Chapter-7: Desperation

October 1975

Remus P.O.V

Maybe everyone just assumes what happens in our dorm. Maybe they just say, 'you know the marauders, don't you? You know how they are the closest group of people ever seen. How they never fight, how they always stand up for each other, how everyone else wants to be them.' And yeah, most of it is true. We are close, maybe not the closest because I know that our female counterparts – Lily, Marlene, Juliette, Alice and Christina were so much closer, they just clicked in a way we never could. We do stand up for each other, simply because we know that if we don't stand up for each other then no one else will. And everyone wants to be us, why wouldn't they? We're the most popular kids in school. Everyone either fears us or loves us, and it's good, but sometimes it's lonely.

And I hate it when people assume we never fight. The Gryffindors know better, they know that we can have disagreements that make the floor shake, that wake up the entire house. And it feels good, to let out all our frustrations. But they still believe we forgive and forget all of those arguments, those fights. And it's true we don't fight much, but when we do, it's destructive in every way. And sometimes our fights are over small things, sometimes they aren't. This time, it isn't something small or petty. It definitely seems that way, but it hits deeper.

Surprisingly, it's James that starts this fight. Well, to be honest, Peter started the discussion that led to the fight.

"What are we supposed to do now?" Peter asked.

"Stare at the walls?" Sirius answered absentmindedly, as he glared at his parchment. He was in a bad mood, unsurprising as he was expected to go home this winter for some pureblood tradition. He had been in a bad mood for the past two months, and it hadn't let up. James didn't know why he was in a bad mood, and didn't particularly care. They were brothers, if Sirius wanted to tell James something he would and James would accept it, but he wouldn't pry.

So, James rolled his eyes and scoffed. "Wonderful answer, Pads. Honestly, we should award you for it!" Peter laughed at that, and I watched as it slowly spiralled into a wreck without doing anything to stop it.

Sirius, always at the end of his rope, snapped back at James. "Well, it's not like all of us can think about Evans throughout the day, for every day, when we're bored. Even if she is very pretty!"

"About that," Peter interrupted, before James could blow up. "Shouldn't we think about something to do? What with the mysterious letter and all?"

James ignored Peter, as did Sirius. It was like I was the only person who could see the real bonds between our group. Sirius and James, close as brothers, their fights hurting the other in a way only siblings can achieve. Sirius being jealous that Peter knows James for longer and better that Sirius would, and Peter hating Sirius because James spent more time with Sirius.

"Why would you bring Lily into this? It's as if you are jealous that you don't have anyone to care about you or to care about!" James spat, and Sirius recoiled.

"You know nothing of my life, James. Absolutely nothing about anything!" Rather than his normal explosive temper, Sirius' fury was cold this time. I knew immediately that this was a fight that none of us were getting out of unscathed. And if you're going to get hurt anyways, why not do it on your terms?

"Just because you've got the perfect family and are spoon-fed everything, doesn't mean everyone lives like that, James." I said quietly. And maybe that was my mistake, involving myself in a fight too early where I would get hurt anyways. Because from there the fight escalated drastically, each of us accusing the other and throwing events and words back in the other's faces. We were aiming to hurt, and hurt the others we did.

Sirius stormed out first, when James brought up the thought that Sirius planned the entire thing – getting into Gryffindor, pretending to hate his family and tricking all of us to believing that he wasn't like the rest of his family. It was a low blow and James looked slightly guilty.

James was the next to storm out though, because of me.

"Perhaps we shouldn't expect the darling golden boy, and pampered prince to understand how the lives of us lowly peasants works. Though, James? You should stop harassing Lily. She hates you enough as it is, and I don't see anything in you that she should like." I told him, and he stalked out before he could punch me. I smiled wryly and turned to Peter. Knowing I was sowing the seeds for discord among our group completely, I grinned. "Next time try not to enjoy our fights so much, will you? And jealousy really doesn't suit you, Pete!"

I walked out, magic swirling around me, before Peter could do something he would regret. I relished in the expressions of fear, curiosity and shock on most of the younger Gryffindors' faces. Glancing at Lily, I saw that she seemed content. She obviously thought she knew what we had argued about, just like most people. She was probably way off the mark in that count, and I forced my face into a stoic mask, and pulling my magic close I left the common room.

I headed straight to the dungeons. Sirius would head to the Astronomy tower and even if I wanted to go there, which I don't, he left the common room first. James would go to the Quidditch pitch or the edges of the forbidden forest, even though he would leave after me. He had probably gone to Frank Longbottom, sixth year Gryffindor prefect's, room to enjoy a well needed break from the rest of us. And Frank would tell James to go and cool off first.

Reaching the Great Hall, I veered off towards the portrait of a stern looking witch and walked right through her. The passageway behind her, led to the most cosy alcove deep in the dungeons. And I sat snug in the alcove, calming down with each passing minute, thinking about a solution. And the peace lasted for all of an hour.

"Well, Remus. Care to explain why you let me take control?" I groaned and closed my eyes, hoping desperately for sleep. (I had already resigned myself to a sleepless night).

When I saw Lily the next day, I thought about how underprepared we were, I thought about Lily's best friends, the closest group of friends I knew. And I figured that if we were all doomed to die anyways, we should die fighting. So, a trustworthy group with whom we can learn to fight would be the best idea, and none of the marauders would stop me. And grinning, I told the fierce girl with red-hair, who would go down in history as one of the bravest people ever, to meet us with her friends on the first Friday of the next month. (I was desperately hoping we could win this war, for those who would suffer because of it, and for those who would come after it).

November 1975

Lord Voldemort P.O.V

Lord Voldemort had told the inner circle about a mysterious message that could have arrived to anyone at Hogwarts and in Slytherin. The death eaters had immediately sent out letters to their children and their allies to find out about this 'message'. Lord Voldemort was pleased with this, but something was nagging Lord Voldemort. What happened if this information was given to someone who would oppose Lord Voldemort? Even if no one could possibly know about the failsafes, perhaps it would be wise to check on them? Yes, Lord Voldemort would do that in a few months.

May 13, 1998

Ginny P.O.V

Bill had returned in two days, which was surprising. He usually took longer than that, but his arrival was explained by the three girls clinging to him. Two of them were barely 7, a blonde and brunette, who had been crying recently. The third was a 11 year old, another blonde, who looked around completely in shock. Bill handed the children off to mum (she was pleased to have something to do, and she was the official baby-sitter and cook of the area), before stalking across the room to where Hermione and Luna were talking to groups of people.

He whispered something to them, and Hermione nodded seriously, as did Luna. Unluckily, the people they had been talking to didn't seem to agree with whatever Bill said. Sitting in a corner as I was, I didn't hear what one of the people said, but I did hear what the second person said. "Just because you are insensitive and don't care that Harry Potter, our hero, is dead, doesn't mean that the rest of us don't care. There is no hero now to kill you-know-who, so why should we do what you say?"

I have one moment to process the words and see the shock on Luna's face and Hermione's face as she recoils from the person. I saw Percy's hand go for his wand, and Ron turn around in a rage. Mum's stoic and smiling face threatens to crumble and Charlie has already started moving towards the confrontation. The rest of the surrounding people and those in the entire bunker turn around and stare silently. I hadn't even realised that I had stood up, until people moved out of my way. But before anyone of us could speak, Bill's lips rose in a cruel mockery of a smile and he laughed, a cold, chilling laugh.

"You don't get it, do you?" He snarled at the people just standing and staring. He shook his head mockingly. "Those heroes who you worship are but a fraction of those you should. Harry Potter was one hero, who died to defy the dark lord. And I cared for him, he was my younger brother! But there are so many more, who did more damage than Harry, who defied their worlds for something they believed in. There are those who defied their beliefs to help those who they love. The thing is, there are hundreds, thousands of heroes out there, but most of them are just unknown to the masses. Each of you has someone you love die to this war, you have lost something you care about. For some it's like your world has broken, for others it might be something as simple as a favourite toy, but nonetheless, you have lost something. So, if you aren't going to fight because your hero is dead, then fight for the things you have lost, for the hero who died trying to save you. You can't save Harry Potter, or those who are already dead, so make sure that their death wasn't in vain. Avenge them now, and grieve later."

As soon as his impromptu speech was done, Bill left the area. Ron and Hermione fled as well, and Luna hastily followed them. In the silence that followed, I turned stone-faced to the other refugees. "Don't you dare condemn anyone in my family for not caring about Harry. None of you even knew him personally, and we consider – considered him family. If I hear even one more sentence like that, you will regret it!"

Everything is changing, and not everyone knows this! They're all in for an adventure… the most dangerous game of their lives.