InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "GET OUT"

James "Prongs" Potter (_cervus_) wrote in timerift_log,
@ 2022-04-01 13:26:00

Entry tags:

hp: harry potter, hp: james potter

Scene: Potter reunion
WHO: James and Harry Potter
WHAT: Finding each other
WHERE: Third unit, the Enclave
WHEN: Backdated to March 30, morning
WARNING: Probable mentions of character death and language

After his early morning conversation with Hope, James had reluctantly stumbled up to the Enclave, finding the third door without much trouble. Bloody good thing, really, because he had about as much brain power as a broken bludger by that point. He didn’t even really glance around inside... just located an empty bedroom, crawled under the covers fully clothed and passed out.

After a few hours fitful sleep, haunted with glowing marks in the sky and distant screams, James gently eased the bedroom door open again, taking his first proper look around the flat. Merlin, he thought as he stepped forward. Who was in charge of decorating this? The young wizard skimmed a hand absently over the smooth kitchen work surface, before curling his fingers closed. The polished band of his wedding ring was cold beneath his fingertips. A quick cup of tea, perhaps... maybe a bite to eat... then he'd crack back on. There had to be a way back. Surely. Magic was rarely a one way street, even when time was involved.

At least the kettle was still recognisable, even if it looked totally barmy. All silver and shiny like something out of that film Lily had once dragged him to. Ignoring the twist of panic in his gut, James pulled his wand from his back pocket and flicked it casually in the right direction. Steam immediately beginning to pour from the spout and he turned to try and dig out a mug from one of the many cupboards.

(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)

1_who_lived
2022-04-02 05:15 pm UTC (link)

Living in Cardiff had been interesting. That was how Harry was thinking about it, anyway. Day-to-day life was almost normal. He reported into his office at the local Ministry building, went over reports, talked to Ron, and tried to figure out what the Ministry was thinking about all of this. The Unspeakables aware pretty unbearable. They only shared what they needed to share, so it was incredibly frustrating.

By the time Harry had gotten home, he had collapsed into bed and hadn't even noticed his new roommate. It wasn't really his place to check in on those things- there were officials who registered the newcomers and assigned them. Of course, the bastards would mess with him like this. Just like they did with his 'son'. But it wasn't until he stepped into the kitchen, groggy and ready for his tea. His hair was a mess, and he was surprised to hear the kettle going off before he'd started it. Ron wasn't usually up this early.

But this wasn't Ron. No. The man who stood there was someone Harry immediately recognized from the photographs in his room back home in London. Photographs he cherished dearly- the rare keepsakes of his parents.

"....Dad?" It came out without him thinking twice, the shock on his face was probably pretty readable. Harry stood there, staring at the man, and realizing that this was, indeed, James Potter.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

_cervus_
2022-04-02 06:54 pm UTC (link)

James started as a voice sounded behind him, jolting him out of his time-based musings. His fingers faltered on the mug he was selecting from the cabinet, sending the white porcelain handle slipping from grip. James caught it instinctively, unthinkingly, already mid-turn as his brain caught up with his heart or gut, or whatever other part of him that was reeling from that single word.

Dad.

He'd spoken to him on that journal thing, obviously. And it was clearly possible. Likely, even. James had a young son, and now he was in the future. It stood to reason that that young son would suddenly be not-so-young.Time tends to do that, Prongs, a very Sirius-like voice drawled in the back of his head. Funny, that. And yes, perhaps he'd been avoiding thinking about it too much, choosing instead of obsess over the void he'd arrived from, because imagining Harry as anything but five months old was just... he wasn't sure what it was.

But there wasn't any avoiding it now.

He stood there, cradling the cup, probably doing an impression of a particularly stupid goldfish as he gazed across at the young man just a few metres away. The Harry that stood there (because even if the paranoid, war-torn part of James' brain was screaming at him not to get sucked in, there was another part of him that was already convinced) had a shock of dark hair with a life of its own, like his. They had the same jaw, the same mouth, same build. There was even something of Euphemia Potter in his eyebrows, and the eyes... James' heart turned over. He'd know those eyes long after he'd forgotten his own name.

"Harry?" He croaked, idiotically. He was staring. He should really stop staring.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

1_who_lived
2022-04-04 12:29 am UTC (link)

Harry wasn't much better as he stared back at the man across the room. He knew from photographs they looked similar, but it was surreal all the same. There was a long pause as he studied him. He was here. Real. Not a ghost. Not an image. Real. And as young as the day he'd died.

"Yeah." He muttered and forced a small smile, the crack of one upward, green eyes studying the man closely. He wanted to come closer. Could he hug him? That might scare the man away. He didn't want to care him.

"I...um, I'm sorry that I surprised you- I just.." He took a step forward, suddenly realizing that this man might not know why his presence was so shocking for Harry. And Harry, for all he'd been through, had no idea how to approach it. "It's...been a long time since I've seen you, that's all. So, you're here? I mean, are you living here?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

_cervus_
2022-04-06 12:03 pm UTC (link)

If he said so himself, James was usually quite good at having something clever and funny to say. Sadly, it was a skill which seemed to have evaporated completely over the last thirty seconds, leaving him open-mouthed and gaping. Not, it had to be said, a particularly strong look at the best of times. Definitely not when you were meeting your son who, from the look of things and the quick maths James was doing in his head, was suddenly about the same age as he was.

Come on, Prongs. Pull it together.

"Um," he said. "Yeah. I mean... I guess so." More for something to do with his hands than anything else, James placed the mug he was holding cautiously down on the side. Carefully, as if half convinced Harry was dissolve into smoke the closer he got, he took a few steps across the room, still looking him up and down. It was like trying to piece together two slightly broken puzzle pieces, trying to connect this wizard to the baby he'd held less than 24 hours previously. He didn't really think before he reached out, his hands grasping at Harry's shoulders so he could examine him at arm's length.

"I'm... Merlin, you're - really big." James winced at his own words. He needed Lily here. She'd know how to handle this. Thankfully, the kettle took that moment to click off, leaving the room suddenly silent. "Um," James said, continuing his new penchant for interesting conversation. "Cup of tea?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

1_who_lived
2022-04-09 03:03 am UTC (link)

He knew he shouldn't be scared. This was his father. This was a dream come true for the boy who had never known the love of his parents beyond infancy. If he had been offered one wish since defeating Voldemort, it would be to have this chance- a chance to talk to his father again. To hug him and ask him all sorts of questions. But now that it was there, why was Harry so stiff?

When James touched him, he tensed, but then...the comment. And he couldn't help but smile and laugh awkwardly. "I...don't hear that a lot." It was true. Harry wasn't exactly tall or brawny- not like other young men his age. Most people who met him might remark they thought the hero of the Wizarding World might be taller. So there was some irony there.

"Ye. Tea would be nice, thank you." He looked down finally then moved to help put it together, grabbing his own mug and glancing gat James.

"So um...what have they told you so far about all of this?" Harry was fishing. How much did James know about his future? How much could Harry tell him? Surely, it would be almost impossible to keep a secret. Harry's story wasn't exactly a hidden to the rest of the world.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

_cervus_
2022-04-10 02:59 pm UTC (link)

James did his best not to frown when he felt Harry's shoulders tense beneath his grip.

'It's been a long time since I've seen you.'.

It didn't feel right. James knew it must be weird to see your Dad at the same age as you. Of course you'd stare. He knew that there were a million reasons a son might not see his Father for a little while. And maybe war and the prophecy had made him paranoid but he was sure there was an undercurrent here, one that was already starting a low simmer of dread in the pit of his stomach.

"How d'you take it?" He asked, resisting an impulsive urge to pull Harry into a hug and instead stepping away. He was just hoping his tone came off as breezy rather than slightly manic.

"Erm..." Pushing a hand roughly through his hair until it stood on end, James flicked his wand to the boiled kettle and watched as it flew upwards. He leaned one elbow against the side casually, watching two teabags deposit themselves into the waiting mugs as he considered. "Time travel. Universe jumping. Some kind of magic, although no-one's really sure what and why. The Ministry is putting us up here until they can sort it out." Dragging his gaze back down to that hauntingly familiar face, James shrugged one shoulder, fixing his son with a sharp, probing gaze.

"A few of them didn't look particularly delighted to see me, though. Bit green around the gills, to be honest..."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

1_who_lived
2022-04-11 05:37 am UTC (link)

Harry was glad that James hadn't hugged him. Not because he didn't want to hug his father, but he wouldn't have been able to hold himself together had he done it. Harry was barely holding it together as is. So, he was glad that the subject change went smoothly and just smiled awkwardly and stepped toward the cups. "Just black this morning, thank you." He needed the nip of something strong at the moment.

Studying the other man from a foot or so away, he thought back to what the Ministry must be saying about all of those. Famous wizard back from the dead. It was nice seeing his father here, but who knew who else might come through? Unfortunately, that's how Harry thought these days. Always dread. Always waiting for the other shoe to drop. It came after years of being the Chosen One and always waiting for a fight.

"Yeah....yeah," Harry looked down, knowing that soon the jig would be up and someone was going to have to tell him." "I mean, you haven't- I mean, you..." He let out a breath. "I'm sure it's just a shock."

(Reply to this) (Parent)

(Read comments) -