"As I'm sure you've figured out by now, I'm not the affectionate type. I don't know how to raise children, I get frustrated easily, and I always get revenge on those who wrong me."
Five year old Harry Potter rubbed his sore elbow and sullenly stared at the man who'd caused it. Jayal stared back at him, eyebrows raised, until Harry nodded in acknowledgement.
"That is why, when you pulled that prank on me last night, you set yourself up for that." He gestured to the sore elbow. "Now, in addition to that, I am a wildly successful politician. And part of that is keeping out of the limelight."
"I don't stand out!" came Harry's indignant cry.
"You do. You're too proud. And while that is not a bad thing, showing that you're proud is. You need to blend in. Sure, be the best you can be, but be humble about to others."
Harry simply sulked at the reprimand clearly present. Jayal sighed and pressed a hand to his temple.
"Harry, you're five. You're old enough to understand this, but you actually need to want to understand it. To want to try and do this, or you're simply not worth teaching."
Harry's head snapped up and he stared at Jayal with wide, frightened eyes. Jayal had raised him, and if he wanted Harry to do something, he'd do.
Jayal sighed again. "I'm not going to leave you," he said, rightly interpreting the expression on Harry's face. "I just want to know if you're going to put forth the necessary effort to grow up into someone useful to me. Are you?"
"Of course!" Harry's eyes practically gleamed with eagerness to please.
"Then you'll start lessons with George tomorrow at nine. Don't be late, you know he hates that."
The little boy nodded emphatically.
James sat at his desk and stared at the opposite wall, lost in thought. It had been almost a month since Longbottom and Weasley had destroyed his classroom, and it was once again in fine working order. It was almost a week and things between him and the two Gryffindors hadn't improved in the slightest. He'd been quite firm in their punishment, and when the boys had come to grovel and beg to play in the match they'd left more irate than before. Well, that and an extra week of detentions from Severus. James smirked at the memory.
He sobered again when he remembered his latest dream and how he'd never gotten out of a punishment in his own childhood until he'd learned to manipulate others. It had been a lesson well worth the trouble. Twisting words and circumstances to his own benefit was now second nature, and he'd never served a punishment since. A quick words there, a touch of flattery there, he was a close second to Jayal by this point, lacking only in experience.
Jayal. James sighed. He'd yet to see the man since he'd been in England for this fool errand of watching Longbottom. Jayal had been adamant that he wouldn't set foot in the country, not even at the Malfoy's manor.
"Professor?" asked a voice from the door, snapping James from his thoughts.
"Yes Hermione?" he asked, smiling slightly at the girl.
"Wyn's been pining for you." She stepped into the room with the little dragon in her arms. Depositing her on the desk she stepped back, unsure whether to stay or not.
"What is it, little one?" he hissed.
"Hermione was looking at the dark books in your library. She found them and hasn't left the section yet."
James's eyebrows rose. "You think she's amenable to our side?"
"Very, she was asking Draco about some of the theory in them. I very much doubt she doesn't know what these books are."
"Interesting…what about her friends?"
Wyn snorted and Hermione started from her spot in front of James's desk, startled from listening to their hisses.
"She's shown nothing but contempt for them so far."
James hummed in thought. "Miss Granger, I do believe you've found some interesting reading material lately?"
Hermione flushed. "Yes, I was intrigued because we're taught a very one-sided view of magic here. And there's so much knowledge in 'dark' texts, it's such a shame."
James cocked his head as he considered her. "Would you like to take some lessons with me? Draco has mentioned lately that he'd like something along those lines. Well, more like heavily hinted that he wanted me to teach him such things." James rolled his eyes.
"Really?" Hermione perked right up. "Just Draco and I? Because there are all these wonderful theory books that you have, but we aren't quite sure as to the practical aspect of them."
"Tell me, Miss Granger, what else do you and Draco talk about?"
"Sir?" Hermione looked uncertain.
"Have to you two ever discussed…politics? I'm just curious, mind you. I know you dislike the Dark Lord and are fundamentally against him-"
"Sir?" Hermione interrupted him, looking uneasy. "I don't…I don't oppose the Dark Lord."
"You don't?" James's voice held genuine disbelief. "Well, then, enlighten me."
Hermione looked uncertain but pushed ahead regardless. "Draco and I got into a rather spectacular fight at one point a few weeks ago and I accused him of mindlessly following the Dark Lord for power. He asked me if I even knew what the Dark Lord stood for. When I admitted I didn't, he told me that he wants to protect magic at its roots, that he wants to protect magical children. I…I always thought he hated muggleborns, but Draco told me that he doesn't, that he simply is against the muggle teachings that they bring into the Wizarding World. I can understand that, and I think it's a good solution."
James sat back in his seat, well and truly surprised. Longbottom's best friend, advocating for the Dark Lord! "That is…interesting, to say the least. I confess, I had no idea."
Hermione colored slightly. "Well, I shouldn't go around telling everyone, should I?"
"Does Victor know?" he asked suddenly.
Hermione blushed up to her ears. "Yes. I-we met last Hogsmeade weekend and I told him. He confessed to me that he felt the same."
James smirked. "And this Hogsmeade weekend?"
"He has a match, I was just going to stay in your library."
"Well, I'm glad all is well with Victor."
"Can you believe it's almost Halloween?" James asked as he entered the Malfoys' parlor, grinning in an uncharacteristic show of good humor. "Soon Longbottom will be but a distant memory." He clapped his hands together in his enthusiasm.
"And I've dealt with Albus," Marvolo remarked from his place in front of the fireplace, not even looking up from his book.
"Have you?" Lucius asked, setting down his teacup.
"The ring worked, then?"
Lucius's head turned so that he could focus on James instead. "What ring?"
Narcissa sighed at her husband's blatant show of curiosity, and the pointed grin he got from James because of it.
"I enchanted a replica of this ring," Marvolo said, holding out his right hand for observation, eyes still on the book in his lap.
"He's putting it mildly, it's quite an unforgiving curse that he put on it. The curse he used will kill the old man relatively quickly, leaving him to think he has much more time than he does." He turned to Marvolo expectantly before asking, "How do you know it's taken?"
"He called for Severus not long before you arrived. No doubt he is intending to trap the curse in his arm so as to slow its progress."
James hummed, smile still stretched across his face. He walked towards Marvolo and stood just in front of the man until that worthy raised his eyes from his book. Marvolo quirked an eyebrow in question, making James's smile quickly morph into a grin. He pushed the book from Marvolo's lap and smoothly took its, legs swung over to one side.
"Comfortable yet?" Marvolo asked quietly, mock irritation in his voice as James squirmed a bit.
"Just about," James said, ducking his head to hide his smile.
Neither of them noticed Narcissa's approving smile, hidden behind her teacup.
Lucius coughed to regain the couple's attention.
"So all is ready for Halloween, My Lord?"
"Yes, you shall have the honor, Lucius."
The blonde's eyes widened slightly. "Me, My Lord?" he asked incredulously.
"I don't see why not, so long as you make sure you are not seen or noticed in any way."
"Will you two be staying for dinner, My Lord?" Narcissa asked, reminding the others of her presence.
"Yes, I believe so," Marvolo answered, fighting to keep his voice even as James fidgeted in his lap, ostensibly appearing to be getting comfortable.
"I shall inform the elves, then. Come along, Lucius."
She stood fluidly, bowing her head to Marvolo before heading towards the door, leaving Lucius no choice but to bow and follow her.
"Cissa, why did you pull me out?" Lucius asked quietly as soon as the door closed behind him.
She sighed and restrained herself from rolling her eyes. "Our Lords wanted to be alone, dear."
She made to turn away as comprehension dawned but turned back to face her husband as his face adopted a strange look. "What is it, Lucius?"
"Nothing. I simply like the sound of that. Our Lords," he added for clarification, stressing the 's'.
"Well, I expect we'll have to get used to it soon."
"Right you are, my dear," Lucius replied, the two of them making their ways to the kitchen.
Back in the parlor Marvolo gave in and groaned. "Could you be more distracting?" he asked, voice close to growling as James once again squirmed in his lap.
James just laughed.
Halloween morning James's face was once more indecipherable, leaving even Draco guessing as to how he was feeling. His expression was, however, a far cry from how he was feeling. His good mood had persisted, and he sat at the Teachers' Table with barely contained enthusiasm. Soon enough the children would be in Hogsmeade and Longbottom would be taken care of, leaving no one the wiser as to his own part in the proceedings.
It couldn't have been soon enough that the students finally began trickling towards the front gates to leave, and James was happy to note that Longbottom seemed to be in the lead. He watched impassively as Neville and Ron left the Great Hall, wearing their heavy cloaks just in case. I wonder if Lucius can manage Weasley too, he wondered as they disappeared from his sight. As quickly as was acceptable he left the Great Hall and headed for his own rooms, Hermione catching up to him as he began ascending the Grand Staircase.
"Sir, have you read Markitte's book on wandless magic?"
"It is in my library, Miss Granger."
Hermione flushed, having heard the amusement in his voice.
"Hermione!"
The two of them stopped as Draco caught up with them, panting a little from his quick travel up the stairs.
"You're asking him about the wandless book, right?"
Hermione nodded, brow furrowed.
"Oh, don't give me that look. You've been poring over it lately and this is the first time you've gotten him alone in days."
"Still, I find it disconcerting that my actions are so easily interpretable to the likes of you." Hermione's barbed words were belied by the smile fighting its way onto her face.
Draco huffed in mock offense. "As if a muggleborn could so easily fool a Malfoy."
"Liar! I bet you wanted to ask him about it too."
"He is also standing right here," James said, amusement thick in his voice. The two Seventh Years didn't jump, but from the looks they gave him it was clear that they'd been absorbed in their little squabble.
"Right, so I was wondering about the practical applications of wandless magic, because the book is mostly theoretical."
"And you assume I would be able to help you?" James raised an eyebrow as the three continued along up the staircase.
"Oh please, James. I've seen you cast wandless magic before," Draco answered before Hermione could justify her feeling that James simply could.
"Have you?" he asked, perhaps more sharply than intended, but that fact was lost on the other two. He hadn't realized he'd been so careless as to leave evidence as to his capabilities. He must have been especially careless for Draco to have noticed, the blond usually found it hard to tear his eyes from the nearest reflective surface.
"You've summoned things to you, closed doors, only small things but it shows that you can do it."
James hummed. Okay, he hadn't been as careless as he'd thought.
"So can you teach me how to do it?" Hermione asked, ever the eager student.
"I suppose…" he trailed off as they came upon his door. They entered the rooms and Hermione and Draco all but ran to the library to grab the book.
And so the morning and early afternoon passed, with James supervising the two Seventh Years and occasionally correcting them when needed. The announcement he was waiting for came when he was struggling through a particularly stubborn point with Hermione.
"But it says to focus on your hand, where you want the object to end up."
"And I am telling you that that is incorrect."
Hermione's voice rose slightly in pitch. "But the book clearly says-"
"Once again, who here is capable of actually doing this: the book or me?"
Draco watched from the sidelines, wondering how James seemed as composed as always.
"Teachers," Dumbledore's voice suddenly echoed throughout the large room, causing the three within to still and listen closely. "There has been an attack on Hogsmeade. Several students and villagers are already confirmed dead. Please hurry to aid in securing the village against further harm."
James stood swiftly and swept from the room without a word, his face void of all emotion as he made for the door leading to the school corridor.
"James!"
That worthy turned to face the two Seventh Years standing in his library doorway.
"Can we come?"
"No." James's response was immediate, and there was such steel underlying it that neither disagreed, only stood and watched as the door closed behind their teacher.
It was when he was hurrying across the front lawn that James heard the shouts and explosions that were coming from Hogsmeade, one in particular carrying above all others.
"Neville Longbottom is dead!"
A/N: Alright, I know this took a bit, but in my defense I simply didn't know what to write. And if I'm going to write then I need to feel satisfied with it. That's also part of the reason that this took a bit, as I rewrote the last half. As always, thank you for the reviews and I look forward as to what you have to say on this chapter!