Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize. All characters belong to a woman with a great imagination and determination, capable of creating this world that is the center of so many stories.
Sins of Angels: Thanks to all who reviewed! It made me all happy! Anyway, here's a chapter that may be rather surprising. I've actually planned to have a chapter like this since I started the story, so I'm sorry if you don't like it. But it happens, sometimes. I'd rather it didn't. You'd be surprised what we clever humans due in the aftermath of disasters. Enjoy.
Chapter 29 – The Potter Family Values
James and Lily ate quietly, his father looking up and smiling every so often.
"Dad?" James said, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Are we having company over the holidays?"
His dad shifted uneasily. "Well, yes, on Christmas day."
"Who?" James asked, frowning. His father coughed, the smile gone.
"Well, you remember how every year the Blacks have come over for a little?"
"You invited them?" James asked, staring at his father in disbelief.
"Well, we've been doing it since you and Sirius were five, it's become tradition."
"Yes, tradition until they disowned Sirius!" James said angrily.
"Look, we can't judge them by that."
"Can't judge them by that? What the hell do we judge them by then? They threw out their son, Dad! Would you ever do that to me?"
His dad looked taken aback, frowning. "You know I would never do something like that!"
"And you've invited them here? What about Lily?"
Lily's head snapped up. How was she involved?
"What about her?" his dad said, now looking at her.
"Dad, she's muggle-born!"
His expression hardened. A dawn of understanding hit him. "I see," he said simply, almost coldly. "Of course. Well, that shouldn't matter."
"If it's a problem, I can leave," Lily suggested.
"No, you stay," James said firmly, turning his eyes on his father. They were filled with anger over something Lily didn't understand.
"Yes, Lily, you're our guest. You can't leave," James's dad said kindly, all traces of coldness gone. "It's just that the Black family is tad bit simple minded."
"You mean they're purebloods and don't want a mudblood wrecking their holiday?" Lily said without feeling. James looked at her, shocked.
"Lily Evans, don't ever talk about yourself like that in front of me!" he scolded. She frowned.
"Look, I know what some wizards are like. I'll take a room at the Leaky Cauldron and get out of your way."
"You will do no such thing!"
"It'll be better all around. I understand."
"You're staying here! And that's final!"
"So now I'm a prisoner? James, I know that my presence will make your guests uncomfortable."
"Well, good. With any luck they'd leave."
"James Potter!" his dad scolded. James turned a furious glare to him.
"What, Charles?"
"I am your father am not on a first name basis with you like one of your foolish friends!"
"Yeah, you're much more bloody stubborn than they are!"
"Watch your mouth!"
"They support Voldemort! He killed Charles! How could you let them into our house?"
"James," he said quietly to his son, who was standing up and yelling at him. "Let's not discuss this in front of our guest."
"She deserves to know! She should know how you lost yourself in your bloody job for the last six years!"
"James Potter, I am not discussing this right now! Sit down!"
"No! You have no right to invite them! They support Charles's murderer!"
"Charles wasn't killed by the Dark Lord!"
James paused. "Who killed him, father?" he asked, lowering the temperature in the room. "I see you've been reading the Daily Prophet. So then, dad, who killed him?"
"You didn't seem to have a problem with them before."
"Don't change the subject! Do you believe those lunatics in the Ministry? Half of them probably support him and thought he was right!"
"For the last time, your brother did not die at the hand of a dark wizard!"
"Then what happened? According to you, I mean?"
"He…had an accident."
"You've gone mental! Why will no one believe me?"
"Because you killed him!"
The silence that followed this was deafening. The color from James's face drained almost as fast as his father's. "What?" James asked, his voice trembling. His legs gave out as he sat heavily in his chair and stared at the table, not really seeing it.
"Look," his dad said, sighing and rubbing his eyes. "Your mother, she wouldn't hear a word about it at all, but…"
"Who have you been listening to?" James asked, his eyes focusing and his head turning sharply to look at his dad.
"With your mother gone, it just…things make more sense."
James started to breathe heavily. They were shallow breaths, more moving air in and out of his mouth than going to his lungs. "Like the Prophet articles? On how the Great Potter Estate and Legacy were to go to Charles, so I killed him? Out of jealousy?" he said slowly. "Is that it?" he yelled, staring back at his dad.
"James, you didn't mean it. I know you didn't. Accidental magic is very powerful. I don't blame you for covering it up."
"Listen to yourself! Who put these ideas in your head?"
"It makes sense, James. I don't blame you."
"You're pathetic!" James yelled, getting up again. "You can't deal with the fact that your perfect heir died and now you have to make due with me!"
"Charles deserved it! He deserved to take over!" he yelled at his son, standing as well. "He wanted to! He knew what to do! What do you know? Just your stupid pranks, right? Your bloody ways to make people laugh? A war is coming!"
"I know!" James roared. "I saw the first casualty, remember?"
"You saw nothing," his father said coldly.
"You've been talking to them, haven't you? The Blacks? You've been having them over?"
"What does that matter?" he snapped.
"Because they're the ones putting ideas in your head! Ideas like that! I was devastated when Charles died!"
"You didn't cry," his father said simply, fixing his eyes on his son's. "You didn't even show emotion. You were just there, out of formality."
"Didn't cry, dad? You know why? Mum told me to be strong for you! Mum said that I could cry when we got home! She said I should be strong so you'd look good in front of your friends!" James said, his anger turning into frustration. "Why did you even invite me home? If you think I'm a bloody murderer, why would you ask me to come to your house?"
"Because you're family!"
"I am NOT family! I'm your bloody son! Or have you forgotten?"
"Of course I haven't! But Charles was my son too."
"Then don't allow those pure-blood idiots to enter your house!"
"They're family friends!"
"You know why I never minded them, dad? Because Sirius would beg me to invite them over! He would be pleading to figure out a way to get him out of that house!"
"Well, he solved that, didn't he?" he said bitterly.
"You think he should have stayed?" James said, shaking his head, an ironic smile on his lips that had nothing funny about it. "You're mental! Mum goes and your brain went with her! I'm not spending another minute in this house!"
"Just as well," he said coldly. "I wouldn't want you to make our guests feel uncomfortable."
James stormed up the stairs and his father went to the fireplace and floo-ed away to the Ministry. Lily got up and, looking around her, sat back down.
What do I do now?