Starstruck

23. Brother Brother

That was it. Albus had given up with his lousy family, especially his brother! What made James Potter think he could stick his nose in wherever he wanted to- into situations which plainly repelled attention. Whatever it was, James must have been born in absence of any sensitivity. His mother seemed to read his mind immediately as she gritted her teeth as if chewing something particularly unpleasant.

 “You are SO like Ron…” she sighed in a tone which clearly displayed defeat. This triggered off a set of reactions; Ron scoffing and glancing at Harry, Albus and Rose simultaneously grinning in agreement and James immediately setting up a wall of protest in his defence.

“He said he’d come to see her off. And then he told me to go away. He’s snogging her!” James added as if he had not made himself clear the first time around. Yet again, the desired effect was not recieved. On the contrary, oblivious to everyone's despair Lily whispered ecstatically “Oh, it would be lovely if they got married. “Teddy would really be part of the family then."

If only Lily, if only. Often Albus had found in his childhood (particularly at times where James had found it extremely amusing to tip spiders down his back, or dye Albus's hair bright blue with George's 'no-stain glow in the dark neon hairdye' in his sleep at the age of 6) he had wished he could swap his brother for Teddy Lupin, yet there seemed to be no spell invented for instant removal of human beings. Shame....

But then again, that was what made James James, and Albus would be completely lost without his pest of a brother, however much they did not see eye to eye. But he wished with all his heart that at least, Teddy may end up married to Victoire and be a real part of the family! That would just be beyond words, and even if there was only a glimpse of hope of this occurence he would still grab it by both hands and hold it close, wishing. But, Victoire was only 17 and chances were looking pretty slim for the near future. No, not just slim. Impossible.

“He already comes round for dinner about four times a week,” remarked Harry, a note of humour in his tones. “Why don’t we just invite him to live with us and have it done with?”’ Lily, unaware of the sarcasm squeeled and clapped her hands together, her begs getting lost in the rowdy chatter as the words "oh please dad please" and "Teddy could sleep in my room, I wouldn't mind" floated up into the train station's polluted air and got lost in the muddle of words and voices. Albus wouldn't be the one to dull her shine, so let her continue with a prickle of guilt.

Teddy Lupin, more than just a family friend, currently lived with his grandmother Andromeda and arrived at the Potters' household multiple times a week to enjoy the company of his 'cousins'. Albus, James and Lily all loved him to bits, and besides it wouldn't make much difference if he came to stay for good except for the sleeping arrangements as he practically lived there already.

“Yeah!” cried James enthusiastically, unintentionally mimicking Lily's ecstacy as the grin lit up his face. “I don’t mind sharing with Al- Teddy could have my room.” There was a pause. For a moment not a sound was uttered until Harry and Ron simultaniously looked the other in the eye and burst into sniggers fo laughter, despite the exasperated glances from both Hermione and Ginny. Albus’s green jade eyes however widened in horror- no way was he sharing his room with JAMES; the next 'harmless' prank would most probably involve accidently blowing his head off. 

Harry wiped away tears of laughter and replied. “No. I'm sorry but you and Al will share a room only when I want the house demolished which, at the moment, isn't top of my list. Don't worry though I'll be sure to call on you if we ever require anything to be destroyed." 

He glanced down at the battered old watch on his wrist that had once belonged to Fabien Prewett, a battered yet sturdy golden time-teller filled with odd revolving planets and shapes. Decifering the watch hands from the shapes though seemed to be second nature now for Harry however, as he gasped. “It’s nearly eleven, you’d better get on board.”

“Don’t forget to give Neville our love!” Ginny added in, directed mainly at James who'd had the pleasure of his company for the past year in Herbology classes. Albus never knew much about Neville Longbottom, except that he was an old and extremely close family friend of his parents from the Second Wizarding War. The bedtimes stories Harry had invented when Albus were younger about the war were always extremely wholesome and entertaining, but regarding their truthlessness Albus was never sure.Neville always featured heavily in them.

“Mum, I can’t give a professor love!” James argued as if explaining a simple maths problem to an incompetent child.

 “But you KNOW Neville-“ began Ginny.

“Outside, yeah, but at school he’s Professor Longbottom isn’t he? I can’t walk into Herbology and give him love…” James cut in, shaking his head at his mother’s foolishness and venting his feelings by aiming a kick at Albus. Typical. What was he saying before about loving James even though they argued? What could he have been thinking.