Word count: 428
"Come on, Harry," James urges. "See? Yummy yummy carrots. You've never had carrots before, yeah? Well, they're good for you."
Carrots are, in fact, absolutely disgusting. James wonders if maybe that's why Harry won't even try them. Can Harry somehow know that James is a hypocrite? He would never willingly eat the damn things, but he's forcing them on his son. He is, unfortunately, the worst.
"It wasn't me, I swear. Your mummy is a meanie head," James tells Harry. "She's the one who said you need to eat these carrots."
Harry isn't amused. He whines, pushing James' hand away, tears welling in his green eyes. James wonders how Lily does this and makes it seem so natural. As far as he can tell, she doesn't have any trouble getting Harry to try new things.
James tries again, but Harry knocks the spoon from his hand. Yes, Lily is definitely better at this. "That's how I like things," James says. "Exteme. Challenge accepted, Harry James Potter."
He draws his wand, summoning the old Snitch. He has somehow managed to keep up with it since leaving Hogwarts. Its wings don't move as fast anymore, it still has a little life left in it. When Harry sees it, his eyes widen, and he claps his pudgy little hands together excitedly. James chuckles. Harry is going to grow up to be a Seeker; he can feel it in his bones.
"That's right, kiddo," James says, picking the spoon up once again and dipping it into the mushed carrot mixture. "Just keep your eyes on the Snitch. That's a good boy."
Harry is so distracted that he doesn't even seem to notice the spoon when it goes in his mouth. After a few seconds, he smacks his lips, looking at James with orange goo dripping down his chin.
"More?" Harry asks. "More peeeeease?"
"More carrots?" James snorts. "You take after your mummy. You know that. Yucky ole carrots."
As James feeds him, he can't help but smile. His life feels so complete right now. The war is still going on, but James has such a beautiful family. For one moment, he can pretend that the atrocities of war cannot touch them.
"Look at you! Big boy ate all his carrots!" James says proudly. Just because he personally hates the vegetable doesn't mean he can't get excited over his son finding a new food to like.
He holds out his hand. When Harry doesn't react, James takes his son's wrist gently, propelling his hand forward in an awkward high five.
Everything is perfect.
