A/N: Hey y'all! This was written for HPFC and Hogwarts. Prompts are below :)

Word Count: 988

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Those rights go to JK Rowling.

WARNINGS: Mentioned character death (including that of a child), language, injury

Enjoy!

When James Potter rejoined the Auror force after his long recovery, Kingsley wasn't sure what to think.

The man was a hero; he'd fought with the Order of the Phoenix, and he'd survived Voldemort's attack—but his head injury had sent him into a coma for several months. When he woke up, it had taken many more months before he was fit for service again.

What did a war hero do when there was no longer a war?

Kingsley had assumed Potter would only be in the office occasionally, so he could take care of his son. But Potter took longer hours than Kingsley himself, and it struck the Ravenclaw one night that this was probably because Harry reminded him of the wife he'd lost.

He assumed that, with time, James would revert back to the man people told stories of—the joking, grinning Gryffindor with a big heart and an ego to match.

But a year passed, and he remained quiet and reserved.

One day, Kingsley decided he needed a stranger's perspective and sat next to him on their lunch break.

Hazel eyes flickered up in confusion. "Er, hullo."

Kingsley stuck out a hand, a small smile on his face. "Kingsley Shacklebolt."

James huffed out a soft laugh. "I know. I'm not as loud as I used to be, I admit, but I still know who my colleagues are."

Kingsley raised a brow. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about, Potter," he said, cutting right to the chase. "You're not as loud as you used to be."

James' expression immediately closed. "Did Mad-Eye put you up to this? Because I told him—"

"No," Kingsley interrupted, "but if he's worried, then I know I'm right to be. His instincts are never wrong."

James' knuckles whitened as he gripped his fork tighter. "Listen, Shacklebolt, I appreciate your concern" —he didn't, judging by his tone— "but I don't need you to sit here because you feel like you need to… repay me for what happened in the war by fixing me—"

Kingsley's low voice cut in coldly. "Did I say that, Potter? No, I didn't. For the record, I don't believe I owe you anything. It's because of who you owe that I'm here."

That gave James pause. "Who do I owe?" he asked hesitantly.

Kingsley's dark eyes fixed on the man beside him. "Your son."

Kingsley caught a glimpse of the pain that flashed across James' features before it disappeared. When he didn't receive a response, he continued.

"You sacrificed so much for him during the war," he murmured, his voice soft. "You meant to sacrifice yourself—it was mere chance that you dodged the Killing Curse—"

"And hit my head instead," James grumbled, his voice brittle. "I know it was a miracle. It doesn't change the fact that—" He fell silent, looking down at his lap.

Kingsley leaned back in his chair and raised a brow. "That your whole world changed? Everybody's did." Kingsley ran a hand down his face, a familiar weight settling over his heart. "Your son… he nearly lost his father. But you're never with him."

James' hands were shaking, and his face was pale. "You've no right—"

"You may have lost your wife," Kingsley interrupted sharply, "but I lost my wife and my child. You don't appreciate what you have, Potter. Go to the boy; you're all he has."

James sat there, stunned, before he lowered his gaze. "Remus and Sirius," he murmured, "are there for him. He knows them, they came up with his bedtime routine and the house rules—I'm the intruder. They're his parents."

It clicked into place suddenly. Potter didn't know where he fit in life anymore. Everything had changed, but it had changed without him—that was the difference between them. James had been left behind.

James shuddered and resumed eating his lunch. "I lost my chance, Shacklebolt. I can yearn for another one all I want, but my luck has been downhill lately."

Kingsley knew he couldn't soothe these wounds. He couldn't make the other man feel better, he couldn't heal the family. But he could send him back to his son.

He took a breath. "Go see your son. Your friends don't want to take this from you, Potter. Harry's mother might be dead… but you're the only one who can keep a part of her alive for him."

James looked up, alarmed. "Shit," he muttered. "I didn't think of it like that."

Kingsley felt his shoulders relaxing; they were getting somewhere. "Go to him, get some sleep, teach him what you know." He sighed and pushed his sleeves up as he got to his feet, exposing old scars and tattoos. "It's what he needs."

James laughed softly. "What is sleep but an illusion to escape the hell we create when we're awake?"

Kingsley looked at him sternly. "Neither of us needs to be alone anymore."

James swallowed, looking scared. "How did you…"

"I miss them," Kingsley admitted, his voice rough. "I'll never forget them. But they'd want me to live."

James nodded slowly.

"Potter!" Both men jumped and turned to face Moody, who was standing against one of the turmeric walls a short distance away. "There's someone here to see you."

A green-eyed little boy stood behind him shyly.

"Did you hear that?" Kingsley asked, smiling slightly. "Go on, then."

James' eyes were glued to his son, but his hands trembled as he spoke. "This is all going to tumble down in flames, I guarantee it."

"No," Kingsley whispered. "You'll see, it'll go perfectly."

James wore an expression he couldn't quite place. "Thank you, Shacklebolt," he said sincerely.

"Call me Kingsley."

"Call me James." They nodded to each other. "We should stay in touch. I owe you now, after all."

Kingsley just raised a brow. "Go. There's plenty of time for that."

And there was. For now, all that mattered was the grin that lit up little Harry's face.

A/N:

Writing Club:

Assorted Appreciation: 1. Alice Longbottom — Write about someone staying in the hospital for a long time

Disney Challenge: Songs 3. Strange Things — Write about someone feeling like they've been replaced

Showtime: 21. Voices In My Head — "You'll see, it'll go perfectly."

Sophie's Shelf: 13. Karstark — The sun of winter

Liza's Loves: 12. The dead come back to life - The River

Angel's Arcade: Necrid — (pairing) Kingsley/James, (word) yearn, (theme) change

Bex's Basement: 1. James Potter — Write about someone sacrificing themselves for their family

Film Festival: 12. (item) tattoo

Seasonal Challenges:

Days of the Year: 11th July — Write about someone thinking they're alone being proven wrong

Summer: 5. (word) relaxing

Colors: 4. Turmeric

Birthstones: 9. Carnelian — "What is sleep but an illusion to escape the hell we create when we're awake?"

Flowers: 5. Peony — (theme) nostalgia

Fire: 19. (dialogue) "This is all going to tumble down in flames, I guarantee it."

Mix It Up: James Potter, Left Behind - Spring Awakening

Gryffindor: Characters 1. James Potter

Summer Astrology: September 23 — (song) Starlight - Muse

Scavenger Hunt: 51. Write a pairing you've never written before

365 Words: 24. Glimpse

Insane House Challenge: 231. (dialogue) "Did you hear that?"