Somewhere, But How?

4

He arrived in a grand chamber, with a plethora of chairs placed in a rough circle, and only three of those chairs filled, each of the ones closest to the fireplace. James stepped out of the fire with Gwen in his arms, and glanced at each face. The three were remarkably similar, and James recognized Howard's face easily, as he sat loosely on the armchair, staring into space still as he murmured to himself. There was another man present, apparently younger than Howard who was similar enough to be his brother, and he waved jauntily as James walked slightly forward, but it was the woman who walked over to greet him, holding out her hands to the girl who responded by squirming to face her and crying out happily for 'aunt Barb!' Noting James' hesitation, she paused a respectable distance away and suggested a curtsey.

"I greet you, pureblood cousin Potter. I am Barbara Hodges. Welcome to our manor."

The form was old, but James recognized it as a structured greeting. Barbara again reached for Gwen and James gladly handed her over as Lily came through the fire with Harry. Pausing to help Lily keep her balance and clean off the ash, he pulled her over to his side and sketched a bow in return to Barb.

"I greet you, pureblood cousin Hodges. I am James Potter, and this is my wife, Lily Evans Potter. We thank you for your welcome." James was now rather grateful that his parents had been so old-fashioned as to insist on formal tutors in the old structured interactions. "May I introduce my heir, Harry James." He gently waved towards Harry and smiled as Barb did.

"He is a gorgeous child."

Louise was the next to floo through, her daughter clutched in her arms, and she hastily straightened her glasses as she stepped out. Lily passed Harry to James, to go help her clean up with her armful of child, leaving James with Barb and Gwen.

"It is fascinating to see the changes when someone is called to answer a formal greeting."

James almost jumped when he heard her speak, trying to remember if this was formal or not. Her eyes twitched, and they glittered with mirth as she watched him.

"You do not need to remember some formula for speech now. I just speak with politeness that most disdain now. Your son seems ill-favoured at the moment, were you just under some hardship?"

James sighed. "Yes. My wife and I were … indisposed for a time, and our son passed into the care of his only relative: my wife's muggle sister. However, her sister was not fond of the magical culture for jealousy, and her husband had no understanding for our manner, and they disliked our child for his family and lineage, and neglected him for the time he was in their care. We only recently came to be able to reclaim him once more, and he has yet to have time to recover."

Barbara sighed. "That is indeed ill-favour. If you have yet to do anything, I would desire to know where to find these ill-meaning scoundrels, for I will not have such lack of behaviour towards my brethren."

"They are regretting their behaviour. If everything went well, Malfoy as well will be regretting his own, and I may owe him a favour if he responded as I suspect he did."

Barbara raised her eyebrow. "You are a Marauder, are you not?" At James surprised glance she smiled. "I hear much of the world, and many rumours flow of a group of youths who plagued Hogwarts with pranks. I am not sure who I should feel more sorry for, Malfoy for being used in one of your schemes, or the poor sufferer. If it was indeed a muggle of such little tolerance, I fear Malfoy may have used some suspect spells to shut him up, and you may indeed be vindicated as you desire. I can not conceive of Malfoy not reacting in a manner that would vindicate you as desired …"

Barbara paused a moment, and James took that to mutter, only half to himself "That, and a fat, naked muggle would make anyone scream." Barbara laughed as she heard it.

"That would definitely be so. I will have to inquire as to the fate of this most unfortunate victim of your ire. Punishment to both Malfoy and such a despicable man; pure genius. I shall have to inquire as to your opinion as we plot some things. You seem most intelligent."

James flushed. "I wasn't alone in most of the exploits you would have heard of as a Marauder, and it was Lily who came up with the 'package for Malfoy' part."

Barbara laughed once more, shaking her head. "Then I'll have to speak to the whole of the group that is available. Now, your friends are here. I shall see if I can get Howard to speak of what has him in its grip now, and I will send him in once he's speaking. I hope to see you again, cousin Potter." Barbara sketched another curtsey and held it.

James sketched a bow back quickly as he finished the phrase. "I also do hope to see you again, cousin Hodges."

At that, Barbara stood and, smiling, she turned to the rest of the group. "I do see an intent of business about you, cousins. If you would trust me with your progeny, me and mine would care for your children in our manor's room made for such little hands and feet. We have companions who may wish to meet others, and there will be intent supervision. If you would trust us, me and our house elves would take your little ones at your convenience."

James met Lily's eyes, and at Lily's small nod, he turned to Barbara again. "We would be most grateful, cousin, if you would be so kind as to care for our children for the duration of our business. I trust you to take utmost care."

"Of course." Barbara reassured him, and she herself took Harry from his arms, after she had set Gwen down so she could walk while holding to Barb's robes. Three small elves came to take the sleeping Cassi, Kieran and Rhiannon, and Maxene led the rest of the adults from the room. The brother James had not met got up to follow them, and as they came to gathering of chairs with enough for each of them, they all sat down, Maxene next to the stranger, followed by Remus and Lyall again sharing a loveseat, and James and Lily in matching wooden chairs that were more comfortable than they appeared. Louise was once more in a rocking chair, and she did not appear pleased. Their hosts, however, ignored her manner in favour of greeting the newcomers.

"So as to clear up any lingering questions, please correct if I identify you wrongly. Amos Hodges," The brother James had seen before smiled. He sketched a bow at the introduction, and Maxene moved on. "I am Maxene Harlem Hodges, as you know. Lyall Wolfgang, Remus Lupin, James Potter, and Lily Evans Potter, and Louise Catar. I believe your children are Blacks, Louise?" Maxene indicated each of them as she named them, and Amos quietly bowed to each of them, smiling brightly. Louise twitched as Maxene asked about her children, and Amos raised his brows.

Louise gritted her teeth before speaking. "I am under the impression that they are indeed the children of Sirius Black. Fortunately, Mr. Potter here reassures me his friend is innocent, and I am inclined to believe him. Now I have to deal with the knowledge that our government is full of Jack-asses."

Amos laughed. "Louise, when did you ever think otherwise? Fudge has been sweating ever since someone figured out about his balancing act with some of that money, and his affair with his secretary."

"At least those are expected. I dislike someone I am now connected to being wrongly imprisoned in Hell on earth."

"Ah, so that's why you're asking. That's one hell of a can of worms you're offering, and I'm fascinated." Most of the company jumped slightly, as Howard strolled over, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "And Sirius Black? He'll be locked up tight. It'll be a hell of a job getting him out of Azkaban without him getting kissed."

James scowled lightly, as Maxene and Amos eyed him with concern and respect each.

"Sirius Black's only trespass against the law is being an illegal Animagus. He's a black dog; he looks like a Grim. I think it might help, as he's smaller as a dog. He's also not recognizably human either." James answered.

Howard paused, and flopped into an armchair next to his brother. He brought his hand up to rub it over his hair. "Animagi … That would make the effort much simpler, indeed. Smaller, able to fit through the guarding bars … Amos, don't the wards go only eighty feet out from the building?"
Amos blinked at being addressed, and summoned a house-elf, who disappeared and reappeared in moments, with a file in hand. Amos flicked through it, glanced over a paper and nodded. "Yeah, but that's thirty feet into the ocean, and the water is sub-zero almost all the time."

"That can be worked around. I have some ways in mind, and they're easy to pull off to boot. James, would your friend trust a stranger coming in to fetch him?"

James blinked rapidly, and stared. He'd never expected this to happen so quickly. After his confusing resurrection, he'd expected to have to fight to talk people into believing him. He almost considered going to the ministry, but they'd use truth serum, and he could get in a lot of trouble if they asked the wrong questions first. His treatment of Petunia, if proven, could send him into a cell next to Sirius' if it came out, and he wasn't going to trust the minister to believe him on any 'extenuating circumstances'. Shaking his head, he moved back to the conversation.

"Pardon, could you repeat that question?" James asked, sheepishly.

Howard smirked. "Not expecting the enthusiasm? You forget who you're talking to." Howard waited for James to shut his mouth again. "I asked how Sirius would react to a stranger coming into his cell to fetch him. Would he take him at his word, or what?"

James exhaled loudly. "Sirius … would probably need a note from someone he trusted to get him to try and follow a stranger out. He … I don't think he'll be reacting well to the Dementors, so I don't think he'll be thinking straight either."

Howard tapped his lip with his finger. "So, a note tied to a collar, spelled waterproof, with a signature in blood, maybe, swearing that the words are truth, or just a note from Remus here." Remus twitched at being addressed, but relaxed as he moved on. "And he may need to be dragged along if he's in a raving state. We can fix that once we have him, so for the time being … Well, everything seems to be in some form of order. I might as well ask for my helpers, as if they can't do it it'll be useless anyways and we'll have to come up with something else."

James paused once more. Lily, noting his shock, patted his arm and answered.

"Well, if that is all you need us for, we can return to Remus' home and come again tomorrow."

Maxene waved her comment off. "Nonsense, Lily. If you don't mind me calling you that," Lily smiled and shook her head. "Well, Lily, you and your friends are all welcome to stay the night. We have rooms with nurseries off to the side, so you can have your privacy, and an alarm will alert you if either child wakes. We have plenty of rooms, as you may have noticed, and besides that it would be lovely to have company for dinner. We extend an invitation for you to stay, if you so desire."

James leaned back into the chair, smiling gaily. Remus watched him curiously as Louise accepted readily for herself and Lyall, for both the meal and the rooms. Lyall leaned over to Remus as James and Lily began to discuss, sighing in contentment.

"They have excellent meals here, and their house elves know how to cook meat properly. They are exacting cooks. I'd give just about anything for a house elf. Then I wouldn't keep burning my meat, when I want it rare. They can also get good meat for a 'blue' roast too."

Remus eyed her oddly. "Blue?"

"Whoops," Lyall giggled. Remus had never thought she'd make that noise. "It's basically, you just sear it on both sides in the grill for only a few moments or less. Extra bloody. Good for when the full moon's coming up and you can't imagine sinking your teeth into anything else."

Remus felt his jaw drop, and his conversation lapsed enough that he heard James and Lily accept the invitation for the whole evening. Howard and the others looked over to Remus, but he hadn't managed to gather himself yet. Instead of answering the previous question, he barely managed to squeak out "You're a werewolf?" before he remembered himself and blushed crimson. He'd have begun to stammer apologies, except that Louise and Amos burst out laughing, and Lyall was smiling indulgently at him.

"Yes, Remus, I am a werewolf. I thought you would have noticed as I had … although you may not have been as exposed to the werewolf culture as I was. I suppose you may not have known, but yes, Remus, I am a werewolf." Remus was still staring at her in shock. Finally, she tired of his inaction and leaned forward to peck him on the lips. Remus jolted back, flushing crimson. James started laughing again.

"I'll warn you, Lyall, Remus hasn't had much in the way of dates."

Lyall eyed Remus, considering. "I'll have to fix that, but for the moment … Howard, old boy, can we take you up on the offer of a room for the moment? If nothing else, I'm going to have to talk to him for a while." Howard could only nod his head; had he tried to speak he'd have pulled something laughing. Remus had yet to recover from his shock, so when Lyall grabbed his hand and pulled him up he didn't fight. He waved mechanically at James and Lily as Lyall stopped a house elf, before she dragged him out of the room and up the stairs. James and Louise were both snickering like mad.

"I think she likes him." James observed. Louise snorted.

"She more than likes him, Jamie, I think she's infatuated. He is mighty cute. I'm glad Sirius is even cuter. It would have been horrible had Peter really been the good guy. I mean, seriously, he has nothing in the way of looks."

James and Lily snorted, as did most of their hosts. Finally, a house elf popped into the space by the edge of the couches to show each of them off to the dining hall for a mixed supper and lunch, as many of them had skipped the middle meal of the day.

Two hours later, the meal was finished, and had been most resplendent, and Howard had already sent a floo call to his 'partners-in-crime'. Lyall and Remus had yet to be seen again that evening, and Louise had found her way upstairs, discussing potion theory with Amos on her way to her room. James and Lily were talking in one of the sitting rooms, and considering their own beds when Howard strolled in, a grin plastered across his face, and two teenagers following him, a boy and a girl who looked barely fifteen.

"James, Lily, here are my compatriots of activity: American students from Salem, Velorian Mayfair and Tara Kent." Howard began. "They're both excellent at being discrete and efficient. Velorian happens to be a Boarhound as an Animagus, and Tara has more skill with a wand than I've seen in ages. Velorian will just have to roll in some mud, though, as he's got white in his coat. I thought it best to act fast, and in the early morning hours before the sun rises, and since they could come, why not tonight?"

"Okay, wait, Mr. Hodges, you haven't even told us what's happening yet." The blonde boy interrupted.

"I'm introducing you to the inspiration for my ingenious scheme, and the friends of the person you're fetching." Howard answered. His grin seemed permanently etched on his face. "Sit, sit, both of you. Lets get the introductions and any questions you have out of the way, these nice people can go to their beds, and then we can thrash out any issues with the way we have this set up."

The two teenagers grumbled slightly, but the girl perched shortly on one of the wooden chairs and the boy threw himself into an overstuffed armchair. He looked James and Lily up and down and he furrowed his brow, apparently confused. The girl was similarly eyeing them, and apparently reaching the same fault in reasoning, as she pursed her lips and looked to Howard with a raised eyebrow.

"If you're testing our memory of faces, you can drop the glamours on your friends now. We can see they look exactly like James and Lily Potter, and it's not exactly cool to keep the charade up." The girl stated this plainly; as though she wasn't surprised he was pulling the wool over their eyes like this. Howard began to chuckle, and the boy almost seemed angry. He sketched a mark in the air with his hand, and scowled at it as well, before addressing his companion.

"Tara, I can't see any specific magics. There seems to be a faint glow around them, but it is most definitely not a glamour charm. It's too weak, and too universal. It's … I might attribute it to them even being reconstituted or something like that. Maybe they're golems of some sort? But that would take more magic than I can see, far more …" The boy sounded upset, as though he couldn't understand how he was being foiled. Tara turned from addressing Howard to sketch a similar rune in the air and scowl at it, before following that with a series of runes, each making her face sourer.

Howard chuckled. "I'm not trying to pull any wool over your eyes, and I probably should have glamoured them before bringing you over to see if you'd catch it, but you are indeed looking at Lily and James Potter."

Tara looked at him and scoffed, clearly insulted, and Velorian's thoughtful scowl deepened, and he leaned back, tapping his chin with his wand. "Tara, which teacher spoke of alternate dimensions?"

Tara didn't even look at him as she snapped "Cystenian, Velorian, and he didn't say anything about people coming back to life in that lecture."

Velorian shook his head. "We've never had a discussion regarding anyone truly coming back to life Tara, as it's never happened, but this is magic. Maybe it was sacrificial or something; that's a very powerful, and highly untested branch. Howard wouldn't be lying to us if he could avoid it. Besides, he'd be saying something we'd be less able to pick apart. This –" his gesture included both Lily and James, "Is just preposterous. It's insane, it's unbelievable, and there's no way it could happen with a reasonable explanation. Get your head on, use your reason, and accept the fact that some things happen for no good reason when your discussing something outside of definition as it is."

Tara slouched back into her chair for a moment before pulling herself upright once more, and she glared at Velorian. "I'm sacrificing your hide if you get us in trouble."

Velorian merely smiled back, as did Howard, who then clapped his hands and spoke.

"And as for what you're pulling off, you two have the good fortune of getting to break into Azkaban."

Both teenagers turned and eyed him, surprised.

Tara spoke first. "Where did you check your brain this evening, Mr. Hodges? You seem to be spouting one load of bull after another. There's only so much impossible you can throw at someone before they stop listening, and this is pushing it."

Velorian nodded. "Next thing he'll say is that we're rescuing Sirius Black because he's innocent. Although, if it's truly James and Lily over there, they'd know if he was innocent or not, so … if any one part is true, then I suppose it all is." As Howard was now grinning manically, Velorian heaved a large sigh. "I hate it when I'm right. Tara, you might want to start swallowing your objections. It's times like these when I feel like a muggleborn. I never know what magic will throw at me next."

"Well," Howard's grin stretched across his whole face now, and James and Lily were both stunned. "Since you two have figured out your whole assignment, what do you think of it? Are you willing to help us break an innocent out of Azkaban?"

James expected Velorian to roll his eyes and agree, much as he would have when offered this in school. However, he ended up surprised.

Tara turned to look at Velorian, and shrugged, but Velorian was now eyeing James and Lily again, his face considering. Tara smiled, and leaned back in her chair.

Velorian sat up straight, before turning and addressing Howard, looking far more serious than he had all night.

"I want proof."

Howard's eyes went up, and James snorted, attracting all eyes. Velorian's gaze, now as calculating as James had ever seen McGonagall look, bore into him until he spoke up.

"You didn't seem to want proof before. You were the one telling Tara to accept magic as insane, and unstable with no definition."

Velorian responded sharply, and James flinched before he scolded himself for reacting like that to a teenager. No matter how much the teen sounded like the sternest teacher he'd ever met.

"That was before I was told I'm to rescue someone who seems to have all evidence pointing to his guilt. I will not take part in releasing a madman on the world until I have reasonable doubt about him being who he has been painted for the last two weeks. If you cannot provide that doubt, you can break him out yourself."

James' eyebrows shot into his hairline, followed shortly by Lily's. It was Lily who spoke next.

"That's … very responsible of you."

Velorian snorted and snickered. "It's about as responsible as I get. A sane person would be scoffing at the mere idea of considering any form of offensive against Azkaban, even if it were just the wormhole we're aiming for. And I'm still waiting for that reasonable doubt."

James took up the lead now. "Sirius was not our secret-keeper. Peter Pettigrew was, and he was the traitor."

Velorian sat back, rubbing his chin and looking surprised. "Good argument. Very good argument. If he isn't a Death Eater, which I'm honestly surprised they could think he was one without saying anything about him having the Dark Mark, then there's reasonable doubt on him killing those muggles maliciously. Why would he have …"?

James broke into Velorian murmurings, answering, "He would have gone after Peter, but I don't think he'd have used such a violent spell against him. I can't see Sirius killing others just to get at one person."

Velorian nodded. "I think you'd know him best - although we're still not solid on you being who you say you are – Sirius, he may not have been the one to use the curse. Had Pettigrew shrunken himself, all the pipes below the street were exposed. Cutting off a finger can be done while you are alive, and it would have left some 'evidence' of death."

"Pettigrew is a rat Animagus." Lily supplied.

Velorian paused, now tapping at his chin with his wand. "That … makes perfect sense. Peter was afraid of facing the music, so he faked his death by blowing up the street and cutting off his finger to lay the blame on the man everyone thought was the traitor, and he scurried off to live a life as a rat. Not too glamorous, but it's life." Velorian paused again, and laid his hands across his lap, fixing James and Lily with a hard eye. "But you could just be laying blame. Laying a false trail, and you may not be who you say you are. If you're not …"

"And how might you be able to know if we truly are who we claim? You never knew us before, you have nothing to compare your suspicions to, and you simply can't know!" James snapped.

Velorian raised his eyebrows once more. "I have multiple vials of identity potion. A hair dropped in each, shaken, and poured on a paper will turn to ink, and provide an image of the person, with their full name and any special magics they've developed in themselves, such as Animagi. Not in a single paper are your full names stated, so, as shaky as this is, it'll give me something solid to hold to. Tell me your full names, and give me a hair. Let me use this, and then I think I may believe you."

James and Lily looked at each other and shrugged. This was easy, and very safe. They each gave Velorian a hair in turn, letting him see them pulling them off their heads, and gave the information he required. James stopped him after giving his.

"Velorian, I believe you mentioned this will also tell of Animagus abilities?" Velorian nodded, eyeing him oddly. "Well, I'm a stag. But I'm not registered." It took James a moment, but when Velorian started grinning he realised that he was impressed.

"How old were you when you completed it?" Velorian asked, pulling one of his own hairs and adding it to the first of three small vials. The other two already had James and Lily's hairs in them.

"I was fifteen; and as much as I loathe to admit it, it was Sirius and I who helped Pettigrew accomplish his Animagus form. Sirius is a large black dog." James added. "We all learned at the same time."

Velorian poured out the potion, taking his time to spill it all into one puddle, which rapidly spread out to soak the paper. James watched in interest as the boy's face developed under his eyes, and the name 'Velorian Dean Miser Mayfair' scrawled itself beneath the name, but above the address of 'Boarhound Animagus; harlequin'. Lily whistled lowly in admiration. James was amused to note that he flushed as she did so, and he quickly shuffled the paper to the side, pulling out another sheet and grabbing the vial with James' hair in it. He used the same care, and James was amused to watch his face materialize flawlessly on the paper followed by 'James Valkyric Potter' and 'Stag Animagus; natural; twelve point rack'.

Velorian snickered. "Nice rack James."

Tara flung a pillow at him, and James laughed. Velorian quickly apologized insincerely and poured Lily's vial onto another sheet. Her image materialized, above her name, 'Lily Marie Evans Potter' and nothing else.

Velorian hesitated. He leaned back into his chair, away from the coffee table and looked blankly at the sheets of paper. After a moment, he sighed and raked his hand through his blonde hair, folding forward till his elbow hit his knee. Howard placed a hand on his back.

"Velorian, if nothing else, I firstly don't think people seeking to rescue an enraged murderer would do it with four small children in their company-"

Velorian interjected. "They could not be theirs." But Howard continued speaking over him.

"And I don't think they'd agree to enter a stranger's house where there is no clear direction to get away in if the person takes offence to them." James and Lily shifted slightly, until Howard smiled gently at them over Velorian's back. They subsided, noting that he was merely making a point, not a threat. "If anything about Sirius is shifty, or untrustworthy, you know I have a supply of veritaserum which I will be using on him either way to ensure his story. If I do not trust them, I am in a position to either eliminate them, or turn them in at my leisure. But I am choosing to trust them for the moment, and I ask that you do so as well."

Velorian sat up and looked at Howard again, weighing his options until he finally chose to nod shortly. James and Lily sighed lightly, but stiffened some when he spoke up once more.

"I'm taking the Alfaerus' pistol with me though. In case Sirius, or someone else takes too much offence to me."

Howard merely raised his eyebrows. "Stunners only, Velorian." Velorian tried to object, but Howard raised his hand and he stopped. "They'll still be left to the Dementors that way, and since you and Tara will probably be pissing them off all evening, I fear they may end up ill-fated as it is."

Velorian pouted a moment, but acquiesced. Tara spoke her agreement, and Howard stood and clapped his hands.

"Wonderful. Thank you so much, Mayfair, Kent, and if you will give me a moment, I'll be back down to you after I see my guests to their rooms, unless you wish to remain?" Howard asked James and Lily. "We will be merely fleshing out the final parts, and –wait. The note." Howard stopped thumbing his chin.

James sighed and answered. "I think it would be best if it were Remus who wrote the note. Sirius will be as suspicious as Velorian was. And, unless Lily has some unknown store of energy, I think we'll both be most pleased to go to our beds. Just … Please be nice with Sirius. He's probably not in the best of shape right now, and he is innocent. I know he is." Velorian nodded mildly at James' reassurance, before smirking and whispering something to Tara, which made her giggle. Howard nodded, and then placed his hand on James' shoulder.

"Sounds good to me, James. Your room is far upstairs, and I believe Barb already had your children taken to their nursery." Lily gasped; shocked at having forgotten them after supper, but Howard cut her off. "They are fine. Both children fell asleep shortly after the meal, and neither has stirred. We have a house elf keeping an eye on each child, and that's one house elf attentive only to your children. Anything your children need will be supplied, and you can order the house elf as you will, for fetching for the children, and to keeping watch when you can't be there, but you can still supersede them if you wish time alone with them. I'm sure you have some interest in your husband for tonight." James and Lily blushed some, but they were out of the room now and mounting a large flight of stairs, talking as they walked. Howard made no further comment on the subject, but continued speaking. "You can order meals, or snacks to your room at any hour, and you have all the comforts you may need there. If you don't find what you need, simply call for a house elf and they can direct you to anything."

James was glad for all his years at Hogwarts, and climbing its stairs, as this manor seemed to have a very similar amount, and they kept going up. Howard indicated the library as they passed, and when they finally reached their room, they were feeling completely lost. Howard merely smiled, and reminded them that were enough house elves, that they could easily ask for a guide in any direction. Then, they were left to each other in an opulent bedroom. Lily quickly found the nursery, to check on Rhiannon and Harry, before she moved back into their main room and eyed James up and down. James eyed her similarly, and smiled.

"Fine. Which door is for the shower?"

Lily laughed, and dragged him over to it.

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A/N: Constructive criticism, or just whatever you have to say, would be appreciated. Reviews are inspiration.