August [j.p]

046- For the hope of it all

But do you remember?
Remember when I pulled up and said, "Get in the car"
And then canceled my plans just in case you'd call?
-
august

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James Potter hesitated as he lifted his fist up to knock on Augustine's door.

Augustine

Two months ago, when he saw her at Sirius's funeral, clutching Neville to her chest he saw a completely different person.

To him, she was August, August who hated the idea of camping and wouldn't even dip her pinky toe in mud. August who laughed with a honeyed voice and then went home to cry alone in her bedroom. He realized that he never really knew August at all, he knew the mask that she hid behind. He understood why, she had been through hell and back.

The woman he knew now, looked death in the eye, stitched back someone's bloodied leg without even blinking. There was a hardness too her, a newfound bravery. But there remained the gentleness and compassion that only someone as pure hearted and full of grace as Augustine could possessed.

He loved all versions of her, and he would continue loving them. Continue loving her as she changed and built onto herself.

Deciding better of it he put his fist down. He wouldn't do this to her. Like he promised years ago, 17 and heartbroken, he would let her go.

He was just turning around when he came face fo face with the woman he probably feared the most, only second to his mother when he had done something to provoke her.

Lori Normandy stood there, decked out in rich green fabrics, her hair braided and hanging around her shoulders.

"Don't even think of not saying goodbye again." She scolded him, arms on her hips.

Although Lori had no ties to Britain, when she found out her friend was going into the thick of it all, she jumped right in with her.

They worked together in a small field hospital where anyone injured or sick could come to find help. Unlike Augustine, Lori had no previous training and so in the beginning months she carried around potions and blended herbs, took inventory and applied balms to minor wounds.

It was four months in when Augustine got transferred to a higher risk area and Lori stayed behind, still lacking the qualifications. She lived in constant feat that she would hear her friends name on the radio. She dreamt of her Sadie and Augustine being brutally and mercilessly murdered. Sadie wasn't working in the healing tents; blood and gore disgusted her but she was part of a group of people who relayed sensitive information through codes.

Her worst nightmare came true when a stick thin and scraggly looking man hobbled in with Sadie dangling from his shoulder. He could barely even stand himself and Lori noted with horror that his left hand had been blown clean off. Sadie's body was covered in ugly burns, her breathing shallow and her heartbeat dangerously low. Lori didn't know how to treat injuries like the ones Sadie had so she let the head healers fret and struggle for days but every night when they retreated to the barracks for two hours of sleep and new healers filtered in she would sit by Sadie's bedside and sing. Sing of words long forgotten and stories unheard of.

When Sadie finally woke up after two weeks Lori embraced her friend, careful of her wounds and said, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you Sadie Austin."

"I wouldn't know what to say." James responded timidly.

Lori rolled her eyes and snorted, "The James Potter doesn't have anything to say."

He smiled at her then and it was so full of hopelessness and heartbreak that Lori wanted to give him back everything he had lost. She didn't want to imagine what she would've become if she had to see Augustine die in front of her.

"How about you start with hello." She suggested and patted him on the shoulder, a peace offering and a truce.

"I'll come back this afternoon." She turned around and made her way back up the pathway, James watching her become smaller as she moved further away before turning around to face the door again.

He lifted his fist and knocked this time, a part of him hoping she wouldn't answer. But she swung open the door and the smell if vanilla and enveloped him.

Her hair was tied up into a loose braid and her light summer dress stirred in the breeze. He always knew his favorite color was red but seeing her in powder blue made him change his mind.

"James." She said surprised.

"Hullo." He greeted back bashfully, "I thought I would come say goodbye." He gestured to the suitcases and boxes he could see in the living room, "Before you leave."

Augustine was going back to the guérison to finish her full training.

"That's very kind of you." She smiled the familiar crooked smile that he adored.

"Let's start over." He blurted out unexpectedly.

"I don't follow." Her eyebrows were drawn together in puzzlement.

"I'm James Potter." He reached his hand out and looked at her expectantly.

August stared at his outstretched hand for what seemed like forever before she placed her smaller hand in his, he could feel the roughness of the pads of her fingers.

"Augustine Williams."

"It's nice to meet you Augustine." He grinned, rubbing the back of his neck.

"You sure this is a good idea?" She asked, but her smile told him she didn't particularly care, "Maybe you'll fall in love with me again."

"Hell." He said, "I love you enough now, what do you want to do? Obliterate me?"

She looked at him intently, weighing her words, "Yes."

"Good." He smiled, "That's what I want too."

She grinned at him and something in her eyes, that glint of mischief and knowing reminded him of Sirius. He fought to press the feeling down but then thought about what the counselor said. He should embrace the pain.

With his hand in Augustine's he let the pain and darkness sweep over him, let it completely sweep over him but then he felt her squeeze his hand softly and the breeze messed up his hair. Just like Sirius used to ruffle it affectionately, much to his annoyance, and he could've sworn that his best friend was there in that very moment.

Saying, "Nice one, James."

He withdrew his hand but let his fingertips linger against hers.

"Well Augustine, write to me." He turned on his heel and sauntered down the steps.

James laughed to himself at how the roles had swapped all these years later and how life had come full circle.

A/N
Should I write an epilogue or continue with their lives after. I can't decide :((