Ok guys i know it was a long wait but i did warn you about me starting uni. If it makes you feel any better i have started chapter eight and it should be online soon although i won't try and say when. Hope you like the next chapter!
Disclaimer: Nothing but the plot belongs to me!
Reviewers:
Maraudergirl7: Thanx for the review! I'm pleased you liked that last chapter! Here is the next onei hope you continue to read on!
Tanya J. Potter: Thanx for the review! I'm pleased you liked thechapter and the stroy so far as for Lily coming back..well you'll just have to wait and see i hope you read on!
Magic Sparkler: Thanx for the review! Can i possibly come off your most wanted list now? Lol Yes James is back but i haven't decided if he is back for good. I haven't quitefigured the end of the story yet. Hope you read on!
Areohead1980: Thanx for the review i'm so pleased you enjoyed the story! I know it took ages but here is the update and i'll try and be quickernext time. I hope youread on!
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Pandas Rule The World: Thanx for the review! I'm pleased you enjoyed it and yes the confrontation between James and Snape is going to cause shall we say...fireworks:-) hope you continue to read on!
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Dweem Angel: Thanx for the review, pleased your enjoying it! Pleased James is entertaining you!Here is the next chapter so read on!
Kira Of Trimal: Thanx for the review! Thanx for letting me know about the formatting errors. I've tried to proof read even more this time round but i can't promise anything because my life is a little hectic right now. Pleased your enjoying it though. Sorry about the distracting stuff i hope it didn't ruin the chapter too much. i really need to sort my chapters out. You are a star! About the HBP its gud to know its fitting but some of it wasn't intentionalsome of it was planned. The stuff with Sirius' will and Fread and George but some of it, like Krecher and probably other things besides were useful :-) Pleased you enjoyed the chapter hope you read on.
Mirror Image
Chapter Seven: Mayhem At The Ministry
James waved bye to Harry and set off in the direction of the Ministry. This visit was probably going to be one of the funniest of his life. He was after all meant to be dead.
But hey, what was fifteen years of death between friends?
Except he didn't really count the Ministry as friends right now. The hurt they had caused Harry over the last year was just too much to forgive. James shook his head. It seemed he wasn't really allowing forgiveness to many people right now but then James had never been a forgiving person.
Slow to anger but slow to forgive.
That was how Sirius described his…. his not so good side. And he had to agree with Sirius, he was slow to forgive and it was probably a very bad thing. But not when his son was concerned.
He didn't care if he never spoke to anyone in the ministry ever again. He knew Fudge was the Minister of Magic now, though how the hell he had managed that was beyond him.
He found the phone box not far from Diagon Alley and dialled in the code that he remembered from a visit many years ago.
A cool female voice echoed round the room. "State your name and visit." She said clearly. James rolled his eyes. This would definitely give someone a laugh.
"James Potter," He spoke clearly into the receiver.
Having a muggleborn witch for a wife really wasn't a bad thing, not at all. Muggle stuff was never more fun than when Lily was explaining its purpose.
"Meeting with the Minister." He finished before putting the receiver back in the cradle and then waiting.
His badge appeared at once and he rolled his eyes pinning it on his robes and then he felt the phone box beginning to sink into the ground.
"About time." He muttered to the phone box. "I have things to do you know." He smiled, as the phone box seemed to bristle in reply.
This really was going to be fun.
James wasn't about to let the Ministry dictate what he was doing in his life. He had come back for one reason and one reason only and that as protect Harry. The rest of them could all go to hell!
After about five minutes there was a sound like a bell and the phone box stopped moving. "Ministry Atrium." The cool female voice said before the door popped open and James strode out.
James looked around the atrium and saw nothing different from the last time he had been here and that was over fifteen years ago.
Well he should say nothing looked the same but he knew everything was different. The Ministry was almost in melt down since Voldemort's return and if they had listened to Harry instead of trying to maintain the peace that was blatantly being disturbed they wouldn't have this problem now.
James grinned. Well one thing was for sure he wasn't going to make it easy on them.
He walked up to the desk and gave in his wand. The wizard at the desk didn't give him a second glance as James was given his ticket to collect his wand on the way back out.
He did get a glance the reading came out 12 and a quarter inches ebony and dragon heartstring in service for five hours and 33 minutes." "That's right." James grinned. "Thanks."
Then walked away from the booth and strode towards the courtrooms. "Fools." He muttered, did they not remember that he had once worked here himself and that he would remember the layout of the Ministry?
What were they trying to do intimidate him? It wouldn't work. He knew exactly what that room held and even if he was bond to the chair in front of them all he didn't care. He was not afraid to face the ministry, but he knew they feared meeting him.
They had no idea who or what he was and James suspected they would try and force the truth serum on him but he knew that even if they managed it they would only get the truth from their questions.
James grinned at that. He wasn't sure but he thought they feared the truth more than anything else.
He sauntered down the corridor and grinning entered the courtroom and as soon as he did the room fell silent.
James looked round the room it was the same as the last time he'd been in it stating a case against Lucius Malfoy, for all the good it had done.
The room was a round circle of stone with the chair in the middle with the manacles that snaked round limbs to keep them in place.
James noted with some amazement that the whole of the Wizdenmagot (A/N I know I probably haven't spelt that right but I haven't got a book to check right now.) was there with Fudge leering down at him.
James walked forward and without hesitation walked to the chair and sat down. He grinned to himself when the manacles didn't come to life from the look on Fudge's face they should have done.
No one else seemed to have noticed. "State your name." James looked for the speaker and found Madam Bones and smiled at her. "James Potter. Nice to see you again Amelia."
Amelia smiled at him and said, "If you don't mind me asking how in hell did you manage it?" "No clue." James lied. He couldn't tell the truth without giving away the Fates and that was against the rules.
"Enough of this." Fudge snapped. "We are here to put an end to this and reveal the true identity because James Potter is dead."
James said quietly. "Or, Perhaps you want another explanation to this because of the agony you put James Potter's son through last year and if James Potter is not who he says he is then you won't have to answer for it."
Quiet murmurs broke out through the room and James raised his voice slightly and said, "I'm sorry to disappoint you Fudge but I'm here and I'm about to demand answers you had better have."
Fudge bristled, "I am the Minister Of Magic you can do no such thing. We are here to question you!" "Go right ahead." James said crossing his arms. "Give the truth serum for all I care my answers will not change."
"So you accept to take the truth serum test?" Amelia said sitting forward and staring down at him. "Of Course. I have nothing to hide. Can we get with it though it's my son's birthday today and I have other things I'd rather be doing."
"You will stay here as long as we see fit!" a voice came from the crowd James looked up and his eyes narrowed. "You've got guts Sayer, considering what I can spill on you. Oh wait, you're here to report back to Voldemort aren't you?"
The whole of the courtroom swung round and James laughed. "You fools. Death Eaters are sitting among you and you don't even know!"
James turned his attention to Sayer and said, "Give Voldemort my regards. I doubt he will be happy that someone he killed is alive again."
A Voice yelled, "Stupfey!" A jet of red light hit Sayer in the chest and he slumped over. James looked up and Hestia Jones was stood with her wand pointed at Sayer. "You had no right to do that Jones!" Fudge screamed.
"Its about time we listened to reason!" Hestia yelled. "We didn't listen to Harry last year and look where that's got us now James tells us there is a death eater sat behind you and you don't care. Be careful Fudge otherwise people will be after your blood." She paused and then looked at James and said, "But then I think someone already is."
The attitude in the courtroom had shifted James could feel it. And it was not in Fudge's favour.
"We must administer the truth potion and get to the bottom of this." James knew that voice. He looked up and saw the Minister's secretary Percy Weasley standing and staring down at him.
"By Percy you've changed." James said quietly. Percy gaped. "You were only very little when I saw you last. Very clever even then, what happened?"
"Excuse me?" Percy said glaring. "Well I know that you're very smart but something must have changed to ally yourself with a ministry that cannot see truth when it is staring them in the face."
Percy bristled. "This Ministry is what is keeping the country together." "Oh really and where were you when the Death Eaters attacked it last year?" James asked quietly.
The Courtroom went silent. "You had people telling you the truth all last year and you chose to ignore it in favour of trying to maintain peace that was falling down around you anyway."
"Well I'm sorry," Said Percy sarcastically. "But given some of the reports about your son his information was less than reliable."
"Rita Skeeter is a cunning, egocentric bitch and as I recall when she wanted to report something about your life Fudge it was stopped in her tracks."
The Minister coloured and then went white in the space of ten seconds. "Even so," Percy croaked "Someone who speaks parceltougne can hardly be called trustworthy."
That did it.
The room exploded. James was so angry. The Began to shake and the torches began to flicker and went out and James thundered, "Percy your sister would not be alive had it not been for Harry speaking Parceltongue!"
The room was filled with screams as things began to move and then vaguely he felt something shift and he let his power drop. He vaguely thought, Damn it! They stunned me! Before everything went black.
James knew he'd been enervated but he didn't feel in control of himself and knew that they'd probably forced the truth serum on him. This didn't bother him as much as it probably should have done, he knew because he also knew they were about to get everything they deserved.
"Can you hear me?" An agitated voice said. James noted with amusement that this was Fudge.
"Yes." James said knowing he could do nothing else.
"What is your name?" Fudge asked.
"James Potter." James said.
"Who where you married to?"
"Lily Evans." James said
"What is the name of your child?"
"Harry James Potter." James said
"What was your occupation?"
"I was an Auror." James said wishing they'd hurry up and get to the more important stuff. He had a son to get back to.
"What happened when Voldemort rose the first time?" A new voice cut in. James vaguely realised it was Amelia Bones.
"Dumbledore created the Order which Lily and I along with Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew joined." James said. "We fought against Voldemort and his Death Eaters. And collected information about their movements."
"What happened before you died?" Amelia asked.
"Dumbledore discovered we were in danger and thought it best if Lily, Harry and I just disappear the arrangements were made for us to go into hiding."
"How was this achieved?" Amelia asked again.
"We used the Fidilus Charm a spell that involved a Secret-Keeper so that the our location would be put into the soul of a living person. As long as that person did not reveal our location Voldemort could walk past our house and never find us."
"Who was your Secret-Keeper?"
"Peter Pettigrew." James said it with such venom that he heard the people around him gasp.
"I thought it was meant to be Sirius Black." Amelia said shakily.
"It was, but Sirius persuaded us to change at the last moment. He knew that his family would have alerted Voldemort to our friendship and was sure that they'd go after him. Using Peter was meant to be the perfect plan. Sirius would take the heat and Peter would hold us safe."
"What happened once Peter became the Secret Keeper?" Amelia said
"We were betrayed. Peter revealed our location to Voldemort I tried to fight him off so that Lily could escape with Harry. I failed. I know now that Lily died and Harry survived. If I ever meet Peter again one of us will die."
So much for letting the hate go. James thought with a frown. So he honestly did want Peter to die. He had thought he had buried that hate long ago…obviously not…
Then he remembered Wormtail tying Harry up and the hate came roaring back and he knew that he would never truly be gone not now that Wormtail had also hurt Harry.
"How did you come back to life?" Fudge demanded angrily James knew that he was furious to have been thwarted.
"I don't know." James said.
"What do you plan to do?" Fudge demanded
"Help Harry." James said.
"That will do." Hestia said and James blinked and could see the whole of the Ministry gathered around him. He picked out Arthur Weasley who looked pale under his freckles.
James stood up angrily and said, "Is that enough? Have you not invaded my head enough? Are you not satisfied? You fools." He narrowed his eyes at the Minister. "You sent an innocent man to prison, you destroyed my son's life, you ignored the truth and now it is coming back to haunt you."
He pushed away two wizards that tried to help him stand. He had never been so annoyed before. "Can I go? You have more than enough information and I have more important things to do."
"You are free to go." Fudge said tiredly seeing no other option but to let him go. There was nothing left to do. James Potter appeared to be exactly who he said he was.
Perhaps it was time to re-evaluate the needs of the wizarding population in the light of today. Because as much as he hated to admit it Fudge knew James was right.
There were going to be people after his blood before too long especially if they found out about the Death Eater sitting in Widzenmagot. The Prophet would have a field day.
James pushed through the crowd and met Arthur Weasley who helped him through the rest of the crowd.
Arthur didn't think twice he carried on walking. "Should you be doing this Arthur?" James asked as they made their way towards the entrance. "Probably not." Arthur conceded "but it is my day off and I was called in to see your trial. Have you seen Harry yet?"
"Yes. I was with him last night and this morning. I'm going to set up his party at Remus' get everyone to come."
Arthur's face lit up. "Of course. I'm so pleased Harry has left the Dursley's we've been trying to get him to leave for nearly a month now." "He is staying at Remus' with me."
"Thank-god."
James smiled and then he frowned and said, "I'm sorry about Percy Arthur." Arthur sighed and said, " hopefully one day he'll come around but even if he does I can't forgive what he said. He has to find his own way and until he does he is out of reach."
James sighed. This was Voldemort's doing. No matter how slight it was, this was his influence. It was he that was tearing families apart and it strengthened James' already iron resolve that he would do everything in his power to help Harry stop him.
And this time it would be for good.
He walked to the booth and Arthur got his wand back because now news of his arrival in the ministry had spread like wildfire and people were staring everywhere he went.
Arthur gave him his wand and it felt good to have it back in his grasp. He remembered what he had managed to do without it and cringed.
Being in the presence of some as strong as the Fates had obviously had an effect on what he could and couldn't do without his wand. He had been able to do some simple defence spells when he was an Auror.
It had been necessary you had to know enough to defend yourself long enough without the use of your wand until you could get it back.
But he had never been able to do anything like he achieved back in the court room and he knew that from now on he would have to be careful to control his temper.
James and Arthur chatted about Arthur's elder sons and what they were doing now and James asked what Arthur thought of Fred and George's joke shop.
"If it makes them happy then I don't care. Besides, they're good at it and they're successful." Arthur shrugged. He smiled and said, "Charlie is Romania working with Dragons and Bill works for Gringotts and is getting married next year."
James' face lit up. "That's great. Who is the lucky lady?" "Fleur Delacour. She was in the Tri-Wizard tournament with Harry she works at Gringotts now too."
James nodded. "I think I gave your youngest son Ron a fright today." Arthur smiled. "You've met Ron have you?" "Yeah today he and Herminone attacked Harry before I came to the Ministry.
Arthur laughed. "Yes they've been worried about him. I'm pleased they've seen him it might pacify them and they'll come tonight so hopefully I might not get as big of a headache."
James laughed.
They walked to the exit and then James turned to Arthur and said, "We're having a fireworks display for Harry's birthday but you can come over before then and then Ron and Herminone won't torture you."
Arthur laughed. "Thanks James I'll see you later."
Then they split up and went their separate ways.
A/N Ok guys that's the end of another chapter hope you liked it. The next chapter shouldn't take as long as this but I'm not promising anything my life is about to get very hectic.
The next chapter is Harry's Party! Yay!
Now here is where you get to take part in deciding what happens to this story. The time lapse in this story so far hasn't been very big only a day so I'm asking you to vote and tell me whether this story should last just until the end of the summer or the whole year.
The story will remain the same for the most part just extra bits to show the passage of time or now. Review and vote and tell me what you think.