~Year Five~
They had been here for a half an hour, two-and-a-half entire hours before most people even *thought* about coming. I understood their mature discretion, but I still couldn't get over my shock.
'How...how did they...not even proper fifth years...'
If a surprise is what they wanted Remus to find, a surprise is *certainly* what he was about to receive!
Remus' footsteps trailed into the almost completely empty platform. I watched as a pure white stag, formerly one James Potter, approached the confused wizard and nuzzled him affectionately. As if he'd always known ('maybe the inner wolf knew', I thought), Remus murmured, "Hullo, Prongs."
Around the antlers of the stag flew a white dove, to which Remus called just as naturally, "And to you, Wings." (*1)
She twittered a couple of notes before landing gently upon the stag's highest antlers. The magnificent creature reared its head back gleefully, startling the dove to warble her indignant displeasure before settling back, the stag walking towards the centre of the platform where more shapes were, one dark form pacing almost nervously.
The next animal to scurry forth to meet the boy was a grey rat, who twitched his nose nervously when Remus picked him up.
"Wormtail," he named, setting the rat onto the crown of Prong, the stag looking cross-eyed up at Wormtail.
Finally, Remus saw Sirius...er, rather, the shaggy black dog who used to be Sirius. Spreading his arms wide, he cried, "Padfoot!"
With a sharp bark, the exuberant Padfoot pounced the boy, licking his face excitedly.
As I watched them with fervor, I also noticed that Ja - Prongs had gently slid Wormtail off his forehead as the rat began squeaking helplessly. He suddenly lay still, and there was Peter once more.
As if starting a chain reaction, both Prongs and Wings shivered, and James appeared with Lily slightly above him, having not dismounted Prongs' tall antlers. Deftly, he caught her descent in his arms, where they remained, shaken from their forced change.
'Guess they're still not powerful enough to control themselves.'
I immediately averted my sights back to my favourite boys in time to see Sirius appear, lying atop a startled Remus.
Sirius immediately grinned, sinking his chin to rest on the brunette's chest. "'Lo, Moony."
"Hullo, Padfoot." With a pointed glance, he added, "Comfortable?"
He nodded, actually trying to sink closer to his friend. "You make a superb pillow."
"I noticed." A pause while their friends approached, James letting Lily down. "Get off of me."
"Make me."
With an actual growl, Remus wrestled Sirius to the side and found himself on top.
"I win," he breathed.
Sirius smirked, replying with a wink, "Never thought you for a dominant, Remmie."
'Oh, my...'
The both laughed, Remus' face tinged pink adorably.
'Hm...'
Remus pulled Sirius up and faced his friends with a broad grin on his face. "How...how did you...we're not even fifth years!"
'That's what *I* said!'
James replied with a laugh, "Blame it on Siri! It was his featherbrained idea."
"And Peter's to study this instead of Potions!" Sirius crowed.
"But - but...how long?"
"Three years," Lily replied.
"Wait," said Remus, a hand to his head. "Why you as well, Lily?"
"I'm a Marauder." She shrugged. "Oh, and you have extremely lame excuses as to why you leave on full moons."
He paled. "Huh?"
She laughed at his surprised anxiety. "Honestly, Remmie! How many sick relatives could one person *possibly* have?"
"Wait... Wh..."
Sirius slapped the brunette good-naturedly on the back. "For one who proclaims his 'magniloquence', you sure are short on words."
"...Lily knows?"
"Of course I know!" She sniffed with mock-indignity. "I've known since the end of second year."
"But..."
"OK, so the way we see it," Sirius interjected, slinging an arm around his friend and flinging his arm around, as if reading from a headline. "Wings'll be lookout, so she can be our usual alibi if we're caught out of bed, Wormtail will prod the knot to the Whomping Willow, and me and Prongs will control Were-Remus."
Remus stuttered, "I-I told you not to call me that an-anymore." He paused to consider the idea and then breathed, "It'll be like a pack..."
"Exactly!" Peter cried.
Remus sighed. "It's absolutely loony..."
Sirius hugged him tightly and whispered in his ear, "And exactly like us, wouldn't you say?"
Remus laughed merrily. "Gods, we're all out of our minds!"
"Wouldn't have it any other way."
"But...why?"
As Sirius pulled back, arm still practically clinging to his friend, he replied softly, "I hate seeing you bloodied-up the next day." Louder, he added, "Not to mention all the opportunities animals have that humans don't. Sneaking around the castle an' all."
"Of course."
Lily absently scratched the back of her neck, covered by her long flamed hair. James held her hand as he idly stomped a foot, as if pawing the ground.
'Like a stag might do...'
"So...um...what's it like to be an animal?" Remus asked.
Peter twitched his nose, replying, "Not much different than human. 'Cept smaller in my case." He scratched his nose, and Remus grabbed his hand.
"Pete! Your hand!"
And there it was: a small patch of grey fur on the back of his hand.
"Ah, don' worry 'bout it," Sirius responded. "The book mentioned that, by integrating animal characteristics with human personas, some slight personality differences or even physical traits may alter. Hm, I think...I *hope* it said that the physical attributes fade over time as we gain more control of our powers."
Everybody gaped at him, staring.
He shrugged. "Hey, I'm smart. I just usually don't care. But for Moony...anything."
Lily scratched the back of her neck again.
James tugged a bit at her hand. "What's the matter with your neck?"
"Don't know." She lifted back her hair, allowing everyone to take a look.
'Huh...guess she won't be wearing her hair up any time soon...'
A patch of downy feathers covered most of the back of her neck, sliding down under the back of her blouse.
Almost reverently, James stroked one finger upon the white softness. "Feathers, Wings. You've got feathers."
"Oh." She blushed as he gave her one last stroke. "Wow."
Watching the adorable pair, Sirius leaned over and whispered to Remus, "Blimey, but I can smell the pheromones from here."
The werewolf giggled, lightly elbowing his friend.
"No, no, Remmie, I mean it. I can smell them." He breathed deeply. "Merlin, but when did you start smelling so bloody good, Remus?"
He stared at Sirius, who was sniffing the air. "You're serious."
A crookedly charming grin. "I hate being serious." Another inhalation. "But this time I am. I can smell so much more than I could before. Bloody brilliant. Sure hope this doesn't fade."
A moment's pause, and Remus flung himself into Sirius' arms. "Oh, you stupid, foolish friends of mine! Thank you. I don't even have sufficient words to thank you!" He hugged each of his fellow Marauders in turn, then embraced Siri again for good measure. "Les idiots... Vous êtes les idiots. Mais...merci beaucoup." (**2)
A minute's silence, Sirius breathing deeply his friend's scent, as he held him gently. Remus snuggled deeper into the taller boy's embrace.
I sighed. 'When? When will they realize?'
Peter, Lily, and James laughed suddenly, for they had been whispering among themselves during the boys' exchange. They walked towards the exit.
James yelled back behind his shoulder, startling the pair out of their reverie. "Well, you seem comfortable enough. Do let us know if you want to go get something to eat with the rest of us."
And the three disappeared through the portal.
Never letting go, Remus murmured into Sirius' shoulder, "Shall we?"
"Mm."
"Siri?"
"Hm?"
"Mm."
"Mm-hm..."
Neither moved.
"Sirius..."
"Hm."
"Do you think we... Hm."
"Loss of words, Moony?"
"Hm. Just can't articulate it right now."
"When will you be able to?"
Remus looked up at him, smiling. "Later. But I will tell you. Je promis."
"What?" Sirius tenderly brushed Remus' cheek. "Bloody French," he fondly pronounced.
"I promise, Padfoot. Je promis."
Eventually, the two did leave. But not for awhile.
When they returned, everybody was milling around. They almost didn't make it. Remus was just finishing his chocolate ice cream cone when they reached the train.
The last thing I saw before the doors shut was Sirius wiping a finger on the edge of Remus' mouth, catching some chocolate, and bringing the sticky sweetness to his own mouth, grey and amber eyes never leaving each other.
The whistle blew, the train leaving the platform.
***
The whistle blew, the train approaching the platform.
'And the inherent boredom is alleviated once more. Again, begin the cacophony.'
"So, Frank and me might actually..."
" - zooming left and right!"
"Merlin, it's really over, isn't it?"
"Yup."
"Thank - "
"Detentions? But it was the last night of the school year!"
"Last time I'm bothering to sneak out with you. Detentions the entire first week next year. With McGonagall!"
"Well, y'know, most Slytherins are more careful..."
"And I said..."
"Hey! Get back here! I swear, I'm gonna - "
" - all summer? Really? I mean, it's all set up?"
"'Course, Remmie! You think I'd let you of all people down?"
'Ah! They weren't expelled! Always a shock every year, all things considered.'
The two boys walked slightly ahead of James and Lily, the later two hand-in- hand and talking quietly to each other. Peter was nowhere to be found.
'Ah, love is in the air...not that I can smell it or anything...'
"Oh, Moony, stop worrying! Geez, you'd think I couldn't handle you all summer!"
Remus looked sternly up at the taller through his blond bangs, much lighter over the school year. He answered under his breath so as not to alert the milling crowd. "No, Sirius. I'm worried that you alone won't be able to handle the werewolf the entire summer. I'm simply being cautious."
The other boy snorted. "*Overly* cautious is more like it. C'mon, we'll go out into the woods, isolated...*alone*... Hell, if we go deep enough into the forests, we'll be *miles* away from the nearest people. And it'll only be three nights out of three months! Just think about it! Us, alone, not even the other Marauders!" He looked over his shoulder at the cute lovebirds. "Them, I definitely *won't* miss!"
James looked up from the couple's sweet nothings. "Hey!"
"Nothing's wrong with us!" Lily chimed in.
Sirius glared at them. "Besides the fact that you're too sodding sappy?"
Remus laughed at his friend's pseudo-glare. Playfully, he wrapped his arms around Sirius' middle, resting his cheek on his chest. "Oh, Padfoot, dearest, do ignore the belligerent children."
Wrapping his arms around Remus' shoulders, the ebony-haired wizard childishly stuck his tongue out before resting his chin lightly upon the golden-brown head underneath him, his eyes falling from his best friend since forever and his new girlfriend to his other best friend, together for only five years yet, in some ways, closer. Sirius' hair, gathering evermore length, fell to mingle happily with the dirty blond locks underneath.
Obsidian and amber... With silver streaming in his jet hair like the brightest of stars and streaming gold in his like sunbeams on a summer day, they truly are like day and night. But without the good/evil aspect usually found in that metaphor.
'Metaphors. Hm. If I were human, I'd say I needed to stay off the coffee...or sugar...or chocolate...whatever.'
"C'mon, Remus. We've got an entire summer ahead of us."
With a hand on the small of his back, Sirius led his friend to the exit arch, quietly discussing their upcoming plans as they disappeared into the Muggle world once more.
Lily gazed at where the boys disappeared. "Do you think they - ?" Starting out of her vague reverie, she peered back at her boyfriend.
"Lily, what's the matter?"
"Nothing. Just them."
James walked her to a nearby bench, sitting down with Lily as close as she could get without sitting on his lap. "What's wrong with Siri and Remmie? They seem fine to me."
"No, no. Nothing's *wrong*, per se. Just...oh, James, don't tell me that such a smart boy can't see what's between them!"
"Wings, I'm not as stupid as you're insinuating." He sighed. "I'm just confused. I thought I was really imagining it. I mean, Sirius always seem to... It's like he *needs* to touch him. It's kind of... Well, it's strange, seeing them together. But it's also..."
"Like they belong?" Lily gently nudged.
He sighed again, rubbing his eyes under his glasses. "I don't know. Yeah, I guess." A pause. "Do you think they even know?"
The flame-haired girl shook her head, gazing vaguely back at the exit arch. "I think they'll realize soon."
James glared at her. "Lils, stop scaring me. You sound like Trelawney."
"Gee, so very sorry," she sarcastically replied with a smile. Then, frowning slightly, she added thoughtfully, "I wonder if Peter would agree."
"He always agrees with you, James." She blinked suddenly, peering around her. "Speaking of, where is that rat?"
"Didn't you hear? His grandmother was killed."
"What?" Lily gasped. "How?"
James shrugged, lightly holding the girl. "I don't know the specifics, but he only muttered about an accident with an Auror."
"An *Auror* killed her?"
"I suppose. Must've crushed him."
"So where's he going to stay now? He's alone now, right, since his aunt and uncle were killed last year?"
"Mm-hm. I think he's going to stay with some distant relatives only loosely connected to him. Like living with strangers."
"That's horrible." They remained silent for a minute, Lily taking in this news. "But at least he'll always be welcome with us. And he'll even be in Hogwarts most of the time!"
"Yeah. Not to mention that, in three years, he'll be able to leave if he wants. Find his own place, his own job."
The two talked quietly for another few minutes before walking out into the Muggle world.
As soon as they were gone, a group of Slytherins, including the usual suspects in the forms of Snape, Malfoy, Narcissa, Crabbe, and Goyle, walked by the same bench recently vacated by the two Gryffindors. They spoke in low voices, though still loud in my ears, about certain raids and a newly emerging leader for those who practice the Dark Arts, the Death Eaters.
And that was the first time I ever heard the name Voldemort.
The train whistle remained silent.
(*1) Not the best nickname, but I'm no J. K. Rowlings, now am I? Gimme a better one, and I'll change it! Or put it in a different fic. Or just say thanks. Or...whatever.
(**2) Translation: Idiots... You are idiots. But...thanks.
Feedback. 'S all I'm sayin'. Oh, and that little button down there. Now, I'm done.
~Clamat, sed ubi asinus est?~
They had been here for a half an hour, two-and-a-half entire hours before most people even *thought* about coming. I understood their mature discretion, but I still couldn't get over my shock.
'How...how did they...not even proper fifth years...'
If a surprise is what they wanted Remus to find, a surprise is *certainly* what he was about to receive!
Remus' footsteps trailed into the almost completely empty platform. I watched as a pure white stag, formerly one James Potter, approached the confused wizard and nuzzled him affectionately. As if he'd always known ('maybe the inner wolf knew', I thought), Remus murmured, "Hullo, Prongs."
Around the antlers of the stag flew a white dove, to which Remus called just as naturally, "And to you, Wings." (*1)
She twittered a couple of notes before landing gently upon the stag's highest antlers. The magnificent creature reared its head back gleefully, startling the dove to warble her indignant displeasure before settling back, the stag walking towards the centre of the platform where more shapes were, one dark form pacing almost nervously.
The next animal to scurry forth to meet the boy was a grey rat, who twitched his nose nervously when Remus picked him up.
"Wormtail," he named, setting the rat onto the crown of Prong, the stag looking cross-eyed up at Wormtail.
Finally, Remus saw Sirius...er, rather, the shaggy black dog who used to be Sirius. Spreading his arms wide, he cried, "Padfoot!"
With a sharp bark, the exuberant Padfoot pounced the boy, licking his face excitedly.
As I watched them with fervor, I also noticed that Ja - Prongs had gently slid Wormtail off his forehead as the rat began squeaking helplessly. He suddenly lay still, and there was Peter once more.
As if starting a chain reaction, both Prongs and Wings shivered, and James appeared with Lily slightly above him, having not dismounted Prongs' tall antlers. Deftly, he caught her descent in his arms, where they remained, shaken from their forced change.
'Guess they're still not powerful enough to control themselves.'
I immediately averted my sights back to my favourite boys in time to see Sirius appear, lying atop a startled Remus.
Sirius immediately grinned, sinking his chin to rest on the brunette's chest. "'Lo, Moony."
"Hullo, Padfoot." With a pointed glance, he added, "Comfortable?"
He nodded, actually trying to sink closer to his friend. "You make a superb pillow."
"I noticed." A pause while their friends approached, James letting Lily down. "Get off of me."
"Make me."
With an actual growl, Remus wrestled Sirius to the side and found himself on top.
"I win," he breathed.
Sirius smirked, replying with a wink, "Never thought you for a dominant, Remmie."
'Oh, my...'
The both laughed, Remus' face tinged pink adorably.
'Hm...'
Remus pulled Sirius up and faced his friends with a broad grin on his face. "How...how did you...we're not even fifth years!"
'That's what *I* said!'
James replied with a laugh, "Blame it on Siri! It was his featherbrained idea."
"And Peter's to study this instead of Potions!" Sirius crowed.
"But - but...how long?"
"Three years," Lily replied.
"Wait," said Remus, a hand to his head. "Why you as well, Lily?"
"I'm a Marauder." She shrugged. "Oh, and you have extremely lame excuses as to why you leave on full moons."
He paled. "Huh?"
She laughed at his surprised anxiety. "Honestly, Remmie! How many sick relatives could one person *possibly* have?"
"Wait... Wh..."
Sirius slapped the brunette good-naturedly on the back. "For one who proclaims his 'magniloquence', you sure are short on words."
"...Lily knows?"
"Of course I know!" She sniffed with mock-indignity. "I've known since the end of second year."
"But..."
"OK, so the way we see it," Sirius interjected, slinging an arm around his friend and flinging his arm around, as if reading from a headline. "Wings'll be lookout, so she can be our usual alibi if we're caught out of bed, Wormtail will prod the knot to the Whomping Willow, and me and Prongs will control Were-Remus."
Remus stuttered, "I-I told you not to call me that an-anymore." He paused to consider the idea and then breathed, "It'll be like a pack..."
"Exactly!" Peter cried.
Remus sighed. "It's absolutely loony..."
Sirius hugged him tightly and whispered in his ear, "And exactly like us, wouldn't you say?"
Remus laughed merrily. "Gods, we're all out of our minds!"
"Wouldn't have it any other way."
"But...why?"
As Sirius pulled back, arm still practically clinging to his friend, he replied softly, "I hate seeing you bloodied-up the next day." Louder, he added, "Not to mention all the opportunities animals have that humans don't. Sneaking around the castle an' all."
"Of course."
Lily absently scratched the back of her neck, covered by her long flamed hair. James held her hand as he idly stomped a foot, as if pawing the ground.
'Like a stag might do...'
"So...um...what's it like to be an animal?" Remus asked.
Peter twitched his nose, replying, "Not much different than human. 'Cept smaller in my case." He scratched his nose, and Remus grabbed his hand.
"Pete! Your hand!"
And there it was: a small patch of grey fur on the back of his hand.
"Ah, don' worry 'bout it," Sirius responded. "The book mentioned that, by integrating animal characteristics with human personas, some slight personality differences or even physical traits may alter. Hm, I think...I *hope* it said that the physical attributes fade over time as we gain more control of our powers."
Everybody gaped at him, staring.
He shrugged. "Hey, I'm smart. I just usually don't care. But for Moony...anything."
Lily scratched the back of her neck again.
James tugged a bit at her hand. "What's the matter with your neck?"
"Don't know." She lifted back her hair, allowing everyone to take a look.
'Huh...guess she won't be wearing her hair up any time soon...'
A patch of downy feathers covered most of the back of her neck, sliding down under the back of her blouse.
Almost reverently, James stroked one finger upon the white softness. "Feathers, Wings. You've got feathers."
"Oh." She blushed as he gave her one last stroke. "Wow."
Watching the adorable pair, Sirius leaned over and whispered to Remus, "Blimey, but I can smell the pheromones from here."
The werewolf giggled, lightly elbowing his friend.
"No, no, Remmie, I mean it. I can smell them." He breathed deeply. "Merlin, but when did you start smelling so bloody good, Remus?"
He stared at Sirius, who was sniffing the air. "You're serious."
A crookedly charming grin. "I hate being serious." Another inhalation. "But this time I am. I can smell so much more than I could before. Bloody brilliant. Sure hope this doesn't fade."
A moment's pause, and Remus flung himself into Sirius' arms. "Oh, you stupid, foolish friends of mine! Thank you. I don't even have sufficient words to thank you!" He hugged each of his fellow Marauders in turn, then embraced Siri again for good measure. "Les idiots... Vous êtes les idiots. Mais...merci beaucoup." (**2)
A minute's silence, Sirius breathing deeply his friend's scent, as he held him gently. Remus snuggled deeper into the taller boy's embrace.
I sighed. 'When? When will they realize?'
Peter, Lily, and James laughed suddenly, for they had been whispering among themselves during the boys' exchange. They walked towards the exit.
James yelled back behind his shoulder, startling the pair out of their reverie. "Well, you seem comfortable enough. Do let us know if you want to go get something to eat with the rest of us."
And the three disappeared through the portal.
Never letting go, Remus murmured into Sirius' shoulder, "Shall we?"
"Mm."
"Siri?"
"Hm?"
"Mm."
"Mm-hm..."
Neither moved.
"Sirius..."
"Hm."
"Do you think we... Hm."
"Loss of words, Moony?"
"Hm. Just can't articulate it right now."
"When will you be able to?"
Remus looked up at him, smiling. "Later. But I will tell you. Je promis."
"What?" Sirius tenderly brushed Remus' cheek. "Bloody French," he fondly pronounced.
"I promise, Padfoot. Je promis."
Eventually, the two did leave. But not for awhile.
When they returned, everybody was milling around. They almost didn't make it. Remus was just finishing his chocolate ice cream cone when they reached the train.
The last thing I saw before the doors shut was Sirius wiping a finger on the edge of Remus' mouth, catching some chocolate, and bringing the sticky sweetness to his own mouth, grey and amber eyes never leaving each other.
The whistle blew, the train leaving the platform.
***
The whistle blew, the train approaching the platform.
'And the inherent boredom is alleviated once more. Again, begin the cacophony.'
"So, Frank and me might actually..."
" - zooming left and right!"
"Merlin, it's really over, isn't it?"
"Yup."
"Thank - "
"Detentions? But it was the last night of the school year!"
"Last time I'm bothering to sneak out with you. Detentions the entire first week next year. With McGonagall!"
"Well, y'know, most Slytherins are more careful..."
"And I said..."
"Hey! Get back here! I swear, I'm gonna - "
" - all summer? Really? I mean, it's all set up?"
"'Course, Remmie! You think I'd let you of all people down?"
'Ah! They weren't expelled! Always a shock every year, all things considered.'
The two boys walked slightly ahead of James and Lily, the later two hand-in- hand and talking quietly to each other. Peter was nowhere to be found.
'Ah, love is in the air...not that I can smell it or anything...'
"Oh, Moony, stop worrying! Geez, you'd think I couldn't handle you all summer!"
Remus looked sternly up at the taller through his blond bangs, much lighter over the school year. He answered under his breath so as not to alert the milling crowd. "No, Sirius. I'm worried that you alone won't be able to handle the werewolf the entire summer. I'm simply being cautious."
The other boy snorted. "*Overly* cautious is more like it. C'mon, we'll go out into the woods, isolated...*alone*... Hell, if we go deep enough into the forests, we'll be *miles* away from the nearest people. And it'll only be three nights out of three months! Just think about it! Us, alone, not even the other Marauders!" He looked over his shoulder at the cute lovebirds. "Them, I definitely *won't* miss!"
James looked up from the couple's sweet nothings. "Hey!"
"Nothing's wrong with us!" Lily chimed in.
Sirius glared at them. "Besides the fact that you're too sodding sappy?"
Remus laughed at his friend's pseudo-glare. Playfully, he wrapped his arms around Sirius' middle, resting his cheek on his chest. "Oh, Padfoot, dearest, do ignore the belligerent children."
Wrapping his arms around Remus' shoulders, the ebony-haired wizard childishly stuck his tongue out before resting his chin lightly upon the golden-brown head underneath him, his eyes falling from his best friend since forever and his new girlfriend to his other best friend, together for only five years yet, in some ways, closer. Sirius' hair, gathering evermore length, fell to mingle happily with the dirty blond locks underneath.
Obsidian and amber... With silver streaming in his jet hair like the brightest of stars and streaming gold in his like sunbeams on a summer day, they truly are like day and night. But without the good/evil aspect usually found in that metaphor.
'Metaphors. Hm. If I were human, I'd say I needed to stay off the coffee...or sugar...or chocolate...whatever.'
"C'mon, Remus. We've got an entire summer ahead of us."
With a hand on the small of his back, Sirius led his friend to the exit arch, quietly discussing their upcoming plans as they disappeared into the Muggle world once more.
Lily gazed at where the boys disappeared. "Do you think they - ?" Starting out of her vague reverie, she peered back at her boyfriend.
"Lily, what's the matter?"
"Nothing. Just them."
James walked her to a nearby bench, sitting down with Lily as close as she could get without sitting on his lap. "What's wrong with Siri and Remmie? They seem fine to me."
"No, no. Nothing's *wrong*, per se. Just...oh, James, don't tell me that such a smart boy can't see what's between them!"
"Wings, I'm not as stupid as you're insinuating." He sighed. "I'm just confused. I thought I was really imagining it. I mean, Sirius always seem to... It's like he *needs* to touch him. It's kind of... Well, it's strange, seeing them together. But it's also..."
"Like they belong?" Lily gently nudged.
He sighed again, rubbing his eyes under his glasses. "I don't know. Yeah, I guess." A pause. "Do you think they even know?"
The flame-haired girl shook her head, gazing vaguely back at the exit arch. "I think they'll realize soon."
James glared at her. "Lils, stop scaring me. You sound like Trelawney."
"Gee, so very sorry," she sarcastically replied with a smile. Then, frowning slightly, she added thoughtfully, "I wonder if Peter would agree."
"He always agrees with you, James." She blinked suddenly, peering around her. "Speaking of, where is that rat?"
"Didn't you hear? His grandmother was killed."
"What?" Lily gasped. "How?"
James shrugged, lightly holding the girl. "I don't know the specifics, but he only muttered about an accident with an Auror."
"An *Auror* killed her?"
"I suppose. Must've crushed him."
"So where's he going to stay now? He's alone now, right, since his aunt and uncle were killed last year?"
"Mm-hm. I think he's going to stay with some distant relatives only loosely connected to him. Like living with strangers."
"That's horrible." They remained silent for a minute, Lily taking in this news. "But at least he'll always be welcome with us. And he'll even be in Hogwarts most of the time!"
"Yeah. Not to mention that, in three years, he'll be able to leave if he wants. Find his own place, his own job."
The two talked quietly for another few minutes before walking out into the Muggle world.
As soon as they were gone, a group of Slytherins, including the usual suspects in the forms of Snape, Malfoy, Narcissa, Crabbe, and Goyle, walked by the same bench recently vacated by the two Gryffindors. They spoke in low voices, though still loud in my ears, about certain raids and a newly emerging leader for those who practice the Dark Arts, the Death Eaters.
And that was the first time I ever heard the name Voldemort.
The train whistle remained silent.
(*1) Not the best nickname, but I'm no J. K. Rowlings, now am I? Gimme a better one, and I'll change it! Or put it in a different fic. Or just say thanks. Or...whatever.
(**2) Translation: Idiots... You are idiots. But...thanks.
Feedback. 'S all I'm sayin'. Oh, and that little button down there. Now, I'm done.
~Clamat, sed ubi asinus est?~