Chapter 1 for Nano

So, here's the first chapter of my novel for Nano.  Enjoy!

The sun shone down on a seemingly regular blue house in the seemingly regular town of Godrick's Hollow.  James Potter was lying in bed waiting to hear his father's footsteps down the hall.  James did not want to wake up his father on this very special day.  Today his father would be 36 years old.

James was not a regular boy, from a regular family.  James was a wizard and so was his whole family.  

James looked a lot like his faterh, with his untidy black hair and green eyes.  James' father, Harry, had a lightening shaped scar on his forhead though, that he got when he was just a baby.

James finally heard his fathers' footsteps going down the hall and James got up out of bed and got dressed.

As James headed down towards the kitchen in his parents' home he heard a sharp knock on the back door and a tall, lanky boy walked into the house.

"Mornin Uncle Harry.  Happy Birthday!"

"Morning Teddy.  You're here early!"

"I didn't want to miss your birthday breakfast.  Aunt Ginny's food is too good to pass up.  Mornin James!"

James had just gotten into the kitchen to see Teddy running towards him to give him a playful punch.

"Ow.  Mornin to you too!  Happy Birthday Dad.  Are we the only ones up?" asked James to his father.

"No, your mom will be down in a minute.  She said she had something to do before starting breakfast."

James spotted a big fat envelope with a red seal on the table.

"Is this our Hogwarts letter?" asked James eagerly.  "Can I open it?"

"No, not until your little brother gets down here.  That letter is for him too."

"Ok, but can I open it?"

"I suppose," replied Harry.  James had picked up the letter and started picking at the seal.  "NOT until Al gets down for breakfast!"

James slowly put the letter down on the table.  As he was doing so his mother, Ginny, walked into the kitchen.  Ginny had long red hair and freckles along her cheeks and nose.  James thought she was the most beautiful waman in the whole wide world.  

Behind Ginny James' little sister, Lilly, skipped into the room.  Lilly looked remarkably like her mother.  Long red hair, but she had her father's green eyes.  

"Mornin mum, mornin dad.  Happy Birthday!" said Lilly as she sat down at the table beside Teddy giving him a hug.  "What's for breakfast?"

"Ask your father," replied Ginny.  "It is his birthday.  Speaking of which..."  Ginny wrapped her arms around Harry's neck and gave him a big kiss.  "Happy Birthday dear."

"Yuck," said James under his breath.  He was happy that his parents loved eachother, but sometimes it was more than he could bare.

"Well," said Harry, "if it is my choice, then shall have fried tomatoes, bacon and toast!  James, go to the garden and pick some big tomatoes for your mother.  Make sure to get enough for everyone...Teddy IS here."

"Just because I'm a growing boy...erm...Man, doesn't mean you get to poke fun at me for being so," retorted Teddy.

"Oh yes I can if it is my food you are eating," Harry joked back.

Teddy was Harry's godson and he loved the Potters very much.  Back when Harry was 17 Teddy's parents, Reamus Lupin and Dora Tonks, were killed in an epic battle between good and evil.  Even though good triumphed and Teddy's mum and dad fought hard, the did not make it to the end of the battle alive.  Teddy was now a wizard of age, he he lived on his own, but often came over for meals at the Potter's house.

James was very proud of his family, and especially his father.  Aside from Albus Dumbledore, who James' sniviley little brother, Al, was named for, Harry was the most well known and famous wizard in the world.  Harry faced Voldemort, the most powerful, feared dark wizard the world had ever seen not once, not twice, but at least nine times and managed to come away alive every time.  James himself only knew of three or four of those encounters.  The only small thorn in his side was his little brother Al, short for Albus.  They got on all right, but Al was starting Hogwarts this year and James wasn't sure he wanted Al taging along with him everywhere.

"Mornin everyone," yawned Al as he shuffled sleepily into the kitchen.  "Happy Birthday dad."

"Why thank you, sleepy head.  Thank you everyone.  Al do you see what is on the tab...er...James' hand?"  James had quickly snatched up the letter after he haphazardly piled the tomatoes on the counter for his mother.

"It is my letter from Hogwarts!  Finally, I was getting worried."

"But why?" asked Ginny?

"Because James told me that you get a letter del - ow, wuddya do that for? delivered to your room earlier in the year.  No owl came to my window to tell me, personally, that I was accepted, so I thought I wouldn't get to go this year."

"Tattle-Tale," muttered James as he tried to slink out of the kitchen.

"And where do you think you are going?" asked Ginny.  "James, stop filling your little brother's head with lies.  You know that the letter come at the end of July...ALWAYS.  And, Al, no matter what James told you, he didn't get a letter until this time last year either.  So, let's see.  Open them up.  What do we need?"

James was in his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry so he only needed a few books, but it was Al's first year so he needed all his supplies.

1st Year Students

Uniform

First year students will require

1. Three Sets of plain work robes

2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

4. One winter cloak (Black, sliver fastenings)

5. One set of dress robes (for winter ball)

Please note that all pupils' clothing should have name tags.

Books:

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The standard book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A beginners' guide to Trasfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spone

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them by Newt Scamander

The Dark forces: A guide to self-protection by Oventin Trimble

Other Equipment:

1 Wand

1 Cauldron (Pewter, standard size 2)

1 Set of glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set of brass scales

Students may bring an OWL, CAT or TOAD.

A reminder to parents that first year students are not permitted to bring a broomstick to school.

"So, I guess we will be making a trip to Diagon Alley right quick here then?" said James

"Yes James.  Maybe we can talk to Bill and Fleur and see if they want to meet us there with Victorie."  Ginny was looking out the window to the house next to them.  There was a family walking across the lawn to their home.

"Mornin everyone," boomed James' Uncle Ron.  Ron and Hermione Weasley with their two children, Rose and Hugo came into the kitchen and sat down at the table.  They were ready for Harry's birthday breakfast too.  "Did you get your Hogwarts letter this morning too?" asked Ron.

"Yes we did," said Al excitedly.  "I can't wait to get all my things for school.  What about you Rose?  Are you excited?"

Rose Weasley just quietly nodded her head.  Truth be told she was very nervous about going to Hogwarts.  She had been reading through her mother's old books, and didn't think she would be able to remember half of what was in them.

"Cummon Rose, let's go outside to look at my dad's old broom.  Mom, can you call us for breakfast when it is ready?" asked Al.

"Yes dear.  I can do that."

James went running after the two younger children, "Wait for me, I want to come too.  I'll tell you all about brooms Rose, if you want."

Hugo and Lilly were both too young to go to Hogwarts and they looked at Al's letter longingly.  

"Shall we go play, Hugo?" asked Lilly.

"Sure, why not.  The big kids won't let us anywhere near that broom anyway."  The two youngest cousins ran up the stairs to Lilly's room to play with her toys.

"So, when are we going to go to Diagon Alley?" Harry asked Ron.

"Why don't I send an owl to Bill and see when works for them.  Probably next week some time.  I'll let you know forsure when I hear from them.  Bill was just saying the other day how he really wanted to see our kids now that they were older.  It has been a while, now hasn't it?"  Ron started thinking about the last time that he had seen his brother, Bill, and his half veela sister-in-law, Fleur.  Ron always got a little silly when he was around Fleur.

"You said that you would be meeting up with Bill and Fleur and Victorie when you go to Diagon Alley?  Do you think I could come with you too?  I have a few things to pick up."

"Sure, Teddy dear," replied Ginny.  "It is always nicer to go to Diagon Alley together than by yourself.  Hopefully we'll get to see George at the joke shop!"  

"That would be great," replied Harry.

"Well, breakfast is ready.  Teddy would you please go get the three older ones from the broom shed?  Lilly, Hugo, breakfast time!"

Everyone gathered around the Potter's large oak table and enjoyed a wonderful feast prepared by Ginny.

Just then a large grey owl swooped into the kitchen and dropped a parcel in front of Harry.  Harry opened it up and there was a tin of toffee, and a note that read: 'Happy Birthday Harry.  Can't wait to meet another one of your children this year.  Loads of Love.  Hagrid.'

"That must be from Hagrid," said James excitedly.  "Only he sends stuff like that.  Al, you should try a piece.  See if it glues your jaw together."

"No, I am not going to fall for that...again," said Al defeatedly.