Disclaimer:I own nothing. HP belongs to JK Rowling.
Chapter 3
Spring passed, summer and autumn came too fast. In no time, six years had gone by since that fateful night. Since then, the threat of Voldemort had increased exponentially. His name had become so feared that many refused to mention it, opting to call him "you know who" or "he who must not be named". James Potter for one thought that this was all just rubbish. After all, fear of a name would just increase the fear of the person itself or so someone had told him before. He worked hard as an auror for the ministry and as the war had steadily progressed; his fragile home life had become steadily worse. He was already under a lot of stress having chosen to marry a muggleborn witch instead of a pureblood as his mother would have liked. But he loved his Lily and she had been the brightest witch at Hogwarts despite her humble birth.
Their happy family life had been devastated by the lost of their firstborn son, who had been killed by Voldemort and his followers during an attack to their home. He and his wife had barely escaped unscathed and then only by the use of an emergency portkey that Albus had provided them. He could still remember that night. He could still hear Lily's cries ringing in his ears. "No, not Harry…please don't!" She had kept wailing and seemed almost hysterical as he had dragged her with him and activated the portkey.
That had proved to be the breaking point of their already strained relationship. All the arguments with his parents had taken its toll, in addition to his workload and the lost of his son had created a huge rift between them. His Lily was constantly moping in the nursery, decorated in the little lion and griffin wallpaper that he had insisted upon since there was no way his son would not be a Gryffindor. He had vehemently protested the little pink hearts and daisies that Lily had picked out; pointing out that no son of his would be a sissy. Now, the room that had brought them so much joy to plan and decorate had become their source of grief.
The attack had occurred not two nights ago and had been identified as an attack aimed to incapacitate two of the ministry's finest aurors. It just seemed unfair that the ones killed had not been the aurors themselves, but its effects were just as far-reaching.
………….
Riddle Manor
His Lord seemed to be in a good mood that night. Voldemort had just returned from an attack at the Potter household a few nights back, a family which had been a thorn in their side for far too long. Voldemort himself had changed much since that same evening six years ago, yet now it was almost as if one could see a bit of his old self peeking through and he was curious to see what had wrought this change. Narrowing his onyx eyes as he thought, he followed after his Lord to his personal chambers. Perhaps being the brother-in-law of one of the most dangerous and powerful person around had some advantages. After-all he was less likely to get cursed during random spurts of anger and Voldemort was much more trusting of his wife's brother than any of his other death eaters.
They had once been close, when they were younger. When his sister had been going out with Tom, they had been such a happy couple, he could not have thought of a better match for his dear Emelyn. Despite how he was now, he had really loved her and back then he had been ambitious but without the cruel edge that had progressively become more evident in recent years. He had been the perfect gentleman, young, intelligent, handsome and perceptive. Even his parents had been hard pressed to reject his offer despite his less than pure bloodline.
………..
Deep in a magical forest, hidden by layers of magic so thick you could almost slice it with a knife, lay a little house; comfortably nestled between the trees seeming to fit right into the background. There the silence was so dampening that you could have heard a pin drop. The usual sounds of nightlife unnaturally subdued as the moon slipped behind some dark clouds casting eerie shadows in its wake.
Suddenly a rushing sound like a storm penetrated the quiet of the forest, whirling around with its epicenter located at a lone house in the middle of the forest. Sensing the child in magical currents, Kaspar immediately sprung into action. "Why now," was his last thought as he moved to see out the intruders. He moved stealthily towards the direction of the disturbance, his fangs lengthening in anticipation; glinting as they caught a ray of moonlight. Several figures adorning dark flowing robes stood outside his home, faces hidden in the shadow of their hoods. But he did not need to see them to know who his visitors were.
"You must return. You do not belong here." A voice barely louder than a whisper but its message was not lost to its listener. The one who had spoken was a tall man, standing proud with a natural flow of elegance found only in one of good breeding. Several streaks of grey lined his black mane adding a sense and antiquity. "
"Lord Sylven, how kind of you to pay homage to my humble abode, though have you not deemed it unworthy of your presence these past few decades? As for your request, I'm sure you know the answer already. Why waste more of your precious time? Are they not more poor citizens to intrude upon and inflict your mighty presence on their lowly status? I'm sure it is a secret pleasure of yours."
"You would do well to watch your mouth Kaspar. You are but a halfblood." the words were spat out with a tone of malice. "Your grace period is over. Three centuries draw near and you will not meddle in the fates any longer."
Kaspar knew that the situation was dire. It would not do to argue any longer with these people for he knew that he was no match for their power should they chose to weild it. His fear did not solely encompass himself though but also that of the young charge within his home. He could not let any harm come to his little Evan, for he knew a fight would be diasastrous. His agreement with the demon lords had expired and there was little he could do within this realm.
Breathing a sigh, he made his decision. This was the least he could do. He started incanting in an ancient tongue. " senta tono safe, phare hart sayang, jaga tolo safe, dosee pho arte deare" (I just made this up, so its not supposed to mean anything)
As the last words left his lips a bright light engulfed the cottage and its surroundings and in a flash everything was gone. The quaint cottage that had once housed a happy family of two had vanished and so had its occupants leaving the meadow untouched as if nothing had ever been there before.
A gentle wind swept across the field, a leave shook of its perch onto the grass below, the animals resumed their nightly business and the forest was peaceful again.
………….
Godric's Hollow
Lily could feel herself walking the fine line of insanity and depression. She could hardly bear to be in the same house as James. It just reminded her of all she had lost. Each day bringing her deeper into her misery and her husband was hardly around anymore what with the rise of Voldemort and all that had been happening.
She felt the air around her was suffocating, the sight of her little Harry's favourite books, his stuffed unicorn, even the familiar griffin and lion wallpaper was too much to bear. Memories of him playing in the room, the tinkle of his laugh and even the way he refused to call James "Da da" instead calling him "prongs" with that endearing voice of his. She could not take it anymore, letting a loud sob, she ran out of the house into the forest that surrounded Godric's Hollow, crashing noisily through the undergrowth, ignoring the magic swirling around her. Somehow, wishing that she could just end it all, wishing she could just drown out all the pain. And then she heard it. It was a small tinkle of laughter, so much like her little Harry she thought and through her tear clouded eyes she saw a tiny mop of black hair. He heart beat quickened and as she look past the bushes she found that she was peering into the brilliant green eyes of her son.
…………
AN: Ok so i've not left yet. I thought i'd squeeze in one more update before i go away on holiday. Thanks heaps for the reviews! It was very encouraging! You guys really made my day! twirls around the room :-) Hope you'll like this chapter too!