A Mysterious Parent

"Daddy, when are we leaving?" James said. He's excited to start Hogwarts this year. All of his older "cousins" have started. This year, him and Hugo Weasley will be starting. Rosie was already in her third year.

His father groaned. "James Scorpius Potter, it's 6 am. We don't have to get up until eight, at the earliest."

"But, Daaaaddyyyyy!" James whined.

"All right, all right. I'll be down in a minute," his father grumbled and started to get out of bed.

"Okay, Daddy!"

A couple of minutes later, they started to make chocolate chip pancakes.

"I can see you're excited to start Hogwarts, son," his father smiled at him.

James smiled. "Yeah, I am! I can't wait to meet Headmaster Percy Weasley and Filch and Peeves and McGonagall and Slughorn and everyone you did, Daddy! Well, except the dead ones, obviously..."

His father paused. "Yeah. Not everyone died, though. Some went insane from what they saw. Others disappeared. Others just... left."

James could see that his dad was in a place way back when. "What happened, Daddy? I know that you're hurt. You have been since I can remember. What's making you so upset, Daddy?"

His dad took a deep breath and replied, "I'll tell you about it when you're older. You'll understand more then."

James nodded and went back to making breakfast.

After they ate, Harry and James started packing James's things for Hogwarts. They went shopping in Diagon Alley a couple of weeks after James got his Hogwarts letter. He had a holly and unicorn hair wand. Ollivander said that it was the same wood as his father's first wand was. He beamed at that.

After James packed, he got a shower and looked in the mirror. He could definately see parts of his father in him. His unruly raven-black hair. His whole face, basically. But there are two things that his father doesn't have that he does. Silvery-grey eyes and good eyesight.

He's always wondered about his other parent, but he never bothered his father with the question. They could have died, divorced him, left him, or something else equally horrible. He didn't want to bring back more terrible memories on his dad. He always sees him playing with a ring on his finger. He never asked about it. He figured that his father's dealt with enough in his lifetime; he doesn't need to relive his misery.

"James, I'm so proud of you. You've became such a great young man. Just look at you. Heading off to Hogwarts," his father beamed at him.

"Thanks, Daddy. I'll miss you!" James exclaimed.

"I'll miss you, too, James." He smiled and then gave his son a hug. "I love you. Have a good year at Hogwarts. Don't forget to owl me."

"Don't worry, I won't, Daddy. I love you, too." James got out of his father's embrace and grabbed his trunk and snowy-white owl just like the one his father used to have. He smiled at him. "Bye, Daddy!"

"Bye, James. Have fun!"

Ron came rushing over to James. "Wotcher, James! Have a good year at Hogwarts! Make sure to be a Gryffindor! If not, your father will disinherit you for sure." He grinned at Harry, who just groaned.

"You know what I said, James. As long as you feel the house is good for you-"

"Blah, blah, blah, Harry. Just don't be a Slytherin, James," Ron grinned and then sauntered off.

Harry started chuckling. "Just have fun, James. Don't worry about anything. You'll be perfectly fine there."

"Thanks, Daddy. Goodbye!" he said as he started to board the Hogwarts Express for the first time.