(9) The Flowers Wept *

Lily put Harry down for the night & then stretched arms over head. She closed the door halfway behind her as she exited the nursery & headed down stairs. James was sitting dead center of the couch in the living room, arms spread out on either side over the top. His lap & the upper part of his legs were invisible under his Cloak. But it was his face more than anything else that nearly gave Lily a heart attack. He was looking straight at her, dead serious, almost as if he was mad at her. Lily slowly moved into the living room & sat down opposite James in the large armchair. She wanted to say something, but didn't trust her voice. What had she done?

"I think it's time I told you exactly what's going on," James suddenly began without prompting. "First of all, Sirius & Orion have known since Year 7 but not Remus. Not yet. Not that we're trying to be mean to him. It's just that the less anyone knows the better & it's on a need-to-know basis. We'll tell Remus eventually, but not now. Clear?"

Lily swallowed & felt a little better. At least, it seemed like James was talking about something other then their relationship. She hoped so. She had never been so happy & hoped nothing would ever ruin that. "Alright. Tell Remus later. Got it."

"The second thing is, after I'm done telling you what's happening," James sighed before going on. "you might look at Peter in a different light. I tell you now, I do not. He died in his innocence & is acquitted of crimes he otherwise would have committed. Please try to understand that. You'll also know who killed him & why."

"James! You knew?"

James raised a hand to silence her. When she sat back in her chair once more, he went on. "Third thing, I'm about to ask you to do some crazy things," he continued. "You must trust me explicitly for it will mean all our lives, including Harry's. Do you trust me, Lily?"

"Yes, of course."

"Trust me unto death itself?"

"Jim, I would die for you & Harry."

James raised an eyebrow at that. She had no idea what she just vowed, poor girl. "Do you love me, Lily?"

"Forever. James! Always," Lily said, wondering why he had to ask that question. She didn't have to wonder for long. James lowered his arms from the top of the couch & leaned forward, hands folded in his unseen lap. He appraised her silently for several moments. Lily was starting to feel uncomfortable but before she could break the awkward silence, he suddenly launched into an explanation of the most bizarre story Lily had ever heard.

By the end of his elucidation, Lily was on her feet pacing back & forth, both hands over mouth. James sat forward, head bowed with his clasped hands now held up against his brow. Lily continued to pace. Back & forth. Back & forth. Back & forth. James suddenly shot to his feet, Cloak now hiding the floor. He grabbed Lily by the shoulders. "Say something. Anything!"

Lily could not make eye contact. Keeping her face turned away, all she could say was, "... James ..."

"Lily, it's the only way."

"You're insane!" Lily pulled away.

"It's that or we literally go into hiding for possibly the rest of our lives," James said. "Any day now, we can get the call from Dumbledore. He'll tell us to go into hiding. First time around, we were betrayed & killed for real. Poor dear, Padfoot! The horrors he went through. Thank God our son finds that girl at Hogwarts. Her Time-turner gave us all a second chance."

Lily turned a green gaze on him & for once, James was thankful she didn't have the power to kill with a look. Aveda Kedavra left behind a green residue that matched her eyes. "While I admit that I've had more moments of déjà vu than I can count, I—James! Time travel? I can not … what am I supposed to do with this?"

"Ask Sirius. Or ... yeah ... Sirius. Either of them," James said. Lily turned away to stare out the window. "Particularly the older one since he's the time jumper."

Lily shook her head, her long loose hair waving back & forth. James could see her reflection glaring back at him. "Man, you boys weren't kidding when you said he was ill. Remus said—oh no wonder Orion knew what Remus is! Remus said he looked like death came out of a grave when we first met Orion. I believed him." She suddenly whirled on James & advanced towards him. She grabbed his collar in one hand & pulled him close. "Are you asking me to believe that it's because of Az ... Azkaban?" James nodded. "The Dementors?" Another nod. "FOR TWELVE YEARS?"

"Innocent years, I might say."

Lily gasped, taking a few steps back. "This ... this is mad!"

"We can go into hiding for the rest of our lives," James repeated. "Twelve years of that, you'll know what madness is. If we use the Hallows though, we can all be saved & everyone else out there. It wouldn't be just our lives. We would all be free."

"I can not believe you're asking me to do this."

"Fact is, I'm not," James said. "You're the one that has to be Death's Mistress. Ultimately, it's your choice. Lily!" He grabbed her & spun her back to him, into his arms. "If you don't want to do it, I can make either of our Padfoots the Secret Keeper & we'll take Remus & the other Padfoot down with us. Remus wouldn't like losing contact with his pack. At least I know Sirius would never betray us."

"I can't believe Peter would," Lily put her face in his shoulder. "That's the most difficult thing you're asking me to believe. Peter was such a sweet boy."

"Yes & he died that way. It's how I wish to remember him." James held her close. They swayed gently for several minutes in silence. "Lily," James finally breathed. "What do you want me to do? Give you the Hallows? Or call Moony, Padfoot & America?"

Lily sighed in his arms. "Petunia. I want to see Petunia."

James held her back so he could look in her eyes. "Lily, she hates you."

Lily stared at the floor, wiping tears that insisted on falling. "She's my sister."

James nodded, giving up. "Alright. First thing in the morning," He scooped Lily up in his arms & laid her on the floor. "I think Moony's coming over. He can take care of Harry while we're gone." He lay down beside her, putting his glasses on the floor above their heads.

"It's been ages," Lily said, staring at the ceiling. "Perhaps she has a better opinion now."

"Let's hope," James tried not to scoff. He ran a hand up her body, starting from the top of her leg nearest to him & sliding up to her throat. The top of her white satin nightgown had a low V-line & he easily slipped his hand inside.

"James," Lily sighed, eyes closed.

She raised a hand to his chest, undoing buttons. She soon had the shirt open. He sat up to let it fall to the side. He pulled Lily up with him, pushing the V-line open enough for her to slip out. She then lay back & raised her hips so he could finish pulling it off. He lay over her, kissing her dorsal line from her stomach up to her breasts, then her throat.

Lily could feel him thrusting instinctively. She put her hands on his chest & held him off. He pushed one hand down her body until he found his belt. He fumbled with the clasp. Lily laughed at him.

"Merlin's sake!" James rolled off. "Fine powerful pureblood I am. Can't even get my belt undone!"

Lily shoved him flat on his back & took over. She grabbed both his wrists & pinned his hands to either side. "Need help?" She straddled his hips & leaned over to kiss his chest. "Hmm, not so curly when you're not Prongs"

"I can remedy that."

"We'll see," Lily slid her whole body down.

And deftly opened his belt buckle with her teeth. James rolled his eyes. "Show off."

"You like it." She finally got his trousers off with one hand. She sat on his hips once more. James put one hand on either breast & arched his back under her. They both gasped as he went in. He shifted from James to Prongs. "My breasts don't like your hooves."

"Sorry," He shifted back. Lily rubbed the imprints before leaning over to kiss his throat. "Can't ... Can't control the shape shifting ... some times."

Lily laughed softly against his throat, then moved up a little to kiss his lips. James was heaving faster under her. He wrapped his arms around her, pressing his hands onto her shoulder blades. They rocked back & forth a few times before James flipped them both over so that he was now on top.

He moved his hands to the front of her shoulders & pressed down. It was Lily's turn to arch her back as he hit that special spot. "Merlin! Don't move!" Lily gasped. James held that thrust, pushing in harder. Lily's body suddenly went into a spasm. It made him twist sideways against her movements. They both went over nearly at the same time. James collapsed onto her. He put his hands onto her hips, then stroked upwards to her face, finally resting his hands on the floor on either side. After several moments of getting their breath under control, James moved off to the side & held Lily with one arm over her side. With a snap of his fingers, the fire sprang to life & they lay side by side, facing it, sleeping in its warmth.

James woke up first & disentangled himself from Lily. He pulled one of Harry's blankets off a table & laid it over her, petting back some red hair from her face. With a sly grin, James picked up both their clothes & strode naked to the laundry room. Leaving the pile there, he entered the washroom & turned on the shower. Lily would have no choice but to join him. He took his time, letting the water run hot. Hearing Lily mutter something about not leaving her dress, he stepped inside & pulled the curtain. Then shifted to Prongs.

"James!" Lily called out, entering the washroom. "You could have left my dress behind, you know." She pulled back the curtain & recoiled with a little yelp. A 22-spread perched above a grin greeted her. Seeing deer grin was an odd sight, even if one was married to James Potter. Lily cast Harry's blanket aside & stepped in. "You're incorrigible!"

"You love me for it," James said as he shifted back. He started soaping Lily's long hair.

"Unfortunately," Lily teased, back still toward him. She suddenly felt herself yanked back as his arms came around. He moved his hands up to her breasts & held her as he pressed up against her back. Lily stepped backwards into his embrace, letting him move with her. Neither of them lasted more than five seconds. "Let me guess," Lily asked once he was finished. "Morning wand?"

"You spend WAY to much time with Sirius."

"Well I apparently hung out with two of them at once," Lily laughed. "What do you expect?"

"Good point," James muttered.

"One out of twenty two."

"Oh shut up!" James ordered, earning more laughter.

They finished their shower & got dressed just in time. Remus appeared at the door barely five minutes later. Lily settled Harry in his outside playpen as Remus nearly literally flipped himself into the hammock & it was only a well placed 'carpe retractum' from James that righted the werewolf before he went sprawling onto the ground.

James took Lily's hand & they apparated together to Privet Drive. James disappeared into the bushes as Lily went halfway to the door before hesitating. Prongs soon appeared in a front yard across the street & put his head down, pretending to nibble. Lily looked at the driveway but didn't see the car. Vernon was most likely already gone to work. She took another step.

The door opened & none other than her sister, Petunia, came out. She was carrying a baby. Lily stared. She didn't know she was an aunt now. After coming down the stairs, Petunia caught sight of the red-headed woman in her yard. She almost dropped the baby.

Lily clasped both hands to her breast, wondering what she was doing here. "Hi," she said weakly.

"What are you doing here?" Petunia asked, glancing around.

"I-I-I'm ... not quite sure," Lily said. They stared at each other for a long time. "I see you have a baby now. I do to. A little boy. Harold. We call him Harry for short."

"I see," Petunia muttered. Another awkward stare down. The Stag raised his head. "What's that deer doing in Mrs. Angie's garden?"

"I uh, I don't know," Lily honestly answered.

Petunia moved forward, waving her free hand. "Shoo! SHOO I say!"

Lily turned to glare, discreetly jerking her thumb in some general direction. Prongs took the hint & bounded away. "Most unusual to see something like that here."

"Everything about you is unusual, Lily."

Lily rubbed her forehead. "I just ... I ..." Her sister still hated her. Lily tried not to cry, feeling stupid enough for coming here. "How's Vernon?"

"He's fine," Petunia glared at her. "Why did you come here?"

"I ..." Lily shrugged. "I just wanted to check up on you. It's been a long time."

Petunia's jaw twitched. She finally grated out, "How's that school boy, Potter?"

"We're out of school now," Lily said lightly. "He's fine."

"You're lucky you came here while Vernon's gone to work," Petunia muttered. She turned a bit & Lily could see the baby's face. "Dudley. His name is Dudley."

"He's cute," Lily smiled at him. She pulled out her wallet & opened it to a picture of a baby. "This is Harry."

Petunia glanced at it quickly, but glance at it she did. Lily felt relieved. "Looks like that Potter boy."

"Very much so," Lily managed a laugh.

"I supposed he'll end up the same way," Petunia said.

"We hope so, but there's no way to tell yet," Lily said, knowing her sister was referring to magical talent.

"I haven't heard from you for ages," Petunia suddenly went on. "Then suddenly, you show up here. Something's going on. You & that Potter boy breaking up?"

"No," Lily shook her head. "We're great together."

"Then what is it?" Petunia asked flatly.

Lily sighed. "I think ... There's someone out there—he ... Petunia. I just wanted to see if you were ok before—in case I died."

Petunia stared at her. "Are you ill?"

"No, but there's war going on," Lily said. "I just wanted to see you again." After a long moment she added the nickname she called her sister as a child. "Pet."

Petunia turned up her nose, thinking. "You said 'he'. Who is that?"

"Voldemort," Lily said. "He's incredibly gifted in the Dark Arts but he also believes in pureblood magic only & kills any of us who aren't pure. Like me. James is pureblood. He would be fine if it weren't for his attachment to me."

Petunia huffed. "Then you wonder why I was always against this. Magic can't be good. At all."

"You're the only sister I have," Lily tried again.

Petunia stared at her. "I can say the same for you."

Lily looked up at her sister. Petunia did care. She actually did! "Then I'll stay alive, just for you." At that, she turned & ran down the street out of sight. Petunia turned back to the house, Dudley asleep in her arms. A few silent tears fell on his face.

Lily found Prongs standing in a thicket behind the park at Magnolia Crescent. James grabbed her hand & they apparated away.

The moment they appeared at their own front doorstep, Lily said, "I know what my choice will be."

* The Lily/Petunia thing, based upon a deleted scene in DH2 when Petunia tells Harry, "You didn't just lose your parents that night. I lost my sister."