A/N:

Hogwarts Assignment 3
Photography task 1: Write about searching for someone or something.

Hogwarts Auction
Day 7, Auction 4: Harry Potter

Word count: 530

Harry peeked behind the long curtains that framed the window. Nothing. He hadn't expected James to be hiding there. There would have been a bulge that gave him away, but he had to check a few places where James certainly wasn't before he considered actually finding him.

"Not behind the curtain?" he said loudly for James' benefit. "Hmm. Where could James possibly be?"

Giggles came from behind the sofa, and Harry could suppress his own grin. He looked at Albus, who was sitting on a blanket in the middle of the floor drooling on a teething ring. He stared up at Harry in awe of the strange game they were playing. It was definitely a step up from Albus' favourite game of peek-a-boo.

Harry bent low to get on Albus' level. "Where do you think your brother has gone, huh?" he cooed, taking Albus' hand and shaking it. Albus laughed and held onto Harry's finger. "Oh no!" Harry cried. "I've been trapped. Are the two of you working together?"

Albus laughed more and threw the teething ring to the floor. James giggled again from behind the sofa.

"At least you're cute." Harry sighed and used his other hand to bop Albus on the nose. "I'll be able to forget the betrayal."

Albus dropped his hand in favour of going for his teething ring again. Harry helped him reach it and stood up, raising his arms triumphantly.

"I'm free! Now, where could James be?"

He moved to the opposite side of the room from the sofa. He picked up a picture on the shelf as if James had any hope of hiding behind it.

"Still not here." He turned to face the room and tapped his chin, just in case James was peeking out from behind the couch. "I'm stumped. I just don't know where on earth he could be. I've checked everywhere."

He circled the room, taking his time. "What do you think, Albus? Could he have left the room? Maybe he's hidden in his room? Or the bathtub?"

He paused as if Albus was answering him and not preoccupied with his toy.

"What's that?" he said, raising his eyebrows. "You think he might be behind the sofa?"

While Albus still ignored him, there was a gasp from behind the sofa. Harry crept over, but just as he reached it, James bolted out from behind it and made a run for the hallway. Harry laughed and went after him.

"We're not playing tag, James," he said through his laughter. "It's just hide-and-seek."

"You can't catch me, Daddy!" James yelled as he ran, ignoring him.

Harry didn't want to leave the baby alone on the floor for long. Otherwise, he might have let James evade him a bit longer. Instead, he scooped him up, laughing as James struggled in his arms.

"No!" the toddler shouted through his own laughter. "Oh no!"

Harry carried him back to the living room to find Albus watching them with wide eyes.

"We got him, Albus," he said as he placed James back on the floor.

"Again! Again!" James shouted. He tapped Harry on the leg. "Close your eyes, Daddy."

Harry smiled and did as instructed.