Ramblings and Dribbles

by WolfgangNH

This is a posting of ramblings, dribbles, one-shots, unfinished ideas or other stuff I just don't think deserves it's own storyline. Some I plan to finish someday, others are what they are. This is mature reading for some posts. Some items may be well developed, others are not yet, and may never be. There will many different pairings, and sometimes none.

39. A Letter to Lily

A LETTER TO LILY

-oOo-

This is a rambling for now… may become something more in the future…

Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction. The original characters and world of Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling and anyone she has sold or given the rights too.

-oOo-

Concept:

On the eve of Voldemort's defeat, the Potters get a warning from an old friend. Fearing for Harry's life, and the unborn child that Lily is now carrying, they decide to flee to France. James tries to warn the Longbottoms but is unable too with their protections.

Within weeks, Voldemort is defeated, and the Potters come out of hiding, but decide not to go back with how unstable things still are. James joins the French Aurors and becomes friends with Jean-Paul Delacour, a senior Auror that he is paired with. As Jean-Paul moves up the ranks, James does as well.

This partnership leads to a deep friendship between the two families, having Harry grow up with Fleur and Gabrielle, who is his age. Harry and Gabrielle become best friends, which starts to grow into something more as they get older.

NOTES:

-oOo-

Chapter 1

-oOo-

October 29, 1981

Godric's Hollow, England

Lily was looking at the strange owl sitting on the lamp post just outside the gate. As far as she knew, no one should be able to find them under the Fidelius unless they were told and she knew Sirius', Remus' and Peter's owls, or the ones they used.

This owl was definitely looking at her and waiting.

It was a cool fall day, but with the sun out she thought she would take Harry out into the yard to toddle around with her as she tended the flower beds. He was walking and running everywhere now, meaning she was chasing him more than she was getting the flower beds ready for winter.

She picked up the squirming raven-haired boy that wanted to chase after Jingles, her black kneazle. Her familiar kept taunting Harry, seeming to have as much fun having him chase her as she did dodge the little boy. "Ma. Ma. Ma. Ma. Jing," he said happily in her arms before reaching for Jingles.

"I'll let you play with Jingles in just a moment," she told him, palming her wand as she looked up and down the street. A few spells later and she was reasonably certain that she was alone. Harry seemed to get her caution and settled in her arms; the black dog stuff animal being tightly hugged to him.

The owl flew down to the gate door when she opened it. Her heart dropped to see a familiar flowing script with tight letters. She hadn't seen it in more than four years, but she knew that script. She wasn't sure to just rip up the letter, send it back or not. After a moment, she checked the letter for any tracking or other charms. After deducing there was none, she took it off the owl. It took flight the second she had relieved it of its burden.

After shutting the gate, she put Harry down so that he could crawl, then got up to chase Jingles as the cat stayed close to her. Pa'foo was bouncing in the air as the toddler laughed.

Lily unscrolled the parchment.

-o-

Lily,

He knows. The rat has told. I overheard part of the prophesy. He is coming for you.

-o-

It was a hastily scrawled note that had her breath stop for a moment. She read it twice, then jammed the parchment into her pocket, grabbed Harry as he ran past her, then ran into the house. It was a frantic rush to the mirror in their bedroom. She hugged Harry to her as she grabbed it.

"Prongs!" she yelled out at it. She was not in the mood to wait. "Prongs! Bloody hell, James, pick up your mirror."

It was maybe ten seconds before James' ruggedly handsome face came on the screen. From the background she could tell he was in the Ministry. "Hey, Lils," her husband said. It sounded like he was laughing.

"James, he knows! The Dark Lord knows where we are. Peter has told him," she said in a panic.

His face immediately became serious. "Is he there now? You and Harry need to get out."

"He's not here now, but he knows James," she replied.

"Just grab the bags. Meet Sirius and I at the church. We will figure out what to do from there," James told her. "Sirius, we have to go."

Lily grabbed the backpack from the side of their bed, rushed to Harry's room to get his. Jingles was staying close by them. She moved to the back step. Harry was starting to fuss. Her fear was obviously infecting him. "It's alright, Harry. We just need to take a short trip. Hold on to mummy. Jingles," she said, grabbing her familiar as she balanced two bags on her shoulder and Harry. A second later they had popped through the void of apparition. Jingles spat, not happy with it, while Harry started to cry. She dropped Jingles, whose fur was sticking up.

The church was the shuttered Church of St Matthew in Cokeworth, more than a hundred miles away. It wasn't far from where she had grown up and probably the last place that the Death Eaters would think to look since her parents had died about two years ago and she had run from here as soon as she could. A quick unlocking charm had her walking into the dusty building.

'Shhhh. It will be alright," she told her crying and fussing son. This was what they had planned, especially when they had found she was pregnant again. She couldn't risk their children.

A moment later two cracks came from outside the church. She moved to the side, her wand out and ready to cast anything she needed too to keep her children safe.

"Lils?" James said as the door opened.

"What did you tell me the night we got married?" she questioned, starting to feel paranoid the more she thought about the note.

James came into sight with his hands up. Sirius was just behind him. "That your eyes sparkle and that I like how your muff matches your head."

She relaxed some as Sirius guffawed. "Good to know you're a natural redhead."

"Shut it," she snapped at the mutt.

"Alright, you two. Lils, what happened? How does he know?" her husband questioned.

She dropped the bags and reached into her pocket. Sirius came over as Harry was calling out, "Pa'foo!"

She handed Harry to Sirius as she handed the note to James. "That's Severus' writing. Severus was the one that overheard the prophesy, and he says Peter told them. The owl found the house, James."

She watched as several emotions flitted through both men's faces. "But, Peter…" James said.

Sirius growled. "We thought it was Remus," Sirius spat as Harry hit his face with the black stuffed dog.

"Pa'foo," Harry said, still upset and probably wanting Sirius to change.

"The owl found the house. It couldn't do that without the sender knowing the secret," she pressed.

James' shoulder slumped. "No, it can't. You have the bags?"

She picked them up. "We can't stay here. You know Dumbledore said you-know-who is searching for us, and we have another one on the way now."

"I know, Lily-flower. Sirius, are you coming with us?" James asked their friend.

"What about Peter? We should hunt down the rat," Sirius said.

"Pa-foo," Harry said, pulling on the man's hair. Sirius just took it.

"Now is not the time. You promised you would help me protect Harry and my family," James solemnly said.

"I never said I wouldn't, Prongs, but how many have died from turncoats?" Sirius asked.

"Too many and I won't be one of them," she said defiantly. "I don't want you to be one either, Sirius."

The three of them regarded each other for a moment. "Padfoot, we are going to France. I can't risk them anymore. Not now that we know who the mole is. Are you coming?"

"What about the Order? Shouldn't we tell them?" Sirius questioned.

"Once my family is safe, I'll send a message to Dumbledore," James replied.

Sirius sighed as he hugged Harry close to him. "You know I'm with you until the end, Prongs. You three are the only family I have. But if we ever meet Peter again, I'll gut him."

"I'll hold him down for you," Lily promised.

With that decided, they took out the portkey from the bag. "You know Crouch is going to have a field day using an illegal portkey," Sirius said with a grin. "All the paperwork really gets him excited."

"Well, he can just fire me," James replied.

A moment later the disturbed dust and foot trails were the only sign the four people and one kneazle had been there.

-oOo-

November 4, 1981

South of Toulouse, France

James shot out of bed, his wand in his hand and his hand trying to find his glasses on the bedside table. Lily was waking, but not as fast. He jammed his glasses on his face to figure out what had woken him. A house elf was grabbing its ears on the side of the bed.

He blinked. "Dobbin?" he asked.

"Dobbin who, James," Lily asked from besides him.

"Dobbins is sorry, mister James, but there is people trying to call you," the elf said holding up a mirror.

He blinked then took the mirror, unsure where this one had come from since his was on the nightstand.

"James, is that you?" he heard a panicked voice.

"Andromeda? How did you get a mirror?" he asked.

"Sirius gave me one. James, I need your help. My sister has come looking for us. Ted was able to get us out, but he's hurt and they hurt Nymphadora," the woman rushed out. He could hear a child screaming in the background. It tore at his heart like nothing else. Andi looked like she was just barely holding herself together. He could see blood spatter on her neck.

"Does Sirius know where you are?" he asked, jumping out of bed. He plopped the mirror on the bed and started to get dressed.

"He told me to use this mirror. I got us to a safe house, but I don't know how long this will be good for," she said. "I need help!"

Lily picked up the mirror. "Andi, it will be alright. James and Sirius will be there soon. We'll get you to where we are hiding," she said trying to reassure the woman. He gave his wife a look and she mouthed 'GO'. He took off. Sirius met in the hallway. All they needed was a nod before Sirius held out a rolled up newspaper. James grabbed it and then they were gone.

It was a few moments of spinning before the portkey let them go. They both came out at a run into a country lane. "This way," Sirius told him, taking off at a run.

They moved with Sirius taking point and James backing him up. They had been partners for the better part of their lives and knew how each other moved and reacted. About a hundred feet down the hedgerow opened and there was a small house on the edge of a farm. They could hear a child screaming bloody murder from inside the house.

Sirius ran to the house. When he burst the door open, a red spell impacted next to the door frame. "Andi! It me! Sirius!"

"What did you to me on my eight birthday?" she demanded.

"I had an accidental burst of magic and turned your hair red," Sirius shot back.

"Oh, Merlin! Get over here. I can't stop the bleeding and Nymphadora is hurt," Andi said.

"You get Ted," James told him.

Andi had Ted on a table. It was apparent she had been trying to reverse some hex that had his arm and side all bloody. Nymphadora was on a couch. The five year old girl was screaming as though she had been cut open. Her hair was cycling colours almost faster than he could name them. A small boy about Harry's age was crying next to his sister.

James rushed over to the little girl. He had seen this before. It was a pain curse that could cause serious damage if not reversed in time. He started to incant a complicated spell over her. It was Black family magic that Sirius and his father had taught him. It was a long moment before the little girl stopped screaming, then started to cry.

"Come here, Dora," he said to the girl, scooping her up as she cried. Her small brother looked like he didn't know what was going on, which at about sixteen months he probably didn't. The boy looked so much like Ted, just with the Black's grey eyes. He held out an arm for the boy and Eric moved to his side. James kissed both their heads. "It will be alright."

"Did we get it?" Andi asked. Her voice was trembling. James looked over to see her hands and half her clothes covered in blood.

Sirius ran his wand over Ted once more. "The curse is gone, but we need to get him to a hospital."

"Dora should be checked over too. Andi, are you hurt?" he asked, cradling the crying girl and the trembling boy.

The normally strong woman looked ready to cry. "It was Bella, her husband and Crouch Junior. Bella was crying out to tell them where you went. Something about a prophesy and Harry," she said, then started to get mad as she worked through her shock. "They hurt my babies. They tried to kill my husband. I'm going to kill them." The pure hate in her voice was pure Black.

"We can worry about that later, Andi. I think we should go before the Aurors show. I'm sure the illegal portkey was picked up," Sirius said.

James stood up. Dora grabbed him as tight as she could. "Don't leave, Uncle James," she begged.

"I'm not leaving you, Dora. I need you to be a strong girl for me, just for a short bit," he asked of her.

The girl had tears streaming down her face. "It hurt," she said.

"I know it did. I'll get something for the pain in just a few. Hold in there. Sirius, do you have the return portkey?" James questioned.

"Right here, but Ted shouldn't travel that way. We have brooms," Sirius told him.

"Ted has to get to the hospital," Andi told them.

"He will. We are going to France, and we will get you to a safe place," James told her.

Andi looked at him for a long moment. When she nodded, Sirius put the newspaper on the passed out form of Ted. A moment later he had Dora put a shaky hand on it while he held Eric's hand to it. He thought he heard cracks of apparition just as the portkey activated.

-oOo-

November 6, 1981

DAILY PROPHET

He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Names DEFEATED!

By Quark Kent

The Dark Lord, the scrouge of England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland, is DEAD!

Late last night the Aurors responded to an emergency call from the Longbottoms of Cleary, England. In the wreckage of another pureblood manor was found the bodies of Lord Franklin Longbottom and the Dowager Augusta Longbottom, alongside the mangled remained of the Dark Lord and two of his followers, Abraxas Malfoy and Thomas Avery.

The scene was described as gruesome and that the Lord and Dowager Longbottom fought with a fervour that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was not prepared for.

This discovery has sent shockwaves through the wizarding world as the darkest of Lords is dead and two prominent purebloods were found to have been fighting with the Dark Lord. The Head of DMLE, Bartemius Crouch, has already made a statement that the full weight of the law will come down on the houses of Malfoy and Avery if it is found they were followers.

It can be confirmed that Lady Alice Longbottom and her son, Neville Longbottom, have survived the attack and are recovering in St Mungo's.

In the meantime, the country celebrates the Dark Lords demise.

…

-o-

Albus was reading the paper trying to understand where everything had gone wrong. The prophesy clearly said that a child born at the end of July would defeat Tom, but that clearly hadn't happened. Frank and Augusta had taken down three followers before Tom. The man never even made it close to Neville.

He did not understand how.

The prophesy was very clear in this.

He had not been able to get in to see the Longbottom boy yet, but it didn't sound like he had been marked. He needed to know, but he had been blocked by Algernon Longbottom when he had tried to get in. He also knew he couldn't move to do anything about Neville in the Wizengamot or at Gringotts. Upsetting an Unspeakable like Algernon would not do him well, nor would he gain any points for going against the alliance that Augusta had maintained.

He had been able to get onto the grounds of the now destroyed Longbottom Hall. From his analysis he could tell that Tom had not died. Well, his body had. Albus was unsure what Tom had done, or what he was now, but his soul had not passed on.

That meant the prophesy had to be fulfilled, but he was at a loss of how if neither boy had been marked.

Where were the damned Potters?

It was supposed to be them. James Potter was the last of his line and had not wanted anything to do with his family's legacy in the Wizengamot, meaning that if Harry had survived Albus would be able to claim the boy and see the prophesy come to pass.

He was still pondering all this when the small gargoyle over his door announced, "Minister Bagnold and guests."

Albus sighed. He didn't want to deal with the woman right now. "Let them in. How many guests?"

"Two Aurors and Head Crouch," the gargoyle said.

He nodded. "Fingle. Tea and biscuits please."

He knew the house elf had heard him.

A moment later the door opened and in walked a woman that was more handsome than pretty. Her square jaw and shoulder length hair spoke of someone used to authority, and she had been given much in the last few years.

Barty Crouch was a rather fastidious man with a bristle moustache and more muggle style suit than robes.

Behind them came in an auburn hair woman and a black man. Both were in burgundy Auror robes. The woman was in her early thirties while the man looked to still be rather young, perhaps two years out of the academy.

Albus got up to greet her. "Millicent, it is always a pleasure to meet you. What brought you here on this fine day?"

The woman shook his hand. "Dumbledore, I wish this could have been under better circumstances. I know that there is good news today, but I'm afraid the war isn't over yet."

He rose an eyebrow as he motioned for them to sit. "I was under the impression that everyone was celebrating. I have invitations to a few parties this evening myself."

"Yes, most are, but there are still many followers out there and we had an issue of an attempted break into the Ministry in the early morning. It would appear that Lucius Malfoy, Rabastan Lestrange and a few others were arrested trying to get into the Department of Mysteries. With his father now dead and found next to You-Know-Who himself, it is causing a bit of an uproar in the Wizengamot today. Four Wizengamot members were killed or captured last night. All with his mark, and all with wands that show unforgivables on them," she said.

Albus steepled his hand and leaned forward. "I see. This could be an issue, but I fail to see why you come to me?"

"We did a check of everyone entering the Ministry today. Five more people arrested, including two department heads," Barty said. "It's pandemonium. I am needed in the DMLE and Ogden was one of the ones we arrested."

Albus understood… partially. Ogden was the current Chief Warlock. "That is an issue, but I still fail to see why you come to me?"

Millicent didn't look as pleased. "Albus, you are one of the only ones that he and his followers fear. With his supporters still out there and our government still on the precipice, we need a strong Chief Warlock. I know you have turned down the position in the past, but if there was ever a time for you to step up and lead, it would be now."

Albus nodded sagely as he thought about it. It would give him more options to figure out where Tom was and to have resources to look into the prophesy. Perhaps he had misinterpreted it? And if he hadn't, then he could find ways to influence the boys he needed. First, he needed to find Potter though. James had not been specific about where he and his family went.

"I am reluctant to accept this, but I can see the need. Will you still be pressing for the veil, Barty?" Albus asked.

"If the person is a Death Eater, absolutely. There isn't an innocent among them. If they are not marked, then we will let the law decide," Barty said with great conviction.

Albus frowned. "You do not think that any of them can be rehabilitated or forgiven?"

"Albus, that is what got us here. Frank and Augusta Longbottom had the right idea. Kill them before they kill us," Barty replied.

"But surely you can't mean to not give them a chance? If I am Chief Warlock I will not back the death penalty," Albus told them.

Millicent cut Barty off. "Yes. I understand. We need you for now. In a year or two you can step down and keep your pacificist ways," she said to Albus. "Until then we need to calm the populous and purge ourselves of You-Know-Who's followers."

"Very well. I do have a query though. Barty, where did you hide the Potters and the McKinnons?"

Barty didn't look happy. "Potter and Black handed in their resignations a week ago. As for the McKinnons, that is something I am not involved in."

Albus was surprised. James had warned him about Peter in a letter. He was forced to move on that and confront the man, who was honestly repentant. What he had not received was any other word or a resignation from the Order. "I see. I will have to talk with Lord McKinnon when the Wizengamot meets tomorrow. I will have to assume that James Potter will take up his seat now?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," Millicent said. "I've been trying to convince him to do that for two years now. We could have used his vote."

Albus wouldn't tell them that he had advised James against it by convincing the man it would paint an even larger target on him and his family. Not having the Potter vote active had helped to keep the Wizengamot relatively even on votes. Though, now he was going to be Chief Warlock, it may not hurt to have the vote. He just needed to know where the Potters were.

"I know he as deeply affected by his parents' death and didn't have the political acumen that his grandfather or father had. When I see him again, I will convince him to join us," Dumbledore told them.

"That would be needed. Now, since you will be Chief Warlock, there are a few things to work out. One of the most important will be filling the Avery seat. Not to mention if Malfoy and Lestrange are to lose at their trials, there will be more seats open…"

Albus was looking at a golden opportunity to potentially place hand-picked members into the Wizengamot and he was not about to give that up.

-oOo-

January 4, 1982

Paris, France

James was reading the latest Daily Prophet. Brittan was still torn as the Aurors hunted down the last of the Death Eaters and the first few had already gone to trial. He made a face to see them only go to Azkaban. He agreed with his ex-Boss that they needed to go through the veil. Next week was going to be the first of the heavy hitting trials. He was looking forward to seeing the Malfoys and Lestranges taken down. He just wished all the Lestranges had been caught or killed before they found the McKinnons. Lily was still cut up about that. At least Marlene and her younger brother had not been at the manor that night. How many times had they fought the Death Eaters and had their hands tied by ministry rules of engagement while they killed anyone they wanted? It had been frustrating to now end.

James was out of that now. He needed a job. Lily and him could live for years on what he had in his vaults from his family, but he needed a job. Two months of doing nothing was driving both of them up a wall.

The issue was, he really didn't know anything but to fight and be an Auror. They had spent their last two years in Hogwarts gearing up for the war that was now ending, and then the past four years jumping from recruit, to junior auror and full auror in that time. Typically, that would take six years, but the ministry had been desperate to get bodies out there, and you either gained experience quickly or died. James was of the first, finding he had a natural propensity to being an Auror.

Thus, he had applied to the French Auror department now that Lily and him had decided to stay in France. It was still too dangerous to go back, and he wasn't sure if the Blood Supremacy movement would die out anytime soon. He would rather his children grow up in a place where it didn't matter as much, and the Potters had owned a vineyard in southern France for over a hundred years now. It would be the ideal place for Harry and his future child to grow up in.

The French ministry was in the centre of the magical district in Paris. The District Du Magique was a four-block area of shops, restaurants, cafes, bakeries, grocers, apartments, the ministry and Rogsbarth, the goblin clan in France that ran the main wizarding bank.

James had wanted to walk through the large magical district so took the stairs today. In the second block of buildings, he entered the Ministry through a set of wide stairs that went below a glass dome in the centre of the courtyard. The main atrium was two floors down and was much more inviting than the British Ministry. Here it felt open with the light golden colours and columns that held up a high ceiling. Rows of fireplaces allowed workers and visitors to come and go as they pleased.

Unlike the British Ministry, people came and went as they pleased. There were Aurors stationed about, but there was no guard desk that people had to check in at. He also noticed a far greater variety of people and beings. Goblins, as surly as they were, walked next to wizards and witches and he was positive he saw a hag going into a golden grilled elevator.

It was also glaringly obvious that this atrium didn't have a statue holding wizards over everyone.

His destination was on level three, and still feeling like he had energy to spare, he took the stairs down. He had been trapped on the estate for too long.

Level three was dominated by the Département de Droit Magique, or the Department of Magical Law. The DDM was much like he was used too. The Aurors had a large ballpen with cubicles. Dozens of them were around the office, with many desks empty, either because the people were out or off shift. He was stopped at the front desk as he looked around.

"Excuse me, monsieur. Can I help you?" a young man asked. The man couldn't have been much older than James himself, but he didn't have the hard look of someone that had seen action.

"Oui," he said. His French wasn't the best, being rather rusty, but had become passable again over the two months. It was amazing how much his mother's lessons and his time vacationing here in his youth had come back to him. He was helping Lily, who was proving just as adept at learning French as anything she put her mind too. "I have an appointment with Head Auror Robespierre. I am James Potter."

The man nodded. "Just a second." After checking a scheduling book, the man motioned to some seats. "I will tell Head Robespierre you are here. If you would just take a seat for a few."

"Thank you," James replied.

He sat in the chairs, his eyes never resting and his body ready to move should something happen. For years now he had been building this battle-ready stance to be prepared at any moment to react and it had only gotten worse since Peter's betrayal.

A sort of short man with a very muscular build, very odd for a wizard, walked into the office. His dark blue robes with the golden fleur-de-lis on his left breast proclaimed him an auror. The three stars under the fleur-de-lis said he was a Senior Auror. The way the man looked at James was the look of another predator sizing up a potential threat.

James didn't give under the man's gaze, even when the man stopped. The man quirked an eyebrow at him.

James stood, as he should for a superior, even if he wasn't in the French Aurors, and gave the man a small bow. "Master Auror," James greeted the man.

The man's icy blue eyes didn't stop staring at him. When James didn't flinch, the man gave a curt nod. "I don't recognize you, Monsieur, but you carry yourself like an Auror. Where are you from?"

"I am James Potter, Master Auror. My family just recently moved into France from England," James replied.

"Ah, that explains it. Jean-Paul Delacour. You were in the thick of it, weren't you?" the man asked after returning the curtesy of a bow.

"You can say that. My partner and I took in quite a few, but most were let out shortly after," he said, not able to keep his bitterness out of his voice.

The man stroked his goatee. "You here to register or an interview?"

"Interview, Senior Auror Delacour," James replied.

"Full Auror?"

"Two years," James said proudly. It was an achievement for being only twenty-one.

The man nodded as though agreeing. "David, I'm going to take this one back. Tell the boss I'll have him back in a bit."

"Oui, Senior Auror Delacour," the young man behind the counter told him.

"This way, James. You can call be Jean-Paul," the man told him.

"Yes, sir," James replied.

"None of that sir stuff either unless we are before the Boss or higher," the man told him.

James smiled, already liking this man. He moved like someone that knew what he was doing. The way most nodded or deferred to him as he walked through the cubicles to an office towards the end of the wall they had been walking again let James know this man had earned the respect his presence demanded.

"Shut the door and take a seat," he was instructed. Jean-Paul's desk was rather tightly for a man who looked to work in the field, thought he larger number than usual amount of filing cabinets could explain that.

Jean-Paul sat. James didn't say anything, knowing he was the junior man here. "Where is your partner? It's not usual for an Auror to just leave."

James looked at him curiously. "Auror Sirius Black has decided he doesn't want to be an Auror right now. He's looking at other endeavours."

"But he came here with you?" Jean-Paul enquired.

"I am not disclosing that information right now. He and my family are still under threat, and I would not endanger them further," James replied with steel in his voice.

The man smiled. "Good. Not afraid to speak up to authority or know when to keep your trap shut. We know that he is in France, as is your family, James. I do my research on all new hires and when we have potentially dangerous men enter my country. I've heard and read about the type of Auror you are. What do you think of this?"

Jean-Paul shifted in his chair to open a filing cabinet and reach in to pull out a two-inch-thick folder. James gave the man a curious look before sliding his chair closer to the table and opening the folder. He opened the folder, his brows slowly rising into his hair as he looked through it. Looking up, Jean-Paul was leaning back in his chair and watching the young man as he looked through the paperwork.

"This is a file about half the Death Eaters that served You-Know-Who," James said.

"It is. I want you to go through it. Anyone that is tried and found guilty in England, I want you to move to seize any assets they have here in France. We have word that at least six have escaped to your shores. We are going to bring them in before they do any real harm in my country," Jean-Paul said.

James looked a little stunned. "But I haven't even been hired yet."

"I'll go talk with Head Auror Robespierre and have your badge within the hour and then you can go get outfitted. I need a new partner. Your desk will be the one right outside my door. Memorize that file by tomorrow. We leave for Marseille with a team of four more and three Curse Breakers at oh-nine-hundred to seize the estate of the Lestranges. We have word that Rodolphus may be hiding there," Jean-Paul told him as he got up.

James's face became set. "I suppose we have to take him in for trial?"

"That is the ideal method, but accidents happen," Jean-Paul said with an easy grin.

James stared after the man, unsure he fully got the meaning of that, but to go after one of the Lestranges was worth it. He went back to studying the folder while he waited for Jean-Paul to get back.

-oOo-

January 21, 1982

Somewhere near Toulouse, France

It was a cold day on the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains. The old manor house was warm because of magic, but a light dusting of snow had fallen over the vineyard. The winery was just a short distance down the hill with the small house for the house elves next to it. For a few generations the house elves had run the winery and made some of the best elven wine in Europe.

Sirius was positive it was one of the few free-elf enclaves in the world. They bond themselves to the land, not the family, living off the large leyline that ran under the vineyard and house. It was part of why the Potters had bought the land in early nineteen hundreds when some elves of the Potters wanted to still server the family but didn't want to be bonded or go to Hogwarts, the only other free-elf sanctuary Sirius knew about.

He watched the elves protecting the vineyard, keeping the snow off the vines and everything warm enough to keep growing. It was that same elf magic that kept the vineyard and winery operating year-round.

It was a nice simple life that he unexpectedly found he enjoyed.

Over the last few months, he had found that he didn't miss having spells thrown at him. James couldn't let that go, but Sirius just didn't want that anymore. So much of his life had been a struggle that having something simple like helping the elves keep the grapes from freezing was something he enjoyed.

"Sir, you don'ts needs to help," a small elf said.

"I want to, Cilly," he told her.

He had been up half the night with the elves after he had noticed fires in the vineyard. The sun was coming up and elder house elves had said it should warm up and the snow would melt later. They just had to keep this up for a few more hours. Afterwards he was going to drop.

Part of him felt like he was betraying his brother, but James seemed to have found a good partner and had already made a bit of a name for himself by taking down his cousin, Bellatrix, her husband and a few others in a few short weeks.

He flicked his wand, making one of the blankets that was moving the air around to spread the warmth from the fires move again.

He caught a redhead moving through the rows with a thermos and a small basket. He smiled at Lily. She was starting to show with the next Potter that he would probably fall in love with as well.

"Morning, Lily. Where's Harry?" he asked, thankfully taking the thermos of tea and looking in the basket to see more of a French breakfast with some fruit, half a baguette and cheese, but also with clotted cream and orange marmalade. "You're a peach."

Lily laughed. "Don't let James hear that, he might get jealous. Harry is with Andi and Dora having his breakfast. How is it going here?" she enquired.

Sirius winked at her. "James did get the prettiest flower in our year. OI! I didn't say anything bad," he said ducking her hand to his head.

"We need to find you a girl so you stop flirting with me and your cousin," she told him.

Sirius shrugged. "Once I know you and everyone here is safe, I'll consider it."

"You know they have rounded up everyone we know about it," Lily replied.

"Not Peter yet," Sirius said with a scowl. "Things here are going well. Elie thinks all the grapes will be saved and I get to smash the grapes in a few weeks when they take in the winter crop." He ended with a smile.

Lily frowned. "I got another letter from Severus. He's turned himself in. He's asked if I will go and testify for him about his warning to us."

Sirius frowned. He wanted to kill Peter. Up until late October he wanted to do the same to Snivellus… now, Sirius felt like he owed a debt to the man. They left England because of his warning. Sirius just couldn't get over the years of animosity between the two of them, nor could he ignore the man had finally come around…

"What does James think?" Sirius asked, finding a rock to sit on and start spreading a generous helping of the clotted cream and marmalade on the baguette.

Lily watched the elves. "He still doesn't like him, but he saved us. He feels we owe him. I think he's honestly sorry for what he did." She wrapped the thick shawl around her as a cool breeze came down from the mountains. A few lazy snowflakes fell from a thick cloud as the storm looked to be breaking up further down slope with the sun shining on Toulouse in the distance.

"When is his trial?" Sirius took a big bite out of the baguette.

"Next week. For all the magic they have, I'm surprised the house elves use such primitive methods," she mused as she watched the elves moving through the vineyard.

"They say the grapes grow better without magic. They only do mild heating charms on the soil and a few potions to keep the vines healthy and growing year-round," Sirius told her.

She gave him an amused look. "Really? I haven't had much time to talk with them yet. Oh, I hear your," she said, her hand going to her growing belly. At five months now it was obvious that Lily was expecting.

"Is he dancing in you again?" he asked around a mouth full of food. He took the thermos and was glad to smell a rich breakfast tea.

"She is dancing in me," Lily said with a smile. It wasn't long for her to become pensive. "Did we do the right thing?"

Sirius chewed slowly before swallowing. "If you mean leave Britain, yeah, I think we did."

She gave him a curious look. "You sound more pensive than usual."

Sirius shrugged before drinking more tea. "Death, betrayal and being outside will do that to you."

Lily laughed. "You are so full of it."

He grinned. "You know me. But honestly, you and James have been happier the last few months. I don't see you looking over your shoulder all the time. Besides, Harry is worth it, as is that little guy in you," he said with a cheeky smile.

"We aren't naming you godfather again. You're already corrupting my son," she told him with a finger pointing at him.

His grin grew. "I can still corrupt him. I need a whole army of Potters to make into the next Marauders."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm going back to the house before you start on this one," she warned him as she put her hands over her stomach.

As she walked away, Sirius called out, "Hey, Lily. We did the right thing," he told her when she turned. After a short nod, she turned around.

As he ate the rest of his breakfast, he thought about what she had said. He had changed. He had been changing before they had left. He didn't have as much anger and really didn't want to look over his shoulder and become as paranoid as Madeye.

He also may like a woman. See how Lily and James got along he found he was a little jealous of his brother at times.

He ate a little slower as he ate, before getting back to the help the elves as the storm pulled out and sun came over the vineyard.

-oOo-

January 28, 1982

London, England

James was still unsure of this. He was sure that all the most dangerous Death Eaters had been caught, but there were still at least fifteen on the run, including some of Voldemort's inner circle. The Carrows came to mind as James looked around the packed courtroom. It was a circular room with a cage in the centre and papers all over the floor as most trials were being ram shot through.

He was glad they had missed the excitement two weeks when Barty Jr had been named by Karkaroff. Now, instead of Barty Sr overseeing the trials a barrister he didn't know was. The young woman was making a name for herself, especially when she had sent Lucius Malfoy to Azkaban for five years and levied a fine that should just about pauper the house. If Narcissa wasn't just a little witch most of the time when he was growing up, he might feel for her and their young son.

Lily was bouncing her leg. She had never been into a courtroom like this.

Sirius had stayed with Harry while his new partner, Jean-Paul, had accompanied him to make sure his Lily-flower would be protected. In just a few weeks James had learned almost as much from this man as he had the grizzled Master Auror sitting across from them today. Moody was sporting a few more scars and he hadn't had the eye the last James had seen him.

He put a hand on Lily's leg to stop her. "It will be alright, Lils."

She started to chew on her lip. "James, I have seen him for years. The last time we really talked I told him to go with his friends. We know who they were. Why did he help us?"

He shook his head. "I don't know, but Sniv… Severus saved our lives, Harry and the little one that is growing in you. I think he needs to go to Azkaban, but we owe him."

Lily frowned. "What about the time you saved him sixth year?"

He frowned this time. "He should never have been there. I still owe Sirius for that one. He didn't owe us anything and as far as I know we never crossed wands, so I am willing to forgive, but he is still a criminal."

Jean-Paul just watched the proceedings.

When the person before them was lowered into the floor screaming and yelling about how their Lord would come back, Lily started to bounce her leg again. When Severus was raised into the room, her leg went even faster.

"Is that him?" Jean-Paul enquired.

James nodded. The man didn't look as healthy as he had the last time he had seen his old school rival. The man's hair was a little longer, greasy looking, as though he hadn't showered in weeks, and his skin looked sallow.

A sharp crack from a wand silenced everyone. "This is the trial of the Ministry of Magic versus Severus Tobias Snape. Proceedings to be presided over by Undersecretary Roberta Wood. Is the defendant present?"

"My client is here," a man said from the floor. There was a pile of paperwork around the court appointed barrister.

"Scribe, read the charges," Undersecretary Wood ordered.

"Severus Tobias Snape is charged with five counts of muggle baiting, four counts of aggravated assault, sixteen charges of using the Unforgivable curse Cruciatus and one count of the use of Imperious on Tabitha Cartwright," the scribe said.

"How does your client plead?"

"Guilty to all charges except the Imperious curse. Veritaserum questioning did not confirm that charge," the barrister said.

"Your client does understand that each use of the Cruciatus is a minimum one year?"

"My client does," the man said looking at some parchments. "My client has a few people to speak on his behalf to prove he has turned a leaf. He has also provided information to the DMLE that has been invaluable in the last few weeks. Given that Mr Snape never killed anyone, I would ask for leniency."

Undersecretary Wood looked to her solicitor. This woman was much more even keel and wasn't on a witch hunt like Bary had been. The Ministry's solicitor nodded. "Mr Snape has provided credible evidence and information that has led to several arrest. At this time the information will remain sealed as the DMLE cannot confirm if they are still acting on the information. It is the recommendation to listen to the character witness and consider leniency."

"Very well. Does the Wizengamot vote to accept the pleas and evidence, or shall a full trial be called?" Undersecretary Wood asked the thirteen members in the chamber. The vote quickly accepted Sniv… Severus' plea.

"Who is the character witness you would like to call?" Undersecretary Wood asked.

"We would like to call Lily Potter," the barrister said.

Murmurs rippled through the courtroom. Even though he had been all over the French papers lately, no one had seen them in England for almost three months. Thus, when she stood and pulled the hood of her cloak back James was on high alert.

Moody didn't look surprised, but the older man next to him did.

In the packed courtroom it was hard for her to get down to the court floor. An Auror approached her. James was scanning everywhere. Things had still been unsettled and he didn't want another situation like happened with Crouch where he fought his incarceration and two people died.

Jean-Paul looked to be doing the same. James was thankful for the Senior Auror.

Lily swore on the court stone.

"Mrs Potter," Undersecretary Wood said. He noticed Severus flinch a little at that name. "You have offered to provide the court a character witness testimony. What would you tell the Wizengamot?"

She took the parchment out of her pocket. "Severus Snape and I grew up in the same town. We were friends until he decided to associate with those that became Death Eaters, and I chose to fight against them. I can not speak for what he did while following He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Names, but I can speak for the kind boy he was and the friends he once was. I can also speak to his change of heart."

There was some muttering around the court.

"Thanks to this man, my family was warned that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was after us and that Peter Pettigrew had betrayed our confidence," Lily said.

Dumbledore stood up. "I have already given evidence to this court about Peter Pettigrew."

Lily had a brief look of rage on her face as she turned to Dumbledore. "Peter Pettigrew was out secret keeper, the one we trusted to protect us and our son."

Dumbledore looked a little offset at this. The court grew loud enough that the Undersecretary had to quiet it. "Mrs Potter, I know this is about Severus Snape, but you are telling us that Peter Pettigrew betrayed a solemn Oath Keeper promise?"

"Peter Pettigrew has repented and provided useful information," Dumbledore stated.

"It is a crime to betray an Oath Keeper promise willingly," Undersecretary Wood stated. "Bailiff, issue a warrant to have Peter Pettigrew remanded and questioned."

"Theresa, you are making a mistake with this. Peter still has information we need," Dumbledore told her.

"Peter Pettigrew deserves to be kissed by a dementor for what he did," Lily said heatedly. James was watching his fiery redhead. She looked ready to go to war with the man that they had all trusted. James wanted the man's head on a spit as well and couldn't understand why Dumbledore would be trying to protect the man?

"Chief Warlock, you decided not to oversee these trials. New evidence has come to light that needs investigating. Bailiff, if you please. Now, Mrs Potter, about Severus Snape. You said he warned you about the Dark Lord coming for your family?"

Lily cast a glare at Dumbledore before turning back to the Head Judge. "I have a letter from Severus Snape warning us. If an Auror would like to check, you should find it has the same magical signature as the man next to me."

Severus met her eyes. They looked haunted and sad.

James looked away. Dumbledore was sitting with is serene face, but he could tell the man wasn't pleased. After an Auror verified that he magic in the ink was the same as Snape's, the letter was handed to the Undersecretary.

After reading it, the woman said, "Who is the rat?"

"Peter Pettigrew. He is an unregistered animagus. A common brown rat," Lily said.

Dumbledore was on his feet again. "That is information that could harm the defendant. I demand that be kept confidential," Dumbledore stated.

Undersecretary Wood looked at the man. "Peter Pettigrew is not on trial yet. I don't see how this harms the case of Severus Snape. Would you care to explain?"

Dumbledore pursed his lips. "It exposes information that is better kept quiet."

"I disagree. Do you have anything else to add, Mrs Potter?" the woman queried.

"Only that I think this note was an action of a man trying to make right what he had done wrong. If he had been with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named I would have expected him to show up with his Dark Lord to kill us, not warn us. I think Severus Snape can be a good man, but was led astray," she said. James saw her meet Severus eyes. The man didn't have any of the arrogance he used to have. He looked broken. James had never felt anything but contempt for the man, but after him saving his family, he actually felt a little sad for the man. Lily had once confided him that Snape didn't have an easy life growing up. Perhaps that was why he had turned out the way he had, but the man honestly looked contrite. James didn't think it an act.

"Thank you, Mrs Potter. If the Defence Barrister has anything else, we will hear it now. Otherwise, I would conference with the Wizengamot members for a few," Undersecretary Wood stated.

Dumbledore didn't say anything else, but he had eyes on Lily, and it made James uncomfortable. He leaned over to Jean-Paul to whisper, "Can you hold everyone off if I need to make it to Lily?"

"My wand is at your call," the man said confidently. It calmed James some.

Lily made her way back to them, not raising her hood this time. She didn't look directly at Dumbledore. A tap on his leg by her had him relax more.

The Wizengamot members looked to be having a heated conversation behind the wards that blocked all sound. They waited almost twenty minutes before the Undersecretary turned back to the room.

"The Wizengamot has taken a vote. Severus Snape, this court has found that you are guilty of all crimes you have admitted too. Without proper evidence, you are found not guilty of using the imperious curse. Of those crimes you are convicted of, you are to serve a mandatory twenty years in Azkaban on the high security ward," the woman said.

Severus bowed his head. Lily took in a sharp breath next to him.

"Given your character witness and several other sworn affidavits of people that said you saved them, this court has decided to show you leniency. You are to serve two years in the Lower Security ward of Azkaban. Two months of that time will be commuted for time already served. After that, this board will allow you to be on parole for five years. If you commit no crime and show you are an upstanding citizen then your record will be expunged," Undersecretary Wood said before closing the folder before her.

-oOo-

Chapter 2

-oOo-

January 29, 1982

Paris, France

James was writing out his report of the arrest he had made last night. He was on a night shift for the next few weeks with Jean-Paul as they were hunting down leads on a witch that had stolen some family artifacts. The family wouldn't tell them what the artifacts did, but it didn't sound like it was anything too dangerous.

He was about done when he felt someone come to the opening of his cubicle. "Just a moment," James told the person.

"You know I don't know French," a familiar voice said.

James pressed his quill hard into the parchment. The tip broke and a large splotch wetted the page. He turned to look up into the dull green eyes of one of their best friends… well, someone he thought was his best friend… "Remus," he greeted in a not so cordial tone.

Remus gave him an easy grin, though the man looked haggard and uneasy. "Hey, Prongs. How are you doing?"

James swivels his chair and leaned back in it. "Depends. Why are you here? We tried to get hold of you months ago."

Remus rubbed the back of his neck. For someone that was almost twenty-two, he looked closer to thirty. Being a werewolf hadn't been easy on the man and running with the packs for the last two years hadn't looked to ease that hard life. "Dumbledore finally recalled me from the packs now that we know they aren't going to go wild. Talking of which, why are you in France? And where is Padfoot? I've never seen you without him."

James frowned. He looked around, not really wanting to have this conversation in the middle of his office. "Give me a moment," James told him. Going into Jean-Paul's office he said, "Jean-Paul, can I get that report to you in a few hours? An old friend just showed up and I need to talk with him."

The man looked up from the report he was writing. After a moment the man nodded. "As long as I have it by tomorrow. Take the rest of the day off. I want you back here by ten tonight. Oh, and James," Jean-Paul called as he was going to walk out. James turned and nodded at the man. "My wife, Apolline, would like to meet you and your family. Are you busy next Saturday?"

"I'll ask Lily, but we don't really have anything on our schedules that I know of. You know my son is only a year and a half old, right?"

The man smiled. "My youngest is about the same. It would do good for her to have a friend. You can meet both my girls."

"I look forward to it. I'll let you know what Lily says later."

James grabbed his normal cloak and left his dark blue Auror robes in his cubicle. Remus followed, catching up to walk in step with him. They went up the stairs to the Magical Quarter. Remus looked around. "This is much larger than Diagon Alley."

"It's nice here, Moony. The French don't care about blood or creature status like back in Britain," James told him.

"You didn't call it home," Remus pointed out right away.

James blinked a time or two. "Home is where Lily and Harry are. That is all I need," he told his friend, not feeling the need to protect a place that had brought him nothing but pain. The war had cost them all much. All that was left of his family was south of here. He would have considered Remus part of his family, but the man had sunk into the packs so far that they suspected he was the traitor. James still wasn't convinced he wasn't, his faith in people he trusted implicitly now shaken.

"And where are they? I found it worrying when I went to Godric's Hollow and found you weren't there," Remus told him.

James steered them towards a nice restaurant in the third block. "They are safe right now. I'm selling the house in Godric's Hollow and the lands left around the old manor. We are staying here," James told him.

Remus frowned. "Why would you do that? What about everything back home? All the people you are leaving behind? You are needed back home. Dumbledore says that you and Sirius should take up your seats. It could really help us right now."

James had his own frown. "Yes, Dumbledore has been trying to contact us for months. I've told him we're done. Sirius has decided not to go back to the Aurors and Lily is expecting, Moony. I don't want her or Harry in danger."

Remus looked surprised. A small grin came onto his face. "I remember thinking you mental when Lily was pregnant just outside of Hogwarts, and now you are going to have two?"

James gave an easy smile back. "Yeah. I know. I must be barking mad, but I can't wait. Lils is convinced it's going to be a girl."

"And if it is?" Remus enquired.

"Then I hope she is as beautiful as her mother and then I'll have to make sure Harry keeps all the boys away from her," he replied.

Remus laughed. "That wouldn't have stopped you going after Lily."

"No, but we were destined from the moment I met her," he said back good naturedly.

Remus chuckled while shaking his head.

James opened the door to the small restaurant. It was still early in the day, but this one was open twenty-four hours a day and often frequented by the Aurors and worked of the wizarding hospital as well. Half the tables were full.

They sat down and James ordered breakfast for them. When two small cups of cappuccino were place before them, James asked, "How have you been, Moony?"

Remus rubbed his face before leaning back in the chair. "It's been rough. The Death Eaters got Fenrir Greyback and the packs that follow him into a right tizzy. I've had to see almost a dozen of the ones I had convinced to sit out be killed. Even though the war is winding down, the werewolves are still wound up. Fenrir wants to revolt while the Ministry is still weak. I can't stop him, James."

James had heard of the issues. "How many do you have that will sit it out still?"

"A few dozen. Just Fenrir has been able to get most of the werewolves in Britain on his side and some here on the continent are coming over. It's going to come to a head soon," Remus told him.

Listening to his friend had James knowing that Remus was still the same placid man he knew. "You can get out of there and move here, Moony. France doesn't have the same restrictive laws. You could get a real job and settle down. Maybe find a girl. Let all the purebloods and everyone that made the mess back in Britain deal with it."

Remus looked at him incredulously. "What do you mean let everyone deal with the mess? Prongs, you are a lord in the Wizengamot. You should be back there right now. You have a responsibility to ensure things get better. And if I remember, you are a pureblood as well."

"I don't owe them anything, Remus. I never took up my family's spot on the Wizengamot and don't intend to. It's mostly corrupt idiots that can't see their noses on their face. No one cares that the last eighteen generations of my family were pureblood here. Lily can walk down a street without being called mudblood and the only people that have tried to kill me so far are the criminals I have arrested. What do I owe Britain when it was this war that cost me my parents, Lily's parents and when people I thought friends, family even, have betrayed us? What do I owe that country?" James said a little harshly. Three months away would give anyone a different perspective.

"Prongs, your family has been one of the most prominent families for generations. Your grandfather was Minister. Don't you think you should honour that? Your parents fought against the rise of the Death Eaters. Dumbledore says that now is the time to make our stand. We can make a real change," Remus told him.

James couldn't keep the anger off his face. "My grandfather was Minister for two terms. During that time, he was blocked for any reform he tried. My parents, Remus, died in their own home. They were in their home! You-Know-Who himself was there to eliminate them because we were standing against him. What do I owe a country that blocked their Floo and Aurors didn't show up for more than three hours after they got the message? No, my family is safe here and we are staying."

Remus looked a little down cast. "I didn't mean anything bad about your parents, Prongs. Fleamont and Euphemia were some of the few that accepted who I am, but you are running away. Where is the courage to defend what you love? Dumbledore said he was disappointed to find out you had run. I don't get you. The James Potter I knew wouldn't have ever given up."

"You have barely been around much for almost two years now, Remus. What do you know about family? I have a young son and another on the way. And what the bloody hell does Dumbledore have to do with all this? Yes, I ran, but I am no coward. When you finally have a family you may understand my decision," he said, anger colouring his words.

Remus paled some. James knew Remus opinion on family and that he never wanted to have a child go through what he had growing up. He also knew that Remus hadn't been around at Dumbledore's prodding for Remus to run with the packs. He had hit the man low, but he felt Remus had done the same to him.

Remus just about growled when he responded. "You don't have any clue what it is like to be a werewolf, Prongs. I will never bring a child into this world, and you know that you are all pack to me. Don't ever say that to me again."

"Then don't call me a coward for protecting my family. I thought you were part of my family, but you can't understand what Sirius and I decided, can you? Remus, we are not going back," James said angrily.

The waiter, who was bringing them their food, turned around to see the angry exchange between his patrons.

"Dumbledore was right. You are a coward. I didn't believe it, but I can see you and Sirius aren't the friends I thought you were," Remus growled back.

"Moony, if you had been around, you would have seen everything we did. More than half our classmates and their families are dead. I went to most of those funerals with Padfoot. You didn't even bother to respond to us. We tried contacting you and only every few months you would suddenly show up for a dinner, not tell us much, then run back to Dumbledore and the packs. I was not about to let my family go the same way. The Dark Lord himself was coming after us. I had crossed wands with him a few times before that and just barely escaped. I don't know if I could have survived a fourth time," James shot back. He was so disgusted with his friend he shot out of his seat. He reached into his pocket and put a few golden half-galleons on the table. "I hope you enjoy the meal. That seems to be the only thing you have wanted from us for a while now."

Remus let out an aggravated sound. "James, stop! You don't understand what I have been through either. It killed me to see the papers and what was going on, but Dumbledore needed me to be where I was."

"No, he didn't, Remus. How many attacks did you really prevent? What information did you pass to Dumbledore that he acted on to do the same? Or did Dumbledore do anything to help those you were able to convince to stay out of the fight?" James glared at his friend. After a moment of silence James scoffed. "I thought so."

"Remus, Sirius and I have been able to talk and have found out a few things. We won't go back to England. I don't fully trust Dumbledore anymore. He's defending Peter and a few others. He wants us for some reason. I get the feeling you came here as his lap dog to convince us to go back. If you decide your loyalties lie with us again, then we can start anew. You were my brother."

"I still am," Remus said.

"Then you would help me protect my family and not try to drag us back there," James said coldly. "I should get back to work."

James walked out of the restaurant as Remus leaned back in his chair looking stricken.

-oOo-

February 6, 1982

Modane, France

Lily had a hand over her stomach as James held Harry. They had taken a portkey to the outskirts of a small town in the French Alps. The courtyard had three houses around an old fountain and a stone bridge leading to a road that went down the mountain to the town in the valley. She could see the town hugged a river and looked to be a train terminal.

"Pretty view," James said as Harry looked all around, his curiosity on overdrive on the cold day.

"It is," she agreed.

The door opened to the house on the right. A man that she recognized as Jean-Paul, James new partner, was in the doorway. A small girl, perhaps about five, came running out. She was laughing as she held out a bubble wand and they trailed behind her. She was in a purple one-piece winter suit with flowing blonde hair, sparkling sapphire blue eyes and a cuteness that would develop into an incredible beauty when she was older.

"Fleur, stay around the fountain," the man said with a smile. He noticed them almost immediately, as did the little girl. Fleur stopped, the bottle of bubble soap sloshing a little as she skidded to a halt. This was the first time she had seen Jean-Paul in person. He was a shorter man that had a muscular frame, dark hair, a goatee and brown eyes. Lily would say he was handsome.

"Bonjour," Fleur said. "Are you Mr and Mrs Potter? Maman has been cooking all day. She says I've been in her hair enough and should play outside for a bit. Papa just gave me a new bubble soap. Look, the bubbles are purple," Fleur said, dipping the bubble wand into her bottle, then blowing into it to make small bubbles that had a purple shine to them.

"They are very pretty," Lily said in slightly broken French. She was catching on quickly, but she hadn't grown up speaking it like James.

"Bonjour, James. Let me introduce my rather precocious daughter. This is Fleur, my older daughter," Jean-Paul said.

Fleur bounced over to them as Harry giggled and reached for the bubbles that were floating over to them. "Bubb'e," Harry said.

"Oui. La bulle," Fleur said to Harry, who clapped and wanted to get down to chase after them.

"Bulle. Bulle," Harry started to say. He was picking up as much French as English.

Fleur giggled. It was a musical sound.

"Not yet," Lily said to him as he struggled in James's arm.

Jean-Paul laughed. "This must be Harry? And Lily?"

"Excuse me, Jean-Paul. This is my son and wife. Lils, this is Jean-Paul. The man that has already gotten me into more trouble than the old mutt," James said playfully.

"Papa doesn't get into trouble. Not unless he upsets maman," Fleur said before blowing more bubbles.

The adults shared a chuckle. Harry was really trying to get out of her husband's arm now as the bubbles floated away. "Come in. You need to meet Apolline, and I can get Gabrielle up from her nap," Jean-Paul said.

"Papa, can't the baby stay out here?" Fleur asked as she followed him in.

"Not right now, my little flower. You can stay out if you want," the man told his daughter.

"I want to play with the baby," she told them.

"He's not a baby," James told her. "He's a toddler. Once I put him down, he will be off."

"Flo'er," Harry said towards the girl. "Flo'er. Bulla!"

"Les bulla," Fleur instructed him as she blew more bubbles before they entered the house.

The house had a homely quality to it that she immediately enjoyed. Photos, paintings, and a few child pictures were on the walls. She could see a happy family in the photos. Jean-Paul was often seen with a woman of striking beauty. In the picture of their wedding, they both looked radiant, though the woman stood a good half-foot over the man. Jean-Paul was shorter than James but had far more muscle mass.

Through a door she saw a comfortable looking sitting room with a few bookcases and a large fireplace. In the back was a dining room to their right and a kitchen to their left. In the kitchen was the woman Lily had seen in the photos working with a house elf.

"I have this, Esme," the woman said, sounding exasperated.

"Esme can finish. Misses has guests," the bossy little elf said. The woman started and turned. Jean-Paul had a smirk on his face. When she turned, Lily could see she was a very shapely woman with the same lighter blonde hair of her daughter, slightly dark blue eyes and a feel as though she should be attracted to her, even though Lily had never felt that way towards another woman.

"Ma belle, let me introduce you to my partner, James Potter, his lovely wife, Lily, and their little ball of energy, Harry," Jean-Paul said.

The woman gave the man an annoyed look while she wiped her hands off on her apron. "Apolline Delacour. Please excuse me, I thought I had a little more time. I'm so glad you are here though. Jean-Paul just can't seem to say enough about you, James."

James gave her a winning smile. He sounded rather smug, even if Lily knew he was joking. "Well, I am pretty good… Oi! At least let them get to know us before you start beating me," James complained after getting a hand to the back of his head.

"Excuse my husband. Sometimes I think he was raised in a barn," she deadpanned.

Apolline laughed. It was a musical laugh that had Lily smiling. "Oui. We do have to suffer such things with such men."

"I am not that bad," Jean-Paul said.

"Papa is in trouble with maman again," Fleur said, giving her father a stern look like her mother. Lily just wanted to start laughing.

"Papa is not in trouble," Jean-Paul told the girl. "Let's get you out of that suit and wake up your sister."

"I wanted to say sorry for being early. We weren't sure if it would be hard or not to find your place," Lily apologized.

Apolline just blew it off. Lily didn't miss her looking at James and Harry as though expecting something. "It is no problem. We were expecting you soon. I like to cook, and Esme likes to throw me out of my own kitchen," she said looking over her shoulder.

Esme had her head held high as she tended the stove. "Dinner will be ready in about an hour. If you want, we can have some café, or tea if you prefer, in the lounge. I'm sure you want to play, don't you," she said to Harry, who giggled when the woman came over. Harry reached for her. He was a generally friendly child, but he never reached like that unless it was them, Sirius, Ted or Andi.

James let Apolline take him. Harry just stared at her for a moment as the woman made little faces, then started to giggle, especially when the woman rubbed her nose against his. Lily took that as a good sign.

Moving into the lounge they found Fleur on a couch with a book in her hands and her bottle of bubble soap on her lap. The little blonde girl was in purple dungaree with a dark blue shirt. She was laying on the couch. "Fleur, please sit up," Apolline told her daughter.

"Yes, maman," she said, moving to sit up.

"Take a seat. I hope you don't mind but Jean-Paul said we should just be like we normally would be today. I have enough of state dinners and associates. He says you don't much by being stuffy."

Lily laughed. "No, James doesn't like stuffy."

"I had enough of that growing up. Jean-Paul has been nice so far and he has a good sense of humour," James said with a smirk.

Apolline rolled her eyes. "He thinks he does. If you laugh at his jokes, I can understand why he likes you so much. Esme will bring us the café and tea in just a few. Now, would you like to play with blocks, little one?" the woman said going over to a shelf and taking out a wooden box full of colourful wood blocks. Harry immediately reached for them. Lily liked this woman.

"B'ue," he said taking a blue one. Lily smiled as the blonde woman emptied the blocks onto a carpet.

"Yes, very good," the woman said in slightly accepted English. "Now can you say, bleu? Le bloc bleu?"

James sat next to her, watching the woman teaching Harry how to speak French. As Harry copied her, Jean-Paul came into the room. He was carrying a small girl who was about Harry's age. She looked tired. Her hand was rubbing her eyes as she lay her head on Jean-Paul's shoulder as he cradled her. Her hair was a darker blonde. The most striking thing about her, though, was when her eyes opened they were a captivating amethyst colour. Lily had never seen eyes that colour before and had a feeling many men would be captivated by them when she got older.

"I see my wife is already occupied. This sleepy one is Gabrielle. Give this little one a few more minutes and she'll be ready to play," Jean-Paul said, taking a seat in the chair next to them.

"Papa, can you read to me?" Fleur asked.

"We have guests, my little flower. I will read to you later," he told her.

Lily patted the cushion next to her. "If you want, I can read to you."

Fleur smiled, moving to jump off the other couch. She took the book and her bubble soap, then climbed up next to her. Jean-Paul chuckled.

"I hope you don't mind such a casual day, but I figured we needed a down day after the last month," Jean-Paul said to James.

"Not at all. I really don't like politics or being all stuffy, as your wife said," James answered.

Jean-Paul laughed. "Yes, it is required to move up in the department and ministry. We have hosted many of my bosses or others. It is nice to just have some down time and we don't often have people over that could be friends."

Lily was half listening as she read to the little blonde girl who was sitting primly on the sofa. She was pointing out the different animals and creatures that the book was talking about and telling her all she knew about each one.

James had made a face at Jean-Paul. "Yes, I have noticed the politics around the office. I suppose I need to start playing the game?"

"If you want to move up," Jean-Paul told him. "I have had you on some very high-profile cases that my boss wasn't too happy with, but you have shown that the reputation you had in Britain is not just hype in the papers. Do you want to move up?"

She cast a look to James as Fleur was talking about unicorns. The girl was very happy to be getting the attention. She knew this was his calling but didn't always like him being so much in the thick of danger.

"I think that would be nice in time," James said cautiously. "I am still young and was only made a full Auror less than two years ago. I know I have to put in my time."

Jean-Paul rocked his head. "Maybe."

"Jean-Paul, you said you wouldn't talk shop today," Apolline said. She had gotten up to pick up Gabrielle. The small girl was starting to look more curious, watching Fleur and her as they read the book.

"This is important, ma chere. James, I have been set to make Master Auror next year. When my position opens up, I can recommend my replacement," Jean-Paul told him.

James regarded Jean-Paul. Esme came into the room with a tray holding a coffee carafe, a tea pot, a few coffee and tea cups, milk, sugar and some biscuits. She put the tray down before James replied. "How many would I be jumping over, and would I be in the field as much?"

"That is up to you. As a Senior Auror you will get to decide what missions you want and will be in charge of a group. Right now, you are the only one I have, but that is only because that is the tradition before someone becomes a Master Auror. I have been involved much more in the management of the department than direct oversight for the last year or two," Jean-Paul told him. "And you would be jumping over a few, but I don't see any of them being as skilled or such a leader as you are. You do know that you ran the last two briefings in the last raids?"

Lily was momentarily distracted from Fleur and the two men. Apolline walked away to sit with Harry. Gabrielle was in her lap. Harry looking at the small girl. What had distracted her was the feel of magic. Harry had already had a few cases of accidental magic and she had come to know what it felt like before he had one of his tantrums or episodes. What got her was the feel of another magic.

Harry held up a red bloc. "Le bloc rou'e", he said as though offering it to her.

The small girl lifted her hand and the bloc slowly drifted through the air. It wasn't just Harry. She could feel both of them using their magic. Gabrielle took the block out of the air and then giggled, then squealed happily before banging it on Apolline's knee.

By the look on Apolline's face she was just as shocked as Lily.

"Bloody hell," James softly cursed from next to her.

"James, language," Lily snapped without thinking.

"Did they just hover that block between each other?" Jean-Paul questioned.

Apolline looked to her husband, a little bit of fear and wonder equally on her face. "You know what this may mean."

"I don't know," Lily said, looking between them. She had never heard of two children doing that at such a young age. Severus had taught her how to start harnessing her magic when she was about nine, but they had never worked together like that, and she never felt her magic reach out between them like she just had.

Jean-Paul nodded. "You should know, my wife and daughters are veela. I can see that you are not affected, but we live out here due to my wife's powers. Most men, anyone attracted to women, are often affected and make living in highly populated areas difficult."

James took in a sharp breath. Lily looked a little confused. She had heard of veela, but never investigated them. She had always enjoyed potions, charms and arithmancy more than creature studies. James seemed to understand something she didn't though.

Harry had started to stack up some blocks and Gabrielle was squirming to get out of her mother's arms. When she did, the girl stood up and walked over to Harry. She proudly held the block towards Harry before bagging it into the small stack. It toppled over and the two toddlers started to giggle and talk to each other.

"James, what is going on?" she asked.

Apolline turned to look at the two.

"Is it true about veela and their mates?" James asked.

Apolline sighed. "Veela usually mate for life. Yes, we can be promiscuous and are creatures of desire and are very sexual when we come of age, but we are also attracted to great power and, if accepted, will be very dedicated to that one person. Jean-Paul and I met when he had to come to the colony I lived in not far from here. I could feel my attraction to him. So could several of my sisters. I won him and he accepted me. Your son is powerful. That was the first accidental magic that Gabrielle has done."

Lily looked wide eyed at the two. Harry was only eighteen months old. "How old is Gabrielle?"

"Seventeen months. She was born in late August. Harry is eighteen months?" Apolline asked.

"Yes. Late July," Lily said.

"Aunt Lily, will you read more to me?" Fleur asked. She didn't mean to ignore the girl, but this was a life changing moment.

There was a small silence. "James, perhaps we should go upstairs to my study? I think we have more to talk about."

Lily's mind was already racing at what she was hearing and seeing. Harry gave Gabrielle more blocks and she knocked them over, both of them squealing in joy. As her mind clicked, she turned to James, who had his eyes closed. "You better not be thinking of what I think you are thinking," she said hotly to both men.

"Lily, you saw what happened," James said.

"James Fleamont Potter, if you dare think of betrothing our eighteen-month-old son you better be expecting to spend the next ten years on the couch," she said in a dangerous tone.

"Lily," Apolline said. She whipped her head around. Both men looked a little cowed at her building temper. The woman's dark blue eyes met hers. "This is not something I would agree with, but you don't understand what it is to be veela. Unless you would like to separate them now, I can assure you that magic will find a way to let them decide if they want this. I am not as young as you may think. Veela age much slower than witches do, until they find their true mate. Some never do. Gabrielle will reach her sexual maturity around fifteen, then stop aging on the outside around twenty-one. She will stay that way for centuries if she doesn't find her mate. Fleur will have the same fate. That is why we tend to live in communes away from wizards and muggles, only coming out every few years to see if we can find our mate. As much as we are sexual objects, not all of us embrace that side of who we are. If Gabrielle has the chance to live a normal life, I will give just about anything I can for that."

Lily regarded the woman, her anger subsiding some to see the pleading and sadness in the woman's eyes. Everyone was silent while she worked things out in her head. She would typically rage as she worked through her issues but seeing Harry and Gabrielle playing and trying to talk with each other, along with Apolline's admission, she was trying to think.

"How old are you Apolline?" she asked. She had thought the woman was in her early thirties and had fallen for the older Jean-Paul.

"I will turn one-hundred and eighty-four on the spring solstice. It can be a lonely life for veela. I do not want that for my daughter," the woman told her. "Now that I have found Jean-Paul, I will age slower than a witch, probably outlasting my love by twenty years now. Not the two or three centuries that would be normal for my kind."

Lily put a hand over her mouth. The woman was older than Albus Dumbledore, which was one of the oldest wizards she had ever met. Probably only the Flammels and a hand full of other witches or wizards were older.

James put a hand on her leg. "Lils, I know I said I would never do this, but I think this is different. I know some about veela and didn't realize the tingle and slight pull I had towards Apolline was that. I think I am immune to her powers either because of my occlumency training or the Potter magic that makes us more resistant to mind control magics. I do know, though, that if children show a natural attraction like that, that you shouldn't ignore it."

She turned to look at her husband. "Is this a pureblood thing?"

He gave her a small smile. "No, but it is a belief among Purebloods, and you felt the magic. That wasn't just two children playing and reacting to each other. That was directed magic between two that have a natural affinity."

"We call it the song," Apolline said.

"I can tell you t'at the link I share wit' my wife is one of the most precious, and intimate, magics I 'ave ever experienced. I would not deny one of my daughters this potential," Jean-Paul said. His English was far more accented than Apolline's.

"We leave ways to break a betrothal, but magic clearly thinks these two could be a match," James said.

Fleur looked to her maman. "Maman, I don't understand," Fleur said.

"In a moment, little flower," Apolline said easily switching between French and English. "Lily, we don't need to bind them, nor even let them know of this until they are older, but the potential that Gabrielle does not need to go long without someone that is compatible, spending years trying to find the right man and feeling the fire burn in you to sate your needs with anyone that you find attractive would be one of my greatest desires for my daughter. Both my daughters."

Lily looked between Apolline, James and Jean-Paul. Then she looked at the giggling Gabrielle as Harry kept piling blocks in her lap, telling her all the colours he knew.

"God, why did I have to be a witch?" she asked no one in particular.

"Because you are the most brilliant one of our age and if it hadn't been for you, then I would probably be in jail form the pranks we used to pull," James said.

She gave a nervous laugh. "Most likely," she agreed.

Jean-Paul and Apolline waited far more patiently than Lily would have in this situation. "Lils, I promise I won't lock him into anything, but if they have a chance, this will be the best for them," James told her.

She let out a long sigh. "I swear, if you don't leave them an easy way out, you will sleep on the couch for the next ten years."

He gave her a cheeky grin. "I'm sure I'll do something to make that happen no matter what."

She rolled her eyes at him. "I'm sure too."

"Harry, green eyes," Gabrielle shouted as she suddenly grabbed his face. Harry giggled and then started to repeat, "Yeux verts! Yeux verts!"

She sighed again as the men got up. The thankful look in Apolline's blue eyes had her smiling at the woman. Fleur tapped her leg. "Aunt Lily, will you read again?"

"Where did we leave off, Fleur?" she replied, trying to concentrate on the small girl.

-oOo-

February 14, 1982

St Gaudens, France

Sirius, needing to get off the vineyard today, was down in the town of St Gaudens. It was the largest town near the vineyard, but still a good twenty kilometres away. Since he didn't really know where he was going, so he had driven his motorcycle into town...

Outside of meeting the Delacours last weekend, he hadn't interacted with any other magicals besides his family for months now. Lily had introduced him to the Muggle world when still in Hogwarts and would often disappear into it. He found it nice that he didn't feel like he was looking over his shoulder for someone to jump out and try to kill him.

The Troubles, as the Muggles were calling it back in Britain, weren't even an echo here.

Feeling a little peckish, he walked into a small restaurant that looked to be winding down after the lunch crowd. That was one thing he was still getting used too. These areas were more provincial and took their time to eat and enjoy life most of the time. It wasn't as busy or fast paced as back in London.

It was a pace of life he was enjoying, especially as the elves had let him help them. Tending the vines and making the wine was something he never though he would like, especially with how he had run from Herbology as soon as he had gotten his NEWT, but this was different. The plants didn't try to bite, grope or strangle him. There were no poisonous bubers or pustules or spines. You could eat the fruit without blowing up like a giant blueberry. He still remembered what happened to Baruka Salt third year when her fellow Hufflepuffs had dared her to eat the berry from the Blue Night bush. He heard she had to be squeezed of the juices before Madam Pomfrey could heal her, and it had taken three weeks for all her skin to pull back properly.

Though, having melons the size of an auto tire did sound appealing if they were full…

He shuttered. Salt had still been a snob to most of them, only really making friends with her fellow Puffs, but she had been known as a hard worker.

He waited at the door for a waitress to come over. His brow rose and he took on a devilish grin to see a cute young woman in black jeans and a blue blouse and apron come over. She had an easy smile below beautiful brown eyes, lush lips that looked a natural rosy colour and a body that he just wanted to run his hands over. It had been a little bit since he had a girl in his bed…

"Bonjour, Monsieur. Table for one or are others joining you?" she asked him.

"Table for two, if you want to join me," he said.

The smile said she was offered something like that multiple times a day. He berated himself. How could be that out of practice already?

"I still have to work, monsieur. Would you like a table by the windows?" she countered.

Sirius grin grew. She was going to play hard to get. He could play this game.

Sitting down she pointed to a chalk board. "That is the menu for the day. Would you like a anything to start?"

"What would you recommend? I'm just moved into the area and wanted to know what the locals liked," she said.

She looked down her nose at him for a moment, nodded, then walked away. Sirius blinked after her heart-shapes behind. He wasn't sure if he had just been shot down or not. After a moment of watching her move behind the counter and getting a glass of what looked like amontillado and another with a pale wine, she put it on a tray and talked softly with whomever was in the kitchen.

Deciding to play the long game with this one, he settled in.

About ten minutes later she came back with a wooden tray that held the two glasses of wine and a small plate with a few olives, slices of cheese and slices of a baguette. "Thank you. Is there anything good to around here? Maybe at night?"

She didn't look impressed. "There is a club on the Rue de Savaii and museum on the boulevard Jean-Bepmale. Otherwise, just cows and farms."

Okay, this was going to be harder than he thought, but, Merlin, she was cute. "Kind of hard to stop and look at the wildlife on my bike. Is this a dance club on the Rue de Savaii?"

Her interest had peaked for a moment there when he mentioned his bike. To bad it was a few streets over at the moment. Actually, he wasn't sure if he remembered where he had parked it, being thankful for the tracking charm he had figured out. "Well, when you grow up on a farm, there is little else to do than stop and look at the wildlife. Let me go check on your meal."

Sirius grinned. He had managed to break through. It was interesting that she had grown up on a farm. They grow them good in the country air.

The rest of meal he didn't manage to make anymore headway. She didn't really want to talk about the farm and suggesting she come see his bike had her turning her nose up at him again.

It was well over an hour later that he walked out frustrated. He had never lost the quaffle on anyone that fine looking. He had at least been able to get a name out of here. "Michelle LaRue," he said. "Michelle LaRue. Michelle. Michelle, ma belle," he started to hum, thinking of a song from one of Lily's records. "Michelle, ma belle. Sont des mots qui vont très bien ensemble. Très bien ensemble."

He hummed the tune as he walked back to his bike, determined to have a late lunch again tomorrow. He would find a way to take the very beautiful Michelle out. "Michelle, ma belle," he said and chuckled to himself. He had never really appreciated that song until now.

The fact she was a Muggle girl was even better as part of why he needed to leave the vineyard today was to escape the fact his grandfather had died, and his mother was livid that he had still been named as the Black heir. Her tirade in the four-page letter had set him off. Now he was going to have to go back to Britain, and wouldn't it just twist her knickers if he showed up with a Muggle girl on his arm.

"Michelle, ma belle. Are words that go very well together."

As he hummed the tune and started his bike, he realized that the last place he would take the woman was near his mother, but it would still twist her knickers when she knew he was with a Muggle.

That thought just whet his appetite for the young woman.

His mind was thinking how to make her his as he rode out of the city before making the bike invisible and flying off the motorway.

-oOo-

Chapter 3

-oOo-

February 18, 1982

Binfield, England

Sirius was standing on the edge of an open hole in the mausoleum the Blacks had made more than a century ago. Three generations of Blacks were interned here. More in the three other mausoleums around the old cemetery. A casket was waiting to be placed in the crypt. A new granite capstone with the name Arcturus Black III, 16 Aug 1901 – 10 Feb 1982 was leaning against the wall.

Around him were what remained of the Blacks and his family. His mother stood on the other side of the casket. Her hateful eyes were glaring at him. He didn't miss how her eyes kept slipping down to his hand where he now wore the ring of the Head-of-house. It was an ostentatious thing he hated, but knowing that his grandfather had wanted him to be heir, he wasn't about to let his mother or the others get the bulk of the fortune, titles or lands. At twenty-two he didn't want this, but it was him or one of the others.

Just behind his mother was Narcissa, Aunt Cassiopeia, Uncle Pollux and his Uncle Cygnus. Behind him stood his brother James, Andromeda, Ted and his Aunt Lucrecia. It couldn't be more apparent where the family line had been drawn.

Sirius was just grateful the goblins had allowed him to claim his rights over the house before the will reading next week. That had been part of why his mother was so upset. She had moved to claim the House of Black the day his grandfather had died and been denied.

A few dozen others were in the mausoleum, including Albus Dumbledore. The man was looking contrite, but Sirius hadn't missed the glances towards them. The faith he once had in the man was shattered after his support of Peter.

They were all silent as the casket was placed into the crypt and the officiator levitated the capstone into place. Sirius rose his wand. As head-of-house, it was his responsibility to see his grandfather off to the next 'Great Adventure'. Just before the capstone was in place a black flame shot from his wand. To prevent any necromantic rituals, it was tradition for all Black's to be burned where they were interned. It was the place where their ashes would rest and their magic returned to Lady Magic.

His mother sniffed as the acrid smell of the casket bursting into flames hit their nose, then the capstone was over the crypt and they were all good to go. His mother, not wanting to make a scene in a place that was supposed to be sacred ground and one of the Blacks' few sacred rules was not to let family politics intrude on the dead.

The other side of his family filed out as he watched the capstone. After a few, Andi put a hand on his shoulder. "Come on, Sirius. You can stay at our place for the night."

"I thought he had cast me out," Sirius said to her.

"Grandpa Arcturus was rather proud of you," she reminded him.

When they stepped out of the mausoleum they were intercepted by Dumbledore. "Sirius, I know this is a sad day, but I could really use a few minutes of yours and James' time."

Sirius' eyes narrowed. "Today is not the day, Headmaster."

"I'm afraid I must insist," Dumbledore told them.

"Insist all you want, Professor Dumbledore, but today is about family," Andi said from next to him. James stepped up.

"Yes, I understand, but the now Lord Black, and the Lord Potter, both have responsibilities that must be taken up and there are pressing matters that must be attended to. I only require a few minutes and then we can meet again in a few days," Dumbledore pressed.

Sirius turned an angry glare to the man. "My grandfather has passed. I am not Lord of anything. I'm not playing your games anymore, Dumbledore. If you need me, talk to my account manager at Gringotts."

"Now, Sirius, where is this anger coming from?" Dumbledore questioned.

He felt a hand on his back push him forward some. He got the message from James. "Albus, leave this alone for now. I don't appreciate you making issues for me at my job. You want to talk, you know where you can find me most of the week. You try to get an ICW Hit Wizard to take me back under a contract again and I will make sure you never see another day."

Dumbledore frowned. "I never sent a contract for you. I simply needed you to respond to a summons by the Wizengamot."

"The wanker pulled his wand on me in the middle of the Auror office and said if I didn't come in he was going to make me under your orders. I don't care about the Wizengamot. Just keep your nose out of my family," James told him coldly.

"I also do not approve of my Aurors to be harassed like that," James new partner said from behind him. Sirius hadn't realized he had shown up.

Dumbledore brow furrowed just a little. "Jean-Paul, it has been a long time since I have met you."

"Yes, since my father passed almost twenty-years back, Mister Dumbledore. The Wizengamot has no right to arrest French citizens using ICW forces. I could put in a complaint of abuse of power," Jean-Paul said.

"That is Headmaster, Head Mudwump or Chief Warlock Dumbledore," the bearded wanker said pulling up to his full height.

"Then it is Senior Auror Delacour. Now, you are interrupting a day of mourning. I thought you had more respect for the dead and living than that?" the man chastised.

Dumbledore bristled at the rebuke. "I can see that emotions are running high today. I will require your presence in a few days time."

They glared at Dumbledore as he turned and walked away.

Sirius huffed. "I just want to see our family finally die out."

"You know you can't do that, Sirius," Andi said. "At one time the House of Black was an honoured and respected house that served out world. Grandfather's sickness the last twenty years has seen the whole house grow sick. You have a chance to heal the wounds. Besides, if you give it up, this will all pass to your mother and then Narcissa's boy."

He scowled. Knowing his mother, she would use what was left of the Black's name and fortune to support another Dark Lord and rescue his 'proper' cousin from the French and get Lucius Malfoy out of Azkaban. Those were all things he couldn't support.

When they walked beyond the boundary of the graveyard, they all apparated back to Andi's and Ted's. It felt a little off that it was only adults there. For months it had been Harry, Dora and Eric around all the time. Lily had stayed back in France with Harry and Andi's kids. When James appeared, he was with Jean-Paul. Sirius nodded to the man in thanks for his help and they were all invited inside for a toast.

After downing a few shots, Sirius turned to Andi. "I'm going to reinstate you and name Eric my heir," Sirius told her.

"You don't need to do that, Sirius. I don't think Ted and I want to move back here," she told him.

"Well, someone needs to live here, otherwise Narcissa's brat will get it and I can't throw them all out without just cause," Sirius said.

"Why not take up the position yourself?" Jean-Paul questioned.

James was frowning as though he was in deep thought. Sirius looked to Jean-Paul. "The Wizengamot is full of corrupt politicians that tied our hands. James, how many times would we arrest someone to have them out the next day and then find them at another crime scene? All it took was a bag of galleons and someone who had just crucioed someone was let out on parole. A new wing at St Mungo's and you were pardoned of all our sins, even if you just killed an entire family."

James swirled the liquor in his glass. "I know, Padfoot, but what if we could change things? I won't take Lily or Harry back, but if we could make this place better? Perhaps make it a place our kids will want to come back to someday? If you don't sit your Black seat it will go to someone else."

Sirius was looking at him with a raised brow. "I thought you said France is your new home?"

Everyone looked to James. "My home is where my family is. My family is in France. If that is where we stay, then so be it. I don't have any other family. If I reject my seat until I am twenty-five then it will be disbanded and given to another family. If you wait until then, one of your other relatives could take it."

"Bloody fuck, James. We both agreed we would never be politicians," Sirius said.

"Sirius, there could be worse things. You only need to live here the week before a Wizengamot meet starts. You wouldn't be the only Lord that would be out of the country most of the year. The Greengrasses and Bulstrodes both run large businesses outside the country. James could do the same. Four weeks a year you would have to live here," Andi said.

"What about you, Andi? Once I reinstate you, you could take up the seat," Sirius replied.

"I am with James on this one," Ted spoke up. "It is safer for Nymphadora and Eric to be in France. Beauxbatons is a fine school and they are both picking up on the language very well."

"So you would sacrifice me instead?" Sirius griped.

"No, but you are the true heir, Sirius. It is your responsibility. I know grandpa taught you all of this," Andi said.

"And then my loving mother beat all his lessons out of me. What is your point?" he growled.

"That we take our seats. Do our duty," James replied.

"What about your job?" Sirius asked after a moment of stunned silence.

"James can be excused for that. It is allowed under our rules. Once he makes Senior Auror he will be much more capable of stepping away, even working from outside the office," Jean-Paul said.

"I've talked with Lily about this. Things are still unstable. As much as we may not support Dumbledore, he needs more votes to counter the old Conservative block. I am not saying that I will back him, but I think it's best for the future," James said.

Sirius gulped. Then he downed the rest of the fire whiskey in his glass. He pointed a finger at James. "It was your bloody idea to leave this circus."

"And I don't intend to change my mind, but we could be part of a fix while making a better life in France," James said before upending his own glass. "Think of it, Padfoot."

James got up and walked outside.

Jean-Paul looked after him. "Is James alright?"

Andi put more fire whiskey into all their glasses. "Grandpa Arcturus was James great uncle. His grandmother was Arcturus sister. The last direct link to his family is gone now. I think this has hit him a little harder than most of us."

"Ah, damn it, Andi. Of course he is thinking of Dorea and his father," Sirius said, chiding himself for not seeing it. He got up, grabbed James's glass and went to follow him out into the yard.

Out in the yard, he found James throwing pebbles into the small pond. He came up to the man and held out the glass. James turned him down. Sirius shrugged and downed what was in his glass and eyed the liquor in James's.

"What are you really thinking, Prongs?" Sirius asked.

James threw a few more pebbles before replying, "My father and grandfather wanted me to take over their seat. Everyone is gone now. I don't see why we should care except that half the arrests and raids that Jean-Paul and I have done have been on Death Eaters or those convicted over here in the last few months. If we can make it so that the Blood Purists can't rise again, then I would be protecting Lily, Harry and my unborn child."

Sirius nodded his head.

James threw more pebbles. "Padfoot, I love being an Auror, but I don't want to fight a war for the rest of our lives. We have a chance to make a change. Four weeks a year then a few days to sit in the chambers."

Sirius smirked, starting to feel better about things. "Are you serious about this, Prongs?"

"Well, you're Sirius," James said with a cheeky grin.

"Bloody dick! Stealing some of my best lines," Sirius retorted, getting a laugh from both men.

"Yes, I'm serious."

Sirius frowned. "Let me think about it."

"Fair enough," James replied before emptying his hand of pebbles.

-oOo-

Same day…

South of Toulouse, France

Having five children in the house was much quieter than Lily had expected it to be. Apolline was sipping at her cappuccino as they enjoyed this respite from the chaotic morning. Harry, Gabrielle and Eric were passed out on the blanket on the floor. The small blond girl was close to Harry, a thumb in her mouth and hugging a stuffed animal of a stag to her. Harry had offered it to her earlier and it hadn't left her hand except for lunch since then. She had a feeling she would need to get a new one for Harry.

Harry had the black dog. Pa'foo almost never went anywhere without Harry and Harry never went anywhere without his Pa'foo. Eric was sprawled out not far away. The three of them had played all morning and fell where they lay shortly after lunch.

From behind a sofa they could hear soft giggling from the older two.

"Do I want to know that they up too?" Lily enquired looking towards the sofa.

"It can't be that bad. They are being quiet," Apolline stated.

"That is what worries me," Lily said. After an initial issue of Dora being shy and Fleur being a little possessive of her bubbles, the two girls had seemed to hit it off.

Apolline waved her off. The woman closed her eyes. "It is peaceful. Let them be."

Lily smiled. This was the second time she had seen the woman and her children since their first meeting her just over a week ago and they seemed to have this easy comradery. "So, you said you are working on your mastery? How is that going?"

"It isn't, right now. I had to leave my benefactor to come here and with this one on the way and Harry and everything, I am months behind in my research. I'm just glad James was able to recover everything for me," Lily told her.

Apolline nodded. "If you need a new benefactor, I can help you locate one. Having charms and arithmancy masters are not easy to come by."

Lily nodded. "I would appreciate that. Now that we are settled, I am finding myself bored some days and have been helping Andi as a legal assistant some."

"That is a waste of your talent if that bauble on your wrist is anything to go by," the woman said.

Lily's eyes widened some. She put her hand over her bracelet. "What do you mean, Apolline?"

The woman opened her eyes. She quirked her brow when Fleur's voice was a little louder. "Can you make your hair look like a rainbow?"

"What I mean," Apolline said sharing a smirk with Lily, "Is the complex protection ward you have on that bracelet. If I am feeling the magic right, it is something protecting Harry and the little one in you."

Lily bit her lip. "How could you know?"

"I may not have been trained like a witch, but I have studied magic. I have also been alive longer than your grandparents' grandparents. I haven't seen magic like that since I was a young girl. It used to be used to tie your blood to a ward that would keep your children alive at the cost of your own," Apolline said in a soft voice.

She spun the bracelet in her hand. "We were being hunted. I wanted Harry to survive."

There was an understanding look from Apolline. One of the girls let out a squeal of delight before they started to giggle again. Lily chuckled. Dora had been having a hard time since coming to France. Her metamorph ability had really taken off after the attack the night they had come here. It was bad enough that they couldn't really let her off the vineyard. Having Fleur here and them getting along was going to be a huge relief to Andi.

"I am not saying you did anything wrong, I was just curious where you learned it and how you made the modifications," Apolline stated.

"I have the arithmantic breakdown and calculations if you want? As for where, that is because I am married to James," Lily answered.

Apolline nodded. "Would you make one for me as well?"

Lily was stunned for a moment. "Apolline, this was more a work of desperation than anything else."

"That may be so, but I would give anything to protect my girls and it is still a dangerous world and our husbands will attract that danger to us. I would rather have the option than not," Apolline told her.

Lily thought about it for a few. Her eyes had wandered to the blankets on the floor. Gabrielle had just rolled over so that her head was resting against Harry's stomach as he lay on his side. The two didn't like to be me separated.

"I can make you one and teach you how to make them, if you want?"

Apolline shook her head. "My daughters will be witches, as well as veela. I am veela and cannot pick up a wand." Lily looked confused and Apolline went on. "My papa was not a wizard. I am veela, but he was a non-magical. I have magic, but the laws don't allow me to use a wand. My daughters… Jean-Paul is a wizard, so they can be witches."

Lily understood and let out a long breath. "I really don't understand how wizards can be so prejudiced. Creatures. Beings. Half-breeds. Half-bloods. Dirty blood. How can that all matter?"

"Control," Apolline said simply. "I have seen it many times. It comes down to the powerful needing control and if you can control something that could be stronger than you, then wouldn't you do the same?"

Lily was about to spit back an emphatic 'NO' when she caught Apolline regarding her. She bit down on her tongue. After a moment, she said, "Is it really just fear?"

"Oui et non. I think it's about trying to control forces that you know are great, powerful and scary. So, fear is part of it. Humans naturally want to dominate the world. It is what they are. Witches and wizards are not much different, they just have learned to dominate in a different way, since letting certain creatures and beings do what they want could be bad, for everyone," Apolline said.

"You mean the non-magicals?"

"That is part of it. You also have the different wants of everyone. Humans want power and stability. They want to know the world they went to bed is the same when they wake up. But when the powerful want more, you get war. Goblins want wealth and to crush their enemies under their foot. There is no peace without someone stronger than the goblins forcing it," Apolline stated.

"You mean wizards?"

"Now. At one time it was the gods, or so my people say," the woman replied.

They were interrupted from their conversation when a blonde girl and rainbow hair girl came rushing up to them. "Maman, we're hungry. Can we have a snack?"

"I want grapes," Dora said. Lily quirked an eyebrow at the girl. She had changed her face to look more like Fleur's. Andi was going to love this later.

"If you go back to being quiet I will get you something," Apolline said getting up.

"I can get that," Lily said, moving to get up. She wasn't the size of a whale yet, but she was starting to feel it.

Apolline put a hand on her shoulder. "Rest. There will be plenty of opportunities to do this in the future."

Lily gave her a thankful look. "On the counter. You can find bowls in the cupboard to the right of the sink."

Dora and Fleur skipped back over to their hiding spot after getting a book from a shelf. Lily smiled to see them. When they disappeared behind the chair again she had a thought to wonder how Sirius and James were doing? She should have gone, but someone had to stay with the kids and James didn't want her endangering the baby.

She felt the little one moving in her and put a hand over her stomach.

James had most likely been right, but she should have been there for him.

She smiled when Apolline hovered a blanket over to the girls and stuck it to the wall while draping it over the chair to make a small tent. It took her a moment to realize the woman had just used wandless magic. The girls were giggling even more as the woman leaned down to give them the grapes.

How powerful were Veela?

She looked towards Gabrielle. Harry was going to be a powerful wizard. That was apparent by his magical outburst at his age. She had a feeling that Fleur and Gabrielle would be powerful themselves.

Apolline gave her a grin as she came to sit back down, as though knowing Lily's thoughts.

-oOo-

March 20, 1982

Hogwarts, Scotland

Albus knew the Potters were in France. He knew James had become an Auror. Nearly three months of high profile cases had plastered the man's image all over the European papers. He had taken in almost as many of the final Death Eaters as Alastor. France was proving such an inhospitable place for the old Pureblood families that they were threatening to cut trade ties and sanction the country through the ICW.

Albus couldn't have that. He felt he still needed the Potters, thus it galled him that he could not find where they lived. Short of a Fidelius, there should have been no possibility of them hiding their whereabouts so completely. Of course, France was more than three times the size of Britain, with almost twice the number of wizards, but that shouldn't be a concern.

Looking at the paper on his desk, he let his lip curl up in frustration. James was on the front cover with Jean-Paul standing just behind him. Somehow the French Auror had gotten his hooks into the Potters and was using them for the fame that Albus had planned.

To be outplayed by a Frog was irking him.

At least today he would finally have his chance to sink his hooks… convince the Potters that it was in their best interests to come back to England.

He just wished the fame that the Longbottoms were getting from the apparent defeat of Voldemort hadn't put the boy out of his control. Five months later and he didn't have either boy and the prophesy was taunting him as he knew Tom wasn't dead yet. What he was and where he was a mystery though.

"Headmaster. James Potter and Sirius Black requesting permission to enter the grounds," the gargoyle over his door said.

"Let them in," Albus replied.

He swept the French paper into his dust bin and then ensured he was ready for this meeting. He had erred, it seemed, in his support of Peter, his control of Remus and a few others things that the old Marauders had found out about. Since Remus trip to France, the man had not gone back to the packs, and had not contacted Albus for anything in weeks. He was afraid he had lost his spy among the werewolves now.

It was almost twenty minutes for the two men to make it to his office. Why they hadn't requested to us his Floo he didn't know. When they walked in, Albus realized he was dealing with two men that were coming into their own. There was nothing of the young boy look that they still had even a year ago.

James Potter was dressed in a nice suit with robes that were cut more like a trench coat. They would be practical and not interfere with his movement in a fight. Albus didn't miss that he moved like a stalking tiger. He had been a very capable wizard before, as witnessed by his ability to hold off Voldemort three times, but he was even more so now. He also didn't look as haggard.

Sirius Black had an easy smirk on his face as though he found this all funny or was about to pull a prank. Given how their group had been while in school, he wouldn't doubt a prank was afoot. The man looked rested and in fashionable muggle clothes with a leather jacket. It gave him a certain bad boy quality that he was certain many would swoon over.

When he offered them to take a seat, they did.

"It is so nice to see you, James and Sirius. You look like your vacation in France has done you wonders, though I understand you're ready to talk about taking up your responsibilities back home," Albus said with a jovial tone.

"We are ready to take up our responsibilities, but I fail to see why that is your concern, Albus," James said.

"Besides, who said anything about moving back?" Sirius asked. "Did you remember talking about that, Prongs?"

James scratched his chin. "Not really. I thought we put in a petition to be considered colonial houses?"

Albus felt off-footed for a moment. "What do you mean, Colonial Houses? The Blacks and Potters have been some of the most prominent houses in Britain for centuries. You can't just declare yourself Colonial Houses."

"I think we can. Sirius and I both have overseas businesses that require us to spend enough time at to manage that we can claim dual citizenship and maintain our House standings here," James said.

Sirius snapped his finger. "Oh, that's right. Remind me we have to go to the Ministry later."

"Sure, Padfoot," James replied.

Albus gave his 'I'm very disappointed' face. "I had thought you had both grown up. This is a child game to not move back to England where your families are."

"My family is wherever my wife, children and others important to me are. That is France," James told him. "Tell me that you didn't just call us here to talk about where we live and matters of our Houses that you don't have any reason to be involved in, Headmaster? Haven't you already messed with our friends and family enough?"

Albus was cursing himself for how serious of a miscalculation he had made in Peter and Remus, or that Severus Snape had taken his own actions instead of following the plan. "I don't know what you are talking about," Albus said.

Sirius snorted. "Peter Pettigrew and Remus Lupin don't ring a bell? What about the prophecy you mentioned? I know that is why James and Lily and the Longbottoms went into hiding. What do you want, Albus?"

Albus felt like whacking both men off the side of their heads, then obliviating them. He wasn't sure that he would be able to get the drop on them. They both had their hands close to their wands and James had been credited with taking down the Lestranges and Carrows now. Neither of them were weak or unskilled.

"We were at war. I didn't know about Peter until he came to me just before you tucked tail and ran, and Remus was needed to know what was going on with the werewolves," he calmly explained.

Neither man looked convinced. "Listen, we aren't the wide-eyed schoolboys that we were when we first joined the Order. Just tell us what you want or we will leave right now," James said in a hard tone.

Albus frowned. "I wanted to talk to you about coming back to Britain and taking up your seats on the Wizengamot. I have a coalition that has been building and having the Potter and Black seats as the core could see us achieve much in the coming meet next week."

Neither said a word, just listened. Yes, they had matured, as much as they were still acting like children about the whole Colonial Seat thing. That would make six of the fifty-three seats as colonial seats. He didn't like not having that many houses not around all the time.

"There will be three seats up for election and two more that will need proxies. With your support, we could install those that our sympathetic to our cause and would make a large contribution to rebuilding our world. There is also some legislation about changing the penalties for using the unforgivable curses and reparations from Houses found guilty of certain crimes. The Ministry could use those funds and your votes would not go unnoticed as helping the Light," Albus said in is grandiose tone. They didn't need all the details. A true politician knew how to spin things.

James and Sirius shared a look. "Who do you want to install and which Houses need proxies?" Sirius questioned.

"The McKinnons and Selwyns will need proxies. I was thinking of suggesting Dedalus Diggle to proxy the McKinnons until Garret is old enough and Arthur Weasley to represent the Selwyns. As for the election of Houses to the Wizengamot, I would recommend Diggory, Brown and Chang," Dumbledore told them.

The two shared a look. "We'll consider it. Is that all?" James asked.

He stifled a sigh. This obviously wasn't going to be much more productive today. "If you would, this contains the brief I gave to the other houses in the alliance to prepare you for Monday. Please review and I expect to have a productive day."

"As do we," Sirius said encouragingly. Albus thought he was making some progress.

-oOo-

March 22, 1982

London, England

The various Lords and Ladies, forty-eight in total, were finding their seats. James and Sirius sat towards the side with Amelia Bones, Alice Longbottom, Grover Greengrass and Emerick Davis. It was an odd group knowing how the Bones had clashed with the Greengrasses and Davis's before, but where someone sat didn't always mean anything. The issue was, this was only the second time the young Bones had taken the seat and she had been a bit of a maverick at the Winter session.

Six houses didn't break his plans, but it could put a kink in things.

Millicent was in the traditional seat behind the podium in the seats on this side of the room. On Wizengamot meeting days the Wizengamot would sit across from the Minister, Chief Warlock and other Ministry heads and staff as a way to show that the two groups were separate from each other.

The talking died down when Millicent banged the gavel that brought the session to order.

He didn't pay much attention to the opening ceremonies until they were at the end of the roll call.

"Today there are several petitions that are presented to this governing body before proceedings are handed over to the Chief Warlock and the Wizengamot is formally called into session," Millicent said.

Albus sat serenely as he waited for the petitions. To avoid any impropriety of the Chief Warlock, who essentially was a Wizengamot member, the Minister would oversee the election of the new houses, then he could take over and appoint the regents with the Wizengamot approval.

"The first petition is for the House of Potter to be recognized as a colonial seat as the houses primary source of income will be the production and import of elven wine and other commodities," the strong, chinned woman said. "If there is no debate, I would move for ratification of this petition."

"The House of Bones has no contest and would ratify the move," Amelia spoke up.

"The House of Greengrass has no contest and would ratify the move," Grover said. The man was older and usually sided with the Traditionalists. His son, Anders, would take over some day, but he had a feeling that Grover would remain for another decade or two.

Albus regarded the small group. James's father had gotten along well with the Greengrasses, but he had never seen James interacting with them before. When Lord Davis stood, Albus had his first inkling that something had gone wrong today.

Thirty-eight houses ratified the petition. Only eight of the ones that Dumbledore had courted objected. This was not supposed to happen this way. When the petition for the Blacks passed, he was getting a hard pit in his stomach, especially to see the smirk on Sirius face. He had handed most of his plans for this session to them believing that they would still be with him. The only thing he hadn't given them was the new proposal to require all heirs of a Wizengamot house to attend Hogwarts. He needed control of the two boys.

A headache was starting to form when the petition for replacing the Malfoys was brought up. "The seat held by the House of Malfoy for the last three generations has been vacated due to conviction and sedition against this body. Petitions have been presented for the seat. Would the Head of House of Diggory, Jugson and Tonks please step forward."

Albus jerked his head slightly to see the three men stand. His eyes fell upon the man in his later twenties with dark brown hair, brown eyes and a congenial face. Theodore Tonks was not anyone he would have suspected to be nominated, nor even have a chance. The man had fled the country after Bellatrix Lestrange… his thoughts slowed for a second… Bellatrix Lestrange attacked his family. His wife was a Black? Andromeda?

He looked back to James and Sirius. Sirius was grinning as he said something to Grover. James was looking around, his face passive. Until now, Albus had always thought James Potter would never be as formidable as his father, but there was the sinking feeling that James had learned more from his father and grandfather than Albus thought.

After almost an hour debate, the vote was called and the House of Tonks was elevated to the Wizengamot. The new Lord Tonks took up his seat next to Sirius.

His heart sank again when the next petition came. "To present for election for the vacated seat of Avery, the Houses of Brown, Travers, Eastwind and Creswell have been presented."

Albus blinked.

Dirk Creswell was a recent graduate of Hogwarts. He only knew the man had been a Hufflepuff. Beyond that, he knew nothing, which meant no one else knew anything about him and it made no sense for this petition. That was until he realized he had graduated the same year as James and Sirius, who adamantly defended the man and who won the seat.

Albus and many of the Conservatives looked besides themselves. Even Millicent and many of the Ministry Heads couldn't understand how two Muggleborn men had just been raised into full Wizengamot seats that would be held in perpetuity until their lines ended or they were stripped of their seats by conviction.

But that was the plan, wasn't it? He didn't know how, but the Marauders had just pulled off the largest prank that Dumbledore had ever seen. The cherry on top was when a third Muggleborn, Dennis Thomas, was inducted into the Wizengamot.

It had taken much longer than thought to induct the new houses, meaning it was lunch time and an hour-long recess was called.

Dumbledore made his way out of the hall. As he walked, his temper was starting to rise. By the time he made it to the Potter office, he was barely containing his anger and magic. The door burst open on James, Sirius, Amelia, Grover, Emerick, Ted, Dirk and Dennis sitting down to a quick lunch.

Dirk and Dennis jumped to their feet, looking like scared schoolboys. The others stayed where they were sitting. Albus had expected to only find James and Sirius in here.

"Ah, Albus, glad to see you. We have some extra sandwiches if you want," Sirius said with a devil may care grin.

"Yes, the chicken salad is quite nice," James added.

"I hope you have a good reason to burst into a Lord's office like that, Chief Warlock?" Grover asked in a cold tone.

Albus knew his emotions flicked across his face before he was able to school himself. "Forgive me, Lord Greengrass. I was a little excited after this morning's momentous election."

"That can be understandable. We are quite giddy ourselves," Sirius replied.

"That still does not give you permission to barge in like this, Chief Warlock. We are having a planning session for this afternoon, so if you would please leave, it would be appreciated," Grover said in a dismissive tone.

Albus let some of his anger show for just a moment. "Yes. I apologize for the intrusion. Lord Potter, Lord Black, I would require a meeting at your earliest convenience," he told them in a tone that would brook no defiance. His magic flared and he saw half the crowd going for their wands.

"I am afraid we will be busy over the next few days and then I will have to get back to my family businesses abroad," James told him.

"Yeah, me too," Sirius said in a petulant tone.

Amelia smirked as though enjoying the show.

"You will find time to have a meeting. Tomorrow morning at seven-thirty in the Chief Warlocks office," he demanded before turning and stalking away. Lesser Ministry workers rushed to get out of his way as he made his way toward the chambers. This new voting block had to be broken…

-oOo-

April 1, 1982

South of Toulouse, France

Andromeda yawned as she walked out of the room with Eric. He had woken up a short bit ago and didn't want to leave her arms. It was a rainy, cool day and he looked like he didn't want to be up, but he had wet himself. She couldn't wait until he was fully trained to go in the toilet. He was getting there, but still a little young.

Living on the Potter's vineyard was nice. The house was large enough for her family, who had the entire first floor on the west wing, while just below them was Lily and James. Sirius had just moved out to a small farmhouse about a kilometre away. She had found it surprising that he had taken to farming with the elves and was now the proud owner of a large orchard and greenhouses.

It was so comfortable living in a house with Lily, James and Harry that she didn't want to move out. Having so much family around was nice, and convenient to have so many easily accessed baby sisters as Ted had finally decided to take a job at a small clinic in Toulouse and was working the night shift and would be able to get his mastery in a year or so. The fact he had more options than just one major hospital, the Ministry or Hogwarts was nice. France was a much larger country with more opportunities.

As she passed Nymphadora's room she decided to peak in on her daughter and her new best friend. Her red-haired girl, at least for last night, and the cute little blonde, had used their puppy dog eyes on Ted and James last night and she found that they would have a guest for the night when she had gotten back from the law firm she was now working at in Paris. James and Sirius were the draw that got her in the door, and the push to have her taking over several other high profile families in the last two months as their Solicitor of note.

At twenty-six she was looking to make partner in a year or two and she couldn't be more pleased.

Opening the door she could make out two lumps on Nymphadora's bed. She smiled. The two girls were thick as thieves… and had been up for over an hour giggling with each other when they had been put to bed a little before eight.

She quietly shut the door as Eric still had his head on her shoulder and was being quiet. She had agreed to work from home today so that Lily could go out in a little bit to meet with a potential mentor to complete her Charms mastery. The Delacours were proving to be good people and Andromeda was finding herself friendly with the veela woman. It helped that none of the men in her life fell for the woman's allure, or their might have been an issue.

She went down the stairs to head towards the kitchen. She would make Eric and her some breakfast before she took out the paperwork she needed to get done today. The house had several house elves that liked to help and was expecting to throw one of them out of the kitchen. She had grown up being waited on hand and foot and didn't like that now. Ted had showed her that the Muggles had good ways of doing things and she liked to cook. Eating something that tasted excellent was even better when she had made it.

Opening the door to the kitchen she heard a small crack. There was a flash and then a whole basket of feathers fell on her head.

Eric then started to cry as the feathers floated around them.

She knew what had happened before the two little devils had jumped out from behind the kitchen island. She heard the giggled before they yelled out in French, "APRIL FOOLS!" before breaking down into peels of laughter as she spit a feather out of her mouth.

She huffed. She knew who had helped the two little hooligans. "SIRIUS AND JAMES!" she bellowed out, making the two six-year-olds laugh harder and Eric hiccup as he cried.

-oOo-

Chapter 4

-oOo-

June 18, 1982

Toulouse, France

James rushed up to the counter of the clinic. He was still in his Auror robes and a little grimy from the bog they had been searching through most of the morning for a suspect in the north of France.

Jean-Paul was moving at a more sedate pace.

"Can I help you, Auror… Potter?" the woman behind the desk asked looking at the name tag on his robes.

"My wife is having a baby and I was told she was here," he told her.

"If you want to go in, you will need to freshen up and change into a hospital overcoat," the woman said to his frantic fidgeting. He had been this nervous when Harry was born, and was not feeling jittery that he wasn't there when the message had come in a few hours ago.

-oOo-

END