The Battle Mage
Noelle sat regally at the head of a long table in an ornate side room at Gringotts with the goblins to her right. The door opened and the crowd of people listed in the Will of James and Lily streamed in.
First came the Hogwarts professors, Minerva McGonagall and Filius Flitwick, walking somberly into the meeting room. Regent Longbottom, who was in a situation very similar to Noelle's own, showed up in the stead of Frank and Alice Longbottom. Noelle had heard what happened to Frank and Alice and felt grief for two great people – though she hadn't known them as well as James and Lily, or even Sirius and Remus, had. Severus Snape proudly entered, sneering at the other occupants. Lastly, Remus Lupin slinked past the doors.
Noelle was prepared to snap and rage at him, until she took in his appearance. His eyes were red and puffy, his face gaunt and pale, and his robes were old and torn. He looked carefully at the floor, afraid to meet her eyes. She sighed – as his Alpha, it was her job to look after him, and with the other Marauders to run with, Moony had been happy, but without them, she could see these last few moons had been hard for him.
She opened her arms and said, "Come here, Moony."
Having the entire weight of a barreling werewolf hit her, they both toppled, and he buried his face in her collarbone, muttering, "Alpha, Alpha, Alpha."
"I had no idea you were spending the moons alone, Moony. I would have worked out a way to spend them with you if I had known," she apologized gently, picking herself up and settling them in chairs right next to each other, scooting them until their elaborate armrests were touching.
"I believe we have all of those listed in the Will who are living and able to appear present at this time except for Albus Dumbledore, and we will not allow him to delay the last wishes of the Potters any longer than he already has. At this time, I am going to ask that the doors be closed. Unfortunately, the frequency of Will readings has greatly increased due to this war, so I'm sure many of you are familiar with the procedure. If not, pay attention carefully," the goblin began, "This is the Last Will and Testament of James Charlus Potter and Lily Jessamine Potter, recorded within a memory stone and certified by the British Branch of Gringotts. It was witnessed by Noelle Morrigan Potter, and Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. Are there any questions?"
The occupants of the room were all quiet, though some kept sending quizzical or pitying glances towards Noelle and Remus, whose was still leaning against her shoulder and clutching her hand as though he thought she would disappear. She felt a pang of guilt and hid a wince. She really needed to spend the next full moons with Remus.
The goblin touched a silvery pebble that looked almost like it was composed of hardened pensieve memories and a glowing image that looked rather like a muggle projection appeared above it.
An image of Lily, with her wine-red curls and passionate green eyes seemed to peer curiously at whatever device was recording her. Noelle bit back a little huff of exasperated laughter and wasn't surprised when Flitwick seemed to be doing the same. Lily had always been close to the Charms Professor and had eagerly shown them both what projects she was working on for her Mastery. She noted that Severus looked like he had swallowed a snitch as he stared at the girl who used to be his best friend.
Off to the side, out of the picture, someone made noise – like a muffled curse – and then scooted in closer so that his image appeared as well. It was James' head and shoulders, with those stupid little curls that stuck straight up. His mischievous hazel eyes were hidden behind wire-frame spectacles that perched delicately on the tip of his nose before he nudged them back up with his knuckle. Noelle stiffened and frost seemed to spread from the hand that gripped the table with white knuckles.
The image of her big brother cleared his throat and said cheerfully, "Well, Marauders and Co., this all seems rather depressing, but Lily-flower says we need a Will for Harry and I can't help but agree. I wouldn't have said anything if I didn't, 'cause it's Lily-flower and Bast has made it very clear that the woman is always right," he used his Seeker reflexes to dodge a swat from Lily to the back of his head, but a small paperweight nailed him directly in the head.
"Oi, Noelle! Knock it off," he turned indignantly, rubbing his skull.
"Act like a child, get treated like a child," an projected voice that was unmistakably Noelle taunted. Minerva and Flitwick chortled as James promptly turned and pouted at Lily.
"Honestly, James Potter! This is our Will, don't let the last recording of you be of a total ninny. It's sensible!" Lily scolded and everyone in the room, except Severus and the goblins couldn't keep the smiles from breaking out on their faces at the familiar banter.
"Too late, Lils," they could hear Noelle quip in the back of the recording, "He was always a ninny."
"Hey! Alright, alright, keep your hair on. Here we go. I, James Charlus Potter–"
"And I, Lily Jessamine Potter nee Evans," Lily added.
"Being of sound mind and body," James continued, ignoring Noelle's unladylike snort, "speak our last wishes willingly. First off, little Hadrian's guardianship."
"If we've passed before Noelle and Sirius finally stop dancing around each other and tie the knot…" Lily teased lightly.
"Not all of us have the patience to deal with a Marauder for a husband, a pregnancy, and a Mastery at the same time. Some of us take it in stages, you know, those with common sense," Noelle's recording retorted. Minerva chuckled and Filius smiled softly at the recording of one of his prodigies having fun, but the current Noelle was looking at her brother with a lost expression on her face.
"…Then we want Noelle to take custody of Hadrian. With the way Dumbledore says Voldemort is hunting us, there's no better place for our son than with a battle mage. If they've gotten married, we want them both to have custody. But if by some tragedy, they are unable or have passed beyond the Veil themselves Alice and Frank have agreed to take him in as their own. Alice and I always wanted our children to be close – they are godbrothers after all. If by some terrible circumstance, none of these witches and wizards are capable or willing, we would beseech Minerva McGonagall or Filius Flitwick to care for him. Under no circumstances is he to go to my sister, Petunia Dursley, or her husband," Lily said firmly.
Both Minerva and Filius looked startled but touched that the Potters had considered them worthy guardians for their son. Minerva was slightly unsettled by the roaring wave of hatred when she realized that Dumbledore had known the Potters didn't want their boy with the Dursley monsters but had placed him there anyway.
"Frankly, I've never met a more terrifying person than my baby sister, and I think Death himself would probably screech and run the other direction so I doubt any of this will be necessary but…" James interjected.
"Aw Jamie, my cold dead heart is warmed by your lovely compliments," Noelle's recording cooed.
"But maybe it's just because her face is so ugly–" he stopped because another paperweight hit the back of his head. James turned and exclaimed, "Ow! Are you conjuring those just to hit me with them?"
"Don't be a bitch, Jamie. No one can use offensive magics in Gringotts, but I can conjure or transfigure things to throw at you all day," Noelle said smugly in the background. Severus snorted spitefully at that and the current Noelle glared at him. The temperature dropped a few more degrees in the room.
James rolled his eyes but said, "Well, if we die, Harry is my Heir, but Noelle will hopefully become Regent Potter until he's old enough to take over. Oh Merlin, you'd scare the Wizengamot and those plum-colored peacocks to their graves, Bast! What a prank! Anyway, if we die, there's a letter for Noelle, her graduation present for her Mastery, and a chest marked with a nundu to be delivered to her personal vault."
"How on the nose of you Jamie. What'd you do, mark Siri's with a grim? Are Remi and Peter's a wolf and a rat?" Noelle's recording snarked again. Present Noelle snorted at the accuracy and Minerva sent a suspicious glance her way – she'd always thought the Marauders might be animagi but could never confirm it.
"… Maybe," James admitted, "To Sirius, there's a letter, their wedding present, and a chest," here he coughed sheepishly, "marked with a grim to be collected from the goblins. Remus, there's a letter sent left with the goblins, a cabin on the edge of a forest – on the other side of the Forbidden Forest believe it or not – called Gryffin's Retreat, and a chest marked with a wolf with the goblins as well. And you can't give any of it back so HA Mooney! The same for Peter, a letter, and a chest marked with a rat, and a little extra present as well from us Wormtail. Minnie, for being the best Head of House and for putting up with us year after year, we left a chest marked with a cat to be delivered to you as well. I also want you to have a copy of my transfiguration research, though I want the original copies to go to Noelle. We designed them for her, after all. Anything I didn't name goes to Noelle and Harry unless Lily says otherwise."
Lily continued, "Alice and Frank, there's not much I can give you that you don't already have, but I have left a letter and the chest marked with a mandrake to be collected. I left a small present for Neville in the chest if I'm not around to act as his godmother. Filius, I left a letter and a chest marked with a wand for you, and a copy of my charms research – though I want Noelle to get the original. Thank you for being the best mentor a muggleborn could ask for sir, even though I wasn't in your House. Remus should get copies of all my research and James' as well, but I want Noelle to have the originals. Just something to keep you occupied on your bad days, Remus. Severus should get a copy of my potions research, though again, Noelle gets the originals. I think you'll like it Sev, and I'm sorry that we couldn't be better friends in the end."
"I think that's it, isn't it?" James asked, turning sideways, most likely looking at Noelle or Dumbledore.
"I believe so. We love you all, and thank you for your presences in our lives," Lily said smiling before leaving the projection.
"Noelle, take good care of Harry," James said seriously, dropping all manner of joking and mischief, "We'll be here waiting when your time is up, just like Mum and Dad, but if you come early, I'll do my best to kick your ass."
"You could try, bastard," Noelle laughed wetly off to the side in the recording. Presently, the air became colder, so cold they could see their breath fog in their air and ice spread to cover the entire table.
James continued, "I want you to live a long and happy life, and as much as I hate to think of it because you're my little sister, make lots of babies with Sirius. The Marauders… we were all good at what we did… but we all knew you'd be great. Even if I'm not there, I'll still be the proudest man in the world because I've had an amazing life, with the best friends, the most amazing wife, the sweetest kid, and the most badass little sister a guy could ask for. We love you and the Marauders and Harry, especially Harry, so much." He walked out of the frame and the recording ended.
Noelle couldn't help but feel disappointed. There had been no evidence to get Sirius out of Azkaban. She hadn't believed there would be – she was a witness, after all – but she had hoped that they had mentioned it somewhere, even just in passing. She would still get her fiancé out it just might not be legally.
The goblin – Noelle never caught his name – said, "Before we begin to give out what was willed, there was one other letter James Potter included, less than a week before their deaths."
He handed Noelle a copy of the projection that she pocketed – Harry would like to see it when he was older – and an envelope that had her name scrawled on the cover in James' horrid handwriting. With a clenched jaw and hopeful eyes, she flicked a hidden knife from her left wand holster and slit the flap deftly. She twirled the knife absently, caught it by the hilt, and returned it to its sheath it in one smooth motion.
Noelle,
I asked that this letter be left to you because… because I'm scared. I have never been more terrified in my entire life. A powerful maniac and his followers are hunting my family, my Lily and Harry, and if he comes, we both know I won't be able to do much more than buy them time.
Lily is working on a blood ritual to keep Harry safe, and Dumbledore advised us to set up the Fidelius Charm around Potter Cottage. We were going to choose Sirius as our Secret Keeper, but he convinced us that it should be Peter instead. We know there's a spy in the Order, so Sirius is acting as a decoy. If we are betrayed, find Peter.
Love you always and forever,
James