The Marauding Maps: A Collection of Oneshots

When You Die

They say that when you die, those you love most in life are the souls that greet yours in the afterlife.

James Porter died with a flash of green, similar to that of his wife and son's eyes, but this wasn't the green had seen everyday day of his life. No, this was something darker. This green was poisoned with black magic. All he could think as the green light engulfed him was Please don't let it take them too. Don't let him take Harry.

James fell against the staircase, but he never felt the cut of the steps. Instead, he felt the caring arms of his mother underneath him. But she was gone. It could be her, could it?? But of course it was, because James, too, had departed this life. And he looked to the side, and there was his dad, speaking the first words he would hear. "Hello again, son. We've missed you"

Lily Potter fell victim, too, to the green she saw in the mirror each day, and the green she saw in her arms each night. She had hear her soulmate collapse, just seconds ago, and so this violent colour felt almost home, as she was going back to James. But she couldn't leave Harry. She had to protect Harry. And that was her last thought. Just two words. Not Harry.

And the bars of his cot dissolve beneath her, replaced, instead, by the soft embrace of the only other person she had ever loved. Had he some how survived? Had he defeated the Dark Lord and come to save her?? But no. She had seen the flash. She was gone, which meant he was, too. And then came the words, the first words she heard. "You're dead??"

When Sirius black died, he saw the red of Gryffindor. The red of the one choice that changed his life more than he could possibly know. And with that, the bright red that led one brace young man to betray his family, at the very start of his story, was the very same shade sent from the hand of his own family, that ended his life, in the end. And all he thought was Save Harry.

As he fell through the veil, he felt the same two arms that had carried him home after one too many Fire Whiskey's. The same two arms that held him when he stumbled through the door that night when they were fifteen. The same two arms that had always been there were here now at the end. And, as James laughed an "easy there, mate," Sirius forgot why he was there.

What finally took Peter Pettigrew was his own metallic hand. It was a final act of strength, that the hand mistook for weakness. A final act of loyalty that the hand mistook for betrayal. And, as the hand choked him, he thought one thing and one thing only. He thought, though he knew it would be enough, I'm sorry, Harry.

When he fell towards the the stone wall, he, too was caught by James, who set him immediately back on his feet. As looked into the brilliant hazel eyes before him he was washed with guilt. He didn't deserve to be here, in the same afterlife of the friend who's trust he had betrayed. And, even as thought that, James' words echoed around him. "He was our son."

When Remus Lupin was died, he saw boy they were all here to protect. He wasn't really a boy now though, was he. As Remus shot curse after curse, spell after spell, he was finally over powered. And, though he knew he should be thinking of his wife and son, he could think only of that one boy. Avenge them, Harry.

And as he fell on the floor of the only place he could truly call home, he felt the arms of Sirius catch him. And as Sirius smiled at him, he smiled back. Remus stood up as Sirius looked deep into his eyes. The first words Remus Lupin heard in his next life were simple, but they felt right coming from those lips. "Looks like we're all back together then, eh moony??"

When Harry Potter's end finally came it was the only one so peaceful in this story. He was casting the coloured bubble charm he remembered his dad casting. He sat in his armchair thinking about everyone who had died for him, and he thought his final thought. Goodbye, Harry.

And the arms of his chair were replaced by the arms of his mother. He was surrounded by them all as he knew he should be. He was where he belonged. The only place, he realised, he truly belonged since Godrics Hollow all those years ago. And when his mum held him, as she had in that house, she said just one thing to him. "Welcome home."

A/N other people: have a regular updating schedule, update every Friday
Me: does nothing for months then updates five chapters in 3 days