1Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
A/n: Hey guys! Sorry I've taken longer then usual to update! Hopefully you'll all like this chapter as much as the others. Thanks so much for all of my old reviewers and new reviewers! Al l of your reviews are greatly appreciated and I love all of you:D
Special Thanks to Dogstar'n'Lionheart because she is the best, and her stories are awesome! (Really I suggest you go read them right when your done with this chapter!)
Hope you all like it!
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Chapter 5
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Birds were chirping. The sun was shining. There wasn't a cloud in sight. The lake glistened. All was peaceful.
Up at the Head Table, the few remaining professors sat eating their breakfasts and chatting amongst themselves. Only Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore knew about the arrival of James Potter and Sirius Black last night. They weren't planning on telling the others either, mainly because that would cause a lot of screaming and running. And it was simply just too early in the morning for that nonsense.
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Up in the Gryffindor Tower, however, it was a completely different story. Chairs were turned over, paintings were lopsided, and the rugs were piled up in heaps. All was quiet for now. . .
"AHA! I'VE GOT YOU NOW YOU BLOODY MUTT! DON'T EVEN TRY TO HIDE!" James jumped out from behind one of the abandoned sofas, wearing a forgotten Gryffindor tie around his head, and his boxers. He was holding a can of whipped cream in one hand and running towards the couch across the room.
When he got to his destination, James leapt over the sofa, spraying the person behind it full blast. Sirius jumped out from behind the sofa, and began running around the common room as fast as he could. He was out of whipped cream, and he wasn't about to let James know that.
Sirius was wearing his pants sill, though his shirt had gone missing sometime between when James had sprayed him the first time and just now. He was wearing a top hat that they had found under Peter's bed. Funny thing, that.
Sirius ran until he suddenly jumped behind a overturned armchair. James was on his tail, and he jumped on top of Sirius, causing Sirius to cry out in pain. James immediately jumped off of Sirius and looked down on him in concern.
"Padfoot, are you okay? I'm really sorry, I'm such a wanker! I completely forgot about you bru-"
"It's fine Prongs. Just help me up will you? This was getting old anyways. How about some breakfast?" Sirius asked will he panted hard. He hated James talking about his bruises, and desperately wanted to change the subject.
James reached down and pulled Sirius up, slinging an arm casually over his shoulders. "Sure, mate. You're right. I mean, there's only so long you can play Oogle Man before it gets old. Let's go get some breakfast. I'm famished."
They started walking towards the portrait hole, and were halfway into the hallway when Sirius said, "Shouldn't we change? McGonagall will lay an egg if we show up to breakfast wearing nothing but top hats, and pants."
James shrugged, a smirk playing around his mouth. "What can she possibly do? It's summer vacation."
Sirius snorted, "Yeah, let's go. Can't wait to see the look on her face when you come in in only your boxers."
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By the time James and Sirius made their grand entrance, most of the teachers were gone. Only Professor Sprout, McGonagall, Flitwick, and Dumbledore remained. All were making polite conversation. Truth be told, you got a bit sick of the same people all year, everyday.
The doors burst open, and in walked James Potter and Sirius Black. Flitwick's eyes bulged a little, Sprout looked a bit nauseous, McGonagall's lips were almost invisible, and Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling more then ever.
James and Sirius strutted right on up to the Head Table, and plopped right into the two empty seats. They wasted no time in shoveling food onto their plates. After a few minutes of absolute silence, the boys looked up, sensing the stares.
"Pardon out manners, Professors. Nice to see you all. Fine day isn't it?" Sirius said with a nod outside.
Dumbledore smiled, and gave a slight nod towards the boys. "Good morning boys. We were wondering when you all would wake up. I'm sure you have a good reason for your attire?"
James looked down at his plate, clenching his jaw shut to prevent him from laughing. Sirius however, put on his most serious face, and said, "Yes, we do."
When he didn't go on, Dumbledore urged him, a small smile playing on his face. "And that was?"
Sirius, with as straight a face as ever replied, "We were having a rather fierce game of Oogle Man."
"Obviously, I won." James helpfully put in, as he paused for a second in his crazed eating.
"Yeah, you just keep telling yourself that Prongs. If I hadn't run out of whipped cream, we all know what would have happened."
"Whipped Cream!? Where on earth did you boys find whipped cream?! Professor McGonagall cried, speaking for the first time since their arrival.
James smirked and said in an innocent voice, "Professor, professor, professor. When did we ever say anything about whipped cream? Are you feeling alright?"
Sirius snorted, and Dumbledore didn't bother hiding his amusement.
They finished eating breakfast quickly and made to stand up, when Dumbledore stopped them.
"Wait a minute, boys. We still have to discuss what we're going to do with you. You are allowed to stay here temporarily, but we have to figure something out."
Both boys shifted uncomfortably and sat back down.
Dumbledore continued. "Sirius, you know of no other relatives who would take you in?"
Sirius nodded and said with a bitter voice. "No, sir. All of them are the same. I hate all of them, and they hate me back. Well, except for my cousin, Andromeda. And my Uncle Alphard for that matter. But Andromeda doesn't have enough room or money for me right now, and Uncle Alphard is too old and sick for me."
Dumbledore nodded. "Understandable. We'll figure something out." He looked at James. "James, I wrote to your father last night. I asked him to come to Hogwarts so we could figure this whole thing out. He wrote to me this morning, and albeit reluctantly, agreed to come. He'll be here at one."
James nodded, suddenly feeling very anxious. He didn't want to go back to his dad's. He wanted to stay with Sirius. But he replied anyways, "Yes, sir. I'll come to your office at one."
Dumbledore nodded, and said "Good. I look forward to then. I really must get going, but until then boys-" Dumbledore leaned in and whispered to them, "Try the fourth floor corridor. I've been told it can come in handy."
Both James and Sirius nodded, trying to look thankful, even though they already knew what was up there. Kitchens. Been there done that.
Dumbledore swept out of the room, leaving behind a very anxious James.
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James knocked on Dumbledore's door at one o'clock later that day. He had been given the password (cotton candy) early that day by a house elf, and had been even more nervous ever since.
Upon hearing Dumbledore's "Enter.", James pushed open the door and walked in. His father was sitting in one of the chairs across from Dumbledore's desk. Since he was turned around, James couldn't see his face, but he knew that he mad. Getting called to Dumbledore's office to discuss how he raised his son was not going to make him happy. Scott Potter hated anyone telling him what to do, especially when it came to James.
Dumbledore smiled, and gestured to James to sit down. In the seat next to his father. James nervously sat down, not looking at his father. He could feel Scott's eyes on him, and could almost feel the anger radiating off of him.
"So, Dumbledore, what exactly seems to be the problem here? I don't exactly have a lot of time to waste, sitting here with my good-for-nothing son and you. I have things to do." Scott said in his demeaning tone.
Dumbledore's eyes lost a bit of their twinkle as Scott spoke, but he managed his anger incredibly well, James thought.
"Well, Mr. Potter, we're here to discuss what to do with James. He says you kicked him out over Gryffindor's loss in the Quidditch Cup? I can assure it was not his fault. The seeker just wasn't quick enough this year. Overall James had one of his most successful seasons."
Scott looked even more angry at the slight lecture he was getting. "My son knows that he can not lose. In my house, if you lose, you are a loser. I don't care that the seeker was to slow, I care about winning. And if James loses even one game, he knows that he is not welcome in my life or my home."
Dumbledore's eyes had now lost all of their twinkle as he looked over at James. James was concentrating on his pants, which were all of the sudden very fascinating. He was too scared to look up, because he knew what he'd see. Scott winning and Dumbledore losing. His dad always won. Always.
"Is there anyone else living in your house, Scott?" Dumbledore asked politely.
Scott shifted uncomfortably and broke eye contact with Dumbledore. James knew what he was thinking. Dumbledore was trying to ask if Scott was dating anyone at the moment.
Well, he isn't going to get a straight answer from my dad, if that's what he was thinking. James thought to himself, The only women in Dad's life are the ones who he brings home late at night, and kicks out early in the morning.
James had lost more nights of sleep because of Scott's loud one night stands, then he could keep count of.
"Of course not. Ever since James's mother left us, I've lost the need for women. No one could ever replace Kate." Scott answered quickly. James knew he was nervous, he hated it when people asked about his ex-wife.
Kate Potter, or Kate Rupette, as she would be know as now, had left James and Scott when James was only eight years old. She had been a pretty woman, James remembered, with soft brown hair that fell down in long waves, and gorgeous hazel eyes. James eyes.
But she had left suddenly after a horrible fight with Scott. She had been so sick of his constant need to win everything and be perfect, that she had got up and left. She hadn't even tried to take James with her, and that's what hurt James the most.
Dumbledore smiled a little at Scott's answer, as if he knew that he was lying. "I see. Well, Scott, are you going to let James back home or am I going to have to let the Ministry decide where he should go now?" Dumbledore's gaze fell back on James, and James looked up.
There was sorrow in Dumbledore's eyes, but James knew what would happen now. No matter how much he said so, James knew his father would never give him up. He needed him to continue the legacy. He needed James to become a star. It wasn't so that James would be successful, it was so that he could live vicariously threw his son's glory.
"He's coming home with me." James heart sunk a little at the answer, part of him had been looking forward to living in a new home, maybe even with Sirius.
Dumbledore nodded, and Scott stood up to leave. James slowly followed, calling over his shoulder, "Bye Professor. Thanks for everything."
As the two of them got on the spiral staircase, James asked his father bravely, "Can I go say goodbye to Sirius? I won't be seeing him until next term."
His father looked at him, anger etched on every inch of his face. Clearly he had not expected to have James back. "No you may not. You'll see him next term."
They stepped off of the spiral staircase, and Scott shoved James up against a wall. He grabbed him by his neck and held him still. "How dare you come to the Headmaster about this? How dare you make me look like I'm not a good father?! Scott hissed in his ear. He let go of James's neck, and shoved him again.
"Well, I'll show him won't I? I'll show him just how much of a good father I am!" Scott grabbed James's arm in a vicelike grip, and dragged him down the hallway.
"I'll show him. . . . .
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A/n: There it is guys! Sorry about James and Sirius being broken up, but it had to end sometime. I'll still tell you about Sirius, I promise.
If you liked it, please leave a review. :D
MilyMB