Eve: Okay it's time for another chapter! Another chapter that makes new
readers not want to get involved, but cheers the long time fans up.
Mike: Somehow, you depress me.
Eve: Ah, that reminds me-
Mike: I don't want to hear it!
Eve:... I was talking to a friend and we found a conspiracy I'd like to share.
BTW Rhyadra is not one of my 'multiple personalities', she is a British friend who is just as insane as I am. So Mike, stop saying I have mps. (Multiple Personality Syndrome) Rhyadra: Gah! Can't find notes :-\ I am sooooooooooo screwed! Awell! Eve: yep ... notes on what?
Rhyadra: How to write my evaluation. I didn't download the 'how to write an A grade evaluation' notes either. Er... U'r not the sort who's offended by swearing, r u?
Eve: fuck no
Rhyadra: lmao, good. In that case........... BOLLOCKS!!!!!
(For the Americans she basically just yelled BALLS! Or SHIT! Actually both at the same time.
Ryadra: Arg! I'm browsing the college website, and I'm logged in, and so everything's labeled with my name and it says 'good evening Paula' at the top, and I dunno why but I find that really creepy
Eve: it IS creepy
Rhyadra: esp as we don't enter r names - we're given a login number (grr, all labeled and stamped and numbered ... evil) I also have no/little idea what I'm doing, so live in fear of killing the college network
Eve: damn ... maybe their planning to turn you all into cybernetic zombies who roam the streets searching for bloooood.
Rhyadra: *gasp* Possibly....
Eve: : yikes
Rhyadra: .... though the time we have to get up, we're like that anyway
Eve: then all the teenage bloodthirsty zombies will come to America and have a kickass party with us of the vampire side. Cool!
Rhyadra:
Eve: then all the teenage bloodthirsty zombies will come to America and have a kickass party with us of the vampire side. Cool!
Rhyadra: Maybe they're trying to STOP us from being zombies! (but in an evil way). We could have that party, unless the college gets its way and makes us into functional members of society, *shudder*
Eve: the evil part though is that they'll turn us into boring creatures of the damned, and we'll do nothing but taxes all day! And ... and go to prep rallies! And never get in trouble again! Ahhhh!
Rhyadra: NOOOOOOOO
Eve: functional creatures of the damned... I'm scared
Rhyadra: me too....thank crap for the lack of pep rallies over here. I hate cheerleaders. They really r evil!
Eve: ... and then we'll start eating granola bars! YESSS! That's IT! The granola bar industry. They're the ringleaders! They're are all you have time to eat in the morning!
Rhyadra: We don't have them, but I'm guessing they're like nutrigrain - are they basically cardboard with a chemical filling?
Eve: that's them. Damn them
Rhyadra: Yeah. Nutrigrain over here. They've already got to some people. I know people who ... who ... like them!
Eve: we must destroy the Nutrigrain companies. They're...they're replacing people's good food judgment! They're taking over poptarts!
Rhyadra: I think my dad must be on their side. As we're on the verge of discovering all this, he's trying to get me off the Computer. He 'needs the phoneline'
Eve: AHA! A spy!
Rhyadra: indeed
Eve: he knows! He knows we're siding with poptarts!
Rhyadra: yeah. He's never liked them....
Eve: Aha! It's all becoming so weird ... but in a clear way.
Mike: Stop it!
Eve: Aww
Mike: Granola, eww
Eve: Reviewers re... drat
Mike: Ha! I'm better than you –wait!
Eve: Ha! On with the fic!
****
Summer for Hogwarts students usually meant two things. There would be a lot of bored teenagers with wands walking around, and that a summer school for younger kids was open for business. Lily had signed up for it the day of her wedding and had an open spot, in which she decided to place Kira. James wasn't exactly enthralled by the idea.
"She's just a little girl," he argued. "She should be spending her summers having fun!"
"With you?"
"Exactly...Wait-"
"Aha! I know you want to have a sidekick while Sirius is away, but Kira needs to go to school," Lilly stated as they sat on the porch, watching Kira try to get her horse to 'sit.'
She held the burgundy lead and stood in front of the horse, everyone and awhile commanding 'sit' and shaking the lead. To which the horse snorted and flicked her tail. Kira had decided that the whine colored burgundy lead looked better in giving the unicorn-white horse a classy and elegant look, rather than the princes look given by pastel colors. Lily had helped a great deal with that choice and so Kira was stuck between pastels, or richer colors for her horse. Her own tastes were straying from the cute ideals of a little girl, towards a girl who was now aware that it wasn't just about your favorite colors, it was about what went well with what. A more mature approach. Her tastes didn't seem to be satisfied by pink anymore, to Lily's dismay. That was why she'd been the one to decide that Kira needed to go to preschool. To be with other kids.
"But... I mean, she is so young. Can't we wait?" James prompted.
"James, I admit that she isn't a normal child. We haven't had the normal problems with her as we seem to have with Harry. She's a perfect daughter. She may only be what three? Yet, she has the intelligence of six or seven. Her friends are very bright, coming from a very smart family, so we don't recognize it, but she's at their level a year early. We need to stimulate her mind so it can grow."
"You say she's a perfect daughter, but sometimes that is an imperfection. Think about it. Children need to fail sometimes as they grow up, so their parents can comfort them. That way as they grow they know who to turn to. If Kira never fails then she'll never learn how much she needs us once she's out on her own. I want her to be a little girl, laughing, having fun, making mistakes..."
"Which is why I want her to go to the school. School has ups and downs."
"Somehow you've taken my argument out from underneath me," James scowled. Lily smiled at her victory and was about to jump up and declare a school induced shoping spree when James grabbed her hand. "Let her pick out her own outfit," He said, smiling wryly.
"I take your fun, you take mine?" Lily mumbled just as wryly as James' smile. James watched the pony roll over and let out a gentle laugh. A baby's cry echoed through the house and Lilly jumped to her feet. A quiet desperation appearing on her face as she leapt for the front door. "Harry!?" She cried, terror easily noticeable in her voice. James stared after her with wide eyes as he saw what she had seen, the Death Symbol. James bolted from the porch and out towards Kira. She was staring up at the darkening sky and huddled close to Candy. James grabbed her and lifted her effortlessly into his arms. They had to get back into the house, and fast.
Lilly barreled through the house and into Harry's room. Her eyes scanned him to be sure there was not a scratch on him. When her mind was satisfied she lifted him from the crib and held him in her arms as she rushed down the hall. James burst through the front door as they appeared in the room and they both leapt for the drap door down into James' study. The horses rushed into the stable as Cota and Patrick returned. He locked the gates and dashed towards the house. Everything was ready for the transformation because every order member had been put on full alert. Cota stumbled as he stopped and turned to lock the front door. Once it was shut and locked he turned and felt the transformation begin, James appeared and waved him forward urgently.
Cota used all his speed as he launched himself over to James, who held open the door and instructed him to go down with a quick nod of his head. Cota jumped down the door, ignoring the ladder, and rushed over to Lilly as she called him. James soon followed and joined Lily, Cota, Kira, and Harry as the house set up its best security feature. It transformed. Usually a secret house would not be visible, but James refused to go into hiding unless he absolutely needed to, so he chose a transformation spell instead. The house began to deteriorate and the stable disappeared into a camouflage of forest. The tree house was covered as the tree grew and engulfed it. The main reason James had let Dumbledore talk him and Lilly into living in a Muggle neighborhood was because he found a large plot of land on the other side of a hill.
None of the neighbors took notice of the change. They did not know that the William and Ezabell Potter, or rather Porter, as they had been introduced as, were really James and Lilly Potter. They had no idea that William was not a lawyer or that Ezabell did not really work for a Muggle bakery. They had no idea that the boy they thought had been born the first of August, Christopher, was really Harry Potter, born on July 31st. Since Cota and Kira looked so much alike, it was announced that she was Cota's daughter. The mother had died during complications from birth, which was why Kira was so small. The Porter family had immediately taken in the two Lionsabers because they had the room and Cota worked at a stable, so he cared for the horses.
This tightly woven lie served as grand protection and allowed the 'Porters' to live normal lives without as much fear. If Voldemort ever came to the house, he would see an older house with a decaying lawn and no one inside, even if James was glaring at him through the window. It wasn't as strong as a Secret house, but it worked for them at that point in time. An empty lot would be too noticeable. Adam called James, Mr. Potter, but if asked to spell the name he would have said: P.O.R.T.E.R. Simple, but effective.
An hour passed and Lily once again began to understand her sister's anger. Growing up they had been really close. Petunia had, at first, liked the idea of Lily going to Hogwarts. They had been wanting to go to different schools for a long time because Lily was very bright, but hated bringing home grades of all A's. When petunia was struggling with c's. They wanted to join the sports teams, but there was limited room, and Lily was better so they had Petunia on the sidelines. With Lily at 'witch school' Petunia was on the teams and Lilly was doing her own, separate thing. It was perfect. Their parents doubted on Lilly because they had never imagined that they could have a child that was special in a way that was so amazing, it had to be hidden from their normal world. They always said it was because other parents would be jealous.
The sisters became closer, calling saying they were each other's best 'bud.' Mostly because it was hard to fight via letter writing. By the time you got a reply, you couldn't remember why you were mad. So they made a rule that arguments were not allowed in letters. Petunia enjoyed, although maliciously, Lilly's complaints about a pompous young rouge named James Potter. That was another thing that made their relationship stronger. Lilly got all the attention from guys, but when she was gone, Petunia finally got a boyfriend. Petunia was old-fashioned in the fact that she thought a woman's role was to support her man and do what ever he wanted, dress however he wanted her to, and in return be protected.
.Lilly was new age, she dressed more conservatively, stating simply that if a guy didn't like her because she didn't dress in skimpy clothes, then that was HIS issue, not hers. She also spoke her mind and would have laughed at the very though of someone being the boss of her.
The day Lilly graduated, the entire family went to Hogwarts to watch the graduation. There Petunia was introduced to the Muggle hating society known as the Slytherins. They growled at her as she looked for Lilly and a few went as far as to shove her into walls.
"Muggles don't belong here!" One of them spat. A greasy haired boy with ivory skin, dark eyes, and a looming presence.
"You listen to me!" Petunia squawked. "My name is Petunia Evens and I refuse to let 'your kind' treat me this way," The said, 'your kind' as to represent Muggle haters. "I'm my opinion you're stupid anyway," She snarled placidly, very annoyed with being treated as an outsider in her very sister's school.
"Did you say Evens?" One of the Slytherins questioned.
"She says the name, but she don't sound like Evens," Another one stated, all of them were snarling slightly and seemed to be disgusted to even breath the same air as Petunia. They hissed and growled until Petunia lost it. She snapped cruelly, even for a Slytherin, calling them freaks to society! Swearing that all their kind were nothing but dirt, swept under the carpet so decent people would never see them. With that, she stormed off, leaving them all spitting anger and loathing her very birth. None of them thought that Petunia's outburst was the result of being outnumbered, for it sounded like a comment that had been building up inside her for a long time.
"Geeze!" One of the Slytherins shouted. "If that beast has a magical kid someday I hope to all Merlin that she never finds out. She'd kill it!"
"Or worse, make it live with her," Another laughed.
"What are you all laughing at?" A softer voice asked.
"Your sister was just here, Evens!" One of the boys spat.
"Oh?" Lilly's voice broke slightly, hoping they hadn't... loosing hope that they hadn't been cruel.
Lilly found Petunia later and received a sharp blow to the jaw for all her trouble. Petunia was outraged and Lilly could hear the hoots of laughter resignating from the Slytherins. That was until the dementors came. Petunia couldn't see them, but she felt them and dropped to the ground. Lilly knelt next to her and hugged her.
"W-what is it?" Petunia asked.
Lilly explained Demontors to Petunia and shook her head. "But mine is barely a shape. Our professor never really taught us much about it," She said shakily.
James leapt from the forest, where Sirius, Remus, Peter, and himself had been... well, enjoying a nice scotch to drink a celebration of graduating. However they sobered quickly as they saw the dementors and had fully regained their wits when they saw it nearing Lilly. James leapt out and stood in front of Lilly and Petunia. Remus, James, and Sirius all casted 'Expectopatronus!' Remus had taught them about it, but they were really to distracted to care much. Remus' patronus was the most effective as Sirius' looked like he was smoking and James' was fueled purely by desperate rage, so it attacked without much skill. By the end of five seconds, Albus Dumbledor was at the scene, glaring so hard that the death eaters that remained, floated away quite swiftly.
That hadn't been the day Petunia started hating the wizarding world, neither was her disgust for it as simple as envy. No, she hated that world because it took her sister away. The world with Voldemort in it. The dark wizard who killed their parents, driving Lilly to James Potter, and Petunia to Vernon Dursley. Complete opposites. Petunia was determined to love Vernon, as he was the only one who would date her. She was also welcomed by the warm, inviting glow of a normal life. Lilly, however, was welcomed into the breathless, weightless feeling of having love fill her life forever. Both of them waited to get married, knowing that the other didn't like the man their sister was marrying.
When Voldemort made his biggest move, Lilly and James had been visiting the Dursleys. They both jumped up and looked into each other's eyes. No more standing around waiting for him to go away, somebody needed to stop this vile creation. They threw floo-powder into to fire place and James said aloud: Maybe we should go to Hogwarts and take Albus up on his offer to join the resistance. Petunia new who Albus Dumbledor was. She leapt to her feet and grabbed her sister's hand.
"Lilly! Stop!" Petunia shrieked. "You can't go! Stay here!"
"My dear sister," Lilly's voice was soft and breathy, as if surprised. Her eyes softened and looked determined at the same time. "I cannot just hide here while people are murdered," She stated.
"Not all of your kind will help fight them, an none of mine will," Vernon belched.
"That's true! Lilly, you don't have to go! You're not one of them," Petunia exclaimed.
"My kind, your kind... that is just a stupid rivalry. Yes, some mortals live longer and have magic, but we also have many dangers. Our lived are equal to yours, just in a different way," Lilly reasoned. "I'm not going just so I can protect magic, but Muggles as well. We are all in danger. But only one side can fight it," She gripped her sister's hand. "Petunia, I love you. I know our relationship has had its troubles, but I still love you. Which is why I trust you to understand."
"Lilly! He took our parents I don't want him to take you! If you leave here then don't come back!" Petunia wailed. "Dammit James, if you love her, then let her go!"
James' heart was wretched open by that comment. He never wanted any harm to come to Lilly. Never. He'd die for her if he had to. So he didn't want to drag her into his world. But when the choice came, he didn't have to be the one to make it.
"I...I'm sorry," Lilly said, stepping into the fire and taking James' hands. "I'm sorry, Petunia."
"If you leave I want you to NEVER come back!" Petunia screamed as the fire flared and Lily began to disappear. "Do you hear me! Don't come back! Don't- " Petunia dropped to the floor as the last of the fire changed back to normal. Vernon knelt and put his arms around her. "Come back." Petunia sobbed.
It was two years before Lilly ever talked to Petunia. She wrote a detailed letter about everything that was happening. And how her life was. Petunia had burned that letter, but she fumbled as her hands brushed a wedding invitation. Petunia hadn't attended, but Lilly hadn't expected her to. Lilly had married James, though Petunia protested. That had been envy at first, but there was another, deeper reason. Marrying him tied her completely with the wizarding world. Forever. Petunia's wedding gift was to not invite James and Lilly Potter to suffer through her wedding, but to agree to start talking again. They also allowed Lilly and James to visit, if they called first and dressed 'normally.'
Lilly looked down at her son and her smile began to return. James wrapped his arm around her and she felt her body relax. She looked at Cota, whom she had pulled close to her and was now gripping tightly. Then she looked at Kira, who was looking out from behind James. If she'd never married James, she would have never met Cota, or Kira... Or Harry. Lily smiled and closed her eyes. It may be tough, but she was glad she'd chose this life. It was the best thing to ever happen to her. ***
Lilly and James stood out side the Kinderspell building. Kira had picked out a black dress with black biker shorts underneath and the hair ribbon she'd gotten for her birthday wrapped around her waist like a belt. Her shoes were black knee-high boots and had hot pink ribbon laced around them, Lilly had made them. She put on the headband Remus had given her and then put on two arm covers that matched the boots. Lilly was a bit sad that she wasn't dressing in the yellow checkered sundress with daisy ribbon as a belt and yellow sandals, the basic little girl outfit. But Kira's light skin tone looked good with black. So Lilly decided to be pleased that her child had fashion sense, an ability that was lost to most children.
Kira stared at the building in silent awe. She'd never seen anything like it. Cheerful colors were splashed along the outside walls like something out of Lisa Frank. Pretty flowers of every color sprang from the ground along a concrete walkway that was decorated with chalk drawings. There was a bright green fence towards the back of the school and Kira could see brightly colored playground equipment like you'd find at a McDonalds Play place, only bigger and it continued indoors. Kids were everywhere, shouting to each other as their parents checked and rechecked supplies and tried to give a last touch up to their children's appearance by licking cloths and trying to use them to was their children's faces. And the kids responded by pulling back and squirming out of range.
James rechecked Kira's back pack. "Sketch book, Crystalwiter, lunch, raccoon, and the marauder mirror to contact us."
"Okay, Daddy."
"You can't say 'Daddy' into it. You have to say James."
"Why?"
"...Well, because back then 'Daddy' wasn't a name I used."
"Why?"
"Because.... I'd have never lived it down."
"Why?"
"Why? Because... well... because Sirius and I used these to communicate and he wouldn't have called me Daddy unless he wanted to get hit."
"Oh..."
"By the way, hitting people is wrong," James added quickly after receiving a glare from Lilly.
"Okay, the bread was baked just half an hour ago and the meat was cut after that. The vegetables came from the garden bakery so they're as fresh as they can be and we only use plants with high vitamin levels. I have you an apple, you like the red ones with the yellow on them, right? Lets see, juice... or would you have rather had milk? Oh, I gave you a turkey sandwich but I think you like peanut butter and jelly better. Oh," Lilly worried. "Horrible idea! Turkey, mustard, lettuce, tomato, few sprouts, what was I thinking? I gave you green peppers, carrot slices, broccoli, ranch. String cheese. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Should have got the pizza lunchable! Everyone else will be eating pb and j or lunchables!"
"She'll be healthy, and that is normal lunch for her," James noted. "Besides you know Kira, she's not picky."
"...Y-you're right..." Lilly took a breath and kneeled down in front of Kira. "Now, I packed you a few treats from the bakery, be sure to share them with your friends and classmates."
"But, don't give away your pudding, that can easily be traded for something else. Hold out for a chocolate candy bar," James instructed, receiving a sharp elbowing from Lilly.
"It's yogurt... I think I packed strawberries," Lilly looked at the lunch box with increasing doubt. James had fought for the quidditch world cup lunch box, but Kira had wanted the one with the horse from Rainbow Bright on it. So in the end Lilly had James go look at the children's beginner's broom to 'find the best one' while she bought Kira the lunch box she'd picked out. James also argued that sending Kira off to school was a bad idea. She was so young. Lilly, however, wanted to be sure her daughter was not deprived of any opportunity. This school wasn't a snobby 'we-are-better' school. It was more like a daycare with basic educational values.
The school bell chimed a tone of mixed emotion and parents everywhere began to fidget like it was going to be the last time they ever saw their children. Murmurs of: it's just for a little while. Just a few hours. Were spreading through the crowd and a few children leapt forward, embracing their parents and crying that they wanted to stay home with them. This caused the parents to try and explain that they couldn't stay and that this was for the best. That made most of the parents feel like they were leaving the child on the steps of an orphanage.
Kira looked to be debating the 'don't leave me' approach and Lilly didn't look like she could have taken that. She took a breath and prepared to throw herself at their mercy. However, Kira's expression quickly changed and she let out an excited cry.
"Look, she's happy to be at school," Lily beamed. "I told you this wasn't a waste."
James just smiled, he knew Kira was yaying about seeing her pranking companions, not about attending school, and he was quite pleased.
"Have a good day, Kira. Be good, mind your manners," Lilly paused. "Ignore your father."
James looked appalled, but had been about mouthing 'there's a smoke bomb in your bag, use it.' James shrugged and hugged his daughter. "You'll be okay. Have fun....be," He let out a sigh. "B-be... be good."
"Bye Mommy, bye Daddy," Kira gave a final call as all the kids were ushered into the building.
Lilly and James stared after her and let out soft cries at the look of fear on their daughter's face. She'd never been dropped off at a new place and then just left. They'd always shown her around and made sure she knew that all she needed to do was tell someone she wanted her parents and they'd take her down to wherever Lilly or James was. But this time they weren't just a few doors down or across the street. They'd be miles away. Leaving their daughter with strangers.
The pair broke the silence with uneasy laughter as the event flooded amongst them. Laughing was a sanctuary, if you were laughing, you couldn't cry. Sending their daughter away for four hours every day was a nightmare burned its way into reality. They struck and filled their worried minds with tormenting questions: What if the Death Eaters attacked the school? What if he-who-must-not-be-named, found Kira? The laughter ceased and an uneasy silence fell upon the house.
"It... is the right thing to do... right?" Lilly asked, her brow furrowing as she watched as the doors closed.
"Yeah... everyone looks forward to their first day at Hogwarts, but no one feels prepared except those that either have older siblings there, or went through this..."
"It must feel like we're abandoning her."
"...This is why Remus wanted to come. He knew we'd back out, but we can't. she'll be safe, we need to go."
"I'm glad we decided to take the day off work incase she called."
"Yeah... yeah, let's just go home..."
They both continued standing there for a few more minutes. Trying to convince their feet to move.
"First time?" Came a cheery voice to their left.
Lilly and James looked over, eyes wide like lost puppies. They nodded in unison. The voice belonged to on a kind-faced woman with red hair and looked to be getting slightly plump.
"It's tough, I tell you. This day will be the worst. But then in four hours they're back. The next day will be hard, but then after a while they'll have stuff they want to get to take with them and they'll be excited to come. I got luck this time around. I have two going in together," the woman smiled encouragingly and Lilly felt a strong motherly instinct from the woman. She smiled, automatically liking the woman.
"Thank you. I know she'll be alright, but..." Lilly said.
"I understand dear," the woman smiled. "What's your little girl's name?"
"Kira, and yours?"
"Ah!" The woman let out an excited cry that sent James and Lilly on edge, frightened by the sudden volume. "Sorry, dears, sorry," she said must softer. "We finally get to meet. Fred and George are mine."
"Ohhh!" Lilly and James chorused. "Kira's said such wonderful things," Lilly stated. "Sorry for sending her over all the time, I hope it hasn't been to much trouble." James let out a nervous laugh as Lilly side-glanced him.
"Oh, she's an angel."
A laugh escaped both parents now and the woman glanced at her watch.
"Well, best be leaving. I got four others at home. Two need to get to practice, one wants to go to the library, and my youngest isn't very happy today, so I best be off," The woman gave a polite nod and apperated.
Lilly and James felt refreshed and apperated home. Comforted, but still worried.
"Let her be, you know how hard it was," Fred whispered to George as they watched Kira.
"Yeah, yeah, I remember." George answered, remembering how they broke down and their parents had been called to take them him. "Can't blame us though."
"Was awful, it was," Fred agreed.
"They left!" Kira let out an alarmed cry. "Gone, gone!"
"Easy Kira," Fred eased into the room and stood next to her as she balanced on a chair and looked out the window. "'Course they left. You'd have 'em stand out side all day would you?"
Kira looked at him like an abandoned kitten. George came up next to her and they stood in silence for a second.
"Not all bad," He stated brightly. "It's a free day!"
Kira looked at him like he'd lost his mind, how was this a good thing?
"E's right, ya know. We cracked. We 'ah our mum called and 'avent 'eard the end of it since," Fred exclaimed.
"That's an option?"
"Yeah, but wait! Come with us and try to like it for an hour, if you still wanna go 'ome then we'll go with ya," Fred offered.
"...R-really?"
"'Course!" Both boys chorused.
"...Awright," Kira agreed in a tinny voice.
Fred and George smiled and continued to swear everything would be fine. At first they stayed right beside her, giving a tour, playing kickball, and all different kinds of activities. They swung on the swings, each trying to get higher than the other, made castles in the sand, raced across an obstical corse, spun in a tire swing, and tried to find other ways to play with everything. Kira started feeling better and before she knew it they were going inside to eat. She shared the cookies with them and they sat at their own table.
"Whatcha got ta eat?" George asked.
"Turkey, why?"
"Ah, cause we usually trade," Fred explained.
"Yeah, see Fred got PB&J and I got ham and cheese. Ya see, mum buys everything in bulk, but tries to give everyone sumthin different. So we all trade, it's fun."
"Oh," Kira looked down at her bag.
"Ya know what? There's three of us, let's make a ... a whatcha call it... buffy?"
"Buh-fey," Fred corrected. "And I like that idea, Kira?"
"Whatsa buh-fey?"
Fred and George replied by dumping out their bags, Kira followed suite. "Now lets say I want carrots, but I don't have any. Well, if we put all our food together than we got whatever we want."
"Okay!" Kira agreed and lunch continued and Kira witnessed what it was like when a kid got homesick. A few kids got homesick and left. Most of the newbies were gone before lunch was halfway over. The only one other than Kira collapsed to the ground in a crying fit. It wasn't exactly a prideful scene. Kira looked down at her mirror. All the new kids had gone...
"Ahh!" George yelped. Fred and Kira snapped to attention. "It's not a chocolate sprinkle! Eeeeewwww!"
Fred began laughing and held up a box of raisins. "He hates these," Fred explained as George tried to wipe his tongue off with a napkin. Kira smiled and forgot the mirror. After lunch they played hide and seek in the play place and tried to climb up the slides. George was in the lead and pocked his head out of the red slide, the tallest, and called down to Kira and Fred, finally, he'd made it. Fred let out a howl and emerged into the opening.
"Aha! The secret area," he cheered. They'd been told that the huge play place had secret areas in it and once you go to them you got a cool reward and there were fun things to do. Kira slid down again and rubbed her knee. No wonder no one else was trying this, it hurt! "Come on, Kira!" Fred called. They'd reached the slides through an opening in the ball pit that Bill had told them about. It was narrow, but they had eventually dove down, gotten through and dropped onto a soft mat that lead to a purple tube. They crawled through and were into the slide area.
"I'm trying," Kira called back. She hadn't removed her shoes and wasn't getting very good traction. But at least her feet weren't getting red like George's were. Kira pressed her palms against the sides and began crawling up like a frog would. She came into view and was grabbed by Fred before she slid and had to climb all over again. They let out victorious cheers and George opened a box. It contained tickets. You earned tickets and exchanged them for prizes. He let out a whoot and they tried to divide the tickets. In the end, Fred handed them out.
"One, for me, one for Kira, one for George. Two for me, two for Kira, two for George."
"Enough counting, just deal them out like cards," George commanded, knowing Fred could count to ten, and that was all.
They stuck the tickets into Kira's bag, her's in the lunch box, Fred's in the big pouch, and George's in the front, since he'd made it up first. They entered a hammock like area and collapsed into swinging nets, above everyone else. A few kids marveled at them and asked how to get in, but they knew better than to reveal the secret so they just laughed and told anyone who asked, to find it themselves like they had done.
Lilly paced back and forth and glanced at the clock. James was drumming his fingers and trying to beat Sirius at poker. Remus and Peter were also there. Acting as emotional support for Lilly and James. Harry wasn't amused either. He had gotten a lot of attention, but was tired now and wondering what happened to Kira. Dumbledore was keeping watch on the group as he knew too well what Sirius would encourage James to do if they got bored enough. So far Lilly had baked enough cookies to feed the neighborhood, Remus had re-read 'Advanced DADA' four times, Peter had watched Sirius and James do numerous things, and Cota was at school. James had scheduled all horse check ups for today and soon left to go check how that was going. Sirius, Peter, and Dumbledore joined him.
"Ohh," Sirius nodded. "That explains it." He'd been wondering what would happen to Kira's pony when she was too big for it. Now his curiosity had been laid to rest upon learning that the pony would grow to be full size as Kira grew. James revealed that it was a extra horse at the academy, the parent's owner hadn't proved capable of caring for it, so James had taken it. Candy looked at each of them as her shoes were checked. She whinnied and Gyriph gave her a soft answer.
"You think she asked where Kira is?" Peter asked Sirius.
"I don't speak horse," Sirius answered.
"No, just jack a-"
"James!" Dumbledore gave a sharp warning.
"Only kidding," James apologized
"Nice try, Jamie," Sirius chuckled. They had gone over the Order's newest information, but James and Lilly hadn't been able to concentrate on it so that had ended.
"We are the most boring people alive," Peter mumbled.
"Sorry, what do you want to do?" James asked, turning to look at Peter.
"I don't know, but there is usually something going on!"
"Life isn't just about excitement. Some days you just have to do what is necessary," Dumbledore stated.
"Maybe we could go see her?" Sirius pondered. "Y'know, ease the worry."
"No," James answered before anyone else could speak. "I expected her to call by now. Never heard of anyone going through the entire first day. Not at that age."
"Not even you?" Peter asks, he'd been one of the kids who clung to their parents and forced them to take him home with them.
"I believe I made it through lunch, but the food reminded me of home..." James recalled.
"Not me, I just wanted to get away from the snobs. The older kids always pick on the young ones." Sirius stated.
"I don't remember how long I made it," Albus said, not about to state that he'd found the ordeal to be horrible.
"Petunia outlasted me," Lilly said, coming into the barn. "She swore she'd never put her child through that torture."
"It might be tough but it's for the best in the long run," Albus assured her. "Like detention," he added, glancing at James.
"The good news is that if we ever got an emergency call then we'd know Kira was safe," Remus interrupted. "I'm not saying anything against having the kids stay at the meeting house, but what would they do? Neville and Harry are the same age, but Kira would be bored as hell."
"Well, Alice and I thought our kids would be the same age, I never thought about having an older one," Lilly informed him.
"Besides, by the time they're in Hogwarts they'll be so used to it it'll be a common event," Peter squeaked.
"You think he'll last that long?" Sirius asked.
"Yes," Peter answered, not thinking.
"Not if I can help it," James snarled robustly.
"Not if we all can help it," Remus corrected. James nodded in agreement, that had been what he'd meant to say.
"Well, if we are going to have an Order meeting we might as well do it properly. Everyone inside," Lilly shrugged.
"Right, any news from-"
"Shhh!" Lilly hissed, interrupting Peter before he could say their spy's name out loud in an open area.
"Sorry, sorry!" Peter squealed, being glared at by everyone present, this included the two horses.
Once inside they headed into the center of the house and started the meeting in the usually low whisper. Frank was gathering information on a female Death Eater. They had no idea what this woman could mean. Could it be that Voldemort was married? That would explain why he wanted a little girl to grow into a weapon, That weapon could act as a daughter. They'd been suspecting this, but the woman was heard talking about 'her beautiful daughter.'
"So, that's why they want her so badly. They can't make another that looks like her... can they?" Sirius asked.
"Probably something like her. Remember Noname? We know Takai is very proud of her eyes though," Remus replied.
"Eyes could probably be cloned, there must be something else," James shook his head.
"Yes," Albus nodded and everyone stared at him. "You're thinking now. Kira is alive and doing well. Didn't you say you read a report that said most of the ANGELs died?"
"Yes. They finally succeeded and now they've lost their only success!"
"Back to Noname. What was she then?" Remus shook his head.
"She... that just leads back to the eyes," Sirius sighed defeated.
"...She was to be a sidekick," James whispered, it was now his turn to be stared at by everyone. "Noname wasn't an ANGEL, just a sidekick. A decoy, a copy that could be killed off. How would we have known the difference then the helmets were on?"
"But she was a killing machine. Why make an ANGEL when a bunch of decoys are just as good, you can't tell me it's money. Voldemort seems to have a lot of that," Remus let out an annoyed breath of air.
"So... we're back to the eyes again, aren't we?" Peter sighed.
"So it seems," Albus nodded.
"Growl, snarl, hiss," James intoned, already practiced in cursing without actually cursing. Not ready enough to let Harry's first word be 'bollocks.'
"James has now resorted from actual human comments and might I say, I like it. No more actual speech," Sirius chuckled, not very good at being serious for long periods of time, believe it or not.
"No, he used the words, not actual sounds," Remus commented.
"Are you both quite finished?" James asked.
"Woof," Sirius grinned.
"Howl," Remus smirked.
"Squeak," Peter joined in.
James let out an annoyed growl and glared at them as if waiting for someone to realize they were the only person in the restaurant who had not stopped talking after an offensive word. This glare proved to make all three marauders go suddenly quiet and stare at anything that wasn't James. Remus looked at the clock. Shouldn't Kira have called by now?
"...We met their mother," Lilly spoke after a few minutes.
"Who's?" Peter asked, wondering why he cared.
"Kira's two friends. Fred, and George," Lilly answered him.
"Oh," Remus nodded. "What's she like?"
"Wonderful! Very nice woman. At least I know Kira has good supervision when she's over there. The woman is amazing. Said she has six children."
"And always welcome to more," James added. He admitted, next to Sirius and Remus, there was no one else he would have chosen to look after his two children more than her.
Dumbledore sensed that and smiled. Lilly had always looked to Alice as a friend, but it was nice to hear that she could also look to someone with more experience when asking questions. Alice was a wonderful, caring parent, but Albus doubted that anyone could come close to Molly Weasley. Even her kids, while unique, were seemingly perfect. Always ready to accept people into their home.
"...So, anyway," Sirius broke the silence. "Remus is going to look over those files from the base, Lilly is going with Alice, Remus and Hagrid are tracking a nue, Frank and Moody are going with any other members who can get off work to a suspected recruiting office for Death Eaters, I'm holding down the fort with Albus, and James won't tell what his lead is."
"Not until I know anything," James stated. Both himself and Sirius were beginning to suspect a mole amongst the Order, so he never revealed leads.
"Maybe someone should go with you," Lilly prompted.
"No, I'll be fine," James shook his head.
"Alright, I think the nue can communicate somehow, Hagrid will find out easily enough, but who can get off work to help with the sting?" Remus asked.
"I'm not sure yet," Sirius stated, though he was just being cautious. If the mole was amongst them, then he would have just given away the team.
"How is that nue supposed to help us?" Peter asked. "And what am I doing?"
"Nues are part tiger, monkey, snake, and raccoon. It calls forth and exists in black clouds. Sounds evil, but gets along well with sphinxs and the part snake thing worries me," Remus explained. "We think Voldemort may already control some chimera."
"Damn, parseltongue," Sirius growled.
"And what am I doing?" Peter repeated.
"You are going to find a conch*," Albus informed him.
"A... conch...?"
"Yes," Albus nodded, he knew they had been told about them in DADA.
"Right..." Peter nodded slowly.
"You'll probably find one on the black market. Though there is a shop I've seen with a crosier in the window and a magic chart hanging on the wall. There is all sorts of D.A.D.A stuff, but most of it is for muggles so you'll have to use an enchantment to find something real," Remus hinted. Peter stared at him blankly. "...Try it out, it should have a unique SOUND," Remus drove the point into Peter's skull, much to the enjoyment of Albus, who saw the hints quite clearly.
"Very unique..." Peter was as clueless as the actors in clueless. ^_^ (Mike: Stop it. It hurts. Use real symbolism)
"Yes," Remus sighed, trying to sound like he was having an intelligent conversation. "They'll probably keep it with the musical instruments. Or near sea talismans, don't you agree?"
"...Um... yes?" Peter squeaked.
"I don't see why we need a FLUTE anyway. What are we doing, starting a band?" James asked, deciding to be blunt.
"We could call it 'The AMULET,'" Sirius agreed, also being extraordinarily blunt.
"Oh!" Peter finally caught on. "I mean, yes, I'll find one," Peter smiled. All the other mauraders held back applause and a lot of comments that were drilling through their minds. They all just hoped he didn't ask what they'd be using it for. He never seemed to understand that when fighting the dark arts and DADA knowledge was helpful. Remus was their DADA expert, but Voldemort had one too, though no one was quite sure who it was.
James stared out the window as the discussion continued. His new lead had been extremely hard to get. He had done a lot of favors for it, under an anonymous name of course. It wasn't exactly going to be a walk in the park either. He would have to go as a stag for this to work. James nearly laughed. If someone had told him back in his fifth year that he'd be working against evil and using a trick he wasn't supposed to know, he'd have laughed. 'Isn't that just as bad?' he would have mocked. 'This trick is fer playin around.' However, he'd also used it for sneeking around so it shouldn't have been too hard to hear. They had been popular at Hogwarts, chick magnets no doubt, but he looked back at those days with regret. 'If it hadn't been for Lilly,' James thought. 'I'd almost certainly have became a Death Eater. Not a minion, but still evil.' He shook his head. 'I changed,' he reminded himself. 'Not just for her, but for me.'
One day he'd just woken up, listened to what his friends were saying, and bailed. They'd followed and he'd explained that he didn't feel like himself. Sirius had suggested picking on Snape. But James had just stared back at them, 'that's the problem,' he'd sighed. 'That doesn't feel like ME anymore.' They'd stared at him in conusion, but them Remus smiled. 'You mean you don't want to pick on him anymore?' Remus had asked. 'No,' James had answered. 'I'm saying I don't want to hurt anyone anymore. Our housemates believe us to be heroes but... I don't feel like much of a hero.' Remus had nodded, but Sirius looked completely confused.
'What are you talking about!' Sirius had yelled. 'We're standin up ta the Slytherins!'
'No,' James had answered. 'We're doing to them, what everyone is afraid they'll do to us. I don't feel like a hero, I feel like a bully. And that's not who I want to be.'
'Come on! Snape's a git! He deserves it!' Sirius spat.
'Yeah, but we don't. Sirius, you're the one I expected to understand me. You always have.'
'...I get you... I guess we can give it a try. No picking on anyone... but we can still prank, right?'
'Lemme tell you, we can prank the fuck out of this school. But no one gets hurt, okay?'
'I'm in,' Sirius agreed.
'Me too!' Peter wailed.
'Bout time you guys came around,' Remus smirked. 'Yeah, I'm in.'
"James?"
"Hmm?" James snapped out of his daydream and started over at Lilly.
"It's been four hours," Lilly beamed. "She made it."
James breathed a sigh of relief. If they apperated now then they'd get there with two minutes to spare. He stood up and Lilly was already welcoming people to stay until the Order meeting and have all the cookies they wanted. By the time he grabbed Kira's skates Lilly was waiting by the door. He smiled and they headed out towards the stable where they could apperate safetly.
"And remember," Fred stated. "We gotta get to the top of the volcano. We'll have to do that after lunch." Kira and George nodded. The volcano was in the ball pit. You had to find a way over and then grab one of the four ropes. Then it was a hard climb up a brown cone that was made from playplace mats, slippery, heavily padded, but a pain to climb. An every ten minutes an eruption of balls came out the top. It wouldn't hurt anyone, but no one was able to stay on during an eruption as the volcano would shake. Once you reached the top you got three tickets. Then you could try and get into the swinging tunnel. It was made of the same material as the volcano. After that they weren't sure, but that was half the fun.
"How do we do that?" Kira asked.
"I dunno," Fred shrugged. "Never seen it done."
"Oh, and tomorrow is introduction day. They're hoping the newbies stay longer. So we're gonna be split up-"George started.
"What?" Kira interrupted, horror struck.
"Yeah, I don like it either. They split everybody up into groups a trees and-"
"Threes," George corrected.
"Right, and each group plays a game called 'introduction.' Then that group joins another group,"
"So on and so fourth until all five-"
"Six this year, mate."
"Oh?"
"Three, three, three, three, three," George pointed to groups of three and then to their own group. "Three."
"Oh, okay then. When everyone is introduced, that is after we all make name tags. Then the younger kids who stay are shown around by the older ones. You'll get your cubby after that."
"Cubby?" Kira asked.
"Trust me," Fred smiled.
"Oh! Mum is starting a health food kick!" George suddenly remembered. "Percy started it! Said he read that sumthin did sumthin when you eat if for one day a week. I wasn't exactly lisnin."
"Who is? That's awful," Fred kicked at nothing.
"Strawberry smoothie," Kira nodded, knowing the words 'health food,' all too well. "That's okay cus my Mommy and Daddy, and Sirius, and God Daddy... well a lota people are meetin tonight so I'm gonna be with Cota, Harry, and Nevile. I'll tell him that I wanna make brownies."
"He knows how?" Fred asked.
"...Not really, but when he gives up he usually says 'this is stupid, I have a job, we can buy them,' " Kira mimicked.
"Yay!" Fred cheered.
"Yay!" George agreed.
Kira smiled and Fred directed her gaze across the lawn and over to her parents. They waved goodbye and Kira trotted over with a huge smile. She'd survived a big step into being accepted in the normal world of witches and wizards; all thanks to two very special friends who never cared if she was different, just knew she needed help.
*conch- A flute used as an amulet; told about in many legends of mermaids and sea people. It is usually a seashell that is enchanted and decorated by a magician, or mermaid, or sea person. It is used in defense against the dark arts.
**** Eve: Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?
Mike: That's just a fancy way of saying pardon my bad spelling, isn't it Eve?
Eve: Yaeh... But it's ture and qitue lgocial.
Mike: Yeah, but it is true and quite logical.. yep, I can read it.
Eve: See
Mike: You still need to work on spelling
Eve: Damn
Mike: Dman
Eve: Enough.
Mike: Kay. I'm gonna skew.
Eve: Why must you always try to make it ryme?
Mike: It's fun, and it makes you say 'poo.'
Eve: Reviewers... complement.
Mike: That's not fair!
Eve: Reviewers Review!
Mike: Somehow, you depress me.
Eve: Ah, that reminds me-
Mike: I don't want to hear it!
Eve:... I was talking to a friend and we found a conspiracy I'd like to share.
BTW Rhyadra is not one of my 'multiple personalities', she is a British friend who is just as insane as I am. So Mike, stop saying I have mps. (Multiple Personality Syndrome) Rhyadra: Gah! Can't find notes :-\ I am sooooooooooo screwed! Awell! Eve: yep ... notes on what?
Rhyadra: How to write my evaluation. I didn't download the 'how to write an A grade evaluation' notes either. Er... U'r not the sort who's offended by swearing, r u?
Eve: fuck no
Rhyadra: lmao, good. In that case........... BOLLOCKS!!!!!
(For the Americans she basically just yelled BALLS! Or SHIT! Actually both at the same time.
Ryadra: Arg! I'm browsing the college website, and I'm logged in, and so everything's labeled with my name and it says 'good evening Paula' at the top, and I dunno why but I find that really creepy
Eve: it IS creepy
Rhyadra: esp as we don't enter r names - we're given a login number (grr, all labeled and stamped and numbered ... evil) I also have no/little idea what I'm doing, so live in fear of killing the college network
Eve: damn ... maybe their planning to turn you all into cybernetic zombies who roam the streets searching for bloooood.
Rhyadra: *gasp* Possibly....
Eve: : yikes
Rhyadra: .... though the time we have to get up, we're like that anyway
Eve: then all the teenage bloodthirsty zombies will come to America and have a kickass party with us of the vampire side. Cool!
Rhyadra:
Eve: then all the teenage bloodthirsty zombies will come to America and have a kickass party with us of the vampire side. Cool!
Rhyadra: Maybe they're trying to STOP us from being zombies! (but in an evil way). We could have that party, unless the college gets its way and makes us into functional members of society, *shudder*
Eve: the evil part though is that they'll turn us into boring creatures of the damned, and we'll do nothing but taxes all day! And ... and go to prep rallies! And never get in trouble again! Ahhhh!
Rhyadra: NOOOOOOOO
Eve: functional creatures of the damned... I'm scared
Rhyadra: me too....thank crap for the lack of pep rallies over here. I hate cheerleaders. They really r evil!
Eve: ... and then we'll start eating granola bars! YESSS! That's IT! The granola bar industry. They're the ringleaders! They're are all you have time to eat in the morning!
Rhyadra: We don't have them, but I'm guessing they're like nutrigrain - are they basically cardboard with a chemical filling?
Eve: that's them. Damn them
Rhyadra: Yeah. Nutrigrain over here. They've already got to some people. I know people who ... who ... like them!
Eve: we must destroy the Nutrigrain companies. They're...they're replacing people's good food judgment! They're taking over poptarts!
Rhyadra: I think my dad must be on their side. As we're on the verge of discovering all this, he's trying to get me off the Computer. He 'needs the phoneline'
Eve: AHA! A spy!
Rhyadra: indeed
Eve: he knows! He knows we're siding with poptarts!
Rhyadra: yeah. He's never liked them....
Eve: Aha! It's all becoming so weird ... but in a clear way.
Mike: Stop it!
Eve: Aww
Mike: Granola, eww
Eve: Reviewers re... drat
Mike: Ha! I'm better than you –wait!
Eve: Ha! On with the fic!
****
Summer for Hogwarts students usually meant two things. There would be a lot of bored teenagers with wands walking around, and that a summer school for younger kids was open for business. Lily had signed up for it the day of her wedding and had an open spot, in which she decided to place Kira. James wasn't exactly enthralled by the idea.
"She's just a little girl," he argued. "She should be spending her summers having fun!"
"With you?"
"Exactly...Wait-"
"Aha! I know you want to have a sidekick while Sirius is away, but Kira needs to go to school," Lilly stated as they sat on the porch, watching Kira try to get her horse to 'sit.'
She held the burgundy lead and stood in front of the horse, everyone and awhile commanding 'sit' and shaking the lead. To which the horse snorted and flicked her tail. Kira had decided that the whine colored burgundy lead looked better in giving the unicorn-white horse a classy and elegant look, rather than the princes look given by pastel colors. Lily had helped a great deal with that choice and so Kira was stuck between pastels, or richer colors for her horse. Her own tastes were straying from the cute ideals of a little girl, towards a girl who was now aware that it wasn't just about your favorite colors, it was about what went well with what. A more mature approach. Her tastes didn't seem to be satisfied by pink anymore, to Lily's dismay. That was why she'd been the one to decide that Kira needed to go to preschool. To be with other kids.
"But... I mean, she is so young. Can't we wait?" James prompted.
"James, I admit that she isn't a normal child. We haven't had the normal problems with her as we seem to have with Harry. She's a perfect daughter. She may only be what three? Yet, she has the intelligence of six or seven. Her friends are very bright, coming from a very smart family, so we don't recognize it, but she's at their level a year early. We need to stimulate her mind so it can grow."
"You say she's a perfect daughter, but sometimes that is an imperfection. Think about it. Children need to fail sometimes as they grow up, so their parents can comfort them. That way as they grow they know who to turn to. If Kira never fails then she'll never learn how much she needs us once she's out on her own. I want her to be a little girl, laughing, having fun, making mistakes..."
"Which is why I want her to go to the school. School has ups and downs."
"Somehow you've taken my argument out from underneath me," James scowled. Lily smiled at her victory and was about to jump up and declare a school induced shoping spree when James grabbed her hand. "Let her pick out her own outfit," He said, smiling wryly.
"I take your fun, you take mine?" Lily mumbled just as wryly as James' smile. James watched the pony roll over and let out a gentle laugh. A baby's cry echoed through the house and Lilly jumped to her feet. A quiet desperation appearing on her face as she leapt for the front door. "Harry!?" She cried, terror easily noticeable in her voice. James stared after her with wide eyes as he saw what she had seen, the Death Symbol. James bolted from the porch and out towards Kira. She was staring up at the darkening sky and huddled close to Candy. James grabbed her and lifted her effortlessly into his arms. They had to get back into the house, and fast.
Lilly barreled through the house and into Harry's room. Her eyes scanned him to be sure there was not a scratch on him. When her mind was satisfied she lifted him from the crib and held him in her arms as she rushed down the hall. James burst through the front door as they appeared in the room and they both leapt for the drap door down into James' study. The horses rushed into the stable as Cota and Patrick returned. He locked the gates and dashed towards the house. Everything was ready for the transformation because every order member had been put on full alert. Cota stumbled as he stopped and turned to lock the front door. Once it was shut and locked he turned and felt the transformation begin, James appeared and waved him forward urgently.
Cota used all his speed as he launched himself over to James, who held open the door and instructed him to go down with a quick nod of his head. Cota jumped down the door, ignoring the ladder, and rushed over to Lilly as she called him. James soon followed and joined Lily, Cota, Kira, and Harry as the house set up its best security feature. It transformed. Usually a secret house would not be visible, but James refused to go into hiding unless he absolutely needed to, so he chose a transformation spell instead. The house began to deteriorate and the stable disappeared into a camouflage of forest. The tree house was covered as the tree grew and engulfed it. The main reason James had let Dumbledore talk him and Lilly into living in a Muggle neighborhood was because he found a large plot of land on the other side of a hill.
None of the neighbors took notice of the change. They did not know that the William and Ezabell Potter, or rather Porter, as they had been introduced as, were really James and Lilly Potter. They had no idea that William was not a lawyer or that Ezabell did not really work for a Muggle bakery. They had no idea that the boy they thought had been born the first of August, Christopher, was really Harry Potter, born on July 31st. Since Cota and Kira looked so much alike, it was announced that she was Cota's daughter. The mother had died during complications from birth, which was why Kira was so small. The Porter family had immediately taken in the two Lionsabers because they had the room and Cota worked at a stable, so he cared for the horses.
This tightly woven lie served as grand protection and allowed the 'Porters' to live normal lives without as much fear. If Voldemort ever came to the house, he would see an older house with a decaying lawn and no one inside, even if James was glaring at him through the window. It wasn't as strong as a Secret house, but it worked for them at that point in time. An empty lot would be too noticeable. Adam called James, Mr. Potter, but if asked to spell the name he would have said: P.O.R.T.E.R. Simple, but effective.
An hour passed and Lily once again began to understand her sister's anger. Growing up they had been really close. Petunia had, at first, liked the idea of Lily going to Hogwarts. They had been wanting to go to different schools for a long time because Lily was very bright, but hated bringing home grades of all A's. When petunia was struggling with c's. They wanted to join the sports teams, but there was limited room, and Lily was better so they had Petunia on the sidelines. With Lily at 'witch school' Petunia was on the teams and Lilly was doing her own, separate thing. It was perfect. Their parents doubted on Lilly because they had never imagined that they could have a child that was special in a way that was so amazing, it had to be hidden from their normal world. They always said it was because other parents would be jealous.
The sisters became closer, calling saying they were each other's best 'bud.' Mostly because it was hard to fight via letter writing. By the time you got a reply, you couldn't remember why you were mad. So they made a rule that arguments were not allowed in letters. Petunia enjoyed, although maliciously, Lilly's complaints about a pompous young rouge named James Potter. That was another thing that made their relationship stronger. Lilly got all the attention from guys, but when she was gone, Petunia finally got a boyfriend. Petunia was old-fashioned in the fact that she thought a woman's role was to support her man and do what ever he wanted, dress however he wanted her to, and in return be protected.
.Lilly was new age, she dressed more conservatively, stating simply that if a guy didn't like her because she didn't dress in skimpy clothes, then that was HIS issue, not hers. She also spoke her mind and would have laughed at the very though of someone being the boss of her.
The day Lilly graduated, the entire family went to Hogwarts to watch the graduation. There Petunia was introduced to the Muggle hating society known as the Slytherins. They growled at her as she looked for Lilly and a few went as far as to shove her into walls.
"Muggles don't belong here!" One of them spat. A greasy haired boy with ivory skin, dark eyes, and a looming presence.
"You listen to me!" Petunia squawked. "My name is Petunia Evens and I refuse to let 'your kind' treat me this way," The said, 'your kind' as to represent Muggle haters. "I'm my opinion you're stupid anyway," She snarled placidly, very annoyed with being treated as an outsider in her very sister's school.
"Did you say Evens?" One of the Slytherins questioned.
"She says the name, but she don't sound like Evens," Another one stated, all of them were snarling slightly and seemed to be disgusted to even breath the same air as Petunia. They hissed and growled until Petunia lost it. She snapped cruelly, even for a Slytherin, calling them freaks to society! Swearing that all their kind were nothing but dirt, swept under the carpet so decent people would never see them. With that, she stormed off, leaving them all spitting anger and loathing her very birth. None of them thought that Petunia's outburst was the result of being outnumbered, for it sounded like a comment that had been building up inside her for a long time.
"Geeze!" One of the Slytherins shouted. "If that beast has a magical kid someday I hope to all Merlin that she never finds out. She'd kill it!"
"Or worse, make it live with her," Another laughed.
"What are you all laughing at?" A softer voice asked.
"Your sister was just here, Evens!" One of the boys spat.
"Oh?" Lilly's voice broke slightly, hoping they hadn't... loosing hope that they hadn't been cruel.
Lilly found Petunia later and received a sharp blow to the jaw for all her trouble. Petunia was outraged and Lilly could hear the hoots of laughter resignating from the Slytherins. That was until the dementors came. Petunia couldn't see them, but she felt them and dropped to the ground. Lilly knelt next to her and hugged her.
"W-what is it?" Petunia asked.
Lilly explained Demontors to Petunia and shook her head. "But mine is barely a shape. Our professor never really taught us much about it," She said shakily.
James leapt from the forest, where Sirius, Remus, Peter, and himself had been... well, enjoying a nice scotch to drink a celebration of graduating. However they sobered quickly as they saw the dementors and had fully regained their wits when they saw it nearing Lilly. James leapt out and stood in front of Lilly and Petunia. Remus, James, and Sirius all casted 'Expectopatronus!' Remus had taught them about it, but they were really to distracted to care much. Remus' patronus was the most effective as Sirius' looked like he was smoking and James' was fueled purely by desperate rage, so it attacked without much skill. By the end of five seconds, Albus Dumbledor was at the scene, glaring so hard that the death eaters that remained, floated away quite swiftly.
That hadn't been the day Petunia started hating the wizarding world, neither was her disgust for it as simple as envy. No, she hated that world because it took her sister away. The world with Voldemort in it. The dark wizard who killed their parents, driving Lilly to James Potter, and Petunia to Vernon Dursley. Complete opposites. Petunia was determined to love Vernon, as he was the only one who would date her. She was also welcomed by the warm, inviting glow of a normal life. Lilly, however, was welcomed into the breathless, weightless feeling of having love fill her life forever. Both of them waited to get married, knowing that the other didn't like the man their sister was marrying.
When Voldemort made his biggest move, Lilly and James had been visiting the Dursleys. They both jumped up and looked into each other's eyes. No more standing around waiting for him to go away, somebody needed to stop this vile creation. They threw floo-powder into to fire place and James said aloud: Maybe we should go to Hogwarts and take Albus up on his offer to join the resistance. Petunia new who Albus Dumbledor was. She leapt to her feet and grabbed her sister's hand.
"Lilly! Stop!" Petunia shrieked. "You can't go! Stay here!"
"My dear sister," Lilly's voice was soft and breathy, as if surprised. Her eyes softened and looked determined at the same time. "I cannot just hide here while people are murdered," She stated.
"Not all of your kind will help fight them, an none of mine will," Vernon belched.
"That's true! Lilly, you don't have to go! You're not one of them," Petunia exclaimed.
"My kind, your kind... that is just a stupid rivalry. Yes, some mortals live longer and have magic, but we also have many dangers. Our lived are equal to yours, just in a different way," Lilly reasoned. "I'm not going just so I can protect magic, but Muggles as well. We are all in danger. But only one side can fight it," She gripped her sister's hand. "Petunia, I love you. I know our relationship has had its troubles, but I still love you. Which is why I trust you to understand."
"Lilly! He took our parents I don't want him to take you! If you leave here then don't come back!" Petunia wailed. "Dammit James, if you love her, then let her go!"
James' heart was wretched open by that comment. He never wanted any harm to come to Lilly. Never. He'd die for her if he had to. So he didn't want to drag her into his world. But when the choice came, he didn't have to be the one to make it.
"I...I'm sorry," Lilly said, stepping into the fire and taking James' hands. "I'm sorry, Petunia."
"If you leave I want you to NEVER come back!" Petunia screamed as the fire flared and Lily began to disappear. "Do you hear me! Don't come back! Don't- " Petunia dropped to the floor as the last of the fire changed back to normal. Vernon knelt and put his arms around her. "Come back." Petunia sobbed.
It was two years before Lilly ever talked to Petunia. She wrote a detailed letter about everything that was happening. And how her life was. Petunia had burned that letter, but she fumbled as her hands brushed a wedding invitation. Petunia hadn't attended, but Lilly hadn't expected her to. Lilly had married James, though Petunia protested. That had been envy at first, but there was another, deeper reason. Marrying him tied her completely with the wizarding world. Forever. Petunia's wedding gift was to not invite James and Lilly Potter to suffer through her wedding, but to agree to start talking again. They also allowed Lilly and James to visit, if they called first and dressed 'normally.'
Lilly looked down at her son and her smile began to return. James wrapped his arm around her and she felt her body relax. She looked at Cota, whom she had pulled close to her and was now gripping tightly. Then she looked at Kira, who was looking out from behind James. If she'd never married James, she would have never met Cota, or Kira... Or Harry. Lily smiled and closed her eyes. It may be tough, but she was glad she'd chose this life. It was the best thing to ever happen to her. ***
Lilly and James stood out side the Kinderspell building. Kira had picked out a black dress with black biker shorts underneath and the hair ribbon she'd gotten for her birthday wrapped around her waist like a belt. Her shoes were black knee-high boots and had hot pink ribbon laced around them, Lilly had made them. She put on the headband Remus had given her and then put on two arm covers that matched the boots. Lilly was a bit sad that she wasn't dressing in the yellow checkered sundress with daisy ribbon as a belt and yellow sandals, the basic little girl outfit. But Kira's light skin tone looked good with black. So Lilly decided to be pleased that her child had fashion sense, an ability that was lost to most children.
Kira stared at the building in silent awe. She'd never seen anything like it. Cheerful colors were splashed along the outside walls like something out of Lisa Frank. Pretty flowers of every color sprang from the ground along a concrete walkway that was decorated with chalk drawings. There was a bright green fence towards the back of the school and Kira could see brightly colored playground equipment like you'd find at a McDonalds Play place, only bigger and it continued indoors. Kids were everywhere, shouting to each other as their parents checked and rechecked supplies and tried to give a last touch up to their children's appearance by licking cloths and trying to use them to was their children's faces. And the kids responded by pulling back and squirming out of range.
James rechecked Kira's back pack. "Sketch book, Crystalwiter, lunch, raccoon, and the marauder mirror to contact us."
"Okay, Daddy."
"You can't say 'Daddy' into it. You have to say James."
"Why?"
"...Well, because back then 'Daddy' wasn't a name I used."
"Why?"
"Because.... I'd have never lived it down."
"Why?"
"Why? Because... well... because Sirius and I used these to communicate and he wouldn't have called me Daddy unless he wanted to get hit."
"Oh..."
"By the way, hitting people is wrong," James added quickly after receiving a glare from Lilly.
"Okay, the bread was baked just half an hour ago and the meat was cut after that. The vegetables came from the garden bakery so they're as fresh as they can be and we only use plants with high vitamin levels. I have you an apple, you like the red ones with the yellow on them, right? Lets see, juice... or would you have rather had milk? Oh, I gave you a turkey sandwich but I think you like peanut butter and jelly better. Oh," Lilly worried. "Horrible idea! Turkey, mustard, lettuce, tomato, few sprouts, what was I thinking? I gave you green peppers, carrot slices, broccoli, ranch. String cheese. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Should have got the pizza lunchable! Everyone else will be eating pb and j or lunchables!"
"She'll be healthy, and that is normal lunch for her," James noted. "Besides you know Kira, she's not picky."
"...Y-you're right..." Lilly took a breath and kneeled down in front of Kira. "Now, I packed you a few treats from the bakery, be sure to share them with your friends and classmates."
"But, don't give away your pudding, that can easily be traded for something else. Hold out for a chocolate candy bar," James instructed, receiving a sharp elbowing from Lilly.
"It's yogurt... I think I packed strawberries," Lilly looked at the lunch box with increasing doubt. James had fought for the quidditch world cup lunch box, but Kira had wanted the one with the horse from Rainbow Bright on it. So in the end Lilly had James go look at the children's beginner's broom to 'find the best one' while she bought Kira the lunch box she'd picked out. James also argued that sending Kira off to school was a bad idea. She was so young. Lilly, however, wanted to be sure her daughter was not deprived of any opportunity. This school wasn't a snobby 'we-are-better' school. It was more like a daycare with basic educational values.
The school bell chimed a tone of mixed emotion and parents everywhere began to fidget like it was going to be the last time they ever saw their children. Murmurs of: it's just for a little while. Just a few hours. Were spreading through the crowd and a few children leapt forward, embracing their parents and crying that they wanted to stay home with them. This caused the parents to try and explain that they couldn't stay and that this was for the best. That made most of the parents feel like they were leaving the child on the steps of an orphanage.
Kira looked to be debating the 'don't leave me' approach and Lilly didn't look like she could have taken that. She took a breath and prepared to throw herself at their mercy. However, Kira's expression quickly changed and she let out an excited cry.
"Look, she's happy to be at school," Lily beamed. "I told you this wasn't a waste."
James just smiled, he knew Kira was yaying about seeing her pranking companions, not about attending school, and he was quite pleased.
"Have a good day, Kira. Be good, mind your manners," Lilly paused. "Ignore your father."
James looked appalled, but had been about mouthing 'there's a smoke bomb in your bag, use it.' James shrugged and hugged his daughter. "You'll be okay. Have fun....be," He let out a sigh. "B-be... be good."
"Bye Mommy, bye Daddy," Kira gave a final call as all the kids were ushered into the building.
Lilly and James stared after her and let out soft cries at the look of fear on their daughter's face. She'd never been dropped off at a new place and then just left. They'd always shown her around and made sure she knew that all she needed to do was tell someone she wanted her parents and they'd take her down to wherever Lilly or James was. But this time they weren't just a few doors down or across the street. They'd be miles away. Leaving their daughter with strangers.
The pair broke the silence with uneasy laughter as the event flooded amongst them. Laughing was a sanctuary, if you were laughing, you couldn't cry. Sending their daughter away for four hours every day was a nightmare burned its way into reality. They struck and filled their worried minds with tormenting questions: What if the Death Eaters attacked the school? What if he-who-must-not-be-named, found Kira? The laughter ceased and an uneasy silence fell upon the house.
"It... is the right thing to do... right?" Lilly asked, her brow furrowing as she watched as the doors closed.
"Yeah... everyone looks forward to their first day at Hogwarts, but no one feels prepared except those that either have older siblings there, or went through this..."
"It must feel like we're abandoning her."
"...This is why Remus wanted to come. He knew we'd back out, but we can't. she'll be safe, we need to go."
"I'm glad we decided to take the day off work incase she called."
"Yeah... yeah, let's just go home..."
They both continued standing there for a few more minutes. Trying to convince their feet to move.
"First time?" Came a cheery voice to their left.
Lilly and James looked over, eyes wide like lost puppies. They nodded in unison. The voice belonged to on a kind-faced woman with red hair and looked to be getting slightly plump.
"It's tough, I tell you. This day will be the worst. But then in four hours they're back. The next day will be hard, but then after a while they'll have stuff they want to get to take with them and they'll be excited to come. I got luck this time around. I have two going in together," the woman smiled encouragingly and Lilly felt a strong motherly instinct from the woman. She smiled, automatically liking the woman.
"Thank you. I know she'll be alright, but..." Lilly said.
"I understand dear," the woman smiled. "What's your little girl's name?"
"Kira, and yours?"
"Ah!" The woman let out an excited cry that sent James and Lilly on edge, frightened by the sudden volume. "Sorry, dears, sorry," she said must softer. "We finally get to meet. Fred and George are mine."
"Ohhh!" Lilly and James chorused. "Kira's said such wonderful things," Lilly stated. "Sorry for sending her over all the time, I hope it hasn't been to much trouble." James let out a nervous laugh as Lilly side-glanced him.
"Oh, she's an angel."
A laugh escaped both parents now and the woman glanced at her watch.
"Well, best be leaving. I got four others at home. Two need to get to practice, one wants to go to the library, and my youngest isn't very happy today, so I best be off," The woman gave a polite nod and apperated.
Lilly and James felt refreshed and apperated home. Comforted, but still worried.
"Let her be, you know how hard it was," Fred whispered to George as they watched Kira.
"Yeah, yeah, I remember." George answered, remembering how they broke down and their parents had been called to take them him. "Can't blame us though."
"Was awful, it was," Fred agreed.
"They left!" Kira let out an alarmed cry. "Gone, gone!"
"Easy Kira," Fred eased into the room and stood next to her as she balanced on a chair and looked out the window. "'Course they left. You'd have 'em stand out side all day would you?"
Kira looked at him like an abandoned kitten. George came up next to her and they stood in silence for a second.
"Not all bad," He stated brightly. "It's a free day!"
Kira looked at him like he'd lost his mind, how was this a good thing?
"E's right, ya know. We cracked. We 'ah our mum called and 'avent 'eard the end of it since," Fred exclaimed.
"That's an option?"
"Yeah, but wait! Come with us and try to like it for an hour, if you still wanna go 'ome then we'll go with ya," Fred offered.
"...R-really?"
"'Course!" Both boys chorused.
"...Awright," Kira agreed in a tinny voice.
Fred and George smiled and continued to swear everything would be fine. At first they stayed right beside her, giving a tour, playing kickball, and all different kinds of activities. They swung on the swings, each trying to get higher than the other, made castles in the sand, raced across an obstical corse, spun in a tire swing, and tried to find other ways to play with everything. Kira started feeling better and before she knew it they were going inside to eat. She shared the cookies with them and they sat at their own table.
"Whatcha got ta eat?" George asked.
"Turkey, why?"
"Ah, cause we usually trade," Fred explained.
"Yeah, see Fred got PB&J and I got ham and cheese. Ya see, mum buys everything in bulk, but tries to give everyone sumthin different. So we all trade, it's fun."
"Oh," Kira looked down at her bag.
"Ya know what? There's three of us, let's make a ... a whatcha call it... buffy?"
"Buh-fey," Fred corrected. "And I like that idea, Kira?"
"Whatsa buh-fey?"
Fred and George replied by dumping out their bags, Kira followed suite. "Now lets say I want carrots, but I don't have any. Well, if we put all our food together than we got whatever we want."
"Okay!" Kira agreed and lunch continued and Kira witnessed what it was like when a kid got homesick. A few kids got homesick and left. Most of the newbies were gone before lunch was halfway over. The only one other than Kira collapsed to the ground in a crying fit. It wasn't exactly a prideful scene. Kira looked down at her mirror. All the new kids had gone...
"Ahh!" George yelped. Fred and Kira snapped to attention. "It's not a chocolate sprinkle! Eeeeewwww!"
Fred began laughing and held up a box of raisins. "He hates these," Fred explained as George tried to wipe his tongue off with a napkin. Kira smiled and forgot the mirror. After lunch they played hide and seek in the play place and tried to climb up the slides. George was in the lead and pocked his head out of the red slide, the tallest, and called down to Kira and Fred, finally, he'd made it. Fred let out a howl and emerged into the opening.
"Aha! The secret area," he cheered. They'd been told that the huge play place had secret areas in it and once you go to them you got a cool reward and there were fun things to do. Kira slid down again and rubbed her knee. No wonder no one else was trying this, it hurt! "Come on, Kira!" Fred called. They'd reached the slides through an opening in the ball pit that Bill had told them about. It was narrow, but they had eventually dove down, gotten through and dropped onto a soft mat that lead to a purple tube. They crawled through and were into the slide area.
"I'm trying," Kira called back. She hadn't removed her shoes and wasn't getting very good traction. But at least her feet weren't getting red like George's were. Kira pressed her palms against the sides and began crawling up like a frog would. She came into view and was grabbed by Fred before she slid and had to climb all over again. They let out victorious cheers and George opened a box. It contained tickets. You earned tickets and exchanged them for prizes. He let out a whoot and they tried to divide the tickets. In the end, Fred handed them out.
"One, for me, one for Kira, one for George. Two for me, two for Kira, two for George."
"Enough counting, just deal them out like cards," George commanded, knowing Fred could count to ten, and that was all.
They stuck the tickets into Kira's bag, her's in the lunch box, Fred's in the big pouch, and George's in the front, since he'd made it up first. They entered a hammock like area and collapsed into swinging nets, above everyone else. A few kids marveled at them and asked how to get in, but they knew better than to reveal the secret so they just laughed and told anyone who asked, to find it themselves like they had done.
Lilly paced back and forth and glanced at the clock. James was drumming his fingers and trying to beat Sirius at poker. Remus and Peter were also there. Acting as emotional support for Lilly and James. Harry wasn't amused either. He had gotten a lot of attention, but was tired now and wondering what happened to Kira. Dumbledore was keeping watch on the group as he knew too well what Sirius would encourage James to do if they got bored enough. So far Lilly had baked enough cookies to feed the neighborhood, Remus had re-read 'Advanced DADA' four times, Peter had watched Sirius and James do numerous things, and Cota was at school. James had scheduled all horse check ups for today and soon left to go check how that was going. Sirius, Peter, and Dumbledore joined him.
"Ohh," Sirius nodded. "That explains it." He'd been wondering what would happen to Kira's pony when she was too big for it. Now his curiosity had been laid to rest upon learning that the pony would grow to be full size as Kira grew. James revealed that it was a extra horse at the academy, the parent's owner hadn't proved capable of caring for it, so James had taken it. Candy looked at each of them as her shoes were checked. She whinnied and Gyriph gave her a soft answer.
"You think she asked where Kira is?" Peter asked Sirius.
"I don't speak horse," Sirius answered.
"No, just jack a-"
"James!" Dumbledore gave a sharp warning.
"Only kidding," James apologized
"Nice try, Jamie," Sirius chuckled. They had gone over the Order's newest information, but James and Lilly hadn't been able to concentrate on it so that had ended.
"We are the most boring people alive," Peter mumbled.
"Sorry, what do you want to do?" James asked, turning to look at Peter.
"I don't know, but there is usually something going on!"
"Life isn't just about excitement. Some days you just have to do what is necessary," Dumbledore stated.
"Maybe we could go see her?" Sirius pondered. "Y'know, ease the worry."
"No," James answered before anyone else could speak. "I expected her to call by now. Never heard of anyone going through the entire first day. Not at that age."
"Not even you?" Peter asks, he'd been one of the kids who clung to their parents and forced them to take him home with them.
"I believe I made it through lunch, but the food reminded me of home..." James recalled.
"Not me, I just wanted to get away from the snobs. The older kids always pick on the young ones." Sirius stated.
"I don't remember how long I made it," Albus said, not about to state that he'd found the ordeal to be horrible.
"Petunia outlasted me," Lilly said, coming into the barn. "She swore she'd never put her child through that torture."
"It might be tough but it's for the best in the long run," Albus assured her. "Like detention," he added, glancing at James.
"The good news is that if we ever got an emergency call then we'd know Kira was safe," Remus interrupted. "I'm not saying anything against having the kids stay at the meeting house, but what would they do? Neville and Harry are the same age, but Kira would be bored as hell."
"Well, Alice and I thought our kids would be the same age, I never thought about having an older one," Lilly informed him.
"Besides, by the time they're in Hogwarts they'll be so used to it it'll be a common event," Peter squeaked.
"You think he'll last that long?" Sirius asked.
"Yes," Peter answered, not thinking.
"Not if I can help it," James snarled robustly.
"Not if we all can help it," Remus corrected. James nodded in agreement, that had been what he'd meant to say.
"Well, if we are going to have an Order meeting we might as well do it properly. Everyone inside," Lilly shrugged.
"Right, any news from-"
"Shhh!" Lilly hissed, interrupting Peter before he could say their spy's name out loud in an open area.
"Sorry, sorry!" Peter squealed, being glared at by everyone present, this included the two horses.
Once inside they headed into the center of the house and started the meeting in the usually low whisper. Frank was gathering information on a female Death Eater. They had no idea what this woman could mean. Could it be that Voldemort was married? That would explain why he wanted a little girl to grow into a weapon, That weapon could act as a daughter. They'd been suspecting this, but the woman was heard talking about 'her beautiful daughter.'
"So, that's why they want her so badly. They can't make another that looks like her... can they?" Sirius asked.
"Probably something like her. Remember Noname? We know Takai is very proud of her eyes though," Remus replied.
"Eyes could probably be cloned, there must be something else," James shook his head.
"Yes," Albus nodded and everyone stared at him. "You're thinking now. Kira is alive and doing well. Didn't you say you read a report that said most of the ANGELs died?"
"Yes. They finally succeeded and now they've lost their only success!"
"Back to Noname. What was she then?" Remus shook his head.
"She... that just leads back to the eyes," Sirius sighed defeated.
"...She was to be a sidekick," James whispered, it was now his turn to be stared at by everyone. "Noname wasn't an ANGEL, just a sidekick. A decoy, a copy that could be killed off. How would we have known the difference then the helmets were on?"
"But she was a killing machine. Why make an ANGEL when a bunch of decoys are just as good, you can't tell me it's money. Voldemort seems to have a lot of that," Remus let out an annoyed breath of air.
"So... we're back to the eyes again, aren't we?" Peter sighed.
"So it seems," Albus nodded.
"Growl, snarl, hiss," James intoned, already practiced in cursing without actually cursing. Not ready enough to let Harry's first word be 'bollocks.'
"James has now resorted from actual human comments and might I say, I like it. No more actual speech," Sirius chuckled, not very good at being serious for long periods of time, believe it or not.
"No, he used the words, not actual sounds," Remus commented.
"Are you both quite finished?" James asked.
"Woof," Sirius grinned.
"Howl," Remus smirked.
"Squeak," Peter joined in.
James let out an annoyed growl and glared at them as if waiting for someone to realize they were the only person in the restaurant who had not stopped talking after an offensive word. This glare proved to make all three marauders go suddenly quiet and stare at anything that wasn't James. Remus looked at the clock. Shouldn't Kira have called by now?
"...We met their mother," Lilly spoke after a few minutes.
"Who's?" Peter asked, wondering why he cared.
"Kira's two friends. Fred, and George," Lilly answered him.
"Oh," Remus nodded. "What's she like?"
"Wonderful! Very nice woman. At least I know Kira has good supervision when she's over there. The woman is amazing. Said she has six children."
"And always welcome to more," James added. He admitted, next to Sirius and Remus, there was no one else he would have chosen to look after his two children more than her.
Dumbledore sensed that and smiled. Lilly had always looked to Alice as a friend, but it was nice to hear that she could also look to someone with more experience when asking questions. Alice was a wonderful, caring parent, but Albus doubted that anyone could come close to Molly Weasley. Even her kids, while unique, were seemingly perfect. Always ready to accept people into their home.
"...So, anyway," Sirius broke the silence. "Remus is going to look over those files from the base, Lilly is going with Alice, Remus and Hagrid are tracking a nue, Frank and Moody are going with any other members who can get off work to a suspected recruiting office for Death Eaters, I'm holding down the fort with Albus, and James won't tell what his lead is."
"Not until I know anything," James stated. Both himself and Sirius were beginning to suspect a mole amongst the Order, so he never revealed leads.
"Maybe someone should go with you," Lilly prompted.
"No, I'll be fine," James shook his head.
"Alright, I think the nue can communicate somehow, Hagrid will find out easily enough, but who can get off work to help with the sting?" Remus asked.
"I'm not sure yet," Sirius stated, though he was just being cautious. If the mole was amongst them, then he would have just given away the team.
"How is that nue supposed to help us?" Peter asked. "And what am I doing?"
"Nues are part tiger, monkey, snake, and raccoon. It calls forth and exists in black clouds. Sounds evil, but gets along well with sphinxs and the part snake thing worries me," Remus explained. "We think Voldemort may already control some chimera."
"Damn, parseltongue," Sirius growled.
"And what am I doing?" Peter repeated.
"You are going to find a conch*," Albus informed him.
"A... conch...?"
"Yes," Albus nodded, he knew they had been told about them in DADA.
"Right..." Peter nodded slowly.
"You'll probably find one on the black market. Though there is a shop I've seen with a crosier in the window and a magic chart hanging on the wall. There is all sorts of D.A.D.A stuff, but most of it is for muggles so you'll have to use an enchantment to find something real," Remus hinted. Peter stared at him blankly. "...Try it out, it should have a unique SOUND," Remus drove the point into Peter's skull, much to the enjoyment of Albus, who saw the hints quite clearly.
"Very unique..." Peter was as clueless as the actors in clueless. ^_^ (Mike: Stop it. It hurts. Use real symbolism)
"Yes," Remus sighed, trying to sound like he was having an intelligent conversation. "They'll probably keep it with the musical instruments. Or near sea talismans, don't you agree?"
"...Um... yes?" Peter squeaked.
"I don't see why we need a FLUTE anyway. What are we doing, starting a band?" James asked, deciding to be blunt.
"We could call it 'The AMULET,'" Sirius agreed, also being extraordinarily blunt.
"Oh!" Peter finally caught on. "I mean, yes, I'll find one," Peter smiled. All the other mauraders held back applause and a lot of comments that were drilling through their minds. They all just hoped he didn't ask what they'd be using it for. He never seemed to understand that when fighting the dark arts and DADA knowledge was helpful. Remus was their DADA expert, but Voldemort had one too, though no one was quite sure who it was.
James stared out the window as the discussion continued. His new lead had been extremely hard to get. He had done a lot of favors for it, under an anonymous name of course. It wasn't exactly going to be a walk in the park either. He would have to go as a stag for this to work. James nearly laughed. If someone had told him back in his fifth year that he'd be working against evil and using a trick he wasn't supposed to know, he'd have laughed. 'Isn't that just as bad?' he would have mocked. 'This trick is fer playin around.' However, he'd also used it for sneeking around so it shouldn't have been too hard to hear. They had been popular at Hogwarts, chick magnets no doubt, but he looked back at those days with regret. 'If it hadn't been for Lilly,' James thought. 'I'd almost certainly have became a Death Eater. Not a minion, but still evil.' He shook his head. 'I changed,' he reminded himself. 'Not just for her, but for me.'
One day he'd just woken up, listened to what his friends were saying, and bailed. They'd followed and he'd explained that he didn't feel like himself. Sirius had suggested picking on Snape. But James had just stared back at them, 'that's the problem,' he'd sighed. 'That doesn't feel like ME anymore.' They'd stared at him in conusion, but them Remus smiled. 'You mean you don't want to pick on him anymore?' Remus had asked. 'No,' James had answered. 'I'm saying I don't want to hurt anyone anymore. Our housemates believe us to be heroes but... I don't feel like much of a hero.' Remus had nodded, but Sirius looked completely confused.
'What are you talking about!' Sirius had yelled. 'We're standin up ta the Slytherins!'
'No,' James had answered. 'We're doing to them, what everyone is afraid they'll do to us. I don't feel like a hero, I feel like a bully. And that's not who I want to be.'
'Come on! Snape's a git! He deserves it!' Sirius spat.
'Yeah, but we don't. Sirius, you're the one I expected to understand me. You always have.'
'...I get you... I guess we can give it a try. No picking on anyone... but we can still prank, right?'
'Lemme tell you, we can prank the fuck out of this school. But no one gets hurt, okay?'
'I'm in,' Sirius agreed.
'Me too!' Peter wailed.
'Bout time you guys came around,' Remus smirked. 'Yeah, I'm in.'
"James?"
"Hmm?" James snapped out of his daydream and started over at Lilly.
"It's been four hours," Lilly beamed. "She made it."
James breathed a sigh of relief. If they apperated now then they'd get there with two minutes to spare. He stood up and Lilly was already welcoming people to stay until the Order meeting and have all the cookies they wanted. By the time he grabbed Kira's skates Lilly was waiting by the door. He smiled and they headed out towards the stable where they could apperate safetly.
"And remember," Fred stated. "We gotta get to the top of the volcano. We'll have to do that after lunch." Kira and George nodded. The volcano was in the ball pit. You had to find a way over and then grab one of the four ropes. Then it was a hard climb up a brown cone that was made from playplace mats, slippery, heavily padded, but a pain to climb. An every ten minutes an eruption of balls came out the top. It wouldn't hurt anyone, but no one was able to stay on during an eruption as the volcano would shake. Once you reached the top you got three tickets. Then you could try and get into the swinging tunnel. It was made of the same material as the volcano. After that they weren't sure, but that was half the fun.
"How do we do that?" Kira asked.
"I dunno," Fred shrugged. "Never seen it done."
"Oh, and tomorrow is introduction day. They're hoping the newbies stay longer. So we're gonna be split up-"George started.
"What?" Kira interrupted, horror struck.
"Yeah, I don like it either. They split everybody up into groups a trees and-"
"Threes," George corrected.
"Right, and each group plays a game called 'introduction.' Then that group joins another group,"
"So on and so fourth until all five-"
"Six this year, mate."
"Oh?"
"Three, three, three, three, three," George pointed to groups of three and then to their own group. "Three."
"Oh, okay then. When everyone is introduced, that is after we all make name tags. Then the younger kids who stay are shown around by the older ones. You'll get your cubby after that."
"Cubby?" Kira asked.
"Trust me," Fred smiled.
"Oh! Mum is starting a health food kick!" George suddenly remembered. "Percy started it! Said he read that sumthin did sumthin when you eat if for one day a week. I wasn't exactly lisnin."
"Who is? That's awful," Fred kicked at nothing.
"Strawberry smoothie," Kira nodded, knowing the words 'health food,' all too well. "That's okay cus my Mommy and Daddy, and Sirius, and God Daddy... well a lota people are meetin tonight so I'm gonna be with Cota, Harry, and Nevile. I'll tell him that I wanna make brownies."
"He knows how?" Fred asked.
"...Not really, but when he gives up he usually says 'this is stupid, I have a job, we can buy them,' " Kira mimicked.
"Yay!" Fred cheered.
"Yay!" George agreed.
Kira smiled and Fred directed her gaze across the lawn and over to her parents. They waved goodbye and Kira trotted over with a huge smile. She'd survived a big step into being accepted in the normal world of witches and wizards; all thanks to two very special friends who never cared if she was different, just knew she needed help.
*conch- A flute used as an amulet; told about in many legends of mermaids and sea people. It is usually a seashell that is enchanted and decorated by a magician, or mermaid, or sea person. It is used in defense against the dark arts.
**** Eve: Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?
Mike: That's just a fancy way of saying pardon my bad spelling, isn't it Eve?
Eve: Yaeh... But it's ture and qitue lgocial.
Mike: Yeah, but it is true and quite logical.. yep, I can read it.
Eve: See
Mike: You still need to work on spelling
Eve: Damn
Mike: Dman
Eve: Enough.
Mike: Kay. I'm gonna skew.
Eve: Why must you always try to make it ryme?
Mike: It's fun, and it makes you say 'poo.'
Eve: Reviewers... complement.
Mike: That's not fair!
Eve: Reviewers Review!
