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As James climbed quietly back into his bed, his mind raced. He had never even considered that Tabitha Corsica might believe the things she said. He had assumed that she was supporting the Progressive Element propaganda because she fully accepted and endorsed their ultimate, dark goals. For a moment, he felt vaguely sorry for her. It was awful to think that someone like her might believe she was morally in the right, and that he, James Potter, and his father, were the evil ones. It was almost unthinkable, but not entirely. Outside, the moon was full and bright. James fell asleep with its beams on his face, pale and cool, his brow still slightly furrowed.
The next day, James, Zane, and Ralph rode the Hogwarts Express back to Platform Nine and Three Quarters. Zane's parents were there, along with his younger sister, Greer, who watched the gigantic crimson engine with naked awe. Standing near them, James spied his mum and dad, herding Albus and Lily along with them. He gri
As he joined the throng exiting the train, James fell in behind Ted. Ted, James noticed, was holding Victoire's hand.
"You're going to cause a load of trouble, you know," James said, gri
"It's a tough job, being this controversial," Ted said humbly, "but we all have our burdens to bear."
"My parents must not see us together," Victoire commanded. "Ted Lupin, don't you ruin everything. You know they won't approve. You will keep your mouth shut, too, James."
"Her accent is much more prominent when she's harping, isn't it?" Ted asked James.
James gri
James stopped inside the open door of the train, looking about the platform. Through the crowd of returning students, bustling porters and yelling family members, he saw Zane engulfed in the mutual hug of his pretty blonde mother and his tall, proud father. His sister was sucked into the embrace, as if against her will, happy to see her brother again but still enthralled by the crimson train. Ralph met his dad on the platform with a more restrained hug, both gri
"Dad says we'll be spending the summer in London! I'll be able to come and visit!"
"Excellent!" James yelled back happily.
And then, as he climbed down, James saw his own family watching for him. In the moment before they caught sight of him, James savored his own happiness. This was indeed home. He ran toward them, patting his jeans pocket to make sure the little doll Madame Delacroix had made of him was still there. It probably wouldn't mean anything, but there was no harm in it. No harm at all.
"James!" Albus cried, seeing him first. "Did you bring us anything? You promised!"
"What am I? Father Christmas?" James answered, laughing as Albus and Lily nearly bowled him over.
"You promised! You promised us Licorice Wands from the cart lady!"
"And Cauldron Cakes for Rose and Hugo," Harry added, gri
"Wow, word sure travels fast. All right, all right, I've got stuff for everybody!" James admitted. He emptied his pockets, filling Albus' and Lily's hands with sweets. He pulled the voodoo doll out last and looked at it a bit uncertainly.
"What in the world is that, James?" Gi
James' face broke into a grin. "It's for you, Mum. I thought you'd like to keep it when I went off to school next year. You know, to remember me by."
Gi
James shrugged, effecting disinterest as the family began to make their way into the main terminal. "I don't know. Whatever. It's… you know, worth a try, I suppose."
Gi
THE END