The pet shop worker and the murderer

Interlude

The world slowly came into focus as she groggily blinked her eyes. What was she doing on the floor? Where was Harry? The last she could remember was- was- ...nothing? Lily started to backtrack her morning as she sat up. They had apparated directly to the Magical Menagerie, and as Harry opened up she had gone into the backroom to start their work. Then they had worked together until... until... until someone came in! Someone had entered the backroom! They had said something, she knew that, but funnily enough she wasn't sure what. It had sounded pleasant, but when she turned around to see who it was, she had got stunned. Who had it been? It had been a man, hadn't it... and younger than her, but older than Harry... Harry! Lily got up from the floor and looked around fervently after signs of her son. Potion ingredients and papers were on the floor, and there was no sign of either Harry or Nagini.

After she had taken a deep breathe to ground herself, Lily quietly ventured into the main room. The animals were still there, and everything seemed in order... but Harry and Nagini were still gone. Could they have gone outside to get help after she was stunned? No... why would Harry do that? He could defend himself quite well, and there had been no signs of a fight... Had the strange man stunned Harry as well? Then why was he gone? Why was Nagini gone? She couldn't come up with a reason as to why anyone would want to take her Harry and someone else's snake. Perhaps it was just a prank... yes, of course. Harry had grown up with the Marauders, and although he had never been one for pranking, things could change. Lily smiled to herself, calmed by the thought. Surely, Harry was waiting outside the shop for her. The strange man must have been one of Harry's friends.

Feeling better with this new knowledge, Lily walked through the shop door and out into Diagon Alley. She couldn't see Harry, and it was with a small frown that she looked around after him. As she turned to go back inside and look again, something caught her eye. Lily looked up at the sky, and screamed. Above the Magical Menagerie hung the Dark Mark, Riddle's mark. The Undesirable no. 1 had her son.

"Healer Potter, calm down!"

She snapped her mouth shut as a hand was placed on her shoulder, and turned to look at the speaker. Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt... the presence of an Auror made her feel calmer and she gave him a strained smile.

"Thank you. I needed that." she admitted quietly, before her smile faded and reality hit her once more.

"Healer Potter, what are you doing here?" Shacklebolt asked after she had calmed down a bit.

"My son works here. I was helping him with a potion for a client."

"Your son had a client?" Shacklebolt repeated with some confusion.

"Oh yes, a sick snake. It's funny though, the snake is gone as well..."

"As well, Mrs Potter?" Shacklebolt asked.

"Harry has been kidnapped." Lily answered, her tone emotionless. She couldn't fathom what Riddle could possibly want with her Harry. Her son was brilliant, yes, but he was merely a pet shop worker. She couldn't see what would attract a murderer to him.

"Kidnapped?" Shacklebolt repeated, and looked towards the Dark Mark. "Riddle doesn't kidnap."

"I know." Lily whispered. Had she not feared for her son's life before, she surely did now. Shacklebolt sighed.

"Tonks! Take Mrs Potter home, will you?" he ordered. Lily looked up and let her eyes fall on Tonks. The sight of a familiar face brought tears to her eyes.

"Yessir!" Tonks answered, and took Lily's hand. Lily looked towards the Magical Menagerie and the Dark Mark before they disapparated.

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