Chapter 2

"We're stopping here first," James said as he pulled his little brother into their uncle's joke shop.

"Fine. But we're looking at the new racing broom right when we're done."

"If you think Mum and Dad are going to buy you that broom for your birthday, you better think again. They didn't even buy me a racing broom and I'm the bloody Chaser for the Quidditch team!"

"That's because you broke your other broom into a hundred pieces after Mum told you not to fly in that storm last summer. If you think Mum and Dad would have bought you another top-of-the-line broom after that incident, it's you who better think again."

"Oy, whatever," James murmered. His eyes lit up once again when he saw his Uncle George at the counter of the busy shop, selling a stack of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes to an excited-looking boy. "Uncle George! Your favorite nephews have arrived!" he announced with a grin.

"It's about time! I was wondering when your parents were going to bring you down here. Is Lily here too?"

Albus nodded. "Yes, she's with Mum. But Dad got called into work."

"I see," George nodded. "So what are you two looking for today? Maybe some Firecrackers?"

"Uncle George..." James groaned. "That's for first years. I want something good."

"You're mother is going to kill me..." George mumbled. "But I have something you would like."

"Don't do it, James. Just resist. You don't want to be grounded for the summer."

James laughed. "They wouldn't do that to me over a harmless little prank."

"You've been grounded for lesser things," Albus retorted, but James had already taken off toward the back of the shop with their uncle.

Albus sighed; he was very different from his brother, that was perfectly clear. While James couldn't go a day without making some sort of trouble, Albus liked to take as little risk as possible. He lived for making his parents proud of him. And so far, it was working. He had the best marks, knew the most spells in his year, and was destined to be an Auror like his father. And this year, his third year of school, he was going to try out for the Quidditch team to be a Seeker.

He looked around for a little bit, waiting for his brother to come back. He hoped George wasn't giving him something too large; there is no way James would be able to hide something bigger than what would fit in his pocket from their mother. Finally, he saw James come out of the back room of the store with a small bag in his hand.

"Blimey, Al! You have to see what Uncle George gave me."

Albus held up a hand to silence his brother. "I don't want to know. I never want to know."

James grinned the way he did when he was up to something. "Fine then. Don't take part in my glory."

The younger of the brothers rolled his eyes. "Let's say goodbye to Uncle George and then head to the broom shop. Mum will want to get lunch soon."

They said goodbye to their uncle, with the promise to visit again soon, and hurried to the broom shop to look at the new Firebolt.

"Wow." James whistled. "I need that."

"Keep dreaming," Albus said, his eyes affixed on the shimmering broom. He could only imagine the way its sleek handle would let him fly through the air. He could almost hear the roar of the crowd as they cheered on their Seeker. "Catch that Snitch Potter!" they would scream. A cry that hadn't been heard in the Quidditch stadium since his father's school days.

"Shove off," James snapped. "I don't know why you think you'll get everything. Just because your 'Mummy and Daddy's little boy.'"

Albus scowled. "Don't blame me for pleasing them. I work hard at everything I do."

"Oh yes. I know you do, little brother. I know you do. You need to let loose a little bit. It must be bloody awful to be perfect all the time."

"I'm not perfect!"

"Sure you're not," James said saracastically. "It doesn't matter. Let's go inside and ask how much the broom is. Maybe we can save up for it and share it."

"You mean we save up for it and you never let me use it? Ha! Yeah right."

James rolled his eyes. "Just come on, you prat."

The tinging of the bell inside the shop indicated to the shop owner that there were new customers. Mr. Piercy, an older man with piercing blue eyes that held a stern gaze, gave a small smile to the boys. "Hello, Potter brothers. What brings you in here? Your father finally let you get a new racing broom, James?"

James frowned. "Not even close. Maybe you can convince him that I'll take extra special care of the new Firebolt?"

The man laughed, wrinkles filling his face. "Well you're going to need a new racing broom sometime, right? I heard you've become Chaser."

"Yes, sir. But Dad gave me a second-hand racing broom for now. Until I become 'more responsible.'"

"Not likely," Albus mumbled, immeditately letting out a huff of air as James hit him in the stomach.

"How much is the new broom?" James asked.

"A thousand sickles."

"A thousand! Mr. Piercy...what's to say you didn't give a couple of old friends a little discount?" James said with a pleading smile.

"Nice try, James. But you know I can't do that. I have to sell these brooms at market price. Right now, they are going for a thousand. Why don't you ask your father? After all, he wouldn't want the Gryffindor Chaser to go without a top-of-the-line broom, right?"

James laughed sarcastically. "I'm sure he's losing so much sleep over it. Thanks anyway, Mr. Piercy. Just promise me if my dad comes in here, you will try to direct him toward that beauty over there."

"I certainly will. You boys have a good day now."

"Thank you," Albus said before the two brothers exited the shop.

Albus smacked James on the head. "Don't hit me in the stomach, you prat!"

James laughed at him. "You really want to start this?" He grabbed his brother's arm and pinned it behind his back.

"James!" He heard the sharp voice of his mother and immediately let go of Albus' arm, holding both of his hands up in surrender. "What do you think you're doing? Honestly!"

"Mum, he smacked me on the head!" James whined.

"Only because he hit me in the stomach in the shop!"

"Both of you, stop it now," their mother snapped.

"I don't think they should get butterbeer today, Mummy," Lily said with a smirk.

Ginny glared at her. "I will decide how to punish your brothers, thank you very much, Lily Potter."

"Are we going to The Three Broomsticks?" Albus said, his mood suddenly lifitng. The Three Broomsticks was his favorite restaurant; his parents didn't like to eat out much, so he didn't often get to enjoy it.

"Yes. Now get there before I change my mind and take you lot home."

When his mother couldn't see, James rolled his eyes and began walking to the restaurant, ahead of his family. Lily skipped along, telling Albus all about the new robes that she had bought for the upcoming school year. Her mother had gotten them specially fitted for her small frame, remembering how her hand-me-down robes from her elder brothers always used to drag on the floor of the halls of Hogwarts.

They sat down at a sticky table in The Three Broomsticks and ordered a round of sweet butterbeers. Albus laughed at the foam mustache that had formed on Lily's upper lip after she had taken her first sip.

"So are you excited to start school, Lils?" James asked with genuine curiousity.

"Yes, but I'm nervous," Lily said quietly. "Will I get to see you often?"

"Well, if you're sorted into Gryffindor we will..." Albus began.

"And if you're not, then we'll ignore you for the rest of your life!" James finished.

Ginny put her head in her hands and leaned down toward the table. "James."

"Sorry, Mum."

Albus gave Lily a smile to sooth her concerned face. "He doesn't mean it, Lil. We'll love you no matter what house you're sorted into. Remember, Mum and Dad knew people from all sorts of houses."

"He's right," Ginny continued, taking her youngest child's small hands into her own. "Some of our greatest friends were Slytherin and Ravenclaw..."

"Hufflepuff too?" Lily asked.

"Yes, Hufflepuff too. Teddy's mother was in Hufflepuff. You'll be fine; I promise."

"But if you..." James began.

"James!" his mother cut him off sharply. "Don't even say it."

"What!" he said, giving Ginny a hurt look. "I was going to say if you need anything, Al and I will always be there for you."

Ginny blinked at him. "Oh. I'm sorry, honey. That's very sweet of you."

"And I was going to say if you look at the water while you are on the boats there is a giant squid who pulls you out and plunges you into the...oww! Mum!"

Albus and Lily laughed as their mother smacked the back of their older brother's head.