ARC I
- 03 -
EXPLANATIONS
'Let's start from the very beginning,
A very good place to start.'
Do-Re-Mi, The Sound of Music
Rogers & Hammerstein, 1959
November 1, 1999 – 20:57
Trafalgar Square
London, UK
You could cut the tension with a knife. It crackled in the air as Lily eyed the muddy haired man before her with eyes that flashed like lightning. Tony always thought electricity ought to be a comforting blue, bright and light. Yet her eyes revealed evidence that lightning could be a fierce green that crackled with unyielding force. Then again, he always had a thing for redheads.
"Mr. Stark, I do not think we have anything in common to start begin with. I do not know you nor do you know me." Lily stated. "What on earth would we have to discuss."
Tony stepped closer to her. "Oh I'm sure you know exactly what is going on."
The duo stared into each other's eyes. There they were, near the middle of Trafalgar Square, one of the busier places in the city of London at the foot of a lion statue that had probably had seen its fair share of strange encounters surrounded in their own bubble of quiet.
Lily could have clued in then. She could have realized how quiet and still everything was. However, the man in front of her held her attention. There was such intensity in his gaze, as if he was piecing together a mystery that began and ended with her. She only took note of the hair rising at the back of her neck to quickly realize what was happening. It was almost too late for her to see the man with the receding hairline leaning against the vehicle behind him slump down in an unconscious heap. She didn't think; in an instant she procured a shield charm just as another flash of red hit near where the brunette in front of her was.
There went the Statute of Secrecy.
"Get down!" She exclaimed. Her portkey area was compromised. Someone must have spotted her at the Alley. The man whirled around look at the limo behind them. He would have yelled out for the man's name if it wasn't for the fact Lily remembered it.
"Accio Happy! Crap." She had to drop the flimsy protrego holding them together. The body of the man in front of them zipped towards her but really just crashed into the startled arms of Stark. Grand, just grand – everything always went to pieces. She was too careless and now she had two muggle civilians on her hands. She didn't do what any rational nineteen-year-old would do: freak out.
No, instead she figured that a silencing and almost a notice-me-not shield had been erected within the perimeter of the statue. Both of those could potentially cancel out the CCTV cameras that were most likely looking over their way because of the strange effect magic had on muggle tech. She also realized that no anti-apparating wards were put in place yet nor were any anti-portkey wards. She was dealing with amateurs and not the major players like last time. Stark and Happy were within her grasp; as was the statue. She deflected three more stunners that had been sent their way. She noted with amusement that the figures were smaller. Quickly she wondered if The Bastard's Feces (the nickname she had given to his followers) that were attacking her were still just getting out of Hogwarts.
Without any more thinking because all these thoughts raced through her mind like gazelles; she began tapping the runic sequence in lightning order in between deflecting further stunners. Stunners meant they wanted to retrieve her. Quickly before the last rune could be tapped; she grabbed hold of Tony who was still holding onto his body guard tightly while seemingly in a state of panicked shock. Tap. Three people disappeared and the foot of the statue cracked with the combined forces of three stunners.
000
Tony was going to hurl. He was being pulled through a narrow tube. He knew that his brain was getting squeezed and his guts being squished. Then suddenly he had dropped the heavy weight in his arms in order to vomit the dark, caffeine contents of his stomach lining. "What the hell was that?"
"In for a knut, lose a pound." Someone uttered.
"What?"
The redhead turned to face him with an imperious arch of her delicate eyebrow. Then she did an about face and ignored him. Tony was not used to being ignored. He watched as she seemed to do something with a stick to – was that an old tin can? It was his turn to lift his eyebrows. He watched as the can disappeared with one final jab and an uttered growl of a word he hadn't heard before.
She rounded on him next and once again their eyes locked on each other. Tony didn't want to say it but yes he was in shock.
"I'm in the middle of the woods with a beautiful redhead who must be some strange, supernatural mutant. At least you're not as pale as in the video from last night. I don't remember much, everything is too fuzzy and I have an excellent memory bank. No you're here, healthy and glowing. How was that possible? You should at least be still lying around somewhere, healing. That amount of blood loss must have been enough for you to go into unconsciousness. Nothing could ever heal someone so quickly."
He must have voiced his thoughts aloud because she sighed.
"I must apologize, Mr. Stark but all that information is technically classified. However, you've managed to land yourself in the middle of a battlefield when you decided to assist me. In a way it was my mistake. We are currently in Godric's Hollow at my home." She pursed her lips again then sighed. "Come, we are just within the wards. I will manage to find a way to take you and your companion home. It is probably best if he remains unconscious for the time being. We don't like tampering with minds but unfortunately you've already seen far too much than should be allowed."
"Like you said, in for a penny; lose a pound." Tony replied. "I'm trustworthy."
"You're also too intelligent and vulnerable. There is no way for you to defend yourself against what I or my people can do." Lily stated. They were staring into each other's eyes again. It helped they were almost the same level. Somehow Tony had managed to stand straighter; recovering from the effects of that unknown form of travel.
"Give me time and I can find a way to do so." Tony retorted, taking a step towards her.
"We can't chance that." She took half a step back before standing her ground.
"Yes well I saved your life. Plus I'm realizing now that I'm not dealing with a silly teenager but a beautiful and smart woman." He said.
"Mr. Stark, compliments do not change the situation." Lily re-joined. "I – I thank you for saving me but now we're even."
"I don't think we're even."
"I saved your life and his just now." she retorted furiously she jabbing a finger towards Happy's snoozing form.
"Minor detail; you had to save me."
"No I didn't."
"Yes but you did."
"Well, it was better than having blood on my hands."
"My point is made."
"No it was not."
They paused as a charge of electricity flowed between them. Almost naturally, they had managed even though they were in some strange wooded area, an unconscious driver cum bodyguard to the side and the chance that someone could happen to walk by; they kissed. Nothing mattered then.
Lily had never been kissed before. She also never allowed herself to get close to any man apart from Potter's many attempts. She also didn't know why she was responding to this man. This strange, impossible man with far too much soul in his eyes had woken something deep within her. Hormones, it must be hormones. The ones she had been trying to repress.
Tony on the other hand didn't know exactly what his intention was when he went to confront the redhead. Honestly, he just wanted some answers. Dishonestly, he wanted to cup and hold her luscious curves.
"I'm Lily Evans," she whispered to him after they broke apart. "Thank you Mr. Stark for saving my life."
"No problem Red," Tony uttered, leaning forward again. "One more?"
Oh yes, there was electricity there. However, that didn't change the fact that Tony wasn't supposed to know what she was capable of doing. Also, he wasn't supposed to be here and she really should do something about Obliviating him and Happy; again.
However, he was smart, he was kind and regardless of his status as a muggle model – she didn't mind kissing him. His rough beard felt scraggly against her skin. She also hadn't had proper human contact apart from Alice in what seemed like ages.
The meetings at the Order of the Phoenix were few and far between. There was a war going on against bigoted supremacists that reminded her of the studies she used to do in Primary on the muggle world wars. She was aware that she really shouldn't be kissing him. He was bad news. If Alice caught her now; she'd be in deep trouble. In a way she already was in deep trouble. She was with a civilian muggle! She was kissing a civilian muggle who was causing a riot of emotion and feeling just by having his tongue inside her mouth. Merlin, she was even clinging to him. She couldn't explain away why she was just randomly losing herself here. Lily Evans rarely lost her cool. Yet here she was wrapped up in this odd man with beautiful, soulful eyes and an intelligence that countered her own. It was as if she was under some spell.
"Ugh, my head; what happened?" The stupefy curse must have worn off as Happy groaned from the ground.
That halted their activities for a moment.
"We were attacked." Tony said quickly. Happy went from confused to a level of alertness he's only ever seen in dogs with a bone.
"You're safe for now." Lily said breathlessly. She gathered herself looking at the brunet haired man who had just snogged her senseless; literally.
"Tony," Happy began. "Pepper is not going to be pleased."
"She'll be fine. She and Obie have the business in hand. Nothing is going to go wrong that hasn't gone wrong already." Tony replied. "Besides, Lily has us, don't you Red?"
Lily shook off the after effects of Tony's lips, a becoming blush staining her cheeks and her expressive green eyes narrowed.
"I haven't the foggiest what you meant."
"Red." Tony declared. "We just kissed."
Happy gurgled in the background, ignored yet again by the duo in front of him. Primly, Lily stood as tall as she could before walking as evenly away from the pair as possible. She was trembling inside but she had to hide it. She had to. She just made so many reckless mistakes in the span of twenty-four hours. Her mind was still processing the retrieval mission from the night before, being rescued by a muggle then healed by her best friend. Then being attacked again. It was overwhelming if she was being truthful.
"Come along Mr. Stark – ("Tony." He cut in.) – Mr. Happy, there's tea and food in the house. Once we're settled we can figure out what we can do from here." She proclaimed.
000
November 13, 1999 – 08:17
Godric's Hollow, UK
"And that's what happened." Lily muttered – the tea she had been drinking had gone cold as she stared listlessly at the fire. Beside her, Alice murmured a heating charm on both their teas as both remained quiet in front of their fireplace. The early morning light had just begun to rise, there was many a chore to do in the cottage and the rest of the day yet neither moved. It had been a trying couple of weeks. This had to be the cosmic fateful cherry on top.
"Well," Alice began slowly as she lowered her tea from her mouth. "Was he any good?"
There was a paused look of distraction on the red head's face.
"Pardon me?"
"I believe the Colonies say, 'come again', but well inquiring minds and all that." Alice replied.
"Alice!" Lily proclaimed in shock.
"Well? Answer the question Lily-bean." Alice grinned finally with the merry look in her eyes that melted the redhead's solemn air. As well as made her face tinge the colour of a rosy tomato.
"That's uncouth." Lily growled, finally sipping into her tea and glancing at it momentarily when she realized it was warm.
"Yet truthful," Alice grinned. "I do want to know if the muggle was worth all this stress."
The air became heavy again but in a sense less panicked as before. The brevity of humour assisted in breaking the tension. Lily considered her friend's question, her physical predicament and ignored for the present the consequences of thSat night. She focused on the man she gave her innocence to and her reasons why.
"Yes. He was very good." Lily replied. "More than good; he was astonishing. The things he could do with his mouth."
"I desperately want to poke fun of this situation." Alice emphasized the one word. The redhead glared at her best friend while simultaneously taking a drink from her tea. The end result was the brunette breaking out into a fit of giggles. The conversation bordered on the absurd to hysterical crying as they began a very quick discussion regarding male anatomy.
Wiping the tears from her eyes, Lily stared at her best friend. "Oh Alice, whatever will I do without you?"
"Panic," was the succinct reply. "Realize the deadline then do something completely Gryffindor."
"That's just horrid."
"It's just honesty," Alice grinned. "Badgers are known for that."
"Are you calling yourself an honest badger?" Lily giggled.
"Of course, I'm the most honest of all badgers! Mock not the house of yellow and black! We are the champions of the kitchen, herbal gardens and health." The petite brunette declared raising her tea cup in the air.
"Ridiculous Hufflepuff."
"Scandalous Gryffindor."
"For the love of McGonogall," Lily sighed. "Damn, if she found out."
"I'd be more worried about Potter's reaction. That boy is in love with you Lils." Alice said. The redhead grimaced.
"Don't remind me." Lily sighed. "What am I going to do Alice? Children and warfare do not blend well together."
"Nor should they but here we are."
"We?"
Alice stared at her best friend putting down her now empty tea cup on their coffee table. Serious with conviction she uttered words that would intertwine them and their children for the rest of their lives. "Yes, we – we are going to do something about your situation."
"I-I…thank you." Lily whispered after a moment of staring back at her best friend whose warm chocolate eyes bored into hers. She felt more than acknowledged the cup of tea she was drinking from drift to her lap, secured by her left hand. Her right hand somehow made it between Alice's petite ones. She sighed and felt almost as if a burden lifted. "I do want to bear this child and if need be, pass him or her to someone who will love them in the event I perish. I don't even know if I can make it with what's going on."
"We will make it." Alice replied taking her free hand. "We must now. This is what we're fighting for Lily. We're fighting to make a better world for the next generation and the one you have here as well as the one I have here."
It took Lily a moment to stare at the place where her hand now rested. She then stared back at her best friend, back to her hand then to the smiling, tearful face of the brunette. With a joyous noise the two women screamed.
"I'm going to be an aunt!"
It was in moments like this they could forget that there was a mad man killing of people who were from a non-magical background. It was in moments like this they realized that in the middle of so much darkness. Light had its way.
Author's Note: I will neither deny or confirm that I made any errors between the Indiscretions and Defenseless chapters. However, this chapter flowed seamlessly into the explanation part that Lily had to do. Plus you get to see why Happy would be snoring on the lounge/sofa/couch/thing. Also in reply to the few reviews I've received (as I get more, I may just Private Message you but public acknowledgment is always great right!):
FateShadow83 - Tony the Model; at least Lily acknowledges he looks familiar what with his face on every billboard on the streets of London somewhere and that he's pretty.
Vi38 and Silvermane1 - Thank you for thinking the last chapter update was good/fantastic respectively!
PappyOldGuy - Thank you for your well thought out review. I will do my best to make this a good one and perhaps it will take a while to flesh out the plotline a bit but we're already 0.4285714285714286 multiplied by a hundred percent the way through ARC I. My key thing is to show Lily in a new light, explore the character of Alice Longbottom and figure out what two supposedly talented witches could have been doing for the OotP circa HP & the OotP...
That said; once again my heartfelt thanks for the reviews, follows and adding this little story to your favourites! I have some time so far to update; if I go sporadic I'll let you all know because life changes and all that hullaballoo. Ja ne!