The King and the Prince

"I don't know," Imogen said, holding Andreas. James had their overnight bag in hand and they were both dressed and ready to go in the living room. James and Lily had coaxed her into this plan all week. It was obvious she needed and wanted a little alone time with James, but now that it was here, she clung to Andreas. "I have a bad feeling about leaving him like this. What if he thinks we aren't coming back?"

"It has to happen sometime, Gen," James said. "He'll be fine."

"But—"

"You already fed him. We'll play, I'll put him down, and he'll barely have been awake by the time you come back," Lily added.

Imogen let out a breath. "You're right," she said, then looked to Lily. "He's still waking up in the middle of the night sometimes."

"I'll sleep in your room," Lily said. "Al will be glad to have my bed, for once, instead of sleeping on the cot."

"Okay," Imogen said, still gripping to Andreas.

"Let's get going," James said with a smile, reaching over and gently taking their son from her arms. He held him up. "You going to have fun with Aunt Lily tonight, buddy? Yeah?"

Pulling him in, James kissed Andreas and handed him to Lily. Imogen still opened and closed her mouth like she was going to change her mind. "Come on, love," James encouraged, grabbing her hand and pulling her along toward the door.

"Just one more kiss," Imogen said.

"He's got more kisses from you than most children get in a lifetime," James replied, opening the door.

"Have fun, Mum and Dad," Lily said, picking up Andreas's little, chubby hand and helping him wave.

Lily bounced Andreas on her hip. He reached out and grabbed her necklace, tugging on the chain so he could chew the snitch charm hanging at the end.

"I was really thinking Imogen wouldn't go through with it," Albus said from the dining room doorway.

"Shocking, right?" Lily asked, smiling.

Albus sunk into an armchair. He looked thinner than she remembered him. And a bit pale.

"So what's new back home?" she asked, sitting and bouncing Andreas on her knee.

"Victoire and Teddy are moving to Ireland."

"No!" Lily exclaimed.

"Yeah. Teddy got a job outside of Dublin. Aunt Fleur is doing her damnedest to talk them out of it."

"That's not terribly far away."

"Yeah, well, they've been living so close for so long… I think she's just gotten used to having them there."

Lily nodded. "How are you doing?"

"Oh, you know," Albus said with a grim smile. "Working hard for the Ministry."

"You're doing a lot of good, Al," Lily said, wondering if anyone had told him so.

He shrugged. "I feel like nothing can be really good until Atteberry's out of there."

They moved on to other topics, Lily sliding to the ground. She played with Andreas, using a small toy quaffle. Albus told her about everyone else he'd been in contact with back home. Lily was grateful he didn't mention the Scamanders. He's married, Lily thought. She didn't take the thought further. It hurt too much.

Soon enough, Andreas was fussy, trying to keep himself alert as Albus attempted to interest him again with the quaffle.

"Time for bed, I think," Lily said, picking up Andreas.

"I'm going to get some fresh air for a bit."

Lily moved up the steps, laying Andreas in his crib. He cried, as Lily hushed him, rubbing his back. She couldn't sing like Imogen, but she muttered an old story Ginny used to tell them as children. One about a witch and a wizard who decided to go on a grand adventure together. They walk throughout the mountains in France and explored the lakes of Italy. They found every magical place as they went, recording every moment. In the end, they decided that to share this with the world would deprive others of the joy they experienced, tearing up their scrolls and releasing them into the sky. These fragments stayed there as the stars for navigating, allowing each adventurer their own chance to know these secrets.

Lily finished the story, even though Andreas drifted off halfway through, sucking on his dummy. She took a deep breath and walked back down to the living room. Sitting alone for the first time all day, she succumbed to the tempting thoughts of Lorcan and her depression. She sat back, hugging a pillow to her chest as tears fell. Lily was glad she didn't go to the baseball game. She was certain this was going to come one way or another and at least she could be alone here. Hopefully her mum or Aunt Hermione wouldn't come through. Lily thought about how she'd have to stop before Albus came back.

At this thought, a numbness washed over her. A pleasant and clearing numbness.

Go to the north sitting room.

The thought pushed Lily to her feet. She felt for her wand, reaching for the handle as she found her way to the basement, walking across the passage and up the steps, passing old family portraits, images of Ron and Hermione's children and granddaughter, alongside new pictures of Andreas. They lined either side of the wall and Lily followed until she stood in the doorway between the hall and the sitting room.

Ginny sat with her back to Lily, a notebook in hand, writing diligently. Hermione was in the far armchair. She sat with her legs dangling off one of the arms, leaned against the back, and read. Her eyes dashed back and forth across the page, even though the rest of her body language indicated this was a leisurely read. Lily turned her wand in her palm.

Kill them.

Lily felt her insides shake to life. No, she thought.

Kill them.

She gripped tighter to her wand.

"Hi Lily," Hermione said. Lily looked over. She noticed Lily first, smiling over to her. "Is Andy asleep, then?"

Lily didn't reply. Ginny was looking at her now, too. They waited for an answer as Lily stayed inside her own mind.

"Lily?" Ginny asked. She set her notebook beside her. "Sweetheart, are you okay?"

Kill her.

Not my mum!

Ginny walked over, playing with locks of Lily's hair. "Sweetheart, you don't need to keep being strong," Ginny said. "We all know this is a hard day for you, and you've been so stoic."

Tears flooded Lily's eyes. Not mum!

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Now!

The conflict ended in Lily sending a stunning spell upward, the red sparks hitting Ginny hard across the side of her face as Lily watched, horrified. Ginny fell back, landing hard against the wooden floor. Hermione scrambled to her feet.

"Lily!"

Get her!

Lily sent another spell flying. Hermione dodged and scrambled for her wand. Lily sent a second jinx before she could stand and fight, hitting Hermione's shoulder, throwing her back against the stonework of the fireplace. There was a crack and Hermione's body crumbled.

"Oh my god," Lily squeaked out, covering her mouth, unable to move forward as she wanted to.

Get Andreas.

Lily tried with everything she had to stay still, to not move from this spot. She wasn't even sure how it happened, but she had apparated and stood over the sleeping Andreas. She pointed her wand upward and the lights came on. Carefully, she picked up his small, sleeping body, pulling him into herself.

Put him back down, put him back down, she commanded herself, but it didn't override the other voice in her head. She tucked Andreas against her chest, his head moving as he adjusted, then fell against her, still asleep. She struggled.

Gather his things.

Lily picked up a large diaper bag, filling it with clothes, diapers, and bottles.

"Lily," Albus hissed at her from across the room. She turned. He had his wand out. She adjusted Andreas and took her wand up again. "Someone attacked Mum and Hermione. We need to get them and go somewhere safe."

Lily silently disarmed Albus. It flew to her hand.

Break it.

She did.

"Lily?" Albus looked dumbfounded, his eyes flickering to Andreas in her arms. He raised his hands halfway. "Lily, what are you doing?"

He took a step towards her.

"No, don't," Lily said, frantically, afraid of what the thoughts would tell her to do and whether or not she would be able to stave it off. She couldn't go against it entirely, but she could negotiate with it, it seemed. "Stay back, please."

"Lily?" Albus looked terrified.

Lily flicked her wrist at the bag, levitating it to Albus, letting it land in front of him. "Put Andreas's lion in," she said, thinking as quickly as she could. "The lion!" she shouted.

Albus looked at her, thinking. He picked up the bag and calmly walked over to the crib, placing the lion inside.

"A-and his blanket," she added. Albus did.

"Downstairs," she instructed.

Albus carried the bag, taking the stairs as Lily followed, her wand still pointed at him. She wanted him to think of something, anything, that she couldn't. She tried to will herself to explain what was happening, but every time the thought came, a louder one drowned it out.

Say nothing.

Lily looked around the room downstairs, but didn't see anything that could help her. Then she remembered. "My room," she said. "Side table drawer. Put in the tin."

She continued to follow Albus, watching him do as she said, her wand trained on him the whole time.

"Zip it up," she said. "And give it here."

"Where are you going, Lily?" Albus asked, searching her eyes as he dropped the bag between them. She wondered if he could see her behind what she was doing.

Keep him from following.

"I'm sorry," were the only words Lily could force through the command as she closed her eyes. Another spell came from her wand. Albus was pushed against the wall, the spell pinning his arms there.

"Fight it, Lily!" he shouted.

Andreas started on her shoulder, tensing in her arms. Lily felt tears welling in her eyes as she picked up the bag.

"This isn't you! Fight it!" he yelled again. "Lily!"

She turned away from him, walking out the door, her feet moving to the directions of the voice in her head. Her muscles hurt as she tried to fight back with every step. Andreas cried. She strapped the bag across her chest, pulling out the blanket and wrapping him up. She had walked the length of the road, heading into the forest when he settled again.

Lily kept hoping someone would stop her. Her dad and Ron were gone. Imogen… Imogen would surely realize she couldn't sleep away from Andreas and they would come home. They would find her before anything bad happened.

She continued these hopes as she stepped through the woods, hearing an owl hoot. She saw the white wolf, standing back in the trees, his green eye glinting in the moonlight as he watched her pass.

Ahead, sitting on a large rock, was a man. He smiled as she approached, standing.

"Very good," he said, a heavy Scottish brogue. "Now, give me the boy."

The voice echoed in her head at the same time he said it. Lily's eyes widened. No, not Andreas, something deep inside growled. Her muscles fought her, but Lily gripped tighter to Andreas's soft body.

"Come, give him to me," the man said, reaching his arms out.

Go ahead, do it, the thought came.

"No!" Lily shouted, closing her eyes and shaking.

Silence settled over them as Lily buried her face into the bundle in her arms. "No," she repeated quietly. "No, no, no."

When Lily looked back up, the man was examining her. Considering her. "I suppose he needs a mother," he said. "Let me see the bag," he commanded.

Lily felt tears pool on her cheek as she handed it over. He went through, taking the more utilitarian items—diapers and bottles—but threw rattles and toy balls aside. He took the can, examining it in his hands then tossed that as well. Next he grabbed onto the lion.

"That's Andy's favorite," Lily said quickly. "He won't fall to sleep without it."

The man looked at her, narrowing his eyes, then put it into a pile with the other things before leaving the duffle bag as well. Last, he snatched the blanket from around Andreas. "We have enough of those," he said, letting the tenderly stitched fabric fall to the murky ground at his feet. He waved his wand at the stack he had separated and they all vanished. Lily licked her lips, hoping she would see the lion again.

He pulled out a flat rock from his pocket, tapping it until it gave a faint glow. "Touch it," he said. Lily reached out, despite the pain in her arms from trying to stop herself. "And hold onto him tight. We don't want anything to happen to him."


Imogen stared at the ceiling, James's arm draped across her, in blissful silence. No baby was going to start crying and interrupt them. No one was going to need them to help clean up, or set up, or make decisions. They were alone and making decent use of it, too.

"We really should go get something to eat," Imogen said.

"It's past ten," James said with a grin. He moved over to her again, his fingers brushing her skin gently. "Not much will be open anymore."

"That's why we should have gone to eat an hour ago when I first suggested it," Imogen said with a chuckle.

James hummed, his lips against her neck. "I rather like the feast I have here, thank you," he replied.

"Yes, well, I'm fairly famished," Imogen said. "That wasn't innuendo," she added as James glared at her.

"We'll splurge on room service," James told her. He moved, pushing back her hair with his fingers as Imogen placed her hands on his chest. "Let's just have one more go at giving Andy a little sister."

Imogen laughed. "Is that what we've been doing?"

"Has no one explained that process to you?" James asked.

Imogen playfully slapped his arm. "That's not what I meant. I just wasn't aware a sibling was part of the plan."

"Are you saying you don't want any more?" James asked seriously.

"No," Imogen said. She looked at her hands, tracing the lines of James's torso. "Someday, probably." She looked back into James's eyes. They were so earnest, so honest. "Just not right away. We're still not out of the woods with everything."

"I'm okay in the woods, so long as I get to be there with you."

James always did have a knack for saying cheesy things, Imogen thought. He was quite good at it. And no matter how cheesy they got, Imogen always knew he meant them. "Did you ever hear anything about Clive?"

James let out a sigh, settling beside Imogen, running his fingers up and down her side. "No," James said. "I'm starting to think that's a good thing, actually."

"Why do you say that?" Imogen said.

James's jaw tensed. "Considering what happened to the other two who were found," James pointed out. "Clive was smart. And his wife was nothing, if not clever. I bet they had their own contingency plans."

Imogen nodded. She'd liked Clive's wife. Etta Wallace was energetic and busy. As an artist, she kept her own studio wherever they traveled. She settled Imogen in when they arrived in Scotland and didn't leave that night until she'd remembered a dozen little things she thought would be helpful with the transitions. Imogen hoped her and Clive were safe.

"Alright, I really do need food," Imogen said, sitting up abruptly as James moaned. "Food first, then we can talk other plans."

Imogen dressed as James leaned back and watched with a smirk. "Come on then," she said, zipping up her jeans.

Their darkened room became bright and both of them turned to the stag patronus that burst through the wall, lighting the space. "Come home now," it said, then disappeared into tendrils of light.

Imogen looked over, but James had already burst into action, throwing back the covers and dressing quickly. Imogen gathered all their things, leaving more than they owed on the side table. It would have to suffice.


They landed in a clearing of woods. The trees were different than those around their home in Maryland. "Wand," the man said and Lily handed it over. Andreas was crying again. Lily could only assume the Portkey had been uncomfortable for him. She hoped he didn't understand. Merlin, please don't understand, she thought as she followed the man into the woods. There he placed his hand on a large tree. The trunk opened, leaving a space for all of them. It reminded Lily of the elevator at the Ministry as it lowered into the ground. They didn't go far, but when the door opened, they entered one of the most decadent entryways she'd ever been in.

Two chairs were covered in the deepest blue fabric and flanked a large portrait of a pretty blond woman, though she didn't move. Her eyes seemed to follow Lily as the man lead the way through the corridors. Lily looked around. No windows, she noted. They passed a polished wooden table for ten and a chandelier hanging over it. They passed a few other doors and on their left was a study, several large frames that looked almost like paintings. One was of their Maryland home.

At the far end of the corridor, he lead Lily through a door. Inside was a picturesque nursery. Striped walls had little figurines of fairies fluttering all around, the grass mural etched along the bottom seemed to sway as the flowers all turned towards them. At the far end was a pristine white crib, a blue blanket folded and hanging over the edge. In stacks on top of the changing table beside the crib were the items he had vanished, the little yellow lion on the far right, smiling over to her.

The man pointed his wand at Lily and she closed her eyes, turning to shield Andreas, but instead found herself free of the second set of thoughts. Her body shook worse now, her lip trembled.

"Your name is Lily?" the man asked.

"Who are you?" she countered, more tremor to her voice than she wanted him to hear.

"We'll discuss that another day," he said.

"Why am I here?"

The man gave her another appraising glance that made her feel naked in front of him.

"Get some sleep," he said. "I'll have your room made up for you tomorrow."

Lily didn't say anything as Andreas buried his face into her shirt, his spit soaking on her shoulder. Lily didn't turn to him until the man had turned on his heel and left the nursery, closing the door behind him. "Shhhhh," she said, swaying, though she shook so much she was sure she couldn't be helping. She took her own deep, steadying breaths, picturing how her mum and Hermione were both thrown and trying to remember if she saw any blood. If she saw them breathe. She looked around the room. Here, too, there were not any windows.

Andreas took in deep, dramatic breaths, his hands grasping to her clothes as he rubbed his eyes against Lily. He was going to be asleep soon. Lily walked quietly back to the door, softly turning the handle and pulling back. It was locked.

Lily walked over to the crib, taking the lion and laying Andreas on the mattress, placing the lion near him. She squatted down holding her hand through the rails, taking hold of Andreas's little hand between two of her fingers. Andreas seemed to be out of tears and had transitioned into nonsense babble as Lily let tears fall quietly.

The man was probably listening, Lily thought. She had to keep the lion at all costs. The tin was gone. She had no idea if they could figure out where she was. She didn't even know if anyone had been able to help the others. She hoped her spell wasn't too strong with Albus. If he could get free, at least he could check on their mum and aunt immediately. He could find a way to get to James and Imogen.

"They'll find us," she said to Andreas. He leaned forward, taking her fingers into his gummy mouth.

"Once upon a time," she started. "There was a little prince. He was everyone's favorite and the whole kingdom had a great deal of hope for his future. But nearby there was another ruler of another kingdom. This king was older than the little prince. As old as the little prince's parents, even. He perhaps saw himself in the little prince. Both had dark hair, though the little prince had his father's eyes, and the King's were blue. One day he came in and wanted to take the little prince. He made the little prince's servant girl execute a great treason."

Lily pressed her lips together at this, stifling a sob. She cleared her throat. "She hoped those she left behind were well, but she took the prince and followed the king. The king lead them to their room, leaving them alone, locking them into the room decorated just for the prince."

Andreas's hand still gripped hers, his eyes closed again, fast asleep. Lily watched his chest rise and fall, rise and fall over and over.

"The servant girl wanted badly to say how sorry she was. For being caught by the king," Lily said, a little softer. "But she knew the only thing she could do now is take care of her little prince."

Lily paused and wiped at her nose with her free arm. "I'm sorry," she whispered.


James's mind cycled through the possibilities. Was someone hurt? Did Atteberry learn their location? The charms they had on the house would have made intrusion nearly impossible. Even if Atteberry did know, the laws would have required he receive permission from the United States Council of Magic to proceed. They apparated to the lawn and ran up to the house, entering the old portion. "Dad?" James called loudly, the sitting room empty. "Mum?"

They apparated across the house, finding themselves in the midst of a family circle. Harry and Ginny both stood at opposite ends of the room, concern etched deeply in every feature. Tears streamed down Ginny's face. Albus looked ill, standing at the mantle of the fireplace. Aunt Hermione sat, Uncle Ron holding ice on a spot on the back of their head.

"Imogen, James," Ginny burst out, tears refreshing as she stepped over. It was Imogen she took hold of, a hand on each shoulder. "It's Andreas."

Imogen was shaking her head. "No, no," she shook her head.

James didn't wait, running up the steps toward their room. "He's gone," James heard from behind him. He didn't believe it. He refused to believe it.

James burst into their room, walking the perimeters as though the space would change if he did. The crib was empty. The blanket gone. His ears buzzed as he heard Imogen wailing below. James dug the heels of his hands into his eyes. This had to be a nightmare. One of Imogen's nightmares, she was always talking about.

James walked numbly back down the stairs, certain he was going to wake up any moment. At the bottom, Imogen had sunk to her knees, Ginny wrapped around her, the two sobbing together. James looked to his dad, but Harry appeared just as lost as he felt.

"Where's Lily?" James asked. "She was supposed to keep him safe."

"We think someone cursed her," Ron said. "Imperius, from the sounds of it."

James wiped a hand down his face, wondering why he hadn't woken up yet. This was impossible. "How?"

"We don't know," Harry said. "We sent an owl to Emily. Hopefully we'll hear from her soon."

"What happened, exactly?"

Harry recounted. It was surreal for James to hear him brief them on the abduction of their own son. It sounded too much like any other case, coming from his mouth.

Lily came over to the older side of the house. She seemed upset. Ginny and Hermione assumed it had to do with Lorcan, when she suddenly jinxed and cursed them, effectively knocking both out and leaving them there.

That was when Albus picked up the story. "She wasn't herself. It was like sometimes they were her words, but then they weren't," he said. "Lily took my wand and broke it. Then she made me put the lion and blanket and other things into a bag for her—"

"You packed a bag?" James demanded.

"I was trying to buy some time, since Mum and—"

"You didn't stop her?" James felt hot around the neck. He moved closer and Albus looked nervous. "You should have stopped her!"

"James," Harry said, reaching out to touch his shoulder. James shrugged it off.

"I couldn't," Albus said. "I would have never gotten close enough."

"Or have you just grown too comfortable sitting back and watching as everyone else makes the sacrifices?" James shouted at him.

"James, calm down," Ron instructed.

James grabbed Albus's robes in both fists.

"You should have tried!" He pushed Albus back into the wall. "You should have died trying!"

"You weren't here," Albus shouted back, putting his hands between James's, pushing his wrists apart and shoving James back.

"James! Albus!" Ginny shouted at the two as they fell into a brawl. James was knocked backwards, falling to the ground, using his legs to trip up Albus. James moved over Albus and pinned his arms with a knee on each side. James had always been more physically adept. He ignored Albus's attempts to throw him off and threw a right cross, hitting Albus across the nose. Albus fell back as James wound his arm to go at it again.

Hermione screamed. Ron and Harry both tried pulling James off as Albus used his now freed arms to cover his bloodied face.

"This is your fault," James spat at Albus, elbowing Ron, and trying to fend off Harry, who nearly had James's arm twisted behind him.

Arms stopped pulling at him, but with one strong jerk, James was pulled back and up. He dangled it midair, still screaming obscenities at Albus.

"Shut it!" Imogen yelled at him.

James looked to his left, realizing it was his wife, her hand towards him, holding him here. He sneered at Albus. "Put me down, Imogen!"

"No!" she shouted, shaking.

"He's the reason our son is gone," James said, the tears falling as Harry helped Albus to his feet. Albus cupped his hand under the blood coming from his nose. Harry used his wand to summon a handkerchief, helping Albus raise it to the source.

"He is not!" Imogen countered. James looked at her. It had been years since he'd seen her this furious. More furious than when he flew with Andreas. "You are so blind with jealousy you don't see that he gave us the one shot to find them."

"Imo—"

"The lion, James!"

Even as she said it, Andreas's fussing came through on the bear. It began with cries and Lily's hushing. Everyone turned their attention to the sound. Imogen let James down as she was distracted. He gave one glance at Imogen, then at Albus, then swallowed as Lily's voice came through. She had been crying. The story didn't make sense at first. James thought it was just to calm Andreas. Hermione lowered the ice as she leaned forward, her eyes narrowed intently.

When Lily described the king in the story, Hermione hopped up. "Paper," she said. Imogen turned to one of the side tables, pulling out a sheet and a quill. Hermione used her wand, tapping it to the quill's tip. It wrote feverishly across the page, copying the words emitting from the bear word for word.

"Dark hair, blue eyes," James muttered to himself.

Ginny covered her face as Lily talked of treason and not knowing if they were well. It was the apologies that struck a nail through James's heart. In that moment the realization that he lost his son and his sister became too much and he found himself reverting back to the belief that this was a nightmare. Harry paced anxiously by the end. Albus walked across the room, into the kitchen, and a moment later the back door closed.

If James thought Imogen had finished with him, he was wrong.

"Do not push away the only people who can help us," she demanded, her eyes dangerous, her voice low.

"Imogen, he should have—"

"Do not put your pride above finding our son," she added. James swallowed. He found himself lost for words. "This is not about favorites and it is not some kind of match of wits between you and Albus. If you can't stay focused, then leave."

Imogen turned and picked up the bear, heading up the stairs. Ginny gave James a look, then followed Imogen.

James didn't move for several moments. None of the others did either. He looked around and they all avoided his eye. He turned, going out the kitchen and stepping onto the porch.

Albus stood to the northwest corner of the house. He held an ax and grabbed a log, setting it on the stump in front of him. With a swing, he lodged the ax into the wood and yanked to finish splitting it. James walked closer. Albus still had blood spread across his face, drying quickly. Tears ran down his cheeks behind his square frame glasses.

Albus caught James's eye and his face twisted. He leaned on the ax.

"She was fighting it," Albus said. "I thought she'd come out of it."

James didn't say anything, but leaned back against the base of the porch.

"I keep trying to think of what I should have done, but everything ends just as bad. I move towards her, I end up like Mum and Hermione and no one finds us until Dad and Ron get home. I manage to get to Lily, but hurt Andreas in the process."

"You couldn't win," James admitted to himself quietly.

Albus shook his head. "I'm sorry, James." He wiped his nose with his sleeve and threw down the ax, sinking to sit on the large stump.

"I needed someone to blame," James said, crossing his arms. "You were just an easy target. It's not your fault."

James moved and shared the stump with Albus, who wiped away the fresh tears.

"It might also have to do with you knowing about everything," James muttered. "They trusted you."

"It wasn't because they trusted me," Albus said. "It's because I can't do anything else."

James looked up at the stars. The sky was too calm to be right for everything else going on. "You've always been able to do all sorts of things that are beyond the rest of us. It's better than having to constantly live up to Dad's reputation."

Albus turned towards James, a puzzled look on his face. "What makes you think I don't understand what that's like?" he asked. James shrugged noncommittally. "I am literally the only person who knows exactly what you mean by that. The only difference between you and me is that I also had an older brother to live up to, too."

James looked at Albus, surprised by the comment. Albus had always held an air of superiority. He was the brains and James always figured Albus only saw him as the bronze. He was watching Albus's face, but Albus was looking out, narrowing his eyes. James turned his head to following Albus's glance. "What is it?"

"Do you see that wolf?"

James looked into the woods. Just past the first layer of tree trunks was a white wolf, pacing back and forth, looking towards them. "Dad's charms are probably keeping him from coming through."

"No, it's not that," Albus said, standing, walking slowly across the lawn. "It's got Lily's bag across it's back."

James stood, running ahead of Albus, grabbing his arm. "You don't have a wand," he reminded Albus, who stopped.

James inched his way forward, watching as the wolf huffed and turned, walking back and forth, back and forth. It wasn't acting like a normal wolf. It didn't sniff around, but seemed intent on where it wanted to go.

"Get Dad," James said.

Albus moved towards the house, bounding up the steps. James walked slowly and soon Harry joined him.

"You go around from the west," Harry said. "Give it a wide berth. Quietly. I'll be the distraction."

As soon as Harry stepped across the threshold of the charm's boundaries the wolf stopped, turning towards him, lowering to a pouncing stance.

James moved a little farther down, slowly crossing one foot over the other, making his way through the trees.

"What are you here for?" Harry asked, eyes narrowed. Little sparks of white flittered from his wand's tip. "You better make your purpose clear real quick."

The wolf grew, the hair lessening and the man revealing himself with a blanket of white hair on his head, though he couldn't have been older than forty. He had a wand himself, the bag with a corner of Grandma Weasley's quilt hanging out the side draped across his body. "Take me to James," he said, an American accent. James knew that if he could see the man's face, he'd see one green eye, one brown.

Harry wasn't wasting a moment, sending a stunning spell towards the man. "No, Dad!" James ran forward and blocked it from hitting the animagus.

The man turned around. "James," he said, a grim sort of smile twitching.

"Who is this?" Harry asked, wand still raised.

"Dad, this is Clive," James said, staring at him in disbelief.


A/N: I really do try and keep my stories free of these... but in the last chapter I got some GREAT reviews that were also anonymous, I thought I'd respond this way. Mostly some of the questions should be answered in the chapter here. There was a lot of confusion over the imperius, then jumping ahead. Some of that will be filled in, but there was a reason Rosemerta wasn't known to be under the imperius for a full year... when not fulfilling Draco's wishes, she was going about life as usual. So... in case that wasn't clear...

Also, to address a comment from Lisa... to me it's never been that Lily is taking over. I skipped the months in the story because not much happens, but I always thought of her as spending most of her time during those months with Devin and maybe Emily. She helps, but she's not constantly around. James and Imogen are responsible parents who don't just use everyone around them to take care of Andreas. That said, a seven month old is going to have their own reasons for their favorites that have very little to do with who cares for their needs most. My nephew was (and is) that way with my dad. He likes the rest of us just fine. But if my dad is around, that's it... it's like the rest of us don't exist. It's not offensive (and I don't think James would think of it that way), it just is what it is with kids that young. (That said, I know what you mean about the potential for pitting children against their parents and really overstepping boundaries.) The main reason to point it out, in my mind, was to show that Imogen really was taking her worry a little too far. Especially where it IS an activity that James and Andreas share especially.

Please keep in mind that I do reply to all reviews that are given while signed in! If you've been reading along and haven't reviewed, I'd love to hear what you're thinking at this point! Thanks all! :)