Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything.
Author's note: I don't think these drabbles will be in chronological order for James' age, if an idea inspires me it could be any age. Please review!
James – 15
Albus – 12
Lily – 11
Setting – The Burrow
All the Weasleys and Potters sat around the table in the garden of the Burrow, eating food and chatting happily.
Albus, who sat between James and Ginny, raved about school and the work until suddenly James, who sat between Harry and Albus, snapped.
He stood up, scowling and shouted "SHUT UP, AL!"
Everyone around the table stopped and stared wide-eyed at the teenager.
"STOP BOASTING ABOUT SCHOOL! STOP RUBBING IT IN MY FACE THAT YOU'RE BETTER THAN ME!" James shouted, distraught.
"James Sirius Potter! Go and sit in the living room right now!" Harry said sternly, appalled by his eldest son's behaviour.
James turned towards Harry and said "NO! I CAN DO WHAT I WANT! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE! PEOPLE STARE AT ME! BECAUSE OF YOU! AND I CAN HEAR WHAT THEY SAY 'OH, LOOK! THAT'S HARRY POTTER'S SON!', 'HE LOOKS JUST LIKE HIS DAD!', AND 'HE FLIES AS WELL AS HIS DAD!'. IT'S CONSTANT! EVERYWHERE I GO! WHISPERS, EVEN THE PROFESSORS." James seemed to be running out of steam, but he continued on with his rant. "It is never 'well done' it is always 'just like his dad'. Even when I do something bad it's 'Trouble Maker, just like James and Harry'. It is never about me. It's you! And the Slytherin's say 'He's mad, just like his dad!' or 'Hey, you're named after two dead men' and I HATE IT!" James finished and quickly wiped away his tears of frustration.
Harry looked sadly at James.
"That was what I was always scared of. That my fame would affect you." Harry stated.
James looked into his dad's eyes and he said "Dad, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. It's just... something happened at school. A-And that staring got worse. A few weeks ago we were doing duelling practice and a Slytherin conjured a Snake. And I spoke to it. I didn't mean to scare anyone, I was just telling it not to hurt anyone. And now everyone says I'm the heir of Slytherin and that I'm evil. But dad, I promise, I'm not evil, I'm not!" James proclaimed.
"It's alright, I know you're not. I never told you this because you didn't really need to know, James. You were always fine with being a parselmouth. But now I see you doubt yourself, as I doubted who I was when I found out about this... talent. When I was a baby, when my mum sacrificed herself for me and Voldemort tried to kill me but the spell rebounded Voldemort accidentally gave me some of his powers, there is more to it than that but I shall tell you that when you're older. Voldemort was the heir of Slytherin and can speak to snakes, therefore so can I. And therefore so can you." Harry explained and James slowly sat back in his seat.
"You sometimes speak parseltongue in your sleep." Ginny said to Harry.
"No he doesn't, he just talks." James frowned.
"I do. But that's normal for you to hear me speaking normally." Harry informed him.
"Hold on... why have I never asked this question before – Can Lily or Albus speak to Snakes?" James asked.
Harry frowned "I don't believe so." He leaned around to face his younger children "Siahashasee." Harry said.
"That's... weird." Al said.
"I agree." Lily said.
"Just you." Harry smiled at James.
"I'm sorry for shouting, dad. I mean, it's just so hard. I mean, I don't mind being like you, you know, you get what you're given. But Al's very clever and quiet while Lily's a girl and ginger, so it's not as obvious and they can cover it up and be themselves. But when I'm myself I'm like you and Grandpa James. I mean, the Quidditch and the Pranks and the looks, so I don't really have a balance like the others." James said honestly.
Harry pulled James into a comforting hug.
"I'm sorry." Harry said.
"Thanks dad." James said, and when Harry pulled away Harry said "And hey, I don't think you're just like me."
"I know, but the rest of the world sees what they want to see." James said.
