Love Can Be Found In the Darkest of Places (A Marauders FanFiction)

Chapter 17: The Stag and the Doe

James Potter woke up alone in the Hospital Wing, where he had spent the night after Sirius and Rose had been attacked. He rubbed his eyes groggily and found that he was covered by a blanket that he had no recollection of being there when he’d fallen asleep. He figured it was Madam Pomfrey’s doing. He sat upright and looked over to the other side of the room, to find that Rose and Sirius were gone. His eyes widened with worry until Pomfrey appeared from her office.

“They’ve gone to the Great Hall for lunch, if that’s what you’re wondering. They told me to tell you to join them when you woke up. He’s fine, by the way – Sirius – just a little shaken up, is all.” She gave him a sad smile before tottering away.

James arrived at the Great Hall just as the post was coming in. Dozens of owls swooped over the tables, which were now becoming more and more empty as people left for the holiday. James’ familiar snowy owl, Butler, hurtled towards him at full speed, as though the news he was carrying couldn’t wait a second longer. Butler actually hurtled into James’ chest as he approached Sirius and Rose (who were joined by Peter and Remus,) and he hooted frustrated as he pecked impatiently at James’ fingers. A little ways down the table, Lily was staring up at the scene with a raised eyebrow.

“Geez, what did I do?!” James pulled his fingers away hurriedly and reached out his hand for Butler’s foot, which it stuck out rather aggressively and hooted loudly. “Damn bird…” James mumbled as he untied it, earning another aggressive peck from the owl that seemed to be offended at being called a ‘bird.’

James finally pulled the letter off and Butler sat himself on the Gryffindor table, waiting for James to read it. He ripped it open, to find his father’s handwriting staring up at him. The parchment was spattered with wet spots, as though his father had been crying over it.

Dear James,

I don’t know how to tell you this, and I wish with all of my soul that I didn’t have to. Your mother was coughing up blood yesterday, so I took her to St. Mungo’s straight away. They determined that she had some type of lung cancer – something that muggles suffer from as well. They’re not sure how she got it, but we found out about it too late for them to be able to do anything about it. She passed away in her sleep last night… I’m so sorry, son. I’ve contacted Dumbledore, who has arranged for you to be able to apparate here from his office instead of taking the train with the other students, whenever you’re ready, of course. I love you.

Dad

James read the letter three times before it made any sense to him. His mother was quite old to have a son his age, but he’d always known her to be a healthy woman – a strong woman. As their son, he always assumed his parents were invincible, one of the only constants in his life. And now she was gone – just like that.

 “James?” Remus’ use of his real name pulled him back into reality, and he snapped his eyes up from the letter to find his friends staring back at him, concern evident in their eyes. He noticed that his hands were shaking and his eyes had welled up with tears, and used his sleeve to wipe them away angrily.

 “What’s in the letter, mate?” Peter asked in a small voice, as they all waited for whatever bad news they knew had just been delivered to him. Down the table, Lily Evans leaned forward anxiously, straining to hear what happened.

“She’s dead,” he said quietly, throwing the letter onto the table and causing Butler to fly away in fright. “Of all the bloody things that we have to worry about today, she dies from fucking cancer.” James hadn’t realized it, but he’d been yelling so loudly that the Great Hall had become dead silent, all eyes on him. He spun on his heel and stormed away. Sirius sprung to his feet to chase after him, but Rose shot her hand out and grabbed his wrist.