The Figure Clothed in Black

Chapter Twenty-Three: Deceptions

James's portrait self blinked, staring at his wife incredulously. "I'm sorry; I must have something in my ear. What did you say?"

"James, you know what I said," Lily replied in a quiet voice.

"Why?"

Lily finally looked into James's eyes for the first time she had started to explain thirty minutes ago. She looked back down at her lap after only a few seconds unable to stand the look of hurt and betrayal. "I... I don't know. I'm sorry."

"Are you sure that he's Harry's father and I'm not? Have you done a DNA test?"

"When he was four months old. It's him, James, not you. I should have told you sooner-"

"You should have told me the minute that you suspected that there might be a question on who his father was. You shouldn't have even done it!" James said voice rising, making Lily flinch. "How am I supposed to trust you now? And Sirius, oh wait until I get a hold of him."

"He doesn't know," Lily said in a whisper, but James heard nonetheless.

"He doesn't know? You never told him he was Harry's father?" James replied flabbergasted.

"I had been planning on telling everyone after I found you for sure," James snorted," but it never seemed like it was the right time."

"There isn't a right time to tell someone something like this. You just go ahead and tell them when you find out, not sixteen years later," James said in a hurt voice. "What about Kirsten and Dustin? Am I their father, or did cheat on me with Sirius then to?"

Lily flinched at his words even though she knew he had every right to say it. "No, you're their father."

James sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "Then we have to get Sirius here and tell him."

*~*

"Keep you eyes closed. No peeking," Harry said from behind Kayla, hands over her eyes.

"I'm not trying to peek, Harry," she replied innocently.

"I can feel your eyelashes against my hand, and you're opening you eyes trying to peek," Harry said matter-of-factly.

"So? If you would tell me what was going on, or hurry up and get there, I wouldn't have to try to peek." Harry could hear the smile in her voice.

"We're almost there. About five more minutes."

"Harry, why not just tell me?" Kayla said in a whiny tone. "I'm going to find out in a few minutes any way."

"Exactly, so you can wait a couple of minutes."

"No, I can't. I'm impatience, you know that," she laughed. "Harry, pl-"

The word died on her lips as Harry removed his hands and she looked around in awe.

They were somewhere on school grounds, neither were sure where, surrounded by lush green trees, beautiful flowers, mostly roses, of every kind imaginable. They were standing on a floor of pink, red, yellow, and even black rose petals. There were twinkling lights flying all over the place; Kayla suspected they were fairies. She could hear a dove cooing off in the distance. She turned to Harry, still taking in all around her.

"How did you find this place?" she asked quietly as if talking to loud could destroy the quiet serenity and beauty of the place.

"My dad told me about it. He proposed to my mum here," he replied taking her hand, leading her farther in. Kayla didn't say a word simply letting Harry lead her. They walked in silence until they came to edge of a vast lake.

"Sunset," she whispered awe struck at the swirling pinks, purples, and oranges painting the sky. "This is so beautiful. I didn't think you would remember that I liked sun sets so much."

"I remember everything you've ever said me," Harry replied pulling her close, looking into her eyes.

A tingle of excitement went down her spine. She could fell Harry's breath on her lips, inches away.

"You're much more beautiful than the sun set, and you'll be even more beautiful once I'm finished with you, and you're on my side," Harry replied, voice becoming gruffer and deeper as he spoke, holding Kayla tighter.

Fear gripped her as his face started to change, beginning with his eyes. She struggled against his hold, but that only made him hold tighter.

"You'll never escape me now, pretty," he whispered in her ear, his stale, hot breath smelling of death and decay. "Look at my eyes," he commanded. Kayla struggled, but it was futile. Without lifting a hand he forced her to look into her eyes. When she did, she let out a blood curling scream, praying that someone would hear her, though she didn't believe anyone would. He laughed as she screamed, knowing the horrors she saw in his eyes.

*~*

Harry paced in front of the abandoned Charms classroom. Kayla had promised to meet him here at eight and it was already eight-thirty. He stopped his pacing and leaned against the wall exhausted. They had gone to the Amazon rain forest to get the petals of the Gold flower. The climb had been excruciating and draining, but he had got the petals. He had considered not coming to meet her, but they hadn't had much chance to talk in the past couple of days with him getting potion ingredients and her attending class. He resumed his pacing, starting to get worried.

He stopped abruptly as he was over come by sheer terror.

~ Kayla? ~

No answer.

~ Kayla? ~

Again no answer. He called again, screaming it over their connection, but she never answered. The more he tried to talk to her, the more panicked he became. He ran towards the Gryffindor common room, but never reached it. Half way there he ran into the woman he had seen in Egypt. He made the mistake of looking into her eyes, becoming lost in her eyes. He didn't know anything else. He wouldn't hear Sirius frantically calling his name, or the screams of agony and despair that would come in a few hours time.

*~*