In the summer of 1981, everyone was a suspect when Order of the Phoenix members started dying at an alarming rate.
"Backstabber"
"Benjy Fenwick"
JUNE 1981
James walked slowly towards his home in Godric's Hollow, the trees oddly still as there wasn't so much as a hint of wind. An odd ringing sounded in his ears when he caught sight of the open front door to his and Lily's cottage. His body felt like it was floating, his heart hammering in his chest as everything grew dark around him except for the little light shining through the front door. A light so out of place and jarring in the pitch darkness that had engulfed him.
Upon taking a step inside, James instantly regretted it. On the floor in front of him, lying in a pool of blood, was Sirius. Everything around him seemed to blur and distort as James stumbled forward, tripping over his own two feet. Sirius' dead eyes glanced up at the ceiling, his mouth hanging open like a fish out of water. His clothes were torn open, large gashes littering his chest and throat. James felt the bile heave up this throat as his knees nearly gave out.
Sirius was his brother. Sirius was his family. Sirius had been his other half since the day they had met on the Hogwarts Express. To lose Sirius was like losing a piece of himself, like a vital limb had been severed from his body.
To see him lifeless on the floor made James want to die on the spot. His breath came out in harsh huffs as his eyes looked up, forcing himself to look away from his best mate. Except his eyes focused on another body. Lily was not far away from Sirius, her body twisted and mangled in the same way as his best mate's. Taking a shaky step forward, his eyes slid to the right of Lily to see his ten-month-old son dead as well.
There was so much blood that it coated the floor and the walls.
Vomit escaped his lips as he fell to his knees. He reached out a shaky hand to touch Harry, to ensure that he was in fact not dead. All James could see was his own hands and arms covered in blood. He couldn't remember how it had even gotten there.
His fingers slid across Harry's neck. When he didn't feel the steady heartbeat of his normally energetic child, James couldn't control the sobs that left his lips. The only thought that could penetrate his mind was that he had not been there. He had not saved them. He had failed everyone he loved.
A sharp cry snapped his body into action. James Potter shot up in bed drenched in sweat. Looking to his left, his eyes focused on the blurry image of Lily lying peacefully next to him with no blood or gashes marring her porcelain skin. James let out a shaky breath of relief as Harry's cries in the distance grew louder and more desperate. Lily began to stir, a soft groan escaping her lips. The tightening in his chest eased ever so slightly to see her alive.
More than awake, James shoved the sweat-drenched sheets off him as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed. The nightmare still burned in the back of his eyelids every time he blinked.
"James…?" Lily murmured, her voice thick with sleep.
"I've got him, Evans," James assured as he grabbed his glasses and his mirror from his bedside table.
James needed to see Harry for himself, to ensure he was alive and safe. He hoped Sirius didn't mind a late-night chat on the mirror because he knew he wouldn't go back to sleep without seeing Sirius alive as well.
When James entered Harry's room, he saw his son standing up in his cot. James gave his son a tired smile as he hauled the tiny boy out of the cot, snuggling him close to his chest. He could feel Harry's breathing on his bare chest and felt the warmth of his hot little body in his pajamas. Harry reached out and touched the growing beard that had graced James' cheeks the past few weeks. Rocking Harry, James made his way to the changing table to change his nappy.
Once clean, James fastened the buttons on his onesie before hauling Harry back up into his arms. He made his way downstairs to warm him up a bottle before settling into the parlor on the armchair by the fireplace.
James sighed as Harry shifted on his lap and brought the bottle to his mouth. Holding the mirror in one hand, James stared at his haggard reflection for a few moments. He couldn't even recognize himself anymore. Isolation had been harder than he anticipated it to be. The will to even get out of bed had been challenging. The desire to go places, see people, and do things made his heart ache. He had stopped caring about his appearance and grew a beard, let his hair grow to an even more unmanageable length, and hadn't bothered to change his clothes in the last couple of days. What was the point?
"Sirius Black," James croaked.
It took a few moments until the mirror rippled to reveal a dark room and the vague outline of Sirius appeared. James could barely see his features in the darkness.
"Everything all right?" Sirius asked in a gruff voice.
"Yeah, we're fine," James assured, the muscles in his shoulders relaxing. "Fancy a chat?"
There was a rustling and Sirius swore. "Gimme a second."
More shuffling. A low groan.
"Sirius?" Marlene mumbled sleepily. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Sirius whispered. "Go back to bed. It's just James."
"Are they all right?" Marlene asked, sounding much more alert.
"Yeah, James just misses me," Sirius replied. "Have you seen my boxers? Fuck it. Give me a sheet."
The mirror flopped down and James couldn't see anything. A few seconds later, shadows moved on the mirror. It took a few more moments before the mirror lit up and James could see his best mate's face. He looked exhausted as he flung himself down in a chair, his normally coifed hair looking more like a Potter's than a Black's in that moment. Fleamont would have beamed with pride.
"Ssssss!" Harry hissed at the mirror, his little legs kicking.
"Hey, Harry," Sirius greeted, a small smile gracing his features. "Is this why you called? This little menace won't sleep?"
James laid his cheek against Harry's head. "Nah, I had a bad dream. Needed to make sure you were still kicking it."
Sirius leaned back and extended his arm to rest it on his knee, giving James a not-so-needed view of Sirius' tattoo-covered chest and a little more than a happy trail as the sheet seemed to be coming undone at the waist. "Unfortunately for my mother, I am sadly still alive."
"Well, fuck Walburga," James said without hesitation. "Like her opinion counts for anything. I mean, she married her own cousin. Something is clearly wrong with her."
Sirius let out a bark-like laugh, throwing back to look at the ceiling. "I dare you to say that to her face."
"I'm fairly certain my mum has said worse to her face," James replied.
Sirius nodded, a fond smile gracing his features. "Euphemia was always my favorite person. Even beat you out for the top spot."
James' heart twisted. "She was a wonderful woman. It saddens me Harry won't have the opportunity to know her."
"We'll make sure he knows his grandmother was a class act," Sirius assured.
James only hoped they had the opportunity to do that. Turning his head, James buried his face into Harry's unruly hair.
"It'll work out," Sirius said in a certain tone, but James didn't know if that was for his own benefit or James'. "Neither one of us will allow anything to happen to Harry. Evans is pretty tough, too. I've been on the receiving end of a hex or two of hers. Nasty stuff."
James turned towards Sirius, a lump forming in his throat. "I fucking hate prophecies."
Sirius was the only person who knew the full contents of the prophecy. James could remember Sirius had thrown a vase or two in anger before the tears had burned his eyes. Sirius had vowed he wouldn't let anything happen to Harry.
"They only have power if you give them power," Sirius reasoned.
"Well, Voldemort is giving this one power," James argued, his arm tightening around Harry. "Twelve days, Pads. He was twelve days early."
There was nothing that could have been done. Lily's waters broke twelve days early in the early hours of the thirtieth-first of July. After about fifteen hours of laboring at St. Mungo's, Harry made his appearance into the world screaming and red-faced at exactly eleven fifteen at night. Forty-five minutes later, then they wouldn't be in hiding. If he had only been eleven days early instead of twelve, then they wouldn't be hiding. James' heart twisted at the cruelty of it all.
When Harry wasn't even a full day old, Albus Dumbledore visited them at St. Mungo's with the dreadful news. James had felt like he couldn't breathe the longer Dumbledore had talked, his face graver than James could ever remember seeing it.
James cleared his throat, pushing the memories aside. "He's not going to stop until Harry is dead."
"Well, over my dead body will that psychopath lay one bloody finger on my godson," Sirius replied, sounding so sure of himself.
"I know, Sirius," James replied, a small smile tugging on his lips. "It's why you were bestowed the godfather title."
"Mabadaba!" Harry babbled as he bounced his bottle on his lap.
Sirius raised his eyebrows. "You don't say?"
"Bagaba!" Harry replied.
Sirius chuckled. "Nah, I don't fancy that myself."
James shook his head. "Glad to see you and Harry communicate so well."
"It's a talent to speak baby, James," Sirius replied.
James laughed. "I'll let you get back to bed. I'm sorry for waking you."
Sirius carded a hand through his dark hair. "Nah, anytime. Sleep is overrated when I can spend time with my two favorite people. Just don't tell Marlene she's number three."
James grinned. "Just don't tell Lily she was bumped to number three as well."
"My lips are sealed," Sirius assured him, a soft smile tugging on his lips. "I mean, you do understand that you are number two now too, right? I would choose Harry over you any day."
James pressed a hand to his chest. "Ouch. That hurts to hear you admit it out loud but I guess it's hard to beat a baby. When he's a sassy teenager, I expect to move back up to number one, though."
Sirius laughed, shifting in his seat. "He won't be sassy with me. I'll be his favorite person in the entire world so I think you're doomed for the rest of your life as being second rate."
James tried to frown but found that his lips wouldn't cooperate. "You might as well just Avada me right now. There's a deep pain spreading in my chest."
"Don't be dramatic, Prongs," Sirius said with a grin. "It's very unbecoming."
"Love you too, Padfoot," James replied before he covered his hand over Harry's one ear and pressed his other ear to his chest. "You'll always be my number one. Just don't tell Harry."
James winked as he let go of Harry who let out a loud screech before be continued to drink his bottle. Sirius let out another loud bark-like laugh that would no doubt carry upstairs and wake Marlene. James knew for a fact that Sirius did not care.
"I'm showing him this memory when he's older so I'll be his favorite," Sirius challenged as he moved to stand up, the sheet dropping low and James caught sight of big little Sirius.
"Merlin, Sirius, my kid is here!" James protested. "Also, you know I was joking about you being my favorite."
"No take backs," Sirius mumbled as he attempted to tie the sheet back around him with one hand while the other still held the mirror to give James a nice view. "Also, it's not my fault you called me in the dead of night. I don't get dressed after sex if we're heading to bed afterward. You know that. Seems like such a waste."
James scrunched up his face. "Yeah, too much information, Sirius."
"You asked!" Sirius protested.
"I did not," James argued.
"PADAGA!" Harry shouted as he bounced on James' lap.
"When do they actually start saying words that you can understand?" Sirius asked as he tossed the mirror down and James only saw the ceiling.
"No idea," James replied. "I think he's starting to get mama and dada. He hisses at you like he understands the S in your name. The cat, Merlin, poor Archibald, Harry just screeches at him."
"Archibald is a menace," Sirius complained as he leaned his face into the frame of the mirror. "Any animal that dislikes Padfoot is a fucking menace."
"You two really need to start watching your language," Lily's voice rang.
James turned to his left to see Lily standing in the doorway of the parlor in her dressing gown. Harry shouted mama over and over again as he threw his bottle to the floor and reached out for her. A smile broke out across Lily's face as she moved forward to lift Harry up in her arms. James turned the mirror so Lily could see Sirius.
"Hello, Black," Lily greeted, her tone soft and affectionate. "Can you please stop using so many sweary words around my son?"
"Evaaaaaaans," Sirius whined as he lifted the mirror up into his hand and held his face square in the frame. "Why do you want to change me so badly?"
"I only want to change your choice of harsh language so that my son doesn't pick up on your bad habits," Lily replied. "There is nothing cute about a toddler using sweary words all the time."
Sirius rolled his eyes. "You sound like my mother. Blacks must be proper and not unseemly in both language and etiquette."
"Do not compare me to Walburga Black. I will hex your bits off," Lily hissed. "That woman is horrid!"
Sirius nodded, his lips pursing. "Yes, but you two share a hatred for sweary words, as you so eloquently put it, which is quite unfortunate."
"Goodnight, Black!" Lily said, ending the conversation.
"There are loads of things you don't have in common. I mean, she would love to see you dead for stealing magic and you obviously don't have that viewpoint," Sirius pointed out.
"Don't stir the cauldron, Sirius," James commented, turning the mirror back to him. "It's far too early in the morning for that."
"You know I love you, Evans," Sirius shouted. "If James and Marlene weren't in the picture, we would be soul mates!"
Lily leaned forward, cradling Harry to her chest. "In your dreams, Sirius."
"Oomph!" Sirius exclaimed as he pounded his fist into his bare chest. "Turn the knife, why don't you?"
"Goodnight, Sirius."
"Thanks, Pads," James said before he cut the connection and sat the mirror down in his lap.
Lily carded a hand through James' hair and he leaned into her touch. Closing his eyes, he let out a sigh. While the nightmare no longer burned into his eyelids, he didn't particularly fancy going back to bed.
"Are you all right?" Lily asked.
"Hmm, yeah," James replied as he looked up at her. "Couldn't sleep."
The last thing he wanted to do was relive his nightmare to her or anyone really. Death seemed to be a recurring theme as of late and he hoped if he didn't talk about it then maybe it would just stop. He really wanted the dreams to stop.
"James…" Lily trailed off, a frown working its way on her features.
"It's fine. I'm fine. Sleep is overrated, right?" James asked, his eyebrows raising above his glasses.
Lily sank down onto the arm of the chair, Harry plopping on her lap as he snuggled close to her chest. "I'm scared too, James."
James ran a hand along the small of her back, needing the comfort that only she could offer. "I just want to give Harry a normal life. I want us to be normal again."
"Voldemort can't live forever," Lily whispered.
James let out a small laugh. "Just long enough to ruin our lives and so many others."
"He won't win," Lily insisted.
James' eyes met hers. "I wish I shared your optimism, Evans."
"You used to," Lily replied, her toes brushing against his calf. "What happened, Potter?"
James sucked in a breath. "I live in a constant state of fear that my son will die. My son, Lily. No parent should have to live in that state of fear. It's so bloody crippling."
"I have to believe that Harry will be all right and have the opportunity to have the life that he deserves or I would fall apart at the seams," Lily admitted. "I have to believe that he'll get the chance to go to Hogwarts and meet a pretty girl and have kids and a job he loves. I have to believe he'll die of old age surrounded by family. I can't live in that state of fear, James. It's not healthy and it is crippling. You can't either. There are potions for depression, James."
James gave Lily a quick pat on the back before standing up from his chair. His hands shoved into his pajama bottoms as he took a few steps away from his son and wife.
"There's nothing wrong with it," Lily argued. "There are plenty of people who need medical intervention."
"I'm fine, Lily."
"You are certainly not fine!" Lily protested. "I can see it! Sirius can see it! Marlene can see it! Remus can see it! Peter can see it! We all see it, James, and nobody thinks any less of you! You deserve to be happy!"
James whipped around, his head shaking. "A little potion isn't going to fix things, Lily! Harry is still going to be marked for death! I can't be happy knowing that some fucking maniac is after my son! And what am I doing about it? Nothing! I'm sitting at home, twiddling my bloody thumbs, while my brothers are out there fighting and risking their lives! What does that say about me?"
"You are here protecting your family, James!" Lily said, her voice desperate and on edge. "That job is pretty damn important!"
"Yeah, it is," James agreed. "But I could be doing more. I'm tired. I think I'm going to try to sleep."
James started to make his way out of the parlor when Lily called for him. He paused in the doorframe, his shoulders tense.
"I love you," she said.
A lump clogged James' throat. "I love you, too."
Without missing another beat, he made his way out of the room and towards the stairs. James wouldn't be able to truly be happy until he knew Harry was safe. He had never wanted something so badly in his life.
Sirius leaned back in his chair, his eyes focused on the other end of the table to see Remus sitting between Dorcas and McGonagall. He cleared his throat, trying to listen to what Dumbledore was saying but found it hard to concentrate. Marlene pressed the ball of her heel into his calf, his attention snapping over to her. She gestured with her eyes towards Dumbledore, a subtle nod to remind him to pay attention.
Over the last several months, the Order meetings had become nearly unbearable. James and Lily had stopped coming when Harry was around four months old as it had become too dangerous for them to leave the house for the meetings. Sirius felt like a fish out of water without James by his side and it was becoming a very recurrent theme in his life.
Marlene had made herself even more present in the past few months. Maybe she knew he needed someone to keep him in line and stay out of trouble. Or maybe she just liked him as much as he liked her. The latter seemed highly impossible given how fucked up he was, but it was a nice thought to have.
Dragging his eyes across the table, Sirius spotted Peter sitting between Mary and Hagrid. Peter bit his nails, his eyes never leaving Dumbledore. Sirius furrowed his brow, wondering what had happened to their little friend group. The only one he still talked to, really talked to was James.
"Hey," Marlene whispered in his ear, her lips tickling him. "Are you all right?"
Sirius nodded, his eyes snapping over towards her. "Yeah."
Her arm slung around the back of his chair, her body pressing close to his. He leaned in towards her, feeling comforted by her warm body so close to his. Next to James, Marlene was the only one he trusted.
When the Order meeting concluded, Sirius didn't stick around to chit chat like so many others did. He wanted to get the hell out of the room before Remus could attempt to talk to him. Right when they were leaving, Gideon stopped him and gestured over towards Fabian and someone Sirius didn't recognize.
"Sirius, Marlene, this is my brother-in-law, Arthur Weasley," Gideon introduced. "Arthur, this is Sirius Black and Marlene McKinnon."
Marlene leaned in first, her hand extended, as she decided to be more social than he could ever be. A wide smile spread across her lips as she and Arthur greeted each other. Sirius hung back, shifting his weight and waited for the moment to be over with so they could leave. Except Marlene shot him a look and Sirius forced a tight smile on his lips.
"Arthur, great to meet you," Sirius said, his hand extended.
"Yes, pleasure to meet you as well," Arthur replied, a slight hesitancy to his voice.
Fabian let out a chuckle. "Don't let the Black name deter you, Arthur. Sirius is a good lad. He's been joining us in a bunch of missions lately."
Sirius licked his bottom lip, his hands working their way into his trouser pockets. "I'm not offended. I get a lot of odd looks when I tell people know my last name."
"Yes, well, I let it slip that I'm a Weasley in certain circles and I get quite a fair amount of looks myself," Arthur replied, a tight smile crossing his face. "I know the feeling."
Sirius snapped his fingers. "Let me guess, at least one person in my family has called you a blood traitor."
Marlene shot him a look that clearly told him to behave but Sirius ignored it.
Arthur chuckled. "Yes, I suppose so. I ran into Orion Black at the Ministry once. He was with Abraxas Malfoy. I don't believe they were pleased to see me."
A genuine smirk crossed Sirius' features. "That'd be my father. Bit of a berk if you ask me."
"Sirius just loves his family," Gideon added with a grin. "You should hear him talk about his mother."
"Merlin help us if you get Sirius started on her," Marlene whispered.
Sirius knocked his hip against hers. "Oi!"
Marlene grinned up at him, her arm looping around his. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Arthur. Gideon, Fabian, a displeasure as always."
"Fuck off, McKinnon," Gideon replied, a wide grin on his face.
Marlene arched an eyebrow. "You still owe me a Galleon from the Wasps match last week."
"Oh, what was that?" Gideon said loudly, his hand cupping his ear even though nobody had called for him. "I'll be right there! Sorry, Marlene, Mad Eye is calling me."
Marlene rolled her eyes as Gideon dashed off away from the group. "Fucker."
"He is, isn't he?" Fabian agreed as he slapped a hand on Arthur's back. "I got to get Arthur home. Has six boys at home and a little girl on the way."
Sirius raised his eyebrows. "You're still mentally sane?"
Marlene stepped on his foot, causing Sirius to grunt.
Arthur laughed. "They're a handful for sure but I wouldn't trade any of them for the world."
Sirius nodded. "My godson is a menace but I suppose I wouldn't trade him for the world either. They keep you on your toes."
"That they do!" Arthur agreed. "It was a pleasure to meet you both."
They said their goodbyes before Marlene steered him out of the house. Sirius slung a lazy arm around her shoulders as they stepped into the warm June air.
"You're shit at meeting people, you know that, right?" Marlene asked, affection clear in her tone.
"I have all the friends I need," Sirius reasoned.
"Your only friend is James at the moment," Marlene replied, her lips pursing to the side. "You've all but cut Remus out of your life and you barely talk to Peter."
Sirius scoffed. "Evans is my friend. You're my friend."
"I'm your girlfriend," Marlene emphasized. "You can't count me."
"Fine," Sirius conceded. "I have exactly two friends unless you say I can count Harry."
"Harry doesn't count either. He's your godson. And he's only ten and a half months."
"Age is merely a number," Sirius told her, his eyes scanning their surroundings as they walked.
"You're something else, Black," Marlene said, her head shaking. "I don't know what I see in you sometimes."
Sirius hummed. "It's the hair. And my winning smile. The way I give a punchline to a joke. Let's not forget, my cock. It's glorious."
Marlene laughed out loud, her body leaning into his. Sirius tightened his grip around her.
"It's definitely just the cock. Nothing else," Marlene assured him. "That's the winner."
"I knew it!" Sirius shouted, a wide grin spreading across his lips.
Marlene laughed as she tried to step out of his embrace, but he wouldn't let her move away from him. He kept a tight hold of her until they found a Muggle pub to grab some dinner and have a few pints to help unwind from the meeting.
Peter tapped his fingers on the arm of the sofa, his mind reeling over what the right thing to do actually was. He had spent a good portion of his life using James and Sirius as a barometer of what to do and what not to do. They had been the beacons in the fog on how to act and what to say and even who to be. Except James was in hiding and Sirius had no family. Peter saw them floundering and knew they didn't hold all the answers that he thought they once did.
The last thing Peter wanted was to die. Death seemed like a near certainty being friends with James and Sirius. Even though he had started down the dangerous path of playing both sides of the war due to no choice of his own, he couldn't help thinking that he couldn't walk the tightrope for much longer without falling flat on his face. He really didn't care if Muggleborns had magic. Merlin, he was dating a Muggleborn! But he also didn't want to fight against He Who Must Not Be Named. It seemed like a death wish to defy him.
"Hey," Mary greeted as she slid onto the sofa next to him, her lips pecking against his cheek. "Why the long face?"
Peter turned towards his girlfriend of a year to see her smiling at him. Her blonde hair hung around her face in large bouncy curls. Her round face looked so hopeful and loving that it only twisted the knife in his heart. He wasn't just betraying James and Sirius but Mary as well. Betraying Mary was the last thing he ever wanted to do.
Mary Macdonald had been a year younger than them at school and had been relentlessly bullied by the Slytherins for her timid demeanor and lack of knowledge of the Wizarding World. They hurled insults at her, hexed her, and she never once drew her wand to defend herself. In fact, Lily Evans had made it her own personal mission to protect Mary. It was how Peter got to know her so well.
"Just thinking," Peter replied, forcing a smile on his lips.
Mary raised her eyebrows as her fingers played with the hair on the nape of his neck. "About what?"
A lump formed in his throat. "Do you ever wonder if we're doing the right thing?"
Mary's brows furrowed. "About what?"
"About… about, well, the Order," he whispered the last two words as though Dumbledore himself would overhear.
Mary frowned. "You don't have to go on the missions, Petey. I know they upset you. Just do what I do and make potions or research. Nobody is forcing you to follow Death Eaters and get into duels."
"Yeah, but you haven't got friends like Sirius and James," Peter argued. "They'll take the piss out of me. Great Gryffindor I am."
Mary sighed. "It doesn't matter what James and Sirius think about you, Peter. You can do as little or as much as you want."
Peter leaned into Mary, his hand fumbling for hers. "Sometimes, I think we should just run away together. Far away from England. Then, we wouldn't have to worry about other people or about dying or, or any of this!"
"England is our home!" Mary protested, her head shaking.
"We could make a new home. Just the two of us," Peter argued.
"My family is here…" Mary trailed off as Peter's heart shattered.
"I can be your family."
Mary sat back, her hand leaving his. "I would very much like that, but, Petey, I want you to become a part of my family. I want you to join my family. Not just form a new one."
Peter let out a sigh, his head nodding. Glancing down at his watch, he noticed it was half past twelve. If he didn't leave soon, he would be late for his lesson with Bellatrix. Bellatrix was never pleased when he was late. Chewing on the inside of his cheek, he debated on what to do. He was in too deep with both the Order and the Death Eaters at this point. He was just stuck. If he didn't run, he would have to pick a side soon.
"I need to go," Peter whispered.
"Petey, please, let's just talk about this!" Mary protested.
"We can tonight," Peter assured her, leaning in and pecking her on the lips. "I'm sorry, Mary, but I have an appointment."
Marry sighed, her face falling. "With who?"
"I'll see you tonight."
Peter rose from the sofa and made his way out of their flat, not daring to look back at Mary. He couldn't explain to her where he was going or why. Honestly, Peter didn't even understand it himself. It had started several months ago when Bellatrix cornered him alone and tortured him for information about Sirius. As soon as the word Animagus had left his lips, he knew he was a goner. Bellatrix had dug her nails into him so tightly, asking him if he wanted to live or die. When he chose life, his time as a double agent had begun.
The first rule of being a double agent was learning Occlumency. He had spent a solid week under Bellatrix's thumb learning how to block his mind well enough so that Dumbledore wouldn't suspect anything. Peter thought he could play the role well and give Bellatrix silly little information about the Order of the Phoenix that made no difference in the end. Did it really matter if Bellatrix knew that the Marauders were all illegal Animagi? Did it make any difference to tell her that James had a family heirloom Invisibility Cloak? Would it matter to confirm identities of Order members when they already had an inkling?
But now Bellatrix wanted more.
It took a good twenty-five minutes to reach Bellatrix in the secluded seaside town. He wasn't allowed to Apparate anywhere near where he met her, but instead he had to hike and hope that if anyone was following him, they would just think he was going for a leisurely walk.
"Wormtail," Bellatrix's cold voice greeted.
"Hello," Peter replied, his face wincing immediately when he remembered who he was talking to. "Sorry. Force of habit."
Bellatrix sneered. "Have you been practicing like I told you to?"
Right. Down to business. He should be used to this by now.
"As well as I can by myself," Peter replied.
Bellatrix pulled her wand from her robe pocket. "Let's see how well you can craft lies then."
Peter braced himself. It wasn't just about blocking his mind from Dumbledore anymore. No, it would be suspicious if he could never read Peter's mind. Peter needed to learn to identify when someone was prodding his mind, which he could. Now, he needed to learn to show people what he wanted them to see. Taking a deep breath, Peter felt the small invasion and immediately thought about his boring week at the Ministry and his newest project. He didn't want to think about Mary. Never Mary with Bellatrix. That was far too dangerous.
Again and again his mind was prodded. He forced different memories to the forefront of his mind, each one mind-numbingly boring. It lasted for hours as she tried to wear him down. When she finally did, she tortured him for not being good enough.
Peter was determined to show her he was good enough. Someone needed to know just how powerful he could be.
Sirius walked down the cobblestone path of Godric's Hollow with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth and his right hand curled around Marlene's fingers. His eyes darted around, to ensure that they would not be attacked. Voldemort had to know that the Potters lived in Godric's Hollow, had to have been figuring out a way to demolish Dumbledore's carefully crafted wards. Sirius could swear he had seen dark figures moving in the alleyways, watching and waiting.
As he approached where he knew James and Lily's house should be, it slowly started to appear before him in an overgrown patch of grass and weeds. Only those who knew what they were looking for would be able to see the house. Sirius worried it wasn't enough. Surely, the wards would be easy to snap if Voldemort approached and tried his hand at dismantling them.
Sirius tossed his cigarette to the ground, rubbing the ball of his boot into it to put it out fully while Marlene unlatched the gate. There was no point of knocking. Only a very specific unlocking charm would allow you into the home. Sirius pulled his wand out, clutching the wood in his left hand, as he drew four lines where the doorknob should be and then jabbed at it twice. A click sounded and they made their way inside.
"James! Lily!" Sirius called, announcing his arrival.
A string of babbles shrieked and little stomping footsteps sounded. A smile tugged on Sirius' lips as his hand finally left Marlene's. They were safe, for now. A small child rounded the corner into the entryway, his black hair so thick and unruly for a nearly eleven-month-old that it expanded Sirius' heart in an odd sort of way that he couldn't fully comprehend. Dropping to his knees, Sirius held his arms open for the child.
Before Harry could make his way into Sirius' arms, he toppled to the ground but the small child didn't even seem fazed. He had only been walking for a few short weeks at this point and was still unsteady on his own two feet. Harry pressed his palms into the ground and stood up with ease. He trotted the rest of the way towards Sirius, his little body pressing against his godfather's chest. Sirius wrapped his arms tightly around the boy, his lips immediately pressing against the messy hair. Harry's fingers ran along the leather of Sirius' jacket.
Lily entered the room, her face paler than normal as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Is everything all right? What are you two doing here?"
"Just came to see how you three are faring," Marlene replied as she closed the space between them and pulled Lily into an embrace.
Lily's eyes closed as she melted into Marlene's arms. "We're managing."
Sirius pulled away from Harry so he could stand up and shrug off his jacket. He planned on staying for a while to visit because he missed James and Harry more than he was willing to admit. Harry whimpered, his hands reaching up for Sirius. After tossing the jacket onto the banister, Sirius bent down to hoist Harry up into his arms by the armpits. Holding Harry tight, their chests pressed together and their noses nearly touching, Sirius grinned at the boy.
"Hey, do you have any new teeth?" Sirius asked as he showed Harry his own teeth. "I lost one the other day so I have a silver one. Do you see it?"
Harry's sticky and gross fingers prodded his mouth. A giggle escaped his lips as he touched Sirius' teeth.
"How did you lose a tooth?" Lily asked as she made her way over towards them.
Sirius shrugged as he pulled his head back to get Harry's fingers out of his mouth. "Got into a fight. Smashed my face into a bin and couldn't find it."
Harry pouted for a few moments when Sirius wouldn't open his mouth again for him to dig around. His attention quickly drew to the dog tags around Sirius' neck before his fingers soon started to trace the black ink that snaked out from beneath the v-collar of his white t-shirt.
"You should really be more careful, Sirius," Lily whispered, her tone soft and anxious.
Sirius tore his eyes away from Harry to glance at her. "You should have seen the other bloke."
"Sirius also had a broken nose and pinky finger," Marlene supplied. "It was a fun trip to St. Mungo's."
"I'm fine," Sirius brushed them aside. "Where's James?"
Lily pursed her lips. "Upstairs. Sleeping."
Sirius sighed. "I'll go talk to him. Come on, Harry, you want to have a best mate meeting?"
Shifting Harry to the right, Sirius made his way upstairs towards the bedroom. He knew James had been struggling for a while. Depression had sunk its sharp teeth in a few months after they had started their lockdown at Godric's Hollow. James was a social person, one who thrived on interaction and being around others. Not being able to fight and not being able to leave the bloody house had wreaked havoc on his mental health.
Sirius didn't bother knocking because the two of them had never bothered to fucking knock in the past. Pushing open the door, his eyes immediately found James lying in bed with his glasses resting on his bedside table. James didn't move upon them entering, but Sirius didn't care. He kicked the door closed with his foot before making his way to the window to open up the drapes. Light spilled into the room and James groaned.
"Sirius?" he croaked. "What the bloody hell are you doing?"
Crossing the room, Sirius sat down onto the edge of the bed and plopped Harry into his lap. "Getting you out of bed. It's one in the afternoon."
A shirtless James struggled to sit up, his hand carding through his thick hair before he reached for his glasses. "Well, I have nowhere to be and nothing to do, so…"
"James," Sirius sighed as Harry crawled out of his lap and flung himself at his father.
"Oomph," James breathed as he wrapped his arms around Harry. "Merlin, he's getting big. Remember when he just laid there and could barely move?"
"I do," Sirius admitted, his voice wistful. "He's more fun now though."
"He is," James replied as he lifted Harry over his head and the small child squealed, his arms and legs flailing. "Less cuddly though which is sort of sad. I liked when he fell asleep on my chest and drooled all over it. Lily misses the baby smell."
Sirius nodded. "Yeah, he did have a weird smell."
"He wakes up from a nap all sweaty and smelling like pee now," James continued as he gently placed Harry flat on his back between him and Sirius. "Lily loves it. I find it oddly appealing as well."
"That sounds absolutely disgusting, Prongs," Sirius commented. "I love him and all but that's disgusting."
James let out a small chuckle as he leaned back in bed. "It does sound disgusting. Maybe when you're a dad one day you'll understand."
Sirius licked his bottom lip, his eyes watching Harry rolling onto his belly and attempting to stand up on the bed. "Yeah, I don't think kids are in my future. They'd be messed up from my inbred genes."
"You'd be a good dad, Pads," James replied as he helped Harry steady himself on the mattress. "You're great with Harry."
"Yeah, because I can hand him over to you when he's screaming his bloody head off," Sirius pointed out.
James rolled his eyes. "You act like you're not the one to calm him down when he's throwing a tantrum."
Sirius only shrugged as he watched Harry holding onto James' hands and bouncing. Harry threw his head back to look at the ceiling and a weird noise escaped his lips. Sirius smiled, knowing he would never grow tired of hearing how happy his godson was.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, Sirius?" James asked, his eyes glancing up to meet Sirius'.
"Can't a best mate just come visit a best mate?" Sirius asked.
Harry flung his body back, causing James to tighten his grip on his hands. Sirius leaned forward and pressed a kiss onto a giggling Harry's forehead. James shimmied his arms, causing Harry to rock back and forth which only made the grin on his face widen and his cackles to grow louder.
"I just had a nightmare the other night," James explained without being prompted. "We're at war so death is on my mind, I suppose."
Sirius raised his eyebrows as James eased Harry onto the bed. "Yeah? What was the dream about?"
James met Sirius' eyes. There wasn't much that the two of them hadn't shared over the years. In fact, more often than not, they overshared. Except this time might be different. Sirius couldn't really say he blamed him. He had never shared everything that his family had put him through over the years either. Some topics were just too hard to speak about.
Sirius cleared his throat. "Want to hear some potentially disastrous news?"
Relief flooded James' face. "Always."
"I, uh… I bought a ring," Sirius whispered the last word. "You know, figured there was only about a fifty percent chance she says I'm too damaged and walks away. But that other fifty percent… she could say yes."
"She'll definitely say yes," James assured him, a smile tugging on his lips.
"If she says no, can we be a throuple?"
James let out a loud laugh. "In your fucking dreams."
"Evans finds me endearing. It could work," Sirius assured him with a grin as Harry crawled onto his lap.
"It would not work," James assured him. "It took me six years to get her to even notice me."
Sirius ran his fingers through Harry's hair to try to smooth it down but it was just a fruitless endeavor. "You're going to let me be alone for the rest of my life?"
James winked at him. "You'll bounce back. It's not like you had any trouble at school getting a girl."
Sirius winced. "I liked exactly none of them the way I like Marlene. It's easy to pick up a girl when feelings aren't involved."
"I think you'll be fine, Padfoot," James assured him. "I have it on good authority that she was talking about starting a family with you because you look so damn irresistible with a baby in your arms. Her words, not mine."
Sirius let out a small chuckle. "Merlin, I don't want a child."
James shrugged. "I didn't think I wanted one so young either but now I couldn't imagine my life without him. I thought Lily and I would enjoy being young and married but… it happened. Even in the shitstorm around us right now with Voldemort and being in hiding, I wouldn't change him for the world. I can't even remember what life was like before Harry was born. It's such a blur to think Lily and I had a life before him."
A lump formed in Sirius' throat as he tightened his grip around Harry. "Nah, I know what you mean. It seems odd to think about life before Harry was here."
"He's the fifth Marauder," James beamed.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "You mean the Marauders who are slowly falling apart? Why don't we start a trio?"
James shot him a look. "No. We're brothers, Sirius. You mustn't forget that."
"It doesn't feel like we're brothers anymore," Sirius admitted. "Remus is being all secretive and doing his own thing. Peter is holing himself up with Mary all the time."
"Doesn't matter," James said as he waved him off. "Brothers are brothers until the very end."
James rolled out of bed, his hand carding through his too-long hair. He picked up a t-shirt off the floor and did the smell test before he pulled it down over his head.
"You're my brother," Sirius insisted as he stood up, hiking Harry up on his side.
James turned around, his brows furrowing beneath his glasses. He opened his mouth to say something but Sirius waved him off.
"The girls are downstairs," Sirius interrupted. "Maybe we can get them to make us some lunch. Or, well, breakfast for you, but still. I'm starving."
James only nodded and Sirius grinned in triumph. With the way James had been, it wouldn't do well to dwell on old arguments about their deteriorating friends' group. James needed to forget about things and laugh a bit. Sirius would be damned if he left that house without James laughing his bloody head off.
Remus stared up at the dark ceiling as he listened to Dorcas' even breathing. Turning his head to the clock on the bedside table, he saw it was nearly midnight. As quietly as he could, he slid out of the bed and glanced around for his clothes. Normally, he tried to keep track of where they landed so he could make an easy getaway, but the heat of the moment caught up with him and he hadn't paid much attention.
He found his shirt first and pulled it on over his head before he went back to scanning in the dark. A shoe. A sock. His belt. Remus sighed as he ran a frustrated hand through his hair. He really needed to stop losing his head with Dorcas.
"Remus?" Dorcas asked in a sleepy tone.
Fuck.
"Yeah?" Remus replied, straightening up to his full height before turning around to see Dorcas' outline.
"You can spend the night, you know. Three months of being shag buddies has certainly earned you that right," she replied as she leaned over and turned on the light with the tap of her wand.
Remus held his breath, taking in her messy curls and her smooth dark skin. She propped herself up on her elbow as she arched an eyebrow at him, the sheet falling off her and exposing her breasts. Remus stood awkwardly in front of her in nothing but his t-shirt that didn't cover his half-hard cock and his sock on his right foot.
"I don't spend the night," Remus replied.
"You and your silly rules," Dorcas replied as she flopped back on her pillow. "Looks like you may want round three. Or is it four?"
Remus stirred, his heart hammering in his chest. "Dorcas…"
"I know. I know," Dorcas interrupted with a chuckle. "You don't date. You don't do feelings. You don't do anything but fuck."
Remus sighed. "You know why I don't."
A smile twitched on her face. "Your little problem. I know, Remus, trust me, I know."
Remus scoffed. "Little? It's a big fucking problem, Dorcas."
"I would think by now you would have come to accept who you are and realize there are people out there who don't care," Dorcas argued. "Those that do care are pieces of fucking dragon shit."
Remus clenched his jaw. "I care! I could hurt someone!"
Dorcas sat up, her eyes flashing. "We're not morons, Remus. We know one day out of the month you are dangerous. The other days you are a normal and caring and kind human being. Why can't you see that?"
Remus couldn't help the bitter laugh that escaped his lips. "You say that like it's so simple. That even the people who are my friends don't see me as what I am."
"If this is about what Sirius said-"
"Sirius made it quite clear what he thinks about me!" Remus hissed. "He questioned my loyalty! He questioned my intentions!"
"Then just tell him why you've been absent so much!" Dorcas argued. "Tell him that Dumbledore asked you to become friendly with Greyback and the other wolf packs!"
Remus sneered. "I don't owe him any explanations when he already thinks so poorly of me."
"You both are being childish!" Dorcas huffed as she threw the sheets off her and slid out of bed. "If you could just sit down and have an adult conversation like James is asking you to, this entire mess would be settled!"
"I'm not delusional, Dorcas," Remus snapped, watching as Dorcas wrapped her dressing gown around her. "James and Sirius are best mates. Push comes to shove and James sides with Sirius."
Dorcas threw his boxers in his direction, her jaw tightening. "Just like he did after the Snape and the Whomping Willow incident?"
Remus shoved his boxers on, his anger spiking. "Yeah, that lasted a fucking couple of weeks before he and Sirius were best mates again."
"What did you expect from them, Remus?" Dorcas shouted. "Sirius was living with James at that point! James was being put in the middle! James made his feelings towards Sirius quite clear and drew the line that he sided with you! I don't think you ever fully forgave Sirius and that tension between the two of you has been boiling for years now. It's now at its boiling point, Remus. You can either let it bubble over or you can try to salvage your friendship!"
"I have no interest in being friends with Sirius Black," Remus hissed.
Dorcas shook her head. "That's fine, if that's what you truly want. But just because you and Sirius are having a falling out and some sour feelings are being spewed, that doesn't mean that I feel the same way. Or that James does. Or Peter. Or Lily. Or Mary. You can't just push everyone away because one day a month you aren't yourself."
Remus spotted his trousers and other trainer by the dresser. He marched over and snatched them up to finish getting dressed as fast as possible. He couldn't spend another second talking about Sirius and James. The hole of their lost friendship was too raw and gaping still.
"I've got to go," Remus said as he snagged his wand from the bedside table.
"Remus!" Dorcas shouted in exasperation.
Except Remus didn't stop. He stormed out of Dorcas' flat, not even caring that he couldn't find his other sock. Picking up his speed, he focused on making his way to the Apparition point so he could be alone.
He was always alone lately.
Peter walked up the drive of the Fenwick household. He watched his feet, one foot in front of the other, as Lucius started to relay orders. Bellatrix laughed as she turned in her spot, causing Peter to stop in his stride. He looked up at her, his chest heaving.
"It's your first mission," she said, her head cocked to the side.
She was really rather pretty with her dark messy hair and hooded gray eyes. Everyone in the Black family was quite good looking and they all knew it. Sirius had always known it, being the best looking of their little group in school. The girls practically threw themselves at him and he had shagged half their year by the end of their seventh year. At least, that was the rumor. Sirius never told him anything, but Peter would bet that James knew the truth and the true number of notches in his bedpost.
"You aren't going to let me down, are you?" Bellatrix asked, her long finger brushing down his cheek.
"N-no, Bellatrix," Peter assured her, a lump forming in his throat.
Bellatrix arched an eyebrow up, her fingers continuing to trail down his face. She gripped his chin tightly, her nails digging into his skin. A noise in the back of Peter's throat threatened to sound, but he tried not to let any noise escape.
"Is that what you call me?" Bellatrix hissed, her face leaning in towards him.
"I… I'm s-sorry, mistress," Peter breathed out.
She eased her grip on his chin and gave his left cheek a harsh slap. "Good boy."
"Are you done playing with your pet, Bella?" Rodolphus asked.
"Make me proud, Wormtail," Bellatrix whispered.
Peter only nodded, his mouth growing dry as the dessert. In a graceful twirl, she made her way towards the house. Her curls bounced behind her as she took the lead of the group towards the house. Peter's breathing came out in harsh huffs as he followed the group, his eyes widening when Crouch blasted the door off the hinges and the group rushed inside.
Peter paused in the entryway as screams and shouts came from the parlor. He was weightless, the sound around him muffled. It was almost like he was dreaming or having an out-of-body experience. His limbs trembled as a body flew out of the parlor and smacked against the wall. Bile rose in Peter's throat when he saw it was Catherine Fenwick, her dead eyes glaring up at him.
A scream tore through the air, snapping Peter into action. He rushed into the parlor, his hand reaching for his wand in his robe pocket. When he rounded the corner, his eyes focused on Benjy Fenwick pinned against the wall by an invisible force. Peter's heart hammered in his chest as he took a step forward. Benjy's eyes widened in recognition when he noticed Peter, his lips spreading thin across his face. Peter could tell Benjy was attempting to break the bonds that held him, to no avail. There was no doubt in his mind that Benjy would kill him with his bare hands if he somehow managed to break free of Lucius' handiwork.
"Here's your chance to show your loyalty to the Dark Lord," Bellatrix whispered in his ear.
Peter trembled. This was the precipice of months of playing both sides. This was when he would choose his allegiance. Once he did, there was no turning back. Raising a shaky hand, Peter pointed his wand at Benjy's chest.
"I don't think he has the guts," Crouch sneered.
"Let's see if Bella's little pet project paid off," Rodolphus commanded.
The air grew stale as the whispers around Peter ceased. His breath came out in harsh huffs, his wand slick in his sweaty palm. He had never killed anyone before. Peter's lips parted, his chest constricting painfully.
"Avada Kedavra!" Peter bellowed, not recognizing his own voice.
Green hurled towards Benjy and collided with his chest. Peter expected something grander to happen than Benjy crippling to the ground like a marionette whose strings had been severed. Peter looked into Benjy's dead stare, but didn't turn away. He thought he would feel… something. Regret. Fear. Power. But instead, there was nothing but emptiness.
"Fuck, he actually did it," Rabastan laughed. "He fucking did it."
Bellatrix wrapped her arms around his shoulder, her ruby lips pressing against his ear. "Well done, Wormtail. Well done."
And with that, the emptiness he had felt just a moment ago was suddenly filled with a surging sense of pride. He felt invincible. The corners of his mouth twitched up.
He had finally proven himself.
James sat on the bathmat with his back pressed against the wall behind him. Harry splashed happily, a giggle emitting from his lips when droplets connected with his cheeks. James smiled down at his son, cherishing the moments of normalcy that seemed far and few between. Harry glanced up at him, a wide smile spreading across his thin lips and showing off his eight little teeth.
"James! Lily!" Sirius' voice shouted from down below, frantic and upset.
James moved to stand up, but paused midway. He couldn't leave Harry alone in the tub. Licking his bottom lip, he watched as Lily rushed past the bathroom.
"Upstairs, Sirius!" Lily called.
Grateful, James stood up the rest of the way up and crossed his arms over his chest. Footfalls sounded on the stairs. Glancing down at Harry, he seemed unfazed by the commotion as he put a foam shape into his mouth and shook his head.
"In the bathroom," Lily whispered.
In a moment, Lily and Sirius appeared in the upstairs bathroom. James sucked in a breath and held it when he noticed how pale his best mate looked.
"What's wrong?" James asked.
Please, not Remus. Not Peter. Not Remus. Not Peter.
"Benjy and Catherine were found murdered in their home," Sirius replied in a strained voice. "Luckily the kids weren't home. They were visiting their grandparents."
"What?" James hissed.
"Gideon told me," Sirius elaborated. "He and Fabian were alerting the Order. Apparently, we should all be on high alert."
Lily sniffed, her hand covering her mouth. Sirius wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to his side.
"Maybe you and Marlene should stay here tonight," James offered, his eyes glancing down to see Harry still chewing on his little foam square with his big green eyes focused on Sirius.
Sirius shook his head. "We'll be fine. Marlene's dad's already upping the wards around our place."
"It's a Black property," James argued, not liking the idea of them being separated.
Sirius snorted. "It was my uncle Alphard's cottage. He was as diplomatic and nonconfrontational to the Black family madness as Andy is."
That wasn't good enough.
"Bellatrix would know about the cottage though, wouldn't she?" James pressed, his jaw tightening. "You and I both know she has a weird and sick fascination with you."
Sirius grew rather grave in that moment. "Yeah, well, she might just be salty she didn't get the honor to marry her cousin and be a head of the House Black."
"That is so messed up," Lily whispered.
"No worries, she married a Lestrange," Sirius replied in a dry and humorless tone. "Decent fortune, but not as grand as the Black fortune. Jokes on her, though, as I will never end up with the Black family fortune."
"I think you should stay here until we can re-evaluate your living situation," James repeated himself, this time more forceful.
Harry let out a cry. James snapped his attention down to see his son trying to climb out of the bathtub but not being able to get his leg anywhere near high enough. His little face scrunched up as his whimpers grew louder. Sirius moved forward, grabbing the Falmouth Falcons hooded towel off the hook. Lifting Harry out of the tub and onto the bathmat, he wrapped the towel around his godson.
"I'll get him ready for bed before I leave," Sirius said as he lifted Harry up into his arms.
"Sirius…" James trailed off.
Except Sirius was too busy talking to Harry as the two of them made their way out of the bathroom. James sighed heavily as Lily took a step forward, her hands cupping either side of his face. She forced him to look at her.
"I know you mean well, James," Lily started.
"Nobody knew Benjy was in the Order or even associated with Dumbledore," James whispered. "It was what Dumbledore wanted. He wanted Benjy to gather intelligence on Death Eater's Gringotts accounts. He wasn't sent on missions for a reason. He wasn't meant to be seen with any of us for a reason. Lily, the only people who knew Benjy was in the Order were members of the Order."
Lily's hands ran down his face and rested on his shoulders. "Maybe it's a coincidence?"
James shook his head. "It can't be a coincidence. Nothing is ever a coincidence. Sirius has said there's been whispers of a spy in the Order for the past few months now."
"Who?" Lily breathed, her body pressing up against his. "We know all of those people."
"I don't know," James replied, his arms wrapping around her waist to keep her close. "That's what scares me. Sirius and Marlene… Merlin, Lily, they are too lax with their precautions. Sirius is out there all the bloody time on missions with Gideon and Fabian and Matthew. He's not an Auror like them. He's going to get himself killed."
Lily licked her lips. "Marlene says he's focused."
"On what?" James pressed, his brows furrowing.
"Taking down as many Death Eaters as possible so they can't hurt Harry," Lily replied. "She said he hasn't seen Remus or Peter in over a month outside of Order meetings and they don't really talk. Apparently, he had a big fight with Remus… questioned where he disappears off to and whose side he's really on."
James closed his eyes, his head lolling back. "I knew he has suspicions about Remus, but I didn't know he confronted him."
"Sirius is spiraling," Lily continued in a hushed tone. "I think he's scared."
James looked down at Lily, his throat clogging. "I don't know what to do. I don't know how to help Sirius. I don't know how to keep you and Harry safe. I can't… what do I do, Lily? Please, just tell me what to do to fix all of this."
"I don't know, James," Lily whispered, tears clinging to her eyelashes. "I wish I did."
James' gut twisted as he looked behind his wife and out of the bathroom. He could hear Sirius and Harry babbling to one another, laughter ringing down the hallway. James felt like he was barely keeping his head above water as he desperately felt around for a lifesaver that was not there.
He had never wanted his dad more than in that moment. Fleamont Potter always knew what to say to make things better, always knew what to do in a crisis. Except he was buried six feet under. Now James was supposed to be that person, but he didn't know how as his entire world seemed to be slowly crumpling around him.
I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of my newest story! Three out of six chapters are completed at this point and I am going to be aiming to update weekly. Don't forget to drop a review if you liked it. They motivate me to keep writing, they inspire new story lines, and they honestly just make my day.
Special thanks to Bell for her amazing editing skills and listening to me pester her for a month to finally start to post this (though she thought I should wait longer but I was getting too anxious.)