A.N. (Hi Guys; I am so sorry that I haven't updated for a long time, but I've been really busy with mid-terms, research papers, and such at college. I would like to give a big thanks to all my reviewers for such nice reviews. Your reviews have given me encouragement during times in which I've felt like ending this fan fiction. So thank you! I would also like to say one more thing about this chapter. I am not the best with court cases, as I've never gone to court and I haven't read many books about court cases, so please excuse any mistakes I have. I used to be in Law School, but my passion for English Literature made me change my major and I also had never been the best with memorizing dates and stuff, so….yeah. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Also, sorry for not updating the poll. I promise to do that by the next chapter.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter doesn't belong to me, never did, and never will. Thank you.
Chapter 14: A Former Death Eater
"Harry, Dudley!!" 8 year old Emma cried out, running towards her brother and cousin and giving them each a big teddy bear hug.
Harry laughed, slightly embarrassed. "Emma, how are you?" he asked. Behind him, Ron, Fred, George, and Percy were standing, grinning and waving at the Potter family. Well, Percy wore a dignified look – though he did smile politely – and adjusted his robes so that his prefect badge flashed at them all. Harry, who had remembered that poor Percy would be left all alone at Hogwarts with his brothers gone, had immediately invited him as well. It had taken some persuasion, but Percy in the end relented. After all, who wanted to be left alone at Christmas, which was a time for family and friends?
"You must be Harry's friends," Lily greeted them, wearing a warm smile, "I've heard so much about you from his letters. I hope you will feel at home at our house."
Saying so, she gave each of the Weasleys a big motherly hug. Ron flashed a grin at Harry and mouthed, "I like your mother." Harry returned an embarrassed but pleased smile.
"We thank you profusely for accepting us into your household, Mrs. Potter," Percy stated dignified, "And we would like to convey our parents' appreciation as well."
"It is nothing dear," said Lily with a welcoming smile. Percy reminded her a little of herself when she was young. Fred and George snickered and Ron blushed furiously at his brother's overly decorous statement. Percy glared at them.
"Where's Dad, Mum?" asked Harry, noticing that his Dad wasn't there.
"He's still at work, honey. Apparently, there's been some trouble in the Auror Department and he and Sirius need to sort it out," Lily replied, leading the large group out of Platform 9 ¾.
"Oh," said Harry, a little disappointed, "Where're Anne, Diana, Will, and Aunt Petunia?" Harry and Dudley had decided that they weren't going to disclose their Aunt's secret identity as Professor Jane Birmingham even to their friends, as it was still too risky. So she had arrived at Godric's Hollow the day before, leaving aside her disguise and becoming Petunia Evans once again.
"They're all at home. Only Emma here wanted to accompany me," Lily said, looking lovingly at her youngest daughter. Emma grinned back at her.
"How's mum, Aunt Lily?" asked Dudley with anxiety. Lily smiled reassuringly at him.
"She's fine, sweetheart. The upcoming case seems to have strengthened her determination to get young Duncan and Delilah back. She's cooking right now; said she wanted some busy work to do. Needless to say, Isabella and the other house elves are not happy."
Chuckling, Harry and Dudley turned to their friends.
"Will we be able to meet Prongs, Padfoot, and Moony tonight?" asked Fred eagerly.
"Yeah I think so," replied Harry, "Uncle Padfoot and Uncle Moony usually come over for dinner quite often."
Fred and George started whispering to each other now, as if planning something.
"When are Aunt Harriet and her family coming over, Mum?" asked Harry.
"Oh I almost forgot," said Lily, "they're not coming over this year after all, as Uncle Emerson's mother is ill. They're going to spend time with Emerson's family, and are thinking about visiting us during the summer."
"Oh," said Harry, "That's too bad."
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"That was a delicious dinner, Aunt Petunia," complimented Harry that evening.
"Yea, it was superb," agreed Ron. Petunia beamed.
"Thank you dears," she replied, chuckling. "Do help yourselves to some Pudding."
"Of course, wouldn't miss it for the world," said Harry with a grin.
"We're home!" came a voice from the kitchen doorway. Everyone spun around on their seats and saw James and Sirius standing by the doorway, grinning tiredly at everyone. Fred and George leapt from their seats despite Percy's disapproving look and bounded to the surprised James and Sirius.
"We're pleased to make your acquaintance, Messrs Padfoot and Prongs," they proclaimed in a surprisingly serious tone – haha – who were they kidding?
"We can't believe we finally got the chance to meet you!" Fred exclaimed, sobbing onto George's shoulder. George acted in a similar manner. James and Sirius stared at them oddly.
"Lily dear, who is this?" asked James in a strange tone. Lily laughed.
"These are the Weasleys: Ron, Fred, George, and Percy. Remember, Harry wrote that they are going to spend the holidays with us," Lily replied, amused by Fred and George's antics.
"Oh," replied James, "Well then…..how do you know our nicknames?"
"Who doesn't?" asked George in an awed tone. "You are two of the legendary Marauders aren't you?"
"Of course!" replied Sirius pompously, "Who doesn't know us? Anyway though, seriously, how did you find out about us?"
"The Marauders Map of course!" replied Fred simply, "You did make that, didn't you?"
"The Marauders Map?" said James in a strangled tone, "You have the Marauders Map? With you?"
"Yea…" George said slowly, eyeing the two adults strangely.
"You got it from Filch's office?" asked Sirius in an awed tone.
"Yup, in our first year," said Fred proudly.
"First year? Man, you've gotta be good," said Sirius, grinning at the two pranksters.
"Okay you four, you can talk later," said Lily in a stern voice, "It's time to finish your dinner."
"Yes mum," said Sirius, earning a smack from Lily.
"Ow! Redheads…" Sirius muttered, rubbing his head.
"Oy! Who are you calling redheads?" said George in an insulted manner. Everyone laughed. Fred and George already seemed a part of the family. Will in particular was glancing at them as if they were Gods. 'Uh oh,' though Harry, 'Fred, George, Will, Dad, and Sirius all in the same house together. This is going to be one interesting break.'
Ron leaned over to Harry and muttered, "Nicolas Flamel, you reckon we should ask your parents about him?"
"Are you kidding?" Harry whispered back to him, "Mum and Dad would become suspicious why we want to know about him. They'd ask all sorts of questions. Nah, we'd better find out ourselves. Anyway, we can check in the Potter Library. We have all sorts of books, Flamel's got to be in there somewhere!"
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It was indeed a very interesting break. Fred and George, accompanied by James, Sirius, Remus (who often visited when he found the time), and a very eager Will, entertained the household with pranks front and back. It had been declared that a Pranksters' War would be on between the three Marauders versus Fred, George, and Will, who had quickly become their faithful sidekick.
"My own son," James had complained sadly, shaking his head, "going against his own father."
"Oh get over it, Dad," Will had replied, grinning. James had then smirked and chased him around the house until he finally caught Will and attacked him with tickles.
Fred and George soon found out that the Marauders had not lost their touch despite being old (Sirius and James took great offense to this casual remark by Fred), and the Marauders came to realize that Fred and George were worthy opponents. Young Anne and Diana, quite intimidated by the Prank War, had often taken retreat in the Potter Library along with none other than Percy. He had been quite ecstatic to find that the Potters had a library that could rival Hogwarts' and spent the majority of his time there, his nose buried in a book. Lily and Remus (when he was not occupied in the Prank War or got tired of it) often joined him, and strangely (or maybe not so strangely), the three bonded. It was quite funny actually, to see two grown-ups having an intellectual conversation with a more serious 15 year old.
Harry, Ron, and Dudley, who did not want to be discovered by the grown-ups in the library (many suspicions would doubtless arise), each grabbed hold of a stack of books from the library and took them to Dudley's room, flipping through each one, but without success.
"If Hermione had been here, she would go bonkers over all these," Dudley remarked, chuckling.
Soon though, the spirit of approaching Christmas put Nicolas Flamel out of the Trio's minds and the books were returned to their rightful places in the Library. When the House's pranksters were not thus occupied, Harry, Ron, and Dudley spent time playing Quidditch with them in the large expanse behind the Potter Manor. The teams were always Harry, Dudley, Sirius, Will, and Fred against Ron, James, Remus, Anne, and George. Diana, like her Aunt Lily, preferred to watch instead of play, and Percy…..well he never played any sports, let alone Quidditch, did he?
Petunia's lawyer Jean Abbot, who was from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, often came to the Potter Manor to converse with Petunia, James, and Lily. They would be shut in James's study for hours on end, while Dudley waited for news of the latest development from his mother. Harry and Ron tried their best to distract his mind during these times. The Marauders' Map helped substantially.
Fred and George, when they found out that the Marauders had lost the Marauders' Map to Filch in their Seventh Year due to the stupidity and ignorance of Wormtail (whose name is better left unsaid), returned it in due course, claiming that they had no need of it anymore, and that they had memorized everything anyway. Sirius had spent about half an hour sobbing over the old map, while James and Remus glanced eagerly at it. It was decided in the end that the map would be bequeathed to Harry, as it would come to more use for him than them, but with the promise that Harry would share it with Will (Anne and Emma would have no use for it anyway) when he came to Hogwarts.
Harry, Ron, and Dudley spent hours looking at the map, and noticing what each and every person was doing. They found the movements of Filch and Snape most amusing.
Christmas day was by far one of the best they had. Under the Christmas Tree, loads of presents were stacked, and the kids were only too happy to dig in. The Weasley children were pleasantly surprised to find gifts for them from Lily and James, Petunia, Sirius, and Remus, along with the ones their parents and friends sent over. Likewise, Harry and Dudley found presents for them from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, along with the ones of their friends and parents.
The large group of kids spent the day outside having a snowball fight, and then later watched A Christmas Carol in Dudley's television. Even Percy was forced to have fun when his brothers pummeled him with snowballs, and he just had to retaliate. When Percy found a lock on the Library doors (placed by James who wanted him to have fun for once), he was even induced into watching A Christmas Carol, and was surprised to find himself enjoying it.
The evening feast was the crowning glory, as everything that could possibly be eaten was served. After everyone had 3rd and even 4th helpings, the desserts, too numerous to count, were brought in.
Perhaps even better than the feast was the spectacle performed by Fred, George, and Percy after dinner. Fred and George had charmed Percy's prefect badge to say "Perfect Princess Percy" instead of "Percy the Prefect", and Percy had chased them around the house trying to get it back and change it. In the end, Lily, who felt pity for him, convinced Fred and George to return it and change it back.
All in all, it was a perfect ending to a perfect day, and everyone went to sleep contented.
Soon after Christmas, Justin Finch Fletchley came over to visit for two days, and the large group of kids spend most of their time outdoors, playing Quidditch or having snowball fights. Harry and Ron, who hadn't found much time to get to know Justin in Hogwarts, found him to be a pleasant sort of boy, though he was a bit naïve when it came to pranks. Poor Justin became the butt of Fred and George's pranks before Dudley told them to stop.
The Annual New Year's Party, hosted by Lily and James every year, was a grand event to which many Wizarding families, and nearly all ministry officials, came to. Kids, until they reached the age of 15, were forbidden to come to it, so Harry and his friends and siblings were told to stay on the top floors, away from the Ballroom. But Fred and George could not let such a big event go to waste could they – without one teensy weensy little prank?
It was with horror that a Ministry Official with the name of Dolores Umbridge found her wand replaced by a fake wand, so that when she tried to use it, it turned into a chicken and frightened the living daylights out of her. Not only that, when she took a sip of her (spiked) punch to calm herself, she had done a crazy little tap dance all over the dance floor, much to the amusement of the rest of the guests. After it wore off, she had stormed out of the fireplace seething with anger, but not before yelling into Lily's face, "I'm never coming to another of your terrible parties! You and your crazy lot – Lord help you!"
It had taken all of Lily's will power not to yell back, "Good Riddance!" But that would not have looked good in front of the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge's presence, so she desisted. Fred and George had broken into fits of laughter upstairs along with the others, but surprisingly, the blame did not go to them. Lily seemed to think Sirius and James had something to do with it, and gave them a telling off the next morning, a fact which seemed to amuse Fred and George even more.
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Two days after the eventful New Years' Party, everyone woke up with a damper on their spirits. Today was the court case. Only Dudley and Diana would be accompanying their mother, uncle, aunt, and lawyer to Crescent Hill Courthouse. It would be absurd if everyone else came.
"Everything will be okay. Remember what we discussed," Lily whispered to her sister, pressing her hand in reassurance.
"Wouldn't it be much easier if we just kidnapped Duncan and Delilah?" asked James, trying to lighten up the mood. Lily smacked him on the arm.
"That's not funny," she said.
"Sorry," he had muttered back.
~*~*~*~
One hour later, they were in the Crescent Hill Courthouse, ten minutes early and looking prim and proper, er….well, Dudley and Diana not so much. They kept fidgeting on their seats. Petunia looked pale, but determined. James and Lily looked calm and composed, exchanging looks with Jean Abbot, Petunia's lawyer.
Five minutes after they had arrived, Vernon and his wife walked through the courtroom with a pompous and over-confident look. Yvonne Dursley looked over at Petunia and smirked. Petunia glared at her, and smirked as well. Yvonne didn't know that a simple confounding charm could wipe that smirk off her face. Dudley and Diana chanced a look at their father, but he avoided their glances. Diana sniffled a little, and Dudley pressed her hand reassuringly.
Yvonne and Vernon took a seat on the chairs opposite where Lily, James, Petunia, Dudley, and Diana sat. With the Dursley couple came Marge Dursley, Vernon's sister, a woman who looked like Yvonne (she was probably her sister), and their lawyer, a tall distinguished looking man wearing a nonchalant expression. James, Lily, and Jean Abbot, busy whispering with each other, did not see him, and when they finally looked up, he had taken his seat next to Vernon. Of course, the large size of Vernon Dursley completely blocked his figure.
Right on time, the judge entered the court house. Taking a seat at the large table in the front of the Court House, he cleared his throat and said in a loud booming voice, "Everyone being present, let us begin." After everyone took a seat, he continued, "We are present here today to come to a decision on the custody of Mr. Duncan Dursley and Miss Delilah Dursley, the illegitimate children of Mr. Vernon Dursley and the previous Ms. Yvonne Summers."
It pained Petunia immensely to hear poor Duncan and Delilah being called illegitimate, and she wanted more than anything to take them away with her, far from Vernon and Yvonne, but she knew she would have to be patient. Lily gave Petunia's hand a reassuring squeeze and smiled slightly at her. "Everything will be okay Tuney," she whispered, as she and Petunia turned back to the judge and listened intently to the rest of his opening statement. After he was done, Petunia was called up.
Turning slightly pale but looking determined, Petunia marched up confidently to the chair and sat down on it. Mrs. Abbot was going to question her first, so she was not so nervous now. They had gone over everything many times back at the Potter Manor.
"Miss Evans, for how many years were you married to Mr. Vernon Dursley?" asked Mrs. Abbot.
"11 years," Petunia replied promptly.
"What caused you to divorce him six months ago?" Mrs. Abbot continued.
"I received news of his infidelity to me," Petunia replied.
"How?
"I found some documents in the attic of our home at Privet Drive, stating that Duncan and Delilah were not my natural children. I confronted Vernon, and he confessed to the truth."
"What kind of a friend was Miss Yvonne Summers to you? Did she seem like one of the motherly types?"
"Not at all," replied Petunia, "She was an active woman, and loved to travel. I hardly ever knew where to send her the latest news of my domestic life, because her addresses changed so often. She told me many times that she had no intention of settling down and having children."
"What kind of children are Duncan and Delilah?"
"They are – are – such darlings. Sure, they were a bit spoiled and misbehaved at times, but they were no different from other kids their age."
"How do they look?"
"Well, they have mostly traits from Vernon's side of the family, but now I see that they have lots of Yvonne's features too."
"Did you raise them since their birth?"
"Yes; I thought them to be my own children until six months ago, when Vernon told me the truth."
"So they are not your natural children, but you raised them as if they were your own flesh and blood, right?"
"Yes, that's right," replied Petunia, "And I still love them as if they are my own. I raised them since they were babies, I was the one who nursed them when they were ill, and I was the one whom they called 'mum'."
"Thank you, Ms. Evans," said Mrs. Abbot with a small smile, before going back to her seat. Lily gave Petunia a thumbs up, and Dudley and Diana smiled at their mother.
Then Vernon and Yvonne's lawyer, a man named Charles Bullstrode, stood up and walked over to Petunia. Dudley gasped. "He looks exactly like Millicent Bullstrode back at Hogwarts," he said. James had his mouth agape as well.
"Bullstrode was a former Death Eater," he said, "One of the first to come over to our side claiming to have been under the Imperius Curse; codswallop in my opinion."
"But how – why did Vernon hire him? Even if he doesn't know about Bullstrode's magical blood, it does not make sense for Bullstrode to work for Vernon," Lily said with confusion and increasing worry.
"Something fishy is going on," James said with narrow eyes, "No way would a former Death Eater become the lawyer of muggles, and muggles like the Dursleys at that."
Vernon, glancing over at the Potters, smirked with satisfaction to see their confusion and worry. James and Lily returned his smirk, not to be bothered by him, but still – this proved that Vernon knew of Bullstrode's magic. What was going on?
"James, Sirius and Remus are watching over the kids, right?" Lily asked, worry suddenly creeping into her heart.
"Yes of course," replied James, looking at her with surprise.
"I don't know, but I suddenly feel worried. Something's not right. I can feel that something's going to happen," Lily said with a worried look.
James squeezed her shoulders reassuringly, and was about to reply when Charles Bullstrode began his interrogation of Petunia.