AN: Thanks to everyone that has reviewed!
Chapter 15
James turned as he fired off the blasting curse as quickly as he could, trying to hit Bellatrix Lestrange. He had gone after the witch with revenge for Frank and Alice Longbottom in mind. Albus and Remus had gone in the other direction, pursuing three other Death Eaters. James hoped that Malfoy was among them, because he just knew the smarmy git was down here. He was glad that Molly had taken Hamilton to Grimmauld Place, because Malfoy would use the little boy as a bartering tool. The man would use any child, but he would take great pleasure in having James' son.
"Missed me!" the woman called as she darted behind a row of filing cabinets.
James mentally cursed Lestrange for darting into the old, empty Auror offices. No one came down here for ages, leaving a thick layer of dust on everything. While the dust helped him track Lestrange, it also revealed his whereabouts. He peeked around the corner of a rickety old divider and narrowly missed getting hit with a blinding curse that was quite permanent.
"You're going to have to do better than that!" James called, bringing up his Prong's Marauder-style bravado. "Missed me by a mile, that one did!"
"A mile?" came a voice behind him. "Really?"
James rolled into a ball and around the corner. A sharp pain in his back told him that he hadn't been totally successful in avoiding Bellatrix's wand. A hot fire of pain began to burn across his midsection, but he ignored it enough to send a body bind at the witch. He watched as she struggled from the invisible ropes holding her tight, looking as if she was a snake on end.
A touch on his shoulder sent him reeling.
"It's Sirius, James," his friend whispered in his ear. "She the only one?"
James nodded.
"Where's Remus?"
He shrugged. "Don't know. We separated." He swallowed thickly. "Siri, I think I need a healer." James blinked a few time, struggling to keep the darkness away.
:1:1:1
Severus whipped his wand out at the crimson-eyed man, barely registering Wormtail quivering beside him. "Stupefy!"
The Dark Lord sidestepped the spell, letting it hit the balding man.
"Run!" Severus shouted at the children. They all scattered, the majority of them heading for the spinning foyer. He turned and sprinted as well, letting instinct guide him as far as guarding his back from spells. He mentally cursed as all three of his children burst through one of the doors and down some stairs. He knew of only one place down here that had stairs - the death stadium. There was nowhere to hide.
He could see the black, ragged cloth hung in the arch, slightly swaying.
"Is someone else in here, Patri?" Harry asked. "I hear talking."
"Shh!" Helena slapped him on the arm. "Someone's coming."
A loud bang followed her words as the door slammed open, revealing James and Black. Both men were limping quite badly. Black was bleeding at the temple, and James was clutching his abdomen. Severus hurried over to them and had almost reached them when a red light engulfed him.
"Enervate!"
Severus opened his eyes, aching all over and wondering why he was on the floor on the platform at the back of the room. He looked up to find Helena hovering over him with a worried look on her face. The sounds of a fierce battle reached his ears. Severus turned to look around him, wincing as the ache sharpened into pain.
"You hit the post, Daddy," Helena said as Severus surveyed the room. James lay next to the platform, with Black and Harry around him. Beyond them, Albus was in fierce combat with the Dark Lord. Off to one side, he could barely make out where Hugh and a Weasley - he couldn't tell which from here - was fighting Malfoy.
"What do we have here?" a woman's voice asked behind Severus.
"Stupefy!" Helena yelled at the same time as "Reducto!" sounded.
Severus helplessly watched as Helena was slammed into the post of the veil, her neck wrapping around the post. Most of her head disappeared into the veil for a split second before her body collapsed into a heap on the platform. He struggled to get up to reach her.
"Helena!" Harry yelled as he streaked past Severus.
He managed to get turned around enough to pull himself over to where his daughter lay. Harry was frantically moving his hands over Helena's neck. "It's broken, Patri! I can't feel her breathing, either!"
A flurry of robes distracted Severus from what he was going to say. Black robes, slightly singed, stopped behind Harry, but Severus could see a flash of blue, green, and red colored robes out of the corner of his eye. The black clad man laughed, and Severus couldn't control his shudder.
"Fitting she should be the first," Voldemort said, sending a Killing Curse towards Albus. "The traitor's daughter." He moved to the other side of the arch. "Maybe your youngest son is next?"
Harry stood as Severus moved to grip his wand.
"Shut up!" Harry shouted. Severus gritted his teeth as he lifted his wand.
Albus shot a Flame Curse at the Dark Lord, who erected a shield after sending a Cutting Curse at the headmaster. The Flame Curse bounced towards where Harry stood. Severus began to spell a shield, but the flames stopped abruptly where the veil hung.
The two dueling men moved away, battling ferociously, Severus took the chance and looked down at his daughter, conscious of James asking what was happening in the background. Helena's neck was broken, her head at an unnatural angle. Her hair was white where her head had gone into the veil. He began to run his wand over her, hoping for any sign of life.
"No!" Harry shouted and dove over Helena's body, sending the signal to racing. A blue dome filled the air over Severus and his children. A bright flash of light hit the dome, fizzling out quickly as whatever curse hit it was sent back to the castor. The curse hit the Dark Lord in the thigh, and the man screamed at them - and incidentally Albus - before disapparating. The shield fell when it was realized there were no other sounds of fighting.
Albus came over quickly, breathing fairly heavily. "How is she?"
Severus shook his head. "I can't get a reading," he replied, feeling his throat close up with sorrow and the unbelievable tidal wave of anger that hit him.
Albus bent down as Harry moved to the side. The headmaster ran the same diagnostic spell Severus had used, as well as an advanced version. He frowned deeply, and Severus knew he wouldn't be hearing what he wanted.
"I'm sorry," Albus intoned in a sorrowful voice. "She's - "
A choking sound cut him off. Severus looked down and saw something he could not believe: Helena's chest was moving in a hitching pattern. For a brief moment, he wanted to pull Helena into his arms in relief. But he restrained the impulse and spelled a binding spell on her instead, to keep her from moving.
James felt the sun move across his lids as the beams shifted its position. He had his eyes closed to avoid one of the nursing aides, who continually gushed about Harry and his heroics. Pretending he was asleep to get out of the 'conversation' was well worth the boredom.
Sensing the aide's departure from the ward - the girl was extremely loud, as well - James opened his eyes and looked to the bed at his left. Helena still slept, four days after the events in the bowels of the Ministry building. The healers had put her broken neck back together, but they didn't know if she would ever wake up because of touching the veil. The aide had braided her hair to keep it out of the way, and the resulting coloration looked odd to James, as the top half of her hair was a startling white, with the rest the black she had inherited from both of her fathers. He was relieved that Severus had argued for Helena to be put in the same room as James, if only because the healers' had acknowledged that their patient would travel all of the floors looking for his daughter if they did not do so.
A chime sounded in the hallway and as it died down, Molly and Bill Weasley walked through the door, the tall curse breaker carrying Hamilton's baby seat.
"I think my arm's about to fall off," Bill complained after exchanging greetings with James. "This one's going to be a Beater."
James smiled, taking care not to laugh. He had done so yesterday and had been in pain for several hours afterward. The hex Bellatrix had managed to hit him with had caused quite a bit of internal injuries with some bleeding. He was sore now, and ready to go home, but he was reluctant to leave without knowing that Helena was going to be all right. Besides, Severus had a handle on keeping the other two boys in check at school, with only minor injuries between the three of them.
"Ron wrote and said that the professors are starting to push hard with the OWLs coming up. Only another week until they start," Molly said. She looked over at where Helena lay. "Will Helena be able to sit for exams if she wakes up?"
"When she wakes up," James said.
Molly leaned back a little at the vehemence in James' words. He shook his head at her in apology. She came over and gave his hand a squeeze. "I understand, James. I am sure everything will turn out for the better."
"Harry! Your OWL scores are here!" Hugh shouted up the stairs from the breakfast table.
Severus frowned at him from around the Daily Prophet. Hugh smiled at him.
"Sorry, Patri."
"If you woke your father or sister up, you will be weeding the garden the next few days."
Hugh grimaced and his shoulders sloped. "I'm sorry."
"Da!" Hamilton interjected and threw a couple pieces of cereal at Severus.
"Don't throw your food, Hamilton," Severus reprimanded, moving the toddler's mostly full bowl just a little further out of reach. "You eat it."
"Foo!" Hamilton agreed. "Eat foo!"
"Somebody's talkative this morning," a quiet voice said from the doorway. Severus watched as James guided Helena in, her steps not quite coordinated. Behind them, Severus could hear Harry racing down the steps.
"Good morning!" Helena said brightly.
Severus nodded, inwardly smiling. He was proud of his daughter. When she had woken up two weeks after the battle in the Ministry, she had proven the healers wrong twice: the first being that she woke up, and the second being that she could walk. A week after she had woken, Helena had taken her end of year examinations and had passed with flying colors. Now it was only in the morning that she had problems walking.
James, on the other hand, still moved as if he were a hundred and thirty-six, rather than thirty-six. The healers had released him very reluctantly, even with his protesting that he felt fine. But the curse that had laid him low took time to heal, and James had never been a patient person. It had worked having Helena here, at least for James' pride. He could guide her around, and not seem weak. Severus and the boys had understood the problem and had ignored it, but James was stubborn like that.
"Morning!" Harry greeted as he slid into the seat next to Hugh. With his birthday the next day, Harry had a more-than-happy attitude than his usual broody-teenager mode. Severus wasn't sure he would be able to handle this one any more than the first.
The breakfast table became quiet but for chewing and the occasional outburst from Hamilton. It was moments like this that made Severus think about what his life would have been like if Albus hadn't forced him into tutoring with James. His own brooding teenaged self would have most likely become a broody adult with an unhealthy amount of resentment and hatred towards the world in general and Gryffindors more specifically. He had a moment of realization, knowing that he would have taken his revenge for everything James and his friends had done out on their children.
He looked at his family carefully, taking the time to memorize this scene. James was calmly feeding Hamilton while occasionally sending inquiring glances at the letter next to Harry's plate. He and his husband had discussed several things in the two weeks since he had come home from Hogwarts, and they had finally decided to bond to each other. That thought alone brought Severus much happiness. But you didn't hear if from him.
His oldest son was happily ignoring said letter in favor of cramming as many bangers into his mouth as possible. Severus would try to leave that part out. Hugh was pouring yet another bowl of Hamilton's cereal for himself, and Helena was quietly eating a toasted egg sandwich. Even the animals were eating - Hedwig was eating the bits of sausage Harry wasn't stuffing his face with, and Midnight was picking up whatever Hamilton threw onto the floor, whether it was James' poached egg or soggy pieces of cereal, even if it wasn't meant to be cat food.
Severus was startled to find himself content, even with knowing a war had already begun in their world and was steadily growing worse each day. Sentimentality aside, it was his family that drove Severus to do the right thing, even if it meant not taking the easy route.
The breakfast silence ended with Harry opening his OWL scores. His smile grew the farther down he read.
"What did you get?" James finally asked when it looked like Harry wouldn't tell them.
"Thirteen!" Harry said excitedly. "I can't believe it! How'd I get thirteen?"
"Well? What did you get them in?" Hugh asked.
"An 'O' in Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, Defense... those two have a little star by it, and Care of Magical Creatures. I got an 'E' in Herbology and Ancient Runes, and an 'A' in History and Astronomy."
"That's wonderful," James proudly said as Harry handed his scores to Severus. "An 'A' in History. I'm surprised you managed to stay awake long enough in that class to get a good grade like that."
"I didn't, but Hermione did."
Scanning the letter, Severus was impressed with his son's scores. At the bottom he found a paragraph that Harry missed.
"You failed to mention that you also earned the highest scores of your year in both Defense and Charms. You also tied with the highest OWL score in Defense since the tests began."
Harry leaned across the table. "Really?"
"Yes," Severus said, handing the letter to James for him to look at. "Professor McGonagall will need to know which NEWT classes you wish to take, as well as any secondary classes."
"Which classes are they offering this year?" James asked. "At least besides Basic Healing."
"Spell Creation, Advanced Runes, Healing, Sports and Training, and Social Science," Harry read off the letter that had still been tucked into the envelope. "Isn't that last one Politics?"
Severus nodded.
Harry made a disgusted face. "I won't pick that one, then."
James looked across at Severus as they stood in the gazebo in the garden. A rare smile was on the other man's face as Dumbledore began the ceremony that they had chosen. James squeezed the fingers twined with his as he turned his attention to the headmaster.
"Severus and James have chosen to bond using the Heart Bond. Once they have been accepted, they will be able to feel each other's emotion, whether they are happy or sad, if they are in good health or ill.
"The ribbon that will bind them is white, to represent an unblemished love. Their gold and green robes signify how well each complements the other. James and Severus keep their hands entwined to symbolize their combining magic."
Dumbledore picked up the white ribbon and wrapped it around their four hands in an intricate pattern. The old man placed his wand tip on the ribbon and chanted a long incantation in old Latin. James ignored Albus as a warmth wrapped around him, and even though he could see Severus standing in front of him, their eyes locked, he felt as if his husband was holding him tightly.
He closed his eyes as the feeling intensified, burrowing through his chest and head. He didn't fight the feeling; instead, he welcomed it with an open heart.
James opened his eyes and smiled at the awed look on Severus' face, knowing that his own mirrored it. He felt more complete than he ever had. Leaning in at the same time as Severus, their lips met in a soft, sweet kiss, almost blindsiding James with the amount of affection in it.
As one they turned to face their small audience, where James could see both Molly and Hagrid crying into their hankies. Even Minerva looked a little teary-eyed as she began clapping in time with Albus. Slowly, the rest of the Order members began clapping as well, with both Weasley twins shooting sparks out of their wands.
He felt a jolt of pride from Severus, and James knew he was looking at their four children. Harry held Hamilton in his arms, flanked by Helena and Hugh. He doubted his youngest understood what was happening, but his three oldest were happy for their fathers, if the huge smile on their faces was anything to go by.
Two hours later, James found a quiet spot off to one side to give Hamilton a bottle of juice. His son had started fussing, and James hoped that the little boy would drop off to sleep. Almost through with the bottle, Hamilton began dozing, so James carefully adjusted him into a more comfortable position and began watching the guests dancing across the lawn.
"What are you doing sitting over here?" Sirius said as he came over and sat down next to James.
He smiled at his friend. "Someone was getting tired, along with his father."
Sirius grinned back at him before he turned serious. "Can I ask you a question?"
James eyed his oldest friend, wondering just what he would ask. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt. Fire away."
"Why now?" Sirius asked. "You could have done this at any time after you and Severus married. Hell, you could have done this before even that. But why now?"
James sighed. He knew he should have explained it to Sirius, but he and Severus had decided to put the bonding ceremony together as quickly and quietly as possible. They had only explained it to their children and to Dumbledore, leaving their guests to wonder the real reason they had been invited.
"Sirius, Severus and I have been contemplating this for years. But with the battle in the Ministry, we both realized that we shouldn't wait. I need to know how Severus is feeling, without having to worry if he's doing okay or anything else. And I know he worries about me being here by myself with just Hamilton and Maddy during the school year."
"I could stay with you," Sirius offered.
James grinned. "No offense, Padfoot, but we would drive each other crazy if we lived together again. As much as I love you, I don't think I can handle you in the mornings."
Sirius laughed. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
"Dad!" Hugh came running up. "Professor Dumbledore said that it's time to cut the bonding cake!"
James smiled as he carefully stood up, trying not to disturb the sleeping fourteen-month-old passed out against his shoulder. "Lead the way, son. We're coming."
"And due to our inability to keep a Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor for more than a year - Master D'Angelo having gone back to Italy - this school year we will be having instructors from both the Auror Training Academy and Cambridge University. The first guest lecturer will be Head Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt. He will be joining us tomorrow in time for the morning classes. Auror Shacklebolt will stay for a month, at which time Professor Kinsey McKenna, Head of the Defense Against the Dark Arts Department, will take over until the first of December."
Dumbledore beamed at the student body.
"Mr. Filch has added all Weasley Wizard Wheezes products to the list of banned items. If you wish to peruse the entire list, please see him in his office.
"Now, I ask you to please join me in singing the school song..."
Harry tuned out Ron's attempt to sing to the tune of the Chudley Cannon fight song and began to mumble it. He wasn't in the mood to sing, but he wasn't about to hear a lecture from Hermione on school participation. The headmaster finally dismissed them and Harry shot over to the Ravenclaw table. Hugh had helped Helena over when the students had filled in for the feast, and Harry had agreed to help his sister. Luna, as well as Helena's year mates, knew of her problem with walking - the entire school most likely did thanks to Malfoy and his big mouth - but he also wanted to make sure the stupid git didn't try anything to Helena either.
"How are you holding up?" Harry asked her as he guided her up the steps.
"Good. I would be better if my legs would work all the time."
They turned the corner, following some of the other Ravenclaw fourth years. As they passed the row of suits of armor, two of them waved, filling the corridor with the clink of metal.
"Hey Armistead, Dushane," Harry greeted the knights.
"How do you know them?" Helena asked. "Or rather, when were you over in this part of the castle?"
"Fourth year. Amelie was always late, I was bored, and Sir Quentin there will talk forever if you let him."
"That is very true," a deep voice came from the shadows. It was followed by Kingsley Shacklebolt. "He also snitches on students who try to sneak up to the Astronomy tower on the weekends."
Harry laughed. "So that's why Davies was always in detention last year. McGonagall had him cleaning the hall in front of Gryffindor tower last year, polishing the suits of armor."
Shacklebolt laughed as they stopped in front of the statue that guarded Ravenclaw's observatory and House library.
"I'm going up this way, Harry," Helena said. "I won't have as many stairs." She waved at Harry and Shacklebolt. "Good night."
"Good night," both males echoed.
Harry watched the statue slide into place behind Helena. Turning to Shacklebolt, he asked, "What was the real reason you joined us tonight?"
The auror shook his head. "Your father asked the same question." He stopped, then guided Harry into a side hall and threw up a silencing charm. "I wanted to let you know that Professor Dumbledore wants me to start teaching you the things you would know in the first year at the Academy. Sirius will be coming to teach you second year in January."
"He'll be teaching Defense in January?" Harry asked, feeling his heartbeat speed up at the thought.
Shacklebolt nodded. "Your father will give you the books you will need during your Potions lesson tomorrow. Read the first chapters and then see me after class Thursday next."
Harry nodded. "If I finish them early, what do you want me to do?"
Shacklebolt chuckled and pat him on the shoulder. "If you finish, start the second chapter in each book." He took down the silencing charm and headed in the direction of the teachers' wing. "I'll see you tomorrow then."
Harry stood there for a few minutes after the Auror disappeared into the shadows. Well, this was already shaping up to be another eventful year.