New chapter...

Chapter 41:

Lily had received a reply from her friends. They were going to Potter's ball. Stupid Potter! She thought. How dare he steal my friends when I need them. She lay on her bed with tears streaming down her face. It was too early to sleep. 7pm. She simply lay there listening to her sister arguing with her parents downstairs, "Why does it matter? She's a freak!" Petunia was shouting, "I don't want to be related to a freak!" Lily tried not to listen but every once in a while she would hear something that one of them would shout and it would cause her to burst into tears all over again.

James returned his attention to the screen. He noticed that Voldemort and his followers appeared confused. They didn't understand how the people they cursed just kept coming back for more. James laughed as he had a mental image of Voldemort scratching his head. He watched as his parents and their friends fought against the dark wizard. James watched as his mother duelled the two Black sisters; Bellatrix and Narcissa, quickly knocking them both out with hexes before turning on Walburga Black, Sirius' mother. Sirius and James both took a deep intake of breath. Sirius loved both women; his mother had always been awful to him but she was his mother whilst Mrs Potter had accepted him into her home over Christmas and made him feel like family. The two women seemed equal in ability until Dorea sent a stunning charm at her great niece, hitting her directly between the eyes, knocking the woman out cold. Voldemort quickly realised that their numbers were flagging and decided to disapparate. Most of his followers managed to get away but a handful were on the floor out cold and two or three were tied up. Charlus ran over to his wife, "are you alright love?" cupping her cheek in his hand, rubbing a thumb along a cut that ran the length of her cheek.

"Yes, dear. I'm quite alright." She smiled up at him.

He kissed her forehead, "I need to take these," he gestured to the bound witches and wizards, "to the ministry. I'll leave you to deal with our guests and check on James?"

"Yes, love. I think we have James to thank for our victory tonight." Dorea laughed, although it lacked humour.

"Sadly love, I don't think this was a victory. This was merely the beginning." Charlus frowned.

James quickly assessed the worst of the injuries with the healer, "ok, so what we're saying is that these five have to go to St Mungo's immediately?"

"Yes, Mr Potter."

"Very well. Give me two minutes." He then turned to his elves. "There are healthy men and women upstairs who can take these injured people to St Mungo's. Can you take these five to them and inform them of what I need them to do, please."

"Yes, Master." Missy and Milly replied, bowing gently.

"What else?" He asked returning to the healer. "There are a few here who need to go to St Mungo's but are not in quite as much of a rush. And that final group over there, I can care for here." The healer finished.

"Very well. Thank you very much." James said.

"You have done exceptionally well tonight. How old are you?" The healer asked.

"Just turned twelve." The healer nodded; her head bobbing up and down in astonishment.

James instructed the house-elves to take the other patients to St Mungo's and then turned to the guests that were unharmed. "I am sorry that the party was ruined." The guests merely laughed. He had a maturity that was unheard of in a boy of his age. It was the maturity of a boy at war.

Lily had finally drifted off to a restless sleep. Harry found himself sat at her desk. She had begun to write a letter to Petunia at some point earlier. Several failed attempts were scattered across the floor and an unfinished attempt lay on the desk. Harry began to read the letter:

Dear Petunia,

I really don't understand why you hate me. We used to be so close. It feels like we never talk anymore. I miss my sister. I'm sorry that you don't like that I'm a witch but it's a part of who I am now and I need you to accept me for who I am. I love you Petunia…

There were tears covering the parchment and it was still damp. Harry felt himself being pulled away from the scene before him. He was being pulled back to the Potter mansion.

"Jimmy, you did so well." Dorea smiled at her son.

"We're not finished just yet mum. There are several people who need to stay the night."

"I see, you have it all in hand I see." Dorea smiled almost happily, feeling suddenly very proud of her son.

"Missy, Milly," James called. He heard the sound of a POP, "hello. Can you please take the last of the patients and place them all in bedrooms in the west wing of the house. Can you also instruct healer Mary that she may also have a room in that part of the house. I think that wing will be easiest for her to work in – the beds aren't ridiculously high…"

"Yes, Master James." The nodded before disapparating.

James sighed, "Guys!" he called his friends over, his voice full of authority, "Remus, use the fire in your room to tell your parents that you are safe and staying the night. Sirius, you can use my owl to tell your parents that you are ok."

"But James…" Sirius began.

"No Sirius! Be a good son, even if she is a bad mother. Just tell her you are safe. At least then she knows." James then turned to Peter, "You can use the fire in your room."

Mrs Potter smiled at her son, she knew he didn't like telling Sirius what to do, "you did the right thing, son." He didn't bother asking what she meant, he already knew. "The Prewetts are staying tonight so when the elves are finished can you get them to make up two rooms. One for Lucretia and and one for Alice."

"Yes, mother. In the meantime, perhaps you would make some hot chocolate for everyone – nothing calms the nerves like your hot chocolate." He smiled at her gently. "Marlene, do you want to stay?"

"Yes please. Both my parents have gone to work with your dad and Alice's dad."

James nodded, "I'll get a room sorted as soon as I can. Why don't you go get a hot chocolate with Alice."

"Thanks James." She said as she went with Alice to the kitchen.

James turned to see Andromeda and Emmie smiling at him, "Andromeda do you want to stay?"

"No I better not. I don't want to look like I've picked a side. Well, not just yet anyway. I better go home. Thank you for making me so welcome regardless of my family or the fact that I'm a Slytherin."

"Anytime Andromeda. You are always welcome here." Andromeda floo'ed home through the living room fire. James turned to his girlfriend, blushing slightly, "Well, welcome to my home…" he laughed, "it's not normally like this." She laughed slightly but soon they were silent, "do you want some hot chocolate?" James asked.

"Yes Please!" Emmie replied.

Dorea and Lucretia were stood over by the counter making hot chocolate when James and Emmie walked in. "We need to take some up to the patients in the west wing," James said as soon as he entered the room.

Remus, Peter and Sirius quickly stood up and saluted their general. James laughed gently at the sight of them. "Don't be ridiculous. If we all take up two each, then that should be all of them…" Soon all of the patients and Mary, the healer had hot chocolate. James quickly asked the healer if there was anything else they could do and she replied, "not tonight." So the children returned to the kitchen to drink their own hot chocolate.

Once they were all sat around the table with steaming mugs of hot chocolate in their hands James had a sudden thought. "Where's Frank?"

"He went home with his mum," Alice replied quickly.

"Tonight was difficult for Augusta," Lucretia sighed, patting her daughter on the arm.

"Mum, what happened to our wards?" James asked.

"I'm not sure, James. I think your father is going to look into it." Dorea pulled a face, one that James was not familiar with. "It's certainly a concern if Voldemort can enter our house."

The nine witches and wizards sat talking for what felt like hours. However, at some point in the evening James slipped on his cloak and left the room. He summoned the house-elves. "What have you done with Mippy?"

"We were not sure what Master wanted us to do, Sir." Milly replied.

"What would you like to do with him?" James asked, kindly. Mrs Potter walked into the room and heard her son's conversation, suddenly realising that one of their elves was dead. She began to well up.

"James what happened?" She asked.

"Mippy, he – he died saving all of our lives." James said, unable to lift his eyes to see from the floor.

Mrs Potter didn't say a word but leant down and embraced her two remaining house-elves.

"We would like to bury him, Master Potter," Missy answered quietly.

"Would you like us to help?" Mrs Potter asked.

"No. Mippy would not want it but if you is liking, you could watch." Milly smiled at her mistress.

"I would very much like that, Milly." Dorea cried.

Please review! I really hope you liked it...