A/N: Um...if i said that i was really sorry would you forgive me?
But I do have a ligtimate excuse, I think. Well, back in January I did a big step in growing up, 18 years old and i was ready for some proper fun! I left home, didn't have a comp. Then my flatmate moved out, and the evil spawn of the devil moved in (aka Edd, my older brother) well he's a computer student and he had a comp, but it didn't have word!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then he got a laptop and i figured out I could upload with which i'm doing at the monment. But... disaster struck! Those who live in scotland might understand when i say that i'm a member of the ssp, (Scottish socialist party) and in the NE region!!! Ahhhh!!!! We have no party leader, no regional organiser and no chairman at meetings!!! hectic! Bit of a muddle at the moment which kinda sucks.
Also.....well loads of personal problems have kinda made it impossible for me to even think about updating, also, i think i might be finishing this story soon, so, but don;t worry i will hopefully put and end to it. so... Well all apologies in updating aside i think we can move on with the story!
Adagio for Strings.
Chapter 8.
War. Outright war. Voldemort was gaining followers by the minute and power also. He targetted at the well born Slytherins amoung being the Malfoys,and The Snapes. He had killed many a man, woman and chid in his claim for what was not rightfully his. Muggleborns and halfbloods were most at risk and those who apposed him.
James tried not to think about it, as he carried on with his everyday summer life. The holidays were finally there and he and Sirius were walking along Diagon Alley, eating icecream as they went, Sirius had bought a copy of the Daily Prophet and was reading the sport pages muttering how the Tornados and beaten the Cannons yet again. Sirius hated the Tornados. Slowly and grudgingly he turned to the front page at James request, Sirius never got around to reading the front page, he just blinked and showed it to James.
Dark Lord attacks Bones family, only son survives
"Oh god" James gasped grabbing the paper began to read "Two nights ago The Dark Lord himself killed four members of the Bones family, Emily, Ralph and their twin daughters Susan and Catherine aged eleven, due to start Hogwarts in Septmeber. Amazingly their oldest son Johnathan aged fifteen, about to start his sixth year survived the attack The Dark Lord not even touching him even though he whitnessed it. There has been no reason made apparent as to why Johnathan survived and he is too shocked to talk about it." There was a photo of the family in the corner and James looked at Jonny. He was a Hufflepuff prefect and seeker on their team, he was fairly good too. He had dark hair and grey eyes. Binns was forever getting them mixed up...
It was as though a fire lit up in James' head and he looked at Sirius who was biting his lower lip and a phrase from the article flashed in James' mind.
'There has been no reason made apparent as to why Johnathan survived.'
Could Voldemort think that Jonny Bones really be Sebastian Riddle? It was all that made sense, they did look alike he would just have to ask him when they returned to Hogwarts after the summer in a couple of weeks.
x
It was the first prefects meeting of the year and James had somehow made it to be head boy but how he was going to live up to be Frank Longbottoms succesor James didn't know. it was towars the end of the meeting and James was just ending, letting gthe fifth years know about the schedule that was handed out each week. He saw Jonny in the corner doodling on a peice or partchment.
"Jonny could I have a word with you?" He asked before he could flee out the door. Jony sighed and sat back down. "I'm very sorry about your loss Jonny."
"That's what every one is saying." He looked up at James' face. "But you don't know, don't you. What it was like, to see your family killed. Susan and Catherine...I...They were only eleven, and those, Death Eaters..." He didn't continue, but James got an idea of what they might have done to the young girls. "When his Death Eaters appareted it left only me and...Voldemort, my aunt, thinks I should start using his name. I thought that I was dead for sure, but he just put his wand away and sat down!" James blinked, he got a feeling that Jonny just needed to get this out, but James wasn't sure if he wanted to hear it. "He said that I wasn't who I thought I was. I was really Sebastian Riddle, his son!" James swallowed and sat don't fearing he might faint. "But I'm not. I told him that, but he said that obviously I didn't remember, something about memory charms. My family we moved to South Africa when the twins were born, I don't remember life before that...what if it's true? What if i really am Voldemorts son! I know mum had pronblems getting pregnant with the twins, and I am adopted. I have no one to turn to."
James' eyes widened. "You have to tell Dumbldore."
Jonny shook his head. "No! I can't. What would he think of me? I have no way of knowing the truth. I just have to wait..."
James blinked. "Wait? What do you mean?"
"He said that he would be back at Hallow'een. I was to go into the forest. He told me if I didn't go, he would hunt me down and kill me." He looked up at James, "You can't tell any one. Please, not even DUmbeldore." James merely nodded.
x
Many a time James had found himself infront of Dumbledores office, and many a time did he find himself almost stopping Jonny in the corridors, and told him the truth, but for some reason James found that he couldn't. Even though James knew what Jonny was going thouhg and would do anything to relive him of such a burden he found that James's Gryffindor courage did not go that far. Three weeks into the start of term James found himself be cornered by Severus Snape of all people.
"It's ok, you don't have to say thank you"
"What do you mean Snape?"
"It was me you told the Dark Lord about Johnathan Bones." James had to double back.
"You did what?"
"Told Voldemort that Johnathan Bones was the most likely candidate for Sebastian Riddle."
"Why?" James asked, "Would you do a thing like that?"
He sat next to him in the libarey which was empty save them. "Well I thought that you would be glad, because I know who he really was. You?"
James eyes widened. How did the slimey brat know? How? Had Remus and Sirius told him? But they would never tell, even Peter didn't know. "How did you find out?"
"Easy." Snape shrugged "Blood tests. But I didn't tell Voldemort. Didn't want him to find out see."
"Why's that Severus? I thought that you would love to rise in Voldmorts arms."
"Well, yes, but there are personal reasons, I didn't want him finding his son. You see Potter, my mother was engaged to my father but his father didn't like this little arrangment. Father had little money, his Grandfather had spent it all. But his beloved daughter loved my father so much, he submitted, until that was, he got her pregnant before they were married. You see, there was another suiter now, who wasn't pureblood but thought along the right lines and had money! She was whisked off to be married to him, but he didn't want to raise a child that wasn't his and as soon as I was born I was given to my father to rasie on his own. Mother soon fell pregnant again though and my step father treated the child very badly. I never really cared for my stepfather, Tom Riddle can be a cruel man."
James stopped. Every thing stopped, his heart his brain, his spleen whatever that was... "What, Severus, are you implying?"
Snape smirked. "You and me, James Potter, well, we're brothers."
James collasped into the chair next to him, he didn't remember ever standing up. "How long have you known?"
Snape shrugged. "Since third year I think. But I didn't know who you were until last year sometime I think. And don't worry, I'm not running to Voldemort. Like I said, I'm rather resently to my stepfather. No offence" He added off hand.
"Poor, Jonny."
"What about the Hufflepuff?" James merely looked at him. "Oh that Potter, I'm sure he'll be fine, he's a big boy now. Voldemort will find out that he's not the boy soon enough, and everyone will be back to normal."
"Except us."
Snape sighed and rolled his eyes. "Potter, I am not going to change because we happen to be closely related. Regulas and Sirius Black still loathe each other. I am not going to run around playing aappy families. To me nothing has changed. No matter, please don't go and tell your little mongrels.
x
Jonny Bones got up half way through the Halloween feast and James followed him through the invisability cloak, he had feigned sickness all day so that he didn't have to go to the feast and followed Jonny all day. Because today was when he was to meet Voldemort, it was today that James would save Jonny's life.
They were walking deeper and deeper into the forest and James feared how Jonny was to find Voldemort. A couple of times the Hufflepuff looked behiond him to see if any one was following him, he of course didn't see any one.
"Were you followed?" The voice startled James, the figure that stood before him was hideous, tall and frail and snake like. Smooth white skin, and no nose. It was Voldemort.
Jonny breathed deeply. "No." For that bravery James was atonished that he hadn't been placed in Gryffindor.
"Good. Now my son, we are going to go on a little trip."
"I'm not your son." Jonny said.
Voldemort rasied an eyebrow, "really? Who told you otherwise." Jonny said nothing, and Voldemort laughed, a high cruel laugh, that James knew all too well. He reached out to take the boys hand, "Come on now let's go."
"No!" James yelled taking the cloak off
"James? What? Why did you come?"
"Stupid, boy, I told you to make sure that you weren't followed!" Voldemort yelled
"I...I didn't see!"
"He couldn't have seen me" James said, holding up the cloak. "And I've got rather good when it comes to snooping arounnd. Don't blamed Johnathan."
Voldemort sighed. "Very well, why have you followed the boy. There is nothing to intrest you here."
James smirked and the Dark Lord gave him a questioning look. "There is. Jonny's not your son."
Voldemort chuckled. "You've listened to Dumbledore too much."
"I don't belive Dumbledore. I know Sebastian Riddle is still alive, but he's not Jonny."
"Really" He asked, "and how, young Potter do you know? It is Potter isn't it." James nodded. "How can you know that young Johnathan Bones isn't my only son."
"Simple." James said, calmy. Taking a deep breath he calmed himself in what he was about to say. "Because I am."
A/N: Phew, i got that done, sorry about the cliff hanger, dunno when i'll update next, christmas coming soon and stuff. well HAVE A HAPPY YULE! And REVIEW!