James had been signing forms for so long that his fingers had grown numb and his forearm was threatening to cramp but still there was no sign of the end. Not that he was all that eager for the meeting to be over; when it was, he would have to return to the Manor and the never-ending stream of social climbers eager to offer their fake condolences to the last remaining Potter. Blinking back tears at the thought that he was the sole Potter left in the wizarding world, James focused once again on the legal documents the barrister steadily placed in front of him.
Half an hour later, all the papers were signed and The Honorable Jonathan Fitch busied himself making certain everything was in order before looking up from his paper work. Tall and distinguished with salt and pepper hair, everything about the man screamed quiet professionalism, and James wondered what else the man could possibly need to say.
"It appears we have taken care of everything, Mr. Potter, but one final detail. My firm has gladly represented Potter interests for over three hundred years and it would be an honor if we were allowed to continue to do so. However, if you would like to use another firm you are more comfortable with, I will make the needed arrangements."
It took a moment before James realized what the man was asking, and he shook his head quickly "No, I'm quite sure I'll be happy staying with your firm."
Fitch smiled at the news, stood, and offered James his hand. "You'll get a monthly notice by owl of the income from your interests on deposit in Gringotts. Once again, Mr. Potter, let me say how very sorry I was to hear about your parents. They were good people and it was an honor to know them."
James swallowed hard and shook the man's hand wordlessly before turning and leaving the lavish office, reassured beyond measure to see the other Marauders waiting for him.
"Everything taken care of, James?" Remus asked kindly.
"Yep, I'm now the richest seventeen year old in Wizarding England," James replied morosely.
Sirius looked ready to burst into tears at any moment, and James vehemently prayed he would not do so as there was little doubt in his mind that it would send him right over the edge into another crying jag. Remus looked at a loss for words, but somehow Peter of all people clapped him on the shoulder and took the lead. "Let's get out of here, Prongs."
The four of them made their way to the floo where James would have to part from his mates, and they stood awkwardly, staring at each other blankly until James waved his arms at his mates and gestured to the floo. "Go on with you. If you're not back at Hogwarts soon McGonagall will have my bollocks."
"Minnie loves you, Jamie," Sirius teased and the ghost of a smile that crossed his face was the first James had seen from his friend in days.
"Alright, James?" Remus asked.
"No, but I will be, Moony. Now you guys get going, and I'll see you in the morning. Just a few more things to straighten out," James insisted.
His mates nodded then one by one stepped into the floo and vanished, leaving James alone in the office. Across the room, the secretary smiled winningly at him and were it another time, James would have been glad to pass some time flirting. Today, though, he wanted to go home and think.
Turning in place, James apparated into the foyer of the Manor only remembering as he arrived that he had Apparated in front of the secretary without yet having his license. Shrugging, James tossed his cloak onto a cloak hook and made his way through the house, out the back to the servant's cottage where the staff would no doubt be getting ready to eat. Hoping they had not yet sat down to dine, James knocked and then stepped back.
Seconds later the door opened, and Jarvis smiled sympathetically at him. "Master James, is everything alright?"
Affection welled up in him as he gazed at the weathered face of the long time gardener. Though Jarvis had often chased him about the grounds, scowling about one or another of James's transgressions, the older man, as well as the other staff, had treated James like a well-loved nephew, and James had never been more grateful than right at this moment.
"Everything is fine, Jarvis. I'd just like to speak to everyone for a moment if that's okay?"
"Of course," he responded instantly and led James into the cottage, though perhaps cottage was a bit modest James thought. In his youth, he had explored the building thoroughly, too thoroughly according to his parents, and he knew every nook and cranny as well as his own home. As they reached the dining area, everyone started to stand but James waved them off. "Please sit," he all but begged.
When everyone had settled back down, James looked out at their faces and felt like he might burst into tears all over again. Mavis the cook who helped prepare all of the meals for both the family and the staff with the assistance of the elves, Gerald who took care of the buildings and repaired the countless things James had broken through the years, Alfreida and Alora, twin sisters who had only worked for the family for seven years and who had starred in some of James's more imaginary daydreams, and finally Ulvira who had overseen the management of the estate for longer than James could fathom, and James loved them all.
"Each of you will be receiving a bequest from my parents in the next day or two thanking you for your exemplary service. I can never express how much all you've done for my parents means to me and I hope," James's voice broke on the word and he struggled mightily to regain his composure, "that you will do me the honor of remaining," he managed to choke out before finishing, "please?" weakly.
Ulvira got to her feet slowly and shuffled over to where James stood watching her uncertainly, only relaxing when her slender arms wrapped around him and patted his back comfortingly. "Don't you worry, Jamie, none of us are going anywhere."
James blinked fiercely as tears stung his eyes and he was only just able to say, "Thank you," before turning and stumbling out of the carriage house blindly. Once ensconced in the fragrant confines of his mother's rose garden, James broke down and gave over to his grief in racking sobs that shook his body.
For many horrible minutes, James could not stop crying nor could he think of anything other than the moment his mother had taken her last shuddering breath following his father who had gone before her only hours earlier. Eventually, the sobs receded and his tears ceased to fall though he remained mired in misery.
With little purpose other than a sense of correctness, James made his way down the magically warmed path through the garden and into the now empty house he had suddenly become master of, only just remembering to set the wards before collapsing on a couch in the study and falling into a fitful sleep.
The Great Hall was packed with students and teachers alike and James was able to make his way to the Gryffindor table without being noticed. His mates jumped to their feet when he joined them and seconds later, half the table was standing and offering their condolences. As they took turns asking if he needed anything, Sirius stood by him, reminding him of a Crup on guard, and both Peter and Remus flanked them as if expecting some sort of trouble. Had James been in his right mind, he would think later, he would have realized that they did expect trouble and were hoping to stop it before it could cause grief for him; however, unfortunately for everyone it was not to be.
The crowd around him had begun to thin when from the direction of the Slytherin table someone shouted "Only one more blood traitor Potter left."
For one instant, James was frozen as anger and grief warred inside of him before anger and a burning need to punish the speaker propelled him forward towards the Slytherin table and the opportunity to take out all of his pain on people who clearly deserved it. To his right he could sense that Sirius had already drawn his wand and was, without a doubt, already honed in on Regulus. To his left, where he would have expected to find Remus or Pete, was little Alice, tense and grim-faced. In the few seconds it took to reach the miserable bastards, half of the Slytherins had fled the scene, leaving only the older students and the worst of the lot at that.
Yaxley, who had been getting bolder of late, smirked at James sickeningly before taunting, "Lost something, Potter?"
The crowd of Gryffindors behind him rumbled angrily but James felt his heart gripped by an ice cold fury that gave voice to his anger. "Only any respect I had for the term 'Pureblood,' Yaxley. How's the family, still scrambling around in the dirt for a few coins in a vain attempt to shore up that pitiful excuse for house the rest of your family of rats still nests in?"
Yaxley flushed red but by then James had picked out his next target, and he honed in with ruthless accuracy. "How about you, Mulciber? Anything you want to say or do you need to get back to trying to figure out who's your real father?"
James's voice had been steadily rising throughout the encounter and seemed to increase further as he switched to a new target. "Or you, Macnair, managed to explain to your family how you manged to only get two O.W.L.s without them realizing what a waste you are?"
It took a moment for Macnair to catch on but when he did, he reacted just as James intended. The bony Slytherin scrambled to crawl over the table with Mulciber and Yaxley holding him back while shooting fearful glances up at the staff table. James let his eyes ghost over Regulus out of deference to Sirius before letting them light on Snape.
As always, Snape's stringy hair half covered his sallow expression but his sneer was unmistakable, and the old familiar disdain welled up in James's chest. They needed to be taught a lesson, James thought, and what better time than now. The rest of the Gryffindors seemed just as eager as he was to teach the Slytherins to play nice. Behind him, voices called out, "You tell'em James," and "We're with you, Potter," urging him to lead a violent if well deserved response to the Slytherins' cruelty this year, and he was sorely tempted to do so when the gentlest of pressures stopped him.
"Wait."
Somehow Evans had made her way through the crowd and pushed between him and the Slytherin table, turning her back to the Slytherins and pressing one restraining hand against his chest.
"Evans," James protested.
"They're vile, I know, but they aren't worth it, James. Getting yourself expelled for momentary revenge will just hurt you and let them know they got to you. Walk away and show everyone who matters that you're the better man."
While Lily had been talking, she had slowly pushed him back through his housemates and he was so lost in her expression that he didn't even notice until they were nearly at the door. "You didn't hear what they said."
Sympathy shone from Lily's mesmerizing eyes and they seemed to grow misty as James watched, enthralled. "I did hear, James. It was horrible but if you start something right now, they'll win. Walk away and later, if you still feel like you need to make them pay, then I won't try and stop you."
James shook his head to clear his thoughts. He had never been able to think clearly when it came to Evans and he wasn't able to do so now. Behind her, both groups of students seemed to be waiting for James to decide the course of the day and deep down, James wanted to go back and throttle them all.
"Why do you defend them?" he blurted out, angry and wrong-footed.
"I'm not defending them," Lily retorted and this time there was heat in her voice. "I'm trying to keep you from getting thrown out of school."
"Like you care," James spun away not wanting to look at her. "I'm just an arrogant toe rag remember?"
Lily forced him to look at her before she answered. "Maybe I was wrong or maybe we all were, you, me, Severus, Sirius; maybe we just acted like the kids we were on the train and it's taken this long to grow out of it. But that's kid's stuff, and you not getting expelled is important."
"I'm rich remember," James noted gravely. "School doesn't matter for me."
"I may not know you as well as I should, given we've shared the same House for almost six years," Lily began insistently, "but I know you were meant to do more with your talents than sit inside your enormous house spending money you didn't earn. People like you were meant to make a difference, just like your parents did."
At the mention of his parents, it seemed as if all his grief came rushing back in a wave that extinguished his anger and left him empty of all emotion save sorrow. Somehow Evans sensed the change immediately and stroked his arm comfortingly before softly ordering, 'Go to the common room and wait there; I'll get Sirius to bring you something to eat."
James nodded and began the trek back to the tower, pausing after a few steps to call over his shoulder, "Lily?"
Evans turned back as soon as he called, asking in a concerned voice, "Yes, James?"
"Will you bring it to me, the food I mean?"
Evans gave him a sad little smile that would have left him feeling pathetic at any other time but now the only thing he cared about in the least was how she answered, "Of course I will," as if he was silly for even doubting her answer.
A/N: This is shorter than I really prefer chapter to be but it needed to be cut short because the next chapter is going to be fairly large. The big time jumps that have been occurring from one chapter to the next are going to become shorter and shorter over the next four to five chapter as we approach their seventh year. Things are going to become much darker and much more adult as this happens.
