Chapter Eight: Her Protectors

Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione stared at their children in shock. The three children stared at their parents, waiting for a response. Rose and Hermione looked intently into each other's eyes, as if having their own silent conversation. Ron had disbelief all over his face. Ginny and Harry gave James the 'I-can't-believe-you-did-this' look. Albus looked at his mother and father in fear. James watched Harry with satisfaction. There was a long silence when Ron broke it by saying, "Where's Hugo?"

"Melanie wouldn't bring him," Rose explained, "She said he was too young."

"You brought Melanie into this?" Harry accused James, "James, why? After all the talks we had, after I repeatedly said no, why did you follow us? Does Teddy even know you're here?"

"Teddy's not the problem, Dad," James stated, "Lily is. We came to help you find her."

"James, we aren't going to need your help, you are going to need ours," Harry pointed out. James just rolled his eyes. Harry's face became serious when he said, "Let's go."

A wave of fury washed across James's face. "NO!" he yelled, "You can't just send us home like that! We're here to stay. There's nothing you can do to make us leave," and he seemed pretty confident about that.

"Speak for yourself, James," Rose said so that only he could hear. James ignored her.

"Er, Harry, could we talk," Ginny said, hesitantly. Ron and Hermione were also looking for a response. Harry nodded and the four went into a huddle. The two Malfoys waited on the side, growing impatient.

"Okay, what?" Harry said once they were alone.

Ginny took a deep breath and said, "I think we should let James stay, as well as Albus."

"Ginny, are you mental?" Harry said, "This would be putting our kids in more danger than they've ever dreamt of."

"Harry, he knows how much danger there is in this," Ginny said, "And did you ever stop and wonder why James is going to all this trouble just to help us?"

Harry looked back at Ginny, Ron, and Hermione. They all seemed to understand except for him. It was apparent that Ginny and Hermione weren't going to give him an answer, so he looked to Ron for support. Ron sighed, then said, "Listen, Mate, you've faced loads of challenges. You killed Voldemort for Merlin's sake! You won the triwizard tournament and fought Voldemort all before you even took your OWLs. Imagine what it's like for James, to have to live up to your reputation. Imagine what it's like for all our kids. You probably don't understand it, because you've never had to live up to someone, but I do. I had five older, successful brothers, for crying out loud. I know what it's like to always feel like you have to prove yourself. That's what James is going through."

"Not only that," Ginny started, before Ron broke into song, "James is the eldest of the three. He carries their weight. He protects them when we're not around. When he found out that his youngest sibling, his sister, no less, was kidnapped, imagine how he must've felt. We've always told him to watch out for Albus, and we told both boys to especially watch out for Lily. Now that she's gone, what else can they do but help get her back. It's their duty."

Harry looked over at his two sons, remembering a conversation they had, just before Lily started school…

Flashback

Tuesday, August 30

(Three months ago)

"James, Al, could I have a word with you two."

"What did we do this time?"

"Don't worry, Albus, you're not in trouble. I just want to talk to you."

James rolled his eyes as the two boys entered their dad's bedroom.

"Where's Lily?" Harry asked as he closed the door.

"She is with Mum, packing," Albus said.

"Okay, well that's what I wanted to talk to you boys about," Harry started.

"You want to talk to us about them packing?" James said, confused.

Harry shook his head, "No, just about Lily. This is her first year going to Hogwarts, and the first time she's been away from me and your Mum. Now I know you two look out for her, but I think it's high time you looked 'after' her. She is an eleven year old girl, and I do remember certain older boys who took pleasure in scaring first year girls, and—"

"Really?" James said, growing interested, "Who? I bet it was Uncle Ron. Aunt Hermione always said he was inconsiderate of younger children."

"That's not important," Harry snapped, "The important thing is that if you see anything like that happening to Lily, stop whoever is doing it. If you hear someone threatening, or trying to duel her, get her out of there. If she is acting suspicious, keep an eye on her. And above all, if you see any boy looking at her, tear them limb from limb."

"Yeah James," Albus said, "If you see any guys looking at Lily like how you look at Clara Chang—" Albus was cut off as James kicked his shin.

"Boys, this isn't funny," Harry said, trying to keep the matter serious again, "I'm counting on you. You don't need to stalk her, just spare me the grief of finding out that she's been killed, or gone missing or something. Promise me you will do anything you possibly can to keep Lily safe."

"We promise," James said, and Albus nodded in agreement.

"Hey Dad," Albus said, "Why didn't you make such a big deal when I went to Hogwarts?"

"Because you weren't my little girl. Now go finish packing," Harry said. Albus went out, but before James could go, Harry said, "James, if anything happened to her…"

"Don't worry Dad," James assured him, "I won't ever let anything happen to Lily. No one, boy or girl, will get their hands on my baby sister without a fight."

End of Flashback

"Boys, stop!" Malfoy said, snapping Harry out of his reverie. Harry turned to see James push Albus toward the wall opposite to the stairs. Although, instead of hitting the wall, Albus disappeared into it.

"Albus!!"

"James, what happened?"

"Nothing! He was annoying me, so I pushed him aside. I swear, I didn't make him disappear," James said, anxious to take the blame off himself.

"Albus!" Ginny called, "Albus, can you hear me?" She was standing near the wall that he disappeared by. "He's not answering!" she said to the others in panic. Be then, the Malfoys were next to her, examining the wall.

"See," Malfoy said to James, "This is exactly what your parents were talking about. Now we're even more delayed in finding the kids."

"Wait, Draco," Hermione said, with a twinkle in her eye, "I think James and Albus just helped us."

"Hermione, what are you talking about?" Harry said, standing with his arm around the panic-stricken Ginny.

"Albus didn't disappear," Hermione began, "He went through the wall."

The look of understanding swept across Ron's face as he said, "The wall is a gateway."

"Wait, like the gateway at King's Cross?" James asked.

"Yeah," Harry said, now understanding. He took a few steps back, then said, "So it should work if I…" and then Harry ran. Not into, but through the wall.

"It worked!" James said, and then proceeded to follow Harry.

"James, wait—" Ginny started, but he had already gone and was followed by Rose. Ginny heaved a frustrated sigh, and then went though herself. Draco and Asteria looked at each other, held hands, and then ran through the wall.

"Hey, Ron," Hermione said, before the two went through the gateway, "That was really deep thinking you expressed to Harry back there. I'm impressed."

Ron's face became smug as he said, "Thanks. I tend to tend to say things like that every once in a while. I can be deep if I want to."

Hermione rolled her eyes as the two ran through the gateway.

Yes, Ron, the Great Deep one. Did you all like my mini Ron sob story?

Sorry there wasn't much action in this chapter, but what can you do?

Oh, and sorry for leaving Hugo out, but I had to make Melanie do at least one sensible thing.