Chapter Eighteen: Summer 1978

Lily was sitting in her parents' home in the Midlands, happily enjoying her time with them before heading back to Hogwarts to begin her mastery. Petunia and Vernon had moved away to Surrey after their wedding and had not bothered to visit since. That suited Lily just fine; she rather liked being home alone with her parents. They were kind and supportive of her choice to go back to school to complete her mastery, even if they did not understand what she was studying.

To make it even better, James would be joining them shortly. He had a two-week break in his training schedule with the Aurors and planned on spending his entire vacation with Lily and her family. She had been more than a bit surprised that he was willing to forego time with his own parents, but truthfully, she was happy. Lily was thrilled that James was still invested in their relationship.

She had no reason to doubt him, and they were soul bonded after all, but Lily was predisposed to worrying and analyzing every possible outcome.

Lily's parents had always found that trait amusing; Gabriel and Violet Evans were notinclined to fret.

"What is James' job again, dear?" Lily's mother asked over lunch. "I know you explained it to us once before, but I want to ensure we have a firm understanding of it before he arrives today."

"He's an Auror," Lily explained. She took a bite of her salad. "It's sort of like a special government police force."

"He works in London?"

"Yes. His office is at the Ministry of Magic."

Lily caught a look between her parents, and then her mother said, "Are you comfortable being in a long-distance relationship? London is far away from Hogwarts."

Lily blushed. "Mum..."

"We're just worried about you, Lil," her dad said. "We certainly like James, but you're eighteen. That's young to be in a serious long-distance relationship."

"Is it?" Lily asked. She narrowed her eyes. "Petunia's the one who just got married."

"Yes, but we knew Vernon. We knew Petunia and Vernon as a couple."

Suddenly, Lily understood. "You're worried about this relationship, but not because of its speed. You're worried because you don't understand James' world." She released a slow breath. "You don't understand my world. You don't trust me because you didn't watch me grow up."

"Lily," her mum said patiently, "we trust you. That's not the issue. Try to see it from our point of view. We don't know anything about what you study, what you do, or what your boyfriend does. Or, perhaps it's more apt to say we don't understand what either of you do. We will never have a full understanding. We can try, but we won't understand because we can never immerse ourselves in it. We also know nothing about how relationships work for witches and wizards. Heck, you told us that there were still arranged marriages!"

"James and his family don't prescribe to arranged marriages! And if they did, we most likely would not be together. He probably would have been matched to one of his parents' friend's kids," Lily said, rolling her eyes. "That's literally the last thing you need to concern yourself with. We're not dating simply because we were instructed to."

"That saves me from that awkward conversation," her dad mumbled.

Violet cleared her throat. "We simply want to ensure you're not rushing into things because we have no way of knowing what rushing is in your world, that's all."

"So your problem isn't with James?"

"Lily." Her mother frowned. "You know it's not. We've already said that."

"And if I decided to marry James tomorrow?" Lily demanded. "That's not happening, for the record. I just want to know."

"Then we would, of course, support you and be there," her dad reassured her. "But we're your parents, Lil. We're going to worry about you no matter what."

"In answer to your original question," Lily said slowly, looking at her parents carefully, "long-distance relationships aren't the same in the wizarding world. I told you about Apparition, and how we can pop in wherever we want. We also have Floo powder—you know, fireplace travel? So, yeah, James and I may be separated by distance, but it's feasible to see each other every weekend. Maybe even a few weeknights, if we have the time."

"Oh," Lily's mum muttered thoughtfully. "That certainly makes it easier. I would have loved that during that year we spent apart, Gabe."

"It would have been a welcome change from driving between London and Middlesbrough. Lil dear, pass the bread, won't you?"

Lily handed her dad the basket of bread. She faltered as she heard a sound coming from the fireplace. "What the...?"

"Could that be James?" her mother asked kindly. "You did say you had fireplace travel."

"Yeah, except our fireplace isn't hooked up to the network." Lily frowned. "Hold on. Let me go and check. No matter what, stay here?"

As she left the dining table, she heard her dad say, "Does this have anything to do with that war that she keeps going on about?"

Thinking that her dad could be right, Lily withdrew her wand from its holster and held it firmly in her right hand. At first glance, no one was there, but Lily knew better than to assume that meant it was safe.

She cast a scanning charm. Lily and Professor Flitwick had been working on it, hoping to produce a charm to help families in wartime. Praying it would work now, she watched as it picked up on a magical signature, but no human presence.

"What the hell does that mean?" Lily muttered. "Did someone cast a spell in here?" Thinking quickly, she called for her owl and Summoned paper and a pen. She wrote a quick note to Professor McGonagall asking her to visit the Evans home as she was worried someone had broken in.

No sooner had she opened the window and released her owl than she heard her parents scream.

"Mum! Dad!" Lily yelled, running back into the kitchen. She stopped suddenly when she saw her parents held by masked wizards in long, dark cloaks.

"I can't believe you fell for that," the man holding her mother sneered. "We're in a war, dearie. Did you really think you'd be safe because you're a Mudblood living in Muggle country?"

"Why me?" Lily whispered. "What do you want with me?"

"We've heard you're quite the witch—despite your blood. We've come to offer you a deal."

"Why? What the hell would you want with me?"

"Your brains. Come and work for the Dark Lord."

Lily felt all of the air leave her lungs. "Why would I do that?"

"If you don't, we'll kill your parents. Simple as that."

"How do I know you won't kill them even if I join you?" Lily asked. Her fearful eyes found her mother's. "I would need assurance."

"The Dark Lord thought you might ask that, and we came prepared with an answer. As a benevolent master, he is willing to spare your parents' lives. Instead, they will have the honour of living the rest of their lives in servitude to the Dark Lord."

"Lil, no." Her dad looked at her. "Absolutely not. You're not selling your soul so we can serve these masked imbeciles for the rest of eternity."

"Quiet, you piece of shit." Her dad's captor dug their wand into Gabriel Evans' neck. "No one would cry over your spilt blood."

"That's not true. I would," Lily declared.

"So would I."

Lily turned around to see James standing behind her. "James, what the hell are you doing here?"

"I got out of work early. I wanted to surprise you, and then when I got here, I saw masked idiots standing outside." He had his wand outstretched as he approached Lily. "Are you all right?"

"Better now that you're—"

"Shut up!" snarled one of the Death Eaters. "Have you forgotten we have your parents?"

"Any ideas?" Lily murmured to James.

"Yeah, a few," James whispered. "Be ready." He straightened up and yelled, "Bombarda!"

Lily was shocked to see the wall of the kitchen blast back. The force of the spell caused one Death Eater to let go of her mother, but the other managed to keep hold of her father.

"Mum!" Lily screamed. She took hold of her mother's arm and pulled her up. "Are you all right?"

"Yes," her mother breathed. "What now?"

"I'm going to take you to safety, and James will save Dad. I sent for Professor McGonagall."

"I liked her." Lily's mum smiled. "Where are we—"

"Lily, duck!" James shouted. He was duelling the Death Eater who still had a tight grasp on Lily's dad, but as a spell whizzed by her head, she realized they had company.

And it wasn't McGonagall.

"Oh, hell," Lily whispered. "Mum, stay behind me. James," she said, raising her voice, "I can't bloody well leave you here now, can I?"

"I'd prefer it if you didn't!" James yelled back. "I can't handle six of them—argh!"

Lily cast a wide Protego and then turned her head, watching as James fell to the floor, clutching his arm. "James!"

"Lily, I've changed my mind! Go!" James yelled.

"Yes, Lil, go!" her dad called. "Take your mother and go!"

"I'm not leaving you!" Lily and her mother said together.

"I've had enough of this family bullshit!" With a flick of his wrist and a murmured spell, a flash of green light emitted from the wand of the Death Eater holding her dad, and then, she watched as Gabriel Evans slumped to the floor.

"No!" Lily screamed. "No, no, no! Mum, no!" She gripped her mother's arm to stop her from running to her father. "Mum, we need to go. We can't...we have to leave Dad."

"Lily, you can go. I'm not leaving your father."

Lily watched in horror as her mother pushed her away and ran to her dad. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw another masked figure raise its wand, so Lily screamed, "Incarcerous!" and watched as the person fell, trapped in Lily's bindings.

"Lily, get your mum and go!" James yelled. He was battling as best as he could, but his wand arm was injured, and his other arm just didn't have the ability to control his wand as well as he usually could. "I'll hold them off; go to safety!"

"I don't even have anywhere to go!" Lily cried. "Cast a Protego around you and Mum, and I'll fight!"

As if to prove a point, Lily brought down another adversary with a flick of her wand.

James tried to do as she asked, but then his eyes widened. "Your arm, Lily!"

Lily spared a glance at her arm, which, like James', had begun to bleed. "Oh, bloody hell." She moved closer to James and cast spells as she moved. "James, can you Apparate us back to your parents' house?"

"Yeah, that'll be fine," James panted. He was duelling someone who seemed to be a tough opponent, someone focused on keeping James pinned back against the kitchen table. James managed to knock their mask off with a spell, and Lily was shocked when she saw Severus Snape.

"Severus, what the hell?" Lily screamed. "Help us!"

But Severus seemed possessed by the thought of killing his old enemy. Severus raised his wand and hissed, "Avada Kedavra!"

Lily screamed again as she watched the green light race towards her boyfriend. She was worried about him, but also had no idea what their soul bond would do to her.

Her mother had her covered.

Violet Evans sprinted away from her husband and pushed James out of the way, leaving him to fall as the spell hit her in the chest.

"Mum!" Lily ran to her mother. "What the hell was that?"

To her surprise, Violet had a single breath left in her, which she used to whisper, "We like him."

"Mum, no!" Lily cried. As her mother's eyes closed for the final time, she felt her magic leave her. It caused the lights above them to spark and flash. She turned bitterly to her former friend and glared at him. "Why my parents, Sev?"

Severus' eyes widened. "I didn't...I didn't mean—I cast that spell at Potter!"

"Do you really think that makes it any better? Why are you even here?"

Severus swallowed so hard Lily could see his Adam's apple rise and fall. "They're Muggles! And you're a Muggleborn witch—we were instructed to come! Lily, I didn't know you'd be here, honest!"

"What, so you could kill my parents without me here to witness it?" Lily screamed. "Would that have made it better? Easier for you?"

"I thought you'd be intelligent and come and join us!" Severus looked at her fiercely. "Join me."

Lily released a shrill, manic laugh. "Fuck you, Snape!"

Then, she flung every spell she knew in his direction.

James groaned and sat up, his arm still bleeding and his head pounding from where it had hit the floor. He hoped McGonagall would get to them shortly, or he worried there'd be nothing left of Lily's soul if they had to keep fighting.

Minerva was thoroughly enjoying Albus' warm breath on her neck when an owl began incessantly pecking at her window.

"Ignore it," Albus mumbled as he moved down to her chest.

"Al, it could be important. Hold on." Minerva gently pushed his head away and removed his hands from her blouse buttons. "We're at war, remember?"

"When it's nothing, I expect you to make it up to me!" Albus called after her as she left their bed and went to the window. He watched Minerva as her eyes scanned the parchment. "What is it, my dear?"

"It's Lily," Minerva breathed. "Get up. We're going to her house."

"What? Why?" Albus asked. He jumped off the bed. "Is she all right?"

"I don't know. She says she detected an unknown magical signature in her, and she would like some help protecting her house." Minerva looked beseechingly at Albus. "Al..."

"We'll make sure she's fine," Albus promised, but the words felt hollow in his throat. "Come on."

He clutched Minerva as she wrapped herself around him, and he Apparated them to a field across from Lily's house.

"I can hear fighting," Minerva whispered, thankful for her Animagus abilities. She withdrew her wand from her cloak and began to run to the house. "They're outnumbered, Al!"

They reached the house, and Minerva almost couldn't believe her eyes.

Riddle himself was there, screaming at James. Lily seemed to be in the battle of her life with Severus Snape—another student we failed to save, Minerva thought—and to her horror, she saw bodies strewn about the floor.

"You will not defy me!" Riddle hissed.

"No?" James snorted. "What do you call it, then, when we do the exact opposite of what you want? We're not joining you, you fucking twit."

While Minerva could appreciate her son's sentiment, she wished he wouldn't irk someone as ferocious as Tom Riddle. Sensing it before it happened, Minerva cast a Protego and jumped in front of James just before Riddle's Crucio could hit him.

"McGonagall," Riddle sneered. "Why am I not surprised?"

"You may not be surprised that she's here, but I'm sure you're surprised to see me." Albus walked into the kitchen quietly. "All of your followers in the house are now disarmed and have been sent to the Ministry. You're not the only one who can work quickly."

At the sight of Albus, Severus Snape Apparated away.

"Coward!" screamed Lily.

"Do you wish to duel me now, Tom?" Albus asked softly. He twirled his wand between his fingers. "Or do you wish to postpone that inevitable confrontation?"

With a hiss, Voldemort disappeared.

Almost immediately, Lily collapsed onto the floor. Albus rushed to her in a sweep of his robes. Minerva could hear him muttering to her.

Minerva turned to her son. "Are you hurt?"

James winced. "My arm is in a bit of rough shape." He held out his wand arm, which appeared to be sliced deeply.

"One of the bones looks broken," Minerva mused. "Would you like me to heal it?"

"Please, Professor."

Minerva took his hand in hers, and pointed her wand at the cut. "This will hurt," she warned before silently healing it.

"It hurt, but not nearly as bad as before." James grinned and flexed his arm. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Minerva looked at Lily, who, to her shock, was crying in Albus' arms. "What happened here?"

"I guess Lily and her family were ambushed," James said quietly. "I was scheduled to come and visit Lily today. I arrived early, thank Merlin. I saw a bunch of Death Eaters outside, and I ran in. Her parents died," he added unnecessarily, jutting his chin in the direction of their two bodies. "Professor, her mum saved me. Mrs. Evans jumped in front of me and took the killing curse."

Minerva felt a swell of gratitude in her belly for Violet Evans. "I don't want you to feel like this is your fault, James."

"Isn't it?" James scoffed and looked at her, his eyes wide. "If I hadn't come in the house, her mum wouldn't have died for me. Lily wouldn't have watched Snape murder her mum."

"Snape did that?" Minerva whispered. "Oh, my. That certainly adds another layer to this."

"Tell me about it. The bastard tried to kill me!" James shook his head. "To think I saved his life once."

Minerva pulled him into her arms, surprising him. "James, this wasn't your fault. If you hadn't been here, there's a very good chance all three of them would be dead."

"I couldn't live without her," James muttered into her shoulder.

"And now you won't have to." Minerva released him and patted his cheek softly. "I'm proud of you—if your old professor's sentiments mean anything to you."

"That means a lot," James admitted. "Thanks."

"James!" Lily wailed.

"Er—"

"Go, James." Minerva stepped back and watched as James swept Lily into his arms.

Albus took that moment to leave Lily and step beside his wife. "Are you all right?"

"I'm shocked. I didn't expect Riddle to show himself here, of all places," Minerva murmured.

"I am, too," Albus sighed. "I'm glad he didn't choose to duel me. I doubt I would have been able to control myself."

Minerva looked at him strangely. "I rather wish you had duelled him. We could have put him in Azkaban, once and for all."

"Minerva, you know just as well as I do that Tom could easily escape Azkaban. He would be the first to do so, and we'd have an even larger problem." Albus rubbed his forehead. "What do we do with the bodies?"

Minerva realized that she had forgotten that Albus' ex-lover—the mother of his child—lay dead on the floor in front of them. "Oh, Al, I'm sorry."

Albus shook his head. "I'm not worried about myself. I'm worried about Lily." He exhaled slowly. "We'll stay and help Lily. Whatever Lily wants to do, we'll do."

The funeral for Gabriel and Violet Evans was a short affair. Petunia and Vernon had attended the ceremony, but didn't bother staying after the fact. Petunia blamed Lily for their parents' death—something for which Lily couldn't fault her sister—and had no desire to remain in their childhood home any longer than was necessary.

Minerva—who insisted that Lily call her by her first name now—had stayed to help. She wanted to help Lily with the administrative dealings that Lily was now just realizing accompanied death. Lily had been all too happy to let Minerva take charge.

Now, Albus and James were talking quietly downstairs as Lily had asked Minerva to have a private conversation.

After they sat in Lily's bedroom, Lily got straight to the point.

"Minerva, you're fighting in the war, right?" Lily asked. She wiped a tear away, and looked fiercely into Minerva's eyes. "I want to fight, too. I have to avenge my parents."

"Oh, Lily," Minerva whispered. She rubbed her head wearily. "You should be focusing on starting your life. You and James have your whole lives ahead of you. I don't want you fighting. Go to school and obtain your mastery."

"You fought when you just got out of school!" Lily protested. She waved her hand, and an old issue of the Daily Prophet flew into her open palm.

"Impressive," Minerva muttered. She took the paper, and immediately, her eyebrows raised. "Where the devil did you find this?"

"It was in the library," Lily said defensively. "Look, it says you fought Grindelwald!"

"I know what this issue says," Minerva said, throwing the paper on the table in front of them.

Of course Minerva knew. That particular issue of the Daily Prophet gave Albus credit for Grindelwald's defeat when, in reality, Minerva had done most of the work. The incorrect story and Albus' lack of desire to correct it had played a large role in the end of their first relationship.

"Well, I knew you would," Lily laughed. "After all, you feature prominently in it. You helped defeat Grindelwald!"

"Yes, but my situation was different than yours."

"How?" Lily asked, not unkindly. "James is training with the Aurors. He'll be at war, and I can't sit back and watch him fight while I hide at Hogwarts."

"You'd be studying," Minerva disagreed. "That's hardly hiding."

"Minerva, school will always be around. This would be my chance to make a difference." Lily squared her shoulders. "In fact, if James and I fight, Sirius, Peter and Remus want to help, too."

"But you're just children!" Minerva cried.

"So were you!"

"Yes, but Lily, my circumstances were different!" Minerva snapped. "You have to trust that they were different."

"Tell me, then." Lily crossed her arms. "You know that you can trust me, Minerva. What made your situation so different that you could fight right out of Hogwarts?"

"Oh, Merlin," Minerva grumbled. "If you must know, I wasn't intending on joining the war effort. The Minister for Magic at the time recruited me."

"You were recruited by the Minister?"

"Yes. He thought my talents and Animagus abilities would be useful." Minerva looked closely at Lily. "Besides, I joined the Aurors. I did the same thing as James, Lily. That war was different. This time around, no one knows who to trust, and the Ministry has been infiltrated. I joined the government, for heaven's sake. You would be joining an underground resistance, which is much riskier."

"But I can't just sit back while James fights!" Lily looked at her pleadingly. "Or while you fight! I care too much about you."

"Lily, dear, I am not fighting. I am aiding Albus and am a strategic mind for some of the operations. That's all. Albus didn't want me to fight."

"You listened to Professor Dumbledore?" Lily scoffed. "Forgive me, Minerva, but that seems a bit out of character."

"He wanted to keep me safe," Minerva said softly. "Hogwarts cannot fall. We needed to ensure that one of us would always be safe and able to provide Hogwarts with protection in the event of attack."

"Or he's in love with you," Lily teased. For a moment, a light was back in her eyes.

Minerva was happy to see it, even if it was at her own expense.

"Albus isn't in love with me," Minerva countered. "We've simply known each other a long time."

"Minerva, I've known my neighbour Mrs. Jenson my entire life. I certainly don't look at her the way Professor Dumbledore looks at you."

Minerva took the opportunity to really observe Lily. Before Athena and Dalton had left their original timeline, Albus had warned Minerva against confirming Athena's suspicions that Minerva and Albus had been soul bonded years before their marriage. He argued, and Minerva had agreed, that they had no idea where or when Athena would end up.

But Minerva knew now, and she knew her daughter-in-law would never betray her to Riddle. And there was some part of her—an emotional part that Albus would tell her to ignore—that wanted to rectify that Dalton and Athena had never known the truth.

So, Minerva decided to tell Lily a good chunk of the truth—with a few omissions for the sake of propriety.

"Lily, what I'm about to tell you cannot be told to anyone. Not even James."

"I know, Minerva." Lily smiled. "Your secrets are safe with me."

"I had feelings for Professor Dumbledore after I finished at Hogwarts," Minerva began, hoping Albus wouldn't discover she had decided to rewrite their history. "I joined the Aurors because the Minister asked, but my main motivation was to join Professor Dumbledore, my brother, and my best friend on the field. I, too, had people I wanted to protect.

"At some point on the front, Professor Dumbledore and I began a relationship. It lasted about a year before we went our separate ways. Since then, we both have been in other relationships, and we have even met each other's partners. We have a great deal of friendship and mutual respect for each other. We've literally fought a war together, and that has bonded us for life."

"Then why does he still look at you like he would move the earth for you?"

Minerva smiled. She knew that their marriage and their bond were two things she couldn't reveal to Lily, not without telling Albus first. "You'd have to ask him that, Lily. But it's very nice of you to believe someone would still be romantically interested in me at my age."

"Oh, shut up, Minerva," Lily grumbled. "We're past the niceties, aren't we?"

"Meaning?" Minerva laughed.

"Meaning you don't have to attempt to put me off with talk of your age," Lily said, sighing. "I get it if you're dating Dumbledore and can't tell me. But don't push it off as something to ask him. If you won't tell me, he sure as hell won't."

"That's most likely true," Minerva said, smiling. "It's very tough to get anything out of him."

"Yeah, I know." Lily blew her fringe off her forehead. "I talked to him first. I tried asking him if we could join whatever resistance he leads."

"You did?" Minerva raised her eyebrows. "What did he say?"

"Oh, some bull about how our skills would serve us well, but he had hesitation about our age. He told me to ask you. That's why we're having this conversation now."

"He told you to ask me, did he?" Minerva murmured. She felt a pressure build behind her forehead. She knew that Albus didn't want to be responsible for letting their children join the war effort; he knew, correctly, that Minerva would have been furious had he done that.

"He did," Lily said softly. "What do you say, Minerva? Will you let me avenge my parents?"

"It would be of no use to argue that you're already a target, and, therefore, should stay as invisible as possible?"

"That's the antithesis of a Gryffindorian argument, Minerva."

"You can join the strategy meetings," Minerva replied finally. "All five of you. We can make a decision later about fighting, but you will be allowed to have input in our missions."

"That's probably as good as I could have hoped for." Lily grasped Minerva's hand. "Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

"I don't think you'll be thanking me once you're involved," Minerva warned. "But you are right about one thing."

"Oh? What's that?"

"It would be extremely hypocritical of me to deny you the opportunity to fight when I fought at the same age," Minerva said quietly. "My reasoning is entirely selfish."

"What is your reasoning?"

"I want to keep you safe."

Later, Minerva and Albus finally returned to the Manor. They had informed Lily and James of the time and location of the next Order meeting, and had given them permission to pass on the information to Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew.

Entering through the front door, Minerva observed her husband as he walked slowly to the main living room. She bit her lip as he collapsed into his chair. Albus, Minerva knew, had compartmentalized his grief away in order to help Lily carry hers. But now, Lily was off with the Potters, and Albus was left to pick up the pieces.

"Al?" Minerva asked quietly. She sat on the arm of his chair. "How are you doing?"

Albus sighed and looked up at her, his eyes wet. "It's odd to think that the biological mother of my child has died. Not only is she gone, but Violet died at the hands of a wizard who only knew of her identity because I brought her into this magical world thirty-odd years ago."

"You can't blame yourself for this death, Albus," Minerva said firmly. She knew where her husband's mind had led him. "This is not your fault. Your decision thirty years ago did not preordain what happened this week."

"Minerva—"

"Albus, listen to me," Minerva replied. She sighed. "If this blame is going to be placed at anyone's feet, it should be Riddle's for starting this war and killing innocent people. If you choose to go farther than that, then you should know that you are not who I would blame."

"Who would you blame?"

"I would blame our children. If Athena and Dalton hadn't decided to go back in time and chuck their lives out the window, Violet would never have been put in this position."

Albus looked at his wife. "You would rather blame our children for this?"

"I don't particularly wish to blame anyone, Albus, but if you're forcing me to play the so-called blame game, I would choose Athena and Dalton." She looked at Albus pointedly. "Violet was living just fine after she left you. Clearly, she was safe. Your involvement in her life had nothing to do with how she died. Besides, as cruel as it may be, I am happy she was there. She saved James."

"Violet was a good person," Albus breathed. "She wouldn't have let James die."

"She was a good person," Minerva agreed. "She, like me, wouldn't want you to blame yourself for this." She bumped her own shoulder against his. "Unless you feel like blaming the creators of the world for existing?"

Albus smiled sadly. "Thank you for talking me off the ledge, my dear."

"It's what I'm here for," she said, and she rested her head on his.

"I'm going to talk to Lily and James," Albus announced after a short while. "I want them to practice muting their soul bond if they're going to eventually start fighting. I don't want the past to repeat itself."

"I think that's a wonderful idea, my love."

He wrapped her hand around hers, and they sat in silence, simply enjoying each other's company and the rest they could carve out before they were inevitably confronted with death once more.

A/N: I knew that Lily and James defied Voldemort thrice in their lifetimes, and the Evans never had an official cause of death, so this seemed like a fun (?) way to tie two canonical facts together.