A/N: Disclaimer: familiar stuff = not mine. And I'd like to thank everyone
for reviewing! It was great to come back and see that even more people had
read this story!
Chapter 20: The Unending Quest
"Well, Aaron is taking a little nap," Jem said from the hallway. "And it looks like things are already starting to get back to normal in here," Jem said upon entering the room. She walked over the Sirius, who took her in his arms and kissed her hello. "I was wondering if you were ever going to show up," she told him.
"For some reason I just can't stay away from you lot," he said, looking around the room at everyone.
Lily walked across the room and put her arms around Sirius and Jem. James joined her, putting his around her and Jem, and reaching around to Sirius. Remus then walked over and joined the crew, trying to reach his arms around all of them, while Lily put one arm out behind her hugging Remus into their circle. Everyone smiled.
"All of us, together still. Nothing will break it," Lily said.
"It's just not quite right though, we're still missing one," stated Remus. He sighed. "Our dear Wormtail."
Everyone nodded, which was really quite a comical sight given that their heads kept knocking into each other.
"Room for one more?"
Everyone turned around and was shocked to see Peter standing in the entranceway.
"Peter!" exclaimed Lily. "Come on." She smiled as the group made room for Peter to join their circle. "A full set now," she commented.
"Together we'll make it through anything," Sirius said.
"I'm sure of it," James added, roughing up Peter's hair.
It was very comforting for Lily and James to know that they had their friends to count on in these hard times. It was also rather convenient, seeing as how they had decided to move yet again. Staying in the Evans' house was a good idea at the time, but now it just seemed too easy a target, so Lily and James decided it was time to move to a smaller neighborhood, but still live amongst muggles. This of course meant moving as muggles do, with a truck and moving furniture and things by hand rather than magic, which is where their friends came into play.
"Please be careful with that desk!" Lily yelled after Sirius and Remus. "It was my grandfather's!"
"Don't get your knickers in a knot! It's not even heavy!" Sirius shouted back.
Lily appeared in the doorway. "What do you mean?" She knew full well that that desk weighed far more than she could even push.
"We used a weightlessness charm. Been using it on most everything, actually," Remus told her.
Lily shook her head. "So why are you both carrying the thing then?"
"Lily! I'm surprised at you!" Sirius declared, overplaying the role just a bit. "There are muggles out on the street! What if they saw us?"
"Right, right. Play it your way." Lily was now grinning. "I'm going to go finish packing up the kitchen."
Lily found that magic really came in handy for packing her house up. With a wave of her wand, all of the dishes and glasses flew into the boxes and wrapped themselves. She then did the same thing in the study for packing up books and little keepsakes. When she walked over to the desk, she started going through the drawers to make sure nothing had been left behind. It was there that she found a roll of parchment bound by a piece of twine. "What are you?" she asked, looking at the parchment quizzically. She carefully untied the twine and unrolled the parchment. Her eyes grew wide as the parchment glowed before her. She saw the image of a wand shooting out a green light toward a person, over and over again. The caption below the image read Avada Kedavra, Killing Curse. Lily gasped. She then noticed James's handwriting below that. No known counter-curse or means of blocking it. Must find a way to fight it. She then saw more scribbles, many of which were crossed out. Disapparate? Transfiguration? New spell? Brother wand? MUST BE SOMETHING. Simplest answer usually right.
"What are you doing?" James asked.
"What? Nothing!" Lily lied, quickly shoving the parchment back in the drawer.
James sighed. "I know, Lil." He extended his hand to her and she slowly pulled the parchment back out and handed it to him.
"Sorry," she whispered.
"Don't be. you might as well know. I'm just trying to figure it out, that's all. Maybe there is some way out of it that nobody has discovered yet."
"Or maybe it's just wishful thinking, James."
"Either way, I'm still going to try," he said in such a way that Lily knew not to press it any longer.
"Well, everything is all loaded up from the rest of the house, should we grab these boxes and things?" Sirius asked before noticing the tension in the room.
"Yeah, right, go ahead," James said, not taking his eyes off Lily.
"Um, okay." Sirius cautiously said. He pulled out his wand and levitated a few things out of the room and into the hallway where Remus and Peter were waiting to grab them and put them on the truck. "I'll just get out of your way now."
"James, why are you doing this?" Lily asked once they were alone.
"Because I think I have to. That curse killed both of my parents! Did you know that?" Lily shook her head. She had only known how Marilyn had died, but not William. "Yeah, that's right," James continued. "My dad was one of the first people to encounter Voldemort's wrath, even before he started gathering the following he has now. My dad knew him for what he was, and that didn't really go over so well. And then. then my mum faced it, she faced it for us, Lily!"
"I know she did."
"Well, I was doing some research on it, and I know that we would each face it for our own child, but what if we didn't have to?"
"That would require the use of very powerful magic, James."
"Yeah, I know. But something in my gut tells me that there is a way, and if there is, I'm going to find it."
Lily closed her eyes for a moment and nodded. It all started to come together for her in her mind. Her first vision, the night the Dark Mark appeared on her skin. she was running away from the Killing Curse, trying to save her child. It wasn't simply a nightmare, she thought, it was a warning of things to come. but how could James know.
With the help of Sirius, Remus and Peter, Lily and James found themselves all moved into their new house later that day. With the wave of a wand, everything was in its place and looked perfect.
Peter collapsed onto the couch with a cool lemonade in his hand. "It's about bloody time," he said.
"Oh, come off it," Remus said, taking a seat. "It wasn't that bad, really. I mean, it's not like we had to carry the things at their actually weight or anything."
"Yeah, but our dear, delicate Peter over here isn't used to physical labor of any sort, are you, buddy?" Sirius prodded, standing behind Peter and placing both hands on this shoulders.
"Don't be such a prat, Sirius," said Peter as he swiped at Sirius's hands.
Lily and James couldn't help but laugh at the spectacle.
"Thanks so much for helping us, guys," James said, looking around their new living room. The house was slightly smaller than the ones the Potters had previously inhabited, but it was comfortable and cozy nonetheless. "Just remember what you agreed to do," he warned.
"Don't worry, we won't say anything about where you are now," Sirius assured him. "But honestly, I still thing the best idea would be to get a Secret Keeper. You know I'd do it for you in a heartbeat."
"I know, old Padfoot, I know," James nodded.
Sirius looked up at the clock on the mantel. "Oh no!" he exclaimed.
"What is it?" asked a concerned Lily.
"Nothing really, I've just got to get to the office. I'm late for a meeting with Ocran and Crouch."
"Crouch? What's Crouch coming in for?" James asked. Bartemius Crouch was the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement where both he and Sirius worked as aurors.
"I don't know, but Moody certainly isn't very happy about it, whatever it is."
"Alastor had it in for Crouch since he was appointed to Head of the Department though," James pointed out.
"Ah, office politics. There's nothing quite like it," Remus said, feigning a dreamy sigh.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "I've got to go. Be back later, if I can, to let you know what happened. Otherwise I'll just talk to you tomorrow."
"Thank you," James said, just in time given that Sirius disapparated a second later.
"So now what?" Peter asked, surveying the crowd.
"Now it's time for me to say adieu as well," Remus stated. "I promised Aaron that I would stop by and take him to dinner."
"That's sweet of you," Lily smiled.
Remus pretended to blush. "I do try, you know." He winked at Lily. "I'll see you all later!"
"Bye Remus," said Peter and James.
"Tell Aaron and Jem that I said hello," Lily said.
"Will do! Later, people!" and with those words, he too disapparated.
Lily then turned to Peter. "Have you any plans for tonight?"
"Not really, just need to get some work done for that damn Lockhart. You wouldn't believe some of the things that man does." he trailed off, shaking his head.
James grinned. "That's what you get for getting mixed up with a fool like that. He's more concerned about how his hair looks than anything else."
Peter nodded. "You're right, I'm thinking of just quitting him. Although something tells me he was getting ready to sack me anyhow."
"Really? Why?" Lily seemed genuinely worried.
"It's nothing really, we just disagree about some of personal policies, moral standards, things like that."
Lily was impressed. Peter actually seemed to be standing up for himself and his beliefs for once. "Well, good for you then, and good luck with whatever you do next."
"I'm actually meeting a friend for lunch tomorrow, says there might be an opening in his department at the Ministry."
"Really? Where?" asked James.
"Department of Mysteries. Augustus Rockwood. We'll see if anything comes of it though."
"Don't think I know him," James said.
"Not many do, outside his office," Peter said. "But he was at Hogwarts with us." The second he heard himself say it though, he regretted it, knowing the inevitable question that would follow.
"Which house?"
"Slytherin, actually. He was a year or two ahead of us, of course."
"And why were you hanging around with a Slytherin?"
"Really, James. Is this necessary?" Lily asked.
"Yeah, I think so."
Peter shook his head. "Not that it should matter, but when I was having trouble in a couple of classes, I met him in the library. He helped me out with homework and things like that," he said, quickly adding, "When you were all busy."
James shook his head. "If you say so."
"Well, I guess that I should go. Busy day tomorrow, and all, you understand."
James gave Peter a quizzical look, but quickly changed his expression. "Right, see you then."
"Peter, good luck tomorrow," Lily said, smiling at him.
"Have a good night," Peter told both of them. "Just going to go by floo," he said as he nodded in the direction of the fireplace.
"Um, you really can't do that, Peter."
"Why not?"
"We're not connecting it to the Floo Network. Too risky."
"Oh, alright then. Suppose apparation will have to do. Cheerio!" he said as he disapparated out of the Potter house.
"Alone at last," James said, advancing toward Lily.
Lily immediately noticed the troublesome twinkle in his eyes and smiled at him. "Oh, no you don't, Potter!" she exclaimed as she leapt over the couch and started backing away playfully.
"Don't call me 'Potter,' Potter," James said in a mock-warning tone. He then made a dash for the couch, but when he jumped over it, it was too late. She had already run away and into the kitchen.
"Catch me if you can!" she called out to him.
"Oh, you better believe I will!" he called back, heading toward the kitchen. He jumped into the doorway. "Gotcha!"
"Nice try!" Lily shouted. She had already escaped from the kitchen.
James could tell her voice was coming from the den, so he carefully crept toward that doorway, which was the only entrance/exit for the room. He suddenly appeared in the doorway. "A-ha!"
"Looking for me?" Lily asked innocently. She was standing behind him.
"How?"
Lily shook her head, smiling all the while. "You should know better."
James once again made a move toward her and she once again backed away.
"No, no, please don't, James," she pleaded while laughing. "You love me! I love you! No, don't!" She couldn't stop laughing.
This time though, he was backing her where he wanted her to end up: right back in the living room. Lily was backed against the couch when James finally spoke again. "Any last requests?" he asked.
"Just one," she said. He looked at her waiting for her answer. "You." Lily reached out and pulled James too her. The couple kissed passionately, ending up in a fiery embrace that led them over the back of the couch and onto it, landing James on top of Lily. James pulled away from Lily for a moment and smiled at the situation he suddenly found himself in. He was about to say something, but Lily reached up and roughly pulled him back down to her. Needless to say, it was a long and enjoyable night for Lily and James Potter.
Chapter 20: The Unending Quest
"Well, Aaron is taking a little nap," Jem said from the hallway. "And it looks like things are already starting to get back to normal in here," Jem said upon entering the room. She walked over the Sirius, who took her in his arms and kissed her hello. "I was wondering if you were ever going to show up," she told him.
"For some reason I just can't stay away from you lot," he said, looking around the room at everyone.
Lily walked across the room and put her arms around Sirius and Jem. James joined her, putting his around her and Jem, and reaching around to Sirius. Remus then walked over and joined the crew, trying to reach his arms around all of them, while Lily put one arm out behind her hugging Remus into their circle. Everyone smiled.
"All of us, together still. Nothing will break it," Lily said.
"It's just not quite right though, we're still missing one," stated Remus. He sighed. "Our dear Wormtail."
Everyone nodded, which was really quite a comical sight given that their heads kept knocking into each other.
"Room for one more?"
Everyone turned around and was shocked to see Peter standing in the entranceway.
"Peter!" exclaimed Lily. "Come on." She smiled as the group made room for Peter to join their circle. "A full set now," she commented.
"Together we'll make it through anything," Sirius said.
"I'm sure of it," James added, roughing up Peter's hair.
It was very comforting for Lily and James to know that they had their friends to count on in these hard times. It was also rather convenient, seeing as how they had decided to move yet again. Staying in the Evans' house was a good idea at the time, but now it just seemed too easy a target, so Lily and James decided it was time to move to a smaller neighborhood, but still live amongst muggles. This of course meant moving as muggles do, with a truck and moving furniture and things by hand rather than magic, which is where their friends came into play.
"Please be careful with that desk!" Lily yelled after Sirius and Remus. "It was my grandfather's!"
"Don't get your knickers in a knot! It's not even heavy!" Sirius shouted back.
Lily appeared in the doorway. "What do you mean?" She knew full well that that desk weighed far more than she could even push.
"We used a weightlessness charm. Been using it on most everything, actually," Remus told her.
Lily shook her head. "So why are you both carrying the thing then?"
"Lily! I'm surprised at you!" Sirius declared, overplaying the role just a bit. "There are muggles out on the street! What if they saw us?"
"Right, right. Play it your way." Lily was now grinning. "I'm going to go finish packing up the kitchen."
Lily found that magic really came in handy for packing her house up. With a wave of her wand, all of the dishes and glasses flew into the boxes and wrapped themselves. She then did the same thing in the study for packing up books and little keepsakes. When she walked over to the desk, she started going through the drawers to make sure nothing had been left behind. It was there that she found a roll of parchment bound by a piece of twine. "What are you?" she asked, looking at the parchment quizzically. She carefully untied the twine and unrolled the parchment. Her eyes grew wide as the parchment glowed before her. She saw the image of a wand shooting out a green light toward a person, over and over again. The caption below the image read Avada Kedavra, Killing Curse. Lily gasped. She then noticed James's handwriting below that. No known counter-curse or means of blocking it. Must find a way to fight it. She then saw more scribbles, many of which were crossed out. Disapparate? Transfiguration? New spell? Brother wand? MUST BE SOMETHING. Simplest answer usually right.
"What are you doing?" James asked.
"What? Nothing!" Lily lied, quickly shoving the parchment back in the drawer.
James sighed. "I know, Lil." He extended his hand to her and she slowly pulled the parchment back out and handed it to him.
"Sorry," she whispered.
"Don't be. you might as well know. I'm just trying to figure it out, that's all. Maybe there is some way out of it that nobody has discovered yet."
"Or maybe it's just wishful thinking, James."
"Either way, I'm still going to try," he said in such a way that Lily knew not to press it any longer.
"Well, everything is all loaded up from the rest of the house, should we grab these boxes and things?" Sirius asked before noticing the tension in the room.
"Yeah, right, go ahead," James said, not taking his eyes off Lily.
"Um, okay." Sirius cautiously said. He pulled out his wand and levitated a few things out of the room and into the hallway where Remus and Peter were waiting to grab them and put them on the truck. "I'll just get out of your way now."
"James, why are you doing this?" Lily asked once they were alone.
"Because I think I have to. That curse killed both of my parents! Did you know that?" Lily shook her head. She had only known how Marilyn had died, but not William. "Yeah, that's right," James continued. "My dad was one of the first people to encounter Voldemort's wrath, even before he started gathering the following he has now. My dad knew him for what he was, and that didn't really go over so well. And then. then my mum faced it, she faced it for us, Lily!"
"I know she did."
"Well, I was doing some research on it, and I know that we would each face it for our own child, but what if we didn't have to?"
"That would require the use of very powerful magic, James."
"Yeah, I know. But something in my gut tells me that there is a way, and if there is, I'm going to find it."
Lily closed her eyes for a moment and nodded. It all started to come together for her in her mind. Her first vision, the night the Dark Mark appeared on her skin. she was running away from the Killing Curse, trying to save her child. It wasn't simply a nightmare, she thought, it was a warning of things to come. but how could James know.
With the help of Sirius, Remus and Peter, Lily and James found themselves all moved into their new house later that day. With the wave of a wand, everything was in its place and looked perfect.
Peter collapsed onto the couch with a cool lemonade in his hand. "It's about bloody time," he said.
"Oh, come off it," Remus said, taking a seat. "It wasn't that bad, really. I mean, it's not like we had to carry the things at their actually weight or anything."
"Yeah, but our dear, delicate Peter over here isn't used to physical labor of any sort, are you, buddy?" Sirius prodded, standing behind Peter and placing both hands on this shoulders.
"Don't be such a prat, Sirius," said Peter as he swiped at Sirius's hands.
Lily and James couldn't help but laugh at the spectacle.
"Thanks so much for helping us, guys," James said, looking around their new living room. The house was slightly smaller than the ones the Potters had previously inhabited, but it was comfortable and cozy nonetheless. "Just remember what you agreed to do," he warned.
"Don't worry, we won't say anything about where you are now," Sirius assured him. "But honestly, I still thing the best idea would be to get a Secret Keeper. You know I'd do it for you in a heartbeat."
"I know, old Padfoot, I know," James nodded.
Sirius looked up at the clock on the mantel. "Oh no!" he exclaimed.
"What is it?" asked a concerned Lily.
"Nothing really, I've just got to get to the office. I'm late for a meeting with Ocran and Crouch."
"Crouch? What's Crouch coming in for?" James asked. Bartemius Crouch was the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement where both he and Sirius worked as aurors.
"I don't know, but Moody certainly isn't very happy about it, whatever it is."
"Alastor had it in for Crouch since he was appointed to Head of the Department though," James pointed out.
"Ah, office politics. There's nothing quite like it," Remus said, feigning a dreamy sigh.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "I've got to go. Be back later, if I can, to let you know what happened. Otherwise I'll just talk to you tomorrow."
"Thank you," James said, just in time given that Sirius disapparated a second later.
"So now what?" Peter asked, surveying the crowd.
"Now it's time for me to say adieu as well," Remus stated. "I promised Aaron that I would stop by and take him to dinner."
"That's sweet of you," Lily smiled.
Remus pretended to blush. "I do try, you know." He winked at Lily. "I'll see you all later!"
"Bye Remus," said Peter and James.
"Tell Aaron and Jem that I said hello," Lily said.
"Will do! Later, people!" and with those words, he too disapparated.
Lily then turned to Peter. "Have you any plans for tonight?"
"Not really, just need to get some work done for that damn Lockhart. You wouldn't believe some of the things that man does." he trailed off, shaking his head.
James grinned. "That's what you get for getting mixed up with a fool like that. He's more concerned about how his hair looks than anything else."
Peter nodded. "You're right, I'm thinking of just quitting him. Although something tells me he was getting ready to sack me anyhow."
"Really? Why?" Lily seemed genuinely worried.
"It's nothing really, we just disagree about some of personal policies, moral standards, things like that."
Lily was impressed. Peter actually seemed to be standing up for himself and his beliefs for once. "Well, good for you then, and good luck with whatever you do next."
"I'm actually meeting a friend for lunch tomorrow, says there might be an opening in his department at the Ministry."
"Really? Where?" asked James.
"Department of Mysteries. Augustus Rockwood. We'll see if anything comes of it though."
"Don't think I know him," James said.
"Not many do, outside his office," Peter said. "But he was at Hogwarts with us." The second he heard himself say it though, he regretted it, knowing the inevitable question that would follow.
"Which house?"
"Slytherin, actually. He was a year or two ahead of us, of course."
"And why were you hanging around with a Slytherin?"
"Really, James. Is this necessary?" Lily asked.
"Yeah, I think so."
Peter shook his head. "Not that it should matter, but when I was having trouble in a couple of classes, I met him in the library. He helped me out with homework and things like that," he said, quickly adding, "When you were all busy."
James shook his head. "If you say so."
"Well, I guess that I should go. Busy day tomorrow, and all, you understand."
James gave Peter a quizzical look, but quickly changed his expression. "Right, see you then."
"Peter, good luck tomorrow," Lily said, smiling at him.
"Have a good night," Peter told both of them. "Just going to go by floo," he said as he nodded in the direction of the fireplace.
"Um, you really can't do that, Peter."
"Why not?"
"We're not connecting it to the Floo Network. Too risky."
"Oh, alright then. Suppose apparation will have to do. Cheerio!" he said as he disapparated out of the Potter house.
"Alone at last," James said, advancing toward Lily.
Lily immediately noticed the troublesome twinkle in his eyes and smiled at him. "Oh, no you don't, Potter!" she exclaimed as she leapt over the couch and started backing away playfully.
"Don't call me 'Potter,' Potter," James said in a mock-warning tone. He then made a dash for the couch, but when he jumped over it, it was too late. She had already run away and into the kitchen.
"Catch me if you can!" she called out to him.
"Oh, you better believe I will!" he called back, heading toward the kitchen. He jumped into the doorway. "Gotcha!"
"Nice try!" Lily shouted. She had already escaped from the kitchen.
James could tell her voice was coming from the den, so he carefully crept toward that doorway, which was the only entrance/exit for the room. He suddenly appeared in the doorway. "A-ha!"
"Looking for me?" Lily asked innocently. She was standing behind him.
"How?"
Lily shook her head, smiling all the while. "You should know better."
James once again made a move toward her and she once again backed away.
"No, no, please don't, James," she pleaded while laughing. "You love me! I love you! No, don't!" She couldn't stop laughing.
This time though, he was backing her where he wanted her to end up: right back in the living room. Lily was backed against the couch when James finally spoke again. "Any last requests?" he asked.
"Just one," she said. He looked at her waiting for her answer. "You." Lily reached out and pulled James too her. The couple kissed passionately, ending up in a fiery embrace that led them over the back of the couch and onto it, landing James on top of Lily. James pulled away from Lily for a moment and smiled at the situation he suddenly found himself in. He was about to say something, but Lily reached up and roughly pulled him back down to her. Needless to say, it was a long and enjoyable night for Lily and James Potter.