Here is some James! And a little more Al.


CHAPTER 4: QUIDDITCH

James and Al

2 October 2018

James Sirius Potter grabbed a piece of bread as he turned towards his younger brother and two cousins. "It's hot today, so we'll have a hard kickoff. The sun's glare might be a problem, so avoid being blinded, or, better yet—"

"—maneuver your opponents so they're facing it," Fred finished, smirking.

James nodded. "Exactly." He glanced at his brother and was unsurprised to see him looking slightly green. "Obviously Gareth is going to be focusing on you newbies, instead of those of us who were on the team last year"—he watched with interest as Al's face turned a shade greener—"but you're a damn good player, Al. So don't do something stupid like wet your pants."

His brother, ungrateful swine that he was, didn't reply.

Dom winked at the younger boy. "Between the seeker and two chaser spots, you're bound to get something."

Fred's wand twirled lazily in his grasp. "Who else is going to make the team, do you reckon? I heard Sam Corner, from your year Al, is going to tryout. He's Demelza and Michael's son, so if he's any good—"

"Not good enough," interrupted James. His mum was close with the Corners, and James had seen the second-year play numerous times before.

Alice, who had been watching them with a bored expression, cut in before Fred could reply. "Must all your conversations revolve around Quidditch? Look—" she gestured at Rose who had been studiously ignoring her family as she poured over that morning's edition of the Dailey Prophet. Dark figures moved under a large headline. "Real world things."

James raised his eyebrows dubiously.

"Rose, what's got you so engrossed?" Alice finished desperately.

"Huh?" Rose looked up brushing bushy hair away from her eyes. "Oh." Her brow furrowed. "There's been a series of attacks across England. They think it's a group working in tandem given how spread out they've been. Dark magic, seemingly random targets…" she trailed off.

"Dark attacks happen all the time," James waved his hand. Indeed, although it was nowhere near as bad as it had been during—or even right after the wars—pockets of dark spell-casters were always emerging and fading away across the country. It had freaked James out the first five hundred times his father got involved but now he was used to it. "Now, Quidditch on the other hand—"

James grinned as he saw a smirking Rose meet Alice's eyes briefly. "Trust me. It's no use," he heard his younger cousin mutter.

James reconsidered his grin as he saw Alice's eyes glint dangerously.

"Fred! Stop talking with James about damn Quidditch!" the brown-haired girl yelled.

"Sure, princess," Fred winked. James glared at him. "Err, I mean later," his cousin amended, before glancing again at Alice. "I mean—"

"Whipped," Dom coughed. "Twice over. Does Alice know of your and James' secret love affair?"

"You're just jealous because you want a boyfriend," Fred threw back, shoving away the arm a grinning James had snaked around him.

"My one true love is Quidditch. No boy could compete," said Dom.

"Not to mention you're loud, blunt, and vivacious, sorry vicious, in everything from paybacks to Quidditch," James murmured.

Dom grinned. "That too."

"Who are you looking for?" James suddenly changed topics, staring at his brother as he caught the younger boy during what must have been his dozenth glance around the room since the start of their conversation. Al jumped, startled.

"I'm waiting for Scorpius," he replied.

"What?" James scowled. Since whatever it was that had gone down between Al, Rose, Scorpius, the new second-year, and the bullies from Slytherin and Ravenclaw, his brother had been spending quite a bit of time with the Malfoy heir. James did not approve. "We need to work on your friend choosing skills," he decided. He saw Lucy and Roxy at the Slytherin table sitting amidst a group of first years, before nodding towards them. "See. They know how to choose respectable friends."

Al glanced over before scowling back. "James there are kids of Death Eaters there too." James noticed with interest that Al's bright green eyes took on the fierce look they occasionally got. "Remember what Dad said? Prejudices—"

"The Malfoys are the most prejudiced family in existence. Please. Come to your senses and return to trading hexes with him instead of cups of tea." Rose had finally looked up from her paper.

"What she said," said James, reaching for treacle tart. He cocked his head casually. "I don't think Malfoy's going to arrive anytime soon anyway."

Al's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What? Why?"

"Well, I saw Damien Rosier and Lucas Parkinson head toward the Gryffindor common room mentioning his name..."

Al yelped before rapidly getting up and running away. Fred and Dom started snickering, while Alice's eyes widened.

"Did you really?"

"No. But did you notice how Al's no longer drowning in his nerves about Quidditch?" James smirked, before turning towards Rose, a disapproving stare on his face. "You need to keep a better leash on my brother. What were you thinking, letting him convince Malfoy to try out for the Quidditch team?"

Rose eyebrows narrowed, but before she could open her mouth, the group was interrupted by another voice.

"Is Al around?"

James whirled around. Standing before them was the new second-year. Blake. Over the past couple of weeks, the dark-haired boy had transitioned from a quiet, invisible shadow to a quiet, present shadow, always attached to either Al or Scorpius. Despite the rumors flying about Blake's takedown of the bullies—not to mention his continuing prowess in class—James found the younger boy to be oddly vulnerable looking. As the three older students considered him for several long seconds, he could see Blake's shoulders tense.

"Never m—" the boy began to say.

"Al just went to go retrieve Scorpius. He should be back soon," Rose interrupted.

"Why don't you sit down?" James added.

"I'll go find Al," Blake spun on his heels, appearing as if he hadn't heard him.

"James was giving Al some Quidditch tips. Since you're trying out, you might want to talk to him," said Rose.

"Wait, you're trying out?" Fred's voice was disbelieving.

James found himself looking into dark blue eyes as Blake's head turned. Then, without warning, the boy shrugged before walking off without another word.

James's brother had the oddest taste in friends.

o0O0o

Al threw a pillow at the pale blonde in front of him.

"Potter. What exactly do you think you're doing?" Icy gray eyes bore into him as Scorpius looked up from lacing his shoes. Seph snorted from where he was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, watching the pair.

"We're going to be late. Hurry up," Al said.

Scorpius stared at him for a second longer, before rolling his eyes. "Alright. Hold your hippogriffs." The blonde straightened before grabbing his broomstick—a Suncatcher—off of his bed. He smirked as Seph ducked out of the arm he tried to throw around the shorter boy. "And here I thought our friendship meant something," said Scorpius.

Seph raised his eyebrows as the trio began making their way down the stairs. "Hardly. I just put up with you for Al's sake."

"I'm wounded," Scorpius drawled.

"Stop baiting him," Al told the blonde.

"I like baiting him. It's how I satisfy my curiosity since he bloody evades all our questions about him."

Al winced as Seph suddenly stilled. He could see a flicker of surprise dart across Seph's face before it smoothed into a guarded expression. Al cut in before the other boy could speak, and cobalt eyes shifted to him warily. "We're not daft," he said carefully. "Yes, you've told us the basics—you never knew your parents, a wizarding family took you in…but you always change the topic when the conversation turns to your background."

Seph suddenly looked away. "I don't avoid your questions," he said quietly.

Al and Scorpius exchanged looks.

"Ok," Al broke the tension. "Let's hurry. There is no way in Azkaban I'm missing tryouts."

Seph was quiet the rest of the way to the field.

o0O0o

5 November 2018

"—a brilliant pass from Potter and WOOD-BELL SCORES BRINGING THE SCORE TO A WHOPPING 100-30 GRYFFINDOR! Slytherin back in possession—Rosier passes to Greengrass—but Potter snipes it out of the air yet again!" Excitement laced Max Boot's voice as he yelled out over the Quidditch pitch.

"Wood-Bell's legacy stacked team seems determined to smash all suggestions that they were picked for their fame instead of their talent. Potter—that is Al, not James—in particular is pulling off an incredible debut proving that he, even more than his older brother perhaps, has inherited the talent of his mother, former Holyhead Harpies Chaser Ginny Potter.

Boot ducked as a bludger came whizzing near his head. "Looks like James took offense to that," he chuckled. "Rosier has the Quaffle again…he's close enough to the Gryffindor hoop…he shoots…and Weasley blocks the goal!"

"Malfoy grabs the Quaffle—but wait—it seems Blake, the Gryffindor Seeker, has seen the snitch!"

James paused in the air, head swiveling around to see a tiny figure darting in a tight arc near the Gryffindor goalposts. If Al was an incredible player—which he was, not that James would ever say that out loud—Seph wasn't far behind.

"Smith is hot on Blake's heels—"

James sped towards Seph as he saw the Slytherin chaser closing in. From the angle he was coming in from, he suddenly saw both Bludgers racing towards Seph. James felt his stomach turn. Seph had clearly not noticed the soaring black balls and was still streaking after the snitch. James could not reach both Bludgers in time, and Fred was on the other side of the field where he had been assisting the chasers.

The commentary paused as Boot and the crowd noticed the situation. James saw Seph glance behind him at the Bludgers, before the seeker turned back around and leaned forward, urging his broom to go faster.

"Blake ignores the Bludgers and continues after the Snitch. He doesn't seem to realize he isn't going fast enough—"

James took a deep breath—

"Thwack!"

"An unbelievable hit from Potter who whacks one Bludger straight into the other, knocking both of path! And BLAKE CATCHES THE SNITCH! 250-30! A devastating win by Gryffindor! Wood-Bell again shows off his legendary captaining skills with the four Potter-Weasleys tearing up the field! The two newcomers did not disappoint either! Slytherin's not going to be able to recover—"

James ignored the rest of the commentary as he sped towards his team. As they all collided into each other, James could see Al, Scorpius, and Seph grinning. Seph turned to smile at him, and James realized this was the first time he had seen the younger boy so carefree.

"All hail King Gareth! King Gareth!" James, Fred, and Dom began chanting, punching their captain who snorted and pushed them away.

The seven Gryffindors began to stumble their way back to the castle, surrounded by the rest of their cheering house. James—along with Fred and Dom—was reverently telling everyone that Gareth was even better than his older brother Jack.

"—Gareth! All hail King Gareth!"

The crowd began slowing in front of them, however, and James frowned as the cause of the delay came into view. About a dozen Ministry officials were apparating onto the scene. James recognized what seemed to be their leader, a man name Rufus Fudge, nephew of the late Minister of Magic. He ransacked his mind, trying to remember more. That's right. His dad had said that Fudge was part of a faction of Ministry members who were part of the old government, but still remained influential due to their substantial connections and wealth.

The crowd had grown silent, and James suddenly realized the Ministry members were making their way towards the Gryffindor team. Suddenly, Fudge pointed his wand at a white-faced Seph.

"What is the meaning of this, Fudge? Why are you pointing a wand at my student?" McGonagall's furious voice suddenly came from the crowd, who parted to make way for her.

Fudge sneered at her. "Your student needs to come in for questioning. Our aurors are telling us that the dark attacks are more widespread and organized than we originally thought. They also have begun reflecting the patterns of another group we knew well: Death Eaters."

McGonagall voice was as terrifying as James had ever heard it. "We talked about this when Seph Blake was admitted to my school. He is a twelve year-old. You will not jump to conclusions about him."

"About him?" Fudge's voice was unexpectedly vicious.

James glanced at Seph's parchment white face, which had no remaining traces of the happiness that had been there minutes earlier. The rest of the crowd had fallen completely still.

"Seph Blake is not just a twelve year-old. Twenty-one years ago, a Death Eater cast a spell to artificially impregnate a witch and leave her in stasis for several years. It was a fail safe—" Fudge began.

"Rufus. You will not speak of this here." Was McGonagall threatening Fudge?

"—so the caster's spawn could emerge years later, with no obvious ties to the Death Eater and safe in the case that the Death Eaters were eradicated."

"Rufus!"

"This boy is the result," Fudge spat out the last sentence, eyes gleaming as they locked with the Headmistress's. He ignored her brandished wand. "I know, because I was one of the few trusted with the secret of his existence up until now. But the Death Eater didn't perform the spell using himself."

James wasn't the only one whose eyes were darting between the Ministry official, Headmistress, and second-year student. Fudge looked triumphant. McGonagall's expression promised retribution. Seph looked as if he was trapped in a nightmare he couldn't get out of.

"This boy is Voldemort's son. Seph Riddle. Are you really going to defend him?"

McGonagall seemed to deflate as two Ministry officials seized Seph's arms and began hauling him away. Seph didn't protest. Didn't look back at any of the students.

"Stop! You can't—" Out of the corner of his eye, James could see Fred holding a struggling Al who was yelling at the figures holding his friend. As he turned towards the pair, he saw his younger brother break free and sprint towards the officials, but with a crack, they were all gone, before Al could reach them.


A/N: And now you know who Seph is. Reactions? What's going to happen with Seph?