Chapter 10
The Board is set
The day of the Potter ball had come all too soon for Raven, Yesterday her parents had dragged her to a shop and forced her into gown after gown. Promising her that this would be the night to end her spinsterhood. Raven had to bite back a snort, as if she where seventy two and living in a hubbel somewhere with an absurd amount of cats. If being poked and picked by needels hadnt been enough this morning they had informed her the worst. They had aranged for an "escort" as they put it. Raven wasnt a fool, this reeked of blind date and her mothers twisted plots.
"Raven, you frightfull child are you listning!" Her mothers shrill repremand brought Raven out of her dark thoughts. Her mother wore black robes perfectly pressed and so starched, they looked as if they could walk on thier own. Her Ash blond was noted in a tite bun that looked almost painfull. Perhapes that was the reason her face was always pinched with displeaser. When as a child Raven had asked why her mother frownd so, she'd swatted her on the bottom and remarked that it was more likely Raven herself, the blott on the family name that had put the frown on her face. Raven was of the opinion her mother was a seer, becuase even in family portraites taken before she was born her mother never smiled. She must have forseen her birth even at the wedding she hadnt smiled then either.
In fact if the mere thought of her daughter had put such a frown on her face it was a wonder Emilla Jenkins hadnt thrown herself from the roof at her birth. "I knew you would come to this end, the moment I saw you. You have her looks after all, how that came about i'll never know..." Raven let her mothers voice go in her ears but really didnt process it beyond that point. She could go on like this for hours. Her great Aunt was always a source for moans and growns in this family. Apparntly the woman had been such a disgrace to the family she'd been banished never to be spoken of again. Her portiats removed, things burnd her name a curse not spoken in polite society.
Raven had not even known her name untill she'd attended her first Year of Hogwarts, where apon she'd seen a picture of a previouse Ravenclaw head girl in the Ravenclaw commen room. The likeness was so startling, she'd thought she was staring at an aged picture of herself. But no the face was slightly diffrent and obviously six years older. Rayeln or Raye Jenkins had winked at her with pluck and blown her a kiss her raven hair flouncing around her shoulders. As if they shared a secret, as if she knew exactly who she was looking back at. The potriate had spoken to her of course as portiats tended to do.
"Ah finally was wondering when you'd get here." And that had started the oddest of friendships, if one could really be friends with a portait. It was more like Raven was given a window into her past, where she had come from. In many ways Her mysterious great Aunt was more a mother to her then her own. As the years had worn on and she'd spent nights and other odd moments talking to the portriat of Raye, as she'd insisted she be called, she'd thought the situation over and over again. She was nothing like her family even her own twin. How could they be twins yet so diffrent.
"I warnd your father not to take in his aunts little Bratt I warnd him, now you've brought a blite to our entire family just like the both of them did. I wont have it Raven, you here me! You will be utterly Respectful You will..." Raven shot foward ignoring the rest of her Mothers Tirade. What had she just said... She stared at her mother. She whent on with her rant her face frosty and that ever present frown on her face. his aunts little bratt the words echod in her head swimingh around up there, swirling back and forth.
"I knew it! I'm not your daughter, is Raye my mother! Why didnt you tell me!" She shouted in excitment, inturpting her mother cousin? Aunt? what was she? It probably wasnt in the best taste to show such excitment at not being related to someone but, she'd felt for years she didnt belong here. Besides if there was love lost on her mother, aunts cousins, end she would die of shock. Emillas already somber frown darkend to fury as she clenched her fists.
"Listen to me closely Raven, i'm telling you your orgins in some hope that you may want to save yourself from making her mistakes!" Emilla had spat out the word her, like it was a nasty taste in her mouth. Raven fought not to leap to her Great aunts Mothers?- defense. She sat back and waited.
"when I married into this family I knew I couldnt have made a better match, or my father a better choice. The Jenkins even then where well on thier way to being the most powerfull family in all of Britian. I vowed that with my guidance it would become so. It troubeld me to know that they hadnt already, after all the blood was pure the money endless. Why wherent we at the top of the social latter gods of the world of money and power? My answer came soon enough. Rayeln Jenkins!" Emillas face had turnd white with something simiular to terror it was laced with a good amount of Disgust. She clenched her hans in her lap as if remembering the young woman made her uncously nervouse.
"She was an oddety a freak, I knew it from the get go. You see your Great grandfather Daven Jenkins was a great man, industrous and ambitous. He was the first Jenkins to take dreams and hopes and start to make them a reality. He took a respected family and made it a feard one, Naturlly such a sucessfull man like himself could have had any woman he wanted. He married your Great Grandmother a perfeclty lovely and respectabl woman and she gave him a son your Grandfather. But she wasnt enough was she, he met a muggel woman A slutt a tart a Gypsy wench with hair as dark as sin, and your Great aunt was thiery By blow. When the fool died in Child birth Daven thought it his duty to take the child. A nobel sentiment but one that would prove a thorn in this familys side." Emilla was seething with contempt her hands clenched in surpressed furry.
"The little tart was raised like a lady like a princess but every chance she got she brought shame down on us. As if the sordid blood in her viens werent enough she defied her father at every turn. And when she whent to school! Not one Jenkins has been anything other then Slythern and why not! There is nothing to be ashamed of in our blood in our line. But our blood wasnt good enough for Miss Rayeln now was it, instead of being properly ashamed at being put in Ravenclaw she stuck up her little nose and proclaimed she was HAPPY ABOUT IT! She was a Harriden running around with boys of poor birth and everything less then a lady. She was no better then the Muggel slutt that Birtherd her. Davens wife begged him to cast her out disown her. And just when he saw sense the unthinakble happend." Emilla was panting now an unatuall glint of jellousy... in her gaze.
"Tom Riddel showd an intrest in her, she was out of school by then and that paticualr young man as we all know well was gaining power and respect in all the right circles. She could have been great she could have been little less then a queen but she not only snubbed him she outright ran away! She brought the dark lords Wrath and dislike on our family forcing us to scuttel around on our bellys for years. Whats worse the other wizzards susspected us of being in leauge with him. Had she married the fool no one would have dared censure the family we would have been..." She was nearly frothing at the mouth Raven realized watching her... whatever she was to her with dawning horror. This family is twisted and darkend by ambiton. She'd always known it, but not to this extent. Raye should have been aplauded for fleeing the attentions of one so Twisted as Lord Voldemort even when he was young enough and not quit lord voldemort yet. Her family should never have even contemplated alining with him.
"We were caught between a rock and a hard place because of her, furry on both sides of us from dark wizzards and light alike. The familys power broke beneath our feet. The Malfoys became all that we had wished to be. Powerfull and respected amongst Light Wizzards and Right hand to the dark lord. Powerfull in both worlds. We lost it all because of her, we even didnt have peace of mind anymore. When the dark lord came to full power we feard for our lives! Would he take out his vengance on us? He didnt, he mocked us saying we where to small a worry. Ha he got his due, defeated by a Babe! While he still riend Your Grandfather a grown man by that time with his own children my husband amoung them, began to rebuild the peices. So by the time of My husbands birth we were back on stabel ground. After all we were never death eaters never one of voldemorts people. "
"She came back into our lives, The little slutt had married a poor wizzard of now acount some fool she'd nown from school. They had children a girl and a boy, Her father was a dying old fool by that time and somehow she got his forgviness his blessing. In his deluded state he thought Tom Lord voldemort by this point would take her back and we could have all we ever wanted, Ha the little tramp just wanted to spread her thighs amoung the poor class! She was welcom in this house as long as her father was alive but as soon as he died her Brother your Grandfather booted her out on her arse where she belonged. By that time My husband had grown up knowing her Children and it was he who conviced his own father that his cousin your mother should not share her mothers fate. We kicked her out penless and alone to wander the earth and starve or to be found by Voldemort and killed acordingly whichever came first. Her daughter Slivia was seventeen when she prooved to be just as much as a slutt as her mother, she told us we were twisted evil. She spat in our faces and ran off. Oh it hurt Garret after all he'd champiod her she could have gone off to die like her mother. I Married Garret like our familys had always planed and we had Camilla and I was pregnant with Gregory before we ever saw her again"
Raven, trembeld the sickness in this family was like a disease, she didnt want to hear what had become of Silvia who she had begun to susspect...
"It was a night i'll always remember, the night the world will always remember.Gregory was a year old I was nursing him on my lap when thier was shouting pounding on the door. The news was everywhere Voldemort had fallen, he'd tried to kill the Potters. Sirius Black had betrayd them. We no longer had to fear his wrath thier was nothing standing in our way, except for compassion. The door flew open and thier she stood rain soaked shivering and holding...You a year old if that. She begged Garret for shelter and it was his soft heart that made him give in. I told him to toss the slutt out on her ear, she had a fever likely Whores disease and she was mad stark raving mad muttering things about Betryal, cyring. We never did know who your father was by that time her mind was spent. In my opion the sap cried herself to death, perhapes the fool died whoever he was."
Raven clenched her fists, how dare she! All her life she'd been lied to misteeted and unloved and now she knew why. And the woman she just knew who would have loved her had died in thier home unaided by them. She tried to keep her temper in control as Emilla contiued
" Your mother waisted away from fever and grief and we were left with you. Garrat the man whos raised you as his own with his compassion took you as our own and since you and Gregory were born so near each other we had to tell everyone you where twins. I knew what a mistake takeing you in was. So far you've prooved that its all in the blood, I wont let you ruien this family. I wont let the soft hearted weakness of My husband and the other men of this family kill it. Malfoy is going to be escorting you to this ball tonight and you will be charming, blimey you should even try using that wicthy beauty the women of your ilk so enjoy on him. Either way your going to be the intsrument of power in this tale. YOU OWE IT TO US!"
That was too much, Raven shot to her feet her fists shakeing, her eyes blazing. She felt hot all over, and she tried her best to resist the urge to hex this woman who she'd always believd to be her mother. "I dont owe you a bloody thing. All i've known from you and your daughter is contempt! Compassion! you dont know the meaning of the word, you let her die there! If Garret loved her so bloody much why did he let her die!" Emilla snarled at her standing with cat like grace her mouth puckerd in a sneer. "Because even he knows when all hope is lost. He championd her in the hopes she could succed where her mother had failed. She sighnd her death sentance when she spurnd this family. And so will you, Daughter! SO if you know whats good for you use your charms on Malfoy! I'd get dressed if i where you the balls only a couple hours away." And with that Emilla Jenkins swept from the room, her menace and distaste like a cloud in the air.
It was no idel threat, Raven knew it. Her great aunt had died, they where shure of it and if she was anything like her portriat starvation and no money would not have been enough. Raye had been without fear and resorcfull. If she was trully dead, and by the glint of satisfaction she'd glimpsed in Emillas eyes she knew this to be true; then it had to have been Voldemort. She shiverd, Raye was to willy to be caught anywhere near him her death reeked of betrayl. Her own brother had deliverd her to the wolfe, and without remorse. and her daughter betrayed by her own cousin. Madame Pomfrey a school healer for christs sake could heal any fever! If Silvia had died from fever then they had let her die, she doubted if a heeler had even been called. They had let her die, and that to her mind was nothing short of murder. She wasnt safe in her own home. she was trapped in a game not to her makeing.
Life was like a game of Wizzards chess, you set the tabel then the pieces began to move. Thier was Emilla and Garret on one side, and she was a pawn. All her life they had dericted her, pawn to red seven please. She was a pawn like her mother and her mother before her. She clenched her hands into fists, she wouldnt be! She would never be, it was time she took her destiny in her own hands. She shiverd, Raye and Silvia had done the same, but had faild only to come back to this very house beaten and broken. No! That wouldnt be her, she was going to make it. She didnt know how but she was going to make it. But first she needed answers, Emilla had mentiond Raye had, had two children. A boy and a girl what had happend to her Uncle. Was he still alive out there somewhere?
If he was she could go to him, if he wasnt then she would just leave she would head far out of england and no matter what happend to her she would never come back here. But untill then in order not to get herself killed she would play their game. With draco, this could hurt him. If her parents had thier way they'd be engaged in a week. And when she left whether it was to her uncle or just as far the hell away from england as possible...She could hurt him. She didnt want to hurt him, most likely she wouldnt if Draco Malfoy ever loved her piggs would fly. She had to admit it, it was her she worried about. It was easy to play at being in love with a man you already loved. It would hurt her too leave but hurt more to receive a kiss from him when he did it from greed rather then love.
Why had he said yes? Draco cursed himself the entire time he pace the front hall of the Jenkins home. When Gregory had asked him to escort his sisster to the potter ball his first intinct had been to cross himself and back away. He wasnt a fool, he was far to close to doing something utterly foolish when it came to her. Besides spending an evening with a woman who had seen you bare arsed and being whipped by your father wasnt his idea of a pleasnt experiance. Besides Raven detested him, like so many others she hated him for his name. Not fair draco it might be the fact your responsible for the death of the most beloved man in history. If you didnt pull the trigger you certianly cocked the gun.
It could be because you nearly killed Harry potter everyones hero and just barely escaped your own trap with both your lives. She could very well detest you because your you and not simply because your a Malfoy. All in all the thought of spending an evening with Raven when she was beautiful and everything he'd ever wanted in a woman and he was... diffecant. Was not his idea of an evening well spent. He was a fool, he'd always been a fool an idiot a moron. Even in school when he was preocupied with popularity and punishing Harry for not seeing how much they both could mean to each other she had been a whisper in the back of his mind. He'd watched her as a first year always partly affriad she would reveal to everyone his moments of weakness his shame. She'd never said a word to anyone.
Good lord he'd watched her like a Phantom for four years, if not dogging her every step something too near puppy dog adoration for his taste. And they rarely spoke, a casul nodd a hi here or there. Or once or twice she'd asked him if her brother was in the common room and if so could he send him out? As a student he had often contemplated what the others would say, there wasnt a doubt in anyones mind who was the most popular student in slytherin. And if he dated a Ravenclaw? She was a fellow slytherins sister that might help smooth over any complaints. It wasnt unheard of afterall it wasnt as if she was a Griffendor or anything. Childrens rivalries can run just as deeply as adults hed found out.
He'd nearly done it in his fourth year, Nearly made a complete ass of himself and humilated them both. He'd been ready to ask her, was in fact sauntering up to ask with crabbe and Goyle at his bac with a few other mates. He'd found her in a Hallway with Gregory they were arguing fiercly about something. Then head heard her shout. "Are they crazy Malfoy! Malfoy of all people! Never you can just tell them i'd rather puke or better yet i'll merry the Giant squid!" With everyone snickering at him and that feeling of shame and hurt mingling in his belly he'd done the only thing he could do. He'd sneerd at her and turnd to Gregory, "oh please Greg, dont tell me your trying to fix me up with her. After all she is a bitt flatt. Well since your such a good friend i'll fix her up with someone. Someone here might just stoop low enough if its just for a night"
What was wrong with him, he tried so hard not to be like him. Not to destroy the things he loved and to drive people away. He tried so bloody hard, but how could he escape who he was even if he'd found no enjoyment in her fury in her hurt in the way she stormed off and everyone had laughed. He'd still done it struck out blindly to hurt when he had been hurt. Vengance is the ambrosia of gods his father had tried to teach him, and it looked as if he had taught the lesson well.
If that incidant hadnt crushed any hope in him, then he was a fool. Which he had already prooved many times in his life. She was always there in his mind, much like Harry was. With Harry it was if some part of his soul recognized in him something he needed, something he wanted. With Raven it was an obession in his mind his body in his very being. That was why instead of like a smart man and saying no to Gregorys request he had instead like the puppy dog he was said yes. Beacuse he wanted...He didnt know what he wanted.
"What takes Women so Bloody long to get dressed anyway" Beside him Gregory complaned. Draco shruged. In his opinion Gregory was just to spineless. He wasnt a bad person reall, he was just such a follower. It would never occur to him to come out of his parents thumb. It had always been that way, in his youth Draco had enjoyed people like that his choice of friends was evident. He liked feeling in control, liked feeling like a leader. Harry had always made a mockery of that, spineless and wormy people followed like sheep anyone. People of substance like Ron and Hermione, they didnt fallow just anyone. Draco sighed, was it to much to ask for real friends. Friends who would tell him when he was being a gitt, or a moron. Friends who didnt bow and scrape and fallow mindlessly.
"Women do like to fuss son, women like to make an impression." Garret Jenkins was fussing with the buttons on his black dress robes. He turnd to face, Draco a bright smile of was that ownership?- on his lips. "Our little Raven has been so excited about this ball, hasnt she darling" Garret inquired of his wife and daughter. Emilla and Camilla Jenkins both nodded wisely tossing draco simpering looks. " my poor sister i fear is quit star struck, Mr. Malfoy its all she could talk about all week. So finally we took pitty on her and asked Greg to ask his dear friend to escort her. The poor door she's so shy and lady like she mite never have worked up the courage to ask you herself" Camilla sighed into her fan, batting her face as if the romance of it where to much for her to bear. What was going on here, Raven Shy lady like, Star struck with him? HA! Your a fool malfoy, he berated himself part of him a stupid foolish part was...hopefull.
"Ah there she is, ah my dear what a vison" Emillas vioce was filled with pride and was that Triumph? Draco turnd his head and found himself falling. The raven of the muggel jeans and casualy rumpled clothing was gone. The gown was the coller of dimonds he was sure, not silver not blue and not quiet clear either. All he could think was Dimonds, she glitterd their were some at her throat and some at her ears. Her hair that long glorious wave of ebony that always made him itch to touch was piled ontop her head with artfull tendrals framing her face. Her hair glitter, had she woven it with dimondes? He wasnt aware that he was moving wasnt aware that he carried himself to the bottom of the stares or that he was gapping up at her like...like... some sort of puppy.
Any minute now she would shatter him, she would give him some hint of how much she hated him. She did everytime they met. Her parents may have gotton her to agree but they couldnt force her to like it, and he was afraid that it was too late to gaurd his heart against her. Many many years too late. He nearly fell backwards when her face lit up in a smile, she was smileing at him as if she had been holding that smile inside her forever. She was bewitching enchanting and she was doing something to him he didnt think was possible. He was falling falling falling and he couldnt do a bloody thing to stop it.
"Your so Beautiful Raven" Had he just Said that! He waited for her to fling it back at him, to whip him with contempt. She smiled at him, that smile doing funny things to his gutt. She layed her hand in his, and he brought it to his lips, couldnt help himself. She let a tiny gasp of surpise at the guesture thier was something in her eyes. They were warm, they were beautiful and so knowing. There was a fire there, and if he didnt stop throwing himself in it he was sure to be burnd. When her lips parted on a soft sigh giving him a tiny glimps of a heaven he desperatly wanted to taste, Burnd wasnt the problem. He had been standing in her fire for ages and had been seerd inside and out. In a last desprate attempt to hurl himself to safty he asked " Are you ok, Raven somethings diffrent about you?"
She glanced at her parents, who both watched her with concern and fear it seemd like, where they afraid she was sick or that she would realize who she was talking to and slap him for the audicity of even looking at her. She did no such thing, she sighed and put a hand to his cheek. That alone nearly caused him to die of shock and to go up in flames nearly all at once. "I just want this night to be perfect between us, we had words before I know. But I'm sorry for that, i was. Scared, sometimes my own emotions frighten me." What was wrong with her. Raven Scared, Raven was never scared of anything least of all scared of how she felt for a man. He knew something wasnt right here he knew it his gutt told him every instinct told him. But here she stood blushing at him smileing up at him asking for the world, not knowing that in doing so she was giving him the world. What man could say no to that.
Draco took her hand and ignored the warning bells that seemd to clang so loudly int the grins of triumph all over the Jenkins faces.
something was about to happen, tonight was about more then a ball, tonight past present and futcher would colide. He just knew it As Harry stood at the top of the stair case the first guest begining to file in. He was edgy he was relaxed he was darn right Ferral inside his own skin. Had he given this ball for Fred and Luna like he had thought or for some other reason... Followers he needed followers for his plans...His thoughts were clouded in disrae. He didnt know when Voldemort had begun to fade, it wasnt that he felt him leaving. More like he simply stoped, faded into the background. Like a deircter fading into the audiance to watch what he had created. Like a farmer the seeds planted who sat back to watch them grow. Who couldnt he seperate himself from the taint. He had always been aware before that he was being compelld. He hadnt been abel to stop it but at least he could tell. Now... Now he just was. Now he looked around him and He was the Taint. The most terrifing thing was it no longer scared him. He nolonger cared. His son scamperd from his room to his side smiling up at him. Harry took his son in his arms the love was still there he wanted everything for his son. I'm going to give you the world James, the entire world whether anyone likes it or not.
To be a king one had to make sacrifices, and one had to have followers. tonight was about Followers, who amongst his guest would prove to be a follower and who would turn out to be a sacrifce. His son snuggeld closer to him, Harry kissed his forhead. I've trully fallen havent I. The question was disspasiont like he was asking the wheather. He couldnt bring himself to care, it no longer matterd. He was dulled worn away empty...He was going to own the world, anything that he wanted and he would give it to his sons, and his wife. The only joy in a world that had become empty and grey. He had set the Board, now all he had to do was move the pawns. The people below him in his front hall dressed in all thier finery were all pawns. And if they knew what was good for them they would Follow. He glimpsed Flaxen Hair in the crowd below, Malfoy. Malfoy could proove to be his greatest asset. If he was anything like his father he would be key in Harrys...voldemorts..did he even know which anymore? Thier plans. If he prooved to be even half the man Remus thought he was he would be a danger, but either way he would be used. On Malfoys arm was a woman, and juding by the look written all over his face that was they woman! Something to file away. When she looked up to smile at something he said Harry felt voldemort stirr for the first time in Days.
RAYELN! The name was like a shout of shock. Voldemorts discomfort sent a flood of memories in Harrys mind. They'd been closely tied when they hadnt shared a body now it was almost impossible to seperate thier minds. A dark haird woman, Tom riddels obsession for her beauty... she'd denied him...He'd killed her long and slow and cruely years later. she'd had a daughter... Just a babe at the time. Somehow Voldemorts emotions helpd Harry to find his own. Stay out of my head, Tom your time is over. You let your woman get away from you. Bad taste in killing her by the way, now your alone and what good does that do?
Voldemort didnt like being mocked or called Tom for that matter. And Ginny wont run from you when she realizes what you have become. Can one so could ever stand to be near one such as us. You will kill her in the end as I did, if only so you dont have to face what you have made of yourself. NoT what I have made of me, What you have Made of Me! Dont fool yourself Harry you have made yourself. If thats true old man then why the need to possess me! Never did like waiting Harry and it would have taken you a while yet to realize your potental. I know my potential Tom, I'm going to take what I want, and what i want is a world free of evil of you. If i have to conqure it to do that I will. Oh so very nobel Harry, the world doesnt like Conquers whether they where the mantel of hero or not. So do me a favor and murder that little witch for me. forget it, i need her.
"PAPA!" Harry snaped out of his own mind and looked down at his son, who was tugging at his hair. "Ouch James dont do that" He scolded even as james let go. A puzzeld pout was on his lips. "You werent listning and your eyes were all funny papa your ok arent you." The pout had melted away to worry James tiny fingers reached up to touch his face. He felt pain, he loved his son so much and somehow even that emtoion had becmome twisted. Had he really just stood there contemplating conquering murder and blackmail and not cared. He was falling, Fallen and he couldnt stop it. Even now as he contemplated it the pain and the shock was fading and the numbness was returning. He smiled down at his son, after all nothing was wrong he was perfectly fine. In fact he was enlightend, beyond anything he had ever been. One day James would rule by his side, and he would thank him.
"I'm fine James, where is your brother?" Harry asked ruffling his sons hair. James shrugged. "He's coming he couldnt get his dress robes on right." Harry scoweld, His second son was a little too tender for his likeing. Winning and owning the world wasnt enough. To keep it his sons would both have to be strong. James he didnt worry about but Sirius. No matter he would make a man of his son if it killed him. "Did you help him?" harry Asked. James ducked his head blushing as if he were ashamed. "Uh.. Sorry papa i'll go and..." Harry took his tiny chin in his head and looked derictly at his son. "No, dont be ashamed. In this world the strongets person survives. Siruis needs to learn that, and he will learn it the hard way if need be. You James have nothing to be ashamed of. Never be ashamed you are a god amoung ants, the world is yours if you'll take it. Understand me son." James stared at him in something close to horrifed facination. He nodded.
Just then Siruis bedroom door opend and he toddeld out his dress robes askew. He brightend when he saw harry and James and toddeld towards them at an akward run. "James, Help, they stuck" He pleaded his arms flopping pittifully. James glanced at his father who nodded in encouragment. James turnd to sirius. "Do it yourself siruis. Bloody hell your such a baby!" Siruis Gapped up at his brother like he'd been smacked. Tears gatherd at the corner of his eyes. "JAMES POTTER! Where on earth did you hear such language you opologize to your brother right this instant!" Ginny was standing at the top of the stairs her hands on her hips. She was...She was wearing a dress of pure emerald green. It sparkled at him as if it teased his senses with its brilliance. She was everything, his body was alive she was a blaze of color in his grey and twisted new world. She was... Ginny.
Siruis was crying clutching his mothers leg, James was looking to him for guidance. What had he done, what was he doing... Harry started to trembel, he nodded towards James. James mumbeld and apology, and hung his head, confusion and hurt on his face. He started to tear, but unlike Siruis he didnt give into them. He balled his little fists and bit them back for all he was worth. Ginny was staring at him with confusion. "Harry dont just stand there, i think you need to have a talk with your son about his behavior! you know man to man. Siruis and i will be waiting downstairs. She fixed his dress robes and Carried Siruis down the stairs.
"Papa, you said..." James words faded as he bit back the tears threatning to overwhelm him. Harry took his hand and tugged him foward into his arms. "I know what I said, I know. I'm sorry James. I should have warnd you. Women are, well they dont always like the facts of life. So sometimes its important to shelter them. Work around their too compasiont naturs untill thier ready to accept it. Your mother will come to terms with it in time. Men just realize it sooner thats all." He smoothed his sons unrully hair, and was proud when the tears faded and James nodded up at him a small smile on his face. "Mom is too nice sometimes, is that what your saying?" He looked up at Harry Hopefully. Harry nodded down at him a smile on his face, he took his sons hand. "You shouldnt feel ashamed, you did exactly the right thing James. Always love your mother and respect her, but remember she sees the world through a womans eyes. Now come on lets go to the party."
James loved his Papa, Papa was wise and smart and so strong. He always knew what was best. James tried to ignore the feeling that something was wrong. Papa had always told him to be nice to Siruis that he was smaller and needed more care and couldnt always keep up with him. The little boy in him wanted to listen to Papa when he said Siruis needed to grow up and learn things the hard way. Cause papa looked at him and thought he was strong. Because as long as Siruis was week papa would love him best. But that wasnt right, he knew it wasnt. The way Mama had looked at him, like she was shocked and dissapointed, The way Siruis had looked at him as if James had struck him. That wasnt right, something wasnt right. Maybe nothing was right anymore, all he knew was that he had lost his papa once and he never wanted to again. Even if he wasnt right. James shiverd and clutched tighter to his fathers hand.
The Board has been set and the peices are about to move.
