An aspect of the bottle
“Dada! You forgot to tell me a stoiy tonight.”
Harry says, crossing his tiny arms over his dinosaur pajamas and pouts at his dad.
James looks over from where he was tidying up the last bit of toys left from another long day of Sirius and Harry being literal children. His breath hitches for a moment because his son is looking at him with the same puppy eyes Lily used to give Mary some days. He should probably organize a trip to the bar soon again, he thinks. He misses his friends awfully much these days.
James walks over to the wooden bed that has been dutifully cleaned and sits at the corner, lightly pushing away the tiny feet, so as to not crush them. “Now, now Haz. You know I would never forget a bedtime story.” He lies and almost chuckles at the way Harry’s brows bunch up together in a discerning manner. He reminds James of Regulus. How he’ll never know. “Stop looking at me like that you little gremlin and tell me what you would like your dearest dad to remember this time.”
Harry wasn’t a normal child. It wasn’t like anything was wrong with him. He just never behaved like one would expect a 4-year-old to. He always felt more deeply, asked the worst possible questions, and somehow, always managed to make you doubt your every decision. James started considering a few months ago taking his little genius and enrolling him in a school for gifted children. He would fit right in.
“Mmmmm…” Harry hummed and after a few moments of careful consideration, his eyes widening as he nearly shouts “I want to know about love Dada!”
James laughed under his breath and lightly shook his head at yet another strange request “Love? What do you want to know about love sweetheart?”
“Have you ever loved someone, Dada?” Harry asked and James swore he saw a little mischievous spark in that kid’s eyes.
“Why, of course Haz. I love you.” He said and went to ruffle the little boy’s already messy hair. Harry made a happy, lovely noise of contentment. “I love you so much,” James added. Just to make sure Harry heard him. “But I also love all of my friends. Uncle Sirius?” Harry nodded “I love him. I love all of your uncles and aunts. I love your grandparents as well. Love is everywhere Harry. We just have to look for it.” And Sirius used to say he would be a shit dad. Ha. Suck it, Sirius.
Harry tilted his little head as if he was considering what his dad was telling him. “Mhm. But Ron said his parents really love each other. And they always kiss. On the lips.” Harry shuddered a little in his bed “Have you ever loved someone like that Dada?”
James silently shook his head, yet again. Yet again, his son has somehow reached a truth most kids his age could never comprehend. With a sigh, James stood up and turned out the little snitch-shaped lamp that was placed near Harry’s head. “Yes, honey. I have.” He made sure to leave the door to the room slightly ajar. Just a sliver of light rushed in from the corridor. Harry had recently developed a fear of the dark and James was strongly reminded of a certain Black brother who, on the other hand, loved the dark. “Do you want me to tell you about it?”
He could barely see his son’s head popping out of the covers as he shimmied his way underneath them. James sat back down in his little designated corner and took a deep breath. “Well, you see…it all started with a bet….”
*****
James was ecstatic.
Seventh year.
His last year at Hogwarts.
With his best friends, of course.
“So what, you mean to tell me, that I spent 40 minutes planting a farting bomb in Marlene’s bag and she just forgot it??” Sirius was loudly whispering as he reached for another chicken wing. His hair was getting on everyone’s plates and they were all tired of reminding him to put it up.
James looked up from their table and noticed Marlene walking towards the Slytherin table. Probably to talk to Dorcas. They had gotten together last year. Everyone saw it coming and yet they still tried keeping it a secret for a few months. That all changed when Barty walked in on them snogging on his bed and ran out crying.
“Well, Sirius. Let’s be honest, it wasn’t the smartest choice.” Remus said calmly and only shrugged at the death glare that his boyfriend threw from his side.
“Yeah, mate. Why would you put a farting bomb in the compartment we were in?” Peter added with a mouth full of fries.
“How was I supposed to know she would come into ours? I thought she was gonna stay with her stupid girlfriend.” Sirius said, pouting at the way Remus pushed his hair away from his shoulder, for the hundredth time that night. “Prongs, back me up on this.” He pleaded.
“Huh? Sorry, yeah of course Sirius.” At this point agreeing with Sirius had become second nature for him. Some people called it a ‘character fault’. As if.
Peter sighed way too loudly for it to be casual and averted all of his attention back to the fried potatoes on his half-empty plate. “What did you just agree to Prongs? Do you even know?”
James didn’t know. “Of course.” It couldn’t be that bad right? “And I fully support Sirius.”
Remus snorted a laugh and Sirius jabbed him in the ribs with his closest elbow. “See? Finally, someone who doesn’t blame me for things out of my control.” He winked at James and mouthed IT WAS BAD. THANKS
And James wasn’t surprised. But he was so glad he got to spend another peaceful year at Hogwarts with his best mates.
*****
Dinner came and went. The first years were all sorted and watching them, James felt a strange kind of nostalgia wash over him. It would take him a few months to realize that that had been the last sorting he would ever witness as a student at Hogwarts.
He swallowed at the thought. A lot of lasts this year, huh? But hey, it would be fun and who cares about the sad stuff anyways?
As soon as they stepped into their dorm, Peter plopped down onto his bed and started snoring. Remus started unpacking his suitcase and muttering song lyrics under his breath as he hung up his identical sweaters, but in different colors.
Sirius had already gone to ask around for booze and James was just sitting on his bed, bored out of his mind. This was the first time since summer when nothing was happening around him. Because all four of them usually hung out at his parents’ house, every day was just a mush of chaos. Pranks, loud conversations, even arguments sometimes. But it was always fun.
And now, everyone was doing their own thing and for a moment James wondered what life had prepared for them after Hogwarts. Would they even still be friends? James quickly pushed the thought away. Of course, they would. There wasn’t a question in James’ mind. Was there?
“SO, AWFUL NEWS. There’s no party.” Sirius yelled as he climbed the stairs to their shared dorm. He was holding two bottles of what James assumed was butterbeer in each hand and as Sirius continued, he passed each one of his friends a bottle. “Boring people are our legacy lads. One for you Wormtail. They didn’t even – one for you Prongs. Didn’t even have real goddamn booze.” He finished his little rant and passed the last bottle to Remus who had finally finished color organizing his clothes. As Remus went to grab the bottle from Sirius’ hand, his boyfriend stood up on his tippy toes and placed a loud kiss on his lips. “And one for the most amazing, caring, loving boyfriend to ever exist. My Moony.”
Remus scoffed at the sappy sentence that just tumbled its way out of his boyfriend’s mouth but James noticed the soft smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth. And James softly smiled as well. Remus and Sirius had been so oblivious for so long. And he couldn’t help but be proud of how far they’d come. He was always there to root them on. And now they were happy. And that made James happy.
“So what are we doing now then?” asked Pete who had apparently woken up by the ruckus that is Sirius Black “I mean, with no party and all.”
Sirius and Remus exchanged suspicious glances with each other and James immediately felt the regret seep through his skin. Why were they like this?
“So Wormy. I’m pretty sure that’s our cue.” He said and got up. Trying to desperately get away from the dorm and praying to not have to walk in on something he doesn’t want to see. Not again.
Peter got up from where he was sprawled out on the bed, grabbed the bottle that Sirius had left for him on the floor next to his bed, and followed James towards the door. “Have fun you too!” Peter squealed in an intentionally higher-pitched voice.
*****
And with that Peter and James found themselves, 20 minutes later, sprawled out on the couch in the Gryffindor common room. James laying on the right side of the couch, with his legs propped up on the small coffee table and a pillow uncomfortably digging into his back. He was too drunk to care. Peter was laying with his head neatly placed on James’ thigh and his own legs dangling off the side of the couch. They had somehow found 6 more bottles of butterbeer stashed away behind one of the many chests that were usually used as lost objects places. So, obviously, they had drunk all of them. By themselves. Neither of them dared to try going upstairs so they decided to just sleep on the couch tonight.
“Hey, Prongs?” Peter whispered lightly elevating his head to look at James without having to switch positions
“Yeah?” James murmured and God, he was really drunk. He could never handle his alcohol. Not like Peter could.
“How come you don’t date more people?” James furrowed his brows “At Hogwarts I mean. You’re basically the school’s heartthrob. And there’s always girls and blokes throwing themselves at you. I mean, if you wanted to, you could have someone new every week. So why don’t you?”
Well, that was confusing. James wasn’t going to lie and say that it didn’t feel nice to hear that everyone wants to date you. But he never really thought about why he hadn’t dated more. Sure, up until 3rd year he had been absolutely obsessed with Lily Evans, and he has dated one or two people, but he hasn’t ever explored his options. “I don’t actually know, Pete.” Why hadn’t he?
“Well, I was just saying. Because, believe me, mate, I get it. People like you, but not many would be able to handle you. You’d probably last a week max anyways.”
Now that. That made James’ blood boil over. “Oi! Why would you say that?” he said and it came out sounding sharper than he wanted.
Peter looked a bit taken aback by the way James’ voice soared above the fire crackle, but he simply shrugged and let his head flop back down on James’ leg. “Well, sorry mate, but you’re not the easiest person to handle at times. Not that that’s bad. Just shows a strong personality.” The last word was barely mumbled as Peter yawned and put his almost empty bottle on the table. James could tell he was about to start snoring again.
“Well, what about Lizzie Ericson? We were together for at least 2 months.” James said and he felt himself get more and more defensive “Or that, what was her name, in first year, uhhh” he trailed off “AH! Nellie Linton.” he pointed at his friend with those weird finger guns his mother always yelled at him for.
Peter looked barely awake at this point so he only raised a thumbs up but somehow his words sounded sober “Great, yeah. But Prongs, those were in first year. I get you were in love with Evans for a few there. But what about recently? I don’t know. Maybe you just don’t have the charm anymore.”
James knew Wormtail was joking and yet something in him shouted at him to prove that Peter was wrong. He hadn’t lost his charm. He could get anyone he wanted. James Potter always got what he wanted. “I’ll prove it. I bet I could get a girlfriend or boyfriend in less than a month and we will stay together for at least two weeks.”
“Make it a month and we’ve got a deal.” Peter never shied away from a bet.
“What are you betting?” James suddenly felt a lot soberer than he was just five minutes ago. He loved the chase. That’s why he stayed in love with Lily all these years.
“Two weeks of homework.” He was passed out the moment the words left his mouth.
James smiled wickedly and settled back down, tilting the bottle up against his lips, downing the last drops of liquid “Deal.”
And he fell asleep soon after. He had the perfect person in mind. Sirius wouldn’t be happy.
Not at all....