A/N: Written for the QLFC Finals Round 1—OTP chaining. Team: Montrose Magpies.

CAPTAIN: Use preceding poster's OTP (James/Lily) & use an epigraph AND an example of personification

Note: this takes place in an AU where Remus and Harry died in 1981 and the Potters lived.

Remembrance

The memory of the righteous is blessed,

But the name of the wicked will rot.

— Proverbs 10:7

John pulled unhappily at his shirt collar, finally deciding to voice his complaint. "Mum, why do I have to wear this? It looks bad on me."

Lily sighed and walked over to him, reaching out to re-adjust his collar. "John, you look good in your formal robes. And you know why."

"Yeah, yeah, fifteenth anniversary of V-day and all. Don't see the big deal, really."

Lily stopped messing with his shirt and stood back up. D—Don't mess it up now. I'll go check on your father."

As she walked away, Rose swatted John on the head. "Nice going, dimwit. Did you have to upset her?"

"Rosey! Don't hit me," John whined, turning to face his older sister.

With John being thirteen to Rose's fourteen she still towered over him, his growth spurt still a bit away. For now at least, he never won whenever they fought.

"Do you even realize why we're going, dimwit?" she asked.

"Don't call me that. And I know. It's for the Ministry celebration."

"It's to honour our dead brother, Johnny. You know? Harry?"

"Not like we ever knew him," John grumbled, letting out an annoyed 'Hey!' as Rose messed up his hair even more.

"Be good, little brother. Mum and Dad are having a hard enough time as it is. If you're nice, I'll tell you which of my dorm mates told me she thinks you're hot."

John grumbled an affirmation.

Just outside the room, James stood embracing his wife. "She's a good kid," he said, lovingly stroking his wife's hair.

"They both are. John is just in his wild phase."

"You think that's wild?" James snorted. "When I was his age, I was out wreaking havoc through the village left right and centre!"

"Yes, dear, but you were a little monster," Lily retorted. "Especially with your friends around you."

"Hey! That was just boys being boys."

"More like the vandals sacking Rome from what your mother told me," Lily quipped.

"Good times," James said. "Say, Lils, how about we head upstairs for a bit?"

"Keep it in your pants, mister," Lily said, laughing slightly then becoming more serious again. "We should go to the Ministry. Our esteemed Minister will be waiting for us, as will the press."

"Still can't believe he, of all people, was elected," James said. "But you're right, let's go."

The three Potters (sans Lily) stumbled slightly as they exited one of the Ministry's many Floo portals, James nearly bumping into another visitor.

"I guess it really is genetic," Lily laughed.

"It's the price we pay for being so exceptionally talented on a broom, Mum," John quipped.

"Hey, I can fly," Lily said.

"On a training broom, no higher than three feet," Rose countered.

"What is this, pick on Mum day?"

"Isn't that every day?" John said, darting out of swatting range and right into the red robes of an Auror.

"The Potters, right on time," the Auror in question said. "Go right on through; the Minister is waiting for you in the antechamber."

"Thank you, Proudfoot," James said, corralling the kids and his wife past the guards and into the quieter room. Quiet until the Minister saw the new arrivals.

"Prongs! Lils! Monsters!"

"Uncle Sirius!" the two monsters in question yelled, running towards him.

"Greetings, esteemed Minister, sir," James said. A smirk formed on his face.

"Aw Prongs, don't start, I never expected to be elected either. Who knew people would rather elect a dashing rogue, such as myself, than that mumbler Fudge?" Sirius said, pouting.

"We missed you lately, Siri," Lily said, walking over to give him a hug.

"I'll be by once things settle down a bit here at the loony bin," Sirius promised.

An aide came into the room. "Minister Black? It is time for your speech."

The room became sombre as the light seemed to drop. and everyone's mood turned more serious.

"Well, I guess it's time. Join me, will you?" Sirius said, pulling at the collar of his formal robes in a move much like John did before. Lily moved up almost instinctively and adjusted it, getting a small smile in thanks. Sirius steeled himself, then walked out of the door, the Potters following.

The assembled Wizarding elite and press were waiting in the main room in front of the ministerial dais as Sirius walked up to the podium, and the Potters took seats to the side. An older man was already sitting on the other side, looking both sad and tired.

"Thank you all for coming," Sirius started. "We are here to remember the end of the 'Blood War', fifteen years ago today. But it is not a simple matter of celebration for today also marks the death of two heroes. One adult wizard, who gave his life to protect a child, and the child in question, who was murdered in cold blood by a monster that lied to not just the Wizarding public in general, but even his own followers."

Lily let out a sob, and James patted her arm, trying to comfort her.

Sirius continued, "So today, let us remember not only the fall of the criminal Tom Riddle, cursed be his name, but also the loss of Remus John Lupin—miss you, Moony—and my godson, Harry James Potter. It is long overdue, but the Wizengamot has finally decided to grant Remus Lupin the Order of Merlin, First Class. Lyall, would you accept it in lieu of your son?"

The older man—Remus' father—slowly rose to his feet, then walked up to Sirius and accepted the box with ribbon.

"Thank you, Siri—Minister. And thank you to the Wizengamot for honouring my son this way, despite everything."

One of the journalists raised his hand, obviously wanting to ask a question.

Sirius looked at him and said, "If your question is about Remus Lupin's lycanthropy, it will not be answered. That has been discussed at length."

The journalist sat back down.

Lyall went back to his seat, and Sirius addressed the crowd again, "To Harry James Potter, we are granting the Order of Merlin, Third Class. James, Lily, kids, would you accept it?"

The Potters slowly went to the front and after a nudge from Lily, James decided to say a few words.

"Thank you, Sirius, for honouring Harry in this way. May he be the last victim of blood prejudice, ever."

"I agree with that sentiment," Sirius said, allowing James to go back and seek comfort in Lily's arms, and those of his kids.

As Sirius talked on, fielding some questions from journalists, the Potters silently left the main room and took a Floo back home. They had no sooner arrived when John started whining: "Dad, I'm bored."

"Oh, John, not now," Lily said, sighing.

"It's okay, Lils. Rose, John, why don't you Floo to the Longbottoms? I'm sure Frank and Alice would love to see you, as would Neville and Dorothy."

That got an enthusiastic reaction and James and Lily shared a grin; they both knew how Rose had a crush on Neville. The kids left, leaving their parents alone.

"We have good kids, Lils," James said, hugging her.

"We do. Harry would've been a wonderful young man, too."

"He would've been. Love you."

"Love you back. Now kiss me, Potter."

And he did.