Speechless

Chapter Seven: Won't Tremble When You Try It

"Mummy, why do I have to wear a new dress?" Eileen asked, trying her very best to stay polite as Lily tied the silky bow around her middle.

"Because, darling, today is very important. Now, hold still," Lily ordered, her tone gentle as she cast the Concealment Charm over her daughter's face, turning her striking silver eyes to the same shade of green she had. She summoned Eileen's hairbrush with Accio next and gently pulled the thing through her long raven locks.

"Why is it important?" Eileen pressed, bringing her now green eyes upwards to meet her mother's in the mirror opposite her.

"Because, darling, we're getting a new Minister of Magic," Lily explained.

"A new one?"

"Aunt Hermione," Lily continued, setting the brush down and summoning the little jacket that would match Eileen's new dress perfectly, which she put around her shoulders. "There, now. I think you look lovely, my darling."

Eileen's brow puckered then, considering. "Why do you change my eyes?"

Lily blinked. "What?" she asked.

"My eyes," Eileen said, looking back up at her mother again. "You change them whenever we're going to leave the house, or if we're around other people..."

Lily swallowed then; like her, Eileen had a very good grasp of the English language, all before the age of two, and the notion that she was very intelligent to boot was not lost on her. "Well, sweetheart, people with our surname..." She hesitated. "It's for your own protection. I promise that I'll explain when you're older, darling, but right now, I need you to trust that Mummy knows what's best for you. All right?"

Eileen sighed, still not fully satisfied, but forced herself to nod. "All right, Mummy. I'll trust you," she said at last.

"Thank you, darling," Lily said, pressing her forehead against her daughter's, knowing full well that things would go more smoothly if trust was given.

Gathering up Eileen into her arms, she casted a quick Warming Charm on the two of them; the venue of their intended destination had not yet been made public, as it was an important event that not everyone had been invited to. The last thing Lily wanted was to be plastered on the front page of The Daily Profit by Rita Skeeter, and branded a bad mother to the entire Wizarding World for not ensuring that her own daughter was warm enough. Shaking her head, Lily made sure to keep a good grip on Eileen as they Apparated to the spot outside the phone booth and slipped inside, making their way downwards as soon as the proper Muggle currency was deposited in the slot. When they got to the fireplace, they were promptly swallowed up by the green sparks, and arrived in the main thoroughfare of the Ministry of Magic where, through the crowds, she caught a glimpse of Harry and Severus standing with Al and Alice, the latter of whom was holding tiny Lilac in her arms.

"Sorry, sorry," Lily said quickly, making her way towards them, and accepting forehead kisses from Harry and Severus, and a quick hug from Al, who promptly took Eileen from her, and she stretched her arms, turning to Alice. "How is my goddaughter and niece?" she asked, stepping closer to the pair of them.

Alice gleamed underneath the praise and gently handed Lilac over to Lily, and Lily carefully took the small bundle in her arms, who squalled slightly at the transfer, but settled down immediately after Lily pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Five days have passed since she was born, and I hardly remember a time before she wasn't here," Alice said dreamily, watching Lily interacting with her daughter.

Severus chuckled darkly. "You will," he assured Alice, ignoring the glare that both Harry and Lily shot at him. "Pretty soon you'll be counting down the days until Lilac goes off to school to be sorted. Slytherin, if I may say so."