Eternal Love (Five Updates, 4,000 Words)

When Harry came to his senses, Lily had already strode away without any hesitation.

Without even glancing at Snape's father who was still bullying him, he turned and followed him.

He didn't want to see this scene anymore.

He could still hear his father's voice.

"Ah, who wants to see me pull down that Snivellus's dirty underwear?"

He followed his mother back to the castle, only to find her heading towards a place he knew all too well...

Harry felt a jolt of fear and quickly followed after them, wanting to confirm his guess.

really...

It's Map Chamber.

He remembered what Professor Dumbledore had said before: his mother had used an Ancient Charm to protect him...

It seems that Mom is also an inheritor of Ancient Magic?

Lily stopped in front of the Map Chamber, picked up the Ancient Magic mark on the ground, and stepped into the Map Chamber.

"Lily?"

Veratia's voice rang out.

"Veratia..."

Upon entering the Map Chamber, Lily seemed to have let down all her guard. She was no longer as strong as before, but instead knelt on the ground, covering her face with her hands and weeping bitterly.

"What's wrong, Lily?" Veratia's voice was very gentle.

"I... I..."

Lily, sobbing, recounted the events that had just transpired to Verathea.

In front of Verathea, Lily made no attempt to hide anything, as if the two were best friends who could talk about anything.

"I... I endured the scorn of the entire school, yet I still considered him my best friend..." Lily sobbed, her voice trembling. "His friends cast curses on my friends, and he said it was their freedom... Everyone questioned why I was friends with such a person, everyone despised me for being Muggle-born and yet being close to Slytherin..."

"I drew my wand for him, but what did he do? He... he actually called me Mudblood. So in his heart, I've always been such a lowly being, unworthy to be his friend..."

Lily looked genuinely heartbroken; she was crying her eyes out.

"Lily," Veratia gently comforted, "People lose their reason when they are extremely angry. Mr. Snape may have just made an unintentional mistake."

"An unintentional mistake?" Lily sobbed. "Even if it was unintentional, this is still too much. What did I do wrong? What did I do wrong..."

"You did nothing wrong, Lily," Verathea said gently. "The ones who are wrong are those self-important scum who think they're superior..."

The sounds grew fainter and fainter, and Harry had no idea what they were talking about.

Once again, the world spun around me.

Harry was greeted again by his older mother.

Lily has shed some of her childishness and seems more confident and radiant than before.

"Veratia!"

She greeted the girl in the portrait.

"Is there anything interesting you want to share with me?" Veratia's violet eyes curved into crescents, making her quite beautiful.

"I've been having some troubles lately—" Lily said, standing in front of the portrait, her expression conflicted. "You know, that Potter I always told you about—he's been relentlessly pursuing me, saying he'd do anything for me, that he'd change anything..."

Harry noticed that Veratia's expression froze for a moment.

After seemingly hesitating for a moment, Veratia spoke up, "I think Potter is a very good choice..."

"Huh?" Lily looked up. "You can't persuade me to choose Potter just because your best friend is also a Potter, Veratia— "

"What more could you ask for from a man who's willing to change for you?" Veratia seemed to sigh softly. "Seize this opportunity; I believe Potter is serious."

"Okay—I'll consider your suggestion..." Lily scratched her fiery red hair.

"It's not a suggestion, it's Prophecy," Veratia said softly.

Despite what Veratia said, Harry noticed that her hand was unconsciously gathering her hair.

This is evidence that she is lying.

Why did she lie to her mother?

"Veratia!"

The woman who reappeared before Harry was a slightly more mature Lily.

Her belly was slightly protruding, and she radiated maternal glow.

"Lily, it looks like you're pregnant. Congratulations!"

Veratia said very happily.

"Yes, yes, I'm pregnant."

Lily reached out and stroked her belly, speaking happily to Veratia as well.

Verathea placed the book she was holding on the table in the portrait and said to Lily, "I think you'll definitely have a boy this time..."

"Why?" Lily asked with interest.

"You forgot, I have the talent for Prophecy," Verathea said, fiddling with her hair.

"Oh, sorry, I forgot." Lily stuck out her tongue and asked again, "If it's a boy, I think... I should name him Harry. I remember the story you told me about ' Harry Potter' —hey, he's your good friend, right? I hope my child will be as strong as him."

"He will." Veratia's face lit up with a radiant smile, as dazzling as her hair.

The screen then spun around again.

"Wormy, Pads— "

Lily's voice rang out; she was holding a large bowl filled with stewed beef.

Little Harry was sitting on a stool not far away, seemingly holding a baby bottle in his hands.

"Oh my god, what is that smell?!" Lily slammed the bowl on the table and roared, "James? Honey? How many times have I told you! You have to close the door when you go to the bathroom!"

"Sorry, sweetheart—" James's voice came from inside the room, "I'm brewing Potions..."

The man Lily called "Pads" laughed merrily. He withdrew his hand from the little flying broom that he was using to tease Harry, nudged the short, stout man sitting next to him with his elbow, and said with a grin, "Look, James's Potions talent is still as indescribable as ever."

The short, stout man was amused by Pads's words and burst into laughter, clutching his stomach.

"Alright, you two."

Lily tapped the table and ordered the two of them, "You, Pads, go take out the trash—Chongchong, go to the Muggle street and buy some black pepper; we've run out."

"Yes, Lady!"

The two reached out and gave each other a high five, then walked out happily.

Harry watched as his mother went into the Kitchen, and a little while later she directed her wand to float a bowl of soup to the dining room.

After setting down the pot of soup, Lily called out again, "James? Darling? Are you still brewing Potions?"

To Harry's surprise, a rustling sound came from the toilet.

James's muffled voice came through. "No, sweetheart, I'm in the bathroom—"

Harry chuckled; he hadn't expected his parents' interactions to be so amusing.

It seems... Lily clearly has three big kids— James, Pads, and Bug.

The scene rotates again, and Harry is back in the Map Chamber with his mother.

Harry noticed that his mother, who appeared before him this time, looked more haggard than ever before, and even seemed a little tired.

"Veratia..."

My mother's voice was no longer as energetic as usual, but rather exhausted.

"Long time no see, Lily," Veratia said cheerfully. "Your little Harry... must be almost a year old by now, right?"

Upon hearing "Little Harry," Lily's tears immediately flowed.

Veratia looked flustered; this was the second time Harry had seen that expression on her face—the last time was when he was struck by the Runcorn's Magic.

"Veratia, Professor Trelawney made a Prophecy," she said, kneeling on the ground, looking utterly helpless. "She said that a person with the power to conquer the Dark Lord has been born, appearing in a family that has defeated the Dark Lord three times—born at the end of the seventh month. The Dark Lord has marked him as his formidable enemy, but he possesses an energy that the Dark Lord does not understand... One must die at the hands of the other, because neither can live; only one can survive... The person with the power to conquer the Dark Lord will be born at the end of the seventh month."

Veratia paused for a moment after hearing Lily's words, then asked again to confirm, "You mean, Prophecy? Professor Trelawney... what is her relationship with Cassandra Trelawney?"

"She's the Oracle's great-granddaughter," Lily said, wiping away her tears. "Her Prophecy... were very accurate."

"This should be something to be happy about, why are you crying?" Veratia asked.

"Because... because the Dark Lord somehow found out about this Prophecy, and he... he's going to attack us..." Lily sobbed.

"Are you scared?" Veratia asked.

"No, I'm not afraid to die, but Harry ..." Lily said sadly, "Harry is not even a year old... How can you expect a child to defeat the Dark Lord? Only one of them can survive, my poor Harry ... He... He hasn't even had a chance to see the world, hasn't had a chance to learn interesting magic, and hasn't even played Quidditch —you haven't seen him riding on his flying broomstick, he's so cute... But... how can you be so cruel... how can you..."

Seeing his mother so helpless, Harry couldn't help but shed tears as well.

No one can remain calm in the face of a mother's tears.

Veratia remained silent for a long time.

Just when Harry thought Veratia was going to remain silent, she unexpectedly spoke up.

"Lily, we... are the inheritors of Ancient Magic."

Veratia said softly.

"I know that evil Dark Lord used some kind of Dark Arts to make himself invincible, but..."

"But what?" Lily's eyes lit up with hope when she heard the twist in Verathea's words.

Veratia paused for a long time.

Harry saw the struggle and inner conflict in her expression.

"Veratia..." he murmured.

"I know a Charms, Ancient Charm," Veratia said softly. "This Ancient Charm can not only transfer your Ancient Magic heritage to Harry, but it can also cast a protective Charms on him, forever shielding him from the Cruciatus Curse and the Killing Curse, and it will also reflect back to those with malicious intent..."

A glimmer of hope flashed in Lily's emerald green eyes.

"Teach me, Veratia, I... I'm willing to learn..."

A hint of reluctance flashed in Veratia's eyes.

"Lily, you must understand, such Charms comes at a price..."

Lily said firmly, "Tell me, whatever the cost, I'm willing to accept it—as long as Harry can live a healthy and happy life."

"You..."

Verathea closed her eyes.

"I'm really willing to give it my all..."

Harry noticed that his mother's expression had become unusually resolute.

"Anything!"

Upon hearing Lily's words, Verathea nodded slightly.

A sense of Grim rose in Harry's heart.

Veratia's voice was soft, but trembled slightly.

"This Charms... requires you to pay with your life, requires you... to die in front of little Harry, as a sacrifice to protect the Charms..."

"No! Mom! No!"

Harry shouted, but his words couldn't reach Lily's ears at all.

"Veratia! Don't tell her! Don't teach her this Charms!"

But,

This is just a memory.

Lily's expression was incredibly resolute. She nodded calmly and said to Verathea, "I'm willing. For Harry, I'm willing to give everything, even my life!"

Harry watched helplessly as his mother, following the movements of Veratia in the portrait, imprinted a mysterious Ancient Charm on her arm. He shouted to stop her, but he couldn't affect his mother in his memory at all.

He reached out and tugged at his mother in vain, trying to stop her, but he could only grasp at empty air.

He would rather die like this than see his mother sacrifice her life to protect him.

The Charms was complete, and a violet light flashed across Lily's arm.

"Thank you, Veratia."

A bright smile returned to Lily's face; the radiant young girl was back.

But she saw that Veratia in the portrait was already squatting on the ground.

"I'm sorry, Harry, I'm so sorry..." she murmured.

Lily didn't understand what she meant, but said lightly, "Don't worry, Veratia, this is my own choice, and Harry won't blame you no matter what... Hmm, how about this, I'll copy some of my memories into the Pensieve..."

"I suggest you make more copies, so that Harry... will take another look at you, and preferably his father as well as your former best friend." Veratia's tone was gentle.

"A good suggestion."

Lily smiled happily, walked to the Pensieve, reached out and pulled out her wand, placing it on her temple. Strands of silvery-white threads were drawn by the wand, pulled out from her temple, and dissolved into the Pensieve.

"This may be the last time we meet, Veratia," Lily said softly. "Thank you for all your guidance..."

"Professor..."

Veratia's eyes turned sad, and her violet eyes looked at Lily.

"Get out of class dismissed." Her voice trembled.

Goodbye, Veratia!

Lily raised her right hand high and waved it vigorously at Veratia, a happy smile on her face.

Then, she turned around and walked briskly toward the door.

The memory came to an abrupt end at that moment.

Harry pulled his head out of the Pensieve, grabbed his collar, and gasped for breath.

The sound of footsteps still echoed in my ears, as if my mother had just left the Map Chamber.

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