Christmas Time

So it has been such a long time since I have been on here, but oh my has it every been busy around here.  It is amazing what a mother needs to do to make Christmas for her family.  I know that Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus Christ, but in order to get all the decorations out and the baking done, and the plans made and the packing done (in my case) and the house clean, and the room for the new toys... that is all the job of a wife and mother.  Sure, you can ask your husband to help, and he will do his best, but there is something about the loving touch of a mother to make Christmas all that it can be for her family.  I never really understood why my mom got so stressed and made us clean our rooms and give our old toys away, etc... but, now I know.  I will be one of those mothers in a few year's time, and I am actually really looking forward to it.
Now, granted, my responsibilities are not very much this year because my mother-in-law and my mom are both doing the majority of the preparation.  We are having "Christmas" at Sean's parent's house this weekend, tomorrow actually, and I am really excited about it.  We even got to celebrate Sean's birthday (which is actually on Dec. 23) tonight with the whole Dietz clan.  It was such a blessing.  Jenni loves to play with her cousins, and the presents under the tree were quite the eye catcher.  Apparently (I was at work when this happened) Jenni got really excited about the Christmas Tree and the presents.  So excited, that she found each one of the bows on the pretty presents and proceeded to take them off the presents and play with them.  Everyone thought it was so cute.  So, Jenni is really getting into the Christmas Spirit, and it is very exciting.  We each got to get into our stockings tonight, and Jenni got a sparkly, pink purse to carry around.  When I left for work again she hadn't put it down,  so I think she likes it.
So, that is Dietz Christmas, and then we get to spend Christmas (Dec 25) with my family.  It is so exciting.  My mom is going all out with the Turkey and the baking and everything, so my job in the whole thing is to help with making dinner and help with eating said baking.  I think that will be great!
Christmas has been such a great blessing to me this year, not that it isn't every year, but it has really been so wonderful to watch Jenni experience the joy that is Christmas.  Granted, she doesn't really understand the joy of giving presents, but she really does understand the joy of opening presents and stealing the toys from her cousins.  Yes, that is right.  Jacob and Ethan got toy balls in their stocking, and Jenni so lovingly took the ball right out of Jake's hand and ran away leaving Jacob quite upset.  My daughter... the bully.  Yeah right.  She came back and gave it back to him, but she really wanted that ball.  She even said sorry by giving him a snotty kiss.

On a completely different note... we have won the battle with the word PLEASE!!!!  WAHOO!!!!  Now, if you tell Jenni to say please, she looks at you and says, "Peese"  It is very cute.  And if she REALLY wants what you have she will say "peese" and sign please (taping her chest) at the same time. "If I do them both, they are bound to understand!" I am sure is what is going through her head.  So, even to get her down from her highchair today at dinner she said, "Down, peese" and everyone clapped and told her how good she was.  It made her night, I am sure.

Well, seeing that it is getting late and I have a very busy day tomorrow I am going to say goodnight!

"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!"

Chapter 7 for Nano! 20000+ words! W00T!!!!

Chapter 7 - The Quidditch Pitch

While James was eating he had thought of how to start his letter to his father.  So, after James had eaten his supper of roast beef, mashed potatoes and yorkshire puddings, he hurried up to the Gryffendor tower.  He went to his dormatory and got some parchment and a quill and went down to a table in the common room.  He took a deep breath and started writing.

Dear Dad,

This morning, (Saturday) Alice, Tom, Rose, Al and I went to the library to look at old Daily Prophet articles.  See, when we were riding the Hogwarts Express Alice and Tom were having an arguement about how famous you really were.  They asked me, but I realized that I didn't know much about your life as a Hogwarts Student.  You don't really talk about your time at Hogwarts.

So, we decided to get the Daily Prophet issues from your first year until your seventh year, and what did we discover?  Loads, dad, loads!  

There was so much that I didn't know about you.  We went through your first year and discovered that you faced Voldemort for a second time and that Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione were all a part of it too.  In your second year we discovered that you saved mom from a place called the Chamber of Secrets.  In your third year we discovered that Uncle Sirius is actually a mass murderer and he escaped from Azkaban (Please elaborate on that a little more.) And, in your fourth year you were a wizard chosen to take part in the TriWizard Tournament.

All of these events that are a part of your life were all news to me, and I was really upset that I needed to find out about your life through Daily Prophet Articles.  The woman who wrote most of the articles in your fourth year sounded like she was off her rocker, so we stopped there, and I decided to ask you about your life.  I would like you to be honest with me, dad, because I think I deserve to know.  By the time you were my age you had already faced Voldemort twice and lived to tell the tale.  That is cool and all dad, but I would like to know more about you and what you went through when you were a student at Hogwarts.

Thank you for listening.

James.

James was rather pleased with the letter.  He read it back, and reread it to make sure that he didn't sound angry, and he was pleased.  

James realized that it had taken him a lot longer to write his letter than he thought it would, so he folded it up, decided to reread it again in the morning before he sent it, and went up to his room to go to bed.  

James was planning on going to the Quidditch Pitch tomorrow to really give it a go on his Firebolt.  Alice was going to go with him, because she had decided to get a Nimbus two-thousand-and-one before she came to school and was wanting to give her broom a work out too.

James, being an early riser, was going to go to the Owlry tomorrow morning to visit Humphrey and get him to take the letter to his dad.

*   *   *

James did wake early on Sunday morning, but realized that it was actually the middle of the night.  He was having a dream about a giant flying motorcycle.  It was flying over London and then started to plummet to the ground below.  That was all that James could remember from the dream, but he realized that he was breathing really heavy.  He told himself it was just a dream and went back to sleep.

*   *   *

The next morning James got up and re read his letter.  He was still happy with what he had written so he hurried to get dressed.  It had been a few days since he had seen Humphrey and was excited to see his oddly shaped little owl.  

James hurried down the grand staircase to the fourth floor landing.  He then went down the fourth floor corridor to the clock tower.  He had to go down a few flights of ricketty wooden steps to get to the clock tower enterance, and then the clock tower courtyard.  He hurried out of the court yard to the covered bridge and began to walk.  The covered bridge was one of James' favorite views in the whole castle.  There were a few more good views from the Viaduct and from the stone bridge, but in James' opinnion this was the best.  He could see the black lake, and the Owlry, and he could also see Hagrid's hut and the Forbidden Forest.  When he reached the middle of the bridge he could look out to one side and see most of the castle.  He took a deep breath of the crisp, fresh autumn air.  James was happy.  

James then walked the rest of the way down the covered bridge to stone circle.  There were lots of different birds sitting on the large rocks at the end of the bridge, and James wished that he had brought some bread crumbs or something.  He had brought some owl treats for Humphrey, but he didn't think about the other bird he would see.  James could see smoke rising out of Hagrid's chimney and thought about going down the hill first to see his giant friend.  He knew that him and Al would be going there for tea later that day, so he decided to make his way up the hill towards the Owlry.  

Once James reached the tall circular tower-type building he hurried inside.  He didn't realize how chilly it was out until the wind was no longer blocked by the castle or the bridge.

Once inside, James climbed the spirial staircase up to the top of the Owlry.  Humphrey had already made friends with some of the school owls, and was hooting happily with them.

"Humphrey," called James and the tiny owl soared down to him.  "I have a letter here that I need you to take to dad."  Humphrey held out his leg to have the letter tied onto him, and he waited patiently for a treat.  James had been training Humphrey to be well behaved when he was to take letters places.  After James had finished he gave Humphrey an owl treat and sent him on his way.  James was hoping that Humphrey would get to his father quickly.

James then ran back to the castle and to the great hall to have some breakfast.  He saw Alice eating her porridge, and went to join her.  

"Are you excited about going out to the Quidditch Pitch this morning?" asked Alice when James sat down.  "Because I sure am.  Hey, where have you been, your cheeks are all red.  You weren't flying without me were you?"

"No, no.  I went to the Owlry to send that letter to my dad.  Humphrey was happy to take the letter, and he seems to be getting along with the other owls too."  James was very proud of his little owl.

"Ok.  So, hurry up and eat, and then we'll get our brooms and off to the Quidditch pitch!" said Alice with vigor.

Just then Tom came into the Great Hall to have his breakfast.  

"I thought you two were going flying this morning?" said Tom quizitively.

"We are, but we are going to eat first.  You can't fly on an empty stomach!" retorted Alice.

"Oh, well, Sorry!" said Tom in a snotty voice.  Tom then turned his attention to James.  "Is it ok if I come at watch.  I would really like to understand Quidditch a little more.  It seems a little strange that I don't know that much about it."

"Sure," said James.  "I can explain it to you if you would like?" he offered.

"Um, maybe after you and Alice fly your brooms.  I'll see if I can figure it out for myself."  

"You have a book, don't you?" asked Alice, holding back a snicker.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do.  After you and James have your fun, then I am going to see how much I learned by trying to explain the game to James.  That is, if that is ok?" asked Tom.

"Sure, why not," replied James.

So, after the three of them finished their breakfast they went up to get their brooms (or books in Tom's case) and made their way to the Quidditch Pitch.

When the three of them reached the Quidditch Pitch Tom went up to the stands to read his Quidditch book and Alice and James took their brooms and started to fly around the ovular grass field.  At either end were three goal hoops (that looked like those toys that muggle children blew bubbles with) and James went circling around each one.  Alice soared high in the air on her Nimbus and then took a dive straight down towards the ground again.  She pulled up out of her dive just in time to not hit the ground, and when James saw her face, she was beaming with pride.  

Alice and James were soaring around for at least half an hour when someone came walking onto the Quidditch pitch.

"Oi, you up there!  What do you think you're doing?" 

James and Alice quickly came down and landed infront of Annibelle Scott, the Gryffendor captain.  She had an odd look on her face.

"Um, sorry?" said James.  "We didn't think there would be a problem.  We were just practicing flying around on our new brooms."

"There isn't really a problem, unless you say that you are not going to be trying out for the team.  You are Gryffendor's, right?  What are your names?" replied Annibelle.  James figured out the odd look.  She was looking for new talent.

"I'm Alice, and yes, we would love to try for the new team," said Alice, getting very excited.  "I personally would love to be a beater!"

"Well, as you probably know, most of our team finished school last year.  We are looking for a new seeker, two new chasers, a beater and a keeper.  I am also a chaser.  Our other beater's name is Sean Flannigan.  He is a 5th year.  Really good too," said Annibelle.

"Hi, I'm James.  When are tryouts?" asked James.

"It depends," replied Annibelle, "what position do you want to play?" she pointed at James.

"I would really like to be a seeker, like my dad, but I would be happy to be anything you need me to be.  Why?"

"Because, I saw you flying around those goal hoops and I think you would make a great keeper.  Why don't I go and get the balls from the storage room and we can do a preliminary try out.  If you do well, then I will use you as examples at the real tryout and you can be on the team!" 

"WICKED!" said Alice, really excited.

James and Alice quickly kicked back up into the air to do a bit of a victory lap before Annibelle came back.  

Annibelle came back dragging an old trunk behind her.  When she opened it up there were three visible balls.  One big red one that wasn't really round, because it had circular indentations in thirds around the ball, the Quaffle.  Then there were two slightly smaller black balls that were shaking in the chains they were held in, the bludgers.  Annibelle then opened a little drawer in the top of the trunk and took out a little gold ball, the snitch.  While it was in her hand it sprouted wings, and took off.  It flew in front of James' face and then flew in front of Alice's face, and then took off.  

"Right now, we are just going to deal with the snitch and the quaffle.  Alice, I would like you, and your fancy flying to try to find the snitch.  James, I want you to position yourself in front of the goal posts.  I am going to try to score, and I want you to block me.  Basically, I want you to be the keeper."

"Alright!" Alice and James both said and went off to their positions.  Alice went soaring way up above the pitch to see if she could find the speck of gold.  She wasn't overly thrilled with the idea of being the seeker, but she was excited to be trying out for the team.

James, on the other hand, was more than thrilled to be asked to be keeper.  He didn't think he was going to be the greatest seeker, because he has a hard time noticing detail, but he was excited to be showing off his flying skills by blocking the on-coming quaffle.

James had been flying around for a grand total of five minutes when Alice came soaring over to Annibelle with the snitch in her hand.  Annibelle was very impressed, and asked Alice to let it go again.  Annibelle and James started to train again, and again, in a very short time, Alice was back with the snitch.  

"Ok, Alice, can you go put the snitch away now, and help me try to score of James?" asked Annibelle.

"Sure.  And, out of curiousity, do I get a chance to show you my stuff with a bludger and a bat?" asked Alice.

"After you help me try to score on James, we can do some beater training," replied Annibelle.

Alice went back to the ground, put away the snitch and soared back up into the sky.  Annibelle and Alice worked hard to try to score on James, but try as they might, they were not able to get the quaffle through the hoops.  Any of them.

Annibelle was very impressed with the flying of the two second years, and so she let them go back down to the ground, gave them each bats, and let the bludgers free.  Alice was an excellent beater as well.  She almost knocked James off his broom twice, but he managed to dodge the bludger flying at his head.

"Alright, you two!" hollered Annibelle.  "Come down here, I would like to talk to you."

The two of them quickly landed on the green grass, and walked over to Annibelle.  Just as they were walking towards her, both bludgers came towards James and Alice.  They each caught one and wrestled it back into the trunk where it came from.

"I'm impressed with you and your performance, both of you!" said Annibelle with pride.  "I think with you two on the team there is a chance we could win the Quidditch cup this year.  Gryffendor hasn't been able to win the Quidditch cup since Harry Potter has been here, so it would be great if we could win again!  So, James and Alice, what are your last names?"

"My last name is Fitzgerrald, and his is Potter," Alice answered for both of them.

"Potter?  Are you related to Harry Potter?" asked Annibelle, getting excited.

"I'm his son," replied James, a little bit embarrassed.

"WOAH!" said Annibelle.  "Imagine us, with the son of Harry Potter on the team.  We would be unbeatable.  This is GREAT!"  Annibelle was getting all worked up.

"Well," said James, "you just let us know if you want us to play on your team, and what position you would like us to play."

"James, it is a no brainer.  I would like you to be our Keeper.  Would you join our team?" asked Annibelle.

"On one condition.  You treat me like I am me, James, not like I am the son of Harry Potter.  I have my own identity, and I am good at this sport because I am good, not because of my dad."

"DEAL!" said Annibelle.  "And, Alice, I would like to see what happens at tryouts.  I think you would be a great beater, but I also think you will  make a great seeker, so we will just wait and see if we find someone who can fill one of those positions better than you.  Is that ok?"

"Yeah, that's fine," said Alice.

"Ok, perfect.  Tryouts will either be next week, or the week after.  Just watch the notice board in the Gryffendor common room, and we'll go from there.  Does that sound good?" asked Annibelle.

"Yes!" both Alice and James said.  

They said their goodbyes to Annibelle, and she walked off the Quidditch pitch.

By this time Tom was walking out onto the pitch.  He sat in the stands watching them fly for over an hour, and was now looking a little cold and bored.

"I still don't understand this game.  It just sounds like a load of nonsense to me.  James, can you please put it in plain terms?" asked Tom.

"Sure.  Ok, you see those things way up there?"

"The things that look like giant bubble wands?" asked Tom.

"Sure... Those.  Well, they are the goal hoops.  The red, funny shaped ball, the quaffle, has to get through those hoops to score ten points.  Are you with me?"  Tom nodded.  "Ok.  There are three chasers who's job it is to get the quaffle through the hoops, and there is a keeper, who's job is to protect the hoops."

"Like a goal tender?" asked Tom.

"Sure... That.  And, then there are two beaters, who fly around with bats in their hand who hit the bludgers, the scary black flying balls, at the opposing team to try to stop them from scoring.  Do you have that much?"

"Sure, it is like basket ball, and soccer on broomsticks!" said Tom excitedly that he was getting the game.

"Sure... whatever.  Then lastly, there is a seeker.  It is the job of the seeker to find the little tiny golden ball called the snitch.  The snitch is worth one-hundered and fifty points, and once the snitch is caught, then the games is over.  That is the game.  Do you understand it now?" asked James.

"Yes, I understand much better.  Thank you!" replied Tom.

"What book were you reading?" asked Alice.  "It should have been all there in the book only with a little more explination."  Alice grabbed the book out of Tom's hand.  "Well, no wonder you weren't able to understand the game.  This book is not even written in English.  What is this written in?"

"Bulgarian," replied Tom.  "They won the quidditch world cup when your dad went to see it, James, and so I thought they would know what they were talking about.  Turns out that when Blugarian is translated into English, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense."

Alice just burst out laughing.  "Next time, just ask.  We'll tell you better than any Bulgarian could!"  

James and Tom walked off the pitch towards the great hall for lunch, with Alice behind them laughing at Tom and his quest for knowledge.    

Chapter 6 for Nano! 18000+ words

Chapter 6 - The Daily Prophet

James Alice and Tom had to wait for another thirty minutes before the librarian had all the old Daily Prophets for them.  There were seven stacks each four of five feet high.  James and Alice looked at the stacks with looks of fear on their faces.  Thomas looked at the stacks with a look of joy on his face.  This was going to take hours!  

Thankfully the librarian put them in chronological order, so James took the first stack, Alice the second and Tom the third stack.

*   *   *

It seemed like hours had passed, and James had only found one 

really interesting article in his pile.  The headline read BREAK IN AT GRINGOTTS: Gringotts Security Breached.

James read the rest of the article.

Yes, you read the headline correctly, there has been a break in at the Wizarding bank, Gringotts, in Diagon Alley.  Investigation continue into the break-in at Gringotts on July 31, widely believed to be the work of Dark wizards or witches unknown.  Gringotts goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken.  The vault in question, #713 had in fact been searched and emptied earlier that very same day.  'But we're not telling you what was in there, so keep your noses out if you know what's good for you," said a Gringotts spokesgoblin this afternoon.

James continued to read, but there was nothing in there about his dad.

He kept going through each edition, looking for something that could have something to say about his dad, and he finally came across something.

"Hey guys!" said James, "I found something, listen to this:

ATTACK ON HARRY POTTER: Hogwarts Headmaster tries to cover it up.

As was mentioned earlier this year, someone had tried to break into Gringotts to retreive something from vault #713.  It has been brought to attention, that the contents of the vault were indeed the Scorcerer's Stone.  Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, took the stone and hid it in the Hogwarts Castle, with safe guards created to protect said stone by Albus Dumbledore himself, and by six other members of Hogwarts staff.  Indeed He-who-must-not-be-named was behind this attach, because the Scorcerer's Stone, discovered by Nicholas Flamel, is the sole ingredient needed to make the Elixir of Life.  As there have been reports of evil activity around a specific Hogwarts teacher, who is to remain nameless, it is believed that the broken soul of You-Know-Who has attached himself upon said teacher.  This teacher, being controlled by You-Know-Who did indeed attack Harry Potter under the Hogwarts Castle, but Harry, by magic unknown, managed to live through an attack from You-Know-Who once again.  Albus Dumbledore did indeed manage to get to the battle between the unnamed teacher, and Mr. Potter, and saved him.  As far as is known now, Harry Potter is in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry recovering.  He is still in critical condition, but, according to Madam Pomfrey, is indeed to live.

"Wow, you guys.  This was the second time that my dad survived Voldemort.  He never told me about this.  So, if my dad hasn't said anything to me about this attack, I wonder how much more I don't know about.  Alice, did you find anything in the second pile?" asked James.

"No, nothing really interesting yet.  I did see an article about a flying car, but nothing else yet.  I'll keep looking."

"Thanks," replied James.  "What about you Tom?  Have you found anything?"

"Yeah, loads, but they aren't about your dad.  The articles are all about Sirius Black and his breakout of Azkaban.  Apparently he was a mass murderer.  I would suggest to talk to your dad about that one.  There is also an article in this pile about how there was a Hippogriff that was supposed to be executed, but managed to escape, and how Sirius Black yet again escaped the Dementors and the Dementor's kiss.  I really think you should write to your dad and see what he has to say about all this.  Isn't Sirius Black attached to your family some how?" asked Tom.

"Yeah, I'll talk to my dad about all that.  Hopefully he'll tell me what really happened, if he knows at all."

"Ok.  I've finished with this pile, and I am going to move onto the fourth pile now.  But, do you think that maybe we should get Al and Rose to come and help us here.  It might go faster if we have some more people looking," suggested Tom.

"Yeah, sure.  Why don't you go find them before you move on.  Then I'll help Alice go through the rest of her pile," said James.

"Ok, that is fine," replied Tom.  "Alice, why is it taking you so long to get through your stack of papers?  Are you going through the whole paper, or just the first three pages?"

"The whole paper!" said Alice, a little exasperated.

James and Tom started to snicker, "You only have to look through the first two or three pages.  Those are the only pages that have real news on them.  If it was something that we were going to be looking for it would probably be on the first page."  Tom was trying to be quiet as he laughed, because they were starting to get evil looks from the librarian.

"Oh, well, now you tell me!" huffed Alice.

So, as Tom went to find Albus and Rose, James and Alice continued to go through the old Daily Prophet articles.

Alice and James tried to get through her pile as quickly as possible.  After what seemed, again, like hours, James came across something that seemed interesting.

"Look at this," he said to Alice.

CHAMBER OF SECRETS: Fact or Fiction

Yet again Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has been aflicted by the Slytherin Heir and the Chamber of Secrets has been opened.  The last time this happened it was fifty years ago, and the student in question, Rubeus Hagrid, was expelled from the school after a young girl died.  This time Hagrid has been taken to Azkaban, yet the Chamber has been opened yet again, and this time a young first year student, Ginny Weasley, has been taken into the chamber.  We have been assured that Gilderoy Lockhart knows where the entrance of the Chamber is, and is ready, able, and willing to retreive the young Weasley girl from the Chamber. 

"Oh wow, James.  Looks like it wasn't just your dad who was famous in this school.  Isn't Ginny Weasley your mom?" asked Alice.

"Yeah, she is..." said James in a troubled voice.  "Let's keep looking, and see if we can find more on the subject.  This can't be all the reporting they did on this event."

It took no longer than five minutes and they had found another article about the Chamber of Secrets.

POTTER A HERO: The Weasley Girl Saved

As was reported, the Chamber of Secrets has been opened yet again.  A young first year Hogwarts student, Ginny Weasley, had been taken into the Chamber, and none other than Gilderoy Lockhart was boasting of his intent to save her.  However, it seems that Harry Potter, the boy who lived, is the one who is responsible for saving the young Weasley girl.  Ronald Weasley, the girls older brother, gives us a first hand report.

'Harry and I knew that it was my sister down in the Chamber, and that Professor Lockhart was going to save her.  We went to his office because we had indeed found the enterance to the Chamber of Secrets with the help of our great friend, Hermione Granger, of course. The girl who was killed fifty years ago still lives in the Hogwarts Castle, and is known as Moaning Mertle.  She lives in second floor girls lav.  Any way, as I was saying, Harry and I went to find Lockhart packing his bags, and so we made sure to take him with us to save my sister.  We got to the toilet and Harry, being a parsletongue, opened the chamber, and down the three of us went.  Turns out that Lockhart was just a big fake, because he stole my broken wand and tried to do a memory charm on us, but my wand backfired and that is why he has no idea who he is.  Well, there was a cave in and Harry and I got seperated.  Harry went on to save my sister, and I tried my best to clear the rocks while I waited for Harry.  After, oh, I'd say at least an hour, he came back with Ginny, and he had The Sorting Hat and Fawks the Phoienix with him.  Fawks then flew us back up the tunnel to the girls toilet, and now we are fine.  That is how you are talking to us now.'

So there you have it, folks.  Harry Potter is a hero and saved Ginny Weasley from the Chamber of Secrets.

As James was reading the article Tom had returned with Albus and Rose.  

"Hey you two.  Guess what I found?" asked James.

"What?" asked Rose.

"I found this article about my mom and dad, and your dad, Rose.  Your mom was mentioned too, but only in passing," explained James.

"Woah," exclaimed Rose.  "Hey, I recognize that car!" Rose was pointing to the article about the flying car.  "My dad told me all about that.  Him and Uncle Harry had, for some reason, been blocked from the barrier to platform nine and three-quarters, and so instead of waiting for Grandmum and Granddad Weasley they took the flying car, that Granddad had made, and flew it all the way to Hogwarts.  They landed the car in the Whomping Willow, and then the car took off.  It apparently saved their life too, but dad turns all green when mom brings that up.  I still don't know why."

"Our dad is way more cool than he makes himself out to be," said Al.  

"No kidding!" said James.  "What about these other years?  We still have to look through dad's fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh years at school.  I wonder what dad really did?" James was more upset with his dad than in awe, like Al, because he would have like to learn all these things from his dad, and not from old newspaper articles.  "Does anyone else want to read this article?" asked James.

"Sure!" said Rose and Al at the same time.  The two of them took the article from James and went to a different table to read it.  

*   *   *

Tom went through the pile for Harry's fourth year at school, Alice went through his fifth year, James went through his sixth year and Rose and Al went through the seventh year.  The five of them realized that as time went on the state of the wizarding world just kept getting worse.  Once they had all gone through their piles they each shared what they found.  Tom started.

"Ok, so the first real headline that I found that seemed interesting was about the Quidditch World Cup.  Didn't you say last year that your dad went to that?"

"Yeah," answered James.

"Well," said Tom, "apparently there was something called the dark mark that was shot up into the sky.  You might want to talk to your dad about that too."

"Ok, anything else?" asked James.

"Yeah, loads!  There is an article here about your Granddad, although they got his name wrong.  I was pretty sure his name was Arthur, right?"

"Yes, that is right," replied Rose.

"Well, here, read this.

FURTHER MISTAKES AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC

It seems as though the Ministry of Magic's troubles are not yet at an end, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. Recently under fire for its poor crowd control at the Quiddithc World Cup, and still unable to account for the disappearance of one of its witches, the Ministry was plunged into fresh embarrassment yesterday by the antics of Arnold Weasley, of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office." Arnold Weasley, who was charged with possession of a flying car two years ago, was yesterday involved in a tussle with several Muggle law-keepers ("policemen") over a number of highly aggressive dustbins. Mr. Weasley appears to have rushed to the aid of "Mad-Eye" Moody, the aged ex-Auror who retired from the Ministry when no longer able to tell the difference between a handshake and attempted murder. Unsurprisingly, Mr. Weasley found, upon arrival at Mr. Moody's heavily guarded house, that Mr. Moody had once again raised a false alarm. Mr. Weasley was forced to modify several memories before he could escape from the policemen, but refused to answer Daily Prophet questions about why he had involved the Ministry in such an undignified and potentially embarrassing scene.

"See what I mean?" asked Tom.  

"Yes I do," replied Rose.  She was really upset about the fact that the newspaper got the name of her Granddad wrong.

"Also," continued Tom, "it seems that there was this thing called the 'Tri-Wizard Tournament' held at the school with two other schools, Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and Durmstrang Institute.  Chosen from Beauxbatons was Fleur Delacour, from Durmstrang was Victor Krum and from Hogwarts was Cedric Diggory, a Hufflepuff, and your dad."

"Fleur Delacour?" asked Rose.

"Yes, I believe that is right... yes," replied Tom.

"That's our Aunt.  She married Uncle Bill.  Fleur Delacour is Victoire's mother."

"Wow James, your whole family is famous!" said Alice.  They were learning so much.

"There is more," said Tom.  "Apparently, James, a woman named Rita Skeeter seems to think that your dad was in love with Rose's mom.  It says so right here.  

Harry has at last found love at Hogwarts.  His close friend, Colin Creevey, says that Harry is rarely seen out of the company of one Hermione Granger, a stunniingly pretty Muggle-born girl who, like Harry, is one of the top students in the school...

"And then it continues more down here in this article,

A boy like none other, perhaps - yet a boy suffereing all the usual pangs of adolescence, writes Rita Skeeter.  Deprived of love ever since the tragic demise of his parents fourteen-year-old Harry Potter thought he had found solace in his steady girl firned at Hogwarts Muggle-born Hermione Granger...

Since the arrival at Hogwarts of Victor Krum, Bulgarian seeker and winner of the snitch in the last Quidditch World Cup, Miss Granger has been toying with both boys affections...

"That is a load of dragon dung," said Rose.  "I've asked my mom, and she says that she has always loved my dad.  And, I asked her about Uncle Harry too, and she said she only ever loved him as a friend.  This Rita Skeeter woman doesn't know what she is talking about.  She didn't even get my Granddad's name right.  I don't like her!"  Rose was getting all worked up.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" yelled James.  He was so upset that his father was not the one to tell him about all these events in his life.  "I don't want to hear any more.  I am going to write to my dad, tonight, and hear what he has to say about the events of HIS life."  

Alice and Tom were a little taken aback about the whole situation.  They couldn't believe that James was getting so upset.  These things were really cool, that Harry had done in his life.  Alice, specifically, thought that James would be proud of his father, not upset with him.  

Rose and Albus, on the other hand, understood James completely.  They, too, were upset about finding out about Harry's life through the Daily Prophet.

"Excuse me?" Rose said to the librarian.  "Would you like us to put these away?"

"Vat's fine, dear," the librarian replied.  "If I do it me self, it'll be done pro'erly."  She shooed the five students away from the piles of newspapers, and with a wave of her wand they started to float over to where they belonged.

The five of them walked silently (the long way) back to the Gryffendor common room.  They were so busy going through the Daily Prophet articles that they missed lunch, and they were all starving.  It was not long until dinner, so they decided to go clear their heads.  

James was thinking about what he was going to say to his dad.  He didn't want to seem angry, even though he was, because he wanted his dad to be truthful with him.  Everything he started in his head just didn't sound right.  He would have to wait for a little while, and cool off from his anger.  Hopefully a nice meal in the great hall would calm him down and clear his head.  

Chapter 5 for Nano!

Chapter 5 - The Secret Passage Way

James woke up the next morning feeling refreshed.  He looked around his room filled with four other beds.  The five four-poster beds had scarlet curtains hanging from the corners of them.  James saw that Tom still had his curtains drawn which meant that he was still sleeping.  The three other beds had boys named Jeffery Jordan (son of Lee Jordan), Hayden Sept, and Logan Fredrichs, in them.  They were all snoring away.  September 1st this year was on a Friday, so everyone had Saturday and Sunday to get reacquainted with the castle, and the first years had orientation where they were shown where all their classes were.  James remembered his orientation from his first year, and he got so confused.  He remembered trying to find Professor Flitwick's charms classroom by the library and would end up in the transfiguration courtyard.  

James took this time to check out the Maurders Map that Teddy had given him.  He dug it out of his clothes from the day before, and grabbed his wand.  He then drew the curtains on his four-poster bed so that no one could see what he was up to.  James very carefully unfolded the old piece of parchment and said, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good," and tapped the map with his wand.

Right before his eyes the map came to life.  It seemed to be a map of the Hogwarts castle.  He could see everything in the castle on this old piece of parchment, and he also noticed that there were little footprints that looked as if they were walking around, and their name was floating above the footprints.  James looked for the Gryffendor tower, and he found it.  He could see himself in his bed up in the boys dormitory.  This was the coolest thing that James had ever seen.  He looked down the grand staircase and saw that Mr. Goyle was pacing in the entrance by the Great Hall.  James couldn't help but giggle a little bit.  Mr. Goyle was the Castle Caretaker.  Apparently he went to school with James' dad, and so he had some kind of grudge against James because he had a grudge against Harry when they were in school.  But, this map would help James steer clear of Goyle, and that was a great help.  

James also noticed that there were a few secret passageways in the castle.  There seemed to be five different portraits on the grand staircase that would lead you to other places in the castle.  There was one that was on the second floor landing of the grand staircase that seemed to lead right to the library.  James was very curious to find out how that secret passage way worked.  Once he figured them all out he was sure to never be late for another class again.  James got more and more excited at the prospect of knowing all the secret passage ways when he suddenly remembered that him, Tom and Alice were going to go to the library today to look up old Daily Prophet articles about his dad.  James decided that he was going to get up for breakfast, so he tapped the map again and said, "Mischief Managed."  James folded up the parchment and put it away safely in his trunk.  

As James walked down the grand staircase, he noticed the portrait on the second floor landing.

"Excuse me?  What is your name?" asked James

"Pardon me?  Oh, my name is Basil Von Fronsac," replied the portrait.

"Ok, Mr. Von Fronsac, do you guard a secret passage way?" asked James, hesitantly.  He didn't want anyone to over hear him talking to the portrait.

"Well, young sir, I do indeed.  But, before you may pass, you must find me the answer to a question.  As I am a Ravenclaw myself, I am always wanting students to learn and acquire more information.  So, my quest for you, young sir, is to discover where Rowena Ravenclaw came from."

"Ok, I will find out that information.  Thank you Mr. Von Fronsac."

"You are welcome, young sir.  Please, tell me, what is your name?" asked the portrait

"I am James Potter, sir."

"You wouldn't happen to be a descendent of Harry Potter, now would you James?" asked the portrait.

"I'm his son, actually," said James a little flushed.

"Well, your father knew these passage ways well.  I hope that you discover the answer I am looking for.  Good luck on your journey, Mr. Potter."

James was baffled.  He could just find out where Rowena Ravenclaw came from and he would have a secret passage way open to him, that took him right to Charms and the Library.  That would cut off so much time for him to get to his classes.  Now all James had to do was find a Ravenclaw student who would know the answer and tell him the answer.  James assumed that most of the Ravenclaw's knew where their founder came from, but the trick was getting them to tell him.

James continued down the grand staircase to the great hall for breakfast.  As he walked down the stairs he noticed another rather large portrait on the first floor landing.  James made a mental note to go and talk to him, to see if he led anywhere else in the castle.

James walked right into the grand hall, and as he did so he noticed Rose already up and dressed and eating her breakfast.  

"Hi Rose," said James as he approached her.

"Oh, hi James.  Orientation is today, so I wanted to make sure that I wouldn't be late," said Rose.  James wondered why she offered this explanation without being asked.

"Hey Rose, you're smart, right?  Do you happen to know where Rowena Ravenclaw came from?" asked James, thinking that Rose just might know, and he wouldn't have to go ask a Ravenclaw student.

"Why, yes, actually.  I do know.  I was reading, Hogwarts, A History for some light reading -"

"LIGHT reading?  You are so much like your mother!" exclaimed James.

" - and I came across information about each one of the founders.  It is believed that Rowena Ravenclaw hailed from Great Glen in Scotland.  Why do you want to know?" Rose was looking more and more curious.

"Oh, no reason.  Just a little bit of knowledge gathering.  You know...wanting to learn a little more about Hogwarts."  James was starting to get antsy because of Rose's question.

"Well, if you really want to know more, you should really read Hogwarts, A History.  It is just packed with all kinds of information.  It even tells you why the ceiling here in the great hall looks like it does.  It was bewitched to look like the sky outside.  Very interesting fact in that book.  I'll let you borrow my copy if you would like."

"Ummm, sure Rose.  Just leave it in the common room for me.  I'll read it right away," said James absentmindedly.  He was actually curious about the book, because he thought it might give him more information on the castle.  

James, not wanting to seem suspicious, proceeded to eat his breakfast.  The kitchen staff had made eggs, toast and bacon for breakfast, which usually James loved to eat, but he was very distracted.  He so desperately wanted to go back to that portrait on the grand staircase to deliver his information.

Finally James finished his breakfast and he made his way out of the great hall.  Rose had finished her breakfast before James, and he was pretty sure that she went up to get that book for him.  

As James approached the portrait he started to feel his heart race.  James checked to make sure that there was no one around to see him, and he approached the portrait once again.

"Excuse me, Mr. Von Fronsac?" 

"Yes?" 

"The answer to your question is that Rowena Ravenclaw came from Great Glen in Scotland," James said confidently.

"That is correct, Mr. Potter.  Now, if you ever want to pass through my portrait all you have to say is, 'Studious Success'.  And remember, a healthy mind is an inquisitive mind."

"Thank you Mr. Von Fronsac.  I promise to keep learning!" James bounded up the staircase back up to the Gryffendor tower.

"Flibbitygibbit," said James to the portrait of the fat lady.

She swung open and James ran up to his and Tom's room.

"Tom, Tom, Tom!  Wake up, Tom!" hollered James.

"Whuddya want?" asked Tom a little upset that he had been woken up.

"Get up, get up!  I have to show you something!  I wish that we could get into the girls side to get Alice.  She will want to see this!"  James was all excited about the new secret passage way that was open to them.  He wanted to share it with his friends as soon as he could.

"Alright, alright.  Keep your pants on.  I'm getting up!  What could be so important that you had to wake me out of a dream where I just won the Quidditch World Cup?" asked Tom.

"You were playing Quidditch in your dream?" asked James, a little surprised.

"No, no.  I was the owner of the team.  It was great!"

"Fine, whatever.  Come on!" James said impatiently.

The two boys hurried out of the common room and down the stairs.  They stopped infront of the portrait of Basil Von Fronsac.

"What are we doing here?" asked Tom.

"You'll see," answered James.  "Studious Success," James said to the portrait.

"You may pass, Mr. Potter" answered the portrait, and it swung open.  James and Tom climbed through the entrance behind the portrait.  It was a dark tunnel, but it was high enough that the boys could walk upright.  James, who was in the front, stretched his arms out to feel in front of him to make sure they didn't walk into any walls.  Before their eyes adjusted to the dark James felt a door in front of him.  He pushed, and the two boys were in a different corridor.  

"Wow!  This leads right to Charms, and the Library," said Tom in wonder.

"Yeah, I guess it does!" answered James.  He wasn't quite ready to tell Tom about the Maurder's Map just yet.

"How did you know about this?" asked Tom.

"Well, I just had a feeling that this portrait was blocking something, so I thought I would ask him.  Turned out I was right."  James was getting that nervous feeling again, hoping that Tom would just let that explination be enough.

"You were right, Alice will be upset that she missed this.  Let's go into the Library first and see if they have those old daily prophet articles, and then we will go and find Alice."

"Sure, Tom," replied James.

The two boys made their way down the second floor corridor, and to the Library.

When they got there they went to the librarian.  She was an old, sharp featured witch.  Her hair was all frazzled and her nose was long and pointy with a hairy wart on the end of it.  She resembled what muggles so often sterotype as a witch.  James was quite afriad of her, because she was not very nice.  Her library had to be quiet at all times, and she would get after those students who would whisper among themselves.

"Excuse me?" asked James to the librarian.

"Can I 'elp you?" asked the librarian, in a cackley voice.

"Yes, we were wondering if you kept records of the old daily prophets.  We are looking specifically from 1991 to 1997.  Do you have those?"

"I fink so, bu' I need to go frough 'em firs'.  Come back in an 'our an' I'll 'ave 'em for ya," she replied.  James was a little concerned as to why she was being so nice.

"It's alwasy so nice to see fose younguns wan'in' to learn," James heard her mumbling as she walked away.  James just knew that he would have to be nice and quiet when him, Tom and Alice came back.  

As the boys turned to leave the library they saw another portrait that was quite low to the ground.  James wondered if it guarded a secret passage way too.  Instead of waiting until he had his map again, he thought it wouldn't hurt to ask the portrait.

"Hello?" James asked the portrait.

"What do you want?" asked the portrait back.

"Do you guard a secret passage way?" asked Tom

"Yes, I do, but it is only for teachers and staff memebers.  Why?" asked the portrait.

"Well," said James, "we were hoping to use your portrait as a short cut around the castle.  Is there any way that we can get the password?"

"I really do enjoy the news.  If you bring me a headline from the daily prophet, then I just may give you the password... as long as the headline is a good and juicy one."

"Ok!  Thank you so much!" said James.  

James and Tom quickly got out of the library and headed back to the portrait of Basil Von Fronsac.

"Studious Success," said James quietly.

"A healthy mind is an inquisitive mind," replied the portrait as it swung open.  

James and Tom bounded up the grand staircase, once through the portrait, and headed towards the Gryffendor common room.  

Rose was in the common room, and James got a great idea.

"Hi Rose." 

"Oh, hi James.  I have that book for you here, if you would like it."

"Thank you.  Ummm... Rose?  Would you be able to go up to the girls dormatory and see if Alice is still up there?" asked James.

"Sure," replied Rose, and she was off, up the stairs to retreive Alice.

Sure enough, Alice was still sleeping, and was rather unimpressed at being woken up.

"Alice, we need to show you something, and we have asked the librarian to look up those old Daily Prophet articles for us.  Get dressed and we can get you something to eat, then head back to the Library.  We, also have something really wicked to show you.  You are going to love it," explained James excitedly.

"Fine," said Alice, in a rather foul mood.  "But it had better be good!"  Alice slowly made her way up to her room, and after what the boys thought was forever, she was back downstairs, with her long blond hair pulled back in the typical Alice-type braid.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" asked Alice in a harsh tone.  "I'm hungry.  Let's go get some breakfast.

The three of them headed down the grand staircase once again to the great hall.  When James and Tom saw the portrait of Basil Von Fronsac they just looked at eachother and smiled.  They were both so happy to have an easier way around the castle.

After Alice ate her breakfast, rather quickly because of the boys prodding her to hurry up, the three of them got up once again, and were heading up the grand staircase.

"Where are we going?" asked Alice.  "We need to go this way to get to the Library."  She was pointing up to the left side of the grand staircase.  

"Just trust us," reassured Tom as him and James headed up the right side.  

"Ok," said Alice, but she was not so sure that the boys knew what they were doing.

When they reached the portrait of Basil Von Fronsac James quietly said, "Studious Success" and the portrait swung open.  Alice's eyes were as big as saucers.  

"Where does this lead?" she asked.

"You'll see," replied James.

The three of them made their way through the tunnel to the second floor corridor.  

"Wow!" exclaimed Alice.  "We are right by Charms and the Library!"

"Yup!" said James with a bit of pride in his tone.

"That is so cool.  Do you know if there are any more?" asked Alice.

"Well, we know for sure that there is one behind that funny portrait in the Library, but we need to bring him a good and juicy headline from the Daily Prophet first.  I looked in today's issue, but there wasn't anything good," explained James.  He didn't want to admit that he knew there were at least five more that they hadn't found yet, because that would mean that he would have to tell them about the Maurder's Map.  James wanted to keep that his own little secret for just a little bit longer.

"Wicked," whispered Alice.

Chapter 4 for Nano. Up to 12000+ words

Chapter 4 - The Sorting!

The five students enjoyed their ride to Hogwarts together.  Soon it was almost over and they were nearing Hogsmeade Village where the train stopped.  Hogsmeade Village is the only remaining all wizard community, and when Hogwarts students reach their third year, they are able to visit the village.

"We had better get our school robes on.  We're nearly there," said Tom excitedly.

"I'm already wearing mine," said Rose.  "I'll wait here, while you guys change."

"All right," said James.  "Thanks Rose.  But...are you sure you don't want me to wait here with you until one of the others come back?"  James whispered the request in Rose's ear so they others couldn't hear.

"Ummm... if you want to," said Rose tentatively.  "You don't have to though."  The look in Rose's eyes told James that he was just trying to be brave, and that she would feel a lot better if he did stay.

"You guys go on," said James.  "I am just going to stay here a little longer.  I really like watching the village approach."

After everyone else left to change into their robes Rose spoke up.

"Why did you cover for me?  You didn't have to do that!" demanded Rose getting tense.

"Well, you were trying to be brave and I didn't think you wanted the others to know that you were afra - no, more nervous, to be on your own.  I understand completely!" answered James calmly.  Rose seemed to relax a bit after James' explanation.

"Oh... well... Thanks, then."

Just then Albus came back into the compartment looking rather smart in his new robes.

"That was quick!" exclaimed Rose.

"Uh, yeah.  That Scorpius kid was changing too so I made it quick and came back here before he could recognize me.  That and I didn't  really want to be walking around alone.  It is a little nerve wracking when you are by yourself around all these other people you don't know."  Albus looked a little sheepish as he gave his explanation.

"Trust me, Al, when I say that I know what you mean," replied Rose.

Alice was the next to return and then James when to put on his robes.  

When James got to the dressing area he came across a slimy looking boy with blond hair, and a mouse type face.  He was mumbling to himself.

"Find some other's who are big and stupid in your house.  Once you have 'followers' you'll be untouchable."

James had to muffle a snicker as he strode by.  He assumed that he had just seem the Malfoy boy.  Harry didn't usually talk about his experiences in school, but when he did he always mentioned a spineless annoyance of a class mate named Draco Malfoy.  He assumed that Scorpius had learned that little piece of advice from his dad.  James would have to tell his dad about it.  He knew that Harry would get a kick out of it.  Probably his Uncle Ron too.

James changed quickly and hurried back to his compartment to meet up with everyone to tell them what he had heard.  When he got there he was met by that same mouse faced boy.

"You must be the other Potter!" the boy spat as he said Potter.  "I've heard all about your muggle loving family.  Dirty lot, all of you!"

"And you are... ?" asked James

"Malfoy, Scorpius Malfoy." replied the boy.

"Well, Malfoy, push off.  There isn't enough room for you and your 'followers' here!" replied James with a smirk.

Malfoy turned a bright shade of pink, knowing that James had over heard him talking to himself.  "You just watch your back, Potter.  You think you are so good and wonderful because of your family, but I'll show you.  Just you wait Potty-Potter.  I'll show you!"  Malfoy then turned sharply and stalked off.

Al looked at James with a look of awe.  "How did you do that James?  He got so flustered."

James told Al, and everyone else what he had heard Scorpius say.  One he finished his story everyone was doubled over with laughter.  James started laughing too, not only at the story, but at how silly everyone else looked too.

"You mean he actually said that?" asked Alice through a fit of giggles.

James was just about to answer when the train came to a stop.

"I guess we're here," said James.  "You two have fun on the boats with Hagrid and we'll see you after you're sorted."  James gave Rose a quick hug to let her know that he understood her fear.  Then James gave Al another playful kick in the leg.

"If you're in Slytherin I'll still talk to you... Sometimes!" laughed James.  Albus just looked more nervous.  "Oh, you'll be fine!  Stop worrying!" said James in an exasperated tone.  With that James, Alice and Thomas walked off the train.

"Firs' years *cough*.  Firs' years this way. *cough cough*" called the familiar voice of the Potter family's part giant friend, Rubeus Hagrid.  It sounded as though Hagrid had a cold.

"All righ' there James?" asked Hagrid as he tried to stifle a coughing fit.  

"Hi Hagrid!  I'm doing well, better than you sound.  You are going to be getting my little brother, Albus, or Al, with you on the boats today!" hollered James over the crowd.

"Another boy o' 'Arry Potter!" said Hagrid quite calmly, almost regally.

"We'll be seeing you Hagrid.  Bye!" shouted James over his shoulder as he ran to the carriages that looked like they were pulling themselves.  Really there were sometimes invisible horse-type creatures, called Thestrals, pulling the carriage.  Once you had seen death you could also see a Thestral, so there were usually negative connotation about seeing one.  

James, Alice and Tom and two rather scruffy students from a different house (James assumed Hufflepuff because of the flashed of yellow he saw under their cloaks) sat in the carriage.  They two mystery students just gave James a look of complete awe, mixed with shock and fear, so the other three just left them alone.  

The five students sat together in silence for the entire ride up to the glorious castle.  As soon as it came into view James could see the towers and turrets that distinguished the Hogwarts Castle from so many others.  The carriage was pulled up the long and winding walk, past the boat house, up towards the Whomping Willow, and the great stone viaduct.

Once, the Carriage pulled up in front of the entrance courtyard they students were let off the carriage and sent into the castle.  The entrance courtyard was all stone and then they had to make their way up the giant steps to the castle and into the large front doors.  The students milled through the grand entrance in front of the grand staircase as they slowly made their way across into the great hall.

In the great hall there were four long tables that stretched the length of the hall.  There was one table for each house.  The farthest to the left was the Ravenclaw house table.  Next to it was the Gryffendor house table, and then the Hufflepuff house table.  Finally, farthest to the right was the Slytherin table.  Each student made their way to the house that they belonged to.  Up at the front of the room was another long table that was going perpendicular to the house tables.  It was the teacher's table.  In the middle was a very stern looking witch with her grey hair pulled back tightly in a bun.  She was wearing emerald green robes that made her look like she was very important, and in fact she was.  The woman in the emerald green robes was Minerva McGonnagal, the current Headmaster for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  Once everyone was seated the doors to the great hall opened once again and in came a witch who looked remarkably like the headmaster.  She was also wearing her hair back in a tight bun and was wearing deep purple robes.  Behind her were a line of all the first years.  They all looked so frightened.  Behind the first years was the big, hairy Hagrid.  He looked so haggard after his ride across the lake with the first years.  

Headmaster McGonnagal brought a ragged looking wizard hat and put it on the stool at the front of the room.  

Suddenly it came alive and started to speak. 

"This year I am not going to sing an original song.  No.  No, this year we are going to sing the Hogwarts school song... together!"  The sorting hat seemed to have been able to see Headmaster McGonnagal roll her eyes and sigh.  "Ok, so everyone pick your own tune, and off we go!  All together now.

'Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something please,

Whether we be old and bald

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling

With some interesting stuff,

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we've forgot,

Just do your best, we'll do the rest, 

And learn until our brains all rot.'

"Very good everyone!" said Headmaster McGonnagal.  "We will now let the sorting begin.  Professor McGonnagal, if you will."  The Headmaster gestured to the witch in the purple robes in front of all the first years.  She was Professor Ashleigh McGonnagal.  She was Headmaster McGonnagal's niece, which is why they looked so similar.

"Thank you headmaster," replied Professor McGonnagal.

"Abbot, Jessica," called Professor McGonnagal, and a very nervous girl with bright blond hair made her way up to the stool.  Professor McGonnagal put the sorting hat on her head, and after a moment it shouted, "Hufflepuff!" and the entire Hufflepuff table erupted in cheers and applause.

"Beaucup, Stanley," called the professor.  A boy with very unkempt dirty blond hair and lots of freckles on his face, walked up to the stool.  He was trying to be careful, but he tripped going up the last step to the stool and the whole hall tried to cover their laughter, except the Slytherin table.  They laughed very hard.  Finally, he got up, sat on the stool, and the Sorting Hat called out, "Ravenclaw!"  There was applause from the Ravenclaw table as Stanley found his place.

There were lots of other names called but James wasn't really paying attention.  There were five boys and girls so far that had been called into Gryffendor, but James didn't know their names.  All he knew was that the hat called out, "Gryffendor," and then he was clapping with the rest of the Gryffendor house.

"Malfoy, Scorpius," called Professor McGonnagal.  That got James' attention.  He was really curious as to where this Malfoy boy would end up.  Most likely in Slytherin.

Professor McGonnagal put the Sorting Hat on his head.  The hat seemed to be thinking when it suddenly hollered out, "Slytherin!"  The whole of Slytherin cheered but James thought that was inevitable.  He then wondered if the Malfoy boy had the same fears about being in a different house that Albus did.

Finally, the name that James was waiting for.

"Potter, Albus," called the professor.

Albus walked very slowly up to the stool that the hat was sitting on.  He carefully climbed up onto the stool as Professor McGonnagal lowered the Sorting Hat onto his head.  The hat was barely on Al's head when the hat called out, "Gryffendor!"  

James was very happy about this.  He knew that he gave Albus a hard time quite often, but he really did want his little brother in his house.  Then he could watch out for him, but you would never hear James admit that.

There were a few more names that were called out before Professor McGonnagal got to his little cousin.

"Weasley, Rose," called Professor McGonnagal.  Rose very carefully walked up to the front to be sorted.  She was the last of the first years to go, so she seemed a little more nervous, knowing that everyone was watching and waiting for the sorting to be done so they could start their feast.  As she sat down she started to shake, but James knew that it wouldn't be long before she was down at her seat.  He was hoping that she would be put in Gryffendor, but she was so smart he wondered if she wouldn't end up in Ravenclaw.  Ravenclaws were all very wise.  James' father had once told him about the time that he had to find the Ravenclaw common room and to get in, it wasn't a password like it is for Gryffendor, but a riddle.  The question that Harry was asked when he went was, 'what came first, the pheonix or the flame?'  Harry said he was very thankful that his good friend Luna Lovegood, now Longbottom, was there because her answer was, 'the circle has no beginning.'  James thought that Rose could come up with answers like that to puzzling question.

"Gryffendor!" called out the sorting hat, and there was a look of relief on Rose's face.  She hopped down off the stool, and made her way to a seat between James and Albus.  

"Just a few things before we start our feast," said Headmaster McGonnagal.  "Mr. Goyle has asked me to remind you that the dungon to the left of potions will be closed off to students for more repair.  Also, a reminder to ALL students that the Forbidden Forest is off limits.  There are dangerous things in there that can, and will hurt you, so steer clear of that area of the castle grounds.  And, lastly, our kitchen staff would ask that you do not bring any dishes into your dormatory rooms.  They do not want to frighten you when they come to retrieve them.  And, now... let us eat!"  Headmaster McGonnagal waved her hand and all five tables in the great hall were covered in delicious food.  There was roast beef, and roast pork, roast chicken, lamb chops, sausages and steak.  There was also quite the array of vegatables and three different kind of potatoes, and yorkshire puddings.  

Once everyone had eaten till they were about to burst, Headmaster McGonnagal waved her hand, and all the dinner dishes vanished and in their place were plates and plates of sweets, cakes and puddings.  

James looked over at Albus and he looked like he was in heaven.  Their mother was a good cook, and they never went hungry at home, but there was also not this many choices of anything at home.  What their mother made is what they ate.  This was Al's first time really being able to choose what he wanted to eat and what he wanted to leave, while still getting all the different kinds of food.  

"If this is what supper is like, what is breakfast like?" asked Albus.  Breakfast was easily his favorite meal of the day.

"It all depends on what is prepared for breakfast, but I was never disappointed last year," replied James.

Finally, Headmaster McGonnagal waved her hand one more time and the tables were clear.  "And, now that everyone's tummy's are full, it is time for bed.  So, find your prefects, and off to bed, all of you!"

James knew how to get up to the common room from last year, so he grabbed Albus and Rose and led them out of the great hall followed by Alice and Tom.  The Gryffendor common room was on the seventh floor, so there were lots of stairs to climb.  

"The thing about the great staircase is that there are some staircases that move and there were also a few trick steps, that would change on the different staircases.  So, you had to be careful finding your way around the castle," explained to Al and Rose as he led them up the stairs to the portrait of the fat lady.  She was the one who guarded the Gryffendor common room.  Just as the five of them were walking down the corridor to the portrait, they found the prefects who had the new passwords.  

"Flibbitygibbit," said the prefect.  The portrait swung open to reveal a cozy looking room with cushy chairs around the fire, and tables in the back corners.  In the middle of the back wall of the room was a great twisting staircase that led up to the dormatories.  Boys were off to the right, and girls were off to the left.

"Well, what about our things?" asked Albus.  Rose, hearing his question, also turned to James, nodding her head.

"Don't worry.  Our owls are already up at the owlry, and our trunks are up in our rooms.  It is very nice that we don't have to lug our trunks up here, don't you think?" asked James.

"Yes, but how do they get up here?  Someone must have to lug them up here?" said Rose.

"You forget that we are at a school for wizards and witches.  Plus, there are house elves that work here and they just levitate the luggage to where it needs to go," explained James.

"HOUSE ELVES?" screeched Rose.  "My mother told me all about how they mistreat those poor creatures!"  Rose looked angry.  

"Well, I'll tell you what.  Why don't we try to find one tomorrow morning and we can ask them.  I would think that they are treated fairly here," James argued back.  

Rose looked a little happier with James' idea, but she still seemed rather unhappy with the whole situation.  James hoped she wouldn't talk to other students about her feelings about house elves.  

"Well, good night.  I am beat.  See you in the morning, Alice, Al, Rose." said James as he made his way up the stairs to his dormatory room.  He really was tired, and hoped that he would have a good nights rest.