Fugitive Prince

Chapter III

Despite the fact that Night Sun possessed considerable power and wealth, for most of her life her soul had been completely empty. A cavernous darkness lived inside her--as it had all the women in her family. Her mother and older sister had both spoken of that darkness as if it were a terrible ghostly lover; a specter whose shadowy arms often tightened around them until they felt so alone they wished to die.

People of the Silence, Kathleen O'Neal Gear ad W. Michael Gear

They got there just as the newborn's first cry ripped through the air. Actually, they had arrived earlier, but nothing was happening and James wanted them to go get Sirius. So Remus took Harry and the two left on an hour's hunt for the lost godfather--a hunt that Harry hadn't really been too excited to go on, considering he didn't know his godfather too well--only to give the job up for lost and returning to the hospital almost too late.

"You did that on purpose," Remus panted to James as the three ran down the halls to Lily's room. Harry was cradled, fast asleep in his father's arms, glasses reflecting the hospital lights overhead. "Tried to sneak away from Lily right now."

"'Course," James panted back, skidding as he took a turn and barely missed hitting a nurse. She screamed then waved a fist at his retreating back, swearing revenge. "I haven't forgotten Harry's birth. I don't want to be in that room when she starts screaming."

They turned another corner, reaching the pregnancy ward, able to hear Lily's screams from there: "James Potter, you better get in here, you freak! I'm going to rip your head off! Right off-aaaaaaaaaaa!" From one room, a nurse came flying out, slamming against the door so hard that he ripped off the hinges. Lily's screams became louder and her pain was beginning to magically manifest itself.

James took a deep breath then, with the stiffness of a soldier knowing he's about to die, he handed his son to his best friend and marched off.

"Good luck!" Remus shouted at his back. James only waved, stepping over the nurse and into the room. Remus chuckled and looked down at the sleeping body in his arms. "Let's get something to eat."

He walked away as the hall echoed with screams:

"Push, Lily, push!"

"I am pushin-aaaaa! I hate you, I hate you, I haaaaaaaa-"

"Lily, let go of my hand, let go of my haaaaaa-"

"AAAAAAAAAA-

"AAAAAAAAAAAA-"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"

"Congratulations, Mr. Potter, Mrs. Potter. It's a boy."

*

"Harry, be careful with your brother."

Nine-year old Harry Potter nodded absently, not really hearing his mother's words until, she walked out of the kitchen, one hand on her hips, the other pointing a wooden spoon at him in what was supposed to be a threatening stance. "Did you hear me?"

"Be careful," Harry repeated, still not really listening.

Lily rolled her eyes but went back inside the kitchen of her new apartment, checking every few moments through the window to make sure that her children on the balcony were still fine. Harry was almost carelessly holding his year-old brother, Leonard Torrent Potter, but even Lily knew better. Harry was almost more careful with Leo than she was.

At first, she'd been worried that Harry would feel threatened by the baby's presence, or that the age gap between the two would be too much for either child to handle. But Harry and Leo got along just fine with each other, almost as if they spoke in a silent language or knew something that everyone else had forgotten about siblings.

She gave them another check and went back to baking her cookies, mercilessly pummeling the soft dough with her wooden spoon. "James," she called over her shoulder. "We really need some electricity! I hate doing this by hand."

"You really don't have to do it at all," James called back from the small living room, feet propped up among different children toys while he read the paper. "We have all that wonderful magic that's just waiting to be used-"

"Yea, well," Lily looked down at her bowl, showering it with a look of frustration. "My mother says that using magic in food gets a person sick."

James laughed, putting the paper down and taking two steps, one to get out of the living room, past all the toys, and another to step through--instantaneously--the hallway, dining room, front room, and into the kitchen. "You're mother's a squid, your father, too. Why, they couldn't be more Squibbish without being positively Muggle. What would she know about magic?"

"I guess you're right," Lily admitted slowly. She smirked and summoned her wand. "Anyway, it's cleaner this way."

"That's the spirit." James gave her a quick kiss before glancing outside. "You still have Harry working on that school stuff?"

Lily nodded, spelling her food to perfection. "Yea. I don't want him to get behind, what with all our moving."

"Behind?" James shook his head. "Last time I checked, he was working with seventh-year material. He doesn't need to worry about anything when he gets to Hogwarts, except getting bored." He smiled. "Remember when we got him his wand."

"Oh don't start!" she threw her hands in the air. "I don't think he ever got over that. All those people staring, like it was something unusual."

"Hmm." James walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Stop that." She tried to bet his hands away but he just growled and picked her off her feet, planting wet kisses along her neck as she giggled.

"How about another one?"

"So soon, James?"

"Well, yea. I was thinking. There really was no reason to wait between Harry and Leo, and there's no reason to wait now."

"James..." Lily sighed. "Of course there's a reason to wait. There's a war going on right now, and we've been hiding out in Muggle Europe, moving too fast to be a part of it."

"So? Other people are still having children."

"James..."

"Are we going to check out that house today?" he asked, abruptly changing the subject. She could sense the hurt in his voice. "This place is too small for all of us." James had always wanted a house full of kids. "And we can't have any pets here." A house full of noise, laughter, fun... love. "And boy, the neighbors never sleep." A house like his had never been. "You'd think that the fun never ends over there."

"James..." Lily grabbed him around the waist, burrowing her face in his chest. "I want another child too."

He froze. "Really? You're not just saying that?"

She nodded. "A girl, though. Someone I can sit in my lap and tie bows in her hair. Someone who has red hair for a change."

"R-really?"

"Of course really." She gently tapped his nose. "You think I'm just making this up?"

"Maybe. I mean, who'd ever want a redheaded girl? The last redheaded girl I knew wound up with the stupidest kid at school."

Lily smiled and just let him hold her. "Let's go check out that house," she murmured. "Right now. I want to go anywhere, and this place is too stuffy."

"In a minute," James whispered back. "In a minute."

Harry, standing in the doorway with Leo trying to keep his balance beside him, gave his parents one look then carefully went back out onto the balcony. He pushed the moving boxes against the walls and climbed up, turning back to say, "No, Leo. You can't come up here," when Leo tried to follow. The baby tried anyway and fell back on his diapered bottom, letting out a pained cry and rubbing his eyes.

Harry hurried back down and gave Leo a hug, wiping away the tears, but Leo wouldn't be satisfied. Harry sighed and dutifully removed his glasses--his brother's favorite toy--and handed them to Leo, then left the babe alone as he climbed back up the crates. Leo gave a whimper, wiping at his golden eyes again and took a few shaky steps to the crate but stayed on the ground, watching his big brother climb up. He held the black glasses awkwardly, one drool-covered hand sliming the spectacles.

Harry reached the top and looked over the balcony wall. They were several stories up and he could make out the traffic moving far beneath him, hardly blurs to his naked eyes. If he fell now, there'd be no one to catch him. He gave a sigh then looked around to the balcony beside him.

The people were having a party again. The noise was muted, but whenever someone walked outside and opened the doors, the noise splashed out like a barely contained tiger. He loved it.

"Isn't this a bit dangerous?"

Harry turned and smiled at the hooded figure that sat on the balcony wall. "Not as dangerous as that."

The Death Eater seemed to shrug helplessly at the accusation and went silent. Leo fell on his bottom again, shocked at the sudden appearance of the person. He blubbered some baby-words, scooting back away towards the doors inside the house and dragging Harry's glasses with him.

"You're moving again?"

Harry nodded. "It's too small here, and they saw you guys again just a few days ago. I told you that they liked to walk around the house at night." He paused, letting the statement sink in before adding, "Plus there's this woman a few doors down. Her name's Arabella Figg, and I heard mum and dad say she's a witch."

The Death Eater nodded. "Not just any witch. Arabella Figg is an Auror."

"But mum knew her from school and says that Mrs. Figg's a really nice witch."

"Maybe. Most Aurors aren't, you know."

"Yea, I know." Harry looked down at his hands, then looked past then down at the street again.

"Aren't you scared that you'll fall?"

He shook his head. "No."

"No one will catch you."

"I know."

Leo hiccupped.

"I think that we're going soon," Harry confided. "Mum was saying we were, but dad wants to stay just a bit longer. But she'll probably want to leave soon anyway-"

"Harry, who are you talking to?"

Harry looked up from his hands in surprise as the balcony doors opened and Lily stepped out. She had been leaned over Leo, picking him up, and now turned to him, letting out a gasp. "Harry! What are you doing up there! You might fall! And without your glasses-"

He jumped down quickly, as if that were some apology, and scuttled inside. Lily smacked his head lightly as he passed, holding out another hand with his slimed glasses that he grabbed. "You've got a crazy son, James."

"I know." James grinned as Harry came inside. Lily followed, shutting and locking the door behind her. He grabbed Harry up and started tickling him, making the nine-year old scream with laughter. Leo started laughing, clapping his chubby hands together.

Lily shook her head and purposely walked past the two, going to the front door. "I'll be outside, once you two are finished."

"We're going to check out that new house, the one I told you about," James said to his son, following Lily.

Harry smiled. "I know."

*

Lily "ooohhh"ed and "ahhh"Ed all she could when they saw the house. A perfect little home, with a white picket fence and even a small pup, barking at them as they passed, a long white rope tying it to one of the pickets. The tour guide/real estates dealer, a short and balding man, apologized for that, saying that the previous owners had forgotten the poor thing. James didn't mind a bit.

Leo didn't want to go inside, so Harry stayed out to watch him and they played with the dog while their parents went inside to inspect the rooms. It was a five-room house, two-story high with a walkout basement just waiting to be turned into an office. The kitchen was gorgeous, the dining room came completely furnished, and the bedrooms all had distinctive personalities. Had Lily been someone who swore, she'd swear that the house had been made for her family.

It had been dark when they first came, and the sun was sinking fast, so Harry brought Leo inside despite the baby's loud protests. He didn't really want to come in either, but Lily didn't want them to get bitten by mosquitoes.

"As you can see," the guide was saying as Harry settled himself on his mother's lap. She patted his hair softly. Leo was asleep on the floor. "The house comes completely furnished--except for the kitchen. You'll have to buy your own plates."

"Why is that, again?" James asked. "I'm sorry, it's just...well, it's not every day that a house like this goes onto the market, complete with perfect furniture and at a price this affordable."

"Well, sir. The truth is that the dog is not the only thing that the owners left behind. It turns out that the previous owners were actually serious criminals, getting themselves in deeper and deeper trouble with the law. And since they couldn't bring anything to jail, nor did they have the money to actually keep any of this.." He cleared his throat. "The reason everything's so cheap is because, simply put, the police won't let us sell this place for anything more. This house is mostly stolen merchandise that no one has stepped forward to claim. We sell it expensive, and the cops bust us for selling stolen merchandise. They don't want this on their hands, however, that's why we get to sell it at all."

"James, let's just take it," Lily whispered. "It's the best deal I've ever seen."

James looked at the deed on the table and, after a moment of hard thought, extended his hand. "Alright, we'll take it."

The dealer looked pleased but as he reached his hand out to shake, he caught a look at the time on his watch. "Oh my, it really is late. I'm sorry for keeping you up for so long."

"It's nothing," Lily assured him, but Harry was fighting the urge to yawn.

"No, no I'm the irresponsible one," the man insisted, and Harry felt a jolt of shock when he realized that he'd seen the man from somewhere. "Here, let me treat you to some pop. It's the least I could do."

Leo had woken up and began to cry. Harry turned to Lily and tugged at her shirt. "Mummy."

"Not now, sweety," Lily said with a smile.

"We'll take you up on that offer," James answered.

"Splendid." The man clapped his hands together and started from the room. "Let's just go to the kitchen."

"Mummy!" Harry tugged more insistently as a really bad feeling came over him. Leo began to bawl and James picked him up with a smile, trying to comfort the baby.

"What is it?"

"The dog," Harry pointed out the first thing he noticed. "It's not barking anymore."

Lily sighed then ruffled her son's thick hair. "It's probably asleep."

"But mummy, it was awake a second ago," Harry argued.

"Harry..."

"If you're so worried, why don't you go make sure it's all right," James suggested.

Harry took a look at the door, down the hall. It was dark outside, and the night seemed to shine in from all the windows. He clutched at Lily's leg and shook his head. "I don't want to go alone."

"Harry?"

"I'm scared."

James shifted Leo from one arm to the other, sharing a concerned look with Lily. Harry was never scared. He was a person who went out alone, who made friends with Death Eaters, who could stand from the highest building and not be afraid of falling. Leo showed no signs of stopping.

"Uh, I guess I'll have to refuse your offer," Lily called out awkwardly to the dealer, who gave them a sympathetic smile. "We really need to get out children to bed."

It seemed to Harry that the man was very sad as he nodded. "Oh, of course. Well, go on. Right outside, then."

"You'll be here tomorrow?" James asked as they walked down the hall, still trying to shush Leo. The man didn't answer at first, just stood there with that sad smile.

"If you are," he finally said, as Lily opened the door. "If you are."

"We're out, Harry," Lily informed her son. "Let's go take a look at the dog."

It wasn't in the front yard, so they walked around on the grass, following its rope around to the side of the house. The rope ran on forever and ever to Harry. He was beginning to feel that he didn't want to see the end of it when Lily pointed out the pile of white fur near the back of the house. "Look, Harry. See, he's fine. He's just sleeping. Even puppies need to sleep."

Harry didn't move when Lily started to move. He stared at the little pile, tied to the white leash, unable to remove his eyes from the little red spot at the end of the rope.

Leo had finally quieted down, not because he was any calmer but because he had exhausted himself.

"Harry?" James handed the hiccupping Leo to his wife and nudged his other son. "Come on, it's pretty late. You want me to carry you?"

"Daddy, what's that?"

"What?"

Harry pointed, his finger shaking, to the red blob on the white fur and white leash, the red blob that Harry could now see on the white bricks of the house, and the white picket fence.

"I don't see anything, Harry," James replied softly. "Come on, it's late-"

"James!" Lily hissed. "I-I stepped in something."

Harry was now shaking all over so James lifted his light son and walked to his now scared wife. "What is it, honey?"

"II think it's blood." She tried to be quiet but Harry heard and gave a quiet whimper, realizing what the red blob everywhere was. Lily immediately tried to comfort him. "No, no Harry, it's alright. Come on James, I don't want to be here anymore." Leo gurgled tiredly in Lily's arms, waving his arms about.

They walked around to the front of the house again and started to go through the fence when the front door slammed shut, making everyone jump. James turned but it was only the dealer, locking up after them.

He looked up. "Are you alright?" James smiled shakily and nodded. "That's good. It's not good to be out this late in Godric's Hollow."

Lily's breath caught in her throat and James tensed. "W-what did you say?" James asked.

"Godric's Hollow," the dealer replied easily, shrugging.

Lily glanced up at the street sign, not too far away. The lamppost was swinging in the light breeze, casting moving shadows on the street's name. Swing. The street was Duke's Circle. Swing. And the light moved away.

"It's not really safe here, what with the Dark Lord waiting around the corners."

Swing. The street was Duke's Circle. Swing. And the light moved away.

"I think it's the name. Godric's Hollow. What heir of Slytherin would let a place with such a name go unwatched?"

Swing. Duke's Circle. Swing swing. Duke's Circle. Swing swing swing swing. Duke's-

Lily let out a gasp as the name changed, the lettering uncurling from its old script and slithering into new words, new meanings.

Godric's Hollow. Swing. Lily felt the blood rushing through her skin, down her neck, leaving her brain nerveless. Swing. Godric's Hollow. It had been their home before they had Harry, before the Death Eaters had started showing up. Swing. It was their home. Swing. Where everything had begun. Swing. And now she knew it was where everything would end. Swing.

The words changed back.

"Who are you?" James shouted, pushing his wife and children behind him.

The dealer shook his head sadly and looked up, tears in his eyes. "Don't you recognize me, James?" he asked. When James showed no reaction, the man looked to Harry. "Harry, you know me, right? You remember playing out in the fields, in the forest, when your parents weren't watching-"

"Don't talk to my son," James hissed, pulling Harry completely from the man's sight. Lily's eyes widened and the man looked at her hopefully.

"P-Peter?"