Chapter Nine: Friends Reunite

*As James rubbed his eyes tiredly, the forms became clearer to him. People were milling around the sight, which had been blocked off and was thoroughly being examined from every angle.

“Alright, someone give me the information on this case!” He bitterly spat. Four first-year interns shuddered as he growled and sidled away from him. Rolling his eyes at their stupidity, he looked around for someone who knew what they were doing. His vision landed on a shorter, somewhat thinner than he remembered but nevertheless very familiar form.

“P, Peter?”

“James!” The short boy called out enthusiastically. “James, boy oh boy, have I been wanting to see you! I just got back from Persia- I was there on that undercover research job the Ministry wanted done on magic carpets. They’re bloody brilliant, really they are! Anyway, we found who was smuggling them into Australia, and… James boy, you look ill!”

“Peter, it’s good to see a face that isn’t upset with me.” James let a glint of a smile slip through his tired façade.

“Who’s upset?”

“Padfoot. And Lily…”

“Lily?” Peter whispered. Then he grinned. “Come off it mate! She was holding you back! You’ll be able to have tones more fun without her hanging on to you.” Peter clapped his shoulder. James glared.

“I want her back, Peter.” His voice sizzled with anger. One of his best friends should know what Lily had meant to him!

Peter was silent for a moment, and then he grinned, much more cautiously than before. “Sure, alight then, I’ll help you get her back! Whatever it take to keep a friend happy, right old chum?”

“Right. Listen, I’m sorry about the face…”

“You should be. It was your fault she left. But I’m not going to say anything more on the subject.” James and Peter didn’t have to look up to know Sirius’ voice when they heard it.

“Come off it Padfoot, he was wrong, he knows it now, he can get her back.” Peter glared at Sirius.

“Maybe Wormtail. Or maybe he lost his touch with her a while ago.”

“Whatever the case maybe, we swore we’d help him out when he was having trouble, didn’t we?” A new voice joined them. All three looked up and immediately their faces brightened. Sirius laughed and yelped aloud, bounding over to the robed man that stood in the doorway. Peter simply stood, grinning mechanically. James let a full smile crack, and then chuckled.

“Moony!” Sirius cried out.

“Sorry I’m late everyone!” The tall, thin, blonde man grinned a large, toothy smile. James could see he was in good condition—for all that he was a werewolf-- except for the fact that his robes looked dirty and disheveled, and his hair was beginning to gray slightly around the edges.

“Remus, where’ve you been? We lost touch with you for what, two and a half months?”

“Sorry Prongs, Dumbledore had asked me to keep silent while I was working.” Remus gave him a haphazard grin, and Sirius whooped.

“You’ve been working for Dumbledore! Awesome! It’s bloody brilliant! And all this time we thought you were researching werewolves!”

“I was.” Sirius’ grin left his face.

“Among other things.” Remus smiled evilly. The laughter returned, and suddenly James felt right. It was the best feeling he had had since… since he had reached full auror. He felt empowered- and not because of his magic, or his wand, or a title, but because his friends had returned. They would back him until thick and thin. Looking them over, he knew they would never betray their friendships.

“Thick as blood.” He whispered.

“What’s that James?” Remus cheerfully asked.

“Nothing.” James muttered.

“He’s probably just moaning about Lils again. Don’t mind him. He’ll come to his senses in a minute or two.”

“What happened with Lils?” Remus voiced concern.

“Nothing, nothing, she and James had a row, that’s all.” Peter blew it off.

“She left him, and she told us she was never coming back.” Sirius corrected dully. James rubbed his face with his hands.

“She what?” Remus yelped.

“James…”

“Don’t say it Sirius. I was a jackass, we all know it and agree on it. I’ll just have to find her and apologize.” Peter nodded, but Remus and Sirius were a little more skeptical.

“If you say so Prongs.” Remus agreed. He wasn’t about to go telling James off when he didn’t know the full scope of the situation—nor was he about to agree that this would all just blow over.

“So to what do we owe your return Moony?” Sirius asked, breaking the awkward mood that had befallen them.

“I actually have a message. From Dumbledore.” They stopped, and James looked around to make sure no one would be listening.

“Go ahead, we’re fine.” He nodded.

“We’re to meet him at Hogwarts in an hour or so… says he has quite an announcement for all of us, and he’d like for us to not miss it, given the weight of the topic.” The four boys looked at each other.

“You sound like a seer Padfoot, cut it out.” Peter finally managed a small laugh. The others followed.

“Right, well, come on then, let’s get going. It’ll take us that long to get to the school.”

“But the Dark Mark…” James worried.

“James, there are five other aurors here, I’m sure they know what they’re doing. Besides. Dumbledore is more important than a vanished flash of lights, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Of course Moony, or course.” James finally admitted. He knew Remus was right. Besides. Dumbledore might also know where Lily had gone, and whether or not she would be safe there.

“Good. Alright, let’s go.”

>>>)(<<<

When they stepped through the secret passage beneath the Whomping Willow, Peter was just finishing his transformation back into a human. They gathered together and looked out at the looming castle that towered before them.

“Remember when we first got our Hogwarts letters?” Remus breathed.

“I didn’t want to come, I didn’t know anyone who was a wizard.” Peter frowned.

“We were all at James’ house, and his mother came out to tell us.” Remus recounted.

“And then James got knocked out with a broomstick and had a weird vision… ah, those were the good days!” Sirius grinned madly.

“Padfoot you dolt.” James grumbled. But he wasn’t really upset. He was remembering…

“Oh isn’t it wonderful? My little boy is finally going to Hogwarts! Oh James, you’ll make us so proud!”

“Son, you’re a wizard today. Not just a boy whose comes from a wizarding family, but a true wizard.” The boy before the two parents ran his hand through his wild and messy dark hair and peered out at the world from a pair of thin wire glasses.

“Yeah, sure Mum, Dad.” The boy blushed, he wasn’t accustomed to his mother and father fawning over him this much. “Can I go out and meet Sirius and Remus now?”

“Of course dear!” His mother squealed as she watched her son go out the door.

They had been so very proud of him… they had lived to see their son join the ranks of wizards that had been in their family for ages, they had lived to see him in his first year, to hug him when he came home for Christmas holiday, to cheer him on through end of the year exams… And now they were dead. They had never lived to see him join the house quidditch team, they hadn’t lived to see him succeed in transfiguration and help him through charms. They had lived to meet Lily… What he wouldn’t have given just for one more day with his parents so they could be proud of him again. To introduce them to the woman he loved, to show them he had turned out as a respectable man…

“James? James?” He blinked back tears that had chocked his throat up and glared.

“What now Padfoot?”

“Come on, let’s go.” Sirius coaxed him, knowing full well James must have been remembering his family.

“Fine.” They made their way into the castle, pointing out artifacts, paintings, and people they remembered.

“Isn’t it odd to think that the kids who were third years when we graduated are seventh years now?” Remus asked.

“What?” Peter gaped.

“Well, I mean, they are.” Remus flustered.

“I get what you mean Moony, I definitely wish I could come back… underage women…” Sirius grinned.

“Padfoot, somehow I don’t think Ara would approve.” James bristled.

“Aw, Prongsie, you worry too much, Ara and I have a very open relationship!”

“Since she dumped you.” Peter snorted. Now Sirius looked hurt.

“She didn’t dump me, it was mutual.”

“And they’re back together anyways, so it doesn’t make the least bit of a difference. Least, that’s the way I see it.” James clapped Sirius’ shoulder.

“You, you’re back together with Ara?” Remus sputtered. Sirius grinned.

“Since last night!”

“One night and you were already shagging her? Padfoot, you sick mutt!” James cuffed him. Behind them Remus and Peter shared a glance that said ‘What?’, but neither of them voiced any of their opinions aloud because they had just arrived at Dumbledore’s office.

“Right, the password!” Remus clipped, waking up from his daze. “Honeysuckle.” The gargoyles spun, and the boys, used to the magical workings of the office door, stepped inside without a second thought.

“Ah, gentlemen, please, have a seat wherever you can find room. I’m sure all know already know the majority of the people in here…” They looked up to see Professor McGonagall in her bottle green robes, tight bun atop her head, smiling at them. As she wafted by them, Sirius grinned.

“I didn’t think ol’ McGonagall knew how to smile at us!” The others grinned devilishly and nodded. They all knew what it meant if McGonagall was smiling at them: Dumbledore had a great idea, and she was pleased about it.

“Most of the witches and wizards in here work in the Ministry- and a few we went to school with…”

“James!” James cocked his head to see a familiar looking figure.

“Frank!” They shook hands briefly, before James turned to introduce his friends. “You remember Frank Longbottom, right Padfoot, Moony?”

“Sure, he was the charms wiz that gave Lils a run for her money third year!” Remus laughed.

“She beat me though, and then went and got even better, so I had no chance in beating her.”

“You should have tried to take her fourth year, she hated charms—lost that talent.” Sirius grinned. James glared.

“Lily was always good in charms. Just not as good as me.” Then Frank laughed.

“If had tried to take her, it wouldn’t have meant anything, we all knew James was the guy to beat, and I never could have done it!”

“So what are you doing here?” Peter broke the stroll down memory lane.

“Don’t know yet. I work in the auror department with James, and Dumbledore asked me, so I thought I would… besides, you never turn Dumbledore down.”

“Point taken.” Remus grinned.

“Anyway. I’ve had to tangle with enough Death Eaters to know when to trust my instincts, and my instinct told me this was not a meeting to miss.”

“We hear you… I came all the way from Nigeria to be here.” Remus nodded. At that moment, a pretty young woman walked up to their group.

“Frank Longbottom, isn’t it?” She asked, completely ignoring the Marauders.

“Yes, that’s me.” Frank’s cheeks reddened slightly, and Sirius nudged Remus, who was smiling and holding back laughter. James elbowed Peter, who simply watched and waited.

I, I wanted to thank you. You saved my mother from a Death Eater a week and a half ago…”

“Your very welcome Miss…?”

“Alice. Alice Dove. I was in Ireland at the time of the attack, but I’m in your department…”

“You’re an auror?” Frank blushed more deeply.

“Yes, I’ve been kept busy away from the office, but… well, you don’t say no to Dumbledore when he invites you to secret meeting, so…”

“ ’Ello there Remus, Peter, Sirius!” A large voice boomed from behind them. The group of six looked up and spotted Hagrid making his way through the crowd.

“Hey Hagrid!” Sirius waved. Remus gave the large man a handshake, or something close to a handshake, and Peter stood nervously by, nodding to him.

“ If you’ll ‘scuse me boys… James!” Hagrid growled. “How dare you break Lily’s heart!” The room went silent as the accusation rang through the air. James and Lily? Broken up?

“Hagrid, I…”

“Don’t you ‘Hagrid, I…’ me boy! I saw her crying! I know what happened! And you had better clear up this misunderstand’n before it goes gett’n worse!” What James did next surprised the entire room.

“You don’t know what happened, so don’t think you do. No one does save Lily and myself, so leave it be!” Never had James snapped like that to Hagrid- or anyone for that matter, save his three Marauders.

“James!” Sirius and Remus both grabbed his arms and dragged him back into the corner of the room, where Peter stood, holding a chair. They forced him to sit, and then with a wave of Frank Longbottom’s wand, James was bound to the chair, and a silence charm had been placed over him. No matter how he struggled, he couldn’t move or talk.

“He’s sorry about that Hagrid, he is. But he’s taking the break up very hard.” Remus told their giant friend, who was still staring at James, completely crestfallen.

“It’s, it’s alright, I understand.” Hagrid sniffed. “Or I thought I did.” Then the big giant turned away and made himself comfortable on the other side of the room.

“See what you’ve done now? You’ve made Hagrid mope James! You and your temper!” Sirius smacked James across his head; who winced in pain, but could do no more.

“I thought I taught you better than that, Potter!” A sneer crawled through their scalps. “ Better to hide that anger, hide that frustration! I warned you to bottle it in, didn’t I? Now see where it gets you.” Mad Eye Moody limped by them, glaring at James. James simply glared back, not wanting to remember what Mad Eye had or had not told him.

“Was that…?” Alice whispered. Frank nodded.

“Mad Eye Moody.”

“I thought he was working…” She hissed.

“He was. Apparently this must be a very important meeting, or Dumbledore never would have pulled him off duty to hear it.” Remus whispered back.

“Why are we whispering?” Peter wanted to know.

“Yeah why?” Sirius boomed. The group cracked small smiles, and all of them save James continues to make small talk for a few moments more, until the room suddenly went silent. Dumbledore had just arrived. *

~~~Hey all! I waited until I had read the new book to write this ch because I want to make it fit Harry’s past as bet I can. Unfortunately, some things I cannot change, like what I have made Arabella, or how James and Lily fell in love, but I will try to do my best. Besides, this is my fiction, and I get to write it how I see it… artistic license, don’t you just love it?