Disclaimer - I own only what you don't recognise; the rest belongs to the
wonderful J. K. Rowling.
Chapter 1 - The letter
James Potter woke to the sound of tapping on his bedroom window. It wasn't even dawn yet, what was that owl thinking of. He mumbled something incomprehensible and was just about to roll over and go back to sleep when he remembered what the day was. His eyes snapped open and he leapt out of bed, running to the window and flinging it open, allowing the morning air to chase away the last of his sleepiness. Today was his 11th birthday. He tried to tell the owl that, but it didn't seem that impressed, it just ruffled it's feathers in an important sort of way and clicked his beak haughtily. Ha gave up trying to explain his cheerfulness to the owl and decided instead to open the letter it was carrying. His heart leapt as he felt the heavy parchment and saw the emerald green ink on the envelope.
Mr J. Potter The end bedroom 27 Pond drive Little Frogton Essex
He grinned as he opened the envelope and read the letter,
HOWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely
Professor McGonagall Deputy Headmistress
And then, unable to contain his excitement any longer, he let out a great whoop of delight. At the top of his voice, he called "I'm going to Hogwarts, I'm going to Hogwarts!" as he danced happily around the room. "That's great son," a sleepy male voice called from the next room "go back to bed."
James didn't go back to bed, he was just too excited, but he did stop shouting. He gave the uppity bird a drink from his own owl's water bowl before it left, ruffling it's feathers at him one more time, before spreading it's huge wings and gliding gracefully out of the windows and into the sunrise.
In all the excitement of getting the letter, James had almost forgotten it was his birthday, so he was surprised when he saw a small cloud of brown feathers approach the window and four owls flutter in, each carrying a card. His own owl Selene was among them. She was also carrying a card and present and looking extremely pleased with herself. She floated over to him, dropping her parcel onto the bed and perched on his shoulder, nibbling his ear affectionately. James decided to open the other packages first. He found cards, sweets and a book about his favourite Quidditch team, Puddlemere United from different members of his family. He resisted the urge to open the book right away and turned his attention to Selene's parcel. It was from Peter Pettigrew. His parents were friends with James' parent and he and James had been forced to spend time together for years. It's not that James didn't like Peter exactly, but Peter was, well dull. There was no other word for it. He was a bit thick, and a bit of a coward really. He read the card first,
Dear James,
Happy birthday. Did you get your letter yet? Of course you did, you're too clever not to. I got mine too (James groaned softly to himself) so I'll see you on the 1st of September to get on the Hogwarts express. Have a good day, Peter
Oh well, James thought, maybe we'll be put into different houses. James was hoping he's be put into Gryffindor like his parents. He reckoned Peter would be put into Hufflepuff. He sighed, and opened his present. "Wow", he said, as he opened a jar of Fleetwood's high finish broom handle polish. James loved his broomstick, and Quidditch. It was the best game in the world. It was a shame first years weren't allowed their own brooms. He also wished he'd get onto the house team, but he knew it wasn't very likely, as the last time a 1st year was on a house team was about 70 years ago. Never mind, he could try, and if he didn't get on, he could try again next year.
He took his presents downstairs and found his parents and sister sitting at the kitchen table. "So you got your letter then?" Said his father, grinning "How did you guess?" Replied James innocently, but he was grinning too as he filled his plate with bacon and eggs. "Your mother and I have something for you." His dad smiled as he handed him a large parcel. "I do too", piped up his little sister, Cara. "Thanks Cara" James said, taking his sisters present and smiling when he opened a box of chocolate frogs, she must've saved her pocket money for weeks to buy him that. He loved his little sister to bits, she was special, so sweet, kind and generous. He kissed her forehead and ruffled her long dark hair. She shrieked happily about how long she took doing her hair that day, but James just laughed and did it again before he opened the present from his parents. He found a beautiful hawk feather quill, a bottle of ink and a huge leather bound book entitled 'Hogwarts, a history' "Thanks dad, mum" he said, grinning and hugging them both. "You're welcome dear" said his mum "now come on Cara, let's go shopping." With a cheery wave, the pair of them left for the supermarket, leaving James and his father alone at the breakfast table.
"Now son, I've got something else for you, but don't go telling your mother, or your sister, this one's a secret." Intrigued, James opened the small, squashy package. Inside he found a silvery and fluid looking cloak. It was very unusual material, almost watery, but it, of course, wasn't. "It's an invisibility cloak, I had so much fun with it at school and I wanted you to have it."
James opened his mouth to say thank you, but no sound came out, Instead he grinned at his father, who grinned back.
"Don't tell your mother!" His dad said, "She'll kill me!"
Chapter 1 - The letter
James Potter woke to the sound of tapping on his bedroom window. It wasn't even dawn yet, what was that owl thinking of. He mumbled something incomprehensible and was just about to roll over and go back to sleep when he remembered what the day was. His eyes snapped open and he leapt out of bed, running to the window and flinging it open, allowing the morning air to chase away the last of his sleepiness. Today was his 11th birthday. He tried to tell the owl that, but it didn't seem that impressed, it just ruffled it's feathers in an important sort of way and clicked his beak haughtily. Ha gave up trying to explain his cheerfulness to the owl and decided instead to open the letter it was carrying. His heart leapt as he felt the heavy parchment and saw the emerald green ink on the envelope.
Mr J. Potter The end bedroom 27 Pond drive Little Frogton Essex
He grinned as he opened the envelope and read the letter,
HOWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely
Professor McGonagall Deputy Headmistress
And then, unable to contain his excitement any longer, he let out a great whoop of delight. At the top of his voice, he called "I'm going to Hogwarts, I'm going to Hogwarts!" as he danced happily around the room. "That's great son," a sleepy male voice called from the next room "go back to bed."
James didn't go back to bed, he was just too excited, but he did stop shouting. He gave the uppity bird a drink from his own owl's water bowl before it left, ruffling it's feathers at him one more time, before spreading it's huge wings and gliding gracefully out of the windows and into the sunrise.
In all the excitement of getting the letter, James had almost forgotten it was his birthday, so he was surprised when he saw a small cloud of brown feathers approach the window and four owls flutter in, each carrying a card. His own owl Selene was among them. She was also carrying a card and present and looking extremely pleased with herself. She floated over to him, dropping her parcel onto the bed and perched on his shoulder, nibbling his ear affectionately. James decided to open the other packages first. He found cards, sweets and a book about his favourite Quidditch team, Puddlemere United from different members of his family. He resisted the urge to open the book right away and turned his attention to Selene's parcel. It was from Peter Pettigrew. His parents were friends with James' parent and he and James had been forced to spend time together for years. It's not that James didn't like Peter exactly, but Peter was, well dull. There was no other word for it. He was a bit thick, and a bit of a coward really. He read the card first,
Dear James,
Happy birthday. Did you get your letter yet? Of course you did, you're too clever not to. I got mine too (James groaned softly to himself) so I'll see you on the 1st of September to get on the Hogwarts express. Have a good day, Peter
Oh well, James thought, maybe we'll be put into different houses. James was hoping he's be put into Gryffindor like his parents. He reckoned Peter would be put into Hufflepuff. He sighed, and opened his present. "Wow", he said, as he opened a jar of Fleetwood's high finish broom handle polish. James loved his broomstick, and Quidditch. It was the best game in the world. It was a shame first years weren't allowed their own brooms. He also wished he'd get onto the house team, but he knew it wasn't very likely, as the last time a 1st year was on a house team was about 70 years ago. Never mind, he could try, and if he didn't get on, he could try again next year.
He took his presents downstairs and found his parents and sister sitting at the kitchen table. "So you got your letter then?" Said his father, grinning "How did you guess?" Replied James innocently, but he was grinning too as he filled his plate with bacon and eggs. "Your mother and I have something for you." His dad smiled as he handed him a large parcel. "I do too", piped up his little sister, Cara. "Thanks Cara" James said, taking his sisters present and smiling when he opened a box of chocolate frogs, she must've saved her pocket money for weeks to buy him that. He loved his little sister to bits, she was special, so sweet, kind and generous. He kissed her forehead and ruffled her long dark hair. She shrieked happily about how long she took doing her hair that day, but James just laughed and did it again before he opened the present from his parents. He found a beautiful hawk feather quill, a bottle of ink and a huge leather bound book entitled 'Hogwarts, a history' "Thanks dad, mum" he said, grinning and hugging them both. "You're welcome dear" said his mum "now come on Cara, let's go shopping." With a cheery wave, the pair of them left for the supermarket, leaving James and his father alone at the breakfast table.
"Now son, I've got something else for you, but don't go telling your mother, or your sister, this one's a secret." Intrigued, James opened the small, squashy package. Inside he found a silvery and fluid looking cloak. It was very unusual material, almost watery, but it, of course, wasn't. "It's an invisibility cloak, I had so much fun with it at school and I wanted you to have it."
James opened his mouth to say thank you, but no sound came out, Instead he grinned at his father, who grinned back.
"Don't tell your mother!" His dad said, "She'll kill me!"