Rule #1

There's no guide to being the kids of the president. No rule book and certainly no tutors. You’re thrown in the deep end and expected to know how to handle yourself in public, how to talk to the press, how not to slip up.
There is, however, one thing that you can live by. Hidden in the west wing of the White House, on the top floor, covered by tiling, is a message. Nobody knows who wrote it. Scratched into the mortar are 5 words. There's theories as to who did it, who had the balls to deface the WHite House. Some think it was Alice Rosevelt. The Poster Child for troublemaker first children. Others think it was one of the Bush sisters, who notoriously escaped secret services. A feat not even James has managed yet. But that doesn’t matter now. What does matter is what it says.
Marked into the wall was a message for only those resourceful enough to find it,
“Rule #1: Don’t get caught.”
James found it in his first week.

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James sat on his bed surrounded by a sea of sticky notes, the only thing visible was the light from the laptop. Illuminated by the word document on the screen. His civic’s final, which, if he doesn’t finish; accounts for 75% of his grade.

His room is forever a museum of quidditch trophies and debating awards, he can’t bring himself to throw them out or put them away. The second floor of the white house is generally reserved for the president and first families. James stays in one of the rooms on the east wing with his sister Marlene's room across the hall from his.
Back home their rooms were placed the same exact way. His sister's room always told a story of what she was interested in.

Witchcraft at 13; Rune’s on the walls, tarot spreads on her vanity and moon cycles above her bed.

Dancing at 15; Ballet Greats, Pointe and Jazz shoes. Marlene was always dancing or showing her family another dance she had choreographed.

When she turned 18 everything turned towards journalism. Vogue magazine was cut up and placed onto her walls. She started at college that summer to study Journalism. The thing she’s trying to turn into her full time job.
It's a bit hard when you're the daughter of the President.

When they moved into the White House they chose the same configuration, some things you can't let go of.

He’s just starting to get into a rhythm when his older sister walks in. Blonde hair pulled up into a bun, her blue pin skirt and blazer tying in perfectly with her baby blue Mary Janes.
He can already see the People article. A photo of his sister with the words, “How to stay stylish in a working industry.”
He sighs, pulling off his reading glasses and glaring up at her. She smiles at him innocently and it's then that he notices the stack of magazines and tabloids in her arms.

“Marls. I’m working” The smile drops and she walks over

“And I don’t care, you’ve been working all day. It's time to spend time with your big sister. Shove, Love”
He moves over before she sits on him, he wouldn’t put it past her, she’s done it before.
She spreads the magazines and picks a random one up, one with them both and their best friend Remus on the cover. The heading is simple,

“The White House Trio at it again. Marlene Potter, James Potter and Remus Lupin hit the town”, the photo is of them after they went out drinking for James’ 21st a couple weeks ago. Marlene scowls at something before squinting, looking further into the page.
She drops the paper and looks up at James. It takes him a minute but when it clicks a smirk crosses his face.

“You owe me 50 bucks” She gapes at him,

“Was it Remus?!?” He thought back to that night and remembered what happened.

“We might have been watching movies and making ‘’noises’ to trick the press” He makes air quotes when he says noises. She slaps him with a magazine,

“You cheater! The bet was about how long it takes for you to get into a NEW sex scandal, not how long it takes you to manipulate the press.” He starts laughing and she’s still hitting him.

“Marls! Marls! Marlene!” She’s laughing now too and he manages to get the magazine out of her hands, placing it down and picking up a new one. This has been their tradition ever since their mother gained traction. They pick up as many tabloids as they can and laugh about how wrong they are. Even now, while their mother is at the peak of her fame as president. They still laugh over how badly the press got it wrong.

“Hey, this one says you bleach your skin to look whiter.” He looks up at Marlene to see her reaction and snorts when she pulls a face. Marlene’s always been a lot lighter than the rest of their family, she gets it from their father who is one of the pastiest men you will ever meet, people walk past him and they tan because of the amount of sunlight reflecting off of him. James has his mothers skin, dark indian brown. It's why it was such a shock to the public when his mother was elected. A woman of color running the country? Controversial.

“The only thing I’m bleaching is my hair.” She puts her drawl on thick when she speaks and it makes James crack a smile. They grew up in Austin, Texas and they still have the accent at times. Their father grew up in Texas and raised them there. It wasn’t until his mother was elected that they moved, that was 3 years ago. He still has the key to his old home, hanging off a string above his bed. It's been 3 years since he’s been home. 3 years of collecting dust.

Marlene interrupts his thoughts,

“Oh, by the way. Have you chosen what to wear for the Royal Wedding? I need help choosing a dress.” He nods, he’s had his suit ready for weeks, why she’s asking now he has no idea.

“Okay, I’m stuck between the red satin one and the green lace one” He fixes a spelling error in his work and reply’s offhandedly,

“Lace, It’s Britain. Why not? Why are you asking this now??”

“Cause we're leaving tonight?? Are you even packed?” He pauses, looking up at her.

“You’re not funny” He deadpans,

“And I’m not joking, the wedding’s tomorrow. How have you not seen it being advertised?” She holds up a magazine from earlier. Under a photo of James on the cover are the words “Royal Wedding Extravaganza! 28th of April, Live on 7+. See inside for more details on their $100,000 dollar cake and Chocolate fountain combo!”
James scrubs his hand across his face, truth be told this stupid wedding wasn’t the most important thing. His civic’s essay was!

“How hasn’t McGonagall been on your ass about this yet? She’s been climbing up my buttcheeks all week about this wedding!” Marlene throws her hands up, she’s pacing now. Abandoning her previous task of going through James’ wardrobe in search of a hoodie to steal no doubt

“I told her not to disturb me! Civic’s assignment takes priority, remember!” He gets up and starts throwing the basics into a suitcase. Pj’s, Underwear, everything he might need.

“For the wedding of Princess Bellatrix, no it doesn’t!” James rolls his eyes. He couldn’t care less about the royal family. Since the death of Orion Black, a beloved actor in Britain, the royal family have been secluded at best.
The king, King Arctucus kept doing what he did best and Princess Walburga pulled away, leaving her children in the spotlight.

The eldest being Princess Bellatrix, the perfect princess to the public. She’s either insane or inhuman. Nobody is that unemotional. She barely even looks happy to be married. Honestly James wouldn’t be surprised if she isn’t. The whole family is probably blood money and arranged marriages. The siblings are probably third cousins or something.

Next in line is Prince Sirius. Now that’s a man James could be friends with. His style is wicked, leather jackets paired with suits. James recently read an article about Sirius criticizing his long hair. He disagrees, he wishes he could pull off long ass hair.

Lastly is someone James personally wishes didn’t exist. Not in a bad way, it would just make life so much easier. The last Royal sibling is Prince Regulus or as James has nicknamed him. Prince Popsicle. The man walks around like he’s got a stick shoved up his ass 24/7, the way his brows are always pinched. James is probably right. The man is like a walking Ken doll, all chiseled cheekbones and deep scowls.
James used to like him, some might even say admire him.

That was until the quidditch world-cup.
It was 2 years ago, James was 19 and was so excited to meet the Royals. He was met with the youngest of the family and wasn’t even given a handshake. The prince barely acknowledged him before turning to his security and asking if they could get rid of James. And thus started the rivalry of the ages.

It didn’t help that the media was constantly comparing them, James was the American version of Regulus. For every set of First Siblings there was a set of Royal siblings to go along with them.

Three hours later the First Siblings found themselves on a plane set for London. There was something about flying privately that James doesn’t think he’ll ever get used to. You grow up poor your entire life and things that should become normal never do.

Marlene is sitting across from him, book in her lap. His sister always has the most random reading material on trips, Anne of Green Gables might be the most tame thing she’s brought so far.
Sprawled out next to his sister is their best friend, Remus Lupin.

They met when James was 16 and Marlene was 18. Their mother was campaigning and their biggest supporter was Remus’ grandfather, Arthur Lupin. The current vice, after years of being friends, the trio was presented as the perfect little package.
Titled “The White House Trio”, the nickname was coined by People Magazine but what the public doesn’t know is that the name was carefully tested by his mother’s PR team and multiple different focus groups.

In James’ opinion, Remus is a special kind of weirdo. He has photographic memory and actually enjoys math. Weird.
Remus is currently typing away on his laptop, most likely doing data analysis for a project of his.

James on the other hand is bundled up opposite the other two, fully ready to get as much sleep as possible for the next 8 hours. If he’s forced to see Prince Popsicle, he wants to do it with a clear head..