Return Of The Father (Harry Potter fanfiction) **COMPLETED**

:: Chapter 18: Cornelius Fudge ::

(About a week later)

"And then Trelawney said something about Saturn's position at the time of my birth, about my dark hair, stature, something about tragic losses and then said something like, 'I think I am right in saying, my dear, that you were born in midwinter?' And I said, 'No, I was born in July.'" Harry said grinning, regaling his father about his times at his divination class. James burst out laughing.

"That right old fraud!" He said.

"I know. Ron nearly choked to death laughing! Divination for me is about Trelawley predicting stuff about my doom."

"Divination Professors are like that, I guess. For me, it was a mad old fellow called Brinnely who kept on predicting my untimely death as well." James said shaking his head.

Harry suddenly looked horrorstruck.

"But-but dad! He was right! You did die an untimely death! Do you think that I'll die too?"

James paled and racked his brain to think of something to console his son.

"Ofcourse not Harry- that's ridiculous! Nothing, ofcourse nothing will happen! At all! She just- well sort of- no! Absolutely not."

How words fail...

Harry began laughing hard.

"You- you should have seen your face! I was just- just pulling your leg!" He managed to choke out. Even if Trelawney had predicted the exact circumstances of his parents death, he still wouldn't believe the fraud.

James narrowed his eyes.

"Wise guy, huh?"

Harry was still bent double laughing.

"Run. Now," James said mock glaring at his son. Harry yelped and jumped over the bed and James tried to catch him. He was out of shape, being dead for over a decade didn't do his legs justice. Harry jumped over tables and couches still laughing and a grinning James was still after him. James was glad, Harry was acting more like his age, like a teenager, instead of an adult at the moment. Suddenly, there was a bright light and the both of them turned to the source. It was a Phoenix patronus.

"I need you in my office immediately. Bring Harry if you wish."

The shimmering patronus faded and James stared at it frowning, his happy mood dissipating. What could it possibly be about?

"Looks like we have to go. Do you have your cloak with you?" James asked Harry.

Harry nodded and brought it out of his robes. James took it and draped it over the two of them. "Let's go then,"

They walked quickly towards the headmaster's office, stifling their laughter while dodging unsuspecting students and stopped in front of the gargoyle.

"Looks like Dumbledore forgot to give us the password. Let's start guessing then? They're usually sweets." Harry asked frowning.

"No, no, I know the password. It's earwax flavoured every flavoured beans." James replied grinning. The gargoyle stepped aside and they began climbing the spiral staircase. Harry rolled his eyes at his headmaster's choice of passwords.

"I'd tried guessing once and the password turned out to be Hagrid's rock cakes," Harry said shaking his head and James guffawed.

They stopped in front of the door and they could hear a conversation.

"-that's just preposterous Dumbledore! No one can rise the dead, not even Merlin himself!"

Harry's eyes widened as he recognised the voice. "That's Fudge!"