05h27
James could hear a familiar cry from the baby monitor, the sounds of his little 1-year-old daughter were the causes of many late nights and early mornings. Ever so sleepily, he dragged himself out of bed, knocking into every piece of furniture along the way before finally entering the nursery where his crying daughter awaited. Gently wrapping Harriet in her blanket and taking her in his arms, he moved quietly to the rocking chair trying to soothe her cries so as to not wake up Moony and Padfoot.
“Shh, there, there little one; what got you all worked up,” James asked gently, slowly rocking her in the chair trying desperately not to fall asleep.
Once Harriet realized she was in her dad’s arms, her crying ceased immediately and she began smiling. Wiggling around in her blanket excited to see her father had gotten up for her.
“Dada!’
“Hello there my little troublemaker,” James grinned fondly, “It’s a bit early to start the day don’t you think?”
Harry, not having a clue what her father was talking about, simply gurgled back at him, reaching her tiny little hands out to grab James’ glasses.
“Da-ee!”
“Alright, Trouble.”
08h44
James was in the kitchen already cooking breakfast, Harriet in her high chair babbling happily when Remus walked into the room. She started giggling madly upon seeing her uncle Moony, splashing her breakfast everywhere creating a complete mess.
“Moo! Moo!”
“Oh! Fu- Goodness Harry!” Remus corrected quickly after seeing James ‘don’t you fucking dare’ dad glare, quickly fetching a rag from the sink to try and clean the mess he had accidentaly triggered.
“Moo’ey up! Up!”
“Yes, yes. It’s good to see you two, darling.” Remus picked up Harry, placing tiny kisses all over her face. He gently placed her back down in her high chair, taking extra care to wipe off the rest of the musk from her little hands.
When Remus turned towards James, seeing the size of the dark circles under his eyes, he knew his friend had been up for a while now.
“Early morning?”
“I don’t know what sleep schedule she’s on,” James pointed an omelet covered spoon towards his daughter, “but it seems her mornings start at 5h30.”
Remus grimaced, “Oh Harry! Did you get your dad up early again?”
“Da?”
That was enough to convince Remus she was innocent.
“Good god, how can anyone stay mad at you for long cutie?” he said before blowing a raspberry on her cheek, causing Harriet to shriek in giggles.
“Is Padfoot up yet?” James asked, finishing up the last bit of the eggs before platting them and passing one to Remus.
“He was dead asleep when I woke up,” Remus gratefully took the plate with a quick ‘thank you’ before digging in, “I doubt you’ll have any success getting him up now; unless you want a lamp chucked at you.”
James snorted, knowing Remus was never going to let Sirius live down the famous lamp incident. He platted his own food before taking a seat across the table, making sure to sit towards the edge to help Harriet with her breakfast.
“What if we send Harry to wake him up?” James asked, gently spooning a mouthful of scrambled eggs towards Harriet. She only looked back up at him curiously, before thoroughly knocking the spoon away.
“Pa! Paff-” Harry gurgled. She was still struggling to get the ‘F’ sound.
“See! She wants her uncle Padfoot! Don’t you, Trouble?”
“Pa!”
09h15
Sirius was not a morning person.
It was a known rule, that's what happened when you worked night shifts at a bar. You just aren't destined to be a morning person.
However, there was one exception to that rule.
That exception being the little bundle of messy dark curls he had the privilege of calling his goddaughter.
He felt the bed dip before he was even fully awake, already knowing who it was. With a chuckle, Sirius rolled over onto his back and was met with two mischievous green eyes.
“Paff!”
“Prongslet!” Sirius sleepily exclaimed, picking up the little gremlin and sitting her down on his chest. He was fully prepared to go back to sleep for another few hours, but a knock on the door interrupted him.
James poked his head in the doorway “Is it safe to come in?”
“Yes Prongs, you can come in.” Despite his eyes being closed, James could feel Sirius rolling his eyes at him, muttering something that sounded vaguely like ‘drama queen’. You chuck a lamp at someone once and suddenly you’re labeled for life!
James bounced on the bed and smiled at the sound of his daughter’s giggles. She was such a happy baby, always smiling and laughing, it did wonders for James’ mood. On the off chance she did cry, a good cuddle always fixed her mood right up.
“So what's on the agenda today, mate? Anything exciting?” Sirius asked while picking up Harry and playing helicopter. For the first time in what felt like forever, all three men had the day off together. Usually, either one of them was always at work, or got called into work last minute so this day was a rarity.
James shook his head, running a hand through his messy hair. “Not much really. I thought we could take it easy, maybe go for a walk around the park later, I wanted Harry to get some fresh air. You lot can tag along but only if you can manage to drag yourself out of bed.”
“I honestly doubt you’ll get Mr. Lazy over here to do anything today,” Remus appeared from the doorway, leaning against the frame and watching the sight before him with a fond smile. “Padfoot? Out of bed before noon? Now that’s a miracle”
Sirius feigned a dramatic gasp, pressing his hand to his heart. “How dare you question my dedication as a godfather? I could never resist a sunny day with my favorite little lady.” He dropped Harry onto his lap and began making airplane noises, causing her to squeal with delight.
“A picnic could be nice,” James smiled at the sight of his daughter laughing with his best mate. “We haven't had a day off all together in ages, it would be nice to enjoy the weather.”
“What do you say, mini Prongs? Do you want to go to the park?” Sirius asked, turning to the baby for the final council vote.
“Pah!” Harriet squealed, clapping her hands together excitedly as if she understood every word.
“Park it is!”
12h06
They decided on a picnic in Kenwood.
It was a beautiful sunny day, so many other families were also enjoying the weather outdoors. The weather was perfect, with nothing but blue skies and a few fluffy white clouds littering the sky.
Sirius decided to dress Harry in the cutest little overalls, complete with tiny sunflowers embroidered on the front. He had a bad habbit of purchasing any and all outfits he found, delighting in dressing her up in all sorts of get ups. He couldn't help it! She was just to cute! She looked like a miniature fashionista, ready to take on the world—or at least the park.
“Look at you, little lady! You’re absolutely adorable!” Sirius exclaimed, lifting Harriet up and sitting her on his shoulders. "Uncle Padfoot knows style, don't I kid?"
James ruffled Harriet’s hair affectionately. “You’re going to charm everyone at the park today, that’s for sure.”
As they strolled, the warm sunlight bathed them in golden rays, and the sound of laughter and chatter filled the air. Families picnicked on blankets, children chased after one another, and dogs played with abandon. James couldn’t help but smile—it was moments like this that made all the sleepless nights worthwhile.
Once they arrived at Kenwood Park, they found a perfect spot under a sprawling oak tree. The shade offered a respite from the sun’s warmth, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves overhead. Remus laid down the picnic blanket while James set down the basket filled with sandwiches, fruit, and other homemade goodies.
Harriet was able to sit still for approximately 2 minutes, a personal record for her, before deciding she wanted to go explore.
It was to be expected, ever since she started walking, she was unstoppable, wanting to discover every nook and cranny the world had to offer. With a determined gleam in her eye, she scrambled to her feet, her small fingers gripping the edge of the blanket as she prepared to make her escape.
“Harriet, wait—” James called out, barely fast enough to catch her energetic enthusiasm. But she was already waddling away, her giggles trailing behind her like a melody.
Sirius chuckled, watching as Harriet took her first few tottering steps across the grass. “She’s got her own agenda today,” he said with a mock-serious voice. “The great explorer is on the move!”
“Careful, or she’ll find trouble before you know it,” Remus added with a knowing smile, munching away on some chocolate as he watched Harry waddle away. Harry was too much like James for her own good, always out looking for trouble.
James followed his little marauder a few steps behind, letting her think she was escaping the treacherous picnic blanket. He watched with warmth, the sight of her discovering the world for the first time was simply incredible. Everything was new to her, and she looked around in awe, taking in every piece of the world. As soon as she had learned to walk, she wanted to be on the move all the time, as if she were somehow making up for all that lost time.
Speaking of time, James could hardly believe Harry was already so big. It felt like just yesterday he had held her for the first time ever. Now, here she was, before his very eyes, waddling away seemingly ready to take on the world. With every passing day, James learned new aspect if his little trouble makers personality, and with every day, he found himself more enamored by her fierce spirit and curiosity. It was as if she were a little explorer charting unknown territories, and he was her trusty sidekick, following closely behind to document the great adventures.
James was so deeply lost in his thoughts, eyes never leaving his little trouble maker, that he barely registered someone bumping into him.
“Oh shit! Are you alright? ”
“I’m so sorry! I was looking at my phone and walking and I-”
That voice sounded familiar.
Where did he…?
“Potter?”
“Evans?”
The two looked at each other in shock, staring as if they were seeing ghosts from their pasts.
For a moment, the world around them blurred into the background—the chatter of families, the joyful barking of dogs, and the rustling leaves faded as James and Lily stood facing one another. The years apart felt like an eternity, yet in an instant, the memories rushed back like vivid snapshots, vibrant and loud.
“I—uh, wow,” James stammered, running a hand through his unruly hair. “What are you doing here?”
“Just, um, enjoying a bit of sunshine,” Lily replied, her cheeks flushing slightly as she adjusted her handbag on her shoulder. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a day off.”
“No, I meant what are you doing here- in London?” It seemed like an eternity had passed since they'd last stood in each other's presence, and the unexpectedness of the encounter set his heart racing. So much was running through his mind at once.
“Oh! Right.” Lily cleared her throat, looking down for a moment before meeting his eyes again. “I moved back recently. Just started a new job actually, and I thought it would be nice to catch some sun—seems the weather has finally decided to cooperate.”
“That’s -” James began but was quickly cut off.
“Da!”
“... Is that your kid ?” She didn’t mean for it to sound accusatory, but it just slipped out, too stunned by the sight before her to even register a verbal filter. Lily was simply stunned, looking down to see what was essentially a mini version of the man standing in front of her. Her mind was struggling to wrap around the sight. James Potter, trouble maker extraordinaire, was a father?
If James sensed her shock, he didn't show it, simply bending down and scooping up his daughter as she squealed. “This is my daughter, Harriet.”
Lily was really hoping her face was more dignified than how she felt, but it seemed her brain had other ideas, leaving her standing there speechless.
James watched as a flurry of emotions cascaded across Lily's face—shock, curiosity, and a hint of disbelief. The moment stretched, a bubble of silence surrounding them as the realization sunk in. James shifted on his feet, becoming increasingly more uncomfortable. He’d thought he would be used to it by now, the odd looks, the disapproving stares, but each time felt like a new punch in the gut. He hated it. Hated the way others judged, as if he should be ashamed of his greatest joy.
“Harriet?” Lily finally echoed, her voice barely above a whisper. “That’s such a lovely name.”
Without missing a beat Harry suddenly yelled “Too-ble!”
“Huh”
Trust baby Harry to break the tension.
“Oh sorry,” Jame chuckled, shifting Harriet to his other arm, “She’s trying to say ‘Trouble’, it's one of her nicknames but I think we’ve been using it too much, she might think that’s her actual name.”
Lily choked out a laugh before she could stop herself. Now that was the James Potter she remembered. She gave a teasing smile “I would say how can a face like that be trouble, but knowing she’s your kid? That checks out”
“Yeah! She’s my pride and joy,” James chuckled, cradling Harriet as she wriggled excitedly in his arms before finally losing the battle against the little wiggly worm and placing her back down.
"She’s got your adventurous spirit, that’s for sure," Lily replied, warmth bubbling in her chest as she studied the tiny version of James. Bright eyes, unruly hair, and an infectious energy—Harriet was undeniably a Potter through and through.
As James set Harriet down, she immediately darted off, her tiny feet pattering against the grass. She began to inspect the world around her with wide-eyed wonder, bending down to pick up a dandelion.
“Oook, Da!” Harriet shouted, holding the flower triumphantly in the air, her face a mix of determination and delight.
“What did you find?” James crouched down to her height, inspecting the flowers with precision, “Look at the pretty flowers! You want to go show Uncle Padfoot and Uncle Moony?
“Uncle Padfoot and Uncle Moony!” Harriet echoed, giggling as she bounced on her toes. With the dandelion clutched tightly in her small fist, she ran back to her uncles’ waiting arms.
He turned back to Lily, making sure Harry was safely back with Sirius and Remus before giving his attention to the redhead.
“So-”
“So-”
They both spoke at the same time, laughing awkwardly before as they tried to figure out who goes first.
“When did you-” James spoke up first, trying to clear his throat from the sudden dryness, “When did you get back to London?”
Lily Evans had moved away to Paris not long after getting her masters at only barely 22, she had applied for a fancy PhD program in Paris and was quick to leave in the beginning months of summer. James remembered the last day he saw her, it was Marlene’s graduation party, he especially remembered the moment Lily Evans announced she was leaving. How earth shattering it had been to find out the woman you had been in love with for years, the one who you were finally beginning to get on with, was suddenly leaving.
He tried to get over her, he really did. He had gone on a few dates and even had a few relationships but things suddenly took an aggressive halt when his latest date had knocked on his door one night.
And well, a few months later, James met Harriet.
“I got back a few weeks ago,” Lily replied, her voice steady despite the memories that threatened to bubble to the surface. “My research team needed me back at our London campus long term and well, Marlene offered me her spare room. Next thing you know, I’m here.”
“You’re staying with Marley?” James asked, stunned that Marlene wouldn’t have told him something like this, they saw each other pretty frequently after all. How had Lily’s return not come up in conversation? “Well, in any case, it’s good to have you back, Evans. Although I’m sure Paris misses you greatly, having lost their best biologist and all.”
Lily rolled her eyes, doing her best to stifle the smile threatening to split across her face. This is what she remembered, this is what she missed.
James could see the flicker of delight in Lily's eyes, as if their playful banter was a key that unlocked memories they both cherished. With every lighthearted jest, walls that had built up over years started to crumble, and he found himself captivated once more by her presence.
“Oh, please,” Lily said, her voice teasing. “Paris will survive without me. Besides, I still work for the same lot, just in a new lab.”
“Moving up fast I see” He snickered, if anyone would dominate the science world, it was Lily bloody Evans.
“Not as fast as i’d like” She sighed, suddenly reminded of the logistical work still left to be done for her transfer.
“I guess that means we just have more catching up to do,” It was a risky move,James knew that, but old habits die screaming apparently. He didn’t mean for the playful tone to go too far but he slipped back into their old routine so quickly!
Lily was clearly stunned for a moment, her playful expression momentarily faltering. The suggestion hung in the air between them, heavy with implications. Their banter had always danced on the edge of flirtation, but this felt different—more earnest, more hopeful.
But then she smiled, a true, genuine, brilliant smile.
“I’d love that, James.”
12h38
“Was that Evans?!” Sirius asked in astonishment the moment James was back, the infamous redhead now walking away from their spot under the oak tree. He couldn’t believe it, he thought he was going mad. Lily Evans, back in London?
When he saw the sight of the bird chatting up his best mate, despite the obvious presence of a child, he figured he would give the bloke a chance. He kept Harriet occupied with snacks and coloring supplies while her dad tried to land a date for the first time in over two bloody years. It wasn’t until Remus made the connection did Sirius begin to squint a little more, and sure enough, there was Evans.
“I thought she was off saving the world in some distant lab in Paris!” Sirius said, his voice low and conspiratorial as he leaned closer to James, who wore an amused grin on his face.
“Well, she's back, AND she's staying with Marley!”
“WHAT” Sirius was fully alert, gaping at James like the man had just declared the sky was green instead of blue. “That traitor! She never mentioned Evans was moving in with her!”
“It must have been a sudden decision, I'm sure she would have brought it up at lunch at some point.” Remus said, trying and failing to be the voice of reason. The four of them saw Marley frequently enough where it at least should have come up in conversation once .
“Sudden doesn't even begin to cover it,” Sirius replied, shaking his head in disbelief. “We need to have a word with Marlene. She’s got a lot to answer for.”
As Sirius continued to rant about this betrayal, with Remus trying to diffuse his tirade, James began losing himself in his thoughts. Flashes of red-hair and laughter danced across his vision, memories of late nights coming back all at once. He could almost hear the echoes of their voices during those carefree times—a cacophony of laughter, discussions, and the occasional heated argument.
“Da”
James was snapped back to reality at the sound of his daughter. Her big green eyes were staring up at him, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. Seems she had decided she was done with snack time and was ready to spring back into play time.
“Hey there, Trouble,” He chuckled, ruffling her hair and making her curls stick out even more.
“Play!”
Despite the turmoil James was feeling, it all melted instantly at his daughter’s demand to play. He couldn’t help it, she was his whole world. Sirius and Remus would laugh at him, saying he was smitten with Harriet, but James knew they were just as bad if not worse than he was, what with how they spoiled her to no end.
James scooped Harriet up in one swift motion, causing her to give a shriek of delight.
“Alright my little Marauder! Let’s go play”
14h31
It was later in the day when Lily finally decided to return home. The late afternoon sun poured through the windows of her flat, bathing the space in a warm, comforting light as Lily opened the door to her home. But the beauty of the moment was lost on her as she sunk into the cushions, rubbing her temples in an attempt to dispel the headache building there.
James Potter. Just thinking his name felt like a time capsule bursting open inside her chest, unleashing a flood of memories—of laughter, arguments, late-night talks, and shared secrets. It had been so long since she had seen him, and yet nothing felt quite as exhilarating and terrifying as their unexpected reunion in the park.
Lily had been pacing up and down the living room for about an hour now, over analyzing the day’s events in her head to the point it gave her a headache.
After one more lap around the small living room, she flopped down on the sofa and sighed in frustration.
Why couldn’t she stop thinking about him? It was as if her brain had chosen this moment of solitude to replay every memory associated with James—every laugh they had shared, every intimate conversation, and every moment that had felt charged with unspoken emotion. Was it nostalgia? Or something deeper?
The clock on the wall ticked steadily, each second echoing her internal struggle. She retrieved her phone, half-heartedly scrolling through her messages; nothing caught her interest. The group chat with Marley was a flurry of animated gifs and jokes, but they felt distant as she sat stewing in her own thoughts.
Eventually, she placed the phone down and shifted her focus to the modest stack of books on the coffee table, an assortment of novels and a few work-related texts she had meant to read. But reading felt tedious now; her mind was too occupied with the image of James and his daughter.
His daughter .
Good god, he was a father now, a father to Harriet, a child who most likely had a mother involved in the picture. What was Lily thinking? Trying to flirt with James when he had a child and therefore most likely a partner .
Lily was saved from her spiral when Marlene suddenly came tumbling through the door, struggling with a load of groceries. She hadn’t even heard the key giggle.
Jumping from the sounds of the door slamming open shut, Lily lifted her head in time to see her flatmate attempting to carry far too many bags at once.
“You know it wouldn’t kill you to make two trips, right?” Lily chuckled, watching the girl try and fail to unload a bag on the dining table.
“You know it wouldn’t kill you to help me!” Marlene snapped back. Rolling her eyes with a half-smile, Lily rushed over to help. Marlene's arms were laden with an assortment of grocery bags, some precariously stacked while others threatened to spill their contents at any moment.
Rolling her eyes, Lily got up from her cozy nest and went to help Marlene lug the stuff into the room.
“Alright, superhero in training, let me save the day,” Lily said, grabbing two of the heavier bags from Marlene’s arms. “What on earth did you buy? Enough food to feed an army?”
“Hey, don’t mock my grocery shopping skills! I haven't had a flat mate in a while! I forgot what shopping for two people is like.” That was fair, Lily thought, considering how long it had been since the last time Marley lived with someone.
“Right, well let me just remind you that I'm very, very grateful for your help and letting me stay in your spare room and I love you so much” Lily sing-songed as she continued to put away the shopping. Truthfully, Lily was extremely thankful for her best friend’s kindness, while Marlene had dismissed her thanks, giving a simple ‘we’re best friends!’, as a response, Lily felt eternally grateful.
“You alright? You got a look on your face that’s telling me something interesting happened today” Marlene asked as she wrestled with a particularly stubborn bag filled with fresh produce. Lifting her brow, she tossed Lily a curious glance while reaching for a bunch of kale that threatened to tumble out.
Lily paused, caught slightly off guard by the perceptiveness in Marlene’s tone. She had tried to keep the day’s thoughts about James tucked away, but it seemed Marlene had a radar for her moods. “Oh, I just... saw someone I didn’t expect to see.”
"Someone like?" Marlene pressed, opening a drawer to grab a cutting board.
“James, James Potter” Lily admitted, her voice trailing off as she focused too intently on organizing canned goods.
Marlene suddenly stopped in her tracks. Lily running into James meant two things, one, James now most likely knew Lily would be living with her and be all up in arms about why she didn’t tell him.
Two, Lily knew he had a kid. A kid she had failed to inform her about.
Shit.
“You remember James, don’t you? From Uni?”
“Lily darling…. are you forgetting James and I are cousins? Well, second cousins?” Marlene stared at her friend, confused, of course she knew who her bloody cousin was. She also knew she was about to get torn into for failing to share very vital information about her cousin with her best friend.
“So… you knew about his kid then?”
There it was.
Marlene held her breath, wondering how to navigate this tricky conversation. “Okay, okay, before you unleash the inferno of judgment, I’ll admit it—I did know”
“And you didn’t tell me!”
“Just let me explain!”
“Explain what! This isn’t just some little detail you failed to mention, this is a whole kid!”Lily crossed her arms, tapping her foot. “A kid is a pretty big detail to miss, Marlene!”
“Look, there's a reason I didn’t tell you,” Marlene said, her tone shifting from defensive to earnest. “It’s not that I was trying to keep it from you on purpose. I promise. It’s just…”
“Just what?”
“... Listen, you two didn’t exactly get on at Hogwarts, and when you did get on, there was the whole ‘will they, won’t they’. If I’m being going to be honest with you, Lil, I was a bit scared of you two meeting again”
Lily’s arms fell to her sides, her brow furrowing. “You were scared? Really? I thought you were my biggest cheerleader, not my warden!”
“I am your cheerleader! But this isn’t just some schoolyard rivalry anymore” Marlene took a deep breath, trying to collect her thoughts. “Look, I love James, but I also love you! So I’m a tad protective of you both. I saw the way things ended the summer before you left, I saw the aftermath for both parties! I didn’t want to set something off by mentioning James, so I sort of just kept those two parts of my life separate!”
“But why wouldn't you tell me! Especially now that I'm back in London! At least had I known I wouldn't have looked so ridiculous seeing him today!”
Marlene winced at the frustration in Lily's voice. “I know! I just thought I was doing the right thing. I didn’t want to throw you into a situation where you’d be facing old feelings and a surprise kid all at once. It seemed easier to just let it be.”
“Easier for who?” Lily snapped, her cheeks flushing. “Because it certainly wasn’t easier for me. You think I’d have handled that situation any better if I’d known in advance?”
Marlene rubbed the back of her neck, feeling the heat of Lily’s ire settle uncomfortably between them like a silent wall. “You’re right, you’re absolutely right. I should have told you. I should have told him too.”
God that was going to be another battle she would have to deal with.
“Bloody hell, had I known maybe I could have saved myself the embarrassment of flirting with a taken man,” Lily groaned at the memory, shoving herself in the barstool chair and burying her face in her hands.
“Taken? James?” Marlen sputtered a laugh,”No, love, he’s definitely single.” If anything, James had practically been religiously single since Harriet was in the picture. No matter how many times Sirius and her tried to set him up, get him to leave the house, he always shot down the idea.
“...What? But, but what about-” Lily was so confused, Harriet had to have come from somewhere, where was the other half of that baby?
“Harry’s mum? Ya, she’s not in the picture. From what I know, she and James had a quick fling, she got knocked up, they talked about, then bam! We have little Harriet!” The way Marlene said it so… Casually? Was it really that simple? Lily had a feeling there was more to the story that she wasn’t sharing but she didn’t think it was right to pry. After all, she and James essentially stopped speaking after she moved, who was she to poke in his personal life after practically vanishing.
“Hey, oh love,” Marlene could see the torment in her friend's face. She leaned over the counter and held Lily’s hands in hers, giving them a light squeeze. “Look, a lot has happened since you left, and I did a terrible job at keeping you informed. So yes, James has a kid, BUT! A lot is still the same! He lives in a flat with Siri and Remus, you remember them don’t you? They live not too far from here, we all have breakfast together every Sunday, and it’s actually quite lovely. James is still the same goofy, caring bloke he was back in Hogwarts.”
Lily thought over all the new information she was just given, with everything in her work life being so chaotic, she had hoped returning to London would help ground her, being familiar ground. But she just found herself even more turned upside down.
Trust James Potter to throw a wrench in her plans without even trying.
Lily gave a long sigh before finally squeezing Marlene's hands back and giving her a tired smile.
“...So, no more secrets?” Lily confirmed, hoping to not have any more bombshell dropped on her today.
“No more secrets!” Marlene chuckled playfully, “Now- Hey, wait! Where are you going?”
Lily had quickly gotten up from her chair, the legs scraping against the floor at the sudden movement, and began determinedly marching towards her room.
“I have a phone call to make!”
14h58
James, Harriet, Sirius and Remus all made their way back to the apartment shortly after their picnic lunch. They made their way back to the flat, with James trying his best to ignore Sirius’s never ending list of questions. He was still a bit shaken after his run in with with Lily, he couldn’t believe that after so long, she was back.
Apparently, Sirius couldn’t believe it either.
He hadn’t shut up since James returned to their picnic blanket, simultaneously interrogating him while also declaring war on Marlene for keeping such a big secret. James only managed to escape with the excuse of Harry needing a nap, quickly rushing to the nursery as soon as they made it back to the apartment.
He must have accidentally fallen asleep on the rocking chair during Harry’s nap, what with the early wake up call he had gotten that morning, no one could blame him. Little Trouble was soundly sleeping in her father’s arms, having previously unleashed the protest of a lifetime when he tried to settle her into her crib. James must have been more tired than he thought, he didn’t even remember falling asleep until the sound of his phone made him jump.
Having been suddenly awoken, James tried to ignore the crick in his neck as he made a grab for his phone before it woke up Harriet. She stirred slightly but was otherwise unbothered by the sudden jolting, surprisingly enough.
Looking down at the unknown caller number, he answered the phone, his voice gravelly and thick with sleep. “Hello?”
“Hey, James? It’s Lily.”
“Evans?” He was suddenly much more awake.
“I’m Sorry, did I… did I wake you? You sound a bit groggy?” He didn't need to see her face to know she was smiling mischievously, silently judging the fact he was napping mid afternoon like a grandfather.
“No! No, not sleeping, not at all. I'm wide awake, but uh-” James looked down at Harry, suddenly remembering he was holding a sleeping baby and would do very well not to wake her up. “Sorry, It’s Harry’s nap time and she fell asleep on me, and now I don’t have the courage to move.”
“Oh! Sorry, I can call back another time-”
“No! No, it's fine, she's still asleep. I just need to be a bit quiet is all.” James quickly corrected, shoving the phone in the crook of his neck to adjust the sleeping baby in his arms. “What can I do you for, Evans?”
“Actually, I was just calling to see if you were busy this weekend? Maybe we could meet up again, you know, just the two of us?”
James looked down at the phone weirdly, he must still be asleep because for a moment, he thought Lily Evans was asking him out. He blinked a few times, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep and ensure he wasn't imagining things.
“Are you asking me out on a date, Evans?” He asked, mischief lacing his voice.
“What if I am Potter?” she replied with just as much mischief and cockiness as him “So? Are you free or not this weekend?”
Grinning madly, James replied,
“There’s always time for a certain Lily flower in my schedule”