Chapter 17 - Like father, like son
The following mid-morning, Harry was sitting in the living room reading The Daily Prophet, scanning the pages for more scandalous news about his marital status, and was relieved to find nothing. He was surprised to hear a knock on the back door.
He looked through the window and was surprised to see his eldest son standing on the other side. With a quickening pulse, he opened the door.
"James! What are you doing here?" Harry asked as he ushered him inside. "Does your mum know you're here?"
"No, she and Grams took Lily and Al shopping for toys." He rolled his eyes. "I think she's feeling guilty. Anyway, I flew - it only took a few minutes." James said, gesturing to his Firebolt.
Harry reached over and gave his eldest son a hug.
When he pulled back, he saw that James had a very serious look on his face. James had inherited his raven hair but he had his mother's brown eyes, minus Harry's myopia. He was only a few inches shorter than his father and he was growing up quickly.
Harry and James sat on the sofa as an awkward silence descended upon them. James then cleared his throat and decided to get down to business.
"Dad, what's going on? Why did Mum leave you? You can tell me the real reason because I'm not a kid like Lily and Al."
"What is your mum saying?" Harry asked.
"She's been really vague. She just says that your marriage is over and that we're living with her from now on. No explanations or anything but then I hear her crying at night to Grams and I've heard her bring up Aunt Hermione, but I can't hear the details, even with George's extendable ears. Mum must be using a muffialto or something."
"James, have you heard about your Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione's marriage?"
James nodded. "Yeah, I heard that they split and that Uncle Ron is living with Uncle George and Aunt Katie, but again I don't know any details. I just find it odd that both marriages have ended within days of each other - it's a little too coincidental."
Harry sighed as he knew where James was headed with this. "Are you asking me if there is something going on between your Aunt Hermione and me?"
James looked uncomfortable and shifted his position on the sofa so he was looking away from his father. "Well, it has crossed my mind."
"James, look at me." Harry commanded and his son turned to face him, with an accusatorial look in his eye.
"Son, I assure you that there is nothing going on between us."
"Are you sure, Dad? Because I always felt that you two were very close."
"We are close, James. Hermione is one of my dearest friends, as you know."
"Did you ever date her?" James asked the question he always wanted to know.
Harry shook his head. "No, we never dated, why do you ask?"
"Well, I thought since you two were close growing up, that maybe you developed feelings for her somewhere along the way?"
Harry could see where he was going with this.
"Like you have with Samantha?"
A bright blush crept up James' face. "How on earth did you know about that?"
Harry didn't want to let on that he had talked with Lily earlier. He shrugged.
"Um, I just knew that you and she had something special when I met her the summer after your first year. You had that bond where I could tell that you knew what the other was thinking."
"Yeah, we do." James confirmed. "It's so weird now that she's my girlfriend. It's hard for me to hide what I'm thinking from her. She knows me too well."
"Is that a problem?" Harry asked.
"Sometimes she wants to talk when I'm feeling troubled about something, even when I want to be by myself and that can be a bit annoying. But then we talk and I feel better. She always knows what to say to me."
Harry knew the feeling. "How did you let Sam know that you liked her?"
"I kissed her." James smiled, he was still red.
"Well that's direct." Harry laughed. "But you didn't say anything beforehand to let her know how you felt?"
"Well, a couple of weeks ago, Sam and I were doing our homework late one night in the Gryffindor common room, in front of the fire. We were sitting pretty close because she was going over my transfiguration homework with me. She turned to me to say something and our faces were really close. She just looked so pretty in the firelight and before I knew it, I kissed her."
James took a breath, looking wistful. "When I pulled back, I felt so embarrassed and started to tell her I was sorry. But Sam said she wasn't sorry and kissed me back! I couldn't believe it. And ever since then, we've been together. Well except for the last couple of days since Mum pulled Al and me out of school. I really miss her."
"Do you miss snogging her?" Harry asked.
James laughed. "Yeah, I do. But it's more than the snogging, I just miss her. She's still my best friend, that hasn't changed. We talk about everything."
"That's really nice, James." Harry said. "That you can still have your best friend and the snogging - I hope it's just snogging, right?"
"Dad - I'm only fourteen!" James looked embarrassed. "Although it's true that sometimes I want to go further than just snogging, but I know Sam's not ready for that and I don't want to push her."
"That's good and shows that you respect her."
"Yeah, I just wish I could talk to her right now. I owled her to tell her I was staying at the Burrow and about what happened. When she sent her owl back, Mum intercepted the letter. She thinks I'm too young to have a girlfriend."
"Well, your mum had a boyfriend during her fourth year, I wonder if she's forgetting that?" Harry smirked.
"When did you have your first girlfriend, Dad?"
"In fifth year, her name was Cho, she was very pretty." Harry recalled. "But it didn't last too long."
"Why not?"
"Lots of reasons, things were complicated. But I do remember her being jealous over my friendship with Hermione."
"I imagine that might be a problem. But you weren't interested in Aunt Hermione back then, right?" James asked.
Harry shook is head, regretfully. "No, I wasn't."
"And what about now?"
Harry didn't want to lie to his son. "It's complicated."
James shook his head. "Is it really? Do you fancy her?"
"Honestly, I think our relationship is a lot like yours and Sam's." Harry conceded. "But because of what's happened with our marriages, it wouldn't be right to jump into something right away. And I'm not even sure how Hermione feels about me."
"Well, there's one surefire way to find out." James said, raising an eyebrow.
"James, I am not going to kiss her out of the blue and hope that she kisses me back. We're not teenagers!" Harry laughed.
"Yeah, I know and it's complicated." James finished for him.
Harry couldn't believe he was getting relationship advice from his fourteen year old son.
"James, how would you feel if Aunt Hermione and I started seeing each other, I mean not right away, but maybe in future?"
"Honestly? I think it would be weird." James said. "She's my aunt and it would be odd calling her step-mum."
"I didn't ask you about her being your step-mum," Harry laughed, as he felt himself reddening. "I think you're jumping the gun a bit."
"I just call it like I see it." James said. "Listen, Dad. I just want you to be happy. I want that for Mum, too. But you broke her heart and I think she believes that you cheated on her. She's very hurt and angry and that's why she wants to keep us away. I don't agree with her, but think I understand it now."
Harry exhaled. "I feel badly about what happened with your mum. I did love her once, I really did. The problem was she wasn't my best friend, too."
"So, you think I'm lucky to have Sam?"
"Yes, I do. I envy you in a way." Harry squeezed his son's shoulder. "You have the whole package in one witch instead of two. Hang onto her."
"I intend to." James said. "I know I'm too young to think about marriage, but I think I can see myself with Sam for a long time. But it's a little scary."
"Why, do you think you're missing out on other girls?"
"Maybe. I've had a few say they liked me and they don't get what I see in Sam. It's true, she may not be the prettiest witch in the school, but to me she's beautiful."
"Then like I said, hang on to her. Don't listen to what other people say. If Sam makes you happy and likewise, then who cares what others think?"
"You're right, Dad. Thanks."
"You're welcome."
They both sat there for a few moments in silence.
"Dad?"
"Yeah?"
"What's going to happen to us?"
Harry shook his head. "I'm really not sure. I've hired a lawyer who was a classmate at Hogwarts to handle the divorce. He's told me that what your mum is doing is illegal but at the same time I shouldn't do anything because I'm a public figure and trying to get you away from her would cause controversy."
Harry paused and looked at James questioning face.
"So I think your mum and I are going to have to battle this out in the courts. I just want what is fair - I want to be able to spend as much time as I can with you, Al and Lily. I don't want to take you away from your mum, but with the way she's been lately, I may petition for full custody. I need to talk this further with my lawyer."
"Well, with the way mum is acting, I don't really blame you. I'd like to get away from her, too. But I think that would shatter her if she lost us, Dad. We're all she has and that's why I think she's holding on so tight."
Harry considered James' words carefully. It probably would destroy Ginny if he got full custody. But at the same time, he wanted to get back at her for taking the kids or at least teach her a lesson.
"I'll think about it, James. I really will."
"Good."
"Listen, speaking of Mum, I should probably be getting back to the Burrow. She'll blow a gasket if I'm not there when she gets back from spoiling Lily and Al."
"Okay." Harry said, feeling a twinge of sadness that his son was leaving.
They stood up and Harry walked him to the back door again, just in case there were photographers. He embraced his son tightly.
"Thanks for coming by. It was really good to see you. And good luck with Sam, hope you get to see her soon."
"Me, too." James replied. "And good luck with you know....everything."
"Thanks, I'll need it."
Harry watched as his son kicked off and flew away. He couldn't believe how grown up he was. James was certainly a lot more mature than he was at that age. He was still trying to figure out how to speak to Cho Chang without stuttering during his fourth year and James already had a girlfriend. He couldn't help but wonder how things might've turned out differently if he had opened his eyes to his best female friend during his fourth year.
TBC
A/N: Thanks for the flurry of reviews since my last post (Susanna and Harry85, especially). Next chapter will not be Harry and his kids, but Harry and Hermione!
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