1James sat I bed for a moment, trying to stop his head from spinning. There was something that he was supposed to be doing, but he was just too tired to remember.

The door bell rang again and suddenly he remembered why he'd awoken. Grabbing his glasses he stumbled sleepily to the front door.

"Seriously," James greeted his dad reprovingly, "it's Saturday."

"You should get to bed sooner if you want more sleep," Jonathan suggested, noticing that James was only wearing boxers. "Is this how you normally answer the door?"

James groaned. He stepped back to allow his dad entry, as he yawned and stretched. He was so exhausted that he failed to notice that Dumbledore was with his dad.

"I'm so tired, Dad," he complained as he stumbled his way into the kitchen.

"Why is Lily on the couch?" Jonathan asked his son, seeing her on his way into the kitchen and abruptly changing the subject.

James peaked around into the living room. Sure enough, Lily was sound asleep on the couch.

"I don't know," James responded, annoyed. "It is so early in the morning.

"Drink some coffee," Jonathan commanded, undaunted by his son's lack of hospitality. "We need to talk."

James was aware of his dad's unusually laughless tone and momentarily forgot his sleepiness. "What about?"

"James," his dad sternly asserted. "You don't question my motives, do you?"

James was struck at the randomness of the question, but was too tired to object to it.

He shook his head.

"And we're all trying to do what's best for everybody, right?"

"Where is this going?" James asked, in a passive aggressive manner. "I hate the turtle game, people always hiding in their shells, afraid to just come out and say what they are trying to say."

Jonathan looked sadly at his son for a second.

James probably would have humored his dad if he weren't still a little mad at him.

"Son, there is no more Quidditch League. We've got to put you guys' safety at the top of the priority list. All of the international leaders met two days ago. That is why you were watching Shelby," Jonathan watched James' reaction, which was unexpectedly blank. "We were attacked that night, and with the whole Nigerian team slaughtered last month, we were backed into a corner. I'm sorry, I wanted to talk to you sooner, but..."

"Whose idea was this, Dad?" James softly asked. There was a moment of pregnant silence. "Because it sounds like something you might do. Always a double standard. You are in fifty times the danger I am, but amazingly you are allowed to do your job, and I'm not."

"Now, James," Dumbledore interjected, stunning James, who hadn't realized he was there. "We really can't afford to lose lives over games. I was the one who suggested this."

James gave him a resigned look. "First you put my wife in terrible danger, then you won't let me work because I might be in danger?"

"James..." his dad cautioned.

James head dropped and banged against the table. "You've just got to give me a minute."

Just then, Sirius' burst through the front door.

"Prongs?" he yelled, and James could tell he was annoyed. "Did you hear about this?"

Sirius burst into the kitchen and slammed the article in front of James. Then he seemed to notice Jonathan and Dumbledore.

"Dad," James ignored Sirius and pleadingly implored his dad. "I am sorry for pushing this, and I'll believe whatever you tell me, but I have got to know if this was your doing?"

Jonathan seemed to carefully consider the question, before realizing the underlying question and responding heatedly, "No, Jamie. It wasn't my idea, but I am not opposed to it."

"I'm not mad that this happened, Dad! You want me to say that I'm okay with it? Well truthfully I'm relieved. You want me to say I was scared, Dad? Because I was scared," James retorted, his voice raising also. "I'm just mad that you won't be honest and that you are treating me like a little kid."

"Well then stop acting like one," Jonathan argued authoritatively. "I mean, you were more mature than you are acting when you were twelve!"

James got up and walked to his bedroom. Sirius followed him, quite surprised by his lack of reaction. After a moment of hesitation, Jonathan followed also.

James flopped onto his bed. "I really need some sleep," he moaned into his pillow.

"Where's Lily," Sirius asked, ignoring his dramatic friend.

"She's on the couch," Jonathan answered for him, motioning toward the living room. "I don't know why."

"That's strange," Sirius commented. "Did you two have another fight?"

"Another one?" Jonathan asked quietly, "They're not getting along?"

"Well, Sirius corrected himself quietly, "You know how James is. He just isn't thoughtful enough sometimes; self-absorbed."

James threw a pillow at him. "I'm not kidding! I need some sleep!"

Sirius caught the pillow. "This smells like Lily."

James lost all patience. Jumping up, he grabbed the pillow and threw it on the bed. Then he forcibly ushered his dad and his friend out into the hall and slammed the door.

"Breakfast?" Sirius awkwardly asked Jonathan, who nodded.