Separated By My Traitors

Revenge is cooler than ice

23rd of March, 1985

It had been almost four years since the attack. Sirius' imprisonment. The trial. Peter's betrayal. Lily's death...

Harry was only a few months shy of five and she wouldn't be here to see it. To watch him walk, run, paint, fly on his mini broom. Wouldn't hear his voice as he giggled along to everyone singing Happy Birthday, as he said "love you, Mum", while blowing out the candles.

Even as the date filled him with warmth and love for his son, James couldn't ignore the slow stinging in his chest. Imagining Lily there, a soft flush in her cheeks from running around all morning. Holding a camera in one hand, and a wilting flower Harry had picked for her in the other.

James often got caught up thinking about the impossible. Yet no matter how much he longed to hold her again, he would never tire of seeing her in his memories.

Today however was as normal as any day. Not Harry's birthday or any other special occasion. Apart from the fact they were invited to the Burrow, but that was more common nowadays. Ever since Molly Weasley had invited them all to tea one afternoon, the unconventional family had found themselves in the presence of Weasley's more times than they'd like to admit.

It was already nearing noon when he heard the front door opening. James made his way to the landing and saw Remus shucking off his coat at the front door, hanging it on the rack. They met at the top of the staircase as Remus made his way towards the room he shared with Padfoot.

"How's work then, Moony?"

Remus had secured a job at the local cafe about a year ago after arguing about wanting to pay for himself, not living as a 'freeloader'. (Whatever that was, James had no clue.) Sirius had gotten a little offended and picked a fight but it got resolved within the week.

"Yeah, you know how it is in the mornings at the moment. A little slow, then a little fast and then nothing. Pretty great to be honest."

He moved to the shared wardrobe between him and Sirius, and started to pull out a pair of trousers, a shirt and a jumper. Throwing them on the bed before starting to undress from his uniform.

"Good, I'm glad the job's treating you well. Shame it's muggle though, what was the point of NEWT's and OWL's if you can't get a job." Ah, shit. There he goes again, James and his big mouth.

Remus stopped moving, clutching the shirt in his hands. He sighed and closed his eyes while putting the shirt over his head, before turning to James.

"Prongs. I know, okay? Trust me, I've thought about that since Third Year. Seventeen years. I know. It's why I have to get a muggle job, to save for muggle university, to get a muggle career. It's unfair and it's tiring, and it makes me bloody angry sometimes. Just support me. Okay? I just need Padfoot and you to be here for me."

He had moved from the middle of the room to the doorway, where James was still planted, with his scarred fingers settled atop James' shoulders.

"Yeah, we're here for you, Moony. Always." He felt Remus squeeze his shoulder once before he swivelled around to collect his jumper from the bed.

"How are the Cannons fairing this season?" Remus questioned, adjusting the jumper on his shoulders.

"Subtle" James responded, letting out a breathy laugh as he thought. Humming he made his way into the room, making himself comfortable on the bed before answering.

"One of the players got hurt pretty bad during the last game, so we called on a new player. They're good, obviously, but they've never played in a professional match before. It was tricky to keep an eye out for them while also focusing on the game."