Chapter 4 A Trip to the Potters

At 8:30 on the night of the 24th James Potter waited in a muggle cafe on a brightly lit street in the midst of muggle London. Number 12 Grimmauld Place was in distant view from where he sat. His eyes remained glued to the serpent shaped door knocker waiting for two shrewd-looking wizards to reveal themselves.

Mr and Mrs Black were people James knew only by sight and reputation, but if the rumours were true he did not want to be caught anywhere near their home. So James sat in his itchy muggle jeans and constricting muggle coat wanting desperately for a butterbeer but instead sipped at his bitter muggle drink. His leg bounced in anticipation as he tapped his fingers counting to 60 over and over again.

By the fifth round, he saw the distant figures of Mr and Mrs Black step onto their porch step into the fluorescent Christmas lighting and quickly disappear from sight. James lurched from his seat, thanked the staff for their service, and ventured out into the blistering cold December night.

He rounded the corner into a deserted alleyway where he had hidden his brooms under his invisibility cloak. Thankfully he marked its position with a moldy half frozen cardboard box or else he'd be there for hours trying to find it . James mounted his broom and took off flying towards number 12 Grimmauld Place. The light was already on in Sirius's window so he flew directly to it, tapped three times, and waited for no more than three seconds till Sirius opened his window.

"You're early," Sirius whispered.

"By five minutes," James answered checking his watch. "Why are we whispering?"

"I haven't checked on Kreacher yet. He might be listening outside the door." Sirius told him throwing some last minute things inside his trunk.

"Kreacher?" James asked.

"House elf." Sirius shrugged.

"What about Reg? Do we need to worry about him?" James asked with his hand on his wand.

"Nah. Mum locks us in our rooms when she goes out to make sure we don't get into anything," Sirius explained examining his door. "Even if he did break out, which is highly unlikely, he wouldn't say anything. He's not like that." Sirius poked at the door with his wand muttering different spells under his breath.

"Have you tried Alohomora?" James suggested weakly.

"Oh brilliant idea, James. I didn't think of using a spell that every first year knows." Sirius said sarcastically.

"Just trying to help, mate." James shrugged turning to look about the room. "We should get a skeleton key. You know one of those keys that can unlock any door."

"Now that is an excellent idea. We'll work on that when we get to your - wait a minute…. Got it!" Sirius exclaimed followed by several sharp clicks from his door. "I'll be back in a tick. Stay here. If Kreacher sees you, he'll call my father and we'll both be dead."

Sirius didn't wait for an answer but left James to wander around his bedroom. Sirius had pinned up red and yellow (very close to gold) blankets to cover the green walls. Under his bed were automobile magazines and hidden under loose floorboards were several muggle records and tapes. His desk was empty apart from some stationary with his family crest on it. His wardrobe was filled, wall to wall, with dress robes. James made a note to tease him about this later.

"Welp. Kreacher is preoccupied, it's time to go." Sirius said entering the room. He picked up his travelling cloak and threw it over his shoulders. He grabbed his trunk and cast a disillusionment charm under his bed and sealed the loose floor boards. James handed him his extra broom and they marched over to the window.

"Wait!" James gasped. "Did you pack the book?"

"No. I gave it to my father to take to the Malfoy's for a wedding gift." Sirius rolled his eyes.

"Tell me you're not serious," James demanded.

"'Fraid you're in the wrong house, mate. 'Not Sirius' lives next door." Sirius grinned. "Wait, we need to take these down."

"What down?" James asked. Sirius waved his wand across the room causing the blankets to rip off the walls and fold themselves into a pile which Sirius grabbed and stuffed under his bed.

"I tried putting up a Gryffindor banner but mum burned it when I went back to school so…," Sirius answered James's questioning look.

"You should try a permanent sticking charm," James suggested moving back towards the window.

"I'm working on it," Sirius admitted mounting his broom. They both stood on the window seal, glanced at each other with bright eyes and wide smiles, counted to three, and jumped into the brisk evening air carrying Sirius's trunk between them.

Upon reaching the Potter house Sirius stood agape at the front gate. The house was three stories high and covered in red and green Christmas lights that blinked and flashed according to the beat of whatever Christmas carol that happened to be playing inside. The soft muffled hum of music and laughter rattled the window. Sirius could smell cookies baking from where he stood on the pavement. It was warmer and more welcoming than anything he had ever seen and that included Hogwarts.

"Coming mate?" James laughed, halfway to his front door. Sirius ran after James craving the warmth that seemed to radiate off the house.

"You're not in trouble are you?" Sirius asked handing over his half frozen cloak in the entryway.

"Nah. I told my dad I was gonna stay at yours for supper, so just go with it okay," James answered kicking off his shoes. "Now. Welcome to my humble abode." James said taking a deep bow causing Sirius to chuckle. "This is the entryway where we greet our guest. That is my grandfather Henry." James said pointing at a portrait hanging in the hall after they actually entered the house.

"Good evening." Henry greeted warmly. Henry was a tall skinny wizard who wore a thin blue cardigan and wore thick rimmed bifocals. His white hair was cut short but was messy exactly like James's when he wasn't messing it up worse. "Jimmy-boy your parents are in the living room."

"Thanks, Granddad. I'll show you the rest of the house later." James told Sirius as he led the way into the living room. Sirius stayed uncharacteristically silent. He was too busy marvelling at the Christmas decorations that seemed to touch every corner of the house. "My parents are obsessed with the holidays," James admitted after seeing Sirius crane his neck trying to get a proper view of the gigantic Christmas tree in the drawing room.

"It looks like Kris Kringle threw up in here," Sirius said meaning it as a compliment. James laughed. They rounded a corner and entered the sitting room where Mr and Mrs Potter were sitting drinking their evening tea and singing Christmas carols loudly and gaily. Mrs Potter had thinning red hair and was a bit frumpy, but this was obviously from late childbirth. She wore a bright red jumper with reindeer embroidered along the trim. Mr Potter looked very much like James's grandfather Henry, perhaps a bit younger. He too was dressed in a festive holiday jumper. The family resemblance between the three of them was obvious. James had Mrs Potter's bright hazel eyes and his father's dark messy hair and narrow face.

"Jaime, love, your back!" Mrs Potter exclaimed jumping up to hug her son.

"And you must be Sirius." Mr Potter said taking a place beside his wife. "James has told us so much about you."

"Yes sir," Sirius answered offering his hand. He suddenly found himself to be incredibly nervous to meet his friend's parents. "It's a pleasure to meet you both."

"There's no need to be so stiff, mate." James snorted.

"Jaime, manners." Mrs Potter reminded combing back his hair. "But he's right dear. We want you to feel at home here. Are your parents still here?"

"Uh. No. They umm…." Sirius said struggling to find a proper answer.

"They had a Christmas party to go to. Didn't want to be late." James finished.

"Oh, well I'm sure we'll meet properly on the platform then." Mrs Potter said. Sirius suddenly felt nauseous. He hadn't thought of what his parent's reaction would be when they found out he'd left. "Did you eat enough dear, you look a little peckish?" She asked Sirius.

"Oh, I'm fine just tired that's all." Sirius shrugged not meeting her eyes.

"Of course you are! I didn't realise how late it was." She consoled. "Off to bed, the both of you."

"But Mum! What about the cookies?" James whined. Sirius tried very hard not to laugh.

"They're for tomorrow. If you don't get to bed now, you won't get any. Off you go." said a stern Mrs Potter with a look that Sirius could only assume to be her "mum face."

"Good night Mr and Mrs Potter. Thanks for letting me stay for Christmas." Sirius said earnestly before turning to follow James.

"Night!" James shouted as he mounted the stairs with Sirius trailing closely behind.

Once they were safely in James's room with the door shut tightly behind them Sirius told him of his worries. And James, being who he was, offered his solution. Sirius wrote his father a letter, (he was too nervous to write to his mother)

Dear Dad,

A friend of mine had a Christmas emergency that I had to help him with. Truly it was life or death. I am sorry for not telling you I was leaving and for causing you to worry. I am prepared to face my consequences during the summer holidays. Until then know that I am safe and in the company of a wonderful pure-blooded family. Tell Mum and Reg I said Happy Christmas.

I'll see you all on the platform.

Your beloved son,

Sirius

and James addressed it to Mr Black at number 12 Grimmauld Place so Kreacher wouldn't recognise the handwriting. They instructed James's owl to bring this directly to the house elf then come straight home and to make sure he wasn't followed. Sirius was then able to rest easy, or as easy as any thirteen-year-old boy could rest on the night of Christmas eve.