James Potter and the Heirs Apparent
Part One
Disclaimer: The characters you know, the settings, the idea and the inspiration behind this story come from JK Rowling and the magical world she has created. I have also been influenced I think, by other HP fanfiction, although I've tried to keep the plot my own.
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James Potter was currently a perfectly content young man. He was sat in a compartment on board the Hogwarts Express, sharing the long journey northward with his three closest friends, the Marauders; Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. They were all in very high spirits, happily discussing the forthcoming year and planning what new possibilities awaited them now they were in their sixth year. James himself was also a prefect, with responsibilities that would test his marauding spirit. But it was a relief to be going back to the safety of Hogwarts school. A strongly powerful Dark Wizard, Lord Voldemort, was causing terror in the wizarding world. Disappearances and deaths were arising across the country, causing destruction in Muggle as well as wizarding homes. The Potters were an old and prominent wizarding family, greatly opposed to the threat of Voldemort. As such, there had been little to smile about, and much to fear, over the summer in James' home. However, so far, Hogwarts was safe, presided over as it was by the greatest of great wizards, Albus Dumbledore.
As the journey progressed, friends came along the train to say hello. Of course, some were not friends so much as groupies. The four were very popular, particularly among the other Gryffindor students, their own school house. At Hogwarts they were always to be found in the centre of any fun or mischief going on and because of this, everybody soon learnt who they were. At least, they did if they knew what was good for them. The Marauders were not above playing tricks on anybody. Of the four of them, Sirius Black was probably the most popular, owing to a pleasing combination of dark good looks and a fun-loving nature. Opinion on James was more mixed. He was acknowledged to be handsome, and of his charm and chivalry there was no doubt. He had fewer fans however, simply because many of the students were plain in awe of him. Much like Sirius, he was immensely clever and talented, but he came supplied with more seriousness than his friend. He was also the Marauder most likely to express a sense of responsibility. He always devoted 110% of himself to everyday life and failed to understand why others applied themselves less. And so it remained that James was seen more as an object of awe and respect than the mischievous Sirius, or the friendly Remus Lupin. Pettigrew, of course, wasn't really admired by anyone, but he was respected as one of the Marauders and often thought kindly of because of his stupidity. But being felt sorry for, was a very different thing to being admired, as Peter realised more and more everyday.
It was while a group of their Gryffindor friends were visiting that 'it' happened. Frank, Lily and Audrey were three students in the same year as themselves, and not groupies but real friends of the four holding court on the train. Frank and Lily were both prefects along with James.
The three visitors were stood in the centre of the compartment, cheerfully re-enacting an argument they had witnessed between a group of 6th year Slytherins. Since the result of this had been that the Marauders archenemy Severus Snape had been hit over the head with a bludger's bat, they were all laughing heartily.
Then all of a sudden, the train screeched to a halt! The entire compartment jolted fiercely and the lights on the train went out. James felt something soft and heavy fall on top of him. A person in fact. Hearing a muffled growl nearby from Sirius told him that something similar had happened to him.
"I'm sorry," whispered a soft voice in his ear. The person was trying to extract herself from James' limbs.
"Anytime," he said breathlessly, thinking she must have winded him more than he thought.
As his eyes got used to the darkness, James could see the forms of his friends in the compartment. Peter Pettigrew had fallen on the floor, probably fortunately as it looked as though Audrey had fallen face first into his seat. She would have suffocated Peter had he still sat there. Audrey was two foot taller than he.
Sirius had pushed Frank Longbottom off of himself and onto Remus Lupin. The three were having a little scuffle in the corner.
Lily Evans had finally pulled herself off of James, and was the only one standing, directly in front of him, looking carefully round.
Then, they began to hear a swooshing noise and some sort of cackling, then screams, emanating from further down the train.
James stood up quickly. A little too quickly, since he lost his balance in the dark and would have fallen onto Lily again had he not intuitively grabbed her waist to keep them both from falling. A bolt of electricity shot through him as her body felt his grip and her eyes flashed towards him. Those incredible green eyes seemed almost fluorescent in the darkness of the carriage, and James could not help but stare straight into them. They reflected the fear and worry in his own. Something in their depths brought him to his senses, and instantly he was spurred into action.
Breaking both eye contact and physical contact, James gently opened the compartment door - Lily close behind him. His heart was racing. He didn't have time to work out why before Lily called his attention to something.
"There!" She cried, her voice dying away as she spoke.
James looked. Shining into the clear night sky he saw the image of a mammoth skull, a vicious snake climbing out of its mouth. The Dark Mark, the sign of death shown by Voldemort's Death Eaters, was looking down on them from the sky. But no, thought James, something was wrong. There were no Death Eaters that he could see; the train would be too well protected for one of their callous attacks. Then he remembered words from Dumbledore himself, spoken during their Defence again the Dark Arts lessons last year;
"The Dark Mark can also be used as a summons by Lord Voldemort himself. His supporters will feel it's call and immediately feel to join him."
A summons. By Lord Voldemort. Voldemort was there.
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To be continued.. Please read/review
Part One
Disclaimer: The characters you know, the settings, the idea and the inspiration behind this story come from JK Rowling and the magical world she has created. I have also been influenced I think, by other HP fanfiction, although I've tried to keep the plot my own.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
James Potter was currently a perfectly content young man. He was sat in a compartment on board the Hogwarts Express, sharing the long journey northward with his three closest friends, the Marauders; Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. They were all in very high spirits, happily discussing the forthcoming year and planning what new possibilities awaited them now they were in their sixth year. James himself was also a prefect, with responsibilities that would test his marauding spirit. But it was a relief to be going back to the safety of Hogwarts school. A strongly powerful Dark Wizard, Lord Voldemort, was causing terror in the wizarding world. Disappearances and deaths were arising across the country, causing destruction in Muggle as well as wizarding homes. The Potters were an old and prominent wizarding family, greatly opposed to the threat of Voldemort. As such, there had been little to smile about, and much to fear, over the summer in James' home. However, so far, Hogwarts was safe, presided over as it was by the greatest of great wizards, Albus Dumbledore.
As the journey progressed, friends came along the train to say hello. Of course, some were not friends so much as groupies. The four were very popular, particularly among the other Gryffindor students, their own school house. At Hogwarts they were always to be found in the centre of any fun or mischief going on and because of this, everybody soon learnt who they were. At least, they did if they knew what was good for them. The Marauders were not above playing tricks on anybody. Of the four of them, Sirius Black was probably the most popular, owing to a pleasing combination of dark good looks and a fun-loving nature. Opinion on James was more mixed. He was acknowledged to be handsome, and of his charm and chivalry there was no doubt. He had fewer fans however, simply because many of the students were plain in awe of him. Much like Sirius, he was immensely clever and talented, but he came supplied with more seriousness than his friend. He was also the Marauder most likely to express a sense of responsibility. He always devoted 110% of himself to everyday life and failed to understand why others applied themselves less. And so it remained that James was seen more as an object of awe and respect than the mischievous Sirius, or the friendly Remus Lupin. Pettigrew, of course, wasn't really admired by anyone, but he was respected as one of the Marauders and often thought kindly of because of his stupidity. But being felt sorry for, was a very different thing to being admired, as Peter realised more and more everyday.
It was while a group of their Gryffindor friends were visiting that 'it' happened. Frank, Lily and Audrey were three students in the same year as themselves, and not groupies but real friends of the four holding court on the train. Frank and Lily were both prefects along with James.
The three visitors were stood in the centre of the compartment, cheerfully re-enacting an argument they had witnessed between a group of 6th year Slytherins. Since the result of this had been that the Marauders archenemy Severus Snape had been hit over the head with a bludger's bat, they were all laughing heartily.
Then all of a sudden, the train screeched to a halt! The entire compartment jolted fiercely and the lights on the train went out. James felt something soft and heavy fall on top of him. A person in fact. Hearing a muffled growl nearby from Sirius told him that something similar had happened to him.
"I'm sorry," whispered a soft voice in his ear. The person was trying to extract herself from James' limbs.
"Anytime," he said breathlessly, thinking she must have winded him more than he thought.
As his eyes got used to the darkness, James could see the forms of his friends in the compartment. Peter Pettigrew had fallen on the floor, probably fortunately as it looked as though Audrey had fallen face first into his seat. She would have suffocated Peter had he still sat there. Audrey was two foot taller than he.
Sirius had pushed Frank Longbottom off of himself and onto Remus Lupin. The three were having a little scuffle in the corner.
Lily Evans had finally pulled herself off of James, and was the only one standing, directly in front of him, looking carefully round.
Then, they began to hear a swooshing noise and some sort of cackling, then screams, emanating from further down the train.
James stood up quickly. A little too quickly, since he lost his balance in the dark and would have fallen onto Lily again had he not intuitively grabbed her waist to keep them both from falling. A bolt of electricity shot through him as her body felt his grip and her eyes flashed towards him. Those incredible green eyes seemed almost fluorescent in the darkness of the carriage, and James could not help but stare straight into them. They reflected the fear and worry in his own. Something in their depths brought him to his senses, and instantly he was spurred into action.
Breaking both eye contact and physical contact, James gently opened the compartment door - Lily close behind him. His heart was racing. He didn't have time to work out why before Lily called his attention to something.
"There!" She cried, her voice dying away as she spoke.
James looked. Shining into the clear night sky he saw the image of a mammoth skull, a vicious snake climbing out of its mouth. The Dark Mark, the sign of death shown by Voldemort's Death Eaters, was looking down on them from the sky. But no, thought James, something was wrong. There were no Death Eaters that he could see; the train would be too well protected for one of their callous attacks. Then he remembered words from Dumbledore himself, spoken during their Defence again the Dark Arts lessons last year;
"The Dark Mark can also be used as a summons by Lord Voldemort himself. His supporters will feel it's call and immediately feel to join him."
A summons. By Lord Voldemort. Voldemort was there.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------
To be continued.. Please read/review