James paced back and forth in the living room the same afternoon.
"What is it, James?" Lily asked. "You are making me anxious."
"I got a bad feeling." James said then took his glasses off and cleaned it and put it back on again.
"What kind of bad feeling?" Lily asked as he linked his hands behind his back pacing back and forth.
James paused turning toward her.
"That something is wrong." James said. "That. . . Something isn't right. Something awful has happened."
"Maybe it isn't." Lily said. "You could be having a panic attack." James looked up toward Lily. "You should let our cat be your emotional support animal that I have been nagging you about one of these days."
"Crookshanks doesn't make the best Wizarding emotional support animal."
James pointed toward the unhappy cat seated on the counter across from them that was decorated in moving pictures and reminders of their trips. Even some shells that they had gained on a charmed beach safe and sound for a afternoon before the secret keeper charm was set. The shells were lined on the counter with paw prints that had became so from being dipped in paint including hand prints. Crookshanks was set perfectly in the center of all the delicate belongings with his tail wrapped around his figure.
"Because you and Crookshanks seem to have a rivalry." Lily said.
James glared at the cat and the cat glared at him.
"That blasted cat started it."
A peck at the window caused James to jump as he turned toward the window and Lily raised her wand as did he. They settled, relieved, then began to laugh. They were this way for a few minutes as they approached the patio doors that made the fear and uncertainty melt away. They were safe and nothing was wrong. The matter melted into the background of James's mind.
"See? Just a owl." Lily said. "You are giving it too much power over you."
Reluctantly, James looked toward the orange tabby that stared back at him then back toward it.
"Alright." James said. "I will see what I can do about the cat."
James opened the door, allowed the owl to rest on to arm, unwrapped the scroll from the talons, and released it.
"This will clear everything up!" Lily said.
"Should." James said.
"James, you look pale." Lily said. "And you haven't even opened it."
"I am scared that my worst fears are going to come true." James trembled. "One slip and-" Lily put a hand on his shoulder. "It's a nightmare."
"Then we open it together, James." Lily said.
James and Lily sat down with Harry between them. They took each end of the scroll then rolled it down.
"It clears everything up too clearly." James said.
Lily picked up the parchment then her face fell into horror as she looked toward James. She started to shake her head, protesting against the facts, protesting against what had happened. There was no words that could come out. A week of freedom in the small place they called home were ensued with a certain sacrifice that was unforeseen and unprecedented. A entire future that was guaranteed. Unlikely by all accounts. James sat down on to the couch and cried with his wife joining that long after.
Little Harry clung to him and started to cry, as well, confused. He didn't know what was going on but whatever it was, it was posing significant harm to him if it posed harm to his parents. He just didn't know how dearly that it was impacting him listening to the sounds of his parents weeping. It was weeping for a friend that had been lost to the war. Someone who wasn't dead but they may as well be when it regarded the curse being used on them relentlessly.
Their hearts broke and they began to mend it.
Crookshanks leaped into the arms of the family and proceeded to purr.
And his fate was sealed for the future living with the one family that he treasured.