Hard News && JAMES POTTER

[Robert Victor LeBlanc]

This plague just kept frickin' growing. Sure, Anton was awake now, after a week. But, it seemed like it was only to inform Robert that that bastard responsible for most of this - had taken Kelsey. Robert fell into his old, Death Eater rage. He was feeling things he hadn't felt in years. Hell, he was thinking about doing things he swore he wouldn't do again.

Robert hastily had written a note to James Potter, his son-in-law, telling him to meet him in his office within the next ten minutes, stating it was of a matter of a family emergency. He left St. Mungos in a fury, and appeared straight into his office, anxiously awaiting Potter's arrival. He didn't even sit down, he paced his office floor.

Over the past few days, the headmaster's office had gone through a bit of a transformation. Robert thought it might be easier for him, if his office changed to. So, he pulled out all the past headmaster portraits that he had packed away. Robert had actually taken the time to apologize to all of them, and explained the current state of things. Of course, they all knew. Much to his surprise, Robert was forgiven for his actions. Forgiveness was not something he was used to, either was asking for help - which he did. It was funny how much someone like Dumbledore could help after he was dead for over twenty years.

On this particular day, Dumbledore had been lounging in his portrait. With Robert's sudden return, he sat up a little straighter. It was clearly obvious there was something wrong with the man. Robert only glanced at the old man, and shook his head. He didn't want to say it all out loud more then once. Dumbledore simply nodded but, looked anxious. "Ugh," Robert muttered as he checked his watch, "Leave it to a Potter to be late."

[/blockquote]

[padfoot]

Something he never would have expected just happened to James Potter. He got a message from his father-in-law. Although it must be important after all, the message said it was a family emergency. James knew Anton had been injured and he assumed the Headmaster and his wife had been around St. Mungo's all week because he had not seen much of either one. Come to think of it, he had not seen his wife all week. But that was to be expected, he could not imagine her wanting to be around anyone at all while her brother is injured as badly as he was. Because she hated people to see her looking scared and weak, even him. She always tried not to cry in front of him, but he always made a point to let her do what she want and needed even if that meant watching tears fall from her eyes. After all, she had been through a lot recently and it was only understandable. But this message made him worry.

There were plenty of things that could be considered 'family emergencies' right now. For one, his wife was a horcrux and had that bastard Jack Lestrange out for her and James has been trying to think of a way to get back at him without having to let Kelsey know before so she would not worry. Because she definitely did not want him doing anything about it, she was afraid of him ending up in Azkaban. But he knew better at least if he killed Jack she would be safe, then again to never be able to hold her in his arms again would be horrible. So he had not done anything... Yet. This whole school year had been a confusing battle with hell for James, but some of the best memories in his life were also made this year. For one, he had gotten married, and Kelsey had just recently told him that her father had offered to throw them the wedding they deserved. Which surprised him beyond all belief because as far as James knew, the Headmaster hated him with a passion.

When he had gotten the message he had been sitting out on the grounds smoking a cigarette and normally he would have stayed outside to finish it. It had been hours before that that he had had a cigarette and the nicotine craving had gotten to be too much for him. But the news that there was family emergency and he was considered family for it, meant it couldn't be good. So James had put out the cigarette by the lake where he was sitting and stuck it back in the pack in his pocket to save the other half for later. Then he got up and started to sprint towards the castle. Which was surprisingly easy for the teenager who smoked more than a pack a day of cigarettes. Only because he went on daily runs and was one of the schools star athletes in Quidditch though. Even if he was a smoker, he was probably in better shape than half the non-smoking students.

By the time he got up to the castle though, he was wishing he had worn his kneebrace that day, but too late. Time to climb stairs. Luckily it was only to the second floor. James knew oh too well where the Headmasters office was. When he was younger he was in here for pranks and then when he was a fifth year he somehow miraculously became a prefect and now head boy! That had just amazed James to no end, but he assumed it was not Robert LeBlanc that chose who head boy was after all, other wise he knew he wouldn't have gotten that title. And he knew if it could be taken away from him then after running away with Kelsey he figured he wouldn't be anymore either. But he was and so he knew the way to this office like the back of his hand. When he got to the statue he gave the password and waited as the stairs spiraled up like a muggle escalator.

When he reached the top of the steps he found the Headmaster pacing all around the floor, not staying in one spot more than half a second or so. He took in the new look to the office, all the portraits of the previous Headmasters were back up on the walls, it looked a lot different. James heard his father-in-law say something about 'Leave it to a Potter to be late.' when he walked in. He shook his head, that was why these two never got along. "Actually, I did make it on time, sir." he said as he walked closer into the room. God now he really wished he had gotten his full cigarette before coming up here. "What's going on?" he asked shortly after that, taking in Robert's stressed look he wondered what it was that would be getting to him like this. Something bad happened, and James was not looking forward to finding out what. He walked himself closer to the headmaster slightly limping now because of his constantly injured knee, and waited for his father-in-law to say something to him. Anything to tell him that whatever was happening here, was not something wrong with Kelsey. Because now he had a sinking feeling in his stomach that this was about his wife.

[Robert Victor LeBlanc]

Robert suddenly wished that he hadn't chose to relay the news to James on his own. He needed....support. It wasn't easy news to give, however, it was better that James heard it from him. Sure, Robert wanted to chop off the boys balls but, he held some respect for the young Potter. Kelsey had done well for himself. Robert had to admit, James wasn't all that bad. He was Head Boy after all, and he wasn't chosen as some random bloke to fill the position. Still, James was married to his daughter - his only daughter. She was his favorite out of his three children, of course Robert wasn't going to like the guy she married.

As he paced, Robert tried to formulate a plan - a way to get this conversation done and over with. It was a delicate matter. Robert didn't know James at all. He had no idea how the boy would react. Robert hoped to Merlin James wasn't anything like he was. It took more control than Robert knew he possessed to keep himself from exploding at St. Mungos. Robert didnt' want to give himself the time to think about it. The less time he thought on it, the less time he had to get more angry and do something stupid - like destroy something or drink. Hm, Robert needed a new habit to pick up to replace the drinking. Maybe he'd start smoking - like cigars or something. Those were tasteful and classy. How could he think of that at a time like this?

"Actually, I did make it on time, sir."

[/color][/i]

Robert glanced as Potter walked in. He waved his hand at the matter. With another wave, the office door closed and locked behind him. "You're going to want to sit down," Robert said, swiftly walking over to his desk, pointing at the empty chair in front of it. Robert stood behind his desk, his arms crossed but, he couldn't bring himself to sit. He just wanted to pace some more but, didn't.

His mind flicked to Kelsey. Jack had her. No one knew where, or what sort of condition she was in. Robert knew she wasn't dead. Jack wouldn't kill her, she was his mother's horocrux. Robert had the feeling that Jack was just going to use her in any way he could, probably scaring her for life. Robert would trade his life if he could just find out where the hell that asshole had taken her. He swallowed hard, trying to produce the words, wanting to get this over quicky. It was just hard.

He cleared his throat, and took a deep breath. Robert turned his eyes on James. This time, Robert didn't glare at him, or look at him with rage or something. Robert's eyes wore his emotions. They were sad, weary, and angry all at once. "S-something happened," he said, his voice faultering to finish the story. "to Kelsey." Merlin help him, this was hard. Robert paused, looking anywhere but directly at James. He clenched his fists, and finished through clenched teeth. "That mother fucker took her somewhere. I - I don't even know where, or when but, he has her." There, that was it. Robert was sure he didn't need to fill any blanks for James. He figured Kelsey had told him just about everything, so James would know what the hell him meant.
[/size][/blockquote]

[padfoot]

Robert LeBlanc did not say anything more on the matter, he simply waved off James comment as well as closing and locking the doors behind him. Which meant this was serious, it was really serious. What was this all about? James had a sinking feeling that his suspensions of something happening to Kelsey was right. Shortly after that, he was invited to sit down. Well, actually the Headmaster told him to sit down, that it would be best. Which was his final clue in knowing exactly what was happening. Something had happened to his wife and he did not know about it. At least Robert was being considerate enough to tell him about it, and not let him just find out the hard way. But whatever it was wasn't good, and James knew he was going to be very angry here soon. So it was time to brace himself for the news.

James walked across the office and took a seat on the other side of the Headmasters desk from where he was still standing. James would honestly prefer to be standing because sitting down right now was making him anxious. It was just the way he had always been and he did not no how to explain it. When there was something going on and he was tense, he did not want to sit down. Although it felt better on his bum leg to sit down, his fingers were tapping on his thy and he felt like he was going to start bouncing in his seat. Sitting down when there was bad news to come might be good for some people, but sitting still in general was never a good thing for James Potter. He just could not stand it, and when he got this news from Robert he knew he would probably jump out of the seat and start pacing as well.

Something happened to Kelsey... That was how he started out. James felt like being an ass hole and saying, JUST SPIT IT OUT ALREADY GOD DAMN IT! But something told him this was hard enough for Robert to be doing and that he needed to stay calm at least long enough for him to tell him what happened. It could not be good, nothing like this could be good. She was hurt or in trouble, or both. The first thing that ran through James mind was , oh god, Jack raped her again. And when Robert finished speaking, when he finally choked out the last few words, he had been right. But it was not just another rape. He had kidnapped her as well. At this, James went numb. He did not even know how to react to that. It seemed his father-in-law was not having much better luck than him at that.

He had to do something, he had to get her back. James had told her it would all be alright and it was not now. "We have to go find her." James said flat out, standing up quickly, rocking from side to side shifting his weight on and off his bad leg while trying to come up with something. Anything. "You really have no idea where he would have taken her?" James asked desperately. There had to be something they could do to find her, and something he could do to help her.

[Robert Victor LeBlanc]

Robert glanced uncomfortably around his office. He had no idea how James might react to the news. Let's face it, he just didn't know his son-in-law all too well. He was sure that James knew enough about him not to piss him off - if he wanted to live. Robert returned his glances to James. He nearly immediately shook his head at the mere mention of we. "No, we are not going to do anything," he said in a Headmasterly type tone. This was probably the first time he actually had used it since he took the postion back in the fall.

Robert sighed and closed in the distance between himself and James. He actually did something nice, like place his hand firmly on James' shoulder. It was a fatherly touch, to get him to at least stop rocking like a baby. "You are going to stay here. It's too dangerous," he said. In truth, Robert didn't want to put James in the line of danger. For one, he really had no idea where Jack might have taken Kelsey. Two, it was Jack. Who the fuck knew what he had up his sleeve. Robert wasn't about to put a young boy's life at risk. So, James might be pissed at him for making him stay behind, so what? Robert didn't really care. All he cared about was saving Kelsey. If James tagged along, and worst case scenario, dies - this would make for a unhappy Kelsey. It was a Kelsey Robert couldn't live to see anymore.

He gave James another pat on the shoulder and then let go, finding it getting a bit awkward. Robert crossed his arms. "He could have taken her anywhere in the world," he said, shaking his head. Robert glanced around his office again. He really wished he hadn't smashed up his secret stores. He could really use some of it right now. Robert looked up, hearing the clearing of a throat. It must have come from one of the portraits. He looked between them, all eyes had been on Robert and James. Robert wondered just how much entertainment the rest of the term would give the dusty old portraits.

It had been Dumbledore who did the throat clearing. Robert only knew this because he spoke. "Headmaster LeBlanc, I have reason to believe that Mr. Jack Lestrange Riddle, has your daughter in a vault in Gringott's Bank. I have an old friend that hangs around in the lobby and says he's heard talk about Mr. Riddle having the access to the top vault." With a tip of his hat, Dumbledore then took off once more. Crazy old loon. "Well, I guess that helps that," Robert mumbled. He looked to James and wondered if he would have to tie him a that chair or something, to keep him here.

[/blockquote]