Chapter 2

When the first of the holidays arrived, it couldn't have come any sooner. Harry and Ginny were having a welcome home party for Albus and James and there were many people James didn't know arriving at the house, like a man named Kingsley, and a tiny wizard called Dedalus Diggle. Others who came to the party included the entire Weasley family. James, and Fred Weasley spent the night in James' dining room, which Kreacher had decorated in silver streamers and levitated candles, which flickered as they passed around the room. There were invisible waiters handing out glasses of champagne and fire whiskey, which James and his friends made great use of, much to the dismay of Ginny. Harry had used contacts at the Ministry in order to get hold of the wizard singer 50 Knuts and the band Florence and the Cauldron.

At 11 o'clock, all the children were sent to bed, because there was apparently an adult meeting to be held.

"Perfect opportunity to use my cloak, don't you think?" James said to Fred from the corner of his mouth, as they headed towards the door. His friends nodded in agreement. They quickly ran upstairs and pulled the cloak over them, then crept downstairs and crept into the dining room behind Kreacher, who was tidying up champagne glasses. James' dad was standing at the front on a table, and was addressing the party.

"-are probably wondering why I have arranged this meeting, and I think you all deserve to know. You all helped me during the last time Voldemort was in power, and so I think you should help this time."

There were gasps and mutters around the room, Harry continued, "Many of you may not have known that Voldemort was infact given a proper burial and a tomb, in his father's town of Little Hangleton. We Aurors tried to demolish it, but the magic sustaining it was too strong, so it remained sealed and standing. Until two weeks ago. The body of a Muggle man, Oliver Tutshill was found outside the great white mausoleum. The death baffled the muggle authorities, no sign of any damage to him or his organs, and from the coroners report he did not die naturally, or have a heart-attack, nor was he shot or stabbed, or die from shock. I am sure you all know what these signs point towards."

A middle aged witch standing in the crowd shouted, "The Avada Kedavra curse!"

Harry nodded, and there were further gasps of terror from around the room. James looked at Fred under the cloak, and gulped. His parents has been acting strangely while James had been home. Holding strange meetings, talking in hushed tones, looking worriedly at the children.

"However this is not the worst of out troubles. The mausoleum, which housed the body of Tom Marvolo Riddle, was empty. There was no sign of anyone having broken in, nor anyone having broken out. We all know what this means. There is a possibility that Lord Voldemort is back."

The previous gasps of terror, turned to screams and shouts of horror, as every face looked around in fear at their loved ones. Even James let out a little squeak, but it wasn't heard over the clamour of the room. Harry once again called for silence around the room, "and that is why, friends, I have arranged this meeting. As of tonight, I am reinstating the Order of the Phoenix."

The next morning James still couldn't believe his ears. Fred had left early with Uncle George and Aunt Angelina, who had seemed scared, even angry. James knew exactly why, and he didn't know what to do. Should he tell his dad that he had overheard the meeting, or should he leave it and forget it had happened? He couldn't just leave it, he had so many questions to ask.

"Hey dad," said James as he went into his father's study, where Harry was eating some cereal in his pyjamas, "I overheard your meeting last night and-"

"You did WHAT?" James had never seen his dad look quite so angry, his face was contorted into so many emotions, pain, anger, worry, grief.

"I over heard about the grave and the.. What was it? Something about a Phoenix?"

"The Order of The Phoenix." stated Harry, his face had returned to its normal colour, but the emotions were still there, along with a new one, sympathy. "It was a secret society started in the first war against Voldemort, continued in the second, and I guess its continued again now-"

There was a knock at the door, and Ginny popped her head in, "Harry, love, Kingsley's here to see you."

Harry nodded, and Ginny closed the door, he put a hand on James' shoulder and said, "I have to see Kingsley, but I promise I will explain everything to you before school starts again."

With that, he turned on the spot, and left the room, leaving James alone again. James had never been alone in his dad's study before, there were so many belongings of his father's he longed to explore and discover. There was a large mirror in the corner, which was covered by a red velvet cloth. James could see the gilded frame on the floor, and it extended to the ceiling. He had always wondered why his father kept the mirror covered, and he yearned to find out what it did. James did a quick check around the room to make sure that indeed he was alone, and he tore the great velvet sheet from its treasure beneath.

James gazed at the mirror in wonder. The huge gilded frame was engraved with the words Erutuf Rouyn etui beaver oyt on wohsi. This was a language which James had never heard before, and had no clue as to what it meant. Yet the frame of the mirror was just the start. James jumped as he looked into it, as he thought he saw his father, but when he looked around, there was no one there but him. He walked closer to the mirror, and saw that the person was not his father. Although the man had a lightening bolt scar, and a hardened, yet fatherly face, he had brown eyes, not the characteristic green. The man in the mirror was taller than James' father, and his nose was longer, his mouth, wider, and his expression was different. James realised with an unexpected jolt, that the man was himself, yet older. But James didn't have the lightening bolt scar, which made his father unique. James had no battle hardened smile, or a fatherly face. James was only thirteen (nearly fourteen though). He covered the mirror up again, and ran from his father's study, thoroughly shaken. This would be one thing he would not tell his friends.

James burst into the kitchen at a hundred miles an hour, and realised that his father was having a private meeting with Kingsley, who gestured that James should leave. James closed the door behind him, but stuck his ear against it. He had a sudden yearning to know more, he felt as though he had to, as though it was his destiny. But James had no destiny, no prophecy about him, no scar on his forehead. Maybe his father's mirror showed whatever one wants. James had heard his father's tales of such a mirror, but that had been The Mirror of Erised, not The Mirror of Erutuf. What did his father's mirror show?

"- but that Prophecy couldn't have come true, Voldemort was never in contact with either of my sons!" Harry's voice hit James like a bullet, as he realised he was speaking about James and Albus.

"Yes, Harry," James heard the soothing voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt, "however the prophesy made about you was made before you were even born, I trust you remember the words to the prophesy about the return of Voldemort."

"Of course I do!" snapped Harry, "How could I forget? I thought my life was free of all this, now my family has been dragged into it too..

A child with the power to eternally vanquish the Dark Lord will soon be among us. His green-eyes will lead him to be marked as his father before him, and another will be lost in the means. He will be given power he knows not nor understands, and this will lead to his fate... What does it mean? It doesn't have to be one of my children, does it? Lots of boys were born in July to red-headed mothers-"

"However, there are not lots of boys with fathers who were marked, or who was key to the destruction of Voldemort. And the prophesy talks of green-eyes, only one of your children has green eyes Harry. Albus." said Kingsley evenly. James heard his father sigh.

What was happening? How was Albus involved? Why was it him and not James? It felt a stupid thing to say, to be jealous of a life altering prophesy. But he was. Why was Albus always the special one? He had the green eyes, the face of his father. He was the one who everyone said, "Aren't you so like your dad!" to. James got mention of a grandfather at most. He wanted to be important, to be the special one, and now he couldn't even have a normal life. He would have to make his life special, make himself unique. James' eyes burned green with envy at the thought that his brother was once more the special one.

James trunk was packed long before he left for school, he couldn't wait to get away from the Sombre House of Black. His father had spent the days since his meeting with Kingsley either shut up in his office with Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione, or at work. He hadn't explained anything to James, although now he didn't have to. James understood everything. Voldemort would try to kill Albus, and in doing so, a family member would be lost. Probably me, James thought glumly, at least then I would be special. No I mustn't think like that. Said a small voice in his head. But it was hard not to.

When James got up to his room, his owl Pigwig was sitting on the window sill, a letter grasped in his hand. James took it, and opened it slowly, nothing could make his mood worse. Or so he thought.

Dear Jamie-Poo,

I'm so sorry that I have to write this, but I won't be coming back to Hogwarts, my parents think that with the whole You-Know-Who thing, Hogwarts isn't safe anymore… I think Ben's parents agree, he's not coming back either.

Miss you loads!

Kerry Finnegan.

James crushed the letter into a tiny ball in his fist, before throwing it angrily at the wall. Two of his best friends, Ben and Kerry, the last two Marauders, were leaving Hogwarts. Things would never be the same again. There had been arrangements made for Albus's protection, James could tell that his father would stop the prophesy from coming true at all costs. Stupid Albus and his stupid green eyes. James had always wanted green eyes. Even his mother wasn't much help, she was busying about the house, telling people off and tidying immaculate rooms. James couldn't talk to her, she would talk to his dad, who would give him a disappointed look, sigh and then say something about being noble. James had never felt more alone.

James woke early on the morning of September 1st, after all, he couldn't wait to get to school, even if it wouldn't be the same. Albus had joined school last year, and been made a Gryffindor. This year he would be under protection of The Order, in case Voldemort made a grab at him. James was sure he was hiding in the shadows, biding his time, collecting followers. Even over the summer news arrived that their old Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Creevy, had joined the New Death Eaters, as well as several of James' dad colleagues. However no effort to seize power had been made, nor any effort to seize a Potter.

"Come on Lily! Get your trolley ready, we'll miss the train if you don't hurry!" Ginny called at her daughter across King's Cross Station. The little red-headed girl bobbed along behind her mother, pushing a trolley which looked far to big for her. Behind her were her two brothers, each with identical trolleys, and behind them, their father.

"Harry, help Lily won't you?" said Ginny tiredly, stopping at the barrier between platforms 9 and 10.

Their father walked to his daughter and took her trolley, "Come on Lils, follow me through."

He ran at the solid wall, and one would have been sure they would crash, but instead they disappeared straight through it, leaving the boys and their mother behind.

"After you James." she said, gesturing to the wall. The taller of the two boys strutted over to the wall casually pushing his trolley, and leant against it, also disappearing through.

"You next Al," she said, and the black haired boy ran at the wall, as his father and sister had done, his mother followed him, looking over her shoulder as she did so.

Ginny and Albus found Harry and Lily on Platform 9 ¾, talking to James' Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione. They were seeing their son and daughter, Rose and Hugo off. Rose was the spitting image of her mother, thought her hair was auburn, not brown. Hugo, was like his father, tall and gangly, with a mop of flame red hair.

James was watching their exchange from a distance, with his friends Fred and Lotte. He hadn't seen them over the summer, and was very excited for the new school term.

"Are you excited for your sister coming to Hogwarts?" asked Lotte, quietly. Lotte was James and Fred's other best friend, she was an intelligent muggle born with soft brown hair and deep chocolate brown eyes. She had a love for pranks as well as books… not that pranks would be possible this year.

"I 'spose so." replied James, glumly "She's much more fun than that brother of mine."

"Yeah, because Albus is one barrel of laughs." said Fred dryly. James and Lotte nodded in agreement.

"We should probably get on the train," said Lotte, breaking the dull silence between the three.

"We probably should," said James, "I don't know what we'd be without you Lots!"

"Late, I think." said Lotte, grinning at James, who sniggered at her joke.

The three friends took their trunks, and heaved them onto the train, then found a compartment to sit in.

"Are you not going to say bye to your parents?" Lotte asked James quizzically.

"Nah," said James dejectedly, "They're too busy with King Albus down there. How special does he think he is? Him and his stupid prophesy!"

James had written to Lotte and Fred about the prophesy almost the moment after he heard it, and they had tried not to talk about it over the summer. To try and enjoy themselves, after all, Lotte didn't think it had anything to do with James, but he hadn't told them about the Mirror of Erutuf.

"Oh you're not fussing about that stupid prophesy are you?" asked Lotte, "I really think you should forget about it, its nothing to do with you!"

James felt suddenly angry with her, "BUT THAT'S JUST IT, ISNT IT! IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH ME, ITS AFFECTING MY FAMILY! MY LIFE!" Lotte looked close to tears.

"I really don't see how mate," interjected Fred, James shot him a murderous glance.

"Nothings been right since Albus found out he was special. He looks at me like I'm below him. Mum and Dad favour him, they act like he might die any second. He won't! That's exactly what the prophesy says, His green-eyes will lead him to be marked as his father before him. Dad didn't die did he? He's standing right there!" James jabbed a thumb towards the platform, where Harry was standing, giving Albus a hug, and telling him something important, "Why was I so nosy? Why did I have to find out more about that stupid prophesy. I should never have looked in that stupid mirror.."

"What mirror?" asked Lotte sharply, "You never said anything about a mirror before."

"The Mirror of Erutuf." said James, and then explained the story he had sworn never to tell anyone.

"Well, maybe it shows the future?" said Lotte.

"I can't show the future, Albus is the one who gets marked, remember. Not Me." replied James, however Lotte looked sceptical.

"When we get to school, I'm going to the Library." she said.

"You really do remind me of our Aunt Hermione!" said Fred, laughing.

After the feast, Lotte really did go to the library. She borrowed James' cloak, and snuck out at the dead of night. James had no idea what she was looking for, but he did know that it was important that she found what it was. As everybody expected, Lily became a Gryffindor, as did Hugo. This wasn't that big news, but James was happy, because finally he had another person in the school who found Albus as pompous as he did. They stayed up late talking that night.

"I don't get why daddy's so protective about Al?" asked Lily, he little face glowing in the light of the fire.

"I don't think dad want you to know. He doesn't't even know that I know." replied her brother.

"How do you know then?" she asked, she looked at him in the eye, and her face was one he couldn't refuse. James could never resist his sister's puppy dog eyes.

"I..I..I can't tell you Lils.." he said, "I will, when I find out more about it. I've been trying for the whole summer to find out more."

Lily huffed at James, and stormed up to her dorm.

"Girls." said James, shaking his head.

Lotte, it appeared, didn't find anything in the library, as she didn't tell James or Fred any thing of her visit. The boys woke on the first day of school as they had done every day for the last four years. James slipped on his glasses, and then jumped onto Fred, who would shout at him. It wasn't the same as their last year though, in which they heard the familiar voice of Kerry, shouting "Sod off you Tossers!"

The boys met Lotte at breakfast, where they received their timetables for the year. Their first lesson was Defence, which was to be taught by a new teacher who had arrived this morning. They had never had a new teacher while James had been at school, Creevy had always been there. But now he was a Death Eater. James had remained top of the year in Defence since first year, it was his favourite subject. Apparently (according to Teddy) it was unusual for a Defence teacher to stay at Hogwarts as long as Creevy had done, before him was Professor Matthews, who went mad when a curse backfired on him, and before him was Holland, it turned out he was a Vampire.

James was pretty much top of the year in everything, that was one thing he beat Albus at. That and Quidditch. However, James' dad seemed even prouder with Albus for not coming top in everything last year. He was just like his dad in the respect, apparently.

The entire class was seated in Defence Against the Dark Arts long before their Professor arrived. They were beginning to become restless. Jess Stokes and Amanda Thomas were giggling, and kept looking over at James. Jess had had a crush on him since second year, it was beginning to get tedious. Suddenly, there was a great crash at the door. Their new Professor had arrived.

What do you guys think of my edited version? I had loads of comments saying the first few chapters were really dull, so now they're optional!!!ly xxxx

PLEASE REVIEW PLEASE REVIEW PLEASE REVIEW PLEASE REVIEW PLEASE REVIEW PLEASE REVIEWPLEASE REVIEW