A/N:-AS PROMISED! The Double update. 317 reviews....jesus christ people....I wud have done double update anyway...sheesh! you people are soo funny and I love you all
Halloween
1 1/2 months later
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry would like to invite you to their annual Halloween feast on October 31st.
This honour is not usually bestowed on many people. You will be joining the teachers and your children may have a separate table of their own in the same hall.
If you can come, please send a reply via owl
Albus Dumbledore
Lily read out loud as she leant against James. James had his arm around her and glanced over the letter.
"So are we going?" James asked with a grin. Lily looked at James.
"What kind of stupid question is that?" She asked with a smile. "Of course we're going." She said. James bent over slightly and kissed Lily. It was slightly awkward as they did have Emma lying between them and Harry sprawled across the end of the bed, his head buried in the folds of duvet around James' feet. Lily wanted to deepen the kiss and James without his top on just made her want him more then ever.
"What's the date today?" James asked, kissing near Lily's ear. Lily had her eyes closed and relished every touch of James' lips.
"Next week." She said. James returned his lips to Lily's lips.
"Do you think April and Sirius will go?" He murmured against her lips.
"Don't talk about them." She muttered. She caught James' lips and shifted slightly so that she could get closer to him. Emma gave a soft and tired moan and rolled over, demanding more space. Lily and James broke apart unwillingly. James sighed as Lily pulled Emma onto her and let Emma cuddle against her body.
"We don't get to have any privacy anymore." James muttered. Lily looked at him sympathetically. She knew what he meant. Over the past month Lily and James had either Rhia and Orion or the twins. If they had the twins, Jenny and Remus had the older two. April and Sirius' arguments were getting worse, so bad that it wasn't safe to let the children stay with them any more. The final straw had been when Sirius had turned up at April's house with official divorce papers, both Muggle and Wizarding with a demand that he got to keep Rhia. Everyone had been expecting the divorce, but for SIRIUS to give it to April, shocked everyone. They were expecting it to be the other way round.
April had signed the papers resentfully, she did not want to lose her daughter over this, in fact, she wanted to keep all the children, which was another surprise to everyone. At the moment April was too dangerous to leave on her own. Lily had found her a few nights ago looking longingly at a knife in the kitchen. April's sister, Becky, had come over from America, with her son Nick, and was living with April and trying to stop her from doing anything stupid. It seemed in this ordeal, April was coming off worse. Sirius was really prospering.
It seemed that being a quidditch coach really suited Sirius. He was making plenty of money, he didn't have to work all the time, and the time that he did have off he spent with Rhia. It seemed that when Orion told him that he preferred April to Sirius, Sirius took it as a personal insult and got incredibly hurt by it. Orion seemed to prefer the comfort of home and April to Sirius, which also greatly surprised everyone. From this predicament it was growing obvious. Orion was a mummy's boy and Rhia was a daddy's girl. Sirius seemed to be doing so well, he'd decided that his old motorbike needed a new coat of paint, even though he hadn't ridden it for literally years, he had also decided that Rhia was going to be spoilt and pampered by him for the rest of her foreseeable future so he bought her a snow white pony with long elegant wings that stretched out like those of an eagle. It was still only very young and it also enraged April. So as revenge she bought Orion a full set of child sized Star Wars toys. April hated Star wars more then anything, but she'd stand in a tornado before Sirius won over her children.
"Don't worry, it'll be over soon, hopefully." Lily said. She still wasn't entirely sure why her children were sleeping in her bed either. They currently had Orion and Rhia over and though Harry didn't like sharing a room with the boisterous three year old, Emma loved Rhia. Perhaps the children were getting closer to them. She certainly knew that Bo was now doing everything his parents told him and tried to stay as close to them as possible. The door opened and Orion's sleepy head poked in the room.
"Where mummy?" He asked. He still wasn't used to living in the different houses and being away from April.
"She'll be over later, Orion." Lily said gently. Orion went to James' side of the bed and yawned. James picked him up and put him on the bed.
"Want mummy." Orion said.
"I know but she'll be here soon ok?" James said. Orion gave him a sleepy nod. "You can go back to sleep if you want" Orion nodded and rested his head against James' chest. Lily gave James a tired look. She felt sorry for the Black children. They shouldn't have to cope with all this and all April and Sirius were doing was turning Rhia and Orion against the other parent. Orion was soon asleep and James patted his back gently.
"I'll be so glad when the war that is April and Sirius is over." James said. "Not that I don't like the kids but it's a bit awkward-"
"Lily." Came Rhia's soft voice. Lily and James looked to the door. Rhia was walking in, pulling behind her a teddy bear that belonged to Emma. She went to the bed and climbed up.
"Come here Rhia." Lily said. She felt slightly stunned and confused. Four children in her bed...what was happening? Rhia sat between Lily and James, where Emma had been sleeping and put her head against Lily for comfort. Lily looked to James uncertainly.
"We have to get those two back together." They both said at the same time. If not for April and Sirius' sake but for the children.
"I'm not going." April said.
"Come on April. It's just dinner." Lily said.
"And it's not like you have anything else to do." Jenny pleaded.
"Yes I do, I have work, then I have to go out with Becky!" April said waving to her sister.
"Oh, it's fine, I'm planning on spending Halloween with mum and dad." Becky said with a charming little smile. April stared at Becky in horror.
"You're supposed to be my sister!" April said.
"Yes, but I'm also mum and dad's daughter. April, I demand you go to the Halloween feast at Hogwarts. Merlin knows it'll do you good to get out a bit more. All day you're either at work or at home. You'll wear yourself out." Becky said in a concerned voice.
"Yes mother." April said bitterly but sarcastically.
"Becky's right" Jenny said, "You have to get out-" April opened her mouth to interrupt but Jenny ploughed on, "even if Sirius will be there. We've had enough April. Your fight with Sirius is stopping us from having any fun at all." Jenny said, her voice reflected her growing anger.
"And we're fed up. Either you and Sirius learn to get along like civiliased people like you did the first time you broke up or we'll completely ignore you and adopt your children for our own." Lily threatened. Jenny looked at Lily slightly startled but then nodded.
"And we mean it." Jenny said. April stood there gaping. Her friends were threatening her. They weren't supposed to do that. Was she really affecting their lives that much! April looked at her two friends. She could see the sincerity in both their eyes. As she searched their minds she knew they meant it. She knew she was ruining their lives. Lily and James were suffering from lack of privacy that a relationship needed, their time as spent up either working or looking after the children, and as both of them work, neither had much time for four children. Jenny and Remus couldn't cope with two more children, two werewolves were more then enough for them to cope with, they just couldn't handle another two children.
"Alright." April said quietly, lowering her eyes like a child. "I'll behave but if he provokes me-"
"Thank you!" Jenny said, she hugged April tightly. Lily grinned and joined in the group hug. April gave them the first real smile she'd given anyone in a few weeks.
Jenny threw her things onto a table. Kaylee crawled towards her so fast she headbutted Jenny's legs and got her head stuck between them. Kaylee started squealing with good humour. Jenny laughed and picked up Kaylee.
"How many times have I told you not to do that?" Jenny said with a laugh. Kaylee laughed and pulled on a lock of Jenny's hair. Jenny held the lock and waved it in Kaylee's face as she carried Kaylee to the living room. Kaylee laughed and tried to bat the hair away from her.
"So, April going?" Remus asked Jenny. He looked up from the floor where he was making sure Bo didn't drop Jessie.
"Yeah, but only for us. She read mine and Lily's minds." Jenny said.
"How do you know?" Remus asked.
"After about...fourteen years of knowing her you can feel it and just know." Jenny said. Remus smiled as Bo put Jessie down and Jessie began chasing Bo on her hands and knees.
Lily was literally skipping as she walked through the halls of her old school. Her heart was beating so fast she could hear it in her ears. She wanted to just start dancing she was so happy. James grinned and put his arm around Lily. He felt just as happy as Lily. Ah the memories this place brought back. The large grand halls made of stone, the marble steps, the talking suits of armour, the ghosts floating around. The children found it enchanting as well. Emma and Rhia were looking suspiciously at a ghost of a dog that was running beside them. Emma looked at Rhia uncertainly and reached out to touch it. When her hand went through the dog she yelped in surprise and clung to Lily's leg.
Sirius, James and Remus started chuckling. The girls all knew they had something planned. What it was, they wouldn't tell them but the marauders had something up their sleeves. April was walking silently next to Lily with a wide smile on her face. She was staring at all the pictures and the portraits. Her eyes seeking out the beauties of the castle. Sirius was on the other side of Remus. He was searching for all the hidden passages, trying to see if he could remember where they all were. Him and James would try and point them all out then Remus got out the Marauders map and searched to see if they'd got them all.
"Why did you bring that map with you?" Jenny asked as she looked at the map.
"It's going to be handed on." Sirius said with a despairing look.
"Oh god, to who?" Lily asked. James grinned.
"You'll see." James said. Lily gave him a slightly suspicious look.
"James." Lily said. James grinned and simply kissed her gently.
"Ah! Marauders, Lily, Jenny, April and of course children." Came Dumbledore's soft voice from on top of the main staircase. "You're early, the feast doesn't start for another hour."
"We were wondering if you would allow us to provide a little entertainment." Remus said. There was that cheeky sparkle in Dumbledore's eyes.
"Oh really? And what might that be Mr. Lupin?" He asked.
"You'll see, we just need time to set up." Sirius said. Dumbledore gave them a small smile and nodded.
"Do what you must, the password to my office is Pumpkin cakes" Dumbledore said with a wink. The boys all darted off before the girls could say anything.
"Rude!" Lily remarked with a smile.
"Ah, don't worry Lily, it'll be alright, now who are all these little ones." Dumbledore asked he took in the children. "My, you've managed to get yourselves a nice little collection haven't you?" The girls all glanced at each other with smiles on their faces. Jenny was holding Jessie and April was holding Kaylee. All the children were staring up at this weird but kind silver haired man.
"Come, we have so much to talk about. And I want to know these little children a bit more." Rhia and Emma looked at each other and ran after Dumbledore.
"Excuse me." Emma said, running in front of Dumbledore and cutting him off.
"Who are you?" Rhia asked, joining Emma
"Emma." Lily said sharply.
"Rhia." April snapped. Dumbledore held up a hand to the two.
"I'm Professor Dumbledore, it is so nice you meet you." He said holding out a hand for them. Emma and Rhia started giggling. "And you must be Emma Potter." He said to Emma. Emma nodded and then Dumbledore turned to Rhia. "Rhiannon Black?" He asked. Rhia nodded. Both girls looked at each other and then at their mothers. Lily smiled and April was trying not to laugh. Harry and Bo then looked at each other, who was this strange man? Though they had met Dumbledore before, they couldn't remember it. A small inkling of a memory stirred in both of them. Orion went up to Dumbledore and walked around him in circles.
"Do your children always act like this when meeting new people?" Dumbledore asked with a laugh, he was highly amused.
"No." Jenny said.
"Usually the girls introduce themselves before anything else can happen" April said.
"Then Bo and Harry will try and trick you into doing something" Lily said.
"Then Orion will tell you you're-" April stopped and waited for Orion, who decided that Dumbledore wasa nice man but he wanted to call him something anyway.
"You're an old fart." Orion said. Dumbledore started laughing.
"And these two are Kaylee and Jessie." April said indicating to the twins. Dumbledore smiled quite broadly.
"I like your children. Follow me." He said. Rhia and Emma seemed to love Dumbledore immediately and each one took one of Dumbledore's hands. Orion was running around squeezing between suits of armour and the wall, staring at pictures. Bo and Harry appeared to be deep in conversation but soon they were laughing and playing hide and seek with Orion as they ran along. April was having difficulty keeping Kaylee in her arms. She was wriggling around so much trying to get free. Jessie was contented to stay in Jenny's arms and gaze at the building with her mouth open slightly.
"Hogwarts has just captured the hearts of seven more children." Lily said.
"You can count on that happening Lily." April said. "It's great to be back." They looked ahead. Dumbledore seemed to be in an 'intellectual' conversation regarding Emma's cat Baloo and Rhia's new Pony.
"Well, I for one am glad we're back." Jenny said. "But I swear, the castle's gotten bigger." Jenny said looking around.
"Probably" Lily said, "When I came with Remus it just seemed to go on endlessly."
"Dumbledore seems to be getting along with the girls." April said with a smile.
"What do you think they'll do when the meet McGonagall?" Jenny asked. The three of them laughed but stopped when they heard someone clear her throat. They all stopped dead. That cough! They turned around and saw McGonagall standing behind them. Complete with hair tied back tightly, hat on head and stern look on her face.
"Professor." Jenny said sweetly.
"Mrs. Lupin, I expected more from you at this age." She said. Jenny gave her a guilty smile and shot a look at her friends.
"What, may I ask, are you doing here so early?" McGonagall asked.
"Um, do you remember who we married? Well, they've decided to-"
"Oh please don't tell me there's going to be more...Marauder's Halloween tricks?" McGonagall asked, cutting off Lily. All three girls nodded. McGonagall turned on her heel and started at a brisk walk for the great hall. The three of them burst out laughing. Kaylee and Jessie started laughing because their mum was laughing and soon the laughter was joined by an all too familiar cackle.
"Damn!" April shouted. They turned again to see Peeves the Poltergeist coming for them. Lily stood up straight.
"Peeves, how are you?" She asked with a sweet smile and a kind voice. It seemed to freeze Peeves in mid air.
"Uh...good." He said uncertainly. "Hey, aren't you Uppity Evans?" Lily rolled her eyes at Peeves nickname for her. He started laughing. "You are, you are! Uppity Evans has returned to Hogwarts!" He said flying found in circles.
"Peeves, that is enough." Dumbledore said. "Now, ladies, if you would like to follow me, your children are already in my office." They all went into Dumbledore's office where the children were all staring at Fawkes the Phoenix. Dumbledore chuckled to himself and sat down.
"Now, I have had the pleasure of meeting these little rascals, who are these two lovely ladies?" He asked, looking at Kaylee and Jessie. The twins seemed to look at each other and then looked at Dumbledore.
"Ka-Kay" Kaylee tried to say, "Ka-" Dumbledore laughed.
"Kaylee I presume." He said. Kaylee didn't appear to have heard as she sat on April's lap frowning and repeatedly saying
"Ka-ey-Ka-" As she tried to pronounce her own name.
"Ah, the wonders of the infant mind, so young yet so willing to grow up." Dumbledore said.
"I'm actually rather happy at the age I am now." Lily said.
"You would be." Jenny retorted with a laugh. Lily shrugged. The moment they stepped into the castle all their worries seemed to have lifted, well for all of them but Sirius and April, who despite being civil to each other were still rather cold and just could not forget their partner was there. They were all reverting back to their teenage selves. What a marvellous effect Hogwarts had on them.
"Well, can I help it?" Lily said, pretending to be stuck up. April, Lily and Jenny all laughed. Dumbledore seemed to be distracted by Jessie, who had somehow climbed on the table and was reaching for his glasses.
"Why, Jessie appears to have your eyes April." Dumbledore said as he had a staring competition with Jessie. April smiled. "And no doubt they have inherited your looks as well." April seemed to blush slightly. A very rare thing for her.
"Thank you professor I-" The door opened up and the three 'men' came running in breathless and laughing.
"Sorry-professor-" Sirius said between laughing and taking a breath.
"Had to get chased by Filch for old times sake." James said. Lily turned and gave him a harsh look.
"What did you do?" Lily asked.
"Nothing" James said, none too reassuringly. Lily gave him a sceptical look as he lifted her up and took her place then pulled Lily on his lap again. Dumbledore gave a small smile.
"It is nice to see that you are all still living relatively happily together." He said. "Despite your many trials throughout your short lives" This caused all of them to smile. Rhia and Emma suddenly screamed and bolted for their parents.
"The bird-" Emma started to say.
"The bird set on fire!" Rhia stammered. Dumbledore turned to where Fawkes had been entertaining his young guests. The boys were all staring in absolute horror, had they just killed this nice old man's bird? The Adults all started laughing slightly. Harry looked at his parents as if to say I didn't do it.
"Don't worry Harry, Fawkes does that from time to time." Lily said with a smirk. Harry heaved a sigh of relief. The door opened and McGonagall and a tall lanky greasy haired professor with a hooked nose came in.
"Dumbledore, I insist you have a word with those three right there. Eight years out of Hogwarts and they haven't changed!" McGonagall said, though Lily thought she had a slight smile on her face.
"I told you not to invite them to the feast. No students, ghosts or teachers can get in, only house elves." Said the other professor. James eyes widened at the professor's voice. Sirius' attention snapped straight to him.
"Snivellus." Sirius said. The word was dripping with hate and venom. James stood up, nearly making Lily tumble into Dumbledore's desk.
"What are you doing here?" James asked. His hands itching to get near his wand.
"Sirius, James, please calm down. Severus is a teacher here." Dumbledore said, getting up from his seat. Severus Snape didn't flinch under the six sets of glares he was getting from six pairs of eyes. James and Sirius turned to Dumbledore
"But he's a Death Eater. It's been proven and-" James was starting to say but Dumbledore cut him off.
"James, I would like to assure you that Severys Snape, never was and never will be a Death Eater." Dumbledore said. April turned with her mouth open to Dumbledore.
"But he's killed tens of people." April said. "It's in your record." She said to Snape.
"They think I killed that many, they cannot prove a thing, it is simply because people like you, Black, Aurors such as yourself like to jump to conclusions before being given solid hard facts and evidence." Snape said bitterly. April looked like she was ready to rise but Sirius put a hand on her shoulder and forced her to stay down. He quickly removed it when April glared at him.
"It's April Marsden actually." April snapped. A malicious sneer developed on Snape's face.
"So, you break up again, how does it feel Black to lose a wife and your children? Must be awful. Have you any family left?" Snape asked. Sirius was ready to beat the living daylights out of Snape. And he would have if Remus wasn't holding him back, though Remus would have dearly loved to watch Sirius get his own back.
"That's enough!" Dumbledore commanded. He got the attention of every person in the room. "It is Halloween and you will all lay aside your differences, April, Sirius, Severus and James. You will all lay aside your differences and get along. It is supposed to be a happy occasion after all." Dumbledore said with stern eyes that seemed to make everyone shiver slightly.
"Oooo" Orion said, breaking the silence as the head of a baby Fawkes poked his head out of a pile of ashes. Dumbledore then smiled.
"Now the House elves have prepared a wonderful feast. Let us go down and enjoy it and see to this...troublesome doorway." Dumbledore said with a smirk.
The students of Hogwarts made a clear pathway for Dumbledore as he came to the doors to the Great hall. They were chatting animatedly and were anxious to have their feast. James and Sirius gave each other wicked smiles that everyone recognised instantly.
"James." Lily said sternly. James gave her a smile and flashed a grin at her.
"Yes dear." He asked. Lily knew she wasn't going to get anything out of him so she gave up before she even started. Dumbledore went to the doors and simply pushed them open immediately a shower of sparks flew from every direction like on huge firework display. Silver and purple glitter fell from the doorway, framing Dumbledore in a weird sparkly background. The students all gasped in awe and wonder. They rushed into the hall where more fireworks started whizzing through the air. There were all kinds of different fireworks, Lily could have sworn one of them spelled her name, but maybe it was her eyes playing tricks on her. The students all sat down. The teachers went to their seats and the guests sat with the teachers. The children had been given their own table and they seemed to be there already. Lily and April glanced at each other looking rather confused...how did that happen? Sirius gave a hearty laugh at their expressions. Words began to form in the middle of the room so that everyone could read them
MESSERS MOONY, PADFOOT AND PRONGS-
Lily looked at James, while Jenny gave Remus a long look. Both men gave them identical pleased with themselves grins.
-WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THE HOGWARTS HALLOWEEN FEAST. EAT DRINK AND BE MERRY
"You guys never grow up do you?" Lily said as James put an arm around Lily's waist. They sat down in seats next to Dumbledore. April was sitting on Dumbledore's other side, and to her annoyance, Sirius sat next to her. Jenny and Remus sat nest to James. Lily could see the students looking at them and then turning to their friends. Dumbledore stood up as the hall still glittered from sparks from fireworks and the falling glitter that didn't seem to settle at all.
"As soon as the glitter hits the floor or any surface it's moved back to the ceiling and falls again." James whispered to Lily.
"You are incorrigible aren't you?" Lily asked with a grin. James gave her a grin and kissed her cheek.
"Students, teachers, and guests." Dumbledore said loudly for everyone to hear. Everyone went silent, except Emma and Rhia who were bopping to a tune only they could hear. Kaylee and Jessie were with the rest of the children and they seemed to be enjoying themselves, even if they were only seven months old. Rhia was next to Jessie and Orion was next to Kaylee. April seemed confident that they would be able to feed them, if not the adults were always nearby.
"Before we begin to eat I would like to welcome some of the best students that Hogwarts had the honour of having. They left eight years ago and no doubt you have heard of them." Dumbledore said. "I would like you all to give a warm welcome to Mr. Remus and Mrs. Jenny Lupin, Mr. Sirius Black, Miss. April Marsden and Lily and James Potter." Lily and James seemed to get a bigger round of applause then everyone else. "And their children, who sit in front of us." Dumbledore said pointing a hand at the children. The students all started to crane their necks to see if Harry was their. Soon all the students seemed to want a glimpse at the boy who lived. Lily bit her lip slightly anxiously. She hated anything that served as a reminder of their experience with Voldemort.
"Now, without further ado. Please, dig in." Dumbledore said. He waved a hand and tonnes of food appeared on the silver and golden platters, bowls and drinks appeared in the goblets. The children all stopped what they were doing and stared at the plates in wonder. Bo picked up a plate and had a look under it.
"How did that happen?" He asked. Harry picked up a small bowl of Mashed Potatoes.
"Hungry!" Orion said angrily as the older children started trying to figure out where all the food had come from. He pulled a plate of chicken drumsticks towards him that Rhia was holding. He grinned and grabbed some with his hands.
"So what have you been doing recently with yourselves?" Dumbledore asked them all pleasantly.
"Oh, the usual." Lily said.
"Work, looking after the house, looking after our family, looking after April's family." James said. Lily swatted his arm.
"Ah yes, I have heard of this incident that has befallen your household." Dumbledore said to April and Sirius.
"It couldn't be helped." Sirius said.
"We've always had our differences." April said.
"That is not what I recall." Dumbledore said. "I remember a time when you two felt like it was Heaven to be within each other's presence, and call me an old man, but I believe that you two still feel that but are scared to show it." He said. Sirius gave Dumbledore a confused look.
"Excuse me?" He asked.
"You two are afraid to take on the responsibility that having a family has forced on you. I believe that you two will work out your differences." He said with a smile, "Now, how about this feast, it seems that the marauders have certainly outdone themselves this time. This is exquisite." Dumbledore said. James and Remus immediately launched into a tale of how they came up with the idea and how long they had been planning it. In the end Lily swapped placed with Remus and talked to Jenny and they talked to some of the professors next to them. Professors Sprout and Flitwick. They even had a conversation with Hagrid across the table which ended in Jenny and Lily in a laughing fit. April and Sirius were making rather polite and strained small talk though both were starting to reconsider their divorce but neither one wanted to tell the other
A/N:-I'm crying with happiness and ready to scream up and down with happiness. YOU ARE THE BEST LOT OF READERS/REVIEWERS I'VE EVER HAD!! just for that i'm giving you all kisses, boys, girls, men women, all of you, I'm giving you all kisses and hugs. I lub u lots and lots. And lots and lots.....i think you get the idea. BAsically i feel really touched that so many of you care about my story....never really had that before....you've nearly beaten my record of 318 reviews for when i first posted Fortress of Shadows...geez guys, thanks. :D So, next chappie will conclude the storyline then i skip a few years. Yes, i know that i'm not really concentrating on Harry but there's so many things that i can do. I'll try and include HArry a bit more in some of the next storylines, and hopefully the last stretch of years, cause HArry will be bout...um...9, yeah, he'll be 9 in 2 chapters time. Anyway, I LOVED writing this chapter, spesh the bit in Hogwarts. I love writing about Hogwarts. I get to do so much with it! and the bit with Lily and James somehow having 4 kids in their bed....Kinda got that idea from cheaper by the dozen and the sound of music. I've been watching many movies recently. Anyway, just to boast now...but...I finished reading Gone With the Wind today, I'm so please with myself 1011 words in 5 days including writing the past 4 chapters and the next one :D I'm so pleased with myself.