Fourteen year old Fleamont Potter groaned as he sunk onto the kitchen floor.

Monty kneeled over and clutched his stomach as he felt bile fill up his throat.

Monty felt his stomach lurch and then he leaned over the kitchen sink and vomited profusely.

"Monty?"

Monty turned around and he saw his grandfather, Alexander Potter, standing in the kitchen doorway.

Monty went a pale green.

"I... I... I don't feel so good." Monty whispered as he vomited again.

"I know, love, I know, but I'm here for you." Alexander whispered as he hugged Monty gently.

Alexander washed out the sink, and guided Monty to sit at the kitchen table.

Alexander handed Monty a glass of cold water and Monty smiled weakly.

Monty picked up the glass and nearly dropped it because his hands were shaking so much.

Tears built up in his eyes.

"Here, I'll help." Alexander said.

Alexander held the glass at Monty's mouth and Monty gulped the water down eagerly.

"Be careful, you just vomited there." Alexander said.

Monty put the glass down carefully.

"It's just that my throat is sore... And my stomach feels even worse." Monty said sleepily, laying his head on Alexander's shoulder.

"Stay awake until I bring you up to your own bed." Alexander said softly.

"My stomach hurts too much when I'm laying down." Monty said sleepily as he was lifted into Alexander's arms.

"I dunno- maybe I should bring you to St Mungo's- you're burning up." Alexander said slowly, stroking Monty's hair gently.

"I don't care." Monty said, burying his face in Alexander's chest.

"Let's get you changed first." Alexander said, walking out of the kitchen. "You'll feel a little better after you change into fresh pyjamas."


Fifteen minutes later, Monty was dressed in fresh pyjamas and bundled up in Alexander's old coat.

Monty was physically and emotionally weak at this point, so Alexander carried him to the Floo network.

"St Mungo's!" Alexander whispered, clutching Monty close to him.


Alexander stepped out of the Floo network, Monty still in his arms, into St Mungo's.

Alexander walked over to the front desk.

"I'd like to make an appointment." He said. "For my grandson, Fleamont Potter."

"How old is he?" The woman said, looking bored.

"Fourteen." Alexander said.

"What's wrong with him?" The woman asked.

"He's vomited three times tomight... I think he has a fever, he's so weak he could'nt pick up a glass of water." Alexander explained.

"How are you related to him?" The woman asked, making notes.

"I'm his grandfather, Alexander Potter."

The woman sent a few messages before saying. "Healer Johnson will see you in his office on the ground floor, third corridor, second door to your left."

"Thank you." Alexander said.


"Fleamont will be just fine." Healer Johnson said calmly.

"You sure?" Alexander said quietly, holding the sleeping Monty close to him.

"I think it's just a normal flu, but you can wake him up and give him this potion to help with the pain." Johnson said.

Alexander woke Monty up, and Monty did not look pleased.

"This potion will help with the pain, Monty, if you want to take it." Alexander said.

Monty nodded quietly, and drank back the potion quickly.

"So does Monty have to stay here or can he go come home?" Alexander asked as Monty went back to sleep.

"Yes, he can go home, but keep an eye on him for the next couple of days. No physical sports, but he should be fine." Johnson said.

"Brilliant." Alexander said. "Thank you."


"We're back, Monty." Alexander whispered as he stepped into the living room with the sleepy Monty still in his arms.

"From where?"

Alexander gulped nervously and he turned around to see his son, Henry Potter, standing in the doorway with his arms folded and his eyebrows raised.

"Busted." Monty said sleepily.

"Indeed." Alexander whispered. "We're fucked."

"Where were you?" Henry said, raising his eyebrows again.

"St Mungo's." Monty mumbled sleepily.

"Stop ratting me out!" Alexander hissed, putting Monty on the couch.

"Sorry I'm not sorry." Monty mumbled. "Oh, hey Dad."

Henry chuckled.

"Hey there champ." He said softly. "You okay?"

"It does'nt hurt anymore." Monty said groggily. "I just wanna sleep now."

"Go back to sleep then." Henry said.

Monty went back to sleep, and Henry turned to Alexander.

"Why didn't you wake me or Lottie up?" Henry asked.

"I didn't think of that, but I had only Monty on my mind. He was so sick and weak, and I know I should have woken you and Lottie, but Monty could hardly stand up on his own, so..."

Alexander trailed off, embarrassed.

Henry suddenly hugged him.

"Thank you." Henry whispered.

Alexander nodded and hugged Henry tightly.

Henry looked over at Monty.

"I better get him up to bed." He said.

"You better." Alexander said. "He's half dead with the fever."

Henry picked Monty up gently but Monty let a whimper and started to shake.

"Hey... it's okay." Henry said comfortingly.

"It makes me feel sick when you pick me up." Monty whimpered.

Henry sat Monty on the couch, stroking Monty's hair.

Alexander sat down too, and took hold of Monty's hand, stroking it very gently.

Monty fell asleep suddenly, and his body nearly fell off the couch, but Alexander caught him, and hauled him into his arms.

Henry was tired, but he needed to be there for Monty.

Alexander lay Monty on the couch, and Henry started stroking his hair, half asleep.

"You can go to sleep now." Alexander said. "Monty will be safe with you and me, okay?"

Henry nodded sleepily, and lay down on the couch, and put his arms around Monty. Monty's head was on Henry's chest, and Henry had his arms firmly wrapped around Monty.

Alexander looked around for a blanket and found one soon enough. He lay it over Monty and Henry.

Alexander flicked his wand at the fire, and flames burst into life.

Monty smiled as he sank into a world full of pleasant dreams, and Henry, while asleep, was protecting Monty- Henry's embrace was keeping Monty safe and warm.

Alexander sat down in his armchair, his eyes drooping as he fell asleep.

He didn't feel the moment his heart stopped.


Monty woke up, feeling a lot better than he did last night. He lifted his head, and saw his granddad in his usual armchair.

"You must be freezing, Grandda." Monty said sleepily, stumbling off the couch and walking over to Alexander. "Grandda? Earth to Grandda!"

Monty touched Alexander's cheek. It was icy cold to the touch.

He wasn't breathing.

"Grandda!" Monty cried. "GRANDDA!"


The Healer walked out of the room, her face sad.

"Time of death: 01:59 am, August 3rd 1949."

Monty fell to his knees, sobbing.

Henry hugged him, and Monty buried his face in his chest, the grief overwhelming him.

Monty looked at Henry, his eyes red with crying.

"Can I see him?" He asked quietly.

"Monty, I don't think you're ready. Healer Gallagher had only confirmed he's- he's gone."

Monty nodded. "You can come with me if you want."


Monty knelt beside his grandfather's body, tears streaming down his face as he held Alexander's hand for the last time.

"You were the best, Grandda. You saved me last night. But why? Why did you leave us? Come back." Monty sobbed. "Come back. I love you, so don't leave us."

Henry decided he needed to get Monty out if here, before he passed or got nightmares or Merlin forbid, both.

Henry tried to gently take Monty away from Alexander but Monty wasn't moving.

Henry Stunned Monty, feeling awful for having to do this but he had to.

Henry held Monty close, holding the floppy teenager in his arms, staring at his father's limp face.


Henry sat up in bed, looking at the options for a funeral and he ran a hand through his jet black hair. He didn't know what to do, but he had to make the choices soon.

"I never thought we'd have to organize your father's funeral." Charlotte said, getting into bed beside Henry.

"Same here." Henry said. "What should I do? Do I have him cremated or buried beside a bunch of total strangers?"

"Cremated." Charlotte said.

"Why?" Henry asked, putting the booklet on the bedside table.

"I heard you can put the ashes inside a special necklace, so you can wear it and have your father with you at all times." Charlotte said quietly and rather timidly.

"Yeah, could work. We could have one for the boys and Minnie and you too-"

"I'm not his daughter." Charlotte said.

"But he loved you so much." Henry said. "You know, before we started dating, he was going to adopt you, did you know that?"

"He never told me!" Charlotte said, her eyes swimming with tears. "And you never did."

"He told me not to tell you, and Dad was too embrassed to."

"He shouldn't have been embrassed."

"Well, you know, it was Dad."


Henry sat in the church beside Charlotte, shaking nervously as people spoke.

One was Joseph Longbottom, one a rather shaky Elphias Doge, and a very elderly old school professor that taught Alexander all he knew about Anicent Runes.

Henry was touched by the elderly professor's speech, he loved hearing about his father during his time at Hogwarts.

It seemed like his father was with him at all times, alive or dead.


Henry looked at the necklaces that contained Alexander's ashes. He swallowed nervously as Charlotte gave one to their five sons and niece, Minerva McGonagall.

"Just... look after these." Henry said as he tied the necklace around his neck. "Please. Look after them."

"We will." Minerva said solemnly.


Henry shivered as he bolted upright in bed, several days after Alexander's funeral.

Henry took a deep breath.

That didn't work.

Henry took a deep breath.

1... 2... 3. There you go now, you're going to be alright. Deep breath, in and out. That's my boy, 1... 2... 3.., there you go, you're doing it!

That was one of the many times Henry had Alexander help him through a panic attack, and the aftermath.

The aftermath was usually Henry having no stomach for food, and sleeping most of the rest of the day.

Alexander was such a brilliant father, and when Henry heard he died, he felt his heart go icy cold.

Henry looked towards a photo of Alexander on his bedside table, his eyes flickering.

Henry lay down again and fell asleep, not knowing what was to come hours later.


Someone banged on Henry and Charlotte's bedroom door and Henry and Charlotte woke almost immediately.

Henry got out of bed and opened it.

His eldest son, Charlus, was standing in front of him, his face wild with panic.

"There's something wrong with Monty." Charlus said. "Come quick!"


Monty was in a feverish dream, his face covered in a light layer of sweat, his face screwed up in pain.

Charlotte ran over to Monty, checking the pulse on his wrist, and checking his breathing.

"He's overdosed." Charlotte said, her eyes looking towards a half empty pill bottle and an empty glass on the bedside table. "Charlus, get a towel and a ton of water. Henry, get a basin."

Charlus ran out of the room, Henry following him.

Charlotte propped Monty up on his pillows. Monty shivered as his mother tilted his head back to help his breathing.

"Come on, Monty, breathe!" Charlotte said, rubbing his throat to help his breathing. Monty starting choking.

Henry ran into the room with the basin, Charlus following him, holding the towel and the water.

"Give it here." Charlotte said. Monty's lips were turning blue.

Charlotte pinched Monty's nose and Monty's eyes flew open, and he threw himself over the basin, and Charlotte rubbed his back as the teenage boy heaved.

Monty looked afraid, and scared.

"It was a accident, I swear!" Monty sobbed as his body shook- with fright or cold, Charlus didn't know.

"Really?" Henry asked.

Monty looked at him.

"I wouldn't do that. I wouldn't that to you, Dad, or Mum, or Charlie."

"Then what happened?"

"I took two of those pills in a glass of water." Monty said, shivering as he struggled to continue his story. "And- and-"

"I can go into your mind using Occlumeny." Henry offered.

Monty nodded. Henry went into Monty's mind, and Monty started to whimper. Charlus took hold of his hand and squeezed it tight.


"It was an accident." Henry said. Then he saw Charlus holding Monty tightly to his chest.

"I'm so sorry." Henry said comfortingly.

"Not your fault." Monty sobbed.

Charlus stroked his hair and held the bottle of water to Monty's mouth as he wiped the sweat off Monty's face with the towel.

Monty's eyes grew heavy, and he fought to stay awake in Charlus's arms.

"He's trying not to fall asleep." Charlus whispered. "Can he sleep? He's exhausted."
Monty's head was swimming, and he couldn't stay awake.
"Go to sleep, Monty." Charlus whispered. "You're safe with me."


Monty blinked as he woke up, Charlus's arms still wrapped around him.
The sunlight was filtering through the closed curtains, creating a sense of peace over the room.

Monty sneezed and Charlus woke up immediately, cuddling Monty to his chest, and stroking his hair.

"You okay?" Charlus asked softly.

Monty shook his head.

"Still feel sick." He moaned.

Charlus hushed him.

"It's okay, go back to sleep, I'll be here from now on."