Lily Potter thrived on the mysteries that others shied away from. As an Unspeakable in the Department of Mysteries, her days were filled with magic so arcane it transcended the teachings of Hogwarts or any magical institution worldwide. Charms, Potions, Transfiguration—these were mere foundations for the esoteric arts she explored daily.

  Her work opened doors to realms of enchantment that most wizards could only dream of. Yet, the wizarding world, tucked away in Britain’s secretive corners, often felt like a cage to her boundless curiosity.

  Lily yearned to contribute more than what the ignorant magical community allowed. Its culture, steeped in traditions two centuries behind the Muggle world, was both enchanting and exasperating. Certain customs captivated her, but others—rigid and outdated—stifled her ambitions.

  She longed to break free, to share her discoveries with a world that wasn’t hidden in the shadows. But duty and love tethered her to this life, for now.

  A new assignment had stirred her excitement. Her superior in the Department of Mysteries had detected an unusual energy signature emanating from a network of caves in Kansas. The reading was unlike anything they’d encountered, and Lily was tasked with investigating its source.

  She arrived in Smallville, Kansas, staying with her cousin Martha and her new husband, Jonathan. The cool prairie winds brushed against her face as she approached the caves, her heart racing with anticipation.

  At nineteen, Lily’s vibrant red hair framed a face alight with determination. Her green eyes burned with intensity as she stepped forward, ready to unravel the unknown. This was the kind of challenge she lived for.

  Martha’s choice to marry a farmer had surprised Lily, given her cousin’s potential for so much more. But Lily wasn’t one to judge—she’d married James Potter, a man with undeniable charm but a streak of immaturity that sometimes left her wanting.

  The caves loomed ahead, their entrance shrouded in shadow. Lily would explore them and then return to Martha’s home before heading back to Britain. For now, her focus was singur: the mystery awaiting her.

  With a flick of her wand, Lily cast a lumos spell, its soft glow illuminating the cave’s interior. The air hummed with the subtle sounds of nature—dripping water, distant echoes of wind. She soaked it all in, her senses sharp.

  The walls were adorned with ancient paintings, their faded images depicting a legend she couldn’t quite decipher. Symbols, etched deep into the stone, intrigued her, but her transtion spells failed to find a matching nguage.

  “Interesting,” Lily murmured, her green eyes fshing with excitement. She loved piecing together puzzles, and this one was unlike any she’d encountered.

  Dressed in a green jacket that matched her eyes, a snug bck blouse that accentuated her D-cup figure, and blue jeans that hugged her legs, Lily moved with purpose. Her bck high-heeled boots clicked softly against the stone floor, her wand steady in her hand.

  Her red hair whipped around her face as a faint breeze stirred within the cave. Then she saw it—a glowing purple light, pulsing from deeper within.

  A smile tugged at her lips, curiosity mingling with caution. The young witch took a tentative step forward, her instincts on high alert.

  The light seemed to beckon her, its glow almost alive, as if it were calling her name. It was both alluring and unsettling, a siren’s song in the darkness.

  Lily paused, her knowledge of magic screaming caution. Anything that drew a person forward so insistently was rarely good. Doubt flickered across her face, her eyes narrowing as she weighed her options.

  She stood on the cliff of a discovery, teetering between fear and fascination. What y ahead could be a breakthrough—or a disaster. She tapped her foot, puzzling over the situation.

  “Well, I won’t know unless I take the dive,” Lily thought, a reckless spark igniting within her. She’d never admit to recklessness—daring was the word she preferred.

  She edged forward, her heart pounding. The light grew brighter, revealing its source: a crystal protruding from the cave wall, glowing with an otherworldly purple hue.

  Two thoughts warred in her mind. The logical one urged her to retreat. She had no idea what this crystal was or what touching it might do. It was unlike anything in her studies or the oddities her parents had collected—artifacts they believed were left by alien visitors.

  As one of the youngest Unspeakables in history, Lily had seen her share of the extraordinary. Her parents’ collection, filled with supposed extraterrestrial relics, had fueled her fascination with the unknown. She hesitated, her hand hovering near the crystal.

  But the other thought—the one that had driven her to this moment—whispered of discovery. She’d never know what y beyond unless she took the risk. Her fingers twitched, drawn to the crystal’s glow.

  Tentatively, she brushed her fingers against it, half-expecting a trap to spring. The cave remained silent, no arms or curses triggered. Emboldened, she gripped the crystal and tugged it free.

  It was mesmerizing—purple, radiant, pulsing in her hand like a living thing. Lily tilted her head, catching the faint harmonic vibrations it emitted. She held it closer, her eyes widening with wonder.

  This was no ordinary artifact. It could be magic, technology, or something entirely new—something no human had ever witnessed. Her pulse quickened at the thought.

  Suddenly, the crystal grew hot, searing her palm. Lily yelped, pain shooting through her hand, but her fingers wouldn’t release it. The heat was unbearable, yet she was locked in its grip.

  A purple light enveloped her, unseen in her agony. Her heart thudded against her chest, each beat stronger than the st, as if infused with new vitality. She swayed, the glow sinking into her very being.

  The crystal crumbled to dust in her hands, its fragments scattering like ash. Lily gasped, the pain fading as quickly as it had come.

  She felt different—stronger, as if she could conquer anything. Her feet lifted slightly off the ground, a sensation she hadn’t felt since childhood, when she’d float to tease her sister, Petunia.

  Those memories brought a bittersweet pang. Petunia had despised her magic, and their bond had shattered after their parents’ deaths at the hands of Voldemort’s Death Eaters. Lily pushed the thought aside.

  That was the past. She had more pressing matters to consider.

  Lily stared at her hand, her sharp eyes catching a faint mark—a small “Z” burned into her palm. It was subtle, easily missed by anyone without her obsessive attention to detail.

  “Curious,” she thought, biting her lip as she studied it. Her mind raced, cataloging every possibility, but no answers came.

  She scanned the cave, searching for clues, but found nothing out of the ordinary. The paintings, the symbols, the now-empty slot in the wall—all were silent.

  Lily stepped out of the cave, her mind buzzing with questions. The full impact of what had happened wouldn’t be clear for months—not until the birth of her son, Harry.

  For now, she returned to Martha’s home, the weight of the crystal’s power settling within her, a secret she wasn’t ready to share. The journey back to Britain loomed, but the mystery of the cave would follow her, its echoes shaping her future in ways she could never imagine.

  Author’s Note: Lily’s encounter with the Kryptonian crystal sets the stage for a transformative journey. What do you think of her daring choice? Let me know, and get ready for the next chapter as the stakes rise!