IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE - PLEASE READ!

First let me say THANK YOU to all the people who wished me good luck and well wishes with my treatment. You all amazed me with your kindness and appreciative words, so thank you to everyone. I strived my hardest to get this chapter out to you before I go into hospital for a small operation, which according to UK time, I will be going to hospital in about an hours time. So, by the time any of you read this, I will be in hospital, waiting to go down into the operating theatre. So, this is my little present to you lot for being supportive and really understanding. It is short, but it's something, right?

Anyway, I'll be in hospital for about a week, and without any access to a computer I won't be writing, but I promise to attempt to handwrite it and all I need to do is type it up. With any luck you may have another chapter to read next weekend or just after, depending on my mood and how well I'm coping. So, I hope you enjoy this chapter, staring Harry, James, Dumbledore, Sirius, the Dursleys, and worst of all Voldemort….

Enjoy!

The Bond

Chapter 4 - Reunited at Last

…need your help. Come as quickly as you can. Aurors are falling; we need back-up.

Order of the Phoenix

Sirius rolled up the parchment, frowning. He passed it to James who was sitting at the table, reading the Daily Prophet. Eagerly he took the parchment and skimmed it.

"So, Voldemort has struck again and they need our assistance?"

"Seems like it." Sirius replied. "Pity Remus is undercover with the werewolf group or he would be included."

Sirius lifted his wand, pointed it at his head, apparated and appeared in a small village somewhere in Yorkshire. All around him people were screaming, children running, fear evident in their eyes and Aurors were fighting the Death Eaters. Bodies lay on the concrete, killed by the Killing Curse. James appeared beside him, and he brushed his hand through his hair. He felt nervous. This was only the second time that the two of them had been called out on Order business.

"Oh god," James muttered, as he gazed round. Fires spread through the streets, consuming the houses.

Then came cruel laughter through the smoke and James froze, his insides squirming. This person had been the last person he had ever seen: the one that had killed him, Voldemort. The red glowing eyes of his enemy sought him out, and an evil smile slid onto the snake-like features.

"Be strong, Prongs." his friend muttered, reaching out with a hand and rubbing his shoulders.

"I'm ready to face him, if not now, when will I be?" James asked, as he locked eyes with the terror in front of him. Terrified at the thought, it was his devotion to Harry that was giving him strength. If he did not aid his son, then there would be no hope for him. Gritting his teeth, he stepped forward, wand raised, the wind flinging his black hair back.

"Ah…." Voldemort began, "so the great James Potter has defied death, yet again. How ironic that we meet here of all places when I thought you'd be looking after your precious son. It's a shame you won't live to see him again."

James ducked, rolling to the side as the killing curse flew over his head. "Don't count on it!" he retorted, anger pouring through him. He rose up, planting his feet firmly in a duelling stance and cast "Engorgio!" even though he had no idea why he cast that, it was the first spell that came to mind.

The Dark Lord let the spell hit him but nothing happened, and he laughed at James' feeble attempt to harm him.

Sirius jumped forward and screamed: "AVADA KEDAVRA!" A flash of green light spread out from his wand and straight for Tom Riddle. For a few brief seconds Sirius (and James) thought that Voldemort would not move but he calmly stepped aside, the curse flying directly past him and hitting an unsuspecting Death Eater in the back. Toppling forward, dead before he could even wonder how. The Auror that he had been fighting threw Sirius a triumphant look before rushing off to help another one of his comrades.

Voldemort glared at Sirius, his eyes slitting. "CRUCIO!"

He tried to get up a shield but failed as the curse sent him flying backwards. Screaming and convulsing, Sirius dropped his wand, while James rushed forward, throwing curses at Voldemort, attempting to distract him.

"Leave him alone! It's me you want!" James yelled, anger fuelling through his body.

Voldemort smirked. "You seem to think you know what I want…well…Mr Potter, I will prove you wrong. I do not want you, it is your son."

James let his anger loose, throwing a curses at his enemy. Voldemort was tempting him, but he did not care. "I WON'T LET YOU GET HARRY! I JUST WON'T!"

"You can't protect him forever. One day soon you will slip up and I will be there to act upon it." sneered the dark lord.

James gritted his teeth and leapt forward, but a rough hand grabbed him by the shoulder holding him steadily. He struggled. "Let go, Sirius!"

"He's baiting you," his friend hissed back. "It will only make you madder! Don't lose focus!"

Focus….

That was essential for an Auror. Anger prevented focus, and that could lead to mistakes. A simple mistake could lead to death: James realised that Voldemort would not hesitate to kill him if the opportunity arose. And that opportunity was rising.

"Yes…listen to your friend, Potter." Voldemort hissed. Then the red glowing eyes focused on Sirius, blazing bright. "Shame really, so much talent. You would've made an excellent lieutenant in my service, if you had not betrayed your blood."

"The bonds of friendship are more important then blood ever will be." Sirius scowled.

"Things will change in the new world."

"There won't be a new world, not while I'm fighting for the innocent." Sirius declared, holding his wand.

"Then it'll give me great pleasure to kill you."

"Do your worst."

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Sirius ducked, pulling James with him. Raising his wand, James set off sparks, that would summon Aurors to them. He threw off a curse at his opponent before he realised that Kingsley Shacklebolt and Hestia Jones had apparated right by side them and were throwing spells around.

By the time the smoke from the sparks had dissipated, Voldemort was gone, leaving behind him a trial of destruction.

Brushing himself off, James pocketed his wand, helping Sirius to his feet and turned to regard the two Aurors that had aided them. "Jones, Kingsley."

"Potter. I see you are at the centre of attention, again?" Hestia Jones sassed.

"Not my fault that Voldemort has this vendetta against me." James replied.

Folding his arms, Kingsley glanced at his watch. "We better report in. You two can stay here and help clear up."

"Right." James said, gritting his teeth. He hated the cleaning stage of an operation; he preferred to write reports: it was completed quicker, whereas with the cleaning operation that could take days and weeks, depending on the situation. He was not happy about his assignment but once that was done he would be able to go to Harry. If that wasn't a reward for his efforts, then what was?

The clear up took more then a month as the Ministry of Magic had to deal with Muggles, especially the ones that had been involved or caught in the attack, as it included rebuilding houses from scratch, as well as working with all the Muggles to wipe their minds of the event. A lot of Muggles had fled during the attack and had to be tracked down, so that the secret of magic wasn't leaked out.

However James was spared from the entire clear-up though he had been assigned to help, he was called away by Dumbledore to collect Harry, which made Sirius very jealous, as he had been put in charge of the entire operation, meaning that he could not leave in the middle of it like James could.

He met Dumbledore on the corner of Privet Drive, at around eleven at night, and they slowly walked side by side to number 4. Silence came between them; James feeling worried about meeting his son. He hadn't seen him in weeks, what if Harry had changed his mood against him? Maybe he hated him? He shuddered. Harry wouldn't think that, would he?

"Don't let your nerves get the better of you, James." Dumbledore instructed, smiling lightly.

"I'm not." retorted James. "I'm just thinking. I've got nothing to worry about."

Dumbledore did not answer but James had the inkling suspicion that the headmaster had guessed why he was worrying, but did not comment on it for, perhaps the fear, of upsetting James.

At exactly eleven o clock Dumbledore and James made their way up the drive of Privet Drive and rung the door. Harry answered the door after a few seconds, but to James seemed like hours. His son looked well, and his bright green eyes shone when he saw his father. Harry's grin widened as he stepped aside allowing his visitors to enter.

"Dad." Harry simply said.

"How are you, Harry?" James asked.

His son shrugged. "Okay, I suppose. The Dursleys have been nice to me this summer then they ever have been."

"Good. You deserve to be treated with respect." James growled. He had always disliked Lily's sister and her husband, but then they had always shown dislike for him and Lily's unnatural abilities. They were not normal, according to them, but then James had the same thoughts on the Dursleys so they were square.

The first thing he noticed was that the room was spotless: no dust could be found. Harry led them into the lounge where the three Dursleys were sitting, looking extremely nervous.

"Have you got all your things packed, Harry?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes. My trunks in my room, all ready. Shall I bring it down?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Please do. You will need your belongings especially if you plan on going back to Hogwarts this year."

Harry grinned. "I wouldn't miss the school year for anything." He rushed out the room and made his way up the stairs, leaving James and Dumbledore to sit with the Dursleys. The Headmaster began humming to himself, a little tune that was well known throughout the Wizarding World, but for the life of him, James could not remember what it was. Instead he looked at the Dursleys.

Vernon had hardly changed in the years since he had last seen him but he had got fatter, his waistline bulging. His moustache was greying and his hair on his head was falling out. True James had seen him at the station just after term had ended but he had not had the chance to scrutinise him and assess what had changed over a long period of time.

He turned his attention to Petunia Dursley, who was Lily's sister, and who was so unlike her. Petunia was thin and bony, with dark brown hair and a pointed face. Her horsy like teeth stood out and her eyes had given her the look of something that should not be there, and James had the suspicion it was because of him. He shouldn't be there, but he was and it disgusted her.

Sitting wedged between his parents, his stomach flopping, was Dudley Dursley. His piggy eyes grew as he noticed James was looking at him. James had no desire to continue looking at his nephew, and turned his eyes back to the door way just as Harry walked in, holding his trunk.

"Ready?"

"Yeah." Harry grinned.

"I've got a few things to say to your Aunt and Uncle before we leave." Dumbledore explained, as he clasped his hands together allowing Harry a glimpse of his burnt hand, however he did not say anything as his eyes caught his father's.

"Now, as you know, Harry returns to your house every summer for protection. He only needs to return here once more, before he comes of age. Seventeen is the coming of age for Wizards. Next summer, he only needs to remain with you until his birthday and after that he can leave. I ask this only of you, to make him feel at home one last time."

Vernon nodded irrespectively, not seeming to care. "Sure. Now can you freaks leave my house?"

James rose to his feet. "We're not freaks." his eyes flashed angrily, as he glared. "Don't you dare insult me again!"

Vernon growled in response. "I will say exactly as a please in my house, you freak."

Standing up, James pulled ut his wand, pointing it at the Dursleys, but Dumbledore reached forward, grasping his wrist and preventing James from casting any spells. "We are civilised people, James. We may be hated and provoked but sometimes you have to live with this. You need to stop reacting to his insults: it gives him more incentive to do it again."

James sighed and lowered his wand. "Fine, come on then Harry, let's go."

Dumbledore inclined his head in respect. "We will be taking our leave now."

Harry turned towards the door, slipped on his trainers and picked up the side of his trunk.

"Here let me take it." James demanded.

Harry let him take his trunk. He smiled grimly. The small group stepped out into Privet Drive; Vernon slamming the front door viciously as the left. James scowled. He hated those Muggles with a vengeance. How dare they treat him like a freak, when he wasn't, just because he used magic didn't make him any different.

"Where are we going?" Harry asked as they walked down the road.

Dumbledore allowed a small smile to cross his face. "I need your assistance in a little mission. James, do you mind going to the Burrow, and awaiting our return?"

"But I thought you needed me?" James replied.

"I did. I wanted you t meet your son, and you have done. Coming with me and Harry may jeopardise my intent. After your little demonstration of anger, I fear that you may do the same to Horace Slughorn." Dumbledore explained. "Do not feel angry about this James. It is better this way. Harry is the only one who can help me."

Scowling James agreed. He hated being left out of things, especially when his son was at the centre of it all.

At the corner of Privet Drive, James and Harry hugged. "Be careful kiddo."

"I will dad." Harry grimaced as James' ruffled his hair. "See you soon."

"Yeah," James murmured, and he watched as Dumbledore and Harry side-apparated away to whoever knew where. Waiting a few minutes, James decided on a destination and apparated himself.

TBC

A bit of a mediocre ending, but I thought it was a god place to end the chapter. Coming next is James and the Weasley's, and Sirius learns more about his brother's death….

Review please and let me know what you think!

Bye for now, until next time we meet!

MissBlackPotter