Saturday, October 31st, 1977 – Halloween
Once again, James Potter found himself laying on his back, though this time when he woke up, the light in the room was not blinding. Also, he was laying on something quite comfortable instead of hard cement. He sat up and looked around. He recognized the room he was currently in. It was his bedroom in the Head Student Quarters, located across from Gryffindor Tower in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
He could remember everything that had happened between that date, and four years into the future. He also remembered the long conversation with Death, and the missions Death had given him and his wife. James' eyes widened at the thought of his wife. He needed to go to her and see if she had really returned, as Death had promised.
Suddenly, there was a knock on his bedroom door. Before James could say anything, the door opened and Lily stepped into the room. She looked seventeen again, and looked impossibly sexy in her sleeping gown. Obviously she had woken up in her own bedroom.
"James," Lily said.
"Lily," James said. "Please tell me you remember everything."
"I miss our son, James," Lily said, looking teary-eyed, "I miss Harry."
"Come here, Tiger," James said, holding out his hands.
Lily gave him a watery smile, and walked over to his bed. She crawled into the bed and cuddled into his awaiting arms. She then kissed him passionately, and James grinned against her lips as he returned her kiss. Half-a-minute later, Lily backed away and cuddled up to him.
"I miss Harry too," James said, "But we'll see him again."
"Will we?" Lily asked, "This mission seems so impossible."
"We'll see Harry again, Lily," James repeated, "I promise you with all my heart and soul. We'll be a family again."
"All five of us," Lily said, moving a hand to her tummy.
"I'm not wishing to doubt Death or anything," James said, "But are you sure you're pregnant?"
"I just woke up, James," Lily said. "I haven't had time to experience any symptoms yet. But I think we should visit Madam Pomfrey, so I can take a Pregnancy Test Potion. Even if I don't have symptoms, I'm quite aware of what they are. I can explain it to Madam Pomfrey, and she'll believe me."
James sighed. "Well, the fact that you're pregnant is easy to explain. But how will we explain how you became pregnant? How will we explain our relationship that led to you becoming pregnant?"
"How about this?" Lily said. "The day you found out you were Head Boy, you wrote me a letter. You assumed, correctly, that I would be Head Girl. You also assumed, correctly, that we would be spending a lot of time together over the next several months. You invited me to have dinner in the Leaky Cauldron, but explicitly said that it wasn't a date. Just an opportunity to get to know each other better. I accepted the invitation, and we had a wonderful time. I asked you on another date."
"Oh, you asked me?" James asked.
"After the hundreds of times you asked me," Lily said, "I think it was my turn, don't you?"
James grinned. "I can't argue with that."
"But," Lily said, "I knew you would brag to your friends about it. I didn't want that to happen. I wanted you to show me that you weren't dating me just to fill your bucket list or something. I wanted to know you were serious about dating me. I made you promise that you wouldn't brag about finally dating me. Then you went as far as to promise you wouldn't tell your friends – any of your friends – until I gave you permission. I agreed to do the same. I finally gave you permission recently."
"I distinctly remember excitedly telling my friends that I finally got a date with you," James said. "About three days before our Halloween Hogsmeade date."
"You and I discussed exactly how to tell them," Lily said.
"I like it," James said; then placed his hand on top of hers on her belly, "Now explain this."
"Three weeks and six dates after our first date," Lily said, "We spent the night in a room at the Leaky Cauldron. We had a wonderful passionate evening, and an equally passionate following morning."
"You can call it sex, Lily," James said, grinning.
"Fine," Lily said, rolling her eyes, "We had sex. More than once. We also had sex the night before we came to Hogwarts."
"And a couple times in between?" James suggested, "Because Merlin knows I probably wouldn't be able to wait so long after our first time."
"We had sex a few times," Lily said, "Probably would be best to explain it like that. Because it was one of those times when we conceived the babies currently inside me."
"I assume we continued this sexual relationship over the past couple of months?" James asked, then grinned, "You'd think I'd remember all this sex we had."
Lily chuckled. "I distinctly remember being a virgin the first time we had sex. And I distinctly remember that not happening until about two months from now. I can't have a hymen and be pregnant. You're not that potent."
"Maybe Death had something to do with that," James said.
"Maybe," Lily said, "Perhaps we should just make sure. Before we go see Madam Pomfrey. Wouldn't want her to discover I'm pregnant and a virgin."
"We should make sure, huh?" James asked, "Does that mean you're saying we should –?"
"Yes, James," Lily said, then pointed to a clock hanging on a nearby wall. "It is barely six-o-clock in the morning. We can spend some time together, then go see Madam Pomfrey to get my Potion, and we should be able to get down to the Great Hall in time to meet with our friends. Make love to me, James."
James grinned. He would never deny her that request. "Yes, love."
An hour later, after a wonderful session of passionate love-making, the couple were, once again, cuddled up on James' bed. They had discovered two things. One, Lily did not have a hymen oddly enough, and two, sex as seventeen year olds was as amazing as they had remembered.
"I'll say this, Mr. Potter," Lily said, "Even at seventeen, you know exactly how to make me feel like the luckiest woman in the world."
"You still make me feel like the luckiest bloke in the world, Mrs. Potter," James said.
"You still consider us married?" Lily asked, "Even though we're seventeen and students again?"
"Of course," James said, then frowned, "Why? You don't?"
"Of course I do," Lily said, "I just hoped you might propose to me again one day, and then we can once again have an amazing wedding."
"And an equally amazing honeymoon," James said.
"As long as it doesn't interfere with this mission of ours," Lily said.
James sighed. "I'm sure we'll figure something out."
"Good," Lily said. "If I am two months pregnant, my due date should be in May. I don't want to waddle down the aisle."
"Do you want to get married before you give birth?" James said. "While we're still students?"
Lily shrugged. "Doesn't matter to me. I already see myself as Mrs. Potter. Being a Mum on our wedding day wouldn't be so bad. Our babies can be part of our wedding party."
"Post-Hogwarts wedding, it is," James said. "When should we tell our friends? About your pregnancy?"
"When I start showing," Lily said, "Or when my symptoms become noticeable. Whichever comes first. But first, we should go find out if I am pregnant."
"Alright," James said.
"I'll meet you in our Common Room after I'm finished getting dressed," Lily said.
"Deal," James said; then he leaned toward her and kissed her softly. "I love you, Lily."
"I love you too, James," Lily said.
The couple kissed for another half-a-minute before Lily backed away and crawled out of bed. James grinned as he admired his naked seventeen year old wife. He moaned softly as he got a lovely view when she bent over toward the floor to pick up her sleeping gown. Lily heard him, and she winked as she straightened herself.
"Like the view?" she asked.
"Love it," James said.
"No need to stare, James," Lily said, "You'll be seeing it every night. I'll be sleeping in here, of course."
"I would have complained if you had decided otherwise," James said.
Lily smiled. She wrapped herself in her gown, then turned and headed toward the door. She then blew him a kiss and left the room. James smiled to himself, thinking about exactly how lucky he was. Then he crawled out of bed, and proceeded to get dressed.
Twenty minutes later, Lily stepped out of the Head Girl bedroom. She made her way toward the Head Student Common Room, where she found James waiting for her. Suddenly, she was hit with a wave of nausea. She hurried in the direction of the bathroom, barely registering James calling after her, and his hurried footsteps following her. When she arrived at the bathroom, she moved to her knees in front of the toilet, opened the lid and proceeded to vomit into the toilet bowl.
James moved behind her and lifted up her auburn hair. Once the vomiting and the wave of nausea had passed, she backed away from the toilet, and flushed it. Lily took her wand from her robes, and gave herself Cleaning and Breath-Freshening Charms.
"Well," James said, "I think we can safely assume you're pregnant."
"Yeah," Lily said. "But we still should go see Madam Pomfrey. Now I have an honest answer to tell her if and when she asks if I've showed any symptoms."
"Any urges to vomit again, love?" James asked.
"I'm fine, James," Lily said, as she moved to her feet. "Let's get going before our friends come searching for us."
James nodded. The couple made their way out of the Head Student Quarters located directly across from the portrait of the Fat Lady. Lily froze in her footsteps as a thought crossed her mind.
"Lily?" James asked. "Are you coming?"
"Yeah," Lily said. "Sorry."
She followed James down the corridor as they started off in the direction of the Grand Staircase.
"Something wrong, Lily?" James asked, "For a moment there, I thought another wave of nausea hit."
"I realized something," Lily said, "Marlene. She's alive. Fabian, Gideon, Benjy, Edgar and Cynthia Bones. Everyone we lost. Our parents. They're alive, James. They're all alive."
James smiled. "And alive they'll remain. This time, we'll make sure of it."
Lily smiled and nodded. Twenty minutes later, they stepped into the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey, who had been attending to a younger student at the other end of the room, turned to them when she saw them, and bustled over to them.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Evans," she said, "What can I do for you?"
Lily winced briefly at the mention of her original surname. "We need to speak to you. In private. Healer-Patient Confidentiality."
"Will you please join me in my office, dears?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
Lily and James agreed, and followed the nurse into her small office.
"Now, what is so important?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
"I believe I am pregnant," Lily said.
The mildly shocked look on the nurse's face made Lily wince again. She could almost read the nurse's mind. Head Girl Lily Evans? One of the most proper and well-behaved students in the castle? Pregnant?
"Have you shown any symptoms?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
"Nausea," Lily easily replied, "The latest episode less than half-an-hour ago."
"Skipped periods?" Madam Pomfrey said.
"Yeah," Lily said, "Possibly as many as two. Didn't think much about it until – well – today."
Lily based that on her first pregnancy, with Harry, which came as quite the shock.
"Who do you believe is the father?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
Lily glanced at James, who raised his hand slowly.
"Oh!" Madam Pomfrey said, once again showing a shocked expression, "I wasn't aware you two had been dating -"
"We've been dating since early August," Lily said, "Kept it a secret from everybody until now. Our friends don't even know. We plan to reveal our relationship today."
"Well, I have some prepared Pregnancy Test Potions on hand," Madam Pomfrey said, "As is required if the need becomes necessary. You drink the Potion – whilst on the toilet, mind you – then wait until you relieve yourself. If the color is yellow, you're not pregnant. If the color is blue or pink, you're pregnant, and you'll know the gender. Blue if it is a boy, pink if it is a girl."
Lily knew this, of course. But she didn't know if the Potion would tell her if she was having twins.
"What if it is twins... or more?" she asked, "Er... on the off-chance that happens?"
"Sky blue if twin boys, hot pink if twin girls," Madam Pomfrey said, "Green if one of each."
"Alright," Lily said, "I suppose I should get it over with."
"Of course," Madam Pomfrey said. "Stay here, Potter."
"Er... I'll be here when you're done then," James said.
Lily smiled. She followed Madam Pomfrey out of the office. The nurse retrieved a vial of Potion from one of her cabinets. She handed the vial to Lily, and Lily headed for the girl's restroom on the left side of the Hospital Wing. Lily pulled down her jeans and knickers, and sat down on the toilet. She gulped down the vial of potion and set the empty vial on the sink. Then she waited.
As she waited, she thought about the first time she had done this. Six months before she discovered she was pregnant with Harry, there was another time she thought she was pregnant. Back then, it turned out she wasn't. She and James discussed having children and whether or not they should wait. Neither knew exactly what they wanted. They agreed that if it happened, it happened. They weren't going to start focusing on using Contraception, nor would they focus on going without either. A few months later, Lily found out she was pregnant with Harry.
Harry. Death had promised her and James that if they completed the missions he requested of them, he would reward them with giving them back Harry. They just needed to end the threat of Voldemort in less than two years. Harry had been conceived on Halloween night of 1979. That was their deadline. If November 1st, 1979 came, and Voldemort was still alive, they would lose Harry. Oh, they could have another baby boy, and call him Harry. But unless he was born on July 31st, 1980, he would not be the same Harry.
"Less than two years," Lily said, frowning, "Less than two years, all while I'm pregnant, then a mother. Couldn't have made it any easier, could you, Death?"
Two minutes later, Lily sighed as she relieved herself. When she finished, she inhaled and exhaled then stood up. She turned around and looked at the color...
"Green," Lily said, two minutes later, as she returned to Madam Pomfrey's office, where James was impatiently waiting. "We're having twins. One of each."
"Twins... boy and girl," James said, then inhaled and exhaled, "Brilliant."
"Is 'congratulations' a proper thing to say?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
"Yes, Madam Pomfrey," Lily said, "Very proper. Thank you."
"Yes," James said, "Thank you, ma'am."
"Congratulations then," Madam Pomfrey said, "Miss Evans, come see me this evening after the Halloween Feast, and we'll discuss this more thoroughly. We'll discover then when your due date is, and other important information. Mr. Potter, if you wish to join her, you are free to do so, of course. Do you have any questions right now?"
"Yes, ma'am," Lily said, "I'm planning on studying up on Animagi for my Transfiguration project. If I desired to attempt to become an Animagus, would it be wise during pregnancy?"
She had not become her Bengal Tiger Animagus until after Harry was born, so she was unsure about this information.
"Up until your seventh month of pregnancy, it is safe to experience Animagus transformations," Madam Pomfrey. "Apparation and Floo Travel are also okay until your seventh month."
"Alright," Lily said. "I want to keep this between the three of us for the immediate future. Until I start showing, or my symptoms become noticeable. Including from our friends and Professors. Would that be possible?"
"The Headmaster and Professors do not need to know until your pregnancy becomes noticeable," Madam Pomfrey said. "However, there are some Potions you won't be able to brew during your pregnancy. We'll discuss that this evening. I'll write you a note to give to Professor Slughorn. We can tell him it is allergies. Also, you're forbidden from participating in duels in Defense class. I'll write an additional note to Professor Gosling, and I'll figure out a medical reason by this evening."
"Alright," Lily repeated. "Are we excused, ma'am? We'd like to go to breakfast."
"Oh yes, go on," Madam Pomfrey said, "You need to eat extra now, Miss Evans. You're eating for three."
"Yes, ma'am," Lily said, "We'll see you this evening after the Feast."
James bid farewell, and the couple proceeded out of the Hospital Wing. Halfway down the corridor, when they were out of eavesdropping range, James grasped his wife's hand in his.
"Twins," he said, "A boy and girl. Brilliant."
Lily smiled. James sounded happier than he did in Madam Pomfrey's office.
"Can we do this, James?" Lily asked, in a low voice, "My pregnancy. Parents of twins. All while putting an end to Voldemort's threat? Harry is conceived two years from today, James. Can we do this in two years?"
"We have to, Lily," James said, "For Harry."
Lily nodded. "For Harry."
She pecked him on the lips, and squeezed his hand. The couple headed off back toward the direction of the Grand Staircase.
"Why did you ask the question about Animagi?" James asked.
"I want to join you and the Marauders during your Full Moon Runs," Lily said.
"Lily," James said, quietly, "You're pregnant -"
"I'm completely aware of that, James," Lily cut in. "You know very well that I'm not delicate! I'll be fine. My tiger is a tough animal."
"Shite," James muttered, "That reminds me. The Full Moon is this evening. How are we going to tell the guys that you're already an Animagus?"
"We'll be telling them about our relationship today, right?" Lily asked.
"I decided while – you know – you were taking a pee," James said, then grinned when Lily rolled her eyes, "that we could tell them, and your girlfriends, during a sit-down lunch in the Three Broomsticks. We'll rent a private room from Rosmerta, and tell all our friends about our relationship. However, your Animagus... well, we can't tell your girlfriends yet. They don't know about the Marauders and I just yet."
"How about this?" Lily asked. "I leave a few minutes behind you guys, and I'll follow your scent. When I appear, you make sure Moony is tame and calm. Then I'll reveal who I am."
James sighed. "I'll think about it. If I can't come up with a better idea, we'll go along with that one."
"Alright," Lily said.
Once they arrived at the Grand Staircase, they let go of each other's hands, mindful to keep their relationship a secret for just a little while longer. When they arrived at the Gryffindor Table in the Great Hall, they found that none of their friends had arrived yet. So they sat down together at the end of the table where the seventh years usually sat, and started filling their plates.
Not two minutes later, Lily's girlfriends – and former dorm-mates – arrived together. Lily's eyes went misty when she saw Marlene McKinnon. She could still remember when she found out about her friend's death. She blinked the tears from her eyes, so her friends wouldn't notice. She could probably blame it on early pregnancy hormones, and she knew she needed to keep those symptoms calm lest her friends discover her pregnancy before she was ready to reveal it.
Marlene and Pandora Lovegood – Presley, Lily reminded herself, She won't be Lovegood until next summer! – sat down on Lily's other side, while Amelia Bones, and Alice Smythe sat across from her. Alice was joined by her future husband, Frank Longbottom.
"Surprised to see you sitting next to Potter, Lily," Amelia said, grinning, from across the table.
Lily smiled softly, and gave her ready-made explanation. "I'm going on a date with him, remember? I'm here to make sure nobody else decides they want to try to claim him instead."
"Ooh, Evans," Marlene said, "I can clearly remember when you would pray someone else asked James to Hogsmeade, so he wouldn't ask you again."
"That didn't help much, if I recall," Pandora said, "Even if he had a date, James would still try to ask Lily out."
"What made you finally accept a date with him?" Frank asked.
Before Lily could answer, she was interrupted by the other three members of the Marauders joining the table. Remus sat next to James, while Sirius and Peter sat down across the table. Sirius made sure to sit down next to Amelia.
"James, when did Unforgivable Curses become legal?" Sirius asked.
"Pardon, mate?" James replied.
"I'm wondering when the Imperius Curse became legal," Sirius said, "Because I'm trying to figure out how you convinced Evans to sit next to you."
"The same way I finally earned a date with her," James said, "She asked me."
Sirius barked out a laugh, and Lily smiled.
"Wait," Frank said, "You asked him, Lily?"
"I plead temporary insanity," Lily joked.
All of their friends snickered. Lily winked at James, and he smiled softly.
"Actually," Lily said, "I'd be happy to tell you the real story. But not here at breakfast. James offered to rent a private room at the Three Broomsticks, and all of you are invited to join us for lunch. Say... one-o-clock?"
"Really?" Marlene asked, "That doesn't sound like a very romantic lunch-date, what with all of us there butting in."
"We'll have the rest of the visit for romance," Lily said.
"Alright, James," Sirius said, "Stop hiding the Felix Felicis."
"Only if you stop being so immature," James said, grinning.
Sirius' jaw dropped. Then he grumbled under his breath, and turned to Amelia.
"What say you, Bones?" Sirius asked. "Do you have a date today?"
"I'm waiting for the right person to ask me," Amelia said.
"Would you like to join me?" Sirius asked.
Amelia shrugged. "I don't have anything better to do. Sure, it's a date, Black."
Lily smiled in Amelia's direction. She did recall that Amelia and Sirius became a couple that day. In hers and James' future, the pair had a relationship for several months. However, at James and Lily's wedding, Sirius had proposed to Amelia, and Amelia had said no. Her official reason was because she couldn't be with Sirius if he was part of the Order of the Phoenix. It was around that time when she started her apprenticeship at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and she couldn't be associated with the unofficial group. Lily hoped she might be able to change that this time. She thought Amelia and Sirius were a wonderful couple.
Pandora's voice broke Lily's reverie. "You sure have a lot of food on your plate there, Lily."
Lily winced. She had piled more food than usual to support her pregnancy.
"I suppose I'm just more hungry than usual today," Lily said, making up an excuse.
"Oh," Pandora said. "I'm afraid I must decline the group lunch at the Three Broomsticks. Xenophilius is meeting me in Hogsmeade today. I don't get to see him often while I'm here at Hogwarts, and I want to spend the whole day with him. Just me and him."
"I completely understand, Panda," Lily said, using her nickname for her friend. "You enjoy your time with him. I'll tell you the story another time."
"I look forward to it," Pandora said, smiling.
Lily echoed her friend's smile. As she continued eating her meal, she noticed Severus Snape looking in her direction from the Slytherin Table on the far side of the Great Hall. When she caught him looking, he turned his gaze away from her and looked at his fellow Slytherins.
She hadn't thought about Severus at all since she and James had come back in time. The last time she had seen him, he had been wearing a Death Eater mask, and had been hers and James opposition alongside fellow Death Eaters in a battle. That was before she had discovered she was pregnant with Harry. She had not participated in a battle since she had become pregnant with Harry.
However, the battle had not been the last time she had heard from her former best friend. Severus had written her a letter after Harry was born. He had wanted to speak to her face-to-face. James was afraid it was a trap, and Lily had agreed with him. She didn't contact Severus or hear from him again.
Now, looking at Severus, she wasn't sure what she wanted to do about him. She knew that he was already a Junior Death Eater and would be joining Voldemort's ranks officially once he finished his education at Hogwarts. The last time, Severus had avoided her altogether whilst at Hogwarts after her relationship with James became public. She knew when her pregnancy became public news, Severus' negative feelings toward her would only worsen.
It was impossible, she realized. There was nothing at all she could do to repair their friendship. She didn't know what would happen to Severus once she and James defeated Voldemort. She only hoped Severus survived the end of Voldemort's terrible reign.
James nudged Lily softly with his arm and Lily looked at him.
"You alright?" James said, softly.
Lily nodded silently. Then she realized, as she looked at James, that something was bothering him.
"Are you?" she asked.
James frowned. "I'll tell you later."
Lily nodded again. With her free hand, she placed it under the table, and grasped James' hand in hers. James smiled and squeezed her hand. She gave a soft smile in reply and continued eating her meal. She remained silent, as she listened to her friends discussions. As much as she missed Harry, she knew she would see her son again. For now, she needed to focus on her pregnancy and her pending role as a mother of twins. In addition, there was the mission to destroy Voldemort. She and James would fight tooth, wand and nail to make sure their mission succeeded. Not just for Harry, but for their twins, their friends, and their parents.