Chapter 1

The Potter Mansion

I floo home, dizziness and disorientation in abundance as always, to find Sirius (my best friend/surrogate brother) pacing the parlour floor. As the fire flares up around me, he spins on his heel. "Where the hell have you been?" is growled tensely at me. "I have been sat here, waiting for HOURS, (it hasn't really been hours, more half an hour, but hey, I'll let it slide) just so YOU can get back and tell me WHERE WE ARE GOING TO STAY!" I glance around, careful to keep my secret between as few people as possible, run my hand nervously through my hair, and whisper to him, "Evans' house."

"WHAT?" Sirius practically exploded. And I mean, exploded. He went red, just like a beetroot, and almost burst my eardrums with the "Sirius, shut up!" exclaimed Mother, who had just entered, leaning on the walls for support. She never did recover from that mission. Damn Death Eaters. Mother was an Auror. A damn good one too, if I say so myself. "Sirius, if you keep on shouting, I'll silence you myself, and I swear, it wont be pretty!" "Yes mum…" replies Sirius bashfully. You could see it in her eyes, every time he called her mum, she softened. For a moment. Then she gestured to the nearby sofa, quietly asking "Can you two sit down for a few moments please?" We sit. She slumps into the armchair across from us. Suddenly, she seems older, more tired. She starts to shiver, and again my nervous habit kicks in as I start to worry. "Mum, are you feeling okay? Do you need a blanket, a warm drink maybe?" The words force themselves past the large lump in my throat. "Son, would you like to know the reason why your father spends so much time in the office?"

"Mum, is it that obvious?" "Oh yes son, it is. Well…" "Why is it hard to talk about, Mother?" "Well boys…" she starts, and I sense Sirius raising his head, looking straight at her from beside me. "I'm just going to say this, boys. It's easier that way. Truth is, I'm dying. From what the Healers have told me, I'll be dead before you go back to Hogwarts in a few weeks." She sounded so sincere. I was dumbstruck. Sirius found his voice first, and though he seemed strong, I could tell. He was scared. "What do you mean, dead?" his voice wavered, threatening to break. "Sirius, I'm so sorry. Truly I am. But you, James, and James' father, are going to have to bury me. James?" I look up. looking her straight in the eyes. "Yes Mother?" "Your father and I have made all the arrangements. All you and Sirius need to do is turn up looking smart. That's all I can ask of you now."

I can feel the tears rolling down my face, and I silently search her eyes, her face, for a sign, any sign, that this is a wind-up, revenge for the pranks of the marauders over the years, a large 'surprise!' that's suddenly going to jump out, that Father would walk in and announce something, anything. News of them splitting up. would be more welcome now than THIS. But no, there was nothing. No sign of any surprises. All I can find is the truth. And I cant help but blame myself. How did I miss this, how did I miss my own mothers illness, I should have noticed, been more prepared for any news she could possibly give me. "Your father… Your father is staying in the office so much because he doesn't want to face this. He doesn't want to accept that I'm dying. He doesn't even want me to tell you. But I cant face you finding out when it's too late for me to explain, and try to help you come to terms with this." "What is it? What's wrong with you?" The voice comes from my side, echoes around the room, makes me want to run, hide, shout until people admit the joke, this sick, sick joke.

"It's a cancer. It's corrupted my magic. My MAGIC is what's killing me, slowly but surely." Her voice wavers, a sure sign she's close to tears, and it's at this point I leave. I just get up and walk out. Without warning. Sirius's voice seems to haunts me as I open the door, walk out of the house, not even sure where I'm going. "Mum, just leave him for now. He needs time to cool down, process everything. He needs to accept things, and he'll come back when he's ready."