(Third Week of June, Year 1)
Two – Real Life: Uncertain
POOF! The camera flashed in its purple-smoked glory at the smiling students at which it was aimed. Cheers filled the air at the Potter Home. Clinks of butterbeer mugs chimed throughout the entire household, which was filled almost to the brim with witches and wizards alike. The air was filled with joyous energy as the sun filled the manor with warmth and delight.
Amongst the celebration, the group of young women and men who had just had their photograph taken broke apart. Smiles were fixed upon the faces of each. There stood a girl, her bright, green eyes shining as a boy with incurably messy hair engulfed her in a confident hug. Beside them, another boy who could have been the first's brother (only he seemed much more well-groomed) threw a friendly punch to the shoulder of another eye-rolling, light brown haired boy. Two girls, one very Aryan, the other a darker type, were playfully pinching the cheeks of a plump, mousy boy (who was failing resistance).
"Oh, Dorcas- Marlene! Leave poor Peter alone, will you?" Lily laughed as she peeled off from James's arms. The girls giggled and broke off, much to the boy's relief.
"Sorry, Lils," Dorcas beamed, swishing her long blonde hair. "You know how irresistible Peter here is…"
"I think you chose the wrong troublemaker," Marlene added. "Why would anyone want James, Sirius, or Remus when they could have this little muffin right here?"
Peter blushed profusely, squirming in slight discomfort although a weak smile was still being worn.
Sirius and Lupin looked at the girls in mock hurt.
James, however, wrapped his arms around Lily from behind. "Well, I, for one, am quite glad she picked the wrong troublemaker, then."
Sirius made kissy faces as Marlene rolled her eyes.
"Oh, cut it out." Lupin whacked Sirius on the back of the head. "It took him this long to convince her to date him, don't make it any harder."
"Ha!" James laughed, standing a bit taller. "I'll have you know, I've changed quite a bit! The moment I had let go of my immature, prankster past, I didn't need to convince anyo-"
"Jamesy, darling!" Mrs. Potter interrupted loudly, appearing beside them. "Please put away the Wizarding Crackers you left upstairs. Little Nymphadora got into a Grow-Your-Own-Warts kit…"
James felt his cheeks flush as Lily raised her eyebrow skeptically at him, and the others grinned.
"You were saying?" Remus teased.
"Oh, shut up." James snapped before apparating off to the upstairs. James appeared in the drawing room, where the exploded remnants of the Wizarding Crackers (and a few suspicious, round, flesh colored objects) lay on the floor. He let out a sigh before sending them to the trash bin with his wand.
What a week… the last few days that he would ever have at Hogwarts had ended all too quickly. The train ride home had seemed longer than ever, as he and his friends parted their beloved school and home of the past seven years. They had accomplished so much there… Becoming Animagi, finding the castle's secrets, learning everything needed to survive in the magical world, gaining friends and enemies, getting Lily Evans to date him (finally!)… Sure, they were greeted by a wonderful graduation party, but they were leaving behind one of the few worlds they had ever known. They were leaving to try and start real lives- real lives… For the first time in a long time, James was… scared by the prospect of something new. He felt as though something larger was coming then Hogwarts had ever given…
"James?" A soft voice interrupted his thoughts. James turned around to see his mother. Old age was upon her- white hair loosely surrounding her pointed- but kind- wrinkled face. Her dress robes were still sharp and neat, but she seemed to have out-aged them. James greeted her with a welcoming hug.
"Hey, mum."
Mrs. Potter smiled. "I'm so proud of you, James. And I know your father would have been, too."
James looked at the ground. It hadn't been much of a surprise five months ago when he had been informed of his father's death. His dad had been even older- even more worn than she. James had been depressed, sure, but his dad had lived a good, long life… Lily had helped him come to terms with everything, the angel she was…
"Thanks Mum." James gave her a weak smile.
"You've accomplished so much," Mrs. Potter continued. "I can hardly believe… Head Boy, chaser for your team, top O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s… We couldn't have asked for more in a son, James."
James himself could only nod modestly as his mother tugged at his heartstrings.
"…And your Lily is simply ravishing. I do adore her so! Have ever since I met her!"
"I've liked her for a while, too." James grinned at his mother's approval. So grateful he was that his family was not obsessed with Pure Blood as was the one Sirius had fled from. Lily may have had Muggle parentage, but she was simply brilliant in all things…
"That's my James…" She chuckled. "Always gets what he wants in the end. Your father and I did always spoil you…"
"Hey!" He whined, though he knew it was the honest truth.
"I'm not finished just yet!" Mrs. Potter chastised. "Now, as I was saying… Your father and I are so proud of you. Now, we decided, when you were born, that we would put a huge chunk of savings aside for you in Gringotts. It's been piling up over the years, and there is nothing more that we would like than to see than you attain it now. It's quite a sum of money- should get you through with more than enough 'til you're our age, I should think."
James's heart rose and sank at the same time. He didn't deserve parents like the Potters… Not when he had been off creating so much trouble for so long. They were always too kind to him…
His mother had pulled out a key from her sleeves- it was longer than any key he had seen before, and engraved in its shiny metal were the numbers 687. A smile crossed James's face- they had been his father's lucky numbers, figures. She was holding it out to him.
"Mum… you've given me so much…." James started, but his mother just waved him off, grabbing his hands and forcing in the key.
"Oh, please. You're taking it. It's a graduation gift! Your father would have insisted! And the first thing you can buy is a lovely ring for Lily." Mrs. Potter elbowed him playfully.
James's jaw dropped. "Mum! We've only been dating for-"
"For a good seven months, I know!" Mrs. Potter finished for him. "Though… Lily is a true doll. Even your father- Mr. No-Girl's-Good-Enough-For-My-Boy- loved her, you know that? I really do feel this one is a keeper, Jamesy. This may sound silly, but I really do."
James felt a feeling of warmth and calm spread through him.
"No. I… I feel it, too." James admitted.
Mrs. Potter smiled. "Well, I'm glad it's not just me growing old, then."
"Old? You, Mum? Never…" James gave his mother a huge hug. "Thank you."
POP. Lily had appeared next to James and his mother, her fiery hair tousled.
"Sorry, I hope I didn't interrupt anything important," Lily blushed as she saw them.
James opened his mouth, but Mrs. Potter beat him to it.
"No, not at all, love. Just telling him how grown up he is." Mrs. Potter assured Lily, taking the young girl's hands in her own. Then in a whisper, pretending as though James couldn't hear, "Though- honestly- woman-to-woman, I doubt this one will ever fully grow up. We'll be looking after him forever…"
Lily smiled as Mrs. Potter winked and left, leaving James scoffing behind.
"Your mum is so sweet, James." Lily walked over to him. "Now, just how did something like you come from that wonderful woman?"
"Oh yes, let's just all make fun of James. Immature Jimmy, Peter Pan James, Troublemaking Jamesy… Now you've hurt my feelings…" He grumbled. Lily ruffled his hair playfully as he placed his arm around her.
"There, there James." She mocked soothing him. "I think I have just the cure for hurt feelings."
"Really?" James inquired flirtatiously before Lily planted a quick kiss on his lips.
"I think I'm in love with you, James Potter." She proclaimed. Her almond eyes got that nervous sheen they always did when she told him she loved him. It was the little things like that about Lily that made her even more wonderful to be with.
"Good to know the feeling's mutual…" James held her tight. It just felt… right, being with her. James could hear his mother's voice echo in his head as he became even more aware of the key in his pocket, '…first thing you can buy is a lovely ring for Lily.'
Lily let out a sigh. "It's so different now that we're out of school."
"I know." James agreed. "I can hardly force myself to think that we won't be going back after summer."
There was a pause as they just stood- leaning against each other in comfort. Then, Lily broke the silence.
"I'm really glad we finally got together, James. I'm really glad to have someone like you that I can count on- especially now that we are out of school. It seems as though everything is happening so fast…" She trailed off. Her eyes met his with admiration.
"I'm really glad, too." James pulled her in tighter before swooping for one more, quick kiss. "Let's head back downstairs, shall we? I mean, the Graduation Party is for us, as well."
Lily nodded. "Let's."
Together they disapparated back to where they had left- only to find Dorcas and Marlene paired off with Sirius and Remus, leading an odd looking dance which appeared to be taking place on the ceiling.
Before the couple could join, laughing, a man in a too-large, purple hat burst through the crowd.
"Quiet down, quiet down!" He shouted. The noise slowly died, and the dancers returned to the ground in curiosity, as he cried, "Urgent news! There's been an attack! Five Muggles were attacked by a group of Death Eaters only a few miles away from here…"
Gasps and murmurs were emitted from the crowd, and James felt Lily draw closer to his self. Immediately, Mrs. Potter brought herself to the center of the floor.
"I think it is best that everyone return to their homes now." She spoke gravely. "Thank you so much for attending this Graduation Party- these young men and women have worked hard and appreciate your support. We wish you off well- do stay safe, and please keep in touch."
A few adults, including James's mum, gathered in to hear more from Dedalus. All of the other visitors popped away, or got in line in front of the fireplace for floo power, after wishing the group of young adults goodbye and good luck. The smiles which had been so prominent on everyone's faces had faltered away. James noticed that clouds had covered the sky; the sunshine vanished from the open household.
Left standing in the center of the hall, the newly graduated students stood staidly.
"Well..." Sirius broke the awkward silence. "Nice start to the rest of our lives, eh?"
No one let out so much as a chuckle.
Peter gave a small wave before disapparating away, his usually pale skin looking even paler.
"We'd better get going, too," Remus announced. "Shall I fly you home, Marlene- Dorcas?"
The two nodded as three summoned brooms landed at their hands.
"Bye," They murmured before heading to the door.
Lily looked at James, sadness evident on her face. "I'll see you around, right James?"
"Yes, of course." He assured her. "Love you."
"You, as well." She claimed before James watched his girlfriend floo away.
The adults who had stayed behind had migrated to the kitchen- leaving Sirius and James standing in the celebration hall alone. Mugs of butterbeer and plates of food had been deserted in mid-sip or bite. The house had never felt emptier.
"Well, mate. Shall we clean up?" Sirius offered.
"Nah," James declined. "House-elves'll get it."
Sirius let out a sigh. "Good party, though. At least for a while?"
"Yeah, it was." James nodded quietly. It had been a great party. Such a good thing just had to have been ruined by such a dark event… James thought darkly.
For a few years now, the dark wizard Voldemort had been on the rise. He had becoming more and more of a threat, and now, as James stood where there had just been so much happiness, he realized just how bad this was going to be. No longer were they protected by the walls of Albus Dumbledore- no longer were they shielded from this growing evil. Voldemort was just like a dementor- sucking the joy out of everything, just at the mention of his supporters even. More and more of his fellow students had received bad news over the years, and now… now it was real. It was his generation that had to face this evil.
Whatever doubts James had had about the future, about starting real life, were doubled. Because now, he realized, his future would be endangered. Now, not only would he have to face getting a job, starting a family, and all the troubles of an average life- now… there was a greater force to fight against.
"What's on your mind, James?" Sirius questioned meekly, a tone of voice rarely used by his usually boisterous friend.
James looked his friend in the eye before replying sorrowfully, "Life, dear Padfoot. Life…"
Silent and pondering, they both began to clean up the mess anyway…