DISCLAIMER: THE BOOK BELONGS TO J. I HAVE ONLY BORROWED BOTH CHARACTERS AND PLOTLINE.
CHAPTER 21
The Potter's had gone over to the Weasley's for the Harry's and Darren's surprise birthday party. Hermione had come over as well and she was to spend the remaining summer with Darren and harry. Looking around Harry also spotted Cho and went over to talk to her. He'd missed Draco but knew that the Weasleys' would not have been happy entertaining a Malfoy so he let it go. Anyway Draco and his mother were still in France for the holidays so even his gift had been put on hold.
Darren had started to look very handsome, he was still charming and polite as ever his hair had become a darker shade of auburn and that made his eyes stand out also he had grown a bit taller this summer. Harry was as tall as Darren and looked like the elves the muggles had envisioned in the movie he, Darren and Cho had seen last week only his hair was as short and messy as before.
The Weasleys had gone all out; the food was the product of the combined effort of both Molly and Lily. Everyone else had pitched in to help decorate. They had used the stunning summer porch for the party, decorating it with fairy lights and floating candles.
The cake had been a masterpiece it was a beautiful chocolate fudge cake decorated with fresh strawberries and whipped cream with a sparkly golden candle in the number twelve hovering above it. Standing before the cake while the others sang a rather off key Happy Birthday the twins blew with all their might and the flame blew out. Banishing the candle Mrs Weasley started to cut large pieces of cake for everyone and handed them out in plates.
Standing with the camera in her hand a little away from the group in the shadows Lily Potter stood her green misting up with unshed tears. Looking at her boys she felt so proud so blessed, but what she had heard the last year had made her feel weak again. The chink in her armor that she had carefully wrought these twelve years had come when Dumbledore had called her and James and told them about how Voldemort had returned and that Darren had found out. Darren had been frightened and had had a few bad nights but after having lots of fun in the summer he had forgotten. Lily had been thankful for that Darren did not know that Voldemort was after him and she would not tell him. No, she would let him revel in his innocence for now.
Fred and George had pulled Percy to dance with them and that poor looked terribly awkward, they played a couple of games and chased a couple of garden gnomes that had followed the Weasleys to their new house much to Mrs Weasley's despair
Harry had gone to refill his cup of juice when he overheard Mr Weasley talking to his father in hushed undertones, "Malfoy dropped the diary of at my house yesterday," he said it looking terribly worried, it was You know who's keepsake apparently. On first sight it appeared so harmless but just for safety I cast a couple of dark magic detecting spells, it was a horrifyingly dark James. I could feel it brimming with dark magic. I had kept it on the living room table for about two hours as I had decided I was going to send it to the Unspeakables to study it, but when I came back it was missing! I can't understand it, no one had come home that day. Do you think that book can just dematerialize? It has to be found and destroyed."
James questioned him some more and the two men were silently contemplating the horror that book could cause in the wrong hands. James he had been an Auror during the war and had been close to coveting the position of chief Auror but after his house and his family had been attacked by Voldemort and that damnable prophecy had been made he didn't want to leave his family for too many days at a time, so he had given up his chance at a promotion and had taken over the strategy team, exceeding at that as well he had revolutionized the system.
Harry was worried, a book that carried a magic of Voldemort was missing. He had never heard of books that vanished unless it was a book on invisibility. He hoped for everyone's sake that they found it quickly. Walking back to the table he saw Ginny approaching him "Harry have you seen Darren?"
"No, wasn't he dancing with the others? Maybe he and Ron snuck off they were talking about fireworks or something, I don't know Gin sorry."
Suddenly there was a loud bang accompanied by a flash of light, "See I told you." Harry said turning around but Ginny had disappeared already. Sitting down at a table Harry tilted his head back and gazed at millions of colours flashing in the sky.
After the spectacular display everyone gathered around the table laden with gifts and exclaimed over each present the boys ripped open. They had been given clothes, books, a stunning joke set box courtesy of the Weasley twins and extravagant watches from Sirius
Lastly James and Lily had given Darren and Harry beautiful round, hand mirrors. They had explained to them that by calling the person's name whom they wished to speak to, they could activate the mirror. This however was true only if the other person also had a similar mirror at hand. Also they could use it call each. They also gave Darren, James's old set of gobstones he had collected over the years and a carefully rolled up parchment to Harry.
Opening it Harry saw it was blank and looked up puzzled, at his father. James took it from him and said "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good," and tapped it. Spidery lines started to emerge from the center of the parchment and filled the entire surface looking down Harry realized he held the a very detailed plan of Hogwarts.
Shocked he looked at James in awe, "Okay tap it and say mischief managed and it will disappear."
"Thanks dad." Harry said running over to hug him. "Last year we'd given Darren the cloak so this time I wanted you to have the last legacy of the marauders."
Looking up Harry saw the three of them stand together happily. Their friendship had weathered many storms but they had always been there for each other. Only one missing was peter and he was not welcome, the traitor.
Sirius was tall handsome but his eyes held a sorrow that no one had been able to remove. He had been captured by the enemy during the last war for nearly a week but had managed to survive using his animagus form and had been rescued by some Aurors.
He had comeback a changed man. Never again did he have that childlike mischievous spark that was so characteristic of him. At that time he had been married to a woman by the name of Annie. When he had comeback, she had tried to understand the change, tried to ride out the storm with him. But having suffered herself with a miscarriage, she had given up.
They had been divorced almost ten years now Sirius had conquered the demons slowly and painstakingly. His friends had never giving up on him and today he was happy, cheerful, he lived a life of luxury, had invested in several businesses and recently he had started dating again.
Lupin, the werewolf of the group had always been a sort of a loner. He was thin, a little weary looking but had deep black soulful eyes. Darren and Harry had always found him to patient gentle and easy to go to with little problems.
After the war, having been subjected to alienation and mistrust by his peers he had become filled with a fiery passion. He with the help of Dumbledore and his friends had fought a long hard battle with the Ministry for improving the treatment of people like him. He had earned the respect of many and today he ran the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.
He had never sought love and he never had expected to find it sometimes due to prolonged exposure of people staying away from him he still felt a tiny bit of sel loathing. His days as a werewolf had become thankfully bearable due to wolfsbane potion that Snape made so diligently for him. His friends had encouraged him to overcome his last fear telling him they had never seen a man more gentle than him.
Looking at them, Harry thought if he could become a marauder he would feel proud and privileged. They were not perfect men but they had fought and persevered.
After the party completely wiped out, they dragged themselves up to their room Darren hugged Harry tight and said happy birthday, before they both tumbled into bed and fell into deep sleep.