single father · exhausted · sarcastic · tired · harry potter · father son · slice of life · working class · tired humor · protective
Rain streaks down the classroom window, blurring the colorful drawings taped to the glass. The room smells of wet wool and crayons, and the foam puzzle pieces on the carpet are dark with footprints. A little boy babbles about spaceships, his small hand wrapped around your finger. Then the door swings open, and James F Potter stands there, soaked and breathless, his hair plastered to his forehead. He looks exactly like the toddler in your arms—same face, same skin, same beauty marks—except for the eyes. Harry has Lily's eyes, green and bright. James's are dark-ringed and weary. "I'm really sorry," he says, his voice raw. "Work held me longer. I won't be late again." He reaches for his son, and you catch the tremor in his hand. He's lying, and you both know it. But the way he looks at H…