My internet is back up! If you'd like, read the real author's note at the bottom!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything about this story. Like approximately zero things.

The Time-Travelling Lions

Chapter Three:

~THIRD PERSON LIMITED POV~

Lily Evans was confused.

James Potter had relentlessly pursued her ever since Third Year, not learning that she wasn't interested – mainly because he bullied her best friend; he wasn't all that bad and he was goddamned cute, but whenever he saw her his arrogance levels flew through Gryffindor Tower's roof – and she had gotten accustomed to his constant, stubborn presence wherever she went. It was sad, yes, but it was true. James showered her with – mostly – unwanted compliments and date invitations, while strictly calling her by her last name only after she snapped at him for calling her 'Lily-flower'. But now – now – he wasn't even acknowledging her existence. He and Black were hanging out with a girl outside of the ice cream parlor.

They were sitting at a table with a red umbrella offering them shade from the sun, talking and laughing like they'd known each other forever. The girl had a mostly untouched Butterbeer in front of her and as Lily watched, Potter stole it and drank half. When he put it down he was wearing a smirk topped with Butterbeer froth.

"Hey!" she protested, snatching it back. "I was drinking this!" she seemed half-hearted at best.

"Not fast enough, Danny-girl." Potter shot back with a grin as the girl shook her head and wiped the brim of the bottle with her sweater sleeve. "I'm a chaser, my reflexes are" – he slapped back the Galleon that Sirius had thrown at him – "like lightning."

"James I'm a Seeker – my reflexes are better than yours. If you got my drink, it's because I pitied your Butterbeer-less self." the girl rolled her eyes and took a swig from the bottle. "So, you're welcome,"

Lily felt an ugly thing rear its head in her chest as she kept on watching what was happening in front of her. Black was laughing at the look that must have on the girl's face, and Potter was pretending to be annoyed, rolling his eyes and scoffing.

"Yeah sure, Danny, keep fooling yourself, it's only a matter of time before you come around." Potter sniffed and tilted his nose up, with Black following his lead, only with a giant grin.

"To a side filled with Gryffindors? Not likely. Snakes and lions just don't get along, see." the girl pretended to be demonstrating a point by gesturing between herself and Potter.

Lily sat up straighter. The girl was a Slytherin? And Potter and Black were grinning at her like they'd known her since birth? Something was going on.

Lily had absolutely no idea who the girl could be.

Her eyes narrowed on the girl. Her hair was a mess, curly and wild, with strands coming out of her braid even as she only shook her head slightly. The girl was at least pretending to try to hold it back with a silver and gold headband. Her sweater was a dark green and looked to be hand-made, and worn a lot. It was hanging loosely around her, and her dark-washed jeans were tucked into a pair of deep brown boots.

Lily took a moment to admire her fashion choices – Alice would be appalled, the flowy dresses and heels girl that she was – so Lily instantly approved.

The girl took another drink from the bottle of Butterbeer, seeming to try and drink it slowly, to mess with Potter. "So, Jamie, when are your other friends going to show their faces? I still haven't met them and I'm starting to think that you don't want me to corrupt them."

Black snorted, "Like that would happen," and Potter made an affronted noise before frowning.

"Peter said he couldn't make it, family emergency or something, I think it has to do with his sister." Potter looked down at his watch – probably his father's, Lily thought, pureblood wizards seemed to have a coming of age thing about that. "But Moony should be here by now." his frown became more pronounced and he turned around to look at the crowd passing behind them, searching for a sight of Lupin.

(And Lily really didn't understand why they insisted on calling Lupin that god-awful nickname. She knew he was a werewolf, but did they really have to dub him with a name that was most certainly a dead giveaway.

Honestly, Potter and Black could be so dumb at times for how intelligent they seemed when they actually tried.)

Black chose to peruse the area in front of them for Lupin, trusting the girl and Potter to see to the area behind him as his eyes swept around the small storefront area before his eyes landed on her and he grinned. Lily instantly pretended to be reading the book she had out in front of her, not even daring to look up through her hair. (What a Gryffindor she was.)

"James, my fellow trickster, I have found a suitable replacement for our misplaced Moony."

Lily's head twitched and she tightened her hand on her ice cream. She still refused to look up, though she did decide on sneaking a quick glance through her eyelashes. Potter was looking at her with a little confusion – maybe he was wondering how he didn't notice her before, but no – he looked over at the girl who was now leaning back in her chair and casually sipping at her Butterbeer.

"Your eyes look exactly like Evans'." he frowned, eyebrows creased.

Lily internally scoffed. She knew that having emerald colored eyes was rare and that the probability of the girl having eyes "exactly like her own" was close to none.

But then the girl turned around and Lily almost choked on a raspberry. The girl's eyes went wide. Her emerald eyes. Eyes that – even from this distance – looked pretty much exactly like hers.

The girl was an almost perfect replica of Potter – except her eyes, which were a mock copy of Lily's (in color and size), her nose (slightly smaller and wider), and her skin tone. She was darker than Potter when it came to that, and Lily took a moment to realize that the girl was sizing her up too.

The girl smiled and waved when she noticed Lily noticing. "Hello," she called politely.

Lily's eyebrows creased and she couldn't even find it in herself to smile back. "Hello?"

Potter grinned, "Evans! Darling Evans! I am so sorry I didn't see you before, truly, you have my greatest apologies." his grin turned towards the girl again and the ugly monster in Lily's chest howled. "This is my cousin" – fucking hell are you kidding me – "Danielle."

Lily tried to morph her face into a shocked expression instead of the "just kill me" mortified expression that she felt she should be wearing. She stared at Potter in confusion, which wasn't fake. "You have an aunt?" she tried to pull the subject away from her.

Potter's grin didn't falter even in the slightest and the girl – Danielle, her name is Danielle, Lily; Merlin pull yourself together. "Not that I know of. Somebody probably had a child that they told no one about."

Black laughed at the affronted look on the – Danielle's, Jesus Christ Lily, her name is Danielle – girl's face. "It happens, Danny, don't worry. You wouldn't be the first."

Danielle scowled at him and tossed a Butterbeer cap at his face just as a new figure joined the party.

"Sorry I'm late," Lupin's voice made the four jump and he held up his hands in a surrendering gesture when Black tossed the Butterbeer cap at him next. "I got held up at Flourish and Blott's."

Black snorted, catching the Butterbeer cap when it was thrown back, "Caught up, huh?"

Lily smiled behind her ice cream – which really needed her attention as it was beginning to melt all over the napkin she had wrapped around the cone part.

Potter laughed.

Lupin smiled unrepentantly, "Exactly, Sirius."

Potter's eyes darted over to Danielle and then he stood up and walked around the table to stand behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. Lupin watched in confusion until he saw both of the Potter's at once.

Does this mean I'll have to call the – DANIELLE, Lily, her name is Danielle – girl Potter as well? Because that can and will get messy, Lily thought absentmindedly as she watched Lupin's face morph into that of extreme shock.

"Mother of Merlin," Lupin breathed. "You looked like twins."

"Actually, Moony, I'm her father." Potter said seriously.

Danielle spewed Butterbeer all over the table and Black yelped as he jumped up. She was choking and coughing and she turned slightly to punch Potter in the stomach and glare up at him. He, for the most part, looked extremely amused and confused before he looked back to Lupin.

"We actually could be, but probably not. Mum and Dad would've said by now."

Black sighed. "But can you imagine? It'd be like having two of James."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "Sorry to intrude but I highly doubt that Danielle" – Lily just barely caught herself before saying 'the girl', what was wrong with her today – "is an exact replica of Potter on the inside."

Lupin looked over at her. "I honestly hope that's true for the sake of everybody at Hogwarts."

Danielle and Black laughed as Potter spluttered in fake outrage. Lily smiled, catching Danielle's eye. The girl winked at her. Lily's smile grew.

Hermione's brain was racing. She was in the library – of course – writing out a plan on how to get all of the Horcruxes without Voldemort noticing. The diadem would be easy, as it was in the Room of Requirement and therefore, theoretically, always in reach. Adding to that, the Trio also didn't have to worry about Nagini or Danielle being a Horcrux this time around.

The list of Horcruxes (easiest to get to hardest to get) was as follows:

Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem – at the school, Room of Requirement, ask Danielle to find

Gaunt Ring – under a floorboard in the Gaunt shack, also the Resurrection Stone, hidden behind a modified Imperius Curse, use caution

Slytherin's Locket – on an island in the middle of nowhere, locked under a dais that needed all of the potion in it to be drunk before it would appear, on an island in the island, surrounded by a lake of Inferi, but reachable as long as you don't try to get into the bloody water, for Merlin's sake Danielle, maybe don't bring Danielle

Hufflepuff's Cup and Tom Riddle's Diary – where the bloody hell are these two anyway, for fuck's sake

(Hermione thought that she was maybe spending too much time around Danielle as she erased the explanation for the cup and the diary.)

The Trio would have to wait to find the last two Horcruxes until either Malfoy or Bellatrix started acting even more smug and power-hungry than before.

Ron was sitting across from Hermione, ignoring her frantic scrawling on her parchment, seemingly completely relaxed as he flipped through Quidditch Through the Ages, but Hermione could see the line of tension in his shoulders and the way his eyes would occasionally dart across the room. She saw it because she was doing it too. Nobody comes out of a war unscathed, and Hermione dimly thought that Moody would be proud of them before turning her attention back to her parchment.

Danielle was currently out with the Potter's, connecting with her 'estranged family' (it wasn't a complete lie). The savior couldn't stop smiling the last time she had gone out with them. Hermione was happy that her sister was happy, but couldn't help wondering how long it would last. James Potter and Sirius Black were notorious for their long-standing hatred for all things Slytherin and – by their genius extension – Death Eaters. When Danielle started being in close quarters with other Slytherin's, what were the two going to do?

Danielle was happier than Ron and Hermione had seen her in a long while (they hadn't seen her smile that since they'd still had Ginny with them), and Hermione wanted it to last as long as it could before her smile diminished again. But, if she got too used to having them around and being a family with them, it would hurt all the more if (maybe when) they dropped her.

Hermione remembered all too well the days and nights following Ginny's death. Danielle didn't cry, she shook soundlessly as she held the redhead's cold hands and wordlessly begged her to come back. She didn't leave Ginny's corpse. She woke up screaming if she even fell asleep in the first place. Hermione would wake up screaming if she dreamed about it.

Ron dropped Quidditch through the Ages, jolting Hermione out of her thoughts. His voice was rough when he spoke, like he knew what she had been thinking about. "What plan do we have beyond 'destroy Horcruxes, kill Tom, and don't let the Potters die'?"

Hermione shook her head, her curls flying. "We don't," she admitted, licking her lips. "That's what I'm trying to figure out – the rest of the plan."

Ron leaned forwards on his elbows, eyes intent on Hermione. "How about – a. get the Horcruxes we can currently with the help of Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Flitwick, b. get good scores on our NEWT's, c. join the Order, d. eventually get the rest of the Horcruxes, and e. kill Tom; all of that in no specific order." he cringed. "Morgana that isn't any better."

"Well, not exactly," Hermione started to pack up her things. "It gives us goals to work towards, good NEWTs and join the Order." she shouldered her bag. "We're going to have to keep up with our training as well," she noted.

Ron stood up too, taking her bag from her and tucking his book into it. "We can use the Room of Requirement to conjure up what we need and book to teach us Dark-ish spells. We already know that there's no fairness in war. If they want to fight dirty we will too."

Hermione linked arms with him as they walked out the door. "Lunch?"

Danielle wondered what Ron and Hermione were up to at the castle without her. Half a second later she wished she hadn't. But they were dating, after all, and they had every right to do whatever they wanted to. And if they were – good for them. There wasn't a law that said they couldn't (actually there was but Danielle was conveniently ignoring it for the time being).

Hell, if Ginny had been there, Danielle knew that they would be –

Hopefully, they weren't, though, because Danielle was about to Floo back to Hogwarts and she really didn't want to walk in on something again.

Sirius was pouting on the sofa, trying to will Danielle to stay by acting like a puppy stuck in a human body. (He was unfairly good at it too – though that was probably because he could turn into a dog, so he was naturally good at making that face.) James was pouting too, but Danielle knew that he wanted to talk to the other Marauder's about her, so it was half-hearted at best. Remus and Peter couldn't make it before 4, and it was only 3:30.

Danielle felt a little glad for feeling grateful. She still hadn't "met" Peter yet – which really was a good thing, because Danielle didn't know if she could make it through the meeting without cursing him, which was something that she was sure her "cousin" and his best friend Sirius wouldn't appreciate.

Yeah, yeah, Peter hadn't done anything yet and he was still an innocent almost adult, but Danielle couldn't just forget what he did in the future. She just needed to get used to the idea of him. Sure. She was going to go with that. James and Sirius – Merlin it was so weird thinking of them as James and Sirius – always had plenty of stories about their adventures as Marauders, and all of them included Peter.

Peter, who, according to James and Sirius, was incredibly brave and a mighty fine lookout (not to mention one of their best friends, Merlin's balls), and really could not wait to meet James' new-found cousin.

Danielle had just grabbed a handful of Floo powder when Dorea burst into the room. "Oh darling, don't go just yet. Charlus and I have something for you in the kitchen." Danielle let the powder slip through her fingers, cursing her luck as she felt her escape growing further and further away from her.

"Alright, I'm coming," Danielle yelped when James and Sirius both stood up to pull on her arm, intending to drag her to the kitchen if she stood there much longer. They trailed behind her as she meandered into the kitchen after Dorea, wondering if her grandmother had made more treacle and intended to "put some meat on her bones" like Mrs. Weasley had.

(Fire exploded behind her eyelids and Danielle was thrown backwards. She dimly heard Ron screaming and Hermione fall into hysterics, but she was trying to remember what Mrs. Weasley had said about her family in sixth year, when Death Eaters had set their house ablaze. "We're a tough bunch Danielle, it'll take more than a little fire to take us out." Danielle couldn't believe that Mrs. Weasley had lied to her.

Ron was still screaming when Danielle sat up and stared at the flames that had enveloped Shell Cottage. The flames that had so easily consumed the house were still burning brightly, and Danielle hoped that it had been quick. She remembered what Mrs. Weasley had mouthed to her as she ran towards the cottage.

"Goodbye.")

"Danielle!"

The girl jerked back to the present. "Yes?" she realized that Charlus was standing in front of her, looking worried as Dorea panicked in the background. "I'm sorry; I spaced out."

Charlus stood up, "You don't need to apologize, Danielle," he said and patted her shoulder. They both ignored the fact that Danielle could feel a tear trailing down her cheek and off of her face.

Danielle hastily wiped the wet trail it had left behind dry and acted like one of her cheeks wasn't a splotchy red now. "So, what did Dorea say you had for me again?"

Charlus leaned back against the table, crossing his arms (oh please don't bring up the tear). "Albus tells us that your birthday is the 31st of July."

Danielle tensed. "Huh, why would he do that?"

"The thirty-first is in three days, Danielle," Charlus looked disappointed.

"I know that," Danielle tried to act nonchalant by crossing her arms and leaning back against the doorway. She had forgotten that James and Sirius had followed her in.

"Your birthday is in three days? Cor, Danielle, why didn't you say anything?" Sirius looked appalled. "If you were born 1960 like James and I, you'll be turning 17! That's every witch and wizard's coming of age!"

"I know that, too." Danielle rocked back on her heels. "I don't see why it's that important. My birthday hasn't ever really been a special event before, why would it be now?" Danielle wished she hadn't said that. Looking at the four Potter's faces she really wished she hadn't of said that.

"Why hasn't your birthday been a special occasion before?" Dorea stepped in front of Charlus and closer to her, reminding Danielle that she had been a Slytherin when she was in school, and causing the younger girl to accidentally back into the wall.

"Uh, well, you see, I lived with my mum's sister and her husband and son. They didn't really like the idea or magic, or me, or having a magic user in their house? So they kind of ignored my existence?" There, that was at least a small portion of the truth. It wasn't that bad. At least they didn't know about the beatings. Or the unrelenting "chores". Or Dudley's gang. Merlin, Danielle really hoped that Charlus wasn't a Legilimens, because if he was Danielle was so screwed.

Charlus crossed his arms – oh, fuck, please don't be a Legilimens, please. "What exactly do you mean by 'ignored your existence'?"

Dorea nodded. "Yes, I believe we all want an expansion on that explanation, young lady."

"If this is what it's like to have worried parents, thank Merlin I've never had any to watch any of my Quidditch matches." Danielle blurted, right before internally cursing herself into oblivion. Why would you say that you idiot? "Fuck," she muttered. "I meant" – shit – "what I was trying to say was, um," Danielle snapped her fingers, "my aunt didn't like magic because my mum had magic and she didn't and she got jealous and let her bitterness spread to her husband and son. That's the end of that story and I am going to go now." she spoke like an eleven year old Hermione, all of the words rushed and in a hurry to get out of the way so something else could follow.

James and Sirius blocked her way and shook their heads. James looked angry. Sirius' jaw was locked.

"Bloody fuck," Danielle muttered again before turning hesitantly to face the elder Potter's in order to escape the looks on James and Sirius' faces. It wasn't much better on the other side.

Dorea looked stricken – though if it was from what Danielle had said or the language she'd used while saying it was anybody else's guess – and Charlus looked like he'd aged a hundred years through the time it took for Danielle to stumble through her little explanation.

She crossed her arms stubbornly and raised her chin. "That's my story and I'm sticking to it. If you feel the need to go yell at my aunt and uncle and cousin you can wait until you die because that's when you'll meet them." But will they? I mean, they don't know me yet. I'm technically not their niece anymore.

Dorea's eyes narrowed before she tugged Danielle over to her and enveloped her in a hug. It was looser than Mrs. Weasley's hugs, like Dorea wanted to give her room to get out if she was uncomfortable. It was like the hug Dudley gave her when he told her that she wasn't a waste of space; kind of hesitant, but well meaning.

Danielle uncrossed her arms and patted the woman's back. "What is this for?"

"Can't I just hug family?" Dorea sniffed as she stepped back, reminiscent of Narcissa Black when she told Voldemort that Danielle was dead (she had been tortured when Danielle had ran him away at the end of the Battle of Hogwarts).

"Well, yes I suppose you can. But I'm a family member you've only known for a week. You've known about me for eight days but you've only known me for a week." she rocked on her heels. "So what was that for?"

"I felt that you needed it," Dorea gave her another hug, this one quick and tight. "And I may have needed it as well."

"Mum does that, just a warning for the future." James spoke up from the doorway. "If she feels like you need a hug she'll do it, no matter who is in front of you."

Danielle turned so she was facing him, "What? Did she hug you in front of Lily Evans? Is that why you sound so 'Merlin-Mum-Why' right now?"

Sirius grinned, "See, Prongs! We all told you that you were spectacularly obvious, and you didn't listen."

Danielle scooted backwards until she was standing next to Charlus and Dorea and watched James and Sirius bicker like siblings. They are brothers, Danielle thought. "So," Danielle turned her head to look at Dorea. (Her grandmother, Merlin she never thought she would meet her grandmother.) "What was it that you and Charlus had for me?"

Danielle didn't know if she had imagined the disappointment that flashed in Dorea's eyes, but if she didn't she didn't know what it was for. Dorea covered it up with a smile quick enough anyways. "Oh, that's right. Boys!" James and Sirius stopped mid-argument and turned to her expectantly. "Danielle hasn't yet received her first gift. I say first because now that I know you haven't received a proper present in say, sixteen years, you are going to be showered in presents on the days leading to your birthday."

Danielle opened her mouth to argue but was cut off by James. "Oh Merlin Danielle, you are going to drown in gifts."

"I don't need gifts," she managed to protest.

"No, but we want you to have them," Charlus said casually, picking something up off of the counter behind him, "and I don't think my wife agrees with you. Happy birthday, Danielle."

He held out a broom.

A broom.

They had gotten Danielle a broom.

She almost cried.

"Now you can play Quidditch matches against us, Danny. Show us your moves." Sirius grinned.

He must've known, the prat.

Danielle's left eyebrow twitched. This is getting ridiculous.

She had just woken up, yawned, stretched, grabbed her glasses and sat up. And there, right in front of her bed, was what looked like a closet full of clothes hanging in midair. There were casual shirts, shorts, trousers, nice blouses and skirts, a couple of pairs of overalls, fancy and casual dresses, a pretty big selection of cloaks trainers and heels, leggings, two Weird Sisters tees, some tie dye tees, flower crowns (they were probably Sirius' idea); basically anything that Danielle could have ever wanted to wear. Hanging in front of her bed.

"For Merlin's sake!"

Hadara had only wanted a sandwich.

She'd popped off to the Kitchens to get a snack after laying on the big rock by the Black Lake with Ron and Hermione. Instead of getting a tiny bite to eat, she had been ambushed by the House Elves. There was a full size feast in front of her.

"Misters Potty and Blacks asked us to make this for you, Missus Potty." one elf had said earnestly when she'd asked what it was all for. They'd all blushed horribly when she'd thanked them profusely and sat down to eat and chat with them for an hour.

"Are you kidding me?" Danielle sat up sleepily, warily eyeing the fuzzy outline of something in front of her bed. She didn't want to put on her glasses to see what it would be.

It was moving side-to-side a bit, as if it was a person shifting from foot-to-foot. She hesitantly reached for her glasses on her end table. As she slipped them out she found a smiling Dorea standing at the foot of her bed.

"Happy Birthday, Danielle!" her grandmother exclaimed happily. "I can't believe you're already of age."

"Don't worry," she muttered grumpily. "I'll be back for Christmas,"

Dorea laughed, "Of course you will!" After that she shoved a change of clothes into Danielle's arms and pushed her off into the direction of the bathroom. "Now go, go, and hurry up. We have a lot of things to do today and we're starting as soon as we can."

Danielle groaned and set off for the showers.

"Oh, and Danielle!" Dorea called as she left the room. "Don't be shocked when you see what's on the counter, darling!"

Danielle bolted as soon as Dorea left the room. She let the clothes fall out of her arms and tugged the door open, quickly evading it as she jumped around and darted into the room, only to stop still after the first step. The door slammed into the wall behind her.

She fell to her knees.

There, on the counter, was Hedwig.

Hello dear readers, I am very sorry it has taken so long to post again. As I am typing, my internet is down. Has been for a week. I don't know how long it's going to last. I hope not much longer.

Also, just a random question: How many of you guys are in Marching Band? I am, and I love it; I'm going to miss my section leader, though, since he's a senior and will be leaving after this year. Marching Band takes a lot out of your time. I have a band camp tomorrow from 8-5 and championships the next week. However, I know you don't care about any of that.

Here's the chapter. I have some rough outlines for the next few chapters. The next one features Danielle's birthday adventures, and maybe something else, I'm not sure yet. Message me if you have an idea! August is going to fly by in the next chapter and suddenly it'll be September first.

(Don't forget to review, darlings. If you want, I mean, you don't have to. You are under absolutely no obligation to. But I'd love some constructive criticism if you have any!)

TheFourEyedWonder

(iloveyouall!3)