Invictus

London Calling

Olivia was sitting at the edge of the navy blue chair, nonchalant, while she listened to her mother. Harry was sitting comfortably on the sofa, collectively calm and tranquil about the surprise. Lily Potter continued to explain the meaning of their lives now, the monumental change it meant whilst Olivia thought it was all a terrifying thought.

-      What do you think about this, Liv? – Lily asked in a very amicable tone, knowing that to say Olivia was upset and unsettled was an understatement.

-      I stopped listening after you said we were wizards.

-      You and Harry will both study at Hogwarts and I will work there too, so our routine won't be disrupted. – Lily held and caressed Olivia's hand in an attempt to transmit the comfort she wanted her daughter to feel.

-      So, I am going to a wizard school, because I am a wizard with a bunch of other wizards and apparently, you and dad are very famous wizards and there is a big bad wizard that is targeting our family and we have to move to England, where the weather is bad and everyone only drinks tea? – At this point, Olivia had raised her voice and was standing up.

-      Well, in essence, yes. – Lily soothing tone didn't stop Olivia from running towards her room and banging the door as hard as she could.

-      She will come around soon, mum. – Harry said, trying to comfort his mother, but knowing that he wasn't very good at it.

Lily held Harry's hand and turned on the TV, so she could wander in her thoughts, and Harry could be entertained for a while. At least, she thought to herself, her children were healthy and for most time, happy. Sometimes, chills ran through her body when flashbacks from that night in Godrick's Hollow appeared and the worry of her children abandoned, orphaned and left to live with her horrible sister, Petunia, consumed her. Olivia and Harry looked like starving children that wore dirty and large clothes and shared a tiny room covered in dust whilst they were made to cook and clean, deprived of a normal childhood. No birthday parties, no gifts, no idea of what love was. Lily had to stop imagining what her children's life would've looked like without her, because it was torture to think about it.

After James died, Lily waited around for Petunia to send a letter, casserole, smoke signal, anything really. The days turned into months and Lily decided to give her sister one last chance. She sent Petunia a letter, stating that she would be visiting in two weeks with Harry and Olivia, because their troubles in the past were meaningless in the light of recent events and her children deserved to know their auntie and cousin, the only biological family they had left. Petunia didn't reply, but that didn't stop Lily from showing up at her doorstep with two babies in their car seats. The doorbell kept ringing until finally, just when it had started to rain, Petunia opened the door.

-      What are you doing here? – Petunia scolded whilst holding baby Dudley.

-      I sent you a letter!

-      I didn't allow you to be here, that's why I didn't send you a letter back.

-      But I wanted you to meet Harry and Liv! – Exclaimed Lily excitedly, pointing out to the two sleeping babies. – Look at them!

-      Vernon will be coming home soon from work. You should go before the rain gets thicker.

-      Petunia don't be rude! This is your niece and nephew. You know that James, he died. – Lily stammered, her last ounce of hope leaving.

-      If you two weren't a bunch of freaks, maybe none of this would've happened! Not my problem! NOW, LEAVE. – The door closed before Lily could even react, waking up Liv and Harry.

The two babies were crying, it was raining, Lily had to attach the car seats again, she had never felt more alone and she was on the verge of tears. That was until she saw Sirius and Remus waiting by her car with smiles and a basket. They quickly adjusted the car seats to fit and drove away without talking about the incident but munching on the chocolate and pastry inside the basket. After that day, Lily realized she had a family all along always waiting for her during her worst moments.

-      Mum, are you alright? – Harry asked and Lily looked up to the clock, it was already 11PM.

-      Yes, of course, but you should go to sleep.

While Harry walked to the toilet to brush his teeth, Lily walked to Olivia's room to find her curled up in bed, reading a book about vampires. She noticed the stains, evidence of Olivia's cry, on the pillow and proceed with cautious, limiting herself to just sitting on the side of the bed until Olivia noticed she was there.

-      This isn't easy for you too. Sorry. – Olivia muttered and Lily smiled.

-      Are you scared?

-      Yeah.

-      I am scared too.

Harry saw the scene as he made his way to his bedroom and decided to join in. The three of them slept, squashed, in Olivia's bed just like they did when they were toddlers and feared the darkness. This, however, was a different type of darkness and they all knew it was looming in, getting closer and closer as the days passed.