Chapter 2 Remus and Lily walked down the halls towards Professor Dumbledore's office. Classes had been canceled for the day, and a prefects meeting had been scheduled with the headmaster. It was early, and Lily was still half asleep.
" Hey, Lils," Remus said a little hesitantly, " Can I ask you a question?" Lily nodded at him fighting back a yawn.
" Right. Well let's say that I have this friend. He's, um, a werewolf. Do you think its possible that he could have killed the girl?" Lily looked at him carefully.
" Remus, is Sirius or James a werewolf?"
" No", he answered quickly, " of course not! Its hypothetical, really."
" Okay," she said slowly only half believing him, " but if they were, you could tell me, you know." Remus silenced her with a look. " Alright," she sighed, " No, I don't think that it's possible that your 'friend' could have killed her. If she was killed by a werewolf she would have been a bloody mess, and would not be hovering above the staff table with a sign reading 'Traitor'." Remus sighed in relief.
If she doesn't think that a werewolf could have, than no one else would, would they?
" Is it that obvious to everybody?"
" Only an idiot could think that a werewolf had done that. Its just not possible."
" So Dumbledore wouldn't question him?"
" No Remus, I highly doubt that Dumbledore would accuse your friend." Lily smiled at Remus and placed a hand gently on his shoulder.
" You're sure that James or Sirius isn't a werewolf, or anyone else that I know?" Remus shifted uncomfortably, and opened his mouth to answer
" Hey Lily! Remus! Wait up!" Alice Prewitt yelled jogging to catch up. She was a pretty 6th year Ravenclaw, with golden blond hair and caramel eyes. With her sweet disposition, friendly nature, and intelligent mind, she and Lily instantly became friends. They hung around together at prefect meetings, but didn't get to see each other often outside of the meetings, since they were in different years and houses. Alice was dating a 7th year Gryffindor, Frank Longbottom, who was good friends with Remus. Remus grinned at Alice, glad for the interruption. Lily wasn't quite as happy though.
" Hey Alice," Remus said when she had caught up, "Where' s Frank?"
" He's walking with Amos," she answered looking at Remus' s beaming smile, and Lily's glowering face. " I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"
" No, of course not!" Lily answered giving Remus a ' you better tell me later look', " We were just talking." She smiled, her face loosening up.
" Alright, ladies," Remus said catching sight of Amos and Frank behind them, " I'll leave you two to talk." He headed back to join Amos and Frank. Lily and Alice chatted together, catching up on each other's lives. When they reached the gargoyle at the front of Dumbledore's office, they waited for the boys to catch up. Amos, being Head Boy, knew the password. When they reached the top of the spiral staircase behind the gargoyle, Lily gasped at the sight in front of her. She had never been in Dumbledore's office before, since prefects usually met in the special prefects common room. Dumbledore's office was magnificent. Bookshelves were built up all of the walls. Photographs, books, telescopes, wands, swords, even the sorting hat, were on the shelves. That wasn't what immediately caught Lily's eye though. A bird sat on a golden perch next to Dumbledore' s desk. It had fantastic long feathers, as red as Lily's hair. The bird was too beautiful for words to express.
" That's Fawkes. He's a phoenix," Alice murmured to Lily, following her gaze. Most of the prefects had already arrived, and were talking and laughing together. The Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, and Gryffindors sat together, but the Slytherins secluded themselves. They all glared at Remus, Lily, and Alice when they entered. All three were muggle borns. Lily and Alice ignored them, but Remus returned the glares. He glared especially at Severus Snape, and Narcissa Black, Sirius's hated cousin. Lily, Frank, Alice, and Remus took empty seats, while Amos headed to the front of the room to sit with the Head Girl, Ava Patil. Several other prefects filed into the room, and a few minutes later Dumbledore came down the steps from his quarters.
" Ah, we're all here. Very good." He beamed at everyone over his half moon glasses.
" I'm very glad that I am able to attend one of your meetings, although the circumstances themselves are not very desirable at all." Dumbledore's smile turned sad, as he lowered himself into the chair behind his desk.
" It is about these circumstances that this meeting is being held to discuss. We will be able to continue classes and Qudditch while the murder is being investigated. The ministry is unable to send aurors or investigators to help us, because of the war. Unfortunately, we only have one month to solve it before the school has to be closed." Everyone gasped in surprise.
" But… why?' a Hufflepuff prefect asked.
" Families would not feel safe with their children attending a school where there are murderers on the loose. Students will be pulled out and returned home. Many students may head home within the week. A school can't survive without its students. The ministry has agreed to give us one month, and we are lucky to have that."
" Do you have any leads?" A Slytherin prefect asked from the corner.
" No promising ones. The murderers left no traces of themselves on the body, but we were able to trace the wand that was used. At the moment its at the bottom of the lake."
" Shouldn't you be able to figure it out by who doesn't have a wand?" Alice piped in.
" Tomorrow in classes, anyone who doesn't have a wand will be sent to me for questioning. We must be careful whom we pick to question though. We are low on the ingredients for Veritaserum."
" If you run out you could always use a muggle lie detector." Lily suggested. Dumbledore chuckled.
" I suppose we could, Miss Evans. We don't plan on running out though." He smiled at her, then his face turned serious again.
" I must warn you that, at the moment, that is our only lead. It is extremely likely that Hogwarts will be closed at the end of the month. If you hear anything that may help the investigation, tell me immediately. That may be our only hope. I'll make an announcement that classes are to begin again tomorrow morning, at breakfast. Any questions?" No one spoke. Dumbledore smiled. " None? Good. You may go." Everyone started talking and heading down the stairs to breakfast. Alice stood up and glanced down at Lily.
" You coming?" she asked.
" I've got to talk to Dumbledore for a second. You go ahead." Alice smiled and left after a quick hug between the two friends. As soon as everyone was gone, Lily approached Professor Dumbledore. She cleared her throat quietly, and he looked up at her from his desk.
" Ah, Miss Evans. What can I do for you?"
" I was wondering if there was anyway that I could help. With the investigations, that is. I feel horrible about what has happened, and I would really like to help, anyway that I could." Professor Dumbledore smiled.
" I'm glad that you asked Miss Evans. But am I right in presuming that that isn't the only reason you want to help."
" That's true, sir." Dumbledore studied her with his clear blue eyes, as if he could find the real reason in her face. Finally, satisfied with what he saw, he nodded.
" I've been considering starting a student group to help with the investigation. Be my eyes, and my ears if you like. You're a smart witch, Miss Evans, and quite trustworthy. How would you like to lead, and organize the group?'
" I would love to Professor."
" Excellent. I expect you to report back to me about who will be members, lets say, in two days?" Lily nodded.
" Good, I'll be able to assign you jobs then. Is there anything else you needed Miss Evans?"
" That's all, sir. Thank you."
Lily grinned at him, and turned to head down the stairs, to breakfast.
Perfect
"You did what!" Belle turned to gape at her best friend. It was in the afternoon, that same day. Students had been aloud to leave the common rooms after lunch. Lily had dragged Belle to the Astronomy Tower, to tell her about the meeting that morning.
" I offered to help with the investigations. Dumbledore's having me organize, and lead a group of students who have agreed to help me."
" Lily! Are you insane!" Belle hissed at her, " Why would you ever want to do that! Your already busy enough!" Lily rolled her eyes.
" I feel horrible about what's happened. That girl's killer should be brought to justice. It's the least I can do!"
" Lily! Carrie, Morgan, and me all feel just as bad as you do, but do you see us volunteering! No! We already have schoolwork, Qudditch, and friendships to deal with. We don't need more! And we're not taking half as many classes as you are! No, you've got to have another reason."
" Only that I feel bad about what's happened. And did you see how horrible Sirius looked when he found out. Maybe this will make him feel better."
" That's bull shit, and you know it. You don't give a damn
about Sirius. You can tell me the truth you know. After all, I am your best friend. Aren't I? We tell each other everything!"
" There's no other reason Belle! I swear!"
" Jeez, Lils! How stupid do you think I am! I know you better than I know myself. We've been best friends for four years! I can tell when your lying by now." Belle grabbed Lily's arm, and swung her around to face her. Lily glared at Belle then faltered. Tears began streaming down her face.
" Fine! If we don't solve it, then Hogwarts will be closed. Did you here me when I said that? This is my home Belle! I don't have a family! Voldemort killed them, all of them! My parents, my brother, everyone! All I have left is a sister who hates me! I am like a slave in her house. She doesn't love me! If Hogwarts is closed, I have nowhere to go. There is no way in hell that I am going to let that happen!" Belle rapped her arms around Lily.
" Oh god Lils! Why didn't you tell me it was that bad? I had no idea! Mom would love to have you stay with us."
" No Belle, I can't. I don't want to live off of your mother's hospitality. That wouldn't be fair to you both. You barely have enough to live on as it is! No, I'll just have to bear next summer with my sister. Then, as soon as I'm of age, I'll buy myself a flat in London. My parents did leave me a good amount of money in their will. It's only one more summer. I couldn't spend a year with her, though! I live in the cupboard under the stairs! I wouldn't even wish that hell on Potter! Don't you see why I can't just sit back and watch the school close! I have to do something" She smiled sadly at Belle.
" Jeez Lils! I've always thought that my life is bad, without a father and barely having enough money. But my mother loves me. She really does. My problems can't hold a candle to you and Sirius's. You don't need Petunia anyway, Lils. I'm more of a sister to you, than she'll ever be."
" Its true," Lily said with a small smile, " I should have been born a Peterson!" They both laughed and wiped away their tears.
" We better start recruiting for our investigation." Belle said. Lily cocked an eyebrow at Belle.
" Our?"
" If you thought that I'd make you go through with this all by yourself, than you definitely don't know me." Lily through her arms around Belle, and hugged her as hard as she could. Belle laughed, pushing Lily off of her.
" Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me!" Lily's smile was huge.
" No problem. God knows you could use the help. So who are we going to include anyway?"
" Well, Morgan and Carrie of course, and Alice too. She'll want to include Frank, so he's in. We should probably ask Amos, and Ava Patil since they're the heads. Remus too of course."
" What about the rest of the Marauders?" Belle asked knowing the answer.
" What about them?" Lily answered, her face clouding at the mere thought of them.
" Well Sirius is the reason your doing this, isn't he?" Belle teased. Lily blushed, and grinned sheepishly. Belle laughed at the look on her face.
" Oh, shut up." She said punching Belle lightly on the arm, " I couldn't think of anything else." Belle sobered up.
" No, seriously Lily. You were right. He was really unhappy about what happened. He should be included."
" No matter how much I hate to admit it, you're right. He may annoy me half to death, but she was his cousin. He's in." Belle smiled.
" Good. So that's, me, you, Alice, Morgan, Carrie, Frank, Ava, Amos, Remus, and Sirius."
" No Slytherins. We don't have any Slytherins." Lily groaned, " I don't know any Slytherins." She glanced at Belle, who shrugged.
" Hey, wait a minute," Belle said realization dawning on her face. " Doesn't Amos have a brother in Slytherin? The cute 6th year, that Amos is always talking with. Dan Diggory, right?" Lily gave Belle a high five.
" Perfect! That should be enough. If we're lucky Dan may even bring more Slytherins in. Nice one' s that is. And we can ask Ava and Alice to bring a few more Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. So we should expect around 20. What do you think?"
" We're missing one person." Lily mentally checked her list.
" Who?'
" James."
" No way."
" Come on Lils! Get off your high horse! He could be helpful!"
" With what? Flirting with girls? Pranking? Catching a quaffle? Hexing Snape? Or maybe being a big headed prat, since he seems to be good at that!"
" Lils! Just give him a chance. He's more useful that you could ever imagine!"
" Again I repeat. How! Enlighten me Belle!" Belle remained silent.
" Like I thought. He's just a big headed pompous git, who wouldn't be anything more than a nuisance." Belle gave up on keeping silent.
" Your wrong Lily. I'll tell you why even if he may hate me for it. He's an animagus. Sirius and Peter are too. He has an invisibility cloak. A real bona-fide invisibility cloak. Where else would you find that? He also happens to know where every nook and cranny of Hogwarts is. Sirius, Peter, Remus and him, made a map of the school, with passages that not even Filch knows exists. And he also happens to be the most popular bloke in school, and just as smart as you. So, no Lily, he really isn't useful." She paused for a second. "Why can' t you just forget that he's made a few mistakes, and remember that he's only human. You make mistakes to. And I can assure you that no matter how much I love you, and see you as the sister I never had, if he's out than I am too. It wouldn't be fair any other way."
" How can you ask me to do this Belle! Fine, he's useful. I'll admit it. But I can't stop hating him, just like that!"
" I'm not asking you to stop hating him, just to put it behind you. If you want to save Hogwarts from closing, than you have to forget your pride, and ask him to help. He really is a good guy. He's one of my closest friends. If you get to know him, the real him, I'm sure that you'll like him. You're really a lot alike Lils. Loyal, smart, hot headed at times, not to mention so damn stubborn that it drives me nuts! You'd make a great team. Please Lils. Just give him a chance." Lily sighed in defeat.
" Fine, he's in. For now."
" And you'll be nice to him, no matter how much of an ass he is at times." Lily looked sick at the thought.
" Don't push it."
" Lils…"
" Fine. I guess."
" Cheer up, my friend. We're going to solve this murder, and in a month you can go back to hating James." Belle said wrapping an arm around Lily's shoulders.
" All right," Lily said a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. " Is he really an animagus?"