A/N: And I'm back again! So I know I promised more action, but for some reason, I've always imagined what it was like with James and Lily and her family...I did write this chapter twice, so I really hope I fixed all my errors. If you see any, please let me know and I will fix them. I wrote this while I was working and watching my youngest (one year old) so my mind was going a million different ways at the time. Until next time.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, etc. they all belong to JK Rowling.
Lily was having a very hard time concentrating on the conversations going on around her on the train. Her thoughts were all on Severus, and what he and others were going to be doing this very night. She shuddered just thinking about what they would have to do. She could only imagine what they would have to do in their 'initiation.' James, having noticed she shuddered, put his arm around her and gave her a worrying look. Smiling, she reassured him with a smile and looked back out the window. They were nearing the station; where her parents were going to be, and possibly her sister.
Gathering all of their things for one last time, they all exited the train when it stopped. All the students were looking for their parents and families, and students saying goodbye to friends before departing was making the station very crowded and chaotic.
"Oi James, I don't see your parents," Sirius said, still looking over people's heads.
"I don't either,' James said, running his hand through his hair.
"Oh! There's my parents!" Lily exclaimed. "James, come meet my parents?"
James' eyes widened and he looked to Sirius for help, who was trying hard not to laugh. "Er, yeah, alright," he said, before being dragged through the crowd by Lily.
"Mum! Dad!" Lily exclaimed before throwing her arms around her parents.
"Oh Lily, it's so good to see you!" Her mother told her, beaming at her daughter.
"Well, how does it feel to be out of school?" Her father asked her.
"I'll let you know when reality sinks in," Lily told him. "Oh, mum, dad, this is James Potter, my boyfriend," she said suddenly, dragging James forward.
"Ah, so this is the famous James Potter," her mother grinned, shaking his hand. "I'm June Evans."
James smiled then looked hesitantly at her father, who had an unreadable look on his face.
Her father held out his hand," Ah yes, we've heard about you," he said.
"Oh daddy, stop it," Lily said. She rolled her eyes and said, "This is Robert, don't mind him. He's just heard me talk about the toe rag James Potter," she said with a grin.
James figured, but he took it in stride. "Ah yes, well, I've done a lot of maturing this year, and somehow managed to sweep your beautiful daughter off her feet finally."
Robert grinned. "Well, you must have done something right to win Lily over. She's nothing if not determined, and she is a very good judge of character."
James laughed and grabbed Lily's hand. "Is Petunia not here?" Lily asked, already knowing the answer.
Her parents shared a look and told her softly, "Actually she will be coming to dinner tonight, she said she has some news."
Lily could tell they didn't know what the news was by the nervous looks they were giving each other, but she knew how fragile their daughters' relationship was also.
"James, would you like to join us for dinner tonight also?" June asked.
James looked at Lily and smiled. He knew she was going to tell her parents what was happening in their world, and eventually in the muggle world, and what her part would be in it, and he wanted to be there with her when she did. "I would absolutely love to come for dinner Mrs. Evans!"
Lily could only imagine how well dinner was going to go tonight. She'd have to tell her family about the war and her part in it, her sister, who despised anything or anyone magic, would be there, her boyfriend would be there—she almost expected everything to go wrong tonight.
oOo~oOo~oOo
"Petunia dear! It's so good to see you! And hello Vernon, please come in!" June exclaimed from the front door.
Lily was on edge. Her parents had welcome James with open arms, and her mother was quite smitten with him and is charms. But Petunia was a whole other story. Her sister despised her and anything to do with magic. Freak, is what she had called her, and since that day, they have had a distant relationship. And who was this Vernon? Her parents hadn't talked about Petunia or her life after she had graduated school, and of course, Petunia had never talked to Lily about her life.
James, seeming to sense her discomfort, grabbed her hand and squeezed. Suddenly, June came into the sitting room, leading her sister Petunia, and an overweight young man, who had no neck.
"Oh, so you're, back are you?" Petunia asked haughtily toward Lily.
"Petunia," her mother hissed at her.
"Yes, just got back today," Lily replied.
Vernon, seeming lost as to who Lily was stepped forward to introduce himself. "I'm Vernon, and you are?"
"I'm Lily, Petunia's sister," she said with a sharp look toward her sister. Obviously, her sister had failed to tell her boyfriend she had a sister. Turning to James, she said, "and this is my boyfriend, James."
James stood and shook Vernon's pudgy hand.
After a few moments silence, June said, "Well, let's go eat, shall we?"
Conversation at dinner was mostly initiated by Robert and June. Their daughters refused to speak to each other, Petunia would hardly acknowledge her sister was there, and Lily stared at her sister, daring her to speak. James and Vernon, seeming unsure as to their girlfriend's quiet demeanor, seemed to follow suit and only answered questions directed at them from Robert and June.
"So, Vernon, what is it you do?" James asked, after Lily's parents seemed to run out of conversation topics.
"Ah, well I am working as a salesman at the moment selling drills. Fascinating work! But I'm sure in no time I will be moving up the ladder, getting pay raises, vacation time," he boasted. "And what is it you do?"
"Ah, well, Lily and I just graduated, so we haven't really had a chance to get jobs yet. We do have an idea of what we'll be doing in the near future, but-" he looked at Lily, wondering if she was going to tell her family now.
"And what are these plans dear?" her mother asked, taking a bite of roast, not seeing the unease of her daughter.
"Actually mother, Vernon and I have something we'd like to tell you," Petunia cut in, as Lily was about to spill all.
"Oh?" Her mother replied, giving Petunia and Vernon her full attention.
"Vernon, has asked me to marry him!" She exclaimed.
"Oh how lovely!" June exclaimed.
"Cheers!" Robert said.
James simply gave a small smile, while he looked at Lily. He could tell Lily was about to erupt any second. He saw mixtures of hurt, sadness, surprise and anger flash through her eyes quickly.
"Have you set a date dears?" June asked.
"Well, we were thinking this summer, and Vernon's already got his groomsmen, and I've got my bridesmaids and maid of honor, and-"
"Oh, so Lily already knew?" Her mother asked, looking at her youngest.
Lily glared at her sister. "No mother, this is news to me."
"Oh mother, I asked my friend Nancy to be my maid of honor, and my friends Anna and –"
"Nancy? But Petunia, your maid of honor should be your sister," her mother cut in.
"Mother, I've made my decision, and that's final," Petunia said, still not looking at her sister.
"Petunia, I really think-"
"Actually mother, James and I will be a bit busy this summer, so I think it's best this way anyway," Lily suddenly said, still glaring at her sister. "Besides, it's obvious Petunia doesn't wish to have a freak in her wedding."
Petunia suddenly looked at her sister and glared.
"Lily!" Her mother exclaimed.
"Now girls, I don't think now is-" her father started to say, sensing what was coming.
"You're absolutely right I don't want a freak in my wedding! In fact, I don't want you anywhere near me!" Petunia yelled.
"Well you won't have to worry about me being anywhere near you, because I'm going to be too busy fighting in a war!" Lily yelled back, and stood abruptly, causing her mother to drop her fork on her plate. "Unbeknowest to you, James and I will have a target on our backs soon by one of the most powerful wizards, and he's going to be hunting us down to kill us, so you don't have to bloody worry about me being anywhere near you!"
"W-wizard?" Vernon choked, looking confused.
"War? What war?" Robert asked.
"Kill you?" June screeched.
"Well good! Two less freaks to worry about!" Petunia exclaimed, standing up!
James finally stood. "You have no right!" he yelled at Petunia.
Vernon, not wanting to be outdone, stood also alongside his fiancé, and glared at James and pointed his stubby finger at him. "Don't you dare yell at my fiancé!"
"I'll yell at her all I want if she's not going to listen! If she can't get over her petty hatred and jealousy toward Lily, to understand what's happening and going to happen," James exclaimed.
"Oh, so now you're threatening her!" Vernon exclaimed, putting up his fists as if to fight with James.
James laughed, and said, "You've no idea what you're up against, so you better put those down."
Vernon swung at James, but James having seeker reflexes, dodged and pulled his wand out of his shirt sleeve, pointing it at Vernon. Petunia screamed. Robert and June stood suddenly.
"Son, put that away," Robert said calmly but firmly.
"What a stick? You going to poke me with it?" Vernon laughed.
"Would you like to see what I can do with it?" James growled at him, sparks starting to come from the tip of his wand.
"Listen here you worthless, no account! I will not stand for-" Vernon's words were cut off, when suddenly he started to lift up into the air, and turn upside down. "What- what the bloody-get me down! What's going on?" He yelled, his face turning red.
Petunia screamed, trying to pull him down. "Put him down!"
James released the spell, and Vernon fell to the floor with a loud thud.
"You freaks get out of here!" Petunia screamed, clinging to Vernon, who was muttering and trying to spit out words.
"Petunia, enough! This is our house!" Robert yelled at her.
"But he threatened Vernon, and used that-that thing on him!"
"He's not the one who tried to punch him first," Robert said. "Now please, James put that away."
"Don't bother!" Petunia exclaimed, pushing Vernon away from the table, toward the door. "As long as those freaks are around, we won't be!" Pushing Vernon out the door, she turned and glared at her sister. "If I never see you again, it'll be too soon!" After a few seconds, they heard the front door slam behind her.
Lily was crushed. This was not at all how she had planned this night going. She collapsed in her chair, tears falling from her eyes.
James crouched down at her chair and tried to calm her down. He knew he was partly to blame for the blow up, and he felt bad. Especially since this was the first night, he had met her parents.
"Lily, dear, please," her mother said, fighting her own tears.
"Oh mum, I'm so tired of trying with her, I just snapped," Lily said, still crying.
"I know Lily," June said, pulling a chair over beside her daughter. "I just wish you two were as close as you once were."
"Oh mum, I do too, but I don't think we ever will be, especially after tonight."
After a few moments, Lily and her mother's tears started to subside, before Robert asked the dreaded question, "What did you mean by you and James would be targeted? And what war?"
Lily looked at James, who nodded and squeezed her hand, giving her some encouragement.
Sighing she said softly, "There's been a war building, and this Lord Voldemort is a psychopath who is determined to wipe the earth – muggle and wizarding- clean of blood traitors, muggleborns, half-bloods, and muggles- anyone he deems unworthy. James and I came across some information and it's valid, that we will be targeted, and he will come after us to kill us, and someone else eventually. But we've found a way to destroy him, and we're going to be working on that now that we're out of school. We'll be joining the Order of the Phoenix, which is a secret group working to stop Voldemort." She looked up at her parents who, she could tell, were full of questions.
"But why you and James? Have you done something to this Volde-whatever his name is, to make him target you?" Robert asked.
"There's, well, a prophecy," Lily said, looking at James quickly. They had decided not to tell their parents of their trip to the future. "This prophecy basically is about someone being born to those who have defied Voldemort three times, and that neither can live while the other survives. But we know how to kill Voldemort, and we have to be the ones to do it."
"But it's simple isn't it," June said. "You two don't 'defy' him three times. Then this prophecy won't be about you."
"But you said the prophecy was about someone being born to those who have defied him three times," Robert said slowly, looking from his daughter to her boyfriend. "Do you mean to tell me you two are going to have a baby, that this person is going to go after?" He was suddenly very angry and glaring at James.
"No, dad!" Lily jumped up. "I'm not pregnant! I swear! Prophecies tell of things in the future. But yes, Voldemort will essentially be after our so-baby."
June was rubbing her temple. "So, you're telling us that no matter what you do, this person is going to go after you regardless? And try to kill you?"
Lily didn't say anything. She didn't have to. June gave a horrified shudder, and Robert put his hand on her shoulder.
James finally spoke. "Look, I know this is a lot to take in, trust me it was for us as well. But if we don't do this, if we don't stop and kill Voldemort, things will end up very badly, for everyone, muggle and wizards. Lily and I, and even our friends, are willing to do everything we can to prevent an even more drastic future from happening."
"Mum, dad, I know you still see me as your little girl, but I'm grown, I'm out of school, and I'm of age. This is my choice, and if there is anything I can do, I will do it."
June gave her daughter a small smile and cupped her cheek. "Oh Lily, you have always been so determined, and I can see that you're just as determined to do this. We don't like it, at all, but we'll stand beside you and support you in any possible way that we can." She nearly choked at the end, thinking of all that could possibly go wrong.
"James, I'm trusting you to take care of my daughter, and keep her safe," Robert said firmly, looking James square in the eyes.
James nodded. "Yes sir, you have my word."
Lily smiled at James and looked at her parents. She knew they had so many more questions, and she wished she could give them answers. She wished she could tell them the whole truth. What hurt her and made her fearful was she had no idea what happened to her parents in the future. She had an inkling they had died, and that's why Harry had been sent to Petunia. She had also wondered about James' parents. Had both of their families, their parents been murdered also in the future? She couldn't let it happen, and she would do everything in her power to stop it.