When the Roses Bloom Again by TheBlack'sResurgence

Chapter 101

A New Beginning

August 1971

"Are you sure it was a good idea to give him the cloak now?" Dorea asked as Charlus entered the kitchen. "James is not as mature as you were at his age."

Charlus chuckled.

"It is a family tradition," he pointed out. "The heir to the family is gifted the cloak shortly before their first year of Hogwarts. Come on, Dor, how much trouble can an eleven-year-old cause?"

Dorea raised an eyebrow at Charlus.

"This is James, Charlus," she huffed. "I don't know where he gets it from, but I have never met a boy more mischievous than him. He is a magnet for trouble."

"Maybe he's spent too much time with Harry," Charlus mused aloud.

"Oh no, you can't pin it on Harry," Dorea denied. "It is in James's nature. It comes from your side."

"Why can't it come from yours?"

"Because my family are well behaved."

"And evil."

Dorea narrowed her eyes at him and Charlus knew he was close to crossing the line.

"Harry!" he greeted his friend cheerily as the man entered the room. "Would you like some coffee?"

"What have you done this time?" the man snorted as he took a seat at the table, noticing the irritable twitch Dorea developed whenever she was irked by something.

"Charlus is just being a prat, as usual," the woman said sweetly. "Don't worry, it's nothing I can't handle."

Charlus shivered at the implied threat.

His wife was not a woman to cross lightly.

"Here," Dorea said amusedly as she handed Harry a coffee. "Have you come to see James?"

"I thought I'd best to before Hogwarts becomes his playground," Harry murmured, a knowing grin tugging at his lips. "Where is the little bugger?"

"In his room," Charlus explained. "He'll be down for lunch shortly."

Harry nodded and took a sip of his coffee.

Even now, after all these years, the man was something of an enigma to Charlus.

Harry had recently celebrated his 51st birthday, and yet, he didn't look to be a day over thirty, whereas Charlus and the rest of the group he had been at school with had grown to be more distinguished.

Not Harry, however, and even Minerva was maintaining her youth better than the others.

Charlus wondered what their secret was but was pulled from his thoughts as he watched a deep frown crease his friend's brow.

Harry was tense, and had been for months, though Charlus didn't know what was bothering his friend.

Something he hadn't spoken of was going on, but before the Lord Potter could dwell on it further, Harry sprang into action.