October 1981
The halls of Hogwarts were strangely quiet. Every other time James had made the trek to Dumbledore's office, it had been the middle of the night. A Saturday afternoon was not supposed to be so quiet.
There were students, most of them so small they had to be first or second years. Oh, of course, Hogsmeade weekend. Most of the students will be gone all day. Up ahead of him, he spied a very familiar bun. Professor McGonagall. James smiled slightly and sped up to walk beside her. "Good afternoon, Professor," he greeted as he drew even with her. She jumped slightly, stopping as his presence registered.
"I don't believe it," she hissed. "Potter! Aren't you supposed to be in hiding?"
He shrugged. "Dumbledore wanted to see me, so I came."
"In the middle of the day?"
"Lily doesn't like to be alone at night," he explained as they reached Dumbledore's office. The Gargoyle stepped aside, granting them access.
"Well, it wasn't very smart of you," she continued as the stairs bore them upwards. Years of sitting in her class had taught James to school his tongue, so he merely shrugged and opened the door to Dumbledore's office. He allowed her to enter first.
"Headmaster, here is the list you asked for," she said, setting a paper upon his desk.
"Thank-you," Dumbledore said. Once McGonagall had left, he motioned for James to have a seat. "James, I need to talk to you about the Fidelius Charm. It seems that the dark wizards suspect Sirius is your secret keeper."
James laughed, "Well, at least his plan is working."
Dumbledore's eyebrows arched over his half-moon spectacles, "Oh?"
With a sigh, James explained Sirius' plan: Spreading the word then leaving the country and drawing the Death Eaters after him."
Dumbledore sat in thought for a time. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather change secret-keepers? I'd be more than willing to volunteer."
"And what about Sirius and the rumors he has started?" He wants to do this. He feels it's the best way to save Harry. James smiled, "Thank-you, Dumbledore. But this is something Sirius wants to do. He deserves to be the one who protects Harry. Thanks for the offer though."
Dumbledore nodded. "Very well, then. He rose to show James out, "Lily is as adept with charms as she's always been. I would think another week or two and she'll have it. Impressive."
James swelled with pride. That's my Lily. "While I'm here," he said, stopping just before opening the door, "Thanks for everything. Really." He smiled at Dumbledore.
"And thank-you, James," he returned. "We'll see you in ten years, then? I'll reserve Harry a spot for the term after he turns eleven."
James laughed, "You'd better," he said.
------
Lily smiled at James, "At least it's only a candy dish," she said, visibly struggling to contain her laughter.
"Do you know where it is?" he asked. She nodded.
"I know where I put it before I cast the spell. But I can't find it now," she said.
James turned to Harry, "Harry, where's the candy?" he asked. Harry blinked up at him, his green eyes twinkling. Smiling, he looked around the room, holding his hands out in a shrug.
"Go?" he asked. Lily and James laughed.
"Where's the candy?" James asked again. "Where'd it go?"
"Go?" Harry repeated.
James laughed and shook his head. "Where did you put it?" he asked Lily.
"In the middle of the table," she said. James reached a hand out for it. He felt nothing.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"No. The Fidelius Charm is related to other memory charms. I could be remembering its location wrong."
"Then how will you remember where the house is?" he asked.
"Because Sirius will tell us the secret," she said. Her words fell heavily between them, sending a pang through James' heart.
"I'll send Sirius the owl then," he said reluctantly.
Lily nodded, "Tell him to come tomorrow afternoon," she instructed.
"Alright," he said. Rising, he grabbed a quill pen and a bit of parchment. He wrote the note then went out to the woodshed. An ancient horned owl resided there. "Hello, Faust," James greeted. "Take this to Sirius," he said after tying the rolled parchment to the owl's leg. With a consolatory hoot, it flew off on silent wings.
James watched it disappear into the night. He leaned against the doorjamb, folding his arms. The frosty night offered no solace. One more time. The hole in his heart poured memories into the night. Sirius arguing with the Sorting Hat his first night at Hogwarts. Long straight hair framing a haughty expression. I remember you scooting away from Remus when you heard his name. And then scooting back towards him when you'd realized what you'd done. Hard to believe any member of the house of Black would befriend a half-blood. But you always walked your own road. Is this what it's come too? Talking to an imagined Sirius?
With a sigh, James pushed away from the door and headed back into the house. He went through the back door and down the hall to the first right. Lily was rocking Harry beside his crib. His eyes were just closing as James entered. Smiling down at Lily, he rested a hand on her shoulder.
She kissed the air in his direction before rising and laying Harry down in his bed. James draped his arms about her shoulders. He laid a kiss on her neck. "You know," he whispered, "we're in for a hell of a vacation." He chuckled against her skin and felt her shiver in his arms.
She turned to him, "I never thought of it that way," she said. Smiling, she returned his kiss. With a giggle, she took him by the hand and led him out of Harry's room.
-----
James woke long before the sun rose. Did I even sleep? Butterflies fluttered in his stomach. Today is the last day of worrying. Today is the last day of fear. Why am I so sad? I should be able to have my friends over still. Maybe we'll have a wonderful Christmas. Remus and Peter. Maybe even the Longbottoms.
Or. . . But none of it seemed to matter. Sirius won't be here anymore. There will be no more outings to pubs, no more bike rides, no more jobs.
James swallowed around the lump in his throat. He looked around. Lily was already up for the day, Chasing after Harry, in all likelihood. Rising, James showered and dressed then went downstairs. The owl Faust was just leaving through the kitchen window. Lily sat at the kitchen table, crying quietly.
"Lily," James ran to her, "what's wrong?" He knelt before her, eyes searching her face. She held out the note that Faust had delivered.
"Two o'clock," she whispered. "That's when he says he'll be here. That's the last time we'll see him. The last time Harry will see him."
"Not forever, Hon," James pulled her close. It isn't forever.
"You knew he was leaving the country?" she pulled away, the sadness in her voice gaining a dangerous edge. Uh-oh.
"Yes." He sighed, "he told me the last time he was here. He didn't want you to worry about him. I'm sorry." Add the apology, always add an apology for good measure. She smiled wistfully and looked away.
"Well, I'd better go see what Harry's into. It's much too quiet." She rose and left. James sighed. I'm sorry, Lil. I didn't want you to worry either. Maybe you had the right to know, the right to grieve for your loss.
The day passed much too quickly and soon the grandfather clock struck two. Lily paced around the living room. "He's always late," she fumed. James shrugged and sat down on the sofa. Harry stirred in his sleep where he lay upon a quilt on the floor. Perhaps not the best place for napping, but that was where he'd finally dropped.
A tentative knock at the door broke the strained silence. Lily and James passed each other confused looks. Lily went to answer it. "Who is it?" she asked.
"It's Peter," a stammering voice answered. Peter? James stood as Lily opened the door. There stood Peter, a fine trembling making his whole body shake. "Hi, umm. . ." he held out a scroll and a tea cup. "This is from Sirius," he said. Glaring, James took the scroll. "He . . . He said he was leaving town, that you needed me to do something. . . something dangerous. He promised to keep me safe if I did this for you, James. . . I. . ." he trailed off, leaving the thought unfinished.
James read the scroll aloud to Lily and Peter. "Prongs and Lily, I want to apologize for lying to you earlier. It was a necessary evil. I've been thinking about the night I was attacked. How the Death Eaters focused all their energy on me and knocked Peter out, leaving him in a corner. Even after Lily and I escaped, they ignored Peter. And why would they pay him any attention? So here's my real plan. A plan that only now is being revealed, eliminating any possibility for a spy to stumble upon it. I have been telling everyone that I am your secret keeper. I will still be leading the Death Eaters on a wild goose-chase across America for the next ten years. However, even if they capture me, you will still be safe, for I will not really be your secret keeper. I leave that honor to Peter. The Marauder that they've always ignored. They'll never suspect him.
He is reluctant to take on such a dangerous role, so I've provided him with a safe house and I've promised to check on him. When I come to check on him, I'll stop in and say hello! I'll be in town for another week, setting my affairs in order. I'm naming Harry my beneficiary. Sirius."
Peter backed up as James and Lily both stared at him. "M--m--me? Your real secret keeper?" he squeaked. He was shaking his head. "I don't know, James. I--I know he'll keep an eye on me, but. . . I don't want to do this."
"Peter," James said. "It's a brilliant plan, really. Sirius is right; they've never paid you any attention. You'll--"
"I'm not brave like you, James," he whimpered. "I'm scared."
"Listen Peter," Lily tried. "It'll be fine. If you're afraid when you're at the safe house, just pop over here. And you know James will look out for you."
"I always have, mate," he clapped Peter on the shoulder and smiled. What if he still says no? We'll have to get Sirius to do it anyway. I'll have to send Faust back to him so he can rethink his plans. Speaking of plans, this sounds familiar. Well, maybe it was originally Dumbledore's plan.
"Alright," Peter sighed. "I--I can be brave this one time." He set his jaw, drew himself up to his full height. "I'm ready."
"Come over here then," Lily said. She took him by the hand and led him over to the sofa, carefully stepping around Harry. They sat down together. Lily pulled out her wand and waved it around Peter's head. "Fidelius," she whispered. Then she leaned close to Peter and whispered a secret in his ear, cupping her hand around her mouth so that no one else could here. When she was done speaking, she tapped Peter on the head lightly. Sighing, she sat back.
"That's it?" he asked.
"That's it," she said. She studied him. "Doing this is very brave of you, Peter." She kissed his cheek.
James nodded. "Thank-you Peter. Remember, come over if you're worried about anything."
"I will, James." He stood, and stared fondly down at Harry. "Should I tell Remus where you are?"
Yes. But, Dumbledore wanted only the three of us to know. "No. Not yet, anyway. Dumbledore wanted only the three of us to know where we were," he said. Peter nodded.
"But you do need to tell the two of us," Lily added. "So that we can find our way home if we go to the market." She laughed. A bemused look on his face, Peter leaned over and whispered in Lily's ear. Then he turned and whispered in James' ear.
"Well, I'd better go pack. I didn't know I was moving today," he said, with a laugh. James chuckled with him.
"Do you need help?" Lily offered.
"No, I'll manage." Peter made his way to the door, James following him. "See you, James, Lily," he nodded to each of them before opening the door and departing.
Lily sighed, "that was easier than I thought it would be," she admitted.
Not hard at all.
-----
"Halloween is always rainy," Lily said with a sigh as she carried Harry in to the front room from his bedroom. James stirred the fire, sending sparks up the chimney.
He smiled at her, "Why are you complaining? It's not as if we were going out or anything." Lily shrugged.
She sat down on the sofa, laying a sleepy Harry next to her. James grabbed a down comforter and threw it over the pair of them. He leaned in close and kissed her softly. "I think we need some more wood," he said.
"Da da," Harry added, smiling up at him.
"And you, little man," James said with a laugh. He kissed Harry on the forehead, a big smacking kiss that brought a great, bubbling laugh from his son.
"I'll be right back," he said, grabbing his jacket and heading for the front door. The rain-filled night greeted him with a bone-cracking chill. Winter so soon? It doesn't seem possible. James slogged his way through the mud to the side of the house.
He picked up a log, setting it in the crook of his elbow. "Hello, Potter," a low voice hissed behind him. A voice that sent a shiver tracing along his spine. James' breath caught in his throat, strangling him. It can't be! He turned slowly, panic building inside him. Voldemort stood just out of reach, his black robe soaked through with rain. Peter! No! The world tilted beneath him, spinning around him. Not Peter!! 'The only Marauder the Death Eaters ignored'. His breath escaped in a small gasp. Voldemort had pulled his wand from his pocket and was pointing it at James.
"No!!" James threw the wood that he was holding at Voldemort, hitting him flat in the face. The dark wizard crumpled into the mud. James sprang away from him, running for the house. Voldemort's pain-filled scream of rage echoed close on his heels. James threw open the door, slamming it behind him. He leaned against it, panting, gasping for breath.
"Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run!" Lily rose from the couch, picking Harry up, a confused look on her face. A loud thud hit the door behind him. Panic and understanding dawned on Lily's face. She turned and ran from the room. Behind him, the door exploded, sending him flying into the room. James hit the ground hard, his breath knocked out of him. White stars burst across his vision. Lily was running back towards him.
Voldemort entered the room, laughing when he saw her stop in the hall. Lily! What are you doing?! And then he saw it, there on the end table, her emergency transport. Voldemort saw it too. "Accio portkey," he hissed, a satisfied smirk in his voice. James struggled to his knees.
"Lily! Go!" he shouted.
"I've had enough of your mudblood whelp!" Voldemort hissed. He raised his wand. Lily spun back around, heading for the back door again. He's aiming for Harry! "Avada Kedavra!"
"No!" James launched himself into the air. The green blast hit him square in the back, burrowing deep. A cold pain spread through him, wrapping him in an icy glove. Lily turned back towards him, her eyes going wide.
"No!" she screamed, her voice fading as it reached his ears, "No!" She started towards him again.
Ba-dum. Just go! Lily! Go! He tried to talk, but the words wouldn't come. The ground was rising to meet him.
Ba-dum. Lily spun back around, running away again. Voldemort was walking past him. Grab him! But his arms wouldn't respond. He hit the ground, a fine pain filling in the cold around him.
Ba-dum. Voldemort was disappearing into the kitchen.
Cold tendrils reached around his heart, caressing it. He's going to kill them! My sweet Lily! My son! Peter!! Sirius knows you did this!!
Ba--
Sic 'em, Padfoot.