AN: Hello, fanfiction and Harry Potter fans. I do not own Harry Potter, but feel free to enjoy this or hate it. If you enjoy it, please leave a lovely comment, if you hate it, then leave some constructive criticism, thanks!

Can You Take the Jump?

AN: Sorry for the late upload every one. I got my COVID booster shot and it's kind of beating me up. I wanted to edit this chapter more because I wasn't loving it, but I'm not feeling too well, so... I hope you guys enjoy it regardless.

Chapter 41

Hermione walked through the main atrium in the Ministry, her heeled shoes clicking every time her feet hit the marble floors. The beautiful Fountain of Magical Brethren stood proudly in the center with its golden statues; the wizard in the center standing arrogantly above his fellow 'brethren', subtly depicting the centuries of abuse and mistreatment toward the other creatures who were situated below the wand-holding magician.

It was just before the lunch hour before everyone left their offices to grab a bite to eat. A few people were walking by, but no one paid her much attention as she stepped into the lift that took her to the second level, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

The route was all too familiar to Hermione, a reminder of her life before she was an Evans. Hermione Granger had spent many days and nights on this floor, working her way up the Ministry levels, starting from the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. She'd been just a breath away from becoming the Minister of Magic itself until the world she knew went to ruin.

"Basement level two. Welcome to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

Unlike the quiet atrium, the doors opened to reveal the bustling DMLE. Aurors, DMLE employees, and officers rushed around trying to get as much work done as possible before heading off for a much-needed break.

The Department was in absolute chaos due to the recent rise in crimes that were affecting the floor as people were seen scrambling around with large stacks of paper. She shook her head at the disorganized mess that she saw before her. When she was the Head of the DMLE, this was not acceptable.

"But it's because you're not the Head of the DMLE that you can just sneak into this floor without raising any suspicions, no?" Harry asked.

"Another flaw in their disorganized system, if you ask me." She muttered.

Hermione carefully maneuvered around, unseen by the busy employees, keeping her eyes open for a certain messy-haired boy with glasses. She checked the area where she had kept interns during her years in this department but found a waiting area for civilian complaints, so she checked the various nooks and crannies around the floor to finally see the boy she was looking for.

James sat at his desk with a few other interns. The other two interns sat with their backs straight up, looking eager and waiting, hoping someone would call on them. Unlike the others, James looked bored out of his mind, slumped over his desk, twirling a quill between his fingers as he stared off into space, oblivious to the frenzy around him.

This wasn't the attitude she expected from James, she had expected him to have the same innate hero complex as Harry. She expected James to be arguing with his supervising officer to be out in the field or taking part in investigations and tracking down Death Eaters, but he just…sat there.

If she was being completely honest, Hermione felt disappointed in the boy.

Granted, she didn't really know him. She knew of him, through Lily, Sirius, Harry, past memories and descriptions, but she didn't know James Potter, least of all, a 16-year-old James Potter. Out of all the people she interacted with within this timeline, she probably had the least interactions with James. It was mainly due to the undeniable fact that whenever she saw him, she could see his dead son standing behind him.

The only differentiating factor between the boy and his dead son was the eyes; not just the colour difference, but the way they looked at her. Harry's eyes were warm, friendly, familiar, and inviting. James's eyes were indifferent when they looked at her, she was just a classmate, an acquaintance, Lily's sister, and Sirius's girlfriend. It was nothing unfriendly or scathing like the Slytherins, but it wasn't Harry.

She knew their distance was her fault. She hadn't made the effort toward him as she had with the others, but the glaring and gut-wrenching similarities, yet important differences, took her by surprise every time she looked at him. Even after all these years, a part of her still wanted to hug him, cling to him and cry, in a way that was utterly inappropriate for their level of acquaintanceship.

James didn't deserve a friend that looked at him and treated him like his future dead son. He deserved a friend that saw him for who he was. Hermione simply couldn't bring herself to do so.

However, today she approached the bored boy with an objective in mind; she was a Slytherin after all.

The bespeckled boy had gone from twirling his quill to scribbling something on a piece of parchment in front of him but judging by the lack of movement across the page, he wasn't actually working.

"You shouldn't be expecting him to want to jump into the fray as I did," Harry muttered, snorting at his father's look of concentration on the doodle he was making on his parchment. "I was born into the war, but dad was simply trying to fight his way through it."

Hermione nodded, yet another expectation she had of James that was just a reflection of his son.

"Something triggered my father to want to participate in the war, his sense of duty to fight," Harry deduced. "That something just hasn't happened yet."

"And it won't happen," Hermione whispered. "Not if I can help it."

She stepped up to his desk and knocked on the wood, "Working hard? Or hardly working?"

James scrambled to cover his parchment, but Hermione had seen what he'd been doodling with such concentration that he didn't even hear her walk over.

Mrs. Lily PotterMrs. Lily James PotterMr. James Evans? Mrs. Lily Evans Potter

"E-E-Evans! What are you doing here?"

"Potter," She greeted with a raised brow. "Or…is it Evans now? It's sweet that you're considering changing your name for her."

"Potter," the other interns looked at her with interest. "Introduce us to your friend."

"This is Hermione Evans. A schoolmate." James introduced reluctantly.

"Evans?" One of the boys perked up at the familiar name. "Oh, you do look familiar. You work at the Committee of Experimental Charms, right?"

"They look nothing alike!" James argued. "Lily has freckles and her hair is straight, she has bangs and her eyes are gree—"

"We're twins." Hermione intercepted.

"Ah," the boys nodded. "So, not the one James here is in love with?"

Hermione let out a small laugh, "No. I reckon I'm too serious for James."

"I like a serious girl." A cocky grin spread on the boy's face as he winked at her.

"She's taken," James stood up, "tell my dad that I'm off to lunch, alright?" Without looking back, he walked out to the elevator, leaving Hermione to give an awkward goodbye to the rest of the interns.

Unlike what she thought, James was waiting for her by the lift, holding it open for her, despite the glares he was receiving from the other occupants in the shaft were giving him.

"How'd you get the other interns to like you if it's obvious that you're here because of nepotism?"

The elevator had been silent, which meant everyone in the small space had heard her. No one spoke, but it was clear that everyone was listening.

If James was annoyed with her, he was holding it together impressively well. He didn't respond for a while, holding onto a hanging railing as the bizarre lift shook all of them in various directions.

Only seconds before the door opened did James bother giving her an answer.

"The thing about nepotism, Evans, is that no one gives a damn if you're talented."

James and several employees walked out, but Hermione heard the sputtering cough of one of the men in the lift. Now that the lift was empty, she could see who had made the noise. Fleamont Potter, the Head of the DMLE, also James Potter's father, stood awkwardly at the very back of the lift.

She recognized him from King's Cross station where Mr. and Mrs. Potter would wait eagerly to pick their son up from school. Not only did their status and affluence bring attention, but the elderly couple was poised and graceful, catching the eyes of onlookers, even muggles who didn't know of their identity stared.

She gave the older gentleman a nod of acknowledgement.

"Evans, come on!"

Hermione slowly walked to James, listening to the man follow her out.

"So why are you here, Evans?" He asked as they stood in the long line to the café.

"I can't just visit?"

James let out a laugh.

While it was true that they didn't have such a relationship, his reaction hurt her nonetheless. She thought of the days in her past when she spent hours in Harry's office or he in hers doing nothing but talking or doing their separate work in silence. Their easy friendship required no explanation or conversation. She had something like that with Alphard, but she doubted she will ever have something like that again. That realization constricted her heart painfully.

"Evans?" His voice grew soft, seeing how her eyes drifted afar.

"Lily is upset with me because of something that happened a few days ago." Hermione quietly admitted. "She's avoiding me at work and home."

"Must have been a big fight."

"Don't act like you didn't hear about it. I know you guys had lunch together yesterday." Her sister was many things, she was not a person who kept her pent-up frustrations to herself. "My sister is a terrible gossip when she's around her friends."

James remained silent neither admitting to her sister's loose lips nor denying them.

"To make her feel better, and to offer an olive branch of sorts, I want to have a party. At your place. You can invite your intern friends."

"How will a party make a difference? And why my place?"

"Lily's stressed," Hermione shrugged. "Rumor has it that your family's estate has a lake. My family can't go to our summer beach house this year because my parents are busy working. I thought it'd be a good substitute."

"I'll have to ask my parents."

"Great, let's ask now." Hermione smiled, "What do you say, Mr. Potter?" She called out to the man in the queue behind them where she knew Fleamont Potter stood.

James and the rest of the line followed her line of sight.

"Dad?" James looked surprised.

She gestured for the older man to join them near the front of the line. The employees of the Ministry quickly recognized the high-ranking official in the line and let him pass with no questions asked.

Mr. Potter nodded his gratitude to the people in line and joined his son and Hermione in the line.

"Mr. Potter," Hermione greeted.

"Dad, this is—"

"Miss Hermione Evans. I recognize you from the paper. You were the winner of this year's Dueling Championships."

Hermione pondered at his words. For a man who thought the world of Sirius, the fact that he didn't know her primarily as Sirius's girlfriend was interesting. There was a chance that Sirius didn't tell them about her, but she didn't think it was the reason, especially since Sirius had never tried to hide the fact that they were together from the second it happened.

"I'm honoured you know who I am, sir."

"Hermione was just asking if we could have a small party at the estate."

"Today."

"Today? What's the rush?"

"Why? Are you busy?"

"No, but I just wasn't expecting—"

"You know what it's like being on the receiving end of Lily's silent treatment. If you're not busy, then the earlier the better."

"I don't know James," Mr. Potter hesitated, he glanced at Hermione, which didn't escape her notice.

This man was wary of her. The girl was a Slytherin, the girl who Dumbledore didn't trust, the girl that caused an eruption of uncontrollable magic at Alphard's funeral.

"It might be dangerous to invite a group of people to our home. The times are…"

James sighed, disappointed. He wasn't the only one. She needed to change the way this conversation was going.

"Despite knowing me, I'd still like to make a formal introduction," she extended her hand and gave her best smile. "I'm Hermione Evans. I'm Lily Evans's twin sister and I'm Sirius's girlfriend." She looked into his eyes, unwilling to look away.

She needed to reshape the man's views of her as the twin sister of James's long-time crush and the beloved girlfriend of his practically adoptive son. She needed to be seen as a person that is already within the small circle of close friends who could be trusted, not whatever he thought of her currently.

"I'll have to ask your mother." Mr. Potter partially relented at her unrelenting gaze. "She will send you a letter by the end of the work day to let you know, Mrs. Evans."

Knowing it was all that she could achieve at the moment, Hermione nodded her thanks.

"Thank you. Please let Mrs. Potter know that the group won't be large, Mr. Potter," Hermione reassured. "It would just be me, my sister, and the other Gryffindors James wishes to invite."

"Yes, it is a small group," Mr. Potter's uncomfortable face eased marginally. "But my wife will still make the final call."

"Then I'll be eagerly hoping for her letter to arrive at Ollivander's by the end of the day." Hermione turned to James. "I guess I might see you later?"

James nodded, "I guess, yeah."

…

Euphemia Potter was in her rose garden when her husband's out flew to her. Fear constricted her heart. Her husband was a workaholic, and rarely sent owls during the work day. The frightening images from the morning paper plagued her mind as the large grey owl came closer.

"Borden, please go get the owl treats." She requested to her assisting House elf. "Hello, Maximus." She greeted the owl. "What do you have for me?"

Lady Potter opened the letter tied around Maximus's leg. As her eyes scanned the words on the parchment, they grew wider and wider with more amusement.

"A party? Hermione Evans? Lily Evans?" The names rang with obvious familiarity. It was hard to forget the names of her sons' girlfriends.

"Borden," she called to her elf, who'd just arrived to feed the owl. "I must send a letter immediately."

"To Master Potter, Ma'am?"

"No," Mrs. Potter smiled. "To my future daughter-in-laws."

…

Hermione waited for Lily by the exit of her sister's office. Ever the social butterfly, her sister walked out with her colleagues, chatting and laughing about something that Mallory had said.

"Hermione," Lily quickly recognized her sister waiting outside. She glanced at the piece of parchment in her sister's hand.

"Apologies, but I'm afraid I won't be able to have drinks today. I'm invited elsewhere."

"Oh?" Nadia glanced between the siblings. "Somewhere special?"

"Something like that." Lily smiled, she waved her colleagues goodbye while Hermione gave them a small nod of acknowledgement.

"So, you got the letter too?" Lily asked.

Hermione lifted the letter between her fingers. On the outside, Lily could see the elegant script on the expensive parchment paper.

The two sisters started walking side by side, awkward in their interaction. It wasn't so much that they were still fighting, but there was still a tense air around them.

Lily peeked at her sister, although looking tired was practically her sister's signature look, she looked more exhausted than usual. Hermione pinched her nose between the eyes, something she only did when she was extremely tired. By Hermione's standards, Lily assumed a normal person would have collapsed. Guilt rippled through her. She hadn't meant to be so petty for so long but saying something and apologizing got harder and harder as the days went by.

"How's your sleep been, these days?"

Hermione looked up at her, "Oh…uh, I've had better days."

Lily blinked in surprise. She'd expected an outright lie.

"Maybe having some fun at Potter's will make you feel more relaxed. Better even."

Hermione smiled.

"Actually, I suggested this for you. I thought that an evening off and away from your books and studying might give you some new perspective. When the mind wanders is when it's the most creative, you know."

Lily smiled.

"Thanks. Really."

Hermione bit her lower lip.

"So who do you think will be there?"

"Hm, well James send me a letter later in the afternoon telling me that he invited the other Marauders and the girls, but Mary's in Spain with her mum, so she probably won't be there. Alice's parents are very conservative, so she won't be allowed to come because James is a guy… I guess we'll have to see."

"I bought some extra clothes for you and me, so don't worry about getting wet. I suppose other toiletries will be provided for us."

The sister arrived on the lift to take them to basement level two, where James and his father would be waiting for them to take them to the heavily warded Potter House.

"What's his father like?" Lily asked curiously.

"You've never met Mr. Potter?"

"When and why would I have met him?"

Hermione shrugged. "You've been friends with James for years. I assumed that you would have spoken to him at least once."

"Well, maybe a hello and an introduction once or twice at King's Cross, but it was never more than a few words. Plus, you're unusually perceptive in reading people. I just want to see your opinion of him."

"He cautious, but I suppose it can be seen as protective, depending on the perspective. He doesn't trust easily, and he seems intelligent."

"Well that much I gathered as well," Lily nodded. "He is the Head of the DMLE, that kind of position doesn't just fall onto your lap because you're pureblood. He must be quite magically talented as well. I wonder if that's where James got his talents from."

"Oh, and he loves his wife. He respects her a great deal." Hermione added. "Mr. Potter was unwilling to let us come over, but one word from his wife, he relented."

Lily smirked, "Well you know what dad says, "Happy wife, happy life."

The doors of the lift opened to reveal James and his father waiting for them.

"Lily!" James waved with a large smile. "You're here!"

…

The Potter House, which Hermione quickly realized was the actual ancestral home of the Potters, not the sizeable home in Godrick's Hollow, was grand and filled to the brim with riches.

Unlike the other rich Pureblood homes she'd previously been in, the Potter House was bright and open. The tall, vaulted ceilings had crystal chandeliers that glittered elegantly. The extravagant crown moulding, painted in pale gold showed the expensive bones of the house, despite the more modern interior. The front hall had white marble floors, expensive tapestry and paintings that decorated the white walls, and double wrap-around staircases made of dark wood.

"Oh my Merlin," Lily whispered next to her. "He has a balcony indoors!"

True to her words, Hermione looked up at the railing that looked down at the front hall. Although she couldn't see the full spectrum, she could see a peak of ornate archways that led into different areas of the house.

No wonder James had such a big head in his earlier Hogwarts years.

"Welcome," a tall and intimidating woman with wrinkles around her eyes and mouth greeted them from the top of the stairs. As she stepped down the stairs, in what Hermione could only describe as royal elegance, she could instantly tell that Mrs. Potter was a proud woman, but her eyes contrasted her overall image with warmth and kindness.

James, unlike Harry, was a good mix of both of his parents. He had his mother's eyes, nose, and general facial bone structure, but his father's hair, mouth, complexion, and physical stature.

"Hey, mum." James greeted casually, kissing her on the cheek. He turned to the group and opened his mouth to introduce everyone, but she stopped him quickly.

"Lily and Hermione Evans." She looked directly at the respective twins. "How lovely to officially meet you."

"Hello Mrs. Potter," the twins greeted at the same time.

"We are grateful for your invitation," Lily told the impressive woman before them.

"I was going to invite you girls to our home eventually, but this summer has been…distracting for us in some ways. I'm simply embarrassed that you requested an invitation first."

Lily blushed prettily, causing Mrs. Potter's intimidating face to bloom with a smile herself.

"Your home is the most beautiful I've ever seen, Mrs. Potter."

"It should be considering how much of the money you spent." Mr. Potter joked, which landed him a withering glare from his wife.

"Oh please Fleamont, my dowry was more than enough to pay for it."

Mr. Potter chuckled, "Yes, Phemy. You're right." He acknowledged while kissing his wife on the cheek as a greeting.

With a loud crack, a House Elf appeared by their side.

"Your bags, Miss." The young elf held his hand out, waiting for them. Lily looked hesitant, so Hermione placed her bag into the young elf's awaiting hand.

"Thank you. What's your name?"

"Bertie, Miss."

"Well Bertie, my bag contains something very special to me that I might need later, so please don't store it too far from my sight."

"Yes, Miss." Bertie nodded. "If Young Master and Misses will follow Bertie, Bertie will escort yous to the lake house."

Not only was the estate grand and beautiful, but so were the lands. Rare and beautiful flowers covered the garden, not a weed was in sight. Lush grass and tall trees decorated the rest of the large land beyond the garden, reminding her of scenes in movies.

"Oh my." Lily gawked.

The three of them arrived near the edge of the property that opened up to a large pond.

"This isn't a lake," Hermione noted, causing Lily to whack her sister on the shoulder with embarrassment at her bluntness.

"No, the reason we call it a lake is that when I was younger I would whine to my parents about wanting to visit a lake, but my father was busy with work so we had no time to actually go all the way to a lake. Instead, he insisted that this was a lake." James chuckled good-naturedly, "the Potter estate is large, but not that large. How could we fit an entire lake here?"

"Magic?" Hermione responded as if it was the most obvious answer.

"Magic powerful enough to sustain an entire lake on this property would be bordering on Dark Magic," James explained. "Can't have that stuff around. It corrupts the mind and soul."

Hermione decided not to mention similar magic in the backyard of Grimmauld Place.

"Either way," Lily rolled up her trousers and dipped her foot into the water. "The water is cool and it looks clean. You must have a lot of memories here, James."

"I do." He had a nostalgic look on his face. "The lake house practically has everything a normal house needs because I was convinced, I was going to move out of the house and live here when I was 12. It just ended up becoming a hideout for me and my friends."

James told them stories about the many summer days that the Marauders spent in the lake house. None of them mentioned Sirius by name, however.

The three of them sat inside the lake house, eating small sandwiches that Bertie had left for them when there was a small knock in the house.

"Come in!"

The door tentatively opened to reveal some of Lily's roommates. Lyana, Marlene, and even Alice managed to show up.

"Oh my gosh!" Lily jumped up from her seat and ran to the door to hug her friends. "Guys!"

As Lily soon became distracted, it left Hermione and James sitting next to each other awkwardly.

"How are your friends?"

James turned his head, "If you want to ask about Sirius, you should just ask."

"I care about your other friends."

"Oh please," he rolled his eyes. "You barely tolerate Peter, and you rejected Remus for Sirius."

"That doesn't mean I don't want to know how Remus is doing. I want to know how his potions are working out for him too."

This shut James up, "I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm always so defensive around you."

Hermione ignored him and walked up to the girls. She produced a smile and greeted them with equal enthusiasm, making small talk.

The girls kicked James out of the lake house to change into their bathing suits. They giggled as they changed and commented on each other's summer tan and their tan lines.

Hermione felt awkward. Even in this life, she didn't have many girlfriends. She had sisters, but she couldn't remember the last time she changed in front of them.

Lyana and Marlene had very sporty bodies. Their bodies were tanned and toned, while Lily had a daintier appearance. Alice, the shortest in the group, had soft curves which she attempted to cover up.

"You look lovely Alice," Hermione told her.

The other girls' attention turned to the duo and the other girls immediately showered Alice with deserving compliments.

While the girls were distracted, Hermione slid her hand into her bag and discretely felt around until she touched the small, cold, metal item. It was a dog tag without the chain necklace around it. The dog tag necklace had been an inside joke gift Hermione had thought of for Sirius as she was walking around central London, but now it was the location link to the necklace which would act as a portkey for Sirius. When Sirius broke the chain of the necklace, it would portkey him into the Potter House, bypassing all the extensive wards and protection around this place.

"Come on, Hermione!" Lyana called out to her.

"Yeah, let's get into the water! It's bloody hot!" Marlene ran out the door.

The girls walked out of the lake house to see James already in the water with another familiar face.

"Remus! Peter!"

The Gryffindors were reunited as they splashed and played in the water.

"Sirius should be here," Harry commented.

"Hey mum," James was the first to notice his mother approaching the group.

"Hey Mrs. Potter," the rest of the group followed suit. Being the only one outside the water, Hermione walked up to her and took the tray of food off her hands.

"Thank you." She smiled kindly. "You're Sirius's girlfriend, are you not?"

Hermione nodded quietly.

"Hmm."

Suddenly, Hermione felt a chill travel down her spine as someone prodded into her mind.

Legilimency.

If Dumbledore's mind attacks were like a stealthy and lethal fox hunting at night, Mrs. Potter's was obvious, like Goliath stomping around her mind. She wasn't well trained in the art of Legilimency, probably only knew the basics, but she also hadn't expected that a 15-year-old girl was a full-fledged Occlumens.

Hermione stood behind her metal wall, tossing out bits and pieces of information and memories to appease the roaring mother bear.

"It's a shame he's not here. He must hate that finishing school that his parents sent him to on the continent. Hermione softened her voice because it was what Mrs. Potter wanted to hear, but because she knew how much Sirius was suffering currently.

The older woman laid her hand on her shoulder and squeezed her.

An hour passed until it was time for dinner. Instead of taking it inside the large estate, the Potter family set up an extravagant outdoor dinner. Everyone changed into their clothes and around the round table eating their food.

"I heard you barely touched the water." She suppressed her surprise when Mr. Potter leaned toward her and spoke to her. Mr. Potter gave her a believable smile, but his eyes remained critical. "Did you not say that the party's purpose was for you and your sister to reconcile after your fight?"

"Mr. Potter," she straightened her back, a subconscious decision to reduce the height difference between the older gentleman and herself. "Yes, you're right. I was distracted by your lovely grounds and the lovely day. But look how happy she is. I'm sure her good mood will also extend to me. I know Lily won't be so petty to keep fighting with me after today. Thank you, it's all thanks to your and your wife's wonderful hospitality."

"Ouch, my grandparents are still pretty wary of you, Mione." Harry tutted while staring at the food with longing.

"I must get the recipe for your potato and leek soup." Hermione changed the topic of conversation. "It's my house elf's childhood soup. He's been feeling down. A little nostalgia never hurt anyone."

"You own a house elf?"

"I don't want to say I own him, per se. I believe that they are entitled to autonomy and free will. Pinky is just an old friend. My oldest friend."

"Oi!" Harry had the fucking gall to look offended.

"Friends with a house elf…Sirius did mention you were peculiar."

"Coming from him, I'll take it as a compliment."

He finally smiled; it was small but there. "I think of him as a second son, you know."

"He's lucky to have you guys. I met his mother very briefly during the school year, she was…" Hermione trailed off, unsure how to describe the venomous woman.

"Yes, she most certainly is."

"I worry for him too, you know." She hinted at the fact that she'd caught everyone's judgement for her lack of concern and sadness about Sirius's absence." But I promised him that I'll wait for him with open arms and a smile on my face, no pining, and no weeping, so I'm doing what I promised him."

"Oh, well I—" He managed to look ashamed.

"I only told you about the promise between me and my boyfriend because I know he cares for you and this family deeply, but this will be the last time I will explain my relationship to you, sir. How I deal with my emotions regarding Sirius is my prerogative and Sirius's." She told him matter of factly, which grabbed the attention of Mrs. Potter sitting beside him. "If he has an issue with it, he will let me know directly because he knows that I am always open to having a conversation with him. None of which requires input from you, Mrs. Potter, or James for the matter. I do not like my character being judged by people who do not know an inkling of who I am because, trust me, I get it enough at school."

There were very few people that could leave Fleamont Potter speechless, not with his occupation, his social status, his financial standing, or simply the aura of confidence and intimidation he radiated if he wished, but the girl before him had managed to take him by surprise, force his hand, cut him off, interrupt him, and leave him speechless all in one day. Her short height barely registered because of the way she held herself. She was tall, proud, and infallible. Her glare could cut glass, and her tongue darted venom if she so wished. She reminded him of his wife when they were kids.

"Welcome to the family."

…

"Where's you sister?" James asked as he shook the water out of his hair and sat next to Lily. It was their last swim before heading home.

"Thanks," she rolled her eyes, then wiped the water droplets off her body.

"Oh, sorry."

"As for Hermione, I'm not sure. She followed a House Elf somewhere into your home." She gestured towards the large house behind them. "It's beautiful by the way. Your house, I mean."

"I guess it is." James nodded. "I don't think about it that often."

"I think I finally get why you've had such a big head all this time." Lily joked.

"Money isn't everything." James's voice softened. He didn't want to fight. She didn't know why she was even mentioning this.

"It's easy to say when you have lots." She muttered, the edge leaving her voice. She thought to her parents who worked tirelessly yet struggled to make ends meet. With Alphard gone, there was no one to cover half of the medical bills.

James didn't know that Lily's family was having financial issues. He knew they weren't wealthy, but they never seemed to struggle like Remus or even Peter at times.

"Yeah, I guess it is." James acknowledged. "What is it that you always say? The thing that annoys you about me?"

"You have privileges that you were born with, but you waste it." They both spoke at the same time.

"Why do you look so surprised?" James laughed. "I do listen sometimes."

"Could've fooled me." She smiled.

"But I've been better, haven't I?"

"Of course," Lily turned to reassure him, only to now see that he'd taken his t-shirt off. Years of quidditch had toned his body. His arms, chest and abs rippled with muscle. She watched a water droplet travel down his body and seep into his swim trunks.

"I wonder what it'd be like to follow that trail down his body with my…" She snapped out of her thoughts when she realized where they were taking her. She quickly looked away as a brilliant blush coloured her skin, but it was impossible to hide.

"Like what you see, Evans?"

"P-put a shirt on!"

"Because I like what I see."

She gasped and covered her bikini-clad body with an offended gasp. She turned back to yell at him, only to see an equally bright blush on James's face. There was no arrogant smirk, which she assumed would be plastered on his face, but a genuine look of awe as he looked into her eyes.

"I always wondered if your freckles covered the rest of you like it does your face."

I love your freckles. That's what James had said during their Yule Ball dance.

"You are beautiful, Lily."

Her heart skipped a beat.

"It's…it's just the bikini. Y-yo-you're not thinking straight."

"My words must seem disingenuous if you think that I only see you as beautiful when you are wearing this little number." He leaned toward her, brushing her hair off her shoulder. He put his finger around one of the straps on her shoulder, "I think you're the most gorgeous person in the world, regardless of how much or how little you're wearing. I've seen you in a dirty t-shirt and joggers and my heart still races for you."

Lily couldn't breathe. She closed her eyes, feeling James's breath cause goosebumps all over her skin. She could feel him lean closer like he was going to give her ki—

"There."

Her eyes fluttered open. He moved away from her, leaving her feeling cold and missing his warmth.

"I fixed it."

Lily blinked, unsure of what he was talking about.

"That strap around your shoulder was flipped. I've wanted to fix it ever since you walked out of the change room."

Lily snapped her neck to see the strap to find it placed perfectly on her shoulder. She hadn't known it was flipped. Was it flipped?

Her blush persisted, making James smile at her flustered appearance.

"What'd you think I was doing?"

Lily pressed her lips together in embarrassment. She jumped up from her seat, "Anyone hungry? I'm starving."

Without waiting for anyone, Lily grabbed a large t-shirt that Hermione had packed as a coverup and marched straight to the cottage.

…

Lucius Malfoy rolled the chain necklace around his hand.

"You linked the necklace and its pendant together?"

Hermione had snuck out of her house in the dead of night, after Lily and Hermione returned home from the Potter House, washed up, and her sister went to bed.

"Are you sure it'll work?"

She nodded, "I have some experience with jewelry sets." She thought of her diamond bracelet and its matching ring. "They are linked. For sure."

"If that's true, I can make it into a portkey without a destination, the matching jewelry will find each other and Black will be sent there, but he will have to wear this."

"I know," she sighed. "I'm hoping you or Regulus will be able to get it on him before that night."

"Regulus will likely have a better shot."

"I think so too."

"Do you think he'll be able to do it?"

The two sat in loud silence.

"On the day," Hermione spoke quietly, as though speaking it clearly would cause the initiation day to come faster. "If Regulus…" she didn't even want to say it, fearing she would jinx it. "I'll be there to make a distraction to allow Sirius to apparate. I want you to move as far away from me when you get the signal."

"You're coming? To the Initiation?"

"If Regulus fails." Hermione nodded.

"Are you mad?!" Lucius's eyes widened to twice their normal size. "Do you understand what this gathering even is?!"

"You won't miss the signal. Trust me. Just grab Avery, and anyone else and get as far away from me as possible. Once I grab Sirius, throw our fake Avada at us, even though it's not perfect yet. Voldemort will see the flash of green light and see it as a sign of your devotion to the cause, your quick thinking. It will solidify your loyalty."

Lucius stood up and grabbed her by the shoulder, painfully. He wanted to shake her. This plan was not only crazy but dangerous.

"I'm sorry." She whispered. "I know you don't want to become more engrossed with the Death Eaters, but I can't trust anyone else."

"You trust me?" He gritted out. He looked at her with dilated grey-blue eyes and a husky voice. "What if I shoot the real Killing curse and I kill your precious boyfriend."

Hermione maintained eye contact, her mind absolutely still for once. Normally, such a seed of doubt would cause chaos to erupt in her skull, but this time it was quiet. Lucius was the oldest out of all the Slytherin boys she was training, the most skilled and talented, but he was still 19. Such a young budding age, too young for murder.

She didn't know what atrocities he'd already committed, and she never asked, but she knew it pained him.

"I trust you. Completely." She did not flinch at the pain he was causing her. She did not even blink.

He turned away as he released her, "You are foolish. This plan is foolish." His voice sounded strained.

Hermione smiled, knowing he was accepting her plan. She gave him a nod of thanks.

"Where will he be transported to?"

"Home, to his family."