Chapter 9:

"Okay." Charles said one day as he came home from work. "JAMES! SIRIUS! LILY! SPICA! MELISSA!"

The five kids came running to the parlor.

"Here you five go." Charles said handing each a new bag with books in them. "Your school supplies."

"You didn't have to do that, Sir." Lily said as she looked through her new books.

"Yes he did." Sirius said. "It's too dangerous for us to be out during the summer before we're seventeen."

"Next year." James sighed.

"I don't take ANY chances." Charles said as he subconsciously placed his hands on James' shoulders.

"No wonder we don't see you at Diagon Alley." Spica told her boyfriend.

"Charles!" Moody said from the fireplace.

"What's wrong Alastor?" Charles asked.

"There's an attack in Manchester." Alastor said.

"I'm on my way." Charles said. "Kids. STAY on the grounds."

He stepped into the fireplace.

"MINISTRY!" he shouted before vanishing.

The kids starred at the fireplace. Lily turned to her boyfriend and saw that he was holding his bag close to his chest with his eyes closed.

0000

It was nine o'clock and Charles Potter STILL wasn't back yet.

"James?" Lily asked as she found James sitting on the rock by the pond where they shared their first kiss.

"I'm scared." He admitted. "I REALLY hope he has a lot of paperwork after the attack."

She knew what he meant. Yes, a lot of paperwork meant a big mess was made. But there was only one other reason why Charles hadn't returned yet. She couldn't help hoping what he was hoping for. What was worse was that Elizabeth had to work late as well.

"Dad." James whispered. "PLEASE be okay. You know I don't beg. I'm begging now."

Lily sat down next to James and put a hand on his back. When her hand made contact, she realized just how lucky she was. Sure, being muggleborn meant her parents were in danger, but they would have the sense to run. James' dad went running into the fire. And from what she had discovered during her six week stay with the Potters, he was running into it soaked with gasoline.

Flashback

"Why are YOU a target?" Lily asked James one day during Patronus training. "I thought you were a pureblood."

"I am. I can trace my line all the way to…swear you won't say a word."

"I swear."

"Godric Gryffindor." James finished his sentence.

"YOU'RE GRYFFINDOR'S…"

"Shhh." James said. "Not even Remus and Sirius know. The Heirs of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff had recently been killed. Dumbledore's looking for the next in line for those."

"Who's the heir of Slytherin?" Lily asked.

"Tom Riddle. A.K.A. Lord Voldemort." James said. "He wants us all dead."

End Flashback

"James." Lily whispered. "No matter what happens, I will be with you."

"Lily…"

"No. Listen. If we go further in our relationship and get married and have a kid, then the Gryffindor line will continue. In the long run, won't THAT beat Voldemort?"

"I suppose so." James sighed.

"On one condition." She said with a mischievous glint that was rarely seen by anyone except Spica and Melissa.

"What?"

"We name the kid 'Harry' if it's a boy." She said.

"Deal." James said with a laugh. "That's what I wanted to name the kid anyways."

"There you are." Elizabeth said as she ran up to the kids.

"Mum!" James asked horrified. "Where's Dad?"

"He just got home." Elizabeth said. "he had a few curses hit him, but he's fine now."

"There you are." Charles said as he came up behind Elizabeth.

"DAD!" James yelled as he got up and ran to hug his father.

"We were starting to worry, Sir." Lily explained. "James started worrying as soon as you left."

"I'm fine." Charles said. "Just got hit with a few curses. Then I had to go to the office for that blasted paperwork."

He didn't dare tell his son that he fought Voldemort. If Albus Dumbledore hadn't shown up when he did, Charles wouldn't have come home that night.

"The good news," Charles continued. "Is that I got the day off tomorrow. How about some Quidditch tomorrow morning?"

"That sounds like fun Dad, but…" James said.

"James Andrew Potter." Charles said. "You spend too much time studying."

"Wow." Lily said. "I never thought I'd hear those words in that sentence being applied to James Potter."

"Fine." James said. "Quidditch at six a.m. sharp."

"Try noon." Charles said ruffling his son's hair.

TBC