A/N: Hey guys sorry I haven't updated! I try to update at least once a week but I have a lot going on right now! Anyways R&R!
Chapter 9: Return
It had been five months since Lily left. It was almost Christmas time now. Karen was decorating the Potter Manor waiting for James and Sirius to get back from Order business. She had set the tree up, along with a green wreath with red bows and holy. She wanted to wait for James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter to decorate the tree. James said if she wanted to she could invite some of her friends, but she said that it was alright. Really, all she wanted for Christmas was for Lily to come back. It would be her first Christmas without Lily since before Hogwarts. She looked out the window and saw the light snow falling. A light layer of snow covered the hard ground.
Suddenly the front door burst open, four boys shook the snow off and walked in. The first was tall with sandy brown hair. He was very pale and rather skinny for his age, but his eyes could light up the whole room. The second was a fat, pudgy boy with blonde hair that obviously had too much gel in it. The next to were playfully pushing each other as they walked in. One had black hair with glasses that framed his hazel eyes. The other had curly black hair that fell down in his face, framing his grey eyes. He wore his signature smirk.
"Finally!" Karen said, smiling. "I was just about to decorate the tree without you guys."
"You wouldn't do that," James replied easily.
"Why wouldn't I?" Karen asked.
"Because I own the house," he said, smirking. Karen just glared at him.
"Hi Karen," Remus said, smiling.
"You are, as of now, my favorite Marauder," Karen said.
"Hey!" Sirius said.
"Got a problem with that?" she asked, pulling a lollipop out of a bowl on the table and popping it into her mouth.
"Uh yeah," Sirius said. "Last time I check you weren't his girlfriend."
"So?" she asked, turning the lollipop in her mouth.
"You're mean," he said.
"That's new?" James asked.
"Well if it helps, I think you're nice, Karen," Remus said.
"Kiss up," Sirius muttered. Remus grinned at him.
"Dinner's on the table," Karen told them.
"I'm not hungry," James said quickly.
"Me either," Sirius, Remus, and Peter chorused.
"Relax, I used magic," Karen said.
"Oh good. In that case, I'm starving," Sirius said.
"Why am I not surprised," Karen mumbled.
The boys headed into the kitchen, leaving Karen in the living room. She looked out the window again. The snow was falling even harder than before. It looked so peacefully out there, but she knew somewhere her best friend was probably in the cold, dark night, alone.
Karen and the others sat around the fire after they had decorated the tree. They were about to open their gifts when James jumped up. "What's wrong?!" Karen asked.
"Someone's here," James said.
"How do you know?" Sirius asked, following James to the window.
"I have a charm on the house," James said. "If someone Avapperates inside of the grounds I'll know."
"Who is it?" Karen asked, getting up as well.
"I don't see anyone," Remus said.
"Me either," Sirius said.
"Go check the other windows," James instructed.
"Nothing here," Karen said, from the back window.
"Nothing over here either," Remus said, from the right window.
"I don't see anything either," Sirius said from the side windows.
"Uh guys," Peter said. "You might want to check this out."
They all ran to the front and saw a group of people walking toward the house. The people had black cloaks on and stopped a few feet in front of the house. "Death Eaters," James said.
"Looks like it's time to fight," Sirius said.
"Why on Christmas?" Karen asked looking up.
"Careful we don't know what they're going to do," Remus said.
"Someone is stepping forward," Peter said.
"Potter, surrender now and we won't hurt you too badly," a man said.
"Sorry, but I've never been one to take orders," James yelled back.
The man nodded to one of his man. "Potter, come out with friends or else we will hurt your little girlfriend," he said as the man he had nodded to, pushed a red-headed girl forward. She fell into his arms and he pushed her onto her knees. Her bottom lip was bleeding and there was a bruise on her cheek. He pulled her hair and her neck fell back.
"Lily!" Karen shouted, her face contorting in pain.
"Shh, baby, it's alright, we'll get her," Sirius said pulling her to him. Karen buried her face in his chest.
"Don't listen to them!" Lily shouted. The man pulled her hair harder and she screamed.
"What do you want?" James called. He nodded to Sirius and Remus.
"I'll be right back," Sirius said. Karen nodded and looked out at her friend.
Sirius and Remus Avaperated. "Good answer. Now throw your wands out and come out," he said.
Suddenly there were lots of shouts and bright jets of light from the back of the crowd. The man turned around, forgetting about Lily. She fell onto her hands and knees. James, Karen, and Peter rushed out of the house and started to shoot spells out the Death Eaters. Karen got in front of Lily and defended her from the man who had her. James and Peter stood on either side of her, locked in combat. They saw lights at the back of the crowd and they could only hope that Sirius and Remus were ok. The Death Eaters started to thin out until none remained. "Lily!" Karen said, turning around and bending down.
Lily was flat on her back breathing shallowly. "Lily, it's me, Karen," she said trying to get Lily to open her eyes.
"Is she alright?" Remus asked standing with Sirius at her feet.
"I don't know," Karen said.
"Let's get her into the house," James said bending down and picking her up. He carried her to the couch and sat her down lightly. Karen stood next to Sirius and buried her head in his chest. James sat on the couch next to her.
Suddenly, her eyes lids shot open and green orbs looked around. "You're ok!" Lily said, throwing her arms around James neck. James was stunned and patted her back awkwardly.
"Lily!" Karen said pulling away from Sirius.
"Kara!" Lily said, letting go of James and hugging her.
"You're ok! You're alive!" Karen said hugging her tightly. "I missed you."
"Alright, alright enough of the love fest," Sirius said.
"Sirius!" Lily said, jumping up and hugging him.
"Hey, red," he said quietly.
After she hugged everyone, she sat back down on the couch. "Ow," she said grabbing her head.
"What's wrong?" Karen asked.
"I just hit my head," she said.
"Let me see," Remus said, looking at her head. "It doesn't look to bad."
"What did they do to you, Lily?" Karen asked.