Becoming a Man…
Observations
17 June 1994
Jason got to his feet and pointed. "Harry! And a dragon."
James' heart stuttered in his chest as he sat forward. Indeed that was Harry rising above the huge hedges of the garden. Before him was a –
"That's a horntail," Draco said.
"And he's flying," Jason said. "When did he learn to do that?"
Regulus turned around. "He could do it last Christmas."
Fleamont held up a finger. "He could do it last August."
"Brilliant," Jason said.
James still marveled at his relationship with Harry. They interacted like brothers who liked each other. Even now Jason sat there watching Harry with admiration shining in his eyes.
It made him want to scream.
They kept seeing Harry fly around the garden. At one point he shot into the air and dove back down. He even flew into the dome for everyone to see.
"I have to learn that," Jason said.
"You and I both," Regulus agreed.
They were out there for hours reconnecting with people. Well, Draco, Jason, Henry, and Frederick were. Everyone else spent time being introduced to people and observing Draco, Jason, and Darius.
Or at least James and Charlus were.
Charlus had been pale. Nervous. Darius had mentioned Dumbledore had questioned him and everyone assumed it was at Harry's behest.
Ridiculous.
Still despite Dumbledore having, as everyone guessed, found nothing, Charlus remained ill at ease. Almost as if he was willing himself to believe his grandson was innocent rather than outright believing it on trust and faith.
"History could be repeating itself," Sirius had said.
James was having a hard time believing sweet Darius could do what Harry was accusing and Sirius was suggesting. But at times Darius wasn't so sweet.
At present he was shifting between pouting at the Rosier twins and eying Jason with something akin to hatred.
"Harry's finished," Jason said. "Twenty minutes left."
For that twenty minutes, Jason bounced in his seat. He wasn't the only one antsy either. All of Harry's friends – from Andrei Dolohov to the Weasley twins – were in one area and they all looked nervous and/or excited.
And every last one got to their feet to cheer when they heard, "Congratulations Harry Potter and Durmstrang Institute."
Chants of 'Ha-rry! Pot-ter!' went around the stadium. James, like last year, marveled at it. He was hearing his dream; living his dream. Harry was all that young James had imagined his future son, Harry James Potter, would be.
"You bet against your own brother?" he heard the young Warrington boy ask.
James looked to see the Weasley twins collecting gold.
"No," one said.
"We bet in favor of Harry," the other finished.
Regulus laughed. He seemed to hate himself for it, but he laughed. He turned his to the left as he laughed. "Congratulations, Alexandra! You finally have one!"
'Alexandra' blew Regulus a kiss as she walked past them. She pointed at Jason on her way down.
Regulus looked at Jason. "Next man up?"
Jason just blew out a breath, but he was also grinning from ear to ear.
"Two down, one to go," Regulus said.
"I can't believe he's actually doing this," Auriel said. "I mean he said he'd do it, but oh my god."
When all was said and done, they met Harry outside. With a grin, he held out the gold cauldron to Jason, who took it.
"I can keep it?"
"No," Frederick said. "You will give it back no matter what he says."
After a deep breath, and still grinning from ear to ear, Harry said, "I hate potions."
Euphemia placed a hand over her mouth as her eyes danced. Draco snorted and Jason looked at him in disbelief. Regulus and Charlus laughed out loud. James found himself grinning.
Henry, Fleamont, and Frederick scoffed.
"Whew, that feels so good to say." To Frederick, Fleamont, and Henry, he said, "I can't believe your ancestors took pride in sitting behind a cauldron for hours on end." He ran his hands through his hair. "If I never have to look into another one for the next hundred years, it would be too soon on the hundred first." He pointed at Henry. "You're lucky I like you."
••
Cake and Pie, Too
24 June 1994
As Simeon had spent his birthday in Brazil, and lost the tournament to Harry of all people, James thought to have a small birthday party at his house. Just some family, a mix of Smiths and Potters, plus Narcissa and Draco.
Harry, of course, wasn't there.
So Narcissa was all by herself. Not that James believed Harry would come to her defense if he was there.
Another thing that needed to be dealt with.
"So how long have you been dating?" Elijah asked Narcissa.
"Since last August."
Elijah smiled and nodded. "And you live with your grandfather? Laurent Rosier, yes?"
"Yes and no. I'm there often, but I spend a lot of time at my Aunt Cassiopeia's house."
Elijah glanced at Darius. "She left you her home?"
Narcissa paused, but ultimately swallowed whatever she wanted to say. Instead she said, "No. It's Harry's, but he either doesn't know that or he doesn't care."
James glanced at Henry, who shrugged. "You have to speak to Charlus about that."
Charlus ignored them.
Elijah smoothly steered the conversation back on course with, "And you're close to your cousins' children?"
"Yes," Narcissa said with a kind smile. "They are all like siblings. They can't wait to welcome Simeon in as a brother like they did Harry."
Draco smiled at his mother.
Elijah smiled at her, too, but his was far more sour.
Narcissa turned to Simeon. "Your father tells me you go on holiday every summer. Will you be going early this year?"
Simeon looked at Naomi, who said, "Yes, we'll spend the rest of the month in Chile. You?"
"I'll be here having no idea where my son is."
Draco looked at ceiling then turned back to his food.
"And where are you off to?" Elijah asked Draco.
"Apparently the Blacks have a house in Saint Bart's and Regulus is opening it up," Draco said. "We're going to be laying on the beach all day, I guess."
Elijah glanced at his daughter then said, "You'll be there all month?"
"Most of it. We're going after Harry's party next week."
James tilted his head. He then looked at his grandfather and Charlus. Henry looked unfazed, but Charlus was curious. Much to James' surprise Charlus eyed Fleamont, who met his eyes with challenge.
Huh?
"Why is he having a party?" Naomi asked. "His birthday isn't until…"
Draco looked at her with amusement as he shrugged. "Something about getting to know Britons."
"And which Britons will be there?" Naomi asked softly.
Harry must have spoken of the Smiths to Draco for their was a certain vindictiveness in his face as he spoke. "I know Ogden, Marchbanks, and McLaggen. Zabini, Warrington, and Orpington, too, I believe." Draco shrugged. "Some girl named Bobbin." He snapped his fingers. "Greengrass, I think, and I know Nott is coming. The girls should be there, too."
"'The girls?'" Elijah repeated.
With his fingers Draco ticked off names. "Delacour, Taylor, Heimir, Novak, Jauquin, and Audrey – uhh – Rosier. Oh, and Delphine. Lestrange. They might bring a few others. I don't know."
The beautiful group of girls Harry had somehow found himself good friends with.
'I'd hate that little shit if I was a teenager,' Sirius had grumbled last Christmas. James couldn't help but agree. Though he didn't know if he'd war with Harry like he had with Snape. Not out of fear, but out of general concern and common sense. Harry and Sirius would not be a match he'd like to see. That he'd have Regulus and probably Crouch Jr – or Dolohov, Malfoy, and Warrington – on his side made it all the more horrifying.
Someone would have died.
Still, he knew they'd have had fun raising all types of hell against each other.
At present, he wasn't having fun. His mind was on Harry's party. A party Darius and Simeon had been purposefully excluded from.
And Naomi was in the room.
They were alone.
Somehow that had happened.
She was looking about the room. "This is a lovely house," she said softly.
"Thank you."
Their eyes met.
"Tell me something, James…" She slowly spun around as she asked, "Why wasn't I good enough?" She held up a hand. "And let's not blame him because you didn't want to do anything like this before he got here."
James rubbed his face and exhaled. "Because you thought nothing of my family. You were embarrassed to call yourself a Potter. Had I purchased this house ten years ago, it would be yellow, gray, and black."
There was more, but he thought to end the night on a good note.
She scoffed. "You didn't have pride in your family either."
"Excuse me?"
She looked at him. "My father routinely insulted Potter in front of you and you said nothing. Only your grandfather, Charlus, and he didn't let anyone insult your name."
James nodded. Fine. He'd give her what she was asking for. "I didn't buy you a house because you embarrassed me. I was embarrassed to take you out in public. You are rude; a-a fucking asshole overcompensating for the fact that you were out of place and no one cares about your family. Why would I want you running this household when I couldn't trust you to be polite to people in public? We wouldn't have any fucking friends," he hissed.
By the time he finished, she was pale and shaking. But she raised her chin. "So it's my fault Simeon doesn't have any?"
"I'm glad you picked up that not so subtle suggestion."
"At least he knows I'll fight for him."
James shook his head. "And what the hell does that mean?"
"You think I'm stupid?"
He bit his tongue.
"Or maybe you believe I'm deaf and blind," she said. "I spent the entire holiday season having newspapers and magazines shoved under my nose. Your grandfather, the Minister, and those other old men took that boy from house to house, country to country, and continent to continent like a prized goat."
James looked at the ceiling. "Please get to the point."
"Simeon is a Potter. A properly born one," she said. "I will not allow your by-blow to sweep through here and take what belongs to my son."
James brought his eyes back down. Slowly. They were wide and his mouth was slightly ajar. He understood her. Perfectly. He just couldn't believe she'd strung those words together to form such a sentence.
"You are stupid. Incredibly," he said. "You will encourage Simeon to do what? Go at Henry and demand that house? Or will you encourage Simeon to fight a boy who outdueled sixth and seventh years as a second year after Henry is dead?" He shook his head with his mouth still open in the shape of an 'O.' "Harry built that house. With his own money. He sold his soul for that house. And you think there's a possibility anyone can take it from him? He will kill Simeon or burn it down."
Naomi rolled her eyes. "I know a Potter can't kill another Potter."
James shook his head. "That is Henry and Frederick's policy. Believe what you want, but their ancestors have most certainly tried to, and have, put a number of Edwin and cousin Quintinus' descendants in the dirt. Why? For trying to take Potter Manor and Dawn Park byway of killing Theocles and Hardwin's children."
Naomi hesitated, but raised her chin. Foolish to the end. "I will not let him have that house."
"Harry, or one of those girls he's bound to marry, will chop you up," James said. "No hesitation. You can be stupid, but don't encourage Simeon to be. Dad's house is huge and he has more money than me."
"Because, of course, everything you have will be going to whatever filth she brings into the world," Naomi said. "So instead of getting his due, he'll end up with a third." Red in the face, she stooped down to look him in the eye. "I intend for Simeon to have the biggest piece of the pie."
••
Growing Up
25 June 1994
"I think I admire her," Narcissa said from her vanity the next day. "Willing to go the extra mile for her child. A proper mother. Some could learn a thing or two from her."
"Lily and Bellatrix aren't here to feel the sting of your jabs," James said with a shake off his head. "And I don't think Bellatrix would care. Lily might fight you, though."
Narcissa smiled at him through the mirror then she picked up her brush. "But Harry is the wrong child to try that with. She hasn't seen his face, so I cannot fault her too much. Still, a twelve year old who can duel with sixteen and seventeen year olds is nothing to trifle with. Unless, of course, she intends to take him out early."
"With Emmeline Vance and Nymphadora following him around? She'd never make it." He rubbed his face. "I can't believe this is a serious conversation." He sighed. "Are you staying here?"
She nodded. "I have nothing to do. Draco is off with Regulus doing something or other."
He looked at his watch. "Alright, I have to go see Simeon and I need to go yell at the Harrys."
"Don't yell too loudly."
An hour later, he stepped into the living room to hear Harry say, "I don't trust your grandson. I don't like your grandson. And there's nothing you can say to change either of those things."
"This is a fine way to repay the two people who took you in," Charlus responded.
James stopped in the doorway to eye Harry, who sat there smiling at Charlus. It was a pleasant smile, but there was something…nasty about it. Almost as if the smile was a conveyor of his thoughts.
"Oh grandpa," Harry said. "That's the only reason I haven't beat him like I have Draco, Phobos, and Deimos." He pointed at Charlus. "If he catches me in a mood or I catch him red-handed I won't be able to keep any promises."
Charlus looked at Henry, who cleared his throat. "Harry, don't you think if their was something to find Dumbledore would have found it?"
"No," Harry answered. "And even Dumbledore admits this."
"Harry, I'm not going to let you beat him up," Charlus said.
Harry snorted. "If I had a galleon for every parent who swore I'd never lay a hand on their child." He held up his hands. "I have more important people I have to make bleed. Really, I'm not interested in your grandson, but you people have allowed him to believe Evan came to that house for me. Francis and Estelle most certainly have been encouraging him to pay me back. Dorea hasn't helped either by spewing bullsh – she's got a problem with me and it's not just 'cause of her son."
Charlus rubbed his face. When his hands reached his hair, he gripped the strands at the root. Red-faced and almost pleading with Harry, he said, "Darius didn't have anything to do with your grandfather's death."
For the first time ever, Harry didn't relent. None of the usual guilt or compassion whenever he spoke ill of Darius to Charlus was present. "Can you prove that?"
"Can you prove that he did?"
"I'm working myself to death to do so."
Charlus closed his eyes for a few moments. Harry didn't take his eyes off him. Much to James', and Henry's, surprise, his face didn't soften. It remained hard; unyielding.
Charlus opened his eyes. Meeting Harry's, he said, "Excuse me."
When he was gone from the room, Henry said, "You are willing to ruin your relationship with Charlus?"
Harry stretched. "It was always going to be like this. Better now than later." He turned to James and sniffed. "I suppose you're here to…" He licked his lips. "You're here on Simeon's behalf?"
James so wanted to tell Harry to go through with his initial statement, but he thought better of it. "Are you having a party?"
"Yes."
"Full of Britons?"
Harry inclined. "Yes, and please don't try to make me invite Simeon and Darius. I want to enjoy myself. Who wants to drag them from person to person looking all unpleasant?"
"Because you're never surly?"
"Yes, I've been taught how to interact with people and how to be a good host," Harry said. "Even your father knew how to pat me on my head and smile in front of his guests."
James nodded with a frown. "Remind me how you use to react to that?"
"Are you trying to compare a seven year old's reaction to being slapped across the head to a thirteen and fourteen year old being unable to be pleasant in front of company?" Harry grinned. "I'm glad you're admitting they act like babies who get their mothers to speak for them, though."
James involuntarily grimaced and Harry's eyes danced in turn.
James wanted to throttle him, but he turned to the other Harry instead. "This was your idea?"
Henry inclined his head.
"And you didn't think to make him invite Darius and Simeon?"
"No."
James exhaled. It came out shaky and gave them the impression he was shuddering. "You understand they go to school with these children?"
"You understand they don't speak to these children?" Henry picked up his wine glass. "Or rather those children don't speak to them?"
James shook his head. "And you didn't think to make Harry try to bridge the gap?"
Harry scoffed. "Not that I wanted to, but no one made them play with me. I'm not making sure they have friends."
'He hasn't forgiven or forgotten anything,' he heard Sirius whisper in his hear.
"And it's not his responsibility to find them any," Henry finished.
James ran a hand through his hair. "Will you ever make anything his responsibility?"
"Have you ever taken responsibility for your actions?"
"Maybe you should have made me?"
Henry smiled and James braced himself. "Very well, James. I told you, ten, eleven years ago, to introduce your children to the children of your peers. You did not do that. Instead you sat by while the Smiths insulted people and took spiteful joy at Mrs. Prewett, Boot, Griselda, and Callidora using Harry to pay them pack. Now you are watching the results of your indolence and blaming everyone else for the outcome."
"You spent the whole holiday season introducing Harry to people and dropping his name."
Henry inclined his head. "Harry is my most prized goat."
Harry grinned and looked at Henry.
James paused as his heart stuttered in his chest. "You also mentioned Jason routinely."
"As Frederick did with Harry," Henry said. "What is your point?"
James touched his forehead. "You should just say it. Say…"
"Say what?" Henry asked. He pointed to Harry. "Go outside or to your room."
"Aw," Harry moaned, but he left the room all the same.
Henry closed the door and silenced the room before turning back to James.
"What would you like for me to say? That Harry is the favorite of everyone in this house, save for Euphemia and Fleamont? It would be one thing if you hadn't spent the past nine years treating Harry James Potter as your pride and joy." He shook his head. "It isn't that thing, however. I have watched you, James. I have watched you relish each of Harry's triumphs, caring only for Naomi's feelings; how they brought her nothing but misery. You want to change the trajectory of Simeon's life? Go tell him to stop being an asshole to people."
"Harry is an asshole to everyone!"
Henry leaned forward. "We all are. But we both know there's a difference between Harry reacting to words and your son actively choosing to hunt people down. You didn't even teach him how to choose proper targets. Or have you forgotten what you are?"
"No, I haven't."
"Why are you here, James?"
James shook his head. "I thought to maybe get you to care about Simeon and Darius."
"Instead of sitting down with Simeon to encourage him to be a better person; instead of reaching out to your old classmates with children?" Henry tilted his head. "Why are you dead set on abdicating this job to me?"
"Teaching Simeon to be a proper Potter is your job."
Henry's eyebrows skyrocketed. "You are his father."
"You taught Harry."
"I did not," Henry said. "Charlus taught Harry; his guardian taught him. In fact, one could say I made more of an effort to teach Simeon – "
James made a noise. "Before Harry got here."
"Yes."
"Then you ran away to Greece."
Henry sat back. "Because you people were getting on my damn nerves. Things have changed and yet they are same!"
James shook his head. "And you have taught Harry. You've taught him potions, helped with his Latin, helped with the sword. I know you taught him theory."
"For God's sake, James, what is your problem?" Henry shook his head. "Are you reacting to Naomi's threats? This is the wrong way to go about this. Your attention should solely be on Simeon, making him understand his place."
"Or you could convince Harry not to hurt him."
Henry exhaled. "What affect will that have in thirty years after Simeon tries to hurt one of his kids while his mind is on the duties of a king?"
James snorted. "Harry isn't going to be a king."
"Yes, he is."
James shook his head with a grin on his lips. Harry wasn't going to be anyone's king.
"James, if Albus Dumbledore drops dead right now, Lorraine Taylor, Reneé Delacour, and Bartemius would place Harry on the throne so they could rule by proxy. And Harry would do it."
His smile faltered, but he continued to shake his head.
"Dumbledore is prepping him for it. Hell, Grindelwald prepped him for it. Your son is surrounded by a group of highly skilled individuals that he leads," Henry said. "He has led them since they were in Delphinium House. Ask Regulus." He tapped the corner of his eye. "Look. It's right in front of you and Harry may not know what he wants, but he will take up the mantle if push comes to shove."
James stopped shaking his head and stared at his grandfather.
"Simeon is your responsibility and Darius is Charlus'. If you want to rope your father in, by all means, but my hands are full." Henry held up a finger when James opened his mouth. "Your very dangerous son is fraying at the seams with Grindelwald, Voldemort, and Dumbledore on his back. He will be the epicenter of a war very soon. With that knowledge know in hand, does it not seem ridiculous to demand I turn away from Harry to teach Simeon dignity, kindness, and self-respect?"
James didn't answer.
"You have made steps in the right direction this last year," Henry said. "You have your own home and you've reigned in Sirius. But you are with a woman who will demand you step into the role of a man. You're thirty-five. It's past time you muddy your feet." Henry pointed to the fireplace. "Go home and start clearing a path for Simeon. Given the position Draco and Narcissa are in, you can put your heads together and come up with a plan to build everyone's reputation. Go."
••
Baby Steps
27 June 1994
James took a deep breath and knocked on Draco's door.
"Yeah?"
James opened the door and stepped into a room that was green and black with touches of gray. It was his own, personal Malfoy corner in a Potter household and it made James sick. It had to show on his face for Narcissa always looked amused and Draco smirked at him.
As he was doing right now.
He was apparently studying, but…the book was a Hogwarts textbook. Advanced Potion Making. He looked at the page and the handwriting around it was also familiar.
"Snivellus?"
Draco laughed out loud. "What? That's what you called Snape?"
"Yeah…where did you get this?"
Draco shifted as his laughter died down.
"Your mother? Or Harry?"
Draco licked his lips, but didn't answer.
"Harry," he said. "Harry has this…" He flipped through the pages. "Annotated book that he used to win the tournament. The question is: how the fuck did he get it?"
James cracked his neck. He wasn't there to worry about Harry. Still, he couldn't believe Harry would share this with Draco and not with his own brother. Unless, of course…
"Your mother or Black told him how to find Snape's house."
Draco looked at him then rolled his eyes. "Harry does that annoying thing, too. Now I get to tell him he's just like his father. Excellent."
James breathed through his nose. "I didn't come here for this." He rubbed his face. "I'm trying to build up Simeon and your mother's reputation and I'd like your help."
"My friends in Britain are Nott, Zabini, Greengrass, and Avery. The only one who will look at Simeon before Harry is Greengrass," Draco said. "Even then Harry will probably end up with her attention, too."
James looked at ceiling. "That's good to know and I'm not being sarcastic." He could make use of the Greengrass girl and her mother. "But I was here to ask you to be friendly towards him."
"Oh." Draco shrugged. "Alright."
Just like that? Well that was easy.
Now onto the hard part.
"Thank you." He took a deep breath then brought his eyes down to meet Draco's. "I want to marry your mother. I want to ask her to marry me. Soon."
Draco opened his mouth, but then shook his head. "What do you want from me? I'm fine with it."
"What were you going to say?" When Draco hesitated, he encouraged, "Tell me."
Draco sighed. "I can't stop you so what are you asking me for?"
"If you could stop this, would you?"
"I don't know," Draco admitted.
James rubbed his forehead. "Harry isn't going to hurt you."
Draco looked bemused and amused. "I'm not worried about Pot – Harry. I'm worried about my mother."
"Why? You don't think she's happy?"
"At the moment? No, not with Harry at least, but I'm concerned with what it means if she becomes a Potter," Draco said.
James tilted his head.
"The Death Eaters don't like any of you. They call you by your names. Four of them really hate you," Draco said. "I can remember some of what they said nine years ago. That's how much they hated your lot and that's how much they…"
"Beat Harry," James concluded when he trailed off. "Yeah, being with me probably broadens the target on your mother's back, but regardless she has a target on her back."
Draco furrowed his brow.
"Your mother left your father, her good friend Snape, and Bellatrix Lestrange to their fates. Keeping only you safe while your cousin – Delphine – was left in the house." James lifted his shoulder. "Not only that, but chances are high Laurent would make you his heir before Phobos and Deimos."
"Oh."
James nodded. "You and your mother have the same enemies as Harry and far less protection. You get a little more with access to Dawn Park."
"Grindelwald – "
"Was given the house while my grandfather hid money and kept…"
Draco nodded. "His head." He exhaled. "Fine. She's happy, so I have no more arguments."
James held out his hand and Draco shook his hand.
"I think she really likes you."
James nodded. "I really like her, too."
••
Going Nowhere
1 July 1994
Harry plopped down on the sofa beside Draco. "Good afternoon."
This was it. He needed Harry and Narcissa to straighten out their issues. He couldn't move forward without it.
"So what's this about?"
James took a drink of Firewhiskey from his snifter. He let it burn his chest before saying, "We need to talk."
Harry just blinked at him with a bored expression and it irked the hell out of him.
Stay on course, Potter.
"I want to marry Narcissa…"
"This has been said and repeated every time I've been around you people for the past year," Harry said with an eye roll. "Why are we still talking about this? I'm going to stop coming around here because, my god, I can't take this anymore!"
Draco coughed.
"We are still talking about it," James said with no small amount of indignation, "because you are still having problems."
"I don't give a – I don't care."
James threw back the contents of his snifter then refilled it to drink some more. Then he said, "Then why didn't you defend her to Higgs?"
Harry blinked at him then leaned forward, cupping his lips. "Because he was kidnapped and held hostage in her house!" He sat back. "This isn't difficult."
"If Narcissa is going to be a Potter you should learn that a proper Potter is to be defended in their home."
Harry held up a finger. "I'm not the son who needs lessons on what a proper Potter does." He snapped his fingers then pointed down with two of them. "This is her house." He held up a third finger. "No."
A stunned silence followed.
That was until Narcissa found her tongue. "I have defended you to everyone who insulted you."
"That was the choice you made," Harry retorted, "and Higgs hardly insulted you. He wanted to know why you were there and we have already covered why that's his business. Look if neither of you can accept what you've done – "
"I have accepted it and have admitted, even in front of your father, that it was wrong."
Harry raised his eyebrows and, for a moment, James thought she had got the better of him.
"There's a big difference between telling Andromeda and my father your actions are wrong and admitting it to the people affected."
"Were you not affected?"
Harry wagged his finger. "I don't count. I have issues the likes of Higgs and Cassius don't as they have parents that actually tried to help them."
James took an involuntary step back. It snatched the wind out of his chest for a moment. "And what the fuck does that mean?!"
Harry closed his eyes and ran both his hands through his hair. After a deep breath, he said, "Nothing. Look, get married or don't. Stop asking me about it. Be happy together or apart. I really don't care."
Harry damn near ran from the room.
'Your very dangerous son is fraying at the seams.'
••
Moving Forward
9 July 1994
James sat in a chair as she got dressed.
He'd rented a villa in Tuscany. It had initially been just for a planned getaway for two weeks, but now he intended to kill two birds with one stone.
It was time.
All of Henry and Sirius' concerns were pushed aside. Outside of Harry's personal concerns he was fine and so was Simeon.
He hoped.
He wanted to do this.
And he couldn't delay any longer.
He played with the box in his pocket.
She walked over looking lovely in a pale blue dress.
"Ready?" Narcissa asked with a smile.
James exhaled and took her by the hand. "Yes."