A/N: I know James Sirius isn't technically a Weasley, but I've decided this will go here. Also, the Spirit Day James is talking about is based off of GLAAD's Spirit Day. Some of what James says implies that it's bigger than it is, and that's because he's only heard about it from one source and made assumptions.
James puffed out his chest as he entered the Great Hall. His usual school robes were a bright, almost neon, purple, and he was proud of himself for it. Though he was prepared for the detention that was sure to come as a consequence of altering his uniform, he had his defense lined up: the robes were for a good cause.
Mandy, a fellow Gryffindor who also happened to be a Muggleborn, had told him all about a Muggle celebration called Spirit Day, when people would wear purple to show that they were against bullying of LGBT people. James, who had been itching for a way to publicly show his support for Albus since his little brother had come out, jumped on the opportunity. Sure it wasn't the right day of the year to fit with the Muggle tradition, but that didn't matter. No one would have a clue what Spirit Day was anyway. James could start something new.
He walked through the Great Hall, smile wide as the students stared at him and his robes. He caught Albus' eye from across the hall and waved. Albus didn't wave back, though he openly stared, his eyes and mouth both wide. Scorpius looked just as surprised from beside him, but at least he was wearing a small smile. James was glad at least one of them could appreciate his act of goodwill.
"Yes, yes," James called loudly as he reached the Gryffindor table. It had grown quiet enough that the entire hall could hear him, and even the professors were listening. Not one of them had made a move to escort him to the hall or punish him yet. Judging from their faces, they were still having trouble processing what they were seeing.
"I'm following a Muggle tradition," James declared, ignoring the sniggering that was beginning to erupt around the hall. "They wear purple to show their support for LGBT people. So, let it be known that I, James Sirius Potter, also support LGBT people, especially my little brother Al."
He turned and gave Albus a smile but hardly caught sight of his brother's face before he buried his head in his arms on the Slytherin table. Even Scorpius' smile was gone as he leaned over to check on his best friend, one hand against his back.
James gave one final nod and sat down to eat his breakfast, feeling pleased with himself.
He wasn't expecting to be confronted with a whirlwind that was his brother when he left the Great Hall, but he hadn't yet made it to the Grand Staircase before Albus was in front of him, backing him up against the wall.
James was vaguely aware of Fred and Roxanne crowding in on either side of him and Scorpius behind Albus, all of them cautioning Albus not to do something he'd regret. Albus paid it as little attention as James did.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Albus demanded.
Though he hadn't touched a finger to James, James felt like he was being physically held down. His back was pushed firmly against the wall, and Albus' face was right in front of his. Behind his brother, he could just barely see the figures of students slowing down to watch the spectacle as they left breakfast, only to be shooed away by Fred as soon as they came to a stop.
"Wearing purple," James said, his voice trembling despite how excited he'd been with the whole thing not ten minutes before. "Like I said in the hall, it's a Muggle tradition—"
"I got what the purple is supposed to be for, James," Albus growled. "I meant, why are you wearing it?"
"I wanted to show that I support you!" James exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. "Isn't that what you want? A brother who's there for you and doesn't make fun of you? I was trying to do something nice for once. Why are you angry at me? You could show some appreciation."
Albus backed away despite the fire in his eyes. He shook his head as if the situation were hopeless, and James was left feeling like he'd missed something massive.
"You don't understand," Albus said with a scowl. "You never listen. That's the problem, James. I don't want you standing up in the middle of the Great Hall in your stupid transfigured robes reminding the whole school I'm bi. That was humiliating. Why does everything you do have to be for attention? You can't do anything that's just nice."
Before James could respond, Albus fled to the dungeons. With Albus no longer between them, James was left looking at Scorpius Malfoy, who watched James for a moment with a blank expression.
"It really would help if you listened to him once in a while, you know? He's not like you. He doesn't want everyone looking at him."
With that, Scorpius was gone too, off to look after Albus. James was pretty sure Scorpius' words had been meant as genuine advice, but he still didn't understand why what he'd done was wrong. He had listened. That was how he'd known Albus was bi in the first place. Hell, he'd been one of the first people in the family to piece it together. He'd even managed to keep his mouth shut and let Albus come to him with the information first.
Roxanne nudging him in the arm jarred him back to reality. His eyes refocusing, he saw Fred and Roxanne looking at him with sadness in their eyes, though neither of them seemed keen on scolding him like the Slytherins.
"I'm going to have to apologize, aren't I?"
At their nods, he set off for the Slytherin dungeons with a sigh. Though he still wasn't sure what he was apologizing for.
Prompts:
The Golden Snitch
Second Anniversary Event: (words) school, appreciation, purple
Hogwarts Challenges and Assignments
Advent Calendar: (relationship) siblings
Word count: 963
