I really hope you like this chapter. I wrote it on the train over the weekend. :) Please review...

Chapter 38:

The Potters' were driven home in a nice old fashioned ministry car. The driver, Mike, barely paid them any attention. Mrs Potter tried to calm her son's hair, it really is just as messy as his father's. "Dorea, leave his hair alone. Goodness me. So how was school James?"

"Not bad," James answered.

"Sirius is coming next week?" Mrs Potter asked.

"Yeah, he's coming to the ball and then he'll just stay for the last week." James nodded.

"Good good. He could have stayed for the whole holiday if he wanted," Dorea said.

"I think he wanted to see his brother Regulus," James answered.

Dorea smiled as her husband asked, "who else have you invited to the ball?"

"Remus, Peter, and Emmie." He explained, "some of the other Gryffindors are coming with their parents; Alice, Frank, Marlene."

"Emmie? Who's Emmie? She's not in Gryffindor?" Mrs Potter asked. Mr Potter winked.

"Erm… my girlfriend…" James blushed.

"You have a girlfriend?" Dorea practically screamed. Charlus chuckled and then told his wife to calm down as he patted her on the back.

"James, I thought that Kate girl was your girlfriend?" Charlus asked.

"That was ages ago, dad," James replied causing his father to lean over and mess up his hair.

"Your friends… er… what is their blood status?" Charlus asked awkwardly, "Black is obviously pure-blood. What about the rest of them?"

"Emmie is a half-blood and so is Remus. Not sure about Peter, he's closer to pure-blood but he's not from one of the old pure-blood families." James answered honestly.

"Ok. That should be ok. I just want to know if I need to have the elves watch out for any of our guest more than normal, if you know what I mean."

"Thanks dad," James nodded, understanding perfectly.

"Anyway, let's talk about something more interesting than blood status. Happy Birthday Jamie!" Mrs Potter smiled. She pulled out a prettily wrapped present out of the pocket of her dark bottle green cloak. "We hope you like it; it's a family heirloom from the Prewitt side."

James thanked his parents and quickly unwrapped the present. Inside was a beautiful ornate quill. It was black and silver with a beautiful P engraved into it. "We thought since Prewitt and Potter both begin with P…" his father began.

"Thank you, it's perfect." James replied, pulling his parents into a warm embrace.

James spent the first couple of days of the holiday doing all his homework, he was fully aware that once Sirius arrived he would definitely not be getting any work done. He was so happy to be home. He had missed his mother's cooking. Each morning he woke up to the smell of a full English breakfast. He would dress and run down the stairs to the kitchen where his mother would be working away at the stove. The three house-elves would be running around helping as best they could. "Ah James. Good morning."

"Good morning mum," he said, kissing her on the cheek.

"Your dad's at the ministry this morning. He should be back in a bit." She smiled. "I'm going into London today for some supplies for the ball. Do you need anything?"

"I don't think so," James answered.

"You don't need potions supplies? Or maybe some new parchment for that quill?" She asked, "or perhaps just a small treat?"

"Well, I'd never say no to a treat," James smiled.

"I'm home!" Charlus called from the entrance hall.

"We're in the kitchen, dear." Dorea called back.

Charlus Potter removed his cloak and handed it to Missy the house-elf, before walking through the house to the kitchen. He kissed his wife affectionately, "good morning dear." He then stopped to ruffle his son's hair, "alright son?"

"Yeah, I'm good." James answered, before biting down on a slice of toast.

"We need to talk James," Mr Potter frowned. James looked anxious, "the problem is your mother is going to kill me."

"What have you done, Charlus?" Dorea frowned.

"Well, at Christmas I asked our son to do the, er, the ministry a favour." He answered looking at his feet.

"Potter!" Dorea looked like she wanted to hit her husband.

"You haven't called me that since Hogwarts," Charlus chuckled, "I'm sorry Dorea. I had to. Thank you son for what you found out. I don't know how you did it." He shook his head.

"Polyjuice potion," James replied matter-of-fact.

"Very good," Charlus nodded, "Well, the ministry are watching the Lestrange house over the holidays. If there's even the smallest sign of Voldemort, we'll go in."

"What was Lestrange talking about a mark?" James asked.

"Argh, we have reason to believe that they communicate through a sort of tattoo on their arm. We haven't gotten close enough to be sure, but that's my guess."

"Why don't you just arrest the people you think are… death eaters?" James asked.

"Well, I personally think there are a lot more than the few we know about. I don't want to push them into hiding."

James nodded, he'd had so many questions but now he couldn't think of them. "They said all the seventh and sixth year Slytherins are on his side. Do you think they were exaggerating?"

"No, son. I don't." Charlus shook his head. "I'm sorry that you had to get into this but you've been very brave. I'm very proud of you."

"Thanks dad," James smiled.

Lily was sat in the park with Severus. "I've not seen you in ages. It feels like we never see each other at Hogwarts."

"Yeah. It kind of does, doesn't it." Severus replied. "I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry?" Lily asked, suddenly confused.

"For not being a good enough friend," Snape answered quietly.

"You're a great friend," Lily smiled.

"Why do you spend time with the marauders?" Snape asked, jealousy in his eyes.

"I don't. The girls like them. So they're always around. But they're not my friends." Lily answered completely honestly.

"Good. I hate Potter and Black!" Severus smiled maliciously.

"They got me in trouble with Dumbledore the other week. They made out I hurt Black. I've got detention until the end of the year now." Snape spat out.

"Oh dear, Sev. I'm sorry." Lily said patting her friend on the back.

"I don't get why everyone likes them," Snape commented.

"I don't know. They are just arrogant toe-rags." Lily agreed.

"How's things with your sister?" Severus asked.

"She hates me," Lily whispered.

Snape pulled her into an awkward hug, "she'll come around eventually. No one can hate Lily Evans."

Some Snape and Lily time - got to make the most of their friendship whilst it lasts...

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Next Chapter...

The Potters' Christmas Ball :)