Memories
Once the Pensieve had been set up and Harry had explained to Ginny how it would work, they removed the first memory vial from the box that Sirius had left. "What's this one about?" Ginny asked.
"Judging from the label, it's my parents' first date together," Harry replied with a slight smile. He was definitely curious to see how his parents had finally gotten together. He unscrewed the cap on the little vial and dumped the contents into the swirling liquids of the pensieve. He and Ginny held hands and ducked their heads into the pensieve, where they were immediately drawn into the memory.
Harry immediately recognized the scene of the memory. After all, the Gryffindor common room never seemed to change. Looking out the window, Harry realized that it was an early fall evening, probably only a week or two after term began. He examined his surroundings in the common room, noticing many unfamiliar figures, until his eyes wandered across a group of very familiar people. On one couch, holding hands, were a young man who looked remarkably like Harry himself, and a red haired girl with brilliant green eyes. Harry noticed the head boy, Quidditch captain, and head girl badges on the pair which confirmed that this was indeed his parents' seventh year. Across from the happy couple were a trio of well known, although much younger miscreants. A youthful Sirius Black was bouncing on his seat, laughing. A serious Remus Lupin wearing a prefect badge was chuckling and shaking his head at his friend's antics. Peter Pettigrew sat next to the other two marauders, sitting silently and looking a bit out of place.
The scene shifted forward a few hours and Sirius, Remus, and Peter staggered upstairs to their dorms, still laughing at yet another joke. With the common room now deserted except for the head boy and girl, James leaned in close to Lily and wrapped his arm around her. "Lily, I've waited until those three went to bed to ask you this: I know we've been an item for about a month or so, but we've never gone on an actual date. I was wondering if you'd like to accompany me to Hogsmeade next weekend."
Lily looked up at her husband-to-be and smiled. "Of course I'd love to go with you silly," she chuckled.
James laughed. "What?" Lily asked suspiciously.
"Oh, it's just silly," James replied. "I just realized that that's the first time you've actually agreed to go to Hogsmeade with me. And that's what? Like the hundredth time I've asked?"
"At least," Lily teased.
James shook his head, but leaned down and kissed her cheek. "I'm tired," he said. "We've had so much work. I'd better go to sleep if I'm going to survive until our first date. Good night Lily Flower."
"Night Jamie," she replied softly.
The scene shifted again. It was a brisk fall morning, and Harry recognized the gates of Hogwarts. His parents, dressed in windbreakers, holding hands, and laughing walked into view. They stood talking to the rest of the Marauders until a very young but still grumpy looking Mr. Filch allowed the students out the gate. Then, James and Lily split off from the main group and headed for The Three Broomsticks. Harry and Ginny watched as the couple talked and flirted happily, barely noticing the time flying by. At one point, James coerced Mme. Rosmerta into letting him buy firewhiskey, and although Lily scolded him a bit, they toasted their relationship and kissed. Eventually, James and Lily returned to the castle and the memory ended.
"That was so sweet," Ginny replied. "James was so cute and kind. Nothing like Snape ever said."
"Well, Snape always hated my father," Harry chuckled. "But I wonder how my parents became an item. Dad mentioned how they'd been dating for a month."
"Let's watch the other memories. Maybe we'll find out," Ginny suggested.
Harry nodded and took out a memory labelled "Joining the Order".
James and Lily appeared to be in hurry. They were walking briskly and silently, hand in hand. Harry and Ginny had to walk quickly to keep pace with them. They were once again in the halls of Hogwarts. Soon, they reached the headmaster's office, where are group of students had gathered. Already there were Sirius, Remus, Peter, a couple Harry recognized as Neville's parents, Frank and Alice Longbottom. There was also another Gryffindor girl Harry didn't know.
Soon, Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall opened the door and quickly ushered the group inside. They climbed the stairs into the office and Dumbledore quickly conjured seats for everyone. When they were comfortably seated, he began.
"As you know, the situation outside is precarious," he began. "The so called Lord Voldemort has amassed a huge and powerful army of wizards, dark creatures, and inferi. He has also infiltrated the ministry and placed several people, a few of them high ranking, under the imperius curse. Those corrupt officials have made it very difficult to coordinate any resistance against the dark lord. The ministry has been rendered completely ineffective at dealing with the threat. That is why myself, most of your parents and other trustworthy individuals have joined a secret order that I have founded to combat the dark lord. I know most of your parents have died in the last year or two, and now I am able to tell you the full story. The Order of the Phoenix is devoted to stopping Lord Voldemort. It is very dangerous. The dark side is ruthless. They have learned and are willing to use a wide variety of deadly curses. They show no mercy. It takes exceptional courage to be a part of the order. And that is why you are here. You are all seventh year students. You are also Gryffindors, courageous, powerful, smart, and most of all, trustworthy. I would like to offer you all the opportunity to join the order yourselves, to help combat the forces of evil and help us finally destroy what your parents died trying to."
"Yes, I'm joining!" James was the first to respond.
"Me too," Lily replied.
"No!" James yelled. "I'm not letting you do this. It's too dangerous. I can't bear to lose you."
"I'm not going anywhere without you and if you try to argue, you're getting hexed!" Lily yelled in fury.
James paled and backed away. "All right, all right!" He said meekly.
"So much for the Gryffindor courage eh mate!" He laughed. "I'm in too," he said, turning to Dumbledore.
"And me!" Remus cried.
"Us as well," chimed in Frank and Alice."
"Definitely," said the girl Harry hadn't recognized before. Suddenly, he recognized her from a picture Alastor Moody had shown him years before. It was Marlene McKinnon! She had also died fighting Voldemort in the first war.
"What about you Mr. Pettigrew?" Dumbledore asked.
"Well, uh, I guess," he stuttered in reply.
"Very good," Dumbledore replied. "James, Frank, Sirius, Marlene, and Alice: you are joining the Auror training program next year, are you not?"
They all nodded affirmatives.
"Very good. You all will be joining in on combat missions when you are done school next year."
They nodded again.
"Remus, I have a very difficult assignment for you," Dumbledore said. "Your being a werewolf is very useful to the order, even though I'm sure we'd all rather you weren't afflicted. We need you to infiltrate the werewolves. Try to dissuade them from joining the dark side. Keep them neutral."
Remus nodded his head. "I'll get started as soon as I graduate professor."
"Lily, you've shown great skill in potions and healing," Dumbledore continued. "Some very difficult potions are in need for our operations, and we often have wounded coming in. We could really use your expertise in these areas."
"Of course," she answered with a smile.
"And Peter. You are from a pure blooded family. You have an excellent excuse to become a Death Eater. You will become a spy for us. We need information on what the Dark Lord is planning so we can be in position to stop it."
Peter nodded.
"All right, that should sum up our business tonight," Dumbledore said, a smile returning to his face. "Thank you all for joining. Now, return to your dorms and try not to be seen, especially by any of the Slytherin prefects."
They all turned to go as the memory faded out.
Once again back in reality, Harry turned to Ginny. "They're really getting into it now aren't they?" He asked.
"I know you would rather they hadn't done that," Ginny soothed. "But you have to understand. It sounds like many of them has lost their parents to Voldemort. That's probably how your grandparents died. Sirius was trying to be a rebel again. It was in their nature to do what was right."
"I just wish they were all still here today," Harry said sadly. "And what about Pettigrew. I bet he was already a spy. Dumbledore just put him in position to kill my parents."
"But nobody knew what he was really like," Ginny reminded him.
Harry looked at her sadly for a moment, then his features brightened again. "Let's watch the next memory," he said.
She nodded and pulled it out. "Hey it's your Dad proposing and the after-party!" She exclaimed.
Harry eagerly took the memory and dumped it into the pensieve.
James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter were all sitting together in the Gryffindor common room. "I just want to let you all know that as soon as we get home tomorrow, I'm going to propose to Lily!" James said excitedly.
"That's great prongs!" Sirius cried, launching himself at his friend and wrapping him in a hug. The others all chorused their agreement with Sirius's proclamation.
The scene shifted and Lily sat on blanket in a meadow on a gorgeous sunny day. A picnic basket lay at her side. She appeared to be waiting for someone. The grass was green and wild lily flowers were growing in the grass all around her. A massive house was in the background.
All of a sudden, a large number of the lilies rose from the ground and took the shape of her name. Lily jumped up and looked around in surprise, seeing no one. She turned back to the flowers, who were currently rearranging themselves. "I have loved you since the day we met," they said when the transformation has taken effect. Upon looking around again and again seeing no one, Lily had turned around to see another new sentence. "You are my everything, my one true love. Will you marry me?"
She turned around again, and there was James, on one knee, his recently shed invisibility cloak lying next to him and a ring box in his hand. In it was a ring that Harry immediately recognized.
Lily gasped, dissolved into tears and threw herself on James. "Yes!" She cried. "Of course I will. And I feel the same way about you."
James laughed and kissed his new fiancée. They sat together eating lunch, talking and laughing. It was so peaceful and happy, Harry and Ginny couldn't imagine that there was a war going on.
The sevens changed and it was evening. "It's been fun love, but I have to go," James said. "I promised the boys I'd party with them if you said yes."
"Alright, but hurry back," Lily said with a coy smile. She kissed him and said "that was a very interesting proposal. The lilies were a nice touch."
James laughed and all of a sudden Harry and Ginny were in a bar amidst a quartet of raucous marauders. "Con-congratulations prongsie!" Sirius slurred. "You-you're gettin mar-married!"
"Ye-yeah," James replied. "A-and I want you to be my best man."
"O-of course I will!" Sirius replied. "But I might be so handsome standing up there that Lils'll marry me instead."
James smacked his best friend and turned to the others. "You two had better be my groomsmen!" he said. "And Frank'll be the last one."
They nodded and smiled.
Harry and Ginny stood outside the bar. Peter and Remus disapparated away, leaving James and Sirius standing outside together. "Whaddya say we take my motorcycle back to Potter Mansion and crash there?" Sirius said. "Maybe Lily will brew us a hangover potion!"
"Y-Yeah! Great idea pads!" James said. The two drunk young men staggered into the alley where Sirius had left the motorcycle. He didn't want any muggles to see it up close.
They had made it half way down the alley when four men in black cloaks and masks stepped out.
"What do you want," James yelled.
"You know perfectly what we want," one of them growled. "You have refused to join the dark lord. All pure bloods must join the dark lord. If you refuse, we are here to make sure you suffer the consequences.
James and Sirius drew their wands, preparing for a fight. If only Remus and Peter hadn't left. The odds would've been even. "We'll never join you!" James said in a menacing tone.
"Well, you'll have to die," said the lead death eater, stripping off his mask. "I've been looking forward to this Potter."
It was Lucius Malfoy! The other three death eaters also pulled off their masks, revealing the faces of Crabbe, Goyle, and Mulciber. "Why are you taking your masks off?" James taunted. "Now that we know it's you, we've got nothing to fear."
"Charming to the last Potter," Malfoy sneered. "CRUCIO!"
James and Sirius ducked, the curse missing them. They raised shields and started firing back stunning and disarming spells.
The battle gradually broke down into two separate two-on-one fights, with James fighting Malfoy and Mulciber and Sirius against Crabbe and Goyle. The latter two were slow and clumsy, exhibiting the typical death eater flaw of not being able to defend themselves effectively. Sirius managed to stun the two of them and bind them in ropes fairly quickly.
James was having a much tougher time. He had managed to take down Mulciber but Malfoy was a tough foe. Malfoy managed to disarm James. He raised his wand, face screwed in hatred. "Crucio!" He cried.
James was unable to defend himself. He felt like he was being stabbed with a million knives as red hot pain flashed through his body. Malfoy hit him with the curse again and again until he passed out, as Harry and Ginny watched in horror. All they wanted to do was help James. Eventually, James passed out. Malfoy laughed and prepared to finish him off. "Avada-" he started but he had forgotten about Sirius. "Stupefy!" Sirius yelled just in time and Malfoy crumpled to the ground.
Sirius looked around, noting that the death eaters were unconscious but that they wouldn't be for long. He grabbed his friend and dragged him to the motorcycle. He had just stuffed James into the sidecar and taken off when Malfoy came around snarling in anger. He fired a couple killing curses which flew harmlessly by.
Once they got outside the city, Sirius brought the bike back to the road. They took off down the highway at breakneck speed, but within a few minutes, a green bolt of light flashed by between them, nearly missing them both. They looked behind them, seeing three masked men on brooms behind them. Sirius acted quickly. "Stupefy!" He yelled, managing to score a lucky hit, and knocking one of the men of his broom. The man fell 15 feet to the ground, landing hard on the ground.
More green lights flashed past as the two friends drove the motorcycle through the countryside. James stirred and looked around wildly. "What's going on padfoot?" He asked woozily. "Stay down Prongs!" Sirius yelled over the roaring motor. "I'll shake these guys!" He continued to fire back stunning and disarming spells and continued to pour on speed. The two remaining masked men aimed to follow, launching another killing curse which missed. One man flew down, dipping down next to the motorcycle, but he had underestimated Sirius's skill at driving the bike. Sirius quickly flipped the bike to the left, ramming the broom and sending the man spinning away just before the man was able to utter the killing curse. The men regrouped just behind the bike. They were just preparing to finish Sirius off when a tunnel appeared. The death eaters were so intent on following that they didn't notice the tunnel until it was too late. They tried to brake but weren't successful. Screams and a sickening crunch penetrated the night as the two men plummeted towards the ground, unconscious at the very least. Sirius quickly found the end of the tunnel and took off into the air. He looked over at James and sighed in relief. His friend was sitting up and even though he was a little pale, looked much better.
"Who the hell were they," James asked groggily, when he was awake.
"More Death Eaters," Sirius replied grimly. "It looks like Voldemort has heard that we aren't his friends and they came to bump us off. When Malfoy and his gang failed, they were ready and waiting to take over. Voldy wasn't leaving much room for error. Now let's get you back to Lily, and she'll get you fixed up."
"That reminded me of last year," James chuckles softly as Sirius looked at him.
"No cop car this time though," he joked, as Sirius caught on and started laughing as well.
Harry and Ginny emerged from the pensieve. "That proposal was so romantic," Ginny gushed. "You'd better come up with something like that Potter!"
He chuckled, but she noticed his eyes were dark. "What is it?" She asked.
"I've heard about the attack that James mentioned at the end there" Harry answered. "It has to do with the prophecy. That was the first time my parents defied Voldemort. This time, he must have heard from Pettigrew that they were at that bar and sent those Malfoy and his crew to ambush them. He must have wanted to take them down before they became aurors, and they weren't as powerful. But let's not focus on that. What's the next memory?"
"Your parents' wedding," Ginny replied. "This one is from Sirius."
"That ought to be interesting," Harry said with a smirk.
Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Frank Longbottom and Peter Pettigrew, all dressed in black dress robes stood by the alter in a small church. Harry realized it must be the the one in Godric's hollow. It was a small ceremony by the looks of things, with only friends, order members, and hogwarts professors in attendance. The first row on either side had been roped off, and Harry guessed this was in respect to the parents of the bride and groom who had been killed. The old wizard which had presided over every ceremony Harry had ever witnessed was on the altar. Harry and Ginny watched as a nervous James
walked over next to his friends to wait for his bride to be, receiving a few jokes from his friends. Soon, the maid of honor and the bridesmaids walked in. Lily had chosen to have Marlene be her maid of honor. Her bridesmaids were Alice Longbottom and a couple of girls Harry didn't know. He didn't miss that Petunia was conspicuously absent as the bride's sister.
A minute or so later, the traditional wedding march began and Lily walked in, accompanied by Albus Dumbledore. She looked amazing. She wore a beautiful white dress and her fiery hair was done up in intricate fashion. A beautiful tiara held it all in place. She and Dumbledore, who was acting as father of the bride,
walked up to the altar where the old professor placed her hands in James'. Then the ceremony began. The minister said a few words then called for the bride to say her vows.
"James Potter," Lily began. "You are the most irresistibly cute, obnoxious and funny man I have ever met. I know it took us a long time to get together. You asked me out well over 100 times during our years at Hogwarts. I'm sorry it took me so long to reciprocate the love I know you felt for me, and I will spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you. You are my one and only love and always will be. I will never leave you, even in death."
"James," please recite your vows," the little wizard said.
"Lily, I have loved you ever since I saw you on the train on our first trip to Hogwarts all those years ago," James said. "I love your humour, intelligence, and of course your red hair. But what I like most about you is your eyes. Every time I look in to them, I melt and fall in love with you again. So, if you ever think you're losing me, just look me in the eyes and you'll have nothing to fear."
The crowd chuckled at this.
"Lily, I will love you forever. You are worth more to me than life. If you died, I would die with you. I will spend the rest of my life loving you and protecting you. As long as I am still living, no harm will ever come to you. I love you Lily Evans."
The traditional wedding charm was performed, gold ribbons appeared around the couple's wrists for a moment, and with that, the couple was magically bonded together. "You may now kiss your bride," said the wizard.
James carefully lifted the veil which draped over Lily's face and kissed her softly. The crowd applauded. James and Lily signed a couple of documents, then left the church to more applause. On their way out, Lily threw her flowers which were caught by a grinning Alice Longbottom.
"That really was a cute ceremony," Ginny said. "And those joked in the vows were such a marauders thing to do."
Harry laughed. "And them leaving the first two rows empty was nice as well," he said. "It also appears that Alice and Frank are getting married next!"
"Yes, I'm sure Neville is glad she caught those flowers," Ginny agreed. "Now, let's watch that last memory. It's of when your Mom found out she was pregnant with you.
A stag, a dog, a rat, and a wolf were grazing in the yard outside the same large house Harry and Ginny had seen in the proposal memory. All of a sudden, an ear piercing shriek rang out. The four marauders quickly transformed back into their human forms and ran pell-mell for the house. When they reached the living room, they found Lily crying on the sofa.
"Lily honey, what's wrong?" James asked, fear etched on his face.
"Come into the bedroom, we need to talk alone," she said through her sobs.
When they reached the bedroom, James shut the door. "What's so wrong that you couldn't tell the others about?" He asked.
"I'm, I'm... I'm pregnant," she whispered. "The baby is due at the end of July or the beginning of August."
The smile on James' face would've lit every room in the massive house. "And that's what your crying about?" He asked, hugging her tightly.
"But I thought we said we wouldn't have children until he was gone," Lily said. "I thought we had agreed we couldn't bring a child into this world while such evil remained in it."
"Lily," James comforted her. "Lily, it's alright. We'll be fine. This is the happiest day of my life. I'll quit auror training so I can stay around and protect you. Don't argue- we have more than enough money, and I'll be able to rejoin once he is gone. This baby is more important to me than being an auror. Lils we're having a baby! Your baby and my baby!"
A smile appeared on Lily's tear streaked face. "Yes, she said. "We are."
"At least that explains why you've been sick the last couple weeks, he chuckled."
The couple rejoined the three other marauders who were sitting awkwardly in the sitting room waiting. "So are you going to tell us what's wrong?" Sirius asked. Lily gave him a glare.
"Nothing's wrong," James said. "In fact, it couldn't be more right! Lily's pregnant! The baby is due at the end of July!"
Sirius and Remus immediately surrounded them in a massive group hug, congratulating their best mate. In contrast Peter was far more reserved. He offered his congratulations, but said he had to go, as he had work for the Order.
"Like hell he did," Harry cried. "He was going straight to Voldemort to turn them in!"
"Harry! Ginny! Finally!" Molly's voice yelled out. "When we came in and you didn't answer, we were worried sick. Then we came in and saw you two immersed in that thing-
"It's a pensieve Mom," Ginny explained. "It shows memories. Harry found some of his parents in his vault at Gringotts today and we decided to watch them." The couple took turns recounting the adventures of the day.
"I hope you had a wonderful anniversary dinner," Harry said when they were finished. "Which reminds me- I came across something I'd like you to have at Gringotts today."
He took a deep breath, mentally preparing for the outburst which was to come, and handed Molly the envelope, which she opened curiously and read. "HARRY JAMES POTTER! HOW..." She cut off and wrapped him in a huge hug as Ginny snickered off to the side.
"Molly, let the poor boy go! You'll suffocate him!" Arthur said. "And someone, please tell me what's in that letter."
"Harry found out today that he owns quite a bit of property," Ginny explained. "Among that property is a large amount of land here in Ottery St. Catchpole which happens to include the land we are standing on now."
"I can't continue to take rent from you," Harry took up the story. "You've been so good to me. So, for your anniversary, I'm giving you ownership of the property and returning all the money you've ever paid me."
Arthur looked shocked. "Harry, we can't accept this..." he began.
"You can and will," Harry argued. "I've made it so that as soon as you opened that, the transfer was irreversible. So you can't give it back."
"Well, I still think it's too much, but it appears as though we have no choice," Arthur said. "That was very kind of you Harry."
"What you did for me these past seven years was way more," Harry argued. "You took me in and gave me a family. I only wish I could do more."
Arthur was about to object when Molly spoke. "Now it's late you two. Go to bed. And thank you again Harry. I've never met anyone else quite like you."
Later that night, Ginny again crept over to Harry's room. "That was incredibly kind of you Harry," she whispered as she snuggled up next to him.
"And I'd do it again and again if they'd let me," he replied. "Are you excited for shopping tomorrow?"
"Of course," she answered. "I'm also curious to see the place where are saviour grew up."
Harry snorted. "I still wish my parents had had me a few years later," he sighed.
"But then you wouldn't have met me!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Too right, I take it back!" Harry replied. And he meant it. Ginny had become as important to him as his parents would've been had they still been alive. A content smile on his face, he rolled over and soon the two were fast asleep.