Collection Name: Raising the Marauders

A/N - So this collection is about Fleamont and Euphemia raising the Marauders. There will be some chapters set before they had James, but I think most will have at least one of the Marauders in.

I know this will be strange to my followers as I write Charlus and Dorea as James' parents, but this is for a challenge.

Hogwarts Myths and Legends - Task 1 - Write about a Maze

House Pride - Fleamont Potter. Word: Courage

Bad Movie Tuesday - [dialogue] "He still won't come out of the bathroom." Lisa

Lucky Duck - 52. "There we go. Good as new."

Hamilton Challenge - 12 [character] James Potter

Writing Club Monthly Prompts - White Chocolate Day: Write about a child and write about chocolate.

Greek Mythology - 26. Agon: Write about someone who is competitive or a competition itself

Gringotts:

A-Z of AUs - Maze

Alice in Wonderland - Location: Maze

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland - [Plot/Action] Running through a maze

Code Breaker 1.1 - (Characters) Children

Galavant 1.2 - [Plot/Action] Acting like a child

Friends and Family Vocab - Dad

Jane Austen - Character: A loving family

Galaxy Quest - (Emotion) Excited

Devil's Carnival - 10. Object: wand

Amazement

The Potters hated to see their son unhappy.

"He still won't come out of the bathroom."

Fleamont sighed, running a hand through his dark hair in a way James seemed to have picked up as he considered his options.

The sensible, stricter side of him told him to allow James to sulk in the bathroom, just to come out to nothing. Sulking shouldn't have a reward…

But the look Euphemia gave him broke his resolve. They had spent years hoping for a child, and Fleamont knew he couldn't refuse the boy anything.

"Alright Effie," he said, causing his wife to smile. "I've got just the thing."

...oOo...

It only took the afternoon to sort everything out. Fleamont had set about growing short hedges in the garden in the shape of a maze, setting a basket of chocolate cupcakes in the middle as the trophy. It didn't take long to animate the collection of stuffed animals from James' room, ensuring that none would do any damage at all. They would run around and possibly chase James, but they wouldn't harm him.

Fleamont opened the bathroom door to find James, sitting with his back against the bath, his eyes red and puffy and snot leaking from his nose.

"James, I've got something for you. Wipe your eyes and nose and make yourself presentable." He ruffled the boy's hair, causing James to pull away from his hand and pout up at him.

"Yes Father," he murmured sulkily.

"And don't take that tone with me otherwise you can stay in here until dinnertime."

"Yes Father." James' tone was more respectful this time, and Fleamont turned to leave.

...oOo...

When James came down, Frank Longbottom was sitting on the sofa, eating a chocolate his mother had provided.

"Is this what Dad was talking about?" James asked, looking at his mum.

"No. Frank is over for dinner," Effie said. "Your father has worked hard on the surprise for you."

She stood up, fixing her robes, before leading the way to the garden. At the sight of the maze, James' eyes lit up. "He made me a maze?"

"You were upset when we were reading about the Triwizard Tournament and that it wasn't around for you to compete in, so he made you and Frank this maze so you could compete."

She handed over two children's wands. "You can both go in once Frank finishes his chocolate."

Frank quickly ate the rest of the chocolate and clutched his wand. "This looks like fun, thank you for inviting me, Mrs Potter."

"Just wait for your father," Euphemia said, looking around. She ignored James' impatient grumbling and held his hand firmly as he tried to bolt towards the maze, until Monty came into view.

"Boys, the maze is ready." Monty said, looking back at the maze proudly. James pulled free from his mother's hand and ran towards it, stumbling on the way. Frank, less excitable than the smaller James, was more composed as he followed.

...oOo...

Monty took his wife's hand and led her around the side of the hedges. "There are two ways to the centre," he said. "The first is the way the boys went. The second is this way. It'll bring us straight to the centre."

"How long before they arrive?" Euphemia asked.

Fleamont smiled. "Twenty minutes, maybe half-an-hour. But the boys can play in here until dinner-time."

"And how long will the hedges last?"

"A week. I'm sure James will have found his next obsession by then."

...oOo...

James was the first to stumble into the small clearing in the middle of the maze, his eyes widening at the sight of his parents. "Brucey tried to eat me!" he exclaimed, grabbing for the basket. "Did I win?"

"You did," his mother confirmed with a smile. It widened when Frank appeared, his eyes lighting up when he saw the cupcakes.

"James may have won, but the cakes are for both of you. I'll get started on dinner now."

She disappeared out of the maze, and James turned to his father.

"I wasn't scared at all," he stated, proudly. "I shot sparks at them and they ran away. They were scared, but I have..." he frowned, searching for the right word.

"Courage," Fleamont stated. "You've got courage."

"I wasn't scared either," Frank quickly added.

"Both of you are brave lads," Fleamont stated. "Now, are you going to go back into the maze or would you like to come back inside?"

"Go back in... but it broke!" James pouted as he held the wand up.

Fleamont took the toy wand and quickly fixed it, applying charms to keep it from breaking so easily next time, and handed it back.

"There we go. Good as new."

James grabbed the wand and thanked his father. "Frank! I'm going to hide in the maze and you have to find me." With that, James disappeared.

"I'll bring these inside for after dinner," Fleamont said, grabbing the basket. Frank smiled at him before running after James.

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