Light in the Shadows chapter 1
Under the light of the crescent moon, when most people were asleep in their beds. A man with a dark cloak and a bone white mask approached the village of Little Hangleton. His Master was the dreaded wizard Lord Voldemort, who could be an intimidating sight with his penetrating eyes and chalk white skin. As the spy approached, he saw Bellatrix and the other Death Eaters waiting on attendance on their Master. He shivered partly from excitement and also from the cold weather. he had found it fatiguing having to play a role as Dumbledore's stooge and fawning on the Potters and their brat Harry. At least here he could be himself and soon everyone will know of his true allegiances. Under his mask he had a happy smile at the thought.
"My servant, what do you have to report to your Lord and Master?" asked the Dark Lord
"My humblest apologies my Lord for being late, but I have come to inform you that I am not the Secret Keeper for the Potters," announced the spy.
"Are you incompetent or simply disloyal to the Master?" snarled one of the men, whilst the others muttered amongst themselves and cast angry looks at the spy.
"Wait Evan, I would like to hear how my snake is going to redeem himself," said the Dark Lord, smirking maliciously.
"Thank you Master. I do have some good news because I can give you the name of the actual Secret Keeper, as I have taken it upon myself to suggest Peter Pettigrew to the Potters. They have foolishly listened to me and made him their Secret Keeper," replied the spy.
"You were supposed to deliver the Potters to our majestic Lord! Not to help them choose a Secret Keeper," screeched the female voice that belonged to Bellatrix Lestrange.
"Now Bella, you know that Wormtail is no great shakes at magic and therefore it should be easy to break him. I mean, the fact that his Animagus form is a rat tells our Lord everything he needs to know about his personality," answered the spy with a cocky smile under his white mask.
"Well done my servant, said the Dark Lord. However, before the spy could walk away, Voldemort cast the Cruciatus Curse and the spy screamed and writhed on the ground. The Death Eaters sniggered at seeing the spy being tortured before their Master lifted the curse.
The man struggled to get to his feet panting from pain and he had to suppress his conscience from telling him that getting involved with the Death Eaters was a terrible mistake, but he was in too deep to get out now. Besides if he had tried to leave his Master's service, he would be hunted down and be killed in some brutal fashion. Also, he had some serious questions about Dumbledore's belief in some prophecy that was supposed to end the reign of his Master. He did not think that the prophecy was real because true seers are very rare and it sounded like this Trelawney was a drunk.
"That is the punishment for failure as I had tasked you to become the Secret Keeper," snapped the Dark Lord. The spy bowed and left his Master's sight
"Poor James Potter he is going to receive such a shock on Halloween," chortled the Dark Lord with a mockingly sorrowful look on his hideous face.
"I wish to see the looks on his and his mudblood wife's face when they discover that they have been betrayed by two of their supposed friends," said one of the Death Eaters in his aristocratic drawling voice. However, the Dark Lord dismissed his comment by rolling his red eyes before giving out his plan to attack the Potters.
" I will take Wormtail and Bellatrix with me to Godric's Hollow on Halloween night," said the Dark Lord.
"But Wormtail is a Gryffindor and a friend to the Potters. Who is to say that this is not some kind of trap designed to destroy you, Master?" asked Bellatrix.
"Your spy is a treacherous man. But if he can betray that old fool Dumbledore and the Potters, who is to say that he won't do it to you, My Lord?" said another male voice belonging to someone that was standing with Bellatrix.
"Now Bella and Roddy, do you doubt the wisdom of your Master?" inquired the Dark Lord in a soft but dangerous voice. "I have every confidence that Wormtail and my man within the Order will play their parts beautifully. Never underestimate the effects of greed, hatred and fear can have on some people,"
"No milord, and who can defeat the greatest wizard since Salazar Slytherin? Certainty not an infant," replied Bellatrix.
"I still think that the Longbottom brat poses more of a threat to you Master," commented a muscular looking man.
"Now Evan are you criticising your Master? I do hope not," sneered the Dark Lord
"No Milord and I am sure that you know better than all of us what is best for the country," replied Evan nervously.
"I intend to purify this country of mudbloods and traitors! Until those of the true blood remain, there is nothing Dumbledore or his pathetic Order can do about it," said the Dark Lord with a triumphant look on his face.
##############################################################
A week later on Halloween night.
It was dark inside the small living room. The rain pelted against the windows, and the streetlights cast eerie shadows along the floor. Although it was Halloween and the town should have been outside with their children trick or treating, most were inside, cosy in blankets by their fires.
"James, sweetheart, have you heard from the Order?" asked his wife Lily, as she rocked their son, Harry, in her arms.
James folded his newspaper, The Daily Prophet, so he could see into Lily's piercing green eyes. They were both members of the Order of the Phoenix, a secret society founded by the powerful wizard, Albus Dumbledore. They were working to stop Lord Voldemort and his followers known as the Death Eaters.
"No news, although I received an owl from Sirius. Apparently, Moody has convinced Dumbledore that the rumour that someone inside the Order is working for You Know Who,"
James wearily glanced at the photo of his friends from Hogwarts, taken during their schooldays. Things were a lot easier back then. He couldn't believe the rumour among some members of the Order that his old friend Remus had turned traitor. Didn't their years of friendship mean anything?
Lily sadly shook her head, knowing what James was thinking. "I can't believe that it's Remus either, James. But you know that most members of the Order – even Sirius - say it's possible that he has turned to He Who Must Not Be Named, due to the prejudice against his kind,"
Just then, Lily and James heard a loud knocking on their wooden door, which seemed to echo throughout the house. They exchanged glances. Neither were expecting company.
Lily ran upstairs with a tight hold on her beloved son, while James went to open the door. However, before he could even reach for the handle, the door flew open.
In the door frame stood a short figure cloaked in black and there was a hood pulled over his face, shadowing his features.
"Wormtail, you idiot, what do you mean by scaring us to death?" asked James Potter, annoyed at his friend. He stepped aside to allow him to enter.
James had known Peter Pettigrew since Hogwarts, and Peter usually wasn't one to scare anybody. His chubby and stout stature made that almost impossible. But this night had a certain eeriness to it already, and even the tick of the clock sounded ominous.
Wormtail walked in, but James thought that something looked different about his old friend. He didn't look nervous at all. In fact, there was a smug smile on his face. He looked up at James with his blue eyes that held smugness rather than his usual look of fear.
"I am sorry James, but crossing the Dark Lord has its consequences." He laughed a cruel laugh, one filled with madness and evil. James was disarmed by both the statement and the sound of Wormtail's laugh.
"Peter, what- what are you talking about?" asked James with his brow creased. His stomach clenched, and he felt the air in the room grow denser. It grew harder and harder for James to breathe.
"I have brought some people who are dying to see you. They have spent much time and effort hunting you down," said Wormtail.
Just then Bellatrix Lestrange undid the disillusionment charm hiding her from sight, and she appeared, wearing a sadistic smile on her face.
"You traitor! It was you all along and not Moony," James roared at Wormtail. He was about to pull a wand on the dark witch, who was smiling at him maliciously, but realized that it was out of arm's reach for the first time.
"It didn't take much for you and Padfoot to suspect Moony, did it? You didn't think that someone like me would join up with the powerful Dark Lord," snapped Wormtail.
"Oh, Jamesie you have made an unfortunate choice to stand against my Lord, and now I get to hear the delicious howls of your agony along with your mudblood wife," sneered Bellatrix. James knew that the older dark-haired witch was seriously insane and dangerous.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew open the door.
"You may ridicule your former friend later, Wormtail," said a cold high voice. "How easily the bonds of friendship can be broken, James. I see you foolishly entrusted your secrets to the wrong people. However, I did not come here to discuss the misplaced bonds of love."
A black cloaked figure stepped around the corner. James knew this was Voldemort even before he came into sight. But looking at the twisted face of evil now in front of him, James' blood nearly froze in fear. Throughout the past year, Dumbledore had told him what Voldemort was capable of, and James had witnessed this first-hand when fighting Voldemort and his followers, while with the Order of the Phoenix. However, Voldemort was never such a direct threat to his family as he was now, standing in his living room.
"What do you want from us?" asked James boldly. He kept steady eye contact with Voldemort, inwardly cursing himself that his wand was out of arm's reach.
"What do I want, James Potter?" Voldemort threw his head back and gave a maniacal high pitch laugh that curdled James' blood. "I want your first-born son! And if you hand him to me now, I will let you live... in my service, of course."
From behind Voldemort's cloak, Wormtail called out, "It's true James, hand over Harry and the Master will let you and Lily walk out unharmed."
James let out a guttural growl, and his eyes flashed with rage, "I will never hand over my son to the likes of you,"
"Very well, if that is your decision. Although, it is a shame to spill pure blood like yours," mused Voldemort.
Just then, James heard the stairs creak and a moment later a timid face peered around the corner.
"James? What's going on?" asked Lily in a frightened voice. Then, her green eyes grew wide as she took in the scene before her.
"Lily, no! Run back to Harry," James yelled hoarsely.
Lily's body was frozen, but her heart was ripping in two. She wanted to protect both her husband and her child; how could she choose?
"No! I won't leave you to die," she cried out.
"How sweet," Voldemort muttered mockingly with a sneer, "But as you are about to find out, love is a foolish emotion for the weak."
"Do it my Lord. Make the blood traitor suffer for defying you!" screamed out Bellatrix.
"There are plenty of ways to make the blood traitor suffer Bella, maybe I will take his son and hand him to one of my followers to raise," sneered the Dark Lord
Now angered, James Potter tried to rush the Dark Lord. but the powerful wizard cast a shimmering wave at James. The younger man was thrown against the wall of the living room, knocking him out. Blood gushed from a wound on his head.
"James" whispered Lily.
"Yes, it breaks my heart to see Prongs like that," said Wormtail. "But don't feel bad for him. He has something that you are not going to have."
"What's that?" snarled Lily
"He gets to live and drown in despair while we take the little horror," replied Wormtail, smiling evilly.
"As long as there is life in my body, you and your disgusting Master won't take my child!" growled Lily
"How sweet, the little mudblood wants to save her brat," said a laughing Bellatrix
"That's what a loving mother does for a child, you harpy!" Lily growled.
"Very well. While Severus would be disappointed by your choice Mrs. Potter, mudbloods such as yourself have only one fate, and that is death," promised the Dark Lord, and unflinchingly cast the killing curse on her.
The last thought on Lily's mind was fear for her beloved husband and son.
"Now that the mudblood is dead and the blood traitor is incapacitated; Wormtail, find the brat and bring him to me. Bella, you are to return to Riddle Manor, and inform Lucius and my inner circle that I have the brat," instructed the Dark Lord.
With a nod and a pop, Bellatrix disapparated. Meanwhile, The Dark Lord noticed that Wormtail had kicked his former friend in the ribs before going upstairs to secure the child, carrying the crib back down.
"What about James, Milord?" asked Wormtail. The baby had woken up and was wailing loudly. Finally exasperated by the noise, he cast a silencing charm at the baby.
"The blood traitor is of no consequence, considering his pathetic mudblood wife is dead and his son is missing," scoffed the Dark Lord.
"What will you do to the brat Master?" requested Wormtail and his watery blue eyes shone with curiosity.
"I have recruited an old friend of yours who will raise and teach him to have proper wizarding pride and use of the Dark Arts. You will get to see him at the next meeting," said the Dark Lord and he left the house followed by Wormtail.
"Morsmodre." said Wormtail, and a picture of a colossal skull with a serpent for a tongue rose into the sky with a blaze of greenish smoke. It was etched against the black sky as if it was a new constellation.
Then, with two pops, the wizards apparated away, leaving a scene of devastation behind them.
##################################################################
Later, at the Potter's residence in Godric's Hollow, a pain filled moan could be heard. A dark-haired man unsteadily got to his feet. He did not know much time had passed or what had happened. He remembered his former friend Wormtail arriving with Bellatrix and then Voldemort sneering at him. He had tried to tackle the arrogant, evil wizard, but had been slammed into the wall. Worry for his wife rose in his mind and he went to check on her. He let out a grief filled howl when he saw her dead body lying on the floor outside Harry's room. This can't be real he thought. We were supposed to love each other forever.
"James, are you in there?" called out a new but familiar voice.
"Is that you Remus?" questioned James. "What is something that only you and I would know?" He already had one visit from a supposed friend turn out badly during the course of this evening.
"When we were in school, you wrote a poem that compared trying to court Lily to catching a snitch and I told you not to send it to her," responded Remus as he stepped inside.
"Lily is dead," said a mournful James. To his old friend's shock, he looked as if he had aged a century.
"What do you mean she is dead? Dumbledore told me that the Dark Mark was seen above your house about two hours ago, and asked me to check on you," replied a confused Remus.
He gasped in shock at seeing Lily's body lying on the floor, James hugging it for dear life.
"Who did this?" growled Remus, his face red with anger.
"Wormtail is the actual Secret Keeper and he brought Bellatrix and You Know Who to our house. I was knocked out, Moony, I couldn't defend her," explained James and tears leaked from his hazel eyes.
"I will kill Wormtail for this! But, where's Harry?" asked Remus, his dread and worry for his honorary nephew rose was rising with every passing minute. He tried to look into the room but saw that the crib was empty, which meant one thing. That Harry was gone and more than likely dead.
"I don't know, they must have taken him while I was knocked out," replied James before breaking down into a fresh wave of sobs.
"We need to tell Dumbledore about this, he will know what to do," replied Remus.
"You go and tell the Headmaster. I don't know how I am supposed to go on now," replied James. He looked depressed, with hollow cheekbones and a haunted expression in his hazel eyes, eyes that were normally so full of life.
"We will make Peter and You Know Who pay for what they have done," promised Remus, his eyes shining with a dangerous light.
#####################################################################
One week later outside a church in Godric's Hollow.
The weather poured with rain and it matched the mood of the people attending the funeral. Although people would have said that it was good old British weather. Some would have said that it was wrong for wizards to hold a funeral at a muggle church. However, the pastor there was a Squib who chose to help people both magical and muggle in his own way.
Just before the funeral began, both Sirius and Remus saw a horse faced blond woman take her seat, looking warily around at the witches and wizards. Both Sirius and Remus thought that they had never seen two women who acted and looked less like each other. They remembered meeting Petunia Dursley once through her sister Lily.
Dumbledore stood up in his black robes and said many kind things about the young witch he had known, all the while Professor McGonagall sobbed into her red handkerchief. Then Remus said many things about his dead friend, and made some of the attendees laugh when he relayed the story of Lily shouting at them when Sirius and James had turned her hair pink during their fourth year at Hogwarts. But he soon became too choked up to continue. Finally, James stood up and spoke about his love for his dead wife before he too was breaking down in sobs and proved unable to continue with his eulogy.
"Come on Prongs. Hold it together for Lily's sake," said Sirius as he led James to his seat after the man had placed his gold wedding ring on the coffin to say farewell.
Remus heard Hagrid sob loudly and he had to be soothed by Dumbledore.
"The poor little tyke, to be murdered by You Know Who along with his mum," mourned Hagrid
There was suddenly a ruckus and James could see his sister in law marching towards him with an angry look in her eyes.
"You! This is your fault! You got my sister killed! She should have left you and this miserable world and been normal like me. What kind of husband are you to get your wife involved in a war against a madman?" shouted a grieving Petunia, before slapping James across the face.
"It was Lily's choice to join the war so she could defend you and your parents from You Know Who! I did everything that I could to protect her," roared James and his face was scarlet with anger.
"Mrs. Dursley this is hardly the time or the place for such talk," replied Remus politely but firmly.
"Yes, and now get out, stupid muggle and please leave us to mourn for your sister in peace," snapped Sirius. Normally his friends would have been aghast at the Sirius Black calling Petunia a stupid muggle but everyone was distracted by extreme grief to pay much attention.
Petunia ignored him, pushing past him and placing a photograph on Lily's coffin. The photograph was of two young girls holding each other. She then stormed off.
"Lily, Dorcas and I also said that she was adopted or left by aliens at her front doorstep," commented a blonde woman watching the sight.
"Thank you for coming Mary," said Remus warmly.
"Yes, but she was right though I got Lily killed," said James mournfully.
"Don't ever talk like that! Petunia Dursley is a bitter woman who lost Lily long before she died," responded Remus and he pushed a glass of fire whiskey into James's hands. The bespectacled man drank the liquid gratefully.
"It is Peter and his slimy Master who killed Lily, not you Prongs! You loved her," said Sirius comfortingly. However, while he was hugging James to offer some comfort, no one could see a malevolent grin on his face.
########################################################################
Two weeks after Lily's funeral
In a crowded street in London, where the muggles were rushing from their lunch break back to their offices. A dark-haired man walked with a determined look on his face. He spotted his target, a chubby blond man trying to be inconspicuous by seeking protection in the crowds of people.
"Lily and my godson! How could you, Wormtail? You are a treacherous bastard!" bellowed Sirius, trying to sound convincing. He was attempting to play his role of an outraged godfather and best friend to the Potters in front of the captive audience watching them. His plan to survive depended on it.
"I had no choice, Padfoot! Please believe me, You Know Who forced me to give up Prongs and Lily up," whined Wormtail.
"Stop your snivelling! You were spying for him for months, and you were probably responsible for the murders of Edgar Bones, Prewett brothers and McKinnon's," growled Sirius.
People began pointing and mouthing at the two arguing wizards. They probably thought that they were rehearsing for a play or a movie.
"You should have known that if your Master did not kill you, then I would," snarled Sirius
"Yes, well I am going to be the hero to the wizarding world by the putting the blame on you, my old friend. Besides, who cares about the mudblood Evans? It is a shame that Prongs diluted his family's bloodline by marrying filth," replied Peter smiling, and with one incantation, he used the blasting curse to blow up the street. It hit the street with a force of an exploding bomb. Muggles screamed as they were hit with flying objects like broken glass, concrete from the pavement and there was a deep hole in the road.
Sirius cursed in frustration and was now determined to escape before he could be arrested by the Ministry as Wormtail was clearly gone either back to their Master was now in hiding, He neither knew or cared.
Please read and review and I would like to thank my beta readers Vesper Logan and 7701DeathlyHalfBloodPrincess