Whimsical {James Potter}

Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Impact

The black and white paper has become a stark reminder of the world outside of Hogwarts. On the front page which now faces away from them as they read the articles, is a flashing picture of their Minter of Magic, a scraggly old man who most believe is failing at his job.

"A muggle family has been killed," Marlene says.

Marlene had brought the paper to the Great Hall and soon after unfolding it, a small crowd grouped around her to hear what news comes from the wizarding world.

"Do they say who did it?" Lily questions.

Sirius scoffs loudly. "Death Eaters of course."

Lily gives him a slightly peeved glare before correcting her question. "I mean, did they catch who did it?"

Marlene reads further down the article, slowly shaking her head before she even finishes it. "There's no names. They only found the bodies because of the Dark Mark above the house."

James leans closer to the table, trying to read over the paper for himself. "Any wizarding families?"

They flick through the pages which are filled with either garbage nonsense or conspiracies, but nothing is mentioned about any further deaths.

Cressida sits further into the seat, folding her arms close to her chest and resting her weight on them. They're targeting muggles and muggle-borns. It's the third major family death since Hogwarts had started.

As the group (that's larger than normal) discusses the unravelling events, Cressida keeps to herself. She wonders if her parents are in any sort of danger. They're not involved in the wizarding world in any sort of way besides their affiliation to her and even then, it's not like they make themselves known. How would Death Eaters even know where her parents lived – unless they track Cressida home.

The muggle family in the paper has seemingly no relation to the wizarding world except a nephew that they knew attended Durmstrang. Cressida tries to shake the thought away – they probably made themselves known somehow. Resisted or spoke up or something. Her parents don't do those sorts of things. And she barely has to worry about herself - being in Hogwarts. And the main other place she is, is James' house. Completely safe.

She turns her attention back to the conversation. James is speaking to Lily from the opposite side of the table. "Your parents are going to be fine, Evans," he smiles softly. "Just tell them to make sure they keep quite."

Cressida nods, placing herself in the conversation. That's just what she told herself. "He's right," she says to Lily. Lily looks like how Cressida feels: a little unnerved but trying to hold everything together. "The Dark Lord doesn't have any reason to go after them unless they do something to get their attention. Besides, he's mainly going after blood-traitors at the moment. This is the first muggle family in ages."

"Is the Minister doing anything?" All the small conversations simmer, eyes turning towards Dorcas, a seventh year Gryffindor. Marlene who has read the paper at least three times, shakes her head. Dorcas scoffs, tongue pressing against her cheek. " 'Course not. He's as useless as salt in a cake."

Peter raises a small hand. "Unless it's salted caramel," he mutters.

Cressida withholds her snarky remark to that, and it seems everybody else does the same.

The first Quidditch game of the year is today. Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw. And for the first time since second year, Cressida is wearing a supporting jersey rather than Gryffindor Quidditch robes. It's Sirius' old shirt from third year before he had a growth spurt. His last name, plus the number 4 is planted on the back. It's not like she could exactly wear her own. Underneath, to battle to late Autumn air is a thick black sweatshirt.