Chapter 25: Invisibility Cloak
Penny's parents were very grateful that James saved their two daughters. It was an embarrassing moment for James. As they kept repeating: 'Thank you for saving our babies!'
Their youngest daughter Sophie was rested, as she was almost killed by a horrible troll and was still scared and very tired mentally and physically. Penny also thanked him. She noticed James' embarrassment, so she wasn't too pushy like her parents.
After thanking them for a long time, they said goodbye. Penny told him that next time, they would meet at Hogwarts and hopefully end up in the same house. Her mother despite being French studied at Hogwarts, as her mother (Penny's grandmother) married an Englishman and had no choice but to send Isabelle to Hogwarts.
James before leaving the place, took the opportunity and began to look for information about the incident, especially listening to the conversation of the wizards in the ministry while he was playing dumb. He was careful not to let his parents see him, as they wouldn't want him to be wandering around instead of resting.
He discovered several things. For one thing, the other two trolls were also finished off by ministry wizards, and luckily no one was hurt. As for the hooded ones, he discovered that after killing the muggles they left quickly, without killing any wizards, although they left many wounded in their escape.
An important detail was that after murdering the muggle family, one of the hooded ones cast an incantation that conjured an image in the sky. The image was a colossal skull. Composed of what looked like emerald stars, with a snake protruding from its mouth like a burning tongue in a haze of greenish smoke.
James saw no such image, as he was fighting the troll, most of the wizards and witches in the camp had noticed it in the night, a calling card of sorts.
'If they only killed muggles, their target is clear...' thought James with a frown.
The hooded men were pureblood wizards and witches supremacists, who were against the International Statute of Magical Secrecy. This reminded him of Gellert Grindelwald, who also had a similar goal and wanted wizards to reign over Muggles.
After gathering a little more information, he returned to his couch, a few hours later he returned home with his parents, who had already helped more than necessary since they were not members of the ministry.
It was less than 9 days until Hogwarts. James was very excited. It would be the first time he would be attending a school, where he would be able to make friends. As for Voldemort and his followers, there was still not much he could do. He had to keep training and getting stronger.
...
September 1, 1971.
Finally, the long-awaited day arrived. The Hogwarts Express left at 11 am. James woke up at 6 o'clock excited and nervous for the start of classes, something that rarely happened to him, although in this new life, it was more common.
He got up and put on his jeans and a plain white shirt. The wizard's robe should be worn once they are arriving at Hogwarts.
He checked his Hogwarts list again to make sure he had everything he needed, took care of putting Shadow safely in his cage, and then went downstairs to the kitchen. His parents were already there.
"Oh, sweetie. I was just about to go get you up," Euphemia said, surprised that her son woke up first.
"You seem excited. My start at Hogwarts was a lot of fun. The castle is amazing," said Fleamont with a smile as he sipped a cup of coffee.
"I already want to get to the train," said James, trying to hide his excitement.
The only bad thing was that he would be separated from his parents for a long time, too long, he would say. The good thing was that they would be communicating through the owls.
"Before breakfast, we have something prepared for you," said Euphemia looking at Fleamont.
"Oh...that's right!" said Fleamont, noticing the look on his wife's face. He set the cup down on the table dripping a little, and got up from his chair, "Follow me, son."
James raised a confused eyebrow. His mother also followed his father. He put his things on the floor and followed them with much curiosity. They headed to his mother's office. Just like his father, she had a room where she researched healing among other things.
Fleamont took a key out of his pocket and walked over to a small, long cabinet that was embedded in the wall. He inserted the key into the lock and turned it.
James watched curiously. He had noticed that ordinary little cabinet in his mother's living room. It didn't look like much. At most, it would have books or a few items for research.
Fleamont opened the door of the small closet, and James observed that there was only one hook holding what appeared to be a cape with a delicate and smooth fabric, similar to silk. It has a grayish tone to it. The cloak is very long enough to completely cover an adult and more so a boy like James.
"Is this...?" asked James as his father grabbed the cloak and walked over to him.
"What do you think it is?" asked Fleamont with a slight smile.
"An invisibility cloak!" replied James excitedly. Everyone in the magical world knew about invisibility cloaks, a very expensive and rarely seen magical garment.
"Exactly! This invisibility cloak is a family heirloom. It was passed down from generation to generation a long time ago. Your grandfather passed it down to me when I entered Hogwarts, and now it's time for you to wear it," said Fleamont as he passed the magical garment to James.
'Family relic...?' thought James as he grabbed the cloak. He quickly covered his body with the cloak, leaving only his head. As he looked down, he noticed that his body disappeared.
"Great!" exclaimed James. At Hogwarts, this cloak would be very useful, for exploring the castle quietly and playing pranks, among other things.
"You must be thinking about playing pranks," commented Euphemia. James put on an astonished expression, 'Can mom read minds?" he thought.
"It's okay. I know you like pranks. The last few family birthdays your cousins were your main targets," Euphemia said with a slight smile. James blushed a little. He thought he hadn't been caught, but his mother saw everything.
Ever since he first pranked Gwen and her minions several years ago, he always thought of new ways to play pranks for fun, always being funny and harmless pranks. He knew there was a limit.
"We know that at Hogwarts you will be a great student, but you should also have fun. You should know the limits of pranks and don't use the cloak for anything dangerous. I agreed to give it to you because I trust you," said Euphemia, looking at James, who could only see his head.
Hearing this, James understood why his mother agreed to give him such a powerful magical item for pranks. In the years since Gwen and Emily left, he didn't make any friends. Most of his time was spent studying and practicing with his wand, though in this life he did it because he loved magic.
Then he was a crazy quidditch fanatic, but he didn't have any friends. So, his parents seemed to be concerned about his social life and didn't want him to be a friendless nerd at Hogwarts.
"Don't worry mother. I'll use the cloak in a good way," nodded James. His goal was to get friends too.
"Right, let's get some breakfast. You don't want to miss the train," said Euphemia with a smile. The family went back to the kitchen and had a happy breakfast.
James couldn't believe he had gotten such a valuable and useful item. The possibilities were endless for pranks with an invisibility cloak at Hogwarts.