Without a word, Ginny whipped out her wand. She stepped up to the door slowly and heard her children close behind her.

"Stay back," she warned in a low voice.

They hesitated but stayed close. Anxiety started filling their hearts. Lily was just confused.

Ginny reached forward with her free hand and pushed the door open. The white light from outside filled the entrance. All four of them froze.

There were two immobile bodies lying across the floor. Their faces were turned away from the door and, from their body structure; no one in the family immediately recognized them.

Ginny's eyes were blazing with both fear and determination. She took a step back and whirled her wand around her head whispering "Expecto Patronum".

A shining horse appeared for a small second and then disappeared, carrying with it a message from Ginny to her family. When she had finished, she looked up and saw James dashing into the house.

"James! Stop!"

He jumped over the figures and looked at their faces. Ginny and Albus could practically hear his heart racing.

"James!" Ginny hissed, stepping forward, "Get back here! Stay w-"

Disobeying his mother completely James turned and rushed to the dining room where two more strangers lay. The table and chairs were smashed and splintered around them.

"James!" Ginny growled, trying to keep her voice low. He didn't listen to her.

Albus and Lily remained behind their mother in growing apprehension. Lily grabbed her brother's hand, trembling. He squeezed it for reassurance.

Ginny had knelt down before the two men. Her eyes widened and she swung her wand at them. Thick ropes burst out and tied them tight, yet they still did not move.

Albus made to step forward, but Ginny pointed at him and whispered "Don't."

At this point, James had dashed to the sitting room doors and pulled them open. Ginny shook her head at her son's disobedience and stood. James had taken five steps in when he suddenly shrieked.

James' voice was like nothing Albus had ever heard before. It was filled with absolute terror. Ginny, Albus and Lily rushed in.

The whole room was destroyed. The tree was blasted apart and ornaments had fallen all around the floor. The sofa was torn and split in half. Several books were blasted into confetti. There were two more bodies strewn across the sitting room. One was closer to James, lying on his back. Albus' spine shook as he recognized the pointed teeth and hairy face. A rope was wrapped around his neck. Though it lay limp now, it was clear that it was held tight in place before. There were marks just below the rope on the man's skin. His eyes were open wide, but they saw no light. Fenrir Greyback lay dead in front of them.

The other body was hidden by the large broken base of the fallen tree, mangled and motionless, his blood staining the carpet.

"DAAAD!"

James made to rush forward but his mother snatched him back by the back of his collar. She pushed him towards his siblings and ran to her husband.

"You stay there!" She yelled. James and Albus noticed the panic in her voice.

Two loud CRACKs outside jerked their attention away. They turned to see Hermione and Ron rushing in.

"Ginny?" Ron called.

"In here! Quick!"

The Potter children flattened themselves against the wall as they bounded in. They paused when they saw Greyback but hurried to Ginny's side at the sight of Harry.

"D-D-Daddy?"

Albus looked down and saw his baby sister shaking horribly, her face lined with fresh tears.

"M-Mum?" James croaked, "is… is he-"

"I got a pulse!" Ginny shrieked.

"He's alive?!" Albus called.

"Ron," Hermione said, her bossiness returning full force, "Use the Floo Network. Call St. Mungo's, now!"

He ran to the fireplace behind him.

"Ginny, I need your help. He's losing too much blood."

"What?!" Albus choked.

Ginny looked up at her children intently.

"James, take your brother and sister outside. Wait there for me."

"Mum, I-"

"Now, James!"

"But-" Albus started.

"DON'T ARGUE!" She yelled.

There was a beat and James grabbed Albus and Lily by the arms and started backing out.

"D-Daddy!" Lily started crying and trying to fend off her brother. "Dad! Wake up! Please!"

"Lily, stop!" James let go of Albus and grabbed Lily's other hand.

"Dad! Dad! Let me go! DADDY!"

With a heavy heart, Albus grabbed Lily's shoulder and helped usher her outside. She continued to struggle but failed against her brothers' combined strength. When they got her out the front door, she broke down into scared sobs. James knelt down and held her close.

Albus leaned against the wall outside still in shock. That was beyond anything he could imagine happening to his family. He knew his father was an Auror, which are known for taking down dark wizards. He even took down, arguably, the strongest dark wizard of all time. His dad was considered one of the best Auror's in the Ministry. With that in mind, Albus never really considered his father to be in any real danger… until now.

After a few minutes of standing outside, they heard more people inside. They were talking loud and fast. The kids could hear running footsteps. St. Mungo's healers had arrived.

It was all just noise at this point.

James pulled Lily over to the wall next to Albus and sat there, still holding her. Albus didn't even notice how badly he was shaking. He couldn't even tell if it was because of the cold winter air or the haunting scene he had just witnessed. His Dad was preparing everything for Christmas. He was getting ready for everyone to enjoy time together as a family. He was attacked in his own home. What if they had gotten home just a little sooner? Would his mother have helped fight them off, or would she, too, be lying half-dead on the rug.

Don't think that! Albus told himself. He's not… he's not gone. He's still here. He'll make it through this… won't he?

Dark thoughts entered into Albus' mind. What if he didn't make it through? What would become of them? What would they do?

Memories of his last argument with Harry made Albus' breathing hitch. What if the last thing he ever said to his father was wishing he never was his father?

He was so lost in his own thoughts he didn't notice how fast time seemed to have passed. His mother was standing next to them.

"Children," she started. James stood up. Lily looked scared. "Your father has been taken to St. Mungo's. He is still unconscious, but they will do everything they can to help him. We are going there now." The three kids simply nodded. They made to enter the house, but Ginny stopped them.

"I don't want you going back in there," she said firmly. "I will call the Knight Bus again. We won't use the Floo Network."

Without any arguments, she stuck out her wand hand over the street.