Angus appeared suddenly in front of Nick and they started fighting hand to hand. They were trading heavy blows until Angus grabbed Nick's head and head butted him.
Nick fell back a step as Angus drew his peacemaker and fired and hit nothing but air. Suddenly, Angus was driven down as he stabbed Angus in the back.
James attacked Nick with lighting missing his attacked. James went down fast he lost feeling in his left shoulder and then looked down at his arm as it lay lifeless at his side.
The sounds of blades made James look up as he slowly attempted to heal his arm. He looked up see Angus who was now bloody but energized fighting Nick who was quiet and attempting to fight him with the golden lightning sword and dagger.
Nick dodged and sliced moving at his phantom like speeds. Angus had to apparition multipool times to catch up but the other man was wearing him down.
"Your not going to able to heal yourself?" Axe called out.
James frowned looking up as him and the others. It looked like the entire members of the court of owls was present. He frowned at them.
"How are you able to-"
"Nick took control of Hawks Landing, boy. The power you've leaned on for so long is not at your mastery." Another man said.
James dropped his staff and reached for his wand. He sighed. He apparition next to Nick only to be pushed backward easily. James landed hard on his side coughing up blood and his vision was blurry as he shook his head to try and maintain focus.
"AH! Shit!" Angus fell to his face hard and was still. He groaned as Nick looked down at him with neutral expression.
"James. Run!" Angus called out.
James fell through the grey stones dropping down his body flapping until he managed to apparition close to the forest. He fell to the ground close to the body of water. His body shaking and his breathing coming in gasps.
"What's wrong with him?"
James started crawling to the water. The court of owls appeared around him staring at him as he worked to get to the body of water.
Nick stood in his path suddenly. He turned James over and stared at James pale face and shaky form. "Your dying? Why now?"
James snorted and coughed. "Is this nightmare or some stupid vision?"
Nick stared at him. "No. This is real. This is happening."
James stared at him. "You killed my family?"
Nick nodded. "Yes. I killed all them including Angus. Why are you dying now?" He said.
James coughed up blood as he lay on his back staring up at Nick. "I am a small person in the order of things. All things come to an end you."
"He's staging another trick. Finish him off Nick. End this shit. Another damn lie to bide his time until he regenerates. Kill him." Another Owl said.
"He's not regenerating. I know a dying man when I see him. Why are you dying James? I'm interested to know. You've take worse-"
"Well like Axe said. I was borrowing my power from Hawks Landing to work on the expansion project until it was done. Now that my family became your enemy my life is forfeited to the new master. My purpose was to create things for this realm and then when it was done. I would be free to pursue a destiny of my choosing. I never did solve the mystery though. The last puzzle to finish the expansion or solve the three riddles?" He said feeling the energy drain out of him quickly.
A long silence followed. "Hmm. What is the answer to the three riddles then?" Axe asked.
James stared up at the sky. A frozen expression on his face. The men turned as a they felt something rising out of the waters. Nick along with the others as the form of a lady rose out of the lake. She was in the form young beautiful woman made of glittering waters. She walked out of the waters.
"Excuse me. Who might you be?" Nick said.
The lady of waters did not acknowledged his words or presence. Her focus was clearly locked on James' body to lay on the ground.
The men all but Nick moved away quickly as she bent down and took hold of James body. She said nothing to him or the others and lifted up James body. She then walked away from them toward the waters.
The lady sank down into the waters as she held James' body in her arms. Nick stared them and took out a cigarette and lite it with his lighter.
"We have-"
"-be quiet." Nick said quietly. "This place will be on lock down until we can find stewards to take care of the research and management of it. No one is allowed on the Potters ranch. All of their personal items will be sent to their extended families."
"What will we tell them about the Potters and young Malfoy deaths?" Axe asked.
Nick shrugged. "I don't care. Truth or a lie. Neither one will make up for the loss of life. The heir to Merlin and the last Malfoy gone. If I hear anyone of you decides to keep one of their personal items for a trophy I'll come for your lives to. Now get to your jobs." He said gruffly.
They disappeared as Nick stared at the waters. He held the peacemaker in his hands staring at it for long time before he threw it into the lake and turned walking away into the forest until he disappeared from Hawks Landing.
The waters of the lake glowed for several hours until the light of a new dawn arrived and the first light touched the waters. The great lake disappeared along with Hawks Landing.
…..
James blinked staring at himself in his bedroom mirror. He frowned wondering what the hell was happening. He kept staring at himself until he heard a know at his bed room door before it opened.
"James. You going to come down for your birthday breakfast. Your pancakes are getting cold. Wow! Where you get that?" Angus said.
James turned and then realized he was holding the peacemaker in his hand. It glowed in his hand. He frowned and then he checked the magazine. It had only one round left in the magazine. He snapped it back into the peacemaker and then held it out to Angus handle first.
Angus walked inside carefully and took the peacemaker. "Why did you have this? I keep this in my safe. You shouldn't even know where it is?" He asked.
James smiled but shook his head. "Long story. Dad. Ah. Is today my Seventeenth birthday?"
Angus stared at him and then he nodded his head slowly. "Yeah. It is. Is this your first time being seventeen?"
James shook his head. "I had a bit of bad dream. Let's go eat breakfast. I'll tell you a little bit about it." He said and started to walk past him but Angus put a hand on his chest. He held up the peacemaker to him. "Here. I got plenty of extra ones. You can have this one." He said.
Both men stared at each other and then finally James took the peacemaker. He looked down at himself and a gunbelt appeared around his waist. He holstered the peace maker and looked at Angus. "How do I look?"
Angus nodded. "Good. Let's get breakfast and talk a bit about your future." He said and turned leaving the room.
James sighed and then he remembered his wand. He held out his hand toward his bed and his wand flew into his grasp. He turned and walked out the room and down stares.
Angus was in the kitchen fixing three plates on the kitchen table. James frowned and started to ask who had come but froze at the sight of Mara standing in the kitchen smiling dressed in pink nightgown on.
"Good morning, honey." Mara said lightly.
James smiled coming to her quickly he did notice that Angus had on his gunbelt and silver peacemaker was in the side holster. He ignored that to come lift Mara up and spin her around hugging her closely to him.
Mara laughed and hugged him close. Angus cleared his throat. "Why don't you introduce me to your ah girlfriend." He said.
James held Mara close. "Dad. This is Mara Scamander. She's my fiancée and Luna Lovegood's granddaughter. Your going to love her."
Angus stared at him and then he nodded his head slowly in agreement. "If you love her then it won't be much trouble for me to love her. We'll meet up with your mother later today and tell her the news. We got any big surprises today?"
James smiled. "Nothing we can't handle dad." He said.
Angus sighed nodding his head and waved them to a seat. "So what are your plans? What you planning on doing?" He asked James.
James led Mara over to the table holding out a chair for her and slid her close to the table before he sat down next to her. He took a plate of pancakes. "I want to work for mother and build a house here on ranch. I also got a favor to ask you."
Angus nodded his head. "Anything you want son. What is it?"
"I want to learn how to make weapons like you do. I know it'll take me some time but I really want to do it." James said.
"What about your dreams about becoming President of the Congress of wizards. You given up on that!"
"Yes! Completely." James said smiling at him.
Angus stared at him and nodded his head. "Alright bet. I got you son. You got to tell your mother." He said.
James nodded his head. "I will tell her. Don't worry dad. There won't be any problems. I'll tell her the truth and I'll make her understand the situation. Your trust me right?" He said.
Angus stared at him. "Your my son but from on when you leave the ranch always have the peacemaker with you. You handle your life anyway you want you son. Your a man." He said and turned to Mara who was smiling at him. "So Mara-"
"Yes." Mara answered.
Angus nodded his head. "Alright bet. Whenever you and James decide on the wedding if you could consider having it here for security reasons." He said.
James nodded. "I'll be going around the ranch and do some work on the wards to improve them. We can talk a bit before the meal comes in and then we can have a talk with Mother."
Angus sighed. "Before all that I want to show you something that your mother gave me when she had Neville bring you over here."
James stared at him and nodded. He looked up at the clock on the wall checking the time.