The Prologue
The home of the Duke of Gloucestershire was always different than most of the ton’s. James knew that.
His parents’ marriage was a love match after all.
Their house was full of laughter and love since the day his father took his mother’s hand in marriage. The only thing missing from their life for a long, long time – at least as his mother put it – was James himself. Or in other words, a child.
Fleamont and Euphemia Potter always wanted a child. Not just because they needed an heir, as his grandpa and the rest of society said, but simply because they wanted their own family. They had so much love to give, as their love grew in each other’s presence, but had no child to give it to.
They tried remedies, home techniques and even magic that was usually used for violet unions, but nothing seemed to work.
They already reached their late years, when by a miracle Euphemia became with child during the hot summer, and in March their beautiful baby boy was born. They named him James, as a plea to God to protect their child.
Their life was suddenly fulfilled, and James was a cheerful, kind boy as he grew. Anyone who met him was charmed by the young boy, who – unlike most of the ton – was raised surrounded by love and joy. But he was nothing less than a mischievous little devil as his mother said all the time. He and his friend, Peter Pettigrew, the close-by living Viscount’s son, played together every week, causing trouble to the servants and maids, stealing biscuits from the kitchen and scaring the nannies who were unfortunate enough to agree to work there for the month – none made it longer than a month. Not that they needed it, Euphemia and Fleamont raised their son happily, with no help needed from others.
At the age of five their family grew once again but this time as a not-so-joyful occasion, as Marlene McKinnon, their distant cousin’s daughter was given to them after her parents passed away in a carriage accident. The little girl, though at first quiet, quickly adjusted to her new and loving home. And now with a sister under his arm, James took it upon himself to teach her all the ways of causing trouble and greying his mother’s hair even further.
He, Marlene and Peter became a trio, three mischievous imps who haunted Godric Hollow’s halls. They all grew up in the countryside, however, the Potters did visit London from time to time, mainly in the late spring and early summer. The duchess did enjoy attending the extravagant balls of the Season, but they also liked to bring the children to Hyde Park to play.
That’s when James first saw her. It was only for a moment, like a mirage. She was at the edge of the park. A young girl around his age, who was seemingly part of a less rich but noble family. Her hair was red like fire, burning with the warmth of the sun, kissing her porcelain face with hints of freckles and eyes made of the clearest emeralds there are.
By the time James could run after her to just introduce himself, she disappeared. Like a dream that stepped into real life to bless his eyes for a few moments.
Marlene and Peter of course teased him about it. ‘He saw it wrong.’ ‘His glasses must have been on the top of his head again.’ But there was no way his mind could make up such a person. He remembered her smile. Wide and happy, drawing into her chubby face, her green eyes twinkling with joy. James couldn’t make that up. He had a wide imagination, sure, but not this good.
Time passed, and the mirage of the girl disappeared like she did. No, it didn’t disappear. She was still in the back of his head, and every summer he hoped to see her again. Every stroll on London’s streets, every teatime in the park, every hour of every visit, but his luck was out. The passing time turned into years.
Finally, his time at Eton came. His father brought him there personally. Most boys were brought alone. Or, more specifically, by servants, but not with their fathers that’s for sure. Not even Peter’s father, the Viscount of Wormington, brought his son himself. Instead, Fleamont took it upon himself to bring him as well. Peter couldn’t find the words at the time, but James could see in his eyes how grateful he was. Peter was always the more anxious of the two and unlike James, who was ready for a new adventure, Peter was quite scared of the unknown depths of Eton.
After his father left, their new life began. And it didn’t take long to find their place.
Luckily, they shared a room, but more specifically they shared it with two more boys: Remus Lupin, heir of the Earl of Moonfall, and Sirius Black, heir of the Marquess of Grimmauld. They all quickly became friends and started to cause mischief at Eton as well. They got called many names by the teachers, the one that stuck the most was marauders, but they were also called rogues, devils and outlaws. They also met others at Eton, such as Frank Longbottom, who was a few years their senior and their close friend who tried to cover for them a few times while attending with them. They also met Regulus Black, the younger brother of Sirius, and his two friends, Bartemius Crouch Jr., son of a minister, and Evan Rosier, the heir of Viscount Rosepride. They didn’t get along so soon the two groups of boys left each other alone.
They were fourteen and it was Christmas, when things changed once again. It was a quiet night, and everyone already left for bed when the carriage arrived. It was Marlene who noticed it and woke James up, who ran down while grabbing his fence. Not that he needed it, as it turned out. When he stepped outside, he saw Sirius stumbling out of the carriage. He was seriously injured, his shirt covered in blood, falling into James’ arms as he ran to catch him. He was disowned and sent away, and he didn’t know where else to go to. Sirius and James shared a special bond from the second they met, he trusted no one more than James, and from hearing the wonderful stories of his home, he hoped he could stay a day or two, while he figured out what next.
When Euphemia heard his story, she was outraged. What did he think? He can come here for a few days and then leave? To where? The streets as a beggar? No, not her son’s friend, that is for sure. She was ready to fight Fleamont about it. Although Fleamont continuously told her, he agreed with her. She continued.
„Every child deserves a home, Fleamont! Every child!” she said over and over.
And that’s how the number of the Potter children grew to three.
When they became older, the four boys started to sneak into town, and soon the name rogue came back, along with rake. Well, at least James and Sirius earned the name. Remus and Peter went with them once but never again. They rather stayed in the dorms. Though there was one night every month when they were all out but that was rather out of necessity than anything. Or rather a necessity for Remus but they all went with him out of their own want.
After Eton, they attended Oxford. Specifically, All Charms College, which is the wizard version of All Soul College, where the students could specialise in magical subjects rather than muggle ones. Fleamont paid for Sirius’s education as well. “No son of mine will be uneducated!” he said with a big smile, and Sirius was filled with motivation. James never saw him study so hard. He was proud of his brother. He was even more proud to be able to call him that.
But their Oxford years would end quicker than any of them expected.
They were eighteen, already attending Oxford when the news came: a new plague took people’s lives away left and right. The Viscount of Rosepride fell, the Earl of Moonfall, and soon the Duke and Duchess of Gloucestershire.
James still remembered vividly when he got the news. He was sitting in a club, outside of Oxford. Sirius was off, charming a few ladies in a brothel, elegant enough that most people forgot what it was. James was drinking whiskey and playing cards with a few of their peers. They were all talking about the new plague. Peter had already left for home since he heard his mother caught it and he wanted to be there. Peter had been Viscount for at least a year now, but they had a good enough advisor to be able to attend Oxford despite the freshly earned title. But his mother was a different deal. He truly cared for her as she did for him. Quite like Remus, who didn’t even attend Oxford. His father, the late Earl left the family in debt after his goose chase to find the men who caused his son’s accident. Remus had to walk with a cane since he was four because of a carriage accident some outlaws caused. At least, this was the vague story everyone heard of. James and his friends were close enough to Remus that he told them the truth and what had actually happened to him in that accident. The late earl blamed himself for his son’s condition and pushed him away. Remus resented him for not even looking at him after the accident and resented him even more for leaving him and his mother in debt after his passing.
James was drinking whiskey at a club, playing cards when he got the letter. A dark pain washed over him when they gave him the note. He felt a chill running down his spine, the colour leaving his usually dark skin. His fingers were trembling as he opened the letter, but he could barely read from the shaking. His parents were ill.
He couldn’t believe it.
His parents were ill. How could they be ill?
When his peers asked about what was going on, he could barely utter the words and then they… congratulated him? What?
No one survived the plague yet, they reminded him kindly, and surely, he would be Duke soon enough.
James wanted to throw up as he slowly emerged from his seat, muttering the words “Excuse me, I have to go” before stumbling out of the club. He didn’t know how he got to the brothel all he knew was that he walked in, ignored everyone who talked to him, found the room Sirius was in and banged on the door with his fist. Loudly. Angrily. Desperately.
„Sirius! We are going home now! Get out!” his voice shook the room. And then he just walked out and fetched a carriage. Soon enough Sirius ran after him, confused, until James handed him the letter. But only in the carriage. As he thought, Sirius broke down. The ride home was dreadful. James continuously had to breathe deep and keep himself calm and collected while Sirius sobbed on his shoulders. Sometimes he stopped, crumpling his kerchief in his hands before starting to sob again. James knew this was going to happen. Sirius tried to act tough and not caring about the world, or rather his blood family, but the possibility of losing the people who he called mother and father again broke his heart beyond belief.
It was of course heartbreaking for James too. But unlike Sirius, he couldn’t imagine losing his parents. Sure, they were old. They were old already when they had him. Sure, he had been listening to “when we won’t be around anymore” since he was ten. But they were well when he left for school. They were healthy and happy. His father rode out into the mountains with him the day before he left. His mother was teaching Marlene how to embroider in the drawing room with a cheerful laugh at her daughter’s grumbling. When did he leave for school? A month ago? Two? They couldn’t possibly turn around so suddenly just because of some illness! There was no way, no possibility.
So, he kept himself collected, calming Sirius as the carriage rode on the bumpy roads, and he reread the note multiple times. It didn’t say that they passed, just that they are ill! He will ask for the best doctors first thing he gets there. If he needs to, he’ll bribe them to come, and then they will heal his parents, and everything will be all nice and happy again.
That was his plan. But their carriage slowly reached well-known landscapes for him, places he knew, places his father brought him growing up when he rode out with him, holding James steady with one hand, holding the bridle with the other. Telling him about all the history and mystery of their lands and James listened and took in with sparkling eyes. He felt like a king. Or rather, a prince. Who will inherit a kingdom one day, full of mystery that he can discover and then some that he could leave for his children to discover as well. Marlene was also brought on these rides sometimes. She was always so excited and Fleamont couldn’t say no, not to his little girl! Screw what is polite and out of custom!
So, they rode out together, and those times, it was James who told Marlene about the mysteries, and she was taken away. She wanted to ride off and find the fire breathing dragon who moved to the east side of their lands, she wanted to find immortality giving stone that was left somewhere in their woods by a wizard. Fleamont just laughed as the two children was already planning their expeditions.
But now, when James looked outside, watching the scenery flow away as they passed every bush, tree, blade of grass, and he felt nothing but heaviness in his chest. He didn’t feel like a prince or a king. He felt like a child. A scared child. Was he scared? He felt like all the mountains, all the woods and villages, every inch of their lands was put on his chest as weight and was about to crush his lungs. He took another deep breath. Sirius was asleep on his shoulder; James’ arm was around him. He always knew he would inherit this land one day, but not like this. It wasn’t supposed to be like this, and it wasn’t supposed to happen yet.
He looked out the window. They were close to home. Too close for his fears but too far for his worries. He tried to get ready for what would happen. The servants like predators would swarm around him for orders. Marlene would definitely break down crying. He would order someone to show him to his parents. They would lead him to their sick beds, the old duke and duchess, covered under the duvets and despite the illness, they would smile at him. It would break his heart, but he would smile back, crack a few jokes. Sirius would try his best to do the same, but knowing him, the second Marlene gets involved he becomes an older brother. James always envied him for this. Despite thinking of his siblings as siblings, he was still an only child. He could never shake it off. He would go to his parents, even if he planned otherwise, while Sirius would hug Marlene and go to the old duke’s room with her in his arms.
James would hold his father’s hand, would leave a kiss on his mother’s knuckles and then maybe he would be able to start caring about the servants’ questions. He would stay the night in their room. So would Sirius and Marlene. All three of them there, talking quietly to Fleamont and Euphemia, until they fall asleep. James would not blow out the candle. Sirius would fall asleep in a chair, Marlene on the loveseat, but James would stay kneeling next to the bed, praying.
His parents named him James as a plea to God to protect him. Now he will plea for His divine protection and healing for his parents.
Finally, they started to get close to home. Around ten minutes and they would arrive, and he wouldn’t be able to avoid the inevitable. So, James took a deep breath and gently shook Sirius awake.
„Pads… we are about to arrive!” he whispered while Sirius slowly sat up from his shoulder, rubbing his eyes with his palms. His eyes were still red from the crying, his skin was still pale, paler than usual.
„Thanks…” he mumbled glancing out the window, resting his shaky hands in his lap. James bit his own tongue. He didn’t know what to say to help with his worries. That was rare. Usually, he knew exactly what Sirius needed to hear, but right now his head was empty. All he could think of that he wants to arrive already. He couldn’t avoid the inevitable, he might as well jump into it. Run to his parents’ room like a child and say “I love you” while he still can.
The carriage stopped.
He didn’t wait for the footmen to open the door, both James and Sirius jumped out, rushing for the door.
„Your grace-” their butler, Ornery started to say, but James pushed through next to him.
„Later, bring me to my paren-” he started but his voice cracked and faded away as the butler’s words finally reached his ears and heart. He turned around slowly, white as a ghost, his heart racing and his head rumbling like the sea. He whispered, so quietly the evening wind might have taken it away before the butler could hear it. „What did you just call me?”
The servants all looked at him sadly. Their eyes screamed pained. They all loved the late duke and duchess. Who didn’t? They all grieved with the Potter children.
Grieved.
James could barely understand. He was… late?
How could he be late?
They rushed here the second they got the letter. Was this a joke?
It had to be some kind of cruel vengeance for all the mischief he pulled as a boy, right?
But it wasn’t. Ornery gently put his hand on his shoulder – quite improper thing to do but James probably wouldn’t have moved an inch if he doesn’t – and started to lead him towards the room. That cursed room.
Sirius was stumbling after them. He needed a few seconds to realize that from now on James was the duke, and what that meant.
They went upstairs, the butler opened the dark, decoratively carved door in front of them and they walked in.
The room smelled like lavender. Not something you would expect a room for the ill would smell like. But there was fresh lavender in the window and on the table.
The only thing they could hear was sobbing. Marlene was kneeling next to the bed, crying over Euphemia’s body. Euphemia and Fleamont was lying next to each other, something the doctors and healers definitely recommended not to do, but they ignored. Even in illness, even in death they couldn’t imagine being without the other. And now they were lying dead, cold hand in cold hand. Their eyes closed, their faces relaxed and content, their skin still had a green tinge from the illness.
They were there but they weren’t. Their bodies laid cold and heavy on the mattress, but they were gone, and their breathing didn’t fill the room, only Marlene’s sobs.
No.
No.
This couldn’t be.
They couldn’t be late.
James was supposed to come in, his parents’ were supposed to smile and he was supposed to tell them he loved them.
When was the last time he told them he loved them?
He woken up from the shock when Sirius fell to his knees next to him, crying and gasping for air loudly. Marlene looked up, her eyes red, her face swollen from crying since who knows when. She stumbled to her feet, almost falling over as she rushed over, falling into James’ arms to cry there.
„They are gone! They are gone!” she cried over and over into James’ chest. His breathing became heavy while servants also started to wipe their eyes. Sirius could barely breathe. Marlene could barely stand.
And James was alone.
His eyes shifted to his father on the bed. He was the man of this house now.
And as it slowly sank in, his arms moved and hugged Marlene back. Strong and steady. Petted her hair, as he slowly and gently pulled her to the ground, still holding her. He kneeled on the floor, and still hugging her with one arm, he pulled Sirius close with the other. They both clenched his shirt, sobbed into his shoulders, and he held them till they quieted down, and fell asleep in them. He asked the servants to bring them to their rooms. And when he was alone, he finally stood up and stepped to the bed.
He looked down at his parents’ content faces. His chest heavy but no tears fell. He stood like this for who knows how long. All he knew he started to hear the birds outside when he finally found his voice.
„I’ll take care of everything, Mama, Papa. Don’t you worry!” James whispered. He couldn’t remember when the last time was, he called them that. When he was a child. It seemed fitting, since this was his last minute of childhood.
„I’ll make sure everyone is okay, I promise.”