"James! Remus! Din-YEECH!" Mrs. Potter shrieked as she nearly ran into the spider hanging in the doorframe. "How many times must I tell you not to prank mum before dinner?" There were giggles on the stairs.
"Oh, come on Vivian i'm sure they didn't mean to leave it there. Right boys?" Mr. Potter grinned as he turned to face the two and winking. Both nodded immediatly at top speed.
"You lot." Mrs. Potter sighed shaking her head. "James, Remus you two go and wash up." She wouldn't have wanted it any other way. "I swear you encourage them too much."
"I'm afraid I don't know what you are talking about Vivian dear." Richard smiled as he took the spider down and placed it in his pocket.
"Really? You best be careful what you eat tonight then with me cooking." Vivian smirked as she turned to re-enter the kitchen. "I know that they couldn't reach that door frame."
"What do you think makes them light up?" Chel asked as she deposited another firefly into their jar which was already full of them.
"I think they have lightbulbs in them." Lily shrugged as they moved further down the street. A chill wind blew their hair back forcefullly. "Hey whats wrong with them?"
Lying on the bottom was one which had gone out and remained that way. Slowly each one followed. No matter how many times they shook the door they wouldn't light. It had suddenly become extremely chilly for a summer night.
"Lily." Chel clenched her hand fearfully as she looked around. The street light they were under was the only one that was left on. Outside their ring of light they could only see a pitch black darkness. They breath rose in a puff. Two screams echoed through the neighborhood as the lights went out.
Mrs. Potter glanced up from her reading at the shrill sound outside. Whatever could that have been?
"Vivian I need to go into work." Mr. Potter said in a rush as he practically ran into the room grabbing his cloak.
"This late?" Mrs. Potter frowned worriedly as she glanced at her watch.
"Two dementors just attacked two girls James' age right down the street." He replied with a worried face. "Make sure all of the doors and windows are locked and the boys are in bed. Don't let anyone in tonight." With a crack he vanished.
"Do you know why they're acting so-" Addie paused as a blonde joined them.
"Weird?" supplied the girl raising an eyebrow, her green eyes alight. "Rumor is something big is going to happen." She turned to Sirius. "I'm Abbey by the way.
"Sirius." he smiled with a nod. ""I'll be back."
"Okay." The two nodded before turning back to each other and having a quiet conversation.
"Jen!" exclaimed Addie as a honey haired girl made her way over to them. "Nice to see you again."
"You too." grinned Jenn after each of them had hugged warmly. She was just a little taller than the two.
"Where's Carrie?" frowned Abbey glancing around the crowd on tip toe trying to see around the various people.
"Probably off with Andromeda flirting with the guys." shrugged Jenn not too worried about her sister. The clock chimed causing silence to descend upon the large crowd. There was a flash of light followed by a bang and screams.
Remus dear are you sure you can't spend the night?" asked Mrs. Potter one last time as he stood in front of the green flames.
"I wish I could but my Aunt Elena just went back into the hospital again." Remus sighed hiding his fatigue. It was two days until the full moon still and yet he was already pushing his strength. "I'll keep you updated on her condition though." He mustered a smile that he used to convince the world that everything was perfectly fine with him before he vanished.
"So do you remember how many fireflies we caught?" asked Chel as she stretched lazily.
"No, but we should do it again tonight." smiled Lily completely unaware of the events of the night before. Chel nodded mustering the best smile she could as she recalled the events of the night before.
"Have they said anything yet?" asked Mr. Potter as he came striding over to the three.
"Sean they were nearly kissed just now, give them a bit of time." replied Julia in a shaky voice as she continued to hold the two. Lily shuddered yet again as she glanced at the shadows. "If I remember correctly you weren't too partial to them either."
"Is anyone?" muttered Sean as he knelt down in front of Lily and switched to a soothing voice. "What happened?"
"W-we were catching ffireflies." said Lily softly as she gulped. "Everything went dark when that-that-"
"Dementor." nodded Mr. Potter sympathetically. She frowned deeply at him. "Your parents never told you the story of The Boy Who Cried Dementor? I thought all wizarding parents told that to their children." Lily stared at him slightly open mouthed.
"Sean!" hissed Mrs. Smith glaring at him. "She's not one of our kind!"
"Then that means..." he trailed off glancing down at her. Her green eyes were both fearful and curious as she gazed up at him.
"You can't! Mrs. Smith exclaimed staring at him. "Sean she's just a child."
"Julia this is on record." he sighed deeply hating what he was going to have to do. "If I don't we're both in trouble." He shook his head.
Both girls let out a shriek as a man covered in blood appeared beside Mr. Potter.
"Shh! It's okay! Its okay." breathed Mrs. Smith as she rocked them back and forth.
"What the hell happened to you Lee?" gasped Sean looking at the state of his co-worker.
"You remember how we received that tip off that the other pures were preparing to fight each other?" Sean nodded." Well it broke out at Carter manor about 30 minutes ago. We couldn't even get through. It's going to be going on for a while though. The last I saw the house had caught fire."
"Bloody hell." breathed Sean shaking his head while letting out a low whistle. "What a night."
"What happened here?" asked Lee curiously as he glanced from the broken glass to the girls and Julia.
"They were catching fireflies and two dementors nearly kissed them." replied Sean running a hand through his hair as he tried to think of an alternative to wiping the girl's memory.
"Good God." muttered Lee shuddering involuntarily. "Can you imagine if it were James or Remus?" He worried enough about Remus as it was without dementors running around.
"I know." nodded Sean taking Lee a little ways away from them. "The red-head is a muggle though. Can you think of any alternatives?"
"Oooo." Lee winced as he glanced up at the sky biting his lip. "You could give it to her in a sleeping potion but I guess that's just as bad isn't it?"
"Better than using a wand." sighed Mr. Potter as he conjured a goblet and vial. "Start trying to find out who was attending at the Carters." He couldn't help but spit out the name with disgust. Andrew Carter was one of his bitter enemies along with Jonathan Black. God he hated the Dark pures, which in a way was ironic since his son was best friends with the Black's son.
"I'm on it." Lee sighed. "See you at the office." Sean made his way over to Lily with a deep sigh.
"Drink this, it'll make you feel better." he gave a fake smile as he passed her the goblet.
"Thank you." smiled Lily completely unaware of what it was. She slumped back as a warm feeling ran through her. She felt so tired.
"Where do they live?" asked Sean as he gently scooped her up.
"There." mumbled Lily groggily as she pointed at her house where all of the lights were off. Every muggle in the neighborhood would not recall hearing any screams. "I'll meet you at your house Juls." He made his way to her house with Chel beside him. "Don't say anything that might jog her memory unless at some point she proves to be one of us. Alhomora." He opened the door quietly.
"Yes Mr. Potter." Chel sighed as they climbed the stairs and made their way down the hall. She'd known Mr. Potter for as long as she could remember. Apparently her mom, him and that Mr. Lupin had been working on a case about something or another. Either way they'd come back to their house almost every three days after work.
"What's your name?" asked Lily through half open lids as she gazed up at Mr. Potter as they entered her room.
"Sean Potter." he smiled as he set her gently on the bed." What would yours be?"
"Lily Evans." mumbled Lily before she dropped off into a deep sleep.
"And I doubt that you've forgotten mine." smiled Michelle in spite of everything that was going on.
"Lily!" Petunia snapped bringing Chel out of her musings on the night before. "Just because you have a friend over doesn't mean that you are exempt from chores."
"You mean your chores." glared Lily folding her arms.
"Either way you know that the lawns not going to mow itself." smirked Petunia. "Then there's also my room which needs a cleaning while you're at the vacuuming."
Both Chel and Lily gasped simultaneously as they saw Petunia's hair begin to fall out. "And stop making your faces like that or it will get stuck that way."