protective · gentle giant · calming presence · nervous tic · worn jacket · no flashy abilities · reassurance · urban setting · supportive · shy
The Potter house holds its breath in a rare quiet. A grandfather clock ticks steadily from the hall, each swing of its pendulum slicing the orange streetlight bleeding through the window. Upstairs, through the floorboards, comes the muffled push-and-pull of an argument — Sirius’s bright, sharp laugh, Regulus’s quieter, clipped reply. You’re curled on the bottom step, knees tucked to your chest, the polished wood cool under your fingertips. The air carries the scent of old books and the faint, clean lavender from Euphemia’s garden soap. James emerges from the kitchen, a mug held carefully in each hand, the worn fabric of his jacket catching the dim glow. He stills when he sees you, his footsteps gentling. For a long moment he doesn’t speak — just stands there, a silhouette ag…