The Elusive Thief

It was a peaceful night, the only peaceful night in weeks. For days Harry was flooded with work down at the Auror's office. The recent increase in crime rate has definitely garnered the attention of the Ministry of Magic, as well as made him miss dinner with his family for five nights in a row, but tonight Harry had gotten off work early in order to accompany his son James to King's Cross Station for his first day of school at Hogwarts.

All the preparations had been made and James was now in bed, which meant Harry had now been able to do something he hadn't done in a long time; relax.

Harry sat on his favourite chair in the living room of Number 12 Grimwauld Place right beside the unlit fireplace. After taking a sip out of his tea he read the front page of the Daily Prophet.

ELUSIVE THIEF STEALS PRICELESS POSSESIONS.

Wyndham Frost, a notorious criminal who uses magic to aid him in various attempts of theft against muggles has reportedly stolen plenty of priceless muggle possessions. Items reportedly stolen include: diamonds, jewellery, gold, silver, and an infamous muggle painting known as, the Mona Lisa.

The muggle prime minister is outraged and demands that the Ministry of Magic deals with its own criminals and expects the safe return of all stolen possessions. Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebot assures the Prime Minister that all his demands will be met and that the Auror Office was doing everything they can to apprehend the thief. All of London is on red alert concerning the capture of this criminal who has managed to escape custody five times.

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Above the article was a picture of the thief he spent all week tracking. He has black, curly and messy hair with streaks of white and a large pointy nose. He looks as if he's in his mid-forties.

Harry was just about to turn the page when he heard a ruckus upstairs that sounded like his children arguing about something. "Why should you get to keep it" said a voice which sounded like it came from his youngest son Albus.

"Because I am the oldest" said James.

"Well how about me?" replied Lily. "Don't I get to use it?"

"You can't you're a girl." said James. Those were the last things they said before they started screaming and yelling at each other.

With a sigh Harry put down the paper and went straight to his children's bedrooms to halt the conflict. Deep inside he knew he wasn't going to be able to just sit down and relax.

Before Harry could make it to the fifth step he could hear the sound of feet rushing down towards him. It was his daughter Lily and she was crying.

Lily hugged her father and told him everything. She told him that her brothers James and Albus had gotten in an argument over who would get to keep Harry's old broomstick that he used in Hogwarts which was now hung in the attic. James and Albus had told her that she couldn't use the broom because she was a girl. This sent her crying and before they knew it she stormed off and went to tell their dad.

With frustration Harry called for his sons. "James, Albus get down here this instant!" he said. The two boys came down with an anxious look on their faces.

"Both of you apologize to your sister right now" he demanded.

"But dad it was James who started it, he was the one who kept on bragging about how you said he could have the Firebolt." said Albus.

"First of all, I'm not giving the Firebolt to anyone, it stays in the attic, and James you're a first year, you're not allowed to own a broomstick yet." said Harry.

"But mum said you got yours when you were still a first year" replied James.

Harry was at a loss for words. "Well that's because...um...well...that's not the point. He said. Inside the kitchen he could see his wife who had been listening the whole time with a huge grin on her face.

Harry continued the conversation. "If you excel in your flying lessons I will buy you a broom on your second year"."A Flashbolt 2000!" said James ecstatically. "I said I'd buy you a broom, I didn't say I'd throw all our galleons down the drain" retorted Harry. "You'll start with a Firebolt 2000". James was disappointed but agreed with the conditions.

Now that things were settled Harry ordered the children back to bed and picked up the Daily Prophet to continue where he had left off.