Chapter 2
"You're finally here!"
Sirius laughed and allowed James to hug him as he stood inside the Potter Cottage at the door, inhaling the scent of his brother-in-all-but-blood, who he hadn't seen in what seemed like centuries, though was really only a week.
Lily followed her husband's example when he let go to grab Remus, who stood behind Sirius with his back pressed to the door, and Sirius just as eagerly wrapped her in his arms. She was like the fiery, younger, extremely cool sister he never had. Her vivid emerald green eyes sparkled with warmth as she looked up at him with a small smile. "God, it feels like an eternity since we had a proper get-together! Where's Celia?"
"She decided to have a girls' night with Martha instead," Remus answered, embracing Lily.
"A shame," James said airily and turned to lead the way to the dining room, that was joined to the kitchen.
Sirius exchanged a look with Remus and Lily. It was the world's worst-kept secret that James disliked Celia. Perhaps it was something to do with the fact that he was jealous of her, though he would rather die than admit that. After the 'Prank' back in sixth year, when Sirius had been on the outs with the Marauders, he'd made a best friend out of Celia. Even after they'd patched up, it had never changed anything in Sirius and Celia's relationship.
James always got jealous when Sirius spent more time with her, or when he talked about her, and while it had been insanely annoying at first, they'd all got used to it. And Sirius knew James was only looking out for him, so he let it slide mostly, except when he insulted Celia - no matter how mildly.
Back in the dining room, Peter was already seated, and he grinned and hugged both Sirius and Remus when he saw them.
"Hey, Pads. Moony. Lia's with Martha, right?"
Sirius nodded, smiling. Peter was very close to Celia, possibly the only one after Sirius that she considered a good friend, besides Martha and, to a lesser extent, Mary McDonald, who'd been a Gryffindor classmate and close friend of theirs. She'd been forced to move to France straight after graduation, but they'd sent her a letter or two, just to check if she was still alive.
"So," James said as they all sat down around the table and started their dinner. "What's up with you all recently?"
"Apart from Dumbledore's mission? Nothing much," Remus shrugged. "Not much excitement at the moment, I'm afraid."
"Same old, same old," Sirius waved a hand casually. "Boring patrols, monotone routine."
"My job's fine," Peter shrugged. "Though I'm planning on proposing to Martha soon," he mumbled the last bit with a pink face, suddenly very interested in his plate.
James, who had been looking parts uncomfortable and exasperated with his friends' lack of cooperation in holding an interesting conversation, perked up immediately and grinned broadly as Sirius wolf-whistled. Remus clapped Peter on the back and Lily gasped and laughed.
"Second Marauder to get married!" Sirius yelled excitedly.
"I demand to be best man!" James exclaimed.
Remus just shook his head. "No, no, that'll be me."
"I haven't even proposed yet," Peter muttered uselessly.
"We already know she'll say yes," Lily countered loftily. "Congrats, Wormy."
"Thanks," Peter sighed happily.
After making mundane talk for nearly an hour more, James and Lily stood to escort their guests out. As Sirius was leaving, though, James clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, Padfoot, wanna join us for a drink?"
Remus and Peter didn't even bat an eye as they bid them goodbye, and Remus said he'd wait at their flat. It was very common for James and Sirius to have private talks after Marauder meetings, anyway.
When Sirius had entered the kitchen and sat on the small round breakfast table there, Lily and James both joined him with a large bottle of beer and glasses. Sirius raised his eyebrows - Lily had stopped drinking after the twins had been born - so it must be something serious, no pun intended.
"Sybil Trelawney made a prophecy earlier yesterday," James finally said after his second glass. "Dumbledore was the one to hear it, though a death eater evidently heard it too, and reported it to his master. Fortunately or unfortunately, he didn't hear the whole bit."
Sirius frowned. "A prophecy?"
Lily nodded and recited it as if reading out of a book:
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..."
Sirius blinked. "Wh-?"
"Dumbledore suspects it's about Harry or Charles. Or Neville Longbottom, Frank and Alice's son," James exhaled. "He... he advised us to go into hiding, and we agreed... I mean, if this is about protecting the twins, then anything... we'll be casting the Fidelius over the cottage, and-"
"You want me to be secret keeper," Sirius sighed.
James' face contorted. "Of course, if you can't, we'd understand-"
"I'll do it."
By the look on his face, James would much rather have preferred it if Sirius had denied. "We've got an offer from Dumbledore-"
"No," Sirius cut him off firmly. "I'll do it. You know I don't much trust him."
James looked close to pleading. "But it's too dangerous-"
"-and I can handle it-"
"-but I can't lose you!" James cried. "If anything happens to you, Pads, I'd never forgive myself, I'd die!"
Sirius cracked a humorless smile. "Too late, mate. Should've thought of that before you asked me... you know I'd always agree to help save you - save Harry and Charles - always. I'll be careful, Prings, but better me than you... you have a family-"
"We're your family-"
"You've got two kids, Prongs!" Sirius said. "C'mon, I'll be careful. Evans, tell your husband to loosen up."
Lily had tears shining in her eyes and she smiled tenderly and hugged Sirius. "You know I love you, right? We love you?"
Sirius nodded. "Yes, I'm well aware you gits won't last a day without me..."
James choked something between a laugh and a sob, and Sirius said, on a much serious note, "I'll stay the night, if that's okay with you. I'll send Moony a patronus, but I'd feel better if..."
James bobbed his head. "Yeah! Sure."
"And we can cast the charm tomorrow," Sirius suggested.