FOUNDER'S LEGACY

Part 3

Love through Time

Chapter 27: Seeking Protection

Voldemort was in rage. The petite redhead he didn't know escaped him second time in last two weeks. First she led the defence of Hogsmadeand and now she led the group which stole his precious Amulet of Life. He was only a step from absolute immortality but that girl destroyed his plans. As soon as his Death Eaters regained their consciousnesses after the redhead had sent them to the wall with one spell he ordered. ''Get Wormtail. Immediately.'' Then he returned to his chambers to cure the headache that woman caused him with her magic.

The Dark Lord was pacing in his study impatiently. He wanterd answers and he wanted them now. ''All problems began when that meddling bitch appeared out of nowhere. Two weeks ago Dumbledore's pitiful Order was given a powerful reinforcement. ''She is some sort of leader between them. I wonder why iit is. I don't see Dumbledore to step away for anyone to take the leadership of his order.'' Voldemort mused. A soft knock resonated through the room.

''Enter.'' Voldemort snarled.

Wormtail feared for his life. At the last meeting he forgot to tell the Dark Lord about new addition to the Order. It seemed that his master was in rage because of it. Lily destroyed easily his carefully laid plans. Trembling the traitorous rat bowed to the powerful wizard. '' You summoned me, Master.''

''Who is the redhead?'' The monster asked angrily.

Wormtail quivered in fear. He was sorry for Lily to rouse the attention of Dark Lord. But he not enough to withhold any information from Voldemort. ''Her name is Lily Evans, my Lord.''

''What do you know about her?''

''She was classmate of mine. A Gryffindor in my year. She is a mudblood. But in the October of our 7th year she vanished during a potion accident. When we were waiting in the headmaster's office i heard him mention something like she'd disappeared completely from the surface of Earth. All other students were given an excuse for her absence. Then about two weeks ago she came back after three years of missing. I don't think anyone beside Dumbledore knows where she was during that missing years. She seemed to have completed her magical education and even has perhaps Mastery in charms. She thought up a defence of Hogsmade and led it. She is brave and dedicated. And during meetings she sits beside Dumbledore.'' Wormtail surmarised.

''Hmm... A suspicious disappearance.'' Dark Lord murmured. ''A Gryffindor changed into exemplary Slytherin woith Ravenclaw tendencies. She became very powerful and knowledgeable in the course of three years.'' Voldemort pinned his pitiful servant with his gaye. ''Find everything about her. Especially where she spent last three years and what she was doing. Now go.'' The Dark Lord dismissed the snivelling rat. When Wormtail was already touching the handle Voldemort's powerful voice froze him. ''And one more thing. Crucio.'' And the rat-like man fell on the groung screaming and claving his skin.

''Where is Lily?'' The aged headmaster asked after he received the amulet. The ypoung men hung their head trying not to meet Dumbledore's eyes. At the end James volunteered to give headmaster the horrible news. ''Lily... She stayed there. The Death Eaters surprised us. She froze them and Voldemort and helped us to flee.''

Before headmaster could scold them about leaving Lily alone she stumbled tiredly into office. She flung herself on one of the vacant chairs. Fawkes flew to her and sat on her lap. The phoenix trilled a soothing melody. Lily was rejuvenatedafter that. ''I manage to escape, so don't yell at me.''

The men in the room were astonished at the off-handed manner she rebuffed their concern. James ranted reproachfully. ''What do you think you did? We were worried. We think you are going to be killed.''

''At least you didn't yell.'' Lily mumbled sleepily. She was completely drained from the spells she cast in Voldemort's manor.

''What's happened?'' James asked the question. Sirius smirked. He caught Remus and Frank by their arms and dragged them out orf headmaster's office.

As soon as they left Lily replied. ''I'm afraid I pissed off Voldemort.''

''WHAT?'' Both men shouted. Fawkes glared at the noisy humans and flew back to his perch.

''He wanted me to become one of his little followers. I'm afraid I rejected his offer not too politely wounding his pride in the process.'' Lily explained herself patiently.

''Lily, do you know what you did?'' Dumbledore asked. The redhead in question only started at him blankly. ''You've just moved to the top of his list of targets. I shouldn't have allowed you to go. Did you think what would happen to you? He is going to kill you without mercy at the first possible chance. And did you even think about your child?''

Lily paled. She almost forgot that tiny detail. James only stared at her accusingly. Children were very important in wizarding world. She whispered helplessly. ''What should I do?''

Headmaster narrowed his eyes speculatively when he took in the closeness between James and Lily. He knew James was still in love with his great-granddaughter. So he suggested carefully. ''You should marry again, Lily.''

The redhead was silent. She couldn't imagine she would ever marry. She was back in the furure hardly two weeks and her great-grandfather was already pushing her into arms of another wizard. She only glared at him icily. ''And whom should I marry? I don't know anyone here.''

James was torn. His heart was screaming at him to take her, but his mind was protesting. 'She changed.' He thought. But sometimes old Lily showed herself through the layers of redhead's new personality. He blurted out. ''What about me?''

Lily calculatingly looked him over. He was a lot like Adam Potter in some aspects which was blessing and curse. She missed her dead friend even if became obssessed with her. She forgave him for her abduction long time ago. Lily had a feeling she could easily like James. ''Very well. Where and when should the wedding take place?''

Headmaster was overjoyed by their decision. ''Godric's Hollow this Saturday. That should be enough time to prepare everything.''

''Agreed.'' Lily declared. She stood up. ''I let details to you.'' Then she marched out the room not caring about the wedding.

The Saturday was beautiful. Two months pregnant Lily didn't think so. In the last hour she had threw up four times. She arrived to Godric's Hollow only last night. She was nervous and scared because of her wedding. She still couldn't believe she broke and let herself to be talked into this. Slowly she let James's house-elf to make last modifications to her dress and make-up. The redhead peeped out the window. Beautiful winter garden was prepared and the guests were already there. James was waiting at her in front of alter. Sirius and Remus were beside him. Peter was sitting amongst the guests. Dumbledore was officiating the wedding.

Lily smoothed her dress and grimaced. She hated Voldermort. If it wasn't for him she wouldn't have to get married. Sverus informed her Voldemort took an unhealthy interest in her. He swore to get her on his side or dead. 'The great-grandfather was right.' Lily sighed. Suddenly the music strated to play and she knew she had to go down. It was time to start next chapter of her life.

James was nervous. Although he knew Lily was only few metres from him he couldn't help but worry if she doesn't change her mind about their wedding. The music started playing. James was staring at the entrance to the garden intently. About a minute passed but it felt like an eternity. Suddently the redhead vision appeared at the entrance. She took his breath away. Long pale green dress-robe hugged her curves delicately falling freely to her ankles. It cleverly covered slight bulge on her stomach.

Sirius and Remus were openly staring at the young witch when she sailed past them to James. They didn't understand why James was getting married so unexpectedly but they wished him luck. Now they understood. Lily was beautibul. You could almost see the sparks flaring between the couple. They turned attention to the Professor Dumbledore who was going to perform the ceremony. Lily and James held their left hands in tight grip.

''Lillian Emerald Evans,'' Dumbledore turned to his great-granddaughter, ''do you bind yourself freely to James Samuel Potter as his wife?''

Lily blinked her tears away. She was replaying similar scene of her first wedding in her mind. She gulped heavily. ''Yes, I do.''

Old wizard turned to James. ''James Samuel Potter, do you bind yourself freely to Lillian Emerald Evans as her husband?''

''Yes, I do.'' James replied without any doubts. The light enveloped the couple. The wedding bands appeared on their left hands. Lily's emerald ring from Salazar moved on the finger of her right hand. The light subsided.

'It's done.' Lily sighed. She was married once again. She titled her head back and let James to kiss her.

Lily sat in front of her vanity. She combed her long red tresses into shining flame. James was already in their bed. He was enchanted by their preparations. Their eyes met in the mirror. He noticed melancholic expression to flash on her face. She quickly masked it but James knew. She didn't love him.

''You are still in love with him, aren't you?'' James blurted out.

Lily was silent. For a second she wanted to lie. James sacrified so much for her already. She owed him truth. Lily moved to him and cagth his face in her palms. She stared into his eyes and said. ''It was only over two weeks for me since I saw my husband. So yes. I still love him.''

''Can I at least know who it is?''

Lily inhaled deeply. ''You won't believe me even if I tell you.''

''Just tell me and then we'll see.'' James tried to persuade his wife. He wanted to know who his invisible rival was.

Lily relented. ''Lord Salazar Slytherin.''

James was in shock. ''How?''

''The accident in Potions sent me a thousand years back in time.'' Lily explained. ''We fell in love and three months later we were bonded. Then we had even our formal wedding in next year.''

''The child...''

''He only learnt he would be a father that day I was returned back. I had only enough time to tell him it was a boy.'' Lily's eyes glistened with unsheaded tears. Her abrupt separation from her family in the past still caused her pain although she tried to appear strong to other people.

James's eyes softened. He caressed her cheek and whispered. ''Don't worry.'' Then he gave his wife a kiss. She was immediately plunged into whirl of confusing emotions. James didn't give her chance to recover her rational thinking. Lily's hands tagled in his messy hair. James clever tongue entered her mouth. She battled with him for dominance before admiting the defeat graciously. She waved her hand and both of them were naked. She lowered herself onto the bed and drew James to her. Their next kiss was more intense.

Their naked bodies interwined in passionate dance. Lily was moaning in ectasy. James played with her body intensifying her lust. Lily was almost insane with unfulfilled desire. She was squirming under James's powerful frame urging him to take her. The dark-haired male entered her with one swift movement. Lily cried out. She was blinded by passion. She encircled her legs around James's waist taking him deeper.

James took it as a permission to continue. He started to move within the woman lying under him. He gradually increased his tempo. When Lily sucked on his sensitive neck James's control snapped. He started to pound into Lily in desperate need for release. The redhead cried out his name when an earth-shattering climax crashed into her. She clamped her inner muscles around James's cock almost painfully. It sent James over the edge filling her womb with his seed. He collapsed beside her totally spent. He let Lily to snuggle to him in a slumber.

He drew gently away red hair which fell into her face. With a small kiss on her forehead Jame let himself to fall asleep. Lily was touched by his gentle behaviour. She was floored because she didn't expect him to make her feel so feminine. She was feeling guilty - like she was betraying Salazar when she made love with James. She wanted to forget her pain, to drown it in ecstasy. Salazar was her past. But James was her future. It wasn't fair to him if she was clinging to her feelings for Salazar. Maybe it was time to let go.

Wormtail quivered under furious gaze of his master. He was waiting for another round of Cruciatus. The Dark Lord didn't disappoint him. ''Crucio.''

Wormtail was twitching and screaming on the ground. With each successive curse the agony was more and more unbearable. Voldemort lifted the curse absentmindely and snarled. ''Get out.'' Wormtail escaped with his sanity still intact.

''So, she thinks she can escape me with that farce.'' Voldemort plotted. His anger subsided after he had tortured that incompetent idiot.

The redhead woman was still an enigma. She was a Gryffindor, yet she used Dark Arts when it was neccessary. Brilliant student in her years at Hogwarts but powerful woman after three years of missing. Something had happened to her and Voldemort was decided to solve the mystery Evans was shrouded with. Although she was a mudblood she had a potential. And Lord Voldemort wanted her for himself. The wheels in his head started to turn. He smirked coldly when an idea hit him. She would be his in no time.