synopsis
James Potter had always thought possessing magic was an incredible thing, a gift that could make the impossible, possible. He was lucky enough to have two parents with the same ability, from the moment he was born, magic became a natural part of his life. James had always had his future planned out ahead of him, he would be married to the boy who he had been crushing on since third year—not that that boy wanted anything to do with him. With magic, James believed everything in his life would be perfect, as exciting and extraordinary as he had always imagined it.
That was until the summer of his 6th year rolled around.
First came the nausea, the constant headaches no matter what he was doing, leaving him with a feeling that something was not quite right. James had just wanted to enjoy his summer, but he found himself spending everyday in bed, the pressure had built up in his head, and he honestly thought his brain was going to implode. He was suffocating with the throbbing pain in his mind with each day that passed. Next came the vomiting—that was when his parents started to get worried. It was still only the beginning of the summer and James didn't want to do anything. He wasn't eating much, he was afraid that if he did, it would again just spill right back out.
He wasn't even James Potter anymore, not the same bundle of energy he always was. Not even a spark was left, the laughter and happiness had vanished. He didn't feel like anyone at all.
After 4 weeks of no change, the symptoms only getting worse, Fleamont and Euphemia Potter had decided enough was enough. They weren't too sure what was up, but they knew it couldn't go on how it was. More than anything, they just wanted their son back.
James Potter was 16 when he realised magic wasn't the solution to all his problems. Sometimes there were some things magic just couldn't fix. The stay at St Mungo's hospital was long, test after test, day after day. After a long week, the boy had gotten his results. James Potter was 16 when he was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma Multiforme. James Potter was 16, and he would only make it to 17.
St Mungo's had given him treatment options and plans, though everyone knew James wasn't going to make it long. The boy was a ticking time bomb, that soon enough would explode, nothing would stop it from happening and the Potter's would have to live with that. Instead, James was given a list of spells and potions he could use. 12 months was all he had left, but with the help of the spells and potions, it would be nothing like his experience during the summer.
12 months was all James had left. 12 months and James had to make it count. He had given himself 3 rules he had to follow while going through his final year of Hogwarts:
1. Get Regulus Black to notice him, or at least talk to him a few times. Don't continue the silent "watch from the sidelines" crush.
2. Win the Quidditch cup. Yes, it was his goal every year, though this was his final year at Hogwarts, and also his last time ever playing quidditch. Even if he isn't able to play until the end of the season, he still wants Gryffindor to win.
3. Don't hold back. He had 12 months and 12 months only. He wanted to do anything and everything he could, no matter the circumstances or what other people thought about it.
One year of Hogwarts and one year of his life left. James Potter was going to make it the best year he had ever lived, even with the impending ruin of his future ready to come crashing down on him.