TO: Taiyourshoes, wow! Thank you soooo much! I mean really!!! When I read your review the writer in me went voom and I was so happy!! Much appreciated!!! XXx
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James lay still in his bed until Sirus was snoring softly and he could hear the even breathing of the others. Exercising all his skills of stealth he'd developed over the years of sneaking about after dark, he slid out of his bed fully dressed. Not even the floorboards creaked underfoot as he tiptoed out of the room with his broom and Invisibility cloak. He carefully avoided the certain click of the door closing by leaving the door ajar. He also made sure that the gap was small enough so that no light from the corridor could shine through.
The rest the trek though nighttime Hogwarts was easier. His feet knew the floors well and he avoided any squeaky boards or walking in any direct light bright enough to cast a definite shadow almost automatically.
James had reached the second floor on the East wing when a voice surprised him.
"The kitchen is the other way."
"I'm not going to the kitchen, Moony." James said recognizing the voice even before he turned around to see him standing behind him with crossed arms.
"I know you're not." He sighed, clearly kinowing very well what his friend was up to. James didn't reply. "I thought you weren't going to do anything stupid, James? Because in case you haven't noticed this is almighty stupid!"
James could see that Remus was being deadly serious; it had been ages since he'd called James by his name. With deliberate actions he decisively threw the Invisibility cloak around himself and fastened it about his neck. Now all Remus could see was his best friend's head bobbing up and down as he walked away, broom partially hidden in his hand.
"James!" he snapped as he followed the bobbing head to the owlery.
"I've made my mind up, Moony. I'm going to get her."
"You don't even know where she is! How do you expect to find her in London? In fact, how the hell do you think you're going to get there?!"
James whistled and Tattlaevore swooped down silently and landed on his exposed arm. "Good girl." He stroked her soft head twice.
"Do you think you're going to fly to London?! It's going to be one heck of a long flight and I suspect you'll have quite an audience as you go!"
"No." James replied with a sickening calmness to his voice. "I'll travel by floo from Hogsmeade and then Tatty will show me the way. Nobody will see me because I'll be wearing my cloak. It's too dark for anyone to discern a bunch of twigs flying in the air."
Remus stared at the owl and then at James. "Are you insane?"
"No. My mind is in perfect health. Tatty will know where she is. Owls always find the recipient for letters."
"It might not be her you know."
"I know."
"Okay, so what if it isn't her?"
"I'll try to get that girl out and then find Lily."
Remus rolled his eyes although he knew perfectly well that James would keep his word. But he was persistent and was determined to dissuade James from doing something he thought was insanely stupid. It was the equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack. "Have you ever thought that she ran away because she doesn't want to come back here? Even if it was her in the ally she might not even want to come back after you save her!" The tension in the room heightened and James tensed.
"She wants to come back." He said firmly. "She's a witch. She belongs here."
Remus threw his hands in the air with exasperation. "You don't get it do you?" For a moment uncertainty flickered across James' face. "Lily is Muggle born. Voldemort killed her parents because their daughter is a witch."
"What-"
"Come on, Prongs! The connection is right there!" Remus urged.
Realization slowly dawned on James. "So she thinks it's her fault."
"Exactly!"
James was on the move. "All the more reason I need to find her." He said. "She may not be thinking right."
"She might need time." Remus suggested while following James out again.
"Even if it weren't her that got caught, anything can happen to her. It's not safe out there."
"How safe do you think Hogwarts is?" Remus snapped. That was it, the cat was out of the bag. Remus had been thinking a lot over the past few hours. All his thoughts were on Hogwarts and Dumbledore. He was eternally grateful to Dumbledore because he had accepted him when no one else had and Hogwarts was his home, the very first place where he had had friends and even brothers. The safety of Hogwarts was his first priority and he would never let anyone hurt it or anything related to it.
James stopped. "What?"
"I can't believe you! You are so lost in yourself that you're going blind to the important things that are going on around you! What was we talking up just this morning?" Remus accused, he was shocked at his own outbreak but continued anyway. "Not everything in Hogwarts is as untouchable as it may seem, Prongs. Dumbledore is a powerful wizard, maybe the most powerful and he's the only one who will stop Voldemort. I know that, you know that, Dumbledore knows that, don't you think Voldemort himself knows that too? And here you are, risking exclusion because Lily doesn't want to come back."
James exhaled, feeling torn but his resolve remained the same. He placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I know." He admitted. "If the events in the past year are anything to go by, there will be a show down eventually."
"Something is going to happen and it will happen soon. At Hogwarts; a school with so many students. It's Dumbledore's obvious weakness. When it happens I think he's going to need all the help he can get. The younger years are as good as defenseless against Voldemort. If you're excluded how the hell do you think you can help Dumbledore?"
"I know. The rumors haunt me too because it has too much truth in it for comfort."
"Lily might even be safer away from the school."
"Maybe. But do you think she will be happy to stand aside if Voldemort attacks? She as part of Hogwarts as you and I. She won't stand by and watch any more than we would. Remus, I'm just trying to protect something that is important to me."
Remus fell silent realizing that nothing he could do or say would change James' mind. "Fine. I'll go with you."
"What? That goes against everything we've just been talking about! Hogwarts needs you. I need you to be here and keep an eye out."
Remus suddenly broke out in a grin. "I can't let you go off and get into trouble by yourself can I?"
James returned the grin. "One in trouble is better than all in trouble. Besides, I need you here to cover my back. And I don't want Padfoot knowing about this, he'll have his furry ass on his broom straight away and chase me like I'm a cat."
"Then we'd all be in trouble." Remus agreed. "But I'm still going."
"It'll be a full moon in a few days." James reminded gently.
"Fine, strike a sore spot!" Remus cried indignantly but knew James was right. They arrived outdoors.
"I'll be back as soon as possible."
"I'll cover for your ass."
"Like you'd do otherwise." James said and headed in the direction of Hogsmeade.
"Don't do anything stupid, Prongs."
"I'll try not to." James promised with a laugh. "You sound like my Mother, maybe you should part time with her, I'm sure she'll like sharing out the nag work!"
"Shut it, Donkey!" Remus threw back. James laughed and melted into the evening shadows.
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A/N: I really liked Remus in this chapter, he shows that he fights for what he cares for too (a huge favourable OotP trait) but he's understanding enough to let James go do what he needs to do. Sure it takes him a while but he gets there.
The next chapter is one of my favourites at the moment, I hope you will love it and I like forward to reading your reviews and feedback! xXx
