Chapter 2

Any previous thoughts of her sister had disappeared thanks to Hestia, and the sheer joy she felt every time she could run her finger along the spines of all the books in Flourish and Blotts. Lily smiled, remembering the first time she had entered Flourish and Blotts to buy her school books and how she had just stared at the shop in sheer delight at all the new things she could read. There was something deeply satisfying about opening a new book, smelling the pages and getting lost in it. Eventually deciding to buy a new book on Advanced Transfiguration that Professor McGonagall had recommended, they left the shop and headed towards Madam Malkins's shop. Diagon Alley was relatively quiet, compared to the hustle and bustle it usually had in the weeks leading up to the first day of Hogwarts. It was quite refreshing, to not have to do one's shopping in less than an hour.

"Lily come on, you're being quite dreamy today" said Hestia, tugging at her jacket.

"I'm sorry Hest! It's just so nice to be back in the world of magic" said Lily.

Hestia laughed. "Must be nice when you don't have a sister who will threaten to jinx you all the time".

"At least she talks to you" mumbled Lily, but thankfully Hestia pretended not to have heard her.

They continued their walk down the crooked street, arm in arm, laughing and reminiscing about all the adventures they had had at Hogwarts.

"Only one year left Lils" said Hestia.

"One term and one year" Lily corrected her.

"True, then we'll be out in the world. They don't know what's coming!" Hestia said, with a sly grin.

Lily laughed. She adored Hestia's confidence and ability to always make her laugh.

"Hey Lils – do you fancy doing something outrageous?" Hestia asked.

Lily frowned. "What?" she asked, knowing that Hestia had a mischievous side.

"Why don't we see what Knockturn Alley is like" she inquired.

Lily sighed. "I don't know Hestia, it is quite dangerous" she replied.

Hestia groaned. "Come on, this is the first time I've been to Diagon Alley without my parents or sister and I've always wanted to know what's down there".

"But-"

"Look you don't have to come with me Lils but I really want to see what it's like! After all we are both seventeen and perfectly capable of handling ourselves!" Hestia reminded her.

"But – " before Lily could say another word, Hestia had made a sharp turn into Knockturn Alley. She had no choice but to follow. It seemed darker, almost colder down here, compared to the warmth and homeliness of Diagon Alley. Lily shivered, she did not have a good feeling about this.

Hestia on the other hand seemed to be having a great time. She kept looking at the dusty shops and going "ooh" in fascination. It was nice to see her happy, thought Lily.

"Look! That's Borgin and Burkes! Oh I've always wanted to go in there! Lily come on let's go!" Hestia was clearly very excited.

"I don't know Hest, doesn't it have a reputation for quite dark magic?" asked Lily, concerned.

"I'm sure that's just a rumour. I doubt they're like that anymore! Come on Lily you're being a bit of a kill-joy".

Lily sighed. On the one hand she knew there was no point arguing with Hestia – the girl always got her way. She also knew deep down that Hestia was right. She needed to loosen up a bit. Feeling inspired, she opened the door and marched into the shop.

Her instincts were definitely right – the place was dusty and dark and had an odd smell. There was no one behind the counter but there were all kinds of dark objects around the place. She shivered again, almost as if her body could sense the dark magic. Lily turned to Hestia, expecting her to be amazed by all the strange objects but she got the feeling Hestia was feeling like her – out of place. Neither of them had every felt this inexplicable lure to the dark side that many of their Slytherin peers had. Whilst thinking this, Lily peered through an old glass cabinet to see a number of things, including something that looked like a shrivelled hand.

"Hestia I think we should –" but before she could finish her sentence Hestia had grabbed her arm and twisted her around.

"McNair" growled Hestia, pointing her wand at the figure coming into the light, also with a wand raised.

"Jones. Mudblood" he spoke with such distaste in his voice "what are you doing this side of the street? Shouldn't you be with the muggles?" McNair asked.

"Don't call me that" Lily replied coolly.

McNair smirked. "Or what? Your boyfriend Snape going to save you? Oh wait" the corners of his lips turned upwards, "he thinks you're a filthy mudblood too".

Lily grabbed Hestia, right before she could jinx McNair.

"Hestia no. He isn't worth it" she said, maintaining her cool tone despite her heart beat racing ahead of her.

At this point, Lily noticed two other figures step out of the shadows and stand alongside McNair.

"Need your little friends to back you up, do you?" asked Hestia.

"When we encounter filth like you, blood traitor, we want to make sure we eliminate it" said McNair, raising his wand.

At this point there was a flash of red light, the sound of glass breaking and Lily saw McNair's body hoisted up in the air.

"Afternoon ladies" said a familiar voice. Lily groaned.

"Potter I do not need your help" she snarled.

At this point, James Potter stepped into the light, his wand raised in the air as he controlled McNair's contorting body.

"Charming Evans. A simple thank you would suffice" James smiled at Lily cheekily.

"We don't need your help Potter" said Hestia.

"Ah, Hestia. Lovely way to greet an old friend" Lily heard the boyish voice of Sirius Black.

Before Hestia could reply there was another flash of red light. Lily now saw Sirius's body in the air, James seemed frozen. McNair had escaped his jinx. There was a loud scuffle, flashes of green light shot into the air. Lily could have sworn she heard someone shout "Avada Kedavra", at which point a jet of green light narrowly missed her ear but made the cabinet near her collapse on top of her.

With a mixture of both worry and fury, she pointed her wand at McNair and his sidekicks – "Petrificus Totalus!" she screamed.

All three of them snapped into stillness, at which point James and Sirius were released. She then lifted the cabinet off her with her wand.

"Come on" Lily gestured towards the door, grabbing a bewildered Hestia. "We should leave".

James and Sirius looked stunned, but followed orders nevertheless.

Lily looked over her shoulder to make sure they were out of the shop."Obliviate" she whispered, and the eyes of the Death Eaters in front of her went blank. Releasing them from her jinx, she hurried outside to the exit of Knockturn Alley, where the others were waiting for her.

"Lily!" Hestia came running up to her, tears in her arms and squashed her in a firm hug. "Oh Lily I was so worried they had … they had got you". She was clearly upset.

James and Sirius on the other hand both looked shocked. When Hestia released Lily, Sirius came up to her and patted her on the arm.

"Wow, Evans you got us out of a rough patch there. I guess … thank you" he seemed slightly awkward but Lily knew he meant it and smiled at him gratuitously.

She then turned towards James. He was steady, almost calm, but his eyes were wide and shocked. He turned towards Lily, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Lily … I …" he stammered.

"It's alright" she replied, adding "I know you would have done the same for me".

He nodded then, still staring at her with shock, suddenly pulled her into a hug.

"James!" she resisted at first, as it seemed strange she had never been so close to him. But it felt natural, his warm body against her, inhaling his scent. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling them closer together.

"Ahem", they broke apart immediately as Sirius cleared his throat.

"Come on mate, we don't have all day" he smirked at them.

James turned towards Lily, the usual look of mischief back in his eyes.

"Well, Evans, Jones this was a pleasure as ever. Don't forget to get in touch if you're ever in danger again" he smiled.

"Prat" said Hestia under her breath.

"Come on Jones, it's not all bad. It's only a few hours until tomorrow then you'll get to see me every day for an entire term!" Sirius said mockingly.

Hestia did not reply, instead she scowled at him. To Lily's surprise, Sirius almost looked scared. 'If looks could kill' she thought.

"Yes well Hestia and I best be off then. Black, Potter, I suppose we will see each other again" Lily said civilly to the boys in front of her.

"Yeah" said James, he still seemed to be quite shocked.

As Hestia and Lily were turning away from them, Lily suddenly felt James grab her wrist and she spun round.

"Look, I just wanted to thank you again, Lily" said James in a low voice, so that neither Sirius nor Hestia could hear them.

Lily blinked. She was rather close to him again.

"Look I should be going" she turned her head towards Hestia, but before she looked back at James she heard a faint Pop and to her surprise James and Sirius were gone.