Darby sat by the table. Everybody sat or stood at a respectable distance around James (Darby refused to call it a head or his body). Barely a month younger than James, Darby could see her and James running across the yard at the Potters residence as children - laughing and running, falling and helping one another get up. When she wiped her eyes and looked up, "Betty" sat by her lap. She could see her and James arguing about whether Hagrid's new dog should be called "Padfoot" or "Bat-betty". Darby had won that round and the dog was called Bat-betty. Darby, however, wasn't pleased. She desperately wished James had won that day. All the times James and Darby had gone to Diagon Alley or muggle London for shopping... All the times they had dined together. A vision of Darby sneakily eating James' chocolate chip cookies when he was looking the other way came to her mind like undigested food. She had always had trouble with Defense Against The Dark Arts. If it weren't for James, Darby had no idea how she would have managed to get decent marks in it. They were like real siblings - everybody who didn't know them thought so.
James had been the brother Darby never had! In fact, if Darby ever had a brother, she always envisioned him to be just like James Sirius. His death felt like a cold knife being pierced through her intestines. She had lost a part of herself, a dear sibling - nay, a twin!
For the first time in her life, she came close to understanding what it must have been like for Uncle George when Uncle Fred died in the war. She was now able to see why Uncle George had such a hard time conjuring a Patronus while he used to be good at it, according to everybody. Losing James had come as a massive blow to her.
The hollowness inside her consumed her like the Fiendfire in the Room of Requirement several years back.
Uncle Harry had his face covered in his hands, and her father had both arms around him. Aunt Ginny was surrounded by Grandma Molly, Aunt Hermione, Darby's mother, and Mrs. Malfoy. The women were all crying and whispering words of comfort. Darby could see her father squeeze Uncle Harry's shoulder in support. Teddy, Albus, Rose, Lily, and Hugo stayed in the shadows. Jean's sobs rang in Darby's ears like trumpets even though they were sitting next to one another. Andrew had turned into a shell.
Professor Longbottom - Neville - walked in with his wife, Hannah Longbottom, and their eight-year-old daughter, Alice Longbottom. Darby was tasked with the responsibility of Alice and keeping her occupied while Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom comforted the Potters. Numerous people visited and offered condolences. To Darby's suspicion, Ellison, too, visited!
"Mr. Potter. I have news." He said.
"What is the use of that now?" Harry lamented.
"I am sorry for your loss, sir. But I suspect that in the crowd..." Mr. Ellison said.
"What happened?" Harry asked sharply.
"I saw someone." Mr. Ellison said.
"Who was there? Who do you suspect" Ginny demanded.
Leopold Ellison continued, "We might know who to suspect! It's always that weird-looking green parakeet with markings on its face! It would often be around your children whenever they were by a window or outdoors! I've followed the parakeet a few times, and it's always turned out to be the same person."
"Who?" Harry fumed. "Who was that spying on my children?"
"A Death Eater. Forgive me, sir. I'm not sure what her name is, though." Ellison said, bowing his head. Harry growled at the ceiling in a fury.
"Did anybody see anyone suspicious or notice any suspicious activity?" Harry, asked the room at large. Ginny repeated the question but alas, no one had seen who it was.
Of course, thought Darby bitterly, that stupid Death Eater had covered their miserable face!
"I'm afraid she is behind your son's dea..." Mr. Ellison said.
"NO!" Harry said. "Don't...!" He broke down. Ellison took hold of his hand in support, offered his condolences, and left to stand by the door.
Soon, it was time for the burial. But when they approached the remains, they were shocked. The 'head' was nothing more than a face made of clay defiled with Dark Magic and made to resemble James' face! They were fooled.
"W-What is this?" Ginny cried. "Where's my son?"
"Ellison!" Harry bellowed, "That Death Eater who you suspect... What did she look like? She has kidnapped James!"
"That's what I too suspect, sir," Ellison said. "But let me warn you. Her target isn't limited to just your children."
He gave significant looks around the room. Harry's eyes followed his. When Ellison's eyes met Darby's, her eyes widened. Ellison wasn't trying to harm them. He was following them to keep watch for them - to protect them! She had obviously misunderstood the guy! And judging by the way he stared at Darby and some others, it was clear that Harry's godson, nephews, and nieces were in the same peril as Harry's children.
"If she is an animagus, what does she look like in her human form?" Dudley asked sharply. Dudley knew about Animagi, and knew the stories of the Marauders.
Ellison screwed up his face, "Curly, red and blonde hair. She has markings on her face, which is why her animagus form has markings on the face too. She isn't too tall, nor is she short. She doesn't have the Dark Mark, which means she wasn't a Death Eater during the war. Or at least not important enough to get the Mark."
"Is she a registered or an unregistered animagus like Skeeter?" Ron asked.
"I'm afraid I don't know, sir. I have minimal information. These kids are smart. They know how to avoid me. As a result, it became harder to watch them, and they became targets to her. I have been trying to collect as much information as possible about her. She has a small network of Death Eaters who stay in and around Hogsmeade." Leopold finished.
"Thanks, Leopold," Harry said. Leopold nodded. "I'll show you the way, sir."
Immediately, Harry took off with Ginny, Ron, Hermione, and Professor Longbottom, an ex-Auror who insisted that he join the group.
"We are at Little Hangleton, My Lady!" He heard a voice. Blood trickled down his cheeks from the bruise on his forehead, and his vision went in and out of focus. It was pitch dark outside except for two oil lamps on each pillar he could see. The pillars were broken, and the lamps were balanced with the help of magic.
"What does Pettigrew know about resurrecting Dark Lords? I'll excel at what he did a poor job!" Her hair looked red in the firelight, and the hair at her side appeared blonde.
"I will show them!" The madwoman bellowed.
"You will do a fine job of bringing back the Dark Lord, My Lady! We will soon rule over MudBloods!" A male voice said.
Taking out a silver knife, the lady stepped forwards. James realized with panic that he was actually tied to a taller pillar! Grabbing his right hand and pulling back his sleeve, the lady pierced James' hand. A jolt of pain shot through his veins, and he cried out into the night.
"Shh! Can't you see I'm doing something important? I need your blood! Your body! You'll be dead, and the Dark Lord will rise!"
"VOLDEMORT IS GONE! HE IS NEVER COMING BACK!" James bellowed.
The madwoman laughed. "Who said I'm bringing him back? I'm resurrecting someone else who can be a better Dark Lord! And guess whose body they'll use? YOURS!"
Then, in a more serious tone, she growled, "Don't you dare take the name of the Dark Lord!"
"VOLDEMORT!" James bellowed. "I'm not afraid of taking his name!"
At this, the woman bellowed something but before James could hear it, he felt as though several knives were being plunged deep into several parts of his face, arms, legs, chest, and back. He was out cold for how long he didn't know but when he did regain consciousness, he heard voices.
"We need more of them anyway." The woman was saying. "But, where do we tie them?"
"We can use this stone pillar by the entrance like we did to get this boy." The man wondered aloud.
It was morning. His entire body groaned with pain, and he was still tied to the pillar.
James had to find a way out. An escape so he could contact his parents or siblings - anyone, really.
Just then, the woman's voice boomed, "Ah! You're awake?!"
"Your blood isn't enough, boy! We need more! Perhaps your brother can help!" She sneered at him. She had reddish-blonde hair and markings on her face that James couldn't read. The scars were fading.
"We were leaving to get your brother." The man behind her said.
"NO! Don't! You can take blood from me! Just don't harm my brother!" James cried out. The woman and the man were sneering at him. A third man came out just then.
"I'm telling you Steve! Instead of that boy, we should go for that redhead! That little girl!"
"Yes!" The man called Steve said.
"Not her either! And not my parents or anyone else!" James cried out. "You already have me!"
"What will you give me in exchange for not going after them?" The woman snarled. "How about a nice little duel?"
He was sure the duo wouldn't keep up their word. He needed a way to warn his family! The Death Eaters here would go after his family after killing him. That stone pillar at the other end was his only chance.
Unfortunately, the man kept glaring at him even as he untied him and roughly pulled him to the center. Exhausted but ears being sharp, James waited. He was ready for the attack that would come any time from the lady. He wasn't going to let his family and friends down.
He wasn't fearless. Afterall, he was a fourth-year student, and the two adults had probably graduated from Hogwarts and had studied the advanced Dark Arts. How was he going to stand a chance against them? But at the same time, he was a Gryffindor through and through. His eyes watered.
James accepted his fate. If he was going to die anyway, he was going to make his parents proud, he was going to protect his parents and siblings! He was thankful that he had been blessed with such a loving family. Maybe in his next life, he might get to live with them longer.
"Ready, are ya?" The woman drawled lazily from somewhere.
"Show yourself!" James demanded, ready to fight.
His father had taught him some rather advanced spells. This was certainly the occasion to use them. Even if he died, he would die with the knowledge that he gave a tough fight. And so the duel started. Violet clashed with silver, orange with blue, green with red, and brown with yellow.
The sneering face of the woman soon turned into a nasty growl. Still, she mocked him.
"My! Trying to play hard, are you, boy?" She laughed but put extra pressure.
James held his wand with both hands and kept fighting. He shot different spells and jinxes and firmly held his ground. The woman was getting frustrated and furious. How was this hostage proving to be her equal, she thought bitterly.
The man raised his wand and began shooting his own spells at James. Now, he had to battle two adult Dark wizards and this was really unfair. James redoubled his efforts as he saw two or three more Death Eaters joining in. He could feel the ground beneath them growing hot. Soon, it was half a dozen Death Eaters against one teenage boy. They fought to kill. He sought to protect. The stakes were high and the clashes resulted in a wall of fire that erupted between them.
Even as Darby watched the elders run, Albus stood up.
"Al, what is it?" Rose asked.
"I am going after them." Albus shrugged.
"WHAT! No, you can't!" Rose ordered sharply. "Why should you go after them?"
Albus turned, and the look he gave was one of the rarest looks the Potter children gave. That was the dangerous look. Darby had seen it only once on Lily's face, and probably twice on James' face. This was the first time she was seeing it on Albus' face. He looked positively murderous.
"What do you call yourselves Gryffindors for if you don't feel the need to go after them?" Albus shouted. "I'm going! Whoever wishes to come can come. If you don't, no problem!"
"Wait! How dare you suggest we Gryffindors won't fight!" Rose shouted, shrill like her mother and ears turning red like her father's ears did when furious, and followed him. "YOU WAIT FOR ME, ALBUS!"
Lily and Hugo stared at one another, and in a split second, took off.
"NO! Lily! Hugo! Come back!" Darby bellowed and ran after them. Jean made to follow, but Darby turned around swiftly.
"NO! YOU STAY WITH ANDREW!" Darby bellowed at Jean. "He needs someone, Jean, and I know you can do this. Please, for my sake!" She requested.
White in the face, Jean nodded. She knew when to challenge Darby and when to let Darby do what she pleases.
"COME BACK HERE!" Darby half-heard a lot of adults, including her parents, shout. None of the kids cared. No! James Potter was the only focus on their minds! True, James Sirius wasn't confirmed dead. But he was still missing, and no one knew how long he would live or where to find him for that matter.
James was sweating badly. The fire licked his skin. Half a dozen Death Eaters including the woman shot curses at him. James shook his head. He had been told stories of his father battling Lord Voldemort, his mother, uncles, and aunts battling Death Eaters. Images of everything he had heard about the war flashed in his mind. He was scorched, and the fire surrounded him. Before everything went blank, he could see a laughing Teddy, a grinning Darby, Albus, Rose, Hugo, and Lily, and his parents waving. Tears swarmed in his eyes as the already dark vision became blurred.
Ginny wiped her eyes furiously. Perhaps this was how her mother had felt when Fred had died. Her insides screamed for revenge, and she doubled up her already fast pace. She, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville had hurried to Hogsmeade.
"I say we should split up for clues!" Ron said.
"If you find anything - anyone - shoot red sparks in the sky!" Hermione said.
Ginny watched her brother and best mate take off immediately. Her husband, on the other hand, was nowhere. A pat on her shoulder and a finger pointed towards the Shrieking Shack told Ginny where her husband had gone. Neville squeezed Ginny's hand in encouragement and nodded at her before taking off in the direction of the Hogs Head.
Ginny had taken the nearest alleyway because something had told her to check in the narrow lanes. Her instincts were right. Just as she passed a narrow alley shortly after the group split, she heard someone.
"The hell are you doing here, girl?" A hoarse voice screamed.
"I'M HERE FOR MY BROTHER! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HIM?!" Ginny's heart skipped a beat. They hadn't seen the children take off after them. What was her daughter doing here? Ginny turned in horror.
"Oh, no! Step back, Lily! I'll handle them!" It was Albus! Ginny had to do something. She rushed back into the alleyway and charged inside. It was dark, and she shot red sparks to light her way. She could hear her heartbeat! The frantic beating had more to do with fear for her children than all the running.
As she ran into one of the streets, a voice bellowed, "AVADA KEDAVRA!" and a jet of green light shot out of the street. Looking to her side, Ginny saw that the Killing Curse had barely missed Lily and that Lily had missed death by an inch!
"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!" Ginny bellowed and charged at the marked woman. Albus and Lily looked shocked seeing their mother. To her shock, Ginny even saw Rose and Hugo reach the venue.
"A-Aunt Ginny!" It was Rose. "Let me..."
"NO! STEP BACK! SHE IS MINE TO FINISH!" Ginny screamed. The noise attracted a large crowd.
"GINNY!" It was her husband.
"Oh, no! Ginny! Wait..." This was her brother. "NO, RON!" She shouted. She could hear Hermione sobbing.
"I HAVE YOUR SON'S BODY, WOMAN! WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO POTTER AND YOUR KIDS AFTER YOU DIE BY MY HANDS?" The woman laughed. Ginny's heart broke and a sob erupted from her.
"YOU-WILL-NEVER-TOUCH-OUR-CHILDREN!" Ginny bellowed. Tears clouded her eyes, and volcanic fury erupted within her. She could see the crowd backing away. Both women were fighting to kill.
James did not see what happened, but he fell down on a hard surface. Even as he got up, clutching his head, he could hear a crowd and the unmistakable sound of fierce dueling. What was going on?
Before he could react, a sharp pain shot through his limbs, and he screamed in pain.
"JAMES!" It was Darby. She had heard the sounds of duels and had run to the crowd. Since the others were at the front, and she at the back, she heard James' screams. Running and falling, due to her vision being blurred by tears, she saw a Death Eater torturing James.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" She bellowed furiously. She could hear someone taunting somebody who sounded like Aunt Ginny! What was going on? No, now she had to focus! Protect James!
Furious, the Death Eater lifted off his curse and pointed his wand at Darby, who stood between James and the Death Eater.
"RUN, JAMES!" Darby screamed. "I'LL HANDLE HIM!"
"D-Darby... No!" James screamed just as Darby's and the Death Eater's spells met. The Death Eater merely laughed. James was feeling too weak after all the dueling, but at the same time wanted to protect Darby.
"NO! Run, Darby, run!" He pleaded. The pain in his ribs, arms, and legs was overwhelming.
Just then, a jet of green light shot out of the crowd. A shocking moment later, everybody cheered. Afterall, who doesn't like a good show in public?
Ginny ran up to Lily, grabbed her children, and sobbed. She planted wet kisses on their cheeks. She even hugged and kissed Rose and Hugo. That was when her attention diverted towards the duel going on behind the crowd. The crowd was now getting interested in the second duel.
Just then, Hugo asked, "Lily! Where is Darby? Didn't she come with us?"
"Oh, no!" Lily paled, and Ginny's heart skipped a beat. She saw as Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville had gone pale too. She froze as the voices became clear. Darby seemed to be screaming at someone - James - to run away and that she would handle him. A teen boy's voice, weak and in pain, shouted Darby's name. Different jets of light shot out from Darby's and the Death Eater's wands. Why were children fighting with adult Death Eaters?
"M-MUM!" Her son! He was alive! She shared a grateful look with Harry.
Ron and Neville pulled Darby away and dueled the Death Eater. Hermione and Harry rounded up the remaining Death Eaters, while Ginny went up to the children, all assembled near James.
Ginny pulled James into her bosom and sobbed. James had lost consciousness once he felt his mother's closeness.
Suddenly, an explosion occurred. The Death Eater dueling Darby fell at the feet of Teddy, who had been rounding up the Death Eaters in the village. He, along with Neville and Ron, quickly rounded up all the Death Eaters.
As Harry joined Ginny and the children, Hermione decided to take a closer look at the woman Ginny had been battling. Hermione felt waves of shock and fury rising inside her. Memories of a time when they weren't allowed to learn practical Defense, hence Harry had started a group to learn practical defense but one specific traitor ratted out the group and nearly got them expelled flooded her mind.
"Harry, you do recognize that woman, don't you?" Hermione shouted, as her husband came up to her. Harry looked up, as did Ginny. "The one who betrayed the D.A. and sold us to Umbridge in our fifth year!"
"Marietta Edgecombe?" Ron said in horror as he recognized her.
Ginny slapped one of the rounded Death Eaters once with the front of her hand and with the back of her hand. Angry tears streaming down her face, she cracked his mouth with her knee. He howled with pain. With an annoying and shameless grin, he bellowed, "The Dark Lord will come back in one way or the other!"
She saw her husband interrogating some of the arrested Death Eaters.
"How did Mrs. Tonks and Mrs. Malfoy end up getting killed?" Harry demanded.
"Simple. My Lady put them under the Imperius Curse for some time and made them kill specific targets!"
"What about Gilford? WHAT DID YOU DO TO CALVIN GILFORD?!" Harry bellowed into his face.
"Are there any more of you?!" Dudley bellowed. One punch from Dudley was enough to knock out the strongest of Death Eaters and the grinning Death Eater made himself a free example of that. The other Death Eaters cowered even as they got carted off to Azkaban.
"It doesn't look like there are more." Mr. Ellison said. "But the Auror Office shouldn't lose guard if you ask me."
"Right you are!" Harry growled. "There must be more of them hiding somewhere like the spineless cowards they are!"
Accompanied by Ron and Teddy, Harry rushed to a worn-down cottage at the foot of the hills and broke down the front door.
"CALVIN!" Teddy half sobbed and ran to pick up a badly bruised young man.
"T-Teddy?" Calvin's weak voice said.
"T-Those monsters have BLINDED HIM!" Teddy growled.
"Quick! He needs the Hospital Wing!" Ron said, looking at the bleeding young man.
"C-Careful!" Teddy sobbed.
"He will be fine, Teddy." Harry said. He could understand what Teddy was going through. He would react the same way if it were Ron. He warmly hugged his godson to his bosom and instructed him to go home.
"No, I will stay with you!" Teddy sobbed. Harry remembered saying the same line years back to Sirius moments before he had died. Even Sirius had instructed Harry to take his friends and leave.
"Ron and I will take Calvin to St. Mungos. You go home and rest. No, listen to me, Ted!" Harry said sternly, and Teddy nodded.
James had been taken to the Hospital Wing. He had been advised food, rest, and medicine. Ron and Hermione had insisted, and everybody had agreed, that Harry and Ginny get some sleep. Ginny insisted that she stay by James' side but was outvoted. Beryl cooked dinner for everybody, and together, she and Dudley retired to James' room. Ron and Hermione sent their children, the Potter children, and Darby to the Burrow. Draco Malfoy had taken his wife and son home. Ron and Hermione would stay and take care of the Potters. Try as she may, Ginny had a hard time getting sleep and once she did, she found herself in the very last place on earth she would ever want to be in. Once again, she was down in the Chamber of Secrets. Only this time, Riddle had tied her to a serpent statue and was about to kill James!
"NO!" She woke up in cold sweat and sobs. "TOM! NOT JAMES!"
Harry woke up and wordlessly pulled her into his arms.
"It's all my fault! If I never wrote into that diary, Tom Riddle would've never taken me there!" she sobbed out of shame.
"It's not your fault. Besides, you were strong and you fought back." Harry, who was now used to Ginny's recurring nightmares, told her calmly. He held her tight as all her guilt, panic, and sorrow bled from her eyes into his chest. He held her close and rubbed her back.
Jasmine was brought out of hiding the next day and reunited with Calvin. They decided to get married, and Teddy was the Best Man. He and Victorie took care of the couple while they recovered from months of abuse, worry, and limited food. James made a full recovery in no time and was relieved to know that Mr. Gilford was fine.
This chapter doesn't end with a cliffhanger or anything like that. Honestly, after all this, I didn't think it necessary. But, stay tuned for the next chapter! There's more - danger?
