The New Marauders

The Stag

In the warm glow of the Gryffindor common room, James sat near the fireplace with his sketchbook balanced on his knee. The flames crackled softly, casting flickering shadows across the room, and the other new Marauders—Edward, Nate, Sam, and Luke—were scattered around, either doing homework or chatting lazily after the first day back.

James was quiet, lost in thought as he drew a picture of a stag, the lines of the creature graceful and strong as if it were running through a forest. The song "Obviously" by McFly played softly in his head, filling the silence in his mind, and soon, without realizing it, James started singing the words under his breath.

"Obviously, she's out of my league, but how can I win, she keeps draggin' me in..."

His voice was quiet at first, but after about twenty seconds, he started singing a little louder, getting lost in the song. As he sang, his eyes remained fixed on the sketch, the image of the stag becoming more detailed, more alive. His thoughts kept drifting back to Mia, and he felt that familiar twinge of uncertainty.

Suddenly, the portrait hole swung open, and Mia Longbottom, followed by Sophie Ellis, entered the common room. The soft sound of their laughter and footsteps filled the space, but James didn’t notice. He was too caught up in his drawing and singing.

Mia paused mid-step, her eyes locking on James as she heard him sing the lyrics, her curiosity piqued. She exchanged a glance with Sophie, who smiled knowingly.

"Nice singing, Potter," Mia’s voice cut through the air.

James froze, his hand stopping mid-sketch. His heart skipped a beat, and he slowly looked up from his drawing, wide-eyed, to see Mia standing there with a playful smile. Sophie stood behind her, also grinning.

"Oh, uh… hey, Mia," James stammered, his face flushing a little as he awkwardly shifted in his seat.

Mia stepped closer, noticing the sketch in his lap. Her eyes softened as she took in the image of the stag, then she raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why the stag, James?"

James glanced down at his drawing, his fingers lightly brushing over the lines. "A stag has always been my favorite animal since I was a kid," he explained, his voice a bit steadier now. "My dad’s Patronus is a stag, and, well… my grandfather was an Animagus. He could transform into one. It’s kind of a family thing."

Mia’s expression softened even more at that. "That’s pretty amazing," she said genuinely, before glancing at him with a teasing smile. "But what about the song? Why Obviously?"

James froze again, this time for about five seconds, mentally scrambling for an answer. His heart raced, knowing full well that the song had been playing because of her. He swallowed nervously before finally blurting out, “Uh, it’s… it’s my favorite song. Yeah. Love McFly. Big fan.”

Mia raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a small smile, but she didn’t push further. "Right. Well, it’s a good song," she said, clearly amused but also a little flattered.

James breathed out a quiet sigh of relief as she and Sophie moved to sit on the other side of the room, chatting amongst themselves. The new Marauders, meanwhile, had been watching the whole thing unfold, trying not to laugh at James’s awkwardness. Nate leaned over, nudging James with a grin.

"You handled that well," Nate whispered.

James rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t help but smile. He looked back down at his drawing, his thoughts drifting once again as "Obviously" replayed in his mind, but this time with a tiny glimmer of hope.

******

It was a peaceful afternoon by the Black Lake. The water shimmered in the soft sunlight, reflecting the towering trees and distant Hogwarts castle. A light breeze stirred the leaves, and the quiet murmur of students chatting in the distance filled the air. James sat alone on the grass near the lake’s edge, completely absorbed in his sketchbook. His headphones were in, and a quiet hum escaped his lips as he listened to music, a tune softly vibrating from his chest.

In his lap, a detailed drawing was slowly taking form. Four animals—each imbued with a life of its own—covered the page. A majestic stag, proud and strong, stood beside a large, shaggy black dog. Next to them was a fearsome wolf, its eyes intense, and in the corner, a small rat scurried, its shape smaller yet intricately drawn.

James focused intently, his pencil moving smoothly across the paper. He had heard countless stories about these animals—the Animagus forms of the original Marauders—from his dad. They were legends to him, symbols of adventure, friendship, and loyalty. Now, as he sketched them, he felt a deeper connection to their legacy, almost as if he were part of it.

Unbeknownst to James, Harry had been walking by the lake, catching sight of his son sitting alone. Curious, he quietly approached, noticing how lost James was in his drawing and his humming. A small, nostalgic smile tugged at the corners of Harry’s mouth. He recognized the animals instantly—the Marauders. He had told James about them long ago, about his father, James, Sirius, Remus, and even Peter. But seeing his son so focused on bringing them to life on paper stirred something deeper in Harry.

He came closer, but James didn’t notice. His music drowned out the world around him, and he was too immersed in perfecting the fine details of the wolf’s fur. His humming grew a little louder as the music carried him away.

Harry stood there for a moment, watching. He marveled at how much his son had grown—how much he reminded him of his father and Sirius at the same time. But there was something uniquely James about him too. He was creative, thoughtful, and clearly inheriting the Marauder spirit in his own way.

Eventually, Harry stepped closer and gently tapped James on the shoulder. Startled, James pulled out one of his earbuds, blinking up at his dad.

“Oh—Dad!” he exclaimed, a little flustered. He quickly closed his sketchbook, as if he hadn’t wanted anyone to see.

Harry chuckled softly. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I just noticed you were pretty focused on something.” He nodded toward the sketchbook, though James still held it tightly closed. “Marauders, right?”

James hesitated, then smiled sheepishly, opening the book again to show his dad. “Yeah,” he admitted. “I… I just thought I’d try to draw them. You know, Grandpa and Sirius, Remus… and even Pettigrew.” He pointed to the rat, his tone more neutral on the last name.

Harry sat down beside him on the grass, taking in the drawing with a look of quiet pride. “You did a great job,” he said, his voice warm. “They’d be proud to see this.”

James glanced up, surprised by the emotion in his dad’s voice. “You think so?”

Harry nodded. “Absolutely.” He pointed to the stag. “That’s your granddad right there. He would’ve loved this. And Sirius… he’d probably say it makes him look too serious.” Harry laughed softly. “But they’re more than just drawings to you, aren’t they?”

James looked down at his sketchbook again, running a hand over the paper. “Yeah… I guess it’s just a way to feel connected to them. To you, too.”

Harry’s heart swelled with a mixture of pride and bittersweet emotion. He placed a hand on James’s shoulder. “You’re already part of their legacy, James. But you’re making your own as well.”

James smiled, feeling the weight of his dad’s words. He glanced back down at the sketch, and for the first time, he saw more than just animals on a page—he saw the bond that tied him to his dad, to the Marauders, and to the future he was carving out for himself.

For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence by the Black Lake, the wind carrying the sounds of Hogwarts life around them. Then, with a playful smile, Harry said, “So, what were you listening to?”

James grinned, pulling out the other earbud and handing it to his dad. “It’s McFly. You ever heard of them?”

Harry took the earbud, smiling. “I think I’ve heard a song or two.”

As they sat together, the song continued, filling the quiet space between them with the gentle hum of shared memories, and James felt more connected to his dad—and the past—than ever before.