James Sirius Potter was kissing someone. His boyfriend, more specifically Adrian Page. They were in the Quidditch stands, even though it was dark out. The sky was clear, you could easily see the stars and the crescent moon, shining down on them.
James found Adrian beautiful. The nerdy boy with warm brown eyes and glasses. The boy with the lisp that sometimes shone through when he spoke. The boy with dark skin and a scar beside his eye he had gotten from cricket when he was seven. The way he always seemed to be chewing on some mint gum. His braided bracelet. The fake silver necklace he always wore with a new charm every week.
James sometimes joked that Adrian was like a cartoon character, since he always wore solid colour crewnecks and a hoodie, leaving the zipper slightly open with hand-me-down jeans or joggers, with an old pair of converse.
Adrian even played the fiddle, apparently he had wanted to play the guitar but his mother had gotten him a fiddle instead. They both laughed about it.
James had first really noticed Adrian in his fourth year. One of his best friends, Melvin, had been avoiding him all summer and had begun acting like a whole new person and he was upset. He had been heading back to his dorm to mope in peace but had bumped into Adrian. Adrian had made him feel better, at least a bit. Adrian had continued to talk to him whenever they saw each other, even going out of his way to find him more than once. A month after that they had their first kiss. Their first kiss happened in a muggle town, they had been walking around Adrian’s hometown. James had gone over to Adrian’s home, Adrian’s parents already knew about James and Adrian dating unlike James’ parents. They had been dating for a month already but had been too nervous to actually kiss the other on the lips. They had been walking around, hand in hand. They were on the sidewalk, laughing and Adrian had gone straight in and kissed James. They broke apart for a second and went in again and laughed afterwards.
They were in their sixth year now, James still hadn’t told his parents that he was as straight as a circle or about Adrian, as far as they knew he was just one of James’ friends and thought of him as a good influence. Adrian had tried to be sympathetic about James’ fear of coming out to his parents but James could tell Adrian was tired of being hidden. And that had led to a fight, not their first one but their first one that could end in them breaking up.
“I’m going to tell them eventually!” James yelled.
“Oh yea? You’ve been saying that for months! I want a boyfriend who’ll hold my hand in public and show me off, as dumb as that sounds! We’ve been secretive for almost a year and a half! When the fuck is ‘eventually’, huh? Tell me! Because I’m fucking tired of being hidden! I’ve tried to be understanding but it’s been so long and I’m tired of it!” Adrian yelled back.
“Please, I’m going to tell them I just…” James trailed off, he didn’t know what to say.
“Just what? Listen, I love you and really want to stay with you but I don’t want to be hidden and if it’s going to stay like this then I think it’s better if we split up.” Adrian said, his voice was quieter.
“Adrian, please don’t say that, just- it’s scary to, and I’m not sure how they’ll react but I promise it’ll be soon.” James said, his voice slightly cracking. Adrian sighed, he knew that James kept promises, but still he left the room.
James’ stomach turned at the thought of coming out to his parents but breaking up with Adrian was worse, he knew he’d have to come out to his parents, he’d have to do it at some point anyways and was willing to if it meant staying with Adrian.
--
It was a few days before Christmas and some Weasley’s were at the Potter house. James was at home, in a warm maroon sweater. He and Lily were laughing around and goofing off as Albus playfully rolled his eyes and smiled. Teddy was sitting near them with her arm around Victoire. Today Teddy’s hair was a bubblegum pink and fell to her shoulders, just like her mother’s, she looked similar to her mother but her eyes were different, they were her father’s. She and Victoire were talking to Charlie and he was smiling at them but still looked like he was seeing a ghost.
James was trying to avoid it. He had decided this Christmas he was going to come out. His and Adrian’s fight had happened about two weeks ago, after that they had sort of been avoiding each other. James found it unbearable. He was waiting for the right time to do it. Albus and Lily knew about James and Adrian, they had seen them being affectionate more than once and had agreed to keep quiet, even if they fought they would never out one another. They wouldn’t stoop that low. Lily and Albus also knew that James was planning to come out to their parents, so they quietly encouraged him.
Dinner was over and everyone, other than the Potters had left. Lily had headed upstairs to go to sleep and Albus followed, they weren’t actually going to sleep for at least another hour. James’ dad, Harry, was washing some of the last few dishes. James’ mom, Ginny, was putting away some snacks. James was sitting on the couch, anxiously fidgeting. He was waiting for them to be done, he would have helped but there really wasn’t much left to do so he waited. He was going to tell them.
Eventually Harry and Ginny were done with the kitchen and James decided to approach them and motioned for them to sit in the living room. Harry seemed a bit concerned and Ginny seemed rather amused.
“So um, I need to tell you something.” James said nervously, his palms were sweating.
“Okay sure, what is it that you needed to tell us at 12:32 am?” Ginny asked, yawning.
“I’m...dating someone.” James said.
“That’s it? Well, do you want us to meet her or invite her for Christmas or something?” Harry asked.
“Well that’s the thing, I would like to invite...him and for you to meet him.” James said slowly. It felt like hours until they responded even though it had only been a few seconds.
“So you’re dating a guy! Oh that’s what you wanted to tell us! Who is it?” Ginny asked, very interested.
“Wait so are you two okay with it?” James asked.
“No shit, I’m proud of you for telling us but who’s the poor dude?” Ginny asked playfully.
“Mum! Well uhm, Adrian Page.”
“Wait, the smart and nice one?” Harry finally asked.
“Yes..?”
“Good then, so that’s it then?” Harry asked, he was tired.
“Yep,”
“Well I'm proud of you for telling us, I hope I don’t sound grumpy or old but I’m tired so goodnight.” Harry said, and with that he went upstairs.
Ginny had been sitting across James and moved to sit beside him. She slid her arm around James’ shoulder and hugged him. James was relieved and felt light. James hugged her back and leaned his head on her shoulder. They broke apart and Ginny smiled, James felt very happy.
“So, Adrian Page huh?”
“Yep.”
“So how long have you two been dating?”
“Uh a year and a half…”
“What?!”
“...Sorry”
“So have you and your dad had the birds and the bees talk or are we about to have it?”
“No, we've had it already, don't worry.” James said with a pained smile.
“Good then, well let’s head upstairs to sleep. I don’t care if you’re sixteen you’re not staying up too late.” Ginny said in a very motherly tone.
James agreed and they went upstairs, Ginny went to her and Harry’s room after kissing James’ head and saying goodnight to one another and closed the door. James went to Lily’s room, Albus and Lily were both still definitely awake. He creaked open the door. Lily and Albus both looked right at him.
“Did you tell them?” Albus asked.
“Yep.”
“I’m assuming it went well?”
“Also yep.”
“So when’s Adrian coming over?”
“Well we haven’t discussed that, you know how dad get’s when he’s tired.”
“Yeah okay, well…”
“So…”
“Well that went nicely.”
“Yep, okay so I was thinking, do you two want to sneak downstairs and watch that new movie?”
“Total Dhamaal?”
“Yep.”
“Yeah sure.”
“Well let’s go then.”
That night consisted of laughs, cookies, popcorn, and bhakarwadi.
--
James was back at Hogwarts. Outside it was snowing, the snow slowly falling. He and Adrian were cuddled up in their dorm. James’ head rested on Adrian’s chest while he stroked his hair. Both were happy, Adrian hadn’t been able to stay over for Christmas but it was agreed that he’d come over during the summer. James reached up to kiss Adrian on the lips but Adrian moved his head at the same time and it knocked his glasses off instead. Adrian went back to kiss him anyway. Everything had worked out. James and Adrian really loved each other. They were young but they knew.