Chapter 2-------Cannon
"Now, mind you behave yourself." James rolled his eyes at his mothers' presumption
"Yes mum."
"Don't make me come and get you." Again James rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"I'll be good, now, the train is about to go, let me go please?"
"You sound as though I'm holding you captive." His mother smiled and pecked him on the cheek. Then started cleaning an invisible mark on his chin that only she could see. "You look like an urchin. Oh I love you." She held him at arm length, and inspected him. "Oh look, my little Jimmy is all growing up."
"Oh shut up." Then James started getting on the train. "Love you."
"Enjoy yourself!" was the last thing his mother said to him before the train started to move. James started to make his way to the back of the train, he had met Sirius and Remus on the platform and they had said that's where they'll be. Their mothers obviously weren't so over loving as James'
"Oh! Jim!" Called a voice. James quickly turned around and there he saw Sirius his head popping out of a compartment. Smiling, James made his way over there, and took a seat.
"Mum, just give you 'the talk?'" Remus asked. He then put on a high pitched voice and impersonated his mother. "Now, be careful Remus, behave yourself now. I don't want to hear any bad things. Don't make me have to come and take you home."
This, for reasons that James could definitely understand, made Sirius go under fits of laughter. "Are all mothers like that?"
Remus nodded, I guess, why isn't yours."
Sirius shook his head, still under the influence of laughing. "No. My mums dead, child birth, with me."
"Sorry man." James said.
Sirius waved his hand. "Don't bother, look," he stood up and headed towards the door and began to open it. "I have to find Orion, my brother. He's head boy. I'm ashamed." He perked up "Means that he won't take any points off us though I guess. Wonder where he could be." and with this question Sirius left the compartment.
"I know where Orion is." James said.
"Where?"
"Second star to the right and straight on till morning."
Remus looked very confused at James statement. "That's Never Land."
James merely shrugged. "Maybe he's a drug dealer."
--oo000oo-
Riddle sat in his chair and thought. Thought about lots of things. Mainly on how he was going to find Seabastian, his son. He ought to be starting Hogwarts this year, but his 'parents' might not have got him a place in time. That would make Riddles plan even harder. He, some how had to get to the boy before it was too late. It had been five almost six years since Riddle had seen him last, and all through that time he had never stopped searching.
He had plans for young Seabastian.
At the tender age of five the boy had been weak, but Riddle was certain that the boy would one day be strong, and be able to fight on the right side. The strong side. His side. The side that was going to, most of all //win//.
However all this would be impossible if Riddle never even found the boy. If he were at Hogwarts, it would be relatively simple. Severus Snape, his mole so to speak, would be able to keep a look out for him. Even though it had been five years his appearance could not have changed dramatically. Black hair grey eyes. Riddle only hoped that Master Snape wasn't too blind to see through any things that Riddle might have forgotten to mention, and found the boy. And quickly.
--oo000oo-
The train ride was long and boring. The three of them had played exploding snap until they wore the game thin and singed their eyebrows so much there was chance of them never growing back. That of course was when something actually happened.
It was a stout blond haired boy with watery blue eyes, came running in, out of breath.
"Hi," James said to him.
The boy gave a weak smile and a nervous chuckle. "Mind if I come in here, only." he never finished. The compartment door opened again. This time it was that boy that James had 'met' in the potions shop.
"What the hell?" James breathed.
"It's life Jim, but not as we know it." Sirius said, smiling at another one of his muggle jokes that no one else could understand.
"Who the hell are you?" the boy demanded off of James.
"James Potter."
The boy gave James a glare that he didn't know some one could give.
Ignoring this James turned around to the boy who had previously run in to their compartment to see him hiding behind Sirius. "What's wrong?" James asked. The boy merely pointed a finger at the black haired boy. So James gave him a questioning look.
"The clumsy oaf literally fell into our compartment."
It took a while for James to reply, "So, accidents do happen."
"He interfered with our plans!"
James turned to the blond haired boy. "Did you hear anything important?" The boy shook his head and James turned back to the slimy git.
"Didn't hear any thing."
"So," said the greaseball, "he might have done."
James chuckled, "What are you planning? World domination?" no answer.
"Look, look," Remus stood in between the fighting pair. He turned to James first. "Lets stop all of this fighting." Then to the slimy git. "Severus, it was an accident. Forgive and forget." Severus merely snarled and left.
"Thanks," said the small blond boy.
"No problem, who are you?" Sirius asked.
"Peter Pettigrew." No smart remarks came from Sirius there. Peter then turned to Remus. "You know him." There was no need to mention whom 'him' was.
"Hmm," Remus said gloomily. "Unfortunately." He lifted his head up. "He and me, we practically grew up together. Our mothers knew each other. Nursery, primary school and now this. His name's Severus Snape. His father works for some secret organisation thing. Me and my older brother Romulus used to joke saying that they were planning to rule the world. That secret."
Sirius sat down next to James and breathed "Whoa." In awe.
Remus was continuing. "I wouldn't put it past them too. Snapes' fathers boss. Killed his own son. Heard of Tom Riddle?" James slowly nodded, but Sirius and Peter didn't know. So Remus explained. "Around six years ago now, a boy called Seabastian Riddle went missing, they charged his father Tom Riddle with his murder. Young Seabastian had been beaten and mistreated by him so it only made sense. The Ministry and Muggle police were convinced that Riddle killed him, but other than the suspicions of the boys' upbringing there was no other evidence. In fact no one was sure whether Seabastian was actually dead."
"What?" Peter asked confused.
So James took over. "You see, there was no body found, so therefore there was no evidence that a murder had even been committed. No one knows what really happened to Seabastian Riddle. It's most likely that's he's dead. He has a grave and a death certificate, but.he might still be alive."
Remus nodded. "So Riddle went free, they couldn't charge him with murder when no bodies had been found." Remus leaned closer to the other two. "I heard on the grapevine that Riddle is looking for his son. He's determined that he's alive you see." Remus leaned back again. "Seabastian Riddle was meant to be in our year at Hogwarts. He's name's still down. Once you put a name down for Hogwarts you can't take it off again. There's going to be one less student in our year than in others. Morbid or what?"
Peter, who seemed to be a timid fellow, gulped loudly. "So," he squeaked. "Riddle is still around today?"
James nodded. "Yeah, saw him the other day with my own eyes." He could hardly believe his own daring. "Remember, when I came out of the potion supplier?" they all nodded. "Saw him in there, he was ordering something and he said his name. So I ran out. White as any thing I was when I looked in the mirror afterwards."
This time it was Remus' turned to be in awe. "Why didn't you tell us?"
James shrugged. "Didn't know you had heard of him and besides I was too terrified to speak about it. For sufficient enough reasons." he trailed off at the end, not wanting to continue.
"I don't blame you," Peter said. "I wouldn't be able to speak about it for days. What did he look like?" He asked after a moment's pause.
"Um, quite tall, black hair pale skin."
"Huh," Sirius said, "a bit like you then Jim eh?"
James almost jumped thirty feet in the air when he heard Sirius say that. "What!?" he yelled. "I do not.ok maybe a little bit but not so much as you would notice. So just shut up about it ok, I look nothing like Tom Riddle!" He said this all very fast. And the constant contradicting wasn't good on any ones part.
"Oh my god." Remus breathed, and James dreaded what was going to come next. He'd blown it, five years of safety for this. To accidentally blow it to some kids he'd known only a few days. He could not carry on being this vulnerable. "You're Paranoid City." Remus continued, and James breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yes, well I don't particularly like being compared to a murderer. Even if it is only in something so trivial as looks."
When the train eventually stopped at Hogsmeade station a booming voice called out "Firs' years, come on now, any firs' years?" The four boys looked at each other and followed the booming voice. When they had found it, it belonged to a giant of a man.
"Well that's what I call cool." Sirius breathed and James merely looked at him.
When there was a sufficient amount of first years the giant began to speak. "I'm Rubues Hagrid, the gamekeeper of Hogwarts if you'd jus' like ter follow me."
And that's what they did. They all got into a boat. (Four in each one) they sailed on a lake, which seemed to last forever, but when they finally did land Hagrid knocked on a large wooden door, and a stern looking man opened it. "The Firs' years Professor Hannigon." Hagrid said. The door then opened and all of them went in. There, there was a smaller room, which they were all crammed into.
Professor Hannigon spoke. "When you are at Hogwarts you will be in different houses. Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Gryffindor." He took a deep breath. "Your house will be like a family, if you behave and do good, you will be rewarded house points. However if a rule is broken house points will be deducted." Another breath. "At the end of the year the house with the most points wins the house cup. Please wait here, I will come when I am ready for you."
And then he went. Conversations spurted all over the small room. "What? Will we have to do a test?"
"Oh my god, I'm going to be sick."
"I'm muggleborn- perhaps I'm not really a wizard."
Things like this carried on until Professor Hannigon appeared again. "This way."
Walking down the middle of the school, through all of the other students was one of the most nerve-racking things James had ever had to do since he became 'James Potter'
"Now, when I call your name you will come forth and I shall put the Sorting Hat on your head and you will be sorted." Every one was looking at the Hat but James had no idea why until Sirius told him
"I heard about this, it's sings"
And he was right.
(A/N: I can't write songs, I hope that you will forgive me. So I'll give you this wonderful enlightenment instead #The hills are alive with the sound of music, tra la la la with songs the have sung for a thousand years.# stops as bottles and rotten tomatoes get thrown at her as her singing is so awful.)
It was Professor Hannigon who read out the names form a long list from a roll of parchment.
"Abbot, Stuart." A blond pale (from nerves or just naturally like that James didn't know) went up to the stool and sat down on it. The Hat went on and a few minutes later.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat screamed. So off he went and sat down with the Hufflepuffs.
"Anderson, Graham." Was the first Ravenclaw and "Avery, Abigail", became a Slytherin. Then.
"Black, Sirius." Slowly, yet smirking still Sirius went up. It took a while to the hat to decide, but then it called. "GRYFFINDOR!" so Sirius, jogged along to that table.
'Please let me be in Gryffindor please.' James thought drastically to himself the names kept coming but James found himself not listening very carefully. Before he knew it "Lupin, Remus" was a Gryffindor too, it took just about the same time for the hat to decide Remus' fate as it did Sirius'.
Again James wished to be in Gryffindor. And again, the names passed quickly. People were getting thin on the stage as all of them were getting sorted. James feared that as soon as he went anywhere near that Hat, he'd be sick all over Professor Hannigons' shoes, but then. "Pettigrew, Peter." Even he became a Gryffindor, and then next after Peter was.
"Potter James."
Slowly James sat himself own on the stool deeply proud that he wasn't sick, and the hat went on.
"Oh, oh my." Said a voice in his ear. "Ah, this is tricky. Very tricky. Bravery, yes about the future and from the past, yes.there is a lot there, maybe Gryffindor but... a good mind too perhaps Ravenclaw. And Loyalty, maybe Hufflepuff. Oh my.secrets lots of secrets, and the need for revenge...on your father."
'Shut up, shut up now you stupid hat.' James tried to telepathically tell it.
"Cunning, you get what you want." It continued not listening to James
'I'm not going in Slytherin if that's what you're thinking cloth ears!' James 'yelled'
"Why not? It could make you, you know. Make you great. More than your father ever will be. I remember when he was here."
'Get on with it!'
"You could be the greatest wizard in all the world."
'I don't want to be the greatest wizard, I want my dinner.'
"You know, this is all just going in the Slytherin bag."
'I don't want to be like my father.' James said to the Hat as a last plea.
"Oh, very well, if you're sure. GRYFFINDOR!"
With a sigh of relief, James went to join his friends. "Well that wasn't stressful." He said sarcastically.
Sirius looked at James in a funny way. "How was it stressful?"
James shook his head. "No reason." It took a while for Remus to look away. Much slower than Sirius' shrug.
"Hey, where's our dinner?" Sirius almost yelled directing the conversation away from James.
"We have to wait until The Headmaster's done talking."
James looked up to the top table and then Professor Dumbledore started talking. "Welcome to another year of Hogwarts. I have here a list of Mr Filch's our caretakers requests." He began to read a long piece of parchment. "No singing yo-yos, no dungbombs, and remember no magic in the corridors." the list went on and on, until Dumbledore was done and folded it away into his pocket. "And need I remind you that the forbidden forest is called that for a reason? There are dangerous creatures and if you stray in there it might be rather painful, on your account."
Sirius leant towards James. "We are //so// going in there." Shaking his head James kept listening to Dumbledore.
"Also I would like to welcome our new first years. I hope that you get aquatinted to Hogwarts quickly and don't get too lost." He smiled, but it soon faded. "However on a more depressing note, we do have one less student than normal this year. I'm sure most of you know of the story of Seabastian Riddle." James rolled his eyes. He was never going to be free of this. 'Seabastian' was going to be on 'James'' back for all eternity. Every thing he would hear was Seabastian Riddle.
He had half a mind to yell out. 'The git isn't dead!' but then he thought against that, and chided himself when he realised he'd just called himself a git. But.this was the second time he'd been mentioned this afternoon. Normally he heard nothing about 'him.' His new adopted parents never talked about his old life; they didn't see it fair.
'I should have seen it coming though.' James thought to himself 'Hogwarts, it was where I was suppose to be going, as Seabastian that was.I should have realised something would be mentioned in my 'memory.'
Besides James thought it quite cool to have a memorial in his honour, even though there were only around three people who James could talk to about it. 'Maybe, I would be able to tell Remus or Sirius. They seem decent enough.' sense suddenly knocked into James' head. If he told them, it would be easier for James to tell other people. And before he knew it every one would find out. Especially Snape. And if Remus was saying was true, and what James saw in the potion supplier was true, James would be in the hands of the enemy within no time, namely his father.
Dumbledore was continuing ".For those of you who are not so familiar with the story, let me tell you." And so off he went. Not the detailed one Remus had told, as Dumbledore couldn't accuse any one, or talk about rumours, he was the Headmaster of a famous school and therefore he was mutual. But still it made James feel uneasy and scared, but not as much as guilty.
Here he was sitting in a room, a story of a murder being told, when the victim was sitting there pretending to be ignorant. Some people were still (for reasons James would never know) mourning his death. Only a couple of years ago James visited his own grave. That was an experience he would never forget. Seeing his name there.in gold writing, with a little angel on the black gravestone.he had gone home in tears, yet silently mesmerised by the whole process. It wasn't every day when one got to lay flowers on one's own grave now, was it?
He also felt genuinely annoyed by the whole thing. He was listening to the story of his life, twice! It was being told, as though it was a fairy tale, albeit a very depressing one, then again fairy tales weren't meant to be happy stories, the whole world had just been Disneyfied. But still it wasn't real for these people, even Remus who sat right next to him, looking thoughtful and depressed. This had //happened// to James. He had to live a year of secrecy until all the press came down, and his face wasn't on the papers every morning. He had been beaten and almost killed by his father. He had absolutely no contact and no idea where his mother was.
He had to live a lie.
"Now, mind you behave yourself." James rolled his eyes at his mothers' presumption
"Yes mum."
"Don't make me come and get you." Again James rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"I'll be good, now, the train is about to go, let me go please?"
"You sound as though I'm holding you captive." His mother smiled and pecked him on the cheek. Then started cleaning an invisible mark on his chin that only she could see. "You look like an urchin. Oh I love you." She held him at arm length, and inspected him. "Oh look, my little Jimmy is all growing up."
"Oh shut up." Then James started getting on the train. "Love you."
"Enjoy yourself!" was the last thing his mother said to him before the train started to move. James started to make his way to the back of the train, he had met Sirius and Remus on the platform and they had said that's where they'll be. Their mothers obviously weren't so over loving as James'
"Oh! Jim!" Called a voice. James quickly turned around and there he saw Sirius his head popping out of a compartment. Smiling, James made his way over there, and took a seat.
"Mum, just give you 'the talk?'" Remus asked. He then put on a high pitched voice and impersonated his mother. "Now, be careful Remus, behave yourself now. I don't want to hear any bad things. Don't make me have to come and take you home."
This, for reasons that James could definitely understand, made Sirius go under fits of laughter. "Are all mothers like that?"
Remus nodded, I guess, why isn't yours."
Sirius shook his head, still under the influence of laughing. "No. My mums dead, child birth, with me."
"Sorry man." James said.
Sirius waved his hand. "Don't bother, look," he stood up and headed towards the door and began to open it. "I have to find Orion, my brother. He's head boy. I'm ashamed." He perked up "Means that he won't take any points off us though I guess. Wonder where he could be." and with this question Sirius left the compartment.
"I know where Orion is." James said.
"Where?"
"Second star to the right and straight on till morning."
Remus looked very confused at James statement. "That's Never Land."
James merely shrugged. "Maybe he's a drug dealer."
--oo000oo-
Riddle sat in his chair and thought. Thought about lots of things. Mainly on how he was going to find Seabastian, his son. He ought to be starting Hogwarts this year, but his 'parents' might not have got him a place in time. That would make Riddles plan even harder. He, some how had to get to the boy before it was too late. It had been five almost six years since Riddle had seen him last, and all through that time he had never stopped searching.
He had plans for young Seabastian.
At the tender age of five the boy had been weak, but Riddle was certain that the boy would one day be strong, and be able to fight on the right side. The strong side. His side. The side that was going to, most of all //win//.
However all this would be impossible if Riddle never even found the boy. If he were at Hogwarts, it would be relatively simple. Severus Snape, his mole so to speak, would be able to keep a look out for him. Even though it had been five years his appearance could not have changed dramatically. Black hair grey eyes. Riddle only hoped that Master Snape wasn't too blind to see through any things that Riddle might have forgotten to mention, and found the boy. And quickly.
--oo000oo-
The train ride was long and boring. The three of them had played exploding snap until they wore the game thin and singed their eyebrows so much there was chance of them never growing back. That of course was when something actually happened.
It was a stout blond haired boy with watery blue eyes, came running in, out of breath.
"Hi," James said to him.
The boy gave a weak smile and a nervous chuckle. "Mind if I come in here, only." he never finished. The compartment door opened again. This time it was that boy that James had 'met' in the potions shop.
"What the hell?" James breathed.
"It's life Jim, but not as we know it." Sirius said, smiling at another one of his muggle jokes that no one else could understand.
"Who the hell are you?" the boy demanded off of James.
"James Potter."
The boy gave James a glare that he didn't know some one could give.
Ignoring this James turned around to the boy who had previously run in to their compartment to see him hiding behind Sirius. "What's wrong?" James asked. The boy merely pointed a finger at the black haired boy. So James gave him a questioning look.
"The clumsy oaf literally fell into our compartment."
It took a while for James to reply, "So, accidents do happen."
"He interfered with our plans!"
James turned to the blond haired boy. "Did you hear anything important?" The boy shook his head and James turned back to the slimy git.
"Didn't hear any thing."
"So," said the greaseball, "he might have done."
James chuckled, "What are you planning? World domination?" no answer.
"Look, look," Remus stood in between the fighting pair. He turned to James first. "Lets stop all of this fighting." Then to the slimy git. "Severus, it was an accident. Forgive and forget." Severus merely snarled and left.
"Thanks," said the small blond boy.
"No problem, who are you?" Sirius asked.
"Peter Pettigrew." No smart remarks came from Sirius there. Peter then turned to Remus. "You know him." There was no need to mention whom 'him' was.
"Hmm," Remus said gloomily. "Unfortunately." He lifted his head up. "He and me, we practically grew up together. Our mothers knew each other. Nursery, primary school and now this. His name's Severus Snape. His father works for some secret organisation thing. Me and my older brother Romulus used to joke saying that they were planning to rule the world. That secret."
Sirius sat down next to James and breathed "Whoa." In awe.
Remus was continuing. "I wouldn't put it past them too. Snapes' fathers boss. Killed his own son. Heard of Tom Riddle?" James slowly nodded, but Sirius and Peter didn't know. So Remus explained. "Around six years ago now, a boy called Seabastian Riddle went missing, they charged his father Tom Riddle with his murder. Young Seabastian had been beaten and mistreated by him so it only made sense. The Ministry and Muggle police were convinced that Riddle killed him, but other than the suspicions of the boys' upbringing there was no other evidence. In fact no one was sure whether Seabastian was actually dead."
"What?" Peter asked confused.
So James took over. "You see, there was no body found, so therefore there was no evidence that a murder had even been committed. No one knows what really happened to Seabastian Riddle. It's most likely that's he's dead. He has a grave and a death certificate, but.he might still be alive."
Remus nodded. "So Riddle went free, they couldn't charge him with murder when no bodies had been found." Remus leaned closer to the other two. "I heard on the grapevine that Riddle is looking for his son. He's determined that he's alive you see." Remus leaned back again. "Seabastian Riddle was meant to be in our year at Hogwarts. He's name's still down. Once you put a name down for Hogwarts you can't take it off again. There's going to be one less student in our year than in others. Morbid or what?"
Peter, who seemed to be a timid fellow, gulped loudly. "So," he squeaked. "Riddle is still around today?"
James nodded. "Yeah, saw him the other day with my own eyes." He could hardly believe his own daring. "Remember, when I came out of the potion supplier?" they all nodded. "Saw him in there, he was ordering something and he said his name. So I ran out. White as any thing I was when I looked in the mirror afterwards."
This time it was Remus' turned to be in awe. "Why didn't you tell us?"
James shrugged. "Didn't know you had heard of him and besides I was too terrified to speak about it. For sufficient enough reasons." he trailed off at the end, not wanting to continue.
"I don't blame you," Peter said. "I wouldn't be able to speak about it for days. What did he look like?" He asked after a moment's pause.
"Um, quite tall, black hair pale skin."
"Huh," Sirius said, "a bit like you then Jim eh?"
James almost jumped thirty feet in the air when he heard Sirius say that. "What!?" he yelled. "I do not.ok maybe a little bit but not so much as you would notice. So just shut up about it ok, I look nothing like Tom Riddle!" He said this all very fast. And the constant contradicting wasn't good on any ones part.
"Oh my god." Remus breathed, and James dreaded what was going to come next. He'd blown it, five years of safety for this. To accidentally blow it to some kids he'd known only a few days. He could not carry on being this vulnerable. "You're Paranoid City." Remus continued, and James breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yes, well I don't particularly like being compared to a murderer. Even if it is only in something so trivial as looks."
When the train eventually stopped at Hogsmeade station a booming voice called out "Firs' years, come on now, any firs' years?" The four boys looked at each other and followed the booming voice. When they had found it, it belonged to a giant of a man.
"Well that's what I call cool." Sirius breathed and James merely looked at him.
When there was a sufficient amount of first years the giant began to speak. "I'm Rubues Hagrid, the gamekeeper of Hogwarts if you'd jus' like ter follow me."
And that's what they did. They all got into a boat. (Four in each one) they sailed on a lake, which seemed to last forever, but when they finally did land Hagrid knocked on a large wooden door, and a stern looking man opened it. "The Firs' years Professor Hannigon." Hagrid said. The door then opened and all of them went in. There, there was a smaller room, which they were all crammed into.
Professor Hannigon spoke. "When you are at Hogwarts you will be in different houses. Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Gryffindor." He took a deep breath. "Your house will be like a family, if you behave and do good, you will be rewarded house points. However if a rule is broken house points will be deducted." Another breath. "At the end of the year the house with the most points wins the house cup. Please wait here, I will come when I am ready for you."
And then he went. Conversations spurted all over the small room. "What? Will we have to do a test?"
"Oh my god, I'm going to be sick."
"I'm muggleborn- perhaps I'm not really a wizard."
Things like this carried on until Professor Hannigon appeared again. "This way."
Walking down the middle of the school, through all of the other students was one of the most nerve-racking things James had ever had to do since he became 'James Potter'
"Now, when I call your name you will come forth and I shall put the Sorting Hat on your head and you will be sorted." Every one was looking at the Hat but James had no idea why until Sirius told him
"I heard about this, it's sings"
And he was right.
(A/N: I can't write songs, I hope that you will forgive me. So I'll give you this wonderful enlightenment instead #The hills are alive with the sound of music, tra la la la with songs the have sung for a thousand years.# stops as bottles and rotten tomatoes get thrown at her as her singing is so awful.)
It was Professor Hannigon who read out the names form a long list from a roll of parchment.
"Abbot, Stuart." A blond pale (from nerves or just naturally like that James didn't know) went up to the stool and sat down on it. The Hat went on and a few minutes later.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat screamed. So off he went and sat down with the Hufflepuffs.
"Anderson, Graham." Was the first Ravenclaw and "Avery, Abigail", became a Slytherin. Then.
"Black, Sirius." Slowly, yet smirking still Sirius went up. It took a while to the hat to decide, but then it called. "GRYFFINDOR!" so Sirius, jogged along to that table.
'Please let me be in Gryffindor please.' James thought drastically to himself the names kept coming but James found himself not listening very carefully. Before he knew it "Lupin, Remus" was a Gryffindor too, it took just about the same time for the hat to decide Remus' fate as it did Sirius'.
Again James wished to be in Gryffindor. And again, the names passed quickly. People were getting thin on the stage as all of them were getting sorted. James feared that as soon as he went anywhere near that Hat, he'd be sick all over Professor Hannigons' shoes, but then. "Pettigrew, Peter." Even he became a Gryffindor, and then next after Peter was.
"Potter James."
Slowly James sat himself own on the stool deeply proud that he wasn't sick, and the hat went on.
"Oh, oh my." Said a voice in his ear. "Ah, this is tricky. Very tricky. Bravery, yes about the future and from the past, yes.there is a lot there, maybe Gryffindor but... a good mind too perhaps Ravenclaw. And Loyalty, maybe Hufflepuff. Oh my.secrets lots of secrets, and the need for revenge...on your father."
'Shut up, shut up now you stupid hat.' James tried to telepathically tell it.
"Cunning, you get what you want." It continued not listening to James
'I'm not going in Slytherin if that's what you're thinking cloth ears!' James 'yelled'
"Why not? It could make you, you know. Make you great. More than your father ever will be. I remember when he was here."
'Get on with it!'
"You could be the greatest wizard in all the world."
'I don't want to be the greatest wizard, I want my dinner.'
"You know, this is all just going in the Slytherin bag."
'I don't want to be like my father.' James said to the Hat as a last plea.
"Oh, very well, if you're sure. GRYFFINDOR!"
With a sigh of relief, James went to join his friends. "Well that wasn't stressful." He said sarcastically.
Sirius looked at James in a funny way. "How was it stressful?"
James shook his head. "No reason." It took a while for Remus to look away. Much slower than Sirius' shrug.
"Hey, where's our dinner?" Sirius almost yelled directing the conversation away from James.
"We have to wait until The Headmaster's done talking."
James looked up to the top table and then Professor Dumbledore started talking. "Welcome to another year of Hogwarts. I have here a list of Mr Filch's our caretakers requests." He began to read a long piece of parchment. "No singing yo-yos, no dungbombs, and remember no magic in the corridors." the list went on and on, until Dumbledore was done and folded it away into his pocket. "And need I remind you that the forbidden forest is called that for a reason? There are dangerous creatures and if you stray in there it might be rather painful, on your account."
Sirius leant towards James. "We are //so// going in there." Shaking his head James kept listening to Dumbledore.
"Also I would like to welcome our new first years. I hope that you get aquatinted to Hogwarts quickly and don't get too lost." He smiled, but it soon faded. "However on a more depressing note, we do have one less student than normal this year. I'm sure most of you know of the story of Seabastian Riddle." James rolled his eyes. He was never going to be free of this. 'Seabastian' was going to be on 'James'' back for all eternity. Every thing he would hear was Seabastian Riddle.
He had half a mind to yell out. 'The git isn't dead!' but then he thought against that, and chided himself when he realised he'd just called himself a git. But.this was the second time he'd been mentioned this afternoon. Normally he heard nothing about 'him.' His new adopted parents never talked about his old life; they didn't see it fair.
'I should have seen it coming though.' James thought to himself 'Hogwarts, it was where I was suppose to be going, as Seabastian that was.I should have realised something would be mentioned in my 'memory.'
Besides James thought it quite cool to have a memorial in his honour, even though there were only around three people who James could talk to about it. 'Maybe, I would be able to tell Remus or Sirius. They seem decent enough.' sense suddenly knocked into James' head. If he told them, it would be easier for James to tell other people. And before he knew it every one would find out. Especially Snape. And if Remus was saying was true, and what James saw in the potion supplier was true, James would be in the hands of the enemy within no time, namely his father.
Dumbledore was continuing ".For those of you who are not so familiar with the story, let me tell you." And so off he went. Not the detailed one Remus had told, as Dumbledore couldn't accuse any one, or talk about rumours, he was the Headmaster of a famous school and therefore he was mutual. But still it made James feel uneasy and scared, but not as much as guilty.
Here he was sitting in a room, a story of a murder being told, when the victim was sitting there pretending to be ignorant. Some people were still (for reasons James would never know) mourning his death. Only a couple of years ago James visited his own grave. That was an experience he would never forget. Seeing his name there.in gold writing, with a little angel on the black gravestone.he had gone home in tears, yet silently mesmerised by the whole process. It wasn't every day when one got to lay flowers on one's own grave now, was it?
He also felt genuinely annoyed by the whole thing. He was listening to the story of his life, twice! It was being told, as though it was a fairy tale, albeit a very depressing one, then again fairy tales weren't meant to be happy stories, the whole world had just been Disneyfied. But still it wasn't real for these people, even Remus who sat right next to him, looking thoughtful and depressed. This had //happened// to James. He had to live a year of secrecy until all the press came down, and his face wasn't on the papers every morning. He had been beaten and almost killed by his father. He had absolutely no contact and no idea where his mother was.
He had to live a lie.