Chapter three was edited August 14th.


Chp. 4: Prisoners of Grimmauld Place

James and Albus Potter were officially grounded for life. After being groped by the scruffs and Flooed home by Uncle Percy, enduring an awful, half-an-hour long lecture from a howler their mother sent home, and being hurled into their separate rooms by a red-faced Teddy, they each curled by their own beds, sulking.

Lucien had been dragged home by a fuming Victoire, mumbling feeble protests. James caught sight of a pale Lily peeking out of the bathroom as Teddy was hauling him and Albus upstairs. She didn't have time to say anything as Teddy was bellowing curses and ready to throw the two younger boys out the window. Even Kreacher didn't greet them cheerily: "Master James and Albus are bad boys, causing trouble for their kind mother!"

Teddy burst into James's room sometime later, grabbing Albus in one hand and herding them both into the bathroom to wash off all their disguises and change into clean robes, before throwing them back into their own rooms again. Sometime after sundown, James and Albus were escorted downstairs by a discontented Kreacher, where their father sat in the kitchen, seething.

James had never seen Harry so furious. He roared at the top of his lungs for even longer than Ginny's howler ("WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING? WHAT WILL PEOPLE THINK OF OUR PARENTING NOW? HOW DID YOU THINK THAT YOU COULD GET THROUGH THIS WITHOUT BEING NOTICED?"), and then reached a level of frenzy where he could no longer speak.

The two boys cowered in one corner, Albus trembling from head to toe and James gluing his eyes to his feet. He knew he had done wrong, but before it just all seemed like such an ingenious idea. Despite his sorrow and guilt, James still felt (and was even guiltier of this) a teensy bit of remorse for their unsuccessful plans and the wand they didn't succeed to purchase. But as he looked up into his father's murderous green eyes, all disappointment faded away.

"I understand that you are angry of how hard your mother and I have to work," Harry said this slowly, pronouncing each syllable with intense care. "But it's really for the whole family's benefit, and you know that. I just can't believe—"he shut his eyes tightly and inhaled deeply. "Cannot believe that you would do something this careless, and pointless, and childish, and wild, and completely mental, and…" his voice broke and he looked at his elder son. "I expected so much more from you. I thought, despite all the mischief, you two had sense."

There was a dreadful and uneasy silence, broken by Harry as he instructed Kreacher to take the boys back to their rooms. James turned back once to look at his father, who was rubbing his eyes and looking older than James had ever seen him. James turned around and followed Kreacher and Albus, waves of strong shame washing over him.

Around eight, according to James's watch, a tray with some roast beef and a glass of orange juice appeared with tableware. James knew from experience of Ginny-Harry-styled grounding that this would be his dinner. He set the tray on top of his desk by the window and ate it all. He then placed the tray on the exact location it had appeared for Kreacher to magick it out later. Full but nevertheless not feeling any better, James lay down on his bed and looked around his room for anything to do. His walls were covered with photos and Quidditch posters, along with a bookcase perched beside his closet. Climbing up, James moved towards his books.

The Tales of Beetle the Bard was there. James had heard all about how Aunt Hermione, Uncle Ron, and his own father had solved the mystery to beating the Dark Lord by using the story of the three brothers who met Death on a bridge. He also knew that his father had all three of the Deathly Hallows, though one he lost in the Forbidden Forest of Hogwarts. The other two were hidden, and James, Albus and Lily all liked to think that one day they would find these somewhere in the house and become masters of Death themselves. James moved on.

The Fall of the Dark Lord: Children Edition. The whole book was completely dedicated to the wonderful, miraculous Harry Potter. James had received this from Aunt Hermione two years ago, and had loved it. Quidditch Through the Ages, a book recommended by his father. How to Torture Your Siblings Properly, a book sent to him by Uncle George, James's all-time favorite. Mugglitta: a Series was James's favorite fiction series. They were about a boy whose parents were murdered and was sent to a Muggle Orphanage by age two, and never knew he was a wizard until he became eleven…so like his own father.

There was a knock on James's door and he gave a start, then Kreacher's bullfrog voice came to his ears.

"Mistress Ginny wishes Master James and Master Albus to go wash their faces and brush their teeth, then go straight to bed."

James sighed lightly then went to his door, which now stood ajar as Kreacher opened it by magic. James stepped out, and saw Albus come out. His younger brother appears to have been crying; tear tracks ran down his cheeks. He rubbed them away as he saw James looking. James took the initiative to go to the bathroom first, and Albus followed, trailed by an abnormally stern Kreacher. Lily's red hair was the first thing James saw as he pushed open the partly open bathroom door. She gave him and Albus an apologetic look, and James gave her a small nod to show that he knew she was not allowed to talk to them. Lily quickly escaped from the bathroom.

With Kreacher monitoring them right outside the door, the boys did as they were told and were ushered back to their rooms after they were done. James changed into his pajamas noiselessly, blew out his lamp, and climbed into his large bed obediently. What seemed like hours later, his door opened slowly and what he knew was his mother entered the room. James shut his eyes and pretended to be as asleep as he was supposed to be. Ginny sat gently on the bed and bent to kiss his forehead, before lingering for another moment and leaving.

James opened his eyes again and felt tears swelling up in them.

---

Wednesday came and left all very slowly. Then, what seemed like after a week, was Thursday. Still no one has talked to James other than Kreacher asking him if he wished to use the bathroom or wanted something to drink every hour. Sometimes James and Albus would knock on the wall separating their rooms just for the sake of knowing someone else is alive in the house.

James woke up from a dream about flying alongside Viktor Krum, and checked his watch to see that it was ten o'clock in the morning. He saw that a breakfast tray lay by the bed. He picked it up and devoured his toast, eggs, and milk. Setting the tray back, James stretched, yawned, and took out his old little Quidditch player models and started prodding them along, burbling the commentary of an imaginary game under his breath.

Then voices broke out on the other side of the door. James jumped up, curious. He placed his ear on the door, and heard more whispers. He got to the floor, pushing aside his breakfast tray. Through the gap on the floor he saw feet, too small to be Teddy's or his parents', walking about on the landing.

"Just…do it again, Rosie…"

James's eyes widened. Rosie was here? That means Hugo must be here too. They were probably up to something with Lily. But something was odd…there were four pairs of feet as far as James could see, and unless he was extremely horrible counting skills, Rosie, Hugo, and Lily were three. Then, to his great surprise, a new voice joined in.

"What's going on?" asked Albus, so clearly that he could not have been in another room.

"Shh, they might hear you downstairs," murmured Hugo.

"Who's downstairs?" Albus lowered his voice.

"My Dad," answered Rose.

"Somebody get James out!" whispered Lily.

"Hello?" James said, careful not to speak too loudly.

There was a pause, then, "James?"

"What are you guys doing?"

"Rose got Albus out!"

"What? How?"

"I just said, 'I wish Albus was here', then his door opened," said Rose somewhat modestly.

"But mom made sure the doors can't be opened by us!"

"Wrong," Lily injected. "Only can't be opened from the inside."

Then all of a sudden, there was a click and James saw, to his amazement, his bedroom door swing slowly open.

"I did it!" Albus bounced happily, throwing his arms in the air.

Then, James couldn't quite see how it happened; everyone was tangled in a mute group hug. James pulled away to marvel at his tiny rescuers proudly.

"Who else is downstairs?"

"Dunno, but I think Uncle George. I thought I heard him laughing, but it might've been Uncle Ron anyway," Lily replied, looking down the stairs.

"Where's Kreacher?"

"Out grocery shopping in Little Hangleton. Don't he he'll be back any time soon. C'mon you must both want some fresh air…"

"But Mum said she'll murder us if we do anything mischievous again!" Albus reasoned, a bit too loudly.

Rose covered his mouth with her hand at once. "We're not up to anything, just go get a snack or something, and put your voice down."

The kids sneaked down the stairs on tiptoes, putting a finger to their lips every time someone made a noise while walking. Hugo led them all into the study. Once all four were inside (Rose made Hugo stay outside to keep watch), Lily passed James and Albus some chocolate frogs on Harry's desk. James looked at his card. Harry Potter, how typical. He has about twenty of his own father's chocolate card now. And a few of Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione also. It's really satisfying and annoying at the same time to see most of your relatives under your chocolate, beaming up at you.

"Let's go to the backyard for you to get some fresh air," Rose suggested, and they tiptoed down to the backyard, this time with Lily keeping watch.

"I never thought I would want to go on a swing so much," Albus called out as he did another three-sixty on the swing.

"Shh, they still might hear you!" Hugo warned, even if he himself was shouting also.

James laughed for no particular reason. It felt good to be standing on grass again. He lay down on the green, and out of the corner of his eye saw a gnome peering at him under a bush. James grinned widely.

"Gnome attack!" he shouted, and grabbed from the gnome's grimy legs. Albus and Hugo laughed and also started de-gnoming. Rosie sat on a bench, shaking her head at the ridiculous boys.

"I never knew de-gnoming could be so great," Albus commented between rapid panting ten minutes later.

"When you're nine and you've been locked up for two days, it can be," James remarked, wiping sweat off his forehead.

Hugo laughed. "I'm seven and I haven't been locked up but de-gnoming is still fun for me!"

"Freak," Rosie stated conversationally. Albus threw her a dirty glare.

Lily suddenly opened the door to the backyard and whispered. "I heard footsteps, hurry!"

Petrified, James and Albus ran for the door and hurriedly hopped up the stairs, once on their own floor, paused to listen.

"What was all that banging about?" said a voice that was unmistakably Uncle Ron's.

"Hugo fell off the stairs," Rosie lied casually.

"You okay there, Hugo?"

"Fine," Hugo winced. He had a great future as an actor, James always knew that.

"For a second there I thought dear Ginny's prisoners had escaped," Uncle George was apparently there too. James and Albus exchanged a worried glance, but neither made a move to go in their rooms.

"I think she knew what she was doing when she locked them up prim and proper up there."

"Well, you never know. Kiddie magic has its ways, you know. For example, when we—" Uncle George paused, and they knew he was talking of Uncle Fred. "Turned your teddy bear into a spider, like that. You'd never see a third year at Hogwarts succeed that."

Uncle Ron made a weird noise at the word "spider", but didn't say anything as Hugo laughed at the idea of his father owning a teddy bear. Lily appeared at the top of the stairs and motioned them to go inside. Albus made a protesting expression but Rose had came up also and shook her head firmly. With a sigh, and one last glance at the girls, the two boys re-entered their cells.

---

After a lunch of ham and cheese sandwiches with cream juice, James sat by his desk and stared huffily out his bedroom window. He sighed, and checked his watch. Only one o'clock…how many more days will he be under bedroom-arrest? Will he be able to go with his parents to get his school supplies? What if his mother won't ever allow him to enter Diagon Alley again? What if Harry will remain disappointed and rueful at him his whole life?

Knock, knock.

"I would say come in, but I can't open the door," James called out at the knocker.

The door opened and Uncle George, smirking, entered.

"Uncle George!" James jumped up and hugged his favorite uncle.

"Heard you got into some pretty big trouble, huh, young man?" George messed up his hair affectionately. How nice is it to talk to someone who isn't mad at me, James thought.

"Yeah," James looked down. "I'm sorry about it all, but I don't dare tell my parents, because I don't think they'll forgive me with a simple sorry, y'know," he looked into George's pale blue eyes. "Do you think they hate me?"

To his surprise, Uncle Geroge snickered. "I have done far worse things than what you guys did, and my parents still love me as if I've been a good boy all my life," he said reassuringly.

"Good point," James agreed, mulling this over.

"I've even snuck to Knockturn Alley before, with your…Uncle Fred, when we were twelve," he suddenly seemed distant as he finished this sentence.

"That's wicked! Did you get whipped?"

George was pulled back onto Earth, he chortled. "No, but we didn't get any dinner and we had to de-gnome and wash dishes and peel sprouts for two days straight."

"I think I'd like that better than being grounded," James thought out loud.

"No, it's as bad as being whipped once you do it for two days," George told him solemnly. "And once, you know this, we, along with your Uncle Ron, drove an illegal flying car to rescue your twelve-years-old Dad from his uncle and aunt."

"Yeah, but you weren't grounded," James pointed out.

George shrugged. "Well, with Harry Potter in the house for the first time, you don't punish your kids that much."

James sighed. "I wish that worked for me."

George laughed merrily again. "Hey, your Mum told me to let you out."

"Really?" James raised his eyebrows skeptically, wondering if this was a joke.

"Yeah," James tackled his uncle again, cackling stridently. He ran into Albus's room (the door stood half-open) and the brothers jumped up and down on the bed, celebrating their freedom and liberty.

James positively beamed around the room. He was free!


I won't be giving the fifth chapter (The Yew Wand) until either Sunday or Monday because of school. But please review on this one, I worked hard on it. I took mimosa's advise and added a bit of pre-teen angst and worries into it. So this one's more serious than the other chapters.