Orbus

- - - Orbus - - -

Chapter 1: Storm

Lily glanced at the clock, the hands appearing to spin rather than tick second by second. With Voldemort in full power, recruiting new followers and killing those who refused, time was not to be taken for granted.

There was a cry, the pleading sob of a child. Lily rushed down the hall, her maternal instinct sensitive. Young Harry raised his head unsteadily.

"Mummy's here," Lily assured Harry as she lifted him from the wooden crib. As though by an act of magic, Harry's cries grew muffled until silence hung in the air like a mist. Lily held Harry in a firm, protective hold. She protected him from the storm raging outside, his fear of loneliness, and the threat of Voldemort. She felt that Harry too, somehow protected her. His body, though small, seemed to warm her like a blanket. He sometimes looked at his mother as if understanding every word she spoke, their green eyes reflected in the stare of one another.

A clap of thunder caused both Lily and Harry to shudder startled by the violent rumbling. Lily retraced her steps and returned to the warmth and comfort of the sitting room. A fire burned the flames crackling merrily and casting a dancing shadow along the walls.

"Mmm," Harry mumbled, grasping a clump of his mother's auburn hair in his fist. Without words discouraging the behavior, Lily kissed his small knuckles. No longer interested in an activity that did not offer the attention of others, Harry released his grip.

Lily crossed the room, lowering Harry onto the rug-covered floor. She stepped away and took her wand from the fireplace mantle. Lily stood in front of Harry and spoke, "Perimitus Safetum." Pillows stacked themselves around Harry, creating a soft holding pen. The Magic of Children: Useful Spells and Potions for a Happy Household was a text Lily consulted often. It offered advise on the uncontrollable magical capabilities of unknowing children, tips on keeping the flame of marriage burning as brightly as the wick of a candle, and hints for tidying the house with the snap of a finger.

Harry giggled, looking at his mother with amusement. He found magic entertaining. It was enjoyment for Harry when his mother prepared breakfast hands free, waving her wand while eggs scrambled and bacon sizzled. Photographs would wave in terror as Harry chewed on the corners and sometimes pinch their noses while he sported a soiled diaper.

What Harry enjoyed most was a gift from his father. A soft, plush Snitch that hovered unaided. He would stare, studying the gentle flutter of its wings and the brilliant yellow of its body. Unlike a Golden Snitch, which moved quicker than the eye, could follow, the toy moved sluggishly in a child friendly manner.

"Harry, get the Snitch!" Lily exclaimed as she gave the Snitch a shake. Like a charm, Harry was enchanted. He reached for the Snitch, waving his arms with little co-ordination.

Lily felt poisoned by the effect of the clock, distracting her attention away from her son. With a heavy sigh, Lily kneeled onto the floor. Her fingers brushed away the untidy hair from Harry's forehead.

"Mmm," Harry muttered. The tone of his incoherent words appearing concerned. Lily trembled slightly at the sight of a bolt of lightning streaking outside the window. The full moon illuminated the heavy drops of rain falling in steady supply.

A sudden knock on the door issued a gasp from Lily. Apprehensively she left the room, her wand clenched tightly in her hand. Hesitating a moment, Lily glanced over her shoulder, getting a look at Harry and evaluating his safety. The knock again sounded.

With a deep breath, Lily approached the door.

"Inviso Perlustro," Lily whispered, her wand pointed at the door. The solid door liquefied, allowing Lily to see through a wavy, transparent window.

"Let me in!" Sirius Black pleaded over the heavy rush of rain pouring down. His cloak was drawn over his head, offering little protection from the harsh elements.

"Hello Sirius," Lily greeted as she opened the door. Eagerly, he stepped inside, water dripping steadily from his over absorbed clothing.

"Oh, Merlin!" Sirius sighed, ridding himself of water by shaking like a dog.

"Wasn't expecting you," Lily said, apologetic.

"Uh, James mentioned he'd be with Remus during the transformation tonight. I didn't like the idea of you and Harry alone."

"Let's get you warmed up," she suggested as she lead Sirius into the sitting room, suspicious of his intentions.

"Yaa!" Harry giggled, clapping his hands clumsily. The grin on Sirius' face seemed to warm him thoroughly. With his back towards the burning fire, he leaned closer to entertain Harry.

"Tea? Butterbeer?" Lily offered as she walked into the adjoining kitchen.

"Hot chocolate please," he answered. "Sirius. Sirius," he repeated in an attempt to get Harry to speak his name. "Sirius."

"Sss," Harry hissed.

"Sirius," he chuckled. "Where's the Snitch? Get the Snitch!" he exclaimed, taking the toy into his hand and maneuvering it around Harry.

"How is Remus?" Lily asked, returning to the room with a steaming mug for Sirius and a plastic bottle for Harry.

"Don't know," Sirius answered as Lily handed him the hot chocolate he requested. He took a sip before sitting his mug onto the table. "Mind if I give Harry his bottle?"

"Please do," she giggled, handing the bottle to Sirius. Lily smiled, appreciative of the hand Sirius offered and the company. "Had coffee with Peter this afternoon. Says he's found a new job."

"What sort of work is he doing?" Sirius asked as he cradled Harry in his arms.

"Don't know. He seemed happy enough," she replied pleasantly. "Offered to watch Harry if James and I needed time alone."

"Well, do you need time alone with James?" he questioned. Harry fussed a moment while Sirius angled the bottle into his mouth.

"James hasn't got a moment free. He's dedicated to Dumbledore, works with the Ministry of Magic to offer help to any witch or wizard who faces threats with Voldemort, and a do-gooder."

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Sirius chuckled as Lily reacted with a gaze of annoyance.

"He should be dedicated to his family, and offer help to his wife with the chores and raising his son." she replied in a firm tone. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes slowly in an attempt to relax. "Sirius..." she began. She appeared hesitant and nervous, trembling slightly. "Sirius, what if something happened to James? James intends on doing good deeds for those in trouble, but..." she paused, uncomfortable with the words falling from her tongue. "...His good deeds don't protect him."

"I wouldn't worry about James. If any wizard is a threat to Voldemort, it's James," he assured Lily. She shook her head, growing frustrated with Sirius.

"I don't want James to be a threat to Voldemort!" she shouted. Harry's body shook in Sirius's arms, startled with his mother's outburst. "I want James to simply be a husband to me and a father to Harry," she explained, the volume of her voice decreasing.

"You still upset about Peter's father getting killed?" Sirius asked in a whisper. Lily nodded her head slowly.

"Peter tried to smile and pretended to be in good spirits, but I could see in his eyes how badly it hurt. Voldemort killed Peter's father because he had composed a list of Death Eaters."

"Lily, whether we are involved in the fight against Voldemort or not, we're all potential targets," Sirius said, bouncing Harry gently in his arms. Harry cooed, disinterested in his bottle as it fell into Sirius' lap. "Look at this hair," Sirius chuckled, running his fingers through Harry's thick hair.

"Haven't found a spell that can tame it," Lily snickered.

"Sloppy hair or not, Harry's gonna break a lot of hearts," Sirius joked as Harry clapped his hands.

"I wouldn't doubt you've got advice on romance you plan on sharing with Harry," she teased. The expression on Sirius' face was answer enough that he did have advice on romance. "I've almost forgotten..." Lily said, crossing the room to the bookshelf. "I've been organizing, trying to keep busy," she explained as she dug through a pile of books stacked on the floor. "I found some photographs of James'," she added, opening the dusty cover of a photo album. "Looks like '72 or '73," she giggled, studying the pictures as she walked towards Sirius. She handed the album to Sirius, fighting to stifle her snickers as he gazed at the photos.

There were photographs of troublemaking (Peter wearing the stolen uniform of Slytherin House on a dare from Remus), play (Sirius, Remus, and James standing with broomsticks after an attempt at playing three man Quidditch), and friendship (all four standing outside, arms over shoulders, in the powder of a fresh snow).

"I hope that in the future Harry acts more like his mother," Sirius commented on the silly nature of the pictures.

"I hope that in the future Harry is fortunate enough to find such great friends as his father," Lily giggled as she looked at Sirius. He accepted Lily's comment as a compliment on the highest standard. "Planning on a family of your own, Sirius?"

"Ah no. No," he chuckled. He looked at Harry a moment and noticed he had fallen asleep, cradled in Sirius's arms. "But I wouldn't mind taking Harry as my own."

"You say that now but your feelings change when he cries endlessly, wakes before the sun rises, and gets into things he shouldn't get into," she teased.

"Lily?" a voice called out.

"James!" Lily exclaimed, recognizing the voice instantly. James Potter walked into the sitting room leaving a trail of water behind. "Honey, I didn't expect you'd be here tonight," she said, attempting to control her excitement.

"I was with Remus while he transformed, the most difficult part."

"You've left him?" Lily asked, concerned for Remus.

"No, no. I spoke with Remus this afternoon. He had insisted I not be with him at all, but we compromised," he answered, leaning forward to kiss Lily on the cheek.

"James, you look over-absorbed." Sirius joked, gesturing to the puddle at James's feet.

"Weather's brutal out there," he chuckled, appearing pleased with the accomplishment made by being outside. "What're you doing here?"

"You've been replaced," Sirius joked, awarded with a playful noogie courtesy of James. "Don't wake the baby," he warned, gesturing with his eyes to Harry, asleep in his arms.

"I'm going to get Harry tucked in," Lily said as Sirius passed Harry into Lily's arms undisturbed, the child not fluttering an eyelid or fussing. "I'm going to tuck myself in as well," she yawned. Sirius thought it sudden of Lily to be tired and assumed she was giving privacy to himself and James.

"I love you," James whispered, sharing a brief kiss with his wife. "Love you, Harry," he whispered, kissing Harry on the forehead and attempting to smooth his sloppy hair.

"Thank you for the company, Sirius," Lily said gratefully.

"My pleasure," he replied. Both James and Sirius watched as Lily left the room with Harry.

"Lily doesn't know I sent you here does she? I wouldn't want her to think she had any reason to worry about being alone," James said, slipping off his cloak, heavy with water.

"I told her I didn't like the idea of her being alone. You get no credit," Sirius answered. "How's Remus?"

"In good spirits," James answered. There was a cold look in his expression, a warning sign that something was horribly wrong.

"James," Sirius encouraged by simply speaking his name.

"Something odd about Remus."

"Like what?" Sirius asked with misunderstanding curiosity.

"I haven't seen Remus since Peter's father was killed, yet Remus insisted I leave him alone."

"We're all getting older. Growing up, growing apart."

"That's not us!" James replied quickly, his voice forceful. "Pettigrew, Black, Lupin, and Potter don't grow apart," he insisted as he stood with his back against the burning fire, his shadow cast across the room. "I shouldn't have left Remus," he sighed, feeling ashamed for his own actions.

"I'll go to Remus," Sirius answered, rising to his feet. "You, James, ought to spend some time with your wife before she falls asleep."

"That's good advice," James chuckled, aware Lily had been upset with his absence in the household. "Many thanks, Sirius."

"Your welcome," he replied as they shook hands.

James led Sirius to the door and watched as he stepped out into the heavy downpour of falling rain. James sometimes wished he could be more like Sirius, his priorities in order and a giving heart that expected nothing in return.

"We're all getting older. Growing up, growing apart," repeated in James's mind. It was a terrible thought he fought to ignore and deny as he walked into Harry's room. Harry lay asleep, dreaming peacefully. James stroked Harry's cheek, hoping to reassure his son that the world that was horribly bad was a good place. With a heavy sigh, James walked away and into his dark, silent bedroom.

Lily was asleep.