The Stag and The Harpy | James Potter

Mr. Potter

James tiptoes up the stairs, wincing every time the floorboards creak.

He can hear Sirius up a level, laughing and chatting muffled. Likely with Marlene. He smirks to himself, deciding to pester his friend about popping the bloody question to the Scottish witch. James wanted her to stick around, she kept Sirius on his toes.

He shuffles down the hall to Phoebe's room, smiling slightly at the glow coming from underneath the door. Perhaps she was still awake. He gently opens the door, quickly slipping inside. His heart melts at the sight of her already in bed. She'd taken to sleeping on her stomach, hiding both of her arms under her pillow. He thought it was adorable, the way her face would get smushed from pressing into the pillow on one side.

Slowly, he sets down his things, kicking off his shoes and taking off his coat. Just as he's loosening his tie, her eyes flutter open, freezing him in place. They look like molten silver in the warm light, soft with sleep.

"There you are," Phoebe mumbles, sliding her hand out from under her pillow and reaching out. James smiles, walking over and sitting on the edge of the bed. He grasps her outstretched hand with one of his own, the other slipping under the covers and her large Gryffindor tshirt she wore to sleep. He gently rests his palm on her bare back, running it up and down her cool skin.

"I didn't mean to wake you," He murmurs, gently squeezing her hand before letting go to brush back some of her hair from her eyes. She smiles, relaxing even further under his gentle touch on her spine.

"S'alright. I didn't mean to fall asleep yet anyway."

James leans down to kiss her shoulder, teasing quietly, "How was wedding planning?"

He's surprised by how quick her lips turn into a cheerful smile. She laughs quietly at his obvious bemusement, saying happily, "It was surprisingly fun."

He waits patiently while she hesitates, her smile growing wider as she finally admits, "I bought a dress today."

James' heart skips a beat, his grin growing as well as he chuckles, "Really?" The Veela nods, turning over to face him completely. He keeps his hand on her bare skin, resting warmly against her side while his thumb strokes her ribs. She mindlessly reaches up, loosening his tie for him and laughing when he asks eagerly, "Can I see?"

"Nope," She says simply. "Not until the wedding."

James groans disappointedly, his free hand quick grabbing her fingers tugging at his tie and kissing her knuckles before he lets her continue.

"Why can't I see now?"

Phoebe laughs, slipping the tie from around his neck and throwing it behind him, starting on the buttons of his shirt, "Because! Bad luck."

"I think we've had all of the bad luck we're going to get," James retorts playfully, gently tickling her side and smiling when laughter bubbles out of her. She continues unbuttoning, pulling his shirt from his pants as she says, "Don't jinx it."

James quirks a brow at her actions, asking with laughter in his voice, "Are you trying to shag me? You're half asleep."

"I can't help it," She says sarcastically, smirking when he flicks her nose and continuing, "I like seeing you all dressed up. Very sexy, Mr. Potter."

His eyes nearly cross at the way she says his name. Flirty, coy. She could say it over and over and he'd never tire of her voice.

James grunts when she slips her hands under his unbuttoned shirt, her palms cool on his warm skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake. He quickly pecks her lips, muttering,

"Let me go get ready for bed, you minx."

Phoebe sighs and nods, watching with amusement as he hightails it out of her room and down the hall. It's maybe 5 minutes later when he's back, practically stripping down before he's even through the door. She cracks up as he trips over his pant leg, clutching her sides as he fixes his crooked glasses and finally jumps into bed.

He shuffles next to her, grinning and sliding his hands up the back of her shirt to hold her close. She shoots him a knowing look and asks playfully, "Did you have a nice trip?"

He scowls and pinched her side as another round of laughter shakes her body. She finally calms down, biting back a smile. She wonders, voice still full of mirth, "Tell me about your day, J."

James smiles at the nickname, grabbing her and pulling her up into his arms before he settles the blankets around them, saying, "Well, Frank showed me and Sirius around the ministry. I'd never been before."

"It's rather ugly if you ask me," Phoebe says, wrinkling her nose. James strokes his thumb over her furrowed brow, agreeing theatrically, "Oh it's absolutely horrid. The most hideous place I've been!"

Phoebe slaps his chest, but beckons for him to continue, fighting a smile when he says, "We saw Madeye, a few other Aurors. It's brilliant P, I'd certainly work there."

He suddenly stops, clearly mulling over something in his head. She waits patiently, tracing lazy circles on his chest with her fingers and smiling to herself when his hands twitch on her bare back. James finally sighs and mumbles, "I...I went to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."

Her eyebrows raise in surprise as he continues to ramble, "I got to see your mother's work...Phoebe she really did something. She never let up on treatment of Veela and there were countless notes back and forth between her and the minister about how Veela and other beings deserved a seat at the table."

Phoebe laughs quietly at his passion, murmuring, "She was excellent at her job. I think she made a difference."

James smiles slightly and tangled his fingers in the ends of her hair as he mumbles, "I know you still have lots of feelings towards her...I have them too. Ever time you don't eat—" He stops abruptly, throat getting tight. He hated the woman. A woman he'd never met. She was dead, and yet she still held influence over Phoebe's life. But it was getting better, she was letting go. So he had to as well.

"She gave me you," James says finally, voice firm. Phoebe just smiles understandingly, like she knows exactly what he's thinking. She probably does. The Veela sighs and snuggles into James' side, saying playfully, "I believe I was promised something fun if I willingly did wedding planning."

James smirks, grabbing her waist and hauling her on top of him. Her breath quickens, a tingle running up her spine as he pulls her down to him, the promise of something good written on his face. Until he's mumbling in her ear,

"You should be sleeping."

The lights suddenly go out, plunging them into darkness as James laughs loudly and Phoebe groans before she grumbles, "Tease."

James kisses her lips softly in the darkness, smiling as he whispers cheekily, "I learned it from you."