Catch My Fall
Chapter 1-Growing Up
The floorboards of the dark house creaked as footsteps traveled upon them. It was nearly impossible to see due to the lack of light and dust shards flying askew. The house had clearly been imposed by outsiders that had broken in.
Lily Evans brushed a piece of hair behind her ears and kept a sharp eye. Katy Jones, one of her best friends, was examining the doorway to which they had just entered. Nothing looked very suspicious yet to Lily, aside from the fact that the occupants had gone missing that very night.
Lily had gone on so many house calls it was hard to distinguish one from the other. She wished James was on her team, yet he had been placed on the other team that was led by Frank Longbottom. Lily had gotten the pleasure of being quipped with Mad Eye Moody, a senile man with grizzled features that included his large, magical eye.
Mad Eye was not on this call though. He had been home sick when this attack had occurred and Lily felt somewhat vulnerable without his close supervision. How was she supposed to do this for a living if she couldn't even make it through training without becoming a jumble of nerves?
She had lots of worries on her mind at the moment, including the safety of her other friend, Halle Black. Halle was pregnant and home alone often. Sirius worked at Gringrotts and Halle enjoyed her maternity leave from becoming a Healer. She was going through training as well but was having her lessons sent in by owl. Lily hoped this stress of passing would not affect the baby.
Aside from that matter, Lily was constantly worried for James' safety as he was wanted by Voldemort and not in her sight. It was a horrible feeling; the possibility of losing him.
"Do you see anything?" Katy asked, shining her wand over to Lily.
"Not a thing," Lily replied. She spoke too soon.
Three Death Eaters had apparated with a crack before her and had their wands outstretched.
"Stupefy!" Lily shouted, sending red light towards the Death Eater. Katy had disarmed one and was now sending an Impedimenta Curse their way.
One down, two to go, Lily thought to herself.
She hadn't encountered Death Eaters yet and this was far off of her to do list. Yet, this was the profession she had chose. It wasn't as if she had never had any experience with Death Eaters. She did indeed.
A table came whizzing Lily's way and she ducked and sent a spell at the next one flying at her. It burst into tiny wooden shards.
A green burst of light came flying Katy's way and Lily sent a shield charm, protecting her friend. Katy stunned the Death Eater and it fell to the ground. Lily was in awe that her charm had worked against the infamous killing curse, Avada Kedavra. It had never happened before.
One stood, but it did not attack. Instead, it lifted the hood of it's cloak, and removed the mask it wore. It was clapping and suddenly a familiar face came into focus. Mad Eye Moody was congratulating her. It had all been a test.
Lily sighed, as did Katy and they sat down on the floor to contain their composure.
"That was really not nice, Moody," Lily growled at him.
"Have to stay on guard, Evans. I must say you handled yourself well," Moody complimented her. "You too, Jones."
"Can we be informed of when we're going to be given a test?" Katy asked, wiping sweat from her forehead. Her blonde hair was coming out of her ponytail and her blue eyes looked relieved that it was over.
"Let's just call this a pop quiz," Moody chuckled.
"Did we pass?" the two of them asked.
"Yes, you did. Now let me collect Potter and Longbottom and we'll be on our way," Moody said.
"Ennervate," he muttered.
The two remaining cloaked figures got up and revealed themselves to Lily and Katy. James and Frank were breathing heavily and smiling.
"You did great, Lily," James said, congratulating her.
"That was you?" Lily asked. Katy was slapping Frank on the arm for fooling her.
"Yes," James said. "The spells we sent wouldn't have really hurt you. They were just imposter spells, made to make the situation seem all the more real. None would have done any harm."
"Oh," she sighed. She was looking forward to going home and relaxing on her bed. She and Katy shared an apartment with each other and it was located near Remus and James' house. Usually, they all ate dinner with each other or went to Halle and Sirius'. Peter usually joined them. It was the only way they could all keep in touch.
"Let's go home," Katy pleaded, putting her arm around Lily's shoulder. Lily kissed James goodbye and promised to see him later.
"I hate you, Moody," Lily joked, as she passed by him on her way out.
"You'll thank me one day," Moody called back, his harsh voice somewhat gentler.
***
Halle was six months pregnant and enjoying married life with her husband. Their little house was the right size for both of them and they had decorated a nursery for the baby.
Sirius hadn't wanted to know the gender of the baby, claiming it would spoil the surprise. Halle knew it was a girl. She was going to have a precious baby girl and would have a happier life. The thought of being pregnant was scary and unwelcome at first, while she was still in Hogwarts, but Halle felt a lot more comfortable about it after she had started living outside of school.
She was looking at a book listing baby names when she heard Sirius enter through the door.
He came in, smiling as always. He spotted Halle and walked over and immediately rubbed her belly. He kissed her softly on the lips and let her lean her head on his chest.
"So, what are the plans for tonight?" Sirius asked.
"We're all going over to Lily and Katy's. They're making dinner, I guess. I don't know how they do it. They always look so exhausted after Auror training. Then again, so does James," Halle reflected. "I went to the Healer today. Remus' mum took care of me today. She gave us more pictures of the baby."
Halle reached inside of the book she had been reading and held out her sonogram.
Sirius looked at it with pride. He had started to grow used to the idea of being a dad. He loved to look at the picture of his baby, it was something so innocent that could not possibly have anything wrong with it.
"Come on," he said, still smiling. "Let's show the others."
He grabbed Halle's hand and they Apparated together over to their friends' home.
***
"Oh, look at the little toes," Lily said, looking at the sonogram.
"Have you thought of any names yet?" Katy asked.
Halle and Sirius looked at each other.
"Not really," they answered. They had to start thinking now, before the baby came.
"It's so odd," James said, sitting at the kitchen table. "We're adults now."
"I know," Remus answered. "I keep waking up and thinking I'm supposed to be going to class. It's all so different."
"Growing up is a hard thing to do," Lily said. "Yet, for some people, it's the most natural thing in the world."
She looked over at Halle and Sirius, who were staring at each other with admiration. She knew that the adult world was going to be strangely more dangerous and miraculous than the life she had led before.
A/N: So? What'd you think? Good, bad? Send me a marvelous review and I'll love you forever. This is the sequel to Lily and James: Their Story of Love. There are many aspects of that story that are crucial to this one. I recommend reading that before further reading Catch My Fall. CMF will be 27 chapter total and pre-HBP. Let me know how you feel.