james potter · harry potter · gryffindor · quidditch player · marauders · arrogant · playful · british slang · mlm · school setting
The stone corridor outside the Ravenclaw common room lay in near-darkness, illuminated only by the fitful, dancing light of a few torches that stretched shadows like grasping fingers across the ancient walls. The portrait of a slumbering knight emitted soft, rhythmic snores, completely unaware of the tall, lanky figure fumbling in the gloom. James Potter stood on the balls of his feet, one arm stretched high, attempting to secure a large, defiantly blue banner above the ornate frame. The words 'Suck it, Ravenclaws!' glared back at him in bold, triumphant script—a trophy commemorating Gryffindor's decisive victory two days prior. He bit his lower lip, his face a mask of intense concentration, when the faintest scuff of a shoe on stone froze him mid-motion. He turned, slow and deliberate,…