The usual disclaimer applies. I am not J.K. Rowling, and own nothing in these stories except the stuff you don't recognize as loyal readers of the series. Besides, if I were Rowling, I'd be busy writing my books and not fan fiction.
The Next Generation: Marauders^3Chapter 2: Finding the Gift
Richard Potter couldn't sleep.
It wasn't the fact that the bed he was in was new and unfamiliar. It wasn't the fact that he was away from home by himself for the first time. And even though it was annoying, it wasn't the fact that two of his new roommates, Henry Longbottom and John Fortis, snored. And loudly.
No, Richard Potter was floating on a wave of disbelief. He simply couldn't believe yet that he was actually a student at Hogwarts, and a Gryffindor like the rest of his family. Of course, considering it was only his first night at Hogwarts, he had plenty of time to become a believer.
Richard sighed and got up. For a second, the candlelight illuminated his face in the mirror. Ever since he was born, he had been carrying on the Potter tradition of the sons looking like their fathers. Besides having the same basic facial shape, Richard also had his father's green eyes and glasses. As far as Richard could tell, this had no discernible advantage, save keeping bullies away from him. Everyone in the wizarding world knew the stories of how Harry Potter had beaten Lord Voldemort on six separate occasions, the final one being their showdown at Hogwarts. There wasn't a boy alive who'd mess with the son of The Boy Who Lived…And Also Destroyed The Most Feared Wizard Of The Age.
(A/N: I'm terribly sorry for giving Harry a nickname longer than Voldemort's, everyone. It just kind of slipped out.)
His hair, however, was a different story. He may have been Harry Potter's son, but he was also Ginny Weasley's son. Down on some deep, deeeeeeeep genetic level, there's an amino acid or something that declares that anyone descended from the Weasleys must have hair that is some shade of red. To this effect, Richard had very messy dark red hair. The messiness he could thank his father for.
Richard sighed again, and heavier. He sat by the window, looking out onto the grounds. Mentally, he was replaying the moment the Sorting Hat, perched on his head, opened its mouth and said, "GRYFFINDOR!" He had been so sure that the Hat was wrong that he almost started arguing out loud. He'd never been extraordinarily brave…what good would he be in the bravest House at Hogwarts?
"At least I've got Eddie with me" he thought, looking over at his cousin and best friend, Eddie Weasley. Being the son of Hermione Granger, Eddie was showing signs of being even more clever and studious than his mother. Everyone that knew Eddie assumed he'd be the first Ravenclaw the family ever had. Richard supposed it was the Weasley factor that determined Eddie's House placement, just like it had determined his own hair color. The entire lot of Weasleys as far back as anyone could remember were Gryffindors, so it seemed natural that Eddie was keeping the streak alive. He certainly looked the part. He had thick red hair and bright blue eyes, and more freckles than any one kid needed.
"Well" Richard said to no one in particular, "since classes start tomorrow, I guess I should try and get some sleep." He got back in bed and grabbed the candle, lifting it to his mouth to blow it out. At that second, his eyes happened to focus past the candle, on a carving on one of the bedposts.
Curious, Richard put the candle down and inspected the bedpost. There was a small carving in the wood. It looked awfully similar to the Hogwarts crest, except there were seven sections. Carved within the separate sections were a griffin, a manticore, an owl, a stag, a large black dog, a wolf, and a tigress. Richard studied the crest carefully, having no idea what it meant at all.
Suddenly, a small piece of parchment appeared before him. Richard picked it up. A magically animated stick figure appeared on it, and a picture of the bedpost. The figure drew a wand and touched it to the crest on the bedpost, against the figure of the griffin. A voice bubble appeared, with the word "Beaky" in it.
Richard decided to take the chance. He put down the parchment and reached back for his wand. (9½ inches long, cedar and dragon heartstring) Reaching forward, he touched the tip of it to the griffin carving and said "Beaky".
There was a small flash, and then a figure appeared before Richard that he knew only too well. The man smiled down at him, adjusting his glasses slightly.
"Richard! It's so good to see you, son. I'm certainly glad I guessed right on which House you'd be in. I bet you'd have never discovered this gift of mine if you'd been in any other House."
Richard was, rather understandably, confused. "Dad, what are you doing here? Or not doing here, as the case may be…this is a spell, isn't it?"
Harry nodded. "A charm to be exact, son. Your grandmother Lily, 'Firefur' as we call her now, thought it up. She's probably the best Charms student this school ever had or will have." He turned and smiled at the tigress carving. Richard looked at the crest in wonder.
"You mean I could see Grandma Lily too, even though she's dead?" Harry smiled.
"You'd be surprised at who that crest will let you see, Richard…try this. Wave your wand in a circle over the crest, and repeat after me: 'Moony, Firefur, Padfoot, Prongs, Lionheart, Feathers'."
Richard raised his wand and waved in a circle, repeating the nicknames as he was told. There were six small flashes, and then…
(A/N: I'm sure anyone that's read my previous two stories will know what happens when you do what Richard just did. Don't tell anyone else, ok? Oh, and in case anyone's wondering where I got the new names in this story…I was just continuing the chain of English kings. JK Rowling has used Arthur, William, Charles, Alfred, George, and James already, so I added Richard, Edward, John, and Henry. And you know, I really seem to remember something about a King Harold in English history, but my memory's fuzzy. Well, anyway, read and review!)
