A Force of Magic [HP Jamione fanfic]

Chapter 9: Reunions

3rd December 1998
9am
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - Scotland

"Mr Potter, Kingsley succeeded in getting you reinstated over a week ago." McGonagall stood in front of James, who'd been staring into space for the last while - he wasn't actually sure how long for. He hmm'd noncommittally, not really paying attention to her. "Mr Potter." She snapped sharply. He jumped, and looked up at McGonagall, surprised to see her standing in front of him.

"Professor? Is everything alright?"

"Potter... James... you need to get out."

"Get out?" James frowned at her as she took the seat beside him, handing him a hot cup of tea that he hadn't noticed her holding. He cradled between his hands, letting it warm him from the outside.

"You've been shut up in this room since you got back. I know why, but you need more interactions than me and the House-elves."

James stared down at his hands, still wrapped around his un-drunken tea. "How?" He finally whispered. "How am I supposed to move on, everyone I knew is dead or have lived their lives without me!" His voice rose as he spoke until he was nearly shouting.

McGonagall reached out and took one of his hands between hers, "James. I know it's hard. Believe me." She insisted, squeezing his hand. He was suddenly reminded that McGonagall had once been married, so would certainly understand more than most. "But you need to see people, your son needs to know you're alive. Kingsley has reinstated you fully now, so you can move around freely."

"I know." James took a deep breath. "Thank you."

McGonagall sniffed, "Of course. But thank me by seeing your friends and family, by getting better, by letting yourself heal." James nodded, swallowing back a fresh set of tears. "Now, I have organised for Mr Lupin to come get you. He is waiting in my office."

James took a deep breath, and nodded reluctantly. If he didn't do this now he never would.

3rd December 1998
10:30am
Black Manor - Grantham, Lincolnshire
Residence of Sirius Black, Remus, Nymphadora, and Teddy Lupin

It had taken a while to convince Remus to lower his wand when James had walked into McGonagall's office, and longer for them both to convince him that James really was who he said he was. Remus had then launched himself into a surprised James' arms and hugged him so tight James lost his breath, holding him close and sobbing into James' messy black hair. James had hugged back just as tight, and wondered why he'd waited so long to see his friends again.

It didn't matter how many years separated them, they were still the same men, tempered and hardened by war maybe, but they had grown from boys to men together. When Remus had finally pulled back, tears still swimming in his blue eyes, James had grinned through his own tears, looked Remus up and down and said, "You got old, Moony." Remus had laughed rustily, punched James in the shoulder and pulled him back into a hug.

"I'll have to apparate you off-grounds, and then walk you in." Remus had said minutes later. "The floo's pretty much closed off to everyone." James had nodded and the two old friends had walked out of Hogwarts down to the apparition point together, Remus trying to catch James up on as much as he could - everything that McGonagall wouldn't have known.

They appeared with a crack outside of Black Manor and Remus led James through the wards. "Sirius is gonna take a lot of convincing," Remus pointed out as they walked up the driveway, the weak December sun shining on them.