Author's Note:
This story is a sequel to James Potter and The Road To No Promises. It is NOT required to read the first story, everything will be explained. HOWEVER, it is a good story and I promise you'll like it, and it's RECOMMENDED that you read it first. Go to my profile OR
fanfiction .net/s/5571804/1/JAMES_POTTER_and_the_Road_To_No_Promises

JAMES POTTER
And The Triwizard Champion

Chapter 1. A Normal Year

12 years old, and never a day older. Lily Luna Potter giggled as she ran through the crowd milling about platform 9 ¾. Her tangle of red curls flew out behind her as her legs pumped beneath her. Wind played across her pinked cheeks and her green eyes sparkled with the thrill of the escape.

"Lily!" Her mother, Ginny, yelled after her, "Get back here!"

"Worrywart." Lily muttered to herself as she dodged a familiar group of people.

"Lily?" Marina Finnegan asked in confusion, turning to look after the girl-shaped blur as Lily rushed past the family. Marina had one hand on her husband, Seamus Finnegan's, arm and her other arm held a two-year-old girl to her hip. Two younger children, a 7 year-old-boy and his twin sister, clung to the legs of their older sister, 7th year Fiona Finnegan. Fiona Finnegan had recently turned 17 years old. Her hair was sandy brown and straighter than a pin, today it was pulled back into a messy bun at the back of her head. Her laughter-filled brown eyes were set in her thin face, framed by long lashes. The Finnegans were a family of five kids, and they all loved to travel. Every summer they would take various treks across the world. However, the past summer Fiona had insisted on spending a majority of the summer in England in order to spend more time with her boyfriend, James Potter.

"You'd better get on the train." Seamus said, leaning forward to give his daughter a hug. Fiona hugged her father and kissed her mother on the cheek. She then bent a bit to tickle the toddler's tummy.

"Bye bye, Alannah." She cooed at the girl. Alannah smiled at her. Fiona got on her knees and wrapped the twins in her arms. "Bye, Thomas. Bye, Kayleigh." She gave them each a peck on the cheek.

"Stop it!" Thomas complained, rubbing his face with his sleeve.

"I will see you for Christmas." Fiona laughed, stepping back. With one last wave at her family she stepped aboard the Hogwarts Express.

Lily continued to run from her mother's fussing. However, she didn't make it far after the Finnegans before running into a small girl. Both girls went tumbling to the ground.

"Sorry, sorry." Lily apologized quickly, spinning on her butt to see the small girl put a hand on her head. The girl was tiny, a head shorter than Lily, and her dull black hair was braided down her back, tied with a big blue ribbon. "Ella?" Lily asked in disbelief. The little girl blinked and smiled.

"Should have known it was you." She said in her clear, childish voice. Ella Zellit and Lily had become best friends over the previous year. They had met on the train to Hogwarts, both lonely first years. However, that year Ella had recently lost her mother and did not speak for a majority of the school year. She had been white as a ghost and as cheerless as a ghoul, her eyes had been flat, her hair had been stringy and without much color. Now, thought her skin was still pale and wax-like, Ella looked healthier. She smiled and spoke, her gray eyes reflecting her emotions. Lily stood and grabbed her friend in a hug.

"How was your summer?" She asked.

"Uneventful." Ella answered with a shrug, "Yours?"

Before Lily could answer they heard Ginny's voice ring through the crowd, "Lily Potter, get over here or so help me…"

"Run!" Lily whispered enthusiastically, grabbing Ella by the hand and dragging her along with her.

On the train, Fiona Finnegan had settled down in a compartment with Albus Potter and Rose Weasley. Rose and Albus were, as per usual, arguing over something insignificant. Though the two were opposite as night and day they were best friends. Albus was a thinker; he'd sit on an idea for days on end, muttering to himself as he contemplated. Rose, on the other hand, was a person of action. She was the one who made the pair's ideas come to life. They got on surprisingly well, they'd complete each other's plans and even, on occasion, their sentences. During the last leg of their Third Year they had accidentally set the school on fire, endangering the lives of many students. After that, their relationship had been strained through the summer months. Slowly, yet surely, their friendship had begun to mend. Fiona couldn't help but notice that even though she was still in her muggle clothes, Rose had her Quidditch Captain badge pinned to her chest.

"Hey, fourth years." Fiona greeted them with a smile. Before they could answer, another 7th year girl walked into the compartment. Amelia Keen (or Millie, as she was known) was a shy muggle-born girl that James and Fiona had recently befriended. Millie stood a couple centimeters taller than Fiona, she had lightly tanned skin and her face was still sprinkled with freckles left over from her summer in the desert. She had her wavy blond hair cut to chin length and was usually held back by an extravagant headband. Her eyes were a soft gray, her face was pretty but plain, her eyebrows didn't curve and her eyelashes were nearly nonexistent, her cheekbones were high but it made her eyes look rather sunken in. Millie's parents were both muggle paleontologists, she didn't see much of them. She often seemed lonely, but had recently proved herself to be loyal beyond question. And though she didn't get much attention from her parents, she loved being with her friends. Millie had originally been sent to fancy boarding schools and her parents, who didn't know that Millie was a witch, thought she was currently at the most elite school in Britain. Which, in a way, she was.

"Hello." She greeted the compartment at large, sitting down next to Rose.

"Millie!" Fiona said in surprise, "How was your summer?"

"Same old, same old. Though I did see a Brontosaurus tooth."

"Interesting." Albus muttered, causing his cousin to slap his arm.

"I got you all gifts from the dig in Texas." Millie informed them, "And Lily and Ella. I got something for Demi, too. And James." She looked around the compartment as though expecting to see someone hiding in the corners. "Speaking of which, Fiona, where's your boyfriend?"

Her boyfriend, in fact, was at that moment trying desperately to get on the train. However, he found himself unable to move as his father clutched his shoulder in his vice-like grip. Harry and James Potter looked more like brothers than they did father and son. They had the same unruly black hair and green eyes. Their faces were nearly identical. James was just a bit shorter than his dad, and Harry wore his round, black-wired glasses while James had no need of enhancing his vision. James followed in his father's footsteps by being the top of his Defense Against The Dark Arts class. James was also handy at Potions and Alchemy, but often needed Fiona's help with his Charms homework. He was even a Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. Though he had been at first disheartened to learn that the role of Quidditch Captain was going to his younger, female cousin, he accepted it gracefully and was looking forward to having Rose Weasley lead the team to victory.

"Da, stop fussing." James pleaded, looking longingly at the train entrance.

"Fiona's waited this long for you, she can stand another couple of minutes." Harry answered sternly, causing James to bite his lip.

His father was referring to their "history". James and Fiona had been thrown together on play dates when they were younger. They had gotten along well but never saw each other much. When they both went to Hogwarts they reconnected and were instant best friends. The friendship lasted year after year and trial after trial. Until the previous year when Fiona started drifting, keeping secrets, and dating the school bad boy: Landon Longbottom. James had stayed furious with her for several months until that spring, when they had made up. It wasn't until the night the school caught on fire that the two became a couple. They'd spent the summer building a tentative romance, though everyone said they were a match made in heaven.

"It's your N.E.W.T year. I don't want to hear of any goofing off. Be good." He said seriously.

"Always am."

"This time I don't care if you don't get caught. I don't want you to risk it."

"Da? Are you okay?" James asked nervously, spying his father's now-white knuckles.

"I just want you to make it a normal year at Hogwarts." Harry ordered stiffly.

"Of course." James frowned. Ginny walked up to the two in a huff, putting her hands on her hips and planting her feet, her eyes narrowed at her oldest son.

"I can't find Lily, tell her I say goodbye and to stay out of trouble." She complained.

"Yes, Mum." James smiled slightly, turning toward her, Harry finally released his grip on his son's shoulder.

"And you watch after her, James!" She ordered before pointing at the train, "Now, go."

"Yes, Mum." James repeated, thankfully stepping onto the train.

"Be good!" Ginny shouted after him. James shook his head as he walked down the train, peeking in the compartment windows, looking for his friends. He passed by one compartment that was full of people, as he walked by it a girl with golden blond hair looked up and saw him. Their eyes held for a fraction of a second before the girl looked down again, chewing her thin bottom lip. The girl next to her saw the distress and looked at the window for the cause. Upon seeing James she waved enthusiastically, he waved back half-heartedly.

Amy Vane and Demi Case were both on the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. Amy Vane was a sixth year, her sleek yellow hair was neat and her eyes were heavenly blue. She shared James's love of Alchemy, and for a time the previous year she had replaced Fiona as his best friend. Amy had taken advantage of his confusion and was not very fond of Fiona. When James and Fiona made up again, Amy made him choose, and was hurt by the decision.

Demi Case was a fifth year and a Quidditch Prodigy. She was a Seeker who loved to get down and dirty. Her chocolate brown hair was always braided and twisted to keep out of her face. Her green, almost yellow, eyes were narrow and could be chilling in a combat Quidditch match. She was one of Amy's best friends, and one of James's too. Demi never let herself get caught up in drama, she liked who she liked and could not be swayed by others' opinions.

James found his friends just before the train started to lurch forward. Albus, Rose, Millie, and Fiona were all still there, and they had been joined by Lily and Ella, both of whom were still breathless from running around the platform. James took his seat next to Fiona and took her hand in his automatically. Rose was sketching something on a piece of parchment.

"Homework already, Rose?" James asked, leaning forward.

"Impossible." Rose answered simply, "However, as Quidditch Captain, I am making some plans for this year."

"Tryouts?" Albus asked, tilting his head to the side to read over her shoulder.

"Yes." Rose clutched the piece of paper to her chest, "E.G and Ace both left so we're down two players. We need a new Beater and a new Keeper. Feel like trying out, Lily?"

"I like watching better." Lily answered, swinging her legs back and forth. Rose slid her eyes to Ella and, before she could even ask, the smaller girl shook her head vigorously.

"What about Millie?" James asked, all heads turned to Millie. Her only response was to laugh.

"Uh-uh." She insisted after the laughter had died down.

"Suit yourself." Rose shrugged as she returned to her plans, smiling wickedly.

"I don't like that look." James said nervously. The compartment door slid open and Demi walked in. Her face was slack and her eyes were bored.

"Please tell me you're having fun in here." She begged, collapsing next to Millie.

"Why?" Fiona asked. Demi looked up and met James's eyes, something in her expression made him quickly look away.

"I was telling about my summer, but now Amy won't listen to me. And if she won't, no one will."

"Why won't she listen?" Albus asked, leaning across Rose before anyone could ask about Demi's summer.

"Well, she was." Demi said, "But then she got a look at James and went all depressed." She waited until James met her eyes again, "I'd ignore her. Because if you don't, I don't think she'll ever get over you."

Today was my first day back at school so...here you go.

I know this chapter's boring, it's mostly review and introducing characters blah blah blah. Things will pick up shortly.

REVIEW!

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