13 13 Making Girls Cry

James's mouth spread into a wide smile.

"Hey Siri."

Sirius's face scrunched up in disgust as he looked at the bottom of his shoe, the mushed sandwich falling off in chunks. He flicked his foot, throwing some on Peter who squeeked.

Sirius ignored Peter scowling at James.

"Don't call me that. Had enough of Bellatrix saying that over the summer."

A flash of red light, Sirius falling through a gateway, the mad cackle of Bellatrix Lestrange. James blinked the image away.

"Yeah yeah," James said waving the complaint away.

Sirius smirked, taking his own usual seat and finally looking at Peter.

"Ey Pete's hows the mum?"

"Good! We went to my aunt's house on the beach and went around collecting-"

At first Sirius had been surprised by Peter's confidence and enthusiasm, then quickly got bored. Harry had told him that Sirius had something called ADHD. Which pretty much meant anything that wasn't interesting to him was almost impossible to focus on.

"Sure Sally and the sea shore and all that. James what happened mate? Were you really-" Sirius asked.

Peter deflated.

"Oi, let Peter finish," James cut in. "I'd rather hear about something normal after my rollercoaster of a summer, and it'll be easier to wait for Remus before I start telling the tale."

James gave Peter a conspiratorial wink, who blushed and smiled. Of course Sirius was no idiot, noticing the exchange.

"Wait! You'll tell Peter what happened, but you're making me wait for Remus?"

James smirked, leaning back.

"Well, I just really had to get it off my chest, and Peter is a better listener than you. Also this is for interrupting Peter's story."

Sirius was shocked, and a contemplative look came over Peter's face.

"Uh- bu- w-"

"Go ahead Peter."

Peter's story was honestly rather boring. Just him collecting different sea shells. It would have been more interesting had Peter brought them with him, but he didn't want them to break.

But James noticed something that he might have never seen before.

Peter had always seemed scared of his mom, not in the same truly dangerous way that Sirius's mum could bring, but a more… sad way. From what James could tell now when listening to Peter talk was that he actually really loved his mother, but maybe it was that he never felt like he was a good son. Not a natural talent like James or Remus, or a technical prodigy like Remus. He had a hero worship with James and Sirius, probably Remus too, and because he surrounded himself with people who were plainly amazing, he felt small, unworthy. So while some part of him might have loved hanging out with them and being with "popular" kids, he also had a resentment of himself, and didn't live up to his mothers expectations. Or at the very least his imagined expectations from his mother.

What could James do to help him with that?

"James?"

James shook himself from his thoughts. Peter was looking at him in worry, and disappointment flooded his shoulders, dragging them down.

"S-sorry that was so boring."

"What? No, it's not that, your story just got me thinking."

Peter looked at James in surprise.

"Well I sure found it boring," Sirius said, who had been twirling his wand around his long hair and now had it stuck, trying to get it free while not ripping out chunks of scalp.

James kicked him in the shin and Sirius yelped, rubbing at it and scowling at James.

"Thinking about what?" Peter asked hesitantly.

"Well, I'm just kind of jealous."

Both Peter and Sirius looked at James in shock.

"B-because of what happened over the summer?"

"Nah, I do wish I was with my family more, but it's not just that. Your mum works a lot more than mine does. Mine's retired from Curse-breaking, and now just helps with the manor and family finances."

Peter got an ashamed flush to his cheeks.

"But even so your mom took a trip with you and spent days having fun looking at seashells. Normal sure, not some posh dinner or large party, but I kinda wish my parents would do that with me sometime. Your mom sounds awesome, not that mine isn't or doesn't love me. But I'm just a little envious at how your mum shows how much she cares for you."

Peter was silent, blinking at James, but not really looking at him as he worked through his own thoughts.

"Bloody hell James, did getting kidnapped turn you into some pining bird?" Sirius asked, frowning.

James rolled his eyes.

"What can I say, its like I grew up and you all stayed the same."

The compartment jolted as it began to move.

"Wait, where's Remus?" James asked worry filling him.

The full moon had been more than a week ago, so he should be feeling better by then.

"Well his stuff is here," Sirius said, pointing to the slightly worn trunk that spelled out R. J. Lupin.

"Oh! I forgot to mention, apparently he forgot to mention it in his letters because he was so worried about James. Remus is a Prefect!"

Both their jaws dropped.

"Remus!" Sirius bellowed, standing. "There's no way. What was Minnie thinking?!"

He gasped, always the dramatic.

"I know, they system is trying to break us up. They got the least outwardly naughty of us and put him in a place of authority. Now he will be obligated to crack down on our behavior."

"Their mistake," James muttered. "He can be the devil incarnate when he wants to be."

Peter laughed.

"Remember when he hexed all of the Slytherin's clothes so that when they were hit by direct sunlight they became transparent."

James and Sirius joined Peter in laughing.

"Next thing you know they're gonna make James Head Boy. Try and break us down completely," Sirius said.

"Yeah right," James replied.

Harry hadn't said anything about it so James doubted it. Head Boy was a big deal.

Peter tapped his chin.

"I don't know I think James would make a pretty good Head Boy."

Sirius snorted.

"James put a potion in the pumpkin juice last year so that anyone who kissed another person in the last 24 hours had their lips turn bright yellow. Gotta say didn't think Madam Pomfrey had any suitors."

"Or that Remus apparently had a late night rendezvous with some witch," James put in.

"Still don't know who that was," Peter muttered.

-

Thirty minutes later the compartment door opened and Remus walked in, an odd, forced smile on his face. Already in his slightly worn Hogwarts robes and a badge with a P on his chest.

"Hey…"

James frowned.

"Remus? Are you okay? You know were not mad that you made Prefect right? Not like it was your choice. Besides, imagine all the- Oh."

Lily Evans came into view right behind Remus, a scowl already marring her pretty features.

Remus grimaced weakly and shrugged at James.

"Sorry, not like she didn't know where we sat though."

James raised his hands in the air.

"Nuh uh, I haven't done anything yet."

"Yet implies a future infraction, Potter."

James gave her a lazy grin.

"Well, come on. It is me."

"You'd think Harry would have done a better job teaching you otherwise."

Peter inhaled from behind James. Of course he'd pick that up instantly.

"Harry was ten times worse then me. Don't you remember how he spoke to that waitress?"

The other three occupants looked at the exchange with wide eyes.

"What?!" they all said.

"Did you two meet up over the summer?" Remus asked in his calm smooth voice.

"I can't believe it James, finally bagged the girl huh? How were you able to keep that quiet for thirty minutes. Would have expected you to be screaming it down the halls that you finally got Evans here to cave," Sirius said, grinning.

Lily scowled even deeper, the wrinkles already permanently forming on her face from her annoyance.

"We did not- No not doing this right now. Potter, can I speak to you for a moment. Black, one more word and you'll get detention."

Sirius smiled.

"Already abusing authority? That's not like you. Maybe James got to you in more ways than one."

Lily raised an eyebrow.

"I didn't say I would give it to you now. Maybe if you're breathing a bit too loud in the library I'll have to help out Madam Pince."

"Lily dear, you know as well as I do you won't catch me in the library even if I was Imperioused."

"Good I have a safe haven from you lot then. James?" She said it like a question, but the four of them knew it wasn't really one.

Three of them were also honest with themselves that Lily could be holding a knife ready to plunge it into James's heart and he would still come if she asked.

James was the one who'd be in denial.

"Alright alright," James said, standing and following Lily into the hall where she shut the door.

Lily took out her wand and casted a spell. Silently! Damn, maybe Lily got the better end of the deal with the library.

The sound from outside stopped, silencing the area. That seemed different than the Muffliato spell Snape created.

"Well?" Lily said, hands on hips.

"Uh, well what?"

Lily threw her hands up into the air.

"Well! Where to begin. Were you really kidnapped? Did Harry really kidnap you? Are you safe? Why in Merlins name did you send me so many letters?! And what was that Patronus message you sent me?! Do you want me to spend the next year hexing you? And… and is Harry okay?"

James thought he'd feel annoyed that Lily seemed more worried about Harry than James, despite thinking James was the one kidnapped by Harry. But instead a bubble of happiness grew in him that Lily cared about the well being of her unknown, time traveling, old ass son.

"Okay okay, in order. Yes I was actually kidnapped. Yes Harry really was the one who did it. Yes I am safe, turns out Harry was actually a Potter the whole time who came back from overseas to teach the youngest generation Potter. I sent you so many letters because the only person I had in contact with was a crazy old man with a penchant for wearing Hawaiian shirts and socks with sandals. Also I thought it would be funny. Uh… The Patronus was a mistake, Harry had been dismissing every Patronus I created that carried a message, and I thought he would do it with that one too. And you can do whatever you want with me for the next year. Don't worry I won't struggle. OW! Alright alright. And lastly… Harry, uh, passed on, about two weeks ago."

Lily, who had sent a rather strong stinging hex at James for his crass comment, instantly burst into tears.

Oh fuck. He'd never seen Lily cry like that. There had been a few times where he'd pushed a joke too far and she'd tear up, but nothing like this.

James scrambled in the hall for a few moments, glancing at the compartment with the others. Only to see them all looking through a crack in the drapes, wide eyed. They ducked out of the way when they saw him look.

He decided to try and comfort Lily by placing a hand on her shoulder. She smacked it away.

"No no. I knew it was possible, but he was so nice. I wished I could have met him again."

James cursed his parents for putting the Gaunt Ring in the family vault. If he'd been allowed to take it like he wanted to he would have instantly tried to summon Harry. Surely he'd come to comfort his own mother.

"He- well he did mention you a couple of times before he passed."

She looked up at him in surprise.

"Really?"

"Yeah, guess you really made an impression on him. Are you heading home for the Christmas break."

Lily scowled, sniffing.

"Really! You're flirting with me right after saying your family member died!"

"Huh? No! What do you take me for?"

"An insensitive jerk who never stops asking me out no matter how the location or many times I say no."

Well damn, she got him there.

"No it's not that, but then a- No sorry. Harry said if you ever wanted to you could visit his grave. It's in the Godric's Hollow cemetery with the other Potters."

Harry didn't say that at all, and James felt a bit bad about lying to her about it. But surely Harry would have been fine with his mother visiting him.

"Oh… I see," she said sniffling again.

James ran a hand through his hair.

"Well?" He asked, smirking.

"Well what?"

"Gonna apologize."

Annoyance flashed through her eyes but she sighed.

"Sorry James, I should have thought better of you," then she gave James her own grin. "Guess Harry really did teach you something."

Christmas had come early and would last till the end of time thanks to that grin she just gave him.

"Y-yeah. Awesome, anytime, gotta go."

James re-entered the compartment, slamming the door in Lily's face.

The three Marauders looked at him with varying degrees of worry, surprise, and humor.

"Mate, what just happened?" Sirius asked.

"I can't even begin to answer," James replied.

-

10 more Chapters up on my Pa treon

Pa tre on.c om/BronzeTurtle