The Truth Behind the Veil ✔️

This Damn War

TW:

Depression & Character Death

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Another horcrux had been destroyed. It had put up far less of a fight but that wasn't necessarily a good thing. In fact, it was scary, knowing the pieces of Voldemort's soul were getting smaller, weaker. Knowing that Voldemort could feel his immortality slipping away with no way to trace it back to who was responsible for it. Knowing that time could run out at any moment and this could have all been in vain.

The new year had come and gone. Lily and James had announced their pregnancy and of course everyone was ecstatic. Marlene had begged on her hands and knees to be godmother and despite their previous decision for Alice to be the godmother, the Potters agreed. Alice was also pregnant which made the decision even easier to make seeing that she'd have her own child to deal with.

Sirius was named The Godfather, of course, but everyone knew it was really Remus who'd do the parenting if it came down to it.

It wasn't all good though. The Order meetings were becoming more and more frequent, there were killings on the daily and James' parents were ill with Dragon Pox. There was no cure. They only had a little while left. There was nothing that could be done.

James had lost his cheerfulness as had Lily. The young couple had been arguing more as well. Lily was on the case of the Potters at St. Mungos and James took out his frustration on her as a result. Deep down he knew her hands were tied but he couldn't imagine losing them. They had been his rock for years and despite being elderly, James always had considered them invincible.

They weren't even dying for something noble.

Fleamont Potter, who had made a career as a famous potioneer and Auror. Fleamont Potter, who had his own chocolate frog card (James had kept every single one he had found). Fleamont Potter who made joke after joke, who had given James his sense of humor. Fleamont Potter who's hair was just as messy as his sons and eye-sight equally as bad. Fleamont Henry Potter was now frail, graying and humorless.

And then there was Euphemia. Euphemia Potter (Nee Greengrass) who had been a skilled Healer and joined forces with her husband to create a cure for boils. Euphemia Potter who had been one of Dumbledore's favorite students. Euphemia who had fought Walburga Black for her treatment of their son. Euphemia Potter who took in anyone and everyone without question because no child or person deserves to be mistreated or be homeless. Euphemia Potter who started as a mother to one but now was the best mother to nearly ten. Euphemia Potter who had lost the twinkle in her blue eyes or the fierceness of her voice. Euphemia Martha Potter who lay in a bed next to her husband, knowing her time was up.

Euphemia and Fleamont Potter who were at peace with death because they knew their kids were going to be okay.

But James wasn't okay. James, the rock of his friends. James Potter who had inherited his looks and humor from Fleamont. James Potter who had inherited his caring nature and fierce loyalty from Euphemia. James Potter who had found love at thirteen and never once faltered from it. James Potter who had formed a brotherhood at eleven and brought in sisters along the way.

James Potter who trusted deeply. James Potter who saw black and white but refused to see gray. James Potter who wore scarlet as a badge of honor. James Potter who was a Potter through and through. James Potter who was losing the last bit of biological family he had.

James Potter who was cracking at the edges. James Potter, who snapped at anyone who tried to give their condolences. James Potter who was pushing people away because he was supposed to be the rock, he wasn't supposed to need one. James Potter who was balancing a war, an unborn baby and grief all at once.