Thank you so much to all the people who reviewed my last chapter, in fact everyone who's reviewed this fic so far! :-)
James stormed out of Professor Snape's classroom, slamming the door behind him. How was it his fault if Drucilla Malfoy had crept up to his cauldron and tipped it over? Didn't he have a right to hit her? There was no point in going to see his Mum, the Head of Gryffindor- she was busy teaching classes. Uncle Sirius had a free period third lesson though… The brilliance of this plan made him grin and he sprinted down the corridor and out to Hagrid's hut.
He'd given up on knocking years ago- it just annoyed his Uncles and made Sabre agitated. James peered round the door and found Sirius and Ruby playing poker at the table. "Hey," he said. "Room for another?"
Sirius turned round. "Yeah, sure, we're nearly done." He dealt out a few more cards and then said casually "Aren't you meant to be in lessons right now?"
"Snape can't be called a teacher, so no, I wasn't in a lesson."
"Oh, if it's Potions that's alright." Sirius sighed theatrically as Ruby beat him. "You listening Rubes? When you're big enough to go to Hogwarts you have my permission to skip Potions lessons." Ruby giggled and looked at her brother.
"Are you gonna sit down cos I wanna beat Uncle Sirius again!"
"Yeah, sure." James pulled up a chair and watched his "uncle" deal out the cards.
"So, have you had the whole "what-do-you-want-to-do-when-you're-older" thing yet? "When I was here we didn't have it 'til fifth year," Sirius said conversationally.
"Had it last week."
"So… what did you say? You don't want to be a supposed murderer like your favourite godfather do you?"
James laughed but looked warily at Sirius over his cards. "No, sorry. I said… I said I wanted to be an Auror. I mean, I know it's really hard work and everything but I really think I could make it and you get paid tons of cash and…"
Sirius interrupted him. "Does…Harry, I mean your dad, know about this?"
"No, not yet. He's been so busy lately with preparing a Thanksgiving feast for all the Americans that I haven't had time. Why?"
"When Harry was a few years older than you he had the whole "what-do-you-want-to-do-when-you're-older" thing. Like you, he said Auror. James and Lily, your grandparents- yes they have the same names as you and your sister. Not you Rubes, you know you were named after Uncle Hagrid. Honestly, doesn't your father tell you anything? - were Aurors too, so I suppose he wanted to be like them. But about ten years later, your brother and sister were born and Harry spent all his time looking after them whilst your mum was working."
"I can't imagine Ally and Mark needing looking after," said Ruby thoughtfully.
"Well they did when they were little, babe," said Sirius. "Now let me finish telling my story." He took a deep breath and carried on. "Then, when Ally and Mark had left home, your dad looked in to being an Auror again. But then Professor Dumbledore retired and asked him to take over. Well, you won't believe how much Dumbledore has done for Harry- he couldn't really say no. So ever since that day, he's been the Head of Hogwarts and yeah, he loves it, but I guess he's always had this nagging feeling of what might have been. Now do you see why he might feel slightly… jealous if you became one?"
James was about to reply when Hagrid walked in and patted Sabre on the head. "Mornin'. Int that girl o'your's meant to be comin' over today Sirius?" he boomed. He looked up and saw James sitting at the table. "Aren't you meant t'be in class?"
Again, James was about to speak, when Sirius answered for him. "Hagrid- Midnight isn't coming til lunchtime, though why she chose a mealtime to come and visit us I don't know. Your cooking is worse than mine is, and that's saying something. Maybe we can get her to cook for us… Anyway, I've given James permission to stay here for third period cos he has Potions. Happy now?"
Hagrid shrugged and began to make tea on the stove. "You shouldn't go makin' trouble, James."
"Ah, well. Snape won't miss me," James replied. "Hey, Rubes- wanna go play outside for a while?" Ruby nodded excitedly, grabbed her brother's hand and dragged him out the door.
"So, Rubes…" he said casually, watching Ruby throw an old quaffle in the air and catch it again. "Ever wanted to get Malfoy back for what he did to your hat?"
His sister stopped and looked at him. The quaffle hit her on the head, but it didn't seem to register. "Yeah. I wanna get him back so bad!" she yelled.
"Whoa! Chill out, sis!" He beckoned her over. "I have a plan…"
"A cunning plan?"
"Yes a cunning…"
"Is it as cunning as a fox who's just been made Professor of Cunning at Oxford University?"
"Yes! Ruby be quiet and listen. That was meant to be a dramatic ending!"
"Oh, sorry."
"Right, now where was I?"
"The cunning plan that's as cunning as a…-"
"Ruby!"
Well that was chapter 4 folks! Had to add that bit from Blackadder at the end, I think that's classic. Sorry to keep you in suspense about the whole plan thing. All will soon be revealed… mwahahahahahahaha!
-Here's a poem I found (sadly that doesn't belong to me either- property of Lindsay Macrae) - lol
The Godfather (Part II) (Part I was boring)
He met me at my christening
When I was small and slimy.
He nearly dropped me in the font
The vicar shouted "blimey!"
Anyway, please press that little button in the bottom left hand corner that says GO! Thank you.
