"He's just so adorable." I whisper as I rock the sleeping toddler in my arms.
I feel an arm snake around my waist and pull me closer. I look up to meet James's smiling face. He gives me a kiss and sighs.
"He's perfect, just like his mother." he grins. I shake my head and chuckle.
"And quite a trouble maker, just like his father." I give him a look. James gives me a sheepish smile.
"In my defense, Sirius was the one who got him the broom." He defends himself.
"Excuses, excuses.." I mumble and hand James the sleeping boy. I give him a kiss on the forehead and carefully place him in James's arms.
James carefully holds the baby and looks at him with adoration. He always has a big grin on his face when he sees him or puts him to sleep.
Who could've thought that the famous James Potter who was one of the most popular players and mischief-makers in Hogwarts would be such a sweetheart. If you had told me in year four that this man will be married and have a family by the age of 21, I would've not believed you.
"You're still staring at me like you used to when we we're at school. Not that I mind, I am unusually attractive after all." James smirks and looks up from the sleeping boy in his arms.
I feel my face get a little bit hot.
He laughs and shakes his head "After all these years and I can still make you flustered over small things."
I roll my eyes. "Don't get too cocky. I like to think that I have a certain effect on you as well."
"Oh, is that so?" James smirks.
He steps closer to me and pulls me into a kiss. The kiss is sweet and passionate.
All these years and I still get butterflies.
I pull apart from him and give him a little peck on his nose.
"Careful, you don't want to squish little Harry between us." I point to the sleeping boy between us.
He lowers his head and kisses Harry on the forehead. "Hey, we should make another one. Don't you think?" He looks up innocently.
I laugh at the sudden proposal. "Oh shut it, he's a handful already." I lean my head on his shoulder.
"He will grow up eventually. I think he would love to have a brother or a sister." James reasons.
I smile. "We'll see about that. But right now we got to go upstairs and put this little one in his crib." I boop Harry's nose with my finger.
He stirs and smiles through his sleep.
James carefully hands me Harry back and we start walking towards the stairs.
We walk past the front door and hear a loud screech outside. We give each other confused looks.
"Was that the front gate?" I ask quizzically staring at the door. Who could possibly be here late at night and especially with all of what's going on.
"I think it was." James frowns. He goes up to the door to check through the peephole.
"Shit.." He mumbles and quickly turns around, his face turning white.
My heart starts racing and my mouth feels dry. No, it can't be him. Surely not.
"What is it..?" I squeak out anxiously, already expecting the answer.
James comes up to me and grabs my face. "Y/N, take Harry and hide upstairs. I will hold him back as long as I can. Okay?"
I feel tears starting to form in my eyes. "No, I can't leave you down here alone James!"
James sighs "Don't be stubborn Y/N. You got to keep Harry safe, alright? I love you." He kisses me. But this kiss isn't like the one back in the living room. This kiss was hurried and felt like a goodbye.
Harry had woken up with all of the sudden rush. He starts moving so I support him on my hip.
James gives him a sad smile "Hey little one! Want to play hide and seek with daddy and mommy like we always do?"
Harry giggles and nods his head.
"Alright, I will count down here and you will go and hide with mommy." He smiles and gives me a nod.
I hold back a sob and kiss Harry's head.
Harry who thinks that this is just a regular game of hide and seek claps hid hands excitedly. He giggles and mutters out 'dada'.
James gives him a one last last smile with tears in his eyes and mutters a soft go.
I quickly run up the stairs with Harry firmly in my hands. I run to the first room and close the door. I quickly lock it and hear a bang downstairs.
Harry jumps in my arms giving me a confused look. I smile through the tears and place him in his crib.
I hear faint talking downstairs and a thud. Everything falls quiet.
I feel as if somebody had shattered my heart in their hands. It felt like a punch in the face. Tears falling down my face I crouch in front of Harry's crib.
He gives me a sad and confused look. 'mama' he mumbles and reaches for my face. I hold his hand against my cheek.
"Harry, mama and dada love you. Uncle Sirius and uncle Remus love you. We all love you. Be strong sweetheart." I whisper to him.
Harry senses that something is wrong and tears begin running down his rosy cheeks.
I wipe away his tears. "Sweetheart, be strong and brave like dada always tells you. Mama and dada will always love you."
I hear the door behind us open with a bang. I quickly stand up and shield Harry with my body.
A hooded figure enters the room with a grin.
"Please, not Harry! Please don't kill Harry! Have mercy, please! Kill me instead!" I beg as I stand protectively in front of Harry.
"Stupid girl, stand aside." Leers the man. No empathy in his voice. None.
"Please, just don't kill him, please!" I beg.
I see a flash of green coming towards me. Before I know it, it hits me square in the chest.
With a jolt I sit up from my bed. Heart rapidly beating in my chest and cold sweat all over my body. I look around and take in my surrounding.
Mary is asleep in his bed. Marlene groans and lazily walks over to her mirror with a hairbrush. And Lily emerges from the bathroom, hair still wet from a shower.
"Finally, you're awake Y/N- hey is everything okay?" Lily gives me a concerned look and rushes over to my bed.
Marlene whips her head around to look at the sudden mood change in Lily's voice. Once she spots me her face covers with concern. "Everything alright?"
I give both of them a nod and suck in a breath. "Just a bad dream." I hate these dreams. They are the worst.
Lily crouches in front of my bed and puts a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Want to talk about it?" She smiles sweetly.
I shake my head "Uh..no. It was nothing major." I give her a smile.
She nods. "If you say so. Go take a shower, it will be refreshing and make you feel better." She stands up and offers me her hand.
I take her hand and pull myself out of bed. I walk towards the bathroom and lock the door. I undress and step into the shower and let the warm water hit my body.
These dreams will be the end of me, I swear to Godric. Why have I and James died twice? Scratch the future thing off the list I guess. I can't die twice in the future.
And I have to write down this dream as soon as possible.
I ponder over the dreams for a while. But then I remember something. It's the last day of school today. I completely forgot about that thanks to the dream.
It's sad to leave, but I'm excited to see my family again. And it's only three months. I'll be back in no time.
I hear a pillow hit someone from the other side of the door. "Mary, get up! It's our last day, can't you wake up on time just this once?" Lily's muffled voice is heard from the other side.
-
I told the others to go and that I will catch up later. I said that I had to have a chat with Remus. Which is true. But I also had to write down the dream.
I hear a door open and a loud chatter follows. The chatter gets louder as the four boys make their way down the stairs.
"Lies and slander!" Sirius argues as he reaches the bottom of the stairs.
I tilt my head in confusion. What are they on about now?
They all reach the bottom and spot me. I make eye contact with James and my heart skips a beat.
It's okay, calm yourself Y/N. He's well and alive.
Sirius walks up to me "Y/N, can you believe it? Our dear Jamsie over here thinks that he," he gives James a pointed look "is Minnies favorite. I beg to differ." He props his arm on my shoulder and leans on it.
"I beg to differ also." I agree with Sirius.
James has a betrayed look on his face and Sirius has a smug look on his face.
"Thank you Y/N-" Sirius starts but I cut him off.
"I actually think that I'm her favorite. I'm better than both of you." I give them both a teasing smile.
Both of them look at me annoyed.
"I have to agree, she treats Y/N better." Peter agrees.
"You hurt me sometimes, y'know." James comes over to me and pushes Sirius away, who gives him another annoyed look.
James wraps an arm around me. I feel my heartbeat quicken.
No need to panic or worry. You don't have a child and you won't die. Hah, right?
Suddenly I smell a strange scent. I furrow my eyebrows and step closer to James to get a better whiff of the scent.
James is caught off guard with the sudden closeness. "What are you doin-" he looks down at me.
"Why do you smell like a Mandrake leaf?" I question him, finally recognizing the scent. I look at Sirius. "You also had that smell."
They look at each other in panic. "Uhh.." both of them stutter.
"Do you two have anything to do with the missing Mandrake leaves that professor Sprout mentioned three weeks ago?" I question them.
About three weeks ago in herbology professor Sprout had informed us that some mandrake leaves had gone missing. I suspected the boys but then again, what would they do with Mandrake leaves?
Sirius looks at Remus and Peter for help. And James stutters next to me. "You see... we just, y'know..uhh,"
I snort. "You should get better at lying. I don't care what you're doing with the leaves. Neither of you are smart enough to do something with them anyway."
"Uh-huh, we sureee are. Aren't we James?" Sirius winks at James.
"We sure are." James responds back with a grin.
What? I look at them weirdly.
"Okayyy... um anyways. Remus could I talk to you for a moment?" I ask the brunette boy.
"Yeah sure." He responds.
"You two can catch up, we'll go to the great hall. Don't keep our dear Remus all to yourself for too long Y/N. I'll miss him." Sirius comments before heading towards the portrait with Peter.
I roll my eyes at his stupid comment.
"But my tie?" I hear James ask as Sirius comes back and drags James away with him.
The portrait closes and their conversation is cut off.
"They are a handful. So, what did you want to talk about?" Remus smiles warmly at me.
I look down at my feet and swing back and forth. "Um. I had another dream. Me and James died, again." I clapped my hands together.
"So Trelawney's prophecy isn't 100% false?" Remus tries to lighten the mood.
I snort recalling the memory. "Yeah. How I'll die a miserable death when i'm still young. I will die if I don't open my inner eye." I mock the professors words.
Remus starts laughing.
"Hey, don't laugh. Weren't you supposed to suffer and die also?" I hide my smile at the stupid prophesy.
Remus clears his throat "Oh yes. I'm terribly sorry. I forgot."
We stare at each other for a moment and then burst out laughing.
"I'm sure we'll find an answer to those dreams of yours." Remus assures once we calm down.
We decide to follow the others and head to the great hall.
"Any kisses from James? Or a baby?" Remus teases once we exit the common room.
I feel my face heat up and I hit him in the arm. "Shut up. These are some stupid dreams."
"Aw don't be embarrassed, they're not stupid. I liked the one where Harry had stolen James's invisibility cloak and the four of us had to look for him." Remus recalls.
I give him a look. "Wait, when did I tell you about that one?"
Remus thinks for a moment. "It was the day before our potions exam, I think."
"It feels like i'm living a completely different lives at once. I die in some, i have fun. I'm older, then younger. It doesn't make sense. But all of them have tons of similarities." I rant as we approach the doors of the great hall.
Remus places his hand around me. "Hey, don't worry. We will find an answer eventually, I promise. In the meantime, don't worry so much about those dreams. Enjoy your life!"
I smile and hug him "You're right."
We find the spot where the other three boys are sitting and sit down next to them.
"Finally!" James exclaims.
Sirius smirks. "James just couldn't wait to see you. Don't leave him waiting like that next time!"
I roll my eyes at them.
"You're so sassy. Rolling your eyes all the time. I told you that they will get stuck one day." James warns.
I pat his shoulder. "Don't worry. They won't." I reassure him.
I notice his untied tie. I look at him and he has a dorky smile on his face.
I sigh and sit closer to him so I can tie it. But James was in a certain interesting mood at the exact moment.
"You're so pretty." James mumbles his eyes fixed on me.
I fumble with his tie. "Quit messing with me. I'm trying to focus."
He smirks "But your eyes. They're so mesmerizing, I think I got lost in them."
"Quit flirting, Potter" I groan.
"And your lips, so soft and kissable. I just want to-" He leans closer to me.
I finish his tie and push his face back with my hand. "In your dreams."
"I already told you. You are in my dreams." He flirts and leans closer to me again.
"I bet that you also dream of me." He states confidentially.
I almost spit out the pumpkin juice I just took a sip of.
Remus laughs and tries to cover it with a cough.
I give him a glare.
"What? I-I do not! That's nonsense!" I stammer back.
"Well-" Remus opens his mouth to comment but shuts it again quickly when I give him yet again, another glare.
"Oh so you do, darling. So sweet of you!" James chuckles and pulls me to his chest.
I cringe at the faces of Sirius, Remus and Peter who are enjoying what's happening.
This is so embarrassing .
"Oh, I forgot." James mumbles. He let's go of me and searches for something.
He finds it and hands it to me. It's a letter.
"Your owl dropped it here earlier." He explains noticing my confused face.
I thank him and take the letter. I quickly open it.
Dear y/n,
We're so excited to see you again. But I had to write and let you know of the great news. We're going to Italy for the summer! Your aunt wrote to me and informed that she had bought a new house with her new husband. It's right next to the sea! She also said that Angelo has been waiting to see you again. He misses you so much. We won't stay the whole summer. Maybe a month and a half. Anyway, see you soon!
Love,
Mum
I smile and close the letter. I've been wanting to go back to Italy for so long! Last time I visited my aunt there was four years ago. She visited us last year.
And how I miss Angelo. Angelo is my four year old cousin. He's my only cousin so we have a strong bond.
"So what did the letter say?" James asks taking a bite of his apple.
"I'm going to Italy this summer, to visit my aunt!" I beamed excitedly.
"That's great y/n!" Remus smiles at me.
"Aww. Will we not see you again this summer break?" James whines.
"I won't be gone the whole summer. Only a month or so. We can still hang out" I reassure him.
"We better."
-
I close my trunk and take in the dormitory. It's all clean and empty now that all of our stuff is packed.
"Feels weird leaving." Mary comments also looking around.
I nod "It does."
"But we'll be back in no time! And for our fifth year. We have our O.W.L's next year." Lily reminds us.
Marlene groans. "Don't even start with that. I don't want to think about it."
"I'm going to check on the boys." I inform the others and exit the dormitory.
I make my way to dormitory for fourth year boys and open the door. All of them had finished packing and the room looked unusually clean.
"Wow. I don't even recognize the place." I joke as I step further into the room.
"It feels boring." Sirius comments.
I suddenly remember our tradition.
"Wait! We have to take the picture!" I remind them.
All of their faces light up.
-
"All of you, promise to write me?" I plead the boys.
We just arrived at King's Cross Station and are saying our goodbyes.
"We promise." They reassured.
I turn to hug them individually.
I pull Peter into a hug. "Try not to listen to all of their stupid ideas."
He grins at me. "I can't make any promises."
I move to Remus and pull him into a hug. "Hopefully we'll get some answers over the summer. In the mean time, keep an eye on those three."
He hugs me back and gives me a warm smile "I hope we will. And yes, i'll keep an eye on them."
I move to Sirius who opens his arms for a hug. I laugh and hug him. "Try not to burn something down and cause total chaos. And try not to piss off your parents every day."
He scoffs. "Like I would ever do such stuff. I don't know what you think of me."
"Uh-huh, sure." I chuckle.
I turn to James but he pulls me into a hug before I can even do or say anything.
"I will miss you." He mumbles into my hair.
I giggle and hug him back. "I hate to admit it, but I'll miss you too."
We pull apart and stare at each other for a second. Merlin, those eyes.
"I know I'm your favorite." He states.
"Debatable." I shoot back.
I spot my parents in the crowd.
"I got to go, bye!" I wave at all of them.
They wave back and we say our final goodbyes and I head towards my parents.
I get idea in my head and turn back. The four boys are still standing there. I look at James who is already looking at me.
I walk up to him again. He has a confused look on his face.
I stand on my tiptoes and give him a kiss on the cheek. "Have a nice summer."
I walk away laughing to myself without another word.
Unknowing the fact that James was left there flustered with a red face.
Hello! So fourth year done! I wrote a longer chapter because I have left you guys hanging for a while. It's my longest chapter yet, 3.3k words. Also, thank you for 11k reads! Love you all<33
Edited 7/19/2022