Author's Note: Thank you to those of you who reviewed the last chapter!
CheshireMouse: Nope. James isn't the Horcrux now. Voldemort made each Horcrux by killing someone. Since Voldemort didn't kill anyone on Halloween in this story, the last Horcrux was never made.
I'm only a lowly college student, not an international bestselling author. Unfortunately.
"First of all, I must say how glad I am that you all are safe," Albus Dumbledore said.
Unlike the other times that James had been in the headmaster's office, the great wizard was not sitting at his desk. Instead, he was sitting in a chair he had conjured up in front of the fireplace. Remus too was sitting in a chair next to the sofa that James, Lily, Harry, and Sirius were sitting on.
After James and his family had come downstairs, Dumbledore had told them to pack anything important. When that was done, they had all Flooed to the Headmaster's office. While James knew it was necessary for Dumbledore to get all of the information he needed about that night's events, all he really wanted to do was sleep. Although he wasn't quite sure where that sleeping would take place.
"Now, Remus has told me that you switched Secret Keepers, that it was Peter and not Sirius who divulged your whereabouts to Voldemort; is that true?" Dumbledore asked. When James nodded, he continued. "That is most unfortunate. I must admit that I did not think Peter capable of this, but what's done is done. Alastor knows this also, and he will have the Aurors on the lookout for him."
"What will happen to him, if he's caught?" Lily asked. Her voice was a mixture of anger and worry. James knew the feeling well. It was hard to believe that someone he had known since he was eleven could betray him, and it was hard to stop caring about his well-being.
"I do not know, but it is likely that he will be put on trial. It may be hard to prove his connection to Voldemort, and even then, if he was not involved with any of the attacks, the Wizengamot may be hesitant about sentencing him to Azkaban."
"That's what he deserves," Sirius said, cursing Peter before remembering that Harry was in the room. "Sorry, Lily." Lily simply shrugged and moved her hands away from Harry's ears.
"I am curious," Dumbledore continued, "as to why you, Remus and Sirius, were both at the Potters. It was a good thing that you were, mind you, but why?"
"I wasn't supposed to be there," Sirius began, after Remus seemed hesitant to answer. "I was just supposed to have dinner; then I was going to check on Peter. Make sure he was okay. But I decided to stay when Remus said he was staying." Sirius shot Remus a glance. "I'm sorry, mate, for ever thinking that you were the traitor."
Remus held up his hand to stop him. "We can discuss that later, Sirius." Sirius hesitated, then nodded. Remus looked at Dumbledore before speaking again. "I heard a rumor that Voldemort had been bragging to Greyback about being triumphant tonight. I couldn't shake the feeling that it had something to do with James and Lily, so I went to their house to make sure that nothing came of it."
James had gasped in the middle of Remus' explanation. "Greyback? Isn't he…"
"The werewolf who bit me? Yes. He is." Remus wouldn't make eye contact with anyone.
"What were you doing near Greyback?" Sirius asked. James could tell that Sirius tried not to sound suspicious, but the same thought seemed to have entered both of their minds at the same time. Could Remus have betrayed us too?
"I believe that I can answer that," Dumbledore said. "As I'm sure you know, Voldemort has gathered some supporters in the werewolf packs. I thought it would be prudent if we were to have an insider there, and Remus agreed to the job. For a while now, he has been infiltrating some of the packs, Greyback's in particular, to gain what information that he can."
James was too shocked to speak for a moment. Time and time again, Remus had told them how awful the packs were. How blessed he had been that his parents had kept him instead of abandoning him to a pack after being bitten. The packs sounded like someone's worst nightmare. So the thought of his kind, caring friend being in the middle of that nightmare concerned James. But it did explain some things, such as the long periods of time in which they wouldn't see or hear from Remus. Or his appearance when they did see him. Or the look in his eyes that James had noticed earlier.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Lily asked, being the first one to recover from the shock.
Remus met their gazes, finally, sheepishly. "I thought that you would try to talk me out of it, and I probably would've listened to you."
"Da-darn right we would've talked you out of it!" Sirius exclaimed, a look from Lily causing him to avoid cursing, and James smiled. That sounded like the old Sirius.
"I think, perhaps, that we have more important things to discuss than my mission with the packs," Remus said, obviously trying to shift the focus away from him. James contemplated pushing the issue but decided that it was meant for another time.
"What happens now, Albus?" James asked. "Is Voldemort really gone?"
Dumbledore let out a heavy sigh. "For now, yes."
"For now?" The three Marauders asked simultaneously.
"Yes, for now." Another heavy sigh. "I have reasons to believe, reasons which I cannot share with you at the moment, that Voldemort will return one day."
Crap. Just when James thought that his life could return to some sort of normalcy.
"However, I do not think that day will come soon. And for now, I think it would be best for us to live our lives as we wish to. It does us no good to sit around waiting for evil to come." Dumbledore smiled at them encouragingly. "As for what to do right now, I think it would be best if you were to go into hiding somewhere new, just until we make sure that there will be no attempts on your lives by Death Eaters. I have a place in mind for you if you do not have another place to go."
"I'd offer my flat, but it's awfully small for all of us," Sirius said.
"And it smells like you, which Lily can't stand," James added, causing Sirius to make a face of mock indignation.
"Remus?"
"I was evicted some time ago, so no, I can't think of any place," Remus said, looking down at his hands.
That was news to James. Something else he would have to discuss with his friend.
"Would we all be together then, in this place of yours?" Lily asked Dumbledore. The look on her face was practically begging him to say yes.
"Yes, you would be." Dumbledore gave them a reassuring smile. "We are at our strongest when we are with those we love. And I have a feeling that there are some issues to be resolved among you. I would be the Secret Keeper, and I assure you that you would be perfectly safe."
All four of the adults in the room nodded, but Dumbledore suddenly had an apprehensive look on his face.
"Remus, I do have a favor to ask of you," Dumbledore said gently.
"You want me to go back to Greyback's pack to see the werewolves' reaction to Voldemort's defeat."
James' eyes widened as Dumbledore nodded.
"Precisely. Of course, if you would prefer to stay here…"
James saw Remus swallow hard, but his face looked determined. "I will go. I'll leave immediately."
"Remus, no!" Lily said in alarm. "You could get hurt."
Remus smiled humorlessly at her. "I'll be fine, Lily. I know how to take care of myself. And I'll be back soon."
Lily paused a moment. "Fine. But swear to me that you'll come back to us in one piece."
"Lily-"
"Swear to me, Remus."
Remus sighed. "I solemnly swear that I will come back to you in one piece. Happy?" James chuckled softly at the use of the familiar Marauder phrase.
Lily scratched her chin, as if in thought. "I suppose so." She stood up and hugged him, which was somewhat awkward since Harry was in her arms.
James and Sirius stood and embraced their friend too.
"Be careful, all right?" James said. Remus nodded and left the room.
It was strange to see him go. He had watched him leave before, of course. But unlike before, James actually knew where Remus was going this time. And he was decidedly uneasy about the situation.
"Now," Dumbledore said when the door had closed behind Remus, "I am sure that you want to rest, so let us talk about your new safe house."