DISCLAIMER: Do I really need to say it? All right. They're not mine, they're JK's.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Those Wicked Eyes
Chapter four~ What happened to Peace on Earth?
Christmas was more enjoyable than James had thought it would be. He sent Katie's present by owl first thing in the morning, and opened his stash with Lily. The other Marauders had gone to Remus' for the holidays.
James had what appeared to be a mountain load of gifts from his family, friends, and admirers.
"That's the joy of having such a large family," he had told Lily. Most of the family gifts were clothes or books, as were the admirers'. His real gifts came from Katie, Sirius, Remus, Peter, Lily, and his parents. Sirius got him a watch with no workings inside, but a false bottom. Remus got him a book about Animagi. Peter got him a large package of chocolate frogs and trick sweets. Katie's gift was a silver pendant that changed itself into different creatures at intervals. His parents got him a journal that gave its owner advice. But Lily's gift was amazing.
It was only a card, but she had somehow taken the view of the two of them standing on the southeast tower, looking at Hogsmeade. On the inside she had written,
Thank you for my wonderful Christmas gift last night. It was one of the most beautiful and memorable experiences of my life, even if we did have to break a few rules to get there. I want you to know you can trust me to keep your secrets.
Lily
"How did you do that?" he asked her, showing her the card.
"It's called Pensive Imaging. It's a really complicated Charm I learned last year. You take an image from your memory and put it on paper."
"That's pretty cool."
"Thanks."
"Here, I wanted to show you this. Wait. I'll read it out loud, actually. 'Dear James, I was most upset to hear that you would not be attending the Christmas celebrations with your family. Christmas is not a time to be shut away in a school, it is a time for family! Work or no work, you should be here! Maybe if you put a little more incentive into your school life, you would have completed your work on time, instead of leaving it for the last minute. Although, I must say, it is nice to hear that you have grown up enough to know when you have to forgo something fun for the most important things. I can only hope that you are being kind to whoever is stuck in that school with you, and that you are conversing in appropriate matters with them. I will see you this summer. All my love, Aunt Connie.' What did I tell you?"
Lily was laughing too hard to answer.
~~~
The final day of vacation dawned, and James watched the train pull in. He had promised Katie he would meet her.
"James. If I may have a word?" Professor Dumbledore appeared beside him, looking grave. James' heart skipped a beat. Dumbledore only used first names with students when the situation was important.
"Can't it wait, Professor? I-I've got to pick Katie up from the station. The train just pulled in."
"No, James. I am sorry, but this cannot wait." Heart pounding, James followed Dumbledore into his office and sat down. "James, I hate to be the bearer of bad news for you, but we received word that Voldemort attacked again shortly after the New Year, approximately three days ago. He had this planned, it seemed, for he destroyed an entire family almost completely." James was shaking his head. There was a buzzing in his ears and his whole body had gone numb.
"No, Professor. No."
Dumbledore bowed his head, looking very tired. "I am sorry, James. Your family, all of them that were gathered at the home of Constance Potter, are gone."
"No, Professor. You're wrong. They're not. They're not because I would know. I would feel it, if they were gone. I'm going down to the station, and Katie will be there waiting for me. You'll see. She'll ask what took me so long, and I'll tell her what you said, and we'll laugh over it. Everything. Because the story is ridiculous. And it's not true." James stood up and ran from the room. He ran into a person as he was leaving, but he paid no attention. Katie was all that was important.
~~~
Lily watched James enter the Headmaster's office. Well, she would wait, then. She'd had an idea for the spring event they were planning. A few minutes later, he emerged.
"Hey, James. I had an id—" He plowed into her without stopping, obviously preoccupied. "James?" He kept running, paying no attention to her. "Something is wrong," she said to herself, following him out of the castle. "Very wrong."
~~~
James ran as fast as his feet would take him to the Hogsmeade station. He pushed his way past the last few stragglers, oblivious to their protests. His thoughts were on Katie, and only on Katie.
When he reached the station, it was deserted. Looking frantically around, he saw the trolley lady on the platform.
"Excuse me!" he called. She turned. "Is everyone off the train?"
"Yes, we just gave her the once over. She's empty? Why? Are you looking for someone?" Swallowing, James nodded. "Oh, you're the Potter boy, aren't you?" she asked, voice changing to sympathy. "I heard what happened, and you have my deepest sympathies." Patting him on the back, tears in her eyes, she walked toward the engine of the train.
Suddenly, James felt exhausted. Staggering under his weight, James stumbled over to a post on the platform and collapsed against it.
~~~
Lily ran, watching him collapse against the post at the station.
"James?" she called, concerned. He did not turn, or give any sign that he had heard her. She knelt beside him, and put her hand on his shoulder. "James?"
He turned at the sound, but seemed to be staring through her. Suddenly, he let out a sob and collapsed against her, sobbing as though his heart was broken. She held him to her and cradled him like a young child as he cried.
"They're gone, they're gone, they're all gone," he repeated over and over. "Katie and Mom and Dad and Aunt Connie and Willy, and everyone. Everyone but me. They're all gone." Lily's stomach sank into her feet, tears forming in her own eyes as she held him.
Sensing movement behind her, she turned to see Dumbledore coming down the hill.
"Thank you, Miss Evans, for following him. This has been quite a shock."
"Professor, what happened to his family?"
"Killed. By Voldemort." She gasped.
"All of them?"
"All except him." Lily turned away as she thought of a young eleven-year-old girl with starry blue-grey eyes and raven-black hair, full of life and mischief.
"That's so horrible," she whispered, crying. Dumbledore nodded, gravely.
"Let's get him back up to the school." Lily looked up to see a few tears leak into the wise old man's beard.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: I know, I know. You all hate me now. Well, please don't. I cried writing this, but I had to do it. Don't worry, and please keep reading. Mark my words, we have not seen the last of KAtie Potter!
Much thanks to all my reviewers! It really helps me write, knowing that people are waiting for more. Kudos to you all! *Throws Kudos bars to all reviewers* I'll try to update as quickly as I did this time, but with band camp, play practice, and school on the horizon, it may not happen. But I'll do my best and spend every spare minute writing.
Templa Otmena: I'll do my best!
dark-elf20: No, you're right. He doesn't. But Lily won't tell. Sorry I didn't put that in chapter four, but there will be flashbacks to show the havoc, never fear.
Sasatia: many thanks! I'm glad you like it.
fulldark: I'll look for your story and I'll be sure to review!
slippersRfuzzy: Wow! Was I that obvious, or do you always guess story plots like that? I'm impressed! A shiny new quarter for excellent observation! And, yeah. I know it sux.
TaliaAshke: Thank you. I've tried to be detailed, but it can at times be hard. Glad you like the story.
The Silver Ice Redo Project: Thank you, thank you. *bows to applause.*
chamelionegirl: I try to come up with different ideas, even if it doesn't fllow the 5th book, because I hate reading the same old L/J stories.
Lalila: I know how that feels. I'll try to write as I run everywhere!
jade eyes1: Yeah, that's bothered me since the fifth book. I'm sure JK will explain it better than I ever could later, though. Book 6! book 6!
Melayne and Meliara: I'm typing! I'm typing!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Those Wicked Eyes
Chapter four~ What happened to Peace on Earth?
Christmas was more enjoyable than James had thought it would be. He sent Katie's present by owl first thing in the morning, and opened his stash with Lily. The other Marauders had gone to Remus' for the holidays.
James had what appeared to be a mountain load of gifts from his family, friends, and admirers.
"That's the joy of having such a large family," he had told Lily. Most of the family gifts were clothes or books, as were the admirers'. His real gifts came from Katie, Sirius, Remus, Peter, Lily, and his parents. Sirius got him a watch with no workings inside, but a false bottom. Remus got him a book about Animagi. Peter got him a large package of chocolate frogs and trick sweets. Katie's gift was a silver pendant that changed itself into different creatures at intervals. His parents got him a journal that gave its owner advice. But Lily's gift was amazing.
It was only a card, but she had somehow taken the view of the two of them standing on the southeast tower, looking at Hogsmeade. On the inside she had written,
Thank you for my wonderful Christmas gift last night. It was one of the most beautiful and memorable experiences of my life, even if we did have to break a few rules to get there. I want you to know you can trust me to keep your secrets.
Lily
"How did you do that?" he asked her, showing her the card.
"It's called Pensive Imaging. It's a really complicated Charm I learned last year. You take an image from your memory and put it on paper."
"That's pretty cool."
"Thanks."
"Here, I wanted to show you this. Wait. I'll read it out loud, actually. 'Dear James, I was most upset to hear that you would not be attending the Christmas celebrations with your family. Christmas is not a time to be shut away in a school, it is a time for family! Work or no work, you should be here! Maybe if you put a little more incentive into your school life, you would have completed your work on time, instead of leaving it for the last minute. Although, I must say, it is nice to hear that you have grown up enough to know when you have to forgo something fun for the most important things. I can only hope that you are being kind to whoever is stuck in that school with you, and that you are conversing in appropriate matters with them. I will see you this summer. All my love, Aunt Connie.' What did I tell you?"
Lily was laughing too hard to answer.
~~~
The final day of vacation dawned, and James watched the train pull in. He had promised Katie he would meet her.
"James. If I may have a word?" Professor Dumbledore appeared beside him, looking grave. James' heart skipped a beat. Dumbledore only used first names with students when the situation was important.
"Can't it wait, Professor? I-I've got to pick Katie up from the station. The train just pulled in."
"No, James. I am sorry, but this cannot wait." Heart pounding, James followed Dumbledore into his office and sat down. "James, I hate to be the bearer of bad news for you, but we received word that Voldemort attacked again shortly after the New Year, approximately three days ago. He had this planned, it seemed, for he destroyed an entire family almost completely." James was shaking his head. There was a buzzing in his ears and his whole body had gone numb.
"No, Professor. No."
Dumbledore bowed his head, looking very tired. "I am sorry, James. Your family, all of them that were gathered at the home of Constance Potter, are gone."
"No, Professor. You're wrong. They're not. They're not because I would know. I would feel it, if they were gone. I'm going down to the station, and Katie will be there waiting for me. You'll see. She'll ask what took me so long, and I'll tell her what you said, and we'll laugh over it. Everything. Because the story is ridiculous. And it's not true." James stood up and ran from the room. He ran into a person as he was leaving, but he paid no attention. Katie was all that was important.
~~~
Lily watched James enter the Headmaster's office. Well, she would wait, then. She'd had an idea for the spring event they were planning. A few minutes later, he emerged.
"Hey, James. I had an id—" He plowed into her without stopping, obviously preoccupied. "James?" He kept running, paying no attention to her. "Something is wrong," she said to herself, following him out of the castle. "Very wrong."
~~~
James ran as fast as his feet would take him to the Hogsmeade station. He pushed his way past the last few stragglers, oblivious to their protests. His thoughts were on Katie, and only on Katie.
When he reached the station, it was deserted. Looking frantically around, he saw the trolley lady on the platform.
"Excuse me!" he called. She turned. "Is everyone off the train?"
"Yes, we just gave her the once over. She's empty? Why? Are you looking for someone?" Swallowing, James nodded. "Oh, you're the Potter boy, aren't you?" she asked, voice changing to sympathy. "I heard what happened, and you have my deepest sympathies." Patting him on the back, tears in her eyes, she walked toward the engine of the train.
Suddenly, James felt exhausted. Staggering under his weight, James stumbled over to a post on the platform and collapsed against it.
~~~
Lily ran, watching him collapse against the post at the station.
"James?" she called, concerned. He did not turn, or give any sign that he had heard her. She knelt beside him, and put her hand on his shoulder. "James?"
He turned at the sound, but seemed to be staring through her. Suddenly, he let out a sob and collapsed against her, sobbing as though his heart was broken. She held him to her and cradled him like a young child as he cried.
"They're gone, they're gone, they're all gone," he repeated over and over. "Katie and Mom and Dad and Aunt Connie and Willy, and everyone. Everyone but me. They're all gone." Lily's stomach sank into her feet, tears forming in her own eyes as she held him.
Sensing movement behind her, she turned to see Dumbledore coming down the hill.
"Thank you, Miss Evans, for following him. This has been quite a shock."
"Professor, what happened to his family?"
"Killed. By Voldemort." She gasped.
"All of them?"
"All except him." Lily turned away as she thought of a young eleven-year-old girl with starry blue-grey eyes and raven-black hair, full of life and mischief.
"That's so horrible," she whispered, crying. Dumbledore nodded, gravely.
"Let's get him back up to the school." Lily looked up to see a few tears leak into the wise old man's beard.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: I know, I know. You all hate me now. Well, please don't. I cried writing this, but I had to do it. Don't worry, and please keep reading. Mark my words, we have not seen the last of KAtie Potter!
Much thanks to all my reviewers! It really helps me write, knowing that people are waiting for more. Kudos to you all! *Throws Kudos bars to all reviewers* I'll try to update as quickly as I did this time, but with band camp, play practice, and school on the horizon, it may not happen. But I'll do my best and spend every spare minute writing.
Templa Otmena: I'll do my best!
dark-elf20: No, you're right. He doesn't. But Lily won't tell. Sorry I didn't put that in chapter four, but there will be flashbacks to show the havoc, never fear.
Sasatia: many thanks! I'm glad you like it.
fulldark: I'll look for your story and I'll be sure to review!
slippersRfuzzy: Wow! Was I that obvious, or do you always guess story plots like that? I'm impressed! A shiny new quarter for excellent observation! And, yeah. I know it sux.
TaliaAshke: Thank you. I've tried to be detailed, but it can at times be hard. Glad you like the story.
The Silver Ice Redo Project: Thank you, thank you. *bows to applause.*
chamelionegirl: I try to come up with different ideas, even if it doesn't fllow the 5th book, because I hate reading the same old L/J stories.
Lalila: I know how that feels. I'll try to write as I run everywhere!
jade eyes1: Yeah, that's bothered me since the fifth book. I'm sure JK will explain it better than I ever could later, though. Book 6! book 6!
Melayne and Meliara: I'm typing! I'm typing!