Chapter 7
James couldn't stop staring. However much his eyes watered, how ever much they prickled, he would not let his eyes leave this particular spot.
Had he dreamed it? Had Sirius Black really being on the lawns of the Potter Estate? Had James really seen his tears?
James shook his head a little, but not enough to break his gaze. How could someone appear here of all places? His parents were the best of their time, apart from Dumbledore of course. How could an eleven year old boy cut through defenses like that?
Maybe he wasn't a threat? James thought suddenly. Perhaps his parents were wrong. But James dismissed the thought. James's parents were never wrong about anything, they couldn't be in their line of work. When they did make mistakes, it resulted in a lot of death and pain. So they basically have made a habit of been correct at all times.
But James couldn't shake the feeling that Sirius was just like him; trying to escape his parents' name. He found this conclusion logical, it did make sense. So many secrets were linked with Sirius's family, that James wouldn't put it past the gossipers that they had finally got it all wrong. Perhaps, Sirius was as innocent as James was.
James closed his eyes, finally breaking his gaze. He hoped he was right and his parents were wrong for once, what ever the consequence.
James turned on the spot and looked up at the Potter Manor. He had never thought that the extravagant house on the hill would ever be as prominent as it was now. He had never really seen the size of it, or really took note of it. It was only the house he grew up in, his childhood home. But now as he looked upon its wings, the four story height, it's beautiful and detailed gardens, and the large sweeping lawns it looked more like a castle than a modest family home. Modest didn't come into it at all.
He started to walk back across the lawn, turning back every so often to see if Sirius may just appear again.
James fazed out as his legs fell into the familiar rhythm of walking. It calmed him, this familiar way of moving. And soon James's mind was filled with the desire for food. He's stomach rumbled and pained him. It only subsided when he promised himself some food on his return to the manor.
He reached the "twenty steps of death" and sighed wearily. He had only been awake for an hour or two, but he was exhausted from the strain of Sirius Black's appearance, and he felt as though he had not slept for days. What he needed was food, and a nicely lit room to take a nap in, and James had just the room in mind.
James's father's obvious obsession with broom sticks becomes apparent when you enter his office. Countless brooms of various designs, models and sizes are mounted on the walls, so that Paul Potter can see them all when sitting at his desk situated in the middle of the room.
But if it wasn't common knowledge you would never know it, Paul Potter never spoke of his obsession.
It would come as no surprise that this particular room wasn't easy to come by, but James knew that he wouldn't have another chance until next summer, so his best bet was to have another crack at that stair case now.
James had many unsuccessful attempts in the past. It always resulted in a few broken ribs that he had the maids tend to before his mother and father arrived home from work. James had a way of making the maids keep their secret, though it was obvious they would do anything for him.
But a few broken ribs were nothing in comparison to entering his father's study. Hell, James would break every bone in his body just for a glimpse of that room.
What James wished for, every time he thought of his dream to fly, was that his father would firstly give him permission and then let James choose one of the brooms mounted on the wall to be his own. If only that would become James's reality.
James broke free from his thoughts and realized he was now standing at the front door to the Potter Manor.
The front steps had not seemed such a feat when he was absorbed into his thoughts. James was thankful. He grasped the door handle and opened it quietly. He didn't want to announce his reappearance to the maids, they seemed to be connected to him when they knew he was about, and this frankly irritated him. He couldn't do anything within his own home without one of the maids knowing. And when one of them knew, news traveled fast within these thick, stubborn walls.
He closed the front door just as quietly as he had entered and stealthily walked down a corridor lined with portraits of his ancestors. James usually stopped by a few and offered his greetings, but today he only had one thing on his mind, to find the secret staircase.
James had an idea where the staircase could be situated and that was where he was heading first. His father's love of height and the sky was the same as James's and he was going by his own instincts rather than using logic.
He continued down the long corridor, unperturbed by the gradual descending darkness. It was just a ploy by his father, James told himself stubbornly, just a ploy to make him believe he was heading in the wrong direction. James kept with his instincts, what was the point of them if he didn't go with them once in a while?
Whispers erupted forthwith from the portraits, and James couldn't help but smile. He was right, and the portraits knew it.
His footsteps quickened as he neared the end of the corridor. His stomach was now nagging him. He should have eaten something before going on this quest. But his dreams could not be silenced by the unnecessary distraction of hunger.
Where he was headed was the center of the Potter Manor it's self, it held doors to all the major places in the house, though James could find the rooms on his own without using this room of doors but he thought that the room was the best place to start.
The corridor opened up to a room lined with several doors, each one with a different symbol; each one seemingly the entrance to several areas in the house. James walked up to one of the seven doors, and squinted at the little symbol in the middle of the door. This one was of a wand with three stars at the tip. James shook his head, he didn't think that that one would be the door leading to his father's study. James turned to face another door, almost identical to the last except for the symbol on this door held a cauldron billowing what looked like sparkling smoke. James knew that was the potions laboratory where his mother spent most of her time developing potions which may aid the Magical World in all sorts of situations.
James crossed these two doors off in his mind, five more to go.
The next door carried a symbol of a flower, obviously leading outside to the green house. James crossed this one off as well, even though the green houses had plenty of light and an unobstructed view of the sky. He knew his father would not be able to laze about surrounded by plants, let alone, risk a vine growing and consuming one of his brooms. James dismissed the door and went to the next one. The symbol of this particular door was of three books cascading over one another. That was obviously the library. The next three doors seemed to be of the same category; one a Snitch, one a Bludger and the last a Quaffle.
Now here is the test, James thought excitedly. One of these doors had to lead to his father's study, or at least see him on his way. Now all he had to do was pick a door and follow through with what ever his father had in there, perhaps a defense mechanism if James thought to do exactly what he was planning on doing.
James pulled his wand from the back pocket of his jeans and held it tightly in his small right hand. He knew it may come in useful for what may come. And unfortunately James knew what his father was capable of.
At the beginning of the Summer, James had asked his father yet again if he may have permission to learn how to fly, if he would teach him, and if he could have a broom of his own. As usual his father had dismissed his dreams, reminding him that there was no point him learning how to fly because it would come to no use to him when First Years are forbidden from playing Quidditch. When James had retorted that First Years were given lessons in flying during their first term at Hogwarts, Paul Potter had smiled and said that James could wait until then. James had gone into a fit of fury at his father, yelling at him and aiming quite an expensive vase at his head. Paul had locked James in his room, securing the door with as many charms and hexes he had knowledge of and demanded James calm down at once.
Well, this was the moment that James had found out his gift. His newly bought wand the day before came in useful as James mockingly pretended to undo the hexes and charms his father had put in place, not knowing that he was very successful indeed. James had tried the door in the hope that his father had taken pity on him, the door opened easily and James immediately went on his first search for his father's study.
Long story short, he had come very close to finding the room. To this very room, full of doors. He made the mistake of choosing the Bludger door.
James shuddered as he remembered his entrance. Hundreds of Bludgers were secured to walls. Though not for as long as James had hoped they would be. Before he even managed to exit the room and close the door behind him, the Bludgers came loose from their cages and pelted towards James. The only thing that saved his life was the spontaneous torrent of fire that flew from his wand tip and swallowed the hurling balls. The fire didn't stop with the Bludgers though. Unfortunately, it consumed the whole room and the outer corridor. A few portraits were lost in the blaze, and James received the punishment of a life time. He was forbidden to play Quidditch ever. He could still fly, though, if he could just get his hands on a broomstick.
So now, he mentally crossed off the Bludger door and stood before the remaining two doors. The Snitch and the Quaffle.
There was no point in thinking on it for hours, James thought, just go on instinct.
James grasped a door handle and opened a door.
A new world opened up to Lily in a haze of rotating bricks. To say the least, it was incredibly daunting to Lily whom had not been warned at all to what she may experience when she arrived in Diagon Alley. Though, Lily believed, that if she was warned the descriptions she would have received would not have come close to what she now beheld with her own eyes.
Groups of Magical people clustered together out side of shop windows and food kiosks. Large golden coins were exchanged for purchases at store counters from large velvet bags which were reattached at the waists of the older Witches and Wizards controlling the younger family members and leading them from shop to shop. Signs screamed out to Lily to be read. Madam Malkins, Florish and Blotts, Quality Quidditch Supplies, Mr. Ollivanders Wands… they overwhelmed Lily beyond the point of recognition.
Lily tightened her grasp in Paul's hand as everything became a little harder to grasp with a logical mind. He looked down at her and smiled "Take it all in your stride, Lily. One day in the near future, all of this will become as normal as reading a book."
Lily nodded, though she couldn't quite believe that seeing barrels of what looked horribly like eye balls could ever become normal.
Susanna, Paul and Lily started to walk down the cobble stoned path, passing many shop fronts with various eye popping products. But what amazed Lily the most was the building they were now heading towards. A three story white building stood amongst the squawking, the meowing and the chirping. Lily squinted and found a sign on the prominent building that read "The Wizarding Bank Gringotts".
"We're going in there?" Lily asked a little skeptically. The building looked as though it were sacred, that only the most privileged people may enter through those large doors. And Lily, small, pale and shaken as she was thought she definitely were not apart of this special group.
Lily slowed her steps, she had to stop Susanna and Paul from taking her there. She did not want to be thrown from the building by some unknown guard, forbidding her entry.
Susanna looked around as her steps lost momentum "Lily? Why are you slowing down?" she asked curiously.
Lily shook her head repeatedly, "I won't be allowed in there. I'm not of this world. I'm not of their blood. I'm not. I'm not –" Lily stuttered, her eyes were as wide as orbs as she pleaded with Susanna "Don't make me go in there, please don't make me."
Susanna exchanged a look with Paul that plainly said "Go on ahead; I will be with you in a moment."
Lily sat a bench on the side of the path, shivering and adverting her eyes from the looming white building, anything to forget her initial thoughts.
"Lily –"
"Do I really need to go in there, Susie? Honestly?" Lily asked immediately, pulling herself from her worries to stare Susanna in the eye.
The intense look on the small girls face startled Susanna. But she bit her tongue and remembered Lily's situation and reminded herself not to become impatient with the young shaking girl sitting so nervously on the bench beside her. Susanna sighed "No, it is not necessary. But it is an experience just like everything you will see and do today. You must see what it means to be Magical. See what Magical people see. Do as Magical people do. That, Lily, is necessary. How are you to live in this world if you hide away from everything that is different and abnormal in your eyes?"
Lily sighed deeply, staring off at the many shop fronts with strange and simply wondrous products, "I understand, Susie. I really do. I accept this world, but I just don't understand it. How can something like this, exist and everyone not even knowing about it?" Lily asked helplessly, cradling her head in her hands, trying with all her might to understand.
Susanna smiled kindly at Lily and rubbed her back in an encouraging gesture "I know that it would be hard to grasp, and that it is incredibly daunting, Lily. But I don't understand what all these questions have to do with entering Gringotts?"
Lily stared at her "Everything." She answered simply, not understanding why Susanna couldn't see what the problem was "I don't belong here!" Lily yelled suddenly.
Susanna sat back a little at Lily's out burst. She couldn't rightly understand why Lily had such a problem with entering the building, but then as she looked at it she remembered her first thoughts when she was just a child looking wide eyed at the huge spectacle in front of her. Susanna had only been three years of age, been a pure blood she could remembering visiting Diagon Alley on many occasions. She had been led into the large bank by her father. She remembered her fingers tighten their hold on her father's hand. It had only been her father's insistent pulling on her hand that caused Susanna to believe that she was able to enter the building and not be struck down in her path. She was worthy to enter, and so was Lily.
"Up! Now!" Susanna said abruptly.
Lily's eyes widened as Susanna roughly grabbed her wrist and pulled her to her feet "Susanna!"
"Enough of this, Lily!" Susanna replied when she snapped her gaze behind her to look at Lily, then she turned her eyes back ahead of her "I need to show you that it is possible to enter. I have to otherwise you will never get some wits about you and get over all of this! You are a witch, Lily. Say it to yourself a few times, but don't ever deny it. You can, and will enter this bank just like any other person in this alley!"
Before Lily could begin to argue again, nor try to attempt to dig her heels into the cobble stoned path below her, Susanna had dragged her a few paces towards the snowy building. "No, Susanna please! Why can't I just stay outside?"
"Because it is all part of your experience, now MOVE!" Susanna hissed.
"Susie… don't you think you are been a bit rash?" Paul asked his wife timidly.
"Not at all" Susanna stated clearly through gritted teeth.
"Susie, please! You're causing a scene" Paul pleaded, looking around himself at the many eyes fixed upon the trio.
Susanna ignored Paul and continued to pull Lily along in her wake "Come on Lily, you will know what it feels like to enter doors that were once thought to be out of your bounds." And with that she threw open the doors to the bank and pulled Lily inside.
Lily's mouth fell open as he neck snapped upwards and eyes widened to ten times their usual size. Never had she seen, or heard of a place like this before. The ceiling was almost unrecognizable, with its intricate designs and chandlers lighting up every inch of it magnificently. Her feet trod on the lushest of carpets, which covered every single marble tile beneath her. Hundreds of counters were to be seen in two lines straight down the middle of the bank, with thousands of other doors leading off to various other areas.
Lily looked at the surfaces of the hard wood counters and found dazzling jewels carelessly lain upon the surfaces ready to be weighed by ancient looking scales. Lily gasped in horror and shock as a massive ruby the shape of Lily's fist perhaps was suddenly snatched from a table top by a gnarled hand, topped with fragile looking fingers that possibly could slip through a man's skull unnoticed. Lily shuddered.
"Susie?" Lily asked quickly, tugging on Susanna's persistent hand as Susanna continued to pull her down the line of counters even though Lily had stopped fighting a while ago.
"Yes?" Susanna replied looking down at Lily with a smug little smile.
"What are those things?" Lily asked pointing at one of the nearby things behind the counter. Susanna quickly slapped Lily's hand away and smiled apologetically at the goblin that had looked up from its work and now stared at them rather suspiciously.
Susanna turned her back on the goblin and hurriedly knelt down to Lily's level so she blocked Lily from the goblins view. She looked at Lily with a hint of a mischievous smile like she had expected Lily to act in the way that she had. Lily fixed her with a confused glare, why would she do this intentionally? What are these things? And why were they measuring the weight of jewels when obviously they should be kept in zoos?
"The first thing you should know about goblins is that they hate it when people point at their appearances," Susanna stated in just above a whisper so that Lily could make out what she was saying. Lily looked passed Susanna and at the goblin she had unfortunately just pointed at, he immediately scowled at her showing exceptionally sharp, pointed teeth. Lily smiled weakly with apology. Susanna noticed this and smiled at Lily "Second thing is that they control all of the Wizarding banks in the world. They have a knack of burrowing deeply into the earth. Meaning there are thousands of kilometers of tunnels below us holding, perhaps billions of, vaults underground." Susanna looked up at the goblin ahead of her, seated on a raised stool whom had just finished with his latest client and was staring at them curiously "I think this goblin is ready for us, come on Lily."
Susanna straightened and took Lily's hand a little gentler than the last time. Lily was thankful; her hand still ached from Susanna's vice like grip. By the time Lily looked up from rubbing her delicate fingers they were standing in front of a large desk, a goblin perching on a stool behind it.
"Mrs. Potter. How are you this fine summer's day?" The goblin drawled at Susanna as it finished scrawling a name on a rather extensive list.
Susanna smiled pleasantly at the creature as though she expected its rude behavior "I am very well thank you." She replied smoothly, ignoring the goblins pronounced snarl as it looked up at her "I would like to access my account thank you."
The goblin looked at Susanna squarely, then turned it's attention to Lily. "And you wish to take this one in with you? Is this correct?"
Lily shuddered as the goblin's small, squinty eyes scanned her quickly and silently.
"Yes that is correct." Susanna stated clearly.
"Very well. Do you have the key?" The goblin said, looking at Susanna through his black eyes.
Susanna looked at the goblin blankly "Do you think I am stupid?"
The goblin smiled painfully, showing its large sharp teeth "I was merely stating the conditions of entry, Mrs. Potter."
"Enough of this charade" Susanna said sweetly, smiling warmly at the goblin "Come on Ruthie, you know I am who I say I am. Just let me through."
"You have forgotten your keys again haven't you Susie?"
Lily looked from the frightening looking goblin to Susanna's smiling face. Where did this suddenly come from? One moment they are battling with pleasantries, the next they are laughing with one another like good old friends. Lily shook her head again, this was all becoming a little to much to soak in.
The goblin grinned its vicious grin and slipped off the high stool. It shook it ugly head "You always do it, Susie! I can't remember the last time you actually remembered your key!" It then went to a large filing cabinet and began ruffling through the files muttering under its breath "potter… Potter… oh here we go…" The goblin took hold of the file and held it securely in its long fingers while it carried the file back to the counter and climbed onto its high stool once more.
"You must remember to bring your key next time, I can't keep breaking the rules for you!" The goblin sniffed as it up ended the file and a tiny golden key dropped onto the counter's surface.
Lily stared at the key intently, never had she seen such a small thing in all her life. The goblin caught her looking at the key and smiled her vicious toothy smile. "Who is this pretty little thing, Susie? You haven't introduced us."
Susanna laughed "Oh! I forgot all about that. Ruthie, meet Lily Evans. Lily, meet Ruthie my good goblin friend."
Lily looked up at the frightening looking goblin and nodded in acknowledgement "Nice to meet you, Ruthie."
Ruthie growled, "Only friends can call me Ruthie. To you I am Goblin number 2940."
Susanna glared at Ruthie, "Don't be like that."
Ruthie shrugged, "Nothing says I have to be nice to her, or you for that matter."
Lily stared, horrified that something so scary looking could be angry with her. Then Lily suddenly remembered Susanna's warning and spoke up "I'm sorry for pointing at you like I did."
The effect of these words was amazing. Ruthie's smiled down at Lily from her high stool "Oh, thank you. You don't know how much it rubs me the wrong way when people point at me like that. You know, in Goblin Society, I am considered quite attractive. But I am guessing you are a muggle born and not at all accustomed to seeing such a beautiful sight like me"
"Oh no, I'm not" Lily replied bracingly. Lily smiled weakly at the goblin and Susanna thinking this to be the oddest experience of her life to date.
"Ok, Mrs. Potter. Let's go get you some money." Ruthie said as she picked up the small key from the counter, jumped off her stool and led them down the line of counters and through a side door. "Through here. Watch your step Miss Evans, it can be incredibly dark underground."
Lily gasped as she stepped through the door. It had just dropped several degrees in one moment causing Lily to shake a little.
Susanna bent low to Lily's ear as they walked "That was some quick thinking out there, I am proud of you. Ruthie can be very intimidating."
"I've noticed." Lily answered back in a whisper as not to annoy Ruthie again.
"You did well. Most people just bare her bad mood. But you changed it. Your reaction was almost as quick at my son's, James." Susanna whispered back, as they walked toward a cart upon iron tracks.
"Get into the cart and hold on tight" Ruthie now instructed when they reached the cart. The cart had two rows of seats with a hand bar for holding onto. Susanna and Lily jumped into the first row of seats and Ruthie jumped into the back.
Lily sat back with ease, until Susanna leaned over and said a little bracingly "I would do what she says you know. This cart experience isn't very high on my favorites list. James and Paul's on the other hand…" she didn't get to finish her sentence for her words were swept away in the sudden speed the cart was taken down the track by.
Lily believed she left her heart at the start of the ride for she couldn't feel it beating as she was thrown from one end of the cart to the other because she hadn't had the chance to take hold of the handle bars. Susanna caught Lily in her lap the second time she fell into her, and held her in one spot until they came to an abrupt stop outside a very hard looking door placed randomly in the wall.
Lily squinted in the darkness to see that a ledge was visible out side the entrance of the room but no more than perhaps three people could stand safely upon the ledge without falling to a gruesome death.
"Please exit the cart and step onto the ledge." Ruthie said in a mechanical voice through the darkness.
"Oh shh, Ruthie. If you are so bored with your job then leave it." Susanna scoffed stepping out of the cart gratefully and helping Lily out also.
"What can I say, I love the dark and the cold" Ruthie sighed contently, staring around at her dank surroundings.
"The reason why is because you are a goblin." Susanna replied staring at Ruthie with a smile.
"You think?" Ruthie replied sarcastically. "Now stand back whilst I open your vault. I could for all you know accidentally knock you off this ledge. And for your information Miss Evans…" Ruthie paused as she looked at Lily hauntingly "it is an awfully long way down." Ruthie concluded as she slipped the little key into the lock and turned it roughly.
Lily winced as she saw the key shudder then the lock emitted a loud click.
The Quaffle labeled door was James's choice. He couldn't explain why he chose it. He closed his eyes tightly, getting ready for anything that may come his way. But after a moment of silence and no movement what so ever, he opened his eyes and let them take in the magnificent view in front of him.
A deeply varnished, spiraling staircase had been built in the centre of a circular room. James let out a gasp, he knew he had been in this room before, but it was still a sight to behold.
Portraits lined the rounded walls, they looked like they had been charmed slightly curved so they could he hung smoothly against the wall.
James approached one of the portraits warily. It was a portrait of a middle aged man, perhaps in his forties sitting comfortably on a plush looking crimson arm chair. Book shelves had been painted behind him, to give him an air of intelligence. James cleared his throat and the portrait sprang to life.
"Good morning, James." The portrait greeted, a smile alighting his face effortlessly "What brings you into your father's private dwelling?"
James smiled mischievously "I'm just exploring on my last few days of the summer holidays until I start at Hogwarts. I'm innocent, I promise" James said sweetly.
The portrait sighed, smiling knowingly "James, even though I didn't get to meet you I know you just as well as my own son. You are up to something and I know it."
"How do you get that Granddad, I am an innocent boy. All ways have been" James insisted, looking around the room.
The portrait laughed "That's all about to change though, isn't it. Tell me your not about to break into your father's study then." James's granddad demanded, looking up at James with his honey hazel eyes. "Tell me, you're not looking for the secret of getting up those stairs?"
"I wouldn't lie to you granddad" James said with a forced sigh, "Yes I am looking for it. Why don't you help me out? I am sure you have seen my father do it many times before."
The portrait of James's grandfather smiled the same mischievous smile James had inherited "Oh you know I can't do that! Paul may just put me away in the basement if I give away all his secrets. Maybe you should ask your great-granddad over there. He may be sympathetic." James's grandfather winked then became motionless once again.
James smiled at the portrait and whispered "Thank you grand dad."
He then stepped away from the portrait, his feet making odd clicking noises on the hard tiles. He went in search for his great-granddad's portrait. During his search many of the portraits began their customary whisper. He knew he was getting close, and he knew his granddad had been more helpful then he had let on. James finally spotted the portrait of his great-grand dad. It was lined up with the start of the spiraling stair case.
James's great-grand father sprung to life as James came to a stop in front of his portrait. His great-grandfather had been painted during the rein of Grindelwald and he was decked out in battle garments and had his arms crossed over his chest, his wand poised in his hand waiting for an attack. Found on the frame of the portrait was a golden plaque reading "The Great James Wilbert Potter, Famous Auror and Dark Wizard Killer." James was shocked to see the likeness of himself in this upstanding wizard. His eyes showed evidence of great turmoil, though they were stead fast and strong. He glared at James for the moment; his black hair hanging to his shoulders was ruffled and alive as though in a constant breeze.
"Who dares wake me?" Elder James Potter demanded, staring at James as though he willed him to explode into flames.
James shuddered a little, wondering if a room full of Broomsticks was worth been blasted into smithereens by his hostile ancestors. "J-James Potter, Sir." James replied, scolding himself for showing such weakness.
The portrait rose a heavy eyebrow at James "What's the stutter for, boy?" He demanded in quite an intimidating growl.
James composed himself almost immediately. He swallowed deeply, thinking his words over before he spoke them "Nothing, I was just hoping you would take pity in me if I seemed nervous." James smiled cheekily at the portrait knowing what his reply will be.
The portrait snarled. "Me take pity? Never. I didn't get where I am today taking pity on the likes of you pathetic little children. Though you must show some of my attributes if you were to be named after me. Name them this instant!" The portrait demanded.
James looked at the portrait strangely "Why do I have to do that?"
"Alright, ignorance. That's one. Next!"
"I am not ignorant!" James retorted hotly, loosing his patience.
"Short tempered! That's two! NEXT!" The portrait barked.
"How am I short tempered!" James demanded getting very red in the face.
"Disrespectful to your elders! NEXT!" The portrait said ignoring James's questions.
James breathed in deeply about to let the portrait know how much he disliked it that very instant when James Wilbert Potter's face suddenly broke out in a cheeky smile.
James looked shocked at the sudden change in the man's face "What?"
"Ha ha! You are the exact replica of me! I was ignorant, short tempered and I didn't respect my elders in the least." He continued laughing as James tapped his foot impatiently. The portrait noticed this and shouted "Impatient too! Oh lovely! What about cheeky, manipulative, smart, determined, kind hearted, strong, dedicated, loyal and out going?" The portrait asked.
James looked at the portrait strangely "You're giving me the answers!"
"No I'm not" The portrait replied with a smile. "I'm just helping you. Paul Potter has another thing coming with you as a son. Let me guess what you are doing here… trying to find a way up to his office?" The portrait raised a knowing eyebrow at James. "Don't bother answering boy, I know. It is quite obvious. Now I could tell you the wrong way, but you know, that would cause harm to the only Potter of this generation. So I don't think I will do that." He appeared to think a moment, sizing James up. "Hmm I think I have it, I will tell you how to get up there. But you must do something for me first…"
James smiled "Anything!"
The portrait immediately scowled "NEVER! AND I MEAN NEVER SAY "anything!" TO SOMEONE THAT IS ASKING SOMETHING OF YOU!"
James jumped back in surprise and mutely nodded.
"Good god, if you do that, you could have any dark wizard control you for ever more." James Elder sprung from his painted chair and began pacing before it. "But forget about that for now, that is of no importance. What I want of you is simple: You must cause havoc at Hogwarts!"
James was about to speak when his great-grand father continued "It isn't anything too major, just try to have fun at Hogwarts. You know put a spin on the name Potter for once. You will naturally be good at work, but if you can be a prankster too… now that will be something to be proud of. And your class mates will be grateful of the distraction too, trust me. I'm sure there will be another dark wizard up rise in the future. People need laughs! Comedy! You will be the one that makes them smile through anything. But please, don't target the entire school with your pranks, just one house. And you know which house I am speaking of." James Elder smiled wickedly as James's mind soaked in what his great-grand father was saying.
After a moment, the exact replica of James Elder's smile pushed it's self onto James's own face. It wasn't so much a smile, but a cheeky smirk that he knew would never entirely disappear from his face from that moment on.
"And now," The portrait concluded abruptly "We must now part. But before you do that, could you possibly straighten my frame just a tad, you don't know how annoying it is to be on a constant slant." The portrait winked at James, settled himself once more in the plush chair he had been sitting in before his erratic pacing and then became motionless once more.
James looked at the portrait closely; he didn't notice it was on a slant at all. Though James thought he would be highly peculiar about been straight too if he were a portrait. James held the frame in both hands with a little difficulty; he had to stretch quite a lot to reach the other side of the frame. He then tweaked the portrait to the left.
Nothing happened. James frowned, why didn't it work? He examined the portrait closely once more for a few minutes before he sighed in frustration. This must be a trick, he should look somewhere else.
James turned and looked up pleadingly at the staircase. It twisted and turned out of sight. How do I possibly get up there with out been caught up in a trap?
Run up there quickly? James thought suddenly.
James didn't see any other way. He walked up to the stair case and placed his foot on the first step, then stepped up. Wow, James thought excitedly, nothing happened. James immediately started running as quick as he could up the stairs, holding onto the banister for support. Two turns, three turns, ten turns, sixteen turns… The staircase didn't seem like it was ever going to end until he hit the sixty-fourth step.
It happened so suddenly it took a few seconds for James to realize he was falling. James let a slight yell of surprise escape his lips as he slid down the stairs, the stairs having tilted suddenly and turned into a dramatically twisting slide.
After a few moments, James found himself sprawled at the foot of the stairs. He wasn't hurt in the slightest, but he was disappointed.
He picked himself up and stormed over to the portrait of his great-grand father, James Wilbert Potter. The portrait looked smugly back at him "What are you playing at!" James bit out in frustration.
"Did I tell you to climb the stairs?" James Elder enquired, his sickly smug grin growing every moment.
"No. But your little hint didn't help either so I thought I would try it." James defended immediately.
James Elderly shook his head in disapproval "Young kids this days, I don't know what to do with them." He mumbled to himself, looking around his portrait for something that could be useful in this situation, "They don't even know how to straighten a portrait correctly. The future is doomed!" The portrait practically screamed causing the surrounding portraits to turn their heads in James's direction. James smiled sheepishly at all the curious stares.
"Oh shh great-granddad! Why make such a scene for? Honestly!" James said in a hurried whisper.
"Because if I don't make a scene you young ones don't ever listen to me!" James Elder barked. "Now straighten my damn portrait and this time do it right!"
James cocked his head to the side looking at this great-grandfather strangely. The old man had certainly lost his mind when this portrait was produced, the portrait wasn't on a slant what so ever. But as James's mind mulled over the portraits words it started to make a little more sense.
"You want me to tilt you to the right?" James asked excitedly staring at the portrait with wide eyes.
James Wilbert Potter smiled at James and barked "Have you got cotton for brains or something boy? Of course I did!"
With out hesitation, James placed a confident finger on the corner of the frame and pushed down on it. The effect was instantaneous. As soon as the portrait tilted, it clicked into position, then the floor beneath James's feet began to float up wards.
James gasped. It wasn't the floor that was floating, only a piece of it. A platform about two meters wide and long had broken away from it's other wooden planks and had automatically began to float up to the towering ceiling.
Within moments, golden gates of curling iron blocked his entry to the most amazing looking office James had ever laid eyes on.
A/N: Thank you all so much for the reviews… To find out when next chapter will be available please check out my live journal page… link found on my profile. THANK YOU FOR READING!