The Messer Chronicles
This Most Auspicious Meeting
Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose
~Tennessee Williams
Prologue
That Fateful Night
When darkness turns to light
It ends tonight
It ends tonight
~All American Rejects, It Ends Tonight
He sat in his favourite chair in the cozy sitting room, occasionally glancing out the front window at the world outside. He'd never really been a part of that world, even though he'd grown up less than a ten-minute walk from his current spot. The world outside was one that occasionally celebrated magic, as was the case on that particular night, but didn't truly believe in it. His world was magic.
Growing up, he would never have changed his position, firmly rooted in the magical world, for the muggle one. His world had always seemed more privileged and exceptional, filled with the ease and wonder of wizardry. However, the closer he got to adulthood, the more he realized how wrong his image of the differences of the two worlds was.
Now, twenty-one years old, and encompassed entirely in a brutal war, James Potter wished he could switch worlds, would give anything to be a carefree muggle. That night, the inhabitants of muggle England were in the midst of celebrating the joyous and magical holiday that was All Hallows Eve. No one outside his window had an obvious care in the world. Passed his window, James watched muggle children dressed in costumes excitedly gathering sweets and treats from the houses throughout the small village of Godric's Hollow. Despite the sizeable magical population that lived in and around the birthplace of legendary wizard Godric Gryffindor, the children were still able to acquire a fair amount of candy.
They weren't worried about a war, or dark genocidal wizards. They weren't in fear for their lives, or unsure of who they could trust or who they couldn't. They were comparatively worry-free. And James wanted nothing more than to be them.
In that moment, it was the muggle children's innocence and joy that James wished he and his young family could experience.
That wasn't to say that the Potters weren't happy and very much in love with each other, but the fact that the most powerful villainous wizard of the day had put James' infant son on his hit-list hung over the trio, ominously and oppressively. It was hard to be truly joyful when you feared for your son's life.
"Look, Harry. Daddy's deep in thought again. Most likely brooding over the fact that he's stuck in the house with no fun us. We're just not as interesting as the Marauders, Harry. We'll just have to accept it." Lily's cheery voice echoed through the silence of the night. She carefully picked her way across the carpeted floor, strewn with Harry's young toddler toys. James turned from the window to watch the two people he loved most in the world.
"Don't listen to your mum, Harry. If she'd only agree to go along with my jokes on Ms. Bagshot, I'd think she was the funniest person in the whole world. It's her fault, really." For his part, Harry seemed to pay his playfully bantering parents no heed; instead, he was intently focused on squirming out of Lily's arms and getting to the toys on the ground. Lily rolled her eyes at the pudgy child in her arms before depositing him in James' lap.
"I've got a little cleaning up to do. Will you mind your son for a moment?" She kissed Harry on the top of his head and leaned in quickly to kiss her husband. She then turned to the small living room with an appraising look. After fishing her wand out of the pocket of her robes, she swished it through the air and sent the toys flying. They landed neatly in the colourful buckets that lined one of the walls. Having temporarily tidied the living room, Lily disappeared into the kitchen to continue cleaning.
James, with Harry nestled safely on his lap, turned back to the window.
"You see the children out there, Harry?" he asked, motioning out into the night, "They're celebrating Halloween, the most magical of holidays. Muggles dress up in costumes and collect candy from their neighbours. Yes, it does sound like an excellent celebration. Why yes, I do wish I could go out there with you and join in the festivities. It is such a nice night, after all."
James continued on having a one-sided conversation with his infant son, explaining the wonders of the muggle world and their traditions around Halloween. He quickly became so wrapped up in it that he failed to notice the slow disappearance of children from the street. He was so focused on telling tales to his young son that he didn't notice the sky darkening to an almost black or the fog beginning to roll in. It wasn't until a black, shadow-like figure passed in front of the window that James finally tore his attention from his son and looked back out the window.
That's when he saw it.
A lone, hooded figure, much too tall to be a child out Trick-or-Treating, was slowly making his way towards the house. Instantly, James was on edge. The figure seemed to exude foreboding and a chill ran up his spine. For a few seconds, James was rooted in place, waiting to see what the figure would do next.
He was pretty sure he was being paranoid. His house was invisible except to those who had been told about it by their secret keeper. Peter would not have told anyone about it; James believed whole-heartedly in his friends. Still, the figure seemed to be looking right at James' front door.
Out of an abundance of caution, James stood and began searching for his wand. Almost as soon as he remembered he'd left it upstairs in the bedroom, feeling no need to have it close in his own home, the figure lifted his arm. James saw the thin, stick-like object protruding from beneath the long sleeve of the figure's cloak and knew.
He knew that his worst nightmare was coming true.
"Lily!" James called, panic rising in his voice. Lily obviously heard it because she apparated to his side. He thrust his young son into her arms. "Lily take Harry and go! It's him. Go! Run! I'll hold him off! Go!" Lily stood still for a beat, looking at James' wandless hands.
"Go!" he urged one final time. This time, she relented and, clutching Harry tight to her chest, disappeared deeper into the house.
As her dark red hair slipped behind the wall, a curse hit the front door, causing the house to shake. Not sure what he would do, but knowing he had to do something, James steeled himself. The next few seconds passed in a blur.
The door burst open.
The figure entered and lowered its hood.
A face, barely human, sneered at him.
Then finally, a flash of green and everything faded to black.