Chapter 2

"Tell me again who Hermione is?" Sirius asked Remus, rubbing his temple.

Remus sighed. "Apparently our new room mate."

"I am serious, Moony," Sirius said with a hard look at his friend. However he couldn't hold that look for long and smiled a moment later.

When James had told them of Hermione, both, Remus and Sirius, had been too shocked to ask anything. James had gone to his room on first floor and locked himself there. Not that Sirius and Remus had gone there to check. Just an expression.

Remus smiled at Sirius before turning serious. "Would you like coffee?"

Sirius nodded and Remus left the room. Sirius got up to have a look around the house. Remus had inherited this house from his grandfather few months back after the latter's death. Earlier Remus was living with Sirius. The house Remus had gotten from his parents, after their death, had too many memories for him to feel peaceful there.

On Sirius' suggestion, Remus had re-modelled the whole house and converted it to a book-shop. Remus, however, hardly went there. Hiring a witch and leaving her with the charge, Remus had taken up his favourite job – writing. He had successfully published a novel last year.

He had moved to this house two weeks back and James and Sirius had never gotten a chance to be here. Lily had been here and had told them that she liked the house very much.

Sirius felt his eyes stinging with the thought of Lily. Wiping his eyes, Sirius moved to first floor. The ground floor had kitchen, living room, Remus' room and a study. Sirius went to the first room on first floor and tried to hear something, anything through the door. James was in there, but only silence greeted him. Not having the strength to talk to James, Sirius observed the other rooms.

There were two more rooms and a laboratory kind of room. Second floor had most of its area open to sky. There were only two rooms there. The whole house was painted in various colours giving it a very lively and cosy presence.

"The house's better than mine," Sirius mused. "Looks like Lupins know how to decorate their house … at least better than Blacks."

Remus found Sirius in the backyard, sitting on the swing his grandfather had made for him.

"Your coffee," Remus said, handing him the cup.

Sirius took the cup. "James?"

Remus sighed as he took a seat beside Sirius. "He asked me for milk for Hermione when I offered him coffee. I left his cup there, but I don't think it will receive any attention."

"We need to talk to him," Sirius said, "Merlin knows who's daughter James had brought home. They would have gone insane by now looking for her."

Silence.

"Moony?" Sirius waved his hand in front of Remus, who had spaced out.

"Uh-oh," Remus blinked, "Sorry. I spaced out."

"I know."

"Padfoot," Remus started, "when I went with a cup of milk to his room, James was singing the lullaby he used to sing for Harry." Remus' eyes glistened at the mention of his godson. "I think he brought Hermione to fill the void that Harry's … absence has created."

Sirius shot up angrily. "No one can take Harry's space."

"Calm down, Padfoot," Remus said gently, "Think from James point of view. This is giving something to do … something to distract from Lily's … you know." Remus trailed off not wishing to pronounce the deadly word.

Sirius was also lost in his thoughts. Sure, Remus was right.

An alarm bell went off somewhere in the house, bringing Remus and Sirius out of their musings.

"Firecall," Remus said as he got up to receive the message.

"Professor Dumbledore!" Remus greeted as he saw Dumbledore's face in the fire.

"Hello Remus," Dumbledore said, "Hello to you too Sirius." He nodded to Sirius, who had followed Remus. "I have some matters to discuss with you. May I come over?"

"You don't have to ask, Sir," Remus said, sitting in an armchair by the fireplace.

"Thanks, Remus," Dumbledore said, "I will be there in a minute. Till then goodbye." His face disappeared.

Sirius also took the chair beside Remus' as he muttered, "Wonder what Dumbledore wants to talk about."

He didn't get much time to ponder as Dumbledore came out of the fireplace a moment later.

Taking his seat opposite two men, Dumbledore started in a serious tone. "I hope you are well. Where is James?"

"Upstairs," Sirius answered.

"I hope he is taking it well," Dumbledore said, his eyes sad and their twinkle lost. "I think he should be here as well as we need to discuss about Lily's funeral."

Both young men looked down. They hadn't thought about that. None made a movement to call James. How could they go and tell him that they wanted to discuss Lily's funeral?

"I will go and ask him to join us," Dumbledore said, getting up from his chair.

"Er—Sir," Remus started hesitantly, "We wish to tell you something before you go upstairs."

"I am all ears," Dumbledore said and Remus launched into the story of morning events.

Dumbledore was silent for few moments. "I will go and bring James downstairs." He turned towards the stairs. "What did you tell me was the name of the girl?"

"Hermione Jane Granger," Remus and Sirius said together.

"Very well." And Dumbledore was gone.

"Hope that James at least listens to Dumbledore," Remus said.

"He will," Sirius answered, "He respects Dumbledore too much for that."

True to Sirius' word, five minutes later, all four of them were seated around fireplace. Dumbledore requested James to clear the air about Hermione and that was what James was doing at the moment.

"I went to Godric's Hollow early in the morning … around four," James stated; his tone emotionless and face impassive, "I was in the backyard when I heard someone's ragged breathing. After searching for the sound, I found the source – rubble on the street behind my house. I removed the debris with my hands since I had forgotten my wand here. There was a man lying on the ground covered with soot and stones. He was lying in a curled up position and Hermione was there … protected from harm. It seemed that the man was just waiting for someone to hand over Hermione's custody. The moment he saw me he pointed to the girl and barely whispered 'Hermione Jane Granger' before he went limp."

Silence greeted this recounting by James. Dumbledore then cleared his throat. "We found a dead body of a woman in the street behind Potter's house. We assumed she died due to explosion. Apart from the knowledge that she was a muggle, we didn't have any idea about her. Moody is investigating the case. I saw Hermione and I think she was Hermione's mother. I will notify Moody about this."

Dumbledore turned to James. "James, you are aware that you will have to hand over Hermione to her relatives when they demand for her." It was more of a statement, nevertheless it demanded an answer.

"Why can't we just say she also died in the explosion?" James retorted.

"Legally, no body would be found," Dumbledore answered, "morally, it's awful to keep a child from her relatives. But you can keep the child with you til the investigation is over." The finality in the tone meant that the subject is not open for any further discussion.

"There's another matter that needs your concern, James," Dumbledore said gently, "We need to plan funeral of Lily--"

"And Harry," James cut in, "I know."

"Why Harry," Sirius snapped, "he's--"

"Dead," James completed the sentence, "A couple on the street died because of the explosion and you think a year child in the house would survive it?"

"But there's no body," Remus reasoned.

"All they found of Peter was a finger," James answered impassively. Sirius was starting to get annoyed as well as scared with James' lack of emotion. "We all know that further investigations couldn't point to any possibility of Harry being alive," James continued, "Few days and even Ministry would declare Harry dead."

"Do you want to plan the funeral or shall I take the responsibility, James?" Dumbledore asked.

James looked at Headmaster and Dumbledore could sense his hesitation.

"You don't have to if you don't wish to, James," Dumbledore said softly. "No one will think low of you."

James nodded in understanding and thanks. He really didn't know he could handle that.

"Very well then," Dumbledore said as he got up, "I take your leave. Take care."

Just as Dumbledore entered the fireplace, James whispered, "Lily loved tulips."


A/N: The reviews and alerts i received for this story motivated to write more. Another chapter would deal with the angst before Remus and Sirius decide to step in and take James out of his sorrows. Obviously our little Hermione will be there to help. Dont forget to review.

Thanks to B Oots and Bia whom i couldnt thank personally.

Ciao