When James and Lily had woken wrapped in each other's arms late that night, he had squeezed her tightly to his bare chest. 'I'm so glad you came."
"Me too," she held his forearm just under her breasts.
"So we're back together, right?"
She laughed.
"Sirius is one hell of a mate."
"Yeah," she nuzzled up closer; closing her eyes. "He is."
He kissed her on the crown.
Lily spent the rest of the holiday at the Potters. She was amazing at pulling James from his sorrow over his father's death; spending hours just holding his head in her lap or squeezing his hand. Sirius spent the rest of his holiday in his room; trying to release all the sorrow he felt without Dorcas' help. Part of him hated James. Lily only left the day before they were to leave for Hogwarts to get her things together and say goodbye to her parents.
When everyone did return to Hogwarts, the romance between the Head Boy and Head Girl was unavoidable. James would kiss Lily in the middle of meals, in the middle of class, and in the middle of the halls. She was smiling at him constantly; seeming to need him by her side at all times. He stopped the pranks. They weren't nearly as fun as this was.
Feeling rather deserted, the other Marauders tried to keep up their noble work, but without James it just never came together the way it used to. The reign of the Marauders was officially over. Peter seemed to take it the hardest. He really didn't have much else. The Marauders had been his life. Remus had shrugged it off well enough; saying that it was probably good that they were growing out of their pranks. Sirius had sulked around for awhile, but eventually let it go. The three of them didn't even really hang out together all that much anymore. Remus was becoming better and better friends with Gwendolyn and Sirius now spent most of the time he wasn't with James with Dorcas.
One day at the end of January, James, Lily, Sirius, Dorcas, and Peter were sitting at the Gryffindor table eating breakfast. Remus was away at the shack.
"Does he have the flu?" Dorcas asked; pouring herself more coffee.
"No," James shook his head. "It's not the flu. But don't worry about it. I'm sure he'll be fine."
She shrugged. "He sure is sick a lot."
Sirius looked down at his toast, frowning. Dorcas' ignorance was turning into a problem. Remus' condition had a tendency to come up during their conversations. With Dorcas around, they couldn't talk about it. Sirius couldn't tell her; it wasn't his secret to give. He also couldn't demand, or even ask, Remus to tell her. The situation was complicated.
Professor McGonagall was walking over to them. She was wearing an awfully grave expression. "Potter, Black, Pettigrew, could you come with me please?"
The five friends looked around at each other as the boys rose, shrugging and followed McGonagall to her office. When they reached the room and had entered, McGonagall sat down at her desk.
"Boys," she conjured three chairs in front of her desk. "Please sit."
They obeyed the Professor and sat. She rubbed her forehead and sighed. "Remus Lupin's parents were attacked last night," she said. "They were able to escape; although Mrs. Lupin is in St. Mungo's. I thought I ought to tell the three of you since he is indisposed at the moment. The story of the attacks will probably come out before he returns." She interwove her fingers as she finished.
James and Sirius looked at each other and swallowed hard. Peter looked at his feet.
"So they're alright, then?" James asked.
She nodded. "Yes Potter, they are both alright. Still, Remus will need to leave school to visit his mother as soon as possible. I will tell Mr. Lupin the news myself, but I think it would be wise if the three of you are present when I do."
The three boys nodded gravely.
"But they're alright?" Lily asked later that night in the Head Boy and Girl's chambers.
"Yeah," James nodded, frowning. "His mother's in the hospital, but she'll be fine in a few weeks."
Lily sighed and leaned her head against James' shoulder. After a while, a tear fell from her green eyes. James wiped it away and kissed her softly on the forehead.
"Don't worry Lily," he whispered. "We're safe. I promise. I'll always protect you."
"Where is he?" Dorcas asked. She and Sirius were lying in bed, as usual. She was propped up on her elbow attempting to get Sirius to spill the beans.
"I can't tell you, Dorcas," he sighed.
She frowned. "But…"
"I can't tell you," he said again.
"Does this have something to do with what happened in April? I still don't know what you did that night, you know."
He gritted his teeth. "And I still can't tell you, Dorcas."
"Are you ever going to tell me?" She rolled back over on to her back; sighing.
"It's none of your business," he said.
She looked very taken aback and rolled back up on her side. "We are dating, aren't we?"
"It doesn't matter," he said; not looking at her. "I still can't tell you. Besides, if you think this is so serious, why didn't you stay on Christmas?"
"I told you I was sorry about that," she said quietly; almost shamefully. "I just couldn't."
"Well," he said sarcastically. "I just can't tell you."
"Don't be childish."
"Dorcas," he screamed at her. "Just let it go, okay?"
She blinked. "I'm going to bed," she said flatly; climbing out of his bed and hurrying back to the girl's dormitories.
Sirius exhaled hugely and punched the bed hard.
It was three days later that Remus returned. He was immediately called to Professor McGonagall's office. James, Sirius, and Peter were already there. They sat in three wooden chairs; nervously waiting for their friend's arrival. Professor McGonagall was sitting in her own chair behind her desk; looking a bit nervous.
Remus opened the door; looking absolutely awful. His eyes were even bigger than usual, he was pale, there was a huge scratch running from his temple down to the middle of his cheek, and his wispy hair was matted horribly. He rubbed at the scratch and held up a note. "You wanted to see me, Professor."
"Yes, Mr. Lupin," she motioned at a chair in between James and Peter.
He sat down and looked around; obviously confused as to why the other three were in the room with him. He looked from James to Sirius and then at Peter, who was almost white. Suddenly, a flicker of some sort of comprehension was noticeable in his eyes.
"Does she know?" he whispered to James. "About the three of you?"
James shook his head and placed a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"The reason I have called you in so soon after your recent illness is because a very terrible event took place while you were up at the shrieking shack," she took a breath.
Remus looked at James, whose hand was still on his shoulder, with huge eyes bloodshot from exhaustion. James tried to look strong for Remus' sake.
"Your parents were attacked by a group of Death Eaters four days ago."
Remus immediately went completely white; his hand shaking terribly. He opened his mouth to ask a question, but McGonagall beat him to it.
"They're fine," she said quickly. "They were able to leave almost immediately, although your mother was hit with a curse as she was apparating. She's in St. Mungo's at the moment and expected to make a full recovery."
Remus looked relieved and got a little color back in his face. He swallowed hard.
"It was Greyback, wasn't it?" he asked quietly; looking at the floor.
"All I know was that it was a group of three death eaters," McGonagall said.
"It was Greyback," he confirmed.
"It's alright Remus," Peter said, putting a shaky hand on his other shoulder. "Your parents are fine."
Remus nodded; but still looked awfully depressed.
"As soon as you're ready, your father would like to come pick you up, Mr. Lupin," McGonagall said. "I know this comes as a shock, but you should listen to Mr. Pettigrew. Your parents are very lucky to be alive."
Remus nodded again; not looking up. "Tell him I'll be ready in an hour."
"Alright, Mr. Lupin," McGonagall nodded. "Boys, why don't you help him up to the dormitory?"
Remus stood; his hands still shaking and shook his head. "I'll be fine. I'd rather be alone."
Sirius and James both stood. Peter looked over a porky shoulder.
"Are you sure, mate?" Sirius asked.
Remus nodded. "Yeah, I'd rather be alone."
"Alright," James said; a frown on his face. "If you change your mind…"
"Yeah," he nodded quickly, "I know."
James and Sirius exchanged worried glances as Remus left the room. Remus walked out of McGonagall's office and stopped. The shock was beginning to wear off and suddenly, he felt an intense anger and an all-consuming sadness begin to fill his body. It was similar to the way he felt right before he transformed; a huge "why" dominating his mind. His eyes slipping out of focus, he walked blindly back to Gryffindor tower. He didn't notice the way students whispered to each other as he passed. The story had been published in The Daily Prophet two days earlier.
When he reached the portrait hole, he realized he didn't know the password, which had changed while he had been gone.
"Damn," he thought. Now he'd have to sit here and wait for Sirius and Peter to come back; both of whom would act awkward and confused around him. He had seen the way they'd acted around Owen, Gwen, and Annabelle when their families had been attacked. He couldn't bear one of Peter's awkward back patting sessions or Sirius' complete silence. A silent Sirius proved that something was wrong.
Remus breathed a sigh of relief when he saw a slender blonde girl climbing the stairs.
"Gwen," he said. "I don't know the password."
She smiled slightly at him. "No problem. It's Doxy Eggs."
The portrait hole swung open and the two of them entered the common room.
"Thanks," he muttered; immediately turning for the boys' staircase.
"Remus," she called.
"Yeah?" He turned his head; eyes still unfocused in his grief.
"I heard about your parents," she said softly; her blue eyes trying to gauge his emotions. "You know, if you ever want to talk, I do know what it's like to have my family attacked by…by Him."
Remus' eyes slid back into focus for a second. He pursed his lips and nodded. He turned again to go up the stairs. Then he turned back to her. She had begun the trek up the stairs. "Did you feel this unbelievable anger?"
She turned around; her blonde hair floating around her, and slowly nodded
"Does it go away?" he asked; pleading with her to give him the right answer.
Her brow furrowed a little and she pressed her lips together as if she wanted to say something, but wasn't sure she could.
"No," she said softly. "But you learn to live with it."
He nodded; sighing. "Thanks Gwen."
She smiled warmly at him.