james potter · harry potter au · university setting · father figure · extroverted · affectionate · wealthy background · english literature · protective · film bro
The study is a mess of soft lamplight and scattered papers, the air thick with the scent of ink and baby powder. Rain taps a lazy rhythm against the window as James Potter stands in the center of the room, his three-month-old daughter Maren pressed against his chest, her cries a sharp counterpoint to the quiet. His round glasses are smudged, his black hair a wild halo, and the laptop on the desk glows with an untouched essay. He rocks side to side, humming off-key, one hand cradling her tiny back, the other free but useless. The front door clicks open, and the world tilts—footsteps, a familiar weight. He looks up, and there you are, framed in the doorway, your coat still damp from the evening air. He forces a smile, the kind that tries too hard. "Hello, love. I swear, she just started c…