This one goes to Parle Productions, who never fail to bring a smile to my lips….
…
All over the world, there were many sights. Birds chirped merrily in some places evoking the peace while in other places rain and thunder roared from the skies above evoking sadness or inevitable fear. Sadly, the Potters couldn't not enjoy these sights, as they lived in hiding and isolation, right now they were receiving some tragic news…
"So he was abducted" Lily spoke in a trembling voice "or is he…" no! She could not even bring herself to think that they had unknowingly lost Remus forever, it was just too sudden.
"he is not dead" Dumbledore assured them before pulling out a slim wooden stick which James recognized immediately ad Remus' wand "his wand is proof of that" at James' and Lily's confused looks he decided to elaborate "a wand, when it's master is dead begins to seek a new master. I was the first person to touch it, yet it refused to do my bidding proving that Remus is alive"
Though he didn't say it, Lily could hear the words for now hanging at the end of his sentence, "so…..what do we do". To ask Dumbledore for a solution was almost natural, even as a first year Dumbledore had felt rather overwhelming to her and made her feel that somehow, he knew all the answers.
"For now Lily" Dumbledore spoke in a grim voice "we wait and watch"
James just nodded numbly as Lily and Dumbledore continued their conversation, speaking of plans for Sirius to go into hiding at Grimmauld Place.
James suddenly felt as if his world had been forced upside down. He remembered the old days, they used to think that they were immortal, for their parent's and teacher's arms were there to cover their eyes from the darkness that was slowly descending on their lives. It seemed rather surreal that they had been foolish enough to believe that one day they would get out of Hogwarts, and use their powers to chase away the evil.
It was the heat of war, the marauders were separated, and James had never felt so lonely and hopeless.
The Clue:
'Dumbledore fire called….he told me that Sirius is coming home. James are you listening?"
"hmmmm….."
"Well the witch was a friend, she is coming with him"
"hmmmm….."
"Sirius told Dumbledore to tell you…to tell you to hold on…..James please eat something!"
"Not hungry" mumbled James as he tapped his wand on the pendant so the massage was replayed.
"And what good will it do anyone if you starve yourself!" Lily cried. She was frustrated! Yes those were the words. The red-head was tired balancing James' depression along with her own anxiety and was very close to cracking.
James had refused to eat anything since they had received the terrifying news of Remus' abduction. Along with that, whenever Lily would try to engage him in a conversation, he would only give one word answers destroying her hopes of distracting him.
"I am just not hungry". How it was possible that James had not ate anything the whole day, yet still was not hungry was beyond Lily.
"Fine!" cried Lily "and don't ask me for food….."
"Someone tampered with the message" James spoke, out of the blue.
"Sorry?"
"Listen….after incendio, there is a small high pitched beep, as if someone tried to change the message really quickly…"
Lily nodded, quickly catching on "yeah, we read in charms that it is very hard to do that because the messages are moving really quickly…"
"but how do we find out what they were trying to hide…."
"we could try a revealing charm….though it might not work. I mean thaty seems too simple and it is supposed to be really complex magic….."
"well….that is about the only plan we have got right now, so It shouldn't hurt to try…"
Lily nodded. James placed the pendant on the table and tapped his wand on the wolf carving. It glowed for a moment, making Lily feel as if they were performing a old ritual.
"watch out for the tail werewolf, incendio!...revilio!...we take him to the riddle manor"
James and Lily both stared at the pendant for a moment, finding it hard to believe that their instinctive plan had worked. They both turned to each other and cried in union "Dumbledore!'
Can I Go?:
"I will be sending a search party to the riddle manor" Dumbledore assured the young couple once they had recalled their discovery to the Headmaster.
"Can I go?" James hesitantly asked Dumbledore.
"If he goes, so do I" added Lily, puffing up her chest as is to show that she was no less than James. It reminded James of a bird puffing up it's chest to look important and he had to duck his head to hide his grin. Is this really the time?
"No! someone has to stay with Harry, or don't you remember that we are no longer a wild couple, we have a son to protect and I can't…."
"Well, then why don't you stay with Harry. It isn't written in the bible that women have to take care fo the kids" Lily pouted.
"But…..Remus might need me!"
"And are you really suggesting I will not be helpful shall he need help! Well for your information I am just as capable as you are, maybe even more and…."
"Ahem!" Dumbledore cleared his throat in order to get the quarreling couple's attention "I am sorry James and Lily, but neither of you can go. Voldemort is probably aware of the close relation you hold with Mr. Lupin and this could be another one of his plans to lure you to him."
"But…."
"no James, I truly am sorry. Now if you will excuse me, I have a meeting with the prime minister, something concerning the safety of our students and teachers…."
Mooey? Wormy? Paddy?
Harry was confused. These past few days, his Dada had stopped playing with him and spent most of his time reading and writing. He couldn't understand why, for me was very much aware of the face that Dada and Paddy hated even touching books.
His Mama also cried a lot, and whenever she tucked him in. she didn't sing happy lullabies; instead they were heart breaking though he doubted his mother thought he could understand. But, he could understand from the way she sang them and she never finished them, her voice always broke before she reached the end. Then, she would just leave.
Paddy had also stopped visiting and he was beginning to wonder why. Paddy came to visit almost every day and then he would swing him around and play peek-a-boo with him. He missed Paddy. Whenever he asked his parents where he was, they would say he was gone.
Mooey usually came with Paddy to visit. He would usually offer to tuck him in bed and read bedtime stories to him. He couldn't understand what he was saying, but liked it nonetheless. He wondered if he had done something to make Mooey angry with him, but he told himself that Mooey was never angry. If he asked about him, he was told he was gone.
Harry wondered what gone meant, did it mean he was never going to see them again. Or maybe they were just away for a short time. He hoped the latter was correct.
He was glad wormy didn't come anymore, he didn't like him and refused to even be held by him. If ever they were left alone in the room together, instead of like Paddy or Mooey who would talk to him, he would just gaze fearfully at him. It made Harry feel uneasy and he always wondered why he did that.
He tugged at his father's sleeve but James refused to pay attention. He was reading the old daily prophets to find out what other old Death eaters hide puts there were.
"Dada!" cried Harry, frustrated that his father was ignoring him, again!
"Yes?" James yawned, he hadn't slept for days and whenever be tried to a wink of sleep, nightmares plagued him. They were usually about everyone he loved, everyone he considered family dieing rather gruesome deaths, the most nerve wraking being Harry's who would cry for James to rescure him from the torture until his very last breath. He shuddered as he reminisced the dream he had yesterday.
Tomorrow would be the full moon, and Moony was still stuck somewhere with no way of escaping. He hated it, not being able to do anything!
He helped Harry climb into his lap. He knew his son was feeling left out, but Harry was too young to understand their fears. It scared James that Harry wouldn't have the childhood he wanted his son to have, scared that the horror in his son's life would not be a monster under the bed, and above all scared for what awaited, murderer or victim.
'Paddy?"
"He is away"
"Mooey?"
"He…he is also away…."
"Wormy?"
"I dunno champ"
Harry couldn't understand what his dada was saying, but he promised himself that one day he would understand.
A Drunk Sirius:
James paced back and forth. Sirius was coming back today and the search party had left this morning. Dumbledore had forbidden Sirius from going with the search party as well, something Sirius had not been too pleased to accept.
Kingsley Shaklebolt, Arthur Weasley, Hastia Jones, Mad-eye Moody and Frank Longbottom were among the search party. It was a fairly short group, but the smaller they were and the more chances they had of slipping in and out unnoticed.
James' feet seemed to move on their own accord, as he continued pacing. Emotions and doubts swirling in his mind.
Fear because of the fact that maybe it was too late to rescue their friend, relief for at least he had done something to help, and uncertainty of it being a false clue.
James touched the pendant which was resting peacefully next to his chest. As soon as the mission ended, the order was to contact him
James heard the rush of flames behind him and turned around to see Sirius clumsily climbing clumsily through the emerald flames. James almost unconsciously stepped forward to greet his friend but stopped abruptly when he inhaled the strong odor of fire whiskey emitting off his friend.
"Padfoot, are you drunk?"
"No!' Sirius declared loudly to the empty room before beckoning James forwards like a five year old wanting to tell his father a secret "yes!"
"Thought so" James muttered under his breath before turning to Sirius "you promised to never get drunk again!"
"But….but Moony made me promise that, and now he is gone!" Sirius cried.
James sighed, as if a missing Remus wasn't enough, he now had a drunk Sirius at his hands. Suddenly a idea formed in his head.
"Hey Padfoot, you want another whiskey?"
"Yeah!"
