Unwrapped Presents

July 25th, 1977

"Atrium." The cool voice announced as the golden doors opened.

Marlene along with half a dozen other Ministry employees stepped out into the large open space, with the gigantic statue of a wizard and witch at its center.

The noise level was comparable to mealtimes in the Great Hall, with people hurrying from one side to the other, engaged in small talk with their colleagues, or appearing and disappearing in one of the many fireplaces connected to the floo-network. Swarms of memos, used for communication between different departments dashed over her head while she walked within the crowd to the next available fireplace.

"Marlene!" A familiar voice shouted from her right: "Marlene, wait!"

Her stomach dropped when she spotted the tall, blonde figure of Matthew approaching her, dressed in his bright red Auror robes. The young man fought against the incoming crowd until he stood right in front of her.

"Hello, brother." Marlene composed herself with a deep breath and tossed her curls over one shoulder. Pushing the noise and the crowd far away, all that was left was her brother staring at her with a wild mixture of emotions in his blue eyes.

"How may I help you?" She raised an eyebrow expectantly.

"I was waiting for you, hoping to catch you at some point during your lunch break." Matthew swallowed heavily.

"I'm meeting Harry for lunch in Diagon Alley," Marlene said. She gestured for him to follow her to the side of the Atrium so they didn't block the stream of employees: "If there's something I can help you with, brother, I suggest you get to the point..."

"How is it down there with the Unspeakables? Are you tired of all the secrecy yet?" Matthew attempted a weak grin: "Professional attire suits you by the way- "

"What do you want, brother?" Marlene said as she interrupted his rather pathetic attempt at casual small talk.

"I was hoping we could talk real quick." Matthew frowned as he watched the casualness with which she flicked her wand to erect a privacy ward: "I promise it won't take much of your time..."

"Well, what would you like to talk about then?" Marlene crossed her arms in front of her chest, feeling her ire spike up: "I haven't heard from you in almost six weeks, brother, and now you finally want to chat with me?!"

"I- I wasn't exactly in a good spot myself, Marlene." Matthew sighed: "I'm not supposed to talk about it, but there are some big changes within the Auror department right now. Moody is training us day and night, working us around the clock so- so that next time we might actually make a difference." He finished with a heavy gulp.

'Instead of letting a sixteen-year-old fight your battles?'

The ghost of a smile played on Marlene's lips, knowing that her boyfriend was capable of much more than anyone in the Auror Department could even imagine in their wildest dreams.

"If I was important enough for you, you would have made time for me, Matthew." Marlene shook her head in disappointment: "Do you know who picked me up from King's Cross station three weeks ago? It wasn't father and mother, or you; it was the Potters and they welcomed me with more warmth and genuine love than I have ever experienced from my own family..."

Her brother frowned "You know that we still love you, Marlene. You'll always be my sister, no matter what. Even despite- "

"Come on, brother..." Marlene taunted with a chuckle: "Despite what? Just spit it out already! Tell me how disappointed you are in me for defiling myself with a- "

" -It's not even that!" Matthew interrupted her: "I don't care that Peverell is a half-blood, he still saved my bloody life! Merlin, the majority of my colleagues are half-bloods because we purebloods consider ourselves too valuable to risk our lives every day."

I just- " He sighed: "Look, we both grew up the same way and with the same traditions and customs, Marlene... What made you throw all of that away and engage in something you should really have waited until marriage, or at the very least elopement for?"

"I don't think you will ever understand." Marlene chuckled drily: "At least not until you find a witch out there that you love the very same way I feel for Harry. I just know that I will marry this man one day, brother."

She couldn't help but allow a beaming smile to play on her lips, thinking about her perfect little dream: "I know that it will be me who gives him a family one day and grows old with him. Why should I wait if I know all those things already?"

Matthew was silent for almost half a minute, merely watching her patiently: "Does Peverell think and feel the same way about you? I know exactly how blokes are around that age, sister. Are you sure he's different? Are you sure he replicates those feelings?"

"I know he does..." She bobbed her head, memories of the last night of their vacation flooded her mind: "I'm everything to him, just as Harry is everything to me."

"It's just hard for me to come to terms with." The young Auror sighed: "You've always been my little baby sister and now I've watched you grow up into a young woman who turns to a different man for advice, comfort, and love."

Marlene raised an eyebrow: "How am I supposed to turn to you when you're not there, Matthew? You could have been on the platform to pick me up, but I didn't see you. Did father forbid you to come?"

"It's actually mother who is the most cross with you, you know..." Matthew frowned: "...I don't think it's likely she'll change her mind either. Doing what you and Peverell do before marriage is an even bigger taboo in her family's circles..."

"I really don't care anymore." Marlene shrugged: "I felt ready so I did it and wouldn't take it back for the world. Maybe once you and Bones cross that threshold it'll be easier for you to understand where I'm coming from."

"I- what do you- " Her brother stuttered: "Amelia and I aren't like that! We just- you know..."

Marlene laughed and placed a hand on his shoulder: "If you like her then you should tell her soon and pursue whatever you might have. The one thing Markus' death has taught me is that in times like these, things can change and perhaps even end very abruptly."

"My little sister is giving me some advice..." Matthew chuckled weakly: "Perhaps you're right... I'm sorry for not reaching out to you, Marlene. I should have been there for you even if mother and father weren't."

"Show me that you're sorry by being there for me in the future and make sure to always remember today." Marlene held his gaze: "I don't easily forgive people nowadays, brother; I just can't allow myself to. Please don't make me regret it."

He gulped heavily but nodded: "Reach out to me if there's anything you need; gold or a place to stay in case Peverell's getting too clingy..." His lips curled as Marlene scoffed: "I won't abandon you again, sister. And please let Peverell know that I'm thankful for what he's doing for you. It looks like you actually caught one of the better ones with him."

"I caught the very best," Marlene admitted, completely sincere. 'I caught my perfect match.'

"Goodbye, Matthew."

July 31st, 1977

Beams of sunlight sneaked through an opening within the curtains, allowing him to see the tiniest particles as they swirled through the air and were hit by the light. The weight on his chest stirred slightly, leading to blonde curls tickling the tip of his nose and a unique sweet scent invading his nostrils.

"Do you have to go already?" Marlene murmured into the crook of his neck. She pulled her warm body closer against his underneath the covers until Harry felt every curve of her.

"I have a few more minutes." He chuckled, gently stroking her head: "Why, was there something you had planned?"

"Of course there is; happy birthday, my love." He felt her lips curl into a smirk as they gently brushed against his neck, leaving him with goosebumps: "I had a whole surprise planned out for you for when you wake up, but I suppose that will have to wait until you come back to me..."

"I promised Lily to set up some wards around her house." Harry kissed her forehead: "I should have done so much earlier already."

'And it's high time I met my second set of grandparents.'

"You're probably right," Marlene sighed. She rolled off of Harry, laying on her back and stretching her limbs in all directions. Long golden curls sprawled over her face: "I waited for you last night, love, but you came back so late, I must have fallen asleep."

"I knew you waited for me when I found you in my bed." Harry grinned, his gaze shifting to the red lacy bralette; its straps poked out from underneath the sheets: "I'm sorry, love. Bishop and I finished a few more tests on our project and it got late. How was your day though? Did Croaker try anything new?"

"No, he didn't. I thought he would since it was my last day with him though." Marlene blew a few strands of hair away from her nose and bit her lip: "I suppose he wants to gain our trust before trying to snoop around too much. He must know that you'll be all the more wary of him if he already attempts to question me about you."

'He better not try anything.'

"Well, his two weeks with you are up, so now it's either mine or Lily's turn. We should still stay cautious of him at all times." Harry swung his feet off the bed and walked over to his dresser: "Does he at least show you some interesting pieces of magic?"

"Oh, he's showing me all the interesting pieces." Marlene giggled, watching her boyfriend appreciatively as he changed into some fresh clothes: "In fact, yesterday he showed me the entire British time turner collection and the runic work that powers them."

'Time Turner.'

Harry's heart began pounding against his ribcage. Was it mere coincidence that Croaker showed her a time turner? Or did the man already put two and two together, noticing how Harry appeared in wizarding Britain the same day the entire Department experienced a strong magical disturbance?

"Well, I'm glad you're having an educational time there." Harry put on a shirt and snatched his ring from the bedside table, planting a small peck on Marlene's lips.

"You're in such a hurry..." She pouted when he pulled back rather quickly: "Ditching me for Lily Evans... I see how it is..."

'If only she knew.'

"You know it's not like that." Harry chuckled and continued dressing: "Lily and I are good friends. Nothing more, nothing less..."

"Come on now, Harry. I know very well what the boys at Hogwarts think about me and her..." Marlene's eyes sparkled with mischief as she bit her bottom lip: "You would hardly be the first young wizard who played with the idea of bedding not one but two pretty witches. Perhaps even at the same time; I know it's a popular fantasy..."

'Merlin, please stop!'

"Yeah, no- I'm good actually." Harry choked in surprise: "Besides, Lily is very happy with James and we wouldn't want to sabotage the hours of work it took playing Cupid to bring them together, would we?"

"Very well..." Marlene giggled: "So the thought has never even crossed your mind?"

"Of having two witches with me? When I was a bit younger perhaps..." Harry admitted with a sly grin: "But now I assume that pleasing two witches only means doing double the work. I'm perfectly content with having you all to myself. Why would I need anyone else when you already satisfy all my desires?"

"Good answer, love." Marlene blew him a kiss: "Besides, you know that I don't share. The only threesome you'd ever find yourself participating in, involves two versions of me due to a slip-up with a time turner..."

"Now, upon second thought..." Harry glanced over his shoulder, smirking as she wiggled her eyebrows at him: "...That does sound incredibly hot. It's certainly a fantasy I could get used to; perhaps we should ask Croaker if he has a spare..."

"Hush, you naughty boy!" Marlene threw a pillow at him which he expertly dodged: "Go and set up some wards for Evans. Then come back to me quickly; I promise to make it worth your while."

"I'm sure you will." Harry wordlessly summoned his wand, snatching it out of the air lazily as he walked to the door leading back into the hallway of Potter Manor: "I can't wait for the present you bought me."

"They say unwrapping a present is the best part of it." Marlene's soft laughter sounded through the gap just before he closed it.

He felt his excitement stir as he made his way toward the kitchen. Not because it was actually his 17th birthday all over again, but because today he was about to meet his maternal grandparents for the very first time. From his time with the Dursleys, all he knew was that they had died shortly after Harry and Dudley were born. Yet, since Petunia had forbidden him to ask more about them, his knowledge remained rather limited.

Two high shouts echoed through the kitchen the moment he entered.

"James, here he is!"

"Charlus, Harry is here!"

"Happy birthday, my dear!" Dorea darted over to him and took him in a warm hug. His vision was blocked by thick ebony curls that showed the faintest traces of gray streaks as Harry reciprocated the hug, enjoying the motherly affection he had never experienced as a child.

"We're so glad to have you and are immensely proud of the remarkable young man you grew to be, Harry." Dorea blinked away a few tears that threatened to spill and patted his cheek. "I have a large breakfast prepared for you, but I must insist on waiting for Lily to arrive after you pick her up."

"Thank you, Dorea." Harry kissed her cheek, greeting his grandfather next.

"Seventeen, son..." The man embraced him warmly before squeezing his shoulder affectionately: "Despite your early emancipation, you're now considered an adult in wizarding customs and culture. We're excited to remain by your side as you transition into the life of an adult. Remember, you'll always be part of this family, Harry."

Harry swallowed heavily, clearing his throat, which felt awkwardly dry: "I'm glad to call you all family too."

"Morning and happy birthday, mate!" James was last: "Do me a favor and hurry up so we can pick up Lily already."

"James, don't be inconsiderate!" Dorea smacked her son's head lightly. "It's Harry's birthday!"

"And celebrating it with my girlfriend will make it even better." James rubbed the spot on his head, huffing at his mother: "What? You know I'm right!"

"I see, Lily's got him wrapped around her finger already." Harry chuckled: "Let's get going then."

"Finally!" James cheered and dragged Harry back towards the entrance of the manor: "See you later, mom, dad!"

They stepped outside into a warm, sunny Saturday morning and headed to the edge of the ward line.

"What kind of wards were you going to apply?" James asked curiously: "The Fidelius just as for our manor?"

"That would probably cause too much trouble, given that they live in a muggle neighborhood." Harry shook his head: "Besides, Petunia would throw a fit if she had to ask her father to share the location anytime she wanted to bring a friend over."

"Lily's sister is just horrible, mate." James' hazel eyes darkened as they narrowed: "I saw how hard Lily tried to build bridges between them, but no matter what she does, Petunia's hatred of Lily and our entire world only grows stronger. I don't even know what her bloody issue is..."

"Perhaps she is jealous," Harry suggested knowingly. "Still, just because she wasn't granted the gift of magic, doesn't make it right for her to treat her sister that way."

"Well, let's hope we don't run into the nosy giraffe this morning," James joked.

They stepped over the ward line, where his father then held out his hand.

"Do me a favor and don't splinch us or send us to the edge of the world." Harry took it, grinning.

James rolled his eyes: "Give me a second; there is this small, secluded muggle park a few houses next to her that she told me to use as the apparition point."

"Take your time." Harry held the other boy's arm, watching as he closed his eyes; jaw locked in concentration.

With an audible snap, the world was forced past them and Harry staggered over knee-high grass, looking down towards a small river. Glancing over his shoulder, he spotted a familiar-looking park and nearby playground, with a small rusty swing dangling in the gentle breeze.

He recognized the location immediately from a memory, be it not his own.

'The place where his mother was told that she was a witch.'

Yet, despite the idyllic, peaceful scenery, Harry suddenly felt the hairs on his arms and neck stand straight.

"It's through this bit of shrubs and down the street beh- "

"Something is wrong." Harry interrupted James, letting the cool Elder Wand slip into his palm.

"What do you mean- "

"Stay close to me at all times!" Harry slashed his wand through the air, wrapping his magic around the branches, leaves, and small trunks. Then he ripped them aside, revealing the street behind it.

'No...'

Harry's heart froze over in a thick layer of ice. The coldness numbed his senses, forcing the breath out of his lunges as nothing but fear invaded his mind.

A gloomy, greenish skull that twisted within puffs of deep, black smoke stood in stark contrast to the summer blue sky above them. The black snake slithered from its opened mouth, flashing a set of sharp fangs in an angry silent hiss.

"NO!" James screamed behind him, shaking him out of his movement of dizziness: "LILY!"

"Wait!" Harry grabbed James' sleeve, stopping the boy who had been about to break out into a full-blown sprint. He forced the world past them with a soft snap, reappearing right underneath the horrid mark hovering up high in the sky.

'Where were they?'

'Why did they come here of all places?'

The Elder Wand flicked twice, disillusioning James and him until all that was left of them were faint shimmers in the warm summer air. Harry carefully turned around, looking at the name tag of the house behind him.

The Evans Family Welcomes You Into Their Home!

While reading the sign, a magical shockwave rolled over his skin in tiny, tickling ripples. Harry felt an anti-apparition ward being layered over the entire neighborhood like an impenetrable dome. The ward trapped the houses underneath it like prey in a spider's web.

He readied himself for the inevitable attack that might take place any second. Suddenly three loud shouts broke the silence:

"Bombarda Maxima!"

Harry spun around on the spot. With no time to dodge, he threw up a bright silvery bubble of magic that barely rose high enough to cover him and James from head to toe.

The red flashes connected with his shield with such a force that despite its strength still threw Harry backward. He rolled over the hard, hot asphalt, chafing the skin on his knees and elbows. His shield rippled upon impact but held nevertheless, deflecting the spells to the upper floor of the house behind him.

The massive explosion that followed had his ears ringing and robbed him of his sense of orientation. Small splinters of glass and wood from the nearby fences tore through his robes. He made out the screams of two females, a young one and an older one in the house that had been hit; the same house the Dark Mark hovered above.

'Lily's house.'

Harry jumped back up to his feet, hissing at the throbbing pain from multiple wounds. Heat seared the hairs on his neck from behind just before he swirled around and squashed the impending flames, burying them underneath a layer of cold hatred.

With the disillusionment charm removed, James coughed lumps of blood a few meters to Harry's feet. His spectacles lay broken beneath him; his hand clung to an arm that stood up at a strange angle.

Blinking away the bright spots in his vision Harry looked up just in time to see a trio of dark-robed figures approaching him. Three consecutive snaps echoed over the roaring of flames and the silver-masked attackers vanished with a twist of their black cloaks.

"Avada Kedavra!"

The world stood still for a moment. A sickly green light flashed through the dark smoke that escaped the shattered windows of Lily's house. Then his mother's hopeless scream tore through the early morning and propelled him into new dimensions of suffering.

"NO, PLEASE!"

"MOM!"

"NO!"

Harry knew he needed to act instantly.

"Portus!" He thrilled his magic into a large wooden board. Flicking his wand, he thrust it at James, watching as the body was sucked towards it by his naval and vanished with a painful whimper on his bloodied lips.

The sound of spellfire sounded from his mother's house as Harry walked towards it, indicating that Lily was putting up a fight. The wall of blazing flames froze in its attempt to swallow the building as Harry approached it with rapid steps. Instead of blocking his path, they bent to his will, desperate to escape his fury to either side of the house with angry hisses.

The same thought pounded within his skull like a cruel headache:

'They came for his mother.'

With a roar, the Elder Wand slashed horizontally and tore the badly damaged front door off of its hinges. He hurried into the small living room. Ash and smoke lay thick in the air; the furniture was either destroyed or in complete disarray.

Harry spotted a patch of light brown hair underneath some rubble. A heavy support beam had crushed a man underneath it. Blood pooled from a large gash on his head; his blue eyes stared up to the ceiling; wide open in surprise and completely motionless...

'Jonathan Evans was dead.'

A burning hatred mixed into the fury that kept Harry's body upright and functioning properly. He glanced to his left, forcing his magic into the crumbled wall until it imploded in small puffs of black smoke and cleared the view.

Half of the staircase had been destroyed. Bright red flashes illuminated the small gaps in the wooden floorboard of the floor above him, while they crunched and squeaked under heavy footsteps.

'His mother was still fighting.'

"Incarcerous!"

"Stand still already, you little bitch!" A rough voice shouted:

"Crucio!"

"Crucio!"

"Stupor!" Someone else shouted, followed by a low thud.

"Finally! Tie her up and let's get out of here before the Aurors show up!"

'They had his mother.'

Larger pieces of debris turned and twisted until they melted into a plain wide surface that Harry stepped on. He leveled his wand at the spot on the ceiling where the heaviest set of food steps rang down to him.

His bright spell effortlessly tore through the wood and stone, impacting a set of dark robes from below with such a force that it tore the person in half. Fragments of bones and flesh scattered the ceiling in a spray of gore, not even giving the man time to scream...

"Jugson!" Another voice screamed: "What the fuck was that?!"

Harry flicked his wand again. Standing on the conjured surface he rose through the opening he created to the upper floor. Up there he was instantly welcomed by spellfire and forced to bat aside the bright beams of magic or deflect them into the wall behind him.

"It's Peverell! Take the girl and get out!"

'I won't let you.'

Twisting the Elder Wand in a spiral he wrapped the arm of one of his opponents in a thick coating of magic and tore it out with a simple flick. The piercing hex that followed, effortlessly ripped through the man's entire upper body, redecorating the blue wall behind his target with flecks of dark crimson.

"Travers!" His last opponent roared and twisted around; wand leveled straight at Harry: "You killed Travers, you bastard!"

Rolling behind a flipped table to dodge a volley of spells, Harry spotted a patch of red hair that was sprawled over a pale, freckled face, tainted by dark spots of blood. Close behind Lily, slouched on the damaged floorboards, he made out the outline of an older woman, who shared the same hair as her daughter.

'His Grandmother.' Another ripple of hatred seized his heart in a vice-like grip: 'They will pay for it. All of them.'

"Portus." Harry murmured, his wand aimed at a small teddy bear that had half its head singed off already. He flicked the stuffed animal over to his mother, grimacing in satisfaction when she too was sucked away in a whirlwind of colors and sounds of pain as she was taken to safety, far away from the people that intended harm to her.

"Fuck! You will pay for that!" The harsh voice shouted as another trio of spells impacted the table Harry covered behind and tore it into a mess of deadly, sharp splinters.

The Elder Wand twisted around. Harry singed the splinters in a bright stream of Fiendfyre, turning them to light gray ash that rained down on his feet. The next moment he squashed the cursed flames; he wrenched his wand at the stone wall behind the man, seized it in a fist, and pulled it towards him with a roar.

Dozens of thin and long pointy spikes burst from the bricks and surged forward into the room. They impaled the third and final Death Eater through his legs and lower torso, tearing a howl of pain from his lips, coupled with the crunching of bones.

Harry stepped around the table and shoved the debris that blocked his path out of his way with a lazy flick of his wrist. He watched in satisfaction as the man crumbled to his knees, blood leaking from his mouth.

"You- you're still too late, Peverell!" A pair of dark eyes smirked at him through the silver mask, spurting its insides with a cough of blood: "We won! You came too late to save them!"

"Then my vengeance will depend on whether I know you or not..." Harry wrapped his magic around the silver mask like a length of Devil's Snare around Ron's limbs: "I will make you talk, don't worry..."

He brutally tore the mask from the man's face, taking entire patches of pale skin with it. It took him a moment to recognize the mess of raw and bloodied skin as the younger face of Evans Rosier, one of the few Death Eaters who had went down fighting.

'These people took his grandparents from him.' Instead of burying the hatred as he usually tried, Harry allowed it to swallow him in its endless depths: 'They took them before he even had the chance to meet them.'

"Tell me why?" Harry asked, leveling his wand at the Death Eater, shattering one bone after the other like tiny twigs underneath a man's heel. His victim screamed his throat raw, yet it sounded like music in Harry's ears; at least for the moment: "Just tell me why and I might stop the pain..."

"The- the D- Dark Lord sends his birth- birthday wishes, Peverell." Rosier gurgled, spitting clumps of blood: "And now he will deliver his final present in person."

"No!" Harry's eyes dipped low as he caught the man's hand moving to pull his sleeve, yet he reacted too late...

His cutting curse still hit its marks. Like a butcher's ax, it severed the entire arm clean from the elbow and sprayed the wooden cardboard with dark blood. Regardless, Rosier's pale long finger had pressed on the Dark Mark, which turned pitch black within seconds, making the ink snake hiss in aggravation.

"Then you will die as my 'thank you card'." Harry murmured. He trained the Elder Wand at a raw spot between the Death Eater's eyes and fired another piercing hex straight through the man's skull, watching as he dropped dead in an instant.

'Time to leave.'

The snaps of apparitions sounded from outside on the street, announcing the arrival of further enemies. The wand in his sweaty palm demanded further retribution for what had been taken from him, but a more rational voice called him to escape. This was not the time for a final confrontation with Voldemort.

'Not yet...'

Harry took a deep breath and threw a final glance at the motionless form of Rose Evans, his grandmother, who he was finally supposed to get to know today. "I will avenge you." He vowed.

As the voices outside grew louder, Harry took a small step forward, his mind firmly set on his destination. A sharp pain spread in his lungs as he tore right through the thick layer of wards, utilizing every last ounce of his power.

One could hardly call it fleeing; the Death Eaters should consider themselves blessed that they had been granted a few more days on this earth.

'But their days were limited.'