Chapter 160
Love led us here
Ginny couldn't help but squeal with delight as she looked at the ring. She met Lily's gaze and saw the love there. "I… I thought you weren't…" she stammered.
"I've known for a long time that I wanted to always be with you, and I knew that would lead to us getting married, so not long ago I spoke to your mum about it, and she gave me this ring. It belonged to your great grandmother, and she said she always wanted you to have it," Lily explained. Ginny felt tears flowing freely now as she looked at the ring in awe.
"I… she never said…" Ginny said softly. Lily smiled softly at her.
"She had been planning to, but after we became a couple and she saw how much we were in love, she and your dad knew they wanted to save it for the right time," Lily explained. "I have to admit, I had been planning to ask you a different time, but at the same time, it just… felt right, I guess?" Lily said.
"How so?" Ginny asked.
"Well, in all our movie date nights, we've seen all the Muggle movies about people get engaged or married before a big battle or some sort of dangerous adventure, and at the time, we didn't fully understand why they chose then, but I do now. They chose that moment as a promise, that they would be reunited again, that they'd win, and they'd be together forever," Lily told her. "So, Ginny, will you marry me?"
Ginny knew there was only one answer.
"Yes! Yes, Lily Jasmine Potter, I will marry you," Ginny said, weeping happily as Lily put the ring on Ginny's finger. Lily then kissed Ginny, wrapping her arms around her.
"I love you Ginny, and I always will," Lily said, as the back door opened, and Sirius and Remus came rushing out.
"We heard a scream," Sirius said, looking around.
"Not a bad scream," Lily replied, as she and Ginny stood up. "We… we have some news."
"News? Something bad or good?" Remus asked.
"Something very good," Ginny replied, holding up her hand, showing off the ring. Remus and Sirius both let out a cry of joy as they raced over to the two, pulling them into a group hug.
"Lily cub, oh, congratulations my sweet girl," Sirius said, grinning as he kissed Lily's forehead. "I knew you'd ask her sometime, but this… well, it's like a romance movie, isn't it?"
"Kinda," Lily agreed, smiling goofily as the others came racing out of the house.
"What's going on?" Draco asked, before Ginny held up her hand again.
"Bloody hell!" Ron exclaimed, before hugging Ginny and then Lily. "Congratulations mate, I'm really happy for you both."
"Likewise," Pansy said, grinning. "You both deserve this. Honestly, I can't wait to see you both get married."
"I think this calls for a celebration," Lavender said. "Come on, let's get something to drink and toast the happy couple."
"Hear, hear," Sirius agreed, as he led the way back into the house.
It wasn't long before everyone was gathered in the living room, all holding different drinks; some had juice, others had Champagne. Minerva, Molly, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Tonks, Sophie, Rufus, Tonks, Penelope, Lana, Fred, George, Viktor, Angelina, and Angeline had all been contacted, and had arrived quickly. They had all cheered in happiness when they had seen the ring, and were all celebrating, with gentle music playing in the background. Dobby and Kreacher had gotten the Champagne, as well as some food ready quickly, and with everyone there, Sirius held up his glass and tapped it with a spoon three times, getting everyone's attention.
"Okay, so I know we're preparing to attack Malfoy Manor, and maybe we should wait one more day, because honestly, I want to celebrate today, and tomorrow, just revelling in this happy moment," Sirius said. He took a breath before continuing.
"The fact is, this journey we've all been on started on Halloween, nineteen eighty one, when Mouldy Shorts took James and Lily, who were a brother and sister to me. They supported me so much, and helped me, and they left me with the most important gift they could; their daughter, Lily. They wanted me to protect her if anything happened to them. And I've been blessed to raise her as though she were my own daughter and watched how she's blossomed into an amazing young woman. She cares so much for everyone, especially those she doesn't know, and it's the most inspiring thing to see. But the one thing that I have really been thankful to see is how she and Ginny have fallen in love, and made one another better," he continued.
"Well, someone had to get through her skull when it came to dumb moves," Ginny teased. Everyone, including Lily, laughed.
"Believe me, I've seen some dumb things, and I've known some talented people. Painters use paints, writers use words, but Lily's medium is dumb, and at the same time, it's also endearing to see because she has saved so many lives, without even trying, and more when she has tried. She's risked her life time and again for other people, but finally, she's done something for herself, and that might be the biggest miracle of all," Sirius said, before looking at Ginny.
"Ginny, you have grown into such a strong, young woman, who has taken Lily's heart, and strengthened it, giving her a reason to keep fighting. But, more importantly, you have given her, and the rest of us, hope that Lily will have a future of happiness. You've supported her, guided her, and kept her going through the darkest of days, and I am so proud that you'll be my daughter in law," Sirius said. He then turned to Lily.
"Lily cub, you have made me proud so many times. I'm not going to lie, I'm still working out if I've been proud more, scared more, or had more panic attacks," Sirius teased, prompting another round of laughter.
"Seriously though Lily, I've never seen you happier than when you're with Ginny. You both fell in love with one another, and you've both become incredible young women, and I am proud to have been able to raise you and be here to celebrate with you. So, everyone, let's raise our glasses to Lily and Ginny!"
Everyone immediately cheered, raising their glasses and toasting the two, who were both smiling shyly, and enjoying the moment.
"You picked a hell of a time to propose," Draco chuckled as he stood with Lily and Ginny.
"I know, but it kinda felt right," Lily replied.
"Oh, it was a good time, and we all need hope before we face darkness," Pansy said. "One day, I hope Draco will propose, and no Draco, not a hint for you to do it now or anytime soon."
Draco looked frozen for a few moments, causing Lily, Ginny, and Pansy to laugh as he heard the last part, starting to regain some colour in his cheeks.
"Yeah, women love to surprise you with things like this mate," Ron said, as he stood behind Draco. "It's one of their skills. Even Lavender likes to surprise the hell out of me."
"Oh, good, not just me then," Draco said, laughing softly. "Makes me feel better."
"Well, if you need to talk about anything, guy to guy, I'm always here," Ron assured him. "You're my friend, and I'm glad of it. Not something I'd ever say a couple of years ago, but here we are."
"Yeah, life has a funny way of working out, doesn't it?" Draco asked. "I've lost a lot, but I feel like I've gained so much more."
"Well, I hope I've been of some help, mate," Ron said. Draco chuckled.
"You've been the brother I always wanted, Ron. And yes, two years ago I'd have felt sick to say that, but it's the truth," Draco told him. "I've learnt so much from you."
"Ron managed to teach you something? And here I thought Lily proposing was supposed to be the biggest miracle tonight," Ginny teased, prompting another round of laughter.
"I'm not that bad," Ron complained, but he was smirking as he did.
"No, you're not. You've gone through so much, and you've been an amazing friend, Ron. I'm lucky to have all of you," Lily said, though she felt tears welling up. "Bloody hormones."
"Have you been feeling some discomfort?" Ginny asked, concerned.
"A little. I mean, we know my breasts are growing a little, and now my voice is permanently feminine, which I'm really thankful for. My body shape has been changing slightly, but nothing too uncomfortable. But I noticed that… well…" Lily seemed to hesitate with her words.
"You don't need to say it, love," Ginny said, with a small smile, taking Lily's hand. "It's working how it's supposed to, right?"
"Yeah, though I don't understand how," Lily admitted.
"There have always been potions that can affect body structure. Polyjuice potion comes immediately to mind, and however he did it, Snape found the right ingredients to make permanent changes," Hermione said, having joined them a few moments earlier.
"Yeah, I still don't understand him," Lily admitted. "I have… well, a strange theory."
"About Snape? Let me guess, you think Dumbledore wanted Snape to kill him?" Draco asked. Lily's eyes widened slightly.
"How do you know that?" Lily asked. Draco sighed.
"Because we all agree. We just didn't know how to address the idea with you," Draco said. "I don't understand the full details, but I have a suspicion based on everything we've learnt about Dumbledore and what we've learned this year."
"That Dumbledore didn't want a painful death, and the curse would have spread and killed him painfully, but by letting Snape kill him, his death was painless, and it let Snape remain undercover working for Riddle?" Lily asked. Draco nodded. "Ginny and I have suspected the same thing."
"Let's say it's true; how can we use that information?" Pansy asked.
"We know there has to be a Horcrux at Hogwarts, right? That means we'll need to get there. We can get a message to Snape when we need to and ask him for help. I'm thinking that Phineas Nigellus Black's painting will be able to speak to Snape," Lily said. "I also think he tried to warn me, because the night of the attack at Hogwarts, he's the reason we were ready for anything."
"And because you had the warning, you were able to get Felix from Professor Slughorn," Hermione said. Lily nodded.
"Don't tell Uncle Sirius, not yet. In the meantime, this doesn't change our plans," Lily said. "For the moment, we need to be ready. I think we should get some rest tonight and tomorrow, ready for what's gonna happen when we launch the attack."
"Well, it sounds like a plan," Ron agreed. "Right now, let's celebrate, shall we?"
As Lily sat at the kitchen table the next morning for breakfast, she sighed, taking a sip of her juice. They had agreed to wait one more day, to fully prepare for the attack, and study the layout that Draco had given them. Whilst eating breakfast, Lily was looking at the layout, and all the secret entrances that Draco had showed them. He knew the manor perfectly, every tunnel, every hideout, all of it, and he had given them everything.
Lily knew it was difficult for him, having to attack the place he had once called home, but she also knew that he was ready for it. As she saw Ginny walk into the kitchen, she smiled at her fiancée. That word made Lily grin.
"Thinking about us being engaged?" Ginny asked. Lily chuckled.
"You know, I'm gonna have to find a way to keep some secrets from you, because when it comes to birthdays, Christmas, and planning vacations, this is really gonna spoil surprises," Lily teased.
"Yeah, well, I'll have to promise not to read your mind on certain occasions," Ginny replied, smiling as she kissed Lily, sitting on her lap. "It's… well, things feel different this morning, in a good way."
"I know what you mean," Lily agreed. "It's not like nothing has ever been what passes for normal with us, has it?"
"I don't think I'd even know what normal would feel like," Ginny chuckled. "But I do know that whatever happens, I'm glad I'm with you. I know I've told you that time and again, but it's always true."
"Don't worry, I won't get tired of hearing it," Lily told her. "I've been looking at the plans, and I think I have a couple of ideas about getting in and out without needing magic."
"You think we'll need to?" Ginny frowned as she spoke.
"Maybe. I don't want to take any chances. Right now, we know that there's someone keeping a spell going that keeps people from apparating away unless they're permitted to do so. I don't know how such a spell exists, but then, given what we saw in that cavern, I'm not surprised Riddle knows something like it," Lily said.
"Makes sense to me," Ginny agreed. "Having backup plans always makes sense. It's better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it."
"Oh, now you're quoting Uncle Sirius?" Lily asked, smirking. "It does make sense."
"Okay, so what's the plans?" Ginny asked. Lily pointed to a large playhouse in the garden.
"Draco said there's a tunnel in his old playhouse that leads into the house. There's a couple of tunnels, one leading to the cellar, one that leads to an apparition point that leads to his old bedroom," Lily explained. "If we can get into the garden, maybe at night, we can make our way to the playhouse and get to the cellar. Then we get the prisoners out, and we escape. No need to fight at all."
"That's a better plan," Ginny nodded, smiling. "Why didn't Draco mention it before?"
"He didn't think of it, and I think he was angry and wanted to fight," Lily said softly. "I understand that completely, I really do. I want to speak to him today, to see how he's feeling."
"Agreed. I don't want him breaking apart, especially now. We're at a critical point right now, and if this goes wrong, we could end up dead," Ginny agreed. "I still… I've been thinking about the Elder Wand, and the Hallows. Why didn't Dumbledore ever mention them to us?"
"I wish I knew. There's a lot I'd ask him if I could. I mean, he didn't tell us about the Hallows, he planned for me to be raised by my muggle family, even though he knew I wouldn't be loved. He did a spell on me when I was a baby, which he admitted was a risk… I don't understand any of what he did. I mean, he cared for us, I know that, but I don't understand why he tried to do what he did," Lily said.
"I don't think anyone understood him," Ginny replied. "I mean, seriously, look at how he did things. He kept everything close to his chest, he didn't tell us about the ring, he gave you the Snitch and didn't tell you how to open it, and he didn't tell us about Snape either."
"You think we'll ever know the answers?" Lily asked.
"Oh, definitely not," Ginny chuckled. "I've accepted that, though. We can't always get answers, sadly."
"True," Lily agreed. She sighed as she finished her drink. Ginny saw several books on the table, and picked one up, recognising it. "Isn't this the book that Sophia gave us?"
"It is," Lily confirmed. "I've been studying the whole thing about Horcruxes, trying to figure out about destroying the fragments still in us, and the fragment in Nagini."
"Found anything useful?" Ginny asked.
"Nothing yet. I mean, we destroyed the Horcrux that was the diary, but we used Basilisk Venom. I know that won't work on us though, even with Fawkes able to cure us," Lily said. Ginny sighed as she realised what Lily meant.
"Because you were bitten by that damned Basilisk," Ginny realised. "So it'd be destroyed if it would work."
"Exactly. I'm fairly certain that if we were killed, the fragments would be destroyed, but that's not really a solution," Lily said, shaking her head. "Everything I've found shows about destroying the fragments, but there doesn't seem to be a way to do that."
"We'll find a way, Lily. We just need to have faith," Ginny told her, smiling. "We know we can do a lot more than we think we can. Look at everything you've done so far; it's incredible, seeing you work your magic. We cured Nagini, we apparently floated when we sparred a couple of years ago, and you were able to look inside Nagini's mind when she was a snake. I'd be willing to bet we could just walk into our minds and wipe out the fragments ourselves, whilst also going into Nagini's mind."
Lily couldn't help but chuckle. "Yeah, all we need is an AR machine like in Red Dwarf, and we'll be able to go into our minds," Lily grinned.
"Oh, I love that episode," Ginny said. "I still can't believe how many amazing muggle shows there are."
"I wonder why there aren't any magical tv shows being made. I mean, with magic, I think there could be a lot of amazing shows and movies," Lily said.
"When we've finally defeated Riddle, maybe we can suggest someone doing something about that, making movies and shows," Ginny suggested. Lily kissed Ginny, laughing as she did.
"I'll be down for that," Lily said, before her smile began to fade. "Is it me, or is it getting a little cold in here?"
"I don't… no, it's not you," Ginny said, standing up, looking around, before stumbling and grasping the table. "What… I don't feel…" Ginny began, before falling to the ground, her eyes closed.
"GINNY!" Lily cried out as she stood up to get to Ginny, before collapsing herself. The last thing she heard was Sirius calling out her name, before everything went black.
