Draught of Living Death

Chapter 2

Lupin squeezed his eyes shut for a long moment, then cautiously opened them again. They were still there. He felt light-headed. “If you’re spirits haunting this place, you need to stay here and leave your son alone,” he said sternly. “He’s been through more than any child should ever have to go through. It’s cruel, and I won’t have it—“ He was cut off as the two spirits—two very warm, alive, heavy spirits—pounced, hugging the breath out of him.

“You—I—you—you’re—I—can’t breathe—“ he stuttered. They untangled themselves from him and drew back, although Lily still held his hands.

“You’re not dreaming. We’re here, we’re real, we’re alive,” she assured him, as she had assured Harry early that morning. Her intuitiveness had always impressed him. “Trust your senses, Remus.”

It was them. He knew it as soon as she spoke. Each voice has a unique signature. Polyjuice could mask and disguise that signature, just as it could mask scent, but it would still show true to a werewolf’s enhanced senses.

“Moony?” James said softly, watching him closely.

Emotions rioted through Lupin. Elation—they were alive! Anger, and a twinge of betrayal that they hadn’t trusted him enough to confide in, even as a part of him scolded that they obviously hadn’t trusted anyone—not even Dumbledore—enough to reveal their crazy plan. Panic—what was Voldemort going to do when he found out they were alive? Stress—he was getting way too old for this. Horror—as the full realization of what they had risked and survived sunk in. Humor—at Snape’s potential reaction when he found out that his hated rival was alive.

Lily and James watched curiously as emotions flashed across their companion’s face. “How?” he managed weakly, leaning against the door. James quickly rushed to support him enough to help him to the floor in front of the fire, where they joined him.

“It was Lily’s idea,” James explained, guessing correctly that his old friend wasn’t referring to their actual plan, but how they had come up with it. “She found an old Muggle book of fairy tales in the library at Hogwarts during seventh year, remember?”

Lupin nodded slowly, a faint smile curling his lips as he recalled how obsessed his red headed friend had been over the book.

“Well, all Muggle fairy tales are based off of a true story from the wizarding world,” Lily continued. “My favorite story, even before I ever knew of Hogwarts or that magic truly existed, was Sleeping Beauty. The elements of the story are essentially the same, with the only difference being that Aurora drinking a potion didn’t sound nearly as romantic as three good fairies waving their wands and sending a princess to sleep for one hundred years—or until she is awakened with a kiss from her one true love.” She winked at James. “Since my particular Prince Charming was zonked out next to me, so to speak, we had to wait until the potion wore off.” Her expression turned grim. “I’ll be honest, Remus. I wasn’t particularly sure that it would work. Since we didn’t want to sleep for a hundred years, I had to guess at how potent to make the Draught. We were lucky that it was only for this long.” She shot him a questioning look. “How long were we asleep, anyway?”

“Fifteen years.”

“WHAT!”  James exclaimed, exchanging a horrified look with Lily. From the silver strands in Moony’s hair and the lines on his face, he would’ve guessed twice that. What exactly had happened while they were ‘dead’?

Lupin shook his head slowly. “I know we Marauders were a bad influence on you during the last couple of years of school, Lil, but I don’t think even James or Sirius would’ve come up with something like this.”

A slow grin bloomed as his words sunk in. Good ole’ Remus. “I’ll take that as a compliment,” she smirked, knowing that things were going to be okay. He believed them.

“Hey!” James protested mock indignantly, catching the same vibes his wife had. Lily laughed and kissed him on the cheek.

The light-hearted mood quickly faded, however, as reality ebbed back in. “Harry’s asleep at my house,” Lupin said quietly, eyes on the flames. “I was on patrol when he hit the alarm this morning.” Lily’s eyes flashed with temper at the reminder of how thin and worn her son had looked, but he continued before she could speak. “It was not my decision or Sirius’ to have Harry stay at the Dursleys’, then or now,” he continued, turning to face Lily directly, speaking not to the woman in front of him but to the fierce mother tiger who would do anything—even defy death—to defend her child. “Had I known what conditions were truly like, I would have removed him from there long ago, blood protection or no, Ministry rules or not.”

She met his gaze for a long moment, then inclined her head slightly. “I know, Remus. I believe you.”

“That doesn’t mean we’re not going to have a nice chat with Dumbledore, and a big old happy family reunion with your darling sister and her husband,” James added, standing up before offering a hand to the others.

“Oh, yes.” The grim smile on the petite redhead’s face did not bode well for Petunia or Vernon Dursley. “I’m looking forward to it.”

As they walked back to Lupin’s house, he caught them up on the events of the past fifteen years. He didn’t leave anything out. He knew better. Harry, being Harry, wouldn’t tell them out of guilt and a desire to protect them somehow. It was better that they knew the full details of what they were facing. He had seen what could happen when secrets were kept with the intent to protect the person they were about. Better that the news came from someone they trusted, rather than be ambushed with the information later.

He finished as they reached the front door. “Let me go first, see if he’s awake,” he warned. “From what his friends tell me, it’s best to let him wake on his own, so he doesn’t think he’s under attack…unless you have fast reflexes.” A ghost of a smile lightened his face for a moment. “Probably gets it from his father.”

Despite the tense situation, James grinned, remembering the booby traps and hexes he used to set up around his bed to discourage anyone (Sirius) from waking him up before he absolutely needed to do so.

Taking a deep breath, Lupin motioned for them to wait near the door before heading down the hall to the living room. He found Harry, groggy and sloe-eyed but awake. “I heard voices,” he yawned, running a hand through already messy hair before slipping his glasses on and blinking owlishly. “Is everything alright?”

Seeing the boy already awake and becoming more aware with every moment, Lupin stifled an internal groan. He had been half-hoping the teen was still asleep, thus putting off the impending conversation and meeting for a bit longer. Although he believed the boy’s reaction to his parents appearing in his room had been more due to the Dark Lord, he couldn’t help but wonder if there was some kernel of truth to it, and that was what had made the volatile youth react so strongly. Harry had become so moody over the past year  that it was hard to predict how he was going to react to seeing his parents again.

“Professor?” Harry said warily when the older man didn’t immediately respond. His eyes narrowed. “Something happened, didn’t it.” It wasn’t a question.

I am really getting too old for this, Lupin groaned, and sat down beside him. “Harry…”

“What aren’t you telling me now?” Harry demanded furiously, leaping up. “Dammit Lupin! I trusted you! I thought you at least would treat me like an adult, instead of trying to keep me wrapped in silk! I’m not a child anymore! He’s gunning for me, remember? I’m the one who has to defeat him! How am I supposed to do that if you don’t tell me what is going on?”

“HARRY!” Lupin snapped, finally out of patience. “If you would stop yelling for a moment, I could tell you that after you went to sleep, I went to your parents’ crypt. They’re alive and waiting to meet you, so if you’re quite finished, then we can get on with it!”

He watched in exasperated amusement as Harry’s jaw dropped. “James? Lily? You might as well come in; I think he’s speechless for the moment. He definitely inherited your temper, Tiger Lily.”

“Better my temper than James’. I usually just rant and rave and throw things; James has a tendency to hex first and ask questions later,” Lily retorted, keeping her tone light despite the nerves racing through her as she stepped into the room. Remus laid a calming hand on his shoulder, just as much to keep him from fleeing as attacking, she guessed. Moving into the room enough for James to enter, she paused, studying the young man across from her.

Nearly everything about him reminded her of James, from the messy black hair and slightly crooked glasses to the way he balanced slightly on the balls of his feet, ready for fight or flight. The stubborn lift to his chin and the defiant, wary glint in his emerald green eyes, however…that was purely from her.

She could see the flash of recognition in his eyes, two kindred spirits meeting once more on the mortal plane. From the first time she had looked into those clear green eyes, so much like her own, she had felt that connection binding them together. Much more than a simple mother-son link, she had known even then that this child of her soul would be something special.

It was James, irrepressible James, who finally broke the silence. “We’re going to have so much fun messing with Snape’s head.”

Startled, Harry and Lily turned to him in surprise. He shrugged. “What? Look at us!” He walked over to Harry and slung a casual arm around his shoulders. “We could be twins! He’s even got the Potter hair! I’m sorry ‘bout that, by the way,” he added in an aside to Harry, who was staring at him with a bemused expression on his face, clearly not knowing how to react. “All Potter men have the hair. It was unavoidable. But anyway,” he continued in a louder tone, “Remus said the ole’ vampire bat is still holding a grudge against me and taking it out on you. Can you imagine his face if he were suddenly seeing double?”

Harry couldn’t help it. He cracked up, picturing the greasy Potions Master’s reaction at seeing not one, but two of his least favorite Gryffindor. And if one of those Gryffindors was actually a  newly woken James Potter bent on a little revenge… “Remind me to introduce you to Fred and George sometime…”

Remus joined in his mirth, following his train of thought, while Lily huffed out a sigh and rolled her eyes, although her lips were twitching. “Boys.”

James’ comment had broken the ice, however, and she would bet a hundred Gaellons that that had been his intent. Following his lead, she smiled at Harry and poked her husband in the side before sliding her arm around his waist. “Once a Marauder, always a Marauder. Why did  I marry you again?”

“Because you couldn’t resist my dashing good looks and witty humor?”

She snorted. “Well, it was one of those, anyway. Besides, you never would’ve passed your N.E.W.T.S. without me.”

Harry caught Remus’ eye at that comment, and muttered something that made his former Professor chuckle. Lily arched a brow at her friend in question. His grin widened as Harry blushed slightly. “He said you remind him of his best friend Hermione. It seems that looks aren’t the only thing that are inherited through the male side of the family. Harry is, erm, definitely better at the more practical application of magic rather than the theoretical side.”

James whooped and ruffled the teen’s hair. “That’s m’boy!” he exclaimed proudly.

“Speaking of Hermione, you have been writing to her, haven’t you?” Remus was just teasing, but he frowned as Harry immediately squirmed. Lily was intrigued at her son’s reaction, and wondered exactly who this Hermione girl was.

“I sent Hedwig to Hermione’s for the summer after Uncle Vernon threatened her again,” he explained reluctantly. “I figured that if someone wanted to get a hold of me then they’d send an owl, since Hedwig is so conspicuous and all.”

“What about Ron?”

“Ron is on punishment; he apparently didn’t do very well on his OWLs. Mrs. Weasley was not pleased.” Harry winced at the memory. “He sneaked one letter out with Pig before she caught him. Professor McGonagall had to take away his Prefect badge, and she put him on probation from Qudditch until his grades come up.”

“Ouch. Well, it’s probably the only thing that’ll get through to him,” Remus sighed. “Still, I would suggest you write to Hermione. I’ll send the letter off myself when I go to Diagon Alley tomorrow.”

“Are you sure you couldn’t—“

“Ohhhh, no.” Remus was clearly enjoying this more than Harry was. “Besides, we’re going to need her help. We need a guide who knows their way around Muggle London. So instead of writing the letter, why don’t you come with me, and after I take care of a couple of errands, we can pop ‘round to her house and pick her up ourselves?”

“Well, I—“

“Good! So it’s settled then.” He overrode the weak protest and clapped the boy on the shoulder. “Better get some sleep. It’s going to be a long day. James, Lily, the guest room is set up for you. As you heard, Harry and I are bringing in reinforcements, so we’ll be gone probably before you wake up. Do not leave the house under any circumstances until we get back. I shouldn’t have to tell you that, but I thought I’d reinforce it, just in case.” He glared warningly at James in particular, who did his best to look innocent. “Good night.”  He ignored the disgruntled look Harry shot at him as he passed.

Lily waited until Remus had closed the door behind him before turning to her son. “So,” she began, unable to resist, “who’s Hermione?”

Teenage reaction took over. “Muuuuuum,” he groaned loudly and collapsed on the couch.

Lily couldn’t help it. She cracked up. When father and son stared at her like she was crazy, she gave in to impulse and leaned down and kissed Harry on the forehead before ruffling his hair affectionately. “I think I’m going to like this whole parenting thing,” she said, before straightening. “You better get some rest. We’ll see you tomorrow morning before you leave.” She touched him lightly on the cheek and smiled when he looked up at her. “Good night, Harry.”

He smiled back. “Night, Mum. Night Dad.”

“Night, son.” James replied softly.

Harry settled back down on the couch, pulling the covers up over him. He knew he should try to sleep, but he had way too much to think about. Although he had imagined numerous scenarios where he had met his parents, the reality had been nothing like the fantasy. He had thought there would be crying and awkwardness, not teasing and love and laughter. They were so….normal. And they had accepted him without a second thought, no questions asked. It was a heady thought, knowing that there were now two people out there who loved him unconditionally for who he was, not what he had done. He couldn’t say that about very many of the people in his life anymore.

Sirius had loved him, but it had always been clear that that love was for the son of James’ Potter, rather than for just Harry. Ron cared in his own way, as did the rest of his family, but there would always be the stigma of ‘the Boy Who Lived’ hanging between them, as evidenced by the Tri-wizard Tournament and Mrs. Weasley believing the rumors about him and Hermione.

Hermione…his face reddened as he recalled the teasing earlier. A part of him was pleased that Remus was comfortable enough with him to unbend like that (though he still planned on sticking a frog or something squishy in his former Professor’s bed as retaliation for embarrassing him like that). He just wasn’t sure how to act around Hermione anymore, which was why he had been so reluctant to go pick her up.

 There had been another reason, a private one, as to why he hadn’t written or attempted to contact her all summer. In addition to Ron telling him about his probation, he had also let slip that he and Hermione had become close over the summer prior to fifth year (when they were at Grimmauld Place with the Order and Harry was stuck at Privet Drive) and they had become something of a couple (unofficially, of course). They hadn’t wanted to tell him before, with things being so hectic, but Ron was planning on asking Hermione to be his girlfriend when they returned to school. “Oh, and Ginny’s no longer with Dean, in case you were wondering. They broke up two weeks into summer holiday. The field’s open, mate! Maybe you and Gin and me and ‘Mione can double on a Hogsmeade weekend or something. You’re practically a Weasley, anyway, so it works out perfectly!

That news, in addition to the heavy guilt and fear he felt whenever he pictured her lifeless body lying on the floor of the Department of Mysteries, had his gut twisting uneasily whenever she was mentioned. Did she blame him for nearly getting her killed? Would she still want to be friends with him? And, did she feel the same way about Ron as Ron did about her?

It was strange to think of his two best friends pairing off. Not that he hadn’t vaguely suspected something like this sooner or later; even he, with his zero to none knowledge about the opposite gender knew that one of the most common ways for a boy to let a girl know he liked her was to tease and pick on her for attention. And after the Yule Ball in fourth year it had been obvious that Ron had finally clued in to what everyone else had noticed already.

Harry had expected that the...tension between his two friends would eventually come to a head, but accepting it in his head and having the reality shoved in his face on paper were two completely different things. Oh, Hermione would do her best to keep things the same as much as possible out of respect for his feelings, but the dynamics would be forever changed. Now, instead of Harry, Hermione and Ron, it would be Hermione, Ron…and Harry.

Don’t you have enough problems already? His conscience scolded. Let’s not go borrowing trouble before it happens for once, shall we?

He grunted and rolled over, trying to find a comfortable spot on the slightly lumpy couch. His conscience was right: he had enough things to worry about. Like what exactly he was going to say to a certain clever witch-best-friend of his who knew more hexes and curses than anyone (except maybe the Dark Lord himself)….