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Never Let Go by majestic_ginny

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Chapter Notes:
So here's the next chapter! We get to see some James/Lucy fluffy flashbacks here, which is basically a drabble I wrote before for the forums, but I thought it goes well here. And half of chapter 10 is done, so I'll update the moment it's written.

I'm not JKR. If I were, I'd probably take Teddy for myself. And Al. And... ok, let's get on with the story now.


Alone in his dingy holding cell inside the Ministry of Magic, James Potter was sitting on a small bunk bed with his feet up and his elbows on his knees, his arms crossed and his forehead resting on them. The candle light flickered in the darkness, casting grotesque shadows on the walls. The last few hours had been a great blur. Being pulled out of his house like a common criminal, he had been thrown into interrogation with Demetrius Williamson, the man reputed to be the fiercest Auror around. James pretended to be a very tough person, but in his current mental condition and after what Williamson had said to him in the past hour, James felt like all the life had been drained out of him. He was tired, frustrated, and all he wanted was to go home.

James couldn’t believe it. He had been accused of killing his own girlfriend, his cousin, and -- he closed his eyes -- the mother of his child. How could the Aurors even think--? And all that hype about Croton oil being found in his trunk... James didn’t even know what Croton oil was, for Merlin’s sake. He had no clue how that vial ended up in his trunk. A million questions raced through his mind as he tried to get a grip on the situation, and he could make no sense of the maelstrom of thoughts in his head. Who had killed Lucy? Who tried to frame him? Did anyone have a problem with him and Lucy? Was it a kill-two-birds-with-one-stone thing? Did they harm Lucy to hurt him?

He whimpered softly, clutching his hair. How he missed his Lucy. Her beautiful smile, the way her eyes lit up every time she saw him. She would run up to him and hug him so tight and he’d get a strong whiff of strawberries and roses from her Auburn hair. A tear fell from his eyes onto the stone floor below as he remembered her funny little laugh. He used to compare her to a horse, and she’d swat him on the head. He tried to smile, but it only made him shudder as a fresh wave of sadness rolled over him. He missed her so bad, it hurt. All he wanted to do was curl up and die. It destroyed him to think he’s never meet her again, never kiss her sweet lips, never hold her in her arms...

How he wished he’d told everyone earlier. Lucy had been so scared. She was very apprehensive of how everyone would take it. Her father, especially. She loved her father, but she was afraid of his orthodox thinking, and she feared to think what he’d think, what he’d do to James if he knew.

He hated keeping their relationship a secret. But for her, he’d do anything.

He took a deep breath, letting his mind think of their last night at Hogwarts before the holidays started...

She lay beside him, and as cheesy as it sounded, He couldn't help but thinking that she was an angel sent down from the heavens.

They were sprawled on the grass, and he was facing her, inhaling the earthly scent of the soil and the soft fragrance of her hair. smiling softly, he turned his face away from her to look up at the sky. Tiny blinking lights were dotted across the night, their light flickering as the clouds passed over them. She loved to come out to the grounds on clear nights to gaze at the stars. He came along to stare at her.

His hand moved over the grass till it found her's, and he slowly interlaced their fingers together. He took a glance at her face -- she had turned her head towards him and smiled a smile that melted his heart.

–It’s lovely today,” she said.

–It is,” he agreed, looking into her eyes, noticing for the first time that her brown irises were flecked with hazel.

She scowled. –James, you’re not even looking at the sky.”

–I was,” he said defensively, trying to look affronted.

She laughed, and it rang melodiously in his ears. –Nice try, but I’m not buying that.”

He smirked. –What’s so beautiful about the stars anyway?” he asked. –They’re just… dots.”

–You have no sense of imagination,” she huffed, shaking her head. –Don’t you see all those patterns they form?” she asked, pointing up to the stars. –That is Cygnus--” she traced imaginary lines between two stars with her fingers --–And that there is Capricorn, your zodiac sign!”

–Boring,” he said, shrugging. – And I see something prettier than that.”

She let her hand drop to her side and turned her neck to look at him sideways. –What?”

Pulling her to him, he kissed her lips softly. –You.”

She leaned into him, deepening the kiss. It was sweet and slow, reminding him of their first kiss as her smooth lips moved easily against his. He could taste strawberries on her lips -- she had used his favourite lip gloss. His fingers trace patterns onto her back as she shivered against him, clenching the fabric of his shirt in her hands.

She pulled away, looking away from him, and he immediately felt the loss of her warm lips. –We should go back now,” she whispered. –If Roxy finds us... It’s her turn to patrol the grounds--”

He sighed, getting to his feet and pulling her up. –Okay,” he mumbled, pulling out the Invisibility cloak from his bag. He had managed to nick it from Albus, and the goody-two-shoes hadn't even noticed it missing for the past year. She noticed his expression and frowned at him, but said nothing. He averted his eyes from her, hoping she wouldn’t see that he was upset. Unfurling the cloak, he tossed it over her and himself, walking slowly back to the castle.

As they walked along the seventh floor corridor, she came to a stop, grabbing his hand.

–Lucy, what’s wrong?” he asked, puzzled.

She took his hand and looked into his eyes. –You know I love you.”

He could sense the sincerity in her voice, and immediately felt the anger ebb away. Cupping her cheeks, he couldn’t help but reply, –I know. And I love you.”

She smiled weakly at him.

Dropping his hands from her cheeks, he took her hand and tried to grin. –Come on now, we don’t want Roxy to find us do we?”

She bit her lower lip to refrain from laughing out loud. It was so easy for her to change from one mood to another. –No, we don’t!” she whispered.

Smiling genuinely this time, he pulled her along the corridor towards the portrait of the Fat Lady.

His heart clenched. It was the last time he’d kissed her properly. After coming back from Hogwarts, they’d rarely got any chance to spend any time together. Remembering the date of the day Lucy died, he realised that it was the day they were supposed to have a gathering at the Burrow. He was eagerly waiting for the day to sneak off with Lucy. He had mastered Apparition -- they could have gone away to a date in Muggle London without anyone knowing. They could’ve spent the day together like a normal couple, and no one would even know. They could’ve gone to the cinema -- something his Muggle-born friends said they loved doing. Or they could’ve gone to one of the malls Lucy loved so that he could buy her stuff and spoil her, and finish the day with an ice-cream from the vendor outside the mall.

Could’ve... they could’ve done so much. And now, all those plans for the futures were shattered and destroyed. Just like he was.

His father had promised he’d catch the person who had killed her. And when he did, James would be there to kill the bastard, to rip him apart limb from limb.

Even if it landed him in Azkaban for life.


Teddy found himself striding down the familiar seventh floor corridor as he made his way towards Gryffindor tower. His travelling cloak billowed behind him as he walked. He hadn’t really expected to be back so soon. Hadn’t it been just yesterday he’d left the tower for the last time? It easily could’ve been. Not a single thing had changed, starting from the Fat Lady herself to the stone corridors. Every nook and cranny was as he remembered it.

Professor Longbottom had given him the password to Gryffindor tower, so he gave it to the Fat Lady (after, of course, she’d expressed her surprise at seeing him there after so many years). She swung open to reveal the hole in the wall, and Teddy clambered in.

Gryffindors lazily hung around the common room, some catching up after the holidays while others compared homework at the last minute on the table. He could see some of his cousins sitting together in front of the crackling fireplace, the fire bathing them with a soft, golden light. He could spot Rose’s shoulder length hair, her back turned towards him, speaking in hushed tones with Molly. Dominique and Louis were sneaking looks at some of the other Gryffindors, their eyes narrowed and their wands out. Only Al, Hugo and Roxanne were missing, Al and Hugo being a Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff respectively, and Roxy having graduated the previous year. Fred Weasley spotted Teddy, and, as he whispered the news of his arrival to the others, they all looked up at him. Lily waved.

Trying to ignore the curious glances of their housemates, Teddy walked over to them, his hair turning a shade of red to match his Weasley cousins.

–Wotcher, you lot,” he greeted them as he crouched to their level. –How are things?”

–The next time anyone asks me about Lucy, I’m gonna punch them,” Molly said, glaring at a group of burly fifth years boys sitting together with a blonde girl through her big glasses. The corners of her ears were red. –They think Lucy’s death is something to gossip about, you know. My sister died for Merlin’s sake, they don’t expect me to be their columnist, do they?”

–Calm down, Molly,” Dominique said, twirling her wand. Her eyes, which were heavily lined with kohl, were sparkling with mischief. –It’s okay. We’re gonna give them their answers if they come again. They’ll be buzzing the news around.”

She and Louis shared a hi-five.

–Not that I should be endorsing this, but you go get them,” Teddy said. –But before that, do you guys know where I can find Clara Stettin?”

It was Lily who nodded. –She’s the head of my study group. I’ll go get her, shall I?”

–That’d be great, Lily, thanks.”

The read-head stood up and headed for the girls’ dormitories. As she left, Rose rounded on Teddy. –You found anything yet?”

Teddy shook his head. –Not yet. But I’m damn sure it wasn’t James.”

–Yeah, what’s the deal, carting away James like that?” Louis hissed indignantly, his ears as red as his hair. –You really think he’d do anything like that? Il est impossible!”

–Yeah, Mum thinks Uncle Harry was barking mad for even considering it,” Fred said darkly.

–We have to follow some rules,” Teddy explained. –Evidence pointed towards James, and we had to follow up. If they find him innocent --”

–-- which he is,” Rose interrupted.

–-- then the Aurors will let him go, without any further questions,” Teddy finished.

Lily at that moment came up to the group, followed by a petite, black-haired girl of around James and Lucy’s age.

–Teddy, this is Clara,” Lily introduced. Clara smiled hesitantly, glancing from the Weasley cousins to Teddy. –Clara, this is Teddy Lupin, one of the Aurors investigating what happened to Lucy.”

–Clara, hi,” Teddy greeted, standing up and stretching his hand towards her. The girl shook his hand.

–Lily said you wanted to talk to me?” she asked in a soft voice.

Teddy nodded once. –Yeah. If you don’t mind, could we step out for a moment?”

–Yeah, sure,” Clara agreed.

–I’ll see you guys later,” Teddy told his cousins.

–See you, Teddy.”

–Yeah, bye.”

Looking at Clara, Teddy asked her to go first. Clara crossed her arms over her chest and rubbed her upper arms with the palms of her hands, walking towards the entrance Hall. With one last look towards his cousins, who had resumed their conspiratory whispering and were throwing dark looks towards some Gryffindors watching them curiously, Teddy followed Clara out of the common room.

Once the portrait of the Fat Lady had swung shut and the chattering noise had been muffled out, Clara stopped walking and looked at Teddy, her eyebrows raised. She was an average looking girl with her hair tied up in a loose ponytail, wisps of hair sticking out. Her eyes had dark circles under them.

–Thanks for coming out here, Miss Stettin,” Teddy said.

–That’s all right,” she said in a Manchester accent, leaning against the stone wall. –Mind doing it a bit quickly, though? I’ve got a lot of unpacking to do.”

–It won’t take long,” Teddy promised. –You were friends with Lucy, right?” he asked, getting straight to the point.

Clara nodded. –Yeah, we were close,” she said, her voice sounding pained. –We used to do everything together, Lucy and I. She was my best mate.”

Poor girl, Teddy thought. Losing a best friend was a lot like losing family, sometimes worse. –How long have you known her?”

–Four years,” Clara said, biting her lip. –Was it too terrible? Did she die in a lot of pain?”

Teddy hesitated. –Yes,” he admitted. –I’m sorry.”

Clara sniffled, her eyes welling with tears.

–It hurts, I know,” Teddy said, putting a hand on her shoulder. –But right now, the best thing we can do for her is find out whoever did this, yeah? You want that, right?”

Clara nodded, wiping her eyes on the back of her sleeve. –Yeah,” she agreed, her voice heavy. –You can go on.”

–Did you know anyone who didn’t like her, or who had threatened her? Did she ever say anything to you?”

Clara frowned, her eyes looking calculating. Finally she said, –not really. I mean, she wasn’t the most popular girl around, nor was she a loner or anything, so she didn’t have those snotty Slytherins after her. She never told me about threats or anything. I mean, her dad is the Minister and all, but personally she never got any hate stuff.”

–What about her relationship with James?”

–Wait,” Clara said suddenly. –James, yeah. There were this couple of girls who were crushing on James, and I think they realised that he used to be with Lu a lot, so one day I caught them ambushing her in the girl’s toilet. They were asking her if James had a girlfriend or not.”

Teddy wasn’t surprised. –You knew she was dating him, didn’t you?”

–Course I did, she told me everything,” Clara answered, standing up straight. –But Lu never let anyone else know. She didn’t want anyone else to know about her and James, so she said he was single. Poor girl was so shaken up, she was crying when she came out.” She paused. –She was really hurt, having to lie like that about her own boyfriend.”

–You were with her the day she learned about her pregnancy?” Teddy asked.

–Yeah, I was. She asked me if I’d go along, and I said I would. She was afraid, really afraid. I -- this was the only thing she never told me, that she and James were sleeping together. I think it was a one-time thing, cause Lu’s not the type to have sex with her boyfriend in school all the time, unlike that skanky little bitch Fan--”

–Okay,” Teddy cut across her, not wanting the details of what went down inside Hogwarts’ walls. That was the problem of the Heads of Houses, not the Auror Office. –And how did Lucy take the news?”

–She was upset,” Clara replied, a little pink around the cheeks. –But I told her she didn’t have to worry, that James would understand. He was a really good boyfriend and I could tell he adored her a lot. He wouldn’t abandon her or their kid. I’d have his ar -- his hindside if he left her, even if he was my friend.”

–You were friends with James, too?”

Clara smiled. –Yeah, I was James’s friend first. I became friends with Lu much later. I met her through the big oaf.”

Teddy raised his eyebrows. He didn’t know that. –Clara, tell me, did James know that Lucy was pregnant?”

She shook her head. –Nah. Lucy didn’t tell him. She was going to, I think, when you were gonna have that big Weasley get-together. I remember that ’cause she was begging me to be there while she broke the news. I would’ve liked to, to be honest, just to see James’s reaction. I told her I was betting two Galleons that James would start crying in happiness. He’s such a big sod, I tell you.”

–But as for who tried to kill Lucy, you’ve got no idea?” Teddy asked. Clara was probably the only lead he had. –She was poisoned, you know, right? With Croton oil, an abortifacient. No one else knew about the baby? No one who’d try to, say, kill the child but ended up poisoning her instead?”

–No, I don’t think so,” she shook her head sadly, her eyes apologising for not being able to help. –I’m pretty sure no one else knew. I have no idea who put the oil into her potion. No one came up to our dorm, as far as I know. I’ll ask the other girls in our dorm, though, just to be sure. If I find anything, I’ll ask Dom or Lily to let you know, okay?”

–Thanks, Clara,” Teddy said earnestly. –We’ll be really glad if you could do that for us.”

–Lu was my best mate,” Clara said, her jaws hard. –You better find that son of a bitch and make them pay.”

Teddy nodded. –We will.” He and Harry were going to do exactly that. No one messed with their family and got away with it.


Chapter Endnotes:
Liked it? Hated it? Review, please. They are a really great incentive, and they'll help me write more if i know people are actually reading and enjoying.

--Nadia

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