Knowing she had to get rid of the Death Eater's wand and desperate for a reason to leave the frankly terrifying bank Lily swept off into the street, money bag banging painfully against her hip as she strode briskly towards Knockturn Alley, on one hand cursing her recklessness and worrying over the dangers and on the other hand having the knowledge that no one would think for a second that she would dare go down the infamous alley, and therefore it was probably the most logical option.
The wand shop, Wickedness and Wandlore, est 1765, was rotting but not dirty, just a little shabby, like it could do with a new coat of paint and a nicer owner. Hesitating for a second, Lily pushed open the door, startling as the bell rung out like an alarm. A tall, young man appeared from behind a shelf, looked her up and down and sauntered up to the counter.
"How may I help you?"
"I need a new wand, my other one is broken."
"Yeah, I figured that'd be what you wanted, what wand are you using at the moment?"
"My brother's spare," Lily held up the spiky stolen wand. "But it just doesn't work the same."
"Nah, it wouldn't." He adjusted his waistcoat in an action that looked practised, maybe a nervous tic. "What was your old wand before, and I'll see if we've got an old ones like that for you. Speed up the process, you know."
Careful with the information she was giving out, Lily said haltingly, "It was willow...unicorn hair…fifteen inches, I believe?"
Nodding once, the man bustled off along the shelves to get some boxes down, and then set four on the table in front of her. After three vaguely disastrous attempts, the last wand felt perfectly weighted in her hand, a pale ivory colour with roughly hewn flower petals cascading down it. However despite its decorative design it was shorter, less showy, not as flashy as her old wand, and she liked that. It felt strong in her small hand.
Handing over Marlene's money sent a pang of guilt through her, physically making her jolt as his clammy fingers brushed hers to take the Galleons. The bell chimed out again as Lily shut the door behind her and set off again down the street.
The woman at Lost Wands didn't ask any questions while Lily handed in Death Eater's wand and filled in the paperwork that falsely proclaimed that she found it outside the train station.
When she went up to the bar to pay for her room, Tom smiled as he took the money off of her.
"You leaving?"
"Yeah," Lily grinned half-heartedly. "Thanks for the room, mate."
"Come back anytime."
Leaving the Leaky Cauldron felt definite, like the curtains closing at the denouement of a play.
Lily had spent her thirty minute shower the night before finalising her plan, and so as she stepped out into Muggle London there was no hesitation in her stride. Having exchanged some of her wizard money into pounds the day before it was easy for Lily to wait in line and buy a ticket to Manchester at King's Cross, and then rip it up and drop the pieces in multiple bins as she stalked along the busy railway platform.
Hopefully that'll mislead anyone trying to find me.
As Lily walked, she counted off who she could contact on her fingers.
"Um…Remus at his flat…Sirius maybe…owl Hogwarts maybe…Peter last resort…um…"
Someone bumped into her from behind, and grabbed onto her shoulder to steady themselves.
"Oh, sorry!"
A pale woman with a shock of violet hair and a friendly, heart-shaped face grinned apologetically up at her.
"It's okay, are you alright?"
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Merlin I'm clumsy."
Lily widened her eyes slightly. "Merlin, eh?"
"Oh, sorry, I meant God…I mean…like-"
"It's okay, I'm not a Muggle. Still, you should be careful."
"I know, I know, Remus is always telling me that I need to be more careful around Muggles, but I always seem to forget-"
"Remus? I mean, did you say Remus?"
"Yeah…"
How many Remus' can there be in London?
"Are you talking about Remus Lupin?"
"Yeah…"
"You know him?"
"He's sort of my boyfriend…why, did he not mention me?"
The woman's open face closed off, and her voice suddenly had an edge as she eyed up the potential threat to her relationship. Lily frowned.
"No…he didn't mention a girlfriend…but then again I don't really remember…what's your name, sorry?"
The woman stumbled forward as more people jostled either side of the pair, so Lily jerked her head towards a bench in the corner which was sparse of people and they fought the crowds to reach it.
"Nymphadora Tonks," The violet haired lady stuck out her hand proudly, and Lily only hesitated for a fraction of a second before extending her hand and shaking it.
"Petunia Evans."
"Evans?" Tonks frowned. "What, like Lily Evans? Do you know her?"
"You could say that."
"Yeah? You know her? You might know her as Lily Potter? She married James Potter years ago?"
"Years ago?"
"Yeah. You know the couple that were killed by You-Know-Who? Harry Potter's parents?"
Lily stepped back. "What?"
"Yeah…what would have it been…1981? 1982?"
"Where's Remus?" Lily's breaths were coming in rapid pants, and her head was swimming. "I need to see him. Where is he?"
"I…well I think he's busy at the moment…he's at Hogwarts, I believe…"
"I need to go there," Lily was dizzy, and her words were coming out jumbled, slurred. "Where is he?"
"He's at Hogwarts, like I said, but are you alright-"
"I need to go there…" Her vision was blurred, and her knees were shaking so vigorously that she thought they might buckle.
"Okay, hang on, one minute…" Tonks gripped her arm tightly and steered her into the dark space behind the ticket booth, then Disapparated. The sudden sucking feeling as they were compressed into almost nothing did not help Lily's state, and so when they materialised into a small, shabby apartment Mrs Potter fell to her knees.
Tonks was fiddling with something by the fireplace, and the startling blast of green fire from there startled Lily further, as she let out a choked sob of pain and disorientation.
"There's this girl, she said she knows you, and that she knew Lily too, I brought her back here to your apartment, she's sort of freaking out, I'm not sure what to do-"
There was the muffled sound of voices, and Lily groaned quietly as she brought her head down between her knees, breathing still frantic and flying, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Hey, hey, hey, it's okay, take your time," The warm hand on her back and the familiar sound of Remus Lupin's voice was reassuring despite her confusion and panic, and Lily turned to bury her head in his chest, sobbing. Obviously confused, he wrapped his arms around her, and Tonks spoke from across the room.
"Do you know her?"
"Nope."
"Remus…" Lily gasped as her breathing started to regain some sense of normality, mopping her face with her sleeve and looking up at him desperately. "It's me."
"Sorry, I don't think I know who 'me' is?"
"Oh, stupid Transfiguration, hang on, look-"
Lily fumbled with her wand and wiped the spell off of her face with a careful wave of her new wand.
Remus inhaled a sharp breath, choked out a surprised "Lily!" and smothered her in a massive hug, holding back tears.
"Remus, where the hell is my son?"
The fire in her voice was only fuelled by her panic.
"Oh jeez, um, it's okay, you need to stay calm, I'm going to get James, he'll explain-"
"James? James? Where is he? Where's Harry? And Sirius? What happened? What-"
"Breathe, Lilybug." Remus used Sirius' old nickname for her, hands on her shoulders.
"We died, and you're older? And who's that girl with the purple hair? And what-"
"Get James, will you?" Remus spoke to Tonks with in a harried voice.
"And…and…"
"It's okay, Lilybug, it's okay, everyone's okay, just breathe,"
"I am breathing!" She snapped, smoothing over her hair and shaking her head. "Sorry. Where's my husband?"
"He's coming now, Dora went to get him."
"Dora?"
"Tonks."
"When did you meet her?"
"It's a long story, I'll explain later."
"Is James okay? What happened?"
"I'll let him talk to you, hang on... oh here we go-"
Lily looked up from where she was kneeling on the floor as James Potter came spinning out of the fireplace, hair a mess and eyes worried.
"Lily! Oh thank Merlin-"
They crashed together in an almost painful hug, hands clutching each other, and then kissed, long and hard and passionate.
"James, what happened? Where's Harry?"
James' eyes shone with relief as he gazed down at his wife, but the stern look on her face demanded answers, and James wasn't sure if he was mentally prepared or allowed to give them.
I hope you liked it! Don't forget to let me know what you thought!
Fly xx