prologue
a tragic halloween

❝ james and lily are dead. ❞

𝐀 𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐋, 𝐃𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐘 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐓 in a quiet neighborhood in London. Inside the small house was a young family of three. The father sat in his armchair, an amused expression on his face while watching his wife lying on the floor, tickling their small daughter. Her laughter rang out through the house and instantly brought a smile to her parents' faces.

Smiles that would be gone in seconds.

The father, Alexander, looked up when he heard a knock on their front door and shared a confused look with Athena, his wife. "Nobody ever knocks..." he said, and she nodded, protectively putting their daughter into her arms. "Even if it is Halloween..."

"Who could be outside?" Athena asked, wanting to peek around the curtain. She saw her husband start for the front door. "Take your wand, Alex."

He looked back at her, and she motioned to the seemingly forgotten object on his armchair. "Oh—right." Now with his wand in hand, Alexander opened the front door of their house and instantly relaxed at the sight. "Professor Dumbledore."

"Mr. Potter," Albus Dumbledore greeted solemnly. "Is your wife here, by any chance?" Athena suddenly appeared at the young man's side, balancing the little girl on her hip. "And little Juliette, I see."

At the mention of her name, the little girl looked up at the headmaster of her parents' former school with a look of curiosity in her eyes. He was wearing a dark red robe and matching hat; it was no wonder she found him interesting.

"Might I come in?" Dumbledore asked, gesturing behind the young family, and Athena nodded slowly, stepping to the side. "I'm afraid I have not come with good news." Seeing the raised eyebrows of the two parents, he moved further into their house. "Your home is quite cozy. Mr. Potter, when was the last time that you spoke to your brother and sister-in-law?"

Alexander furrowed his brows; what kind of question was that? "A few days ago..." he replied while Athena took the opportunity to examine the older man. His eyes did not hold their usual sparkle. "Last I heard, Lily was decorating the house for Halloween. They were carving pumpkins."

Athena nodded. "They put Harry inside of a jack-o-lantern," she added, and her husband smiled lightly. James and Lily had sent them a photograph of the young that was currently on their refrigerator. Dumbledore pressed his lips together, seemingly at a loss for words—even little Juliette could see that. "Dumbledore, you never visit unless something is wrong." He looked at her. "What happened?"

The headmaster sighed heavily. "I'm afraid that not long ago, Voldemort attacked Godric's Hollow." Athena glanced at her husband who paled at the news. "More specifically..."

"James and Lily," he whispered making the older man nod slowly. "And—" He couldn't even say the words. "And they're—?"

Dumbledore nodded once more. "James and Lily are dead," he confirmed. Alexander sat down slowly as Athena turned to him. His expression was emotionless; his brother and best friend were both dead. "And Harry has been sent to live with his aunt and uncle." The woman raised her eyebrows at him. "His other aunt and uncle."

"Lily's sister?" she repeated. She could remember all of the times that Lily Evans had come over to their house to talk to Alexander about her family quarrels. "The woman who refused to attend her wedding because she hates magic? You sent Harry there? Well—what about Sirius? He's his godfather, he should have him." Dumbledore remained silent and she paused. "What happened to Sirius, Dumbledore?"

"Some time ago, we thought that there might be a traitor in the Order," he began slowly and she nodded impatiently.

"Yes, yes," she agreed. "Peter Pettigrew. My brother warned you before he died! But you wouldn't bloody listen!"

He shook his head. "It was not Peter." She scoffed and looked back at him. "It was your brother. Sirius Black."

Athena stared at him in disbelief. "What?" Alexander stood up from the couch and took Juliette from her arms which she immediately crossed. "Reggie was at a Death Eater meeting. He told you he saw Peter walk in! Now you're telling me that Sirius is the traitor?"

"Yes." She scoffed again and rolled her neck. "Shortly after James and Lily's murder, Peter confronted Sirius in the middle of a very busy street." She raised her eyebrows. "Twelve muggles witnessed Sirius kill Peter. And he's been sent to Azkaban without a trial."

She paled at the news, feeling her heart drop to her stomach. "No..." she muttered, shaking her head desperately. "No, he—Sirius would never betray James and Lily. They were family to him. The brother and sister he never had. Granted, he did have a brother and sister, but—" She looked back at her husband and daughter. "Why didn't he have a trial?"

"Because the witnesses—"

"A witness's story is very different from what actually happened," she countered with a frown. "He should have a trial! Use veritaserum, anything!"

Dumbledore shook his head. "It is not my control, Miss Black."

"It's Potter now," she corrected. "Everything is in your control, Dumbledore. You may not be the Minister for Magic, but everybody knows and respects you. One word from you and they'll give him a trial. Please, I—He's twenty-one years old. He's my brother. Please."

"I'm sorry."

Athena sat down on the couch and held her head in her hands. "Why did you send Harry to Lily's sister?" Alexander asked, changing the subject.

"She sacrificed herself for him," Dumbledore replied softly. "Gave him protection with her love. He needs to be with her living blood relatives."

"So we can't take him?" he whispered.

"You can certainly visit," he said and they looked up at him. "But he will have to live with his aunt and uncle in Little Whinging. I'm afraid I must go. I need to inform Remus of this evening's events. I'm very sorry to you both."

Athena watched as the headmaster walked through their front door and vanished from her sight before standing up. "What are you doing?" Alexander asked her.

She looked back from the entryway. "I'm getting our nephew."

"But Dumbledore said—"

"Screw what Dumbledore said!" she exclaimed in frustration. "If we have to visit his unlikeable aunt and uncle until he's seventeen to keep the protection, then so be it. But you can't just sit there and let them keep Harry. James and Lily's son." He pressed his lips together. "You know what they're like, Alex. Lily told you so many times. She cried to you when she learned her sister wouldn't be attending her wedding. We can't let Harry be alone with them."

"But he's Lily's son," he repeated with a sigh. "Surely her sister would remember that."

"Is that a risk you're willing to take?" she asked him quietly and he met her gaze. "Alex, with us... he'd grow up knowing who his parents are. The kind of people they are. He and Juliette would grow up together." He looked down at their daughter who was staring at him with her big, hazel eyes. "They'd go to Hogwarts together. Even if we have to go to Little Whinging every summer."

Alexander nodded slowly. "You're right," he said, standing up and looking at her. "Of course you're right. Let's go get Harry."

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━ author's note:

well, hello and welcome to haunted!

obviously there are changes in this book (harry not with dursleys, yay!), ron and hermione not together, harry having a living family :)

I hope you enjoy the book and all the characters in it!