One second Lily was in James's arms, feeling calm and secure and the next he was wrenched away by a pair of slim delicate hands and Lily had to reach out and clutch onto the doorframe in a desperate attempt to stop herself from tumbling ungracefully to the floor, which was not the entrance she had been hoping to make.
She regained her balance just in time to hear a cry of: "Oh Jim-Jam, I've missed you so much!" and to see James pulled in to a fierce hug.
"Jim-Jam?" Lily repeated incredulously watching in amusement as James's face was covered in kisses as petite arms squeezed the breath out of him.
"Oh it gets worse."
Lily turned to see Sirius just as amused as she was watching James and what Lily was pretty sure was James's mother.
"I missed you, too," James managed to choke out as he gently coaxed the iron grip from around his neck to a less perilous position of around his waist, sending an evil look to where Sirius and Lily mocked him as he patted his mother's back.
Lily laughed before turning and taking the opportunity to scrutinise the woman currently wrapped around James. She was slim and small with magnificent long dark hair that fell in a glistening sheet right down to her waist and even as she squeezed the life out of her, twice as tall, son she gave off an aura of grace. She was, quite simply put, one of the most beautiful women Lily had ever seen.
The moment James was free from his mothers coddling though he turned his head towards Lily and her stomach fluttered when she realised that, despite being surrounded by family he hadn't seen in months, he was still trying to make sure that she was alright.
She smiled at him and tried to communicate with her eyes that she was fine.
The eye contact and the obvious distraction of her son meant that Mrs. Potter's attention was suddenly diverted towards Lily. Lily was overwhelmed and uneasy as the direct, intelligent gaze pierced through her, the blue eyes slamming into her with the force of a reductor curse. Lily instantly felt like a huge spotlight had been shone on her, and had the fleeting worry that Mrs. Potter could even hear her thoughts.
Lily adjusted her hair nervously and smiled tentatively before gathering up some of her Gryffindor courage and extending a hand to introduce herself.
And though the greeting was definitely cool, in comparison to James's welcome, Mrs. Potter reached out and encased Lily's hand with a strong, but gentle grip.
That lack of open hostility and the smile on James' face made Lily feel a little better but there was no denying the slight wariness in Mrs. Potter's eyes. "Lily," she greeted politely, "Thank you for coming."
"It's a pleasure Mrs. Potter," Lily instantly tried to reassure, but she didn't think she had been heard as Mrs. Potter instantly turned towards Sirius and commenced a production very similar to the one James had received. Lily didn't quite know whether to be disappointed or to be understanding, but she tried not to be upset, after all this was the first time Mrs. Potter had seen her boys in months. So, she smiled instead, but she couldn't stamp down the feeling of being at a lost suddenly in the large foyer.
Lily felt rather than saw James move towards her and she was grateful, even if it made her a little selfish. She wanted to be strong just like she had promised she would be, but suddenly she found she really needed support. His support. Lily didn't think any further than that, now was definitely not the time to start contemplating how much she needed him.
But before he could reach her he was pulled to an abrupt stop and into a chokehold by a vaguely familiar man with broad muscled shoulders, tanned skin, a mess of brown hair and eyes the exact same colour of hazel as James. Those familiar eyes brimmed with mirth as the man proceeded to squeeze the life out of James.
"Gerrof old man!" Lily heard James wheeze as he threw an elbow at the man's stomach.
Lily though it was sweet in its own way, up until James's face started to turn red. She was just about to interrupt when, suddenly a soft voice, loving and yet reprimanding at the same time, cut across her objection. "Let him go, Will, he's only been home five minutes, you can rough house later."
"Oh, Anna," the man sighed impatiently turning around to face his wife and brining James' trapped head along for the ride.
"Don't 'Oh Anna' me," she retorted, raising an eyebrow just like James tended to do.
Mr. Potter looked so chagrined by such a small reprimand from an even smaller woman that Lily was surprised, but instantly the fierce figure released James's neck. He looked at his wife sheepishly and then seconds later those broad arms had enclosed James in a much gentler hug. "Good to have you home son," Lily heard the man rumble gruffly.
As she watched James return the obvious affection, Lily couldn't believe these were the people she had been worrying about so much. It was true that she hadn't received the warmest of welcomes ever, but considering all she'd been told about the Potter family's position in society, it wasn't really a surprise that they were guarded with new people. So she didn't really feel slighted and if their obvious love and affection for James and Sirius were anything to go by then she knew they couldn't be all that terrible.
"By the way, James, I thought I'd warn you, Melody is here," Lily heard his father say suggestively, even wiggling his eyebrows for effect.
Melody? Lily's mind snapped to sudden attention as she watched James's closely for his response. He's never mentioned a Melody.
"Oh," James flushed as he looked to Lily, but she knew him too well now so there was no mistaking the large smile he was trying to contain.
"Yes, she has talked about nothing except you since she got here. It's been giving me a headache!" grinned the handsome older version of James.
"Dad." James almost whined throwing another glance at Lily. "Lay off!"
Sirius and Mr. Potter laughed. "Come on," he gestured as he grabbed his wife's hand and held it securely in his before throwing the other arm over James's shoulder and reaching just far enough to ruffle Sirius hair. "Tell me about school."
Suddenly, there was such a mess of affection and voices and questions that before Lily really managed to get her bearings she was left standing, watching James and his family make their way down the cavernous hallway. Left alone, she couldn't help, but take a moment to catch her breath and let her eyes take in the huge entryway that she was stood in. It was very impressive, almost like something out of a castle, with a huge sweeping stone staircase and an upper balcony that stretched the entire length of the house.
Christmas holly streamed across large stone archways sealed with massive wooden doors with heavy iron handles. Every single piece, from the paintings on the walls, to the master masonry on the banister was a true work of art. Everything that she could see seemed to scream taste and money and home. The whole house seemed to exude an aura of warmth and a touch of history and Lily couldn't help but love the place.
Lily's eyes were drawn once again to the balcony when she heard a loud slamming sound above her. She scrutinized the upper hallway and at first was unable to make out where the noise had originated. Then suddenly her eyes caught the flash of a bright white blanket, long curly hair and tiny little feet.
Lily watched in shock as a girl who couldn't be more than three ran down the hall, her movements obvious by the flashes of colour between the balcony spokes.
Lily smiled, she couldn't help herself, the little snippet of a thing was so cute it was the only possible response. Her smile widened when two pudgy hands grasped the stone and the cutest button face pressed through a gap in the balcony. As soon as the startling blue eyes spotted Lily a cherubic smile spread across the tiny face. She was so beautiful Lily couldn't pull her eyes away.
The little girl's face lit up even further when she realized Lily was looking at her and before Lily could say a word she was running again, tripping and stumbling over her blanket every few steps as she barreled towards the stairs.
"No, stop!" Lily cried out as the girl hurdled toward the steps. "You'll trip and fall! Slow down, I'll come and get you!"
But she didn't listen, the girl just grinned and continued on.
"No! Wait for me to help you!" Lily cried, already almost halfway up the stairs.
It was a good job too because the little girl didn't heed a single one of Lily's warnings and before Lily could really understand what was happening the little girl had tripped on her blanket and flung herself off the top step.
Lily's heart stumbled and she stretched out her arms as quickly as possible.
She felt a moment of relief when the tiny body landed safely in her arms and she fumbled desperately with arms and legs, trying to get a decent grip. Unfortunately, as small as the child was, the impact was still quite heavy and before she could catch her balance on the step the momentum pushed Lily back and she felt herself beginning to fall.
Knowing there was nothing she could do Lily tucked her body around the child taking special care to protect her head. Even as Lily felt her own smash against the banister.
Lily felt herself collide heavily against hard stone a couple more times before she finally came to rest at the bottom of the stairs. For a few moments she couldn't move. Too shocked and surprised to do anything but continue to clutch at the small body in her arms.
She was broken out of her shocked state when a tiny voice, from somewhere close by, said, "You're very pretty."
Lily looked down incredulously to find the little girl holding tightly on to a lock of her hair and acting like absolutely nothing had happened.
Dazed as she was, all Lily could respond with was: "So are you."
Cutting into the bizarre moment of serenity a cry of "MY BABY!" rang out before Lily felt someone being wrenched from her arms for the second time in ten minutes.
"Oh, oh thank you so much!" the snatcher repeated over and over again as she cried, her tears running in to the hair of the little girl who was now sitting passively in the woman's clutching embrace.
From her sprawled position Lily watched the woman cry for a few seconds, still in shock. Then her mind seemed to unfreeze and instincts that were ingrained made her tentatively reach out to place a comforting hand on the hysterical woman's shoulder. "It's okay, she's fine, not a scratch on her, see look for yourself." She kept repeating in as soothing a voice as she could manage. Unfortunately, even Lily could hear the wobble underlying her voice but she figured the woman wasn't really listening anyway.
"Thank you," the woman said fervently again even as she buried her face further in to the child's neck. "My heart literally stopped when I saw her stumble! Thank you so much….?
"Lily," Lily supplied quietly still rubbing soothing circles on the woman's back and with her long hair once again clutched in a tiny fist.
"Yes, thank you so much Lily! If you hadn't been here…." She began to sob again unable to continue her sentence and Lily though it would be a good idea to divert the topic slightly. So without taking her hand from its comforting spot on the woman's shoulder she leaned down to the little girls level and smiled, "I'm sorry, during all the excitement, I didn't manage to catch you name."
"You can call me Treacle, that's what everyone else calls me coz' I'm so sweet…." she pronounced as if she hadn't a care in the world, as if she hadn't almost fallen and smashed her head in.
"I bet you're often sticky, too," Lily smiled noticing the jam all down the front of the cute little sleep suit she was wearing and the woman chuckled wetly after a moment brushing at the mess.
"That's what Jamie says!"
"Jamie?" Lily questioned with a smile
"James Potter – he's my brother." She said proudly in her childlike voice. "He's coming home today."
"I thought James was an only child." Lily said quickly, how could she have missed something so important as a sister.
"Oh!" the lady said finally seeming to remember herself "I'm sorry I'm Layla, I'm Mr Potters assistant. This is my daughter," she said hugging the little girl again "Anna and Will are her god parents, so she and James like to call each other brother and sister. I…" she stopped mid sentence as she finally looked up to see Lily "OH MERLIN!" she suddenly cried, startling Lily.
"What?!" Lily asked in the same tone, unsure she could take much more.
"You're bleeding!"
"I am?" Lily asked confused but the moment she said the words she could suddenly feel the warm trickle of liquid sliding down her face and neck, her head suddenly feeling like it was on fire.
Layla reached out one of her hands, refusing to release the little girl, even as she turned Lily's face to her own, "That's quite a bad cut."
"Oh," Lily said because it looked like Layla was waiting for a response.
"I could fix it for you…" she said hesitantly. "It's really the least I can do."
"I would appreciate that—thank you" Lily managed to say just before Mrs. Potter came striding through a set of doors across the hall. Lily, Layla, and 'Treacle' watched as she scanned the surrounding area suspiciously. Her frown so deep Lily was a little frightened.
"Bloody hell" they heard her mutter when she found the hallway seemingly empty "I knew it!"
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A/N
I know its another cliffy but I haven't really written the next bit - so I figured you'd rather this than nothing at all!
Thank you all so much for your wonderful reviews they really do keep me writing this fic.