The Curse of the GateKeeper (James Potter #2) by G. Norman Lippert Read Free Book Online
Authors: G. Norman Lippert
Tags: series
in the face. "Nobody does it like Aunt Fleur. She was practically born with that look on her face."
"Well, I expect to get into Hufflepuff," Louis said, tossing the napkin back to Rose and trying to look composed. "It's the house most known for diligence and hard work. I plan to take school very seriously."
Rose rolled her eyes and soundlessly mimicked Louis' words. James smiled.
"What about you, Albus?" Louis said, nudging James' brother.
Albus sat back and glanced around. "What's it matter, really?"
"What does it matter?" Louis repeated incredulously. "It's only the single most defining thing about your school life. I mean, what if you get sorted into the wrong house?"
"And what house would that be?" Albus asked pointedly.
"Well, I don't know," Louis answered, throwing up his hands. "It's different for everybody, isn't it?"
"Albus Severus Potter," Rose said meaningfully. "Louis hasn't figured it out, yet. So much for diligence and hard work."
Louis frowned at Rose. "I figured out Albus' full name quite a few years ago, thanks."
"It's his initials, you git," Rose said primly. "A. S. P. An asp is a kind of snake."
"So what's that supposed to mean, then?"
"Albus is afraid he'll get sent to the Slytherins," James said, rolling his eyes. "It's been a bit of a family joke for some time. First Potter to go to the snakes."
"Oh shut up, why don't you?" Albus said dourly.
"What?" James replied. "It's possible, you know. I almost got sent there myself."
"Yeah, that's what you keep saying," Albus said quietly. "But then, glory be, you ended up in Gryffindor. The first-born son of Harry Potter goes to his dear old dad's house. Who'd've thought it?"
"It's true, Al. But come on, Slytherin can't be all that bad anymore," James reasoned. "Ralph's there, and he's all right. Maybe you can join forces with him and turn the old Slytherin legends inside out, eh?"
Albus scowled, leaned forward, and rested his chin on his forearm.
"Green really is your color, Albus," Rose said thoughtfully. "Goes with your eyes and your darker hair."
"Yeah," Louis chimed in, "and I hear their dormitories have hot and cold running dragon's blood."
Albus suddenly stood and skulked away from the table as the others watched. Rose glanced aside at Louis, one eyebrow raised.
"What?" he said defensively. "It was the best thing I could think of. Hot and cold running… you know, they say Slytherin families hunt dragons." He rolled his eyes. "Never mind, it's probably over your head."
"It's unwise to believe everything you hear," a voice said from directly behind them. James turned and looked up into the face of a man with pale skin and sharp features. A dark-haired woman stood next to him.
The man smiled tightly. "Please forgive the interruption. I was about to ask if this was the correct home, but I see the evidence right here in front of me. I cannot but assume I am speaking to Mr. James Potter, yes?"
James nodded, looking back and forth between the man and the dark-haired woman. They were both good-looking in a rather cold way, and both were dressed in very tasteful black. James was suddenly sure that if Zane, his American friend, were present, he'd make some comment about how brave it was for them to be out in the daylight, or how they managed to comb their hair so nicely, not being able to see themselves in mirrors. Needless to say, he was quite glad Zane wasn't present.
"Perhaps," the man went on, "you'd be kind enough to direct me to your father, James. My name is—"
"Draco?"
James glanced aside and saw his mum approaching slowly. She looked at the newcomer with a mixture of disbelief and caution.
"Ginny," the man said. There was a long, uncomfortable pause, and then the dark-haired woman spoke.
"We're very sorry for your loss, Mrs. Potter." She tried to smile, but it was a rather strained attempt.
"Does Harry know you're…," Ginny asked, still looking at the man.
"I think he does now," Draco said, raising his chin slightly and
"Well, I expect to get into Hufflepuff," Louis said, tossing the napkin back to Rose and trying to look composed. "It's the house most known for diligence and hard work. I plan to take school very seriously."
Rose rolled her eyes and soundlessly mimicked Louis' words. James smiled.
"What about you, Albus?" Louis said, nudging James' brother.
Albus sat back and glanced around. "What's it matter, really?"
"What does it matter?" Louis repeated incredulously. "It's only the single most defining thing about your school life. I mean, what if you get sorted into the wrong house?"
"And what house would that be?" Albus asked pointedly.
"Well, I don't know," Louis answered, throwing up his hands. "It's different for everybody, isn't it?"
"Albus Severus Potter," Rose said meaningfully. "Louis hasn't figured it out, yet. So much for diligence and hard work."
Louis frowned at Rose. "I figured out Albus' full name quite a few years ago, thanks."
"It's his initials, you git," Rose said primly. "A. S. P. An asp is a kind of snake."
"So what's that supposed to mean, then?"
"Albus is afraid he'll get sent to the Slytherins," James said, rolling his eyes. "It's been a bit of a family joke for some time. First Potter to go to the snakes."
"Oh shut up, why don't you?" Albus said dourly.
"What?" James replied. "It's possible, you know. I almost got sent there myself."
"Yeah, that's what you keep saying," Albus said quietly. "But then, glory be, you ended up in Gryffindor. The first-born son of Harry Potter goes to his dear old dad's house. Who'd've thought it?"
"It's true, Al. But come on, Slytherin can't be all that bad anymore," James reasoned. "Ralph's there, and he's all right. Maybe you can join forces with him and turn the old Slytherin legends inside out, eh?"
Albus scowled, leaned forward, and rested his chin on his forearm.
"Green really is your color, Albus," Rose said thoughtfully. "Goes with your eyes and your darker hair."
"Yeah," Louis chimed in, "and I hear their dormitories have hot and cold running dragon's blood."
Albus suddenly stood and skulked away from the table as the others watched. Rose glanced aside at Louis, one eyebrow raised.
"What?" he said defensively. "It was the best thing I could think of. Hot and cold running… you know, they say Slytherin families hunt dragons." He rolled his eyes. "Never mind, it's probably over your head."
"It's unwise to believe everything you hear," a voice said from directly behind them. James turned and looked up into the face of a man with pale skin and sharp features. A dark-haired woman stood next to him.
The man smiled tightly. "Please forgive the interruption. I was about to ask if this was the correct home, but I see the evidence right here in front of me. I cannot but assume I am speaking to Mr. James Potter, yes?"
James nodded, looking back and forth between the man and the dark-haired woman. They were both good-looking in a rather cold way, and both were dressed in very tasteful black. James was suddenly sure that if Zane, his American friend, were present, he'd make some comment about how brave it was for them to be out in the daylight, or how they managed to comb their hair so nicely, not being able to see themselves in mirrors. Needless to say, he was quite glad Zane wasn't present.
"Perhaps," the man went on, "you'd be kind enough to direct me to your father, James. My name is—"
"Draco?"
James glanced aside and saw his mum approaching slowly. She looked at the newcomer with a mixture of disbelief and caution.
"Ginny," the man said. There was a long, uncomfortable pause, and then the dark-haired woman spoke.
"We're very sorry for your loss, Mrs. Potter." She tried to smile, but it was a rather strained attempt.
"Does Harry know you're…," Ginny asked, still looking at the man.
"I think he does now," Draco said, raising his chin slightly and