Well I decided to update a day earlier, since so many people want me to. This chapter is dedicated to Lady Taliesin for proof-reading this for me. Thank you!

ENJOY!

Chapter 20

The Strength of the Bond

Standing before Voldemort, James held his own, battling aside the curses the Dark Lord threw at him. Harry remained at his feet, curled up on the ground, his hands clutched around his wand, waiting patiently for the right moment to strike. Having planned their attack, both knew that this battle was crucial. As long as Voldemort did not suspect anything, then that would allow them to defeat him. The danger of him already knowing was already there, and they hoped it would work.

Voldemort tossed curse after curse; James ducking or repelling them as he went, defending Harry as best he could. His son needed to gather his strength. In order to cast the killing curse he needed it. James knew he was adept enough to cast it, he had enough power, but Harry needed his strength to accomplish his task.

Gritting his teeth, James stepped forwards, brandishing his wand as a grin spreading across his face. "Come on!" he goaded. "Hit me!"

He side-stepped as a babbling curse overshot him, barely missing Harry.

"Do you really believe you can defeat me?" gloated Voldemort.

"No." he answered calmly. "But I may as well try." Grinning, he side-stepped another curse, ducked, shot out the stunning spell, ducked again, and was hit by the imperious curse. His mind thought 'Oh' as he heard Voldemort order him to kill Harry.

He tried to fight the presence off, but he had never been that good at doing it. Lily had been the mistress at it, and Dumbledore the master. He felt his body moving as he turned towards Harry, who was climbing to his feet, determination in his eyes. Within his stupor James realised this is what Harry wanted him to do. He wanted him to try to kill him. His mind seemed to cloud over, obscuring his thoughts.

Raising his wand, his mouth moved casting the Killing Curse.

Green light sped towards Harry, and all his son did was stand there, a mocking grin on his face.

He had expected this. Had planned for this eventuality. As his father moved to kill him, he rested his gaze on Voldemort, but then he swivelled his attention back to his father. His hands hung at his sides, and he waited.

James cast the killing curse, and as the green light sped towards him, Harry brought up his own wand in a flash, casting his own. The two curses connected forming a rigid green line of death. Screams echoed around, wailings of those killed by them.

Voldemort stared at the pair, raising his wand he prepared to strike down James. He screamed in triumphantly. "Let's see you defeat me when your father is dead!"

Still under the influence of the Imperious, James could not move out of the way of the killing curse and as it sped towards him, he connected his mind to Harry and said, "Do whatever you can to kill him Harry, I know you can do this. Focus. I love you. Remember that." but Harry sent a quick thought instructing him to not break their bond connection. James struggled to maintain the link, even as his arms shook from the pressure of his wand; the green light never faltering.

The Avada Kedavra hit him, and yet, he remained standing, aware that Voldemort was staring surprised at them. Then he yelled: "Break the connection, James Potter and kill your son!"

James felt himself trying to obey, but Harry entwined his consciousness with his father's forcing the Imperious to scatter and break, releasing it's hold on James. Now that he had his freedom, James forged a stronger connection with his mind, securing the holes and cracks that had begun to break in the line. Then, his wand started to shake, heating up, nearly burning his fingers before a bang erupted. The unmistakeable light of green shot out, travelling down the connection towards Harry, who stood defiantly, waiting for the right moment.

Just as the green light was about to touch his son's wand, Harry shouted out: "Break the connection!"

Twisting away, James pulled his wand up high into the sky. He quickly ducked as the killing curse his son had originally cast still sped towards him, while the one he had cast, and Voldemort's (that had mysteriously gone through James and towards Harry) continued to him. "Harry! Look out!"

Yet, Harry did not falter.

The two curses connected with the edge of his wand and with all his strength, Harry screamed, 'REPELLIO!' again, pointing his wand at Voldemort, which sent the curse back towards his enemy.

Voldemort was unable to move, stunned by what he had witness. It was too late before he registered any thought to move. The two curses hit him with such force that he flew back, smashing him into the earth as his body went limp and his heart ceased to beat the words of life.

Tom Marvolo Riddle was dead.

The power radiating from Harry's wand faded, a white light having cascading across the landscape, blinding even Harry. He glanced at his father, a grin spread over his face, but his legs buckled beneath him, and he fell to the floor.

As Harry collapsed, James rushed towards his son. He noticed blood running from his mouth. "No," Tears welled in his eyes, as he cast one last look at the smouldering form of Voldemort, before lifting Harry into his arms and turning away, walking towards a group of people running towards them.

He couldn't lose Harry, not now.

"Prongs!" Sirius yelled, his face brightening as he saw his friend was unhurt, but his grin slipped from his face as he noticed Harry being carried, completely out cold, almost looking like he was dead. "No!"

James glanced up, his cheeks tear-stained. His gaze fixed on the Death Eaters, and the flames evident in his eyes, stopped them in their tracks. "Your master is dead. Leave, or my wrath will be terrible."

His eyes flared with danger and anger. "Go."

Exchanging glances, the Death Eaters considered his words, before Apparating away. They had chosen life over a possible death.

"Is he really dead?" Remus asked, gently leaning down and looking at Harry. "He's still alive, but I think he is fading. Dumbledore can save him."

"Then that's where I'll be."

Sirius moved to take hold of James' arm, but Remus stopped him. "I'll go. I know a bit about healing. You bring back Narcissa, if she lives."

He nodded. "Neville, Draco, with me," and he marched off, back towards the body of his cousin, while Remus double-apparated with James and Harry.

"I'm sorry," Sirius hung his head, gently closing the eyes of his cousin. They had been unable to save Narcissa, she was already gone by the time they had got back to her. The curse had worked quickly within her mind; the shock of everything in the past few weeks had been too much of a shock for her to cope with. The curse had been the final straw.

Kneeling beside his mother, Draco Malfoy sobbed. He had never felt so lonely in his entire life. Brought up to hate muggle-borns and half-bloods, he had never expected his life to take this drastic turn. Instead of hatred towards Muggles, he now loved them. They had done nothing wrong to him, but the Pure-blood fanatics had destroyed his world. He had no one left.

Raising his head he stared into the sky, anger in his heart. Silently he vowed to work towards a better world, one where everyone could live alike. Scrambling to his feet, he walked slowly away.

TBC

I hope I didn't disappoint anyone! If you don't understand this, answers come in the next chapter, however there have been clues throughout the chapters that have hinted at the Bond between Harry and James.

Please let me know what you think!

Next chapter: Many Goodbyes - Tearful farewells for many….

Bye for now!

MissBlackPotter