Applause rang through the gallery connecting the main house of the Potter estate to the wing that the family had dedicated to hosting the occasional fundraising gala or Ministry function. Witches in the finest dresses and wizards in their most formal dress robes smiled broadly, many clapping Francis Potter on the back or pausing to whisper praise into the ear of his wife, Beatrice.
Behind a black grand piano stood James Potter, clad in classic dress robes. He bowed once more, if only slightly, as the applause began to fade. He was glad at least that his hard work had not gone to waste, with the notable members of his father's Department and other Ministry dignitaries impressed with his rendition of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. It always amused James the rumors Muggles had come up with about one of the greatest magical composers of all time. His favorite was the story that it was the man's rapidly deteriorating hearing that had led him to cut the legs off his pianos. Beethoven had been going deaf, true enough, but the legs had come off during the composer's effort to devise a spell that would enable him to visualize music to compensate for his hearing loss. Ultimately, he'd been successful, allowing him to create his Late period works. The pianos he'd left as they were – a superstition after the prolific success of his Middle period works – which he had composed with the instruments resting on the floor. He always had been something of a mad genius, both magically and musically, according to what James had read in his father's library.
Finally the troupe of important people began their steady march toward the adjoining ballroom. James wouldn't be supplying the entertainment there. Thankfully he wouldn't have to be present for the stuffy affair, having negotiated this little playing exhibition with his father in exchange for the opportunity to make an early exit. James needed to see Katie. He hadn't heard from her in nearly ten days. Perhaps barring her from coming when Peter and Remus came to help send Sirius off had been a mistake?
After quickly changing into more comfortable attire for the trek to the Wallenby cottage, James stepped out into the night. The moon was nearly half-full now, perched in the still-blue, but darkening sky. Perhaps by the end of his walk he would be able to see the stars. The lack of clouds gave him some sense of encouragement. He had never been much on Divination, considering the entire field primarily a crock given the rarity with which a genuine Seer who could tell the future beyond the mundane goings on of the week to come was born. Still, perhaps it was something innately human to be comforted by clear skies when one was worried about something. Pausing as he approached the boundary of the family property. He cast his eyes around carefully to make sure no one was watching. Satisfied that he wouldn't be seen, he grabbed a handful of the green grass at his feet and holding it in a bundle he flourished his wand, uttering the incantation every boy with any ambition of impressing a girl knew by heart.
In an instant the healthy blades of grass in his hand grew into stems, extending further upward until finally they gave way to a white flower with a yellow center. James nodded in satisfaction. Daisies. Katie's favorite. If he had done something wrong, he'd at least have a head start on setting it right.
Roughly an hour later, James could just make out Katie's house through the deepening darkness. The sight of it puzzled him though. It had to be nearly nine. Surely there should be some lights. Merlin. Had she gone on a last minute vacation without telling him? Had she told him? She did mention something about a ticket sweepstakes that Q.C. di Genoa were running to encourage foreigners to travel and watch their preseason tour. He paused and tried harder to remember. No. He was sure she hadn't said anything. And there wasn't a chance she was already asleep.
As he drew closer, James felt an ill-feeling sweep over him. Katie should be here. Breaking into a jog, he closed the remaining distance quickly.
He knocked on the door loudly.
"Katie?" he called.
Knocking again, James waited.
"Katie?" he tried again, his voice wavering slightly.
Frowning at the lack of response, James tested the door. It was unlocked. In these times? It wasn't right. Katie's father may not work in an integral role, but James had read the memo the Ministry had sent to the families of all its employees.
With the escalation of violence by dark wizards across Britain, we wish to remind all Ministry employees that many undesirable incidents can be avoided by practicing basic safety measures such as locking doors both manually and magically…
The young wizard carefully eased the door open, calling out a third time to see if anyone was home. He stopped before stepping in. The last thing he needed was to overreact and be caught wandering about the place by Katie. He was no witch, but he was fairly certain they wouldn't be encouraged to come home and find their boyfriend inside uninvited. And Mr. Wallenby. Merlin…that would be the end for sure. Still, he could spare a glance from the threshold just to make sure everything was in order. Lock the door for them. That wouldn't be out of line.
"Lumos," he said loudly, eager to illuminate as much of the ground floor as possible without drawing excessive attention.
As the light from the end of his wand reached out and penetrated the darkness the sight caused James's heart to fall from his chest. It was as if he had stepped into a nightmare. The chair he'd sat in when he met Katie's father for the first time was overturned, its upholstery torn jaggedly as if it had been struck by cutting charm. Past the broken kitchen table, he could see cabinets flung open and dishes shattered everywhere.
James immediately entered. He had been foolish. He should have cast a simple detection charm. What if the ransackers were still here? He muttered the incantation. They weren't here. No one was here.
The messy-haired wizard sprung into the house. He needed something. Hope. An explanation. Anything would do. Moving quickly from room to room revealed nothing but more spell damage and destruction. How had this happened? Why? The Wallenbys had never done anything to anyone. And though he'd never say it aloud, they weren't exactly influential or important.
James bolted up the staircase, grateful that he didn't need the now-shattered bannister. The first room he saw was a small bathroom. At the end of the short upstairs hallway he had to make a choice. Right or left. Moving left first, he stepped over a photo of Katie and her parents lying in a shattered frame, its glass and wood broken as if it had been purposefully stomped rather than merely fallen. Katie's parents' room was just like the rest of the house – completely turned upside down.
With a heaviness in his core, James trudged slowly down to the other end. Though he knew on a basic level what he would find, it didn't make the discovery any easier. He had never seen Katie's room firsthand. Only imagined it based on what he knew of her. But this – this would never have been his picture. Quidditch posters lay in tatters. Her small desk had been turned out completely, papers scattered everywhere. Even her closet hadn't been left untouched. Clear mementos from her time at Hogwarts had been cruelly crushed. Her clothes had been thrown everywhere.
James noticed the sundress she had worn in the first days of summer amidst the heap. She had looked absolutely stunning in it. He remembered the day on the hill perfectly. She had smiled and laughed. They'd talked forever. She had been beautiful even in her embarrassed moments of insecurity. But he had reassured her. Everything had ended rightly, a spectacular afternoon where the thoughts of their future were as bright as the sun.
Now, it had comes to this. Where was Katie? Was she alive? Was she hurt? Why hadn't she reached out to him? Surely that meant something. She couldn't reach him? It wasn't safe?
James fumed. He didn't even need to ask who was responsible anymore. Death Eaters. They had grown over the last few years. At first it had been a disturbing niche movement coming out of secret seclusion. A bunch of vandals trying to send a prejudiced message. But somehow, they were never stopped. They escalated to killings. First it was always Muggles. It was always known amongst the magical community that they were to blame, but they could never be found. Never be proven guilty. Not for lack of trying, but their schemes, like their leader were careful in their cruelty. They never showed mercy, but the bodies in their wake were the only reliable evidence of their presence that was left behind. The killing of muggle-borns had come later. And now, anyone who spoke out against them.
The young wizard knelt down by Katie's desk, holding back tears as he scanned the room. What wasn't here? What hadn't he seen? Bodies. He thanked the heavens silently for that. Blood. It was another good sign. He hadn't looked through the place with a finetooth comb, but he hadn't noticed wands either. Or trunks. Or the family owl. Had they really gotten away?
No. That wasn't the right word. With the things they took, they must have left in advance. They must have had some warning. James looked desperately for a message. Some indication of what had happened and where they'd gone. Had it been lost? Destroyed? He nearly ransacked the room again looking before he found it. A tiny scrap of parchment stuck underneath. Using his wand to counter the sticking charm, he unfolded it and began to read.
James. They killed my Aunt and Uncle for refusing to sell to them. Mum and Dad are making me leave with them. I want to say where, but…well, if they ever found out… I don't know if you'll ever find this. If I'll ever see you again. If I do, if you'll ever forgive me. Dad's yelling we've got to go now to get to the portkey. Merlin, James…I love you. Maybe when it's safe again…I don't know. I'm sorry. Just…I love you. Good luck. Katie
James stared at the scrap of parchment, reading it again and again. She was really gone. As he read through for the fifth time, he squinched his eyes shut willing it way, but it was impossible to stop. Before he could move the parchment away, a tear dropped silently from his face, slamming into the black ink that caused him the most pain. Katie.
A/N: For all you clamoring for the end of James/Katie. It's here. By way of preemption, I've thought of a million different ways to do this throughout the story to this point, but I decided in the end I needed it to be sudden. I needed it to be that way because I needed it to hurt for James. Badly. Because his pain is going to cause reflection and his pain is going to make him shift again. Last year he changed, but everything was comfortable. It was easy. True growth often comes through suffering and that's what he'll find out now after living a mostly charmed life. We'll also see Lily grow a lot and you'll finally see them come together as I drill in really heavily on the seventh year and the build-up to James/Lily in the very next portion of this story. I like to think this thing is just about half over, but who knows because I am now able to be very focused on the part of the story those of you who've kept the faith have been waiting for, James and Lily not just growing independently, but growing together and becoming one.
That said, I'd love your feedback on this scene and how well you think I handled it. It was very hard writing something so sudden and capturing Katie's expression in the letter she left as well as James's reactions to the scene and the letter itself.
Thanks so much for reading (and reviewing if you're so inclined)!