James Potter did not like it when he lost in Quidditch. He especially did not like it when he lost to his little brother, Albus. James didn't lose, and that was simply that.

“Jamie,” Harry sighed his beginning, and James already felt himself tear in half at that voice. What did his dad have to tell him?

James felt his body stiffen, and he clenched his bed sheets in his hands as he braced himself for the worst.

“Is that a—” Dominique blurted in horror.

“A prophecy, yes.”

He burst into the corridor to try and understand what had just happened. Rose followed on his tail, gaping at him. “Why didn't you tell me?!”

“Tell you what?!” Albus spat. He needed more description than that. Couldn't Rose see he was just as lost as she was?

“I think there's still one big piece of information that could have any sort of dot leading off of it...” Ron muttered in a suggestive voice. Harry looked to him with an inquisitive expression.

“You really think so...?”

“I think anything could lead to that prophecy right now, Harry,” Ron suggested. “I'm just telling you to be careful.”

“Oh, Jamie. I'm an awful person," Dominique groaned.

“Dom, what happened?”

“Ugh,” she moaned. “Don't tell Vic. Please? Don't tell Victoire.”

“D–Don’t…” She faltered again. She didn't quite know what she was trying to say. She felt as if she were being broken up with when there was never anything to break up in the first place.

“Your brother…?” questioned Al under his breath. Then his eyes shot to Elias. “You…? But your last name is Namken! How?!”

Elias spoke up then. “Is it, though? I was just a student at Durmstrang when my brother and sister were thrown into Azkaban. Elias Carrow. That was my name then."

She was uncomfortable with the entire situation, and it was out of her element.

“That,” Dominique muttered to James, and she jerked her head in the direction of Teddy and Victoire.

As much as she hated to admit it, the time had come. Her sister had asked. If she dismissed the opportunity, she didn't know if she could ever bring up the topic again.

It was time to tell her sister.

James gasped, jumping next to Simon and asking his father. “D–Dad, he's kidding right?! You d–didn’t do it. He can't be serious!”

“This is outrageous!” Harry shouted with his hands bound behind him. He was fuming, his brow pulled together in anger.

James, Lily, and Albus did not understand. They did not understand why they were needed in the court. Out of all things, they assumed that their mother would want them to stay out of the trial at all costs. But when they were standing outside Wizengamot and Ginny began to go on about sharing only the truth, the three began to piece together just why they had been brought to Wizengamot.

To testify for their father.

“Your father is in Azkaban, you have killed our bait, and I think we have damaged you beyond repair. But you see, Albus, there is so much more to it than that. We are only just beginning.”

“Why me?” Albus asked painfully. “Why have you chosen me to do this? Why not James? You want him anyway. Why not him?”

His mind was already destroyed enough. He didn't know if he would be able to handle losing hold of his reality as well.

Her lips quivered in fear, and she closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and stepped off the jagged edge, falling into the icy depths.

The three turned back to face Elias Namken. This time James was fueled by a new source of anger. Not one toward his brother, but at Elias. At Elias for creating this whole ordeal. At Parker for what he had tried to do.

James snarled to Parker. “You can't kill my brother. It won't happen. I won't let.”

His skin was ice cold, his lips a pale blue. Her arms went around him, and she didn't care that he was dead.