James

Chapter 24

I didn't talk to her all day. She was with that Sam fellow at lunch and I didn't say anything to her. He looks familiar but I can't tell why. I really don't know him. I just know he's the captain of the Quidditch team. Henry should be back soon. Classes are so boring. I just read what we had to read in class. It tells you everything that you need to know. I already knew it all. I have two older brothers. It's not like I'm completely in the dark.

James was sitting in the common room. He was staring at the fire and it was late. Nobody else was around and that suited James just fine. He had some things on his mind. He felt paranoid today. He was sure somebody was watching him in the shadows.

A faint voice was calling his name. He looked around the common room but no one was there. Then he glanced at the fire and saw a face. A familiar face. His mom's face!

"James. How was the first day?" His mom's voice was soothing to him.

"Boring. I already know half the stuff."

"Just make sure you listen to your teachers."

"What d'you want, Mum?"

"Just to talk. Oh! That book you wanted is on the way with a present that I just happened to find lying around the house. It should be there at breakfast."

"You're the best, Mum. See you at Christmas."

"Don't get into too much trouble."

"Mum, you know me."

"That's exactly why I said that. Love you."

"Love you, too." the image of his mother was gone. He sat there alone for a little longer.

"You really love your mother," said a voice. James turned to see Lily standing by the doorway. She had a blue robe over her night gown. "I can't sleep, either. I heard someone down here and thought some company would be nice."

"How's Sam?"

"He's nice, funny, simple, charming, and doesn't spend hours in front of the mirror."

"You don't know that." She laughed. "How's the book he gave you?"

"It was good," Lily said calmly. She made her way toward a seat. "You could have just asked."

"Asked what?" asked a puzzled James.

"What he got me."

"I did ask somebody."

"James, I know when somebody's been in my room." James looked at her in a sorry face. He knew she that she knew what he did.

"How d'you find out?"

"Well my first clue was Remus. You shouldn't send somebody that doesn't talk to me. Second, my clothes weren't in the proper place."

"We had to hurry. Professor McGonagall was coming."

"And third, I know you, James. You're jealous and curious. I knew it would happen."

"Sorry," was his only reply. "I guess you'll tell Professor McGonagall."

"Why?"

"It's against school rules."

"Breaking into somebody's room breaks a lot of rules. And no, I'm not." James' face perked up.

"Really?"

"I have no evidence that it even was you. Besides, all I know is somebody went into my room." James looked at her with a smirk. At least she doesn't hate me. he thought. "One more thing, stop following me in the shadows. I hate that feeling when you know somebody is watching you."

"I haven't been following you or creeping in the shadows." She gave him a look that said yeah, right. "I swear. Ask Sirius, I've been with him and Remus all day."

"Then who's been following me?"

"The same person who's following me," James said blankly.

"Like a person in the shadows?"

"Yeah. I thought I was just being paranoid. I mean after what happened at the Leaky Cauldron."

"Well, either, somebody is following us or we're both paranoid." She gave him a smile.

"I hope we're just paranoid." They both sat in silence for a moment.

"I'd better get back to bed and at least try to sleep."

"Same, here. Night."

"Night." Lily started walking toward the stairs to head upstairs, but before she started up the steps, she said, "You are a nice person, when you don't act like a little know it all." At that, she walked up the steps.

James sat there for a while longer. Thinking about what he needed to do tomorrow. He didn't even think about what Lily just said. Which would surprise him in the morning. He had more important things on his mind. He wanted to know how Sam got a hold of that book. It's impossible for him to have it. He was muggle-born. He couldn't have gotten his hands on a book like that unless he was in a gang or something. Sam didn't seem like a guy who would join a gang, though. He let the thought go and went up stairs to try and go to sleep. He didn't really succeed, though.

The next morning at breakfast, James was too anxious to get his mail. He looked down the table and saw Lily and Kelsey sitting with Roger Longbottom and Sharon Finnigan. He glanced over at the Slytherin table and saw Malfoy and his friends staring at him. It was kind of awkward. He heard a screech and knew that the mail was there.

"There's your owl James," Sirius said. "Who are you looking at?"

"Somebody who's looking at me," James replied.

"Why don't you ever just say, flat out, what you're talking about?"

"Sorry," he said. Then he looked at Sirius and said, "I used to play this game with my dad. I'm looking at Lucious Malfoy. He's staring at me."

"Well he's not staring at you, now. He's reading the Daily Prophet. Now, he comes Henry." The owl came straight to James and dropped a letter from his beak and a package from his claws.

"We'll open the package in our dormitory."

"Well at least read the letter." James took the letter and opened it up. Sirius looked over James' shoulder. It read:

Dear James,

I hope you like the gift I got you. It's an old family heirloom. I know you'll use it the way I did. To sneak out of your dorm. So I'll just say, try not to get caught. The books inside the present so it'll be impossible for you not to open the present. You owe me one. I had to sneak this past your father. You know how he is. I'll see you at Christmas.

Love,

your mother

P.S. I got a letter from the Black family. They said something like, your son is corrupting our son. I don't think they like us. They also had a few choice words that I'm not entitled to tell you. Tell Sirius that I said hey. Remus, too.

"I love your, mum," Sirius said.

"How did your parents find out you were hanging with me?"

"Probably Malfoy. He likes telling on me. Our family is close to the Malfoy's."

"Lucky you," James said sarcastically.

The day went by pretty quickly. They went to their classes and learned a few spells. Nothing complicated. Just some simple things that can get them through life. As they were going back to the common room, a Slytherin boy accidentally ran into them.

"Watch where you're going!" he exclaimed.

"You're the one who ran into us!" Sirius exclaimed.

"Yeah right! You need to watch where you're going!"

"Would you guys calm down," Remus said.

"Shut up, mudblood!" The boy screamed. All of a sudden, the boy was floating in the air upside down. He was lowered close to James' face.

"Never." James said in a dark voice, "NEVER insult any of my friends." The boy was squirming around.

"Put me down!" He screamed.

"You want down?" James asked. James dropped his wand and the boy fell on his head.

"Don't I know you?" Sirius asked.

"I know you, traitor. Ahhhhhhhhh!"

"What did I say about insulting my friends?"

"Now I remember! You're that Snape, kid! My parents were at your parents funeral."

"Don't sound so excited, Sirius," Remus said.

"It's Severus."

"Let's go," James said and left Severus on the ground.

I don't know how to spell Shamus's last name so forgive the misspelling of his name or anybody else's name.