Disclaimer- Never could and never should write the Harry Potter books…as JK Rowling did…

A/N- I was having a few technical difficulties the other night with this fic but all seems to be all right now! The beginning of a new term is upon us *pouts and stamps foot* NOT FAIR!…The only thing that could drag me away from my computer and the beloved FanFiction. With that in mind I would prefer to get this story finished sooner rather than later so expect updates to be within a couple of days of each other. Thanks for the reviews!

Chapter 4- 'There was no time to turn and look'

Sirius wanted to run back to the hospital wing as fast as he could, but he couldn't. He led by only a few feet and would constantly fall back to walk by James' side, to make sure that they were still there, that they hadn't disappeared.

Sirius couldn't understand what was happening here. These five people had come out of Voldemort's wand this evening. They had helped Harry survive.

'Even in death…' he thought as he looked up at James and Lily.

And yet Dumbledore had said that it had not been them, that it had been an 'echo' of them.

But they were here and they were solid…by all rights they were alive but something was amiss…

He quickened his already fast pace and continued to lead in silence.

*

Dumbledore was back in the hospital wing. He had left the Diggorys' some time ago. They were absolutely broken and all they had wanted right now was each other. Before returning to his office he had decided to return here, to look over Harry once more.

He stood at the foot of his bed. Mrs Weasley had nodded off in the chair beside Harry's bed. Her chin was propped up on her chest as she breathed steadily. Ron and Hermione had fallen asleep on beds nearby. Dumbledore's gaze fell on the bed at the end of the row where Alastor Moody slept. His thoughts lingered with him for a while before returning to Harry. He sighed…

'What this boy has been through…' he thought. Harry looked so peaceful. His breathing was even and he didn't stir. He was sleeping a dreamless sleep, nothing more would trouble him tonight '…and yet there is so much that he does not know…and even more that lies before him.' Dumbledore frowned. '…he will know, he will have to know soon enough.'

Satisfied that all was as well as it could be Dumbledore turned on his heel and made for the door. He slid silently through it and closed it gently. As he did this a noise behind him caused him to turn abruptly.

It was Sirius bounding towards him down the corridor.

*

Upon seeing Dumbledore exit the hospital wing Sirius had broken away from the group and run full pelt towards him. Dumbledore had turned around quickly and was obviously surprised to see him.

'Sirius…what…' he began, but stopped.

His look of surprise soon turned to shock as he saw who came running up behind Sirius. Sirius sat at Dumbledore's feet and they could do nothing but stare at the group who stared back. No one spoke for a good few moments. Lily then made to speak but Dumbledore raised a hand to silence her.

'To my office…' he breathed and stepped forwards, leading the way back.

*

Dumbledore walked at such a pace that would not have been expected of a man of his age. He walked so fast that he was at least fifteen feet ahead of James, Lily, Bertha, Cedric, Frank and Sirius who now remained at Lily's side. He reached the stone gargoyle before them, muttered the password and practically flew up the stairs and entered his office. From here he crossed the room in an instant, scooped up some floo powder from the bowl on his desk and hastily threw it into the fire. He knelt on the cushion on the hearth and placed his head in the green flames.

'Residence of Mr Remus J. Lupin.' He said clearly, although somewhat shakily.

After a brief spinning sensation Dumbledore was looking into the cosy sitting room of Remus Lupin. Remus himself was stoking the fire at that very moment. He stopped abruptly but did not appear to be in the least bit shocked by having Albus Dumbledore's head appear in his fireplace. He merely withdrew the fire stoker and placed it in its stand before speaking.

'Albus. What is wrong?' he asked slowly and clearly apprehensively.

Dumbledore didn't hesitate, although his voice also conveyed apprehension. 'Remus, we have a few old friends present with us here tonight…'

*

James was practically jogging in the wake of Dumbledore.

He couldn't shake off the feeling that he was some naughty student who was being led by a professor to his inevitable and harsh punishment.

'I should remember that feeling well enough!' he thought.

The amount of times that McGonagall had relinquished control and had led he and Sirius to Dumbledore's office…but it had never before been Dumbledore who had led them. He had always been sitting behind his desk, as if he had been waiting for them. As they had entered James could always have sworn that his face had lit up and the retelling of their escapades by McGonagall seemed only to entertain him.

This was all very different, so much darker. The very atmosphere that had surrounded Dumbledore since he had laid eyes on them had suggested forebodance. James couldn't shake of his feelings of dread. His thoughts from earlier that evening returned to haunt him.

When were they? - Were they even…alive? - Where was Harry?

He quickened his pace in exasperation as that thought entered his mind. He was retracing his footsteps- again!

'Damn it! How much time have we wasted?' he thought desperately.

He looked up to see that Dumbledore had already entered his office. A second later James was at the bottom of the stairs and then climbing followed by Lily and then Sirius, then Bertha and then Frank followed by Cedric who had been helping the old man.

James burst into Dumbledore's office without knocking. He looked around expectantly, quickly scanning the room and was able to locate Dumbledore before his fireplace.

'…we have a few old friends present with us here tonight…'

'Albus?' James quietly said.

Dumbledore turned to face him and the group that was now congregated behind him. Without so much as a word he turned back into the fireplace to see Remus, his eyes were wide and staring.

'Albus…' he said in barely more than a whisper.

'You recognise that voice?'

'Yes!' Remus gasped. 'What? How…?'

'I will explain when you are here…'

'I'll come right now' he answered hastily.

Dumbledore withdrew his head from the fire and stood, turning fully to face the group. After casting a brief charm to relieve himself of the soot that he had collected upon his face and in his hair and beard he calmly spoke to them. All looked bewildered; the change in him was exceptional.

'James, Lily…Cedric, Bertha…' he turned to Frank 'I'm sorry sir, I do not believe that we have had the pleasure of meeting…'

'My names Frank Bryce.' Frank replied, breathlessly. The sight of Dumbledore seemed to leave him at a loss for words.

'…Frank…' he was interrupted by the entrance of Remus Lupin behind him via the fireplace who had landed on the floor. 'Cedric…I wonder if you wouldn't mind closing the door behind you?'

'Of course sir' he replied.

Remus had picked himself up and was brushing himself off. He didn't seem to want to look up. Sirius crossed over to Dumbledore, looked up at him and whined. Dumbledore understood.

'Now…Bertha- Cedric…' he turned to them, they both looked up at him expectantly. 'This dog here is an Animagi. He is a man by the name of Sirius Black.' Sirius turned to look at them. Their faces seemed to have been drained of all colour. James and Lily watched the scene unfold with confusion. Dumbledore continued. 'Sirius Black is an innocent man and void of all accusations. He is going to transform. I hope that you can trust my word and accept this.' He had said all of this very slowly and after waiting for a reaction seemed content with their somewhat jerky nods. 'Sirius…' he implored.

Sirius crossed the room and stood beside Remus who had followed his movement with his eyes, before transforming. At this Bertha let out a tiny shriek and hid her mouth behind her hands, Frank stumbled and was caught by Cedric who was having some trouble standing himself.

'Void of all accusations?' he thought. Cedric didn't know if he believed this…no, he did. Dumbledore had given them his word…but, being in a room with Sirius Black…

James and Lily had been staring at Remus and Sirius the whole time, who were staring right back.

They had aged so much! Remus not so much…but Sirius…he looked…terrible! A strange feeling seemed to settle in the pit of their stomachs, as if confirming something.

'They're looking at us as if they haven't seen us in years,' Lily thought- 'what's happened to them?'

Sirius and Remus were hungrily gazing at their friends. The friends that they had not been able to look upon for thirteen years. It made their hearts ache, looking at them, barely older than teenagers…only twenty-one…so much life ahead of them…wasted. They looked the same as they had remembered them.

Dumbledore stood to the side of the two sets of people. He was gazing between them animatedly. Cedric and Bertha were staring at Sirius with extreme unease…whatever Dumbledore said. Frank was leaning against a table to steady himself…his look seemed beyond confusion; all of the events that he had encountered tonight seemed to be pushing him towards indifference.

'Sirius…Rem…' James gasped, but he was abruptly cut off.

Sirius had crossed the distance between them in a stride and had pulled his friend into a massive bear hug. Remus had followed him and had swept Lily up in an embrace. Both Lily and James were taken by surprise but warmly welcomed the union.

They hadn't seen Sirius and Remus in just over a week, since the Fidelius Charm had been performed, but it seemed to have been for so much longer…and these weren't the Sirius and Remus that they had left. They had grown older…aged before their time and they carried great burdens.

It became apparent to James that Sirius must be crying as his body was trembling and sobs seemed to be racking it. He chanced a look over at Lily who returned his gaze. Remus was also crying onto her shoulder. The reaction of their friends made Lily and James hug them all the more tighter.

When the time came for them to part the four friends looked at each other. It was at this point that Remus grabbed James as a new wave of emotion overcame him as it did Sirius whom fiercely hugged Lily who felt as though her bones might break.

*

The graveyard was deserted now- except for one person. He sat on the edge of a tomb. His feet were dangling a foot from the ground. He was very agitated and his shoulders would often twitch.

Voldemort had Disapparated about half an hour ago. He had given his orders. He had taken Avery, Crabbe and Goyle with him, for what purpose the man did not know, for he always seemed to be left in the dark. He had ordered Malfoy to make his way to Hogwarts, not right now. In a few days…discreetly check on Severus Snape whilst making a visit to his son. He had told MacNair to get back to the Ministry…to monitor what was going on there.

He did not seem to fear that word would have got out as to who his Death Eaters were or of his rise, but he did not discuss the reasons behind this, especially not with him.

Oh- and Wormtail. Voldemort had ordered him to go back up to his father's house and check to see if he had left anything that might prove useful to others if it were to be found. Wormtail had asked 'What?' and he had been awarded a brief dose of the Cruciatus Curse for his insolence. And then they had all left. And now Wormtail sat on the edge of a tomb alone.

He didn't want to turn around and treck towards the house. But he would have to soon otherwise his master would wonder where he had been…he would punish him if he was much longer. However, turning around would mean walking past the spot where…where they had appeared.

Peter buried his face in his hands, one was cold to the touch and he squirmed at the feel of it. It didn't help. The darkness only seemed to sharpen the images that he could see even with his eyes open.

Enough! He hopped off the tomb and tuned around; he purposely avoided looking at that spot…but he had to walk through it to get to the house. When he got there, where his master had stood earlier, surrounded by light…and them he stopped. He began to shake and it took all of the strength that he could muster to stay on his feet.

He could feel tears welling up in his eyes. James and Lily…Harry…Bertha…that boy, the old man…his hand! It was not the fact that he had been responsible for so many deaths, that he had betrayed a man that counted him a friend, that he had condemned him, his wife and almost his son to death. It was James himself.

They had all prowled around his master. And then, as James got close to Wormtail he had just looked at him. He hadn't said anything. That look…it was so full of disappointment and hurt. It didn't carry a trace of anger in it. It had made his stomach turn over and he felt as though his legs might give way, as they were doing now…

He fell to the ground and crouched over; he began to cry pitiful sobs as he held himself, alone, in the graveyard.

Never tire of this so I will repeat myself as many times as I need to!

Thank you thank you thank you for the reviews!

Stinky Stan- …no, it would not do to have Sirius having a heart attack now would it? Perhaps JK Rowling should reconsider…no, won't get started on that again! Lol! Hope that there were enough reactions in this chapter, even that of that rat (perh!)…I did enjoy writing the Sirius, Remus, James and Lily bit though…(sniff)…

Arien Eledhwen- Thanks! I'll be adding more chapters more frequently due to the unfortunate but inevitable return to college…(sighs)…

jennadancer

Nitte iz- dramatic huh?…hehehe!

LJKalways- Thank you! I hope that there are no holes but I'm slightly (understatement!) anxious about the upcoming chapter where everything gets explained…(gulp)!

starborn

Glamenessence- Glad that you're hooked! I'm glad that you agree with some of the aspects of the story…relief! I hope that there will continue to be no holes…the explanation chapter is coming up though…gulp!…

Aconite

Shinning Crystal- *speechless*…don't know what to say! I think that this chapter was slightly longer…the next one is longer still, I just hope that you guys can make some sense of it! Thank you!

Titanic-HarryPotter-lvr-2- Hey! Thanks for reviewing 'A Marauder By Any Other Name' as well!…much appreciated!

Mystic Catface

The Morrigan Three

Sirius, Remus, James and Lily in a room together! I love reading fics centred on MPP/L and I can only hope that this one is OK…is it…?

The end of this fic is not intended to be a 'feel sorry for Wormtail' section. It is intended to show where his choices have led him. I put it at the end as it is in such strong contrast to the reunion between Sirius, Remus, James and Lily who were consumed by happiness and friendship…although all is not well…

Wormtail on the other hand is alone and scared (serves him right!) and I thought that it might be interesting to examine the effect that seeing James and Lily might have had on him.

Remember…NOT a feel sorry for Wormtail section…OK!?

Next Chapter

This is it…next chapter ALL questions should be answered! Finally!

…but not the end…yet…

Thanks again for all of the reviews and for reading this far!