Sweet Emotion (James)

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina had made her way into Hogsmeade that Saturday with a few friends and an agenda. Her mothers’ birthday was in a week and she had heavily hinted that she really wanted some Honeydukes dark chocolate fudge. Since her sisters had already chosen their presents for her, Irina had volunteered to pick some up during this visit. She wondered vaguely if Niko had decided to come into Hogsmeade as she had suggested in her letters, but he had not responded to her. Perhaps he was trying to surprise her; Irina felt a little relieved that she had not made plans to meet Dan this trip. That would be super awkward if her brother found just the two of them together; she didn’t even know what was really going on with that yet, and adding her brother to the mix was just terrifying.

Walking past the Three Broomsticks, Irina happened to glance in and see a familiar curly head. Dan’s. “You go on I’ll catch up,” she told her friends as she slowed to a stop. Peering in through the window, her heart nearly stopped when she saw who he was with - Niko, her big brother. They seemed to be having a serious conversation; her curiosity was peaking. What were they talking about? Irina debated for a good five minutes before realizing that other people were giving her funny looks. She probably did look strange, standing there creeping into the window. Making up her mind, she took a deep breath, opened the door to the Three Broomsticks...and promptly ran into someone. “Oof! I’m sorr-” she started to mutter distractedly, then looked up to see who it was. Instantly, her tone went from distracted to delighted as she saw it was none other than James Potter. “James!” she squealed, throwing her arms around him happily. “Oh my gosh it’s so good to see you! How are you? How’s Rory, how’s everything? It’s been too long!” she gabbed as she let go of her friend.

@jams


@daniel
@jill9 THREADCEPTION

[Deleted]

James had been wandering around Hogsmeade with no particular task or place in mind. Not having a job wasn't the worst thing, but it wasn't the best thing either. James had a lot of time to spend at home with his mother as she regained her memory yet he had a lot of free time to do... well, nothing. So he found himself at Hogsmeade, thinking maybe he would run into a familiar face or two.

So far, there had been no luck. James had ended up at the Three Broomsticks and ordered a butterbeer and after he had finished, he decided to go browse around some shops. So he got up to leave the pub, as it was getting a tad crowded. When he reached the door, however, he found that he had bumped right into someone. The person began to apologize but stopped and when James got a good look at them after the initial shock, a smile spread across his face. "Irina Krum," he responded with a grin, returning her hug. He chuckled at the questions she began to ask him. "I'm good. So's Rory," he shrugged happily. "Haven't been too busy though. How 'bout yourself? How's your brother?"

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina smiled happily as James responded that he and Rory were doing well. “I’m so glad to hear that,” she told him. She and Rory had ended up getting close the last few months before graduation, and they still corresponded via owl from time to time. She knew Rory had the Lestrange attached to her name, but Irina was never one to judge someone from their surname. “Do you want to head over to Honeydukes with me? I need to get my mums’ birthday present and she craves their dark chocolate fudge,” she suggested, jerking her head in the direction of Hogsmeade.

She cast a quick glance at Niko and Dan before turning back to James. “Niko is doing well, he’s over there with Daniel Hoh, from Durmstrang you know, but they seem to be having a pretty serious conversation, so let’s not disturb them,” she said quickly, wanting to get away. She heard Dan cry out in pain and paused, concerned, but knew better than to go over there. “I’ll let him know I saw you though,” she told James encouragingly as they walked away from the Three Broomsticks. “So how is life in the adult world? Anything I should know before heading there after this year?” she asked with a laugh.

@jams

[Deleted]

James was so happy that so many of his friends were able to look past Natalia's last name and see her for what she really was: a good, kind, and caring person. James knew then that Nat would never hurt a fly, and he had tried to convinced everyone of that but some others were not so easily convinced. He was glad there were people like Irina, though, that didn't care for last names and actually saw the good in people. "She'll be happy you asked about her," he smiled. The Gryffindor alum's eyes lit up then at the mention of Honeyduke's. He hadn't been since he graduated. "Who would I be to turn down a trip to Honeyduke's!?"

The Potter craned his neck a little to look over and, sure enough, see Irina's brother and another fellow deep in conversation. Daniel Hoh. The name sounded familiar, but James couldn't put a face to it. When James heard the guy Niko was talking to let out a howl of pain, James's head once again snapped in their direction momentarily. Whatever was going on, it certainly looked like James shouldn't get in the middle of it. He decided not to ask what was going with her brother. Instead, James followed her away from the pub and let out a chuckle. "Well, right now for me it's a little boring," he shrugged. "I decided to take a year off before heading out and getting a job. After last year and everything... the stress of thinking about a career was a little much." He managed a small smile. The worst was over, right?

Irina Rose Krum
(Puck adopted Aurora and changed her name to Natalia so when James refers to his lova he will now call her Nat instead of Rory, but Rory still works I think. c:)

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina was relieved that James had decided not to go over to Niko and Dan; she was sure Niko would at least mention that he’d run into him over dinner the next day, and if anything was that serious he would tell them. At least, she hoped he would; the two elder Krum siblings had always been close, but sometimes it felt like the day Niko left for Quidditch training there was a bit more than just distance between the two. With Tania’s anxiety attacks, and being able to appreciate Ripley’s more carefree attitude, Rina found herself to be getting much closer with her sisters this year. Not that she minded, she loved her sisters dearly; but it was still a little sad to feel that her and Niko were growing apart. She didn’t think that would be mended if he ever found out about her and Dan…

“I’d heard you had decided to take a year off - good for you! I think gap years are important; we have the rest of our lives to be in careers, and I think it’s rather smart to make sure you’re choosing the right one,” Irina found herself saying aloud. She had no intention of following this particular path; she’d wanted to be a cursebreaker since she’d met the old History of Magic professor when she started her second year. It had been that which made her take Arithmancy, even though she wasn’t particularly fond of the subject - she had been told to be a Cursebreaker you needed it, so she persevered. Maybe twelve was too young to think of what you wanted to do in life, but her passion had been unwavering the past five years. Now all that was left was to tell her parents. “What do you think you’ll do? Maybe travel the world?” she asked James.

@jams

[Deleted]

James chuckled as Irina mentioned she had heard James was going to take a year off. "Oh, really?" He said through a small smile. It was funny how fast word spread at Hogwarts. Maybe Lily had told her? "Word travels fast, then, I guess." It wasn't something James was particularly proud of, skipping a year, but after all the things he had gone through last year... the stress of choosing a career had proven far too much. He didn't want to become a Quidditch player anymore like he had always wanted to, yet he didn't want a job in the Ministry or as an Auror, even if it would make his father proud. It all became too much.

The Gryffindor alum stuffed his hands in his pockets as he followed the Krum girl, shrugging slightly as he did so. "I'm not sure yet," he admitted. "That would be nice, though." He added, a small smile appearing on his face. "Though, I don't think I'd want to do that by myself just yet. I dunno. I feel like there's a lot going on here right now and I wouldn't want to leave just yet. Ya know?" James figured he didn't have to mention the tournament and all that to Irina. Smiling wider, James looked at the dark haired Gryffindor. "But what about you? Do you know what you want to do after school yet?"

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Noticing his amused look, Irina smiled. “Lily told me when I saw her and your mum over the summer. You were out with Nat when I stopped by but it was when we all went to Wales for a week,” she told him, thinking fondly back on her trip with James’ sister. They had found a strange stone tablet that seemed to hold magical powers, but they had copied the runes onto parchment and brought it back for the Ancient Runes professor to transcribe rather than bring the entire thing back. “Well if you do travel the world, make sure you stop in at my grandparents house in Bulgaria; they still remember you from that summer a few years ago,” she said with a laugh.

Rina’s expression turned determined when James mentioned there was a lot going on at Hogwarts this year. He had not needed to speak it outloud; he meant the tournament. “I’ve entered, of course. The daughter of Viktor Krum would have been a ridicule if she hadn’t,” she said with a mirthless laugh. “The truth is...I want to be chosen. I want to finally give myself a chance to show I’m not just Viktor Krum’s daughter. My dad came in third place, second I suppose if you count the Hogwarts tie, but I plan on winning if I’m champion,” she told him, a fierce gleam in her eye. She looked over at him curiously; she had seen Al put his name in the Goblet but Lily had obviously been too young, much to her chagrin. She wondered if he knew about Al though. “Has Al mentioned if he was going to enter?” she asked casually.

@jams

[Deleted]

A look of rememberance spread across his face when Irina mentioned Lily. "Ohhhh, yeah, Lil had told me about that," he said with a little nod. "How was your trip? I know Mum and Lil enjoyed it." He grinned, happy at the thought of his mother being happy again. It had been a rough year for the Potter household. James's smile only widened when Irina said her grandparents remembered him. "Really? Well, then, I'll have to pay them a visit then! Gives me a good excuse to go to Bulgaria."

James's mouth turn in a half smile at Irina's words. He knew what it was like being the child of an old champion, or in both of their cases a parent of celebrity. Viktor Krum was still a well-known household name. After all, he was one of the first youngest Seekers ever. He knew exactly how she felt, wanting to prove herself. "I know what you mean," he said, his tone much more casual now at the change of subject to a more serious one. "It certainly isn't easy having a name to live up to." He added. Though, James supposed he had always coped with the pressure a lot easier than Albus did. And just as James thought of his brother, Irina seemed to do the same as she asked about him. "Oh," James said, thinking for a moment. Truthfully, he hadn't spoken to Albus since he had gone back to school. "I... I actually don't know," he said slowly, feeling only somewhat ashamed that he didn't know this piece of information. Then again, it wasn't like it was completely unknown that Albus and James weren't the closest of siblings.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina smiled at James; she knew the Potter family had had a very rough year with Ginny’s memory loss. She had been fun to be around though, it hadn’t been strange to be on a trip with both Lily and her mother. Ginny was far easier to talk to than Elena Krum either way. “Your mum is amazing, truly,” she said. She wasn’t sure how she’d react to someone in her family losing their memories of her; she imagined it must have been terribly difficult and lonely for the matriarch. Smirking, she retorted “You lived up to your grandfathers name plenty,” and laughed. James and his group of friends had been known as the new Marauders; they had even included a female in Abby Shacklebolt. “How is Abby by the way? I’ve lost contact with her,” she asked him a bit wistfully. Abby had been a lot of fun to be around in college; she had definitely helped Rina break out of her shell, perhaps in more ways than Rina even knew.

She reached out and squeezed his shoulder affectionately. “Are you alright?” she asked him. It was no secret that Al and James were not on the best of terms, and while Irina squabbled with her siblings, it was nothing like the two of them. They were so different from each other; perhaps that had a lot to do with it. “Lily...she told me that he moved out before summer was over,” she admitted quietly.

@jams

[Deleted]

James smiled when Irina said how amazing his mother was. He knew that, of course, it was just nice to hear that others did too. The eldest Potter's smile only widened (slightly more smug-like,) when Irina also said he had lived up to his namesake. "Thanks, Ri," he grinned. "That's the only thing I'd proudly own up to." James's face fell slightly when Irina asked about Abby then. "Abby is..." He wasn't sure what to say. Ever since she had come to his house that night to tell him about Theo, she hadn't seemed entirely herself. "She's busy. Auror training is keeping her pretty distracted. But Finn's with her, to make sure she doesn't get too distracted." He tried to sound positive; he didn't want to worry Irina, too.

Feeling Irina's familiar, friendly touch comforted James a bit. She certainly would understand what a touchy subjet Albus could sometimes be for him. He let out a sigh. "Yeah. He did," he nodded just once. "He and Dad... I think they got into it." James shrugged. He could never be too sure with them. "No matter what I say... I can't ever seem to get Al to see reason. It's like he sets his mind on something and it has to happen his way, on his terms." James knew that wasn't a terrible thing but... the last thing he wanted was his brother moving out just when their relationship was getting better.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina laughed. "It's probably a great thing to have a friend in training with you.  Keep each other on their toes and the likes," she commented.  Finn and Abby were probably having a great time together; she also knew Rai Stughtattle was another Auror-in-Training.  If she didn't want to be a Cursebreaker so badly, she probably would have considered an Auror as a career too.  However that would have meant continuing on in Herbology, which as many people knew was not Rina's strong suit.  Give her potions and history and adventure any way.

Irina frowned at James talk of Albus; she had noticed Al had seemed a bit...well, surlier than usual.  Of course that was when he was on his own; if he was in the company of the Flint girl then he probably was the happiest person alive.  That was love though, she supposed.  "Are you still going to be moving into Grimmauld Place soon?  Maybe Al would be happy there living with you and Nat.  Though he probably would consider himself imposing on the lovebirds," she suggested, adding in the last part as a tease.  She knew James had a rocky relationship with his brother; she knew that her and Nikolai got into awful fights sometimes.  Perhaps being away from the famous Harry Potter could give their relationship a good solid chance.


@jams


ooc: HAHA I SAID COLLEGE INSTEAD OF HOGWARTS.  I'm keeping it

[Deleted]

James nodded, smiling a little. "Yeah. So, I'm not too worried about her." It was only half of a lie. James was worried for Abby, but he knew that she was safe at work. She was surrounded by friends and people who had watched her grown up. Even his own father, so he could certainly give his dad a heads up, couldn't he? But he couldn't let Irina know. It wasn't his secret to tell.

James gave a little shrug. "I dunno. Dad hasn't officially... signed over the rights or anything, so I don't know if he still plans to give it to me without a job of my own or what," he said. James had always secretly hoped he would inherit the home of his namesake... it had always been one of his favorite places, growing up. And now that he was with Natalia, that just solidified his reason for a place of his own more. "I haven't really talked to Nat about living together but... I would love it. And I would definitely extend that invititation to Al. Merlin knows the place is big enough..." But Irina was right, Al probably wouldn't want to "impose." "I don't know how he'll feel, though," he shrugged. "You know how that goes." He said with a little roll of his eyes before putting a small half smile back onto his face.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina didn’t know what it was, but something in the tone of James’ voice made her not quite believe him. Still, if there was something going on with Abby, it was highly likely that if James knew he wasn’t allowed to tell anyone. That, or he didn’t think it was his place to say anything, which Irina understood. If her and Dan’s….whatever they were, went further, then she would want to be the one to tell her siblings, and him Louisa. Some secrets were better left kept.

“Well, I remember you all talking about it a few summers ago; has he said anything to you about getting a job before signing over the rights?” Irina asked him curiously. She could definitely see that as a parent technique to make sure their children were earning a living, but James wasn’t the first person that came to mind when she thought of laziness. He just needed time to figure out his purpose and direction, that’s all. “Though, even if Al said he didn’t want to impose, it would probably be good for him. If he and your dad are fighting so much they probably should take some time to live separately,” she reasoned. Nikolai had just purchased his first house; though her father and he didn’t fight so much, their relationship was most likely strengthening for it.

@jams

[Deleted]

James shrugged and shook his head just a little bit. "Not... really? No," he admitted. "I guess I'll just feel... better about taking it if I did have a job, ya know?" It was funny. If his dad had offered him the house a year ago, James would have taken it without a second thought. But after meeting Natalia, and just really turning over a new leaf, James had more of a conscience. James shrugged once more. "I hope he'll see it that way." Was all he replied with, along with a small smile.

James straightened up then, putting on a wider smile. "Well, hey," he started. "Aren't you glad we never went through with the whole... heh, you know," he chuckled. "You seem really happy, Ri." He smiled genuinely at her.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina nodded with a half smile; James was making perfect sense of course, which was a nice change. Not that James didn’t have common sense pre-Natalia but he was definitely less…..mature wasn’t the word she was looking for, but less careful perhaps. He’d gained quite a reputation as a ladies’ man his final years at school, though the two of them had managed to be friends, except for that one time.


Irina felt a light blush creep on her cheeks as James happened to mention exactly what she had been thinking. “I am, no offense to you of course. But it was….heat of the moment, I was upset and you comforted me. We stopped before things went too far,” she said slowly. She remembered that day; she’d asked out a Ravenclaw boy who she thought had been flirting with her for several weeks, only to be resoundingly turned down. She had felt quite humiliated and James happened to have been the first person to find her. Comforting had been taken to a new level, and they had been almost fully disrobed before both seemed to have come to a mutual realization that this was not the right thing to be doing. Surprisingly, they hadn’t been that awkward around each other after, which Irina appreciated. “I am happy, and I think I’m going to just get happier and happier,” she said, thinking of Dan with a smile.

@jams