Hiya everyone,
So big thanks to bookwurm1612, willtheranger, ebonbon, zebragirl5, and Jannice Sace for their reviews of the last chapter. They are much appreciated.
Chapter 64:
The Potter house was manically busy. Between the marauders, Nancy, Dorian, Doreen and Cynthia, Mr and Mrs Potter were incredibly grateful for the size of their house. Mr Potter was still resting and hadn't returned to work and so spent a good amount of his time doing paperwork in his study – the only quiet room in the whole house. Baby Mippy had started crawling and so he followed Cynthia and Doreen around everywhere. They played with him pretending that he was their dolly. The marauders spent most of their time outside in the garden or in the pool. Marlene was spending most of her time with the boys. Her grandmother, Hildegard, spent time with Dorea drinking tea and working in the vegetable garden. Frank came round to visit almost every day. Some days his mother would accompany him and join Dorea and Hildegard for tea. Alice, Lily and Kate came to visit two or three times in the first week. Lily and Kate were completely overwhelmed by the size of the Potters' house. James showed them around modestly, "Yeah we're really lucky."
James showed them each the room he thought they'd prefer. He took Kate to the den where she could play any game she wanted and he showed Lily the library. Books covered every wall up to the high ceiling, "Of course there are more books in my father's study – but I'm not allowed to touch those ones. I've got every kind of book here from childrens' fairy tales to history books. I think it might actually be my favourite room in the house."
"But you don't read," Lily replied in shock.
"True – I barely read but when I'm alone I don't hate it – besides this is the most peaceful room in the house."
"It's beautiful," Lily smiled.
James smiled back at her. Cynthia ran into the room and jumped up at James who took her into his arms squeezing her tightly. "Alright Thia," he laughed.
"James! Come swim James," Cynthia demanded.
James grabbed Lily's hand, "Come swim Lily."
Lily laughed at James happily, maybe he's not so bad.
The weather was so lovely that Mrs Potter decided to have a bit of a party. They'd normally have an Easter ball but they'd had to prospone it. The ball would now be in the summer. Dorea made up invitations. Charlus had told her she could only invite a small number of guests – just their closest friends. Mrs Potter and Missy began to make a list of guests on Wednesday afternoon. The party would be in just over a week's time.
"Obviously Lucretia and Ignatius," Mrs Potter began, "and Alice and her friends."
Missy began writing the names down, "Who else…"
"Make sure you invite the minister," Charlus laughed from the doorway.
"Ah yes of course Joshua Alcaraz, oh and James' auror Holly Kilmont – we really should invite her… she's such a sweet girl, Albus of course…"
"Yes Mistress," Missy smiled.
"Oh Hagrid – I've not seen him in ages," Mrs Potter continued. "Augusta and Frank…"
"Sweetheart this is supposed to be a small get-together…" he said dotingly.
"Minerva… this is a small party, Charlus… the McKinnons… Hildegard, Andrew, Alicia and lovely Marlene."
"Sounds very small indeed," Charlus laughed.
"It would be good to invite Percival and Louisa…" Mrs Potter thought out loud, "and Fabian and Gideon… and good old Elphinstone Urquart…"
"You better not be interfering in Minnie's love life again, Mrs Potter," Charlus could be heard from down the hall.
"Perhaps Arthur and Molly and their boys… you know Louisa's son and his wife…"
"and James' friends…" Dorea began counting in her head… "and all of us… that's thirty three; the perfect number for a small BBQ. If you could send out invitations and get Milly to go to the grocery store to buy the food… thank you Missy."
The Gryffindors had a ton of fun sunbathing and swimming – even Lily and James were getting along. There hadn't been a single argument; in fact they had gotten on rather well. Their friends were very confused. James hadn't once asked her out nor done anything to annoy her and she hadn't once shouted at him. Anyone watching them would have thought them friends. Sirius and Marlene spent most of their time together. Marlene still fancied Sirius but she didn't want him to know that. They flirted a lot but nothing ever came of it because Sirius had a girlfriend – Felicity Gordon. Sirius had received a howler on Monday morning. He had looked at it in complete horror. He wasn't quick enough and the howler began to scream;
"SIRIUS BLACK!
I am so disappointed in you!" He could hear his mother's voice, "I have never wanted to disown you more than I do now. Fighting your cousin! What has gotten into you? FAMILY comes before GIRLS! You are a disappointment. Poor Cissi and her boyfriend Malfoy ended up in so much trouble and it was all YOUR FAULT! When you get back for the summer you are going to pay for this!" The howler burst into flames.
"Love you too mother," Sirius replied to the now smoking letter.
Mrs Potter pulled the young boy into a big hug, "don't worry love."
Sirius wasn't the only one to receive a letter. Lily also received one although hers didn't shout at her. She merely read it like a normal letter. She felt herself break into tears as she read the letter;
"Lils,
I'm so sorry. I really screwed up. I was just so angry with him for what he did to you. All I ever wanted to do was protect you. I never meant to hurt you. I didn't mean to argue with you or shout at you. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. I hope you are having fun with your friends. I miss you. Home just isn't the same without you.
Love Sev."
Lily was at the Potters' when the letter came, "can I borrow a quill and some parchment, Potter?"
"Sure thing," James led her into the living room where a beautiful ornate writing desk stood in the window. "Everything you need is here. You can even use Pickles if you need an owl."
"Thanks Pot – thanks James," Lily smiled. She sat down at the desk and began to formulate her response. She turned around briefly to see that James had left her alone.
Dear Sev,
I'm still a little angry to be completely honest but I understand. You need to learn to control your anger – just because someone hurts me isn't reason enough to hex them. But I am so grateful that you are my friend and that you watch out for me. I just wish you'd come and told me instead of attacking him. I love you – you're my best friend and you always will be – and I miss you lots.
Alice lives really close to the Potters' so we've been spending a lot of time with the other Gryffindors. It's been good – even James isn't being too annoying.
See you at school,
Love Lily. Xxx"
Lily tied the letter to Pickles, James' owl's foot before stroking the beautiful bird. She opened the window and the bird took off into the early evening's sky.
If the first week of the holidays had gone fast, the second week had gone at the speed of light. Before they knew it, it was Saturday morning and they were due to return to school the next day. Mrs Potter gave the marauders and her adopted children all jobs and chores to do. "Nancy can you see if any help is needed in the kitchen? Misty is in there sorting out all the food and drinks. Cynthia, Doreen – can you go and make sure you've put away all your toys in the family room. Thank you girls. Dorian could you check that you boys haven't made a mess of the pool area?"
"Sure thing," Dorian smiled.
"Thanks love," Dorea smiled, "Right boys could you de-gnome the garden?"
"Yes mum," James replied as they made their way out into the garden.
An hour later the paper arrived. Mr Potter read it happily in his study. When he read a particularly interesting story he went to find his wife, "Dorea!" He called.
"Yes love," Dorea smiled, wiping her hands on her apron. "What's wrong love?"
"Nothing – just thought you should hear this – you know how Janus Thickey died? Lethifold attack. Do you recall?"
"Oh yes of course," she sighed, "his poor family."
"His poor family indeed," Charlus nodded, "turns out he faked his death."
"He's alive?" Dorea looked shocked, "What on earth would possess a man to fake his own death?"
"He was living with the land lady of the Green Dragon," Charlus replied.
"Oh dear – you know I always knew she was a bit of a…"
"Dorea!" Charlus reprimanded her.
"His poor wife… and those children!"
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Next Chapter
1. James - mischievous
2. Flirting...
3. A Conversation Overheard...