Disclaimer: All of the characters and associations of the Harry Potter realm belong to J. K. Rowling and all other copyright holders. Sadly, I am not included in these aforementioned institutions and merely borrow such settings as a playground for my own creativity.
Meant to Make You Shine
James was jolted from his sleep by a terrible wailing noise. Having spent the last few months with his Uncle Charlie in the newest care center in England as an apprentice in dragon handling, it was his reflex to jump out of his bed and search for whatever had gone up in flames this time. The fog of sleep clearing from his vision, his mind took time to process the familiar surroundings of his childhood room. Whirling posters of various Quidditch teams and a few stationary ones of muggle cars took up most of his wall space, and the messy collage seemed to give him a headache now that he had grown out of his teenage fascination with such novelties.
While he still loved Quidditch, it just didn't seem proper to have blazing orange figures whoop at him out of an old Chudley Cannon's poster. He decided it was finally time to have that conversation with his mum about how now that he was twenty it was unnecessary to keep his room exactly as he left it before going away to Hogwarts nearly a decade ago.
Realizing that it was his mother's wailing that woke him up, he decided that conversation would have to wait yet another day. His mother tended to let her Weasley side get the best of her when she was already emotional and she'd take to turning bright red and blubbering whenever it was brought to her attention that her youngest child was now in her final year at Hogwarts. Bringing it up she she was already distressed would most likely result in her emotionally overloading and damage to near by objects.
James made his escape from the room before the pressure that was beginning to form in his temples could take hold. As he slipped into the upstairs hallway, he grinned noticing the equally unkempt form of his brother doing the same from across the hall. Albus had graduated from Hogwarts two years ago this spring and decided to follow in their father's footsteps immediately, resulting in immediately beginning Auror training.
While he was automatically accepted to the program, he found that they cut him no slack for his surname- which came as a relief as he had always been revered for being the son of Harry Potter even more than either James or Lily due to how severe the similarities were between the legend and his son. Because of this pleasant expectation of equality in Albus's study, he had gone mostly unseen to the majority of the family until last week when he had showed up at the Potter house saying he was on leave before his final examinations.
It was his arrival that had prompted Ginny to organize a family party in celebration of the only holiday that February held, Valentine's Day. When the boys had first heard about it, they insisted she should just be like a normal Weasley mother and have some sort of reunion. Apparently she had become a premiere hostess in their absence and asserted that it's necessary for every good party to have a theme behind it. As the brothers descended that morning, an abundance of red and pink assaulted their retinas. James vaguely thought he might have been better back in his room for at least there he was spared from having enchanted cupids shoot arrows at him and the scent of roses.
As he considered retreating, an action Albus had taken as soon as he saw the downstairs, a shrill shout stopped him.
"There you two are!" Ginny snapped. After all of these years, James still got nervous when his mother scrutinized him as she was doing now. "I've been up for hours and haven't seen either of you anywhere!"
"That's because we've been asleep, Mum!" Albus called from his position halfway up the stairs. Ginny turned her hawk-like gaze to the younger son, who immediately straightened up under the intimidating look. They both may tower over her, but she was able to hex them into next week if they put a toe out of line. And with how much effort it seemed she put into making their house into a sappier version of Madam Puddifoot's Tea Parlor, neither of them wished to put her to the test.
"Look at the state of the both of you," she tsked. "Your father went out to get some last minute party supplies, so I need all the help I can get. Now go get washed up, I don't want your smell mixing with the spells I put up to make it smell like a Parisian garden." James wrinkled his nose in disgust at the scent.
"Honestly Mother, as if there is a difference between your garden and a Parisian one," James scoffed. Ginny shot him a look, to which he quickly added. "They are both so exquisite, who could tell the difference?" Albus snickered quietly from above James, causing the older boy to shoot him a glare.
"Never mind. Everyone will be here at three, and look! It's already ten! Hurry!" she urged, fleeing from the room leaving the James and Albus speechless. Albus just shrugged, finishing his ascent up the stairs. James resigned himself to see what he could do in the meantime, knowing that his brother always took much longer than necessary in the shower. The least he could do in the meantime was to help his mum not be the death of either herself or one of the house pets in her haste.
"Albus has first shower," James announced, noticing the kitchen was the only thing that didn't seemed to be decked out in the current color scheme. Ginny merely nodded as she stirred a bowl manually with one hand and the other used her wand to conduct some recipe. James had always been awed at his mother's proficiency in household spells, but she assured him that it was all due to his grandmother having seven of them and her being the only girl rather than any natural inclination. James could barely do any basic cleaning spells right, let alone cooking. At least that wasn't his assigned duties when he was home with-
"Oh Mother, I still have something to say to the family today," James reminded. Ginny still didn't take her attention from her work.
"Yes dear, I know. Just wait until after Uncle Ron has had some firewhiskey though. You know how intolerable he can be sober," she laughed at her brother's difficulties to see eye to eye on anything he didn't explicitly think or that Hermione didn't instill in him. Yet again, James figured that no amount of alcohol could prepare his uncle for this news.
"I will Mum," he assured despite his fears.
"Good, now if you could possibly de-gnome the front lawn. I had your father do it, but he's much too gentle with the bloody things." It was James's turn to laugh, moving forward momentarily to kiss the top of his mother's head affectionately.
Albus had always been their father's prodigy and somewhere along the line James became a proverbial mama's boy. He could take it his news went over poorly with everyone else, but the thought that his fiery redhead of a mother would take it badly frightened him. If worst came to worse, he wanted to get in as much affection as he could before later. She gave a contented hum of appreciation before waving him off. As he was leaving, Ginny suddenly began speaking again.
"Ah, I nearly forgot! Teddy owled your father back last night saying he'd be coming as well and had some news for the family," Ginny mused. "If it is about him and Victoire not working, poor boy has got the whole thing wrong. I hope that isn't why he hasn't visited much recently. Even Victoire didn't hold the break up against the boy! Well, if you see him before I do, give him the same advice I gave you."
"Will do," James mumbled before hastily leaving. He had forgotten that Teddy hadn't seen much of the family since the news leaked of the fateful break up. He knew very well that Teddy was well aware that Victoire harbored no ill will towards him, but if that was what his mother thought about the ordeal, James was extra nervous about how the night will turn out. Figuring he needed to take his anxiety out on something, James eagerly left the house into the brisk February air, ready to give the gnomes such a toss that they wouldn't come to live in the Potter garden ever again.
"Oh James, I think the cherubs have taken a liking to you!" Aunt Hermione giggled, swaying slightly as she stood in between the couch and the bar, holding yet another champagne flute in her hand.
James wasn't sure if he was more annoyed that the stupid flying devils chose him as the target of yet another of their arrows, resulting in his skin glowing magenta or the fact that Aunt Hermione was well on her way of spending the latter half of the night unresponsive while Uncle Ron hadn't touched a sip of anything the family bar could offer. Annoyed with the entire affair, he shot his mother a pointed look, who vanished the effects off of him with a smile that told him to lighten up.
"I should just stay that color," James drawled. "At least then it might take the fun out of it for them." As if in retaliation, one of the zipped past him, shooting another arrow his direction which was intercepted by a last minute shielding charm thrown up by Albus.
"Nah, at least I can practice my reflexes on you for the night," Albus reasoned. "I don't want to get slow before the practical."
"You, the youngest seeker since Dad and head of the Defense Against the Dark Arts club, slow? I'd first opt to stay that horrid shade of pink first," James assured, clapping a hand on Albus's shoulder. The former jumped in alarm as something lodged itself into his shoulder blade. Yelping, he grabbed for whatever hit him.
"Why hello lover boy," greeted a mess of red hair that came bounding into the room. "If you don't mind, I need my arrow back."
"Fred!" James snarled as an audacious pink and red arrow was plucked from his back. "You shot an arrow at me?"
"Ah I shot nothing, dear lover boy," Fred snickered. James puffed his chest out, eyes narrowing at his best friend and former mate in mischief at Hogwarts. James had learned that pranks had their place and time since graduation, opting to take a more serious route of handling dangerous creatures where his counterpart had followed in his namesake's footsteps and began work on a whole new spectrum of devices for pranks and laughs.
"There was an arrow stuck into my left shoulder blade, Fred, that could have done some damage," James pointed out. Fred let out an over dramatic sigh.
"Oh how young love clouds the sense," he threw a hand over his forehead before grinning wickedly at his own jest and slinging his arm around James's shoulder. "It isn't an actual arrow. See this? It's attracted to the heart's tiny electrical system. I learned about it in my time with the muggles. It seems that the heart is actually based upon a system of small impasses that through sensories allow communication. This beauty right here seeks out those that work the hardest, belonging to those who are lovesick. Or grieving. We haven't worked that one out yet though," Fred frowned. Shaking his head, his green eyes pierced deeply into James's, excitement brewing behind them.
"It's one of our newest prototype products, we released a few in the shop as testers for the holiday. We market them to find the 'one who is ready to love you back', but really they are just attracted to whomever's heart forces are the strongest in the area. And since I know that you haven't had any devastating blows recently, and we happen to be in a house full of lovesick Weasley girls- granted if your sister was here I'm sure it wouldn't have had a second thought to go straight to that man-killer, I'd have to assume you've gotten it bad. So tell me, who is the poor darling you've attached yourself to?"
James listened to the whole explanation in horror. He didn't even have the decency to fake annoyance at the jab at Lily's tendencies to find her way to the Astronomy tower with whomever her weekly fancy was due to the fact that he might be exposed by a stupid prank of Fred's.
"Sod off Fred, you know me, I'm not the type to settle down with any one broad when there another is waiting," James found himself responding automatically. Fred shook his head, face mocking solemnity.
"My dear, dear cousin. As much as I'd like to believe that you were as carefree as myself in that matter, the heart does not lie. Nor does my arrow-"
"Your bloody arrow is broken!" James snarled, snatching the gaudy thing away from his cousin. Fred offered him an offended look.
"I believe you're directly insulting the Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, Mr. Potter," Fred chided. James became acutely aware of how Albus was studying him. Shoving the toy back to his cousin, he gave the man he had considered his best friend all of his life the most pleading look he could muster.
"Look, mate, could you just hold off on the arrow tonight? Tonight isn't the best night for surprises," James asked coolly, not letting how much he wanted to beg the other man to pretend that it never happened. Fred sobered up considerably at the request, cocking his head to take a better look at James before nodding cautiously.
"Sure. If that's what you'd like," he acquiesced. James let out a sigh of relief, and the trio was suddenly faced with the senior founder of the Wheeze's company.
"Have you used it yet?" George asked excitedly. Fred shook his head.
"I tried, but it seems that having this many hormonal women in the mix, it's become confused," George's frown matched Fred's at the false revelation. He patted his son's shoulder, pocketing what he thought to be defective arrow.
"Well, we can't always get them out on time. Hello boys," he grinned at both James and Albus in an afterthought.
"'Lo Uncle Fred," Albus replied as James stayed silent, caught up in the prospect of how bad that could have been.
"Too bad it didn't work. Would have been fun to pester Rosie over there about who gave her that ring she's so unsubtly flaunting," George snickered. "Ah well, I'll make sure that the joke has a better punch line next family party." With that, he left to go greet the rest of the family. James felt the eyes of both Fred and his brother analyzing him and suddenly the decorations seemed extremely fascinating. Noticing the lax defenses, the impish cupids took the moment to strike at James, two arrows hitting him simultaneously. James coughed as the cloud of magic was twice as thick around him this time around.
"Oi, Al! Aren't you supposed to be protecting me?" he snapped. Albus snapped out of his musings and had the decency to off up a sheepish grin.
"Sorry, didn't see that one coming," he attempted to excuse himself lamely.
"I'm sure that will go down nicely when you're too busy goggling to notice a curse sent at your partner on a mission. Sorry your leg got blown off, I didn't see it coming," James admonished.
"Oh don't be so harsh on him. I think pink suits you," came a smooth jest. Three pairs of eyes landed on the newest addition to the party, James not moving from his spot.
"Teddy!" Albus exclaimed, clambering towards him. The metamorphmagus had always been a role model for the younger Potters, as he spent much of his time as a child around the Potter house. Even James followed him around for a time before the friendship became something mutual. Now, turning twenty-five, he still had Albus's admiration and James's friendship. Lily wasn't as fond of him after she had spent her Christmas vacation of sixth year attempting to seduce him to the point where he could no longer ignore it and had to tell her he thought of her as a little sister, not to mention the age difference.
"Hey Al," Teddy greeted, giving him a one armed hug. "Fred, James." He nodded in greeting to the other two, eyes lingering longer on the latter. James had to fight the urge to bite his lip. Thankfully Fred saved the day by being his loud self.
"Black hair? Really Teddy? Are you trying to be the newest Potter clone?" Fred teased. The older man just shrugged.
"Well, I thought that with all the red hair that's going to be here, Ginny's decorations would already have so much to clash against that I didn't want the blue to set her into a frenzy," Teddy joked. "Besides, I didn't do this." He contorted his face in concentration before his eyes were blazing green and a blemish atop his forehead could barely be seen. James flushed thoroughly at the show.
"Don't do that," he meant it to seem harsh but it came out more as a whine. Teddy fixed his gaze on James, face contorting again as he returned his hazel eyes, tanner skin, and currently black hair do.
"Two Harry Potters enough for you already, Jamie?" Teddy teased, throwing his arm around James's shoulder this time. Albus scowled at the jibe, as the jokes were old enough.
"Ted!" the aforementioned man bellowed across his house, eagerly coming to greet his godson. They two embraced, both smiling widely at the reunion. "It's been too long, I haven't even gotten an owl from you since Christmas and let's not even try to remember the last time you've been over. I was beginning to think that the muggle job the ministry has gotten you to take up ended up killing you or something," Harry teased. Teddy just shook his head.
"No, nothing like that. I love the job, actually. Even if the ministry didn't ask me to do it as a liaison, I'd probably keep it. I've just been extremely busy between having to do a muggle job while actually doing a Ministry stunt, plus I just moved into my new apartment mid-Autumn. I just finished moving in, officially. It was a lot harder than I thought," James barely noticed hazel eyes flicking towards his. James glared at the older boy's profile, wondering what exactly he was playing at. Harry didn't seem to notice.
"Ah, James just moved into an apartment in London too. Muggle place, mind you, as if I'd even know my way around one of those anymore," Harry laughed, shaking his head. "Make yourself comfortable, Teddy, the family misses you."
"Yeah? I'll be sure not to stay away for so long again Harry," Teddy said earnestly. The host just waved his hand, smiling at his sons before excusing himself to resume his original task of getting more beverages for the bar.
"So, disastrous duo, what horrors do you have in store for us tonight?" Teddy rounded on James and Fred. James rolled his eyes before Fred could respond.
"You know that I've put explosions behind me, Ted," James chided. Fred briefly looked hurt at how fast the other boy responded before shrugging.
"He might be above it, but that just makes him a target. As a retiree he'll never see it coming," Fred jabbed James sharply in the back to bring his point home while grinning. James dropped his gaze to the floor.
"Fred, I'd like to call a true now," Teddy offered his hand to the redhead. Fred seemed to think about it for a moment, not sure if he'd like one less target. "Or I could raid yours and James's old stash up in the attic and we can wage war with your Grandmum here." That was all it took for Fred to grasp his hand and shake is vigorously.
"Done. Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Lupin."
"Me too, Fred!" Albus attempted, hoping he could escape whatever pranks the father and son pair had set in place. Unfortunately for Albus, Fred shook his head.
"Sorry, no can do Al. I know you don't know where our stash is even now after all of these years. Plus it'll give those Auror skills of yours a test," Fred pointed out. Albus wilted a bit, before noticing Teddy had begun to drag James off.
"Oi, where are you going?" James seemed to freeze like a deer in headlights while Teddy offered the younger Potter a warm smile.
"I just need to talk to James for a moment. Catching up, you know," Teddy explained. Albus looked from one man to the other, James refusing to meet his eyes. Knowing that whether he kept staring or not, it wasn't as if something would suddenly jump out at him to explain the situation.
"Alright. Just be quick, Teddy. Mum might have a soft spot for you but if she suspects that any of us wanted to skip out on her outrageous bash she'd have your head," Albus warned. No sooner had he said this did Teddy forcibly uproot James and drag him in the stairs.
"Well, I never really would have figured that," Fred mused aloud. Albus snapped his attention from the staircase to his cousin.
"What do you mean?" Fred just shook his head at the naivety of his cousin, slinging an arm around his shoulder. If James didn't want to say anything, it was Fred's place to respect his best friend's wishes. Although he could set up some interesting effects in the pair's absence, which was too rich of an opportunity to pass up.
"Nothing, young Albus. Now, I know you wanted some immunity in the night. I won't guarantee your safety in what will be known as the Wheeze's Wicked Valentine's Wonder for years to come, but I need your help," Fred conspired, swinging an arm around the taller boy, eyes glinting as he pulled him into the study to begin planning what was in store for James and Teddy.
A/N: With Valentines Day approaching, I couldn't help but do something fun for the occasion. This will be a two part installment and part two will definitely be a bit more juicy, so stay tuned :)