Chapter 1

July 21, 2013

"James Arthur Potter! You get your behind in here and clean up this mess!" a loud voice boomed from the front parlour of Number 12 Pennington Road, Godric's Hollow. James Arthur Potter, the afore mentioned, immediately ducked down behind the white picket fence that streched across the front garden. He was usually called Jamie, as long as he was not causing trouble. He knew exactly why his mother was yelling at him. The cause of his latest mischief lay in his hand. His brand new pea-shooter had accidently released a rock that had flown through the open window of the front parlour and broken both his mother's favorite vase and a bowl of tadpoles that his brother had been raising. Maybe if he was lucky, he was far enough away that he wouldn't show up on his mum's radar. "You heard me, young man! I can see you hiding behind that fence! Now, get in here now!" Jamie sighed and stood up and hopped over the fence and walked dejectedly into the house. This was not the first time something of this nature had happened; and Jamie was sure that besides cleaning up the mess, dockage of his allowance, a few days of grounding, he would also have his beloved pea-shooter confiscated for the rest of the summer. Jamie slowly entered the front hall and grabbed up the broom from the closet. He then entered the parlour and began to clean up the mess. His mother stood hands on her hips and watched him cleaned the mess, "James, this is the last straw. I don't know what your father thought he was doing letting you buy that accursed thing, but enough is enough. Hand it over." Jamie sighed miserably and placed the pea-shooter in his mother's open hand. His mother gave Jamie a warning glance and left the parlour to lock up the pea-shooter in her trunk of other confiscated items. Jamie finished cleaning the mess and sat down on the couch to await his punishment. A few moments later, Ginevera Molly Potter came back down the stairs and faced her son, "James, you're grounded for the weekend. You will also be docked the amount of a new vase out of your allowance, and I expect you to apologize to poor Remy for killing his little tadpoles. Now, go upstairs to your room and think about what you've down and why you never seem to cease causing trouble." James nodded agreement and left the parlour and went up the stairs, took a right and went into the bedroom he shared with his twin brother, Sir. Sir was spending the night at their fellow friend, Frankie Longbottom's house. Jamie would have been with them today if Jamie's Pee-Wee Quidditch team, the Manticores, hadn't won their final tournament game and had to play the Shrakes. Sir and Frankie played for the Grindylows, who had lost their last tournament and hadn't had to play anymore that summer. Jamie sat down on his bed and looked around his room. In a month's time, September would be here, and Jamie and Sir would be off to Hogwarts, and this bedroom would be empty. Jamie liked their bedroom. It had bright blue walls and dark wood floors. There were tons of posters of the Chudley Cannons, the twins favorite Quidditch team. Also, their twin beds with their roaring Gryffindor bedspreads, Jamie's gold and Sir's red. A bunch of joke stuff from their uncle Fred's joke shop, bunches of toys, their beloved broomsticks, and Quidditch garbs.

Jamie sat down on his bed and glanced around the room trying to think of something quiet to occupy himself with until he was released from his room. Jamie was, by unconvential means, a rather handsome lad. He had his dad's messy black hair that had the habit of standing on end wether you wanted it to or not, and his mother's warm brown eyes. He looked rather like his da with his height, his slimness, and his quick reflexes. He also had his mother's firery independence and temper. He was somewhat proud of his name because he rather admired his grandfather's. Arthur was a noble, eccentric man, and James had been quite the athlete, popular, and extremely brave.

Jamie picked up his father's tattered old copy of Standard Book of Spells: Year 1. Although he did not have his wand yet, he could still read about how to do some of the interesting spells, like levitation and fire-making. He had left off in the third chapter about transfiguring objects.

Several hours later, Jamie was on the eighth chapter about defensive spells, when his father knocked on the door. "Come in." Jamie called putting down the book.

Harry James Potter entered his eldest son's room and sat down on the chair closest to Jamie's bed. Harry was rather a handsome man. He was tall and athletic from his years of being an Auror. He had his son's same messy black locks that were now shot through with some distinguishing streaks of silver. His brillant green eyes were visible even through the glass of his specticles. "So, I hear you and Mum had a row today." Harry began picking up Jamie's remembrall and playing catch with it.

Jamie sighed, "Dad, it was really an accident! I didn't mean to break her vase or the tadpole bowl. My pea-shooter accidently went off."

Harry grinned at his son for an instant before going back into dad-mode, "Listen, Jamie, I know it was an accident, but that's the third time in two weeks. Your poor mother's at the end of her rope. Can you try to stay out of trouble at least until we get through our Diagon Alley trip and your birthday party? Huh, give it a try. Now, clean yourself up and come on downstairs. It's dinner time" Harry ruffled Jamie's hair and turned to leave.

"Da, thanks, and... I'll try." Jamie said standing up and streaching. He walked over to his dresser and began pulling out some clean clothes.

"No problem, thats what I'm here for." Harry chuckled and left the room. Jamie quickly changed out of his dirty clothes and into a clean white shirt and clean brown cords. He vainly made an effort at combing down his unruly hair and went down stairs. His mother shot his a disaproving glance and continued fixing dinner. His father grinned at him and shot him a little wink of encouragement. Jamie's younger sister, Lily Molly Potter, was busy setting the table when Jamie came in. Lily had her mother's firery hair and temperment with Harry's bright green eyes and loving nature. She was fiercly protective of her family and friends. She sent him a sharp look and nodded toward their younger brother, Remy. Remy or Remus Alastor Potter, was the youngest of the Potter clan. He looked exactly like Harry right down to the knobby knees. Remy was seated at the table staring sadly down at the floor. He looked like someone had killed his best friend, and James realized that, in esseance, he had. Remy was a bit of a loner, and the only friends he had were his pets, including the batch of tadpoles he had been raising.

Jamie bit his lip and felt a sharp pang of regret. He sat down in his usual seat beside him and gently began, "Hey there, Remy."

Remy looked up at Jamie and back down again, "Hi, Jamie."

"I'm sorry about the tadpoles. I know how much they meant to you... Tell you what, after dinner we'll give them a proper funeral in the back garden under the old oak tree, alright?" James fuffled Remy's hair.

Remy immediately tried to smooth his hair back down and straightened his glasses, "Alright. I guess."

Harry smiled at Jamie and gave Ginny a look. She narrowed her eyes at Harry but could not help shooting a little nodd to Jamie to tell him he was forgiven. "Alright, dinner is ready." Ginny announced and with a flick of her wand, sent all the dishes flying to the table. Harry carried the pitcher of pumpkin juice to the table.

Jamie immediately perked up when he saw the were having beef casserole, boiled potatoes and salad. "Mum, it looks delicious." Jamie cried enthusiastically. It had felt like lunch was several days ago. Ginny smiled radiantly and began dividing out the the food. The family tucked in and within thirty minutes, they were moving onto dessert, homemade rasberry sorbet. Jamie ate that too, helped clear the table and went to sit in the parlor with the rest of the family in front of the fire.