Lily Evans and the Marauder's Secrets

Ministry Visit

"Most definitely. But I did want to address some of my concerns about the Ministry visit with you both."

We wait.

"There was another Muggle attack recently, in London. The cover-up story was an earthquake, but it most definitely was not. Death Eaters took down a whole block of buildings, and multiple people lost their lives."

My mouth falls open and I feel the blood drain from my face. Not an earthquake. Buildings down. In London. Mum's letter on my birthday, three weeks ago.

"The Ministry did not respond," Professor Dumbledore continues quietly.

"They didn't?" James says angrily.

Dumbledore shakes his head. His long silver beard brushes his legs as he does. "No. It was a Muggle-only catastrophe. The Ministry didn't see it as their problem."

James swears, then quickly glances at me like he's expecting a reprimand, but I don't even care about that right now. "Lily?" he asks in concern.

"My sister was there," I whisper.

"What?" he says sharply.

I take a deep breath in. It shudders down my spine. "My mum wrote me about it a few weeks ago – she's fine, Petunia's fine – but it was a fluke she wasn't in the heart of the disaster. Any other day and she probably would have been one of the people who died."

James looks devastated. "And you didn't tell me this?"

When was I supposed to have told him? When we weren't talking? When we were avoiding each other? When he was making up excuses to dash off in the last few weeks before I could approach him to try and smooth over how our date had ended? Of course I didn't tell him. He hasn't given me the chance.

Dumbledore clears his throat. "It is imperative that we make a good impression with the Ministry tomorrow. Set the example. Perhaps, then, we might be able to sway Minchum."

"What difference can we make?" I ask.

"Well, first of all, many of you are not pure blood," Dumbledore says. "These attacks the Ministry ignored affect you. You have stakes in both the non-magic and magical sides. "

I nod, but James shifts awkwardly. He's as pureblooded as they come.

Dumbledore smiles. "That doesn't discredit you, Mr. Potter," he says gently. "Purebloods like you and Mr. Black and Mr. Longbottom are the bridge. You all have more sense than those running the Ministry right now, and, disgusting as it is, they might listen to you because of your blood status. Whatever ways we can form alliances with the Ministry is for the best."

James frowns.

"Tomorrow is just the first step," Dumbledore assures us. "Tomorrow, all we need to worry about is making a good impression. Make the Minister see what he stands to lose if our Muggle counterparts continue to be targeted by Voldemort."

"Right," I say.

"Rest up," Professor Dumbledore advises. "I will see you both tomorrow morning."

We say our goodbyes and leave together. Again, there's that sense of familiarity, us departing Dumbledore's company together, but the silence is stilted and impenetrable, so instead we walk all the way back to Gryffindor Tower without saying anything. I think of a dozen things I could say, but they all sound stupid in my head. "How have you been?" seems horribly mundane and draws too much attention to how little we've interacted lately, "What do you think of what Professor Dumbledore said?" is too obvious, and "Please talk to me" is just way too pathetic.