Redemption Song

Lily was soaked.

This was an occupational hazard of being Alice's friend, seeing as she had always been something of a watering pot, but this time Lily had joined in and, as they were hugging tightly, their tears had mixed together and it had become hard to tell which girl was responsible for the dark stains on their clothes.

For Alice's sake, she tried to stay calm.

"It'll all be fine, Alice," she said, gently trying to pull her friend's arms from around her neck. "This isn't forever."

But she wouldn't let go.

"You can't go."

"I-I have to." Lily tried to retain her composure, but Alice was getting more and more hysterical.

"Lily, please don't go. Please. Y-you can't just leave me here all - all alone. Please. Or I'll come with you. Just don't leave me. I need you. I can't - "

"You can't come with me. I wish you could more than anything."

"Then stay here! There's got to be some other way of dealing with this. You leaving is a terrible idea. Please just stay. Don't go."

"Alice." Lily finally detached herself. She tucked a lock of hair that had been hanging in front of Alice's face behind her ear and smiled faintly. "You know I can't. And you're not alone. Remus and Sirius are still here to look out for you."

"B-but I want you."

Tears were forming behind Lily's eyes, threatening to run down her face again. She blinked them back with difficulty, and searched her face. There was a large bruise just visible on Alice's forehead before the rest was swallowed by the girl's blonde hair, and a long scratch leading from her cheek down to her neck. She then took Alice's hands and said, "I don't want to leave you here any more than you do, but it has to be done. More than anything, I don't want that sick bastard anywhere near you. I promise you'll only have to deal with this for a little while longer. Just avoid him as much as possible and keep your spirits up. I'm going to miss you so much."

One last hug (during which Alice tried firmly not to let go), and Lily left the kitchen as fast as her feet would take her and into the stone corridor outside. She didn't want to have to look back at Alice, who was rocking back and forth in her chair, shakily trying to subdue her sobs.

"Lily."

Lily turned around. Remus was standing just outside the now closed kitchen door, his brow furrowed. She stopped short, breathing deeply. This was the moment she had been dreading more than anything. While Alice was like her younger sister, Remus was her closest friend, the one she had shared everything with since they were children. The things she knew Sirius could never understand and Alice was too caught up in her own problems for. Saying good-bye to him, even temporarily, was something that, in a twisted way, she'd been hoping to avoid.

"Remus, I...," she broke off. Sobs were still floating out from the kitchen. "You'll take care of her, right?"

"Of course."

There was a small silence. And then -

"So I suppose this is good-bye."

Lily bit her lip and nodded. She didn't want things to be awkward like this. As much as she intended to come back for him and Alice, she couldn't help but know there was a good chance that this wasn't temporary. Without another thought, Lily flung her arms around him and started to cry in earnest. Remus hugged her back, and she knew from his very uncharacteristic sniffs that he was trying his best from letting his own tears fall. Through his tee shirt she could feel his roughly scarred back and held on even more fiercely.

They stayed like that for what seemed like ages, Remus trying to refrain from crying and Lily hugging even more tightly with each moment, until finally he said quietly, "You'll be late."

Another beat passed and then she reluctantly broke off, nodding silently. There had been enough things that had passed between them, unspoken, in that hug, and Lily didn't know if she could handle standing there a moment longer. Wiping her eyes, she took off down the corridor again, and soon found herself just outside the sitting room two floors above.

Sirius and James were already there, as were Lord and Lady Black. Eyes downcast, hoping that there were no tear streaks left on her face, Lily entered the room quietly and stood just inside the door. Lord Black looked over when she entered, and then back at his son as he said, "You remember the proper procedure?"

"Yes, of course."

He nodded curtly, then left the room. His wife made sure he had left before saying, "You know I do not approve of this, Sirius. The Mudblood was a gift from your father, and she is not entirely useless. Why not the halfblood?"

Sirius rolled his eyes and said, "Mother, it would be most discourteous to give him to James...all things considering."

Lady Black pursed her lips, but only said, "Very well. It's time to get on with this. Girl, come here."

Lily crossed the room to stand about three feet away from her.

She scrutinized her for a moment before turning to the table next to her. A roll of parchment lay spread along it, with two lines for signatures printed underneath a paragraph. As Lady Black signed her signature on the first of them, Lily caught enough of the writing to understand what it was. Her registration papers - the form that, when this was done with, would bind her James.

"Master Potter, if you would." Lady Black's voice cut across her thoughts like a knife.

James bent over to sign his signature on the other line, pausing for a moment to read the contract. Lily felt a deep flush of shame come over her, but she bit her lip. She refused to start crying again. Not here. Then he had signed.

A sudden burning sensation sprang up in her left forearm, and Lily let out a gasp of pain. She turned over her wrist and watched in horror as the rampant greyhounds - the coat of arms that had been a part of her since she could remember - started to change. They thinned out and morphed into a small triangle, in the middle of which appeared several small dots that elongated into two crossed wands emitting several stars. The Potter crest...

---------

Lily's eyes snapped open. She was lying in bed, breathing heavily, her heart beating very fast, just as it had the day James had bought her nearly a month ago. Gingerly she lifted her sleeve to examine her arm. The red rawness the change had caused had cleared up only the previous week, despite how much attention she, James, and the old cook and once his nursemaid Joelle had given it.

She peered about the dark attic where she and the other slaves slept. Elma, only twelve years old, had, as usual, curled up into a corner of her bed and pulled all her blankets toward her so she resembled a giant puffskein. Zeb was snoring loudly in the corner. Typically, Joelle's bed was empty, and Lily could already smell coffee from the kitchen, four stories below.

Though James had allowed them to sleep in while his parents were on holiday, Joelle had politely refused, explaining that he was always irrationally hungry when he awoke, begging his pardon, sir, and where would his breakfast be if his cook was still abed, sleeping the day away? Nothing could persuade her, and Lily felt rather guilty about sleeping in while she worked alone. Besides, whereas James might think it a travesty to wake up any time before eleven o'clock, Lily was used to being alert and ready at dawn.

And today of all days was especially important.

Ten minutes later, Lily was dressed and entering the kitchen. Joelle looked up from the eggs and pursed her lips.

"I thought I told you you're not to get up this early."

"Oh, Joelle, how many times do I have to tell you? This is late for me."

"I don't want you overtaxing yourself."

Lily fixed her with a pointed look and said, "I'm barely even showing."

"Pregnancy isn't something to be taken lightly! My mistress stayed abed for the better part of seven months when she was to have Master James - "

"Which is perfectly lovely when you're a pureblood, but I don't exactly have that privilege. Would you please stop fussing?"

And so the day started just as any other. But Joelle wouldn't let the matter drop.

"That child's going to go through enough as it is today. If you won't go back to bed, sit down and stay out of the way." Joelle pointed at the scrubbed wooden table.

She had had more than enough experience with Henry than to disobey a direct order from a cook in their own kitchen. Lily did, however, grab a bowl of washed potatoes and a knife from the counter before she sat down and began to peel them.

Joelle rolled her eyes, but she was sure she saw the corners of her mouth twitch.

"Elma's so excited," Lily said conversationally. "She nearly talked my ear off last night, and didn't go to bed until well after midnight. Fidgeted the night away, she did."

"Well, the girl's got every reason to be excited," Joelle replied, still facing the stove. "She's getting her freedom today, isn't she? And you, as well."

"I'm trying my best not to think about it," Lily admitted, "I don't want to jinx it."

"Tell me the plan again. I just want to make sure you're prepared."

"Alright." Lily took a deep breath. She, James, and Elma had gone over it so many times she was sure the words were physically engraved in her brain.

"James will put Undetectable Charms on Elma and my brands - "

"Which will work, because?"

"No one but our owner or a pureblood - and he's both - has the magical ability to conceal, reveal, or alter them."

"Good. Then what?"

"All three of us will take be under the influence of a Glamour Charm. James and I will be a middle-aged couple, Sam and Regina Monroe, and Elma our daughter, Ellen. We're from an old mixed-blooded family."

"And then?"

"Then...we have tickets for the nine-thirty train. If anyone asks, we're visiting our eldest daughter Edie in Scotland, where she's studying magical sites of historical importance. When our train gets off in Edinburgh, we'll meet Leila and Mila, who will be acting as Edie and her slave Willa."

"And you'll know it's them, because?"

"Leila will have her natural appearance and she sent us a picture of herself, along with a letter that Mila would also be coming and our fake blood registration papers," a voice volunteered from the doorway. "She'll lead us from there, because we haven't the foggiest idea where we're actually going."

Lily and Joelle looked around to see James leaning against the doorway, already dressed and looking very nonchalant.

"Bit early for you to be up, isn't it?" Lily asked, her eyebrow raised. As she brought three plates over from the counter, Joelle let out a sneeze that sounded very much like 'hypocrite,' but Lily chose to ignore her.

"Couldn't sleep - I've been up all night," he replied, sitting down and accepting a plate of steaming sausages. "Joelle, sorceress of the kitchen, culinary mastermind - this looks delicious. I think I love you. Are you in a committed relationship? If not, I may leave Lily to fend for herself and our child and sweep you off your feet."

"Oh, don't joke about such things, Master James," Joelle replied, although the twinkle in her eyes gave her away. "I thought we ought to have more than the usual toast to bring in the day, that's all."

"Nuh mensnot lishus."

"Don't talk with your mouth full."

James was silent until he swallowed his bite and said to Lily, "Twenty years and she can still make me do anything. She barks, I jump - it's pathetic."

"I think it's endearing," Lily said, lifting her mug of coffee.

Joelle rolled her eyes and said to her, "It wasn't always like that, let me tell you. You try raising someone with this much disregard for the rules."

"Good Merlin, you have my sympathy."

James cleared his throat and said, "Er, speaking of disregard for the rules, we should start getting ready to be off. Someone should wake Elma."

A yawn came from the doorway. "No need. I'm here."

"About time, too," Joelle said, retrieving another plate that had been warming in the oven. "Sit down, sit down, Elma. You've got to be on your way soon."

"Sausages!" Elma exclaimed, her eyes lighting up, "Joelle, I love you."

"Oh, not you as well!"

Lily and James snorted into their empty plates.

--------

"Come along, Ellen, we don't want to miss our train."

"I'm coming, Mum."

Lily winked conspiratorially at the man next to her, who looked very unlike James. Instead of black, his burgundy hair was flecked with one or two grey hairs, and his green eyes were startling. She was amazed at how much it was like looking into a mirror of her natural self. Lily herself was sporting long, pitch black hair tied up in an elegant bun, and deep brown eyes.

Elma, who had been lagging behind due to her amazement at the train station, was a perfect mix of the two, with bright green eyes and the same jet black hair. Having never been inside a train station before, Lily shared her astonishment, but tried to look composed. A woman of the status she was attempting to pull off would have surely been on a train before and, though she was quite enjoying herself, Lily was constantly on the alert for anything that might possibly give them away.

"I shall require you to submit to a standard inquiry, sir and madam," the station attendant said when they walked up to his station and handed him their tickets and fake papers.

"May I ask why?" James asked. Lily's heart was pounding.

"Oh, it's quite procedural, I assure you," he said, examining their papers. "No doubt you have heard of the rising terrorist activities in our country?"

"You mean these slave liberations?"

"Precisely. It's nothing to be concerned about, but it's a standard procedure I'm required to fulfill."

"Of course."

"Thank you. Your names, please?"

"Samuel and Regina Monroe."

"The girl, as well."

"Our youngest daughter, Ellen."

"And you are of mixed blood?"

"Yes," James replied, "but from far, far back. Only wizards have married into this family for generations."

"I see. And your destination?"

"We're traveling to Edinburgh."

"And your purpose there?"

"We're visiting our eldest daughter, Edie," Lily put in, doing her best to sound like an excited mother. "We haven't seen her in far too long."

"Now, now, dear," James said good-naturedly, "it's only been four months."

"And are you looking forward to seeing your sister?" the attendant asked Elma.

"Not really, sir. She's been acting ever so superior ever since she started dating that Aidan Buchanan, just because he's heir to some fortune. He's new money, and not even handsome!"

"Ellen Grace!" Lily scolded her.

"But, Mum - "

"Not another word out of you, missy," she said with a tone of finality. "I do apologize."

But the attendant seemed very amused and said, "Quite all right, madam. Well, your papers seem to be in perfect order. Have a good trip."

"Good show, Elma," said James quietly when they were well out of earshot. "Just out of curiosity - Aidan Buchanan?"

"Son of my auctioneer," Elma shrugged.

"All aboard!" a conductor shouted somewhere nearby. "Platform 7! Oxford, Leeds, Carlisle, Edinburgh, Hogsmeade, Inverness!"

"That's us, dear," Lily said loudly. "Come along, Ellen, where have you put your tote?"

"It's right here, Mum."

Lily made to step onto the train, but the conductor shot his hand out to prevent her.

"One moment, madam, I need to see your blood registration papers."

She flushed for a moment, but managed to cover it, and then pulled her fake papers out from her purse and handed them to him. Her heart began to pound again as he examined them for a moment. He clicked his teeth together once, twice, then...

"May I see your left forearm?"

Once more, Lily was taken aback, but this time made no effort to conceal it. "I beg your pardon?" she said haughtily. "What exactly are you insinuating?"

"My good man!" James said, shocked.

"It's only standard procedure, you see - "

"It most certainly is not!" Lily said, doing her best to look enraged. "I just saw you let at least seven people on without insulting them in such a manner!"

"Regina, dear - "

"What, Sam!"

"Perhaps you had best just let him examine your arm."

Lily looked enraged. Finally she drew herself up to her full height (which, for a woman as short as her suddenly seemed remarkably terrifying) and thrust her arm towards the conductor.

"Specialis Revelaro."

Everyone seemed to be waiting with baited breath. Nothing happened.

She shot him with a poisonous look and said, "Am I fit to now go, or do you see any further reason of demeaning me in such a public way?"

The conductor looked quite apologetic and said, "I'm terribly sorry, madam. I assure you nothing of the sort will ever happen again!"

"It most certainly will not," Lily snapped, pulling her sleeve back over her arm where her brand was concealed. "I intend to write a strongly-worded letter to the management of this station as soon as we reach Edinburgh."

And with that the three of them entered the train, Lily looking haughty, James shaking his had in mock disgust, and Elma glaring at the man who had dared insult her 'mother'.

"That was fantastic, but why don't you let me lead the way from now on?" James murmured to her. "That whole incident could've been avoided if you knew you were supposed to give him your papers."

Lily nodded. The whole train system was a foreign concept to her, but not for Regina Monroe. One false word, one hesitation could have blown the entire operation.

-----------

They were nearly there.

Earlier in the day, Lily had constantly been rushing to the bathroom, due to morning sickness. James had explained to the concerned young couple with whom they were sharing a compartment with that she was easily overcome by motion sickness. They had gotten off at around the same time Lily's symptoms subsided, and so James was spared the task of making excuses to the ancient warlock who took their place.

Elma had fallen asleep sometime after they had pulled away from Carlisle, and it had begun to rain by the time they pulled into the station in Edinburgh in the late afternoon.

"Ellen, dear, it's time to wake up."

"Lily?" Elma said groggily.

Lily's heart skipped a beat. Her eyes flicked over to the warlock who was still sitting, apparently continuing on, before getting a sudden brainwave and saying, "No, dear, it's your mother. We left Lily at home to attend to your brother, remember?"

Elma, now awake, suddenly realize what she had said, but played along, "It's still not fair, Mum. Lily's my slave, not Ethan's."

Lily sighed and said, "And you can get along without her for a week, Ellen, so stop making such a fuss. It's unbecoming."

"Are the two of you coming?" James popped his head inside the compartment.

"Yes, Sam," she said, pushing Elma ahead of her. As soon as they stepped off the train, Lily saw the conductor from before and gave him a pointed look. Then she, James, and Elma continued to where a gaggle of people was waiting to greet their various friends and family members.

"Where is she, Regina?"

"Oh, she's over there!" Lily pointed to a young woman of her own natural age. She had long, curly hair the exact shade that the Glamour Charm had produced for James. Standing about a foot behind her was an Indian girl barely older than Elma, her eyes downcast, though they could see the alertness in them. There was no mistaking Leila and Mila, even if the latter was under the influence of a Glamour Charm herself.

"Edie, darling!"

"Mum!"

The two embraced, and Lily used the opportunity to whisper in her ear, "You really have no idea how glad I am to see you right now."

They broke apart, and Leila was smiling a dazzling smile at her that showed off the laugh lines nearly etched into her face. "Dad, Ellen, I'm so glad you made it. Willa and I have been preparing for ever so long, and I have so much news for you!"

James smiled at her and said, "Well, we've all had a very long day, so why don't we chat about everything back at your home?"

"Certainly. We're going by carriage - I hope you don't mind."

"Oh, did Aidan lend it to you? You know, that fantastically rich fellow you're always going on about in your letters," Elma said sarcastically as they walked along, giving Leila a meaningful look.

Leila caught the hint and said primly, "Yes, he did. And you're ever so naïve, Ellen. I'm lucky to have a man like Aidan."

As soon as they had climbed into the waiting carriage (which was completely devoid of any manner of animal to pull it), Mila sitting on the top, all three let out a collective sigh of relief.

"Thank Merlin," said James, beginning to pull his wand out. "I think I'm going to commit suicide before my hair turns grey, it really does nothing for me - "

Lily jabbed him in the side with her elbow as the carriage began to rumble down the city street.

"Ouch!"

Leila laughed and said, "Don't take the charm off. We're not out of here yet." Then she pulled out a square mirror from beneath her seat and said clearly, "Mila Black."

Lily craned her neck to get a look at the mirror. As did Elma. The clear glass turned cloudy for a moment before Mila's head became fully apparent in it.

"How do things look up there?"

"Fine. There's hardly anyone out tonight, so I think it'd be safe to pull into one of these alleys up ahead."

"Perfect. Remember to hold on, and come straight down if anything happens."

Mila rolled her eyes and the mirror became foggy again.

Leila sighed and said, "I didn't want to take her with me, you know. Andromeda's going to have a fit when she finds out."

"Why did you bring her, then?" Lily asked.

"She's been shut up in the Den far too long. It's not healthy, especially for someone so talented. And with such a temper. Lions aren't meant to be in cages, you know."

Lily nodded, knowing all too well what she meant. Then a thought crossed her mind.

"How did you get Sirius' letter?"

Leila looked at her. "I'm sorry?"

"He's been trying to write to Andromeda for ages, but she only ever got the one that said we needed help. Why?'

She looked thoughtful for a moment before saying, "The only mail we ever get at the Den is pleas for help, or people that want to join us. We're not exactly sure why. But I'd say it's because this was the one time he really needed to talk to her. For your sake."

Lily thought about this. It made perfect sense. Suddenly the silence was broken.

"Where did you get that?"

All three girls looked up. James was staring at the mirror in apparent disbelief. His mouth was hanging open. Lily nearly laughed.

"Why?" Leila asked, confused.

"That - that's mine," he said, his eyes wide. It was as though Christmas had come early. "Disappeared a week before graduation. Sirius had one, too...we thought they were stolen or something."

"Incredible," Leila said softly, as if to herself more than him. "Absolutely incredible - it's as though the castle knows..."

"Sorry?"

The carriage lurched and came to a sudden stop. She looked at them and said, "I'll explain everything when we get back to the Den, I promise. But right now, just hold on. It's nearly time."

"For what?" asked Elma.

Leila checked her watch and said, "Quickly, grab hold of something. We've got only seconds!"

Lily grabbed tightly to a wrung on the ceiling with only a moment to spare. It seemed that the carriage was spinning very fast - it was almost like traveling by Floo but not quite. The noise was unbelievable, and the night sky outside had lit up with cracks of what seemed to be thunder. She tried to yell but couldn't. Then, quite as suddenly as it had begun, it stopped.

The night had become dark again, but something was very different. The smells, the noises. The artificial lights of the city were gone. Instead, the only light came from the moon and stars overhead. Lily looked out - they were parked in the middle of a dirt road in the middle of a forest. There was something a bit foreboding about the place, but, at the same time, she felt more content than she'd been in ages.

"Hang on."

James was looking out the window as well.

"I know where we are. Leila, why...?"

Leila had jumped out of the carriage and was helping Mila down from the top. She beckoned for them to join her and said, "It's safe to do the anti-charm now."

Once they had returned to their natural appearances, Lily looked James over and said, "You know, you're right. I much prefer you like this."

"You, too. Although I did enjoy Elma's look. Kind of a mix of the two of us. Maybe that's what this one will look like when she's grown."

He ran his hand over the now apparent bump on Lily's stomach and nuzzled her collarbone. She smiled and said, "And if it's a boy? Let's pray he doesn't have this impossible mop." She ruffled his hair.

Someone cleared their throat. They looked over to see Elma and Mila, now both ginger-haired and freckly. "Is now really the time?" Elma asked skeptically, although Mila was looking dreamily at them.

Lily blushed and gave James a quick kiss on the cheek before walking over to Leila. She was bent over a gnarled tree stump, muttering to herself and apparently looking for something.

"Can I help with anything?"

Leila looked up at her and said, "Oh, no thanks, I've got it under control. Er, you may want to stand back, though."

Confused, Lily took a few steps back and watched as she pulled out her wand, pointed it at a particularly grizzled knob on the stump, and said, "Aperio Claustrum!"

A rumbling noise split the air. Everyone looked around with interest as a perfect rectangle - bigger than any of them - of bark from the old tree next to the stump began to pull back, as though sinking into the bark several inches. Suddenly the bark in the rectangle became smoother, more like the wood from the inside. A brass knocker, the shape of a phoenix, materialized on the front. It was a door, albeit missing a handle.

Lily stared in surprise. She could see the same expression mirrored on James and Elma's faces, although Leila was looking amused and Mila happily smug. Leila winked at Lily and then took hold of the knocker, rapping it against the door three times.

For a moment they waited in silence, until a female voice cried out from within, "Who's there? Declare yourself!"

"A friend with friends," Leila replied, sounding thoroughly calm.

A latch could be heard being unlocked, and then the door swung open. A young black woman with short curls all over the place stood in the doorway, beaming at Leila.

"Thank god," she said. "Come in, come in."

The entry hall within was nowhere near as small as Lily had expected, and she quickly came to the conclusion that they were not, in fact, standing within the same tree they had entered.

"I'd like you to meet James, Lily, and Elma," Leila said, "This is Evan Johnson."

"Please, it's Van."

"You look vaguely familiar," James said, shaking her hand, "Wait, you're never...?"

"The Malfoy's escaped slave who let two nifflers loose in the parlor and turned Lucilla Malfoy's hair blue?" Van recited this as though she had said it far too many times, although Lily could still detect more than a hint of pride in her voice, "Yes, that would be me."

"Incredible," James said, awe in his voice. "Miss Johnson, you are officially my idol."

Van blushed.

"Leila Zonko!"

The woman in question's face turned white. "Oh dear."

With the air of someone about to walk to the gallows, she slowly turned around to face Andromeda, who was standing in the doorway to the living room, glaring from her to Mila.

"Hello there, Andy."

"Don't you 'Hello there, Andy' me, Leila! How could you be so irresponsible? Don't you have any idea what could've happened if the wrong people saw her?"

"It wasn't even dangerous. And she's more capable than you give her credit for."

"It's not about how capable she is! Do you think I don't even know how much talent Mila's got when I've been training her for all these years? It's about keeping her safe until she's grown!"

"Andy...," Ted had come up behind her, but she cut him off.

"Right now she looks too goddamn much like she did at the Kelly's! But did you think about that? Oh no! 'I'm going to go bring the underage witch into the least practical place for her to be in the world, because nothing bad can come from that!' Jesus Christ, Leila, grow up and have some responsibility!"

The hall went silent for a moment. Then an upper-middle-aged woman stuck her head in from the living room and said, "Er, d'you mind keeping it down in there? Fred's started pulling on Angelina's braids again, and the noise really isn't helping."

"Damnit," Van muttered, strolling out of the hall, "I'll take care of it, Arabella."

It seemed Leila and Mila had used the momentary distraction to sidle off somewhere unnoticed. Andy took a few deep breaths then smiled, "Sorry about that. I'm so glad to see you all!"

She hugged James, and then turned to Lily, smiling. After they had broken apart, Lily turned to Ted and gave him a dazzling smile and pulled him into a tight embrace. Ted had been her only friend outside of the Black Manor, and seeing him in such good condition was like coming up to the surface for a gulp of air.

"Miss me?" she asked.

He laughed and said, "Welcome to freedom, Lily."