HP: The Magical Gamer [Chapter 88: Letter! ] (Patreon)

"I am fine." She mumbled, still a little bit dazed. "I take it that Aura is not an ordinary cat."

"Yes. She is special. I know it must be getting old, but don't ask me any questions. I can't answer you right now. I will tell you all of my secrets after the end of first year. I promise."

Lily stared at him with furrowed brows before nodding in resignation. She wasn't going to aggressively force her son to reveal his secrets. That might do more than just sour their relationship.

"Fine. You can keep your secrets. Now, let me see what my traitorous old friend has in the envelope." Lily shook her head sadly, looking at her dead friend. She thought it was for the best that James wasn't alive anymore, or he might have died again from a broken heart. She dreaded informing Sirius and Remus about this incident. But she would have to. She wouldn't hide the true fate and true face of Peter Pettigrew from his former friends.

She kneeled beside the body and waved her wand at the envelope clutched in its grasp. When she was positively sure that the envelope wasn't a trap or a hidden portkey, she took it and went back to the sofa, plopping down beside Aura. If she hadn't seen enough death and blood in the last war then she might have been overwhelmed by all of this. But unfortunately for her, it wasn't the first time she was attacked by an acquaintance. It wasn't the first time a friend had turned traitor.

She tore the edges of the envelope and found a piece of parchment inside. She took it out and unfolded it to see a brief note written on it. Harry was standing beside her, leaning forward, staring intensely at the letter.

~To,

Harry Potter.

On 31st October, the next Samhain, I will seek you again and will check how far you have progressed. I have already killed your sister, little one. And now I have killed your mother too. From now on, you are an orphan with no weakness to exploit. Will this break you or will it make you stronger? I will be eager to see that. Don't disappoint me.

Your teacher,

Lord Voldemort.~

[QUEST:

– Survive the challenge.

REWARD:

– 3000 XP

– Perk [?] ]

Well, there was his next hurdle. It seemed he wasn't going to get a break from the constant torment of Voldemort anytime soon. How he wished he was strong enough to be done with that bastard.

Still, he would be careful and patient. While this quest basically told him that he wouldn't need to face Voldemort until Halloween, it didn't guarantee that the dark lord wouldn't send any more minions to remove Harry's 'weaknesses'. He would need to be more alert to keep them safe. 

Although he had the power to resurrect them if the worst happened, he wouldn't let them die in the first place. He wouldn't be a failure again. He wouldn't be weak.

Lily was trembling in fright and her face paled rapidly. This was more than enough proof to safely say that Voldemort was indeed alive and not dead. And if that wasn't enough, he had taken a special interest in her son. She couldn't stop herself from imagining the worst case scenarios.

What if Voldemort really attacked Harry on the next Halloween? What if Harry gets hurt or worse, dead? How was she to protect him when her power compared to the Dark Lord was nothing? What was she supposed to do? How was she to keep her children safe?

She was aware how her heart was pounding in her chest and how her breaths were coming in short gasps. But that didn't help her in stopping it, in controlling it.

"Mum! It's okay. I am fine. Look at me." Harry stooped over her, cupping her face and staring at her resolutely.

"Everything is fine. We still have more than enough time to think about this. Don't worry, I will take care of it. Calm down. Breathe. In and out. Breathe." Harry said softly, reassuringly as he kept looking in her eyes, trying to make her feel better.

She nodded shakily and pulled him down beside her, clutching him to her side, hugging him close, yelling in her mind that her son was still safe, that the Dark Lord hadn't taken him yet.

A part of her felt so bad that her son had to stay cool in this terrible situation while she was losing her mind. He was acting like a parent while she was being a scared child. 

She was proud that he was so mature and unflappable, but the guilt clawed at her conscience for showing such weakness in front of him. 

For acting like this when it should be her comforting him. She should be the pillar of safety here instead of a pool of despair.

"Voldemort sure is behind the times if he still believes that Iris is dead. Good for us, I guess." Harry suddenly chuckled.

Lily didn't join in. She was feeling far too much fear and guilt to look at the bright side.

"Mum, I know that you think we are screwed. But believe me, we are not. You will know why I am so confident after I tell you my secret and my plan." Harry said gently as he rubbed her back and tried to pull back. 

The key word here was 'tried' since Lily refused to un-clutch him, as if he would disappear if he wasn't in her safe grasp. Harry sighed and snuggled against her, making himself comfortable.

"So, the weather is good, no? And how is life? It's been a while since we last saw each other. How's your son? I have heard many good things about him." Harry said blandly, nuzzling her face and pulling her out of her dark reverie.