Chapter 2: Blind
"It was about time you woke up. I was starting to get worried you wouldn't."
It was a woman's voice. That much I could register.
I was lying in a very short bed, my feet hanging over the end. My limbs felt really heavy, which wasn't the case while I was in purgatory.
I guess coming back to life could really take a lot out of a person.
Lily, I have to find Lily.
I must force myself up.
I wrenched my eyes open and stared at an extremely blurry ceiling.
First, where in the name of Merlin are my glasses?
"I'm really glad you're awake," the woman said again, shyly.
I swallowed painfully. I really needed something to drink and soon.
"Er… where are my glasses?" I asked, attempting to focus on her shape but having no such luck.
"I beg your pardon?" she questioned awkwardly. The woman had a really odd accent that gave no hint of where I just happened to be. I needed to get back to England.
"My glasses – I can't see a bloody thing without them."
I heard some shuffling around the room.
"I… er… have them here, but they are broken. You will have to use your wand to fix them," she murmured.
Just fucking great; well at least she is apart of my world. I won't have to fake being a muggle, this will come to be very handy.
"I don't mean to be rude, but where is my wand?"
"Er… I have it here."
Great.
"Could you fix them for me, then?" I asked calmly.
"I can't. You see –"
"What do you mean you can't?"
She laughed nervously.
"I'm a squib."
I should have guessed that. Oh well, no problem. I can fix them myself.
Plastering what I hope to be a friendly smile on my face, I said, "No bother. Will you please hand me my glasses and wand?"
"Of course," I felt cool hands place them in my hands.
Pointing the wand at the contents of the other hand I muttered, "Reparo."
The room came immediately into focus once the glasses were on. I looked over at the woman and for the first time managed to get a good look at her.
She looked to be around my age, with long light brown hair and light blue eyes. Even though she was sitting down, I could see that she was a tall woman, probably around 5'9. Lily barely passed 5'6, not that I minded.
The woman did not appear to be threatening to me, and my bets are that she does not work for Voldemort. I could at least rest easily for now.
"What's your name?" I asked quietly. She stared blankly at me for a moment before answering.
"Sorry, my name is Emilie Richard."
Alright, so she was French. Lily's grandmother on her mother's side was French so she spoke the language almost perfectly. Her dream had been to teach Harry the language too.
"Hello, Emilie." I smiled.
She looked at me expectantly. I raised an eyebrow in question.
"Your name is?" Emilie rolled her r's when she spoke, it made me want to laugh.
"My name's James Potter."
She looked like she wanted to ask me something, but before she could the sound of a baby crying rang out through her house.
"Excuse me," she apologized be for crying out, "J'arrive, ma chérie."
I'm coming, my darling. I did know how to speak a little French; mostly what my wife had taught me. I had been a really fast learner.
She rushed out of the room, allowing me time to get acquainted with my surroundings.
The room was small with mint green walls and hardwood flooring. On the wall opposite the bed, was a large portrait of mansion with children standing out front, it made me think that the mansion was really a school.
I was alone mere moments before she hurried into the bedroom, holding a little baby girl with dark brown hair.
The baby whimpered against her mother's neck. My heart squeezed painfully at the reminder of Harry. I wonder where he could be… and if he's safe. I really hoped that wherever he was, Sirius was there to keep him safe. I trusted my best friend more than anything for he had always been more of a brother to me than a friend. Also, he adored Harry and would do anything to protect him.
I forced a small on my face, "What's her name?"
Emilie smiled fondly, "Her name is Julianne."
"She's beautiful."
The baby's mother blushed at the compliment. Julianne turned her head at the sound of my voice, and stared confusedly at me before reaching her little arms towards me.
"Where was I when you found me?" I asked, curious.
"You had fainted in the park across the street. We carried you back to my home." I had expected that the "we" was referring to her husband, but that theory was shortly proven wrong.
"I'm so glad Deborah was there to help me, otherwise you would have been found by muggles." I did not detect any disdain in how she spoke the last word, which was quite a relief for me. I do not know how I could possibly tolerate staying in a household that despised them.
I smiled, "Thank you both for saving me some more trouble."
Her eyebrows furrowed as she frowned, "Do you remember how you got there?"
"I'm afraid not. I don't know even know where I am," I admitted, thoroughly lost.
"You are in Canada." Well, at least I was right about on thing.
Julianne whimpered in her mother's arms, still reaching out to me.
"Non, Julie. Laisse lui tranquile," she murmured. No, Julie. Leave him alone.
I smiled at the baby. It almost felt like years since I had last held Harry. It wouldn't hurt to fuss over Julianne.
"It's alright. I don't mind holding her," I said quickly, sitting up carefully.
"You sure?" asked Emilie, unsure. I nodded, and she handed the baby over to me.
Julianne fixed her eyes on my face and giggled, causing a huge smile to spread across my face.
I tickled her sleeper-covered toes, more giggles erupting for her small mouth. Emilie observed us in wonder, a small smile forming on her lips.
"You're really great with children," she commented.
Swallowing, I replied, "I have son who is a little older than her. His name is Harry."
"Is there anyone I should call for you?"
My heart skipped painfully – if only she could call someone.
"No!" I ejaculated.
She flinched, her hand jerking towards her daughter.
"I'm sorry. It's just that no one can know where I am," I explained morosely while she looked at me in confusion. Julianne gurgled up at me, from my lap where she lay.
Emilie stared out the window.
"Everyone thinks that I'm dead and Harry is safer where he is for now," I reasoned softly hating that it was the truth.
"What happened to you?" she asked quietly, lips drawn into a faint line.
"Have you ever heard of You-Know-Who?" I only used that vile nickname because I did not wish to frighten her. Personally, I felt that the fear of the name would only increase the fear of thing itself.
"Oh Merlin! He did this to you?" Emilie gasped, hand clasped to her chest.
I chuckled darkly, "Yes, he stormed our house on Halloween to kidnap our son; naturally my wife and I fought him. Turns out, a close friend of ours betrayed us."
Her eyes widened in shock.
"Halloween was almost 9 months ago!"
Sweet Merlin… has it really been that long? I haven't held my wife and son in 9 months! My heart cracked directly through its centre.
Before I could think of what to say, she asked, "Where is your wife?"
I sighed pitifully, "I don't know where my Lily is. I need to find her."
Emilie's face screwed up in determination, "I'll do what I can to help find her."
I smiled slightly, my eyes starting to tear up. She noticed how I was on the brink of falling to pieces, and took Julianne from my lap.
"I am going to let you rest a bit. We will be downstairs, please call if you need anything. Supper will be in a couple hours."
"Thank you, so much for everything, Emilie."
"Don't mention it, James." She squeezed my shoulder before carrying Julianne out of the room. I could hear her soft footsteps down the hallway.
I turned over on to my side, rolling into a ball.
That was when the tears started streaming down my face. Oh how I ached to bury my face in Lily's red curls, to smell her vanilla perfume!
How in the name of Merlin was I going to find her? I was in bloody Canada for Merlin's sake.
Even with my glasses on, I felt completely blind.
Then a thought occurred to me, I knew exactly who I need to talk to.
Slowly, I drifted off to sleep to where I could see my family.
