A/N: So I'm back!! This is the second chapter I have posted for two years!! Hopefully I will keep this up and finish my two stories. There is clearly a lot of things from DH which will not be showing up in the story but I don't think its too far off. Well…it's fanfiction after all!! Alright, enjoy, thanks for all your support and patience and please review guys..even if you just wanna yell at me for taking so long haha.
It was June and the six friends were slowly drifting from one another. Having lives of their own, independent of one another made it very difficult for all six to get together and catch up. No one had seen Dia in a couple of months as she had been so busy with the twins and even though they were magical, no one seemed keen on making a trip to Bradford, just to say hello. Remus was becoming rapidly consumed by all of the different wedding tasks Holly had given him, between that and his job, he could only really pop in at Godric's Hollow once a week for tea with James and Lily. Ivana had taken to coming over around this time too as she knew Sirius would not be around. Sirius had finally made himself a little useful and had begun working at a Muggle garage. He had quickly rose to be manager, because none of the mechanics he worked for could compare to his silent 'Reparo'. They were simply astonished at his skill. Peter, funnily enough was around far more than anyone. He would visit Lily at work, James when he was around Hogsmeade on duty and often came round to dinner with Sirius. It seemed that even though everyone was still in basic contact, they had yet to have a moment where they could all get together. Not to mention the terrible awkwardness which ensued when Ivana and Sirius were within a few feet of each other.
"You not going into work today Padfoot?" Remus asked as he walked out of his bedroom, Holly in tow.
"Nah, I've decided to take the day off.." Sirius said lazily as he lounged on the sofa. "Alright Ashbery?"
Holly nodded with a tentative smile. "Serius…"
"SI-rius.." Remus whispered quickly as Sirius smiled fakely at Holly.
"Oh yes…Sirius…didn't I take my car into your garage just yesterday?"
"I dunno Holly love..you tell me?" he answered a little rudely. He had grown so accustomed to girls like Ivana and Lily that he was very put off by girls that acted like Diya but did not have the redeeming fact of knowing him for many years".
"I did, shouldn't you be taking care of that?" Holly asked, narrowing her eyes a little. Remus stared a Sirius helplessly.
"I will…when I'm back at work on Monday. Besides, the lads will take care of it while I'm gone!"
"But they can't do magic!! What if they mess it up."
"Holly look, I hate to sound every remotely like some Dark Lord supporter, but you're a Muggle…you shouldn't be getting used to Magic being used for you all the time…'
"Why not? What, with me and Remus getting married…"
"Oh right…I'd forgotten." Sirius said ended the conversation nonchalantly as the doorbell rang. "Thank heavens…I've been saved" he muttered as he walked away from an indignant Holly and distressed Remus to answer the door. "Who is it?"
"James" came the answer.
Sirius whooped rather gleefully and began to unlock the door.
"WAIT!" Remus bellowed scaring Sirius half out of his pants.
"Merlin! Moony what has gotten into you!?" Sirius asked a little wearily, worried he was about to be lectured about kindness to his mate's fiancée.
"Ask him the question!"
"Oh stupid Ministy procedure."
"It's alright Sirius, Lily would've been furious if she found out we hadn't done it either" James said, his voice muffled through the door.
"Oh holy blast-ended skrewt. Alright James…if that is your realll name!" Sirius joked. "What do we say when we need to use a very important map?"
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
"Brill!" Sirius said swinging open the door to see James covered head to toe in what looked like soot.
"Merlin Prongs!" Remus exclaimed, "You look like Sirius' mates at the garage."
"What happened!?" Holly asked.
"Oh, I was spying on a couple of potential Death Eater scum and had to hide myself in a chimney" James said absently staring at something on the sofa.
Holly sniffed rather pompously. "Well…on that note. Remus love, I must go. I've just remembered I need to call a caterer!"
"A caterer?" Sirius mimed at James who looked just as confused.
"But…I had something important to tell you…" Remus muttered looking embarrassed as his friends watched.
"Tell me later love!" Holly said kissing him swiftly and walking out of the flat.
"Charming!" Sirius muttered.
"Oh leave it Sirius" Remus replied tiredly sinking into the armchair next to James and pointing his wand at the door to replace all of the security charms.
"I'm just saying….if a woman is that difficult to talk to…."
"Leave it Padfoot.." James said and then held up a picture of a pretty blonde girl and Sirius. "Any reason you still have this lying around?"
Sirius blushed a slight pink. "I was just concocting my next plan to get her back."
Remus laughed. "Mate. You really make it all seem like a game. I'm hanging on to Holly for dear life. Petrified of being alone.." he muttered. "And you! You seem to think that Ivana will fall for some trick from Hogwarts and want to be with you all over again. It doesn't quite work like that!"
"Oh booo Moony, you're a party pooper" Sirius said before getting up to go to the bathroom. Both Remus and James both knew that Sirius was treating losing Ivana quite unlike a game. He just seemed to want everyone to believe he didn't care. It had been a little over a month and a half since Ivana had broken it off and Sirius was not himself. One, he'd gotten a job. True, he'd found an easy way out working for muggles and exchanging the money, but it was a job nonetheless. Two, he's been leaving his evening motorcycle excursions for weekends so as not to interrupt with his new regime. And Three, he was drinking just a little bit more than any of them were comfortable with.
"Look Moony mate, why are you so worried about your furry little problem? She loves you doesn't she? It's not a huge deal.." James said encouragingly.
" Oh sure… don't worry love…I just need to go on business once every month. Around the same time every month. Oh, no you cant come with me…Its rather dangerous..banking work" Remus said sarcastically in answer, as Sirius returned to the sitting room. He let out a bark of laughter and patted Remus on the back,
"Well…atleast you're keeping your sense of humour about it Moony!"
Remus too smiled and soon all three marauders were laughing.
"It's ok mate, you'll figure it out….if you don't, me and James will obliviate her or something!" Sirius said finally controlling his laughter. "Anyway, on to other matters….to what do we owe this visit fellow Marauder and ex-fellow-bachelor?"
James snorted and said, "Well since I was in London, I decided to stop by to collect Moony for the usual tea at ours. Since you're not at work should I assume your tagging along?"
Sirius said, "Will Ivana be there?"
"Oh…right…yes she will" James said bewildered.
"You can't possibly come Sirius!" Remus said as he put on his traveling cloak.
"Oh yes, I very well can!" Sirius replied, seizing his own dark cloak and fixing a determined expression on his face. "Maybe today will be the day lads…" and with that, apparated to Godric's Hollow.
"Unlikely…" James joked to Remus who laughed and then they too apparated to Godric's Hollow.
"Hellllo Love!!" Sirius said practically hurtling Lily over in the kitchen where they entered. Lily laughed and hugged him back.
"PADFOOT!" James bellowed, hurrying past Remus and pulling Sirius off his wife.
"Oh come on Prongsie, we all know I've never had a thing for Lily!" Sirius said retreating rather crossly. "I just missed her!"
"You saw her yesterday!" James replied laughing, "And I only meant for you to be careful! She is seven months pregnant!!"
"Oh, I suppose your right…" he said quietly, his voice trailing off as two other women stood in the doorway peering in. "Brilliant James…you've given me away.." he said approaching one fair-haired and one dark haired girl. "Hello Diya love, alright?" he said first, giving her a kiss on the cheek. Diya merely smiled back and looked cautiously at her friend beside her, who was now biting her lip.
"Hi Ivvy" Sirius whispered giving her cheek a kiss too.
"Alright Sirius?" she answered weakly.
There was an awkward silence in the room which seemed to last hours until Remus finally said.
"Hi girls, how're you?"
Both answered and went over to hug Remus hello. He and Diya a little stiffly as they only spoke on the occasion, and Ivana a little distractedly as she was concentrating on calming her heart from racing after she had brushed by Sirius.
They all stood in the kitchen looking at each other, feeling strange that they were once again, all together.
"Where's Pete?" James said to Lily.
"Oh he's just helping me set up the teatable"
"I hadn't expected you all to be here!" Peter said emerging from the other room looking quite happy.
"Ah, together again at last!" Sirius said with a glance at Ivana. "Everyone must stay for lunch…"
"Yes, everyone must stay…" Lily said looking at Sirius. Everyone laughed.
"Hey, it was his home once before!" James said with a chuckle.
"It still is!!" Sirius said indignantly as they all shook their heads amusedly, and headed to the living room. "Hey!! It still is!!!"
Lunch was a casual affair, no one took it upon themselves to point out that this was the first time they'd all hung out together in months. They just sat completely comfortable with one another, old relationships forgotten and recent break-ups becoming humorous.
"I was a stupid oblivious prat wasn't I?" Sirius said laughing as Ivana recounted the New Year's Story. "I didn't think anything of that hug…I'm useless with girls though."
Peter burst out laughing. "Ha, come on Padfoot, you can have any girl you want!"
"Yeah, but then I have no clue how to make them really happy…" Sirius said sending a significant look Ivana's way.
Lily, eager to change the topic upon seeing Ivana's face, "So what d'you reckon? I'm thinking about quitting the Ministry job right after I go on maternity leave. It's full of rotten hypocrites anyway. Even in my department."
"I'd do the same if I worked for the Ministry" Remus said furiously. "The way they've been covering up the killings and their connection to Lord Voldemort. It's almost as if they want people to walk into the hands of a Death Eater."
"That's the good thing about being an Auror isn't it?" James said, "They actually use us fairly well, I mean I'm stationed in Hogsmeade for the most part on Dumbledore's orders! If I sat at a desk and overheard all the bloody politics, I'd want out as soon as I could too.." he said hugging Lily supportively.
"Besides Lils, I'd expect you'd want to same home with the little one for a while anyway. You always did have protective tendencies." Sirius said with a smile.
"You'd think you would get bored, sitting at home with two tiny people…but honestly I can't think of anything more rewarding!" Diya put in with a smile.
" I definitely want to stay at home for a little while. Maybe once he starts up at Hogwarts, I'll find another job. By then I hope someone will have gotten rid of Voldemort!" Lily said.
"Hasn't he infiltrated the Ministry anyway?" Peter said thoughtfully.
"Yeah I've heard rumours, but no one's quite sure who could have possibly been imperiused," Lily said.
"I'm considering quitting Witch Weekly…I have a funny feeling we've been infiltrated too. All of the articles I've been taking photos for have been strangely leaning toward a no muggle-born cast." Ivana agreed.
"What'll you do instead Iv?" Sirius asked staring at her.
" Work freelance I suppose…" she said, suddenly finding it difficult to look at him.
"You know what!?" James said suddenly, standing up.
"What James?" Remus said with a smile, seeing the same look James always wore when he was about to belt out what he thought was a good idea.
"Oh Prongs, look think long and hard, are you sure this idea is as good as you think it is?" Sirius said immediately in response.
"James' ideas are always brilliant" Peter said loyally.
"Oh that's a laugh!" Sirius said, 'I'll bet everyone else in this room, including James can think of atleast 5 instances where James has come up with a particularly stupid idea…infact-"
"Padfoot! Give it a rest, seriously I think this is a good plan…" James said gathering together seven quills and seven pieces of parchment. "Let's all write a resolution of sorts…we don't know how long it'll be until we're all together again, but let's say that by the time we all find ourselves randomly in the same place, (not counting the baby's christening, because that was pre-planned) we'll have fulfilled our wishes…"
"That stipulation ruined it mate…" Sirius joked, thumping James on the back with a laugh.
"Oh James, you big softie…"Lily said laughing. Upon seeing the disappointed look on her husband's face, she promptly followed this with, "it's a great idea love!"
Everyone nodded and reached for parchment and quills.
"Alright!" James said standing up with a look of authority. "Shall I read them all? Or does everyone want to read their own out?"
"Nah Prongs, you read them out and we'll guess who it was…" Sirius said happily.
"Alright, resolution number 1: "I hope to have the courage to finally tell the truth…"
"MOONY!" James, Sirius and Lily said together.
Remus smiled wryly. "Yeah, I want to have told Holly that I'm a werewolf…"
The others nodded and murmured their encouragement.
"Resolution number 2," James said clearing his throat, "I resolve to have you all round to dinner, soon after the christening…haha!"
"LILY!" James yelled as the others laughed. "You were supposed to take this seriously!!"
"Oh James, I am very serious…I need to make sure everyone fulfilled their promises, and if we don't set up a vague plan for after the christening, who knows when it'll actually happen!" Lily said after winking at her friends.
"Hmph…"James muttered.
"What's that love?"
"Resolution number 3… I resolve to catch a Death Eater before he kills anyone in this room."
"James.." everyone said looking very solemn and grateful.
"Oh love…" Lily said instantly feeling horrible about her playful attitude.
"Look, I'm just saying, we've all been attacked at some point…some a little worse than others…but still, I just want to make sure I take out at least one of them before anything worse happens to you lot."
"You shouldn't put so much on your shoulders!" Ivana said, rather choked up.
"He wouldn't be James if he didn't" Sirius said getting up to sit closer to his best mate.
"Anyway, sorry to bring a morbid air into the room. I was hoping that would be the last one…" James said shrugging with a smile. "Ok, resolution number 4…I want to be stronger"
"Wormy?" Sirius said looking at Peter.
"No, that's mine…" Ivana said as Peter made a face. "Sometimes…sometimes I think I'm the only one of all of you who is about ready to run…every second."
"Ivana!" Remus and Lily said together as Diya and James shook their heads. Peter remained silent, which was about as much as anyone could expect. He and Ivana didn't really see eye to eye.
"Ivana, we're all ready to run….do you honestly believe none of us have ever wondered just how deep we're in this? You are stronger than you think…" Sirius said. "Stronger than any of the people like Dorcas Meadowes who just flits herself into unenviable situations and claws herself out by a hair."
Ivana nodded and silently felt her heart contract. How could she ever have been threatened by Dorcas? She tried to remind herself, that it was only now that they were broken up, Sirius had started telling her things like that.
"Oh brilliant Iv!! That means you'll definitely win.."James joked, "even if you don't think your stronger, we all will think so….damn it, why'd I have to give myself something so hard."
"You prat!" Lily said smacking his arm, but knowing he was only trying to relieve tension.
"What can I say James…win win win is my motto" Ivana said with a large smile.
James winked and looked at the next resolution. "Resolution number 5…I want to get closer to you guys"
"That's mine" Peter and Diya both said simultaneously and then looked at each other confused.
"Oh no wait, I said, I wanted to keep in closer touch with you guys" Diya said after a thought.
"Well…that certainly makes sense!" Lily and Ivana said.
"Wormtail! What d'you mean by yours?" James said.
"I just feel as though I've been drifting from you…and I don't want that to happen! Not just yet anyway" he finished with a laugh.
Sirius laughed too. "Oh don't fret Pete…I shouldn't think you'll find it that hard.
James smiled. "So finally….Resolution number 7, I guess since the last two were basically the same. 'I want to get Ivana back.'". James looked up rather nervously. "Three guesses?"
"Wonderful Sirius…" Ivana said coldly, getting up from the sofa. "Thank you for Lunch everyone. I'm sorry it had to end this way." She smiled briefly at her friends who all looked uncomfortable and then turned to Sirius. "You just had to…didn't you?". And with that, she headed angrily to the front door and disappeared as soon as she shut the door behind her.
"Blimey mate!" Remus said incredulously.
"I'd better go find her." Sirius said. "I want to explain, I need her back."
And then, he too headed to the door and disappeared.
The remaining friends looked at each other wearily. Sirius' resolution seemed as though it would be a tiring one for all of them.
A/N: How was that!? I feel as though the new chapters are sucking, so please give me any feedback you can! The next chapter will be up very soon. I feel as though I'm on a roll finally!! Enjoy!! - Pam