AN- yes, this really is a new chapter that I have FINALLY written, despite the fact that I have 3 exams this week... School has been HELL this term but I have one more week of A level exams and then freedom, I hope to finish this in a few weeks and not leave 6 months between updates... I'm incredibly sorry and I thank you for your continued support. Please, please tell me what you think and I will try to update ASAP! With love JLF xx
Are you Coming?
Chapter 10
"So, Harry, tell me what you like to do in your spare time, besides creating trouble that is," James asked, distracting his son from his attempts to climb onto the wall they were standing by. Just over the other side of the wall, Harry could just about see a small group of children throwing a quaffle around. He was desperate to see me over the wall so he could watch exactly what was going on but he wasn't tall enough.
James carefully lifted the small boy to sit on the wall but Harry was no longer interested in the game, just his father. "Umm... sometimes I play with Ron and Hermione but I also love to play Quidditch," Harry said, quietly watching his father with curious, innocent eyes. "Do you like Quidditch, father?"
"It's been a long time since I had the chance to play Quidditch," James said, echoes of the past swimming in his hazel eyes. Sirius soaring past him as they flew together, the quaffle in his grasp, Lily's kisses as the crowd cheered for Gryffindor's win... 'No, he mustn't think of Lily now.' "I played Chaser when I was in Hogwarts," he told Harry, watching the child's green eyes glitter at the new information.
"Really?" Harry asked brightly, "the Chaser's the best, mummy said so."
James hid a smile. "She's absolutely right," he said, in mock seriousness.
"But I want to be a Seeker!" Harry exclaimed. "The snitch is so beautiful!"
"And so you shall be," James promised.
"But I'm no good," Harry said glumly.
James studied him carefully. "Why do you say that?" he asked, concerned.
"I'm not good at anything," Harry said almost inaudibly, his eyes fixated on the ground. "Hermione's smarter than me and Ron's braver and funnier."
"But you are my son, you must be good at something," James said, confused. "You are good at magic." He paused. "Has your mother taught you to fly?"
"A tiny bit," Harry said shyly. "Do you think I will be able to make the team? Mum said I can try."
James smiled slightly and paused once again. "Yes and soon, if you're anything like I was."
"Well am I?"
"Are you what?"
"Like you?"
"Well, there's only one way to find out and we will when we get home," James said, lifting him off the wall. "We won't be long but we must go to my work now."
Harry nodded, following after his father. "What do you do there?"
"We make and sell magazines for wizards, there is one I think you will like," James promised, pushing open a heavy door into a dully decorated hallway.
Harry thought that they spent much longer at his father's work than James had suggested. He was desperately excited, James was going to teach him how to fly and play Quiddtch when they got home. He hoped he didn't disappoint him. He'd never played before and his mum didn't much like flying.
Harry spent the entire time at the office reading a magazine about Quidditch than his father gave him. At least he pretended to read it but ended up just looking at the images of Quidditch players performing various moves because the text was too complicated for him. He wondered if his father could do any of the moves in the magazine. He was sat outside his father's office, watched by a pretty blond woman with finger nails like a dragon.
"Harry, we are leaving," he heard as the door opened to his father's office.
He jumped up and followed his father out of the building. James took his hand and he felt a strange squeezing sensation and discovered they were back at the mansion.
"Can you teach me to do that, father?" Harry asked brightly.
James shook his head to hide his amusement. "No, Harry, you must be seventeen to learn to apparate. You will have lessons in Hogwarts and have to pass a test."
"Oh, okay," Harry nodded, padding after James in the direction of the house.
"I shall go and find the Quidditch set and brooms and you must change into some more comfortable clothes," he stated, noticing Harry was still in his school uniform.
James slowly made his way into the small room that he kept all his old school supplies in, the room he'd seen Lily in for the first time since Sixth year. His old trunk was placed in one corner whilst a cupboard in one corner contained all his stacked old books. The cupboard also contained several small boxes of odd memorabilia and photographs from the boys and Lily. He also kept a pensive, in which he'd placed all his most private and most fond memories of his time with the girl he'd once loved.
In another cupboard, James located all of his Quidditch gear. Books and magazines on Quidditch, scarlet red Gryffindor robes, several brooms, beaters' bats, a selection of balls. James picked up the balls and brooms and closed the cupboard door and slammed the room door loudly behind him, ensuring it was firmly shut behind him, as if shutting the past in the room so that it could no longer distract him. Unfortunately James now had one of biggest distractions and reminders of the past possible, but for once this distraction wasn't unwelcome.
Harry was bouncing up and down with excitement by the time James met him out in the vast gardens. James set the polished wooden brooms and the heavy case containing the balls on the grass and indicated for his son to come closer. He unlatched the case to reveal a shiny red, leather quaffle and two heavy bludgers straining against chains that held them in the case.
James picked up the quaffle and threw it gently to Harry. The small boy caught it without any trouble and regarded him enthusiastically. The two threw the quaffle around for a few minutes before James placed the brightly coloured ball back in the case and picked up the two brooms. He passed one to Harry, which was a bit big for the boy but James figured he would be able to handle it anyway.
James smiled when he saw Harry automatically get into the correct position for take off and he mirrored the child's actions. They lifted off together and hovered gently in the air, James giving Harry some pointers but James noticed he needed little instruction; he was obviously a natural flier. They flew a few graceful arcs around mansion, three times around and three times back again and James revelled in the lost feeling of flying. He felt so alive with the wind coursing through his hair and watching the ground disappear beneath his as they flew. How could he have let this go? The looks of pleasure on both father and son's faces were identical, glistening in hazel and green eyes.
The look of content on Harry's youthful features turned to one of disappointment when James instructed him to touch down. But it soon brightened up once again when they rose back into the air, James holding the quaffle loosely in his hands. They spent the next hour tossing the quaffle between themselves, making the gap across which they threw bigger each time and eventually throwing the ball to one another whilst moving.
Eve brought them some sandwiches and fresh lemonade and some big slices of chocolate cake. They sat in the soft spring grass and nibbled contently at the food, discussing Quidditch tactics and moves. The lemonade was icy and refreshing and the chocolate cake was Harry's favourite, just like his mum made it.
After they'd eaten, James opened a small compartment in the ball case and took out the small, walnut like ball. Harry had never seen a real snitch up close before and his gaze was blissful when James placed the small ball in his open palms. He watched the golden wings flutter against his skin and shared a secret smile with his father.
James picked up the two brooms and helped his son mount it. "Let it go," he suggested and Harry let go of the snitch, watching in awe as it took off into the sky.
"Wow," he breathed.
"Come on then," James said, playfully impatient. "The Seekers compete to see who can catch the snitch first and gain one hundred and fifty points for their team."
"You're on!" Harry exclaimed eagerly.
James watched the boy happily searching the air for a few minutes before taking off after him.
"Come on, slow-coach!" Harry giggled. "Else I'll find it before you!"
James flew a few slow circles around his son before rushing off to his right, pretending that he'd seen the snitch. Harry followed him before he realised that James hadn't really seen the ball.
"Dad!" he complained, causing James to laugh at his success.
A few minutes later, James did catch sight of the snitch and took off after it. Harry was hot on his heels, urging the broom to go faster and worrying James about the speed he was flying. After establishing that the boy was able to control the speed and that he was safe, James kept pace with him and they both reached out their hands for the snitch. However the ball took a deep dive below them and James watched in terror as Harry followed it in a deep dive. 'What if the boy was hurt?'
"Wooohooo!" Harry screamed in exuberance as he dived, his hands outstretched towards the ball.
James grinned widely at his son's pleasure and imitated Harry's actions, letting all his inhibitions go and for one moment he acted like his seventeen year old self, competing in a Quidditch match. "WOOOHOOOOO!" he yelled as he launched into a steep dive.
Harry grinned widely at him as he joined his side. James made a show of reaching for the snitch but allowed his son to pull forward, pressing the small ball between his fingers.
"AND THE SNITCH IS CAUGHT BY HARRY JAMES POTTER, GRYFFINDOR WINS!" James exclaimed in imitation of Madame Hooch and the two of them laughed as they returned to the ground.
"Can we go again?" Harry asked.
"No, Harry," James said, placing the ball in the special compartment. "It's late and you must go to bed."
"But I'm not a-" he was interrupted by a wide yawn, "bit sleepy."
"Very funny," James commented, allowing Harry to carry the brooms and picking up the case to return it inside. "It's time to sleep."
They placed the Quidditch things back in the room they had come from and James led Harry upstairs. He helped Harry wash and change into his pyjamas. He watched Harry get into bed and sat at the end of the bed.
"Dad," Harry said sleepily.
"Hmm?"
"Why do we sleep?"
James looked at him carefully. "Everything must get rest so that it has enough energy to survive."
"Oh," Harry said. "Do you think mummy's asleep too now?"
"Harry, I think that's enough questions for the night," James said sternly, not wanting to discuss Lily just before bed. "Go to sleep."
"Oh, alright," Harry said grumpily as James passed him Deer from a spot on the floor. "Goodnight, father."
"Goodnight, Harry," James murmured; getting off the bed, turning the light off and leaving the room. He closed the door with a tiny thud and made his way to his own bedroom to sleep, his planned work left forgotten on the desk in his office.
"A new season's begun,
For a father and son,
And everything grows a little faster,
And every moment stretches longer,
And it will only get much stronger."
- First Sign of Spring, Michelle Lewis (Bambi 2).