Incognito

✑ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑.𝟐

𝙷𝚘𝚐𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚜 𝙴𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
𝟻:𝟸𝟼 𝚊.𝚖 I

It was early morning but Lily hadn't been sleeping anyway. She'd gotten the message that the Paris mission had arrived back just hours ago (and was a little disappointed not to have been there to witness their return) and was now circulating Hogwarts once more. Petunia told Lily that James had gone to retrieve their surveillance van from a secure compound to drive back over the border and Lily fully intended on meeting him there. Her sister was not kind enough to divulge the details of the spy's failed mission and so she was determined to get her information from the source. James did not appear to like her much, but at least he would respect her more than her sister did; as much as she loved Petunia, all she ever did was see Lily as a child. Even if he was an arsehole, James respected his only Unassigned spy.

The black surveillance van pulled in past the technological wards to stop at the entrance. James got out, his eyes hard with anger, but when he saw Lily waiting for him they softened for the barest of seconds. Lily didn't notice.

"It's 5 a.m., Falcon."

"No one will tell me anything," she replied, her own irritation beginning to show.

James regarded her for a second before sighing, "Right then, follow me, we can walk together to my quarters. I need a shower, you need answers, the walk there should provide enough time to satisfy your questions."

Lily nodded, following him as he briskly made his way into the compound.
"First things first then. I might as well tell you the bad news."

"Ever the pessimist, Potter."

"Yes. Well we lost the Death Eater. We had him in the jet, and when we arrived home he was dead. They must equip their Death Eaters with means to kill themselves –likely a pill of some description– before they're forced to talk. It's an old trick, but one I should have seen coming."

Lily saw how his jaw clenched when he was finished speaking, his long strides were harsh and quick.
"Of course you should. Has this happened before?"

"No."

"Then if its an old trick, why weren't you prepared?"

James stopped walking, abruptly, almost causing Lily to land smack bang into his chest.
"Excuse me?"

"All I meant was, anyone could have seen that coming. I didn't know you were so careless on how you conducted missions. You didn't even brief Marlene and Sirius that it might have been a possibility!"

"I am perfectly capable of implementing safety precautions."

"Then perhaps your problem lies with who you send on missions."

"I have no problem selecting the right people for missions, and you haven't been here long enough to be able to question me on this. So either bother me with questions regarding something else, or get the fuck away from me. It's still 5 a.m., Evans, perhaps your lack of judgement on how you refer to me is due to your lack of sleep."

The anger in Lily's veins reached bubbling point. Clearly this line of enquiry had struck a nerve with him, though she didn't know why, and she didn't care to prod further.
"Fine, keep your secrets, but you shouldn't speak to anyone like that James Potter. No matter how long they've been here. Enjoy your shower."
She gave him one last fiery glare and turned on her heel, leaving him alone in the corridor.

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𝙷𝚘𝚐𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚜 𝙻𝚒𝚋𝚛𝚊𝚛𝚢
𝟻:𝟷𝟾 𝚙.𝚖 I