Christmas Eve came quickly, bringing a winter storm with it. Usually, James would be outside flying all day, even in the snow. But being grounded always meant no broom in their household.
James thought about that Firebolt he was supposed to get. He supposed his parents had picked it out already, wrapped it, and shoved it in a closet. They had probably been excited to give it to him. That was, until James did the worst thing he had ever done in his life. Now, that broom would remain just a wish, probably until he was old enough to earn his own money and buy it himself.
Albus and Lily didn't say anything to James about the incident, although he knew that Lily now knew as well. Usually, they would tease each other when one of them was in trouble, but this time neither one of them did. In fact, the whole mood of the house felt somber.
"James?" Ginny asked, knocking on his open bedroom door. "Supper is ready. Do you want to come down? We really want to see you."
He hadn't had much of an appetite and was taking a lot of meals in his room, only due to embarrassment of facing his family. He couldn't even look his father in the eye without feeling immense shame wash over him.
This time, he nodded. "Sure, Mum."
She gave him a small smile, which he could barely return. "Tomorrow is Christmas," she reminded him. "We would love for you to be with us all day."
"Maybe," he replied quietly.
"Well, think about it. And I'll see you downstairs. I love you, baby." Ginny reminded him of this every day since his punishment had started.
"Love you too, Mum."
James laid back in bed with a sigh as she left. Only five more days, and he would be back at Hogwarts. But even that would be miserable for him. His parents were close to McGonagall, so it would be easy to implement any restrictions they wanted to put on him.
He walked down the stairs slowly, wishing he had just taken his food in his room.
"Hi, James," his father greeted, kindly.
"Hi," his son replied.
"Mummy made your favourite. We were hoping you would come down tonight," his father continued.
"It's reeeeaallly good, Jamsie," Lily told him.
James nodded as he sat down at the table. "Thanks, Mum."
Ginny placed a loving hand on top of his. "You're welcome, love."
"Daddy, can we play a board game later? As a family?" Lily asked.
James looked down at his plate. "I'm not really in the mood, Lils."
"Oh, okay," Lily replied sadly.
"Let's talk about something cheerful," Ginny suggested. "Tomorrow is Christmas. What do you children want the most?"
James shrugged, knowing the one thing he wanted he would not be getting. It almost seemed like a cruel question to ask given the circumstances. But he knew his mother didn't mean any harm by it.
"I want a new dollhouse," Lily said sweetly.
Usually, James would tease her about wanting something so babyish at eleven years old. However, he was so unbelievably sad, he didn't even have the energy.
"I think I want a new winter coat," Albus told his parents. "And sweets. We should think of something to do together tomorrow afternoon, since no one is coming over.
Usually, the Weasleys and the Potters, along with Teddy, would get together for Christmas in the afternoon. But given the circumstances, Harry told them that they would be unable this year. He did not go into detail, even with Ron.
"Actually, I think Teddy might stop by," Harry told the children.
Lily and Albus cheered, while James looked back down at his plate. He didn't want Teddy to find out what had happened. His parents would never tell, but Albus and Lily wouldn't hesitate.
Harry knew what James was thinking. "And although Teddy is like a brother to you, what happened in our family the past few days stays between us. That goes for school too. Understood?" he looked at Albus and Lily on the last word.
"Yes, Dad," his two youngest said.
"Thanks." James managed a small smile at his father, but it disappeared at quickly as it came.
The rest of dinner, the family engaged in small talk...except James, who kept quiet until he was finished.
"May I be excused?" he asked quietly.
"Sure, sweetheart," Ginny replied with a worried look on her face that resided there permanently now.
James hurried upstairs before his parents could say anything else. It felt good to be alone, although he never thought he would think that way. Even on breaks, if he was not grounded of course, he would be meeting up with friends from school. A few of them even lived in Godrick's Hollow where his family's house was. There were a few times this break that Tibby and Jonathan knocked on the door, asking to see James. His parents were considerate and told them that their son was ill.
He pulled out a new Quidditch magazine that his father had left on his bed for him. On the second page was an article that his mother had written about the Falmouth Falcons' victory over the Appleby Arrows. He normally enjoyed reading his mother's articles, but tonight he just wanted to mindlessly flip through the pages.
A knock on the door startled him. "Come in," James said, but so softly he didn't know if the person on the other side heard him.
It was his father, who hadn't been by his room all day. "We're about to play a game. You sure you don't want to join us?"
"No thank you."
Harry gave him a sympathetic look. "You know you're not restricted to your room, right?"
James nodded. "I know."
"Mind if I sit?" his father asked, pointing to the boy's bed.
"I guess."
"Look, I know you're sad right now..."
"Dad. I don't really want to talk about it," James said, his voice sharp, as he turned away.
Harry ignored this, hoping this discussion would help. "You understand why we had to punish you, right?"
"Of course," James said. "I'm not mad at you two."
"It's just... I don't know when I have ever been more scared than when Albus told me what you had planned."
"Dad, we've been through this and through this. I understand...I messed up. Badly. I have no excuses for myself. If it weren't for you, I could have lost everything. Or worse. I wish I could take it back, but I can't."
"I know," Harry said softly. "Just know...your mother and I love you very much."
"Of course I know that."
"Doesn't hurt to remind you now and again, you twit," Harry chuckled, hoping to get a smile out of his son. Instead, James looked like he was about to cry.
"Dad?" James said, as Harry started to stand up to leave.
"Yes?"
"I really am sorry."
Harry turned back and gave James' hair a small ruffle. This time, his son did not turn away. "I know, James."
It was Christmas morning. Lily, the most excited of the children, woke up a dawn and hurried into James' room first.
"Wake up, James! It's Christmas!"
"Bloody hell, Lily. Let me sleep," James groaned. "Go wake up Mum and Dad. Let them deal with you..." But he got up, pushed back his messy black hair, and went downstairs anyway. Soon, the rest of his family joined him, everyone but Lily looking just as sleepy.
"Who's going first?" Ginny asked.
"Me!" Lily giggled, as she pulled a present marked with her name from a pile of gifts. Albus followed suit, as James sat back on the couch, watching his siblings open their gifts.
"Jamsie, this is for you," Ginny told him sweetly, handing him a large, brightly colored package.
"Really?" James asked.
"Of course, honey. You think you weren't getting any Christmas presents?"
James shrugged but took the present anyway. He tore open the gift slowly; it was a cage. "For an owl?" he asked.
Harry nodded. "You can go pick one out at Diagon Ally, if you wish."
"But Mum doesn't like animals," James reminded them.
"Well, I just didn't want to have to be the one to take care of them," his mother replied. "But you're almost fifteen now. Old enough for some responsibility."
"Oh. Well, thank you. This is a great gift," James told them.
The children each opened more presents than they could count; their parents typically spoiled them for holidays.
"Thank you, Mummy and Daddy," Lily told them, biting into one of her chocolate frogs she had gotten in her stocking.
"Yes, thank you. This was a lovely Christmas," Albus agreed.
"Thank you," James said, and he meant it. His parents didn't have to get him anything for Christmas this year, but they did anyway. He felt grateful and almost happy. "I'm going to go back upstairs."
"James," Harry said gently. "You have one more present."
"Oh, okay. Sure."
"We didn't wrap it. Hope you understand," Ginny said.
"That's alright," James told them.
As they handed him a brand new Firebolt, he almost burst into tears. He ran his hands down its sleek handle, pausing over top of his name, etched in the wood.
"But...why?" he asked, softly.
"Because. You can't be the Chaser of the Quidditch team with a lousy broom," Harry said, smiling at his son.
"But...I mean..." He didn't know what to say; this was the last thing he expected.
"Why don't you take your brother and sister outside and go try it out?" Harry offered.
"But I'm grounded," he said, as if they needed reminding. "No broom, right?"
Ginny gave him a sympathetic smile. "We talked it over and think you have been punished enough. Go outside and enjoy yourself, James."
"Yay! Jamsie, let's go outside! I'll race you!" Lily said, going to the closet to grab her broom. She handed Albus' to him and the two of them ran outside.
"Mum. Dad. I...you shouldn't have gotten this for me. I don't deserve it. I...I can't accept it." He started to hand it back to his father, but Harry pushed it back to him.
"Of course you can. We can't return it; it has your name etched in it," Harry laughed.
"I...Well, thank you. Does this mean I can still play Quidditch at school?"
Ginny nodded. "Of course, sweetheart. We're not going to take Quidditch away from you."
James sighed. He didn't deserve his parents; he truly didn't. "Things will be different from now on. I promise you."
Harry shook his head. "Don't change too much, James. You keep our lives...interesting. That's for sure."
The boy set down his broom and wrapped his arms around his father, then his mother. "Thank you," he said again. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I have a little brother and sister to beat in Quidditch. Wanna play too?"
"Want to?" Harry asked, looking at his wife.
"Sure. But don't be upset when I beat you both," his mother laughed.
As James walked out the door to meet up with his siblings, he felt immense happiness wash over him. The only kind of happiness you can feel when you're where you truly belong.
