It took significant willpower for Harry to stop himself launching at the apparition. "It's not real," he said again, firmly, his shaking hands belaying any confidence in his own words.
I've been waiting for you, Potter... the thing said, in a high cold voice that froze Harry's heart in a way he had thought he would never feel again. How careless of you, leaving them behind.
He wasn't looking at anyone else, Harry realised, his Auror training switching on. If it was real it would be taunting all of them, not just him. Maybe. If only he could be sure...
"Someone switch with me," he said through gritted teeth, waving the girls forward. He didn't want to make them face their worst fears, if his suspicions were correct, but he needed a second to get his head right. James' worst fears would probably not help either.
Without warning, Voldemort lifted the tiny body and snapped its neck, laughing shrilly. "No!" Harry screamed, losing all sense of reality or reason. He ran at his old enemy - magic or no magic. Voldemort actually looked surprised for a moment, but the second Harry reached him he was gone, disappearing into the air like mist. Harry swore and whirled round. "Look out," he said, choking on tears. No time to clear them yet. "It's a fucking Boggart."