The New Marauders

A very moody Summer

The early morning sun filtered through the kitchen windows of the Potter household, casting a warm glow over the room. The smell of breakfast lingered in the air, but the peacefulness was interrupted by raised voices. James and Albus were standing by the table, mid-argument, their expressions tense.

“I’m telling you, Albus, it’s none of your business!” James snapped, his face flushed with irritation as he tried to brush past his younger brother.

Albus, arms crossed and a defiant look in his eyes, stood his ground. “It is my business when you’re acting all weird around everyone! You’ve been in a mood ever since the Yule Ball. And it’s because of Mia, isn’t it?”

James shot him a glare, his jaw tight. “Drop it, Albus. It’s not your place to stick your nose in.”

Before Albus could retort, the sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway. Harry and Ginny walked into the kitchen, clearly sensing the tension between their sons. Harry raised an eyebrow as he glanced between them, while Ginny shot them both a look that said she wasn’t going to tolerate another early morning argument.

“What’s going on in here?” Ginny asked, folding her arms as she leaned against the counter. “It’s barely breakfast and you two are already at each other’s throats.”

James clamped his mouth shut, his gaze fixed on the floor, but Albus wasn’t one to back down, especially now that their parents were in the room. Without thinking, he blurted out, “Mia Longbottom has a boyfriend, and James likes her!”

There was a beat of silence as the words hung in the air. James’ face turned a deep shade of red, and he shot a look of disbelief at Albus, his eyes wide with anger. “Albus!” he hissed, mortified.

Harry and Ginny exchanged glances, their surprise evident. Harry scratched the back of his neck, clearly not expecting the morning to go like this, while Ginny raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of curiosity and amusement.

“Wait,” Ginny said, her tone calm but intrigued. “Mia has a boyfriend? And James… you like her?”

James groaned, running a hand through his messy hair, completely flustered. “It’s not… I don’t… It’s complicated, alright?”

Albus smirked, feeling victorious in exposing his brother’s secret. “See? Told you.”

Harry, always one for staying level-headed, stepped in before things could escalate further. “Okay, hold on. Let’s not gang up on James here. Albus, that wasn’t really your place to say.”

Albus shrugged, though he didn’t seem too apologetic. “Someone had to.”

Ginny, meanwhile, focused on James. “So, what’s going on with Mia then? You don’t have to tell us everything, but… if you like her, maybe you should talk to her. I know it’s not easy, but trust me, it’s better than bottling it up.”

James, still red in the face, mumbled under his breath, “It doesn’t matter anymore. She’s with someone else now.”

Ginny softened, walking over to place a comforting hand on James’ shoulder. “That doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world, love. You’ve got time. And there are plenty of other girls out there.”

Harry nodded in agreement. “Yeah, besides, if she’s not the right one for you, that’s okay too. You’ll figure it out.”

James didn’t say much in response, but the tension in his shoulders eased slightly. He gave a small nod, though he was still clearly embarrassed by the whole situation.

Albus, sensing he’d stirred enough trouble for the morning, gave James a sly grin. “I’m just saying… next time don’t keep things so secretive.”