to ask and you'll actually know what the guy is talking about."

"I suppose..."

It was on experimental charms and spellcrafting. Interesting stuff, if it wasn't being used for evil that is. Which is what they suspected. There was this rare book going on sale and they were going to try and persuade the bookshop owner that they should buy it. Therefore, preventing any of Voldemort's people getting a hold of it. That was the plan anyway.

And it sorts of worked. It took a lot of flattery and Lily dredging up all sorts of knowledge that she swore she had long forgotten but it was all worth it. Almost. The man was just about to give them a price when-

'BANG!'

The door blew off the frames and went crashing into the opposite wall. James had instinctively ducked and dragged her down with him. Just in time because some nasty jagged bits of door embedded themselves in the wall they had just been standing in front of.

What on earth had just happened? Lily didn't have any time to think any further as a group of Death Eaters suddenly appeared and started firing off all sorts of spells. Curses, to be exact because did they use anything else?

Then Lily realised she had her wand out and shot a few jinxes off to confuse them. It worked and they scattered from the sparks even though that's all they were, sparks. It didn't matter. It meant they were safer, for a brief moment anyway.

And a moment was all they needed to gather themselves and go on the attack, getting themselves out of the literal corner they had backed themselves into.

Several Death Eaters fell to their spells, making it somewhat easier to defend themselves. Though, it did make the remaining Death Eaters all the more determined to kill them it seemed.

Where were the Aurors? The Hit wizards? Anyone? Surely a commotion this big should draw the attention of someone.

And it did. Just not the someone they wanted it to. Actually, it was the last person they wanted the attention of.

"Ah. Potter and his mudblood."

Lily felt a chill run down her spine at those words. It wasn't even the words but the person who said them. How else were you supposed to react when Voldemort addressed you?

Neither of them said anything, not wanting to antagonise them. That would not do well at all.

"Congratulations on your little engagement," he said with mock praise.

It was really, really creepy. Lily felt like she should hide her ring or something. Which was stupid, what good would that do?

Voldemort lazily fired off a curse that missed them narrowly. On purpose? Or just wanting to threaten them? Either way, their wands were still raised. Why wasn't he doing anything?

"You fight well. We could use people like you."

That, of all things, made Lily find her voice.

"Well, we don't want anything to do with you!"

That had to be the most stupid and Gryffindor thing she had ever done in her life was her thought as James dragged her to the side as Voldemort raised his wand.

The tip started to glow when suddenly Voldemort jumped to one side. Two people in Auror robes had apparated in the street.

"Alice! Frank!" James gasped, recognising them first.

"James!" Frank shouted.

And then suddenly everyone was fighting and there were pops all around them signalling that even more people joined the fight. Lily saw more scarlet Auror robes appear and then people from the Order. There was Benji Fenwick duelling a Death Eater. And then she was duelling a Death Eater.

Voldemort cut a few Aurors down, hopefully they weren't dead but Lily really couldn't tell from here. James was at her back, both helping her and duelling his own Death Eater.

Then she was in the air with him, both of them flying through a thankfully glass-less window. When had the glass shattered? She hadn't heard it. What she had heard was a thunderous explosion which caused them to basically fly.

Of course, humans weren't designed for that so they fell to the ground. Lily managed to be quick enough and have enough wots around her to cast a cushioning charm at the ground. It wasn't as soft as it would have been if she hadn't been flying through the air but it did stop them from breaking any bones which was always a good thing.

Thankfully Voldemort didn't storm in after them which hopefully meant that they were going to be allowed to live for a little while longer. Long enough to get back into the fight anyway.

Longbottom Manor, 23:00

"Did that just happen?" Alice asked as they fell into bed that night.

Or rather, fell on top of their bed fully dressed except for their shoes. They weren't savages, after all. Honestly.

"If you mean did we actually see Voldemort and say no to an offer of joining him then yes, yes that did happen.

"Oh."

Frank didn't know about Alice but he was seriously shaken. More than seriously shaken. He was trembling. Trembling. Just what had they done?

They had faced down Voldemort, the Dark Lord and come away alive. Alive. There weren't many people who could say that were there?

Sure, they hadn't battled for very long, if you could even call it a battle when they had been dodging out of the way of curses pretty much the whole time. And that time hadn't been very long what with more Aurors turning up and even Dumbledore. Yeah, Voldemort left pretty quickly after that.

But, no matter how short it was, it still happened. It had actually happened. Frank couldn't believe it. He knew Alice couldn't.

Her fingers linked through his and, for once, that didn't make him feel better. Had that really happened today?

"Have we made ourselves target, Frank?"

He knew what she wanted the answer to be but he couldn't lie to her. She knew the answer already anyway.

"Yeah, we have."

A target. They had made themselves a target. For Voldemort.

Sunday 17th June 1979

Evans Home, 13:30

"You just have to one up me, don't you?" Petunia said with a huff.

"Sorry?" Lily asked, confused.

She had just told Petunia that she was engaged to James, in the faint hope that she would be happy for her. Of course, that wasn't the case.

"You couldn't just let me have my moment."

"Petunia, I have no idea what you are talking about."

Her sister made a cross been an angry and an exasperated noise. Whatever it was, it didn't sound healthy and Lily was pretty sure her throat hurt just thinking about it.

"You just had to go and swoop in and completely push my good news to the wayside. My engagement is important as well, you know? You and your little boyfriend aren't the only people in the world. There are other people. More normal people. Like me and my Vernon."

"Aren't you happy for me at all?" Lily asked, blinking back the tears.

She wasn't going to cry. She wasn't going to let Petunia see her cry. And they weren't even sad tears. No, these were angry tears. Frustrated tears. Because all she wanted was for people to be happy for her and Petunia just couldn't manage it.

Just something happy. That's what she needed after all that had happened recently. Between that attack by Voldemort and what happened to poor Benji Fenwick. That memory still made her want to retch. This was supposed to be one bright spot in all this darkness. She wasn't trying to upstage her or anything. Petunia had announced her engagement last week at Sunday Dinner. Lily hadn't been trying to upstage her at all. That's why she had waited until this week to tell her (her parents, of course, already knowing about her and James). That was it. She just wanted to share her news with people who mattered and Petunia still mattered to her, surprisingly enough.

Petunia stuck her nose up in the air. "A freak is getting married to another freak. I suppose I should be happy that you aren't making anyone else put up with your freakishness."

Was to a bad thing that those words didn't really hurt her anymore? Petunia had called her far worse, done worse things to her. Sure, Lily felt sad that Petunia honestly didn't feel anything positive for her but that was just Petunia now. Lily didn't think that she was ever going to change.

Wednesday 20th June 1979

Ministry of Magic, 17:00

"Come on," Merton urged. "It will be fun."

"Oh, I don't know..."

Peter really didn't know. Merton wanted him to come with him to this meeting je kept on going to. Said it was full of these people who thought just like they did. A support group of sorts. That's what it sounded like anyway. Merton always came in the next day after one of these meeting looking really happy.

Actually, Peter had been a bit jealous of him for that. Any meeting he went to, for the Order, made him come back feeling depressed and helpless. Those weren't nice feelings, let him tell you that. He quite liked nice feelings.

Anyway, it wasn't like he did particularly well with new people. He barely did well with people in general. There was no way that this was going to end well. Normally je would have the buffer of James and Sirius to introduce him to people but that wouldn't be happening this time. Somehow, he knew that they would disapprove of these people. They were people of action whereas Peter was definitely not. He wasn't any good at action. He was more the type to keep his head down and out of trouble as much as possible. Ironic, he knew. What with being a Marauder and all. But that was just who he was. He was good at following. Helping.

None of which were good when you were being introduced to new people.

"It's loads of fun," Merton was saying. "We always get food catered and everyone gets along really well. We're a pretty laid-back bunch, to be honest. No fuss."

Now that did sound good.

"Would I have to do anything?" Peter asked hesitantly.

He didn't want more responsibilities, after all. That's what made him feel stressed.

"Not if you don't want to," he was assured. "We just like discussing things. You know, just a feeling of fellowship and all that."

"And that's it?"

It seemed too good to be true.

"That's it. Nothing more to it."

Huh. Maybe this could work, especially of there was no extra work. And it would be nice to have other people to talk to.

"Oh, alright," Peter agreed.

One little meeting couldn't hurt, could it?

Friday 22nd June 1979

Master Gordon's Lab, 17:00

"Go on, get."

Severus blinked up at his Potions Master, Master Gordon. He was in the room with him, which was strange because he normally left him alone at the end of their days together so Severus could do some of his assigned work with his books at his disposal. There were a great many and he was glad that Master Gordon let him stay and read them when he was here. Granted he was here an awful lot fewer days than he would like but he still had to make living, which meant working three or four days a week. That did leave half the week (and maybe some evenings that weren't those days) working solely at his Apprenticeship. Well, maybe not the full half a week because Master Gordon liked his weekends - he needed breathing space is what he said but never begrudge him the use of his library those days.

Which was just amazing. Had he mentioned how amazing this whole Apprenticeship experience was?

Which is what made it odd that he was chasing him out. Severus had literally fallen asleep here before and all Master Gordon had done was wake him up with coffee and tell him not to get drool on anything. Why was he being pushed out now?

"Is everything okay, sir?" Severus asked hesitantly.

Had he done something to annoy him? Mistreated a book? Done poorly on a potion?

The man grumbled something under his breath and then jabbed his finger at the door. "Go on. Your day's over. You shouldn't be here."

"Excuse me?"

Just what was he saying? Like he mentioned, he didn't normally mind when Severus hung around for a few hours. He seemed to encourage it, in fact. What made today so different?

"You need to go home and rest. You've been working hard and I don't want another scary talk with that redhead," he said with a shudder.

Severus sighed. There was only one person that could be. Well, two, technically. But Chryssie was in Hogwarts finishing up her exams so it really only could be Lily.

Lily. Honestly, he wasn't that bad and there really wasn't anything to be worried about. He had only missed the odd meal and never lots in a row or anything. And so, what if he was always tired? He had to work and study. Study hard. Surely Lily could empathise with that, she was pretty much doing the same thing!

Okay, maybe (just maybe) he could never tell how much time had passed when he was reading and then suddenly, he had nearly finished a five-inch think book. Or he had forgotten that he needed to eat. But James did that as well when he was really focused on something and Lily never got on at him about it. As far as he knew anyway.

"I'll be okay," he said but Master Gordon shook his head.

"Nope. Not risking it. Out you go. Fresh air. Real food. All that crap."

"But-"

He had just gotten to the most interesting chapter! The substitutions and their effects. Fascinating stuff.

"No. Out."

And suddenly Severus found himself on the front porch, his satchel on his back.

Right. No more work for him this evening then.

Thursday 28th June 1979

Hogwarts Grounds, 16:00

Regulus watched as the bloodtraitor and the mudblood raced off together like some sort of uncouth heathens. Honestly, everyone had been talking about being adults now and they acted like that? Hardly adult behaviour.

Unlike him. He who knew how to behave impeccably.

As did his parents. They congratulated him, gave him a handshake and approving looks. All very proper. Unlike the squealing and hugging and Merlin knows what else that was going on around him. Was there not anyone of good breeding anymore?

Sirius was here, he noticed. With the bloodtraitor parents. The Tonks'. Even in his head he spat those names.

Honestly. Why did he even show his face around here? Regulus certainly didn't want anyone to be reminded of his connection to him. No thank you.

Actually, he didn't even want to look at him so he turned to his parents, who were discussing his achievements with the Averys and a few other sections families. Proper families.

He felt a glow of pride as they discussed him. He had done well at Hogwarts. He was on the Quidditch team, his whole House respected him (and some even feared him) and he always got good results. Yes. Definitely something to be proud of. His time at Hogwarts was well spent.

But now he was going to go on to bigger and much better things. A higher calling, so to speak. Something far more important than mere school and now je could devote as much time as he pleased to it. The Dark Lord should be extremely happy with him.

Hogwarts Grounds, 16:00

Chryssie happily ran over to Lily, James and Severus. That was it! She had finished Hogwarts. She was now a fully-fledged adult and absolutely nothing could stop her now. Tonks followed her, mainly because Sirius, Remus and the Tonks' were by James, Lily and Severus. That was it for both of them! How amazing was that! They were done with Hogwarts, sort of ready to go put in the world.

Chryssie was both apprehensive and excited. She knew what the world was like out there. It was scary right now. But those feelings had no place in today. So, she just let the excitement run its course.

James and Lily squished her into a hug, Severus tugging her back to free her. She laughed, feeling all bubbly and warm and happy.

The only thing that would make this perfect was seeing her parents. Which they were going to do right now and go out for dinner with everyone. It was going to be great!

A grumble interrupted them making everyone look to a very blushing Remus. You know, when he got like this Chryssie could see why Tonks thought he was adorable. Really.

"That sounds like you've got a wolf in your stomach there," Ted laughed, making Remus pin an awkward smile on his face.

"Well, let's get it fed," James said, urging everyone along.

"Yes, Chrysanthemum," Andromeda said, much to Chryssie's disgust but Dora had told her that je mother always used people's proper names. "I'm sure your parents are itching to see you."

And they were because as soon as they got to the muggle town they were celebrating in (James had booked them a table somewhere fancy in Edinburgh) Chryssie found herself engulfed in yet another hug.

Ore congratulations were passed around and everyone was talking over each other trying to catch the Evans' up to everything that had happened at the ceremony. It was great.

"Have you told her your news?" Rosemary asked, looking at James and Lily once all the catching up was done.

Lily shook her head. "Not yet."

What news? What were they talking about? What were they keeping from her?

James and Lily looked at each other with these stupid smiles on their faces.

"We're getting married!" Lily blurted out, her smile getting even wider if that was possible.

Chryssie looked between the two of them, mouth gaping open.

"This isn't some sort of a joke, is it?"

She felt like she had to check this. Lily hadn't so much as hinted at this in any of her letters.

"No!"

"Of course not!"

She wasn't about to take their confirmation at face value and looked to her beaming parents. "Mum? Dad?"

"They're telling the truth," Rosemary confirmed. "I have another baby getting married."

Ah, yes. Chryssie had actually received an extremely rare letter from Petunia (maybe even her only letter from Petunia) informing her that she was betting married to this Vernon Dursley. It was a cold, matter-of-fact letter. No warmth. No chatter. Just facts.

Chryssie didn't even know Vernon that well except what little she did know; she wasn't exactly a big fan of. He was just so smarmy and full of himself. But maybe he was different when you got to know him. Petunia certainly liked him. That had to count for something, didn't it?

Whatever. Petunia wasn't here and Lily and James were.

"Oh, well done!" She squealed, jumping on Lily for a hug and then trying to get James in it as well. It didn't really work but the intention was there.

"What's going on?" Dora asked, her and her family coming to join them.

"Lily and James are engaged!" She all but squealed.

Which made Dora squeal too and Remus put his hand over his ears.

"You're loud. Why are you all so loud?" He moaned much to the amusement of the parents present.