James Potter has a very confusing day
When James Potter woke on the morning of the first Quidditch game of the year, he could never have predicted how it would end.
Just like any Saturday morning, James woke to a blurry version of his curtained bed. He reached for his glasses, stood, stretched, and left for a jog around the pitch. In his head, he went over the pregame speech he would give his team later and also made a mental note to check in on Tina beforehand.
Jogging back up the steps to re-enter the castle, he passed McGonagall.
“Minnie!”
“Mr Potter.” She replied. Her lip twitched. She had given up telling him and Sirius off for that nickname years ago. Sirius was sure she secretly loved it.
“Are you going to be watching later, miss?”
“Of course. Better play well, Potter.”
“I will if you’re watching!” He joked. “I aught to go for breakfast now. See you later, miss.” He returned to the dormitory where Sirius was still fast asleep.
“Wake him won’t you, Moony? You know what he’s like if he doesn’t have coffee before midday.”
“Aye James, I know it. He looks peaceful though.”
“You sap.” He knocked Remus’ head as he went past for his shower.
A shower later, James walked to the common room where he found Peter and Aurora Lupin engaged in, what looked like, a very intense debate.
“Pinball Wizard is so better than Bennie and the Jets! That’s such a basic answer Pettigrew.”
“It’s not basic if it’s true.”
“Personally, I’d say Honky Cat is the real answer here.” James said, inserting himself between them. They gave him a look. James was unruffled.
“Breakfast Pete?”
“Yeah, was waiting for you to get your arse out the shower.”
“Don’t talk about my arse! There’s children present.” He leaned over to Aurora and covered her ears.
“Get off, eejit.” She swatted his hand. “An’ I’m 14! I’m no a child.”
Soon after Peter and James were sat for breakfast they were joined by Remus and Sirius. Remus shoved a mug of coffee under Sirius’ drooping face before reaching for a chocolate pastry.
“Hogsmede today, lads?” He said, crumbs falling to the table.
“As long as you buy me a chocolate Moony. You owe me.” Peter said, pointing at him.
He rolled his eyes. “Sure, Peter.”
“Can’t. Quidditch prep.” James said through a mouthful of eggs.
Three matching scathing looks were sent his way.
It was not often James had the dorm to himself and he found it was quite peaceful. He could hear conversations drifting up from the grounds outside and a faint smell of Remus’ cigarettes lingered in the air. However, despite the peace, James was not good at staying stationary for any length of time; he needed to be moving. He decided to talk a walk around the castle – it really was too early for any meaningful Quidditch preparations.
On his way to the Great Hall, James found himself face to face with Regulus. He felt strangely about Regulus, and in turn he felt strange about feeling strange. Regulus had moved into James’ house over the summer, in a similar fashion to his older brother a few years prior. James knew Sirius felt guilty for “leaving Regulus behind”, and his relief when Regulus appeared on their doorstep was palpable. There were many an awkward days of the Black brothers dancing around one another before they gave in and talked. In no way was their relationship perfect but James was happy to see them on better terms.
“James!” Regulus looked shocked to see him. “Thought you would be with the rest of your Marauders; I saw them leave for Hogsmede.”
James struggled for a reply. “Quidditch.” Was all his brain supplied.
Regulus raised an eyebrow. “Committed.” There was a pause that hung too long. “Good luck.” His tone of voice raised making his statement sound like a question.
“Thanks.” And James continued down the stairs. When he reached the last step, he turned his head over his shoulder and watched Regulus walk out of sight. James sighed. Regulus made James nervous, and he couldn’t, for the life of him, figure out why. He was afraid of letting him down, like Regulus knowing James could make mistakes would somehow make him less worthy of his brother’s friendship – or something. Their conversations always felt unfinished, like there was something not being said, it frustrated James; he liked everything to be laid out, for everyone to see, no shame.
The game was upon them. James was pacing next to the stands. Stands that would soon start filling up with spectators. James was anxious – he didn’t get anxious often. It was his first official game as Captain, he had been a co-captain under Frank Longbottom but this time he was on his own. He saw a flash of dark hair.
“Tina!”
“Oh, hi James!” The tiny third year stood next to the changing rooms, she didn’t appear nervous, but James wanted to make sure she was prepared and ready for her first game. Maybe he was also doing this as a pep talk for himself as well.
“Tiny Tina. How are you feeling? First game today!”
“I’m excited. Hope I don’t fail.”
“You won’t. All I want from you is your best performance, I’ll be happy with that. Now if you can catch that pesky Snitch that’d be grand.” He said with a wink.
Tina giggled and gave a mock salute.
“See you around, Tiny.”
“You caught it!” He scooped Tina into a hug, spinning her around like he used to with Aurora before she decided she was too cool for her brother’s friends. Tina laughed, slightly watery. James remembered his first win, every emotion seemed to bubble below the surface. The rest of the team crowded around Tina, Marlene handed her the Snitch back to her. “Think this might be yours.” She said with a ruffle of her hair.
The atmosphere in the changing room was everything. James loved when his team won; he loved the camaraderie, the way everyone looked after each other. It was probably his favourite thing about Quidditch.
He still had Tina on his shoulders when everyone was making their way to the common room, where Peter and Remus, hopefully, had everything set up of the party of the year! (Until the next one they threw). He caught a flash of red hair in the crowd as he was setting Tina on her feet again.
“James. Good game.” Regulus said, appearing from nowhere. He patted James on the shoulder and walked away.
James was drunk. No, James was sloshed, was what he was. The party was in full swing – Pete had the drinks flowing, Remus was in charge of the music, and James couldn’t say where Sirius was. He was walking around, drink in hand, definitely not looking for anyone in particular, until he came face to face with Pandora.
“Hey! Pandora, right? You’re friends with Lily.”
“Seadh, that I am.”
“Do you, uh, know where she is?”
“Around, I’m sure. Why? Are you needing to speak to her about something in particular?”
James faltered slightly. “Um.” He was too drunk to make out the undertones in Pandora’s voice.
“I’m sure she’ll be amicable to whatever it is you’re needing to speak about. She’s a very amicable person.” Pandora’s smile was unnerving; it was too wide and too bright.
“Right.”
“I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other again, ladhrag.” And she left with a giggle.
James swayed on his feet for a moment, the party circling around him, before he spotted Mary and Lily over next to the couches. He took a swig and headed over their way.
This is where things start to get confusing for James Potter. Lily, for the first time, seemed to be engaging with his flirting; her quick quips leaving him floundering for responses (he blamed the alcohol). Despite his long-held crush, and his hopes for his feelings to be reciprocated, he was truly surprised when she teased him into asking her out.
“How about it then; you and me, Hogsmeade next week.”
“You can do better than that, Potter.”
Trouble is, he didn’t think he could. He’d gone so long with his flirting go nowhere, that now Lily had given him an in, he didn’t know what to do with it. For some reason, he found himself remembering Pandora’s words; “I’m sure she’ll be amicable to whatever it is you’re needing to speak about”. He then put on his best pureblood act (the way his grandma would’ve been proud of) and asked Lily out, properly.
Now here is where it gets even more confusing for James Potter:
Lily paused, taking in James’ question. A flicker of something in her eye before she answered, saying the word James had waited seven long years for Lily Evans to say:
“Yes.”
He was so caught up in his successful attempt, frantically trying to place where the other boys were; they needed to hear. He needed to gloat. Suddenly, there were a pair of lips attached to his own. James’ eyes widened.
Lily bloody Evans was kissing him.