November 2nd

"What am I supposed to do now Albus?" James said quietly as he paced around Dumbledore's office. It was the middle of the night. He held a sleeping Harry in his arms.

"James. Voldemort is gone for now. Your son has vanquished him. All you can do is try to have a normal life."

"But Lily is gone too." James said, his voice cracking with emotion. His emotions had been running on full tilt for the past two days. The memorial was to be in three days. He wasn't sure he was ready. "I just feel like when I turn around she'll be standing right there with a smile on her face."

"I'm sorry to say that's not going to happen James." Dumbledore shook his head sadly as the tears poured down James' cheeks. "She was a wonderful woman and she will not be forgotten. She will live on in her friends, her family, her son and most importantly your heart."

"I never knew you to be the sentimental type." Dumbledore chuckled and handed James a handkerchief.

"I'm an old sod, but even I loved someone once, loved her with all my heart. The trouble is…people die, and you have to go on. The trick being never forgetting them for who they were; but not letting your mind make them into what they weren't." James nodded and looked down at his son. Harry was awake now, his green eyes glistening, so like Lily's. "The best thing for him is to have his father." James smiled at the boy in his arms. He was so helpless.

"I don't know if I can do this alone. I wasn't sure I could do it with Lily."

"Your son will be a great wizard James but he needs you." James looked up at Albus, a concerned look on his face. "You can. You just need to believe in yourself…do the best you can. Your friends will undoubtedly help you; which brings me to the unfortunate topic of Peter Pettigrew." A cold and hate-filled look crossed James' eyes.

"That rat. Do with him what you like. I'm so ashamed I once called him my friend."

"Peter made a mistake, as we all do, and he will pay dearly for it."

"He is to go to Azkaban then?"

"Yes. Although he is not receiving the dementors kiss."

"Why not? He deserves it."

"Barty Crouch doesn't agree with you." James scowled. There was a knock on the door and Albus smiled at James.

"I believe the uncles have come to join in the discussions." Sirius and Lupin walked in the door sheepishly.

"Well you two" James said looking over at them with a sad smile. "What's the plan?"

"I think we should leave." Sirius said quickly. Lupin nodded in agreement.

"This is not the environment for Harry to grow up in, being a hero and all that is a little daunting for a child. What do you think Dumbledore?" Albus looked over his half-moon spectacles at the three men in front of his desk. They were so similar to how they had been the first day he had seen them. Sirius confident and excited, Remus reserved with an undeniable intelligence. Then there was James. He had always had a gleam in his eye and a retort on his lips. Now that gleam was little bit duller, Albus worried that he wasn't ready for what lay ahead of him.

"I think you're both right and wrong. Harry needs to be brought up as a wizard; not doing so would stunt his magic growth and cause amazing displays of involuntary magic. But I also do not think the best environment for him is one of Diagon Alley or Hogsmade.

"What are you trying to say Albus?" James asked quietly.

"You will take Harry to a small wizarding village not far out of London."

"Do you want us to make up names and pretend to be people we're not?" Remus asked with a confused look on his face.

"Like the witness protection program for muggles hunted by the mafia?" Sirius said with a little too much interest.

"No." Answered Dumbledore. "I do not want you to lie to anyone about anything. You will all continue your work for the Aurors and the Order but live in better surroundings for a growing boy. I had a place in mind."

"You're thinking of the old Potter place aren't you?" James said, with a look of sadness and anger on his face.

"I was; is that a problem?" James shook his head. Remus and Sirius looked and each other and both walked to James' sides.

"We're ready to go." Sirius said.

"You're coming with me?" James asked, not as surprised as you'd expect.

"Of course." Remus said with a smile. "You don't think we'd let you corrupt this child on your own do you?" Albus chuckled and the three marauders said their farewells and headed out the door. Harry was going to be very important in the scheme of things, he just couldn't let them know that yet.

A/N I know it's short but I couldn't keep going because it would stop making a lot of sense. Hope you like it. Cheers

K