The Three Patronuses

Chapter 1

Lily woke to darkness. Though she couldn't see anything, she could sense that she was in a tight, dry space that was oddly silent. Panicked, she kicked her legs and shoved with her arms at the short ceiling that was above her. Where was she? What was she doing here? Memories trickled into her brain, clicking into place like a puzzle. 

Peter had betrayed them. Voldemort came, and James had tried to hold him off, so she had a chance to leave and save Harry. She had heard the curse from the library, the ugly curse that had ended her husband's life. Voldemort found her, and she begged for Harry's life before a bright green light hit her chest. Had she died? If so, how was she alive? Or was this the afterlife? Where was James? 

Harry.

Where was he? Was he alive? Had he died? Was he ok? Using the wand left conveniently in her hands, Lily cast a Reducio charm on the top of her coffin, holding her breath and squeezing her eyes shut. 

Rubble sprinkled down on her, soiling the pristine dress she had been buried in. Shaking it off, Lily climbed out of her grave and examined her surroundings. She was in a graveyard, the same one that was in Godric's Hollow. James's grave laid right beside hers, though his was in pristine condition unlike her exploded one. She cast Reducio once more on James's grave, praying that he had also woken up.

Bright hazel eyes gazed back at her from the destroyed coffin in the ground. Sighing in relief, Lily waited for James to climb out. 

"Lily? Where are we?" His voice was scratchy but audible. He wrapped her in a large hug, squeezing tight. She had always loved hugs from James. His larger frame wrapped around hers perfectly, and always hade her feel better. 

"The graveyard in Godric's Hollow," Lily whispered. Her mouth was extremely dry, and it hurt to talk above a whisper. Scanning the nearby graves, Lily realized that Harry's was nowhere in sight.

"James, where's Harry?" Her voice rose an octave out of panic. If Harry wasn't buried with them, where was he? They must have been dead for at least a week for there to be time to bury them. Not to mention the question of how the bloody hell were they alive?

"Probably with Sirius like he is supposed to be," James said casually, "talking about Padfoot, I need to talk to that bloody git. Look! We didn't have a single flower on our graves!" Lily snorted at her husband's ridiculous antics and was about to retort with something logical before she saw a figure walking towards their graves. She signaled for James to stop ranting about Sirius and Remus's lack of flowers, and walked closer to the mysterious figure.

"Who's there?"

"Albus Dumbledore," replied an old, but strong voice. Relief flooded through Lily for the second time that night, "who are you?"

Though it was dim outside, the lack of light couldn't hide the fact that Albus had aged. It must have been years. The thought sent shivers down Lily's spine. Just how much of her son's life had she missed?

"It's us, James and Lily Potter," replied James. Though we've been married for over a year now, being called a Potter still made Lily's heart soar with happiness. Albus looked as if he felt the complete opposite, as he set his wand straight for Lily and James, an angry look settling on his face.

"How dare you impersonate Lily and James!" He shouted, "How dare you disturb their graves and steal their bodies!" What? Impersonate? Had Albus gone mad while we were dead?

"It's us, Albus. I don't know how, or why, but the last thing I remember is Voldemort killing us before waking up in my coffin. If you don't believe that we are the true Potters, use Veritaserum. We are not imposters." The anger on Albus's face faded, but he did not lower his wand.

"Veritaserum is not necessary. I will ask you a question that only the Potter's would know. Then we may consider the use of Veritaserum." James wrapped his arm around Lily's waist. "Who was your secret keeper?" James's grip tightened around Lily's waist, and she flinched at the reminder of Peter's betrayal.

"Sirius, but we changed it to Peter without telling anyone." Lily answered, looking at Albus confused, "How did you learn about the switch?"

"And what were the Marauder's animagus forms?" James looked surprised but answered confidently.

"Sirius is a dog, Peter is a rat, I'm a stag, and Remus is a werewolf." James looks at him even more confused, "But how did you know?"

"That is a question for another time, my boy." Albus looked at them, and suddenly, Lily realized, he looked very tired. "Return to Hogwarts with me. You may stay the night. We have much to discuss." 

"How do we know you are actually Albus?" Lily questioned. For all they knew, this could be a trap schemed by Voldemort. 

Albus, or who they assumed to be him, smiled. "You must find that out for yourself, I suppose."

"Who did you tell us to pick as our secret keeper?" Lily struggled to keep any and all emotion out of her voice. 

"Myself." 

The tension in Lily's shoulders relaxed. "James? Do you have a question for him?" 

"No, you took mine." A soft smile spread across Lily's face, "Alright, Albus. Lead the way."

Albus nodded, and in a daze held out his arm for the couple to take before he apparated them all out of the dreadful graveyard and to the outskirts of Hogsmead.