Both Lucy and James were quiet as they headed into their Transfiguration class that afternoon. Jason Boyd sat next to them and whispered in an undertone. "What did you do in potions?"
"I have no idea," James said.
"We made something… wrong," Lucy said.
"She seemed furious with you!"
"I know," James said. They were hushed by Professor Martin who glared at the class to be silent.
"Today you will be turning matchsticks into needles," he said. "Or attempting to, I doubt this early in your magical training you'll be able to. So wands out, and practise. The incantation is mutari inacus. Begin."
Professor Martin walked between their desks, correcting wand movement and the way the incantation was said. James got his wand out and looked at it. The first time since arriving at Hogwarts. He couldn't do any magic yet but he had learnt from his father never to go anywhere without his wand. Ten inches, maple with a core of dragon heartstring. Literally the heart of a dragon. He pointed it at the matchstick and felt foolish as he mumbled the incantation. Nothing happened.
He jabbed his wand at the matchstick and repeated himself louder. Lucy next to him was following his example. "Yes!" He turned and saw her looking at a needle. She was the first one in the class to accomplish it. James tried again, and much to his surprise, found the matchstick slowly changing shape. It stopped changing halfway through. Come on, he found himself thinking to himself. Mutari inacus! The stick changed to a needle the rest of the way. James smiled in pleasure at the success.
"Well done," Professor Martin said. "Try again." The whole class was watching as Lucy and James were given another matchstick. They caught each others eyes and looked at their items, willing them to change. Mutari inacus! James thought fervently. He grinned as the stick changed into a needle yet again.
The entire class was staring at him. It was only at this point that James realised he hadn't spoken at all. He'd thought the incantation in his head. "Potter how did you do that?"
"I thought it," James said with a shrug. "Sorry, was that wrong?"
"Nigh on impossible," Professor Martin said in astonishment.
"Well, I didn't do it on purpose," he said in his defence. "I was just… stop looking at me!"
Lucy was the only one who didn't turn away from James. Everyone else concentrated on their own work, the babble of conversation breaking out over the entire room. James stared at his two needles, his pleasure in his magic all but gone. Why couldn't he just be normal. Why couldn't he walk down the corridors without being stared at?
That night James got into bed when there was a tap at the window. He looked up and saw Farley tapping on the glass. He darted up and opened the window and the bird flew over the boys beds, making everyone look at him before swooping down to James's shoulder. He smiled and unrolled the parchment letter from his father.
James, meet me in the trophy room tonight. I'm proud of you. Harry.
James turned over the parchment but there was no more. That was it? And why was his father at Hogwarts in the first place? But James knew he would go to see him. Curiosity if nothing else. So he quickly got dressed.
"Where are you going?" Jason asked.
"It doesn't matter," James said.
"Don't get caught."
"I wasn't planning on it," James said with a smile. "I guess I am my father's son."
"Want company?"
"Not this time." James looked to make sure the other boys weren't listening. "My father wants to see me."
"Well I'll come sneaking with you around the castle some other night then," Jason said with a smile. Farley flew out of the open window and James quickly left the Hufflepuff dormitories. Throughout the castle there was an absence of people. James was pleased not to bump into anyone, and breathed easy when he got to the unlocked trophy room. But there was no one there.
"Dad!" he hissed, creeping through the cabinets of silverware. "Dad!" James was just beginning to wonder if it had been a trap when Harry appeared, as if from nowhere in the middle of the room. The famous invisibility cloak fell to the floor. James had never seen it, but heard of it frequently. He had longed to see it and the silvery material was beautiful to behold. James wanted to slip under it, to see what it felt like to be invisible. To be in the hallowed halls of Hogwarts under his father and grandfathers famous cloak would be something indeed.
James tore his eyes away from the cloak and looked at his father. "Why are you here?"
"I wanted to see my son," he said. "I hope you're not too disappointed with your house. Just because I was a Gryffindor never once meant you had to be."
"I know," James said. "I just hear so many stories. From you and mum. And all my uncles, and aunt Hermione. I half expected to be there that's all. I've gotten used to it now."
"Good," Harry said. "Tell me about your first day." So James did.
"You managed a non verbal spell on your first day?" Harry asked in surprise.
"Yeah, I just did it without thinking about it," James said. "I wish I hadn't. Everyone's acting like it's a big deal." This was perfectly true and he hadn't liked the stares throughout dinner.
"Your mother and I are so proud of you," Harry said with a smile. "So where is the Hufflepuff common room? I never came across it."
"By the kitchens," James said. "But I'm not telling you how to get into them."
"Fair enough," he said. "I came here to give you this." Harry passed the silky invisibility cloak. "I couldn't do it in front of your brother, he'd be jealous."
"Really?" James asked eagerly. "I get your cloak?"
"It's your cloak now," Harry said. "It goes to my eldest son, and then your eldest son. Don't flaunt it in front of Albus though."
"Wow," James said. "Thanks dad." He reached for the material which ran through his hands softly. Like water.
"Put it on," Harry said smiling. "Lets see how it looks." James barely needed the encouragement. He pulled it on over his shoulders and then his head. He felt no different but Harry's eyes drifted over the place where he'd been, so he knew he'd vanished.
"That's incredible," James said, reappearing. Harry smiled at him. Harry opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by a wisp of smoke appearing in the room. The smoke turned silvery and took a distinct form of an eagle. A large, beautiful broad winged eagle. Someone's patronus which swooped down in front of Harry.
"Return to the ministry. Drood. Now." The patronus vanished almost instantly and James was left open mouthed. Harry sprung into action.
"James, put that cloak on and go back to your common room. Now."
"Dad, what was that?" James asked. "What did it mean?"
"Now James," Harry said fervently. "I'll write, but I have to go to the Auror office."
Harry vanished so quickly out of the door that he might have apparated. James shook himself and covered himself in the cloak. He headed back to the Hufflepuff common room, his mind racing. What on earth had that meant?
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