The Corpse That Lived.

Chapter 15

THE DAILY PROPHET

Britain's Most Reliable Source for Wizarding News

December 11th, 1990

Dahlia Potter: The Girl Who Lived!

In a shocking turn of events today, the Wizarding World is abuzz with the news that Dahlia Potter, defeater of You-Know-Who, has been found alive. Dahlia and Lily Potter, (mother of the famed infant who mysteriously vanquished You-Know-Who nine years ago), came forward today to announce that her daughter was recently located.

Dahlia Potter, who was sixteen months old at the time of attack, was believed to have perished in a massive fire immediately following her miraculous defeat of You-Know-Who. Experts speculated the fire was the result of a magical explosion, but the Potters have offered no explanation as to their daughter's survival of the incident.

"At this point, we can only guess about what happened, and I see no point in attempting to explain what we ourselves do not yet understand," Sirius Black told reporters. "Everyone believed Dahlia was dead, but forces were at work that night we are only just beginning to comprehend. What matters now is that Dahlia is indeed alive and has returned home."

James Potter, the father was unable to be found to make a statement, family remains closed to interviews at this time.

As Lily Potter said, "Our family is obviously overjoyed to have Dahlia back. We appreciate the patience and understanding of the Wizarding World as we adjust as a family, and we respectfully request our privacy as we heal from the many years we spent apart." We certainly wish the Potter family the best and thank dear Dahlia for her services to the Wizarding World.

***

"James Potter, you are an arse," James sighed and crinkled up his newspaper, tossing it listlessly across the kitchen before taking another huge swig of firewhiskey. The last paper was about an alleged affair that people were dumb enough to believe in. "Full of rubbish," he added, and then another drink. "Complete pillock." Drink. "Worthless. Bloody. Wanker." He threw his head back as he drained the glass and poured another before retrieving the paper, smoothing it out, and reading it once more.

He had been doing this all night. He skivved off work today and turned off his Auror Alert, making sure no one from the Ministry could summon him in. He didn't want to face the well-wishers and gossip-mongers and nosey parkers at the Ministry, but the owls had kept him busy anyway. Every reporter in the wizarding world wanted to talk to him and his family, and he spent most of the day politely informing people they could bugger off.

There were a few not-so-polite letters tossed in the rubbish bin. A voice in the back of his mind (which sounded suspiciously like Lily) had insisted he re-write them, thanking the adoring fans for their support but refusing any and all attempts for an audience with The Girl Who Lived ."Bloody horrible moniker," he cursed irritably.

Was no one in this world decent enough to just call his daughter by name? Was it not enough that she'd had to live with the consequences of defeating Voldemort that night? Would she be saddled forever with unreasonable expectations and fame she couldn't even begin to comprehend?

Yes, yes she would, and he was apparently bastard enough to leave her to it. He may have made grand promises once when Dahlia was an infant, but when she actually needed him, he had retreated to his ancestral home to wallow in misery and guilt.

He had never intended for it to be like this. He had never planned to be here at his parents' manor drinking himself into oblivion night after night. All he had needed was time to wrap his mind around his guilt in failing his family and hurting Dahlia in irreversible ways and then he was going to go home. But without Lily there to balance him out, to talk sense into him, he sank further and further into depression, and if he was honest with himself, madness as well.