Chapter 3: Tied Together With a Smile
Hold on, baby, you're losing it
The water's high, you're jumping into it
And letting go... and no one knows
That you cry, but you don't tell anyone
That you might not be the golden one
And you're tied together with a smile
But you're coming undone
Breakfast went by quietly with no one knowing what to say. The plans had already been made for the day; Lily, Joni, and James would travel into London to buy some new clothing for Lily. Lily tried to refuse the money Mrs. Potter kept putting into her hands but in the end Lily's purse had been filled with galleon coins. Mrs. Potter had also forced Lily to alter her appearance so that people on the streets wouldn't notice her or bug her. Now Lily had dark brown hair and crystal blue eyes. Her skin was no longer creamy but now had an olive tone to it.
The streets were crowded just like any other day in London, which helped the three to blend in easier. By four the three had a few bags filled with shirts, jeans, skirts and even a dress. They stopped at a café to get some food before heading back home. When they arrived home they were surprised to see Albus Dumbledore, Alastor Moody, Professor McGonagall, and a strange man both Lily and Joni had never seen before, sitting around the kitchen table.
"Lily," Dumbledore said, standing up, "I am glad to see you, Mr. and Miss Potter have arrive safely back at the house. Ah, I also see that you were able to replace your wardrobe."
"Yes, sir…" Lily responded, looking at the group of adults surrounding the table.
"Miss Evans, I need to speak with you privately." He said, looking at Joni, dismissing her with his eyes. Joni noticed this and turned to leave with James following her. "James, you may stay. This involves you. Please have a seat." With a wave of his wand two more chairs appeared around the small table. "Miss Evans, I am very sorry to hear about your parents. It saddens me to say that I am sure this is an event that you will not forget." Lily nodded her head in agreement. " The reason we are here, Miss Evans, is that we have reason to believe this will not be the last attack against you. We have been in discussion for the past day deciding what is to be done with you. We have come to the decision that it would be best for you to simply disappear."
"What? What do you mean disappear?" Lily questioned, her voice thick with the tears that had yet to fall.
"We have arranged for you to go to the States. You will be transferring to the Winston School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Salem, Massachusetts. You will be leaving in a week and Mr. Potter will accompany you there. You will be taking on the guise of Penny Claire Harrison. James, I wish for you to stay and keep an eye on Lily. You will be taking the role of the Transfiguration teacher at Winston. You shall also be disguised. Your name will be Liam Merrick Riley. We have the papers here for you. Now I would like to introduce you both to Mr. Thatchery Beckett the Headmaster at Winston." The man sitting next to Moody stood up, taking in the sight of the two young people. His gaze was kind and gentle but at the same time it was hard.
"Lily, James, it is nice to meet you both. I will warn you both now that Winston is very different than Hogwarts. It is very much an American school. For starters, Lily, there is no need for you to by any school robes. The students don't wear uniforms. Lily, here is your school supply list. You can either pick your things up here or once you are in the States. James," Professor Beckett said, turning his attention to the messy haired boy, "Minerva has told me a great deal about you and your talents in transfiguration. I look forward to seeing more from you." He finished by looking at his watch. "Dumbledore, I must go. It was nice seeing you, I am sure we will be in contact soon. Minerva, Moody, James, Lily." He said before disapperating.
"I guess that means it's my turn." Moody said in a raspy voice. "I have paper with information about your new identities in these envelopes. Lily, it is important that you do not contact you sister. We cannot risk the Death Eaters using her to get to you. James, you too must not contact your family, we cannot risk them finding you too. I have also arranged for a portkey to take you to Winston. It leaves next Friday at noon from Hogwarts. We need you to get there an hour early to go over a few last minute details and to transfigure your looks."
"Do either of you have any questions?" Dumbledore asked.
"No sir." They both mumbled, looking down at the floor.
"Good, We will see you both next Friday. Good day." He said before standing before the three of them disapperated.
The two sat at the kitchen table for an immeasurable amount of time. Lily couldn't believe all of this was happening. First she lost her family and her home. Now she was losing her friends and her school. She was going to leave everything that she had ever known and ever loved in just a few days time. The worst part was that she couldn't tell anyone that she was leaving. She had to disappear… They had to disappear. How could she have forgotten so soon that James would be leaving more than her? He still had his family. He had a job he loved. He had his friends. He would be leaving them all. He had been dragged into something that would rip him away from everything to protect a silly muggle born witch who couldn't even protect her family.
"James…" Lily whispered, not daring to look at him. "I am sorry that you are having to do this… If there is anyway I can make this…less painful…"
"I am an auror. It is my job to protect those that I can from the Voldemort. I knew when I signed up for this job that there was the possibility that I would be relocated… I just never thought it would be this drastic…" He said the last part barely above a whisper. "Lily, we will make it through this. We need to learn to trust each other… We need to start packing. We only have a few days left… Once you are done packing let me know. If you write down what you need I will pick it up while I am in London tomorrow." With that said he stood to leave the room.
"Thanks, James…" Lily said. Lily knew what she needed to do now. It was time to find Joni and explain that she was leaving. She knew she was being disobedient, but she had to. She knew this was going to be hard on her raven-haired best friend, but it was better than just disappearing in the middle of the night. She couldn't do that to Joni. As Lily walked out of the kitchen she looked around the house that she had spent many weeks at during the summer holidays. Was this really the last time she would see this house? She sighed before continuing up the stairs to Joni's room.
When she reached the oak door she sighed before knocking.
"Lily?" Came Joni's voice from inside the room.
"Yeah, its me…"
"Come on in."
Lily entered the room and quietly closed the door behind her. Jonas was sitting at her desk, finishing some of her summer work. Lily walked to the bed and sat down.
"So what was Dumbledore doing here? What did he want to tell you? Did they find the Death Eaters? Lily, why aren't you saying anything? What's wrong?" Joni said moving across the room to sit next to her best friend.
"I have something to tell you… that I am not allowed to tell anyone. I need your word that you will not tell anyone. Not Memra, or Alice, or even your mother. It is detrimental for my safety that no one else knows." Lily said, looking Joni straight in the eyes.
"I… I promise Lily. I shall never tell a soul." Joni promised.
"Alright, Joni… I am not going back to Hogwarts… In fact this Friday I am disappearing. Dumbledore thinks it is safer for me to leave the country."
"What? Lily, you can't leave! This is our last year at school. We had plans to make this the best year ever. What are we going to do without you?" Joni cried.
"That's not the worst part. Your brother is coming with me. Joni, I am sorry…"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The few days flew by quickly. Soon enough it was Friday morning and Lily and James were in Dumbledore's office. Lily's few things were packed in the duffle bag that lay at her feet. She stood looking at the portraits of the previous headmasters while the adults in the room were huddled at Dumbledore's desk, talking in whispers. Lily didn't bother to eves drop. She knew what ever it was they were talking about she didn't want to know.
Soon the group separated and Lily was asked to join them. Lily stood next to James as Dumbledore and McGonagall worked out a few of the finer details as to the transfiguration that was about to take place. Having decided what the two were going to look like, McGonagall asked Lily and Dumbledore to step back so that she could change James into Liam. Lily watched in amazement as James's nearly black hair lightened to a lovely shade of red with copper tones to it. She watched as the bridge of his nose shrank and his eyes turn from their lovely natural hazel to a shocking shade of blue. James's once tanned skin turned a pale that matched Lily's. His lips were made more full, and with one final look at him McGonagall nodded her head.
"Yes, that will do. I believe Potter, that when you look at yourself, it will be hard to believe that you were ever once James Potter. I am rather proud. Lily, your turn now." She said, dismissing James.
Lily took a deep breath in before switching places with the new Liam. Lily felt the changes to her appearance happening to her as she stood in front of her teacher. She felt the tingling sensation as her nose and eyes changed. She felt the weight of her hair, which was now a full foot longer than her actual hair. She watched as her fiery red hair darkened to a beautiful shade of brown.
"Yes, that is it." McGonagall said as Lily began to play with the ends of her hair.
"Lily, there is a mirror in that cupboard, you may go and get familiar with the new you." Dumbledore said politely.
As Lily walked to the cupboard, butterflies began to swarm in her stomach. When she saw the girl who she was going to be for the next few years her breath caught in her throat. Tears sprung to her new grey-blue eyes. The reality of what was about to happen had finally hit her as she looked at Penny's reflection in the mirror. She missed her almond-shaped green eyes. And her hair! Her once straight and short red locks now hung in long brown spirals. Her nose was now thinner and turned up at the tip. She noticed the tiny brown spots running across it. She had never had freckles before and she wasn't too sure that she liked them. Her once pale skin was now an olive tanned color. It was hard for her to believe it was truly her reflection she was looking at.
"Lily, we need you back over here now." James whispered from next to her.
"Oh, yes. Right." She replied before walking over to her professors.
"Unfortunately, Moody will not be able to make it. He was called away early this morning. Now, Liam and Penny, I have something for you two that you must pay close attention to. This here is a potion that I have had professor Slughorn make just for you two." Dumbledore said, holding up a clear purple tinged bottle with a cork in the top. "This potion allows for the drinker to maintain whatever transfiguration spell has been placed upon them, for a week. You must both take a teaspoon of this now and every Friday to come less you risk exposing your true self. This here should be enough to last the both of you for the next four months. I must stress that you take this regularly, but if you should miss and begin to transform back to your normal self, I have had Minerva write down the spells so you can have the other transfigure you back." He handed the potion to James and then picked up two large envelopes. "In these you will find all the papers you may need. It includes Birth certificates, passports, identification, transcripts, and even enchanted pictures of your new families and friends. Now when you arrive in Massachusetts you must check in with Head Master Beckett. He will show you to your individual quarters and give you a brief tour of the school and all the classrooms you will need to know."
"Now I am afraid the moment has come. James," Dumbledore turned to him, "The task you are about to face is not for the faint at heart. I know that you will succeed. Keep an open mind and heart. You will be in charge, but we know you will be brilliant. And Lily, you have seen so much pain over the past few days. I know you will find healing in America. Be open and willing to let people into your life. You must respect James; I trust him to be able to make wise decisions concerning your safety. Now I must say I will miss you both. You have everything? Right then. Here take hold of this here trainer. All right then. James, Lily, I wish the best of luck to the both of you. Good bye." And as Dumbledore finished the portkey lit up and began to vibrate under their fingers. Lily felt the uncomfortable feeling of her navel being pulled and before she knew it James and herself were spiraling through the air on their way to Winston.
AN: Thanks for being so patient with me! This chapter is longer than the last one and hopefully the next one will be longer! What you can expect in the next chapter is Lily making some new friends! oh also I have been working hard on a website for this story so you can see how I imagine the gang looking! It looks real good and once I have the next chapter up I will release the site. anyway please review! It always makes it a bit easier to write when you know people are out there reading your story. Thanks!