Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I'm not that creative and I don't have that much time on my hands.
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Nothing. Absolutely nothing. For the next two days I tried to get more information on James, but I got a big, fat nothing. I skimmed the papers in front of me, looking for something that I know I missed. I thought back on the past two days, trying to think if I missed something.
The day after I talked to Dumbledore, I returned to the school to look at records. I know Dumbledore told me everything that I ever wanted to know, but I needed more. I found out that he was actually in the year ahead of me. He was also the star Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, top in his class, and was the biggest prankster ever seen at Hogwarts. Well, that goes to show how much socializing I did at Hogwarts. I was to busy with homework and thinking about my future to talk to the older students. I was even able to dig up some pictures of him. From what I can tell, he was very good looking. He was tall, lean, and probably in shape. He had untamable black hair, hazel eyes, and a very kind face. I had to laugh at that. I was hunting a dangerous Death Eater, one that has killed many innocent people, and I thought of his face as kind?
That was that day. The next, I was busy tracking friends and family. Apparently, his parents were the only living relatives that James ever had, well, until they died of course. As for the Marauders, they went off the face of the map. Peter Pettegrew, as I found out, has been living with his aunt ever sense he left school. Remus Lupin turned out to be a werewolf and had been applying for jobs up until last year, when he got accused of purposely putting himself by Muggles during the full moon, like Fenrir Greyback, and went off the map. I'm guessing he was set up. No werewolf who was one of the smartest in the school and has contacts like Dumbledore would do something like that. Sirius Black just disappeared. He pulled himself away from society ever sense James became one of You-Know-Who's groupies, and didn't make contact with any of the other Marauders in public after school.
I sighed. Maybe I'm in to far over my head? No. I shouldn't think that. What would Moody say if he caught me saying that? Maybe I should take a walk or something, to clear my head. I looked around the Headquarters. Everyone else seemed to into their work then to take notice in little old me. I looked at my calendar to check if I had any meetings I had conventionally forgot. Nothing. I guess September 1st was my lucky day. I grabbed my cloak and purse and disapparated out of there, thank goodness.
I apparated into a very busy Diagon Alley. Parents and their children were everywhere. All the shops looked their finest. Impressive displays showed the most popular books, quills, and parchment. Posters advertised the newest broomstick and venders sold all sorts of treats and items on the street.
I wandered toward the front of the alley and through the brick archway to the Leaky Cauldron. Inside, it was full of happy, jolly people. I went up to the bar and got a butterbeer. I paid and went to sit down at a small table. As I started to drink, I scanned to room out of habit. After years of learning from Moody, you usually have strange habits. My eyes landed on pair of men arguing quietly. I grew suspicious, until one of them shouted, "Fine! But I warn you, the Canons have got a chance this year. You just wait." I continued to scan the crowd, until I saw him.
In the very back of the bar, at a small table, sat a tall cloaked man. The cloak wrapped all around him, and the hood was large, so I couldn't see under it. He was silently drinking what looked to be firewhiskey, and seemed to be watching the other people as well. He seemed to tense to be drinking at this happy pub.
I heard the large clock tower outside begin to chime noon when he stood up. He quickly headed to the alley door as if he was in a hurry, even though he was the picture of ease a moment earlier. I drained my butterbeer and followed him at a distance, unsure what to think of this man. I stepped out the back door and found him already walking through the brick archway. I quickly past though as well before the archway closed again. He was making his way through the crowd when the screaming started.
I tore my eyes away from the man and looked on in horror as dozens of Death Eaters began to apparate into Diagon Alley. They began to throw curses in every direction, not caring who they hit. Children and parents quickly ran to the closest shop and fireplace. It was ciaos. I grabbed my wand and began dueling the closest Death Eater. He had his back turned to me, so I shot a Stunner at him and he crumpled to the ground. I then joined a bald wizard fight another Death Eater. We fought as a team, and as the Death Eater tried to dodge on of my Stunners, the wizard got him as he was jumping out of the way.
I turned to face my next opponent when I saw the cloaked man again, only now I knew him to be a Death Eater. He was aiming the Killing Curse at a group of children that had taken cover behind a vending stall. One of the children tried to make a run for safety, when he got him with the Cruciatus Curse in the back. The child's screams broke the trance over me and I shot the Disarming Spell at him. He saw it coming last moment and dove out of the way, but it caught his cloak and pulled the hood down.
As he turned, I took a horrified step back as James Potter turned to face me with pure angrier and hated in his eyes.
This one was a toughy to write, but I hope you liked it. More background info to make you all happy. I promise that Sirius and Remus will make appearances in the future chapters. You just have to be patient.
I'm typing as fast as I can so you can read the climactic 'James and Lily duel.' At least I hope it's climactic. I have to go eat lunch now. Tootles!
Murray