Separate Universe (HP/MCU)

Chapter Eighty Eight

"I found the spell!" Remus exclaimed, as he practically slammed the book on the table.

James, Sirius, and Andromeda jumped from the loud noise, but quickly peered over to look at the page that Remus had open.

"That's some serious dark magic," Andromeda commented,"and now is not a good time for your pun, Sirius." She added, giving her cousin a pointed glare.

Sirius simply held up his hands in mock surrender, before he looked back to the book.

"That doesn't make a lot of sense though, Moony. That spell says it takes two people, and the main spell caster would need pieces of hair from the person they're hitting with the spell, and a couple of their personal belongings." James commented, shaking his head.

"It also says there has to be some vendetta for the spell to be cast, otherwise the spell would work wrong, and potentially kill the person the spell was used on." Andromeda added, as she read the page.

"What could Dumbledore possibly have a vendetta with Nala for?" Sirius asked, as he looked up at his friends.

"And who would have helped him?" James asked, frowning to himself.

"Maybe we should take a few days to look into it. You three should spend time trying to remember who spent the most time with Nala that wasn't normal, or who was in her dorm more often than usual." Andromeda said, and the friends nodded.

"We'll go back to James's and try to remember some things." Remus replied, as he put a book mark in the book to keep his page.

Remus, Sirius, and James went back to James's place. Remus went straight up to the guest room and grabbed a quill and parchment to write down whatever he was able to remember. Sirius went to the kitchen to find himself some food, since he believed food would help him think and remember. His logic was that some foods were good for the brain, so if he ate, his brain would be happy and would work with him.

James went towards his small office, which he didn't often use, since he planned for it to be where Remus would spend more time than him. It was very rare to see James in the office, unless it was very important, or he needed something from the room. He stopped in his tracks when he heard talking in the office. He recognized the voices immediately — Dumbledore and Lily.

"I know he's becoming curious again, Albus. I found a picture of Nanala and a baby in the pocket of his trousers. If she's able to send things to him, then he'll be able to find out how to get her back, or find out what happened to her." Lily said, making James's heart pound in his chest.

"Lily, you do not need to worry, dear. For all Mr. Potter knows, Nanala disappeared and was murdered. The picture could have just been something Mr. Black or Mr. Lupin gave him as a trick." Dumbledore replied, though James could hear that he wasn't confident in his own words.

"If he finds out, he'll be crushed—angry for what happened to her. He loved her, and you said he couldn't. You said it was against fate or something of that nature. I know we can't change fate, but I feel like maybe fate had been changed, and your idea may be wrong." She commented, causing James's heart to skip a beat.

"Ms. Evans, I know fate has not changed. You and Mr. Potter are to be wed, and one day you will bare a child. This child could change our world, and with the right encouragement and support, the child could save everyone." Dumbledore stated, making Lily sigh.

"You're right, I'm not going to question what is supposed to happen. I just—I wish it didn't have to happen that way. She was so young, and they were so happy. If that baby really is hers in the picture, and he's really James's son, they deserved to be together. I hate that they were separated, but I know I have to think about the greater good, and not just the happiness of a couple of people." Lily said, and James began to become angry.

"You love James, Lily, and you know deep down you always have. It just took the right circumstances for you to figure it out, and for you two to finally be together." Dumbledore commented, causing James to shake his head in disbelief.

When he heard the two walking around in the office, he quickly ran down to the guest room where Remus was. He opened the door and quietly closed it behind himself, startling his werewolf friend that was writing things down on his parchment.

"What's the matter, Prongs?" Remus asked, setting his parchment and quill to the side.

"We need Padfoot, Moony. Things are getting a lot more complicated than we originally anticipated." James replied, running his fingers through his messy hair with a sigh.

"Take a seat, James, you look ready to pass out." Remus commented, and James nodded.

James shakily sat down on the bed, and placed his head down in his hands.

"What's the matter?" Remus asked, as he placed his hand on James's shoulder in a comforting manner.

"Lily had something to do with Nala's disappearance, Moony. I heard her speaking with Dumbledore in my office. The two were talking about Nala; Lily found my photo of Nala and Henry. I don't know if Lily was the one that helped Dumbledore send Nala away, but I know she knew it was going to happen, and I can't forgive her for that—I don't know if I can even be around her after finding this out." James explained, causing Remus to sigh.

Things had just gotten more serious and complicated than they had been before. Of course, the trio knew whoever helped Dumbledore had to be a Gryffindor, but they hadn't expected it to be Lily. Lily was Nanala's friend, or so they believed, but it seemed Lily wasn't as truthful as they once believed...