Being Minnie's Daughter

Chapter 75

James POV

We dip our faces into the pensieve and immediately we get sucked into whatever memory Mack chose. Hopefully it's a good one.

We land softly in the Potter Manor hall entry as the scene fills in around us. It's exactly how I remember it; dark wood floors, pale green walls, and the same flowery rug laying on the ground. Now that rug is all old and covered in dirt. Back then, mom took down the vases and other fragile stuff. Apparently, I was a terror as a child, and I destroyed almost everything between the running around and accidental magic.

The doorbell rings for a moment before the door opens up revealing a younger Minnie and a little Mackenzie.

Sirius leans over and grins, "Minnie looks almost the same. Except for those grey hairs and wrinkles."

Remus chuckles, "I think you caused most of those."

Sirius slaps his hand on his chest. "I did not." He looks over at James. "We did."

Mack marches over and smacks Sirius, "Quiet. I want to see this."

I turn back to the doorway and look at little Mackenzie. She was gripping her mother's hand tightly and walked slowly into the hallway. She turns around to look outside before looking up at Minnie with electric blue eyes. Her light brown hair is surprisingly long for her age.

"Mack," I lean over and whisper, "How old are you?"

Mack shrugs, "2, 3? I don't exactly know."

My mother walks around the corner and smiles. "Hello Minerva, how are you?"

"I'm doing wonderful. Thank you so much for offering to look after Mackenzie. It was so much simpler to look after her at Hogwarts when she didn't walk."

My mother walks over and gives Minerva a hug. "Anytime honey. We've been best friends since first year, I'd do anything for you."

Minerva smiles, "Just as I would for you."

Euphemia smiles back, "Plus I think a playmate would be excellent for James. He has far too much energy for just me to deal with during the day."

Minerva laughs, "Hopefully, you will have more time for yourself now."

"Me too honey, me too." Euphemia looks down the hallway. "I am going to go find the boys. I gave Fleamont the task of dressing James this morning. This could turn out terrible."

"You do that, I'll bring Mackenzie into your kitchen. I remember the way."

Euphemia turns and walks away. "Of course, you do honey."

I turn and look grab our Mack's arm. "That sounds like you and Lily."

She chuckles and turns back to look at her younger self.

Minerva turns and looks at down at her daughter. "See Mackenzie, Mrs. Potter is very nice."

"But mummy..." She says quietly.

"You will be fine darling, I'll only be an owl away if you need me," she reaches over and brushes some hair out of Mackenzie's face. "But there is something more important we need to talk about."

"What mummy?" She tilts her head.

Minerva kneels down and looks at her daughter. "You need to focus darling on your abilities. No crazy hair colors today, okay?"

"But mummy-"

"No buts sweetie, when you get older you will be around muggles and they can't know. So just try for mummy, okay?"

She looks up at her mum and nods, "Okay mummy."

Minerva stands up and grabs Mackenzie's hand. "Let's go find some toast in Mrs. Potter's kitchen."

We follow them down the hall and to the left towards the kitchen.

"Can I have some jam on my toast mummy?

"Of course," Minnie smiles, "what type?"

"Grape, please."

I lean against the doorway and start chuckling as Minnie opens the cupboard to the right of the stove and grabs the jar of jam. "Whoa, mum really doesn't change much around the house," I mutter under my breath.

I look at Mack and smile, "Is that still your favorite breakfast food?"

She laughs and shakes her head, "I wish. I'm celiac, remember?"

"Oh right."

A thundering comes down the stairs and immediately I turn around just in time to see a small mop of hair run straight through my legs.

I turn back to see my younger self climbing up into my chair at the table. Little me reaches out to grab some cereal off the table before noticing the two people in the kitchen.

"MUMMY!" I scream. "STRANGERS!"

My mother comes running into the room with her wand raised before realizing it's just Minerva and Mackenzie. "Sweetheart, this is Professor McGonagall and Mackenzie. Remember, I was telling you about them yesterday."

"Oh," I say quietly before dropping my spoon. "Hi."

Mackenzie walks around the corner of the island and peeks out at me. "Hi." She walks over to the table and places her plate at the spot next to me before climbing into the chair.

"I'm Makenie," she says softly, trying but missing some parts of her name.

"James Potter," I say with a smile.

My mom walks over and kneels down in between Mackenzie and I. "James, Mackenzie will be staying at our house during the day for a while. You both can play together all day."

"Really mummy?"

"Yes, sweetheart."

"Can we go play now?"

"Of course, sweetheart."

"C'mon Kennie, let's go play with my trains."

"Okay," Mackenzie smiles jumping out of her chair as I run out of the room.

"Mackenzie," Minerva calls out softly, "Remember your hair."

Remus pokes me and I look closer at Mackenzie. Her hair is now black and wavy like mine.

"Can I keep it like this mummy?"

Minnie nods, "Of course darling."

My mother looks over at Minnie and smiles, "I told you they would be fine."

Minnie grins, "Of course you knew, it's like you are psyhic or something."

"Something like that."

The memory fades as we are pushed out of the pensieve. We fall over as we exit and all land on the ground.

Mack smiles and moves to sit next to me. "I think you were my first friend."

I reach my arm around her and grin, "Same Kennie."

Remus and Sirius start laughing.

"What's so funny?" I say, looking at the two knuckleheads.

Remus grins, "You were so cute James, what happened?"

"Shut it," I groan, standing up and sitting back down into an armchair.

Just then Lily opens the door and walks in to see me sitting there all grumpy while Mackenzie, Sirius, and Remus all sit on the floor dying laughing.

"What did I miss?" She questions, dropping her book bag right outside her bedroom door.

"Everything."