I promise that this is my last try of James/Jenny. Depending on the response, I will or won't pursue their relationship anymore.
Ever since Lily's death, James wasn't a fan of weddings. It reminded him too much of his inherent loneliness. Not that he needed company in the form of a romantic partner. He had plenty of company in the form of his son and friends. Not quiet the same but he was perfectly alright, he would tell himself. But despite his apprehension of weddings, he had found himself once again at a wedding reception out of courtesy to the Mullens who were good family friends. As he watched Sirius, Miranda and her seven-month big baby bump on the dance floor, his thoughts were transported back to a certain time in a 1980 when he and Lily were happy expectant parents.
James's gaze shifted to Jenny who was dancing with a handsome man about their age and laughing at something he said. He felt his lips tighten and knots form in stomach before his thoughts were interrupted by Remus who had returned from the men's room.
"What?" he asked when Remus looked at him with a enigmatic smile and raised eyebrows.
"Nothing". Remus got busy stirring his coffee before adding "The song's almost over. It would be a cue to a certain gentleman to cut in and dance with the lady he has his eye on".
He loved Remus, but that best friends of his was losing it. "I do not have my eye on any lady," he said incredulously.
"Oh. Then I must have imagined you staring longingly at a certain blonde and handsome gentleman".
"Yes, it was all in your head".
"Umm hmm" Remus wouldn't wipe the annoying smirk off his mouth.
"Alright fine. I was looking. But only because looking at 'any' couple especially at a wedding reminds of my days with Lily," he admitted.
"And what you miss".
"No" He asserted. "I'm alright the way the I am. I just had a bit of nostalgia from the past. That's all".
"What's going on?" came Sirius's voice.
James looked imploringly at Remus.
"Remus, want to dance?" came the voice of an twenty year old with pink hair. It was Sirius's cousin, Dora.
"Umm… I …" Remus begin blushing and laughing uncomfortably.
Normally James would more sympathetic, but if Remus was on his case, so would he. "What Remus is trying to say Dora, is that he would love to dance with you. Right Remy?"
Remus glared at him. "Umm yes". He sheepishly followed her to the dance floor. "Jenny, James over there could really use a dance" he said as he passed her on his way.
It was James's turn to glare a Remus's amused face. Whoever thought kind Remus wasn't capable of revenge was wrong.
"Come on James. You haven't danced all evening," said Jenny.
"Uh… alright".
"Really sad about Dumbledore and Hagrid". Jenny broke the ice as they were dancing.
"Yeah. I'm afraid the attacks would only increase."
"Maybe the replacement might see something Dumbledore didn't and find the culprit," she suggested.
James appreciated the optimism but couldn't share the sentiment. "I'm afraid I don't have much hope for that."
"Do you think Hagrid had anything to do with the attacks?"
"Absolutely not. I know Hagrid. It must have been a misunderstanding. Dumbledore would never have kept him at Hogwarts if he was guilty."
"I suppose that's true," she agreed.
"Unfortunately the only way the Ministry might grow a brain and realize removing Dumbledore and Hagrid did no good would be if another attack happened." He knew how cynical and pessimistic he sounded but it was unfortunately the truth as he saw it.
Their conversation continued this way, moving into more pleasant topics, but James was careful not to ask a single thing about the man she was dancing with earlier. After all, he didn't care to know.
The Marauders were gathered together at James's place the next morning for breakfast.
"I was thinking about Hogwarts and how something has to be done," James announced.
"But what?" asked Remus. "We are at a dead end as to who the culprit is".
"Yeah" Sirius agreed. "We can bet on Malfoy or Snape all we want, but we have no way of figuring it out, especially when we're not at Hogwarts. Oh, wait. I got it. Harry's at Hogwarts. Perhaps we can guide him into investigating for us," Sirius suggested.
"No. I don't want Harry putting himself at risk like that," James said dismissively. "I meant what if we figured out who did it fifty years ago? That might clue us on who's doing it at present."
"I am all for that," said Sirius. "But how exactly do we do that?"
"By looking at the records," answered James.
"The only records we have show that Hagrid was caught responsible and expelled. Surely you don't believe Hagrid …"
"No, no, of course not. I thought we might be able to see things that people missed fifty years ago."
"James is right. Maybe if we look at all the other relevant players, it might open up the suspect list."
"I guess that's true," said Sirius.
The three friends agreed to go the local library to obtain any news articles or books that they could find on what happened fifty years ago at Hogwarts.
Harry had passed the past few weeks in dread. He hated the new rules and was in fear as to who would be attacked next. Draco Malfoy was one of the only few people who seemed gleeful. Harry had the urge the hex the glee out of the prick, especially when he suggested Snape take over Dumbledore's place. He swore he would be on the next train back home if Snape ever became Headmaster. The only highlight was that the Hufflepuffs, including Ernie McMillan begin believing him as they believed he wouldn't harm Hermione.
Harry and Ron finally saw spiders to follow according Hagrid's "Follow the spiders" instruction. They managed to sneak out with his cloak and despite their apprehension, followed the spiders all the way into the Forbidden Forest. They were met by a giant spider named Aragog who was Hagrid's friend. He insisted that Hagrid was innocent, that he was the creature Hagrid was hiding fifty years ago and that had nothing to do with the attacks. Apparently following spiders into the Forbidden Forest and speaking to a scary giant spider was not a wise idea as they would soon find out when Aragog's children began cornering them. Aragog said he wouldn't let his children harm Hagrid but couldn't deny them the meat of Hagrid's friends.
Harry didn't know how he got through the next few minutes of his life. His heart was pounding and he felt his whole life flashing before him. He didn't dare look at Ron. It was all his fault that his best friend was in this predicament. Ron had been apprehensive of following spiders, especially due to his phobia of them, but Harry had convinced him. Harry closed his eyes, hoping for a miracle, even one that would only save Ron. That miracle came in the form of the The Weasley's Flying Ford Anglia that he and Ron had lost when they arrived on their first day. Both boys quickly got into the Ford Anglia with Fang (who they had taken as company) and Harry managed to fight off a few spiders on their way with the spell he picked up from Tom Riddle in the diary.
Harry didn't know whether he should thank his luck, the Ford Anglia or Tom Riddle when they finally arrived to safety. Ron began cursing Hagrid for leading them down the road. As much as Harry liked Hagrid, Harry couldn't blame him.
"That was a complete waste!" Ron was still fuming. "All we've found out is that Hagrid is innocent. Which we've already guessed. Bit self-serving for Hagrid put our lives at risk just for that", he shook his head.
"Maybe not Ron. We know that the spiders flea before that creature."
"Yeah. Now we just have to figure out which creature that is".
"Wait .. what if she never left?" Harry realized that Moaning Myrtle may have been the girl who died fifty years ago.