I don't own anything from Harry Potter, except for the plot.

It's A Father Thing

Chapter Two: What Fathers Will Give Away

Lily was seventeen and coming home for Christmas. I was sitting happily, waiting for Lily to come home with her mother, for she was picking her up from the station when the doorbell rang.

"Lily," I said happily, opening the door, seeing her red hair and hugging her. "It's good to have you home."

She grinned at me exuberantly and that was the precise moment that I noticed… him. He was taller than I was, maybe 6'2, lean, with a mop of jet black hair and hazel eyes under glasses --- hazel eyes which were looking at me. He was moderately handsome; I suppose… well, he was extremely good looking. But not nearly good enough for my daughter.

"Dad," Lily said, almost nervously, "this is James. James Potter."

"Hello sir," he greeted. He got points for that. Politeness always did. "It's nice to meet you."

I tore my gaze away from James' slowly, to meet her green eyes. "James Potter." I swallowed. "Well, come in, boy. We've got a lot to talk about." I don't think he missed the implication beneath my words. His hazel eyes flashed from my daughter's face to mine and he looked like he was enjoying it. Well, we would see.

James Potter was helpful. He carried all the bags for the girls and brought them to the rooms, thanking us profusely for our hospitality. Lily was always at his side, alert, knowing that I would pounce on him the first chance I got. I wasn't surprised. This was the first boy she had ever brought home.

He was charming, he had charmed Hannah already. He was smart and had read the newspaper, talking about current events and such. I talked with him and found that he was witty and had a hint of a sarcastic sense of humor. He would be able to keep up with Lily, at least. He had excellent grades, he and Lily told us about it over dinner, how Lily tried to beat him and how he tried to beat Lily.

They talked about Lily's friends --- Emmeline Vance and Alice Prewett, nice girls, and his friends --- Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Something. They laughed as they told us anecdotes, finishing each other's sentences and thought processes.

I shot Hannah a panicked glance over the table while she merely grinned back. She knew this day was coming. I did, too, but I had hoped to delay at soon as possible.

He ate a lot, complimenting Hannah on her cooking, and helped bring out the dishes when we were done with dinner. He was always courteous and kind and when Petunia came home, stopped in her tracks and asked him who the hell he was, he responded kindly before I could even intervene, almost calming Petunia down. That impressed me.

Lily cornered me after dinner.

"Daddy," she said, holding my hand, much like the way she used to when she was a child, tugging me into the family room. "Daddy, I'm sorry."

I shook my head at her. "Lily, why didn't you tell me?"

"Well," she said, shaking her head, "I don't know, exactly. But… it… it changed. It just did! I didn't even see it coming, dad."

"Explain." We sat on the couch, James and Hannah out of sight, probably somewhere in the kitchen.

She sighed, leaning her head on my shoulder. "James was different."

"James --- not Potter?" I said ruefully.

"No," she whispered firmly. "Not Potter."

"Well, go on."

"He changed. And I didn't even try to understand anymore. But he was Head Boy, and I was Head Girl and we spent a lot of time together… and then I began to see the real James." She paused for awhile. "He makes me laugh, dad, even when I'm really feeling low and he helped me through things. He made me happy and I began to look forward to our rounds together." She stopped again.

"We talked about stuff, we argued sometimes, but not like what we used to… He likes Chess, dad. Can you believe that? James Potter likes Chess. And he plays the piano. Not much, but a little. He sometimes just sits in a place for hours, thinking. He's… something else, dad. Something… more. I didn't see it. Maybe I chose not to see it.

"He understands me. He knows my moods. He knows how to handle me and what he doesn't know, he just accepts. He actually stayed beside me all through the night, once, just because I told him I felt sad. He didn't say anything --- he just… sat beside me. And it was enough.

"I don't know how or when… or why, even. But somewhere in these few months, I started to like him. Then it was easy." She was still speaking softly. "It was easy to say yes, when he asked me --- hesitantly – hesitantly! James Potter asked me hesitantly," she chuckled, "to go to Hogsmeade. And I said yes. The buzz started, but odd enough, I didn't care.

"Then we became… boyfriend… and girlfriend, and Emma and Alice and Dorcas accepted it, even were enthusiastic about it, dad. Emma actually told me that 'it was about high time'." She sounded indignant, then, before her voice became wistful again. "And here we are."

The whole time she had been talking, my heart had clenched and unclenched, at the same time, I was happy for her, but nervous, because… he was it, wasn't he? He had taken Lily, just like that. I knew he was it and I wonder how I never realized it before.

"So, please, daddy," she said, turning to me suddenly, "give him a chance."

"I'll try."

"Daddy!"

"Oh, alright," I grumbled. "I will. How's that?"

"Much better," she beamed.

Humph. He'll have to pass my test first.

It was the next morning that I finally got to talk to him.

"Lily," Hannah said, beckoning with her eyes, "come with me in the kitchen for a moment."

As they backed away, they shot me pleading glances. Glances that clearly said, Give him a chance. Lily's green eyes looked especially pleading.

I nodded at the chair in front of me and he sat down. I sat down, too and scrutinized him. "Let's be honest here."

"I like honesty." Blunt. He got points for that, too.

"You're not good enough for my daughter," I informed him.

He looked almost apologetic. "I know sir." He paused. "But is anyone?"

Potter had a good point. I leaned back into my chair and pressed the tips of my fingers together. "She's written about you."

"I'm sure she has. I'm also sure it was full of complaints." His hazel eyes looked amused.

"She hated you."

"She did."

"She said she was just a conquest to you."

He looked almost angry. "Lily was never a conquest to me."

"But she thought so, didn't she?"

"Yes, she did, sir." He had never flinched away from my glance during this conversation. Point for Potter.

"And how did that change?"

He hesitated. "Persistence and a change of ways."

"You love her." It was clear to me. Whether or not Lily knew wasn't that point at the moment, because it was clear in his eyes that he did. He worshipped the very ground she walked on. Another point for Potter.

"Yes, sir." The look in his eyes softened to something that resembled adoration. He wasn't looking at me anymore, he had taken to staring at his hands.

But he had already won me over. It was a father's privilege to have a daughter, especially to have one as wonderful as Lily. But it was also part of being a father to know that one day you will have to give your daughter away. Lily had chosen well. He wasn't perfect, but who was, and he loved Lily, so who was I to get in the way? And by the way Lily had been acting, it was clear that she loved James, too. Although I had no intention of telling anyone that. "James."

He looked up, his gaze questioning.

"Take care of her." It was a soft order, almost asking, because it wasn't honestly in my hands anymore. I knew, you see, that he was The One. It was as if I was already bracing myself for the day that I would, truly, give her away.

He looked at me and smiled. We shared something. We already had something in common the moment he stepped into my house. He loved Lily. I loved Lily. And that love would be enough to bind us together.

"I will."

"Promise me."

"I promise."

Dear Daddy and Mommy,

Guess what? James can't stop talking about you. Dad, you really made an impression on him. What on earth did you say? Mum, he loves your cooking and he wants more of your cookies. With the bottomless pit that is his stomach, he always needs food.

I know you were both surprised. Dad, maybe more than mum. I always said I didn't like him and I never imagined things would end up like this --- it's hard to explain.

James changed this year. He changed and became… better. He's not arrogant anymore and he's not a bully. He's nice, he tutors younger students, he's Head Boy… he changed. And somewhere in the process, I didn't forget the old James, I just learned to forgive him and love the new James. Yes, I love him.

Hard to believe, isn't it? But I do love him. He makes me happy, so happy that at times I feel like I'm floating on air. He makes me laugh and he's there for me when I cry. He really takes care of me and is always there for me when I need him or want him, even when I don't want him there, he is. I just… I don't know. But I love him and I'm not sure if it's enough, but I do. And for now, I'm happy.

I love you both so much and --- James sends his love.

Always,

Your Lily

Dear Lily,

You love him, you love him, you really, really love him. I just felt like teasing you, dear, for a moment there I was transported back to fifth grade. I'm glad James is there for you, he seems like a fine young man. I'm handing the letter over to your father, I have to go run some errands, I love you dear and send James my love.

All this talk about love is nauseating.

I'm pulling your leg. Lily… I'm happy for you. James seems to adore the ground on which you walk and tell me --- was I not right about 'that Potter' being amusing? Your mother and you will now have to eat your words. I love you dear, and tell James to make good on his promise, although from what you say, he already is. Trustworthy, that one.

I love you and write often,

Dad and Mum