This chapter has gone through many rewrites; maybe I can blame my lack of creativity for having not updated in so long.
Apologies
"And they haven't written?" Remus asked, holding up the last letter that Orion Black had sent his son. Sirius shook his head and threw a Bertie Bott Every Flavour Bean at James who let it fall under the folds of his shirt. He grabbed it and threw it into his mouth and belched loudly. Sirius put the empty box to the side and leaned on his elbow.
"What'd you get?" He asked.
"Pepper,"
Remus ran his fingers through his hair and sat down on the grass, folding up the letters and handing them back to Sirius who pocketed them away.
"I think they're up to something," James said. "But Padfoot thinks I'm being ridiculous."
"You're right," Remus said, scratching his nose.
"See! I told you Padders!" James hit Sirius' arm playfully.
"I was talking to Sirius." Remus replied. "James, they're grown adults. They are not 16 years old with detention hanging over their head as soon as they step back into Hogwarts."
"I feel that was a some sort of remark as to the amount of times I've gotten into trouble," James said.
"Of course not," Remus mumbled sleepily, falling back onto the grass and closing his eyes. Peter rolled over onto his stomach and began to pick at the enchanted flowers. James slapped his hand.
"Don't do that, mum will kill you," He warned.
"I'm bored," Sirius said. "I want to do something fun."
"Yeah well, unless you can come up with something that won't get us expelled or worse killed, this is all we have," James said.
"I wanna go transforming. Everything is much more fun as a dog." Sirius said, he sat up a little straighter. "Mind you, if you say I should make the change permanent one more time I'm going to stick a gnome so far up your arse it'll be coming out of your nostrils."
"You're nicer as a dog," James muttered, scratching his neck and pushing his glasses up his nose. He gave a small sigh and took them off wiping them clean.
"You think you'll still be as shaggy when you're a dog?" Peter asked. "Now that you're practically bald?"
"Shut up Wormtail." Sirius said. "I am not bald. If anything you'll be the first to go bald out of us all."
"Nah, it'll be Moony," James corrected, putting his glasses back on. "Since he scratches his head too much."
Remus pulled his hand away from his head and looked at his friends pointedly.
"I'm bored!" Sirius repeated.
"You remember the last time you went transforming near my home?" James asked, reminding them of their experience with Death Eaters just before they started their fifth year. "I do not want to be repeating that again."
"Did your dad ever find out why they were so close to your home?" Peter asked.
"Not that he's told me. The general theory is that mum and dad are powerful wizards. Surely have a powerful son." James struck a pose and Sirius kicked him in the shin. "Nah, dad's still pissed about it, and the minister has done no good. There are plans that someone is going to replace him though and I think dad cannot wait for it."
"Well since he hasn't done anything about the Voldemort problem," Sirius said, ignoring Peter's squeek. "Maybe the next one will do a little better. Any word on who it could be yet?"
"Dad's talking about this upcoming guy called Fudge."
"I don't know, Prongs, sounds like a prick already."
"Well he can't be any worse than Gawain." James laughed.
Sirius gave a disgruntled shrug. They sat in silence for a moment. "Do you think I'll be a bald dog?" Sirius asked.
James let out a bellow of laughter and fell back onto the grass. Peter laughed loudly too, imitating James. Remus gave a light chuckle and sat up.
"Why don't you give it a try?" He asked.
"Hey, Padfoot," James said, choking back tears. "Make sure you check other things too! I mean this haircut could have made you a lady dog."
"Don't be stupid," Sirius snapped. He turned to Remus. "That can't happen can it?"
"No Sirius," Remus said, reassuringly.
Sirius let out a sigh of relief, falling back and closing his eyes. "I'm bored!"
James tapped his foot. "Come on," He said, standing up. "We'll go to Diagon Alley and check out some of the shops."
Remus got up and helped James pull Sirius to his feet. Together they crumpled into the kitchen and found their coats hanging on the peg. Mrs Potter was standing over a huge pot with James' house-elf Uri who was standing on a stool.
"Going somewhere boys?" She asked.
"Just Diagon Alley for a while." James said giving her a peck on the cheek. "What are you guys making?"
"Broth," She replied. "For supper. Your father is feeling a little poorly at the moment so I thought it would be a good idea."
"Poorly?" Jame frowned.
"The office has been overworking him," Mrs Potter gave a sigh. "Be home around six for tea, okay? And be careful. Use your wands if you must. I will not have you lot coming home dead."
"All seriousness Dorea," Sirius said. "If we were dead I doubt we'd becoming home."
Mrs Potter raised her spoon and Sirius ducked out of the kitchen after Peter and Remus. She glanced over at James and pulled a small money purse from her apron. "Here, go treat yourself and your friends."
"Mum…"
"Think of it as part of your inheritence." Mrs Potter replied.
James gave his mother another kiss on the cheek and went through to the front room. Sirius and Peter had already made their way through the fireplace and Remus had just grabbed a handful.
He gave a small smile as James stepped into the fireplace with him. Remus threw the floo powder to their feet and bellowed. "Diagon Alley!"
….
The sensation of the flames and spinning never seemed to sit well with James. He coughed up the ash as Remus helped him out of the fireplace that they had landed in.
"Remind me," He muttered. "Even if I do learn to apparate or whatever, I'm just going to fly. Everywhere. Or live really close to where it is I work."
"Or you could rely on Muggle transport," Sirius said, appearing from around the corner, with two large containers of butterbeer in his hands. Peter had joined him, also holding two butterbeers. They passed one drink each to both Remus and James who gladly accepted.
"I am never going by train, bus, car or bike. I'll kill myself." James said.
"You're more likely to die from colliding with a Muggle airplane when flying than you are driving a car," Remus said. "Plus, its not really conspicous to be flying in plain sight…"
"Maybe I should take up driving," James muttered.
"Remus?" Peter said. "You have a foam moustache,"
"Keep it," Sirius said. "It makes you look distinguished. Like a real professor."
Remus threw Sirius a look and wiped his upper lip with the back of his sleeve.
"Professor of what? Boring?" James asked.
"Oh look there go my lungs as my sides split open," Remus said.
"Always the comedian." James said, throwing his arm around Remus' shoulders and turning around slightly. He then noticed the crowd surrounding Quality Quidditch Supplies, he dropped his arm and ran off, barging his way through too press his nose up against the glass. He turned and bellowed towards his friends. "THEY HAVE RELEASED A NEW BROOMSTICK!"
Peter and Remus exchanged looks which gave the impression that they couldn't care less. However Sirius' face lit up in glee and ran over to James accidently knocking a familiar redhead to the ground.
"Oops, sorry, didn't see you there I – Oh." He helped her up. "It's you."
"Black," Lily said, wiping herself down and picking up her bags of shopping. "You ought to be looking where you're going."
Sirius made a face at her. James had appeared beside him. "Sirius! The broom comes with its own service repair kit including a copy of Roderick Plumpton's autobiography!" He said. "Hey Evans. Sorry. Lily."
Lily narrowed her eyes and picked up the robes that had fallen out of her Madame Malkins bag. James helped her and then held out the dark blue crushed velvet set of dress robes. "What are these for?" He asked.
Lily snatched them out his hand and stuffed them back into the bag. "Didn't you read your Hogwarts letter?" She asked. "We need dress robes this year."
"Why?" James frowned.
"I don't know!" Lily cried, exasperated. "I suppose Dumbledore will tell us at the beginning of the feast!"
"Wait, we did our shopping a week ago." James said, frowning. "We didn't get any dress robes."
"Actually you did," Remus said, stepping behind them. "Lily," He nodded politely. "Your mother was talking about it this morning when she told you to fold your clothes neatly into your case."
"Wait, mum got me dress robes?" James asked.
"Yes, she also got Sirius a set."
"She what?" Sirius cried.
"James, yours are dark red. Sirius your ones are burgandy sort of purple…" Remus said absentmindedly.
"I don't know how to react to this news," Sirius said, as they turned back to look at Lily.
"So…" James wrapped his head around this new information. "Why?"
"I don't know." Lily repeated. "Dumbledore will tell us, when the term starts. I cannot make that any clearer."
"Hey, Lily, guess who was made Head Quidditch Captain," James said giving her a huge smile.
Lily folded her arms and said simply. "You."
"I wanted you to guess."
"The prefects are told who are the new Head Boy and Girl, along with the new fifth year prefects, the seventh year prefects and the Quidditch captains." Lily said.
James rounded on Remus. "Is this true?"
"Yes," Remus said, draining the last of his butterbeer, not really caring. "Don't act all surprised James, we are told in case we have troubles with any students in particular."
"Like Snape?" Sirius said.
Remus said nothing. "I'm going to Flourish and Blotts," He said. "See you later Lily,"
She gave him a soft smile as he wandered off and returned to her scowl as she looked back at James, Sirius and Peter.
"Okay?" She asked. "Can I-"
Suddenly she dipped behind them, and peeked out between Peter and Sirius.
"What are you doing?" James asked.
"Severus," She hissed.
Their heads span around to see Snape trailing his mother as they made their way down Diagon Alley. His head was hung low and his hands in his pockets. He looked dour and infuriated.
"Right," James nodded towards Sirius and together they began to walk to cross paths with Snape. Peter huddled Lily into Quality Quidditch Supplies and they peered out the window. James and Sirius had 'accidently' knocked into Snape and were now having an argument with him. Only to be interrupted by Snapes mother, who hurried Snape away from the scene and further up the alley. James and Sirius watched, making sure that Snape had left completely before walking back across to the shop.
"Done," James said, beaming proudly.
"There was no need to cause a ruckus." Lily said growing red.
"A thanks would be nice." Sirius said.
Lily was silent for a moment. "Thank you," She muttered.
"Still angry at him?" Peter asked sympathetically.
"How would you feel if Sirius or James gave you the worst insult they could and expected you to love them regardless?" Lily raised an eyebrow.
Peter gave a little head-tilt and nodded. "I get you," he said.
Lily rubbed her forehead. "I just can't deal with him. He's been sending me letters and won't quit. He thinks I'm okay with it all and I'm just… How can anyone expect me to be friends with him after what he said?!"
"No one is," James said.
"Anyway, I'm glad I'm done shopping." She said. "I can go home and not worry about this until September. Thanks guys. Maybe you aren't as bad as I thought."
"I'll take that as a notion that you'll go out with me?" James tried.
"Go to hell Potter," She snapped, picking up her shopping. "Also, Black, the haircut suits you,"
And with that Lily was gone. Sirius wore a stupid smile on his face and turned to look at James who looked a little dumfounded.
"But I saved her from Snape!" He complained.
"Were you really expecting that to work?" Sirius asked, raising an eyebrow.
James pursed his lips and shook his head. "No, I suppose not."
"Are you done?" Peter asked. "Let's go find Remus and actually do something fun,"
"Good idea Wormy," Sirius said. "Done day-dreaming over the broom and the red?"
"Yeah, whatever," James said, following Sirius and Peter out of the shop and up the street to Flourish and Blotts.
The owner, a short stout man with a pointy long beard and wearing an obvious wig was arranging books into order and tripped over apparently thin air. "THERE THEY ARE!" He exclaimed. "Muriel! I found them!"
"Found what?" Sirius asked.
"The Invisible book of Invisibility," He replied. "I though I lost them."
"Haven't seen a thin looking boy around our age in here?" James asked, moving around where the shopkeeper had tripped. "Looks like he could do with a good meal and looks moderately more intelligent than most of the students who come in here."
"Yeah he's near the back, looking at some potions book." He replied.
"Thanks man," Sirius said, moving around the apparent invisible books. As promised, they found Remus sitting with his nose stuck in a book about different herbs and plants and unknown magical properties that they may hold.
"You know Moony, there is more to life than reading," James said, flopping down beside him.
"Yeah, well nothing I'd like to be a part of." Remus muttered. "Where'd you guys go?"
Sirius recounted their story to Remus, maybe adding a few to many embellishments, particularly when it came to how heroic he and James were battling off Snape and protecting Lily's honour. Certainly so when he started describing with some exaggeration how Lily had found his haircut to be 'dashing' and 'intense' just like his soul.
Remus listened, but paid no attention to the way Sirius was telling it, making sure only to grasp the main points. He still read on prompting Sirius to grab the book from him.
"Pay attention," He cried.
"I am," Remus said, snatching the book back. "I can multi-task, you do know that don't you?"
"Anyway, Snape scampered off, like the coward he is. And here we are."
"Choosing not to fight is not a sign of cowardice," Remus said. "Choosing not to fight shows that you know how to pick your battles."
"Oh I hate it when you get all Dumbledore on us." Sirius sighed. "That is something our beloved headmaster would say, and don't deny it."
"Okay," Remus closed the book. "Let's go then." He stood up and slit the book back onto the shelf with the others.
"You're not getting it?" James asked.
"Mm?" Remus raised an eyebrow. "Oh, sorry I thought there was more to life than books."
"Not when books make you happy," James said.
"Come on." Remus said.
Together they made their way out of store and up the street.
"What do you reckon the dress robes are for?" Peter asked.
"Beats me," Sirius said.
"Dad said that sometimes they hold a contest called the TriWizard Tournament," James said. "Like, have schools compete in games and win like a huge prize,"
"You think that's what's going to happen?" Sirius asked.
"How old do you have to be to compete?" Peter asked.
"As far as I'm aware there's no age limit," James shrugged. "Why Wormy? Are you thinking about entering your name and proving your worth?"
Peter blushed heavily and shook his head. "No of course not."
James saw the change of demeanour in his friend and sighed. "Cause you actually don't need to prove anything,"
Peter smiled.
"You reckon we'd be doing the TriWizard Tournament?" Sirius asked. "I can't see Dumbledore doing that."
"He's done a lot crazier," James said.
"Mm.." Peter scratched his head and tucked his hands into his pockets.
"So do you two have dress robes?" Sirius looked back at Peter and Remus.
Remus turned his nose up in disgust. "Yes. My father has given me his old ones."
"Okay, no, you are not wearing hand-me-downs to any more functions," James said.
"I never realised fashion was such an importance to you," Remus said, raising his eyebrow giving a crooked smile.
"No, I just think you should have something new for once," James replied. "Wormtail what about you?"
"Nah, mum got me a good set of robes." Peter shrugged. "I mean, despite her being all about Milo and Theo, she does actually spoil me."
"Right then," James said. "Madame Malkins it is then!"
"What, James, no!" Remus protested.
"Look if you don't come with us, then we'll just buy you something ridiculous and make you wear it anyway," Sirius said.
"There is no way I'm getting out of this am I?" Remus asked.
"Nope," Chorused James, Sirius and Peter.
…
They had returned a little after 5 to the Potter Mansion, laughing happily as they did so. Mrs Potter had come out of the kitchen and was sitting in front of the old wireless listening intently to the news. She shushed them as they tumbled out of the fireplace and they all looked at each other before sitting down with her to listen.
There had been an attack on a small muggle village not far from Glasgow. The casualty numbers were still coming in and aurors had already arrived at the scene along with about a dozen or so Ministry Officials.
Mrs Potter gave a sigh and switched off the wireless, looking at James sadly. "Your father won't be home tonight, at least not early." She rubbed her eyes. "He can't keep clearing up these messes. Sooner or later the Ministry has to learn that he's getting too old."
"That or they should hunt down these miserable ghouls and lock them away before they do any real damage," James said.
Mrs Potter nodded. "How was Diagon Alley?" She asked, standing up.
"It was fine," Sirius said.
"Hey, mum, you never mentioned anything about Dress Robes," James said.
"Yes I did. I've mentioned them several times, James." She replied tiredly. "But I bought them on a separate day so they wouldn't get crumpled along with your school robes. I asked you to write down your favourite colours and Sirius' so I could get something that you liked. Sadly they were all out of pink flourescent with green spots for Sirius so I had to get the next best thing."
Sirius shot James a look and James shrank into his shoulders whilst giving a small smile.
"To be quite honest Padfoot, I had no idea why she wanted them…"
"You didn't think to ask?"
"You two didn't think to properly read your letters," Mrs Potter said, with a smile on her face. "Come on, we'll put some of the broth out now. Come on."
They followed her into the kitchen and put their bags down to one side.
"Remus, Peter, I didn't know if you needed any robes, so I didn't get you any, but if you need-" Mrs Potter said.
"No, it's okay mum," James went digging and pulled out silvery-gray robes from the Madame Malkins bag. "We got Remus a set. Peter's good."
Mrs Potter gave a smile, stirring and pouring broth into individual bowls and passing them out.
"I'll repay for the robes Mrs Potter," Remus said.
"Don't be ridiculous dear," Mrs Potter replied, sitting down with them. "James has told me of your home predicament."
"Oh," Remus said into his food. James gave a wink and smiled before buttering himself a bread roll.
There was a click at the door and Mrs Potter got up very quickly beore rushing to the noise. "Charlus!" She cried. James blinked looking around and then frowned. "JAMES!"
James got up in a second and darted through to his mother. His father was slumped against the wall, his eyes closed and his skin waxy pale with a slight green tinge to it.
"Merlin's beard," James muttered. Remus , Peter and Sirius had joined him. "Dad?"
"Come on," Mrs Potter said. "Bring him upstairs."
Sirius and James pulled Mr Potter to his feet , slinging his arms around their shoulders.
"Dorea?" Mr Potter said.
"I'm here darling," Mrs Potter said. "You're ill. I told you not to go in today,"
"When are you ever going to stop nagging me?" Mr Potter said.
"Not until we're sitting at the pearly gates and drinking wine." Mrs Potter replied. "Which shouldn't be longer than a couple of years."
It was intended as a joke, but the undertones freaked James out. In that moment he realised just how truly old his parents were. They were not getting any younger, and certainly since he came into their lives so late there wasn't a chance that they would make it to his 25th birthday.
Sirius and Peter manouvered themselves around, pulling Mr Potter up the stairs. Mrs Potter went ahead to fix the bed for him. Remus gathered up the robe, the walking stick and the briefcase. Peter had found that Mr Potter's wand had fallen from his robes and picked it up putting it to the side.
Not knowing what to do with themselves, Peter jogged up the stairs behind them, as Remus returned to the kitchen and gathered a bowl of broth and a glass of water. He then followed his friends upstairs.
"Here," He said, handing the broth to Mrs Potter as James and Sirius put Mr Potter into bed.
"Thank you dears, but you should go now. I will be down in a little while," Mrs Potter said.
Peter nodded and made his way back downstairs. Remus tugged at Sirius' crossed arms, Sirius gave him a look and sighed.
"Call us if you need anything," He said.
Mrs Potter nodded as they left.
James sat down beside his mother and looked at her with a pained expression.
"He'll be okay," Mrs Potter said. "He's just a little overworked from the Ministry."
James said nothing as he glanced between his parents. He sighed deeply and watched his mother help his father eat his broth.