Albus heard James calling him.

"Does he seem upset to you?" Harry asked. Albus shrugged, got up, and ran upstairs. Upon entering Jame's room, he found his brother sitting on his bed, tears on his face. It was a bit shocking; Albus had never seen his brother cry before.

"What's wrong, James?"

"Listen to me," he commanded. "No questions. Just listen. When I'm done…showing you what I want you to see, don't touch my wand. Make sure Dad destroys it. He'll know how."

"Don't you need your wand?"

"I said no questions," James said. He took a deep breath and then took out his wand. To Albus's surprise, to pointed it at himself. Albus opened his mouth again, but decided against asking another question. Instead, he instinctively put his hand on his own wand that was in his pocket. James started to speak.

"Avada-" James yelled, the wand still pointed at himself. Albus caught on.

"Expelliamus!" he screamed. "Stupify!" The wand flew out of Jame's hand as he stiffened. Harry and Ginny came pounding up the stairs. They stopped when they saw the scene: James, his wand out of his hand, and Albus, on his knees, pointing his wand.

"What did you just do?" Harry said. To him, it looked as if Albus was trying to take his brother's wand. But he'd thought he'd heard 'avada'. And it sounded like James said it.

"What happened?" Ginny asked, speechless.

"James," Albus cried. "He tried to kill himself. He told me not to take his wand."

"But why?" Ginny asked.

"I think I know. If James got rid of himself and his wand, you would never be able to take it, Albus. It would break the process of you becoming Voldemort. The Death Eaters would stop chasing us." Albus took in the information, breathless.

"What now?" Albus asked. "I mean, James can't do that. But he's right on one point. We have to break the process." Suddenly, Ginny started to smile.

"I think you have," she said. "You saved your brother, Albus. That's the opposite of overpowering him in a duel to the death. It was, in a way, a duel in which you saved his life."

"Exactly," Harry agreed. "Just like my mother, you've given your love, and protection, to him. He's safe. You're safe. We're all safe." Then, Harry bent down and whispered into Albus's ear.

"Did I not tell you, my Hufflepuff, that kindness is important after all?"