Chapter Two: Shadows on Marble Graves
The next morning, a tall gentleman in strange robes appeared with a pop in the middle of the town of Godric's Hollow. No one knew how. No one knew why. No one knew where he came from. All the inhabitants of the sleepy town knew was that the man was most certainly peculiar, judging from his long, snow-white beard and curiously vibrant robes, and that this was not the first peculiar event in the past week, not after the graveyard mystery. They watched in nosy curiosity as the man, without so much as a glance around him, headed into Saint Agatha's Hospital and disappeared.
The doctors and nurses seemed to be startled by the appearance of the man, but did not stop him as he made his way to the Inpatient Clinic. Left and right, heads did double takes as the curiously robed man moved through the hallways. He didn't seem to mind, because he sauntered through to the Impatient Clinic with purpose, not even stopping at the front desk as he whisked by. The nurses watched him disappear behind the doors of the Inpatient Clinic, and then shrugged off the curiousness of it all as they returned to their work. They encountered visitors of all kinds in their clinic anyway.
There were two patients in the Inpatient Clinic – it was a small hospital, after all – and both looked up when the man had finished speaking with the doctor outside and had entered the room.
"Professor Dumbledore!" the man on the left bed said in surprise, sitting up straighter on his sheets. He had glasses and messy black hair that looked like he had just rolled out of bed.
"We didn't think you were coming so soon," the woman said. She had dark red hair and green eyes, and looked relieved to see him.
"I told you Wednesday morning, did I not?" Dumbledore replied, and though his eyes were bright, they had a solemn glint to them. "James, Lily," he greeted them.
"What's going on?" James asked. He tugged off some of the medical tubes so he could slide off his bed. "The muggle healers say they're letting us go. What's going to happen?"
"I'm going to take you back to the Order," Dumbledore told him, drawing a chair between the beds and lowering himself onto it. "It'll be safe there. I cannot be certain whether enemy ears lurk here."
"Wh-what do you mean it'll be safe there?" James asked, frowning. "We thought that the war had ended. There's been no mention of Voldemort or destruction, we've checked all the papers-"
Dumbledore held up a hand to calm him. "Just because the pond is calm does not mean that something does not lurk underneath," he said, and James seemed to deflate. "But I will explain when we get there."
"What about Harry?" Lily asked him, her gaze hard. "Is Harry safe? Is he still in danger?"
"Harry is safe for the moment," Dumbledore said.
"For the moment?" echoed Lily.
"He is secure where he is," he told her, and under his unwavering gaze, Lily seemed to calm.
She was silent for a moment, and then asked, "Where is he?"
"For his own safety, I cannot dispatch that information right now," Dumbledore said. "I assure you, he is safe and secure. We have people looking after him. You will meet him soon enough."
Lily gave a brief nod, and though it was obvious that she was not satisfied with Dumbledore's reply, she did not ask anything else.
"I have just spoken with your healer- or doctor, rather," Dumbledore told them. They nodded. "If you have your things and are ready, you both are discharged to come with me."
Fifteen minutes later, after checking in their medical robes and retrieving their clothes and wands, the three left the hospital and stepped out onto the quiet street of Godric's Hollow. They chose not to pass by the shattered house where they had lost it all fourteen years ago, instead heading for the small town park. They walked to the most shaded area there, and, when safely out of sight, disapparated with a loud crack.
When their feet were firmly planted on the ground, they were greeted with the scene of a serene, London-esque street. On either side, the street was lined with tall, brick homes and patterned iron fences; it was obviously an urban area, judging from the close proximity of the homes, but the neighborhood had a nice sort of old charm to it.
"This is Sirius's old place," James said suddenly. He glanced down the sidewalk, taking in the neighborhood. "This is where he grew up. We're in London." Lily followed his gaze down the drive, noting the busy amounts of cars that were passing by on a perpendicular street.
"What is it, number twelve?" James said. Not waiting for a response, he headed down the sidewalk in that direction. Eventually, he stopped right in front of where number eleven met number thirteen. And frowned when twelve was nowhere in sight.
"It's supposed to be right here," said James, his brow lowering. He turned back to look at Lily and Dumbledore, who drew up beside him. Then, suddenly, both Potters seemed to figure it out.
"Fidelius Charm," Lily said, and James turned a bit gray.
"I'm afraid so," Dumbledore told him. "Times are more dangerous than ever. We've needed to improvise to keep safe."
This did not seem to settle well with Lily or James. Not when they had just come from a time in which Voldemort had held the world in fear. If things hadn't improved in fourteen years, Lily and James didn't seem sure what to make of it.
"Who's the Secret-keeper?" James asked him finally, ripping his eyes from where number twelve should be.
"I am," Dumbledore told him. "Though I must warn you before we enter: things will be different when you arrive."
"Different?" echoed Lily uneasily. "Different how?"
"Is Harry here?" James asked him.
"Harry is not," said Dumbledore. "But many of your old friends are, and they are anxiously awaiting your arrival. I will explain inside. Perhaps it might do you some good to revisit familiar faces before we re-induct you."
Lily and James glanced at one another. It seemed to come as a bit of a relief for them.
"Here," Dumbledore said, slipping them a piece of paper. He watched James and Lily peer at it. "Read it aloud, but keep your voices down. I'm afraid some Death Eaters still enjoy tracking charms."
"Number twelve, Grimmauld Place," James read softly for both him and Lily. They looked up at the houses, waiting for something to happen.
Then, with a loud, trembling sound, the houses eleven and thirteen began to shake. As if being towed by an invisible force, they began to move away from one another, meter by meter, revealing another stretch of wall beneath it. Number twelve. Windows clicked into place. Balcony railings sprung out as if in a pop-up book. It continued for a few moments like this, until the entirety of number twelve had been drawn out. Then, the rumbling slowed, and the houses stopped.
"Come," Dumbledore said. He led them up the front steps and inside the door.
They were heading down a thin hallway when suddenly voices floated out from the kitchen, whose door was cracked open just enough so the visitors could glimpse a window of the dark room beyond.
"…Order cannot risk it, Sirius!" one of the voices was saying as they drew closer. "You must understand that Dumbledore has the best interests of the Order in mind, especially if Lily and James-!"
"You don't understand, Remus!" The reply was angry. "I can't just stay here, sitting in on meetings and listening to Snape hint that he's risking his bloody arse while I'm hiding out here, useless!"
"Only for the time being, Sirius," Remus said. The voices were drawing closer; it sounded by the fluctuating volumes that the speakers were moving about the room inside. "Besides, once the Ministry learns the truth, I expect they'll let you off the hook soon enough. They just need to start listening to Dumbledore and start talking sense-"
The door to the kitchen swung open, and the speaker broke off when he saw the individuals standing there. His voice seemed to catch in his throat and he fell silent. The color drained from his face.
"What, Remus?" demanded the other, heavily irritated occupant of the kitchen, who was just out of sight. Footsteps indicated that he was marching over to where Remus had stopped short. "Bloody Merlin, finish your sentence. If you bloody well expect me to-"
Sirius, like Remus, froze when he saw the individuals standing just outside. His irritation died away immediately, replaced by shock. Like Remus, he turned deathly pale.
"…Remus," James greeted softly after a long, emotional pause. His voice wavered slightly. "Sirius."
Sirius made a choking noise, and his hand came up to clutch his mouth as if he was going to be sick. "…My God," he choked out. It took him a moment, and then in two bounds, he strode over to James and embraced him tightly.
James returned the embrace, and the two stayed there for a while, eyes squeezed shut with emotion, content just bathe in the overwhelming moment. Sirius would reach up and clasp his mouth every so often, and he was trembling terribly.
When they had broken apart, Sirius turned towards Lily. "Lily," he breathed, and immediately enveloped her as well.
Lily grasped him tightly, her hands bunching up the shoulder of his jacket as she held him close to her. She kissed him on the cheek. "Hey, Sirius."
"Moony," James greeted Remus, managing a smile. His greeting was casual, but his voice wavered. "Looking good," he teased.
Remus let out a choked laugh, and he came forward to embrace James, and then Lily. Sirius stepped back to discreetly wipe at his eyes.
"Might I suggest we take this reunion into another room?" Dumbledore said quietly, interrupting as footsteps were heard moving around above. "Somewhere quieter, perhaps? There's much to explain, and I fear this reunion may not be private for much longer."
They could only nod, still recovering from the emotion of it all, and Dumbledore herded the four into an adjoining room. It was some sort of a living area, with an ornate tasseled carpet and fine, maroon furniture arranged around a coffee table. Once all were inside, Dumbledore flicked his wand at the gold key in the door, and the key gave a sharp click as it turned.
Dumbledore began to wave protective charms over the doorway, and the other four seated themselves there: James, Lily, and Remus on the couch, and Sirius in one of the chairs facing them. Sirius and Remus still seemed to be in states of incredulity.
"You're back," Sirius said softly as Dumbledore moved around them, murmuring incantations over the door. He shook his head, and a bittersweet smile spread across his features. "I just can't believe it. I can't believe you're back."
Lily could not do more than smile. James bent his head, subtly rubbing at a spot underneath his glasses, and her hand came up to grasp his. She squeezed it tightly. He squeezed back.
When Dumbledore had finished, he seated himself in one of the chairs across from the couch and looked at them over the rims of his half-moon spectacles. "Lily, James," he began. "There's much to explain. Before we begin, however, I think it would be best to confirm that those who are here are who they say they are."
"You questioned us thoroughly two days ago," Lily said. She shook her head. "Why bring us here if you didn't believe us?"
"I have fair confidence in my judgment, but in times like these, it is better to be safe," was his answer. "It might also do well to let your friends confirm your identity themselves."
"You've given us Veritaserum," James said. "What else could you...?"
"Veritaserum is not foolproof, James," Lily added for Dumbledore, repeating what Mad-Eye had voiced the previous day. She tore her eyes from Dumbledore to meet James' inquisitive gaze. "Anyway, I think it would be wise to double-check."
"How can one double-check if neither spells nor potions are completely safe?" James asked, looking from Lily to Dumbledore.
"Questions, James," Remus told him. "We'll ask questions that only Lily and James would be able to answer."
"If you truly are who you say you are," Dumbledore said. "You should have nothing to fear."
Lily and James nodded.
"James," Dumbledore said. "I believe you were so kind as to loan me a magical object a few months before your death. Do you remember what it was?"
James frowned for a moment, and then met Dumbledore's unwavering gaze. "My invisibility cloak, wasn't it? You said you were fascinated by the idea of such an ancient magical object and I told you that you could borrow it."
Dumbledore nodded, a small smile wrinkling his eyes. "Of course," he said. "A brilliant piece of magic. If it should interest you, the same cloak is now in possession of your son." At the peak in interest, his eyes twinkled. "Might I add that it's been used in plenty."
A small smile spread across Lily's face, but it was tinged with hints of sadness. Dumbledore seemed to recognize that her thoughts were turning wistful, and didn't allow her to dwell long on lost memories. "Lily," he prompted. "I believe Sirius bought Harry his favorite birthday present."
Lily smiled genuinely then. "His first broomstick, a toy broomstick." She looked at Sirius affectionately. "He couldn't come on Harry's birthday, so I sent him a picture and a thank-you note telling him about how Harry nearly killed Bagheera whilst zooming around…"
A broad grin spread across Sirius's face at the memory. "Elvendork," he corrected, and a smile twitched on James' lips.
"Elvendork…?" Dumbledore prompted Lily amicably.
"Our cat, Bagheera," Lily answered, directing the last part in Sirius' direction. "A stray we found in Godric's Hollow."
Dumbledore nodded, his eyes twinkling at the way James and Sirius were smiling at the memory. "I should say that is sufficient," he said. "We had to check, you must understand."
"Of course," Lily said.
"Before we launch into explanations of time gone by," Dumbledore said. "I request only one thing more. Perhaps you could tell us what you remember from Hallowe'en night?"
James and Lily both seemed to deflate. James' smile fell from his face, and Lily's expression sank. Both suddenly looked older than their years.
"I know it is a difficult memory," Dumbledore said. "But words often give more healing than years of silence. And we must know how much we need to explain; I'm afraid much has transpired since."
Lily and James glanced at each another, and both were silent for a long moment. Then, James gave Lily's hand a brief squeeze, and Lily began.