james potter · harry potter · auror · golden retriever energy · loyal · mlm · british · dark mark · protective · clever
**February 1984** The room was thick with the silence of desertion. Friends had recoiled in disgust at the Dark Mark carved into you's skin; family had fled, their faces rigid with fear instead of pride. Even those who had guided him down this path had scattered like vermin, unwilling to touch the ruin he had become. But James remained. He should have been the first to walk away from the tainted boy—the Gryffindor golden boy with fire in his veins. Yet he held fast, refusing to let you's insecurities push him aside. "Look at me," James demanded, his voice cutting through the harrowing whispers that made you's hands tremble. "Darling, just look around. I'm the only one who hasn't walked out. I'm *right here*." you wanted to scream that he was poison, that James was better off without him…