HP: Fairborn Adventures

September 1st, 1977

The last signs of civilization rattled by outside the window, indicating that they had left London far behind already and were well on their way up north. She pushed a curl of long auburn hair to the side, watching the reflection of the golden 'H' that was pinned to her school uniform over her chest.

"It suits you way better than me."

She turned around to find James regarding her with his trademark grin, one hand in his messy hair.

"I think you look quite handsome with it." Lily giggled, taking a step closer to him and pecking his cheek: "I know for a fact that you will make a very good Head Boy."

"Un-bloody-likely." James muttered under his breath: "I've been avoiding and hiding from the school's authorities for six amazing years. I can't help but think this is all part of some elaborate prank Dumbledore initiated to get back on me. This year will be terrible!"

"You're being overly dramatic again, James." Lily rolled her eyes, shuffling through a few cards with some last-minute notes for the upcoming meeting: "This year will be good for you; it will be a learning experience."

"Learning experience you say..." James scratched his jaw. A mischievous gleam, one that Lily had gotten to know over the last few months of dating him, dwelled up in his hazel brown eyes: "Perhaps I've been looking at things the wrong way- "

"James, you know that's not what I meant-"

"I might have less time these days, but therefore it will be even easier to get away with a prank now that I'm the one who's supposed to catch the people doing pranks... Think of the possibilities!"

"I will not have you abusing your position, James." Lily turned on the spot, pointing a finger accusingly at her boyfriend while tapping her foot on the floor threateningly: "There will be no pranks from you while we're on Head Boy and Girl duty."

"Okay, okay." James held his hands up defensively, as he usually did whenever he was on the receiving end of that look: "No pranks on duty, I understood, Lils."

"I mean it, James." She kept her eyes squinted together, trying to stare him down as intimately as possible: "You will behave yourself!"

"I'm still a Marauder..." He shot her his most disarming grin, placing his hands on her hips to gently pull her closer: "But I promise a bit less marauding this year."

"Fine." Lily wanted to reply but was caught off guard when he suddenly leaned down and gently brushed his lips over hers.

She didn't fight it, merely broke the kiss after a few seconds, stepping on her tiptoes to peek over his shoulder: "James, the others could be here any moment..."

"We have some more time then." Her boyfriend replied unbothered without even checking his watch. He pulled her back against him, kissing her even more passionately than before.

"Okay, but only a few more seconds!" She melted into the kiss, allowing him to hold her while winding her arms around his neck, one hand roaming through his unruly hair.

"Merlin, Lily, you drive me crazy." James' voice came out raspy: "I don't ever want to stop kissing you."

"But- But we have-" Lily gasped in between breaths, whenever James granted her a small break: " -to set a good example!"

"You'll have to up your technique for that..." Someone chuckled from the door.

With a yelp, Lily broke the kiss and whirled around, already feeling a hot blush creep up her freckled cheeks.

Marlene McKinnon, already dressed in her school uniform, stood in the entrance to the Heads compartment, amusement dancing in her ice-blue eyes: "I apologize for the intrusion..." She flicked a long golden braid over one shoulder and stepped inside. "I did knock a few times but no one answered. I guess I was right in assuming you two were busy..."

"Yeah and you ruined the moment." James chuckled, dropping onto a couch just in time to avoid the slap Lily had aimed for his shoulder.

"You had two months to get to know each other more intimately at Potter Manor." Marlene snorted. Her fingers dipped into her robes to take out a golden prefect's badge. She pinned it on her chest: "Perhaps you should have made better use of the privacy you had there."

"Oh, like you and Harry did, I suppose?" James groaned: "Barely a week went by where one didn't hear noises from Harry's room. Not to mention all the times you came late to breakfast looking freshly- "

"James!" Lily interfered sharply, fighting down another blush.

"I'm so sorry." Marlene shrugged, not looking apologetic at all: "Most nights we actually do apply some silencing charms. Sometimes it's difficult to remember in the heat of the moment, you know..."

"Uhm, well yes-"

"I mean no- "

James and Lily's eyes found each other; now both of them were blushing furiously.

"Oh." Marlene raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow, looking at them with a wide smile: "Well, don't feel pressured into rushing anything. Take all the time you need."

'Easy for you to say.'

Lily nervously bit her bottom lip, avoiding James' curious gazes. She was well aware that Harry and Marlene had crossed that threshold some time ago already. James was correct in mentioning that they hadn't exactly kept it a secret.

'But I'd like to wait just a bit longer.' Lily quickly suppressed the turmoil of feeling she experienced anytime James touched her: 'It will make it all the better in the end.'

"You and Harry have exactly the same smug grin each time you tell us that." James grumbled: "I miss the times when I didn't have to see it every morning, like when you went on vacation or those few days when- "

Lily instantly shot him a glare accompanied by a shake of her head.

"Sorry," James murmured, grimacing when he realized his mistake: "I- I didn't mean to- "

"Don't worry about that." To Lily's surprise, Marlene didn't retort as sharply as one might have expected from Harry's girlfriend. In fact, her smile only seemed to get brighter: "Harry and I needed those few days for ourselves to resolve some... issues." A bright gleam dwelled up from the depths of her icy eyes: "Now, however, we're healthier and stronger than ever before."

"Yeah, we caught on." James murmured under his breath: "It was hard to miss the lovebites you left on him."

"Well- " Marlene smirked smugly, definitely not feeling sorry at all about those. "You see- "

Yet before the blonde could say anything the doors to the compartment opened once more and the first prefects started strolling in.

James stood up from his spot on the couch and headed over to stand next to Lily. Harry's girlfriend surprised Lily once again when she decided to also head over to them instead of waiting for some of her housemates.

Of course, Lily was no fool and had noticed the change in the blonde's behavior over the last few days. In fact, said changes started ever since she and Harry had their little argument. Whereas before the fight, Marlene's entire demeanor and body language had gotten more and more hostile towards Lily, now it was the complete opposite. It was almost like a switch had been flicked.

Lily had no idea what exactly caused it, but she definitely preferred this new version over the stoic pureblood princess, who despite showing no obvious bigotry, had always been very protective of Harry, especially whenever he spent time in Lily's company.

The redhead hid a small smile.

Whatever feelings Lily might be harboring for Harry, they were not romantic and should give a witch like Marlene McKinnon no reason to worry. The girl was drop-dead gorgeous and Harry had been smitten with the blonde ever since he first laid eyes on her.

Lily knew that Harry held a very special spot in her heart, different from any other of James' friends and even her own. She couldn't quite explain it but she always felt like she should've known Harry all her life. Not because she actually did. In fact, she knew very little of him, but because of the way he treated her and the way they communicated so flawlessly.

Her thoughts were interrupted when James gently nudged her in the side. She looked up to meet the expectant gazes of two dozen prefects. The majority of her peers either oogled Lily and Marlene, or studied James curiously, as they had not seen him here before, or frowned when they caught notice of the golden Head Girl badge on Lily's chest.

"Welcome everybody." Lily cleared her throat, smiling invitingly into the round: "We hope you've all had a pleasant holiday. Let me introduce ourselves really quickly, especially to our new prefects." Lily gestured between her and James: "As most of you will know, this is James Potter from Gryffindor. He will be serving alongside me as Head Boy this year. Now, I suggest we- "

"This is ridiculous, why is Potter even here? He was never a Prefect." Taking a deep breath, Lily slowly turned to where the six Slytherins had taken position. For a second she would've expected to see Severus, her first-ever friend, instead, she met the cold stare from Elena Rosier: "And why have you been chosen, you're a mu- "

"I suggest you think twice before saying that next word." Before either Lily or even James managed to retort, Marlene had taken a proactive step forward: "And if you had done research when applying to the position yourself, then you should already know that this is not the first instance where a Head Boy or Girl was chosen from outside the circle of existing prefects."

The Slytherin eyed the faintly glowing tip of the blonde witch's wand warily. Only a fool would mess around with Marlene McKinnon, not just because of the reputation she had built for herself, but also due to who she was dating at the moment.

'And yet some Snakes still lack the trait of self-preservation.'

"This is just blatant favoritism by the Headmaster ." Emil Nott, one of the new fifth-year prefects from Slytherin complained: "This school is truly going to shit. I knew Dumbledore was barney, but to actually chose a mudblood- "

"Wanna run that by me again?" James hissed angrily.

"Don't!" Lily reached out with both hands, placing them on the wands of James and Marlene. She applied gentle pressure until they lowered it, though the anger never left their eyes, especially the blonde's.

"Can't you see that this is exactly what they want?" Lily shook her head, chuckling coldly: "For us to resort to violence when they merely annoy us with petty insults."

She turned back to the Slytherin fraction, knowing fully well that the people who spoke up also held the support of the occasional Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and perhaps even Gryffindor in the compartment: "If you have a problem with mine or James' appointment, then I can give you two options, Ms. Rosier and Mr. Nott. You can either leave your badges with us and vacate this compartment, thereby turning your back on your responsibility, or you can try to put in a formal complaint with your Head of House or Professor McGonagall."

"Oh, we definitely will! Professor Slughorn would have never approved of this." James Wilkens shook his head, snorting in disgust: "He will hear us out."

"Well, I wish you best of luck." Lily smiled, knowing fully well that it must have been the potions professor who suggested her for the position in the first place: "But until then, and for as long as you wear those badges, you will obey James' and I's instructions. Right now I'm asking you to shut up and let me continue. If you fail to do so, then you will be asked to leave."

The Slytherins glared daggers into her, and some of them cursed under their breath.

"Thank you." Lily inclined her head: "Let's briefly clarify the responsibilities and duties to our new members. After that, I will share the schedule of the patrols of the train. James and I will stay in the compartment for the remainder of the ride, so feel free to approach us should you have any questions. James, if you would continue..."

She sent a small smirk up to her boyfriend, who quickly cleared his throat: "Of course, thank you, Lily. Now then... Being a prefect is an honor and a privilege, but just as any privilege it comes with a certain set of responsibilities..."

Great Hall, Hogwarts

"SLYTHERIN!" The Sorting Hat roared into the Great Hall.

Albus joined the polite applause, which died rather quickly on the remaining three Houses and was only held up on the table dressed in green and the staff table. He watched as Igraine Warrington stumbled over to the far left side where she sighed in relief after taking a seat next to her older brother and cousin.

"Welcome!" Albus stood up and spread his arms: "The warmest of all welcomes to our students, new and old alike. We sincerely hope you've had an enjoyable break over the summer and feel just as eager as the staff does to finally return to School. Hogwarts is a Castle like no other and the home to countless young witches and wizards who sat on those exact benches for hundreds of years and hopefully many more to come..."

He let his gaze roam over the hall, meeting the hungry and slightly impatient looks he always encountered after the long train ride: "Before you shall taste the exquisite cooking of our dear house elves, allow me to introduce a new member of staff. As many of you will remember, Professor Bletchley parted from us at the end of last year. Despite my best efforts, I was unable to persuade him to return..."

He paused for a few seconds, blue eyes twinkling as he wink at the occasional upper-year student who struggled to keep a burst of laughter: "I am all the more pleased to introduce our latest addition, Professor Dorcas Meadowes!"

Polite applause echoed through the candle-lit hall as Albus gave a small bow and gestured to his right. Dorcas stood up, flattening out any wrinkles in her black robes and adjusting her pointy black hat. The dark-haired witch smiled kindly and equally lowered her head in a mannerly greeting to the students.

"Professor Meadows is an old friend of mine, whom I met during an excellent professional development opportunity at the magical University of Cairo. "Albus explained happily: "Before she took up my offer to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts, she was an assistant professor at the University of Bern in Switzerland."

Out of the corner of his eye, Albus suddenly caught the light sparkle in a golden crown of hair. Marlene McKinnon had looked up, curiosity dancing in her blue eyes as they flickered over to the new professor.

"There she performed research on the Dark Arts, bridging the emerging gap between our modern definition of the Arts and the almost forgotten, ancient knowledge on them." Albus continued, doing his best to keep one eye trained on the Ravenclaw while letting his gaze wander towards the Gryffindor table as well: "I am fully convinced that her class will easily capture the attention of any of you. Let us welcome Professor Meadows and wish her the best of luck!"

This time the applause was a lot more enthusiastic, perhaps because Albus had also mentioned that the woman did indeed have the qualifications to teach such a position unlike some of her predecessors.

"Thank you for the kind words, Albus." Dorcas' eyes roamed in amusement over the wide variety of dishes that had materialized on the staff table out of thin air: "It's good to be back at Hogwarts after so many years."

"We're privileged to have you, my friend." The Headmaster raised his cup for a toast: "In times like these it is remarkably difficult to find qualified personnel for the position. Your acceptance has truly been a blessing."

"Indeed, these are interesting times we live in." Dorcas hummed approvingly: "Are there any changes at Hogwarts that I should know about?"

Minerva and Filius took it upon themselves to brief Dorcas on the recent changes in staff or regulation, giving Albus an opportunity to let his gaze roam over his students once more. The mood within the Great Hall seemed perhaps a bit different from how one might remember it from previous years; traces of relief could be seen on the faces of many students, especially the older ones.

'Well, that hardly came as a surprise.'

The political climate outside of Hogwarts had gotten tenser over the summer. In the wizengamot, the conservative faction had done their best to polarize the members of different parties during every section they held.

Simultaneously, a number of people had disappeared under mysterious circumstances over the last two months. They ranged from simple shop owners in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade all the way to employees in positions of authority from a variety of departments in the ministry.

It was difficult to see a pattern in those seemingly random disappearances but Albus was certain that they were all connected and that the victims were unlikely to be seen again.

'Like one of my students for example.'

His gaze traveled to the Slytherin table, where Severus Snape's former housemates sat tightly together, conversing in hushed whispers while consuming their meals.

'How much may they know about that?'

'And how much does someone else know about it?'

Peeking over the edge of his cup of pumpkin juice, Albus glanced towards the other side of the hall, searching for a patch of raven hair surrounded by laughter.

Naturally, he found Harry Peverell within the group of Marauders, right next to the recently instituted Head Boy, James Potter. The young man must have felt himself being watched because suddenly his emerald green eyes snapped up and focused on Albus.

The ghost of a smile remained on his young face while he gave a short nod in acknowledgment before turning back to his friends to resume the conversation.

Albus was about to follow his train of thought when a very specific patch of the conversation next to him was carried over.

" -horrible indeed, so horrible." Horace sighed dramatically: "The matter is still treated highly confidentially. Even the Prophet hasn't reported the cause of it. Of course, there are certain rumors spreading already." He added mysteriously.

"Well, don't leave us hanging now, Horace." Minerva rolled her eyes: "In the official statement that was given, they say that three Unspeakables went missing and a fourth is being treated in a private Saint Mungo's ward. What do you know about it?"

"Nothing that has been confirmed of course." Horace puffed out his chest in pride: "However, I still keep an excellent connection to Derek Cresswell, a former student of mine who has recently been promoted to the head of the Goblin's liaison office. Derek shared that he experienced something like an earthquake on the same day this catastrophe happened."

His voice dropped to a dramatic whisper: "Derek was on his way down to the courtrooms for some inheritance trial between Gringotts and the Smith family, Merlin knows what artifact that might have been about, given how many famous bloodlines the Smith claim to be the descendants from..."

"An earthquake then?" Filius squeaked: "Perhaps some kind of explosion?"

"I do hope the investigation leads somewhere." Dorcas chimed in: "For a few years I have studied with one of the Unspeakables who died in this accident if one is to believe what the Ministry shared about it. It was heartbreaking to hear about his misfortune when I only just came back to the British shores."

"I truly share your hurt, my dear." Slughorn moaned dramatically once more: "The Unspeakable who was sent to Saint Mungo's was a good friend of mine, 'Croaker' is his codename. The healers reported that he's unlikely to make a full recovery. Terrible when once remembers that he actually visited my party only last year- "

Albus frowned, his thoughts trailing off. An Unspeakable named Croaker had also been the one who made detailed inquiries on Peverell after the attack on the two muggle-born victims last term. The man had asked the Headmaster all sorts of questions, which Albus had refused to answer.

Was he merely seeing ghosts at this point or was there more than a coincidence in play that several Unspeakables lose their life in an accident while Peverell was interned in their Department? Albus decided to test the waters: "Then this Mr. Croaker must have also been the one to select our three students for their summer internships, wasn't he Horace?"

"Oho, I very much assume so." Slughorn nodded eagerly. "After all, I made the necessary introduction between young Harry, Ms. McKinnon, and Croaker when they all attended my party."

"We should count our blessings that none of them were caught in the accident." Filius squeaked: "Loss of life is always horrible, but especially when it hits students so young and talented..."

"You had students interning with the Unspeakables over the summer?" Dorcas raised an eyebrow. "That is very impressive. I haven't heard of anything like that for a while."

"Indeed, three former sixth-year students were chosen, two from Gryffindor and one from Ravenclaw." Minerva's voice carried a touch of pride: "Ms. McKinnon and Ms. Evans are the best students in their year. Mr. Peverell might not be as academically inclined as the former, but he regularly displays a skill with his wand that I have never seen before in all my years as a teacher."

"Does he?" Dorcas raised an eyebrow in curiosity: "I am very much looking forward to meeting them in my class. Given their talent, I will assume they have continued with Defense?"

"You will find that they all did, Dorcas." Albus nodded: "I'm certain they will meet your expectations."

The Headmaster 's eyes found Peverell again, just in time to see the young man exchange a small knowing smile with the blonde sitting two tables across the hall.

'And I'm looking forward to hearing what you have to report on the boy.'

Myrtle's Bathroom, Second Floor

"Go ahead, give it a try." He gestured at the dirty sink: "I know you can do it..."

As expected he received a very cold glare from the blonde next to him. She tossed a long braid over one shoulder: "Why? Just so you can make fun of me for butchering a language no one speaks anyways?"

"Exactly."

His girlfriend's nostrils flared as she took a step closer, eyes focused on the small engraving of a snake. A terrible hissing sound escaped her pink lips, one that had Harry threatening to throw back his head in laughter.

"Not a word, Harry!" Marlene pointed a finger at him. Her face shifted into a mask of satisfaction when the sink began moving, twisting and turning until it formed a familiar deep and dark tunnel: "Especially not when it's working..."

"You do know that parseltongue is passed down by blood, don't you?" Harry shot her a teasing grin after hissing the command for stairs: "Which means if things go our way, there might be a new generation of them soon..."

"Now, hold your horses, Peverell." She snorted audibly, taking the first step down: "My baby fever is nowhere near strong enough for me to pump out little witches and wizards for you anytime soon. I'd rather not our child be born into a war..."

"That's okay with me..." The image of a small golden-haired girl, hiding behind her mother's leg danced through his thoughts. Her laughter echoed like the sweetest melody. "We can always keep practicing for when the time is right, can't we?"

"It will be a little less practice now that we sleep in different dorms, Harry." Marlene sighed.

"Aww." He continued teasing her: "Have you gotten so used to it every night? Should I worry that you might show withdrawal symptoms soon?"

"I'm certain you'll be able to keep me satisfied and in good spirits." The blonde rolled her eyes, stepping over the skeleton of a rat: "Talking about good spirits; what do you think about the new DADA professor? Dumbledore seemed very pleased with the appointment... She should be decent..."

'Dorcas Meadowes.' The name did ring a bell: "I've heard about her; that is in the future."

"What do you know?" Marlene glanced at him over her shoulder.

"I know that she must be a gifted witch since Voldemort killed her personally." Harry grimaced: "She became a member of Dumbledore's order. Perhaps it's another reason why he had asked her to come back to Britain in the first place..."

"The Order of Phoenix?" Marlene chuckled drily. They had reached the anti-chamber by now.

"I'm guessing he will call it into existence sometime soon." Harry shook his head: "You've been a part of it as well from where I'm from."

"Well, I'm definitely not joining this time." Marlene hopped onto the wooden table in the middle of the Chamber: "From what you told me, most of them died fighting while barely doing anything useful."

"It will probably be similar this time." Harry sighed in frustration, stepping closer to her and taking her hand: "But at least I'll be able to convince my parents not to join. I wonder if Dumbledore will even try to recruit either of us..."

"Hardly matters, since we will deny them anyway. Neither Dumbledore nor Voldemort will lay the ground rules this time around; it will be us instead." Marlene pressed a chaste kiss to his jaw: "Are you going to tell me why we're here now?"

Harry placed his bag on the table and pulled out several stacks of parchment, each sheet littered with functions, calculations, and matrices.

"Those are the notes on that spell you've been working on with Bishop." Marlene's blue eyes widened as they skimmed over it: "Surely they didn't let you take them with you?!"

"They didn't." Harry chuckled: "But they also didn't obliviate me of what I've seen there. I had a lot of time on my hands during the few days we didn't talk... I felt like keeping myself occupied."

"So you took trips to your Pensieve and revisited all of this?" Marlene shook her head in amusement, her eyes sparkled teasingly: "If only you had come over to my room, you could've put that effort to a different use, love..."

"If you keep talking like that, the evening won't be as productive as I'd like." Harry tore his gaze away from her.

"That depends on your definition of productivity." Marlene giggled. She jumped off the table and stepped next to him, eyeing the stacks of parchment: "You want to finish the spell? The one Voldemort used to hunt his enemies in your future?"

"With a little twist, yes." Harry nodded eagerly: "Remember that the spell requires something like a trigger. However, instead of making it a word, I'd like to make it a very special form of magic; parselmagic to be exact."

Marlene frowned: "You want a country-wide detection for when parselmagic is used?"

Harry grimaced: "I'm not powerful enough to place it on the entire country. If my arithmancy checks out then even Voldemort had completely exhausted himself for several days when he cast that spell and he was the most powerful wizard alive, greater than Dumbledore at his peak and much stronger than I am now."

"You will get there." Marlene nodded with determination: "You're stronger than either of them were at your age."

"Because I've sacrificed more than either of them." Harry stiffened a sharp stab of worry: "And because I have more to lose than them."

"So how will you use the spell?" Marlene inquired: "The only parselmagic I've ever witnessed is down here so I don't see how- "She paused, inhaling sharply when her eyes stumbled over the crest he had drawn all the way at the bottom on one of the pages.

'A twisting snake plugging out of a skull.'

"The dark mark is parselmagic." Marlene murmured: "You said so when you visited my family to convince father to let me court you..."

She trailed over his notes with one long, slim finger: 'The Mark activates when Voldemort calls a follower. All of them can feel it grow hot and know exactly who has been summoned.'

She turned towards him, a bright gleam in her eyes: "You want to use him summoning them via the mark as a trigger for your spell? That's brilliant."

"Exactly." Harry smiled: "Parselmagic is unique and should be rather easy to detect and isolate. It will act as the trigger and let us know that the Death Eaters are active and summoned somewhere."

"Where should we cast the spell?" Marlene bit her bottom lip in concentration: "If we're spatially restricted, then it should be somewhere very strategic."

"We will start with the Slytherin common room." Harry explained his plan: "As soon as the spell has been applied, as the caster I'll be notified that someone's mark has been activated down in the snake pit."

"You want to follow them when they leave Hogwarts?" Marlene nodded grimly. "Find out where they're going and who else they're meeting..."

"I don't want to kill any more students on Hogwarts ground; Dumbledore is already too suspicious of me." Harry let the Elder Wand glide into his palm, spinning it between his fingers: "But when they decide to go on some raid, to kill and rape muggles or to take out strategic people within the Ministry, then we will be there, waiting for them..."

"And we will kill anyone with a silver mask; take them away from him and step closer to our victory..." Marlene's cheeks were flushed with excitement. Her chest rose and fell with quick breaths. "How can I help you with this?"

"I know I broke my promise of taking you with me once before; but I won't do so again." Harry buried a stab of guilt while opening his bag once more: "When the time comes, I want you with me. However, for that, we need to communicate."

"The Patronus captures too much attention." Marlene grimaced: "We can't have that bursting into my dorm at any hour..."

"Which is why we will use those instead." Harry pulled out a set of identical-looking, ordinary hand mirrors.

"And pray tell me how these will help us?"

"Well, for them to help us- " He chuckled at Marlene's dubious expression: " -they must first become your next charms project, love."