A Broken Inheritance

Chapter 4: A Newfound Fixation

But James had seen it. And it burned in his mind like a challenge.

"What was that about?" he muttered under his breath, leaning closer to Sirius, who was seated next to him and oblivious to James's fixation.

"What was what about?" Sirius asked, glancing up from his toast.

"Gaunt," James whispered, nodding toward the Slytherin table. "She got a letter, and it—something's up with her."

Sirius followed James's gaze, his expression unimpressed. "Right, because Anastasia Gaunt's correspondence is obviously our business."

"It is when it makes her react," James insisted, his voice low. "You didn't see her face. It was like—"

"Like she's human and has a right to express emotions?" Sirius interrupted, raising an eyebrow. "Shocking."

James ignored him, his mind already racing. "I need to see that letter."

Sirius sighed, leaning back against the bench. "Here we go again."

But James wasn't listening. His eyes were locked on Anastasia as she stood, the letter still folded neatly on the table beside her plate. She exchanged a few more words with Malfoy before excusing herself, her robes swishing as she left the hall.

James's heart raced as he weighed his options. He couldn't let this go. Not now.

He leaned closer to Sirius and Remus, lowering his voice. "I'll be back. Don't ask questions."

"Oh, for Merlin's sake—" Sirius began, but James was already on his feet, slipping his wand from his pocket.

From the corner of the hall, under the cover of the bustling crowd, James cast a quick Disillusionment Charm on himself. Moments later, he draped his Invisibility Cloak over his shoulders, vanishing entirely.

He moved carefully through the throng of students, weaving between tables until he reached the Slytherin table. The letter was still there, sitting innocuously beside Anastasia's empty teacup. His pulse quickened as he pulled out his wand again, muttering under his breath, "Fumos."

A burst of purple smoke erupted in the centre of the Great Hall, spreading rapidly and filling the space with a dense, shimmering fog. Students gasped and shouted in confusion, chairs scraping against the floor as they scrambled to figure out what was happening.

James took his chance. He slipped closer, his movements quick and silent, and snatched the letter from the table. He tucked it into his robes and turned, retreating just as swiftly as he'd come.

By the time the smoke began to clear, he was halfway up the staircase to Gryffindor Tower, his heart pounding in his chest. He ducked into an empty alcove and threw off the Invisibility Cloak, his fingers brushing against the letter hidden inside his robes.

He glanced around, making sure the coast was clear, before slipping through the portrait hole into the common room. Sirius and Remus were lounging by the fire, their expressions a mix of amusement and exasperation as they looked up at him.

"Well?" Sirius drawled, raising an eyebrow. "Did you solve the grand mystery of Anastasia Gaunt's breakfast correspondence?"

James ignored him, his hand tightening on the letter in his pocket. "Not yet."

Without another word, he headed for the dormitory stairs, his mind spinning with possibilities. Whatever was in that letter, he was going to find out. Sirius and Remus followed behind him, rolling their eyes, though their curiosity was definitely peaked.

The Gryffindor boys' dormitory was quiet except for the faint crackle of the fire in the hearth. James sat cross-legged on his bed, the stolen letter in his hands."Well," James muttered, holding up the folded parchment, "shall we find out what Hogwarts' resident ice queen is hiding?"