Book III: Requiem of Ashes
Chapter I: Interment
Music Theme: Blackbird - The Beatles
Hogwarts - November 1973...
It didn't take much to put Remus to sleep the days after a full-moon, so sitting in Professor Binns history class was true torture. The old ghost never added an ounce of energy to his lecutres and he rarely talked about anything interesting.
"Now turn to chapter forty-three and you'll see we have entered the period of magic known as the Great Transition. This term comes from the Druid's and summarizes the era that wands became the primary source of magic in every wizard household and magic and the method in which method was practiced would become far more scientific than environmental. Now can someone tell me what this era was refferred to as by the Muggles?" The room was silent and Binns looked at his roster and picked a name. "Mr. Lupin?"
Everyone turned and saw Remus slumped over his desk, asleep.
"Mr. Lupin!" The ghost repeated.
Sirius elbowed Remus beside him who shot up in his desk with such urgency that the room chuckled.
"What's wrong, Lupin?" Laughed Avery in the back corner, "Didn't get your nap time today?"
Everyone laughed more and Remus looked beside him to Sirius, still a bit confused. "Just say 'The Dark Ages', mate," Sirius whispered.
"The Dark Ages!" Remus quickly shouted.
"Hmmm. Correct," Professor Binns said. "Can you elaborate sir?"
Remus looked beside him again to Sirius who whispered, "You're going to ruin my reputation as a deadbeat. You know that?" He sighed and looked to Binns and said, "Because it was one of the more illiterate eras of history."
"Illiterate?" James said from his desk behind Sirius. "Sounds like an era Snape was born in."
Everyone laughed and Binns stamped his foot on the floor, but being a ghost it made no noise. "Silence Silence everyone! Five points from Gryffindor Mr. Potter."
"Worth it," James smirked and winked at Snape who just looked back to his notes and burried his nose in it. He felt the gentle hand of his classmate, Lily, on his shoulder. He looked back at the desk behind him and her smile cheered him up.
"Miss Evans?" Binns noticed. "Do you have something to say about the reading?"
"Yes, sir." She sat up straight and went on, "Many of the ancient teachings of the Druids were lost to time because of the lack of records kept during the Dark Ages. More and more people married outside of magical lineage and muggle-born bloodlines made it harder for muggle-born or half-blood wizards to weild magic without a wand or spells. Druids used to be able to take magic from the earth, but nobody has seen such magic since the end of the Dark ages, as the teachings have fallen away - save for a few."
"Well done, Miss Evans! Well done!" Binns rarely was cheery, but Lily's dedication to his homework cheered him to no end.
"Show-off," James grunted.
"And can someone tell me a bit about some of the Druid magic that has remained? Miss Delaney? Your family is still direct Druid descent is it not. What do you know of it?"
"Um," Tabitha choked but felt a nudge from Marlene beside her. "Well, there's um... elemental magic?"
"Like what?" Marlene asked.
"It's when someone can conjure elements of nature without spells or wands and control it. Like fire, earth or water."
Marlene fell silent at that.
"Very good. What other Druid teachings remain?" Nobody spoke up to Binns' prompt. "No? Nobody has heard of the blessing of the Druids?"
"Is that real?" Marlene asked. "My mum always said it was a fairytale."
"Oh it's very real. The legends say that when a child is born and too weak to survive, the Druids may offer their blessing to save it if they feel the child could be of use to mankind. For example, they may bless the child with untold magic that will bring goodness to the world. The child may become a great healer or charm inventor."
"So if it's true then why doesn't everyone just take their sick kid to the Druids?" Peter Pettigrew asked.
"Yea, so Snape's mummy could have taken him to have something done about that nose of his." Sirius added and reached over his shoulder to receive a high-five from James.
Binns cleared his throat angrily, "Would any of the more scholarly inclined students wish to answer that?"
"Because it's seasonal," Lily said. "A Druid can only bless one child in a certain season of time. If they bless too many then balance of nature is broken."
"Correct," Binns nodded.
"Balance? So what?" Marlene said, "They're saving lives. Why be so stingy?"
"Too much of a good thing can lead to a little of a bad thing, Miss McKinnon. You all would be wise to remember that. Life is equally apart of the world as death is." Just then the bells chimed in the clocktower to signify the end of classes and start to the weekend. All students gathered their belongings to quickly and pretended not to hear Binns' homework assignment as they poured into the halls.
Lily rushed ahead beside her friend Snape and her roommates, Tabitha and Marlene trailed behind them as James and his comrades gathered in the hall to plot the rest of their afternoon.
"What a dreadful note to end on," Tabitha muttered.
"What is, Tabs?" Marlene asked.
"That death is equally a part of the world as life is."
"Makes sense," Snape muttered. "Not like people can live forever."
"Can you imagine if someone could?" Marlene asked. "What kind of magic would that be?"
"The dark kind," Lily shuttered. "Nobody is meant to live forever. Even with a druid blessing, if it's even real."
"Binns says it is," Tabitha said. "Even being blessed, I don't think I'd want to live forever. Sometimes I think old Binns got the worst end of the bargain. He's not alive but he's got eternity to spend here."
"Not really," Marlene corrected. "Even ghosts have their time. It may take centuries but the vail to the afterlife opens to them eventually. Lily's right. Only horrid magic can make someone live forever."
"Horrid magic?" James said behind them, startling the group as they'd not heard him or his friends approach. "Talking about the recent comments on Snape's report card, are we?"
"Leave him alone, Potter," Lily snapped as she whirled around to face the boys.
"Why don't you wise up and hang out with less skittish people, Evans," he nodded towards Snape who clutched his books and kept his head down. "More anxious than McKinnon's cat."
"Anxiety isn't something to be laughed at Potter," Tabitha said.
"Rich coming from you, Delaney," Sirius added.
"Sirius," Remus snapped quickly. "Leave them alone. Can we go to dinner please? They've got Sheppards pie tonight and I'm famished."
"Don't worry, Evans," James said, ignoring Remus' request. "Perhaps your friends will come across some druid fairies one day and be blessed with better qualities like yours truly."
"Sometimes I think you've got too much of your so-called 'better qualities', Potter. What was it Binns said? 'Too much of a good thing can lead to a bit of bad?'" She swished a lock of hair off her shoulder and held her head high. "Let's go girls. I want to change out of robes."
"Aw," Sirius gave a pouty face, "Now now, Evans. No need to call Severus a girl. I mean we know he is, but that's beneath you."
"Don't you ever know when shut that mouth," Marlene snapped at him.
"I bet you'd like to find a way to shut it," he winked at her and leaned on the brick wall.
"In your dreams," she wrapped an arm around Tabitha beside her and the two of them walked up the hall.
"Meet you at dinner Sev," Lily said to Snape than followed the girls.
Snape square off momentarily against the boys but Remus whispered to James, "I'm hungry." as if to also request he let the opportunity to torment Snape go and the four of them just brushed passed the Slytherin, Peter giving him an intentional shove as they went.
"One day, Potter..." Snape muttered to himself as they went along the way. "One day I will be the one with a friend who isn't so skittish. And you'll be sorry when you meet them."
August 12th, 1980...
James heard the distant call of his son as he cried. He climbed from his bed with a yawn and walked down the long corridor to where his child slept. The walk seemed longer than usual and it was as if the hall stretched on more with each step. Harry's cries echoed through the tiny country house. But when he arrived in the bedroom, Harry wasn't in his crib. He was wrapped in the arms of a hooded figure.
"No!" James' stomach dropped and he attempted to leap forward but the room turned cold and he froze mid-air as his limbs seized and held him.
"Try to resist me again, Potter," said the hooded figure as he turned slowly. Lightning flashed through the windows to reveal the ghoulish features of Voldemort as he held the crying Harry in his arms. "Defy me again and your child will pay for it!"
"No! Harry! No!" James shouted and the thunder pulled him out of the nightmare. He pulled his glasses from his face to wipe the sweat from it then put them on once more and adjusted his vision to ensure it all had been a dream. His blurry vision focused and he found himself sitting in the groaning and swaying shrieking shack and his eyes quickly went to the window where he saw the morning haze as the sun rose behind the storm clouds outside.
"James?" Sirius called from across the dusty room where he sat on the floor, his back against the wall, twirling his wand in his fingers and resting his exhausted head back but gazing at his friend. "You ok?"
"I... I fell asleep," James said sounding truly disappointed in himself. They'd been to this shack for so many moons before, and never had he been so careless as to fall asleep.
"About an hour ago," Sirius said. "Snuffles over there was already passed out so I knew you'd be ok." He nodded towards the far side of the room where Remus slept, now turned back into a human after a long night of fighting against his werewolf, and Sirius' trench coat draped over him like a blanket. "You managed to fall asleep as a stag and transformed back just now. The deer snores, ya know?"
"Is that why my neck feels so twisted?" James asked as he rubbed it. "Sorry I dozed off. First for everything I guess."
"A sign you're being a good dad," Sirius said. "Getting up to check on Harry all night so Lily can get some extra sleep is pretty selfless of you... I don't even recognize you these days," he chuckled but James didn't even seem to notice the remark and stared down at the floor in thought. "It was the same nightmare again wasn't it?"
James simply nodded and ran his finger across the dusty floor to draw in it.
"With Voldemort?" Sirius asked.
James just nodded again. "It's the same every time."
"I wish you'd talk to someone about this. Having a traumatic experience can sometimes suppress what's really bothering us."
James didn't reply but simply gave a shocked and confused expression to his old friend.
Sirius smirked and said, "I listen to Lily sometimes."
James smiled at that and glanced towards Remus asleep on the floor. "Nice of you to cover him."
"Can't have my Moony catching a cold. He's such a baby when he gets sick and we already have a real baby at the house."
"I think Harry is just what he needs right now," James said. "He's so good with him."
"He's protective of him," Sirius said a bit more sourly than intended. "It's like he doesn't trust me with him and I'm his bloody godfather."
"Can you blame him?" James asked then quickly added. "Sorry..."
"No, you're right," Sirius sighed. "He's got every right to be pissed at me. I just wish he'd bloody punch me or something to let it out so we can move on. But it's more than that. He's changed lately. It's like something else has happened that's made him grow distant. Maybe it was the time he spent at the colony. Did something happen when you went with him to collect his things?"
James thought for a long moment and considered sharing with Sirius that Marlene McKinnon's older brother was found amongst the sanctuary's residence. Sirius had grown awfully protective of Marlene, given how many secrets her family already kept from her. Before he could consider it further, Remus stirred and muttered in his sleep. He smacked his lips as if dreaming about a delicious meal.
Without losing a beat, Sirius pulled chocolate from his shirt pocket and unwrapped it. "Here," he tossed it across the room and James caught it. "Maybe you should give it to him. Anything I offer won't be trusted," he scoffed.
"You'll get back to normal, Padfoot," James insisted softly. "Remus has lost a lot this year, remember. It's all still a bit raw. He will come around. Don't be so hard on yourself."
"And you shouldn't be hard on yourself with these dreams," Sirius said. He saw Jame's quickly look away to hide his expression. "I mean it, Prongs. They're just dreams. Nobody is going to touch your kid. I'll see to that."
"The Guardian is still out there," James said. "Peter said it's Max Forrestor. He almost didn't make it out alive to even warn us."
"I know, but he did. Peter's fine. His discovery puts us one step ahead of the Death Eaters. He's keeping Lily and Harry safe as we speak. And he's able to do that and not be here because Remus' potion works. Don't you see how far we've come in a year at being able to manage this war, James?"
"I guess so," James muttered as he thought about it. While he applauded Sirius' perspective, he couldn't help but wonder if it still was a bit naive and premature. "A year. My parent's were still alive a year ago."
"So were mine," Sirius added, "And Regulus... foolish kid," he quickly added as he felt something tug at his heart. "Remus' mum as well."
"Scammander. Bones. MacDonald... and who even knows where Delaney is."
"Can you not bring her up in here, please?" Sirius lowered his voice and checked to ensure Remus still slept soundly.
James fell silent at that then said, "We've gained some things though. Lily and I, married with a kid. Who would have thought?"
"I still think you're batty for marrying someone more sarcastic and smarter than you," Sirius said. "Your kid's going to be the sassiest thing to ever step foot in the Wizarding World."
"Good," James said. "Someone's got to keep old Minnie on her toes." At the thought of his son James beamed followed by an instant ache at the thought of being separated from him all day.
Sirius seemed to notice the shift in James' expression and softly said, "You can go home, you know. I can stay with Moony and get him food. Poppy's ready in the hospital wing if he needs anything and you can come back tonight."
"No," James shook his head. "As much as I want to put eyes on my son after that dream, I know he's safe. He's got his mum. The Order needs me tonight."
"And Lily has Kip helping her with anything she needs. Wormtail's with them as well. Peter isn't going to let anything happen to your wife or your son, mate. I promise."
Later that morning at McKinnon Castle...
McKinnon Castle glowed as bright as Christmas that August afternoon as all the repairs had been completed. There were still whiffs of smoke and some damage from destruction charms that even Marlene's magic couldn't repair and some items of the home still remained sealed off due to the painful memories of generations past. The grand fireplace where Angus had flooed away the night of the fire was sealed off and a new network opened in the bedroom fireplaces. A blood charm had been place over the castle so only those with McKinnon blood could find its entrance. The spell so powerful that even those who visited the property in the past could search for it and only roam the old ruins without the aid of a family member granting them access, nor would they remember where to find the home once departed.
The three McKinnon children bustled about with haste as they readied the room. Angus used his wand to levitate the tapestries into place, Marlene walked up the corridors snapping her finger at each candle to light them and grinning with pride at her improved magic, and Marvin conjured ivy branches to hang across the windows. He'd finished placing one when he spotted two figures approaching up the drive. "She's here!"
"She's going to just love it," Marlene said with pride. "Not that Aunt Elsie's place isn't comfortable but her style of living isn't really to Mum's taste." She glanced to Angus and said, "Ready to let them in?"
"Are you sure I should be secret keeper? Maybe the charm is transferrable," he muttered as he stared where the fireplace used to stand. Angus grinned then tucked his wand in his pocket and straightened his shirt as he exited the castle. The moment felt like it lasted a lifetime as Marlene walked to Marvin. "She'll like it, right?"
"Given that she was living here in ruins before going to Aunt Elspeth's, I'd wager anything is an upgrade." He quickly looked at her and said, "Not a word about the scars on my back or the blood oath I've got on me, Marley-lass."
"You mean you don't want mum knowing you were tortured by your ex-girlfriends family before she forced a blood oath on you to kidnap someone's kid?" She feigned a confused sigh, "odd."
"Marleen," he huffed.
"Of course I won't," she said. "But you'll be the one to snitch on yourself if you don't stop talking in your sleep. Angus heard you again last night calling out for Lily and wanting to know where her son was." When she saw Marvin shiver she just linked arms with him and softly said, "It's just a spell, Marvin. It won't last forever."
"It's more than that," he grimmaced as he kept his eyes forward. "Now that Longbottom and Potter of had their kids it's grown more powerful. As long as Narcissa's blood oath is on me, I'll feel like I'm living in a prison... a curse. "
"Curses don't last forever either. Even the strongest ones can be broken," she assured him.
Marvin glanced at his sister and used his free arm to brush her blonde bangs out of her face. "I wish that were true, little sister."
Marlene's smile vanished at the statement as she became aware that perhaps something else plagued his mind... something about her. Perhaps it was just the burden of the blood oath that troubled him. Perhaps more. Before she could allow her mind to venture further, the doors to the castle opened and Mae McKinnon entered with her sister-in-law beside her and Angus escorting them.
"Welcome home, Mam!" The McKinnon children said in unison.
Mrs. McKinnon was younger than most of the other pureblood matriarchs, but her family's constant battle with stress and misfortune had aged her face quite a bit. Still, the glowing entryway and grand foyer took her back to a time of being a young mother, when their only care was whether or not the Hogwarts robes would be delivered in time for school.
Elspeth McKinnon was the polar opposite of her sister-in-law and late brother. She wasn't nearly as reserved or proper. She had the McKinnon fire within her, and it showed. Her spunk and adventure kept a constant smile on her face. She dressed casually despite coming from old money and acted perpetually youthful - not hard for a woman only in her thirties. She rest her hands on her sister-in-law's shoulders and said. "Just look at this place, Mae!"
"What do I care of this place," Mrs. McKinnon gasped with tears in her eyes once Marlene and Marvin neared her. "I've got my wee darlings back. That's all I need." She embraced each of her children tightly as Elspeth looked around only for Mae McKinnon to speak up and ask, "Where's Atticus Òg?"
It grew uncomfortably silent and Marvin said, "Still on his travels with Scammander."
Mrs. McKinnon just blinked at her middle son and exhaled. "You're the most talented liar of my four children, Marvin, but even I can see through you. Scammander has likely suspended his work for now given that his brother has passed. I'm not sure if you all have heard the news regarding your old Professor Scammander?" Their expressions shifted and all three glanced at each other with looks of guilt. "What?" their mother asked. "What aren't you lot telling me?"
"We don't know where Atti is, Mam," Marlene confirmed regarding her eldest brother but avoiding any more discussion. "He's not been home in a while. But... I'm sure he's safe."
"Oh," Mae muttered sadly and now examined the castle silently.
Elspeth pat her sister-in-law on the shoulder and said, "Why don't you go set your things down in your room, sis? I for one can't wait to see what these kids have planned as an excuse for breakfast. Probably a bunch of junk-food."
"I'll show you your room, Mam," Marlene beamed and took her hand. "We picked a good one for you. It's the old guest suite so you'll have your own bath and the porch overlooks the old rose garden."
Mae McKinnon just wrapped her arm around her only daughter's shoulders. "I'll sleep on the floor if it means I'm back with my family, wee one."
Elspeth and the boys looked on and admired the love of the reunited mother and daughter, but as soon as they departed up the steps, the young aunt turned to face her nephews. "What are you lot hiding?" She asked with hands on her hips.
"Hiding? Nothing."
"It took you the better half of a year to get this place fixed up. What was taking all your time? Surely not jobs because I know neither of you have one," she grunted than added, "a fact that would have my brother rolling in his grave if he knew, so you better have good reason."
"We've been busy..." Marvin admitted.
"With what? You all know something about Scammander. I saw your faces pull when your mum mentioned him. He was a good teacher, but the bloke was pushing a century old. The grief on your faces suggest you know more about his death than you'll let on."
"We just... knew him well?" Angus said more as a question than a statement.
"You had the same amount of time with him as I did," she shrugged. It was then that she noticed both boys were in black or grey with accents of gold or yellow. Marvin in a plaid flannel, Angus in a charcoal button up and Marlene in her gray skirt and yellow blouse. "You're in Hufflepuff colors."
"No we aren't," Marvin said quickly.
"You're in mourning for him..."
"Just out of respect," Angus said.
"But you're not at his funeral. I saw in The Prophet it's today."
"We weren't invited," Angus shrugged.
"So food, you said?" Marvin asked as he stood and started walking to the kitchens. Elspeth drew her wand and flicked it at the hall door and it slammed shut in Marvin's face. "If you aren't hungry, Aunt Elsie, you can just say so..."
"Sit," she said to them but when neither one would she just sighed and said. "Dumbledore's gotten to you..."
"What do you mean?"
"His little club. He asked you to join, didn't he?" She asked. Both of the boys stood stationary on the stone floor of the old castle and only the howl of the warm summer winds sounded through the halls as Marvin an Angus both declined to speak first.
Finally, Marvin spoke, "How'd you know about that?"
"Because Dorcas Meadows ask me to join too - over a year ago. I declined."
"Why would you decline?" Marvin muttered. "You went through the Auror program."
"And you'll recall I left a year into the job." Elspeth roamed the great hall and looked around at the windows and walls that had been repaired but still had some semblance of the dark past the castle walls had seen. "I thought Dumbledore's Order wouldn't be safe. Mae needed me. I took on the responsibility of having her stay with me so you kids could go start your lives. Now I'm discovering that Albus just got to you instead? I have a right mind to go give him a lecture for a change."
"We're ok, Aunt Elsie."
"And Marlene?" she asked with her back still to them. "She's part of this?"
"Yes," Angus admitted, "But you should see her out there!"
"Angus," Marvin whispered softly to stop him but his brother went on.
"Her magic is like nothing we've seen. She's better than the lot of us. She can control elemental magic with nothing more than a flick of the wrist."
"Angus, quiet," Marvin said again as he spotted his Aunt's face. She turned towards them, her eyes in shock. Marvin's stomach sunk with guilt at her expression and he said, "It's not like I was hiding it from you, Aunt Elsie. You've not been here."
"Her magic is back?" She asked
"Back?" Angus blinked. "She's never done this before."
"Do they know?" Elspeth asked then added, "Dumbledore? The Order?"
"Dumbledore has always known," Marvin admitted then added. "Everyone's seen her magic..."
"Everyone?" Elspeth said as she got closer to the boys, Angus staying silent and immersed in the exchange though also feeling a bit lost in it.
"Everyone," Marvin said in a serious tone. "Including the followers of you-know-who."
When Angus saw his Aunt's face drop he rest a hand on her shoulder, "We won't let anything happen to her or anyone else in this family, Aunt Elsie. Don't worry."
Elspeth grinned at the two boys who had grown so much. She'd moved in with her brother's family before they were born and watched them grow into the young men they are now. She looked back at the stairs to ensure her sister-in-law and niece were still absent then turned to the boys and said, "I think you two should catch me up on what you've been up to."
Marvin pulled his face, "It's not all pleasant."
"I helped change your nappies, nursed you during chicken pox, cleaned up your messes as boys. I've seen your worst. I'm ready for whatever you have to tell me," she chuckled.
"Ok," Angus said with a smile at their childhood memories with their favorite aunt. "We have time before we leave. You should sit down."
It then all came out. It was a new sensation for the McKinnons, to reveal hard truths instead of bottling them up as secrets, but sharing the burden of knowledge with their Aunt was somewhat of a relief. She heard of Marvin's kidnapping, Marlene's capture with Sirius and their escape. She heard of the Ministry break in and the growth of Marlene's powers. The boys explained their relation to Scammander and his role in training them for fight for the Order. She heard of the threat towards the Potters and Longbottoms and how they came face to face with Voldemort, that he was very dark and a very real, and the threat to their world even more real along with it.
A few details were omitted for the sake of time such as Angus' romance with Gideon and his face-to-face exchange with Fenrir Greyback, however he did share that they now had knowledge from Madeye that their father had attacked the werewolf colony willingly all those years ago. When the conversation reached that point, Elspeth grew even more silent and shrunk so far back into her seat that it appeared she was trying to make it swallow her whole.
As the conversation ended, all three McKinnon's agreed to spare Mrs. McKinnon the details of the war effort and Elspeth would help how she could although it was clear she still didn't approve. Angus was silent the rest of the evening once his mother and sister rejoined and they all had a quick dinner. He couldn't help but feel a bit of the conversation still needed to be had. Elspeth knew something more about Marlene's magic, as did Marvin. For once, Angus felt he was on the excluded end of a secret... and he didn't like it.
That Evening at Hogwarts...
Theseus Scammander's interment was met with the grander and ceremony that befit an Auror and Scholar of his caliber. Only Albus Dumbledore represented the Order of the Pheonix at the service. Others such as Madeye Moody and his Aurors served as security during the event, but Order Members were encouraged to stay in hiding following the events of the summer as rumors grew of the Order's existence.
Now however, as Dumbledore returned from the funeral and ascended the grand staircase of Hogwarts, completely silent during its summer hiatus, he felt his advice to remain hidden had not been heeded by all members of the order.
"Albus?" called Minerva McGonnigal. She was also dressed in black, standing with her head held high in the hallway.
"You left the service early Minerva. There were a great many former colleagues of yours from the Ministry wishing to pay their condolences. Elphinstone Urquart was looking for you. He said he had a question to ask you...again," he said with a sparkle in his eye.
"Albus," she cut him off at the mention of her former suitor, her face unamused. "I didn't wish to waste time chattering on about days gone by when we have work to do."
"Yes, school will be starting soon and we must find a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"Perhaps first," she said as she puffed out her chest, "You should see the state of its classroom."
Albus humored her as he followed the witch towards the classroom, swinging the door open and stepping inside. Every desk, side table and windowsill was filled with the younger members of The Order of the Pheonix - James, Sirius, the McKinnon boys, Frank and Ted Tonks. All of them, heads hung low, looked up to their former headmaster.
"I don't recall summoning a meeting," Dumbledore said.
Nobody spoke, but a single individual rose at the front of the classroom - James Potter.
"You should have let us come, Sir," he said.
"A funeral for a former headmaster is precisely where Death Eaters would expect to find you, James. You should have followed your wife's wisdom and stayed home," He said in acknowledgment of Lily's absence.
"If Harry wasn't a newborn she would be here," James said. "You know that."
Frank Longbottom muttered, "Alice wanted to be there too."
"Would she, Frank?" Dumbledore asked softly. "How has her strength been?"
Frank glared at Dumbledore but refused to speak.
"Frank?" Called Angus McKinnon as he sat beside his brother who kept his head low. "Alice is ok, right?" He asked when he noticed the expression on his friends' face.
"She's just delivered a baby. She needs rest," is all he said. But he couldn't help but notice the mentions of both his child and Jame's both within a matter of seconds had caused Marvin to tense up and shrink into himself.
"Albus," McGonnigal finally spoke up. "They just wished to pay their respects."
"Theseus Scammander started our training in The Order. The spells he showed us saved our lives time and time again. We can't let this classroom get turned over to someone else without taking the time to recognizing that."
Dumbledore smiled and said, "Then by all means, James... recognize away."
Everyone took a turn sharing as the night grew later and later. All the lads took a turn paying their respects and Ted Tonks took extra time to eulogize his late Head of House. When all was said and done, the lads broke into smaller groups, taking a moment to enjoy one another's company as it had been some weeks since the last Order Meeting. James quickly approached Frank Longbottom, having not spoken with him in person since their encounter with Voldemort. The two faction leaders and former rivals became engrossed in a conversation with one another.
"So she's doing ok?" Frank asked. "Lily?"
"She's bloody brilliant," James beamed. "She's handling this new-mother thing as if she's done it her whole life. I'm the one that can't manage to function."
Frank chuckled, "You know, a month ago and you'd never admit something like that to me."
"True," James smirked. He caught Frank checking his watch nervously then asked, "So what's wrong with her then? Alice?"
"What? Oh nothing. She's just been tired."
"You seem eager to get back to her."
"Well, it's been a couple hours," Frank shrugged.
"I understand," James said to dismiss the conversation, but he could tell there was more to Alice's absence than Frank was admitting. The new father looked exhausted, as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders. He was distracted and nervous, watching the clock and clearly wanting to leave. Perhaps it was the proximity to Marvin, or perhaps it was more. "We came in with Remus last night."
"Oh right," Frank sighed. "The full moon. How's he doing?"
"Nothing he isn't used to," James nodded.
"Guess that explains Black over there," Frank nodded across the room to Sirius who had strewn himself across one of the desk benches and set a book over his eyes like a sleeping mask.
James simply rolled his eyes at the sight when he was approached by Ted Tonks. He wore modest clothing but donned his head-boy Hufflepuff badge with pride to honor his former headmaster.
"Potter," Ted said. "Might I have a word."
Frank seemed a bit surprised and offput by one of his closest friends requesting an audience exclusively with James but he simply said, "It's alright. I should get back to Alice."
"Right then," Ted nodded. "Giver her our best, Frank."
Frank nodded and James pat him quickly on the shoulder to say goodbye.
Ted and James moved away from the others to a quiet corner of the room where Ted lowered his voice and whispered. "I'd like to request that you don't disclose what you've learned about Atticus McKinnon."
"You knew!? This whole time?" James gasped and Ted nodded but with a painful expression, motioned for James to keep it down.
"Atticus came to the house after you found him at the sanctuary. He begged us to intercept you before you could tell his family. His wife is a Werewolf, Potter. It's not legal for them to be married and now they have kids. A werewolf colony isn't a place for two little girls. He knew Andi and I worked in relocating families to secure secret residences so we found a safe place for his family near the sanctuary so they could continue their work but also remain safe."
"It doesn't explain why he would refuse to tell his family what he was up to. Marvin lived with you two last Summer didn't he? How could you not tell your best friend where his brother is?" James scolded.
"Atticus is one of my best friends too. We were in the same year at school and he introduced me to Andi. Moreover, I owe him. He defended us against Lestrange during school, quite publicly. How could I turn my back on him when he asked me for help in return?"
"Why doesn't he want his family knowing where he is?" James snapped.
"That's his business, James. He came to me because you mentioned something about Marlene's encounter with Death Eaters and he was worried. He wanted more information."
"Does he know Marlene's involved in the war effort?"
"He does now," he sighed. "I told him everything I'd heard."
"And Marvin? Did he know his own brother was used as a personal stress dummy at Lestrange's?" James snapped with a tone that would rival his father's on a bad day.
"Don't scold me, Potter," Ted clapped back sharply. "You've just had your son. You'll quickly learn that sometimes parents have to go against the grain to do what is right for their child. Atticus loves his brothers and sister, he wants them safe, but he's got two wee girls and wife now that depend on him. Andromeda had to reject her family to prioritize our daughter. I'd wager you've already made some judgement calls that have surprised yourself for Harry's sake. That's his name, right? Harry?" James nodded and Ted let out a sigh. "Atticus is conflicted right now, Potter. Just give him time to come forward."
James nodded again, biting his tongue to resist any more attitude escaping and Ted just pat his shoulder and glanced around the room. "So were's your other friend? Lupin?"
"Hospital wing. Not feeling well," James said curtly.
"You'll talk to him for me as well? I don't even know him, but he seems trustworthy from what you've said." Ted asked.
"Of course. He is." James muttered then allowed the bitterness to flow away. "It was a good eulogy, Tonks. Scammander would have been proud."
"That means a lot, Potter. Thank you."
James stood alone a moment as Ted took his leave when he became aware of someone beside him. "Professor," he said with a bit of a jump at the sight of Dumbledore standing there.
"You look tired, James," Dumbledore said.
"Well, Harry keeps us up all through the night," he grinned. "And then of course we had the full moon last night. It's much better with the Belby potion though. Lucky for us Delaney discovered it. But I suppose you had a hand in that too, didn't you?" Dumbledore didn't reply but had a confirming twinkle in his eyes. "You know, Sir," James started. "I've been thinking a lot about Mary MacDonald. It must have been a great burden on her, knowing so much of people's minds but not knowing what to do with all that information."
"It can be a burden when you don't know people's intentions, their weaknesses and strengths. You have to be very careful when you intercede and when not to," Dumbledore nodded.
"I apologize for being so cross with you in the past sir," James said. "Scammander told me to trust you more, and not be so frustrated when you withhold things from us. Now I realize you have to ensure you have the full picture before you can share some things."
"Thank you, James," he pulled a letter from his pocket and held it to James. "I hope you'll consider that still as you read this. I was going to send it via Fawkes but had a feeling our paths would cross this evening. Please consult with Lily regarding it's contents."
James nodded. "I will sir." He turned the folded paper around in his hand nervously but declined to speak more.
"Something else to add?" Dumbledore asked.
James glanced up at his headmaster, "Just something Scammander said to me. He said if Voldemort fell tomorrow, his followers would just grow more desperate. Do you suppose that means we are fighting a losing game?"
Dumbledore folded his hands and focused on James to say, "Evil can never be permanently snuffed out, James. The first law of nature is self-preservation. You can't get too defeated in the idea that if Voldemort fell tomorrow, someone else will come along later and want to rule the world. We saw an evil like this before from a Muggle - Hilter. He didn't need magic to bring about pure evil. And yet, goodness won against him. You had an encounter with Voldemort that has shaken you and made you wonder if we stand a chance. When you feel that way, ask yourself what we are fighting for. Look at Harry. You're fighting for the world he will grow up in."
James stood taller at the thought of his son and looked Dumbledore in the eye. "Thank you sir... I'm sorry I doubted our efforts."
"I'd be more concerned if you didn't, James. You used to be far too optimistic about success. A healthy awareness of the possibility of defeat is what keeps pride and ego away from this war. If we allow those elements to get too close to us, we will fall."
"Then it's a good think most Death Eaters are prideful with big egos," James grinned.
"Indeed." Dumbledore rest a hand on James' shoulder. You've come so far, James. Don't mistake anxieties and fears as weaknesses. Those are the things that make us human. Take it from someone who knows and has learned the hard way."
"Thank you sir." James glanced over his shoulder to the snoring Sirius and said, "I better wake him up and get to Remus. Lily will be wondering where we are. I'll read this when we get back home."
"Thank you, James. Please let me know what you decide..."
James raised an eyebrow at that as curiosity coaxed him to open the note now, but deciding to wait for Lily, he tucked it in his pocket then went to fetch his friend.