Part 3
Somehow, in some way, James makes it home with Harry. Harry talks the majority of the time, discussing his new friends, Draco, Luna, and Ginny, and all the types of materials, mediums, paper, and some other things James couldn’t even begin to guess, at the academy. He rambles on about all the “cool crafts” (his words) he’s going to make while in class. It makes James smile, thinking about how happy his son is to be in the class.
And now they’re home, and James feels all too relieved to be back. Harry instantly runs away, getting out the toys he hasn’t touched in 2 hours. With Harry being distracted again, James finally has a chance to unpack everything he just went through. He pulls out his phone, going to the contact that always seems to be on the top of his most recently messaged. He clicks on the little digital Sirius on his phone.
Sirius, I need you to come over.
As soon as possible.
Read 11:17 AM
I’m sorry Prongs, I’m dealing with something. Can Remus come over instead?
Read 11:19 AM
I guess that’s fine. I just need someone
Oh, have him bring Teddy, if he’s not busy. Harry will need someone to play with 😆
Read 11:21 AM
He’s leaving right now.
Read 11:24 AM
👍
James sighs, setting his phone down. He knows Remus lives around 15 minutes away. So now, all he has to do is wait. He glances back at Harry, who has yet to come up from whatever imaginative world he has in his mind.
While waiting, he noticed his head felt oddly calm but also far too much to keep up with. Like the eye of a hurricane, and one wrong move can send you in or out of it. It’s terrifying. James doesn’t know what to think of it, how to think of it. It’s beautiful but so, so, deadly.
He glances at Harry, wondering how his son, of all people, had possibly somehow in some crazy way led him to the man he hasn’t stopped thinking about since he met him. It doesn’t make sense. His young, 4-year-old child had so much influence on this very moment. It almost makes James laugh, the absurdity of it.
The doorbell rings, knocking James out of his thoughts as he gets up to get the door. There, greeting him, is both Remus and Teddy, sporting their sandy brown hair. James smiles, relieved to finally be able to see someone he can vent to.
“James.” Remus greets.
“Remus.”
They both embrace each other in a hug. James can barely remember the last time he saw Remus, and it feels good to see him again. Teddy has already gone off to find Harry, which leaves Remus and James alone.
“So, Sirius said to come over. Didn’t give much context.” Remus says, arm slung over James’ shoulder. His smile is bright, but his eyes show vague concern for his friend.
“Well,” James begins, “For the record, I didn’t give him much context either.”
Remus’ eyebrows shoot up, “Oh really. All you said is you needed someone over?”
“Yep.”
“So mysterious of you. So… unlike you.”
James laughs, head hanging low, “Yeah well I didn’t really want to put it in a text.”
They somehow make it to James’ office, and both plop a seat in the comfy armchairs in the corner.
“So, what’s going on?” Remus questions, resting his chin on his hand, eyebrows scrunched together.
James sighs, “Well, it’s kind of a long story. Maybe not that long, I don't know.”
Remus keeps his gaze on him, “I’ll listen.”
And James tells him everything.
***
Remus stays still for a very, very long time. He seems frozen. Maybe from shock, James couldn’t guess. He stays still too, a little in shock himself for opening up so easily.
“Fucking hell.” Remus finally mutters, bringing a hand up to his temple, rubbing it as if taking care of a disobedient child.
“What?” James exclaims, “What’s going on in your mind?”
“It’s just… oh god.” Remus fully buries his head in his hands, “It’s just… kind of insane.”
“How so? I can’t like a guy? What’s that supposed to be about? You like a guy. Quite a lot.” James retorts, crossing his arms and feeling rather childish.
“No, no. It’s not that it’s just… hard to wrap my mind around.” Remus tells him, shaking his head, which is still in his hands. James huffs out a breath, which causes Remus to laugh, “Sorry you’re so upset over this reaction.” He apologises, trying to cover up his laughter.
“It’s just that you weren’t like this with Frank. Or Lily or… anyone else. Why is he any different?” James mumbles, a pout making its way onto his face.
“Remind me of his name?” Remus suggests, face just barely making its way out of his hands. He’s smiling, that bastard. He’s smiling at my pain. James thinks pitifully. He answers anyway.
“Mr. Reggie.” Remus breaks out in another fit of laughter. James can feel his face flush, although he doesn’t exactly know why, “Well, I doubt that’s what his actual name is. But he’s teaching toddlers, he needs something simple and easy for them to pronounce.”
“It’s not his name—well it kind of is—but it’s just– oh my god.” Remus breaks into more laughter, which he desperately tries to cover up as a cough.
“I really don’t see what's so funny.” James mutters, looking at Remus in confusion and a little offense. Remus finally stops “coughing”, eyes watering as he shakes his head. He’s still smiling, and his eyes show that he’s in some part of his own mind.
“Oh god Sirius is gonna— Oh god Sirius—”
“Yeah, where is he by the way? I feel like he would’ve had a better reaction than you.” James grumbles, fixing Remus with a harsh glare.
“Last I heard he was with his brother… Holy shit.” Remus curses, his mind clearly working frantically.
“What? Remus what the hell—”
“I have to go.” Remus says suddenly, getting up, “You won’t mind dropping Teddy off, would you? Thanks! See you!” And then he leaves, leaving James to wonder what the hell just happened. Why did Remus seem so panicked? And what the fuck is Sirius going to do that makes Remus run like that?
“Papa?” James’ head turns to his office door quickly, noticing Harry standing there with the door slightly cracked. His face expresses confusion as he walks more into the room, Teddy following close behind. He looks apologetic, like he couldn’t stop Harry from eavesdropping.
“Uh, yeah what’s up?” James asks, voice strained as he wonders how much of that his little toddler son heard.
“What were you and Moony talking about?” Harry comes right up to James, looking directly at him. It makes James uncomfortable in the weirdest way. He doesn’t want to have that talk with his son now, god no. It’s his first day! And, let’s just say, Harry isn’t so good at keeping secrets.
“Nothing—grown up things. You don’t need to worry about it, Harry.” James assures him. Harry nods, although James swears he can see skeptics in his eyes.
“Alright, Harry. I’m going to talk with your dad for a moment, you go back to playing.” Teddy tells him, and Harry instantly obeys. James is extremely confused by this, although once Teddy looks at him it’s almost too obvious.
“Don’t you start too—” James says, pointing a finger at him, but Teddy is already talking.
“So, who is this mysterious man?” Teddy ponders, sitting in the armchair his father was just a few moments ago, putting his chin in his hand.
James swats him playfully on the head, “Go play with your cousin, you bastard.” James mutters.
Teddy laughs, running away playfully. James shakes his head, laughing as well. He walks into the living room, where Teddy and Harry are playing, laughing like little kids. Teddy sees James first, giving him amusing looks. James can’t help but blush a little, smiling and rolling his eyes.
Soon enough, they take Teddy home, after much convincing that he shouldn’t drive, and leave him with Remus for whatever the two might get into.
“Papa?” Harry says, about a minute after Teddy leaves.
“What, Harry?” James answers, chuckling a little while keeping his eyes on the road.
“Do you like Mr. Reggie?”
James has to try not to swerve off the road as he laughs out, “Why would you think that?” He firmly keeps his eyes on the road, not allowing his mind to stray over to his new bloody obsession he seems to have.
“Well, that was what you were talking to Moony about. You liking Mr. Reggie.” Harry says, quite bluntly, as if it didn’t faze him at all.
“Well, it would be quite the problem if I didn’t like him. Otherwise you wouldn’t be able to go back to the school.” James jokes, trying to swerve the conversation away from his stupid school girl crush.
“I guess, but I don’t think you meant it in that way.” Harry mumbles, like he’s pondering over the way James spoke about Mr. Reggie.
“I believe I did, Harry. Maybe you’re just interpreting it in the wrong way.” James blurts out, turning into their neighborhood, “I think the real question is why you were listening in on your father’s personal conversation.”
“I just wanted to see what you were talking to Remus about!” Harry exclaims, like there's nothing wrong with eavesdropping.
“Well maybe we need to be taught a lesson on personal space.” James chides, and he can see Harry pout through the mirror. James chuckles, turning his eyes back to the road as he pulls up to their house. James lets Harry out of the car, into the house. He watches as Harry runs away, ready to go distract himself one way or another.
The absurd thought of what Mr. Reggie could possibly be doing makes its way into James’ mind. He almost laughs at the insanity of such a thought. He’s probably at home, maybe with a girlfriend or significant other. Maybe watching his favorite tv show. Or perhaps planning out his lesson for what he might do tomorrow for the kids. Normal things, so why did James have to have that thought?
Idiot.