Hi All. Welcome to chapter one of Potter Kind: Memoirs. This is the first in a series of stories that will all be under the umbrella of Potter Kind, I hope to write new stories for this series frequently. This series was inspired by some works by a writer who used to be on this site but doesn't put her work out there because of some negative feedback sadly. This story is complete and was written as a one shot, but I decided it was too long to be a one shot, so I've split it into six small chapters for you. Updates should be weekly unless something drastic happens. Don't forget if you haven't already, make sure to go onto your profile and opt in for email notifications if you want to be notified each time that I put a new chapter/story up.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, Castor Charlus Potter and Jennifer Euphemia Potter are my own original character, but all other recognisable characters belong to J K Rowling, I just like to use them to do my bidding.
Series Summary: We know from the Black Tapestry that Dorea Black married Charlus Potter and they had a son. What if Charlus was James Potter's Father Fleamont Potter's brother? What if James had a little sister? What if Harry had other family members who could have taken him in and raise him? This is the story of the last three Potters.
Story Summary: This is the story of how Castor, Jennifer, and Harry became the last three Potters. James Potter's AU backstory, how he came to have a cousin and little sister. AU, two OC's, JamesXLily, DoreaXCharlus, FleamontXEuphemia, Marauders Era Fic. Warnings inside.
Warning: This story involves character death, is AU and has two OC's, also contains mentions of, though no actual description of, parental spankings. Don't like, don't read.
A huge, huge thank you to my amazing Beta who has been an amazing support in writing this. Yes, I am trying my hardest to turn her into a Harry Potter Fan. Without her support and guidance, I don't know if I'd have written this.
~o~
Cas sat down on his bed looking around the now almost completely packed up room, it was just his essentials left out to be packed up tomorrow. There was a small voice inside his head telling him that he wasn't ready for this, but James had done the same for him and he owed it to the man he'd come to see as his older brother, and later father figure, to do this. A small smile crossed his face as he recalled some of the earlier memories he had of James Potter, they were not good memories really, James had been such a spoilt little toerag.
Flashback
"Castor Charlus Potter! Come down here right now! If you do not hurry up, we are going to be late!" Dorea Potter called her son. Her patience was running thin with her five-year-old, they were supposed to have Flooed over fifteen minutes ago and he was stalling.
Castor covered his ears and closed his eyes, if he couldn't hear his mummy he wouldn't have to go. He hated going over to Uncle Monty and Aunty Mia's! not because of his Uncle and Aunt, he really loved them, they always gave him candy and galleons, but because of his awful cousin James. James was always mean to him, playing tricks on him, hurting him, getting him in trouble, but James never got in trouble for it as James just said it was a prank.
Charlus sighed, "I'll go fetch him." He headed up to his son's room and crouched down so he could see under the bed. "Castor, we're going over to your Aunt and Uncle's Manor. You need to try and get along with your cousin," he insisted.
Castor whined when his Daddy came up to his room, he couldn't pretend not to hear now, "no! I don't wanna go. I wanna stay here!"
Charlus shook his head and pulled his young son out from under the bed, landing a hard swat to his bottom. "You do not say no to me little boy. You can't stay here, you are too young, and James is your cousin, he is family. Besides your Aunt Mia and Uncle Monty love you very much and like seeing you," he reminded his son. James was a cause for a few discussions between him and Monty, but Monty refused to accept that James needed discipline and Mia was no different. "You don't have to play with James, you can stay with Mummy and me, but we are going over to your Aunt and Uncle's. Whether you do it with a sore bottom or not is up to you," he finished.
Castor yelped at the swat and ducked his head, tears welling up in his eyes, he didn't want to go, he didn't. James was so mean! When his Daddy threatened him with a sore bottom though, he jerked his head back up and his little hands flew to protect his posterior, shaking his head quickly, "no spanking Daddy, please!"
Charlus nodded, "then you need to go downstairs and get your shoes and cloak on so we can Floo over to Potter Manor. Now, with no more complaints, and apologise to your mother for ignoring her calling for you."
Castor ran so fast it almost seemed like he apparated as he ran to his Mummy, pulling on his cloak and struggling with his shoes.
Dorea sighed in relief when Charlus managed to get Castor down without too much drama. She tried to maintain a stern look, but as her little boy struggled with his shoes, she took pity on him and bent down to help him put them on right. "There you go, all ready, finally," she sighed.
Castor bit his lip before looking up at his Mummy, "I'm sorry I ignored you Mummy," he murmured softly.
Dorea sighed, she wished her brother-in-law would rein in his unruly son, but her husband had spoken to his brother many times about James, and it went in one ear and out the other. She took his little hands in hers and got him looking at her, "you know you mustn't ignore Mummy Castor, it's very naughty. I need you to listen to me and come when I call you. What are you going to do next time Mummy calls for you?"
Castor sniffled, "I'll listen and come Mummy," he promised.
Dorea smiled and pressed a kiss to the top of her little boy's head, "good boy," she praised.
Charlus placed a firm hand on Castor's shoulder, "that's exactly what I want to hear. If you ignore your mother again, you'll be getting a spanking understood?"
Castor gulped and gave a rapid nod, "yes Daddy, I won't do it again," he promised.
With that the family finally Flooed over to Potter Manor.
"Charlie old boy!" Monty greeted jovially, pulling his much younger brother into a hug.
"Dorea! We thought maybe you weren't coming," Mia stated as she hugged the other woman and kissed her cheek daintily.
James smirked at his younger cousin, "hey there little Cassie."
Castor scolded immediately, "don't call me that!"
"Oh boys, why don't you go play? You don't want to stick around listening to our old waffle," Monty insisted.
James shrugged, "well come on then Cassie." He sauntered out of the hall, expecting his cousin to follow him.
Castor shot his Daddy a pleading look, he said he could stay with them, he didn't want to go off with James.
"I think Castor would rather stay with us," Charlus tried.
"Nonsense Charlie. Go on boys, go have fun," Monty insisted.
"There's some cookies in the kitchen," Mia added.
"Keep up Cassie or there won't be any cookies left!" James hollered.
Slumped in defeat Castor followed James out of the hall and to the kitchen, finding his cousin stuffing his face with the cookies, holding the plate up high.
James smirked when his stupid little cousin came into the kitchen, "oh you want a cookie? Hmm, I might consider letting you have one, but you have to do what I say first…"
James made Castor bark like a dog, cluck like a chicken, say he was a stupid cry baby, and say that James was the most brilliant wizard in the world. He finally agreed that Castor had earned a cookie and told him to close his eyes. As soon as Castor did, James yanked down his cousin's pants, laughing at him as he ran out of the kitchen.
Castor had tears of humiliating and embarrassment running down his cheeks as he hurriedly pulled his pants back up and chased after James wanting the cookie he was promised.
Flashback over
That visit, as all visits had, ended with James landing Cas in trouble when he'd finally wound him up so much that they'd ended up rolling on the ground fighting. Cas had been trying to kick and punch and do as much damage to James as possible, but he was only five to James' ten and James had just found it hilarious. Uncle Monty had insisted that boys would be boys, but his Dad did not feel that way and had taken him home and proceeded to light his rear end on fire.
Despite their terrible relationship, the two of them were forced together every week, and if James didn't manage to land him in trouble, he would do something to make Cas cry. It was a relief to Cas when James finally went to Hogwarts, and he finally got a three and a half month break from his cousin.
That Christmas though, he gained a second tormentor, one Sirius Black.
Flashback
Castor stood miserably in front of the Floo, the past three and a half months had been perfect, he had actually come to enjoy going over to see his Aunt and Uncle, with James at Hogwarts the visits were really nice. He'd been crossing his fingers and toes in the hopes that James would choose to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas, but he was out of luck. The only tiny glimmer of hope left was that apparently James had invited a friend to stay over Christmas and maybe, just maybe, that would mean James would leave him alone. If he did, it would make this the best Christmas ever. So far, every Christmas for as long as he could remember, they spent the whole season with Uncle Monty, Aunt Mia, and James; and James was always awful.
Dorea beamed at her son, "oh, you're ready, good boy!"
Charlus walked into the hall, their suitcases floating behind him, and the shrunken sack of Christmas presents safely hidden in his robes, "everyone ready?"
Dorea nodded and held her hand out to her son; he was still too young to Floo by himself. She wouldn't say anything, but she was hopeful that the months at Hogwarts might have helped James grow up a bit, maybe now he and Castor could develop a good relationship.
Castor sighed and took his Mummy's hand, maybe it wouldn't be so bad… maybe James would leave him alone.
Keeping a secure hold on her son's hand, Dorea called out their destination and dropped the Floo powder, stepping gracefully out of the Floo as soon as they arrived at the correct fireplace.
"Dorea my dear, looking lovely as ever," Monty greeted, drawing his younger brother's wife into his arms, hugging her, and kissing her cheek as he did. "Come, meet our guest, this here is young Sirius, Walburga and Orion's son. Prejudiced fools got their wands in knots because Sirius got himself sorted into Gryffindor. Refused to have him home, so when James asked if he could come here, we said of course he could," he explained.
Sirius strutted over to Dorea and took her hand, bowing dramatically, "enchanted to meet you Mrs Potter, you must surely have gotten all the Black good looks. I am certain it is a blessing I am a boy for I would surely look like a troll if I were a girl, as after you there could be no beauty left for the Black girls," he greeted. He pressed a kiss to her hand and shot her his most charming smile.
Mia giggled as Sirius greeted Dorea, "he's such a charmer, you should have heard what he said to me on the Platform."
James smirked watching Sirius greet his Aunt, they could definitely use this to their advantage. "Hey Cassie, did you miss me?" He asked his little cousin.
Sirius' eyes lit up, "oh, is this the famous Cassie? James has told us all about you," he grinned.
Castor opened his mouth to demand they not call him Cassie, but then his Daddy finally came through the Floo, and Uncle Monty greeted him merrily before shooing the boys off.
Flashback over
Sirius had turned out to be, if anything, worse than James. It had been hands down the worse Christmas Cas had ever had, constantly harassed by his two tormentors. They'd continuously jump out at him and pants him or give him a wedgie. They slipped a diuretic potion into his milk at dinner that made him wet the bed… multiple times. Then, shortly before they'd returned to Hogwarts, they had tricked him; telling him they were going to show him how to make a potion that Uncle Monty had said it was okay. The potion he had made had exploded pink goo all over his Uncle Monty's lab and he'd gotten his worst spanking ever from his Dad for messing around with potions and potions ingredients. He'd been made to scrub the potions lab spotless with his spanked bottom on display – something James and Sirius had wasted no time in teasing him about.
A knock on the door pulled Cas from his reminiscing, "come in," he called softly.
Sirius opened the door and looked around Cas' almost completely boxed up bedroom, crossing the room and sitting down on the bed next to him. He threw an arm around his shoulder and tugged him into a side hug. "are you sure we can't convince you to stay kiddo, you graduated today, you should be out there having fun, relaxing, letting off some steam, celebrating. Harry and Jenny will be fine with Remus and me, you don't need to take on this responsibility, or at least, even if you still insist on it, it can wait a week or so," he insisted for the nth time.
Cas shook his head stubbornly, "it's not that I'm not grateful for all you and Remus have done for us Sirius, but James took me in when… when my parents died, it's the least I can do to pay him back. Jenny and Harry are my siblings, they are my responsibility, I won't let James down by shirking that responsibility."
Sirius sighed and tightened the hug, "your parents would be so proud of you Castor. Merlin knows I am little brother, just don't forget, if you need help, a night off, or just to chat, we're only a Floo call away."
Cas leaned into the hug and didn't pull away, soaking up the offered affection. Although Sirius had tormented him from the moment he met him, and along with James had made his summers and Christmases extremely unpleasant, everything changed the summer before he'd started Hogwarts.
Flashback
Cas winced as he heard the whoosh of the Floo, knowing that meant James and Sirius had just arrived from Hogwarts. He wasn't happy about them coming to live with him, but he tried to put himself in their shoes. James had now lost both his parents and Cas couldn't imagine losing his Mum and Dad, it would devastate him, and it would take a blind man to miss how much Sirius cared for the people who had taken him in. Losing Aunt Mia had been hard enough, but at least little Jenny had survived. Cas had resolved to be a much better cousin to Jenny than James was to him. It surprised him just a little that James and Sirius didn't bully Jenny, but then he supposed it would take someone really truly evil to bully a baby and as much as he hated James and Sirius, they weren't really evil. He resigned himself to taking whatever James and Sirius doled out, they were grieving, and he could live with it for the summer, next year they'd both be seventeen and he was sure they'd move out as fast as they could.
James couldn't believe it; it had been hard enough when his Mum died. Part of him wanted to blame his little sister so badly, but his Mum had loved her before she was even born and had been thrilled to be bringing another child into this world, and he just couldn't bring himself to hate something his Mum loved so much. There was also the fact that really Jenny was just a little baby, so he knew she was blameless. It still broke his heart though. His Dad did his best to be there still, but he was a broken shell of the man James had known all his life. A small part of him had known this was coming, that his Dad wouldn't outlive his Mum by much, but he had never really thought it would happen… not truly.
Sirius was beyond relieved that Dorea and Charlus had agreed to take him in too. When Mia, who he had taken to playfully calling Mother Mia, had died during childbirth, it had been utterly devastating. He tried to be strong for James, who was losing the only mother he had, whereas Sirius was just losing the closest thing to a mother he'd had. If he was honest with himself, he'd been expecting to get this news for a while, even he could see Monty was losing the will to live, he was surprised he'd held out this long. He didn't mention any of this to James though, again just trying to be strong for him and support his brother in all but blood.
Jenny immediately reached out to her brothers, "want Daddy," she cried.
James took his baby sister into his arms and crushed her to his chest, breaking down into sobs as he did.
Sirius' own heart shattered as Jenny, who Monty had insisted was his baby sister, reached out for them both and asked for her Daddy. He wrapped his own arms around James and Jenny and broke into sobs.
Dorea handed over the almost three-year-old when she'd reached out for James and Sirius. Her heart broke for the two teenagers, and she wrapped her arms around them tight, holding them close and trying to offer what comfort she could.
Flashback over
His parents had warmly welcomed James and Sirius into their home, and Cas expected to be put through hell. However, he hadn't taken into account his own parents, now that Sirius and James were under their roof, they were under their rules, and both landed themselves a trip over his Dad's lap more than once… a lot more. It had been extremely rocky in the beginning, but a spanking from his Dad was nothing to sniff at and after a fair number of trips over his lap for all three of them, a bond was forged.
~o~
There you go, that was chapter one. Please let me know what you thought, reviews motivate me to write more. I hope you're all eager to read more and I'll see you next week with the next chapter.