Chapter IX: Before the term starts

The Potter residence was lively as the warm summer air filled the home. It carried a faint scent of blooming flowers both from magical and non-magical plants from the garden tended by Euphemia Potter. The residence is more lively than usual as it now housed two teenage boys, James Potter the son of Fleamont and Euphemia Potter, and his best friend Sirius Black. Sirius left his home just a week after last term ended. He was taken in by the Potters.

The two teenage boys sat in the living room. Two barn owls swooped into the room through the open window. Both owls had a letter each attached to it’s legs. The letters had the Hogwarts seal.

“I told you Prongs, they’d come today,” Sirius Black said triumphantly, as he waved his Hogwarts letter in the air. His dark hair was slightly messy from lying back on the couch. “You doubted me. You wound me.”

James Potter sat on the floor, his back was resting against the sofa. “I just said they usually come early in the morning.” He held up his own letter and grinned. “Anyway, let’s open the letter.”

Both boys tore open their letter eagerly and scanned the contents. Most of it was the usual they receive every year, but one section stood out.

Sirius said with a frown “Oi Prongs, take a look at the DADA book list. Ever heard about these authors?”

James leaned over and adjusted his glasses as he scanned the list. “Practical Defensive Theory by… Livington?” His face matched his friend's frown. “Never heard of him.”

Sirius snorted. “Look at this one, Advanced Curses and Counter-Curses by… Nyx Aurelius?” He raised an eyebrow. “Who are these authors? Last year, we had books by well known duelling experts. Now we’ve got Livington and Aurelius.”

James scratched his chin as he pondered loudly. “Maybe we are finally getting a decent defence professor.”

“Or maybe we are getting another nutter,” Sirius countered. “Remember our second year? That idiot burnt his left leg trying to show us the fire whip spell?”

James groaned at the memory. “Right. And then there was the witch in our fourth year who lasted two months before she ran off to ‘find herself’ in the Himalayas.”

“Don’t forget the one who turned himself into a donkey by accident.”

James burst into laughter. “Merlin, we’ve had terrible luck with Defence professors.” He glanced at the book list again. “But for some reason I think this year will be different.”

“Famous last words, mate.” Sirius said as he waggled his eyebrows

A voice called from the hallway. “Boys, come into the dining room! Your mother has made tea.”

James stuffed the letter into his pocket as he got up and he walked towards the dining room, he was followed closely by Sirius.

The Potter dining room had the same bright glow as the rest of the house. Fleamont Potter, the head of the Potter family and James’s dad sat at the head of the table. He was peering over the top of his newspaper with an amused expression as the two boys walked in. Euphemia Potter, James’s mom, was already pouring tea. A plate of biscuits set between them.

“Your Hogwarts letters arrived?” she asked while handing each boy a cup.

James nodded as he plopped down into a chair. “Yeah..”

“We got defence books written by unheard of nobodies,” Sirius said, interrupting James.

“Oh?” Fleamont said as he set his paper down. “That could be a good sign. Fresh perspectives are often needed in education.”

Sirius shrugged and said as he reached for a biscuit “Or it means we’ve got another lunatic. Anyway, we will find out soon enough.”

“So, any news about the new defence professor?” Euphemia asked as she stirred her tea.

James shook his head. “Nothing yet. We will hear plenty of rumours as soon as we are on the train.”

Sirius smirked. “James! Are you excited to see a certain redhead?”

James choked, as he was in the middle of sipping his tea. He set his cup down quickly. “Shut up, Sirius!”

Fleamont raised an eyebrow. “A redhead?”

Sirius turned to James’s parents with his grey eyes full of mischief. “Ohh yes, yes, our dear James is completely smitten with Miss Lily Evans.”

“Sirius, I swear…” James slumped back in his chair.

Euphemia smiled. “Lily Evans… I believe you have mentioned her before dear. She’s the bright one right?”

James grumbled into his teacup. “Yeah. But, she’s also completely uninterested in me.”

“Yet, She’s not yet completely interested in you.” Sirius corrected as he elbowed him. “You just need to change your approach mate.”

“Like what?” James said as he rolled his eyes. “She thinks I’m a prat. I don’t think she will be interested in me”

“Then you should stop acting like a prat,” Fleamont said dryly. Euphemia chuckled at this comment.

James sighed dramatically. “Et tu… Dad?”

Sirius clapped James’s back and said, “Have no worries mate. I’m the best wingman there is, I will help you.”

James groaned again. “Argh, That’s what I’m afraid of.”

Euphemia chuckled. “Well, whatever happens, just remember to be yourself.”

Sirius grinned. “Oh, he’ll be himself, alright. Just with a little extra added charm.”

James rolled his eyes at his best friend, but he couldn’t hide his smile.

------

The walls of Knockturn were old and worn out, stained by soot and disrepair. It is true for Agatha’s flat in the Alley, but inside her home it was a different story. The cramped living room had a warm glow with the fireplace crackling.

Jason sat hunched on an armchair, he had his hands wrapped tightly around his cup filled with tea. His legs were bouncing restlessly and his werewolf senses were heightened.

Agatha, walked slowly as she placed a plate of cucumber sandwich on the small table. The old hag studied Jason intently.

“You’re acting like a pixie high on sugar boy”, Agatha rasped as she lowered herself into her armchair.

Jason was thrown out of his pure blood family at 10 when he was bitten by a werewolf. He survived by doing odd jobs in the alley, Agatha invites him once a week for tea and sandwiches.

Jason brushed the fringe of hair out of his eyes and replied “No… sorry Agatha. Things are getting bad.”

Agatha didn’t press for more details immediately, She sat in her chair sipping her tea as the silence stood between them. She had learned over the years Jason responded well when he was given time.

Jason finally looked up and said with his Jaw clenched “They are coming to Britain”

“Who, love?” Agatha asked softly with a raised eyebrow.

"Greyback’s entire pack. They’re coming to Britain. Some of them are already here"

Agatha set her cup down with a soft clink. "I thought he was still skulking about on the continent."

"He was in the continent, but he recently moved to Britain with a small number of viscous werewolves. The rumour is that his entire pack is moving in.”

Jason was silent for a few moments as he looked into his now cold cup of tea, and continued “Fenrir wants all the small packs here to submit to him or be wiped out."

Jason’s voice was low "And lone wolves like me, we either join his pack or get hunted like prey."

Agatha let out a long sigh, her bony fingers steepling under her chin. "I’d heard whispers... but nothing trustworthy."

“I'm sure Fenrir is already here. Three packs already joined him. Two of them joined without any resistance, whatever was left of the other pack also joined after Fenrir personally killed the leaders.”

Jason’s eyes flashed yellowish gold for a moment, the beast within him stirred in fury as he remembered the gory scene.

Agatha asked with a shocked expression “You were there?”

“Yes, Fenrir dragged the poor wolves to a spot where many of us spend time away from others. It’s in the middle of the woods. He played with them before killing them” Jason said with both fury and fear.

Agatha reached forward and placed her hand on his hand. "You’re not alone, Jason."

"I might as well be alone!" Jason snapped for a moment and he immediately regretted snapping at the one person who has shown him kindness.

Jason slumped back into his chair. He covered his face with his hands and continued, "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to... I just... I’m scared..." Droplets of tears streaked down his face.

"You’d be a fool not to be, dear. Greyback is a monster." Agatha responded with a soft voice.

Jason lowered his hands and wiped away the tears and continued, “The rumour is, Fenrir has joined with a dark lord. Someone powerful. They are preparing to wage war on the Ministry. They want all werewolves in Britain to be in that army.”

“I don’t want to fight a war…” Jason stammered

Agatha nodded slowly and said with a darkening expression, “I’ve heard about the dark lord. He’s more cruel than Greyback. I’ve had dreams and visions of a dark war coming for us all.”

Jason swallowed hard and asked with his throat dry. "What do I do? I’ll be forced to join or die."

“You won’t be alone!” Agatha said firmly, “I won’t let them take you.”

Jason gave a humourless chuckle. "How would you stand against Greyback and the Dark Lord?"

Agatha cracked a crooked smile. “The Ministry is not the only ones who the dark lord and Fenrir will have to fight. There are powerful people who will not let Greyback and the dark lord rule the country.”

Jason's brows furrowed as he asked "You mean Peverell?"

Agatha didn’t answer, but her smile confirmed his suspicion.

"You think he will help someone like me?"

"I don’t think he is like the others. And as far as I know, he hates bullies."

Jason took a deep breath and finally sipped his tea. The tea was now cold and bitter, but somehow it tasted better.

"Thank you, Agatha." he said with his voice croaking.

Agatha nodded and said "Come by next week. We’ll talk more."

Jason smiled.

------

In muggle London, inside an unremarkable home, the Morgan family was finishing their dinner. Lighter rang out in the dining table, where Elizbeth Morgan, a young muggle born witch was chatting excitedly about the electives she had taken with her muggle parents and little brother. She is leaving for another year at Hogwarts tomorrow. Her father, Michael was a rail engineer listened with a bemused smile. Her younger brother Ben was peppering her about magical creatures.

None of them heard the faint pops of Apparition outside their home.

Three figures clad in dark robes and silver masks appeared in the street, they cast notice me not spells in front of the home. Rabastan Lestrange stepped forward with his wand in his hand.

"No survivors." he said viciously to his friends.

Inside the house, Elizabeth had just stood from the table when the front door exploded with splinters flying inside.

Before Michael could react, he was hit by a red spell, Mrs Michael screamed. Elizabeth searched for her wand, she had left it in her trunk as she was not allowed to do magic outside Hogwarts.

The masked men entered the room, one of them cast a yellow spell on Elizabeth's mom who collapsed into the floor.

Elizabeth was frozen in shock as she huddled in the corner with her little brother Ben. Her mother’s face was purple as she lay on the floor with black liquid oozing from her open mouth. Her eyes were open, but she did not see anymore.

The last death eater who entered the room cast a body bind on Elizabeth, but she could still speak. Ben stood up and threw a plate on the death eater. The plate crashed harmlessly on the death eaters legs. He cast a spell on Ben. Ben was thrown across the room and hit the wall with a sickening crunch.

Elizabeth screamed.

Rabastan stepped forward slowly, and looked around the room with a satisfied expression.

"Elizabeth Morgan," Rabastan said in a low voice. "Born to muggle filth. You think you can sully the halls of Hogwarts with your impure blood?"

She couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.

"This is your place in the new order of things in Britain," he whispered. "Ashes."

He stood and turned. "Incendio."

Flames burst around the room consuming the furniture, curtains and the walls. The entire house was consumed by fire at a frightening speed.

Rabastan stepped outside, he was followed by the other two Death Eaters.

Behind them the house was already blazing into an inferno against the night. Neighbours began to emerge, calling for help.

The three Death Eaters were already gone, vanishing with a sharp crack of Apparition.

Inside the burning home, Elizabeth Morgan lay motionless, her eyes wide as smoke filled the room, fire roared around her.