The Silver Messenger
The sun rose above Godric's Hollow, casting a warm, red glow over number 13. As Harry peered through the window, he heard his sons, James and Albus, upstairs having their usual argument.
"My wand is longer!" screamed Albus, hitting his brother with a pillow.
"But mine is more powerful!" James retorted.
"Mine is holly, just like Dad's!"
Their mother walked in carrying a basket of odd socks.
"Will you two stop it! This has been going on for long enough! How old are you? Both your wands are perfect for both of you! Just be happy you have one at all!"
Both boys' expressions turned to looks of guilt. Ginny, however saw through their lies.
"James, come and help me with these."
She indicated the basket she had put down on the bed.
"And Al, get out of your brother's room and go and clean Hally's cage."
Hally, short for Hallow, was the Potter family owl. She was a snowy, the exact double of Harry's old owl Hedwig.
Albus trudged off grudgingly towards the stairs, and into the living room, where his father stood gazing out of the window.
"Dad?"
"Yes Al," said Harry, turning his attention to his youngest son.
"Why couldn't we go with Lil and Hugo to Diagon Alley?"
"Because," explained Harry. "Your mother and I need you boys here to help with everything!"
"But then I want to go and try out the new stuff Uncle George has sent me! He says he has only just finished them, and I am the first one try them!"
"Well, if you clean that cage, you'll be allowed!" said Harry, and he walked out of the room, leaving his son to struggle with a hungry owl.
Harry closed his eyes. He imagined, just for a second, that he was 17 again, and he was looking through the eyes of Voldemort, down at the pitiful body of Severus Snape. Then reality shook him. He was not 17 anymore.
Suddenly, a silver hound leapt in through the open front door and skidded to a halt just in front of Harry.
"It's Lily" said the dog, with Ron's voice, and a rather panicked edge to it. "She and Hugo, Knockturn Alley, disappeared…….."
The words were jumbled, but the meaning was clear: his daughter and nephew were missing.
He bounded up the stairs, as the patronus faded, and reached the room where his wife and son were balling up socks.
"Ginny, can I have a word outside?"
She sensed the urgency in his voice and hurried out with her husband.
"Its Lily and Hugo, they've disappeared…." began Harry. Ginny butt in.
"Go. Now. I can look after the boys. Just find her Harry." She kissed him, and then he pulled his wand out of his pocket and headed down the stairs, grabbed a bundled up piece of material, turned on the spot, and was gone with a pop.