CHRISTOPHER POTTER, MINISTER OF MAGIC, SPEAKS OUT!
The recent rumors that are running rampit in the city of London are all stating that Justin Potter, son of the wealthy widower Christopher Potter, is nothing but a troublemaker who can't keep his hands off women. Pictures have even surfaced showing the young man with different women, young and old, both entering and leaving the Potter manison in the early hours of the morning. Women have even began to from lines at the doors of Witch Weekly, The Daily Prophet and many other newspapers wanting to tell her story. Christopher Potter, outraged by these claims against his son, called a press confrence on Tuesday hoping to dispel the rumors.
"All the blatant rumors that are running through all of these blasted magaizns are nothing but lies. My son has been under attack by the press since before he could learn how to ride a broomstick! I did not say anything about them because the lies that had been printed were so outrageous that an person with an ounce of common sense would know that they were just false allagations. But after what was printed in the last month's editon of Witch Weekly stating that my son was a womanizner is the final straw!"
However, when ever Mr. Potter tried to steer the conversation away from his son another question would be asked and he would have to answer. And when asked about the whereabout's of his son's magical schooling, Mr. Potter had just this to say:
"Where my son goes to school is none of your concern."
Many reporters have searched the schools: Durmstrang and Beauxbatons and Hogwarts from top to bottom in hope of finding even a trace of the elusive young man. But after finding nothing (his name wasn't even on the list of accepteances at Hogwarts!) they were forced to give up their serach. The only logical explanation was that Justin Potter was being home-schooled.
"With his father being the Minister of Magic, it is very possible that he is being home-schooled." says Rebecka Neary, head of the Department of Magical Misuses. "His father is certianly wealthy enough to afford tutors for his son."
But in spite of Mr. Potter's statment about the rumors consering his son did little to halt the rumors. In fact the only thing that Mr. Potter did succssed in doing was making the rumors even worse. They are flying in from all over the country and many of them are landing on the front page, causing utter embarssm--
Christopher Potter put the paper down and sighed. No matter what he did, no matter what he said his son was always under constent attack by the press. Thank god his desceased wife, Elizabeth, had told the press that they had named their son Justin and not James, after his paternal grandfather, and the press has yet to find out James' real name. Soon James was to be leaving to go back to school in two weeks time and he wouldn't have to endure the torment of the lies much longer. Christopher smiled, not only was his son going back to Hogwarts for his seventh and final year but he was made Head Boy as well! Both James and himself were so stunned when they had read the letter.
"Umm...Dad I-I think you want to take a look at this." said a pale James handing his Hogwarts letter to his father.
"What now? Don't tell me you have to serve detetions when you get back because you never served them," taking the letter from his son outstreatched hand, "Okay...okay. 'Please note that the school year will began September the first'...yadda yadda yadda...and 'We are also pleased to inform you that your son was chosen to represent the school by becoming this year's Head Boy!'" said Christopher his voice gaining volume as he contuined to read.
Christopher's head shot up and his bright brown eyes sought out his son's hazel ones. "You're not playing a joke on me are you? If you are it isn't that funny." James' eyes hardened "Dad, you know for a fact I wouldn't joke about something like this."
Christopher sighed and dropped his son's gaze, "Yes, I know that but--" James would never know what his father was going to say for he was cut short when something fell on the floor with a 'clunk'. Both Potters looked down to see the Hogwarts Head Boy badge shining up at them. Both of them stared at it stupidly till Sirius came bounding sown the stairs.
"Top of the mornin'," said Sirius with his usual cheerful smile plastered on his face. "So, what's for breakfeast? I'm starving. You know, I had the weirdest dream last night! Kinda stupid really but there was a pink pixie that could only talk in rhyme, and then there was a bunch of vampires were square dancing. And if you think that's weird you should have seen what they were wearing! They all had on these tacky brown cowboy boots and bandanas tied around their necks!" Sirius broke down laughing. His laughter soon subsided when he noticed he was the only one laughing. "Isn't that hiliarous? Umm...guys you okay?" said Sirius as he waked over to James and waved his hand in front of his face. "Prongs? Prongs! PRONGS!"
"What is it now Paddy?" James asked, not taking his eyes off the badge
"Did you not hear me? I was just talking about my dream. There were vampires and- and they were square dancing!" shouted Sirius.
"Siruis," said Sirius, who had bent down and picked up the badge, "You should take a look at this," tossing it to Sirius. Catching it effortlessly, Siruis glanced down at the object in his hand and gasp.
"Head Boy? What the hell was Dumbledore smoking when he made you Head Boy! I mean, I thought it would be Remus for sure. But you! Oh my god, can you picture the look on Lily's face when she find--" Sirius speech was cut off when James elbowed him in his side. Hard.
"I think Sirius might have a point." Chistopher said slowly, glacing at his son.
James turned around to glare at his father. "Why it's glad to know that my father believes in me." said James causticly.
Christopher was soon shaken out of his thought when a very loud shout -- that sounded alot like "Sirius!" -- came from upstairs. Sirius soon came bounding down the stairs with a very angry James chasing after him. Christopher slowly took in the scene before him: Siruis was very red in the face, trying very hard not to laugh, James was red in the face -- but he was trying to keep his temper in check -- and was soaking wet from head to toe. Christopher put his head in his hands and tried not to laugh. It seemed that Siruis had woken James up but by drenching him with water...again.
"I told you it would get him up!" Siruis choked out, who was laughing outright.
"You are so dead, Black! Mark my words, If you didn't take my wand I'd-I'd--."
"You'd what?" Sirius challenged, twriling James' wand between his fingers.
"I don't know but when it comes to me you won't know what hit you." James growled
"Is that a threat?"
"No, it's a promise!"
"Boys! I think it is time to eat our breakfast peacefully," Christopher said glancing at his son, "and deal with this later."
"Just wait you wait Sirius. Once we get back to Hogwarts you won't no what hit you."
"Do you really think that it would bea good idea Headboyship, when Lilyflower will be Head Girl with you?" said Surius with a glint in his dark eyes.
James scowled at Sirius and began to pick at his breakfast, still dripping wet. ' I sure hope I don't bloody well ruin it with Lily again. This is the last chance I have to get her to like me. We're going to be working together and stay in the same tower.' At that last thought James perked up a bit, maybe this Head Boy stuff won't be so bad after all. 'Now, all I have to do is think of something to get Siruis back.'
"Lilliana! Dad wants you!"
Lily woke up with a jolt. 'Why must Petunia wake me up during the middle of a good dream? Ever single time.' Lily laid back down on her twin size bed and rolled over, pulling her purple sheets over her head. She was not in the mood to listen to her sister's ranting and screeching this early in the morning.
"Freak!!" Petunia screeched once again, this time the yell was accompanied by a loud bang on her wooden door.
Lily groaned and put on of her many colorful pillows over her head trying, in vain, to block ouy her sister's yelling and now the banging on the door.
"GET UP!"
"Alright! Alright! Keep your clothes on!" yelled Lily from under the pillows, althought it came out slightly muffled, "I'm up! I'm up! Geez!"
Lily didn't even bother to get out of bed till she heard Petuina walking away mumbling about having to take another shower since she touched Lily's unnatural door. Lily rolled her eyes, ever since Petunia got engaged to the Vernon guy she has taken to being nastier than ever. Thank god she'll be moving in with the oaf at the end of the week and the last week of her hoilday will be Petunia free. Lily smiled. 'That would be so nice. I'll be able to go to Hogwarts without hearing her screaming about how I go to a school of freaks.
Lily slowly sat up and yawned, "It's too early to be up." She glanced at the lime green clock that rested on her night stand. 'No wonder I'm still tired! It's only 8:30!'
Lily pushed her bright red hair out of her face. She wasn't like the rest of her family, she didn't look like her mom or her dad. She was the youngest of three and was the only one with red hair and freckles. Her mother was slim woman with brown hair and kind toffee eyes, her father on the other hand had dirty blond hair and brillant green eyes. Lily sighed, leave it to her to come out looking like the oddball of the family, or has Petunia puts it: the freak. Instead of looking like her parents, she got her looks from her father's older sister, who Lily was named after.
But Lily was not just different from her family in looks alone. She was a witch, and one of the brightest in her year, having recieved 11 O.W.L.s on her end of the year exams during her fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She was going to be taking her N.E.W.T.s at the end of this year -- her seventh and final year at Hogwarts and she hoped to get a better score. When the letter had first came Lily was overjoyed. It explained everything weird that happened around her like when she forgot her homework at home, it would always appear in her bookbag or when a boy had been calling her names and his hair had turned blue. It all made sense the moment Lily read the letter.
Lily yawned again and walked over to her dresser's mirror and sighed. "Why does my hair always have to rebel against me?" Opening one of her dresser drawers, she grabbed hair brush and tried to brush out the many tangles in her hair, mumbling to herself. " Why can't it be straight like Janets'?"
Because you don't bother with hair potions said a nagging voice in the back of her head.
Lily sighed again it was true, she didn't borther with them since she had more important things on her mind like studying and prefect duties. 'And keeping Potter and his lackeys in line.'
She gave up brushing her hair when she noticed it was getting her nowhere. Walking across her room and opening her school trunk she grabbed her wand -- "Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of williow. Nice wand for charm work". She had turned seventeen three weeks ago and was now legaly allowed to use magic outside school. She had been excited when she was finally allowed to show her family what she could do. Petuina however had screamed ta the top of her lungs when she walked in the family room and saw Lily pointing her wand at a teacup. So loudly, in fact, that Lily had lost her concentration and instead of making the teacup float she had turned it into a rat, causing her sister to scream louder. Her sister didn't talk to her for days, and Lily wasn't that terribly upset about it.
With a flick of her wrist, Lily's unmanagable tangled hair looked...slightly better. It was no longer tangled but it was still frizzy. Lily pouted and blew a strand of hair out of her face, not happy with her hair at the moment. "It's as good as it's going to get." Placing her wand on her dresser and grabbing a hairtie, Lily walked downstairs to the kitchen, throwning her thick hair into a messy bun. Lily sat down at the kitchen table and loaded her plate with eggs and waffles.
"Ah, Lily," said Harold Evans, when he saw his daughter, "It's about time you woke up."
Lily smiled, "I didn't go to bed till late last night. You wanted me?"
"Yes, this just came for you via owl." He pointed a to a thick and heavy envelope, made of yellowish parchment, and the address was written in emerald-green ink. There was no stamp.
Miss L. Evans
The Thrid Bedroom
4 Privet Drive
Surrey
Lily snatched the letter of the table and didn't waste anytime ripping it open. She was rather worried when her letter didn't come when it usually did (in mid-hoilday) and was afriad she wasn't going to get one. Lily shook her head, 'Don't be stupid. Of course you were going to get one and here it is!"
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbleldore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Miss Evans,
Please not that the new school year will begin on Setpember the first. The Hogwarst Express will leave from King's Cross, platform nine and three quarters, promptly at eleven o'clock.
Also, on behalf of the staff of Hogwarts and Borad members, we are please to inform you that you have been chosen to represent the student body as this year's Head Girl . You will be sharing the Head's Tower with this years Head Boy. As one of your responsiblities as Head Girl you are in charge of monitering the prefects meetings that take place on the Hogwarts Express as well as the ones that take place at school.
A lsit of books and dress robes for this year are enclosed.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
Lily gasped and reread the letter just to make sure she read it right. She couldn't bbelieve it. She was Head Girl! She was most likely one of the very few muggleborns to who have ever gotten it.
"Oh my giddy anut. I can't believe it. I'm Head Girl." Lily said quitely, feeling slightly overwhelmed, "Oh my God, I'm Head Girl!!" she shouted, causing her parents and sister to look up from their breakfast. Lily took a deep breath and opened the letter that contained what she would need for the coming year. Reading over it quickly, she noticed that many of the books were very expensive.
:Mum, Dad," Lily said with a frown on her face, "Do you think we can pay for all this? A lot of the books are more expensive than last years'."
"Don't worry Lilliana. We put money aside just for this reason. We can pay for everything." said Lily's mother Brook, who had walked over to her youngest daughter and took a look at her school list, "Don't worry dear. We'll mangae, we always do." She said with a smile directed at her daughter.
"Great going freak," growled Petunia, who was sitting across from Lily, "You' re always wasting are parents' good earned money so you can learn a bunch of magic tricks."
"Oh shove it up your arse Petunia." Lily growled back. She was not in the mood to listen to her arragont sister go on and on.
Petunia's cold toffee eyes, so unlike their mothers', narrowed, "Why you little feak!"
"Come on Petty, " said Lily coolly, using the nickname she had called Petunia when they were kids, "I'm sure you can come up with better insults than that."
Petunia huffed and stormed out of the litchen, with her nose up in the air. Lily smirked as she watched her sister leave before going back to her breakfast.
"You know, you should start treating your sister a bit better," said Brook, as she fixed her youngest with a stern look.
"Why don't you tell her that!? She's the one that always starts the fights, calling me a freak!"
Harold sighed, "We understand that Lily, but one day you're going to regret it. Once your mother and I are gone she is going to be the only person you have left."
Lily looked at her father, "What about Matt? He's my brother!"
"But he doesn't leave in England anymore Lilliana," Brook said quietly, looking at her hands.
"But he's still my brother." Lily said softly, "May I be excused?" Lily asked, looking up at her parents. Seeing her father nod, Lily got up, grabbed her Hogwarts letter and walked back upsrairs. Once she closed the door to her room, Lily flopped on her bed. Lily took out the Head Girl badge in the envelope and placed it on her nightstand, right next to the photograph of her and her older brother, Matt. Lily pulled the bed cover over her head and rolled over so that sge was facing the wall, and went back to sleep.