Danny noticed the older maleās gaze fall to his clothes and suddenly felt as though he maybe should have cleaned himself up a little first before following, but he hadnāt thought of that at the time.. He just needed to be here, not only for James but for Lily.. After the ordeal they had been through together he had wanted to get back, to see how she was doing.. Yet he had been greeted with terrible news that was likely the result of him not being quick enough to get her to the hospital, or not thinking to protect her from her male attacker. As he was pulled into a hug, Danny finally allowed the tears to spill down his face, he couldnāt shake the image of the redhead from his mind, the weakness in her voice, her drooping eyelids that she struggled to keep open and her blood, the blood that now coated his own shirt that spilled from each and every one of the cuts that ladened her torso.Ā Ā āIām so sorry James.. I should have - I could have - It should have been me..ā He choked out a sob as he clutched tightly onto the other male, his eyes shutting tightly. Sniffling, he allowed James to pull back from the embrace and quickly moved his gaze to settle on his. As the question flitted through the air toward him, the young man took a step back and inhaled deeply, hand running back through his hair.Ā āHe was tall, had really defined features and dirty blonde hair - he was quite skinny. And.. He knew her, they knew each other. He called her by her name.ā Danny spoke quickly, trying to think of the name Lily had called him.Ā āPeter.. His name was Peter.ā The young man spoke, not knowing that what he had just told the other male would likely set off another round of heartbreak for James Potter.
Hearing the younger wizardās sobs as he held onto him tightly, James shook his head. It was natural for him to blame himself, James was doing the same -- he should never have let her go out there, even if he had made sure she was escorted. Especially after everything that had happened. They hadnāt had much time together before she was pulled away from him again. But, it was not Dannyās fault, and James certainly didnāt blame him for it.Ā āNo, Danny, you did all you could. Youāre the reason Harry is here.ā The words were genuine, but they were also laced with a sadness that accompanied his every word and thought since the passing of his wife. He wouldnāt have wished that kind of death on anyone. Lily certainly hadnāt deserved it, but to suggest someone else was more worthy of it was ludicrous, and he didnāt want to hear it from his friend, either. After asking the question, James waited, a determined look on his face. He wanted to hear every single thing Danny had to tell him about his wifeās murderer. He was waiting in anticipation and then he began talking. The picture of the individual began to form in his mind, or at least his envisioning of the man. However, the mention that Lily had known her attacker caused the image that had been forming to dissipate into nothing and Jamesā eyes simply widened. Waiting for a name, anything. But, when it finally came, James had wished he hadnāt heard it. He shook his head, feeling the stinging sensation in the back of his eyes again.Ā āNo,ā he said, still shaking his head.Ā āNo. You heard wrong.ā The description was now so clear -- the picture in his head was no longer a nameless face, but the face of one of his best friend so easily painted with Dannyās words. His hands came up to the back of his head, trying to comprehend what he had just been.Ā āIt canāt -- no.ā He turned around as the tears began to fall from his eyes again. His chest felt heavy, torn apart -- there was barely anything left in there to break and yet somehow the pain that was already residing in his chest increased. While his head was refusing to believe it, it had seemed other parts of his body had already made their decision.Ā āHe wouldnāt -- heās -- heās dead.ā The last word came out slower, quieter. Was it easier to believe that his friend had died rather than turned on Lily? On him? Peter was his friend. Their friend. He couldnāt have done this. He wouldnāt. They had tried to find him. If he was alive, they would have found him. Peter couldnāt have done this.