Andrew Kirke (dragondrums) wrote in reduxpitch, @ 2016-08-03 17:16:00 |
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Entry tags: | !thread, character: james potter, location: godric's hollow, retired character: andrew kirke |
Who: Andrew Kirke, and James Potter.
What: Talking, not in a hospital.
When: Wednesday 3rd August, evening.
Where: Lily & James's house, Godric's Hollow.
Rating: PG.
Andrew really did want to stop feeling tense and awkward around Evan’s parents. They had been going out - or whatever it was they were doing - for nearly six months. Continuing to act like he couldn’t string two sentences together was, clearly, ridiculous. He had made a valiant effort at dinner, mostly chiming in to add flair to Evan’s stories of their adventures, but it was something, at least. More than he’d really managed before today.
So when Evan (heartlessly) abandoned him after dinner, Andrew only panicked a little bit. He had come prepared with Evan’s best attempts at good conversation topics for James - Lily and quidditch. Of the two, quidditch would have been the safer option were it not for the recent events - but Andrew really didn’t fancy a political conversation with his not-boyfriend’s Auror dad. Which left him with only one option. “How did you and - Lily meet?” he asked, wavering a moment over whether he ought to call her ‘Mrs Potter’.
--
James would have helped with the dishes if not for Evan going so quickly to do just that, but he was fine with being left with Andrew. At least the situation was far less concerning than the last time they'd spoken one on one, as no one was in the hospital. He offered Andrew a smile at his question, that smile growing a little more as he thought back and let out a soft chuckle.
“Oh, we were at Hogwarts together,” he said, running his hand back through his hair. “Same year, same house. She thought I was insufferable which, to be fair… she was right. I was smitten from day one, though. Hard not to be - she was cute and smart, then cute turned into pretty, and gorgeous, and she finally made the well advised decision to give me a chance and here we are!”
--
It seemed Evan was right - James really did like Lily. Andrew didn’t recall if he’d ever asked Arthur how he met Molly, but if he had he sort of imagined the telling of the story would be more broadly humerous. James’s narrative was a little different, but maybe Andrew wasn’t given Arthur enough credit. “Just like that?” he asked, curious. “Not that she shouldn’t have, just…” He shrugged. Maybe there had been a reason for Lily to change her mind, or a specific event.
“I met Evan playing quidditch,” he added, because he had no idea if James knew that or not. “I sort of dislocated his shoulder.” Which probably wasn’t the best thing to say to Evan’s father, but the words had slipped out. “By accident. And he broke my nose first.”
--
“Oh no, not just like that at all,” James clarified, shaking his head. “It took years of me asking her out for her to relent. Maybe it was to get me to stop, but even if it was… I know I was an idiot in those first few years, I don't know maybe teenage boys who weren't at some point or another. Thankfully she saw I'd changed some and gave me a chance, and I like to think she's been bringing out the better parts of me ever since. She's wonderful like that.”
He was mid-sip of his drink when Andrew mentioned dislocating Evan’s shoulder, and he nearly choked on it in response, just the matter of fact way Andrew had said it. It clearly wasn't that bad of a situation since they were fine and together. And Evan had broken his nose. “Oh well, all’s fair with that, then. How exactly did you two manage that?”
--
“That’s impressive,” Andrew said. He really couldn’t imagine himself ever going after the same person for years. But then, before he’d met Evan he couldn’t imagine himself in a relationship, so apparently these things could change. He almost added that Evan had been right, about Lily being a good topic of conversation, before realising that it would reveal that he’d had to ask Evan what he should talk about, which quite the easy conversationalist impression he was trying to convey.
The whole nose-breaking, shoulder-dislocating incident was a bit of a blur, but Andrew smiled. “We’re not very good Beaters,” he answered. “Or at least, I’m not. Even before he broke my nose I wasn’t doing great. And then, well, my face was full of blood and it hurt and he was coming to see if I was okay and my bat caught his shoulder.” He didn’t mention the definitely childish screaming.
--
“That I had such tunnel vision or that she lasted out so long with me bothering her?” James asked with a laugh. “No, there was just something about her… still is, I suppose.” He stopped short of adding that he couldn't imagine his life without her, because he could. He’d lived it for months, and hated it. “I got very lucky, is all.”
It sounded… quite funny, actually. James kind of wished he'd been there to see it - not because he wanted to witness either of them being injured, but it sounded almost like slapstick comedy. “Well, the important thing is that you're both alright,” he said, chuckling softly. “And it all seemed to work out for the better.”
--
Andrew chuckled - which was possibly the first time he’d ever genuinely laughed around either of Evan’s parents. Maybe this was going well. Or maybe James just inherently made Andrew feel less awkward than Lily. When he could talk to Evan’s mum without tripping over his words, then he’d consider it a real achievement. “Both?” he suggested. “Mostly you, though. Not giving up.” Andrew felt that he’d definitely have given up. Andrew nodded. Even though he and Evan had only been together for nearly-six-months, he could still appreciate feeling very lucky.
“There was a healer there,” Andrew said, nodding. “And we went to St Mungo’s to get checked out after.” He smiled. “It worked out pretty great, really.” He could imagine not having met Evan - but he didn’t much like it. His life was a lot better for having Evan in it. He’d definitely been worth the broken nose.
--
James was glad his youngest son had found someone who clearly made him happy. Andrew seemed nice, from what little time they'd spent together, if not always the most comfortable around the elder Potters. Then again, maybe he'd simply been uncomfortable with them wandering into the attic that time when he and Evan had been otherwise occupied. But he liked the way Andrew smiled when talking about Evan, even when talking about the aftermath of them accidentally bludgeoning each other.
“Yes, it seems to have worked out great,” James agreed with an easy smile. “So you're in a band, yes? I'm sure that keeps you busy - though I imagine it's easier to travel around to perform than the way muggle bands have it. Lots of concerts, though?”
--
“Yes,” Andrew agreed, pleased to have something else familiar to talk about, and that James was at least interested enough in keeping the conversation going to ask questions. He probably wanted to get to know his son’s boyfriend, a thought that only made Andrew mildly nervous. There was really nothing that James might learn that Andrew ought to be worried about. He didn’t have any big secrets in his life, except his mother - and even that wasn’t something that was likely to make James think he was unsuitable. “Two and a half years now. I was lucky, I joined almost straight out of school. It’s been brilliant.”
He nodded further agreement to James’s comments. “We travel the muggle way sometimes, if we want to bring along equipment, but mostly we apparate and that’s easier. We all got a house together just this year. We’re doing a lot of festivals at the moment.”
--
“That does sound like you were lucky,” James agreed with a nod. At least Andrew had been able to move into a job he’d enjoyed right after he was done with school, rather than having to bounce from place to place trying to find a place to settle in. Not everyone was so lucky. “And having a house together probably makes it easy to coordinate everything - practices, writing, that sort of thing.” At least, he had to assume. He didn’t know much about being in a band.
“Festivals are fun! Well, I can only speak from a spectator’s perspective, but I think they’re fun,” he continued. “I took Lily to one a few months ago, we had a really great time.”
--
“The band are great,” Andrew continued. Even without being offered a chance to be part of it, he considered meeting Ken and Aisling and Axel and Xavier to be lucky. “Mostly Ravenclaws, but I seem to manage somehow.” Andrew knew that Evan didn’t like it when Andrew said Evan was smarter, but he still thought it was true, and maybe being comfortable with Quake had helped him be comfortable about that. “I was the youngest, until we took on our new keyboardist.”
Andrew smiled. “I like them,” he agreed. “I like performing for people who maybe wouldn’t have paid to come and see just us, people who aren’t already big fans. Getting to watch them hear us and get into it.” That was Andrew’s favourite part about festivals. “And there’s something nice about playing outside, too,” he added. “Do you remember who you saw?”
--
“Ravenclaws are okay too,” James said with a teasing grin, raking his hand through his hair. “It’s always good to have at least one Gryffindor around, though.” He paused, tilting his head as he looked him over. “How old are you? If you don’t mind my asking - since you said you were the youngest, until the keyboardist.”
He smiled as he thought back to the festival they’d attended. “I don’t remember, honestly. I remember going to that one because there were bands Lily liked, but it was our first… date? Coming back from the separation, I mean. So I remember more about her than the bands, as silly as I’m sure that sounds.”
--
Andrew nodded. “That’s me, official Quake Gryffindor,” he said. He didn’t know whether he added anything particular by virtue of his house. Ken and Axel didn’t exactly need Andrew to come up with adventures, and it wasn’t as if the rest of the band were all stereotypical Ravenclaws who never wanted to do anything but read. “Oh, I’m 21,” Andrew answered. “I was the year below Harry at school.” That definitely wasn’t enough of an age difference for a father to be concerned over, but Andrew still felt a pang of worry that his answer might be the wrong one, somehow.
He had known about the separation, mostly from fleeting references from Evan, but that didn’t mean Andrew had expected it to be brought up. “Uh. Right.” What did you say to someone who’d been separated and now wasn’t anymore? Congratulations? I’m sorry? Both? “Well, I hope it was good,” he said lamely. “Even if it didn’t matter, in the end.”
--
James gave a nod to what he said. He had no idea what the ages of anyone in the band were, so he hadn't known where to place Andrew as the youngest. He could have been the youngest and in his mid-twenties for all he knew. It hardly mattered either way, since he seemed nice enough and Evan was happy.
“It was very good,” James replied, his smile growing a bit. “Lots of good music, food, drinks, company… kind of everything you look for in a festival, I think. Do you get time to enjoy them when you're not performing, or do they keep you put away until your turn on stage?”
--
“Our manager keeps us in line,” Andrew responded, enough humour in his voice that he obviously wasn’t seriously complaining. “But there’s always afterwards.” As much as Andrew enjoyed festivals, he did like to concentrate before a performance. After, though, when he was keyed up on adrenaline, that was the perfect time for some very aerobic, if unimaginative, dancing.
Before he had to worry about coming up with a further topic of conversation, Evan appeared in the doorway, with Lily not very far behind. Andrew let the Potters take over the conversation again, feeling a little more comfortable about chipping in when he had something to say.
--