Bit shorter then normal but I'm working on three separate projects at the moment, I hope you all enjoy this it's setting the groundwork for where I want to take the Gray Witch and her merry band of miscreants, oh and as always, DO REVIEW, tata!
Lilly knew she was in trouble the moment she was finished speaking, her tenuous grasp on Umbridge's Imperius curse snapped as the enraged woman balked at the thought of being held accountable for her actions. As the superior smile fell away from the raven haired witch's lips she stared at the slowly incoming green energy pulse with something akin to resignation, if she dove out of the way Sirius or Amelia would be hit by it, simple as that. This entire series of events was her goddamn fault, the wizarding world needed Amelia Bones to lead the Auror's in the upcoming war and she was not going to let her newly minted father die on her watch, he'd suffered enough and he deserved his life and freedom.
So, as all signs of her faux superiority complex fell away she smirked at her approaching executioner and remembered her impromptu philosophical lecture to her friends on the killing curse; figuring 'Why not' she extended her hand at the approaching green light so similar to her own glowing eyes and threw her will against that of Dolores Jane Umbridge.
As energies she herself didn't quite understand began swirling around her outstretched hand she dumped her entire magical core into blocking the coalesced beam of hatred and watched it stop mere centimeters from herself. A sound no louder then a whisper on the wind seemed to flow from the curse, straining she heard her Death's playfully lilting voice,
'Why fight so hard, are you that afraid of dying?' Not quite knowing why Lilly's lips turned up into a sardonic grin as she thought back,
'There's worse fates then death and I'll gladly walk the final path some day, I'm just a bad loser and refuse to let this fat toad end me here,' suddenly feeling as though approving laughter playfully kissed her mind she gave a parting quip then released the pent up energy as her world went black.
Sirius felt his world end the second the crazy bitch in the ugly sweater screamed the killing curse at his adoptive daughter, Lilly was a good three meters ahead of him and he watched in horror as she interposed herself between the sickly green curse and the two adults still standing by the defendants chair.
He was powerless to do anything, as he had been for the past bloody decade he could do nothing to protect the child of his fallen best friend and the woman he had admired from afar; the earnest wiry boy turned sarcastic lithe young woman threw her right hand towards the curse and in an instant Sirius felt his skin prickle into gooseflesh as the entire room dropped to below freezing temperatures.
Every joule of latent energy was drawn into the woman before him as she threw her will against the killing curse, a swirling miasma of raw magic and emotion stopped the Avada Kedavra from touching his daughter leaving it hanging in midair. His shocked mind finally allowing him to move he rushed up to Lilly and heard her giggle out,
"Au revoir," then the killing curse rebounded off her splayed out hand and smacked the toad like woman in the face leaving herself dead by her own attack, flying backwards Lilly landed in her godfathers arms blood running from her eyes and nose smiling wistfully.
"LILLY!" Sirius screamed, shaking the catatonic young woman her emerald eyes cleared then focused on Siruis' face as she temporarily regained her composure,
"Hey Padfoot...apparently the killing curse tastes like bananas, who knew?" And with that she passed out.
As the Umbridge creature cast the killing curse at her newly anointed cousin Bellatrix sighed inwardly, 'Well boo, she was so interesting too,' much to her surprise though the girl grinned as her eyes ignited trailing green fire and braced herself while extending out an open hand. Bellatrix along with the rest of the Wizengamot gaped openly as the room froze over and a fount of energy opened before the girl stopping the the unblockable curse dead in its tracks, her lips twitched up into a cold smile when suddenly the Avada Kedavra rebounded and struck the Undersecretary dead.
Bellatrix sat there dumbfounded as Sirius rushed up and caught the Potter girl as she went reeling backwards, seeing the girl sprawled out smiling and obviously alive caused Bella to giggle irrationally for a few seconds. Thankfully there was too much of an uproar for anyone to notice this rather uncharacteristic move from Lucius, the room was suddenly flooded with Auror's and reporters, apparently Fudge had half the papers in Britain here for his "defeat" of the Slytherin heir. Smirking she stood and made for the exit,
'Well well, evening edition is going to be rather interesting,' deciding that as soon as she made her report she would observe the girl on her own time Bellatrix flooed back to the Riddle Mansion with the beginnings of a new plan formulating.
Remus Lupin paced back in forth closely trailed by Sirius and Ms. Tonks, his mind racing as he processed everything his formerly felonious friend had told him while they waited for news on Harr...Lilly. That was taking some time to adapt to, his animal instincts kept telling him that his long dead friends child was a young woman despite his human mind still locking onto the image of the gangly boy he'd met on the Hogwarts Express. Growling without realizing it he glanced at the clock and sighed, plopping into the uncomfortable chair that seemed to be the going standard at Saint Mungo's he began rubbing his temples as he felt both his companions sit down next to him and each wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"Nothing could have been done about it Moony, Dumbledore kept all this to himself since the day James and Lily were murdered, hell my daughter-," at this Sirius smiled without realizing it, "lived the lies and it took her fifteen years to put it all together, don't beat yourself up over it." Remus sighed again letting his hands fall into his lap,
"I know but to think that everything that's befallen us, all the hardships Lilly has had to go through was all based on some barmy prophecy and a bunch of hairbrained conjuncture... Padfoot, we failed her, we failed her so badly I'm shocked she wants anything to do with us." Nymphadora smiled at that her blue hair momentarily returning to its normal pink hue,
"That is the thing though Remus, Harry and now Lilly only ever wanted one thing, family. You and Sirius are basically all she has, now that Mum, Da and I are back with the Black's we'll be there for her too. She won't look at this as you failing her, although I will admit from what I've been hearing she's become quite the vengeful little minx." Sirius grinned at that while bobbing his head quickly,
"You have no idea, I just need to teach her to become an animagus and she'll officially be a Marauder, the girl has Moony's smarts, James wit, and my lack of fucks to give, observing the chaos she stirs up has kept me entertained for weeks." Remus eyed his long time friend warily as he processed this, he'd learned long ago that anything Sirius approved of deserved such discretion, eventually cracking a smile at the mans grinning visage he simply shook his head when the door to the waiting room slammed open. Standing there was one Hermione Granger, her face tear stained but eyes hardened in resolve, behind her was Professor McGonagall worry obviously written in her posture.
"Is she ok?" Hermione frantically stated, Sirius had already enlightened both he and Ms. Tonks on the brunette's...interesting relationship with Lilly so Remus had no issues divulging information.
"The doctors say she'll make a full recovery but they want to observe her for the time being, apparently most of the damage done to her body was from releasing all her magic at once rather then the curse thrown at her." He neglected to mention that the amount of magic Lilly wielded was at such levels that he'd personally label her as a weapon of mass destruction, it wouldn't help the situation and it would probably anger the witches before him.
"Thank god, we didn't hear anything until the evening papers arrived, Albus wasn't allowed to be at the meeting due to Fudge's interference so even he had been in the dark," Remus did his best to not growl at Minerva's mention of the headmaster, instead he decided to bring up a sore point.
"On that note you're going to be needing a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Lilly deflected the killing curse right back at the vile woman, it apparently lost a majority of its power though so she's simply brain dead rather then dead dead." Both Hermione and Minerva started at this, apparently the papers had underplayed who had fired the curse initially, that wouldn't stay quiet long Umbridge had been universally disliked and Fudge's incompetence was now on public display.
"Is Lilly going to be in trouble for this?" Hermione asked with obvious worry, Miss Tonks laughed a bit at that,
"No way, Director Bones was in the path of that curse and as far as she's concerned the only reason she's not dead is because Lilly is crazy brave and took the shot instead," Hermione smiled at that as she replied fondly,
"Yeah that sounds like my Lilly, she's got this 'saving people thing' that makes her do all sorts of stupidly heroic deeds, I just wish it didn't typically involve slaying twenty meter long basilisks and chasing off dementors." Everyone even Minerva looked shocked, before they could question her there was a chuckle from the doorway, still in a hospital gown Lilly stood there leaning against the door frame, her long bare legs crossed as she smiled playfully,
"It was twenty-two meters and I didn't plan on fighting the damn thing, Voldemorts soul shard was trying to possess Ginny and the snake was in my way, pity honestly I wouldn't mind a bloody huge monster at my beck and call." As the gathered adults stared at her in shock Hermione was across the room in a second arms wrapped around her girlfriend, after a moment she began hitting her lightly,
"Don't ever do something so incredibly...YOU again! Do you have any idea how scared I was?!" Before Lilly could apologize Hermione had pulled her into another hug then deeply kissed the witch, Minerva gaped openly while Sirius and Tonks just laughed, addressing the Deputy Headmistress Remus coughed a bit,
"Yes well it would appear that young miss Granger and Harry had a bit of a thing before the accident and well...the feelings didn't go away." Minerva still looking a bit shocked shook her head,
"Well, this will definitely present some problems in the future, although I dare say that Miss Potter's new found power and wealth will make people less likely to to object." Finally extricating herself from her lip lock Lilly threw in,
"Just call me Black for the time being, it'll help with all the titles I'm accumulating, and I'd appreciate it if you kept this between us for now, I personally don't give a damn what anyone thinks at this point but Hermione being of...my persuasion on top of being a muggle-born will invite too many chances for attack." Impressed at how well thought out that was the elderly woman nodded in understanding,
"As far as I'm concerned you started this relationship as a fifteen year old young man, you can't control who you love and I won't put a stop to it just...do yourself a favor and do not let Severus find out." Grimaces crossed the faces of all those present, Sirius then flashed a feral grin that caught both Remus and Lilly's attention, sounding slightly apprehensive Lilly asked,
"Dad, what are you planning?" Sirius' eyes widened and his grin lost its feral edge as true warmth took over obviously happy with his new moniker,
"Well my dear daughter it occurs to me that the Ministry owes me a great deal and Hogwarts is in desperate need of a DADA professor, it just so happens I'm a trained out of work Auror who wishes to spend more time with his family. The fact that Snivelus will be denied the position he lusts for so much would just be icing on the cake," A laugh cut through the room, its occupants were all shocked to see that it came from the normally stern Professor McGonagall.
After twenty minutes of visiting with her friends and family Lilly had been accosted by the second coming of Madam Pompfry and dragged back to her bed, sighing she banged her head against the headboard languishing in pure boredom. Her Hermione had to return to Hogwarts with Professor McGonagall and her dad, cousin and uncle in all but name went off to arrange Sirius' little prank, so it was nine at night on a Saturday and she was left to her own devices. Suddenly smiling wickedly she began giggling,
"Left to my own devices in London on a weekend...whats a bored little rich girl to do?" Still smirking she cast a few illusion charms to make her jailers think she was still resting in bed and apparated to a muggle department store, lucky for her they were still open. Ignoring the stares (it isn't often that a gorgeous young woman in a hospital gown goes shopping right before closing) she grabbed a pair of skinny jeans, a low cut Ramone's t-shirt and a pair of red Chuck Taylor's and paid for the lot of it. Remembering the cold she quickly dressed in her new acquisitions and grabbed a rather cute brown fur lined leather jacket and bought that as well, pausing when that thought registered she just sighed and rolled with it,
"Seriously acting more and more like a girl as time goes on, I swear I'm going to resist this weird urge to buy more shoes though..." done she apparated downtown and hit a couple clubs, much to her amusement none of the male bartenders carded her. As last call went out she realized that she was not nearly ready to call it a night, knocking over a closed liquor store (and leaving a few hundred quid on the counter) she began wandering London while sipping a bottle of Pusser's. As she thought about the days events it amused her to an extent that she just remembered that she'd killed Umbridge, well close enough anyhow,
"Heh, this is to you Dolores Umbridge, may you burn in hell you horrid bint!" Laughing to the sky she downed another gulp of the potent rum and kept wandering, eventually it began snowing so she cast a warming charm on herself as she meandered into the back alleys. Boredom and alcohol rarely lead to smart decision making so it didn't really register that this was probably a bad idea for an attractive young lady, so it came as a bit of surprise when she was surrounded by a gang of less then reputable looking gentleman.
"Heyya girlie, bit off the ol' beaten path ain'cha?" one of them sneered, she eyed him a moment then took another sip of her drink before responding,
"The safety pins through your ears make you look like a poser, I really have nothing against the Sex Pistols but really you can't pull off Sid Vicious' look in the slightest, like your hair though." This...confused the would be muggers, the poser cocked his head and said,
"Err...thanks? Now give us your money lady or yer gonna regret it!" Finishing the bottle of rum she tossed it over her shoulder inadvertantly hitting one of the toughs in the head knocking him out cold, sighing she cracked her knuckles and summoned the Dagger of Remorse to her open hand,
"All right Sid, I'll play 'Anarchy in the UK' for you when I get home, cheers!" With that she dove through the group leaving light slashes on anyone who got in her way, not really trying to kill them she was simply toying with the muggles until the daggers enchants took hold. A knife whose wounds induce uncompromising fear tends to mess with the head a bit, after a short time they all began screaming like Draco when Hermione gets violent and shoved off,
"Boo, boring, oh well maybe another gang will attack me," there was light laughter behind her as a woman asked,
"Why didn't you kill them?" Still quite drunk Lilly shrugged,
"Meh, I didn't want to bother hiding the bodies and my magic is still a bit wonky so can't really hold a stable transfiguration right now, more fun to make them be terrified of good looking women for life anyhow," There was more laughter as the woman stepped from the shadows, recognizing her from the Daily Prophet Lilly realized she was right and truly buggered.
Sighing she pulled the second bottle of rum out of her bottomless bag and cracked it open, "Hello Bella," the rather attractive psychopath grinned in return,
"'Ello Lilly, I've been just dying to meet you, you're...an interesting witch," snorting she took a pull from the Pusser's then eyed the older witch contemplatively, walking towards her slowly she offered the bottle which Bellatrix gladly accepted and downed half of it in a single pull. Rather impressed Lilly took the bottle back and leaned against the alley wall,
"So what can I do for you? Are you here to kill me for your lovable Dark Lord?" Snorting Bellatrix began pacing along the filthy alley before she stopped and sighed,
"No, I've had a bit of...a falling out you could say, he is not who I originally followed and to be blunt I witnessed you defy death in front of the Wizengamot earlier and I'm impressed, so I'd like to take my cousin up on his offer and ask for asylum." Nodding Lilly took one last drink from the bottle before handing it to Bella to finish it off, as the dark witch tossed the empty bottle aside Lilly grabbed her left arm and slide her sleeve up to look at the vile dark mark marring Bella's flesh.
"Eh, Death and I have a tenuous work relationship, tell you what, you let me remove that, and we'll talk," her normally heavily lidded eyes opened in shock at that,
"You can't get rid of your dark mark, many have tried but its bonded to your very being!" Nodding Lilly pulled out her wand and began poking the mark,
"Yeah its a corrupted version of the Protean Charm, my girlfriend figured that out a bit ago when we were trying to find methods to communicate that couldn't be intercepted, Tom bound it with a bit of soul magic and in turn it means the brand is sealed to you forever if you don't know what you're looking for," focusing on the runic matrix so similar to Voldemort's sick Horcruxes Lilly forced her will into the symbol and destroyed it. Bellatrix fell to her knees and screamed as the her arm bled where the mark had been torn out, quickly casting healing and cleaning charms the arm was now bare of any blemish, the psycho Death Eater stared at her arm in shock for well over a minute.
"You...you are truly more powerful then anyone realizes aren't you?" Nodding Lilly sighed as she looked up into the snow filled sky,
"Yeah...so if you're for real and you want to switch sides I'd like your help, I've heard you're quite the hellcat when it comes to dueling and I need a females perspective, so you mind tutoring me on how a proper Dark Lady is supposed to fight?" A bit nonplussed Bella took to her feet and approached the teenager, cocking her head to the side she then asked,
"Why would you want to know that?" Grinning Lilly met Bella's lilac gaze with her glowing emerald,
"Because dear cousin I intend to take over the world and bend it to my will, you wanna help?" Bellatrix stood there silently contemplating a moment then nodded,
"Ok, I'm in."