This Chapter is VERY important... it will be a base for what is to come... later. But please don't stop reading after you're done with this chapter. It is all planned out nicely. PLEASE REVIEW AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS CHAPTER! WG
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As James, Sirius, and Remus approached Dumbledore, they looked at each other questioningly. Dumbledore had sent them each a note telling them that it was urgent he see them the morning after the ball.
'Ah, hello. I am glad you are all well and received my message. Come, let's go to my office.' Dumbledore said as he met up with the boys.
'Hey Albus!' Sirius joked. Remus hit him in the side and glared at him.
'I - er mean Professor.' Sirius corrected meakly.
Dumbledore merely smiled at him and bowed.
'You said it was urgent Professor?' James asked, wondering what the matter was, and why Peter wasn't involved in it too.
'Yes, please, no more speaking of it right now... we cannot risk being overheard.' He said, looking around shiftily to make sure no one looked very interested.
Once they reached the entrance, the headmaster said the password (Licorice Wands) and they all entered.
'Now, we are free to talk openly.' He said, breathing a sigh of relief.
'James, I told you at our Heads meeting about the uprising of Voldemort, and his followers. This is the reason of our meeting. I, needless to say, trust you men of all of students I've seen past through this school. I know you like to joke, but this is serious. I, don't really know how to say this... but, I also received a message. And I've also been watching... people. Have you seen much of your friend, Peter?' He asked curiously.
'No.' The boys answered simulatenously.
Remus explained, 'He barely ever hangs around us anymore, Professor. I've seen him hanging around Snape quite a few times, really. He's getting stranger, Professor. And, he's very twitchy... and I mean abnormal.' He informed.
'That's what I'm worried about.' Dumbledore said.
James frowned, what was this all about? He looked at Sirius, who also looked foggy and confused.
'I know this is blunt, but I believe Mr. Pettigrew isn't on our side anymore. There has been more information leaked than I could've ever imagined. He is the one I suspect. I also have... other reasons.' Dumbledore said. He wasn't looking his normal happy-go-lucky self.
'Peter... it can't be. He's - he's a Marauder!' Sirius said, almost looking unbelieving.
Dumbledore looked sympathetic. 'I understand. I thought the same thing... but it all leads to him. And, also, the information I told you about... the stuff that was being leaked... it wasn't in general of the light side... it was all about you three.' He told them.
'What?' James asked softly, looking in shock.
Dumbledore nodded gravely. 'I've... also heard that... he can change... form.' Dumbledore said very, very delicately.
James, Sirius, and Remus exchanged a utterly horrified look. Remus spoke first. 'How do you -' He began, but was cut off.
'I have my sources... believe me, I do.' Dumbledore said, wiping his brow with a hankerchief. He had way more secrets than the Marauders could ever have... especially this.
'But... no one knows... how do you know they are... they are?' Remus asked, looking fearful.
'That they are animaguses?' Dumbledore finished for him.
'Yes!' Sirius and James said together.
'I cannot tell you. But I can tell you, that Peter is a traitor. And, it would not be wise to befriend him anymore.' Dumbledore advised.
'Thank you Professor. We appreciate it... but... but, aren't we going to get... punished... expelled?' James asked fearfully... Lily, what would she think of him now? They just started going out, and she would realize what a liar he was...
'I'm sorry James, but punished for what?' Dumbledore asked with a smile on his face.
James, Remus, and Sirius gave a relieved smile to him and their hearts began beating again.
'Now, you must go. But remember, tread carefully around Peter Pettigrew.' Dumbledore said mystically.
'Oh, Professor, Lily and I were wondering if we could schedule a Hogsmeade day for tomorrow?' James asked him.
'I think that would be fine. You will have to make signs and give them to the house-elves for them to put up in all the common rooms.' He informed them.
'Thanks Professor.' James said smiling.
'Oh, and Mr. Potter...' Dumbledore said.
'Yes Professor?'
'Congratulations on your final success with Miss Evans.' He said with a sly smile.
Sirius snickered. 'Thanks.' James said smiling sheepishly.
Eventually, the boys bid their goodbyes and left the room. Dumbledore turned around and gave a sigh. When he did, he said out loud. 'Well, you may come out now.' And out of the shadows, came the spitting image of one of the men that just left the room. Dumbledore looked upon him with interest, 'Now, Harry, please tell me more of your story.'
(Makes mysterious sounds...)
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'Lily, come on!' Faye shouted, pulling Lily down the cobblestone streets of Hogsmeade. It was the day after, and all six of the friends were in Hogsmeade together. None of the boys talked about their meeting with Dumbledore, although the girls were very curious.
'I'm coming, I'm coming!' Lily said, even though she was completely entranced by the beautiful black kitten with amazing, icy blue eyes. He was so handsome, she almost couldn't put him down. James finally distracted her by saying there was a book store ahead, and she eventually budged.
'Fine, I can't stay with this girl any longer, me and Sirius are going to go on our own, see you all at Three Broomsticks at one o'clock.' Faye said rolling her eyes and her and Sirius ran off... probably to snog.
'Yeah, we'll go too. Be good Lily...' Michelle said moving her eyebrows up and down.
'Ha-ha.' Lily said humorlessly.
'Come on Lily.' James said, elated. This was officially, their 'first date'.
He put his arm around her and they began walking into the book store.
'Oohhh... Look at this, it's a book on powerful charms!' Lily said, absolutely loving Charms class.
'Sounds neat.' James said, while he was checking out a Transfiguration book.
'Yeah...' Lily said, but setting it back after she looked at the price... fourteen galleons.
'You don't want it?' James asked, wondering why she put it down.
Lily just smiled. 'I don't really need it.' She said shrugging.
'Oh come on... my treat.' James said, picking the book up again, along with the Transfiguration book and giving them to the saleswoman.
'No... you don't have to. I don't need one, honestly.' Lily said turning red.
'Stop talking please? I want to buy you it.' James said giving her a smile that made her finally give in.
'Alright.' She said, although she still felt weird letting him spend money on her.
As they began walking down the streets again, they started up and conversation. 'So you're staying at Michelle's for Christmas? The break begins in a week.' James said to her, a plan forming in his mind... which happened quite often now that you think about it.
'Yeah... her parents are really nice. Faye and her are like my family.' Lily said smiling because she was getting excited.
'Uh... if you want, Sirius is staying as usual at Christmas, and Remus' parents are going to America for a few weeks, if you guys want to come for a little while you can... You can floo to my house.' James suggested a little nervously.
'Really?' Lily asked sounding interested.
'Yeah... my parents will be gone most of the day and it's usually pretty dull. You might be able to meet my mum actually... she usually stops by in the middle of the afternoon.' James said uncomfortably. He didn't seem to happy.
'Oh. That'd be nice.' Lily said cheerfully.
'Cool.' James said smiling.
'I'll talk to the girls alright?' She said.
'Sure.' James agreed. 'Hey, you want some icecream?' He asked her suddenly.
'Ok.' Lily said taking ahold of James' hand and pulling him over to an empty booth.
'What would you like my dears?' The nice, older woman asked them smiling widely.
'Raspberry, chocolate on a cone.' Lily said.
'Double chocolate chunk.' James ordered.
'It'll be out in a jiffy.' The woman said walking away.
'How come we're eating icecream in the middle of winter?' Lily asked laughing.
'I'm not really sure, but it sounded good, didn't it?' James asked smiling. He loved Lily's laugh.
'How did your parents take your seperation from their family?' James asked cautiously, knowing Lily was sensitive about this subject.
'Oh, you know... they sent me a box of my old stuff. Now that I'm legally of age they can't exactly do anything about it, can they? Besides, if I'm not normal enough to be at my sister's wedding, then I'm not normal enough to be in the family at all.' Lily said a little coldly, yet satisyingly at the same time.
'I see.' James said, listening to her.
As they ate their icecream, talking about their lives and possible careers, both began noticing how alike they really were.
'Well, I know for a fact I want to be an auror.' Lily stated simply. She wanted to be one since third year.
'Really? I do too. I mean, I definitely have my doubts sometimes though.' James said, agreeing.
'Doubts? Like what?' Lily questioned.
'Like turning out like my dad.' James answered thoughtfully.
Lily frowned. 'Well, what's so bad about him?' she asked.
'He's just really... I don't know how to word it. You have to meet him to understand. He's got high expectations for me... I mean, being his only son. He expects a ton from me, and often gets angry with the joking and everything. He was surprised when I got Head Boy, but defintely pleased. But, he's also never home. I see him three times a month at the most. My mum is much more lenient with work and she takes off for special things, like when I got my badge, she scheduled an off day and took Sirius and I out to a Quidditch store. It's hard, I understand, for them, because my dad got promoted to head of the auror's office, and he's also president of the secrecy club. But don't get me wrong, I love my parents, we just have a relationship different from others.' James told her seriously. His dad was harsh and never cracked a smile, after his job took over, nothing else mattered.
'I can see that happening. It's sad. I'm really sorry.' Lily said giving him a weak smile.
'There's nothing to really be sorry about. You know, if you come to my house for Christmas, my mum will be elated. She's been wanting me to bring home a girl for her to meet. I think that the boys can't just satisfy her craving to spoil people.' James said smiling.
'She sounds sweet. I can't wait.' Lily said laughing.
'I think she wishes she could have a girl to talk to once and awhile.' James said, happy Lily was excited.
'Hey, you think we should go? It's around one, and the guys might be waiting.' Lily asked him.
'Sure.' He said. He laid two galleons on the table, took Lily's hand, and walked out of the icecream shop.
Soon they were in Three Broomsticks where they saw their four friends sitting at a table saving them seats.
'Hey!' Faye said to them, sliding them each a butterbeer.
'Thanks.' James said to her.
'Hey Faye.' Lily acknowledged her.
'Did you get anything?' Michelle asked her friend.
'We both got a book and some icecream.' Lily told her.
Faye and Michelle exchanged a knowing look. 'Righhht.' They said disbelievingly, with a tone clearly saying 'You snogged each other and you know it...'.
Lily shook her head and rolled her eyes at them.
'Anything dears?' Rosmerta asked as she came up to the table.
'Madame Rosmerta,' Sirius said elaborately kissing her hand. 'I'll take a refill on the champagne please...' He said, indicating his empty bottle of butterbeer.
Rosmerta laughed at him heartily and asked, 'Would anyone else like a refill on champagne?' She asked winking at Sirius, who was pretending to faint with awe and love-struck romance.
'I'll have some.' Remus said giving her his mug.
Soon they all got on the subject of Christmas holidays.
'Oohh... Michelle, James wants to know if we want to go to his house for Christmas day.' Lily said looking at her with pleading eyes.
'I don't think my parents will mind... they work with your parents James and sent me a letter saying that I'm alone with Lily. My brother is going with my aunt Beth.' Michelle said looking at Lily with excitement.
'So you can come?' James asked her.
'Why not?' Both girls said together.
'Can I come? I might be able to stop by for a short time...?' Faye asked them.
'Of course.' Sirius answered. 'Party at the Potter place!' He said happily.
'No.' James said, suddenly thinking of his dad.
'My parents are visiting America. I'm in.' Remus said smiling.
'Cool, is Peter coming?' Lily asked.
All the boys looked at each other swiftly and all said quickly and suspiciously, 'No... No!'
'Alright.' Lily said, not looking interested. She never liked Peter much. He clinged to James and Sirius too much.
'Yeah. Look, let's go back to the castle. I've got that nasty essay on dreamless sleep potions. Slughorn is so annoying...' Faye told them, shaking her head frustratedly. She finished off the rest of her butterbeer and stood up.
'Yeah, I'll go too. Do you guys want to come?' Lily asked, and Michelle decided to also.
'No. I'm going to stay for awhile, you guys can go if you want.' James said, smiling unsuspiciously.
'We'll go.' Remus and Sirius said, giving James a questioning look at to why he was staying.
'I'll be there in a few minutes.' James said, watching them leave. Seeing as they left so soon, he paid for all the drinks and bid Rosmerta a goodbye as he left a little after they went outside.
The place he decided to go to was to the animal shop and get the black, blue-eyed kitty that Lily loved so much, so he could give it to her for Christmas.
'How much?' James asked the pet store lady.
'Twenty galleons.' She said to him. 'Or you could have all the supplies for thirty.' She added.
'I'll take all of it.' James said, handing over a pouch of gold.
'For your girlfriend who was in here not too long ago?' She asked him smiling.
'Yeah... yeah Christmas gift.' He said, smiling, glad that he was now actually 'allowed' to call Lily his girlfriend properly.
'Here you go.' She said, handing over a wicker basket that gave a soft 'meow' and a bag full of litter, food, and treats.
'Thanks.' James said, vanishing all the stuff, including the kitty to his dorm magically, that way it wouldn't look to conspicuos when he met up with them again. As long as Lily didn't go into his room...
On his way back to Hogwarts, he heard someone shiftily talking lightly in the alleyway between two stores.
'Yeah, yes... I promise you, James Potter trusts me. And, he will do anything for Lily Evans. Don't touch me Malfoy... I'm giving you supreme information. You are lucky that I've even come-'
'Shut up. I could force anything against Potter and get what I want... and now that Evans and him are together... it's one less step I would have had to take care of. Potter is a toothpick. And not a word Pettigrew... the Lord knows all, and you will regret it if any of my perfect plan gets screwed. Got it?'
'I - I... mean to say - well.'
'Look, as soon as we get the girl, we lure Potter to save her... he won't stand a chance against the Lord... it's impossible. It's all going to happen next weekend when everyone boards the train to go home for holidays.'
'There... there may be a flaw.'
'There won't, as long as you don't screw around. And, if all goes as planned, then perhaps we can get the muggle-loving headmaster as well. It's not Potter we want... it's his powers, and the girl's.' The voice said eerily.
James heard a rustle and movement, and he ran off before Peter and Malfoy, a graduate of Hogwarts last year, could see him.
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(Makes another Mysterious sound)
-THAT WAS CHAPTER SEVEN! PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE REVIEW!
WheezlyGirl
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