The end of the Easter Holidays... Please read and then review...

Chapter 65:

Later that night the guests were out in the garden. Most of them were happily chatting. The Gryffindors, Nancy and her siblings and Fabian and Gideon were in the pool – all except James who had vanished. Molly and Arthur were happily talking to Augusta Longbottom about their two little boys; William and Charles. Charles was only three months old whilst William – or Bill as everyone had taken to calling him – was about two. He'd started talking and everything.

Mr Potter was happily talking to the minister for magic, "how are you recovering Charlus?"

"Quite well Joshua," Charlus answered, "back to work in no time."

"You've certainly been missed," Joshua Alcaraz told him.

James was in the house. He was hoping that no one would notice that he had disappeared. He made his way down the hallway to his father's study. He opened the door and smiled happily at his father's pet phoenix. He then turned to his father's bookshelf. He read the titles, running his index finger across their spines. Eventually he found what he was looking for; several books on animagi. He quickly ran up the stairs to his room with the books and shoved them in his trunk. He then quickly returned to the party before anyone would notice he wasn't there. He bombed into the pool – right on top of his friends. The girls screamed, "James!" "Potter – I'm going to kill you!"

"I'd like to see you try, Evans," James winked.

She dove for him, thumping him on the chest, "You can do better than that, Evans."

He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her under the water with himself and kissed her. He then allowed her to come up for air. When she broke the surface she began spluttering, "you – you – you arse! You can't do that!"

"Why ever not?" James asked.

"Because – you have a girlfriend for one thing," Lily answered.

"Broke up – she found someone new whilst I was in the hospital wing," James smiled, "give me another reason – I believe you have several…"

"I – I don't want you to," she replied.

"I don't believe that," James laughed before swimming away.

Everyone had a great time chatting happily. The marauders sat talking to Holly for a while, "so how is your boyfriend?"

"Very good, thanks," Holly smiled.

"Looking forward to returning to Hogwarts?" James asked.

"Not really – I'd much rather we just knew you were safe," Holly replied honestly.

Hagrid came and sat beside them, "alright everyone. Hows yer doing?"

"Not bad Hagrid," Remus smiled, "What about you?"

"I'm good, ta. Looken forward to yers all coming back ter Hogwarts. It's too quiet."

"Some of us like the quiet, Hagrid," McGonagall laughed.

"Do you not love us, Minnie?" Sirius asked with a fake sad face.

Elphinstone laughed, "Yes Minnie don't you love them? The poor boys!"

They sat outside long after it went dark. Mrs Potter floated lanterns over the table. She quickly started a conversation with the girls at the table. "So tell me is James terribly mischievous at Hogwarts?"

"I could tell you that," Minerva laughed.

"Yes – but we all know you're bias," Mr Potter winked.

"Indeed…" Minerva smiled.

"Minerva used to watch after James when he was little," Dorea explained. "Whenever she wanted a break from the school she'd come visit us and she'd always end up looking after James. I can't remember which of you was more attached," Mrs Potter laughed happily at the memory.

"He was such a sweetheart – don't know what happened to him," she laughed.

"I do," Lucretia smiled, "he's been truly spoilt!"

"And so he should be," Mrs Potter smiled, "Whilst I can I want to give him the world. We were very lucky to have him… I was far too old to be a mum… but he's the best gift I've ever received." She leant over and played with his hair.

"My boys not spoilt!" Charlus frowned, "And if we have been perhaps a bit indulgent, it's certainly not done him any harm."

"I don't mean spoilt in a bad way Charlus," Lucretia laughed, "It's the same as Alice. They have just been indulged and well provided for and loved very much."

"So you mean that we've all simply fulfilled our responsibility as parents," Charlus smiled. "We couldn't have asked for a better son than our Jamsie!"

Gradually the guest began to depart. The Prewetts, the Longbottoms, the Weasleys, and the McKinnons had all left and Mrs Potter told James and the others that it was time for bed. They made their way up the stairs to their bedrooms. James lay in his bed. His window was open and he could hear the conversation from the table below. "Do we need to worry?" Charlus was asking.

"I'm not sure," the minister replied, "they will do something – I don't know what. We really have no idea what they are planning but they are far too quiet. Albus, how's Hogwarts?"

"We've barely had any problems," Albus replied quietly, "the Slytherins have been quiet – only attacking the occasionally muggle-born."

"I see – see their actions just don't leave us much to go on," Joshua sighed, "I really don't know what to say except that we should anticipate something big."

Elphinstone asked, "Big? Of course Crouch has been trying to anticipate what it will be… he has aurors out searching for them – but we have to be cautious not to charge without adequate evidence…"

"Especially since it's the pure-bloods… everyone knows they have a lot of clout within the ministry," Holly added.

"We've got aurors protecting the muggle prime minister – he was on their list you know," Joshua Alcaraz whispered so quietly James only just heard him.

"I've got the hit wizards ready," Elphinstone explained, "but it's difficult… we really don't know much about these Death Eaters or the Knights of Walpurgis – although if you ask me I think Charlus is right and their one and the same."

"They've been really clever keeping their identities hidden," Charlus frowned.

"Could be anyone," Holly sighed.

"I think it is fairly obvious though who we're looking for – obviously it's families like the Blacks and the Lestranges…" The minister said, "only problem is there's no proof."

"If only that law on house-elf slavery had been more reasonable – if they'd have fought for something smaller… for example that they could give testimony to the Wizengamot then our house-elves could help. They have heard no end of useful things at our pure-blood parties." Charlus laughed bitterly. "The investigation department are really struggling to find anything substantial…"

Please review and let me know what you think... We've almost got 150 reviews. :)

Next Chapter(s) - Back At Hogwarts

1. A Slug Club Dinner

2. Snape and Lily time

3. The Marauders practice Transfiguration...

4. A couple of lessons

5. James hides away in his secret garden

6. The paper reports...