"There are people in the wizarding community, who believe that pureness of blood is the most important thing for a wizard" Harrietta explained.
James nodded his head, "Like the Malfoy's". Lucius Malfoy had been at Hogwarts for 2 years while James was. He'd been forever picking on muggle-born students; James had hated him for it.
Harrietta nodded her head, "Just like the Malfoy's. They believe that muggle's are scum, and muggle-born wizards aren't much better"
"That's silly though" James said angrily, "One of the most powerful students in my class is a muggle-born girl"
"You know that, and I know that" Harrietta smiled kindly, "But power like that isn't important to these sorts of people. The only power the consider worthy, are the Dark Arts"
"So that's what they are using?" James said softly. He was worried about the look on his aunt's face; he knew that she would have been facing these sorts of wizard's everyday of the last 3 years. It was no wonder than James' father was worried about his little sister.
"Yes" Harrietta replied, "They want to rid the world of all muggles, and then muggle-born wizards"
"So why isn't the ministry stopping them?" James asked outraged, this meant that Lily Evans and Remus Lupin were both at risk, Lily because she was muggle-born, Remus because he wasn't a pure-blood, and a werewolf one at that!
"Well because they aren't coming straight out and saying that" Harrietta explained patiently, "They are coming out and saying that we should all have strong wizarding pride, and the introduction of muggle-borns to our world should be limited, and stringently monitored. Other's are saying that we should expose our world to muggles, and see how they take it?"
"Why do that?" James asked confused.
"Because that would result in a war between us"
James' look of confusion didn't leave his face, "How's that?" he asked.
"Muggles are afraid of everything different to them. And they particularly hate everything that cannot be explained. You think about how many different ways they've tried to convince themselves that there is no such thing as magic"
"So this is all just a way to try to have a war between us and the muggles"
"Well we would win that war James"
"So it would lead to the destruction of muggles" James answered finally catching on to what his aunt was telling him.
"Which is exactly what they want"
James was burning with anger inside of him, "So what's this about tortures and killings?" he asked.
"Well it's their way of trying to expose our world to the muggles so that it happens without the permission of the Ministry of Magic"
"Because the Ministry would never give them permission, would they?"
"Which is why they are trying to get the muggles to realise it for themselves"
James took in a deep breath, and thought about what his aunt had told him. "So how are they torturing them?" he asked after some thought.
Harrietta looked at him thoughtfully; she was uncertain how much she should tell her young nephew. "Are you sure you want to know all of this James, it's likely to give you nightmares" she said to him eventually. She was thinking about what her sister-in-law had said earlier in the day. Harrietta really didn't want to say too much to James, but she did feel strongly that he had the right to know what was going on in the world.
"You said I should know" James said in return, "So that I can prepare myself for it all"
"Are you thinking of becoming an auror?" Harrietta said hopefully, "Like me?"
"Well I wanted to do something along those lines, particularly now that you've told me what's really happening"
Harrietta beamed at James. He was so strong in personality; Harrietta didn't think she could be more proud of him, than if he was her own son. "Then I'll tell you" she said pausing for a while. There was so many different ways that tortures were being done, that she had to think for a while, for the tamest ones. She wasn't going to tell James all of them, she knew better than to do that, most of them still gave her nightmares.
"One of the most popular one for muggles, is to turn them upside down, and show everyone their underwear, they tend to do this in front of a crowd"
James frowned at this. Harrietta thought that he looked guilty, so she asked him why.
He didn't speak.
"James?" Harrietta said sternly, "Have you done this to someone yourself?"
James still just looked down at the floor, without saying a word.
"Remember I can read you like a book James. I know that you are feeling guilty"
James looked up at his aunt, silently cursing that she could understand how he thought and felt so easily. He took a deep breath, looked at his aunt, but refused to meet her eyes. "He really did deserve it" he stumbled.
"James" Harrietta said angrily, "How could you do something like that! Who was it you did it too?"
"It was only Severous Snape" James explained quickly, "He's an evil little git!"
Harrietta looked at James crossly; the look in her eyes was of pure disappointment. "The Snape's are a well known supporter of the Dark Arts, and the cleansing of wizarding blood" Harrietta explained, "You are only giving this Severous, reason to hate you and everything you believe in James"
James looked back down at the floor.
"You may have just given him a decent reason, for him to join his family in their beliefs" Harrietta explained.
"So you know them?" James asked quietly.
"Yes," Harrietta replied, "I've had some dealings with them"
"So they're the type to torture muggles" James asked, he was trying his hardest to make his aunt understand why he did it. He hated to disappoint his aunt, and he knew that he had.
"That's no excuse James" Harrietta said looking at James crossly still, "He still hasn't done anything to muggles"
"But he knows more curses than anyone" James whined like a spoilt child, "He's evil Aunt Harrietta"
"Than how 'evil' are you, to do that sort of thing to him, I mean you know the same spells" Harrietta said reaching over to her nephew's face, and lifting it so that he would look at her in the eyes. "If you do what they do, you are only being as bad as them, you must lift yourself above such things James, and be better for it"
"Will you tell Mum and Dad?" James asked close to tears. He understood what it was his aunt was saying, and he was beginning to fell as guilty as he ever had, for what he'd done to Severous.
"How will I explain to them that I found out?" Harrietta said smiling, "James' I'm not angry at you?" she said softly, "Just disappointed."
"I'll never do it again Aunty. I promise."
"I wouldn't think you would, not after what I've told you"
"I'm going to behave next year, and work hard so I can become an auror" James said determinedly.
Harrietta smiled, and patted him on the head. "I know you'll do it too" she laughed, ruffling his hair. She stood, and stretched and yawned. "I think its about time we go to bed, hey James?"
"Yes" James replied standing also, "I am a little tired".
They both walked up the stairs to their rooms, both thinking of the other. James was thinking how strong his aunt was to be battling these types of people everyday, and how he wanted to do good like her. Harrietta was thinking how much James had changed since the last time she'd seen him. She seriously hoped that James would keep his promise to her, and had learnt some things from what she'd said.
James walked into his room, and found that his trunk had already been unpacked. There was also a glass of milk, and a piece of chocolate cake waiting for him on his desk. He quickly ate the cake, and drank the milk, and got ready to bed.
All the time he was thinking about what he'd done to Snape. He still thought that Snape slightly deserved what they'd done to him, but he realised that he shouldn't have used those sorts of spells on him.
The next morning, James got up, dressed, and when down the stairs to the dining room. He found his parents and Harrietta there talking and laughing.
"Good morning James" Millicent said warmly.
"Good morning Mother, Father, Aunt Harrietta" James replied sitting down next to his aunt.
"We were just talking about what we should do today" Harrietta said, "I need to get some supplies from Diagon Alley; I was wondering whether you would like to come with me?"
James looked at his parents in surprise, they normally only went to Diagon Alley the week before he went back to Hogwarts, an extra trip would be a special treat for James. "Can I?" he asked his parents pleadingly.
"Well…" Millicent said slowly, "I was going to get you to clean the back yard of gnomes today, but I suppose that can be left until tomorrow"
Douglas nodded his approval to the plan, took the last few bites of his breakfast and got up from the table. He kissed his wife and said "I'd better go off to work"
"But it's a Saturday" Harrietta complained, "And you say that I work too hard"
"Muggle relations are important to the security of the wizarding community" Douglas replied, "There's no rest for me these days"
"Have a good day at work dear" Millicent said before Douglas walked away towards the door.
"So can I get a new broomstick Mother?" James asked eagerly.
"Hmmm" Millicent thought, "I think we should leave that until after we receive your OWLS" she said teasingly, with a twinkle in her eyes.
"But Mum that won't give me enough time to practice before I go back to school, if I do well enough this year I might become captain the following year" he said pleadingly.
"Well I guess you'll just have to practice harder if you should get a new one, after the OWL's come out" Harrietta teased.
"But Mum…" James complained.
"Its no use James" Harrietta laughed, "I don't think you'll get your Mother to come around"
"You won't" Millicent said sternly, "You'll have to wait until your OWL's come out" she repeated.
"How about you bring some friends along?" Harrietta asked, "Would that make up for it?"
"I don't know" James said sadly.
"Too embarrassed to be seen shopping with your Aunty, James?" Harrietta teased, pretending to be insulted.
"Of course not" James said quickly, "It's just I really wanted to practice with a new broomstick"
"Well you're not getting one today James, and that's final" Millicent said sternly, "So stop whining about it"
"So can I invite Sirius?" James asked his aunt enthusiastically.
"I don't know about Sirius…" Harrietta said pretending to think about it, "Is he still the same?"
"Yes"
"That's okay then" Harrietta declared happily, "He'll make things that little bit more fun"
Millicent got up from the table, saying a quick good bye to Harrietta, and kissed her son on the cheek, "Behave yourself today James" she warned, "And you'd better go and call Sirius"
James nodded, and jumped up from his chair and ran into the living room. He grabbed a handful of floo powder, threw it into the fire and said "12 Grimmald Place", he then kneeled on the floor and put his head in the fire. The familiar whirling feeling went over James' body, and all of a sudden, he was seeing the living room of the House of Black. "Hello" James said as he focused on the room he was seeing.
"What do you want?" a gruff rude voice asked.
"Regulas, how are you today?" James said cheerfully.
"Too busy to be wasting my time talking to the likes of you" Regulas replied nastily.
"Well then" James said not at all disturbed by Regulas' rudeness, "I won't keep you, I was wanting to talk to Sirius"
"Prong's mate" Sirius said walking into the room, "Regulas, skat!" he said sternly to his younger brother. Sirius was looking like he'd just gotten out of bed. His hair clearly hadn't been brushed, but still looked much better than James' ever would.
Once Regulas had left the room, Sirius turned back to the fire, which had James' head showing in it, "He's being an annoying little prat" he complained.
"Well then, how would you like a day shopping in Diagon Alley with me and my Aunt Harrietta?" James asked cheerfully.
Sirius' eyes lit up at the prospect, and then deadened a little. "I'll have to ask Mum" he said warily.
"I'll wait" James said.
Sirius went off into another room, and James waited impatiently. He'd not thought of the possibility of Sirius not being allowed to come. He knew that the Black's were supporter's of the Dark Arts, and were very fanatical about pureness of blood. James' only comfort was the fact that his family were one of the purest of wizarding families.
Sirius came back bounding into the room. "I can come over for the day, I think they want me out of the house" he said cheerfully, "If you get your boofhead out of the fire, I can come over"
James smiled, and pulled his head out of the fire. He stood up and stepped back a bit so that Sirius wouldn't run into him when he arrived.
James had only just moved out of the road, when Sirius appeared in front of the fire.
"So is your Aunt still good-looking?" Sirius asked cheekily.
James hit Sirius in the arm, "She's my Aunt"
"That doesn't mean she's not hot?" Sirius replied rubbing his arm from where James had hit him.
"It does however, mean you haven't a chance young Sirius" Harrietta laughed as she walked into the room.
Sirius looked away from Harrietta blushing slightly.
"I take it you have permission to come with us?" said Harrietta laughing to herself at how red Sirius blushed.
"Mum's happy to get me out of the house" Sirius explained.
"I'm sure she's not" Harrietta replied kindly, "How could she not want your smiling face around"
"I smile, that's the first problem" Sirius said dejectedly, "That's not allowed in the House of Black"
"I'm sure you're exaggerating" Harrietta laughed.
James shook his head sadly, "He's not, you should meet them"
"They're your family Sirius" Harrietta said seriously, "They love you no matter what"
Sirius mumbled something that James couldn't hear, and neither could Harrietta.
"Are you all set to go?" Harrietta asked changing the subject.
"I've just got to go get dressed properly" James said smiling, "I can't be seen looking like this".
Harrietta looked at James up and down. "What's wrong with what you're wearing?"
"These are my house clothes" James said aghast, "I can't be seen like this"
James bounded off up the stairs. As he ran up the stairs he heard Harrietta say to Sirius, "He's so vain!"