Prologue
Porthchapel beach, November 2027
His brown eyes glared at the rolling steel waves in front of him. The late November air whipped against his skin and chilled him to the core. The grey sky of the afternoon suffocated the world it encapsulated. The world was bleached of colour and the grey smoke from his cigarette made little difference from the colour that surrounded him. He pulled the collar of his coat up to try and protect his neck as the last scarf he had owned was currently in the possession of someone else.
Who the fuck went to the beach during winter? And why the fuck had he agreed to meet them here? God, he hated this job. He should have played fucking Quidditch. Screw the world. If he hadn't been so noble, so brave she would have been fine. Who the fuck was he to get involved with her anyway? Wasn't she in enough danger as it was without him there? Oh fuck it all. Wasn't this evidence that he'd still do anything for her?
He could feel the direction of the wind change, as if something was blocking it before he heard the sound of them apparating in. He turned, flicked his cigarette forcefully away and looked at the cloaked pair. Both were all wearing black and had their wands raised. James did not reach for his. What was it that she had always said? The quill was mightier than the wand. Perhaps she was correct.
"Hello, little brother." He said.
"James," The taller of the pair replied, "you came alone?"
"Naturally," James said and he gave his usual smirk. His brother's fist tightened. He was taller and looked thinner than when they had last met. His eyes seemed more sunken into his skin. But there they were, brilliant and green. God, he looked just like their father, but more menacing and desperate looking. James looked at the other of the pair who had joined him, Dolohov. His face was just as twisted as his father's. He was older than both the other men present by ten years. He was shorter and stockier than his accomplice and was obviously the muscle for this transaction.
"Wand, Potter?" Dolohov asked. James withdrew it and shoved it into the sand before him. He always had hated the beach, although so had she. They had come to this beach before, just the two of them. Her muggle grandmother had lived a few miles away.
"So," Albus began, "I take it you want her back."
"That was agreed, I gave you information in exchange for her." James said. Oh fuck, if Shacklebolt knew the plan he wouldn't kill him, he would mutilate him.
"I'm afraid Jamesey, that the information you gave just wasn't enough." The other continued. James' facial expression turned sour.
"I gave you all the information we have, what else do you fucking want from me? Just give her back." James said, rage emanating out of him in a palpable glow.
"You could always just join us." The other said calmly.
"I will never join you." James' voice was low and hatred seared the air.
"Fine. You'll never see her again." The other said curtly, "Come Dolohov, let us leave."
"I thought you said you loved her." James shouted against the wind.
"I did, until I realised that she was everything wrong with the wizarding world; a half blood, with a blood traitor mother and a muggle father. She disgusts me." The other walked towards his brother. He leant and whispered in his ear, "Her screams lull me to sleep at night. When she cries, she cries for you and I take such pleasure in telling her that you will never see her again." James lunged at the man but Dolohov produced his wand and James felt his legs buckle as if tied whilst his hands simultaneously flung themselves behind his back and were fastened together.
"You'd risk everything you have James, for filth. You're just like the rest of your pathetic family." The man shouted. James writhed on the floor as Dolohov cast a crucio.
"That's enough Dolohov." The other reprimanded him. They turned to leave.
"They're your family too, Albus." James shouted from his position on the floor. He tried to stand but only managed to kneel. "What the fuck happened?"
"You happened. How could I ever prove myself to be a powerful wizard when I was always second rate to my family? I wanted power, so I took it." Albus shouted back.
"Dad finished this. Voldemort is dead; he died before you and I were even born. The wizarding race will always be mixed. This isn't you Albus, you're better than this." James shouted. Albus grabbed the hair on the back of James head. James struggled against the magical bonds that held him.
"That's where you're wrong. Voldemort was just the start. This war will always continue. There will never be peace until you, and all other purebloods realise that our race will never be dominant if we side with those mudbloods. Wars don't rely on one person. We will continue, and James, we will fucking destroy you." Albus flung his brother back onto the sand.
"Albus," James said softly just loud enough for the man above him to hear but so that Dolohov couldn't hear from far off. A lump rose in James' throat, "I love her, she means everything to me; please just give her back. I promise I won't do anything. I'll take her abroad. I won't try and stop what you're doing. Just please, I'm begging you give her back. Please, I'm your brother."
"You're no brother of mine." Albus spat. James felt the bonds that held him unfasten and he lunged for his wand. But both Albus and Dolohov had disapparated.
James fell to the ground and he gulped the air in an attempt to stop the tears that were ready to flow. His own brother was a Death Eater. And his own brother had captured and tortured James' wife and was holding her hostage. How the fuck was he ever going to save her? James roughly wiped the stray tears off his cheeks and sniffed loudly. How the fuck had everything gone so wrong?
Author's note : So I've been beating the idea about this story for a while. I've found there's a serious lack of good next generation stories so this is my attempt. Please review if you have questions, advice or any comments about the story. Thanks for reading :)