PRONGSLET AND THE RETURN OF THE MARAUDERS (ON HOLD)

Chapter Eleven

[Chapter Eleven]

James was beyond thrilled that everything had worked out in his favour and that he wouldn't be putting any further strain on Harry's life if the boy decided to come back anytime soon to his own body. With Elspeth escorting him out to where Arthur was waiting outside, it seemed to be a moment where he could just sigh in relief. He was certain that Milo was going to be pleased that everything had gone well and perhaps that would remove some of the stress from his oldest son's shoulders. Elspeth was talking about bringing him out to grab a celebratory butterbeer and hopefully have some time to talk and catch up, it sounded great to him in that moment. But as he stood with Arthur, they were approached by a fourth (uninvited) party member.

Lucius Malfoy.

Suddenly, James narrowed his eyes in the direction of the man, he didn't need to have Harry's memories of Lucius to hate him, James had plenty of his own. He knew damn well that during the time when he was alive that Lucius was an active Death Eater, one that boasted his prideful ideas of being a pureblood supremacist. But when Lord Voldemort fell, Lucius had been the first to tuck his tail in between his legs and claim that he had been under the Imperius Curse. How the Ministry actually took to believing such a thing had left James absolutely baffled. But there wasn't much he could do about it in that moment, he had to remain calm, he had to keep his temper.

"Well, well, well...Patronus Potter," Lucius began, bringing Elspeth and James to roll their eyes simultaneously. Arthur, who already had his hand resting on James' shoulder, gave it a tight squeeze, reminding James to keep a low profile. But it was always easier said than done when it came to James Potter.

"How long did it take for you to come up with that one, Lucius?" James quipped. 

He watched as Lucius' jaw became tensed, while Elspeth placed her hand over her mouth and suddenly happened to find something interesting to focus on in the distance. However, the man didn't give in to giving James the reaction he wanted at the time as he continued on, in a calm voice. 

"The Minister was just telling me about your lucky escape, Potter. Quite astonishing, the way you continue to wriggle out of very tight holes... Snakelike, in fact..."

"I'm sure you know all about wriggling your snake into tight holes, don't you?"

Arthur was practically digging his nails through James' jumper at the moment, trying to get James to keep quiet, while Elspeth was absolutely no help to the cause as they heard a whimpering laugh escape her. Seeing Arthur's knuckles practically turning white, Lucius turned his gaze to the Weasley father and narrowed his eyes.

"And Arthur Weasley too! What are you doing here, Arthur?"

"I work here," Arthur reminded him shortly.

"Not here, surely?" Lucius gestured to the area they were standing in. "I thought you were up on the second floor... Don't you do something that involves sneaking Muggle artefacts home and bewitching them?"