Surviving

AN: Thanks for reviewing, please do so again.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.


Chapter Seven: With worry, I reveal myself

Minerva made her way through the halls at a steady pace. Most rule-breakers scattered at her approach, so there was little for her to do. Instead her thoughts turned inward.

Technically, the new Professor, Professor Potter, was in charge of these patrols. However, when Albus had revealed to her that the boy was only nineteen and had been through a war he refused to speak about, Minerva had taken on the extra responsibility without a second thought. Now she was gladder than ever that she had. Jacob had taken on enough extra responsibilities as it was. He was teaching more than any Defense Professor ever had, as well as taking on a group to teach them the art of the sword!

Magic-raised, Minerva knew better than many how rare true swordmasters were. Most traditionally-raised males, especially the heirs, learned the very basics, but they were taught by those who knew little more than they ever learned. The art diminished more and more each year. She wondered where the man had learned enough to take on five students and teach them more than just the basics. To have earned the right to carry a sword he had to be at least a Beginning Master, which is what most of the traditionalists assumed he was. Minerva had made no such assumption. She tried not to make any assumptions about anyone.

Unexpectedly, Minerva tripped.

When she had regained her balance, she turned back to see what had gotten in her way. She found a wide-eyed, blond headed boy. He came up to no farther than her knee and was sitting on the floor, looking startled. His knee was bleeding, but he didn't seem to be in any pain. Minerva leaned down.

"Adam, are you all right?"

Adam blinked slowly.

"Adam?"

"Can I fix that for you?" She asked, motioning toward his torn pants and bloody knee.

He shook his head. "Daddy doesn't let other people heal me."

"Okay." She said slowly, though that was worrying on its own. "What happened? Did someone hurt you Adam?"

"No, ma'am." He answered quickly, eyes wide and confused. "I was getting' the books Daddy asked fo' and I t'ipped. That's all." Now that the boy mentioned them, Minerva saw the scattered books, probably what she had tripped over.

"That's a lot of books for a little boy to carry."

Adam shrugged. They sat in silence.

"Can I call you Aunt Minnie?" Adam asked quietly.

Minerva's eyes widened. "What?"

But Adam was already up, gathering the books and running off the hall before she could say another word.


Fabian watched as Jason Wood slipped out of the common room, a giggling blonde at his side. He nearly growled. Remus deserved better than that cheating bastard. Fabian sighed, pushing the thought out of his mind. He pulled his knees up to his chest and turned back to his Transfiguration reading. However, his thoughts did not stay there long, as the Marauders tumbled into the Common Room, laughing and cursing.

Remus' warm brown eyes were amused and chiding, happy and heavy. His muscles rippled as he laughed, lithe, beautiful.

Fabian sighed. Remus had never dated. Fabian had never figured he had a chance. Until Jason Wood came along, with his charming good looks, his ensnaring smiles, his mask of innocence. Fabian hated Jason Wood. He had loved Remus for years. Years. And yet, Jason Wood had stolen him away with a single smile. Jason Wood didn't care about Remus' mum, who got sick all the time, or about the Marauders, who were who Fabian was truly jealous of, or the father that never wrote, or the strength in those amber eyes…

Fabian cared…why wasn't that enough?


Jake was leaving the Great Hall when Adam collided into his legs, sobbing, and books dropping around his feet. Jake reached out along the bond, surprised he hadn't felt this. Immediately he was swamped with overwhelming guilt and homesickness. Dropping to his knees, he wrapped his son up in a hug, rocking him back and forth.

"I asked if I could call her Aunt Minnie." Adam sobbed. "Miss our home. Wanta go home, Daddy."

"Loveling, we can't." Jake whispered, pulling his son closer. "I'm sorry."

"Wanto!" Adam shouted. "Take me home!"

"Baby, shhh…" Students were staring now, but Jake did not try to muffle his son's sobs.

"Baby, shhh…" He repeated, rocking gently.

"Want Uncle Rus, and Ronnie, and Nev and Luna and Auntie Minnie. Please, Daddy."

Jake tried not to cry, for the sake of his students, for the sake of his reputation. He buried his head in his son's hair, and lifted him up. Leaving the books on the floor, he swept out of the Hall and up to their rooms. He murmured reassurances and noticed his son's knee was bleeding. He had given up the fight with tears by the time they made it to their rooms.


Long after everyone else was asleep, Lily was perched in front of the fire, one of her favorite muggle books lying face to the floor in front of her. She was staring into the flames, thinking of things no seventeen year old should have to think about.

She thought of the war outside, and how likely it would be that her family would be targeted, simply because she was an intelligent and powerful Muggleborn. She felt weak, helpless to protect her family. She was decent in Defense, but it was one of her weaker subjects. Despite being a Gryffindor, she was no fighter. Not in that way. Not in that way.

She could stare down a bully, she could risk her own life, but she was not brave enough to have other lives rest in her hands. Lily started to cry. She would never be strong enough for the war that was out there, she could not survive that kind of terror.

She hoped that Professor Potter could teach her to survive. Teach her to face that war outside, to be able to protect, and defend and be strong for those who could not be strong for themselves. It was her greatest desire to learn to do those things, but she could not see how she could. It was not something you learned from a book.

She would always be bitter about James Potter's inborn ability to protect. She could not see how he could waste that strength and be so cruel to others, while protecting those 'Marauders', who hardly needed protecting, with a strength that shined brighter than the moon. For that, she would always hate him.


There it is. Quick Update. Show your appreciation with REVIEWS! Please?