A Legacy of Love

Chapter 12: Visions and Dreams

May came, bringing with them the late spring showers, and many a day would often find the sky dark grey with rain clouds, threatening to spill. But this was the least of all concerns to the students studying at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry then. Between the terror caused by the rise of Voldemort and, in the fifth and seventh years' case, O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s, while it was the end-of-year exams for the rest, petty things such as this rarely got noticed by the majority of the student populace. Rather, they were trying to stay awake as late as possible gobbling up as much information from the various textbooks, reference books and notes as possible, trying to scrape every last bit of them in a furtive attempt to pass the exams, if not with flying colours, at least with an 'A', Acceptable. Of course, tradition called for a roaring trade of illegal or fake brain-boosting items during this period. It seemed inevitable that these businesses will never be able to be stomped out completely, yet it wasn't for lack of trying. The Head Boy, Head Girl and Prefects from various Houses, along with the Professors, had a hard time stopping all these illegal trades, possibly because some of the Prefects were confiscating it for their personal use, or to resell it at a lower price.

The five friends, however, were untroubled by all these going-ons raging within the school. Well known throughout Hogwarts as the best students of the year, well, except Peter, but he had help, so he was usually fine, they continued their daily work in their own paces, appalled at the frenzy their fellow classmates were displaying. Indeed, more than once, fifth and seventh years were coming up to them and demanding to know why they were so cool about N.E.W.T.s when the rest of them were already dying even before the actual exams. Madam Pomfrey was near tears as she was busy feeding practically every fifth and seventh year student in the school with a Calming Draught, while looking as if she could use them as well.

Yet, Lily was the one who actually knew the truth. She knew that the Marauders weren't unaffected at all by the looming examinations. They just didn't show as much pressure as anybody else, and coupled with the fact that they, especially James and Sirius, were naturally smart, they really didn't need to study as hard as the rest of the school. Lily had to give them that. They had natural magical abilities. Especially one of the two who worked his magic into my heart, it seems, she thought, smiling.

Now the Marauders, to the surprise of everyone, and a very disapproving Madam Pince, frequented the library very often with Lily, who was already a regular visitor with Remus. "To study", the three more mischievous Marauders answered together, smiling angelically. But according to the disgusted librarian, they talked more than they read, and talked louder than she allowed, which wasn't really saying something as everyone knew that Madam Irma Pince was very strict in the library, in fact the strictest librarian that ever existed. She had to shush them up a fair few times, even threatening permanent expulsion from the library. This went on until she finally and exasperatedly cast the strongest Silencing Charm at one of the secluded sections in the library and ordered them to use it every time they had to visit her precious library. And so, the Marauders had found their own little spot of heaven in the library for the first time in their lives. For the record, the only time James, Sirius and Peter had ever entered the library was during second year when they insisted on helping their werewolf friend, Remus, and did research on ways to cure werewolf bites, despite Remus's sad declaration that his parents had gone through the same thing and had achieved nothing. That experience had Madam Pince scarred for life, and she was utterly relieved when they didn't visit again for the next four and a half years, not even for O.W.L.s.

So there they were, on a Saturday afternoon, in their little comfy spot, with Lily and Remus studying off the Transfiguration textbook while James and Sirius took turns quizzing Peter and themselves about various facts and theories about Charms. Thank God all five of them only took five N.E.W.T.s subjects each. All of them were sensible enough to play to their strengths and took as few subjects as possible, but enough for them to get their dream jobs.

James yawned and rumpled up his hair. "I'm bored. I already know all this stuff."

Lily and Remus looked up as one from the books which they were burying their noses in, and told him warily, waggling their fingers, "Ah, James, don't even go there. Remember what happened last time."

"Hey, hey, wasn't it supposed to be me?" Sirius interjected. "I was supposed to be the immature one. I got more detention than James anyway." Lily was half-exasperated by his tone of pride as he spoke of his detentions like they were his greatest achievements, which was, in a sense. After all, this is Sirius we are talking about. "Since he is Head Boy, bloody git only got two detentions all year. Can you believe it? Two! What kind of a Marauder is that? And one was because I dragged him in to suffer, or enjoy, with me!"

"Oh ha ha, Padfoot. Just because I'm not so, ah, catchable anymore means that I have better ways of avoiding and dodging detention, you great prat. It doesn't necessarily mean that I have lost my touch."

"Yeah, and the fact that Miss Head Girl is, unfortunately, his girlfriend, I guess she keeps him in line then," Sirius muttered into Remus's ear. He grinned tolerably and returned to his book.

"OK, I am officially bored. Anyone up for a walk?" James asked the group at large, then turned to said girlfriend. "Lily? Please?"

"I'm still here, you know. And I am your best mate and brother. And you just dumped me for your girlfriend!" Sirius cried the last part out in a teary voice while he faked crying. The other four laughed. James chortled, "No, no, it's not like that Sirius, it's just that I know you'd definitely come along with me, won't you buddy?" When Sirius nodded his head enthusiastically, James laughed again. "Damn it, Sirius, you remind me so much of Padfoot when you nod like that." To which his best friend replied smoothly, "Hey, what can I say? I AM Padfoot, in case you haven't noticed." "No, I mean, you remind me of your Animagus form, Padfoot." At Sirius's motion to interrupt, he added, rolling his eyes, "You know what I mean. Anyway, I also know that my beautiful lady won't be that easy to persuade. Even Remus is easier to work on than her, though they are both as studious and geeky." This earned him two reproachful looks and two simultaneous "Hey I take offence to that, you know?"

"Right, right… So, COME ON EVERYBODY, UH HUH, UH HUH," Sirius sang in a very off-key voice as he swayed his hips in an extremely unbecoming manner while proceeding to 'help' Remus pack up his things so that it would be faster. "How can you stand him for seven years?" Lily muttered jokingly to James out of the corner of her mouth so that the person in question would not hear. James looked at Sirius before he answered, matching her whisper, "You live and learn, Lily, you live and learn. Especially with someone like Padfoot. Can't live with him, can't live without him." They all exited the library (to the great relief of Madam Pince) and went to Gryffindor Tower to deposit their school bags before descending to the Entrance Hall and out into the grounds. The day was thankfully bright, and they took a lazed walk around the great lake where the Giant Squid resided.

Remus, Sirius, and Peter were talking animatedly about food, girls, and Quidditch, while James and Lily lagged behind, wanting some quality time to themselves. For a while, they walked side by side in silence, revelling in each other's presence. Then James spoke, "Time flies, eh, Lily? It's seems like only yesterday when I got on the Hogwarts Express for the first time, being Sorted, becoming so thoroughly besotted by you, getting my first detention – it was a double detention with Sirius, mind you – and now here I am, in my seventh and final year, Head Boy, top of every class, and in the arms of the woman I have come to cherish and love more than life itself. Who would've known that this would happen?"

Lily smiled. "Indeed, James. This is the most magical thing that has ever happened to me, James. You. Not even my feelings when I received my Hogwarts acceptance letter could rival this. I am so glad that I have you." James slipped his arm around Lily's waist as she did the same, walking in perfect resonance. They snuggled closed towards each other as they continued walking behind the trio in front.

"Have you ever thought about the future?" Lily suddenly asked. James glanced sideways at her, replying, "Of course I have. Thought about it every day of my life. Would you like to hear it?" They had caught up with the trio, who had seated themselves under their favourite beech tree. The five of them were the only teenagers spotted on the grounds, for the rest of the school was holed up either in their common room, the library, empty classrooms, or badgering the Professors about something they didn't understand. James and Lily followed suit, sitting down under the giant tree that held so many memories of theirs, though still a little apart from the rest. "Lovers," Sirius snorted to Remus and Peter. The latter snickered a little. Soon, they were absorbed once again in their discussions about whether the Professors were secretly in love with each other, gossiping and pairing off the teachers one by one, the most ridiculous being Professor Vector with Professor Flitwick. "Some things never change," James told Lily, gesturing towards Sirius, Remus and Peter. Both laughed loudly, but only Remus seemed to have heard their laughter, as Sirius was arguing with Peter that Professor Slughorn liked Sprout, not McGonagall.

"So, about my future then?" James turned his head enquiringly towards Lily. She nodded. "Say, twenty years from now?" Again, she nodded. "I see the two of us married together, living in our house at Godric's Hollow. We'd wake up together in the morning, side by side. I'd tuck your hair behind your ear and kiss you good morning. Unfortunately, our youngest daughter will come running into our room, sopping wet, screaming about how one of her brothers had poured water on her to wake her up. Did I tell you that our sons were so mischievous that they would even play tricks on their young sister? They take after their dad, that's all I'm going to say." Lily playfully hit his arm. He ducked the flaying hand laughingly and ran. As expected, she got up and ran after him, with Sirius making loud tutting noises at the couple. "What an embarrassment," he remarked to Remus and Peter. The former of the two shot back, "Look who's talking." Sirius stared and said, "Oh, man, Moony, you're so going to get it." But Remus was already feet away, taunting Sirius to "come and get him". They wrestled each other to the ground when Sirius finally caught up with Remus, jokingly mad at his friend for calling him immature.

Lily, however, did not have the same luck. James, after a while, disappeared from her sight, and somehow managed to creep up behind her and grab her waist with his strong arms. She screamed in reflex and tried to punch whoever was behind her, only relaxing when James whispered in her ear, "Got you!" She breathed a sigh of relief and scolded him, "Don't ever scare me like that again." "Whatever the lady says," he bowed in agreement. They returned to the shadow of the beech tree, where Sirius and Remus were still tumbling over each other, trying to get the upperhand, much to the amusement of one Peter Pettigrew, who was cheering and egging them on. They sat down again, and James wondered, "Where was I?" "Suffering from STM, James?" Lily asked innocently sweet. "STM? What is STM?" James inquired confusedly. His girlfriend smiled mischievously and answered, "Short Term Memory, you dolt." James cocked his head, pretending to think, before pulling a straight face and said, "Yeah, maybe I am. I don't even recall who you are."

She laughed her crystalline laugh, the laugh James liked so much. He joined in. He finally remembered. "Our little Potters. Yep. So, our youngest girl comes screaming about our boys bullying her. Luckily, our eldest would always be there to keep them in line, along with us, though I doubt I did much except passed on the Marauding genes to them. Yes, every single one of them shall continue on the Potter destiny of mischief making and intelligence, and pure goodness of their hearts. They didn't mean any harm, Lily. And our eldest daughter is the most responsible of all. It is rather expected that the eldest daughter of a witch takes after her mother. She'd tell them sternly, like their mother used to tell off their father that 'You're way out of line, you two!' Ooo, would they employ the puppy eye treatment they have seen me give you when I plead guilty to their sister. She'd try to look stern, but would give up after a while, and merely warn the younger brothers not to tease their youngest sibling too much, and that if they continued like that, they'd end up in McGonagall's office sooner or later."

"Now this is the part where the two younger brother and sister would beg her and the older brother for stories in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Our eldest is a fifth year, and needless to say, a Prefect, again just like her mother." Lily smiled and shook her head in exasperation. "The first boy is a second year, but is already rivalling his father and godfather's detention records. And, boy, did he have a genius in mischief-making! Someday or the other, he'd inherit the Marauder's Map and my invisibility cloak, or perhaps his sister should get it. Did I tell you that, in spite of her tough and by-the-book exterior, she's actually the mastermind of most of the new generation of Marauders' pranks? One thing for sure is that she knows how to do it and not get into trouble. And she knows where to draw the line. She is so cool. After all, she is our daughter."

"So they'd launch into a tale of how their Head of House (for they are both in Gryffindor, of course) is so strict that she never let down her bun in all their schooling years, and that she was fair to everyone, but sometimes a little hard on her own House to show that she wasn't a softie, but ultimately she had our best interests at heart. For, they would say, what better place was it to make mistakes and have someone correct them? Even our boys would agree with their sister. And our youngest would declare, "Mummy and daddy must have such fun there, for they met each other at Hogwarts, despite what's-her-name McGonagall."

Here, Lily blushed. James laughed at her. "Oh, Lily, you blush, but isn't it true? And then all four children would bear down upon us and beg us to recount our story, which they have listened to many times, yet never get tired of it. That's because it was so colourful and so interesting, that mummy dearest rejected papa for a full six years!"

"But, Lily, do you know what the best part is?" he questioned, looking deep into her almond-shaped green eyes with his hazel ones. Lily replied without a doubt, "The part where we would wake up together. I know, James, because after all these months of waking up in your arms, so comforted and so secured, I can't imagine life without that anymore. Waking up next to you every morning reminds me that life is worth living every day, because of your existence."

They stayed in comfortable silence for a few moments, savouring each other's warmth and just being together. James broke the silence. "How about yours? Tell me." "Me? I didn't say that I'd tell," Lily baited him. James immediately showed his famous puppy eye look. "Please, Lily. Please… Look, I'm even saying please. I told you mine, so please tell me yours. Pretty pretty please?"

She melted and relented under his look. "All right all right. I'll tell." He grinned cockily, then lay down on the grass, sprawled out, and looked at her smilingly. Lily understood wordlessly, and she plopped down beside him. He gathered her into his arms and she rested her head on his shoulder, snuggling closer to him and began her tale.

"I see us at our home, somewhere quiet and calm. Our two children – one boy, one girl – would be surrounding us, never leaving us alone until bedtime. They are just maturing into teenagers, and are curious about so many things. Boy, did we have a tough time restraining their curiosity. Or rather, I had a tough time, since their daddy, instead of checking their behaviour, was actually not only encouraging it, but teaching them the so-called art of the Marauders. Pity me, who had to deal with letters and letters of Professor Dumbledore or Professor McGonagall, our Head of House, about how our boy had blown up a toilet, or how our girl managed to sneak out into Hogsmeade late at night and got bloody addicted to Honeydukes chocolate, until the Flumes got suspicious of the mysterious disappearance of their chocolate in the middle of the night and with money in their place, for however naughty our children are, they have good sense and morals, and will never disappoint their parents. Though I'd have to be the one writing to them telling them to behave themselves or they wouldn't get pocket money to spend at Hogsmeade ever again if they didn't behave themselves. Troublemakers." They both smiled at the last part.

"But then, my husband would walk in, kiss me and tell me that he loves me, like he did on every single day of our marriage. He makes me forget about all my worries and woes about our children or our lives. And he'd comfort and hold me in his arms. I find his embrace particularly soothing and relaxing that I never want to let go. Well, it is. And after all these years, I am still like a late teenage girl, awaiting for my first kiss from the man I truly love. God, James, I love you so much!"

"I love you too, Lily. I really look forward to starting a new life with you. Right now, our world is too screwed up. But together, we would be able to make it a better place. And hopefully by then, Voldemort would be destroyed. We'd finally be able to live our lives in peace, only caring about the young men and women who would possibly steal our children's hearts away."

A splash and a triumphed laugh prompted them to look in the direction of the lake. Sirius was jumping around in his hyperactive mood, raising his hands in victory at having finally managed to dump Remus into the lake. Peter had run up to him offering his congratulations the second Sirius succeeded in his 'mission'. Sirius was so busy cheering with Peter at his elbow, he didn't notice that Remus had already swum back to the shore and, with an almighty tug, sent Sirius crashing into the lake as well, but not before he had grabbed Peter by the shoulder to stop his fall. Peter, being the less athletic one, was of course pulled into the lake together with an even louder splash. There they were, three teenagers splashing in the water, watched by their two friends, living out their last days of childhood, innocence, and protection.

Let them laugh, Lily thought. It is so refreshing that, despite the dark times we face, there is still hope, and happiness, and laughter, and joy in this world.

– To Be Continued –