Adventures in Your Children Dating
Chapter Two – James
Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter, I'd pull a Beyonce and drop that prequel or next-gen sequel I know many of us are begging for. But alas, I don't.
By the time James had gotten into his teenage years, Harry figured there was nothing his eldest son could do that would honestly shock him. He and Ginny had gotten so many owls from Neville (who was now Gryffindor Head of House) about the pranks, fights, and daring stunts he had pulled in his first five years at Hogwarts that Ginny was tempted to make a scrapbook of them. Of course (as Ginny liked to point out during several of these letters), that if Harry hadn't conveniently left the Marauder's Map in the study desk, that half of the feats James managed to pull wouldn't have happened.
A few days before the kids were to come home for Christmas holidays in James's sixth year, Harry received a letter that he was needed for a meeting with Neville and James at the request of the new Headmaster. Minerva McGonagall had retired a few years before (Harry had a feeling that dealing with so many Weasleys and Potters at one time had finished off the remainder of her nerves), and the job had been left to the Charms professor that had taken over after Filius Flitwick had retired. In fact, the only people still at the school now that had been there in Harry's time was Madam Pomfrey, Hagrid, and Professor Trelawney, who Harry made his mission to avoid each time he went to the castle.
Wondering what his oldest had done this time, Harry flooed straight to Neville's office from work that evening. Like always, Harry stumbled out of the fireplace, and was met with Neville's laughter.
"Still having problems with that, eh?" he asked with a grin as he greeted Harry with a handshake.
"Ginny thinks its hilarious," Harry said. He looked around, seeing his oldest looking up at him with an embarrassed look. "So which of his siblings or cousins did James hex this time?"
Neville rubbed his neck and put on his 'professor' look. "Well, actually, he wasn't caught hexing anybody this time," he said. "But I did find him in a...er...awkward situation."
Harry raised his brows slightly and looked back at James, who was now focused on his kneecaps. "Oh?"
"Perhaps he should be the one telling you this."
"I seriously doubt James would be willing to tell the truth if it is as awkward as you say."
"Well, I'll start and let James finish," Neville said, leaning against his desk. "Deal, James?"
"Yes, Professor Longbottom," came James's low reply.
"A couple of the students in James's year are muggleborn, see, and they seem to pick up on certain games or habits their muggle relatives or friends do. I was doing rounds in the dorms – we've had to start doing that now, especially with all the hexing and pranking that's been happening recently – and apparently one of the muggle games brought to Hogwarts this semester was something called, 'seven minutes in heaven'."
"I vaguely remember Hermione talking about that game once," Harry said. "She never got around to explaining it, thankfully. I think it's a good thing we never played it, especially with her and Ron the way they were in our sixth year."
Neville laughed. "Oh, I'm sure it would have caused Ron to blow a gasket if it had ever been played," he chortled. "But as I was making my rounds through the fifth year boys dorm, I was surprised to see both the boys and girls in the dorm, to say the least. Or rather, most of them, anyway."
"Most of them?" Harry looked back at James.
"Well, I thought it was suspicious that James was missing from the group, since I knew most of the Weasley/Potter clan had already turned in for the night and I had just checked on them," Neville said with an amused look. "So I had asked where James was, since he was usually found with his housemates at the end of the evening."
"I wouldn't have been found if Taylor hadn't kicked the mop bucket into my shin and Mason hadn't howled when she jabbed him in the ribs," James grumbled.
"Wait, how many of you were in one closet?" Harry asked.
"Three?" James answered in a small voice.
"Miss Taylor Murphy and Mr. Mason Andrews," Neville chimed in.
"Ah yes, you've had them over at the house during summer hols." Harry remembered the two students clearly. They were to James as Ron and Hermione had been to him during school. "Well, what happened next?"
"Do you really want to know?" James replied, his face bright red. It was one of the many things he had inherited from his mother.
"Probably not," Harry admitted. "But if it was bad enough for Headmaster Collins to request I meet with you and Neville, I think it's something we're going to have a long conversation about when you come home in a few days."
"Well, Headmaster Collins is, well, you could say old-fashioned," Neville intervened. "You know, he's that traditional sort. So when he read my report of James, Mason, and Taylor found in broom cupboard in a rather...compromising position, he grew worried."
Harry looked between James and Neville for a second, taking in his old friend's words. When they dawned on him, he looked slightly shocked. "Oh."
"Honestly, I was surprised at first, and unfortunately my hands were tied with the report." Neville looked at James with an apologetic look. "But I didn't see it was worth a detention over. Honestly, I didn't think it warranted a letter to you or Ginny, but Collins was about to go spare if I didn't send it."
"Do you think James and I could have a moment, Neville?" Harry asked. "Or, if you don't have anything else to discuss with him, I think I could do with a visit around the grounds."
Neville shook his head, but addressed James with a humorous look, "He's all yours, Harry. While you're here, though...is Christmas Eve dinner at your place still on?"
Harry nodded and the two shook hands again. "I'm sure Ginny will send a letter to remind everybody. Can you ask Hannah to bring that recipe for eggnog again?"
"Sure thing, mate." Neville nodded to James. "James, I'll see you tomorrow morning in class. Remember, you have a 10 inch essay due."
James nodded. "Yes, sir," he said and after Harry and Neville said their final goodbyes, his allowed his father to lead him down to the first floor, but instead of going out to the grounds, led him toward the kitchens.
"Dad?"
"Yes?"
"I thought we were going to have this talk when I got home?"
"I think it's best we get it out of the way now, don't you think? Besides, it's been a while since I've visited the kitchens, and the house-elves make the best hot chocolate."
James gave his father a look that Harry took as an agreement. After greeting a few of the elves that remembered him from long ago and requesting politely if they could have a couple mugs of hot chocolate, the two sat down. After a few minutes, Harry spoke up.
"So, what did Neville mean by a compromising position?" he asked rather bluntly after a few sips of his drink.
James paled slightly and looked like a deer caught in headlights. "It was nothing," he said quickly. "Honestly, it had been a joke."
Harry gave his son a look that clearly said he didn't believe him, but then his expressions softened. "James, you know you can talk to me and your mother about anything. You know that, right?"
His son nodded, and his cheeks flushed with color again. "Honestly, it wasn't anything extreme, Dad. I had been picked to be in the cupboard with Taylor and then Mason, well he's 17 already and he and a few others were already on the borderline of tipsy and drunk, and he had shoved himself into the space with us. And then Bailey Hamilton had put a locking charm on the door."
Harry looked at him suspiciously. "You know how your mother and I feel about you drinking underage."
"I wasn't, I swear," James said quickly.
"So the three of your were locked into the cupboard in your dorm."
"Yeah."
"Let me guess, nobody had their wand on them?" Harry mused, trying to hide his smile.
"No, and well..." James's flush was getting redder with each word, "all of a sudden, somebody attacked me! And you know, I only thought it was appropriate to kiss whoever it was back."
Harry was desperately wishing he had waited to have this conversation with Ginny now. She was way better with these conversations. "I see," he finally said. "And when Neville unlocked the door, did you find out who had...er, 'attacked' you, as you worded it."
James nodded, and he ducked his head down.
"Taylor?" Harry ventured.
James shook his head, and refused to make eye contact with his father.
"Mason, then." Harry watched his son with an amused look. "Well?"
"Well what?" James said, stirring more marshmallows into his drink.
"How did it make you feel?" Harry could feel his own cheeks starting to burn. This was definitely more Ginny's area...
James shrugged. "I don't know yet," he mumbled. He finally looked up at his dad. "Are you angry?"
Harry looked at him confused. "About what?"
"Well...everything?"
"When I received the owl requesting I have a meeting with you and Neville, I thought I was going to be," he admitted. "Had you been called into a meeting for jinxing your siblings and cousins, or if you had been bribing Peeves to throw dungbombs during Trelawney's class again, yes I would have been angry. But for snogging in a cupboard with your best friends, no. Granted, I always assumed it was going to be you and Taylor, but...it doesn't really matter. I'm sure your mother will be wanting to have a conversation with you at some point."
James looked slightly frightened. "Do you think she's going to be angry at me?"
Harry chuckled. "We're not going to hate you because you're trying to figure out who you are, James," he said gently. "We'll love you no matter what."
"So you don't believe Headmaster Collins when he said I was going to ruin our family name?"
"Is that what he said?" Harry said mildly. James nodded. "Like Neville said, the man's old-fashioned. Rest assured, son, you can't ruin our family's name any more than Rita Skeeter attempted when I was your age."
James nodded, and Harry could tell that he was feeling better about their conversation. He had perked up and after they had both finished their hot chocolate and thanked the house-elves for their services, headed to the entrance hall. Harry hugged his eldest son and then ruffled his hair. "We'll talk more when you come in a few days, if you want," he said.
"You're not going to tell anybody except Mum right?" James asked.
"You have my word," Harry smiled. "Marauder's honor."
James grinned. It was their way of keeping promises after Harry had told him the story behind the precious map that was now safely tucked in his trunk. "Marauder's honor," he repeated. With another quick hug and a goodbye, James darted up the first level of stairs and after disappeared from sight.
As Harry made his way down the path toward Hogsmeade where he could apparate home, he thought about the conversation he had with his son. As long as his son was happy, he wasn't going to meddle with his personal affairs.
I figured out of Harry's three children, James would most likely be the one who be a bit curious on his sexuality. I know a lot of people out there ship Albus and Scorpius, but Albus is probably going to be the tame one of the group in this story. But his story comes next chapter.
I would threaten to stop writing unless I get a review unless I get a review, but that would be very childish of me. But please let me know how you're liking this so far. Reviews equal motivation which equals a chapter being produced much faster.
