ARC I

- 02 -

DEFENSELESS

"That is the point Mr. Stark – Tony," Lily sighed wearily. They had been going at it for the past hour and a half. She explained what happened in the car, the botched mission, the civil war and why it was imperative things were kept secret. Tony kept a steady flow of questions going as if he was piecing together the puzzle she presented him. "Everything that has happened to you and Happy, all of it was because we are protecting our world. This conversation should not be happening even now! I have had far too many witnesses see me break all the rules. In fact I'm still breaking the law!"

"Fuck the rules, I can keep secrets." Tony replied. "You're in guerilla warfare against men who could kill you just because you literally say their name. What's the point in all this? A bright girl like you should be doing something else; going to university – expanding your mind – not fighting against bad rip-offs of the Phantom of the Opera!"

Lily snorted. "It's easy for you to say so and already I've revealed far too much to you that I should not have in terms you could understand. My world is not like yours."

"Even though we share the same planet?" Tony retorted.

"Even so."

"That doesn't make sense! None of this does!"

"You'll find in my world, sense is not common at all." Lily intoned.

"I'm starting to believe you." Tony sighed looking at the half drunk glass of what Lily called Firewhisky she had given him. She had something else she said she liked better called Brimstone; it was earthy tasting rum she said. The pair of them was sat in her dining room, glasses in hand.

They had gotten into the door after Lily made certain everything was in order and they would be undisturbed. On a piece of tacked parchment on the post they tended to share messages upon; she noted Alice had gone to see her fiancé for the night and wouldn't be back until morning. Happy was still disgruntled and even had a headache as an effect of the seemingly strong stunner he had received. She had given him her only muggle pain meds which he promptly took and fell asleep upon the lounge.

In the silence that followed their conversation the each took a sip of their drinks. Tony nearly gagged at the feeling his produced. Heat went up through his face and it felt as if he was expelling fire as he let out a huff of discomfort.

Lily just smiled behind her glass. "Too much?"

"Not at all." He managed to gasp as he downed another sip. The feeling returned but pride wouldn't let him say anything different.

"The point is Tony; as nice as this has been." Lily looked into his eyes as he settled from his drink. The electricity was still there. "We can't continue this; I can't give you the answers you would like because it would mean endangering so many people who want to stay hidden. We're already in the middle of a civil war, I cannot in good conscious keep taking chances like this. Please understand."

"I do," Tony replied. "It doesn't mean I like it. You'll be tampering with my mind again and Happy's. That does not help me or mine. Already someone is going to be looking for me and if my mind is altered to forget everything that has happened…"

"I know."

They stared at each other again, no longer denying the attraction they had for each other. Tony had never met anyone so alive, so much like a spitfire like Lily. She was like a breath of fresh air in his world of toys and monotony. She was innocence in light of his job as a war monger.

"Wouldn't tampering with my mind leave me defenseless?"

Lily pursed her lips. "Possibly but it shouldn't. The tampering Alice did to you was imperfect; on Happy she did a wonderful job. She told me she had you and Happy knocked out for about fifteen minutes so she could work on me. Then again; if someone has a strong enough will; they can break through the locks any mind alteration my people does. It will mean for a horrible headache but as long as nothing reactivates the memory; you would go about your business as usual."

She left out the rare cases when an Obliviation could become permanent in her explanation. She also left out that she was going to just get rid of every memory he had of her that could only be undone by her. Unless she died and then over time the spell would wear out. She estimated about ten years depending on the extenuating circumstances. Magic was not always predictable or measurable. She was only beginning to work her way to applying muggle scientific researching standards to her own powers. It was only thanks to her father's suggestion before he died that she at least continued her muggle studies even if magic was brilliant. She had been able to get by on mail order study correspondence and taking some days from Hogwarts with permissions to finish her High School Education.

Currently she was working through her muggle studies in a university in London. She planned on working in the muggle field of Archaeology to couple it with her ambition for curse breaking. Something she was already in training for with Bloodclaw the Goblin; the only one willing to secretly take on a muggleborn witch. Usually the goblins dealt with the pureblood families. However, the she-Goblin had taken an interest in Lily's capabilities; which was the only reason she could afford her share in the cottage.

None of these things she spoke to Tony about other than her love for history and scientific study of ancient places. They had taken more sips and gradually became closer to each other.

It became obvious to both that if their dalliance was going to only last for a few hours that they should at least get comfortable. Tony wanted to see her room. She showed it to him. Then he asked if he could kiss her. She allowed it.

Drunken stupor, flying clothes, endless attraction – for once in her young life; Lily lost control of her carefully created image. Meanwhile, Tony finally explored the curves and dips of the woman who came crashing into his life in full crimson colour.

Downstairs Happy remained blissfully snoring.

000

November 2, 1999 – 07:37

Fairmont Hotel

London, UK

"Anthony Edward Stark."

He groaned. "Go 'way Pepper."

"Where the hell have you been?" She asked primly.

"Drinking."

"Right. If you don't get up I will send Happy in to dress you."

"You wouldn't."

"Tony." The warning hint got the disgruntled, hung over brunet male up from his stupor. His personal aide and secretary walked away from him, confident he could dress himself. Life was business as usual. He didn't even realize anything else had happened except he felt somewhat satiated. Tony blinked back memories of beautiful lithe curves, a valley between perky mounds and hair the colour of crimson. He wondered briefly if he slept with someone the night before or gotten off by some daydream. If he did sleep with someone, they had been no evidence that anyone had been in the room with him.

As he stood, a light, fruity smell filtered through his senses. It reminded him of lilies and strawberries. He licked his lips.

"JARVIS, can you get an order of pancakes lathered with strawberries and syrup up here?"

"Yes sir."

He stretched and wandered to the washroom. Unless Pepper had gotten a new perfume, it must have been his imagination. Although, wow, he felt great – today was a good day to be Tony Stark.

000

November 13, 1999 – 05:07

Godric's Hollow, UK

Lily once again retched into the loo. Her body was on fire and everywhere it felt as if her magic was out of control.

"Lils? Merlin's bloody hairy balls." Alice's way with expletives would have made her giggle if it wasn't for another yank on her stomach churning up her throat.

"Alice I do not feel so great."

"You don't look like it also." Alice hushed. The soothing hands of her best friend held her as she wondered why her body was rebelling so much. Apart from the thoughts of a dark haired man who turned out to be a billionaire genius engineer; Lily had not done anything too out of the ordinary.

"There, there, some water, here and a soothing potion."

"T-hank you." Lily hiccupped. She felt the effects of her nausea decrease with the downing of the soothing potion and water. The pair of them sat together for a few moments on the cool tile of their loo.

"You're burning up." Alice murmured, feeling her best friend's forehead with the back of her hand. She frowned before she looked at her sweat drenched best friend. She'd been like this the past few days now and Alice was concerned. The healer in training did a few quick calculations before narrowing down the symptoms. She waved her wand, muttering a spell before reading the invisible diagnostics it provided her.

Early morning nausea, vomiting for the past few days; it all made sense now.

"Alice, I-I- I did something." Lily suddenly sighed, a feeling of dread filtrated the air as if she was coming to the realization herself. Her best friend hummed. "I…well I. The muggle, well he found me."

Alice Selwyn soon-to-be Longbottom wasn't easily shocked. Not really. When she was, she froze before choosing her words carefully. She was technically the last of the line. Even if the unpleasant lower house of Umbridge said that place belonged to them; their last name was nowhere even close to Selwyn. That said; both women stared at nothing in the quiet of their loo for a while.

"Up you come, Lily-bean. Let's get our tea and biscuits while you tell me how you managed to get pregnant."

The redhead nineteen year-old grimaced and cursed her libido once again. She sighed and moved to follow her best friend. She had a terrible head ache, an empty stomach, a mess of a life. Perfect Lily Evangeline Evans had broken and lost something she could never regain.

Never again would she have sex.

Author's Notes: Not too shabby; two chapters updated in the span of 48 hours. I'm not this quick folks but the muse is driven now. Also, I'm rushing the first few chapters so I'm aware there are so many holes in this chapter. Let's not get started on my grammar and punctuation. Unless of course you'd like to sacrifice your services to beta read. Either way, we're going to rush along; because let's be honest: we want to get the big "Oh". You'll get used to my deranged sense of humour.

To Birdy - is this soon enough?
To Vi38 - I hope so.
To the continued follows and faves; thanks - my ego is appeased. To stroke it more you can just review. It would be amazing if you could you know type a few words complimenting my madness.