Journey To Hogwarts, old - thread closed Options

[evlpez]

Okay folks. I know many of you have no care to explore 'ships and alt universe stuff, but I wanted to get something else moving in our brains.
Here is a short installment of an AU story about James Potter, son to Harry and Ginny. This is all that is written so far.

Rather than chapter-long installments, let's try just a few paragraphs at a time and see how it develops.

The story begins with James' first ride on the Hogwarts Express. I see James as a bit of a loner, coping silently with being related to a celebrity and unsure about his own place in the world. He is more mature than his age and is intelligent, brave and has a darkness about him. (He isn't evil or bad, though.) I see a bit of a 'young Remus' in this James. I have written in one baby brother, but there may be up to 5 children in the Potter family, considering Ginny's experience with a large family and Harry's feelings about having a different, lonlier childhood.

JOURNEY TO HOGWARTS

James Potter sat in an otherwise empty compartment of the Hogwarts Express, looking out the window and eagerly waiting for it to pull away from the platform. He could barely sit still. He felt only a twinge of guilt at his hasty good-bye to his parents, having felt awkward as always standing there with one of the most famous wizards in history. He needed to get away and be by himself on this train before he was bombarded by cousins and other curious people. He loved his cousins, but he always felt a little different from all of them. Not better, but something about being who he was had made him… alone. He preferred being alone at important times like this; important to him, anyway. His first trip on the Hogwarts Express, this was the beginning of his journey to become someone. To make a name for himself that wasn't automatically followed by 'the son of Harry Potter'. He glanced at the cage he had set on the bench opposite only moments before. His new owl, a young brown Tawny, stared back at him. He still hadn't given him a name, despite his mother's prodding.

"Just pick something, James. He's just an owl, not your firstborn child," she had said that morning while juggling a breakfast pan with her wand hand and his baby brother with the other. His father intervened as he took baby Albert off her hands.

"Now, now… this isn't just any owl. It's his owl. James will name him when he needs to. It's important to some people, Gin. This little guy is going to be more than just his owl, he'll be a friend." James smiled at his dad then. He understood. He understood a lot of things about James that his mother just couldn't, not that she didn't try.

James' new owl hooted, reminding him of a penny whistle. It was such a different voice than Hedwig's. James smiled. His father had known that this owl should be as different as he could be from Hedwig.

Continue, introducing at least one new character, maybe a Weasley Cousin (one of the twins' kids?).

[agrippa]

Unfortunately, History of Magic class was nothing of the sort.

“How can they allow a ghost to keep teaching this course?” said Serena as the left the classroom. “If it’s possible, I think he’s actually more boring than death itself!”

“Well,” said Philip. “I don’t suppose they have to pay him, do they? Probably doesn’t even need his own rooms.”

“Or eat much,” sighed James. “I’m starving, though.”

They entered the great hall and tucked in to the Gryffindor table. James helped himself to a leg of roast chicken. They ate in silence for a few minutes, recovering the energy drained from them by the lecture on ancient Greek wizards.

James was looking down the table to see where the rolls had gotten to when he saw a tawny owl winging his direction.

“Prometheus!” he shouted.

Serena looked up. “You named him, then? And he’s got a letter – and a package. But why didn’t it come with the morning post?”

Prometheus landed in front of James, who took the letter from his leg.

Dear James,

Your mum and I are thrilled, naturally, that you’re in Gryffindor. It sounds like you’re doing well and have great housemates in your year. We are very fond of the Boneses, although we don’t see them as much as we’d like. Please make sure to say “hello” to Neville, Luna, and Viktor for us – although, I guess that’s Profs. Longbottom, Lovegood, and Krum to you!

Of course, we had no idea about Duke. As you know, I’ve rarely spoken to Dudley or any of the Dursleys since I came of age. But your mum and I both agree that pretty much all bullies are the same. Don’t go out of your way to avoid Duke; but don’t go looking for him, either. If he gets way out of line – anything beyond your basic jinxes and whatnot – you should talk to your head of house or to the Headmistress. We have absolute trust in both of them.

Sorry if you were waiting for this letter a long time. It took Prometheus a little bit longer than most to find us, but he’ll get better the more you use him. Mum says she really likes the name you chose for him. Study hard and keep your chin up!

Love,
Dad
PS – if you’re reading this in the Great Hall, don’t open the package. Wait until you’re in your dorm.

James was terribly curious about what was in the package. He untied it from the leg of his owl, who was now happily nibbling a bit of chicken off James’ plate. Putting it to his ear, he shook it a bit; but it made no noise.

“Well? Open it!” said Serena, as Philip nodded vigorously.

“Can’t,” whispered James. “Dad says to open it later in the dorm. Besides, we’re going to be late for Transfiguration.”

***

The Transfiguration classroom was simple but stately. James, Philip, and Serena found a table in the middle row, and in a few minutes, Sean, Allan, and Carson took the table in front of them.

“Haven’t started yet, have we?” asked Carson. “We were afraid we were going to be-”

The front door of the classroom opened with a bang and a tall wizard in deep purple robes strode out. He took his place behind the front table.

“Accio chalkboard.”

A portable chalkboard rolled up next to him.

“Good afternoon, and welcome to Transfiguration. In this class, you will learn the secrets of transformation, one of the most important branches of magical study.”

The word Transfiguration and most important branch of magical study appeared on the board.

“Well?” said the professor. “Don’t you see what’s on the chalkboard? Write it down.”

The students scrambled furiously for their quills and parchment.

“I,” continued the professor, “am Professor Jacobson, and I will be guiding you on this adventure through Transfiguration. This is my first year at Hogwarts. I spent the last five years working in the Ministry of Magic’s research division. You will no doubt meet my wife when you meet for Astronomy Wednesday night.”

Philip and James exchanged glances. James raised his hand.

“Yes?” Prof. Jacobson looked down at the parchment on his desk. “Mr. Potter, is it?”

James was taken aback by the fact that Prof. Jacobson seemed not to know him. “So you know Prof. Dumbledore, then?”

The professor’s coal-black eyes widened with surprise. “What makes you say that?”

“I heard that your wife was Dumbledore’s niece.”

Prof. Jacobson laughed. “Oh, dear, no. That’s very funny! I wonder how that rumor got started? Well, my dear Mr. Potter, rest assured that very few of us have had the good fortune to see Albus Dumbledore as often as you.”

James blushed furiously.

“Now,” said Prof. Jacobson, “back to the lesson.”