31 August, 1980
The odd-looking woman gazed down at the wizarding town, near to where she had been born in ages passed. She had not laid eyes on the land since she was a little girl, alive with magic and curious in nature. Her teacher had taken her in the night on her eleventh birthday, stealing her away and teaching her Wild magic. She had not wanted to return, even after her training had been completed and her teacher left to the Obscurity as before. Yet she found herself here now, gazing at the darken houses, the moon half full hanging in the night sky. She had taken to Obscurity, much like her teacher, however dreams pulled her here. They did Dream, Dream of the past, the present and the future. She stood slowly, eyes moving to her right locking on a wizard with wild black hair and hazel eyes, skin a dark brown. His wand was drawn on her, grip tightening at her change in stance.
"Who are you?" He watched her head tip, eyes, one gold, one silver, blinking slowly twice as if he was a cat, she wanted to gain the trust. She wore a pair of denim jean shorts and a loose-fitted shirt, both so worn she might as well of worn nothing at all against the cold autumn night. The fabric protected her from eyes seeing her flesh but nothing else. He let his eyes move down her form, taking note of the many tattoos covering her from the neck down. He recognized some of the symbols as runes, but many had no meaning to him. Her hair was a dark brown and shaved on one side, not quite bald. The other side looked matted, but when he looked closer, he realized it was a random mix of plaits and dreadlocks. He could make out little beads, feathers, leaves, and a few shinier pieces of something weaved into the hair.
"Who are you?" He repeated the question, having gleamed little from her attire. He was not surprised when she ignored him and turned back to gaze eyes empty at the town below; his town, his home, Godric's Hollow. He kept his wand pointed at her and waited, unsure how to proceed. The odd-looking woman remained still under his examination and gave no inclination that she cared for his scrutiny.
Lily was below, sitting with a newly born Harry, ready to floo to Sirius if something were to happen to him. He jumped when she turned back to him, her eyes and skin glowing in the moon light by magic, he was certain. He was entranced as she took a step toward him, eyes locking him in place.
"I've searched; Peace can only be found through the River Styx." She looked away from him, eyes flickering across the town looking for what he did not know. He kept his wand up, still unsure if she was a threat or not. She had been watching them every night since the full moon, but never moved from this spot. He still had trouble sleeping with the orb so high, wanting to run under it with his friends. War had separated them. He took a breath, feeling the longing and sorrow at the knowledge of how truly fragile his family had become. Everyone suspecting everyone with Lily, Harry, and himself locked in the middle. "He will not be Kept until the third Crossing." Her words cut through his thoughts, a reassurance echoing with each syllable. A reassurance he did not understand, but felt on a fundamental level. His very magic sang with the truth of her words.
"What?" He lowered his wand, unconsciously knowing that she was to be trusted. "Cross the Styx?" He did not know much about Mythology, but the Styx led to the Underworld, Death. "Who must die?" his eyes filled with pleas, fear cooling his blood, making him shiver. He did not want anyone else to die.
"I've looked." She grew pensive, eyes darting around, shifting from foot to foot, as if a predator was near, and she had nowhere to run. "He'll see Peace," Her voice pleaded he understand. Her eyes darkened with resolve. "But there must be blood first." She turned to him sharply, eyes wide filled with a madness that caused him to step back, tripping onto his back. He scrabbled away from her and stood up on shaking legs. His breath came in tight, deep gasps.
"What are you?" He pressed his hands into the tree suddenly behind him. She picked up his wand; he had not even realized he dropped it. She turned it over in her hand, head tipping one way or the other, seeing something he could not.
"Druid." She offered the fallen weapon to him, eyes looking at him curiously. "I am a Druid." He reached for it slowly, jerking his wand into his chest the moment his fingers wrapped around it.
"Druids were wiped out by the Romans over a thousand years ago." He got his breathing under control and placed his wand in its holster on his wrist.
"Were we?" She smiled; eyes filled with humor. "I was not informed." She eased away from him returning to her perch on the hill overlooking the town.
"If you're a Druid..." she eyed him as he spoke, laughter gazing back at him. "Why are you here?" He took up the spot by her, looking down on his home, where his hoped Lily and Harry were safe.
"This is the turning point." She bit her lip, uncertainty clouding her face for the first time. "If I was to stem the blood, it would have been here." She licked the abused lip. "It must be." He frowned, as her shoulders sagged, and the air chilled. She turned to him, eyes bright, but strangely empty.
"I'm James." He did not reach out to her like he wanted, unsure of exactly the appropriate greeting for a Druid. "James Potter." She gazed at him, eyes clear despite the vacantness of them, locked on him. She reached into a small pouch he had missed on her left hip and pulled out something that caught the light of the moon, causing it to glow. Slowly she held it out to him; a pair of silver earring.
"For the Wolf and Grimm," He opened his hand and let the jewelry fall into his palm. He could not find his voice as she reached into her pockets and retrieved two more piece of jewelry. She placed a ring and a bracelet in his other hand. "A ring for you, the other for her." She wrapped his frozen fingers around the four objects with a nod of her head. "Wear them and The Pack will see Peace." She turned and headed into the woods around them.
"What about Peter?" His voice broke, pulling her eyes back to him. She blinked lowly at him again, causing his face to redden, feelings of shame cutting into him. He did not know why he was feeling shame and embarrassment. It was a question he needed an answer to.
"It must be the four, or it won't work." She disappeared into the tree line. James looked down at the four pieces of silver in his hands. His thoughts were frozen, unable to understand what had happen. When he returned to his home, Lily listened to his story and with a nod reassured her husband. Druids were a nonviolent group and would not knowingly harm anyone. She tried to help him understand, finding the few books on Druids from the Potter Library. She had taken many books when they sealed up the manor and came to Godric's Hollow. The small library was contained in a truck with every protective charm they had at their disposal. The trunk had an illegal expansion charm on it as well, placed by Lily herself.
Still, it took casting every Diagnoses Charms they both knew, before he was satisfied enough to place the ring on his finger.
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1980, December 20th
James paced the sitting room glancing at the floo every couple of seconds. Sirius had promised to arrive a few hours before the small party they were hosting for the Order and a few family friends, before they completely went into hiding. Once that happened only Dumbledore, Sirius, Remus, and Peter would be able to find them. He tossed the earring up and caught it in time with his glances. He wanted to give the Druid's gift to his friends without anyone else knowing.
Firstly, he was unsure if he could answer any of the questions their friends would have, but mostly he did not want Peter to know. Peter the friend that seemed to have taken up residence on the outskirts of their friendship circle. The man who was taking care of his mother whose health was failing; sweet, soft spoken, loveable Peter. James still was unsure why the Druid had not seen fit to give a gift to him, but there was no turning back now.
"Must be four..." He caught the earring and turned his fist to look at the black, thick line that encircled his finger like one of the tattoos Sirius was so fond of. Lily had a matching one around her wrist where the bracelet disappeared into her skin, leaving the dark line behind. They had placed the trinkets on one at a time, him first, just in case they weren't what she claimed. There had been a glow, then the object seemed to vanish into their skin. Lily had not hesitated to place her own on when nothing happened to James. She firmly believed in the Druid's apparent wish to help them see Peace. "Whatever the bloody hell that is." He mumbled to himself, lost in the memories.
He cursed as his best friend and brother in all ways but blood stepped through, shaking ash off his leather jacket as he did so. He was laughing and stumbled for a moment before getting his footing. James frowned, knowing that he had more than a few Firewhiskeys in him. Sirius's hands pushed his hair out of his face, allowing him to lock eyes with the serious faced marauder. They shared a moment of relief; afraid that every time would be the last time, they would see each other.
"Hey Pads." James threw himself at his friend; laughter filled with joy. Their hug was short lived as Lily entered the room, Harry nowhere in sight. James smiled at his wife, "Got him to sleep?" She nodded joining them in the sitting room. "Pads..." James pulled away, reaching for Lily's hand. "I have to ask something of you..." He locked eyes with him. "I can't fully explain why, but it's important."
"I'd do anything for you. Either of you." His joyful entrance was quickly turning sour as the three adults, stared anywhere at the room around them. None of them quite ready to have the conversation that was sure to cause an argument.
"Put this on." He held out the earring, the silver color shining in the candle lit room. He had worried about giving Remus something that was made of silver. Despite Lily's reassurance, he had tried to figure out what the strange jewelry was made out of, but came up empty handed. It was not a substance his magic or knowledge could recognize. He played with the idea of taking it to a jeweler, but gave that idea up after more thought. He was worried that they would take the items and not return them in time to give to his friends. He had given up, satisfied that it was not silver.
Sirius took what was offer and brought it closer, eyes narrowing in questions. "What is it?" Lily looked between the two, while James run his free hand across his face.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Sirius cocked an eyebrow, asking him to try. James did his best to relay the exchange between him and the strange woman up on the hill. Sirius tensed at the word Druid, looking at Lily for confirmation. When she nodded, he looked at the unknown item in his hand. His family had taught him some about Druids. However, while the Blacks were around when the magical practice existed, they had not exactly seen eye to eye with the nature loving witches and wizards. His family preferred Blood Magic even then, and Druids refused to use such magic. That put them at odds with many of the families around that time.
"You know shit about this and you want me to put it in my bloody skin?" He looked unbelieving at his friends. "My ears aren't even pierced." Silence filled the room, James shifted from foot to foot, one hand locked around Lily's the other wiping sweat from his palm on his trousers. Lily wrapped her other hand around James upper arm, trying to offer what little support she could. Sirius started to pace. He always did have too much energy, constantly needing to move or he'd blow.
"I know it sounds insane..."
"Insane?! Druids are gone! Extinct! Nothin' but smoke outta arses!" He turned and looked at them, eyes wide. "Bloody hell Prongs!"
"I need you to do this Padfoot. For me." The two men stared at each other. Sirius frowned pupils blow open with adrenaline.
"Are you wearing one?" James pulled his hand free from Lily and showed him the black band around his finger. "Fuck." Sirius glanced in disbelieve between them, the earring and Lily, who had lifted her own mark up for him to see. "What... What happens if I don't?" James took a breath and gazed up toward Harry's room.
"We'll never find Peace." Neither of them knew what exactly the Druid had meant by Peace. Their guess was an end to the war. Maybe it was the Peaceful slumber of Death, but they were willing to risk everything for the chance to find it. Sirius cursed again, removing the back of the earring and stabbing it through his lope. He put the back on as quickly as possible, barely taking note the lack of pain. For a moment there was a glow that surrounded them, a string of light starting with him and ending at Lily. "Just one left." James's voice brought them back to the moment. Sirius touched where the jewelry should be. It was gone, and a black mark taking its place just behind his ear.
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1980, December 25th
Remus stood stone still on the walkway leading up to the Potter's home, trying to gather the courage to step up and knock. He had been gone with the packs for just under a year and had no idea what his friends had been up to. He had only returned now, because he could not bring himself to miss another holiday with his family. The Alpha of the pack he had been staying with encouraged him to leave and return to where he belonged. He knew that Remus was already too full of self-loathing and doubt to miss an important event again. He took a deep breath and knocked. The sun had set while he had debated within himself and looking around he wanted to leave and try again tomorrow.
"Remus," Lily threw the door open the rest of the way and launched at him, a smile on her face. Remus caught her and tried to keep himself from crying; he did not deserve any of it. "Where have you been? We were so worried!" She shuffled him into the house, with more force than necessary. He tried to chuckle, but ended up letting out a sob mixed with a groan of pain. He was sore and more than a little emotional with the full moon only four days away. "Will you be here for the moon? I'm sure..." Remus cut her off.
"No. I have to continue my mission... I just..." His shoulders sagged, and he gazed at Lily with an expression of helplessness. Lily took a breath and looked up the stairs where Harry was asleep.
"How long are you here for?" Her voice was soft, filled with just as much hope as his expression.
"An hour at most..." He shuffled sheepishly. "I took a while to knock." She snorted and waved him off. They stood silently for several moments, each lost to their own thoughts. "Is James...?" A cry silenced his question, and both adults looked toward the noise.
"Harry's awake." Lily was smiling at him with nothing but love on her face. She had been friends with Remus much longer than the other marauders. They had spent hours studying together and bouncing ideas back and forth. Remus was the one who, once James had grown up some, talked Lily into giving him a chance. She was also the very first person he had told about his affliction. The rest of his friends had either figured it out or had been told by someone else. She had known he had a secret, and it had something to do with his month disappearances, but she had decided during their first year that he would tell her when he was ready. "Come on." She led the werewolf up the stairs toward the nursery.
Each step felt like a hundred-yard sprint to him. He knew that his relationship with his brothers had suffered greatly under the war efforts, and it did not help that Dumbledore swore him to secrecy. Their group was founded and survived on trust; trust he could not give them, despite wanting to with all his heart. The room clearly had been decorated by James; the walls were painted to look like a quidditch pitch with moving players, balls, and sky. He marveled as the clouds in the painting covered the moon that reflected the actual moon phase outside. The players were dressed in red and greens, clearly with a Slytherin and Gryffindor game in mind. Remus turned back to Lily as she lifted a little baby out of the crib. Harry James Potter was around five months old, if Remus remembered correctly.
Lily perched him on her hip and the black-haired baby rested his head on her shoulder. Remus had never really thought about the height difference between him and the rest of their family. Seeing the baby as long as her torso reminded him that Lily was more than a foot shorter than himself. She walked over to him, bouncing the baby as Harry locked eyes on the two-meter-tall werewolf. His green eyes wide with curiosity at the new comer. The three of them stood together, Remus cautiously running his fingers across Harry's cheek. This was how James found them half an hour later. Remus refused to hold him, afraid regardless of Lily's best effort.
"Hey Moony." Remus nodded to his friend, not taking his eyes off the baby. Moony was pacing in his mind, howling with the knowledge that his Pack had a new member. He followed James out of the room as Lily put Harry back into his crib for bed. The two men ventured into the sitting room without a word. "Where have you been?"
"I can't... I can't tell you." Remus looked out of the window the night had come and he knew he needed to leave. "Happy Christmas Prongs." James repeated it to him, both men looked at Lily as she joined them. She had a few butterbeers in her hands and offered them to the two men standing awkwardly in her sitting room. Remus accepted but did not open it. James opened his and took a deep swig, trying to ease his own tension. They had not seen Remus is almost a year. He had missed the birth of Harry and every other event and holiday since early March. Sirius had begun to speak out against him, when he visited their cottage to play with Harry. James had started to think the things Sirius accused the werewolf of, were looking more and more accurate.
Lily however, she believed in Remus with all her heart and quickly silenced their conversations about his supposed betrayal.
Someone had to be the spy, Sirius would lash out at her, why not Remus! This was when she would remind them of their childhood; the many days spent under the moon. Sirius would drop It then, but there would always be a mutinous gleam in his eyes. He believed Remus was the most likely member of the Order of the Pheonix to be the spy.
"I should go." Remus knew he was not expected back with the packs for several days, but he could not stand the tension in the room. He did not want to cause trouble for his friends, not with a baby to look after.
"Wait... Rem... We... I need a favor." James set his butterbeer down, having a silent discussion with Lily before leaving the room. Lily moved closer to him and told him the tale of James's encounter with the Druid. Remus stood stark still as she explained as much as she could, while James retrieved the other earring.
"A Druid?" Remus was speaking softly. While most Witches and Wizards thought them extinct, werewolves and other magical creatures encountered them often enough that they knew Druids to be as much alive as anything else. "Why would she speak to James?" Lily shrugged. They did not know. The Druid had been vague and spoke in closer to riddles. "Where is my piece?" He asked, knowing that he would not be getting a response that made any sense from the Potters, since they knew little.
James emerged from upstairs and offered the silver-colored earring to his friend without a word. Remus touched it reverently, taking in deep breaths of disbelief. To receive a gift from a Druid was a great honor to all, once upon a time. Now only what the magical world called creatures, understood the significance. His heightened senses could pick up the traces of Wild magic placed upon the trinket. It felt like home to his wolf. Slowly, he took the piece between his fingers, eyes locked on it, as if he were afraid looking away would cause it to vanish.
"Is... Is there a matching piece?" He was shaking with the effort to maintain his composure.
"Yeah... Sirius got that one." James looked at Lily, wondering if telling Remus, he was sharing a set with Sirius would be a good idea. Remus merely nodded, removing the back of the earring.
"Which..." He swallowed. "Which ear did Pads but it in?" James frowned unsure of why that mattered, but Lily answered. Remus nodded and placed the earring through the opposite ear as his friend. He did not know if it mattered or not, but it never hurt to be certain. Druids were a nonviolent bunch, but they never spoke clearly. As soon as the back was placed a glow filled the room, and the string from Lily connected to him, then disappeared into the wall, only to return and connect to James. The four were attached by the string of light. It encircled them. "I... I should go." Remus was gazing amazed at the place where he had seen the light enter him. It gave him hope that when everything was said and done, their family would be alright.
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1981, October 31
James screamed for Lily to take Harry and run, he wanted nothing more than for his family to survive. He'd take any Curse, die a thousand times, just to give them a chance. His wand was in the next room, having gotten complacent in the safety of the Fidelius Charm. He barely managed to stand between the Dark Lord and his family before being hit with the green spell that stole his life from him. It did not hurt the way he had imagined. Death was not painful. What was painful was the moment before he died, when he knew his family would likely die with him.
The black mark on his finger turned white, and atop the hill a Druid sat face downcast.
Lily sacrificed herself for her son, allowing him to return from across the River Styx for the first time. No one who noticed, took note of the white circle encompassing her wrist that had once been black.
By the time Sirius arrived at the scene, Hagrid had little Harry wrapped in his arms, and Sirius knew he had been wrong. Peter had been the traitor along. So enraged and emotional, he did not notice the mark behind his ear change to white. He would not notice until much later, when the other Marauder pointed it out while he was hiding from the Aurors at Lupin Lodge years later. None of that mattered to Sirius Black, who was more focused on revenge and seeking justice.
Remus in his own part of the world, spying on a pack unaffiliated with Voldemort, noticed the white mark behind his ear the next morning while drinking from a river. He always looked at the place where the Druid's earring had fused with his skin. The other werewolves could sense the Wild magics as well as he could and knew its significance. It turning white was what triggered his checking the pack bonds inside his own Wild magic. When he saw the faded lines that were once Lily and James, he fell home as far as possible.
While time passed the two remaining Marauders rekindled their friendship. Remus continued to watch the marks and reminded Sirius of them whenever they were alone. Sirius had attempted to scratched the thing off his skin more than once. He did not believe that the Druid had given them anything, but marks on their skin. How would James and Lily find 'Peace' while dead. Remus would let his friend release his anger in any way that he could, but Remus never lost faith in the Druid. Such people did what they did for a reason, often never shared with anyone else.
Remus sat at his empty table, a year after Sirius had fallen through the Veil, a tiny mirror in his hand. He touched the white mark behind his ear and for the first time, felt betrayed by his faith. It was just him now, alone in the world. Instead of anger, Remus felt empty and accepted that was the way of the world.
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2 May, 1998
Remus was fighting alongside Tonks, in what everyone hoped was the final battle to save Hogwarts and free the Wizarding world from Old Voldy. He could feel the sweat running down his neck as they stood back-to-back, shooting off spell after spell. She didn't scream when she fell. He just felt the weight of her collapse into him before hitting the floor.
Remus had found another time of love and hope in the arms and heart of Nymphadora Tonks. He had been alone and empty and in pain every moment since Sirius died. Gasping against the emotions cutting through him, he didn't, couldn't fight anymore. That was how the old warrior, the last Marauder, hand grasping his wife's, lost his life.
The mark behind his ear turned black, and sitting unmoving in the Forbidden Forest, a Druid was the only one who noticed.
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31 August, 1998
Harry sat by the lake at Hogwarts, the final battle had ended in victory for the side of light, however many lives were lost. They had finished the funerals, the repairs, and hope was slowly sinking into the world again. Harry could not find it in himself to care. He had saved the world and wanted nothing more than to finally have the normal life denied him from the moment he was born. Ron had been giving Kingsley's offer of Auror training great consideration, Hermione wanted to return to school along with Neville, Ginny, Luna, and a bunch of their other friends. At least the ones who survived, he added in his own thoughts. George had yet to reopen his shop, still lost without his brother. Mrs. Weasley had an open door for everyone who needed a home.
Harry lived in Number 12 Grimmauld, trying to recapture the brief moment in time where he had believed he would have a family. Hermione had figured out the portrait of Walburga could be removed the Muggle way, but Harry continued to put it off day after day. In a strange way she was the last connection he had to his family, to Sirius. He let out a groan and laid back, watching the sky bleed into colors as the sun set. Losing himself to thoughts of what could have been.
This was how Hermione found him, the sun almost completely set and slightly shivering. He did not acknowledge her as she sat, just continued to stare up at the soon-to-be night sky.
"Harry, I know it's hard, but they'd want you to continue forward." He snorted. Harry at times wished he was more like Ron, willing to lash out in anger. It would probably help in the moment, but then he'd have to admit he was wrong and apologize. Harry frowned thinking of the Tri-wizard Tournament. Ron hadn't believed him, about not putting his name in the Goblet of Fire until after the first task. He sighed, sitting up, knowing that Ron, like most, wasn't perfect. "Harry..."
Hermione was looking out toward the Forbidden Forest. Harry followed her gaze and an odd-looking woman stood just inside the shadow of the trees. Her eyes reflecting the waning moon. Hermione stood drawing her wand, and gesturing for Harry to follow.
Harry however did not feel threatened by the woman. If anything, she weirdly felt familiar, like a forgotten dream. Still, he pulled his as well, not wanting to leave Hermione to fight alone, should his feeling be incorrect. "Wouldn't be the first time." He whispered to himself.
"Who are you?" Hermione's voice was stern and gave no room to be denied. The woman did not answer, but did step away from the trees into the light. She was short and in need of a bath. Her clothes were so worn, torn, and soiled, that he could not tell what they used to be. Her hair cut on one side, and the other side matted. He got caught in her eyes, each a different color. She was smiling, one hand wrapped in a loose fist, the other relaxed against her side. Hermione tightened her grip on her wand and repeated her question. The unusual woman laughed. It was like a song the wind would howl on a summer morning, and Harry felt warmed by the sound.
"You remind me of another who acted as you do." Her voice was soothing to him, and he put his wand away, hoping Hermione would do that same.
"Who?" Harry had started walking towards her, Hermione letting out a series of warnings before following. Harry fought a smile, knowing that no matter what, Hermione would follow him. She and Ron had proven that time and time again. No matter what situation he got himself into, those two were there by his side.
"He called himself James Potter." Both teens gasped, eyes growing in surprise. They stood silently, now right in front of the intruder. Hermione noticed the tattoos and found herself trying to understand them. Some she knew from Runes; others were similar to things she had found in books in a variety of places.
Wild magics. She let out a startled breath, throat suddenly too tight to speak. This woman, she was a Druid; a supposably extinct magical practice. She was practically vibrating with questions but unable to figure out where to start.
"You... You knew my father." Harry's question caught Hermione off guard, having forgotten she had mentioned how Hermione and James acted similarly.
"In a way." The Druid's eyes drifted from Hermione to Harry, "I... I gave him a gift." She looked back into the Forbidden Forest, seeing something that they could not. Harry wanted to asked what kind of gift, and Hermione was gazing into the trees trying to see what she saw. "A chance to see Peace." Harry frowned, they were dead, how in the world could she gift them Peace.
The Druid, Harry noticed, had bare foot, just a soiled as her clothes. Her toes wiggled and shifted the dirt in thought. Hermione grabbed Harry's hand and glared, knowing that he was thinking of doing something stupid.
"If I told you, they could be here again, what price would you pay?" Hermione took in sharp breath and Harry answered.
"Anything."
"The Hallows?" She held up the Resurrection stone, which had been gripped in her hand. The last time he had seen the stone was right before he went to sacrifice himself to save his friends, his world. He had dropped it in the forest, never expecting to see it again.
"The Hallows?" Hermione tightened her hold. She was sending a silent message that he should never trust anyone. There were always more than what others said. Harry didn't listen to her warning, instead nodded. He had the cloak in his bag along with the Elder wand. He wanted to put it back in Dumbledore's grave, so that its trail of blood would end. The Druid nodded and handed him the stone. She turned and headed into the Forbidden Forest, gesturing for them to follow. Harry continued without hesitation. Hermoine yanked him back. "Harry. This doesn't seem right... what if?"
"Hermione. I have to try." He pulled his hand free, holding tight to the stone and ran to walk beside the Druid. Hermione hopped in distress for a moment before rushing to accompany them. She had not left his side through the whole of the hunt for Horcruxes, she would not leave him now.
They traveled deep into the forest, encountering nothing but trees and other vegetation. Hermione could not stand the quiet and started mumbling facts about everything she saw. The Druid gave her no notice and merely led them. Harry attempted to have a conversation with her in order to ease her tension, but nothing worked.
"So, you're a Druid." Hermione finally spoke to her directly, hoping to learn something. "How is it that you exist?" Harry stared at the tattoos, noticing them for the first time. He realized that they meant something to Hermione, who absorbed knowledge like a sponge absorbed water. "Not to be rude, but I've only seen tales of your kind. Romans wiped Druids out over a thousand years ago."
"Yes, I'm sure that is what the Romans tell tales of." There was a humor to her voice that reminded Harry of Sirius when he was in on the joke, and no one else was.
"Since you are here, I'm to assume that they were wrong." Hermione forged on, having not noticed the joke. The Druid did not have to speak further, for Hermione filled the air with her thoughts, facts she had read, and her opinion on everything related to the Roman view on Druids. When she got to the little she knew about Wild magic they reached their destination.
"Girl, stay outside the circle." In the clearing was a circle pinched in at four points, equally spaced apart. The air felt heavy with magic and was completely silent besides the noise from the three of them. Along the border of the trees were a strange vine plant, that looked a bit like clover and climbing roses had a baby. These plants had a glow to them that illuminated the area with the light of the moon. Night had fallen, and Harry had not even noticed. Hermione was silent for the first time since they started their walk through the Forbidden Forest, studying the new area.
"What now?" Harry, having not been told to stay out of the circle, joined the Druid in the clearing. She merely waved him to come into the center, where a circle formed from symbols, he didn't recognize at the heart of the larger pinched one.
"Set the Hallows here." The Druid pointed to the center. Hermione was standing on her toes trying to see what they were looking at, while not entering the space. Harry pulled out the wand and cloak, wrapping the stone and wand together in the fabric, before turning to the Druid.
"Why do I have to set them?" Harry asked his question, curious for the first time since they met this woman. "Can't you?"
"You are the master of Death, not I." Hermione gasped, settling back onto her feet at the Druid's statement. "They are the price." The Druid added as a bit more of an explanation. "Set them and leave the circle." Harry nodded, doing as she asked. Hermione grabbed his hand once he stood beside her. She was so entranced by the ritual that she did not speak to him. He remained equally silent as it began.
The Druid watched him leave the ritual circle, before kneeling. "Do not enter until I say to." She did not wait for a confirmation pressing her hands into the soil on the outside of the center circle. She took a breath loud enough to cut through the empty clearing. Hermione wrapped her arms fully around Harry's waist, the power pulsing suddenly through the clearing, almost strong enough to send her to the ground. Harry looked completely unaffected. The Druid began to chant in a language neither teen could identify and the symbols that created the lines of the ritual circle started to glow. The magic intensified as a black cloak of a creature appeared above the Druid, reminding Harry so much of a Dementor that he had to fight the urge to summon a Patronus.
"έχετε επιτύχει την τιμή?" It spoke in a thousand voices, all overlapping until they did not know where one started and another ended.
"Ναι, οι κλήροι και τα κόκκαλά σου είναι μαζί." The Druid answered, gesturing to the pile Harry had set down. "Η συμφωνία μας επιτεύχθηκε." The creature turned to the teenagers, looking from the shadows without eyes.
"Συμφωνήσει." It shifted, growing to encompass the full clearing, shrouding the whole space from view. Harry shifted on his feet looking around, trying to see into the space. Hermione had her eyes closed and had begun shaking. Whatever that thing was, she did not want to be anywhere near it. Only Harry's strength was keeping her standing. Painfully slow, the shadows receded, showing four forms, slumped over at the pinched points of the ritual circle. It was still too dark for Harry to make out what or who they were.
"Ευχαριστώ." The dark shadow creature reached down at her words and lifted the cloak. It took on the dark shade of the creature and vanished, leaving the wand and stone in its hands. It shifted the stone to what could only be describe as another hand, and with a bright glow, dropped it. The wand it snapped and let fall to the ground as well.
"τα οστά." Its voice was softer and had a happy tone to it, if possible. The Druid stood, keeping her face down and approached the figure farthest from the teens.
"The ring." The figure groaned trying to sit up, but finding no strength to do so. She kneeled and helped him lay on his side. With what looked like great pain, he offered her something that shined in the moon like silver. She repeated this with the three others. The closest to the teens, had gotten to his knees by the time she reached him. With the four silver objects in her hand, she returned to the shadowy creature and presented them to it. She dropped them into the shadows and they disappeared.
"Η συμφωνία μας τελείωσε." It stood straight, pulling into itself, getting smaller and smaller, until it was gone.
"αποδεκτή, επιστροφή του θανάτου στον κάτω κόσμο." The Druid's voice was shaking, and she stood up. With the Shadow gone, Harry and Hermione could see into the circle. The four figures were groaning, trying to stand.
"Remus." Harry's voice cracked, as he fought the need to enter the circle and hug the recently deceased man.
"How..." Hermione's voice joining Harry's in surprise. Standing on shaking feet, the one who gave the ring let out a cry of sorrow and joy. The words were lost to the sobbing as he ran to another figure, who had remained on the ground. The final figure walked toward the Druid, anger in every step.
"YOU BITCH!" His words were quickly cut off as Remus jumped up and intercepted him. "WE DIED! SOME BLOODY GIFT!" His voice was clearer than Harry had ever heard it before. Sirius Black was screaming curses and obscenities at the Druid, who stood at the center still, ignoring him. Remus was stronger and easily held him at bay.
"Sirius..." Harry couldn't fight the urge any longer and dashed into the circle, launching himself at the man who wanted to give him a family. Remus took a step back, watching Harry break down into sobs. The two other forms joined them standing near the Druid but not too close.
"Who the Bloody Hell are you?!" Sirius yanked himself free, and Harry was only saved from falling by Remus. Hermione joined them and got her first good look at the four people who should have been dead.
Lily had straight dark red hair, very different from either the Prewetts and Weasleys. Her green eyes were closed as she leaned against the Harry's look-a-like. Her skin was a porcelain white, with freckles and a petite frame with square shoulders. No one had lied, the mother of Harry Potter was very beautiful.
James stood a few inches taller than his wife, hair as black and as wild as Harry's. Not even having Lily's straight hair genes could change the trait that Hermione expected to be a Potter one. His hazel eyes were squinting as if he was fighting against a head ache but refused to give in to the pain. He had dark skin like her own, but a shade or two darker. He had a wide frame and barrel chest. His hands were wrapped securely around Lily's shoulders, helping her to remain standing.
Remus was the tallest of the bunch. His moss-colored eyes were moving around the circle of people taking them in as much as she was. His sandy blond hair was longer and lighter than she had ever seen it and was plaited tightly against the back of his head. His skin was tan from sun exposure and soil embedded in it. He looked as if he had spent a large amount of time in the wilderness. He was hunching, not as badly as she remembered, but still clearly unhappy with his sheer height.
Sirius was as pale as Lily, but lacked any blemishes to his skin, like freckles. His midnight black hair was framing his head like a dark curtain perfectly. His molten silver eyes narrowed in distrust at Harry, who he had yet to look away from. His posture spoke of a confidence that she envied. His eyes darted to her briefly, catching her staring at him. She felt the warmth to her cheeks and was thankful that it was more than likely too dark for him to see.
There were two things that stuck out to her more than anything else. The first was that Remus and Sirius looked far younger than they should have been, and the second was the each and every one of the four were completely naked. Harry either did not notice these facts or was simply ignoring them.
"It's me! Harry!" His voice cracked at the pure distaste in Sirius's voice. James looked away from Lily for the first time and eyed the young man. Several things entered Hermione's mind all at once. The first was that, something was wrong with the two Marauders that they had met. The next was that the Druid through all of this remained silent, merely watching the exchange from the place she had handed over those weird silver things. The third was a question of why the Hell they were all naked. If they can be brought back from the dead, surely clothes would not be a huge issue. The last thing was her refusal to let anyone make Harry feel bad. He had suffered enough. Growling she tore across the space, ignoring the startled yelp of Remus as she shoved him and pulled Harry behind her. She stood shoulders squared, glaring at Sirius with as much hatred and anger as she could muster, which was enough to cause him to step back.
"Harry? My son Harry?" James spoke up, trying to ease the tension building between Hermione and the rest of them. She had not drawn her wand yet, but he had a feeling she could do just as much damage or possibly more without it.
"Your memories will return with time." The Druid finally spoke, but James only had eyes for Harry, who was standing dejected behind Hermione. James could only see his face, the green eyes of the woman he loved staring back at him. Harry's eyes.
"Harry." Lily moved out of James's arms and wrapped herself around her son. She sobbed into his chest, happy uncontrollable sobs. "You lived." James joined her standing slightly back, watching his wife break down in his suddenly grown son's arms. That last time he remembered Harry was barely a year old and now he was standing before him taller and more war worn then any of them.
Remus looked between the two groups. James, Lily, and Harry, hugging and crying, having completely accepted this new state of reality. While Hermione and Sirius squared off, both looking ready to send the other to the grave. The Druid his eyes finally fell on, was standing to the side of everyone, not with them or really apart from them. She looked softly between the groups, an expression of relief and joy sparkled in her eyes.
"Listen here you little bint," Sirius never finished his sentence, because Hermione pulled back her fist and connected it with his face, sending him sprawling on the floor in pain and surprise. She shook out her hand, looking her nose down at him as if he were merely a bug to be squashed under her shoe.
"I've dealt with enough entitled self-absorbed idiots to know that you should not finish that sentence." She huffed and turned away from him toward Harry and his parents. Lily, James, and Remus all stared at her in shock. "Here." She began pulling some clothes from her beaded bag, attached to her hip. If war taught her anything, it was be prepare. She pulled some of Ron's clothes for Remus, since they both were tall. Harry's clothes for James, since they were a similar build. And finally, some of her clothes for Lily, because they were comfy and warm, unlike the trousers and t-shirts the boys favored. Harry couldn't stop smiling, eyes drifted from person to person, happy to have gotten something back after so much loss.
"Hey, what about me?" Sirius was the last person standing completely bare. Hermione ignored him, closing her beaded bag with a loud snap. The noise set everyone off laughing. "HEY!" Sirius let out an undignified huff. "If you wanted to see me in the buff, all you had to do was ask." He wiggled his eyebrows at her when she turned to glare at him. The laughter intensified. With a groan she threw a school robe at him, rolling her eyes, she refused to look at him.
Once everyone was dressed questions began to flow. Some, Harry and Hermione answered, but many they could not. Eventually after the story of their lives flowed out the mouths of the two teens, and everyone was as caught up as they could be, the six magic users turned to the Druid, who had remained silent. She shook her head and did her best to tell them.
They each had to be marked by the Bones of Death, before the first one fell. Once they were all dead, she only had to wait for Harry to cross the Styx twice and become the master of the Hallows. Assuming all this happened, the ritual to exchange the Hallows for the lives of the four marked by Death could be returned to the land of the living.
"Why are they so young?" Hermione gestured to Remus and Sirius. "They look a bit different as well." She explained that they were returned from the point at which the first marked died. Remus was as he was when with the pack during the first war, Sirius is as he was the night he took his bike to see the Potters, feeling that something was wrong, and James and Lily had just died, while defending a baby Harry from Voldy. Sirius cursed, Remus frowned thoughtfully, James looked at the Druid in disbelief, and Lily hugged Harry again.
Lily locked eyes with The Druid, causing her to tip her head in question. "Is... Is..." Lily placed her hand on her stomach, face tight with fear. Understanding covered her face, along with a soft smile.
"Yes. She came through with you." Lily nodded and started sobbing again. She had not told James about the baby growing inside her, for fear that he would not let her do what needed to be done, should Harry's life be on the line. James looked between the two of them, not understanding, but knowing Lily would explain when the time was right.
"Why? Why do this for us?" James had wanted to ask that question since she gave him the jewelry, which was actually made from the Bones of Death. He fought down a shiver at the thought.
"I was once upon a time called Winfred Potter, seventh child of Linfred." There was a deafening silence. "I abandoned my family, to become what I am... I could not do it again." She gave them a sharp nodded, and headed for the tree line, her goal achieved.
"THANK YOU!" Harry's voice cut through the silence first, drawing all eyes to him. She paused and looked back, watching for a moment before nodding a little softer disappearing into the trees.
"YOU'RE WELCOME TO VISIT US ANYTIME!" James recovered as soon as they lost sight of her and screamed as loud as he could. "A Druid in the Potter family tree. Wicked." Lily snorted and hit his shoulder. Remus led the small group through the forest back to Hogwarts. He had spent more time than he ever would admit exploring them. Very few creatures wanted to tangle with a werewolf, human form or otherwise.
The Headmistress stood at the edge of the tree line, staring angrily into the darkness. She pulled her wand upon seeing the resurrected Gryffindors. Sirius laughed and without a care in the world, ran up and hugged her. "MINNIE! Have I told you how time as only made you more beautiful? Marry me." The sob that cut through the air, chilled the rest of the group. She decided the moment he ran at her, that she'd be happy to have one last hug from a fake Sirius and die, then accept that he was an illusion.
The rest joined her and more crying was to be had. Minnie declined the proposal and led the group back to the castle to sleep. There was a story to tell, and she wanted to hear it.
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A/n - I had this idea of what if Lily, Remus, James, and Sirius were brought back after the war was over. That led to this. Please let me know what you think! Next part will come out as soon as I finish it. I am shooting for long chapters so there will be time between each.