Five times James Sirius Potter told his dad he was the best dad in the world and one time James told him he was mediocre.
"James and Harry"
James sat outside a Muggle ice cream parlor in town with all of his siblings and his dad. Their mum was working the weekend doing a few wireless talk shows about the new Quidditch line up for the upcoming season.
"I'm so excited to start Hogwarts next month," James said happily as he shoved a huge spoonful of banana split into his mouth. "Teddy and I are going to have so much fun!"
"I'm a seventh year, James. You'll be a first year. There's no way we're going to be hanging out all the time," Teddy told him flatly. "Besides, you'll have Freddie."
"I will die if Freddie and I aren't in the same house."
"I'm sure you'll survive, James," Harry promised as he pointed his spoon at his son. "I'm warning you now, I don't want to receive an owl from your head of house every single week due to some prank you pulled with Fred."
"Dad, you mean Neville? Honestly, Freddie and I have to be in Gryffindor together, right? I mean, what other houses have others been in our family? Besides the anomaly that is Teddy."
"Oi, you don't want to join me in Hufflepuff?" inquired Teddy. "Our common room is by the kitchens. We all know you have the Weasley appetite."
James rolled his eyes. He looked at his father expectantly for an answer. Harry shifted awkwardly in his chair.
"Well, I mean, from what I know, most were in Gryffindor. Teddy is obviously in Hufflepuff. Grandmum Andy was in Slytherin. Teddy's mum was in Hufflepuff. I think everyone else was in Gryffindor."
"See, there's no way I'm in another house. Only Teddy's side has some oddballs," James said with a smirk.
"I can't believe Grandmum Andy was in Slytherin," Lily said as she pushed her glasses up her nose. "She's so nice. She always brings us treats when she comes over."
That's when it happened. The flash nearly blinded James as he looked up through the fringe of his messy black hair. Lily groaned and buried her face into Teddy's shoulder. Albus scrunched down in his chair. Harry… well, his dad looked positively livid.
It wasn't often that James saw his father get upset. When Harry got mad, it was best to run for the hills to avoid his wrath. All the Potter kids knew that their father was a force to be reckoned with when he was angry. They avoided him like the plague in those rare times.
"Did you just take our picture?" demanded Harry as he rose out of his seat.
The photographer responded by taking another picture. James squinted up at his father and noticed the vein in his neck was very clearly throbbing. The chair screeched on the concrete as Harry rounded the table.
"Give me the film," Harry demanded.
"Look, Mister Potter, I'm just doing my job," the photographer said.
"I said give me the fucking film."
It wasn't often that Harry Potter swore. It was another sign that he was beyond furious. It was a clear indication that he was about to pull out his wand soon.
"Come on, guys," Teddy stood up with Lily pressed close to his side.
As always, Teddy jumped into protective big brother mode. He was going to take them inside or around the corner so they didn't see their father freak out more than he already was. James wanted to watch, oddly fascinated by the look of fury on his father's face. It looked so out of place and strange. His dad was usually full of smiles and kind eyes.
"I'm not giving you my film."
"Does this make you feel good about yourself? You feel like your job is oh so important? Stalking a guy out with his kids having ice cream at a Muggle shop? This is why I avoid the wizarding shops. I deserve some peace and quiet sometimes, don't you think? My kids have done nothing to warrant you shoving a camera in their faces so you can make a sickle selling it to some newspaper," Harry hissed dangerously low.
"I have a job to do, mate, just like everybody else."
"You chose to be a fucking arsehole for your job?" inquired Harry viciously. "I must have been stupid to pick something so noble like joining the Aurors. I could have harassed families for a living. What a stupid career move on my part."
James marveled up at his father. He had always heard tales from his uncles about how sassy his father could be. They said how their dad could commit the perfect verbal assault on someone when he deemed them worthy of such a takedown. In fact, his Uncle Ron loved to tell the story about how his dad had taken down a trainee Auror three years ago who said something blatantly false and discriminatory against werewolves. The way Ron told the story, Harry had reduced the trainee to tears and sniveling on the floor begging not to be kicked from the program. James had never witnessed that side of his father before.
"Give me the film," Harry demanded again.
"James, come on," Teddy encouraged.
Lily and Albus were both wrapped around Teddy on either side of him. James just flat out refused to move. In fact, he picked up his ice cream and walked around the table to watch in amusement.
"Look, I'm not giving you my film. It's a job."
"Nobody takes pictures of my kids, you got that? Harass me all you want. Harass my wife all you want. We're grown arse adults who can take you being annoyingly invasive in our lives. We draw the line at our kids. You're going to give me the film with my kids' pictures on it."
The photographer made a move to step back but Harry was faster. He wrenched the camera out of the man's hands and immediately flipped it over to access where the film was held. The photographer started shouting in irritation as Harry pulled the film out and exposed it to the light to destroy the pictures.
"You can't do that!" the photographer protested.
"Oh yeah? I can't do that?" roared Harry as he tossed the camera on the floor. "If you can take pictures of my kids without my permission, I can take your camera without your permission. Only fair, right? Let's invade each other's personal space!"
"You ruined my camera! You owe me a new one!"
"Yeah? Yeah?" Harry challenged. "Maybe you should contact the Auror office and file a complaint with the Head Auror. Oh, wait, that's me. Complaint duly noted."
The photographer grumbled as he stalked away with his camera. Harry shoved his hands into his pockets as he looked up at the sky. He looked like he was attempting to calm himself down, step away from the ledge that he found himself on. James thought it was rather wicked the way his dad had stood up for them.
"You're so awesome, Dad," James breathed with a grin. "Top notch. Best dad in the whole world. That was epic."
Harry merely glared at James in exasperation.
The Bludger came out of nowhere. It connected with his broom with a loud CRACK! right in front of where James' hands were. He was lucky that he didn't find himself with a few broken fingers or a broken wrist. He felt himself falling, the broom slipping from his grasp. The air whooshed around him and he could vaguely hear screaming in the distance. Then, suddenly, he slowed dramatically as he began to fall like a feather to the ground.
It was his first game ever on the Gryffindor Quidditch team as a Chaser in his second year. He had mucked it up spectacularly by letting a Bludger crack his broom in half and potentially falling to his death. He had no idea who had slowed his fall, but he didn't really care. His heart sank with disappointment as he found himself on his hands and knees on the ground. An uncomfortable feeling had settled in his throat.
His teammates rushed him. His brand new broom that his parents brought with them for his first game was in two pieces a little ways down the pitch. He could feel the heat rising in his cheeks and neck. His whole family was in the stands. His parents brought Albus and Lily. Teddy and Victoire had also taken the day off from work. His grandparents, Ron, Hermione, Rose, and Hugo were all in the stands. Hell, even Andromeda came and dressed in Gryffindor colors just for him.
James gulped. He just felt embarrassed.
"Jamie! Jamie!" his cousin and best mate Fred yelled his name as he loomed in front of him. "You okay?"
James could only nod as he rose up on shaky legs. Professor Longbottom and Professor McGonagall were rushing towards the group as well. James couldn't think of how the situation could get more embarrassing or worse.
"Felicia, can you go grab one of the best school brooms you can find?" Graham Montgomery, the captain, shouted at the Gryffindor Seeker. "James, are you alright to play?"
James couldn't move. How the hell was he supposed to get back into the air after allowing his broom to be demolished by a Bludger and nearly falling to his death? Why did he think he could do this? He had been so cocky, so sure that he was the best Chaser on the team. He sucked. He royally and positively sucked. A knot twisted in James' stomach.
"I… Graham, I can't do this," James croaked. "I can't."
"Look, I know the school broom isn't ideal but I don't think your Marlin can be saved," Graham reasoned. "You'll do fine though. You're a fantastic flyer."
"I'm not good enough," James muttered miserably. "I'm done. I quit the team. I'm only going to drag you down."
There was a lot of shouting, pleading, reasoning for what felt like forever. Graham had to call another timeout so he could continue to urge James back on his broom.
James could see his mum and dad running towards them. They must have realized that the Gryffindor team had called another timeout and had been worried. His mother's brown eyes shone with concern. His father… Merlin, James couldn't even look at his dad. He was white as a ghost and looked scared. James couldn't face either one of them right now.
"Jamie, are you alright?" questioned Ginny.
"I'm fine. I just… I don't want to play anymore," James admitted as he shifted his weight. "Graham says I have to at least finish the game."
"You're alright though?" pressed Harry. "You're not hurt, are you?"
James shook his head in the negative which only made his father frown. Harry reached out a hand and gripped his shoulder. He tugged him away from his teammates and professors. His mother gave him a warm smile before she turned to talk to his professors and, more than likely, keep Graham at bay so he could talk to his dad.
"What's the issue, James?" whispered Harry who bent down until he was eye level with his son.
"I just don't want to play," James said with a shrug. "I messed up. I should have been able to easily avoid that Bludger. Instead, I broke my brand new broom that I literally just got an hour ago and fell off my broom and I…"
"You lost your confidence?" inquired Harry helpfully. "We all fall off our brooms. I've done it before. Your mother has done it before."
"You ever have your broom destroyed like mine?"
"Yes, I have. I fell off my broom during a game in my third year. My broom wound up fighting with the Whomping Willow. It was destroyed beyond repaired. I was crushed. It was the first broom I was ever given. Professor McGonagall bought it for me. I felt like I made a fool out of myself by falling and I got my broom destroyed to boot."
"I didn't know that," James mumbled.
"It happens to the best of us. I know it feels like the end of the world right now. Trust me, I wanted to cry when my broom was destroyed and refused to buy another broom. My godfather ended up buying me my next broom for Christmas," Harry reasoned. "I get you are devastated, but it's not a reason not to get back up and try again though. You are a phenomenal flyer, James."
"I wasn't that phenomenal just now."
"James, you are the son of a Quidditch Hall of Fame Chaser and the youngest Seeker in a century. Your grandfather was, from what I am told, one of the best Chasers Hogwarts has ever seen. Your Uncle Charlie was one of the great Seekers of Gryffindor. Your Uncle Ron was a fantastic Keeper. Your Uncle George and Uncle Fred were an unbeatable Beater team. Quidditch is in your blood. You were born to play Quidditch. You've been flying since your first birthday when Uncle Ron bought you your first broom. I've seen you do tricks that not even some professionals can accomplish in our back garden. You, James Sirius Potter, are an extraordinary Chaser who experienced one tragic mishap," Harry declared with a bright smile. "Do you know what you need to do now?"
"What?"
"You need to get back on a broom and show this crowd what you are made of. Nobody messes with James Sirius Potter and lives to tell the tale. You are going to show them that you don't need a fancy broom to be the best Chaser you can be. You're going to annihilate Ravenclaw because you are that good. A broom can only get you so far. It takes raw talent to win the game. You, James, have that raw talent."
James grinned at his father. He launched himself forward and wrapped his arms around his dad's neck in a death grip. Harry instantly wrapped his arms around his son and buried his face into James' windswept locks.
"You're the best dad in the whole wide world, Dad," James declared.
"I love you, James," Harry murmured. "Just remember something for me, alright?"
"Anything."
"Potters never quit. Potters never back down. Potters always get back up again."
With his father's pep talk ringing in his ears, James ended up being the top scorer of the game on one of the crappiest brooms on the pitch. Gryffindor won by one of the biggest leads in the history of Hogwarts. He had been engulfed by his teammates after the game and they raised him up on their shoulders. James saw his dad smiling at him in the distance.
James sat on the back deck and watched as Lily dove impressively on her broom to catch the Golden Snitch. She was adamant that she was going to make the Gryffindor Quidditch team when school started back up. She had been practically fuming when she wasn't allowed to try out the previous year and huffed that her father was allowed to be on the team in his first year. She pleaded and begged to Professor Longbottom and Professor McGonagall. The answer had, much to her display, been a big fat no.
James knew if he made Quidditch captain for his sixth year, he was definitely picking Lily to be Seeker. Fuck, Olivia Hanson. She had only got on the team the previous year because James had practically begged Doyle Wood to pick her. James felt a lump form in his throat. Yeah, fuck Olivia Hanson.
"Morning, James."
James whipped around to see his father exiting the house with a steaming cup of coffee in his hands. He was still clad in his pajamas as he took a seat next to his son on the wicker sofa. His hair was messier than ever, his glasses crooked on his face, and he looked like he had just woken up. James glanced at the wristwatch on his father's wrist to see it was half past eleven in the morning.
"Afternoon, Dad," James replied dryly. "You slept in."
"I didn't get home until past one last night," he explained. "There was a crisis at work."
"When isn't there a crisis at work? The job of the Head Auror is never done."
Harry chuckled softly as he took a large gulp of the coffee. James wrinkled his nose. He didn't understand how his father could drink something so vile. He turned back to Lily who waved at her father frantically before barrel rolling through the air.
"You seem like you're in a pleasant mood today," commented Harry.
"I'm just as cheerful as ever," James replied bitterly.
"Clearly," Harry sighed as he kicked his feet up onto the coffee table and slouched down in the sofa. "Why aren't you flying?"
"I don't feel like it."
"Look, I'm not good at this kind of stuff so I'm just going to cut to the chase," Harry admitted. "Your mum said you were pretty upset last night after you got an owl from someone. What happened?"
James sighed heavily. When his mum couldn't pry the information out of him the previous night, he should have anticipated that she would have gone to his dad. James looked over at his father who seemed slightly uncomfortable yet welcoming. The last thing he wanted to do was talk about Olivia Hanson to his dad.
"Just from a friend," James decided to say.
"Everything alright?"
If Olivia Hanson shoving her tongue down Cillian Finnigan's throat was considered alright, then he supposed it was all fine and dandy. James scowled. He couldn't believe he had wasted his whole fourth year pining over her, his whole fifth year dating her, and had spent all his Christmas money on some fancy earrings for her for her birthday just so she could cheat on him in Diagon Alley in front of everyone. If Doyle hadn't sent him that owl… he would have spent his entire sixth year being a bloody fool.
"Yeah," James snapped bitterly.
"What's wrong, Jamie?"
Using his childhood nickname only made James' resolve crumple just a tiny bit. He sighed heavily as he watched his sister. She stood on her broom at this point, balancing perfectly, as she glided across the garden. She was flashy. She liked to do tricks on a broom. She thought it would help her chances to get signed to the Holyhead Harpies after school. She wanted to follow in their mum's footsteps.
"Olivia Hanson is a bitch," James mumbled.
"Excuse me?" Harry gaped. "I'm not sure I like you speaking about another person in such a way."
"What if they deserve it?"
"Who's Olivia Hanson?"
James rolled his eyes. His mother would know the name and instantly pick up on the implications of calling her a bitch. His father was a little less perceptive and needed a little more of a handholding sometimes.
"Oh, only the girl I've been seeing this past year," James supplied.
"Oh, right. Her name was Olivia?" inquired Harry with a frown. "That's the one you were trying to impress your fourth year, right? She agreed around Halloween to go out with you. What happened?"
"Cillian Finnigan's mouth happened."
"Oh…" Harry trailed off as he turned away from his son to watch his daughter. He looked like he was in deep thought.
"Yeah, oh."
"So, she sent you the owl last night to break it off with you, then?"
"No, Doyle Wood saw the two of them in Diagon Alley and sent me an owl to tell me," James corrected bitterly. "Makes me wonder how long she has been cheating on me. You know, I was the only reason she got the Seeker position on the team? Doyle wanted some second year who was only slightly better but I said Olivia would mesh better with us. It enabled us to get to know each other better and then we started dating…"
James couldn't continue. He lolled his head back on the sofa and closed his eyes. Fucking Olivia Hanson. Why couldn't she have just broken up with him before tongue wrestling with Finnigan? It would have been way less humiliating and hurtful.
"There's someone out there better for you, James," Harry said with certainty in his voice.
"Yeah."
"Yeah, there is. You know, I spent my whole fourth year pining over the Ravenclaw Seeker who was dating the Hufflepuff Seeker," Harry started as he shifted on the sofa. "I even asked her out not knowing she was dating the Hufflepuff. It was the most awkward thing. I wanted to die of embarrassment."
"I feel like anytime you tell me a story from your teenager years, it always involves wanting to die from embarrassment," James said with a soft grin as he looked over at his father.
"I was a very socially awkward teenager," Harry replied with a grimace. "I didn't have many friends and had absolutely no idea how to interact with girls. Are you sure you won't talk to your mum about this? She may be better at it."
"Oh yeah, let me tell Mum about how some girl cheated on me and broke my heart into a million pieces. She'd be out of this house faster than you could say Hippogriff with her wand to Bat-Bogey Hex the girl. Then, you'd have to bail her out of a Ministry holding cell and try to bury the story in the press," James said only half joking. "What happened with you and the Ravenclaw Seeker? She didn't fancy the Chosen One?"
"Well, I wasn't the Chosen One at that point. Most people hated me actually to be honest with you. They all thought I was an attention-seeking prat who wanted eternal glory."
"Well, obviously, they never held a conversation with you to know that attention and eternal glory were at the bottom of your list as wants. This was the Triwizard Tournament thing, isn't it?"
"Yeah, well, the Hufflepuff Seeker died at the end of the tournament. The next year, my fifth year, the Ravenclaw Seeker and I kind of danced around each other. I still fancied her. She still wasn't over her boyfriend's death. We went on a disastrous date, we kissed while she cried because I wasn't the boy she wanted, and we still awkwardly avoid each other to this day."
"Wait… I don't get it," James said with a furrowed brow. "Aren't you going to tell me that she cheated on you or something? You are terrible at this, Dad."
"Well, no, she never cheated on me. I've never been cheated on," Harry said with a wave of his hand. "I do know about what it's like when you fall in love for the first time and it doesn't work out though. Honestly, it was the best thing that could have happened to me. It made me realize what I wanted in a girl."
"You mean one who doesn't cry when you kiss her and isn't hung up on her dead boyfriend?"
"I mean, if you want to put it like that, yeah," Harry said awkwardly. "I have an exceptional talent of ignoring my surroundings and being very focused. I put all my energy into liking the Ravenclaw Seeker and being focused on her that I didn't see what was right in front of me. Then, it was like one day it suddenly clicked. This light went on in my head and I had a new focus. I felt so stupid for never noticing her before."
"Mum," James supplied with a grin.
"Your mum. It was like she came out of nowhere and hit me square in the face. She had just always been my best mate's little sister who had a crush on me. She was always there, lingering in the background, never getting much of my attention or focus. She had always been supportive of me, willing to help, willing to knock me down a peg when I needed it. My focus became her and her alone. I felt like she was everything I wanted in a girlfriend: kind, compassionate, caring, brave, strong, funny, pretty. You see what the major difference between my feelings for the Ravenclaw Seeker and your mum were?"
"What?"
"I saw the Ravenclaw Seeker and I thought she was one of the prettiest girls I had ever seen. My initial attraction to her was based purely on her looks. I chased her without even knowing what her personality was like. With your mum, I knew your mum since she was ten years old. The first thing that attracted me to your mum was how funny and kind she was. She is, to this day, one of the kindest people I have ever met in my life. While I do think your mum is one of the most beautiful women I have ever met, I find that it is probably the thing I could care least about when I think of all the things I love about her. Personality rules out looks, James. I know you pined over Olivia because of how pretty she is. I think it's time to pine over a girl who has a personality that meshes well with yours. Looks means nothing if you don't like their personality. Seems like this Olivia's personality isn't quite compatible with yours."
"You know, Dad, Uncle Ron and Uncle George like to give you a hard time about how you're emotionally stunted and awkward, but I think they're wrong."
"Gee, thanks, James," Harry said with a chuckle.
"You're pretty good at giving pep talks, you know that?" James said as his heart felt a little lighter. "You're a pretty good dad."
"Just pretty good?" Harry said lightly as he elbowed his son in the ribs as James rolled his eyes.
"You'll get a big head if I keep telling you that you're the best dad in the world."
"Don't worry, your mother is excellent at knocking me down when I get too cocky," Harry replied with a grin. "I love you, James, and you deserve better than Olivia Hanson."
"Yeah, I think you're right." James smirked. "I'm going to go fly with Lily. Thanks, Dad. I really do feel better."
James Potter grinned like a total idiot as he stood in front of his very tired father. It was Friday night during the Easter holiday. He had just turned seventeen the week before break. He had already gone out with Teddy and some of his friends from work drinking at some pub that he barely remembered. He remembered Teddy nearly crying over the fact that their mum had made treacle tart because he was so drunk and quite clearly a mama's boy. Al and Lily had teased him mercilessly the next morning.
Now, on Friday night, at seven o'clock, James was ready to celebrate coming of age with his father. He had some ridiculous night planned where they were going to meet up with Teddy, Uncle Ron, and Uncle George for a night of drinking and shenanigans. James began to get nervous he was going to have to take the Knight Bus to the pub because his father was running late. Something about some boring necromancer and how they finally caught him after six months of searching. James hardly cared. He was just happy his dad was home in time. Even if it was just barely.
"James, can I at least eat some dinner first?" his father asked wearily.
"No, we are already going to be late. We were supposed to meet everyone at seven. You know I don't mind being a little late but it's nearly a quarter after. We can order some food at the pub. Come on, Dad, be a little more fun than this," James pressed. "You should be happy, you know. Most kids my age go out with their friends for a night of binge drinking and bad decisions. I want to make those bad decisions with my favorite uncles, my favorite dad, and my favorite brother – just don't tell Al that I said that."
"James, I'm your only dad."
"Yes, all the more reason you should want to celebrate my seventeenth with me on a wonderful Friday night," James concluded. "Mum already went to Gringotts today to withdraw an insane amount of drinking money. She said you were to pay for not only yourself, but for Teddy and me too. Your oldest, most handsome, most wonderful sons."
"Can I at least change out of my suit first?" Harry sighed.
"You can put down that bloody briefcase. We're already wasting time! Come on, Dad!"
Harry just barely had time to drop his briefcase onto the floor by the staircase before James tugged him out of the front door. James practically dragged his father up the drive and outside of the wards of the house. He linked his arm with his father's and looked over at him expectantly.
"Er… can you Apparate us, Dad? I kind of failed my test. I have to reschedule it."
"How did you fail?" inquired Harry. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"Well, I told Mum, but you were kind of busy at work. I didn't want to stress you out, but I kind of Apparated without any of my clothes. I was buck naked in the hoop, but I did get into the other hoop with perfect precision."
Harry choked on his laugh and his eyebrows raised so high that they disappeared into his messy locks. James frowned and felt his face grow hot. It was way more embarrassing to tell his dad that he Apparated without his clothes than when he actually did it. The examiner squeaked and shouted for him to grab his clothes. The others in the room waiting to take their test catcalled and cheered. James took a bow before he shoved his legs into his boxers.
With a sinking feeling like he was being squeezed to death, they were gone. They reappeared in front of Two Trolls and an Ogre pub. James grinned over at his father before pulling him into the bar like he was a five-year-old going into a sweet shop.
They spotted their family straight away in the back corner of the pub. They were settled into a corner booth and the three men were already nursing a round of butterbeers. James took off in a dash, his grip leaving his father's wrist as he slid into the booth next to Teddy who sported his classic Potter black hair that he reserved for special occasions and adventures in the Muggle world.
"Sorry we're late. Dad got held up at work. You know how he is," James greeted as Harry slid into the booth next to his son.
"Yeah, your dad is so fucking boring and responsible," George said with a smirk. "He used to be fun and play Quidditch."
"And fight trolls," Ron added.
"Accio his Firebolt to fly around a dragon to steal its egg," George continued.
"Blind a Basilisk and shove a sword up into its mouth."
"I didn't actually blind the Basilisk. I did shove a sword into its mouth, though," Harry said thoughtfully as their waitress approached their table and gave them a strange look at the topic of conversation.
"What can I get you two?" inquired the waitress.
Before James could say anything, his Uncle George took the lead. He ordered a round of some shots for the table called the Merpeople's Death Draught and a round of some craft goblin beer that James had never heard of.
"Put it on the Potter tab, by the way," Ron added. "Ginny said the night was on you."
"I was told I was paying for Teddy and James," Harry said with a smirk. "I was never told I had to pay for two grown arse adults who run a very successful joke shop franchise. You each make more in a year than Ginny and I do combined."
"Oh, semantics, Potter," George commented with a wave of his hand before he downed the rest of his beer. "Your granddaddy's little Sleekeazy vault makes more interest in a year than all of our salaries combined for the next hundred years."
"Not to mention the royalties you get from it," added Ron. "Have the night be on Fleamont. It's not every day his great grandson turns seventeen."
"Speaking of potions, here, you two will want these."
George pulled out two shimmering green vials from his jacket pocket and slid them over to James and Harry. Immediately, James took his, uncorked it, and downed the contents without a question. Harry groaned beside him as he fingered the vial in his hand.
"What is this?" questioned Harry.
"It's a potion so that you can mix liquor and beer and not feel like you're going to keel over dead," supplied George. "There is no more beer before liquor, never sicker bullshite. It's all in the clear now. I developed it after Teddy's more than memorable seventeenth birthday."
James had heard the legendary tale of the sheer amount of alcohol that George and Ron had forced down Teddy's willing throat and that his uncles had willingly drank that night as well. He saw his very exasperated father trying to wrangle a very drunk Teddy, George, and Ron into Potter Manor. He remembered his mother rushing George to St. Mungo's to get his stomach cleansed and get a rehydration potion. He always blamed it on mixing beer and liquor.
"I'll stick to some beers," Harry declared and rolled the vial back to George. "Thanks all the same."
"Fuck no, Harry, it's your turn to be three pisses to the wind," George declared. "Ron's going to be the responsible one tonight while the four of us get completely pissed. In June, when we go out for Freddie's seventeenth, I'm going to be the responsible one so I can remember every single stupidly awful thing Fred does so I can tease him until the end of time. We take turns being responsible."
"I'm not getting pissed with my two sons," Harry said dryly.
The waitress was back with their alcohol. She passed around the beers and shots evenly amongst the group. Ron slid his shot across the table to James to drink and gave his nephew a wink. She asked if there was anything else they needed and Ron ordered another round of shots (minus one) called Phoenix Fireballs.
"Wait, can you bring me some fish and chips, please?" Harry added hurriedly before the waitress disappeared.
"Did you really just order food on our night out?" Teddy inquired as he leaned over James to speak to his godfather.
"I literally just walked through the door when James practically dragged me out of the house," Harry replied as he shrugged off his jacket and slung it on the back of the booth. "I didn't even have dinner yet."
"That's not going to get you out of drinking," George glared at Harry as he raised his shot to the middle of the table. "Come on, up, up, up. Let's toast, easily, to one of my top five nephews."
James furrowed his brow at the statement and looked over at Teddy in confusion. There was a shite-eating grin across Teddy's face as he met George's glass. James followed suit and his father hesitated. Harry looked like the last thing he wanted to do in the world was to take a shot.
"You only have five nephews, you tosser," Teddy said playfully.
"Do I?" inquired George innocently. "Merlin, it feels like more sometimes."
"So, I'm in the top five out of five?" inquired James as he nudged his father so he'd raise his glass into the middle with them.
"Something like that," George said with a grin. "Don't ask me who my all-time favorite is because I feel like it changes daily."
James rolled his eyes with a smirk before turning to his attention to his father who had still not picked up his shot glass.
"Dad, my whole life, you've been the best dad in the entire world," James started. "Tonight, you are being mediocre. Don't start being mediocre now after all this time. It's just one shot. I'm seventeen now. Celebrate it with me."
Reluctantly, Harry raised his shot to the middle of the table. The shot glasses and Ron's beer bottle clinked together. They all downed their shots together. James pulled a face before grabbing Ron's shot and downing that as well before he gulped down a third of his goblin crafted beer to get the taste out of his mouth. George and Ron hooted. Teddy did a drumroll on the table. Harry looked like he wanted to puke when the waitress came over with their next round of shots and when George ordered another round of some drink called Sex with a Giant Squid which tasted way more pleasant than it sounded. That totally could have been because he was already two shots and a beer into the night by that point.
Before long, James was exceedingly happy. Teddy and George were on the same level of drunk with him. A nice pleasant drunk where he would still be able to remember most of what happened in the morning as long as he didn't overdo it too much more. James had drunk a lot at Hogwarts. He was one of the main suppliers of alcohol to common room parties thanks to the Marauder's Map. He knew for sure that Teddy partied just as hard as he did at Hogwarts and went out often to the pubs with his friends and Victoire after work.
James turned to his father who was the drunkest of the bunch. He was more than three sheets to the wind by this point. He was beyond the point where he would ever remember the night. George had even taken away his beer in fear that he was already too intoxicated. Harry Potter was the biggest light weight there ever was.
"I'm glad you talked me into this," Harry slurred as Ron slid him over a glass of water. "What's this?"
"It's, uh… Kneazle Water," Ron lied as James and Teddy hid their sniggers. "It's like a gin with uh… some seltzer and shite. I don't know, mate, it'll make you feel good."
"Bottoms up!" Harry raised his glass towards his sons. Teddy and James raised their beers to clink with their father before they all took large gulps of their drinks. "Bloody hell, Ron, this is one of the best ones of the night! Way better than that Troll's Arse shot you had us drink."
"Troll's Dreamland Delight, Harry," Ron corrected with a giant smirk. "I'm glad you like the Gnargle Water."
"Hmmm… I thought you said it was Kneazle?" Harry inquired, cocking his head to the right.
"Err… yeah, that's what I meant. Kneazle Water. Totally forgot."
"You've had too much to drink. Hermy-ione will be very disappointed in your designated getter home abilities," Harry commented very somberly as he pointed a finger at his best mate. "Your sister will kill you too if you don't get me and my boys home safe. I'm not takin' the fall for this. Your sister is really, really scary when she's mad."
When James and Teddy finished the last of their beers, they all shuffled out of the booth. Harry stumbled violently upon taking his first step which caused James and Teddy to appear on either side of him to half drag him out of the pub. Ron called the Knight Bus for them and helped shuffle them all on.
Harry pulled out a little pouch of coins but decided he was too drunk to count out the money. He shoved the money towards Teddy to sort out. James gave their address while Harry wandered away from them. James turned around to see his father sitting on the floor of the bus with his head between his knees. He grimaced and really hoped his father wasn't going to puke.
A good half hour later, the bus stopped in front of Potter House. Teddy and James dragged their father up off the floor and off the bus. There was a stupid grin on James' face as he thought about all the ways he was going to tease his father in the morning. They managed to make it inside the house without an incident.
Harry grinned like a fool at them. He leaned heavily against the wall in the entryway so he wouldn't fall flat on his face. His eyes were so glassy and unfocused as he stared at Teddy and James. He sniffed, loudly, before closing the space between them. He wrapped his arms around both of their necks and pulled them both close to his chest. Teddy coughed like he was being choked slightly and James just melted into his father's embrace. He felt very tired and wanted to pass out. His father's shoulder was very warm and inviting.
"My boys, my boys, my boys, my boys," Harry murmured into James' neck. "I love you both so much. You make life worth living."
"Oh, Merlin, has Dad been drinking?" Lily's voice sounded from somewhere behind them.
James attempted to look behind him. He saw Lily, Albus, and his mum on the stairs staring at them with smirks on their lips and their eyes sparkling with glee. It wasn't often Harry got drunk. In fact, James could list off the small number on one hand. He was a sop and was even known to cry. James could remember, quite clearly, his dad bawling his eyes out at Teddy's wedding and going on about how much Teddy had grown, what a great man he had become, and how proud Remus would have been.
"My boys," Harry murmured again and wouldn't let up on his death grip.
"Harry, let the boys go before you choke them to death," Ginny said with a chuckle.
"I just love them, Gin, I love them so much. We made such a beautiful family. It was everything I could have hoped for and more. Everything I ever wanted in life," Harry continued in a strangled sort of voice. "I'm just so happy. I never thought I could be this happy."
"Dad, I love you too. You are the best dad ever. The best dad in the whole wide world. I was only joking at the pub when I called you mediocre," James said as he thumped his father on the back. "You're amazing."
Harry tightened his grip on Teddy and James at the words. A strangled noise emitted from his lips. James couldn't see his father's face but he wouldn't be surprised if he was misty eyed at that moment.
"Harry, please, you're choking me," Teddy gasped. "I love you but, Merlin, I don't want to die. How embarrassing would it be if my gravestone said smothered to death by his beloved godfather while he was drunk?"
The grip loosened. James stood up to his full height. His dad looked at Teddy with an anguished sort of look written on his face.
"Did I hurt you, Ted?" inquired Harry. "I… Merlin, I…"
"Harry, you're fine," Teddy replied with a grin. "Let's get you to bed."
"Bed?" asked Ginny. "I made treacle tart for all of you. I know you like it af-"
Teddy and Harry had both launched themselves at Ginny. They both attempted to drunkenly hug her at the same time. James was slightly surprised they didn't all tumble to the ground.
"Oh, Ginny, you're too good to me," Harry commented as he started to kiss her all over the side of her face. "You know my favorite dessert."
"My Ginny, my Ginny, my Ginny," Teddy added in a fit of giggles as he was obviously attempting to mock his godfather. "I love you more than the moon and the stars. You are my favorite mum."
"Merlin fucking hell," Albus exclaimed.
"Albus!" hissed Ginny. "Language!"
"I just hope I'm not this soppy when I'm drunk. You three make me never want to drink," Albus continued. "It must be a Potter gene because Mum doesn't get like this."
"Albus." Harry turned his attention to his youngest son and beamed up at him. "Come here."
"I'm fine on the steps, Dad."
"Albus, come here," Harry insisted as he pulled away from Ginny. "I want to hug you."
"Dad," Albus groaned.
"Oh, for Merlin's sake, Albus, hug your drunk dad. He gets like this once in a blue moon. Indulge him a bit," Ginny huffed.
"Come on, Alby, give your brothers and daddy a hug!" James shouted as he practically skipped over towards the stairs and held his arms out wide.
"ALBUS!" Teddy yelled as he joined his family. "ALBUS!"
Lily gave Albus a little push down the last few steps. He was engulfed immediately by his brothers and father. James could have sworn he saw Albus grin. He was a sop just like the rest of them even though he pretended he wasn't.
James wanted to die. He absolutely wanted to die. His godson, Remus Harry Lupin, clenched his arm to his chest and wailed louder than James had ever heard him cry. He knelt in front of the three-year-old feeling very ill-equipped to be dealing with a hurt toddler. He swallowed the uncomfortable lump in his throat as his mind wheeled about what to do. He fell off a broom. He fell off a fucking broom. His very tiny little godson fell off a broom and quite possibly broke his arm.
James didn't know how to mend broken bones. It wasn't exactly something he was taught in Auror training. He didn't even know who to call. Teddy and Victoire were in hospital giving birth to their second child and they were very, clearly unavailable to tell him what to do. That meant that every single Potter and Weasley were at the hospital as well. James was given the duty of minding Remus since he was the godfather after all.
They had only left the hospital three hours ago. He gave Remus some lunch, put him down for a nap, and thought the two of them could fly before going back to the hospital to see if his little sister was born yet. He allowed Remus to fall off his broom.
"James, are you ready to go to the hospital?"
He whipped around to see his girlfriend standing on the back deck. The knot in his chest eased as he laid eyes on his girlfriend of two years. Riley Wood had been two years younger than him in school. Her older brother, Doyle, had been his old Quidditch buddy and captain. Her father was good friends with his dad. They had been friends for years before they started dating. His father had been right about picking a friend to be with.
"He fell off his broom. I think he broke his arm. What do I do?" James asked as he scooped the tiny boy up in his arms.
"I, uh, can you mend it?" Riley inquired.
"Fuck if I know how!"
Remus continued to wail, his tears soaking through James' t-shirt. He shifted anxiously from foot to foot. He can't believe he let his godson get injured. Victoire would be furious. Teddy would be disappointed. He would definitely not be named godfather to their second child. Not after this.
"Let's just take him to the hospital," Riley said calmly.
"So, my whole family can see how spectacularly I messed this up?"
"James."
"Alright, alright, alright. I know. We got to take him," James concluded. "I'll Apparate with him and you meet me there?"
James and Riley managed to avoid the massive Weasley and Potter family roaming the halls of St. Mungo's until they were right outside of the door to the pediatric wing. James stilled when he came face to face with his father who was wandering around the corridors with a cup of tea.
"Is Remus alright?" inquired Harry as he rushed over to them. "What happened?"
"Gwandpa!" Remus wailed as he reached out his good arm towards Harry.
Harry shoved his tea at Riley so he could gather the small boy up into his arms. He held the child close to his chest. The small boy immediately stopped his crying. James felt even worse than he had before. His father had a way with young children. His mum liked to joke he was the baby whisperer. Teddy and Victoire had relied on him heavily when Remus was a baby. He instantly seemed to calm down in Harry's arms. Nothing had changed in the past three years.
"We, err, were flying and he fell off the broom," James started hesitantly. "I think he broke his arm."
"James," Harry hissed. "What were you thinking?"
"I was thinking I was a wicked cool godfather to let him try a big boy broom, but that seems like a super lame and awful idea right about now."
That's how he found himself sitting on a hospital bed with his godson, girlfriend, and father. Harry refused to leave them which was probably a good idea since James had no idea what was an appropriate treatment for a broken arm. He had a few broken bones in his life from doing stupid things with Teddy. He could remember once when Teddy broke down a cardboard box and the two of them went sledding down the stairs. They had crashed into a wall. James broke his arm while Teddy broke his wrist. He couldn't remember exactly how they fixed his arm though or Teddy's wrist. Some spell and maybe some potions?
James thought he couldn't feel worse than he already did about Remus' arm. Except, the look of sheer disappointment radiating off his father just added to the guilt. He stood stoically by the side of the bed and tapped his foot impatiently waiting for the Healer. If James didn't know any better, his father looked about ready to exit the room and start demanding someone come in immediately. James just held Remus on his lap who seemed to be a lot calmer now that his beloved Grandpa Harry was around.
"I'm sorry, Dad," James said miserably. "I was watching him, I swear. It all happened so fast. I feel awful."
"It's alright, James. Accidents happen," Harry said wearily as he ran a hand through his messy locks. "Where in Merlin's name is the Healer? Don't they know he's in pain? This is ridiculous."
"It's only been five minutes since we've been back, Harry," Riley commented as Harry shot her a deadly glare. "I mean, five minutes is way too long for such a small child."
"It's not alright, Dad. I broke Remus' arm," James protested. "I feel like a shite godfather."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you said he fell off a broom," Harry said. "I didn't know you grabbed his arm and manhandled him until it broke."
"Dad," James groaned. "I was responsible. They should have asked Albus to be godfather. He's way more responsible than me."
"If all it takes is an accident to occur to get godfather privileges revoked, then I guess I shouldn't be Teddy's godfather. You think we can find him a new one?" Harry asked as James rolled his eyes involuntarily. "I remember when Teddy was two, your mum and I took him to a playground. We were having a good time on the slides and the swings. I was chasing him on this wooden castle structure. He was laughing like a maniac and we were having a good time. He looked back to see how close I was to getting him when he tripped and smacked his face into the wall. He broke his nose and had a black eye. It was a Muggle playground so I couldn't do anything with magic even if my brain was working correctly to recall any spells. I carried him out of the playground with him crying and there was blood everywhere. It was all over him and all over me. Sometimes, our good intentions of fun wind up to be disastrous."
The guilt eased just a little bit at his father's words. James looked down at Remus' untidy black hair on his head. He always morphed his hair to black whenever he was around the Potter family. James felt the corners of his mouth tug upwards. James pulled his godson close to his chest and rubbed the kid's bicep lovingly.
"You're the best dad in the world, you know that?" asked James as he looked up. "You always know what to say to make me feel better."
"You're the best godfather in the world, you know that, James?" Harry commented. "You really care about that little boy."
"Well, I had you as a role model, so I guess that's why I snagged the top spot."
Harry chuckled with a wide grin on his face. James knew he was the man he was because of his father. He was a good godfather because he had watched his own father be the best godfather he could be towards Teddy. Harry Potter was everything James wanted to be in life: a world class Auror, a loving husband, an awesome dad, and a kickass godfather.
I wrote this little one shot for Father's Day, so I hope you enjoyed! Don't forget to review if you like all my little one-shots I've been posting. Your reviews motivate me, your reviews give me ideas! Thanks so much to Arnel for being my trusty editor.