This is War

Chapter 14: The Moment to Lie

Lily Evans woke up to a bright light pouring through open curtains. She was feeling exhausted and as she sat up in bed there were a few things she noticed. Firstly that this wasn't her room, it was but it wasn't like it felt familiar yet out of place.

When she slid out of bed she was taller than she used to be, and then she saw her reflection in the body length mirror on the plain oak wardrobe. She was an adult, her long auburn hair was waist length. She slid on some pants and a top before pick up her wand which seemed a bit smaller in her hands, however, the same warmth it always had remained. As she exited the room she noticed another room off to her right, it looked like a baby's nursery, strange, then she heard the voices from downstairs.

"Harry! Come on prongslet you have to eat the yogurt," a voice said exasperated, it sounded vaguely familiar to her.

"Seriously Padfoot? How on earth did the Yogurt end up on you?" Another voice said in clear amusement.

Lining the stairs were various moving pictures, Lily's eyes took them in, seeing her with a baby with green eyes, her smiling, and then there was one that caused her to freeze. A wedding dress was around her and she was twirling in the arms of a man in a suit, with unkempt hair and glasses. James Potter was smiling at her with the same smile he always gave her. As she descended the stairs the sight that greeted her caused her to giggle and garner the attention of the inhabitants of the room.

Sirius Black was the same almost, he was certainly older and had grown a decent face of hair but his kind face and mischievous eyes were the same. James Potter looked like the wedding picture, he was in a casual tank top and some silk pajama bottoms. Both of them were covered in what appeared to be yogurt and porridge, and the culprit sitting in a high chair at the dining room table was a child with the same emerald eyes as her own.

"Ma!" He gurgled, eyes lighting up and reaching for her. Her heart melted, despite having just woken up and very much feeling like the 14-year-old she was, she walked over shaking her head. A wave of her wand had her son clean and she picked him up, he immediately cuddled into her and sucked his thumb while looking at her with wonder and amazement.

"Er… sorry for the mess Lils, we tried to give Harry breakfast so you could sleep in. It did not go to plan," James said sheepishly, Harry was the baby's name. Harry Potter, she told herself.

"And I assume Sirius is the reason?"

"Hey! I resent that!"

"Pa'foo!" Harry gurgled with a giggle taking his hands and making wild gestures

"Make boom boom!" He said excitedly.

"I'm sure he did make a boom," Lily sighed.

"Padfoot's here to look after Harry while we go to the Order meeting today. He's already got his assignment from Professor Dumbledore," James said and Lily frowned, but nodded her head, she had no idea what was going on after all.

'It is not often one can take their actions again, Lily Evans… will you repeat history?' A voice echoed in her head sending chills down her spine.

Lily was reluctant to leave the child, his sweet innocence was drawing her in and knowing Sirius he could potentially be in danger of… well anything really. However, she needed to find out what was going on, so she left the child with Sirius while she and James attended this 'order' meeting.

The 'Order of the Phoenix' was a vigilante group formed by Albus Dumbledore with the brightest students from Hogwarts in tandem with trusted Aurors and other such members of the Wizengamot who were proactive in the fight against Lord Voldemort.

"Lily! How are you and Harry doing?" A peppy woman hugged Lily as her and James arrived at their destination.

"Alice?" Lily said, the woman in question raised an eyebrow at her.

"Those sleepless nights got you forgetting me already Potter? Yes it's me, Alice Longbottom. Though I can't fault you, sometimes when I don't get any sleep between a battle and taking care of Neville I forget people as well!" Alice sighed, Lily could only nod her head.

Sitting around the large round table she looked at the individuals gathered and tried to match their identities to people she knew. Alice Longbottom, the man next to her had to be Frank. Marlene was on Alice's left that never changed. Remus Lupin was tall and lanky with roughly kept light brown hair. Peter Pettigrew was still rather rotund but not overly so. Alastair Moody was an Auror commander and his second in command was Kingsley Shaklebolt, both of then looked tired. Then Professor Dumbledore entered looking rather pale.

"Albus, what happened?" Elphias Doge asked.

"Last night Bones manor was attacked by Voldemort and his death eaters. Lord Bones and his wife perished. Luckily Amelia Bones and baby Susan weren't home at the time and survived the attack," Albus said.

Amelia Bones, that was one of the girls a few years above her. She remembers Harry teaching her a few pointers in their duelling class the other day. She felt for the girl, especially if Susan was Harry's age.

"Are they okay?" Lily asked.

"About as okay as they can be, Amelia has taken Susan and gone into protective custody. While she would prefer to be fighting with the Auror's she can't leave Susan alone," Albus said.

"So what's our next plan of action?" James asked.

Lily listened intently as Dumbledore outlined the information they had gathered, some things were off and Lily frowned when hearing about the Lestranges and the Malfoy's. But her biggest question was 'Where is Harry Peverell? What is he doing?' She wondered if he was leading the charge or not.

"Lily, James, Alice, Frank could you all stay? I have something of the utmost importance to speak with you about," Dumbledore said once the meeting was concluded.

The room emptied and the four of them looked confused at each other before looking back at Albus who slumped in his chair.

"I'm afraid that a prophecy has been made foretelling the downfall of Voldemort," he started.

"That's good then professor, but why tell just the four of us?" Frank said.

"Because the prophecy foretells of a child born at the end of July with the power to defeat him. That refers to both Neville and Harry," Albus said, the silence that followed was almost deafening.

"There's many children born at the end of July, why Neville and Harry?" Lily asked.

"Because it also said that the child would be born to those who have thrice defied him. Only the four of you have as a couple, defied him on three occasions each. He will make targets of you all now that he is aware."

"How did he become aware of the prophecy?"

"One of his junior death eaters informed him, the same came to me for protection once he knew who the potential targets were. But alas, I believe that for the moment the four of you should hide in your homes under the fidelius charm. I will cast it myself but each if you should choose a secret keeper," Albus sighed.

"Alright, I'll get Sirius in on the plan," James said, Lily frowned, she didn't like the sound of this at all.

"Who was the one who informed Voldemort and then betrayed him?" Lily asked.

"It was young Severus Snape." A few moments passed with shocked faces. Then pandemonium.

"Snivellus!" James shouted.

"Calm yourself my boy, but, he truly regrets his actions and has committed to aiding us and protecting the four of you," Albus said calmly, Lily herself was left with a sour taste in her mouth, Severus? Her best friend?

"How can we even trust his words? The slimy git."

"He swore on his life and magic, that was more than enough to assure me where his allegiance lies," Albus replied.

"I don't like it," Alice piped up.

"We're some of the best fighters in the Order, if we're away from the front lines what happens to the rest of you?" Frank asked.

"We'll make do with our forces as we can, but if the prophecy is to be true then we must prioritise the safety of you and your children," Albus said.

After some more debating, reluctantly the four returned to their two houses with their family and friends to discuss the prophecy as well as the charm. Currently this meant Sirius, Peter, James and Lily sitting in their home in Godric's hollow while Lily was cuddling a restless Harry.

"Sirius you should be the secret keeper," James said.

"It does make sense, we know you wouldn't give up the secret and you are Harry's godfather," Lily reasoned, Sirius shook his head.

"I would also be the most obvious choice, Voldemort will know to target me to get to you because everyone knows James and I are brothers. I think Wormy should be the secret keeper, no one would suspect him," Sirius insisted.

"Not to mention Wormy would be able to get out of tight situations with his animagus form," James added, the two looked towards their rotund friend with matching grins, the man in question frowned before shrugging, Lily wasn't quite so sure on the decision.

"Are you sure about this James?" Lily asked.

"I'm sure, Wormy's a marauder like us. He'll die before giving up the secret," James said with absolute certainty.

Lily remained unsure but decided to put her faith in James and Sirius's belief in their friend. Lily felt as if she was pulled through time as months seem to blur right in front of her eyes, a familiar tingle of magic surrounded her before she knew it, it was halloween. She could tell by the decorations inside the house, James and his group always loved Halloween. They were in the middle of celebrating when a feeling of dread washed over them, they felt an attack on the wards around the house.

Looking outside, Lily was horrified as the ruby eyes of the Dark Lord peered at her from the darkness. Standing next to him was one Peter Pettigrew. Lily's eyes narrowed but she didn't have any time to think more about how much she wanted to throttle the rat, as Voldemort brought down the wards.

"Lily run! Take Harry and go! I'll hold him off!" James shouted, drawing his wand.

Lily sprinted upstairs heading straight for Harry's nursery, she heard fighting and then the thudding of a body after a bright green light and then the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs. Lily froze as the Dark Lord emerged, a victorious smirk on his face.

"Stand aside girl, I just want the boy," he growled.

"Please not Harry, not my baby, take me instead," Lily pleaded.

"Get out of the way foolish woman, I told him I wouldn't touch you. Move before I kill you," Voldemort snarled.

"Not Harry, not my baby. Take me instead!" She all but three herself in front if the Dark Lord.

"Avada kedavra!" A green light flashed before her eyes and nothingness…

When Lily awoke she was on a black lake, she looked around unable to see anything of substance. A light shone from bellow her drawing her attention. Lily watched a sort of memory as she was killed by Voldemort, but then continued on to follow her son, Harry. The killing curse backfired and destroyed the Dark Lord. But the aftermath had her seething, Albus Dumbledore had taken Harry to Petunia! Who hated her and hated magic. Following Harry Potter's life, he was abused much like Severus was. He discovered magic, and went to Hogwarts. What followed was a fast tracked version of watching Harry go through many trials and tribulations, facing the many forms of Voldemort until the final battle where he sacrificed himself. Her Harry had sacrificed himself to destroy the Dark Lord, her child of barely 17 had done that. However, it didn't end with his death, she then viewed his conversation with Death and came to a realisation. Harry Peverell, was her Harry Potter. The green eyes that mirrored her own, if she looked closely she could see similar images of James Potter. How could she have not seen it before! Though, she was barely a student of 13!

"You made the same choice despite not being connected to that child for long," a distorted voice echoed, a visage formed in front of her and Lily found herself looking at a woman who was half decaying and half angelic yet both sides were beautiful.

"D-Death?" She stammered.

"Correct, it is a pleasure to be acquainted with the live version of my master's mother. The version of you that perished in his world stayed by my side and watched him every day of his life. She was a bright young witch with much fire and love, the same that you are capable of. Harry Peverell does not need a mother, but, you are his family as is James Potter. It will be up to you to decide what to do with this information. Will you stay by his side Lily Evans?" Death asked.

"He is my son! Of course I'll stay by his side!" Lily said almost offended, Death smiled at her, which in any other context would look absolutely morbid.

"Then I grant you the ability to continue to do so. I wish you luck, Lily Evans."

The figure disappeared and Lily found herself staring into the eyes of a beautiful large bird, A Roc, with emerald green eyes staring back at her. She felt her body shift, bones cracking painfully as her body took on the form of the bird in front of her. Spreading her wings she sped off the ground and the lake faded away to a bright forest.

Harry watched was baited breathing as the five girls disappeared from their ritual circles. He felt their magic still tied to the place they sat as well as his own magic but that didn't mean he wasn't scared that one or none of them would return. All he could do was meditate and organise his thoughts about the most recent changes. All four of the girls wanted to take part in the war at his side, and he didn't want them to be in danger yet he also couldn't bring himself to stop them either.

After what felt like hours passed, the first girl to return was Bellatrix. She let out a gasp as she returned and her ritual circle went dark. Then Narcissa returned moments later, followed by Apolline, Hela and last but not least Lily. Harry let out the breath he had been holding since Bellatrix returned, sagging in relief as the magic of the circle died down.

"Harry James Potter!" Lily all but screamed, Harry froze, wide eyed as the 13-year-old version of his mother marched up to him, he towered over her but in this moment he felt very small.

"Of all the things you could have done! The Stone, The Chamber! The Hippogriff, The Tri-wizard tournament! What in merlin's name were you thinking!"

"I uhm…"

"Well! Are you going to answer me!" Lily's hand was placed on her hip and she was tapping her foot expectantly, Harry found his mouth opening and shutting as he tried to form an answer.

"Well, Harry, are you going to answer her?" Narcissa asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Don't you start Narcissa Malfoy! And you Bellatrix Lestrange!" Lily whirled around on them as well. The scene could almost be comical seeing a seething 13-year-old glaring at narcissa who was 16, Bellatrix and Harry, who were 17 while Apolline who was 18 and Hela who was 22 stood to the side awkwardly.

"That's not us! It will never be us!" Bellatrix protested.

"I think emotions are high, we should retire to the manor and have some rest and we can talk again in the morning," Apolline suggested.

While everyone protested initially, the lateness of the night sunk in and the emotional toll of the ritual had the girls arguments quelled swiftly. They shuffled into the manor and headed to their respective rooms all saying a polite good night before doors closed.

Sleep did not come for Harry, he lay awake in his bed with his mind whirling. They all knew, the fury and concern and love that Lily Evans looked at him with was far beyond that of a 13-year-old girl. Just what had each of them experienced?

The sound of the door opening had Harry tense up, wand almost in hand before he recognised Apolline's magical signature and scent. He felt the bed dip a little and he turned to see the blonde woman sliding into the bed next to him.

"Apolline?" He questioned with a yawn.

"Harry, I'm sorry for sneaking in but I had to be close to you. My veela, she was restless without you," Apolline apologised but moved closer to him regardless to the point he could feel her silk nightie against his hands.

"Would you like to tell me about it?" A beat. A few moments passed before Apolline turned in the bed and blue met emerald.

"My test was about how fiercely I would defend you, I felt like I was living a nightmare. Henri Delacour is a good man Harry, but he is not you and my Veela instantly sought you out even when my daughter was to be walking the aisle to her intended husband. All I could think about, all my instincts told me to do, was to find you, protect you and be with you. You drive my soul crazy Harry Peverell," Apolline lifted herself and draped a leg over the other side of Harry so that she was straddling him, he let her.

"Perhaps once upon a time my path was to become Apolline Delacour, but with you, here and now. My path is to become Apolline Peverell," Apolline said leaning down, the last sentence a bare whisper as she pressed her lips against his own.

Fire erupted inside her as they kissed, Harry returning her passion just as much. Apolline pressed her body down against Harry's own as she made the kiss more aggressive, nipping as his lips, not one to back down Harry's own hands came up to clutch her thighs as he playfully bit back. Wrapping a leg around her, he shifted his weight to flip them both over while Apolline let out a squeal. Which Harry quickly silenced with a kiss and he wandlessly cast a silencing and locking charm on the door.

Harry hovered over her looking down at her form, her blonde hair fanned out against rhe pillows while she bit her lush pink lips, blue eyes swirling with desire and love. Her blue silk nightie clung to her body sinfully, he could see every curve from the love handles on her hips to the curvature of her breasts. Her allure permeated throughout the room and Harry was not unaffected as she was directing all of it at him.

"Tell me to stop if you don't want this," Harry's voice asked, breathing heavily.

"If you stop, I will fucking kill you myself," she snarled in a mixture of broken french and english. Reaching up and pulling him down to crash their lips together, her legs wrapped around his waist, clinging to him as she rolled her hips to gain the right kind if friction which had Harry's erection rubbing against her core.

Their kissing was rough, lips were bruised, lips were bit, tongues duelled as they rubbed themselves against one another. Harry broke off first, both breathing heavily. Apolline smirked at him. Their eyes spoke what their mouths didn't and Harry shifted his body while Apolline vanished her nightie wandlessly leaving him with full view of her naked figure. Harry stared for a few moments taking in the nude Apolline under him, she was perfect in every way, her Veela nature making her the embodiment of perfection. But he could also see her vulnerability and slight worry. He gave her one more chaste kiss before trailing kisses down her neck which had her clutching his hair as she let out small gasps. Hands clutching her waist, he kissed his way down until he reached his goal. She smelt heavenly, her pink lips already moist as he kissed her pelvis. Her breathing increased as did her squirming as Harry placed kisses and playful bites around her inner thigh.

"Harry ~ you bastard stop teasing me!"

He let out a soft chuckle before slowly licking her slit, the feeling of his tongue elicited a groan from the girl before he started eating eagerly. Her soft moans echoed throughout the room as her hands tangled themselves in his hair. He continued lick, suck and nibble on her most sensitive spot, managing to focus his attention on her clit before a bright idea went off in his head.

"Harry! Oh merde!" Apolline was reduced to a mess as Harry begun speaking parseltongue right against her clit, the vibrations enough to send her over the edge. Harry allowed her time to recover, her breathing slowed down as she came down from her euphoria, he had to admit though that he was painfully erect and wanted nothing more than to bury himself inside her.

"You will be doing zat more often," Apolline murmured as she propped herself up on her elbows.

"Whatever the lady commands," Harry said with a smirk, Apolline lightly chuckled before she moved over to him, her hand touching his chest before pushing him onto his back. Straddling him, she rubbed her moist centre against his erection, coating it with her juices.

"While I would normally like to return zee favour, my veela is impatient. Forgive me for skipping to the main course mi amore," Apolline said, Harry just looked at her their eyes connected as blue looked into emerald.

Slowly and with a throaty moan from both of them, Apolline eased his cock inside of her, pausing at moments to adjust to his size as he broke past her hymen and took her virginity. Even as a veela, her first time was bound to be painful, yet, having him inside of her just felt… right.

"Oh merlin," Harry groaned, arching his back and involuntarily thrusting his hips causing her to moan and squeal.

"Merde! You feel so big mi amore," Apolline moaned in a breathless whisper.

"Are you okay?" He asked, seeing a few grimaces from her.

"Stay still mi amore, I just… need to… oh merde… get used to… you!" Her breathing was laboured as every shift of her body weight sent electric jolts from her core to her heart.

After what seemed like forever, but in reality was just a few minutes, Apolline lifted her hips, feeling every vein of Harry's cock drag itself from her pussy. Before she dropped her weight spearing him back inside swiftly.

"Oh shit! You feel bloody amazing!" Harry groaned as his hips started meeting her own.

Soon enough nary a coherent word was heard as the two indulged themselves in their love making, Harry's hands gripped Apolline's hips almost painfully as she rode him. Slowly picking up pace, Apolline felt a second climax building inside of her and her veela was demanding she milk her mates seed from him.

"Oh shit, Pol! You're going to make me cum!" Harry gasped, Apolline purred at the nickname as well as the news and her riding became frantic. The sounds coming from the two of them just from their coupling mixed with moans of ecstasy.

"Cum for me Harry, cum inside me my love," Apolline bent down and kissed him deeply, flexing her vaginal muscles in order to grip him while she continued slamming her hips up and down.

"Cumming!" Harry grunted into her lips as he felt himself explode inside her heavenly walls. Apolline let out her own long moan into his mouth as her body shook as a second climax erupted from her body, feeling ecstatic at the feeling of her mate depositing his seed inside of her, and while she knew she wouldn't be able to become pregnant soon, she and her veela couldn't wait until he was trying to breed her.

"Ready for round two?" Harry asked after a few minutes of recuperating, Apolline just giggled as they continued their lovemaking.

Samhain used to be one of the most powerful nights for rituals, when the veil between life and death was the most thin. Many a powerful ritual were available to him and he had done many of them in order to bring himself to his potential power. And it was on this blessed Samhain night that Tom Riddle set food in Nurmengard, the place where he hoped all of his answers would be, and the current residence of one Gellert Grindelwald.

"A visitor? For little ol' me?" A voice cackled, the only resident in this entire prison spoke jovially.

"You are the Dark Lord, Gellert Grindelwald?" Tom asked, his voice echoing through the place.

"Oh… and who might you be? Albus visits me only a few times a year, and Cassie is infrequent in her visits. But you are neither my love nor my faithful," the voice cackled, Tom shivered, feeling very much like he was stepping into a world of insanity.

"Ah… yes, I know of you. The one who seeks to flee death," Gellert teased, coming to the bars of his… prison, the man had a wild mane of hair, untrimmed beard but very much looked sane.

"I've come seeking information from you," Tom said.

"Information you say? What could an old Dark Lord like me have information on that you seek?"

"The Peverell family," a pause of recognition came from Gellert.

"Dead, I killed the last two many decades ago in order to get my hands on the wand. Sentinels they were but they fell all the same, like all humans do, though I never knew what became of the baby girl that was whisked away," Gellert mused.

"They aren't dead, there is one right now who challenges me. His name is Harry Peverell and he has met me evenly every time and I need the secret to defeat him," Tom growled.

"Another Peverell? A male? No, certainly not. I hunted their entire family down in order to collect their family artefacts. There was only a female babe left and she should have no knowledge of her family or heritage given they are dead. It's impossible," Gellert growled, gripping the bars like a vice.

"How did you defeat them the first time?"

"While their numbers were few, they are powerful, I resorted to forbidden magic, necromancy and demonology. If there is a Peverell remaining then my hunt is not over," Gellert straightened his back, cracking it into places as his eyes took on an almost manic state.

"I cannot leave this place, it is my curse and hubris unfortunately. However, I can offer you my aid if you will bring me the Deathly Hollows once you have bested the Last Peverell," Gellert said, Tom Riddle eyed him suspiciously, he knew of the tale of the three brothers and the artefacts they were bestowed by their patron, Death itself and their ascension to Sentinel-hood. But of course, he wouldn't allow himself to bring another Dark Lord such possessions once Peverell is dealt with. No, he would lie to get what he wants and smooth talk like he always did.

"You have yourself a deal, from one Dark Lord to another. I will bring you the artefacts you seek should you give me the knowledge to defeat him," Tom replied.

"Swear it to me!" Tom mentally cursed when Gellert insisted. Raising his yew wand, a moment of thought before he spoke.

"I swear that when I obtain the items Gellert Grindelwald wishes to see, I will bring them to him," his vow made with the intention of bringing them to Gellert, not necessarily leaving them with him though, however, the vow seemed to placate the man.

Gellert, nodding his head and turned back into his cell. Tom wondered what the man was doing before he came back with that appeared to be a small black box. Pricking his finger and holding the box out he allowed a drop of blood to drop onto it. Almost instantly the box grew in size until it became a briefcase.

"Be careful, straying too deep into the Demonic Arts will have you crossing into territory shepherded by forces we couldn't even comprehend. I crossed into it once, and the eyes that greeted me still haunt me to this day and I was there for only a second," Gellert warned.

Tom took the briefcase and hummed pleasantly, perhaps, with access to the demonic arts, he would be able to best the Peverell brat.

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