Disclaimer: I don't own the mighty Harry Potter and for that, I'm glad.

Childhood Annoyances

Chapter 1: The Great Vegetable Spat

James hates vegetables.

If someone asked him what he thought of them he'd instantly proclaim 'They're the worst food in the world!' as loud as his small lungs would allow. But his mother would never hear him. Even if she was sitting opposite him with dinner served at the dining table.

James glanced down at his meal full of carrots, broccoli and Brussels sprouts (the worst vegetable imaginable).

Horrid distaste covered his features and increased two-fold when he turned back to his mother. The way she shoveled them into her mouth so effortlessly. It was almost like she actually enjoyed them. He kept watching her as if hoping she'd finish her plate and move to his leaving James with ample room for dessert…

But nothing of the sort happened and he went back to examining his articles of food worthy of a science experiment. His upper lip sneered as he poked a familiar green item. Brussels sprouts were indeed the worst.

Not only did they stink, they looked like little green brains and tasted twice as worse.

"James!" shrieked his mother with enough shock to bounce him off his seat. "If I've told you once I've told you a thousand times! Don't play with your food!"

"But it's yuck!"

"It's healthy." she stated watching him over her oval framed glasses "And if you don't eat your dinner sensibly there will be no more broom flying with your father for the rest of the week!"

"But muuuuum!" whined James.

"NO!" she snatched his fork from the table and stabbed something green and slimy looking "Eat! Now!"

James snapped his mouth tightly shut and squirmed away.

"James!"

"No!" he yelled jumping out of his seat. "I don't like it!"

Before his mother could object further he ran to the back door bursting out into extensive country side scenery. He lived with his parents in a small cottage here. The area was quite extensive and left lots of room for broom flying practice - not that James was going to be able to do any of that now…

He ran in the direction of some foliage and synced himself into a path which led to a great hiding space enabling him spy on his mother when she came searching for him. No doubt she would begin the tiring task of searching the forest. It would teach her for forcing such disgusting food upon him.

He ran further and further into the foliage until he couldn't even see the nose in front of his face. Whether this was due being deep within the forest or the approaching night James didn't know. He'd never traveled into the forest at night since his father didn't let him but knew where he was going…

He stopped in a small patch of grass that gave the impression it was slightly greener that the rest ion the area and turned a sharp left. Moments later he bumped into a thickly rooted tree and began scouring the ground for a small hollow he knew to be here.

Eventually he found it and eagerly crawled in, huddling close the tree and soft ground for warmth. Once settled, he moved his hand deeper inside the tree and wrapped his fingers around a small pouch of candies he'd saved here almost a week ago. He devoured them in moments.

The sugary taste gave him a sense of ease. His mum would never make him eat a vegetable in his life once she found him…

An hour passed and the one prosperous pouch full of sugary goodness was now empty. Whatever unease James felt was briefly silenced. His mum would find him any second now...

Another two or three hours passed and whatever warmth James had once earlier found in the tree trunk hollow had all but disappeared. The nighttime cold was beginning to set into his skin and small shivers began to tingle his spine.

His mother was obviously not going to appear anytime soon. So much for his brilliant plan for a veggie free diet…

Facing defeat, James exited the hollow. He couldn't very well spend the night there. There was no more food. It was too dark to find the path now so James began walking in the direction he was sure the house was. Maybe his dad had got back from another late nights work waiting for James to race in and tell him about the Kneazel he'd found earlier that day.

A further hour passed and James gained a slight suspicion that he could be lost. No. He'd have to be a man and accept it. He was very lost.

Why oh why had he chosen to race into the forest at this time? He wanted to get away from his veggie mum so badly he'd lost track of time. He could imagine his father coming home late from work this very minute and his mother telling him they had to scour the forest for James.

Another horrid thought filled the pit James's stomach. What if his parents didn't want to look for him and had a replacement child? After all, James looked almost identical to his father. They could jut magically clone him and their problems would be solved. For the slightest moment the thought seemed humorous. But now – after being stuck in the forest for this long - it was beginning to sound like a giant possibility.

As if the crazy thought had stuck a chord, James began shouting for his parents in the dark.

"MUM! DAD! WHERE ARE YOU?" he yelled desperately "I'M SORRY! I PROMISE TO EAT ALL MY VEGITABLES! PLEASE DON"T HAVE A REPLACEMENT CHILD! WHERE ARE YOU? MUM! DAD!"

A twig snapped causing James to jump through his socks. Straight ahead in a large clearing he saw a dark figure in the clearing ahead.

"Dad?" whispered James It looked very familiar…. He began to run towards it "Dad! It's you! I knew you'd come!" James flung his arms out and hugged the tall figure around their legs. James was very short for his age.

The figure muttered lumos and a bright light lit their face causing James to squint from the sudden brightness. His eyes adjusted and he gasped.

Needless to say, James's hate for vegetables lay quite forgotten.