Lone Child
Chapter 22: Yet another, but more expected, drama
The next few weeks passed uneventfully. Mel and Sirius pretty much stayed to themselves but did come down and walk around the manor for a little while every day. Sirius was no longer skittish around James and often played game of Wizard's Chess or Exploding Snap with him, but he still would only let Mel or Triss touch him.
"So what's the plan for today?" Triss asked flopping onto James lap.
"There is a pretty big section of woods on the island. I think it would be good to take Sirius out on a run to test some of the changes I made to his Animagus form," said James. Shortly after Sirius arrived the ministry had come to search the house, not only were they looking for Sirius himself but also his dog animagus form.
After much consideration they had agreed to let James make some changes in his form. Instead of a grim like dog Sirius could now take the form of a purebred black wolf with deep, dark blue eyes. Sirius still hadn't had a lot of time to get used to it.
"Sounds good to me," said Sirius coming down the stairs with Mel in toe. He looked a lot different from the near death man that had arrived several weeks before. His hair was now neat and clean, tied back into a ponytail. His eyes, while they still had a haunted look to them, were no longer sunken in and were much brighter than before. With a little help from James and Triss he was no longer painfully thin but was now lean with slight muscle tone.
"When do you guys want to go?" James asked.
"How about now," said Mel.
"Sounds good to me," said James standing and pulling Triss up with him.
Several minutes later four animals were walking slowly out to the woods. Triss was in her tiger form rough housing with James in his panther form as Mel and Sirius, both in wolf form, looked on. Eventually Triss, being the bigger animal, as able to pin James. James let out a low purr signaling he gave up. Triss let him up and the quartet walked in companionable silence.
'Guys lets run,' James' voice echoed in their heads. Sirius jumped at the sound of a male human voice in his head but ran along with the group. James and Triss once again competed against each other but James won, as Triss's animagus form wasn't built for speed, but strength.
An hour later four tired humans slumped onto sofas in the family room. Triss curled up in James' lap while James laid spread out across the sofa. Opposite of them Mel was sitting up with Sirius's head resting in her lap. Even though he was much better than when he first arrived his mental state was still close to that of a scared child and he needed almost constant comfort.
"You guys interested in watching a movie?" James asked.
"Sure," said Mel.
"What do you guys want to watch?" James asked.
"Something light, funny," said Mel.
"How about 'Pirates of the Caribbean'?" asked Triss sleepily.
"Yeah," said Mel.
"Alright," said James waving his hand. The same big screen T.V. he had used during Christmas appeared and the opening credits of Disney's 'Pirates of the Caribbean' started.
A few hours later the movie was over and both James and Triss were asleep on the couch. Mel and Sirius were both laying on the couch much like James and Triss but both were only lightly dosing. A sharp intake of breath from James woke the two of them. Mel stood up and walked over to where James was laying, obviously in the throws of a nightmare.
James mumbling and slight movement woke Triss. She started to wake him but Mel stopped her. "He's having a vision. It is very dangerous to interfere with a person in the middle of a vision," she said helping Triss get off of him with out shaking him.
A minute or two later James was covered in a thin sheet of sweat and looked like he was battling with invisible demons. Suddenly he sat straight up. Panic, fear and anger in its purest form shown in his eyes. With out a word he apperated away.
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He reappeared in a small bedroom. The walls were light purple and baby blue with matching and complimenting furniture. On the hardwood floor, however, were several smeared dark stains. James walked around the room, obviously looking for something. If you looked hard enough you could see that his eyes were glazed silver with suppressed fury.
He pulled the comforted back on the bed and didn't seem surprised that the sheets were covered in red stains, blood. A small whimper caught his attention. Turning he saw that it had come from a small closet, walking over he yanked the door open. His eyes lost the look of fury and cast a look of concern.
Curled up in a pile of her own blood Kat lay whimpering to here self and bracing as if expecting someone to hit her. "Kat?" James whispered gently nudging her chin up to look at him.
She shuttered violently as if expecting him to slap her or worse but didn't fight him, as he locked her eyes with his. Seeing whom the bright green eyes belonged to Kat threw herself into James's arms and started sobbing. "Shhh, it's alright Kat," James whispered to the girl.
A thumping similar to that of footsteps caught James' sensitive ears. They grew louder until the door of the room flew open. Jacob Granger walked into the room with a malice glint in his eyes, until he caught sight of James that is. At first he looked panicked but then the glint came back.
James started to glow faintly as he lunged at the bigger man. Before he got to him pain ripped threw his left shoulder. He looked up to see Jacob Granger holding a smoking pistol. He fired twice more but James stood his ground, knowing that if he moved there was a probable chance one of the bullets would hit Kat.
Jacob looked surprised and frightened that James didn't even flinch as a fourth, fifth, and sixth bullet imbedded themselves in his gut. James smiled wolfishly at the frightened man, with out any warning James jumped on the man pinning him to the floor and knocking the pistol out of his hand.
Jacob grunted in pain as James hit him in the stomach, hard. "How do you like it you son of a bitch," said James hitting the man again and making him cough up blood. A small pain filled whimper caught his attention once more. He looked over at were Kat had lain to see her being held in a half nelson with the pistol to her head by Justin, her older brother.
"Let him go," said Justin pressing the gun to Kay's temple.
James just laughed and with a final hit knocked Jacob unconscious. Stepping off the man James turned his attention to Justin. He started to walk towards them when Justin pulled the trigger, nothing happened. James smirked at the surprised boy and him by his neck making him drop Kat. "You know those old pistols only hold 6 bullets. You should do some research before you try to kill someone," said James effortlessly throwing the boy across the room.
James knelt down next to Kat who was curled up in a ball muttering to herself. Gently James picked her up and she latched onto him like a lifeline. With a small pop both disappeared.
&&&&&&&&&&&
They reappeared in a large library where none other than Severus Snape sat reading a large tomb in the light of the fire. "Dad, I need your help," said James startling Severus.
"What in the devils name happened?" asked Severus seeing the blood covered teenagers.
"She got the shit beaten out of her, now give me a hand," said James urgently.
"Follow me," said Severus leading them out of the library and into a good sized room not to far from it. "Lay her there," said Severus pointing to the bed under the window in the corner of the room.
James complied and set the distraught girl down but couldn't stand back up as she refused to let go of him. "Why don't you heal her?" Severus asked grabbing various potions out of a tall wood cabinet.
"To heal her I have to do a scan to see what is wrong with her and I fear that I may loose control and do even more damage than I have already done to the one that did this to her," said James with out any emotion.
"Why not Ms. Summers if not yourself?" Snape asked helping Kat swallow a potion. Kay went limp in James' arms. "Lay her down flat," he said as James stood up.
"Triss has her hands full at the moment," said James offering no more of an explanation.
"You are hurt as well, go into the bathroom on the next floor, you should find anything you need to heal those," said Severus motioning to the bloody wounds in various places on James's body. James nodded his thanks and walked out of the room.
&&&&&&&&&&&
An hour later James returned to the room with six freshly bandaged wounds. His shirt was pretty much shreds from the 6 bullets that had ripped threw it so he was walking shirtless. Snape was sitting on the bed holding Kat while she cried some more. He could hear her mutter things like 'I'm sorry' while crying into Snape's robes. Snape seemed to be taking it well and was whispering calming words into her ear.
"Is she alright?" James asked from his place in the doorway.
"Better than she was physically and more than a little distraught. Why are you still bleeding?" asked Sev pointing to the slightly bloody bandages.
"I have to conserve my energy. Triss will fix them when I get back. I'm sorry for throwing Kat on you but things are really wild back at the manor and I doubt it would help her any," said James. It was true, they were still having some problems with Sirius and the Ministry and to put Kat in the middle of it was not the best of ideas.
"It's alright, did you happen to get her things before you left?" asked Severus.
"No, I was planning to go back for them now. The ministry has probably already arrived to see what all of the magical surges were about. Libby Lenten, the head of the Family Affairs department has probably already been called out and I'll make a few arrangements with her," said James. "All bring her stuff back when I'm done, and don't but any wards up in the mean time, I won't be able to get threw them."
"You don't plan on go shirtless do you?" Severus asked critically.
"No," said James waving his hand. A loose black button up shirt appeared, covering up the bandages. "I'll be back in an hour or so," said James disappearing.
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James reappeared in front of Kat's house and as he expected it was swarming with Ministry officials. He walked up and spotted the person he was looking for. "Libby!" he yelled. A short, thin witch with wavy chestnut hair in dark blue robes turned around.
"James? What are you doing here? You're supposed to be at the manor in Wales," Libby said shaking her finger at him.
"I know but I don't have much of a choice. I need to get Kat Granger's stuff," said James.
"You know where the girl is then?" asked Libby hopefully.
"Yeah, she's been under my protection since I first met her. She is staying with a friend of mine," said James.
"Well her father and older brother have been put under arrest for child abuse and, from the samples of blood we found in the room, rape. Do you have anything else you would like to add to that list?" asked Libby.
"Yes, attempted murder," said James.
"On who?" she demanded.
"Me," said James showing her the blood covered bandage on his shoulder.
"Oh my God," she said examining it. "You need to go to St. Mungo's and have that healed James, it looks horrible. He didn't shoot the little girl did he?"
"No, but I have 5 more of these to prove the shot wasn't accidental," said James.
"If I didn't have a lot of faith in Triss's healing abilities I would insist you go to the hospital. Come, we've already gathered the girl's things. The ministry is still trying to contact Mrs. Granger to tell her what has happened; she is staying with her oldest. Will I be able to contact you at the manor?" Libby asked.
"Probably not, but my mental connections are always open so you can contact me that way," said James.
"Well, here are the girl's things, tell my brother to come visit sometime will you?" she asked as James disappeared again.
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He reappeared back into Kat's room at Snape manor and found Snape and Kat in the same position, as they were when he left. "Here is Kat's stuff. I need to get back, my energy is really waning, I hardly have enough to get back as is," said James dropping the trunk on the floor.
"Just one thing before you leave. Kat's injuries-" James cut him off.
"I'm well aware of her injuries and how she got them. Her subconscious pulled me into a vision while I was napping and I saw the whole thing," said James shivering at the thought of the ordeal.
"I'll see you in a few days then," said Severus as James ported.
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"Triss!" yelled James shrinking to his knees in the entrance hall. He had lost way too much blood to be porting but he did it anyway. 'Well, this whole summer has been rather dramatic. What's next, Voldemort in a tutu?' he thought to himself.
"Oh my God! What happened Shadow?" Triss demanded running into the room.
"Kat's dad shot me. I cleaned them up but I didn't have the spare energy to heal them," said James. 'Damn these things hurt,' he thought only just noticing the pain.
"Tell me what happened," Triss said levitating him.
"Kat called for me and I dropped her off at Dad's after getting shot 6 times with a pistol, going back for her stuff and porting here. I'll elaborate when I wake up," said James passing out.
&&&&&&&&&&&
"Shadow! Wake up!" yelled Triss's voice in his ear. James sat up bolt right.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Dragon is here with Libby and a few other people from the Ministry. Mel and Sirius are already hidden but they want to see you," said Triss throwing him a pair of black kakis.
James grabbed them and winced as he moved. He looked down and saw his abdomen was covered with bandages. His shoulder looked to have finished healing but the 3 places in his gut hadn't.
Wincing James but on the pants over his boxers and walked down to the entrance hall where the small group was waiting. Libby and Dragon were there along with Nymphadora Tonks, James's cousin on Severus' side, and two other Aurors James didn't know.
"What in bloody hell happened to you?" asked Tonks walking up and giving James a quick hug and prodding the bandage.
James hissed in pain and grabbed Tonks' hand. "No touching Dora, they hurt like hell on a bad day," said James.
"You know you are still the only person who gets away with calling me Dora squirt," said Tonks ruffling his hair.
"By all rights you can't call me squirt anymore Dora, I'm taller than you," said James standing up to his full height of 5'10".
"You grow up to fast kid, it seems like only yesterday you only came up to my elbows," said Tonks whipping away a mock tear.
James chuckled and turned his attention to Dragon. "I'm guessing this isn't a social call," said James.
"No, Ms. Granger's father is being sent to Azkaban for 5 years and then released if he is still mentally stable, if not he will be sent to St. Mungo's. Justin Granger will be in Azkaban in 6 months and his mother will handle him after that. Now this is a social call," said Libby smirking.
"I still don't see how you are related to ol' Dragon. He is 40 years your senior for starters," said James.
"Imagine my shock when I found out my father was still procreating. Ew!" said Dragon shivering at the thought.
"I really didn't need that mental image Dragon," said Triss walking up behind James and gagging.
"I don't think any of us did," said Tonks also shivering a little at the thought.
"So what have you been up to in the last two years?" asked Libby.
"You know, the usual. Saving the world, killing, or trying to kill, evil psychopaths, planning pranks on teachers and students, trying to cure werewolves, and keeping my friends out of trouble," said James off handedly.
"Have you managed to get Potter yet? He was so fun in school but now he's an ass hole," said Tonks.
"Don't we know it. You probably had it easy because you were a Gryff, but everyone is prejudice against us poor helpless Slytherins," said Triss with a pout.
"Anyway, yeah, I did get him. Didn't get any pictures though. I'll take some and send them to you next time," said James.
"O'well, I can dream can't I," said Tonks.
Review responses:
Gaul1: Thank you.
Kathy stgqvk: Siri-poo, interesting nickname. Sirius and James will be kind of close but Sirius will become rather attached to Mel, as will Remus.
Black-Rose1212: Well, no one has killed me for what happened to Sirius yet, I guess that his a good thing.
ER: Not in my Azkaban, for every 100 Dementors there is one guard. In my opinion a guard would start tormenting the prisoners to give himself a little bit of pleasure while being stuck in Hell on Earth.
Athenakitty: Yes, Yes, Yes………Lunawolf: Thanks. No, last year it was Justin, her brother that had come to get her.
ZeonReborn: Be glad you only have one older sibling. I have four, all boys. Personally I think my younger brother is worse, he can do what ever he wants to me and not even get in trouble. At my Uncle's Christmas party he bit me on the ass while I was playing with my cousin and everyone laughed until I turned and bitch slapped him, then I got in trouble. Demons are fun but I like my fair share of quiet, especially at night. If they caused a lot of chaos in the daytime I'm game.
Kata Malfoy: No, James doesn't think Sirius is a death Eater because he can see dark mark auras. Sirius will get better with time, and a chance to rip Peter to tiny little pieces.
Insanechildfanfic: Thanks.Wanderingwolf: Sirius never was James's Godfather because they didn't know he existed. As for the rape victim thing, I'd never seen it done before either and I prefer my stories to be at least mostly original.
Howling wolf1: ??? Stares in confusionBleh: Thanks. I was told IB was hard but if I do go in it will mostly be to piss off a few of my teachers. Have you ever had those teachers that practically say 'you are worthless'? Plus, my dad really wants me to take it.