Hi, I love you all for your reviews and speculation on what will happen next. Everytime I see a new review I do a little dance, no lie. I am serious.

I was a little hesitant about tackling this chapter, only because I was unsure of how to have Lily and James punish Harry for his behaviour. It is difficult at his age to know what the right course of action would be. He is too old for corporal punishment in my opinion , and I don't rightly believe in that at the best of times, but what else could they do?

Now I know I haven't updated in an age and a half but I have been so literally swamped in assignments and projects that I haven't had the time or energy to do anything but work on them. I am so sorry for the time it took to get this chapter to you but I couldn't help it. I hope you guys understand that my updates will most likely be few and far between but trust me when I say that I am writing in every free moment I have.

Without further ado, I know I'm whittering on, I'll let you get on with it!

Chapter 4

Broomsticks and Break Ins

"What were you thinking?"

Harry blushed brightly under his father's stern expression.

James had arrived home just to see his wife scurrying about in search of their son. At Sirius' suggestion they had decided to look for Harry outside and had literally been just in time to see Harry slip from his broomstick and begin plummeting to the ground. James had quickly slowed his descent and caught the boy gently before he could hit the ground. Needless to say, after Harry had been roused to consciousness, having fainted, and his parents could ascertain that he was alright, he was in alot of trouble.

"Harry," Lily said disappointedly, "you know you're supposed to let us know when you go flying."

"I know," Harry mumbled, "I just...well I wanted to fly and...I sort of forgot to ask you...I-"

"You weren't thinking," James finished for him, his expression hard, "you can't do things like that Harry, you're a good flyer but you're still learning. If we hadn't seen you in time-"

Harry looked at his father's tired and anxious expression and his mother's face, which still looked scared. He swallowed thickly and looked down at his lap.

"I'm sorry," he murmered pitifully.

Lily and James exchanged a look.

"Harry," James sighed, "I'm going to have to ban you from using your broom for the rest of the summer, if we can't trust you with it then..."

"No," Harry pleaded, "you can trust me, I just wasn't thinking. I won't go flying again without asking, please...They don't let first years have brooms at Hogwarts! I won't be able to fly for ages!"

"That's why it's a punishment Harry," Lily said firmly, "you're not supposed to like it, you could've been seriously injured today, or worse. I wouldn't have expected you would do something like this, banning you from that broom might just teach you to be more responsible."

"Besides," Sirius' voice startled them all as he stepped into the living room, "I don't think you're going to be able to fly this thing again Prongslet."

In his hands were the remains of the once gleaming Comet two sixty, Harry's prized possession. He gasped as he looked at it and turned to his father with wide damp eyes.

"Can you fix it?" he begged.

"I've already tried Harry," Sirius said pityingly, "but it's too damaged. Brooms can't be repaired so easily when they've been damaged like this. It blew into a tree with alot of force and smashed...I'm not sure I've even got all the pieces."

Harry looked down again and tears pricked in his eyes. Because of his recklessness, the first birthday gift he could remember his parents ever giving him was destroyed. He felt his mother's hand rest lightly on his back.

"Why don't you go upstairs Harry and think about what you did," She said in a kind but firm voice, "You can't go around being so reckless."

Harry nodded and stood silently, walking dejectedly out of the room. He paused by the door before saying once again softly, "I'm sorry."

Lily sighed and brought her hands up to cover her face, at the same time James raked a hand through his hair and sank down on the couch next to his wife.

"What a day, eh?" Sirius commented after a moment of silence.

"I was so scared when I saw him falling like that," Lily whispered, "I just froze..."

James glanced over at her and wrapped an arm around her comfortingly.

"It's just so unlike him," Lily continued, "He's such a good boy, I never would've expected him to...I just don't know...James if you hadn't been there..."

"Shh now Lily," James said worriedly when he saw her begin to look teary, he quickly pulled her into a hug, "He's alright now, he's fine."

"Yeah, and from the looks of things he never wants to see you upset with him again," Sirius said, "I was actually wondering when he would finally do something naughty, he is an incredibly well behaved boy. Infact, if it weren't for him being the spitting image of you, I'd worry that he wasn't really your son James."

Lily finally looked up at that to glare at her husband's dark haired best friend.

"So you don't think much of my word then?" she quipped with a raised eyebrow.

Sirius merely smiled and shrugged.

"It's not just you Lils, you women have your own perogatives," Sirius said thoughtfully, "In most cases we men actually do have to just take your word for it. I mean, when you look at it, the babies come out of you lot, not us, and you might just be trying to-"

"Sirius," James interrupted.

"Yeah."

"Shut up."

Sirius simply nodded and smiled rocking back on his heels. He'd accomplished what he'd meant to. Lily was no longer getting emotional over Harry's accident, rather her feelings had taken a different turn. She was currently shooting daggers at him with her eyes.

"So," Lily finally aiming her glare away from Sirius, she sat up and dabbed at her eyes with the corner of her sleeve, "what happened at the Ministry, did they really find him?"

She watched as James and Sirius' faces darkened.

"Yeah, it was him," James said sombrely.

Lily looked down at her hands.

"So what's happening now?" she asked quietly.

"He's in trial at the moment," Sirius said, "They're holding him in the Ministry till that's over...He'll be off to Azkaban in a few days I expect."

"Or worse," James said darkly, exchanging a look with Sirius.

"What do you mean?" Lily asked looking from one to the other.

"Peter was not only an active Death Eater who betrayed us to Voldemort, he was also responsible for the deaths of thirteen muggles," James explained, "not to mention the fact that he faked his own death and framed Sirius, causing him to be imprisoned for eight and a half years-"

"He could be kissed," Sirius cut in harshly, "he'll be lucky if he isn't."

Lily shuddered thinking of the Peter she'd once known.

"I hate him," she said stiffly, "I hate him so much for what he did...But that...it's worse than death...I don't know how to feel about it."

"I agree with you," James sighed clutching her hand in his own, "I still don't want to believe he did the things he did, believe he could do them."

"The Dementor's kiss is barbaric," Sirius said, "I'd kill him with my bare hands for what he did to you, to all of us, but I could never watch that being done to anyone."

James nodded solemnly.

Just then emerald fire erupted in the grate. The head of the dark skinned and serious Auror, Kingsley Shacklebolt appeared between the flames.

"James Potter," He said in a grave tone, "you're needed here at the Ministry immediately."

"I'll be right along," James said standing up.

"Get here as soon as you can," Kingsley said, he suddenly seemed to notice Lily sitting on the couch, he nodded in her direction a small smile hinting at the corner of his lips. "Lily," he said simply in greeting and before she could even return his smile, he disappeared.

"He seemed anxious," Lily said worriedly as James smoothed out his robes and made sure his wand was in his pocket.

"I'm sure they just want to ask me some questions," James said smiling warmly at her, "It'll be nothing, I'll be back in an hour tops... I'll send an owl along if I'm not."

Lily didn't look convinced but allowed him to kiss her goodbye as he prepared to floo to the Ministry. Just as he was about to step into the fire he looked around at Sirius as though he'd just remembered something.

"You need to tell Remus what's going on," he said quickly, "he'll be pissed if he wakes up tomorrow and sees this all over the papers." And with that he went off in a whirl of flames after stepping into the fire and calling out his destination.

"That's right," Sirius said smacking his hand to his forehead, "I've got to go tell Remus."

"Why don't I just invite him round for tea?" Lily said quickly, "You can both stay here till James gets back."

Sirius raised an eyebrow at her and she shrugged, blushing slightly.

"I feel a bit out of sorts..." she said uncomfortably, "I don't want to be alone right now, what with everthing that's happened today."

"It's alright Lil's," Sirius said putting an arm around her shoulders, "I understand, but you're okay you know that right?"

She smiled and rolled her eyes.

"I know, I'm just being silly," she laughed lightly then frowned, "I just feel like something's happening, something strange...I don't know...Don't mind me, go call Remus."

She smiled brightly and walked off in the direction of the kitchen but Sirius stayed staring after her worriedly. He knew about Lily and her feelings, and they were nothing to be taken lightly.

oOo

"Is Dad still upset me?" Harry asked Lily one morning a few days later. She looked over the kitchen table at him in surprise.

"What?" She asked, "why would you think that Harry?"

The boy shrugged.

"I don't know..." Harry said shifting slightly in his seat, "he's been kind of...off, lately...I was just wondering if that had anything to do with me..."

It was Harry's birthday that day. He'd been awakened by his mother and father that morning singing him 'Happy Birthday', a beatifully iced cake bearing the words 'Happy 11th birthday Harry!' was plopped into his lap and he blearily blew out the eleven candles. However, only a few minutes later, an exhausted looking James had had to rush off to work.

"Oh Harry," Lily sighed smiling softly, "Your father's dealing with alot at work right now, that's all. They've been keeping him very busy at the Ministry."

"It's because of Pettigrew isn't it?" Harry asked, "Because they found him."

Harry had talked with his parents about the capture of the traitor, he'd also seen the news all over the Daily Prophet.

"Yes, because they caught him," Lily said calmly, "your Dad has an important job, as an Auror he's got to be ready to assist in investigations and trials."

Harry nodded understandingly and shifted his attention back to the piece of buttered toast on his plate.

"So," Lily said breezily, "I thought you and I could go shopping today for your Hogwarts things, we really can't leave it any later."

"In Diagon Alley?" Harry asked excitedly. He'd been there before of course, but only a very few times since he had first been reunited with his parents. He found Diagon Alley to be the most fascinating place he'd ever been, except Hogwarts which he was thrilled to begin exploring come September.

"Of course Diagon Alley," Lily said with a grin, "where else?"

About an hour later Harry tumbled out of the huge fireplace of 'The Leaky Cauldron' pub, coughing and spluttering. His Mother followed seconds later, not a hair out of place. She immediately began fussing over him, wiping soot from his nose. Harry blushed brightly and took over the job himself, disentangling himself from her grasp.

"I hate traveling by floo," He muttered, taking off his glasses to wipe the lenses on the corner of his shirt.

"Well you've got till you're seventeen to get used to it," Lily laughed, "Just make sure you pass your Apparation test."

As they walked through the pub Harry couldn't help but notice people staring at them, nudging and whispering to eachother. It seemed that where ever they went, his family attracted attention. Harry really didn't like and he knew his mother didn't either. Lily was determinedly ignoring the looks from the pub goers but her cheeks were pink and she looked very uncomfortable.

Just as they were about to exit through the back of the pub to enter the walled courtyard through which you entered Diagon Alley, a voice called out to them.

"Lily Potter?" A loud voice called out brashly, "Is tha' you?"

"Hagrid!" Lily cried, pleasantly surprised, turning around to face the biggest man Harry had ever seen in his entire life. Hagrid stood leaning against the bar, so tall that he had to stoop slightly to avoid the top of his shaggy head brushing the ceiling of the pub.

"Bin a while since I last saw yeh," Hagrid said smiling, the corners of his dark eyes crinkling cheerfully, "I see yeh got Harry wi' yeh, blimey he looks just like his father, got yeh're eyes though Lily."

"Yeah he does," Lily said smiling at her son, who blushed slightly at the attention being paid to him.

"Rubeus Hagrid," the giant man said thrusting a dust bin lid sized hand at Harry, "Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, pleasure to meet yeh."

"Nice to meet you too," Harry said returning Hagrid's handshake.

"What brings you here Hagrid?" Lily asked.

"On official Hogwarts business, me," Hagrid said proudly, he said in a slightly softer voice, "Summat I got to collect fer Dumbledore."

"Oh," Lily said nodding and something flickered in her expression that Harry didn't have time to interpret.

"We're here to get Harry's school things," She said brightly, "it's his first year at Hogwarts, we're heading up to Gringott's first I suppose."

"Well, I'm headed there meself, " Hagrid said, "I'll walk wi' yeh."

"So where's tha' Husband o' yours?" Hagrid asked as they walked along the cobbled street.

"At work," Lily answered with a sigh, "They're really working him hard over the trial with Pe- Pettigrew...Not that James wouldn't be like this all on his own, even if it weren't his job."

"Ah, well don' let him work too hard," Hagrid advised, "It won' do him any good."

Harry was busy looking at the numerous shops at their wares. Diagon Alley was crawling with people, especially, it seemed, teenagers and their parents. Harry guessed they were all there for the same reason as him, to get their Hogwarts supplies. As they passed 'Quality Quidditch Supplies' Harry noticed a group of young boys congregated outside the shop. Their noses were pressed right up to the glass and Harry heard one of them sigh reverently, "Look at it, the new Nimbus 2000, the fastest broom ever..."

Harry could hardly resist joining them outside the shop window when he caught a glimpse of the gleaming, brand new broom.

Lily caught her son's wistful stare and smiled to herself grimly. Little did the boy know that it would have been his birthday present if not for his behaviour a few days before. Of course, Harry didn't need to know that, that would just be torture.

They walked into the vast marble hall that was Gringotts. There were dozens of goblins carrying out business behind their desks, or else weighing mounds of gold and precious stones. Harry felt dazzled as he passed a particular goblin who was placing, carefully counting, a pile of glittering rubies onto a set of gleaming gold scales.

Lily smiled as warmly as she could as she approached a free goblin. He was eyeing her beadily, his face harsh in the bright light of the bank. Goblins always made Lily uncomfortable.

"Hello, er, goodmorning," She said as friendly as she could, "I'd like to take some money out of the Potter vault...I'm Lily Potter-"

"I know who you are," the goblin cut her off quickly, "have you got your key?"

"Yes," Lily said, pulling a small gold key out of her bag to show the goblin. He peered at it for a few seconds.

"Right, that seems to be in order."

Meanwhile, Harry was, almost unconsciously, listening in on the conversation Hagrid was having with another goblin.

"I've got a letter here from Professor Dumbledore," Hagrid whispered, but Harry could hear the pride in his voice and see it in his stance, "It's about the You-Know-What in vault seven hundred and thirteen."

Harry pricked his ears. The hushed tone in which Hagrid was speaking intrigued him, he wanted to know what it was he was talking about. He watched as the goblin's eyes scanned the letter.

"Very well," the goblin said, handing it back to Hagrid, "I'll call someone to take you down- Griphook!"

"Harry?" he heard his mother say. Harry turned from where he was watching Hagrid tuck the letter into his coat.

"Are you alright, darling?" Lily asked with narrowed eyes. She knew he had heard Hagrid's words and was curious. She loved Hagrid and trusted him greatly but she couldn't help but think that Dumbledore was making a mistake in giving him jobs of such great importance. Jobs that required great secrecy and subtleness. Hagrid was most certainly not subtle.

Harry flushed and nodded quickly.

"Er, Lily," Hagrid said hesitantly as a goblin, Griphook, came around the desk, "d'yeh think we can go in one cart, I get dreadfully sick on 'em see, I hate teh go alone."

"I don't mind," Lily replied and Griphook merely beckoned to them all with one long fingered hand, so she assumed he was alright with that. He led them out of the Hall and into a long twisting, dark corridor, faintly lit by the glow of flickering torches.

Harry was too curious to hold his tongue.

"What's the You-Know-What in vault seven hundred and thirteen?" he asked Hagrid.

"Oh, yeh heard tha' did yeh?" Hagrid turned faintly pink. "I can't tell yeh tha' Harry, it's Hogwarts business, very secret."

Lily resisted the urge to roll her eyes, in both amusement and annoyance. Hagrid had in one swoop, increased Harry's curiousity and revealed to him that the item in question was one of importance.

Griphook led them down until the floor began to slope steeply and they could see the beginnings of little railway tracks, then he stopped and whistled. Out of the dark came a small cart moving swiftly towards them. It stopped right before them and Griphook immediately climbed in, followed by Harry then Lily and finally Hagrid managed to squeeze himself in after much rearranging by the others.

Harry thought that the trip down to his family's vault could only be compared to a rollercoaster ride. Although he supposed that a theme park ride could not be as thrilling. Gringotts was vast and obviously went down for miles and miles underground. Many times it seemed as though the incredibly fast cart was going to fly off the rails and plummet into the darkness below, but it would always veer at the last moment causing everyone to jerk uncontrollably.

When Lily had first stepped off the cart she could hardly stand, her head was spinning like mad. She'd had to bend over sligtly for a few moments of allow the blood to rush back to her head. She quickly collected the money she would need from the vault and almost hesitantly made her way back into the cart. Hagrid was leaning over the opposite side of it releasing soft moans.

"I think I'm gonna be sick," he groaned as the cart started back up. Harry thought, but he wasn't sure, that he saw the corner of the Goblin's mouth quirk up in a devilishly amused smirk.

Vault seven hundred and thirteen appeared to be a large, black iron door. It had no locks or keyholes. It could have just been metal wall. Griphook got out of the cart with Hagrid this time and approached the door ahead of him. He used his long gnarled finger nails to stroke the door gently and it just melted away.

Harry craned his neck eagerly to see beyond Hagrid's huge frame and was instantly disappointed. The room was empty...except for the small grubby package that Hagrid picked up from the corner of the room. It was so small that Harry had not seen it at first.

"What is that?"Harry asked his mother as Hagrid tucked the package into his long coat.

"It is something very secret, which must be kept very safe," Lily said after a moment's thought, "Don't tell anyone about this alright?"

"Alright," Harry promised, his brow furrowed as he wondered about the little package.

oOo

After another roller coaster cart ride Lily, Harry and Hagrid stood in the sunlight outside Gringotts Wizard Bank.

"I'm headin' fer the 'Cauldron'," Hagrid said queasily, "I need a drink after tha'."

Lily smiled and patted the huge man's hand.

"Ok then," she said, "bye Hagrid, see you soon."

"I hope so," Hagrid tried to grin, "I know I'll be seein' Harry in just a bit won' I?"

After Hagrid had begun his walk back to the 'Leaky Cauldron' Lily pulled out Harry's Hogwart's list.

"Right," she said glancing over it, "Uniforms first I think."

Harry stood on the wooden stool as Madame Malkins rushed off to get some material, there was already another boy there, his robes had pins sticking out of them. A young witch was shortening the hem.

"Hogwarts too?" The boy drawled lazily, not even glancing at Harry. He had slicked back, white blond hair and very pale skin.

"Yeah," Harry answered as Madame Malkins came back with the material and began to take his measurements.

"What house do you think you'll be in," the blond boy asked, the stated in a superior tone, "I'll be in Slytherin of course, everyone in my family has been, for centuries."

"Er, I don't know," Harry said, "Gryffindor, I guess I'd like to be in that house."

"Oh," the other boy said shortly, "I suppose no one really knows what house they'll be in until they get there."

"I wonder how they decide," Harry said.

"You mean you don't know?" the boy asked scathingly but Harry could tell he didn't know either so he didn't say anything.

"Imagine, if you got put in Hufflepuff," the boy said after a long moment of silence, "I think my parents would pull me out of school!"

"I don't think my parents would be that bothered," Harry said tentatively.

"Really," the other boy said in mild surprise, "but I mean, they are...our sort, right?"

"They're a witch and wizard if that's what you mean," Harry said, really beginning to not like him.

"Good," the boy said, "I don't think they should let in the other sort, do you?"

"If you mean muggle borns then I'll have you know my mother's one," Harry said testily and glanced back at his mother who was waiting in the front part of the shop.

"Oh," the boy said and looked at Harry for the first time, "sorry."

He wasn't really sorry. The two boys didn't speak again. Harry had never felt more relieved than when he hopped off the stool and followed his mother out of the shop.

"There are alot of wizarding families who still feel that way Harry," Lily said when Harry told her what the blond boy had said, "but it used to be alot worse, when I first got to Hogwarts there were many people who wouldn't talk to me and showed how they felt about me being there outwardly, but I learned who my real friends are that are a lot different now, you can't say things like that anymore. That boy must have assumed you were pure-blood."

"Pure-blod?" Harry asked, unfamiliar with the term.

"Yes, it's what they call themselves," Lily said sighing, "it means they haven't got any muggle blood in their families, most of the time it's a lie, if wizards didn't marry muggles and muggle borns they would die out."

The shopping trip was tiring but by the time they had gotten to most important item on the list Harry's excitement increased. A magic wand, he was about to get his own. He and Lily walked into the old looking store, the softest tinkling of a bell announced their arrival.

"Hello," came a quiet voice, barely more than a whisper.

Harry and Lily jumped and for the first time noticed the old man standing in the corner of the shop.

"Oh, hello, Mr. Ollivander," Lily said a little nervously.

"Lily Evans...well, Potter now," Mr. Ollivander chuckled softly, "eleven years old when you walked in my shop for the first time, Willow and unicorn hair ten and a quarter inches, swishy, wasn't it? Good wand for charm work."

"Yes, it was," Lily smiled.

"Your husband on the other hand favoured a mahogany wand and it's core was dragon heartstring," Ollivander said thoughtfully, " eleven inches, pliable, if I remember correctly...An excellent wand for Transfiguration."

"James' best subject."

"And now we have your son," Ollivander peered at Harry interestedly, "he looks very like his father..." he paused and his pale eyes widened, "Oh, but that's where..."

He trailed off staring at the scar on Harry's forehead. Harry self consciously raised a hand to flatten his fringe in order to hide his scar. He glanced at his mother but she was regarding Ollivander curiously.

"I'm afraid," Ollivander sighed finally, "that I sold the very wand that gave you that...Yew, thirteen and a half inches...Very powerful, and certainly in the wrong hands, it did terrible, terrible things..."

The old man seemed to become lost in his thoughts but all of a sudden he glanced back up at them as though suddenly remembering they were there.

"Well now, Mr. Potter," He spoke abruptly, startling Harry, "which is your wand arm?"

What felt like an age later, Ollivander was still pulling wands down from the rows and rows of shelves that lined the shop. Harry felt like he'd held almost every wand in the store. Each time, as soon as he held a wand in his hand, Ollivander would pull it away, muttering frustratedly to himself. Harry glanced nervously at Lily several times and she always smiled reassuringly in return. Sometimes it took time to find your wand, she knew this from experience, though it had not taken her as long as it was taking Harry.

"Hmmm..." The heard Ollivander murmer softly, "I wonder...it's an unusual combination, holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple. Go on Mr. Potter, give it a wave!"

Harry tentatively reached out for the wand Ollivander was offering him. As soon as his fingers touched it a burst of warm flew up his hand and spread through his body. As he brought the wand up and swished it through the air, a shower of red and gold sparks erupted from the tip and the space around him sparkled.

Lily stood and cheered proudly but Ollivander merely stared at him intensely.

"How very peculiar..." he whispered as he regarded Harry.

"Sorry Mr. Ollivander," Lily said coming to stand next to her son, "but what is so peculiar?"

"My apologies, it's just that I remember every wand I've ever sold. It just so happens that the phoenix whose feather is in your wand gave another feather. And that feather happens to be in the wand that belongs to the very person who gave you that scar."

Harry shuddered and Lily wrapped an arm around him.

"I think we should should expect great thing from you Mr. Potter," Ollivander said in his eerie quiet voice.

"I think that will be all," Lily said rather shortly, "thank you Mr. Ollivander but we must get going."

What the old wand maker said troubled Lily. She tried not to let it show when Harry had mentioned his discomfort about the idea over their lunch but she could not help the sinking feeling in her stomach. No, it could not simply be a coincidence, but she didn't quite know what to make of it. She managed to steer Harry in a different direction as she talked to him about the small get together they would be having later in celebration of his birthday. However her mind was elsewhere.

It was just when she was about to suggest that they go get some ice-cream for dessert that a small boy dashed into the pub.

"Someone tried to break into Gringotts!" he cried out excitedly before dashing out again. There was a second of silent shock before, as one, the patrons of the pub rushed out to see what was going on. Lily waited, though she could see her son burning with curiosity, till everyone had managed to fit through the door before she and Harry went.

It seemed that everyone who had been shopping in Diagon Alley was now congregated around the massive white building that was Gringott's Wizard Bank. A ring of Auror surrounded the entrance to the building. One of them Lily recognised as Kingsley Shacklebolt. He was proclaiming loudly to the curious crowd, "Stand back, stand back, no one is allowed in or out until we have thoroughly investigated the situation."

There were cries of annoyance from those who needed to take out or change money and one man near the front of the crowd shouted out angrily, "My wife's in there!"

Lily managed to push her way to the front, keeping a tight grip on Harry's hand.

"Kingsley!" she panted as she came into his sight, "what's going on?"

The dark skinned Auror motioned her closer.

"A break in," he said quietly, "we don't know how it happened yet...The thiefdoesn't seem to be in the building any longer."

Lily looked like she was about to say more but suddenly it seemed as though a flurry of reporter had descended around them and they all began throwing questions like darts, their quills poised over suspended note books and the clicking sound the camera men's equipment filled the air.

"Do you think Dad's in there?" Harry asked his mother as more and more aurors seemed to be apparating onto the steps of the bank.

Lily nodded and gave him a strained smile.

"He might be," she said, "but I don't think there's any danger, you heard what Kingsley said...the person who was trying to steal something isn't there anymore."

"So then what are the Aurors doing?" Harry asked curiously.

"Probably trying to figure out what they were trying to steal," Lily said, "and why they were trying to steal it, that will help them them find out who the thief was."

It was only about ten minutes later that a thin balding auror emerged from the bank, leading a small group of scared looking people, mostly women, who were cluching their bags to their chests as if to use them as shields.

The Aurors who were keeping back the crowd broke their formation gradually as the people were let through one by one. The sound of the crowd grew louder along with the clicking of the cameras. Kingsley Shacklebolt withdrew into the bank and moments later, James Potter emerged. His hair more untidy than usual, his glasses askew and his face tense. However, his lips soon eased into a smile when he saw his wife and son.

He passed by the reporters, only pausing to say in response to their questions, "There is no need for a panic, the bank has been secured and nothing was stolen, a team of Aurors will remain through the night to patrol Gringotts and Diagon Alley for the protection of the people."

As he reached Lily and Harry he immediately pulled them away from the mass of people and back down the now relatively quiet street to the Leaky Cauldron.

"What were they trying to steal James?" Lily asked softly as they entered the stone courtyard behind the pub.

"They tried to break into vault seven hundred and thirteen," James said, responding to her question in a roundabout way, as though avoiding giving the correct answer. Lily seemed to understand though, her eyes widened and she brought a hand up to cover her mouth. Harry glanced from his mother to his father in confusion, all of a sudden he remembered something.

"Vault seven hundred and thirteen?" He said, "That's the vault that Hagrid had to go to, he had to pick up something for professor Dumbledore, he said it was Hogwarts business, very secret."

James looked at him sharply.

"Yes, only don't repeat that again," He said to his son, "the wrong ears might hear."

To Harry,his father's warning was ominous and he shivered slightly.

"Now!" James said in a tone that was just a bit too bright, "I think someone's got some presents at home to open, and some cake I'd like to sample."

With that he frog marched Harry into the pub, but not before giving his wife a significant look which she returned. A prickling feeling went down her spine and once again she felt that she felt that there was something wrong, something bad, happening. She suppressed those feeling for the time being, it was Harry's birthday and she had to be cheery. When he left for school she'd dedicate more to time to desciphering them.

Ok, so that is that. Please don't be too angry about the wait. I really couldn't help it! And it's quite a long chapter isn't it?

Please review and let me know if you liked it!

Till the next...