Chapter Forty-Eight: Mum is Dead
"Oh, shut up, Padfoot. I'm not ditching Lily to go to Hogsmeade with you guys," James Potter told his best mate, Sirius Black.
Sirius pouted, "Come on, Prongs, you know that without you it'll be boring. Remus and Peter are no fun!"
"I take offence to that," Remus Lupin said calmly from behind his large book.
Peter was too busy sleeping to even know that there was a conversation going on.
"Moony, you only go to boring places, like Scrivenshaft's Quil Shop, Tomes and Scrolls, and Honeydukes. Those places are hardly interesting!" Sirius complained loudly.
"Honeydukes is not boring! They have the most delicious chocolate imaginable," Lupin defended as he put his book down.
Prongs nodded in agreement, "He is right, Padfoot-"
Our conversation was soon interrupted from the knock at the door.
"Wonder who that could be..." Black muttered as he got up to answer the door. He was shocked at who lay behind it. "Professor McGonagall?"
"Hello, Mr. Black. Is Potter in here?" the Transfiguration teacher asked.
Sirius nodded, "Yes, he is. Is he needed for something?"
She released a sigh and said, "Yes, Black. Potter you need to come with me, and I think that you should come too, Black."
Both Gryffindors nodded and followed their Head of House out of the room. Then they arrived at the gargoyles in front of Dumbledore's office. Minevra gave the password, which was 'Chocolate Frog'.
"Is something wrong, Professor?" Potter as he and Sirius took a seat in front of Dumbledore's desk.
The twinkle in Albus' eye was gone as he replied, "I am sad to say yes. I would assume that you know Sophie Potter left the school to visit Gringotts Bank early this morning?"
"Yes, she had to go to our grandmother's will reading or something like that. Why? Did something happen to Sophie?" James rambled quickly. Was his sister hurt?
Dumbledore shook his head, "No, Mr. Potter, you sister is quite alright, well, physically anyway. It's-"
"Wait, what do you mean by physically? And why am I here if this is about Sophie?" Sirius inquired loudly, interrupting the Professor in the process.
Meanwhile, James had a bad feeling inside. If his sister was fine, then what was wrong? And Padfoot made a point, what did Dumbledore mean by physically?
"Well, after Miss Potter finished at Gringotts, she took a visit home to see your mother, James," Albus said, ignoring Sirius' question. "And while she was there the house was attacked by Death Eaters. I am sorry to say that your mother did not make it through, though the two managed to fight off the wizards. After the battle was over, Evelynn Potter was his by a dark curse directly to her stomach, which caused her to bleed out before the Aurors arrived. Sophie had attempted to help, but her efforts were futile. Miss Potter had also stated that Yaxley was in charge of the raid, but he escaped before he could be apprehended. I am sorry, Mr. Potter and Mr. Black, there was nothing we could do."
James' mouth had opened in shock. His mother and sister were attacked and Mum didn't make it out? Just after he had finally accepted the fact that his father and grandmother were killed too? How ruthless were those dark wizards? Did they hate the Potter family that much to just go and bloody kill them all off? He was feeling both shocked and depressed, but mostly angry. Why did they do this?
Next to James, Sirius was feeling about the same emotions. Mrs. Potter had taken him in when his own family had kicked him out for good. She didn't deserve to die, especially right after her husband was murdered. Poor Potter family. This was the third in less than a year.
"Sophie should arrive back at Hogwarts soon, so unless you would like to wait for her, Professor McGonagall will escort you back to your common room," Dumbledore stated after a very long pause.
I guess we didn't have to wait long for Sophie because right after Dumbledore said that, she had flooed in.
"Can I go now, Moody? I answered all of your questions and if you think of anymore, you could always ask me tomorrow at Hogsmeade. I just want to go back to Hogwarts and try to forget everything that happened tonight," I muttered as I pulled the wool blanket tighter around my shoulders. It was breezy and I refused to sit in the house a moment longer, so we were sitting on the sidewalk. I made sure to keep my back to the house at all times.
Mad-Eye stared at me for a while before speaking, "You know Potter, it's better to remember the things like this, even if they are sad. They just make you fight harder for what you believe in. Try not to forget that."
Moody was right, but I didn't want to think about what he said right now. I just wanted a soft pillow under my head and drift away into peaceful sleep. After a long shower though. There was blood everywhere on me and my hair and clothes were crusted with it.
"I guess you can go though. I'll see you tomorrow at nine o'clock sharp in the Three Brooksticks. Don't be late, kid. Now, get out of here," Mad-Eye said gruffly as he stood up.
Shrugging the blanket off my shoulders, I couldn't help but smile gratefully at the scarred man. "Thanks, Moody. I'll make sure to be there on time."
Hurrying in through the hole in the side of the house, since Mum blew the door off, I attempted to not look to my left as I headed toward the fireplace. Let's just say that I was very unsuccessful to do so. As I entered the fireplace pictures of blood stained white carpet and pieces of our broken tea cups were in my mind.
As soon as my feet hit the ground in the Headmasters office, I began to cough nonstop from the coal dust that was now deep inside my throat.
AN- So this is basically just a chapter leading up to Sophie confronting James. Though I can't say whether or not I'll put Hogsmeade into it. I am definitely considering it because I can't wait to write it out.
Feeling pretty happy about how I am updating often too.
I also have some other stories you guys should check out. I think that their awesome, but that's just my opinion.
Thanks for the reviews celeste.c. arguello, Nimea, Lol101, Blue Luver5000, and kittyhawk09.
Until next time. -Laura