Marauders - Always - Part One

James's Allegiance

If Underhill was there, Greyback would be dead.

The thought sent a chill through James.

If he'd been included in the Ministry requirement for the training sessions that Underhill was running - like Frank and McKenna - then he would've been obligated by Ministry order to aim to kill Fenrir Greyback.

He remembered the conversation he'd had with Lily after talking to Frank, remembered how worried Frank Longbottom was about the prospect of being the one who first had to aim to kill with his wand... and James was thankful once again that he'd left the Auror program. It would be kill or be brought in for an inquiry to answer questioning on why he'd spared the life of a known Death Eater.

But he couldn't have raised his wand - not like that - not when it was so clear that Fenrir Greyback was oblivious to James's presence, believing he was safe from any threat... It seemed almost unfair, even if he had been equipped with the killing curse. James would feel guilty, as guilty as striking from behind or striking an unarmed man. It just wasn't good moral ground.

James was struck by how ordinary Greyback looked when he wasn't in the midst of battle or attack. He had sunglasses on, blocking against the violently bright white reflection of the sun on snow, and he leaned against the wall by the door, arms crossed, looking on as people moved about the courtyard, looking at artifacts and display boards describing the items they were examining before moving into covered porticos that ran beneath James's feet and around three sides of the courtyard, or into a wide door that led them into the tower itself. James watched as Greyback watched two boys playing with wooden swords, shouting and laughing as they jousted, and Greyback's eyes followed them. 

The normalcy of Greyback went away, then, and James felt his mind shriek predator. A strange feeling happened then - something he hadn't experienced yet - it was more than just hating Greyback for the things Greyback had done, but it was hating Greyback for the potential of what he could do, a protective feeling that rose up from James's guts and took over reason so that he was ready to launch himself through the glass to stand between the jousting boys and the werewolf. He drew his wand and turned, keen to find a doorway to the courtyard.

Who needed the new curse to take out an enemy?

But he'd at least do it with Greyback knowing he was there, with Greyback properly prepared to fight. 

He was a few paces down the hall toward the stairs that led out to the courtyard when Dumbledore appeared before him suddenly, grabbed his arm, and pulled him back, laying a finger over his mouth, and forcing James back the other direction.

"All due respect sir, but --" James started, but Dumbledore gave him a Look so determined to silence him that James instantly stopped speaking and followed.

Dumbledore went invisible once more and James felt him guide James forcibly along down the stairs James had come up before and through a quick maze of corridors until they came to a door clearly marked exit - evidently meant for their tourists - and Dumbledore directed James outside. They came through in the crowded market, and Dumbledore's grasp continued until they'd gone a ways down the path away from the tower and into the woods, where the headmaster pulled James into clearing blocked by some trees for privacy. He became visible and James tore the invisibility cloak from his shoulders.

"Sir  --" James's voice was frustrated as he stowed the cloak away. "He was right there. He was right there. Under Ministry orders I --"

"You are not under orders to do anything, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore replied. "You are, in fact, not on Ministry business currently."

"Yes I am, I came here with Mr. Underhill, who's investigating the Blackburn case and --"

"And ordered you to return to the Ministry and submit your report on your short investigation. You chose to return to the Market, did you not? On your own accord? Or had Mr. Underhill ordered you to return to purchase gifts for your wife?"