Author's Note:
Sorry about the time difference – out on the beach a lot :-)
Their huge house seemed infinite now it was just James and his dad in there. James had spent the last two days lying on the sofa in his mom's study sobbing and gazing out of the window at his mum's lily garden dreamily, only getting up three times a day to nibble a piece of cheese or a couple of grapes that were leftover in the fridge. There was usually one of his mother's home baked pies in there but then wasn't normal at all. To James it felt like a nightmare that he would eventually wake up from, but he couldn't.
Finally at breakfast on his third day off James had an epiphany that he and his dad should be a lot closer during that devastating time, and he'd already lost one parent he certainly wasn't going to lose another. He tiredly threw on his mum's slippers that were by the door and shuffled to the staircase. Firstly he shuffled up the stairs and walked past all of the now empty rooms: Sirius' room, where the guitar and posters all seemed boring without Sirius there excitedly jumping about talking about all of them and badly playing the guitar; past his mum's gallery where she sat by the massive glass window which overlooked an apple orchard, the bright and colourful paintings of the view, James, fruit, beaches, and her flower garden all seemed like they were in black and white; his own room was alien to him, the bed was unruly and washing was strewn over the floor whereas his mother persisted on running around making everything neat; until he finally reached his dad's bedroom door.
"Dad?" James called through the door to his father who he hadn't seen for a couple of hours. There was just a slight stirring from his room "Oh dad" James sighed sympathetically as he stumbled up the stairs wrapped in his duvet. Both he and his dad had mostly kept out of each other's way. James tentatively nudged open the door and revealed his dad curled up in a duvet like him, his eyes red and bloodshot.
"Dad" seemed to be the only thing he could say at that moment as he knelt down next to him and put his arm over him "It'll be ok" he hushed as he tried to stop a new wave of tears flooding down his face.
The two of them just sat in a peaceful knowing silence for a couple of hours, slowly trying to contemplate their loss.
"This is the worst plan ever" Remus sighed as Sirius gestured for him to give him a leg up.
"What do you mean?" Sirius looked offended "This is a fool proof plan, I can't see anything going wrong"
"Sirius, clinging to the ceiling rafters dangling down and listening to everyone's conversations is not a fool proof plan" Remus pointed out as he heaved Sirius up.
"Fine, we shall see, what will be will be" he said philosophically as he rolled down the beam into darkness.
"Mhm" Remus seemed to sigh quite a lot when Sirius was around "We'll see" Then he dragged Peter off to the common room so he could help with prefect work.
"Let's find Cinderella then" Sirius thought to himself. The bell rang and floods of people came through the corridor, Sirius listened.
"… then she dumped him… chicken salad… totally ruined" Sirius could only hear parts of what one squeaky voiced girl babbled as she walked past with all of her mates.
"… I'll give you ten for it… are you kidding… no-one else… arrested" A daunting looking seventh year Slytherin muttered to another slimy looking Slytherin.
"…You need to tell him!" Sirius turned quickly to where the noise was coming from "If he snogged your best friend just go tell him then slap him in the face" As interesting as that conversation sounded it wasn't what he was listening for. He was about to go back to listening when he saw Kara and Sasha walking past.
"Better go find out how awesome they think I am" Sirius smiled to himself ad he shuffled over to where Kara and Sasha stood outside the girl's toilets.
"… Kara this has gone on too long"
"Is eternity too long? Because I'm fine with that" Kara sighed.
"Kara you can't do something like that then not say anything!" Sasha exclaimed "I told Remus you've got to tell Sirius"
At the sound of his name Sirius frowned and listened for more.
"How can I? I apparently hate the guy, what am I going to say? 'Hey Sirius, by the way I'm Cinderella'" How stupid does that sound?" Sirius was frozen with both shock and horror to the bar, before losing control of his legs, sliding off the bar, and landing face first on the floor in front of Kara and Sasha.
"WHAT THE HELL?" Sasha screamed jumping back. Sirius tried to get up casually but blood was pouring out of his nose.
"Ladies" He nodded before running off.
"Do you think he heard?" Kara asked worriedly, Sasha nodded.
"Shit"
Lily was asleep in her dorm with a tear stained pillow clutched under her arm the next week when James flew in through the window on his broomstick. His dad had made him go back to school so his education wouldn't be damaged, which is what his mum would have wanted.
"Lily" He called softly to her as he walked over to her, tapping her on the shoulder "Lily wake up"
She wriggled around sleepily before stretching and slowly opening her eyes "James!" She beamed swinging her feet around so that she could hug him "Please tell me you're alright, how do you feel? Why are you back?" Lily babbled all of the questions that have been swarming in her head.
"I… I don't know yet." James stammered trying to block out the questions, he'd much rather keep it to himself "I came to ask you to help me" He admitted, holding onto Lily's hand.
"Anything James, what is it?"
"They've asked me to say a few words at the funeral" James' face crumpled at the idea "I don't know if I'm going to be able to make it through" Lily hugged him again, and then looked him in the eyes,
"Don't worry James, I'm here to help" She reassured.
"Be strong, Prongs" Sirius hugged James before they walked into the church.
"Thanks, Pads" James smiled weakly at him as he rolled the piece of paper he was clutching around in his hands nervously.
"If you need help, look over to us" Remus smiled, Peter grunted his condolences and the Marauders walked on into the church. James stood wringing his hands and jumping from foot to foot.
On seeing how nervous he was Lily carefully put her hand on his and stroked his shoulder.
"I promise it will be ok" She said as they walked hand in hand into the church in front of the coffin that was carried by his mother's brothers. The church was brimming with flowers, just like his mum always kept the house. There were white roses weaved through the pews, sweet smelling purple lavender spiralling up pillars, tulips and violets spilling out from vases, and lilies intricately swirled around the alter.
James sat trying to be strong next to his dad who had become like a shell since her death, you could see that his heart had broken and his once jolly face now looked aged and hollow. James held his hand for support.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are here not to think about the passing of a life, but to celebrate the life that Eleanor Potter had" The vicar started, but his words were muffled in James' head, he could barely hear what was being said until his name was said "Now her loving son James would like to say a few words" his legs seemed detached from him as he walked unsteadily up to the alter and faced at least a hundred of his mum's friends and family. He found comfort in Sirius and Lily as they sat three rows back from the front.
"My mum" his voice squeaked as he started, so he cleared his throat and continued "She was more than just that. She was the doctor that helped to heal me when I was ill, the willing audience whenever I put on a play, my support system whenever things went wrong. I can't describe to you how much my mum meant to me, but I can say this: there is definitely a hole that can never be filled" Tears began to fall down his face "It's impossible to say everything I need to say in a couple of sentences, she was worth more than that. All I can do now is say what I didn't say enough. I love you mum. I should have told her every day because... well..." He finally broke down and Sirius leapt up and pulled him into a hug and slapped him on the back. "Goodbye mum" He sobbed.
James put his hand on her coffin, not wanting her to disappear behind the curtain, but he knew he had to. Reluctantly he took away his hand and places a single red rose, her favourite, that contrasted with the white of the lilies.
"I love you" He whispered before weakly walking back down the steps and sitting next to his dad. One by one everyone in the congregation stepped forwards and place a red rose on the coffin.
James and Lily stood hand in hand as they watched the delicately carved coffin smothered in roses fade slowly into the ground. The headstone read
Eleanor Potter
Loving mother, wife, and great friend to many,
'She walks in beauty, like the night,
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright,
Meet in her aspect and her eyes.
"I hope they're alright" Sasha said dreamily as her and Kara lay on sofas in the common room.
"Yeah" Kara said thoughtfully.
"What is that it?" Sasha rolled over and stared at Kara who seemed to be in a daze.
"Mhm" Kara nodded "Totally right"
"You're not even listening!" Sasha exclaimed throwing a pillow at her.
"Well, sorry, but I've got important stuff on my mind at the moment"
"Not this stupid Sirius thing again" Sasha sighed, she was sick of hearing about it.
"No!" Kara defended, her and Sirius hadn't said anything to each other since he found out, and she didn't think they ever would "It's my family, and, well, his family too I suppose"
"Oh God what's happened" Sasha asked worriedly.
"Well they hate each other, see, and with 'you-know-who' getting stronger every day, so are the Black family, they're notorious for sticking on the dark side. That means day by day my family are in more and more danger"
"Kara, they can't get you here" Sasha insisted "Don't worry, you'll be fine"
"But what if I wasn't here?" Kara tried to be discreet but Sasha immediately caught on.
"You can't go!" Sasha leapt up and clung onto her as if she was leaving that second "What will I do?"
"Ok, ok I need air" Kara gasped as she pulled Kara off her arm "I'm not going until Christmas, we'll all be splitting up then anyway"
"Don't say that, I can't bear the thought of us all leaving, what will we all do?"
"At least you'll all be in the same country" Kara muttered.
"Oh God, where are you going!? France? At least that's only over the channel"
"Slightly further" Kara admitted, she didn't really want to tell anyone until closer to the time.
"Germany?" That was as far from Britain as Sasha was willing to go
"Australia" Kara said with her head down. Sasha just sat with her mouth open staring at her, utterly speechless.
"Where the hell is he?" Lucius snarled as he, Regulus, Bellatrix, Rodolphus, and some other Slytherins sat around the fireplace.
"Getting the rat, just wait" Regulus sighed as he put his feet up on the table, scratching his arm with his wand. They all at in an evil silence until Severus came through the door dragging Peter next to him.
"B—But I'm not sure!" Peter exclaimed as he got put on a stall.
"Well make up your mind now, do you want to be on the right side, or the winning side?" Bellatrix cackled at her own joke.
"W-well" Peter started but then a cough came from the fireplace.
"My Lord?" Bellatrix asked expectantly.
"No, it's Crouch" His thick, low voice boomed through the fireplace.
"How are you safe contacting us?" Lucius asked confused.
"My father is out at the ministry, I haven't got long" Bartimus Crouch jr explained. "The Dark Lord has ordered me to tell you that all loyal Death Eaters in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are to leave to join the cause in November"
"NOVEMBER?" Bellatrix squealed "That's too long, I wanna fight now" She grinned evilly.
"That is what the Dark Lord orders, do you wish to disobey him" Crouch snarled.
"No" Bellatrix sulked back in her chair like a child.
"Good. If any information comes to you about the Order of the Phoenix you know how to contact us" The group nodded knowingly, pulling up their robe sleeves to reveal the dark mark writhing on otherwise pure skin. "Then that is all" And the face of the traitor Bartimus Crouch jr disappeared.
"What about me?" Peter asked meekly.
"You, rat, will not come with us, you are of no use to us" Lucius snarled "Stay with your ponsy so called 'Marauders' and leave the big boy stuff with us" He patronised sweeping past him.
"He can be of some help" Severus butted in "Who else can we get into the order? We need a mole, or a rat, to get us information"
"And until that time comes he is still dirt" Lucius spat and threw Peter out of the Slytherin common room.
Dumbledore paced around his office, he always paced when he was in deep thought. Something wasn't right and he knew it. After having an epiphany he walked over to the penseive and drew a memory from his head with his wand, then plunged his face into the cool, dark water.
It was 19—and Albus Dumbledore stood tall in the small cramped room. There wasn't much in there, there never was in an orphanage. Just a plain bed, a wardrobe, a chest to keep valuables, and a mildew covered mirror. The boy sat apparently innocent on his bed looking up and the man with the strange beard who they'd told him was a professor.
"I'm not mad" He insists. The present Dumbledore watches and his past self explains all about magic and Hogwarts, wanting him to go because he can sense great power beyond the petty crimes. Then when Albus is about to leave the room content with the achievement the boy says something that sees to change it all, the moment that Dumbledore had all but forgotten because he tried to brush it aside.
"I can talk to snakes ask well, is that normal?" He knew straight away that it most certainly was not normal. His mind flickered back to tales of the founder Salizar Slytherin, how he could speak in parceltounge, and how his heir would return to Hogwarts.
"Fairy stories" He thought to himself, then he left the room.
Dumbledore arose from the water none the wiser, no clue was given in the memory to Tom's background, or places that were special to him where he could look. He was back to where he was before. Stuck.
Author's Note:
I wanted to do a bit on the pensieve because it seems really interesting going back into memories, did it work? I could just take it out, but for now REVIEW, and
-Mischief Managed.