Chapter 2: A plan and a purpose

Lily was in shock as she sat and stared at the plant in front of her, visibly shaking from tears. She had no idea how long she had been there for, it could have been minutes, or hours. She was taken from her thoughts when an earthquake started that made the sound of a train approaching. After this, Lily began to formulate a plan. She had to think fast and bury her grief for now, and find out where she was. Lily couldn't remember an earthquake happening in Scotland in recent history, so either she wasn't near Hogwarts, or she was very far in the past. Beginning to walk down wind Lily heard the sound of cars driving to her great relief. So she wasn't that far in the past. Once she was out of the forest and had found a road and walked for three hours, (she was checking her phone now to know how much time had passed) it wasn't hard to find a news paper to give her some vital information. July 31st 1977 the paper read. 50 years in the past and in the middle of the first war. Fear found Lily as she read the paper about mysterious deaths and disappearances. She had found herself in the middle of the first war, and had no talent in defensive magic. She wished she had of listened to her brothers now, saying it was worthwhile to learn some, but she never thought she would need it. She was Harry Potters daughter, so no one was likely to attack her she thought, and they lived in times of peace. She did have a secret weapon that she could use though, so long as she found the right plant.

Lily retrieved clothes from a clothing bin to fit in and decided to apparate to Diagon Alley, as it wasn't too far from where she was near London. She considered Grimmauld place but remembered that Sirius would have been living with the Potters at this point, and she had no idea where any of her Grandparents had lived.

Lily arrived in Diagon Alley mid afternoon and found a seat outside Flourish and Blotts. Taking in the scene around her everything looked so different. The buildings were all old and grey looking to her. They lacked the vibrancy that she remembered from her time. There was a dark alleyway labeled 'Knockturn Alley' that she had never heard of before, with grimy looking people entering and exiting. She tried her best to listen in to peoples conversations passing her by. If only they had extendable ears in this time she thought to herself, or she had bought some with her (she still had everything that was on her person when she left). All sorts of things were being said about the mysterious earthquake, and the department of mysteries being in ruin, but there was no mention of anyone she knew. Lily pretended to read the muggle paper she had found earlier, and kept focus on the names she had listed down on the paper. At the top were people who were still alive that she knew in her time, then listed below this were the people she knew to be alive but never met. Grandma Molly, Grandad Arthur, Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, Kingsley, then James, Lily, The Marauders, Dumbledore, Great grandparents (cant remember names oops). She knew there were others that she couldn't think of, but this was the core group that if she could find one of them, she would be content. So Lily kept an eager eye out.

As the day wore on, she heard no mention of any of these names by people on the street. She decided she would have a look around some shops. She was beginning to stress that she would have nowhere to stay for the night, and may have to use magic to break in and steal when she saw Madam Malkins fine robes for all occasions advertisement. Looking for a sales person to help with student robes rush time of year. This job was the perfect opportunity for her to make some money honestly and finished up in time for if she was going to get a job in the ministry, or try get back into Hogwarts in this time.

Madam Malkin was a petite, kind young women with a square shaped face, and wore thin rimmed round glasses. She was very keen to employ Lily, knowing that having such a good-looking person might encourage a few more people through the door, and might be persuaded into spending more money by a pretty girl saying it looks nice. Lily very much took after her father in the looks department but had striking blue eyes like her Grandad Arthur had, and her hair was straight like her mothers. She was exceptionally good looking, although she would argue people only stared because she was a Potter.

Lily had been stumped when Madam Malkin asked what her qualifications were. She couldn't say she had finished at Hogwarts but had to say something, so she blurted out the first thing that came to her mind.

"I was homeschooled because my parents travelled a lot and wanted me to come along with them and experience different cultures. I don't have any official qualification, but I can do basic spells that I need to get through the day."

After blurting this out Lily realised that she didn't really need any qualification to sell robes anyway, but what she said now would have to be her story that she told everyone else. She even adopted the name Luna Finnegan on the spot. Using her middle name would be easier to remember than a random one she had thought.

Madam Malkin seemed appeased by this answer and said the job was hers if she wanted it, and the influx of students for the upcoming school year had started and she could start working tomorrow if she liked.

Lily (who was now Luna) went back to her seat and sat in a more relaxed position than before. She didn't jerk her head up any time someone came close now. Luna kept pretending to read, but formulated out her plans for the night. She was going to have to do something she was not proud of since she couldn't find anyone on her list. It was lucky she had taken the time to become an animagus, and could slip into places undetected.

Luna's first day went just how Madam Malkin had expected. She was perfect for the role. Giving the customers a big grin saying, "That colour really suits you" and "oh that looks really smart" had her selling more outfits than Madam Malkin herself in a week. The following days only increased the number of people entering the shop. She had the feeling the word was spreading about Luna because the demographic seemed to change. There were more boys than usual interested in coming to get their robes, instead of sending their mothers. Luna was an enigma because nobody recognised her around her age group, so people were very curious about where she had come from. Luna was very dismissive of questions however, and kept her cards close to her chest. She even had to deny a couple of boys who looked her age asking to take her out after her shift. Why she had denied them Madam Malkin wasn't sure, they seemed like good looking, nice boys. Luna couldn't shake the creepy feeling that it might be one of her friends Grandparents and definitely didn't want to be responsible for making someone not exist.

Luna got into her daily rhythm of sneaking into the Leaky Cauldron for a shower in one of the empty rooms, then coming to work, wearing and selling robes, then knocking off for dinner in the Leaky Cauldron, sleeping as her animagus form down in the quality quidditch supply couches. The owner continually left the shop unlocked as all the things sold inside were locked in cupboards anyway.

She began to wonder if she hadn't only time jumped but had dimension jumped too, with not hearing any mention of any one she knew. This was until one night she felt great relief meeting two people who she hadn't even thought of on her list.

Fabian and Gideon Prewett knocked off from their job as Aurors and decided after a rough week they would get some drinks at the Leaky Cauldron.

"Hey Gideon look at the beauty over there sitting by herself," Fabian spotted.

"Do you think you will have better luck this weekend mate?" Gideon said with raised eyebrows.

"Well yes, we lived and we learned not to tell a girl she looked 32." Fabian laughed jovially and said "worth a shot though. She is far too good looking to be sitting alone."

As they got closer, they realised how sullen she looked blankly staring off into space and deep in thought. They had to wave twice to get her attention.

"Hello? Hello we didn't recognise you from being around these parts and wanted to welcome you to London," Gideon said smoothly.

"Oh sorry, I'm not going to be much good company, if you guys still wanted to have a good night you could chat to that girl over there with the green bag," Luna replied solemnly. Fabian looked over at the girl Luna had pointed out, who happened to be the person he had called old last week and decided to change his tact.

"That's ok, I don't mind bad company, I've had to put up with this one my whole life," Fabian laughed, as he nudged Gideon in the ribs.

"We have had a rough week too, did you want to talk about it, or shall we have a drink?" Fabian said.

"I lost everything I loved and knew this week, it's definitely time for a drink," Lily replied with a dismal laugh. Lily began to share with them the story she had carefully rehearsed. She told them how she had been separated from her family when they disappeared out of the blue with all of their gear. How she couldn't find them no matter how hard she tried. She then became scared that she might be targeted by the people who had taken her family, since she had not been home when it happened. She decided to move from New Zealand to London and live as low key as possible, but still keeping an ear out for her families whereabouts, even though her best assumption was they were dead. She tried to not stray too far from what had happened, given they had disappeared and it would be easier to remember the closer it was to reality.

Fabian and Gideon were really good listeners and said they were sorry and they would keep an ear out for them, as they were both Aurors. They also shared how suspicious disappearances had started happening in London, and they had been dealing with cases during the week.

At the end of the night, Fabian and Gideon offered a bed for Luna in their flat to stay in while she was settling into the area. At this point, Luna realised just how open she had been with these perfect strangers. They were nice and understanding though, so as long as they weren't from a bad family line, she knew she would accept.

"Oh that's awfully kind of you. Sorry, and I haven't even asked what your names are, and we've been talking all night!"

"I'm Fabian, and this is my twin brother, but I'm sure you guessed that already, Gideon Prewitt. What was your name again?"

Luna felt her body flood with relief. People that she knew! Her Great Uncles, who had died in the first war. She now knew she hadn't been put in a random other dimension and she would find other people that she knew, only a lot younger. Now she thought of a new purpose for her being here, that she might be able to help save lives that had been lost in this time. Suddenly her bleak night of living in her grief had hope and purpose. She could change some of the terrible fates of the good people in this time, and still get to spend time here with family. She gratefully accepted the offer and it was nice to sleep in a bed instead of the old couch in a shop. The couch just didn't quite have the same ergonomic design that they made in her generation. Fabian and Gideon were also able to get in touch with Dumbledore about her situation with their owl. They had suggested she do one more year at Hogwarts so that she would finish with N.E. . This was so she could be employed by the Ministry in London as her job at Madam Malkins was only for a seasonal contract. To her great relief Dumbledore had come and personally visited to assess if she had enough magical ability to participate at Hogwarts and she passed with flying colours.