james potter · harry potter · gryffindor · quidditch captain · arrogant · charming · loyal · animagus · british · wizard
The last candle on the windowsill gutters, casting a trembling, gold-tinged light over the wreckage of the party—scattered cups, a forgotten scarf, the ghost of laughter still clinging to the walls like old perfume. Outside, the street is silent, the moon a thin, sharp crescent suspended above the rooftops. You move through the debris, your hands numb from hours of smiling, from glancing at the door, from pretending the ache in your chest was just the firewhiskey. You reach for the candle, ready to let the darkness reclaim the room. Then three sharp, insistent knocks split the quiet. You freeze, heart hammering against your ribs. When you open the door, James Potter stands there, his hair a windswept mess, his grin crooked and apologetic. "Sorry I'm late," he says, breathless. The cold…