A.N: I have a few questions...does anyone know how to make 'tab' work in the published version?? My formatting keeps getting screwed up! And also, what's the difference between hits and visitors?
Ok, so this is my first ever (and I mean EVER) attempt to write something resembling action. If it leaves you entirely cold, like "this is so boring let's skip to the end" cold, pleeaaaaaaaaaaaaase tell me! I can't improve unless I know I suck. Seriously, do it for the good of all fanfic readers to come after you!!! (And I know I can be a bit cliché...seriously, tell me!!!!)
And it still doesn't belong to me...
3. The Beginning
It was the 31st of August and Lily was thanking Godric that Diagon Alley was open on a Sunday. Sixth Year began the very next day, and suffice to say; she had not done her school shopping with Mary. Lily had spent the last few weeks in her bedroom, ignoring her friends' owls. Her, ordinarily neat and tidy, room was suffering under Lily's depression.
Her Mother, who had not been shopping for Lily's school supplies since second year (Marlene had indignantly declared all four girls 'grown up' at the beginning of third) had been enlisted by the flustered teenager. However, Mrs. Evans was fast running out of patience. "Honestly Lily! How can you not know what books you need? You have the list in front of you!"
"But I don't know!" She wailed. "I don't know what subjects to take, or how many, or...I don't know Mum!" Lily was becoming more and more hysterical.
"For goodness' sake!" snapped the red-faced woman. "Lily, we have three hours before the shops close, and you don't have ANYTHING!" She breathed out heavily, obviously making an effort to control her temper. "Alright. You have three minutes. Three! If you still don't know I'm going home!"
Lily looked at her mother, then sullenly down at the ground.
"Well?" Her mother tapped her foot impatiently.
Lily looked up again, her face contorting strangely. "Oh, sod it all!" Lily finally exclaimed. "Even if I'm not working for the department of mysteries, charm development is what I'm interested in!"
Her mother looked shocked for a moment, before breaking into a grin. "And why wasn't it possible to figure that out three weeks ago?" She asked with a gently raised eyebrow.
Lily smirked, raising her own eyebrow. "Honestly Mum, you know that trick doesn't work on me! I bloody inherited it, didn't I?"
The two laughed-their tension and tempers unravelling as they entered Flourish and Blots. A balding shop assistant smiled kindly at Lily, "Well Miss, of to Hogwarts tomorrow 'ey? Forgotten a book no doubt!"
"Actually sir, I haven't bought any of my books yet" She replied.
"Hmph! Never would have happened in my day." The man, although obviously disapproving, couldn't prevent the corners of his mouth twitching slightly at her sheepish expression. "Well. Whaddaya need then?"
Lily looked down at the booklist that had arrived the same afternoon as (though slightly later than) her OWL results.
"I need, um, Advanc-"
"No, no! Just the subjects dear, and the year; I know the booklists by heart!" He smiled as he spoke, no malice in his words.
"Oh!" Lily smiled, "Then, um, Charms. And, um, Runes, Arithmancy, Potions and Defence." She frowned slightly, glancing at the Advanced Guide to Transfiguration on display. "And History I suppose."
"Alright. Wait here a moment." The man said with a nod, before worming his way through the crowd.
"Mum? Do you mind if I get a few extra books? It's just, the library doesn't have anything practical on wandless magic and-"
"Lily." Her Mother sounded exasperated. "I always buy you extra books. It's almost funny the way you ask every time!"
Lily blushed, shrugging. It was true, in an attempt to understand her new world, Lily read. In first year she had chosen Hogwarts: a History, desperate to know all she could about her new school. Second year she had stumbled across Genealogy: Why Blood is Important in a Wizard and had decided she had better be informed on the issue before taking on those who insisted Blood Status mattered. Those years that Lily went shopping with her friends, her mother had given her extra money. Lily-to the amusement of her friends-also owned The Rise of a Dark Lord (bought so she could better understand the politics surrounding Lord Voldemort) and The Beast Within (although she wasn't impressed with its declaration that all werewolves were monsters).
"I know. But, after, you know. After last year..." her voice trailed off. At the beginning of fifth year she had been made to return her chosen book. Lily, worried about Sev (and his choice in friends) had chosen The Dark Arts: Theory and Guide. It was bound in black leather, even the font looking spiked and dangerous. Upon arriving home Mr. Evans lectured her about making difficult choices. Lily, lifting her chin, had argued that it could all just be prejudice, like werewolves. And shouldn't she make an informed decision? Mrs. Evans had refused to have the book in the house.
Her mother bit her lip, a crease forming between her eyebrows. "I-" she sighed. "I overreacted Lil. I knew you would never do something so wrong. But I was scared. This world we're part of-" she stopped, shaking her head. "This world you're part of, is at war. And it's a war against you; against muggleborns. And Lil, I can't protect you. I don't even know what's going on-"
Lily opened her mouth, but shut it again when her Mum kept talking.
"I know you've explained it darling, but your Dad and I, we don't know. Not really. Magic and wands and men in masks...it isn't our world. We watch the news and we an earthquake, or a fire, and we wonder whether it really was...or we see a murder and wonder if the victim went to your school-or if the murderer did." She closed her eyes slowly, as though forcing herself to continue. "I should have let you keep the book. I trust you Lily."
Lily looked at her Mum, at a woman, connected to a world that she couldn't understand, a world that she couldn't protect herself from and knew that her Mum wasn't scared for herself.
Lily couldn't speak. She opened her mouth, but when she tried to force out something, anything, she couldn't. There was something in her throat-blocking it. And she knew that even if she pushed, her voice would have come through high-pitched and wavery. Her eyes stung, her head felt bruised, but under it all there was a burning in her stomach-a passion. She had never felt quite like that before.
Lily hugged her mother, her words smothered by their clothes. "I love you Mum." Her voice was high-pitched, her voice wavered. "I love you..."
The sales assistant cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Terribly sorry Miss," he said softly, almost squirming under the pile of books. "I've got them all-did you want to talk in the queue?" He's embarrassed to have interrupted, offering them a small smile. "It's awfully long...the auror protection finishes tonight, so everyone wants to get their shopping done. They're here for the Hogwarts students." He added, seeing their confused looks.
"That's why it's so busy?" Lily asked, "And why all the shops are open?"
He nodded, handing over the books, before moving to help and old woman.
Lily turned, guiding her mother towards the checkout. "It's because of the war," she said, knowing her mother was still confused. "It hadn't really started in first year, and people were still hopeful in second, but we're losing Mum." She looked at her Mum, carefully meeting her eyes. "We can't last much longer-people keep disappearing...even from Diagon Alley."
Her mother nodded, wide eyed. She opened her mouth twice before saying, "I-. I'll queue. Go find your books Honey," she smiled, sadly, "I get the feeling you'll need them.
Lily chewed her lips before nodding and turning away.
Lily was standing, two books in her arms, and staring, torn, at a third when she heard her mother.
"Lily!"
She twisted, seeing her Mum's arms waving wildly at the front of the queue. The lady at the counter was already paying. Lily looked back at the book: an Advanced Guide to Transfiguration. It was a 6th year textbook, but for a class that she wasn't going to be allowed to take.
She could see her mother walking up to the counter, shooting her frustrated looks. Lily sighed. She was good at transfiguration. Maybe not as good as the Marauders (who had somehow mastered every spell before the class) but she would've gotten an O had the circumstances been different. The question was, would she be able to teach herself?
"LILY!"
She jumped. She could see irritation on the face of the shop keeper. She looked at the book, half reaching before pulling back and turning to the checkout. She took a step, glancing back at the book one last time. I wouldn't have the time, she thought, NEWT year is meant to be hell anyway.
"Here!" Lily was slightly out of breath when she reached the counter. The man serving them raised both eyebrows, a sneer on his face that reminded Lily of Sev. She blinked, shaking the thought from her head as she paid.
They left the shop, both laden with parcels. Lily, who was still 16, had not yet come of age in the wizarding world, and so wasn't allowed to magically lighten their load. Under-17 year olds, the Ministry of Magic believed, should only perform magic in life threatening situations.
"An hour and a half Lily! Where next?"
"Oh! Um, I don't...I need more parchment? And a quill. So I guess we should go to Spindledowns?" She looked around, frowning as she spotted the shop. It was covered in large, red posters, all reading: Closing Down Sale. If she squinted she could see: may reopen after the war written in small print. Lily's eyes widened at the cheek. To imply that the war would be over (and won by the Ministry) was tantamount to issuing a challenge. It was no wonder the shop was surrounded by aurors, easily recognisable by the white 'SECURITY' emblazoned across the back of their navy robes.
"Oh! Goodness!" Her mother looked shocked. " Are those? Are they the aurors the salesman was talking about?"
"Yeah. They must suspect..." Lily paused, looking around. She froze when she spotted Narcissa black. She had graduated from Hogwarts two years ago, and was dating Lucius Malfoy; presumably the smug looking man standing next to her. Both blondes were staring at Lily and her mother, identical (and ugly) smirks on their faces. "Er, Mum?" Lily didn't want her mother to worry, or to be stuck in the middle of a duel, with no means of protecting herself. "Why don't you fetch my potions ingredients?" She asked, pointing to the apothecary. "We don't have that much time, and you don't know what kind of stationary I need."
Her Mum looked surprised. "Oh. Oh, well, I suppose. But, Honey, I, I don't really know what you need for potions either...I'm sor-"
Lily cut her off. "Don't apologise! I'm the one who didn't say!" Lily hated it when her parents felt bad for being muggles. "Just ask for the 6th year potions ingredients. It's a standard set." She handed her the right money, knowing that the odd coins confused her. "And I'll meet you out the front of the apothecary. Ok?"
"Relax Lil...you're the child, remember?" Her Mum, Lily noticed, looked more amused than annoyed as she walked away.
Lily glanced around, looking for two white-blonde heads amongst the crowd, unsurprised to find them still looking at her. Let them follow her, she thought, scowling as she headed towards the shop. She was more than a match for Narcissa-everyone knew she was the least talented of the Black Sisters. And from what Lily had heard, Lucius was too easily distracted to be a good dueller.
"Sir?" Lily had collected her quills and ink, and had approached the counter. "Could I get 200 feet of parchment please?" It was amazing really, she thought as he rolled parchment with his wand, the sheer volume that she used. Bloody wizards! They could do magic, but exercise books and ball point pens were beyond them! She honestly found it bewildering.
"Is that the lot then Miss?"
Lilly nodded, unloading her other selections onto the counter.
"4 galleons and 3 sickles."
She paid him, absentmindedly adding a smile and a farewell as she left the store. She scuffed a rock out of the way as she walked to the apothecary, still contemplating her lack of exercise books. In her early Hogwarts years she'd been too busy trying to fit in to dare take something so obviously muggle to school. Really though, what could the Professors say? And, she thought triumphantly, it'd be a right slap in the face to Voldemort and his pureblood nonsense if it caught on.
She grinned, hurrying her pace towards where her mother would be waiting. Not that they'd needed to separate in the end, she acknowledged wryly as she glanced around the doorway. Seeing nothing but a scared looking rabbit and an oddly shaped parcel, she shrugged, entering the shop. Her smile disappeared as she scanned inside just as fruitlessly. She spun sharply, pulling her wand as she exited, stretching onto tiptoe to see into the crowd. Searching for a flash of red hair, she didn't notice anyone behind her until she felt their wand digging into her back. She froze, then kept searching, looking for one of the aurors.
"Well, well, well..." Lily felt her skin crawl at the man's voice. "Looks like I've caught myself a mudblood!" He sounded oddly delighted, not at all worried by the fact that the alley was swarming with law enforcement.
Lily's eyes locked with a thin man, dressed in a distinctive security robe. His eyes widened as they saw the man behind her, clearly realising that something wasn't right.
"If you want to see your muggle mother again you'll do what I tell you, alright darling?" His accent was snobbish. Even when threatening her, his voice sounded courteous. Lily bit her lip, she could see the unknown auror moving towards them, signalling to others, but she knew that if her attacker noticed, he would apparate, and her mother- She shook her head, her back stiffening.
"No? You don't want to see your Mum?" She could feel his wand relaxing slightly. "Tsk tsk...clearly Gryffindor bravery is-"
Lily spun, her silent protego forming a shield before he could react. He was wearing black robes, not entirely dissimilar to her Hogwarts ones, but he was also wearing a mask. Even as he laughed, Lily caught herself about to look around-Death Eaters attack in groups.
"You leave my Mum out of this!" Her wand was trained on the man, who still didn't show any fear. His laughter cut off abruptly as he pointed his wand at the rabbit she had noticed earlier.
"Oh, I don't think so..." His voice was soft, menacingly polite.
Lily was frozen, unable to process the fact that the rabbit, the RABBIT, was her mother.
"Now what will the mudblood do, hmm? Avada Ke-"
Two red beams of light came from the side, stunning the man into silence. The thin auror ran towards her, his friend began to cast precautionary spells on their captive. Lily, still numb, catalogued them automatically: ropes, silencing charm, an-. She looked up confused. There had only been two charms. The second auror was young, and vaguely familiar, perhaps he once went to Hogwarts.
"Anti-disapparation jinx." She said it loudly, trying to make sure he could hear it over the crowd's panicked sounds. He jumped, blushing as he cast the last spell.
The first auror, who had already begun to look for other death eaters, turned back to Lily in surprise. She was looking at the rabbit again, wand raised tentatively. Human-animal transfiguration was, she knew, NEWT level. She didn't know how to turn her mother back.
"My name's Crouch. Bartemius Crouch."
Lily ignored the auror's outstretched hand. "My mother," She pointed at the rabbit. It had moved considerably closer to her feet. "Please? I-, I don't know how..." She looked pleadingly at the two men. The young auror flicked his wand, immediately changing her mother back. Lily moved to support her Mum, continuing to ignore the speculative looks of Mr Crouch.
The younger auror smiled tentatively. "I think I remember you from Hogwarts...I don't suppose you can apparate?"
"A-, Apparate? No, I-. No."
"That's fine. Go to Flourish and Blots, they have a floo connection. Stay Alert!" And then he was gone, running forward to engage another death eater.
Lily grabbed her mother's hand, dragging her to the bookshop. She hadn't noticed when Crouch left, had barely even noticed the arrival of the other death eaters.
"Mum! Hurry up!" She could see Bellatrix Black-Lestrange now, her mind corrected automatically-standing in the doorway, shooing people away. Lily bit her lip. She didn't doubt that the floo was working, but she didn't know if she could take down the craziest (and cleverest) Black. She turned to her Mum, spinning back immediately as she heard a toddler scream. He'd been thrown backwards by a lazy flick of Bella's wand. Another boy, also a red-head, ran to his side. Lily could see his mouth moving, chanting some litany that she couldn't hear.
Lily's Mum twitched, almost convulsively, as Bella prepared to cast another spell, drawing Lily's attention back to the wand.
"Oi!" Lily didn't think it through. She needed to stop the murder of the two brothers with her hair. Bella turned, delight at another opponent lighting up her beautiful face. Lily couldn't think. Her wand was up, but instead of spells all that came out was a whisper, "Stupid, stupid, stu-"
"Lily!" Her mother woke her up.
"Go! Mum, grab the boys, take them to the shop! I'll, I'll distract...GO!"
Lily faced Bella, who had watched the scene with visible amusement. Her heavily lidded eyes danced as she raised her wand. "Ready?"
Lily set her jaw. "Stupef-" She didn't even finish her spell before it had been blocked.
"Goodness," Bella shook her head in mock disappointment. "Can't you do silent spells yet? Sectumsempra!" She slashed Lily's cheek, the blood spattering onto her robes. Lily's Mum, crouched over the boys by then, jumped to her feet. She didn't need to.
Lily slowly raised one hand to her bloody cheek. She knew that spell. She had seen it once, working with Sev in the library. He had been reading ahead in potions, and it had been scrawled in the margin of his book. This was what had taken her friend.
Lily's wand slashed, sparking and silent. Bella dodged, retaliating. Spells flashed, burnt. "The pain was a mistake Bella!" Lily was taunting her on purpose. There was always a calm voice in her mind when she duelled, one that sounded like Sev. She needed to make her lose control.
"You should have taken the opportunity to finish me!" Lily dodged an Avada, blocking another curse. "Stupefy, tantellegra, reducto" Lily sent a barrage of spells, all verbal, concentrating on moving Bella out of the doorway.
Bella moved, laughing towards Lily. "Is that all you've-"
Lily's silent stunner hit her in the chest.
Blacks were all the same, Lily thought grinning; all you have to do is distract them.