James woke up the next morning to Harry's cries. He rubbed his eyes as he heard Sirius groan in the bed next to him.
James sighed as he put on his glasses and sat up, looking at the crib tiredly next to him.
"Wazgoinon?" Sirius said groggily as Remus sat bolt upright searching the room frantically as if they were under attack.
"Sorry guys," James said as he jumped out of bed and made his way towards Harry. "I think Harry may be hungry."
Sirius grunted and lay back down. In no time he was snoring again. Remus checked his clock before realising it was only seven and decided it was no time to be up. James chuckled as he picked up Harry.
"So," he said, conjuring up a little cup with a sucker on the end, filled with juice and a bottle of apricot mush…again. "How are you this morning?"
Harry stared up at him with large green eyes, trying to make a grab for the cup.
"Okay, okay," James sighed, handing him the cup. Harry held it in his small hands and drank happily. "Save some," he warned. "Because you're going to eat this," he pointed to the apricot mush.
"He doesn't understand you," James heard Sirius groan. "So why talk to him?"
James threw his pillow at Sirius' head, but Sirius ignored him and continued to pretend to snore.
"We're going downstairs," James whispered to Harry as Remus shifted uncomfortably in bed.
James had finished feeding Harry and was in the middle of cleaning him, when the portrait hole opened to admit Moody and Shacklebolt, both looking grave, Moody looking more furious then anything else.
"You're up Potter," Moody growled.
"Great observation," James snarled, standing up, Harry squirming over his shoulder. "What do you want?"
"We heard about what happened last night," Shacklebolt said, striding forward and sitting on the couch.
"How'd you hear about that?" James asked furiously. Neither Remus nor Sirius would betray James' trust like that…but that's what he thought of Peter as well.
"Dumbledore is not a fool Potter," Moody sneered. "No matter what you might think, he is a much powerful and wiser wizard than you."
"Thanks for the confidence builder," James said sarcastically, mussing up Harry's hair.
"After last night, which neither you nor your friends bothered to inform us about, you must agree to going into hiding," Moody said, staring James up and down.
"No," James said defiantly, standing his ground.
"James stop being so stubborn," Shacklebolt said calmly. "It is in the best interest of Harry."
James said nothing, but just stared at them. Shacklebolt stood up and gave a small nod at Moody.
Moody waved his wand and before James had any time to think, Harry was soaring out of his arms and into Moody's.
"Hey!" James yelled, pulling out his wand too, but Moody was too quick. James could feel like a belt tighten around his waist and suddenly he found himself forcibly seated in the newly abandoned couch. As much as he struggled against the invisible belt, he found it just would not give.
"This is kidnapping!" James shouted at the two Aurors, one who was holding his passive son. "I can have you arrested!"
Moody laughed as Shacklebolt took Harry out of his arms. "Potter, this is on Dumbledore's orders," he said, looking down coldly at James. "If Dumbledore wishes to claim ownership of the boy or place him in some sort of adoptive care where he is safe, no wizard can stop him. Not even you."
"You can't do this," James shouted, his heart racing as he tried to free himself from the invisible force. "He's mine."
"We'll speak later," Shacklebolt promised, Harry now squirming in his arms. "Maybe you will change your mind." He turned around and walked out of the portrait hole, Harry now shrieking for his father. Moody lingered a while longer.
"Here, this is your's," he pulled a silvery material out from his pocket. "You gave this to Dumbledore the night before you died," he threw the Invisibility Cloak on James' struggling form. "A gift."
"GIVE ME BACK MY SON!" James shouted, but Moody simply turned around and walked out of the portrait hole.
As the entrance closed after Moody, James felt the invisible belt lift and he was free. He raced to the back of the portrait and made to open it, but as much as he pushed on it, it would not open. James started to bang furiously on it, the Fat Lady's screams louder each time.
"GET BACK HERE!" James yelled at the portrait.
"What's going on?" Sirius and Remus had ventured downstairs, both rubbing their eyes tiredly.
But James ignored the two of them and started firing spells at the back of the portrait, to Sirius and Remus' horror.
"Have you gone mental?" Sirius shouted, running forwards, trying to disarm James, but James flicked his wand at him and he went sprawling across the floor.
"Expelliamus," Remus said almost lazily and James' wand flew in the air and Remus grabbed it. "What's going on?"
But James paid no heed to him and started banging his fists against the portrait again.
"You can't keep us locked in here!" he shouted furiously. "We're not your hostages!"
"What?" Sirius asked bewildered, picking himself up from the floor.
"Give Harry back to me!" James continued to shout.
"They took Harry?" Sirius asked hurriedly. "Who took Harry?"
"I'm going to kill them," James muttered his throat dry as he raced to the window and attempted to open it. "They've shut the windows as well!"
"James, slow down," Sirius interrupted. "Who took Harry this time?"
"Dumbledore!" James shouted, attempting to rip out his hair in frustration. "He took my son! And what does he leave in his place? This stupid Cloak," he picked up the Invisibility Cloak and shook it in their faces.
"Right, just calm down James," Remus said, striding forward.
"No!" James cried. "I will not calm down! My wife was taken away from me two days ago! Just two days! Then Harry, my only son, is kidnapped by my supposed friend. Then Dumbledore decides to bring his two goons around here and take my son away from me again." James stood staring fiercely at his friends, feeling as if there were no such thing as happiness. "Don't tell me to calm down, Remus, because I will not calm down! I WON'T!"
Remus and Sirius glanced at each other uncertainly.
"Where are they taking him?" Sirius asked.
"I don't know," James mumbled. "Where's the Marauder's Map?" he asked suddenly, having a quick idea.
"Peter lost it in seventh year," Remus said softly as if the memory of both Peter and the Marauder's Map was enough to make him burst into tears.
"I'm getting out of here one way or another," James spat, pointing his wand at the window, attempting to blow it up, but to no avail.
"Floo Powder," Sirius said suddenly. "We'll use Floo Powder to go up to Dumbledore's."
"We don't have Floo Powder," James interrupted.
"I do," Remus said. "I was planning to head back home today so I bought some."
James looked at his friend, hurt. He had taken for granted that Remus was with him, helping him through his rough time, but he had forgotten that Remus had his own life to lead. The full moon was coming up and Remus had a job, even if it was a petty one, to see to. Even Sirius had to live out his life. It wasn't fair that James was holding them back, but the more James thought about it, the more he realised he needed them more than ever.
"Listen, James," Remus said, taking out a small bottle with what looked like green sand inside. "I-"
"No, it's alright Remus," James said quietly. "I'm not holding you back."
Remus merely nodded and turned towards the fireplace. He threw the Floo Powder into the flames and they instantly turned green. James watched as Remus thrust his head forward and shout out 'Dumbledore's Office'.
A short time later, Remus started speaking, Albus Dumbledore's voice floating back towards a furious James and a subdued Sirius.
"Albus, where'd you take Harry?" Remus demanded, rather more politely than James wanted.
"Somewhere safe for now," James heard Dumbledore answer.
"This is kidnapping, Albus," Remus accused.
"I can twist the Ministry's head any way I wish," Dumbledore sad pleasantly.
"Why you…" James began, lunging forward, but Sirius held him back.
"It's fire, James," Sirius hissed.
"It's not right," Remus argued, ignoring James. "Harry is rightfully James'."
"All I wish is that Harry is safe," Dumbledore replied. "I would be more than happy if James had custody over his son, but I insist he go into hiding. Otherwise, I will have no choice but to hand over guardianship to Harry's last remaining relatives, where he will be safe."
"Harry has no remaining relatives other than me!" James shouted. "There's only…Wait a minute!"
James heard Dumbledore chuckle contentedly.
"You…you arrogant, self-righteous, manipulative…"
"There's no need for that James," Dumbledore replied.
"What's going on?" Sirius asked confusedly.
"The only other relatives Harry has besides me is Lily's sister," James explained, going red from containing the anger.
"Oh," was the only thing Sirius could manage.
They all knew what kind of a person Petunia Dursley and her husband Vernon were like. Hating all forms of magic was like a hobby to the Dursleys. James knew that if they had custody over Harry, they would treat him lower than dirt and he couldn't let that happen.
"Albus be reasonable," Remus said, almost pleadingly.
"Remus, aren't I reasonable?" Dumbledore questioned. "I am doing what's best for Harry."
'How is that the best thing for Harry?" Sirius demanded. "They're muggles! They have no protection if Voldemort shows up."
"Oh, but here you are wrong," Dumbledore's voice seemed to brag to James. "Before Lily died, she performed an ancient magic, one that Voldemort has surely forgotten. With her incredible love for her son, she cast a spell that would protect him for as long as he lives with her blood relative. But only until he reaches the age of seventeen."
"You…You can't do that," James said, angrily. "You won't do that."
"Do you dare test me, James?" Dumbledore queried.
Sirius watched James turn a deep shade of purple, as if about to explode.
"ALRIGHT!" James yelled, successfully pulling out three strands of hair. "Alright! Alright! I'll do it! I'll go into hiding!"
Remus pulled his head out of the grate to look at James, astonished. Sirius rubbed his face, tiredly, apparently not surprised. They all heard Dumbledore give a small chuckle.
"Damn you, Dumbledore," James snarled. "Damn you."
"Come up to my office," Dumbledore said calmly. "We will discuss living arrangements and Harry will be up to meet you."
The portrait hole opened to James' anger and when Remus turned back to the grate, the green flames had turned a deep red and orange again.
I'm going to kill that…" James mumbled climbing hurriedly out of the portrait hole.
"And it begins," Remus sighed as Sirius hurried after James.
"Where the hell is he?" James demanded as he barged into Dumbledore's office, Sirius and Remus trailing behind.
Dumbledore sat at his desk, looking down at some files on his desk through half-moon spectacles. Moody was standing in a corner and Shacklebolt was standing at the far end, holding a sleeping Harry.
When James saw him, he strode over to Shacklebolt and took him out of his arms.
"How'd you get him to go to sleep?" James questioned furiously. "He was shrieking before."
"Yes and he wouldn't stop shrieking so we fed him a sleeping draught," Moody growled.
"You drugged my son?" James demanded angrily, turning towards Moody. "What kind of people are you?"
"James, please sit down," Dumbledore said calmly.
"I'm good standing," James snapped.
"I'll take up that offer," Remus muttered sitting down. James glared at him, but he did look rather tired. Sirius remained standing near the doorway, looking emotionless, but James could tell he was deeply annoyed.
"Very well," Dumbledore cleared his throat. "We have found a manor in a mugglevillage available."
"I've got Harry now," James interrupted glaring at Dumbledore. "What makes you think I'm going to agree into going into hiding?"
"You have no choice," Dumbledore replied. "I'll just take Harry again."
"I won't let you," James spat.
"What will you do, James?" Dumbledore asked eyes twinkling as he surveyed James.
"You won't be able to find me," James glowered.
"Ah," Dumbledore smiled calmly. "You'll go into hiding. Excellent."
James looked as if he was about to explode, but Sirius interrupted.
"Stop messing with our minds, Dumbledore," he said, his annoyance now showing. "I haven't got time for it. Just get on with it. James is going it hiding; it seems he has no choice. So what did you need to tell us about it?"
"Living arrangements," Dumbledore repeated. "As I said, we have found a suitable house for you and Harry in a small muggle village. You will be comfortable there."
James mumbled something incoherently, but otherwise glared at Dumbledore, Harry sleeping peacefully in his arms.
"It is a perfect location as it is a suitable place for Harry to grow up, it has many places for you to take Harry out on outings," Dumbledore stated.
"Then what's the point in hiding?" James snarled. "If I'm allowed to take Harry out there is no need."
"It is an extra precaution," Shacklebolt answered.
"There would be no need for this precaution if he were living with his relatives," Remus stated.
"You are forgetting, Remus, what I have told you," Dumbledore said. "Petunia can protect Harry through a strong magic, something James cannot provide."
"What are you saying?" James attacked. "That I'm an inadequate father? That I can't protect my own son?"
"Nobody said that James," Dumbledore replied.
"But you implied it," James shot back.
"Nobody is judging your parenting abilities, James," Dumbledore tried to reason. "All I am saying is that Petunia can protect Harry because she is blood related to Lily, you however, cannot. The only way you can protect him is to be safe while at home and away from the wizarding community if you go out."
"Wait a minute," James said slowly, realising. "Away from the wizarding community? What does that mean?"
"It would be suitable for Harry to grow up as a muggle," Dumbledore said quietly. "Away from the eyes of the wizarding population. He is now well-known and I wouldn't want this new popularity to overwhelm him."
"You want me to live a lie?" James said, stunned. "What about the Prophecy? What about my wand? What happens when he shows signs of magical abilities?"
"This can all be dealt with," Moody said. "But what of this Prophecy business? I haven't heard of any Prophecy."
James grew red as he realised his mistake. Dumbledore looked indifferent and Remus had buried his face in his hands, but Sirius just let out a laugh.
"James is talking about that Divination class we took in third year," Sirius laughed. "He predicted something along the lines of giant bunnies taking over a muggle garden."
"Bunny!" A soft tiresome cry came from within James' arms.
James looked down and his face lit up when he saw bright green eyes staring up at him shyly.
"Giant bunnies, Potter?" Moody asked, looking as if he hadn't heard anything more disgusting in his life. "You are a strange boy."
James grinned down at Harry who put on a meek smile. Harry's waking had momentarily distracted James to his initial worry. He turned back to Dumbledore.
"I'm not living as a muggle," he said. "We…Lily and I…made a promise to each other. We were going to raise Harry as a wizard. He would know everything," he put in emphasis on that, staring a Dumbledore, hopefully catching the hints being thrown silently at him.
"Alastor…Kingsley…please leave us," Dumbledore said, waving his wand effortlessly. The door to his office swung open, the marble staircase seeming to penetrate an eerie shine.
"Dumbledore, need I remind you that I am in charge of Potter's case," Moody growled.
"Need I remind you, Alastor," Dumbledore said calmly but sternly. "That you work for the Order, you may also work for the Ministry but your one loyalty is to me and my members. Unless, of course, you decide that I am of no dignities and the Ministry is beyond me and my cause?"
Moody looked flabbergasted, an effect Dumbledore seemed to have on people.
"Albus, I'm only looking out for my client," Moody said, earning a glowering look from James.
"If you want us to leave, Albus, then we'll leave," Shacklebolt said, glaring at Moody. He walked towards the open door, a hand running over his bald head. "Let's go, Mad-Eye," he said, waiting for Moody.
Moody growled, but walked forwards and through the door. Shacklebolt gave each person in the room a small, awkward smile before exiting and closing the door behind him.
"James," Dumbledore started, turning towards James. "I assume both Sirius and Remus know of the prophecy?"
"Sirius knows," James said, glancing at Remus uncertainly.
"I told him when he first came to Hogwarts…that night," Sirius said rather sheepishly than usual. "I thought he had a right to know."
James nodded understandingly as he started bouncing Harry up and down in his arms, much to the baby's amusement and enthusiasm.
"We can now discuss the matter openly," Dumbledore smiled.
"Yeah and Harry needs to know about the Prophecy," James said quickly. "He needs to grow up with it."
"A child cannot handle that kind of information," Dumbledore argued, sitting back in his chair, surveying James intently. "He would be too young to understand."
"Then we'll make him understand. I'll make him understand," James clarified. "If you tell him he's a wizard on his eleventh birthday, when he receives the Hogwart's letter, and then explain to him the kind of responsibility he has to carry, don't you think he'd be torn apart?"
"Telling him he is a wizard will happen on his eleventh birthday, certainly, but we can wait until he is older to hear the Prophecy's content," Dumbledore said.
"And I lie till then?" James demanded. "That is to say if I agree to live as a muggle."
"You have no choice," Dumbledore stated.
"Bull's pizzle," James spat, privately thanking the muggle English poet, Shakespeare, for his large range of ridiculous insults. "I have every choice. I could tell Harry anything I like. He is my son, if you haven't forgotten, Dumbledore."
"No I haven't forgotten, James," Dumbledore said calmly. "It's in Harry's best interests."
"If I let him believe that he's a muggle, he'll hate me," James raged. "I can't let that happen."
"He'll know you did it to protect him," Dumbledore said gently.
"That's not what an eleven year old boy thinks," James argued. "They don't know the responsibilities parents have. And how's he supposed to know he's to be protected in the first place?"
"Great conversation that will be," Sirius muttered darkly.
Dumbledore ignored Sirius and continued to stare piercingly at James. "James, the spell will only be kept on you when you are at home, when you are sleeping. You and Harry may lead a normal life, free of magic however and only certain people will be able to visit you," Dumbledore watched James kiss Harry tenderly on the forehead, taking no notice of the new scar, before he continued. "James, do this for Harry. Lily would want you both to be safe."
James paused. The mention of her name seemed to have paralysed him.
"I promised her I'd raise him with magic," James muttered, noticing how Sirius and Remus had both tensed up, as though waiting for James to collapse again.
"You will get that chance, James," Dumbledore answered, softly. "It will be only for the first ten years," Sirius snorted at this. "And when you reveal the Prophecy to him, I'm sure he will understand."
Sirius could see James think it over, solemnly, as Harry wrapped a tiny hand around his finger. James was honestly considering the possibilities and as much as Sirius wanted him to stay out of hiding, but at the same time go into hiding; he couldn't stop a surge of resentment shudder through his very being. He knew Dumbledore to be a manipulator, nobody could deny this wondrous fact, but he still felt cold anger towards the aged Headmaster. James should be going into hiding willingly, not having it pushed upon him, his wife used as emotional blackmail.
"Yes," James whispered, his eyes glued on Harry.
"Pardon?" Dumbledore prompted, eyes twinkling brightly.
"You heard him," Sirius spat. "He said yes."
"Is this right, James?" Dumbledore incited. "Are you willing to go into hiding? Live as a muggle?"
James nodded, his eyes glued to Harry's twinkling ones.
"Excellent," Dumbledore said, clapping his hands together. "Now, as to your Secret Keeper. I think we'll both agree that I should be…"
"No, I don't agree," James snapped, breaking his connection with Harry. "I want Sirius. He was the first person I wanted to have as Secret Keeper in the first place. It is rightfully his place."
"Sirius?" Dumbledore asked, staring at the handsome man.
"If James wants me to be his Secret Keeper, then of course I will be," Sirius said, but his mind was lingering with doubts. His thoughts were enduring 'what if' questions. He couldn't afford to lose his nerve and persuade James to choose someone else again. What if he was captured and was tortured the information out of? He already had one life on his head, that James had every right to blame him for, but hadn't. His conscience already ridden with guilt, he couldn't let James down again. Not this time, not ever.
"It's settled then," James said. "Sirius is my Secret Keeper. Remus can be my backup if necessary. Is that alright, Remus?"
The werewolf looked stunned. "Are…Are you sure, James?" he stammered.
James stared at his other friend for a second before cracking one true grin. "Of course," he said. "I wouldn't trust any one else for the job."
Remus smiled warmly, looking considerably happier than he had before.
"If that is your wish," Dumbledore paused, looking intently at the three men before him.
"I need to get going," Remus said standing up. "I have job requirements, if they are petty ones. I can't afford another day off work, I fear."
"Of course," James said, suddenly embarrassed. "Sorry I kept you so long."
"Not your fault, James," Remus said patting his friend on the back and striding to the door. "I don't regret taking the last couple of days off for helping a friend."
He smiled warmly around the room before opening the door and exiting. James took his seat, rocking Harry back and forth in his arms as he saw Harry's eyes getting heavy.
"Now, another matter I must discuss with both of you," Dumbledore said gravely glancing at James and Sirius. "The media has been following the story of that Halloween night. Until now I have held back both the media and the Ministry. You must speak with both before you go into hiding," he paused letting this sink in. "The Ministry wants to know everything about the Secret Keeper swap and the media wants both your versions of the story."
"I'm not publicising my wife's death," James cried.
"Even so, they must know that you will be going into hiding for some time," Dumbledore argued. "They will inevitably notice your disappearance."
"What does the Ministry want to know about the swap?" Sirius interrupted.
"They wish to know when you made the swap, why you made the swap and why you chose Peter," Dumbledore explained. "No matter what I say, the Ministry does need to speak to you and needs some information on your whereabouts."
"Why not?" James muttered. "I'm being forced into everything else."
"And there is the matter of Lily's body," Dumbledore said quietly and James felt Sirius grip his shoulder tightly. "Where shall she be buried?"
James swallowed hard and drew Harry closer to his chest, more for his own comfort than Harry's.
"Um…" he swallowed again, his mind suddenly empty. Where would Lily want to be buried? Near her parents? She never discussed it with James and James never discussed it with her. It wasn't something someone usually brings up at such a young age.
"We can discuss this later," Dumbledore said gently, noticing James' distress.
"No, no, it's alright," James said quickly, Harry's soft breathing a soothing motion for him. "Godric's Hollow," he said finally and Sirius' grip on his shoulder tightened.
Dumbledore stared at James with a look James couldn't place. "Are you sure James?" he finally said.
"Yeah," James said, looking up at Dumbledore. "Yeah… Godric's Hollow."
"You know there are other graveyards around, Prongs," Sirius pointed out. "It doesn't have to be in Godric's Hollow."
"I know," James said, looking up at his friend. "But I want it to be at Godric's Hollow."
They sat in silence for a minute, all contemplating what this meant. Every time James or Harry wanted to visit Lily, they would have to venture into the village that Lily died in. It would bring back painful memories for James.
"What about Petunia?" James suddenly asked. "Lily was her sister."
"Yes, she does need to be informed," Dumbledore said thoughtfully. "I will send her a letter."
"No, Dumbledore, I'll go," James said abruptly. "I'll tell her. She's my wife's sister and she needs to hear it in person."
Dumbledore merely nodded.
Author's Note: I'm being lazy today and just say thanks to the reviewers, not any replies. So thanks to Black as Ash, Babyliciousblue, OperaGustus, GMUXMenSoaps, EmotionlessNightmare, dexter the otsel, Jessica 01, SuicidalBunnies, Kay05,
c-h-e-s-t-e-r-n-u-t Thanks!