Chapter 2

Lily entered the room they prepared in a daze.

She mechanically walked around the room lighting each candle slowly chanting the familiar words of protection "Diva de tenebra, Diva de die, Ego desidero tuus praesidium".

over the last year she chanted these words so many times that she could and has said them in her sleep.

As Lily said the last word "amor" she awoke from her daze abruptly as if someone dumped a bucket of ice-cold water on her.

She was completely aware of her surroundings and unlike the slight comfort she felt all the other times after performing the protection charm this time the air felt alive.

Lily was not considered the smartest witch of her generation for nothing she read everything there was to know about this particular spell the history the theory and what it should accomplish.

She knew it was a pray for aid but she never really put any religious belief in it.

To her it was just a spell , a tool just like all magic.

Was it different because she finally excepted the family magic or was it because the need was so great? She was not sure.

Standing in the middle of the circle Lily began putting her family affairs in order.

" I Lady Lillian Elizabeth Potter of the The Ancient and Most Noble house of Potter claim the right of protection as the final line of defense as my right and duty as lady potter.

The enemy is at the door and our house is on the brink of destruction.

All potter accounts and gold are now on lock down not a nut too be spent, taken, or depleted until claimed by lord potter with blood, and magic willingly given.

leaving only the heir trust which may be unlocked once the heir reaches the age of eleven and only with proof of blood willingly given.

The potter house holds, property and heirlooms are now on lockdown.

Heirlooms shall be returned to main potter vault to be claimed by lord Potter with blood and magic willingly given.

The potter cloak and heir ring shall be left in the heir vault only to be claimed by heir after reaching the eleventh year of birth with proof of blood willingly given."

Lily took a breath preparing herself for the last part the one James and her had argued about constantly.

To Lily it was giving up before even putting up a fight.

James said its like playing chess looking at the big picture Lily and him were just pawns and Harry was the queen.

There was no way for them to beat the other sides king but they could set Harry up to win the game.

"We have to do this for Harry."

She could do nothing but agree with him she would do anything for her son.

" I Lady Lillian Elizabeth Potter of the The Ancient and Most Noble house of Potter bound the potter family magic in trust for lord Potter not to be taken or claimed.

None shall have claim either in guardianship or by right of conquest.

At this time of bounding the Potter magic is free of any holds and claims and mine to bound.

The Potter family magic shall only be unbound by blood and magic willing given by lord Potter. So mote it be".

As soon as she said the last word she could feel the lost of the magic that she had accepted for the first time that day and the lost was devastating Lily couldn't even imagine how James felt who has lived and breathed with it since reaching maturity.

Lily slowly lowered herself down to the ground laying Harry down on a blanket in the middle of the protection circle .

Tears were already flowing down her eyes she bent down and kissed his forehead "love you always Harry ".

Sitting up straight she reached for the necklace that she has worn since the day after her bonding with James the one left to her by James's mother.

When Lily woke the morning after her bonding she looked over at James who was still sleeping sprawled out naked across the bed with the biggest grin on his face she could not help but mirror the expression .

She was married! No not just married she was bonded for life and Lillian Elizabeth Potter Nee Evans could not be happier.

She slowly removed his legs and arms from her person and quietly crept from the room.

She headed towards the kitchen to make her husband breakfast the house elfs where not going to be happy but she was determined to provide their first meal as lord and lady Potter.

As she entered the kitchen a house elf popped in front of her.

Lily stood up straight and prepared herself for a very intense argument when she noticed which elf was standing in front of her she paused It was Dory James's mothers personal house elf.

Over the last three years Lily went out of her way to remember each elf and acknowledge them as much as possible.

it was one thing she had a hard time excepting and no matter how much she tried the thought of having slaves would always fill wrong to her.

Dory was different then the rest of the house elfs.

The other elfs popped around the house happy to serve not just James but her and Sirius too but not once in three years has she been approached by Dory.

Lily only knew her name because she once saw James kneeling down beside the elf whispering quietly to her when they noticed her James gave the elf a big hug than she popped away.

She was confused because even though James was always very polite to the house elfs she had never seen him treat one with such care.

"That was Dory my mothers personal house elf " He said noticing her confusion then he left the room with no other explanation.

Lily didn't question him again. From that day forward she couldn't help but notice Dory .

"Miss Jamie's bonded Dory give this to you" Dory said holding out a small box.

"hello Dory its nice to finally talk to you" Lily said giving one of her friendliest smile.

"Miss Jamie's bonded Dory give this to you" Dory just repeated herself holding the box higher up.

Lily was taken aback the house elf was staring at her very determinedly holding the box with an iron grip.

"what is it Dory?" Lily tried to talk to the elf again.

"Miss Jamie's bonded Dory give this to you" Dory said again but this time with a slight quiver to her voice like she was going to start crying.

Lily did not want to hurt the poor elfs feelings so she took the package without asking any more questions.

Once the package was in her hands she forgot all about the house elf all she could think was that she needed to open the small box.

She quickly removed the lid and before it barely registered what was inside the box Lily took out and put on a golden cross necklace.

Only to come out of the trance when she heard Dory say "thank you miss" and pop away.

Lily was startled she had no idea what just happen she went to remove the necklace but it would not budge. Then memories of a past conversation that she never knew she had come back to her and Lillian Elizabeth Potter Nee Evans was very angry the nerve of these pure bloods if James's mother was still alive she would have one pissed off daughter in-law to deal with.

James came into the kitchen startling Lily from her thoughts " hey are you making breakfast " he said with a bit of a forced smile.

" yes I was planning to" she said still trying to get her thoughts in order

" I was hoping to surprise you in bed " Lily looked over at the clock surprised that over an hour had passed since she entered the kitchen

"I'm a little surprised that I don't have an army of angry house elfs in here upset that I would dare touch their kitchen" She said with a forced chuckle. "

Actually about that you wont be seeing any of the elves today. Do you remember Dory my moms house elf?"

Having almost a premonition on where this conversation was going Lily couldn't bring herself to speak so she just nodded.

"Well she passed away this morning. That is actually why I am up Binky popped in to tell me and to ask if they could perform the Potter house elf honor ceremony even though she wasn't an actual Potter house elf".

Lily was shocked "What do you mean Dory wasn't a Potter house elf?"

"Oh I thought you knew she was my mothers personal elf the one my mother was given at birth.

Even though my mother was Lady Potter she was always a Black first and those blacks are a paranoid bunch my father had to agree that Dory would always remain strictly hers along with a hundred other clauses.

He was lucky he didn't have to sign over his first son just to marry her."

I was actually surprised that Dory did not pass away at the same time my mother did since it is part of the Black's house elf bond "to live, serve and die for their masters".

Lily made a face of discuss

"Yea I don't agree with that either but the Blacks have never been known for being the nicest pure blood family." James said mimicking Lily's expression of distaste.

"so why didn't she?""die I mean?" Lily asked

"That day you saw me talking to her that is what we were talking about.

She said my mother gave her a job to do and that she couldn't honor my mother by dying until she completed my mothers last order.

It was real hard on her.

house elfs get there magic from the bond they form with their masters and since Dory wouldn't or couldn't bond with me she barely had enough magic to keep herself alive.

I'm guessing she finally was able to fulfill my moms last order" He said pointedly looking at the now empty box sitting on the table.

Lily followed his gaze when she realize that what he was referring to was the necklace that was permanently glued to her chest she was devastated.

She killed poor Dory by taken that god forsaken box.

Her feeling must have been obvious because James came quickly over and held her in a tight hug "oh none of that Lily bear It was time for her to go."

Lily went to interrupt but James stopped her "no Lily you did nothing wrong if anything you helped Dory.

She has been in pain since the day my mother died and now she finally has found peace."

Lily hugged James back and let her tears run down her face she cried for Dory, For feelings of betrayal she now harbored towards James's mother and for the small rift she could already feel separating her from her new husband.

Lily knew she could never tell James about what the locket revealed to her.

She would feel horrible if it made him think badly of his deceased mother and more importantly she would never forgive him if he even a little agreed with what his mother did to her.

So Lily stayed quite and surprisingly James never asked her about the package she received from his mother or the brand new golden cross that she never took off.

Now staring at the cross in her hands she could kick herself.

If she would have focused more on what James's mother said to her and less on her righteous anger over being more or less oblivated she would have been able to accomplish so much more.

She would have excepted the family magic so much sooner and would have known that James and her time was soon running out.

Instead of just finding out a few moments ago when she was walking up the stairs she would have had months to prepare just like all the past generations of lady Potters.

Lily in her anger could not forgive the last lady Potter on what she felt was a betrayal enough to even consider accepting the family magic subconsciously it was her way of saying take your high and mighty pure blood traditions and shove it.

Lily pushed her guilt away and focused on the cross for the first time not feeling anger when looking at it but feeling the love Dorea Potter must have pored into it.

Lily flipped it over and looked at the back of the cross for the first time. Lily was unable to hold in a small chuckle because right there etched on the cross was her son's name Hadrian and of course Lady Dorea Potter Nee Black would never use such a common nickname as Harry.

Placing the necklace around Harry's neck with his name Hadrian showing Lily began applying as many spells as she could. Binding, anti-thievery, small protection against small hexes and on and on until Lily's vast knowledge of charms ran out.

Now there was only one more ritual to perform. Lily hesitated for a moment not doubting what she was about to do just not sure if it was the right time.

Then she heard James yell "Run Lily! Save Harry!"

Without a second thought Lily took the ritual knife that was beside her and cut her hand.

Holding it over the cross which was laying above harry"s heart she began her last chant.

Not until Lily felt the last of her magic flow out of her body did she realize that house had become very quite and that half of her heart-felt empty. "oh James" she whispered .

Lily never felt so weak in her life but she knew she had to get out of the room before he found them.

She couldn't let him have any idea what magic was preformed here tonight.

Grabbing Harry Lily stumble out of the room shutting the door behind her.

staggering down the hall barely keeping herself on her feet she took one look back at the now empty room to see nothing but a wall. feeling positive that the potter magic would keep the room hidden for the next lord potter she turned back around entering Harry's nursery and got ready to take her last stand.

When he found them Harry was a sleeping in his crib peacefully without any signs of the vast amount of blood and magic that was pored onto him just minutes prior.

Lily stood in front of his crib one arm holding onto the wall trying to support her weakening body and the other hand holding her now useless wand. "Please not harry" She yelled when he entered the room .

"step aside, step aside you silly girl"

"please spare harry kill me instead" Lily begged

"if I must" he said in a disapproving voice.

then Lily saw a green light fly towards her and for a couple of seconds knew no more.

When she awoke it was to see the man who had destroyed her whole family standing over a body with red hair.

"What a waste " he said shaking his head in disappointment .

Then her tuned towards Lily.

"Hello Mister Potter I am afraid this might hurt a bit"

It hit Lily he was not looking at her but at Harry.

The ritual worked she was inside of the necklace.

She was Happy to be with Harry and horrified she would never see James again.

"Lily"

she jumped well as much as a spirit stuck inside a necklace could jump "James" she whispered

"yea its me Lily bear "

Focusing on the voice Lily found herself standing in room that resembled their living room with James standing in front of her.

" what are you doing here? I thought you would move on?"

He shook his head " Not without out you Lily" he said wrapping his arms around her

"The bounding " she whispered James only nodded his head.

Both turned their attention back to Harry and the man who was waving a wand at him. "We wont be able to do much just a nudge here and there. Giving him my magic was the most important part." James nodded "It will have to be enough "

Then Harry started screaming and not even the presence of her in-laws entering the room or the prospect of spending eternity with her mother in-law took Lily's attention away from the man she hoped would one day have an untimely terribly painful death.