Chapter 5
Winter break weeks after the ball were the most fun James ever had with adjusting to something new. Lily and Mary were more frequent now in their circle, same as Regulus, and all schools got used to Hogwarts and Durmstrang champions being barely apart. But the best novelty was a little difficult and James, frankly, enjoyed it a little too much.
He was never in love with a friend before, but it was not like he was going to climb on Sirius’ lap for everyone to see what the real snog is about. Later – maybe and even definitely, but at first he wanted to taste everything in private, with only his partner being his witness – only Sirius. It felt almost better to postpone it a little, let that honey-heated tension stem and crest underneath while they were getting comfortable and open as friends before they reached for something else. So, James and Sirius were as gentlemanery and prim as Remus was with Lily when they all gathered together, more so because they weren’t even holding hands or such.
But it was just genuinely hard to pay attention to anyone but Sirius, especially when James saw it was mutual. He was not being obnoxious on purpose – no, Remus and Lily, he wasn’t - James really didn’t hear anyone when he was engrossed in watching Sirius reading, and question to him had to be repeated at least twice. Sirius had less patience with people who tried to get his attention while James was retelling anecdotes from his meeting with Puddlemore United – he openly snapped at them with biting irritation.
That full moon Remus was more lenient with James and Sirius parting almost at the brick of evening, and James wasn’t going to tell him about thoughtful look Sirius gave him when James said that he had to be back at the castle till the sunset. He was going to do this anyway, but in that moment it served also as a little distraction - James offered an outing just for two of them alone, and with a slow grin Sirius said “Very well. But I’m choosing the things to do.”
All in all, James could have not agreed to dive into the lake in pristine black-and-silver January night instead of talking Sirius into sneaking in Hogsmeade for some half-wholesome activity for enamored students. It was just that lucid inner truth in the way - he’d take any bait from the first moment he saw Sirius, wouldn’t he. Even if it all was a prank, it still would feel irresistible.
The thought brought a chuckle while James observed the circumstances at hand: black water in the frame of perfectly cut ice, ivory gleam of three-quarter moon up in deep night sky over the Durmstrang ship on the other side of the lake.
“This looks like a ploy to get me out my clothes.”
Sirius raised his eyebrows, his amusement undeterred. “Please, like I need a ploy.”
James narrowed his eyes, biting his tongue and nodding at the opening in the ice. “Apparently.”
“I knew they make them too soft in Hogwarts.” Sirius said with put-upon sigh, eyeing far away castle silhouette with reproach. James couldn’t help his laugh, reaching to slide his cloak.
“You wish you’d be that soft.”
Anticipation of a challenge already was spiking his blood, and James barely registered the bite of cold air in his skin when he pulled off the robe and stood stepped on the ice barefoot, in just his underwear.
Sirius’ gaze was sharper for a few greedy moments, and then with a huff so very light he threw his own cloak down over his bag. James covered his glasses with a palm, making a little show of looking through fingers, feeling warmth creeping up his chest, his throat tightening. Sirius was long-limbed, every smallest movement graceful, his skin so stark contrasting his black underwear and darkened ice behind it looked like he was glowing. James was slow to realize that he was trembling from the freezing cold of the night, and only caught up when Sirius held up three fingers.
“Ready?” his amused voice was a little rough. “Three, two - ”
Instead of counting to one, Sirius darted forward and grasped James by forearms, tackling him down the water. James had a moment to laugh, because he banked on this movement and caught Sirius’ body in embrace.
And then the water hit them. Searing, brutal cold locked his body numb and freezing. But James could feel the whole impact of shock only for a few seconds, and then he felt nothing but the way Sirius fingers gripped his wrists. Dark water pulled them a little apart, and murky blue tint was like a membrane between them.
James followed with his gaze the way Sirius’ jet-black hair were floating in the thick water, the way pearly bubbles were heading up from his still smiling lips while they both sunk lower and lower into raw cold. He counted the seconds, but deferred a little, of course, anything for this unwavering grin, let the blood pressure hum in his ears become itchy and viscous. Dizzy white circles bloomed before his eyes already when James tapped Sirius’ wrist with his thumb, three times, two –
Sirius’ eyes become suddenly startled huge, and James already started to turn back when he felt something smooth and muscular brush his leg. He barely could comprehend enormous translucent green eye overreaching his whole form when strong arms wrapped around James’ chest and pulled up.
Air bit his wet skin and his glasses instantly turned frozen white. James half-groaned, half-laughed, his numb muscles on fire, and then the glasses were pulled away from his face and he was suddenly, swiftly and gloriously kissed in the corner of his mouth.
Sirius’ features were clear because his face was close, and he was laughing too, at the same time astonished and exhilarated.
“I thought you were having me on with descriptions of how giant this squid is.” He whispered.
“I was an excuse to catch a glimpse of magical creature,” James shook his head, still feeling the trace of touch near his lips. Sirius’ lips were cold, yet it felt like the point of bright warmth, shattering away the fact that he was shaking from the cold. “You have no love for me.”
“The things you say when you don't see the whole picture.” Sirius grinned, moving away behind the short-sighted blur. James reached after him more on pulling instinct, letting laughing Sirius dodge his poke in the ribs.
“Merlin bless your dazzling humor.” James huffed and then inhaled in excitement when he saw Sirius pulling the bottle of firewhiskey out of his bag. “Oh you are wise, good sir.”
The burning sensation of firewhisky on his skin dried all the freeze shudderings away in moments. They dried their hair with magic, pulled the robes back on and it was enough with the way their skin felt now - aflame. James left his cloak on the ice and so they could lie on it, curled into each other so shoulders could lean on the bent knees. Sirius pulled his heavy Durmstrang mantle over their middle. He was close like this and at the same time not quite, moving in and out of focus with every little movement they did, getting more comfortable or passing the bottle between them.
“The water is even colder in Durmstrang, and you dived anyway? Madman.” James snorted, shaking his head. Sirius nudged him slightly with his legs, his smile languid. James could feel the warmth of his skin through fabric of their robes.
“It’s more fun when I’m not alone, I confess.”
Sirius rolled his head on James’ hip, and with this angle his face was unclear again, all he could do was guess by the lines of his body, by the rhythm of his content breath what his expression was.
“You’re cute like this.” Sirius said quietly. “When you squint at me without your glasses.”
“Oh, it’s just because without my glasses I’m not sure who I’m cuddling here with.” James chuckled, and Sirius reacted in a heartbeat, pulling them both straighter and closer so James could see his face in crystallized details, only him in the whole world.
“Are you sure now?”
James was always aware that Sirius was handsome, but it felt different, to look at him and recognize this as something strangely, incomprehensively and beautifully familiar, close, his. James knew his eyes, rainy grey irises with light spokes dial around the pupils, his long pointed lashes, silk sheen of his hair, the shape of smiling lips, not so sharp now, mellow with affectionate upturn.
James heard the quiet thunk of the bottle he placed somewhere, then low rumble of ice freezing solid somewhere on the lake, but all he really truly knew was the sensation of Sirius’ fingers lifting his chin, gentle but insistent, making his lips part over an exhale...
“Is that why you wanted to do it in the dead of night? Are we having a tender moment?” James’ whisper was uneven, but he just could not bite back the spark of amusement. He didn’t know if he wanted to weaken the tension or spur it on.
Sirius laughed in whisper, leaning into James’ temple.“Should have known you’d want to do it in front of whole three schools.”
The beginning of kiss was sweet in the way James pressed lips to Sirius’ cheek, full and tender touch, reveling in the warmth of his skin and then, only then tilting his head and feeling Sirius’ lips brush his. It was arresting, long teasing caress of half-open kiss, and then everything turned deep, hot and fervent, sting of firewhiskey on Sirius’ tongue was making James’ heart go rapid, was scattering into shiver between his shoulder blades.
When James came back into Gryffindor Tower, he was drunk and elated, he could barely hold himself together enough to not break into song and dance, waking Remus and Peter in this transparent still hour before dawn. He could still feel Sirius hair between his fingers when he cradled his head, and he was shaking from inaudible laughter on his bed , remembering how his wand almost rolled into the lake and they noticed only because James’ elbow knocked the bottle over, how Sirius almost left with his glasses in chest pocket. And especially felt memory was how when Sirius kissed him goodbye and good morning, he got carried away a little and now James was shuddering not only from pain when he licked over the bite on his lower lip.
It felt like he closed his eyes for just a few moments, and then he was awoken by Remus who looked vaguely concerned and affronted.
“You look mauled,” was his choice of morning greeting while Peter giggled in the background.
“That’s what I was hoping for,” James beamed, wincing just a little at the stretch of lips. “Not everyone can be as civilized as you – and Lily, for that matter.”
Peter whined from laughter, and despite faint pink on his cheeks Remus looked like he gave it all to not roll his eyes.
“I think I’ll be direct, we have little time before breakfast when you and Sirius see each other and everything else cease to exist,” he said, crossing arms over his chest. “Do you remember you have second task to complete? Have you thought about foxgloves?”
“I think we covered that one,” James was still looking at Remus up from down, and it did not help with concentration or gravity. “Poisoning of some sort, need to have bezoar on me.”
“This is too literal,” Remus said curtly. “The clue can be a riddle, James. You need to think what else foxgloves can represent.”
“Controversial potions ingredient,” James sighed, rolling off his bed finally and trying to put his mind to it. Remus could be unrelenting when he wanted to. ”Cause of my untimely death if I’m not careful on February 24th. Or if I continue irritate you… The name means ‘fairy folk’s gloves’, was connected to - ”
He stopped halfway to the bathroom, looking back at Remus so fat he almost lost his balance. After hydra it was not too out of bounds, but still. James saw by Remus’ expression that he, too, clearly understood danger. But in this morning, when the traces of time delightfully spent were still sound, omens of peril could only mean James’ first instinct to kick in was to make light of it, prompting him to smirk and shake his head.
“Really? You think they would implement fairies? But those are not dangerous, if you exclude tacky decorum use –“
“Fairy Folk are not fairies, and you know the difference pretty well.” Remus was genuinely exasperated. “James, are you still sure bezoar would work with Korrigan?”
He wasn’t. If he was honest, James didn’t know if anything could work all that well.
It still was only the speculation, but the more James thought about it, more sense it made. Amping up the danger from the first task, and making for a good show in prospect, because Korrigan were masters of illusions and their own rogue magic tricky enough James could not hope to just dueling his way out of the encounter.
Apparently, Lily already discussed Remus’ theory with him, judging by the way she nodded solemnly, joining them on the way to the breakfast.
“Poisoning was bad enough, foxgloves are so strong they mess you up even with bezoar,” she was thinking out loud, her furrowed brows in odd juxtaposition with the gentle way she and Remus held hands. “And then Regulus suggested --”
“What?” James stood in the middle of the marble stairs, making few third years stumble into him. Remus and Lily were pulling him away from traffic of main crowd while Peter caught up too late and was carried into Great Hall. “Shouldn’t he help his brother and champion first?”
If Regulus knew, it almost guaranteed Sirius knew too – and James felt like this bit of information should have made him feel angry and double-crossed, but it only made him grin. First, a tool to tease Sirius now, second – Regulus dropped a hint, likely his brother knew about it, too…
“Regulus would, if you and Sirius weren’t so mad about each other.” Lily said, almost smiling, but her frown was still concerned. “He said he barely sees Sirius on the ship, he’s in the castle all day and sneaks out by night – “
“So, Sirius doesn’t know?” James cut in, disbelieving. He believed brothers got on well, despite their somewhat clashing personalities.
“No, he does. At least he was present when Regulus tried to tell him, as he said.” Remus looked unconvinced himself. “But he didn’t give it much thought, being very distracted.”
Last words and disdainful intone sounded like a quote, but James didn’t have time to ponder if Regulus could resent him already for taking up so much of Sirius’ time. They stepped into Great Hall, and James found Sirius even without conscious effort on his part. His grin was wide and a little dazed, and he bit his lip, movement James mirrored on instinct and winced a little, because honestly, he forgot to heal it and bite was bite. Sirius responded with sharp inhale, like he could feel it too, like he wanted to feel --
“Next time you start lewd eye-contact like this, I’m letting you stumble over a table,” Remus said, correcting James’ course with a sigh.
James decided to mull over Korrigan and other hardships after he has a breakfast, but it was not to be, as unknown dark-feathered owl sat before him and dropped the envelope of fine parchment on his knees. The writing in dark green ink was unfamiliar, too, but the crest on wax seal stirred something in memory…
James Potter
It has come to my knowledge that recently you became close acquaintance of my oldest son. Your irresponsible reputation in Hogwarts school and company you keep, just like views your parents hold, are notorious. I demand that you stop exposing Sirius to inappropriate opinions regarding value of pure blood and discredit him in the eyes of nobility.
Walburga Black
James’ first thought was amusement. The last time he was accused of being bad influence was in the first year, after their third detention in a row Peter’s mother wrote to his parents an anxious letter, afraid that Peter would be expelled for too many transgressions. She changed her mind after Peter’s good results on exams that year – and after they learned to be a little careful.
Then there was schadenfreude. It felt good, Mrs. Black’ discomfort with knowledge that even after Durmstrang Sirius was not in her control to be shaped into another bigoted snob – never was, always free to choose whom he wanted to be around.
And then a speck of bitter hurt, too. Suspicious absence of Regulus’ name made the source of mother’s knowledge obvious. Of course, no one owed James good graces, but they seemed to get along. Was it just placating, before Regulus had enough of him and hopes that Sirius would get tired of new face did not came true?
Remus and Lily exchanged troubled looks when James showed them the letter, Peter was fretting. It did not took great mental exercise to know that Sirius’ reaction would be anger, and James didn’t want to cause that. It felt nasty, like something cold turning in his abdomen, when he lied to Sirius that he wanted to discuss with Regulus owl post subscription on Quidditch magazines, so he could catch up with younger Black on his way to library and show the letter. James genuinely did not want to make a scene, but it did sting, and he wanted to make the matters clear.
Regulus’ skimmed the letter and frowned.
“I didn’t think you got this sick of me,” James said, not able to help himself. His smile felt rueful. “Even through being aggravating is my natural born talent --”
“I didn’t write to her.” Regulus said with earnest urgency, looking up at James. “I don’t have a habit of bringing anything to my mother’s attention, especially not if it concerns Sirius.” He looked down at the letter darkly. “But since someone did, they will notify her that you ignored her request. So, you should be more careful with your mail – and I mean it wholeheartedly, James.”
“She wouldn’t waste a curse on little ole me, would she?” James huffed. He felt so much lighter now, even though Regulus remained grim.
“Just don’t hasten to open every unfamiliar envelope. ”
By the hardened line of his mouth, tense crease between his brows James could sense unhappy family history and he knew asking if Mrs. Black really sent dangerous magic as punishment would make it worse. So he reached for diversion, and the first thing on his tongue was –
“Do you really think second task are Korrigan?”
Regulus’ face became methodical, haunted shade gone.
“Yes. Pauline and headmaster Delacour think so too, I heard them discussing it in library.” He chuckled a little, almost to himself. “If only there was someone who could get Sirius to listen.”
Still on the wave of relief that Sirius’ brother didn’t hate him, James felt a bit more confident that he’d succeed in fulfilling this hint, so he rolled his shoulders and nodded.
Sirius was still waiting by the main entrance, leaning back at the door and looking bored out of his mind and slightly offended.
“What took so long?” he asked with thinly veiled irritation.
James threw up his hands, grinning despite smarting fact that he made Sirius wait to hide from him the letter from his own mother, crumpled parchment still in James’ pocket. It meant less than nothing now, when James stepped back into their flow, looked at Sirius and felt the smile he was trying to hold back because they were together and everything was fine, exciting, possible.
“We were talking about Korrigan.” James said, closest to surface truth.
“Ah, Regulus shared his theory.” Sirius huffed while they were walking down the stairs into dreamy clear morning. Quick walk before they think on foot what to go for after. “I doubt we will have to face them. “
Sirius talked as sure as if he personally decided the matter. James barely had a time to raise his eyebrows before Sirius added, huffing. “Yes, as a matter of fact, we studied them at Durmstrang. Korrigan are too dangerous, too unpredictable, their magic can bind you for life.” He looked at the lake, and James followed, knowing that this far in shimmering air it was impossible to find the place they dissect ice the night before. Sirius shook his head, looking back at James with sidelong smirk. ”I just don’t think they have guts for risk like that at Tournament.”
It still sounded too self-assured, and yet James wanted to share Sirius’ certainty. In a way, it would be almost like making champions fight goblins, ancient and powerful magical creatures with added truth of Korrigan being free from any form of wizards’ rule and control… James carelessly chewed on his lip and winced – he forgot again, of course.
Sirius stood absolutely still, watching him with fixed intensity. “I’m starting to think you didn’t heal it because you like it that way.” He said, tone quiet and jagged. James savored his own face heating when he stepped closer and tilted his head to his shoulder.
“Maybe I just wanted you to fix it for me.”
Sirius’ hand was warm when he touched James’ face to examine it better, the brush of his magic swift, tender and aflame.
When the term started, it drastically reduced time James and Sirius had for each other – and even more for each other alone. It felt like breathing with string tied around neck, and at the same time every moment they had felt more full and alive. They got used to it better, being around each other and remain aware of other people, they were good adjusted enough Lily, Mary, Remus, Peter and Regulus – latter noticeably rare but still – stopped rolling their eyes and demanded Sirius and James got a room or got their act together. And the minutes they had all alone felt even brighter, sharper. When they reached another secluded inventive corner of the castle or the grounds around, it hit twice as hard, friendship and infatuation blended together. It was like flying with both feet on the ground, this freedom of telling each other every desire and fear that came to mind, and then kissing each other drunk, faint, dizzy. James knew that Sirius liked Muggle music and couldn’t see the fate worse than becoming perfect heir of house Black. James knew by the tips of his fingers that Sirius loved when James scraped the skin under his jaw, just a little stronger and he could feel the groan vibrating on his lips. Sirius knew that James wanted to be a Curse-Breaker or International Chaser, he couldn’t decide if his life depended on it, and the worst he could think of was death of his loved ones. And Sirius knew the best and sure way to get James practically purring was gentle, gentle touch under his ear.
Mechanics of life and time still moved, a little outside of them. Second task loomed closer, and it felt more dangerous the more James dug up on Korrigan. It was almost worse than going blind, because not one technique was failsafe. James decided not to tell mum and dad about the task beforehand, in the back of his mind the small thought was still alive – maybe foxgloves really meant just poisoning.
Mum and dad arrived at Hogsmeade in the middle of February, just when students were about to visit. But it was full moon day, and James chose to stay in the castle, even though ash-grey and weak from first spasms of pain Remus was trying to sent him away. It was harder to keep distance with Sirius, and James almost asked permission to bring him to the hospital wing, but it would be selfish and heartless – especially because Remus still didn’t tell even Lily.
But even barely standing from sleepless night, James was nothing if not too eager to make up for lost time – with his parents and Sirius. Next day, while Peter and Remus rested in hospital wing, James and Sirius were crouching in the secret passage to Honeydukes.
“Surprise!” James shouted, running to Potters table in Three Broomstick, so loud that people around jumped and cursed, but by the smiles he could tell - mum and dad expected nothing less. It tugged at something sweet and painful in James’ chest, when he properly introduced Sirius to mum and dad and saw how disarmed he was by their complete and cheerful acceptance. James had not a second of doubt that his parents will be charmed, they had a talent to see behind name and exterior. But it was a special treat, to see how much Sirius liked them and was forgetting to hide it. He looked younger, acted more carefree when he was retelling potions experiments with dad, or admitted he was interested in Muggle transport to mum.
It was one of the softest days they had so far, sealed by sweet and sour cherry flavor he kissed off Sirius’ lips in the dark right under hunchback witch exit.
“Where was I your whole life?” Sirius laughed, raising the glasses up on James’ forehead, he liked to see his eyes bare and a little bedazzled. “I’d run away to Hogwarts if I knew.”
“Or kidnap me to Durmstrang.” James caught Sirius’ palm with his teeth and held, just a bit of pressure, before letting go. Of them two Sirius got the thing for bites. “You still can. But only after I win the Tournament, deal?”
“Spoiled berk.” Sirius huffed quietly, so tender it made James’ breath stutter.
It felt as if time shifted, gently and fast like a page turned, and already it was the morning of February 24th - white and cloudy. This time enclosure was built on the other side of the lake, before the Forbidden Forest. McGonagall was paler than James ever seen her while she was leading him to champions tent.
“We will intervene, we’ll do everything we can if something goes wrong.” Her voice almost trembled.
“I’ll do everything I can so you don’t have to.” James said, and it wasn’t a joke or bravado. McGonagall nodded, squeezed his shoulder and left.
Pauline was almost as anxious as McGonagall, rocking back and forth while headmaster Delacour frantically whispered something in her ear. Sirius was tense too, not the elated kind, before the first task, it was something heavier. And yet he still lighted up when James walked up to touch his elbow in encouragement and peek through the curtains into the enclosure.
Three stones stood in the middle of it, framed by wildly blooming foxgloves. Korrigan, after all.
“There goes my hope on bezoar as ultimate weapon.” James whispered to Sirius, concentrating on breaking his gloom. “Still can throw it at them, though.”
He felt Sirius chuckling. “Better save it for bargain.”
A small hurried wizard walked into the tent so determinately he almost stumbled upon them.
“Your goal in this encounter is to walk away safe and sound.” He said, as unconcerned as if they were about to meet creatures no more dangerous than niffler. “We start with third place. M-lle Maxime, on the signal.”
It seemed James had only time to take a breath when cannon shot. Pauline nodded to them and stepped outside, spine painfully rigid.
Three Korrigan who stepped to meet her looked fragile and curious, at least from afar. They resembled black-haired children about ten years old in complexion and wore golden tunics, but the more James looked, the more unnerved he was. Even from their place he saw that Korrigan had long black claws. When Pauline approached Korrigan, one of them spoke – and James flinched when he realized how quiet the whole enclosure was now, they could make out every word.
“We’re here to take something from you.” Korrigan said, its voice low and captivating. “What will you pick to give?”
“Pick fast, pick fast, or we will pick ourselves!” the second intoned, and third laughed, airy, melodic sound. Goosebumps broke on James’ forearm.
“I will give you shoulder-clasps.” Paline said, brave witch, her voice not quivering even a bit. “It’s enchanted gold, it will never get dim…’
She pulled away before Korrigan could touch her. It looked the jewelry closer.
“We have no use in human gold,” the second Korrigan said, tone derisive.
“You call this magic!” third laughed, tossing the clasp up in the air and leaving it freeze there. “Feeble short-living spells…”
Pauline stepped back, careful and slow, her hand gripping the wand tight. All three Korrigan were looking at her now, their red eyes preying. With the corner of his eye James could see a stirring on the stands. He felt Sirius reaching for his wand and repeated the movement himself. It’s not like they could do much for Pauline if Korrigan attacked now, but maybe ---
“It’s pretty, though!” the Korrigan who spoke first said suddenly, attaching his gift. “Shiny fine work. Good present, human!”
Two others followed suit, and all three smiled at her. Their teeth were too sharp.
“We accept. You can go.” Benevolent Korrigan said, and Pauline nodded, walking past them. The stands boomed with applause so sudden it felt like the spell was lifted, and maybe it was. No one really knew the limit of Korrigan magic.
“Truly, there's no accounting for taste among Fairy Folk.” Sirius muttered under his chuckle and James laughed in response before he realized who has to go next, and right on cue, cannon shot and small wizard intoned “Mr. Potter, your turn.”
Sirius grasped his fingers and held tight, almost as if he wanted to follow him, and their hands parted only when James stepped outside. He smiled over his shoulder, and it made his head lighter, the way Sirius smiled in return – triumphant, as if all had gone gloriously well already.
James thought he could see his parents in the cheering crowd, then Remus, Lily, Peter, and waved to them, but the moment his gaze fell on Korrigan, everything else moved far, far back.
“What do you pick to give us?” first Korrigan asked, tilting head to its newly decorated shoulder.
“He has a lot to give!” the second exclaimed. “Enough for all of us to pick, and he will have some left!”
James knew as starkly as if the thought was sent into his head - Korrigan were talking about the very people he just greeted. Third Korrigan, the laughing one, nodded, his red eyes squinted in glee, and James felt them skim through his memory, bringing the faces and voices forward without his will. They were not breaking it, rather skirt around, playful and cruel, that tickling that makes children scream – that would have to stop, now.
James was lousy in serious healing spells, truly lousy, but he could remember skin-numbing charm, and right now it could do the job. Korrigan felt the magic and sniggered when James shook his head and stepped forward, not letting himself or Korrigan to stop him. He caught the first Korrigan by the wrist, pulling it closer.
“I pick to give you a fight.” He breathed out. “And for you two – to give you back your brother.”
Korrigan in his grip screeched and trashed, trying to claw its way out. Its face rippled with wrinkles, eyes burrowed into James’ with bottomless ancient hatred, he saw in one moment centuries this creature had lived and had yet to live, spiraling into abyss of screams and flashes. And then he was in enclosure again, and creature in his hands was changing, elongated and scaled it coiled and twisted, but James grasped harder. He thought briefly and suddenly - after holding his broom in a storm this was child’s play - and laughed, incredulous at his own flippancy. The snake-like body in his grip changed again, spikes tearing his skin in the mess of thorny branches that were reaching to strangle him, but James was good at spells he knew, and without pain it was so much easier to hold. Then branches disappeared, and James gasped when he saw burning ambers in his hands. He could see the way his skin blistered, and was shocked to understand that he was apparently too good at spells because he still felt nothing –
Korrigan was standing before him again in his golden tunic, with Pauline’s present gleaming in grey light of day. Korrigan was grinning, too many too sharp teeth.
“Good fight. We accept.” Korrigan said, and two others echoed his words. “You can go, human.”
Only then James released its wrist. He stepped aside from them, looking back at Sirius - startlingly pale with broad, blinding smile none the less - who stood in just few steps behind him with wand at the ready while small wizard tried to pull him back. Then James looked up at the stands to greet his parents, and by the anxiety on their faces he realized it even before he looked at his hands again. The injuries were not illusionary, after all, long stripes of scarlet scratches and reddish burns encircling his arms under burned and torn through robe sleeves, and there were cuts on his throat.
But it was James’ lucky day, still, because the injuries were not magical. Healers applied the pleasantly warm ointment and bandaged his hands and neck while wound up McGonagall was shaking her head.
“You cannot tackle every obstacle head first, Potter, it will not work all the time!”
“Did work so far, Professor.” James didn’t manage to bit the quip back, and wanted to apologize immediately, but the door to healers chamber busted open and his dad barged in, catching James into embrace first thing and over his shoulder demanding the healers to give him exact recipe of their salve.
Mum pushed his shoulder weakly before holding him tighter, traces of tears were under her eyes.
“You should have told us! And you should have prepared gifts.”
“They liked my pick too, anyway.” James sighed into her hair, letting himself feel the relief in the beat after adrenaline. And then he was leading them back on the strands, hugging Remus, Peter, Lily, even Regulus who was greeting him too at the seats they all occupied.
Cannon shoot before James could sit down, and he froze on the spot after. Sirius stepped on the field before Korrigan, and cheer from the crowd stopped immediately, as if Silenced.
“You have a treasure!” main Korrigan exclaimed, joyful. It made James’ skin get colder. “Will you pick a treasure to give us?”
“No.” Sirius said, his voice so clearly echoing in enchanted enclosure. “I pick to give you dance.”
All three Korrigan grinned, that wide hungry grin could only mean they were setting a trap.
“We accept.” They said all at once, and then they were raising a whirlwind, stream of magic supporting them tree and carrying Sirius too. It was not a dance in classical sense of word, it was motion, fluid, constant and graceful. They were actually stepping up and up in the air as if climbing invisible spiral staircase, and all James could see was Sirius, his bright sharp-edged grin as he swished his wand, and one of Korrigan froze mid-air, its face contorted and flushed with dark blush. The second Korrigan stumbled, looking over his shoulder on Sirius and then it fell on the ground and stayed there, pinned by whatever spell Durmstrang taught against them. Sirius laughed, and last Korrigan laughed too.
“Sing a song with me for our dance, human!” it said. “See if you can follow: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday…”
“Thursday, Friday…” Sirius carried on with a smirk, and James cursed under his breath because it was a mistake to accept their rules, dangerous mistake –
“Saturday, Sunday…” Korrigan sang, victorious.
“Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.” Sirius sang too, slightly frowning, and then smile froze on his lips. James realized it too, and all air left his lungs - Sirius was singing along against his will, Korrigan caught him in its spell, and now he was recounting days of the week he should have dance with it, circle locked until Korrigan decided to break it --
“Thursday! Friday!” Korrigan chortled, it was almost bursting with delight, and James didn’t watch anymore, he was running down the stands. He stumbled over the last few steps but stood right, and he was on the field before guard wizards could grab him.
“Saturday…” Sirius sang, slower, wavering, trying to fight through the compelling, and James shot red sparks in the air and shouted “Monday, Monday!”
“Monday…”Sirius repeated and only then looked down at James, blinking as if after rude awakening. Korrigan howled in frustration, but the song and dance was broken, the invisible spellbound staircase crumbled, and James rushed to catch Sirius. He descended easy, slid over magical support he casted, and grasped James’ shoulders when they collided.
“What are you doing?!” Sirius was whispering, urgent and disturbed, even through his eyes were still glazed with aftereffect of trance.
All three Korrigan were standing on the ground now, zeroing on James with boiling anger.
“He gave you dance, not his freedom.” James said, loud and determinate, and felt how Sirius’ grip on him became stronger to the point of bruising.
“We should take your smart tongue.” Main Korrigan spat, and others echoed.
“Your insolent mind…”
“Your hot beating heart…”
James doubled over, his throat constricted by brutal inhuman force, his heart painfully pierced–
“You have no right. He gave you fight already, and you accepted!” Sirius shouted, anger in his voice mixed with distress. James could feel his hands trembling when they held him, he was sure he would black out at any moment - and when his knees buckled - the crushing power suddenly released him.
They stood before Korrigan, leaning on each other and frail from influence, but still with heads high now, their wands drawn. Korrigan laughed mirthlessly.
“Fair point, humans. We abide our rules. Be careful not to meet us from now on.”
Then they were gone, and James heard screams and mayhem of the crowd running on the field.
“Korrigan put a shield, didn’t let us in…” Lily cried out, red hair mussed, wand still in her fist. Remus was shaking, Peter was sickly pale, and then James had to squeeze his eyes when mother and father embraced him, their faces wet and salty. In the turmoil of sudden crowd on them James let go of Sirius' hand and it felt like a gap of panic until he saw that Sirius was there, calming down very stiff and stricken looking Regulus. They moved towards each other again, and their supporters seemed to join in too, Regulus hugging James tight, mum and dad asking Sirius if he’s alright, Lily fairly loudly telling him off for walking into Korrigan’ trap…
All three schools were out in the field now, headmaster Delacour agitatedly demanding that James and Sirius should be disqualified. “Hogwarts champion helped Durmstrang, this is against rules!”
“This was life or death, headmaster…” Pauline argued, shaking her head.
“Hogwarts champion saved him! He deserves a reward!” headmistress Gregorovitch agreed, curt and ardent, and James couldn’t hold back a chuckle - the same righteous conviction in the voice when she accused him of attacking Sirius.
“I suppose we can let them share the second place, considering remarkable bravery and luck in the face of threatening circumstance.” Dumbledore resumed calmly, observing his fellow judges with subtle amusement.
“Hogwarts champion deserves smack over the head.” Sirius said, quiet enough so only James could hear. “What was that about? I knew what I was doing, I’ve told you I dealt with Korrigan before --”
James huffed. The euphoria was already breaking out in his chest – they are alive, they are together. Never mind the places and rewards – they won their part. “Yes, you had a face of a man who knows Korrigan had him and are taking him away –“
“I would come back.” Sirius shook his head as if he did it every week, his voice was finally losing that worried edge. “It could take time, yes.”
“Months. Maybe years.” James teased, nodding. It felt so easy, to say it now when it was no longer possible. “Now you don’t have to.”
Regulus snorted, and Sirius laughed too, pulling James’ hair and dropping forehead on his shoulder. It felt wonderful, his laughter reverberating through James’ chest.
“I’m heading towards that order of Merlin, you just wait.” He said, squeezing back of Sirius’ neck. “I’m almost looking forward to what your mother will write now.”
Regulus’ expression rapidly turned almost tragic, and Sirius wrenched himself from James in one move.
“My mother wrote to you?” he demanded, smile completely gone. “When? What did she wanted?”
Honestly, James barely remembered now, the only thing he wanted was to get this tense shade of restless anger from Sirius’ face forever. But he was too damned elated, he wanted it diminished below par and James believed it when he shook his head. “It was unremarkable. Usual ‘do not taint this noble family reputation’ shtick, nothing too bad.”
“Nothing too bad.” Sirius repeated with grim chuckle. “I thought you know what Black family is about, James. My mother is as sane and safe as my charming cousin.” The bitter hurt in his voice sounded so wearied.
James knew how it was to be under mild and amateurish dark magic from Mulciber and the likes, he knew how it was to get half of his ribs broken by maddened centaurs – and he knew how it was, to love and be loved to a fault by his parents and friends. Lack of this foundation he could never understand as his own. But he could try and shoulder it together.
“We managed hydra and Korrigan, Sirius.” he said, pulling him closer by the elbow, and Sirius didn’t lean back, looked at him unguarded. “We can deal with your mother.”
First smile was small, like Sirius just couldn’t help it, but then he grinned wider, bright, free.