Chapter 4

I was lounging on the sofa, half watching a soap, as the rain battered against the window. Something terribly dramatic was happening on the screen as the programme geared up for its annual Christmas Day bombshell next week, but as was becoming the usual, I couldn't concentrate on it. I tried to follow the dialogue as two sisters argued with each other but my eyes kept moving from the television to the fireplace, as my mind wandered on to other things. Even though it was only just past seven in the evening I already had my pyjamas and dressing gown on. It was just more comfortable to wear them and besides it was already dark outside.

A short but determined rap at the door broke me from my reverie.

'Laura!' my mum called from upstairs. 'Laura can you get that? I'm in the middle of something.'

'Yea fine. It's probably Kathryn anyway.'

It wasn't Kathryn.

Standing in front of my open doorway, soaked to the bone and with a look of trepidation on his face was James Sirius Potter.

'Hi.'

I have always thought that 'hi' was more of a sound than a fully-fledged word but even that proved too much for me in this moment.

'Can I come in?' he asked, when it became clear I wasn't going to greet him. It was still pouring down with rain outside.

I motioned him wordlessly into the house and closed the door behind him.

'Look Laura –'

'Who is it Laura?' my mum interrupted him, calling from her bedroom.

I paused for a moment. I had been preparing myself for this for nearly two and a half months now. I knew it would happen eventually, whether it took months or even years, but I knew it would come. And now here he was.

'It's James, Mum,' I said quietly.

A flurry of noise from upstairs told me she had stopped whatever she was doing. James barely had time to give me a bewildered look before she was at the foot of the stairs.

'Hello James.' She didn't give him time to respond before turning to me. 'Are you alright Laura?' She looked at me like she was checking for physical damage. Seemingly satisfied she turned her attention back to James. 'Did we know you were coming James?'

'Uh…' He ran his hand through his sopping wet hair as he tried to decipher the frosty reception from my mother. 'No, sorry Mrs Coulter. Sorry I couldn't get a message through. I'm home from school for the Christmas break you see and –'

'So you haven't spoken to Laura?'

'No Mrs Coulter, not since August. My school is really remote you see. I'm sorry.' He directed the last statement to me, guessing incorrectly that his lack of communication was the cause for all this hostility. Nevertheless my mum did seem to thaw slightly at these words.

'Are you ok Laura?' she asked gently, placing her hand on my shoulder.

'I need to speak to James, Mum.'

'I'll be right upstairs ok? Call if you need me.'

'We'll be fine Mum,' I replied, trying to be confident. I needed her to know I could do this on my own.

James stood stock-still until he was completely sure she was gone.

'Wow. Ok. Alright. Look Laura, if I had known it was going to cause so much bother I would never have… Maybe I should just….' He took a deep breath and ran his hands through his hair again. 'I just wanted to see you.'

'It's good to see you too.'

And suddenly his lips were on mine, and it was like the past four months had never happened. It was summer again and we were just two teenagers with nothing to worry about except our exam results. I remained, however, aware that my mum was probably listening so eventually I pushed him gently away.

'Sorry,' he said breathlessly. 'Sorry, it's just I'm pretty sure you are about the throw me out and I'd never forgive myself if I didn't get to do that at least once more.'

'I'm not going to throw you out James. Take a seat,' I said gesturing to one of sofas. I hesitated for a moment before sitting down beside him.

'I mean... I haven't seen you since… you might have another boyfriend by now…'

He was continuing to apologise for kissing me but again my mind had wandered to the task in front of me. My concentration levels were really starting to irritate me.

'Laura?' I was brought back to the present. 'Laura do you have another boyfriend?'

I shook my head and James visibly relaxed.

'Then what is going on? I mean your mum,' he gestured at the stairs. 'She hates me.'

'She doesn't hate you. It's just… It's been… She's had a rough couple of months. There's a lot been going on.'

'Tell me,' he said earnestly. He leant forward and took my hands in his.

I looked at him, as if seeing him for the first time. This was it. This was the moment. But the words choked me.

'How's school?' I spluttered nonsensically.

'School's fine,' James sighed, exasperated. 'How's college?'

'I don't go to college.'

'What? But you did really well in your exams. You were all set to go back! What happened?'

'James.'

'Laura you're really worrying me now.'

'James, I'm pregnant.'

'Tea?' I offered as James shifted himself upright from his makeshift bed on our sofa.

'Please,' he answered quietly.

'Did you sleep ok?'

He shook his head and stared blankly at his tea.

'Sorry.'

'It wasn't because of the sofa Laura,' he said curtly.

I looked away from him quickly to the street outside. It had stopped raining. The morning was quite bright. I swallowed the lump in my throat and just about managed to get out 'I wasn't apologising for the bed'.

'Don't,' he said standing up beside me. 'Don't apologise. Don't apologise for any of this. This is all my fault. Completely my fault…'

He was rambling but it was the most he had said since I had told him last night. After a few general conversations giving some information about the baby - how far along I was, when I was due etc., there hadn't been much more discussion. My mum had then told James that he could be involved or not involved but that he had to make that decision now. Then she had made him a bed on our sofa and told him to go to sleep before he could answer.

'I'm pretty sure there were two of us there that night James.'

He touched me gently on the shoulder.

'I didn't mean…' he said, softening slightly. 'What are you doing today? Are you free?'

'Why? Do you want to hang out or something?' I smirked slightly.

'Would you come to London with me? To meet my family?'

'Are you sure you wouldn't rather speak to them on your own first?' I said calmly, despite the extremely enticing prospect of finally meeting James' mysterious family. 'I mean it might not be the best idea if I turn up on their doorstep with this.' I pulled my dressing gown tighter so my bump was just visible.

He took a deep breath.

'It's probably just better to get it all out in the open in one go. And then we can concentrate on the most important part.'

'What's that?'

'Keeping you both safe,' he said, as he tenderly placed his hand on my stomach.

A few hours later, with my mother's blessing, we were on a coach on the way to London. My mum seemed to be quietly impressed with how James was handling the situation so far and so had agreed to let me go with him on my own.

James was watching the English countryside stream past the window. It was raining again. I was glad I was wearing my winter coat, not just because of the weather but also that it hid my bump better than any of my other jackets. Hopefully this would prevent James' mother from having a heart attack when she first saw me.

'Can I ask you about them now then?'

'Hmm?'

'Your family,' I clarified. 'I am about to meet them after all and you've never really told me anything about them. I don't even know your parent's names.'

'Harry and Ginny. They're nice. You'll like them.'

'Do you like them?'

'Of course,' he said incredulously. 'Why do you ask that?'

'You never talk about them. You spent the whole summer away from them.'

'That's complicated.'

'So…?'

'So, what?'

'So, explain it then. It's a three-hour bus ride. We've got the time.'

'I can't. Not yet. Soon. Ask something else.'

'Fine,' I said, rolling my eyes. 'What do they do?'

'Uhhh…'

'Seriously? You can't even tell me what they do? Are they spies or something?'

'My mum is a journalist for a newspaper. She's writes about sport.'

'Is she famous?'

'Yes.'

'Oh wow. And your dad?'

'He works in law enforcement.'

'And is he famous?' I asked jokingly. Famous policemen aren't a thing are they?

'Yes,' replied James, surprising me. 'Very.'

'Very famous? How famous is very famous?'

'Can we talk about this later?' he asked, nervously glancing around the bus. Most people near us had earphones in. Nobody was listening.

'You're starting to scare me a bit you know?'

'You don't need to be scared. This will all make sense in a bit. I just can't tell you yet.'

'Why not?'

'Because I'm scared,' he replied, with a small smile. 'And because I'm not sure how much I'm allowed to tell you.'

'Allowed?'

'There's a law. A secrecy law.'

'Like an injunction? One of those things that stop the press from printing a story?'

'Sort of.'

'Ok.'

'Ok?'

'What?' I snapped back, hormones or stress eventually getting the better of me. 'Can we talk about something else please?'

My brain was swirling with everything I knew about James and his life so far. His parents were apparently famous, even though I'd never heard of them. There was a bloody law preventing him from telling me much about them. A shocking amount of people connected to his father had been murdered. James didn't have a mobile phone, a social media account, or even an email address.

All the signs pointed to something not good. Some of them pointed to something really not good. And yet here I was on a bus to London with a boy I had had no contact with for nearly four months, about to meet his secretive and somewhat terrifying family. I had thought James' earlier comment about keeping us both safe had been a general 'I'm about to be a father' thing, but what if there was something we really needed kept safe from?

Instinctively I rubbed my bump.

'When did you find out?' asked James, watching my hand.

'About two months ago. I missed my period, started feeling sick… My mum took me to the doctors and… yeah.'

'Bet she took that well,' James exhaled.

'She was mad for a little bit,' I admitted. 'But then she sort of just got on with it. She's been great… helping me get things sorted… making a plan…'

'And your plan was to not go to college?'

'I dropped out so I could work in the shop full time. My mum and I are going to need the money.'

'You don't need to worry about money,' he replied flippantly.

'I'm not after any money,' I said automatically.

'I know, but I'm the father. We're in this together. You don't have to worry about money,' he repeated more seriously. 'I should have been there to help you make plans.'

'So what are we going to do then?' I asked, gesturing to my bump.

'I don't know,' he admitted. 'That's why we need to talk to my parents.'

Eventually after a long coach ride, a tube journey along the northern line, and a brief walk we were stood outside a large red brick house near Hampstead Heath. My earlier assumptions about James' family had been right – they were clearly rich. The house was enormous from the front, with a large, perfectly manicured lawn, and a driveway that swept down the left-hand side, to what I could only assume was an underground garage.

A large wrought iron gate opened automatically as we approached, and James took my hand in silence as we approached the large black front door, with stone pillars on either side. Without taking a key, or stopping to knock, James placed his hand on it, and the door opened with much more ease than I would have expected from its size.

We walked into a large entrance hall, with a large wooden staircase in the middle that split in two directions as it got to the top.

James paused, and for the first time I noticed the nerves etched across his face.

'Dad?' he called firmly into the vast room. 'Mum?'

A flurry of noise came from the top stairs and two voices, a male and female, called back 'James!' in unison. The voices were young though, too young to be his parents.

I caught a brief look of confusion on James' face before two figures came bolting down the staircase towards us.

'James!' they called again, when they saw him. The red-haired girl reached him first.

'Where the hell have you been?' she yelled as she flung her arms around him. The dark-haired boy loitered on the bottom step and was the first one to notice me.

'Who are you?' he asked.

'Why are you both here?' James asked them, before I could answer. 'Shouldn't you both be at school?'

'Shouldn't you be?' the girl snapped back, thumping him squarely on the shoulder. 'Mum and Dad were scared half to death when you went missing. Everyone's out looking for you James. They've got half the Ministry on it.'

'Yeah they panicked that you might have been kidnapped. So they pulled us both out and locked us up here,' the boy continued.

'You told me you were home for Christmas break?' I whispered to James, who was still holding my hand. 'You lied?'

'A white lie,' he whispered back.

'But now we can see that all this drama is over some girl,' the boy said loudly over us. 'Hi, I'm Albus.' James' brother crossed the final few feet between us and shook my hand.

'Oh you are one to talk,' the girl shot at her brother, shoving him out of the way. 'I'm Lily,' she said, giving me her hand. 'And you are not in Gryffindor. What house are you in?'

'She's not a Slytherin either,' Albus said confidently, before I could ask what she meant.'

'Guys this is Laura,' James said quickly. 'And she doesn't go to Hogwarts.'

I noticed Lily look as confused as I felt, as a realisation of something swept over Albus' face.

'Has she heard of Hogwarts?' he asked slowly.

'Only what I've told her,' James answered cryptically.

'And how much was that?'

'Not much.'

At this Albus' eyes widened like he had seen a ghost. Lily continued to look confusedly between the three of us.

'What are you two on about?' she demanded. 'Who hasn't heard of Hogwarts?'

'Just think about that for a moment Lil,' Albus said, tapping her patronisingly on the shoulder.

'I need to speak to Dad and Mum. Where are they?' James asked, moving the conversation along quickly. At this point I really felt a need to sit down.

'We told you,' answered Albus. 'They're out looking for you. Everyone is. Someone should be along shortly though. They check back every half hour or so.'

Lily, who had still been deep in thought, suddenly gave out a gasp.

'Oh!' she whimpered, looking at me with the same wide eyes Albus had.

'Come on,' James said, giving me a tug on my hand. 'We'll wait in the kitchen.'

He took me down to the right of the staircase and opened the door into another vast room, with a high ceiling with rafters across it. At one end of the kitchen sat a large table, big enough to sit at least 16 people round it. James took out one of the chairs and gestured for me to sit in it. He then went to one of the counters and went about making a pot of tea.

'Why did you say you were already home from school? You lied to me.'

'I didn't lie to you. I lied to your mum,' James corrected me, as he rummaged through a cupboard. 'I thought it was probably best if she didn't think I'd mitched out of school to come see you. She was already in a bad mood with me.'

'You mitched school to come see me?'

'Only by a couple of days,' he replied, trying to downplay the whole thing. 'Term ends at the end of the week.' He walked over carry a tray full of tea, and took the seat next to me.

'You came from Scotland to Devon to see me?'

'I missed you,' he said, taking my hand. I couldn't help myself so I kissed him.

'See that was the original reaction I was hoping for,' he said, looking pleased with himself.

'Did you know all this would happen? That they'd send out rescue parties?'

'Well I was hoping they wouldn't even realise I was gone. I didn't think I'd be staying over at your house. That's probably what's send them into overdrive. You see Albus went missing last year and - '

'Wait. You thought you would get from Scotland to Devon and back again without anybody noticing?'

There was a commotion in the hallway before he could answer. James tensed again.

'Laura,' he said urgently, gripping my hand tightly. 'No matter what you hear tonight just remember I never lied to you.'

'They're in the kitchen,' I heard Albus call from outside the room.

'They?' asked an unfamiliar voice.

'It's just Teddy,' James whispered to me, relaxing again.

'Who's Teddy?' I whispered back. I'm not sure why we were whispering.

'He's like my older brother.'

James was prevented from any further explanation by the flamboyant arrival of a man in his early twenties with shocking, bright, blue hair.

'Well, well, well,' he said, barely containing his mirth. 'We are in trouble.' He spun one of the kitchen chairs out and sat on it backwards, facing us both. 'And all this over a girl James? I am impressed.'

'Leave them alone Teddy,' came the reprimanding voice of a beautiful, young woman with striking, long, blonde hair. Albus and Lily followed her into the kitchen. 'He is ok. That is what matters,' she added, as she gave James a kiss on his temple.

'My cousin Victoire,' James explained, quelling the pang of jealousy I had only just noticed. 'And this is Teddy,' he gestured to the blue-haired man. 'This is Laura,' he added, squeezing my hand.'

'And what part of the castle did you escape from last night then, Laura?' asked Teddy, with a grin. 'Did we know we were looking for two of them?' he inquired to Victoire, who had set about making a larger pot of tea.

'She's a muggle!' blurted out Lily.

'I'm a what?' I asked indignantly. 'Listen. Just because I don't go to the same school as you doesn't mean - '

'Laura calm down,' said James, as the grin on Teddy's face faltered slightly.

'They're making fun of me James,' I continued crossly. 'And your sister is calling me names.'

'She's not sweetheart, honestly,' said Teddy. 'Out you two,' he added to Lily and Albus.

'She didn't mean anything by it,' James continued when they'd left. 'It's just what we call people like you.'

'People like me?' I asked, my voice thick with hurt. 'Poor people you mean?'

'NO!' James exclaimed. 'Merlin no!'

'Ok let's all calm down,' said Victoire soothingly. 'You're probably confused and frightened Laura, but you don't need to be. This will all be fine. Can I take your coat?'

'You really thought this would be the best way for her to find out James?' asked Teddy. 'I mean your entire family is about to march in through that door in a minute. Aren't there slightly less overwhelming ways to do this?'

'No they aren't,' interrupted Victoire.

'What?' asked James and Teddy.

'They aren't all coming. Go and tell them now Teddy. Tell only Harry and Ginny to come. The rest have to go home. Especially don't let Uncle Ron come here!'

The boys both looked baffled but I could tell what had spooked her. In my hurt and confusion, I had given my large coat to Victoire, forgetting what its primary purpose had been. From where she was standing behind me, Victoire now had a perfect view of my small, but still visible, baby bump.

Teddy got up from the table and left the room without further prompting, still looking bewildered. James however had seemed to guess what had caused Victoire's sudden change of mood.

'Look Victoire,' he began.

'It's fine, James,' Victoire shushed him. She was back to using her soothing tones. 'I just didn't think you should have to explain this to the entire Weasley clan. Gran and Grandpa can check on you tomorrow. I'm just going to make sure Lily and Albus went back to their rooms,' she said, excusing herself discreetly. I think she could tell I was on the verge of tears.

'What's going on James?' I wept as soon as she had left.

James looked completely at loss at how to comfort me.

'Here have some tea,' was all he could manage, as he gently rubbed the back of my hand.

A few minutes later the kitchen door clicked open again. This time an older man walked slowly into the room. His hair was dark and messy, and flecked with grey. He wore a dark suit and glasses and behind them his eyes looked tired, like he hadn't been to sleep at all last night. James rose to his feet as soon as he entered the room.

'I'm sorry, Dad. I'm sorry.'

James' father raised a hand as if to brush his apology aside. He gestured for James to come towards him, and took him into a warm embrace.

'We'll talk about it later,' he said wearily. 'You're safe. You're safe.'

Letting go of James, he walked over to me offering his hand. 'You must be Laura?'

'Yes sir,' I replied.

'Well I think we all need to have a little chat. We'll be more comfortable in my office.'

James and I followed in his wake as he led us up the staircase and to a room on the first floor. A large wooden desk sat in the middle of the room, behind which there was a bay window, overlooking a sprawling back garden.

Mr Potter took a seat in the leather-bound chair behind the desk and gestured for me to sit in the one opposite. James pulled up another chair from a second desk that lay at the side of the room that I had only just noticed.

'So,' said Mr Potter, when James had sat down. 'Begin James,' he instructed, and I got the feeling this was not the first time James had been brought into this office for 'a little chat'.

'I thought I'd be back in the castle before anyone would notice,' James started, but Mr Potter raised a hand to halt him.

'That bit later,' he said, rubbing his weary eyes under his glasses. 'Where have you come from this morning?' he prompted.

'Ottery St. Catchpole,' James answered.

'Ah,' said Mr Potter, as if some part of a great mystery had just clicked into place. 'So, you two met this summer?'

'Yes Dad.'

'Ah,' repeated Mr Potter. I could tell he was working quite hard to remain calm in this situation. I squirmed slightly in my seat. We hadn't even got to the punchline yet.

'I should apologise Laura,' said Mr Potter, picking up on my discomfort. 'My son has been moody and distant for several months now – very unlike himself. This is the second time this has happened in this family. His mother and I have been thinking all sorts. The last time the consequences were… And then he disappears. It would have been much simpler to tell us you had a muggle girlfriend James. There is no issue with that. Merlin, your grandfather will be delighted!'

'Dad…' said James tentatively. 'There's something else.'

'What?' asked Mr Potter, a bit more jovially. He seemed to think the worst was behind him. 'You want to tell her what you are? Go ahead. If you think she's not going to broadcast it to the entire world there's no problem with that either. The Secrecy Law has loopholes…'

'No Dad… well yes that too… but… I didn't know if I was allowed to tell her anything… but you see… well…'

He was floundering, so I thought I would help him in the only way I could see at that moment. Besides I really wanted to know what he had to tell me.

'I'm pregnant, Mr Potter.'

Nothing. Silence. Neither of them even appeared to be breathing. And then –

'Well I think you better call me Harry.'

'Dad I can explain - '

'Tell her now James.' Mr Potter's, Harry's, voice was ominously low. 'You tell her. I'll think and then we can begin sorting all of this.'

'Yes. You're right. Ok.' James turned towards me, his eyes beseeching me. He was terrified.

'It's ok James,' I said, my voice shaking. 'I remember. You never lied to me. Just tell me.'

This was it. The terrible, life altering secret. And here I was a 'loop-hole' in a Secrecy Act. A 'muggle' apparently.

'I'm a wizard, Laura,' he said calmly, determined not to break eye contact with me.

'You're a what?'

'A wizard,' he repeated. 'Like the ones you've read about in story books. I can do magic.'

I looked at Harry to see if he had noticed that his son had gone completely bonkers but he was staring intently at me.

'Ok,' I scoffed and started to rummage around in my pocket for my phone. These people were clearly deranged and I needed to phone my mum.

'Ok?'

'He's telling you the truth Laura.'

'Ok,' I scoffed again. Maybe I should phone the police? Maybe this was a cult? What if they got me to join and I never saw my family again? I looked at my phone but there was no signal. Damnit.

'The world isn't like you thought it was Laura,' Harry continued. 'Magic exists. It's real. Has James ever done anything that you couldn't quite explain? Or seemed odd to you?'

'The last night I saw you before I went back to school,' James urged me. I looked nervously at his father. Was it really a good idea to bring that up? That night was what had got us into this mess. 'How did I get into your house?'

'You came in through my bedroom window,' I replied.

'And how did I get to your bedroom window?'

'I don't know. You climbed?'

'Straight up a vertical wall? I used a broom, Laura.'

'You climbed a broom?'

'I flew a broom,' he corrected me.

'Last night James went missing from school at around six in the evening,' Mr Potter continued, correctly assessing that I still wasn't believing any of this nonsense. 'What time did he arrive at your house?'

'I don't know. Seven? Half seven?'

'And do you know any normal way he could have got from his school in Scotland to your house in Ottery St Catchpole in under two hours?'

'I apparated,' James offered, when I couldn't think of an answer.

'Illegally,' his father added.

'I apparated,' James repeated, wincing slightly. 'I disappeared from one place and reappeared in another. I used magic Laura. Look.' He placed his hand inside his jacket and pulled out an elaborately carved wooden stick. 'This is my wand.'

At this I openly snorted.

I was too busy looking at James that I had neglected to notice that his father had also pulled out a 'wand'. The first thing I noticed was when he whirled it around his head. I was about to start laughing when an emission of bright, white light erupted from one end of it. Before I could comprehend that fully, the light took on a solid form of an enormous stag, which then began to canter around the room. It was simply the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life, and as it lapped me I was filled with a simple joy I had not felt since I was a child.

Then Harry waved his hands again and it was gone.

The happiness I felt dissipated quickly, and instead I was filled with an undiluted fear.

'Laura,' James called, as I began shaking. He was up out of his seat and kneeling beside me, holding me in my chair. 'Laura, that was a Patronus. It's a spell. It's a good spell, it can't hurt you.'

'James. Oh my God James. It's true. You're a…'

'I'm a wizard,' he finished for me.

My senses were just starting to adjust to this new truth whenever I noticed another glowing light directly behind me, except this time it was green. I craned my neck just in time to see a woman step out of the bright green flames in the fireplace behind me.

And then I blacked out.