Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter; JK Rowling does. But I do own any characters I made and the story plot.

Chapter 2: Four Years Later

The constant downpour of rain was all Lily could see. The cold, deserted alleys were pitch black except for the occasional flash of lightning that would illuminate the sky. Water flowed down the street along the curb. Pieces of debris floated along swirling around Lily's feet. In the glow from the street lamp, she could see a rat scurry ahead.

"James." Lily warned, pointing at the rodent. James pointed his own wand at the rodent. With a flick of his wrist, a bright yellow light lit up the alley and hit the rat. The rat stopped, frozen midstride, and then he kept moving as if James' charm had never hit him.

"It's all right," James called silently to her. "It isn't him."

Lily looked ahead of her and then behind. No one was there. No one was following them. Yet.

"Lumos." James muttered. His face looked worn and tired; his clothes dripping wet. Lily didn't feel any better herself. Tired, cold, hungry, and sore, she hadn't been home in almost a week. This would be the last mission she would carry out this month. An entire month of whatever she pleased to do at Headquarters after seven months of missions and assignments.

James moved ahead farther in to Diagon Alley. The buildings and apartments that surrounded her were very different from the ones in her parent's stories. Instead of the grand, colorful, and crowded town they had known was a deserted, broken and pallid town. Windows were nailed shut with wooden boards. No light could be found as she made her way down the road.

"James," Lily whispered; she stared up at the rotten and faded sign above the door.

Mr. Ollivander's Wands

Since 327 A.D.

She brushed past her brother and into the store. The door opened without protest; one of the hinges had come unhooked. Boxes were thrown around the room. Old copies of the Daily Prophet laid crumpled across the floor.

"It seems so different from Dad's stories." Lily murmured. She walked over to one of the shelves near the door. Boxes were shoved hastily into the open space; the dust that had covered them were smudged. Someone had been there recently. Lily reached out for one of them. The damp paper smudged as she picked it up. The cover crumpled apart in her fingers as she took it off. The scrapes of paper landed with a dull thud on the floor. Inside laid a single wand. It was black and twisted, as if two vines of thorns were taken together and coiled into one.

Lily jumped as a hand came down on her shoulder. She dropped the box; it fell slowly to the ground. It landed softly against the ground sending dust into the air. Lily looked behind her. James' hand was still on her shoulder, but he was looking away from her. She followed his gaze to the alley way. She could see a light coming towards them through the sullied, polluted windows. As the light drew closer, he became more distinct. His navy blue robes danced around him. His face was long and pale, and his hair fell in his face like dry black strings. Lily held her breath while he walked pasted the front door of Ollivander's, only twenty feet away from her. James hand dropped from her shoulder; he lifted his wand and moved towards the door. Lily pulled out of her own wand from her jacket and followed him.

Slowly, the two of them walked out of the abandoned building and into the alley, pursuing the man. Lily felt her heart beat faster; they were getting closer. James stepped on a piece of glass from the broken window above them. The hard crunch made Lily grow still. The man also. Lily grabbed the back of James' robes and pulled him into a doorway. She hid herself in her brother's robes; her head resting against his chest, waiting for the man to turn around and curse them. She could fell her brother's heart beat growing rapid under her cheek.

"It's all right," James spoke so quietly that Lily could barely hear him. "He kept walking."

Lily lifted her head away from James' chest. Looking through the rotten door, she could see robes cast upon shelves and hangers; cloth littered the floor. Cobwebs decorated the walls, and a bird's nest was resting above the light fixture.

"Come on." James mumbled. She followed him down the alley; she began counting to herself. Seven hundred and forty three steps later, they followed the man into a building. It was different from the ones that surrounded it. The door was still connected on both hinges. All the windows remained intact, and a small, flickering light could be seen in the upstairs window.

"James, I have," Lily whispered as she stepped over a dead cat that lay on the floor. Its black fur was matted together with mud. His mouth was closed causing Lily to say a silent pray to herself. "A bad feeling about this."

"So do I."

They made their way to the farthest end in the room and walked up the creaking staircase. She could once again see the flickering light peeking out from under the closed door. Her breath quickened when James' hand closed around the doorknob and turned. Her shaky breath and the rusty clink of the door handle was the only noise in hallway.

James tapped the door gently and raised his hand, entering the room. Inching her feet forward, Lily trailed into the room behind him. He sat on a green and faded, moth eaten sofa. His navy robes fell to the ground around him. He pushed back the black stringy hair and smiled; his teeth were crooked and yellow.

"Good evening, Potters," he declared; he winked at Lily before he drank from the mug in his hand.

"You said you know the location of their Head-quarters." James said, ignoring his greeting.

"Maybe," he replied. He ran his finger along the edge of the mug and then took another swallow. "It will cost you."

"How much?" James asked through gritted teeth.

"Seven hundred pounds," his eyes ran up and down Lily's body. He began rubbing his chin in thought. "And the girl."

"No." James said; Lily saw him glance at her and then back at the man.

"All right, all right, a kiss then—"

"You'll do it for two hundred. Nothing more." Lily declared. He looked ready to protest until he looked at Lily's wand.

"Yes, fine," he agreed reluctantly. "Two hundred."

"Lead the way," James replied. He waved his hand towards the door, waiting. The man stood up from the sofa and moved towards the door. His eyes flickered over Lily once more, leering with dark eyes before he left. Lily flicked her wand at the candle. The candle let out a hiss at is snuffled out; she trailed after the two of them down the stairs. She felt herself looking around constantly as they walked along the alleys. The man refused to shut his mouth even after James' warning. Lily had come to the conclusion that he loved to hear the sound of his own voice.

"I use to own that building…She always knew how to do things like that…Before his lot came along…"

Soon they were no longer inside the confines of Diagon Alley. A dark gray and ominous fog had closed in around them.

"It's not far now," the man cried happily. "Just beyond the trees."

"What trees?" Lily asked James; they picked up their pace to stick with the man. Dark figures began to appear all around: tall, short, skinny, fat…

"James," Lily whispered with alarm.

"It's a trick of the eye, Lily," James reassured her. He pointed his wand up and sent a light breeze towards the closes figure. It dissolved slowly, disappearing from the top down in the wind. The forest was growing thicker as the traveled farther in. Lily's head spun around when she heard a twig snap.

"Lumos."

Nothing was there. No deer. No rabbit. Nothing.

Her stomach began to twist as a feeling of déjà vu encompassed her. She twisted around and ran towards her brother. He was arguing with the man now. He claimed to be lost and would need a few moments to find out where he was. Lily heard another twig snap. It came from in front of them this time.

"James," Lily warned.

"I heard it." James replied. He turned away from the man and to the forest.

"They're late." The man muttered unhappily. Lily spun at him. Her wand pointing into his chest, she peered at him. His eyes widen in surprise when Lily turned to him; his arms rose slightly.

"Who is late?" Lily asked, enunciating each word. He glance at something over Lily's shoulder; his pale face twisted as he smirked.

"They are."

Lily turned around. Four tall cloaked figures were walking towards them. Each of them wore a silver mask decorated in different designs. Death Eaters.

"Stupefy." James yelled. The curse hit one of them squarely in the chest. "Run Lily." Lily turned and began to run; she could hear James' breathing right behind her as she continued. Time seemed to slow down as she jumped over another broken tree branch on the ground, twisting her upper body she sent a quick spell at the Death Eaters that were on their tail. She followed James as he took the lead over to a thick and wide tree that lay like a bridge over the river. She had to remind herself not to look down at the rushing water that lay about ten feet below as she crossed. She sent a curse flying backwards, hitting one of the men in the upper leg. He fell into the river and did not reemerge. She followed her brother until he stopped behind a rock. He grabbed Lily's shoulder bringing her close. Her ear tickled as he whispered against her temple.

"When I disappear behind that line of maples," James pointed a close line of maple trees. "Apparate home! I love you." He placed a quick kiss against her head before he left. Running away from her, he sent a curse back at the two remaining Death Eaters. Lily watched as he jumped over a bush and disappeared.

"Expelliarmus!"

Lily felt her wand leave her hand. She watched it soar through the air and land on dewy grass next to a black, shiny shoe. Her eyes trailed up until she was looking into the silver mask. He let out a laugh that made Lily shiver. Bending down he grabbed Lily's wand and twirled it in his fingers. He walked closer to her; she backed away from him, stopping only when her back slammed against the rock behind her. He continued to walk closer until there was barely a foot separating them.

"Well, aren't you a pretty one." He picked up a piece of her hair; bending down he smelt it. She waited until he was far enough down and kicked. She pushed him away by his shoulders and ran. She had ran past four trees when she heard him yell.

"Pertrificus Totalus."

She felt her muscles grow stiff. Her legs gave out beneath her, and she fell forward. She wanted to groan in pain but no noise came out of her mouth. A toe poked into her hip and pushed her over. She stared up at the Death Eater once more. He pulled away his mask, smiling. Lines were etched along his features. His long platinum hair was pulled back but few pieces fell around him face. He stared down at Lily with a smile on his face. Lily felt her heart stop when she saw his eyes. Gray swirling orbs, these eyes possessed a hatred and malice that Lily had never seen before.

"What you got there, Malfoy?" Lily heard a voice yell.

"A Weasley by the looks of it." Malfoy replied. The other Death Eater drew closer and looked down at Lily. He stopped when his eyes landed on her face. He staggered forward and rested himself against a tree, still looking down at her.

"That's…I can't believe it…But she couldn't…I thought they only had the three boys…" The man gasped between breathes as he braced his hands against his knees.

"Get out with it." Malfoy grumbled. "Who is it?"

"Lily Potter, Harry Potter's daughter."

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