Till Forever Falls Apart

Passing It On

*Mentions of alcohol included.

January 3, 1993

The days of Christmas break were anything but boring when you had James Potter as entertainment. He took the boy and girl to the biggest hill he could find near the outside edges of the village, carrying the equipment on his back as if it were nothing. They made meager attempts to build snowmen, drank warm butterbeer Lily had packed for them, and told the older Potter all that had happened over the last few months, leaving out nothing, and exaggerating everything.

"This Malfoy kid sounds like a git," James shouted to be heard over the piercing wind that was beginning to sweep through the land, sending flurries flying all around them, dancing in the cold of the season.

"Val and I handle him pretty well," Harry gave his father a proud smile. James looked down at him, putting a fatherly hand on his son's covered head, tugging at the ends of his hat.

"I can't believe we have to go back to school tomorrow," Val dragged her bobsled behind her. "Surely you can convince Dumbledore to let us stay the rest of the month-right, James?"

"I wish you could," James said wistfully, the cherry red bite of frost in his face rising as he walked on. "But it would be a downright crime to keep you two from the classroom. You have to finish your education."

Harry looked strangely at his dad as if he was someone he did not recognize. "Since when have you put such a focus on school?"

"One of my resolutions for this year is to be more mature," James held his head high. "Gone are the days of my youth. I am a man now, who does...manly, adult things."

Val shook her head distastefully. "Can I have 1992 James back? You're starting to sound like my dad."

"Haha," he looked at her flatly. "Just you wait, LB. When you're my age, you'll understand."

"You make it sound like you're as old as Filch," Harry carefully mumbled under his breath, grinning at Val who heard and shoved him playfully.

Sirius was waiting for them back at the house when they arrived, putting his newly polished wand away when he heard them rustling by the front door. Moving from his place into the hall, he watched as they peeled back their many layers of winter clothing, shaking slightly as he snapped his fingers, rekindling the fire.

"Let's do it now, Prongs," Sirius rubbed his hands together mischievously.

James shook the snow out of his hair. "Now?"

"Now."

"What now?" Val asked, a queasy feeling emerging within her.

"Gather the Marauders," James spoke with authority-like confidence. "It's time we have a meeting."

"Wait- what are you talking about? I get the feeling we're talking about two different things," Sirius looked at him skeptically. "There's only one other Marauder."

Potter beamed, putting his hands on his hips.

"Not for long."

With eyes scanning the perimeter of the area, his eyebrows turned downward in thought as he tapped his lips. "We can't do it here. It's not official-looking enough. Let's do it at my house."

Sirius seemed caught off guard. "How is my house not official-looking enough?"

"What is going on?" Harry grabbed for anyone's attention, trying to understand the context of the conversation.

"Where's Moony?" James hopped from the carpet square to the second step of the flight of stairs. "REMUS! COME DOWN HERE!"

Val put a hand to her forehead. "Nothing makes sense anymore."