Chapter 9
In heart beats, Dumbledore was the side of screaming school nurse. "Poppy… Poppy, please calm down." He placed a hand on each of the nurse's shoulders and shook her gently. Madame Pomfrey's screams faded away, though her face remained pale and her breathing was quick and ragged. Her frantic eyes darted from the Potters to Dumbledore, then back to the Potters.
"That's impossible, Headmaster, absolutely impossible. They can't be here. They can't be real. They can't be alive!"
"Poppy, it's alright. They are alright. It's not a trick. They are alive and they are here. Please calm down and breathe."
Slowly, Madame Pomfrey's breathing slowed down and became more regular. The panicked look in her eyes receded and was replaced by one of shock and confusion. She looked to Dumbledore's serene face.
"What's going on, Professor Dumbledore? How is this possible?"
"None of us know how this is possible, Poppy, only that it is. James and Lily have returned to us."
Dumbledore removed a hand from her shoulders and gestured to the seated couple. "Go and see for yourself. Look at them and make sure for your own piece of mind." He removed his other hand and stepped away from the nurse.
Madame Pomfrey began to take halting steps to where James and Lily were seated. As she did, they rose from their seats to face her fully. James's eyes had a hopeful look to them, while Lily wore a faint, almost reassuring smile. When the school nurse reached them, she raised trembling fingers and gently touched first James's, then Lily's faces. As her fingers caressed Lily's cheek, she looked into Lily's emerald eyes, and she knew. They were real. Lily was real. Both of the Potters were real, and they were alive.
Suddenly, Madame Pomfrey was sobbing hysterically. She pulled Lily into a tight embrace, crying still, before turning and giving James a crushing hug of his own. Finally pushing James away, she straightened her hat and tried to take on a serious professional tone, which was ruined by her choked voice. "Now look at the two of you. You look like something one of Hagrid's pets dragged in. You just yourselves down and let me have a look at you." With that, the Potters were forced back into their seats as Madame Pomfrey began her examination. She poked and prodded, eyed and listened, for what seemed like hours to her patients. Finally, she stepped back and presented her findings.
"Well, Headmaster, I can honestly say that for two people who are supposed to be dead, I've not seen anyone healthier. There is absolutely nothing wrong with either of them that I can find."
"Thank you, Poppy. That will be all. I'm sure that, tired as they certainly are, Lily and James still have some things that require their attention."
"Oh, I can most certainly believe that." Madame Pomfrey strode back towards the door. Before she stepped through onto the spiraling staircase, she look back to the Potters, joy etched into her features. "It is good to see you both." With that, she was gone.
Dumbledore walked back up to the Potters. "I think it is reasonable to assume that you will likely receive similar reactions, once that rest of your old acquaintances and friends see you."
James gave a nervous laugh. "Yes, I believe you may be right about that. I only hope that nobody decides to curse first and ask questions later."
Lily, however, took a deep breath before asking her question. "When can we see Harry?"
Dumbledore looked back at her. "As soon as arraignments can be made to transport him safely. First, we shall need to get the two of you to headquarters. If you would follow me?" Dumbledore led the couple over to a nearby fireplace. "Before we go there, I must tell you that as soon as Harry told me a Lord Voldemort's return, I recalled the Order of the Phoenix. Sirius has been gracious enough to let us use his family home as our headquarters . as I am Secret Keeper for the Order, I must be the one to provide you with the information that will allow you to enter." Dumbledore cleared his throat and spoke in a tone that seemed somewhat formal. "The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix is located at Number 12, Grimauld Place, London." He then turned and pointed his wand at the empty fireplace. Flames immediately sprang to life.
As Dumbledore reached in a small flower pot set on the fireplace mantle, he looked up at the portraits of sleeping headmasters. Focusing on one that showed a rather clever looking wizard, sleeping in front of a Slytherin Banner, he called, "Phineus. PHINEUS! Wake up!"
The clever looking wizard sat up, wiped the drool from his lips, and glared daggers down at Dumbledore.
"There's no need to shout, by Merlin's Beard. What do you want, Dumbledore?"
"I need you to go and visit your other portrait, Phineus. Tell Sirius that I will be along shortly, along with two guests. Please ask him to be ready to receive us."
"Yes, yes, I'll tell him." With that, Phineus Nigellus walked out of his portrait and vanished.
Dumbledore returned his attention to the fire. Taking a handful of sandy substance from the pot on the mantle, he cast it into the fire, which erupted an emerald green color.
James stepped forward into the flame, shouting, "Number 12 , Grimauld Place." There was a flash, and he was gone.
