Chapter 122

Plans for the Future

Note from J.M. Jackson - Sorry for the delay, almost didn't get to posting this, been ill the last few days, which really shut me down. Thankfully, starting to feel better so wanted to do something close to normal, so today's update works for that.

Sitting in the Gryffindor Common Room, Lily, Ginny, Hermione, Ron, Lavender, Fleur, Draco, Pansy, Neville, Parvati, Padma, Luna, and Gabrielle, Fleur's youngest sister, were sitting together, in front of the fire. The rest of the students had gone home for the holidays. Lily, and her friends, were the last students to remain, with Minerva's permission. It felt strange for Lily, sitting in the common room whilst everyone else had left the school, but she knew it was likely going to be the last time.

They were all leaving tomorrow, going to the Burrow, which was being reinforced with every protection spell possible, and of course Sirius and Remus were getting married there as well.

"It feels strange, knowing we might not see this place again," Ron commented.

"I know," Draco agreed. "Hell, I'd be the last person anyone would think of as sentimental, but this place was a second home, especially how Pansy and I were living together."

"I was lucky to grow up with Uncle Sirius," Lily said, who was currently in a meeting with the Order of the Phoenix, in Dumbledore's… no, in Aunt Minnie's office. "I had everything I needed and earnt things I wanted, but now here we are, ready to say goodbye to the best years of my life. I went through so much, but now, I don't know what happens next. I don't even know where to begin looking."

"Well, we know we should try looking for the tomb of Slytherin," Draco said. "As for other locations, we'll need to start making a list of potential Horcruxes and go from there."

"His Diary was one of them," Lily pointed out.

"Which you destroyed," Ginny added. Draco looked down at the ground. "Draco?"

"I know my father gave you that, and I'm so sorry," Draco said. "I know I didn't like you back then, but no one deserves to be killed by being possessed by Voldemort."

"It wasn't your fault, and if I'm honest, I don't think your dad knew exactly what it would do. I think he thought I'd be hypnotised or something and release the Basilisk. He wasn't that cold and evil. If he was, he'd have used it on anyone else before I came along," Ginny pointed out. Lily took Draco's hand.

"You're not to blame for any of what he did, and you're one of us now. You don't need to apologise for the past. We're working together to build a better future, and that's what we need to focus on," Lily said.

"She's right, Draco," Pansy agreed, before kissing Draco. Lily smiled as she looked at the others.

"There's the ring, which Dumbledore destroyed, though I have no idea what he did with it. Not that it matters; it's gone, and can't be used," Lily said.

"And the locket, so that's three," Ron said.

"Could he not make more of zem?" Fleur asked, her voice weak. She had been crying on a daily basis; Lily couldn't blame her. They were all supporting Fleur, but to know her sister was gone, and now Voldemort was walking around in her body… the idea disgusted Lily to the core.

"I don't know, though I hope not. He managed to make a new Horcrux from something, but from what I read, there is only so many times someone can split their soul before being completely destroyed. I don't think he'll be able to make any new Horcrux," Hermione replied.

"Good, otherwise this would take forever," Ron commented. Lily frowned for a moment.

"What if… the second Voldemort tried making one?" Lily asked. Hermione shook her head.

"Same principle. It's still the same soul. He can't make his soul segments grow stronger, not at the core, so he can use any remaining Horcrux to make a new copy of himself, but I don't think he'll be able to split his soul again, or if he does, he'd only be able to do it once more," Hermione replied. She hadn't let go of Fleur since that night. Lily was thankful that the two of them had each other.

"So, we're likely looking for the Goblet of Helga Hufflepuff," Ginny said. "And we've got pictures of it. Finding where he'd hide it, that'll be a challenge."

"I have an idea on something," Luna spoke up. "In the Ravenclaw common room, there's a statue of her, with her Lost Diadem on it. From what you've said, that could be worth looking for."

"How do we find something that's lost?" Ron asked, receiving a slap on the back of the head from Lavender for asking it.

"Research, and time," Lavender said.

"His snake is probably one," Draco said. "He never goes anywhere without it, which makes sense."

"Right, that would be just like him. Can he make a Horcrux from an animal?" Lily asked.

"No, not from an animal, their soul is too weak," Hermione replied.

"Yeah, but the snake isn't a snake. Remember at St. Mungo's, when we listened in?" Ron asked. Lily let out a soft growl of annoyance for having forgotten that.

"What are we missing?" Pansy asked.

"Professor Dumbledore thought that the snake, Nagini, is a Maledictus," Hermione explained, having remembered the conversation.

"A person cursed to become an animal?" Draco asked, looking disgusted at the thought. "Who's the poor soul trapped like that?"

"I did some research on it; there was a woman who helped fight against Grindelwald, called Nagini, but she was presumed dead years ago," Hermione said.

"Guess that's kinda true, if zat evil monster got his 'ands on her," Fleur said bitterly.

"Agreed," Lily replied. "Where should we begin though?"

"I have an idea where one could be, but it'll be difficult to get to," Hermione said. "From what you said, he valued symbols of the Wizarding World, so there's a chance he's hidden one in Gringotts."

"Right, think they'll let us stroll in and search every vault?" Ron asked, rolling his eyes.

"It's something to consider. Maybe we can ask the Minister to get us permission," Lily said. "Though we'll need to be careful. If Voldemort figures out what we're trying to do, he'll move the Horcruxes so we can never find them."

"Where do you want to begin?" Lavender asked.

"Well, we can start by preparing resistance groups. With Dumbledore gone, he'll be bolder with his attacks, since Dumbledore was the one person he feared," Lily said.

"I'll set up an underground group," Draco said. "I know a few locations that can work, and I figure Mr. Crouch has a few locations available."

"Probably," Lily agreed. "What I want to know is how the hell Voldemort got to…" her voice trailed off, not wanting to upset Fleur.

"I suspect I know," Fleur said, the anger and sorrow both clear in her voice. "Whilst we were at ze Christmas Market, that was when he got to her. She had gone shopping alone and was the only time he could have gotten to her."

"Fuck," Ron swore angrily. "That's why he attacked! The bastard knew we'd be there, and he wanted us distracted! That's why it wasn't as difficult as it should have been to win, he didn't want to win, he wanted us distracted, thinking we'd won and beaten him, when in fact he beat us!"

Lily felt sick as her face paled, connecting the dots of everything. That was it, wasn't it? That was why the attack happened. It hadn't been about her, it hadn't been to cause panic, that was just a bonus. No, it had just been a distraction.

Lily clenched her fists as she felt anger flowing through her body. She wanted to scream in anger. How could she not have seen it? How could she have not known. She was brought out of her rage, however, by Ginny taking hold of her hands.

"Lily, you need to stop thinking like that," Ginny said. Lily looked at her, and spoke, but surprised herself by not needing to speak verbally.

"How can I not blame myself? I should have seen this!" Lily exclaimed mentally.

"Love, you aren't able to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, and you need to stop hating yourself," Ginny replied. "I love you, but you blame yourself for every failure and every victory that Voldemort has. You can't win all the time, but we will destroy him once and for all."

"So what do I do now? How do I keep going forward? How do I manage to not hate myself? And yes, you're right, I do hate myself," Lily admitted.

"I know you do. I know you all too well, love, and you are everything to me. I love you, Lily, with all my heart, and I can't wait for us to enjoy the future together. You should talk to Lana, and tell her how you feel," Ginny told her.

"I guess so. I'm just scared of Voldemort going after everyone I love and care about," Lily told her.

"I know you are, but this is war, and we choose to fight by your side. I'm never letting you be alone, and I'm done at Hogwarts as well. We're in this together, to the very end. Now, stop acting stupid and stop being afraid and depressed about what you can't change, and focus on what you can change," Ginny told her. Lily nodded, smiling softly at her.

"Do you mind?" Ron asked, staring at them. "I get that you can read each other's mind now, but we would like to add to whatever you're talking about."

"Sorry, Ron," Lily smiled softly. "I just want to thank you, all of you, for being here with us. We might need to split up next year, as we all lead the fight against Voldemort. We'll search quicker if we're in teams."

"Good idea. Teams of two, so we don't attract attention," Draco agreed. "Pansy and I, you and Ginny, Ron and Lavender, and Hermione and Fleur."

"I'll stay here, help find out any news from your aunt, and pass on messages to you, using the coins," Luna offered.

"Same here," Neville spoke up for the first time in the meeting. "We know your aunt will be headmistress, so it should be safe, but at least we can keep things safe here."

"Thank you," Lily smiled at them. "We'll have to be careful; I know the Death Eaters don't care about staying hidden, not anymore. They see us, they'll attack."

"Which means we need to be extra careful. No heroics, just stay safe. I've buried too many people already," Ron said, his voice heavy with sorrow. Everyone in the room knew what he meant.

"We'll start out at the Burrow, and Grimmauld Place, but soon we'll need to go to different places," Lily said, as she stood up, going to the window, and looking out at the grounds of the school.

"It's weird, isn't it? The school being so empty and quiet? It's not fully dark yet, and yet it feels so different, because usually everyone is outside, playing games, spending time together, or just having fun," Ginny said, joining her.

"You're not wrong," Lily agreed. "I could picture all of us living together in a castle, using it as a home instead of a school."

"Yeah, but we'd find it too big," Ginny chuckled softly. "Six years is a long time for anyone, five in my case, but still, it's long enough to feel like home. I wonder how year seven's feel, knowing they're about to leave Hogwarts for good."

"I felt similar when I left Beauxbatons," Fleur spoke up. "I loved the school and being there. It was a home for me. Now, my home is where Hermione is."

"I feel the same way about you, Fleur," Hermione said, before kissing her. "I love you, Fleur, more than I ever thought I'd be able to love anyone."

Lily smiled as the others declared their love for one another, though Padma and Luna didn't declare their love for anyone there.

"How do you know when you love someone?" Luna asked, smiling as she looked at the others.

"For me, it's knowing that Ginny completes me, how happy I am when she's with me, and how empty I feel when we're apart," Lily said.

"Lavender makes me feel like I can do anything, and being cuddled up to her makes me feel safe," Ron explained.

"When I'm with Fleur, it feels like the world is nothing but a background noise that doesn't matter. I look at what the future could be, and I want that future with Fleur," Hermione added.

"If I'm being honest, when I'm with Parvati, it feels like my past isn't as painful. It feels like everything makes sense, and I feel confident, and not as useless as I felt when I first started here at Hogwarts," Neville chipped in. "Who are you in love with, Luna?"

"I don't know if I'm in love. It's more… I don't understand love, not really, and I'd like to know it better," Luna said.

"You will, one day. Just let it happen and don't force it," Lily said. "If there's one thing we learnt from Dumbledore, it's that Love will always conquer fear and hatred."

"Voldemort had already proven that we can win, through love. He's brought all of us together, through loss, pain, and anguish," Ron said, looking at the group. "We've all lost people we love and care about, but that unites us."

"You're not wrong," Draco agreed. "It's painful, but we've all learnt the lessons we need to keep fighting, and we've made the choice to fight, together."

Lily took a breath as she turned and faced the group. She knew they would be looking to her for guidance and strength, and she wanted to give them that.

"We know we've taken out three Horcruxes, and whilst he's used one to take over Nicolette, but let's assume he made a replacement. Four Horcruxes, four teams," Lily said, looking at them as they faced her. "We've lost friends, and we've lost family. We've lost parts of ourselves, our hearts. The Order of the Phoenix are planning their fight, and now we have to plan ours."

She could see the hope in their eyes, even in Fleur's eyes. "We don't know what price we'll be paying before this war ends, and as much as the adults think it's their fight, it's not. Since the first time Voldemort attacked me, when I was one, it's been my fight, maybe even before that when the prophecy was made about Voldemort and me," she continued.

"What we're fighting for is more than just us versus the Death Eaters and Voldemort, it's us fighting for freedom, for everyone, muggles and magical folk alike. The price for freedom is high, and it always will be. We've lost Fudge, Arthur Weasley, Professor Dumbledore, Nicolette, Ollivander, Florean Fortescue, members of the Order of the Phoenix have been killed, the people who died at Christmas when all they wanted was to do shopping for their families. Those people lost their loved ones, and I've had enough of Voldemort taking everything from us," Lily said.

She could feel Ginny's hand holding her hand, giving her strength to keep going. "I've spent so much time blaming myself for not being good enough, for failing to protect everyone. Maybe that's part of my depression, or maybe that's because Voldemort fought to make me feel that way, but with Ginny here, I know I can do better, but right now, this isn't about me. It's about us, and we're here, together, to show the world that no matter how much Voldemort wants to defeat us, he won't, because we're together. We'll be able to take him down, no matter what," Lily said.

"I won't try to keep you out of the fight again, because that's not been fair on you, and for that I'm sorry. We're in this together, and we'll take him out, because the price of failure is too high to calculate," Lily said.

"So we make sure we don't lose," Draco said. "We make sure we prove that we're the better people, by showing the world how much more powerful love is than hate."

"The only way we do this is together," Ron said. "Yes, as teams, but we're one family now, and we make sure we don't give up."

"It's agreed then," Hermione said, looking at them. "We're in this until the very end."

Lily knew that was going to be it. The war was truly beginning, and now, with the first fight having cost them Dumbledore, it was time to take the fight to Voldemort, and make him regret the day he ever crossed them.