Descended from Greatness

Disclaimer: It's all Rowling's

The wind was rushing against his face and he gripped the quaffle tighter, afraid the heavy winds would be more likely to knock it from his grasp than an actual bludger. He weaved and dodged, flying up towards the goal, faking the keeper to the left and scoring in the far right ring. He grinned, feeling quite accomplished only to hear his captain critiquing him as soon as he touched down.

"Good run Potter," the captain, 7th year Felix Lynn, shot the second Potter an apologetic glance and started again, "good run James, but if the weather keeps up we'll be playing in conditions ten times worse plus you'll have a team of Slytherins trying to push you off your broom."

James nodded in understanding, "Want to run it again?"

He saw the rest of the team frown at his question, and his brother shared a frustrated glance with the keeper, but Flynn checked his watch, "Oh I'd love to… ah well we are out of time for today, Slytherin will be here any moment they do have the pitch for the evening. Back to the locker rooms team, great effort today!"

James caught Albus on the way into the lockeroom, wrestling him into a headlock, "I saw you and Wood, does my baby bro fancy himself a lady?"

Albus squirmed and eventually fought his way out of his grasp, "Come off it James."

He simply grinned, there were many things that James loved, pulling pranks, playing quidditch, making a girl smile, and messing with his little brother. The latter was possibly the most enjoyable, as Al was prone to turning bright red and spluttering if you really touched a nerve. Unfortunately for James, Albus was also quick when he wanted to, and he had changed and fled the lockeroom before James had even fully removed his robes. When he finally emerged he found his cousin Fred and his fellow beater and close friend George Jordan waiting for him.

"Oi, lets go Potter your hair looks fine!" George joked, feigning impatience.

"Come off it George, you don't have anywhere to be, I'm the highlight of your day." James joked back, falling in step with the two boys as they walked toward the castle.

"Yeah George," Fred started, "You don't have much room to talk, not like we've been able to do any proper pranking since you and Molly Molly Two Shoes became perfect prefects."

George shook his head, his long dark curls bouncing as he laughed, "You boys could pull a prank regardless of the prefects, I think you've just gone soft."

James clutched his chest in faux shock, "That really hurts Jordan, a real low blow that one was."

The three boys continued on like this, joking and laughing as they made there way to the Gryffindor common room, which was essentially deserted save for Molly Weasley, who was splayed across one of the couches, her orange hair laying haphazardly across her face, dead asleep.

"Speaking of pranks…" Fred whispered, waggling his eyebrows in Molly's direction.

George spoke up, "Come off it Fred, you aren't going to prank your own cousin, even you aren't that big of a prat."

James grinned, "Oh now who's becoming soft? I think it's ickle prefect Georgie."

George simply shook his head and then, before the other two could stop him, loudly called, "Wake up Molls!"

On the couch Molly Weasley stirred, pulling herself into a sitting position, struggling to tame her hair. Both James and Fred turned to George aghast, "Not cool mate, not cool."

Molly's eyes narrowed, "You two weren't going to prank me were you?"

The boys were suddenly less brave, Fred attempted to backtrack, "Oh you know us Molls, we were just playing at it, we wouldn't have really pranked you."

She moved her eyes to Georges, "They were going to prank me weren't they."

George shrugged noncommittally, clearly not sure where his alliances were supposed to be. Molly muttered something along the lines of "bloody wankers" and then groaned loudly, "The last thing I need is three toddlers to look after. OWL's are killing me already, I don't know how George here isn't drowning in work."

He winked at her playfully, "That love, is all part of my charming allure," he waved his hands mysteriously, "How does he do it?"

James groaned, "Yeah, yeah, you're a regular muggle magician, stop flirting with my cousin before I hit you."

James had expected a witty retort, at least from George, but definitely from Molly who was known school wide for her fiery temper and witty repertoire. However both went silent, blushing furiously, and successfully making James feel uncomfortable. He gazed quickly around the room, locking eyes briefly with Fred who looked just as uncomfortable.

"Well all right then!" Fred stated loudly, causing the small party gathered in the room to jump, "I'm headed to bed, coming James?"

James agreed, and for once, both George and Molly let a fantastic opportunity to make an innuendo, slip right through their fingers.

James had to have read the letter from home at least six times at this point, it was from his father, something immediately apparent by the sloppy handwriting that was so similar to James' own.

James,

I have been requested to give a guest lecture this Friday in Defense Against the Dark Arts. I was considering arriving a day early and spending some time with you, Albus, and Lily. Then maybe staying through Saturday to watch your Quidditch match (versus Slytherin, so many memories, Go Gryffindor!). Mum might come Saturday as well if you'd like. I wanted to surprise you but she insisted I write ahead and give you a chance to say no. 4th year is tough and if you have too much work for dear old Dad to distract you I understand.

Write back soon kiddo.

Love, Dad

James felt himself smile, he knew he was a teenager and as such should hate his parents, and he wouldn't pretend they didn't occasionally make him absolutely mental, but being away at school the majority of the year made him appreciate them more, and he was particularly thrilled to have them see him play quidditch in a real match. Hastily he penned a response.

Dad,

Can't wait to see you. I'm definitely not too busy (not sure I'll be able to say the same thing next year at this time… Molly's one essay away from a mental break). Al & Lily want to send their regards as well.

Love, James

Hey Dad! I'm so excited you're coming! Can you ask Mum to bring my red sweater? It's going to be chilly this weekend and I wanted to wear it to the game but I forgot to pack it. Thanks! –Lots of love, Lily

See you soon Dad, bring some of Mum's pies – Albus

James woke up on Thursday morning to a loud pounding on the door of his dorm, a deep voice called out authoritatively, "Open up Mr. Potter."

The other boys in the dorm slowly shook of the remnants of their sleep, glaring at James.

"Blimey Potter!" Grady Dunbar, a bigger sandy haired bloke, cursed, "What have you done this time."

Fred met his eye and James shrugged, "Nothing, I haven't done anything."

"You should probably open it." Colin Creevey whispered, looking positively terrified. James knew the Creeveys fairly well from his father, he knew Colin's uncle and namesake had given his life at the same battle where James' father had defeated Voldemort. It gave James a different sort of respect for Colin, and he nodded, "Yeah, no sense in putting them off."

James opened the door feeling a pit of worry in his stomach, but he really hadn't done anything, how could he with his cousin and one of his best mates as prefects? The door swung open to reveal what appeared to be an older James, wearing glasses with bright green eyes dancing with humor.

"Dad! How'd you even get in here?" The pit of nerves in his stomach unclenched as he saw his dad laughing, and he frowned a bit, "Not funny Dad, not funny at all."

Harry chuckled, pulling his eldest into a one armed hug, "Be a sport James, Neville gave me the password, I couldn't resist," he stepped into the dormitory then, waving kindly at the room full of half awake boys, "Morning boys! sorry to disturb your rest! Just passing through!" He caught sight of Fred and smiled, "Fred! Ginny and your Mum just had a butterbeer yesterday, I'll be sure to pass on the message you're alive, apparently it's been awhile since your last owl?"

Fred blushed a bit, "Er, yeah, been busy, I'll write her today, swear, thanks Uncle Harry."

Harry noticed Colin Creevey moving to sit on the edge of his bed and grinned, "Colin! Looking great, tell your Dad I said hello, we have to get together for dinner sometime soon, send an owl we'll make plans."

Colin nodded and swallowed, "Will do, thanks Mr. Potter."

"Alright boys, have a good day, sorry again, didn't mean to disturb you."

He pulled James from the room and into the hall grinning, James was on the verge of a scowl, "Come on Dad, was that all really necessary."

Harry smiled wider, "You tell me, we've got to get your brother next."

Twenty minutes later the Potter family was standing in the family room, fully dressed, and relatively wide awake. Lily was positively beaming, but she had always been a Daddy's girl. On Harry's suggestion the four of them took a short walk of the grounds before the kids had to head to class.

"So how are classes?" Harry asked James as they walked.

James shrugged, "The usual, I'm awful at potions, I don't know how Lily's acing it. Transfiguration is manageable, I don't know if I'll be able to manage it up to NEWT level, but I'm holding my own currently. Defense is," he grinned knowingly at his Dad, "easy as pie. Neville makes herbology bearable thankfully, charms is a blast," he paused to stretch, "really, if I wasn't force to take History of Magic or Astronomy, I'd be set."

Harry grinned, then looked to his second son, "What about you Albus, classes good?"

Al grinned cheekily, "Oh about the same as James, except I can actually brew a potion without poisoning the class."

Lily giggled, "Really James I feel like you're the only one who got Dad's horrible potions abilities."

"Oi!" Harry responded, grabbing his eldest by the shoulders, "You don't listen to these bullies James, I've done alright for myself, being rubbish at potions only occasionally holds me back."

He shook his head at his fathers joking, "Gee thanks Dad."

Harry sighed, "Alright, responsible parenting time, you're going to be late if I keep you any longer. Where are you headed?"

The greenhouses were closest so the whole family walked with James to Herbology where Harry delayed class a bit by chatting with Neville, something that endeared Mr. Potter to the entire class. The he was gone, escorting Albus to potions and accompanying Lily to Defense to give his first Guest Lecture of the visit. Neville clapped his hands together loudly as soon as Harry left, back to being Professor Longbottom, "Alright back on track, lets talk about bubotuber puss!"

James attempted to stifle a groan, he did like Professor Longbottom, and he didn't even mind the class, but there was nothing exciting about bubotuber puss, no matter how you spun it. Having entered late, James found himself not in a group with Fred, but with Leslie Cooper a familiar Gryffindor, and Miles Edgecombe, a Ravenclaw he only knew from the Quidditch pitch. Miles was a chaser like him, tall and lean, built somewhere in between the body type for a seeker and a beater, as a chaser should be. He had light brown hair, and despite James consistently considering him competition, he did seem like a decent enough bloke.

Leslie, stifling a gag at the sight of the bubotuber puss, attempted to power through by making conversation, "So James excited for the game Saturday?"

James nodded, noticing for what may have been the first time that Leslie Cooper was a very nice girl, and tough. Most of the girls in the class were sitting as far away from the puss is possible, pouting their lips and begging the boys to do it for them. Leslie Cooper was sitting right next to him, face less than a foot from the puss, powering through her disgust and making small talk of all things. She had long reddish hair, a strange shade that fell somewhere between rust and bronze, a wide smile, and kind green eyes that were staring at him, still waiting for a response, he started, "Oh yeah, thrilled."

She smiled at him, "Must be nice that your Dad could be here to see you play."
James nodded, forcing himself to respond and stop getting distracted, "Yeah, I'm pretty thrilled, Albus is a nervous wreck though, poor kid."

Miles Edgecombe butt in for the first time, "What's he got to be worried about, I've seen you both play, he's pretty brilliant."

James shrugged, "He's always been more of a seeker, built for it you know? It's what he grew up playing, and now with Clayworth finishing out his 7th year Al is playing chaser, he just doesn't feel as confident in that position."

Leslie laughed, "If it's a confidence boost he needs I can talk to Madison Wood for him."

James grinned, he liked Leslie, she was fun, "Yeah, the poor kids only been making eyes at her for months."

Miles shook his head, "Honestly, you Potters do realize you don't need to be shy with the girls don't you? I mean, you're Potters, who'd say no?"

James was about to respond with a joke when Leslie cut him off, "Maybe," she countered, with a small smile, "James and Albus don't want to abuse their last name."

All former plans of joking left his mind, and he spoke without thinking, "Just maybe," he caught Leslie's eye and smiled, "James and Albus know that a worthwhile girl will want them for more than their last name."

"Possibly," Leslie played along, "a worthwhile girl likes the idea of being courted."

Miles snorted, "Alright message received, I was just saying if the boy needed a good snogging to up his confidence it's not like there's a lack of willing volunteers."

The moment shattered James and Leslie laughed with him, and then redirected their attention on the much less appealing bubotuber puss.

It was a double herbology lesson, and it was made even longer by the fact that they were working with one of the most disgusting substances they'd ever been introduced to, but eventually it ended, and James found that working with Leslie made it almost enjoyable. They were washing off in the back of the greenhouse, talking about a potions essay they both had to finish over the weekend, and Leslie was fretting that it would cause her to miss out on the game.

"How about this," James offered, "come to the game, and cheer me on," he grinned winningly, "and we'll work on it together on Sunday, we won't sleep until it's finished. But there is no excuse to miss the biggest quidditch game of the year."

Leslie conceded with a smile, "Thanks James, I'll see you there."

James left the greenhouse in a bit of daze, which quickly evaporated when he ran into his father and siblings.

"We thought the Devil's Snare had you," Harry joked, and then motioned for James to join them, "we're headed to lunch."

The walk to lunch was filled with Lily chattering on about how Lorena Goyle and Annika Crabbe had said something rude to her in Defense today, and Dad had overheard and stupefied both of them, claiming it was a "live action demonstration". James couldn't help but chuckle, it was no wonder he often felt the urge to push boundaries and pull pranks, his father walked around his alma mater stupefying first years for insulting his baby girl.

At the Great Hall Harry ate with the Professors, and James watched as Hagrid teared up during their chat. James shook his head, good old sentimental Hagrid. He noticed Leslie Cooper sitting a few people down from where he would have normally joined Fred, Molly and George, and taking a deep breath to steady himself, he walked past the seat they'd saved him and walked straight up to Leslie Cooper, "Excuse me but is this seat taken?"

Leslie glanced up, then grinned upon recognizing him, "No, sit, long time no see."

James found himself smiling in spite of himself, he couldn't even fake a frown in her presence, "Too long," he added, "You've grown almost a foot since we last spoke."

They went on joking for a bit, James consistently ignoring the odd looks he was getting from Fred, George and Molly. Until eventually Leslie sighed, gesturing to the already half empty Great Hall, and to Mr. Potter who was already walking toward the Gryffindor table to collect his children, "Time for potions."

James grimaced, "I'm rubbish at potions."

She laughed and the sound made James blush, "Oh I know, I've seen you muck up potions that a first year could complete in their sleep."

James shook his head, "It's not very nice to make fun of the disabled Leslie."

She smiled good-naturedly, "Well you seem very handi-capable to me, I think you'll be fine."

Harry approached the two 4th years then, smiling, "Aren't you two going to be late for class."

Leslie blushed deeply and stood up quickly, grabbing her book bag, but James reached out and grabber her elbow to keep her beside him, not really sure what possessed him to do that he looked at her and then back to his father, "Uh Dad, this is my friend Leslie Cooper, Leslie this is my Dad," James sort of waved his hand vaguely in the direction of his father, trying to downplay it, "Harry Potter."

To Leslie's credit she managed meeting the savior of the wizarding world quite well, "Nice to meet you Mr. Potter, sorry for holding James up."

Harry smiled, noting the blush on his sons face, "Not a problem at all," he faced James, "Al had to run off, he's got herbology out in the greenhouses, and Lily can't be late for Binns' class, where are you two headed?"

"Potions." They answered simultaneously and Leslie giggled.

Harry ignored the moment and grinned, "Perfect, I'll walk with you, I needed to speak to Slughorn today anyway."

When they reached the potions classroom James and Leslie quickly took the first seats they saw, narrowly avoiding Slughorn's irritation at their tardiness by Harry's presence. James tried to block out their conversation, attempting to create as much noise as possible while pulling out his books, still he managed to catch snatches, "best student since your mother… Albus is managing of course… it is early but I say that daughter of yours has real talent… James is a good student… doesn't have the talent for it… not for lack of trying… there's bound to be one… better suited for something else I'm sure…"

It wasn't that James was upset by the fact that he was rubbish at potions, he was fine with that, he would just rather not have to hear about it in depth in front of a class of his peers, one of which who was a very pretty girl that he would have liked to be impressing. Luckily for James, Leslie Cooper was not just some pretty girl.

She leaned over, smiling sweetly, "If you want, I can help you, I'm pretty good with potions."

Doing his best to swallow his pride, he agreed. Smiling she opened her book and pointed at the title, "We're doing a forgetfulness potion today. It's relatively straight forward but your timing has to be perfect," she gave him a stern look, "if you get distracted chatting it will go bad."

James smiled sheepishly, "Distracted? Me? Never!"

She simply shook her head endearingly, pulling ingredients from her set, mumbling their names as she sorted them, "Mistletoe berries… there's the Standard Ingredient… now where is the, oh right here, Valerian Sprigs," she looked up at James then, "Could you go fetch the Lethe River Water from Slughorn's cabinet? It's the only thing I don't have."

James conceded, reminding her that he was doing so because he was a gentlemen and not because he responded well to the command "fetch". Earning him a giggle and a "good boy".

He returned with the Lethe River Water to find Leslie had everything prepared, noticing him she smiled distractedly, "Perfect, add two drops to the cauldron," she made direct eye contact and slowed down a bit, "two drops Potter, don't muck this up."

"So little faith," he muttered, carefully tipping the vial and allowing two drops exactly to fall into the cauldron. He breathed a small sigh of relief, all kidding aside he would have been horrified if he'd managed to ruin the first step. He watched as Leslie grabbed her wand, and muttered "incendio" lighting a small but persistent fire beneath the cauldron, in her other hand she held a stopwatch, an oddly muggle possession, but she was using it to time the heating. At 20 seconds she extinguished the flames, and looked pointedly at James who was standing their uselessly, then grabbed the Valerian Sprigs and dropped two of them into the cauldron, shaking her head, "You do have to help Potter," she handed him the spoon, "stir it three times, clockwise, only three times, don't pause in between, don't rush, but don't do it slowly."

James took the spoon and laughed sarcastically, "Oh is that all then."

He managed it though, three well paced not too fast not too slow clockwise stirs. He could tell he'd managed to keep from killing it by Leslies satisfied grin as she raised her wand, flicked it over the potion and it began to brew.

She hit a button on her muggle watch before addressing James, "Six minutes."

James gave her a large grin, "That's all the time in the world, plenty of time to get to know each other. What were you like as a child?"

Leslie just shook her head, "No that's six minutes to prepare for the next section of the potion," she began measuring out Standard Ingredient, adding two measures to the mortar, "Add four Mistletoe Berries to the mortar as well" she directed to James, then stopping as she saw him move toward the cauldron, "the bloody mortar James not the cauldron. You're not rubbish at potions you're rubbish at listening to directions."

She gestured with her head, as her hands were still full of the Standard Ingredient, toward the mortar, which James then sheepishly deposited the four Mistletoe Berries. He watched as Leslie firmly crushed them into a fine powder with the pestle, and he grinned, "Anger issues Cooper?"

She laughed, "Don't flatter yourself Potter."

As she finished crushing the powder she checked her watch, "Three more minutes," she saw the grin on James' face and frowned, "don't get too distracted, this timing needs to be perfect."

"Anyone ever tell you you're too serious Cooper?" James smiled endearingly.

Leslie just shook her head grinning, "The fact that I'm acing potions and you're barely treading water begs to differ, perhaps you're not serious enough."

He scoffed, "Who wants to be serious? Gah!"

She shrugged, "I've found it to be quite rewarding."

James grinned, a glint in his dark eyes, "Something tells me that you're not as serious as you put on Leslie Cooper," he leaned in closer, "I think you might actually be quite fun if you tried."

Her watch beeped and she jerked into motion, taking two pinches of the powder from the mortar and dropping them quickly into the cauldron and began to stir. She stirred counterclockwise and James watched closely as she counted out five precise turns around the cauldron, finally ceasing to wave her wand. A deep purple steam rose from the cauldron, attracting Slughorn's attention and he bustled over, grinning widely.

"Mrs. Cooper well done! Well done indeed! You too Mr. Potter, it seems a well meaning partner is all you needed to wake up those latent potion genes, you'll be alright yet Potter."

Slughorn continued to rave as he moved on to the next cauldron and Leslie smirked at James, "Well Potter, looks like you're in my debt."

James grinned feeling a bit cheesy, and bowed awkwardly, "No where I'd rather be."

Fred found him in their dormitories before dinner, and simply stared at him with his eyebrows raised until James acknowledged him.

"Yes Fred?" James finally sighed.

"Oh," Fred feigned shock, "Are you speaking to me? The red hair might have confused you, I'm not Leslie Cooper, but she's probably in the common room if you want me to check."

James tossed a pillow at his cousin who dodged it in a fit of laughter as James rolled his eyes, "Com e off it Weasley."

Fred threw the pillow back and grinned, "Spill Potter, what's this Cooper girl got that I don't? Have I gotten boring?"

James shook his head at his cousin's goofy antics, "We're just friends Fred, I can hang out with people I don't share blood with you know?"

His cousin grinned cheekily, "Alright Potter, no need to get so sarcastic. Just thought you'd finally gotten around to making a move on a girl."

James decided to ignore Fred, and made this point by redirecting his attention to the potions book on his lap. If he was going to work with Leslie on the essay this weekend he wanted to actually provide help, not just be dead weight. He was in the middle of a paragraph regarding the Swelling Solutions only viable antidote, the Deflating Draught, when there was a knock on the door. Fred stared at James, clearly not wanting to get up and answer it himself, but eventually giving in when James refused to make eye contact. Begrudgingly Fred pulled himself from his bed and opened the door to reveal Molly and George, both smiling expectantly at Fred.

"So…" Molly started, "Did Potter spill the secrets of his torrid love affair yet?"

George accented this by wiggling his eyebrows and winking in James' general direction, thus causing James to realize that he wasn't going to get any more studying done tonight. He shut the large book and sat upright sighing.

"You lot really are ridiculous, you know that?"

Molly plopped down on the edge of his bed, taking a moment to raise her eyebrow at the potions book still sitting beside James, before continuing on, "We're happy for you mate, I like Leslie, she's sweet, you deserve a sweet girl."

James groaned, "I spend one day with a girl and you're drafting our wedding invitations. Can you just let me have a friend? Is that too much to ask for?"

All three shook their heads, realizing that they were fighting a losing battle, and George changed the subject, "So the Quidditch game Saturday, reckon we're ready?"

Molly groaned excessively, tossing herself backwards on James' bed, "It's always Quidditch with you boys."

The three boys nodded vigorously, unabashed, causing Molly to make her way back out to the common room, mumbling something about "ruddy idiots".

James, quite keen on this change of topic, continued to push forward, "The way I see it there are really only three players we need to watch," he paused to make sure Fred and George were listening before continuing, "their chasers are average, not a threat but not to be ignored, Malfoy's a fantastic seeker, but he plays clean and I think Clayworth will give him a run for his money, our main concern should lie with Khan, Sykes, and Flint."

Fred rubbed his left arm unconsciously, a game the previous year, Khan, a Slytherin beater and team captain, had broken his arm with a maliciously aimed bludger. Being a beater it wasn't often you got the bludger aimed at you, and it was rarely aimed at you from behind for no reason.

The boys talked nothing but Quidditch for the rest of the night, well truthfully for the rest of the week. Molly, who normally put up with most of the boys issues, took to ignoring them consistently, spending most of the week with the girls from her dormitory and her Ravenclaw cousin Louis. Often Leslie Cooper would join along, she didn't care how cute James Potter may be, Quidditch Talk 24/7 was not something that could be endured. Everyone was exceptionally relieved when Saturday finally made an appearance.

James jogged into to common room from his dormitory, already dressed in his Quidditch robes, too excited and nervous to wait. He stopped short noticing for the first time that he wasn't the only Gryffindor up early. Leslie Cooper was sitting in a chair by the fire, she wore a festive Gryffindor scarf and James couldn't help but notice how lovely she looked.

She noticed him then, and smiled warmly, "Morning Potter, excited for the game?"

There was a touch of sarcasm in her voice, as everyone who had been within earshot for the last week knew he was excited, and nervous.

James sat down in the chair beside her, he had at least an hour before he even needed to show up in the Great Hall for breakfast, he smiled back at her, "Yeah, excited, absolutely terrified, either or."

She laughed, her hair falling over her face, she brushed it back before responding, "Please, as if the famous James Potter is terrified of anything."

But James was terrified of many things. He was terrified of not living up to his father's name, he was terrified of letting down the entirety of the Gryffindor house, and for reasons he didn't truly understand himself, he was absolutely petrified of Leslie Cooper.

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