THE POTTER'S GHOSTS

CHAPTER 2

Disclaimer in the first chapter applies to the whole story unless I decide to invent a character, in which case I will tell which one it is.

Hagrid entered the Potter cottage weeping loudly. Dumbledore had sent him to see if he could find out why the self-styled 'Lord' Voldemort had vanished. Hagrid couldn't stand the sight of James Potter's body. It just looked so lifeless.

While Hagrid was doing this, James facepalmed. "Lily, we didn't need to hold ghost-to-death communication with the Longbottoms because they aren't dead yet, and they won't die!"

"We can't think of everything, dear," Lily replied absently.

Hagrid opened the door to Harry's room and was so shocked he forgot to cry at the sight of Lily's body. There was Harry, happily giggling at two ghosts. Hagrid fainted and fell on the floor with a thump.

"Well that makes Operation: Get Harry Safe a ton easier," James observed. "Now we just have to convince Sirius to let the Longbottoms have him. And to stay in hiding."

Five minutes later, Sirius pushed open the door and stopped so fast he fell on his face.

"Merlin, Sirius, you're not even Muggle-born! Don't tell me you've never seen a ghosts before!" Lily demanded.

"W-well Hagrid fainted! That shows just how extraordinary it is!" Sirius protested, laughing nervously.

"Padfoot." James sighed wearily. "We're James and Lily, not 500-year-old ghosts who get offended at the slightest mention of their being dead."

"Normal!" Sirius shrieked. "Normal! You're dead, and ghosts, Peter's a traitor, and Moony's freaking out the moment it all happened because of crazy werewolf senses even though he hasn't got a clue in hell of what's going on! I've got no reason to start acting normal till all of you do!"

"Well in this case, normal is dead," Lily said dryly.

"I - well I don't want you dead," Sirius stammered, "I-I just want everything to be normal. Like, back when we were in Hogwarts and didn't know much about the war yet," he moaned at last.

"Well, we can work on that. At the moment, Hagrid's here to take Harry to my sister's house, but I'm not letting that happen." Lily said. "Take him to the Longbottom's for now, and tell them they need to stay in hiding, there's still Death Eaters around. Remus needs to be calmed down, told we're ghosts before we come in or he'll do somthing crazy."

At the mention of anyone taking Harry anywhere, Sirius hurried over and picked Harry out of his crib. "To the Longbottom's, you said?" he checked, then popped away.

Lily and James looked at each other.

"I'll speak to the Longbottoms," Lily said. "And you can't talk to Remus yet, he'll fall on his face. Go talk to Dumbledore. He doesn't know we're ghosts yet, besides he deserves the shock. It won't kill him."

"You know best, Lily," James said.

They both floated off in opposite directions.

Sirius had been told the secret of the Longbottom's residence (Longbottom Hall). He popped over right away and knocked on the gate nervously. He knew that, as a fake Secret-Keeper, suspicion would fall upon him immediatly for the Potters' deaths. He thanked Merlin that they'd come back as ghosts, or even Dumbledore would have turned on him. Plus he'd have gone to Azkaban anyway for killing Peter. He knew he would have if Lily hadn't told him not to.

Frank Longbottom came out warily and let Sirius in. "Why are you holding Harry?" he asked curiously.

"Potter's were attacked, James and Lily's ghosts told me to bring Harry here and tell you don't come out of hiding, there's still Death Eaters around," Sirius said breathlessly.

Of course, every word of that could have been an attack of some sort, Frank mused. Sirius was (or had been) the Secret Keeper. The Potters having become ghosts was probably faked, don't come out of hiding so nobody knows you murdered us, Death Eaters to hide that fact. He pulled out his wand.

Sirius didn't notice that.

"You were the Secret Keeper," Frank said.

"No - " said Sirius looking up quickly.

"Leave him alone Frank," said Lily, drifting through the wall. "It was Peter."

"I see," Frank said, stowing his wand away. "Sorry, Sirius."

"It's all aright, was honestly expecting that one," Sirius mumbled absently.

"Frank, who - " called a voice from the doorway. It was Alice Longbottom. "Oh. Wait, is that a ghost? Lily! you can't be dead! Tell me you're not dead!"

"Sorry, Alice. Peter decided to turn traitor is all," Lily said with forced lightness.

"Peter? But Sirius - "

"He was a decoy. turns out Peter's a traitor. Maybe even a Death Eater."

"Oh Lily!"

"I'm fine, Alice. The only thing you could do is watch Harry. And don't come out of hiding, there's still Death Eaters out and about."

"Thanks for reminding us, Lily," said Frank dryly. "Would have totally slipped my mind."

"It would've. We - me and James - know everything that would have happened in the next two weeks if we hadn't come back as ghosts. You two ended up in St. Mungo's indefinitly after being held under the Cruciatus by the Lestranges and Crouch Jr for a long time (didn't even recognize Neville!) and Neville was raised by Augusta."

Frank winced. "Glad you came back then."

"More for Harry than anything else, Dumbledore put him with my sister," Lily grimaced.

"Ouch." Alice, who was Lily's best friend, had been told numerous stories about Petunia, and probably knew what would've happened better than Lily, thanks to not having any familial prejudice. "Of course we'll take care of him, Lily. Him and Neville can grow up together," she said warmly.

"Thank you Alice!" cried Lily, moving to hug her.

"Lily don't!" Alice cried in alarm. "You're a ghost now!"

"Oh. Right." Lily said with a shudder. "Thanks for reminding me. But now, I need to join James and give Dumbledore a good shock and a talking-to. Too bad ghosts can't Apparate."

"Maybe Side-Along Apparition would work?" Alice mused.

"No harm trying!" Lily said cheerfuly. "Only problem is, I'm a ghost now. Just a moment, let me ask Death." she disappeared.

"Ask Death?" Frank said blankly.

"No idea.

"Death says I can Apparate on my own!" Lily said, startling them.

"What do you mean, Death?"

"Ghosts can communicate with Death. We're not normal ghosts. We don't stick around forever, we can go back when Harry dies - of old age, hopefully - and we have other benefits, like communicating with people who are dead - only a few, but those few can communicate with everyone else and relay messages - and we can ask Death for advice or information."

"That is so cool!" Alice cried.

"It is. Now I need to yell at Dumbledore and tell James to Apparate. See you!" Lily disappeared.

"She just does it, doesn't need to spin or crack or anything," Frank said, half envious, half admiring.

"Yes, it would be rather nice," Alice agreed.

Author's Note:

How do you all like my story? After posting my first chapter, I got a flood of likes, follows and a few reviews, too! Thanks for supporting me, positive reviews and well-thought-out questions make my day!