Chapter 19:

"Harry wait!" Hermione yelled after Harry as she ran out of the common room. "Ron and I are coming too…!" Harry slowed down to a jog as Ron and Hermione both caught up to him. The three of them proceeded to head down to Professor Dumbledore's office.

"What exactly are we suppose to do when we get there?" Hermione said a few steps behind Harry.

"I'll think of that when we get there," Harry said quickly. They turned the corner before Harry stopped abruptly. Ron and Hermione both bumped into him.

"Why'd you stop?" Ron asked.

"Listen…" Harry said.

"Well Lily," said a strong female voice that most likely belonged to McGonagall. "You understand the need for us to take precautions…."

"I don't understand," said a quivering voice that Harry instantaneously recognized as Lily's. "Why would he ever…I mean why me?"

"Over there," Harry whispered. The three of them quietly walked nearer to McGonagall's classroom in order to hear better.

"Lily," McGonagall said. "There so much you don't understand and that I can't tell you. Of course, since you were a child things have changed. As you know, James Potter became involved and he unfortunately was killed…"

"This is all so confusing!" Lily said loudly. "So many questions and no one will answer them! I mean James became involved in the fight against You-Know-Who and he was killed, and now you're telling me that he's after me…Does this mean that I got involved as well?"

"Lily…" McGonagall said. Her voice sounded very sympathetic.

"You can't tell me," Lily said. Harry could hear her voice becoming hoarse. "That look, the look that you, and Harry, and Professor Dumbledore have been giving me all week…"

"Lily," McGonagall said. "All I'm saying is that we need to take precautions for your safety. Spies for the Ministry have just informed us that somehow You-Know-Who has heard of a suspicion of you being here. I can't tell you exactly why or what, because I'm not exactly sure myself, but Lily understand that in your future you may do great things that get in the way of his plans. If he were to find you in a sixteen year old state…"

"He'd do to me what he did to James…" Lily said through tears. "What does it matter though. If James couldn't stop him as a grown man, then obviously I won't do much better…."

"Lily," McGonagall said. "You-Know-Who killed several great wizards, yet he was taken down by a baby boy…sex, strength, or knowledge has nothing to do with results…"

"I just don't understand why he would be so interested in me…" Lily said sobbing. "I mean do you know how hard it is to know you obviously did something to get him to come after you, but then not have a clue as to what that is?"

Outside Harry glanced at Hermione and Ron, both of which were staring back at him. This was the moment that Harry felt about three inches tall. The reason that Voldemort would come after Lily if he knew she was here at sixteen was completely obvious. She would have Harry and of course Harry in turn would defeat Voldemort. Why not try to kill the source before she could have Harry.

"I'm sorry dear," McGonagall said softly. "Professor Snape is making vast progress. We plan on getting you back to your own time as soon as possible so that you won't have to worry about any of this any longer…"

"Not worry?!" Lily said almost shocked. "My boyfriend, or whatever he is, and is killed by a deranged wizard and apparently I do something that makes him want to come after me!"

"Dear," McGonagall said. "I assure you that you will not have to be worried by these thoughts once you return home…"

"I hate this," Lily said solemnly. "I wish that I had never come here…"

"I know," McGonagall said. "I know. However, for the remainder of your stay I ask that you not leave Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, or Miss Granger's side. If for whatever reason you must, I ask that you immediately find myself or another professor. Please don't leave the castle for any reason. You-Know-Who is not quite as powerful as he was in your youth, but he has many supporters and many spies that are on he look out for you…"

"But who would have said something?" Lily asked. "Who knows that I'm from the past?"

"Someone who would tell You-Know-Who…" McGonagall said. "That's what Professor Dumbledore and myself are trying to figure out. Now come along, I'll walk you back to the Gryffindor tower…"

"Harry come on," Hermione said tugging on Harry's sleeve. "Now…!" Ron started running off ahead of them while Hermione looked pleadingly at Harry. "We can't get caught!"

"Yeah, ok…" Harry said running off in the direction of Gryffindor. All three of them ran into the common room and collapsed into separate chairs breathing heavily.

"What happened?" came a male voice from behind them They all turned to see Seamus, Lavender, Parvati, Neville, and Ginny staring back at them. Ginny, however, quickly looked down once Harry caught her eye.

"Nothing," Harry said as the portrait hole suddenly swung open and McGonagall and Lily walked in.

"Harry," Lily said walking over to them. "Can I talk to you? To all three of you?" A slight s****** came from Seamus' group, with the exception of Ginny. There was an audible scoff coming from her direction.

"Yeah," Harry said standing up. "Come on, over here…" He led them all to a quieter corner of the common room.

"Ok," Lily said while sniffling slightly. "McGonagall's just told me something…."

"We heard," Harry said. "We were standing outside. We heard everything."

"You did?" Lily asked a little shocked. Ron and Hermione nodded.

"We heard that Voldemort was after you," Harry said.

Ron shuddered, "Don't say his name…"

"I couldn't believe it when she told me," Lily said beginning in to sob. "I mean I never thought that…me…I mean do you know how scary it is to know that he's after you?"

"I have a pretty good idea," Harry said seriously.

"When she wanted me to follow her down to her classroom…" Lily began. "I just thought she wanted to tell be about how things were going with me getting home…then this…"

"It's ok," Hermione said. "It'll all be over soon enough…"

"But do you understand the baggage that I'm taking back to my time with me?" Lily said pleadingly. Harry glanced from Hermione to Ron. None of them seemed to have the heart to tell her.

"So," Lily continued. "Now I'm suppose to not leave the castle, and stay at one of your sides at all times."

"Who do you think told You-Know-Who?" Ron asked quietly.

"I don't know," Lily said shrugging. "I mean the only people who know that I'm from the past are you three and the teachers. Are any of the teachers somehow connected to him or death eaters?" Hermione shot both Harry and Ron a look that told them both to shut up.

"No," Ron said slowly.

"Malfoy…" Harry said after being quiet for awhile.

"You think he knows?" Hermione asked shocked.

"After the other night," Harry said standing up. "I do…I mean you know how his father is practically Voldemort's lap dog. I'm sure he said something about a hinting suspicion of who she might be to his dad, and then he ran off and told Voldemort…"

"That makes sense," Ron said nodding.

"His dad is connected with You-Know-Who?" Lily said anxiously. "I never knew he would become that cracked…."

"Big time," Harry said. "I bet it was Malfoy."

"How can we make sure?" Hermione asked.

"Easy," Harry said seriously. "We ask him…."

**************

Several days had pasted with things remaining relatively normal. Well, as normal as possible for a day at school of magic. It was Wednesday, and Lily had sunk into a slight depression. Harry and Hermione felt that the whole Voldemort situation, plus her homesickness was the cause. Ron and Harry tried everything to get her to smile, but the only time she ever seemed happy was when she thought about her time, her friends, and Harry's dad.

"So the goblin, the mummy, and the dementor all walk into this bar," Ron said as the four of them sat in the common room by the fire that night. "And the bartender says to them, he says…"

"Ron," Hermione said as she looked up from her Transfiguration book, "we've all heard this one…"

"No," Ron said. "That was the goblin, the mummy, and the death eater…"

"Same difference," Hermione mumbled as she continued to read. Harry was reading Quidditch through the ages for what he assumed was the twelve billionth time, all the while Lily and Ron were playing chess.

"It's all right Ron," Lily said forcing a smile at him. "I appreciate the thought…knight to E8."

Harry put his book down and breathed in deeply. He glanced around the common room and caught sight of Ginny walking in. She had her Charms book in her hands as she made her way over to an empty chair. Harry watched as she sat down and began to read.

"I need to find a date to the ball," Harry said sighing.

"I thought you were going with Ginny?" Hermione asked.

"Didn't someone tell you?" Ron asked. "She dumped him."

"What?" Hermione asked. "How come I'm just finding out?"

"I tried to tell you," Harry said casting her a sideways glance. "You changed the subject."

"I wonder why Ginny didn't tell me," Hermione said slowly. "I mean I knew she was a little bothered by something. I mean I could tell. I just didn't know what. She wouldn't' tell anyone."

"She dumped me for Neville," Harry said swallowing hard. "I just wish I knew why."

"I'll talk to her for you," Hermione said.

"No, don't. I don't even care anymore." Harry lied.

"You sure? Hermione asked. "Well, I might just ask her anyway."

"Do what you want," Harry said as he watched Ginny get up and head upstairs. She quickly looked in his direction, but looked away as soon as she noticed he was looking.

"Ginny's always been very secretive," Ron said without looking away from his game. "Castle to B3."

"What do you expect," Hermione said shutting her book. "I mean when you grow up in a house with six brothers…"

"I guess," Ron said. "She's always kept to herself. Probably because she never had a sister to gossip with or whatever it is that sisters do."

"Having a sister isn't really all it's cracked up to be," Lily said making a face.

"Tell Ginny that," Ron said laughing. "I'm sure she would have traded one of us off for one. My money is on Percy…."

"Oh Ron," Hermione said shaking her head.

"Hey," Ron said. "Harry, why not just go to the ball with Lily? If she's still here that is."

"And if she's not?" Harry said laxly.

"Then you hide away in your room all night," Ron said shrugging. "I don't know…"

"If I'm still here," Lily said looking up. "I'll go with you."

"You sure?" Harry asked. "I mean you really don't have to…"

"No," Lily said. "It's ok. I mean it should be fun."

"Ok," Harry said grinning. "That'll show Ginny," he thought to himself. "I can get a date even if, for whatever reason, I'm not good enough for her."

"I don't know what I'll wear," Lily said shrugging. "I mean I haven't any dress robes…."

"Lavender and Parvati have tons," Hermione said. "I'm sure you'll be able to borrow one of theirs."

"There's one ball a year," Ron said looking up. "Why would they have so many dress robes…?"

"In case the don't like the way they look in one," Hermione said.

"Women," Ron said shaking his head. "I'll never understand them."

"They aren't worth trying to understand," Harry said rubbing his head.

"You two…" Hermione said. "So Lily, did you ever go to any balls with Harry's dad?"

"Yeah," Lily said smiling. "Last year. We had only been dating for a few weeks. He was so nervous." She laughed. "Harry, your dad was never nervous. It was cute."

"I hate when girls use that word," Ron said looking at Harry. "Makes me think of bunny rabbits."

Harry smiled. "So he was nervous?" He was trying so hard to cheer Lily up that he would listen to a hundred stories about his dad if that's what it took. At least he kept telling himself that he only wanted to really hear them because they were cheering Lily up. Secretly it was because he was just as interested.

"Yeah," Lily said. "It was right before Christmas time. The Yule Ball…"

"Oh those are always fun," Hermione said giving Ron a look.

"Hey," Ron said. "I asked you this time didn't I?"

"Shut up," Harry said. "Go on Lily."

"Well," Lily said. "It was just funny to see your dad so nervous. He walked in a wall. He stepped on my feet three times. Mr. Smooth couldn't have been more of a klutz."

"That sounds pretty funny," Harry said smiling.

"Sounds like Neville," Ron said laughing. Harry shot him a look that immediately made him stop.

"Well," Lily said standing up. "I'm tired, so I think I'm going to head up to the room."

"I'll come," Hermione said standing up as well. "Good night boys."

"Night," Harry and Ron said as the girls turned to leave.

"Want to play?" Ron asked glancing up at Harry.

"Yeah," Harry said sitting down on the ground. Before they started playing however, they were interrupted by a small tapping on the window.

"It's an owl," Ron said standing up. The two of them both walked over to the window and lifted it up.

"It's from Sirius," Harry said as he began to read the letter. "Look…"

Harry-

Not to worry you, but there's been some bad news. Voldemort apparently has heard of a sneaking suspicion that Lily may be at Hogwarts. I don't know how he would have figured this out, but whatever the case, you know how important it is to protect her. Rumor has it that Lucius Malfoy had mentioned something of her being at Hogwarts. It would make me think that that little twit of a son of his may have figured something out. Anyway, Dumbledore's gotten more potions experts working on this time travel potion. It really should be a matter of days. Please be alert. Take care.

Sirius

"So it was Malfoy," Ron said shocked. "How on earth did he figure it out?

"I don't know," Harry said. "But tomorrow, we're going to find out…."