The Marauders; A Generation

The Marauders; A Generation.

Chapter 5

The trip to St. Mungo's was a silent one partly because they were using a portkey, and partly because none of them could think of anything to say.

James, Sirius and Lily arrived at the set arrival point just outside the main entrance, to find Professor Dumbledore already standing there waiting for them as he had apparated. James glanced up at the sign over the main entrance, where it read in large, ominous letters;

ST. MUNGO'S HOSPITAL FOR MAGICAL MALADIES AND INJURIES

Dumbledore gave James a grim smile before gesturing the first-years to follow him. Much like a muggle hospital, the walls of the building were harshly white, and everything looked and smelt pristinely clean. There were a number of corridors that stood behind the front desk, which had only one middle-aged witch working, as everything else was under magical control. The scratching of Quills could be heard as they scurried mysteriously across ever filling rolls of parchment and there were all kinds of different alert signs on the wall behind the counter for all kinds of different emergencies that could only happen in the wizarding world.

"Albus, it's good to see you again. What brings you to St. Mungo's?" the witch asked, smiling kindly at the first-year's.

"And you Ms. Penning, but I'm afraid my call today isn't a pleasant one. I do believe you are keeping Mrs. Cynthia Potter here in the intensive curse care facility?" Dumbledore said gravely. Immediately, Ms. Penning's expression turned grim and she looked towards James sympathetically.

"I should have known, you look so much like Harry did. You must be James," she said. James gave her a small smile and said hello.

"Albus," she said, straightening up, "The ICCU is left of the corridor, Cynthia's room number is 160. I'll see you when you get back," she said, and went back to her work. The four of them walked through the small door that led into the hospital. It looked small, but when they walked through it, they saw how big the building really was. There were many different hallways leading to various parts, all labeled over the entrance. They found the one that read 'ICCU' and proceeded through it.

"One fifty-eight, one fifty-nine, one sixty ..." James' voice trailed off when he came to his mothers room. He stood outside it, just looking at the door.

"Maybe it would be best if you went in alone first James, and then we shall join you if you would like," Dumbledore said, placing a reassuring hand on James' shoulder. He nodded and took a deep breath before quietly opening the door. As the door shut behind him he walked over to the bed that was in the middle of the white room, and sighed shakily when he saw his mother lying on top of it. She was so pale ... her skin seemed to have been drained of its entire colour, becoming almost translucent. Her eyes were closed but when he came nearer they suddenly popped open, and he was shocked to see them lifeless and dull, devoid of the spark they used to hold. His heart leapt in hope when recognition flashed through his mother's eyes.

She's going to be okay ... thank god, she remembers who I am.

James was standing right up against the bed now, and Cynthia took his hand gently.

"I've missed you so much ... Billy."

******************

James had come storming out of the room, and they'd proceeded to travel back to Hogwarts in utter silence. Not even Dumbledore seemed to be able to find the words to say to the young boy. He just seemed so ... angry.

When James, Lily and Sirius got back to the Gryffindor common room, James excused himself quietly and went up to his dorm. Sirius, unsure of whether he should go after his friend, or let him be alone, looked helplessly at Lily.

"Maybe we should let him alone for a while ... gosh, I wish I knew what happened ... it must be so hard ..." Lily said. Sirius nodded.

"Aunt Cynthia has always been like a mum to me ... I can't imagine her being any other way then she's always been. I just hope she pulls through," he said. The conversation was interrupted though when James came back down fifteen minutes later and sat with them on the couches. As it was still morning, most of the school had classes, and there was still another half hour before lunch was due.

"I'm sorry I haven't said anything, I'm going to need some time to deal," James said, looking into the fire.

"Don't apologize, you have nothing to be sorry for," Lily said. Sirius nodded in agreement. James paused for a moment before continuing.

"When I went into the room ... I saw her. She looked so lifeless, she may as well have been dead already ... and she looked at me, and I saw her remember me, and thought, that's all she needs, a memory to help her through. But she didn't remember me at all ..." at this, he looked at Sirius.

"She thought I was Billy." Sirius closed his eyes for a moment.

"God ... I'm sorry James," he said despairingly. Lily meanwhile was looking back and forth between the two boys questioningly. Sirius noticed this first.

"Billy was Aunt Cynthia's twin brother. He was ... incredibly sick since the day he was born; he died when they were both 12. She's always saying that James looks like him, even though Billy's hair was light brown and ..." he trailed off when he realized he was babbling.

James looked over at him and gave him a small smile.

"I don't want to think about it for awhile. Let's go down to lunch." So the three of them set off down to the Great Hall. As they were making their way down the main flights of stairs, a first year Ravenclaw boy came rushing up to James.

"Are you James Potter?" he asked. James nodded.

"Professor Dumbledore told me to tell you to go to his office after lunch if you feel up to it," he said the last part a little uncertainly, but James reassured and thanked him.

Remus and Peter already knew where James had been, and so didn't question him when they met with the rest of them for lunch, as it didn't seem like he really wanted to talk about it. After lunch, James went to see Dumbledore. He gave the password and entered his chambers, making his way down to the office door. It was slightly ajar, so he pushed it open slowly.

"Ah, Mr. Potter, thank you for seeing me," Dumbledore said kindly. James sat down opposite the Headmaster.

"James, it is important that you tell me what happened at St. Mungo's today - not because I am prying into your personal life, but because the docters need to know whether there is any chance for recovery - you know that the only way is through memory." James nodded, looking down at the ground. When he looked back up, Dumbledore's kind blue eyes were fixed on him.

"There was a memory ..." at this Dumbledore's face lightened.

"But she thought I was Billy." Dumbledore's face turned to contemplation.

"Then the cause is not lost after all. I said she needed a memory Mr. Potter, it doesn't matter what memory it is, as long as it's there. Thank you for telling me," he said. The little glimmer of hope that had risen earlier that day at the hospital was quickly rising again.

"Are you serious? There's a chance she might fully recover?" he asked desperately. Dumbledore smiled back at him.

"I think there's a very good chance indeed."

******************

The next few weeks passed by without much comment. James was not permitted to visit his mother again as the docters said it might interfere with her recovery if she became confused. He was okay with that, as long as the recovery was progressing.

Christmas passed, and James spent it at Hogwarts. Sirius, Lily and Remus also stayed, but Peter went home, as his parents were very adamant about spending Christmas together as a family. James admired the togetherness they obviously shared (he had never met the Pettigrew's).

The four of them spent the days wrapped up warmly in cloaks, robes and scarves either having snowball fights, playing quidditch, or as Lily made them all, doing holiday homework. At mealtimes they were stunned at the effort the House Elves had put into making such a Christmas-like affair, with delicacies such as mince pies in the shape of bells, and pudding the shape of snowflakes, especially as the number of students at Hogwarts had reduced so considerably. At night, they would stay up as late as they could, sitting around the fire on the big comfortable couches in the common room, drinking hot chocolate and eating whatever they could convince the House Elves to give them when they snuck into the kitchens at night - this wasn't hard at all, as the House Elves were always willing to oblige! The four of them became very close that holiday - something that would never be broken.

Soon enough, the beginning of term had started, and Peter was back. They were all studying hard (or as hard as they could when the boys weren't messing around or flying) as the end of year exams were quickly coming towards them. Peter had asked Lily to help him with a number of subjects, as it was a well-known fact that she was the smartest witch in the year, James and Sirius coming in close seconds. (To their knowledge). She obliged happily and with her help, Peter was able to pass his exams with not the highest, but high marks for his year.

"Thank you so much for your help Lily, I really don't know where I would be without you!" he had thanked her over and over again.

The year had passed without too many confrontations with Arvan Lestrange but they decided that this was only because he was holding it all in for a big one - they hoped it wouldn't be soon.

It was almost the end of term when James made his way to Dumbledore's office - these had become weekly visits to check up on how his mother was doing.

"Hello Professor Dumbledore, how are you?" he said. He'd become a much happier person in the past couple of weeks - the Headmaster suspected that Christmas had had something to do with it.

"I'm well thank you Mr. Potter, and you? I must commend you on your results in your recent examinations - you are currently tied as top of your form," Dumbledore said. James' eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"What? I'm tied with Lily?" he said, thinking smugly to himself. Dumbledore shook his head, laughing slightly.

"No, no, I meant for the boys. I don't think that, anyone will ever quite reach Miss. Evan's level of ... everything, but you are top of the boys," he said, winking. James' smugness was cut short.

"Oh," he said grumpily.

"So I guess I'm tying with Sirius then?" he said expectantly. Dumbledore shook his head again.

"Where Mr. Black is an exceptional student, I think that his little adventures with Mr. Lupin have caused both their top marks to slide a tad ... no, you are tied with Mr. Malfoy." James nearly fell over in shock.

"Malfoy? As in, Lucius Malfoy? That's impossible!" James cried. Dumbledore shook his head, still smiling.

"You must not judge other people by what there backgrounds might be. I know what you think of young Mr. Malfoy, and he deserves those judgments on many levels. But never assume about one's intelligence, you'd do well to remember that Mr. Potter."

It was with these words ringing through his mind that James Potter left Professor Dumbledore's office. So consumed in his thoughts he was that he didn't even notice someone else coming around the corner until he'd smacked right into them.

"Peter! I'm so sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going!" he cried. The other boy scrambled around to pick up his papers fast, but James got there before him. His eyes nearly bugged as he stared at the mark on Peter's mid-term Defense Against the Dark Arts test.

"Peter ... gods, I don't know what to say ... 176%! You got full marks! Why didn't you tell any of us?" James asked incredulously. Peter's cheeks were gradually turning a vivid shade of red.

"I don't know ... I, uh, I guess I'm just good at some things, but really bad at others," Peter mumbled quietly. James put his hand on the other boy's shoulder.

"Don't ever think that Peter. You're not bad at anything, it's there inside you, just waiting to come out." James smiled at him, but the smile turned into a frown as he realized that Peter was not smiling back.

"Is there something troubling you Peter?" James asked, concerned. Peter hesitated before answering.

"It's just that ... well, sometimes I feel sort of excluded from you guys ... you know, you, Sirius and Remus. I'm sure you don't mean to do it, but you three are all so easy to talk to, and smart, and good-looking ... I don't really fit in ..." he trailed off unhappily. James was shocked. He'd had no idea that Peter had felt this way.

"Peter, I'm sorry if I-, if we ever made you feel that way. Believe me, it was NOT intentional. You ARE one of us, and you are smart, stop doubting yourself. We're your friends, I'm your friend. If you ever need to talk about anything, just remember that okay?" he said. After a few moments Peter's face broke into a timid smile.

"Thanks James, thanks a lot."

******************

The weeks flew by and the Hogwart's first years were soon taking their end of year exams. The Doctor's at St. Mungo's had informed James that Cynthia was doing the best a Cruciatus victim had ever done before, and if she kept recovering at this rate, she would be perfectly normal by the time her recovery was completed. This definitely filled the Gryffindor group with hope and happiness. Professor Dumbledore had given permission for James to stay at the Black's house over the summer and they were all looking forward to this very much, as the two boys had invited the rest of their group over for the last two weeks of the vacation.

The last day of term approached rapidly, and finally, they were all standing on the platform at Hogsmeade station.

Lily was late, and so she hadn't spotted her friends yet, so, thinking they'd spotted her, turned around when she was tapped on the shoulder. Her eyes widened as she saw who was standing there.

"Lucius! Oh, I didn't expect you, sorry, you gave me such a fright!" she exclaimed. He smiled apologetically.

"I'm sorry Lily, I didn't mean to, I just wanted to say goodbye, and I hope you have a good summer."

"Thank you! I hope you have a great one too, are you going anywhere exciting?" she asked. He shook his head, a glimmer of ... something flashed through his eyes.

"No, just back to the manor. Would it be okay if I owled you?" he asked. She nodded, surprised again.

"Sure. Listen, I've got to run, but I'll speak to you soon okay? Bye!" and with that she gave him one last smile and ran off to join James. Lucius stared after her thoughtfully. Something was happening to him, something very strange, he had never felt it before. Before he could contemplate this any longer a deep voice cut through his thoughts.

"Well done Mr. Malfoy. You've done very well on your first assignment. There are some people that will be very pleased with your efforts." Lucius smiled at Arvan uncertainly as he watched the older boy glide away swiftly.

"But what if I'm not one of them ..."

******************

"Lily, why were you talking to Malfoy again?" James asked her concernedly. Lily rolled her eyes.

"Don't worry about it, he just said something nasty so I said something nasty back," she said, hoping he wouldn't catch the nervousness in her voice. James suddenly looked angry.

"What did that bastard say? Go on, tell me, I'll kill him!" James spat out. Lily placed a calming hand on his arm.

"James, calm down, it was nothing I couldn't handle. Lucius isn't as tough as he makes out to be." James visibly relaxed.

"Alright, but the MOMENT he steps a real toe out of line ... you come to me okay?" he asked. She nodded.

"All right, all right. Go on, let's get on the train." And with that, the two of them walked on and found a compartment with the rest of their friends.

******************

Arvan walked back up to the school gates to wait for his mother as they would be apparating home (even though he was underage).

"Arvan, for heavens sake, tuck that shirt in, we're still in public," Professor Lestrange said sternly. Arvan complied immediately.

"I'm sorry mother, but you will be happy to know that the plan involving young Mr. Malfoy is going considerably well. All we have to do now is give him his first real assignment."

Professor Lestrange flinched ever so slightly as she felt a burning in her left arm. Pulling up her sleeve she saw her mark glowing hot. She touched it with one of her delicate fingers and held her breath as it burnt her soft skin.

"Take my hand Arvan," she said to her son, and he complied again. Within seconds, the two of them had disappeared, to anyone watching, their whereabouts unknown. But one person was watching. One person who always knew what was going on, especially inside the school he had been entrusted to keep. Albus Dumbledore watched as the Slytherin mother and son duo disappeared from the spot that they had been standing not moments ago. The fact that the fifth year had apparated illegally had not been what bothered him the greatest ... no, it was the fact that his mother had looked at her left forearm before they had disappeared, and that's what he feared the most. Albus Dumbledore would get to the bottom of this; there was no doubt about that.