A Force of Magic [HP Jamione fanfic]

Chapter 8: ...and what is now

31st October 1998
10pm
Potter Cottage – Godric's Hollow
Residence of James and Lily Potter

When James woke he was lying on the cold floor of his living room, surrounded by dust and broken furniture, the night sky above him was dark and full of clouds and – wait – James sat up suddenly, horror spearing through him when he realised he could see the sky from his living room. He suddenly remembered he hadn't been here in the moments before he woke up and jumped to his feet, ignoring the vertigo that hit when he did.

He looked down at the weird egg-shaped device still clutched in his hand, staring for a moment, before tucking it away in his pocket. He stepped through the destroyed doorway into the hall where he last remembered standing against Voldemort. He thought he'd died. He thought - Lily! Harry! Where were they?!

With a hoarse gasp he bound up the stairs, ignoring the aches and pains radiating through his body as he did so. He skidded to a horrified stop in the doorway of Harry's bedroom. It was utterly destroyed, and looked dilapidated - abandoned. James gasped for air, panic clawing its way up his throat as he slid slowly to the floor, unable to tear his eyes away from the destroyed cot his son had been in when he last saw him.

He didn't know how long he sat there for before he started shivering uncontrollably. He finally pulled himself to his feet, ignoring the tears frozen to his face in the cold October air (at least he assumed it was still October). He didn't know what had happened. One moment he'd been in his living room, then Voldemort had attacked and he'd grabbed the egg-thing, and was suddenly in front of Voldemort. He vividly remembered seeing the sickly green light of the Avada Kedavra coming for him, and hoping Lily would manage to get her and Harry away quick enough.

But here he was, and his house was destroyed. He could only hope they'd managed to get away and the destruction of the house was done in Voldemort's anger. He picked his way through the cottage, looking for evidence of something, anything, to tell him what had happened. He found his wand buried under the same debris he'd woken up under in the living room, but didn't find anything else of note.

With a deep breath to keep a hold of his emotions he got ready to apparate to the person who could give him answers; Dumbledore. With a blink of an eye, and a loud crack, James Potter apparated away from Potter Cottage.

Never in his wildest day-dreams did he expect the answers that were awaiting him.

31st October 1998
11pm
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - Scotland

James appeared with a crack outside the gates of Hogwarts, and stared in shock at the wrought iron gates. They looked very different to the last time he'd seen them. He sucked in a breath, and stepped forward to the gates to push them open. The wards stung his hand when he tried to push them open, and he jumped back surprised. He furrowed his brow and examined the small burn on the tips of his fingers.

"What the fuck?!" James whispered to himself. The wards hadn't covered the gates of Hogwarts last time he'd been here, and he couldn't believe that they would've changed it so quickly.

"'arry?" A deep voice said, confused, and James looked up to come face to face with Hagrid.

"Hagrid!" James exclaimed, ignoring what the half-giant had said.

Hagrid looked suddenly shocked as he linked eyes with James, and took a sharp step back from the gates, as though James might be able to get to him through them and the wards. "Who 're yeh?"

James blinked, "What do you mean, who am I? It's James. James Potter." He gestured to himself as though that would help Hagrid.

Hagrid blinked at him, "Yeh can' be. 'E's dead!" Hagrid exclaimed.