Ten
Temperature
"Stay still, Potter!" Hermione panted as she chased a butt-naked toddler with his underthings. Future Harry would convulse with embarrassment if he knew what he had gone up to in his early years.
The tot shrieked in glee but didn't slow down. She wiped the sweat from her brow and glared at the annoying little thing that only grinned toothily in return.
She waved Lily's wand that Sirius had helped her accio from the deepest depths of the cottage but was only thrown back by the strong force it created. "Bloody hell." She groaned and held her lower back.
She gently pushed away the worried little tot who had come running to her after she hit the wall and gained her balance shakily. She placed the wand inside a drawer and made a mental note to buy a new one. It must've noticed she wasn't Lily.
"I'm home!" A deep voice called.
"Ha! Got you, Potter." The toddler squealed when she quickly dressed him before she blew raspberries onto his small cheek. She poked his sides and hoisted him on her shoulder to greet his father who had arrived downstairs.
...
"Welcome home, Mr. Potter."
James lifted his eyes to see Lily and Harry. He thought he saw her cringe but thought of it as just him being tired. He chuckled at the welcome and thought that the two of them made a delightful picture. A mother and her son.
"How was your day, Mrs. Potter?" He grinned at his wife and nuzzled the child in her arms. "And what about you, little Potter?"
"He stayed with Marlene and Cephy for the day. I had an appointment in Diagon Alley." She passed him the toddler and hung his coat for him on the rack by the door before pecking his cheek quickly. He was mildly disappointed that she hadn't kissed him on the lips since the day she had her nightmare. It seemed that she was going back to normal and he can't say he was happy about it. He really needed to broach the subject of feelings like Remus had told him to before she had hit her head.
"Oh? Who'd you meet?" He rocked Harry back and forth making the child giggle. He heard her mumble a name but it was muffled by her hair. "Sorry? Didn't hear that, love."
"Sirius." She said louder. James almost dropped Harry in surprise. What would his best mate want with Lily? The man abhorred the woman, for Merlin's sake.
"He asked me about motorcycles." She mumbled sheepishly, answering his unsaid question.
He was only confused further. Padfoot must be planning something devious. He could've just owled her if he wanted to help fill out the muggle paperwork. James shuddered at the word 'paperwork'. He had done more of them than he should've for a month!
"I brought roasted chicken for dinner." He chuckled when he saw her perk up and decided to play a joke.
Mustering a worried frown he exclaimed, "Oh no! Did you already cook?!" He took the paper bag and pretended to think for a moment. "Maybe the blokes would like it. Who knows if they've been eating when they're not having dinner here."
"What-no! They eat well enough." Lily grabbed the bag. "Besides, I'm absolutely bullocks at cooking." She murmured under her breath and proceeded to quickly enter the kitchen, leaving him and Harry standing there. James busted out laughing and cooed at his son.
"Ma! Ma!" Harry babbled.
James raised the tot to eye level, "Hmm? You want your mum?"
"Pafoo! Mama! Ba ba ba ba! Tep! Tep!"
"I know! You went to see Ceph, didn't ya? Want to see your Uncle Padfoot and Uncle Moony soon?" He asked the toddler and earned a very enthusiastic response. He released the little bugger on the ground and took off his button-up, tossing it on the armrest of a chair. The office made him all sweaty and gross. James added 'bath before bed' to his mental to-do list and removed his worn-out denim jeans for extra air circulation.
"Boys! Dinner's ready!"
He held his son's hands and made him step on his toes so they could walk together to the dining room. As they waddled to the dinner table, Harry called his mum and took to following his father's footsteps more seriously when he gained her attention. Lily's amused laugh was cut short when she saw James clad in only his golden snitch-patterned boxers and gulped as her appreciative gaze looked him up and down—which her husband did not fail to notice.
"See anything you like?" A flirty grin curved his lips.
Lily turned red down to her neck. "Wh—Don't—I'm not—!" She bit her lip and looked at her feet, "You're such a child. Let's just eat so we can get to bed."
James gasped and playfully covered his son's ears. "Not in front of our son, Lily Flower."
The woman turned redder—yes, it was possible— and glared at him half-heartedly. She fanned herself, the movement attracting his eyes down to her décolletage.
He cleared his throat and fought his own blush before his desire could further rush down south. It had been too long. He hadn't been with anyone after graduation but Lily and the last time they slept together was almost two years ago when she was still pregnant. Sirius had told him to get it with some of the lady friends he met in pubs but he really didn't want to be that man who sleeps with other women.
"D-do we have salad?" He discreetly adjusted himself under the table. Was it just him or was it smouldering in here?
"It's right in front of you, James." Lily pinned him with a look and he laughed nervously. "Are you alright? You're looking a little flushed."
"NO! I'm-I'm fine. Just hot. I mean, the—Could you cast a cooling charm? The room is quite warm." He internally sobbed from mortification. Why was he getting flustered in front of his own bloody wife?! They have a son, for Godric's sake! Everything that could be seen has already been seen. Merlin's tattered panties, of course he would be mortified. Lily always hated him acting like his teenage self. He promised to be mature but right now he was acting like a horny third year that just hit a new level of puberty.
"Oh, I was going to talk to you about that."
"The room being warm?" He asked dumbly making Lily chuckle.
"I'm thinking of getting a new wand. Mine's not really working right for me anymore." She explained and chewed on a forkful of salad and chicken.
"Yeah, I don't see why not. I had to change mine after the Moody incident at work a couple of years ago. I'm thinking of dropping by the guys' flat with Harry on Wednesday. Harry and I can go with you before." He shoved some lettuce into his mouth. "...If you like." He added and cast her a skeptical glance, thinking she would refuse like always.
"I'd appreciate that, darling." She beamed.
They finished the rest of their dinner in comfortable silence with baby Harry's frequent gibberish gurgles.
...
Hermione had never known the meaning of hot and bothered till now because right at this moment, James Fleamont Potter looked very hot. And bothered. She didn't know why he looked so nervous but who was she to judge? She was probably sweating bullets right now!
She licked her lips and pushed her hair behind her ears. She was barefoot, her hair tied up in a bun as she leaned on the door frame to watch James put Harry to bed.
She was wearing a flimsy nightgown that reached her ankles and was held up with the thinnest straps ever made. Marlene and Alice had bought her a dozen of these as a get-well gift and she didn't want to waste them. Plus, it was pretty modest and covered everything that needed to be covered so she deemed it safe enough to wear.
She thought that this man would probably defeat a whole muggle army of soldiers single-handedly. What, with those deliciously ripped muscles and the sparse hair that littered his chest and trailed down his pelvis to Merlin knows where. She could practically hear his tanned skin begging to be touched. Look at him just standing there with his sexy boxer shorts and a kid in his arms. Someone needed to restrain her right now before she jumped the man!
She glanced at him again and nodded, confirming her words. A(n) (almost) naked James Potter was a dangerous picture indeed.
Now that she looked at him more intently, his wand arm up to his shoulder blade as well as his left calf was glistening quite unnaturally. It wasn't very noticeable but it was still there. A glamour charm, perhaps. But what would he have to hide? He didn't seem to mind showing his scars, instead, he proudly wore them like trophies and medals.
Unable to stop herself from checking, her eyes traveled back to his body again, sweeping from the bottom up until she reached his face where he was staring at her with an eyebrow raised, eyes dark with something that took her breath away..
He fixed Harry's blanket and closed the bedroom door behind him. She subconsciously took steps back as he walked closer until she was backed up against the hallway wall and only a hair's breadth of space remained between them.
"Were you checking me out, Lily Flower?" His voice was low and husky, sending shivers down her spine.
"Y-You should get ready for bed soon." Her eyes darted down quickly to his chest and back to his hazel eyes. Merlin, his eyes could melt her. She tried recalling Arithmancy patterns and theories in her head to stop herself from turning into a puddle.
He smirked devilishly and leaned down to brush his lips against the shell of her ear. "You said you would join me this time, remember?"
She inhaled sharply. Merlin and Morgana above. Was he flirting with her? He was! Even Ronald would agree with her that he was. She can't be doing this with a married man! What would Lily, her friends, and Molly say?! Poor Mr. Potter didn't even know he was technically about to commit adultery with another woman.
When she didn't reply he turned his head and nipped on her earlobe, making her shiver. Then, he sucked a sensitive spot behind her ear and trailed open-mouthed kisses down her neck, teasing her. She was overwhelmed and didn't notice her own hand running up and down his back while the other gripped his hair. He hooked her right leg on his waist and pressed their bodies closer.
"I want us again." He murmured against her throat and inhaled, breathing her scent in.
She blushed when she let out a soft sigh, her mind malfunctioning as he nipped, licked, and sucked.
"Huh?" She asked quickly to hopefully pretend nothing happened.
His grip tightened a touch and he moaned quietly when her nails dug into his skin. James paused his ministrations and pulled away just enough to look her in the eye. "Let's try again and make this marriage real."
Hermione pushed him away gently and frowned in confusion. What was he talking about? Sirius never said anything about this.
Not knowing how to reply, she nodded meekly and avoided eye contact. "I'll think about it." She whispered and took the opportunity to pull away. After hesitating for a few seconds, she kissed his jaw quickly and muttered a quiet goodnight before entering the bedroom and closing the door behind her.
"Bloody fucking hell." She collapsed on the floor, heart beating loudly and mentally scolded herself for almost giving in to temptation. She averted her eyes from the couple's wedding portrait on the wall, ashamed of herself.
She stood up and approached Harry's cot, sighing as she traced his chubby cheek lightly with a finger.
"I'm sorry, Harry." I'm sorry, Lily. Hermione sniffed and turned away, covering her sobs as she cried for her past. She was afraid and stressed and alone. Her Harry was gone. Her parents were dead. She had no one. No one knew her and once she was gone, no one would mourn her, remember her. No one would ever call her by her true name ever again. She was misplaced but she still had a purpose, and so, her grief made her more determined.
She'll prevent the Potters' demise and once she fulfilled her mission, she'll return Lily's body and fade away.
...
"Ah, Ms Evans. Willow, 10 ¼", swishy. Mr. James Potter; Mahogany, 11", pliant. To what may I owe this pleasure? I see you brought Mr. Harry Potter, as well. " A younger and brighter Garrick Ollivander greeted the small family.
Hermione tugged on her silk scarf and smiled at the man. Seeing another familiar face filled her with nostalgia. It brought back memories of when she was but a little girl new to the world of magic.
"Ahem. Mrs. Potter now, sir." She was pulled out of her musings when a heavy arm wrapped around her shoulders.
She looked up and saw James wearing a proud grin with Harry perched on his father's broad left shoulder with the tot gripping his father's matching black hair to balance himself.
She hadn't been able to sleep a wink since that night but Lily's husband didn't act differently so she took his lead and pretended nothing happened. Still, she can't help but feel more conscious around him.
"And how may I be of service, Mrs Potter?" Ollivander asked with teasing mirth.
"I came to get a new wand. My old one doesn't work for me anymore."
"Hmm. How peculiar." The wandmaker raised a curious eyebrow. "Just a moment."
He stepped up his ladder and started sifting through the boxes on the shelves with a practiced finesse, plucking a very dusty and worn one hidden in the very back as well as a newer-looking one from the front sections before climbing back down, grabbing a few other boxes, and walking towards them. "How do you mean?"
"Well, I tried using it yesterday to dress Harry but it blasted me off my feet instead." She explained nervously.
"And did it work before? How long ago before it started acting strange?" The man was looking at her like he knew something and Hermione hoped she wouldn't start sweating.
She pretended to think for a moment and answered slowly. "Well, I lost it for a few days and I only found it the other day."
"So it worked when you found it and only stopped working yesterday?" Garrick hummed and passed her a wand. "Willow and Phoenix Feather, 9", supple."
She waved it and immediately dropped it on the counter when an oil lamp shattered.
"A different wood, perhaps? Red Oak and Dragon Heartstring, 10 1/4″, pliable" He handed a lighter wand that curves at the base a few times. She barely touched it when he pulled it back with an exclamation, making Harry giggle. "NO! Not this one."
After several more rounds of crashes and explosions, she perked up and waited with bated breath when he gave her the very familiar dark wand she had used when she performed her first spells at Hogwarts. The wand she had battled with to her death. "10 ¾", vine wood and dragon heartstring."
Her excitement faded to confusion and then frustration when she held it, swished it around, and even muttered the levitating spell but to no avail. She could not cast a single thing with it! How can that be? She remembered feeling her magic in her fingertips, the warmth of her power swirling within her whenever she held it but it didn't work. Wouldn't work.
"Curious." Olivander opened the last box he was holding and held out a wand that looked extremely similar to the wand in her hand. The wand she had used as Hermione Granger. "Vine and Quetzalcoatl Feather, 13 ½", supple."
The moment she took it, she felt the familiar rush of warmth she expected to feel when she grasped her old wand. Her magic rushing to her fingertips, connecting to the wand in her hand, and her anxiousness was replaced with her usual quiet confidence.
"Very curious." The wandmaker stared at her oddly. "Quetzalcoatls are very rare creatures and are known to be stingy in giving away their feathers. This one gave up only three in its entire lifetime. One for each of the three wand makers who were able to pass its challenges." He said and pointed at the wand she was holding. "My great grandfather had made that wand centuries ago when he was still alive. The wand is very picky but I see it has finally chosen its owner."
Hermione studied the wand she was holding. How could something that looked so simple actually be so…magnificent.
"Use it well, Mrs Potter. Its loyalty is extremely hard to gain but once you have won it, it will aid you in doing great things. Though the extra length might need some getting used to." He flashed her a secretive look before giving the family of three a generous smile. "Well, I see that you're all set to go, Mrs Potter. Have a nice day. Mr. Potter, Little Mr Potter." He bowed his head to the two boys behind her, gave her a final bright one, and hopped back to what he was doing prior to their arrival.
Hermione glanced at James who was now standing beside her and shrugged. They paid for the wand (and she swore she had a heart attack at the price and almost asked for a different one but Ollivander assured her that it was meant to be and explained that the price was summed by his ancestor who had made it). They exited the store afterward without a word.
...
"PRONGSIE! Mini-Prongs!" An ear-piercing masculine voice yelled. Sirius, ever a lover of the dramatics, ran in slow motion with a parodied teary-eyed look of extreme happiness. In the middle of the alley. Remus could only roll his eyes at his friend's lack of shame.
The Potter family all turned to the incoming men with different expressions. James had gone pink, hiding his face behind the toddler he was carrying while Harry's eyes sparkled with excitement upon seeing his godfather. Hermione simply stared in annoyance which perfectly matched Remus'.
"Jamesie-poo! You cold-hearted bastard! You haven't contacted me since forever." The grey-eyed man exclaimed.
"Keep it down you git!—"
"Language," Hermione interjected.
"—And what would I contact you for? We see each other at work every day! Your desk is literally beside mine." James glared at the man.
Sirius pouted but it quickly went away when he saw her. Clearing his throat, he bobbed his head and politely greeted. "Lily."
"Sirius." She replied with gritted teeth and pinned him with a stern look. At least he had the decency to look a little sheepish.
She turned to the tallest man in their group and gave him a kind smile. It had been over a week since she last saw him and around three days after she met Sirius for Professor Dumbledore's memory. Seeing the werewolf young and happy instead of the depressed middle-aged man he was a decade from now somehow awakened her motherly instincts. Or maybe it was because of baby Harry. He looked too skinny. "How've you been Remus, dear?"
He was about to reply but was interrupted by a loud snort. Hermione scowled at the shaggy-haired man adjacent to her who was innocently toeing the ground before looking back up at Remus.
"Great." The werewolf replied but fidgeted when he saw her expectant face and continued. "My boss gives me monthly paid leave and isn't terrified about my condition at all."
"That's wonderful! I'm glad." Hermione patted his forearm warmly.
Although she missed the small frown that pinched James' face, she was very aware that she was starting to sound and act like Molly. She didn't mind it and she hoped Remus would allow her to coddle him a bit this time. She internally laughed at the picture of a fourteen-year-old Hermione Granger scolding a sulky, almost forty Lupin for not eating and sleeping enough. Tonks and Sirius always had a field day.
"Well, hope you guys enjoy your day!" She grinned and hesitated but stood on her tiptoes to peck James' cheek awkwardly, quickly turning to the toddler in his arms to press sloppy kisses, making Harry squeal.
"See you later, Harry." She whispered.
"Bye, mama." The tot returned with a soft peck on her lips, taking Hermione by surprise but making her smile all the same.
...
"Slow down, little man." James Potter laughed at his son who rushed over to the box of toys Remus and Sirius kept at their place. Harry waddled and flipped it over, effectively spilling all of its contents on the floor. Sirius, now in the form of Padfoot, barked happily at the child and nuzzled his cheek. The werewolf and bespectacled man watched with a fond look.
Remus slipped beside James and nudged him with his shoulder to gain his attention. "So, anything you want to tell me? Don't think I didn't see your face while I was talking with Lily."
"I have no idea what you're talking about." He replied with mock innocence. His friend ushered him to sit at the dining table and started preparing tea. Once he had the kettle on, he sat on one of the other chairs and raised an eyebrow.
"Trouble in paradise?"
"Oh come off it, Moony!" James stood up and made to prepare the cups to busy himself. He felt rather awkward talking about where this conversation would go if he told Remus.
"Everything good, then?" He heard his friend ask as he bustled around the kitchen. His movements slowed as he thought of what transpired between him and his wife a few days ago and his face started to heat up.
"Just— Let's talk about something else. You said your boss gives you monthly paid leave?"
The man snorted at his poor attempt at changing the subject but went along with it anyway.
"Yeah. I had to confess why I would disappear for a week every month after the fourth time. He was pretty miffed that I didn't tell him sooner. Said he wouldn't have needed to dock my pay if he knew." The werewolf chuckled.
The bespectacled man was glad that his friend's boss was understanding and kind. He poured the water into the cups before placing the tea bags inside and placed them on the table with a smile.
"Does he know any other werewolves?"
"Uh, not that I know of? He did say he's active in the pro-werewolf movement thing because of his great-great nephew so maybe that person is one." Remus replied while adding two sugar to his cup and one with a splash of milk for James.
"MOONY! PRONGS! Whip up some of that ol' muggle narsho things would ya?!" Sirius called from the living room.
James turned curiously to his mate who was already up and about, grabbing a pack of nachos before making to wave his wand. "STOP!" He shouted, startling Remus.
"What the hell, Prongs?!"
"Lily told me heating food with magic could be very dangerous. Something about pockets burning your tongue..." He pursed his lips sheepishly. Remus looked annoyed and James was thankful for Sirius' agitating voice interrupting the incoming tirade.
"Wait! No! Stop it, you little devil! HELP! HELP!"
Remus and James looked at each other before speeding to the entrance of the living room where they were met with quite a scene. Sirius was being wildly thrown up the ceiling, down, and up again with several toys by an unknown force. A Quidditch figurine was stuck in his messy hair. The two men stared, slack-jawed, and slowly turned to the little toddler babbling angrily with red cheeks and a snotty nose.
"Would you two stop gaping like a bunch of idiots and get me down here?!"
James was the first one to act, laughing madly and swinging his son around happily. "You're amazing, little man!"
The floating man landed painfully on his side with a grunt and glared at his deer friend. "I might have some family trauma but even I know you're not supposed to praise little children when they jostle their godfather with magic. Accidental or not." Remus snorted and poked the animagus' side which made the man yelp.
"See you later. I have to tell Lily." He picked up his son by the torso, holding him under his arm.
"Potter Cottage!" He announced and threw a handful of floo powder inside the fireplace. As the green flames roared to life, he quickly entered and stepped into his home without sparing another glance at the dumfounded men standing in the middle of a flat that looked as if a storm passed through it.
...
"Marlene, are you really sure? I don't think I should be doing this so early with a new wand." Hermione grasped the vine wand in her right hand firmly and pursed her lips as the blonde was doing a 'come on' motion repeatedly with an excited gleam in her brown eyes.
"Absolutely positive. It'll be brilliant." The woman replied with a grin.
She breathed in, looking at her friend and tightening her hold on her wand. They were standing in the middle of the medium-sized quidditch field behind the cottage she didn't know existed till ten minutes ago. Marlene and Alice had flooed over the moment they received her owl about her buying a new wand to test said wand as soon as possible. Alice was sitting in a neon yellow romper, a sunhat on her head, and pink sunglasses perched on her nose while she sipped on some sort of alcohol concoction she called the drink "that makes this world a better place" while Marlene was standing ten feet away from her, urging her to throw an expelliarmus.
"Stop fretting, darling! Give it all you've got!" Alice shouted. The children sitting beside her with a less alcoholic version of her drink also cheered in baby language.
Hermione sighed and went into a battle stance that her body was all too familiar with. Tilting her chin down, she raised her wand and aimed it at the awaiting woman before her.
"Expelliarmus!" She shouted with a quick slash of her new wand. Marlene's eyes grew and she quickly cast a charm. The force of Hermione's spell collided with her shield and knocked her down backward making her release a cry of surprise.
Hermione gasped and ran to her side. "Marlene! Are you okay?!" She shook her friend who was groaning but quickly sighed in both relief and annoyance when the blonde burst out laughing.
"That was positively brilliant! I'm glad you got another wand." Marlene sighed. Alice was already beside them, looking over at her friend, and joined in to agree.
"LILY! LILY! GUESS WHAT!" A loud masculine voice hollered from the back door of the cottage. Everyone looked and saw a beaming James Fleamont Potter carrying a squealing Harry James Potter under his arm while waving madly as he ran as fast as he could towards the three women and two confused children gathered in the middle of the field.
"James...?"
"GUESS WHAT?!"
Hermione squeaked when the now sweaty man pulled her to her feet and messily kissed her full on the lips with a loud smack. The man seemed to realize what he did and started spluttering. "W-Wh- I- Harry, he-" He paused and took a deep breath to calm himself down. She glared at her two friends still sprawled on the ground who were both obviously trying to hold in their laughter.
He licked his lips and started again, still panting from the sudden burst of exertion. "Harry just did accidental magic for the first time ever." He lifted the tot he was carrying like a potato sack to shove him to her face.
"Hi, mama!" The tot grinned and waved.
Hearing the news filled her with elation and she exclaimed excitedly, taking baby Harry from her husband and hugging him tightly. Marlene and Alice congratulated them while Cephy and Neville clapped along cluelessly.
And so began little Harry James Potter's journey into truly turning into his father's miniature self. Not just in terms of looks, but personality (and ego) as well.
…
A/N: This chapter was more like a filler if I'm being honest but I'm trying to experiment with writing mild spicy(?) scenes but I'm just not sure if I should. Anyway, I wanted to start building tension between the couple and show a tiny bit of the state of their relationship atm. I need James to gain back his confidence so he can bulldoze through Hermione's walls and self-restraint so you'll be seeing a lot of fun and proactive James in the future^^
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