March 27th, 1971
To you, dear reader, James Fleamont Potter was a very odd child. Today was his eleventh birthday and while he may look the same as any eleven year, he certainly didn’t act like it. For one, he has only ever made one friend his age, his best friend Remus Lupin. He’s been to his dad’s work parties where there were other children there, but he can’t say he’s friends with them. For two, he has never been to school before. His mother taught him to read and write, but he was never homeschooled either. He didn’t need to learn anything about maths or science or anything else taught in schools. But perhaps what makes him the strangest are the things he has learned. He knows all about potions and runes and the history of magic and charms and transfiguration because of the most abnormal thing about him: he is a wizard.
His father is a famous potion brewer and his mother used to be magical healer in the greatest magical hospital England has ever seen. His parents have spent the time most children would be in school to teach him everything he will need to know before he gets accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Which he did. Today.
His letter was waiting for him right next to his breakfast.
Mr. J. Potter
The Kitchen Table
Potter Manor, Caithness
James was not surprised, he comes from a very long line of wizards, but that did not mean he was not excited. Today he was finally an official wizard and he was finally able to truly learn real magic. Mum and dad have taught him basic skills with his practice wand, but he wanted to be able to transfigure an entire room into a quidditch field. Or fight the vampires in Romania or meet the sirens in the Mediterranean Sea. You see, his family has only ever known magic for countless generations. There is no trace of any muggle, or non-magic person, in his family line nor any children born without magic. The potters have simply always been wizards and always will be. In fact, the only muggle James has ever met is Remus’s Mum; while she is his favourite aunt in the world, he knows almost nothing about muggles and their culture.
Dad took off work today so it was the three of them all day! Mum was already planning an entire day of shopping before Dad nipped it in the bud.
“We will get his supplies closer to the start of school. Although a wand may do you well.” Dad winked at him. James would love a real wand to cast his spells instead of his practice wand.
“Yes! Let’s go to Olivanders!” James practically jumped out of his chair. His own wand! Think of all the spells he’ll be able to achieve before Hogwarts!
“And here I thought you would want to spend the morning with the few hours I booked at the Canons practice arena.” Dad just shrugged as if he hasn’t said the greatest thing James has ever heard. James may just die of pure joy. Can that happen? If it could, James was definitely on his way to an early grave. He bolted out of his chair and straight into his father’s arms. Mum instantly joined in too!
“Oh, maybe he wants to go after all!” Mum teased and kissed the top of his head.
“Thank you thank you!” James was not squealing because he is basically a man and men don’t do that. He was simply emanating a high sound he didn’t know his voice could make. That’s all.
“Of course! Eleven is an important birthday, after all.” Dad smiled and ruffled his hair.
“Get dressed, my love. We’ll apparate to the arena in about an hour.” Mum said as she stopped hugging them. He loves his parents so much, they’re the greatest people in the world.
“Oh good there’s still time to call Remus on the floo!” James started to make his way to the floo room, but his parents stopped him.
“I don’t think Remus will have as much fun as you at the arena, he’s not much of a quidditch fan.” Mum said.
“Not for the quidditch, to tell him I got my letter!” Obviously! Why didn’t they understand that. Mum and Dad looked at each other for a moment. James wondered how they always were able to have entire conversations without speaking a word.
“Come sit.” Dad was still his casual, playful self, but his eyes seemed more worried. James sat back at the table. “You know how Remus is already eleven years old?”
Of course James knew that. They shared a birthday month which makes them even better friends.
“Right well didn’t you wonder why he didn’t call you to tell you about his letter?” Dad asked. They didn’t know Remus like he did, they were simply confused.
“He just didn’t want to brag that he got it first.” James reasoned. His parents shared a look again, they’ve got to stop doing that.
“James… Remus did not get a letter.” Mum must have been mistaken. Of course Remus was got his letter. They were both wizards and they were going to go to Hogwarts and study magic and become the greatest wizards the school had ever seen! Remus had to get a letter.
“But… but I’ve seen him do magic.” James didn’t understand. Why didn’t Remus get the letter? He’s a wizard! Dad sighed like he does when he’s annoyed at his work. Mum held his hand.
“While he does indeed have magic, the headmasters at Hogwarts or any school do not accept werewolves.” She explained.
Oh.
Right.
Most of the wizarding world hates them and thinks they’re dangerous, but that’s because none of them even know a werewolf. If they did, they would think differently! Remus was the greatest person he knew! If anyone deserves to be at Hogwarts, it’s Remus. His friend was such a good student and good with magic! James had once seen him float all the fallen leaves back up into the tree because he didn’t want summer to end just yet. It wasn’t fair he didn’t get to learn more! James never even imagined the school without his best friend and soon he wouldn’t be only imagining it, he would be living it. Like a true nightmare come to life.
“James?” Dad broke him out of his thoughts. James looked at his dad and ignored the tears in his eyes.
“It’s not fair.” James has never felt more defeated. He couldn’t even help his friend because there was no cure for being a werewolf.
“No it’s not.” Mum agreed, “That’s why dad and I have been researching ways to better help Remus, but the technology is not there yet. But I promise you, my love, we will not stop until we give him something close to a normal life.”
Mums words made him feel a little bit better, but not really. He didn’t feel like celebrating his letter or even going to that stupid stuck up school. They could’ve had the greatest student ever and they messed it all up. For a school created by and staffed with incredibly smart wizards, they were pretty dumb with this decision.
“We can get your supplies later. Do you still want to go to the arena or should I try to reschedule?” Dad asked. He truly had the best parents in the world. They they cared for his friends like they were their own. James knew his parents would follow their promise and keep helping Remus, mum was his personal healer after all. They would do anything for him and he would do anything for them. He loved them more than anything else.
He couldn’t ask them to reschedule after they got everything he asked for and more, that would be rude to their time and effort. Besides, sulking in his room would not solve any of his problems. He may be magic but his powers were absolutely useless at solving every one of his problems by doing nothing.
“No, I still want to go.” Flying helps clear his mind and if his mind is clear then he can think on how to help Remus. Yes! Maybe he could owl him some of their assignments so he still gets to do them even though he’ll be at home. Remus could be a fully fledge wizard without even attending that stupid school! He was a genius!
“Good! Get dressed, grab your broom. Maybe we can all invite some friends over later to celebrate!” Dad pushed him closer to the stairs. James only had one friend, unless he counted his parents friends, but he didn’t mind when his parents friends and coworkers came over. They were all good people and they all had the most amazing stories! Like when Moody would talk about the “glory days” and dad would never let him finish a story for some reason. It was always so funny.
James couldn’t wait to start his adventures and have great stories. Despite all the learning and exams, he would be able to explore the castle and the forest around it. He would uncover every mystery there was to know about the place and he was absolutely one hundred percent sure that Remus would be there right next to him.