chapter 1
James crouches down closer to the net as Sirius puts his racket behind his right ear , almost like he is going to throw a short-put holding it there before leaping up off both feet to meet the toss in the air. James moves back into position as the ball flies across the net, returning to them. Sirius meets the ball in the air with a resounding thwack.
“Game.”
The ball ricochets off the court, automated James turns and catches a leaping Sirius. Both falling to the ground in tight embrace. As Gideon and Fabian came closer to the net for the customary handshake both boys seemed to snap out of it simultaneously struggling to hide their grins as they shook the twins’ hands before leaving the court.
Receiving their trophy’s for the championship in front of the ESPN camera crew , James the selected spokesperson of the two regarded the camera with an excited grin “First of all, I think we’d both like to congratulate Fabian and Gideon for playing absolutely incredible this whole tournament.” polite cheers for the Italian boys echoed in response.
“Those guys always give us a lot of trouble, so I just want to say congrats to them and their team. And then, uh, I think we’d both like to thank Minerva McGonagall, our coach.” The woman in question stands to do a faux humble clap before motioning James to continue.
“And uh…I don’t know.” James turns to Sirius to laugh before regaining his thoughts “ It’s crazy we always talked about how amazing it would be to win this together, so yeah , its wild.” James sheepishly smiled before pointing to reporter that raised their hand.
“Something a lot of people talk about when it comes to you two is your different playing styles. Are you aware that they’re calling this team padfoot and prongs?”
Sirius chuckles in response, relaxing in his seat as James furrows his brows in confusion “who is padfoot?”
Without missing a beat Sirius responds lazily with a smirk “Who do you think?”
The reporter continues “And now, you both are in the odd position of playing together as a team in doubles today and then facing off against one another in the Boys singles final tomorrow. “
James nods “yeah” bouncing off Sirius responds “Insane.”
Unsatisfied the reporter moves on “well, are you rooting for anyone in the Girls singles final later this afternoon?”
Sirius easily answers with confidence “Lily Evans, obviously”
Probing the Reporter continues “Do you know each other?”
“No, but she’s incredible. And James’s has never seen her play in person. We are going to try to catch it after this.” Squeezing James Shoulder, Sirius stands as a quite dismissal.
Reporter stands gracefully “Alright well you guys enjoy that. And again, congratulations.”
James and Sirius watch the start of the Girls Singles final later that day from the stands. It hurts a little that the stands are much packed than they were for the doubles final. Most of the signs being held by those surrounding them were in favour of Lily Evans. Watching the expanding throng while eating hot dogs from the concession stand and placing their trophies on the seats next to them, James says a little too nonchalantly, "Can you do me a favour?" Sirius, who is already amused, turns to face him. Sirius closely monitors James's movements as he hunches forward and spreads his legs further. “Can you not, like, demolish me tomorrow?” he asked without looking up.
“shut the fuck up.” Quips Sirius
"No, look, I'm at peace with the fact that going to win." James fully turns, his gaze locked with Sirius'.
When James looks directly at him, he says, "It's not a fact." He then turns back to the court and says, "Statistically, it's likely." James interrupts Sirius' chuckle and says, "I'm just suggesting, like...throw me a couple games? Maybe a set?" Sirius returns his focus to the court, noticing James' cheeks turning pink. "If it matters to you so much, I can just give it to you." James visibly sags, "WOW. Okay, thank you.
Sirius' gaze grows more melancholy as he remarks, "I mean, every now and then, a kid who wins the juniors turns out to be a genuinely amazing player, but the most of them fall off the map or wind up in the top 300. It’s a curse."
James expresses disappointment: "You seemed excited about the doubles trophy…" Sirius' gorgeous face develops an apparent grin: "That is different. That's you and me. That was just really fun." James imitates Sirius' leaned-back posture: "Well, if you're going to let me win tomorrow, I'll take it. But you must actually play. You can’t just retire. I need it to look like I actually beat you."
Sirius' arched eyebrows raise. "Do you have money on this or something?" shaking his head with its unruly hair. "No. My grandmother is just going to be watching with her entire nursing home, and she keeps calling to tell me how proud she is." James confronts Sirius, who fights to keep his laughter from dancing between the phrases. "Don't guilt me with your dying grandmother!"
James, struggling to suppress his responding smile, emphasises, "She's not dying!"
Sirius backtracks: "You said she was in a nursing home." James rolls his eyes and rushes his words: "She's just old." The sound system chimes. "Now entering the court hailing from France, girl’s singles number 4 in the world, DORCAS MEADOWS!"
Dorcas entered the court staring straight ahead, and the crowd responded with polite claps. Does not wave or grin at the fans. She unzipped her bag and took out some Wilson rackets. "Did you know Lily Evans already had a Nike deal?" Sirius' words were fully prepared for James. "What? "How?" he asks quickly. "She's probably going pro in about a month; I saw her at the Junior Australian Open. She could win the real thing tomorrow.” Doubting Sirius because of his inclination to exaggerate "Is she really that good?"
"She's in another league. She's beautiful." Sirius' response confuses James. "You mean her game?"
Sirius emphasises his words and moves closer to James, as if revealing a secret. "No, I mean she's the hottest women I've ever seen." As the Announcer says, "And now entering the court, the girl's singles world number 1 and winner of the Junior Australian Open…. LILY EVANS!" both lads turn in synchrony towards the court.
Dressed head to toe in the sleekest 2006 Nike gear. She resembles a stunning supermodel and a violent force of nature, flashing a million-dollar smile at the audience. Many others stood up to clap, cheer, and show solidarity. She walks up to her seat and performs a fist pump towards a boy in the stands, Severus Snape, who went to Hogwarts with the boys.
Meadows had no chance from the opening of the encounter. Dorcas began having a crisis, cursing herself in French, swearing at her box, and smashing rackets while Lily appeared like she was hardly sweating. Sirius and James watched Lily with rapt attention and curiosity, without moving a single muscle except the one that quickly rose in their shorts. Without losing focus or seeing the other was in the same situation, they both moved their trophies to their laps. Lily quickly held the girl's singles championship trophy while standing next to Snape in the Junior Players tent. Meadows cried as she held her runner-up prize, comforted by Marlene Mckininonn, James' childhood friend.
Sirius and James wait in the corner, observing Snape finally back away from Lily. James turns to Sirius and says, "We should go say hi."
"No, come on. Let us just enjoy."
"Sirius, I'm not leaving this tent without introducing myself."
Already feeling uncomfortable. "Okay, fine. Be cool." Sirius warned.
Slightly irritated as they walk forward, "I'm always cool" mutters James
Upon approaching Lily, both hands move forward. "Hi, I'm Sirius Bla-" "James Potter," their voices overlap. Lily interrupts them, "I know who you guys are." They both pull back their hands in amazement.
"Padfoot and Prongs, right?"
Sirius says with a boyish grin "In the flesh" with an arrogant tone.
James said, "You were fucking incredible!"
"Thank you" Lily responds.
Encouraging James “No really, it was like…a different game. It wasn’t even tennis.” Looking over at the still crying Dorcas Meadows “I feel bad for Dorcas”
“Don’t she is a sore loser and a fascist bitch” noting their surprise, Lily clarifies “We’ve been playing each other since we were twelve, and she always mutters shit in French under her breath at the changeover.”
All three turn toward Dorcas who is now scowling at Lily with a tear-stained face. Moving on Lily continues facing James “I heard you’re playing for Stanford next year.”
“Yead. How did you..” questions James, once again interrupting him “Me too.”
At responding eyebrow raise on both the boys face “I just accepted the offer, and they mentioned you.”
Sirius interrogates Lily “You’re not going pro?”, a well-rehearsed “No. Not yet.” Is the response
Deeply troubled Sirius questions further “Why?” now surprising Lily by his intensity, Sirius clarifies “Sorry, but you could be winning slams tomorrow. Why would you waste your time playing college tennis?” offending James as Lily moves to respond only to be interrupted by a disgruntled Snape commanding “You need to go talk to some of the sponsors.”
Lily smiling softly, she follows Snape as he departs towards a table of older men. In synchrony, James and Sirius turn to one another.