Saturday 19th January 1981

Godric's Hollow, 11:30

"I've been reading up on this Fidelius Charm," Lily said, holding up the book she had been reading.

It was a very big book. Like, rivalled 'Hogwarts: A History' sort of big. And that had to be the biggest book James had ever seen - even some of the old books in the Potter Library weren't that big!

"Oh?" James asked in interest. "What did you find?"

He'd meant to do some reading up on that as well, even though Charms were more Lily's forte. But he hadn't really got round to it beyond reading the little paragraph about it in an advanced Charms paper. Which didn't say much except that it was a concealment charm of some complexity.

"Dumbledore is right, it completely shields the place's location from everyone's mind."

"Even those who been in the place before?" James asked sceptically.

Lily nodded. "Yes. As soon as the secret is placed in the Secret Keeper the location becomes just that, a secret. To every single person possible. The Secret Keeper has to share the secret for the location to be known again."

"Wow," said James, impressed with the charm.

That was really something. The only other spells that were comparable was that one that prevented places from being charted on a map. Even that didn't compare to removing a location from someone's mind without a memory charm!

"It sounds like the perfect plan," James said after some thought.

It wasn't like wards that could be brought down with some skill or brute force attacks. Even the strongest of wards were susceptible to that. No, this hid you completely, like you didn't even exist.

"It does," Lily agreed quietly. "But do you feel safe about lifting the wards?"

He nodded slowly. "This is better. Safer. The Fidelius Charm can't be brought down like a ward."

"Only by telling the secret."

"Which our Secret Keeper wouldn't." James said confidently.

"They wouldn't," Lily agreed.

Whoever they chose from their friends, they knew that they were all loyal to each other and would never give any of them up.

This was starting to feel a lot more real to James now. He could have almost pretended that this break from work was just that, a break, and not them sequestering themselves away. But seriously putting themselves under this Fidelius Charm? With no one being able to find them? Well, that was something else entirely.


Monday 21st January 1981

Longbottom Manor, 14:00

Frank was currently trying to change Neville's nappy, much to the House Elves' annoyance. It was usually their job, after all. But Frank had wanted to do it this time. Just to see if he could. After all, he'd seen it being done loads of times. It couldn't be that hard, could it?

"Time to get your trousers off, Neville," Frank needlessly stated.

It wasn't like Neville could understand anything they were saying, right? He was just a baby. And it wasn't like he had a choice in this matter anyway. But it just felt wrong to do it without saying something.

Okay, now he was starting to sound a little crazy. Talking to a baby like he would reply and overthinking taking off his trousers of all things. This was getting ridiculous. All he had to do was take off Neville's trousers and change his nappy. Easy as anything, right?

It turned out that it wasn't that easy. In fact, it was really, really hard. He didn't even get to the whole changing the nappy bit before he realised that he may be out of his depth here. Because, although he was a baby, Neville could wiggle. Really wiggle. Which meant that it wasn't exactly easy to get his clothes off him. Frank even got hit in the face a few times by flailing arms, something Neville found hilarious.

It only got worse from there. Did you know that boys could shoot and they invariably did so when you were right over them? Disgusting. And let's not mention the whole filled nappy situation. Frank had made the unfortunate decision to not put the nappy down before he put his head over Neville and invariably got soaked.

The thing with getting shot right in the eyes with warm liquid meant that your arms kind of flailed around a bit. And on the end of one of those arms, he had a hand that was still holding that horrible nappy.

Flailing around a nappy you only had a loose hold of was not a good idea, let's just leave it at that.

Of course, this was the point where Alice came in and gasped.

"James made it look so easy." He said in dismay, looking down at the literal mess he had managed to create.

Poor Neville who had to put up with his antics.

Alice opened and closed her mouth but no sound came out of it. Eventually she just shook her head at him.

"Help?" Frank tried, looking at his hands in disgust.

The smell wafted at him when he held them up. Eurgh. That was vile. Disgusting. He began to put them by his sides but realised that he might get the mess on his trousers and he certainly didn't want that. So, he put them in front of him, stretching his arms out as far as they would go. Even that wasn't far enough. Eurgh, this was so disgusting. How could a baby make such a mess?

"Go and clean up," Alice ordered him, stepping back so he wouldn't go anywhere near her.

He was impressed she hadn't gone running to another floor to get away from this smell. That's what he would have done. Still would if he knew how to detach his hands from his body.


Friday 25th January 1981

Severus' Flat, 13:00

"It feels so weird," Lily said, scrunching up her nose. "And not in a good way."

"What does it feel like to you?" Severus asked.

He wondered if people's blood left them in the same way when using the blood sample spell. That's what he was doing, taking a sample pf Lily's blood. For the project that wasn't a project but now it really was a project so he actually had to do research and experiments and actually progress in the damn thing. Yeah, that project.

"Like something is running up my arm and then being tugged along until suddenly 'pop' it's released through wherever your wand is getting it."

He pulled his wand away from her arm, having got the sample he needed.

"Like that!" She exclaimed, shaking her arm.

"It feels like that for me too," he told her. "It's not that bad."

"It's awful!"

He rolled his eyes at her histrionics. She was just being dramatic. Honestly.

"This is far better than the way the muggles do it," he reminded her.

"How do the muggles do it?" Sirius asked, sticking his head through the door to his kitchen come living area. "You nearly done in here?"

He'd made everyone wait in his bedroom for their turn because one, it was easier to sterilise the kitchen area and two, it was better to lie down for a bit after taking blood, just in case you felt faint or something.

Severus had decided to go ahead with the whole blood type thing that his Potions Master had mentioned, make it a legitimate project and all that. It would hopefully stop him feeling guilty about not telling him his big idea. Which he was going to tell him about! Eventually. When he had something to show for it. Something good. Like a finished potion. Well, maybe not that far along but definitely when it than a bunch of scribbled notes that even he couldn't make sense of yet. In the meantime, he was just going to have to do this project.

"Right, who's next?" He asked, turning around to his line of friends expectantly.

James pushed Marlene forward, making her stumble and glare at him.

"Marlene," he said.

"I think it should be James," Sirius said with a grin.

He got a shove too. Though, his was a more violent one.

Severus shook his head and crooked a finger at Marlene.

"You'll do."

"Thanks," she said sarcastically but followed him in.


Sunday 27th January 1981

Tonks' Home, 12:00

Tonks stood in the doorway and just watched what was in front of her. She had just put Teddy down for a nap - something that he had decided to fight today despite very obviously being tired - and now she felt like the one who should be napping. But she couldn't quite bring herself to. It felt wrong to nap when she had this chance to actually do something while Teddy didn't need their full attention. The problem was that she didn't know what to do. So, she was starting ding in the doorway, watching her partner read because apparently, he knew what to do with his time. Well, she supposed watching someone was technically doing something with her time.

Looking at him, watching him, made all thoughts leave her head. It was like she was completely enchanted by him which was ridiculous but here she was. She blamed the sleep deprivation. But that didn't stop her admiring how the crease in his forehead deepened as he came across something that made him think or the way he stretched one arm at a time so he could still read even as he grew stiff.

She loved watching him like this, totally engrossed in a book, hunched over it like he wanted to become one with it. The changing emotions that swept across his face depending on what was happening. The little noises from grunts to sighs and everything in between. It was just... just so Remus, if that made any sense.

"You've been staring," Remus said, without looking up from his book and amusement in his voice.

She suddenly had the urge to curl up next to him and press him with kisses. Or maybe just cuddle and listen to his heartbeat as he read. Maybe even say how much she loved him, as scary as that was.

But, of course, she did none of that. Mainly because her mouth was quicker.

"You're such a swot."

Seriously? Of all the things to say to Remus, after all that, that was what she said to them. Though it was true.

He chuckled at her and put down his book.

"That is true."

"My swot, though."

"Also, true."

He held out a hand, which took and braced herself with a smile for what she knew was coming.

And, sure enough, he gave her a tug and she went sprawling into his lap. She gave him a playful thump on the chest, ruining the effect by giggling.

"Going to tell me why you were staring?" He whispered in her ear, making her shiver.

She shook her head, embarrassed and not knowing how to put her thoughts into word anyway. That was the good thing about burying her head into his rather nice chest, he couldn't see her face. He tugged gently at her hair.

"What's got you all embarrassed?"

Curse her hair and her Metamorphmagus abilities. They really sucked at times.


Wednesday 30th January 1981

Godric's Hollow, 18:00

Peter tried to relax on the extremely comfortable sofa in James and Lily's house but he didn't quite manage jt. He felt all fidgety and on edge and it was taking all of his energy to prevent himself from showing that.

"Are you okay, Peter?" Lily asked him kindly. "You aren't looking too good."

Peter squirmed uncomfortably in his seat and tried to give her a smile.

"I'm okay."

She didn't look like she believed him. He didn't even believe him and he had been the one saying it.

"If you're sure," she said, thankfully not prying - Lily was always nice like that. "I'm here if you want to talk, you know."

"I do," he said quietly.

He meant it. Of course, he knew Lily was there if he needed her. She was there for everyone, after all. That's just who Lily was.

He tried to shake off the feeling of guilt at how nice Lily was being. Lily was ways so nice. To everyone. No matter what. She was sweet like that. Peter wasn't so sweet, was he? They a thought he was - him, the quiet, unassuming one of the Marauders. Oh, how he still bristled at those assumptions. But it was true, wasn't it? Especially compared to Sirius and James. Even Remus. They just had bigger personalities than him. Personalities that he wanted.

The annoyed feeling soon gave way to guilt again as Lily offered Him a top up of his mug of tea. He looked down at his mug and saw that it was empty and frowned. Since when had he drank his tea? He couldn't remember doing it.

"Yes, please," he said quietly, automatically holding it out.

"And a splash and a half of milk, just how you like it."

Lily always remembered the half a splash. And knew exactly how much that was. She was the only one who did. Or even tried.

The ones he and his friends persuaded and intimidated weren't like Lily. Of course, they weren't. They weren't nice or kind or helpful. Or even friendly, he was sure. Of course, he didn't really know them or anything like that but he assumed it they were like that then they wouldn't have needed persuading.

Yeah, that sounded hollow even to his own ears. But there was a reason why they had been treated the way they were. Reasons that made it didn't matter if they were nice or kind or sweet or anything like that.

"Is the tea that bad?" Lily joked.

"Huh?" Peter looked up at her, not sure what she had been saying.

"You've been glaring at that tea for a good ten minutes now."

"Have I? Sorry." He quickly put it down on the table.

"It's okay," she assured him. "A lot on your mind?"

"Something like that," he gave her a tight-lipped smile.


Friday 1st February 1981

Longbottom Manor, 15:00

Lily hadn't wanted House Elves to help them out. Said it wasn't natural. Even though it was perfectly normal and encouraged in their circles. You couldn't entertain if you were held back by being exhausted from looking after a baby. Not that anyone was doing any entertaining, least of all them. But still, House Elves looked after all that sort of thing with the babies, everyone knew that. Merlin, Lily knew that and she still wanted to do it herself. But that was all down to Lily's muggle upbringing, Alice suspected.

But Alice was striving that House Elves eerie extremely useful things, especially when it came down to nappy changes.

"He just needs a bit of practice," Lily said through a giggle.

"He isn't going near a nappy ever again," Alice said firmly. "That's what the House Elves are for and it's going to stay that way."

It had been disgusting. Utterly disgusting. She shuddered just thinking about it. Just the look of it... no, she couldn't even think of that again. And the smell. Let's not forget the smell. How could her baby create such a horrendous smell? It was unspeakable, what he produced.

She was not going to go through such a horrible experience again. Ever.


Tuesday 5th February 1981

Godric's Hollow, 17:00

"Come on!" Sirius urged.

"It doesn't happen like that!" James said in exasperation.

"Well, you have to show them," Sirius tried to justify himself. "They don't just know how to do it!"

Sirius currently had a hand under each of Cassie's armpits and was trying to get her to support herself on her feet. Trying being the operative word because he hadn't been successful yet. Nor was he going to for at least another few months. James knew that for a fact.

"All the books say that babies don't walk this early. They can't. She has to crawl first."

"Well, Cassie is going to be a genius and go straight to walking."

"At six months?"

"Yes."

Not to be outdone, James frowned at him and grabbed Harry, who had been quite happily gumming on one of his belts that had somehow made its way downstairs and on the living room floor. He gave an unhappy wail when James made him drop it.

"Shh, it's okay," James cooed. "Daddy wants to show Uncle Padfoot how smart you are."

"Cassie's smarter," Sirius bragged.

Harry blew a snot bubble at him. Gross but appropriate.


Thursday 7th February 1981

London, 17:30

"Right, we gave you Christmas," Avery said impatiently. "And the new year. More than enough time."

How did he even get himself into these situations? Why was it always him?

"I had a good Christmas," Peter said nervously, trying to strike up a comradery with him.

Why he was trying to do that with a Death Eater? He didn't know. It couldn't hurt, could it? Peter gulped when he saw the glare on Avery's face. You know what? It could hurt, from the look of things.

He muttered something under his breath and ducked his head down. Peter did not like the look in their eyes.

"Come on, we all know that you agree with us to an extent," Rosier purred at him.

Peter gulped but didn't deny it. It was true. He had even been a part of club to promote pureblood interests, after all. Something he hadn't attended in months because of the guilt he had been feeling. Though, ne did miss his friends from it. But that wasn't the point. The point was it had got him into all sorts of trouble that he wanted no part of.

"Well, the holidays are over and now you have to do some work for us."