Ashlynn and Lily sat in the yard of the Potter's house the twentieth of October. It was a chilly Friday afternoon as they watch the older Aludra try to show the young Harry to play with the teddy. The two were discussing Halloween that was a week and a day away. "You and the boys should come to Hogwarts." Ashlynn suggested as she nudged Lily's shoulder. "We can have a nice little party just us."
Lily nodded her head slowly. "That will be nice. James needs some time out again, even if it's just at Hogwarts. He hates being cooped up in this house so much. He spent his childhood here and misses Godric's Hallow."
Ashlynn nodded with a smile. "I understand Sirius keeps calling Hogwarts Prison. He wants to live on our own, but we can't risk being found again." She said with a sigh. "I don't mind it so much; Dumbledore's been good to us by giving me a job and an apartment."
Lily nodded and laughed. "Yes, yes. It's hard though the boys aren't used to sitting at home, where we had to get used to it when we were pregnant." She winked at Ashlynn who grinned back at her.
She sighed as she looked down at her watch. "I have to get going Lil." Ashlynn said with a sigh. "I have an appointment at Saint Mungo's."
Lily looked up at her friend with fear in her eyes. "Is something wrong?" She asked.
Ashlynn shook her head and smiled. "I'll tell you when I know for sure but don't worry Lil it's nothing bad." She kissed Lily's cheek and made her way to her daughter.
James and Lily sat at the kitchen table enjoying a small dinner. Harry happily played with his bowl of plain noodles as his parents talked bout different things going on in their lives. It had been a quiet couple of days but the news of Dorcas Meadows had shaken the Potter's. There had been more and more talk about them going into deeper hiding then they were now.
"Dumbledore once again mentioned the Fidelius Charm." James said after swallowing a rather large bite of his meal. "He's really serious about it Lil, we should think more about it."
Lily sighed and rolled her eyes. "The Blacks are just as wanted as we are but they aren't going under the Fidelius." She said softly. It wasn't that she wanted to risk her family's life but it seemed a bit unfair that they would be forced into a prison while the Blacks still got to roam around freely.
James nodded slowly. "I know love, but they stay at Hogwarts. Dumbledore can't just give us jobs at the school like he gave Ashlynn one. She has the talent for teaching we don't." He said as there was suddenly a ring of fire around the house.
"Come out come out where ever you are wee little Potters." A female voice cried from the living room. James stared up in fear as Lily jumped up and mouthed the word. "Lestrange."
James nodded wand quickly in hand he whispered. "Go to Hogsmeade and take Harry."
Lily shook her head. "Not without you." She said tears in her eyes as she picked up Harry and clutched him close to her chest.
"I need to fight them off." James protested.
"No James leave the house, please come with me. I can't leave without you darling." She pleaded tears sliding down her face. "Please."
James sighed and raced to her side, hooked her arm through his and turned on his heel.
Ashlynn and Sirius were walking through the secret passageway of Hogwarts to Honeydukes. They had decided long ago if they could not go out during the day they would sneak around through the passageways. They held hands as they talked and giggled almost as if they were students out of bed after hours. They were almost through when they heard someone coming. "Nox." Ashlynn said and her wand went out.
"Who's there?" Lily's voice cried out and suddenly all four voices cried out. "Lumos."
"What are you two doing down here?" James cried holding his chest.
"Ashlynn kept talking about licorice wands, and peppermint toad creams so we deiced to sneak into Honeydukes and get a couple of boxes." Sirius said with a smile. "What are you doing here?" He asked after a few minutes pause.
"They found us. We just barely got out of their before they found us." James said softly.
Ashlynn sighed as she turned around. "Guess our Honeydukes heist is out. Stupid Death Eaters ruin everything." She cried causing everyone to laugh. She smiled glad that she could lighten the mood. "Come on Dumbledore was still awake when we left, he might not be too happy that we didn't get his acid pops but he shall deal."
Ashlynn grabbed a hold of Harry and began talking to him as they made their way through Hogwarts. Once they got to Dumbledore's office she said. "Fiddle sticks." And the gargoyle moved to expose the passageway. They ascended the steps in silence. Ashlynn knocked on the door.
"Come in." Dumbledore called he was busy with some papers on the desk. "Were you caught trying to snag a box of Acid pops?" He asked without looking up.
"Uh sir." Ashlynn began. "The Potters are with me."
"Indeed." Dumbledore said as he looked up at them. "What brings you here this night?"
"We have come to tell you we were attacked by the Lestranges." James said in a rush of words.
"Indeed." He said again and then was quiet for a moment. "I've had time to think about this and I insist that it's time for the Fidelius Charm. The dark lord has marked you as the next to go. I fear for your lives James."
Ashlynn gasped as Sirius touched her shoulder. Lily and James looked at each grimly. "Why has he marked us?" Lily asked.
Dumbledore thought for a moment and said. "I believe it has to do that prophecy you know about. He believes Harry will be the one to defeat him." He said it as if it were normal.
"Why us? The Longbottoms' son was born around the same time. I don't understand it." James cried unhappily.
"Nor do I but please protect yourselves and you son with the Fidelius. I will be your secret keeper." He said with a small smile.
"No." James said with a shake of head.
"James!" Lily cried. "We have to do this."
"I wasn't saying no to the Fidelius Charm Lil." He said with a roll of eyes. "I want Sirius to be our secret keeper. I mean Sirius has spoken a lot of leaving for France and I know they are planning it. So yes I want him to be our secret keeper. That is if he will do it?" As James asked he turned to look at his best friend.
Sirius grinned and nodded. "I'm honored my friend, of course I'll be your secret keeper." He said as he slapped James on his back.
Dumbledore stood and made his way towards the group. "I'd like you reconsider James. I fear that you underestimate the dark lord. I want to be your secret keeper." He insisted.
James shook his head. "Sirius would rather die then betray me!" He cried. "I won't do the Fidelius unless he's our secret keeper."
Dumbledore nodded and closed his eyes. "Very well, Sirius if you will stay here we shall begin preparing the location for the charm. The rest of you I suggest you go and get some rest in the Black's apartments."
Three nights passed before the preparations were done. The night before the Potter's were to leave Ashlynn and Lily sat playing wizard's chess to keep their minds off the danger both families were in, while James and Sirius were finishing the plans.
"So." Ashlynn said with a sigh. "I won't be able to just pop in like I'm used to. So I might as well tell you now before all we have are letters."
"Tell me what?" Lily asked absentmindedly as she stared at the board plotting her next move.
"Well remember that appointment I had to go to the other day?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah so?" Lily asked still staring at the board.
"Lily, I'm pregnant." Ashlynn blurted out.
"You're what!" Lily cried as she pushed the board out of the way. "I thought you didn't want to have any more till You-Know-Who is gone!"
"Well it was an accident!" Ashlynn cried. "But shh I haven't told Sirius yet. I was going to tell him the other night on our trip to Honeydukes but you guys kind of interrupted that!"
Lily smiled and leaned over and hugged her friend. "Oh that's so wonderful! I'm so happy for you though. I know it's not how you wanted it but take it like the gift it is Ashlynn." She said through her veil of tears.
Ashlynn laughed and hugged her back. "I am Lily. I really am." She smiled as they pulled away. "I figured good news would cheer you up a bit before going into hiding."
Lily smiled and wiped her tears away. "Oh it did dear! It really did!" She said as she laughed. "Have you told Alice yet?"
"Not yet, I was trying to tell Sirius first but he's been so busy the last couple of days, I haven't had the chance." She said with a frown. "But now I'm going to wait till we are safely in France."
"When do you guys leave?" Lily asked as she rubbed her neck.
"November eighth. We figured it'll give you guys enough time to choose your list of approved of people and give us enough time to get out of here safely." Ashlynn said with a smile.
"I'm going to miss you." Lily began to cry again. This time Ashlynn began to also cry.
"Oh me too Lil." She said as they embraced. "But we have to keep our heads up. We will see each other again very soon, I promise."
"I know I just wish we could escape with you too France. I want crepes every morning for breakfast." Lily cried as she wiped her tears away.
Ashlynn laughed and grabbed her hand. "Come on I'll teach you how magic some up."
James and Sirius stood in the house in Godric's Hallow. They had stocked it for a year but they hoped it wouldn't take that long to finally defeat the Dark Lord. Their cat, Bonkers wound around James' feet and he smiled at it. "This is going to be hard." He mumbled as he rubbed his unshaven cheek.
"It's not that bad!" Sirius cried with a frown.
"Oh no says the guy who gets a whole estate to roam around." James said with a laugh. Sirius flashed his trademark grin but soon enough the two men were once again in silence.
"I was thinking…" Sirius began.
"About what?" James asked as he crossed his arms and looked at Sirius.
"I think I'm the too obvious choice to be secret keeper. They are going to know you chose me James." He said softly.
"So? You would rather die then betray me right?" He asked with a reckless grin.
Sirius sighed and rubbed his neck. "James, what if they threaten Aludra or Ashlynn? I couldn't let anything happened to them." He looked at his best friend with a frown.
"So what's the plan then?" James asked.
"Peter." Sirius said with a grin. "He's going into hiding too and no one will think you chose him."
James laughed and grinned. "Tricky a decoy Secret keeper, Sirius my dear sir you are very devious."
Sirius laughed and nodded as he slapped his shoulder. "I'm glad you approve as I already sent for Peter but when we go back to collect Lily and Harry don't mention this to Ashlynn. I think we should keep this between just us three." He said with a hopeful grin.
"The less people who know the less likely it'll be leaked." James agreed with a smile. "Alright let's get going."
James and Sirius walked into the Black's apartments to the shrieks of laughter coming from the kitchen where Ashlynn and Lily were covered in flour. "What is going on here?" Sirius asked as the two women stopped for a moment and looked at their husbands before bursting out laughing again.
After a few moments they collected themselves enough for Ashlynn to see. "The flour goes poof!" She then demonstrated which she meant when she grabbed the bag squeezed it. "I was teaching Lily to cook crepes and she wanted to see how the muggles would do it. We can't figure out how they get the flour to not go poof."
James and Sirius smiled at the girls. "Well we are sorry to cut this short but it's time Lil." James said with a frown.
Ashlynn pouted while Lily cried. "No."
"We have to love." James said.
"But I don't want to go without Ashlynn." Lily said as she hugged the girl closely.
James smiled sadly as the two girls turned towards each other and share a long meaningful hug. "It's going to be okay right Ashlynn?" Lily whispered as she looked into the grey orbs.
Ashlynn forced a smile and nodded. "Don't worry I'll pop in before we leave for France." She promised.
"You better." Lily said as she let go and Ashlynn turned to James with her arms opened.
They hugged and Ashlynn kissed his cheek. "We've had our rough times, but I'm going to miss my partner on missions. Take care of Lil, Harry, and yourself for us please."
"Will do I promise." James said as he kissed her cheek and moved away so Ashlynn could take the squirming Harry from Lily's arms.
Ashlynn smiled and hugged the boy closely before giving him back and hugging Lily once again. "Take care of yourself." She said again.
"I will." Lily answered. "I love you, sister." She began to cry as Ashlynn did too. "You really are closer to me then a sister you know this right?"
Ashlynn nodded trying to blink the tears away. "I know. You are the same to me."
"Good." She said and then turned on her heel and left before they words goodbye left either of their mouths'. She felt like it was bad luck to say it and didn't want to say it. When the door closed with a click Ashlynn fell to the couch crying. She knew it wasn't the last time she would see the Potter's but why did it feel so final?