James's Birthday – 27 March 1971
It was James's favourite day of the year. His birthday, and today was even better. He was turning eleven which meant only the greatest thing in the entire world. Hogwarts. Jess had woken him up the same way she had done since they were children, by ecstatically jumping on his bed and shrieking happy birthday. Their parents had learnt over the years to ensure an early night before significant events as they would be woken up at the crack of dawn by their two enthusiastic children.
James sat at the breakfast table, bolting down his French toast whilst continually glancing at the open window.
"Where is it? You don't think they've forgotten do you?" James said worriedly after his glance failed to show any owls on the horizon.
Eleanor laughed, "Darling, I'm sure they haven't forgotten. Why don't you slow down? You're going to choke."
Her eyes slid to Jess who was sitting dejectedly next to James, unlike her brother she was picking at her French toast unenthusiastically, occasionally smiling at her brother's happiness but it didn't quite meet her eyes. Glancing at Harold, Eleanor could see the slight furrow between his eyes. Jess's dejection had not gone unnoticed by him.
Suddenly, James bolted for the window with a squeal. "Look! Look! An owl! My letter!"
James bounced on the balls of his feet waiting eagerly for the owl, when it landed on the sill he snatched the letter with joy and rushed back to the table. He waved at his parents who smiled happily back. James's smile faltered a little. "What if I didn't get in?" he said quietly.
"Don't be ridiculous James, Open it!" James smiled at his dad and ripped the letter open.
"Dear Mr Potter. We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry! I got in!"
"Congratulations Son." Harold said, giving James a hug. Eleanor too embraced her son.
James turned to Jess. "Look Minnie! I got in! We're going to have so much fun! I can't wait to explore the castle, and I'll get my own wand! It'll be such an adventure! Minnie? Minnie…what's wrong?" James looked horrified as his sister began to cry. "Are you feeling ok? Do you need your potion?" He asked quickly. Jess quickly shook her head. "I'm so sorry Jamie. I'm so happy for you! I am. It's just…"
"Don't worry Minnie, you'll get your letter soon!"
Jess nodded glumly, "Yeh, Jamie. I'll get mine in December."
James stopped. "But. The train leaves in September! How?"
"Jess will be going after you James dear. She'll be a year behind you. I thought you knew?" Eleanor said softly. She and Harold looked stricken. They hadn't thought to discuss the matter with James, they thought he was aware. Jessamin had discussed it with them before, and they had presumed she had told James, just like she did everything.
"I didn't point it out to him. This day is supposed to be special and I'm ruining it… sorry."
James was staring at his letter now as if it were going to bite him, he then looked at his sister's tear streaked face before determinedly ripping his letter in half. His parents and Jess cried out in shock and tried to stop him but he shook his head. "I'll wait and go next year with Jess. We go together or not at all. Twins shouldn't be separated!"
"Jamie! You're being silly! I know we've always called ourselves twins but we're not really and Hogwarts won't see it that way."
"I don't care. I'm not going without you and that's that! I'm going to my room."
James sprinted to his room, trying to hide his tears.
Jess silently stepped forward and picked up the pieces of the letter and held them out to her Dad.
"You should repair it. He'll want to keep it when he changes his mind." She left, following James to his room.
Harold and Eleanor glanced at each other, and nodded. They would be having a word with Dumbledore about special consideration. Jess would be the youngest in her year but she would be much happier with James and they felt better with Jess being there to keep an eye on James.
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SEPTEMBER 1971
"We're going to be late!" Jess stood by the door, her trunk packed ready beside her, her brother slid down the stairs, a piece of toast in his mouth, his hair thoroughly wild.
"Jamie, where's your trunk?" There was a popping sound and his trunk appeared with Kenna standing next to it. "Master James, your trunk sir, and Master James is needing for Kenna to fix his hair." Grumbling slightly James bent down so that Kenna could comb his hair, rolling his eyes at Jess who shook her head. "I can't believe you James. Kenna don't worry about him, he likes his hair messy." Kenna frowned, "Young mistress is forgetting that Mistress tells Kenna to do it. Kenna is doing as the Mistress commands." The house-elfs eyes shifted worriedly, James stood up quickly.
"Thanks Kenna. Could you please go tell Mum and Dad we're ready?"
"Right away Young Master, oh Kenna will be missing the young sir and miss whens they are off at Hogwarts." Kenna reached into the pocket of her uniform and pulled out a handkerchief, dabbing at her eyes, then she vanished with a pop.
"You took advantage."
"Shuddup Minnie, you saw her! She wanted to pack for me!"
"And get you breakfast in your room? And clean your room? Even though Mum told you to stop asking as she had a lot to do for their charity gala?"
James grinned sheepishly.
"So you two ready to go then?"
Eleanor stood at the second flood landing, laughing slightly at her children. Jess and James nodded eagerly. "Well, let me go and get ready then." The children groaned, "Muuuummm you're already ready!"
"What's the occasion dears for such hastiness?"
"Oh come off it mum!"
"James, watch your tone when you talk to your mum." Harold Potter came and stood next to his wife.
"Yes sir. But can we leave now… please?"
The adult looked at their children, bouncing eagerly on the balls of their feet. "Well… I suppose so." They got down the stairs, and Harold went out to fetch the car. Apparating with all their Hogwarts gear into a crowded station wasn't the best idea. As Harold helped load the trunks into the car, fending off Kenna's help, he noticed James attempting to sneak an extra bag into his trunk.
"And what might those be?"
James shot up like a rocket, "Nothing mum." As he attempted to hide the bag behind his back.
Eleanor simply held out a hand. James sighed wearily as he placed the shrink-all-bag into her hand. She opened it and sighed, "Honestly Jamie, did you really expect to get this in? First years aren't allowed brooms, and I certainly don't think Filch, (James swore he heard his father cough *Old Geezer* under his breath) would appreciate you taking in this many dungbombs… or the filibuster fireworks." Jess snorted.
Their mother shook her head and handed the bag to the now sobbing house-elf, "Kenna dear, would you be so kind as to take this back up to James room? After you've said goodbye of course."
Jess and James jerked backwards as a hysterical house-elf ran into their legs, clinging onto one of theirs each and bawling. "You is best be behaving when you is there! And Kenna will be asking her cousin to be making sure you is taken care of." She conjured two bags filled with baked goods and sweets then popped away, now positively howling.
"Mums and Kenna's biscuits! Score!" James said, rooting through his bag of goodies. Jess rolled her eyes, food and Quidditch, the two things her brother were most concerned with.
Running through the barrier had been scary. Even though Jess had watched James run through at break neck speed and not crash, she was still dubious. James offering to go first, hadn't just been because of eagerness, he'd never let Jess do anything unless he was sure it was safe first, so she knew she'd be fine really, but running at a solid brick wall didn't seem to be the smartest thing. Nor something that wouldn't attract the attention of local muggles, but who was she to argue with tradition?
The platform was bustling. Children and parents were everywhere, all wading through the smoke coming out of the Hogwarts Express. Eleanor and Harold exchanged knowing looks at seeing the kid's awed faces. "Just wait till you see Hogwarts" Eleanor whispered into their ears. Once their trunks were loaded, James and Jess stood in front of their parents. Eleanor hugged James tightly, as Harold hugged Jess. "Be safe Princess, keep that brother of yours out of trouble."
"I'll miss you Dad, And I can't promise anything for Jamie."
Jess was then wrapped in the arms of her mum, the scent of pine and rosemary clung to her mums robes and she was comforted by its familiarity. Harold shook James's hand, and then drew him in for a hug. "You'll be wonderful. I'm sure you're mother already told you not to cause too much trouble. Look after Jessamin, make sure she takes her potion. While I'm not there, you have to take care of her for me." James eyes slid over to his sister who was reassuring their mum that she had taken her dose for the morning and would remember to take the next one. "I promise Dad."
Harold nodded and stepped back. "Now before you go, we have a present for you." He raised a hand, and tapped his palm with his wand. A flash of smoke, and there was a cage, inside it was an owl.
"She's gorgeous!" Jess gushed as Harold passed the cage to James.
The owl was a black barn owl, incredibly rare, with large black eyes surrounded by orange and black feathers. She was beautiful. "Wicked! Thanks Mum! Thanks Dad!" James and Jess hugged their parents again in thanks.
"Well what are you going to name her? Be quick mind, the train is about to leave."
"She needs a pretty name for such a pretty face! Look James, the colours remind me of the sky at early evening. Don't you think?"
"Evening… Searâ!, that should be her name!"
Jess looked at James startled, she opened her mouth to protest then closed it.
"That's perfect… Thank you Jamie. Mama would have loved that."
"Well off with you now! Don't cause too much trouble. If I hear of you pranking there will be trouble." James and Jess smiled, and with one final hug boarded the train. As the two leaned out a window and waved, their parents waved back. Eleanor took out a handkerchief with her other hand and wiped her eyes. "I can't believe they're going. All grown up!"
"They'll be fine darling. The house will certainly be quite. Though I believe Hogwarts will be in for a bit of a shock with all the pranking ammo you let Jess take."
Eleanor grinned, "Let them think they got away with it just this once. Filch deserves it, the amount of times he busted us. Old coot."
The two continued to wave, even as the train pulled away.
They didn't hear James exited exclamation of "Wicked!" as Jess told him the decoy had worked and all their prank gear was safe.
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AN:
Seara in Romanian means 'evening'
And this is the image that I based the Owl off J Please review! Happy Reading.
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