Chapter Thirteen
Lily's plan was simple and quite frankly it seemed as if it could almost work.
"We go camping." Lily Evans stated to a visibly upset James Potter, and to a curious looking Ava Saunders and Sirius Black.
"What?" James splutter running his hands through his dark hair. Lily sighed and explained herself carefully for all her friends to hear and understand.
"We go "camping" on the Moors." She began, actually making air quotes with her fingers when she said the word camping. "For a few days and spend those days looking for the cottage. Like undercover agents. If we find it, we watch it for a day or so. To make sure that there are Death Eaters holding muggles there as prisoners. And we do something if there is and nothing if there isn't or if it is just a cottage. Okay? Or does anyone have any better ideas?"
James removes his glasses and pinches the bridge of his nose. He let a weary sigh before he spoke.
"This was always going to happen like this, wasn't it? There was no non-reckless way of doing this."
"Nope" Lily said popping the P.
"Well, I'm in! sounds like fun" Sirius told everyone with a cheeky grin on his handsome, tanned face.
"This is not some game Sirius. God know what could happen when we get there. We have to be careful. As much as I hate to say it, this could be a life or death situation if we mess up." Ava pointed out to him.
"This is why we have to tell someone what we know. My dad has great Aurous that are trained for this kind of situation. Godric knows what could happen! Hell nothing could happen" James pleaded.
"We've spoken about this James, they'd never listen to us. We're just a couple of kids. Plus its been four days already, times running out." Lily declared.
"I'm in. I don't mind camping for a few days" Ava continued. "James are you coming? I understand the risks and how much I'm asking of you for this, but you don't have to if you don't want to. I won't hold it against you if you choose to opt out"
"No, no don't misunderstand me, I'm coming. Someone has to look after that idiot." James drawled pointing at Sirius.
Ava cut Sirius off before he had any chance of making some ridiculous comment. She spoke looking directly into each of her friends eyes, she tucked a lock of her brown hair behind her ear and gave a small speech.
"Thank you. I really appreciate everything you've all done for me. I'm trying not to sound like some fool but, I really could not of done any of this with out any one of you." Ava then proceeded to hug each of her friends and thanked them each again for their support, faith, level headedness and light hearted humour at the most tense of times. Her thanks felt pitiful compared to the love and gratitude she felt that she couldn't express towards them.
"All right, that's more than enough feelings." Sirius said pulling a face. "Now we have to do some serious prep" Sirius reminded each of his friends.
"You're right, Sirius. We need to make a list of everything we'll need: Tents, beds, clothes, food, medical supplies, anything else?" Lily asked.
"No I think that covers most things. We can get all of those from the house, but first we have to clear it with my parents. That should be interesting..." James admitted running his hands through his hair again. It was a nervous habit of his.
Sirius barked out another laugh and divulged his two female friends into the tale of his, James, Remus and Peter's last camping trip.
"Fourth year. James, Peter, Remus an I all went camping for three days. We all came back without any of our stuff, in our underwear and Peter, poor Peter, the poor guy can't look at hedgehogs the same again! Good times, Prongsie, good times!" He bellowed out.
"I need to hear the details to this story! You're going to tell me about it later." Ava insisted. "But I'm sure we could convince them at dinner tonight. I don't mind making a meal for us all whilst you guys get everything ready. To persuade them. If they say no we could always sneak out."
"We'll see about that" James replied.
With that comment they all agreed with what Ava had suggested and began prepping bags, tents and dinner. They had a long way to go still, yet Ava knew they were on the right track in finding her family.