Aunt Hermione’s study is off limits for a reason
December 26th, 2018
Granger-Weasley Residence, Godrics Hallow
James Sirius Potter is too damn much like his namesakes for his mother’s sanity. He has a tendency to disregard the rules, whether its to pull of some half-formed prank or it’s just cause he’s bored. Typically, when he’s bored is when he gets into the most trouble and does the most damage. Which is why his godbrother has made it his personal goal to keep the rambunctious 13-year old entertained during Christmas break. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done when it comes to the oldest Potter child…especially when his mother isn’t within sight.
And that’s the problem that Teddy Lupin found himself with on this Boxing Day. Yesterday, the extended family had gathered at the Burrow and James was occupied with gifts, snowball fights, and the ever-watchful eye of Grandmum Weasley. Today, however, the Potter children are being babysat by their Aunt Hermione and their godbrother while Harry and Ron have been called off to work and Ginny had to head into the office for an end of year meeting. Which has posed a major problem for keeping James entertained. While the Granger-Weasley Residence does have a large enough backyard for Quidditch, the blinding snowstorm makes it impossible to play the game; and, unfortunately, James has never been a particularly big fan of books or chess. On top of that, Aunt Hermione’s study has been completely and utterly off limits as long as any of the Potter and Weasley children can remember.
The temptation for the troublemaker was too much to, and he worked out a plan with his younger cousin Hugo (who still adored James) to distract the two adults at the house so he could break in. Fortunately for James, the adults are successfully distracted when Hugo cries out. Unfortunately for James, his younger siblings Albus and Lily see right through it so they follow him.
Hermione was usually prepared for James’ visits to their house with several locking and sticking charms on the door to her study. But for reasons that she would later be unable to recall, these charms were absent for this particular visit. And her godson was able to open the door with ease.
Once inside the forbidden room, James was immediately disappointed. There was nothing that caught his attention right off of the bat as the office was primarily wall to wall books with a handsome oak desk in the middle. There was several neat stacks of parchment along with a capped off ink bottle on it, and several tomes that he would never be caught dead reading. But he just knew there had to be a reason he wasn’t allowed to enter this room so he quickly made his way over to the matching cabinet that was immediately behind the desk and attempted to open it. Unfortunately for James, Hermione’s wards were still in place on the cabinet doors…then he noticed that one of the drawers near the floor wasn’t completely shut and he hoped that meant he could still get into it.
With trepidation, he reached for the handle and gently pulled on it. To his satisfaction, the drawer slid open easily and in it he noticed an hourglass with sand attached to a gold chain. He’d heard about Aunt Hermione’s Time Turner from his father, but he never thought he’d actually find it…after all, she’d turned it in at the end of her third year. But here, in the forbidden study at his Aunt’s house was said Time Turner.
Quietly, he closed the drawer all the way and made his way out of the study. Once he closed the door he turned around and ran into a very irate Teddy Lupin. “JAMES! What the hell were you doing in Aunt Hermione’s study?” Al and Lily were standing just behind him.
“I just noticed the door was open Ted, I thought I’d close it to make sure none of the younger kids got in trouble.”
“And why don’t I buy that?”
“Because you’re too nosey for your own good?” At this James turned on his heel and sprinted off. He turned left, went down a set of stairs, and then turned right racing right through the kitchen. The thundering noise behind him meant that Ted wasn’t the only one chasing him as they raced through the house. Without even thinking about where he was going he opened a door that he didn’t recognize and found himself stumbling out into the attached garage. Quickly, he raced to the other side and yanked open the door that led to the pathway between the street and the backyard before racing out to the snow packed street.
The drifts of snow slowed him down and gave Teddy, Al, and Lily the chance to catch-up to the wayward teenager. But fortunately, he caught site of Hugo’s short red hair as it came racing out of the front door with his sister’s bushy brown hair at his heel. “Hugo, CATCH!” James shouted as he wound up and tossed the Time Turner in his direction. Unfortunately for all involved, the eldest Potter tripped over his own two feet at that point and his aim wasn’t very accurate. The time turner careened wildly through the air before smashing into a tree several feet from where Hugo was standing. There was a cloud of golden-brown dust and all five children knew no more.
***
December 26th, 1980
Potter Cottage, Godrics Hallow
“I was changing his nappy the this morning and he started chanting ‘Pafoo! Pafoo! Pafoo!’ The next thing I knew I heard a thump as I got smacked in the head by that infernal black stuffed dog you got him for Christmas.” The mirth in Lilly Evan Potter’s eyes belayed the severity of her tone as she was telling the story to their guest, “Honestly Sirius, I think the stuffed stag, wolf, and dog are a huge hit.”
“An even bigger hit than the stuffed snitch?” Sirius Black arched his eyes as his best friend grumbled next to him. “Honestly Jamie boy, I think you’re just jealous that Harry has learned how to say Padfoot before he said Dad.”
“Sod off.” Lily and Sirius’s laughter was cut off by a loud wailing from upstairs.
“Sounds like it’s time for his afternoon snack,” Lily stood up and headed towards the kitchen door. “Can I trust you two to be unsupervised in my kitchen while I’m upstairs?”
“You wound me Lily-love!”
“You know I hate when you call me that Black.”
”We’ll be fine,” James stared adoringly at his wife. “I’ll keep this mutt in line love.”
“Hey!” Lily chuckled as she exited the room and headed upstairs.
“Prongs.”
“Yes?”
“It’s been far to long since we’ve pranked your love-“
“Stop right there Pads.”
“Why?”
“Last time we pranked Lils it took three hours for the prank to expire and I spent the next week on the couch.”
“Well, it got her labor started didn’t?”
“No!” James looked his friend with look of disgust on his face. “She was still pregnant for another eight days after that.”
“I still think the pranked helped…”
“You’re insane Pads.”
“That’s why yo-“ A flash of light interrupted the arguing friends, and then the sound of several bodies thuds came from the street. In a flash, both men were on their feet with their wands drawn as they worked their way to the front door. The sight that greeted them once they got outside was unexpected. An older teen with turquoise hair was slowly getting to his feet while to familiarly messy heads of black hair gingerly stood up before making their way over to the one redheaded girl. Another girl with bushy brown hair went over to a younger boy with Weasley red hair.
As the two war veterans approached, they heard the sounds of a brewing argument. “I’m going to kill you James! And unlike when Aunt Ginny gets a hold of you it’s not going to be quick.”
“Now Ted..”
“Don’t Ted me Potter!” At the child’s surname, both Sirius and James raised an arched brow to eachother. “I don’t know where we are, and it’s clearly not anywhere near Aunt Hermione’s house.”
“How do yo-“
“There’s no snow, moron.” This came from the redheaded boy that had just gotten to his feet. The older men, whom the kids had not noticed yet watched fascinated at the brewing fight…and at the fact that the one who seemed to have caused this situation was also named James Potter. “Are you guys okay?” The elder James decided to ask, but the question fell on deaf ears as the small redheaded girl and the other black haired child entered the verbal sparring match.
“YOU KNOW HER STUDY IS OFF-“
“WHY DID YOU EVEN THINK THAT THROW-“
“ENOUGH!” The boy that was called Ted, with the shocking turquoise hair, silenced the arguing children. Except for the sobs coming from the bushy haired girl. At this point, Ted walked over to her and pulled her into a tight hug. “It’s okay Rosie, we’ll get out of this situation.”
“H-h-how?” She squeaked out between wracking sobs.
“I’ll send a message to Uncle Harry, he’s been in tighter spots than this.” Ted squeezed the younger girl in a hug “He’ll be able to bail us out.”
“Y-y-y-you’re right Ted, thanks.”
At this point, James looked at Sirius and whispered under his breath. “Do you think they even registered the fact that we’re standing here?”
“Bugger that James,” Padfoot whispered back. “One of those kids is supposedly named James Potter and the one with the shocking hair said something about ‘Uncle Harry’ bailing them out.” While the older men where having their conversation, Teddy Lupin conjured up a brilliant wolf Patronus and instructed it to find “Harry Potter” with the message the kids were alright but in trouble and needed his help. This silenced the two brothers as they watched it bound into the cottage before disappearing up the stairs towards the nursery. None of the kids noticed where the Patronus went as their argument was starting up again.
Both James and Sirius were absolutely confused, the only other person they knew whom had a wolf Patronus was their best friend Remus Lupin…and why did that kid ask for Harry Potter. How did he know James’ son? “Remus?” Lily’s unsure voice came from the still open front door. “Why did you send a Patronus to Harry that made absolutely no sense? Are you okay?” The redheaded witch appeared at the door and took in the scene in front of her.
At this point, Teddy Lupin’s hair shifted from turquoise to a brilliant combination of orange and red that made it look as if his hair was on fire. He recognized the redhead standing in the door as Harry’s dead mother, and that’s when he finally registed James and Sirius’ presence as well. As his face turned red to match his hair, he turned to James with his wand drawn on him. Al and Lily backed out of the way of any incoming hexes.
With a voice devoid of emotion, he asked, “Do you have any last words, James Sirius Potter?”