"Mum, can I go flying before dinner? Pleeaasssee," asked James.
"No, I already told you that you have to wait until your father gets home. I don't want you flying without a little more training," replied Hermione.
"But dad is on a mission. Who knows when he'll get back. And Freddie told me that he's been flying every day this week."
"James Potter, that is enough whining. Your dad will be back soon enough, but until then, NO flying. I mean it."
As James grunted and walked away, Hermione felt a tinge of guilt. Harry had been gone for a whole week already, and she knew how much James was eager to learn how to fly and play quiditch. But, just the thought of getting on a broom made her stomach flip and she honestly didn't have time to watch him.
As she attempted to make dinner, she heard James arguing with Albus only a few moments later in the living room.
"Al, you have to make your dragon fight mine. Get your nose out of that book and stop being such a prat."
"I'm not a prat. You're a prat. You're the one who made your dragon turn into a pansy little butterfly!"
"Want to see me turn you into a butterfly, you little –"
"James, Albus, that is enough! No more arguing. James, go to your room, and don't come out until dinner. Albus, do not egg your brother on. You can finish reading your book while I'm busy." The two boys smirked at each other before separating and Hermione was glad they didn't continue their charades.
Unfortunately, ten minutes later, Hermione heard Lilly start crying from the playroom. As she scooped her 4 and ½ year old daughter with strawberry blonde curls into her arms, she tried to survey the situation. When she asked Lilly what was wrong, she only cried harder, but pointed her finger outside.
"Ja, Jamie mess, messed up, my, my painting," the little girl sputtered out between wails. Hermione quickly looked around the room and saw paint splattered across the walls and her finger painting smudged against a window that had been opened. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw James whipping around on his broom outside. Absolutely furious, Hermione carried her crying daughter downstairs and out to the back porch.
"JAMES SIRIUS POTTER. YOU GET OFF THAT BROOM THIS INSTANCE. How dare you directly disobey me! You just wait until your father gets home and –"
"Oy! I don't know if the father wants to come home to this!" replied harry jokingly as he appeared in the house looking startled by the chaos he had walked into.
Hermione turned around and her red and blisteringly angry face immediately softened. "Oh, Harry. You're home! It's so wonderful to see you darling." She gave him a quick kiss, before handing him Lilly, who was still crying, though much more gently now.
"Oh Lilly Lu, tell daddy what's wrong," said Harry as he cradled the little girl in a pink corduroy jumper.
"Well, for starters, your son has been quite the trouble maker today!" Hermione began to explain a litany of James' mischief when the little boy with unruly black hair came tumbling towards his dad at 100 miles an hour, broom in hand.
"Dad, dad, you're home, you're home!" exclaimed James.
Soon after, the thumping of Albus' feet could also be heard in the distance. Al had retreated to the haven of his room amidst all the chaos that was ensuing. (He found all the crying, yelling, and flying to be rather distracting while trying to read his book on two wizards who took adventures all around the world from a magic treehouse). "Dad! Is that you? You're home!" cried Albus as he ran into his dad's arms.
Hermione took a moment to smile and remember this picture: all three of her kids wrapped around Harry. She smiled and suddenly forgot how she could have been so angry only moments ago.
"Yes, kids. I'm back and I truly did miss you all so much! But, I must say, while it's good to see you, I am not entirely pleased on the scene I just walked into and all the trouble it sounds like you guys have been putting your mum through while I've been gone. First, James, you need to apologize to your sister. You messed up her picture and you got paint everywhere."
"I'm sorry Lil. I didn't mean to mess up your painting. It was an accident and I promise to help you paint another one tomorrow," said James with a genuine smile.
"It's okay Jamie. I forgwive you," replied Lilly.
"Good. Now, you also need to apologize to your mother, who you directly disobeyed by going flying when she explicitly told you not to. Not to mention, you made a complete mess of the playroom by using it as a launch pad when you escaped through the windows," Harry said while giving a look to James that conveyed he truly was a mess.
"Mom, I'm sorry I disobeyed you, and I'm sorry I made a mess of the playroom. I know it was wrong and it won't happen again, especially since dad is back and he can give me lessons now," said James while winking at Harry.
"I accept your apology James, though the last part was pushing it. You just need to understand that we give you rules because we want you to be safe. You could have been seriously hurt flying as fast as you were going. And it's even more dangerous without supervision. I need you to promise me that you won't fly again without me or your dad or another adult watching until you get older and more experienced," Hermione responded with a tenderness in her voice.
"I promise," replied James.
"This is going exceptionally well! Now, James, last thing, is you and Albus need to apologize to one another for what you both said. You two are brothers and it's important that you both learn to get along despite your differences. This a special relationship and you two have the opportunity to become really close. I hope you both try and make more of an effort as you two get older," Harry explained as he eyed both Al and James.
"Al, I'm sorry for calling you a prat, and making fun of how often you read, and for threatening to turn you into a butterfly," James said reluctantly.
"Yeah, I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have called you a prat or questioned your magical skills. Truth is, I was only jealous because I haven't been able to transform objects into living animals yet. I kind of wish I could turn one of my toys into a bug, even if it is just a butterfly," said Albus whose ducked his head as his cheeks filled with a rosy blush.
James looked stunned by this. He had never heard his younger brother admit to being jealous of him. Never. "Thanks Al. And, if you want, I could teach you tomorrow. I think I finally mastered it. I even managed to turn one of my trains into a lightening bug. It was way cooler than a butterfly."
Al perked up at the sound of this. "Yeah, I'd like that. Thanks."
"Very good boys. I think I speak for both your mum and I when I say how impressive and mature that apology sounded. Now that we've all made up, I think some food might do us all some good. Hermione, when did you say dinner would be ready?" asked Harry.
But at that moment, the fire alarm began to go off and Hermione realized she had totally forgotten that dinner was on the stove. "Dinner! Oh, merlin. I totally forgot I was cooking!" Immediately she did a Scouring Charm and made all the smoke disappear. While the mess was gone, there was no hope in saving the food. "Well, I think we might need to go out to eat," Hermione said as she whirled around. And sure enough, the whole family started laughing uncontrollably. Hermione joined them and turned the lights out as they walked to get floo powder. "Oh, it's good to be home!" said Harry with an all too familiar grin. Hermione gave him a knowing look and said, "We missed you too Harry." And with that, they were off.
