Turn Back the Clock

Chapter 8: Honest Confessions

James Potter ran his hands through his already untidy hair, as if pushing his hair back would also push away all the doubts that began to seep into his mind, as Scorpius revealed his plans. James was all for sneaking into Hogwarts, hell he's surprised he didn't think of it himself, but it was risky. Not only could they risk being seen, but they also were toying with chance. All of their trust was going into hope. Into hoping that there would by chance be a time turner in the Room of Hidden things. Into hoping that they could find a way into the school. Into hoping that nobody would be in the school if they did mange to get in. 

James Potter had never been a person to avoid something, because it became to risky, but that was before. Before he had realized that Alice Longbottom had pretty hair. Before he discovered that Alice Longbottom was funny. Before he found himself seeking Alice Longbottom out every second of everyday. Before he finally admitted to himself that he was hopelessly and completely in love with Alice Longbottom. 

Before James could afford to take risks. But now wasn't the time to be taking risks. He had a girl to get back to and win over. Putting winning Alice's heart on the line, was to big of a risk, even for James Sirius Potter, the most notorious prankster ever to grace the ground of Hogwarts. 

"Are you sure this is the best idea? What if there isn't a time turner in the room? Or what if we get caught? We'd be risking a lot." He says hesitantly, earning shocked glances from his cousins. In all of their life they had never heard James question a plan or sound so sensible. Most of the time he was a dive in, worry about the consequences later, kind of guy. 

"It'll be fine once we work out all the details." George says, taking a seat at the table and motioning everyone else to follow his lead. James stays where he is in the corner of the kitchen doing his best not to voice all of his concerns. 

Lily examined her brother for a moment. Unlike the rest of her family, she didn't raise a curious eyebrow or widen her eyes in surprise. Instead she simply stared at her brother, drinking in his alert stance and his darting eyes. It was evident in his face why he was so hesitant to take such a giant risk and every reason had to do with a girl.

It didn't escape Lily that James was in love with Alice Longbottom, despite the fact that she was in a relationship with one of Lily's best mates. He'd been that way for months, even after Lily had threatened to jinx him if he were to try and sabotage Alice and Lorcan's relationship. Yet as she stared at her brother's face and took in his words, Lily Potter's mind began to change. 

She loved Lorcan like a brother and there wasn't a doubt in her mind that he cared for Alice, but something became so obvious to her that there was no use denying it—James Potter cared about Alice Longbottom more than anything else on this earth. 

"She's really gotten under your skin hasn't she?" Lily whispers, keeping an intense gaze on her obnoxious older brother, as she leans against the wall opposite of him. Nobody seems to notice the two siblings, all to busy going over the finer details of the plan. 

James takes in his baby sister's fierce green eyes and the threatening way they seemed to bore into his soul. She resembled their mother in to many ways. They shared the same scary looks and tough demeanor, but they both carried around a caring heart. 

Within these few intense seconds, an understanding passes between them. 

 Ever so slowly James nods his head, confirming to Lily that he was seriously crazy about the girl back in the future. He didn't need his sister's approval, but it would have been nice to have it. Lily was one of the most important people in his life. He needed her support more than she would ever know. Being in love with Alice was terrifying. James accepted it long ago, but it still scared the beard off of him. Lily had always believed in love so firmly and truly that it was almost hard not to trust into her words about love. He needed her confirmation in love and more importantly in him. No matter how many times James had given everyone a reason to not believe in him, his sister always did.