Astoria was curled up with a book she borrowed from the Black library and a mug of hot chocolate on the side, when her older sister poked her head in to see if Jade was still asleep. A cheeky grin grew on her face as she looked at Daphne. Who gave her a look not to go there, but Astoria rarely listened to that look, so she saw no reason to start now.

"I see that George Weasley hasn't left yet. Care to hazard a guess why dear sister?" Astoria poked fun at her older sibling. She did so love it when Daphne get flustered. She had heard that he snaked a goodbye kiss from her after a Marauder training session. Up till now Daphne had managed to sidestep this conversation. Now seemed like the perfect time to strike it up.

"For your information, and to curb that overactive imagination of yours, his brother asked him to stay here until everyone returns from the rescue mission," Daphne answered in a stiff mater-of-fact way, but Astoria wasn't going to let it go that promptly. Her sister wasn't only one that was good at reading people.

"Hey, whatever helps you sleep at night sis. It's a waste of a perfectly good opportunity if you ask me."

"And what is that suppose to mean?" Daphne asked crossing her arms and shifting her weight to one leg.

"Honestly, do I have to explain this to you?" Astoria returned while rolling her eyes.

"Only if you want me to understand what you're rambling on about," Daphne countered through clenched teeth.

"He was there for you today. The bloke at least deserves a proper thank you kiss," Astoria answered nonchalantly while inspecting her fingernails to see if she had something underneath them.

"Like you did with Malfoy?" Daphne challenged so to take the focus of their conversation of off her.

"Yes, like I did with Draco. Look, he could have let go of me. I cut him horribly yet he still held on. He may hide it well, but he has honor. Please give him a chance," Astoria argued her point to her sister. Daphne could see that Astoria really liked him. She didn't trust Draco, but she had noticed a slight change in him. For now she would air on the side of caution.

"For you, I will try."

"Thank you, now go snog Weasley," Astoria added the last part with a knowing smirk. Daphne rolled her eyes and threw her hands up in the air as she left the room. It seemed that her little sister wasn't as easily distracted as she use to be. Astoria raised her hands up in the air and wiggled her fingers while chiming. "Dance, puppets dance."

Daphne was making her way downstairs when she came across an open room with a light coming from it. She peeked in to see George reading Tales of Beedle the Bard to Adam. With each character he used a different voice that was cracking up Adam. She leaned against the door frame and contently watched the show. Until today she had only seen the prankster side of him, but she was finding it nice that there was more to him than that. The display was quite endearing she thought. Daphne didn't know how long she stayed to watch, but before she knew it the story was finished and George was about to blow out the candle. She slipped out of sight before George noticed her and made her way down to the kitchen to make a pot of tea. She was just finishing up the tea when George walked into the kitchen.

"Need any help with that Daphne?" George asked as he came up behind her. Daphne tensed when she sensed how close he was to her. George took notice and backed off immediately. Daphne forced down the fear that came out of nowhere. She had thought she had put this to rest. Why did it just come back like that? She knew that George would never hurt her. So why was she so suddenly fearful?

"I can manage," She quickly shot out hoping she wasn't as transparent as she was feeling. When she turned around and saw the way he was looking at her an alarming anger shot through her. "Don't you dare pity me! I'm not a china doll!" she snapped and marched past him and out of the room.

Daphne ran to the sitting parlor crumbled into a chair and buried her face in her hands. She mentally berated herself for losing her cool like that. It was a minute or two before the door to the room opened and George walked in with a tray of tea and crumpets. He placed them down on a nearby table without saying a word to her. Daphne found that she couldn't bring herself to look at him.

"Just go home. I can take care of the children," she told him in an exhausted voice. She just couldn't muster the strength to deal with this right now.

"Unh-uh," George answered as he plopped down on a sofa with his arms crossed over his chest. Then he put his feet up and made himself comfortable.

"What did you just say to me?" Daphne growled out as she jumped to her feet. Of all the- just who did this wanker think he was?

"Which part confused you Blondie? Was it the unh or the uh?" he answered with a smirk that only incensed her more. A rapidly growing need to slap that smirk off his face washed over Daphne.

"Don't you get smart with me George Weasley!" Daphne snapped as she stood directly in front of him with her wand pointing at his head. A nasty variety of curses were cycling through her head as he grinned even bigger.

"Well, one of us has to, because you're acting like a complete idiot," he shot back at her while putting his hands behind his head. He was acting like he didn't have a care in the world, and it was infuriating her to no ends.

"You pompous git! Do you have any idea what they did to me?"

"How would I, you never talk about it? Not even to Ginny and she was there. They can't hurt you physically anymore, that doesn't mean that they can't hurt you emotionally. I've seen that look in my sisters eyes. I don't want to see it in yours. Don't give them that power, Daphne. We both know you're stronger than that," George shot back at her. There was a time for tact, and there was a time to be blunt. He wasn't doing Daphne any favors by walking on egg shells around her. As his sister often said, sometimes you need a swift kick to the bum.

"Easier said that done," Daphne answered as she turned her back on him. This time when he stood up and came up behind her she didn't tense up. She knew her was trying to help her even if he was being a prat about it. They again that's just might be what she needed. "You promise not to judge me?"

"You can trust me," George answered her but she got the feeling it was to a different question she was asking herself.

Twelve Marauders past and present landed very unceremoniously in the back yard of 12 Grimmauld place in a heap of tangled limbs. It was by no means dignified, but they all made it back alive and that was the important thing. The bulk of them groaned and did their best to detangle. Two long lost lovers were very content to stay as they were, holding each other and getting lost in the other's eyes. Lily was caressing James handsome face and taking in his every detail. He still looked to be in his twenties, and his smile still gave her butterflies in her stomach. James was running his fingers through her silky red hair. He so loved the feel of it. He breathed her in and wondered how after everything they went through tonight how did she still smell like a flower garden?

"Your back," Lily whispered in a quivering voice the feared that at any second he would disappear, and she would wake up from this dream.

"You came for me," James said in amazement. For the first time since he woke up, he felt complete and whole. He was home, at long last he was home. This amazing woman snuck into the devils den, Fought a lunatic, and gave him back his lost soul. There were no words to describe the depths that he loved her. So James did what he always did when she completely undid him, he kissed her like his life depended on it.

In the past if James snogged her with this kind of passion in front of others, Lily would scold him grievously. However sixteen years of lonely nights curbed the urge to give him a proper dress down. She met him with equal if not more fervor. Right now she wasn't a mother, professor, or anything that should be setting a proper example. Right now she was a woman in the arms of her hearts most deepest desire and she would not be denied! If not for that annoying throat repeatedly clearing; Lily would have had him right then and there. With restraint that neither of them was quite sure they had, Lily and James parted. They took in all the faces looking down on them. Most of them James knew though others were new to him.

The two wearing the biggest smiles belonged to Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, his brothers in everything but blood. James was no longer on his feet when he was engulfed in a hug by his two brothers. Three of the original Marauders stood together in a huddle laughing or perhaps crying no one was ever really sure. Lily backed away to let them have this moment. She knew firsthand how desperately they had missed James.

"You look good for an Inferius mate," Sirius joked while messing up James hair even worse than it already was, just to lighten the mood.

"Then that puts me at least three steps above you in the morning Padfoot," James fired back without missing a beat, and pushing him off.

"His breath hasn't improved either," Remus added as he messed up both James and Sirius's hair. Their laughing was contagious as everyone started to join in at their childish antics.

"Nor has yours Moony but still you managed to land my cousin," Sirius teased while nudging James in the ribs and jerking his head towards Tonks who was now standing next to Lily. James took in the young purpled haired witch and grinned before looking back at his friend.

"You snaked Andy's little girl, nice. It seems the old wolf has been howling at the moon lately. Good for you mate, she's a hotty," James finished with a hearty slap to Remus's back.

"And pregnant," Sirius added while messing up Remus's hair in return.

"So you're working on a pack I see. I knew you had it in you Moony," Prongs laughed out before turning his attention on Padfoot. "Now we just need for the old dog over here to start getting a litter of pup of his own," James said while nudging Remus and pointing to Sirius.

Gabriella joined Lily and Tonks and watched their men poke fun and tease each other. Gabriella was a little shocked by James rub on Sirius about having a child with her. They haven't even had sex yet, but she planned to remedy that very soon. It was a bit early to be talking about that, but she kind of liked the thought of having Suri's child.

"They do realize that we are standing right over here right?" Tonks asked Lily out of the corner of her mouth. Tonks was amazed by the change in her husband. It was like years of worry and regret had been washed away. Not that he was a broody man anymore, but he seemed lighter somehow and it showed on his face.

"Yep," Lily answered and made a popping sound on the last letter of her one word response. To her it was like a blast to the past, the three of them standing together in camaraderie. She knew firsthand how James death had affected them. To see them all together filled her with such a sense of hope and love.

"Typical men, ten seconds into the reunion and their already talking about spreading their seeds," Gabriella added while shaking her head. Looking at Suri's smiling face she couldn't bring herself to be too terribly upset with him. It was like a missing piece of him had just been returned.

"Boys will be boys," Cissy said as she came over to them using Charlie for support. Lily had healed the worst damage from the curse. Now she just needed time, rest, and a lot of healing potions. Charlie wanted to take her inside straight away, but she wouldn't miss this reunion for the world.

"You both will be pregnant within a month mark my words," Tonks chuckled out while bumping hips with Lily.

"Five galleons on Gabriella being first, Sirius has had that look in his eye all day," Bill said as he and Fleur joined the group.

"Excuse me!"

"I'll take that bet, five on Lily." Charlie answered and the brothers shook on it.

"Hey!"

"Five on Moonbeam, Bill's been drooling at her like she was dipped in chocolate or something," Harry shot out there as Ginny helped him support his weight. He never liked showing weakness and was trying to hide the fatigue in his voice. He had been pushing Shadow and his magic hard today, and that last stunt took its toll on him. He felt like he could sleep for a week and it still wouldn't be enough. Like his Aunt Cissy, Harry wasn't going to miss this reunion for anything. Lily looked at her son and knew instantly that he had over-done it, again. Normally she would have insisted that he get straight to bed, but she now had the honor and privilege to give the two most important men in her life a very long overdue introduction.

Mother and son, identical eyes met, and forgiveness was both asked and answered without a single word being spoken. That was their relationship at its core, and Ginny was envious of it. Even if they didn't agree at times, they understood each other intent. Lily came over to his other side and helped to support her son's weight. While she kissed him on the cheek, Lily wiped away a tear that was making its way down his face.

"I love you, mum," Harry whispered into his mum's ear, and she tightened her grip on him.

"I love you too sweetheart. Now let's go meet your dad," Lily whispered back as she and Ginny guided him to his father. The two redheads looked at each other and Lily mouthed thank you to Ginny. Lily didn't know how, but she had gotten through to that knucklehead, and she was eternally grateful.

James, Sirius, and Remus were now in a heated debate on whose woman was the hottest. A pointed look to Sirius from Gabriella nipped it in the bud. See the collection of people that were lining up Sirius guessed some introduction were in order. Seeing as many of them had risked their lives for James.

"Well, Prongs meet the new Marauders. Cissy you know.," Sirius started and James smiled at her.

"Welcome back, Jimmy," Cissy greeted with a wink. James laughed and leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She was the only one that ever called him that.

"It's good to see you again and it looks like you traded up from that albino wanker you were stuck with," James greeted her with.

"Right you are, Prongs. This is Charlie Weasley, a Dragon Handler by profession, but a Marauder through and through," Sirius continued.

"It's nice to meet you James."

"Likewise, mate, If you're the one putting that sparkle in Cissy's eyes, then keep up the good work."

"That's my plan."

"Of course you know Gaby."

"Hello James, you seem well preserved," Gabriella told him with a warm smile.

"Yes, well being pickled for a month in Unicorn amniotic fluid will do that too you." James laughed out as he hugged her.

"What the hell?" Several people yelled at once.

"I was able to get your psychotic cousin to tell me how she brought me back while she took me to see Lily," James told them with a shrug. The shocked and bewildered looks he was getting made him laugh. "Marauder," he added and it seemed to be all the explanation they needed for the moment. "Anyway, I see you aren't wearing a wedding ring, Gabriella. What are the chances of you making an honest dog out of the mutt to my left?"

"What's the fun in that? I prefer my scoundrels wicked," she answered and gave Sirius a seductive smile. Sirius was sporting an impish grin as the two looked at the other. Remus rolled his eyes and took over for Sirius.

"They could be like this for a while Prongs. Why don't I take over? This tall glass of water is Bill Weasley. A damn fine Curse Breaker and the reason we were able to get past snakefaces protective wards."

"Another Weasley huh, glad to have you aboard, and who is this lovely veela at his side?"

"Fleur Delacour is like a sister to Harry. Her family sheltered us when we first went on the run," Sirius told James.

"Then I'm in your debt, young lady."

"Ze 'ounor wuz all mine, monsieur'."

"Now this incredibly beautiful and sexy woman is my wife, Dora, or Tonks."

"Glad you were able to get through to this knucklehead."

"Oh it was a process believe me, but I had Lily to help me knock some sense into that thick head of his."Tonks told him with a head jerk to the left. That was when he saw a man that could almost pass for his twin, sandwiched between two redheads. James looked to Lily, then the man, and lastly the girl with chocolate eyes. When he was once again gazing at his wife, his eyes revealed all the questions running through his mind. The lump that had suddenly made its way to his throat was preventing James from speaking. Sirius and Remus stepped away from James and to their significant others. Harry who like his father was a total loss for words The sudden silence was just too unbearable for Lily, so she took matters into her own hands.

"Surprise! It's a boy!" Lily shouted a little louder than necessary, but it did break the ice.

"Harry?" James croaked out as he reached for his son. The last time he saw him he was a baby, now a fully grown man stood there. Had it really been that long? Years lost that can never be reclaimed. It was the cruelest of jokes, but he was alive. He was with his family. James decided that would have to be enough.

"Dad," Harry managed to get out before launching himself at the man before him. He was still a little shaky on his feet. James caught him and pulled Harry in close to him. How many stars did Harry wish on as a child for this moment that he was sure would never come. Yet every night he still wished for it. Please let this be real.

"I"ve got you, son…I"ve got you." James's voice cracked as he steadied Harry. Both men tightening their grips on the other, as if any second the other would disappear if they didn't. Neither men bothering to hide the tears they were openly shedding, as they took in what they needed from the other. Lily sobbed out and her legs almost buckled it not for Ginny being there.

"I got you too, mum." The last word slipped out of Ginny's mouth so effortlessly that it shocked her, a fact that didn't go unnoticed by her brothers standing not far away.

"You honor me. You are as much of a daughter to me as Emma. My son has chosen very wisely, and now my family is growing by leaps and bounds." Lily told her with an accepting smile. She tucked a lock of red hair behind Ginny's ear. It was a simple gesture that spoke volumes of Lily's motherly feeling for her. The fact that Ginny felt a kinship for her meant the world to Lily.

"I had felt a connection to you since we brewed that potion; it's only grown since then. I cherish our Tuesday Tea's and the fact that you accept me for me. You just don't know what that means to me," Ginny explained as she put her head on Lily's shoulder.

"That is because there is nothing wrong with you sweetie, and anyone that says differently will answer to me," Lily told Ginny as she pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Thanks, mum," Ginny croaked out as she held on tightly to Lily.

"Good, now that that's all settled. Those two are going to be a handful and us Potter women need to stick together," Lily advised Ginny and welcomed her into the family at the same time. Bill and Charlie looked godsmacked at each other as Ginny and Lily joined their men in a big family hug. Cissy guided Charlie's face to hers so he was looking in her eyes.

"This is a good thing my love, embrace it into your heart as you have Adam and me, " Cissy pleaded with him. His eyes softened as her wisdom sunk in. Ginny had told him and George how it was Harry that had rescued her from Lestrange manor, and Lily that healed her up along with everything else that had done for Ginny. Maybe things are moving fast for them, but it has for him too. Cissy and Adam had taken residence in his heart and they are his world now. If there was one thing he wasn't it was a hypocrite.

Bill, like Charlie, had learned from Fleur everything the Potters had done for his sister. Bill loved his mum, but she hadn't truly been there for Ginny since before she went to Hogwarts. He was highly disappointed in his mother actions. True, Dumbledore had placed a Compulsion Charm on her, but he knew how they worked. They can be broken is it went against persons morals. Molly was put to the test and had failed Ginny completely. Lily and Harry had not.

"We get it, gaining brother, not loosing sister,' Bill told Fleur and Cissy. True she was only sixteen, but even a blind man could see how devoted they were to each other. It sucked that Ginny and their mum's relationship had deteriorated so much. Ginny still needed a mum, and he thanked Merlin that Lily at least could be that for her.

Harry and Ginny broke apart from James and Lily. His legs were much sturdier now as he guided Ginny directly in front of James. The older Potter grinned knowing the Potter curse was still alive and kicking. Truth be told, he never considered it a curse but a blessing.

"Dad, let me introduce you to the love of my life, Ginny Weasley," Harry proudly declared to his father as he snaked his arms around her midsection. Ginny enjoyed the attention for a second before she correct him.

"Make that nee/Weasley. I'm a Potter now and damn proud of it," Ginny stated as she held out her hand to James. He took it, leaned down and kissed the back of her hand.

"And a fine addition you are," he told her with a wink.

"See, now you're stuck with me, Git." Ginny teased over her shoulder at Harry.

"Yes, Lady Tease, I do believe I am," Harry said as he moved in and nibbled on her earlobe.

"Oh, I like her. Bold and feisty is just the way we Potter men like our redheads," James laughed out as he winked to his son. Harry agreed completely and it showed in his grinning face.

"You know it," Harry returned and pulled his mate in close to him. He started to go in for another nibble when the back door flew open and several children came rushing out. The front of the pack was a boy that looked to be twelve. He came rushing at Cissy full speed, but Charlie stopped him before he could do any damage.

"Hey kiddo, mummy is a little hurt so you need to be gentle, okay?" Charlie explained to Adam. The boy simply nodded his understanding.

"Let's get inside and you into bed. Then you can explain to me why you're up so late young man?" Cissy asked as she ruffled his hair,

"Are you hurt mum?" he asked with a face filled with worry.

"Not to worry, nothing that time and the love of my boys won't cure," Cissy answered as Adam and Charlie helped her back into the house. James noted how different Cissy was since the last time he had seen her. He would have to get the full story from Lils later.

A blond girl that looked to be eight or nine came rushing at Gabriella's and literally leapt into her waiting arms. Mother reassured daughter that she was fine as she carried her towards the house. Sirius gave James a nod that said that they would talk later and followed her. Two other blond girls stood at the doorway with a tall red haired man that James guessed was another Weasley. Arthur was certainly a busy man James thought to himself. As the Greengrass's filed into the house, the oldest daughter lingered for a second and mouthed thank you to the man standing next to her. She gave him a quick kiss to the cheek before following her mother in the house. James could see the girls blush even from where he was standing.

The last child that had come out had stopped just short of them. Her hair kept changing colors as she looked from Lily with worry, to James with complete and utter shock, them to Harry with confusion. James had a bit of that himself. Who was this girl? Lily stepped forward and opened her arms and Emma rushed in.

"Wecouldn'tsleepknowingwhereyouwe-" Emma rushed out in one breath. Lily had told her where she was going and why before she left. Emma was very thankful that she hadn't treated her like a child, and even asked her opinion.

"Stop, breath, and separates your words sweetheart," Lily interrupted and advised as she pulled her into a comforting hug.

"Is he the real deal, mum?" Emma asked after taking a long breath. James eyes shot wide open at what the girl just called his wife. Harry noticed how his dad's body tensed up and knew that he most likely needed some kind of explanation.

"My little sister may have Evans blood in her veins, but she has the heart of a Potter," Harry quickly whispered into James's ear. After a few seconds he nodded once what Harry had told him took root.

Lily brought Emma over to James for a proper introduction. Although she wore a smile on her face, Lily's eyes were filled with concern. This was a lot for James to take in all at once. Emma herself was terrified. She didn't know what was going to happen from here out. Not that she was looking at a bloke that had been dead for sixteen years, but if he would accept her or cast her out.

"It's a girl," Lily repeated her joke from earlier in hopes of feathering the moment for both of them. The warm true smile that graced James's face put both Lily and Emma at ease.

"I'm Emma um-"

"Potter" James finished for her, and all her anxiety seemed to washed away instantly. Her body relaxed and she let out the long breath she was unaware she was holding.

"I've talked to your portrait a fair few times. The Marauders 2.0 call you The Godfather," Emma told him.

"Marauders 2.0?" James chuckled out. The idea that the ideology of his merry band of pranksters has continued on at Hogwarts warmed his heart.

"Yeah, Harry's been teaching us to protect the other students and each other," Emma beamed out as she relaxed more and more. James was very easy to talk to.

"You don't say. By the way Lils dotes on you, and my son talks about you, I'm guessing that you're a really amazing person. I can't wait to get to know you better. So how's about you just call me Prongs until something else feels better?" James asked her. They were still basically strangers and it would take time before she was comfortable calling him dad. He hoped she would one day, but he was going to let her get there on her own.

George was just about to grab a hand full of floo powder when a soft gentle hand slid into his. He turned around to see Daphne smiling at him. He went to say something he was sure was witty, but she rose up on her toes and kissed him. It was slow, soft and with a promise of something more it seemed. What started off as what she planned on being a simple peck slowly turned into a lingering and enticing open mouth kiss. Daphne forced herself to pulled away but she rested her forehead against his. For some reason she didn't want to break contact with him.

"What was that for?" George asked with his eyes still closed, just enjoying the way she felt in his arms.

"For coming, staying, pushing, listing to my raving, and not judging me, for being more that I thought you were," Daphne answered honestly as she allowed herself to enjoy the moment. His arms felt too marvelous around her more petite form. Is this what Ginny felt every time she and Harry embraced? No wonder they couldn't keep their hands off each other. She felt protected, comforted, content, and cherished all at once.

"Any time, Blondie," George joked as he reluctantly released her.

"Hopefully, that will be sooner rather than later, Red," Daphne shot back as she stepped away while trying her hand at giving a pet name. She knew it wasn't too terribly original, but it was better than Carrottop. She hadn't meant for the kiss to go beyond a simple peck, but she couldn't find a good reason to challenge what just happened.

As soon as George flooed away Daphne went looking for her mum. They needed to have a talk. George had gently suggested Daphne talk about her attack with her mum. A Weasley giving a subtle nudge, who would have thought that was humanly possible.

Am I going to have a scar, Lily?" Cissy asked in a worried laced voice. The curse her own sister had hit her with had left a nasty wound that ran from just under her right breast up to her left shoulder. If not for Lily's quick action she would probable died back there. The reality of the situation was that dark curses always leave a scar.

"Are you afraid that Charlie won't want you any more if it does?" Lily asked with concern for her friend. She couldn't help but feel guilty for Cissy's injuries.

"Is it vain of me? I know the important thing is that I'm alive and Adam hasn't lost his mum, but I don't want to lose Charlie. How could he want me if he has to look at this every time we try to be intimate?" Cissy voiced her concerns to her friend, and got a cocked brow in return.

"He is not a shallow man Cissy. How can you even think that? That's not lust I see in his eyes when he looks at you, its love. The man willingly works with dragons for Merlin sake! If anything, it's more likely a turn on," Lily answered rather annoyed at Cissy's short sightedness. That boy was over the moon for her. She was just too scared to admit it to herself. The mental scars that Lucius left on her ran deep, but Charlie could heal them if she would just let him. Considering what Lily discovered from her diagnostic spell on Cissy. She was going to need Charlie now more than ever.

"You didn't answer my first question about the scar?" Cissy asked changing the subject, or at the very least tabling it for another time. Lily's eyes narrowed and she vowed to not let her friend sabotage her own happiness. Then Lily gave her a small reassuring smile, for once she had good news.

"As luck would have it, Ginny happens to have the personal spell book of Dilys Derwent. The woman was simply brilliant in the field of medicine. What she has written in this that book is very old school with powerful spells, charms, and healing salves recipes that have been completely forgotten because the ingredients are so rare that they were deemed too expensive or dangerous to obtain. That's probably why they aren't used widely today. Thankfully, for you I have an ex potions professor wrapped around my finger that also dabbles in the black market." Lily told her. One of the reasons that Harry, Sirius, and her were able to hide under Dumbledore's radar, was the very profitable business arrangement they had with Horace. She and Sirius would locate and extract items that were too dangerous to obtain the regular way, and Horace and Harry would harvest the potion ingredients, and sell them off.

"Is there anything in that book that can help me?" Cissy asked hopefully.

"Yes, Ginny and I have been able to make an anti-scaring salve that makes my old one look like itching powder. You're going to be just fine, the only down side is that you won't be able to visit Draco in your Animagus form," Lily advised her.

"I can't thank you enough for getting through to him," Cissy sobbed out as her emotions got the better of her. She was so grateful that her son was breaking from the mold that Lucius had envisioned for Draco. He was becoming his own man and she had Lily to thank for that.

"He was already looking for you. I just put a candle in the window for him to find his way to his way home. If anything I owe you a debt. I have my James back. It should be me in that bed, not you," Lily argued as she sat down on the edge of Cissy's bed and took her hand.

"If that happened then you wouldn't be able to shag him stupid tonight, and I think it's high time you got your sea legs back, don't you?" Cissy teased with an impish grin. Then she reached up and tapped Lily's red cheek and added. "I win."

"Well played, Ms. Black, but I am not without game and want a rematch, CHARLIE!" Lily yelled at the end. The door swiftly opened and Cissy's lover sped into the room with a panic stricken expression on his face.

"What happened? Is she going to be alright?" he asked while rushing to Cissy's side and taking her hand in his. She couldn't help but smile at him. Charlie tried so hard to play it cool with her most of the time, like it was all fun and games with him, so she didn't feel any pressure. Still there were moments when she would catch him looking at her and she knew he was in it for the long haul. He was so patient with Adam and treated him like he was his own. Cissy never told Charlie just what that meant to her. How precious he was to her. She looked at him now and knew in her heart that she wanted something with longevity.

Lily didn't say a word to them. She didn't have to. She just guided their intertwined fingers to Cissy's tummy. The two of them looked down, then up at Lily's smiling face and then to each other, They both struck speechless, as Lily made her way out of the room she chirped, "And the second round goes to Lily."

"All clear mate," Sirius said to James as he pulled out of his mind. Tonks was acting as his anchor and Remus remained for moral support. She saw that they needed some male bonding time, so Tonks kissed her husband goodbye and left them too it.

"Thanks Padfoot, I wanted to make sure that your psychotic cousin of yours didn't leave something nasty up there before I'm alone with Lils." James thanked his best friend.

"I'm surprised she didn't. It's her style to not cover her bases. What was she playing at anyway?" Sirius answered him.

"She was trying to convince me that you and Lils were having an affair and were trying to kill me. And that we were married or some rubbish like that. Peter was helping her all along the way," James told them shaking his head. How could Peter betray him like this?

"Well, just so you know, Peter tried to kill Harry this morning," Remus added.

"WHAT! I'll kill that son-of-a-bitch!" James yelled while jumping up. He was going to kill that bastard with his own hands.

"Your boy can take care of himself, Prongs, We trained him to fight like a Marauder," Sirius reassured him.

"Then the cub took it to the next level," Remus added while laughing.

"Are you telling me that big black furry thing was Harry? What kind of Animagus is he?"

"Shadow Panther," Sirius answered.

"Then he upped it into the Hybrid form that saved our butts tonight. It's like a half man half beast combo," Remus further the explanation.

"Sweet Merlin, then that silver thing that shot the lightning bolt out its mouth must have been Ginny?"

"That was her Tempest Jaguar Hybrid form."

"Bugger me! Can anyone else do that?"

"My wife has a fox Hybrid.'

"And Lils has her lioness."

"Lily learned to become an Animagus?" James gasped out. She had never shown any interest in it before he died.

"We think at first it was to honor your memory, but then it became something she could share about you with the pup," Sirius explained while patting James on the back.

"I was actually surprised her form wasn't a doe." Remus piped up out of curiosity.

"No, my girl is all lioness. I knew the first time I met her she was going to be placed in Gryffindor." James corrected them with pride in his wife.

"She certainly put you in your place as I recall mate."

"And I loved aggravating her. It was like-"

"Foreplay," Sirius and Remus finished for James.

"Is that so?" Lily asked from the door she was leaning against. All three of them looked down completely busted. Before anyone of them could come up with a proper defense, Lily marched across the room, grabbed James hand and led him out of the room. "I'll put that to the test."

James flooed into Potter Manor to find his home quiet and the room empty. Not too surprising considering the late hour. The house elves were most likely asleep. He did however expect to see Lily waiting for him as she flooed right before he did. As his eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room, James took notice of his wife's Basilisk skinned robe handing over the armrest of a chair halfway across the room. As his eyes looked past it he saw one of her shoes lying on the floor in the hallway just outside the doorway of the room he was currently standing in.

He waited no time following the trail she was leaving him. Her other shoe was dangling from its heel off a candle stand halfway down the hall. At the end of the hallway he saw a glimpse of red round the corner and he quickly followed. The only proof that he wasn't imagining it all was the pair of jeans she was wearing tonight lying on the floor. James couldn't help but notice just how nicely it clung to the curves of her bum when she had lead him away from his mate's back a Padfoot's house.

James knew where she was heading now and quickened his pace. He was rewarded for his eagerness by seeing Lily at the foot of the stairway that lead up to the bedchambers. He saw her rip off her blouse and tosses it away as if it was encumbrance. She paused for only a heartbeat to look back at him with and winked before ascending the stairs in only her undergarments. Every step she took was seductively slow that brought his attention to every scarcely covered curve of her body.

He was taking two steps at a time as Lily disappeared from his view on the intermediate landing that spit the stairway to the two separate wings. Her bra went sailing from above and using the reflexes he honed playing Quidditch he snatched it in mid flight. It was warm and he could smell her unique scent on it. Then he saw her at the top of the stairs that led to the Master bedchamber. She bent over and slid off her last remaining garment. Her exposed bum and womanhood calling to him audaciously.

Up to this point, Lily had been fearless and daring in a way that she had never been even when James was alive. This was the moment of truth for her, she would know if James still found her attractive. Her body was much older that the last time he had seen her. To open herself up to such scrutiny terrified Lily, but she needed to know. So with all the Gryffindor courage she could muster, Lily slowly standing upright and turning around Lily faced James in all her glory.

She would argue that sixteen years had changed her body, but he saw little sign of it. Her legs and arms if anything were more tone and muscular than her remembered. Her stomach showed no signs that she had ever given childbirth from years of training. Her breasts while not as firm as they once were made them no less magnificent and captivating to him. In the moonlight cascading and illuminating her naked form, Lily looked like a picturesque goddess to him. Nothing would have given him greater pleasure than to worship her for the rest of his life. James eyes told her everything she needed to know. Love, want, and desire shined up at her and filled Lily with a warmth that took her breath away.

"Well, you're not going to catch this snitch just standing there drooling Potter," Lily teased confidently as she pinched her knickers between her toes and kicked it to him. Like her bra James snatched it out if the air.

"Catch me if you can," she teased with an impish grin and disappeared down the wing. James threw both garments behind him as he made pursuit.

As soon as James entered their bedchamber, he was thrown against a wall. His shirt was ripped open, as a hot hungry mouth of his wife covered his, and the sensation of her bare breasts against his chest filled James senses. One of her hands soon was running wild through his hair as the other undid his trousers. Lily brought one of her legs up him. She slipped her foot inside, and slammed her foot to the floor, taking his trousers with it. His boxers quickly followed suit in the exact same fashion.

James knew that this was Lily's more primal side showing itself, but he had a primal side as well, and he decided to take an active role in the night's festivities. He cupped each of her bum cheeks in his hands and lifted her off the floor. She instinctive wrapped her legs around his waist. James spun them around and her back was slammed against the wall. Lily cried out his name as he devoured the soft flesh of her neck and raking her fingernails across his back.

Lily felt him at her entrance, but he didn't lower her onto him. She let out a soft moan in her disappointment, she was expecting a swift and wild shag. James pulled away from her and the look in his eyes told her that they were in for a long night. He lifted her higher until she could feel his warm breath cascade over her breasts. She arched her back and brought them closer to him, as she tightened her legs around his waist. This allowed her to support her weight, and freed up his hands.

He took one of her breast in his mouth as his hand caressed her other one. His other free hand traced the delicate flesh of her lower lips. She was wet and ready for him. James quickly found her sweet spot and reacquainted himself with it. Lily made a squeaking sound as all the sensations overloaded her senses. She grabbed two handfuls of wild raven hair and pried his head back.

"Stop teasing me, Potter," she demanded with a scowl for effect. He merely grinned at her. He had her just where he wanted her. They both knew it. James pulled away from the wall, and carried her over to the bed.

Lily was thrown down on it and bounced a couple of times. She bit her bottom lip seductively as she looked up to see him gazing down at her. His eyes took in every inch of her exquisite body. Like in the stairwell, the moonlight coming in through the window illuminated her naked and beckoning form. She blushed like a schoolgirl at his lustful inspected of her.