Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Beta: Cookies and Cream1234567

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"We got here as soon as we heard," Marlene breathed to Lily, pulling Sirius behind her.

Lily nodded and glanced around at those who had gathered in Dumbledore's office for the emergency Order meeting he had called. Familiar faces, ones she hadn't seen in quite some time, were everywhere. The last time they had an emergency Order meeting…well it hadn't been in quite some time. Voldemort had been rather…silent. He was keeping to the shadows and most obviously preparing. For what they had not known, but it seemed that the kidnapping of Frank was part of it.

Honestly, Lily was still in shock. The one day she had gone out, against her husband's wishes, she'd run into Severus Snape who had warned her to watch Alice. The same day Alice's husband got kidnapped and she ran after him. What were the chances? Lily was planning on taking Severus' words to heart, but she definitely hadn't expected them to become clear the very same day. To think she could have done something, somehow stopped Alice, it broke her heart.

"Do you have any idea what really happened?" Marlene questioned. "Lily? Lily?" she waved her hand in front of her dazed friend's face before Lily finally looked up eyes wide.

"Sorry, what was that?" Lily had obviously been deep in thought.

Instead of answering Lily's question, Marley swooped in, wrapping her arms tightly around Lily's shoulders. Lily tensed, trying to remember the last time Marlene had hugged her; her friend wasn't a very touchy person. Soon enough she melted into Marlene's arms, bringing her own up and around her best friend and breathing in the familiar scent of her coconut lime perfume. It brought back such wonderful memories; memories with Alice, that Lily felt her eyes prickle and a lump grow in her throat.

"You're going to make me cry, Marley," Lily whispered into her friend's shoulder.

"As if you hadn't been crying before I got here," Marlene laughed. She was right though; Lily hated to admit it. Her pregnancy hormones were destroying her ability to keep her cool.

"We're going to find her, right?" Lily murmured even softer, not wanting anyone besides Marlene to hear.

"We found you, didn't we?" Lily winced.

"I forgot, you've been through this once before."

"It's not fun Lily, but we'll be okay, she will too."

"How do you know?"

"Well, it's a feeling; in your stomach. It kind of sits there and it clenches up when things go bad and relaxes when things are good. It sits there like a rock when you don't know what's happening. I think that if something was really wrong, we'd feel it."

"She's pregnant, Marley," Lily said, pulling back and looking her friend in the eye. It was what had been worrying her most from the beginning. What of little Neville?

"He'll be okay too," Marlene responded, knowing just what she was thinking. Lily sighed heavily, all of her worries and problems flowing out into the air. It was going to be a very long day.

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"How'd Lily take it, mate?" Sirius asked as he and James migrated to the other side of the room in order to give Lily and Marlene some space. James frowned

"It was strange really; she's been in a daze this whole time,"

"Well that's understandable, isn't it?" Sirius asked.

"Yes, but this is different. I'm sure it's nothing really. I'm just not used to seeing Lily act this way. Usually she gets all heroic and frazzled."

"She's probably just tired," Sirius assured him, not wanting James to worry.

"You're right; I'm worrying for no reason. Anyway, how's your bike?"

"Better, much better. I think she just needed a bit of rest and a touch-up, she's working like new. We rode her over, actually. She's being admired by a hoard of students; McGonagall's going to kill me."

"Aren't you worried they'll mess with it?"

"Ha, they should try. I placed a nice little charm over the beauty; touch and they'll be zapped. Nothing too brutal, just a bit of a shock."

"Clever," James nodded appreciatively. It was then he heard steps from behind him, but thought better of tensing up; he was in Dumbledore's office after all. It was quite a shock when the person simply joined in their conversation.

"You better hide Sirius, I saw McGonagall by your bike on my way up, she did not look happy." Both James and Sirius spun around at the sound of the familiar voice.

He looked well, hair longer and fuller than usual, brushing his ears and falling just above his amber eyes. His face was a nice shade, displaying a natural tan that covered his usual paleness. James saw his scars had faded and became just little raised lines on his face. His clothing was nice as well, modest, yet clean and well kept. Yes, it was the middle of the month, the time this man looked remarkably healthier than usual, but neither James nor Sirius had seen him looking quite so well before. It was Remus.

"Remus!" James exclaimed. He strode forward and pulled his friend into a large hug, mussing up his hair. Sirius joined in, squishing them all together.

"Moony, you're back!" Sirius laughed, a wide grin stretching across his face, silver eyes twinkling.

"That I am," Remus spoke, his tone showing genuine happiness.

"How was your trip, brilliant?"

"Of course it was, Padfoot!" Remus exclaimed, face lighting up. "I traveled the world, saw all sorts of things! It was amazing! Have you seen a Hinkeypuck before? Nasty little creatures, but absolutely fascinating."

"Look at you, Moony!" James said, taking a step back. "I think you've found what you like to do!"

"Who would have thought? Makes sense though, a dark creature being interested in dark creatures. You know, other creatures are under stereotypes just like werewolves, they're amazing though."

"Speaking of your furry problem? How was that?" Sirius wondered out loud.

"Well, being in more relaxed climate helped, and I found this handy salve for the day after, heals everything up nicely. I was…content. Not as fun as running around with you guys, but not horrible either."

"You're back early though, what happened?" James asked, eyebrows furrowed.

"Frank went missing and Alice followed! Why wouldn't I come back?"

"You came back from your trip around the world to help us find them? You really are brilliant, Moony."

In that moment Remus realized how nice it was to be back. Coming home he found the flat nice, neat, and quiet, Sirius and Marlene having already left. It appeared that Marlene had really been laying down the law when it came to the cleanliness of where she was staying. After setting his things in an empty room, not caring if it was the same one he had been in before, he had headed straight for Hogwarts. If there was one thing he missed while he was gone, it was the company of his fellow Marauders.

"They're my friends, plus I figured you lot would need all the help you could get," he grinned, punching Sirius in the arm.

"How'd you know? That they were missing, I mean."

"Dumbledore and I have kept communication."

"Hey!" Sirius exclaimed. "What about your whole soul searching, cut off from the wizarding world thing? I thought you said we couldn't write you!"

"You didn't actually expect me to keep zero contact with the Order? I did my fair share of helping while I was gone, did a bit of underground searching."

"Blimey," James breathed. "You're joking."

"Not at all, there are packs of werewolves all over Europe; I told a good number of them our cause. I wasn't the only one spreading the word of our efforts though. I made a friend, actually," his face suddenly flushed.

"A lady friend?" Sirius wiggled his eyebrows and the boys chuckled.

Remus grinned, knowing that his expression must have given it away. He wasn't embarrassed though; he had no reason to be. Evelyn. That was her name. She was wonderful and could make him smile with the simplest of words. He, in fact, had a picture of her tucked in the pocket of his robes. It was something she had given to him once she knew he was leaving.

"Her name is Evelyn," he informed them. "She works undercover for the French Ministry."

"French?" James asked, recognizing the origin.

"Yes," he nodded, cheeks darkening once more.

"So you found a French girlfriend? Way to go, Moony!"

"Not quite my girlfriend, but…" he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Let me guess, the whole 'long distance' thing?"

"We promised to write, maybe find a way to visit every now and again. I really like her," he admitted, a smile forming. James patted him on the back.

"I'm happy for you, Moony," he grinned.

"Want to see her?" he asked. The boy, of course, began looking around as if she would pop up from behind his back. Remus laughed before pulling the picture out of his pocket and holding it in front of their faces.

In the photo Evelyn was beautiful, natural and laughing. He himself was sitting at her side, arm around her shoulders. The two were on a wooden bench, without a care in the world. Her head tilted back with a wide grin on her face, her honey hair swinging around her as she looked back at Remus. It was styled artfully, cut above her shoulders and curled in a somewhat twenties wave style. She'd bring her slim finger up to tap his nose and he'd shake his head, laughing alongside her. Her eyes were big and child-like, a beautiful midnight blue that he hadn't seen on anyone but her. The picture alone made him smile.

"She's gorgeous, Moony," Sirius grinned.

"Well," James spoke. "We'll have to find the Longbottom's fast so you can get back to your girl, Moony." Remus smiled a small smile, somewhat uncomfortable with being so happy in a time so dire for everyone.

"I don't want to…well we want to find them quickly it's just…"

"Look Moony, you deserve this. We're going to find them and then everything will be great again,"

"Great? Here? With Voldemort on the loose?"

"Relatively great."

"Well…I sure hope so," Remus sighed.

"Now go and see Lily, she'll have your head if she knew you were here and didn't go to talk to her," James finally said, pushing him in the direction of his wife and the chatting Marlene. Remus turned around before walking towards them.

"It's good to be back," and the smile was on his face once more.

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Remus is back! Yay! Sorry for the late update though, I promise there's a reason. I am going to be gone from tomorrow morning until late Saturday due to a trek that the youth of my church is participating in. I'm posting this chapter as the chapter for both last week and this week. Think of it as a really late chapter for last week and an early chapter for this week. Thus being said, I've been crazy busy and haven't had the time to get this chapter to my beta so it is currently unedited. Please excuse the mistakes. Thanks so much for reading!

-Sweets5236