I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know
I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is you
- The Reason, Hoobastank
"Good and Evil"
"Thank you Aberforth."
Aberforth Dumbledore was not a man of many words. Once upon a time he wasn't so sour, he used to have a creative mind, he used to have a care free stance but an incident; years ago changed his life. Admittedly, the tragedy changed all the Dumbledore's. Today, he was just a man who still hadn't come to terms with a tragedy, leaving behind a shell of the once known person.
He inclined his head as he turned back to cleaning some glasses at the bar.
Albus Dumbledore took this as his dismissal and turned to walk out of the small, empty bar. Even after all those years, he felt his heart clench slightly at the weak relationship. He loved his brother, and he knew that he loved him too. But there was a lot of bitterness there.
In the battle of Good or Evil, evilness was forgiven superficially; the scars were never forgotten.
His eyes swept across the streets and he waved at some of the aurors stationed on the roads in pairs.
Not long ago, most of them had been his students.
Student. It was humbling to toy with the idea that everything evolved from a child. Evil or Good, all things had roots in a young mind. It was always about this, Good or Evil? Right or Wrong? But what was right? What was wrong? And who decided which was what?
With those thoughts, he sighed once before he vanished with a pop.
There was no sound as he appeared on the grounds outside the castle. With increased urgency, he started for his own office. Prefects, ghosts and students, all seemed to pave a path as he picked up speed, walking steadily back. His energy given his obvious was always an inspiring and albeit surprising notion for all. But they passed it as an oddity of the old one.
He had barely settled into his chair behind the desk in the Headmaster's office when he heard a sharp but polite knock.
"Ah. Professor McGonagall. Come in. Come in."
The slightly stern professor walked inside the Headmaster's office, the portraits were almost too obviously eavesdropping from their canvases, and the stern lady who just entered pressed her lips into a thin line.
"Would you care for a skittle?"
Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall had been colleagues for nearly three decades now, and never before had the stern little woman found the wise man's humor this...colorless. It might be for the fact that Minerva McGonagall had never heard of skittles before. Ah. The sadness of it all.
There was a flash of twinkle behind the half moon spectacles as the man looked at the woman.
"It's a type of muggle candy that I've grown fond of. Never mind." He seemed genuinely disappointed as he whisked the little tin closed and put it inside one of his desk drawers.
"What is it that really fascinates you about muggle candy Albus?" The portrait of a balding man, with a belly that could match Slughorn's asked with cryptic curiosity.
The stern woman actually standing in the circular office seemed to have the same question because of the way she quirked her eyebrow, slightly of course.
"Your obsession with animals, wild animals might I add, is just as bad Newton!" Phineas Nigellus Black quipped pointedly, abandoning his snoozing posture. A contrast that was startlingly obvious.
Before the other wizard in the portrait could further their comments, Albus Dumbledore coughed pointedly to catch their attention.
The portraits seemed not to take this very well; this was possibly one of the rare occasions where they seemed to be- alive, for the lack of a more appropriate term. They went back to sulking which earned them a chuckle from the present headmaster.
The stern woman, with a tight bun on the top of her head seemed to have cracked a smile too. A feat in its own right.
"You asked me Professor?"
"And I take it you received the message." He smiled and then squared his shoulders slightly before assuming a more somber manner.
Professor McGonagall waited as she looked into the old wise face.
"We are expecting a visitor. An old student if you may."
Student. If I could, I would teach him the definitions of good and evil all over again. But he was already too far away. Lost in the world of evil, he had set forth upon paths that had never been traveled before.
Sometimes, he reminded him of himself, his younger self. Those Summers when he had first met his first true friend, or so he had thought at that time. Those wonderful plans of changing the world. He had thought it was all for the good. The greater good. And he felt ashamed of himself. Good and Evil, separated with a line of ice, which seemingly melted or broke even with the faintest of pressures.
Good and Evil.
There was surprise on the woman's face; she had clearly not expected this anticlimax. Irony.
"We have had plenty of former students before?" She stated this is the form of a question.
Albus Dumbledore surveyed the woman in front of him carefully.
And for the first time that day he realized the sacredness of an old truth. Good triumphs over Evil, always.
"He is like no other student, I assure you. However-"he continued, not giving the other professor a chance to interrupt.
"However, on Monday, I want ever student- and I mean every student especially from Gryffindor and Slytherin- in their House Towers and Dungeons by 6 in the evening."
Minerva McGonagall had shock written all across her face. "But-"
"Dinner will be served in the common rooms. I want the strictest of curfews held up. I am also going to speak to the heads- James and Lily who are the only students, including the prefects who will have the authority to step outside their common rooms. And that too only when there is a call for emergency."
"What-?"
Professor McGonagall seemed to collect herself after a minute. But you had to give it to her; she had yet to make any dramatic exclamations. Given the circumstances, a lesser woman might have been unsteady with fear.
"Of course that can be arranged. We can announce it tomorrow, at the bonfire."
"Yes. I want Horace and Argus, both to be in the Slytherin Dungeons on Monday, making absolutely sure that not one of the students is able to get past them."
He held up his hand; palm outside to show he was still not done.
"Cuthbert and the rest of the ghosts will be gliding on the path way between the entrance hall and the staff room. It won't make a difference really- but it's well worth a last try-"The old man seemed to mumble the last path.
The portraits of the former Heads of Hogwarts were hanging on every word that he said. Their interest was definitely heightened.
"The rest of the staff, excluding Professor Merrythought, will be patrolling all floors."
There was a small 'o' formed on Minerva McGonagall's mouth. But the wise man sitting on the other side of the high desk was unfazed.
He stood up and walked to his window that showed a bright day.
"Who is coming Albus?" Her voice was slightly unsure.
"Tom Riddle."
And then the severe looking woman, gasped.
"Please tell me Lily listened to him!" Reah almost cried the minute she saw him racing down to them.
Sirius skidded to a stop in front of the pretty brunette. Before any of them could get another word out, he pulled the woman in his arms by her waist and crashed his lips to hers, in a sudden urgency. Reah melted into the kiss as he deepened the kiss and she weaved her hands into his hair as he tightened his hold.
Remus sighed and shook his head fondly.
Alice whistled and Frank joined her as he too draped an arm around his girlfriend.
The kissing couple finally broke apart, grinning.
"Yeah, she did." There were sighs of relief as they all had been worried but not sure if they should or shouldn't run after the two.
"Rish- go tell James that he is bloody captain please- I don't want to see anymore of those cheesy scenes." Sirius teased as he let go, walking backwards towards the pitch.
Remus coughed, in mild amusement.
"What about the scene that happened right here?"
Sirius glared at him, "That's neither here, nor there."
All of them laughed before Reah blushed, and then ran off, to deliver the message to a certain crazy quidditch captain. Sirius punched Remus in the arm lightly, "See you when you get back mate!"
Remus rolled his eyes. "Blimey, I am surrounded by bloody coupley- people."
"Coupley?"
Remus blushed a faint shade as Alice and Frank burst into laughter.
"I think seven years of being with Sirius is rubbing off on you!"
"HEY!" Sirius looked indignant, but the effect was marred by the grin that was almost, almost threatening to break.
"I am just glad that I have Lily to hang around now!"
They all chuckled even more as Sirius groaned, "I need Reah, she will tell you!"
Alice almost choked, "because she always sides with you, right?"
Sarcasm dropped from every letter and Sirius grinned too, he was just too happy right now.
"I am clearly unwanted." He laughed as they all waved as he ran out to the pitch, to get some order till the captain came back anyway.
"Let's go and get Lily as well?" Remus asked to the other two.
Frank and Alice seemed to work in total co-ordination as they smiled, nodding their agreement and almost taking their first step at the same time.
They were grinning as they neared a trio by the lake. They could hear the voices all the way from there.
"JAMES POTTER!"
"What can I do for you, my lady?" He made a show of bowing and winking at her cheekily.
Reah and Lily rolled their eyes at his behavior.
"I think as the captain of your team, you are needed at your own team's try-out?"
James almost lost his balance as he stopped fooling around, immediately. His eyes widened in shock.
"MERLIN'S PANTS!"
"Bye Lils- Rish!" He called over as he ran towards the castle, almost colliding with Remus.
"Catch you later Moony!" He barely managed as he whisked past the laughing bunch.
All of them were chuckling at his stupid antics, what was with boys and doing stupid things that seemed funny and cute anyway?
"Now that, that's sorted, let's start for Hogsmeade?" Remus asked they all met in the middle.
Reah linked her arm through his, "Hear! Hear!"
The morning escapade might never have happened, they all started walking up the he way, finally on their way to the little wizardry village.
"So Lil! You totally missed Sirius and Reah practically making out- in the entrance hall, pretty nauseating, but all gooey kind of-"Alice laughed as Reah reached out to slap her head.
"You're KIDDING!"
"You should have seen it- actually its better you didn't. But they went all mushy-"
"Alice! I am going to kill you."
Reah went to actually tackle her when Frank encircled Alice from her waist and spoke "I won't allow it!"
"Frank!" Reah wailed as Alice turned to peck his lips.
Remus and Lily burst into laughter.
"Where is my boyfriend when I bloody need him?" Reah was fighting a grin too, as she continued to act indignant.
"No way! Frank can take Sirius ANY DAY!" Alice laughed.
Reah, Lily, Remus and even Frank turned to look at her in disbelief.
Remus was the first to recover. "I am betting on Padfoot."
Lily laughed, "He is not even here!"
"Me too." Reah chirped in helpfully.
Alice looked at the two in mock indignation. And-
"Actually, I am betting on him too!" Frank coughed.
And then- her moth fell open.
Alice guffawed and stalked forward. "Blimey, you can't even trust your own boyfriend in this world."
Frank laughed as he practically jogged to keep by her side, "love, I will go to the ends of this land for you, but wrestling with Sirius Black- is a losing battle. I think only James has ever gotten more than few punches on him."
Remus laughed, "Prongs has won about two rounds, yeah."
Lily laughed, "Two out of?"
Remus was grinning so wide that his face was almost all covered with his grin, "Ten."
Reah and Lily collapsed in a fit of giggles.
"He insists that he threw the games for Padfoot's sake-"
"He is sure as hell never going to hear the END of this!" Reah looked as if she was going to almost split into a tap dance because of her bright grin.
"Payback time?"
"Only for the hundreds of things that prat had done to me!"
They were all still laughing as they entered the main roads, and the overwhelming numbers of students made them cringe slightly, except for Lily. Something seemed wrong, but she couldn't yet put her finger to the thing. She saw some of the aurors and she recognized two or three of them as former acquaintances. The ministry of magic had decided as extra precaution as four pairs of aurors be present in the village today, since there would be younger students everywhere and the attacks were still fresh. Hogsmeade was always so crowded, they were now used to going to village in more quiet instances.
As the head girl, Lily knew the exact positioning of the aurors. One pair was guarding the shrieking shack road, keeping an eye out over the north side of the village. Two on the high street, where near the Three Broomsticks, right at the heart of the village and –
Yes, there actually should have been a pair that they encountered on the way here. Slightly uneasy she looked around, but then shrugged; there could have been last minute changes.
"Where to?" Lily asked the startlingly silent group.
"We will catch you at the Hogs Head in an hour?" Alice asked as she entwined her hands with Frank.
"See you!" They all smiled before the couple made its way past the throng of students into the crowded post office.
"Scrivenshaft's?" Remus asked as they stood in the crowded street.
"Yes, I need to refill my stock of parchment and quills!" Lily said, already dragging the tow by their sleeves in the direction of the popular stationary store.
"Okay- Rem, Red or Purple?"
It had been ten minutes since they had walked inside the shop and Lily was deciding which quill to get James, since he had asked them to get it.
Reah sniggered.
"Err-"Remus looked between the two held out quills, looking conflicted.
"Oh, just grab any of them! He isn't going to mind!" Reah sighed as Lily looked down once more.
"You sure?"
"James is going to be blown over because YOU are getting it, anyway!"
Lily blushed a scarlet shade, matching her hair. "Shut it!"
She murmured darkly before sighing and choosing red, and dumping the purple down into the stack again.
"Oh, it matches your hair- lovely!" Reah teased as Lily blushed harder, defining it even more.
Remus was laughing openly.
He went to get some sweets for them from honeydukes, which was right next to the store as the girls waited in line.
Lily paid and they sucked on their candy as they roamed on the streets aimlessly.
The afternoon was almost setting down, the students were making their ways into coffee shops, the younger students had even returned to the castle, seeing as they scurried about with sweets and stuff from Zonko's, and Lily could see that the aurors were getting quite bored; she thought she saw a pair apparated, and the uneasy feeling returned. But they returned in a few minutes and she relaxed, shaking her head at her constant vigilance.
"Remus- why don't you date?" Lily asked unexpectedly. They all stopped and stood in the empty street.
Remus and Reah both turned around gaping at the Head Girl, well, it was really unexpected. Remus was more flustered, "Wh Wh What do you mean?"
Reah stopped suddenly as she saw a small black puppy, curled in a corner. She whistled softly and the little thing looked up at her in curiosity. She was on her knees as she beckoned for it to come to her. The other two were completely oblivious to her. Remus was completely bewildered by the sudden attack and Lily was totally engaged in her own curiosity to pay her any attention.
"We have been friends since seven years.-"
"Wait- you mean – err- you like ME?" Remus was completely confused, horrified, almost amused- wait horrified! James would kill him. And Lily, Lily was like a sister.
"What? NO!"
Remus sighed in relief. Lily cracked a smile.
"I mean, like in the last seven years I have NEVER seen you out with a girl. Except Reah, and then I know you both are just going as friends you know?" Lily, was almost rambling as she completed her clarification.
"I don't want to date."
"Rem- is everything alright? Lily asked softly.
Remus sighed. Sometimes, Lily just reminded him so much of James.
"What brought this on?"
Lily grinned, "You are dodging the question."
Remus smirked for a second but then it turned into a quick frown. "It's not fair on the girl."
Remus turned away slightly, he didn't want to lie to Lily and that was why he had said the truth, but speaking out the truth always made him feel so vulnerable.
Reah was oblivious as she petted the small little puppy, feeding her some of her candy. He seemed to like her because he was almost content as she stroked his head.
Lily reached forward and touched Remus' shoulder, gently but with firmness.
"That's no reason. I know everything, James, Sirius, Reah- we all know it and we love you." She said earnestly.
Remus was touched. The fact that he was accepted, completely by people he cared so much about was an inexplicable cherished joy of his life.
A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same.
"Thank you." Words did not really convey the depth of his gratitude, so he said the simplest of them.
"One day Rem, you are going to meet this amazing girl and she is not going to care that you are not well – you once a month." Lily said in an even more earnest voice if that was even possible.
Remus smiled. He had, had this argument over and over with all of them.
"You know that kind of sounds like PMS. AND THAT'S JUST WRONG!"
He was trying to lighten the situation, trying to dodge out of the corner but Lily held firm.
"RISH! Back me up here!" She looked around wildly, seeming to realize that Reah wasn't joining in the conversation for a good five minutes.
Remus and Lily both turned to the brunette, who was still petting the little puppy.
"Yeah. Totally." Then she turned to look at them properly, with wide expressive eyes.
"Hey, did I ever tell you guys, I absolutely LOVE dogs!"
Lily rolled her eyes as Remus was suddenly overcome with laughter. "You like, like, really like dogs?"
Reah took the little puppy in her hands as she stood up and the little dog just curled into her warmth.
"What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing! It's BRILLIANT! Could you please just tell that in front of Sirius?"
Lily and Reah both looked confused as Remus was still doubled over in laughter. "Better, let's take this little thing up to the castle?"
"Oh, Can I?" Reah was looking at Lily, unsure.
"It's a stray."
"I will give it a bath first thing tonight. I promise."
Lily looked at her best friend and said, "Sure. Why not?"
Reah squealed. Remus was composing himself and he had a look of anticipation. Lily and Reah looked at each other, still confused, but passed it as one of the marauder secrets.
The boys were boys, and maybe it was best they didn't know it anyway.
Remus and Lily took turns in stroking the little adorable thing.
"Its coat is such a shiny Black." She almost purred in delight as she ran her hand across his little body, that fit in her one arm.
The small puppy licked her arm and she laughed at it. It seemed pleased with itself.
Lily smiled at her friend's fascination. Personally, she was not much of Dog lover, sure she liked the small puppies but otherwise she liked to keep her distance.
In all of the distraction, Lily got side tracked with her original argument. Forgotten, they all continued talking about the puppy as they started walking again.
They finally decided to go get butterbeers in Three Broomsticks when they heard a loud crash. They looked at each other in alarm, and almost instinctively, reached for their wands.
Reah tucked the puppy in her one arm as she held her wand in the other as they all ran towards the noise. She pressed it inside her side and he looked content, curious but content.
Remus stood between the two girls as they looked at the scene. There were twelve masked people who had apparated in the area. They wore long black robes and silver masks that covered their faces. Defensively, he stepped one step in front of the girls.
The Three Broomsticks was in flames and there were five to six people who were screaming as they ran out of the lounge bar.
Then everything happened at once, aurors appeared and were only raising their wands when they all disappeared with a loud pop.
Lily wasn't paying attention to them; her eyes were scanning the crowd, Alice. Frank.
"Alice- Frank." Reah breathed, as they ran amongst the crowd. Remus was scanning the crowd, for potential threat. "They were supposed to be here." Reah was panicking. The little puppy growled softly, it was anxious too.
And then Frank emerged, almost cradling Alice firmly to his side, tucked beneath his bleeding arm. His face was fierce as he raised his wand defensively in front of him.
Lily, Reah and Remus were almost beside the injured couple in the next moment.
Lily gasped, Alice's face was smeared in small cuts and there was a bloody gash on her neck.
Frank dropped his wand as he saw that they were surrounded by friends and took her completely in his arms. Then he leaned back to look at her. "Alice. Alice!" He breathed frantically as he looked into her eyes.
Alice managed to smile up to him, but it came out as more of a grimace.
Lily walked up to her friend and Frank unwillingly let go of her, but still supported her by keeping a hold on her waist. "
"Vulnera Sanetur" She murmured, directly pointing at the deep gash. They all watched in relief as the skin knitted itself.
"Episkey. Episkey." She said softly as she trained her wand to the smaller cuts on the face.
Alice sighed as she felt some of the energy drain back in her. She leaned into the muscled chest of her boyfriend who stroked her hair soothingly. "Its fine, love. You are fine. You are okay." He was speaking softly in her hair; he seemed to be reassuring himself.
Lily sighed as she turned her attention to the other students. Remus was already running to talk to the auror who was on the side walk, just about to enter the building. The aurors were already gathering everyone more of them were apparating and there were even some healers amongst them.
Reah was already helping a small boy sit leaning on the wall on the opposite pavement. She was waving her wand over the ripped portions of his small legs and he seemed to be grimacing in pain. Lily could even see that the puppy was still tucked inside her side.
Lily saw another girl limp and was rushing to her side.
Frank held Alice tightly as he felt a surge of relief. They were talking, laughing together when he saw the men enter through the door. It happened before he could even blink, all he remembered was that Alice, his Alice, screamed his name as there was a blast, and the roof, the bar, everything blown up in fire. He felt a searing pain up his left arm but he ignored it as he almost jumped the distance between them to have her tucked inside him. To shield her from harm with his own body. He felt something pierce his back and neck but only saw the glasses that smeared down Alice's face. The blood dripping from her cheek filled him with fear. He drew his wand and keeping her tucked inside him, looked at the scene around him. The masked men were already gone, students were screaming as they fled, limping, blood, fire everywhere.
Alice felt liquid as she brushed her fingers through the back of Frank's neck, bringing it in front of her she almost fainted at the sight of the blood covering her whole hand. "FRANK!"
She looked up to meet his eye. Their voice was drowned in the chaos.
"Shh. It's nothing. You are fine. " He soothed, stroking her neck softly.
Alice frowned and then it registered, it was his blood. The whirlwind of emotion that struck her almost knocked her off her feet. Fear, fear, ripped her as she removed her wand with shaking hands.
Unsteadily, she pushed herself on her feet as she walked behind him. And gasped.
'Oh my-"
"Alice, I am fine." He protested, but her face silenced him. She looked horrified. Slowly, she plucked out the glass unsurely. Frank flinched as he felt the pain.
She stroked his cheek from behind, lovingly. Soothingly, and he relaxed.
"Episkey." She said firmly and the tear healed itself. She repeated it on his arm, satisfied she let out the breath that she didn't realize that she was holding.
"Thank you." Frank said as he once again took her in his arms, putting his lips to her hair.
He thought of the raw fear that gripped him when he saw her slightly pale, unconscious form and thanked whatever god, merlin, whoever up there for the safety of the woman he loved.
He leaned back and then stared at the face of his love with devotion. Reaching to her, he captured her soft full lips into his and deepened their touch. Words just weren't enough to convey what they felt right now.
"How did it happen that their lips came together? How does it happen that birds sing, that snow melts, that the rose unfolds, that the dawn whitens behind the stark shapes of trees on the quivering summit of the hill? A kiss and all was said."
Peter Pettigrew smiled as he took in the breath taking view of the castle. It had seemed forever since he had been here. Damn the stupid flu. He loved his mom, but all that fuss was making him suffocated.
He had missed his friends. He had even missed the full moon last month. He had checked.
The summers were always fun, they were always meeting at the Potter's, Diagon Alley and even Hogsmeade, but it wasn't Hogwarts. this was where they had all started. This was where they were free.
Moony, Padfoot and Prongs.
True, he sometimes felt that his friends were keeping him out. But he knew they loved him, and he did too. They were everything that he always almost worshiped, Powerful, strong, cool, talented, popular and brave.
He was delighted to be friends with them, the first time that James had run to help him when Malfoy had first bullied him, right back in their first year.
Ad then Sirius, with his sarcastic tongue and witty mind had pranked Malfoy in retaliation.
Remus had helped him in lessons since the first week.
Even Reah. Reah had offered to help him study since second year. Yes, Lily too. Peter had always been slightly wary of the beautiful red head, he was in awe of her. He couldn't fathom for the life of him, how could someone, say no to James? Every girl almost melted at the sight of him or Sirius, but not Lily.
She matched him with a strength that left him slightly stricken.
And then there were others too, there was Alice, who was always so sweet. Frank who was particularly mature and thoughtful.
They were all so good. And being amongst them, he felt he belonged in the goodness, with them.
He walked up to the tower, packing his luggage into the familiar dorm and he was home.
A/N: I am absolutely thrilled by the response I got for the last chapter! Thank you so so so much guys! =D
So I have to tell you guys, I was on a massive editing spree, and I put right most of my mistakes in the chapters; though I still need to look at a couple of them. And I have FINALLY written a preface. I was inspired to write it as I read the Deathly Hallows, again, for the twentieth time last week. Please tell me what you guys think!
Also, you will have noticed that I am actually giving importance to a lot of side characters, this is because :
1. There are going to be a lot of couples in the story. The main being James-Lily, Sirius-Reah of course. But it's different for every couple, and I want to illustrate it through my writing.
2. I think it's important to see the development of relationships for the plot.
Forward-
Now, I also got a couple of reviews telling me that James-Lily were finally together. or confessing at least. They are NOT together yet. Remember, matters of the heart, take time. And honestly, I think that two people with chemistry like James and Lily can't honestly get up one day and say, oh yeah I am in love. And plus, I think the courtship is going to be fun as it unwraps.
And, I am really sorry I am taking so much time between chapters, but I am currently in between some really important exams. But once I am past this, I promise almost two-three day updates. =D
Review please?