James opened his eyes with a start. He looked around the room he was in. Or cabin. There was a bright light white coming in from the solitary window in the room. He moved his arms. He wasn't tied up. But he did notice the little pool of blood where his head was.
He instantly felt his head. The blood was dried but he was ok. He looked round the room. It was green with moss and splintered in places. The inside was dark and it's didn't have any furniture that James could tell. He tried to remember.
Remember.
Remember.
"Potter." That voice, familiar. He was…arguing with someone…why?
"You really are a conceited prick, Jesus, Sev was right about you."
Red hair…
Isabel…
Snape…
No…
Not…
Isabel…
Eyes…
Blue…
No…
Eyes…
Lavender…
Green…
Forest…
Snow…
Eyes…
Kiss…
Leanne…
Green…
Eyes…
Evans…
…
…
Evans.
…
Green…
Eyes…
Snow…
Kiss…
Eyes…
Evans…
Lavender…
Green…
Eyes…
"Jesus, Sev was right. You really are a conceited prick!"
"EVANS!" James sprang to his feet, the sudden dizziness almost made him fall over again. He groaned. It was no use and he was sick. He then looked around the room again. A chair was now the focus of his vision. In the chair was…
"Evans." He went to run but slumped to the floor. He groaned as he fell to his knees. After a couple of deep breaths he crawled over to her. Lily was fastened to the chair. Her head was down, she was out as well.
"Evans." Said James getting to his feet.
"Evans." James lifted her head up. He reached for his wand…it wasn't there.
"She won't wake." James turned round. Another man stood in the corner of the room. He held out James's wand.
"Looking for this?"
The Marauders Proudly Present Alec Potter, James Potter and Lily Evans In: The Marauders Year One
Chapter Thirty Two
Murdoch
Written By Chambers10
His voice, Scottish. James remained strong and nodded.
"Cool. Even in the face of danger." He said, "Your father is like that to."
"What about my Dad?" asked James. The man laughed.
"All in good time James?" He said.
"How do you know my name?" asked James. "And why is Lily out cold?"
"So many questions." The man said, "But I will answer you. First…unlike you, young Isabel was kicking and screaming. So we had to place her underneath a simple stunning charm." James gripped his fist. "And as for your name James."
He stepped into the light. He had a thick face with a strong jawline, his face was covered by thick ginger hair. But on the right side of his face was a scar that ran from his forehead down to his chin. It ran right across his eye which was white, James stepped back.
"I've been following you James." He said, "But, since I know your name, I will do you the courtesy of sharing mine." He took another step forward, which in turn made James step back.
"My name is Robert Murdoch." He said.
"Murdoch?" said James, his brow furrowing in confusion. Murdoch nodded.
"I have no personal quark with you James." He said, "But it's your father I really want to hurt." He then almost looked round at lily.
"And her?" he said, "The daughter of Stanford Parks." James shook his head, fear clearly evident on his face.
"No, no." he said shielding Lily, "This, isn't Isabel Parks. This is Lily Evans, you have the wrong girl." Murdoch laughed coldly.
"I doubt that, a red haired Blue eyed witch at Hogwarts who's in Gryffindor and in the first year. How many of those are there?"
"Then you'll know. That Lily has green eyes." said James. "This is Lily Evans."
"I've never heard of Lily Evans." Said Murdoch.
"You wouldn't." said James, "She's a muggle born witch."
"I don't believe you boy." Said Murdoch, "Then again, I guess the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree."
"Wake her up and she'll tell you." Said James angrily. "Her name is Lily Evans, Not Isabel Parks."
Murdoch weighed up the situation in his mind. He then pulled out his wand and then with a swoosh Lily woke up with a start. She was breathing deeply and looked around. Her eyes fell on James.
"POTTER!" she screamed, "OH MY GOD, POTTER WHERE ARE WE?"
"Evans, calm down." Said James. He kneeled and placed both of his hands on her shoulders.
"THEY WERE CALLING ME ISABEL! I TRIED TO TELL THEM, BUT!"
"Evans, calm down!" shouted James, Tears formed around those eyes he had come to love. He hated seeing them like that. Scared, frightened.
"Evans." He said, his voice softened.
"Who are these people?" asked Lily, her voice trembling.
"Bad people." Said James, Lily whimpered as her tears resumed. "But it's ok." He amended quickly, "They don't want you…"
He swallowed, "He wants me."
"Why you? What have you done?" Lily said tearfully.
"I haven't done anything." Said James, "My Dad, he's an Auror, remember."
"Is he?" James nodded.
"My Dad's looking for him." explained James, "He thought you were Isabel, that's why they took you as well."
"Isabel? What does she have to do with this?"
"Her Dad is my Dads boss." Said James, "But it's ok, they won't hurt you." Lily nodded.
"But what about you?" James looked down, Lily began to cry again.
"Potter I'm scared." She sobbed.
"I know you are." Said James. He turned to Murdoch.
"See!" he said angrily, "She's not Isabel Parks. Lily Evans." Murdoch grabbed James by the neck.
"Don't hurt him!" shouted Lily through the tears.
"Me and you are going to have a little chat Mr Potter." Said Murdoch. "And then." He looked over at Lily.
"Well start with her. Even if she isn't Isabel Park." Lily was still crying.
"STOP CRYING!" shouted Murdoch.
"Look, let me talk to her. Calm her down." Said James. Murdoch laughed coldly.
"Yeah, right. Do you think I was born yesterday?" He said.
"Look if she's crying and shouting, then someone's going to hear her." reasoned James. "This way, if I calm her down, she won't give you away." He prayed that would work. He could see Murdoch's brow furrow as he worked out what he should do.
"Two minutes." He threw James to the floor. He quickly scrambled to his feet and went over to Lily.
"Evans, Listen to me." Lily looked at him with her big tear stained eyes. James breathed in sharply and cupped her face, he gently stroked her soft, soft cheek.
"They won't harm you Lily." He said, "Not while I'm here. It's me they want, ok." Lily nodded. "You have to brave. Be strong." Said James.
"You're a Gryffindor." He said, and he smiled to cool her nerves, "Where dwell the brave at heart."
"James, I can't do this." Said Lily shaking her head,
"Yes, you can." Said James, holding her face so she had to look at him. "There already looking for us. All you have to do is stay strong. Promise me that, ok?" Lily was motionless for a second before nodding vigorously.
"Good girl." Said James. He stood up, "You really should untie her. It's inhumane."
"You're not in a position to be making demands." Said Murdoch, "What if she decides to run off."
"She won't." he turned to Evans. "Will you." She nodded vigorously. Murdoch nodded and with another swish with his wand the binds untangled. She stood up on shaky legs and looked round nervously the room. She turned round to face James.
"Be careful."
"I will." Murdoch grabbed James and dragged him into another room.
Lavender was running through the corridors of the long castle. She didn't know where she was going, she only knew that she wanted to see her daughter again. They had received a visit from one of Lily's teachers saying that Lily was missing along with a boy from her house. They had been summoned imeadietly.
"Lavender!" called John, "Lavender, stop!"
Lavender stopped running, John and Professor McGonagall came sweeping up behind her. John placed his hands on Lavenders shoulders.
"Lavender calm down, we don't know were supposed to go." Reasoned John. He looked back to Professor McGonagall for support.
"This Way Mr and Mrs Evans." She said leading them down another corridor till them came to a statue of a Griffin. McGonagall walked towards it.
"Bonbons." The statue sprang aside revealing a spiral staircase that led up. Lavender ran up the staircase. When she got to the staircase she noticed a door which she roughly banged open.
The office was occupied, but she didn't care. There were three people, an old wizard behind his desk that Lavender recognised as the headmaster. He looked just like his photo, a kind face hidden behind a long silvery white beard. His blue eyes twinkled as Lavender stormed in.
"Where the hell is my Daughter!" she shouted as she stormed in. Not caring whether she was making a scene.
"You said my Daughter would be safe with you people, and now she's gone!" she shouted, "So why aren't you out there looking for her!"
"Please, Mrs Evans." One of other people in the office. He was tall, had a good looking face with sharp blue eyes and ruffled greying black hair. "Rest assured were looking for your Daughter."
"And who exactly the fuck are you!" shouted Lavender as John and professor McGonagall walked in.
"My Name is Alec Potter." He said, "Well, Auror Potter. I'm leading this investigation because…My son is missing to." Lavender went numb. Guilt consumed her entire body. His son was missing as well, the one Lily was last seen with.
"Oh my god." She said, "I am so sorry. I didn't mean to—"
"It's fine." Said the woman behind him, "I'm Katherine Potter, Alec's wife." Lavender nodded absent mindedly as John came next to her.
"Don't be sorry Mrs Evans." Said Alec, "You have every right to be angry. It's my fault anyway."
"Yours!" said Lavender, "Why? What have you done that's placed both out children's lives in danger!"
"I'm an Auror." Began Alec.
"Am I supposed to be impressed!?" Shouted Lavender.
"No." said Alec, "But my job means I have to hunt down some of the darkest, most depraved killers in our world." He motioned to a chair.
"Maybe you should sit down." Lavender and John sat. But their eyes never wavering from Alec as he paced the room.
"One man I've been trying to catch, Robert Murdoch, who has been on the run for quite some time. I almost caught him once, only for him to escape."
"Why didn't you-" John shushed Lavender.
"He has been trying to find a way to get to me." Said Alec, "And he's kidnaped my Son to do that."
"To do what to him?" asked Lavender, tears welling up, knowing this might be the same fate for Lily. Alec sighed and sat down on the desk.
"He'll torture, and probably kill him." said Alec. Lavender burst into tears and was instantly held by John who looked up at Alec, with his own eyes watering.
"And what about Lily?" he asked.
"I have no reason to believe that they'll harm her." said Alec.
"No reason!" shouted Lavender. "Then why did they take her!"
"Mistaken identity." Explained Alec, "My boss's daughter is also a student here, Isabel Parks. Maybe your daughter mentioned her?" John and Lavender nodded.
"They're very similar in looks." Said Alec, "Same build, same hair colour. Murdoch thought your daughter was her. Hence why he took her."
"Why are you chasing this man anyway." Asked John, "What has done to warrant you chasing him?" Alec swallowed thickly.
"I don't think that's something—"
"We need to know!" said Lavender angrily standing up, "It's your goddamn fault my daughter is missing. So it is our right to know why this man is wanted!" Alec looked down. There was a long pause in the stare off.
"He's a murderer." Said Alec. Lavender collapsed onto the floor in tears. John instantly fell to her side.
"You don't seem very worried about your son." He said angrily through tears.
"We thought this might happen to James at some point." Said Alec, "So he's been trained by the Auror's to withstand torture." John shook his head in disbelief.
"She'll be ok Lav." Said John kissing his wife's head. "She'll be ok, she's a tough girl, we know that."
Katherine walked past Alec and knelt down on the floor as well. Lavender looked up at her.
"I'm terrified of what this man will do to my James." She said, "We've already lost a child. And I don't want to lose another one." She held Lavender's hand.
"You are not alone." She said, "My Alec will find your daughter."
The door swung open. An officer came in with a piece of paper. Both sets of parents stood up as they entered.
"Inspector, we've found a trial." He handed over a piece of paper to Alec. He looked over the piece of paper and folded it into his pocket and kneeled down to Katherine and the Evans's.
"I've got something." he said, "I'm going to go get our kids back." He went to go out. He felt a tug on his arm by Katherine.
"Alec. I'm scared. The rumours about him now."
"He won't kill James." Said Alec. "James is a smart kid. He knows how to handle this. But first, I have to find Thomas Royce."
"You better find her!" shouted Lavender. Alec and Katherine turned round. Lavender got up from the floor, her eyes still stinging and red from tears and stood face to face with Alec, even though he was taller than her.
"Because if you don't." she pointed at Alec, "I will haunt you for as long, as, you, draw, breath!"
James was thrown into another room to the sound of Evans screaming. Her screams where then drowned out by the slamming of a door. He was then hoisted to his feet and thrown into a chair and bound to it magically. Suddenly, a light above him turned on. It blinded him momentarily. Before his hazy vision found Murdoch's face in front of him.
"Wow." He said running his hand down James's face. He then stood up abruptly.
"You can usually tell the character of a man by the sound of his heart beat." Murdoch explained. He started to clap softly to the sound of a heartbeat.
"I have had hundreds of men, and boys in this situation." His claps became more rapid. "I can could almost…dance…to the beat." He took a deep breath.
"But I notice how yours though" he said slowing down
"…is so steady." He stopped clapping and kneeled in front of James and slapped him softly in the face.
"I noticed as well you're looking at my Scar." He said pointing to his face, "This one." James remained quiet. He just looked down at the floor.
"It was your father." Said Murdoch. "He did this to me."
"Maybe he should have done the other eye as well."
SMAKK
The slap came as a surprise. It hurt like hell and James grunted to hide the pain. He then looked up at Murdoch who didn't look impressed with him.
"Would you like to know how he did it?" James remained quiet. Murdoch laughed lightly.
"Of course you do." He said, "I can see it in your eyes. Well, I'll indulge you."
"I was running an errand for some cult. Your father was onto me, and he took Team Seven to go on this raid while we were on a human trafficking hand over." Said Murdoch with glee.
"It was very simple." Said Murdoch, "I oversee the drop off, and I get my payment of… oh I forget now, age you see."
"You're sick." Said James.
"Anyway, we were just about to finish when they began." He looked over at James, "If you ever get to team Seven, Potter, you'll be the pinnacle of Wizarding Espionage. They are well drilled, organised, but…" he felt his scar, "Even they make mistakes." He looked over at James.
"They killed my men, and were going to kill me. But your father only maimed me." James could almost picture it. His Dad swooping in and saving the day.
"Your Dad is nothing more than a murderer." He said, "How does it feel, being the offspring of a killer. Think of those times where you get to see your father again, but there's a family out there who won't."
James breathed deeply and looked straight ahead.
"Could you imagine it?" Said Murdoch leaning down, "Imagine if you had a son. He would never see you again, you would miss out on him growing up. All because of some maverick."
"It's his job." Said James, "Not my fault he kills low lives like yourself.
SMAKK
SMAKK
He slapped James twice, James again grimaced in pain and looked down. He spat out some blood and looked up at Murdoch.
"You worship the ground your father walks on." He said. James nodded.
"As my Son would for me." Said James.
"So there's no chance of you revealing your secrets about him?" asked Murdoch.
James shook his head.
SMAKK.
"You will give me the information I seek." Said Murdoch walking round the room. "Consciously or not." James took a deep breath.
"And if you don't talk." He pointed to the room that Evans was in.
"I wonder how you'll do if I torture her in front of you." He said, James said nothing. "Would you stay silent if where to play with her?" James gripped the side of his chair and locked his jaw.
"And then maybe if the boys might want to play with her as well."
"Enough!" shouted James.
SMAKK
"You'll speak when spoken to boy." Said Murdoch. "I thought Alec might of taught you some manners."
He took his wand out of his pocket and pointed it at James. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. This might hurt.
"Legilimens!"
It felt like someone was splitting his forehead open with grubby hands. Like someone was sifting through his head, looking at his most personal moments and memories. No one had ever prepared him for this. He shouted out as Murdoch brought memories from his past.
He was running in the fields with a black haired girl. She was pulling him along…she then turned around…whipping her long black hair from her face to reveal that fun loving smile.
"Come on James, Keep up!" she giggled.
His head was then thrown again to a forest. One he knew, the sky was Gray…the ground…rumbling.
James gritted his teeth and threw himself to a dark room, he was…in his own room. He was sitting on his bed with…Leanne. Easter, she was kissing him, straddling him and stroking his face with her soft hands. There kiss broke, he went again for another, only for her to do the same thing and miss.
They laughed and went in again. Only for James to be thrown again into another memory.
Sitting at his kitchen table with his mum laughing and joking. Then he was thrown again. The kitchen again. Except his parents were crying…he was crying.
He felt a sharp pain and was thrown again, to Mrs Hudson's school. He jumped over the table and kicked the door down.
Then he was in the forbidden forest. He jumped over the cliff. He then turned and caught someone…red hair. Evans.
He caught her and they rolled in the snow. They stopped. Her fire luscious dark red hair fanned out on the white snow. His body incredibly close to hers. Her eyes.
Just as he was finding his feet he was thrown to the mirror of Erised. He looked at the girl looking back at him smiling. James placed his hand on the glass. She did to and smiled sadly at him.
"Ah, feeling sentimental are we." The dirty hands vacated his mind. He looked up at Murdoch who was smirking at him.
"Those are private." He said gasping.
"Not, to me." Said Murdoch. Circling him, "Though, I was impressed." His finger on James's shoulder trailing as he walked. "Though you weren't able to force me out." James shuddered as his finger trailed round. "You were able to choose memories at will."
James clenched his jaw. He just wanted this to be over.
"So we'll try again." he pointed his wand at James. "And if that blonde gets a look in again, don't force me out."
"Legilimens!"
"AHHHHHH!"
The rain was lashing down outside the orphanage, thick grey clouds that threw down thick droplets and then flashes of lightening through them. The dull grey courtyard was desolate, nobody was venturing outside in this weather. But, then a couple of rain drops didn't hit the floor. They hovered in mid-air for a moment before slowly rising back up . A flash of blue light then filled the courtyard and Alec Potter was there, his eyes looked up at the orphanage and then narrowed. He walked purposefully towards it. With a wave of his hand the door flew open.
The woman at the door scuttled back in her chair as thunder and lightning crashed behind Alec.
"Where is Thomas Royce?" he said dangerously. The woman couldn't say anything as he walked further in the reception area.
"Where, is he!" said Alec.
"He's uh…uh…upstairs." She said. "Room 134."
"Thanks." Said Alec. He walked to the right of the reception and pushed the door open to a dark corridor that lit up partially with the thunder outside. He walked to the end of the corridor, looking at the rows of rooms. But they stopped at fifty. Alec made his way up the creaky staircase to the first floor and stopped outside 134. He contemplated a stealthy entrance, but he remembered that the little punk shit himself at the slightest thing. He kicked the door, shattering the lock and stepped into the room.
It was small, almost like a box with a bed and wardrobe on the left of the room and a small desk on the other side. It looked more like a prison cell in Alec's eyes. The wall though where filled with lots symbols. Very peculiar symbols. Ancient rune symbols, magical symbols. The mark of Salazar Slytherin, the deathly hallows, the order of spiders and Leviathan. The lighting lit up the room fully, and Alec saw him cowering on the bed.
He walked over to him and picked him up from the bed by his throat.
"This!" Alec pulled out the half wand he confiscated from him and threw it on the bed. "Where did you get it! And don't lie to me!"
"I told you." he wheezed. "I found it in my attic."
"Bullshit!" Alec punched him in the stomach. Royce lost his breath. "It was given to you by a man named Murdoch, right!" He didn't say anything, still getting used to the loss of air in his system. "Answer me!" Alec threw him down on the bed, causing the half a wand to fly up into his hand. Royce started coughing on the bed and looked up at Alec.
"How do you-"
"Know where to find you?" finished Alec. "It wasn't hard." He pulled off Royce's trainer and showed him to sole which had a small tracker on the bottom.
"Now, my question, this was given to you by Murdoch, Wasn't it!" he said holding the wand up again. Royce nodded.
"You were told to give this to me, to make sure you got my attention." Said Alec. "Why?"
"Because he told me to." Said Royce, massaging his stomach in a bid to relieve the pain.
"What did he offer you in return." Said Alec. Royce looked up.
"My Uncle." Said Royce.
"Who's your Uncle?" asked Alec.
"Drew Staines." Said Royce. "He's the only family I know off." Said Royce.
"He's dead." Said Alec.
"I know." Said Royce. "But when that guy came to me he was still alive. He said that if I ever wanted to see him again then I would have to get your attention and give you that." Said Royce. "But he died anyway."
"I'm sorry." Said Alec, "But I need to know which rig he was working on."
"That one that blew up." Said Royce. Alec's insides went cold. "I guess it didn't matter in the end." Alec turned away from him.
"It didn't blow up." Said Alec. "I'm really am sorry."
"What do you mean?"
"That's where he's hiding now." said Alec turning away.
"Who?" said Royce getting up from the bed. "You can't just barge in here, threaten me then walk away. Tell me!" The lamp on his desk exploded. Alec stopped, did he just…he turned round and saw Royce panting before him. He just made a light bulb blow up, now he thought about it. He looked round the room again. It flowed with magical energy.
"Sir, we have something." said Moody over the Auror radio.
"That man who killed you uncle has my son." Said Alec. "And I'm trying to find him and end him. And you've told me where to find him."
"I have?" said Royce looking confused.
"When I'm finished." Said Alec. "I'll be back for you."
There was a flash of blue light, and then Alec was gone. Royce looked around the room frantically and then on the wardrobe at the end of the room.
"What a riddle?"
Lavender looked blankly into space while she hugged herself. She was in some room, she didn't know where, all she could see was the sprawling grounds of the castle, with its picture book lake and rolling mountains that where almost silhouetted in the purple and orange on the sky above her.
Her eye where sore from crying and lack of sleep, her whole appearance was a nervous wreck with the threat of tears always threating at the slightest thing. The cool breeze flowed over the balcony she was on that made some of her hair flow gently across her face. Her eyes twitched down onto the sandy strands. They rustled before flying away again.
The feelings Lavender were feeling where unlike anything she'd felt before, when Petunia broke her arm she cried more than she did, whenever her girls hurt themselves she always felt like she'd somehow failed as a mother. But now she felt like she had really failed as a mother, her little girl, taken from them, and no idea whether she was going to see her again. She must be so scared, so frightened. Lavender was crying again and brought her chin down to her chest. She didn't want to even think about that. Her baby was being strong. She had to as well.
She didn't even hear John come up behind her and wrap his arms around her midriff. Lavender looked up at the view of the lakes and mountains.
"I want to hold her John…" she said softly. "I just want to hold her in my arms." She turned and started to cry into his chest.
"I just want to tell her I love her one last time." she sobbed. John kissed the top of her head.
"So do I." he said into her hair. "Oh god so do I."
"Will he do it, will he find her?" asked Lavender looking up at him. John couldn't say, no words were a safe guarantee of her safety.
"I don't know." Said John. "Her life is in the hands of something higher than us."
"Is this where they were last seen?"
"Yes Sir…" Alec looked over at the rookie detective overlooking the scene he was young and eager to impress. But he almost seemed distracted by something.
"Something you wish to add detective?" asked Alec.
"Sir…it's just…" Alec raised an eyebrow. "You are a legend round here sir." he said. "And don't worry, we are doing everything in our power to help find your son. I promise you we'll find him."
"Don't say that." said Alec. The rookie looked around.
"Say what? Sir?"
"Promise that you'll find someone who's missing." said Alec. "Because trust me, you don't want to be the man who has to break the news that you've failed." The rookie stood on as Alec moved forward to the crime scene.
"It's the things they say about him though, aren't you scared?" Alec laughed slightly.
"Terrified." He said looking round the area. "Because he has my son. If there was a man out there who wasn't scared in my situation. He'd be one cold bastard." The detective laughed nervously.
"Ok, so what is it you called me down here for. What do we know about the girl?" asked Alec.
"Lily Evans?" Alec nodded.
"There doesn't seem to be any footprints for her beyond this point." Said Alec. "So…."
"What is it Sir?"
"She must have been incapacitated as well." Said Alec inspecting the tracks. "There's a kick up." He pointed to a scuff on the floor.
"Here." He kneeled down and inspected it. "Which means that…?" Alec stood up, "That Lily must have seen who attacked James. She tried to run." Alec re-enacted his theory. "But was caught. From behind." Said Alec. He looked round the scene thoughtfully. "But this has them facing west."
Alec looked forward. "Why would they turn and run?"
"Maybe they had a port key?"
"Plausible." Said Alec.
"Listen up people!" shouted Alec. The forensic team looked round. "I want us to concentrate our search to the south and south west." Said Alec, "We have to look for objects that don't really belong since they might of used a Portkey." The team went back to their search and some disappeared into the woods.
"So how many people are we talking about?" asked a Detective.
"Three." Said Alec, "It matched the prints."
"Would they have been expecting the girl though?"
"No." said Alec, "They took her because they didn't want to leave any witnesses to the kidnap." He looked deeper into the wood and then back to the scene.
"They haven't left us an awful lot to go on." Said the rookie.
"Everyone leaves tracks they cannot hide." Said Alec, he went back to the scuff. "All we need is a…" that branch.
"Sir?" the rookie said looking round.
"Lucky break." Said Alec, he moved over to the branch. It was splintered, but on it, was a red hair.
"They went this way." Said Alec.
"But the tracks?"
"Look." Said Alec pointing at the branch, "It's splintered." He pulled out his wand. "But with…" he levitated the hair off the branch.
"She was kicking and screaming." Alec replayed the scenario in his head, "They lifted her feet of the ground so she was kicking the branches."
"Sir?"
"Can't you see it." said Alec, it was now so obvious. After they had seen the trial she would cause they repaired the branches. Forgetting to repair the one Alec had found the hair on.
"They went this way." Alec pushed the branched aside as he walked into the wood, he could see the foot prints along the floor. As he descended further into the wood he could see the shoddy repair job. His mentor would of murdered Alec himself if he hadn't spotted it. With a simple brush the branches would splinter at the contact, very shoddy charm work.
Alec found his way into a clearing. He walked to the centre where laid a wand.
"Here." He said pulling out his wand. He picked up the wand and began scanning it.
"Crap," he muttered throwing it away. "Burner wand." He had his hands on his hips. He breathed deeply. "No way of tracing it."
"What now?" asked the rookie. Alec sighed.
"I…I don't know." He said quietly, "I just don't know." He walked around the clearing.
"I JUST DON'T KNOW!" he shouted. Alec sat down on the grass and let his hands through his hair.
He was so close but in way, no further along. It was his child, plus one he'd never met before.
"Where would he be." Said Alec.
"Sir. Would it be possible to see what spells that burner wand used." Alec looked over towards the rookie. It was a long shot.
"Go get It." he said. The rookie brought it over. Alec levitated the wand and pointed his own wand at it.
"Wand, reveal this wand's spells."
"Ten spell Temporary Wand. Spell used. Ten. Spells used are."
Episky.
Stupefy.
Cooling Charm.
Aveda Kedava.
Crucio.
Crucio.
Cooling Charm.
Apparition.
Oil stain removant.
Bubble Head Charm.
"Oil stain removant?" said the Rookie surprised. Alec rubbed his chin and went over the list in his head.
"Clearly someone was tortured." Said Alec, "Then…killed." Maybe Royce's uncle thought Alec, one that would fight back.
"What about the stupefy and healing charm?" asked the rookie.
"Maybe the Evans girl injured one of them." said Alec, "And they decided to silence her."
"It doesn't give us a lot to go on." Said the rookie.
"It is here." Said Alec, "Where just not seeing it right." Alec looked over the charms again. All the charms where easy enough to cast, but them all together didn't really make sense.
"So…this is."
"The same wand that grabbed the Evans girl and killed the oil worker." Said Alec. "And I know that connection now."
"Murdoch is on the rig." Said Alec. "He's using it as a hide out."
"I should of known." Said Alec.
"Grab Moody and assemble Team 7." Said Alec. He made his way back to the castle. "Grab everything you can on that case with the oil worker, wizarding and otherwise."
"Yes Sir."
"And get this wand to the lab and checked for any oil residue or any rust, blood, any organic based solutions."
"Right away Sir."
"I'm not letting this son of a bitch get away from me again." said Alec.
After what seemed like years Potter was thrown back into the room. Lily, who had been crying into her knees got up quickly as the door was closed behind him quickly. He looked weak, like he'd been made to run a marathon.
"Potter!" he looked up with glazed vision and saw something that made him smile. She had run over to him and helped to the corner she was in and laid him down on the floor with his back against the wall. He breathed deeply and opened his eyes. He squinted at her, as if trying to get her into focus.
"…Harri" he whispered. Harry? Who was Harry?
"No. Potter, it's Lily, Evans, remember." He looked away from her before sighing and nodding.
"Evans." He whispered a little louder.
"Yes." said Lily smiling that he remembered. "Evans, you remember me?" James nodded and closed his eyes again. He seemed to get his bearings when he opened his eyes. He ran his hands over his face and went to stand.
"No, no." said Lily forcing him back down. "Rest." He scowled at her before turning away and then looking back at her.
"…I'm sorry I got you dragged into this." Said Potter, now much more awake. Lily sighed.
"It wasn't your fault." Said Lily, "I should never have followed you." Potter shrugged non-committaly and breathed deeply. Lily noticed that his face was swelling up quite badly; he was already bruising and with the blood from his previous wound still drying. It looked like he's just come out of a war. Lily placed her hand over him tenderly, he winced.
"Sorry." She said moving her hand away slowly. She closed her fist and moved her hand away. "Can I ask you something?"
"Haven't got time?" joked Potter. Lily sighed again round a laugh. "How can you be so noble, and such a prick at the same time?" she asked. Potter breathed out. His eyes focusing on something that wasn't really there.
"How do you mean?"
"I mean…" she paused trying to find the best examples. "You stopped the Slytherin's bullying peter Pettigrew one minute, and then you're bullying Sev the next. I just don't get it."
"It's who I am." He said. "I don't like Snape, you do."
"Could you at least try to get along with him?" asked Lily hopefully. He laughed.
"I've known him long enough to know we'll never see eye to eye." said Potter. Have you ever asked him to get along with me?"
"I have."
"And he says."
"The same thing as you."
"Exactly." Said Potter, "Were destined to do that dance until one of us gets bored of it."
"Can you say one nice thing about him?" asked Lily. He thought for a second and laughed lightly.
"He has impeccable taste in girls." Lily blushed again. "No Potter, really. Can you?" he shook his head.
"Ok. Why don't we start with an easy one." said Lily, "Say one nice thing about me." Potter sighed and looked at her. Almost searching her top to bottom. Lily felt very hot under his scrutinising gaze. He then smiled.
"…you have very nice hair." He said with a tired smile. Lily's hands then held her hair.
"Muh…my hair?" said Lily surprised, her fingers combing through it.
"Yeah, why? That is something about you, right?"
"Yeah, yes. It's just…" she trailed off. "No one's ever said they liked my hair."
"Well I do." Said Potter, he laughed lightly, "Don't ever dye it."
"You like red-heads?" Asked Lily. Potter sighed.
"Well, since I've said one nice thing about you." He looked up at her. "Say one nice thing about me."
What could she say? You have nice hair that I just want to rake with my hands. You infuriate me and make my body shiver all at the same time. No one I've ever known makes me feel this way. She looked at the window and saw the night sky.
"It's ok if you can't say it right now." said Potter stood up, Lily went to stop him with an out stretched arm but missed him. He walked around while cradling his left hand with his right hand.
"Are you ok?" he asked. Lily looked up at him looking round the room they were in.
"Yeah." She said. "Well…as good as anyone can be."
"No one's talked to you at all?"
"No." said Lily. "Will they?"
"I don't know." Said James, he was moving restlessly, even Lily could tell that, moving on his toes left to right foot.
"What did he want to talk to you about?" asked Lily. James turned his head back towards her.
"He wanted to know about my dad." He said. "He's trying to get back at him through me." Lily nodded. Almost glad that she wasn't the object of this. Then she felt bad for thinking that.
"What did he do to you?" asked Evans. He didn't say anything, just looked into space again.
"We should get some sleep." Said Potter walking back towards her and sitting down again. He clearly didn't want to talk about it.
He took his robe off and puffed it up as a cushion. Lily didn't have her robe on her, she looked around to see if there was anything she could fashion into a pillow. There wasn't.
"Here." Lily looked over. He motioned for her to lie down on it. Lily looked over gingerly, but he motioned again. She shuffled next to him, he placed the robe on his chest . Lily wasn't sure if she should or not, what if people knew… wait, they were in a windowless room with no one here. If no knew, no one could care. She rested her head on the robe.
Lily looked up to see him falling asleep. She sighed and looked around the room, and then back to him. Well…no one was around. She made herself comfortable and closed her eyes.
Ba-bum…
Lily opened her eyes again. Was that…
Ba-bum…
Ba-bum…
It was his heartbeat. Lily listened, and sure enough.
Ba-bum…
She sighed and closed her eyes again, his heartbeat strangely comforting to her. In a way, it told her that she wasn't alone in this nightmare. At some point she fell asleep, the thudding of his heart putting her at ease.