A/N: The italicised part of this is a flashback, I might do those in some chapters since I skipped over James's Hogwarts years and why he loves Charlotte so much. And yes Lily is a little scary in this flashback, I like it like that. Enjoy!
By the way, chapters this week might be a little sporadic, just to give you a heads up.
James had just finished pranking a group of Slytherins and was now going to meet up with his partner in crime and favorite cousin, Freddie Weasley.
Though, as he rounded a corner he ran into someone and saw an unwelcome sight on the breast of the person he knocked to the ground; a gleaming badge with a P engraved into it; a prefect, he was caught.
"James Potter," a familiar voice-that was beautiful even as it was yelling at him-shrieked. "You're already in trouble for that prank you pulled in the Great Hall; you didn't have to add 'knocking me to the ground' as another reason for me to give you a detention!"
"Charlotte, Charlotte, Charlotte," James shook his head in mock disappointment at her. "You're not going to give me a detention." He extended a hand to help her up but she ignored it and stood up herself. She glared up at him and James couldn't fight the urge to smile, she was so cute when she was mad, and she only came to his shoulder, which made her angry state even more adorable.
"What makes you think that?" she asked putting her hands on her hips, "Of course I'm giving you a detention, and if you keep talking I'll give you more than one."
"No you won't," he stated, "because I had a very good reason to prank that particular group of Slytherins."
She snorted, "Of all the things you do, James, I've never known you to take a part in house rivalry, so what possible reason did you have?"
"My wonderful detention-getting-out-of reason for pranking them was because they happened to be teasing Lily," he stated as though this made perfect sense. "Now, Lily is usually the type of girl that will handle a bully all by herself and she hates to have help doing so, but I figured that I would spare her a detention and do my duty as her big brother."
Charlotte looked shocked. "Y-you don't have a little sister," she accused.
"Ah, Charlotte," James shook his head again, "how little you know about me! We could fix that if you would go to Hogsmeade with me."
Charlotte had to admire the way he could sneak asking her out into any conversation that they had, but she didn't tell him that. "I don't believe you, I'd have to see this 'sister' of yours before I determine whether or not to give you a detention."
"I'd gladly introduce you to little Lily but if you agreed to go out with me I'd take the detention and we wouldn't have to go through all of this."
"Not a chance. Now show me your sister so I don't have to talk to you any longer than necessary."
James put his hand over his heart, "Charlotte you wound me." Charlotte rolled her eyes at his antics. Then the atmosphere abruptly changed, James's eyes widened and were staring fixedly at something behind her shoulder. He crouched down in an attempt to get smaller. Was he trying to hide behind her?
"James what are you doing?" she hissed.
"You'll get to meet Lily sooner rather than later and she she's not happy."
"JAMES SIRIUS POTTER!" a voice shrieked and Charlotte looked behind her to see a small red haired girl who looked to be in her third year, wearing Slytherin robes. Was this who James was hiding from?
"James I can see you!" The girl accused. James straightened up with a sheepish look on his face. "Oh, hey there Lily, what brings you here?" he said in an attempt to act innocent. "I'm just talking to my friend," Charlotte scoffed at the word, "Charlotte. Charlotte, Lily, Lily, Charlotte." He kept eyeing the wand in Lily's left hand, Lily may be only a third year but the things she could do with that wand would make a grown man cry.
Lily ignored her brother and advanced slowly toward him. "Why. Did. You. Do. That?" She hissed through her teeth, Charlotte had to admit that she had only been in this girl's presence for a few moments and she was scared too.
James stood his full height and put on a brave face. "Lily," he said calmly. "I understand that you are more than capable of defending yourself but these guys are seventh years, they know magic that you won't learn for years. I didn't want you to get hurt and then have to explain to mum and dad why I wasn't looking out for you."
"What makes you think that I was going to duel them?" she asked with a wicked little smile.
James gulped and Charlotte was lost. "Lily," James said a slight tremor of fear in his voice. "You know that poisoning people is considered a crime right?"
Charlotte looked from James to Lily, frightened. Was this little girl capable of something that horrible?
Lily dawned a look of deep annoyance. "James," she sighed. "Your scaring your 'friend' and I didn't say I was going to poison them. You're not the only one who can use Canary Creams to your advantage."
Charlotte sighed in relief. But James didn't look swayed. "Canary Creams aren't your style, Lily," he reminded her.
"Well that's true, but I was going to use a method for payback like Canary Creams. I was planning to put it in their food during the Halloween Feast."
"Do remember what dad said about putting your potions into someone's food? He won't be happy if you kill someone because you're experimenting again."
Lily looked offended. "They won't die," she assured her brother,"though they might have to spend some time getting to know the hospital wing. But now that you went and pulled your little prank I have an entire cauldron of what I like to call 'Essence of Revenge' and no one to use it on." There was silence as Lily thought then she smirked, "I'd be careful what you eat for a while James," she warned then she turned on her heel and walked off.
James and Charlotte stood and watched in shock as Lily walked away.
"Maybe you should get your food straight from the house elves this year?" Charlotte suggested, she didn't know what Lily Potter's 'Essence of Revenge' did but she was sure it wouldn't be pleasant.
James shook his head, "As flattered as I am that you're worried for my well being it's no use," he said. "Even if I evade her for the rest of the year she knows where I live."
James was barley aware that he was dreaming, or more accurately, remembering. He had memory/dreams like this sometimes; they almost always had something to do with Charlotte. He supposed that was because night time was the only time he was able to think about her; Amber usually kept him too busy to think.
But that didn't matter, it was time for him to get up now, he could tell from Amber crying in her crib (his live alarm clock). James reluctantly got out of bed and went back to reality. Picking up Amber he went downstairs to make her a bottle. He glanced at the calendar on the wall and smiled at Amber who was trying to grasp the bottle but wasn't strong enough to hold it by herself yet. "Did you know that you're a month old today?" He asked as she sucked down her breakfast. "Or rather I got you a month ago. We don't actually know when you were born do we, Amber?" Amber just looked at him with a 'Can't you see I'm eating?' look on her face.
James had to admit that the past month hadn't been easy. He had had to go back to work after the first week and Ginny took care of Amber during James's irregular hours but he was expected to race back home after practice was over. Not that he minded, he found that he'd rather be with Amber anyway. Games were difficult to manage but he usually apperated back the moment they were over.
His teammates were told about Amber but none of them had met her yet and James was surprised to find that his friends on the team just didn't understand why he could never stay and celebrate with them. Then again most of them didn't have kids but the few teammates who also had kids were a lot more understanding and even seemed vaguely interested in Amber. But those men had wives to help them take care of their kids, James just had his parents.
As James was burping Amber he heard footsteps coming down the stares and into the kitchen. Amber gave a burp and a cough when Harry walked into the kitchen. James looked at her, "Did she just cough?" he asked Harry, who shrugged sleepily.
Amber coughed again. James's eyes widened, she had never coughed before, what was wrong was she sick?
"Didn't you hear that?" he asked Harry frantically. "I think she's sick!"
"Babies get sick sometimes, James," Harry said. "It's probably just the sniffles."
"Just the sniffles! Didn't you hear that horrible hacking cough?"
Harry looked at him like he was crazy. "I don't think you and I are hearing the same things because what I heard was barely even a cough and there was nothing horrible about it."
Ginny came down at that moment and James ambushed her. "Mum, Amber's sick! What do I do?"
Ginny looked Amber over, "She doesn't look sick to me," she mused, "What makes you think she is?"
James turned Amber in his arms to where she was facing her grandma and, as if on cue, she gave a feeble cough.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Oh, no, what ever shall we do!" she mocked.
James just glared at her, not appreciating her sarcasm.
"Hand her to me," Ginny sighed. James did so obediently and Ginny went to the pantry and withdrew a vial of some potion. Opening it she dropped three drops into Amber's mouth.
She handed her back to James, "I've done all I can. She should stop coughing by lunch."
James groaned as Amber coughed again, he'd have to listen to her cough until mid-day. His poor sick baby!
A/N: Tell me what you think about it.