Fugitive Prince

Fugitive Prince

By March Madness

Will was never able afterwards to tell how long he spent with the Book of Gramarye. So much went into him from its pages and changed him that the reading might have taken a year; yet so totally did it absorb his mind that when he came to an end he felt that he had only that moment begun. It was indeed not a book like other books.

The Dark Is Rising, Susan Cooper

Prologue

"Mr. Potter?"

James looked up nervously, standing as the nurse approached him. He could never understand why Lily preferred using muggles when healers where just as good. "Yes, that's me."

She looked over at him sympathetically. "You can see your wife now-"

"Thank God!" He didn't wait another moment before taking off, running down the crowded halls until he reached Lily's room. She was lying in bed, half-asleep, but shook awake when the door opened. The first thing that James noticed was the tearstains running down her cheeks.

"Lily?" he breathed. She didn't answer, just gave a half sob. "Lily, what's wrong? What happened?"

She turned over in the bed, not wanting to look at him, but James grabbed her arms and pulled her against him. "Shh," he soothed against her sobs. He ran a hand through her red hair, delighting in its soft feel. "It's alright. Everything's going to be ok."

"N-no," Lily whispered. She pulled back, trying to get away. "Nothing's OK"

James brushed her hair again, not letting her get away. "Lily?" No answer. "Li-"

"Leave me alone, James," she hissed, leaping away from his touch. "Don't touch me."

James watched her, startled, as she walked to the other side of the room, shivering and holding her arms against her chest in a vain attempt at warmth. She got to the window when she broke down in sobs again and James was there in an instant, trying to soothe her again. This time, she didn't pull away when he held her.

"James, I'm so sorry."

"For what?" he asked, truly bewildered by everything that had happened. She didn't answer right away so James wiped the tears from her eyes and lifted her chin to stare into those green emerald eyes. She blinked painfully and tried to look away but James didn't let her. "There is nothing you could do," he whispered softly, "that would ever make me hate you. So please, tell me what's wrong."

Sniffing, Lily tried to look down but wasn't allowed to by her husband. "I was pregnant, James."

"Pregnant?" he repeated. And smiled. "Pregnant? That's wonderful Lily! That's-"

"I said was," she interrupted coldly. James's happy attitude vanished in the face of her anger.

"What do you mean?"

"There is no baby, not anymore." James still didn't look like he understood and Lily sighed. "T-the doctors say that I've lost the baby. Miscarriage." Her anger crumbled again and Lily buried her face against James's chest. "I'm so sorry. It's all my fault-"

"What?" James snapped out of it, nearly jumping back in surprise. "No, no it's not your fault, love. It's no one's fault. These things... these things just happen." He could hear his own voice cracking and swallowed, determined to be strong for Lily. He rubbed her back, trying not to let her see the own tears in his eyes. "Shh. Quiet now, and quit blaming yourself."

"But James, what if this means I'm a bad mother?" she sobbed. "What if this means we'll never have children?"

"I can live without children," James assured her firmly. "It's you I can't live without."

Lily sniffed and hugged James tightly. "I love you."

"I love you, too." James happened to glance at the clock. "Oh, Sirius should be here soon. And Remus and Peter."

"Please don't tell them," Lily pleaded, head hanging low. "I-I'm not ready to face them about this."

James gave Lily a look but nodded, pulling her in for another hug where she shuddered and collapsed in his arms.

"James? Lily?" The door opened. "James-oh, there you are!" Peter walked in, smiling brightly with a bunch of flowers in one hand, his hat and coat in the other. He gave them a look. "Making out in the hospital, of all places," Peter chided playfully, shaking his flowers at them. The petals rustled and some fell to the floor. "What's to become of all the children?"

He didn't understand, then, when Lily started to choke up. James hurriedly made a motion for Peter to shut up and the friend shrugged. Clearing his throat uncomfortably, Peter held out the flowers. "T-these are for you, Lily."

Lily, eyes still leaking tears, managed to smile shakily at him and took the flowers, hands shaking. "Thank you, Peter."

"I'm sorry, I must have come at a bad time," he apologized. "Forgive me."

"James," Lily tugged at his arm. "Can you go get me something to eat? I haven't had anything in hours."

"Will you be alright by yourself?" he asked urgently, eyes locked on her so that the room--and the world--faded away, leaving only his wife for him.

"I'll be fine," she promised. "And Peter's here, remember."

James snapped his head back and bashfully nodded at his friend. "That's right."

"I'll watch her James," Peter promised, looking a bit uptight at being forgotten. "Go get something to eat."

James left the room, nearly tripping at the door and, by the sound of it, out again in the hall. Peter sighed in mock mourning. "What a klutz."

Wordlessly, Lily nodded, sparking Peter's curiosity and worry. "Everything's alright, right Lily?" he asked.

Blinking, Lily nodded again, a bleary smile on her face. "Yea, Peter. Everything's fine."

"The doctors didn't find anything then?" Peter let out a breath of relief. "I was really worried, what with you acting all moody lately--er, I mean-"

Lily let out a sliver of laughter, and, painful though it was, it eased up Peter's worries. She reached out and took one of his hands in her own. "There is nothing wrong with me, Peter. I promise."

For a moment, Peter simply looked at her, watched her like he was trying to gauge her honesty. And for a moment, Lily felt her walls crumbling, her mouth opening, and her tears flowing, all telling her to trust Peter, to tell him what was wrong.

The door opened and Sirius walked in, an insanely bright smile on his face as he unknowingly broke away all those thoughts. "Lily!"

She laughed at the extremely silly expression on his face, pain disappearing with his presence. "Sirius, how did you get in here?"

"Well, it wasn't easy," he confided, leaning close to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. He then pulled up a seat and leaned his elbows on his knees, a look of concentration on his face. "As soon as I walked into those doors, the ones that let you see through them and that open when you get close enough, I was absolutely ambushed by those nurses. Every one of them insisted that I was in dire need of that mouth-to-mouth. Of course, I tried my best to get away, but, wouldn't you know it, they followed me!"

The door opened again and Sirius leaped up. "There's one now!"

Remus walked in, not having heard the story Sirius had come up but with rolling his eyes just the same. He smiled at Lily and kissed her cheek the same as Sirius. "Lily, how are you?"

"I'm fine, Remus." And she felt fine, now. All she needed was James--and some food--and the entire world would be right.

"Are you, truly?" the werewolf asked again, staring his amber eyes into her green ones. Lily's casual answer choked in the face of his selfless care for her.

James walked in, completing Lily's unspoken wish as he gave her three candy bars. "Sorry, but that's all they have. They won't let me into the cafeteria. Something about a madman on the loose, last seen heading this way, attacking the nurses--oh Sirius, hello. Didn't see you there."

"If you wanted to know," Sirius sniffed. "It was them attacking me."

"So why did you have to come here, to the hospital?" Remus asked, not letting his question get swept aside.

James exchanged an unseen look with Lily and smiled slightly. "Oh, that. Well, um, you see... Lily, here, happened to, um-"

"Eat."

"Yea, she, um, ate something that didn't quite... agree with her?" James shrugged at Lily's wide-eyed look, trying to say 'Don't blame me.'

Remus watched James and Lily carefully. "Right."

"What, you don't believe me?"

"None of us particularly do, James," Sirius answered, stealing one of Lily's candy bars. He chewed on it loudly, ignoring Lily's cries of 'Thief!' "It's just that Remus is the only one brave enough to say it to your face."

"Brave enough?" James looked at his friends incredulously. "Are you saying I'm scary?"

"No James, you're as harmless as a stuffed bunny. It's just that your, um, breath--I don't know how to say this but... well, to put it nicely, your breath makes a nundu jealous."

Lily laughed and threw a hospital pillow at her friends, which started a pillow fight that lasted until a flustered nurse came in and ordered all visitors out. James stayed behind, getting the special privilege only a husband gets, and pulled Lily close once the others were gone.

"You sure you're fine?" he asked one last time and, with a sleepy sigh, Lily nodded before falling asleep in James's arms.

Chapter I

Sephrenia shrieked, "Defiled ones! Foul and accursed!" But the lights in the fog never faltered as they continued their glowing, inexorable advance. "Run! Run for your lives! It's the Shining ones!"

The Shining Ones, David Eddings

And the Stag will grace the forest fields,

Battling against the night and day.

The Bloom shall her fumes exhume

And bring the Stag into the hay.

Second born, second son, second one will come to be

Second born from the womb, a balance to the calamity.

The day clashes against the night,

The night against the day.

Beware, oh night, when comes the time,

The Stag is lured into the hay.

Beware, oh day, when comes the time,

For night steals innocence away.

Voldemort turned the paper over in his hands, reading and rereading the puzzling lines over and over again. He looked up. "Tell me again about this Potter," he commanded. "Are you sure they are the ones in the prophecy?"

Before him, a pale and nervous wreck of a human being shuddered at the feel of those red-tinted eyes on him but nodded, sweat pouring down his face. "Y-yes, Master. J-James is the Stag."

"Explain."

Peter gulped and rubbed his hands together, trying to regain some sense of his Gryffindor bravery. "J-James is an animagus. H-he can turn into a stag. And L-Lily, she's named after a flower."

Voldemort brought a pale, skeletal hand to rest his chin in. "It could be coincidence," he murmured. And he glanced back to the paper. "But perhaps..." Almost forgetfully, Voldemort looked down to his quivering servant. "You have done well in bringing me this information."

Peter nearly shivered in delight; his master was never one lacking in rewards.

"But, you should have told me of this sooner. Crucio!"

The other Death Eaters watched unsympathetically as the rat turned and screamed in agony. When Voldemort finally withdrew the curse, Peter was left gasping for breath on the floor.

Voldemort turned away from his torture, going back to the parchment in his hands that held so much interest. "Second born? Hmm." He snapped his fingers and all the Death Eaters bowed submissively. "I need these Potters to be watched closely, Peter," he ordered. The prophecy in his hands began to burn and he dropped it carelessly. "When their second son is born, I am to be informed immediately."

The flames hit the floor and caught onto a trail of liquid--oil--and burst higher.

"Until then, none shall touch them. Their second son is either to be my greatest enemy, or my closest ally, depending on whom receives him first. I intend to do so." Voldemort's eyes burned as bright as the spreading fire. "Severus, you will make sure that no one else hears of this."

Voldemort vanished and his Death Eaters vanished as well as the great old manor of Albus Dumbledore's seer-brother burned away into flames.

*

Severus wasted no time; his information was too important, too shocking that even he struggled to believe it. A traitor! In their midst, deep in the heart of the order. Severus knew, with an absolute, dreadful certainty, that if he should give the name of this spy to Dumbledore, his own position of spy would also be revealed. He could keep his mouth shut, and try his best to make sure that the traitor learned no more information--a hard trick, because the particular person was trusted with very intimate information--or he could reveal the traitor to everyone and risk his own life in the bargain.

It wasn't too hard a choice.

The gargoyle was yawning lazily and didn't jump right away when given the password, annoying Severus further. Everything was patronizing; from the fact that he had been unable to see the spy before, to how long it had taken to get from the Death Eater meeting back to Hogwarts, to the thought of Voldemort finding out that he was a spy. All he needed now was-

"Hey, Snape-y!"

Severus scowled and glared at the young man before him, trying to get all his hate across in a single visible blow. "Black," he growled. "Get out of my way."

Black shook his head, blocking the door to Dumbledore's room. "Nope, you're going to have ta guess the password. And be quick," he added with a nasty grin. "It changes every few seconds."

"Get out of my way," Severus repeated angrily. He tried to shove past but was turned away. "I have to speak with the headmaster!"

"What about?"

He glared but Black wasn't the least bit affected. "Why don't you take a guess?" he drawled insultingly. "If I am in a hurry to speak with Dumbledore and have just returned from a summons-"

Black rolled his eyes but thankfully got out of the way. For a moment, Severus thought that he did it of his own free will, but realized the truth when the door opened behind them. Dumbledore stuck his head out, smiling at the two young wizards. "Ah, Severus. I was expecting you."

"Sir, there has been some startling news," Severus blurted out, then fought against the blush trying to burn his cheeks. He never spoke out of turn, much less in Dumbledore's presence. And he never lost his cool. Both of these self-made rules had just been violated.

Dumbledore's smiled dampened a bit and he nodded, opening the door further. "Yes, come in."

Severus was about to do just that when Black started before him. "And where are you going?"

Black looked over and shrugged. "In, I suppose."

"This doesn't concern you," Severus hissed.

"No?" Black shrugged again. "It probably doesn't, but there's always a possibility that it might. Besides, Dumbledore didn't say I couldn't."

Dumbledore smiled at the statement and Severus fumed but held back his temper, not wanting to resort to childish arguing. They all took a seat, Dumbledore behind his desk and Severus and Black in the chair opposite him.

The headmaster shuffled his hands a moment before talking. "You said something about news?"

"Yes." He cast a glance at Black then mentally shrugged; if the man was outraged, then it was his own fault for being here. "I've discovered a traitor, sir. A spy."

"A spy?" Black repeated incredulously. "In the Order?"

"Unheard of," Dumbledore agreed. "But not impossible. Proceed, Severus."

He felt nervous now, though why was beyond him. "This afternoon, Aberforth's house was attacked." He paused at the blank expression on Dumbledore's face. "He was killed."

"Oh?" Dumbledore stared off in the distance a moment before shaking his head.

Severus waited but nothing more was said. "Before he died, your brother gave Voldemort a paper with a prophecy written on it, his last prophecy. Everyone knows of Aberforth's divination skills; it was why Voldemort picked him as a victim."

Dumbledore looked confused. "There is something wrong," he finally said. "Just three days ago, when I first heard of Voldemort's plans, I placed Aberforth under the Fidilius Charm."

Black eyed the headmaster. "Could it have been an impostor? If Aberforth vanished, certainly someone would try to fake his personality. His house is enviable, his social standing high."

Severus considered the possibility and nodded. "It may be so," he agreed. "But, nonetheless, the prophecy was certainly true enough." He quickly related the short, poem-like foretelling.

Black reacted just like the rat did. "That's James!"

"What?"

"Potter seems to have a secret animagus ability, a stag to be exact," Severus explained coolly, ignoring the look on Black's face. "I was as surprised as Voldemort when I heard it."

"Can you write this prophecy down?" Dumbledore asked, and Severus nodded, scrambling for a quill. Dumbledore studied the words and shook his head. "I believe you are right, Sirius," he stated after a moment's thought. "The times are too close to be coincidental. And James has already married Lily. Yes, this is very interesting."

He looked up. "Where are the Potters now?"

Black looked startled. "Oh. They're at home. With Lily pregnant, neither of them wants to go anywhere anymore. Too dangerous, I suppose. The only place she goes now is to that muggle hospital she found a couple months ago, when she got sick."

"And James is with her?" Black nodded and Dumbledore mused quietly to himself.

"Sir, about my coming here," Severus reminded him. The headmaster looked up, confused. "The spy."

"Ah, yes. Please tell us so that we can take appropriate measures to capture this traitor, if you are indeed correct."

"I am correct," Severus defended. "In fact, I am so correct that should I reveal the name of this spy to you, your first reaction will be disbelief." Black shook his head. "Fine. It's Peter Pettigrew."

There was a breath of silence before Black burst. "Peter?" he shouted. "Peter? Peter can't be a traitor; he's too, too-"

"Weak?" Severus suggested darkly. "Small? Timid? Secretive?" Black shook his head, unable to believe Severus. "But, as an Auror, you must realize that Voldemort seeks out exactly those types of people to turn, people who would never be suspected of betrayal."

"Please calm down," Dumbledore said but was ignored.

"But, it can't be Peter," Black argued, somewhat less passionately. "You see, he's here in school. See, let's ask him ourselves. He's right outside the hall." He started for the halls but accidentally tripped on Severus's feet and knocked against the door, opening it wide.

There was a startled squeak in the room and Severus caught the sight of a rat running from the room before it left his sight. "Potter's not the only animagus, is he?" he hissed to the shell shocked Black before rushing out, looking for the rat. Suddenly, everything fit together: all those times he chased Potter's gang across the school, only to catch the tails of fleeing animals before coming to a dead end; their nicknames for each other. Lupin's was easy enough to figure out; he was a werewolf. 'Moony' fit him. 'Prongs,' the stag, 'Wormtail' the rat, and 'Padfoot,' the-

He ran out of breath and still hadn't caught sight of any rat. Black caught up with him a second later, a murderous look in his eyes. "Believe me now?" he asked quietly, and the Auror glared.

"We have to get to James," Black muttered, eyes trailing the floor as if they could somehow pick out the rat's trail. "And Lily. We have to get them to safety."

"Safety?" Severus snorted. "Why? They are in absolutely no harm."

Dumbledore arrived a moment later, his phoenix flying before him and racing down the halls in search of small mammals. He came quick enough to hear Severus's sharp reply and asked, "What do you mean?"

"The prophecy," Severus replied. "It warns the 'dark'--Voldemort--that the Potters' son will be a threat. But then it warns the 'light'--you, professor--that that same son will be a threat as well. It can only mean that this second son's fate is still up in the air; if he's raised to be good, he'll defeat Voldemort; if he's raised wrongly, he'll join Voldemort."

"So won't Voldemort try and kill him?" Black asked. "Try and kill James and Lily so that they never have a son?"

"No. Voldemort wants their son for his ally. He's ordered all his Death Eaters not only to leave the Potters alone, but also to make sure no one else touches them. They're being protected by their worst enemy." Severus's eyes glittered ironically. "I can't wait to see their reaction."

"That will be enough," Dumbledore interrupted, giving both men a hard look. "There is to be no more bickering between you two." Both rolled their eyes. "There is enough fighting with our enemies that we need none between our allies. Severus, I'm sure you have places to be."

Severus narrowed his eyes at the light dismissal but turned on his heels and left. Dumbledore turned to Sirius. "I would like an explanation, if you would."

"Uh, explanation?"

"Yes," and Dumbledore's eyes twinkled at the other's discomfort. "I would like to know why you three chose to become unregistered animagus, and why none of you saw fit to inform me of that decision."

"Uh." Sirius looked around in alarm. "Well, wouldn't you know it--I have to be going, sir. Work and all that, you understand."

"Of course."

Sirius grinned at his old headmaster, who smiled back, and took off. His happy mood, however, disappeared quickly once he left the school grounds as the impact of the meeting began to settle in. "James will never believe this."