April
His hooves beat the ground as he ran. All around him, the gnarled trees of the Forbidden Forest snatched at him. "Where was he!? Where had the werewolf gone?!" The forest held every scent close to the ground. Prongs ran with his great head down; searching for Moony's scent.
"Prongs!" The stag pulled up sharply, looking around.
"Padfoot?" he thought. "Padfoot. Where are you?" There was no answer. "I've lost him! I can't find Moony!" Prongs started forward again.
"Prongs! Please!" Sirius' voice sounded full of anguish and pain. It bit through the curtain of sleep.
James opened his eyes, his mind not yet out of the dream. The remnants of the Forbidden Forest lay around him. He could still smell the mold, the undergrowth and the criss-crossing mustiness of the werewolf's trail. With a sigh, he turned over and found his wife lying beside him. Smiling, he closed his eyes and started drifting away.
"Wake up!'
James startled back awake. It was Sirius! He reached up onto his bedside table and grabbed his mirror. "I'm awake," he breathed into it.
"Hurry, Prongs, please! The death eaters are here!"
"Here, where?" James tumbled out of bed.
"Trifles,"
"The cottage?" Lily stirred beside him; her green eyes sliding open. He had the light on now and was fumbling for his clothes. Lily sat up. Sirius' wild eyes looked away from the mirror.
"Hurry! They're coming!" The mirror blanked out. James stared into his own wild expression.
"I have to go," he said, tossing the mirror to Lily. "I'll call you when we're safe," he finished. Lily nodded and lay back down. She wrapped her hand around the two-way mirror. A sad smile crossed her features.
James apparated just down the lane from the cottage. He ducked quickly into the undergrowth along the roadside, listening hard. There was an ominous crackling sound permeating the night. "No," James breathed, starting forward through the trees. The Dark Mark! A glowing green skull with a snake coming from its mouth hung in the air over the cottage. Sirius! He ran forward, forgetting caution.
The cottage lay in ruins. Fires still ate at what remained of the walls. "Sirius!" James screamed, starting forward into the rubble. Furniture lay scattered around the yard. Clothing fluttered across the ground. "No, no, no!" James stopped at what was left of the front door. It stood defiantly in the midst of the dying fires.
He pushed it open slowly. Every interior wall of the house had caved in. The roof had fallen to the fire and was gone. His shocked mind wondered briefly if the little old lady had somewhere else to go. Then he stepped into the devastation. "Sirius!" he screamed again. His feet crunched on broken glass and the charred remains of furniture. "No, please," he whispered, his voice catching in his throat. Tears stung his eyes. "Please!" he yelled at the vanishing Dark Mark.
Tears fell, burning down his cheeks. "Please, Sirius," he whispered. He trudged forward. A ragged sob clawed its way out of his throat; the sound of a breaking heart. Nothing! No bodies! No survivors! James fell to his knees in what had been the sitting room. He buried his face in his hands.
A numbness engulfed him. I should try again! Try again to find him! But, instead, he stayed kneeling in the rubble. The hole in his heart broke through his numbness, "Sirius," he cried. An answering whine broke through his despair. James looked up. Hope raced through him.
"Padfoot?" he called. The whine came again, now unmistakable. James struggled to his feet. "Padfoot?" he called again. The whines were coming from under a collapsed wall! James rushed for the pile of rubble. Please, please, please! He dug into the ruins. An excited bark answered his effort. He peered under the wall. Bright gray eyes looked out at him.
"Thank God! Padfoot!" he shifted the wall slightly. "Come on, boy!" he called. Padfoot growled and whimpered but didn't move. "What is it?" James struggled against the section of wall. It moved sideways, bit by bit. James then saw why Padfoot hadn't moved.
The dog was lying on top of an unconscious man. A man James knew. "Frank!" He finished moving the wall, letting it crash to the ground once Frank and Padfoot were clear of it.
"Oh, no." James knelt beside them. "Frank? Frank Longbottom!" he spoke into the man's ear. The dark-haired man's eyes fluttered. "Lay still, Frank," he warned. "It's James. I'm going to get you out of here." Frank remained unmoving. James turned to Padfoot.
"Are you hurt?" he asked. He felt the dog over. Padfoot licked his hand. He reformed into a crouching Sirius. His robes lay about him in tatters. Black hair hung over his face and he looked out from behind it with blood-shot eyes.
"I'll make it."
"You and Frank can ride me," James said. Sirius nodded his consent. James let the magic carry away his human form. A large stag took its place. He pawed the ground impatiently.
Sirius rose slowly, pulling a still unconscious Frank up with him. He hauled Frank up onto the stag with difficulty. Then he clambered up behind him.
Prongs started off through the forest, away from the ruined cottage.
"Head south, Prongs," Sirius instructed. "There are summer cottages that way. We can find a deserted one." Prongs tossed his head and turned south. Before long they could see other houses. Most had lights on in the windows.
Soon, Prongs stopped in front of a dark cottage. There was no sign of Muggle inhabitants. Sirius slid to the ground and pulled Frank off after him. The stag reformed into James.
"Wait here," he instructed, squeezing Sirius' shoulder; pushing him down, making sure he stayed put. James crept up the front walk and peeked into the windows. He unlocked the door and slipped inside. The house felt empty. Though it was lived in, every room full of furniture. Muggle furniture.
Holding his breath, James checked every room of the cottage. It was empty. The residents were out for now. He returned quickly to Sirius and they carried Frank in and laid him out on a sofa.
"I'll be back with a healer." James patted Sirius on the back. "You'll be okay?" Sirius nodded stiffly. James apparated to the lobby of St. Mungo's Hospital. He joined the line in front of the Emergency Services desk. Come on, come on! At last it was his turn.
"I need a healer to follow me," he spat.
"What is the nature of the emergency?" the young witch behind the counter asked.
James gaped at her. "I just told you! I need a healer to follow me!"
"And the address so we can transport?" her smile never faltered.
"I don't know the address! That's why they need to FOLLOW ME!" he shouted in her face.
"Shouting will only get you sent to the back of the line, sir," she informed him politely, shaking her head. James slammed his fist into the counter. Taking a deep breath, he tried again.
"My friends were attacked by Death Eaters. We took refuge in a Muggle house. One of my friends needs immediate care. He is unconscious. I need a healer to follow me back to the house where they're hiding." He shook from the effort of maintaining control.
"Right. And your name?" the witch asked, looking down at a paper in front of her.
"James Potter," he hissed.
"Wait over there please," she indicated an area of straight-backed chairs and tables cluttered with magazines. "It will only be a moment more," she assured him when he glared at her.
He stalked off to the waiting area. But he couldn't sit, or read while Sirius was out there. An eternity passed. "James Potter?" a strong voice called. James spun around and leapt for the tall thin wizard carrying a large black bag.
"Yes! Are you ready? Can we go?" The wizard smiled and nodded. James pulled out his wand and disapparated to the country lane. It was a minute more before the healer appeared beside him. He studied his surroundings. "It's a bit south of here, I don't know the exact location," James said by way of apology.
"It's fine, Mr. Potter. Lead on, and I shall follow," the Healer said with a smile. James ran south and the healer jogged after him. There! On the right! He pulled up in front of the Muggle house. He motioned for the Healer to stay crouched down as he checked the drive to see that it was still empty. Everything looked deserted still.
"They're in here," James said, creeping forward. The healer followed his lead. At the front door, he knocked softly, "Sirius? It's just me." He slipped inside. Sirius crouched beside the still unconscious Frank, his wand steadily pointed at the door. He sighed and lowered his wand when his eyes met James'.
"That was fast," he whispered. As the Healer swept forward, Sirius rose shakily. James rushed forward and caught him as he fell.
"Easy, Padfoot," he said, lowering him into an overstuffed armchair.
Sirius chuckled, "I expect I've lost a bit of blood," he sighed. It was then that James looked down to really study Sirius. There was a large gash across his ribcage. Blood matted the tattered robes over the area.
"Healer!" James called. The urgency in his voice brought the Healer at a run. James moved back. He met Sirius' eyes; eyes that burned with a feverish light. "Why didn't you say anything?" Stubborn fool. Sirius smiled. He nodded weakly at Frank.
"He needed the help more. Did you know Alice is pregnant too?" James shook his head. "Yeah. I understand that both the babies are due at the same time." He drew in a sharp breath as the wound over his ribs closed magically.
"Just rest," the Healer said to him. "I'll be taking your friend to the hospital for observation. Would you like to notify his family or shall we?"
"We'll do it," James answered. The Healer stood and crossed to Frank. He pulled a small dog biscuit from his bag and took hold of Frank. In an instant they were gone, the Portkey whisking them back to St. Mungo's. James sighed and rubbed his face with gritty black hands.
Sirius laughed weakly, "Remember how I've cleaned up after us the last couple times?" he asked. James dropped his hands and looked at Sirius, nodding. "Do you think you could help me straighten up a bit this time? I'm not sure I can handle it on my own." James stared around at the quiet room.
Then it dawned on him what Sirius was talking about. "The other house, right?" he asked. Sirius nodded. James smiled, too tired to laugh. "I don't think I have it in me, tonight, Padfoot. Shall we do it tomorrow?"
"Yes, alright. There may be clues about the Death Eaters in the rubble."
"I'm beginning to think everyone is a Death Eater except the few of us in the Order," James sighed. "It'd be so much simpler to just round up every wizard out there, throw them into holding cells and then only let the ones out that we knew were on our side."
"I didn't know you were bitter, James."
"I thought you had died tonight, Sirius. It changes your outlook a bit."
A ghost of a smile touched Sirius' lips, "I'm not so easily killed." James returned the weary smile.
"Do you have your mirror? I promised Lily I'd call her." Sirius reached gingerly into a ruined pocket and brought out his two-way mirror. He handed it to James. "I know we shouldn't, but, come home with me," James offered. "Just for the night. We have a guest room."
The smile crept into Sirius' eyes. "Alright, Prongs. Why not, it sounds fun," he said.
His hooves beat the ground as he ran. All around him, the gnarled trees of the Forbidden Forest snatched at him. "Where was he!? Where had the werewolf gone?!" The forest held every scent close to the ground. Prongs ran with his great head down; searching for Moony's scent.
"Prongs!" The stag pulled up sharply, looking around.
"Padfoot?" he thought. "Padfoot. Where are you?" There was no answer. "I've lost him! I can't find Moony!" Prongs started forward again.
"Prongs! Please!" Sirius' voice sounded full of anguish and pain. It bit through the curtain of sleep.
James opened his eyes, his mind not yet out of the dream. The remnants of the Forbidden Forest lay around him. He could still smell the mold, the undergrowth and the criss-crossing mustiness of the werewolf's trail. With a sigh, he turned over and found his wife lying beside him. Smiling, he closed his eyes and started drifting away.
"Wake up!'
James startled back awake. It was Sirius! He reached up onto his bedside table and grabbed his mirror. "I'm awake," he breathed into it.
"Hurry, Prongs, please! The death eaters are here!"
"Here, where?" James tumbled out of bed.
"Trifles,"
"The cottage?" Lily stirred beside him; her green eyes sliding open. He had the light on now and was fumbling for his clothes. Lily sat up. Sirius' wild eyes looked away from the mirror.
"Hurry! They're coming!" The mirror blanked out. James stared into his own wild expression.
"I have to go," he said, tossing the mirror to Lily. "I'll call you when we're safe," he finished. Lily nodded and lay back down. She wrapped her hand around the two-way mirror. A sad smile crossed her features.
James apparated just down the lane from the cottage. He ducked quickly into the undergrowth along the roadside, listening hard. There was an ominous crackling sound permeating the night. "No," James breathed, starting forward through the trees. The Dark Mark! A glowing green skull with a snake coming from its mouth hung in the air over the cottage. Sirius! He ran forward, forgetting caution.
The cottage lay in ruins. Fires still ate at what remained of the walls. "Sirius!" James screamed, starting forward into the rubble. Furniture lay scattered around the yard. Clothing fluttered across the ground. "No, no, no!" James stopped at what was left of the front door. It stood defiantly in the midst of the dying fires.
He pushed it open slowly. Every interior wall of the house had caved in. The roof had fallen to the fire and was gone. His shocked mind wondered briefly if the little old lady had somewhere else to go. Then he stepped into the devastation. "Sirius!" he screamed again. His feet crunched on broken glass and the charred remains of furniture. "No, please," he whispered, his voice catching in his throat. Tears stung his eyes. "Please!" he yelled at the vanishing Dark Mark.
Tears fell, burning down his cheeks. "Please, Sirius," he whispered. He trudged forward. A ragged sob clawed its way out of his throat; the sound of a breaking heart. Nothing! No bodies! No survivors! James fell to his knees in what had been the sitting room. He buried his face in his hands.
A numbness engulfed him. I should try again! Try again to find him! But, instead, he stayed kneeling in the rubble. The hole in his heart broke through his numbness, "Sirius," he cried. An answering whine broke through his despair. James looked up. Hope raced through him.
"Padfoot?" he called. The whine came again, now unmistakable. James struggled to his feet. "Padfoot?" he called again. The whines were coming from under a collapsed wall! James rushed for the pile of rubble. Please, please, please! He dug into the ruins. An excited bark answered his effort. He peered under the wall. Bright gray eyes looked out at him.
"Thank God! Padfoot!" he shifted the wall slightly. "Come on, boy!" he called. Padfoot growled and whimpered but didn't move. "What is it?" James struggled against the section of wall. It moved sideways, bit by bit. James then saw why Padfoot hadn't moved.
The dog was lying on top of an unconscious man. A man James knew. "Frank!" He finished moving the wall, letting it crash to the ground once Frank and Padfoot were clear of it.
"Oh, no." James knelt beside them. "Frank? Frank Longbottom!" he spoke into the man's ear. The dark-haired man's eyes fluttered. "Lay still, Frank," he warned. "It's James. I'm going to get you out of here." Frank remained unmoving. James turned to Padfoot.
"Are you hurt?" he asked. He felt the dog over. Padfoot licked his hand. He reformed into a crouching Sirius. His robes lay about him in tatters. Black hair hung over his face and he looked out from behind it with blood-shot eyes.
"I'll make it."
"You and Frank can ride me," James said. Sirius nodded his consent. James let the magic carry away his human form. A large stag took its place. He pawed the ground impatiently.
Sirius rose slowly, pulling a still unconscious Frank up with him. He hauled Frank up onto the stag with difficulty. Then he clambered up behind him.
Prongs started off through the forest, away from the ruined cottage.
"Head south, Prongs," Sirius instructed. "There are summer cottages that way. We can find a deserted one." Prongs tossed his head and turned south. Before long they could see other houses. Most had lights on in the windows.
Soon, Prongs stopped in front of a dark cottage. There was no sign of Muggle inhabitants. Sirius slid to the ground and pulled Frank off after him. The stag reformed into James.
"Wait here," he instructed, squeezing Sirius' shoulder; pushing him down, making sure he stayed put. James crept up the front walk and peeked into the windows. He unlocked the door and slipped inside. The house felt empty. Though it was lived in, every room full of furniture. Muggle furniture.
Holding his breath, James checked every room of the cottage. It was empty. The residents were out for now. He returned quickly to Sirius and they carried Frank in and laid him out on a sofa.
"I'll be back with a healer." James patted Sirius on the back. "You'll be okay?" Sirius nodded stiffly. James apparated to the lobby of St. Mungo's Hospital. He joined the line in front of the Emergency Services desk. Come on, come on! At last it was his turn.
"I need a healer to follow me," he spat.
"What is the nature of the emergency?" the young witch behind the counter asked.
James gaped at her. "I just told you! I need a healer to follow me!"
"And the address so we can transport?" her smile never faltered.
"I don't know the address! That's why they need to FOLLOW ME!" he shouted in her face.
"Shouting will only get you sent to the back of the line, sir," she informed him politely, shaking her head. James slammed his fist into the counter. Taking a deep breath, he tried again.
"My friends were attacked by Death Eaters. We took refuge in a Muggle house. One of my friends needs immediate care. He is unconscious. I need a healer to follow me back to the house where they're hiding." He shook from the effort of maintaining control.
"Right. And your name?" the witch asked, looking down at a paper in front of her.
"James Potter," he hissed.
"Wait over there please," she indicated an area of straight-backed chairs and tables cluttered with magazines. "It will only be a moment more," she assured him when he glared at her.
He stalked off to the waiting area. But he couldn't sit, or read while Sirius was out there. An eternity passed. "James Potter?" a strong voice called. James spun around and leapt for the tall thin wizard carrying a large black bag.
"Yes! Are you ready? Can we go?" The wizard smiled and nodded. James pulled out his wand and disapparated to the country lane. It was a minute more before the healer appeared beside him. He studied his surroundings. "It's a bit south of here, I don't know the exact location," James said by way of apology.
"It's fine, Mr. Potter. Lead on, and I shall follow," the Healer said with a smile. James ran south and the healer jogged after him. There! On the right! He pulled up in front of the Muggle house. He motioned for the Healer to stay crouched down as he checked the drive to see that it was still empty. Everything looked deserted still.
"They're in here," James said, creeping forward. The healer followed his lead. At the front door, he knocked softly, "Sirius? It's just me." He slipped inside. Sirius crouched beside the still unconscious Frank, his wand steadily pointed at the door. He sighed and lowered his wand when his eyes met James'.
"That was fast," he whispered. As the Healer swept forward, Sirius rose shakily. James rushed forward and caught him as he fell.
"Easy, Padfoot," he said, lowering him into an overstuffed armchair.
Sirius chuckled, "I expect I've lost a bit of blood," he sighed. It was then that James looked down to really study Sirius. There was a large gash across his ribcage. Blood matted the tattered robes over the area.
"Healer!" James called. The urgency in his voice brought the Healer at a run. James moved back. He met Sirius' eyes; eyes that burned with a feverish light. "Why didn't you say anything?" Stubborn fool. Sirius smiled. He nodded weakly at Frank.
"He needed the help more. Did you know Alice is pregnant too?" James shook his head. "Yeah. I understand that both the babies are due at the same time." He drew in a sharp breath as the wound over his ribs closed magically.
"Just rest," the Healer said to him. "I'll be taking your friend to the hospital for observation. Would you like to notify his family or shall we?"
"We'll do it," James answered. The Healer stood and crossed to Frank. He pulled a small dog biscuit from his bag and took hold of Frank. In an instant they were gone, the Portkey whisking them back to St. Mungo's. James sighed and rubbed his face with gritty black hands.
Sirius laughed weakly, "Remember how I've cleaned up after us the last couple times?" he asked. James dropped his hands and looked at Sirius, nodding. "Do you think you could help me straighten up a bit this time? I'm not sure I can handle it on my own." James stared around at the quiet room.
Then it dawned on him what Sirius was talking about. "The other house, right?" he asked. Sirius nodded. James smiled, too tired to laugh. "I don't think I have it in me, tonight, Padfoot. Shall we do it tomorrow?"
"Yes, alright. There may be clues about the Death Eaters in the rubble."
"I'm beginning to think everyone is a Death Eater except the few of us in the Order," James sighed. "It'd be so much simpler to just round up every wizard out there, throw them into holding cells and then only let the ones out that we knew were on our side."
"I didn't know you were bitter, James."
"I thought you had died tonight, Sirius. It changes your outlook a bit."
A ghost of a smile touched Sirius' lips, "I'm not so easily killed." James returned the weary smile.
"Do you have your mirror? I promised Lily I'd call her." Sirius reached gingerly into a ruined pocket and brought out his two-way mirror. He handed it to James. "I know we shouldn't, but, come home with me," James offered. "Just for the night. We have a guest room."
The smile crept into Sirius' eyes. "Alright, Prongs. Why not, it sounds fun," he said.