The Slytherin way

James arrived at the dueling room just a few minutes late and he nodded to Angus who stood on the long dueling ring waiting for him.

"Your late."

James nodded. "Sorry dad. I was rushing to finish up my work. I am now up to date well until the next battle." He said with a grin and drew out his wand. He bowed to Angus. "Let's begin."

Angus held up a hand. "Put up your wand. We going to learn defense first and then attack. The wusixa way. Take your stance and focus you magic into the rings on your dominant hand." He said calmly.

"Oh. Sorry about that. I forgot." James said and then he put up his wand. He took a stance and held up his hand focusing his magic into his right hand using a hand sign and a circle and shield of magic appeared before him.

"Hold it! Hold it steady." Angus said.

James controlled his breathing and centered his focus. He kept the shield up. He stared straight ahead at Angus.

"Alright I'm ready." James said.

Angus turned his body into a fencing stance with is forward front foot. He punched a fist of fire toward James. The fire fist hit James magical shield and it shattered on contact and blew James backward and off the dueling ring.

James landed on the floor outside the ring. He groaned and rolled to his feet and straightened up his eyes back. He looked up and snorted in laughter as Angus waved him back to the ring.

"Come on son. We have to keep going until you can hold your shield up after an attack." Angus said.

James nodded and climbed back up into the ring. James went into his stance and started to from his shield. Angus stared at him passively.

"James. Are you still planning on aiming to be the president of the congress of wizards?"

James lost his focus but he quickly again brought up his shield. "Yeah. That's aim." He said.

Angus nodded. "So when you get into position to the job your service to recording here will be done?"

"No. One is a job. Record keeping for the Hawks Landing is my duty and your rise to power is more important."

Angus pushed his shield again this time with a lightning fist. The lightning fist had more of a punch to it and easily blew James away making him hit the back wall.

James snorted hissing in pain. He shook off the pain got to his feet and quickly walked over and stood in the fighting ring. He flowed into his stance and formed his shield.

Angus stared at him. "I messed up. I don't where. Are you happy?"

James nodded. "Of course. I got a hot wife a home of my own and people that love me. One day I'm going to be the President of the congress of magic. I'm kicking ass right now."

"So what's the punch line?" Angus asked calmly.

James was quiet as strengthened his shield. When he said nothing Angus threw a straight right hand sending wall of lightning and toward James.

There was an explosion on contact James was pushed back but he held his stance until the spell dispelled.

Angus frowned at him. "Your as strong as I am hell. You'll be stronger then me one day."

James smiled. "You done blowing smoke up my ass. I'm not going to cry about my situation to you. Let it go dad. You don't want to have this conversation because I will be brutally honest with you."

Angus waved his hand. "Give me it to me straight son. I'll let it be afterward."

"Your Angus Potter. You've been fighting for your life sense you been fourteen years old. I haven't. I don't want your simplify. I'm going to find my own way. Just like you found your own way. I'm going to do the same thing. Your a great man and a the magi that's going to lead our people into the new era. Just because I'm recording your rise to power doesn't mean I'm going to settle for living in your shadow."

Angus snorted and rubbed his head roughly. "Well damn. You certainly put me in my place. If it counts for anything you got my vote. Your mother and Mara should have breakfast ready for us in the tower. Let's go eat." He said disappearing.

James sighed and turned appearing in the tower to breakfast table filled with food. He smiled at his family and went to sit beside Mara at the table. Mara focused on face and leaned into his shoulder. He put his arm around her waist and kissed the side of her temple.

"Alright. Time for presents." Ava said with a grin.

Angus sat silently in his seat chewing beans and sausages. He didn't say anything.

James frowned when Ava presented him a craved staff with ward marks on it to him. When it was in his hand. He tested it. It still felt odd in his hand. He looked at Angus. "Why did you make it?"

Angus sighed. "You asked me for a staff before I screwed everything up. I also wanted to know what made you want a staff?"

James tapped the staff of the floor. "I've been thinking about River Song."

Angus stared at him. "You want to learn from her."

James nodded. "Yes. She's strong and knows a lot more about the magi. I want to learn from her and the history of our people. That's how I plan to get ahead of you. While your rising to the skies I'm going to rise in the congress." He said with a wink.

"James. You and your father are not against each other." Ava said.

"He didn't say that. He's going his own way." Angus said and again he looked at James he was staring off into a corner of the great hall. "James!"

James turned his gaze toward him at the same he stood the staff up straight. "Yes."

"What was the other reason you chose to take the staff?" He asked.

James shook his head. "I didn't have another reason." He said bluntly.

Angus stared at him. "You handled the staff pretty well deflecting the lightning spells being thrown at you so easily."

James shrugged. "Sure. The staff does has it's practical uses."

Angus chuckled. "Your animagus and apparition skills are very impressive. Mara told me about that double kicked you did on that wizard. Your an amazingly talented wizard."

James shook his head at Angus. "Your trying blow smoke up my ass again. What are you trying to say."

"Your the future of the magi son. You are. I'm just the present. Look around you. Look at what you've created. Tell me what do you see?"

James took a look around and couldn't the pride he felt at the tower and what it was going to become. His lips formed a slow smile and a proud look at the great hall and apartments. A second later his smile dropped away. "I see the foundation to achieve information about the magi. Thanks to you this place came to be."

"Bullshit." Angus cursed. "I talked with your friend Dago he told me what you to talked about."

James looked over a remarkably silent Dago who sat with his head down eating his breakfast of beans and sausages.

"Yeah. I know. We didn't plan to create this place. That's all on you Dad." James said before letting go his staff.

Angus stared at the staff as it stood straight on the floor behind James as a guard. He looked away as James started scooping up beans with his spoon and eating silently.

"Yeah. You didn't directly plan to create this place. But you had plans for a sanctuary for the outcasts in the magical world." He said.

James shook his head. "Neither Dago nor I mentioned anything about a building or starting a sanctuary. I remember already telling you what I thought this place is. I'm not interested in anything like that now anyway. I want power. I don't own this place and isn't my dream. Your the figure head."

Angus stared at him. "You said to Nick you wanted to set up an exclusive place for men like me and Nick to have. Just like the lost temple?"

"Right. But you view this place like a school just like the lose temple." James said.

Angus stared at him. "You said this place is a sky realm?"

"Yes."

"Are we on earth now?" Angus asked.

James was quiet for a few seconds. "This is the same type of place as the lost temple but different." He said.

Angus nodded. "You care a lot about this place."

"Yes. You created it and I-"

"I don't care about this place at all. In fact I see it as a problem that's coming between you and me. I would rather let it go then for there to be a division between you and me. I'm not tied to this place like you and Dago."

James sat up in his seat. "What do you want from me?" He asked.

"Why won't you claim ownership of your dream. This place is yours. I want to know why?"

"You Gryffindors are really dumb." James said in a cold voice.

Angus stared at him. "What?!"

"I'm a Slytherin. It's not to my advantage to tell you all my mind or how I move when the damn world is watching every step I make judging me and my motives. I don't want to rule this place. If I were stupid enough to entertain that thought then people such as yourself would put me in my place and come at my throat and change this place into what they want. I don't want that. I like this place and what it is and what it is turning into but I'm not the leader nor am I expected to be or would respected to be the type to rule here. Great men like yourself are." He said taking up his cup and drinking it.

Angus shook his head. "I never should have let you go to Hogwarts. I knew this crap would be in issue between us. The house of Slytherin is not a stamp for being a dark lord or the next Tom Riddle Your just as great a man and a rising star of a wizard you've proven it with what you've done here."

James sighed putting his cup down. "Dad can we please stop talking about the purpose of this place and whose in charge of it. Just let it be. People will think what they want. I don't care. I'm going to find my own way of doing things. Politics is where I'll get my power. You already found your way."

Angus kept shaking his head. "Severus Snape was a brilliant man and a hero that came out of the house of Slytherin. There are plenty of strong wizards and heroes from that house. There is nothing wrong with you claiming ownership of this place."

James sighed. "What's it going to take for you to leave me alone about this? You did promise you would protect this place."

Angus shook his head. "I told you I would protect your dream. If this place isn't your dream then I don't give a damn about it. Is that good enough answer for you."

James snorted nodding his head. "You got me there dad. Do you trust me?"

Angus stared at him. "Yes."

"Am I, you my best friend." James said.

Angus nodded. "Forever. From birth until the day you bury me in the grave. Yes. I am you're best friend."

"Good. I didn't fight you once when you told you don't want me to carry a peacemaker. I never will. I trust your judgement. I don't have to know why and I don't give a damn. I'm doing what I need to do and handling everything in my own way. Dad. You know me. I'm not doing anything strange and weird out of character for me."

Angus shook his head. "Fine. Your right. Damn. I'm going to trust you know what your doing here. Though it will be hard for me son. Everything inside of me is telling me to step back so you can step up. I feel like I'm stealing your thunder."

"I know. But, trust me I won't let you down." James said reaching forward and took hold his father's hand. 

Angus nodded. "Okay son."