November 2 1981 Chapter 2 Part 1

Dora stared at the lumpy form of a baby sleeping in her old cot. She had to stand on her tip toes and lean heavily to see above the bars but it was worth the effort. There was a real, live baby sleeping in her cot. True the cot had been folded up in the attic for several years but it didn't change the fact that it was Dora's old cot, and there was a baby in it.

"Mum, is that a scar on its head? It looks like a lightning bolt!" She asked, wishing that she was tall enough to actually touch the baby, maybe not the baby, just the scar really.

"Dora, his name is Neville, and he is not an 'it'." Andromeda said from the corner of the room. She was alternating between unpacking boxes of Dora's old baby things and staring absently at the baby with tears in her eyes. She and Daddy had been acting nutters all day. Dora opened her mouth to inform her mother of this but lost her balance and slipped, hitting the ground with a yelp of surprise.

"Dora? Oh-" Andromeda stood quickly, dropping the piles of baby clothes she was holding. She had almost reached her daughter when the baby let out the most pitiful wail Dora had ever heard and instantly took her mother's attention. Andromeda swooped up the baby and hustled him out of the room. Dora climbed to her feet, whipped her hands on her jeans and decided that babies where awful, boring creatures.

Ted looked at his wife from over the morning paper. A large, moving picture of several death eaters being taken into custody was plastered over the front cover. The entire paper seemed to be dedicated to the news that the Dark Lord had fallen, and why shouldn't it be? The wizarding world had precious little to celebrate in so many years.

Andromeda was holding an awake and crying Neville on one hip and daftly making a bottle with the other. It had been almost six years since they had a baby and his wife still that that skill for doing things one handed. Ted let a genuine smile sip over his lips.

"You are amazing, have I ever told you this?" He asked, dropping his paper and standing to take Neville.

"I'm out of practice." Andromeda said with a laugh, handing the baby to Ted. Neville was heavier in his arms then he could ever remember Dora being at such an age. The boy sniffled and buried his little head in Ted's shoulder. He shook his head in wonder and grabbed the bottle that Andromeda offered; he sank in to his chair and settled Neville in his lap.

"I can't believe this." She whispered, sitting in the seat next to him. The conversation with Dumbledore had only cleared so much up. She understood why it was so important for Neville to live with her. Neville was her second cousin on her mother's side. Durella, Andromeda's poor excuse for a mother, was Alice's mother's sister. Dumbledore had said that was important. Neville needed to be with someone blood related to himself, no matter how vaguely. It was a matter of life or death. He refused to explain why it was so important, merely waving his hand dismissively and giving some cryptic line about everything being explained in the future.

Andromeda had taken one look at that baby and wouldn't say no, even if Dumbledore didn't want to share everything he knew, a fact that still bothered her. No matter, Dumbledore had his reasons; she would wait to know more. In the meantime, there was a nursery to build, things to buy and a stubborn eight year old to inform.

Neville lay in Ted's arms, gurgling happily and playing with his bottle instead of drinking from it. Ted looked down at the blonde, brown eyed baby in his arms and felt his heart clench. Neville blew a spit bubble and tried to put his foot in his mouth.

Welcome to the Tonks family Neville Longbottom. He though.

November 9th 1981 Chapter 2 Part 2

God, his mother used to tell him, always has a reason.

God was a very unstable term in the wizarding world, usually interchangeable with Merlin. Remus Lupin believed God. Not the same omnipotent being his mother pictured, but God just the same, maybe a God less powerful, less all knowing, like a God with a little 'g'.

If god had a reason now Remus was dying to hear it. A reason for being in this small, isolated chamber, a reason for the silver laced cuffs cutting into his wrists, a reason for the charges of Treason, Conspiracy with Dark Wizards, and Use of Illegal dark arts-among others- , where being brought up against him by his best friends.

The though brought a noxious mixture of humiliation and betrayal cavorting through his gut. Best friends, now his accusers. Remus shuffled in the chair they had chained him too, chained like a wild animal. He had read that processing and trial of a werewolf was different then a wizard. More safe, more controlled the book had said. It never mentioned a reinforced waiting chamber and chains. Maybe the chains were only for werewolves accused of being a death eater. Maybe it was Sirius's idea.

Thinking of Sirius sent a bolt of pain and guilt tremored through him, leaving him swooped over and gasping for air. Tears sprang to his eyes and he didn't have the means to wipe them away so they free fell down his face and disappeared into his tattered shirt. He hoped neither of them would come to the trial, he didn't want to see that helpless look of hatred on James face, and Sirius- He didn't want Sirius' s last memory of him to be dirty, chained and accused of being a traitor.

His friends though him a traitor, a spy. They would probably convict him, a werewolf who couldn't produce a viable alibis. Hell even if he did have people to vouch for him, they would be other werewolves, no one would believe them either. A hopeless, numb acceptance washed over him, stilling his pounding heart and easing his stiff limbs. He would be sent to Azkaban, they may even have him kissed. Would he still turn each month without a soul? Would it matter?

The door that looked more like a locked cell cracked open, four official looking wizards had come to take him to his trial. Remus stared intently at the ground as they unlocked him from the chair and slapped a new pair of chains on his hands.

"Move Lupin." A gruff voice instructed. Remus took a dutiful step forward; he would walk to his own demise.

Same Day Chapter 2 Part 3

Sirius took a deep, settling breath and slumped forward in his chair. The trial would be starting at any moment. James would be there now, Sirius wish he had the guts to watch, to watch Lupin get what he deserved. He had every intention of joining James watching their ex-friend be convicted of Treason but when the moment came to go, he couldn't.

He could not get the memory of Remus how he was before out of his mind, before the war, at school, after a full moon. The thoughts of that Remus and traitor Lupin were not compatible. So Sirius offered to babysit Harry and James could go.

Now he sat, staring at the wee motherless mongrel and wishing desperately that it could be different. Harry had managed to pull every pan out of the bottom cupboards and had them sprawled across the kitchen floor.

"BAM!" The baby exclaimed before bringing down a spoon on a upturned pot. Sirius smiled. How was it possible that one person was so very adorable? Big green eyes stared up at him and a single tooth appeared behind a wide smile.

"Bam fooda!." He cheered a line of drool dropping down his chin.

"Bam Harry." Sirius echoed, scooping the boy up and wiping his face with his shirt sleeve.

"Uh-oh."

"What's uh-oh Harry?"

"Uh-oh." He muttered sleepily, and his cheerful attitude diminished instantly and his giggle turned into an all out bawl.

Uh-oh indeed. Sirius thought dryly as he almost tripped over a pan on his way to search for a bottle. Just for a moment it didn't matter that Remus was a traitor, or that Lily was so damaged, or that James was in such a state. His Godson needed something, and as far as Sirius was concerned, Harry would always come first. It was getting easier, each day more of his reality came back into focus, with Lupin's trial they could starting figuring out what normal was again.

Same day Chapter 2 Part 4

The court room was full to the brim and subsequently stuffy and stressful on James's fried nervous. He took a deep breath and stared pointedly at the proud form of Barty Crouch seated high behind panel across from the jury.

"What do you suppose is taking them so long?" A breathless, familiar voice asked in his ear. He turned and found the equally familiar form of Arthur Wesley leaned in from the bench behind him.

"Wish I could say I knew." James admitted, he had known Arthur for a short time because of the Order of the Phoenix, despite being several years his senior, Arthur had a son Harry's own age. James like and respected the man.

"You know James." Arthur started, James braced himself for another 'sorry for your loss' or 'hey I feel bad that your friend was a traitor.' He had gotten these speeches from just about everyone in the past couple days. The absolute worst had to be 'Hey did you know your friends is a werewolf?'.

The fact that Remus was on trial meant that his secret was out, everyone knew. James tried not to feel bad about it; he was a traitor after all. People still insisted on ranting about it to James.

"I can't believe they would let one in the School!"

"He should have been locked up long ago if you ask me."

"Can you believe that? A werewolf allowed to run free, could of killed someone!"

James had to try really hard not to defend Remus. He was a traitor, he didn't deserve defending, but old habits die hard.

"James- James did you hear me? " Arthur's voice broke through James's thoughts.

"No, sorry, what did you say?"

"I said Molly and I would love to have you and Harry over for dinner." He repeated, giving James a look that clearly questioned James's sanity.

"Yes, Of course, Harry would like that and I would be honored." James responded, feeling suddenly light headed and close to puking. He couldn't do this; he couldn't watch his old friend be convicted of Treason. James got to his feet just as the doors opened and four wizards brought in Remus in chains. James shuttered and fled the court room.

He raced past people nearly colliding with a wizard with a huge stack of what looked like purple bricks with wide staring eyes in his arms. James shouted a hastily apology but kept running. He was forced to stop in the elevator and the time it took to get from one floor the next proved to be the longest time in his life. He finally made it to the entrance and ran straight for an open floo.

Sirius was feeding Harry a green mushy substance from his high chair when James reached Godric's Hollow. James gulped hard and drew his small boy to his chest, then pulled his friend in for a hug.

"What happened?" Sirius asked, obviously fearing the answer.

"Doesn't matter." James said. "I have my son, my best mate, and eventually I will have my wife back." James said with the old flame of his idealistic youth. "What happens to Remus doesn't matter." James would be right about that for thirteen years.