Too Honest ~ James Potter

Chapter 50

Mariya was worried sick, and even the offering from little Malachi of a multicoloured leaf he had found in the garden, could not help her. Athaliah was asleep in her cot and Anastasia was strapped to her chest in a harness to leave her hands free. The children had clearly been able to tell that something was wrong because they had been significantly less trouble than usual and Malachi had even offered to put his sisters to bed, despite not being big enough to climb into his own bed never mind reach the cot.

James had left earlier in the evening, claiming that he could feel something was wrong and that he had to help. Mariya hadn't tried to stop him, knowing that he would just be restless until he found out what was going on and that he would just end up disturbing both herself and their children. Her husband was a good man and she knew that he would send a message or come back as soon as he could, but she couldn't help being worried when he hadn't appeared three hours later.

Having set the two older children to bed, she paced nervously around the kitchen, knowing that the rhythm would more likely sooth Anastasia than wake the girl up and it would distract her from her worry. She had been doing this for a long time when a silvery blur rushed into the kitchen and it materialised into a cat she knew very well.

"Minnie." She muttered in confusion, unsure as to why her old professor would be contacting her at this time of night.

The cat began to speak in the strong Scottish accent that Mariya was so familiar with, still saying her unmarried name despite having been invited to and actually attending the wedding, "Miss Seratova, something has happened that we have to explain in person so you need to come to Number Four Privet Drive in Surrey immediately." There was a slight break in McGonagall's voice as she spoke that worried Mariya to no end, she had only seen the professor get emotional a few times in her life and knew that whatever had happened must be serious.

Pulling her hair into a haphazard bun, Mariya picked up her wand from the big kitchen table and cast a spell to ensure both Malachi and Athaliah stayed asleep, in the knowledge that she didn't know what had happened or how long she would be gone for. She found a piece of parchment and quickly scribbled a note to James on the off chance he arrived home before her, and was careful to use the ink he had gifted her that meant only he could read the message.

Checking that Anastasia was still secure, Mariya pulled her silver cloak around her shoulders and left the house, turning only to check that the magical locks were still in place, before touching a single finger to the baby's forehead and apparating them both away with a single crack.

The street was dark when Mariya appeared in a flash of silver, she could only barely make out the sight of two figures standing in front of one of the houses at the far end of it. Though she had never visited Privet Drive before, Mariya knew who lived there, she knew what sort of people they were because she had heard about them from Lily, she had been told about the way they despised magic and the way Petunia had cut Lily out of her life for something that she couldn't help. But Mariya couldn't for the life of her think why Professor McGonagall and Albus Dumbledore would be standing on their doorstep in the middle of the night.

Approaching them, she was surprised to see the slight silver of tear tracks that traced Minerva's cheeks.

"What has happened?" She asked desperately, "What's going on?"

Dumbledore sighed deeply and Minnie let out a sniff. "Lord Voldemort is gone." The man answered and Mariya stared at him dumbly for a moment as she tried to process the information.

"What do you mean he's gone? Who killed him?" Her voice was filled with worry now as she connected the dots. Privet Drive, Jasper and Lily needing a secret keeper, Minerva looking more broken up than Mariya had ever seen her.