Chapter 13
November rushed past in a fury of storms homework and new discoveries. December approached swiftly and almost before I knew it it was the Christmas holidays and everyone was going home.
“Wakey-wakey Jamesy!” Something cold and wet was falling on my face. I opened up my eyes and saw Lily standing over me, snow pouring out of her wand. I yawned deeply and coughed as a snowflake went straight into my open mouth.
“Quit with the snow Lily.” I mumbled sleepily as I sat up shaking my head to free it of snow. “Aww Lily I’m drenched.”
“Sorry Jamesy, anything you say Jamesy.”
“And stop calling me Jamesy.” Lily just grinned at having provoked me.
“Come on James you have to get packed. Remus Peter Sirius and I are all ready and waiting to go home, you’ve already missed breakfast.”
“Okay okay!” I said rubbing sleep out of my eyes and reaching out for my glasses. “ Get out and then I can get dressed.”
“Aww James. There’s no need to feel embarrassed around me - I’ve seen you in your boxers before.” She wasn’t lying. In early November for a ‘Birthday Surprise’, Jessica, Ellie (who I was sure had a crush on either me or Sirius) and Lily had sneaked into my bedroom and turned my pillow into a giant flobberworm. I had screamed ‘like a girl’ as Sirius later told me and jumped out of bed in my boxers.
“Yeah I know you have but I’ve got to change them so get out!” Lily grinned and scampered out of the room.
“Give me a call when you’re decent so I can give you a hand.”
“Sure thing.” I said jumping out of bed and changing quickly before the fire. It was freezing cold. I slipped into a pair of muggle corduroy trousers before I put on my robe hoping they would keep out some of the cold.
“You can come in now Lily, I’m all decent.” I heard a laugh and then Lily came into the room.
“Thanks for helping Lily I don’t think I could managed on my own.” I said stuffing my clothes into my trunk. Lily laughed again.
“You are stupid aren’t you James. You don’t think I am going to help you pack the muggle way do you?”
“Err-” I had actually but I didn’t want to admit it. Lily took out her wand and said something under her breath. My things zoomed about the room and flew neatly into my trunk.
“There you go. Now come on or you’re going to make us miss the train.”
Lily and I lugged my things down the stairs and into the common room.
“Oh yeah I forgot, the guys said to give you this.” Lily said drawing a sausage sandwich out of her pocket. I munched happily on my sandwich as we carried my stuff out of the common room to the Entrance Hall. There we met the others who had been waiting patiently for me to appear.
“Come on James! We’ve been standing here for ages you lazy lump.”
“Yeah alright, I’m here now aren’t I.” No one answered me as they were busy lugging my stuff into a carriage which stood waiting for us. A few minutes later we were off down to Hogsmeade station were we could see the smoke billowing out from the Hogwarts express. As we stepped onto the platform I looked back at the school. I was kind of sad to be leaving it but really excited because I was going home. Mum was expecting her third child any day now and I was so happy that I’d be at home when it was born.
The train journey passed fairly quickly really. I ate as much as I could from the food cart because that sandwich had done nothing but temporarily dull my hunger. Lily went off and sat with Ellie and Jessica, her best friends so we had the carriage to ourselves.
“So James, when’s your mum expecting?” Remus asked with a grin. He knew how much I hated being the youngest child.
“Oh, um Boxing day I think though it could be the day after.”
“Could easily be a Christmas baby.” Sirius grinned.
“Yep.”
“So what do you want?” asked Peter “Another brother or a sister.”
“Sister.”
“Why?”
“Because my brother’s a prick” I laughed. “No I don’t know, I just want a sister really.”
We were silent for a bit. Then I asked:
“So what are you all doing for New Year? I was wondering if you wanted to come round to mine for the last week of the holidays. You’ll be able to see my little sister by then aswell.”
“Yeah sure”
“Cool”
“Yep”
“Good. Remus it isn’t full moon then is it?”
“Nah it’s the first day back.” He smiled slowly. That would make it really difficult for him.
We went silent again. It was strange, we were never this quiet. It had to be because we were all tiered. Just then Lily, Jessica and Ellie burst into our compartment shrieking with laughter.
“What have you done now you little minxes?” Sirus asked cheekily.
“Oh nothing really Sirius.” Jessica said smiling sweetly at him.
“We just set off a Dungbomb in Severus’ and Lucius’ compartment and they are covered!” Ellie said with enthusiasm. I groaned. She was trying to impress me.
“Hey you girls. Do you fancy coming over to my house for the last week of the holidays?” I asked. I wanted Lily to come but I knew she wouldn’t if she was on her own. I knew Jess and Ellie quite well, they’d gone to the same school as Sirius and I had before and I was sure my parents wouldn’t mind.
“Yeah sure!” Ellie said with way too much enthusiasm. She thought that she had impressed me. Is this wise? I thought to myself.
“Yep I’ll come James. If it’s alright with your parents.” said Jessica beaming at Sirius.
“I’ll have to check but I’m pretty sure they will. We’ve got a big enough house so I guess they won’t mind. I’ll send you all owls soon to finalise the details. Lily are you coming?”
“Umm I’m not sure I can. I mean I don’t think my parents will like me staying over at a boy’s house. I mean I know what you’re like but they’re very protective of me.”
“Just say that you’ll be with me and Ellie.” Jess said helpfully.
“Come on Lils. You’ve got to come it wont be the same without you.” Remus pleaded. Jess and Ellie giggled.
“Okay Ill see but I’m not promising anything. James I’ll send you an owl okay?”
“You don’t have one Lily.”
“Duh! I know that but I’m getting one with my Christmas money.”
“Alright then, it’s settled. Well I’ll send the details a.s.a.p.”
We chatted for the rest of the journey, cursing Snape and Malfoy when they came in to take their revenge. Before long we had pulled up at Platform 9 3/4 and we said good bye. As I stepped outside Kings Cross I saw my elder brother Mike waiting for me besides a silver muggle car.
“Hey what’re you doing here? Where’s dad?”
“Nice to see you too James!” Mike said ruffling my hair. He was only four years older than me but he treated me like a baby. “Mum’s waters broke this morning and she’s gone into labour. The baby’s due any time now so dad had to stay with her.”
I wasted no time, shoving my trunk into the boot of the car and clambering into the front of the car.
“Come on Mike!” I yelled. Sweat beaded on my forehead. The baby was almost two weeks early. Was mum alright?
“Okay James keep your pants on!” Mike said walking leisurely around the car and sliding into the drivers seat. He started the car and we moved slowly through the heavy London traffic.
“Why didn’t we just take the train. It’ll take hours to get through all of this!” I said in a panic.
“Oh quit fussing James we’ll be there in time, I promise.”
I sat fidgeting nervously in the car all the way to the hospital near our house in Hertfordshire. For once I was grateful that we lived so close to London.
Mike drove into the hospital and I leapt out of the car before he’d finished parking. I ignored his yells and rushed straight up to the main entrance and followed the signs to the maternity ward. I skidded up to the reception and stammered to the receptionist that I was here to see Mrs Potter.
“Um she’s in bed eight, in that room just over there.”
I ran over to the room and pressed my nose up to the glass. I could see mum on the bed and dad next to her but no baby yet. She wouldn’t want me in there too so I sat outside and waited, flicking through the magazines on the little table beside me. About ten minutes later Mike arrived looking flustered.
“Blimming hospitals.” He grunted “I got lost.” He added as explanation. “Why mum came here instead of St Mungoes-”
“Mike, she’s pregnant, not ill.” I snapped impatiently at him. He sat down next to me and I flipped a magazine over to him.
“James I dunno what’s wrong with you-”
“Mike the baby’s nearly two weeks early what if something happens to mum?”
Mike laughed “James you really are dumb aren’t you? Mum’s absolutely fine, baby’s often come early or late and it’s only two weeks so the baby will be fine aswell.”
I grumbled at Mike, I had know that, I’d just forgotten, and I wasn’t dumb. Sometimes I really did hate Mike.
***
I must’ve fallen asleep because when I awoke later it was dark outside.
“James,” my dad’s voice called softly.
“Yeah” I mumbled sleepily.
“James!” My dad said louder, more happily. “You can come in and see her now.”
“Who mum?” I asked stupidly.
“Yes your mother aswell but I mean you sister!” That woke me up. I stood up and rushed inside the room. Mum was lying on the bed with Mike leaning over and holding her hand. In her arms she held a baby, my sister. I know that I am biased but to me she was the most perfect baby that I’d ever seen. Her tiny pink face peeked out of the white hospital blanket and she was bawling her eyes out. She was perfect.
Dad came up behind me and I turned round and hugged him, overcome with emotion.
Tears trickled down my cheeks and when I stepped away from my dad I saw that he was crying too.
“Dave,” my mum aid in a low husky voice. She didn’t say anything else but extended the crying bundle out and my dad took it from her, rocking it in his arms.
“Oh Melanie, she’s beautiful.” Dad said his voice overflowing with joy.
An hour later, when we’d all had a chance to hold her and mum was about to drop off to sleep I asked to no particular person:
“So what are we going to call her?”
Dad looked bemused he’d evidently forgotten that the baby would have to be named. Mike and I laughed at him and my mother smiled weakly.
“I like the name Catherine.” I said absently, not really knowing how to suggest a name for my sister.
My mum and dad smiled at each other. “Mike?”
“Yeah I like it too.”
My mum smiled and said “Catherine it is then,” before dropping off to sleep.
I was stunned. I had chosen the name of my sister, her name, she’d keep it forever. Mine had been the first suggestion and everyone had liked it. I felt so proud and happy.
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