The one where Sirius drinks a poofy, girly drink
They waited outside of his office, trying to keep their faces impassive to the passing students. Lily held a baby; her knuckles white where her hands clasped together. James fidgeted, smoothing his hair or tapping the arm of the chair in which he sat. They were both dreading this meeting.
The gargoyle opened...their invitation to walk into the office. Lily stood and shifted Harry on to her hip so she could hold her husband's hand. James gave her an encouraging smile and squeezed her hand. They began walking up the stairs to Dumbledore's office.
The old man himself sat at his desk, his phoenix, Fawkes, looking magnificent for it had just been his Burning Day. Lily herself felt worn out and knew she too would have to become her Animagus state so she could be reborn. Dumbledore offered them the usual of seats, tea, and sherbet lemons. James took all three, having a rather sweet tooth.
''Lo Fawkes,' James said around the lolly. The phoenix came and sat on his knee and allowed him to stroke the feathers. It was somewhat calming.
'Mr and Mrs Potter, I am sure you are aware of the rising of Voldemort's powers.' Dumbledore began without preamble.
Lily flinched at the name. 'Headmaster, you are correct, but we also know that the walls have ears and that even saying his name is to tempt fate.'
'I assure you, Mrs Potter, these walls are ear-less.'
'I bet they're 'armless too.' James joked suddenly, chuckling to himself. Lily sent him a glare, this was a very serious meeting, and he stopped. Fawkes chirped softly.
'That too, Mr. Potter.' Dumbledore smiled gently. 'Nothing and nobody will be listening in on our conversation. We are safe to talk.'
Lily nodded. 'Very well, Headmaster. James' job as an Auror keeps us up to date with Death Eater and...Voldemort's activities.'
Dumbledore nodded, pouring more tea for them all. Not that they had drunk it. 'Then we need to find a place for you to stay.'
'Uh, excuse me, Professor Dumbledore?' James asked, frowning. 'Why do we need to move?'
The Headmaster raised an eyebrow. 'Am I to believe that you did not know that you, your wife and your son are the next targets for Voldemort?'
'According to the information we have, we are at the bottom of his list!' Lily exclaimed, her voice raising slightly with the exclamation. 'He gave the warning that I got at my party to almost every prominent wizard in the country.'
'Well, my dear, I'm afraid it is true. I have...a spy in their ranks. He has told me that you are in danger.' Seeing their faces, he continued. 'Do you have any obscure relatives that you could stay with?'
They shook their heads. 'James' family has been having a few "accidents" lately. Mine don't exist yet.' Lily announced.
'Then...I propose that you use a Secret Keeper.'
They looked at each other and turned back to Dumbledore. 'Do you really think it is necessary?' James asked.
'It is. I suspect that someone you are close to is in league with Voldemort and has been informing him of your movements. Luckily, you have been on a tour of Italy.' He sighed. 'Please Lily, James, let me be your Secret Keeper.'
'Professor, I would prefer it if Sirius Black was, right Lily?'
'Nothing against you, sir.' Lily gave him a weak smile. 'Sirius is planning on going into hiding himself.'
Dumbledore nodded stiffly. He loved the two people in front of him as if they were his own children and wanted to see them safe. Although he couldn't believe that Sirius Black would betray his best friend and Lily, these were dark times and any wizard, no matter how they acted, could be working for the Dark Lord. 'Very well, I will give you all the literature that you will need to perform the Fidelius Charm. Please be careful, Mr and Mrs Potter. I want to see you at Harry's graduation.'
Sirius looked at them, his jaw hanging open. 'You're joking.'
James almost spluttered with outrage. 'Sirius! Why in god's name would we joke about something as serious as this? We are asking you to hold the secret of our whereabouts inside you. We are using a Transportation Spell to move our house to France. You would be the only one to know.'
He lowered his beer and his eyes met James. James had rarely seen such fierceness in there before. 'I would be honored to, James.' He gripped his mate's hand tightly.
'Thank you.' James let Sirius go and bought him another beer.
They were at the Three Broomsticks again. It was their favorite hangout ever since third year at Hogwarts. The shadowed corners were particularly useful for plotting evil schemes, or pranks in their case, or making out without your friends seeing and teasing you senseless.
Lily walked over, Butterbeer in her hand. They had decided that James should ask Sirius alone, so that he didn't feel pressured into accepting the role. Not that they thought that he would refuse. Sirius was too loyal to James for that. 'Howdy boys,' it was the best American accent she could do and it was a pretty pathetic one at that. Lily lowered her voice, in a British accent now, and asked 'Are we going to do it, Sirius?'
'Lily, how seductive of you.... And right here in front of James.' He grinned, but knew that his light hearted banter was sounding too forced. Sirius sighed and turned back to what Lily had really meant. 'Yeah, I'll be your SK.'
She smiled. 'Thank you.'
In a swirl of snow, the door opened and several people entered. All of them, "coincidentally" were their friends. Remus Lupin shook free the snow, looking worn and tired from the full moon last night. Peter Pettigrew had his arm slung around Alexia who had dark circles under her eyes and look of worry etched on her face. Finally, Lesath Black, the annoying, and mean, younger sister of Sirius Black, came into the bar, putting her cloak on a hook near the door. As if knowing that the newest people entering the building were friends of Lily, James and Sirius, their booth lengthened and was able to seat their friends.
'I'll go get the drinks, shall I?' Alexia asked, slipping under Peter's heavy and fat arm. Lesath agreed to help her, only so she would be able to "spike" the drinks.
The last Marauders scooted on to the leather seats, still shivering from the freezing, biting wind outside. Remus stilled looked wolfish, and held some of the mannerisms like hanging his head down low and not meeting James' eyes. He was the leader of his pack. Peter, who had, at first, seemed brazen and bold when he walked in, became a stuttering mess as he reached the comfort of the booth.
'Well, aren't we conversationalists?' Sirius observed dryly.
'Lay off, Sirius.' Remus almost snarled the words.
It was in that moment that they all realized how tense the world had gotten. Yes, Voldemort may be after the Potter's blood. Yes, Death Eaters may be terrorizing their neighbors, but until the mild mannered, calming, studious Remus. J. Lupin snapped at Sirius, it didn't strike home.
Thankfully, the moment all of the friends came to the same conclusion, that Voldemort was a bitch and he was getting worse, Lesath and Alexia returned with their drinks. Color had returned to their cheeks and they seemed far happier to be inside than to be outdoors at this particular moment.
'Remus, you were having the whiskey sour, Peter, the mead, Alexia the mulled wine and I was having a grapefruit vodka.' Lesath recited, her excellent memory perfecting the orders. They all nodded, except for Sirius.
'Why on earth are you having a grapefruit vodka?' He asked, turning up his nose at it. He was a beer man, not some poofy girly-drink kinda bloke.
'Don't freak out, O brother of mine. They haven't run out of beer. I am just enjoying something for finer tastes. Not that you would know anything about it?'
Their friends hid their grins, knowing what a sparring match between Lesath and Sirius could be like. Lily, James and Remus had also had the pleasure of seeing Lesath against Severus Snape. It had been a knock out performance and Sirius had cursed the fact the flu caught him on that specific day. However, Alexia wasn't in the mood for a fight between the two, and told them as much.
'She's rather...delicate...at the moment. If you catch my drift.' Peter said, grinning widely.
'Oh my stars!' Lily said, her hand raising to rest on her mouth. Alexia. Her best friend. Was pregnant. With the traitor's. Child. Luckily, they took her frightened silence as delight and smiled brighter.
'If it's a girl, we're calling her Lillian, after you of course.' Alexia said to the redhead.
'James, if it's a boy.' Peter added.
'Wow. That's.... Something.' James said, laughing. 'Put 'er there, mate.' He held out his hand and shook Peter's hand.
The conversation lapsed, as there isn't much to say after such a bombshell. James was rethinking his whole attitude towards Peter. The man had managed to marry Alexia, and he seemed happy over the fact he was going to be a father so early in life. How could a family man betray him? He would name his son after him, for gods' sake.
James started when he realized his friends were talking without him. Lily had started a discussion on their professions, and was currently getting a reluctant Remus to talk about what field he wanted to teach in.
'I guess I can say now, for certain, that Defense against the Dark Arts would be my number one choice.' He ran his fingers through his hair, telling himself that fingers and a thumb were normal. His eyes met with Lily's and she dropped them to the table. He knew she would see the longing and lust that the wolf couldn't hide. 'I need a lot of practice in that area, though. I doubt many Giants would care for me knocking on their door asking if I could kill them.'
'I'm sure they'll be quite a few Dark Creatures after this battle with You-Know-Who.' Sirius announced. He had actually been persuaded by Lesath to try her "poofy, girly-drink" and was enjoying his own immensely. 'All those Dementors and vampires and... other...dark stuff. They just flocked to his cause.'
'Why don't you just say werewolves, Sirius?' Remus asked wearily. He was sick of people dancing around the issue.
'Because they didn't.' He almost whispered the second part. 'You didn't, Moony.'
'I have my own reasons, Padfoot. Believe you me, it is only too easy to fall for the sweet promises of the Dark Lord.' He drank from his second drink, this time a fine glass of brandy. It made him feel mature, as long as he kept telling himself that it didn't taste like the medicine his Muggle Nanny used to force down his throat. 'He approached me, you know. Came to me and said that he would give me a high place in his ranks if I would join him.'
James' ears pricked. Remus was always saying how he wished he wasn't treated like a monster. Remus was in love with his wife, who would be a widow if he was "disposed" of. Remus.... Was Remus the one that Dumbledore believed was spying to Voldemort? He shook his head, feeling a shiver down his back. Voldemort was getting to him, making him see things and believe the worst. The idea of any of his friends being in cohorts with the Dark Lord was unsettling.
'Are you alright, James? You look pale.' Lily's hand rested, warm and comfortable, on his upper arm.
'Yeah. Can we shoot off home soon?' James was looking at her, pleading.
'But...why? It's only half past ten!' Lily said, laughing. He kissed her roughly and she nodded. 'Uh, guys, I think we ought to be heading to Godric's Hollow. You know these babysitters. Pay by the hour and charge triple once you get into the golden hours.'
With indecent haste, the Potter's left the Three Broomsticks; both weighed down with more worries than they had entered with.
Author's Notes: I apologize for not getting this chapter up sooner. Yesterday, my work and then having to chase up my computer game that I got for my birthday really ate at my time. I have finished my chapter outlines, so I'll be able to write them easier, hopefully. People, I want Remus and Ginny to get together Remember that!
I have a really kick ass idea for what Remus does in the years of Lily's absence and the ones before he works at Hogwarts. Stay tuned (and ack, I have so many twists and stuff I can't wait!)
Iselin: I loved writing that chapter because I like trying to justify how people turned out (i.e Hermione's crazy parents who are modelled after my own, and yes, that really did happen to me. We have kept a skewer near the door since then). I think that Sirius would have had a really sick sense of humour. He's a guy after all, LOL. Oh yeah, I chose that specific star for a reason, I got it from this neato site http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/ . Unfortunately, I don't know much about stars, I wish I did. I think I'll buy a book on the subject since I am fascinated in the myths behind them. On my mother: "My mum wants to kill Remus off. I think I may need to disown her" (As said by me to Luke who had been on a holiday) Thanks for the review!
Tiger Lily: As much as I want Remus to stay unmarried forever...I think he deserves the girl. He puts up with a lot of shit and should have something nice in his life (if that includes you and leather, so be it).
Bluegirl18: Thanks. I liked looking up the stars and stuff. It was fun. Read Author's Notes for my stance on the whole RL/GW relationship.
Brianna Brantly: Did milk come out your nose? That always happens to me...(p.s thanks for the review)
J. Liha: I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. I hope this update is soon enough for you!
Darth Flirt: Hey, my story sounds classy when said like that! Can I put that in my summary? lol. Once I get my site up and running, I'll add all the "crappy-yet-still-full-of-Pidgie-goodness" songfics and fanfics that I've written. I have a Hermione/Sirius fic I want to start once I've finished this one. It's probably lame but I'll give any ship a go!
Chocolate Muse: I'm glad your birthday rocked and that you liked my chapters. Now, unfortunately, we have to get back to that darn plot, lol.
Once again anybody who wants to give me a hand with HTML....yep. Sunburnt_archer@hotmail.com is the email.
Finally, thank you all who read this story, I write this for you and possibly for the pleasure in writing out this stuff. Possible.