26 June 1980 Who: James and Lily, open to Al NPCs: Various Hitwizards, Merryweather (Head Hitwizard), etc What: James gets arrested! When: About 8:15am, Friday June 26, 1980 Where: Potter Residence, Godric's Hollow Status: In progress Rating: PG for a few little swears
It was early morning, the sun barely up and the weather was bleak; another gray and raining day in England.
It didn't bother James much. He was happily in bed, snuggling with his lovely wife, newborn son only a few feet away in a crib next to them. It was quiet and calm and James was quite displeased indeed to be jolted awake by the tapping of claw against glass.
A Ministry owl. From the DMLE. About his arm.
Shit.
Lily stirred but didn't wake, and James stood and watched her for a moment. The Ministry wanted him to walk in and... what? Claim to be one of the heros? Claim to have been caught in the crossfire? He'd been unmasked. The Death Eaters knew who he was. Walking in there lately was about as smart as strolling up Narcissa's wedding would've been. Hell, it was about the same people there, after all. The Ministry wasn't exactly an unbiased body of government, by any means.
James tucked the letter away into a drawer on his end table, assured the owl softly that he understood, and climbed back into bed with Lily.
He wouldn't go in. Let them come and get him if they must, be he was at least going to enjoy the morning with his family, then he was going to go out to his dad's for the day. He was going to introduce his father to his son before his life got taken away from him.
His dad, Theodore, had a good day. He was in his right mind all day, and so happy to meet his grandson. James, armless or not, felt whole and full and happy. He didn't regret ignoring the summons, nor did he regret not telling Lily, since she would likely have suggested he go. If he'd gone, he never would've had this day, he never would've seen his father's eyes well up and he never would've heard him tell James how proud his mother would've been of him.
The next night, James didn't sleep much. He watched Lily and Harry most of the night, his stomach in knots. He wasn't sure what was going to happen, what the repercussions were for ignoring a Ministry summons. He was pretty sure he was going to be arrested. Still, there was something surprising about feeling the tug in the wards the next morning over coffee. He moved to look out the window and then swore under his breath.
"Lily," James said urgently, closing the curtains and turning to face her. "Take Harry and hide. I think the blokes trying to get in through the wards are Hitwizards."
Lily had been completely oblivious for all of the previous day, and remained so until she felt the jolt in the wards and James spoke. She had been enjoying a glass of orange juice while feeding Harry, who continued to be blissfully unaware of his father's impending arrest, focused entirely on his breakfast. "Hitwizards?" she questioned, eyes wide with confusion. "Why?"
"Because I got a summons yesterday I didn't answer," James said. "Seriously, you need to get out of here..."
James stopped, throwing a silencing charm at his journal on the table which had started to whistle. A warning come too late, perhaps. He felt the wards stretch a little more, but they were holding, and he knew he didn't have much time yet. They hadn't registered Harry yet and now wasn't the time to explain him. He didn't want Lily involved in this. He kissed her quickly, then once more, before stepping away from her and stumbling towards the door.
"It'll be fine. I'll be out in no time, Lils," he said, smiling widely and then stepping out the front door, into plain view of the waiting men. Shit, there were half a dozen wizards there with their wands drawn. James shut the door behind him firmly, hoping Lily would stay inside with Harry, and hoping they wouldn't go in. "Hello, gentlemen."
There was a look of disbelief on Lily's face, but now wasn't the time to chastize him. From the kitchen there weren't many places she could go. She stayed put for the moment, rubbing Harry's back gently, hoping he would stay quiet while she leaned forward, so she could hear what was being said. If she heard them coming for the kitchen (almost certain they'd look for her, to ask questions about whatever it was they were arresting James for), she'd go in the pantry, or apparate upstairs to the bedroom and cover herself and Harry with the invisibility cloak.
"Good morning, Mr Potter," was the response from the man at the gate. He was a scruffy fellow in his late thirties. "I'm Officer Merryweather of the Hitwizard office and I have a warrant for your arrest on the charges of impeding a Ministry investigation and suspected terrorist activity. Was there any particular reason why you did not respond to yesterday's summons?"
"I was busy. And you've got the wrong guy," James said, shrugging and not yet stepping out to the other side of the wards. He didn't step into a place where they could grab him yet, and he didn't let the wards fall. He rubbed at his neck with his remaining hand and said. He couldn't help but smile a bit as he said, "You mentioned something about an arm in the letter? Yeah, it's not mine."
Merryweather raised his eyebrows. "Mr Potter, you are clearly less an arm. You mean for me to believe that an arm found wearing a ring bearing the Potter family coat of arms is not yours, when you are a Potter clearly missing his left arm?" he asked. He didn't want to waste time here. The Hogsmeade incident had already completely overtaken the DMLE and between that and Lestrange restructuring nonsense, Merryweather was tired and wanted to get this overwith so he could move on with his day. He didn't want to play games with James Potter. "Let the wards down and come quietly, Mr Potter. We will use force if necessary."
"I'm telling you. Must belong to some other Potter. So it's all just a strange coincidence and a big misunderstanding. It's all cleared up now, though, clearly, so. We good?" James asked. "Can I go back inside now? Only my coffee's probably getting cold."
"No, Mr Potter," Merryweather replied, shaking his head. "As I just said, either you let down the wards for us, or we will break them by force. You are coming with us for questioning whether you wish to or not."
James sighed and dropped the wards, holding his one hand out to hand his wand to them, handle first. "All right, shit. You're pushy bastards. I'll go."
"Johnson, Talbot, if you please," Merryweather directed. "Gumboil, check the house. If Mrs Potter is home we should like to question her."