Lily Evans

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

       I went back to St Mungo's the next day, and I sat by his bed and I listened to the Healer talk about his recovery and I sat by his bed some more. He woke up around noon, and the first thing he did was call out my name, and I was ready, I was sitting by his bed. "I'm here, how do you feel?" He lifted himself up slightly and then glanced around the room as though he was looking for something. "Where's mummy and daddy?" he asked, sounding thoroughly confused. It took me a few moments to process what he had said before I could answer at all, I had not expected anything like this.

       "What do you mean? They're... well they're not here, you know that." He stared at me, without saying a word, and slowly a frown formed in his eyebrows, but still he said nothing. "Maybe you should get some more rest, I'll... I'll come and see you again in a bit." I couldn't have reached the corridor fast enough. My voice was croaky, I coughed but it still didn't change. I sunk down into a chair and sighed. I was all he had now, but he was all I had too. I'm always terrible in these situations, I never know how to comfort someone or care for them, that was always my mum. I felt a sudden yearning for my parents, I hated knowing that I would never be able to run crying to my mother when I have my first heart break, or that my father would never walk me down the aisle, and above all, that I'll never be able to care for Sammy as well as they would have. How could Voldemort dare to attempt to take away my brother as well as my parents? I know he won't win, I know how to finish him, and he'll never see it coming.

       I sat there in silence for a few minutes, but was reluctantly awoken from my deep web of thoughts by the sound of strong feet pounding the corridors floors, coming towards me. I looked up to see Dumbledore pretty much jogging (in his own Dumbledorish way) towards me, with a horrifyingly worrying expression on his face. "Lily-"

       "This wasn't supposed to happen! I thought I was stopping this, I thought you'd be able to make everyone safe, no one would get hurt, no one would die. Though of course Sammy's not going to die... Sammy's going to be all right, perfectly alright." I couldn't tell whether I was talking to Dumbledore or myself, but either way the words came out of my mouth and Dumbledore heard them. "Knowing something will happen can't change that it will, it can only change that you are ready, and that you are stronger. What will be must be, Lilly. And you are quite correct, your brother will, in the end, be okay, and so will you. But I have much more to discuss, you must come with me right now." I stared at Dumbledore, what could possible be more urgent than Sammy's situation? "There is no option, you must leave right now." The firmness in his voice scared me too much to say no, so I nodded and then hurriedly tried to keep up with his power walking out of the hospital.

        "What's going on, Professor Dumbledore? Is everything alright?" He did not look at me, he was constantly glancing around us, and I noticed he had his wand already in his hand. "We cannot discuss it here. Take my arm." I did as I was told, and we disaparated to Grimmauld Place. I followed him through into the dining room and he closed all the doors and windows while I stood there completely confused and panicky. "Professor Dumbledore?" I called to him. He turned and looked at me, his f\ce was grave. "Lord Voldemort knows who you are, who your parents were, and where you come from. I do not to what extent he has correctly discovered about you and your brother, but I believe it is enough to put you in danger." I was motionless for a second, I could not move, I could not breathe. If we were in danger, Sammy can't be moved from St Mungo's to be protected, he needs treatment! "But how? How can Voldemort possibly know who I am, who Sammy is?"

       "I do not think Voldemort knew that your father had a daughter when he sought to kill him sixteen years ago, or again a few months ago. He was most likely intrigued to hear that Hogwarts has recieved a new older student, in Harry Potter's year and house, but then when he encountered your brother no doubt he made an inquiry into who the boy was and why he was so near the Department of Mysteries. I am sure after questioning certain people he would have been able to know how you have become good friends with Harry as well. I am still yet to discover how he discovered that you and your parents were hiding in a year other than the one they belonged, and how he brought you back through time, but it would have been a very complex mission that Voldemort wanted to ensure was complete before he properly rose to power. Overall I would say you and your brother are in danger, and if he somehow discovers how much information you hold and are giving me, I believe he would seek your death higher than even Harry's." I sunk down onto one of the chairs and covered my face in my hands. This could not be happening.

       "So what's going to happen? Sammy's in hospital, you can't move him but he needs protection!" I was practically yelling but Dumbledore didn't seem to mind. "Members of the Order have been sent to protect and guard Samuel from any harm."

       "I should go back to him. He'll be wondering where I am... He needs to know what's going on... " I muttered and started to walk out of the room, though I knew I'd need Dumbledore to take me there in the first place. Dumbledore reached his hand out to stop me just as I was opening the door, "You are only putting yourself in danger by going to him. If you want to do what is best for you and your brother you must stay here, where you are safe." I scowled at Dumbledore but knew I didn't have a choice in the matter.

       "So I can't go see my brother, because it's 'dangerous'? I don't care! Sammy needs me, I'll walk if I have to!"

       "More members of the Order will escort you to Samuel's ward later today and tomorrow. The Healer looking after him has said that he will only be in there for a few more days, his injuries are less severe than Arthur's would have been. Then once he returns and you all go back to the Burrow, protective enchantments will be put in place there, which there would have been anyway because Harry will be staying with you as well."

       "But-"

       "I think now, Lily, it would be best if you had some rest, and if I hear of any urgent news to do with Samuel, I can assure you that you will be the first person I inform. I will see you soon." He closed the door behind him, and I was left standing there with a battle going on in my head about whether I should sneak out or not. In the end I decided that if I tried to sneak out I would just get caught and make a right idiot of myself, so instead I dragged my feet upstairs and flopped down on my bed. When I was here last time I'd shared a room with Tonks because she had a lot of things to do for the Order at that time so she was staying here, though this time I was in the room that Ginny and Hermione had slept in, and so they'll join me in here when they arrive tomorrow.

       After a few minutes I heard a soft knocking on the door, followed by it opening without me saying anything. "Dumbledore was here a bit ago asking where you were, he seemed really nervous, and then he turned up again with you just a few minutes ago. Is everything okay? Is Sammy okay?" Harry asked from the doorway. Again without an answer he walked in and sat down on the chair beside the wardrobe. "Yeah, Sammy's... Well Sammy's awake. I think he's okay, or he's going to be, hopefully." I sighed, is that true? Is he really going to be okay?

       "And what about you?" Harry asked more quietly this time. I looked up at him, green blazing into green as we stared as each other. "No more secrets." I mumbled, Harry didn't respond and I knew I couldn't still look him in eye when I told him what I'd just been told myself, so I looked down at my hands, surprised to them steady and still. "Voldemort found out that my parents had kids, and that one of them, me, just started Hogwarts and am friends with you, well at least I think we're friends..." My voice caught in my throat. Today and last night it seemed like Harry had forgiven me, but I still didn't know where we stood.

       "I want us to be." Harry took hold of my hand and then nodded as if to tell me to go on. I looked back into his bright green eyes, and saw my own reflecting off them, the two greens mixed. "He's after me. He wants me killed, gone. And if- if we finds out how much I know, he'll stop at nothing, just like he did with my father." My emotions got the better of me and I started to cry. I was surprised I lasted this long really, I'm bleating terrified. And so for the second time I found myself crying into Harry Potter's shoulder with his arms wrapped around in a way that made me feel like I would always be safe if I was forever held like this.