Chapter 22: Midnight Run
James and Sirius chortled with each other as they made their way to a safe Apparition point, out amongst the trees just on the outskirts of Hogsmeade Village. The pair of best mates, and James, in particular, had felt cooped up for too long, enough to make them stir crazy.
It hadn't been necessary, but James and Sirius had chosen the night of a full moon to sneak out and change into their Animagus forms. It felt just like old times, and so near their old Hogwarts stomping grounds…
…. Except, James realized with a pang, there had been no Remus tonight. And no Peter. The former was apparently on a very important mission for Dumbledore and the Order; the latter hadn't been heard from in weeks. The newly married man missed both of his close friends and hoped that, wherever they were, they would be all right.
"Great sport, wasn't it, Prongs?" Sirius chortled, slinging a friendly, companionable arm over his best mate's shoulder.
"Yeah….. Yes, it was…." James chuckled, though the sound quickly petered out as he felt a rustling in the trees coming from a grove about a hundred yards away. As a sound, it didn't feel like the wind. More disconcertingly still, James couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching them….
His blood chilled, and his eyes grew wide, though his face didn't take leave of its determined bravado. "Padfoot – go!"
The two men broke into a run, listening to the sounds of heavy footfalls coming after them.
"Who do you…. reckon?" Sirius panted, as they veered off from heading into the Village as they had planned and crashing into the underbrush. "Death Eaters?"
James nodded grimly, then jumped when he heard someone yell out, "Stupefy!" and a red bolt of light hit a tree trunk just behind him. He sent Sirius a tousled grin, both men lengthening their strides.
"Together?"
"Together!" Sirius's eyes gleamed wickedly. Both men turned as one and shouted, "Tenebris!"
An inky cloud of darkness sprang up from their wands and obscured their retreat, shouts of shock and confusion going up from their Dark Wizard pursuers. Smirking at each other, James and Sirius dashed deeper into the thicket, quickly submitting themselves to transform back into their Animagus forms, if only to help them run faster.
A large stag and the almost as large dog burst out into a clearing and over the crest of a hill. Rapidly changing back into men, James and Sirius grabbed for each other, turned on the spot and Disapparated.
Godric's Hollow…. Godric's Hollow…. Godric's Hollow…. James rapidly thought of home. He conjured an image of red curls and hazel eyes. The warm smile of his new wife.
Within moments, he felt himself being squeezed out of a tube and emerging from dark oblivion into the front yard of a tiny cottage in a remote wizarding village, Sirius at his side.
Light suddenly spilled invitingly from the home, and there was Lily, green eyes sparkling with relief as she dashed up to him and into his arms.
"Oh, James! Thank Merlin!" The former Miss Evans – now Mrs. Potter - drew back and touched her husband's face. "Are you hurt? I knew I shouldn't have let Sirius talk me into letting you out for a joyride…"
"Calm down, Lils, it was just a bit of fun!" Sirius pouted. "Plus, thrill of the chase from some Death Eater numpties made it all the more interesting…."
"What?!" Lily shrieked, and James cringed. Thanks a bloody lot, Sirius. "You lot nearly got run down by Death Eaters?!"
"They were snooping round Hogsmeade; didn't even come close to jumping us!" James tried to dismiss, sending his bride an easy smile. She didn't take the bait, arms folded and cocking one eyebrow prissily. James put more smolder into his gaze. "Lily…"
"Don't 'Lily' me!" she sniffed, turning away from him and flouncing back towards the house, her nose in the air. She only turned back once to cast over her shoulder, "And for the love of Godric, get inside and put some clothes on before you catch your death of cold! Unless, of course, you mean to join me in bed directly…." She continued her march over the threshold; James couldn't be sure, but he thought he had spotted an amused quirk to his wife's lips, and now a slight sway to her hips as her smart little bum tempted him.
Sirius chuckled tightly. "From the way she was yelling at you, I didn't think she'd let you get anything!" He smirked with amusement at how James was still gawping at his bride in her wake. "Well, go bloody on and take her for a shag, old boy! You may be in hiding, but at least you're in close quarters with a woman! Merlin knows I'm not getting any!"
James grinned smugly at his best mate. The pair slapped palms, then shared a manly hug before James dashed into his house, catching his wife about the waist and carrying her off upstairs to bed, her protesting squeals pitching in his ears all the way.
He and Lily made love that night until neither of them could walk.