Quick update: At the ministry, Lily encounters Lucius who frightens her. Narcissa comes to speak with Sirius but Remus is not impressed. James' father had been hit by a fatal hex and he has been hospitalized.

…

"Are you family?" the healer asked impatiently as she put out a hand to stop Sirius from following James and Evangeline into the ward, where James' father was resting.

"Why are we still waiting here, then?" Marlene ventured, finally. Remus and Peter were currently standing in the kitchen, having informed the staff of the situation.

"I don't think we should disturb them," Libby spoke softly. Remus looked up and nodded at her in agreement. Somewhere, Daisy or perhaps Fiona stifled a sob and a few people wiped their eyes. The Potters were a very loved and respected family, who treated their maids and staff with the utmost respect. Their sorrow, transcended to everyone in the household.

Was he family? He blinked at the healer. Ever since he was nine and had run into James at a ministry ball, they had been best of friends. Laughing together, pranking together. So alike, everyone would say. Him and James were like two peas in a pod. Just like twins.

"Are you family," the healer asked again, getting annoyed with Sirius.

"But Libby, we're concerned!" Lily said, backing Marlene up. Libby pursed her lips and looked at Remus with troubled eyes. Remus stepped over to Lily and placed his hand on her shoulder. "I think Mr. Potter would like his family to be there, Lily. We can visit him later."

Sirius was staring at the healer blankly. One day when his own mother had finally had enough of his rebellious nature, in a fit of anger she had blasted his name off the Black tapestry and banished him from Grimmauld place-the family home. He'd gone straight to James' place. Evangeline and Thomas had welcomed him and loved him like another son. They had always wanted more children, they had said. James had become his brother in more than one ways. James was his best friend, brother and confidant all rolled in one. Was he family?

Lily bristled at that. "Sirius was given permission. I can't believe you Remus," she added quietly. Remus looked at her confusedly. Lily shrugged Remus' arm.

"Lily, I." he began, but Lily cut him off. "Is this a blood status thing? I can't go because I'm a mudblood-"

"Don't call yourself that,"

"Why not! I am a mudblood and I am proud to be one but apparently that very fact stops me from visiting a dying man?" Lily finished, daring anyone to meet her eyes. No one did. Except Remus.

Looking stern and perhaps even a little disapproving Remus opened his mouth to respond. "I'm disappointed you think so little of me," he said softly. Lily started but Remus held a hand up and suddenly the reason why even James and Sirius listened to Remus became clear. He had the look of authority over him. "What I said earlier about Mr. Potter wanting to be with family, still stands. It has nothing to do with your blood status and everything to do with you not being related to him."

Shamefaced, Lily whispered an apology and it was as if the whole kitchen breathed a sigh. No one liked a fight. Remus smiled at her, in acceptance.

"But Sirius Black?" Fiona asked timidly.

It was Peter who answered this time, with a smirk on his face.

"Well. Sirius Black was considered a Potter ever since he met James. He is family."

"This is the third time, I'm asking you, sir. Are you or are you not Mr. Thomas Potter's family," the healer asked through gritted teeth.

Finally Sirius focused on the short, dumpy looking healer in front of him. 'Healer Davis' was the name on her badge.

"Yes. I am family," Sirius said confidently. If she thought he was lying, she didn't say anything. Instead Healer Davis led Sirius through the corridor and pointed at the door. "Do not do anything or say anything to startle him. He is in a critical condition."

…

It was two o'clock in the morning and the four of them: Marlene, Peter, Remus and Lily, were sitting in the living room, too tense to do anything except sit and wait. No one wanted to say it but the lack of communication from either James or Evangeline could only mean bad news.

At exactly quarter past the hour, an owl flew in with a letter to deliver.

"It's a hospital owl," Peter whispered, ashen faced. "Mum gets them when she is ill."

It had landed next to Marlene and with shaking fingers she was untying the string around the parchment.

It was a very short, plain letter. And it was notifying them that Mr Thomas Potter had been pronounced officially dead by Healer Grantham at 01:54 am today.

Marlene passed the letter round, breathing heavily and blinking rapidly.

"Can we go see them now?" Lily asked, tears glistening in her eyes as she turned to look at Remus. But there was no need, Evangeline, James and Sirius had returned. Evangeline said nothing and James nodded briefly at his friends before following his mother upstairs.

"Funeral is tomorrow. Remus, we need to inform the staff," Sirius said and they both quickly made their way out.

…

The funeral was held next morning at eight am. It was an official ministry funeral and as with all ministry funerals, it took place at the ministry's private crematorium, in an underground London village. Rarely were commoners allowed but today was free entry to those who wished to pay their respects to the late Thomas Potter. Evangeline, James and Sirius were escorted by a ministry issued car, whilst Remus, Peter, Lily and Marlene arrived by portkey, like everyone else. The staff at Potter Manor was relieved from duty and nearly all of them had turned up for the funeral. Minister Tom Riddle and his wife Bellatrix were standing right next to Evangeline Potter, who looked as immaculate as ever. Most of the pureblood families were present. The Prewetts, The Weasleys, The Longbottoms, The Patils, The Greengrass' and even The Malfoys. Lily recognised some of the teachers from Hogwarts too. Professor McGonagall and Albus Dumbledore, with his ostentatious white beard were standing towards the front, but at a distance from Evangeline. Lily had never been to a funeral before and strangely she found it quite peaceful. For the first time, purebloods, half-bloods and muggleborns were united. Facing a tragic and emotional mourning. Everyone's misery and obvious pain was apparent from the hushed whispers and the respect with which everyone greeted James and Evangeline. Even Lucius Malfoy looked sincere in expressing his condolence to the Potter matriarch.

Lily and Marlene had been jostled nearer to the podium where the ministry officials and Evangeline stood. From their angle, the casket containing the body of Thomas Potter was visible. Their was a large cauldron shaped basin next to the casket, and this was where, Lily presumed, the cremation would take place.

As was tradition in the ministry, the head of the department in which the deceased wizard had worked, commenced the ceremony. Since Thomas Potter had been the head of Magical Law and Enforcement, Minister Riddle was his only superior and thus he began by asking everyone to face forward and remain silent. Sighs and quiet sobs or muffled sniffs could be heard as the congregation turned towards the podium. Startled, Lily noticed that everyone was wearing black robes. Funerals were apparently not the place to boast of fashion, blood status or superiority. As her eyes swept across the mass, they suddenly caught the gaze of an old friend – Ludo Bagman. He gave her a gentle smile. Which she returned. And then she turned towards the podium again.

"…Joined the ministry when he was only twenty-one years of age. An excellent worker who made his way up the ranks in no time. He was a respected, intelligent and dedicated individual. It is unfortunate that his end came so untimely and in a world, which still needs him. On behalf of his family, his friends, his colleagues and the spirit of humanity, I say goodbye to him and wish him the best of luck in his journey beyond the realms of mortal beings."

As his speech came to an end, he bowed his head and indicated everyone to do the same. Unable to help herself, Lily looked up and stared in shock as her eyes locked with James. He had never looked so angry. His eyes seemed glazed and he looked mutinous. He gave a minute nod towards Tom Riddle and shook his head. Lily understood at once. James blamed the ministry for his father's death. More specifically he blamed Tom Riddle for getting his father involved in politics far beyond the duty of the MLE. Lily, was not stupid, she knew that Thomas Potter was a controversial man. He and his wife often took actions not expected of pure bloods – treating muggleborns as equals, for one. But she had never thought that he was disliked, and indeed, judging by the turnout today, it was clear that Thomas Potter definitely was popular. So was this all an act? Was Tom Riddle just pretending or was he too, like all the rest of them, grieving the loss of a good man and friend? She was jostled out of her thoughts when someone from behind her elbowed her back. Everyone was extracting their wands, and hurriedly, she did too. Next to her Marlene was also getting her wand out.

"Please repeat after me when I indicate so," Riddle said. He wordlessly lifted the casket and raised it above the basin, gently allowing it to rest on the edge.

"By the name of Merlin, we bit thee goodbye, Thomas Potter. May your journey be painless and pure."

Evangeline was kneeling near the basin, not vocal but with tears straining down her eyes. Sirius and James stood either side of her, one hand on her shoulder. Sirius was looking determinedly at the basin but James wasn't even paying attention. If she didn't know any better, she would think that he was bored.

"Utinteger spiritus vester,et committis,utredigaturadmundare, ignis currere liberum," Riddle chanted and at once the congregation chanted with him. The force of hundreds of chants caused a shift in energy and it was as if an invisible yet powerful being was present with them. The chant roared around Lily's ears and she felt that her wand was connecting her to the very core of the basin, in which a fire had suddenly errupted. Riddle, keeping his wand raised, held Evangeline's arm as he directed her and James to push the casket into the fire below. As soon as the casket hit the basin floor, the magic disappeared and there was just the fire. Everyone watched in silence as the flames enveloped and warmed the casket. The whole process was over in a few minutes. Riddle announced that the collection of the ashes and the burial of the ashes would take place in a private ceremony at Godric's Hollow, where the Potters were originally from.

Eventually the congregation dispersed. Lily stood next to Marlene and both of them refused to go back with the rest of the staff. When finally, only a few of them left, Lily walked up to the podium. Evangeline turned towards them and finally, finally her emotionless mask cracked. Her eyes crinckled and she seemed to droop. Suddenly she looked twenty years older. Marlene, unable to help herself embraced Evangeline who only sobbed more. Remus led them towards a small bench, whilst he and Peter gathered the ashes. James stood aside and when Lily called to him, he did not repond.

"I wanted to be like him, you know." James said softly. Lily just stood behind him, knowing there was more to come. And sure enough, after a few moments, James spoke again. "You didn't get to seem him at his best, Lily. He was so different before he got ill. Full of life, full of laughter. The cancer robbed him off his health and the bloody politics cost him his life!" His fists were clenching and unclenching, as if in spasm. Unable to bear it, Lily put her small hand on his shoulder, and despite the differences in strength she forced him to turn around.

"Evangeline needs you, James. Be strong for her."

"Who will be strong for me?" he asked, brokenly. Like a child.

"Me," she replied, softly, earnestly. He leaned into her and rested his cheek against hers. They stood there for a long time, just touching, not saying anything. Somehow when the world had turned itself upside down, Lily had become James' salvation.

…

James sat on the dusty box in the broom cupboard. Cigarette smoke was filling the room and he dragged another puff – uncaring of the detrimental affect on his body. Muggles claimed smoking was bad. It could kill you. But his dad hadn't died of smoking. It was the damned cancer. James' hands were trembling. They shook so badly that he dropped his cigarette and just stared at it, as if bewildered that it existed. Sirius wanted to take him out. But getting sloshed wasn't how he wanted to say goodbye to his father. Remus had suggested he talk to his mother. But Evangeline had returned from the funeral and shut herself in the bedroom. Lily told him that Evangeline had refused dinner. Lily had been so upset. Why was she upset? It wasn't her father who had died at the hands of the ministry. The ministry of magic was Thomas Potter's livelihood, his passion. And it was on duty that he had been fatally injured. James couldn't erase the memory of seeing his father's bloodied torso and deathly pale face. The only memory he now had of his father was the little metal safe he had left for James. It was currently sitting atop a chair in the broom cupboard but James couldn't bring himself to open it. He'd rather leave it be, the mystery of what was inside was so befitting his father's nature. Strong like the metal (thought obviously not strong enough) and mysterious to the point that even his own family didn't know just how far involved he was in ministry politics – until his enemies killed him. Right then, James made up his mind. No. No more mysteries. This safe had to be opened and it was with purpose that James picked up the cold handle and yanked it. There was no lock on it, either physical or magical and James almost laughed when out tumbled a few objects. There weren't many items inside. A spinning top – presumably from his father's boyhood days. A few letters from his mother or other friends. A small bottle of perfume. He looked at it curiously for a minute but then put it aside. Right at the bottom was a photograph. It was dusty and dirty and as James cleaned it with his hand, a family picture came to view.

In the photograph was a couple and a very small girl. They seemed to be royalty, for the man and woman were sitting on thrones with jewels in their hair. The small girl was sitting on her mother's lap and could be a replica. Both mother and daughter had fiery red hair and…emerald eyes. James had never seen her, but he knew. He just knew that the only royalty in wizarding history to have red hair and emerald eyes was Queen Mariana Brigant. The muggle-born who married King Michael Brigant.

But that meant this girl in the photo was Princess Brigant. His heart beating fast, James turned the photograph over and quickly read the writing:

King and Queen Brigant with young Princess Anna Lily Brigant. March 1968 aged seven.

If he was calculating this correctly, this would make Princess Anna Lily Brigant around two years younger than him and this would mean that it was only a few short months before their entire family had been killed by Riddle's men.

But then another memory came to the forefront. James' friend and the memory that plagued him in his nightmares had blonde hair. In this photo, the girl had red hair. How was this possible? Did they have another daughter?

And then James thought of something else which made his heart almost stop. Lily. Lily Evans also had red hair and emerald green eyes. Just like Queen Brigant and more importantly, just like the little princess in the photograph.

…

AN: Told ya it would get gritty but hopefully much more interesting too. For anyone who is interested, the Latin roughly translates to: May the fire purify your soul and allow your spirit to run free. What do you make of this photograph? How about the funeral – hope it wasn't too intense. I tend to get carried away! Please comment and tell me your thoughts! Until next time,

-Vitzy-