Nixiy: Hmmmm. Believe it or not, I don't even like writing romance, so I'm not sure I'll actually write about the wedding. Maybe I'll just summarize it. Besides, she said no. *points and laughs at Remus*
awkward: thank you! I actually hate the first one. I dunno why. Nevertheless, I don't have the heart to bury it in my backyard. And it kind of contributes to this story. Thanks for reviewing, and I hope you like the chapter.
Nikki: *cough cough* haven't even kissed yet? Don't know each other well? They've known each other all through school, he started showing feelings (aww) in seventh year, they got 'together' together when she told him she was pregnant (which was about 8 months ago). Tada? I don't write fluff, in fact I don't even like writing romance, so I didn't put kisses in every scene just for the heck of it. I thought it would get repetitive and boring. Just assume they've kissed say. . . 317 times? (haha) Sorry, I had way too much sugar and I'm writing too much, huh? Best chapter yet?! Wow! Thanks, girl!
This Parrot has ceased to be: Go Monty Python! I can't believe it took me that long to get that.
~~
~~
It was one of those days – Peter could tell by the insane gleam in his master's eyes. It was a day of cruel inspiration and murderous intentions. The Dark Lord had formed a plan.
~~~~~~~~~~
Dumbledore was at headquarters closely examining the Daily Prophet for any suspicious developments, when his speculation was interrupted by the loud hooting of an impatient owl – itching to be relieved of its burden.
Dumbledore quickly detached the note from the owl's leg, unaware of the fuss it made as it took off due to the rapt attention he was giving the note, which read;
I will be brief and anonymous in case this owl is intercepted. (Dumbledore noticed a few scribbled attempts to write a 'V') The Dark Lord has a plan he will carry out today. He did not mention any specifics, but he did say something about an invisibility cloak. He in fact spoke in length about the Potter boy. Be wary.
Dumbledore nodded his head gravely as he held the note over the flame of the candle in front of him – setting fire to the evidence. Even if the owl was perfectly safe in delivering the letter, there was no need to say who it was from. Severus Snape must have figured that as well when he'd written it.
The safest thing was to call a meeting immediately, so he could keep an eye on all of the proceedings. It there would be an attack on any of the members of the Order, the assassin would only find themselves searching an empty house.
Yes. It would be safer to have everyone gathered here, he concluded. Or so he'd thought.
~~~~~~~~~~
Dumbledore carried out his plan as he'd intended. Lily came with James this time, carrying Harry in her arms, and the Longbottoms brought their son as well. All the members of the Order had either brought their infant children who were too small to leave alone, or had left their families with other friends while they gathered here at headquarters.
A rushing thought entered Remus Lupin's mind – he shouldn't let Rebecca and Jamie be alone. But at the painful thought of Rebecca, a ringing began to sound in his ears, pulsating from the back of his neck and echoing throughout his head.
He hadn't had such a pounding headache since N.E.W.T.s – except now his whole body seemed to be in similar agony.
He didn't even notice Dumbledore was speaking to them at all – he couldn't hear any voices over the stress and misery. But slowly and ever so gradually, a sound came to him that had never passed his ears, but seemed to be coming from the depths of his own mind.
Someone whispered softly, and the painful thoughts were hushed in order to listen to the small, yet powerful voice.
James made a familiar and timeless gesture of ruffling his hair – even if he was out of school and had no one to impress. It had become a habit, and a sign of anxiety. He grasped Lily's hand for comfort, knowing his son was a primary target for whatever was intended to come to pass.
Sirius tipped his chair on two legs as he watched the dwindled group with narrowed eyes that darted back and forth, pausing occasionally on Remus. After a few silent minutes, however, he began to see what he'd been suspecting all along begin to unfurl.
Slowly and deliberately, Remus brought out his wand. Just as gradually, he stood from his chair and turned to face James and Lily. But the aim of his wand fell upon Harry, who woke from his slumber at his mother's flinch, but didn't utter a cry.
Dumbledore spoke calmly, but with hidden tones of power and command. "Remus, put your wand down."
But the wizard in question only shook his head, a hateful scowl that seemed to be foreign to his kind face showing clearly now as he set out to kill Harry Potter.
Sirius shot up from his chair, his wand out in an instant, but Dumbledore got to him first. Remus stood stock still, rooted to the spot as Dumbledore whispered spells and charms, his eyes darting back and forth to all the people around the room.
"I knew it," Sirius said triumphantly and with a small (and well disguised) hint of pain at the betrayal. "I knew it all along."
Neville Longbottom gave out a shrill cry of discontent.
Remus would have fought back in his defense, shaken his head, done something. . . except that Dumbledore's drawn wand restrained him from any further movement.
Lily's face was horrified, only mirroring the state of shock everyone seemed to be sharing – excluding Remus and Sirius. James stood, getting his surprise and mild disgust under control. Shock soon gave way to disbelief. He grew suspicious – not of Remus, but of the overall situation.
On account of sheer luck, or perhaps desperate revelation, he sent a spurt of crimson and gold sparks towards the farthest corner of the wall. An odd and muffled sound emitted from the spot.
Dumbledore spun around as he heard shuffling and frantic footsteps, and the spell abruptly let go of its hold on Remus.
Closing his eyes, Dumbledore followed the sound, aiming where he thought the source may have been running to.
The spell he whispered indeed hit something, and whatever it was must have fallen to the floor. He grasped at the air, and when his hand came back up, it was holding a silvery luminescent fabric – an invisibility cloak.
Uncovered was a stunned man in hooded black robes and the mask of a Death Eater. His wand was drawn and lay clutched in his limp hand.
Sirius was torn between relief and stubborn contempt. He spun back on Remus, who gave him a pleading look. Despite the tension, James could clearly conclude and believe that Remus had acted only under the influence of a powerful Imperius Curse.
The room was deadly silent, but the looks that were shared were clear enough as if they'd been sung.
~~~~~~~~~~
It was amazing and utterly horrible how tension and pressure had made Rebecca say the stupidest thing she'd ever said in her whole life. She had already begun to feel the regret of denying bliss swelling in her the moment she'd said it.
But Remus had left quickly – too quickly for her to see the error of her ways.
She didn't have the nerve to ask him over, and lacked the security to see him herself. Only Jamie's young cries were of consolance to her heart's muffled screams.
In her agony and misery, strange and unwelcome visions flooded into her mind's eye. Though dark and frightening, she knew they were, indeed, the future. In those late hours of the night and early hours of the morning, while Jamie slept peacefully, Rebecca gained an ominous knowledge of what was to come.
At fleeting images of her own death, Rebecca remembered Remus's words to her. As she gazed numbly at her own dead body, she realized that he was right – she no longer had all the time in the world.
Her days were numbered, and she found she'd rather spend them by Remus Lupin's side than painfully alone.
~~~~~~~~~~
AN: "…wouldn't Sirius have told you they'd changed the plan?"
"Not if he thought I was the spy, Peter," said Lupin. "I assume that's why you didn't tell me?" he said casually over Pettigrew's head.
"Forgive me, Remus," said Black.
~~~ PoA pg 373 (just to show that the conflict during the war between Remus and Sirius wasn't my idea. It was the great and all-powerful JKR's doing.)
By the way, reading that chapter of PoA is so much better than the first time. Or second, or third. Go read it!
awkward: thank you! I actually hate the first one. I dunno why. Nevertheless, I don't have the heart to bury it in my backyard. And it kind of contributes to this story. Thanks for reviewing, and I hope you like the chapter.
Nikki: *cough cough* haven't even kissed yet? Don't know each other well? They've known each other all through school, he started showing feelings (aww) in seventh year, they got 'together' together when she told him she was pregnant (which was about 8 months ago). Tada? I don't write fluff, in fact I don't even like writing romance, so I didn't put kisses in every scene just for the heck of it. I thought it would get repetitive and boring. Just assume they've kissed say. . . 317 times? (haha) Sorry, I had way too much sugar and I'm writing too much, huh? Best chapter yet?! Wow! Thanks, girl!
This Parrot has ceased to be: Go Monty Python! I can't believe it took me that long to get that.
~~
~~
It was one of those days – Peter could tell by the insane gleam in his master's eyes. It was a day of cruel inspiration and murderous intentions. The Dark Lord had formed a plan.
~~~~~~~~~~
Dumbledore was at headquarters closely examining the Daily Prophet for any suspicious developments, when his speculation was interrupted by the loud hooting of an impatient owl – itching to be relieved of its burden.
Dumbledore quickly detached the note from the owl's leg, unaware of the fuss it made as it took off due to the rapt attention he was giving the note, which read;
I will be brief and anonymous in case this owl is intercepted. (Dumbledore noticed a few scribbled attempts to write a 'V') The Dark Lord has a plan he will carry out today. He did not mention any specifics, but he did say something about an invisibility cloak. He in fact spoke in length about the Potter boy. Be wary.
Dumbledore nodded his head gravely as he held the note over the flame of the candle in front of him – setting fire to the evidence. Even if the owl was perfectly safe in delivering the letter, there was no need to say who it was from. Severus Snape must have figured that as well when he'd written it.
The safest thing was to call a meeting immediately, so he could keep an eye on all of the proceedings. It there would be an attack on any of the members of the Order, the assassin would only find themselves searching an empty house.
Yes. It would be safer to have everyone gathered here, he concluded. Or so he'd thought.
~~~~~~~~~~
Dumbledore carried out his plan as he'd intended. Lily came with James this time, carrying Harry in her arms, and the Longbottoms brought their son as well. All the members of the Order had either brought their infant children who were too small to leave alone, or had left their families with other friends while they gathered here at headquarters.
A rushing thought entered Remus Lupin's mind – he shouldn't let Rebecca and Jamie be alone. But at the painful thought of Rebecca, a ringing began to sound in his ears, pulsating from the back of his neck and echoing throughout his head.
He hadn't had such a pounding headache since N.E.W.T.s – except now his whole body seemed to be in similar agony.
He didn't even notice Dumbledore was speaking to them at all – he couldn't hear any voices over the stress and misery. But slowly and ever so gradually, a sound came to him that had never passed his ears, but seemed to be coming from the depths of his own mind.
Someone whispered softly, and the painful thoughts were hushed in order to listen to the small, yet powerful voice.
James made a familiar and timeless gesture of ruffling his hair – even if he was out of school and had no one to impress. It had become a habit, and a sign of anxiety. He grasped Lily's hand for comfort, knowing his son was a primary target for whatever was intended to come to pass.
Sirius tipped his chair on two legs as he watched the dwindled group with narrowed eyes that darted back and forth, pausing occasionally on Remus. After a few silent minutes, however, he began to see what he'd been suspecting all along begin to unfurl.
Slowly and deliberately, Remus brought out his wand. Just as gradually, he stood from his chair and turned to face James and Lily. But the aim of his wand fell upon Harry, who woke from his slumber at his mother's flinch, but didn't utter a cry.
Dumbledore spoke calmly, but with hidden tones of power and command. "Remus, put your wand down."
But the wizard in question only shook his head, a hateful scowl that seemed to be foreign to his kind face showing clearly now as he set out to kill Harry Potter.
Sirius shot up from his chair, his wand out in an instant, but Dumbledore got to him first. Remus stood stock still, rooted to the spot as Dumbledore whispered spells and charms, his eyes darting back and forth to all the people around the room.
"I knew it," Sirius said triumphantly and with a small (and well disguised) hint of pain at the betrayal. "I knew it all along."
Neville Longbottom gave out a shrill cry of discontent.
Remus would have fought back in his defense, shaken his head, done something. . . except that Dumbledore's drawn wand restrained him from any further movement.
Lily's face was horrified, only mirroring the state of shock everyone seemed to be sharing – excluding Remus and Sirius. James stood, getting his surprise and mild disgust under control. Shock soon gave way to disbelief. He grew suspicious – not of Remus, but of the overall situation.
On account of sheer luck, or perhaps desperate revelation, he sent a spurt of crimson and gold sparks towards the farthest corner of the wall. An odd and muffled sound emitted from the spot.
Dumbledore spun around as he heard shuffling and frantic footsteps, and the spell abruptly let go of its hold on Remus.
Closing his eyes, Dumbledore followed the sound, aiming where he thought the source may have been running to.
The spell he whispered indeed hit something, and whatever it was must have fallen to the floor. He grasped at the air, and when his hand came back up, it was holding a silvery luminescent fabric – an invisibility cloak.
Uncovered was a stunned man in hooded black robes and the mask of a Death Eater. His wand was drawn and lay clutched in his limp hand.
Sirius was torn between relief and stubborn contempt. He spun back on Remus, who gave him a pleading look. Despite the tension, James could clearly conclude and believe that Remus had acted only under the influence of a powerful Imperius Curse.
The room was deadly silent, but the looks that were shared were clear enough as if they'd been sung.
~~~~~~~~~~
It was amazing and utterly horrible how tension and pressure had made Rebecca say the stupidest thing she'd ever said in her whole life. She had already begun to feel the regret of denying bliss swelling in her the moment she'd said it.
But Remus had left quickly – too quickly for her to see the error of her ways.
She didn't have the nerve to ask him over, and lacked the security to see him herself. Only Jamie's young cries were of consolance to her heart's muffled screams.
In her agony and misery, strange and unwelcome visions flooded into her mind's eye. Though dark and frightening, she knew they were, indeed, the future. In those late hours of the night and early hours of the morning, while Jamie slept peacefully, Rebecca gained an ominous knowledge of what was to come.
At fleeting images of her own death, Rebecca remembered Remus's words to her. As she gazed numbly at her own dead body, she realized that he was right – she no longer had all the time in the world.
Her days were numbered, and she found she'd rather spend them by Remus Lupin's side than painfully alone.
~~~~~~~~~~
AN: "…wouldn't Sirius have told you they'd changed the plan?"
"Not if he thought I was the spy, Peter," said Lupin. "I assume that's why you didn't tell me?" he said casually over Pettigrew's head.
"Forgive me, Remus," said Black.
~~~ PoA pg 373 (just to show that the conflict during the war between Remus and Sirius wasn't my idea. It was the great and all-powerful JKR's doing.)
By the way, reading that chapter of PoA is so much better than the first time. Or second, or third. Go read it!
