Imagines- Harry Potter

Divorce 2 | J.P

Prompt: Holding hands while driving

After that moment in the Potions store, James came around a lot more, much to Leo's excitement. It became customary for James to restock items or help brew potions despite his lower levels. Leo was ecstatic to have him around. The mischievous and playful James Potter always kept Leo excited.

James spent lots of time with both of them. Making sure they were both taken care of and loved unconditionally. Frequently James would stop by to make dinner for them while Y/n worked late shifts or take Leo out of the shop to give him an adventure. A year had passed, and James had a crucial question for her. The shop was empty, and Leo was upstairs - ecstatic for his new Hogwarts adventure.

"Love?" James called as Y/n stepped down from the ladder, "Yes?"

"Can you- Can you come here a moment?" James ran a hand through his hair as she walked in front of him, "What's on your mind?" Y/n questioned softly.

James was hesitant, "Move in with me."

"What?"

"Move in with me, please?"

Y/n chuckled, flabbergasted, "James, that's a big step."

"I know, but I- I really want to be with you, all the time. I want to wake up to you every morning. I want to make you and Leo breakfast. I want to see you in a dreary state after a long day at work. I want to take care of you when you're sick. I want to take Leo to Platform Nine and Three Quarters." James swallowed, "I- I want to be the father Leo never got...." He murmured.

Y/n's eyes turned soft at his muttered confession, "You- You mean it?" James nodded, "You want to be Leo's father?" He nodded.

"I want to hug him before he leaves to Hogwarts all seven years. I want him to jump into my arms after his terms at Hogwarts. I want to watch him cause mischief and get those owls home. I want to write him letters to remind him that I'm here if he needs anything." James' eyes welled with tears, "I- I want to be there for everything."

"I may not be his father biologically, but he is the closest thing I have to a son, and I'll be damned if I don't treat him like my own."

Y/n wiped the stray tears away, "James, you need to understand that this is a big responsibility you're taking on. You know there's no one in this world I'd rather than you to be a true father to Leo, but I want to make sure this is truly what you want."

"I'd want nothing more." James swore, and Y/n smiled softly, "Then yes, we'll move in with you."

That night James, Y/n, and Leo were eating at the dinner table when James finally decided to speak up, "Leo?"

"Yes?"

"How- How would you feel about leaving this place?" James asked carefully.

Leo's face contorted to one of confusion, "Leave? Why?"

"Leo..." Y/n began with a smile, "James wants to know if you want to move in with him."

"Both of us?" Leo queried, looking at his mom and gaining a nod, "James wants us to live with him!?"

James' features softened at the boy's excitement, "Only if you want to."

"Of course I want to!" Leo exclaimed with a bright smile.

Leo jumped up from his seat and hugged James tightly, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

James chuckled and ruffled the boy's hair, "You're welcome."

Lots of packing came with moving. It was a lot of cardboard boxes. James insisted they do it the muggle way, wanting Leo to experience new things after growing up being a pureblood. James saw how sheltered Sirius was and didn't want Leo to be the same. It was also the reason they took a car to James' house. Leo was fascinated when he entered the back seat.

It made Y/n and James laugh at how the boy was so quickly excited. Leo always had a lot of energy and not many ways to exert it, but with James around, that energy never went to waste. James and Leo would spend hours walking around Diagon Alley or flying on broomsticks together away from the muggles. Leo would enter the shop breathless and hair in disarray. James not too far behind. It warmed Y/n's heart to see her son so happy.

While riding in the car, James gently took her hand in his. It was a small gesture, but it made her blush. Leo stared out the window of the vehicle the entire time while James played music from the radio. It took about an hour, but eventually, they got to Godric's Hollow. James parked the car outside - upon hours later, he confessed it was Remus' car - and began putting the boxes in the house. It was about midnight when all the boxes were on the bottom floor.

Leo busied himself with an old spell book James gave him while the other two unpacked. Y/n was opening a cardboard box when two arms wrapped around her waist. Y/n rested her hands on his and leaned back into his embrace. James left a kiss on her cheek, relishing at the moment. His girlfriend in his arms and her - their - child on the couch.

It took a month to get everything in place. James and Y/n had settled in their room together. Leo had found sanctuary in his bedroom that they painted a deep blue color. Leo was always obsessed with the stars and constellations. Perhaps a gift he collected from his biological father. Zenix always had a way with the stars Y/n didn't quite comprehend. James was always willing to listen to Leo talk about them, though.

Only days until Leo was due to leave for his first year at Hogwarts and Y/n, was wishing for more time with him before she had to send him off. She was well aware that he'd be fine, but it was still her baby. More often than not, she was still selling Potions at her potions store. James stayed home with Leo and took him out on adventures. But the week before Leo was supposed to leave, Y/n took off of work.

The following week was filled with school shopping, getting ice cream, exploring the muggle world, riding broomsticks, and playing board games. It was possibly the best time Y/n had ever had since before getting married to Zenix. Although marrying Zenix was something she never wanted, she did get something amazing out of it - Leo.

He was her pride and joy, so when they - James and Y/n - stood on the platform, Y/n felt like sobbing, but she didn't. Instead, James was the one crying. Leo held his mom extremely tight out of nervousness and anxiety. Leo reeled back to meet his mom's bright e/c eyes.

"You'll be fine, honey. You'll make plenty of friends." Y/n assured, and Leo's eyes welled with tears, "I'll miss you." He whimpered.

"I'll miss you too, my love."

Leo hugged her again. Y/n chuckled and wrapped her arms around him again. James stood beside him, quietly crying. Here he was - James Potter - crying over his stepson leaving for Hogwarts. He wasn't expecting it, but Leo wrapped his arms around him too. He was quietly sobbing into James' shirt. Y/n stood back and watched with a bright smile.

They pulled apart, and Leo's eyes looked like an ocean with the glossy texture, "You'll be okay kiddo. Raise holy hell for me, okay?" James chuckled tearfully, kneeling to Leo's height.

The boy nodded and wrapped his arms around James' shoulders, "I love you, dad."

Y/n was barely able to withhold a gasp, and James was sobbing, "I love you too, kiddo."

The raven-haired boy pulled away and took one last look at his parents. Leo jumped on the train and quickly pulled down the window as the train began to move, "I love you, mom! I love you, dad!"

"We love you too, sweetheart!" Y/n exclaimed, and James wrapped his arm around her waist.

The adult male was crying with a smile on his face facing his girlfriend, "He called me dad!"

Y/n laughed, "I can't believe it! He called me dad!"

"I've dreamt about this moment for months!" James laughed, "Is it everything you dreamed of?"

"It's so much better." James replied, kissing her lips sweetly.

Not every story starts great. Maybe you're loved one rejects you. Perhaps you start a commitment with someone you never loved or fell out of love with. Maybe not every story starts excellent. But who's to say you can't change the end? The beginning of your account is just that - the beginning. James and Y/n's start was dreadful, but they were determined to change the ending.