As Robby popped away, the teens froze. Hermione could hear her heart beating in her chest as she wracked her brain trying to remember how Charlus and Dorea passed away in her old timeline. Finally, the door burst open with Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick in the doorway.
"Everyone, get to my office to Floo over to Potter Manor. Professor Flitwick and I will be joining you," Professor McGonagall ordered, snapping the teens out of their stupor. "Charlus is a dear friend of ours, and if anyone asks, we escorted you back home."
James just nodded, following the professor out of the door and toward her office. "Fourth grate," he muttered to Hermione. "Straight to Mum and Dad's wing." Hermione nodded and passed the message along to the rest of their group.
When they arrived at Potter Manor, Evelyn and Michael were waiting for them by the floo. "Charlus is in your mum and dad's room, James," Michael said to his daughter's boyfriend, nodding to the professors who left the Floo last.
James just nodded and moved almost mechanically to his parents' room. When the teens entered the room, it felt as if the air had been sucked out of the room. Charlus lay in the center of the bed, Andromeda and Dorea casting spells over him, their faces grim. His appearance was gaunt, as if he hadn't eaten in the almost three weeks the teens had been at Hogwarts, his chest rising slowly with each breath, as if he was struggling to breathe. Hermione choked back a sob, Charlus was one of the strongest men she knew, and to see him like this was frightening.
"Dad," James choked out, realizing Sirius and Regulus had flanked him.
"Boys," Dorea said finally lowering her wand and opening her arms. The three teenage boys ran to Dorea and, upon hugging her sons, it seemed as if the floodgates had opened, and she was openly crying.
Mipsy popped into the room, guiding Dorea to the chair by Charlus' bed, leaving the boys looking lost without Dorea in their arms. Without a word, their girlfriends moved in sync to them, wrapping them in hugs while the boys cried on their shoulders. Remus was left to stand by Dorea, not knowing what to do until Andromeda motioned him over and whispered that Julia was in the kitchen with Tilly making tea for everyone. He thanked her and headed down to help the girl Moony had chosen.
Remus and Julia reentered the room with Tilly, passing tea to everyone. Julia, having never met a goblin, was mesmerized by Professor Flitwick. When everyone had a hot cup of tea in their hands, Andromeda took a deep breath and spoke.
"Charlus was on a mission for the Order last night," she said, sighing. "From what we can tell, he was hit by a curse that seems to be draining his magic and his life slowly. Dorea and I have managed to slow the curse, but we can't stop it. Our best guess is that he has a day, maybe two, left."
Hermione gasped and reached for Sirius' hand.
"You all may stay here as long as you need," Professor McGonagall said. "Lily, James, I will have Professor Dumbledore ask two of the seventh-year prefects to take over the Head Boy and Girl roles until you return. Professor Flitwick and I have arranged for substitutes for our classes, and we will remain here with you until you decide to go back to Hogwarts."
"What if we don't?" James asked. "I mean, if something does happen to dad, then that makes me Head of the Potter family, and I will have more important things to take care of than going to school."
"If James doesn't go back, none of them will go back," Dorea whispered to the professors. "They have spent the last few months together, and they will know James will be hurting. None of them will leave his side."
Professor McGonagall nodded. "I suspected as much, in that case, Filius and I will remain here, our replacements are prepared to stay for the duration of the year, and we will tutor them until we feel they are ready for their N.E.W.T.S."
Hermione overheard their conversation and answered James' question for everyone. "We will still have access to our education, and we will be able to take our exams, but we will stay with you if you decide you don't want to return."
James gave Hermione a thankful look and moved, with Lily still attached to his arm, to Charlus' side. Remembering a conversation they had with Hermione, he spoke again. "Can Al and Kings come back? I want to protect the girls, and you, Mum."
"Alastor and Kingsley are already on their way," Julia finally said. "Aunt Andi told me that I can use the Floo to call Director Bones, and I asked him to send them here. Andi thought you'd want them here."
Remus squeezed Julia's hand in thanks. "We definitely do, Al and Kings have become close friends to us."
A few moments passed, and Alastor and Kingsley entered the room. Alastor went directly to Charlus' side, placing a comforting hand on Dorea's shoulder.
A few hours had passed, and no one had touched the food Mipsy and Tilly had sent up. Hermione and Lily had conjured chairs for everyone, arranged around Charlus' bed with enough room left between sets of chairs for Andromeda to cast diagnostic spells.
"James," Charlus whispered weakly.
James jumped to his father's side, crawling into bed with him as he had done countless times growing up. "Dad?"
"Take care of them, son," Charlus gasped, taking a breath between each word, determined to get his wish across. "Don't let your brothers go out seeking revenge. Let Al and Kings do their job. Take care of your mother."
"I will, Dad," James said tearfully. "I give my word."
"Hermione," the man she viewed as her uncle called, his voice getting weaker. "Watch after my boys. Don't blame yourself for this. You have been an amazing addition to my family."
Hermione nodded through her tears and grasped Charlus' hand.
Suddenly, Charlus began gasping for air. Andromeda rushed to his other side, not daring to move the distraught James. Charlus took one more heaving breath and stopped.
"He's gone," Andromeda whispered. "He must have used his remaining energy to speak to the kids." The teens and Julia grabbed for each other, before moving as a group to Dorea, encircling her and hugging her as she cried her heart out.
The elves all popped into the room, clearly distraught at losing their master, and caught the girls' attention.
Most people would never dream of picking up a house elf as if they were a child, but that's exactly what Hermione, Lily, Petunia and Julia did, carrying the elves to Charlus' bedside so they could say goodbye to their beloved master. Mipsy and Tilly immediately broke into sobs, while Robby and Patty cried quietly, clinging to the girls holding them.
"I'm going to Floo Orion and Alphard," Andromeda said quietly, placing a hand on Dorea's shoulder, then looked at Hope. "I don't think the kids are going to want to leave Dorea right now, can you transfigure the chairs into loveseats and sofas? The elves will get to work preserving Charlus until we've gotten the service planned."
Hope nodded, glad she finally has something to do. Glancing at the bed Charlus lay on, Hope smiled sadly as the elves slowly extricated themselves from the teens and got to work cleaning Charlus up and switching the night shirt he wore with a robe bearing the Potter crest.
Dorea took a deep breath, steadying herself before she spoke. "James, you need to claim head of the family, the elves will start to be affected if there's no one to serve. I know this isn't the way you had planned to do it, but it needs to be done, my darling son."
James nodded, removing himself from Lily's arms. "I, James Charlus Potter hereby lay claim to the title of Head of House Potter and Lord Potter." His right hand suddenly felt heavy, and he looked down to see the Potter ring on his hand. He noticed the ring had moved from his father to him, leaving only Charlus' plain gold wedding band on his finger. Lily again hugged him, planting a soft kiss on his cheek.
"This doesn't change anything, James," the redhead said softly. "You are still my boyfriend, regardless of any title."
Hermione smiled at the exchange, her mind drifting off to another redhead girl and raven haired boy. "Auntie, do you mind if we take over the guest room next door? I don't think James wants to be far from you, and it will do everyone some good to lay down."
"I don't mind, dear," Dorea replied. "Hope has added a bed for me in her rooms, and everyone else here knows where their beds are, Kingsley and Alastor included. Michael, Evelyn, if you would be so kind as to ask Kingsley to close the Floo to visitors when they arrive, I would deeply appreciate it."
The muggle couple nodded, deeply saddened by what they had witnessed, heading for the sitting room on the main floor, hugging James, Sirius and Regulus on the way out of the door. Before leaving, however, Evelyn had a thought. "Mipsy, Tilly, Robby, and Patty, why don't the four of you take a few days off to mourn. Michael and I can handle meals and such for the next few days. It's the least we can do for all of you."
"Missy Evie bes very nice," Tilly said sadly, readjusting the blanket over Charlus. "We's be asking Missy Dorea if we's can sit and hold vigil over Mister Charlus until his service?"
"Of course you may," Dorea said, smiling sadly at her husband's favorite elf. "You are family, Tilly, all of you are. You are allowed to mourn just as much as we are."
Tilly began crying again, clinging to Dorea's dress. The witch picked the elf up and hugged her tightly.
Hermione, Hope, and Remus shared a look before Hermione spoke to Dorea. "You and your family have been nothing but friendly and hospitable to us during our stay with you. We'd be honored if you allowed us to help you plan Charlus' memorial."
Dorea nodded, smiling at Hermione.
The day had come for Charlus' memorial. Dorea and her sons held one another closely as they greeted everyone who arrived at Potter Manor. Remus had taken it upon himself to act as an usher, guiding everyone to their seats. He and Hermione had come up with a seating arrangement that Dorea instantly approved of - family in the front, Order members in the middle, and political allies at the rear. The Potter matriarch made it clear that this event was about family, and she wouldn't have anyone try to persuade her otherwise. There were some slight grumblings about people that were not in the Potter bloodline sitting with family, but she also made it clear that if Charlus declared they were family, they were going to sit with family, and that included everyone currently in the "family" section.
Before long, all the guests had arrived and the remaining Potters made their way to their seats in the front row. Dorea motioned for Julia, Lily and Hermione to join their boyfriends, and for Remus to join as well. Behind them sat Andromeda, Ted, and their daughter, Michael and Evelyn, and Hope. Edgar Bones made his way to the front to deliver his eulogy.
"Charlus Potter was a man of honor, a man who cared for and protected so many people. He was fond of saying his family continuously got bigger, as he adopted his son's friends, and reunited with two sons that were stolen away from him, and later, calling anyone he cared for family, from magical to muggle, goblin to elf, they were all his family. I was there when Charlus bonded with his wife Dorea, when his son, James showed his first bout of accidental magic, I presided over the proceedings to claim Sirius and Regulus as his sons, and I was there when he helped arrange the Order around Lupin Keep the day Death Eaters tried to attack. Charlus was never a man to say the words I love you, but as someone he considered family, it was the ultimate gesture of love to be included in his intimate family setting. Today, we lay a brave, wise, generous and kind man to rest. We will all miss you Charlus, but we shall see you when we cross over to the other side."
Edgar sat down, and James made his way to the front after a reassuring kiss from Lily.
"My dad was the best man I knew," he began, tears already streaming down his face. "I can't count the number of times I would come to him with a problem with myself, or one of my friends, and he would find a way to solve it. I had the luxury of having my dad for almost seventeen years, while my brothers only knew him as their dad for a few short months, but dad packed as much love and care into those short months with them as he could. My parents always said that my friends were more than welcome to stay at our home whenever the needed. This was evident on the night he passed away, in the room with us, when dad took his last breath, was myself, my brothers, our best friend who may as well be our brother, his cousin who most of us see as a sister, Remus' mum, who we all see as an Aunt, the Tonks family and their niece Julia, two members of the Black family, two professors that we respect and love, and our four house elves, who are valued members of our family. That was the way dad would have wanted it, his friends and family surrounding him with love. After dad's passing, I took the mantle of Head of House Potter, and I discovered just what kind of man dad was. The Potter family has regularly been donating to muggle and magical orphanages, schools, and families who weren't as well off as most. I intend to continue his legacy of giving by creating a scholarship for impoverished muggleborn children to attend school, called the Charlus Potter Memorial Scholarship. Dad was in the process of starting this, so I will make his dream a reality. Thank you."
Hermione was stunned, as far as she knew, there had never been a scholarship for Hogwarts. She immediately made a mental note to help James any way she could with it.
Edgar stood again and announced there would be a meal provided for anyone who wanted to stay, but whoever didn't want to stay was welcome to leave. Almost immediately, the back third of the service left, just as everyone else assumed they would, as they were only there for political reasons. Half of the Order left, as they were going to protect the perimeter of the meal, that group consisted of mostly younger members who didn't know Charlus very well.
The rest of the attendees remained, all of them having close connections to Charlus and the Potter family. Dorea moved to a table, followed closely by the large group that were living at Potter Manor, Professors McGonagall and Flitwick and the Tonks family rounding out the group. The Weasley and Prewett families sat at the next table, introducing themselves to the members of the Potter table they didn't yet know. Hermione found herself on the receiving end of her first Molly Weasley hug in the seventies. Before long, she had a lapful of little redhead children, as Bill and Charlie were fascinated by her, while the more serious Percy was content sitting with Remus, discussing animals.
Soon, the three Weasley children were softly snoring, Percy had climbed into the werewolf's lap and cuddled him, while Sirius had taken Bill from Hermione so she could properly cuddle Charlie. "Molly, there's plenty of room here," Dorea began, smiling at the sleeping kids. "Why don't you and Arthur leave the kids here and enjoy some time alone before you become a family of seven. My children can handle your three without problem."
"Are you sure?" Arthur asked, knowing Dorea was still in a fragile state.
"Of course, Mister Weasley," Hermione said, smiling. "Charlus told me that he told the Order about me, the girl who came from the nineties?" The Weasley parents nodded. "Then please know, your family meant a great deal to me back then, and you still do. I may have known the twins and the children you had after them better, but I still know these three, and I'd be honored if you allowed us to care for them as you cared for me growing up."
"What we were told is true then?" Molly whispered. "We have a daughter?"
Hermione nodded. "She was my best female friend, she's strong willed, loyal to those she loves, smart, resourceful, and she has a wicked bat bogey hex. If everything goes the same way as before, you will have one more son two years after the twins, and a year later, Genevra will be born."
Molly and Arthur smiled at each other. "We'd be honored to allow the boys to stay here, Hermione. Any of our children, really."
Dorea couldn't help but smile at Hermione, knowing the three redhead children will be tucked safely into bed with the teenagers when they went to bed.
Dorea's prediction came true when she checked on the kids with Hope and Evelyn a few hours later. Percy was tucked safely between Remus and Julia, his hand on Julia's cheek, Bill was between Lily and James, having noticed Lily's red hair when he awoke from his nap and was enamored with her, his head resting on James' arm, facing Lily. Charlie was in Hermione's arms, his back to her, facing Sirius. Dorea and Evelyn's hearts ached as they watched James and Lily with Bill, both of them seemingly looking into the future.
Bill chose that moment to start softly crying in his sleep, seemingly from a nightmare. James woke first, soothing the small boy.
"Hey buddy, what's wrong?" he asked Bill.
"I had a nightmare," the boy cried. Lily had woken by this point as well.
"What happened, sweetheart?"
"Bad guys hurt mum and dad!"
James glanced at the door, knowing Dorea was still standing there. "Mum, can you..."
"On my way now," Dorea said, heading to the closest Floo to check on the Weasley parents.