James heard the words, yet his mind refused to comprehend them. His hearing seemed to diminish, his thoughts ceased.
"James?" Dumbledore seemed to be speaking from very far away.
Something grasped his arm and it brought comprehension with it. He started and seized the arm attached to the hand. He blinked rapidly and Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall came back into view, looking at him in concern.
"What?" he managed to croak.
Dumbledore's eyed were filled with sadness and regret. He nodded slowly.
"They were killed in a raid at Diagon Alley" he said quietly. "Your father was jeered and taunted for his plan to overhaul rights of various half human creatures." He sighed. "Insults were thrown at them and various Ministers-and then curses. Your parents were killed, along with five others. I am very sorry James."
Icy realization gripped him. Of course, his mother had told him of his father's radical decision only yesterday. It had been born from an argument between himself and his father. Harry Albert Potter was in Magical Law and was responsible for the writing of new laws. There had been talk of further restriction of half human creatures because of their involvement with Death Eaters. Including werewolves. James had argued furiously, pointing out that repression was the main reason they would join Voldemort. In doing so, he'd let slip that Remus, who would occasionally come over at holidays, was a werewolf. His parents had been horrified, much to his anger. He'd yelled that it was people who treated werewolves and others, like giants and centaurs that were the reason they would join Voldemort in the first place and that wizards were asses to believe they had the right to rule over other creatures. The rest of the visit had been very quiet.
But it had had an effect. Caroline Potter had wrote to James telling him that the fact Remus was a werewolf and James words had impacted his father so much, he planned to introduce new measures against the new laws. She had also said that she and his father were very proud of their son's views.
James felt his innards tighten painfully. The last memory he had of his father was shouting at him. Shame and guilt welled in him.
"What's happening?" he asked, trying to repress the memory.
"There is a memory mass taking place now" Dumbledore's eyes met his. "Your neighbours arranged it in your home. I believe you should go and make arrangements. Minerva shall accompany you."
Professor McGonagall nodded.
"Can Sirius come?" he blurted out. He wanted all of his friends there, but he didn't think that would happen. He hurried on, afraid they'd say no. "Sirius spends his vacations at my place; he's been doing it for a year and he'd want to..."
"That's fine" Dumbledore interrupted. "I am afraid Misters Lupin and Pettigrew cannot accompany as well, as much as I know they'd like to come, they all can't go. Mr Black can go. Minerva if you could collect him?"
McGonagall nodded and turned to James. "Go and collect your things. Mr Black and I will meet you in the common room."
He nodded and stood. He left quickly, unable to bear staying in the office any longer. As soon as McGonagall went out of sight, he broke into a run. He didn't stop running until he reached the Fat Lady's portrait.
"Flabbergastic" he panted before she could say anything and she swung open. He hurried in. There were very few people there, most were still in class, much to his relief. He ran up to his dormitory. In record time, he had chucked his belongings into his trunk: his schoolbooks, bag, Invisibility Cloak, pyjamas, robes and various tidbits. He was slamming the trunk lid shut when the door burst open and Sirius ran in.
"McGonagall just told me" he gasped. "Mate..."
James shook his head, silently pleading with his best friend. He understood and clapped a hand on his shoulder and quickly began to pack too.
Not quickly enough for James though. "I'm going to go get my Quidditch robes and broom. I'll get your broomstick too."
Sirius grunted an affirmative as he groped under his bed. James ran back down to the common room, spotting the very odd spectacle of Professor McGonagall sitting on one of the seats, much to the other peoples' present chagrin.
"Getting Quidditch stuff" he murmured as he passed her. She nodded. "I will see you in my office Potter."
He sprinted back down the corridor, ignoring looks he was getting as he ran past. He dashed to the Gryffindor's changing room and grabbed his Chaser gear. Not keen to run to the broom shed, he lifted his wand. "Accio brooms!"
There was a crash and both his and Sirius's brooms hurtled toward him. He seized both and dashed back towards McGonagall's office, brushing past Filch.
"Potter!" he bellowed, clearly ready to tell him off about running in the corridors. James was oblivious. He ran past and nearly crashed into Lily as she came out of Charms.
"Watch it Potter!" Lily exclaimed, glaring at him.
Nancy grinned. "This isn't the way to bowl a girl off her feet Potter" she drawled, causing Lily to flush. James didn't even notice her.
"Out of my way Evans" he snapped, causing her and her friends to stare.
"James?" Remus called. He came over, looking at him in concern, Peter behind him.
"You okay, James?" asked Peter tentatively.
James grabbed Remus's arm and in a fast whisper, explained. Lupins eyes widened and his face paled. The rest of the class were staring.
"Is everything all right?" minuscule Professor Flitwick inquired coming to the door. "Ah, Mr Potter, you missed..."
James didn't hear him as he continued his mad dash down the hall, oblivious to the shouts behind him. He continued, at this stage gasping for air, outside McGonagall's office.
"Ah, there you are" she said briskly. She and Sirius and the trunks were standing at the roaring fireplace. He tossed Sirius's broom at him.
"Mr Potter, you first" she said quietly and he grabbed some of the proffered Floo Powder and tossed it into the fire. The flames leapt upwards turning emerald green. He lugged his trunk and broom forward, stepped into the fireplace, took a deep breath and shouted "Potter fireplace!"
There was a rush and he was spinning around in the green flames, not harming him but making him dizzy... and with a lurch he fell into his family's living room.
Breathing hard, he staggered upright. The familiar large sitting room was full of people all of whom were gazing at him. Their faces were filled with a mixture of recognition, sympathy and pity. James's stomach clenched.
A house elf came scurrying over, her eyes filled with bright tears.
"Master James" she said in as soft a voice she could manage. She voice shook. "Blinky is sorry that so many are here, sir, but Miss Annie is saying that we should let them come in sir. Blinky is also very sorry for Master James's loss sir."
James nodded dumbstruck, just as 'Ms Annie' came over. She was their neighbour, elderly , well rounded and well meaning-but exasperating.
"I am so sorry James" she breathed quietly, while others were coming over and Sirius came through the fireplace. "Well come on give your things to Blinky and come over to your parents friends."
James's throat closed as he looked at the people. Professor McGonagall came out of the fireplace and joined the group.
"Well?" Annie said as she looked at him inquiringly. People were starting to murmur amongst themselves.
Sirius looked at him and James looked back at him and Professor McGonagall. They understood; he couldn't handle this.
"I think Annabelle" McGonagall announced. "That Mr Potter would like to spend some time to grieve alone."
Annabelle looked flabbergasted. "But-these people"
"Will simply have to leave" McGonagall finished. She turned to the people. "I'm afraid you will have to go now."
There was protest. McGonagall's eyes narrowed and she opened her mouth, except for Sirius to intervene. His temper had been rising.
"Oi! He just found out his parents are dead and now has to face you bunch of twits? Out or I'll hex you out!"
He pulled out his wand for good measure. Scandalised, the crowd moved toward the door. Annie was muttering exclamations and trying to stay back but left when Sirius pointed his wand at her.
Mercifully, the people vanished, save for the vicar, who had been in the crowd. Small and ferrety, he was a friend of the Potter's.
"My condolences" He inclined his head.
James nodded silently.
"If you wish I can have the funeral arranged" he said quietly.
James felt his emotions beginning to crack. He nodded again, wishing them all to leave.
"Ok, that's tomorrow" Sirius said loudly. "Thanks very much." He waved the vicar to the door and came striding back.
"Thanks Professor, but we got it from here." There was a note of dismissal, but McGonagall didn't argue. She stood and looked at them both. "If you need anything" and turned on the spot and vanished.
Blinky seized the trunks and brooms and scurried out of the room. Alone with Sirius, James let his emotions go and cried.