Was this what normal life was like? No dark wizards hovering outside your door, no owls bearing bad news or knocks on the door after sunset. No sleepless nights where he paced the landing, unable to rest thanks to the feeling of dread creeping under his skin. Just... nothing. James' days were filled with work, his friends and family, and Lily. And it was pretty great. Now they were allowed out into the real world, it felt like they were worryingly close to something that resembled normality. Slightly odd normality where they lived in Gryffindor tower, sure, but still...
James finished work a little later than scheduled and had had to hurry through the corridors to get back to the common room. He'd said he'd meet Lily there before dinner, and he was keen to grab her so they could go find some food. What was it about a good honest day's work that made you so hungry? Reaching the portrait hole, he interrupted the Fat Lady's singing practice, treating her to a skewed grin and a wink. "Sounding good, Madame. You'll have them lining up in their frames. Fillibuster."
"Oh shush, Mr Potter," She replied, but smiled as she swung open, making space for him to clamber through the portrait hole.
If he was honest, James even quite enjoyed hanging out with Lily in the common room. Weird as it was, it kind of reminded him of that time before they'd started dating, when they'd been Head Boy and Girl. He had absolutely, 100%, definitely and completely given up trying to ask her out every twenty minutes and they'd started spending time together, James trying to ignore that he liked her even more when she wasn't shouting at him, wondering if he was imagining the lingering looks and easy conversation.
Of course, back then he'd been more likely to find her waving a Prefect rota under this nose than a criminally tasty looking picnic, but he wasn't complaining. Especially since he was pretty sure his rumbling stomach had taken to eating himself. James straightened up and beamed at the sight before him, pushing his hand back through his hair before striding in his wife's direction, discarding his things haphazardly on a nearby table as he passed.
"Buggering Merlin," he announced gratefully, crossing the room and flinging himself down next to her on the cushions. "You're an angel, Lily Potter. Have I told you that?" He leaned over, planting a kiss on her temple while simultaneously reaching for a piece of tart.