It was during Easter vacation, and James and Lily were going about their day when Bill's Patronus came bounding into the room. James leapt to his feet. "Trio at Shell Cottage. Ron known to be travelling with them. Getting family out of the Burrow."
"James," Lily gasped. "What could have happened?"
James shook his head, helplessly. No one had so much as heard from Harry since September. He wouldn't have gone to Bill and Fleur's unless he had to. "Bill would have told us if they weren't ok," he told Lily. She nodded but didn't look too reassured.
James wasn't either. Sure, they were alive, which was fantastic, but somehow, he doubted they were ok. Something had certainly happened. Maybe he could go to Shell Cottage himself, check up on them. Except...
"I don't suppose you remember where Shell Cottage is?"
Lily shook her head. "They must have put the fidelious charm on it."
James nodded. Now they would just have to wait for more news.
"It makes sense," Lily continued, looking like she was talking for the sake of it. "If they've figured out Ron is travelling with them, Arthur and Molly aren't the only ones in danger."
James nodded again, then thought of something. "It's a good thing that it's the Easter holidays, or Ginny would still be at Hogwarts."
"Oh my gosh," Lily gasped, "Yes."
"Charlie will be alright," said James, going through the list of Weasley's. "Percy too, since he's been with the Minsitry the whole time."
"I guess the only ones to worry about are Fred and George," said Lily, "They're in Diagon Alley."
"Bill'll get them out too, although I can't imagine they'll be too happy about it."
"Yeah."
They spent the rest of the day worrying. James prowled the house like a caged lion, while Lily barricaded herself in the kitchen cleaning fiercely.
James had never hated being trapped in this house more than that day. He had no idea what was going on or when he would be informed, and even if he had wanted to be reckless and leave the house (which he did) he had no idea where Shell Cottage was and didn't have any prospect of finding it. It was maddening. For the first time all year, he knew exactly where his son was, and yet, he didn't know where he was.
It wasn't until the next morning that they finally got some answers. James' sleep had been plagued with nightmares, and he didn't think Lily had slept at all. So, they were more than ready for news when Bill called them on their mirrors.
"Bill!" James demanded at once. "What's going on?"
Bill looked tired. "Everyone's fine," he said. "Harry and Ron are no worse for wear, Hermione..."
"What happened?" Lily jumped into the hesitation, horrified. James felt a little sick. Ron and Hermione were family too.
"I don't know," said Bill. "They've refused to tell me anything. From my experience though, I'd say Hermione was tortured."
"Oh Merlin," Lily moaned, covering her mouth with her hand.
"So, you have no idea what happened?" James interrogated.
Bill shook his head. "First, a house-elf appears on the beach with Mr. Ollivander..."
"What?"
"Luna Lovegood, and Dean Thomas. Then the house-elf disappeared and was back ten minutes later with Harry, Ron, Hermione, and a goblin called Griphook." Lily and James exchanged confused looks as Bill continued. "The house-elf-Dobby I think?-died on the beach. Knife wound."
Lily gasped.
"You knew him?" Bill asked.
"We knew of him," James said, wishing they had met the elf. It sounded like he had saved Harry's life.
Bill nodded. "Harry was really cut up at his death. He spent the whole afternoon digging his grave by hand."
"I can imagine," Lily said, tears in her eyes. James felt a swell of pride.
"I don't know anything else," said Bill, apologetically. "Harry mentioned The Mission," the Order had started calling Harry's mission from Dumbledore 'The Mission,' "but only to tell me he couldn't tell me about it. He insisted on talking to both Ollivander and Griphook separately and right away. He's definitely planning something. I know Fleur's hoping that they'll stay here where it's safe, but I don't think he will."
"Yeah, I wouldn't count on it," James sighed, wishing they would just stay there.
Bill nodded. "There's one more thing," he said, and there was a grimness in his tone that caught James' attention. "Harry told me to tell you. Peter Pettigrew is dead."
All the breath seemed to flee from James' lungs. How in the world was he supposed to react to that? He knew Sirius would say good riddance, but...
"Did he say how it happened?" Lily asked, quietly.
"He said that his metallic hand strangled him after he chose not to kill Harry," Bill replied.
James nodded, mechanically, still not sure how to respond to this news.
"Thanks for telling us what's going on, Bill," said Lily, "Let us know if anything changes."
"Of course," said Bill. "And here's the address to Shell Cottage if there's an emergency." He gave it, said goodbye, and left.
"James?" Lily asked, softly. "James, are you alright?"
"I don't know," James said, turning away and running his hand through his hair. "So much of this is his fault, but... he was our friend once. A Marauder." He could hear the bitterness in the last sentence, but he wasn't sure if he really was bitter.
"What are you feeling?" Lily gently prompted him. "What are you thinking?"
Frustrated, that was what he felt. "I don't know!" he retorted. "How would you feel if Snape up and died with no warning?" He regretted it as soon as he had said it. Peter's betrayal was years ago; Snape's was fresh. The pain in her green eyes spoke to it. Still, she replied, like it was a legitimate question rather than rhetorical.
"If he was protecting Harry," she said, slowly, "I would be grateful."
It was a good point. It seemed that the only reason Peter was dead was because he had saved Harry. Or at least hadn't killed him. Wasn't that ironic?
James sighed. "I guess I feel numb," he said, finally, "I don't feel satisfied, but... but I can't grieve for him again. It's not the same." He had grieved when he had woken up and found out that Peter was dead. It was different now that he really was dead. James did not think their friendship was a lie, but it didn't change the fact that Peter had sold him, and more importantly Lily and Harry, out. He was responsible for their 'deaths,' for Harry spending almost ten years with the Dursleys.
"I guess the only thing we can do is be thankful Harry and the others are alright," said Lily.
"That's not difficult," said James. He stepped forward, and hugged her, knowing what she was thinking about. "When this is over, we'll go visit Dobby's grave," he said. They owed the little elf more than he could possibly repay. He wondered how he could feel more for the death of a house-elf he had never met then a friend as old as Peter had been?
I hope I did Peter's death justice. Since he and James never meet again after the first wizarding war, I wanted a reaction. Considering Lupin and Sirius were going to kill him, I don't think either of them would have cared much when he died, but I think James' thoughts would be a little more complicated.