Thanks to everyone who is giving me feedback. It's nice to know a story is appreciated. And, as always, thanks to Emily for being such a good beta reader.
CHAPTER 4
For Life
Remus had just pulled his head out of the fire when Sirius walked into the living room. "Who were you flooing with?" Sirius asked him.
"My Mum and Dad," Remus replied. He stared at Sirius. He had a serious subject to bring up, but if Sirius wasn't in the mood then it would just end in an argument. He couldn't tell what kind of mood he was in. He felt his head getting light. His stomach lurched. "How was your day? Work going alright?" He spoke faster then usual.
"Yes, fine," Sirius kissed Remus on the cheek then noticed the solemn expression on his face. "What?" He asked scared. Sirius was afraid someone else had died. He was panic-stricken.
"No, it's nothing serious, well it is, but it's not what your thinking," Remus noticed the panic in Sirius' eyes and continued, "I just think I should go home for a while." He said it; surprised it came out so clearly.
"You…you want to leave?" Sirius looked hurt.
"I don't want to leave," Remus started pacing the room. "I just don't like you always paying for everything. I'm not your responsibility. I shouldn't be tying you down."
"Tying me down?" Sirius repeated. "I want you here. I will do whatever I can to keep you here. I don't mind sharing my things with you. There is nobody else I would rather share my life with."
"I don't feel right about…" Remus started but was interrupted by a kiss.
"I love you," Sirius said into his lips.
Remus felt like he was floating. He'd dreamed for years of hearing Sirius say that but thought it was impossible. If Sirius wasn't holding him Remus was sure his knees would have given out. "Oh God. I love you too."
"Prongs?" Sirius knocked on the door of his bedroom. James emerged from his room and saw Sirius, Remus and Peter standing outside the door, all with suspicious-looking grins on their faces.
"What is it?" James asked.
"Get some decent robes on, we're taking you out," Peter said.
"Taking me out? I'm getting married tomorrow, I need to sleep." James looked disbelieving at them.
"I know. That's why we have to have one last night together before you get tied to the whip," Sirius said, making a whipping noise. James still stood there looking dumbfounded. Sirius pushed past him into his room and pulled out some clean black robes. "Here, put these on. We'll be waiting in the other room." Sirius threw the robes to James and then walked out of the room. Remus and Peter followed.
Sirius looked nervously at the clock. If James didn't hurry they wouldn't have much time to do anything. Sirius wanted to be in bed at a reasonable hour as well, as he also had a part in the wedding tomorrow, though obviously not as big as James' part. It was nearly 20 minutes later when James came out of his room, dressed in the robes Sirius had handed him. They decided it wouldn't be a good idea to apparate, since the place they were taking James was most definitely a place he'd never been. Sirius and Remus had only just found the place that day by recommendation from Peter. They threw some ash in the fireplace and Sirius went first. "Hags Hell," he said and disappeared in a rush of green flames.
"What did he say?" James asked looking a little nervous.
"Oh, it's just the name, really. It's not such a bad place," Peter smiled. "Go, Remus and I will follow."
James studied the faces of two of his best friends. "Lily will kill me if this is a…."
"Just go," Remus smiled. "It's called Hags Hell."
James wondered why he was so worried. Remus wouldn't let the others take him to a place that would be questionable to his relationship with Lily. Would he? He climbed in the fireplace and said, "Hags Hell." A moment later he was gone.
"Well, after you then," Remus laughed.
"He's going to kill us," Peter said. He climbed into the fire.
"Probably," Remus said as Peter disappeared. He then climbed into the fire and was gone a second later.
Remus brushed himself off climbing out of the fireplace of a dark dingy club. About ten feet in front of them was a stage. The lights that lit up the stage seemed so bright it almost hurt his eyes. On the stage was a beautiful white haired witch, wearing only a piece of fabric held on by two thin strings for panties and doing unspeakable things with a metal pole that stuck up out of the ground. Remus couldn't help but laugh at the expression on James face.
"I can't believe you," James said to Sirius.
"What? Every guy has to do something like this the night before he gets married. It's like law or something," Sirius said. Peter joined next to them holding out two glasses of Witches Brewed Slave ale.
"Come on, lets find a place to sit," he said.
They found a small round table that the four of them only just fit around. It was far enough from the stage that James didn't feel too uncomfortable, but not far enough that he couldn't see the witches dancing on stage. He wasn't sure he wanted to see it, but then he wasn't sure he didn't want to either.
"What do you think of this?" James asked Remus.
"We aren't here for me, it doesn't matter what I think," Remus smiled and motioned to a skimpily dressed waitress. He ordered a drink for himself then downed it in just two gulps. Clearly Remus was a little uncomfortable in this place.
Sirius then raised his hand and motioned for the waitress. Again she returned, and Sirius leaned up to say something in her ear. The waitress nodded and left the table.
"What did you say to her?" James asked nervously. He could only imagine.
"You'll see," Sirius smiled. Then winked at Remus from across the table. "Have another drink, Moony. Then I'll be able to take advantage of you later."
"I don't have to be drunk for you to do that," Remus laughed.
Peter looked uneasily at them. They had never actually come out and said to Peter that they were a couple, but Peter figured it out. It became obvious that he lived in the flat with Sirius and James. There was no other place he could have slept. Peter knew he wasn't sleeping on the couch. Only now was it even more obvious when they had asked Peter earlier that month if he wanted James bedroom after he got married. "We won't be using it," they said. Peter refused. He didn't think living with Remus and Sirius would be such a good idea. It would be too easy for them to catch on to his darker side. It would make him closer to James though, he thought. But in the end he decided that he was better off where he was staying, at his mother's house.
A young witch wearing a boa and a top that was so small James wasn't sure she didn't just take one of the cocktail napkins and put it over her large breasts. Her tiny leather mini skirt just covered the back of her butt. "Which one of you is James?" She asked.
James turned red and looked angrily at Sirius who had a grin of delight on his face. "Over there," Sirius pointed to James.
The young witch walked over to James and sat down on his lap. The sheer look of terror on James face was enough to scare anyone away. The witch said, "Don't worry. I know your getting married. I'm just supposed to show you what you're missing." She started to put her arms around his neck when James pulled her back.
"Um, how about showing Peter over there," James pointed to Peter whose eyes lit up. The witch looked annoyed, she was just doing her job. Then she walked to the other end of the table and sat in Peter's lap.
"You are so dead," James said to Sirius. Sirius looked pleased with himself. He moved his chair over so he could be closer to Remus then said something in his ear that made Remus turn red.
"We're getting out of here," Sirius told James, but kept looking at Remus and kissing him. "See you tomorrow," Sirius said. He walked over to the fireplace, his hands in Remus' pocket. Giving him one last kiss, he disappeared into the flames, followed by Remus.
James watched Peter as the girl on his lap gave him her attention. James wondered if he would even notice if James just left. But he thought maybe he had better wait and tell him he was going. After about 5 more minutes the witch gave Peter a kiss on the cheek and left. Peter looked thoroughly happy.
"Sirius and Remus left. I think I'm going to get going as well. I have a busy day tomorrow," James said.
"Alright. I'll see you tomorrow then," Peter said.
James got up from the table, walked over to the fireplace and Flooed home. Peter stared at the flames long after James had left. He knew what was expected of him by Voldemort, he just wasn't sure it was what he wanted to do. As if Voldemort was reading his mind, two Death Eaters appeared at the table. Peter recognized them, but didn't know their names. Voldemort didn't want the identieies of his followers known, even to other followers.
"Tomorrow there will be a whole crowd of Potters then?" One asked. They were unmasked due to the fact that they were in a public place.
"Y-yes," Peter said hesitantly.
"Then there should be no reason why we can't get them all in one blow," the other Death Eater said.
"Good work, Wormtail," the first one said again. He looked around the club, seemingly impressed that Wormtail would be in a place like this. He winked at one of the waitresses. She smiled back. Peter just wanted them to leave. He kept glancing at the fireplace wishing he was standing in it. When the second Death Eater ordered a drink he sighed. He was going to have to be friendly with these men. Fortunately a few minutes later the drink was gone and the two men disapparated. Peter was alone and feeling scared and guilty. How had he gotten into a mess like this? He wondered.
"Are you ready?" Sirius pounded on the James bedroom door. James and Lily had gotten a house in London and moved all James' stuff out just two days earlier.
The door opened and James came out wearing light gray robes that were fitted to him perfectly. There was a hint of light blue in his collar and around the cuffs.
"Look at you," Sirius said impressed. "I've never seen you look so nice. It even looks like you got your wild hair to lie down." Sirius patted James head, and the cowlick in the back popped up again.
"And you," James said. Sirius was wearing light blue robes that were fitted to his form as well. "I didn't know you could clean up," James laughed.
"He looks gorgeous," Remus said coming out of his bedroom and wrapping an arm around Sirius' waist. Remus was simply wearing dress robes. The wedding was going to be a small event, for safety reasons. Sirius was James only attendant and Lily's only attendant was her cousin Elisa. If James could have his way he would have had Peter and Remus up there with him. But according to Lily it wouldn't work to have more set of groom's attendants then bride's.
Sirius smiled at Remus and said, "I wish I could wear that instead. It looks far more comfortable." He leaned in and kissed Remus. James sighed and walked past them into the other room. They had ten minutes before they had to be at the field where the wedding was. James was starting to feel nervous. Why? He wondered. He knew from the time he started dating Lily that she was the one he was supposed to be with. Maybe it was the idea of standing in front of his whole family and committing to her for life that made his nerves act up. Or maybe he was nervous cause now he was adding Lily to the mess that the Potters were in with Voldemort. Yes, she didn't have the blood. And they had agreed not to have any children until Voldemort was gone just to keep her safe. As long as she wasn't carrying a child there would be no Potter blood in her. But he still couldn't help but worry about her. He loved her more then anything in the world. His life only mattered because Lily was in it. If anything ever happened to her, he would forget how to live.
"Let's go, Prongs," Sirius said, standing by the door.
James was jolted back to reality and saw Sirius and Remus getting ready to apparate. "Alright," James said, joining them. In a matter of seconds the flat was empty.
Lily sat in front of a mirror alone. She wore white robes that seemed to have a sort of enchantment in them so when she moved a light pink tint showed. Her auburn hair was pulled up into a twist and she wore a halo of garland around her head. It was perfect.
"He's certainly lucky," the mirror told her.
"So am I," she replied back smiling.
"Hey beautiful," someone called from behind her. She sat in a white canvas tent. She turned and saw Sirius beaming at her.
"Is James here?" She asked.
"Nah, he's going to let me marry you instead."
Lily laughed, "Sure. Remus would love that." She smiled at his classy light blue robes.
"We have to get a picture of you looking like this, you know. I'm sure we'll never see it again."
"Are you almost ready?" Sirius asked. "James is getting pretty anxious."
"Yes, I'll be out in a minute. Just have to wait for my father." Sirius left the canvas tent and Lily looked into the mirror one more time. She could hear the music playing outside by four magical instruments. A harp, a violin, a bass guitar and a cello all magically played by themselves. Lily's father appeared behind her. "You ready to get married?" He asked. Mr. Evans was losing his youngest child, and even though he should be happy she was marrying the man of her dreams, as she put it, he was still sad to lose his little girl.
"I've been ready since I was 16," she said smiling. She walked over to her father and sensed his sadness at seeing her grown up. She kissed his cheek. "I'll always be your daughter, you know."
Mr. Evans held out his arm. Lily took it and they exited the tent. Lily was about to become a Potter.
"Look at them," Remus said smiling. "They look so happy." The ceremony had just ended and Remus was standing next to Sirius, holding a glass of champagne. Lily and James were glowing as they danced with each other. "You ever want to get married?" Remus asked, not taking his eyes of James and Lily.
"To you," Sirius replied casually.
Remus looked at him. That was the last thing he had expected Sirius to say. "You know that's not possible."
"Then no, I don't ever want to get married." Sirius looked into Remus' eyes and winked.
"Come on, let's dance," Remus said putting his champagne glass down. He wanted nothing more at that moment then to hold Sirius in his arms. Maybe Sirius didn't understand the impact of what he had just said, but Remus knew what it meant to him. It meant that Sirius wanted to spend his life with him.
"What is this music?" Sirius asked as he put his arms around Remus' waist.
"Some Muggle song. Lily wanted some of this to reflect her Muggle background."
"It's not bad," Sirius said. Remus leaned his head on Sirius' shoulder. Sirius kissed the top of his head and swayed to the music. To him there was nobody else in the world. He couldn't see the eyes staring questionably at them. He didn't see the Blacks whispering. He wouldn't have cared if he did see it. This was right to Sirius. This was how it was meant to be, in the arms of his lover.
The sun was setting in the pink sky and some of the guests had decided to leave. Sirius sat at a table with Peter and Remus. Peter looked very nervous about something. Dumbledore, who was a friend of the Potter family, was there dancing with a short witch whose head just met Dumbledore's chest. Sirius noticed Peter's expression get even more nervous as he saw two wizards in dress robes standing by the food table. Sirius had never seen the men before. They weren't Muggles; that was obvious by the way they dressed. And Sirius was sure he knew all the people James had invited. "Who are they?" He asked.
Peter started to turn green. Before anyone had a chance to answer an enormous blast sounded and half the field had exploded. There were screams of terror. Sirius and Remus jumped to their feet and held out their wands. Peter seemed to have disappeared.
The scene had cleared and there were bodies of Potters laying everywhere. Sirius recognized a couple of his family in the mix as well. He ran toward them. James stood in front of one of the Death Eaters, glaring at him, wand raised. The man shouted, "Mortificare" and pointed to James. Lily screamed. A red stream of sparks bounded out of the Death Eaters wand, but James kept standing. The Portus Salus Charm had worked. James was safe, and ready to attack. Surely he could take on two death eaters, he thought. But at that moment at least ten more showed up out of nowhere. Sirius looked at Remus, a sort of plea for help but a look of not wanting him to be hurt. "Get the rest of them and keep guard," Sirius mouthed to him. Remus nodded and started herding the rest of the Potters and guests into a tent, then put a locking charm on the outside of it. He called to Lily, "don't let anyone out until we say it's okay."
"Remus, let me help," Lily called.
"I need you to help me by keeping everyone safe and calm," he called back to her. "We won't be long, I hope," he whispered. He left the group by putting an anti-magic charm around the tent, which meant no magic could be used inside, but nobody could apparate inside either. Remus ran toward James and Sirius who now had at least a few of the death eaters stunned and noticed that Dumbledore and a friend of the family, Auror Frank Longbottom, had joined in to help. Dumbledore seemed to be making the most progress, putting hexes on the attackers that left them alive but unconscious. They had to keep them alive as a hope to find out where Voldemort was.
"Where's Lily," James asked, holding the end of a lassoed rope with his wand. Inside the rope were 5 unconscious Death Eaters. It seemed however, that the more they managed to capture, twice that many appeared out of nowhere. They were outnumbered 3 to 1 now.
"She's inside the tent with the rest of the guests. I put an anti magic charm around it, so she'll be alright," Remus said standing next to James, wand out and ready.
"Where is the damn ministry?" Sirius yelled, ducking a bright red blast aimed for his head. "Longbottom called them nearly 5 minutes ago. They should have apparated by now."
Remus was finally able to see the group of Potters that were lying on the ground, unconscious. Melora Black, Sirius' cousin, was a medi-witch and was trying to see if she could revive them. All the while she was dodging blasts from wands that were aimed at her.
Before anyone had much of a chance to think Dumbledore shouted, "Somonus" and the group of Death Eaters fell to the ground. All of them. Still standing, ready for more to appear Dumbledore and James had wands out.
"We've got to get everyone out of here," James yelled. "They aren't safe."
"We can't get them all in the tent and there isn't anywhere else that they can go right now." Sirius said back.
"Give me a few minutes," Remus said, and disapparated.
Sirius' eyes got big. Now that he couldn't see Remus he couldn't make sure he stayed safe. He looked around the field, contemplating finding Remus when James called, "He can take care of himself. We need you here."
James was right, Remus was a great wizard and Sirius was needed there. James and Dumbledore didn't move out of their attack stance, but Sirius walked over to his cousin, fearing the worst.
"Are they dead?" he asked.
Melora looked up at him, tears running down her cheek. It was then that Sirius noticed she was bent over her father. "Yes," she said.
Sirius looked at the bodies. Among them many of James aunts and uncles, even ones that didn't have the Potter blood in them. His heart ached when he walked along two rows of bodies, recognizing all of them. Then, much to his horror, he stopped in front of one of the bodies. It was Sirius' father. He bent down, cradled his head and sobbed. He didn't notice when Remus returned 20 minutes later. The Potter family touched a Portkey and were gone. Remus had put an anti magic spell around his parent's house in Scotland. The house was large enough to house all the Potters. And where it would be a hardship for nobody to use magic in the house, it seemed like one they could deal with. This situation was only temporary anyway.
Remus stood alone looking at his lover, his heart breaking from the sight. Sirius was supposed to be the strong one, the one who didn't break down.
"Are you alright?" Remus asked, sitting down next to Sirius on the ground.
Sirius simply shook his head. He fell into Remus' lap and let out his tears.
"How did they know we were here?" Sirius asked not hiding the tremble in his voice.
"I don't know," Remus said, rubbing Sirius' head.
James and Lily had decided they would be most effective in their house in London since the Portus Salus charm was working. James father had also decided to run the risk and stayed in London. But the death of Sirius' father was a blow to everyone, and for a while it seemed that there was no way they could succeed in this. Sirius had always thought his father was invincible. He refused to talk about his feelings to anyone, even Remus, and it put a kink in their relationship.
Remus went back and forth, from his flat to his parent's house, which he couldn't apparate within three miles of, so it was quite a task to get there. He felt he owed it to his parents to help out, however, since this was his idea in the first place. About one week into the exile at the Lupin house Dumbledore knocked on the door. Remus answered, wand out and ready, never sure who he would see when he opened the door.
"Remus," Dumbledore regarded.
"Professor Dumbledore," Remus said. "What can I help you with?" He asked.
"I'm a little thirsty," Dumbledore said. Not surprising, especially if he walked the whole three miles to the Lupins.
"Of course. Come in, have some tea." Remus said.
Dumbledore generously walked into the large house and was quickly surrounded by several of the Potter family. A china teacup was placed in front of him, and one of the witches filled it.
Dumbledore took a sip and then said, "As you know, Hogwarts is out of session until September 1st. I have prepared a wing in the school for you to stay until the start of term. I know that's only six weeks, but I feel we can make much better progress if we are all together in this. There is an enchantment on the school. It's ancient magic. It's called the Bormous Enchantment, named after the warlock who invented it. It protects the school from being attacked. If a person tries to enter the school grounds by any means which is illegal, or if they come in by any entrance other then the front gate, the enchantment will banish them to a field in the middle of the desert in Egypt."
There was a sigh of relief, not just from the Lupins who didn't mind so much helping out but seemed burdened with not being able to use magic, but also relief from the Potters who felt this was the first real step in the right direction. With all of them working with Dumbledore, something was sure to get accomplished.