Marauding Ever After

By Mari Kenobi

A/N - As usual not mine; if it was in JK's book it's hers :)

Chapter 13 – Old Friends

"Lilly, you don't have to do this. There are plenty of other people that can talk to him." James tried once again to dissuade his wife. She didn't answer him, just kept on moving forward. James tried to continue but Regulus pulled him back.

"Just let her do it. Someone has to talk to him and what can he really do?"

"She's cried enough because of him."

Regulus didn't answer. They had arrived. Lilly took a deep breath and knocked on the door. With a nod towards the two men, she walked inside and closed the door. James called for a couple of chairs. "We are not moving. Get comfortable."

"What are you doing here?"

"Good Morning, Severus." Her voice was sweet.

"Go away."

"No." Her voice was now stern.

Remus walked into classroom 4 quietly, taking it all in. It was a simple classroom, a few round tables and chairs, no decoration; clearly waiting for someone to personalize it. He looked around, breathing it all in.

"Ahh, Mr. Lupin you are here."

Remus turned to see a formidable looking woman standing at the door. "Madame Montessori I presume. How are you?" He shook her hand.

"Excellent. I'm sorry I left you waiting, had some business to attend to. But now I'm here. As you can imagine this will be your classroom. I've been waiting for you to approach us. I reviewed plenty of your teaching moments and I'm very excited for you to be here. You will start with a class of students between the ages of 4 and 7. We have a basic curriculum and of course any student that you see changing and growing, you recommend for the next level."

"I see."

"Since you have taught different ages, most likely you will move along as time goes by. We like to start our new recruits with the young ones so when they move up their professors move up with them." As she talked, she began examining something on her clipboard. "You have been assigned an assistant and he should be along shortly."

"Hold on," Remus was thinking about something she had just said, "Children can grow here?"

"In a manner of speaking," she smiled at him, "children that take advantage of the schooling, their minds grow and if they want to, their bodies can catch up to them. Well, everyone can do it honestly, but we pay more attention to the children's cases. Your mentor will guide you there."

"Mentor?"

"Of course. You might have had plenty of experience teaching on Earth, but not on the Ever After. Anyways, here is your assistant. I'll let you two to begin planning. Everything you will need is in the classroom, just ask for it." There was a knock on the door. "Come on in, Mr. Creevy. We are expecting you."

Dora shook her head. She had been dead for a short time, but she had already learned to never be surprised. If she hadn't, she would have been a bit freaked out by suddenly entering into what seemed to be a rundown building, with very little lighting, and eerie music surrounding it. She rolled her eyes, wondering who this Prewett characters were. Clearly big fans of noir. She found the door with the neon flashing sign and knocked. There was no answer but the door did slowly creak open. She followed the flickering lights towards the stairs and inside an office. She knocked and once again the door creaked slowly open.

"Welcome! He's Fabian and…"

"He's Gideon. We are the Prewett brothers, private investigators."

"Gumshoes, if you will."

"Please take a seat."

Dora didn't move. She stood there taking it all in, a bit disappointed that Fabian and Gideon weren't wearing matching fedoras. "Where?" She nodded towards the twin desks where each man sat behind.

Both men turned to each other and the one she thought was called Fabian stood up, "For you, we'll move to the sofa. More cozy that way."

She rolled her eyes at them and laid down on the couch, not leaving any room for them. "Seeing as I am a married woman, you two will be respectful enough to stay over there."

"Technically, you aren't married. You just consider yourself as such. Still a newbie." The other one, Gideon, stood up. "The vows you took on Earth with –' he looked down at his desk, "Remus Lupin were until death did you part. You died. Ergo, no longer married. If that's what you need from us, we can make it very clear to him."

"Death didn't part us therefore that little clause doesn't apply to us. And that is not why I'm here." She folded her arms.

"Then you are here in the case of finding one Sirius Black a true love." Fabian glanced up from his desk.

Dora sat up straight. "How do you know?"

"We are the best in private investigating that the Ever After has to offer. We knew you were coming and why."

She laughed, "You guys remind me of someone. Can't place it yet, but I will. I'm a pretty darn good investigator too."

"And yet, you haven't found this true love girl you are seeking." Fabian chuckled.

"Indeed. I would like to know how you can help me. What services do you provide that I can't simply get from being in the Ever After?"

Gideon laughed, "We have special, Death approved, access to a few things that normal beings can't reach… like memories for example."

"Go on…" Dora nodded, "I'm listening."

"Severus, I'm tired of you just sitting there, not talking. You better say something." The room only had a small table and four chairs. Snape had remained sitting. Lilly had not. He hadn't said a word since he told her to go away. He just stared at her.

"You owe me." She narrowed her eyes.

He grunted.

"Oh, so you don't agree with me… now if only could justify yourself."

Silence.

"What is he doing?" James was becoming restless.

"He can't face her. He is too ashamed."

"Boo hoo."

Fred and Sirius had created the store. They weren't ready to open to the public yet, but a few curious people popped in their heads to see what was going on.

"We are going to be quite popular when we open." Sirius grinned. "Hopefully we'll get some cute girls."

Fred laughed, "That was always a great benefit of our store." He smiled fondly.

"Any good stories to share?"

"A gentleman never shares." Fred winked at Sirius.

"Fine. Any girl you'll miss more than the others?"

Fred brought a finger to his mouth and pretended to think hard. "Angelina, I guess. She's the closest I ever got to a real relationship. Always figured we'd eventually get seriously together, marry and all that."

"Oh. I don't remember her."

"She was on the Quidditch team. She cried at my funeral too. I was touched."

"I'm touched right now."

Fred shoved him. "And as soon as I figure out how to haunt someone, I will be after whoever she gets serious with."

Sirius laughed loudly, "I have never been more proud of you."

"Ahh just for that… heads up, a couple of cute ones are outside… let them in. It will be fun."

Sirius rubbed his hands together in anticipation. "This is going to be great."

"One doesn't get tired here, so I can keep pacing here forever."

No reaction from Snape.

"Still acting like a petulant child I see." She brought her hands to her face as she shook it. "It would seem you are upset at me, which is ridiculous, since I'm the one that has plenty to be mad at. And yet, I'm here trying to make an effort."

"Mad? You? Still haven't let go about me becoming a Death Eater. Didn't you hear the news, I turned double agent… it killed me as a matter of fact."

"Gee, how about the fact that you made my son's life miserable during what should have been the best time of his life!"

"Please, if it weren't for me, he would have died. You should be thanking me."

"Really? For what? For waiting until the last possible moment to trust him? You do understand that the only reason my son got to you at that moment was curiosity and luck."

"It was clearly meant to happen that way."

"Oh for crying out loud!" Lilly threw her arms up in frustration. "And just in case you are wondering, one good deed does not erase everything else."

"I don't need your forgiveness."

"I'm not giving it."

"I am going to kill him!" Regulus had to hold James back from breaking down the door.

"Not really much that you can do there, Prongs." Remus had stopped by and stayed to help calm his friend down (or as Regulus had put it, reason with him.)

"Why is he acting like that? After all, wasn't he supposed to love her so much!"

"Old wounds are deep, I suppose. We didn't treat him well. She chose you over him."

"Remus that's not a justification and we all know it. Hopefully, I'll manage to get him to grow up. I did." Regulus told them as he got James to sit back down.

Dora had spent a few hours telling the twin detectives everything she knew about Sirius' mystery girl. During that time she paid close attention to Fabian and Gideon. She was sure she knew them from somewhere but she couldn't quite place them.

"Now we input everything into the memory machine and it will start pointing us in the right direction." Fabian told her,

"How long do we have to wait?"

"Not long. But what my dear brother is-"

"-doing right now is –"

"just a starting point."

"When we get more details…"

"it shall grow."

"Stop. You guys are confusing me! How can you talk like that? You remind me so much of Fred and…" Realization dawned on her. These were Molly's brothers.

"George?" Fabian asked.

"Our sister named her twins that." Gideon turned to her. "Did you know them?"

"Of course! Why haven't you been to see Fred? He's really needed company and support during this trying time!"

"Our nephew is dead?" Fabian looked at Dora then at his brother.

She nodded.

"Fab we seriously need to get caught up in what's happening."

"Definitely."

"What was I thinking?" Sirius was shaking his head, mortified. Fred just laughed. "This isn't funny."

"Oh I think it's a bit funny." Fred bit his lip, trying to stop his laughter. "It was also adorable. They thought you were my dad!"

"Shut up. I can't flirt with a girl if he thinks I'm old enough to be her father. It's… it's…"

"I believe creepy is the word you are looking for… but really it's harmless enough. You can make yourself appear younger. No one would know."

Sirius sighed, "I would." He needed to meet a woman his age.