Chapter 17 – Party at the Ministry

The next few days James spent some quality time with his family. He was either playing with his brother and sister with their new toys or visiting the Burrow and flying his new broomstick and being spoilt by his grandma who insisted on making delicious treats whenever he visited. The one person he didn't get to spend much time with was his father, who always seemed to be tied up at the Ministry. In fact the first proper time he got to spend with his father was New Year's Eve, but that was only because they were going to a party being thrown by the Ministry.

"Do I have to go?" James asked as he struggled with his tie and his mother came to help him.

James would have much rather gone to the Burrow with his younger brother and sister but his father had other ideas.

"Your dad said it would be good for you to start meeting people now you've started at Hogwarts. There will be lots of important people there," Ginny said but didn't sound as if she was in favour of the plan herself.

James knew exactly what that meant. His father wanted him to start making connections so he could ensure he got a good job when he left school. But he was only eleven. He had seven years of school left before he even had to think about a career.

Once his tie was done James and his mother headed downstairs and James watched jealously as Albus and Lily entered the fireplace to head to their grandparents' for the night.

James had brown dress robes on which he hated with a white shirt and a red tie whilst his mother was dressed in an elegant long red dress that Harry had bought her for Christmas.

"Right are you both ready?" Harry said as he came down the stairs in his black dress robes, complete with bowtie. "Now James I want you on your best behaviour. Make sure you're polite, don't ask any stupid questions but make sure you show some interest so do ask questions… just think before you speak."

"Harry he's eleven, can't you just let him enjoy the evening," Ginny said sounding frustrated at her husband.

"Yes sorry. It's just I'm not exactly everyone's favourite person at the Ministry right now so I want to make a good impression."

"OK well James won't ask any stupid questions and I'll try not to call your boss an ungrateful tyrant," Ginny joked but Harry didn't find it funny and ignored the comment as he ushered his wife and son over to the fireplace with a roll of his eyes.

Soon they found themselves in the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic. This was the first time James had visited the Ministry and he thought it seemed very intimidating. The Atrium was a long hall with gilded fireplaces down each side, one of which they had just arrived by. Stood at each fire place was an attendant checking invitations as people arrived. The floor was highly polished and all around hung Christmas garlands. At the end of the hall was a large golden fountain depicting a witch, wizard, centaur, goblin and a house-elf. But instead of water flowing from the fountain it had been bewitched that now snow was spurting up into the air.

As they headed to the bar to get drinks they bumped into James' auntie and uncle, who both also worked at the Ministry.

"Well you look amazing Ginny, I love your dress," Hermione said as she gave Ginny a kiss on the cheek. "Doesn't she look great Ron?"

"What? Oh yeah amazing," Ron said, seeming more interested in a waiter who had just walked past with a tray of canapes and he had helped himself to three.

"Harry bought it for me for Christmas," Ginny replied.

"I didn't know you had such good taste Harry," Hermione said before Ginny leaned towards her.

"I mean I picked it out," Ginny whispered into Hermione's ear.

Once everyone had a drink in hand they began to move through the crowd, every now and then Harry would say hello to someone and introduce them to his family. They'd exchange pleasantries before Harry would move them on, obviously wanting to introduce his family to the more important members of the Ministry.

"Oh isn't that Professor Slughorn over there?" Ginny said, spotting him across the room, wearing a rather striking green, three piece suit with ornate gold buttons and he seemed to be making a beeline straight for them.

"Harry my dear boy good to see you," Professor Slughorn said enthusiastically and grabbed Harry's free hand with both his and shook it rather vigorously. "And Ginny, how lovely to see you both."

Slughorn proceeded to kiss Ginny on both her cheeks.

"Hello professor, good to see you again," Harry responded, keeping one eye over Slughorn's shoulder, looking for anyone he felt he should be introducing his family to.

"Please call me Horace, no need to call me professor anymore."

"Right sorry, old habits and that," Harry replied.

"And Potter, how lovely to see you," Slughorn said as he turned to James who was wondering if he actually knew his first name as he always just seemed to call him 'Potter'.

"You've got a bright young boy there. He's the top of my class," Slughorn commented.

James knew this wasn't true. The only reason he was top was because Slughorn gave him much better marks than he deserved. But he wasn't complaining. He just hoped they didn't bump into any more teachers or his parents would find out how badly he was doing in the rest of his subjects.

After what seemed like an eternity Harry finally managed to shake off Slughorn, who insisted on Harry telling him everything he had done since leaving Hogwarts, when Slughorn had to go take a visit to the loo.

"Come on quick before he comes back," Harry said ushering his family to the other side of the room.

But it wasn't long before someone else accosted them for a conversation.

"Hello James, Mr and Mrs Potter," Professor Sinclair said as she greeted them before looking at Harry. "You probably don't remember me do you?"

Both Harry and Ginny looked back at her rather blankly.

"Elsa Sinclair, we were at Hogwarts together though I was in the year below you Harry and wasn't in Gryffindor so we didn't really cross paths. But I now teach your son Transfiguration."

"Nice to meet you Elsa," Harry said as he shook her hand before Ginny did likewise and thought that she did look vaguely familiar.

"So how's James doing at school?" Harry asked.

"He's a smashing kid, delight to teach. The little fella struggled at first but I think he's getting the hang of it now, aren't you my boy?"

James was glad that Professor Sinclair was putting a good spin on it as his mum looked down at him with a pleased smile on her face.

"Though here's someone I'm sure you remember, he was a Gryffindor after all," Sinclair said before pulling a young man into their little circle.

Harry had to do a double take and went white as a sheet as if he'd just seen a ghost. He was about to say 'hello Colin', but he knew it couldn't be him.

"This is our new teacher of Muggle Studies, Dennis Creevey," Sinclair said introducing him.

Harry didn't say anything and it was Ginny who had to step in and shake Dennis' hand.

"Nice to meet you Dennis," she said before giving her husband a nudge.

"Oh… yeah nice to meet you Dennis," Harry finally said and shook his hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you again Harry, I've been so wanting to see you again. It's been so long."

The last time Harry had seen Dennis was in the aftermath of the Battle of Hogwarts when Harry had gone to console him as Dennis stood over the body of his dead brother Colin.

"So you're a teacher now?" Harry finally said after a long pause.

"Yes just started in September. Feels odd being back at Hogwarts after all these years especially with everything that had happened," Dennis replied with a sadness in his eyes. "But I'm sure my brother would have been proud to see what I've made of myself."

Harry knew how close Dennis was to his brother and wished he had given more time to Colin when he was alive rather than just thinking of him as an annoying nuisance.

Eventually after a brief chat with professors Sinclair and Creevey, Harry was gratefully pulled away by one of his colleagues. Standing there talking to Dennis had made Harry feel rather guilty. Here he was getting on with his life with a loving wife and three great kids when so many people had died or lost loved ones. Though he had obviously lost his own parents, he had been young when they died so barely remembered them. Dennis had lost his brother, his best friend and the person he was closest to.

As the night went on James was becoming rather bored. He had now been introduced to a multitude of people, most of whom he had completely forgotten about as soon as they moved onto the next group of people. Even his mother was beginning to look bored and it wasn't even nearly midnight yet. Though the only good thing about the evening was the food. The buffet table was rammed full of delicious food and James was pretty sure his Uncle Ron was permanently stationed by it as every time he went back to get some food he always seemed to be there.

As James returned to his parents with a plateful of food for them to share he noticed someone else walking towards them. But she looked rather different from the last time he had seen her in McGonagall's office as she was now dressed in a rather elegant gold coloured dress that sparkled as she moved.

"Good evening Harry and nice to see you again James," Godwin said as she turned to them both in turn before looking towards Ginny. "And this must be your lovely wife?"

"Yes this is Ginny and Ginny this is Gwendolyn Godwin, the auror," Harry said, completing the introductions.

"Nice to meet you," Ginny said as she shook Gwendolyn's hand.

"Gwendolyn was the one who was looking into the wand incident at Hogwarts," Harry said and it took Ginny a second to register what he was talking about.

"Oh, so you were quite happy it was just some prank?" Ginny asked remembering how worried she had felt at the time when she had received McGonagall's letter detailing the incident.

"Well without actually seeing the wand myself it's impossible to say but nothing more has happened to you since has it James?" Godwin asked and James suddenly felt very guilty.

Maybe it was time to come clean? But he doubted his father would appreciate being told everything at such an important event, especially when his father had been so adamant he made a good impression. James hardly thought his father's colleagues hearing how he's been having strange visions that came true and were putting people in danger and that it was all somehow linked to the Heir of Slytherin was not exactly a 'good impression'. Plus like mentioned before it could have all just been some elaborate prank. At least James hoped it was and for now he kept quiet.

"Good evening Potter and Miss Godwin," a voice boomed from behind them and the group turned to see a very tall but slim man with a long thin face, slicked back black hair and a goatee beard.

"Mr Davian, a pleasure to see you. I'm sure you remember my wife Ginny and this is my son James. James this is my boss, Harris Davian," Harry said and Ginny reluctantly took Davian's hand which felt rather cold and restrained herself from saying what she really wanted to him.

Davian didn't bother with the pleasantries and went straight into work talk. "Potter the Muggle Prime Minister is expecting an update this week. I hope for your sake we have something new to tell him?"

"Well… er… not exactly," Harry replied in a fudging manner and Davian's face showed his obvious displeasure.

"I have been talking to the Minister for Magic and have expressed my concerns with your lack of progress and have suggested putting someone else on the case. But for unknown reasons he still has faith in you but believe me Mr Potter you are on thin ground," Davian said before turning on his heels and striding away before Harry could respond.

Ginny thought she had done well to hold her tongue but as soon as she left she vented. "What a thoroughly repugnant man."

"Please Ginny, he's my boss," Harry said as he looked at Godwin and thought it was best that his wife didn't slag off his boss in front of other Ministry employees.

"I think her description of him was rather accurate," Godwin joked, much to Harry's relief. "And from what I hear it's him who the Minister is disappointed with, not you. He hasn't been running the department well for a while now. I don't think he'll be in the position much longer if you ask me."

Harry felt rather relieved, though he still had the issue of the unexplained muggle death to deal with, at least he knew he had the backing of the Minister for Magic. Suddenly he began to relax a lot more and actually started to enjoy the evening.

Whilst his parents had been dancing James had slipped outside for some fresh air, or at least sort of outside. One of the rooms in the Ministry had been bewitched to resemble an outdoor courtyard complete with a moonlit starry sky, flakes of snow in the air and a nice refreshing breeze.

James sat on a bench looking up at the stars and thought ahead to the new year and Hogwarts, where he would be returning to in a few days. Being back home had been peaceful. He hadn't had any bad dreams but would that change once he got back to Hogwarts? Or was it over now? But why had he had them in the first place? And what was his link to the Heir of Slytherin?

James' mind began to churn with so many different thoughts. He just wished the next year would bring him some normality.

"I think your mother wants a dance with you," James' father said as he walked up behind him and made James jump.

"Great," James replied sarcastically, not really wanting to dance with his mother, but knowing he didn't have much of a choice. "I'd better go find her then."

"It's alright it can wait, she's talking with your aunt at the minute. How are you anyway? I'm sorry I haven't been around much these holidays," Harry said, taking a seat beside his son.

"Yeah I'm fine," James replied but Harry could see he wasn't being totally truthful.

"Sorry for dragging you here tonight. I should have let you go to your grandparents' with your brother and sister."

"No it's OK, it hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be," James said, lying again, but this time his father bought it.

"So how is school? Are you enjoying it at Hogwarts?"

"It's not quite what I was expecting," James replied after a brief pause.

"How so?" Harry asked, concernedly.

"I… thought it would be easier. Some of the magic they're teaching me I just don't seem to be able to do no matter how hard I try," James said, looking at the ground, avoiding his father's face for fear of seeing a look of disappointment.

Harry put his arm around his son. "Look James you don't think there weren't things I struggled with when I first started at Hogwarts? I think everyone struggles a little, except maybe your Aunt Hermione," Harry said jokingly and was glad to see a smile sneak on his son's face. "I know it can be very daunting at first and strange at times and sometimes downright scary, but trust me it will be worth it in the end. Your time at Hogwarts will be some of the most fun you will ever have and you will make friends who will stick with you for the rest of your life. Plus those friends are probably feeling the exact same as you are at times. You said you were good friends with Noah Thomas, have you spoken to him about how you're feeling?"

"A bit," James replied.

"And I bet it made you feel better talking to him about things didn't it?"

James nodded as he looked up at his father.

"Your greatest strength will be your friends, I certainly know mine was. I would never have survived Hogwarts without Ron and Hermione. Don't be afraid to lean on them if needed and make sure you're there for them too if they need you."

James turned and hugged his father and Harry squeezed him tightly back.

"I'm proud of you son," Harry said before giving James a kiss on the forehead.

"Thanks dad."

James might not have got to spend the time that he wanted to with his father over the holidays, but right now he felt closer to him than he ever had.

"Look at the time it's nearly midnight," Harry said looking at his watch. "Let's go find your mother so we can watch the fireworks together."

James along with his parents and various other guests headed up to the roof of the building whilst many others remained down in the Ministry, unenthusiastic about Muggle fireworks. But James had to admit that fireworks were something Muggles did well without the aid of magic as soon the sky was lit up by a dazzling array of colours and explosions.

Harry put his arms around both his wife and son to protect them from the chill of the midnight air as they gazed up in wonder. But unbeknown to them a cloaked figure watched the touching family scene from a distance and was filled with nothing but detest and knew it wouldn't be long before the Potter family's happiness was shattered.