A/N: Ok, well. I'm not getting any reviews and it makes me kinda sad…I'm not even really sure that anyone's reading this.

I think that if I don't get any for this chapter, I'll stop and write my own fic (i.e. not fanfic). Sorry, I know people read without reviewing (God knows I do it!) but the point of writing this instead of original stuff is that people can tell me how to improve. So please, please, please review! Flame me! I won't mind!!!!

Anyway! I reread the last chapter, and I thought what the hell? As if 5th years can beat adults. But the kids in the real books do it, and win. And my theory is that Bella isn't as good yet…or as crazy before Azkaban.

So! I hope it's not too unrealistic, and sorry that this chapter is short! For some reason it didn't want to be long.

Rach

4. Shocked Insanity

Lily entered Flourish and Blots, half expecting her mother to have already gone home. Instead, she found her peering anxiously out a window, holding back the elder of the two boys. The younger one was still unconscious.

"What's going on? We need to get out of here!"

Her Mum shrugged. "Bill here," She pointed to the older boy, "says that he has to wait for his Mum. I wasn't going to leave them."

Lily stared. "The other one? Is he…?"

"Charlie." Bill piped up. "His name's Charlie. Mummy will fix him, but she's still out there somewhere."

Lily looked at him, shocked. He couldn't have been more than 5, and yet the only sign of his fear was the way he said 'Mummy'. "Does your Mummy know that you're in here?" She watched him as she knelt by Charlie. He had a pulse, and was breathing, so she decided to wait. They had covered healing charms briefly last year, but she hadn't studies diagnostic ones. "Bill!" Lily had noticed his attention was back out the window. "Does your Mummy know that you're here?"

"No." It was soft, only a whisper.

He looked so sad, so lost, that Lily automatically softened her tone. "What did she say to you, Honey?" Lily added her Mother's pet name on the end unconsciously.

Bill started crying; great, wailing sobs, like only children can. "Sh-, She, She said, 'Take care of Charlie, go home'."

"OK," Lily moved over and hugged Bill. Her Mother was still watching the battle. "It's ok honey. We-"

"No!" Bill wiped his nose on his sleeve. "The man taking us to the fireplace got hit by a spell. And Charlie-" Bill started crying again.

"Sh...Sh." Lily rubbed soothing circles on his back. "We'll get you home. Tell me where you live..."

He sniffed. "I'm not meant to tell strangers." His lip wobbled, scared. "But you're pretty. My Nuncle Gid says it's ok to tell pretty girls..." His face was a picture of confusion.

Lily laughed. She couldn't help it.

Bill brightened considerably. "And my Mum always laughs. I live," He leant forward to whisper in her ear, "I live in The Burrow."

Lily looked at him for a moment, then nodded sharply. "Are we still clear Mum?" At her Mother's nod, she stood, still holding Bill's hand. "Alright. Bill, I want Charlie to go first, with my Mum, ok? And then I'll go with you."

Bill nodded slowly, watching warily as Lily's Mum scooped Charlie up into her arms.

Lily quickly shrunk their parcels, sticking them into her pocket. "OK!" She grabbed a handful of floo powder from the box on the mantle. "Mum, when I chuck this into the fire, you have to stand in it, and say 'The Burrow'"

"The Burrow?"

"Yes! Say it clearly, ok?" Lily, worried that her Mother would be lost at an unknown grate, opened her mouth again.

"I've got it Lily. 'The Burrow', clearly!"

Lily blushed, nodding as she tossed the powder onto the flames.

Her Mum clenched her jaw before stepping firmly into the emerald flames. "The Burrow!" She disappeared.

Lily squeezed Bill's hand tightly, glancing around the wrecked shop one last time. "Rea-" Her eyes caught on the knocked over transfiguration display. She looked at Bill, and the fire, but all she could see was a rabbit; a rabbit that she couldn't fix.

Her eyes flicked outside, widening as she saw a death eater bending over Bella. She looked at Bill, seeing his confusion. "Alright, hang on a sec." She moved quickly to the mess, stepping around piles of books. She picked the 6th year transfiguration text up off the floor and turned.

Bella was standing slowly outside, and pointing towards the shop.

Lily jumped over the books on the floor, thrusting her book at Bill, barely giving him a chance to grab it. Her other hand scrabbled for the floo powder, scooping it out, and tossing it into the fire in the same motion. She grabbed Bill, hoisting him onto her hip, and stepping into the flames as the door opened.

Lily froze, staring at the death eater as he raised his wand. She was about to die; she was about to die for a book!

"The Burrow!"

And then she was spinning, faster and faster and faster, Bill's childish voice echoing above the roar of the fire.

Lily fell out of the fireplace, onto a grotty looking rug. She felt like she was going to throw up.

Bill, who had landed beside her, dropped her book on her head. "Wow!" He seemed to have perked up upon arriving home. "I think it makes you feel more sick when there are two of you!"

Lily pushed herself up with a groan, stopping short when she saw a red-headed man pointing a wand at her face. "Oh for fuck's sake!" She exclaimed, flopping back onto the carpet. "Would you people stop pointing sticks at me!"

The man stared at her as though she'd gone mad. A second, identical man, began to laugh.

She peered up from the floor. "Seriously. I've had a long day. You're not death eaters are you? Coz I've already- Bill!"

Lily stumbled to her feet, looking for her wand as Bill threw himself into the man's arms.

"No!" He cried joyfully, "This is Nuncle Fabian!"

Lily hesitated, her fingers momentarily pausing in their frantic search. The man had dropped his wand in order to catch Bill. " Nuncle Fabian?" She asked smiling, then, suddenly remembering, "Where's Charlie? And my Mum?" Her fingers resumed their scramble, brushing the end of a wand. Before she could pick it up she was shoved up against a wall, her head knocking back against it. Her cheek began bleeding again.

The second man, who Lily guessed was 'Nuncle Gid', had moved without her noticing. He had one hand holding her neck to the wall, the other holding his wand to her neck. "Who are you?" He growled.

Lily felt a frission of fear as she looked into his eyes. "L-, Li-"

"Well?" Gideon shook her slightly, his face close to her own.

"Lily Evans." She squeaked finally.

Bill was frowning. "Did you fix Charlie?"

"Sh." Fabian hushed hi nephew, turning to his twin. "How did she know how to come here? She must be-"

"Oh!" Bill was talking again. "I tol-"

"Quiet!" Gideon snapped. His wand jabbed harder into her neck. "How did you know the floo address? What have you done with Molly?"

Lily opened her mouth, trying to explain, but her vision was going dark. She blinked, trying to clear it.

"Nuncle Gid!"

"Bill! Shut up! She's a death-"

"But I told her! Nuncle Gid?" His voice shrank as both men turned their glares on him.

"You told her! How many times has your mother said? You don't talk to strangers!" Fabian was yelling now, releasing some of his fear.

Lily felt Gideon release his hold on her; she slumped back, sliding slowly down the wall. The black spots were dancing in front of her, pulling her into dizziness. The last thing she heard was Bill trying earnestly to defend himself.

"But she's pretty! Nuncle Gid, you always..."

Lily awoke, shrieking, to the looming face of one of the twins. "Wha-"

"Hush love. Apparently you're too pretty to be a death eater! So we're looking after you. I'm Fabian, Fabian Prewett."

Lily, still leaning back, away from Fabian, smiled. "I'm Lily. Sorry, but is Charlie alright? And my Mum?" She began to sit up.

"Your Mum is fine; in the other room making tea, I believe. Charlie's gone to St Mungo's. The healers say he'll be fine, and Bill and Gid are there with him; Molly too."

"Oh."

Fabian had moved away as Lily sat up, but now he approached again. "What happened to your face? Your Mum said you were fighting someone?"

"Bella."

"Be-? Oh! Bella Black? Blimey. I was keen on her sister at Hogwarts."

"You liked Cissy?" Lily was astonished; the man in front of her looked in his mid-twenties.

"Nah!" He laughed, half horrified. "I liked Andy. She was far more, well, normal! Married now though, and I've heard she's got a kid. Anyway," He winked at her, "I've moved on!"

Lily laughed, raising a hand to feel her cheek. She was surprised to find it bandaged. "Can't you heal it?"

"No. That's serious dark magic you got hit with! Don't suppose you remember the spell?" Fabian asked absently. It was clear, Lily thought, that he was asking automatically, not because he thought she might have remembered it.

"Sectumsempra." Lily raised an eyebrow, daring him to admit he'd misjudged her.

"Oh, I, uh, I thought...Well, sorry. I still don't know how to heal it."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, until Lily's Mum bustled in with a tray.

"Oh! You're awake darling! Tea?"

Lily shook her head mutely, blinking as a wave of tiredness hit her. "What time is it?"

"Hmm? Oh, around 9 I think. You slept all night."

Lily stared at her Mum. "All night?" Her voice cracked. "Mum! The train...it goes at 11!" Lily staggered up. "My things!"

Fabian pushed her back down. "Relax!" He pointed to a trunk in the middle of the room. "Gid took your Mum back to your place."

Lily blinked up at the two of them. "But Dad? And Tuney? I didn't-"

"They're meeting us at the station love. I didn't know what you wanted, so if you owl us, we can send other things, and-"

"Exercise books?" Lily, having opened the trunk, was incredulous. She looked up at her blushing Mother.

"Oh, I know you use parchment darling, but you didn't have any at home, and...well, I can get more at Diagon Alley when I get your books-"

"Mum! First, you are not going to Diagon Alley without me. Ever!" Her mother opened her mouth to argue, but Lily kept talking. "Second, I don't need more books." She pulled the miniature packages from her pocket. "I don't know what happened to my wand...but all my stuff is here. And third," By this time, Fabian was looking between the two of them, bewildered. "I wanted exercise books Mum. I laughed because you read my mind."

Her Mother nodded once, smiling. "I'll get your wand."

Fabian was watching her carefully. "You should change your clothes. It's a long drive to London, but you can sleep in the taxi." He stood, making his way to the door.

"Fabian? Thank you. And I'm sorry about Charlie..."

Fabian stopped at the doorway, shaking his head. "I heard the full story from your Mum. You saved both the boys." He smiled. "You're something special Lily Evans."