Deception
James and Sirius had wanted to apparate. Lily and Remus wanted to take the train. The argument had ranged good naturedly for days before Tara had stepped in and said she was taking the train, the others could do as they wanted. Pandora by this point had had enough and gone home to her cottage for the foreseeable future. In the end only James and Sirius had apparated to Potter Manor. Now James, Sirius, Willow and Tara were standing in the muddy field that doubled as the local green and the Potter’s quidditch pitch. James handed everyone a broom.
“But we have no idea how to fly let alone play your game!” Willow said torn between excitement and terror.
“That’s okay we’ll start with the basics.” James said cheerfully and proceeds to demonstrate mounting, dismounting and take off.
Several hours later the four of them returned to the house hot, sweaty and covered in mud.
“I swear that was the most ridiculous thing I have done in a very long time.” Tara laughed.
“I’m so sore. Don’t suppose I can have the first bath?” Willow asked
“Baths all round I think?” Came a rich, warm voice opening the back door to the cheerful kitchen.
“Hey Mum.” James saving giving his mum a hug. “Mum, this Tara and Willow and some lost puppy I found at school.”
Effie smiled and Willow instantly felt like she had come home. “Welcome to the Manor Tara and Willow. I’m Effie.” Effie turned to Sirius and opened her arms
“Hey Mum.” Sirius as he stepped in for a hug.
“No Remus?”
Sirius shook his head. “He’s finishing essays and has exams next week so decided to stay in London for a few days. Lily as well. They’ll join us for the weekend though.”
Effie chuckled. “I can’t imagine you boys being separated for more than a couple of nights at a time.”
Sirius blushed. Tara watched the interchange fascinated. Willow had a good relationship with her folks but this was a level of friendly teasing she’d never seen before.
“Now go and change. Winnie and I will have afternoon tea ready for you in an hour.” Effie said.
“You’re the best.” James beamed and dropped a kiss on his mum’s head. She was a tall woman but James stood a head taller and loved every excuse to point it out. ‘I wonder if Regulus is taller. Must get them to stand back to back one day.’ The thought came unbidden and brought with it a pang of sweet sorrow which he savored then put away for later.
—-
“So what brings you home?” Effie asked, putting the last of the dishes on the table when they all descended on the kitchen an hour later.
“Would you believe quidditch practice?” James asked
“Yes. Except you brought new friends.” Came the dry response
“They might be quidditch players?” Sirius said
Effie raised an eyebrow. Willow giggled, then blushed. “I’m sorry Mrs Potter,”
“Call me Effie, please. And don’t be sorry. Not that I’m sure why you’re apologising,” said Effie
“Tara and I had a bet on what excuse James would use and how long it would take for it to be seen through and it was even faster than we thought.” Willow explained
Effie looked at her sons. “Well?”
Sirius and James dipped their eyes to the table. Tara had an image of the two of them as twelve year olds having to explain themselves after causing yet more mischief. “Just how many pranks have you guys pulled?” She blurted.
“A few.” James looked up and grinned “Even got away with most of them.”
“Hmmm.” Effie said, raising a scone to her mouth. “Do have some scones, girls, while the boys try to find a plausible reason before they tell me the truth. They’re quite delicious.”
Willow and Tara did as they were told. The warm scones, fresh sweet cream and homemade raspberry jam were delicious. Willow had just started her second when James gave in.
“You know the mission Dumbledore sent us on?” He ventured
“I read the report you submitted.” Effie paused as she recalled the document. “‘After the initial sighting, the house under investigation proved to be dormant with no magic including green smoke and lights. There was some activity around St Catherine’s Castle a little further along the coast which was also investigated, however nothing substantial was found after the initial green light which may have been caused by smugglers who still use the caves all along the shore. There were no signs of on-going magical activity in or around the castle when investigated again during daylight.’ Correct?”
“Spot on. Photographic memory. Fabulous ability.” James said proudly
“And very scary when you really want someone to forget something. Regulus is the same.” Sirius mused.
Effie waited. She’d noticed the shadow that passed through James’s eyes when Sirius mentioned his brother. Far more appeared to have happened during that week in Cornwall than the cursory report sent back to the ministry. James would tell her iwhen he was ready.
James took a breath. “The full story is more complicated and we didn’t want anything intercepted that could be misinterpreted.”
“Voldemort is finally dead.” Sirius said.
“Yes. His body was found by one of our agents in France. And a Lamia as well.”
“Merlin. That’s what you were doing.” James breathed.
“Bloody hell.” Sirius looked at James, eyes wide with a mix of shock, horror and pride. “He’s a fucking genius.”
“So he told us.” Said Tara drily. “More than once.”
“Boys. Focus,” Effie commanded.
Willow and Tara flinched at the tone. Who was this woman? The kind, friendly mother had been replaced in an instant by a general. The boys responded immediately. James grinned. “Right. Well. Turns out young Lord Black is indeed a freaking genius. We saw Voldemort lying broken and dead alongside Nagini’s headless body in a magical chamber buried under St Catherine’s, I’d assumed they were buried in the rubble when the chamber collapsed. But clearly not.”
“How about you start at the beginning.” Mum Effie said with a sigh. She loved her boys, but sometimes they took far too long to get to the point. James got it from his father, she had no idea about Sirius but suspected it was a response to his own upbringing.
“Short version. Turns out there was an enormous chamber magically hidden under St Catherine’s. We found a way in through the top. Willow and Tara came in through the caves which riddle the cliffs, and so did Pandora and Regulus. We all met in this giant chamber which was a shrine to an elder snake god called Yig. The Lamia Nagini was an acolyte of Yig, not a follower of Voldemort, and had convinced Voldemort, who didn’t die in the attack on the ministry meeting back in April after all, to join them. There was a massive battle. Willow and Pandora joined forces with another elder god Gloriana and banished Yig back to his own plane just as the chamber started to collapse. We helped to collapse the rest of the underground rooms, ran and managed to escape back through the cave system. It was an epic night.” James summarised.
“So many questions. Let’s start with Tara and Willow, how did you end up in a cave system under a castle in Cornwall?” Effie turned to the two girls who had been sipping their tea while James spoke.
“Demon magic. We think.” Willow replied matter of factually. Effie raised an eyebrow. “Tara and I practice a different form of magic and spent several years fighting demons and vampires while in high school and college. I got suckered in to finding casting a spell which sucked us through time and space to land in the caves.”
“Where and when?”
“California, 2009.” Tara replied
Effie paled. “Can you remember the spell you cast?”
“I think so. My mind had been infiltrated, though I didn’t realise at the time, possibly by Yig or one of his minions, so it’s quite hazy. There were a number of ingredients as well as the chant.” Willow looked at Tara, fear shadowing her eyes.
“We’ll work it out.” Tara said softly squeezing her hand.
“What else? Why were Pandora and Regulus there? Were they there on Voldemort's behalf?” Effie continued.
James shook his head emphatically. “No. Reg hated Voldemort.” He looked at Sirius apologetically. “I think Regulus killed Voldemort before apparating the bodies to where they were found.”
Sirius nodded slowly. “I don’t know why they were there, but I know now that Regulus follows no one but himself.” He said. Effie heard the sadness and her heart hurt for the two lost boys.
“If Regulus can do such powerful magic how has he not found a way to bend time as well as space?”
“He left.” James and Sirius said quietly.
Effie had to stop herself from reaching out and pulling the two of them into another hug. “Okay. So no help there. I’m assuming Pandora left as well. How can we help?”
“Pandora’s been brilliant, but it’s so far outside her brand of magic. We’ve searched through all the books we could find in magical and muggle libraries from London to Edinburgh to Cardiff.” James said.
“Even Alphard’s extensive library of esoteric tomes turned up nothing but rumours and conjecture.” Sirius added.
“And Dumbledore?” Effie asked, although she already knew the answer.
“No. Not for this. We thought about asking Professor McGonigall but much as we love Minnie and Poppy they would insist on getting their boss involved.” James said
“Why don’t you trust this Dumbledore?” Tara asked bursting with curiosity
James and Sirius exchanged an intense look before turning to Effie. “You know everything you say here is safe. The wards have never been lifted since the night Sirius arrived. And what you tell us in confidence remains confidential. If we feel it should go further we will ask first.”
“Thanks Mum.” James took a deep breath. He had only ever spoken about his intense dislike with Remus and Sirius. “We all know there were traitors on both sides of the war. Most of the rumours centred on Sirius because he was a Black and Remus because he’s a werewolf. We believe that Dumbledore continually sent the three of us into the most dangerous situations in the hope that we’d be killed and his problem solved.”
Eddie looked sceptical. “You had plenty of safe assignments as well.”
“Dumbledore deliberately put muggles in danger. He gave out misinformation and kept everyone in strict silos. There were many times when we would be attacked only to find out they were on our side.”
“Still not a compelling argument not to tell Dumbledore.”
“I overheard him talking with Voldemort about how to destroy the wolves. The idea was to send in several injured clan members infected with a virus which only affected canis lupus. The virus would be slow acting and untraceable. Remus was supposed to be one of the victims. I took the spell intended for him.”
“The fist time you nearly died?” Effie gasped. James nodded. “What about the second?”
“That was Snape.” Sirius said “Pure unadulterated hatred fuelled that incident.”
James gave Sirius a startled look. “You saw it?”
“Sort of. Someone else confirmed it,” Sirius evaded.
“Who healed me?” James asked, then a thought struck him “It was wasn’t it?” Sirius nodded. He promised he would never say anything but he wasn’t going to lie outright. James smiled so sadly Sirius was taken off guard. That was not the reaction he was expecting.
“If that’s true, then I’m going to need to do some digging, but that’s an issue for another day. Right now you’ve done lots of research but got no leads.” Effie stated. Four heads nodded. “I’m assuming we can we involve Monty.” More nods. “Good. I’ll bring him up to speed when he gets home tonight.”
“Where is Dad anyway?” James asked
“Glasgow. Negotiating a new treaty with the Picts. He’s in Paris next week, then home for Christmas and New Year. You’re all welcome to stay and join us if he bright lights of London don’t beckon more strongly.” Effie said happy to change the subject.
“Totally. We’ve promised to do what we can to get Willow and Tara home as soon as we can, but if they’re still here, can we host New Year’s Eve here?”
Effie burst out laughing. It was like rich dark chocolate. Tara was mesmerised. Effie had just been told by her son that the leader of their wizarding world, whom she appeared to admire, was untrustworthy and worked with the enemy to commit genocide, and her reaction was thoughtful. Now she was laughing as though the conversation had never happened. If it had been Tara’s family, she would have been beaten for disrespect and confined to her room without food for several days. No wonder James was always so cheerful. Tara exchanged a look with Willow who was just as baffled and sat back to listen to the banter between the three of them until Monty came home some time later.