263Chapter 1: Fated Night
The Shattered Family
Chapter 1
Fated Night
James Potter relaxed in his armchair. Lily relaxed in the sofa and both watched as their one year old baby Harry sitting up on his toy broomstick his godfather Sirius gave him. James laughed as he watched Harry starting to chase their cat, the broomstick only a foot above the ground as he did so. Harry babbled and squealed as he chase the cat, Lily watch intently while James chuckled.
"He's going to be a great Quidditch player one day, I just know it," James said.
"Just make sure he doesn't hurt himself," Lily said as she stood up to follow Harry and their cat. "Last time he rode that he destroyed my sister's ugly vase."
James just laughed more. "Don't worry, Lily, he'll be fine." He stood up and pocketed his wand. They have been at Godric's Hollow for almost six days by now. With the Dark Lord apparently looking for them, the Potters needed a place to hide. Dumbledore had found the small house for them and placed the Fidelius Charm that protected the house. Lily and James wanted at first to make their best friend Sirius Black their secret keeper, but Sirius told James that the move would be obvious, so James and Lily chose their friend Peter Pettigrew instead.
James looked around and had to admit to himself that he was growing to like the small house, it had a comforting, cozy feeling that he found comforting. "I got it Lily! When he's older, I'm going to teach Harry how to be an Animagus like his old man," he said as he stood next to his wife. He smiled at her, "James and Harry! The father-son unregistered Animagi who will roam all over the place!"
Lily just rolled her eyes and shook her head. "A Quidditch player, an Auror, and an Animagus? Boy James, you have a lot planned for our Harry," she chuckled.
"Well, he is going to be the best at everything he tries, I can feel it! And that's what we want yeah? The best for Harry?" James asked.
Lily nodded and rested her head on his shoulders. "I just want him to be happy. …Think Dumbledore will defeat him?"
"Who?"
"You-Know-Who," Lily said.
"Of course he will Lily, we have nothing to worry about," James said. Lily chuckled and shook her head. "Guess you're right."
There was a loud screeching sound and Lily's head immediately snapped towards Harry, who almost ran over the cat. "Harry!" she said, rushing towards their baby and picking him up. "That's the second time Harry," she scolded him. Harry just looked up at her. Lily sighed and shook her head. "Just be careful Harry, alright?"
Harry just smiled up at his mother before babbling again. Lily and James both laughed. "We should bring you to bed soon mister," she said as she started towards the stairs.
"Alright, I'll be down here," James said. He took out his wand and started to twirl it. He sat down back in his armchair and waited for his wife. He barely sat down when there was a deafening blasting sound, like a cannon going off, and the front door blasted open, destroyed.
"LILY!" James yelled, jumping to his feet and running towards the front door, his wand out. There stood a hooded man in the doorway. In his hand was a wand as he stood calmly there. "Lilly! It's him! Grab Harry and run!" James asked.
"Avada Kedavra!" The Dark Lord said, his wand pointed at James Potter. James casted a Shield Charm and moved out of the way at the same time. The Killing Curse easily broke through the Shield Charm, but missed James, instead causing a force that pushed James away, his body landing limp on the ground, his head hitting the table.
Satisfied that the man is dead, Lord Voldemort slowly moved towards the stairs and climbed them. He could hear the boy, who was crying behind a locked door, and the hushed whisperings of the girl trying to comfort him. He stood in front of the door and pointed his wand at it. The door blasted off if its handles and the girl screamed. She stood in front of the boy, sitting in his crib. "Move aside girl," Lord Voldemort said.
"Never," the girl said. "You'll never take my baby."
"Move aside you silly girl, you don't need to die…" Voldemort said.
"You will never get Harry!"
"Stupid girl." Voldemort said. He pointed his wand at Lily and said, "Avada Kedavra!"
"Harry!" the girl yelled as she died, her body falling in front of the crib, Voldemort's wand following.
Satisfied he can now destroy the only thing able to kill him, Voldemort silently stepped towards the babe, taking great pleasure with every step he took. The babe did not cry or scream, instead he just stared up at Voldemort as the Dark Lord pointed his wand at him. "Avada Kedavra!" he yelled. The Killing Curse barely erupted from his wand when something happened, instead of killing the child, the Curse seemed to reflect from the baby and hit the caster instead. The spell caused the room to be destroyed as the Dark Lord's corporal form obliterated.
Harry started to cry, great pain on his forehead as the lightning bolt scar appeared on his forehead. The baby looked up, tears in his eyes as he watched as a phantom seem to rise from the body. "Harry!" a familiar voice yelled. Harry just watched the phantom which seemed to be disappearing before him as his father ran up the stairs. James Potter appeared, alive and bruised, his wand in his hand. "Harry!" he screamed again. "Harry—oh thank god Harry you're safe!" He cried when he saw that his son was safe. He looked around for Voldemort. The destroyed room was empty, the only bodies being in there being the alive Harry Potter and James Potter, and the corpse of Lily Potter. When his eyes fell upon Lily, James felt as if his heart was pulled out of him.
"Lily—oh god Lily! Please don't be dead! Lily! Lily! Lily!" James yelled as he ran towards Lily's body. He fell to his knees and pulled up Lily's body. "Lily! Oh god!" he cried, bending over his dead wife's body as tears fell from his eyes. He cradled the body as he grieved, not able to comprehend that his best friend is gone.
A second cry startled his attention, and James looked around to see Harry crying as well. "Harry…" he said softly as he gently laid his wife's body on the ground and stood up. He picked up his son and held him in his arms, hushing him as he bounced on the soles of his feet gently. "Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, it's okay Harry," he said, tears still in his eyes. "Everything is going to be okay. We're going to be okay. You're going to grow up and be the best man you will be. You'll go to Hogwarts… get into the best house, make great friends… join the Quidditch team and be the star player… it'll be the best Harry."
"'Ello! Is anyone alive!" Hagrid's booming voice yelled from downstairs. James held Harry close as he yelled, "Hagrid! Is that you?"
"Professor Dumbledore! James' is safe!" Hagrid yelled. James started to move from the nursery, but stopped at the doorway, looking back at the body of his wife.
"James? Lily?" Dumbledore's voice asked calmly. "James are you there?"
"I'm here Professor Dumbledore," James said, unable to move. "Harry's safe but Lily—oh god Lily…"
Footsteps could be heard as Dumbledore hurried up the stairs, followed by Hagrid. Dumbledore turned the corner and walked up to James. "What happened?" he asked. "The alarms went off in my office, are you two okay? Where is Lily?"
James could not talk. He shook his head and finally moved away from the doorframe, allowing Dumbledore to see Lily's body. Dumbledore frowned and walked to examine the body. Hagrid bounded up the stairs and caught up. "There's no one around Professor," he said. Dumbledore, who was bent over Lily's body, just nodded as he waved his wand over her. Hagrid's eyes fell upon Lily's corpse and he gave a wailing, harsh sound.
"Hagrid—hey Hagrid, it's okay…" James said, trying to believe what he was saying. "Stop crying, you're going to wake Harry."
Hagrid looked down and noticed Harry in James's arms. "Sorry…" he sniffed.
Dumbledore closed Lily's eyes and stood up. He walked to James and asked, "Do you remember what happened?"
James nodded. "Yeah… I think so…"
"Can you tell me?" Dumbledore asked. "I know it is hard, but please, I need to know what has happened tonight."
"You-Know-Who… he came, he came in and attacked me. He tried to kill me, but I casted a Shield Charm and moved me out of the way. I was knocked unconscious and next thing I knew my wife is dead, my son scarred and he is gone!"
Dumbledore nodded. "May I…" he said, indicating to Harry. "I just want to look at him."
James nodded and held out Harry for Dumbledore. Dumbledore examined the boy, his eyes fixed on the lightning-bolt scar. He nodded grimly. "I see… James, I have a theory, if you would like to hear it."
"Yes! Please, I need to know why that madman killed my wife!" James said roughly. Dumbledore nodded.
"To begin, we must remember the prophecy I have told you about, the one that states the one with the power to defeat the Dark Lord is coming. Voldemort was not after you or your wife, but rather your son," Dumbledore said in a calm, grandfatherly voice.
"Harry? But he couldn't be the one—"
"The evidence is there," Dumbledore said. "One must simply look at his forehead. The scar. Voldemort has marked Harry here as his equal."
"But why is my wife dead and son not?" James demanded.
"Lily must have sacrificed herself to save Harry, just as you were ready to," Dumbledore said. James nodded, knowing that he would gladly sacrifice himself for his son. "Her sacrificed has given Harry a powerful protection that Voldemort never knew. He has never felt or knew what love is. Lily's love for Harry, a special love between mother and son, must have protected Harry from Voldemort's killing curse. I suspect that the effect caused Voldemort to simply be… obliterated."
"So you mean… Voldemort is gone?" James asked.
"It appears so," Dumbledore said. "But right now, what is important is getting Harry safe… and finding out how Voldemort learned of this place."
James nodded. "Peter… he is the only one who knew! Oh god… please don't tell me—"
"It appears so," Dumbledore said grimly. "Peter Pettigrew must have told Lord Voldemort of Godric Hollow. … I am sorry James."
"That bastard!" James yelled, waking Harry. "I'll kill him! That slimy fucking bastard—"
"James Potter!" Dumbledore said sternly. "Calm yourself! You have woken Harry."
James looked down and frowned. He started rocking him. "We will deal with Peter later, right now we need to move you and Harry out of here. Do you have anywhere to go?"
"Yeah… we'll go live at my old house, it's not a manor… but it'll do," James said.
Dumbledore nodded, "Then that is where you'll go. Hagrid will take you there, I will inform Sirius about what has happened."
"Thank you Professor… but what about Lily's body?" he asked.
"She will have a proper burial, don't you worry. Now, let us get Harry safe." Dumbledore said. James nodded and followed Dumbledore out of the cottage that has been Harry's only home. He frowned when he noticed that Harry's toy broomstick was broken, and Lily's cat has gone missing. Outside the destroyed cottage he looked down at Harry and smiled sadly. "You're going to have a wonderful life," he whispered to his sleeping son. "You'll become a Gryffindor… have great friends… join the Quidditch team… find a nice girl and fall in love… everything will be wonderful Harry. I'll make sure of it."
HARRY POTTER THE BOY WHO LIVED!
You-Know-Who has been defeated! And it is all thanks to a small child, Harry Potter! Reports has stated that Harry Potter, barely nineteen months old, has survived a direct attack from He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named! The babe, who lives with his father who was knocked unconscious by You-Know-Who, has miraculously survived being hit by the Unforgivable Curse. All that is left from the encounter is a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, an image this reporter was not able to photograph. He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named was nowhere to be seen, presumed dead under the rubble. His father, James Potter, refuses any meetings with his son, moving him to an unknown location. While James Potter can be seen in public, only to do his job as an Auror, his son is never seen with him. Potter refuses to respond to our questions why, but he assures us that The Boy Who Lived is still alive, and that he wants to live in peace with his son. The Daily Prophet has chosen to respect his wishes.
PETER PETTIGREW DISAPPEARED!
Peter Pettigrew, wanted for the accomplice of the murder of Lily Potter, has disappeared. Nothing is known about the disappearance only that his small cottage has been left empty, as if it was never there. Aurors reported to be able to find one piece of evidence though, an index finger that has been identified as Peter Pettigrew's finger. More will come if new information arise.
CURSED POSITION AT HOGWARTS?
For the second time in a row, Hogwarts is without a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher! It all began when Quirinus Quirrell was found dead two years ago at the end of term. No one quite knows how had died, Aurors and School officials stating that his heart had just quit. Next was the famous and lovable author, Gilderoy Lockhart. Lockhart had taught for a full year until somehow severely losing his memory and ending up in St. Mungo's.
The School and School board puts down any claims to the cursed rumor. Lucius Malfoy stating, "The only people who believe the position is cursed are clearly mad. These are just two tragic coincidences that happened. Nothing more, nothing less. To even spend time debating about it is ludicrous." Is it ludicrous for two teachers to become unable to teach the same subject back to back? Only time will see as Hogwarts enters a new year soon, and I am sure everyone's best wishes are to the man who takes the job.
Harry Potter was thirteen years old. He had lived with his dad in their cottage for all he can remember. His father had told him what happened to his mother, and why wizards and witches will treat him like a celebrity. Despite the celebrity idolization, Harry's father had tried his best to make sure his son never grew up in the spotlight, never letting anyone see him. It was just his father and him until he turned eleven and got his letter to Hogwarts. From there, his world opened up. He made friends, Hermione who is the brightest witch he had ever known, and Ron, his best friend; got into Gryffindor, which his father was very ecstatic about. When he learned about it, his father had sent a long letter congratulating Harry and telling him that he knew Harry would be a Gryffindor just like his mother and father. He even joined the Quidditch team in his first year! A feat that has never been done before, but made James all the prouder. "You're growing right," he told Harry countless times. "You're doing great Harry, I'm so proud of you."
Harry smiled whenever James praised him. He worked hard to make his father happy; everything he did was for his father. Even if he didn't like some things as much as he should. If he wanted to be honest with himself, Harry would admit that though he liked Quidditch, he liked watching it more than actually playing it. It wasn't that he hated the sport… he just did not like the pressure everybody puts on him to do well. Sometimes he felt that he doesn't live up to his father's image simply by his body.
Where his father is tall and strong looking, Harry is short and delicate. His knees are knobby and his limbs are skinny. No matter how much he eats or runs or do anything, he always had a petite body size that girls called cute, but some boys snicker at. His father says that he has the perfect Seeker body, but that only made Harry frown. His eyes are large and doe-like, the exact image of his mother's eyes his father told him, but with everything else he looks exactly like his father. They both have the same types of glasses, both have unkempt, messy black hair, they both walked the same, talked the same. Harry was in image, a miniature James Potter. Except… there were obvious differences that Harry had, that he was scared to bring up, him not liking Quidditch being one. The other… was that if he had to again be honest with himself, he doesn't mind snakes. Both the Slytherin kind and animal kind. His father told him to hate snakes, as he said the man who murdered his mother was a Slytherin, so Harry tried and made a rival ship with Draco Malfoy, which only made James even happier.
"My son going up against Lucius' spawn!" he wrote in one letter. "I love it! Bout time someone teach those dirty Malfoys a lesson!"
Harry did not want to hate Draco Malfoy, he didn't seem at all bad when they first met. In fact, he reminded Harry a lot of himself as they both led sheltered lives. He didn't like Pansy Parkinson though, she kept calling Hermione a "Mudblood" which only caused him to get angry. Draco also used that word, but Harry figured a lot less.
"Harry, there you are! Why are you reading that Potions book?" James Potter asked as he walked into his son's room. Harry was buried in the book, quill in one hand as he wrote his essay for Snape. He genuinely hated Snape.
"Homework dad," Harry said. "Snape gave us an assignment, essay about Shrinking Solutions. I'm almost done…"
"Alright, well I'll be in my study if you need me," James said. "Kingsley wanted me to do the report about that guy we got two days ago. You know, the one who tried to break into that witch's house?" James sighed and shook his head, "You're going to hate the paperwork when you become an Auror, Harry, I swear." James chuckled to himself. Harry just nodded, focused on his work for once. He enjoys potions, it calms him down when he can concentrate on what he is doing, which is normally impossible with Snape breathing down his neck looking for mistakes. "Well… you know where to find me," James said.
"Yeah dad—hey dad, can you look over my Transfiguration essay?" Harry asked, looking up from his essay. He massaged his cramped hand as he turned to his father.
"Course I will," James smiled. "You know I'm the best at Transfiguration! Just don't let Professor McGonagall hear that," he chuckled. "Where is it?"
"Right there," Harry said, pointing to a rolled up parchment on his bed. James took it and left. Harry hoped that his father saw the permission slip to Hogsmeade in there. During the entire summer vacation, Harry has tried to get his father to sign it, but James kept refusing to. Tomorrow Harry is leaving for Hogwarts, so really this is his last chance to get James to sign it or else he cannot go to Hogsmeade with his friends.
Harry kept the permission slip in the back of his mind. If he needed to, he could easily just steal his father's Invisibility Cloak again. It was funny, Harry's dad still believes that it is always locked in a chest that is almost impossible to get, but with a couple of Wingardium Leviosa's and an Alohomora, Harry can easily get the cloak out of the chest.
It took Harry almost an hour, but he finished Snape's essay to satisfactory, he had to write slow so Snape could not deduct points for his sloppy handwriting. With the essay done, he set it on his desk for the ink to dry and left his room to search for his dad.
The Potter's house was moderate size, Two stories, the house resides on a side of a hill in the countryside. The two bedrooms were on the second floor, Harry's filled with memorabilia from his friends and a couple of posters of his favorite Quidditch team. Down the stairs was an open air flow between the rooms, as no doors stood in the way from kitchen, to living room, to the small laundry room in the corner, and dining room, which was a considered an extension of the kitchen. James Potter's study was right next to his bedroom, and where he hides the chest containing the Invisibility Cloak.
Harry knocked on the door and opened it slowly. He walked in to find his dad sitting at his desk. His Transfiguration essay was rolled up, and in his hand was the permission form for Hogsmeade. "Trying to trick me Harry?" James asked when Harry walked in. "I told you once, I've told you many times… I will not allow you to go to Hogsmeade."
"But all my friends will be able to go there!" Harry said, getting frustrated with his father. "Why can't I?"
"Because Harry, it is dangerous!" James said.
"That is what you always say!" Harry yelled.
"Do not yell at me Harry, I am your father!"
"Then tell me why I can't go to Hogsmeade!" Harry yelled back.
"Because you'll be attacked! At Hogwarts you are safe, even though you are surrounded by Death Eater spawn! Dumbledore is there and he makes sure nothing happens. But there—Hogsmeade—you are defenseless!" James yelled.
"I am not defenseless! I am not a little child!" Harry yelled, both men's anger and frustration increasing as the argument went on. "And they will not attack me! Just because they are Slytherins doesn't mean that—" Harry stopped, not wanting to finish his thought.
"That what Harry?" James demanded.
"Nevermind," Harry said, turning to leave. James flicked his wand and the door closed and locked itself.
"Finish your thought Harry," James said. Harry said nothing, instead staring stubbornly at his father's desk. "Harry," James warned.
"Just because they're Slytherins…" Harry said slowly, never adverting his eyes from the desk, "doesn't mean that they'll try to kill me."
"Kill you!" James roared, completely outraged. "Listen to yourself Harry, you are showing how nieve you are!" James moved from his desk and quickly stepped in front of his son. He placed his hands on Harry's shoulders and took several deep breaths, calming himself down. "Harry… remember what I told you," he said in a more calming voice. "The world is cruel, the world is wicked. It's I alone who you can trust! I am your father. … I've kept you, taught you, fed you, dressed you. I protected you from every type of evil there is in this world. How can I protect you Harry unless you stay where it is safe?"
Harry said nothing, he just stared down at his shoes. James sighed and shook his head. "Harry please… listen to reason. Death Eaters are still out there, and they'll always will. I will not lose you Harry." Harry continued to stay silent. Somewhere inside him, he wondered why he was acting the way he was. He never once yelled or acted against his father. He knew that James was always worried for his wellbeing and safety, especially since the Dark Lord killed his mother and tried to kill him. James had tried his best to keep Harry safe by limiting his interaction with the Wizarding World, but now… now Harry wants to explore the world, explore himself, and going to Hogsmeade was the first step of doing so.
James sighed in frustration and returned to his desk. He picked up the permission form and shook his head. "Sorry Harry," he said as he ripped it up. "This is for your own good."
Harry just watched as his father ripped the permission form up, powerless to stop him. James looked very saddened when he threw the pieces of the form in the trash. It broke his heart to destroy Harry's wish, but it will be for the better. James picked up Harry's essay, "Hey Harry… your essay was great by the way, Professor McGonagall will love it," he smiled. "How about after you pack your things, we go out and play some one-on-one huh?"
"No thanks," Harry said, taking the essay from his father. "I'm… a little tired."
"Oh, alright," James said frowning slightly. "Well… that's fine…"
Harry just left his father's study and returned to his room. Why was he so angry? His father just wanted to protect him but… he did not have to rip the permission form. Harry rolled his essay up and started packing. Twelve years his father had protected him, at least that is what James have told him. The world is filled with Death Eaters still angry that he killed The Dark Lord, and his dad is just trying his best to make sure Harry is never harmed. But, there are no Death Eaters in Hogwarts, and there certainly isn't any in Hogsmeade. The Slytherins are nothing to worry about, sure some of them are children of accused Death Eaters like Draco Malfoy, but the only harm Draco has given him were nothing more than bumps and bruises during Quidditch matches. He didn't outright seek to kill him!
Harry did not leave him room for the rest of the day. He waited until his father was fast asleep and crept into his father's study. He stole the Invisibility Cloak and turned to leave. But as he walked past his father's desk, his eyes fell upon a picture of his mother. The picture was taken the day Peter Pettigrew became their Secret-Keeper. James told Harry the story multiple times, of how they had trusted a map they thought was their friend, but he seemed to betray them the second he could. He remembered when he was young, his father used to spend countless nights searching for the traitor. He couldn't find him no matter how hard he looked. Every night James would come back sad, and Harry did his best to cheer his father up, and before he went to bed, James would tell Harry a story about his mother. "I wish you were here…" Harry said to the picture. "You would have understood."
A/N: So my third fan-fiction for Harry Potter begins! A little glimpse into the future: This fic will go over Harry's 3rd and 4th years of Hogwarts. Yes, I will use the books as source material like always, but things will be different… very different. The world is a different place with James Potter in it, but that does not mean it is a peaceful one. So, if you want to find out what lies in store for Harry and his Father, then come and read The Shattered Family! Leave a review to tell me your thoughts, and thanks for reading!