December 15
Lily looked closely at the blood, trying to determine how old it was. It looked rather new, but was darker. She looked at the words on the parchment and read,
Lily,
I am writing to you because I have found a place to stay. I will not say where, but it is safe. Meet me at the leaky cauldron at 5:00 PM, December 19. Bring your wand and nothing else. Dress in robes but have your muggle clothes on underneath.
Sincerely,
R.A.B
Lily looked at the calander next to her bed and widened her eyes. She had to meet Regulus four days from today. She carefully set the blood covered letter onto the envelope and pulled out a small, torn piece of parchment. The handwriting was somewhat neat but scribbled
Lili,
Its Evan Rosier..
Lily gasped and almost dropped the letter
… Dont worry, Regulus is fine. Bellatrix found him and cut him up pretty nasty, thats why theres blood on the letter. He is being held at Malfoy Mannor, which is Narcissa and Lucious Malfoys house. The Dark lord has not arrived but me and Barty are trying to sneak him out of there. Please do not try and contact me, Regulus or Barty. Stay put wherever you are. Kreacher is going to possibly stop by if things get out of hand and take you to a safe house. Along with Siruis and the wherewolf.
DO NOT CONTACT.
-Evan Rosier
Lily sat down on her bed, her hands shaking so bad they drop the letter.
She has to get to Malfoy Mannor. She has to help Regulus. But she doesn’t know if its a trap. Evan Rosier and Barty Crouch Jr. are two very notorious Death Eaters. Regulus could be leading her to a trap. But Lily doesnt care. Any chance she can get to be closer to killing Voldemort is worth it. But Lily decides she will have to tell Sirius.
——————————-
Lily stands up and walks down the small hallway to the living room, where Sirius is rearranging the record shelf from how Lily moved them.
“Lily, y’know I had them in a certain order. Why the hell would I put Bowie next to ABBA? Like that makes no sense.”
Lily picked at her fingernails, staring at Sirius’ back.
“Sirius…” Lily spoke, “I need to tell you something. And you need to promise to not get mad.”
Sirius set the ABBA vinyl down and turned to look at Lily, who was standing in the middle of the room figeting with her bracelets.
“What is it Lils?” Sirius asked concered, standing up and walking to face Lily.
“Er. Regulus came to the flat.”
Sirius froze, his face turning white, but anger and sadness in his eyes.
“Why? What did he want? Did he bother you?”
Lily shook her head, “No, it wasnt like that. He came and asked me something. Something big.”
Sirius continued to stare at her
“He asked me to help him stop Voldemort.”
Sirius blinked at the name and stammered, “W-what?”
Lily hurriedly grabbed his hands and looked into his grey blue eyes, “I said yes. He was going to write once he found a place to stay but the Death Eaters found him and hes being held at Malfoy Mannor.”
Sirius shook his head rapidly and looked at the floor,
“No, no youre not going to try and break him out.”
Lily smiled softly but grimly,
“Yes, I am. Evan Rosier and Barty Crouch Jr. will hopefully help me.”
Sirius shot his head up and yanked his hands back, running them through his curly hair and pacing around the couch.
“Those horrible, slimy, rat Death Eaters are not going to help you. This is so obviously a trap Lily and Im not going to let you go.”
Lily scoffed and looked at Sirius angerly
“I wasnt asking for your permission, I was simply filling you in on my life.”
She grabbed her wand and walked to her room, followd by an angry Sirius
“Lily, no, I dont care if you werent asking for my permission its to dangerous, and knowing my brother, even if hes not a part of the trap his slimy little ‘friends’ of his are. Please, dont go help him.”
Lily put her robes on and grabbed her wand
“Tell Remus where I went please. And dont try to stop me.”
Lily walked out of the door and to the kitchen, before looking back to Sirius
“I love you, Padfoot. Thank you for everything. I will see you soon.”
And she walked out the door and into the street.
Lily stopped once she got to the sidewalk and almost crashed into a young blonde woman who looked familiar, but disaperaed behind a large man before Lily could get another glimpse.
Once she got onto the street, she walked towards the alleyway between her building and the corner store, pulling out her wand and apperating to the Leaky Cauldron.
“Mrs Potter?” A mans voice called to her once she arrived, feeling slightly nauseous because she still hasnt gotten used to the feeling.
Lily turned around to see who the voice belonged to and stood face to face with Barty Crouch. Senior.
“M-mr. Crouch.” Lily stammered, “w-what are you doing here? At the Leaky Cauldron?”
Mr. Crouch chuckled and took his top hat off
“Well, Mrs. Potter I am here for a drink. Even Ministry officials need a good Fire-Whiskey every now and then.”
Lily nodded, trying to find a way to get away from the balding man.
“Well Mr. Crouch-“
“Ah, dear Mrs. Potter,” Lilys excuse was cut off, “I dont think I ever told you how terribly sorry I am about your loss. Losing your husband and child in the same night. Terrible, terrible.”
Lily stood there staring at the man, all words gone from her mouth. Lily was about to say something back when she felt a hand on her shoulder,
“Well, Lily, thank you for meeting me here.” Lily turned to the hand and saw Frank Longbottom looking at her. “Crouch.” He nodded at the ministry official and led Lily to a small table in the back, where the short rather large bartender came over with two butter beers.
“Frank, I-“ Lily started her excuse, but unable to think of anything to say.
Frank held his hand up to stop her
“Sirius contacted me and told me that you have been in contact with a certain Regulus Black?”
Lily took a sip of her drink and looked at her hands, “Frank, I’m sorry. I really am but I have to do this. I have to help Regulus. Voldemort needs to be stopped.”
Frank blinked at the mention of Voldemorts name, but sighed and shool his head.
“Of course you do, Lily. If Alice and Neville were killed I can imagine I would do exactly as you were doing now.”
Lily looked at him and smiled softly, taking another drink
“Thank you, Frank. Really.”
Frank looked at the girl, the girl who he once had to confort for getting an A on her transfiguration homework. Now, she was grown and hardened, her once soft gaze was cold and her lips always downturned. She was out for revenge, and Frank couldn’t stop her.
“Just,” Frank sighed, “be careful, please. If you need help send me a letter or anything and I will be right at your side.”
Lily smiled and finished her drink, “well, Frank, I think I need to get going. Thank you for the drink and everything.”
Frank nodded and stood up after Lily, pulling her into an embrace, hoping that it will not be the last time he hugs Lily Evans Potter.
Lily let go of Frank and grabbed her wand, turning away from the slim man who once helped her with homework and her prefect duties. Lily walked to the backyard of the pub and opened the gateway to Diagon Alley, where she made her way past the closed down shops and staring people. She herd all the whispers though
“Thats the Potter girl, You-Know-Who killed her husband and kid just a few months ago”
“I hear shes a mudblood, thats why they targeted her”
“I hear shes living with the Black boy and and wherewolf. The two are queer and Merlin knows if theyre trying to wrap her into their discusting ways.”
Lily looked at the ground as she walked, as if she could hide herself away from the gossip and rumors, away from everyone and everything.
She arrived at the store she was looking for and looked up at the sign, ‘Ollivanders’
Lily walked in the door, ringing the little bell and seeing how empty the place was.
“Well, well, Miss Evans I didnt expect to see you again.” A raspy voice called out to her, and a frail figure emerging from behind one of the many tall shelves.
“Hello, Mr. Ollivander. I was wondering if you knew where the Malfor Mannor is?”
Ollivander walked to the counter and closed his eyes slightly, “why, why on earth would you want to know that?” Olivander whispered.
“Because, I’m going to break in.”
Ollivander gasped and sent a pile of boxes flying, wands scattering everywhere.
“Merlin.” Ollivander gasped, “dear woman, why? Why?”
Lily folded her arms together and tilted her head slightly, “because I need to rescue someone.” Lily still hadnt managed to find a reason why she should call Regulus a friend, but he was more than a stranger.
Ollivander shook his head rapidly and put his hand toward her, “no, no I do not know where that place is, and even if i did I wouldnt tell you. Thats where He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is resting.”
Lily nodded her head, a gleam in her eye,
“Exactly.”
Ollivander clutched his heart and pointed to the door, “why, it has been lovely to see you Miss Evans, but I have to ask you to leave and please, do not come back.”
Lily nodded her head and turned to the door, “of course, Mr Ollivander.” And she exited the building.