Unofficial Portkey Archive

Chapter 45-Here By Me

The things I thought you'd never know about me
Were the things I guess you always understood

And everything I had in this world
And all that I'll ever be
It could all fall down around me.
Just as long as I have you,
Right here by me.

Four people sat in silence in a busy, interesting office. A circular window made it possible to see the night sky and feel the warm breeze of the wind from outdoors. The thick sign of tension arose in the room. It was hard to express the events that had taken place. Horrors had been unleashed and confrontation was the furthest from their minds. Out of everyone, the only girl looked worried and fearful. Another person was breathing, slowly but surely.

Madam Pomfrey had administered a thick, purple potion to James before he went to sit in the Headmaster's office. The coughing had died down, but a burning feeling lingered in his chest. His face was warm from battle, the rush of blood still indeed causing pain and anxiety.

Sirius was pacing, not sitting in the armchair provided. His long, elegant hair hung in his eyes, covering the real suffering hidden within them. Remus was tapping his fingers, lightly and nervously.

All their heads turned at the sound of the door opening. Professor Dumbledore swiftly walked in, his well-kempt beard swaying as he walked. His half moon spectacles rested lightly on his long, crooked nose. His eyes showed signs of stress and concern. He sat at his desk and looked into the eyes of each one of them.

They rested on James for a moment, a moment too long. Lily noticed this and wished to hear the thoughts circling in their Headmaster's brain. She supposed he had spoken to the Ministry. An article would surely be appearing in the Daily Prophet the following morning. All the students would talk in hushed whispers as though the four of them were immune to this type of thing. Lily was afraid that she wasn't.

"It is to my understanding that tonight, while the four of you were illegally celebrating in the Three Broomsticks, Voldemort and his Death Eaters attacked," Professor Dumbledore spoke carefully, in low smooth words.

They all nodded their heads in consent.

"Miss Evans, did Madam Pomfrey see to your wound already?" the professor asked, eyeing something on Lily's face.

Lily brought a hand up to her cheek and felt dried blood. She had forgotten about the cut instilled by Voldemort's spell. She had been all too worried over James' condition.

Lily shook her head and Dumbledore seemed to understand.

"And you, Mr. Potter. Did you take all your potion?" he questioned.

James nodded reluctantly. According to him, it had tasted as foul as rat dung. Lily had no experience with such substances, but realized nothing that tasted alright ever did the body good. It was most likely a good sign that the potion had been distasteful.

"Did you catch any of the Death Eaters?" Sirius asked, his eyes dark and alert.

"Alas," Dumbledore staggered, sighing. "We did not. As you must have seen, the remaining Disapparated. What I did not realize was that they took the injured along with them. So, we can only go on our predictions as to who was under those masks."

"I can assure you, Travers was one of them," Sirius insisted, his voice losing control.

"I am well aware that Travers was a suspect for the murder of the McKinnon family," the headmaster supplied. "I have tried to provide evidence on such behalf. The Ministry has failed to see this and have kept their list of suspects open. If it was true that Travers was the one who killed Addison, it would seem highly probable that you would have ended up dueling with him."

"It was him," Sirius muttered. "I know it was."

"Sirius," Professor Dumbledore started, looking into the eyes of his student with care. "I know that you and Addison McKinnon were close. I should have spoken with you after she was murdered. I realize you've been keeping it all in."

"He's been a blazing lunatic," Remus mumbled, although there was sympathy in his tone.

"The loss of such a prominent family was hard on this school; on everyone. Addison, Mackenzie, Maimee, and Arielle were all likeable girls. Gideon and Fabian Prewitt were also well known," Professor Dumbledore insisted. "I happened to know the two of them fairly well. Yet, not everyone mourned their death as was expected. This school is split according to beliefs. As an educator, I can't enforce a way of thinking. I must supply what is dutifully administered. It is not my place to sway one's opinion."

The man went on, taking in deep breaths. Lily was amazed at how Dumbledore seemed to place his words. He was starting off at one place and would quite possibly launch into a whole different subject.

"The beliefs sort out into two categories. Voldemort and blood. The latter has always proved to be controversial. Sirius, you, yourself, can prove this point. Your family is one that strictly believes in the purity of blood. Yet, they are indifferent to the reign of terror lead by Voldemort. I've watched you, Sirius. I've come to know that you are not like everyone in your family. That has turned you against them. You are on an opposing side in such an argument, thus labeling you as an outcast to them. So, pureblooded wizarding families have gained the reputation of only acknowledging the purity of blood. This is not the case. The McKinnon's also prove to be otherwise. They were a pureblooded family, but did they not treat Miss Evans with respect and warmth?"

Lily nodded her head at this. Marlene and David McKinnon had been very good people. They had always treated her well.

"Today, Sirius, you helped Voldemort realize that not all purebloods are with him," Dumbledore acknowledged. "He may have had an idea, but now, he knows. He knew the Potter's were against him. Yet, they had always been against such hype. He never realized a Black would be against him. You have surprised him in a way that I could not be more proud of. Sirius, you are one of the branches that links the good and the evil. Yet, you've chosen a side."

Sirius beamed at Dumbledore's words. James knew that Sirius had always been against the traditions his family held. Having been told this was always a bad thing, hearing that it was indeed a good thing was a shock.

"Thank you, Professor," Sirius said.

"This leads me to my next topic of conversation," the wizard expressed. "I believe that you have managed to deduce the reasoning behind all these attacks on you?"

He was looking at James.

"Yes," James replied quietly. "I don't really know though. Lily was there as he told her. I was in and out, seeing as he had hit me with the curse moments earlier."

"Miss Evans?" Professor Dumbledore asked.

"He said that he was after James because according to studies at the Ministry, James proved to be his biggest threat," Lily reminisced. She recalled the parchment that had held three names on it; one being her own.

"I am aware of such studies," Dumbledore provided. "I was not, however, aware that Voldemort had managed to acquire such information."

"He said he had a source," Lily remembered. "Someone must be leaking information out of the Ministry. One of the employees must be a spy."

"I am quite sure that this is so," Dumbledore sighed. "It is so hard to determine who is on our side these days. Go on."

"The reason he sent Death Eaters on the train and the reason he attacked us in Miami was because he wanted to kill James," Lily recited. "According to him, me and Sirius pose as threat two and threat three. I am only guessing, but I imagine Remus would be threat four. If Addison were alive today, she would most likely be ranked high up."

"You are correct in assuming," Dumbledore confessed. "The Ministry did these studies, observing and calculating the most powerful witches and wizards of this age. The studies were conducted to determine the sole person who would be most useful in taking down Voldemort. James proved to have the most aptitude."

"So, this study," Remus spoke. "Would it be considered a prophecy?"

"Actually, no. Although it was introduced and experimented by the Department of Mysteries, with help from personnel, it is not labeled as a prophecy. The reason being is because we're not 100 percent sure the information is useful or accurate. We have no idea who could be the person to bring down Voldemort. These are only statistics," Dumbledore explained.

"Then why is this so important to Voldemort?" James inquired. "Surely, he can't think I would have the power to defeat him. I'm only eighteen."

"Eighteen and very powerful for your age," Dumbledore corrected. "You have abilities that you have yet to uncover, James. Voldemort wished to get rid of you before those powers emerged. He saw something in you, just as the Ministry did, that cascaded as a threat. He saw power."

"So, why did he only go after me?" James asked. "There are four of us. Why only me? Why was I the target?"

"The only theory I have to that is this," the wizard said, adjusting the glasses on his face. "Without you, the rest would be weakened. You're the link to everyone. James, you are influential. You have a great relationship with Lily and your friends. It would be a struggle for them to lose you. Did you not see how everyone looked so much less able when the four students were murdered this year? I'm not saying that if Lily died you'd still be able to go on without her, perfectly fine. No, the reason he targeted you is because you have the most potential to power. Your mind and talent scare him. He went after you opposed to everyone else due to your position and your ability."

It was so hard to take in all this information at one time. He looked over at Lily, who was pale. He reached his hand out to hers and she took it. She smiled slightly, somewhat shocked at the danger her boyfriend was in.

"I'm permitting you all to a Sleeping Drought and a night's rest in the hospital wing, maybe a bit more for you, James," Professor Dumbledore said. "Remember, you all can come to me at any time."

The four of them made to leave, James behind them all.

"Oh, James," Professor Dumbledore called before James departed.

James turned to look at the Headmaster.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Happy Birthday," Professor Dumbledore bade him.

.X.

Sirius and Remus were on their way to the hospital wing, but Lily had stayed behind for James. She took his hand as he exited Dumbledore's office. She knew he must have felt scared.

They remained in silence for quite some time.

"Voldemort was wrong," James muttered out of nowhere after time had passed.

Lily looked up at him, his hazel eyes serious and full of concentration.

"About what?" she curiously asked.

"It would be much harder on everyone if you died, opposed to me," he confessed.

"Is that what you think?" Lily questioned, stopping her steady pace. She looked at him, her eyes meeting his.

"James, you're more loved than you know," she said, kissing him on the lips.

A/N: Now everyone knows why Voldemort was after James. Please review