I'll Take it Shaken, Not Stirred

Chapter 15: The Last Suspicions of James

History: Harry Potter stuff is not mine, but I do have the day off today.

Recap: Well, way back in chapter 6 (7?) Lily and James speculate on the simultaneous attack on Hogsmeade and death threats to the Minister of Magic. Praedam and Silth (respective teachers of DADA and Ancient Runes) are suspected by the Head students to be spies, but one prank and two illicit searches of offices later (Ch. 11) Praedam is out of the question, and Silth is innocent until proven guilty. (Ch. 14) Slughorn throws a Christmas party, ending with a shocking bit of news: The Minister of Magic has been murdered.

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"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." –Martin Luther King Jr.

James had never known a silence like the one that followed Mr. Gillygold's words; it was cold and reverberating- shocked and frightened. And then, the meaning of the words seemed to really sink in and register in the brains of the collective. Panic dominated now, as people gasped and interrogated, several of the guests actually shrieking.

Slughorn's voice, panicked as well, could be heard above the rest. "Quiet! Quiet! Dominic- how... how did it happen? Was it Him?"

Trembling, Gillygold tapped the empty glass with the ring on his left hand, and the Potions Master refilled the cup at wand point. After gulping through the alcohol, then coughing a bit, Mr. Gillygold breathed deeply. "It was... was just tonight... in London. H-he- the Minister- was on his way, with his f-f-family... they were going t-t-t-to a Christmas... a Christmas p-p-party. There... there was the M-M-Minister's Guard w-w-with them... three w-w-w-wizards... they... they go everywhere w-w-w-with him these d-d-days-" Gillygold paused to collect himself, then continued: "They... they were out in the street... j-j-just outside the h-h-house... then six or seven of them- of his... they app... apparated... t-t-t-took out the three... the three w-w-w-wizards in the g-g-guard first... then the M-M-Minister's wife... then the boys... the s-s-s-sons... then... then him... the Minister..."

Several people gasped, and Gillygold seemed to give out. He rested his face in his hands, clearly wanting nothing more than to be left alone. The crowd, however, would not consent.

"How did you find this out?" shouted one witch above the rest.

"W-w-witnesses... two muggles... the M-M-Ministry arrived a few m-m-minutes later w-w-when they f-f-found out... b-b-before muggles s-s-s-started s-s-s-swarming. And-and they were there... seven b-b-bodies... l-l-lying out there... and the sign! His sign! Up in the sky- green and giant... They're saying... they're saying that he... you know who I mean... they s-s-say he was th-there him-himself..."

Gillygold's voice became even more uneven and he broke off. Slughorn raised his voice to calm the alarmed guests. "QUIET! PLEASE!" he shouted over the din; it was mostly successful. "Don't interrogate the man! Can't you see he's hysterical! Please! If you'll just wait...!"

James could say nothing. His throat was not working properly. He stared blankly ahead at him, not seeing anything- not moving. However, while his body was inanimate, his mind was not. On the contrary, it was quite busy at the moment.

This Minister of Magic was dead. Murdered. By Lord Voldemort.

But it didn't make sense- it couldn't be! The death threats... the attack on Hogsmeade... the meeting with Dumbledore...