James Potter looses his meaning of life
Thursday, September 1st, 1977
JAMES
James Potter knows that he's a bit dramatic sometimes, especially when it comes to Quidditch. But honestly, who wouldn't when one of your most trusted and reliable friends is currently telling you that your favorite sport in the entire world is going to be cancelled for the entire school year as you're on a train going to said school.
"Are you absolutely sure?" James asks for the hundreth time, his eyebrows stitched together as he stares into the exasperated eyes of Peter Pettigrew.
"Positive." Peter replies grimly, rummaging through his trunk for something.
James rubs his face with his hands, callused and rough from all of the training he had been doing in the summer, and groans. He hopes that Peter is lying, even if he knows that Peter would never lie about something like this. Quidditch has been such an important part of his life since he was a little boy, still on his toy broom. He had dreams, even then, of becoming a famous Quidditch player. But if there isn't an Inter-House Quidditch Cup, than that means that there would be no official matches, which means a severe blow to James' happiness.
"You've got to stop overthinking, Prongs. Maybe Pete just heard wrong when he was spying on his dad." Sirius reassures him while rubbing his back in an effort to comfort him. James feels the cold, metal rings Sirius always insists on wearing through the cloth of his Muggle sweatshirt.
"I was not spying-"
"Sorry, I meant to say observing creepily at 2 o'clock in the-"
The sound of a book quickly snapping shut interrupts Peter and Sirius' banter, "For Merlin's sake, we just got on the train, so do me a favor and shut up." Remus Lupin says while glaring at them, clearly irritated.
Sirius, who would do anything to please Remus, shuts up.
James knows that one day Sirius will get the guts to finally ask out Remus. Or, at least, he hopes. It was a bit of a shoke when Sirius accidentaly confessed about his crush on Moony in 6th year to James while they were talking about the next full moon. Sirius was ranting about how much he loved it and all it's craters and imperfections. The more he went on, the more it started to sound like he was talking about Moony instead of the moon. Eventually, Sirius fell silent in realization, and James just laughed at him and told him he has his support.
It's almost been a year since then, and Sirius still hasn't asked. It's quite obvious, though, that the two idiots are in love. Remus looks at Sirius like he's the most beautiful person to ever exist.
James would be lying if he said he wasn't a little jealous.
Sure, he has plenty of options. He's the most popular boy in Hogwarts. But none of the students ignite the spark that he wants. The spark that James has craved since he was little. His parents have it, Padfoot and Moony have it, even Peter has it with his pretty Ravenclaw girlfriend. So why can't he have it?
Maybe that's being selfish. James has everything; money, talent, good looks. Students always look at him with envy. But why does it always feel like he's incomplete?
Realization floods James.
Quidditch, he thinks, the loss of Quidditch is messing with my poor, innocent heart. Of course I feel incomplete. It must be Quiddit-
For the second time of the day, Remus takes on the responsibility of interrupting his friends by moving over to sit next to James and hitting him with his thick, leather bound book.
"Oi, stop that thinking James, it'll do you no good."
James looks at Remus with mock hurt. He knows Remus would never actually hurt him.
"Must you hit me so hard, Moony?"
"Would you rather me hit you lightly?"
"I'd like that very much so, but-"
For the third time of the day, Remus takes on the responsibility of interrupting his friends by hitting him with his thick, leather bound book even harder than the first time. Thankfully, James has a very high pain tolerance. He found that out when Remus relentlessly threw snowballs at him in first year. They weren't even really snowballs, more like ice molded into spheres.
Remus, without a care in the world, sits back, opens his book, and starts to read, not looking sorry for James at all.
James glances back at Peter, who is just watching them in anticipation while eating a box of pepper imps.
"Pete, do you know why Quidditch is cancelled?" James asks, desperate for at least a little information.
Peter just shakes his head in defeat, "No, James, but my dad did say something about a big event that'll happen around October. I doubt it's true, though. A big event hasn't happened at Hogwarts since it hosted the Dragon Races in 1835. Of course, that's excluding all of our legendary pranks that we should definetly get an award for,"
James nods and stares out the window, thinking hard about the new information. What event could it be? Probably not Dragon Races, as it became illegal in the 1940s. Besides, if Peter's dad is aware of that means it has something to do with sports, as Perry Pettigrew was the head of the Department of Sports in the Ministry. James remembers idolizing Perry when he first met him, as he was an ex-Keeper for the Chudley Canons.
"Who was he talking to?" James asks.
"Dunno, but it sounded like she had a scandinavian accent." Peter replies.
Sirius eyes widen, "Scandinavian?" he cuts in, his voice cracking a bit.
Sirius has had a bad reaction to anything to do with North Europe since 2nd year, when his little brother Regulus was sent there to seperate them. Walburga, Sirius' mother, was not pleased by the fact that Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor. In fact, pretty much everyone in the Black family was displeased. So, to make sure Walburga's second born son was not exposed to Sirius anymore than he had to, Regulus was enrolled in Durmstrang Insitute. It tore Sirius into pieces, and ended up spending most of his nights crying himself to sleep. James was always there, trying to help him in any way can. But nothing helped. Regulus, who was Sirius' world, was taken away from him and stranded in a school for Dark Magic. They couldn't even owl each other, as Walburga pulled some strings to have any letter from Sirius destroyed. As the years went by, their relationship slowly crumbled until they were practially strangers. Sirius resented Regulus for it, even though he knew it was all his parents fault.
So, when Peter, rubs his hands together and quickly apologizes, Sirius just responds with "It's fine, it's just an accent."
James knows, and so does Sirius, that it's not just an accent.
There's an awkward silence, which is a rare occurence for the Marauders. They all always have something to talk about. Euphemia Potter, who James loves like no other, always told him growing up that talking was one of his strengths. That socializing and making others laugh was a talent that he should cherish and be grateful for. But sometimes, she had said, there was a time to talk and time to stay quiet.
James doesn't get to decide whether to start up a new conversation or not, as the compartment door sliding open and a girl with black braids down her back beats him to it.
"James, your Head Boy services are needed." Mary Macdonald tells him. She's already wearing her uniform, and her freshly polished Head Girl pin is on her chest.
James looks up at her with discontent, "Remember the good old days when you would sit down and ask us about our summers? I miss that."
Mary rolls her eyes, her thick lashes touching her eyelids. James has been friends with Mary since he bumped into her while on the train in his first year. Mary yelled at him for a good 4 minutes, and James knew right then that she was a force to be reckoned with. It took a few days, but eventually Mary forgave him. She still teases him about it every once in a while.
"Listen, I would stay and chat for a bit but unfortuanately being Head Girl means actually trying to keep order," she mutters, like it's the most inconvenient thing to happen. "I've told the Prefects to do hall patrol, now they hate me. I've told a few Hufflepuffs to stop smoking in the bathroom, and now they hate me too. If this goes on I'll be the most hated person in this damned school, and I'm not going down alone."
"That is downright awful, Mary." Remus notes, his eyes still glued to his book.
"Thank you! See James, Remus gets it," Mary exclaims, then proceeds to start dragging James out of the compartment, "Now come on."
"Alright, alright." James mumbles. He looks back at his friends and waves.
----
After hours of scolding students and breaking up fights, James begins to appreciate the teachers and what they put up with. Kids, he finds, are brutally honest creatures with no shame in insulting you when you've crossed them. The sound of the Hogwarts Express slowing down is music to his ears, so is the sound of Mary's voice when she tells him that she'd handle the first years with getting to the lake.
He dodges students, waving at those he reconizes, until he eventually finds Sirius, Remus, and Peter.
"I officially hate being Head Boy." he breaths, trying to catch his breath. The four walk over to the carriages and climb on, an invisible force pushing them along the trail to Hogwarts.
"Now you understand why I gave up my Prefect Badge," Remus says while smirking. Out of the corner of his eye, he see's Sirius blush as he stares at the upturn of Moony's mouth.
"Yes, I do. Please take it back," James begs.
"Not a chance." Remus says.
James sighs and looks out at the grounds. He knows somethings different, he can feel it. The air of Hogwarts has changed into something more on edge, anticipation flowing through the air. It's like the day before the Quiddith Final, when everyone is making bets. James can't decide if he loves it or if he hates it.
"You feel it too, then?" Sirius asks, nudging him with his shoulder.
"Yeah," James says solemly, "Something big is going to happen."
"Ten galeons that it's actually nothing and you lot are just going crazy?" Remus offers, holding out his scar covered hand.
Sirius gives his signature grin and shakes it, "You know I can't say no to a bet, Moons."
Remus' lips twitch upward, "Oh, I know, it's cost you about half of your inheritance."
"Excuse me? That was one time, and it wasn't half."
"You lost almost a thousand galleons, Sirius."
"And those galleons went to a great cause!"
"You think my chocolate frog shopping spree was a great cause?"
"An excellent one."
James looks at Peter, and they both nod at each other knowingly. Sirius lost that bet intentionally so that Remus could finally have every chocolate frog card. He still had a basket full of them left during the summer, but apparantly he ate them all after a particularly hard Full Moon.
After a long 20 minutes, the four arrive at the castle and enter the Great Hall. Baskets of dinner rolls sit on the tables and James immediately takes a few and starts eating them like a starved man.
"Keep that up and you'll miss the song." Peter whispered.
James does, infact, miss the song, and the sorting. But who can blame him? The poor guy hasn't had food for hours, so of course it alll goes by in a flash. The platters of food eventually appear on the tables and James starts to pile his plate with his favorites while listening to Sirius and Remus argue about who get's the last treacle tart (Remus wins).
About an hour later, James full and completely ready to sleep, the platters of food dissapear. James was already dreading this, because it meant he'd have to do his Head Boy duties. He's about to complain about stupid responsibilties to Peter when the sound of a spoon hitting a glass fills the Great Hall. James looks up and sees Dumbledore standing, his gray beard reaching the table in front of him. He looks ready to give his speech. James frowns, knowing the confirmation that Quidditch is cancelled is coming.
"Greetings students, new and old. Welcome to Hogwarts, where we learn how to use magic. I must remind you all that the Forbidden Forest is forbidden, as some students need reminding."
James almost laughs at that. He's been in the Forbidden Forest more times then he can count.
"The rules which you must follow are on the reminders boards, and I sudgest you read them carefully. Some have had a history of forgetting."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkle as he looks over at the Marauders, looking more amused than cross. James is glad that at least Dubledore has a sense of humor. McGonagal definetly does not, given the amount of times she has scolded and given detentions to James and him friends.
"I also regret to inform you all that this year, there will be no Inter-House Quidditch Cup."
All of the students reactions are pretty much the same; anger. Except, of course, Remus Lupin, who just smiles and fiddles with his clothes. Everyone else, however, is making a fuss. James doesn't blame them one bit.
"WE NEED QUIDDITCH!" someone shouts from the Ravenclaw table.
"WHY?" many students yell at once, so in sync that Flitwick (who runs the Hogwarts Choir) would be proud.
"I have a very good explanation," Dumbledore says calmly and loudly, staring at the students as if challenging them to doubt him, "In case you did not know, in 1792, the Triwizard Tournament was suspended. The Triwizard Tournament was a competition between three schools across Europe. Only the best students were allowed to represent their school and compete. It has been a long time since a Tournament has happened. But, after much consideration, the Headmistresses of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang have agreed to restart them this year, on October 1st. If you are of age by that time then you are permitted to apply to be a Champion. Be warned, the Tournament is dangerous, but rest assured we will not let anyone die."
Silence.
Then, moments later, all of the students are in chaos.
James smiles, and thinks that maybe, just maybe, loosing Quidditch will be worth it.