The Unseen

paigeey07 - Yes. James is a half-dragon. I quite love his character, and decided to bring him back.

kazfeist - Ah...all very interesting questions. And therein lies the mystery, and quite a chunk of the plot. I'm afraid answering your questions directly would be condemning my story to a dreadfully short, boring existence. But do not forget your question, and remember....details are everything...and nothing is ever how it appears.

smurphy - Harry and James' relationship is hard to describe. This is also part of the plot, and will be addressed eventually. And your other questions will be answered.....now!

FlowersBecomeScreens - dickhead men? Hmm...sounds like you've had a rough week. And as I just finished telling smurphy...James' relationship with Harry is difficult to explain. It will be attempted, though, throughout the entire story. It is something that will take a while to understand. But it will clarify....rather soon...

RyGirl824 - Such clever conjecture on everyone's parts. I'm quite satisfied that I have a very clever group of reviewers this go 'round. Your question will be answered right now.

Everyone - I look forward to seeing new faces, and spotting old ones amongst the crowd. This story has just begun, and will, once again, take a while to get formed. It's a bit of a mystery, drama, angst, all rolled into one. THink of this as a literary soap opera... With that said, please put your hands together for a brand new chappie!!

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James was sitting in the chair beside Hermione’s bed, his eyes half-closed as he rested without sleeping. It was a nifty trick he had discovered, and came in handy when he didn’t have time to actually sleep. The only drawback was that it scared the shit out of people who happened to see him before he came out of the trance.

He heard a commotion in the hall, and several people came into the room. His father, mother, and brother rushed into the room. That would have been fine, except that behind his mother, his Uncle Ron came in as well. Damnit! He had forgotten to tell his father not to call him….Aunt Hermione would be terrified. If his suspicions were correct, it was his Uncle Ron that had done this to her, and he wouldn’t get away with it.

He felt his chest begin to vibrate with the beginnings of a growl. Harry and Ron were at Hermione’s side immediately, and Ron reached down to stroke her face.

James’ lips curled back off of his fangs, and he snarled. Harry’s head snapped towards the young man, and he frowned.

“Stop it, you little monster!” Harry snapped. Ginny went to James, and ruffled his hair. Her nails scraped gently behind his ear, and he calmed immediately, his foot tapping the floor gently.

“James, will you watch Sky for a bit?” she asked after a few tense moments. James nodded, and stood from his chair, holding his hand out for his little brother.

As the two left, Ginny turned to Ron.

“What’s going on, Ron?” she asked. Ron looked up at her, his brows crinkled with worry.

“I don’t know. Hermione went out for some groceries, but she was late coming home. I just figured she stopped by the bookstore.” He said, and looked down at the battered form of his wife. Ginny pursed her lips. Something wasn’t right here. James didn’t growl at people for no reason….

Harry put his hand on Ron’s shoulder.

“It’s all right, mate. We’ll figure out who did this, and we’ll bring them to justice. I promise.” He said. Ron looked up at Harry, and nodded.

“Thanks mate.” Ron said softly, and reached out to push a strand of curly hair from his wife’s face.

~~

James and Skylar walked the halls of St Mungos.

“James? Is Aunt Mione gonna be okay?” he asked, and gave a small sniffle. James knelt down by his little brother, and took his face in his hands.

“Mione will be just fine. You know why?” he asked. Sky shook his head. “Because Mione’s stubborn. She’s a Gryffindor. She and Dad and Uncle Ron survived the War together. A few cuts and scrapes won’t hurt her…” he said. He gently tapped his brother’s chin with his hand.

“So chin up there, mate. Let’s go get something to snack on.” He said. Skylar laughed.

“You’re always hungry, Jamesie!” he said, but began walking with his brother nonetheless.

~~

Hermione felt like she’d been sat on by a troll. Her body was heavy, her limbs lethargic. She managed to open one eye, and was almost immediately blinded by the bright white room. She was in St. Mungos. But what-

She remembered with terrifying clarity exactly what had happened. She had gone out for groceries after Ron groused about not having anything to eat. It wasn’t her fault he ate like a starving tornado, sucking down anything that wasn’t bolted to the table. She had gone for the groceries, like the good little door-mat- er….wife she was, but had been stalled by some old lady’s inability to use pound notes, counting out change and coupons like she was on her last penny.

She had bustled through the door, hoping Ron had taken a nap. He hadn’t. He was sitting at the table, a bottle of firewhiskey in front of him. He said nothing as she put away the groceries, and pulled out several pots to cook with. As she had put the water on the stove to boil, she had seen him approach out of the corner of her eye, and turned to him.

“You’re late.” He slurred slightly.

“There was a woman at the register who was paying with coupons and change. I’m sorry, Ron. I got here as fast as I could.” She said. He reached out and put his hand on her face. She winced, thinking he would strike her, but he merely stroked her cheek. He leaned his head forward to rest his chin on the top of her head. “I love you.” He said, his hands coming to rest on her shoulders. She swallowed hard. Something wasn’t right.

“I love you too, Ron.” She said softly. He pulled away, and stared into her eyes. His calm face suddenly morphed into a mask of rage.

“I love you, and I spoil you, let you stay here with your bloody books, instead of raising me a family. I respect your wishes to wait on a child, and when I ask for a bloody meal, you bloody well make me half starve waiting on it!” he spat angrily, shaking her violently.

He had shadowed her while she cooked, making sure she put all of her efforts into finishing his meal. When the pasta had finally finished boiling, she had drained it, and combined it with the sauce, and brought it to the table. She had served him, gave him a large helping, and gave him two large pieces of the bread she had cooked.

She stood behind him as he ate, knowing very well that it wasn’t in her plans to have a meal tonight. She trembled as she realized he was coming to the end of his meal, her stomach knotting up. When he finished with the large plate of pasta, he motioned silently for her to follow him.

Resistance was futile. She had gotten in too far to get out. It had started so simply...a small jerk of her arm once when he was angry. She ignored it...but it grew. He spoke harshly to her...he had convinced even her brilliant mind that she deserved it, and all would feel the same way. No one would help her...telling would only make them hate her. It was perfectly legal for him to strike her, thanks to the rather archaic laws of the wizarding world. As long as he didn't kill her it was his job to discipline his wife. But...there was also the 'brother clause.' It was what Ron feared. He knew he dominated his wife...but if Harry or one of his brothers found out that he treated her this way, they would all beat his arse three ways from Sunday....and that would be perfectly legal as well...

The beating had been the worst yet. She had felt positive she would die each time his fist struck her. When he had finally left her bleeding on the floor, she had come to a decision. She needed help. She couldn’t live like this anymore. He would eventually kill her.

So she went to Harry’s. But Harry hadn’t answered the door, James had. She loved her draconic nephew dearly… And he was protective, and often very perceptive of things that others could not see.

She looked over, and nearly wet herself when she saw Ron sitting in a chair beside her bed, his head tucked against his chest as he slept.

“Mione?” Hermione’s head whipped to the side, and she visibly relaxed when she saw Harry standing over her. She reached up, noting her hand was wrapped and splinted. Harry gently took her hand, leaning down towards her. “What happened?” he asked, running his thumb over her bandaged knuckles.

“R-Ron…” she started weakly.

“He’s here, Mione. We came as soon as James called.” He said. Hermione shook her head, her lower lip trembling. “What is it?” he asked.

“He…”

“Mione!” She jumped, and turned to her other side as Ron stood at her bed. He leaned down, and peppered her face with kisses. She began to cry, trembling violently. She thought she’d gotten away from this.

Harry mistook her fear for joy, and smiled softly. She must have gone through a lot. They’d find whoever did this to her and bring the bleeding criminal to justice.

~~

When James had returned his brother to his mother after a meeting for lunch in the cafeteria, he’d retired to his flat. The place was located deep within the bowels of Knockturn Alley, which suited James just fine. The absolute cheeriness of his father’s white picket neighborhood made him sick. He stalked through the dark Alley, his eyes glowing gold in the sparse light. No one messed with him.

He was very well known within the grimy community. Some respected him. Most feared him. He opened the door to his flat building, and went straight for the stairs. The lift was broken. The lift was always broken…

He took the stairs two at a time, three flights up, and started down his hall. A rather grimy wizard was leaning against the door of the room next to his, a bottle in his hand.

“Oi, Potter. Where ya been?” he asked.

“Been minding my business and wishing you’d do the same.” James said, and began taking down the wards over his front door. It didn’t matter if anyone heard or saw him take them down. The wards were so complex and powerful that the last person who’d tried to disarm them without his permission was still being treated at St. Mungos. Two years later.

He opened the door to his flat, and went through, pausing only when his neighbor called out to him again.

“Potter…”

James put his head back out the door. “What?” he snapped. The grimy wizard grinned, showing off his yellow teeth.
“I was only goin’ to ask if you’d like to join me for a bit of fun tonight? I ‘ave a few female friends coming over…” he said, waggling his eyebrows. James sighed.

“Any friend of yours is guaranteed to make the wand fall off of any wizard brave enough to aim it at her. I would rather detach my own with a rusty butter knife than come near your company.” James said, and quickly went into his flat, shutting the door rather hard and lifting the wards back up with a snap of his fingers.

Damn...it had been a long day...
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Hmm...quite a bit revealed in this chapter. James is a rather good judge of character. Ron doesn't appear to be as stupid as he looks... Harry, unfortunately, is clueless. And Ginny is suspicious. How could this end? I don't know, but I would love to hear everyone's suggestions.

Now...you've read...now rate/review.....OR BOTH!!!