The Potter Place

Chapter 2 Marauders

By: Winky

October 26, 1981

There was a knock on the front door and Harry toddled over. (Harry was an exceptional child; he was little more than one year old and he could already walk and talk.)

"Door! Door!" Harry called. James glided into the foyer and swung open the door. Standing there were Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, each hanging on one another.

"Marauders!" James yelled and they threw themselves into a many-armed hug. Harry laughed and clapped his hands yelling, "Modders! Modders!"

Lily came running into the room. When she saw them she gasped and threw herself into the group hug.

Harry, feeling left out, crossed his arms and sat on the floor pouting. Remus looked down and laughed. He bent over and picked him up.

Everyone gathered around Harry tickling him and making him laugh. "He looks just like you James! Look at those little cheeks!" cooed Peter, pinching James' cheeks.

"Noooo! Oh my poor heart!" He put his hand to his forehead dramatically and fell onto Sirius. Sirius looked at Peter trying not to grin, "Look what you've done to him! You've traumatized him! Oh!" Sirius looked away with a mock pained look on his face, "I can't even look at you!" Everyone laughed. James still pretended to be dead.

Sirius picked him up with (a lot) of strain and carried him outside. Sitting there was an enormous motorcycle, eligible to seat three men (and it probably had). It was shiny and had a blue plate cover just below the handlebars.

James just stared in awe. "Did you do it?"

Sirius grinned, "Yep!" he looked over his shoulder at the house. Everyone was still in there. They had just left with out word. Who cared? They had done worse stuff than this. "Let's go!"

Sirius jumped on and James clambered on behind him. The motorcycle revved and then the front end tipped upward. The back wheel spun so fast smoke began to rise. To the Muggle eye, it would have looked like two men on a big motorcycle, stuck in a pop-wheelie.

Finally the motorcycle lifted completely off the ground. It jerked forward and they soared up fifty feet or more. Sirius let out a whoop and removed his hands from the handlebars. James turned around and saw a flame haired figure immerge from the house. James panicked.

"Uh, Padfoot?"

"Yeah, Prongs? You love it? So do I,"

"No, its that, I think I hear my Lily calling,"

Sirius, who had more encounters with Muggles than you would think, chuckled slightly at the pun and swerved the bike around.

James just stared in awe. "Did you do it?"

Sirius grinned, "Yep!" he looked over his shoulder at the house. Everyone was still in there. They had just left with out word. Who cared? They had done worse stuff than this. "Let's go!"

Sirius jumped on and James clambered on behind him. The motorcycle revved and then the front end tipped upward. The back wheel spun so fast smoke began to rise. To the Muggle eye, it would have looked like two men on a big motorcycle, stuck in a pop-wheelie.

Unfortunately Sirius had swerved too much and James slid off the seat. James let out a grunt and reached up to dig his bitten nails into the seat. Sirius hadn't realized what happened for the engine was roaring.

"Sirius!" James yelled. They were soaring about at thirty feet and James was only holding on by one hand.

Sirius looked over his shoulder. Seeing that James wasn't there he looked down. His eyes widened to see the condition James was in. Sirius reached down and grabbed James forearm, and James grabbed his forearm.

If a Muggle were to look out their window at the moment, they would see a flying motorcycle with a tall thin figure dangling down by the rear wheel with a bent lump clutching it.

Down at the house, Lily had run outside when she heard a roar of an engine. Remus, carrying Harry, and Peter followed her out of the house grinning. They knew what was happening.

Lily looked up and saw James and Sirius on an enormous motorbike. Lily wanted to scream at them, make them come back down, but she realized just in time that anything she said would sound odd to a Muggle.

Suddenly, what she saw made her heart stop. Sirius swerved the bike around sharply and James fell off the side of the seat. She screamed and stifled it with her fist. James was dangling there helplessly, Sirius oblivious. She grabbed Peter's arm painfully hard. Peter gasped and went to his knees.

Woman on adrenaline! Woman on adrenaline! Peter thought

Lily's stomach jolted as she saw Sirius lean over and grasp James arm.

Thank-you Sirius! thought Lily, her grip on Peter's arm lighting just a bit.

Up in the air, Sirius pulled James up so he was leaning over the seat, his upper half on one side, his lower half on the other side. James hoisted himself onto the seat swinging his leg over the side.

"Sirius! Down please!"

Sirius nodded dumbly and took the bike into a steep dive, trying to get to the ground as quickly as possible.

As soon as the motorcycle bumped to a stop, Lily was upon James squeezing his neck.

"James! I was so worried!" Lily suddenly turned to Sirius and hit him on the shoulder. "You idiot! Why don't you learn to drive the bike before you try to take passengers!"

Sirius recoiled as Lily progressed upon him still ranting. Sirius backed up further and further until the back of his legs collided with his bike. Lily, who was saying, "So irresponsible! If that was my bike..." Sirius backed up more, so he was sitting on the seat of the bike. Lily still kept coming closer.

Sirius leaned back, but he slid backwards off the over-polished leather seat. He thudded to the ground his long legs still draped over the seat. Lily's head appeared over the side. "So learn how to ride or I'll track you down and haunt you in the night! I can do that, I'm an Auror,"

Sirius, who had been looking at her wide-eyed and slightly terrified, nodded dumbly. "Good," Lily spat.

Remus, James, and Peter who had been covering their mouths from laughter, finally couldn't take it anymore; they threw back their heads and laughed, leaning on each other.

Lily spun around and looked at them. They immediately straightened up and cleared up their throats. "So, who wants to watch Harry say the alphabet backward?"

Remus went over to Sirius and dragged him up. They went into the house to praise Harry at his marvelous skills.

* * * * *

October 31, 1981

Sirius jumped off the bike and ran down the road the rest of the way to the Potter place. His feet were pounding and his breath was coming out in pants.

James just stared in awe. "Did you do it?"

Sirius grinned, "Yep!" he looked over his shoulder at the house. Everyone was still in there. They had just left with out word. Who cared? They had done worse stuff than this. "Let's go!"

Sirius jumped on and James clambered on behind him. The motorcycle revved and then the front end tipped upward. The back wheel spun so fast smoke began to rise. To the Muggle eye, it would have looked like two men on a big motorcycle, stuck in a pop-wheelie.

Unfortunately Sirius had swerved too much and James slid off the seat. James let out a grunt and reached up to dig his bitten nails into the seat. Sirius hadn't realized what happened for the engine was roaring.

"Sirius!" James yelled. They were soaring about at thirty feet and James was only holding on by one hand.

Sirius looked over his shoulder. Seeing that James wasn't there he looked down. His eyes widened to see the condition James was in. Sirius reached down and grabbed James forearm, and James grabbed his forearm.

Sirius had his dog Animagus form to thank for that. He spent so much time as a dog, his human features were becoming more dog-like.

Sirius turned and sped down the road, only to come to a skidding stop, and stare weak kneed at the house.

If you could call it that.

There was a pile of ashes and brick with swirling smoke rising from its depths. Glowing sparks where shining in a strange green light. Sirius looked up at the sky at...The Dark Mark.

Sirius looked down at the house, his chest seemed empty. He wobbled to it. He got about twenty feet from it when he collapsed against a tree. That's when he saw him.

James. He was kneeling in the middle of the ruble holding Lily. He was crying. His shoulders were shaking. He was clutching Lily to him as though someone were trying to take her body away from him. There was nothing he could do for her now.

Harry toddled around an enormous pile of burnt brick that had probably been a fireplace. Sirius could only see blurry shapes through his over flowing eyes but it look like Harry had a cut on his forehead. James pulled Harry to him still weeping. It looked as though he couldn't stop if he wanted to. Harry put his little pudgy arms around his father's neck.

James looked at Lily. Her eyes were wide and vacant. The Dark Mark was reflecting out of her brilliant green eyes. Harry's eyes had turned that color. Lily's mouth had fallen open as though she were surprised. James leaned down and kissed her forehead.

* * * * *

November 3^rd, 1981

James was sitting in the enormous armchair, staring into the fire. The house had been restored with more than just a flick of the wand. Ever since Lily had...James felt his throat contract. He covered his mouth with his hand and breathed deeply through his nose. He had to be strong. He didn't want Sirius and Remus to see him like that. They were coming. After the...attack...Sirius showed up and pulled him into a tight brotherly embrace, trying to send some energy into James. After that, James had not shed one tear, not one. He tried to be strong for his friends, Harry, and himself.

Poor Harry...James had thought about Harry's future a lot during those few days. What it was going to be like for him to grow up with no mother. James would have to serve as mother and father to little Harry. It pained him; Harry knew what was going on around him. That also gnawed at James inside. Harry had never been blissfully happy. He has always understood what was happening. Harry was too smart for his own good.

After Sirius had arrived, Albus Dumbledore appeared. He rushed over looking frantically at the house remains and the scene before him. James and Sirius told Dumbledore what had happened. They told him about Peter, the betrayer. Peter, who had been their Secret Keeper, was a Death Eater. He had sold their lives for his. Peter's trial was to be held later that month.

James heard a gentle knock on the door. James rose out of the chair and made his way slowly to it. James had not slept since the attack. He felt dizzy with tire. Every time he would lie down and try to sleep, sleep would not come. Every trick there was, James tried. He missed Lily so much it hurt. He missed he warm kisses, her tender touch. She had meant so much to him.

James reached the door and opened it. It creaked the way it always had as it revealed the pale faces of Sirius Black and Remus Lupin.

James stepped backward and they entered. James led them over to the fire. They stepped down into the sunken living room and fell into overstuffed chairs that matched the carpet. Remus looked at James, who was again looking into the fire. Remus and Sirius shared the same feeling for James. Pity. Remorse. Helplessness. Nothing could be done for him. All they could do was help him, comfort him, and remember. It was a new beginning for them all. They just had to start over.

"You ready to talk?" asked Remus. Hard as they tried they couldn't not be funny.

James just stared in awe. "Did you do it?"

Sirius grinned, "Yep!" he looked over his shoulder at the house. Everyone was still in there. They had just left with out word. Who cared? They had done worse stuff than this. "Let's go!"

Sirius jumped on and James clambered on behind him. The motorcycle revved and then the front end tipped upward. The back wheel spun so fast smoke began to rise. To the Muggle eye, it would have looked like two men on a big motorcycle, stuck in a pop-wheelie.

Unfortunately Sirius had swerved too much and James slid off the seat. James let out a grunt and reached up to dig his bitten nails into the seat. Sirius hadn't realized what happened for the engine was roaring.

"Sirius!" James yelled. They were soaring about at thirty feet and James was only holding on by one hand.

Sirius looked over his shoulder. Seeing that James wasn't there he looked down. His eyes widened to see the condition James was in. Sirius reached down and grabbed James forearm, and James grabbed his forearm.

Sirius had his dog Animagus form to thank for that. He spent so much time as a dog, his human features were becoming more dog-like.

Sirius turned and sped down the road, only to come to a skidding stop, and stare weak kneed at the house.

If you could call it that.

Trying to get James to crack the tiniest little smile was harder than it used to be. Even after his parents died in 3^rd year they could get him to laugh.

"It was my fault-"

"James-"

"Shad ap!" commanded Remus.

James just stared in awe. "Did you do it?"

Sirius grinned, "Yep!" he looked over his shoulder at the house. Everyone was still in there. They had just left with out word. Who cared? They had done worse stuff than this. "Let's go!"

Sirius jumped on and James clambered on behind him. The motorcycle revved and then the front end tipped upward. The back wheel spun so fast smoke began to rise. To the Muggle eye, it would have looked like two men on a big motorcycle, stuck in a pop-wheelie.

Unfortunately Sirius had swerved too much and James slid off the seat. James let out a grunt and reached up to dig his bitten nails into the seat. Sirius hadn't realized what happened for the engine was roaring.

"Sirius!" James yelled. They were soaring about at thirty feet and James was only holding on by one hand.

Sirius looked over his shoulder. Seeing that James wasn't there he looked down. His eyes widened to see the condition James was in. Sirius reached down and grabbed James forearm, and James grabbed his forearm.

Sirius had his dog Animagus form to thank for that. He spent so much time as a dog, his human features were becoming more dog-like.

Sirius turned and sped down the road, only to come to a skidding stop, and stare weak kneed at the house.

If you could call it that.

Trying to get James to crack the tiniest little smile was harder than it used to be. Even after his parents died in 3^rd year they could get him to laugh.

"It was my fault-"

"James-"

"Shad ap!" commanded Remus.

"I tried to banish him. I guess I was just worked up or something...I banished him upstairs!"

~*~*~*~*~*~

Dobby: Winky how could you??

Winky: How could me what?

Dobby: You made Lily die!

Winky: *staring in disbelief*SHE DIES ANYWAY!

Dobby: ...Oh yeah...

Winky: Blonde...

Dobby: I heard that!

Winky: You were meant to.

Dobby (dramatically): YOU ARE SO HURTFULL!

Winky: Back to the story...

* * * * *

August 3, 1995

James and Harry were in the pool with Remus and Sirius. They had installed a pool to teach small Harry how to swim. He was about two months short of his fifth birthday. And, the pool helped them to look "normal". Not that it did much good. The Muggles were moving away.

James just stared in awe. "Did you do it?"

Sirius grinned, "Yep!" he looked over his shoulder at the house. Everyone was still in there. They had just left with out word. Who cared? They had done worse stuff than this. "Let's go!"

Sirius jumped on and James clambered on behind him. The motorcycle revved and then the front end tipped upward. The back wheel spun so fast smoke began to rise. To the Muggle eye, it would have looked like two men on a big motorcycle, stuck in a pop-wheelie.

Unfortunately Sirius had swerved too much and James slid off the seat. James let out a grunt and reached up to dig his bitten nails into the seat. Sirius hadn't realized what happened for the engine was roaring.

"Sirius!" James yelled. They were soaring about at thirty feet and James was only holding on by one hand.

Sirius looked over his shoulder. Seeing that James wasn't there he looked down. His eyes widened to see the condition James was in. Sirius reached down and grabbed James forearm, and James grabbed his forearm.

Sirius had his dog Animagus form to thank for that. He spent so much time as a dog, his human features were becoming more dog-like.

Sirius turned and sped down the road, only to come to a skidding stop, and stare weak kneed at the house.

If you could call it that.

Trying to get James to crack the tiniest little smile was harder than it used to be. Even after his parents died in 3^rd year they could get him to laugh.

"It was my fault-"

"James-"

"Shad ap!" commanded Remus.

"I tried to banish him. I guess I was just worked up or something...I banished him upstairs!"

~*~*~*~*~*~

Dobby: Winky how could you??

Winky: How could me what?

Dobby: You made Lily die!

"Glory be to the Lord!" James, Sirius, and Remus had shouted playfully when their Muggle neighbor John Clerse had told them the "bad news" and gone away.

It sort of was bad news. They liked John. He was nice. Not nearly as rude as the other neighbors.

"What the bloody hell do you do over in that run down shack?" one of the richer neighbors had said one night after a party for Harry.

They were now in the pool, about five feet apart letting Harry doggy paddle his way to them, praising him each successive time.

"Daddy..."Harry called to James.

"Yes Harry?" asked James as Harry was swimming away from him to Remus. Harry didn't say anything but went right on to Sirius. "Daddy..." asked Harry again as Sirius turned him around directing him to James.

"Yes Harry?" Harry said nothing but bobbed over to him panting with his tongue out. James caught him when Harry had reached him.

"Daddy! I don't have to go potty anymore!" James small smile faded and he looked up at Sirius and Remus. Both of them had the same look on their faces. They both suddenly were splashing frantically to the side of the pool. They hopped out and sat on the side, arms wrapped around their legs. "Ew." They said in unison.

August 23, 1996

They were at the park. James was talking to his neighbor John. It was only two days before he left.

Sirius and Remus were playing with Harry. Sirius was pushing him on (not off) the swing. Remus would tap the bottoms of Harry's feet when he whooshed by.

Harry put his feet down and slipped out of the swing.

"Monkey bars!" he shouted running past Sirius. He and Remus followed while Harry clambered to the top. It was a dome shaped structure that had bars webbing out in all directions. Harry soon got bored. James often said he and Sirius shared the attention span of a peanut.

Harry ran over to James and attacked his leg.

(Dobby: Rabies?

Winky: No! And what are you doing here Dobby?

Dobby: ...I dunno.

Winky: Then GO HOME.

Dobby: Ok but watch out for Harry. He has rabies.

Winky: HE DOES NOT!)

He wrapped his legs and arms around James' leg, sitting on his foot.

"Walk Daddy!" Instead of walking around in a circle like he normally would he picked up Harry and put him on his shoulders. James continued talking to John. Harry began to slip off.

(Dobby: And James, being the terrible father he was let him fall, but Harry being having rabies sunk his teeth into his fathers leg saving himself from the horrible fate that awaited him on the ground-

Winky: WOULD YOU GO HOME????)

James reached up quickly and grabbed Harry's foot. Harry, being only six was light. James swung him around and upright in front of him. He was now holding him around the middle. Sirius and Remus suddenly appeared beside him.

"Smile!" called John holding up his camera.

Instinctively they all looked up and smiled. Harry threw out his arm sand opened his mouth into a wide circle. John snapped the camera and a flash lit up the shadowy space under the tree.

"Sirius help me I'm blind!" Remus said falling onto Sirius.

"I'd help you Remus but I seem to be deaf!"

"Oh boy would you look at that!" declared James joining in.

"I would but I'm blind!"

"WHAT?" yelled Sirius. Remus and James laughed.

"What? What's so funny?"

"You can stop now Sirius..."

"WHAT?"

"SHUT UP SIRIUS!"

"Yes ma'am."