Lily Potter Lives AU

Molly Weasley was sitting down for a bit of sherry and Celestina before turning in when a low grumbling sound drowned out the radio. She started to think it was pesky muggle teens out for a bit of fun in the middle of nowhere when a fluorescent yellow light flooded the kitchen. Whoever it is was approaching the Burrow.

Really, what's the point of raising a family out this far if I get visitors at this time of night? Molly thought to herself.

Arthur had yet to come down from putting the baby to sleep, so Molly figured she ought to ask what could be so important at this hour. She switched off the radio and went to the door. Molly opened the door to see a young couple climbing off a motorcycle. So, she had been half right.

They had yet to turn off the motorcycle, so the light allowed Molly to see the strangers clearly from the doorway. The young man was tall, with thick black hair. Molly would have called him handsome, but his gray eyes were cold, and the lack of expression was off-putting. He seemed to be physically supporting the young redhead with him.

Just as Molly was about to lay in on them for calling at this hour, she saw the shimmer of tears in the woman's emerald eyes and a small bundle clutched tight to her chest. It was a baby and incredibly close to Ron's age. That changed Molly's tone dramatically. She checked to make sure her wand was tucked in her apron before sprinting to meet them.

"Dears, what's happened?" Molly saw the young man had a firm grip on his wand.

He spoke first, eyes alert as soon as he realized someone was approaching. "Are you the sister of the Prewett brothers? I apologize for the time, but my friend and I need to hide in a hurry."

"So, this is Order business," That made Molly hesitate. Her brothers' recent deaths only proved that she and Arthur were right not to join the Order of the Phoenix with so many young kids. But then she glanced over at the woman. The poor dear looked to be in shock and didn't seem to feel the night air's chill. If this young woman could fight and care for that young child, well, this could be Molly's contribution to the war effort. "Come in."

*

Not ten minutes later, Molly was cooking up enough food for six. It was the only quantity she knew how to work with, and after getting the story out of the late arrivals, Molly needed a distraction, too. To think she had Sirius Black and Lilly Potter sitting at her kitchen table, and Arthur still hadn't come down to check on her. The sweet fool must have fallen asleep with Ron again.

No matter how hard Arthur and Molly tried, they felt the impact of the war. Every day the Daily Prophet reported missing persons and deaths. Giants, werewolves, even Inferi spottings. Molly's brothers had taken five Death Eaters with them in a heroic display of bravery. But Lilly had lost her husband to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and nearly lost baby Harry, as well. She believed He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had lost his life in the attempt. If that was true, Molly should be celebrating, but she wanted to cry.

She felt the tears coming while she filled two plates with sausage and eggs. "Eat up, then bed. Harry can sleep with Ron. He's so quiet. Won't bother Ron a bit."

"Thank you, Molly." Lilly's face was dry, but her eyes said it all. She looked down at baby Harry, who was now sleepily propped up on her knee. "I shouldn't have Harry up this late."

Arthur chose precisely that moment to come down the stairs. "Mollywobbles, whatever to do before be-" He stopped short at the sight of two strangers eating in his kitchen this late. "Oh, erm, guests dear?"

The guests in question smiled guiltily in greeting. Molly stepped in. A quick peck on the cheek always made Arthur agreeable. "They'll be staying a while, Arthur. I won't have a child out in the cold."

Sirius stood to shake Arthur's hand. Arthur was still a bit startled but accepted the hand. Sirius's sheepish grin became a wide smile. It changed his demeanor tremendously. "If it helps, mate, we think Voldemort is dead."

Molly watched her husband try not to react outwardly to hearing the Dark Lord's name. He made an admirable effort, but the color of his ears gave away his real feelings. He collapsed into a vacant kitchen chair, possibly to cover his legs going limp, and found himself looking right into Harry's eyes. He reached for Lilly's hand. "Plenty of beds in our humble home."

When two orange heads popped out from the bend in the stairs, one with horn-rimmed glasses, Molly had to swallow a gasp. Honestly, her children leaving their beds at this hour was where she drew the line.

"Mum, is everything okay? It is noisy for it being so late." Percy asked, adjusting his glasses.

"Sorry, mum, he woke me because he figured if I came, it wouldn't be his fault for breaking a rule." Bill, their eldest, brushed the hair out of his eyes.

Sirius's laugh came out as a bark. The four Weasleys turned to look at him. Lilly just shook her head. She is the most used to his lack of manners.

"I'm sorry," Sirius looked at Lilly when he said it. "But it is clever. And you, you came anyway. Knowing you were still breaking a rule. That's a good brother. What's your name?"

"Bill, sir." The elder brother replied. He gripped the younger one's shoulders. "This is Percy."

Lilly rose from her seat. Her food was half-eaten. "Now that we've completely bothered your family, I'll take Harry to bed."

"Taker her to our room so that Harry can stay with Ron, will you, Arthur?" Molly said.

Arthur stood to do so. Gently but firmly redirecting his sons to their rooms, on the way.

Lilly tried desperately to make Harry comfortable in the crib without disturbing the chubby ginger boy next to him. Arthur had mumbled some excuse to give her privacy and walked away. Lilly silently hoped James would be okay with this choice. It was Sirius's idea to come here. But James trusted Sirius more than anyone; surely, he would know Sirius had every intention of keeping James's wife and son safe.

Speaking of Sirius, he came in shortly after Arthur left. "I wanted to give you a few moments alone with Harry before we slept."

"He hasn't made a peep, Sirius." Lilly sat on the bed.

"I'm lost, Lilly. I need Moony." Sirius kneeled in front of Lilly and gently grasped her hands. "If you thought you were stuck with us before..."

Lilly laughed for the first time in hours. "Sleep, Padfoot."

Sirius took the form of a black dog and curled up on the floor, at the foot of the bed. Lilly scooted further up the bed. She didn't bother getting undressed before drifting towards a fitful sleep. Happy memories of James were interrupted by a flash of green light and his voice screaming, "Take Harry and run!"