The Hogwarts Express barreled through the dead of the night. Harry, Ron and Hermione had fallen asleep in their compartment near the beginning of the journey; exhausted from the evenings events. Hermione had passed out next to Ginny on the bench opposite the two boys whilst Neville, Dean and Seamus took the floor of the compartment. Percy, a couple of hours into the ride, informing him that the Express had reached the Scotland Train Station, awoke Seamus who bid the others a sleepy goodbye before slipping out of their compartment. It was in the mid-morning light when the Hogwarts Express pulled into King's Cross.
The trio watched the flood of relief pass over the faces of many family members who had been in various stages of panic since they had been notified of the Chamber being open at the school that past autumn. The embraces that many of the muggle-borns and their parents shared made Harry smile, though no smile was brighter than Hermione's who had been anxious all year about the possibility of her own stack because of her blood.
"Oh thank-you!" Molly Weasley had exclaimed as she hugged Harry, Ron and Hermione tightly. "I don't know what we would have done without you three. I can't begin to imagine what might've become of Ginny had it not been for you. Oh thank-you," she wept, tightly gripping Ginny's hand, not wanting to let go.
"Ginny's our friend, we would do anything for her," Hermione declared, smiling at Ron's younger sister who had grinned at her comment.
Ginny pulled her hand out of her mother's grasp, rushing to hug the three.
"I know I've thanked you already," she told them softly, "But you saved my life," Ginny explained as she hugged each of them, holding onto Ron a little longer than the others. Ron hugged his sister back tightly, the uneasy feeling of what could have happened had it not been for his friends settling once again in his stomach as he patted his sister's hair awkwardly as she too wept into his shirt.
When the young girl finally stepped back from them, standing once again next to her mother the three bid Ron's family their good-byes, though they promised that they would probably be over to play Quidditch towards the end of the week.
Mrs. Weasley called, "Be good for the Potter's, Ron!" just as the three were about to disappear into the dense crowd, towards the spot where Harry's parents usually waited for him.
Harry took off in a sprint when he saw his mum and Remus waiting near the barrier. Remus was grinning at the three of them, shaking his head at their brilliance whilst Lily pulled them into individual hugs relieved that they were safe once again. She reiterated just how proud she and James were of their accomplishments over the past couple of weeks as they meandered their way through King's Cross. Remus pushed the trolley with their luggage, taking up the back of the group. Lily barely let Harry out of her grasp, her arm around his small shoulders until they reached the car, not wanting to let her son go very far from her. Remus took the keys from her, deciding he would drive them back to Trevor Square knowing that Lily was far too distracted.
"I set the three of you upstairs in the living room," Lily whispered to Harry, giving him a quick kiss on the top of his head before smoothing out his hair and departing the foyer to go into the kitchen.
Remus closed the door behind them, chucking the keys over their heads and onto the hall table. He passed the three, very silent kids their luggage before giving a small grin and passing them to head into the living room where his book was waiting for him.
"Terribly sorry, only just heard all the fuss now. What have I missed?" Lockhart exclaimed excitedly, clapping his hands together as he entered the Great Hall, his purple robes billowing out behind him as he approached the Auror's.
Sirius looked once at the man before rolling his eyes and gazing down at the papers on the table before him, going over all the compiled information one more time before the final meeting was to begin.
The staff, Auror's, members of the Board of Governors, and the head of the department of Magical Creatures were assembled at the front of the house and staff tables, indulging in the house-elves creations between conversations. McGonagall pursed her lips at the sight of the man as he approached, not for a moment regretting her decision to not wake him that morning when everything was happening. Dumbledore gave her a knowing glance, though his eyes twinkled behind his spectacles, secretly letting her know that he approved of her methods.
"Ah, Gilderoy, glad you could join us," Dumbledore greeted him. "I trust you know what is going on…"
The man glanced around at all the people in the hall who had stopped to watch the spectacle, as it unfolded, none of them truly believing he accomplished any of the things he had claimed to. "Not, particularly no," Lockhart answered hesitantly, "The students?"
"Sent home for the remainder of the week," Dumbledore informed him. "I take it that you were not woken when we called on the staff and students early this morning after we uncovered a majority of the mysteries concerning to Chamber of Secrets?"
"I must have missed it, too bad too, I know exactly how to deal with such monstrosities," Lockhart lied through his smile.
"Weren't you just saying the other day that you've known all along where the entrance to the Chamber was, Gilderoy?" McGonagall questioned him, smirking ever so slightly.
"Er, yes, that's right," Lockhart lied confidently once again.
"Excellent, excellent," Dumbledore exclaimed, clapping his hands together, much to the surprise of the others in the halls who were afraid of where the Headmaster was taking this. "You'll be of great assistance then, Gilderoy when the Auror's and some of the staff go into the Chamber later this morning."
"I'd be delighted to take the lead," he grinned, puffing out his chest a little as he did. "I am the most qualified after all."
"That you are, but I am afraid Alastor here is taking charge with this, though I am sure he would be delighted to have your input on the plans," Dumbledore smiled.
"I don't need any help, Albus, everything's already set. It's foolproof," Mad-Eye protested from beside the headmaster.
"I think I should be the judge of that," Lockhart said, climbing up the steps of the raised platform where the heads table was and where the two men were gathered amongst the other professors.
"What could that old man possibly be thinking?" Sirius shook his head as he and James took a couple of bites of the meal placed before them. "That man is seriously daft."
James shook his head at the joke he knew Sirius was implying with that last remark. "I believe Dumbledore is just trying to get him out of the way," James told him insightfully.
"Now that I can believe," Sirius told him, a little more merrily.
"Potter! Black! Are you two just going to stand around gossiping all day or are you going to help go over the plan one more time for our newest recruit here?" Moody barked at the both of them, motioning his head towards Lockhart who was grinning triumphantly.
"Yes, sir," James and Sirius both called back, scrambling up towards the professors at the staff table.
James stepped forward towards the table with the final plan, laying it out before the surrounding group so they could read it over as he explained. "The entrance to the Chamber for those of you who missed the original meeting is located in the first-floor girls lavatory," James told them. "It will open by speaking Parseltongue, but that has already been properly hashed out, no need to dwell on that. We will be taking roosters down with us when we go, along with Professor Dumbledore's Phoenix, Fawkes. Fawkes will go into the Chamber with the first team, blinding the Basilisk when it comes out. This is merely a precaution as the roosters, when jinxed will call out and should, given the research, kill it on the spot without too much work on our part besides ensuring that the Basilisk is indeed killed. Once the Basilisk is killed, the Auror's are able to back out, for they are done. The Department of Magical Creatures along with the Professors will then be given access to the Chamber to complete some research, and if they feel the need a chance to explore the mysterious Chamber as there will no longer be a threat."
"The first team will consist of myself, Shacklebolt, Black, Potter, Jones, Carr, and Savage," Moody announced.
Lockhart coughed loudly. Moody narrowed his eyes at the man, clearly impatient.
"…Lockhart," Moody relented under the watchful gaze of Dumbledore, who smiled slightly after the fact.
"Excellent, excellent. Sounds like a decent enough plan," Lockhart exclaimed merrily.
"Do you have any better ideas?" Moody growled at the man, limping towards him until he was but a few feet away.
"As a matter of fact-"
"I believe you ought to get started then, Alastor," Dumbledore interrupted expertly.
"You all know the plan, fan out," Moody growled at the lot, limping past the assembled group and leading the way out of the hall.
There was a strange feeling that had fallen over the house since Harry, Ron and Hermione had arrived earlier that morning when the sun was still making its ascend into the sky. Lily's eyes kept glancing towards their three petite figures where they sat at the kitchen table, the two boys engaging in a game of wizard's chess while Hermione switched between quietly helping Harry and reading one of the books she had borrowed from the den.
She knew they were nervous just as she and Remus were for Sirius and James who were meant to be going into the Chamber at any moment, but she still thought they seemed far too serious for ones so young. Lily placed some sandwiches and drinks on the table before them, patting down her son's unruly hair as she stood behind him, watching for a few moments as he contemplated his next move.
"How are they doing?" Remus asked when she came into the living room a few moments later.
"Still eerily silent," Lily sighed, settling down in the corner of the couch.
"I wonder if they were this nervous when they went after the stone last year," Remus wondered aloud. He looked up at his auburn-haired friend whose face appeared extremely pale at the mention of the event.
"Don't do that to me," she laughed slightly, reaching across the coffee table to slap his knee with her own novel. "Between James and Harry, I don't know whose choices terrify me more."
Remus got up, sitting down beside her and gathering her into a side hug, which she accepted without hesitation. "They've faced Voldemort himself, this is nothing," he assured her, trying in vain to talk himself out of his own fear.
"I know. I know, but it doesn't get any easier, no matter how many times they go out and risk their lives," Lily sighed, slumping back into the couch once again.
Remus watched her, her eyes fluttering as she tried to stay awake. He knew she hadn't slept at all the previous night, having heard her pacing on the floor above from where he had crashed on the couch. He continued rubbing her arm as they sat there on the couch, waiting until her breath slowed and evened out letting him know that she was finally asleep. He slid his arm out from behind her back, settling her head into the cushion and lifting her legs until they were tucked on the couch. His eyes wandered around the room where he had sat so many times before until his eyes fell on the chest that stood as a stand for the television set, striding towards it to extract one of many blankets. He carefully draped it over his friend's sleeping form, brushing her long auburn locks out of her face as to not let them tickle her nose and wake her once more.
"Again?" Ron asked, startling Remus a little as he walked into the otherwise silent kitchen. He looked up, but saw that the youngest Weasley had been talking to Harry who had nodded ever so slightly in response to his friend's wish to begin another game.
"Why don't we all go out for a bit?" Remus suggested, pulling up a chair at the head of the table.
Ron looked up at both Harry and Hermione who were staring blankly at the table and book respectively. He looked next to Remus who gave a comforting smile, moving his head to indicate towards the front hall.
"Right then, let's go," Ron sighed, pushing out from the table and shuffling out of the room.
"Harry, Hermione, get up, get your coats on, we're going out," Remus told the two who were still sitting at the table. Harry pushed away from the table without a word, following Ron to the front hall. Hermione followed not long after, though Remus noticed that it was only when her eyes finished scanning the end of the page that she finally got up. He didn't even need to tell them to be quiet in their pursuit to grab their coats and shoes—they were so silent. "I'll be right back," he informed them before taking off up he stairs, not returning until he had James' mirror in his hand and a crumpled piece of paper in the other with a messy scribbling of words to inform anyone of their whereabouts. He placed the note attatched to the mirror on the coffee table in front of Lily where she or James or Sirius would be sure to see it when they flooed back from Hogwarts hopefully later that day.
It was a surprisingly warm day for March in London as Remus, Harry, Ron and Hermione strolled through Hyde Park. They made their way towards Piccadilly Circus; Remus deciding that getting a bite to eat was the best idea. The trio seemed up for this, their spirits a little higher as Harry and Hermione answered Ron's abundance of questions about the Muggle World when they walked by something he didn't recognize. Remus smiled as he watched the three Gryffindor's gobble down their meals at the Café, treating them to ice-cream sundaes afterwards before taking them into a nearby theatre for a matinee showing of a new movie. The kids welcomed the distraction of the movie, picking the movie Aladdin as their choice movie, which they eagerly settled in to watch as Remus took advantage of the dark space for a nap of his own.
"Now is as good a time as any," James sighed, stepping ahead of the group towards the serpent engraved sink. He glanced back at his dark-haired best mate who gave him a small nod to proceed. He ran his hand though his hair nervously as he slowly spoke the words Harry had taught him in Parseltongue that would get them down into the Chamber.
Sirius pulled him back when the sinks began separating from one another, pushing away from one another and back towards them. They stood there, watching as the serpent sink sunk into an exposed grate, creating an opening large enough between the sinks for them to be able to access the Chamber through.
The two of them stepped forward at once, both a little hesitantly because despite everything they had faced in their lives the thought of going down to kill a Basilisk still made them immensely nervous.
"I'll go down first," Sirius said, peering down the dark hole. "Follow me when you hear me give the 'ok', ok?"
"We will be right behind," James assured him, patting him on the back. "Be careful," he added nervously, "Make sure you have your wand ready and the rooster, you have your rooster?"
Sirius held up his caged rooster, grinning slightly. "See you soon then," he told James specifically, despite the fact that there were others in the room. Sirius gave a salute before taking a deep breath and jumping down the pipe.
"It's quite dirty down here," Sirius called up after a while, "It's good here otherwise!"
"That's our queue," James told the rest of them. "Remember, any sign of movement close your eyes. Until we get the roosters ready and Fawkes in there, we can never be too cautious," he reminded them before turning around and jumping down after Sirius.
It was like rushing down an endless, slimy dark slide. He could just make out a multitude of pipes branching off in all directions, though none were as large at the one they were currently sliding along. The journey down seemed to go on forever, making James wonder just how far below the school they had gone, but by the slimy state of the tunnels he assumed they were close to the lake.
Sirius was waiting at the bottom with Lockhart, both their robes equally disgusting from the journey. The rooster in his one hand remained silent in its cage thanks to the silencing charm Flitwick had placed on all of them before they set out. James watched Lockhart's movement in the small space they were in as they waited for the remaining team members to come down the pipe. The man seemed his usual over confident self, standing and observing the space around them with his hands on his hips, though his demeanor quickly faded when Moody finally came down and ordered Lockhart to lead them through. James and Sirius could have sworn they saw a mischievous glint in the head-Auror's eyes when he addressed the daft professor, making them smirk a little as they journeyed on towards the Chamber. The front members of the group bumped into one another when Lockhart stopped suddenly, apparently frozen in his tracks as he held his wand out ahead for light. Moody, James and Sirius pushed to the front of the group wondering what was going on.
"It's a Basilisk alright," Moody grumbled, limping forward with his wand outstretched, shedding light on the outline of the large serpent skin that was occupying a good portion of the pipe ahead.
James crept slowly along the pipe beside it, the slimy, scaly nature of it chilling his bones. He had gathered how massive the Basilisk would be from the research they had spent the night compiling after Harry, Ron and Hermione had shed light on all the mysteries of the Chamber, but seeing it now was a whole other story.
"Disturbing, isn't it?" Sirius whispered to him, following behind.
"That's one good word for it," James agreed, exhaling loudly when they finally reached the end of the skin the Basilisk had shed.
"Not so brave now, are you, Lockhart?" Moody growled at the man who was feeling his way past the skin, his unoccupied hand covering his eyes.
Lockhart whimpered a little at Moody's accusation, taking a little stress off of the rest of the Auror's once they chuckled a little at the sight. The feeling didn't last long though; as Moody barked orders at them once they were all through.
"We think we know a lot about what we are about to face going in," he said," We think our plan is fool-proof. These confidences though do not give any one of you the excuse to be anything less than vigilant in there. Slytherin was an untrustworthy man; I expect anything of his to be the same, as should all of you. When we get in there there are no certainties. Act accordingly and do your part and hopefully we will all get out of there alive. Potter, when you're ready."
Moody passed James, Fawkes, who was resting comfortably in a cage. James took the bird before stepping forward and muttering the words Harry had taught him once again. They felt strange on his tongue, dirty almost. He could hear the others behind him jump ever so slightly, and Lockhart gasp loudly, when the two entwined serpents were carved, their eyes set with great, glinting emeralds, parted, cracking the wall behind them open. The sight of the serpents emerald eyes put James at a sudden sense of ease, thinking about the two people he knew who had green eyes that would rival those of the serpents. The thought of Lily and Harry, safe and happy let him move forward into the Chamber with a newfound confidence and feeling that things would turn out right.
"Black, watch out!" Moody barked from where he stood.
The plan had sprung into action before the team was even fully in the Chamber. James had climbed down first, after Lockhart who had been ordered down the ladder by Moody, who, James and Sirius figured that he might as well get a laugh before the action. What was left of Riddle's memory lingered at the far end of the Chamber, unleashing the Basilisk on the Auror's before they had even planted their feet on firm ground once more. James moved quickly to release Fawkes, using her as the distraction so the rest of the team would have time to get down the latter, which they did. The roosters were shot with stinging jinxes causing them to call out. The Auror's all dropped the rooster cages at the sound of their calls mixed in with the pained wailing of the Basilisk that was swinging aimlessly around in front of them, its tail whipping violently around the chamber, knocking the stone snake statues that lined it leading towards the head of Salazar Slytherin. The barely existent young Tom Riddle was screaming as he walked towards the Auror's, forgetting he was unable to do anything to them as he made his way. Moody was hollering at the lot of them, having remained at the Chamber's entrance as to get a better view of the field to be more effective. The Basilisk's tail flung in Sirius' direction, the man just able to fling himself into one of the nearby shallow pools as to avoid what would most certainly be a painful experience being flung by the Basilisk into the stone wall. James held his wand out at the ready, knowing full well it would do little to protect him as he watched the Basilisk make it's last movements from where he stood against the wall with another member of his team.
The Basilisk wailed out loudly in its last breath, almost certainly deafening anyone in the proximity. The Auror's covered their ears as they watched the blinded, bloody Basilisk collapse, it's head falling backwards, crashing into the cement floor very near where James and Edgar Jones stood, panting.
Sirius stood up, his robes dripping wet, stepping over the small edge of the pool and hesitantly approached the beast. Moody nodded his approval, Sirius holding his wand out ahead as he moved towards the Basilisk's head. He stood back a little; honestly frightened by the sight of the creature's fangs that looked none too pretty no matter which angle they were viewed. Planting himself just a little ways away from the beast's open mouth, he waited for the feeling of breath against his skin but felt nothing.
"Dead. Definitely dead," he pronounced, immediately evening out the breaths of his fellow team members, and causing James and Edgar to elapse into a fit of laughter as they approached the far less frightening Basilisk.
The Auror team remained in the Chamber even after Moody had gone and come back again, trailed by the members of the Hogwarts Staff, Board of Governors and the Department of Magical Creatures. James and Sirius had taken to exploring the surrounding tunnels, wanting to know more about the Chamber should they ever retrieve the Marauder's Map back from Filch and have the opportunity to plot the new secret chamber on it. The two men chuckled, walking along the tunnel with their hands in their slack pockets, when they heard Professor McGonagall gasp at the sight.
"Well I never," they could hear her breathe as she and the other staff members approached the deceased Basilisk.
"I always thought that line was reserved strictly for us," Sirius kidded, bumping James in the shoulder as they continued to wander.
"Unfortunately for Lils I think that Harry, Ron and Hermione have taken over for us with that one," James laughed, remembering that evening the following year where he had come home to Lily violently chopping vegetables after having received a notice of Harry's detention from McGonagall.
"And the twins," Sirius added. "None of them will ever amount to us," he continued, gloating a little as he did, "But Minnie has to deal with yours and Lils offspring and a pack of Weasley's plus a mini-Lily, mini-Remus in Hermione."
"I'm honestly surprised she's still teaching," James laughed as they rounded a tunnel and found themselves at the far end of the Chamber from where all the action was.
"This place is her life, I can't imagine her anywhere else," Sirius said in all honesty. "I mean it freaked me out a little when I saw her at the funerals of yours and Lils parents, and her grandparents and let's not forget your wedding."
"I don't think it's possible," James admitted and Sirius knew that though she wasn't whom they were discussing, his best-mates mind was wandering to the image of Lily in her dress, blushing profusely throughout the whole day.
"They're probably freaking out, eh?" Sirius commented, glancing down at his watch as the two strode back towards the group.
James pushed up the sleeve of his robes. "They wouldn't be Lily and Remus if they weren't," he sighed.
"And Harry," Sirius reminded him. "That kid of yours looks a lot like you but he has a good combination of both yours and Lily's hearts. He'll be just as worried as they are."
"More so probably," James told him. "At least Lils and Moony know what we are capable of."
"Prongs Jr, thinks the two of you are invincible," Sirius remarked.
"The four of us," James reminded his friend. "He's known you and Moony what, a little more than a year now, not counting the days in Godric's Hallow and he's already more attached to you two!"
"What can I say?" Sirius grinned. "I'm irresistible. And ten times more fun."
"That because your roll in his life does not involve being strict and setting rules," James moped.
"Get over yourself, mate," Sirius hit him. "That kid of yours is like a well-trained house pet. He doesn't step out of line unless it's to help someone."
"He is pretty great," James grinned. The two stopped short of the hustle and bustle, watching on from the tail end of the Basilisk. They scanned the scene, though James did a double take when he realized someone was missing from their ranks. "Where'd Lockhart get off to?" he asked Sirius, his eyes continuing to scan the crowds and surrounding Chamber.
"Er-" Sirius began but stopped when he too couldn't find the man.
The smallest flicker of purple in his peripheral vision had Sirius whipping out his wand and freezing the man, whose arm was outstretched, the incantation of a memory charm frozen on his lips.
"Enneverate," Sirius said, after extracting Lockhart's wand from his grip, passing it off to James who too had his wand pointed at the man. "Obliverate the memories of all the witches and wizards who actually completed those tasks in your book, Gilderoy?" he taunted; once the man had flickered his eyes open once more.
"Don't know what-"
"Oh give it a rest," James grumbled, heaving the man up by the collar of his robes and dragging him towards Dumbledore. "No one really believed it was you," James told Lockhart along the way, "They just lacked proof to say otherwise…until now."
"How thick do you have to be to think you can get away with wiping the memory of everyone in this room?" Sirius questioned.
"I've done it on crowds much larger," Lockhart bragged.
"You can quit bragging now," James grumbled, "We all know what you are now. Professor?" he called, stopping short of the Headmaster.
Dumbledore turned away from the Basilisk's mouth, which he had been thoroughly examining with the head of the Board. The Professor had a mischievous sparkle in his eye as he looked at the three men assembled before him, though he was most interested as to why his DADA professor was being gripped by James Potter. "You can let go now, Mr. Potter," he spoke, James immediately releasing the man causing him to collapse to the floor. "May I ask what is going on?"
"He's a fake," Sirius accused, pointing his wand at Lockhart who was trying to crawl his way out, only to be hauled up by James into a standing position.
"Tried to obliverate Edgar Jones," James informed the man, "Er, Padfoot, deal with this will you?" he said quickly, upon noticing Edgar on the floor near where they had found Lockhart.
"As you were saying Mr. Black?"
"He was going to obliverate everyone's memory in this Chamber and claim the victory as his own," Sirius informed the headmaster who was looking at the man in question with extreme disappointment. "All of his books, nothing he did was his own doing, besides the memory charms. He stole the work of other witches and wizards by wiping their memory, taking all the fame for himself."
"Is this true Gilderoy?"
The man refused to answer.
"Very well," Dumbledore sighed, "I'll take your silence as a yes. It seems as though we will be needing a new Defense professor," he said, turning to the head of the Board who nodded and stepped forward along with another member to escort Lockhart out of the premises.
"What are you doing there, sir?" Sirius asked, watching as Dumbledore turned towards him once more, this time his arms filled with Basilisk fangs.
The man's eyes twinkled as he spoke. "You never know when these may come in handy…"
"Suppose Jones is going to be alright?" Sirius asked James, stepping into the fireplace in Dumbledore's office.
"Mungo's will look after him," James assured his friend. "See you back at the house," he said before throwing the powder into the flames, which engulfed him, sending him on his way.
"You'll let me know of Mr. Lupin's decision?" Dumbledore asked, coming into his office just as Sirius was about to floo out.
"I'll have him owl you by the end of the week," Sirius told the man.
The Professor smiled, giving a little nod of his head before throwing the powder into the flames and following James back home.
Sirius immediately stumbled into James upon return, the latter who held a finger to his mouth informing him to stay silent. Sirius looked at his mate questioningly until his eyes landed on Lily's sleeping form, his mouth forming a quiet "O" when he realized this is the reason they were tip-toeing around the room.
"You ought to wake her, mate," Sirius whispered to James who had seen the mirror and was trying to decipher Remus' messy script. "She can always go back to sleep once she realizes were alright," he added, finally convincing James who nodded.
Sirius sat down on the edge of the couch, rocking Lily's shoulder a little to arouse her from her slumber. "Lils…" he said calmly. "Evans!" he shouted when she didn't wake up. "The library is on fire!"
"Wha-? Black!" Lily screeched, almost falling off the couch in the process. "And it stopped being Evans about 14 years ago," she grumbled.
James couldn't help but laugh at her predicament.
Lily glared at both men for a moment before realizing what was going on. She stood up, stepping on the coffee table before hoping down right in front of James, immediately gathering him into a tight hug. "Oh merlin you are both alright," she sighed repeatedly, stepping back to check James over for any injuries before taking his face in her hands and bringing his lips to meet hers. "I know you've faced worse," she sighed, gripping his hand tightly as she turned to address Sirius as well, "It's still terrifying not knowing though."
"We know," Sirius, grinned a little before allowing Lily to give him one of her signature bone gripping hugs, her fingers brushing through his hair as she repeated over and over how glad she was that they were safe. He hugged her back just as tightly.
James watched on, witnessing once again the brother/sister relationship of Lily and Sirius in action once more, not once growing tired of it since it had began in their sixth year all those years ago.
Sirius ruffled Lily's hair, just as she and James often did to Harry, when they finally released one another, James immediately pulling his wife back to him, hugging her from behind as Sirius began telling her everything. He could feel her grip on his forearms tighten when they described what it was like to see the Basilisk at first, once Fawkes had successfully blinded it, and again when they told her of Lockhart though she laughed at it afterwards.
The three sat in a comfortable silence for a moment, James still holding Lily in his arms as he breathed in the scent of her hair, only releasing her when she seemed to jump for no apparent reason.
"Where's Remus?" she asked quickly. "Was he here when you returned?"
James and Sirius both shook their heads, but James reached down to grab the note from the table to pass it to her. Sirius indicated to James he was going to get a drink from the kitchen before leaving, only once James had held up two fingers for him and Lily.
"We owe Remus a dinner or something," Lily grinned at her husband after scanning the note over.
"Are the three of them together that hard to handle?" James laughed, leading her towards the back of the house where Sirius was waiting.
Lily shook her head profusely. "I don't know whether it is because they are completely worn out from being up so late last night, though I was under the impression they were asleep on the train, or because they were so worried about the outcome," she explained, taking a seat at the table with the men, "But they were so quiet all morning. They were sitting here playing game after game of Wizard Chess, well Harry and Ron were. Hermione was helping Harry and reading this," she said, patting the leather bound book in front of her where her butterbeer was resting.
Sirius looked at the book title. "Sounds like fun?" he remarked as the book seemed less than interesting to him, no matter what age he was.
James took a chug of his drink. "Probably a little of both," he figured. "They were up until two-thirty at least, I'm not sure-" but James was cut off from speaking further when they heard the familiar click of the front door opening. He leaned back in his chair to get a better view of the foyer, grinning madly when his eyes met his son's and Harry, forgetting about everything else, ran down the hall and tackled James in a hug. "Hey, champ," James, grinned, hugging Harry just as tightly back.
"Dad," Harry breathed, when he finally got up. "You're alright!"
"You're back!" Ron exclaimed from the doorway, preventing James from responding.
"What was it like? We're you prepared enough?"
"Was anyone hurt?"
"Was it terribly frightening?"
James and Sirius chuckled at the three kids who were staring at them expectantly. Sirius motioned towards the window-seat at the end of the table, the three kids scrambling to it and sitting down almost immediately, making the adults laugh once again. Lily and Remus exchanged looks of relief and smiles of happiness as they looked between the trio and James and Sirius who were enthusiastically recounting the day's events since the students had left early that morning. The trio hung onto their every word, appearing pleased with themselves, Hermione most of all that their research and findings had actually helped.
"Who is going to teach Defense for the remainder of the term then?" Hermione asked at the end.
"The school's been rid of a giant serpent for not even a couple of hours and all she's concerned about is school work," Ron remarked quietly to Harry who chuckled very quietly in response, neither wanting to upset Hermione.
But the boys too looked at James and Sirius for an answer.
Sirius coughed, taking a sip of his drink before looking up at Remus. "Er, well Moony," he started.
"You're joking," Remus deadpanned.
"Dumbledore-" James started only to be cut off by Lily correcting him to say 'Professor Dumbledore' in front of the trio. "Professor Dumbledore," James began again, not without glaring at his wife who smirked in response, "Wants to offer the position to you effective immediately."
"But-" Remus was about to protest when he remembered that Harry, Ron and Hermione were in the room. "I'll have to think about it," he said decisively, hoping to avoid further questions.
"Remus you have to!" Harry begged not seconds later.
"You'd be brilliant," Hermione added.
"You can't possibly be worse than Lockhart or Quirrell," Ron remarked, Hermione reaching across Harry's lap to slap him on the leg because of it. "I mean, you'd be the best professor we've ever had in the subject!"
Remus chuckled at the trio's comments, though when he looked at his own friend's he noticed that they too were giddy with excitement, with both James and Lily giving him encouraging smiles and Sirius practically bouncing up and down in his chair.
"Can I talk to you for a moment?" Remus asked his friends, who nodded, getting up.
James grabbed a hold of Lily's hand, the two of them leading the way out of the kitchen to go upstairs, but not before James told the trio to look through the take out menu drawer and decide what they wanted to eat for dinner.
"You're worried," Lily observed, taking a seat on the edge of hers and James' bed once the door was closed and the four of them were in.
"I can't possibly take this job," Remus began, "I mean it was different being a student. I could get away with disappearing once a month, no one really noticed, but as a Professor they would have to. I'd be gone once a month! It's completely unfeasible. I don't know what Dumbledore was thinking suggesting such a thing. Not to mention Severus is at the school and no matter what's transpired between us in recent years the man wouldn't hesitate to out my secret!"
"Remus!" Lily exclaimed, grabbing his attention. "Severus wouldn't think of it with Dumbledore there," she reassured him. "Besides, I can always make sure he doesn't," she added after realizing he wasn't listening.
"I'm sure you can," Sirius snickered.
"Sirius!" James growled. "And absolutely not," he said to Lily, glaring at her.
She returned his glare with one of her own. "Oh, James, get over it already," she sighed, "We've all grown up. You and I are married with an almost thirteen-year-old son. I don't think Severus thinks that is going to change, anymore."
Sirius whistled. "Thirteen wow."
"So not the point," Lily sighed. "We're up here because of Remus," she smiled softly, turning back around to look at their rather frustrated friend. She led him to the bed, making him sit down, before striding back to James and slapping him on the arm. James grabbed a hold of her before she walked away, slipping an arm around her petite waist and holding her close, making her smile despite her previous anger.
"Moony, Dumbledore wants you for this job. He knows what you are and he's not the type of man to overestimate what you can handle," Sirius tried to assure his friend. "And we will help you."
"Every step of the way," Lily smiled comfortingly.
"We can cover for you," James added, "And Sirius and I can come to join you for the full moon each month. Just like old times."
"We can come up with a new reason for your absences," Sirius said.
"Probably for the best," Lily laughed, "I don't think your sick mother will work anymore."
"I think I successfully wore that excuse out in our Hogwarts days," Remus laughed, finally calming down a bit.
The three others laughed.
"It can work if you want it to, Remus," Lily told him softly.
Remus nodded. "I do, I've always wanted to teach, I just never thought I could," he sighed almost sadly.
Sirius sent a panicked look Lily and James' way, the former sighing before slipping out of James' grasp and taking a seat next to Remus on the bed.
"You'd be a brilliant professor, Remus, I've always thought so," she smiled at him.
Remus smiled back at her but his panicked expression returned when his eyes latched onto the photo of Harry on Lily's bedside table.
"What about Harry? And Ron and Hermione? They're going to question more than anyone why I'm gone every month and why one of you is covering for me!" he exclaimed, standing up and resuming his pacing.
"Tell them," Sirius said seriously.
James, not shocked in the least unlike Lily and Remus, looked expectantly at Remus who was staring wide-eyed at Sirius.
"Are you-" Remus started, leaping off of the bed.
"That's Harry downstairs!" Sirius shouted. "James, one of your best-mates son, not to mention Lily's, who you have said countless times over is one of the most accepting and kind people you know," he continued, making both Lily and James blush. "That's their kid and his friend's down there. There is no way that he would ever think less of you. We didn't and we're your friends. He sees us, knows how close we are and you still think that he's going to not want you in his life?"
"He loves you, Remus," Lily piped in.
"He has since the moment he met you in the hospital when he was born," James added.
"He is a mix of these two," Sirius exclaimed again, pointing at Lily and James. "It is impossible for him to do anything but love and accept you! And I don't know if you've noticed this or not, but Ron and Hermione are just as caring as he is and there is no way that they would do anything but support you in this!"
"But-"
"There are no buts!" Sirius silenced him. "You want this job?"
"Yes," Remus sighed.
"Then owl Dumbledore right now and tell him you want it," Sirius said decisively. "It's as simple as that."
"What about Harry?" Remus asked, after nodding in agreement with Sirius, though it took him quite a few moments to do so.
"Mum? Dad? Sirius? Remus?" they all heard Harry's voice call out from the floor below, his footsteps sounding on the stairs.
"We can sit down and talk with them, the three of them, together," Lily told him, rubbing his arm.
"Harry?" James asked, sticking his head out in the hall to see Harry with Ron and Hermione coming up the stairs.
"We decided on the Chinese place," Harry grinned when they reached the top of the stairs.
"Alright, I'll go down and call them now."
"What's going on?" Hermione questioned quietly, looking at the four adults scattered around Harry's parents room.
Lily smiled softly at her, walking to the door until she was next to James, reaching behind him to open the door further and welcoming them in. "Come sit down on the bed," she instructed, stepping aside to let the kids in.
"Is everything alright?" Harry asked, once he had sat down.
Lily and James glanced at one another before turning to Remus. Sirius who was encouraging him to speak up pushed Remus forward.
The trio glanced at Remus who coughed before speaking up. "I'm taking the Defense job," Remus announced, a smile returning to his face.
The three other adults smiled at the sight of Harry's face lighting up, scrambling off the bed to give Remus a hug. "This is going to be great!" Harry exclaimed, making Remus nervous once more.
"There's something I want to tell you three though," Remus sighed, taking an unexpected step away from Harry. Harry glanced at his parents who smiled softly at him, before he looked at Ron and Hermione whose faces echoed his confusion. "When I'm teaching, once a month I won't be there for a couple of days," he began to explain. "When I'm gone you'll have one of these three as a substitute-"
"Or someone else Remus finds suitable," James piped up, though Lily elbowed him for it.
Ron and Harry looked at Remus blankly, not seeing where this was going, but Remus could see the gears turning in Hermione's head.
Remus looked once more to his friends, sighing as he looked to the kids once more. He took a deep breath before muttering, "I'm a werewolf."
AN: All recognizable J.K. Rowling content is fully hers and I take no credit for it. I am incredibly sorry for taking so long to update. I had plans to update a while ago but school got the better of me with all my assignments. The next update won't take nearly as long, I truly promise. As soon as my art history final is over next week there will be a new chapter, unless I procrastinate as usual and update sooner. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE give your feedback if you have time. I also apologize for any awkward phrasing or grammar errors. I blame school.