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Tweak says, "here's looking at you, kid"

James "Prongs" Potter (_cervus_) wrote in hogwarts_dawn,
@ 2021-06-10 15:50:00

Entry tags:

character: james potter, character: sirius black

RP: James & Sirius
Who: James & Sirius
What: James has been very restrained with his news, just so you know
Where: Sirius' room
When: 9th June, far too late

It had been a decent hour by the time they'd got back from dinner with Harry, and it was even later still when James found himself staring at the dark canopy above their bed while Lily dozed against him, absently running his fingers through the strands of her hair which were falling across the pillow. He wasn't sure what was keeping him awake - Godric knew there were plenty of options to pick from. But there was only one he could do something about now. Merlin, he figured he should probably get some kind of medal for holding out this long, to be honest...

Glancing across at sleeping Lily, James carefully rolled away and slipped out from under the blankets. Being as quiet as he could, he grabbed some pyjama bottoms and a faded t-shirt from a nearby armchair and started to shrug them on. He was out the door almost before he'd pulled the shirt over his head, shutting it carefully behind him and racing up the staircase towards Sirius' room.

"Sirius?" James popped his head around the door without bothering to knock, somewhat put out to be met only with a lumpy pile of blankets. That seemed unfair. Why should he be attempting to sleep when James was clearly very awake? "Oi," he said, stepping into the room and raising his voice a fraction as he started towards the bed. "Sirius? Sirius! Padfoot!"

The final announcement was teamed with a rather hard poke to the Sirius-shaped lump of bedding. With a grin, James bounded up and plonked himself down quite hard on top of him, giving a little bounce for good measure before sliding off to sit on the part of pillow that wasn't currently occupied by Sirius' head.

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_withoutacause
2021-06-13 01:23 am UTC (link)

This whole week, month? Whatever it was, this whole whatever, had been strange. Sirius hadn't been avoiding anyone, exactly, it was just that it was getting easier and easier to find reasons to be off on his own. Everyone was busy, after all, and he put in just enough appearances to allay suspicions. He hoped. He also hasn't snuck into anyone elses room since he found out about Remus and Regulus, And that had brought it's own problems. Mainly that Sirius was absolutely terrible at sleeping on his own. If he could fall asleep at all he tended to have nightmares. But like everyone kept pointing out, he was an adult now, and adults didn't need their friends to sleep. So on the nights when he wasn't hiding out with Kirley he just resigned himself to fitful bursts.

He'd just managed to nod off when he got an unruly facefull of James.

"Oi! Get off, you sod," he grumbled, but pulled himself out of the blankets with only a mock frustration. James didn't often come to him, so there must be something on his mind. And yes, there it was. The pattented James Potter I have a big secret face.

"Okay. Spill Potter. I know that look. You've got news!"

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_cervus_
2021-06-13 08:13 am UTC (link)

"Well, that's just charming," James scoffed, wriggling to make himself more comfortable against the headboard. "'Spill Potter'. Honestly. What happened to 'Good evening, Prongs. How can I help, old chum?'"

He didn't pretend to be surprised that Sirius knew that there was something going on. Sirius knew him too well for both of their own good, sometimes. Still, that didn't mean he couldn't try his best to be annoying about it.

James smirked, stretching his legs out on top of the blankets, crossing them casually at the ankles. "Maybe I just fancied a chat with the hermit. D'you reckon it's meddling to try and set your grandkid up with his ex-girlfriend?"

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_withoutacause
2021-06-20 12:31 am UTC (link)

Sirius made a face, because really everything was so weird now.

"Is it meddling? Yes. Should you do it? Why not. But I also know that's not what you're here for. Come on Prongsy, you look like you're going to actually explode. What's on your mind?"

It suddenly occured to Sirius that it could be bad. That James was beating around the bush because it was yet more terrible news and he knew Sirius was hanging on by a thread. But no, he didn't have his bad news face on. It was a face he recognized, but couldn't quite place. James had news, and it wasn't bad news, but it wasn't chocolate volcano news either.

"If you don't tell me I'll just guess. And we both know how that will end up!"

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_cervus_
2021-06-20 01:39 pm UTC (link)

"You'll decide I've tamed a dragon or something, then my actual news will be huge letdown." James let his head fall back, turning to look across at Sirius. He couldn't help the wide grin that slowly bloomed, lazy and dazzling.

"Lily's pregnant again."

It wasn't like the last time he'd shared this news with Sirius, not long after the wedding. Harry had been such a surprise - not an unwanted one, but a surprise nonetheless. And they had been living in the middle of a war, right in the middle of everything.... James had been simultaneously ecstatic and terrified.

This time, he beamed boyishly at Sirius. Trolls, time warps, mad castles... it was all still lurking, but at the moment he felt like he could cope with it. And anyway, no news ever really felt real to James until he'd told Padfoot about it.

"She was feeling off all last week so went to see Marlene. She's due early next year."

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_withoutacause
2021-06-20 07:27 pm UTC (link)

Sirius sat for a second, utterly stunned. Then his face lit up like a Christmas display and he let out a primal whoop if joy. He all hut launched himself at James, wrapping his arms and legs around his friend like an excitable octopus, and loudly kissed the top of his head.

"Jim, James, Jimmy, Prongs, that's fucking BRILLIANT!" Sirius hadn't lived through learning about Harry, but he could only imagine how excited and terrified they all would have been. Lily being pregnant during a war, a baby when everything was falling apart... But this was different. This was a second chance, and a safer world, even if everything was still batshit. Sirius Had learned long ago that things were always batshit. There was always a war, or a threat, or a fight. There was no such thing as perfect or safe. This was as good as it got, and he was so fucking happy.

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_cervus_
2021-06-20 09:36 pm UTC (link)

James made a noise that landed somewhere between a laugh and a groan as he was suddenly bowled over by the unmistakable enthusiasm of Sirius Black. He narrowly managed to avoid toppling off the side of the bed under the force of the hug, grabbing onto his friend to keep himself upright.

"You're right," he laughed, once he'd managed to extract his head from somewhere around Sirius' armpit. "Fucking brilliant." With a somewhat giddy grin, James slumped back against the pillow. He really loved Sirius in that moment. Say what you wanted about him, James knew that no'one would be happier for him than the idiot beaming across the bed right now.

"Weirdly, I think I've you to thank. Partly, anyway," he added. "Lils told me about the chat you had when she first arrived."

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_withoutacause
2021-06-20 09:46 pm UTC (link)

Sirius flopped back beside his friend, grinning up at the ceiling. He didn't even think before snuggling up beside him, all thoughts of independence and how friends weren't supposed to do those sorts of things gone. For the moment at least.

"We talked about a lot of things," Sirius agreed. "But this is all on you tiger. I just mentioned that you both deserved the chance to have the whole parent experience. Plus how amazing I knew you'd be at it. You reckon it'll be a girl this time?" That sounded nice. A little baby girl. And they'd love her as much as they loved Harry, with the added bonus of getting to see her grow up. It was going to be brilliant!

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_cervus_
2021-06-21 09:40 am UTC (link)

He grinned up at the canopy, elbowing Sirius lightly in the stomach. "Hey, I can't help being so bloody virile. It's a curse."

James shifted a little, automatically arranging himself in a way that left space for Sirius to slot neatly in beside him, the warmth of him old and familiar. "I'd like a girl," he commented, thoughtfully. "Although I dunno if I'd have a clue what to do with one. Boys seem easier."

Falling quiet for a moment, he imagined a little girl with wild, dark hair. Or perhaps Lily's genes would finally get a look in, and she'd be a redhead. Another boy, bounding along after his much bigger brother with hero worship shining in his face... James' stomach gave a happy somersault, and he felt the corner of his mouth twitch again.

"I haven't told Moony yet," he told Sirius. "Only you, Harry and Marlene. But I'll tell him soon - maybe at that pool thing." He knew Sirius wasn't exactly spending a lot of time with Remus at the moment - the whole Regulus thing had thrown everything for a loop. But it felt important to say it.

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_withoutacause
2021-06-22 09:08 pm UTC (link)

Sirius moved as James moved, fitting into the spot against his side as naturally as breathing. How many times had they done this? And why did he feel so guilty about it now, when James clearly didn't mind? He pushed the thoughts away, he didn't want to deal with it right now. This was a good moment.

"I won't tell a soul," Sirius promised, crossing his heart. There wasn't much risk of they anyway, Sirius was avoiding everyone at the moment.

"I bet girls are easier than boys. Can you even imagine having to parent a little Prongs? All of those letters back from Hogwarts... Not to say that we couldn't teach a girl to make trouble either. As long as he or she takes after you."

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_cervus_
2021-06-23 01:23 pm UTC (link)

"I know," James smiled. "Maybe this is karma. We should have thanked Mum and Dad more for only sending howlers every fortnight."

He couldn't remember when the 'James Charlus Potter!' that frequently ripped through the chatter at breakfast had turned into 'James Potter! Sirius Black!', but it had quickly become the norm. He vaguely wondered if he would ever have sent Harry a howler. He couldn't imagine it, but then he couldn't imagine a lot of things. James quickly batted away that line of thought before it could take a depressing hold, instead pushing his glasses up his face so he could rub his eyes.

"At least we'll all be about to teach this one to raise hell, though," he said, bursts of colour appearing behind his eyelids as he attempted to push a sudden wave of tiredness away. "That's all me and Lils ever really wanted."

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