"I'm bored," James Potter complained loudly. It was raining, and he had nothing to do.
His cousins Rose, Hugo, and Victorie were over. So was one of his favorite people in the world, Teddy Lupin. Hugo and his brother Albus were playing a game of Wizard's chess in the corner. Rose and Lily, his younger sister, were sitting on the floor, listening to the wireless.
"I have an idea!" Hugo exclaimed. "Let's play hide-and-seek!"
"I'm in," Albus said. "How about you, Rose?"
"Lily and I would love to play," she replied. "Should we ask Teddy and Victorie if they want to join us?"
Al nodded.
"Hey, Teddy!" James shouted. "Come over here! And bring Victorie with you, too!"
A moment later, Teddy appeared, his hair bright blue, with Victorie following behind him.
"What's up, James?" he asked.
"Do you two wanna play hide-and-seek with all of us?" James asked.
"Sure," Victorie replied, brushing a piece of strawberry blonde hair out of her eyes. "What are the rules?"
"Well," Lily began, "when we usually play hide-and-seek around here, you can hide anywhere you want, except for in the basement or in Mum and Daddy's room."
"Alright then," Victorie said. "Who wants to be it?"
"I'll do it," Teddy offered. "You've got one hundred seconds to hide! I'll start counting here."
James and his cousins all hurried off into different directions. He was determined to find a really good hiding spot.
Where can I go? he thought. It has to be a good hiding spot where nobody can find me.
As he walked down the hallway, he found the small closet that nobody ever used.
I should hide here! James thought. Teddy won't be able to find me. Nobody uses this closet anyway.
As he opened the door, he saw Victorie's face staring straight at him.
"Don't hide here!" she hissed. "Find another spot!"
Disappointed, James closed the door to the closet and went to find somewhere else to hide. Unfortunately for him, he found Hugo, Al, and Lily in the other places he had his eyes on.
"What am I going to do now?" he muttered to himself. "All the good places are taken!"
He walked up the stairs, hoping he could find an available hiding spot up there. As soon as James reached the top, he heard Teddy shout,
"Ready or not, here I come!"
In desperation, James ran into his father's study and crawled under the desk.
"OUCH!" he shouted, having hit his head.
The desk shook, causing a few things to fall off and land in front of him.
He looked at the fallen objects. There was a Pocket Sneakscope, a few old pictures of his dad with Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione when they were teens, and a worn, tattered piece of parchment.
James picked up the piece of parchment with interest. Why would his dad have something so… old? Was it important?
Suddenly, writing appeared on the parchment.
James gasped in shock.
To activate, say 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.'