Chapter Text
As every other man in his family before him, James Fleamont Potter fell in love in a single moment.
Things had not been as straightforward as they seemed, for sure – both of them had some growing up to do until they finally found their way to each other. But even before everything, his bratty eleven years old had known the significance of that meeting – how things would never be the same again for James.
Now, on the very eve of his nuptials, amidst the familiar smell of butter beer and the loud buzz of voices filling the pub, he found himself in a strangely nostalgic mood, letting his mind wonder to the previous years, to their long conversations and heated discussions and soft kisses... James could pinpoint the exact moment he was sure Hermione Longbottom was the one and only for him, the moment he decided to propose despite the fear of rejection making his fingers tremble. Still, it didn't matter how much he pondered over the matter, or how many times his friends nagged him for an answer, James couldn't tell what exactly had captured his attention at first, or why that person would be the one above and beyond every other in his eyes…
It was... Quite the disgruntling realization.
Somewhat.
Of course, there was absolutely nothing so disgruntling as having to deal with a tipsy Sirius Black when all his snark was turned onto him.
"Now, if Jamesy here is not spouting poetry about the brightest eyes he's ever seen yet, then he's clearly not drunk enough!" his best-friend declared animatedly, to the utter amusement of almost all of the other guests – invited or not - on his stag party "Rosy, dear, another round of fire-whiskey for everyone, if you please – on the groom!"
The room boomed with approval.
"Make it one less, Rosmerta…" Remus Lupin intervened, sending a scathing look at the other man as the animagus sprawled himself lazily over his side "I think someone here has had enough to drink for now."
Despite Remus' forbidding words, it was obvious to every single man currently crowding the Three Broomsticks that Mr. Sirius Orion Black had taken it upon himself to get James as drunk as possible – while still not making him so shit-faced Hermione would happily hex him to hell and back the next day.
" Sirius Black, if my fiancé shows up to our wedding without his liver, I am using YOURS as a substitute! And that is not a threat! "
James would be the first one to admit his future wife was a scary person – and had been even scarier in their younger years, when she found herself as the single thinking, well-functioning adult amidst his closest mates.
Still, he would be the first to admit that Hermione made no empty threats – even more so, considering he thought he'd seen Mr. Liu greeting Rosmerta after entering the pub from a back door some fifteen minutes before.
Well… At least his father-in-law wasn't in attendance himself . So, there was that.
Maybe.
Hermione’s family was known to be far more liberal with the use of Polyjuice than James would ever be comfortable with.
If that wasn't strange enough, his last night of singlehood had been made all the more awkward by the addition of Thorffin Rowle, Regulus Black, Lucius Malfoy and one dour, quietly seething Severus Snape.
"Hermione... You know I love you and I think you are one of the most intelligent human beings I've ever met" James had started slowly, looking completely uncomfortable as his fiancé started adding to his list for the celebration "But this... This is a bad idea. A 'Sirius Black' kind of bad idea."
Putting her quill down, Hermione turned from the pile of notes she had been going through, a small frown between her brows.
"Seeing as your brother's bight ideas almost landed one of your friends in Azkaban and one of MINE permanently maimed or worse, James, I feel like the comparison was uncalled for."
"Yes, well, Sirius has gotten better lately" James couldn't help defending the other man "But still... Maiming or worse is exactly what will happen with a bunch of Gryffindors and Slytherins left in an uncontrolled environment with free beer!"
"Now, you are just being dramatic."
"Tell that to the healers on St. Mungus when we all end up on the extensive care ward!"
"James" Hermione sighed, getting up from her chair on the study and moving to stand between his legs, hands holding onto his own as their eyes met "You know Severus is more than only my bridesman, he is my best friend. You two will have to learn to coexist in peace eventually. And seeing as the wedding is in only two weeks time, I say you should start now. "
And so... Here they were now. All of them.
Merlin's beard, if anyone had told eleven years' old James Potter he would one day be celebrating his up-coming nuptials with at least half of the snake-pit – literal Slytherin Royalty – in attendance, he would have doubled over in laughter until tears fell from his eyes!
The fact that he had just – voluntarily, mind you – stopped Sirius from calling Snape the greasiest bridesmaid known to mankind should already be worth a commendation!
"James, mate, you lost all the fun in you since Kitten got a ring on her finger!" his best man complained, clinking their short glasses of firewhisky together.
The groom turned to him, surprised to see that Remus had deserted his place by the animagus's side in favor of talking with Frank Longbottom and one of the Prewett twins – James could never tell which one.
"Just leave Snape alone tonight" he asked with a pointed look "Merlin knows he is one of Mia's best friends... For some reason. Besides" he added "just think, where would we all be without her?"
Circling his drink with a hand, Sirius' silver eyes moved from James to land in the tall, slightly underdressed frame of Remus, who was laughing about something or other Frank had told them.
Even from that distance, with at least two tables overflowing with people between them, the animagus could still see the glint in the other's eyes… The soft tilt of his head to the side he only did when he was truly happy.
Sirius sighed.
"Probably pissing drunk at this point… Doing something I would regret tomorrow."
Like trying to talk sense into his brother.
Or antagonizing every single Slytherin presently at the Three Broomsticks .
James snorted at the resigned look in his brother's face, lifting his cup in a silent salute.
"I can drink to that" he said, hazel eyes sparkling with unadulterated joy. "If anyone can drag your sorry ass from infancy right into adulthood it would be my lovely lady."
"Merlin's saggy balls, you are really smitten, aren't you?" Sirius laughed, but tipped his head in acknowledgement of his words "She is a fine lass, Jamesy… If only with a peculiar taste in friendships."
"Don't I know" he grinned back, both men turning their attention once more to the group of snakes that were… Surprisingly… Attempting to mingle between the other guests.
James supposed it didn't bode well for him that he already couldn't say no to Hermione. But in his defense, she had threatened to take " her boys " along for her bachelorette party if he didn't invite him tonight – and wasn't that a terribly unsettling thought?!
To be honest, James had almost taken her up on that promise, if for nothing else, just for the sheer pleasure of seeing the Malfoy heir suffer amidst a gaggle of females talking about newly-wedded bliss and the trending color for draperies. Later though, as he mused over the entire argument, he knew the request meant more to her than Hermione was letting on.
" James, just... Listen" she asked, looking tired beyond her years as she took off her glasses and brushed at her whisky-colored eyes "If we are going to marry… I need you to accept my family My father is not like yours or Uncle Eugene. My friends are not Gryffindors. I am not like you. We are not Light. Most of the time, we are barely considered gray . Do you truly understand it? What it would mean for someone like you… To be with someone like me? If you can't even stand to be in the presence of the people that I love, then how could we build a life together? "
And the truth was, until that very moment, James found he had not truly considered who Hermione was, and what it would mean to him, to his beliefs and his principles, to be with someone like her.
Staying at Hogwarts, it had been too easy to forget how truly different their upbringing had been, how different their families were. How she came with so many connections to people he would first have at wand point than sitting in his living room taking tea with his wife.
James was sure Malfoy was already neck-deep into Voldemort's rising party, and Rowle and Snape were at least close to joining – if they were not already affiliated to the blood-purist cause.
And yet, Hermione would never back away from them. Would never recognize their allies as the terrorists they were. It was, unfortunately, one of the many points of discord they couldn't seem to overcome.
As it turns out, though, their first disagreement had been over her complete distaste for England itself – their beliefs, their government, their costumes, their weather … The list was ever-growing, and her dissatisfaction had come to a point where James actually asked her whether she still wanted to marry him or not.
That had been their second worst argument – only surpassed by their terrible fight over Albus Dumbledore.
Still, all this… Everything else, he could deal with. He could adapt, could rethink, could talk for hours and argue and compromise.
But he couldn't live without Hermione.
Not after knowing how much better they were with each other. Not after experiencing how it felt to get back home at night to find her snuggled on the sofa with a book, her menace of a fire qilin peeking challengingly from between her arms as she kept hold of a steaming mug of Indian chai .
James didn't know when the house had become home , but it was clear now that it would only be so with her presence there – her, and her interminable mess of books and experimental magic.
Of course, both knew there were many subjects about which they would never agree upon, but one of his best qualities – at least according to his dear future wife – was that life had taught one Scion Potter to respect views and choices which differed from his own.
So, as part of this compromise , James had accepted all her cousins and friends and questionable acquaintances for his stag party.
Meanwhile, Hermione herself was suffering the company of Marlene Mackinon, Dorcas Meadows, and a few other girls James and his boys had befriended during their Hogwarts years. The only name she had not accepted had been Lily Evans.
"Hermione, you can't just tell me to bring Snivellus to my stag party and refuse to accept one of my friends at the same time!"
"His name is Snape" she corrected automatically, her curls twirling and snapping from her magic "And that is not the same."
"Yeah, well, enlighten me then! Because from where I'm standing, the only explanation I see here is that you are still holding a grudge over me pursuing her at Hogwarts!"
James knew he had said the wrong thing just as the last word had left his mouth, dread filling his veins with ice as he watched Hermione go perfectly still.
The only movement he could see was from her eyes, who were burning with barely contained fury.
"You know I will never be able to be civil to her " she stated seriously, her tone low with a silent warning " And this has nothing to do with some stupid teenage rivalry or Slytherin-Griffindor nonsence. You can invite anyone you like James, but not her. "
Left bristling from the ultimatum, James was not very proud to say that he had react in the exact way that would make his mother smack him up the head – by refusing to receive any of her snakes at his own party.
Which, in time, came to the "then, they will attend mine! " threat.
After that incident, for almost two days, it had felt like they were living alone, both passing by each other like two ships on the sea – close, but forever out of reach. James had lost count of how many pieces of clothes he'd had to mend after her bloody vengeful beast of a Fire Qilin was done with them. Some had been even too damaged for magic to bring it back into shape. Their Cold War would have probably taken longer if it wasn't for Hermione herself to ambush him by the front door, just as he was leaving to go to his master's class one morning, putting both hands on his face before saying.
"I refuse to allow Evans to ruin our relationship " and then, kissing his lips softly, she smiled at him for the first time in way too long, eyes sparkling " I will see you when you come back. We will talk properly then. "
" We will " he agreed, bowing down his head to steal another short, warm kiss " I missed you, love. "
" I missed you too. "
And that, thankfully, was the end of it.
"So… Enjoying the night?"
Looking up from his musings, James was surprised to see Throffin Rowle leaning against the bar counter, fiendish grin in place as he asked Madam Rosmerta to send him another butterbeer.
"More than I expected" he admitted, chuckling at the other's knowing smile.
"Not very happy having a bunch of snakes crash your party, hum?"
"It has been… Surprisingly cordial, to be honest" James said simply, taking another sip of his drink. "So I suppose my hiding here has become moot."
"Oh?" Rowle snickered, his bright green eyes shining with mirth. "And here I thought you were just hiding from Black's lack of tact when it comes to personal questions."
James turned to look at him, eyebrows so high up his forehead they were almost hidden under his black hair.
"You are awfully blunt for a Slytherin."
"And you are exceptionally sneaky to a brash lion" he shrugged "I suppose we can't all be perfect like Mr. White-Peacock-Rearing over there."
The two men turned briefly to look over Lucius Malfoy, who was clearly trying to keep his robes clean while talking to an over-excited Hufflepuff with a dripping butterbeer, before exchanging a knowing look and falling into companionable laugher.
"I admit this night is turning out much better than I thought it would be" James said, motioning to the other guests with his chin. "I was actually ready to break off some fights and turn up tomorrow for the ceremony with a black eye."
Thorffin snorted.
"Anywhere else, there would definitely be some tension!" he assured, sharp smile still in place "We don't much care for your lot either, you know… But Mia asked everyone to be civil. And she never asks anything."
Yes, straightforward was definitely a word for Thorffin Rowle.
"She commanded me to be good too," James confideed, sharing a knowing grin with the snake "Apparently, our bonding comes with some extra passengers, so I don't really have much choice in the matter."
"Oh, you definitely don't!" he nodded, taking his drink from the counter and thanking Rosmerta with a small wink. "I would like to see you try and tell Malfoy over there he is not welcome in your home."
Turning to glance at the Malfoy heir for a second, James had to actually contain a shiver as his eyes met the other's cold, pale blue ones.
"Not that it would be much better with me, mind you" the blond continued, leaning back on his elbows over the wooden top. "And Reg. We would simply keep showing up at your door until you either gave up or died of frustration."
The groom raised a curious eyebrow, eyes straying to a tall, silent figure in dark robes close to the back of the saloon.
"And what about Snape?"
Thorffin's tone now was almost malicious.
"Oh… He wouldn't give you time to actually say the words".
James' head turned sharply to the man, his expression closing off as he noticed the seriousness on the blonde's face.
"Don't let his usual dour expression or derisive comments about the indignity of being a bridesmaid deceive you… Severus and Mia are more like siblings than friends – have been since second year. He would kill for her before waiting to hear the other side of the story. And she…" he stopped, his eyes looking far away, as if he was remembering something from a distant past.
"She?"
But whatever it was, the true words Thor had wished to say were already gone, his eyes once again bright and playful as he shrugged.
"Sev says she saved his life, so take whatever meaning you wish from it. Now" he added, finally righting his posture "I better go there and save poor Scamander before Lucius actually drinks the kid under the table."
As he watched the Slytherin move away from his chosen point of observation, James couldn't help thinking that, had he been sorted anywhere else, the two would probably have ended up being good friends. There was just this raw humor to his brash way of speaking, the way he felt so light and calm, that made you feel instantly at easy with him. It was never something he had ever considered before Hermione – the possibility of enjoying the presence of a snake.
In all honesty, he had left the house that night prepared to hate every moment of the party. To grit his teeth at Snape and roll his eyes while hearing Lucius Malfoy dron on and on about how perfect his superior nose was, or about the greatness of those famed White Peacocks his father was raising on the family property.
Instead, he found himself… Almost enjoying the event. He had already heard some very amusing tales of Hermione from before she started Hogwarts, which were only added to by Severus Snape and Rowle, both of whom had been her partners in crime for the entire seven years of school.
Regulus, though more subdued, laughed and added his own two cents to the conversation every now and then, the glint in his eyes making it clear he was enjoying talking about his friend.
At this point, after a few more drinks had been ingested than was wise, people had fallen into small groups of comfortable camaraderie, a few of them even managing to extract a semblance of small talk from Snape, who seemed to loosen up a bit more when Thor finally made it to his side – still dragging a slightly offended Lucius on his wake.
So, it wasn't terrible .
Still, he wished Sirius would back down and stop asking him questions about his relationship every five minutes.
"Now, Potter, you can't blame him for being curious" Lucius Malfoy intervened eventually, his blond hair shining almost silver under the soft light of the bar "In fact, we were all quite stunned when Mia wrote home to inform us about your relationship … I had always presumed you would ask for another’s hand after graduation." At his continued silence, the blond just shrugged. "You didn't really exert much subtlety in your efforts of courting of the Evans girl, Mr. Potter"
By his side, Thorffin nodded pointedly, taking a sip of his firewhisky with a look of contentment.
"To be perfectly honest, mate, we all told Hermione many times to just dump your sorry-ass and move on… More fish in the sea and all that, you know?"
James gawked .
"You… You what?! "
"Mia doesn't deserve to be some wizard's rebound" Regulus Black intervened, looking so much like a younger, angrier version of Sirius that James had to force himself to blink the ressemblance away "She is too good to fill the gap left by some other witch."
"Hermione is no one's rebound!" he cried out, sounding offended to his own ears "I love her!"
"Oh, we know," Thor grinned "Or else, you wouldn't be standing here right now."
As he watched the blond wizard lift a single eyebrow, exchanging a meaningful look with Snape, James couldn't help the feeling of unease that made him fidget at the truth behind he Slytherins' words. While it was good to know Hermione had such loyal friends, a man couldn't help being slightly… Intimidated by their united front.
Not that he would ever admit to it, of course.
"So, Potter" Frank Longbottom called to him, looking entirely too smug for his taste "Please enlighten us: how exactly did our little Hermione manage to catch your attention?"
"Como now, Jamesy! It can't be such an embarrassing question! You were both too young to already be fooling around in broom closets!" Sirius taunted, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Now, see here, Black, Hermione would never lower herself to go... Canoodling into broom cupboards with some brash Gryffindor!" Malfoy hissed back, looking entirely too affronted by the apparent slight to his cousin's person.
For his part, James had almost chocked on his drink. They had probably drank way too much if the uptight Lucius Malfoy was using words like canoodling.
James didn't know what it said about him that he could barely suppress the desire to giggle at the absurdity.
"I suppose I would also favor the prefect's bathrooms if I was made Headboy with my partner, ain't that right Remus?" Sirius' voice once more cut through his musings "More space to–"
"AND, that's enough!" Lupin finally stopped his boyfriend, almost dragging to a chair a stuffing his hand with a large glass of water. "Drink. Madam Rosmerta said she is out of sobering potions. I will make you some when we get home."
Looking up to meet the annoyed, but strangely resigned golden eyes of Remus, James actually decided it would be better to just appease this rowdy bunch and let them move on to other – probably even more mortifying – questions.
"She fixed my glasses." he finally said to the room at large "Ok? We were young, and I had just crashed on the floor and she fixed my damn glasses! That was it!"
That was the shocking, sordid tale of the Love of one James Potter and Hermione Longbottom.
Dear Godric, it sounded less lame when he thought it in his head!!
All around him, there was a single moment of complete, stunned silence.
And then Sirius and Peter were howling with laughter from the absurdity of the answer, Frank guffawing and almost chocking on a gulp of butter beer while the Slytherins exchanged knowing looks, all of them not so prone to large expressions of emotions – apart from Rowle, of course, who seemed to find the notion of falling in love over an oculus reparo terribly hilarious.
Chuckling to himself at the absurdity of the entire evening, James couldn't help feeling that, despite everything going on right now, despite the brewing war that would call for him the moment he stepped outside that pub, despite knowing many of those present that day would probably be hurling hexes at him very soon... Life was good. He had experienced seven years of school with his best mates, had met the woman he loved, had been Headboy and even played on his House's Quidditch team.
Whatever was coming next... They would face it all together – as they always did. And now that the Marauders had the foresight of the brightest witch of the age, the fates must surely be turning in their favor!
So, at that one moment, on the very last night before he tied his life forever to the most wonderful, maddening woman he had ever met, James Potter allowed himself to close his eyes for a moment, and simply remember...