Cant: to talk hypocritically
March 2, 2020
Dear James,
How're things? I hope term's still going well, and you had fun on that Hogsmeade weekend you were so pumped about in your last letter. Mum wants me to remind you to keep up with your homework. I remember fourth year is about when they start kicking up the work load. Are you keeping an eye on Al and Lily for us? From Lily's last letter, it seems like it's the other way around.
Anyway, Mum and I are fine. Gran's lonely with all of you in school now, of course, but when we dropped by the Burrow yesterday it looked like she'd found something to occupy herself with. I'd expect a large hamper of homemade fudge in the mail soon. Teddy sends his affection and wants me to tell you to keep an eye out for turtles… whatever that means. I have a hunch it's got to do with whatever had you three up at four in the morning on Christmas, but I'm not going to ask.
So, anyway… there's something else I needed to talk to you about. I dropped by the Leaky Cauldron the other day – and before you get up in arms about spying teachers and the whole world keeping track of you, Hannah wasn't the one that ratted you out. Ernie McMillan – you know, Emily's dad – was in there talking about Emily's latest letter home. And it happened to feature you.
Jamie, we had a deal, remember? We said you could go with Bill and Fleur to France this summer to see The Arrows train if you kept the detentions down. And it sounds like you're doing a poor job of keeping up the bargain. All this sneaking into Hogsmeade and running around the castle after hours and getting into things that are none of your business… well, you've got to rein it in. Sneaking into the forest in the middle of the night? Do you have any idea what's in there? And don't tell me Granddad's old car. Even try to fly that thing and you'll be spending the summer right here degnoming the garden.
Look mate, I'm not expecting you to suddenly start shooting for prefect or anything, but I don't want to walk into a pub and hear someone talking about how my son went looking for mountain trolls, okay?
Good luck with your schoolwork and the Quidditch final.
All our love,
Dad
A/N: Oh Harry. How he could ever lecture his kids about staying in bounds and abiding by the curfew. :) In all honesty I found it harder than anticipated to come up with hypocritical things Harry would tell his kids to do. Harry didn't make trouble for the heck of it and there aren't a lot of Sorcerer's Stones around to get involved with. But Harry's bent the rules enough times. Anyway, as always, hope you liked, it, thanks for the feedback and please keep it coming! :D You're awesome!