lovely mistakes
James gaped slightly at the sound of the title. His own father had decided not to claim his title as Lord Potter claiming that the ancient rite was only for prejudiced Slytherins while his mother had nodded starchly in agreement. Since then his whole extended family had the tendency to turn their noses up at titles.
The girl whom he had learned was the Lady Black scowled and knocked against Albus' shoulder before admonishing him, "Hush darling, you know that's a secret for a reason. My grandfather wants me to be presented at the Yule Ball."
'Darling?' James thought bewildered.
His brother only smiled at the pretty girl before saying, "How could I forget with him constantly pestering me about my robes for the event? You know you could be kinder to your date, instead of putting him through the agony of conversing with your grandfather about my robes." She simply patted his chest lightly not offering an answer.
"You did amazingly well you know," She said after a moment, "You brought pride to our whole house." Albus gave her a light grin and wrapped an arm around her.
All James could do was stare at his brother as he wondered whether the girl was his girlfriend. He couldn't see shy, awkward Albus on a date with Slytherin nobility. But to be fair he hadn't really known Albus ever since he got sorted into Slytherin. Albus only came home for summer break preferring to spend Christmas vacation with his friends. And even when he was home he was always locked away in his room. It embarrassed him a little when he saw his cousins and friends with their little brothers and he had to think back six years to find the moments he had shared with Albus.
James was lost in his thoughts and didn't realize that the pair were turning just enough that he would be in their line of vision. He started lightly at the sound of his name before looking up from his thoughts. His brother and the girl next to him both stared at him, James held back a groan knowing that it was too late for him to pretend that he hadn't been staring. He walked over to them in the confident walk of his that he knew girls liked.
Once he got close enough he knocked against his little brother's shoulders before greeting, "Hey Al, and hey gorgeous." He said to the girl. She merely raised a single eyebrow before holding out her hand.
" Heiress Aurelia Lestrange," she greeted, "First Heir to the ancient and noble house of Lestrange, and heir to the ancient and noble house of Greengrass." James couldn't help but smile slightly when he heard the titles. It was so Slytherin to introduce yourself to complete strangers by a long-ass title. He imagined introducing himself that way in his own house and could almost feel the amount of ridicule it would produce.
"James Potter," he introduced shaking her hand, "Pleasure to make your acquaintance." Aurelia seemed to frown slightly as he shook her hand. Belatedly James remembered his Aunt Fleur saying that in most traditional societies a man would introduce himself to a lady by kissing her hand.
She made an odd sound before agreeing, "Pleasure." She finally said after a moment. James couldn't figure out if the curt reply was due to nature or displeasure.
"So sweetheart," He said with a grin, "What are you doing dating someone like my brother." One. Two. Three. Just when James began to think that he had crossed some line both of them immediately burst into laughter.
Albus grinned at him as he fought off laughter and Aurelia leaned into Al's shoulder as she giggled.
"You," she valiantly fought off laughter as she tried to get her words out, "You think I'm dating your brother? Not a chance in hell darling, besides he's already quite smitten with someone else." Albus glared at the girl but didn't refute the comment. James pushed the thought for later choosing to instead investigate who this girl was to Al.
"Then what even are you," James asked slightly bewildered, still trying to see if he had a chance with the girl.
"That," Albus said pointedly, "is none of your business brother," Astoria smirked beside him looking like the perfect image of a refined lady.
"Lions, really are so very nosy," she said twirling a strand of her ebony hair around a finger, "one wonders how they rose to such great heights." That sounded eerily like a threat, James may not have talked to any Slytherins other than his brother but he knew enough of them to know that none of their words were to be taken lightly.
"Better than being a slimy snake," he said as he felt satisfaction rise up in his chest, "at least we aren't going to be the next generation of Death Eaters. At least we can be proud of our parents." Neither of them said anything and James couldn't decipher a single emotion from his brother's stone-cold face.
"Can we?", Albus said after a long pause, "I wouldn't be too sure about that. Aurelia, I am sure we can find a much better company than the likes of this muggle-lovingdisgrace." James rocked back, horrified and disgusted. This was his brother? His brother who was nothing but respectful to Aunt Hermione, but who seemed to adore the idea of Lily Evans.
James walked as his brother walked away feeling something sink in his chest, there had been a time when it had been Al and him against the world. Against their parents. tutors, family, against everything and anything.
He had only been two years older than Al, but he had always felt protective over him. Albus was his little brother, his best friend. He could still remember all those nights when as a kid Albus had climbed into his bed at night and they had spent all night about the things they would do when they were old enough to go to Hogwarts.
James never got to do any of those things with his brother. He could still terrify the Fat Lady, or make Mcgonogall regret teaching. But he couldn't do it with his brother.
But what he could do was bring Al back to the light, bring him back to picnics and food fights, away from balls and debates and crystal halls.
That he could do.
He could remove the Slytherin from his brother.
But he couldn't do that alone.
He would need help. And he knew just the person who could.
☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
The Potter family may have chosen not to acknowledge their family seat, but that did not mean that the rest of the Gryffindor nobles had followed. Neville Longbottom may have been a professor, but he was also the Lord of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Longbottom. And Alice was the heir to the house.
"Let me understand this correctly," Alice said looking at him as if he had lost his marbles.
"Take your time," James responded cheerfully as he flicked through his Care of Magical Creatures textbook.
"You want me to teach you about pureblood traditions, you who regularly make fun of me for just wearing my house ring, for enjoying politics, and for my dream of becoming Lady of the house," Alice said looking bewildered.
"Well, it is time for me to learn wouldn't you say?" He said looking up at his ex-girlfriend cheerfully. He and Alice had dated for about six months before she abruptly broke up with him. She refused to tell him why, but James was determined not to lose a lifetime of friendship away because of a failed relationship, and so even to this day, they maintained their friendship.
Alice looked at him cautiously, "You could just ask your brother you know, the society pages adore him and he learned the rules in like a day. Albus is practically family to all of us at this point."
James ignored the sting in his chest as he said," I think it's time for me to learn more about my brother don't you think? Besides you don't think I'll be able to do it do you? How about this if I give up you can get anything you want."
Alice simply raised an eyebrow, looking like a perfect bored aristocrat, "And if you win?"
"You tell me why you broke up with me."
"Deal," Alice said, "We'll seal the deal the pureblood way, " she said lightly pressing a kiss to his lips. James jerked back in surprise, "You're lessons start tomorrow," she simply said before collecting her things and climbing the steps to the girl's rooms.
"Mate did you just kiss my sister," Frank asked looking alarmed.
AN:
Just to be clear by mudblood I don't mean muggleborns, just someone who disregards traditions and looks down upon the wizarding culture. So in this work, Lily Evans wouldn't be a mudblood because she respected those traditions and acknowledged them, Hermionie Granger looked down upon them and didn't think they should be considered valid and so is considered to be a mudblood. Similarly, most of the Weasleys and Potters are considered mudbloods despite being either half or pure blood. I didn't mean to offend anyone just wanted to be clear.
So the disdain Slytherin has for muggleborns isn't because of their birth, but because of who they disregard their traditions. I know that Ron doesn't exactly show if he follows these traditions, but there were numerous accounts in the series where Hermionie expressed how backward wizarding society was. While she is entitled to her own opinions I don't think that it was appropriate for her to insult someone's culture to their face, especially in an environment where as a new member she should be learning about their culture.