The Temptation of Lily Potter
The wise say it's not the destination but the journey that truly matters. The book lay hidden under a thousand charms, locks, and spells. Yet somehow, someway, it was as if it spoke to her through all that. Lily had been beginning to notice things like that. The times when shadows lengthened too far when they weren't supposed to. Eyes staring back at her from the shadows when there was nothing supposed to be there. Laughter when her house was empty. Whispers lulled her to come and open the book.
Did her face just transform into a maw? Lily thought to herself. Marlene sat across from her, shuffling a deck of worn-out cards. The familiar weight of the poker chips felt foreign to Lily now, like she wasn't entirely here in this moment. She blinked and tried to shake the haze from her mind. Where am I?
"Your turn, Lily," Marlene said brightly, dealing the cards with a grin. "You've been sitting on that pile for ages."
Lily glanced down at her hand, the cards blending together, unreadable. "Right," she muttered, tossing a chip into the center of the table without much thought. Her eyes kept drifting to the corner of the room where the shadows had stretched again, a blue eye winked at her.
"What was that?" Lily snapped. She swore she saw something move.
Marlene raised an eyebrow, tapping her fingers on the table. "You alright, love? You seem... off," she commented, but without much concern. "You should be proud of yourself, you know? Croaker deserved this. All that pussyfooting around while we're losing people every damn day. Someone had to take real action."
Lily nodded absently, her focus slipping. "Yeah," she murmured. The whispers tugged at the edge of her consciousness, soft but insistent, like a hand pulling her toward something inevitable. Open me. Just once.
Marlene leaned in, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "I mean, you have the book now. You don't need to keep playing their game anymore. Not with that kind of power at your fingertips."
Lily's eyes flickered toward the vault, resting under a pile of spells on the far side of the room.
"I haven't decided," Lily whispered.
Marlene let out a scoff, throwing down her cards. "Haven't decided? Are you serious? Lily, this is your chance. You can take the fight to Voldemort himself. Think of what's in there. Think of what you could do!" She leaned forward, her voice low, conspiratorial. "Croaker and his lot, they don't understand. They're scared. The Order are a bunch of pussies. But you—you're different. You have the guts to do things those cowards don't even dare to dream of."
Lily's hand twitched involuntarily, her fingers curling into a fist. She could feel it now, the pull of the book, stronger with every word Marlene spoke. She wanted to take a knife and curve a smile on Marlene's throat, ear to ear.
"I—" she started, but her voice trailed off. A low, breathy laugh echoed in the back of her mind, and she wasn't sure if it was hers or something else's. "I'm not sure."
Marlene laughed, "Come on, Lily. You've always been the smartest of us. Student of the year. Headmaster's list for all 7 years. Youngest unspeakable ever. You can handle it. You have to, for your family. For the children. For James."
Lily's heart skipped at the mention of her family. Her children. Her beautiful children. Their lives... She clenched her jaw, shaking her head as if to clear the fog that seemed to cloud her thoughts. But the whispers only grew louder. You're strong enough, you can save them.
Marlene's eyes narrowed, her tone growing sharper. "Do you want to win this war or not? Because if you do, this is how. You can't afford to play it safe anymore."
Lily looked at her, really looked at her, for the first time since they'd started. Marlene's eyes were too bright, too eager. The words she was saying weren't entirely her own. Or maybe they were. The book seemed to pulse in her peripheral vision, a dark, lurking presence.
"I..." Lily's hand reached unconsciously toward the stack of parchment. The book. Just open it. Just once.
Marlene smiled, leaning back in her chair as if she already knew the answer. "You know it's the only way, Lily. You're not the first to walk this path, but you can be the one to succeed. For Harry. For James. You have to."
Lily's breath caught in her throat. Her fingers brushed the edge of the parchment, trembling. She clenched her hand into a fist. "I just... I need time," she whispered, but her heart was racing, the decision already forming in her mind. She would open it. She would study it. She had to.
Marlene watched her closely, nodding. "Take all the time you need, love. But remember—there's no time to waste. The Dark Lord won't wait."
Marlene watched her with an unreadable smile. "Take all the time you need, love," she said softly, her voice smooth as silk. "But remember—time's a fickle thing. The Dark Lord won't wait."
For just a moment, Lily saw it—Marlene's eyes flickered, glowing an unnatural blue, and behind her, a massive birdlike shadow shifted, spectral and warped. Its wings shimmered with impossible colors, and eyes blinked across its shifting form.
Lily blinked, and it was gone, but the air felt heavier, as though something had brushed against her soul.
"You have the power, Lily," Marlene murmured, her smile unchanged. "It's time to use it."
A Week Later
Lily Potter leaned back in her chair, letting the warmth of the sun bathe her face. Her earlier light-headedness had faded, and she was grateful for the peaceful moment. James had insisted she take a day off, and she had obliged. She watched Richard and Elizabeth, her lively twins, chase each other around Harry's cradle, their giggles filling the room. Her coffee was perfect, and for now, everything felt right.
Voldemort had taken a hard hit over the weekend. A joint ambush, led by the Order and the HIT team, had pushed the Death Eaters back. Without Dumbledore restraining their wands, they had fought fire with fire.
The sun was shining, her children were safe, and for the first time in a long while, victory seemed within reach. Her coffee felt delicious.
But the moment didn't last.
A series of rapid knocks on the door broke the calm, and a house-elf appeared, wringing its hands. "Mistress Lily, Master Remus is here. He says it is urgent," the elf stammered, its voice high-pitched with anxiety.
Lily's heart sank. "Show him in, please," she said, setting her coffee aside and sitting up straighter.
Remus entered, pale and trembling, his usual calm demeanor shattered. His hands shook as if he'd been out in the cold for hours.
"Remus?" Lily asked, worry creeping inside her. "What's happened?"
"I-I'm sorry to disturb you," he stammered, unable to meet her eyes.
Lily conjured a chair with a flick of her wand, the soft thud of wood against the floor filling the silence. "Sit," she ordered gently. "Tell me what's wrong."
Remus collapsed into the chair, shaking like a leaf, his breath coming in shallow gasps. Lily quickly ushered the children out of the room, giving them a gentle nudge toward the hallway. "Go play upstairs for a bit, alright?" she told them, smiling warmly. Once they were gone, her smile faded, and she returned to Remus, her eyes sharp with concern.
"Remus," she said, her voice softer now but firm. "You need to tell me what's happened."
He ran a hand through his hair, clearly struggling to find the words. "Lily… it's Alice and Frank," he finally managed, his voice cracking. "They've been attacked. By Death Eaters. They're… they're in St. Mungo's, but it's bad, Lily. It's really bad."
Lily felt the blood drain from her face. She gripped the edge of the chair, her knuckles white, her mind racing. "No," she whispered, her throat tight. "When?"
"Last night," Remus muttered, barely able to keep his voice steady. "Bellatrix led the attack. They... they used something, something dark. I don't even know if they'll—" His voice broke completely, and he looked away, ashamed of the tears brimming in his eyes.
"They tortured them to insanity…."
Lily's mind went blank for a moment. The sun outside suddenly felt too bright, the world too fragile. "What about Neville?" she asked, her voice curt.
Remus nodded shakily. "He's safe. Augusta managed to get him out. But Alice and Frank…"
Lily swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. "We need to do something," she said, her voice stronger than she felt. "We can't let this slide. Not anymore."
"I know," Remus whispered, his face ashen. "But Lily, they didn't just want to hurt them. They wanted to break them. I don't think they'll ever be the same."
Lily closed her eyes, the weight of his words pressing down on her. Frank and Alice, two of the bravest people she knew, reduced to this? And for what? Voldemort's cruelty knew no bounds.
But there would be time for grief later. Right now, action was needed. She had the power. Its high time she stopped being afraid to use it.
The Ritual
Marlene McKinnon struggled violently against her restraints, her wrists raw from the binds as she glared at Lily, who worked feverishly around the room. The air crackled with dark energy, the floor inscribed with intricate runes that pulsed with an eerie glow. Various strange devices whirred and clicked, indicating the progress of the ritual in cryptic, otherworldly tones. Potions bubbled ominously in the corner, and every so often, Lily would stride over, force-feeding one to Marlene with the wrath of a woman possessed.
A massive pentagram dominated the floor, and at its heart sat baby Harry, his wide eyes curiously tracking his mother's frantic movements. He gurgled innocently, unaware of the danger he was in, and the fact that his very existence had become the focal point of his mother's madness.
Marlene groaned audibly, her muscles protesting the strain, and Lily snapped, her wand raised in a heartbeat. "Silencio!" she hissed, silencing Marlene with a sharp flick of her wrist. Marlene rolled her eyes in frustration, the muffled noise of her protests vanishing as she fought to free herself.
"Don't interrupt me!" Lily warned, her voice dangerously low. "It was your idea to push forward with this, so don't go regretting it now."
Harry, startled by his mother's tone, let out a frightened wail, his tiny hands reaching out for her. Lily turned on him with a sudden, venomous fury, her face twisted with rage. "You!" she snarled, her voice trembling. "You're the reason for all of this. You're the one who's put Richard, Elizabeth, and James in danger. Your existence is the curse!"
Marlene's eyes widened as Lily's tirade spiraled out of control. Harry sobbed louder, sensing the anger directed at him, and Lily stormed toward him, her breaths shallow and erratic.
"I didn't ask for this!" Lily yelled, her voice cracking. "I didn't ask to be the mother of the child of prophecy. I didn't want any of this! Do you know what it's like to have a target painted on your back, day after day, because of you?"
She trembled violently, her composure slipping as the tears welled in her eyes. "I can't… I won't end up like Alice!" she cried, her voice breaking. "I have worked too hard for too long for all of this. I'm sorry but you are the price I am willing to pay. There was no other way."
For a moment, the room was silent except for Harry's whimpering. Alice. Her name hung in the air like a haunting reminder. Alice Longbottom had been one of her closest friends, a confidant through the darkest moments of the war. And now Alice was lost, broken by the cruciatus curse.
Lily wiped at her eyes furiously, her breathing uneven. "No. I won't let that happen to me. To us," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else, as she steeled her resolve once again.
With a newfound determination, she raised her wand high, the tip glowing with a sickly green light. The runes beneath her feet flared to life, burning with an unnatural brilliance as the pentagram began to shimmer.
Marlene strained against her bonds, her muffled screams desperate now as Lily started to chant, her voice low and rhythmic, weaving the spell that would begin the ritual. The air grew thick, oppressive, as the very fabric of the room seemed to warp under the weight of Lily's magic.
But Lily, lost in her fevered obsession, was deaf to all but the dark power she was calling forth. The price, the cost—none of it mattered anymore. She would save her family, no matter what.
Even if it meant losing herself in the process. With a flick of her wand, Marlene's floated over to her and without missing a beat, Lily carved open her throat with a ritual knife she stole from the Black Manor. Blood flowed out in copious amounts and bathed a wailing Harry in its warmth.
"Lord of change! Master of arcane! Architect of fate!" Lily chanted, "I beseech thee! Lend me your aid! Tzeentch, I summon thee!"
The runes beneath her feet flared an ominous red, and the temperature of the room plummeted. Frost crept up the walls as a harsh, electric crackle split the silence, ripping a jagged portal into existence. From its depths emerged a monstrous, towering blue avian demon, its twisted feathers shimmering in shades of azure and gold. Its many eyes blinked, all fixating on Lily with a gaze so chaotic and unnatural that it almost unhinged her mind.
Lily felt a wave of madness sweep over her as she met the creature's gaze, her breath quickening, her thoughts spiraling. The air shimmered with strange energies, and for a moment, the world bent and warped before her, as if she were staring into the heart of some cosmic nightmare. But she steeled herself, refusing to falter.
With a sharp clap of her hands, the runes encircling the avian demon glowed white, pulsing with restrictive power. The demon squawked in indignation, its wings beating furiously against the invisible cage that bound it.
The creature's beady eyes narrowed, focusing intently on her. "Well done, mortal," the demon hissed, its voice a strange, discordant symphony. "You've trapped me… here, in this feeble plane. What do you seek, little mage?"
Lily's heart raced, but she kept her voice steady. "I can free you," she declared, her tone firm. "But only if you give me something in return."
The demon let out a guttural laugh, a sound that rattled the very walls of the room. "A bargain, is it?" It leered at her, flexing its talons menacingly. "I see ambition burning behind your fragile soul. But be warned—your runes will not hold me for long."
Lily's grip on her wand tightened. "I demand a ritual—one that will give me the power to defeat Lord Voldemort."
The demon's many eyes flickered with amusement. "A simple request," it crooned, its voice dripping with malice. "But every victory has its price. My knowledge for your freedom, mortal? No, that will not suffice."
Lily's blood ran cold as the demon's eyes gleamed with hunger. "Your runes will hold for another five minutes," the demon rasped, stretching its wings against the barrier. "You have a choice—banish me, or I shall break free and rip your soul to shreds."
Panic threatened to overtake her, but then her gaze fell to Harry, sitting innocently in the center of the pentagram, oblivious to the horror unfolding around him. Instead of the warm surge of maternal love she expected, a bitter hatred rose from the depths of her soul. The prophecy. His existence had brought Voldemort into their lives, had painted a target on her family's back.
Her hand trembled as she looked from Harry to the demon, then back to the runes. She swallowed hard, the weight of her decision crushing her.
"His life," Lily whispered, her voice barely audible at first. Then, louder, "I offer you his life in exchange for the knowledge."
The demon's grin widened into something grotesque, a mockery of joy. "A delicious offer," it cooed, eyes gleaming with sinister delight. "The child of prophecy—so much potential, and yet, here you are, ready to discard it."
Lily could barely breathe as the demon's words washed over her. The room seemed to pulse with dark energy as the deal was struck, an unholy pact sealed between mother and monster.
"The knowledge is yours, mortal," the demon croaked, its eyes burning with triumph. "And the child's life is mine."
Lily's wand quivered in her hand, but she did not waver. She had made her choice.
As the demon began to chant, transferring its forbidden knowledge into her mind, Harry slept quietly through the night. None noticed a smiling headless, Marlene vanishing away into the shadows.
The Death
Voldemort shuddered with a morbid ecstasy as he saw a moral dilemma race in Lily's mind and soul. He had presented her with an offer, step aside or he would slay her entire family. As tempting as it was to kill James, Voldemort felt oddly merciful towards the Potter lord. There was still potential to play that little nugget towards his own will. For now, he was merely content with Harry Potter's life.
With a meek nod and a tear-stained face, Lily meekly stepped aside, grabbed the twins, and ran out from the room. The despair she exuded was greater than anything he had ever tasted. No wonder the Dementors could subsist based on this alone. He would have researched this feeling when he was free from the constraints of war.
Right then. Voldemort thought as he levelled his wand at Harry's forehead.
"Avada Kadevra!" Voldemort chanted and as a green light expelled from the wand, a bird cawed quite audibly. It was as if a massive maw had replaced the baby and roared back at Tom Riddle. Confused but unable to act, Voldemort watched in horror as the spell reflected back from Harry and collided with Voldemort.
Agonizing pain gripped him before he perished to the sound of vicious, mocking laughter.
Author Notes: Please please please read and review!