James & Isobel

The characters in this chapter (except for Isobel) don't belong to me.

Chapter 7: Harry's Birthday

"It is your father's birthday today isn't it?" Isobel asked.

"Yes it is, and if you want to back out of going to the party, I'll totally understand. We could do something else. I could take you out to a restaurant."

"I want to go to the party" Isobel said, "that way I can finally meet the rest of your family."

"Trust me, they aren't all that great" James said.

The party this year was going to be held at The Nook, Teddy and Victorie's place.

Isobel went to her father and asked permission to extend her curfew. She now had until 11:30, and she had to call at least twice. James had a surprise up his sleeve. He went and got his muggle driver's license. He was going to take his father's car.

Isobel was excited to be going to a party. It was probably the most exciting thing she'd be doing this summer, and there was only one more month left of it. The summer would be over soon and with it her summer romance? She hoped that wasn't true.

"Hey, are you ready?" James asked.

"Yeah, sure, let me just grab my purse" Isobel said. She ran up the stairs.

James stood around the Abbey's living room nervously waiting for her to come back. He looked at the different pictures of Isobel on the mantle. There was one picture he really liked. Isobel was wearing a bright yellow dress and on a swing being pushed by a woman with the same red hair and eyes. The woman had to be Isobel's mother.

"Hey, I'm ready" Isobel said as she came bouncing back down the stairs.

"Eleven thirty" Mr. Abbey called.

"I'll have her home by then, I promise" James said. He took Isobel's hand into his own and walked with her outside.

"Your house is that way" Isobel said pointing as he walked her across the street.

"I know. We aren't having the party at my house" James said and he walked up to a sleek black car. "What fun would that be? Then dad would see all the decorations before the party."

"You don't have a license" Isobel said as she admired the car. It was an Ascari, a very pretty, very expensive car.

"I went out and got my license" James said. "You trust me, right?"

"If you go over the speed limit we're pulling over and you're letting me drive" Isobel said.

"Ah, come on. Limits were made to be broken" James said as he opened up the passenger side door for her.

Isobel got in the car and quickly put on her seatbelt.

James smiled when he saw her put on her seatbelt. She was seriously worried. She didn't need to be. James didn't cheat when he took his driver's test, unlike his Uncle Ron or his Uncle George who both used magic to confound their examiners.

After being in the car for five minutes Isobel relaxed. She turned on the radio and leaned back into her seat. James didn't go exactly at the speed limit but he wasn't driving overly fast or reckless like most people his age would.

"So whose house is this party at?" Isobel asked.

"Teddy and Victorie's place. Teddy is my god-brother. A couple of years ago he married my cousin Victorie. They're a good couple because she is a drama queen and he is a calm and quiet person, despite his appearance. He usually has his hair dyed blue or green."

"That sounds cool. I rarely ever meet guys who dye their hair" Isobel said.

Well it wasn't like James could explain to her it wasn't really dyed but he was born with hair that changed colors.

"I like your hair, by the way, I don't think I've ever told you that" James said.

"You have, like twice a day, since the day we met" Isobel said.

"You'll have to remind me to say it at least once more before the day is over" James said.

When they arrived the party was already in full effect. That's the way James wanted it to be. James had warned everyone that his girlfriend would be coming and he hoped they wouldn't use magic in front of her.

James got out of the car and walked to the other side opening the door for Isobel. He tried to remember everything his dad told him the day before about proper car etiquette. They walked hand in hand to the one story colonial house. Without knocking, they entered the house. Music by the Scorching Sun was playing though out the whole house.

They said hi to various people who walked by.

"You're finally here!" Lily exclaimed when she saw them. She rushed over and hugged Isobel. "I am so glad to finally meet you."

"Lily" James scowled.

"Hush, James. Everyone has been dying to meet her. Did he try to convince you to let him take you somewhere else?" Lily asked.

Isobel's smile said it all.

"You are such a killjoy James" Lily said and then she turned back to Isobel. "My name is Lily, I'm James' sister. Come on I'll introduce you to the rest of the family."

Lily led them around making introductions. James rolled his eyes and kept sighing dramatically which Lily was ignoring. After meeting all of his aunts and half of his uncles James spotted his dad.

He gently extracted Isobel from Lily's tight grip and walked towards the center of the room where Harry talking to George and Ron.

"Isobel this is my father and my uncles Ron and George, everyone this is Isobel" James said.

"Happy birthday, Mr. Potter" Isobel said.

"It's just Harry" Harry said and he shook her hand.

George leaned down to whisper in James' ear "Fred was right, she's hot"

Isobel looked around, the house was big. The place was nicely decorated but there was defiantly something off about the place. Take the pictures on the mantle over the fireplace. Isobel could've sworn she saw one of the people wink. And one of the host, Teddy, when she first met him his hair was a bright blue but when she saw him later talking to Harry she could've sworn his hair turned black. When she pointed it out to James he said maybe it was a trick of the lights. He looked sort of guilty when he said it

And that only made Isobel more suspicious. Before Isobel could go more into it Grandmum Molly said it was time to eat.

They all went outside to the backyard where there was a really long table waiting with a lot of food. Isobel and James sat down facing the garden. She could've sworn there was something moving in the rose bushes. Al Potter who was sitting on her other side told her it was their pet cat, but that thing didn't look like a cat. It looked a bit like Mr. Potato Head. Isobel shrugged her shoulders figuring she'd store it away to ask James later when they were alone.

The food was amazing and the conversation was light, it mostly consisted of all the adults telling stories about Harry making him blush. James kept distracting Isobel so she wouldn't be paying attention during some of the wilder stories. She did however hear Ron say something about breaking Harry out of his Uncle's house and flying away in a car. Isobel probably thought he meant speeding away so she just let that one go. Something else did catch her interest though.

"Why'd your uncle say 'break out' like your father was in prison or something?" she whispered to James.

"My dad lived with his aunt and uncle growing up and they weren't very nice. They used to lock him up in his room for weeks at time only letting him out to use the restroom."

"That's horrible" Isobel said. She couldn't imagine someone being bad enough to deserve that. "Why'd he live with his aunt and uncle? Where were his parents?"

"They died when he was a baby. His aunt and uncle were the only family he had left" James said.

Isobel looked at Harry. She knew what if felt like to lose one parent but to lose them both…she couldn't even imagine it. James squeezed her hand, like he knew what she was thinking.

"He has us now" James whispered.

Harry did look happy now surrounded by his family.

Molly left and came back a few minutes later carrying a large cake. Everyone sung happy birthday and Harry blushed and tried to blow out his candles. Tried being the operative world because someone put trick candles on the cake. Molly didn't look to happy about that. And it got worse. When Harry went to cut the first slice of cake suddenly it blew up in his face sending bits of chocolate everywhere.

"GEORGE!"

Isobel turned her head towards the red headed man with only one ear like everyone else.

George had a smile on his face but he shook his head. "It wasn't me this time, I swear" he said. Everyone looked around and from the corner of her eye Isobel saw James and Fred bump fist.

Harry just smiled but Ginny and Molly looked less than happy. That's when the fireworks went off.