Fic: "Always" (Part I), for sambethe
Title: Always
Author: nicolen
Recipient: sambethe
Rating: R
Character: Alice, Remus, James, Moody
Warnings: Character death, small torture scene
Summary: Leading a normal life was just about impossible when the world was slowly disintegrating around you.
Author's notes: All the best to my recipient - I hope you enjoy it J!
Always
Alice had tuned out Mrs Lupin’s fussing for most of the journey to Kings Cross. She felt it was only normal for the woman to fuss - Remus was an only child, after all, and he was … different - but it was still annoying at times.
“Oh, dear. I hope we’re not too late,” Mrs Lupin fretted as they made their way towards the platform.
“Mrs Lupin, I think we’re fine,” Alice said, checking her watch. “It’s only twenty to eleven now.”
“Good. That’s good.”
Remus, typically, was silent, but glancing down at him, Alice noted he was looking everywhere, making sure he saw everything that was happening around them.
And there was always something happening on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. As they moved towards the Hogwarts’ Express, she noticed Ted Tonks and Frank Longbottom, two of the Gryffindor prefects, look at each other, roll their eyes and wade into the chaos caused by a fight between two cats who’d managed to escape their cages.
She stepped to the side while Mrs Lupin said her farewells. Other students were making their way onto the platform. One she noticed especially was a tall boy with dark hair, deep set grey eyes and sharp cheekbones - another Black.
Christ, as if three of them weren’t enough, she thought.
Alice immediately felt bad for thinking that way. Narcissa had little interest in anything but her own reflection, and Andromeda was actually quite sweet, if painfully shy. It was just Bellatrix - intelligent, gifted and with a streak of viciousness in her as wide as the Hogwarts lake.
“Alice.” She turned to see Ted Tonks coming towards her, his usual easy smile on his face. “I’ve spoken to Frank...”
“In between separating cats.”
“Yeah, that’s right. Anyway, he doesn’t see the need for a meeting before we get back to school. He’s asked if you can find a compartment and we’ll send a couple of first years in your direction.”
“All right. I’ve got one here already - my neighbour from home. I’ve promised his mother I’d keep an eye on him.”
“Not a problem.” Ted glanced down at Remus. “I’ll probably join you once… Good grief, it’s another Black.”
Alice laughed. “That was exactly my reaction when I saw him.”
“It looks as if Andromeda’s taking care of him. I’ll go and see if she wants to join us.” Ted smiled briefly at Alice then walked over to Andromeda Black.
“You’re a fool, Ted,” Alice muttered. His crush on the middle Black sister was common knowledge amongst the more observant Gryffindor students, and there was a certain amount of sympathy for him - everyone knew there was no way the Blacks would countenance one of their daughters becoming involved with a Muggle-born.
She turned back to the Lupins’ and as she did caught sight of the clock on the platform. “Remus, it’s probably time we got on the train,” she said, interrupting the goodbyes. “There’s only three minutes before it leaves.”
Remus quickly finished saying goodbye and picked up the end of his trunk. She helped him get it onto the train and found an empty compartment. “This will do nicely.”
Ted joined them just as they were storing the trunks. “Room for some more?”
“Absolutely,” Alice said.
“Great. Andromeda’s just coming and I’ve managed to find another victim - I mean first year.” Ted winked at Remus then ushered in a boy. “This is James. James, this is Alice Dearborn, who’s a fifth year prefect in Gryffindor, and …” He raised an eyebrow.
“Remus Lupin,” Remus said softly.
“Remus.” Ted nodded and looked out into the corridor. “And here’s Andromeda and her cousin.” He ushered them into the compartment.
***
It was one of the most entertaining journeys that Alice could remember. By the time they got to Hogsmeade, she knew one thing for certain.
”The Gryffindor prefects are in for a rough year,” she muttered to Ted as they watched the younger boys follow Hagrid towards the lake.
“Do you really think they’ll both be in Gryffindor?” Ted asked as they made their way to the carriages. “Potter definitely, but not Black. From what I’ve heard, that family are always placed in Slytherin.”
“I hope he’s placed in Gryffindor,” Andromeda said from behind them. “It would be the best thing for him.”
“What do you mean by that, Andromeda?” Ted asked.
She shook her head, walked past them and into a carriage, deliberately pulling the carriage door closed behind her.
Alice stared after her then shook her head. “That was interesting.”
“Very.” Ted frowned at the carriage.
“Where do you think Remus will end up?”
“Hmm. Oh, I’m not sure. Possibly Ravenclaw.”
But Remus didn’t end up in Ravenclaw…
***
The Lupins and the Dearborns had spent Christmas together since before Remus was born, and this year was no exception.
Mrs Lupin managed to catch Alice alone in the kitchen after dinner. “Tell me honestly, Alice, how is Remus managing at school.”
Alice smiled. “He’s doing really well - got three absolutely fantastic friends, even if they’re a little wilder than I would’ve thought would appeal to him.”
“Yes, Minerva McGonagall has kept me informed of some of their exploits. They sound like characters.”
“Mad is probably a more accurate description,” Alice said thinking of their last prank. It had involved House-elves, Ghosts and the vast majority of Slytherin House as unwitting victims. She still hadn’t figured out exactly how they’d managed that. “Mrs Lupin, you needn’t worry about him. He’s doing really well.”
“Thank you, Alice. It’s just … I can’t help but worry about him. He’s…”
“I know,” Alice said softly. “He’s very special.” She met Mrs Lupin’s eyes in understanding.
The older woman smiled. “Thank you, dear.”
***
Alice went for a walk early the next morning. Through the fields lying fallow over the winter and into the woods where seven years ago…
No. She was not going to think of that. Not today. But for some reason she found herself making her way there. The small clearing where Remus had been attacked and left for dead on Christmas Eve. He had tiptoed outside to see if he could see Father Christmas approaching.
She heard a sound behind her and whirled around, hand on her wand. When she saw who was behind her, she let her had fall to her side. “Remus, what the hell are you doing here?”
He shrugged uneasily. “I come here a lot - usually you’re at school.”
“Now you’re at school too.”
He smiled - beamed, actually. “Yeah.”
She sat down on a fallen log lying on the edge of the clearing and after a couple of seconds he joined her. “Why would you want to relive…” she struggled to think of an appropriate word.
He didn’t answer for a long minute. “At first it was to prove I wasn’t scared,” he said softly. “I’d come here and concentrate on Not Being Scared. Then it was somewhere where I knew I’d be alone - Mother and Dad don’t come here now.”
“I know they don’t.” She stretched out her legs. “You know, I never realised before that it’s actually quite beautiful here - very peaceful.”
Remus nodded. “Yes,” he said simply.
They sat in silence for several minutes. “So where are your other three colleagues spending Christmas,” Alice asked.
“With their families. I don’t think Sirius is looking forward to it, though - except for spending time with Andromeda.” Remus was silent for a minute. “Alice?”
“Yes.”
“It’s nice to have friends, isn’t it?”
Alice smiled. “Very nice.”
“I haven’t told them about - well, you know. I’m not sure if I should or not.”
“Well, you’re the only person who can make that decision,” Alice told him quietly.
“Yeah, I suppose. I’m - I’m just scared that they’ll guess and if they do they won’t want to be friends with me any longer.”
“From what I’ve seen, Remus, I think you’re doing them a disservice,” Alice told him. “I can’t see James doing that - in fact, he’d probably do the opposite.” She looked down at him. “And it may never happen.”
“But I can come and talk to you.”
“Always.”
***
“They guessed,” Remus said abruptly. It was Christmas, a year later, and this year there was snow on the ground and a bitter wind hurrying them along. “They confronted me in October after the full moon.”
“So what happened?” Alice asked. She was fairly confident that it had resolved itself - she had not noticed any problems between the four in the last few months.
“James and Sirius did most of the talking. I tried to get away, but they wouldn’t let me go. Sirius said - Sirius said that it didn’t matter.” His voice was full of wonder.
“And how about Peter?” Alice asked.
“He was a little unsure at first, which I can completely understand, but he’s fine now,” Remus answered. “Alice, it didn’t really matter.”
“They saw you for who you are rather than what you are on one night a month,” Alice confirmed. She reached out and ruffled his hair and noticed absently that his head was now above her shoulder.
He ducked away from her hand. “Don’t, Alice.”
“I’m thrilled that it’s worked out for you, Remus,” she said softly. “I thought they would understand, but there was still a little bit of doubt.”
“It’s great. They know everything, and they’re still my friends. And you’ll always be my friend.”
She nodded. “Always.”
~*~
Years passed. Alice earned excellent results on her NEWTs and, much to her surprise, was accepted into Auror training. Quiet, beautiful Andromeda Black managed to scandalise the entire wizarding world by eloping with a Muggle-born - Alice’s friend, Ted Tonks. They were incredibly happy and had a gorgeous baby girl - Alice was her godmother. And Remus was going from strength to strength at Hogwarts, secure in the support of his remarkable friends.
And then things started to slowly fall apart.
***
Alice got home late on Christmas Eve. It was her third and final year of Auror training, and she was spending most of her time in the field. The war, as yet undeclared, was starting to intensify.
“Are you still enjoying it?” her mother asked.
“Mostly. Some days can be really difficult,” Alice answered as she prepared the sprouts.
“The war’s getting worse, isn’t it?” Mrs Dearborn said. “The Minister’s denying it at every opportunity, but the only person he’s fooling is himself.”
Alice hesitated. “It’s bad,” she said. “It’s not quite open battles in the streets, but some days, we’re not far away from that.”
“We’re fools,” Mrs Dearborn said abruptly. “You’d think that after last time we’d learnt something, but we’re making the same mistakes over and over again.”
“That’s exactly what some of the older Aurors are saying.” Alice shook her head. “It’s quite surreal some days.”
“I imagine it can be.”
They worked in silence for a few minutes. “Remus is causing the Lupins some concern,” her mother said.
Alice raised an eyebrow. “I can’t quite believe that.”
“Something happened at school this term - between him and his friends. We don’t know what, but he’s not talking to them either. Nell’s very worried - I know she tends to be overprotective of him, but wait until you see him.”
“I’ll try and have a talk to him,” Alice promised.
***
Remus looked terrible; there was no other word to describe him. Even by his standards, he was remarkably quiet through dinner and, Alice noticed, he ate little.
Once dinner was finished, Remus left the table. Alice followed him out the house and into the fields.
“I don’t want or need a bodyguard,” Remus snapped as he realised she was there.
“Too bad. You’ve got one,” Alice retorted. “In this day and age it’s not exactly safe for you - or anyone else - to take off alone.”
“Because of the monster under the bed,” Remus said bitterly. “Come on, Alice, how old do you think I am!”
Alice kept her voice low and even. “There are some pretty nasty things happening at the moment, and if you haven’t realised that before now, Remus, you’re a fool.” She watched his shoulders slump. “So what’s happened to make you so…” She struggled for the correct word. “Well, angry, really.”
“I don’t want to talk about it. Besides, it’s nothing to do with you!”
I’m sorry you feel that way, Remus. I thought we were friends, and friends will try and help each other when they’re distressed,” Alice said softly.
“For the last time, I’m not distressed and there’s nothing wrong.”
“Isn’t there?”
Remus turned to face her. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“You know, it’s only four years since I was sixteen. I definitely remember how it feels to be a teenager.”
“It’s nothing like that.” Remus stared past Alice, refusing to meet her eyes. “It’s … Sirius decided that he’d play a joke on Severus Snape.”
Alice frowned. “Skinny boy in your year. Slytherin - dark hair, big nose?”
“That’s him. Sirius thought it would be a laugh to send him after me on the full moon.”
Alice’s jaw dropped. She never believed she would hear anything like this. “He didn’t.”
“He did,” Remus confirmed. “James found out and managed to intervene before anything happened, but Snape saw me transformed.” Remus drew in a shuddering breath. “Sirius - he doesn’t understand what would’ve happened if James hadn’t found out. I know that Dumbledore spoke with him, but he still doesn’t think he did anything wrong.”
“And that’s caused a rift between you - of course it has. Stating the bloody obvious there, Dearborn.”
“I don’t know that I can forgive him. We’ve all done stupid things, but he won’t understand what the consequences could’ve been.”
“Remus, I can’t begin to imagine what this has been like for you,” Alice said. “It’s a bloody nightmare.”
“That’s an understatement,” Remus said bitterly. “He just doesn’t think, Alice.”
“Clearly not.” She moved over to him and laid her hand on his back. “What about James and Peter? What do they think?”
“James was - and still is - furious. He’s really the only one of anyone involved who’s handled it well. Peter’s a little unsure. I think he would’ve liked to see Snape hurt, but when things turned to custard, he wasn’t sure how to react.”
“From memory, Snape’s a nasty piece of work, but nobody deserves that fate,” Alice pointed out. “Not even…” She stopped, realising she was in danger of saying too much.
“Alice, you and I both know that, but Sirius can’t - or won’t - understand that.”
“And that’s the issue, isn’t it? Let me ask you something. Do you think in a year’s time, you’ll be able to forgive him?”
Remus was silent. “I don’t know,” he admitted finally. “I’d like to think I would, but I’m not sure. It’s still too close.”
“That’s understandable,” Alice murmured. “Do you remember Andromeda - Sirius’s cousin?”
“The one that eloped with Ted Tonks? Of course I do. Why?”
“Well, you know Ted and I are good friends. I still see quite a bit of them. Remus, some of the things that Andromeda’s said about growing up in that family have been fairly enlightening.”
“He hates his family - he actually ran away from home over the summer.”
“So where does he live - surely not by himself?”
“No, James’s parents’ took him in.”
Alice nodded, having met the elder Potters on several occasions.
“They’re nice people. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that Sirius may not fully understand what the implications could have been for you. The vast majority of that family are rather sadistic and slightly, well, deranged.”
“I don’t think that Sirius is either of those.”
“Well, you know him better than I do, Remus. But he still regard many things as normal behaviour - things that we would find extremely disturbing.”
“So you’re saying that it may not be his fault.”
“Mm - sort of. You’ve said that you haven’t understood why he can’t understand that what he’s done is wrong at best. In the Black family, that sort of behaviour is seen as normal. Have a think about it.”
***
“Alice, you’ve got a visitor.”
“Thanks, Mum.” Alice came downstairs and was extremely surprised to find James Potter waiting in the hallway. “James, this is a surprise.”
“Yeah, I suppose it is,” James said, smiling. “I’m sorry to stop by uninvited, but I was wondering if I could have a word with you.”
“Of course.” Alice opened the living room door. “Go in there where it’s warm, and I’ll get us some tea.”
James stood as she entered the room carrying a tray. “Let me help you with that,” he said, taking the tray from her.
“Thank you.” Alice poured two cups of tea, handed one to James and sat down opposite him. “I can make a fairly educated guess about why you’re here.”
“Remus told you about what happened - I thought he might.” James leaned forward. “I don’t know what to do here. This whole mess is destroying both of them.”
“I know what it’s doing to Remus,” Alice nodded. “He said to me that you’ve done some rather stupid things at times, but I think what he’s struggling with more than anything else is that Sirius doesn’t seem to understand what the consequences would’ve been had you not … intervened.”
“I know, but that’s Sirius,” James shrugged. “He doesn’t think.”
“He’s what? Sixteen? Seventeen? James, he should have realised by now that his actions can have consequences.”
“Oh, I agree. He’s got a lot of growing up to do - we all have.” James sipped his tea. “He’s left home, you know. Turned up at home during the summer holidays.”
“Yes, Remus told me. And your parents are fine with him just moving in?”
“They haven’t said that he couldn’t. Sirius is … well, difficult, but he’s not evil. He’s not like Bellatrix.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Alice said.
James looked at her. “You don’t believe me, do you?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure I trust Sirius, but I don’t know him, either. What I do know is that he’s betrayed Remus.”
“Don’t you think that’s a bit strong?” James protested.
Alice raised an eyebrow. “How else would you describe it?”
“Yeah, fair point. That’s exactly how Remus would see it,” James conceded. “But Sirius sees it as a joke that went wrong.”
“Perhaps you need to point out to Sirius that not everyone has the same sense of humour.”
“I’ll keep trying,” James told her. “So what about you - what have you been doing with yourself since you left school?”
“Auror training,” Alice answered. “I’ve got my final exams in April, so I’ve got a lot of studying to do before then.”
“Is it as hard as I’ve heard it is?” James asked. “The training, I mean.”
“It’s very challenging,” Alice said slowly. “The war has obviously added to the work-load.”
“I’m sure. Do you regret it? I mean, do you think you’ve made the right decision?”
“Absolutely.”
***
The Aurors’ office at the Ministry was always busy these days - and in the last few months, busy had taken on a new meaning for Alice. Ever since she had married Frank Longbottom at Christmas time the war had been brought out into the open. It was terrifying, and at the same time satisfying to know that her efforts were making a difference.
Even when it was beginning to seem as if they would not win the war - if it could be said that anyone could actually win a war.
She barely looked up from her paperwork as a new group of trainees were given the grand tour until one of them stood beside her.
Alice began to laugh. “I don’t believe it.”
James Potter grinned down at her. “What’s so surprising, Mrs Longbottom?”
“That you of all people are here,” she told him putting down her quill.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time - I remember asking you about your training when I came to see you that time.”
“I’d forgotten about that,” Alice said. “How are you enjoying training?”
“It’s quite a bit more daunting than I thought it would be,” James admitted. “Some weeks it’s a real struggle to keep up.”
Alice nodded. Due to the war Auror training had been compacted into a nine-month period rather than the three years that she had had. Unfortunately, the Auror losses had been such that they had to speed up training. She looked over at the instructor, marching towards them looking irritated. “Looks like it’s time to move on. James, come and see me when you’ve finished for the day and we’ll arrange a time to catch up.”
James smiled. “Sounds like a good idea. We finish at four, so I’ll see you just after that.”
***
They arranged to meet at The Leaky Cauldron that evening. James had suggested that she bring Frank and he was going to bring his girlfriend.
Alice’s jaw dropped when she saw James’s girlfriend. “I don’t believe it! I would’ve thought she had more sense.”
Frank looked over at the couple sitting at the table in the corner. “I know her, but I can’t remember her name,” he said.
“Muggle-born isn’t she?”
“Yes - Lily Evans,” Alice said as they made their way over to the table. “James, I’m sure you remember Frank.”
“Absolutely,” James said with a grin. “Mostly I remember being caught every time we tried to sneak out.”
Frank raised an eyebrow. “Every time?”
“Well, about half the time,” James said.
Frank acknowledged the response with a grin of his own. Alice relaxed and sat down next to Lily. It was going to be a good night.
***
“You’d better have a good explanation for this,” Alice told James as they entered the Atrium and hurried towards the lifts. “Barty Crouch does not have a sense of humour.”
James looked reflective. “I’m not exactly sure one can explain a five foot deep court in the middle of Wimbledon’s Centre Court. Especially less than three weeks before the tournament starts.”
Not for the first time, Alice wondered what had possessed her to take him on as a trainee. “Well, since you put it there, you’d better start thinking of a good story,” she told him as they reached the lifts. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the expression on Rufus Scrimegeour’s face. It appeared the news had already reached the Auror’s office. She sighed and mentally prepared herself for a long stint in the office doing everyone else’s paperwork.
“Actually, I didn’t put it there - they tried the Reductor Curse and I dodged.”
“Yes. That’s going to be appreciated,” Alice muttered as they entered the lift. She couldn’t help but notice the sympathetic looks she got from the other occupants. Even for a Ministry renowned for leaks and gossip, this had to be a new record.
“Longbottom. Potter. My office now.” Barty Crouch was waiting for them at the lifts. They followed behind him, through the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
Nobody would meet Alice’s eyes till they reached the Auror’s Offices. There she saw Frank grimace and couldn’t help but think that she and James must look like two recalcitrant students following their teacher.
She felt rather than saw Alastor Moody follow them into Crouch’s office and close the door.
Crouch seated himself behind his desk and glared at them. “What is the meaning of this?” he demanded. “Mrs Longbottom, I expect much better from you.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I hardly think you’re being fair, Mr Crouch,” James commented. “If you wish to blame anyone for this, blame me.”
“That may well be so, Mr Potter, but you are a trainee, and as such Mrs Longbottom is completely responsible for your actions.”
“With all due respect, sir, do you always make your decision before you’ve heard any of the evidence?” James asked softly.
Alice gasped, but before she could say anything, Moody spoke.
“That’s enough, lad,” Moody interrupted. “Barty, I’ll deal with these two. I’d suggest that you have a word with the Department for Muggle-Worthy Excuses and get them involved in this.”
“The point, Alastor, is that your Aurors should be in control of their actions at all times. They should not…”
“We will discuss this later.” Moody’s tone of voice suggested that this wasn’t up for discussion.
Without waiting for a response, he limped from the office. Alice glanced at Crouch then followed Moody.
He led them to an interview room. “Now,” he said, leaning against a table. “What happened out there?”
“Death Eaters,” James said briefly.
“Yes, Potter, I managed to work that out for myself,” Moody snapped.
“Is it possible to get the details, please.”
They filled him in on what happened. “I can’t be sure, but I think one of them was Lucius Malfoy,” Alice said, looking at James.
James nodded. “It certainly sounded like him,” he agreed.
“Did you see his face?” Moody asked intently.
“No, he wore a hood,” Alice answered. “But the more I think about it,
the more convinced I am it was him.”
“Unfortunately, unless we get a sighting of him, he’s going to come up with alibi after alibi,” Moody sighed. “We’ve tried before, but neither the Minister nor Crouch will authorise a search of his estate.”
“Well, we can keep trying. One day he’ll slip up,” James said.
“Hopefully,” Alice commented.
***
“Have you heard?” James asked.
Alice looked at him and noticed he was furious. “What’s wrong?”
“Crouch has arranged for Section 1408 of the Emergency Powers Act to be amended so that suspected Death Eaters can be transported directly to Azkaban without being tried,” James snapped. “It flies against everything we fight for.”
“Surely they’ll only apply it to You-Know-Who, though,” Alice said, feeling queasy.
“With Crouch in charge? Hardly,” James scoffed. “He’ll use it to get rid of any of his own enemies.” He looked thoughtful. “Given the way Crouch feels about me, I should probably watch my back.”
“You’ll be fine,” Alice told him. “Well, I suppose we are at war, and desperate times need desperate measures, but it does leave a bad taste in my mouth.”
“Exactly. And the fact that he’s doing this all on the quiet is what’s disturbing me the most, I think. At least that way there’ll be input from the public about it.” James put his hands in his pockets. “I just don’t trust Crouch not to have his own agenda.”
“Do you think this is something you should be discussing in public, Potter,” Moody asked, crossing his arms over his chest. Behind him stood a tall, black wizard looking vaguely uncomfortable.
James shrugged. “Crouch knows how I feel about him,” he said. “I mean, I hate dark magic and Voldemort and his kind, but he’s an absolute fanatic.”
“Even so, try to be a little discreet,” Moody told him. “He can make things very awkward for both of you.” He gestured to the other wizard. “Come and meet your trainers, Kingsley. Guys, this is Kingsley Shacklebolt, straight from training. Try not to corrupt him too much in the first week, if you can.”
***
“What do you think of Shacklebolt?” James asked as they packed up for the day. Shacklebolt had already left.
Alice shrugged. “He seems like a good sort,” she said. “Still fairly idealistic, but that’ll pass soon enough.” She absently rubbed her stomach.
“You’ve been doing that all day,” James observed. “Are you all right?”
“I’ve felt quite queasy all day,” Alice answered. “I just hope I’m not coming down with a bug - last thing we need at the moment.”
“Mm, Lily’s been sick for the last couple of days,” James said absently, “but then she’s pregnant.” He stopped and stared at her. “You’re not pregnant?”
Alice’s jaw dropped. “Surely not,” she said weakly. But it was all too possible. “I mean, we want kids, but not yet. Not while everything’s as unsettled as it is at the moment.”
James nodded. “That’s what we thought,” he said softly. “But if we wait for things to be normal before we have kids, they’ll never be born. Once Voldemort’s gone, there’ll be another crisis - there always is.”
“I suppose,” Alice said. “But I’m not sure I want to bring a child into this world at the moment.”
James slung an arm over her shoulders. “Believe me, I understand,” he told her. “But the world’s a dangerous place - I bet our parents said the same thing and their parents as well. All we can do is do our best to keep them safe.”
Alice nodded. “I could be pregnant,” she admitted. “I don’t know for certain.”
“Then find out,” James said, still using the same gentle tone of voice. “Whatever happens, you can handle it.”
“You need to find your own wife, Potter, and stop man-handling mine.” The grin on Frank’s face belied his words. “I believe she’s looking for you.”
“Just because Alice has finally seen sense,” James retorted, grinning back. “Jealous, old man?” He looked down at Alice. Call me later if you need to, OK,” he murmured.
“Thank you,” she whispered back.
“Speaking of which, I’d better go and find Lily,” James said. “See you both tomorrow.” He released Alice and strolled away.
Frank looked at Alice. “Are you all right?” he asked.
“I don’t know - I'll tell you about it at home,” she told him.
***
Alice was pregnant. She sat down on the side of the bed in shock.
“How do you feel,” Frank asked.
“Scared,” she admitted. “I’m not sure that I’ll be a good parent.”
“Me neither,” Frank said. “And this is the wrong time to have a child, but I don’t care. We’re having a baby.”
“I’m going to remind you of this when the baby’s teething and we’re getting no sleep,” Alice told him.
***
The Ministry refused to acknowledge that they were losing the war, but those on the frontlines knew the truth. Four months into her pregnancy, Alice got a harsh reminder of this.
James had been out in the field for the morning and rushed straight into Moody’s office. She was beginning to get a bad feeling about that. She looked up as Frank went in to join them.
She didn’t need to be a Seer to know something was definitely wrong.
About five minutes later they came out to join her. “Who is it?” she asked. “My parents?”
Moody hesitated and shook his head. “It’s Caradoc,” he said roughly. “He hasn’t been seen in three weeks and we believe that he’s been captured.”
“Do - do you think he’s alive?”
“Well, we haven’t found a body yet, lass,” Moody said.
“He’s dead,” Alice said flatly. “They don’t keep prisoners.” She stood. “Have you told his parents yet?”
“We’re just going to now,” James said. “Frank and I will do it.”
Alice shook her head. “No,” she whispered. “He was my cousin - I should tell them.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Frank asked softly. “James and I can do this.” James nodded in agreement.
“No, it should be me,” Alice said, standing up.
“Not by yourself, you’re not,” Moody told her. “Both of you can go with her, please.”
***
“We’re going home,” Frank told her once they left her aunt and uncle’s house.
She shook her head. “I’m fine to work.”
“No, you’re not.” James had been largely silent since they’d left the office. “There’s nothing happening that can’t wait until tomorrow - or the next day.” He hugged her awkwardly. “I’ll stop by on the way home tonight, OK.”
“We’ll see you then,” Frank said. He put his arm around her and Apparated them into their living room. “Sit down - I’ll make some tea.”
Alice watched him leave the room and wrapped her arms around herself. In the last few years many colleagues had been killed, but this was the closest person she’d lost.
Growing up, she had never been close to Caradoc - he was ten years older than she, and it had only been in the last few years that he’d realised she wasn’t the annoying pest he remembered.
She hadn’t realised Frank had reentered the room. “Come here,” he murmured, putting down the two cups he carried and putting his arms around her.
Slowly Alice wrapped her arms around him and cuddled close. “Why?”
“I don’t think we’ll ever know,” Frank said heavily. “Not fully.” He sighed. “We need to accept that sometimes we’re just not going to know.”
They stood there for a long time in silence, trying to come to terms with what was happening to their world.
***
“I wonder why he wants to see us,” Alice said as they waited for the moving staircase to transport them up into Dumbledore’s office.
“We’ll find out soon enough,” Frank said. “It must be important, though.”
“It’s always important,” Alice said. She was surprised to see both James and Lily already in the office. “What are you two doing here?”
“Same as you, I think.” James stood and offered her his seat. “Got a message telling us to come here immediately.”
“We got the same message,” Frank said. “Where’s Dumbledore?”
He arrived a couple of minutes later. “Thank you all for coming so promptly,” he said quietly. “I have learned something which will directly affect both of you and your families.” He placed his Pensieve on the desk. “Please just watch for now. We will discuss this in a few minutes.”
Alice watched as a figure emerged from the Pensieve - a bizarre looking woman who appeared to be all eyes and shawls. ”The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches … born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies … and the Dark Lord will mark him as is equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not … and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives … the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies …”
They watched the woman disappear. James was the first to speak. “Right,” he said. “Who is she and what the hell was that.”
“Her name is Sybil Trelawney,” Dumbledore said quietly. “Last night I interviewed her for a position on the Hogwarts Staff, and this was part of our interview.”
“Is she a Seer?” Alice asked.
“I did not believe so until she revealed that prophecy,” Dumbledore answered. “It could very well be meaningless, but equally it could be extremely significant.” He looked at Lily and then at Alice. “James and Alice have battled Voldemort on several occasions, if I’m not mistaken.”
“Three,” James confirmed hoarsely. “Three times.”
“Do you think that - that this is accurate?” Lily asked shakily.
Dumbledore held out his hands. “I do not know enough about Divination to answer that with any certainty,” he told her. “We will know more when the babies arrive, and can decide what we need to do then.”
Alice rubbed her stomach. “I’m not due till August - the sixth.”
“Babies are notorious for choosing their own time to arrive,” Dumbledore reminded her. “If both babies are born in August then we will know that this prophecy does not refer to either of your children. At the moment it seems to referring to either of them.”
“That could change,” Frank spoke for the first time. “That’s what we have to hope for now.”
***
They ended up at James and Lily’s cottage. “So, what do we do?” Alice asked after several minutes of silence.
James shrugged. “Hope that this prophecy is as rubbish as most of them usually are,” he said. “Or hope that, if it’s correct, it refers to some other poor bastard’s child and not ours.”
“I’ve decided I want a girl,” Alice said. “The prophecy referred to him, not her.” She nodded. “A girl born in August - that’ll be nice.”
Lily nodded in agreement. “Me too,” she said. “Me too.”
***
But that wasn’t to be. Alice gave birth to a little boy on the second to last day of July. On the last day of July Lily also had a little boy.
“We still don’t know,” Lily said in despair a few weeks later. “I just wish we knew if the prophecy was valid or not.”
Alice looked down at the babies, lying side by side. “I know,” she said. “Looking at them, I can’t help but be sorry for whichever one of them it could be.”
“Exactly,” Lily said. “What I do know is that if Voldemort wants my baby, he’s going to have to get past me first. And I don’t intend to make it easy for him.”
“Me either,” Alice murmured. “Has Dumbledore spoken to you as well?”
“About going into hiding? Yeah, we’re thinking about it.” She was silent for a minute. “Did he tell you there’s a traitor somewhere in the Order?”
Alice nodded. “He told us a few days ago. At the meeting last night, I kept looking at everyone and wondering who it was.”
“I was doing the same thing,” Lily admitted. “I mean, I know it’s not Dumbledore, McGonagall, Frank, James, Remus, Sirius, Peter or you. Everyone else - I’m not so sure about.”
“I’d add Moody to that list as well.”
Lily nodded. “James agrees with you. I’m just not as sure - he seems a little fanatical to me.”
“If you think he’s fanatical, you really don’t want to meet Crouch,” Alice told her. “He’s nothing compared with Crouch.”
***
Whoever the traitor was, it became clear that they were very close to both couples. After a series of near misses, Dumbledore again called a meeting.
When Alice got back into the living room after showing Dumbledore out, she found the others exactly where she left them.
James, typically, was the first to speak. “Anyone heard of this Fidelius charm before?” he asked. “Lily, you’re the Charms expert.”
Lily shook her head, frowning. “Not really. I remember Flitwick talking about something that sounds similar during Charms Club once,” she said. “But it didn’t involve anything like a Secret Keeper.”
“You’ve been quiet, Frank,” James said.
Frank hadn’t said a word since Dumbledore had started to speak.
“I’ve been thinking about it all,” he said.
“And?” Alice asked.
“I’m actually quite angry that we need to do this,” Frank said, still using the same reasonable tone. “The fact they’ve got as close as they have means the traitor is one of our closest friends. That means it’s someone that’s been in my house.”
Lily nodded. “I feel exactly the same way. How dare they do this to us. Why would they?”
“I don’t know,” James said. “What I do know is that we’re basically unimportant compared to the babies. One of them is potentially the one that’s going to defeat Voldemort, so our job is to keep them both alive till they’re old enough to do that.” He slouched down in the armchair. “I haven’t got anything else to do for the next few years.”
“Who are we going to ask to be our Secret Keeper?” Lily asked.
“Sirius, I suppose,” James answered. “Who would you use?”
“Frank’s mother,” Alice answered straight away. “I’d like to see anyone try and get anything out of Augusta.”
James laughed at that. “She’s formidable, that’s for sure,” he said. “So when do we do this?”
“As soon as possible,” Frank said. “For the boys’ safety.”
James nodded. “I’ll talk to Dumbledore tomorrow and see what needs to be done.”
The Charm was incredibly complex, and it would take them several months to completely master it. They finally managed to get it right about a week before Halloween.
Alice began to relax, knowing that they were all finally safe.
***
Part II
Author: nicolen
Recipient: sambethe
Rating: R
Character: Alice, Remus, James, Moody
Warnings: Character death, small torture scene
Summary: Leading a normal life was just about impossible when the world was slowly disintegrating around you.
Author's notes: All the best to my recipient - I hope you enjoy it J!
Always
Alice had tuned out Mrs Lupin’s fussing for most of the journey to Kings Cross. She felt it was only normal for the woman to fuss - Remus was an only child, after all, and he was … different - but it was still annoying at times.
“Oh, dear. I hope we’re not too late,” Mrs Lupin fretted as they made their way towards the platform.
“Mrs Lupin, I think we’re fine,” Alice said, checking her watch. “It’s only twenty to eleven now.”
“Good. That’s good.”
Remus, typically, was silent, but glancing down at him, Alice noted he was looking everywhere, making sure he saw everything that was happening around them.
And there was always something happening on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. As they moved towards the Hogwarts’ Express, she noticed Ted Tonks and Frank Longbottom, two of the Gryffindor prefects, look at each other, roll their eyes and wade into the chaos caused by a fight between two cats who’d managed to escape their cages.
She stepped to the side while Mrs Lupin said her farewells. Other students were making their way onto the platform. One she noticed especially was a tall boy with dark hair, deep set grey eyes and sharp cheekbones - another Black.
Christ, as if three of them weren’t enough, she thought.
Alice immediately felt bad for thinking that way. Narcissa had little interest in anything but her own reflection, and Andromeda was actually quite sweet, if painfully shy. It was just Bellatrix - intelligent, gifted and with a streak of viciousness in her as wide as the Hogwarts lake.
“Alice.” She turned to see Ted Tonks coming towards her, his usual easy smile on his face. “I’ve spoken to Frank...”
“In between separating cats.”
“Yeah, that’s right. Anyway, he doesn’t see the need for a meeting before we get back to school. He’s asked if you can find a compartment and we’ll send a couple of first years in your direction.”
“All right. I’ve got one here already - my neighbour from home. I’ve promised his mother I’d keep an eye on him.”
“Not a problem.” Ted glanced down at Remus. “I’ll probably join you once… Good grief, it’s another Black.”
Alice laughed. “That was exactly my reaction when I saw him.”
“It looks as if Andromeda’s taking care of him. I’ll go and see if she wants to join us.” Ted smiled briefly at Alice then walked over to Andromeda Black.
“You’re a fool, Ted,” Alice muttered. His crush on the middle Black sister was common knowledge amongst the more observant Gryffindor students, and there was a certain amount of sympathy for him - everyone knew there was no way the Blacks would countenance one of their daughters becoming involved with a Muggle-born.
She turned back to the Lupins’ and as she did caught sight of the clock on the platform. “Remus, it’s probably time we got on the train,” she said, interrupting the goodbyes. “There’s only three minutes before it leaves.”
Remus quickly finished saying goodbye and picked up the end of his trunk. She helped him get it onto the train and found an empty compartment. “This will do nicely.”
Ted joined them just as they were storing the trunks. “Room for some more?”
“Absolutely,” Alice said.
“Great. Andromeda’s just coming and I’ve managed to find another victim - I mean first year.” Ted winked at Remus then ushered in a boy. “This is James. James, this is Alice Dearborn, who’s a fifth year prefect in Gryffindor, and …” He raised an eyebrow.
“Remus Lupin,” Remus said softly.
“Remus.” Ted nodded and looked out into the corridor. “And here’s Andromeda and her cousin.” He ushered them into the compartment.
***
It was one of the most entertaining journeys that Alice could remember. By the time they got to Hogsmeade, she knew one thing for certain.
”The Gryffindor prefects are in for a rough year,” she muttered to Ted as they watched the younger boys follow Hagrid towards the lake.
“Do you really think they’ll both be in Gryffindor?” Ted asked as they made their way to the carriages. “Potter definitely, but not Black. From what I’ve heard, that family are always placed in Slytherin.”
“I hope he’s placed in Gryffindor,” Andromeda said from behind them. “It would be the best thing for him.”
“What do you mean by that, Andromeda?” Ted asked.
She shook her head, walked past them and into a carriage, deliberately pulling the carriage door closed behind her.
Alice stared after her then shook her head. “That was interesting.”
“Very.” Ted frowned at the carriage.
“Where do you think Remus will end up?”
“Hmm. Oh, I’m not sure. Possibly Ravenclaw.”
But Remus didn’t end up in Ravenclaw…
***
The Lupins and the Dearborns had spent Christmas together since before Remus was born, and this year was no exception.
Mrs Lupin managed to catch Alice alone in the kitchen after dinner. “Tell me honestly, Alice, how is Remus managing at school.”
Alice smiled. “He’s doing really well - got three absolutely fantastic friends, even if they’re a little wilder than I would’ve thought would appeal to him.”
“Yes, Minerva McGonagall has kept me informed of some of their exploits. They sound like characters.”
“Mad is probably a more accurate description,” Alice said thinking of their last prank. It had involved House-elves, Ghosts and the vast majority of Slytherin House as unwitting victims. She still hadn’t figured out exactly how they’d managed that. “Mrs Lupin, you needn’t worry about him. He’s doing really well.”
“Thank you, Alice. It’s just … I can’t help but worry about him. He’s…”
“I know,” Alice said softly. “He’s very special.” She met Mrs Lupin’s eyes in understanding.
The older woman smiled. “Thank you, dear.”
***
Alice went for a walk early the next morning. Through the fields lying fallow over the winter and into the woods where seven years ago…
No. She was not going to think of that. Not today. But for some reason she found herself making her way there. The small clearing where Remus had been attacked and left for dead on Christmas Eve. He had tiptoed outside to see if he could see Father Christmas approaching.
She heard a sound behind her and whirled around, hand on her wand. When she saw who was behind her, she let her had fall to her side. “Remus, what the hell are you doing here?”
He shrugged uneasily. “I come here a lot - usually you’re at school.”
“Now you’re at school too.”
He smiled - beamed, actually. “Yeah.”
She sat down on a fallen log lying on the edge of the clearing and after a couple of seconds he joined her. “Why would you want to relive…” she struggled to think of an appropriate word.
He didn’t answer for a long minute. “At first it was to prove I wasn’t scared,” he said softly. “I’d come here and concentrate on Not Being Scared. Then it was somewhere where I knew I’d be alone - Mother and Dad don’t come here now.”
“I know they don’t.” She stretched out her legs. “You know, I never realised before that it’s actually quite beautiful here - very peaceful.”
Remus nodded. “Yes,” he said simply.
They sat in silence for several minutes. “So where are your other three colleagues spending Christmas,” Alice asked.
“With their families. I don’t think Sirius is looking forward to it, though - except for spending time with Andromeda.” Remus was silent for a minute. “Alice?”
“Yes.”
“It’s nice to have friends, isn’t it?”
Alice smiled. “Very nice.”
“I haven’t told them about - well, you know. I’m not sure if I should or not.”
“Well, you’re the only person who can make that decision,” Alice told him quietly.
“Yeah, I suppose. I’m - I’m just scared that they’ll guess and if they do they won’t want to be friends with me any longer.”
“From what I’ve seen, Remus, I think you’re doing them a disservice,” Alice told him. “I can’t see James doing that - in fact, he’d probably do the opposite.” She looked down at him. “And it may never happen.”
“But I can come and talk to you.”
“Always.”
***
“They guessed,” Remus said abruptly. It was Christmas, a year later, and this year there was snow on the ground and a bitter wind hurrying them along. “They confronted me in October after the full moon.”
“So what happened?” Alice asked. She was fairly confident that it had resolved itself - she had not noticed any problems between the four in the last few months.
“James and Sirius did most of the talking. I tried to get away, but they wouldn’t let me go. Sirius said - Sirius said that it didn’t matter.” His voice was full of wonder.
“And how about Peter?” Alice asked.
“He was a little unsure at first, which I can completely understand, but he’s fine now,” Remus answered. “Alice, it didn’t really matter.”
“They saw you for who you are rather than what you are on one night a month,” Alice confirmed. She reached out and ruffled his hair and noticed absently that his head was now above her shoulder.
He ducked away from her hand. “Don’t, Alice.”
“I’m thrilled that it’s worked out for you, Remus,” she said softly. “I thought they would understand, but there was still a little bit of doubt.”
“It’s great. They know everything, and they’re still my friends. And you’ll always be my friend.”
She nodded. “Always.”
~*~
Years passed. Alice earned excellent results on her NEWTs and, much to her surprise, was accepted into Auror training. Quiet, beautiful Andromeda Black managed to scandalise the entire wizarding world by eloping with a Muggle-born - Alice’s friend, Ted Tonks. They were incredibly happy and had a gorgeous baby girl - Alice was her godmother. And Remus was going from strength to strength at Hogwarts, secure in the support of his remarkable friends.
And then things started to slowly fall apart.
***
Alice got home late on Christmas Eve. It was her third and final year of Auror training, and she was spending most of her time in the field. The war, as yet undeclared, was starting to intensify.
“Are you still enjoying it?” her mother asked.
“Mostly. Some days can be really difficult,” Alice answered as she prepared the sprouts.
“The war’s getting worse, isn’t it?” Mrs Dearborn said. “The Minister’s denying it at every opportunity, but the only person he’s fooling is himself.”
Alice hesitated. “It’s bad,” she said. “It’s not quite open battles in the streets, but some days, we’re not far away from that.”
“We’re fools,” Mrs Dearborn said abruptly. “You’d think that after last time we’d learnt something, but we’re making the same mistakes over and over again.”
“That’s exactly what some of the older Aurors are saying.” Alice shook her head. “It’s quite surreal some days.”
“I imagine it can be.”
They worked in silence for a few minutes. “Remus is causing the Lupins some concern,” her mother said.
Alice raised an eyebrow. “I can’t quite believe that.”
“Something happened at school this term - between him and his friends. We don’t know what, but he’s not talking to them either. Nell’s very worried - I know she tends to be overprotective of him, but wait until you see him.”
“I’ll try and have a talk to him,” Alice promised.
***
Remus looked terrible; there was no other word to describe him. Even by his standards, he was remarkably quiet through dinner and, Alice noticed, he ate little.
Once dinner was finished, Remus left the table. Alice followed him out the house and into the fields.
“I don’t want or need a bodyguard,” Remus snapped as he realised she was there.
“Too bad. You’ve got one,” Alice retorted. “In this day and age it’s not exactly safe for you - or anyone else - to take off alone.”
“Because of the monster under the bed,” Remus said bitterly. “Come on, Alice, how old do you think I am!”
Alice kept her voice low and even. “There are some pretty nasty things happening at the moment, and if you haven’t realised that before now, Remus, you’re a fool.” She watched his shoulders slump. “So what’s happened to make you so…” She struggled for the correct word. “Well, angry, really.”
“I don’t want to talk about it. Besides, it’s nothing to do with you!”
I’m sorry you feel that way, Remus. I thought we were friends, and friends will try and help each other when they’re distressed,” Alice said softly.
“For the last time, I’m not distressed and there’s nothing wrong.”
“Isn’t there?”
Remus turned to face her. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“You know, it’s only four years since I was sixteen. I definitely remember how it feels to be a teenager.”
“It’s nothing like that.” Remus stared past Alice, refusing to meet her eyes. “It’s … Sirius decided that he’d play a joke on Severus Snape.”
Alice frowned. “Skinny boy in your year. Slytherin - dark hair, big nose?”
“That’s him. Sirius thought it would be a laugh to send him after me on the full moon.”
Alice’s jaw dropped. She never believed she would hear anything like this. “He didn’t.”
“He did,” Remus confirmed. “James found out and managed to intervene before anything happened, but Snape saw me transformed.” Remus drew in a shuddering breath. “Sirius - he doesn’t understand what would’ve happened if James hadn’t found out. I know that Dumbledore spoke with him, but he still doesn’t think he did anything wrong.”
“And that’s caused a rift between you - of course it has. Stating the bloody obvious there, Dearborn.”
“I don’t know that I can forgive him. We’ve all done stupid things, but he won’t understand what the consequences could’ve been.”
“Remus, I can’t begin to imagine what this has been like for you,” Alice said. “It’s a bloody nightmare.”
“That’s an understatement,” Remus said bitterly. “He just doesn’t think, Alice.”
“Clearly not.” She moved over to him and laid her hand on his back. “What about James and Peter? What do they think?”
“James was - and still is - furious. He’s really the only one of anyone involved who’s handled it well. Peter’s a little unsure. I think he would’ve liked to see Snape hurt, but when things turned to custard, he wasn’t sure how to react.”
“From memory, Snape’s a nasty piece of work, but nobody deserves that fate,” Alice pointed out. “Not even…” She stopped, realising she was in danger of saying too much.
“Alice, you and I both know that, but Sirius can’t - or won’t - understand that.”
“And that’s the issue, isn’t it? Let me ask you something. Do you think in a year’s time, you’ll be able to forgive him?”
Remus was silent. “I don’t know,” he admitted finally. “I’d like to think I would, but I’m not sure. It’s still too close.”
“That’s understandable,” Alice murmured. “Do you remember Andromeda - Sirius’s cousin?”
“The one that eloped with Ted Tonks? Of course I do. Why?”
“Well, you know Ted and I are good friends. I still see quite a bit of them. Remus, some of the things that Andromeda’s said about growing up in that family have been fairly enlightening.”
“He hates his family - he actually ran away from home over the summer.”
“So where does he live - surely not by himself?”
“No, James’s parents’ took him in.”
Alice nodded, having met the elder Potters on several occasions.
“They’re nice people. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that Sirius may not fully understand what the implications could have been for you. The vast majority of that family are rather sadistic and slightly, well, deranged.”
“I don’t think that Sirius is either of those.”
“Well, you know him better than I do, Remus. But he still regard many things as normal behaviour - things that we would find extremely disturbing.”
“So you’re saying that it may not be his fault.”
“Mm - sort of. You’ve said that you haven’t understood why he can’t understand that what he’s done is wrong at best. In the Black family, that sort of behaviour is seen as normal. Have a think about it.”
***
“Alice, you’ve got a visitor.”
“Thanks, Mum.” Alice came downstairs and was extremely surprised to find James Potter waiting in the hallway. “James, this is a surprise.”
“Yeah, I suppose it is,” James said, smiling. “I’m sorry to stop by uninvited, but I was wondering if I could have a word with you.”
“Of course.” Alice opened the living room door. “Go in there where it’s warm, and I’ll get us some tea.”
James stood as she entered the room carrying a tray. “Let me help you with that,” he said, taking the tray from her.
“Thank you.” Alice poured two cups of tea, handed one to James and sat down opposite him. “I can make a fairly educated guess about why you’re here.”
“Remus told you about what happened - I thought he might.” James leaned forward. “I don’t know what to do here. This whole mess is destroying both of them.”
“I know what it’s doing to Remus,” Alice nodded. “He said to me that you’ve done some rather stupid things at times, but I think what he’s struggling with more than anything else is that Sirius doesn’t seem to understand what the consequences would’ve been had you not … intervened.”
“I know, but that’s Sirius,” James shrugged. “He doesn’t think.”
“He’s what? Sixteen? Seventeen? James, he should have realised by now that his actions can have consequences.”
“Oh, I agree. He’s got a lot of growing up to do - we all have.” James sipped his tea. “He’s left home, you know. Turned up at home during the summer holidays.”
“Yes, Remus told me. And your parents are fine with him just moving in?”
“They haven’t said that he couldn’t. Sirius is … well, difficult, but he’s not evil. He’s not like Bellatrix.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Alice said.
James looked at her. “You don’t believe me, do you?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure I trust Sirius, but I don’t know him, either. What I do know is that he’s betrayed Remus.”
“Don’t you think that’s a bit strong?” James protested.
Alice raised an eyebrow. “How else would you describe it?”
“Yeah, fair point. That’s exactly how Remus would see it,” James conceded. “But Sirius sees it as a joke that went wrong.”
“Perhaps you need to point out to Sirius that not everyone has the same sense of humour.”
“I’ll keep trying,” James told her. “So what about you - what have you been doing with yourself since you left school?”
“Auror training,” Alice answered. “I’ve got my final exams in April, so I’ve got a lot of studying to do before then.”
“Is it as hard as I’ve heard it is?” James asked. “The training, I mean.”
“It’s very challenging,” Alice said slowly. “The war has obviously added to the work-load.”
“I’m sure. Do you regret it? I mean, do you think you’ve made the right decision?”
“Absolutely.”
***
The Aurors’ office at the Ministry was always busy these days - and in the last few months, busy had taken on a new meaning for Alice. Ever since she had married Frank Longbottom at Christmas time the war had been brought out into the open. It was terrifying, and at the same time satisfying to know that her efforts were making a difference.
Even when it was beginning to seem as if they would not win the war - if it could be said that anyone could actually win a war.
She barely looked up from her paperwork as a new group of trainees were given the grand tour until one of them stood beside her.
Alice began to laugh. “I don’t believe it.”
James Potter grinned down at her. “What’s so surprising, Mrs Longbottom?”
“That you of all people are here,” she told him putting down her quill.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time - I remember asking you about your training when I came to see you that time.”
“I’d forgotten about that,” Alice said. “How are you enjoying training?”
“It’s quite a bit more daunting than I thought it would be,” James admitted. “Some weeks it’s a real struggle to keep up.”
Alice nodded. Due to the war Auror training had been compacted into a nine-month period rather than the three years that she had had. Unfortunately, the Auror losses had been such that they had to speed up training. She looked over at the instructor, marching towards them looking irritated. “Looks like it’s time to move on. James, come and see me when you’ve finished for the day and we’ll arrange a time to catch up.”
James smiled. “Sounds like a good idea. We finish at four, so I’ll see you just after that.”
***
They arranged to meet at The Leaky Cauldron that evening. James had suggested that she bring Frank and he was going to bring his girlfriend.
Alice’s jaw dropped when she saw James’s girlfriend. “I don’t believe it! I would’ve thought she had more sense.”
Frank looked over at the couple sitting at the table in the corner. “I know her, but I can’t remember her name,” he said.
“Muggle-born isn’t she?”
“Yes - Lily Evans,” Alice said as they made their way over to the table. “James, I’m sure you remember Frank.”
“Absolutely,” James said with a grin. “Mostly I remember being caught every time we tried to sneak out.”
Frank raised an eyebrow. “Every time?”
“Well, about half the time,” James said.
Frank acknowledged the response with a grin of his own. Alice relaxed and sat down next to Lily. It was going to be a good night.
***
“You’d better have a good explanation for this,” Alice told James as they entered the Atrium and hurried towards the lifts. “Barty Crouch does not have a sense of humour.”
James looked reflective. “I’m not exactly sure one can explain a five foot deep court in the middle of Wimbledon’s Centre Court. Especially less than three weeks before the tournament starts.”
Not for the first time, Alice wondered what had possessed her to take him on as a trainee. “Well, since you put it there, you’d better start thinking of a good story,” she told him as they reached the lifts. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the expression on Rufus Scrimegeour’s face. It appeared the news had already reached the Auror’s office. She sighed and mentally prepared herself for a long stint in the office doing everyone else’s paperwork.
“Actually, I didn’t put it there - they tried the Reductor Curse and I dodged.”
“Yes. That’s going to be appreciated,” Alice muttered as they entered the lift. She couldn’t help but notice the sympathetic looks she got from the other occupants. Even for a Ministry renowned for leaks and gossip, this had to be a new record.
“Longbottom. Potter. My office now.” Barty Crouch was waiting for them at the lifts. They followed behind him, through the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
Nobody would meet Alice’s eyes till they reached the Auror’s Offices. There she saw Frank grimace and couldn’t help but think that she and James must look like two recalcitrant students following their teacher.
She felt rather than saw Alastor Moody follow them into Crouch’s office and close the door.
Crouch seated himself behind his desk and glared at them. “What is the meaning of this?” he demanded. “Mrs Longbottom, I expect much better from you.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I hardly think you’re being fair, Mr Crouch,” James commented. “If you wish to blame anyone for this, blame me.”
“That may well be so, Mr Potter, but you are a trainee, and as such Mrs Longbottom is completely responsible for your actions.”
“With all due respect, sir, do you always make your decision before you’ve heard any of the evidence?” James asked softly.
Alice gasped, but before she could say anything, Moody spoke.
“That’s enough, lad,” Moody interrupted. “Barty, I’ll deal with these two. I’d suggest that you have a word with the Department for Muggle-Worthy Excuses and get them involved in this.”
“The point, Alastor, is that your Aurors should be in control of their actions at all times. They should not…”
“We will discuss this later.” Moody’s tone of voice suggested that this wasn’t up for discussion.
Without waiting for a response, he limped from the office. Alice glanced at Crouch then followed Moody.
He led them to an interview room. “Now,” he said, leaning against a table. “What happened out there?”
“Death Eaters,” James said briefly.
“Yes, Potter, I managed to work that out for myself,” Moody snapped.
“Is it possible to get the details, please.”
They filled him in on what happened. “I can’t be sure, but I think one of them was Lucius Malfoy,” Alice said, looking at James.
James nodded. “It certainly sounded like him,” he agreed.
“Did you see his face?” Moody asked intently.
“No, he wore a hood,” Alice answered. “But the more I think about it,
the more convinced I am it was him.”
“Unfortunately, unless we get a sighting of him, he’s going to come up with alibi after alibi,” Moody sighed. “We’ve tried before, but neither the Minister nor Crouch will authorise a search of his estate.”
“Well, we can keep trying. One day he’ll slip up,” James said.
“Hopefully,” Alice commented.
***
“Have you heard?” James asked.
Alice looked at him and noticed he was furious. “What’s wrong?”
“Crouch has arranged for Section 1408 of the Emergency Powers Act to be amended so that suspected Death Eaters can be transported directly to Azkaban without being tried,” James snapped. “It flies against everything we fight for.”
“Surely they’ll only apply it to You-Know-Who, though,” Alice said, feeling queasy.
“With Crouch in charge? Hardly,” James scoffed. “He’ll use it to get rid of any of his own enemies.” He looked thoughtful. “Given the way Crouch feels about me, I should probably watch my back.”
“You’ll be fine,” Alice told him. “Well, I suppose we are at war, and desperate times need desperate measures, but it does leave a bad taste in my mouth.”
“Exactly. And the fact that he’s doing this all on the quiet is what’s disturbing me the most, I think. At least that way there’ll be input from the public about it.” James put his hands in his pockets. “I just don’t trust Crouch not to have his own agenda.”
“Do you think this is something you should be discussing in public, Potter,” Moody asked, crossing his arms over his chest. Behind him stood a tall, black wizard looking vaguely uncomfortable.
James shrugged. “Crouch knows how I feel about him,” he said. “I mean, I hate dark magic and Voldemort and his kind, but he’s an absolute fanatic.”
“Even so, try to be a little discreet,” Moody told him. “He can make things very awkward for both of you.” He gestured to the other wizard. “Come and meet your trainers, Kingsley. Guys, this is Kingsley Shacklebolt, straight from training. Try not to corrupt him too much in the first week, if you can.”
***
“What do you think of Shacklebolt?” James asked as they packed up for the day. Shacklebolt had already left.
Alice shrugged. “He seems like a good sort,” she said. “Still fairly idealistic, but that’ll pass soon enough.” She absently rubbed her stomach.
“You’ve been doing that all day,” James observed. “Are you all right?”
“I’ve felt quite queasy all day,” Alice answered. “I just hope I’m not coming down with a bug - last thing we need at the moment.”
“Mm, Lily’s been sick for the last couple of days,” James said absently, “but then she’s pregnant.” He stopped and stared at her. “You’re not pregnant?”
Alice’s jaw dropped. “Surely not,” she said weakly. But it was all too possible. “I mean, we want kids, but not yet. Not while everything’s as unsettled as it is at the moment.”
James nodded. “That’s what we thought,” he said softly. “But if we wait for things to be normal before we have kids, they’ll never be born. Once Voldemort’s gone, there’ll be another crisis - there always is.”
“I suppose,” Alice said. “But I’m not sure I want to bring a child into this world at the moment.”
James slung an arm over her shoulders. “Believe me, I understand,” he told her. “But the world’s a dangerous place - I bet our parents said the same thing and their parents as well. All we can do is do our best to keep them safe.”
Alice nodded. “I could be pregnant,” she admitted. “I don’t know for certain.”
“Then find out,” James said, still using the same gentle tone of voice. “Whatever happens, you can handle it.”
“You need to find your own wife, Potter, and stop man-handling mine.” The grin on Frank’s face belied his words. “I believe she’s looking for you.”
“Just because Alice has finally seen sense,” James retorted, grinning back. “Jealous, old man?” He looked down at Alice. Call me later if you need to, OK,” he murmured.
“Thank you,” she whispered back.
“Speaking of which, I’d better go and find Lily,” James said. “See you both tomorrow.” He released Alice and strolled away.
Frank looked at Alice. “Are you all right?” he asked.
“I don’t know - I'll tell you about it at home,” she told him.
***
Alice was pregnant. She sat down on the side of the bed in shock.
“How do you feel,” Frank asked.
“Scared,” she admitted. “I’m not sure that I’ll be a good parent.”
“Me neither,” Frank said. “And this is the wrong time to have a child, but I don’t care. We’re having a baby.”
“I’m going to remind you of this when the baby’s teething and we’re getting no sleep,” Alice told him.
***
The Ministry refused to acknowledge that they were losing the war, but those on the frontlines knew the truth. Four months into her pregnancy, Alice got a harsh reminder of this.
James had been out in the field for the morning and rushed straight into Moody’s office. She was beginning to get a bad feeling about that. She looked up as Frank went in to join them.
She didn’t need to be a Seer to know something was definitely wrong.
About five minutes later they came out to join her. “Who is it?” she asked. “My parents?”
Moody hesitated and shook his head. “It’s Caradoc,” he said roughly. “He hasn’t been seen in three weeks and we believe that he’s been captured.”
“Do - do you think he’s alive?”
“Well, we haven’t found a body yet, lass,” Moody said.
“He’s dead,” Alice said flatly. “They don’t keep prisoners.” She stood. “Have you told his parents yet?”
“We’re just going to now,” James said. “Frank and I will do it.”
Alice shook her head. “No,” she whispered. “He was my cousin - I should tell them.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Frank asked softly. “James and I can do this.” James nodded in agreement.
“No, it should be me,” Alice said, standing up.
“Not by yourself, you’re not,” Moody told her. “Both of you can go with her, please.”
***
“We’re going home,” Frank told her once they left her aunt and uncle’s house.
She shook her head. “I’m fine to work.”
“No, you’re not.” James had been largely silent since they’d left the office. “There’s nothing happening that can’t wait until tomorrow - or the next day.” He hugged her awkwardly. “I’ll stop by on the way home tonight, OK.”
“We’ll see you then,” Frank said. He put his arm around her and Apparated them into their living room. “Sit down - I’ll make some tea.”
Alice watched him leave the room and wrapped her arms around herself. In the last few years many colleagues had been killed, but this was the closest person she’d lost.
Growing up, she had never been close to Caradoc - he was ten years older than she, and it had only been in the last few years that he’d realised she wasn’t the annoying pest he remembered.
She hadn’t realised Frank had reentered the room. “Come here,” he murmured, putting down the two cups he carried and putting his arms around her.
Slowly Alice wrapped her arms around him and cuddled close. “Why?”
“I don’t think we’ll ever know,” Frank said heavily. “Not fully.” He sighed. “We need to accept that sometimes we’re just not going to know.”
They stood there for a long time in silence, trying to come to terms with what was happening to their world.
***
“I wonder why he wants to see us,” Alice said as they waited for the moving staircase to transport them up into Dumbledore’s office.
“We’ll find out soon enough,” Frank said. “It must be important, though.”
“It’s always important,” Alice said. She was surprised to see both James and Lily already in the office. “What are you two doing here?”
“Same as you, I think.” James stood and offered her his seat. “Got a message telling us to come here immediately.”
“We got the same message,” Frank said. “Where’s Dumbledore?”
He arrived a couple of minutes later. “Thank you all for coming so promptly,” he said quietly. “I have learned something which will directly affect both of you and your families.” He placed his Pensieve on the desk. “Please just watch for now. We will discuss this in a few minutes.”
Alice watched as a figure emerged from the Pensieve - a bizarre looking woman who appeared to be all eyes and shawls. ”The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches … born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies … and the Dark Lord will mark him as is equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not … and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives … the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies …”
They watched the woman disappear. James was the first to speak. “Right,” he said. “Who is she and what the hell was that.”
“Her name is Sybil Trelawney,” Dumbledore said quietly. “Last night I interviewed her for a position on the Hogwarts Staff, and this was part of our interview.”
“Is she a Seer?” Alice asked.
“I did not believe so until she revealed that prophecy,” Dumbledore answered. “It could very well be meaningless, but equally it could be extremely significant.” He looked at Lily and then at Alice. “James and Alice have battled Voldemort on several occasions, if I’m not mistaken.”
“Three,” James confirmed hoarsely. “Three times.”
“Do you think that - that this is accurate?” Lily asked shakily.
Dumbledore held out his hands. “I do not know enough about Divination to answer that with any certainty,” he told her. “We will know more when the babies arrive, and can decide what we need to do then.”
Alice rubbed her stomach. “I’m not due till August - the sixth.”
“Babies are notorious for choosing their own time to arrive,” Dumbledore reminded her. “If both babies are born in August then we will know that this prophecy does not refer to either of your children. At the moment it seems to referring to either of them.”
“That could change,” Frank spoke for the first time. “That’s what we have to hope for now.”
***
They ended up at James and Lily’s cottage. “So, what do we do?” Alice asked after several minutes of silence.
James shrugged. “Hope that this prophecy is as rubbish as most of them usually are,” he said. “Or hope that, if it’s correct, it refers to some other poor bastard’s child and not ours.”
“I’ve decided I want a girl,” Alice said. “The prophecy referred to him, not her.” She nodded. “A girl born in August - that’ll be nice.”
Lily nodded in agreement. “Me too,” she said. “Me too.”
***
But that wasn’t to be. Alice gave birth to a little boy on the second to last day of July. On the last day of July Lily also had a little boy.
“We still don’t know,” Lily said in despair a few weeks later. “I just wish we knew if the prophecy was valid or not.”
Alice looked down at the babies, lying side by side. “I know,” she said. “Looking at them, I can’t help but be sorry for whichever one of them it could be.”
“Exactly,” Lily said. “What I do know is that if Voldemort wants my baby, he’s going to have to get past me first. And I don’t intend to make it easy for him.”
“Me either,” Alice murmured. “Has Dumbledore spoken to you as well?”
“About going into hiding? Yeah, we’re thinking about it.” She was silent for a minute. “Did he tell you there’s a traitor somewhere in the Order?”
Alice nodded. “He told us a few days ago. At the meeting last night, I kept looking at everyone and wondering who it was.”
“I was doing the same thing,” Lily admitted. “I mean, I know it’s not Dumbledore, McGonagall, Frank, James, Remus, Sirius, Peter or you. Everyone else - I’m not so sure about.”
“I’d add Moody to that list as well.”
Lily nodded. “James agrees with you. I’m just not as sure - he seems a little fanatical to me.”
“If you think he’s fanatical, you really don’t want to meet Crouch,” Alice told her. “He’s nothing compared with Crouch.”
***
Whoever the traitor was, it became clear that they were very close to both couples. After a series of near misses, Dumbledore again called a meeting.
When Alice got back into the living room after showing Dumbledore out, she found the others exactly where she left them.
James, typically, was the first to speak. “Anyone heard of this Fidelius charm before?” he asked. “Lily, you’re the Charms expert.”
Lily shook her head, frowning. “Not really. I remember Flitwick talking about something that sounds similar during Charms Club once,” she said. “But it didn’t involve anything like a Secret Keeper.”
“You’ve been quiet, Frank,” James said.
Frank hadn’t said a word since Dumbledore had started to speak.
“I’ve been thinking about it all,” he said.
“And?” Alice asked.
“I’m actually quite angry that we need to do this,” Frank said, still using the same reasonable tone. “The fact they’ve got as close as they have means the traitor is one of our closest friends. That means it’s someone that’s been in my house.”
Lily nodded. “I feel exactly the same way. How dare they do this to us. Why would they?”
“I don’t know,” James said. “What I do know is that we’re basically unimportant compared to the babies. One of them is potentially the one that’s going to defeat Voldemort, so our job is to keep them both alive till they’re old enough to do that.” He slouched down in the armchair. “I haven’t got anything else to do for the next few years.”
“Who are we going to ask to be our Secret Keeper?” Lily asked.
“Sirius, I suppose,” James answered. “Who would you use?”
“Frank’s mother,” Alice answered straight away. “I’d like to see anyone try and get anything out of Augusta.”
James laughed at that. “She’s formidable, that’s for sure,” he said. “So when do we do this?”
“As soon as possible,” Frank said. “For the boys’ safety.”
James nodded. “I’ll talk to Dumbledore tomorrow and see what needs to be done.”
The Charm was incredibly complex, and it would take them several months to completely master it. They finally managed to get it right about a week before Halloween.
Alice began to relax, knowing that they were all finally safe.
***
Part II