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Previously,
"Did you hear that?" asked James.
Rachel waved it off with an impatient hand. "It was just the wind outside."
But it sounded again, like hushed footsteps. James listened closer. He shook his head and turned to his father. It's coming from the inside."
In the blink of any eye, Death Eaters were attacking…Chapter 30
James and Anthony were crouching behind the overturned table, periodically shooting curses at some Death Eaters that were in the dinning room. Other where fighting everyone else in all different rooms. Anthony shouted over the explosions and other shouting. "You have to get out of here!"
James shot a curse over the table edge and came back down. "We're not leaving."
Anthony looked to his son and his hand closed around something in his pocket. He thrust it into James's hand. James opened is fist and stared down into the surface of the key. In it, he saw the scenes form his birthday replay. Malfoy telling him to get on his knees, Remus and Sirius looking at him for answers he could not give, Melissa on the brink of a wave of tears, Lily, sobbing her heart out, walking up the stairs, Dumbledore…
He shut his eyes to clock away the horrible memories, also helping him to hear his father better.
"Take Lily Sirius Remus and Melissa. Take the key. Bring them all to the safest place possible. Make sure you are not followed." James had long before opened his eyes. "James, this key…you must not fail in getting this far away from here."
James stared hard into his father's eyes. "I won't."
Anthony smiled proudly. "I know."
James gave his Dad a brief hug then rushed out of the room. In the kitchen he grabbed Lily and Remus right in the middle of their duels. He whipped out his mirror while running through the halls and shouted "Sirius Black!" Sirius face turned up, as it did every time. "Grab Melissa and meets us in the backyard A.S.A.P" Sirius nodded once and stuffed the mirror back into his pocket. James did the same, leading Remus and Lily through another hallways and straight out the back door.
By the oak tree in the backyard, Sirius and Melissa were waiting looking quite shaken up, as they all were. They ran over to them. "Where are we going?" Melissa asked after slipping her shaking hand into Remus's bigger, steadier one.
Good question thought James. Where to go? He thought back to his father's words to him.
…safest place possible.
James quickly removed his shoe and pointed his wand at it, muttering 'portus'. "Everyone grab on. One…two…three!" They all felt the familiar, uncomfortable sensation as they were transported to where ever James had set up for them to go. He was the unofficial leader. And they were most definitely all good with that.
They all fell with thuds on their backs and buts on wet green grass. Lifting their heads told them James had taken them back to Hogwarts. He reached down into his pocket and once again stared at the key and its shiny surface, seeing Lily's hurt face reflecting in it. Why did he keep seeing that? Especially her?
"James what does that-"
"Now's not the time, we need to get inside." James loudly cut Lily's question off, knowing full well what it would have been and that he could not answer it, even if he wanted to.
They all ran up to the castle, blowing on their hands to keep warm and squinting their eyes so the cold, rushing air wouldn't burn them and dry them out. James grabbed the door handle and pulled. The door would not open. He got frustrated and shouted, "Oh, come ON!" He kicked the door angrily and sat on the first step. Sirius followed suit so he could talk to James.
"Mate, especially now, you need to calm-"
James talked as if he didn't even hear him. "Who keeps the Hogwarts doors locked? I mean, honestly!"
"That would be me, Mr. Potter."
Both James and Sirius sat up and spun around swiftly. "Professor!" James cleared his throat because at the word 'Professor', his voice had gone a whole octave higher.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled playfully, "It is locked to keep hoodlums like you out of this innocent school.
"Haha!" Sirius punched James's left arm with his right fist. "He called you a hoodlum!"
"Mr. Black, I was talking to you."
James grinned and Remus laughed saying, "Ah ha Padfoot, you got burned."
Sirius admitted defeat by nodding his head and holding his fist out to Dumbledore, telling him to pound it. After Dumbledore 'pounded it', his face grew slightly more solemn. "I believe the reason you came here tonight is not a happy one."
"Death Eaters came, sir." Said Lily. "While we were having dinner.
"My dad, he told me to take the key somewhere safe and this I the safest place I know." James said, Dumbledore nodding in places where it seemed necessary.
"Smart man, your father."
James smiled slightly. "I hope it's okay that we came here."
Dumbledore smiled, his blue eyes sparkling with life and happiness. "Of course it is. I must admit, Hogwarts was missing its usual liveliness without you guys. You must never worry, no matter what, the door is always open."
Melissa's nose scrunched up like it always did when she was confused. "Wait, I thought you locked the doors." Her friends stared at her in disbelief before laughing, Dumbledore chuckling. Remus rubbed Melissa's arm affectionately.
"It's okay." He walked in the school with her, Sirius and James behind them, mimicking Melissa and adding in some words, making them laugh even harder.
Lily walked in next to Dumbledore. He looked at her, then forward and said, "I like your hair." Lily laughed heartily.
Waiting, Remus decided, was worse than actually fighting. They had been sitting in the Gryffindor Common Room for over 30 minutes. He walked over to McGonagall who was with them.
"Er-Professor?" His friends looked at him curiously but continued with whatever they were talking about, which sounded like Quidditch.
McGonagall turned to face him. Remus couldn't have told you any other time where her face was this kind. "Mr. Lupin. May I help you?"
Remus nodded politely. "Yes Ma'am. I was just, well, thinking and will Mr. and Mrs. Potter be all right be themselves? I mean-."
"Do not fear, Mr. Lupin. Rachel and Anthony are one of the best Auror teams in the Ministry and they are not alone.
"They're…not?"
"No Professor Dumbledore has sent the Order out to help and has notified the Minister…" At the aspect of the Minister having knowledge of the attack, the tone of McGonagall's voice made it quite clear she felt it would make no difference if the Minister knew or not. "And in addition, Professor Dumbledore should be arriving soon there himself."
Remus nodded. "If you don't mind me asking, Professor, what are you waiting for?"
"A new Auror named Alastor Moody should be sending a letter telling of the situation at the Potter Manor. Please, Mr. Lupin, relax. You look like you could use the rest."
Remus smiled. "Thank you professor."
He walked back over to the couch where he was sitting before and Melissa cuddled up against him, right where she fit perfectly. He put his arm around her shoulders and kissed her forehead.
Sirius smiled at them and looked to James and Lily who were sitting on the armchair together, whispering Merlin knows what into each other's ears, causing them to laugh and kiss every couple of minutes. Sirius would have found it annoying had they not been so perfect for each other. He wondered if he'd ever find someone like that for him. To turn his mood form worried to happy in a matter of seconds. Someone to hold or at least talk to. He surprised himself that when he pictured that girl, she was Lily's sister, Clara
"You will remain here until the beginning of the next term." Dumbledore told the group of teenagers. "Your stuff will be brought here, and you may, once again, say goodbye to your families. That will be it." Lily went to apparate home, as did Remus and Melissa since Dumbledore had taken off the anti-apparation spell. He asked to talk to James alone.
Sirius stood there, feeling kind of lonely when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Lily grinned at him and put an arm around his waist. "She'll want to say goodbye."
Sirius shook his head. "No she won't." He put is left arm around her shoulders.
"She likes you Sirius."
His face lit up. "Really?"
"Of course, Arielle loves you."
His shoulders slumped and eyes became downcast. "Right…"
"Aww, Sirius, I was just kidding. I know for a fact that Clara likes you." Sirius was apprehensive to get excited this time. "Honest, she's just scared."
"And you're okay with this?"
Lily smiled kindly, almost motherly at him. "I know you'd take care of both of them."
Sirius grinned and kissed her cheek. "You're the best Lils."
Lily sighed playfully. "I know…how do I do it?"
"Hey, watch it over there!" James called from the corner. He was smiling and Dumbledore was trying to conceal his.
Sirius childishly stuck out his tongue and both he and Lily disapparated but not before hearing James' laugh.
A/N: All right so it wasn't as action-packed but…the mystery that is the key will slowly start to unfold…What does it open? Why do the Potter's have it? Why do they keep giving it to James? Fast enough update for you? lol
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