Unravel | Jeverus

Part 4

" Mr. Potter."

James looked up and saw McGonagal's smiling face.

" your grades have improved. You'll still need your tutors but it's good enough to qualify for quidditch. Congrats." She grinned.

James just nodded and rubbed his arm. He felt the thick scar tissue through the thin long sleeves and felt his heart break. The changing rooms, the locker. How will he explain this to anyone? How could he even think about flying when his mind was blank?

He could barely focus on school, how could he fly 10 meters in the air and expect to stay up there all by himself?

" I trust you'll participate? Your uniform waits for you darling."

He looked up at his teachers face and gave in. The look of adoration and hope that James was even a glimpse of the person he used to be evident in her eyes.

Her eyebrows curved up in concern and hope. It would be soul shattering to say no.

" yes. I will."

Her smile grew brighter, truer and she nodded.

" Good. Next practice is on tuesday. Will you be up for it?"

No. Tuesday is too early. Four days is not enough. He's too skinny, he hasn't trained in months, he cant do it-

" Of course. When have i ever missed practice?"

---------------------------------------------------

" Are you sure?" Severus asked, Lily between them eating her bowl of pasta.

" yeah. I have to get back to my life at some point."

" You could wait a little longer. they can find a sub can't they? The slytherins had a sub when Regulus broke his arm."

" There's no one on the gryffindor team as fast as James. He's their beacon of hope or whatever. They're just cowards who won't admit they can't play as well as you." Lily said and as terrible it was to hear bad stuff about his team, it made James feel better.

" I told the coach and McGonagal I'll do it."

" When's practice?" Severus asked and James gulped just thinking about it.

" Tuesday."

" That's soon."

" I know."

" Are you ready?"

" I have to be." He said and split his potato in half, moving it around on his plate instead of eating it.

" Eat then." Lily said and put an end to the potato nonsense.

James ate a full solid meal that day without throwing up. His bowels were still sensitive from the surgery and it was hard for him to eat now.

Still, he felt better with company.

" I wanna be there for you but i have a tutoring session on Tuesday." Lily said and started playing with her food too, obviously fidgeting.

" it's fine. I don't expect you to be there."

" Are you sure? maybe i can cancel. then me and Sev will be there to support you right?" She nudged Severus and he nodded.

" Yeah."

James hummed and a slow smile grew on his face. They spent so much time in the loft, rarely going down unless to use the bathroom.

It was a safe haven for all of them James thinks.