June 17, 2025
London

"DAMN YOU TO HELL, YOU BASTARD!"

Screaming erupted from every direction as they fought for their lives. Blood trickled into the storm drains and limbs lay strewn about. Calmly strutting through the chaos, the man slashed his weapon to and fro, creating a pathway. The sword was heavy; lifting it would be a struggle, a war in itself. Ahead of him, Aeron was defending himself against a young girl. She was viciously snatching at him with a long, jagged knife, reaching for his throat. Madly, she screeched once more, "Damn you! You BASTARD!"

The man stepped forth and demanded, "Rose, move."

Still swinging her knife, Rose cried, "No, James! He is mine...fuck off..."

Rose was panting and winded, her reactions were slowing. Aeron leaned forward and cut a deep path down her face with his shorted sword.

"You son of a..."

"Rose."

Standing tall, James whipped in front of Rose and began dueling the ever-elusive Aeron. They battled, blood seeping from each wound inflicted. The scene around them dulled away and in the black of their lives, this was do or die. A war fought without hope and too many sides to count, never enough allies. James was not built for panic, but it was creeping up his legs, filling his bloodstream. Talking, that would surely help.

"Aeron, you're gonna die today," James flashed a demonic smile.

Aeron stumbled over a body and James stabbed at him to no avail. "In your wildest dreams, buddy."

Unfazed, James continued his banter, "Five years and you still haven't learned that I will always win?"

"Is Harry Potter proud of his son? Proud of you five?" Aeron jeered.

"Don't talk about Harry Potter!" James bellowed.

Strength renewed, James feinted and before Aeron could open his mouth to reply, James cleanly chopped his head off. Lobbing to the ground, the head rolled, its eyes frozen in vicious certainty.

As in the days of old, James wiped his sword with the clothing of his victim. Turning to face the burning, the blood, and the victory, James catcalled and out of the destruction came four figures. Their chests rose and fell with their labored breathing. The four cohorts stopped in front of James.

"Aeron is dead! Victory is ours today."

September 1, 2021
Platform 9 3/4

James frowned as his father insisted on tousling his hair. Ducking so that no one would see the sappy moment, James reappeared next to his mother. "Bye, Mum," James said brightly. "Bye, Dad."

Harry tried to hide the welling emotions as he coughed, "Goodbye, son."

"Bye, my James," Ginny sniffled.

He didn't particularly care for the goodbye scenario he was a part of each September. James was surprised that is mother didn't burst into tears and bumble on about him being 'all grown up.' He was a man now, in his seventh year at Hogwarts, and such a man would shake his father's hand.

Proudly, James shook Harry's hand and walked off to find the boys. He could hear the fading sounds of his mum fussing over Albus and Lily. Billowing smoke came from the Hogwarts Express.

"James! Hey!"

Turning around, James saw his one of his best friends hurrying toward him. Brandon grinned mischievously and James clapped him on the back heartily. "Brandon, how's it going?"

"Awesome. You ready to kill it this year?"

James laughed at Brandon. "I was hoping to not kill anyone this year, actually."

Still laughing at their own genius, the boys boarded the train and trudged along, searching for an empty compartment. They found a compartment in the back of the train. Plopping down on the stained seat, Brandon asked, "Where's Sky?"

"Scaring the first years probably," James said as he rolled his eyes.

"Talk with Valerie this summer?"

"Duh. She was over at the house, like, every day. Mum was giddy about it all."

"She's hot, James, you're a lucky bastard."

"Sure am."

As the train squealed and rattled out of the station, the boys set in with a game of Wizard's Chess. A knock came at the door and Lily stepped through. She sat down beside James and curled her feet under her. "Hi, James."

"What, Lily," asked a bored James.

"I just came to see what you guys were up to."

"Where are your friends?"

"That's none of your business, James!"

"Come on, Lily. You aren't fighting again?"

"Do whatever I want to!" Lily screamed, obviously irritated about something.

James rolled his eyes, wondering when Lily would stop her fighting. She was always into something, pissing people off, and fighting like a Muggle. The girl did have a nice punch though. James looked to his younger sister and said, "Go back and apologize, Lily."

"No."

The two siblings turned to each other, ready to wage a war when the door burst open again. The Potters both turned to scream at the intruder, but stopped dead. A hooded figure was looming at the entrance. Cold fury emanated from the person who spoke, "James and Lily. Please come with me. Now."

With all the courage he could muster, James slid in front of his friend and sister to face this figure, "Who are you?"

"Please come with me."

"Err...no...we're going nowhere with you. Back off!" James yelled as he dug around in his pocket for his wand.

Just as James grasped his wand, a red light flashed from under the person's cloak and James hit the floor, unconscious. Lily ran up and started to pound on the figure, beating him with her hands. She too was stunned into silence.

Bravery and fury consumed Brandon as he pointed his wand in the intruder's face and shrieked, "Fucking leave. NOW!"

"Avada Kedavra!" roared the hooded man.

Eyes still full of fury, Brandon hit the floor with a resounding thud. Levitating Lily and James, the man made his way to last section of the train. He mumbled a spell to reinforce his invisibility. There were no more compartments around and he waited silently for his companions. Footsteps soon followed and two more figures appeared, both levitating their prizes.

The first man who captured Lily and James sneered, "Did you kill the witnesses?"

One of the men cursed and said, "Of course we did. We're not stupid."

The last of the men swept his hood off and commanded, "Let's go. The boss is waiting."

Grabbing onto their captives, the men Apparated.

September 1, 2021
Mansion in secluded woods of Cornwall

"What kind of bloody plan is that?" the man argued.

"It's a bloody elaborate plan, that's what it is," the other sneered and continued, "I've worked for months coming up with this scheme."

The two men stared at each other from across the table. Papers littered the surroundings, looking like snow. The man obviously in charge said to the other, "I've had my men hunt down and capture the best Muggles for this job. They will know how to turn them into our machines. Just you wait, Aeron."

A quiet knock on the door prevented Aeron's retort.

A slender, dark-haired woman emerged into the room and muttered, "The boy you asked for is awake. Should I have him brought in?"

Aeron watched the other man look at his wife calmly. "Yes, dear, that would be excellent. Would you take Aeron here with you so that he can watch the boy?"

"Yes, of course."

Turning his back on his employer, Aeron followed the woman. She led him through passage after passage, the mansion's interior looked exactly the same from one end to the other. Scrambling down a long flight of steps, she took Aeron in the dungeons. There was no stench, unless fear constituted as a smell. Around a corner, the largest cell was illuminated by a gas lamp. The inhabitants were all unconscious except for one who was gagged and bound.

Using brute force, Aeron grabbed the boy roughly and headed back to the office of his boss. The walk was a long one and Aeron became tired and levitated the struggling youth after only a couple of corridors. He entered the office and slung the boy on the floor.

"Remove the gag," his boss said without glancing up.

Aeron did as he was told and backed into a corner to watch to proceedings. The boy wildly searched the room until his eyes landed on the man behind the desk. Huffing, he started to talk, "I don't know who you think you are, but you had better let us go. Like, today."

The man laughed menacingly and replied, "Oh, but why would I do that, James Potter? It would ruin all that I have in-store for you five. I won't go monologuing about my plans, however."

"Well, I've got a great plan for you...fuck off !" James grinned manically.

"Such colorful language and totally unnecessary. Your father would be ashamed," the boss man answered calmly, folding his hands in front of him. He surpressed a giggle as James struggled to find an appropriate come-back. He was quite through with the boy and gestured to Aeron.

"Take him back. And James...welcome to hell."