8

Chapter 8: He Did What?

Thanks for all the reviews. They tickle my muse.

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"Well, that was satisfying," Lily said smugly as she looked down at the still form of her exfriend. She wondered what to do with him. He was a Death Eater, so why was he not in prison with the others? She decided to leave him there and check with Moony and Padfoot to see why. She'd swing by and see if he was still here when she left. She did wonder if he would tell her the truth.

She drifted away and took in more of the market. It was thriving, unlike Diagon Alley, which was mostly empty this time of night. There were all manner of people here and they didn't seem to mind her one bit. Though she did get a few looks from those that recognized who she was. She looked to see what was for sale and noted that it was mostly neutral items that you couldn't get in Diagon. Mostly because they were borderline to dark.

"I'm going to tell Sirius to come here, or Remus. We might need some of this stuff later," she said, looking at some protection amulets that would hurt someone if they tried to hurt you. They would not be sold in the other alley because they did inflict bodily harm. "I don't trust that bearded goat."

She was done window shopping and decided to head back to the hotel. She wandered to where she had left Severus. She found him stripped down to his skivvies and a wand holster, and he was coming around.

"Wake up, Severus," she said, leaning down so that he saw her when he woke. There was a part of her that wanted him to faint again.

"Lily?" came the confused question. His eyes opened and he took in the sight of the woman he loved. The dead woman. She was see-through, but in color. A faded color, but she looked just like the night she died.

"That's Mrs. Potter to you," she snapped, not wanting to hear her name on his lips. "You don't have the right to call me by my given name," she barked at him.

"Why are you haunting me?" the practically naked man asked as he pulled himself up a wall. The only thing the thieves left him was his wand, and the only reason they did that was because of the anti-theft wand holster on his left arm. He took out said wand and waved it, conjuring up some clothes. It was just a plain black robe for now. He wasn't going to put the effort to making his normal outfit.

"Don't flatter yourself. I hold you in too much contempt to 'haunt' you," she sneered, folding her arms across her chest. There was no way in hell she was telling him what she really was.

"You are mad at me because I was the one who pointed the Dark Lord in your direction," Severus said, his eyes still glued to the woman he thought he loved. He was not thinking rationally. Seeing her like this was making him all befuddled.

"You what?!" she yelled, attracting the attention of many around her. "And just how did you do this?" she asked as she got into his face.

"Don't you know? The prophecy, Lily. There was a prophecy," he stated as if it was news she should already have. "Albus didn't tell you?" he asked, his own tone beginning to get upset. He was sure that Dumbledore had told them at least that much when he told them to hide. Blast that man for his keeping secrets.

"No, Albus didn't tell us," Lily said, fuming at both him and Albus. "You are the one who told him, aren't you?" she asked, easily figuring that out. He was a Death Eater after all, and he just admitted to telling Voldemort something to point the man in the direction of her family.

"It was not my intention," Snape said, looking at the toes sticking out from under his robe. "As soon as I found out it was you, I tried to stop it," he said, in a more pleading tone.

"I'm sure. Why aren't you in prison?" she asked, sneering at him with all she had. She wanted him to know just how much she loathed him.

"Dumbledore. He vouched for me," Severus said, in a tone that said he didn't deserve it. He was full of self-hate and self-pity. To anyone else he would have snapped and sneered, but to this woman, he was an awkward schoolboy. "We had a deal. I would spy for him, and he would protect you," he added, looking at her beautiful green eyes. Eyes that still haunted him in his nightmares. Staring vacantly at him, accusing him of not saving her.

"Fat lot of good that did," she said, then mulled over his words. "You only asked for my life." It was a statement. "You didn't care about James or Harry," she said, once again stating facts. She then turned around and didn't say another word. In her eyes he didn't deserve to talk to her anymore. He'd get his soon too.

"Lily, please, forgive me," he called after her. He wouldn't chase her. He did have some pride. When she didn't turn, he just stared at where she disappeared into a wall. 'Why is she back?' he thought as he looked at all the people who were staring at him and jeering. He was not well liked on either side of the Alleys. He decided to go back to Hogwarts and contemplate what just happened. For now, he'd keep it to himself.

Lily just kept going back to the hotel. She thought maybe she'd read a book or something. She would watch the telly, but Remus was on the couch. They'd have to rent a flat soon. There had to be ones that rented by the month. She'd have Remus check it out in the morning.

The next morning Lily asked the men about Severus.

"Snape? I don't know much about him," Sirius said, scratching his goatee. "I know he wasn't in Azkaban," he added, then looked to Moony. "The others ranted about those that weren't there often enough. Not that I paid attention to those nutcases, but when they first got there, yeah." He shivered at the reminder of the prison he just got out of.

They still needed to find Peter. He wasn't sure how, but they needed to find that rat and make him pay.

"I know he is the Potions Professor at Hogwarts. He has been since the war. I know Albus spoke for him at his trial," Remus said, bracing himself for the blow up. He did the same when he found out. Albeit in his head.

"He spoke for Snivellus but left me to rot?!" Sirius yelled, standing and pacing, each step was full of anger and despair. "Why? The man is a Death Eater," he ranted. He was throwing his hands in the air and happy that Harry wasn't in the room to see him.

They had just finished breakfast and were all in the lounge area. Harry was in his room getting ready for school. Remus was going to apparate him there any minute now.

"He had something to do with revealing some prophecy to Voldemort. That is why the man came after us," Lily confessed, making both men growl.

"Do you think we should find out what this prophecy says?" Remus asked, not really thinking it mattered, but Lily might.

"Maybe later down the road," she said. Just then the bedroom door opened, and a timid head stuck out.

"Mummy, why is there yelling?" Harry asked, not sure if he should come out or not.

"Padfoot just got some bad news, baby. You remember the man from last night. Well, he is a meanie-head," Lily said, then looked to the werewolf. "Remus, take Harry to school. We'll talk when you get back," she said, opening her arms toward her son for a hug.

Harry flew into them and hugged her tight. "I told you he was a meanie-head."

"You were right, and mummy is sorry she yelled at you for calling him that. However, you shouldn't talk to people you don't know that way," Lily said, hugging him to take the bite out of what she was saying.

"Okay, Mummy. Will Remus come and get me too?" the boy asked, looking into his mummy's really super pretty green eyes. He liked that his eyes were just like hers. But his weren't pretty because he wasn't a girl.

"Yes, baby. Mummy can't be seen by the non-magicals, remember? You are mummy's private spy, so no telling anyone about me," she reminded him one more time. He had slipped last night, and it was a good thing that the headmaster didn't take him seriously.

"I 'member," he said, solemnly, nodding his head with firm resolve.

"Good boy. You are such a delight. You do well in school today, okay? Do your best, and mummy will give you a treat," she said, hoping she wasn't spoiling him. Perhaps she'd have Sirius go and get some magical do-dads that she could reward Harry with. Nothing overly elaborate, just simple magic trinkets.

"Okay, Mummy," Harry said, hurrying over to Remus who was waiting by the door. They would go to the street and find an alley. Then they would apparate to Petunia's house and Remus would walk Harry from there. Then he'd find somewhere closer for tomorrow. "Bye, Padfoot," he called as he left.

"Bye, kiddo," Sirius said absentmindedly. He was still in a mood over Snape.

"Quit pacing and sit down. You getting upset over the past isn't going to change it," she said, standing up and getting in his way.

"I'm just angry, that's all," Sirius said, as he slumped onto the couch. "I was part of his vigilante group. Wasn't that worth at least a trial?" he asked, torn between anger and betrayal. He decided he liked both.

"Of course, it was. I have no clue how Albus' mind works. Or why he does what he does," Lily said, trying to suss it out for herself.

They were quiet until Remus got back. The werewolf came back, and they talked the man down. Then they called Alex to come over and told him about what Lily had learned. "Can I sue him?" she asked. "Or have him arrested for endangering my family?"

"You can certainly try both," Alex said, though his tone said he didn't hold out much hope for either. "All you have is hearsay," he added to show why he didn't think it was a good idea.

"Does anyone know where the prophecy was made?" Lily asked, hoping to find a witness.

"No," was the chorused response.

"Dammit," she said, slumping down in the chair.

"Look, I can file the civil suit, and we'll see where it gets us. If we can get him to confess, then we can get him arrested," Alex said, again not holding out much hope. "Snape is a slick man. He has weaseled his way out of many lawsuits, so this might be chasing a goose," he added, but pulled out his notebook anyway.

"What kind of lawsuits?" Lily wanted to know.

"Reckless endangerment," Preston said, still writing. "He is a nightmare of a teacher and scares the kids. There are a multitude of accidents in his class. He just scares them that much," he explained, finishing his writing, and putting the pen and paper away.

"Will those lawsuits help or hinder?" Remus asked, leaning forward a bit and putting his forearms on his thighs.

"I would say both. Like I said, he's won them all, but with the right judge, it might make him look bad," Alex said, he held his hands out in a 'what can I say' manner.

"Well, thanks for coming, Alex," Lily said, standing and floating with him to the door.

"Wait, what about those books about Harry," Sirius wanted to know since it was his name on the lawsuit.

"It's coming along. It'll take a few months," Alex said, nodding to everyone and leaving.

"A few months?" Sirius asked, looking to Remus.

"The wheels of justice grind slow, unless you grease them with money," the werewolf explained.

"Isn't that the truth," Lily said, thinking she might just grease those wheels on Petunia's suit.

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Time went by, and with a little of that money grease, Petunia and Vernon were found guilty of child abuse a month later. It had been all over the local news and everyone that they knew now knew just how normal they were not. When they got out, they would have to find somewhere else to live. There was a small segment on the regular news, but it was miniscule and not worth noting to most people.

They were both ordered to visit psychiatrist weekly for the duration of their sentence due to their wild tales of ghosts and Harry's freakish behavior. They were both going to serve a sentence of four years, with psychiatric evaluations for months after. If they wanted to get Dudley back, they needed to go to parenting classes.

Dudley was turned over to Social Services because they found that he too was not being raised right. He was spoiled and grossly overweight. He had no sense of boundaries and didn't know right from wrong. He would go into foster care. There was even talk of military school to see if they could fix what his parents had wrought.

Marge was arrested when she was checked on because of the puppy mill she was running. When it was found that she drowned the weaker puppies, they threw the book at her, and she was fined for each and had to serve a year in jail with a year's community service.

Harry didn't have to testify; his disposition was enough. He was very happy about that. He never wanted to see his relatives again.

Lily had Alex buy the house from Petunia, since she had put a mortgage on it. Which her sister did sell to her to cover the legal costs. They decided to stay there for now. If only to not disrupt Harry's life more than it already had been. Lily had been worried at first about moving him back into the house. She talked to Harry.

"Will you be okay?" she asked her son, before buying the house. She had told him what she planned to do.

"Why wouldn't I be?" the confused boy asked, not sure why she was being so worried. Mummies worried over the strangest things. He was a big boy now. It was just a house.

"It won't make you remember your aunt being mean to you?" she asked, running a hand down his face.

"I'm going to 'member that no matter where we are," the six-year-old pointed out logically. "Besides, I'm almost grown. I'll be seven soon." He perked right up with that news.

"Yes, you will," she said with a smile, and told Alex to buy the house. Harry would be alright.

Sirius put it under a modified Fidelius. It only worked on magicals, that way Albus wouldn't know where it was, but Harry's school did. So, it was the opposite of a muggle repelling charm, only stronger. Lily was the Secret Keeper. It was not easy making her that, but they tweaked the magic and got it done.

The blood wards were now gone, but they didn't care. According to St. Mungo's, Lily's protection was still on Harry. They did find out the limit of distance that they could get between Harry and Lily without a strain on Lily. When Remus took Harry to school when they were in the hotel, she would fade more, and part of her was in Harry's head. It was like she was two places at once. Harry thought it was super cool. Lily thought it was super confusing, but she endured so that she could get things done.

They had Kreacher come and remove all the furniture that had been the Dursleys. It all went to the local charity shop. Lily then had Sirius take Harry shopping and told him what to pick out. She got some comfortable, but tasteful pieces. Mostly done in black, grey, brown, and green. Not overbearingly so, but shades thereof.

"We should put Harry's identity under a Fidelius too," Lily said after they had moved in. She was glad to be out of the hotel. It had been costing quite a lot. Now that they were here, Sirius and Remus could find a way of generating an income. She didn't care how; they could use their magic to fix up old motorcycles for all she cared. She just didn't want to have to go to Gringotts every month.

"I'll work out the Arithmancy," Remus said, thinking that was a very good idea. "At least make people forget his face. There is one thing I've been meaning to ask you," he said, calling Harry over to him. He pulled up the boy's bangs and saw there was only a light scar. "There's supposed to be a large scar here," he said, in a slightly questioning tone.

"I can't tell you what happened. I wasn't quite aware of much of anything. However, the night I cast the protection spell, there was something trying to possess him. I took care of it, but it took a lot out of me. Hence, why I didn't wake until he was six," she explained, a thoughtful look on her face as if trying to remember something just out of reach.

"Huh, weird," Remus said, patting Harry on the shoulder and sending the curious boy to go and unpack his toys. They were setting Harry's room up. It was the one that used to be Dudley's. Now Harry was stoked that it was his. It was huge. Sirius had the main suite, and Remus had the guest room. The smallest was going to be used by Lily.

"Do either of you know how to cook?" Lily asked, looking between the two men who were putting the bed together with magic.

"I know some simple dishes," Remus volunteered as he started to wave his wand to put the clothes in the dresser, while Sirius made the bed. Now that all the furniture was put together, all they had to do was unpack.

"Can you follow a recipe?" she asked, going to help Sirius straighten out the covers. The magic put the blanket on the bed, but it was caught on something.

"It's like potions. So, yes, I can," the werewolf said, with a chuckle. He had lived on his own for most of his life. And unlike his friends, he was not rich enough to order out every night.

"Why don't you just have Kreacher cook for you?" Sirius asked, not sure why they didn't just use the house elf. He had used them all his life.

"I don't want Harry to rely on them. We can get one, or use Kreacher, but I want him to learn to cook and clean too," Lily said with a firm tone.

"Mummy, I'm done," Harry said, proudly showing everyone how he had stacked his toys in a mountain.

"Very nice, baby, but they need to go in the toybox. That way no one will trip on them when they come to read you a story," Lily said, going to help her son. She ruffled his hair good-naturedly. He did what he thought was cleaning.

"Aw, really? But they are all right here," Harry said with a young boy's logic. How was he to find them if he couldn't see them? If they were right here, he could find them.

"They will still be all right here, just out of the way," she said back as she picked one up and put it on a shelf. There was a shelving unit set up on the wall by the window just for favorite toys and books. "You can keep out your favorites," she added and pointed to where he could put said favorites. "The rest go in the toybox," she finished in a kind but firm voice.

"Fine," the six-year-old sighed as he trudged over to his pile and started sorting through to find his favoritest toys.

"Remus, if you could go shopping for food, that would be great. You will be doing the cooking, so you'll know what to get. Well, there are some things you need to get for Harry. Like cereal and fruit and vegetables, and such," she said still helping Harry to put his toys away.

"Sure, I can do that. I think I saw where the shops are," he said, since he finished putting everything away. "I'll go right now," he said, then had a thought. "We should get a car," he said, looking to Sirius.

"I only know how to drive a motorcycle," the dark-haired man said with a chuckle.

"I know how to drive one," Remus said, laughing with his friend. "What I need from you is for you to come with me to the used car lot. You have the debit card, so it'll be in your name," he added as an explanation.

"I don't have a license," the other man protested.

"That's what your ID is," Lily pointed out, gesturing for him to look.

Sure enough, his ID was a driver's license. "Well, damn," he said, looking at it for the first time.

"I'll teach you how to drive once we get the car," Remus said, hoping he didn't regret that offer. Sirius was not a patient person. He was a demon on the bike, he wondered how he was behind the car.

"No making it fly," Lily said, putting her foot down. She got up and left Harry to finish putting the toys away. "Come on, we're done here," she said, going out the door. "Dinner will be in a few hours, baby. You play here until then, okay?" she called out as she left.

"Okay, Mummy," Harry said as he put his toys just right on the shelf.

"So, I'll go and get the food, and tonight we'll go and get a car," Remus said as they went down the stairs.

"Sounds like a plan," Lily agreed, thinking that it would be much easier to get around with one. They couldn't apparate everywhere. She had listened to the news and knew they were putting up cameras everywhere soon. She wasn't going to let them get caught. She made sure that Sirius and Remus watched the muggle news with her, so they knew what was going on in the muggle world. They also had the Daily Prophet delivered so they could keep up to date with the wizarding world too.

So far nothing important, besides their lawsuits, was happening. There was a lot of to-dos about the suits, but it was going through Sirius and the goblins, who were tightlipped and out of reach. So, the Daily Prophet could only speculate.

There had been a small article that mentioned Lily's nighttime foray into Knockturn Alley, but nothing came of it. Along with it was the mugging of Severus Snape, which had them all tickled pink. The two incidences were left unrelated, though it was mentioned that they had been friends in school.

That night they did pick up a nice sedan at the used car lot in Surrey. It was big enough to hold all of them comfortably, and Lily was happy that it looked durable enough to last awhile.

Now it was time to celebrate Harry's birthday for the first time he could remember.