Hogwarts Chapter 5

When finally James arrived home, it was nearly dawn. He heaved his trunk up his lawn and rang the doorbell. Ginny opened the door. She looked slightly anxious but her expression softened when she saw James alone on the doorstep with his trunk and owl, face full of misery and depression.

"Hi James. Come in, we've missed you." She gave him a hug and opened the door wide for him to come in. Harry was behind Ginny. He too, hugged his son and whispered, "It's great to see you, James."

Once everyone had a mug of hot cocoa in their hands and were sitting beside the fireplace, James explained to them why he tried to get Albus expelled and why he was jealous of him.

"You guys always care so much for him and you don't have any concern for me." Harry exchanged an anxious look with Ginny.

"Well, you do kind of remind me of Uncle George." Ginny said half laughing. "I wish Uncle Fred was alive." James whispered miserably. "So do I." Ginny sighed and hugged her son. Harry looked away. "It's not your fault." Ginny said to Harry. "I'm the reason he died." Harry said sadly. "Stop lying to yourself!" Ginny said with a spark of fury. Harry took no notice.

james, dazed by today's events, went upstairs to unpack.

Ginny got up to make breakfast. Harry, however felt guilty. He and Ginny had separated their eldest son from his siblings and from Hogwarts. He decided that James wouldn't live like this. He would have a normal life, like his siblings.

He had locked James away from part of his life. He got a sickening feeling as he remembered the Dursleys locking him in a cupboard, and putting bars on his window to prevent him escaping to Hogwarts.

He felt very Dursley-ish, and shame and guilt welled up inside him. He got up, went up stairs and found James' door. He knocked three times. "Come in," a voice called from inside. He opened the door to find James lying on his bed, his wardrobe full, his work piled on his desk, and his empty trunk in the corner of his room.

His wand was on his bedside table, along with his model of the volcano Harry had sent him. James looked up into Harry's face and smiled. Harry smiled back forcefully. All of a sudden, he felt guilty again. James was actually fine with leaving Hogwarts, he seemed fine.

"Hey dad. What's up?" James asked. Harry cleared his mind and sat down at the edge of James' bed. He looked into James' eyes. They were exactly the same color as Ginny's. He suddenly thought of her and realized he couldn't tell James he was allowed to go back to Hogwarts without Ginny's permission. But he could tell, Ginny also felt very guilty.

"I see you like the volcano I sent you." It was the only thing he could think to say. James nodded at it. "Yeah, thanks. It was a really nice gift… very thoughtful. I've wanted a volcano for years. Now I have my eyes on the prize." Harry laughed, and so did James. "I'll get you that for your birthday." He said. James grinned at his dad, "Thanks Dad."

They continued to sit in silence, pretending to be deep in thought. After a while, Harry noticed James seemed to feel a bit depressed. Harry sighed and put his arm around his son's shoulders. "At least you got rid of Albus. He seemed to be annoying you quite a lot."

James eyes filled with tears. "I miss him already. I was being stupid. He was perfectly fine. I was just jealous of him." Harry looked at his son seriously and said, "I might allow you to go back to Hogwarts,"- James looked up hopefully. –"if your mum says so. We both feel very guilty, you know." James' grin vanished as soon as it had come.

He looked down and muttered, "There's no way she'll allow me to go back. She's only being nice because she thinks she's been too hard on me. But she's not changing her mind. She's still mad at me, I can feel it." Harry shook his head and smiled at James. "She's not that cold-hearted. I'm sure she'll say yes."

James looked up and there was hopeless desperation in his eyes. "And if she says no?" His voice was just a whisper now. Harry looked away and said, "If she says no, you can stay and have dinner with Neville, Teddy, your mum and me." He looked back at James just in time to see his face brighten. "I miss Teddy and Professor Longbottom"

When Harry looked confused he said, "Neville! Not his dad!" He seemed to have read Harry's mind. Harry's expression cleared and he nodded understandingly. They sat there for a while.

James suddenly turned to him with fresh tears in his eyes and said, "Please let me go back to Hogwarts! It's my home! I won't try to expel Albus! I'll leave him alone, I promise no matter how jealous I am, he'll be unharmed and he can be your favorite again! I don't care! Please! I'll do anythi…

His words were drowned by a yell from downstairs. "Harry! James! Come on, Breakfast is ready!" Harry got up and yelled back, "Okay! We'll be down in a minute, Hon!" He went back to James and held out his hand. As James took it, Harry smiled sadly and said, "Albus isn't my favorite. I don't have a favorite. I love you all just the same, and I swear, I'll get you into Hogwarts again if it's the last thing I do."

James smiled a true smile. They walked out, closing the door behind them.