Disclaimer: As much as I wish, I do not own Harry Potter. Most characters - with the exceptions of those I've created - and places belong to the magnificent and brilliant J. K. Rowling. The plot, main character, and rest belong to me.
Rated: M, for strong language, themes, violence, and future chapters involving sexual content.
Full Summary: Is love a curse? Or is none at all worse? The Weasley twins enter Hogwarts for the first time, and someone else coming as well will bring secrets and unexpected events. The gang will face danger, Death Eaters, Dementors, Tom Riddle himself... and meet death along the way. Love, pain, frustration, curiosity, and Lee's abrupt suggestions is what this story consists of. Will Harry finally find the person that is missing from his life? Will George be able to face his fears? Could Lee seriously settle down at last? Will Alicia finally break that shell? And could Hogwarts get any more dangerous and exciting?
If the love isn't mutual, do we deserve being loved at all?
Clarifications: Just to clarify for those who may feel confused regarding the story, it has been re-edited twice already, and I promise you this is the very last. Third time's the charm, right? There were simply some pieces to the puzzle missing and I felt like I couldn't continue the story if I didn't go back and fixed things.
For those who have been with me since the beginning: The story's first name was My Repeated Torture and Zoe's name was changed to Emmeline Warmsley. You will get to see why later on. I wouldn't make the changes if they weren't necessary. Besides, I truly didn't feel comfortable with how the story was going.
Prologue
The predictable has never been enjoyable. The simplicity of it and the expected outcomes make it all less appealing. The mystery, the unknown… that's what we're all looking for. It's the frustration of not being able to figure things out, of not knowing what it is about that someone that makes them so damn intriguing. Taking the risk to find out? That's what keeps us on the edge. Getting out there and exposing ourselves completely. Becoming vulnerable. Risking out sanity.
Our minds create their own perspective of things. It has its own ideas and day by day discovers that there's a whole world of possibilities to certain scenarios in life. But never are we accurate on what the unknown really is.
It may be the most obvious of things. It may be something unimaginable, something we had come to believe is impossible.
Nothing is impossible.
Life can be limitless if we want it to be.
And then, that moment comes. The moment when it all finally comes down to finding out the truth, what things really mean, what it's been all this time. When we're a breath away from discovering something rare, so unusual and surreal that our minds need time to grasp the new concept we had grown up to believe impossible, we grow impatient and anxious. But we're still hovering over the same edge we found ourselves in at the beginning. At any given moment we could be pushed into oblivion and pretend to be ignorants once again of our hearts' true desire. It's such an overwhelming sensation that you may even let yourself go and fall on your own will because you feel that you just can't handle it.
The truth may horrify us as much as it can bring us the greatest of joys.
And through it all, even with the risks, we will always go for our curiosity. Because that's what we are. We are curious beings.
We will never be truly satisfied with choosing what's safe and predictable.
We never play it safe.
The hushing of the trees nearby, the gentle whistling of the wind, and the determined footsteps of a black shadow strolling up the mountain… It seemed like the most normal thing. But looks could be deceiving. It didn't take long to reach the wanted destination, and as soon as the shadow stopped moving, wide and tall stone doors slammed open without being touched. It would've taken a hundred men's strength to push them inch apart.
In this wizard's situation, not even blinking was necessary.
There was no need to roam throughout the large castle. Any other person, any other wizard, would have the need to do so or cast a spell. But he felt it. He knew not a soul was floating around the place, but that was no relief. The tall windows in each of the six rooms down the hall, three on each side, made an exploding sound. Wind swirled its way inside as the broken glass was suspended in midair outside. All the chandeliers easily fell to the ground with such force a troll with a stick could've been the cause of it. The sounds that it emitted joined the disastrous symphony among the grounds caused by that single individual. Red slits cut the black apart from the pupils that glared directly to the staircase of dark stone. Those deadly eyes darted away from that one and to the next that led downstairs.
He knew where they led and that's where he headed.
The dark cloak blew back as his feet darted forward. ''Right on sight,'' he sneered as he glared at the door that stood locked right where the stairs ended. He whispered, ''Typical.'' A smirk slowly stretching through that handsome face that now wore a natural scowl. His eyes darkened. With the blink of an eye, the lock flew open. He took the time to open the door by himself instead of using his magic. His black gloves pressed softly against the cold stone and revealed another large, empty room with tall shelves against the walls. He strode across the private Library and to the lonely door that stood at the far end of the stretched room, parallel to the old stone that had just slammed itself shut as he walked through the other. It was the largest and probably the oldest atrium any eyes could witness. The stoned pillars reached up to the surprisingly high ceiling and the floors were surprisingly impeccable. He watched, making his way down the stairs and desperately walking across the room.
''This is starting to get ridiculous,'' he groaned as he was not able to find the next door or pair of stairs. Out of frustration and anger, he casted a spell without the unnecessary flick of a wand or movement of his hands. ''Specialis Revelio!'' he roared, but nothing happened or came.
''Foolish to believe that would work.'' He concluded with an exasperated sigh. He knew that it was real ancient magic and nothing easy to have access too. With or without a wand, spoken or unspoken… it was no simple task. He paced around the room as he said this, opening drawers, moving books from side to side, almost burning his hand when touching a couple and about three times being close to have his hand bitten of…
He stopped immediately and slowly turned to look at the big, fat rectangle that was on the centre of the room's floor. ''Could it be?'' He wondered out loud, taking his right, leather glove quickly and looking up to the ceiling. ''Well, I be damned.'' He murmured softly. ''Pretentious bastards,'' he smirked at the chandelier that hung high at the top. Four dark green snakes on each side at the bottom, four silver ones on top of the spaces left from the first few, and two golden ones intertwined as they were petrified against the chord from which it all hung.
''But what is this?'' he whispered to himself, watching what brought light to the room. It was no chord after all.
It was the last snake.
The only one in black that twirled around on the same spot, hissing down at him, no light coming from its mouth like the others had. Instead, its whole anatomy was glowing in a dull fashion. He looked down and pressed his foot on the diamond floor tile of the same colour and watched as the dancing snake stretched itself all the way down until the tip of its head touched the tile. It worked as a key. He realized this when the wall behind the stairs opened and revealed a passage.
''Meaningful and creative,'' he contemplated before moving. ''Impressive.'' He smirked down at the snake, which kept on swirling, twisting and dancing on the spot. Making his way to the passage, he said, ''Let's hope for both of our sakes I find what I need'' and walked through the stone, dirt and sand. Finally, he reached a high stone wall that opened the second his hand touched it with slight pressure. The wind swirled its way around the room. The tall pillars, the walls, the floors, the big fountain in the centre of the room, the chandeliers, the windows, even the stairs... everything was ruins. He walked down the destroyed staircase wherever it was least dangerous, yet he almost fell on top of a tall shelf. He looked out the tall arches, where the walls were meant to be, and stared at the snow falling from the skies. A dim blue light came through the holes and was the only brightness of any kind inside that chamber. He walked through the broken glass, stone, and tiles, to the fountain. Or at least what was left of it.
''There is nothing here...'' he whispered aghast as he saw not one droplet of water inside it, but dirt and ash. ''THERE IS NOTHING LEFT!'' His roar echoed through the walls and all the way up to the castle's entrance. The thought of destroying the place and making further damage crossed his mind as he threw a stone against the floor with his now bare hands. He watched as it broke into pieces and slowly, very cautiously, his eyes met with the black and gold family crest that hung unharmed from a wall that he hadn't noticed. Mayhem came and went but it was as though that wall in specific, holding the most precious thing of the house, hung there perfectly still. The corners of his lips went downwards and his sneer only grew as he got closer to it. Something stopped him, making him stumble slightly.
A protecting charm.
A very strong one.
Without missing a beat, he screamed at the top of his fresh lungs. He took stones and threw it against the invisible charm that protected the wall, only to have it bounce and fall dangerously close to him. A rather deadly and sharp stone hit him hard against the stomach after his last throw. He coughed and heavy droplets of blood ran down his chin and splashed onto the floor. ''I'll avenge my family's pride. I'll avenge my own,'' he began swearing as his weak body fell to the ground by the edge of the charm, feeling his forehead press against it. ''The Slytherin family is to be respected and feared, never to be beaten and torn to ashes by the Se... the Ser...''
Only he and one more would understand; how his body lay lifeless that night on the chamber, and then the next sunrise walk out unharmed and full of resentment.
Feyden. A small town in the outskirts of Scotland. One known among the others to have the best wine and bread. The population is limited, but everyone is warm and welcoming. Children can run around without fear, mothers allow them to stay out until the sun sets, fathers can work by the woods without fear before nightfall, and the elders enjoy their time in weekly meeting by the town centre to discuss the next festivities – which were just excuses to drink wine and celebrate the hard work every other Wednesday – while they enjoyed even more of the beverage by a campfire. Feyden is the ideal town, one with very few flaws, but all fixable and liveable...
Except for one.
In the furthest mountain, far away from the town, an abandoned castle sets fear among those who believe. Most think it's foolish to think that magic exists and an evil witch will kill them all. In Feyden, it was, where the old belief of burning witches to rid the town of them started.
It was the coldest of winters, that day, when all town got together by the centre to celebrate another festivity.
They chose to celebrate life.
And life they celebrated.
There was a painfully high-pitched shriek of a little girl that came from nearby. All music and chatter died down and they all listened intently. The shriek came louder this time, followed by the strange sound of thunder in the skies above. The shriek grew louder and more desperate, causing a small commotion by the fathers and mothers, all wondering which child was causing such noise. The shriek was so close it felt to them all as if it came from voice inches apart from their ears. As though it was inside their heads. The shriek became irritating and torches were lit by the men, who silently decided to go check. The first step was taken and the fire from the campfire and torches grew violently. All men holding torches were absorbed by it and let go of the tall sticks to try and save themselves.
Only to run straight to the campfire and die turning to ash.
Chaos broke out and more shrieks came like the first, except these came from the children that watched their dying fathers all together in the middle, sounds no longer emitting from their lifeless selves. The snow began falling down more constant and violently, but instead of putting the fire out, it grew intensely more and the heat that came from it was almost unbearable. And out of the blue, without any warning, the child that had been shrieking at the beginning popped out of thin air right in front of it. Very few witnessed it, but everyone noticed the little girl's presence. Her eyes were closed, but her mouth was opened wide as the loud shriek came out with more intensity and caused the rest of the people to cover their ears and squint their eyes, still trying to keep them on the girl.
One elder woman approached her and placed her trembling hand on the girl's shoulder in a useless attempt to calm her down. Her heart stopped abruptly when the brown-haired kid turned her head and glared with eyes that alone would cause outrage. There was no brightness in them, no white around the pupils, no slits at all, no innocence that came from every other kid her age. Her eyes were full-on pitch black, and the dull and evilness that came from them made the elder clutch her hand in her chest and stumble backwards until she fell on the snowy ground while staring up at the child. The girl tilted her head mockingly and a smirk grew on her lips. She leaned down, oblivious to the screams from all the other children and the worried mothers attending them. But they wouldn't turn around. They would simply stare at the little girl that could've very easily lived in town along with them and belong, but instead caused pain all around.
The girl leaned down and crouched, her face close to the woman's. Her wicked grin disappeared and the elder could feel the life draining through her fingertips. After a long pause, a deadly voice that sounded like a hiss came from the child's lips. ''I could rid you all of misery and do it all at once,'' she started. There was a hint of sarcastic and mocking innocence in her tone, one that caused the skin in the elder to rise up violently. The threat in her words was palpable, even for those nearby. ''But that wouldn't be fun.''
Words got caught by the elder's throat and she started choking. For some reason, for some unknown and strange reason, she knew it was the little girl that caused such great pain that overpowered her senses. Even if her hands were simply smoothing the grey hair out of her eyes, an act that could have been easily mistaken with affection at any other time. She knew it was her that caused it. ''I'll enjoy killing each one of you. One by one.''
The elder started trembling and blood came from her nostrils and spilled by the corners of her lips. She was choking to death and the little girl wasn't even touching her.
''I'll humour you,'' the girl said with another one of her wicked smiles as she stood up, her long hair falling by her shoulders delicately. Her porcelain skin almost shone that night, looking so close to transparency she could've been confused by the snow in her surroundings. Her small hand reached the white cloak she wore and pulled out a stick. One that, at her last seconds, the elder came to realization was a wand. ''Avada Kedavra!''
Then all hell broke loose.
He could feel his heart clenching tightly in his chest. Dumbledore had to be bluffing. He just had to. But then, as he thought more coherently, as much as he could during the situation he was in... there was no way in hell that Dumbledore would ever be joking about something of that magnitude. Remus had been sitting down at his study in the house his parents had gifted him. Part of him wondered if it was because they wanted to stay away from him as far as they could now that he was out of Hogwarts. He'd graduated with his friends three years ago already. He felt his heart tighten at the thought.
His friends.
It just couldn't be.
They were too young to have to face such horrible fate.
Remus found himself flying around his flat, looking for his coat and decent shoes. If what Dumbledore had informed him through his Patronus was true... this was going to be the longest of nights. In the blink of an eye, he was standing right outside the Potter's in Godric's Hollow. His stomach twisted and his throat was a knot that stopped all air coming down to his lungs. And all of that had been knocked out of him when he saw the house in ruins... and exposed.
It was odd, he noted, how there was no sign of Dumbledore around. Was he the first to have arrived? He didn't dwell of it any further. Lily and James were inside... Harry was inside.
Anxiously and desperately, he ran inside and stopped abruptly at the sight before him. His lips parted and a shaky gasp escaped him. The door behind him closed due to the gentle wind swirling around. Remus couldn't even lift his eyes up from the floor. That living room, where he and James had sat while drinking some Firewhiskey with Sirius and Peter, recalling those times where they would cause the greatest mischief Hogwarts had ever had beneath its walls. Those delicious cakes Lily would bake in the kitchen days before the wedding, and even after while Harry zoomed along on a toy broomstick Sirius had gotten him as a birthday present. The cat that hated Remus' guts would hiss loudly whenever Harry would get too close to killing it. He could very clearly hear the laughter coming from his best friend as they walked into the house for the first time, James talking about how he finally got to say that it was his place. That it was his place and Lily's.
He could remember very clearly how a certain someone would giggle along with Harry as the two would roll around the wooden floor in front of the fireplace while Remus and James sat on the couch with their legs crossed, watching while roaring in laughter at Alex would then stop to raise Harry and toss him in the air. He could hear the constant reminders of love shared between Lily and James, the few times she would let him show affection in front of the others, even with that fierce blush on her cheeks out of embarrassment. He could also see, quite vividly, how James' eyes would sparkle whenever she would hold Harry in her arms or tell him how much she loved him.
As he sank down to his knees, he realized.
He would never see that sparkle in his eyes again.
''Prongs...'' he breathed miserably, his voice hoarse from how much he had been holding himself back. His trembling hand reached for his best friend's glasses that lay broken in front of his nose. Wide and blank hazel eyes staring at nothing. Something started to stream down Remus' cheeks, and it was only after he stood up reluctantly to start heading upstairs that he realized those were tears. But he had barely taken a step when the door flung open again. He turned around and was anything but surprised to see two familiar figures looking right past him with shell-shocked expressions, both filled with pain and loss. Sirius started shaking his head and his lower lip began trembling. Remus lowered his gaze, unable to watch the man he felt was his brother break down before him. Alex, whose expression was sombre and disbelieving, stared at the lifeless corpse of James Potter while barely having time to breathe. She forced herself to look away and run upstairs, and just in cue, Remus went after her.
She let out a strangled sound from the depths of her throat when she saw Lily Evans lying in the roofless room, her red hair scattered around her head and her pale hand stretched by her side. A white ribbon tied neatly around her wrist and her wedding ring on the right finger. Even in death she was beautifu and delicatel. Alex didn't stop to question her thoughts and reluctantly looked up to the crib to find an oddly calm Harry staring at the two figures by the door, puzzled. ''Harry?'' she spoke softly, relief and wonder in her tone. Both shared by Remus' strange look. Before he made to move, she was already standing in front of the toddler while examining him completely. Her hand reached slowly up to his hair, moving it out of his forehead. ''Remus, come see this...'' she whispered almost hesitantly. The sandy-haired man complied and stood beside her while staring down at those wide, fearful eyes that looked from his godmother to his uncle. It looked like a freshly cut wound. But it already scarred and was impossible not to notice with how pale Harry's skin had turned from the events that took place that night. A lighting scar in his forehead. It was all he would have left of the people that had loved him most in this cruel world.
''He's alright,'' she spoke before Sirius, who had rushed upstairs anxiously, had the chance. ''He's got a scar...''
''A scar? What from?''
''I wasn't here, Sirius,'' she snapped intentionally, but quickly softened her tone after she spoke. Even in the situation they were in, Remus would – out of habit – give her a pointed look. Harry giggled slightly as he was so used to already. ''Maybe Albus will explain... Where is he, anyway?''
''He's on his way.'' Remus informed. He had no idea if that was true, but didn't stop to question his own judgment.
''Wait...'' Alex murmured softly, picking Harry up and cradling him in her arms. The dark-haired boy laid his tiny head against her shoulder and wrapped his small arms around her neck. Sirius looked on the verge of exploding. ''Where's Wormtail?''
''I checked his place... it was out in the open and he wasn't there.''
Remus felt the little colour left from his face drain.
''He's... he can't be... he's-''
Before he had a chance of formulating a proper sentence, Sirius interrupted. ''He wasn't there. The end. No one entered by force. He was simply not-''
''Why are Lily and James dead, Sirius?'' Alex asked softly, handing Harry over to Remus in the gentlest way possible. The two of them stopped any movement after the toddler had been changed from arms. Having known her for so long, they both knew that the softer and calmer her tone was, the angrier she got. Having heard his parents' names, Harry began sniffing and moaning while tears began forming in his eyes. Remus tried his hardest to stop this from continuing, but Alex's threatening glare directed to Sirius avoided that from happening.
''Why the hell do you think they're dead? He killed them, not me. So stop looking at me like that.'' He returned the same deadly glare, taking one step further into the room.
''Alexandra, calm down.'' Remus tried in vain.
''You killed them,'' she accused while taking another dangerous step towards him. ''You were Secret-Keeper, Black. You are the reason they're dead.''
''I would rather die that betray James and Lily!'' He roared, causing Harry to finally break into hysterics and sob and cry loudly on Remus' shoulder. The sound of their godson in distress caused them to pause their argument and turn immediately to Remus, who was about to calm him down but Alex took Harry in her arms much faster than either of them could. She started bouncing him gently on her hip and making soothing sounds, talking to him lovingly, and telling him she would take care of everything. It was only after Harry stopped crying so loud that she looked up and noticed how both men had walked out of the room and downstairs, leaving her alone with Harry and a lifeless Lily on the floor. She tried to look away from her corpse, but to no avail. Even Harry had slowed down into sniffing and moaning lowly at the sight of his unmoving mother sprawled on the ground.
''I can't make this better for you, Harry,'' she whispered to him while pressing her nose to his short temple. Her eyes made no movement away from Lily. ''But I do promise you that I'll take care of you no matter what happens. You'll have a good life and you'll be safe. I'll take care of everything.'' Harry calmed down slowly and his eyelids began to flutter after Alex leaned down to kiss his forehead slightly, careful not to touch the fresh lightning scar.
Almost as if summoned, she walked out of the room with him in her arms and downstairs, where Dumbledore, Hagrid, Sirius and Remus stood around James. Dumbledore looked as calm as always, but in his eyes he grew pensive and worrisome, especially after he spotted Alex descending the stairs with Harry hiding his face between her hair. Hagrid sniffed loudly and cleaned the tears that streamed down his large face. Sirius looked grim and threateningly at her, whilst Remus simply looked calm and collected.
Their eyes gave them all way.
''We need to decide Harry's fate now.'' Remus spoke first, slowly and cautiously.
Her eyes widened and she looked from face to face, tightening her grip on Harry just a little. ''Not a day has gone by since he's become an orphan and you already want to-''
''Harry is still in danger,'' Dumbledore spoke now. ''I take it we are all still in favour of doing what is best for him, even in the light of recent events... He must be taken to where he will be safest.''
''I agree completely,'' Sirius started, interrupting whatever it was that Dumbledore was going to keep on saying. ''That's exactly why he will stay-''
''With me,'' Alex snapped unintentionally. She had known the moment she walked out of the room upstairs what would happen. ''Harry will stay with me, end of the discussion.''
''I will not leave my godson with a murderer!''
''You killed them, not me!''
''I would never do such thing!''
''You were Secret-Keeper, you son of a-''
''Enough!'' Remus spoke the words that almost slipped past Dumbledore's lips. ''How many times must I remind you not to argue or curse in front of him?''
Alex snapped her mouth shut instantaneously and at the same time that Sirius did. Dumbledore turned slowly to Hagrid and the two shared a knowing look. ''Hagrid, will you please be kind enough to take Harry away to his aunt?''
Her jaw almost hit the floor.
''You're bluffing.'' Sirius interjected first.
Alex held Harry even closer to her and turned to hide him from their eyes, holding him to her chest and looking at Dumbledore with wide and frightened eyes. ''No...'' she shook her head desperately. ''No, no, no. No! I will not let you! He can't go there! No!''
''Number 4 Privet Drive, Hagrid.'' Dumbledore continued his task, even though the pain was beyond visible in his light eyes. Hagrid hesitated, but moved closer to Alex, who looked up at him pleadingly and shook her head weakly. All the stress that she had been put under as of late, Sirius' accusations, the death of the two people she cared most for... and now this? She couldn't let them take him away. He was all she had left. Sirius had long stopped loving her and replaced that intense and loving look for an accusatory and questioning one. She had nothing left. She had no one left. No one but Harry.
And now he was about to be yanked out of her life too.
''Take my motorcycle, Hagrid,'' Sirius offered. He looked more determined and was quick to avoid the disbelieving glare Alex shot him. ''It... It'll be much faster and no one will detect you.''
He didn't have to specify for them to know just who was going after him.
''No...'' Alex whispered as Hagrid and Dumbledore nodded thankfully at him. ''You can't... don't do this to me, please... don't.''
A part of her felt he was doing this as an act of vengeance. It would mean he wouldn't stay with Harry either, but seeing her suffer without him, knowing he would be safe away from her... it was enough for her to conclude that was exactly what he was doing. He didn't want Harry anywhere near her. Even if it meant sending him to the Dursleys.
But she felt no strength in her to fight them and knew that, whatever she did, they wouldn't let her keep Harry. She knew it wasn't safe for him to stay with her. If anything, Voldemort would check on her first. She felt drained, all hope rushing out of her body. Her eyes gazed down at James and her vision became blurry. Harry raised his head from between her hair and looked up at her with wide eyes. Feeling him move, she turned her head slowly his way and the tears streamed down her face more violently. A strangled sob escaped her and the toddler blinked confusedly. She vowed to them that she would do everything in her power to protect them. To protect him.
She promised Harry not long ago that she would do just that.
Was keeping him with her the right choice? Could she really be that selfish to risk his life because she wanted to hold onto that last string of sanity left in him for her instead of sending him to a miserable life under his insensitive aunt's care? Even if that meant he would be safe, she couldn't bring herself to let him go. He was Lily and James in one small individual. He was all she had left of them.
She couldn't let him go.
But then Harry did something that surprised even Dumbledore himself. His small hand reached up to her face and slapped softly her cheek as an attempt to hold it in his palm. She stared at him expectantly and watched as the baby reached with his other hand and did the same, slapping his tiny hand and taking a hold of her cheeks. He then moved both hands up and down, cleaning the path her tears had made from her eyes to her jaw line. Her lips parted in surprise at his actions, but the tears were still rolling down her cheeks and being cleaned away by his tiny hands. He made a strange sound with his lips, one of frustration, and slammed is forehead against hers, looking down at her eyes while squinting his tiny ones just a little bit.
He was ordering her to stop crying.
The realization hit her like a brick and she blinked up at him, trying to at least stop crying for his sake. He wanted her to stop crying. He wanted her to let him go. He was brining common sense back into her brain. And she could've sworn that he was reminding her promise she made him a few minutes ago... and he was doing all of this while being just a year old.
No one spoke during the interaction, and for that Alex was beyond grateful. Sirius' snarky remarks or Dumbledore's urging would've caused her to go back three steps form the progress little Harry had done. Reluctantly, she nodded slowly and watched as Harry nodded along. They had just agreed.
''Don't let that evil witch get to you, love,'' she whispered softly to him. From the corner of her eye, she could see Remus shifting anxiously on the spot, dying to tell her off for foul language with a baby. ''I'll see you soon, alright? Don't forget me, Harry. I won't forget you.''
She pulled him into her arms one more time and baby Harry tried to wrap his arms around her neck but they were too short to meet the other halfway. Alex kissed his cheek repeatedly and then handed him to Hagrid without looking him again, knowing that if she did, she would want to pull him into her arms again and not let go. She didn't stick around to see the other two give him their goodbyes, but instead darted off to the other side of the living room and to James' study. Quill and parchment zoomed to his desk and she sat down, writing skilfully as she felt the tears forming in her eyes again.
All four of them were already by the door when she emerged again, a neat envelope in her hands. She walked past Sirius and Remus and practically ran outside to meet Hagrid before he took off. She looked down at Harry about to sleep peacefully in Hagrid's arms, wrapped around in blankets. She felt the hesitation coming from Hagrid, but he didn't move. Dumbledore placed a soothing hand on his shoulder and nodded curtly. She was allowed to have her final goodbye. But that was not why she had come to see them off. Alex turned and handed Dumbledore the envelope. ''I trust you will have her receive this.''
''What is that?'' Sirius asked, standing next to her and looking down at the envelope suspiciously.
''I will.'' Dumbledore nodded to her again. She nodded in understanding and pointedly ignored Sirius beside her. She turned to look down at Harry and couldn't bring herself to grin down at him at all. The toddle blinked up at her and gave her a look that meant nothing since he was so young, but brought on a million words to her.
''Remember me.'' She whispered to him at last.
Taking a small step back, she watched as Hagrid put on his glasses and turned on the engine that roared through the night. Without wasting any time, he zoomed up in the air with Dumbledore disapparating right after. It was a long pause before she turned to glare at Sirius and – just like that – her anger was back. She could hear Remus groan and complain out loud at their lack of sensitivity and about how blinded they were with their mutual hatred.
''You traitor!''
''You sound more and more like my mother every day.'' He retorted.
''Hating me? I can take that. Backing up the decision of having Harry taken away from me? Sure, I can live with that. But betraying James and Lily? I will never forgive you!''
At her choice of words, Remus blinked with apprehension. The facts lining up before his eyes and he looked at Sirius in shock. Just in time before she lunged herself at him, Sirius looked at Remus apologetically, pain filling his expression as he realized his best mate was doubting him as well. He disapparated. Alex screamed in frustration and glared around as if he would suddenly pop back to where he had been standing. The realization of the events finally hit her the way she knew they would once Harry was gone. It was a long pause before she looked away from Remus and stared at the broken house next to them. As though it would save him, she rushed inside and looked down at James as if it had been the first time.
He's dead.
They're both dead.
She tried with all her might to shut that voice off in her head, but it only encouraged it to continue the painful reminder. She sank down to her knees and pulled his corpse closer to her. His head lay in her lap and his glasses fell to the ground beside them. Her chest tightened at the sight before her.
He's dead.
Alex let out a sob she'd been holding back since the decision of taking Harry away was made. She cried and cried, cradling James' head in her arms and pressing her forehead to his. Her small body shook violently and she wailed. She mourned her best friend. She was drowning in the grief from a man that had become part of her family.
He's gone.
She waited for a moment before raising her head, hoping with all her might, waiting for him to look up at her and hold her hand as he would. She waited for James to laugh nervously and squeeze her hand gently, to ask what was wrong, to crack a joke as he always would, to tell her to stop being so melodramatic as a useless effort to make her smile and punch his arm. And as she waited, she knew that she would've forgiven him. She knew that if he had played dead and let Dumbledore take his son away for his own safety, she would've forgiven him in a heartbeat. She would've hugged Lily with all her strength and made her swear not to do such thing ever again.
She's dead.
She would make James explain how he managed to pull Lily along with his merciless prank. She kept on waiting, she kept on wishing... Because the thought of not having them with her any longer was unbearable. She felt herself start to crumble to pieces as time kept on passing and he didn't move, he didn't speak, he didn't smile...
They're not coming back.
James' face had tears splashing down and it broke Alex's heart to see he didn't crunch his nose or squint his eyes, trying to avoid having the heavy droplets crash onto him. Her shaky, tender fingers moved the hair from his forehead. Her sobs and pleas came from the bottom of her chest and she could very clearly feel her heart being torn to pieces inside her. ''We have to go...'' Remus spoke softly. She hadn't noticed he walked back inside and had been sitting next to her, listen to her begging and her crying. ''Dumbledore's orders.''
Those were crucial words, but she didn't move. Hesitantly, Remus wrapped his arm strongly around her waist and pulled her up, but she held onto James with more desperation. ''Alex... Alexandra, please... don't... this is already... it's too hard, I know...we have to go, please.'' His voice broke and she didn't have to hear it to know that he was just as broken as she was at the moment. Only difference was that he had been able to love them both alive and she hadn't.
Her heart was filled with love for them and they weren't there to know it.
Remus managed to part her from James, but instead she buried her face in his chest and he wrapped his arms tightly around her, holding onto her as he himself began crying and trembling. Alex moved her head to look at James lying next to them. She reached out and took his cold, pale hand in hers, holding it tightly as if her life depended on it.
It was early in the morning when Petunia Dursley felt her eyes fall out of her thin facial structure at the sight of her young nephew in her doorstep.
Could it be? She wondered after a rather long, debating moment. Vernon was still getting out of bed and Dudley was asleep. No one was around to witness the odd situation of an aunt looking down at her nephew for the first time in her life. Quickly, she took him and brought him inside, afraid someone might see her. There were two letters on the baby's blankets and a scar on his forehead. All three things made her frown. She took the letter on top first.
Her heart stopped.
She knew this handwriting. She had seen it in a declining letter she'd received many years ago. Ten, to be exact. Albus Dumbledore addressed her once again, a man that belonged to the world her sister did.
After reading the letter, though, she found unexplainable tears forming in her eyes.
Lily was dead. Her husband was murdered as well. And Harry had survived. The news seems so far from real that she read the letter at least twice more to make some sense out of it. But how? How could that be? What happened? A part of her wanted to write back and tell him to take care of the child himself, but there was a much stronger part inside of her that made her hesitate. She had always wanted to be part of that world. It was her heart's true desire. Her guilty pleasure. But no one was to know that. That grey-bearded man was the only one aware of this, the only one with enough nerve to write to her again after such embarrassing request from her part and address to that small part of her that he knew wouldn't deny this. With a sigh, she glanced down at the sleeping boy, wondering what could've possibly happened. Wondering why she was the one assigned to him. Didn't he have two others?
Petunia reached down for the second letter and opened it. Her name wasn't even written in front. Nothing was. She almost screamed at the sight of the handwriting. She knew this one. She knew the contents to the letter, and that was the reason she had pressed it against her chest in despair while covering her mouth with the other. That... that awful woman had written to her with the same intention.
She was being threatened by Harry's godmother.
She was being threatened again on behalf of her sister.
With trembling hands, Petunia pulled the letter away from her chest and stared down at the black words.
Petunia,
I won't waste my time with greetings or introductions. I know you have me memorized by heart.
Know this. If Harry is with you today, it is because there is no other choice. Don't flatter yourself too much. You are not of great importance to me or Black and you were most certainly not our first option, so you must know that this was against our will. Harry is in your hands now and you must protect him at all costs. If I were to find out you mistreat him, do not accept him, or leave him to die out there while knowing the great danger that follows him...
Know that I will kill you with my bare hands.
You and I both know that I do keep my promises, and this one I do intend to keep.
Lily and James are gone and Harry is all that's left of them. He's all I have left, and out of desperation, I ask you take care of him as best as you can.Please don't make his life worse than it already is. I know you will, but have a heart and treat him as decently as you possibly can. He's already gone through too much for a lifetime.
I will see him soon, and once he has a proper age and has come to know me as his godmother, I will go back to my duty and he will be away from your filthy hands.
Do not forget this, Petunia. Do not forget me. But do this for Lily, because I know that under that ridiculous blouse you must be wearing and that bloody shell you call chest, there is a heart that once felt for its sister. She loved you and you should at least respect that. Protect her son and treat him as your own. Unless you have him swallowing everything in his way just like your husband.
I will make you suffer, Petunia. I will make your husband suffer, and I will bring hell to your son and you if you don't keep Harry safe.
See you soon, Tuney
A/N: Before anything, I will let you know that this is AU. I won't specify where it will stick with the original story and where it won't. Things like - for example - in this chapter, Remus and Dumbledore are at Godric's Hollow. In the original book neither is. So yeah, now that that's clear, I hope you enjoyed this and will stick with this story! R&R :D