I have decided to start updating again after who knows how long. I hoping some people are happy to hear this because I know how annoying it is when people stop updating. It sucks.
So sorry to all who have wanted the next chapter. And as always sorry for Grammar and spelling. I'm looking for Beta if anyone is interested.
At first there was only a blue haze that Snape could not see through. But after a moment of confusion something began to make shape.
Far off in the distance was a small cottage that Snape instantly recognized as the cottage Lilly and James Potter went into hiding in. Memories that Serverus had fought hard to stay buried came forcibly back into his mind. Snape decided now was not the time to dwell on past mistakes. There was a far more important task at hand.
Snape sense someone behind him and was not surprised when Ablus Dumbledore strode right through him walking directly towards the cottage.
Snape started to follow his curiosity burning to know what happens next. Dumbledore walked up to the cottage stopping only to unhinge the tiny gate out front. He then proceeded to the front were he raised his hand to knock but was cut off when the door was ripped open by one angry looking James Potter.
"Albus" Greeted James in harsh tone "You better get inside before anyone sees"
Snape frowned at this; Potter was always so charming with Dumbledore it was odd to hear him speak so rough with the older wizard.
"Of course James" Ablus step into the cottage with Snape following close behind him.
Snape looked around the small entrance of the cottage. It looked normal enough, small but cosy guessed Snape.
James led Ablus into what looked like a large sitting room where a fire was crackling away with large arm chairs surrounding it. Snape noted a small corner that had toys littered everywhere. There was also a child sized broom.
James indicated for Dumbledore to sit in one of the chairs while he stood near the fire place. Both men remained silent for a long time neither looking at the other until James finally spoke.
"It's not right"
Dumbledore looked annoyed at this."I never said anything about it being right James; I only said that He would be safe from all the danger that is presented to him at this current time"
James rolled his eyes at this "What danger Ablus! We have the best protective charms, auors on standby not to mention that Lilly and I can hold our own pretty damn well, even if it is against that bastard".
Suddenly Snape was distracted from the conversation as was Dumbledore as he turned his head to the sound of feet walking down stairs. Moments later Lilly appeared looking very tired and frustrated.
Snape had known that at some point Lilly would appear in this memory, but it still hurt to see her face, and hear her voice after so many years.
"Can you two please keep your voices down! I have finally gotten Harry to sleep and I also don't want Greg waking up" Snape couldn't help but smirk at the look of frustration on Lilly's face, she really did look tired as she walk towards a chair nearest James and slid into it.
"I'm sorry Lilly we will be quieter as we discuss this delicate matter" Dumbledore said quietly
James who was still standing by the fire sighed loudly causing everyone in the room to look at him.
"I don't want to send my two year old son away; we are his family, his only family"
"I agree" said Lilly in a strong voice. But something in her face told Snape she wasn't completely sure of herself. James seemed to notice this too and stared at his wife.
"Lilly" questioned James as he knelled down in front of his wife. "I'm so sorry James" said Lilly light tears beginning to spill from her eyes. "I just can't stand to see Greg so miserable all the time, no one knows he exists, he can't go outside because we can't leave the house to take him, even all of your friends are too busy with order work to take him, he is so confused he wants to know what's going on" Lilly said all most desperately.
"I know Lilly; it's no life for a child, especially one Greg's age" said James into his wife's eyes "But to send him away, I don't think I could do it".
Snape watched the scene playing before him; it was painful to watch Lilly cry. Snape noticed Dumbledore had remained seated the whole time but was watching closely.
"It won't really be sending him away" pronounce Dumbledore causing both James and Lilly to turn around and face him. "It would be more like a vacation for him" said Dumbledore with a small smile on his face.
"V..acation?" James stuttered "How is sending your child away from you for god knows how long a vacation".
"It wouldn't be forever James, believe it or not I do have faith in the order, and we will defeat Tom".
"What if we don't" James said quietly.
Dumbledore look a little shocked at James comment. Even Snape himself was shocked by the comment. Snape had always thought James had unquestionable faith in Dumbledore, to hear James question his headmaster was an odd thing to hear. And from the look on Dumbledore's face he was just as shocked as Snape.
"James I know this is hard, Believe me I know but you have to Trust me" Said Ablus in a reasoning voice. "I would be sending Greg somewhere safe and away from all this... all this Madness".
Snape watched James Potter's farcical expression carefully. He knew the look of someone who had been persuaded. And James was starting to slowly look like he was seeing Dumbledore's point of view. Still there was a tiny bit of distrust in James eyes. "Why can't Harry go as well" said James in an almost pleading voice. "There Brothers, they belong together".
Dumbledore stood up from his chair slowly, as he did the older wizard towered over James. "James, Harry must stay with you and Lilly, you know of the prophecy. It would be unwise to not have Harry by your side; Unlike Gregory he does not have the luxury of being unheard of by certain dark wizards".
James's shoulders slumped in defeat. To Snape it was oddly satisfying to see his childhood tormenter look so defeated. But there was a nagging part in Snapes mind that kept telling him James should have kept the right to keep his child.
"When will you take him" asked Lilly who was trying to wipe away her tears to make herself look presentable.
"It will have to be now" said Dumbledore calmly and simply.
"Now!" bellowed James. Lilly quickly hissed quiet in his direction. James muttered a quick apology before turning to Dumbledore. "Ablus, cant it wait until tomorrow, its 12.00 at night, my son is asleep, to wake him up and then just take him away. That can't be healthy for anyone let alone a two year old!".
"I would give you the proper time to say your goodbyes, the reason I would like to take him now is because I already have the perfect caregiver's line up for him".
"And who are these people" questioned James seriously.
"Their names aren't important. All you need to know is that they are a family ready to take on a young toddler"
Lilly suddenly looked concerned. "Do they know of the situation".
Dumbledore didn't miss a beat "They know they will be caring for a small child and have prepared for it. In the interest of everyone's safety I have decided to use muggles as Gregory's Caregivers".
"Muggles" questioned Lilly. "Wouldn't wizards be safer, they could protect him better-"
"No Lilly they wouldn't, Muggles would not be thought of by anyone, including Tom. Lilly seemed satisfy by Abluss explanation.
Everyone remained quiet for awhile. Finally Dumbledore broke the silence. "Gregory should be woken" Said Dumbledore. Lilly silently nodded and headed for the stairs.
"Albus" Said James in a slow voice. "You realize what you're asking of us"
Ablus who had remained sitting down for most of the conversation slowly stood up to face his former student.
James stared straight into Dumbledore's eyes with a glare that even Snape had to admit he would be slightly afraid of. James
"You're asking us to give up our son".
If Dumbledore was affected by Jamess glare Snape would never know since the Older Wizard remained Stoned faced. After a long Pause Dumbledore finally spoke
"I am merely asking you to trust me"
That was the final blow for James. Snape could see that James had been truly defeated in trying to keep his eldest Son. Ablus truly did have James's unwavering loyalty.
Snape turned his head towards the staircase when he heard the sound of footsteps creaking the floorboards.
Lilly had reemerged into the living room with a tired Gregory in her arms. Snape could not help but stare directly at the small toddler. It was almost scary how much he looked like his eleven year old counterpart. There was the same raven black hair and straight face. Snape noticed that while Greg may have his father's hair and eye colour, the rest was all lily. Greg was in a pair of Pajamas that were covered in flying snichs. Snape resisted the urge to snort.
Lilly Placed Greg on the floor who looked around the room searching for something. Snape followed the toddlers eyes until they found its target.
"Daddy!" Greg charge at his father with speed Snape didn't think possible for the small child. Any tiredness that was on the boys face was gone and replaced by pure joy at seeing his father.
James scooped Greg up with one arm and hugged his son tightly. "Hey little man" Said James affectionately.
"Why am I up Daddy" Asked Greg in a confused voice "It's still dark out".
James smiled sadly at his young son. "You're awake because we have a surprise for you". Snape could tell James was trying to sound cheerful for his son, but his voice sounded flat and constricted.
James lowered Gregory to the floor. "What surprise Daddy?". Snape watched as a burning curiosity filled the tiny toddler's bright blue eyes.
"Well" started James in unsteady Voice. "Your mother and I think you should take a ..a Trip" Greg frowned at this. Which looked usual on such a small face.
"Where to?" questioned Greg.
James looked confused by Greg's question and Snape realized that James hadn't been told yet where his son was being sent.
Dumbledore Noticing James's confused look stepped in. "You will be going to a country called America".
James sharply turned towards Dumbledore with a complete look of horror on his face.
"America!" Hissed James in a low whisper so that only he and Dumbledore could hear.
Dumbledore ignored James and continued to speak to Greg. "America is a very exciting place Gregory, I'm sure you will have a lot of fun".
Greg who was now clinging to his father's pant leg look to afraid to speak to the older wizard, who Snape could only assume, was terrifying to a small child. Instead Greg looked up to his father and spoke to him in a small voice. "When are we leaving?"
The "we" part of Greg's sentence hit James and Lilly Potter quite hard as they both realized that they were going to have to explain to their son, that they weren't going with him to other country.
"Oh sweetheart... I'm afraid Mummy and Daddy will have to stay behind" Said Lilly in a voice that was trying desperately not fall apart.
Greg looked confused at his mother. "But you have to come". Lilly Turned to her husband for help.
"Greg, I really wish we could go with you, but there's something reeeally important your Mother and I have to stay behind and do".
"What's that's?" questioned Greg with a childish pout.
"Let me explain son". James went towards his armchair and sat down, he gestured for Gregory to sit on his lap. Greg was thrilled at this and climbed up onto his father lap happily.
"You know about the bad man, don't you?" questioned James to his son.
Greg nodded his head slowly, and Snape was sure a look of fear briefly crossed the young boys face at the mention of "Bad man".
"Okay then" Said James pulling his son up further onto his lap. "Then you know that someone has to stop the bad man before he can hurt anymore people".
"Who?" questioned Greg with childish curiosity.
"Well that's were it gets complicated Greg" Said James.
Greg was fiddling with the end of his pajama sleeve when he quietly said "Is this why you and mummy keep whispering about Harry all the time".
The shocked look on James Potters Face was Priceless, and something Snape hoped he would never forgot.
James was speechless for a moment before a small grin formed on around his lips. "And when were you listening in mister?" Asked James. Greg now looked extremely guilty and annoyed at the same time. obviously he hadn't meant to dob himself in.
"I overheard while I was playing in my room" Said Greg as innocently as he could. James just smiled more.
"We will make a Marauder out of you yet Greg, Your uncle Serious would be proud". Greg's face beamed with Pride, Severus suppressed another snort.
"Anyway" Continued James "As you so cleverly figured out your Mother and I have been talking about Harry A lot lately, and it's because-"
"He's more interesting" Said Greg darkly. Everyone in the room including Snape listen in shock at the young toddlers words.
"What!... No Greg, that's not true" Said Lilly picking Greg up from James lap and pulling him into a tight hug. Greg violently tried to push away until Lilly lowered him to the floor.
"Yes it is!, You must like him more" shouted Greg. "Harry's the one who gets to go outside, Harry's the one who gets to see Uncle Serious and Uncle Remus, Harry's gets everything!"
Greg's cheeks were red and his small chest was taking in air faster than it could handle, small tears were beginning to form around his eyes, but Greg wiped them away violently before they could fall. He was also shaking quite fiercely "What am I doing wrong?" Said Greg sadly looking up at his parents, who were now both standing and looking down at him hopelessly. James was the first to speak by kneeling down and lightly placing both hands on his son's shoulders.
"Greg... no matter what you believe, Your Mother and I love you deeply, we also Love your Brother deeply, but right now things are very Complicated because your Brother has been dragged into some serious problems concerning the Badman".
Greg had begun to stop shaking, but his breathing was still not quite normal. "What does the Bad man have to do with Harry" Asked Greg, "Harry is only baby, He's only a year younger than me".
"I know" Said James sadly patting Greg on the back softly to help calm his breathing. "But the Bad man wants to hurt your Brother, and Daddy needs to find a way to stop that from ever happening".
"I'll help!". Said Greg strongly. "I'm his big brother".
"Of course you are" Said James happily picking Greg up in both arms. "But you need to stay safe as well, and the only way to do that is to send you somewhere Safe".
James was now stroking Greg's raven hair in a slow motion, and Snape could tell Greg was beginning to tire.
"But... But I don't want leave you" Said Greg tiredly.
"You won't really be leaving us Greg, it's not going to be forever, you just wait and see by the time we come to pick you up, you will have barely unpacked". James was now walking slowly around the room in circles.
"What about Harry... I'm his older brother. It's my job to protect him, that's what you always tell me".
"I did say that, and Greg you have been a fantastic big brother, and when you get back Harry will probably be talking by then, and he can tell you how much he appreciated it".
Greg eyes were now drooping with sleep so much that Snape wondered how much longer he could hold them up. "You won't forget about me?" asked Greg in a tired voice.
"Never" Said James quietly.
James checked that Greg was asleep before gently placing him in the comfy armchair. Lilly was standing by the chair protectively.
James turned to Dumbledore, who had been quiet during Greg's outburst. "You really need to take him tonight?'.
"Yes" replied Dumbledore without hesitation.
"Okay then. He can leave". Dumbledore nodded and walked towards Greg. James quickly step in front of his path. "But Albus, if he is hurt or mistreated in anyway, I will hold you responsible".
Ablus and James both stood still and stared at each other, hoping one would back down. Finally someone did. "Understood" Said Dumbledore quietly.
Snape Suddenly felt the pull of the memory ending. Snape turned towards Lilly taking in that it was the first time he had seen her alive in a painfully long time.
No not really alive Thought Snape as he was forced back to reality.