Harold Potter was losing his mind. It simply couldn't be ignored any longer.
James knew his father was old; it wasn't exactly a fact one could miss. But Mr. Potter had always acted so lively, despite an aching knee and occasional forgetfulness. His son was not concerned when Harold asked for the hour several times during dinner. Surely, at ninety-seven, his father had earned the luxury to forget the time and not be chastised for it. James did not worry when his father could not find a photo album, an album that was always kept on the top shelf in the sitting room. It was just another consequence of being old. In fact, when Mr. Potter forgot Sirius' name, despite the fact that Sirius had lived with the Potters for an entire summer, James deemed it only worth a laugh and a playful reminder.
But he could not ignore it forever.
He had been about to walk out the front door very late one night or very early one morning- James could not quite remember. After a series of sexually explicit letters had been flown between Valerie's and his own house, James was not thinking of much except how best to sneak to the Lucas'. It was not being caught by his father he was worried about, but the house-elf, Blinky. He was wearing the Cloak, taking care to crouch slightly so the fabric would remain cover his shoes as he descended the stairs, when he heard his father's voice.
Dad's never up now...
He followed the deep mumbling to the bathroom door across the hall, where the floor shone as if a very thin mirror was reflecting the moonlight there... Water was flowing from under the door, and when James opened the door in alarm, the scalding liquid soaked through his trainers and socks. He did not know whether he gasped from the pain or the scene in front of him.
His father was completely naked, spinning in a tight circle as if dancing with an imaginary partner. His eyes were focused, and his words authoritative as he spoke. "Charlotte, you know I'm glad Claudes was elected Minister just as much as you, but I can't stand behind this new policy he's proposing about house-elves... Clothes, of course not, but they surely can't run around without anything, can they?"
The irony was lost on James. In fact, he had never seen anything less funny than his father dancing nude in a flooded bathroom.
"Dad!' James swung the Cloak off of himself, dropping it in the water as he sloshed forward. He wanted to say, 'Martin Claude is dead! This is 1977! Mum is dead!", but instead all that came out was, "I'm here! Dad, I'm here!"
"Lottie, what-?" His father's face suddenly went slack, his eyes visibly refocused, and he shuffled over to the bathtub, turning off the faucet. James heard him muttering, but couldn't make out the words. Harold took his wand from the counter, Vanishing the water on the floor. The two Potters stood in the bathroom, James watching every move his father made, the other taking every precaution to avoid his son's stare. Still completely nude, Harold sunk into the hot water, taking no notice of the displaced water splattering the marble floor.
"Dad... I'm here."
His father looked at him, actually saw his son for the first time that morning. Because it was morning, the watch that hung from James' wrist said so. He compulsively checked the time as Harold eyed it. It was 2:03.
James could feel the stiffness in the air; the warm water did nothing to relax the tension. "Dad, I-"
"I know that you are here, James," his father said suddenly, his deep voice steady but furious. "I am perfectly aware of my surroundings. Now leave. Leave your old, forgotten father whom forgets all but the old."
"Dad, you-"
"Leave!"
James could count on one hand the times his father had raised his voice to him, but it was not the rarity of the occurence that compelled him to obey. It was the way his father clutched his left hand, twisting the gold ring that hadn't left his finger, and James knew it was not water shining a path down his face. Scooping the Cloak from the floor, he hurried from the bathroom, fighting the impulse to comfort his father.
He passed Blinky on his way out the door, but she did not even look at him as she scurried across the wood floor, her bare feet resounding in the high-ceilinged hallway. "Master Potter, Master Potter! Blinky came to check, yes she did, if Master Potter was alright-"
But James did not hear the rest. The heavy front door closed behind him, the wind roaring in his ears almost as much as his thoughts. He had no desire to shag Valerie anymore, but his feet carried him automatically.
It was an odd hour of the morning to be out, especially in an area so secluded, but his thoughts blinded him to the figure approaching. He would have collided directly into her, had she not put a firm hand on his chest to stop him.
"James?" Her hand touched his cheek, but she retracted it sharply, as if it had been burned. "Are you alright?"
He looked up at her from the floor, noting seemingly insignificant features in this moment of indecision. He couldn't find a single freckle on her face...What do I say? My dad's going barmy? ... She was shivering; he doubted she was wearing much underneath her cloak... Does she care?... She bit her lip softly before bringing her face closer to his...
She kissed him. And for a moment, it was very simple. He was not okay, but there was no pressure to reveal everything to her. His emotions with her did not have to complicated- in fact, they could be solely primal. James did not want to run from what he felt, he just wanted to stop and breathe.
James didn't- couldn't- realize the irony of the situation. The moment was exactly what he needed; it was right. The person kissing him was just what he needed too- practiced, kept her emotions separate, and able to turn such a dismal situation into an enjoyable one.
In short, she was all wrong.
"Don't you own your own bloody flat now?"
Sirius nodded, continuing to violently chew on his sausage. "It onny haz a veb, 'dough. No bweckfst."
"Well, that's the price for leaving me," James replied, practiced at translating Sirius with a full mouth.
"Looks like you have company all the same," Sirius said. "I saw Val leave this morning. Shame she goes to Boobattons."
"Beauxbatons," James corrected automatically.
"Whatever. You still have time for that shit?" He was obviously enjoying quite the breakfast; two empty plates were already stacked in front of him, and the third was practically demolished.
James raised an eyebrow, taking a seat across from his mate. "I'd be an idiot not to make time for that. She just wants sex, no real relationship. She says it'd be weird to see me that way, after we've been friends for so long."
"But she has no problem fucking you?" Sirius said skeptically, snatching a piece of toast from the plate Blinky had laid out for her master. James was quicker, though, and ripped the bread from his grip, shoving it in his mouth in the same movement.
"Er oo belous?"
"Blatantly," Sirius replied, equally as practiced at translating full mouths. "Do you mind if I shag her?"
"Not really." He took a long drink of juice before placing the goblet on the table with a certain satisfaction. "You could at least wait until I'm done before you claim my seconds, though."
"Well, since you're my best mate, I suppose I can wait the week it's going to take for this all to explode in your face. You do realize that she's the girl you've been promised to, right?"
"That's a load of shit, and you know it, Padfoot. My family doesn't do betrothals- Besides, marriage isn't really my cup of tea, know what I mean?" James responded, fixing Sirius with a comradely gaze.
"I hear you, but official or not... It's sort of expected for you and Val to get together. And sleeping with her... Actually, this is probably you're best move to avoid marriage. She'll never marry you after she knows what you're like in bed!"
"Oh, and you would know?"
"Not personally, but you wouldn't believe how Moony gabs-"
"Go fuck yourself," James spat but grinned all the same.
Sirius barked with laughter, leaning back from the table. Blinky entered the room as if on cue and took his empty plates silently. Neither boy paid attention to her, house-elves being as common as mothers for them, but the door closing behind her was still a signal for the conversation to resume.
"Moony and I are going to Diagon Alley today. We might meet up with Wormtail, but his mum apparently wants to take him shopping 'for the last time'. You coming?" It was phrased as a question, but both of them knew it was just a confirmation that nothing pressing had come up. The Marauders, at least Sirius and James, went to Diagon Alley together every year, and tradition wasn't easily broken between the two.
"Yeah, alright, but you'll have to let me look at your list since we're taking the same classes. I haven't got my letter yet."
"What? It's a week before term! Taking their bloody time, aren't they?"
James nodded. "I thought it might've been because of my dad, but it's pretty clear at this point that he doesn't need me to take care of him. He's fine now, just every once in a while..." He trailed off, motioning vaguely with his hands. "Anyway, I should've got my letter by now."
"Maybe they forgot about you?" Sirius suggested sarcastically. James snorted. He doubted any professor, Headmaster or not, could forget about him.
"Right," he said, "I'll come with. Two work?"
"Yeah, that works. I'll tell Moony, his house is next on my breakfast run."
James laughed, standing up from the table. Blinky entered the room, again as if she had been called, and stacked James' glass and plate on top of a large pile of laundry before hurrying out the door. "Don't let me stop you," James insisted. "I have to talk to Mr. Lucas about Gringotts, ever since those damn-"
"Oh! I almost forgot to tell you!" Sirius exclaimed, ushering James back down with his hand. "I saw Evans yesterday." He declared this with such an air of superiority that James suppressed a chuckle. "Saw her at Gringotts, she was apparently getting a head start on school shopping and all that. Bit awkward, really, since we both know each other, obviously, but I don't think she knew how to say anything to me without yelling. Anyway, I think she definitely grew bristols this summer. Not, you know, Bethany Williams level, but I wouldn't say that she doesn't have B's now."
James stared at Sirius expectantly. "That's it? You told me to sit back down because Evans' tits got bigger?"
Sirius shrugged. "Thought you ought to know."
Rolling his eyes, James stood up again, making for the door.
"She's Head Girl, you know. That should be a ruddy blast."
James snorted. "Looking forward to it. Look, I really gotta run, Padfoot-"
"I can take a hint. I'll get out of your hair- if I can find my way out of it," Sirius smirked, walking out the door to the hallway. "I'll see you later, Prongs. Meet us at Moony's."
"Right," James agreed, barging through the door to his right, entering the sitting room, where nearly everything was green. Even the marble of the fireplace had emerald veins running through it, and James was forcibly reminded of his father's words- "It's not a very Gryffindor room, is it?" But his mother had insisted on green- "We can't have red and gold everywhere, Harold. Besides, why change it now?"
It was logic no one could've argued with. The house (well, manor, technically) had been in his family for ages, and his mother and father had lived in it for over seventy years together. There was simply no use in changing something that had worked so long for something as little as House pride. At least, it had been so for his mother.
James lit the grate with a callous wave of his wand. The fire burned a bit fiercer than normally, singeing the rug before it, but he figured Blinky would take care of it. He tossed the Floo Powder in; the flames crackled as emerald overtook them. Instinctively taking a deep breath before, James stepped into the fireplace, saying the Lucas' address as clearly and quickly as possible.
The visit to the Lucas' was mostly business- two wizards had been caught sneaking through the vaults of Gringotts the week before, collecting various treasures from pureblood families. The thieves had been caught within an hour of their arrival, but it was still thought best if security was increased. A goblin had been sent to consult the Lucas' and James about their respective vaults-Mr. Potter had been unable to make it. It was all for the best, however, because while Mr. and Mrs. Lucas remained oblivious, James knew for a fact that his father would've noticed Valerie and himself sneaking up the stairs.
Curiously, James recieived his Hogwarts letter at Diagon Alley in front of Flourish and Blotts. It mattered little; the boys had already bought all their books for the year, so there was really no need for it. James knew he'd be Quidditch captain again, and he could recite all the rules he'd broken by heart, so he stuffed the unopened envelope in his pocket.
James had entered Twilfitt and Tatting's almost automatically, but didn't consider Remus until he saw the price tags. He desperately needed new robes, but definitely couldn't afford that shop. Sirius pretended to find several on sale while James slipped Galleons in Remus' bag. While all the robes were bought, James had a feeling Remus knew when he insisted on buying him ice cream at Fortescue's later.
The three eventually did meet up with Peter inside Quality Quidditch Supplies, although James practically owned half the store. Then there was the apothecary, Gambol and Japes, Scribbulus Writing Instruments, the Magical Menagerie, where James bought a kitten on a dare from Remus, and then finally the Leaky Cauldron for a drink.
"Three firewhiskeys and a butterbeer," Sirius called to Tom as the boys took a seat.
"Not today," Remus corrected. "Four firewhiskeys, no butterbeer. After dealing with you lot all day, I need a drink."
"Better get used to it, Moony," said Peter. "One more year."
"Only one?" James said skeptically, staring at the grey kitten inside its cage. "Nah, Moony, you won't get rid of us until the day you die."
"Are you honestly gonna keep that cat, Prongs?" Sirius asked, noting James' gaze. "You know Moony just dared you to piss me off, right?"
"I had no such inclination!" Remus mocked. "Besides, I think it suits Prongs. 'Specially after your owl died."
"Fish?" James asked, playing dumb. "Oh, yeah, how'd he die again?"
"He drowned," Sirius and Peter said in unison.
"The irony," Remus remarked dryly. Tom placed their drinks on the table, smiling toothlessly at each of them before slinking behind the bar again. "What'll you name this? Bird? Dog?"
"Bitch," James replied evenly. "That way Padfoot will like it."
"Fat chance," Sirius said. "Or is it slim chance? That always confused me, one's big like Wormtail and the other one's tiny like Prongs-"
"Hey!" Peter and James objected.
"-but they mean the same thing."
"I'm a lot bigger than last year," James insisted. "I'm almost a stone heavier!"
"Yeah, you grew a few inches too, mate," Remus said, completely bursting James' bubble. "Wormtail, though, yeah, I'd say you can see the difference."
"My mum's been feeding me nothing but lettuce this summer," Peter complained. "I'm so glad to go back to Hogwarts." He threw his arms behind his head, knocking over Remus' firewhiskey. The amber liquid gushed from the bottle as it rolled across the table; James caught it by the neck before it hit his lap, but the liquor still seeped through the old wood table.
"You're buying me another drink-"
"God damnit, Wormtail," James said, standing up with a wet lap and feeling his pockets for anything that could be damaged. He pulled the letter out, dropping it heavily upon the table.
Remus' eyes widened and he lurched for the letter in the middle of Peter's hurried apology. He tore it open amongst his suddenly silent friends, pulling out James' school list, a letter that supposedly told of renewed captaincy, and a silver badge.
"No way."
"That's not a-"
"Are they fucking with us?"
"Maybe it's supposed to be Remus'-?"
"'Dear Mr. Potter-'"
Sirius had snatched the letter from the middle of the table. The other three went instantly quiet, listening as Sirius continued in a ridiculously pretentious voice:
"'Since you no doubt have seen the badge before reading this letter, I will not waste ink alerting you of your new Headship. I have thought about this decision for some time, which has caused a considerable delay in your letter's arrival. While many of the staff have questioned my appointment, I remain convinced that you are the right, though perhaps not the best, choice.'"
James picked up the silver badge, turning it over in his hand. "Is Dumbledore mad?"
"Definitely," Remus answered. "He finally fell off his rocker." Yet despite his words, James swore he saw a knowing smile before he took a long drink from Peter's firewhiskey.
"Prongs, do you know what this means?" Sirius asked, his eyes glinting, smirk widening. "Imagine what we can get away with! You can tell prefects off of floors, take points from Slytherin, and do all the things Moony was too scared to!"
"I wasn't scared, I just... Dumbledore must be mad."
"This is brilliant!"
James tilted his head as he scrutinized the badge. "Didn't you say Lily was Head Girl?"
Peter groaned, Remus chuckled, and Sirius ordered another round while rolling his eyes. James swung back his new bottle, feeling the harsh liquid burn down his throat with a satisfaction that he could only faintly remember before.
"Hogwarts is going to go to the dogs," Remus remarked.
"Not just the dogs," Peter whispered conspiratorially. "But the rats and stags and wolves too."
"Let's make this year count," James declared, grinning as he thrust his drink forward for a toast. "We've only got one more."
"Only one?" Remus echoed as the bottles clinked. "Whatever happened to 'until the day we die'?"
They laughed away the truth of his words. The irony would've been visible to a lonely Moony, a terrified Peter, a caged Padfoot, and a long-dead Prongs.