Inevitable

Chapter Nine

New Years Eve

Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it - Anonymous

Lily awoke early on the morning of the thirty first of December. Isabelle had been sent off the night before with a letter for Lene, so there was no one to greet her. Sitting up, Lily glanced out her window and watched the neighbours in their gardens. There were people shoveling pavements, small children (who always manage to wake up at absurdly early hours) building snowmen and the odd car travelling slowly down the street. For once, she was happy to live in that neighbourhood, and even more glad that she would be going to London that night.

Lily stayed in bed for another two hours or so, not wanting to leave the warmth of her covers for the cold of the rest of the house. When she finally deemed that she was being far too lazy, she rolled right over the edge and onto the floor. The floor was not only cold, but hard as well. Groaning, Lily untangled herself from the blankets and went to wake herself up with a hot shower.

When she arrived in the kitchen half an hour later, her mother was making pancakes at the stove, her father was reading the paper, and Petunia was scratching at a mark on the table.

"Can I help?" Lily asked her mother.

"I'm fine, thank you Lily. You can set the table if you want to."

Pulling out her wand, Lily waved it at the cabinets, muttering a household charm she had heard Mrs. Potter use before dinner the first night of holidays. Drawers and cupboards burst open and plates flew across the room, setting themselves nicely, closely followed by cutlery.

"Ah!" Petunia screamed. "You almost hit me with a knife!"

"I did not," Lily retorted.

"Girls," Mr. Evans said in a warning tone.

*

As 5:30 came around, Lily sat in the kitchen wearing her new robes and carrying a small overnight bag. She had no idea where James was going to appear, so she entertained herself with slowly nibbling an oatmeal cookie while she waited for him to show up. She swung her legs back and forth under the chair, excited about the festivities she would experience.

The doorbell rang, echoing through the house. Jumping up excitedly, Lily flew to the front door and flung it open, fully prepared to jump on James. Luckily, she did not. Vernon Dursley stood before her, eyeing her robes and wrinkling his nose in distaste.

"Is Petunia at home?" he asked, too politely.

"Yes," replied Lily, mimicking his manners, "come right in and I will call her."

As Vernon stepped into the front hall Lily bellowed up the stairs for Petunia to come down. She led him into the living room and offered him a seat, still with that sickly-sweet smile on her face. She sat on the seat across from him, trying to remain hospitable until Petunia arrived.

"What," he asked her, "are you wearing?"

"Oh," Lily said, glancing down at her robes. "I'm - um - going to a costume party." She congratulated herself mentally on her quick thinking.

But does he have to stare like that? These are nice robes! New! Satin! And my new cloak. There isn't any reason for him to stare at me like I'm wearing a paper bag, you don't catch me gawking at that pitiful attempt of a moustache.

Petunia rushing down saved Lily from further conversation, wearing a frilly dress with her hair expertly feathered and her makeup lathered on. Lily grinned, imagining the look on James' face if he turned up in time to see it.

As if he had heard her thought, there was suddenly a loud POP in the kitchen, causing them all to jump.

"What was that?" Vernon asked instinctively.

"Oh," Petunia glared at Lily, "probably just a plate falling or something. Lily, go and find out. I'm leaving for my normal party."

But Lily had already gone. By the time Petunia had finished her first sentence Lily was already back in the kitchen and in the air as James spun around, her arms and legs wrapped around him.

"You're not dead," she laughed as he put her down.

"Did you really expect me to let myself be killed? I have to many important things to do first," James said.

"Like what?"

"Guess," James said smirking. He kissed her deeply, then spun her around again so suddenly she shrieked.

"You have no idea how lonely I've been," she said.

"I promise," he said into her hair, "I'll make it up to you."

"I love you." Lily was so happy to have someone from the Wizarding world with her, she had never realised how distant her family was from her before this holiday.

"This coming from the girl who dumped my Christmas gift to her on my lap." His arms still around her waist, James pulled Lily closer to him.

"Are you ever going to forgive me for that?"

"I doubt it. I'll hang it over your head for the rest of your life." James crossed his arms in an attempt to look angry.

"You'll never forgive me?"

"Never."

"What if... I make you cupcakes?"

"Then I'll eat them."

"But will you forgive me?"

"Probably not, I'm never going to get anything on you again."

"You're awful."

"You're beautiful."

"You're a pathological flirt."

"Why thank you."

"Be right back," Lily whispered, grinning. She walked out of the kitchen, then, once out of sight of James, bolted up the stairs to the study where her parents were. "I'm leaving now," she told them. "I'll be back sometime tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow then, Lily," her father said, immersed in the newspaper.

"And be responsible," Mrs. Evans added.

Lily grinned, left the room, then rushed back down to the kitchen.

"Ready?" James asked.

"The Leaky Cauldron, right?" Lily confirmed, picking up her bag.

James nodded, and with that, he Disapparated. Lily quickly followed, and appeared at once in the dining room of the Leaky Cauldron.

The magical pub that marked the entrance to Diagon Alley, The Leaky Cauldron, was packed for New Years Eve. Lily spotted James fairly quickly, he was standing by the bar, looking for her. She pushed through the crowd to join him, trying not to step on anyone's feet.

After leaving her bag in the coat check, Lily and James went to the main room to wait for the others to appear.

"Why didn't Sirius come with you?" asked Lily.

"He wanted to go back to his flat and make sure there's nothing toxic," replied James. "There's Remus."

Remus had just appeared in the fireplace. Lily and James waved, and he spotted them and headed over through the crowd. He looked as though he had had an even rougher time than Lily.

"Hello," he said cheerfully. "No one else is here yet?"

"Nope," James replied.

*

The dining room was as full as it could get. Every table was full, and several chairs had to be brought in from other places to seat everyone. The five Hogwarts students had been lucky enough to get a table big enough for all of them. They ate their dinners happily, discussing their Christmases and plans for the rest of the holidays.

"What kind of broom?" Pat was asking James, who had received a new one for Christmas.

"A Nimbus 1001," James said proudly. The release of the newest Nimbus broom had been huge; it was their first new broom in ten years, and had been released the spring before.

Lily smiled to herself as she ate her dinner; she had missed her friends. Her family had become more distant from her each year she spent at Hogwarts, and while she loved her parents, they didn't understand her world at all.

"Everyone looking forward to actually studying soon?" Remus asked.

"Aw, that's not for months," Sirius said unconcernedly.

"We know we'll all get what we want," James said confidently.

"But you should still study," Lily told him. "You'll need all O's if you want to be an Auror."

"I'll do fine. Always do."

"And if you don't, you can always fall back on a Ministry job."

"Exactly. Doesn't take much to fill out forms and make important decisions all day."

Pat was the only one present who couldn't talk easily about good grades. She got through with Acceptables in all her subjects, but was not up to the skills of the other four. Lily, who had never got anything less than an E on an exam, Sirius and James who pulled off extraordinary grades despite never working, and Remus who worked hard and it showed. Even Lene back at Hogwarts was highly skilled at Transfiguration and Charms, she and Lily were always trying to good-naturedly get one up on each other.

"Where to next?" Sirius asked, noticing the uncomfortable look on Pat's face.

"Let's go out to the Alley," Pat said quickly. "There's always a huge party, dancing and everything."

Everyone agreed readily. They weaved their way through the crowded pub to the Alley. So that they wouldn't get separated, they held on to one another in a line. Lily found herself between James and Sirius, being bumped from all sides by people all trying to get to different places.

If possible, the Alley was even more crowded than the Leaky Cauldron, Lily couldn't take a step in any direction without crashing into someone. The storefronts were decorated for the holiday season, and loud music was being played over the din of the the assembled witches and wizards.

A stage had been set up in front of Gringotts; the Wizarding Wireless Network (WWN) was broadcasting their show live, and they were magically enhancing the volume to blast through the entire Alley. People everywhere were pushing through and dancing and eating and talking and laughing. Everyone was enjoying the last few hours of 1977.

"Dance with me," Lily yelled to James.

He rolled his eyes, but reluctantly let her lead him in front of the stage.

It was too crowded for much movement, and they were soon forced to rejoin the others and simply stand in a clump, listening to the music and the DJ talking. James was not overly disappointed about not dancing; he hated it.

As the others talked, Lily examined some of the witches and wizards milling around them. One day soon, she would be like them, gone from school, beginning a new life. She would no longer be the Lily Evans she had always been, but a new Lily, one who lived as a witch, not a Muggle. She had no idea how real witches, witches not at Hogwarts, lived. She didn't know how to get along without electricity, or how to do much else around a house as a witch. She had never been surrounded by this much of the magical community before. Hogwarts didn't really count as a part of the real magical world, Hogwarts was like a world apart from both the magical and Muggle worlds. She would have different pressures from most of the people here: she would have the Order. She was scared, seeing all these people who were counting on what she and the other members of the Order did. They counted on her unknowingly, but it was still there. Lily was scared. There was a feeling here that she didn't like.

James rested his hand on her shoulder, shocking her out of her musings.

"What is it?" he asked loudly, as it was difficult to hear anything.

"Nothing," Lily yelled back. "Just a little overwhelmed. Weird feeling."

He nodded understandingly, and nodded in the direction Ollivanders. Glancing around, she followed him, signaling Remus as she pushed her way through the crowd.

"What?" she asked when they were in front of the wand shop.

"Wait for Remus and Sirius," he answered.

Remus came through a few seconds later, shaking his head. "Couldn't lose Pat," he said. "Sirius is staying back."

"Fine," James said, somewhat irritated. "Look by the back of the stage."

Lily glanced over, by standing on her toes, she could just see a group of people huddled behind the Wizarding Wireless stage.

"How long?" asked Remus.

"Since we've been out here, probably longer."

Suddenly, it dawned on Lily. James and Remus were looking for people that could cause trouble. Of course, how could you have been so stupid! It's New Years! There're hundreds of people here, a perfect attack! Maybe it was a good thing that James went on that raid.

Furious with herself, Lily glanced around, looking for more such groups.

"By Magical Menagerie," she added, "tall guy with his hood up."

Remus nodded. "Time?"

"Eleven twenty-five. When d'you think?"

"Midnight," Lily said automatically. "Everyone'll be watching the clock."

"So we have a half an hour."

"Lily," James said, "go get Pat and get out of here then meet us back here. We need to tell Sirius. Get Pat out of here, she can't be part of any of this."

Lily scrunched her nose. "Why do I have to go? Why can't you go, I want to be part of this."

Remus put his hand on her shoulder. "Lily, it has to be you," he said reasonably. "Pat would understand if you take her off someplace without Sirius, it wouldn't work as well if it were James or I."

He was right, as much as Lily hated to admit it. Scowling at James, she pushed back through the crowd. Pat and Sirius were standing more or less in the same spot that they had been left in.

"Pat," Lily said urgently, "come with me."

Pat eyed Lily strangely. "Why," she said, "where are we going?"

Lily thought quickly. "I need to use the loo," she said through gritted teeth, giving Pat a pointed look.

"Oh." Pat's eyes widened in understanding. "Sirius, we'll be right back." She set off in the direction of the Leaky Cauldron.

"Ollivanders," Lily said to Sirius in a rush. "Don't let them leave me out, I'll be right back."

Lily shoved her way through groups to catch up to Pat. They were silent as they made their way back to The Leaky Cauldron, focusing on getting there and staying together.

How can I get her to go home? I could... no that won't work. Damn it, how am I supposed to get her to leave? Lily thought hard. Suddenly, an idea hit her. That would work. She would understand... Oh, but it would take some acting later to fix it. He'll understand. I hope.

Lily widened her eyes and wouldn't allow herself to blink until they reached the back yard of the pub. She thought of every sad thing she had ever witnessed, she remembered the chipmunk incident as if it were yesterday, she remembered being in the centre of taunting children. Her eyes began to fill with tears, which was exactly what she wanted.

"Oh Pat," she cried, as realistically as she could manage. "I can't stay here. I can't believe he - he said that!"

Pat's eyes softened as she saw her friend upset. "Who? Did you and James have a fight?"

Lily nodded slowly, forcing more tears from her eyes. She knew Pat would be incredibly understanding and comforting, that's just how Pat was.

"What did he say?" she asked kindly.

Lily shook her head, as if it were to mean to relive. "I need to go home," she said, "but - but..."

Pat nodded, "I know, you can't leave alone. It would look bad at school. Tell you what, we'll both leave and then I can owl Sirius and tell him we went back to my house. I'll tell him you were sick or something. Does that sound good?"

Lily smiled weakly. I am a damn good actress. "I think - I think I'll just go home though," she said apologetically. "I just want to be alone."

Pat hugged her friend sympathetically. "I'll Apparate home now," she told Lily. "Are you going to be okay?"

Lily nodded. "Thank you."

Pat gave her another hug, then Apparated.

Lily grinned broadly, congratulating herself on her acting skills. She quickly made her way back out to the Alley, but, as she reached the stage once more, she felt a hand on her arm. Spinning around, Lily found Garret Doyle and an assortment of other Ravenclaws.

"Are you all right, Lily?" a girl named Elizabeth asked.

Lily suddenly remembered the tears that were streaking her face. "Fine," she lied quickly, "I just... hit my elbow."

They looked at her questioningly; Lily Evans wasn't someone to cry because she was hurt.

"Are you sure?" Garret asked.

"Yeah." She shrugged, trying to look slightly ashamed of herself. "I have to go find James, I'll see you guys later."

Oh great, Ravenclaws. This'll be harder than I thought to explain.

When she came in sight of Ollivanders again she couldn't see the boys. Biting her bottom lip, Lily pushed her way back to the door, glancing around for any sign of them. Jumping up and down, she spotted Sirius standing casually in the doorway of the shop beside Magical Menagerie. Happy that she hadn't been abandoned, she made her way over to him.

"Sirius," she called. As she stepped up to the alcove that hid the front door from view Sirius suddenly grabbed her waist and kissed her, turning her around with her back to the door.

"What-are-you- doing," she hissed in his ear. She was furious, what the hell was he thinking!

"Hood guy," he whispered in her ear. "He watched you come over. What are you doing? You were supposed to leave with Pat."

"No, I was supposed to get Pat to leave. There's a difference." She put her acting skills to the test again, wrapping her arms around his neck, giggling and whispering in Sirius' ear. "What's going on?"

"Moody's here. Ran into him after you left. He wasn't happy about us being here too."

"So are we doing anything?" Lily tried to glance over to see if the man was still watching. Sirius was her friend, and this was weird. This was really weird.

"No - yes! James is going to kill me," Sirius whispered distractedly. Their position was very weird for him as well. "He didn't have much choice but make us part of the plan. I'm covering this guy, James is over by the stage with Moody, Remus is by Flourish and Blotts with Alice and Kingsley. This is going to be big."

"I don't get it, how did they know?"

"Spies. Voldemort wants something public. Apparently, he's going to show up himself."

Lily gasped. Voldemort? Here? She took a deep breath before speaking again.

"What do I do?"

"Stick with me, I guess. You're already here, so we've got to stop this guy from getting to the stage. Nothing's for sure, but once he moves, we attack."

Lily nodded, showing that she understood. She stepped beside Sirius and watched the stage. She stiffened slightly when he put his arm over her shoulder, but then forced herself to relax. She looked up to large clock set up above Gringotts. It was 11:50. She knew what she had to do, pulling out her wand, she gripped it tightly and held it behind her back.

"Sirius," she said suddenly, "how bad is it going to be?"

He looked at her exasperatedly. "Voldemort's going to show up," he muttered. "Take a guess how bad it'll be."

Lily scanned over the crowd, looking for the Ravenclaws. "Garret Doyle's here," she said, "and a bunch of other Ravenclaws."

"Great," Sirius said sarcastically. "We'll just have to make sure they don't see us fighting."

"But we have to keep them safe."

"If they get into that much trouble. They're Ravenclaws, they can take care of themselves."

The DJ on the stage stopped the music, he took up a magical microphone and started speaking into it, his voice echoing over the Alley.

"This is it, the final moments of the year. Eleven... Ten... Nine..."

Sirius dropped his arm.

Here it goes.

"Eight... Seven..." The crowd chanted along.

Lily gripped her wand tighter.

I should be with James.

"Six... Five... Four... Three..."

They stepped out from the alcove.

Please... please God don't let us die...

"Two... One..."

BANG!