Alternate Universes

Hello, all! I am /SO/ sorry that I haven’t updated in forever. But I went and got myself a job like a /real/ adult would do, and so I’m working 8 hours a day plus everything else I have to do around the house. ::sigh:: And when I was little, I couldn’t wait to grow up. I no longer understand my eagerness to achieve adulthood. And plus all that, I have some HUGE writers block. Life truly sucks occasionally, doesn’?
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About Order of the Phoenix—WAHH!!! I cried for a day. Over a book. Oh, well, the good ones will do that to you, I guess. I’m not gonna say who dies, just in case someone hasn’t finished the book yet, but if you /have/ read the book, you can go check out the eulogy I wrote! It’s called ‘It Hurts’, and it’s from one character’s POV Summary reads thus:


“One man gives the one eulogy that he had hoped against hope that he would not be called on to deliver.”


I was quite pleased with it, and would be even more pleased if some of you would go read it and tell me what you think of it. Thanks, I love you all!!!


And now, I just want to say thank you to all of my /GREAT/ reviewers! You are:


Ron’s Secret Admirer—::blushes:: Thanks! I’m not catching any blaring mistakes, but I’ve already changed the univ eno enough with the survival of Lily and James that I’m not overly worried. I hope you continue to read, and if there /is/ something that sticks out like a sore thumb, would you lease let me know? Thanks again for your review!


Ella—No evil Harry, I promise! We are going to see more of him in a couple of chapters. I’m thinking there’s going to HAVE to be a time elapse, but I’m not quite sure how to do it yet. . .


Chocolate Taco—::cowers from rolled-up newspaper:: No! Here’s your chapter! I’m sorry it took so long, I tried! See above statements!!!


Hillary—::more blushes, while still cowering from newspaper:: Thanks!! I honestly have no clue where this story is going. You’ll know as soon as I do!


Childrentheemuisnotatoy—I’m sorry you didn’t like Harry’s POV. I did the best I could, but it really isn’t easy to write a child’s thoughts down, as they’re more feelings than words. I was trying to convey Harry’s annoyance at being fussed over, and his faith that his mum would always be there to keep him safe from everything. I hope you keep reading in spite of spots like that. Thanks for reviewing with your honest opinion!


citrus scented—Hopefully I’ll be able to answer you question in this chapter. Maybe. We’ll see. Truth is, even as I’m writing this reply, I really don’t know what’s gonna happen next. Damn writers block. . .


And I just want to say thank you to all the rest of you, I really appreciate your reviews—especially those who have been with me from the beginning on this one, and you know who you are:


Dark /-)ngel; Mark Scotson; AnGeL*Of*MiNe; Skysong; TraSh; Bebe-chrissy; CpriceAnn Hedican-Kocur; Princess 55; freakyfroggurl22; Pantherocker; citrus scented; MerlinHalliwell; and Jordan.


Ya’ll rock my world!


And now, as we all know the proper disclaimers and I really don’t feel like writing them again, we return you to your not-so-regularly scheduled story!


~Desertrain


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Cleaning out the remains of the house in Godric’s Hollow took the rest of the day. Lily, James, and Bill salvaged what they could with /reparo/ charms, and left the rest. When they walked back into Potter Manor after Apparating from Godric’s Hollow, Beth was feeding Harry his dinner at the large kitchen table. Lily, exhausted though she was, took over this job—to Harry’s obvious delight. James looked at his wife and child, inwardly cringing at what had almost happened to them the night before.


/Ye Gods, was it only last night? It seems like forever ago. . .I can’t believe what they did to our home. . .I think I’m going to kill some Death Eaters when I find them. . ./ James thought. Bill caught the look on James’ face as it went from worried to furious. He beckoned his son to follow him into the living room, away from Lily and Beth, who were chatting about baby feeding (interspersed with some amusing anecdotes from Beth’s personal experience with James, if their laughter was any indication. . .)


“Don’t worry about her, son. If any two people can take her mind off of today, it’s Beth and Harry.”


James nodded. “I know, Dad.” Looking down, James head nod turned into a shake. “It just makes me so angry, you know? Yes, Voldemort may be gone, but he’s not the one who wrecked the house. The ones who are responsible for that are still out there. And as much as I want to be with Lily and Harry at the moment, all I can think about is getting back to work at the Ministry, back to the Auror offices so that I can go find the bastards.” James looked at his father, a somewhat lost look on his face. “I’ve never wanted to kill anyone before, Dad, not for anything they’ve done. I didn’t even /want/ to kill Voldemort; he should have had his power stripped and gone to Azkaban. But I want to kill the Death Eaters for what they did; for the things that they made Lily deal with. . .” His voice cracked a bit, and James stopped to clear his throat. “I just don’t know that things are going to get any better, even if the Dark Lord is gone. So many others will try to rise up in his place.”


Bill watched his son run his hands through his messy black hair—the hair that James had inherited from his father, and Harry from James. He understood what James was trying to say; he had always known that he would kill anyone who tried to hurt Beth, and that fierce protection had extended to cover James when he had come along. But instead of telling James this, he just put a hand on his son’s shoulder.


“Jim,” James scowled at the use of his childhood nickname, one he loathed now, “You know that your mum and I love Lily and Harry like they were our own, right?”


“Yes. . .” James relied, suspicious at this opening. His father usually did not open up a conversation with something like this unless what was coming afterward was serious.


“And you know that when mum and I pass on—no, don’t give me that look, you know it’s going to happen eventually—you know that when we pass that the Manor will be yours, right?”


“Yeesss. . .,” James said it more slowly this time, more suspiciously than before. “What are you getting at, Dad?”


“Well,” said Bill slowly, “Your mother and I have been thinking. Yoouldould bring Lily and Harry here. Make the Manor your home, James. It’s always been a haven for you, and anyway, we would love to have you.”


James just stared at his father. He knew, intellectually, that he was to inherit the Manor form his parents. He was, after all, their only child. He had just not planned on living there again for a very long time, at least not until his parents were very old. Seeing James’ hesitation, and taking it for disagreement, Bill began talking very fast.


“Come on, Jim! You want to protect them, right? Well, hell, there are more protective spells on this mansion than even on Malfoy Manor. The only place you would be safer is Hogwarts, but I think you three would be much more comfortable here. We’d give you an entire wing to yourselves if you’d like, you’d not even have to see us if you wanted privacy! I’m sure the house elves would be happy to fix up any rooms you want to your liking, and—“


Bill stopped when James held his hands up. “Okay, Dad, okay! Lily, Harry, and myself’d be safe. But what about you and Mum? If people know that we’re living here, then you two become targets, too! If something happened to you and it was because of me. . .”


Bill turned his son to face him straight on, and looked directly into his eyes. “We know, son. But our only concern at this moment is to protect you. That’s been our job since you were born, and now it’s expanded to include your wife and child. Please, son, let us do our job.”


James and Bill stood in the middle of the living room, staring into each other’s eyes. They were mirror images of each other, the only difference in their ages. Finally, James nodded his consent. “Okay, Dad. I have to talk to Lily, but we’ll stay.”


“Consider Lily talked to. Damned straight we’re staying.” Lily walked into the room from the direction of the kitchen. She laughed at the surprised look on the faces of her husband and father-in-law. “Beth gave me a talking to in the kitchen. She brought me around.” Lily stepped up beside James, who wrapped an arm around her waist.


“Where’s Harry?” James asked Lily, craning his neck to see into the kitchen.


“Oh, Beth’s putting him to bed. She’s better at it than I am—must have been the practice with you.” Lily looked at her husband with a mischievous glint in her eyes.


/Yep. Mum was definitely tale-telling./ James thought, but he didn’t mind. Lily seemed momentarily to have put today behind her.


James was able to hold that belief exactly as long as it took to say goodnight to Bill, and to Beth, who they met as they were heading up the stairs to their bedroom. Lily stopped to look in on Harry, and James watched her as he leaned against the doorframe. Lily leaned over the antique crib, the one that had held James when he was Harry’s age. A look of intense sadness passed over Lily’s face.


“James,” she whispered, “Why would someone try to hurt him? Just to get at us? Just for defying a stupid ‘Dark Lord’?” Lily stroked Harry’s cheek lightly, causing him to sigh and wiggle a bit in his sleep. “He’s so small, so helpless. . .” Lily’s voice was so soft that James could hardly hear it, but he caught the slight break in the whisper. He was unable to speak, due to the lump that had arisen in his own throat at Lily’s thoughts. He just opened his arms to his wife, and she immediately ran into his embrace. All of the events of the past two days finally came crashing down on the couple, and James and Lily Potter were finally able to cry over the loss of the last vestiges of their innocence. . .


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“Come on, Moony! It’ll be fun! James and Lily haven’t had enough of that here lately. They’ll thank us later, you’ll see! Please!?!?!” Sirius had tried everything else to get Remus to go along with his plans, and now he was down to begging. Remus had been amused, but now he was annoyed.


“Let me get this straight. You want to take James and Lily, who have just lived through one of the most horrific and scarring experiences possible, /clubbing/ for they’re second /wedding/ anniversary, when you know perfectly well that they have a baby waiting at home. Am I correct?” Remus cocked an eyebrow at Sirius, who nodded vigorously.


“Uh-huh!” Sirius said brightly.


Remus thought for a moment, then looked at Sirius, who was looking at Remus hopefully. They stood there for a moment just looking at each other. Remus had a sudden mental picture of James in one of the popular nightclubs, and of Lily trying to pull him out onto the dance floor to dance to some that awful new ‘techno’ dance music that had been popular since Disco had started to decline. Sirius could practically see this image flit into Remus’ mind, and they broke into identical, mischievous grins at the thought. Remus nodded.


“Okay.”


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Okay, I know it’s short, but I figure better short and half-way decent than long and horrible. Next time: James? Clubbing? What have Lily’s ‘rents been doing? And just where has Peter Pettigrew gone, anyhow? Tune in and find out!


Oh, I may have to up the rating in later chapters. How many of you have a problem with this? In all honesty, it shouldn’t go above a PG-13. But still, let me know!


Now, there’s this little review button down and to the left of the screen. . .a little further. . .there! Right there! Now, if you click on it, you can tell me what you think! Please do, and thank you! ^__^ Hugs to everyone!


~Desertrain