Lionhearts | hp. ✓

Year 5 | A Great Many Things

Along with the money that the Potter twins gave them from the Triwizard Tournament, the Weasley Three were determined to raise double that in order to open up a shop of their own. "We'll need more color-bombs and extendable ears for next time, though."

Lily checked the time depicted in her wristwatch and stood up, "We also need more Nose-Biting-Teacups."

"What?" exclaimed Fred. "But we have a full box--"

"--Not anymore." smirked Lily, "Umbridge may not make it to class on Monday, as she will most likely have an ugly swollen bite on her face."

Fred shook his head, but the smirk on his face remained, as if he were proud to have such an awesome girlfriend. "Leave it to you to poke the beast."

"Honestly," August chimed in as the last of their customers left, "I was thinking of another name."

As he had said that, a loud feminine shriek erupted from the west corridor and thought distant, the four remaining Gryffindors heard it perfectly.

"WEASLEYS!!"

And in a heartbeat, George waved his wand and all of their products flew into their trunk and shrunk to the size of satchel. Fred grabbed it and the four partners in crime were off, jumping over benches and bolting through the courtyard, laughing carelessly. Although Lily would never admit it, she knew that Umbridge very well knew it was Lily's doing and even she had shouted out 'Weasleys!' Even she, as horrid and daft as she was, knew that the Potters and the Weasleys were a package deal.

Ever since her first year at Hogwarts School, when she had made a pact with the Weasleys to always joke and laugh, Lily found a thrill she had never experienced before then. And years later, now in her fifth year and then in their seventh, she felt that thrill every single time. She loved them, all of them. It was a kind of love that she would always protect, but with all drama aside, she just blatantly and unconditionally loved all of them: her twin, August, Fred, George, Hermione, the Weasleys and even the Order.

It was a shame that it could not ever be that simple.

Because just as quickly as that familiar thrill had passed through Lily, it evanesced in a sudden chill that seemed to reach her very bones. She faltered in her pace and as the others mimicked, Lily Potter kept the grin on her face in order to keep from disclosing that anything was wrong; she wore that mask all too much.

"You go on!" panted Lily as they slowed in their pace and reached a divide , "I have something else to do."

"Something else?" questioned August.

"It's almost curfew." Fred pointed out.

Lily managed to keep her voice from shaking, "When do I ever follow the rules?"

"She's right." said George.

Fred nodded, his voice clearly showing his hesitance, "We'll leave you to it, then."

She nodded and waved them off, walking down the corridor to the right. When she turned around to see if they were watching her go, to her relief, they were gone. Lily, visibly shaking, made it as far as to a silver suit of armor before she collapsed to her knees. She had known it was coming, but she was not afraid of it anymore. Nothing could have been worse than seeing her parent's deaths as she had weeks ago.

"Lillian Potter,..." hissed the shrill and menacing voice of the Dark Lord in her mind, "Your confidence grows stronger but your mind weaker...."

"You're wrong!"

"Am I?" And then he showed it to her again.

With the flick of his wand, the door exploded and their mother turned her back toward it, shielding her children. She placed them in their crib and spun around on Voldemort, standing in his way.