Chapter 2
Remus turned and stared at the other two wondering if he had heard right. Judging by the appalled look on their faces he had. They stood still for quite a long time almost having forgotten about the unconscious James on the floor.
Then as if a sudden brainwave hit Sirius he shook his head to clear his mind and said to Peter, "Take James to the dorms and Remus and I will go and check if …what James said...is true." All this came out slowly as though he was in pain.
The mousy haired boy nodded and surprisingly skillfully he flicked his wand James' body floated in the air and he led him up the stairs to the boys' dormitories.
Once he was gone Remus gave Sirius a reluctant glance mentally hoping he hadn't meant what he had said to Peter. Sirius nodded silently to confirm the werewolf's fears. Remus didn't even dare to let out a sigh so he just followed the other boy outside the common room after taking the invisibility cloak with them.
During their way to the Astronomy Tower none of them spoke up as though breaking the heavy silence with which the castle's air was fraught would set everything again into a wild motion and chaos. They were sure that they couldn't prevent this imminent chaos from ensuing when Lily's death became known but this silence was much better for both at that time.
Remus and Sirius stopped abruptly as they took the turn that led to the corridor just before the Astronomy Tower. The narrow corridor was dim-lit from the few torches that burned all night long.
Despite the fact that they almost knew for sure what they were going to face nothing could have prepared them for such a sight.
"Professor Dumbledore! Come here she is…"
The elderly Headmaster followed the two Gryffindors with the Head of their House in his wake. They reached the empty corridor Remus and Sirius had gone into some minutes ago and came to a halt as the two Marauders hesitated a bit but then moved on.
On the cold and usually polished stone floor laid the lean body of a girl. The light from the torches illuminated her lifeless pale skin and at the same time cast shadows over the face of Lily Evans, who was so white and still as if made of wax. Her dark red hair fell loose on the marbles and framed her face. One could say that this was a sight of unusual beauty if there wasn't the morbid addition of the shiny blood that soaked the ends of her hair and had created a pool behind her head.
Remus could hear the head of his house gasping in shock and the clicking of shoes indicated that she took a few steps back. Nevertheless he felt someone from behind him proceeding and the next moment Dumbledore had walked and was standing in front of the girl's dead body. Soon enough, McGonagall had approached warily too as if afraid Lily's body would spring to life again.
"Any idea about who could have done that, Albus?" she asked and though Remus admired the calmness of her voice a tone of panic could still be detected.
"Dark wizards?" Sirius suggested and his suggestion actually did make sense.
In the recent years, the number of Dark wizards had dramatically increased and the Ministry along with the aid of Aurors was struggling to track them all down and send them Azkaban. Even if all of them were arrested their numbers were so great that Azkaban alone wouldn't have enough space to keep them all because it already kept numerous outlaws.This advance in Dark Arts was a constant problem for everyone. The Wizarding world was split into those who believed in the unity of all wizards and witches no matter where they came from and to those who believed in blood purity. The fact that the term 'pureblood' that had to be used since the Middle Ages was coming out people's mouths once more now in the seventies, an age of progress, was unpleasant to most people. In addition to that, the person who had revived this name seemed to be gaining more followers and supporters though it was believed that almost nobody could find him unless he wanted to find you.
Tonight, the chances of Dark wizards murdering a Muggleborn girl were quite great even though Remus already knew what Dumbledore stated.
"Dark wizards cannot get into the castle. Unless someone from inside let them…"
With that, the Headmaster turned to face McGonagall a grave expression forming his facial features.
"Please Minerva contact all the rest of the professors and tell them to gather at the staff room. We will decide there what to do next."
The elderly woman nodded and turned on her heels to leave for the staff room.
Dumbledore was left alone with the two Gryffindors and the still body of Lily in a morbidly sparkling pool of blood. The Headmaster remained silent for quite some time his blue eyes busy scanning the surrounding area. Then letting a heavy sigh escape from his lips he spoke up "I believe you should return to your dormitories and please don't let anyone else know about this.
The other professors and I will see to it. You've just found her?"
Remus shook his head negatively. "No sir. Our friend, James, found her and immediately came back to tell us."
Dumbledore frowned slightly though it wasn't quite noticeable due to his thick silver eyebrows. "And where is he now?"
"In our dorms. He wasn't in what one would err…call good condition…" Remus trailed but his friend cut him off.
"What Remus means is that James has kinda lost it now from the shock," Sirius explained casually looking at Dumbledore.
"Has he now? Well, I am sure you will help him through that. Now I insist that you go back to your beds otherwise I would have to face the rage of Mr. Higgins," he referred to the castle's caretaker with a surprisingly bright wink.
Sirius opened his mouth to protest. For once in their lives they had something more interesting and unusual to deal with and they were deprived of it! But before he could say anything he felt Remus pulling him by the sleeve. He glanced at his best friend in annoyance but Dumbledore's nod of approval seemed quite firm and he knew there was no point in resisting.
He rolled his eyes upwards sighing. "Fine…"
Having knitted his long fingers the Headmaster wished them goodnight before leaning over Lily's body once more.
Sirius and Remus were almost at the end of the corridor when Remus spoke up pointing at something in the distance.
"There's something strange…"
"Apart from Lily's dead body?" came Sirius unusually sarcastic reply.
"Yeah…look at that closet's door. In my seven years here I have never seen it open." With that he quickened his pace towards the open door and Sirius on his wake.
As he reached the threshold he came to a sudden halt causing the other boy to bump on him.
"Hey! Wha…" Sirius made to complain but froze just like Remus had some seconds ago.
Before them the small closet was in a state of chaos with shelves unhinged from the wall lying on the floor among shreds of broken wood and glass soaked by the liquid interiors of the bottles. Remus almost reluctantly stepped forward
the ruins of the shattered potion bottles and vials creaking under his shoes. "This place was obviously used for storing potions and ingredients," he stated with a perplexed frown.
"Then why was it locked?" Sirius asked from behind and kneeled on the floor to pick up the remains of a broken lock but Remus stopped him by kicking the lock away.
"AHHHH! What's wrong with you, Moony! That was my hand that you kicked!" Sirius winced in pain as he withdrew his hand, which had been kicked along with the lock.
"Better my foot then the melting solution," Remus replied showing him the thick red liquid covering the lock.
"Oh uhm. True," Sirius admitted standing up.
"Come on, we have to tell Dumbledore now before he leaves!" Remus exclaimed dragging him outside the closet. Just when they closed the door behind them and made to head back to the scene of murder they heard footsteps not far away.
"Professor?" Sirius asked hesitantly but the only answer they got was the sound of someone breaking into a run.
Remus and Sirius didn't need to glance at each other before running after the unknown person that tried to flee the corridor.
Okay, I am so fast at updating stories but I've been up to neck. Even in the middle of the freaking summer! Argh,hate it. And I have no idea whether this is in accordance with HBP 'cause I haven't got it yet…