We are very much nearing the end, meaning I'm running out of friends and therefore this chapter is dedicated to someone. Anyone. I literally don't care. It's pretty shit as far as updates go so it's probably a good thing no-one gets it.
♥️♥️♥️

The shadows crawled across the street, sneaking along back alleys and through windows.
A gap in the stones and the shadows were in.

They were in pores, gaps, holes, everywhere. The shadows crept a sinister line across the darkened street. None of the lamps were working and she assumed it wasn't an accident.

Like times previous, the shadows reached the window. It must have been hers this time. The window was open.

On the ground was a silhouette, smiling up at the window.

Lucifer.

(3rd May 1978)

Lily was unsure if the cause of her sudden jolt awake was from the searing pain of the necklace resting on her collar bone or from the light tappings on her window. All she did know was that neither could he good.

Shadows coated her room as she stood up to investigate the source of the noise; her necklace pulsing like a painful second heartbeat.

She saw him sitting on her window ledge and Lily sighed a deep breath before opening her window.
James clambered through with the sort of dexterity that only James Potter could in such an unbecoming task. As soon as he was on his feet, James took her face in both hands and began examining her for what she assumed was injury.

"Lily listen to me, this is going to sound crazy but I need you to stick with me—"

"—I'm in danger."

Stunned, James pulled away, stopping his movements to consider her.
"Yes. It's a lot to explain right now but there are snatchers after you. Tonight."

Tonight.

It nearly made sense.
Lily played with the word snatcher in her mind. The missing children, the shadows, Lucifer.

"Snatchers?"

"Steal magic children from non-magic families. Muggleborns."

"The missing children."

James nodded, "you've been the highest profile case– the very first. Your disappearance would mean a lot in the wizarding war so, until this point, you've been under protection. That protection falls. Tonight." He glanced out the window at the way the night seemed to be getting darker, shadows strengthened, tightened like a coil.
"There's not much time to explain anything else. We need to go. And I need you to trust me."

"I do. Of course I do."

There was a beat before James held out his arm, "then hold on to my arm –do not let go– and please, above all: don't be sick."

Wordlessly, Lily grasped onto his arm. There was a second in time where she swore everything went pitch black.

Another tap began sounding on her window. Shadows began spilling though the cracks, drowning everything in its wake. A hooded figure stood outside.

"Ja—"

With a crack they were gone, the shadows seconds away from snatching her away...

♥ ♥ ♥

(4th May 1978)

They reappeared in a dingy alleyway just as a clock chimed for midnight. It was nearing the witching hour, somehow Lily knew that was significant.

"You okay?" James asked her, placing a hand on her arm to steady her.

The trip here had been like nothing she'd ever experienced; like every single atom in her body wanted to go somewhere different and she was trying desperately to hold them together by grasping James' arm.
"I'm fine, just dizzy."

Only then, when he knew she was okay, did he take a moment to look at her, "and you must be cold," he gestured to the fact she was only wearing her pyjamas– a pair of silk trousers and a camisole.

Crossing her arms and shivering, Lily nodded. She hadn't noticed at first, but now her discomfort was ringing in her ears.

"Hold on."
With a flick of his wand and a few muttered words, two small packages came soaring towards them. James caught both in either hand before offering them to Lily.

One was a red and gold jumper, it looked impossibly soft and warm; the other was a pair of women's combat boots.

"The shoes are Marlene's. I would have gotten you more of Marlene's stuff but I didn't know where she kept it so the spell wouldn't work. The jumper is mine."

Lily studied him as he spoke, he appeared almost bashful. A pink blush kissing his cheeks and the tips of his ears. It made her really want to kiss him.

"Thank you," she breathed instead, kneeling down to put on the shoes (which ended up being the perfect size). The jumper went over her head easily, it reached her mid-thigh and the sleeves drowned her but it was the best thing she'd ever worn. It smelt distinctly like James, bonfires, freshly cut grass, something smoke and expensive that was distinctly James.

"You look adorable."

"You look like you need to shrink," she held out her arms, "look at this thing! I'll get lost in it!"

"That's why it's adorable."

Only then did Lily notice the writing on the back when she saw her reflection on a grimy shop window that adored the alleyway.

"Of course you would think that. It says Potter on the back."

"Just admiring my future," he replied, quick as a flash and without an ounce of shame.
It was impossible not to swoon. It didn't matter they were in danger, it didn't matter they were in a dark and ominous alleyway in who-knows-where, it didn't matter that they were running out of time, or that Lily had a million different questions. James had just called her his future. And maybe the sports sweater was a cliche –and maybe this was absolutely not the time for cliches– but she wanted to kiss him again. A lot.

"How does it look?"
She took a daring step closer to him, doing her very best not to smile.

"I already told you," he replied, already smiling and edging closer to her, like she was a gravitational force, "it looks adorable."
When he dipped his head to kiss her there was a smirk pressed between his lips. He tasted like the inky midnight around them.

The kiss didn't last long, they would not allow it to. There was still so much to say, and explain, and they still had to run.

"We should go," James murmured into her lips, pulling back slightly.

"Okay. You first." 

He hummed, kissing her once more before stepping back.
"C'mon then, Evans."

"James, there's something else, I—"
Her words fell flat in favour of the scene around her.
The street was cobbled, the stones appeared blue against the midnight sky as they stretched the length of perhaps the most fantastic street she had ever encountered.

Across the road was a shop that appeared to be sleeping, the blinds drawn like eyelids; next to it was a small bookshop titled Flourish and Blotts that was in a similar state, save for the few books that appeared to be misbehaving by flying across the establishment.
Everything around them was magic, the place buzzed, a low hum that Lily assumed most were adjusted to, but she could feel the magic everywhere. Everywhere.

"We've got time to visit every shop in Diagon Alley another day, but I have a plan so we need to act quickly. Come on!" James tugged her reluctant hand into the drab pub next to where they stood. The action brought Lily out her stupor and back to life and it's dangers as of present.

The pub appeared to be called The Leaky Cauldron and was not the most of formal environments. The surfaces were mat with years of wear and tear; what looked like fireflies floated round the ceilings and the beams of wood that held aforementioned ceilings up rather precariously. A couple of drunk wizards were curled up in corners of the pub, however none turned to look at them save the barkeep.

"Evening Tom," James began conversationally, as if they weren't being hunted as they spoke.

"Ah, young James Potter! To what do I owe the pleasure at this hour?"

"I was wondering if you'd seen a couple of men in here earlier? Travelling cloaks pulled up high– nasty business, don't have much of a physical description, but their voices were deep."

The barkeep, Tom, appeared to consider this for a second before shaking his head.
"Cant say I have, James."
Perhaps it had taken him longer than it should have for Tom to spot Lily but when he did, his face broke into a grin, appearing not to comprehend their danger.
"Why, who have you brought here, Mr Potter? Couldn't be a girlfriend, could it? You've not had a proper one of those since that girl Jazzy. An auror now, if I'm not mistaken?"

Lily did not know what an auror was but she'd heard the word twice now. She did her best to look demure as James laughed.
"Only if she'll have me, Tom. However I must entreat you a favour."

"Anything, my boy. Name it."

Lily pretended not to listen as James leant towards the Tom across the counter.
"If those men I described come in, send word to Sirius, and don't, whatever you do, tell them you saw that pretty girl I brought with me."

Lily imagined that Tom the barkeep must have been well accustomed to strange requests by now because he did not ask any questions, only nodded once.

"Thanks, Tom."

They sat together in a brown leather booth, cracking with age and wear. There was a half empty pint glass that was not filled with beer sitting next to them, no doubt left by the last customer. The liquid was bright orange and there was a pink foam clouding it.

"James," Lily whispered, "I need to tell you something. Before whatever this plan is comes into action."

"Okay. Go well."

"I've known I was in danger for months. I just didnt know who to tell. I didn't know if anyone would believe me."

Reaching over the table, James grasped her hand in his. It was warm and steady. Lily took a deep breath to stop the world spinning and directed her focus onto her hand, the one linked with James.
"I'll always believe you," he said with an earnestness that made her heart swell.

"There was a man outside my bedroom window. Nearly every night, at witching hour. He was always hooded, always standing in the pools of light by the lamppost. I never saw his face, but I would see him wink at me before he walked away. Every night, without fail, he would wait for me. I named him Lucifer."

"Lucifer?"

"I've become well acquainted with the devil in my lifetime. I've read enough old novels to know him anywhere.
"I wasn't entirely sure he was even real until now. I wasn't sure if I was just seeing things. But then I saw him everywhere: in the cafe, delivering post, he saw me in the park. He saw me do my daisy trick last year, and he said nothing. He just winked."

James nodded, "and your dreams? The ones of shadows?"

"Lucifer never really cast a real shadow. They were always sinister, or not there at all."

"Do you think it's possible he can track you through your dreams?"

Lily thought for a moment before shaking her head, "no. If anything it would be the other way around, but something tells me that Lucifer let me in. He wanted me to see the shadows."

"He was there every night?"

"Not every night, sometimes he would disappear. And whenever you were there he never was."

James said nothing for a moment, looking away as though it caused him pain to look at her.
"I should have known. The first day I noticed your magic, I should have been looking out for it."

"You didn't know, James."

"I could have."

She shook her head vehemently, "no. No, there was nothing for you to do. And I'm here now, you got to me before them. Just in time. So tell me the plan."

The way she spoke felt like an order, so he forced his gaze back to hers. Emerald green and determined.
"First we need to get in touch with Sirius."

Lily had learned to stop questioning the magic James was using and so when he pulled a mirror from his back pocket she did not say a word.

"Sirius Black," he hissed into the mirrors face.

Nothing happened for a moment.

"Sirius Black!"

Nothing.

"Padfoot!"

The mirror still only showed their reflection.

"Sirius Orion motherfucking Black the third!"

The mirror changed before their eyes, replacing their faces with that of Sirius Black, clearly arose from his sleep. Lily did her best not to chuckle– it was hardly the time after all.

"What the bloody hell do you want? Wait– where are you? Holy shit is that Lily?!"

"There's literally negative time in which to explain. Snatchers are after her."

"She's a— but that would make her—"

"—Lily Evans."

"Holy shit."

James tapped a knuckle on the mirror and Sirius stopped talking.
"We need your help."

As if a panic mode button had been pressed, Sirius' angular face changed from surprise to that of service.
"Name it."

"I need you to meet us outside the Shrieking Shack. Bring the map, your mirror, and wand."

Lily did not expect Sirius to understand so fully.
"Consider it done. I'll be there in five."

"Make it less and we've got a deal."

"Got it. Bye Lily Evans."
Sirius blew a kiss towards her before he disappeared, replacing his face with their reflections once again.

Once he was gone, James rounded on her, glancing left and right to make sure nobody had heard him say the name Lily Evans.
"I'm going to ask you again," he said, "do you trust me?"

"Will it make a difference?"

"Not even a little bit, but I need to know."

"In that case, yes James I do."

"Good. Because I have an idea and it's going to sound bonkers. Let's go."

(4th May 1978 continued)

They dropped their linked hands when they saw Sirius. It wasn't a conscious decision but it was obvious Sirius would have to bite back enough questions as it were.

"Padfoot," James greeted as he joined them. It was only growing darker outside, witching hour was approaching and the grounds of Hogwarts reflected that. The grass seemed to grow silent, as did the trees. They were shrouded in a misty midnight colour that made everything appear almost inky black.

"The map," Sirius replied, handing it to James, his eyes fixed on Lily. He wasted no time in asking, "how long have you known?"

"Who are you asking?"

Sirius shrugged, "you can take turns."

"I knew months ago, Lily told me yesterday."

"That's why you abandoned the after party!"

James nodded once and Sirius rounded back on Lily, "and you?"

"I've always known. I knew a boy named Severus Snape, he told me about this place, and I got a visit from Dumbledore when I was eleven."

"You knew Snivellous?! That makes so much sense why he was eyeing us like we'd killed his cat this past year."

"He's not exactly a darling," Lily agreed and the two boys shrugged tightly.

The wind blew a gentle whisper around them, seeming to wake them to their danger.
"We can talk more later," James reiterated.
"This," he said to Lily, "is what we call the marauders map. If the snatchers arrive we should see them here. When that happens, you and Sirius will go towards the castle, Lily you have to stay under the cloak," he handed her the invisibility cloak and she accepted it with reverence.

"And what about you?"

"Me? I'm going to get caught."

Sirius spluttered, "sorry– what?!"

"I'm going to get caught and 'lead them to Lily' also known as the shrieking shack. We can trap them in there and get help."

"Absolutely not. We don't know how many there are, we don't know how powerful they are. Me and Lily will follow you to the shack, just in case. Lily will stay under the cloak won't you, ginger?"

Lily wasn't listening. James turned around to see she was watching the castle with starlight in her eyes.
"Alright Evans?"

She turned, startled to see the boys watching her, James smiling fondly, Sirius with a laugh tempting his lips.
"Yeah," it was mostly a whisper, "yeah I'm good. It's just... beautiful."

"And once we sort this out, we can take you inside, yeah?"
She nodded, the stars still lingering in her pupils.
"But we need to get going like," he glanced at the map, "shit- now. We need to go now. Padfoot, keep her safe. I'm trusting you."

It was everything but an outright omission of love and James saw Lily smile out the corner of her eye.

"When have I ever let you down? Marauders honour."
Sirius gave James one last salute before he turned to take Lily by the arm, draping the cloak over her head.

She shot him one last look before disappearing under the cloak. Her expression was laced with worry, but also a love that made James blush; the sort of trust that can only come with a feeling like love. Something burning and consuming. He knew in that moment their plan had to work. He would make it work. For her.

There were a million things James could have said then, but a look would have to suffice. He winked, then turned away, running in the opposite direction and towards the depths of the forest.

♣ ♣ ♣

(4th May 1978 continued)

Sirius did his best not to think about the fact he was leading an invisible Lily towards the shrieking shack to escape snatchers. He tried even harder not to address the fact that Lily Simpson was in fact, Lily Evans all along.

"This is absurd," he muttered again for the fifth time in the span of under ten minutes.

"You can stop saying that now," replied the invisible presence beside him.

"I will not."

"Suit yourself."

Lily spoke with a decisiveness, but he could still hear her worry for James lingering in the back of her throat, and perhaps her own fear. There was something else too, something he imagined he may be able to see on her face were he able to see it. An adoration at their setting. To those new to its charms, Hogwarts was difficult to ignore, especially in the moonlight.

"It's fantastic isn't it?" He asked her, his attempts at distraction were subpar at best, but Lily played along.

"The most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

"Including me? Wow."

Lily scoffed, but seemed to watch herself and school her tone of voice back towards nervous, "excluding you, of course. You charm me so, Sirius."

"I'm telling James."

"We would never believe you."

"Probably."

Their conversation fell flat after that. Not much could be heard around them except the sough in the trees, whispering their secrets.

"This is ridiculous."

"Shut up, Sirius."

More silence. The shrieking shack was approaching, it's branches waving in the wind, slightly more sinister than the rest of the grounds, they waved like a warning rather than a greeting.

"Want to see something cool?"

He didn't wait for Lily to respond before transforming into Padfoot.

"Oh my god!"

Padfoot barked quietly before bounding towards the knot in the roots of the womping willow. The tree stopped moving and he began beckoning Lily towards the entrance. Once inside, Sirius returned.

"Sirius holy shit! Can everyone here do that?"

He chuckled, "oh no, ginger. We broke about ten wizarding laws doing that."

"We?"

"You didn't think I'd do anything illegal without James and the other marauders did you?"

Lily shrugged, hardly surprised.
"So where are we now?"

"Now we're in the shrieking shack. James would probably have preferred I keep you outside but I'm not leaving you unguarded. Cloak or no cloak. Come on."

Lily followed him into the tunnel, likely dirtying her knees and shoes (which he distinctly noticed were Marlene's) but she didn't seem to pay her predicament much heed. Sirius supposed that made enough sense. The thing that delighted him the most, however, was the quidditch jersey she wore– the won bearing the name Potter. It was ridiculously large on her, but he supposed there was a charm to that, James ought to think so, Sirius mused.

When they reached the end of the tunnel, there was a dim light flickering at the end.
"Right. Careful on your step out."

Sirius went first, then held a hand for Lily which she took, it poked out the invisibility cloak.

In moments they were standing inside the shrieking shack. The only light was the oil lamp that Remus had charmed never to stop burning; it illuminated an eerie scene to the average viewer. Sirius was long since impervious to the state of this room; it's broken bed frame, caked in sawdust; the fallen ceiling beam, rested precariously against as wall; the empty shelves, one of which had crashed onto the broken sink. They hadn't cared to repair their damage last week during the full moon. Their terrible housekeeping did little to embarrass Sirius, but he did wish they'd at least fixed a seat for Lily. The shack wasn't the most homely of places at the best of times.

To Lily's credit, she did not comment on any of this. She had a very limited idea of the wizarding world, Sirius presumed she was pacing herself in way of questions.

"What now?" However, seemed to be a question Lily did not deem off limits.

"Now, Lily Evans, it's a waiting game."

(4th May 1978)

They hadn't been waiting ten minutes when they heard voices growing ominously louder coming from the tunnel.

From under the cloak, Lily tensed. Sirius drew a wooden wand from his trousers and took on a stance which must be used for duelling.
"Alright, ginger? Stay back from the curses. You stay safe no matter what, alright?"

Lily didn't answer him, scared she might be overheard but Sirius knew she understood.
"It'll be alright, yeah?"

That was the last thing he allowed himself to speak before the doors burst open mere moments later.

James came tumbling in first, clearly having been pushed by one of their assailants. Seeing his face again sent a stabbing pain through Lily's heart. He looked bruised, hurt, but he did not fall when he stumbled. Instead he stood his ground, his mahogany wand held at arms length.
At first assessment, Lily gathered there were two of them, neither of which was Lucifer but there was something familiar in their demeanours in that respect.

"She's in here, I swear!" James cried, still attempting to hang on to the pretence he had lured them in with.

The snatchers landed in the shack, wands drawn, turned on James.
"Why would the boy of an ex-ministry official be stupid enough to lie like that. If your father couldn't best us then I don't suspect you can."

James did not appear overly phased as he twirled his wand in between his fingers. In a casual, almost flippant manner, he pointed his wand at the door and it slammed shut.
"Well I suppose I might as well try. Confringo!"

A jet of orange light shot from his wand like a firework, landing squarely in one of the snatcher's chests. Sirius took this as his queue to make himself known, jumping into the action.

Lily found herself equal parts mesmerised and horrified by the duel. On one hand, the words they yelled seemed to be some sort of Latin derived language, spell words, and the colours which they omitted were almost spectacular. Their effect, however, did little to comfort her. Ten minutes into this battle, Sirius had an ugly cut on his left shoulder, James wore its sister on his muddied cheekbone.

She left nothing short of helpless watching the battle unfold, standing in the corner of the room, hidden beneath a cloak. James and Sirius were getting hurt, and there was no doubt that the speed at which curses were thrown was sure the tire them. And then what?

Helplessness was a feeling Lily had been shaped by. She had grown up around this feeling, allowed it to control her, and dominate her. Helplessness had been her only ally, her enemy, her past, and her present. She would not allow it to be her future.

James duelled with his back to her, clearly attempting to shield her from the hooded figures.
This might have worked had a jet of angry red light not come shooting towards him.

She didn't think.

If she had been thinking then perhaps she would have gotten out the way, stayed under the cloak like James had stressed was so important. If she had been listening then maybe she could have pushed James out the jet's way instead. If she had been listening then maybe James' plan would have worked.

But Lily didn't think. She didn't listen, and instead she threw herself in front of James. The light hit her in the abdomen and she cried out. The cloak tore from the power of the spell.

"NO!"

Lily hit the ground with a thud, uncovered and slowly falling unconscious. Her last thought was a discovery. Lucifer had been stalking her, the snatchers must have known she would give herself away to rescue James. They knew she was in love with him because they had been there from the beginning.

Her last thought before the darkness fell was of James, and the hope that her rash decision was the right one. A hooded figure knelt above her, another voice cried out– she could tell it was James though couldn't make out what he said.
Witching hour was approaching outside...

(4th May 1978)

"You realise this is bad? This is a nightmare. Prongs, what the fuck are we going to do? Prongs?!"

It had been minutes since the snatchers took Lily. She had been hit by a curse attempting to save James and his shock had rendered him useless enough for the hooded figures to body bind both James and Sirius. The ropes had faded but the memory of watching Lily be carried away would likely stick with them for a lifetime.

Still, James said nothing, instead opting to watch the wall with some kind of cosmic interest. There were cracks running along the paintwork like lightning bolts, forking out in shaky lines. Lines of mud bled into the cracks from where the werewolf and its three allies had dirtied the room. They really should have cleared up before they left last full moon.

"We need to come up with something. We need to get her back. James, are you listening to me?"

James did not answer, his eyes were beginning to become unfocused on the spot he'd been transfixed by on the wall. Sirius took this as a queue to carry on talking. He was pacing up and down the shack, using his wand to flick off bits of rubble from their duel out the way of his boots.

"Firstly, we don't know where they're going. They could have taken her anywhere. Anywhere. So we need to locate them first." The leg of a chair hit the wall as Sirius twirled his wand back to his side.
"Next ground breaking problem: the cloak is ruined. The snatcher that hit Lily with that curse slashed the cloak along with it, so we can't use that until we get it fixed at which could take weeks and a really good tailor. So we need a plan B to get into wherever-they-are unnoticed."

Sirius glanced at his best friend but James did not return the look. He hadn't moved since Lily disappeared with the snatchers. He expected him to be frantic, or worried, or maybe even overly confident that they could get her out. But instead he looked broken, defeated, and... thoughtful?

Electing not to interrupt him, Sirius continued his assessment of their predicament.
"So we need means of finding Lily, and other means of getting into this rumoured place. But the ministry have been trying to find this place for going on seven years, it must be better protected than Azkaban!"

Sirius was flinging another projectile against the wall when James finally looked up. He seemed oddly calm, the tranquil on his face gave away nothing of his feelings.
"Exactly."

"Pardon?"

"Exactly." James repeated.

"Exactly?"

He nodded, "exactly. The ministry haven't been able to locate this place for years because they haven't been close enough to a snatcher."

"What difference does that make?"

James did not answer immediately, he seemed to be slipping back into a trance of thought.

"What difference does it make, Prongs?"

"I just hope she still has her badge," James muttered to himself, standing up to draw his wand passively. He was speaking more to the wall than to Sirius.

"Who? What the hell are you talking about?"

"Her MPP badge. The one that transfers messages."

"James you're making absolutely no sense."

Only then, for the first time since Lily was taken, James met the other boy's eye. There was a look in there that was impossible to place. A deep determination.

"Well, let's put it this way: for my plan to work, we're going to need a metamorphmagus."

♣ ♣ ♣

(4th May 1978 continued)

Esme-Leigh Bisset arrived back on Hogwarts' grounds with little time to consider the effect the castle would have on her. It stood tall and proud over her, like it were watching over. Still alive without her presence.

It didn't matter.

"Thank merlin!"

The clearing had been relatively empty, save for the company of trees and whispering grass until she caught sight of James and Sirius running towards her.
James caught up to her first, pulling her into a fierce hug. It was impossible not to notice that he still smelt the same, his hair was longer too.
Sirius was nearly exactly the same, he grinned as he hugged her.

It was rather dystopian, being here, the three of them again. Witching hour had stretched across the grounds, wrapping everything in something eerie and sinister. The shadows did not play by the same rules as they did everywhere else.
"I got your message. You need me here, for Lily?"

James nodded, "let's to back to the shack and I'll explain on the way."

Ten minutes made all the difference. By the time James had explained everything about their situation, he appeared much more calm than he had in the beginning. His hands had stopped shaking and his breathing was levelling. It was not only Esme acting out of sorts– the news of Lily being a muggleborn was one she might take a while to grow accustomed to, but time for questions were surely to come later.
Esme-Leigh perched on one of the stools, watching Sirius pace as James explained his plan.

"I said before you arrived that the reason no auror has ever found where the snatchers go is because they haven't been close enough to a snatcher. They have no means of following one. We do. I planted my side of the two-way mirror on Lily's clothes so we should be able to see where she is."

It was a miracle James talked so levelly. He spoke with the efficiently of an army commander, and the assurance of a complete coxcomb. However Esme had become accustomed to James Potter's manners and knew it was his eyes that betrayed him. They flitted around the room and hid in the back of his eyelids anytime he thought someone wasn't looking.

He held Sirius' part of mirror in his hands, passing it between his left and right, forward and back.
Eventually he looked into it, "Lily Evans," he hissed slowly.

In the beginning nothing happened.

"Lily Evans," he whispered with more conviction, though his hands began shaking again.

Esme studied his face, and saw the moment it changed, the moment he realised where Lily was being kept, it was obvious he recognised it.
"No," he said, barely audible, hardly a whisper.

"What is it?" Sirius asked him, watching James with the same concern that Esme was. They shared a look before turning back to James.

"There's no way. There's no way."

"What can you see?"

Instead of replying, James turned the mirror around to show them.

"What?"

"But—"

From the mirror poking out of Lily's pocket there was no mistaking where they were, though not much was visible.

The three watched the mirror, unable to look away in horror, in disbelief. It was impossible.

The mirror cut out shortly after that but the damage was done. They knew where the snatchers took their stolen muggleborns. They knew why they hadn't been caught. They knew that this only spelled more danger.

They were in The Ministry of Magic...

This chapter is actually cosmically bad compared to the last one. I completely lost my mind writing this and it's turned out really choppy so forgive me if it makes little sense!
Nevertheless I'm hoping the next chapter doesn't turn out this way!

All my love,

Abbi♥️