The first weeks leading up to the first day of school seemed weary from James and Jenni. They felt as though they heard nothing more from people about Hogwarts than 'how much fun it is' and 'it's the best experience any witch or wizard could hope for' as well as many 'study hard for every subject, especially when 5th year comes around.' The pair was getting anxious and just wanted to go rather than hear about the school.
However, what the two were most excited for (pre-Hogwarts) was going school shopping, and by extension, wand shopping. First, the Potter parents dropped Albus and Lily off Ron and Hermione Weasley's to stay the night thinking it best to go shopping without many possible distractions. They arrived at Diagon Alley and took he soon-to-be fist years to Ollivanders wand shop. As they entered they were greeted with a raspy "hello" from the aging Ollivander. James volunteered to find his wand first. And, after many wands, and much broken glass, James received his wand- 10 and a half inch cherrywood with dragon heartstring for the core. Jenni was next and found the wand for her after three tries. Her wand was 9-inch maple wood with phoenix tail for the core. Once they paid for the wands they wandered over to the bookstore to purchase the necessary first year books. While they were in there they bumped into the Finnigans- Seamus and Mandy- who are shopping with their son, Brendan Finnigan.
"James, Jenni, these are some old friends of ours and their son, Brendan," introduced Harry.
"Hey," said James.
"Hi. I'm Jenni. Are you going into your first year as well?" asked Jenni.
"Uh, yeah. I am," replied Brendan.
"Are you excited?" questioned Jenni, trying to carry the conversation, "because all I've heard amazing things about the school."
"Yeah, that's what I've heard too," Brendan answered. Jenni just nodded thinking about how poor this boy was a keeping a conversation flow.
James whispered in Jenni's ear for only her to hear, "Well…I'm betting you'll be the one to propose." Jenni punched him hard in the arm
"Ouch!" yelped James, earning the attention of the adults.
"Well. On that note, don't be offended if you don't get an invitation to the wedding," retorted Jenni through a false smile. James glared at her.
Meanwhile, Brendan gave his parents a helpless expression of 'please get me away from these people'. In which his parents understood and they explained how they have to continue shopping. So they said their farewells.
As the day of shopping almost came to a close, Harry said to the group, "We have one more stop to make." He took the group to the Eeylops Owl Emporium for James and Jenni to pick out a pet for them. A good half hour was spent with James talking about getting either a toad or a bat.
"Are you seriously considering a toad?" eyed Jenni suspiciously.
"Why, Sirius is my middle name," James replied cheekily, earing him a scowl from the girl. "Of course I'm not! I'm getting an owl. What about you?"
"Not really interested in an owl. I'm thinking about a cat. I've always wanted a cat," Jenni said, to which James gave her a look like she had a squid on top of her head.
"What? I see no reason for me to get an owl since I could use yours or one from the school," Jenni said defensively.
"Alright, alright. Get a cat," James said submissively. And so James got a male brown spotted owl and named him "Casper" and Jenni got a white, female cat and named her "Charmin". Afterwards, they went into The Leaky Cauldron for dinner. As they entered, got seated and ordered, Jenni noticed a man in the corner of the restaurant staring at her. She tried not to think much of it until she caught him staring once more when her food came and whispered to Ginny, who was sitting next to her, about it. Ginny casually looked around to see who she was talking about and when she saw him, she turned to Harry and said they had to leave immediately. She gave him a serious look and he understood. He said quietly to the kids that they have to go as soon as possible. James gave his father a look of puzzlement and Jenni gave Harry a worried expression.
"I just want to go home without making a spectacle," Jenni told him quietly.
"We know Jenni," Harry continued, "I'm trying to come up with a plan to avoid any suspicion.
Suddenly the plan hit him, "Okay. Ginny you'll take Jenni to the loo and apparate home in there. Meanwhile, I'll pay for the meal and James will gather up the supplies and animals and we'll go outside and I'll apparate us home from there." Everyone agreed then started to proceed with the plan.
The girls got up and started to walk towards the loo. And in the corner of the room the man could be seen standing up a following the girls and about halfway there, he aimed his wand and shouted, "Petrificus Totalus!" Ginny pushed Jenni down, turned around and blocked the spell.
Harry immediately got up and shot a stunning spell towards the man, who ended up ducking. The man retaliated with a hex, which Harry dodged. Only few witches and wizards that were in the pub started to help Harry fight the mysterious man. Harry yelled to Ginny, "Get the kids and go!"
Ginny did as she was told and grabbed Jenni's arm and swiftly ran over to James who was hiding underneath a table with his and Jenni's supplies and pets in his arms. As soon as Ginny was at her son's side she apparated them, and the supplies, inside their house's living room. They were all breathing heavily and Ginny pulled the kids into her arms and gave them a long, strong hug.
When they pulled apart, Ginny said sternly, "I'm going to send Teddy a patronus to watch over you two. When he gets here I'm going back to The Leaky Cauldron to help your dad. No 'buts' or objections from either of you." When she felt her message was clear she sent Teddy a patronus, after a minute he arrived.
Once he got inside and said his hellos to everyone he asked, "Ginny? What's going on? Is Harry okay?"
"I'm not sure. I'm about to go back and help him," Ginny replied, "watch them, place charms and spells around the house, and do not let them out of your sight until Harry and I come home. Lily and Al are staying the night at Ron and Hermione's so you don't have to worry about them."
Ginny looked at her son and Jenni, "I love you both and I'll be back soon. And don't go outside with out Teddy." She gave all three a kiss on the cheek before she left.
James sat down on the sofa, Jenni took Charmin out of her cage to play with her, and Teddy proceeded with casting spells and charms around the Potter home. When he finished he sat himself of the couch across James. "So…are you going to tell me what happened today? Or will I have to guess? And you both know how bad I am at guessing," joked Teddy. James and Jenni simply looked at the eighteen-year-old, then each other, without saying a word.
"Well alright then," continued Ted, "I'll guess. Let's see…what could have happened? Oh! I know. You stole delicious ice cream, and Harry stayed behind to create a diversion while Ginny took you lot and the ice cream here! And Ginny went back to Harry to steal some more! Am I right?" Teddy said hoping to get a laugh out of them, and when they didn't laugh he said, "well thanks for the invite! I guess I have to buy my own ice cream." Jenni and James looked at each other with solemn faces.
Teddy was starting to get annoyed with no response from either of the two friends. "Will someone just tell me what the hell is going on!" He yelled furiously. The two kids jumped with Teddy's sudden outburst.
"Teddy," Jenni said softly. And after a small pause Jenni said, "I'll tell you." Teddy only nodded.
"Well we were shopping for our school supplies and we went into The Leaky Cauldron for dinner. We sat down, ordered, and got our food when I noticed a man sitting in the corner," at this point Jenni's voice got quieter, but remained strong and audible, " this man looked vaguely familiar to me and he kept on staring at me with fierce concentration. I told Harry, Ginny, and James about it and we came up with a plan to leave without drawing attention. As part of the plan, Ginny and I walked to the loo to apparate home. But, the man stood up a shot a spell at Ginny.
"Harry then started to fight the man and some people in the pub joined Harry. And, using this as our distraction, Ginny and I went over to James and we apparated home. Ginny then called you to watch us. And the reason she hurried back was to help Harry at The Leaky Cauldron," Jenni said ending her recapping of the event.
"Wait. You said you vaguely remember the man," James commented. Jenni nodded and James continued, "Well then how would you remember him?"
Jenni looked between James and Teddy nervously, "Well… he was the man at the Meadow."