A/N: Hey guys! Okay, so this is the chaaaaapter. You find out almost everything about the Lily and James 20 year disappearance in this one. I think I've covered everything but if I missed anything out, lemme know! And please review! Thanks! :D
Previously:
"Why did you leave, dad?" Harry blurted, finally finding the courage, the words and the moment to get his answers.
"I…your mum wanted to be the one to tell you, Harry," James mumbled lamely.
"Please, dad. I don't know if we'll even make it out to see her again," Harry pleaded.
"I..but…okay. I'll tell you everything," James bowed his head in defeat. He took a deep breath and said.
31st October, 1981
"Harry," Lily cried, her voice carrying up the dark staircase, silent tears traveling down her face as she kicked some fallen rubble out of her way. She could just make out James' muffled footsteps in the kitchen as he moved around. Her foot met with something soft, and her breath hitched at the sight of a black mop of hair. She swiftly turned over the body to see James' body.
"JAMES?!" Lily shrieked, falling to her knees. She heard footsteps and then felt strong arms lift her up and James enveloped her into his chest. She could feel his own body shaking as he looked down at Kyle's body – well, Kyle in James' form.
James held Lily's hand as he navigated her up the stairs towards the sounds of footsteps he could hear in Harry's room. Opening the door, wands held out, Lily and James came face to face with their old Headmaster.
"James, Lily!" He cried, the sorrow and the relief clear in his sharp blue eyes.
Lily almost rushed to Dumbledore, before James roughly yanked her back. His wand's light shone on Dumbledore's face as he growled out their security question, "What did you say to me and Lily, back in our seventh year, when we had our first Heads meeting with you and me and Lily argued in front of you?"
The tears still ran down Dumbledore's wrinkled face yet his voice was calm as he replied, "Mr. Potter, Ms. Evans, love is the last victory. I hope you will use your positions this year to finally delve deep into your hearts."
James let go of Lily as she rushed past Dumbledore to the small baby sleeping in the cot. She held the baby's small wrist with gentle care, checking for a pulse, before lifting him off the cot and hugging him tight. "How is he alive, Dumbledore?" she whispered into her baby's hair.
"I do not know, Lily. But the prophecy, it seems, has come true. Voldemort has…lost his powers, we can say," Dumbledore smiled at the shocked faces on the Potters.
"Where's Voldemort? Has he died?" James rushed through his questions.
"No, James. I do not think Voldemort has died. I believe he has lost his powers. I believe he will come back," Dumbledore calmly replied.
"James," Lily said, turning to her husband. "We must leave. Before anything else can happen."
"No," Dumbledore interjected. "The world believes you two to be dead. Harry will be safe as long as it is believed he survived. You both must go."
"But-", James began.
"You will endanger Harry by staying with him," Dumbledore cut James. "He will be safe. I will ensure his safety. James, Lily, you must go. Now."
And before either James or Lily could argue with their Professor, Dumbledore raised his wand on two of his favourite students and said, "I'm sorry. Someday, you will understand and you will forgive me. Obliterate."
James and Lily's eyes unfocused and Dumbledore quickly transfigured James and Lily to look like a middle-aged couple, he handed them two already packed bags and said, "Your names are Henry and Chloe Jenkins. You have no kids and no family. This portkey," he handed them a toothbrush, "will take you to China where you will be starting your new life after the death of Henry's mother."
The toothbrush glowed blue and before they knew it, Henry and Cleo Jenkins were beginning their new lives in China and as the night ended, Lily and James Potter's existence did too.
"But wait," Harry said. "If Dumbledore wiped your memories out, then how did you come back to Britain? How long did you stay in China for? When did you find out what really happened? I don't underst-"
"Harry, calm down." James chuckled weakly, his ribs aching from today's round of Cruciatus Curses he had had to endure. "That's just the beginning. Let me continue." He took a deep, shaky breath, wincing at the sudden pain in his chest and continued on from where he had left off.
"So Lily, well now Chloe, and I moved left Godric's Hollow; new place, new identity. Dumbledore had, somehow, arranged a house and jobs for us using his contacts. Though, I don't think any of them knew that we were James and Lily, they really did think Dumbledore needed to urgently move Henry and Chloe. We lived for, I think, 15 years in China. It was actually quite a wonderful place and there was very little news from Britain that reached China. Lily can actually speak fluent Mandarin!" Harry stayed silent, letting his father continue his usual ramblings about his mother. He seemed to do that almost every day, tell Harry little bits and pieces about Lily, how they had started going out in the middle of their seventh year, how he had proposed to her, their wedding a few years later. Harry would stay quiet, soaking in the exclusive stories of his parents' past that he never thought he'd be able to learn about.
"So," Harry cut in. Right now, he did not want to know his mother's fluency in languages. "What happened after that? How did you guys find out?"
Henry and Chloe walked hand in hand down Jingling gu, or the Wizards Alley as the foreigners called it, stopping here and there to greet shop owners or friends. Posters were up on walls and pillars, showing news from Britain about a rising Dark Wizard. Other posters showed the pictures of a young boy, probably 16 years old, with a lightening shaped scar on his forehead. News in Britain was that this kid, called Harry Potter, was number one on the You-Know-Who's target list.
Though Beijing was not in any immediate danger, precautions were still being taken all over the country. People had secret questions decided upon, valuables were being transported to the Wizard's Bank, curfews and martial laws were active in different parts; the country was in a state of near-chaos over a war that was taking place across continents.
Henry and Chloe made their way to The Wizard's Bank (Henry still couldn't say it in Chinese and so insisted on calling it The Wizard's Bank) that had finally opened after a month of re-construction to ensure top-security for all the belongings and money it held.
Following a goblin through a side-door that led to the marble vaults, Henry and Chloe suddenly found themselves under a waterfall. Coughing and spluttering backwards, the couple found themselves centre of attention of goblins, house-elves, wizards and witches.
"Intruders!" a goblin shrieked, looking at the black-haired man and the green-eyed woman that had replaced the previous blonde and blue-eyed couple.
James and Lily looked around, as though in a sudden daze, and before they knew it, they were running out of the bank, throwing spells behind them, making their way through thick crowds in a country they did not expect to be in.
"I'm lost," Harry frowned.
"The Thief's Downfall, Harry," James said. "It washes off any spells or enchantments a person may be under. Lily and I were heavily transfigured and obliterated – it wiped off everything. We had no recollection of where we were."
"So then…?" Harry asked, pushing his father to go on, to finish what he had begun.
"Well, we found out where we were eventually. And once we knew that, I was able to apparat Lily to the Potter Manor in China. Onc-"
"Wait, Potter Manor? China?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"Well, yes. The Potters have houses in many, many places – every continent, actually! There's two in Britain, one in France, one in Canada and one in Brazil, then there's the one in China, and one in Nigeria. Did you now know?"
"Uh, no…" Harry mumbled, shocked at the houses that clearly belonged to him – palaces by the sound of them – and he had had no idea they even existed. "Um, well, continue…"
"Yeah, anyways so when we got there, Lily and I spent a good few days trying to figure out what had happened – we read over newspapers, books, anything that could tell us what had happened since 1981.
We found out that we were supposedly dead but all Lily and I remembered was our last conversation with Dumbledore – and even that with a little difficulty. So we wrote a letter to Dumbledore and that started our correspondence with him."
Dear Albus,
I hope you can shed some light on an issue we are currently having. James and I are in China, but we have no memory of how we got here or where Harry is, we do not remember anything from the past 15 years. We need your help, Albus.
Is Harry okay? Voldemort's back? Did he not die in Godric's Hollow? What's going on and how do we get back to Britain, Albus?
We await your quick reply,
James and Lily Potter
Dear James and Lily,
I do not know how to say this in a letter but I must try. That night in Godric's Hollow, I needed you away from Harry for his own safety. I still need you away from Harry.
He is now in Hogwarts, a Gryffindor, Captain of the Quidditch team, he is doing very well, indeed! But I placed spells, transfigurations on you that night in Godric's, how did they fall off? You must answer me! Those spells were for your own safety, and for Harry's.
Voldemort has returned. He had never died, he was just weak. But he has regained strength, he has returned stronger than ever. But you cannot return to Britain. You two are supposedly dead in Britain. I am taking care of Harry but you cannot return. The Ministry of Magic has been infiltrated by the Death Eaters which will not allow you to either apparated, fly in, floo o portkey through the international channels.
Please understand. Harry is safe as long as he believes he is alone. You cannot return to him, yet. I will keep you informed on the occurrences in Britain.
Please do not try to come back, I cannot emphasise on that enough.
Stay safe,
Albus Dumbledore
"So Dumbledore told us we couldn't come back, and even though that letter was far too harsh and explained absolutely nothing, we at least knew you were alive. But we did not listen to Dumbledore," James explained. "We tried coming back. We sent letters to the Ministry of Magic in Britain to let us access, we tried using illegal means and dodgy contacts from all over the world – but no one would allow us access into Britain. They all thought it was some sick joke we were playing, by 'pretending' to be James and Lily Potter.
But we stayed in touch with Dumbledore; he was our only link to you. But a few months later, he stopped answering. We got no replies to the letters we sent. And when we got no reply from Dumbledore, we believed you dead, Harry."
"But I was in the news…I was wanted, I even killed Voldemort afterwards, still you did not see?!" Harry demanded, the anger flaring inside him.
"I'm getting there," James coughed. "We saw that twice. It raised our hopes a little but the Chinese newspapers did not give us enough information. Dumbledore had stopped replying and the only thing the Chinese newspapers said was that the war was over with many casualties. They said the final battle had taken place in a school and many students had died. That was all the newspapers said. There was no mention of how or who had killed him. The little hope we had bubbling inside of us, faded out. We believed you dead, Harry. I'm sorry." He bowed his head with the shame he felt for giving up hope on his own son.
Harry did not know what to say. The anger and hatred he felt towards his parents had not died out, if anything it was just as strong as ever. But he was beginning to see the situation from their point of view. But still, give up on their only son? They had had friends back in Britain – why had they not come back for them? All these questions buzzed through Harry's head and he barely registered the shouts and the running footsteps echoing in the corridors outside.
"Harry," James hurried voice broke through his thoughts, "Something's going on out there!" They both remained silent, trying to register the yells and shrieks coming from the corridor but before they could place a name on the familiar voices, the door to their call barged open. And before either of the Potter men's eyes could adjust to the sudden light, a warm flowery smell had enveloped their senses as soft arms through themselves around the boys.
"My boys," Lily cried, placing kisses on both their cheeks. Pushing herself off them, she quickly surveyed and healed the bruises and broken legs and ribs before handing both boys a wand she had dueled off the Death Eaters. "We haven't been able to find yours yet but these will have to do for now."
James and Harry immediately stood up, James stopping to give Lily a quick peck and the three of them made their way out into the corridor where they were immediately ambushed by six Death Eaters. Jets of green, red and purple flashed through the dimly lit passage, some hitting and others barely missing their intended target.
"Lily, James, Harry!" the voice of Sirius Black sounded from above the staircase that the three were headed towards, "hurry up!"
"Kinda busy here, Paddy" James called back, dueling two Death Eaters at the same time. "Rictusempra!" he shouted at one of the Death Eaters. He distinctly heard Sirius laugh and say "Aw, bless. Never gets old, that one!" as the Death Eater fell over laughing.
"Not the time, James!" Lily scolded. "Move aside!" she dragged Harry and James by the collars to the stairs, pushing them up with strength someone as petite as her could not possibly have. She pointed her wand towards the roof and shouted "Reducto!" She barely jumped up a few steps as the roof crumbled down onto the remaining Death Eaters.
An hour and a half later found the group huddled around the fire in Grimmauld Place with Hermione and Tonks helping Lily heal all those injured in the fight at Lestrange Manor; Remus' broken leg, Sirius' splinched arm, Neville's black eye (no one knew how he had ended up with that in a magical duel), Ginny's broken rib and finally, Harry and James' many, many cuts, bruises and broken bones.
"What happened back then, mate?" Sirius asked James, swinging his legs from the side of the couch. "How'd you and Harry end up with that idiot Lestrange?"
Harry looked ashamed at the question, "Um, well," he mumbled. "Dad was trying to be the hero."
"What else is new?" Lily chuckled coldly, shaking her head. "But what happened?"
Harry found himself cornered with about at least a dozen Death Eaters around him. There was no way he could take them all down, they were older, faster and much more skilled in dark arts than he was; and they were here for blood. But he also knew one thing; there was no way he could get out of this stupid situation without fighting them. So he prayed to whatever deity that would listen to him, took a deep breath and began throwing Stunning Spells wherever he could. The Death Eaters kept coming at him though, as one would fall another would replace him. These many Death Eaters should not have been at large – Lestrange was recruiting.
Harry was barely dodging the spells coming at him from all directions; his Shield charm was wavering and wouldn't hold up for more than a few seconds. Harry had fallen, the third Crucio spell breaking his leg. Before he knew it, strong arms were pulling him up. Harry tried to fight them off till he heard the distinct voice of his father shouting out spells. Where he had come from, Harry had no idea but for the first time in his life, he was glad to have his father there – to have anyone, really. But even with both Potters fighting, the spells and Unforgivables kept coming from the masked killers. They were closing in and before either one of the mop-haired men could retaliate, two of the masked men had their arms in a tight grip and they found themselves being squeezed through a tight tube with darkness surrounding their every sense.
"Ooookay," Sirius whistled. Shaking his head but with a lopsided grin on his face, he faced James and said, "I guess I should thank you for saving my boy then, eh?"
"Paddy, I'm biological…" James answered dryly, his head resting on the top of the couch.
"Yeah, but he loves me more!" Sirius grinned happily. "Don't you, Harry? 'Course you do! Harry wuves his Sirius!" he continued, pinching Harry's cheeks and making baby noises.
"Sirius, you creep me out," Harry muttered before getting up and going to sit on the other side of the room.
"Come in!" Harry said.
Lily and James walked into his room, awkwardly standing by the doorway and looking around the messy room.
"Oh," Harry managed, taken by surprise. He hadn't had any time alone with his dad since they had come back and he had yet to have a decent conversation with his mother. "Um, sit wherever" Harry mumbled, waving his arms around his room.
Lily and James precariously sat on the edge of the plush couch. There was something very different in talking to your son in a dark dungeon and talking to your son in his sunny, airy room, in James very humble, very awkward opinion.
"Harry," James began, glancing over and over again at his wife. "I didn't finish telling you everything back in the…then." He couldn't, for some reason, bear to say 'dungeon' – being captured never suited well with James.
"Yeah, figured."
"Well, we just thought we'd finish, you know," Lily uncomfortably said, "now that James had started and all, might as well, you know…"
"Um, yeah," Harry volunteered. "So um, the last thing you said was you thought I was dead and Voldemort was dead?"
"Right, well anyways," James said, "we managed to come back to Britain – we stuck to the Henry and Chloe Jenkins alias, even transfigured ourselves back to them using pictures and such – the Ministry finally allowed it! So we came back. But we stayed in hiding. You see, our transfigurations weren't as long-lasting as Dumbledore's was. When Dumbledore changed us, Henry and Chloe actually got older – Lily and I couldn't pull that level of transfiguration off. So we gave up on that – stayed Lily and James Potter. Sometimes we'd get food in our animagus forms, multiply it to stay longer. It was a tough couple of three years. We couldn't even salvage a lot of newspapers – we chose to stay in some run-down little Muggle village in Wales. People didn't know we were supposedly dead there, see!
But every year we managed to visit Jenny and Kyle's grave. It was about the only thing we could do that still connected us to the Wizarding World! But we never stayed long enough there – in case any Wizarding folk passed us by.
That was, till when you found us last month. It marked 20 years, you see – we were quite emotional. We couldn't bring ourselves to leave quickly enough and well, you know what happened from then on…" Lily lamely finished. She then went on to tell Harry of their meeting with Dumbledore where he had told them about Harry being a horcrux, she continue to reinforce the point that they had been forced to leave him and then forced to believe him dead.
Harry, though glad he finally knew the truth – the whole story, still couldn't bring himself to forgive his parents. He had no idea why it was so hard but he simply could not. But he had decided one thing; he did not know how much longer before he could forgive and he certainly would never forget. But he could at least try; try and understand, try and learn to love them.
A/N: So whaddya think? Good? Bad? I know the ending's a bit cheesy but, idk..
So, I'm definitely gonna include Harry and Ginny's wedding/James II's birth before ending the story so I think we're still good for a couple of more chapters?
Please Review! :D