Harry watched as his grandfather and grandmother interacted with their guests. In the distance he heard a knock on the front door and Milly's voice, "Sir, please come in."
"Finally! It feels like we've been waiting for forever for you to arrive old chap." Charlus said as a group of people entered the room. "Ignatius, my dear fellow, how are you?"
"Quite alright, Charlus, quite alright." The man had dark hair and a smiling, kind face.
Dorea looked at the woman and girl besides Ignatius, "we heard the good news about your sister-in-law's daughter, Molly."
"Oh it's fantastic isn't it. Awfully sudden, but with all the turmoil at the moment you can't blame the young ones for behaving a bit rash." She replied happily.
"Alice, my dear why don't you run along and find James? I believe he is hiding in the next room with Frank." Mrs Potter said smiling at the little dark haired, round face girl. The girl nodded and quickly ran off in search of her friends. "I don't like this at all," Dorea continued linking arms with her friend.
"I know but it is necessary."
"I suppose so, Lucretia. I just don't like putting them in danger." Dorea said sadly.
"Come cousin, they will be fine. After all we are stronger when we stand united." Lucretia Prewett said boldly.
"You sound just like Charlus." Dorea giggled.
"Must be wise then…" Lucretia laughed gently, "Is my sister-in-law supposed to be at this party?"
"Oh god, I hope not." Dorea frowned, "She will inevitably cause a scene."
"At least she is only your niece. I still have to pretend to like her." Lucretia laughed merrily.
"James what are you doing?" Alice asked timidly.
"It's a surprise for one of the guests." James replied mischievously. He was sat huddled up with Frank in a corner of a very dark room. Alice decided that she wanted in on the fun too.
"Can I help?"
"Why, Alice, I thought you'd never ask!" James winked.
There was a loud bang on the door, causing all the guests to stop their conversations and look towards the entrance hall apprehensively. "For goodness sake, you stupid house elf, get out of my way." A woman screeched from the entrance hall.
Harry could hear, Mippy's response, "So sorry Madam."
Charlus walked across the room towards the entrance hall as his wife whispered in unison with Lucretia, "Walburga."
Charlus opened the door just in time to see his wife's niece kick his house elf across the entrance hall. "Walburga." His tone sounded displeased.
"Charlus, your stupid house elf was dragging my cloak across the floor." She replied, missing his tone completely.
"I see. Orion." Charlus nodded to the man besides Walburga. "Come in."
"Right, Alice, do you know what you have to do?" James asked quickly.
"I distract your parents, whilst you and Frank, under the invisibility cloak, enter the room. Then sit back and enjoy the show." Alice replied, confidently.
"You've missed something." James said.
"Erm… oh… make sure the door is open for an easy escape." Alice said, grinning.
"Right! Let's do this." James said, smiling at his friends before throwing the coat over himself and Frank.
"Dorea. Lucretia."
"Walburga." They replied in unison. "How are the boys, Walburga? Sirius is it? And Regulus, I believe?" asked Mrs Potter kindly.
"They are quite good, thank you. Sirius is preparing for his first year at Hogwarts. We went shopping for his school equipment today. He will of course be in Slytherin, like so many before him." She said with an edge to her voice. "Isn't your boy starting school this year also?"
"Why, yes he is. He wants to be in Gryffindor like his father." Dorea boasted.
"And Alice is starting as well, is that right Lucretia?" Walburga Black continued.
"Yes, indeed. She is so excited," Lucretia said gently. Harry saw Alice enter the room out of the corner of the room, searching for the Potters.
"Mrs Potter would you help me with something?" Alice asked.
"Why, of course my dear," Dorea smiled.
"I think your house elf is quite distressed, Mrs Potter. I thought you would want to know."
Dorea smiled at the young eleven year old, "Why thank you," before heading off in search of her house elf. Alice turned around until she could see Mr Potter; he was stood talking to Mr MacDougal.
"Sorry to interrupt, Mr Potter, but I was wondering if you could help me with a small problem, sir." Alice asked, shyly.
"Of course, my dear girl," Charlus nodded towards Mr MacDougal his apologises and began to follow the young girl. "Although if you are just trying to distract me so that my son can prank some of my guests I'd rather you told me." He said sternly.
Alice gulped.
"You see, I'd love to watch it – I hate when I miss a good prank." Alice looked up at Mr Potter with confusion dancing in her eyes, "Alice, who do you think James got his prankster ways from. It certainly was not his mother." The man chuckled.
"If you really want to watch, we can stand by the door. I have to make sure it stays open." Alice whispered.
"Ah… a quick getaway."
Harry saw it all unfold around him. James and Frank, underneath the invisibility cloak had hands and pockets full of disgusting things. James placed a huge spider on Walburga's back and then walked silently over to Lucius Malfoy, this time putting maggots in his hair. Then last of all they put mud and worms inside some of the older pure-blood fanatics' drinks. Quickly before anyone noticed, they left the room.
"Alice, you should probably join your friends. I don't want you to get the blame." Charlus said quietly. Alice quickly walked out of the room, closing the door gently behind her.
Harry watched as Lucius began to scratch his head and his father spat out his drink, "What the hell is in this drink?" He shouted loudly, looking into the glass. "Potter!"
"Yes, Malfoy?" Charlus walked over to his guest.
"We aren't at Hogwarts anymore! What the hell are you doing, giving me a drink with worms in it?"
"I'm so sorry there must have been a mistake. I can assure you it wasn't intentional." Charlus replied barely holding in a grin.
"I will not be disrespected in this way." Malfoy shouted. Lucius stood next to his father, tugging on his robes, "Father, why is my hair so itchy?"
Abraxas looked down at his son's head, "What the hell? Why are there maggots in my son's hair, Potter?"
"I really couldn't say, Abraxas. His personal hygiene is not my responsibility." Charlus grinned.
"I've had enough of this." Abraxas put his drink down and pulled out his wand. Harry saw Charlus' hand tense around the wand in his pocket. However, it quickly relaxed when Abraxas aimed at his wand at his son's head, clearing away the maggots with a simple swish of his wand. "Come on son, let's go."
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" They all turned to face Walburga as she jumped around the room, trying to shake every limb. "SPPPPPIDERRRRRRRRRRR!"
The spider fell to the floor and scurried away. "Walburga are you ok?" Dorea asked.
"Yes of course I am you stupid girl." Walburga barked at her aunt. "This was your son, wasn't it? Him and his little friends pulling pranks. You really should punish him Dorea. He shouldn't be allowed to behave like this!"
"I really don't know what you are talking about, Walburga. It was merely a spider. And I can promise you my son is not invisible."
"Then it was your house elf. You are too nice to your slaves." Walburga screamed.
The scene changed and Harry found himself back in James bedroom. "Oh son, you really shouldn't have done it." Dorea told her son gently as she sat beside him on the bed.
"Although it was very entertaining," Added his father from where he stood in the doorway.
"Dad, why do we have these stupid parties with people we don't like?" James asked his father.
"Well son. Partly because it is expected; we have been doing it for generations. And partly because it gives us a chance to hear what they are saying. You see the ministry needs to know what the pure-blood fanatics are talking about so that we can help all the poor muggles who are being hurt. All night the house elves were listening into every single conversation. Some of what they heard will be incredibly helpful."
"I see. Well then I'm glad we had the party. We should get the elves a present to say thank you."
"That is a lovely idea, James." Dorea said dotingly, "Maybe tomorrow when we go to Diagon Alley for your school things." Dorea kissed her son on the forehead before leaving the room, walking hand in hand with her husband.