Number twelve Grimmauld Place was buzzing with activity. James Sirius Potter, the mischievous son of the famous Harry Potter, was up to no good…again.
"Jamie!" Harry heard his daughter shriek as he passed the door of the living room of his home. He peeked in and saw an interesting sight: Lily was covered from head to toe in red paint, her beautiful red hair even redder, while James was holding a paint-can in his hands, grinning. Harry stared, his mouth open.
“What the “” Harry muttered, taking in the shocking sight. His couldn’t believe it- James had done it again. "What is going on here?" he asked in the most authoritative voice he could muster. It had the effect he desired: James jumped and dropped the empty can of paint. It fell to the wooden floor with a resounding CLANG! He slowly turned to face to his father, his face displaying a look of shock and…fear.
"Daddy!" Lily shrieked once she noticed her father. She ran towards Harry and wrapped her little arms around his waist, tears falling down her cheeks. "Look what James did to me! He wuined my pwetty pink dwess!" It was true- the gorgeous baby-pink frock that he had given her on her birthday was now crimson, and it hung limply from her shoulder, the fluffy skirt spoiled.
"James!” Harry yelled angrily, hugging his daughter who sobbed even harder. He didn’t notice that his robes were becoming painted too. “How many times do I have to tell you, no pulling pranks on your sister?”
"But “" James began.
"No buts!" Harry scolded. "You will not “"
He was cut short by James again. "Al dared me!”
Harry looked at James in disbelief “ he was lying again. "Al wouldn't do that."
"But he did!" James insisted. He seemed close to crying himself, but Harry wasn’t going to buy it. It happened every time.
"James," Harry sighed, exasperated at his son’s antics. "Don't blame your brother. We both know that he wouldn't things like this."
"But “"
"That’s it," Harry said in a voice that stated that the argument was over. His expression softened a little; it wouldn’t do good to be rude with James. After all, he was only a ten-year-old. "I told you not to prank your sister, didn’t I? Why didn’t you listen to me? You should be punished for this, right? Should I tell your mother?”
“No, please, Dad!” James begged. He was on the verge of tears. “She’d kill me!”
“Okay,” Harry replied. James did break his promise, but Harry couldn’t be too harsh for that. After all, what punishment could he give? Don’t eat? No, he didn’t want to be like his Uncle Vernon. He’d have to give a milder punishment. “Tell you what. You won’t go to play with your cousins tomorrow, okay? That’s the least that has to happen. You need to learn not to do such things.”
“But Dad…” James exclaimed, horrified. Harry knew that James was looking forward to his visit to the burrow the most. “Please!”
“It’s fair enough,” Harry replied, hoping it wasn’t too harsh.
“Daddy, he dumped paint on me!” Lily reminded him, apparently annoyed at the lack of punishment.
“I know, but…okay James? No going out.”
“But“”
“James.”
“Fine…” James mumbled crossly.
“That’s good," Harry said, and left the room with Lily.
"Not fair," James muttered, turning away from the door through which his father had left.
"Told you, James," a voice hissed from the doorway. James turned around and saw Albus leaning against the door-frame, smirking. He slowly walked towards James, shaking his head. "It's just like the boy who yelled Dragon. No one will believe you! I'm the goody-two-shoes, after all. I can't ever do anything bad, can I?"
"Oh yeah?" James growled angrily. "You can pretend all you want!"
This was the real Albus. Albus did all the bad things: he pulled all the pranks and destroyed everything, but James was always punished. Albus always trapped James, and he pretended to be the good guy.
Suddenly, an idea came to James’ mind- a very mischievous idea. His eyes narrowed, and the corners of his mouth turned up in a roguish grin. "I dare you, Al," he whispered in a deadly tone, "to go and throw Dad's wand… into the fireplace, right now."
Albus grinned evilly. Apparently, this wasn’t going to be a big deal for him. "Oh yeah? Easy! Just watch me." He had the strange glint in his eye that he usually had before doing anything mean. He smirked at James and walked out of the room.
Is Albus really going to throw Dad’s wand into the fireplace? James thought eagerly. He smiled. He had a plan, and this time, he’d finally show his father what Albus really was. Grinning to himself, he went to find his father.
________________________________________
Albus' plan worked smoothly. James had given him a perfect opportunity, and Albus knew exactly how to use it.
He marched into his father's study. It was a huge room; bookshelves full of books lined one wall (though his father hardly read any of them). There was a sofa set surrounding a center-table, and on one side was a study table, and directly opposite it was…the fireplace, and it was ready with a blazing fire.
Sweet, Al thought.
He walked up to his father's table, hoping that the wand was there. Even though his father never parted with his wand outside, he usually did not keep it with him at home because of his faith in all the security charms around the house. Yes… there was the Holly and Phoenix feather wand, resting peacefully on the tabl, gleaming in the firelight. Albus cautiously picked it up. Now all that was left was for his father to see him, and Albus was pretty sure that James had gone to get him; after all, this would be James’s perfect chance…
________________________________________
Meanwhile, James ran upstairs to Lily's room, where he knew his father would be. I can finally show him! James thought happily. He sprinted up the stairs, two at a time. Once in front of Lily's door, he threw it open and saw his father dressing Lily.
"What is it James?” Harry asked as he noticed his son, flushed and panting. "What are you “?"
"Wait, Dad," James interrupted. "Come and see what Al's doing!"
"What? What do you mean?" Harry asked, frowning.
"Just come on!" James said impatiently, striding forward and grabbing his father’s arm."You'll see something really interesting!"
"This better be good, James," Harry warned, exasperated with his son’s behaviour.
"Of course. Now come on!"
________________________________________
Back in Harry's study, Albus was standing in front of the fire, holding his father’s wand at arm’s length and waiting.
Where are they? he thought impatiently. He needed to carry out his plan, and he wanted to do it quickly... and he wanted to see James's bewildered face when he succeeded.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps walking along along the hallway. Finally, Albus thought. He slowly moved his father's wand towards the fireplace.
Harry opened the door, and was stunned to see the sight in front of him. His eyes flew open with shock, and his moth fell to the floor. His youngest son was throwing his wand into the fire!
"ALBUS SEVERUS POTTER!" Harry roared. Albus jumped, and Harry's wand fell on to the floor with a clatter. Slowly, he turned to face his father, his lips trembling. "WHAT, IN THE NAME OF MERLIN DO YOU THINK YOU WERE JUST ABOUT TO DO NOW?"
"Dad!" Albus gasped, pretending to cry. His eyes screwed up and he grimaced. He ran towards his father. "I'm sorry, Dad! James dared me to do it, and he said that he would hurt Lily if I didn't! I couldn't let him do that, Lily is my sister! I'm really, really sorry!"
"What?" Harry asked, surprised. He looked back at James, who looked bewildered, and shook his head vigorously. "How “?"
"Yes Dad!" Albus wailed. "I'm really sorry, James told me. I couldn’t see James hurting Lily again!"
“Oh, bother,” Harry moaned. Why did his sons have to be so… strange? Why couldn’t they just be normal? He crouched down and hugged Al; it was the best he could do in this situation.
Meanwhile, behind Harry’s back, Albus flashed an evil smirk towards James, who stood there, stunned by his brother's actions. “He's such a liar!” he yelled venomously.
“James!” Harry turned on him, as Albus sobbed harder. “Stop it already! Can’t you see his condition?”
Albus stopped pretending to sob. Harry got up. He patted Albus on the shoulder, and then rounded on James.
"You," he said, his voice dead serious, "have some explaining to do. Out with it, did you dare Al?"
"Dad, I swear, I “"
"Did you, or did you not dare Al?" he asked again, as if interrogating a criminal. He felt that he had become a little too soft, and his son was taking advantage of it. However much he regretted it, he needed to step in and stop James from making Albus suffer like that.
"I “"
"Yes or no?"
"Yes, but “"
"That's all I need from you," Harry finished. He couldn’t believe how his son could do this. "I've had enough of your pranks, James Potter, and this is the last straw. You put my wand at stake! How could you?"
"Dad, hear me out!"
"I don't need to!" Harry said angrily. James had done enough damage already, and that was the second time in one day that he had made a sibling cry, and Harry was really frustrated with this sort of behaviour. "You'll just come up with some cock-and-bull story and blame Al? I never wanted to do this, but you forced me. I’m telling your mother, and she can deal with you. That should teach you not to do anything like this again. Understand?"
"But Dad!"
"No arguments."
With that, Harry left the room.
"You!" James yelled, turning to Al. "Why did you do this to me, you bloody coward?"
"I enjoy it," Albus smirked. “Oh, and mind your language, or else you’ll have that from Mum too.”
"I’m definitely going to show you!" James yelled, coming forward. "Wait until tomorrow, you... you're evil, Albus!"
"Ooh, I'm scared!" Albus mocked, raising his hands in mock surrender. "What are you going to do? Dump paint on me?"
James said nothing, glaring at Albus. "Just wait and watch," he whispered after a few seconds, and with that he walked out of the room.
"Poor James," Al said, tutting, as he followed his brother out after a few moments. One thing was certain, though: no one would ever be able to suspect poor little Albus Potter.
The Dare by majestic_ginny
Chapter Notes: Hey everyone! I hope you enjoy this! All credit goes to my lovely beta Hermoine Jean Granger, without whom this fic would never be the way it is now. Thanks, HJG! Okay guys, read and review!
By the way, I dont own Harry Potter, Albus, James or Lily. And I am NOT JKR!
Chapter Endnotes: Thanks for reading, everyone! Now please review! All reviews will receive a response! And of course, free cyber-cookies!