CHAPTER TWO
more than a potter

JAMES HEARD THE Great Hall before he saw it. The sound of voices and laughter reminded him of home. It almost was home if he looked close enough. Somewhere scattered in the hall were most of his cousins and friends. 

The crowd had a life of its own. Students flowed like rivers while reuniting with friends. Fourth years shoved second years, causing chaos within the sea of bodies. James saw the look of familiar panic in Fred's eyes, a rare sight to most, especially to those who knew Fred as someone who found pleasure in burning things for fun. Hogwarts believed Fred to be someone who did not panic, but right now he was panicking.

James took his cousin's good wrist and led him away from the warmth of bodies pressing in.

When they both made it to the Gryffindor table Fred sighed in relief. "That was hell." His claustrophobia was almost a secret to everyone outside the family. It came rarely.

James searched his cousin's face for any sign of remaining panic. Fred glanced at James' worried face and said, "I am fine, really it was nothing." Fred went back to his calm and unreadable face as he waved and reunited with the other Gryffindor students.

With Teddy gone, James took the role of the protective and sometimes overbearing family member. Teddy and Victoire graduated. The children of Bill and Fleur were given the option of attending Hogwarts or Beauxbaton, Dominique was the only one who chose Beauxbatons and Lucy refused to leave her favorite cousin alone — they both attended school in France. This left James, the oldest remaining in Hogwarts, in charge of his cousins. The celebrity status of the Potter and Weasley name brought them chaos and unwanted attention. Their circle just included family and a few close family friends, the rest remained outside as they were capable of selling any story to Rita Skeeter or any other hungry reporter. James had a responsibility to keep them out.

"If your worrying is going to clash with this year's fun-"

"It won't, Fred. I promise," James said, sending his cousin a mischievous grin. The prank war with the Slytherins and Ravenclaws had sent them both to Professor McGonagall's office dozens of times the year before, and it would again.

A flash of red met James' eyes before he could sit down. His youngest sibling sighed, sounding annoyed.

"What's wrong Baby Potter?" Fred asked, a smile playing on his lips.

Lily scoffed, "I've told you a million times to not call me that!"

"And I've told you a million times, he will never stop," James said.

Before he could listen for Lily's reply, a familiar face caught his attention. He studied her extraordinary face, as he always did when he saw her. The deep brown eyes, her rare smile — the one always reserved for her friends. But the one thing that stood out to him was the way she threw her head back and laughed. It must've been something Maurine said. He could almost hear it if he focused long enough, the sound of her laughter he seemed to miss.

Then, her gaze found his. Maybe she'd known he was there all along. She always knew how to find him after all.

She sent him a sharp look. The one that sent students running. The one he always longed for when they bickered in class. The same look that told him he was getting a rise out of her.

He smiled easily and felt devious.

She ignored him and turned to face Molly. She looked rather tortured by him, almost as if she could still feel his eyes studying her. For a moment James thought he saw her blush.

He lowered his head to hide his smile.

It was easy to call her spiteful. Their classmates believed Winona to be too determined, too self-reliant, too much of a loose cannon. All traits they applauded their male peers for, they detested in her. James thought she was fascinating.

He shifted his gaze back to Lily, trying his best not to steal glances at the muggle-born witch.

"What was that again, Lil?" James asked.

"I forgot to pack my wand! I was too busy waiting for you idiots that I forgot the first thing I should've packed," Lily explained. "This is a disaster."

James smiled, "Lil?"

"Hm?"

"It's in your hand."

"Oh." Lily groaned, "I'm a bloody mess."

"You have every right to be a bloody mess with the two hours of sleep you-"

"Four hours! It was four!"

"What an improvement," Fred said.

"Painting at three in the morning is not a good look on you, Lil" James teased.

Lily rolled her eyes and fought to hide her frown, she failed. "My best work is done at night."

"It's also the only time I get to sleep," Rose said as she joined them. "You kept Rox and I awake through all hours of the night with your painting."

"I was looking for you and Albus on the train, where were you?" Lily asked, ignoring Rose's complaint.

"I had to sit with the prefects and I have no idea where Albus and Scorpius went," Rose explained.

"Don't you always sit with the Scamander twins?" Fred asked, pointing at Lily.

"Yes, but I wanted to ask Albus something."

James rolled his eyes, "For the last time, Albus will never let you paint him, he's said so himself hundreds of times already. Leave him alone."

"But his face is so depressing!" Lily exclaimed, "It's perfect for the tragic and gothic look I'm going for this year."

Fred laughed, "That's exactly why Albus refused you the first few hundred times."

"Calling him depressing and tragic won't convince him, Lil," Rose agreed.

Lily did not look defeated. "He'll come around."

While his cousins bickered James searched for Winona in the crowd of faces. More students sat in the Great Hall now making it difficult to look for her familiar face.

James didn't worry. He knew how to find her too.

•••

THE FIRST DAY always made Winona anxious. Fortunately, the feast was enough to keep her busy from her thoughts. Still, though, Winona was eager to finish so she could sleep in her dormitory.

Molly sent her a worried look.

"I'm tired," explained Winona brightly, doing her best to hide her fatigue.

"Did your brothers keep you up all night again?" Maurine asked, chewing on a turkey leg.

Winona nodded. "They're only four and yet they always find a way to wreak havoc."

"Try sleeping under the same roof as the Potters, the twins, and Louis." Molly said, a smile playing on her lips, "That will leave you tired for weeks."

"How come you're not falling over with sleep then, hm?" Maurine asked.

"You get used to it after.....years," Molly shrugged.

All the girls laughed and suddenly Roxanne's absence felt like a bomb between the three of them.

Molly glanced at the Gryffindor table, "Is it too late to somehow sort Rox into Hufflepuff?"

Maurine laughed, "A few years too late, I think."

At long last, after the feast and a long speech from Professor McGonagall, it was time for them all to go to bed. Winona was relieved.

But before they could leave the Great Hall Roxanne caught them.

She hugged each of her friends, "I'll see you all tomorrow morning, and don't forget Mol, behave." Roxanne teased.

Molly rolled her eyes with a smile on her face.

Winona laughed

Maurine agreed, "Yeah Molly, behave."

Molly had a habit of reading romance novels through the night, which was fine if the Oh Merlin I cannot believe that just happened! and the 'They finally kissed!' weren't common phrases heard throughout the night.

Winona, Maurine, and Molly joined the Hufflepuffs streaming out of the Great Hall.

"Coming through! Coming through!" A familiar voice called. 

Before Winona could move she felt someone push her aside, "Hey! Watch it!" she shouted.

She turned around and was met with familiar brown eyes.

"Sorry about that," James said, a smile playing on his lips. The same bloody smile he always wore. The one that made her want to look away. Fred was at his side.

Winona looked away and said, "It's fine."

James was not stupid. He instantly knew it was not fine. He felt as if he had no other choice but to explain himself. "It was an accident, really."

Winona felt silly. Out of all the things James did to annoy her, this one should not spoil her night. But she couldn't help herself. She could never help herself around him. "It's interesting really, that out of all the people in this corridor I'm the one you push."

James considered this for a moment. Given their history of rivalry, backhanded compliments, and constant bickering — he could see why she would think he pushed her on purpose.

Because they were rivals, most assumed they hated each other. On his part, it was all fascination and admiration. James saw her as courageously loyal and intelligent, a witch who was quick to turn against you if you hurt the ones she loved the most. The same could not be said on her side of things.

"It was an accident, Winona," he said again. He could've left it at that, but that would've been so very dull. And James was most definitely not dull. "Although, given your reputation at this school, I assume it's safe to think that everyone has it out for you."

Winona froze. He was referring to the fact that most students did not like Winona. She was seen as too much of a teacher's pet, too emotional about certain things, too careless, too selfish. She could not be figured out.

Suddenly Winona could feel everyone's eyes on her. Were they listening? she thought as she turned a light shade of pink. Absolutely not. She would not let James Potter humiliate her like this.

"Please, like you're any better! The son of Harry and Ginny Potter strutting around the corridors like he owns the bloody school," Winona said.

James smiled to hide his speechlessness. I do not strut.

Molly put her hand on Winona's shoulder, "We should-"

"-No," James stopped her, "I really want to hear what else Winona has to say about me."

Winona rolled her eyes, tired of playing the same game they always did. He said this and she fought back with that, it was too late in the night to be arguing like this.

As she turned to go, he laughed, "I never took you as a coward."

She turned back around, facing him. Her eyes met his.

"Go on now," James said, encouraging her, "say everything you've been holding back since third year."

Students started to whisper among themselves. The small crowd that formed around them was now what felt like half the school. Prefects urged students to get to their dormitories but no one moved.

Winona crossed her arms, still staring at him with an unreadable expression on her face, and tapped her heel repeatedly.

Fred stared at them, grinning.

Maurine was quiet.

Molly paled.

Winona was quiet for a moment before she said, "Listen, Potter-"

"Starting with the surname nonsense again, are we?"

Her eyes narrowed, "Do you want the truth?"

"Yes."

She took a step. "You're a twat."

Fred laughed.

Maurine followed.

Molly looked nervous.

Winona took another step. "Everything gets handed to you on a silver platter."

She took another step, closer now. Close enough she could see him fight back a smile. Of course he's enjoying this.

"The professors favor you above everyone and you never do anything about it! Do you know how many students are missing their chance simply because they favor your surname?" Her voice was laced with anger.

This is it, James realized. It was easy to connect the dots. Her tone, the sharp looks, the bickering, the constant pull. The root of their rivalry. For years she believed he was in her place. In the beginning, he assumed it was just friendly competition, he was swiftly proven wrong when she spoke to him with venom laced in her tone for the first time. Through the years, he believed she was very competitive. It was the first time she was ever this outspoken with him. Now, the truth was clear.

"Sounds like it's personal on your part, Moore." James objected.

That roused an Ooooh from the crowd, mainly the Gryffindors.

"Of course it's personal, for all of us." She fought back, pointing to the crowd. A few faces nodded in agreement. She wasn't stopping now. "You fail an exam and any professor would let you retake it. Or change the score."

James knew he should've been angry, but he couldn't stop admiring her bravery. She had done the one thing no other student dared to do. But she was wrong. His surname didn't grant him any special favors at Hogwarts, his parents made sure of that. He understood though, he understood why she was convinced James was granted special privileges. From an outsider's point of view, it looked that way. The way Professor Longbottom complimented him, the way McGonagall stared at him with annoyance but with a secret pride in her eyes. But the truth was simple — James put in the work. He was just as smart as Winona. He worked hard and ran to every chance at hard work. It wasn't his fault Winona hadn't gotten to them first. Unfortunately, she didn't know that. And he knew he could never change her mind on that matter.

Winona opened her mouth again to speak, but James spoke first, "I work just as hard as you, you know that. My parents made sure I had no special privileges, my cousins — your best friends — can attest to that."

Winona laughed at that, "You honestly believe certain professors don't hold a secret admiration for your surname? Anyone can make small promises to your parents but who's to say they'll uphold their promise to not grant special privileges? Especially when you use your charm to flatter every professor you meet!"

She had a point. Younger professors - survivors of the Battle of Hogwarts — believed and defended Harry Potter at any chance they could. He saved their lives that day. Wouldn't that admiration extend itself to his eldest son, despite his protests? He wasn't sure. And his charm? Sure he handed out a few smiles here and there, volunteered to help professors after hours, and more, but that was his way of being polite. Had they taken that as his way of wanting special privileges? He wasn't sure.

She challenged him again, "Admit it and we'll all be on our way, hm?" She was smiling.

James glanced at the faces of the students around them. They believed every single word out of Winona's mouth. Her argument was convincing and they could sympathize with her. James had none of those things.

He was his father's son, on some days he was more like his namesake, but before all that he was his own person. Words would not be convincing. He had to show her. No. He had to show all of them that he was just as capable as Winona to advance, without his father's help. He knew the time would come, but he didn't think it would happen this soon. James had to prove himself. He was more than a Potter, a name he wore with pride, but it wasn't the only interesting thing about him.

It was easy. Almost too easy. Giving Winona what she wanted would release them from the trap that was their arguments. He didn't want to be released.

He stepped closer, "That's too simple, even for you."

She wasn't smiling now.

James continued, "Despite our differences, unlike you, I can admit you are my greatest competition."

The crowd started to whisper among themselves again. Winona ignored them but James didn't miss the way she nervously crossed her arms.

"What about it then?" she asked.

"For the rest of the year, we compete against each other."

Fred laughed, "Haven't you done that enough already?"

"Yes," James said, "but this time, whoever gets the highest marks by the end of the year, is proven to be the better half."

Winona didn't sound convinced, "Excellent! Now all the professors that adore you will let you win."

"What would be the point of lying? When I beat you I want to do it earnestly." His voice was serious.

She studied him. The way he didn't smile or enjoy her discomfort. In truth, James wasn't a liar and a part of Winona recognized that as she stared into his eyes, looking for a flick of a lie. She didn't find it.

"On them?" Winona pointed to Fred and Molly.

"My entire family," he clarified.

To everyone's surprise, Molly interjected, "He's not a liar."

If someone was cruel or dishonest Molly would say it earnestly. She knew James better than Winona did. In the end, Winona trusted her best friend's judgment.

At that moment, she considered that he could be lying. He could be tricking her into another one of his games. At that moment, somewhere deep and hidden, she did not care.

She turned to James and offered her hand. James stopped and looked at her for a moment, whatever he was thinking was quickly forgotten as they shook hands.

He leaned in and whispered low enough only for her to hear, "I'll never forget this."

She smiled back, a smile he'd never seen before, it was almost cold. She leaned closer and said, "Good."