Disclaimer: First of all, I want to explain that I don't own any of the Harry Potter's characters and his world. In second, I'd like to thanks to all the people who put the story on alerts, you are the reason why I'm translating this story, but I would like better if you could leave me a review. I am specifically very grateful to:

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Cassiopeia Potter


CHAPTER II

"The Red Gang"

Godric's Hollow, September 1st, 1994

Early in the morning, the fresh autumn breeze blew as a happy melody getting in and out of each house at a village in a hollow located between Bristol and Exmood, comforting its residents. It was a nicely day, the clear sky and the green meadows which would seem to scream and dance at the time of the wind's melody, inspire hope and happiness. That was the Godric's Hollow, a small village at about thirty hoses. Remember for been the place where the Famous Godric Gryffindor was born and supposedly founded by one of the Peverells, it still was a lots of witches and magicians' home, among them, the Potters.

At the end of the main street, almost at the end of the village, there´s where the Potters lived. The head of the family, James Potter was the Aurors' Department Director of the Ministry of magic and his adorable wife, Lily, owned and managed a lucrative potions' factory which was famous for its hair treatments. When she wasn't in the office was in the basement of her house developing new potions, except in the summer, this time was completely for her family. Her house was full with their family travels particularly this year they went to the Quidditch world cup. Although she had never played it, she liked; it was something reasonable since she is been living with two Quidditchmaniacs. In deep, for Lily her family was her life and although she enjoys her job her family was always first.

That sped day was one of the busiest days in the potter's residence. They would have to be at King's Cross before eleven o'clock. Lily was preparing the breakfast while her husband was reading the newspaper, "The Daily Prophet", contrary to the majority of the magic community who used to read "The Quibbler", James Potter prefer to read "The Daily Prophet", according to him the other paper were yellow press, although, the real reason was that James is a man of habits who loves to recalls other time when he was young and was still at Hogwarts, at home his farther used to read "The Daily Prophet" too, in that time it was the best newspaper but it had been displace by a gossip's tabloid. There he was remembering other time when the sweet and tuneful voice of his wife takes him to the reality:

"Is there any interesting news, honey?" - asked the red-haired with her accustom smile.

"Not really, most of them are about today's security deployment to protect and escort 'The Elect' to the "King's Cross Station". The other half is just politics rumors that went out around The Ministry of Magic, which are just a few, compeers to the ones, I and rest of people who work in there, know."- Said James with letdown.

"Well, I suppose everybody is so scare with what happened in the world cup that they prefer to ignore it" – she remarked.

"It isn't the wisest decision" – James stated a little upset - "Anyway, today is going to be a long day, we need to get two hours earlier to coordinate the security in the station for the arrival of 'His Majesty', I mean, 'The Elect'. – James said with an ironic tone.

"When you talk like that remembers me when you were a Marauder. He is the son of Frank and Alice, remember? – Lily playfully said.

"It doesn't make him less annoying, he's an immature and fussy brat, and if his father was still alive he will ashamed of him. Maybe it isn't that bad he is dead, in that way, he can't know what his parents had done with his son."- Said while he sipped his coffee. - "I bet you that if the things were been different…"

"If things were been different, we'll be dead and our love Harry will be with my parents or even with "Tuney" and her family". - said Lily, very worried.

"Ooh, darling! Don't even mention it, I'm eating here. - answered James with a disgusting face.

"That's for you to learn to appreciate, what we have" – replayed her wife in a maternal tone. - "I can't imagine that Harry suffering all that little kid had suffer" – sadly mentioned the red-haired.

"Ooh, yeah! It must be traumatic; luxury car, five stars hotels, fame and money, all that just for been born; it's simply horrific. The poor Nev must be a martyr." – Said in a sarcastic way and then, he added: "Anyhow, I'm sure, that our Harry would make a much more honorable hero, it is in his blood."

"Really, I though the blood matters didn't interested you." – answered him very offended.

"Ooh, Lil, Honey. Don't start that again. You know what I mean." – said affectionate.

"No, I don't" - she answered and pouted.

"I love you just as you are and the blood matters aren't important to me, they never did. What I meant is that this child obviously has Augusta's blood, which is even purer than mine, but it is a bad blood." – He mentioned and then to not explain anything more said: "Where is Harry? We're late, already."

"He should be here; I woke up him at about an hour ago. Unless he is flying again, in that mortal weapon, Sirius gave him." – She said a little upset.

"It isn't a mortal weapon, it is a Firebolt. It is preferable to his flying motorcycle, don't you think?" – James replied with a playfully face but a warring sight of his wife, prevented him to continuous speaking. "I'm going to look for him; we have to be in the train station in a half hour."

James made his way towards the courtyard when he reached there, he saw him. Harry was flying down between the maple's trees that were in the backyard of the house. Just as James saw him, a big smile appears on his face, it remembered him his school days when he played in the Gryffindor's Quidditch Team as chaser. As soon as Harry saw him, he started to descend, he was a little thin but athletic, thanks to the Quidditch and he has a beautiful green eyes just as his mother, Lily; black revel hair as James, in fact, he just got his mother's eyes, the rest was all James; he use glasses and wasn't very tall, but he was still handsome.

"Don't wear down it, keep something for the first game"- said James with a smile.

"It is awesome, Dad. 'Padfoot' is the best godfather ever."- commented Harry with a big smile.

"That's great! But remember that it was me who give you the map."- Replied his father in a confidential tone and added. - "but if anyone ask I'll denied it".

Harry laughed because, although he will never admit it, his father feared his wife's anger. And James was right; Lily will be very frightening when she was in a bad mood.

"Come on! Hurry up! Let's go to have breakfast, remember that in a half hour we must be at the station" – mentioned James while he made his way to the dining room.

"But it is so early! It isn't even 9 am" Harry complained.

"I have to coordinate the Longbottom's security; I told you, last night, before you went to bed, remember?" answered his father.

"Oh, yes! I forgot that now, we are the lackeys of the boy-who-lived-to-sour-my-life." Said Harry annoyed.

"Go up, change your clothes, then come to have breakfast and don't insult Neville in front of your mother, you know that it breaks her heart to see how much that poor little boy had have to suffer." James mentioned very ironic.

"Do you realize how many orders there are in that sentence? I don't know, 'Prongs', I think you're expecting too much of me."- answered with a sarcastic smile.

"Of course not, I know you can deal with this burden and more"- James mocked and then said. "After all, you're my son". He winked an eye at him and left to the kitchen. Harry smile and went up to his room.

The Potter's house was an exactly copy of the rest of the houses of that street. All of them were curious wood house, like doll's house, all painted in light colors with a little garden in the front porch and another one twice bigger in the back. The potter's house was painted in white with light blue windows and doors, its makes it looks peaceful and roomy. Its front garden was one of the brightest of the street with irises, white lilies, Madonna lilies and a path enclose by little bushes which lead to the front door. The front door has a door handle in the form of a lion head and the peephole is a lion with his jaws open.

As you step into, the there is a little hall with cedar polished floors and a stairways that lead to the second floor and at the bottom a big door which leads to the back yard. At right hand, there was a roomy living room and at the bottom of this, the studio. The studio was a little room which works as a library too and its stairways lead to the basement in where Lily used to develop her new potions. At left hand, there was the kitchen and the dining room which always was perfectly clean as the rest of the house. The kitchen and dining room was a lit up room with a great window which faces to the front garden and two regular size windows at the bottom above the sink.

It was a wood houses with light and bright colors. In the second floor, there were two bathrooms and three bedrooms. The master room had its own bathroom; it was Lily and James' bedroom. Next to it was Harry's room.

Harry's room was painted in light blues with a big red and gold desk in the corner. A great window which faces to the front illuminated the room and its windowsill includes a comfortable cushion. At the right hand of the room, there was a big wardrobe. All the walls were decorated with magic and muggle pictures, especially in the honor space, above his bed, the Gryffindor's Quidditch Team poster of which he was the seeker, since first year when he beat the famous Longbottom in an improvise broomstick's race in Hogswart's yard while professor Hooch was taking Hermione Granger to the sickbay; It was the first of many of his school's pranks. Especially, since he became friend with the Weasley's twins, he and his best friend Ron Weasley were known by their bad behavior – The Marauder's Return- as he likes to see it or The Red Gang, has everybody likes to called it in Hogwarts, something his Mother didn't know nothing about. His mother hates his tendency to get in trouble and to collect detentions, his fathers pretends to hate it too, but just in Lily's presence, but Harry knew his father was proud of him for that too, a prove of that was that he had gave him The Marauder's Map. It had been his secret birthday's gift the official gift had been a Broomstick's Maintenance Kit. Who doesn't even try to hide is happiness for Harry's pranks was his godfather, the famous, millionaire and womanizer, Sirius Black, the six-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award or as Harry called him, "Padfoot".

In the center of the poster of the Quidditch's team was Oliver Wood, the Capitan, it was a good example for Harry; he had him a deep respect. Last night he had have dinner at Oliver's house. Oliver had graduate de last year and he had already sing a contract to play with the "Puddlemere United". Harry would love to have almost half of his good luck. Remembering Wood and while he was going to his bathroom, Harry asked himself, who will be de new Captain for the Quidditch's team? He wishes it could be him, he could get very competitive sometimes; may be could even got into Slytherin. Just as that reasoning rose on his mind, he checked his head to take it away. He wouldn't be on Slytherin not even if he wishes it, he was too muggle, his constants visits to his grandparents -from his mother's- side were the responsible of that; he loves to saw them on vacations, but what he enjoy the most was the jokes he plays to his cousin Dudley. Harry smiles with that last thought took of his clothes and got into the tube.

Harry took a shower, dressed himself and went to the dining room. His parents were kissing each other at the table, when he saw then he pulled a face and said with joke tone:

"Gosh! Do you really have to do that at the table? I use to eat there!"

"Don't come over all virtuous! That I saw you flirting with that blonde girl from the Salem's Delegation at the Quidditch world's cup" said his father with a smile.

"I wasn't flirting" stated Harry while his face turned red. "Besides, that's different"

"Of course, that girl not even noticed you, but your mother is crazy about me" gnawed at him, James.

"Who cares about that eccentric?" answered the youngest with hurtful tone.

"The eccentrics, those are the best" said James as if he were remembering something, apparently something very pleasant, but as soon as he perceives his wife dangerous look, he changed his facial gesture. "As I've been told" he added while shrugs his shoulders.

"Oh, yes. You mean that's what Padfoot use to say!" Harry attacked with a cheeky look in his green eyes and a bright smile.

"Well, It's enough, eat, the breakfast is getting cold" – stated Lily finishing the argument.

Both of them obeyed her immediately, as they usually do when Lily speaks in that solemn tone. During the breakfast, Lily warned Harry about the punishments he would get if he get himself in trouble or make pranks. James stated out of the conversation, he just supported her by nodding every time she looked at him, but he wasn't really paying attention. In his mind he was repeating the strategy he had design to protect "The Elect", Eagle's Flight, cause since what happened in the Quidditch's World Cup the Ministry Of Magic was very concern about Neville's security. James was particularly worried since his conversation with Albus Dumbledore last night.

Since Voldemort disappearance, Dumbledore and the Potters had a polite friendship relation, they used to hang out every time Sirius made one of his great parties, he always sent birthday's gift to Harry and Lily and James usually invite him to dinner in that occasions they just talk about current affairs. But last night, after the dinner at The Wood's house, Dumbledore had asked for an appointment in his house's study to discuss a very important topic. Exactly, what he has been afraid of.

Flashback

They just arrived home, it was 9 P.M., Lily was upstairs helping Harry to pack for the next day and he was in the study organizing son documents when, out of nowhere, a red bird appeared. It was Fawkes, Dumbledore's Phoenix. James saw it very surprise, there have been a long time ago since he had seen it for the last time, exactly, since The Order of the Phoenix dissolved. Very intrigued, James approached and the bird stretched out his leg and he took the noted it brought tightfisted to it. It was a very short note from Dumbledore in which he apologized for the lately hour but assuring that it was very important, as everything Dumbledore always says, subjects that they need to discuss and which could no longer await and asked if he would be able to meet him in his own house´s study in the next five minutes.

James sat down in his desk and scribbled an affirmative response and tied it up to one of Fawkes' leg who, immediately, disappeared in a flash of fire. He stayed there, staring to the place where, since minutes ago, the magnificent bird had been wondering himself, what would it be so important that couldn't wait until tomorrow? Just five minutes after, the abrupt arrive of The Hogwarts' Director startled him. Albus Dumbledore was an old wizard with a long, white bear and hair. He was wearing a long dark blue tunic, the same color of his eyes and his affable face smile at him.

"Hello, James. How's every going? How's the family?" – asked.

James remembers why that guy set his nerves on edge. He asks for an appointment, which supposedly can't be postponed and when he finally arrives, starts such frivolous conversation. However, James went along with him, as always, and answered:

"Good, everything is good, as normal. Harry is everyday more tall, he is still euphoric for de last Quidditch's World Cup and the business is fine".

"Oh, yes, the Quidditch, such an interesting end and not just the game"- said Dumbledore while he combed his bear with his hands and added. - "It isn't my intention worry, James, but it is my dude to warn you. I have a feeling that dark times approaches, I'm aware that you have been entrusted with the Longbottom's security, for tomorrow and I trust in your abilities, but I wish you don't take more risks of what are necessaries, neither to you or your family."

"What does my family have to do with that?"

"Well, in this time, we, all, are in risk. But you should remember that your family fit in the prophecy's description too, you as the Longbottoms were in The Order of the Phoenix, you, both, fight against him three times and your sons were born in the seventh month. - Albus related as if he was teaching a lesson.

"But my family wasn't chose. Voldemort marked Neville and killed Frank and Alice" – said James.

"Yes, that's true, but also, according to our spy, Voldemort's plan was kill both babies the same day. So, it is very possible that he will wish to finish his plans if he returns, of course."- said as a monologue, walking across the room.

"Those are just speculations. What is the point of all this?" – Said James a little upset.

"Well, I supposed that you and Lily are planning to go to see Harry off at the train station. I wish that, at least for this time, just went you with Harry. Lily could stay here. Besides, it would be a very good idea that you two arrive earlier than what it is normal, in that way, you could settle Harry in a safe place on the train before the congestion of Neville's arrive catch all your attention and sense."- Albus answered as if it was a prepared speech.

"I see, you've though in everything, as always. What would I tell Lily? I don't want to worry her if we're not sure that he will return".

"You don't have to; you could tell her that it would be more comfortable for you and your mission if you just take Harry"- suggested de elder.

Then, after warning him about to be careful, even more than usual, he left as fast as he arrived. After that, James was deep in though and feeling that his worst nightmares were becoming true.

End of flashback

After breakfast, James gets up of the table and said:

"Let's go kid, it is already late."

"Of course, Dad. Mom, aren't you coming?"

"No Honey, your father is going to be very busy with the mission and, apparently, I'm such a heavy load." – said Lily in a reproach tone, looking at her husband.

"Sweetie heart, we discussed it, already" – answered James.

"Well, darling take care, I already miss you" – Said Lily ignoring her husband last comment and while she kissed and hugged his son several times profusely on his face.

Between his mom's hugs and kisses which were asphyxiating him, Harry asked:

"Won't I coming back?"

"Enough, Lily, honey. He isn't a little baby anymore."- said James while he rescued his Harry from his mother's arms.

"He's always been my baby"- answered Lily making pouts.

"I'll be fine, mother" – answered Harry and with a humorous tone said: - "I study with 'The Elect' that's the worst thing that could have happened to me"

As Lily heard those words, she burst in to tears. Harry look to his father as interrogating him and he just could say:

"It's nothing, harry. It is just that she love you so much" said and looking at her wife asked: "don't you, honey?"

"Of course, honey. It isn't anything else" – answered in a vain attempt to dry her tears.

Then of a big hug, Harry and his Dad left to "The King's Cross Station". They appeared in an alley, near to the station and went on walking. Both were wearing muggles clothes, the summers in his grandparent's house give then a good sense of muggle fashion. Harry was thinking on his mother, he won't see her in several months and in his way he was a little nostalgic too, because he was very spoil, as an only child as he was. When he was a child he would wish to have a little brother whom he could play, but after his mother had several aborts he regretted for had it wished so hard, sometime. By the other hand, Ron Weasley, his best friend, have lot of brothers and a sister and all of them threaded him as one of them.

They met since were little kids and grew up together, but Ron and Harry, especially because they had the same age, were the closest. Ron had a little sister, Ginevra Weasley, but everybody called her Ginny, she had red hair as all The Weasleys, but hers was wavy and long with her light brown eyes as her mother's she was very shy and quiet. Her brothers, the others Weasleys members of "The Red Gang", always annoyed her and played her jokes, those were the only pranks in with they didn't count on Harry, because they knew he wouldn't support them. Harry had her very much affection to Ginny, she was as the little sister he never had and he take care of her even more than her real brothers. According to him, she only had a flaw, her obsession for "The Elect". Because, little Ginny was more than a dedicate fan, she had all the walls of her room full of Neville´s pictures of all ages; greeting, laughing even hiding his face from the cameras, that one, wasn't even appeared in any magazine and harry can't even imagine how Ginny could got it. And he don't dare to ask, not after what happened to Ron before he tried to burn some of her photos arguing that "she had too many". The poor Ron suffered a mysterious itch all over his body, since then, in Ginny's bedroom there's a sign which said: "NO ADMITTANCE OF ANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE RED GANG".

"The Red Gang" it were countless the pranks they had made together, innumerable nighttime breakouts even raids into the Slytherin house to leave little foul-smelling surprises to their "lovely classmates". They were the most appreciated of their house; they were honorable members of Gryffindor, because of their daring to make pranks, but they had never been catch as "The Red Gang", never all together and never for something in which they had put on their stamp. Because, every time they make a move they leave their stamp, a red triangle with four points sparkling into it, they invoked with the wand and left it floating over the crime's place. They were the most wanted for Mr. Filch who had a notice board with all their pranks and a list of photos for the possible responsible. What he didn't even imagine was that they had a cloak of invisibility, thousands of times he had been closed to catch them and he hadn't even seen them. And now, with such tool as the Marauder's Map was, they will be undetectable and unpredictable. He could wait to show it to the Weasleys.

The Gang just had one real enemy, because Mr. Filch wasn't something to worried about, but there was a very intelligent and astute student, a fanatical ruler keeper of the school, as a littler Minerva McGonagall, her name was Hermione Granger and she was worse than a toothache, but in spite of everything Harry must to admit that she was a very good detective. She had an abundant curly brown hair which always looks as if it hadn't ever been comb and big expressive brown eyes making a perfect match with her turned up nose which had the tendency to point at the ceiling when she talks with her superior demeanor as the insufferable know-all that she is. Ron hates her, she wasn't ugly and if she was as all the normal girls of her age she would be pleasant, but definitely he can't stand her, in spite of that he kind of admire her intelligent although, he won't never say it aloud and he knew she was the only real danger for the Gang, more now that she had gotten close to Ginny. For that reason, Harry had decided to keep an eye on her so she couldn't do it first.

Finally, after walk some streets, they arrived to "The King's Cross Station" and everything looks as always except for the three guys in a corner, dress in a very particular way who tend to stand out among the crowd. Just as he saw them he realizes that they should be the Aurors the Ministry send and his father made an upset gesture.

"You tell them not to stand out and that's the first thing they do." - James muttered and told Harry: - "stay here".

James approached to them; exchanged some word and then, came back.

"Let's go Harry, I'll settle you on the train"- said taking his sons luggage.

Harry just nodded, his father was acting weird, he wasn't a baby and his father never threaded as one, but in this moment it appear as if his mother had taken a multi-juice potion and was impersonating his father, because just Lily spoiled him like that. Spites of that unreal situation, Harry didn't said nothing and silently followed his father. When they reached the division between the ninth and tenth platform, they pass through it together, immediately they were in the other side, the 9 ¾ platform. The scarlet railway was waiting for them, exactly every year although there wasn't almost anybody, because it was still too early. Harry looked but he could find any known person.

Suddenly, his father told him:

"Let´s go; I'll settle you on a compartment.

"Ok" – Harry answered. In defiantly his father was acting very weird.

Just as he got in, his first view wasn't pleasant, the bluestocking of Hogwarts, there she was, as the only person despites of them that was in the railway. She looks as if she was having troubles in decided which compartment stockpile, because, Harry doubted that any person, in sound mind, would like to share a compartment for that long with her. While a cruel smile appeared on his face because of his last though, his father put a mischievous smile and said:

"Apparently, get up early to catch the train have its benefits"

"What? I'd say that it rather is a nightmare; she's the most insufferable of the whole school. She's McGonagall's miniature. I can't stand her"- Harry said in a why Hermione couldn't hear him.

"Just as your mom and I started and look how it results" – James answered while he bursted out laughing and pointed at him.

"No, it isn't the same. In this case it is real. If you just knew her, wouldn't say that" – said the green eyes while his face turned red.

"Well, it has a simple solution." James replied and started to walk to the girl.

"What are you doing?" – Harry exclaimed.

"I'm following your advice; I'm going to introduce myself to my future daughter in law" – Answered the auror totally amuse with the situation.

Harry stopped to block him, completely resigned; he knew by experience that it was impossible. When his father decided to ashamed him, nothing could stop him; at least he looks more normal, now. The only thing he could do was enduring it with dignity and with that in mind he ran to catch him up; after all, maybe he could prevent greater damages if he was there to control him.


Here I am with another chapter, I had been said that there's a lot of grammar mistakes and I had realize a need a Beta Reader, so if someone has the time and the desire, please let me know. By the other side, I looking forward to know what do you thing about this story and how do you think I can make it better. This story, as maybe some of you already know is a translation, it is been writing in Spanish by me and it is written till the thirteenth chapter.

Sincerely yours Elizabeth Black Malfoy