James Potter (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
alotofgood) wrote2011-03-10 03:50 pm
alotofgood) wrote2011-03-10 03:50 pm
Entry tags:
023. summer 1976.
Mid-August, 1976 — Morning
The Potter Residence
London, England
It is mid-August and it is finally a little cooler in London than it had been during the maddening heat waves of June and July.
The Potter house is full of teenage boys with Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew's arrivals at the beginning of the month, but if Harold and Florence Potter ever had any reservations, they weren't voicing them.
The Marauders, reunited again, spend their days at Diagon Alley or at the Muggle Pub James and Sirius frequented once or twice (or a handful of other times, because Sirius had become quite infatuated with the lady bartender there) sipping Butterbeer or pints of Muggle beer. They go to local Quidditch games, they explore shops, and generally do what Wizard teenagers do when they've got time on their hands.
And then one morning, when James walks into the kitchen — the first one to wake up, starving — there's a letter waiting for him on the table by the Daily Prophet and a jug of chilled orange juice.
He fills a glass and is about to take a sip when Mrs Potter comes into the kitchen, wearing her gardening gloves and a wide-brimmed hat.
"Oh, James, you're up," says Mrs Potter. She smiles. "I don't think your father and I were expecting any of you to stir until noon. An owl left that for you this morning. And your booklists, too, but I've set those aside for later this afternoon. Your dad will go with you to Diagon Alley."
"We could go ourselves," James starts to say (a little distractedly, mind, considering the mysterious letter). He leans forward to take it, turning it over and tearing off the little wax seal.
"Yes," James' mum continues, "you could, physically, but I'd feel much better if your dad went with you. Made sure you all actually picked up what you were supposed to. Not that I don't trust Remus, but you and Sirius really —"
James only half-listens to what his mum is saying.
He's opened the letter and a silver badge has just fallen out onto his open palm. It is shiny and cold against his skin. In the centre, a large 'C' is engraved. 'C' for Captain.
"What's that?" asks his mum.
"You're kidding." He looks up at his mum, a little starry-eyed. "Mum. I was made Quidditch Captain this year."
He starts to grin as the words sink in.
"Mum," he says again, "I'm Quidditch Captain!"
"That's brilliant, dear! Well done." She laughs as James pops over and kisses her cheek.
"Blimey. That's — you know, I really thought it was going to go to Aurelius."
"I haven't any idea who Aurelius is, but I'm sure you were quite deserving of the role, James."
"Quidditch Captain," he says again, shaking his head. "Wait till I tell the others —"
"Tell us what?" Sirius enters, yawning.
James tosses the badge in Sirius' suddenly surprised direction. It's only his quick reflexes that save the badge from flying over his shoulder and beaning Remus in the face. Peter is the only one missing from the group, likely still asleep.
"Holy —"
"Language, Sirius!" James' mum chides.
"Sorry, Mrs Potter." Sirius presses his lips together. "Quidditch Captain, though!"
"Well done, Prongs," says Remus.
"Yeah, well done, mate." Sirius grins. "That means you get to use Remus' special bathroom now — isn't that right?"
Remus laughs, rolling his eyes. "First of all, it isn't my bathroom. And it's really not all that much —"
"Point is," Sirius interrupts, "now that you're Captain, you get to call the shots during the games. You better bloody earn us some victories this year, mate. Last year was rubbish."
James, who has suddenly found himself ruminating upon that very thing, brings himself back to their conversation.
"Your father will be so proud," Mrs Potter says. "He never did get to be on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, let alone Captain. Oh! Why don't you make a stop at Quality Quidditch Supplies and pick something up. As a celebratory little sending-off."
"Really, mum?"
"How's your old broomstick doing? You could get a new one."
"Still good," James says, "but — blimey. Thanks, mum."
"Don't forget to thank your dad, too."
"Yeah. Of course," James promises, as Sirius passes the silver badge back to him.
"Now, since you're all up, you might as well get some breakfast. I may also need a couple pair of hands to help Dexter with a bit of de-gnoming in the gardens. And since I've got four strong boys staying here this summer ..."
The Potter Residence
London, England
It is mid-August and it is finally a little cooler in London than it had been during the maddening heat waves of June and July.
The Potter house is full of teenage boys with Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew's arrivals at the beginning of the month, but if Harold and Florence Potter ever had any reservations, they weren't voicing them.
The Marauders, reunited again, spend their days at Diagon Alley or at the Muggle Pub James and Sirius frequented once or twice (or a handful of other times, because Sirius had become quite infatuated with the lady bartender there) sipping Butterbeer or pints of Muggle beer. They go to local Quidditch games, they explore shops, and generally do what Wizard teenagers do when they've got time on their hands.
And then one morning, when James walks into the kitchen — the first one to wake up, starving — there's a letter waiting for him on the table by the Daily Prophet and a jug of chilled orange juice.
He fills a glass and is about to take a sip when Mrs Potter comes into the kitchen, wearing her gardening gloves and a wide-brimmed hat.
"Oh, James, you're up," says Mrs Potter. She smiles. "I don't think your father and I were expecting any of you to stir until noon. An owl left that for you this morning. And your booklists, too, but I've set those aside for later this afternoon. Your dad will go with you to Diagon Alley."
"We could go ourselves," James starts to say (a little distractedly, mind, considering the mysterious letter). He leans forward to take it, turning it over and tearing off the little wax seal.
"Yes," James' mum continues, "you could, physically, but I'd feel much better if your dad went with you. Made sure you all actually picked up what you were supposed to. Not that I don't trust Remus, but you and Sirius really —"
James only half-listens to what his mum is saying.
He's opened the letter and a silver badge has just fallen out onto his open palm. It is shiny and cold against his skin. In the centre, a large 'C' is engraved. 'C' for Captain.
"What's that?" asks his mum.
"You're kidding." He looks up at his mum, a little starry-eyed. "Mum. I was made Quidditch Captain this year."
He starts to grin as the words sink in.
"Mum," he says again, "I'm Quidditch Captain!"
"That's brilliant, dear! Well done." She laughs as James pops over and kisses her cheek.
"Blimey. That's — you know, I really thought it was going to go to Aurelius."
"I haven't any idea who Aurelius is, but I'm sure you were quite deserving of the role, James."
"Quidditch Captain," he says again, shaking his head. "Wait till I tell the others —"
"Tell us what?" Sirius enters, yawning.
James tosses the badge in Sirius' suddenly surprised direction. It's only his quick reflexes that save the badge from flying over his shoulder and beaning Remus in the face. Peter is the only one missing from the group, likely still asleep.
"Holy —"
"Language, Sirius!" James' mum chides.
"Sorry, Mrs Potter." Sirius presses his lips together. "Quidditch Captain, though!"
"Well done, Prongs," says Remus.
"Yeah, well done, mate." Sirius grins. "That means you get to use Remus' special bathroom now — isn't that right?"
Remus laughs, rolling his eyes. "First of all, it isn't my bathroom. And it's really not all that much —"
"Point is," Sirius interrupts, "now that you're Captain, you get to call the shots during the games. You better bloody earn us some victories this year, mate. Last year was rubbish."
James, who has suddenly found himself ruminating upon that very thing, brings himself back to their conversation.
"Your father will be so proud," Mrs Potter says. "He never did get to be on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, let alone Captain. Oh! Why don't you make a stop at Quality Quidditch Supplies and pick something up. As a celebratory little sending-off."
"Really, mum?"
"How's your old broomstick doing? You could get a new one."
"Still good," James says, "but — blimey. Thanks, mum."
"Don't forget to thank your dad, too."
"Yeah. Of course," James promises, as Sirius passes the silver badge back to him.
"Now, since you're all up, you might as well get some breakfast. I may also need a couple pair of hands to help Dexter with a bit of de-gnoming in the gardens. And since I've got four strong boys staying here this summer ..."