His head was in her lap, eyes closed, breathing slow, deliberate and measured. The very notion suggested that should one breath take too long to gather or went too quick, it would set him off again.
Running a soothing hand through his hair, she felt the pangs of nostalgia grip her chest.
She couldn't remember the last time she had held him like this, it was such a common occurrence during the war, especially in the forest of dean. Back then they were all each other had, and they had grown so close it's a wonder that they ever managed to wander so far from each other again.
This feeling was so achingly familiar and yet so foreign from all that time had changed.
The graying sides of his hair were telling, the boy her dear friend used to be had transformed into a man. A rather rugged and handsome one at that.
"How did we end up like this Harry?"
"Hmm?"
"N-nothing. I just can't believe she did this to you, and with your birthday right around the corner! What will the children think? OH GOSH! The children Harry! They'll have read about their mother cheating on their father through the newspaper!"
"I suppose they will, but my children aren't stupid. It's likely they already knew."
"But, how."
"It wasn't like it was a well kept secret. I've been living here practically alone for years, when she is "home" she doesn't come here, and on the off chance that she does, nothing is quiet… or safe from our squabbling."
"You're just like me.."
"What?"
"Hmm?"
"Don't do that."
"Do what?"
"Don't hide away from me anymore. I think we've done enough of that in this lifetime already."
"You're right, I just…" *huff* "Do you believe in soulmates Harry?"
"I do, when I'm with you."
Green, deeper than a vast forest filled to the brim with evergreen trees peered up at her. Stealing the breath from her chest, like always.
'Ron was right about one thing. It should've been you.'
"Master Mr. Potter Sir. Master James is on the bell."
*Sigh* "Thank you Winky. I'll pick it up here."
"Of course, Master Mr. Potter Sir."
*pft* "Master Mr. Potter Sir?"
"Don't start 'moine. It's the best I could get. She refuses to drop the master bit, I'm lucky I was able to convince her to take pay for all her efforts. Poor thing thought I was disowning her the first time I dropped a pound in her hand. She blubbered for days."
"You pay your house elves?"
"What? Yeah, of course I do. Like I could ever forget the S.P.E.W. lectures I sat through. And after Dobby… Well I decided you were right, paying them for all of their hard work is the least I could do. They get a lot more from me than that, but I've got to take this buzz. If you really want to know I'll tell you once I'm finished talking to my son."
"Right of course, I'll step outside to give you some privacy."
"No, stay. We're not going to talk about anything you don't or won't know soon enough anyway."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, never been more sure in my life actually." His hand found hers, weaving their fingers together, he tugged and she stumbled to his side as he picked up the phone.
She couldn't tell you what was said, she missed it, staring at their hands.
Another first of old habits lost under the weight of others' expectations.
It made her stomach do somersaults, and her heart hammer like a pounding drum.
'I do, when I'm with you.'
'He couldn't possibly… Could he?'
"Hey Kid."
"I saw the prophet, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I threw a bit of a wobby, but Hermione's here now, she calmed me down."
"Aunt Hermione is there?"
"Yeah."
"That's good, I'm glad you aren't alone right now. How is she? Rosie said Uncle Ron called earlier, sounded like he was off the wagon and causing trouble again."
"She's fine, I don't think she's been home since lunch. So I'll let her know."
"Okay, good… How could you let this happen Pa?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, how did it get so bad Ma wound up in someone else's bed?"
"I don't know, kid, love is complicated and you shouldn't be talking about things like this."
"It's not that complicated, dad. If you love someone you want to be with them , if you don't then living with them can be hell. Kinda like how you and Ma were always fighting, growing up."
"Hey now. You're only 16 you should be focusing on your owls, not worrying about grown ups and their love lives. When did you get so smart huh?"
"Yeah well, it's all anyone is talking about here in Hogwarts"
"I'm sorry."
"For what? You're not the one who's splattered across every newspaper right now. Ma should be the one apologizing, but I can't even get a hold of her... I just don't understand how this could happen. I mean, I knew you guys weren't happy , but I didn't think mum was capable of this."
"Don't blame your mum, like I said, it's complicated."
*Sigh* "So what's going to happen now?"
"Well, I'm going to call a lawyer and file for divorce. I think we'd both be happier…"
"Wa-what?! Divorce? But, I mean I know this is bad, but is divorce really the only option? Can't you work it out?"
"No, James. I'm sorry, but working it out only works if both parties want to, and I don't want to work on us anymore."
"But…"
"I'm sorry kid... Can you break the news to Albus and Lily for me?"
"I guess… Though I think you should ring them too. Lily is a wreck, spent the whole day crying in her dorm."
"I can only imagine how stressful this must be on all of you… Do you want me to floo Marazion? Have you come home for a few days?"
"No, I'll stay. We only just got here after all… Classes are supposed to start next week, and I think I need the space."
"I understand."
"Yeah… We'll talk soon though? Right?"
"Of course, I'll always be here. Might even invest in some of those muggle cell phones for everyone. Heard they're pretty handy."
"Heh, that would be kinda cool. My friend Rita has one of those, you can play all sorts of games on 'em now."
"If I get them, they're not for playing games, James. It will be for communication purposes only."
"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, I got to go. Love ya dad."
"I love you too James. Send my love to you siblings too!"
"Always. Bye dad."
"Bye."
*Sigh*
"You guys have a pretty good relationship. It seems very mature."
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I try to be open and honest with 'em. They're not stupid, it's pretty disturbing how much they understand already. Especially James... He might have seemed like Ron when he was younger, what with all his meddling but I like to think he's a lot more like the twins... and you. Smarter than his years. I'd wager he'll make a lot better decisions than we did at that age."
"Who is this "we" you speak of? If I recall correctly it was often your bad decisions we were always scrambling to make up for."
"Ha! That's right, how could I forget, I'm talking to the woman who thought being expelled was a fate worse than death when she was a girl. How you ever took up with the likes of me, heir of the marauders, and notorious boy-who-lived I'll never know… But I happen to recall a certain bushy haired girl that often broke the rules with me and liked it."
"Yes, well. You're a horrible influence really."
*Chuckle* "As long as it keeps you by my side, I'll be a horrible influence for the rest of my life."
"No, there's no need for that. I'm not going anywhere, besides I think we'll need each other… now more than ever."
"I think you might be right."
"I often am."
A/N: Okay, here's chapter three. Sorry again for the long wait, that's just how I am when I write long stories. Inspiration strikes, and then wanes. I know where I want it to go, it's just getting there is a process.
Anyway, I figured we could all handle a little soul crushing moment between these two.
"Do you believe in soulmates?"
"I do, when I'm with you."
Ouch. That hurts me to even write.
Anyway, I know the kids are all in Hogwarts a bit early but I wanted it to be a little more reminiscent of colleges and how people can move in a week or so before classes start. I also wanted James to feel really mature for his age here. I know he's only 16 going on 17 but he is the grandson of Lily... and I've always hated how they painted Harry like some sort of idiot even though he was said to have had better grades than Dudley growing up.
Sorry if you don't like it.
Also I know Harry seems to go "What? Oh, yeah..." Or "Huh? Oh, yeah..." quite a bit this chapter. I just wanted to make it clear this is happening because he is distracted.
His entire family is under fire of the publications right now and he knows it. Knows how hard it can be to be young and in school listening to others judge you over pictures and words scribbled down by nosy reporters who thrive on juicier gossip like this. Hermione might be there, and able to keep him sane, but that tingle she felt down her spine in the last chapter was an empathetic awareness from Harry.
He is not okay. In fact the only "Potter" that is okay is Ginny, who sorry to say this thought nothing of the effect it would have on their kids, and just wanted to get back at Harry for always choosing another over her. She's very selfish in this story, and no she hasn't grown up at all.