The Marauders (a HP fanfiction)

Chapter twenty-three

November 10, 1976

Mary looked over at Lily, who was eying Severus.

"Lily, what's the matter?" Mary asked.

"What? Oh, it's nothing," she replied.

Mary then so Lily take another look at Severus.

"I thought you had stopped talking to that Snape git," Mary said.

"I have," Lily told Mary.

"Not by the way you were looking at him right now," Mary noted.

Lily sighed. She had to tell herself that Mary was concerned about her.

"He's acting off," Lily said.

"And that concerns you because…" Mary began.

"You're right. It doesn't matter what he's doing," Lily replied.

With that, they walked off without a glance back.

xxx

November 11, 1976

James was walking through the corridors at night. Sirius did not want to go with him. He immediately regretted not using his invisibility cloak when he knocked into someone.

"James?" the familiar voice asked.

"Lily," he gasped.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Couldn't sleep," James replied. "How about you?"

"Just patrolling. You really shouldn't be out here," Lily said.

"Yes, I know," James replied with a sigh. "Old habits die hard I suppose."

They both gasped as they heard a noise.

"Do you hear that?" Lily asked.

"It's coming from over there," James said, pointing.

They tip-toed their way to the end of the corridor.

"I don't believe it," Lily said.

Out of the darkness came Regulus and Severus.

"I can," James said.

"What do you think he and Sirius's brother are talking about?" Lily asked.

"Oh, come on, Lily. You know as well as I do what they're talking about," James said.

Lily sigh, knowing he was right.

"Sirius is going to be heart broken," she said, letting her head fall. "I'll talk to Snape."

"But, Lily…" James began.

"Don't worry. He won't hurt me."

xxx

November 13, 1976

Lily ran up to James in the common room.

"Have you told them him yet?" she asked.

James shook his head and replied, "I haven't gotten the chance. You?"

"No," Lily answered.

They both became quiet as Sirius walked up to them.

"What's this?" he asked.

"We're just talking," James said.

"We'll talk later," Lily told James, and she walked away.

Sirius laughed and slapped James's shoulder.

"We'll that seems promising," he said.

"I only wish it was on different circumstances," James admitted.

"What do you mean?" Sirius asked.

"I don't know how to tell you this," James said with a sigh.

"Tell me what?" Sirius asked.

He followed James to the couch and they sat.

"Lily and I caught your brother talking to Snape the other night," James said.

Sirius looked into the fire for a moment.

"So, he's joined that gang of Death Eaters," he said, his voice not sounding surprised.

"I'm afraid so. I'm sorry, Sirius," James apologized.

"It was going to happen sooner or later," he said.

xxx

November 15, 1976

Lily took a deep breath as she spotted Severus. This was her best chance to talk to him.

"Severus," she called.

"Lily," he gasped, turning in shock.

"How have you been?" she asked.

For a moment, Severus thought he was dreaming. Was Lily seriously talking to him?

"I've been fine. You?" he asked.

"I'm good. Listen, about that group you're in…" Lily began, but she stopped when Severus made a noise and replied, "And here I thought you wanted to be friends again."

"Severus, please," Lily begged. "You can't just pull Sirius's brother into that… that… I can't even say it."

"He wanted to be in it," Severus said defensively.

Lily have Severus a disgusted look, which made him take a step back.

"What happened to you?" she asked.

Lily went running into the common room.

"Lily, what is it?" James asked, running up to her.

"We were right," she said.

"Regulus has joined the Death Eaters?" James asked.

"Yes," Lily nodded.

xxx

December 1, 1976

Remus looked at himself in the mirror. He looked older, no, he was older.

"Remus," a woman's voice called to him.

Remus turned and smiled at the woman. This woman was very much pregnant.

"How's the baby?" Remus asked, placing his hands on her belly.

"He's doing great."

Remus placed a hand on the woman's stomach.

"He's strong," he noticed as he felt the baby kick.

"Just like his daddy," the woman said with a laugh.

"Just hope he doesn't take too much from me," Remus replied with a sigh.

xxx

December 2, 1976

Remus gasped as he woke up from his dream.

"Remus, are you all right?" James asked as Sirius also woke up.

"Yeah, you look like you haven't gotten any sleep," Sirius noted.

"Had a nightmare?" James asked.

Remus glanced over at Peter, who had stayed asleep.

"It wasn't like that. It just left me thinking," he replied.

"What happened?" Sirius asked.

"I had a wife, and she was pregnant," Remus said.

James yawned and stretched out as he replied, "Doesn't sound weird to me."

"I guess it's just making me think because I've never given much thought of a family," Remus said.

He figured with his condition, he would never be able to have normal life that involved a wife and kids. Kids that might possibly inherit his condition.

"Why not?" Sirius asked.

"Oh, come on. What woman would have me with my being what I am?" Remus wondered.

"Well, apparently that woman in your dream does. You just need to find her now," James said.

His head was already back on his pillow with his eyes closed.