Year of the Wolf

17. Aurors

'I can't believe he ditched me for a girl.'

Remus eyed him coldly.

'Yeah, he left you to go to Hogsmeade with absolutely no friends at all. Just me and Wormtail, and we're so sorry-'

'Oh shut up, Moony,' James said through Peter's laughter. 'You know what I mean. He left all of us.'

'Don't think we can give him what she can,' Peter said, and Remus howled with laughter.

Even James cracked a smile. He wasn't really bothered that Sirius was spending at least the first part of the Hogsmeade day probably with his tongue down Mary Macdonald's throat, not when they had the whole summer together to look forward to. It had just come to the point where Sirius was his wing man where Lily was concerned; he was there to pick up the pieces when she berated him and there to defend him when his attempts to impress her spectacularly failed. Remus just tended to stand there giving him that annoying "I told you so" look. Peter was no good at all when it came to girls.

But his mind was soon far away from girls and absent friends, because it seemed that there was a new presence in Hogsmeade: Aurors.

They had always been there, but never in such high numbers as today. Sometimes, it was simply Hit Wizards who would wander the streets on school visit days, but judging by the age of some of the faces, they had brought trainees along, perhaps for hands-on experience.

'Look!' he said excitedly, catching sight of an older, battle-worn Auror disappearing into Dervish & Banges. 'I think that was Alastor Moody!'

Remus looked in the direction of James's pointed finger, but saw nothing.

'Where do you reckon Sirius is?' asked Peter.

James continued to search the area, as though the appearance of Aurors had changed the very landscape and this was suddenly an exciting new village he had never before explored.

'Madam Puddifoot's, probably,' Remus said with a dirty little laugh. 'Wouldn't be surprised.'

'Actually, they're in the Three Broomsticks,' said a newcomer. James spun round to see Marlene McKinnon smiling behind Remus, her blonde hair almost painfully bright in the sunlight. Behind her stood Lily Evans.

'Suppose that means we're going to the Hog's Head then,' James said cheerfully. He looked at Lily, and something stirred inside him. He wasn't used to having her presence thrown upon him like this, and she did look especially beautiful today. 'Would you care to join us, ladies?'

Marlene looked to Lily who, surprisingly, smiled.

'Why not,' she said. Marlene grinned at this. And James did too, and did not even try to hide it. 'I suppose with the current situation we should at least get used to seeing so much of each other.'

They were about to leave, Lily suspiciously engaging Remus in conversation before James had the chance to say so much as 'hello', when something caught James's eye.

'Longbottom!' he shouted in surprise. Up near the Post Office, a young trainee Auror suddenly looked about, and waved happily when he saw James. 'Moony look, that's Frank Longbottom! I'll catch you up, I want to say hello.'

Remus opened his mouth to say something, but James was gone, and he did not even glance back at the group he had left.

'Frank!' he called as he drew closer, and the older boy clapped him on the shoulder.

'James,' Frank greeted. 'Fancy seeing you here! Must be-'

'Two years. How are you doing?'

James had never had much interaction with Frank Longbottom until the latter's seventh year. Really, it was he who had first planted the idea of being an Auror in his and Sirius's minds. Frank was one of the bravest people he knew and had excelled in all the Auror-related subjects at school; it was always known what career he would choose, and that he would be very successful at it.

'Not so bad,' said Frank, running a hand through his short light hair. 'Look at you! You must have grown a foot since I last saw you.'

'Now you sound like my dad,' James complained.

Frank laughed, and he crossed his arms in front of his chest.

'I actually ran into your dad the other week,' he said. 'Down at the Ministry. He still putting work in?'

'Yeah, now and then.'

'Heard your family got one bigger too.'

James smiled. Of course, he couldn't have expected his parents to keep quiet about that.

'What did he say?'

'Oh, just that he was enjoying the peace and quiet before his boys got home and tore the place apart.'

James shook his head in laughter. They weren't as bad as they used to be, when broken bones were just par for the course. They had not gotten much more responsible, but they tended to be careful or at the very least were more durable these days.

'So really, how's it going with the training?'

Frank straightened up a little, perhaps having forgotten that he was working, and moved his hand back to where his wand was concealed.

'Feels like I've been at it forever,' he said. 'But it's getting there. I've been lucky, really, been coming top at most things. A few of the guys who joined the same time as me have quit or flunked out already. It's not easy.'

James looked around, watching the other trainees and the older Aurors he assumed were the trainers. Would all of them last?

'Listen Frank, I-'

'You want to join up.' Frank smirked and James wondered just how many of his old friends had approached him seeking the same advice. 'Your grades still good?'

'Predicted all Outstandings.' He tried not to brag. Maybe he didn't try too hard.

'Of course you are,' Frank laughed. 'You know what subjects to take?' James nodded. 'Then go for it. You've got the heart for it, definitely. Once you pass the application stage it's all on you, it's how hard you try. If you're not dedicated, you're going to fail.'

'I'm dedicated!'

Frank smiled, but it was a hollow sort of smile. James knew that Aurors died in their line of work these days. That was why the application and training was so much harder at present, to weed out those who would end up putting their lives, and the lives of their colleagues, in danger. There was no shortage of applicants, so they had the luxury of doing that.

'Tell you what,' said Frank, after eyeing James strangely for a moment or two. He reached into his robes and pulled out a quill, a small pot of ink, and a scrap of parchment. 'This is my address.' His eyes darted about their surroundings. 'If you have any questions, send me an owl. In fact, just keep in touch, okay? If...if the Auror thing doesn't work out for you, or you change your mind...well, I might still be able to help you.'

James looked at the scrawled address as Frank hastily shoved his supplies back into his pocket.

'Help me how?'

'Wish I could say,' Frank said, frowning. 'You'll find out soon enough though, I'm sure, kid with your talent.'

James stared down at the address, as though told to memorise it in the moment. Head still swimming, he said goodbye to Frank and began to make his way down towards the Hog's Head, folding the small piece of parchment and shoving it in his pocket.

Part of him suspected what Frank could be hinting at, and it piqued his interest. All this talk about a secret resistance movement, independent of the Ministry, operating where they could not, of course he had picked up on some of it. It attracted him far more than the prospect of becoming an Auror; he was becoming less and less fond of Crouch's policies.

Sirius and Mary had joined the others when he entered the dingy pub.

'Just in time for another round!' Sirius declared as he pulled a stool up to their table. 'Prongs?'

But Lily held up a hand.

'I'll get this one,' she said. James opened his mouth to protest, but she seemed not to notice. 'I've got some spare sickles, they're only going to weigh down my purse until the end of August.'

'I'll help you carry them,' Mary offered, and Marlene rose with her too, leaving the four boys alone.

James wasted no time in filling the others in on what Frank had said.

'You think it's true then?' Sirius asked eagerly. 'The resistance?'

'Wouldn't we have heard something about it though?' Peter said. 'I mean, in the Prophet?'

James rolled his eyes.

'The whole point of a secret organisation is just that, Wormtail - it's secret!'

'It makes perfect sense,' Remus considered. 'Dumbledore brought down Grindlewald, you can't honestly think his involvement in this war is limited to an advisory role at the Ministry? Everyone knows the only reason Hogwarts is so safe is because Voldemort is scared of him. He brought down a Dark Wizard before, he can do it again. If this so-called Resistance exists, you can bet he's the one at the helm.'

All three of his friends nodded, and as James looked to them, he saw each set of eyes ask the same question.

'Do you even need to ask?' Sirius said.

Remus nodded in agreement - Peter was the only one who looked uncomfortable, but in the end he gave a little "I'll do whatever you do" nod.

'It's probably the only way I can be involved in the fight,' Remus said sadly. And it was truly with regret that he said this.

'You can be involved, Moony,' Sirius said in a low whisper. Remus looked at him.

'I'll never become an Auror or a Hit Wizard or be allowed anywhere near a Ministry position with my condition. And don't look like that. Just because you three don't care, doesn't mean the rest of society feels the same way. I'm...I'm probably not going to be able to find work at all.'

A spark of something mildly offensive ignited in James's chest.

'And you think we'll just leave you to that, is that it?' he snapped.

Remus was taken aback, though he gathered himself almost immediately.

'We didn't spend three years learning some of the most complex magic known to Wizardkind just to throw you to the wolves when we graduate,' said Sirius.

James grinned despite himself, and for all that Sirius tried to keep a straight face, he failed at his rather spectacular pun. Even Remus cracked a smile while Peter choked on the last of his butterbeer.

'My family is rich-'

'Don't rub it in, Prongs.'

'Shut up, you idiot. My family is rich, I can afford to take care of us all.'

'James-'

'If it comes to that.' James was determined, and reached across the table to grab Remus's arm. 'It's not charity, before you start. I'll hire you as my butler or something if that makes it easier. Friends for life, Remus, not friends when it suits us.'

For a moment, he thought that Remus may cry, but he held himself together wonderfully, choking out a hoarse 'thank you' as the girls approached with a wobbling tray of drinks.

'So, what are you boys talking about?' Marlene asked cheerfully.

'Oh, you know,' said Sirius. 'Saving the world. The usual.'

AN - Thanks so much for the reviews! The story is almost at an end - only the epilogue is left! And it's something I think Jily fans will be happy with :). Thank you for all the support throughout this fic, and please keep those reviews coming!