Fugitive Prince

Chapter IV

From somewhere off came a heavy, muffled thud. The train shuddered, and Osborn was suddenly being thrown violently sideways towards a young priest who, second before, had been reading a paper. Then the car they were in was turning over and they both fell. It kept rolling, like some horrendous carnival ride. Glass crashing and the wrenching of steel meshed with human screams...Osborn rocketed backward and everything stopped.

The Day After Tomorrow, Allan Folsom

"P-Peter?"

He nodded bashfully, letting his old personality shine through. "You remember me, Lily? I had thought that you would be the first to forget-"

"Forget?" she repeated shrilly. "How can I forget the friend who betrayed us, who tried to kill us? Who tried to kill my child?"

Peter looked hurt. "Kill Harry? No, I would never do that, Lily. I was always there, always there to make sure that Harry wouldn't get hurt." Neither responded and he viciously added, "I was there when even Sirius wasn't-"

"Don't talk about Sirius," James cut in brutally.

"Why not?" Peter shot back. "Where is he, your 'best friend?'" He sneered. "Where's Harry's godfather? I doubt Harry would recognize the man anymore. Oh sure, he's an Auror. Let's give him a break, why don't we? Did you know that on Harry's birthday last year, the reason Sirius couldn't come was because he was too busy torturing innocent people accused of being Death Eaters? And two birthdays before that, he was involved in an Auror-bombing of a family's house, while their children were in bed!"

"No, no," Lily breathed. "Aurors would never do that. Only Death Eaters-"

"You've been out of it. Didn't you admit it to yourselves? You two have been moving too fast to understand what's happened to the world. Aurors have total control now, and if you don't believe that they abuse their powers just ask your son."

Harry's body whipped awake behind his father, nearly tripping both of them. The family had backed out now, moving slowly, as if the slowness would keep Peter from doing anything rash. The Death Eater pulled out his wand almost sorrowfully, shaking his head. "I'm so sorry, James. I never wanted it to be like this. It would've been better if..."

Peter ended there, with his wand out, pointing at his two former-best friends and the two children between them. James's face hardened and he pulled out his own wand, Lily copying him. "Here, Harry," she whispered, handing her older son Leo. "I need you to take him-"

"I'm afraid that neither of your children are going anywhere, Mrs. Potter."

As James and Lily jumped, Peter bowed his head. Harry, shaking, took his brother in his arms and slowly turned.

A man stood, surrounded by his group of Death Eaters all dressed in such familiar robes. He was extremely tall, much taller than Harry, and his clothing seemed to suck in the light from the lamppost he stood under. Just looking at him made Harry feel such a wave of terror that he had never felt before. But what frightened him the most were the green eyes, tinted with red, on the man's face--those were his mother's eyes, his own eyes, eyes so green that everything around them looked colorless in comparison.

James took in a quick breath, a growling sound coming from the back of his throat. Lily lost her motherly feel, picking up her adopted battle-psyche. The power the pair let go was enough to transform the simple breeze into a full-rush tornado, tussling the leaves and yanking up at the tree roots. Several Death Eaters around their master threw themselves to the ground, trying to keep themselves connected to the earth below. Harry instinctively strained his muscles but the wind didn't touch him.

Voldemort grinned and, with a hand's wave, banished the windstorm. James and Lily glared at him.

"I would like to be impressed, or at least surprised at that little power show," he said, taking long and lazy steps away from the light and into the shadows where only his green eyes reflected back. "But I rather expected such a thing. You two are, after all, the top members of the Order, and then there's your interesting blood lines."

He paused. "What was it that brought you so low that you felt like you could interact with, much less love, a direct descendant of Godric Gryffindor?"

Now it was Lily's turn to growl. "I'm not a Slytherin. My family and I disowned that name a long time ago."

"Silly girl. You cannot disown your heritage." Voldemort laughed but the sound echoed in the night, making it impossible to tell which shadow he had made his home. "You cannot disown the power that comes with a simple name."

"What do you want from me?" she screamed, turning vainly, trying to locate him and keep her children away from his sight. "What do you want from my family? We've done as you asked, we've stayed out of the war. My entire family has moved from the continent, and you've yet to keep your part of the bargain. You've let to leave us alone."

"Did you really think that I would let my dear cousin go with such simple terms?"

"No," James snorted. "But we had hoped."

Voldemort appeared from a few feet's distance and Lily shrieked, jumping away and momentarily exposing her children. "Imagine," he purred, "the power your children must have. Mixing the pure blood of Salazar Slytherin with the pure blood of Godric Gryffindor."

"Leave them alone!" James yelled, jumping in Voldemort's way with his wand ready.

"Look, he even has our family eyes," Voldemort continued, pointing to Harry. "Salazar's most prominent feature, the trait that marked his heirs. But that hair and that face. Definitely more to the Gryffindor's side. A shame, really." Harry seemed to have trouble breathing as those red-tinted eyes studied him, but the eyes moved on to the young child in Harry's arms, body turning to see past James's obstructing body.

"Ahh, and this is your second son?" he asked, eyes locked onto Leo. The baby weakly blinked his eyes. "I can only imagine what power he must hold." Voldemort snapped back and grinned his infamous smile. "I have come, cousin, to relieve you of your children."

"W-what?" Lily asked weakly, nearly stumbling back.

"I'm afraid that I've also come to relieve you of your husband. I really can't have a true Gryffindor running around the place, threatening my power."

There wasn't even a warning. Voldemort's wand was out and, with a swish, he sent James flying back onto the picket fence. Lily gave a shout of surprise but found herself paralyzed, frozen in place to watch as her children were taken and her husband was murdered. Voldemort snapped his fingers and ropes appeared, tying the children's bodies tightly, preventing any escape.

But they weren't of the Order for no reason.

James was back on his feet, wiping the dirt off his nose, and waved his own wand, sending the Death Eaters who had come forward to capture his children back the way they'd come. Lily broke free of the paralysis and sent a ball of blue fire with them, the fireball exploding amidst the crowd of Death Eaters. She hurried and dissolved her children's bonds and shouted "Run, Harry, run!" before going back to battle.

Night was gone, dissolved away as magical lights from the battle lit the sky. James share a split second look with his wife, who nodded, and took up an offensive stance. He raised his hands and shouted out a curse, waving his wand. An acid web shot out, sticking and burning and killing any Death Eater it touched.

Lily crouched at his feet and closed her eyes, wand moving instinctively between the fingers of one hand as the other hand traced a protective ward in the ground. The ward, once completed, lit up with a bang, highlighting the stars, and engulfed the Potters in a violet light. The dozens of curses sent their way were halted by the ward, frozen in time, standing just beyond Lily's reach. Her eyes opened and narrowed. She stood and stretched out her hands, screaming old magic hymns and reaching into her birth power. The curses shimmered and shot back into the wands that had called them. The wands shook and exploded.

Voldemort leaned against a fence, watching the battle with amusement. His Death Eaters threw curse after curse, never learning that the defensive ward--plus the magic Lily had added--would only deflect and redirect any magic they sent. He waved his wand and a horrific thud struck the violet ward, making it shudder then break like a million pieces of glass. Lily screamed, ducking the expiring magic and was cuffed in the side by a hex. James automatically reached for her and was pounded by a triple-charm that knocked him to the ground.

Voldemort's mouth pulled up in his skull grin. "Not too quickly, my servants," he reminded them. "The night's still young."

Harry blinked as a all-out war was waged between the gravely outnumbered Potters and Voldemort, bright lights setting off against the night-dimmed sky but took off, grabbing Leo with him. He couldn't understand why his friends were fighting his parents, but now wasn't the time to ask questions.

Minutes passed. He had been here before--he knew it. Leo let out a panicked cry and Harry hurriedly shushed him, pulling his chubby body up into a hugging position as he ran.

The farther he ran, the louder the noises became. It was like he was running into the battle even as he ran away. Harry felt his wand poking his stomach and his cheeks burned. He was running when he could defend himself? Why?

Leo let out another cry and Harry tripped over something unseen, landing hard on the ground with his chin scraped against the pavement. Leo screamed in pain, lying under Harry and slowly being crushed by the weight. His pain-filled cries drowned out everything else and Harry, despite himself, felt tears coming down his cheeks as well.

"No, don't worry Leo," Harry cried, getting to his knees and tucking his brother in his arms. The baby wouldn't stop crying, getting louder instead. "No, please don't cry Leo." Harry sniffed, wiping at Leo's face. "P-please don't cry. E-everything's going, going to be all right. Just don't cry!" His brother had no intentions of listening to him and Harry started whimpering as well. Hot blood ran from his cut chin and as soon as Harry felt it, he nearly screamed. Images of the red blobs came back, of the strangled puppy.

He had come around in a circle. The houses, the empty houses all for sale, let their windows glare at him accusingly, accusing him of being stupid. He had come right back where he had started. His parents were in front of him, and Lily was on the ground while James still fought. Many of his friends lay stretched out on the ground as well, no longer moving.

Were they his friends? Harry shook, moving against the fence of the house next to the one they'd been in. But as he moved, getting to the side of the house, Harry realized he could see the still-motionless puppy through the white picket fence and went back to the front of the house, shaking even more.

The man with his mother's eyes, with his eyes, was watching everything and as Harry saw him, the man turned and looked at him. At that moment, the man turned back to the battle and his lips moved and time froze and Harry felt like he was going to die.

The green light slapped against James, sending him spiraling back against the fence and leaving a dark stain against the whiteness of it. It looked, for a moment, like he was going to be all right. His back stiffened and he gave a little jolt and his mouth open wide.

But his mouth opened wide to let out a ear-piercing scream, the sound of his soul fighting to stay in his body while the magic fought to pull it out. The green light slapped him again and the scream became louder. The light became greater, momentarily blinding the entire area like a nuclear attack. When it was gone, James collapsed against the wall. He had lost the fight for his life.

"Daaaad!" Harry screamed.

"Jaaaaaamess!!" Lily screamed, getting to her knees. "NOOOO!" The Death Eaters stopped, having received no orders to attack her. She scrambled to her feet, unsettling bits of pavement and dirt that scattered onto the sidewalk, matching the sounds of her breaking heart inside her.

"No, James no!" Lily grabbed his face, forcing his chin up. "You can't die on me. No James. You can't... you can't leave me alone." Her voice cracked. "James... ple-please don't leave me alone. I can't do this alone."

"Foolish girl," Voldemort scoffed, completely disregarding her sorrow. "You knew better." She didn't respond, her head bent in crushing loss. "Knew better than to be involved in our enemy's heirs-"

"The bad blood between our families died with our forefathers," Lily whispered, tone dead. "It's your fault... THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!!!"

She leaped up in the air and jumped at him, fingers pulled back like sharp daggers. "I'LL KILL YOU-"

Voldemort threw her aside easily, then stepped over her and walked to her children with complete ease.

Lily laid on the pavement a moment, completely worn out, until she heard Harry's hoarse warning: "S-stay away from me."

"Harry... " Lily got to her feet drunkenly. "Voldemort, get away from my children."

"Don't get in my way, cousin," Voldemort replied, still on his way to Harry and Leo. "You haven't the power to stop me--as your husband's death just proved."

Lily let out a broken sob and collapsed. "P-please, I'll do anything. Just don't take away my children. D-don't take away the last thing I have left-"

"If you think your whining will have any effect on me, you're quite mistaken," Voldemort informed her coldly. He turned to his standing Death Eaters. "I suspect that the ministry will be here sooner or later. Gather up the living and burn the dead. We needn't leave too great a clue as to what happened here." They bowed and did as told. "Two of you will take and care for these children, of course. And I believe my cousin will also need another caretaker, one who will be kind enough as to inform her what she's missed these many years of my rule."

"Yes master," three Death Eaters murmured, stepping forward.

"You won't touch my children!" Lily vowed, closing her eyes. "I swear it, if it's the last thing I do: you'll never touch my children."

"How touching." Voldemort turned to face the fallen witch. "You're exhausted, cousin. Save your energy for another time because as much as I'd hate to kill the last female of my family, I haven't the patience to deal with you right now."

Lily ignored the taunt and lay back on the ground, stretching her legs and arms out as far as they could go. Soundless letters escaped her lips, forming them into words. Her blood leaked from multiple cuts, enough to tie her curse together. Voldemort paused to watch her, slightly entertained by this last defiance.

"What are you going to do?" he teased mercilessly. "Bleed to death on the ground? Because that's all you'll be able to do."

Lily squinted her eyes to glare at him, not responding as she finished the curse. She lifted a wounded arm and pointed at him, eyes glowing a heartless green. Her hooked elbow ran parallel to the ground beneath her, her entire body was tense and the very air seemed to be sucked towards her. Suddenly, the air spit away from her, slamming into the surprised Voldemort.

An unearthly scream filled the air. The winds ripped and tripped in the air, blinding him, and he could hear Lily chanting the words to an old spell, voice turned into a horrific drone. He blinked and lifted his arms up, trying to see what she was doing, but the winds died down as suddenly as they appeared, leaving no visible effect.

Voldemort looked down to see Lily lying on the floor, eyes glazed over and unblinking, mouth frozen in a smile of revenge, and chest unmoving. Uncertain, he walked up to her and lightly kicked her. No response. Voldemort studied the dead body of his cousin a moment longer before turning away and walking to the children.

Leo, the second son he'd been waiting for, had finally shut up while the other son, Harry, appeared to be in shock. Voldemort's eyes ran over the babe's body hungrily. This was the second son spoken of in the prophecy, the one who would be his future ally. The Death Eaters had done most of what he'd commanded, clearing away the injured as the smell of burning skin scented the air. Most had apparated away already.

The full moon began to tilt back in the sky, falling down again as the night passed by. Voldemort's duel with the Potters had lasted longer than expected.

"I thought I told you to collect the children," he stated coolly. "Was there a problem in such simple directions?"

"N-no, master," Peter stuttered, bowing low. "I-I had thought, since you and Lily-"

He was interrupted by Harry's loud sob. The Death Eaters all froze, turning to watch as Harry ran over and collapsed on his dead mother's body. Some turned away, feeling half-guilty.

Voldemort glared and reached a hand down to fiercely yank the boy up by his shirt. "You'll learn to shut up in my presence," he hissed. Harry sniffed and sobbed louder, fighting against Voldemort to reach his mother. "Stop that. Stop that now-"

One of his hands brushed against Harry's skin and he howled in pain, yanking it back as it smoked. Bits of the hand's skin charcoaled and drifted off like ash. Unbelievingly, Voldemort brought the hand up to his face, staring with wide eyes as the last of the skin crinkled off, showing soot-covered bones. Every nerve had been burned away along with his skin so his eyes took in the damage while his brain registered no pain.

Harry threw himself at Voldemort, knocking him down, before racing back to his mother. "M-mum? Mummy, please wake up. Mummy!"

Voldemort still stared at his dissolved hand in shock, unable to comprehend the meaning behind its smoking stump, unable to understand what had happened--what had happened painlessly. He could see the damage, yet feel no pain so looking at his hand only gave him an unnatural feeling. Harry started crying, bending his head over Lily's body as he shoulders were racked with sobs.

Without warning, Harry stopped his crying. "Y-you killed my parents," he whispered, head still bowed. "B-but... I'LL KILL YOU!"

"Silly boy," Voldemort tried to let out a bark of laughter, hiding his hand from his Death Eaters' view. "You honestly think that you'll be the one who'll stop me?"

Harry stumbled to his feet and fumbled at his pockets, pulling out a thin wand. "Y-you'll pay for what you did," he promised, face as white as the moon. "I swear it-"

"Put that ridiculous thing away and give up before I lose my patience with you like I did with your mother," Voldemort ordered angrily.

"Stupefy!"

The stunning spell hit Voldemort in the back, making him give a lurch but remained conscious. The man whipped around and glared at Harry, advancing slowly. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked in low, angry tones.

Harry's face was screwed up in concentration and he shouted out another more powerful curse. It smacked into Voldemort's side and the dark wizard jumped forward with a growl of rage, bringing his stump to strike Harry's face but as soon as the skin contacted, his arm began to burn like the first.

Voldemort pulled up the robe's sleeve and stared wide-eyed at the smoking bits. "Wh-what is this?" he bellowed.

"M-master?" The Death Eaters backed up as Harry stood up and faced Voldemort again, ready to attack again.

"Silence!" Voldemort pointed at Harry with his other hand. "You will pay for that, boy! No one attacks Lord Voldemort and lives to tell!" He pulled his wand out and pointed it at the nine-year old, shouting "Avada Kedavra!" at the same time Harry yelled "Expelliarmus!"

The two lines of magic dived towards each other and collided midway between the two wizards. For a second, the two became a golden line of one, connecting the two wands together but then Harry's arm began to shake and he cried aloud as the spell was broken. His spell was nullified in the wake of the Death Curse and Voldemort's green light shot forward, hitting the oldest living Potter upside the head.