Power, Prefects and Pigeons

Disclaimer: I do not own the beautiful idea of the Harry Potter world nor any of the characters.

JAMES

Out of all the people to be Head Girl, it had to be bloody Arielle Beauchene, James thought as he angrily packed his clothes for the autumn term. Albus was laughing when he told James; he wondered why he ever admitted that he and Albus were related. Even Lily, who used to follow James around like he was her hero, was enjoying his suffering. Horrible siblings.

James admitted to himself he'd rather battle a Hungarian Horntail wandless than have to spend the next school year cooperating with the she-devil. It was probably some evil scheme by McGonagall to get back at him for exploding all the toilets. Half the time it wasn't even him blowing them up, but his best friend and cousin Fred Weasley! Although, he couldn't deny that he aided and abetted Fred.

James summoned his Quidditch gear, flicked his wand and it neatly packed into his suitcase. Even the thought about playing Quidditch with his team, leading them into a third year to victory and catching the golden snitch, wasn't enough to make him feel at peace.

He would go to McGonagall tomorrow and decline his position, he might be the first ever to do that, but with being Gryffindor Quidditch captain and having his NEWT exams, he didn't think he should have to suffer with Beauchene's schemes.

Arielle Beauchene was a beautiful girl but only on the outside. The combination of her raven curls, porcelain skin, sharp cheekbones, full lips and cobalt eyes made her captivating, and often used it to her advantage. Wherever Beauchene went there was a throng of desperate boys following her. What was even worse was her and a group of friends had the audacity to try and pull more pranks than him and Fred. Honestly they were just amateurs.

"I'm pretty sure if you stare harder at the suitcase anymore it's going to combust," James heard the familiar voice of his dad state. He turned around to find Harry Potter leaning against the doorway.

James gave his father a long hard look, "If you found out your Head Girl was Voldemort incarnated you'd have the same look." His father's face twitched. "Oh shi- sorry Dad, I wasn't thinking when I said that, I mean.. I forgot about the whole fact he had a daughter. I forgot you had to watch what happened that night…"

James couldn't bring himself to say 'when your parents died'. He felt like such an incompetent idiot. He knew he was named after his James Potter, his grandfather, and he couldn't even fathom the pain his Dad was in. If he had to watch his parents die and not do anything about it… James wouldn't let himself think it; he couldn't let himself think it.

Ever since that event, his brother Albus had seemingly got along with his parents more, and Lily started joking around with him almost as much as she did with James. James knew he shouldn't feel left out – he had the spotlight so many times when Albus didn't- but he couldn't help feeling a little bit left behind.

His dad smiled, though it failed to meet his eyes, "James it's fine. I used to think that about Draco Malfoy, I think during school I hated him more than I hated my cousin Dudley, and that was a lot. I have to admit, if I found out I had to spend a whole year working with him, at the time I would have wanted to blow up a suit case too. But I was full of prejudices against him then and didn't really think how similar he was to me."

"Dad this is different," James complained. "We're talking about the girl who hexed me last year, you know the one who gave me a snout for a week." He shuddered at the memory.

Harry Potter raised an eyebrow, "And you didn't do anything to provoke that James?"

"No… Well yes, kind of. All I said was the truth. Her friend Greta Higgs only got promoted to be Quidditch captain because Gareth Bole– the last Slytherin Captain, was in a relationship with Arielle for the whole of his seventh year."

James didn't think he'd ever been that angry before , it didn't help that the Slytherins were chanting 'oink oink' wherever he went, some even going as far to call him Piggy Potter. Despite Madam Pomfrey's best attempts to return it into his normal nose, the transfiguration teacher Professor Nagendra finally fixed it. Being the head of Slytherin, James assumed he knew how to fix it straight away but was having fun watching James agonise.

"Of all the things I've learnt is that woman can and will be fiercely protective over those who they care about. I think you might have deserved the snout son…. Also I learnt to never trust a pigeon."

"He's right," His mother popped her head around the door frame. "Except for the pigeon thing, ignore your father on that one."

James didn't think he really wanted to know what was up with his Dad and pigeons.

"Fine," James huffed.

His father murmured good night before shutting the door. James decided he wasn't going to give up being Head Boy because that would mean Beauchene would win. He'd tolerate her snarky comments and scheming but if she even thought about striking against him, James Potter would attack back, twice as hard and with the fury of a lion.


Platform 9¾ was a scene of parents hugging their children, children promising to write as soon as they arrived, plus there was always that one first year who had to be dragged on the train kicking and screaming because they didn't want to go. Overall James found it a very relaxing atmosphere.

James' mother enclosed him in a hug that would probably break his bones if he moved too much. Her chocolate eyes gleamed, "I'll see you at Christmas and please behave yourself."

James raised an eyebrow, "I'm Head Boy. Head Boy always behaves himself."

Ginny Potter rolled her eyes, "Oh for the love of Merlin, I don't even know why I try with you."

"Because I'm your favourite child, your firstborn and all-round perhaps the best son a parent could hope for – just to name a few."

His mum laughed, tilting her head back. James wouldn't admit it to anyone, but always being able to make his mum laugh was one of his greatest achievements. Every now and again, darkness would cloud her face; James couldn't blame her – she lost loved ones in the Wizarding war, including a brother, and had been possessed by Voldemort in her first year. James had always been determined after hearing those cruel stories that every day, no matter what, if he was with her, he'd make his mother laugh.

His mother turned her attention towards his siblings as James' dad grinned at his eldest, "What your mother said really. Oh, and try not to give McGonagall a heart attack this year, because you were pretty close for the last three years."

"Her heart only starts racing because she definitely has a thing for me Dad. Although I have to admit I don't blame her," James said.

"That explains why she made you Head Boy."

James faked mock hurt, "Excuse me. I am Head Boy because I am a model student."

The Hogwarts express let out its signature whistle warning the students it was close to departing. James waved at his parents as he and his siblings clambered on the train. James started to wonder down to the front of the train much to his reluctance and face the responsibilities of Head Boy.

"Oi James!" Fred Weasley popped his head round from the closest apartment, "Saved your lazy arse a seat. Michael Jordan's got a tarantula! Reckon we should find a way to duplicate it and infiltrate the girls' toilet with it."

"While that sounds beautiful, and I really mean it, I unfortunately have other things to do," James pulled out the crimson and gold badge from his pocket and twizzled it around, "I have to be the fearless leader who leads around the prefect prats this year.

Fred laughed, "Oh this is gold! Michael you need to see this."

Michael Jordan's dark face slid around, "James this is just embarrassing."

"I agree, I think we should stop being friends with him."

"I've thought about that for a long time if we're going to be honest."

James grinned, "Think you boys have forgotten who now has the power to give detentions. Might get you boys spending some quality time with Filch."

Both Fred and Michael shuddered at the thought of spending more time with Hogwarts' caretaker. James wasn't quite sure why he worked at Hogwarts; he hated children, he hated any magic wielder, he hated mess, thinking about it the only thing he likes was his cat. But you could live alone with a cat anywhere. However Filch had a special sort of hatred for the three Gryffindor students, he made it his personal mission to give them as many detentions as possible.

"Well, when you've finished being a goody-two-shoes you can join us in the fun compartment," Fred huffed. He closed the compartment door with a theatrical slam. As James walked passed he was certain he could hear the word 'traitor' being yelled out.

As James finally arrived at the Prefect compartment, he was vexed to see that Beauchene had already arrived before him, sitting there reading a book. He closed the door loudly to signal he was arrived, but even as the compartment shuddered Arielle paid him no attention. However, the ugly fluffy white thing next to her, which some might call a cat, was staring at James intently.

"Seriously?" James arched his eyebrow, "Beauchene are you really going to ignore your favourite, most dashingly handsome Gryffindor?"

This was James Potter being as civil as he could be. He'd make her think that he was willing to get along and then he would blindside her. There was something about Beauchene that infuriated him.

Beauchene dramatically closed her book and lifted her face towards James studying him as if he was a piece of chewing gum on her shoe. She smiled a feral cat smile, "Morning Potter." The way she said Potter was like she had some inside joke James didn't quite know.

"The prefect patrols need to be sorted out before they start coming in to the carriage," she continued sounding very bored, "If that's too complicated for you I'll understand."

James was surprised it took her 30 seconds to insult him, usually she only lasted about 5. He clapped together his hands, saying drily "Let's get started. I can't begin to tell you how thrilled I've been since I found I'd get to work alongside you."

She rolled her eyes, grabbed a piece of parchment and a very dainty expensive looking quill out of her bag and started to write, "Slytherin prefects should patrol the last carriage, that's where most of my house is. They won't listen to Gryffindors or Hufflepuffs at all."

"Throw in a few Ravenclaws," James murmured looking over at the parchment, "Otherwise your house will end up torturing a few muggle-born first years for the hell of it.

Beauchene looked annoyed but she didn't argue, "You need to get your head out of your arse, not all Slytherins are evil Potter. Sure we have a certain disregard for the rules, but so does Gryffindor."

"Your house also has a certain tendencies to enjoy cruelty and brutality."

"For the sake of not arguing, let's just agree that I'm right." James was about to interrupt but she steered away the conversation, "Do you know some of the fifth year prefects – I know the Slytherin, the Ravenclaws sound familiar, there's your cousin, but I don't know the other three.

James peered over at the names of the list of prefects, "Where did you get these?"

"It got sent to us with our badges Potter."

"Ah yes," James wished he read the rest of his Hogwarts letters now rather than just picking up the badge and laughing. Probably would have made him less of an idiot. Before Beauchene could hurl another insult at him, "Jake Fleet is a Hufflepuff chaser and a good sportsman so he'll be fine. Madeline Maltby is one of Rose's friends so she'll probably be a stickler for rules. And honestly, Yann Fredericks is such a prat I can't believe he made it to prefect level."

For a second, James swore he made Beauchene smile. For one he felt lest inclined to punch her pretty little face.

"We could always throw him in the last carriage; throw him to the snakes so to speak. He might be a little less of a prat then."

"If you're going to do that team him up with the troll lookalike Slytherin girl from the sixth year. If we're going piss him off, we might as well commit to it."

James Sirius Potter would have never believed that he would use the word 'we' when referring himself to Beauchene. They had never been a 'we' not for the past six years attending Hogwarts.

Time surprisingly flew by as they delegated positions to the prefects, and not before long the prefects entered the compartment. Some of the prats gazed at James like he was an idol, since they all inspired to be a head one day, and James couldn't help himself but bathe in that glory. Even his cousin Rose was impressed and she was never usually impressed with James.

Maybe being Head Boy wasn't so bad after all, it might be a breeze.

However James Potter was very mistaken.

Author's note: Thank you so much for the reviews and follows! It definitely boosts the morale, any reviews – constructive criticism, ideas or thoughts are very welcome!

I couldn't help but include the bit in the cursed child about Harry being scared of pigeons it was gold! Next POV will be Rose and then Albus will follow.

Hpgirl – glad you enjoyed it!