As usual, Harry Potter universe is not mine, but mistakes are.
Italics mean a) memories and b) thoughts. I'm hoping my writing is clear enough for you to distinguish between those two with no problems.
Bold italics mean the sentence was used in the last chapter
The rest of the morning passed on packing whatever James and Harry had in Sirius's apartment. It was finally way after lunch that the whole five of them were ready to leave for their destination.
In the hills of Somerset, not so far from Bath, but far enough for quietness to be calming and present at all the times, there was an estate. In its frontal part stood what seemed like a small house at first, with matured Whitebeams surrounding it from three sides but once a person was able to come closer, he or she could see three stories tall mansion done in brown stone. It was an old building that had to have been in the possession of the family for at least a few hundred years. The facade was overgrown with ivy that surrounded the walls and windows. The windows themselves were tall, from the floor to the ceiling. At this moment all of them were shining with the warm yellow light from the inside of the building. From the front door, a person would be able to feel a mysterious power flowing through their body, washing away their worries, leaving only a smile as they entered the home. Well, that's how the enchantment would affect those without any magic of their own. The magical – well those were kind of a different matter. As being used to it, the magical guest would surely feel the power around and inside of the household, but he would also do not react to the calming effect of the magic in such a definite degree.
As they stood at the threshold of the mansion, James with a small Harry in his arms put his hand on the door knob. He felt a sense of recognition shoot through this fingers as the house recognized its owner. He gently pushed the door open, letting the entranceway come into view. The vast room was lit up by a crystal chandelier hanging from the high vaulted ceilings. A grand staircase of gilded mahogany led to the upper floors revealing more rooms. Multiple paintings, tapestries and armors, magical pieces on the top floor and non-magical on the second , adorned the walls of the hall, adding to the house's atmosphere of old the new tint of majestic.
Stepping into the mansion, the Potters were greeted by curious view. Floating in their direction from the floor above was a translucent form of a man. A sixty year-old ghost of a much younger man was tall and clothed in what was once a black three piece suit. As soon as James and Harry stopped in the center of the hall the ghost bowed to them both.
- Lord Potter, how good it is to see you back with us. My condolences on the death of the Lady Potter, my Lord. We will all miss her terribly. And young lord Harry. How big you are already…
- Alex, how good it is to see you again. You are the one person that has never left the walls of the estate. Well, as long as I remember at least… It's going to be almost a hundred years now, isn't it?
- Yes, my Lord. It is my ninetieth year in the service of the Potters. The first thirty years were in your fathers' youth when I was still alive, and another sixty after my death… I was wondering if we could discuss that matter at your convenience, my Lord?
- We will my dearest major-domo, we definitely will. But for now, can you show our guests to their rooms? And let Fidu and Nutri know that the rest of the family is in, will you?
- Yes, sir. Lady Amelia, Lord Black, Mr. Lupin. Welcome back to "The Lion's Den."
- Oh Alex, you didn't change a bit, my mate…
- Lord Black, you instead grew up quite a bit since I saw you last…
- Come now Alex, I was sixteen then! I had my growth spurt that year…
- But I'm guessing the bedroom over the garage is still your preferred one?
- See people, this is why Alex and I will always be best friends. You read my mind, my friend, you read my mind…
- And the bedroom closest to the library for you, Mr. Lupin.
- Thank you very much, Alex.
- Now lady Amelia, would you prefer the Sapphire bedroom over the ballroom or the Golden Room in the Southern Tower?
- The Golden Room please. At least this once I will hold it over Alice…
- Hahaha, remember the Christmas two years back? I was so sure we will watch you two throwing hexes over the room… That was until Frank and I divided you with endangerment to our own health…
- Oh Sirius, you loved to get in the middle of us two…Just admit it.
- Well – Sirius said with a sheepish look on his face – it was rather admirable to see you both like that…
As the banter between the two of them continued Alex directed his next words to James.
- The Master bedroom is ready for you, my lord. Would you prefer to have your son in the connected nursery or in the children's room on the other side of the hall?
- Prepare the nursery for him. We might end up in my bedroom in the middle of the night anyways. Harry has trouble sleeping since the events of Halloween.
- James, he has to start sleeping alone at some point, and you know it.
- Amelia, he lost his mother a few days ago, he might have trouble sleeping at night. I know I have. His sleeping nearby helps both of us. He knows I am around and I know he is alright. We are actually getting sleep this way. So as long as it help us, I will not kick my own son out of my bed.
At this moment Remus joined the conversation.
- James, you know Amelia did not mean to upset you. We all know you both need each other right now. Do what you need to.
- I know, and I'm sorry Amelia. I did not mean for that to come out so harsh.
- I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to imply that you didn't know what you were doing.
- But you're right, I don't. And sometimes I think I take Harry to my bed for my own comfort more than his. But, I need it desperately. Lily isn't here anymore and it breaks my heart into thousands of pieces. Harry is all I have left of her now, he is the most important person in my world right now.
- I understand James, really I do. It's only because of Sirius and all of my other friends that I survived after my family was killed a few years ago. And I want you to know that I will be right here beside you the whole way through, just like how you stood beside me. And may Sorting Hat burn if either Remus and Sirius here, or Frank and Alice would leave your side. You have found yourself some loyal friends, dear James.
- Thank you, Amelia. That means the world to me.
- And you mean the world to us Prongs, you old champ – Sirius added with a pat on James's back. – You better believe that we would be ready to die for you if need be.
- And I for you, do not ever doubt that Padfoot, Moony. You too Amelia, you too…
As the silence fell on the group, Harry's loud giggle brought all the attention back on him and where his attention was at. Next to the staircase, in two separate lines on both sides of the railings, were four small creatures with big, round eyes, long pointy ears and smiles a mile wide. Their pointy teeth were short and clean, as were their long, scarlet tunics with golden roaring lions moving in the front.
- Yararli, Nutri, Fidu, Forti. It's nice to see you again. – As he welcomed them each elf bowed to their master. – Yara, can we please have dinner at 6 o'clock tonight? Nutri, I would like you to meet Harry. He is my little son, and I'm hoping you will help me take care of him, just like you took care of me. Fidu, take care of Remus and Sirius. And Forti, I will have a special assignment for you tonight.
As everyone carried out their tasks James took Amelia to his father's study and asked her to sit down.
- Amelia, I know you are with the Aurors like us, but you are the one more involved with the political side of things. How, pray tell, would you play out the hearings that are awaiting us in the future?
- Oh James, I have been asking this myself ever since I learned I will be the one assisting in the questioning. At first we, that is the prosecutor and me, will give them Veritaserum and ask a few questions to establish that it is, indeed, working. Then we will ask questions leading up to and about the events of Halloween night. If you have any questions, you will be allowed to ask them then. At the end we will ask any questions that may have arisen during the questioning. - They were talking for another half an hour and standing up to leave when Amelia added one last thing. –And James, I know it will be hard for you, but I will need you to stay calm during that meeting. No scenes. Please. Everyone in the chamber will be aware of your animosity toward Snape. How you present yourself will have an impact on the verdict of the judges, you are aware of that, right?
- Unfortunately, I am. I will try my best. And although I do not necessarily understand the connection that Snape has to the whole case, besides the fact that he is a Death Eater, I do know that he played an important role. So whatever he says might be helpful in the future. For that reason alone, I will try to behave my best.
- Thank you, that's all I am asking of you. – And with that she left the study.
The rest of the day passed in the silence, full of the calm that only family can provide, yet tense with the preparations for tomorrow.
Thank you for reading my story and bearing with my inconsistence in posting. I hope to do better on that matter. Next chapter is already in the proofreading stage. Hopefully I will be able to post it soon.
Also, please let me know what you think about this chapter. Your comments are welcome as they let me know what you would like to read about and also point things out to me that I might not have considered before.
