Disclaimer: Not mine…

"Bye James," she said, smiling as he leaned down to press a soft kiss to her lips.

"I'll miss you!" James said dramatically, and Lily giggled, prying her hand from his.

"Yeah, yeah," she said, giving him one last smile and a small wave before walking away from him. She could feel James' eyes on her as she walked away, and smiled slightly, reveling in the fact that he cared so much.

She turned the corner, glancing quickly to see James just where she'd left him, before the brick wall masked her view of her boyfriend. She continued to walk down the streets, waving as she passed by Ollivanders and heading through the archway into The Leaky.

"Anything Lily?" Tom the bar man asked, and she smiled

"No thanks Tom, just heading home," she said politely, before pushing the door of the old pub open and stepping into Muggle London.

Lily Evans had always loved the idea of living in Muggle London. She wasn't like most of the magical folk she knew who wanted to live in magical colonies. She liked the idea of nobody knowing who she was as she walked down the street.

The day was pleasant, the sky a pleasant blue hue, the weather not wet for the first time in a long time, so she decided to walk to her apartment building. It was only a few minutes away, a path she had walked multiple times.

She hummed absentmindedly to herself as she passed the familiar brick buildings. The park a minute away from her building was full of screaming children. There were a few mothers standing by a bench where a hooded couple sat. A small girl with blonde hair waved to her, her childlike grin missing 3 teeth, and Lily laughed, waving back to the girl, who giggled and ran towards her.

Upon seeing the distressed mother, who was probably assuming her child was going to sprint onto the street, Lily hopped over the small hedge, and crouched down in front of the girl.

"Hi," she said, and the girl beamed. Behind her, the mother relaxed and slowed down to an easy walk.

"Hai," the girl said, "my names Wonnie," she said, and Lily smiled

"Ronnie?" She asked, and the girl nodded happily, "my names Lily," she said, and the girl giggled

"Tha's my mummy's name," she garbled as the mother approached, "mummy! Hew names Wiwy awso!" She squealed, and the mother chuckled

"So sorry about her," she said, smiling at Lily, who grinned and stood up, brushing off the back of her pants.

"It was my pleasure," she said sweetly.

"Lily Johnson, nice to meet you," the lady said, and Lily smiled, taking her hand in a comfortable handshake

"Lily Evans," she smiled, "Do you live around here?" She asked, making polite conversation.

"Yes! We wive wiiiiiight thewe," Ronnie drawled, pointing to the building across the park with a sticky finger.

"And speaking of, its time to go home," her mother said, picking the child up, "nice to meet you," she said, smiling at Lily.

"Bye," Lily smiled as the mother and the protesting toddler walked away. Chuckling, Lily hopped over the hedge and continued home.

As she walked, there was a crack behind her, and she turned quickly to see the old, hobbling hooded couple following her, one with a cane. She thought nothing of it; there were tons of old couples living in this area.

She turned the corner into the alleyway by her building, and saw the old couple following behind her. But something was different. It took her a second to register that they were standing up straight, and that the cane had been tossed to the floor. Lily's breaths came out in pants, as she reached for her wand, her hands slightly shaky.

She stopped, taking a deep breath, before twisting around, wand drawn.

"Stupefy!"

"Expelliarmus!"

"Petrificus Totalus!"

Lily's wand hit the floor, landing right next to the door of her apartment building. She was frozen.

In front of her, the two people pushed their hoods back

"Well, well, well," Bellatrix cackled, "if it isn't THE Lily Evans!" she squealed, grinning insanely, "Rodolphus! Look what WE caught!"