Tangled Sheets

Three years later

James Potter felt like he was falling asleep as he listened to the woman across from him at a small restaurant in Diagon Alley. He hadn’t wanted to come on this date, he really should have just cancel once his mum had told him that she had set him up with Clarissa Abbott-Longbottom.

She was fresh out of Hogwarts, a HufflePuff. His mom was always doing this, trying to set him up with people for the last three years.

He didn’t understand why it matter. It would never matter, he would never find another person that made him feel.

He shook the thoughts away, no he wouldn’t think about them.

They had broke his heart, sure he had seen them a few times since they moved to France,but it was closing in on a year since he had seen them and even then it wasn’t for for very long. Sure they kept their promise and wrote him, but it wasn’t the same.

Even if he did see them, they were never alone. What did they think he would do to them? Jump their bones if they had a second alone?

“So what’s it like having Harry Potter as a dad?” He heard the girl ask.

Ah of course, the only real reason the girl probably agree to this date.

“Isn’t your father a war hero too? I’m sure you get what’s it like.” James mumbled out.

Clarissa blushed at that and shook her head.

“Not really. I think people forget about it. He wasn’t apart of the golden trio. I still can’t believe Hermione Granger got with that Malfoy man! How sick is that?” She asked

He gripped the fork tightly.

“Don’t fucking talk about them, you don’t know shit about them.” He snapped out.

She was taken aback by his tone.

“You can’t talk to me like that!” She scoffed.

James rolled his eyes and stood from the table, he saw a flash go off as he threw a napkin on the table.

Great, he would be in the prophet tomorrow. Just like all the other times, rebel James Potter ruining his perfect family name.

It didn’t matter what he did, it didn’t matter that he gave up his scholarship curse-breaker to go into Auror training. He had taken a year and half off before going, his parents always pestering him that he needed to start thinking about his future, so he agreed to go even though he hated every second of it. He had already failed the exam a few days prior, on purpose, he hadn’t told his father yet. Though he knew it would only be a matter of time before he found out.

A few weeks after Draco and Hermione had left him, he had burned his acceptance letter to the school, he knew his father wouldn’t have pay for it anyways.

He moved swiftly from the restaurant and apparted home. He hated that he still lived here, but he didn’t make enough to move out.

Albus had offered to let him room at his apartment with his quddtich teammates,but James hated being around all of them. It was all fake, his entire life was a fraud. He was living the life of someone else.

His eyes widen when he heard it, their voices coming from the kitchen. He ran into the room and came face to face with Draco.

He thought having not seen the man in almost a year would have made some of his feelings go away, but they came like a flood as he looked into his grey eyes.

Draco cleared his throat as he looked away from him, back towards Hermione. They were alone. For the first time in three years they were alone. He had so many things he needed to say.

“Hey James. We thought your mum said you were out on a date?” Hermione asked but there seem to be something else in her voice….. almost like a jealously but James shook the thought away.

“When did you guys get here? Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” James asked them.

He saw Hermione face fill with guilt as she looked towards the wall, Draco cleared his throat.

“Ummm…. We moved back.” Draco said.

James scoffed.

“When?” James demanded.

“Just a few days ago, we were getting settled back in before we came to tell everyone, we just told your mum this morning.”Hermione said.

“You could have told me you had decided to come back, I would have…. Whatever.” James said as he turned to leave.

He felt Draco grab his arm, it felt so good to be touch by him again but James just yanked free and sneered at him.

“Don’t touch me! Wouldn’t want to cause you two to run off for another three years would I?” James asked bitterly

Draco opened his mouth but before he could reply they heard the front door open and everyone shut up. James rolled his eyes as he came to sit down around the kitchen table.

“James Sirus Potter! Where the hell are you?” He heard his father roar.

He saw Draco jaw clench and he balled up his fists. Hermione came and ran an arm down him, trying to calm him down.

Draco just let out a harsh breath as his dad entered the kitchen. When his dad saw Draco, he scoffed.

“Well why isn’t this a surprise, it’s not surprising that every time my son seems to have an attitude problem, that you aren’t far behind Malfoy.” His dad clipped out.

“Dad! That’s not true! I didn’t even know they were back yet!” James said.

“What were you thinking acting like that in public? Neville is pissed off, Clarissa came home crying. What did you do?” His father asked harshly.

“Well….. it seem like she would rather been on a date with you and just don’t get my jollies off being with a girl that is thinking about my father.” James spit out.

He saw from the corner of his eye Draco trying to hold in a laugh, he turned quickly away so his father didn’t see.

“If you two don’t mind, I like to talk with my son, in private please. So I’m guessing you guys are back now?” Harry asked but from his tone James knew he wished it wasn’t true. Sure he had missed Hermione, but he knew his dad was glad that Draco wasn’t around.

“Yeah. We are back, France wasn’t for us. It…… felt like something was missing.” Hermione said with a smile.

James bit his lip and felt heat rise to his cheeks, but he quickly pushed down the feelings. It didn’t matter, he knew no matter what he wouldn’t have this…. Have them.

Draco and Hermione said their goodbyes. He wished they would stay or that he could leave with them. It didn’t matter, he didn’t care if they were back. He would keep going as if they were in France. He wouldn’t let those feelings he buried so deep come back.

“Look dad, I’m sorry, she….. she said something I didn’t like and I got upset, ok?” He wouldn’t tell his dad that Draco and Hermione were the topic, it would only fuel his dad ire that Draco was the cause of his anger and he was, but not in the way his father thought or knew.

“Fine…. Me and your mum just worry about you son? You never had any girlfriends in Hogwarts…. Are you…. I mean if you are it’s fine, you can tell us.” His dad said.

“No….. I mean….. I’m not….. I’m not gay.” James said because he wasn’t. The only man he had ever thought of that way had been Draco.

He just hadn’t been into dating at Hogwarts, sure he had kissed and fooled around a bit with girls before, he hadn’t gone all the way before, but it didn’t matter to him, he knew if anyone had been interested in him it was only because of Harry Potter.

“Alright….. well just know you can tell us anything son, I promise me and your mum will never judge you for your choices.” His father told him.

James closed his eyes, he knew that was a lie but James didn’t say anything. Just nodded at his father and left to his room.

James was on edge these last few days, tonight would be the first dinner Hermione and Draco were coming too since moving back.

He was nervous, he had to stop this. They made their feelings clear, no matter what James wanted.

Maybe he should just pretend he was sick, so he didn’t have to face them. It was only going to be them and his mum tonight. His dad was working late and just like James figured he had threw a fit when he found out James had failed the exam.

He had to do something, he couldn’t let his life be on hold like this. For what? Who did he think he was punishing for not following his dreams?

He grabbed a quill and a piece of parchment, he wrote fast and without hesitation, he would deal with his father anger later. He would do this, he knew his father would be pissed, but James for once was going to do something for him. He sent the letter off to his uncle Bill.

He knew he wouldn’t have the same opportunities he would have had if had gone to the school, but at least with this he could intern with Bill. It would take a bit longer, but he would see his dream come true.

He smiled as he gave the letter to his owl, maybe his dad was right. Maybe being around Draco truly made him…. Him.

He stomped down the stairs and came into the kitchen.

Hermione had her back turned helping prepare dinner. He didn’t see his mum around. He smirked to himself as he walked slowly until he was behind her. He knew he was playing a dangerous game. He didn’t even know why he thought this was a good idea, but he didn’t want to stop.

“Draco. Keep in your pants for the night alright.” Hermione said.

“Not Draco.” James whispered in her ear.

Hermione jumped back and moved out of the way.

“James! What are you doing!” She scolded him.

Though from the redness on her cheeks told him she liked it.

“Nothing…. Just seeing if you needed help with something.” He said with a wink.

She rolled her eyes and handed him a knife.

“Start chopping the carrots, alright?” She mumbled out, redness all over. He smirked and did as he was told, not moving far from her.

They worked in silence. He heard her mumbling something under her breath. He felt rather than saw Draco in the doorway, watching them intently.

“Are you going to just stand there and watch or are you going to come help us?” James said suggestively as he turned towards Draco.

He saw Draco eyes darken, as he moved closer into the kitchen. He watched as Draco smirked to himself and came up behind Hermione, wrapping his arms around her, Hermione leaned into his touch, his mouth went to her neck while Draco just stared at James.

James shallowed thickly as he watched them, wishing he would be touched like that. He knew what Draco was doing. He bit his lip and he watched as Draco eyes darken again, he saw Hermione reaching her arm towards him, when the side door opened.

The spell was broken as Draco stepped away from Hermione, slowly and with a wink towards him.

They all turned towards the intruder, his mum coming from the garden. He knew she hadn’t seen anything, he turned back towards the island and adjusted himself discreetly. Draco saw though, because Draco always saw didn’t he?

He watched as Draco smirked.

“Well dinner should be ready shortly, just have to boil these carrots. Should be quick. James why don’t you and Draco go set the table. Ginny did you find any parsley in the garden? Hermione said

“No… we just have to go without it. It should be fine, it won’t taste too different. Plus I got us some good wine to go with it.” His mum said.

“We probably won’t be drinking too much tonight Ginny.” Draco said

“Why not? Have big plans tomorrow?” Ginny said with a laugh. He knew his mum didnt say it to try to be hateful. Their big plans of opening a potion shop in France hadn’t worked out and the building Draco had used in England had been sold from under him, he had lost his dream and James hated that it had happened.

Draco frowned but didn’t respond, he just took a breath and walked towards the dining room, James followed quickly behind.

He heard his mum saying an apology to Hermione, he didn’t hear the respond as the door closed behind them.

James didn’t say anything, he just moved to the drink cart and poured a fire whisky for him and Draco.

“Here…. Pregame.” James said with smile.

“Drinking and the three of us isn’t a good idea. It only.”

“You didn’t seem drunk 5 mins ago.” James said

“That…. I shouldn’t have done…. Let’s just set the table James, we….” Draco tried saying but James cut him off.

“Are we just never going to be able to be like we used to be? So that happened and what? We just pretend we don’t mean anything to each other at all.” James asked in sad voice.

Draco opened his mouth but was cut off when his mum and Hermione entered the room. Draco swished his wand fast setting the table, as Hermione sat dinner on it.

They all sat down. Hermione and Draco on each side of him. The ate in silence, time seem to pass slowly.

He saw Hermione pick up her third glass of the night as she spoke with his mum.

James was on his second and he knew Draco had the same as Hermione. He didn’t feel drunk, just buzzed.

He knew the night was coming to in end, His mum made to leave, saying she was going to call it a night.

Hermione smiled at her as she walked out of the room, going off to bed.

Tension filled the room, no one spoke for a bit but then he saw Draco stand.

“Come on Hermione, it’s getting late.” Draco said as he nodded towards her.

Hermione bit her lip and smiled at him.

“Goodnight James…. We will see you next week for dinner.” Hermione said as she moved towards Draco.

James didn’t respond just turned his head down towards the table.

He heard them walking away, this couldn’t go on. He heard the foo roared to life he waited a few minutes, when he jumped up and ran, throwing the powder down and following after them.

“James.” Hemione said breathlessly.

“We have to be able to be around each other again! You two…. I can’t live without you! These past three years have been hell! Fuck I am trying to be an Auror! You know I hate that! I threw everything away when you two left me! This isn’t fair!” James cried out.

Hermione had a pained look then, her face filled with guilt.

“You think we were living a great life! We have been miserable as well James, but these feelings…. This…”Draco shouted out.

“Ok…. Well….. it doesn’t matter alright? I know nothing can happen, but please I have missed you both so much….” James said as he started crying.

He felt Hermione bring him into a hug, he gripped tightly to her burying his face into her neck. She grabbed his hand and moved him towards the couch.

He saw Draco biting his lip hard enough to draw blood as he followed behind them. The three of them sat close together.

No one said anything. He felt Draco grab him from behind as they all three let this unspoken thing wash over them.