Disclaimer-I don't own Harry Potter, I never said I did (officer).
AN- I hope I managed to cover probably all of you guy's questions. Except the parsletongue one. I dunno where you guys got the idea (point it out for me, kay?) but it was probably a slip-up...
For a brief moment all Harry could spy through his half slit eyes were swirling colors darting around in every direction. Suddenly, feeling a tad bit nauseas, he felt it was best to keep his eyes shut. Even lacking vision, Harry could feel himself being whisked about violently, an unpleasant sensation he had only felt once, during his first and only trip to Diagon Alley to purchase a wand by the floo network, and that one time had been enough for him. Though it felt as if they had been spinning for minutes to Harry, who wasn't at all accustomed to such modes of transportation, in reality only a moment had passed. Abruptly, the group came to a complete halt with a thunderous crack. Harry was more than relieved to feel solid, steady, ground beneath his bare feet as he felt a body, most likely Ziggy's, collapse to his side. Harry surveyed their surroundings wearily. They we're in a vast, dim room, a parlor. Their we're portraits all around, cluttering the walls in a fashionable manner though, some portraits looking at the new arrivals shiftily through he up kept canvases that looked like they had survived probably hundreds of years, other being more recent. Most of the room that was lit by the flickering embers of the dying fire radiating from the fire place was decorated in a dark, wine colored fabrics and furniture, often with little trims of gold that balanced the room in Harry's opinion.
"Urgh...Are we dead yet?" Harry heard his brother's muffled voice sound from the carpet. He rolled on his side and sprawled completely out on the firm ground, hand brushing over the ground in search of his askew glasses.
"Nobody's dead." Lily confirmed in the tiniest of whispers, which Harry found to be odd, as his parents we're supposed to take them to a safe place.
"Then where exactly are the Longbottoms and-and- Milo?" Rose questioned in a short pant, the way she spoke when she was either nervous or having some class of mental fit, and Harry didn't doubt she was suffering from both at the moment...
"They'll take care of it, I'm sure." James soothed, trying to prevent his own voice from quivering with fear.
"You make it sound as if-as if- it were simply some- lobsters or what not that happened to stroll on shore hoping to-share a bite to eat or something!" Harry exclaimed, highly outraged. He had regained his bearings and was boring his now forest green eyes into James, who refused to meet his eye, and Lily who looked straight into Harry's eyes, with an equal amount of emotion flaring up in her own. "It's Voldemort! You know? The same guy who supposedly went on some killing spree! The same guy who yearns day and night for a couple of kids' blood so he can have his pureblood world domination once and for all! The same guy who damned us all to cower like-a-a bunch of curs-"
"They are trained aurors! They know how to get themselves out of a bind-!" Lily shouted in response, stepping closer, barely towering over Harry, who was nearing her height rapidly.
"A bind?! They've been off the job and on the backsides for fifteen years, woman! The only bind they can get out of-" Harry was cut off by a hand, most likely his mother's though he couldn't really tell due to the red mist of anger shrouding his eyesight, collided with the side of his face.
Slap! The sharp sound echoed throughout the room, even shutting up the portraits who had been muttering excitedly up until this point. Harry clutched his inflamed cheek which he was sure was bloodshot at this point, and gazed up at his father, who still stood with his hand drew back in mid air.
"...Don't start, Harry. Just...don't." James sighed out exasperatedly as he shook his head woefully which just rose more sparks of anger from Harry.
'How dare he? Acting so-so weak at a time like this! He's supposed to be a-a-' Harry's thoughts fumed bitterly. Suddenly, some gave a dry sob from his side, interrupting his thoughts. Harry turned to see Rose sniffling silently, furiously brushing stray tears off her completely flushed face.
"...Where will they go, Dad? How are they to know where we are?" Ziggy questioned helplessly, interpreting his sisters sobs into words we could all comprehend.
"All members of the order know to report to here in case of an emergency." Lily stated matter-of-factly, placing a comforting hand on Rose's shoulder.
"The...order? Order of what?" Harry started to say before he was interrupted by a pair of strong, manly arms encircling his midsection tightly, startling him. He gave a sharp intake of air as he swiveled around to face the figure that had emerged from the shadows so suddenly. Harry tried to let out a scream, but failed as his nervousness and fear seem to block any air that might even think of going down his throat, though he noticed his mother, Rose and even Ziggy who still remained sprawled out on the floor, didn't have this problem. Hm...Maybe this was because they didn't have someone clamping at their stomachs, Harry thought.
"Who the-" He began as he caught sight of the figure, the man, that had assaulted him. It appeared to be a man, about sixty or seventy years of age, dressed in well kept robes that matched his furnished room. Harry couldn't help but notice the man's salt-and-peppered hair which stuck out in all angles that would even make Harry's hair stand on decent ground. The man had Harry's head tucked firmly under his chin so he couldn't catch a glance at his other facial features though he heard his somewhat raspy though relief drenched voice whisper out content things in his hair.
"Oh Jimmy Boy, you've finally returned home! I thought- I mean we thought you'd be dead by this time-perish the thought of course-, killed off by Voldemort or some class of blithering sea monster!-" he went on serenely as he stroked Harry's head fondly.
"...You thought what?" Lily asked in a scandalized voice from a good space away from them.
"Wow Dad, it's really nice to know what my family thinks of my potential-" James muttered in a dark tone.
"Shush now, Jimbo, you're home now!"
"...Jimbo?" Rose and Ziggy muttered in unison, twin grins spreading across their faces despite their situation.
"Oh Jimbo! I forgot about that one..." Lily sighed thoughtfully to herself. "What else was there? Jamie, Jamski, Jay-Bird, Midge-"
"That's enough!" James tried to silence her as his cheeks inflamed with color.
"-Little Pee Wee-Quite a funny story behind that one, if I recall correctly," Lily continued on.
"...Oh your room is exactly the way you left it before you got out on your own with Lillian-where is that gal anyway-that was another way we'd predicted your death, you finally driving her mad and her tossing you the window like yesterday's news-" The man, James's father, continued on, not taking time to notice the presence of the other four people as he playfully rubbed the top of a struggling Harry's head.
"If any of you cared to notice, I'm being assaulted by this very odd man, so if you catch the time to-you know-rescue me it would be greatly appreciat-!"
"My word, Lily, James, is it really you?" A frail voice breathed out in a barely audible tone. The voice originated from an elderly woman who was approaching the group tentively, bewilderment etched notably on her slightly worn face. She looked as if she had seen a ghost. The woman continued to corner them, unconsciously running her feeble hand through her wispy silvery-brown hair, a habit Harry's father had picked up.
"...Mum?" James questioned, stepping into the dim light of the fireplace to get a better view, causing the senior Mr. Potter pause from harassing Harry and stare up at him in a questioning manner.
"And who are you, stranger?" He asked light heartedly, noticing the other people for the first time. "Er, hello children...seeing as you've found your way into my mansion, would you like some sweets?" He questioned simply, his warm blue eyes radiating his joyfulness.
"...See Ziggy, you're not adopted. It runs in the family." Rose whispered logically to her brother.
"Mum! It's me, your talented son, finally home again!" James exclaimed, throwing up his arms to the approaching woman, who had tears brimming in the corners of her hazel eyes. She rushed past James who still stood frozen with his arms outstretched, to Lily, who was quite surprised at the force of the hug the elderly lady had on her.
"Oh-Oh my daughter-in-law, my only daughter-in-law...! All these long years...-was it horrible? My grandchildren! Where are my grandchildren...?" she sobbed into Lily's shoulder, as James sent Lily a scathing look that made her giggle aloud.
"Oh, I've missed you too, Leanne-" Lily started as she returned the hug.
"For the love of Merlin, how many times have I said to call me Mum? Why, you're the closest thing to a daughter I have since-since-she ran off with that-that-oh Lily!"
"Why? Why do I even bother sometimes?" James questioned no one in particular
"Should I prepare some tea as well? Come James, there is so much to catch up on!" the oldest Mr. Potter continued on.
"...Yup, no way I'm adopted." Ziggy muttered to himself as he got to his feet.
"Oh Christopher, put on your spectacles!" Leanne Potter said as she thrust a golden rimmed pair of glasses into the older man's hand, which he immediately put on.
"Oh James I-James! You've gone and changed your eye color? This some kind of fad? Honestly-" Christopher said as he examined "James" closer, taking in his vivid green eyes.
"I'm not my Dad, my Dad is my...Dad...er, James." Harry pointed out just as he felt an arm tighten around his neck, pulling him in closer with Rose and Ziggy, who were also being near strangled by the old woman, their grandmother, Harry noted to himself.
"Ooh...my grandchildren...and I suppose you've all been toilet trained properly-"
"Well I'm still working out the bugs of the whole process-" Ziggy replied jokingly at the odd question.
"Oh, finally! Grandchildren who don't rely on you to wipe their bums every waking hour-no more snotty noses-"
Rose swiped a handkerchief roughly under Ziggy's nose.
"-Or the constant demanding of tooth decaying sweets, practically torturing the poor house elves-" she continued.
"You know, you've just described Jeremy." Both James and Christopher said wistfully in unison, making Christopher look to his oldest son for the first time since he arrived there.
"James! How long've you been here?"
"...Dad!-"
"Where is that darling Lillian? Such a sweetheart she was, taking pity over your pining ways and marrying you and all..."
"Oh yes Father, I know how much you and Mum must've missed me..." James muttered to himself, folding his arms across his chest.
"Oh there you are, Lillian!" Christopher continued, going towards Lily with outstretched arms.
"Hello Daddy Warbucks." Lily said cheerfully.
"...I thought his name was Christopher?" Rose whimpered to their Grandmother.
"Chris has got a...obsession-I should say-with that muggle musical-what's it called? Alphie? Arlene? Totally tasteless drivel in my opinion, chattering ragamuffins frolicking around the screen, screeching out tunes that are bound to get stuck in your head for days and days-not my type of show at all-now that Grease however-" Grandma Potter started.
"Mum, Dad, not meaning to break up this little love fest but something serious has happened-" James said sternly.
"James, what is it?" Leanne's questioned a bit startled.
"Something serious? Why Sirius hasn't been over for at least...three whole days-a new record I might add! We had tea and those lovely rock cakes Millie or Vanilli-I honestly can't tell those house elves apart-prepared for us...Why, I should start some up right now for the children-do you enjoy rock cakes?"
"I'll eat anything that doesn't talk to me-" Ziggy stated.
"Ha! James's boy, if I ever saw one-well, I haven't unless you count baby Harry, and back then I was convinced he was a female for some reason..." Christopher continued on as he led the group down the vast corridors and to the dining room...
After the final mug of tea was finished, and the many varieties of crumpets, biscuits and cakes had all been reduced to bits and crumbs, there was still no word from the Longbottoms and the adults, or rather James and Lily (the grandparents were having oh too much fun getting to know their other set of grandchildren) felt it was time that the kids settle into bed while they contacted Dumbledore. Though the children protested and whined, Lily made sure they eventually found there way upstairs where Leanne showed them to their respective rooms, located in the west wing of the house.
Harry, fresh from a near-scalding shower, sank into one of the plush leather chairs that were arranged around the room, a sitting room, as his Grandmother had introduced it as and then started laughing when Ziggy merely asked one of the portraits where the standing and laying room we're located just in case his bum started to get worn out. Unlike the bedroom he was staying in, his father's old one, this room had a fireplace. Along the mantle were different portraits, aligned and waving. Some appeared to be hand drawn, Harry spotted, but others, like the main family portrait appeared to be taken by a camera. Harry found the family picture very interesting in the least. His father never really discussed his family so Harry naturally assumed he had been the only child. The picture proved him wrong as there were indeed two other children seated on either side of the grinning young version of James, a girl who looked to be a younger than James and a boy who looked younger than both. The young boy, about eleven or so in the picture, had tame dark brown locks that fell neatly to his shoulders, in deep contrast to the other two males in the picture, whose hair looked as if they might take an eye out. The merriment in his gleaming hazel eyes matched James almost identically except for the tint of blue grazing them, making them appear more like the girl's. The girl about fourteen, nearly as old as James, unlike everyone else in the picture, wore a serious, almost melancholy expression on her rather beautiful face which was framed in a pleasant way by her dark curls that fell in neat ringlets down her back. She continued to gaze outward sadly, despite the merriment and joy radiating off of picture-James who had his arm draped around her shoulder, and kept looking at her fondly. Harry just couldn't shake the feeling of having seen the girl before.
"That's your Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Natalie, Harry," Lily explained, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, giving Harry quite a shock.
"Where did you-?" Harry started to say before he snapped his mouth shut, remembering he wasn't speaking to his parents for a reason he had forgotten in his shower, but he felt it was a really good one as a scowl had been stuck on his face since the last time he talked to them. Lily however took his silence as a sign to continue on. She strode over to Harry's armchair and seated herself upon the broad armrest and wrapped her arm around her oldest son.
"Your Uncle was the youngest, quite odd and mischievous. Actually, a bit like your father, so you can imagine how he rubbed James the wrong way..." Lily recollected with a small smirk appearing on her face. "Now your Aunt Natalie she was one year younger than James," she went on, "She was the apple of everybody's eye, being as sweet and pleasant as she was, not to mention she was everyone's 'little girl'. Your Grandparent's, Jeremy, Sirius, everyone just couldn't get enough of her, but none more than your father. He spoiled her rotten, nearly worshipping the ground she pranced on at Hogwarts,-"
"Like how Harry treats Rosie." Ziggy pointed out as he emerged around the corner into the room, an ancient copy of Flash Gordon in tow.
"Shut up, before I stop speaking to you as well." Harry said as Ziggy plopped down into the neighboring chair, taking his time to rest his feet on the delicate glass coffee table before them.
"You are speaking to Mum."
"No, she's speaking to me. Isn't that right Mum?" Harry pointed out stubbornly.
"...You just said something to her."
"-You should've seen your father back then, hexing and cursing anyone that made her cross, not to mention her -ahem- male company..."
"Ahhh...a scarlet woman we have on our hands here..." Ziggy said stroking his nonexistent beard wisely.
"What've I told you about reading my novels, Ethan?" Lily asked slyly, eyeing her son suspiciously as his eyes shifted around nervously and his skin changed to a tone that clashed horribly with his flaming red hair.
"What happened Mum? I mean-if Dad adored her so much, why are we just hearing about her when we've heard about Sirius and all them loads of times?" Harry asked, forgetting his vow of silence.
Lily seemed a bit flustered for a fleeting moment, then a tad bit forlorn, finally an unreadable expression settled on her face as she turned back to her sons and responded a bit wearily,
"Well-she and-Um,-well, one-at least one who was a close-minded Gryffindor for a large part of their life, would say Natalie had very odd taste in-er, men. Yes, that's it. Being as bright as she was, she didn't always make the correct decisions either, and back then, wrong decisions could cost you your life. Which is exactly what we thought was bound to happen, so naturally, everybody fell out with her. I-I remember...I remember her running away to my house-this was before your father and I we're married- and just going on about how nobody understood her. And finally one day, she was caught in a rather-er, compromising position when James spotted her taking off her robe and spotted something...something very unwelcome in a family of er, -how should I put this?- revolters against Lord Voldemort. The whole family went ballistic and it finally ended when she was wiped clean from the family tree." Lily finished hastily, followed by a tense silence.
"...She was wiped from the family tree?" Ziggy asked half-amazed with a hint of bemusement in his voice.
"Yes, in fact, I think Sirius took her spot..."
"But-but- where did she go? She just got up and left?" Harry questioned.
"Well...it was said that she moved in with her-er, new husband after they...eloped and attempted to set fire to Potter Mansion."
"Wow...they went out in style, eh?" Ziggy remarked snickering.
"Well, is she-are they still- you know- alive?" Harry asked not satisfied with the end to the tale.
"Actually," Lily started thoughtfully, "I hear that the 'evil' husband actually works for the good side now, you know, for Dumbledore-"
"Then she's back in the family?" Harry inquired.
"Well...it doesn't work like that when you're disowned by your family. All members of the family must agree to take her back, and believe me, though your Granddad and I'm almost positive Jeremy would love to except her back and continue to dote on her as if nothing unfavorable had occurred, your Grandma and especially your father, still appear to be very much heartbroken...it's the pride, I tell you. An affliction to the family in my opinion..."
Harry looked down and focused intently on the fine stitching of the apparently expensive carpet at his feet. He could just imagine how heartbroken he would feel if Rose were to do something 'unspeakable', as his Mother had put it. He looked over to Ziggy and could tell he was thinking the same as he stared blankly into the tattered remains of his comic, eyes unblinking.
Crash...Crash...Crash!!!!
"Ow...Alvin, you landed on my stomach!" Came an unpleased groan from the bottom of the staircase, probably in the parlor, making Harry gasp aloud and spring up from his seat, nearly knocking Lily off the armrest.
"Neville?" Harry mouthed as more voices followed.
"Greetings Leanne, Christopher-" an older man, a voice Harry couldn't recognize, said.
"Where's mah Muuummmmm?!?!" A tiny voice sobbed out, nearly choking on his words.
"Now-calm-stop that-I- OWWW! He bit me!" Mr. Longbottom shouted as he evidently struggled with something, most likely Milo, who was letting out a full bawl now.
Harry, followed by Ziggy, dashed to the door leading to the stairs but was cut off by Lily who beat them there.
"You boys-stay up here for a while. We'll call you when you can come down, 'kay?" she panted out as she reached for the door handle.
"What-?"
"No fair!" Harry protested.
"Boys, please, important business-"
"That we kiddies are bound not to understand!" Harry exclaimed heatedly, suddenly remembering why he was cross with his mother to begin with.
"Harry, I wasn't about to say-"
"It's not enough that I'm being hunted by this guy, but I've got to be in the dark about it because to you I'm just a stupid-"
"Mmmmuuuuuuuummmmmmmmyyyyyyyy!!!!!!" interrupted Harry, followed by the sound of little pattering of a small person toddling up the stairs.
"-Harry, I don't have time to argue." Lily concluded, stepping out of the room, immediately colliding with a breathless toddler who didn't waste any time attaching himself to Lily's leg, making it difficult to move about.
"I want-my-my-oh Mummy!" Milo wailed into the hem of her robes, teetering back and forth slightly on his toes. Rose appeared at the top of the stairs out of breath. Apparently, she had been chasing Milo, making sure he didn't run into a wall, like he usually did when he was hysterical, eating, or pretending to be Ziggy.
"Hush Darling, I'm here...No need to be scared, no bad man's gonna get you..." Lily went on in a soothing voice.
"I wah my -hic- my Binky!"
"...Binky?"
"Mrs. Longbottom said he'd been saying that ever since they got to Dumbledore's office..." Rose explained.
"Harry, take him. Calm your brother down before he passes out from exhaustion..." Lily said thrusting Milo into Harry's arm hastily; she could hear Frank chatting to James with Dumbledore downstairs.
"But Mu-"
"No buts" she hissed as she shuffled down the stairs, not bothering to look back at them as she nearly collided with Neville and Alvin who were staggering up the stairs, looking very shaken indeed.
"Nev, Vinny!" Harry exclaimed joyfully, his voice flooded with relief as he, nearly knocked out the way by Ziggy, dashed to meet there friends in the middle of the corridor.
Neville looked fairly worn but he managed to crack a faint smile at them.
"...So, what happened?" Ziggy whispered out cautiously like someone was likely to hear.
"...Well...we packed some clothes, and then we went to Dumbledore's office, he's got a Phoenix-" Alvin started to say after pondering for a moment.
"-In Hogwarts."
"I mean what happened with-him." Ziggy muttered, smacking Alvin on the head lightly as they walked back to the sitting room.
"Oh-that! It was horrible! Terrifying! Curses and Hexes everywhere! And then these ninjas-" Alvin went on enthusiastically.
"Ninjas?" Neville asked skeptically, eyeing his brother warily. "He means he spent the whole time in the house, as it was still kind of hidden by the fidelius charm though it was fading fast according to Dumbledore...I however," Neville stated proudly, patting himself on the chest fondly, "-disarmed a full grown, dangerous, death-ermajigg."
"Ha. Expelliarmus. Big deal." Alvin muttered rolling his eyes.
"What do you suppose their talking about down there?" Rose questioned after a while.
"Tea and crumpets, genius. What do you think?" Ziggy said rather rudely.
"Actually," Neville began, "I believe your Grandfather did mention something of the sort..."
"-We gotta listen in!" Harry announced, pounding his fist against his open palm, determined.
"...Ah no, we don't." Rose stated, "We shouldn't."
"Oh where's your sense of adventure?" Ziggy asked, slugging her lightly in the shoulder, making her scowl.
"Where's your sense, period? It's been missing for over fourteen years now!"
"Rose is right." Alvin stated firmly to the others.
"To you, she's always right...get over it, she's older then you; you haven't got a chance." Neville muttered as he rose from his chair, followed closely by Harry and Ziggy, leaving Rose and a furiously blushing Alvin behind.
"To the stairs!" Ziggy announced like a general as they filed out the door silently.
"..."
"..."
"...I do not always agree with you...Their stupid. Who would wanna listen to them anyway?" Alvin muttered, continuing to pout.
"...Maybe we should go-"
"Good idea." Alvin said hurrying out of his seat.
Meanwhile, a severely balding and pot-bellied man struggled to keep his bar stool from wriggling so much, or the floor, he couldn't tell which. He teetered on the edge of his seat right in front of the barkeep of the Hog's Head, as he did every Friday, pounding his porky fist to the table, demanding a pint to 'soothe his afflictions caused by the muggle loving world', as he so gingerly put it.
"One, two,-hic- four, three, how does that-hic- ruddy song go? -hic- Oh yeah! Bye bye Miss American-hic-Pie-ooh I love pie! Drove the er, -hic- Chevy to the Levy-what the hell-hic-is a-hic-Lev-lev -belch- Oh, that's the right stuff..." He muttered into his tattered robe sleeve as he struggled not to loose his comrade's pocketful of sickles worth of drinks.
"Erm, Pete, I suppose you've had enou-" Remus Lupin, Peter's good friend in a way, started to say before Peter threw his head back in a daze and toppled off of the barstool as the surly barkeep just tutted.
"Don't even start! I am -hic- so sick of that line!" Peter gurgled from a crumpled heap on the floor. "Urgh...-hic- it's making mah head hurt -hic- I've heard it so much..."
"No, you're just balancing all your weight on your head at the moment; fall on your fat arse, which should make you feel better." Remus explained logically, swishing around his Sherry absentmindedly. It was late and he found it particularly sad that he had nowhere better to be than stumbling around in the Hog's Head with a drunk that was only keen on spending his money. But it was either that or moping around his dilapidated shack, fretting over the state of his nephew Dominick (how he had gained custody of the kid of the brother who loathed him, he'd never know), who was probably more depressed than Remus was. Plus, Remus had the lingering feeling that something had gone terribly wrong in elsewhere...
'Trouble that won't involve me babysitting Rummy, here...' Remus concluded, rising from his stool.
"Where you off to? Hey, you can't just leave this thing-" the barkeep motioned roughly at Peter who was busy taking Remus's advice and was teetering back and forth, attempting to shift his weight from his head to his backside. "-Take him away. I've got enough problems on my hands..."
Remus glanced around the room counting the one or two barflies that still lingered around the seedy pub.
"Only about two, so this one shouldn't be much trouble...as long as you keep him 'hydrated'." Remus replied, spinning around on his heel, heading towards the door.
"Trouble? Trouble-hic- happens to be my -middle- name! Yup, Peter Trouble Petti-hic-grew...Mumsi must've been drunk-hic- when she thought of that one..."
That and the barkeep muttering curses was the last thing Remus stepped outside, escaping the stale scent of puke and smoke that occupied the bar and out onto the street, rich with the scents of dieing autumn and incense drifting from Madame Pudifoot's down the road. A lot less nauseating, Remus noted thankfully as he gazed out onto the road, wondering where to go next as moping around his shack didn't sound any more tempting than babysitting Peter.
He began make his way down the path leisurely, taking in the familiar sights and smells of Hogsmeade that brought him back to his youth, the only truly happy time in his life in his opinion. Lolling around with his old chums...Peter, Sirius...James, all better known as Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs, though Remus hadn't used the nicknames since way back over 15 years ago, when everything was...simple. No worries back then, kids like them barely knew who-or what- Voldemort was. Now, with his friends in hiding, Sirius oddly detached, Remus was just awaiting the true horrors of Voldemort to take place, upon Voldemort's return. The sworn return the Ministry of Magic had managed to downplay until it was as miniscule of a dilemma as the dispute over the (non)existence of nematodes, a creature often speculated about in the Quibbler. The wizarding world, afraid to believe otherwise, had allowed themselves to live in a state of blissful ignorance and believe Voldemort had simply evaporated overnight due to the superior leading of Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of magic, and only few knew better. Remus was one of those few.
Without warning, a swift stepping figure rushed passed Remus, knocking his shoulder briskly in the process. The man was madly puffing away on a cigarette, to engrossed in his thoughts to give notice to the things obstructing his path. He appeared to be distracted, though livid as he rushed through his trail, his platinum blonde hair whipping behind him with as much urgency as the man himself. Remus stood in the street speechless at the stranger's rudeness, watching him dash into the Hog's Head. For a fleeting second Remus could've sworn who he'd just seen had a bit of likeliness to the one and only Lucius Malfoy.
Though it couldn't be him, Remus concluded as the stranger emerged from the bar hoarding an intoxicated fellow by the name of Peter Pettigrew.
"Now, what would Malfoy want with Peter?" Remus scoffed to himself aloud, continuing his trail through the village, ignoring what he had just witnessed as the idea of Peter being involved with the likes of Lucius Malfoy seemed absolutely ludicrous to him.
"Pettigrew! Straighten up, Man!" Malfoy commanded through clenched teeth as he dragged the protesting drunkard into an alley. Of course, over ten years of living as the pet rat of a sadistic little imp (A.K.A. Young Draco) wasn't enough to train some sense into Peter's head, as he was still prone to irritate Lucius at every turn, drunk or sober.
"Hey, hey, hey-hic-I gotta- I gotta ques- a question-hic-for yo-ou, Lucy-" Peter slurred as he once again made contact with the floor.
"Don't ever call me that!" Lucius growled bitterly.
"Lucy in the sk-yyy-hic- with diaa-mooonnnddssss!" Peter howled as Lucius knocked him over and proceeded to crush Peter's head in the gravel under the pressure of his boot. Naturally, Lucius hated that song.
"Do you have a question, or shall I just snuff you and end the horrible wastefulness you call you life?"
"....Well, let's see...." Peter pondered to himself momentarily as Lucius drove his head further into the ground with his foot, "Oh, I rem-hic-ember!" Peter began to twitter like a foolish schoolgirl, "Do you know-"
"This better not be what I think it is."
"Whaddyou mean?"
"That...insufferable joke."
"Whazza-hic-joke? I'm serious! Serious as...Sirius Black...."
"Hurry it along Pettigrew."
"It's-hic-pretty hard with you-hic- crushing my head..."
Lucius's other foot collided with Peter's stomach with a loud thunk.
"Ok! Do...you know...the-hic- muffin man?"
"...The muffin man?"
"The muffin man. Who lives on m-"
"You scum! This is that intolerable-up, up!" Lucius ordered, hoisting Peter to his feet.
"What's your new business?"
"Our Master," Lucius situated his wand under Peter's chin, making him jump back slightly," had located those brats, well at least one of them-"
"Ooh, well, whoop-dee-doo, what does it all mean Lucy?"
"It means we are -this- close to our master goal."
"Oh what's stopping us this time? A kitten?"
A form of blue electricity arose in Lucius's wand and spread to Peter's head, giving him quite a shock and leaving him steaming....literally.
"No! That old coot, Dumbledore!"
"Riiighhhttt...." Peter muttered skeptically to himself, "Er, I mean right, sir!"
"Earlier we ambushed that island-that damn fide-fideliwhat'sit charm had finally began to wear after all these years- right in front of our noses this whole ti- Pay attention!- Dumbledore was there! Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"...I think I left an unfinished pint on the counter back at the-" ZAP! "Sorry, sorry Sir."
"It means we have a slight hinder in our plan. He's probably off blabbing to the Ministry about now...We're to be on our toes..." Lucius finished, scowling off into the night, at nothing in particular, obviously bothered at the idea of prolonging the plan, yet again. But after fifteen years, a few months should seem like nothing.
"...Question?" Peter said meekly, waving his hand in front of Lucius's drawn face, "Why are you telling me this? Didn't-hic-you say I was useless?"
Lucius faces Peter yet again, his tight face curling up into the remnants of a smirk.
"I said you we're useless as a human my little Hogwarts monitor. Didn't you keep Draco happy for all those years? Surely you'll be able to keep watch over Hogwarts for us..."
"You're walking too close to me!" Ziggy hissed sharply in what he was sure was Alvin's direction.
"I can't exactly back up a few feet, can I?" He barked in response.
"Hush!"
"Neville, I can see your feet!" Rose warned as they approached the parlor door.
"Crouch down!"
"Shush, they can hear!"
"Everyone shut up on the count of three." Harry instructed as he drew the invisibility cloak closer around them though it was already being stretched beyond its capacity.
"1...2..."
"Do you mean on three or after you say three?"
"..."
"..."
"Three!" Harry hissed as the all shuffled their quietest along the wall of the living room downstairs.
They spotted Dumbledore, an elderly, though wise looking wizard, stroking his foot long beard over a mug of steaming tea, seated on a couch along with the Longbottoms and both sets of Potters. All five adults looked a bit foreboding about the news Dumbledore was about to share, the information of what went wrong, or at least how.
They all crept lightly, finally choosing to settle next to the fireplace, where they could have choice listening.
"I suppose we all know why we're here?" Dumbledore initiated conversation, glancing over the adults though Harry sworn he could've seen his eyes flicker to them hunched up in the corner for a fleeting second before refocusing on the older group.
"Well, I suppose this wasn't a friendly visit after all..." Christopher muttered to himself.
"The charm, the fidelius charm," Alice began to say warily, "how could it just...fade?"
"Very good question as I'm sure I performed it properly." Lily backed her up.
"I imagined you would know that a fidelius charm can only be enforced when a loyal secret keeper-" Dumbledore started before James interrupted him.
"Of course Harry was loyal! His life depended on it! Who could he tell?!"
Rose gasped slightly before being silenced by Neville's hand. No on had actually informed Harry that he was a secret keeper...
"It's not so much as telling; it's the matter of simply revealing." Dumbledore explained.
"Meaning...?" Frank questioned, not catching the drift.
"Didn't Professor McGonagall always say those communication mirrors would be your downfall? How ironic!"
"Ah...D'oh..." James muttered.
"The point is, when Harry revealed to young Master Black of his whereabouts the spell was nearly diminished. It would have been if not for the extra precautions I put up..." Dumbledore said indifferently, absentmindedly inspecting his fingernails as if it were no big deal.
"Am I to understand that the little Malfoy, er, whatsitface, Donny...Darco...Dragon-" Leanne started to inquire.
"Draco."
"Yes, him. He informed the deatheaters of his Harry sighting?"
"Yes."
"How did-he-"
"How did he recognize Harry if he'd never seen-him-in-his-life?" Lily questioned clearly stumped.
"...How to explain in layman's terms? Well, Lillian, if you we're a very bitter man whose life purpose was hindered by something, a child perhaps, wouldn't you be obsessed with destroying that thing?"
"I suppose." she agreed slowly.
"Then wouldn't you keep an eye out and any other extra pair of spare eyes on the lookout? And I suppose it didn't help that Lucius's nose was probably buried in an old Hogwarts yearbook, cursing James's picture, which I hear looks remarkably like Harry, every time he got a bit on the irritated side. Surely young Draco was bound to recognize that picture off the bat..." Dumbledore tried to explain to the group, yet again glancing over at the cluster of children in the corner, not even bothering to breathe in case it caused any unwanted attention.
"I always said Malfoy's had issues..." Frank mumbled grudgingly to himself mainly.
"What are we to do now? We have no safe zones and surely Voldemort is on to the whole Fidelius Charm plan by now..." James asked, running his hand through his hair out of frustration.
"I wouldn't try that plan again even if he was none the wiser." Dumbledore pointed out.
"What are you suggesting, Albus?" Leanne inquired, speaking for the puzzled group.
"Well..." Dumbledore twiddled his beard, "I have informed the Ministry of Magic, and even though they refuse to heed my warning, I'm sure they will get my point soon enough and straighten up and fly right...Though I'm sure Tom wouldn't dare act large enough to draw attention to himself and his motley crew," Just then Dumbledore grinned to himself, as if he knew something everyone else didn't, a feeling Harry couldn't seem to shake off in his presence.
Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. Dumbledore referring to Voldemort as if he were some schoolyard bad boy and the deatheaters his little gang! As if people's lives weren't at stake.
"Who's Tom?"
"Didn't I say he was mad?"
"In the mean time, I feel my Order shall reassemble, just to keep a watch over things...It shouldn't be long now..." Dumbledore drifted off.
"And what is to happen with the children? Are they bound to spend all their time hiding away like some-some-" Leanne stumbled.
"-Attic Mice?" Christopher offered, earning odd looks from everyone in the room.
"Attic mice?"
"They always scurry when you turn on the lights so I'm not sure they actually exist; that's the point." he explained.
"Why, Christopher, even as a student you always had your own logic thinking." Dumbledore remarked through a smile.
"A student? How old is this guy?" Alvin inquired before Rose placed a hand on his shoulder, immediately ceasing his chatter.
"The children," Dumbledore started, "I feel it best they be at the safest place in the wizarding world."
"...Gringotts?" James questioned, not understanding.
"Damn those crafty Goblins! I'll be damned if they get any of those kids-" Christopher started to get fired up in a James-like manner.
"No. I simply meant under my watchful eye at...Hogwarts. It's by time they started getting their proper training with children their own age. Wouldn't you agree, children?" Dumbledore asked, turning to the corner they occupied, bringing all the attention to them.
"Neville..."
"What?"
"I TOLD YOU YOUR STUPID FEET WERE SHOWING!"
AN-Whoo Hoo! I am Completed! Now, if its not too much to ask, press the little 'Go' button on the bottom and leave a review please, as I am tired of skipping out on my night showers to type these chapters to only end up with two reviews...Now, time to shamelessly promote my other fics (ain't I a stinker?) Yoohoo...if you we' rent motivated to review with this fic, go check out *pulls random fic out of drawing hat* (ooh, mah Favorite!) Mixed Signals! It is, how to put it, une livre amusante très qui affiche mes manières étranges, oh Merde, I need to study this language before I fail my quiz on Friday...