The Odd Couple:
Chapter Two: Midnight Again
Disclaimer: Everyone knows I own almost
nothing but the plot and who knows what else I have in store for readers of
this story. Most everything belongs to J.K. Rowling.
No matter how cold it was, James had the
window open. He was in his parents' new penthouse flat directly across from Big
Ben. He was learning how to use his dad's new invisibility machine. Not that he
needed it for himself, he had an invisibility cloak. His broomstick, on the
other hand, was still as obvious as the difference between night and day. His
parents had gone to the Leaky Cauldron for a meeting with the Minister of
Magic. As he sat on the balcony, he watched Big Ben strike twelve. Through his
telescope, James could see the stars twinkling a lot like Lily Evans's eyes.
One little prank had instantly made her the president of the I Hate James
Potter Club. James's best friend, Sirius Black, once said that she and Snape
were probably the only members.
Speaking of Sirius, James had a postcard
with a wizard photo on it, in his hand from the troublemaker, describing his
adventures in Paris. The picture featured a black-haired boy with eyes that
were black as well, full of mischief, that would be Sirius. But on either side
of him sat two blonde French girls, dressed in pale blue robes of Beuxbatons.
Chloe and Marie send kisses! He wrote, bragging about them. He signed it with a
paw print, the mark he always put on his notes and letters, as if in code.
James pinned the postcard to his bulletin board, and began to read the manual
for his dad's invention, InvisibleMachine2000.
For small objects, the invisibility
charm will last up to twenty-four hours. Small objects include- wands, quills,
rolls of parchment, etc.
For medium-sized objects, the invisibility charm will last up
to twelve hours. Medium-sized objects include- books, cauldrons, telescopes,
etc.
For large objects, the invisibility
charm will last up to six hours. Large objects include- broomsticks, pets,
trunks, etc.
Warning:
This is a test version only! The times stated are only the maximum amounts of
time the invisibility charm will work!
Potter & Potter Co. Makers of
Trouble-Making and Under-Age Wizardry Helpers!
He shoved his Silver Arrow broom into the
machine. And when it popped out, he attached the InvisibleStrap his father had
sent him last year. He put the broom across his back. But before James could
read the writing in red, an owl arrived. It was large and tawny, and James
recognized it as Lily's owl Cinnamon. Never in a million years would Lily send him
an owl, unless this was a Howler. But the envelope was white, with little
lilies on a vine intertwining his name. "She must have taken some time to
bewitch her quill to do that!" He thought. He opened the letter.
James-
There's something you need to clarify. I
was just reading our Animagi homework and you have a lot to explain. Send
Cinnamon back pronto. Or you can send her back without a reply and write the
Muggle way; to 6 Magnolia Crescent, Little Whinging, Surrey. I think Petunia
would go nuts if you sent her a Howler, so that's what you can use Cinnamon
for.
Chocolate Frogs,
Lily.
He laughed. For a prissy girl, she had a
sense of humor. He hadn't decided how to respond. Should he respond by sending
Petunia a Howler? Why not? He went to the study and picked the lock on his
mother's desk. She had plenty of Howlers, after all, her son was James Potter.
He said every possible swear word in the book and added, "That's the last time
you call Lily Evans a freak!" He then closed the red envelope and tied it to
Cinnamon's leg.
He had no idea what she meant, "There's
something you need to clarify." There was only one way to find out. He pulled
on his Invisibility Cloak. With his wand in hand, he headed for the balcony
with Lily's letter. The lights around him were dimming. He pointed his wand at
the words "6 Magnolia Crescent, Little Whinging, Surrey and whispered "Guide
me." The wand let out a light that curved every mile or two. He wrote a
quick letter to his parents, pinning it onto the balcony. James took off. Off
to Lily's house.