James Potter and the Half Blood Hallway

Twenty - Eight

"James!" He jumped.
"What's wrong with you?" asked Albus.
"I...What do you mean?"
"Is this about the prophecies?" Rose asked.
"I - I think so..." muttered James. "I...I'll talk to Jackson when brakfast is over..." Al stared at him.
"What?" asked James, trying to grin as if this were all a joke.
"Nothing," mumbled Al, turing back to his food.

                         ~***~                            ~***~                               ~***~

                James was walking to potions class, alone, when he heard it. The voice.

Join me... It hissed. James just scowled and continued walking, trying to ignore it. He was sure this was the cause to all their problems, possibly the new enimey. Now if he only knew his name...

Join me...

"You're really starting to annoy me," James told the voice.
"Who?" asked Levi McLaggen.
"Uh, nobody," lied James. Levi just shrugged.
"So, there's a Quidditch game in three days."
"Yes. I know. I'm on the team."
"Yeah. So am I."
"And what a joy that is for all of us."
"I know!"
"Wow. Alright. Well, nice chat, really, and not that I don't....well, no really I dont, enjoy talking to you, but you're more annoying than the voices in my head, so I'm just gonna go..." James hurried off before his peanut sized brain could proccess all of what he had just said. Heck, the guy would probably be there all day trying to decipher weather or not it was an insult.

James took his spot next to Route Longbottom in the postions classroom. He sighed when his friend gave him a suspicious look.
"Route - " he started, but just then Slughorn started class. He was blabbing on and on about the Sleeping Draught, which James thought would come of some use right about then. He could've used a few minutes of unintended sleep. Sleep....With a bed....and pillow....sleep....

"Mr. Potter, are you awake back there?" came Slughorn's voice, causing James to snap awake.
"I, uh, something about freezing charms? Wait. What class is this?" He practically heard Route face palm next to him.
"Postions, Mr. Potter," said Slughorn. "I must say, this has been the third time in two days you have fallen asleep in my class..."
"Uh..."
"Mr. Potter?"
"Hmm?"
"Mr. Potter?" Route nudged his arm. James's head snapped up again.
"Um, I...."
"Mr. Potter, I haven't the slightest idea what is going on, but I'm afraid if you don't start getting more sleep and start focusing I'm going to have to dituct points from your house." Slughorn looked generually disappointed.

Later, in the common room, Route and Micheal Thomas were sitting with James, Route asking too many questions for Jason to comprhend at the moment.
"Why haven't you been sleep?"
"Where are you going when you sneak out at night? I know you are, so don't lie!"
"Why won't you tell us anything!?"

Then, finally, Micheal got him to stop by saying.
"Oy, lay off him will, yeh? Besides, you'll never figure it out, not by quessing anyway. Hey, did you read the Daily Prophet?"
"No,I didn't," replied Route. "What of it?"
"Well, here, see for yourself!" Micheal handed him a copy of the paper. There was a picture of the seventeen year old Professor Jackson on the front cover.
"Holy! Jacksons a - And she hired him! There taking him to Azkaban just as soon as the aurors get permision to - "
"L'me see that!" snapped James, snatching the paper away.
"Oh, sure, now he's awake," muttered Route.
"Sh!"

It is not yet teturmed weather or not the rumors are true about the American Wizards, though evidence has been found to lead us to the assumsion that young Professor Percues Jackson is indeed a Death Eater. Putting into concideration that 'The Dark Lord' is in fact dead the aurors are confused as to why he is running about and not in Azkaban. To add to the factor, they are unsure of Voldemort's advantage of having a Death Eater so far away. Perhaps, they think, he was planning on running there should he of gotten the chance. Thankfully, however, he did not.

The evidence of which the aurors have found is unknown, as head auror Harry Potter will not speak of it and has ordered his entire team to do just the same. However, it is known that Jackson will have to have a good trial. Should he have a good excuse, which is highly doubted by many, he will be let go. However, should he fail to see jucdice, which is expected from many more, the head aurors of each country, American and England, will furthermore discuss the case on weather or not to send the young man to Azkaban. Questions are arising on why Headmisstriss of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Minerva McGonagall has hired one such being. Sides are being taken, no one knows what will become of young Percues Jackson.

"I refuse to speak of the matter," said McGonagall when I made a very promt atempt to interview her. "I will not put lives in jeperty by saying things out of my place. You want the truth, talk to him yourself." What could this mean? Could the headmistress and Jackson be planning something? Plotting revenge against Harry Potter? Is McGonagall really who she says she is? And most frecently asked, who is Percues Jackson?

 

"No!" James shouted, when he had finished reading the artical. "This. Can't. Happen. What is Dad thinking! Al!" Without looking to see if his brother had heard, James burst through the portrait hole, running to Jackson's office. To his surprise, the seventeen year old boy seemed to be waiting for him. He grinned at him, as if things were totally normal.
"So, I take it you read the paper?" he asked, nodding at James's hand. James looked down. He hadn't realised it, but he was still clutching the Daily Prophet.
"They can't do that!" shouted James. Percy got up and crossed over to him, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay," he told him. Then he frowned. "By the way why would I want to eat Thantoes?" Before James could say anything, the door burst open yet again, this time Scorpius and Albus came rushing in, both with a copy of the Prophet in their hands.
"Dad's gone bonkers!" cried Al. "How could he do that!?" Jackson just laughed, leaning on his desk.
"This job is cursed right?"
"Well, yes, but - "
"Don't worry about it. I'll be fine. You guys just have to worry about the prophecies. You'll see me again someday."
"But - "
"It'll be okay."
"They'll throw you in Azkaban!" protested Scorpius. "That place is crawling with dementors! You could die!"
"I'm not going to Azkacan," said Jackson, shrugging. "And the threat of death doesn't really scare me anymore. Besides, I'm not acctually a wizard, so I don't think they can do much to me." Grover and Tyson suddenly came in.
"So, you're not at all worried?" asked James.
"Maybe a little," admitted Jackson. "But, you tend to learn to get use to it."
"What will happen when you're gone?" asked Scorpius.
"Grover and Tyson will be here," said Jackson. "And Neville. And McGonagall...and you'll have each other." Tyson sniffled a little, Grover's chin trumbled a bit. Al ran forward, without warning, and hugged Professor Jackson. This seemed to surprise him at first, but then he hugged him back. James smirked to himself as he and Scorpius joined in as well. Then came Grover and Tyson, who yelled.
"Groupp hugg!!" And then, crushed them all with affection.