Title: Treading in Your Footsteps: The Potter Way
Author: Nearly Perfect
Summary: Harry is tired of being an Auror Brat.
Special A/N: Okay um...I'm an idiot. I didn't know I had the Email Alert disabled so when I didn't have anything in my inbox I thought no one reviewed and deleted my story to post it again...not seeing the three I had.::hitshead::stupid!stupid!stupid!
Okay, so...If anyone who reviewed before would leave one oh...exactly the same it'd be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you!
Potter you Rotter
Father or Foe?
James Potter is a fucking lunatic...or so goes the deduction. No one takes on whole leagues of DE's alone. Nobody, there's no one as bloody mad as Mad-Eye Moody, and he wouldn't even try it. It's agreed, Potter's a lunatic, all right. Out of his flipping mind.
Ask them if you want to, they'll tell you themselves..
"That man should be locked up!" Says the Old Witch of Bristol. "He has no right pulling those childish antics, no right!"She proclaims. "And with a son, to boot! How dare he?!"
"That man's a hero, I don't care what they say about him. He's doing the world something that no Ministry could ever achieve. Ridding the world of evil...what's wrong with that?" Carpathia Burns of London contradicts.
"I don't believe in violence, period." Shares Kale Tristone, a pub owner in Hogsmeade. "But if there's no other way to stop these mates," he morosely concedes, "then I want it to be James Potter, hands down."
Butch Caster has his own opinions. "I don't give a Hippogriff's behind what anyone else says. That man is getting the job done and that's all that matters." Says the thirty-two year old bouncer. "He's my hero, the crazy son of a bitch."
Since the death of Potter's wife nearly fifteen years ago, he has single-handedly captured over seventy-two Death Eaters, all of which are now serving life sentences deep within the confines of Azkaban. This, of course, is a mere shadow compared to the staggering one hundred nineteen group captures Potter had either led or partook in. The numbers continue to grow.
However, despite these monumental stats and arrests(that include a roster holding names such as Timothy Avery, Peter Nott, Gregory Goyle Sr., Vincent Crabbe Sr., and Belatrix Lestrange) it is his methods that earn him a strange infamous fame. Potter, once known to have used nothing but the Avis charm and the Bat-Bogey Hex to disarm and seize four Death Eaters at once, fits well the reputation that accommodates him. As for the pertinence of some of his tactics, one commentator says this:
"I have never met nor will I ever meet a kinder more gentler soul than James Potter." Says Albus Dumbledore, esteemed wizard and current Hogwarts Headmaster. "And alas," he continues, "the time comes when sanity is a thing to be overlooked."
Continued on pages 7 and 9.
"I think they're losing their touch." James Potter said to his son one Saturday morning. "I mean, either I'm getting too old or Witch Weekly is letting loose."
"It's Witch Weekly, dad," came the dead reply from behind a plate of half eaten eggs.
"You're right. I am getting old." Struck with the not so unrealistic thought, he carried his empty plate to the sink with a heavy sigh. Suddenly the clock overhead sang out the faint artificial cry of a Blast-Ended Skrewt, erupting in the small kitchen.
"Gagh! I'm going to be late!" James cried out before sprinting from the kitchen to his bedroom for his work robes.
"What's wrong with what you have on?" He was asked as he bounded up the stairs.
"I don't think the ministry would be too happy if their First Lieutenant of the Auror Division showed up in jeans and a T-shirt, thanks very much." He yelled downstairs as he hurriedly did up his robes, found them to be wrong, undid them and buttoned them again. Taking the stairs by two's he returned to the kitchen, ruffled his son's hair ("Da-d!"), kissed the top of his head and was out the door cursing the repair man for not showing up yesterday for their floo.
Harry stood in the middle of the kitchen, shaking his head at the still flung open door. There went his primary care giver, his origin of life, his "responsible" guardian, with coffee stains under his robes and an uncombed head. Well, he thought, no one will probably even know the difference anyway.
Harry Potter had long ago realized the severity of his father's work. He had accepted it from the very start...more or less. He had also gone through some of this so called "growing up" he had heard so much about, even if it wasn't entirely proportionally. True, he was the spinning image of his father and well aware that he had "his mother's eyes." He was still on the shorter side, a bit skinny despite all the junk food he and his father had based their diet/lifestyle upon, and his vision was still of poorer quality than a Boggart in a crowded room. He was again accepting, though. He supposed that he was just-
"Argh!" Thoroughly frustrated, Harry chucked a breakfast roll at the muggle-and-magic-tampered clock. The shrilling ceased in the kitchen, but still rang in his ears. He pressed on his accosted ears gingerly, checking for damage as he cleaned his half empty plate. Whatever possessed that crazy git of a man to install a Skrewt's call...He really was exposed to just too many resources at the ministry. Especially with Arthur Weasley so eager to please.
Harry allowed a smile to grace his face at the thought of dear old Mr. Weasley, and all the Weasleys really. Harry loved them. James loved them. They were the All Original Family. The hand me downs, the bickering and the sibling rivalry made it impossible to turn down an invitation to dinner, particularly when Bill and Charlie came for a visit. They were loud and wild and perfectly flawed in every way. Harry didn't know what it was about them that got to him so much, but he wasn't too interested in a reason. They were whole. They were one. They were a family.
Harry supposed that he loved his father, as all teenaged boys loved their widowed dad. They were all each other had. Harry loved his father...even if he was a little-
"Oh and Harry," James suddenly appeared in the front doorway, making Harry jump.
"Yeah?" He answered baffled. James grinned back.
"Happy birthday." He was off.
Harry grinned identically as he turned back to the sink. His father would be late that morning. There was no way he could run to Mrs. Figg's, wait for her to track down her floo powder that was always missing (though it was a growing theory that the woman only did it for more time alone with James) and get to the ministry Auror Division on time. He was going to be very late, and all because he had to run back to wish Harry a Happy Birthday.
Harry loved his father very much. But at that moment he couldn't help but agree that he was a complete and sodding lunatic. Maybe that was why he loved him.
"Hi, Jimmy." The elderly woman greeted at her door.
"Hullo, Bella." James grinned back.
"He has no idea does he?" She asked in awe.
"Nope." He smirked Once inside, he removed his robes..
"You are something."
"Yeah...well. Thanks again for your help, Bella. It's a huge help, really."
"Anything for you, Jimmy. I've been watching out for that boy since the day I found out that Lily was pregnant. It took years off my life to know she wasn't taking leave right away." She clutched her heart at the thought of her dear friend. James only smiled.
"Aw, come on Bella. I'm sure you've-what-sixty, seventy years in you yet?"
"Oh, James." She slapped his arm. "Such the charmer." The old lady blushed pink. "Care for some tea?"
"You kept your cats." James noted in surprise as they sat at the kitchen table, much of their business now covered.
The way Arabella talked she hated the hairy things whenever she needed to make like a crazy old bat with a feline fetish. The reasons varied, some dark wizards took to the muggle world to shroud their business in secret. It's amazing how much one can hear on many a Weasley Extendable Ear. The time came for those things, after all, however unfortunate.
"Yes, well," she sat down the corner arm chair and petted a cat particularly old and overweight. "They grow on you, I guess. Don't you?" She asked old fat Huey. "Don't you grow on me? Yes you do-"Huey hissed and leapt silently off the armrest prancing over to it's own little corner. Curling up, it fell into a contented sleep.
"Oh...shut it you." James the charmer was almost roaring at the image of the harsh old lady making baby noises to a fat cat and getting a wretched rejection in response. It was a story to tell for Christmas parties to come. The laughter faded and Bella found the humor silently. Conversation turned to business once again.
"So, did you get it? I told Sirius Tuesday he was supposed to-"
"Yes, James, I received the portkey. Everything is ready. You just need to-"
"I know what I need to do, Bella. It was my idea remember?"
"Oh, I remember. You just better hope it works."
"Bella, it was my idea."
"Exactly." With that, the old lady took to her tea.
Potter is known for his direct and harsh tendencies in the heat of Battle. Not one of his victims would talk about their capture, only continuing to deny any connections to the Dark Lord. Co-workers of Potter are known for being rather tight lipped as well. However, one fellow fighter of Potter's who wishes to stay anonymous had this to say.
"The man saved my life once. I'll never forget it."
Despite of rumors, Potter is saving lives. And apparently (to a majority), that's all that matters.
But the fact still stands, Potter is a father, and at one time, a devoted husband. Though he can only be connected with but a few woman since Mrs. Potter's passing, those woman stand for means sensational. Including the famous Classic singer, Maria Menoche and rising Super Model, Belinda Devigne, Potter's baggage is not too hard to carry.
Regardless, whenever asked, Potter continues to claim his son as the most important obligation and general quality about himself. The fifteen going on sixteen year old is currently on summer break from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It is rumored that his name had been inscribed on their roll call since birth. Reportedly very close to Albus Dumbledore, Potter Jr. seems to be walking in his father's footsteps. Perhaps there will always be a Potter there to guard the wizarding world from evil warlocks gone astray. We've no way of knowing now. But if the present is any indication of the future, it certainly appears so.
-Steven Hyan, Witch Weekly's "Wizarding Word"
A/N: All right, a LOT of resources to be taken credit for. These sites are really fascinating, if you need references or simply just more clarification on the Harry Potter world, here's where to go(no spaces):
www. nmt . edu / armiller / potter / potter. htm
www. scholastic. com / harrypotter / reference / popup glossary . htm
www. harry-potter-games . com / Harry Potter Spells . htm
www. hp - lexicon . org / index - 2 . html --This one is particularly amazing and the last site I found. I am doubting I will need any other sites.
No reviews, No additions. It is one thing to continue to ramble your own work when no one gives a "Hippogriff's behind," it is simply degrading to continue to ramble off of someone else's.::hmph::
lumos