Expectations

James Sirius Potter

James Sirius Potter hated his name. He hated being named after pranksters. He hated being compared to them. Why couldn't he be his own person? He wasn't his grandfather, loud, funny, and attracted to a redhead (okay he was attracted to a redhead but that's all they truly had in common) . Nor was he Uncle Sirius, loud and, flirtatious. He wasn't a Gryffindor, reckless and brave. 

All he wanted to do was fade away into the background. He wanted to get lost in the pages of books, muggle, magical, fiction, or non-fiction. Maybe one day he could publish a book. He'd like that. He wouldn't fade into the background but if he got a kid smiling because of what he wrote it'd be worth it. 

He hated himself every time he picked on Albus. He hated pulling a prank. He loathed quidditch. He was supposed to be in Ravenclaw. But he didn't do what he wanted. Why? Because that was what was expected of him. He was expected to be the Gryffindor quidditch star that fell in love with a red head that hated him for pulling prank after prank.  So he did all of those things. 

When NEWTs rolled around in seventh year he let his inner Ravenclaw out to play and aced everything. Graduation was the last time he saw his parents. He hugged them both, teased Albus, and hugged Lily as well. Then he walked over to Lilith. 

He dropped his mask and flashed her a small, shy, smile. He asked her to a cup of coffee and, to his eternal happiness, she said yes. Over that cup of coffee he showed his true self. The boy who wanted to be known as Jay. Just Jay, not Jamie, James, James-Sirius, or even Potter.  Simply Jay the bookworm and writer. 

When Lilith asked him why he acted the way he did in school all he did was answer with one word, "Expectations." She didn't immediately understand but after a few months she did.

Over ten years Jay and Lilith lived as muggles for the most part. They did use magic to help manage their home but they didn't rely on it. Both of them became professors at universities and published a few books. Jay fell out of contact with his family, he hated it but he could never bring himself to put his mask back on.  So he let it be.

When James learned of his family some ten years after graduation he never cried. All he did was take a shaky breath and say, "Harry never should have named us after dead people. The names are cursed." 

A.N: That's it. The first of my stories. Please point out any errors or ways to improve, I'd greatly appreciate it.