chapter 26
"James , what is going on?" the boy's brother asked as he entered the room with his father
"Nic-" the boy panicked
"Is ... is that who i think it is?" he whispered as his brother gave him a slow nod. Nicholas was a rather emotional person and had already exited the room in a panic - walking into the kitchen to pace back and forth
"Mister" Randy spoke standing infront of the boy
"Yes?" the boy replied crouching down and trying to calm himself
"Miss Persephone would want you to take some deep breaths, Sir " he suggested attempting to relax the boy
"You're her house elf?" Nicholas realised smiling to himself "She talks about you a lot"
"Really, Sir?" the elf perked up , moving to sit on the counter
"She says you love quidditch" the boy said following the elf and taking a seat on a nearby stool
"Randy does admire the quidditch sport Sir" he said clapping his hands earning a snotty laugh from Nicholas as he finished to calm himself down wiping his eyes
"Mister , are you a Potter ?" the small elf then asked
"Yes Mr ..."
"Randy" he said with a smile
"Yes Randy. My brother is in there with Seph. If you don't mind me asking , what did happen?" he asked intrigued with worry
"Miss Persephone had made friends at school. Played quidditch. Dated an Evan I believe and Master was definitely not happy with her James Potter friend. Filthy blood he called it." the house elf paused shaking his head "Mr Potter has sent Miss Persephone many letters already Sir. None of the letters reached her , Master took them all" the small creature sighed
"That explains a bit" Nic faintly smiled recalling his brothers complaints about not getting any replies
"Master Greyback thought that Miss Persephone had to be punished. S-So Master hexed her with a b-bad curse" the house elf sniffed "It was the worst Randy has seen Miss Persephone. Miss is always fine usually but today was definitely not fine"
"Always ? It's happened before" the boy inquired
"Regularly , Sir. Master doesn't like Miss Persephone at all" the elf sighed leaving the boy in shock
"Nic whats going on?" Sirius' voice then came from the staircase
"No i'm not leaving her side!" they heard James yell
"James don't shout at your mother"
"She's being unreasonable . I won't - I won't leave her!" he shouted
"Nic what is going on?" Sirius repeated
"Seph is here and she's injured really bad" the boy said as the two made eye contact
"How?"
"What was the curse Randy?" Nic asked turning his attention back towards the elf
"The cruciatus sir and a few other small ones" Randy spoke twiddling his thumbs
"Well shit" Sirius cursed sitting down next to Nicholas
The pair headed upstairs after James , who was pushed out of the room by his father and sent into his bedroom with frustrated and teary eyes. Slamming his door he collapsed on his bed and cried.
"James?" Nic knocked softly
"Go away Nic" the boy mumbled as his brother opened the door
"No James. You need to calm down -"
"I can't -"
"Seph is close with everybody here. She is practically my sister James , I am just as upset as you. But the more you stress out the more Mum is going to worry. We can't have her worrying if you want Seph to get better okay" Nicholas rambled gripping the boy's shoulders
"Yeah" James replied a slight crack in his voice "I just feel like we should have figured it out y'know. The signs were so clear , an exact repeat of Sirius' situation. I should've known."
"Get some rest James she will be better tomorrow I promise" Nicholas reassured pulling him into a hug
"I love you Nic" he muffled
"I love you too James"