The Promise Keeperoliver Chapter 1
The start of the sixth year changed Lily Evans life forever. It changed the way she felt about a certain wild haired boy who had taken a shine to her. James Potter had been nothing but a sot and a toe rag for the first 5 years of her schooling at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
That all changed when she overheard a conversation between Potter and her one time friend Severus Snape.
"Snape, could I talk to you for a minute?"
"Forget it Potter. We have nothing to say to each other. I hate you, and you hate me. What more needs to be said?"
"How about I'm sorry?"
"You must think me a fool Potter. I fell for that last year, but never again."
"I am not apologizing for Sirius. He is his own person, and what he does is another matter. I am sorry for allowing it to go as far as it did. I am sorry for involving Remus in our prank. I am sorry for causing that altercation between you and Lily Evans. I have a lot to be sorry about I guess, but for now that is all I can come up with."
"Piss off Potter. You cannot get off that easy. Lily will never see you as anything other than a toe rag. Lupin must still be mad at you or you would not be asking for my forgiveness. What ever your motive is, it will not work with me. Maybe Lily and I aren't talking right now, but I hope to change that soon. She is the only thing that matters with me right now. She will see that what I am doing is the best path to follow. One that will keep her safe. I would never let anything happen to her. She was meant for me, and I will have her."
"She is not a possession Snape. She is a person with feelings and mind of her own. You cannot make such a bold statement and expect her to fall in line with it."
"If it hadn't been for you and Black, she would already be with me Potter. It may take a while, but I promise you, she will be mine once again."
"Don't make promises you can't keep Snape. Lily was hurt by the name you called her. Just so you could look good in front of your friends. Was it worth the hurt you caused to keep face with them?"
"The status of my friendships with my fellow house members is none of your concern. To end this conversation now, your apology is not accepted. Now be gone, and don't bother me again." and Severus turned and left James standing alone. James shook his head as he turned as well, only to find a very angry Lily Evans standing in the door of one of the cabins.
Lily said nothing to him as he walked past to get back to his friends. She was too upset with what Severus just said. How dare he make it sound like she would just fall in line with his plans.
James took it as both he and Snape were on Lily's shite list. He did not wish to aggravate her any further, so he said nothing and kept walking.
Although she never said yes to Potter's requests for a date that year, she began to grow a respect for the Marauder.
In their seventh year, she finally gave in and accepted his request for a date, and they have been together ever since. Severus had asked as well, but Lily wanted no part of his ties with the dark side of magic.
Now, two years later, Lily and James were married, and for some reason, Black had even taken a liking to her. She was already friends with Remus, and nothing would change that. She felt sorry for the troubled person. She learned about his affliction during their fifth year and she became even closer as a friend after she told him of her knowledge of his condition.
As a part of their marriage vows, they promised each other to love, honor, and cherish each other until death do they part.
Lily and James had been married for three months when she surprised him one evening. "James, what would you say if I were to tell you our family was about to get bigger?"
James jumped out of his chair and pulled Lily into a hug and said, "Unless you are going to tell me that Pads is going to have puppies, I would be thrilled to death." The smile he wore went from ear to ear.
She got the same response from Black and Remus. Not from Peter though. From him she got, "That's nice. Please excuse me but I have to go help my mum." and he left.
Lily thought that she was the only one that noticed Peter's behavior lately, but she was wrong. Remus also noticed this, and it did not set well with him. He did not like what he saw from Peter. If only the other Marauders would see this as well.
TP-}
Upon their departure from Hogwarts, James, Sirius and Frank joined the ranks of the Auror division in the Ministry, while Lily became a member of the Dept of Mystery. She made friends with Selena Lovegood, who she vaguely knew during school. Selena was a year ahead of her.
During their time there as Aurors, the hardest thing for them to do was to report the death of a family member to the rest of the family. They tried every thing they could think of to get out of this situation, but to no avail. It was becoming more frequent recently, and with James, Sirius and Frank being the newest members, the task fell to them.
The three also became members of the Order of the Phoenix, headed by Albus. Remus also became a member of the group, and was used frequently by Albus because of his status. Remus was not able to find work, and had plenty of time on his hands. Albus would help him out financially by paying him from his own pocket. It wasn't much, but it did help.
It was six months after they joined that Sirius was asked into the head of the Aurors office. He sat across from the head and listened as he was told of something that would affect his life and change his outlook on it. He was told of the death of the girl he almost asked her to marry him. Marlena McKinnon and her family were killed during a Death Eater attack on their home. Sirius looked at the head, and vowed, "No more of my friends are going to die because of these bastards. This I promise!" Tears were flowing down his cheeks as he made this statement. This was a vow he would never break.
His eyes were still moist as he made his way back to James and Frank. When James asked what the trouble was, Sirius cried as he answered, "The bastards killed Marlena and her family. James, they never hurt anyone. They were a peace loving family and would give the shirt of their backs if it would help someone. Why did they have to die?"
"I don't know Pads. Maybe it was their way of getting back at you for some reason?" As soon as he said it, James knew it was the wrong thing. Sirius was now going into a state of shock, thinking that what his friend just said might just be the truth. Sirius knew that because of his family, he was seen as the black sheep in many purist eyes. He never followed their beliefs, like his brother did. He pranked the Slytherins when ever he had the chance, to include his brother. Regulus never took it as anything other than Sirius being himself, where as the rest vowed they would get even with the traitor.
He was so worked up because of this, he asked to be let off early so that he could go grieve his loss. There was only one place he would go when he felt like this. The Three Broomsticks and Rosie, who had taken a shine to Sirius during his Hogwarts years. Rosemerta loved all the students that visited her establishment, but for some reason, the Marauders had always been her favorites, especially Sirius.
When Sirius arrived there, and Rosie saw the condition he was in, she sat with for as long as she could before the business began to get heavier. She had to leave him, though she regretted it. Sirius drank more than she ever saw him drink before, and soon he wasn't able to even sit at the table without falling off his stool. She helped him up and told him to go find a place upstairs and sleep it off.
Sirius dragged himself up the stairs and rather than take a bedroom, he went to the meeting room and changed into Padfoot. He then went to a closet, closed the door partially, and curled up into a ball and fell asleep. The sleep didn't last long as he heard people coming up the steps and entered the room he had taken as his bedroom.
It was Albus and some drunk lady who appeared to be trying to get a position at Hogwarts. Pads soon grew weary of the talk going on between the two and laid his head back down. Once again it didn't last as the voice of the lady soon changed as she began, "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches, born to those who thrice defied him. Born as the seventh month dies." A disturbance outside the door at this time took Sirius attention momentarily, but he then listened to the end of what she was telling Albus. "And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have powers the Dark Lord knows not. And either must die at the hands of the other, as neither can live while the other survives. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies." and that ended what he thought was the worst thing he could have heard.
Sirius knew that both Lily and Alice were due around the end of July. It was time for him to try and find a way for this not to happen. There was no way he would let these unborn children die, or their parents trying to protect them. It was April, and that gave him three months to come up with a solution. He was going to need help from Remus, as he was the smartest of the three. He said three because there was no way he was going to ask James how he could stop Lily from delivering. Peter was out of the question because there was no one that was more unaware than him. He barely acknowledged Lily when she told him of her condition. How could he not be excited about this.
TP-}
Remus was coming off another bad three days after his transformation. He was finally going to get the rest he needed. That is until he was disturbed by frantic Sirius Black. Remus interrupted his rant by saying, "Listen up pad. I am tired, sick and pissed off. If you don't have something meaningful to tell me, the bug off. I need to get some sleep."
Sirius began his story and told Remus about the prophecy that this woman made to Albus. How he was in the closet and why he was there. Remus understood Sirius' emotional reaction to Marlena's death, but not why he was so concerned about this prophecy. He never knew Sirius to take anything like a dream as real. "Pads, I am sorry about Marlena and her family. I am sorry that this prophecy has you upset as well, but I don't understand why it is bothering you. You never believed in these things before, calling them rubbish or fodder for a headline seeker."
"Don't you see Rem, this one concerns our best friend, his wife, and their unborn child. It also concerns Frank, Alice and their unborn as well. Both Lily and Alice are due the end of July. I don't believe in these things, but what if Moldy does? He could come after them all."
Remus thought on this. It did make sense when you put it that way. But would Voldemort take such a risk as attacking such influential families? Possibly, if it meant his life if he didn't follow up on it. "So, what do you plan on doing?"
"That's why I came here, to ask you for help. We have to find some way of ruining the prophecy so that Lily and Alice won't be attacked. We have to find a way to change their due dates?"
"And how the hell do you plan on doing this Mutt?"
"By either speeding up the process, or slowing it down. There has to be some way to do this?"
Once again Remus went into thinking mode. He thought there might be a way to speed up the process, by having the girls take a contraction enhancer. Forcing them to have contractions sooner than expected. "I believe I know a way Pads. We have to get our hands on some contraction enhancer potion. Medwitches use it when a patient is having a difficult birth. I don't know of anything that will slow the process. It could be bad for Lily, Alice and the babies though, if we do it too early. The most I would allow is two weeks, to give the babies a chance for survival."
"I knew I could count on you Rem. So how do we go about getting some of this contraceptive potion?"
"Idiot! Not contraceptive. Contraction potion. To start their contractions. And we have to do it the Marauder way, so that no one will suspect anything."
"Ooh, I like this already. So, who do we con it out of?"
"You will ask Madam Pomphrey for it. You will tell her everything you know and who it affects. You will ask her to tell no one. If she refuses, then we will do it another way."
"I don't like that idea Rem. If she refuses, and we go ahead and steal it, then she will know who did it."
"Hmm, yes, I suppose she would. Well, do you know anyone at St. Mungo's that would help?"
"At St. Mungo's, no. But elsewhere, maybe. I think there is a potions master in Knockturn Alley that may be of assistance. If not, we could always ask what was needed to brew one.."
"Do you know how long it takes to brew one? What if it takes too long."
"Damn it, we keep shooting down each others ideas. We have to come up with something that we both agree on."
"I know Pads. Do you think we could think on this again tomorrow. I really do need some sleep."
"Sorry Moony. You're right. A new day just may clear our heads and let us think better and come up with an answer. Good night Moony."
"Good night Pads. And Pads, I really am sorry about Marlena. I liked her as well. But not as much as you."
"I know Rem. We all thought the world of her." and Sirius left Remus to get the sleep he needed.
Sirius just made it back to his apartment to start dinner when there was a knock on his door. He was surprised to find his other best friend and his wife there. As soon as Lily saw him, she pulled him into a hug, "Sirius, I am so sorry. We tried to find you last night, but James didn't know where to look. We were so worried about you that I began to have labor pains, or what I thought were labor pains. It turns out it was just nerves. However, it was enough to give James a worried look on what we faced. He asked the intern if there was anything we should keep handy if something like this should happen again. He said no, as any potion not having to do with the pregnancy could be dangerous."
This worried Sirius as that may upset his and Remus' plans. "So what potions are OK to use?"
"Just two. A pain killer, and a contraction enhancer to assist in case there are complications that need to deliver the baby sooner. All it really is, is a muscle relaxer, but it only affects the pelvic area. It also helps me to push harder."
Sirius breathed a sigh of relief, then had a brilliant though. "So where do you get this contraceptive potion?"
James laughed at his friend, "I'm afraid it's too late for that my friend."
"Too late! Why?"
"Because Lily is already pregnant. I don't have to worry about getting her that way again."
"HUH?"
"Pads, Lily said a contraction potion, not a contraceptive potion."
"OH, right. So where do you get it?"
"At the Apothecary shop in Diagon Alley. Why?"
"Just in case we need to get hold of some in a hurry. It is never too late to think ahead."
Neither James nor Lily could believe that Sirius was actually thinking ahead. And it made sense to have someone else know what may be needed in case of emergency.
"As a matter of fact, I think I will pick up a bottle tomorrow, to have it on hand just in case."
"Why waste your money on something that may not be needed?" Lily asked.
"Is it that expensive?"
"I don't think it costs more than ten sickles. But why get it if we don't use it?"
"You did say it was a muscle relaxer didn't you?"
"For the pelvic area Pads?"
"And you don't think I could find a use for that?"
"Mind out of the gutter Sirius. How can anyone be thinking of sex after what you have been through?"
"Can't think of a better way to get my mind off things. Besides, even if I don't use it, I will only be out twenty sickles."
"Why Twenty?" James could not believe Sirius was actually thinking of using it for sex.
"Who knows who else may need it. Would anyone wish to go out for dinner, I'm starving?"
Sirius grabbed both their arms and pulled them to the restaurant he frequented.
TP-}
Remus just finished his cleanup after eating, when there was a knock on the door. He wasn't surprised to see Sirius standing there. "Pads, you pick the terrible times for a visit. You do know how late it is. I was just getting ready for bed."
"Sorry Moony, but that will have to wait. I got the contraceptive potion for Lily and Alice."
"The what?"
"You know the potion you asked me to get for the plan we made."
"First off, we haven't made a plan yet, and second, I asked you to get a contraction potion, not a contraceptive potion."
"You still know what I mean. So, what do we do next?"
"We go back and get the contraction potion I asked you to get. What you got is worth absolutely nothing. I knew better than let you do this on your own. I can't believe I am actually doing this. I would be happier than a pig in shite, if someone came up with a potion that blocked my change."
"Rem, I got the right potion, alright. I know what you asked me to get, it is just funnier to let you think I am lost. Lily told me where I could get one that would not be questioned."
"She didn't ask why you needed one? That doesn't sound like Lily."
"It was her that brought it up. She was upset when she heard about Marlena, and when her and James couldn't find me, she then became worried, and went into false labor. She told me that if it happened again later in the pregnancy, they might have to use it to help with the birth, if she is far enough along."
"I still don't believe she told you where to get it. She must be sick or something."
"Well she did, and I did. Now, what do we do next."
"Now we wait. There is nothing we could do until they are both farther along."
"Oh yeah, it is kind of early. Hey, maybe the wait could work in our favor. Lily may forget all about this incident when it becomes time for her to deliver."
"You don't really believe that do you Pads?"
"NO, but it would be nice. Why does she have to be such a brain? I think she is part elephant."
"I definitely would not say anything like that around her where she could hear it. She may take it the wrong way."
"What other way could she take it?"
"In case you haven't noticed Pads, she is pregnant. Now, what do you think of when you mention elephants?"
"Big, gray, trunk and tail?"
"Not a very pretty picture for a pregnant lady that had just been called that."
"OOOH, it could get ugly in a hurry. I see what you mean."
"OK, now do you think I could get some sleep, and we can talk again later?"
"Sure. You go ahead and take the bed, I'll take the couch."
"Thanks for letting me get my own bed Pads, in my own home."
"Not a problem Rem. What are friends for." and they both took their designated sleep areas.
TP-}
A/N: Does this really surprise anyone. How many times have I said I was either taking a break or just plain quitting? Too many to count. Any way, I have been bothered by this one for about a month and it just had to be written. I have no idea how long this will be. I hope you enjoy. As always, Ollie the Keeper.