Thanks for the continued reviews! I love it! I was on a writing spree, so your getting two chapters in one night! Enjoy!
James rushed through the kitchen and into the dining room, pausing at the door to the living room, not knowing what was on the other side. Hearing the scream again, he silently opened the door a sliver and peered through, to see his friend and his wife screaming as they flopped in the air, under the torture curse, aimed by the Lastranges. James heard a chuckle outside of his line of sight, which told him there were more than the Lastranges in the room. With no sure idea of how many there were, he knew he was outnumbered, but he also knew that by the time he ran to get help the Longbottoms would be done. Steeling himself, James opened the door and pointed his wand at Bellatrix Lastrange.
"STUPIFY!" he shouted, and she fell to the floor, dropping Alice Longbottom to the ground with a thump, where she lay, panting. The other three death eaters turned to him, Frank dropping as the spell was lifted. James acted quickly, stupefying Rudolphus Lastrange and another death eater he didn't recognize, before he felt pain like he'd never felt before. He refused to scream, but there was nothing like the pain he was feeling now, every bit of his body, inside and out, on fire. He wanted to die. But no! Harry, he would not die, he would not let his son lose another parent!
As suddenly as it started, the pain stopped and James fell down, landing hard on the ground. He rose slowly, shaking, to his feet. He felt OK, the pain only a memory. He looked around to see 6 motionless bodies on the ground, and one upright.
"You alright?" his best mate asked, handing James his wand.
"Yeah," James answered, taking the wand from Sirius. "Where's Harry?"
"I left him with Remus. You scared me, mate." The man went to Frank, crouching next to him, and checking for a pulse. "He's alive," he confirmed, before moving to Alice. "As is she," he reported. James, meanwhile, round up the four death eaters and magically tied them together before sending a patronus to Kingsley Shacklebolt. He heard a baby's cry coming from the upstairs bedroom.
"How does he sleep through all that and wake up now?" he asked, as he took the stairs two at a time, silently praying that the baby was untouched. He entered the nursery where little Neville sat crying in his crib. He picked up the baby, exactly the same age as his own son, and held him tight to his chest, comforting him. He carried Neville downstairs, holding him tight as he entered the living room, so he couldn't see the motionless bodies of his parents.
"He seems fine," he told his mate, "I'm bringing him to Remus, I'll be right back." James went back into the kitchen and flooed to Remus' house, where he found Remus pacing the living room.
"Oh thank Merlin!" Remus exclaimed in relief, pulling James into an embrace. "Don't you dare worry me like that again! I had no idea what to think, Sirius dropping Harry in my lap like that and saying he had to go after you, I was about to send Dumbledore after you if you didn't show up in the next few minutes."
James apologized, shifting Neville into one arm and returning the hug. "Where's Harry?" he asked, pulling away.
"Sleeping in my bed," Remus answered.
"Here, take Neville, see if you can get him to sleep. I need to get back to Sirius," James said, putting Neville in his friend's arms.
Remus noticed Neville for the first time, accepting the bundle into his arms. "What's this, James? What happened?" Remus asked, confused.
"The Longbottoms were attacked, I arrived just in time, possibly too late. I need to get back, I left Sirius there alone, but I had to get Neville out. We'll keep you updated, just watch out for the boys," James said before running back through the floo. Remus was frustrated. Why did they always leave him behind, he wanted to help; he could be of help! He could do more then sit at home and look after the children. He may not be able to get a job because of his status, but that didn't make him useless!
As James re-entered the Longbottom house, he met Kingsley, already there. He had still motionless Frank and Alice on stretchers. "You did well tonight," he said as James entered the room. "Although I'm surprised to see Barty Crouch Jr here; I can't help but think he must have been under the Imperius."
James looked to the man he'd referred to, stupefied and bound to the others. "He's the one who put me under Crucio," James confirmed. "I've seen the Imperius curse before, and Barty Crouch was having far too much fun, he was laughing at the Longbottoms' torture."
"Well, we'll see. I'm sure his father will give him a trial, anyway," Kingsley said. "Where is there baby?"
"Neville is safe, I brought him to Remus Lupin; my son is there," James told his boss.
Kingsley nodded his approval. "If you would please accompany Frank and Alice to St. Mungos," he told James, "Sirius, you can go inform Augusta Longbottom what happened here tonight, and accompany her to St. Mungos as soon as Moody's team arrives to help me with this lot," he ordered. James nodded his agreement and left his best mate with his boss, to bring the Longbottoms to the hospital. He grasped the arms of both his friends, and apparated to the hospital. As he entered the waiting room and shouted for a healer, two came running to him, asking what happened.
"They've been tortured with the Cruciatus curse extensively," James told them before the healers whisked the Longbottoms down the hall, leaving James standing there alone.
The minutes ticked by; James growing ever more anxious, until he saw Sirius and a formidable looking, yet currently frantic elderly woman in her pajamas, running at him. "How are they?" Sirius asked.
"No idea," James said, with a sigh, "they took them back, and haven't told me a word yet."
Augusta Longbottom marched up to the receptionist desk and demanded to know news of her son and daughter in law. The receptionist assured her that someone would be out soon to let them know. Returning to James and Sirius, she sat down in a chair, looking defeated.
"What happened?" she asked of James.
"I was a bit short with him at work today, I called to take him up on dinner another night, and when I flooed into the kitchen I heard a noise in the living room," James went on to explain all that had happened. Augusta stood up and pulled him into a strong embrace for the elderly woman.
"You may have saved Frank and Alice's life; and my grandson. How can I ever thank you?" She asked into James' shoulder.
"It's nothing more than Frank would have done," James responded.
"Your right there, my son is brave," she agreed. "Still, I thank you James."
They broke apart as a healer entered the waiting room calling for someone here for the Longbottoms. The three of them hurried over to be briefed on their condition.
"They are both alive and stable," assured the healer, "Frank is awake and semi-responsive, we think he'll make it through this with limited to no permanent damage. Alice isn't awake yet, there's no telling what kind of functioning she'll have until she wakes up. That's all I can tell you for now, you're welcome to go back and see them," the healer told them before leaving the waiting room. Augusta, Sirius and James followed closely behind.
They entered the room to see Frank lying half reclined in bed, turning his head to them as the door opened. "Mum," he said, "I told them not to but they didn't listen. Please don't be mad, mum," he said as she rushed to him.
"What on earth are you talking about Frank," she asked pulling her son into a hug. James stepped forward, "Neville's alright, Frank. I took him to a friend's house. He's with Harry," James told him.
It worked. Frank looked confused for a moment, "Neville? Who's…" then something seemed to click, "Neville! What happened?" he asked his friends and fellow Aurors.
"You were attacked by death eaters, you don't remember?" Sirius asked, stepping up to Frank's bedside. As Frank shook his head, Sirius continued. "James got there in time to stun Bellatrix and Rudolphus Lastrange away from you and Alice, they were torturing you. I arrived as Barty Crouch Jr had James under the Crucio curse. We weren't sure you two were going to make it, but they didn't touch Neville. Remus is looking after him."
The little color Frank had drained away from his face, "Where's Alice," he asked.
Augusta answered this question, "she's right over there," she told her son, pointing toward his wife's bed, "but she's not awake yet, we won't know anything until she wakes." Frank seemed at a loss for words.
James and Sirius decided to leave him be with his mother. "We'll leave now that we know your alright," he told his friend, "you can leave Neville with us as long as you need, don't worry about him." Augusta nodded, "Thank you. I'll be by for him in the morning," she assured them.
The two men exited, glancing at a still motionless Alice on the way out. They made their way, exhausted, to the floo.