A/N: This is my first fan fic and I'm very excited. Please let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: I'm not JK Rowling!
James Potter and the Giant Squid
by The Scottish Fae
Chapter One
James plopped onto his bed with a frustrated grunt. It was a warm Friday morning and he was stuck in his room, his mother having magically sealed the door behind him. So he'd hexed Laura's feet to the ground? He couldn't help it! He didn't have his wand yet and he sure as Merlin didn't know how to use one. Besides, the girl wouldn't stop following him so who could blame him? He couldn't wait for the first of September.
He shuffled to the head of his bed, reached into his top, bedside draw and pulled out his Hogwarts acceptance letter.
You have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
He read the letter twice before fishing the other sheet of parchment out of the envelope and skimming the list.
It read:
First-year students will require:
Uniform
Three Sets of Plain Work Robes (Black)
One Plain Pointed Hat (Black) for day wear
One Pair of Protective Gloves (dragon hide or similar)
One Winter Cloak (Black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all student's clothes should carry name-tags at all times.
Books
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1 by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
Other Equipment
1 Wand
1 Cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set of glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set of brass scales
Students may also bring an Owl, a Cat or a Toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS.
He rolled his eyes at the final line then carefully folded both sheets of parchment, slipped them into their envelope and stowed them back in his drawer.
As he pushed the draw closed he heard his mother's footsteps outside his bedroom door and scampered towards them.
"Mother," he called cautiously through the wood.
She didn't answer.
"Mother," he repeated more confidently and when there was still no response he went on. "Mother, can we still go to Diagon Alley this afternoon?"
He braced himself for a berating.
"If you stay in there, quietly, for another hour I will consider it," she said stiffly and marched off.
James quietly celebrated to himself.
An hour later James was incredibly bored. He'd kept his mouth shut as promised but soon realised that all his favourite activities were just as noisy as he was. He couldn't very well touch his exploding snap cards, his chess pieces entered heated battles anytime a square was taken even when he was playing against himself and his toy wand often backfired which rather hurt and he didn't want to risk yelping with the sting, so when his mother finally knocked and entered his bedroom he was very relieved.
His mother slowly made her way through his room and sat on the end of his bed. She patted the quilt beside her indicating that he should join her.
"James," she began, "I'm very sorry I got so angry. I know you didn't mean to hex Laura-"
"I didn't, I promise!" James interrupted.
"I know," she continued, "But you have to be very careful. Laura and her family are muggles and you really frightened her today. I had to erase her memory and that is never a nice thing to do."
James fingered with a loose thread on his quilt cover. "I'm sorry,' he mumbled.
"I know, just be careful," she repeated, planting a kiss the top of his head. "Now are you ready to go?"
James looked up at her, a huge grin spreading across his face. "To Diagon Ally?" He asked.
His mother nodded.
James leapt off his bed in excitement and dragged his mother through the house to the fireplace.
"Wait!" She cried, and scurried off to find her purse leaving James to loiter impatiently in the living room.
When she finally returned James snatched the bag of floo powder off the coffee table, scooped out a handful and positioned himself in front of the fireplace.
"Remember we're going to the Leaky Cauldron," his mother began, "And make sure you speak loudly and cl-"
"THE LEAKY CAULDRON!" James cried, throwing his powder into the fireplace and diving into the green flames.
He watched in fascination as hearth after hearth appeared before him and he caught glimpses of living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms.