ide with a shriek； her deflected curse hit the curtained window； which shattered。 Frozen air filled the room as Harry ducked to avoid another shower of broken glass and his foot slipped on a pencil…like something a150a150 his wand a150a150 He bent and snatched it up； but now the room was full of the snake； its tail thrashing； Hermione was nowhere to be seen and for a moment Harry thought the worst； but then there was a loud bang and a flash of red light； and the snake flew into the air； smacking Harry hard in the face as it went； coil after heavy coil rising up to the ceiling。 Harry raised his wand； but as he did so； his scar seared more painfully； more powerfully than it had done in years。 〃He's ing！ Hermione； he's ing！〃 As he yelled the snake fell； hissing wildly。 Everything was chaos： It smashed shelves from the wall； and splintered china flew everywhere as Harry jumped over the bed and seized the dark shape he knew to be Hermione a150a150 She shrieked with pain as he pulled her back across the bed： The snake reared again； but Harry knew that worse than the snake was ing； was perhaps already at the gate； his head was going to split open with the pain from his scar a150a150 The snake lunged as he took a running leap； dragging Hermione with him； as it struck； Hermione screamed； 〃Confringo！〃 and her spell flew around the room； exploding the wardrobe mirror and ricocheting back at them； bouncing from floor to ceiling； Harry felt the heat of it sear the back of his hand。 Glass cut his cheek as； pulling Hermione with him； he leapt from bed to broken dressing table and then straight out of the smashed window
into nothingness； her scream reverberating through the night as they twisted in midair 。。。 And then his scar burst open and he was Voldemort and he was running across the fetid bedroom； his long white hands clutching at the windowsill as he glimpsed the bald man and the little woman twist and vanish； and he screamed with rage； a scream that mingled with the girl's； that echoed across the dark gardens over the church bells ringing in Christmas Day。。。 And his scream was Harry's scream； his pain was Harry's pain。。。 that it could happen here； where it had happened before。。。 here； within sight of that house where he had e so close to knowing what it was to die 。。。 to die 。。。 the pain was so terrible 。。。 ripped from his body 。。。 But if he had no body； why did his head hurt so badly； if he was dead； how cold he feel so unbearably； didn't pain cease with death； didn't it go 。。。 The night wet and windy； two children dressed as pumpkins waddling across the square and the shop windows covered in paper spiders； all the tawdry Muggle trappings of a world in which they did not believe 。。。 And he was gliding along； that sense of purpose and power and rightness in him that he always knew on these occasions 。。。 Not anger 。。。 that was for weaker souls than he 。。。 but triumph； yes 。。。 He had waited for this； he had hoped for it 。。。 〃Nice costume； mister！〃 He saw the small boy's smile falter as he ran near enough to see beneath the hood of the cloak； saw the fear cloud his pained face： Then the child turned and ran away 。。。 Beneath the robe he fingered the handle of his wand 。。。 One simple movement and the child would never reach his mother 。。。 but unnecessary； quite unnecessary 。。。 And along a new and darker street he moved； and now his destination was in sight at last； the Fidelius Charm broken； though they did not know it yet 。。。 And he made less noise than the dead leaves slithering along the pavement as he drew level with the dark hedge； and steered over it 。。。 They had not drawn the curtains； he saw them quite clearly in their little sitting room； the tall black…haired man in his glasses； making puffs of colored smoke erupt from his wand for the amusement of the small black…haired boy in his blue pajamas。 The child was laughing and trying to catch the smoke； to grab it in his small fist 。。。 A door opened and the mother entered； saying words he cold not hear； her long dark…red hair falling over her face。 Now the father scooped up the son and handed him to the mother。 He threw his wand down upon the sofa and stretched； yawning。。。 The gate creaked a little as he pushed it open； but James Potter did not hear。 His white hand pulled out the wand beneath his cloak and pointed it at the door； which burst open。。。 He was over the threshold as James came sprinting into the hall。 It was easy； too easy； he
had not even picked up his wand 。。。 〃Lily； take Harry and go！ It's him！ Go！ Run！ I'll hold him off！〃 Hold him off； without a wand in his hand！ 。。。 He laughed before casting the curse 。。。 〃Avada Kedavra！〃 The green light filled the cramped hallway； it lit the pram pushed against the wall； it made the banisters glow like lighting rods； and James Potter fell like a marionette whose strings were cut 。。。 He could hear her screaming from the upper floor； trapped； but as long as she was sensible； she； at least； had nothing to fear 。。。 He climbed the steps； listening with faint amusement to her attempts to barricade herself in 。。。 She had no wand upon her either 。。。 How stupid they were； and how trusting； thinking that their safety lay in friends； that weapons could be discarded even for moments。。。 He forced the door open； cast aside the chair and boxes hastily piled against it with one lazy wave of his wand 。。。 and there she stood； the child in her arms。 At the sight of him； she dropped her son into the crib behind her and threw her arms wide； as if this would help； as if in shielding him from sight she hoped to be chosen instead 。。。 〃Not Harry； not Harry； please not Harry！〃 〃Stand aside； you silly girl。。。 stand aside； now。〃 〃Not Harry； please no； take me； kill me instead a150a150〃 〃This is my last warning a150a150〃 〃Not Harry！ Please 。。。 have mercy 。。。 have mercy 。。。 Not Harry！ Not Harry！ Please a150a150 I'll do anything 。。。〃 〃Stand aside。 Stand aside； girl！〃 He could have forced her away from the crib； but it seemed more prudent to finish them all 。。。 The green light flashed around the room and she dropped like her husband。 The child had not cried all this time。 He could stand； clutching the bars of his crib； and he looked up into the intruder's face with a kind of bright interest； perhaps thinking that it was his father who hid beneath the cloak； making more pretty lights； and his mother would pop up any moment； laughing a150a150 He pointed the wand very carefully into the boy's face： He wanted to see it happen； the
destruction of this one； inexplicable danger。 The child began to cry： It had seen that he was not James。 He did not like it crying； he had never been able to stomach the small ones whining in the orphanage a150a150 〃Avada Kedavra！〃 And then he broke。 He was nothing； nothing but pain and terror； and he must hide himself； not here in the rubble of the ruined house； where the child was trapped screaming； but far away 。。。 far away 。。。 〃No；〃 he moaned。 The snake rustled on the filthy； cluttered floor； and he had killed the boy； and yet he was the boy 。。。 〃No。。。〃 And now he stood at the broken window of Bathilda's house； immersed in memories of his greatest loss； and at his feet the great snake slithered over broken china and glass。