The train ride home was uneventful. James and Evelyn managed to get a train car alone, so they spent most of the time kissing and finalizing their plans.

When they reached Kings Cross, James looked out the window and saw his parents waving happily at him. Guilt panged inside, washing over him like a shower. 'What a perfect life I have,' he thought. 'And in a few days I'm about to ruin it.'

"James!" Ginny said once he was off the train, throwing her arms around him. She did the same for her other two children, who had just joined them. "And Evelyn, its so nice to see you again." She hugged Evelyn as well, who seemed surprised.

"It's nice to see you both again, Mr. and Mrs. Potter," Evelyn said, her voice sticky sweet like you do with your friend's or boyfriend's parents. She knew how to play the game, which James appreciated.

Harry hugged his children, keeping an extra tight hold on his eldest. He grabbed his son's chin and gently led it up so that James was meeting his gaze. "Not one letter from a professor so far this year."

James grinned at first, and then stopped when he remembered Evelyn was there. "Just a little faith, Dad. That's all I asked for."

"Well, I'm proud of you. You're really growing up, you know that?"

His father's kind smile made him uneasy, knowing he would not be smiling or even remotely proud of him if he knew what he was planning.

"Thanks," James said, his voice small.

Harry looked at him curiously, but decided to let it go for his son's sake.

"Let's grab your luggage and head home," Ginny said.

"Dad, can we play Quidditch when we get home?" Lily asked, skipping toward her bag.

Albus gave James a look, as if to say "not a chance."

"Miss Lily Potter," Harry said softly, out of ear shot of Evelyn, who was grabbing her luggage. "You are very much grounded this holiday because of your third detention."

"Told ya," Albus sneered quietly to his brother.

"But Daaaaddy," Lily whined. And when he shook his head, she turned her attention to her mother. "Mum, that's not fair!"

Her mother also shook her head. "Mind your father, Lily. It is fair. You're brothers...well brother..." She gestured to James. "...is grounded when he gets excessive detentions."

James felt a little offended at being singled out, but decided to enjoy his time being on the good end of their parent's punishments.

"Three is not excessive," Lily snapped, a little too rudely for her parents, who each gave her a look that told her to quit while she was ahead.

"Don't worry, Lils. You're lousy at Quidditch anyway," James laughed.

"James," Harry scolded. "We can still call Evelyn's mother to come pick her up."

"Okay, okay," James said, holding his hands up in surrender. "Keep it down, will ya? She's right there."

"Daddy just listen..." Lily wailed.

"End of discussion," her father said firmly.

The youngest Potter sulked the whole way home. After they arrived, she went into the house, stomped up the stairs, and slammed the door to her room. Their mother, not one to put up with that sort of behavior, hurried up the stairs after her daughter.

"So much for not caring," Albus said.

James smiled. "Better her than us, right mate?"

Harry sighed. Being the father to two, almost three teenagers was not an easy feat. He didn't remember Teddy giving them a quarter of this much trouble. There were maybe two times they grounded Teddy for one childish misdeed or another, but for the most part, helping to raise him was pretty hands off discipline-wise. Harry could only hope and pray that his other three children turned out as well as Teddy.

"Stop talking about your sister," he snapped. "Evelyn, make yourself at home please. And please excuse my youngest."

"Thank you, Mr. Potter," Evelyn said sincerely.

A few minutes later, a tear-streaked, red-faced Lily came downstairs, followed by Ginny with her arms folded. "I'm sorry for how I acted, Daddy. And I'm sorry to the rest of the family, including you, Evelyn."

"Back upstairs," Ginny said firmly once Harry had given his daughter an approving nod. "And if I hear that door slam, God help you..."

"Yes, m-m-other," Lily cried, her face flushed once again with embarassment before she turned around to obey her mother.

James felt bad for Lily. Three detentions really wasn't that much. Not compared to how many he had gotten in his school career. But he supposed they were getting on her early before it became a problem.

Harry hurried upstairs, probably to talk to his emotional youngest child. Ginny went into her office on the other side of the house the to write her next Quidditch column, with the promise that the children would let her know if they needed anything.

"Wow are your parents strict," Evelyn said when Harry and Ginny were out of earshot.

James smiled. "You're telling me. Can't get away with anything around here."

"Wish my Mum cared half as much," Evelyn said.

"What about your dad?" Albus asked innocently.

"My dad is in Azkaban," Evelyn said, her voice thick with anger.

"He's..." Albus started, but stopped when James suddenly pushed him with force into the counter.

"You twit. Don't ask things like that," the eldest brother hissed.

"Hey!" Albus cried out in pain, clutching his side.

"Run and tell Mum and Dad," his older brother mocked, getting an inch from his face.

Albus stared at him, tears filling his eyes. "You're the worst, James, you know that?"

"Good," James snapped, backing off. "Wouldn't want to be known as the best around here."

"I don't know what going on with you lately, but you have been insurable to be around. Even more than usual," Albus told him.

James laughed but felt a pang of guilt. He loved Albus, he truly did. What was he going to do now? Apologize in front of Evelyn? He couldn't do that. "Look. Just leave us alone this holiday."

"Who am I going to hang out with?" Albus asked quietly. "Lily's grounded. Mum and Dad are working..."

Jame sighed, cursing his soft spot for his younger brother. "Fine. But the second you annoy me, we're done. Understand?"

Albus nodded, wanting to say more about the way James was treating him, but he held his tongue for the sake of his Christmas holiday. "I'm going to fly on my broom outside."

"Don't be terrible to your brother," Evelyn told James once Albus was out the door. "I would love to have a sibling."

James rolled his eyes. "You would find them to be as annoying as my siblings are."

"Even so, you're lucky, James."

"Yeah, yeah," James said, brushing her off.

After a few minutes, Harry came back downstairs, looking exhausted. "That sister of yours..."

"Go easy on her, Dad," James laughed. "Not all of us can be perfect."

"Oh yeah?" Harry smirked, amused. "And where is this perfect child? I would like to meet him."

James laughed. "Dad, can Evelyn and I go for a walk?"

"Sure. Just be home in a half an hour for supper." He gave the kids a smile before they walked out of the door together.