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gat nat nat: You'll live by reading my new story when it comes out at the beginning of my Christmas holidays.

please note, that since everyone so far had voted for (1), I have begun typing the first chapter. See my profile for details.

Ch.34, The Beginning of The End

The group had another little party with Harry as the guest of honour, all for saying his first word. His parents, particularly James, were beaming the whole time at their son.

Harry himself was quite happy, enjoying a baby conversation with Crysy, and having some cake.

Soon, it was time for Len to go back to Hogwarts. She was fretting around all day, worrying about Crysy, hoping she'll be okay without either of her parents. Since Crysy obviously couldn't stay home alone, Len and Remus agreed to ask Len's parents to babysit. Of course, they agreed whole-heartedly.

But Len was met with a surprise when she entered her 7th years' class. Someone (no one look at the JM) had decorated her classroom with red and gold streamers, balloons, and a large banner saying, 'Welcome Back!'.

"What?" Len muttered. Then, she noticed the JM sitting at the very front of the room, the only students there, with large smiles on their faces.

"Did you?..." she started.

"Welcome back Professor. We've missed you." Zach, obviously still group leader, said.

Then, students started filing in, looking at the decorations in awe. Soon, Len regained control of her voice, and said, "Well, I guess... sit down everybody, sit down. Wands out, quills away!"

Everyone snapped their heads around to look at her. Most had forgotten that it was today she came back. Some cheered at the horrible Professor Tton was gone, while others smiled and took a seat.

"Well, even though I have no idea who might have put these decorations up, thank you. Now as I haven't been here for a year, could someone please tell me who you're supply was, and what he covered?"

Rob raised his hand, and Len nodded to him.

"His name was Professor Tton, and all we did was review."

Len gaped for a moment. "Review? That's all?"

"He said something like 'You won't need much more for you're NEWTs.' and wouldn't listen to a word we said." Carey Parker, a Ravenclaw, said.

"Well that won't do at all. I'll speak to Professor Dumbledore, he was obviously an incompetent teacher. He is completely wrong, and I sorry if this scares you a bit, but you have plenty more to learn before you go into NEWTs. I'll speak to Professor Dumbledore and see if there is anything he can do to get the examiners to lighten up a bit or something. Anyway, it looks like we have some catching up to do!"

So she spent the rest of the class going into light details about a certain spell or aspect, with a simple essay to research the spell or aspect, and write a paper on it, just to make sure they understand it. This was what most of her lessons ended up like, everyone complaining about Tton, and not knowing a thing. Her first years, (now second) only knew what she had taught them the year before. She had two terms to educate this school in Defense.

At the end of the day, she quickly contacted Remus and told him that she'd be late. Then, she headed up to the Headmaster's office, and said the password.

"Ah, Len. What may I do for you?" He asked, turning around in his swively chair.

"Sir, all day long I've been having complaints about the teacher that was here in my absence? I believe his name was Professor Tton?"

"Ah yes. Well it might do you to know that the Daily Prophet has recently discovered that Tton was merely an alias. His real name was Nott. He was identified as a Death Eater just yesterday. I have already spoken to the NEWT and OWL examiners, and they cannot lighten up either tests, but they can postpone them, due to the circumstances." Dumbledore replied.

"Thank you Professor. I'll be sure to tell my students tomorrow." Len said as she turned to leave.

"Oh, and Len?"

Len turned back around. "Yes Professor?"

"Be sure to say hello to you family for me, okay?"

Len smiled. "Yes sir."

Due to her meeting with Dumbledore, Len was later in getting home. She didn't find it strange that Remus wasn't home. The only job he could find that agreed to keep him with his condition was very hard. He had long hours, and little pay.

So, Len got ready to go and get Crysy, when Remus popped in right next to her, startling her.

"Oh Remus, you startled me." she said, after greeting him with a kiss on the cheek.

"Sorry sunshine. Great news! My new supervisor has the flu, and there was a supply in today. he doesn't know about my condition, so he let me off early!" he said, giving her a hug.

"That's great! So should we go and get Crysy now?" Len said excitedly.

"Let's."

When they got to Len's parent's house, they heard a cry. Len immediately ran up the stairs and into the living room, with Remus at her heels.

Crysy was tired. She wanted her mommy, and there were to many people here. Of course, once they had heard that Len's mom was babysitting, all her relatives in the area had rushed up right away to get a look at their kin who they barely saw.

"What are you all doing here! Each and every one of you knows that Crysy doesn't like crowds, now back off!" Len shouted, and people there obviously didn't like the fact that she was so angry her wand was sparking.

Crysy stopped crying right after she heard her mother's voice. Then, she saw her parents pushing through the crowd, and she called out to them.

"Mama! Dada!"

Len froze for a second. Then, she and Remus ran to their daughter.

"Oh Crysy, you're first words! Good job honey!"

"Congrats Crystal! We're going to have to have another party..."

But then Len's family started closing in again, so Len picked Crysy up, and held her close while muttering soothing words to her.

Babies couldn't Floo or apparate, so Remus made a Port Key out of a stone that had fallen by the fireplace. A few seconds later, all three people landed in their home, and Crysy calmed down. In fact, less than five minutes after she was in the place she recognized as home, she was asleep.

"Aww." Len cooed. Remus smiled and took her from her mother, and went into the baby room to put Crysy in her crib.

The group did indeed have another party, where Harry and Crysy both had their own little baby conversation, and watching the adults with interest. Both babies could crawl now, but that was bad news for the grown-ups. As Sirius said, "Well what else would you expect from the child of a Marauder?" For both children were constantly getting into trouble. One time Lily reported that Harry had gotten a bottle of shampoo, and the next time she walked into the storage cupboard, she fell because the floor was so slippery with it. Another time, Len said that Crysy sent the soap from her bath catapulting across the bathroom, literally ricocheting on the walls. But James and Remus complained when both the children got together, and ended up spreading a ton of stuff they had found in jars all over the kitchen floor. Both aforementioned adults fell into it, and got all sticky. Len and Lily were shaking with laughter at the 'sticky scowls' they had on, while trying to get jam, peanut butter, mayonnaise, and everything else the kids could think of that they could open.

It seemed as if they had inherited the pranking skill of both their parents put together. And that was bad news for the victims.

Days passed, and soon the entire group arranged to meet at Lily and James' place. Melissa was with Len and Remus, babysitting while they got ready.

Lily was watching with amusement as James and Sirius played with little Harry in the backyard. Sirius had transformed into a dog and was chasing his tail for Harry's benefit, and James was laughing his head off. She quickly got a camera out and took a few pictures of Padfoot. But unfortunately, he saw this and started chasing after her playfully, still a dog.

But Lily could run now. And transform. All of a sudden, a phoenix was in her place, holding the camera up from the dog and stag that now tried to get it, but with no luck. The bird teased the two 'land animals' by flying up higher, and higher, until there was absolutely no hope of getting the culprit camera.

But then, Remus came out laughing and holding Crysy. He then shouted to the boys, "Watch out! The other girls are coming!"

If the boys were still human, they would have paled. Those three together while transformed were a death trap. James quickly returned to human form, and shouted something to Remus. Then, he went back to his stag form.

"Remus, if something happens to us, look after Harry for me, okay?" he had shouted jokingly.

Then, The Birds came. A brown owl with gold talons hooted above their heads, teasing them and distracting them with the black raven. They didn't notice Lily go back human and conjure up a pool. They didn't notice her flying at James, and picking him up by the antlers, or Len and Melissa struggling to pick the dog up, but finally failing and dropping him. They did notice James being dumped in the pool, and they did notice Remus holding Crysy in one arm, and Len's camcorder in the other.

Sirius chased after him, and after putting Crysy in the playpen with Harry, Remus ran off, handing the tape to the owl. The kids started laughing. The dog then went after Len, even though she had flown up to the roof.

Time passed. Strangely, both Harry and Crysy took their first steps at Melissa's birthday party. This caused another party to be planned, as a celebration.

Soon the kids experienced their first April Fools. After Remus and James explained what April Fools was, both kids were bouncing up and down with anticipation.

James' explanation: "This day is the only day you wont get in trouble for turning mommy's hair blue."

Remus' explanation: "Remember when you turned Grandma's hair yellow? If you do that today, you wont get in trouble."

And, unfortunately for him, Dumbledore just happened to visit on April Fools, where he found all the adults with different coloured hair.

He visited Harry last, and ended up going back to Hogwarts with a red and gold beard.

Exactly one month later, the girls (minus Melissa) planned another party. The reason Melissa wasn't in on it, was because the party was for her. The girls called it the 'all the birds are going to have families now!' party. Correct, Melissa was pregnant.

Sirius was absolutely ecstatic when he heard. He was bothering them with nothing but baby names ever since. He had even (finally) forgotten his slinky.

The girls found it cute that he was this obsessed with the baby.

As the summer started, the group received a few visitors. The JM had come to thank the original Marauders for giving them their inspiration. Of course, this just made their egos even bigger, but they also thanked Len for getting them out of trouble so many times, and for being a great teacher.

Then, Len was immensely happy after Crysy's first beach trip. Len and Remus had taken her in the shallow area, and she had been a natural around water. She swam like a fish, and that came to be her new nickname with her parents. Little Fish.

But then the group had a much larger mission on their hands. It was going to be risky, but the entire group volunteered. A few Order members were in on it, but not many. It would have to be tricky, since they needed the art of surprise. Without that, the mission would never be a complete success. Plus, he would never suspect a thing.

Correct, the group was planning Harry's first surprise birthday party.

The group had bought plenty of little toys, including a faster miniature broom model from James. (like those ones described in the fourth book, at the World Cup) and Harry would be able to ride on it, but not high. And, at Lily's insistence, only if one of them was watching him.

At the party, Harry was very happy with his gifts. Sirius had gotten him, to Lily and Melissa's horror, a slinky. Thankfully, he didn't seem at all interested in it as much as the broom.

James watched with a growing smile as the broom flew right into Harry's hand, without any hesitation. He flew around the living room for a bit, and James was proud. Of course, it was obvious he wouldn't need many lessons, James had been looking forward to teaching his son how to fly a broom. But he didn't know Quiditch yet.

But then, for the first time in his life, Harry was able to eat as much cake as he wanted. He didn't pass up this opportunity. Lily had made a cake that had written in icing, 'Happy 1st Birthday Harry!'. He had a large (for his age) piece of cake.

But even after Harry's birthday party, they then had Crysy's to plan. It was going to be small, just the group and Crysy's grandparents. Len had dressed Crysy up in a gorgeous pink frilly dress. Everyone 'awwed' when she came into the room. Len had charmed it to sparkle. Crysy also got: a photo album from Len's parents, a pet cat from Len and Remus, a copy of 101 Pranks we Pulled on the Slytherins by: The Marauders (for when she was older) from James and Sirius, and from Lily and Melissa she got an assortment of fake dress up clothes.

More time passed, and both children started to develop more, looks wise. Crystal was now 'a spitting image' of her mother, as said by Remus, after complementing Crysy on how she looked, making Len blush. Lily continued to get frustrated with Harry's hair, until a laughing James told her that the Potter hair was hereditary, his father, grandfather, great grandfather, and so on, had all had it, and so did Harry. There was no hope. She gave up after that.

Now both babies had a small vocabulary. They could say words like 'hi' and 'bye bye'. One day, when Len's parents had agreed to babysit both Harry and Crysy, they regretted it. The children found muggle stuff fascinating. They particularly liked the volume dial on the speakers, but got upset when no matter how much they turned it, nothing happened. (Whoever turned it on properly next would get a surprise)

Somehow, they broke the child lock on the VCR, and stuffed all sorts of things in it. Things such as, leaves, stones, candy wrappers, small twigs, that sort of thing.

Then, in the middle of September, the Quiditch World cup came along, and the group (plus Harry) decided to attend. However, Len had stayed home with Crysy, since she definitely wouldn't like all the crowds. She would watch on a small screen (sort of like a TV) that was sold to allow quiditch fans to view the game, even if the couldn't be there.

It was, amazingly, England versus France, and of course, the group was supporting England. They all laughed when James bought a hat that had a little British flag mounted on the top of it, then, for a joke, put it on Harry's head. It was so big on him, that it covered his entire head. Remus, using Len's camcorder, got the whole occasion on tape. England won, but the match lasted 4 and a half hours. Harry had fallen asleep during the middle, but had woken up for the end. They bought another hat, shrunk it so it fit Harry, and put it on him.

At the beginning of October, it seemed as if Harry and Crysy had an obsession with leaves. Once they were at Lily and James' house, visiting, and the moment all the adults had the leaves in a pile, and were about to vanish them, the kids jumped in. Soon, just for fun, the adults joined them, and by the end of it, everyone had leaves in their hair.

But every beginning, has it's ending.

After the group had all gone home early from the Halloween party, (Crysy fell asleep)but Harry had accidentally gotten some of the adults' coffee, and was wide awake, and hyper. James was flying around with him in the living room. They were chasing a small, slow, snitch that came with the broom. it was obvious that James was letting Harry win. Harry grabbed the small golden ball, and cheered. James pretended to be sad that he lost.

"Are you two done out there? Harry should be going to bed soon James!"

James was silently mocking Lily, making Harry laugh. But then, even though Harry obviously wasn't tired, James did what Lily asked him and put him in bed. For hours Harry lie awake, not knowing that his life was about to change forever.

Lily and James were on the sofa in the living room, looking through the pictures/tapes that Len had gotten over the years. Lily had laughed herself silly over the videos. But then, the door crashed down. Both adults were immediately alert, and grabbed their wands.

"Lily, it's HIM! Take Harry and run!" James shouted, sending a spell to Voldemort.

Lily, scared for her child into instant obedience, ran upstairs to where Harry was crying silently, having heard the shouts. She thought frantically. She couldn't apparate with Harry, nor take the Floo. She needed to be calm to make a Port Key, and calm was one thing she wasn't. Her only chance was the window. If she could transform into her phoenix form and carry Harry out, they could live.

Just as she was about to transform, she heard a yell. No, she thought, no no no no no. He can't be dead.

Harry was crying, having guessed his father's death.

But then Lily came to her senses. Just as she was about to transform, the window magically snapped shut. She turned around and faced Voldemort, gently dropping Harry into the crib, desperately hoping he wouldn't notice.

But Harry was crying to much. Voldemort sneered.

"Come Mudblood, give me the boy and I will kill both you and him quickly."

Lily stood her ground in front of the crib. "NO! Take me instead!" she shouted, remembering one of her extra-curricular courses from Hogwarts on Ancient Magic. She knew she was going to die.

"Stand aside girl. Fine. AVADA KEDAVERA!"

Lily crumpled with a scream. But Voldemort wasn't paying attention to the small strand of magic that dissolved into Harry's body after her death.

You know the rest.