Chapter Two

Presenting Mr. James Edward Potter

James Edward Potter never liked to upset anyone. He had learned the hard way that people with dangerous ideas didn't last long in the world. His father, Brain Potter, had spent too much time in his political clubs angering people and not enough trying to find work to support his family. One night another man who had not liked his options had shot him in the street. He was always "starring up trouble" with what the police called his anti-government talks. His death was hardly investigated by those same police officers and his murderer was never caught.

Margaret Potter tried everything possible to give her family a comfortable and secure life but she had failed miserable. For a start she had no formal education past primary school so it was very hard for her to find a job that would pay enough money to support her family. She had met her late husband when she was seventeen and he was nineteen. She was working as a waiter in a bar he liked to go to. One night they both got drunk and a month later Margaret found out Harry was on his way. Brain had done the honorable thing and married her.

From the very beginning there were troubles. The two were not in love. They liked each other fine but living and trying to raise a family together was different. Brain, though he had a fine education, couldn't get a job because he was so well known for his radical ideas. He couldn't support his family but he wouldn't stay home and take care of the kids while Margaret got a job because of his pride. He would usually go to the bar, get drunk, fight, and stumble home at two in the morning to his wife. This was one of the reasons they had so many children. When he had died, almost eight years ago, the little money he had made stopped and Margaret was forced to raise six children while working two jobs as waitresses at different bars to pay the bills. There was simple no time for her to raise her children properly and most of the actually parenting was left to her elder children. It wasn't that she didn't love all her child with a passion; she just didn't have the time.

Harry Potter was the oldest; he was a headstrong boy who hated his father with a passion. He remembered his father very well. He remembered the bruises on his mother's arms, the yelling, and the smell of beer in the air all too well. He looked more like his mother then father. He had her light blue eyes, blond hair, and soft expression. Harry had basically raised James and his younger siblings. He had quite school only a few months before on his 16th birthday to take on a full time job as a waiter in one of the fancy restaurants in Diagon Alley, near where the family lived in this run-down apartment over a bar in Kocturne Alley. He was nineteen now but still lived with his family to helped out with the rent and babysitting.

Elizabeth was the second oldest. She was a second mother to all of them, even Harry mostly because she just had a motherly feel about her. She had wanted to be a healer when she was younger but had to quit school a sixteen like Harry to help support the family. However at seventeen she'd gotten a job as a healer's assistant at Saint Mango's and loved it.

Then came Jane who was only fifteen. She was a pretty good student and because as she had two older siblings and a mother who worked full time everyone was pressuring her to at least 

graduate from secondary school. She worked part time in Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions as a seamstress. She was short with dark brown hair and warm blue eyes and was one of the best dancers James knew. It was she who had taught him how to dance.

Thomas, or Tom, was 13; he was tall and was the most like his father of all James's siblings. He was pretty intelligent but he had a very strong pride and love of politics, which sometimes got him into trouble. He did not have a job and instead spent all his time studying or going to pubs.

Next was James, who at eleven was the spitting image of his father, to his utter despair. He was medium height, with jet-black hair, pale complexion, and the same carefree smile. He didn't know how he felt about his father. He had only been three or four when he died and couldn't even remember him. Yet, there was something about him that made James hesitate before regarding him as a deadbeat. He had only one picture of his father. It was faded and scratched but he kept hidden under his bed with all his other important things for some reason which he knew he could never explain to anyone. In it his father was standing in front of his old school, Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. He had jet black eyes, gray eyes, and a smile that was full of life. Even though his family had been pretty poor, he had been able to get a scholarship to Hogwarts. It was James's dream to get a scholarship there too and be able to get a real education. That was very unlikely however, only the best and the richest went to Hogwarts and only the really smart people got scholarships. If they went by James's performance in school there was no way he would get one of those precious spots. But despite what his school records said James was really smart he just didn't apply himself to school because the overcrowded, inter-city public school he went taught things that were way to easy for him. Also James had this idea that if people knew he had "book smarts" they would think he was a rebel like his father so he kept it quiet about it. But his family had grown to expect James to consistently have a book in his hands whenever he wasn't working. Where he got all these books from no one seemed to know, he would just appear almost every day with a new one. Magical creatures, history, the ancient Greeks, Shakespeare, magical law, muggle novels, anything and everything seemed to interest James. His family just shook their heads and muttered about how he was "just like the old man."

However unlike his father James had other interest. He had loved pranks that could get him in horrible trouble and a joy for music only matched by Jane. He was frequently caught seeking off to danced clubs with his older sister. He also worked part time at Flourish and Blotts stacking and dusting books. He actually liked the job because when the owner wasn't looking he could sneak glimpse in the different books and he got to meet all the famous authors who came to do signings in the shop. Sometimes though, when he was just so frustrated with his life, he did wish that he could have been born to a different family, one which would let him do his homework instead of working but that was only for a moment. James knew he was very lucky in spite of everything; he had a family who would do anything for him and that was special.

The last member of the family was Sarah, was everyone's favorite. She was only eight years old, still too young to truly understand what the world was really like, but it was this fact that made her so carefree. She had long soft brown hair that was always tied back in two braded pig tails, 

which Jane did for her each morning. She had freckles all over her button of a noise and sparkling blue eyes. Even though James knew he was spoiling her, he couldn't help bringing her sweets every time he had a little extra money. He just couldn't resist the little imp. That's why he wasn't really mad that day when Sarah woke him, by tickling.

"Sarah," James chocked out between laughs, pushing her away. Sarah was giggling and James's heart melted at the sight of her.

"Sorry Jamie," she giggled. Sarah was the only person allowed to call him Jamie without suffering physically pain.

"Aw, come here," he said, holding his arms out for Sarah who ran into his hug.

"James, Sarah, get in 'ere," their mother called from the other room. Their little apartment had three rooms, one for the boys to sleep, one for the girls and their mother, and a kitchen/dining room. The rest of the family was crowded around the table in the kitchen eating; James and Sarah went to join them. It was Saturday so James was going to visit his 'friend' before work, though none of his family knew that.

"Will you guys all be here tonight?" Harry asked, "I'm going to bring Ginger over to meet you."

Following this was a great amount of teasing on Harry's part and promises to be home sharply at seven that night.

"Can someone watch Sarah for me?" James asked as today was his day. "I've got to go see someone."

"Aw, but we were going to play pretend," Sarah wined, that was her favorite game.

"I'm sorry baby. I'll play with you tomorrow, okay?" James told her, feeling a little guilty.

"Okay," Sarah told him, still pouting a little.

"I'll stay with you," Jane told her, "I've got today's shift off today anyway."

This made Sarah grin and run off to grab her rag doll which Jane had made for her.

"Well, I'm off," Harry announced, "see ya."

"Wait a sec, I'll go with you," their mother said, following Harry out the door, "you lot be good."

James took the last bit of his toast and went into the other room to pull on a shirt. It was a little cramp in the room and because three boys shared it, it was a complete mess. James shifted 

though the pills of cloths before he found a black shirt that he thought was his and pulled it on along with some jeans and a black robe.

In the kitchen Jane and Sarah had started playing with the rag dolls and hardly noticed him leaving. They both gave him hugs, then went right back to their game, which made James feel better about abandoning his little sister. Out the house he went, into the hot August day.

He walked a few blocks till he got to Diagon Alley. His friend lived in an apartment above one of the shops there. James had met him one day about three years ago when he was reading in front of one of the shops below the man's house. His friend had come up to him and asked about the book and they had talked for many hours. He lent James some books and from then on they had been friends. The man was very wealthy and well know and went by the name Albus Dumbledore.

"Morning," James called as he pulled open the door. Albus was sitting at the table in the middle of the room and James went to fall into one of the stuffy armchairs next to him.

"Good morning James, how was your week?" Albus asked, looking down at him.

"Oh, the usual. I finished the three books you gave me. I was wondering if you had any on Russian history, I realized when I was reading 'History of Dragon in Europe' that I knew nothing about Russia."

"Aw, I'm sure I can find something that would interest you but first I wanted to ask you something James."

"Shot," James said, sitting up. Usually they only talked about books; he wondered what Albus was going to say.

"I received a letter from the Ministry today, it seems the old headmaster of Hogwarts retired and they want me to be the new headmaster."

"Congratulations," James exclaimed, though his voice was oddly hollow. Albus had taken a year off teaching but James had always known he would go back one day.

"That's not all, as you are now eleven, I am in the perfect situation to get you a scholarship to Hogwarts this year," there was a twinkle in Dumbledore's blue eyes as he said this.

James was speechless, his dreams had come true, yet as quickly as they had risen his hopes fell again.

"Thank you, I would really love to go," James said, "but I can't, my family, they need me I couldn't leave them."

"James," Albus said, seriously, "I would like you to think about this very careful. You will never get this opportunity again; this is the best education you can hope to get. You have four older siblings, I'm sure you're family can survive without you. You are a very intelligent young man, I would hate for you to not be able up to live to your full potential. Don't give me an answer right now, think about it, and tell your family. Then come back tomorrow and tell me your decision."

"Okay," James said his mind full of thoughts.

"Good, now let's see if we can find any books on Russia for you," Albus said, his eyes still having that twinkle in them that James could never quite read.

A half an hour later James left Albus's apartment thinking hard. He had to go to his shift at the bookstore, so he had no time to tell anyone about the scholarship. He figured tonight would be a great time to tell them, as they would all be there to meet Ginger.

"You're late," Mr. Thomas snapped as he entered.

"Sorry," James muttered, pulling on his uniform.

"Well, go stack these books," Mr. Thomas said, pushing a stack of books at him. In the background, James heard the bell over the door ring as a very pretty girl about his age, and an older man, entered the store. He was in the middle of one row, putting one of the books on a shelf, when the girl, carrying a load of books, knocked into him. Books went everywhere as they both feel to the floor. James scrambled to help her collected the books and stand up.

For a moment their eyes meet, it was like an electric shock went through him, then it was over. He looked up and her face looked familiar but then she was gone and he sat there staring at the place where she had been. The older man, who had come in with her, went up to the counter to buy the books and they left the shop.

"You idiot, do you know who that was?" Mr. Thomas yelled at him, when James remained silent her continued. "That was the princess Lily you just knocked over, you complete idiot."

James froze; he had knocked over a princess he was in serious trouble now. Mr. Thomas yelled at him for another five minutes before sending him to the backroom to dust, saying he would be docking James's pay for this.

Cursing himself James did as he was told. In the quite of the backroom he tried to clear his mind. That girl, the princess, had seemed so normal it was hard to believe and when their eyes had met… But more importantly how was he going to tell his family about Hogwarts? In the back of his mind he wondered if princesses went to Hogwarts.

That night, his mother cooked a huge dinner for the family. She had gotten the night off to meet Ginger and determined to make a good impression had cleaned the whole house and 

made her children wear their best clothes. James was distant, thinking of the moment when he would drop the bombshell on his family. At five minutes till seven they heard footfalls on the stairs and the door opened. Harry came in with a very pretty brunette in a green summer dress. She smiled at them, which made her face light up.

"Hey everyone, err… this is Ginger Smith."

"Hello," Ginger said warmly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Margaret said, coming over to hug her. "Well, now that we're all here, let's eat."

They all sat around the wooden table and loaded their plates. Margaret had made a whole chicken, some potatoes, vegetables (which no one touched), and cherry pie for desert. They talked about Ginger's life; she was a waiter at the same restaurant as Harry, her family which was her and her three sisters. Her mother had died when she was fifteen and she never knew he father. Her older sister, Mary had raised her ever since.

"Well, I've been waiting for a good moment to do this," Harry said, standing up and facing his family. "Tonight I asked Ginger to marry me and she said 'yes.'"

There was a stunned silence for a moment, and then Margaret screamed with happiness and went to hug Ginger. Everyone else started congratulating the two and clapping them on the back. James gave his brother a big hug smiling. Finally everything had died down and this time James stood up.

"Err… I have some great news too but I guess I wasn't quick enough," he started, making everyone laugh and look at him in curiosity. "I found out today that I got one of the scholarships to Hogwarts for this fall."

He got the same reaction as Harry, stunned silence, then a burst of happiness. His mother still crying from the last bit of news started again hugging him and telling him how much she would miss 'her baby.'

"Well, what are we waiting for," Elizabeth said, after everyone had calmed down again, "let's go celebrate."

Everyone agreed and they made their way downstairs and across the street to a club called the 'La Rosa de Negro,' (or The Black Rose). The owner knew them well and let them in for free after hearing Harry and James's news. It was a Spanish-African club that many on this side of town went to. The dance floor was crowded with couples and families. Music blared from the speakers as James's family moved onto the center of the dance floor.



James grabbed a short Spanish girl he knew and started dancing. As they moved their bodies blending together to the beat of the music.

Muevele, muevele
Bailar, yo quiero baila lalalalalalala bailar,
Mueve las nalgas, shake your ass girl.
A la musica, we'll be dancing, dancing, dancing a bit Havana.
And we gon shake it, shake it, shake it, don shake it.

Hips start shakin' and movin' all around
Get them hips shakin' around.

His hand slide down the girl's body till it rested right below her back. He pressed up against her as they moved to the rhythm, he dipped her and she came back up sweating.

I speak English and you speak Spanish,

And music is the only thing that we be understanding.

Next to him Jane, Sarah, and Elizabeth had formed a circle and were dancing with two black boys. They waved in and out, pressing their bodies to each other, Sarah doing an odd sort of up and down jig.

Me and my girl dance with so much passion,
It looks like we having sex but we just dancing,

Dirty sex dancing with our clothes on,
If you are offended blood we mean no harm.

Harry and Ginger were dancing on his other side. Their bodies working together in the heat of the moment, staring into each other's eyes, hypnotized. He could tell they were in love.

I just wanna be dancing...dirty, dirty, dirty dancing.

His mother had picked up a tall English man, they were spinning and weaving their way throughout the room, showing a lot more energy then he though his mother had. He pressed in on his partner, dipping and turning to the rhythm.

That's how we dance

The song faded away and as James said goodbye to his partner he found himself thinking sadly that they probably didn't dance like this at Hogwarts.

The next day, James went back to Albus's apartment.

"I'll do it," he said, pushing open the door.

"Good," Albus exclaimed looking up, "then we've got a lot to do."

'A lot to do' meant shopping. First they went to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions where James introduced Albus to Jane while she fitted him for his school uniform, grinning the whole time. Next was the bookstore where James worked, where along with parching the necessary books James told the manager that he would be quitting his job to go to school. The manager was a little skeptical as he never thought James was all that interested in learning but when James introduced Albus to him he wished James good luck. Next they got potions, quills, a trunk, and a snowy owl (so James could write to his family.)

Finally it was their last stop, 'Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands Since 382BC.'

"I will wait out here for you," Albus told him, "I understand that this is a very personal thing. Good luck."

So James entered allow, a tiny bell echoing in the empty shop as he pushed open the door.

"Good day," a mystical voice said from behind him, making him jump.

"Morning," James said, looking up to find a very creepy man with moonlike eyes peering down at him, "I err… need a wand."

The man, who James assumed was Mr. Ollivander, didn't respond, but went to the back and pulled out a wand.

"I remember your father, Mr. Potter," he said softly, holding a long rectangular box. "I sold him his first wand, mahogany, 12 inches, dragon heart-string. I made this wand for him before he died and I have kept it ever since hoping one day one of his children would fit it. It seems none of your siblings have bought wands from me so I have not yet been able to find it a home."

"Well, you're a little expensive," James muttered.

"Aw, that's the problem, but you are here, so…" he handed the wand to James. "It is mahogany, 11 inches, pliable and good for Transfiguration."

James took the wand and felt a wonderful warmth in his hand and then a burst of golden bubbles came out of the tip of the wand.

"I thought so, Mr. Potter now be sure to use that wand for good things," Ollivander told him thoughtfully. James wanted to say something but bit his tongue and told Ollivander to bill the school as Albus had instructed him to.

Albus was waiting for him outside and after thanking him so much; James said his goodbyes and departed. Off to find his friends and say goodbye to them, if they would believe him that is.

"James my man," a black boy exclaimed as James entered the alley where his friends were hanging out. He had spent the last fifteen minutes searching through their usually haunts, this was his last stop and he had been getting worried.

"Hey Dean, why aren't you over at the club?" James asked, taking a seat next to Dean and another black boy named George, across from a Spanish boy, Jose, and an English boy named John.

"The manager threw us out cause we weren't buying anything. Where have you been," Jose asked.

"I was… shopping," James admitted, making his friends laugh, "no really, school shopping, I got a wand and everything."

"But you don't need a wand till next year at Merlin's," George told him as though James was losing his mind. He was talking about the local magical school, Merlin's Academy, which James and everyone he knew went. It was for ages six to whenever you drop out (or for the lucky few, passed your exams.) The only started magically studies when you were 12, the rest of the time you learned muggle subjects or magical history and theory. It was a good school for what it was, being in the poorer area and with overcrowding and everything and James had a lot of friends there but it was nothing compared to the education he would get at Hogwarts.

"I knew you don't start magic till next year at Merlin's, do I look stupid or something," James said punching George, "but I'm not going to Merlin's next year." This caught everyone's attention.

"You're too young to drop out," John complained, "even if you are horrible in school."

"I'm not horrible, I just don't have any time to study and I'm not dropping out," James took a deep breath and then said, "I got a scholarship to Hogwarts."

It took a while to explain to his friends how he had gotten his scholarship and even then James didn't think they really believed him. It wasn't till he showed them the letter Dumbeldore had given him and his Hogwarts uniform that they finally gave in. Then they started congratulation and went to treat him to drinks.

The rest of the week pasted too fast for James's liking. It seemed as though his time with his family was slipping away before him. He had nine days left, enough time to play with Sarah, seven days, still more time to spend with his mother, five days, didn't he need to have a long talk with Harry or something, three days, better start packing, one day, where'd my uniform go 

in this mess? Then it was the night before he was to leave, around him his family cried and told him how much they would miss him and how he had to come home for Christmas.

"You show them," his mother said, "you show them that you don't have to be high class to do any of it. You show them you're as good as any of those kids."

"I'm sure they wouldn't think that way ma," James reassured her.

"I don't know bro," Harry said, taking a drag on his cigarette, "I serve these people all the time up at the restaurant. They're all the same acting polite but never really caring about anyone but themselves. They don't spare more than a glance at any of our kind."

"Thanks for the encouragement," James said weakly, feeling a little nervous now.

"I'm just saying the truth you're there to get an education. You remember that and don't start mixing with any of those highborn girls it'll only get you in trouble. They many seem friendly, but they're only after one thing."

"What?"

"We'll tell you when you're older," Elizabeth said pointy at Harry.

"He needs to know this Eliz, before he gets himself into anything," Harry said seriously, looking seriously at James. "Now listen to me, any girl you meet up there, any girl not on scholarship I mean, will only want to use you. She'll want a little fun, than she'll drop you just as fast. She wouldn't want a real relationship or anything, just a night of fun, or a way to get back at her parents for something. It's best for everyone if you stay away from that kind of girl."

James was very confused now, but didn't say anything.

"Now Harry, I'm sure he wouldn't need to worry about anything like that for a few years at least. He's eleven, for God's sake. Now this is supposes to be a happy night, so let's start celebrating," Margate said, ending the discussion.

Jane turned on some music and soon they were all up dancing again. As James moved to the beat, he tried to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach. Even though no one said it, James realized that after tomorrow his life would change forever. He was going to make something of himself, and however he wanted to deny it, he was going to have to leave his family behind to do that...