What James hadn't thought is that Lily would try to keep Harry from him. Let me explain. Lily and James were together 3 years ago, they ended on pretty good terms and Lily now has a girlfriend herself. They used to do 50/50 parenting, which went pretty well. Harry would stay at his mother's house for a week, and at his fathers house the week after.
But ever since James started dating Regulus, Lily doesn't want Harry staying over anymore, why? Because Lily doesn't trust Regulus, because she thinks that Regulus won't care for Harry right because Regulus didn't have a good childhood himself.
James thought it was ridiculous, he knew all too well about Regulus' past and also knows that what happened to Regulus is something that no person should have ever come close to experiencing.
He knew Lily, this didn't seem like something that she would do. So he was of course surprised when there was a knock on the door, and Lily was stood on his doorstep. When James opened the door his eyes immediately had hints of surprise in his eyes.
"Oh- hi Lily, I wasn't expecting you" James said in his neutral tone.
Lily sighs "James, could we… talk?" she asked.
"Y-yeah, come in" he said and opened the door wider for Lily to walk in.
Lily and James walk to the living room together, there clearly was some tension tat was a little unclear to spot. They both sat on the couch.
"Do you want a drink?" James asked, trying to be polite.
"No thanks" Lily answered, James nodded in understanding that she probably just needed to say something, although he could probably guess what it was. Lily continued "James, listen.. we need to have a conversation"
"...about?" James asked, not enthusiastic about the potential answer.
"Okay, I know we had a 'talk' about this before, but I don't feel comfortable knowing my son is here and could be in... danger" she said, nearly whispering that last word.
James hummed "and what here do you consider dangerous for Harry?" he asked, knowing the answer, but wanting to hea Lily actually say it.
"You know what I mean… Listen, I'm not trying to be rude, or come across as such, but I don't know if your boyfriend is cut out to look after a child" she said, dreading to say every word, since she's aware James wouldn't like it.
"And what makes you say my husband can't look after my child?" James asked, now a little more annoyed.
Lily groaned "I don't mean it in a wrong way, but I just think he should look after Harry because of… y'know, his past" She said.
"Okay, now explain exactly what in his past makes Regulus unable to look after my child? I think he is doing amazing actually" James said, not liking the comments made about his husband.
"You know exactly what i mean, I'm just saying, I don't want him reflecting the childhood he had onto harry" She said as if it was the most obvious thing.
"Okay, and so could your girlfriend, Pandora is a Rosier, she had the same childhood as Regulus" James argued
Lily scoffed "So you have a problem with Pandora? Is that what it is?"
"Of course not, I'm just saying. If you're judging Regulus on his past it would seem a bit narcissistic if your girlfriend had the exact same past" James said the irritation building up.
¨I have more reasons, do you really want to hear them?" She asked, James folded his arms to hear whatever these 'reasons' would be, Lily scoffed before she continued "Well, before he dated you he was in an abusive relationship, i don't want him to reenact that abuse plus the abuse from his parents onto my child. Next he used to be a death eater. And on top of all that, he smokes and drinks" she exclaimed.
James looked at her in disbelief "None of that abuse was his fault, he is recovering from a bad start in his life, but never would he ever hurt Harry. And you know he was forced to be a death eater by his parents and that he left as soon as he turned 18. And that ´he smokes and drinks´ is bullshit, does he smoke? Yes, but one, never in front of Harry nor in the same room as harry. And two, you're talking about it as if he smokes ganja everyday. Plus why does it matter if he drinks some wine once a week, it doesn't hurt anyone"
Lily rolled her eyes "I don't think he is perfectly cut out to be looking after Harry though"
"Why do you have such a problem with him when you seem to have no problem with his brother?" James asked.
"What are you on about?" Lily replied, hoping James would drop the conversation.
James rolled his eyes "Oh come on, you always ask Sirius to look after Harry when you and Pandora are going out. He had the exact same childhood as Regulus yet, you seem to have no problem with Sirius?"
"It's not like that and you know it isn't, I've known Sirius much longer than Regulus" Lily tried to agrue.
"Lily, just- if you just have an issue with Regulus, Just tell me" James said a little bit softer
Lily sighed "I'm just worried about Harry, and i don't think Regulus is helping to get rid of that worry" She answered truthfully but still a little tense.
"Do you want to talk about this later? Maybe with a clearer head?" James suggested.
Lily nodded and got up, James walked her out and Lily went home.
***
James didn't hear from Lily the next day until he got a message, he looked at his phone and saw the message was sen 3 hours ago, Jaes quickly opened his phone to read the message.
[21:43] Lily: heyy so i was wondering if you could look after Harry for a few moments, I'm pretty sure you still have my key
[21:58] Lily: okay me and Panda are leaving have fun with Harry byee
Shit, James thought.Harry has been alone for 3 hours?! he looked at the clock, yep, it's nearly midnight. Oh gods, what was he going to do? Okay message Lily.
[23:56] James: Hey, Lily, I didn't actually see your message. are you going home soon?
[00:02] Lily: omg no lol don't bother, we're already home. oh well Harry is fine
[00:03] James: are you sure he's fine he had been alone for 3 hours
[00:06] Lily: yea lo it's fine, he's fine, thanks for messaging bye
***
A few days after that James went to talk to Regulus about a certain message Lily had gotten.
"Hey, love?" James said, walking into the living room.
Regulus looked up from his book "yes?"
"Did you by any chance tell someone about the incident a few days ago?" James asked.
"No, not that I can think of...why?" Regulus asked, slightly concerned.
"Lily texted me saying that, I shouldn't have told anyone about what had happened, apparently they're trying to take Harry away from her for neglect" James said.
"Huh, weird..." Regulus said.
It didn't take long for them to realize what had happened, Lily was talking with one of her friends about what had happened, and someone had overheard her and reported her. Harry was taken from Lily and put into the care of James and Regulus.