But who's keeping score? [James]

[Vivian River Jordan]

January 2022

“And that’s Snyder of Slytherin with the Quaffle. Blimey, he looks like he’s been hit in the face with one too many bludgers, hasn’t he?” Viv swiftly ignored the scalding look from their beloved Headmistress as she leaned forward to speak more clearly into the microphone. Drizzle, her beloved puffskein, was burrowed in a nest of blankets on her lap, and she could hear the puffskein purring from her cozy little spot wrapped in a spare Ravenclaw scarf. She'd never been so jealous of Drizzle in her life. And about the commentating...well really, the professors should have known what they were signing up for when she’d volunteered to be the Quidditch Commentator all those years ago. She had a reputation, after all, and a legacy to uphold. But she took the game seriously, of course she did. Her eyes carefully followed the knot of green and red players zooming towards the Gryffindor Keeper as she cleared her throat and continued. “Anyway, that’s a neat turn from Snyder as he avoids an interception, but oh! Bugger, the stupid oaf’s dropped the Quaffle.”

“Jordan,” came a warning voice in a strict tone from her left, and Viv chuckled into the mic as she rubbed her gloved hands together and shot a not-so-apologetic look over to her favorite teacher. “Sorry professor!” she said with a cheeky grin, although her attention was quickly diverted back to the match and she wasn't so sorry, at any rate. “Anyway, James Potter of Gryffindor catches it and now it’s Potter avoiding the Slytherin beaters, good dive, and shooting towards the goal posts in the other direction. Happy to see he’s remembered where they are, hasn’t been obvious he would in this match…”

It took another hour before the Snitch was finally caught, and Vivian found herself playing a balancing act as she quickly placed Drizzle on her shoulder, slid off the bench before she could be intercepted and reprimanded for her, er, unique commentating style, and downing an entire bottle of water for her parched throat as she exited the booth reserved for the commentator and the staff. Merlin, that match had gone on forever, and it was an important one too! The two teams were playing to see who would qualify for the final against Ravenclaw, so it wasn’t like she could just skive off if she felt her throat getting sore. But it was finally over, and Viv laughed to herself as she pushed past the throng of students to duck into the changing rooms. “Good game, innit?” she said cheerfully to the celebrating Gryffindor team as they punched each other playfully and pulled their Quidditch robes off to change into their soft and warm school robes. Playing Quidditch in January really was beastly. She neatly wound her way around the benches until she found her target, shooting her childhood friend her trademark mischievous smile. “But I hear the commentator was brilliant. Something about, best commentary this school’s heard in at least a decade? Maybe two, even.”

james sirius potter

[james sirius potter]

You got a new horizon

its ephemeral style

January 2022
Vivian River Jordan

It was cold, yet despite the numbness in his face and fingers, James couldn’t have asked for a better feeling. Flying was one of his favorite hobbies, and Quidditch was one of his favorite activities since he was a child. Over the cold wind, he could barely hear the familiar voice of his childhood friend, who was no doubt making quips about both teams. Nobody was safe with Vivian Jordan was commentating a House Quidditch Match. The match lasted a few hours before the snitch was finally found and caught. As James landed, he pushed his goggles up from his eyes as they sat on the top of his forward, further pushing his messy hair straight up in the front.

He high-fived his teammates and their Seeker as they celebrated and walked into the locker rooms. Immediately, he felt the warmth and the drastic change in temperature as he started to gain feeling back in his hands, feet, and face. Everyone chatted away excitedly. Students changed back into their school robes while a few wandered around getting comments for the school paper. James pulled off the goggles and set them on the bench while he changed, and when he finally pulled his school shirt on and began to button it from the bottom, he heard a familiar voice.

”Well if you find them, can you let me know? I need to bribe them to say nice things about me in the next match.” James instinctively reached for his hair as he tried to flatten it back in vain. The wind and everything had given it a life of its own. Quickly he tied his tie in a loose knot. His school uniform was far warmer than his Quidditch gear. ”So is McGonagall going to hire you permanently after you graduate?” Even though it was only halfway through his sixth year, he was having a hard time imagining what the commentary might sound like next year when she wasn’t here.

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[Vivian River Jordan]

James Potter was the darling of Hogwarts, and everybody knew it. By Vivian’s calculation, she figured she had only a small chunk of time before the changing rooms would be swarmed by eager Gryffindor fans who wanted to celebrate their win. At least there was an unspoken rule to give the players time to change first. Viv plopped herself onto the bench by James as he nudged aside his goggles and messed with his hair. At that, she only rolled her eyes and elbowed him to get more room on the bench. She knew a lot of girls found it terribly attractive when he did that, swooning on the sidelines, although personally – she’d never quite seen it. Then again, her image of James had been somewhat ruined for ages ever since they would run around together and chase after gnomes in his grandparents’ garden while covered in mud. It was impossible to see him as anything but an unofficial wayward cousin after that.

She grinned at him as he brought up the subject of bribes. “Are you questioning the dignity and integrity of the commentating booth?” she asked with a laugh, pulling off her gloves and stuffing them into her coat pocket while Drizzle hummed sleepily from her shoulder. “Because if you are, I hear she’s partial to Pepper Imps.” She played with her braids innocently, although the mischievous twist to her smile that never seemed to leave her face was still on in full force. Vivian couldn’t complain about James’s Quidditch style – he was a talented player, but he also knew how to give his audience a good show and that made her job more fun. It was easy to hype up the crowd when they were already going mad over the flashy antics of the more likeable players. At any rate, she snorted at James’s question. “You nutters? I bet McGonagall can’t wait to replace me with a ‘fair and impartial’ commentator.” Viv accompanied these words with an eye roll and dramatic air quotes, as if she couldn’t imagine what such an individual might look like. They certainly wouldn’t have her unique spirit, that’s for sure.

In all honesty, Viv couldn’t believe that she was already in her last year of Hogwarts. The school had been her whole life for seven years, and the thought of never commentating another Quidditch match again…well, it was daunting. And she couldn't deny that she was incredibly intimidated by the thought of being a werewolf alone in the big wide world. Here at Hogwarts, they'd made accommodations for her and the other afflicted students. She knew the real world wouldn't be so kind. So instead Vivian refocused her brilliant smile on James and moved Drizzle to her lap for some comfort. “Anyway, what was that neat little broom trick from the first hour? Gryffindor’s got some new moves this year,” Viv observed with an inquisitive raised eyebrow. She continued teasingly, “You’ll need it anyway, now that you’re playing the best House Team in the final soon enough.”

james sirius potter

[james sirius potter]

You got a new horizon

its ephemeral style

January 2022
Vivian River Jordan

James scooted over as the elbow dug deep into his side. The benches were built to fit second years and not tall sixth and seventh years that comprised most house teams. He grinned at the response, making a mental note to pick up more sweets during his next visit to the village. ”And for the faithful sidekick?” James asked, his eyes stopping on the small puffskein on Vivian’s shoulder. Ignoring Drizzle would have been an absolute sin, which James had learned that once before, and the creature wouldn’t acknowledge James’ existence for months until he was able to coax Drizzle’s attention with some treats one day.

His family had always extended much farther than the bonds between his blood relatives. His parents had many close friends who his grandmother had unofficially adopted. It crossed James’ mind now and then that technically Vivian was not related to any of the Weasleys or Potters but growing up side by side as they had—one would hardly know the difference. James chuckled at Vivian’s response—McGonagall was likely tired of dealing with Weasleys and Potters by now and anyone else in that social circle. ”Probably—but then the students might riot.” There was nothing like a bland commentator. Fortunately, that only happened on the rare occasion Vivian could not perform her duties. A rarity, indeed.

He didn’t bother tucking in his shirt. For now, he’d be back in the Castle soon enough, and it was the weekend. Then again, some overeager fifth-year prefect might try and comment on the school’s rules on uniforms, and James would ignore them. James had to think through the match and remember everything he did. While most people thought he planned out his moves, he honestly didn’t. Instead, preferring to act rather than think. Lily was the same, which made them good Chasers. ”Erm—you’ll have to remind me.” And as he slipped on his jacket, he paused and gave his friend a look. ”The best? You mean they are playing the best House Team.” An easy mistake to make, surely. But James’ confidence never wavered.

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[Vivian River Jordan]

Viv’s gaze was diverted as she heard a delicate sniff from the puffskein on her lap. Her hand immediately dove into Drizzle’s fur, mostly to check that her beloved pet was warm and hadn’t caught a cold from the freezing temperature outside. But no, Drizzle had her little nose turned up at James’s question what to get her from Hogsmeade, and Vivian only rolled her eyes at the puffskein’s antics. She had very particular taste about what she did and didn’t like, and was positively spoiled by the students at Hogwarts. Drizzle also had a very long memory and wouldn’t forget the last time James hadn’t given her enough attention. “Think you need a time-turner for that one, mate,” Viv commented frankly. Drizzle had a sweet tooth, but she was hard to buy. Her puffskein only confirmed that by rolling over so that it was 100% clear who she was giving the cold shoulder to.

As James gave way to her elbowing and shuffled along the bench so they could both sit comfortably, Viv felt that painful squeezing in her chest as they toed along the subject of her last year at Hogwarts. Truthfully, she hadn’t thought about it much because every time she did – well, she felt that same flutter of anxiety and fear at what it meant to be going into the real world. And was she even ready, or was this all just a massive mistake? Viv was comfortable at Hogwarts. She had her friends, endless opportunities for pranks, and she knew exactly how to sweet-talk the professors to avoid adding too much detention to her record. But outside the castle – it was a tough world, and especially for people like her. Vivian’s smile turned uncomfortable as she considered the fact, and her laugh at James’s promise that the students would revolt was slightly forced. “You’ll just have to give them a good show without my dazzling commentary to help your reputation,” she offered, gaze laser-focused on the puffskein in her lap.

But there was still a ways to go before that doomsday deadline that was going to change everything, which gave Viv some small sliver of comfort. And, she reminded herself, it didn’t have to change the most important things. She’d still see the Potters outside of school, and might even get the chance to visit Hogwarts every now and then after graduation. The castle had been standing for ages, after all, and certainly wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. So she rolled her eyes and returned James’s deadpan look with one of her own. “Oh please, our Beaters have the best intercept rates this season,” she reminded him imperiously, “And we crushed Slytherin in our last match. It’d really just be better for you to forfeit now.” Because hey, she liked James a lot – but there was no way he was standing between Ravenclaw and the Quidditch Cup in her last season at Hogwarts. They got along well personally, but Ravenclaw and Gryffindor were extremely competitive Houses and she knew the atmosphere could get ugly before such an important match. That was Quidditch, after all.

james sirius potter

[james sirius potter]

You got a new horizon

its ephemeral style

January 2022
Vivian River Jordan

Drizzle was unimpressed. It seemed that puffskeins were not only good at being cute and adorable but also at holding a grudge. Vivian did nothing to help him, though he wondered if that would have even helped. The creature was small but was not easily pushed around. ”Looks like I have my work cut out.” He replied sheepishly. Drizzle had rolled over and pretended the Potter didn’t exist now. But no matter if there was anything James Potter was better at than Quidditch, it was getting people to like him. It came naturally, really. One might wonder which parent he gained his charisma from—the stories told of his mother and father didn’t paint them as exuberant extroverts by any means.

But there was that Weasley energy duly noted if anyone ever met his Uncle George. Maybe it was just from that side. But James enjoyed being at school and activities like Quidditch. His friends were here, his family was also there and many familiar faces. His father knew so many people that it was impossible to escape them all, not that James wanted to. But then his older cousins graduated, and now Vivian was going to graduate. Things were changing, and James went with the flow despite his feelings about it. ”Won’t be the same.” He added honestly. ”But listen, I don’t want you to be sad that you won’t be able to see me fly anymore or see my wonderful face every day.” He lamented sarcastically. ”It's just another year.”

In reality, James knew he would miss Viv’s presence here and how she tried her best to keep his ego in check. James raised an eyebrow. Statistics only went so far in this game. Luck had a lot to do with it and how the stars aligned (at least according to their astronomy and divination professors). ”Of course they did. Slytherin has played terribly. They couldn’t fly their way out of a cauldron! Two of their Chasers, their Keeper and their Seeker, graduated last year.” It was a rough position for a team. But it happened every once in a while when they had to start from scratch. The replacement players were still young with potential, but not against the fortified house teams like Gryffindor.

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[Vivian River Jordan]

Sometimes the nerves would seize her at the most random times – in the middle of Potions, while she would be staring dreamily into her cauldron, or maybe the middle of the night when she would suddenly jolt awake and wonder if she’d need a telescope in the real world or not. Her attention span was short, unless she was doing something interesting, and her focus was flighty until it suddenly seized on something that scared her and then it would be all she could think about for hours while it felt like a hand was seizing her throat. Vivian thought she might be in the middle of one of those episodes now as she thought about never commentating another Quidditch match again after graduation, but James’ assurance not to be sad snapped her out of it.

Instead, she threw her head back and laughed, then pushed away James’s ‘wonderful face’ with her hand. “You’re right on, mate,” she agreed as she kept giggling, “There ain’t a single thing worth commentating on without your preening. Or that fumble with the Quaffle in the first five minutes, hey?” Oh, she knew he thought he was a bigshot – and hell, a good part of the school seemed to agree with him. James was just that kind of boy that everybody couldn’t help but like, and Viv was honestly on board with anything that would drive Al crazy (like having to deliver fan mail and love notes to James from nervous admirers). She might’ve written a note or two just to watch Al’s face turn red and disgruntled as he shoved the letters into his brother’s arms. But she wondered exactly how big James’s head would swell without her there to remind him that he still dropped the Quaffle sometimes too.

“Slytherin’s got a lot to prove next year,” Viv agreed. Roster changes were always hard to manage for a new team, and Slytherin had flown terribly this season. They weren’t even in the running for the Cup anymore, which meant the new Captain had a chip on their shoulder and something to prove to the rest of Hogwarts. But that still didn’t change the fact that Ravenclaw was going to wipe the floor with Gryffindor, and then write some clever victory songs about it (as opposed to the mind-numbing cheers Gryffindor loyally stuck to). “But you know this means we can’t be friendly in the corridors until this match is over and you’re congratulating us on our new trophy,” Viv said matter-of-factly. She was supposed to be the unbiased commentator, but she was also a proud Ravenclaw. And family (even adopted family like James) didn’t mean anything next to Quidditch pride.

james sirius potter

[james sirius potter]

You got a new horizon

its ephemeral style

January 2022
Vivian River Jordan

Vivian laughed, and James pretended to look appalled and offended. ”Fumble?” He scoffed and crossed his arms indignantly. ”That’s how bad their Chasers are. I can throw around the Quaffle, and they’d still never catch it.” As if James would ever admit it had almost slipped so easily from his nimble fingers. Regardless, he had not lost the Quaffle and even managed to pass it for a score. But just like his siblings and many cousins, Vivian was more than happy to find faults in what James did. It was easy to laugh off, and when it came to Quidditch, such mistakes were far and few in between. Though admitting fault was not one of his stronger traits—something he shared with his brother.

But the timing had worked such that Slytherin’s team was in a state of basically starting over. From time to time, there were many upper-level students on the roster and not enough underclassmen to create a smooth transition after graduation. James would say the stars just didn’t align sometimes, but Divination and Astronomy were not subjects he was very interested in. His eyebrows went up. While James was always running his mouth and never shy about what he was feeling, his face very clearly showed it all the time.

”Getting a little ahead of yourself, aren’t you, Jordan?” With unwavering confidence like that, Vivian would have fit in well in Gryffindor as much of his family did. ”Make sure to take care of that voice.” James suggested. ”I would love nothing more than for you to announce when Gryffindor wins.” In the more exuberant, lengthy, and intense matches, Viv often came out as if her vocal cords had been charmed into another dimension. Even the Nurse could only restore it so much before it healed on its own. Not that it would change James’ intention of winning, but he at least had another whole year to try.

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[Vivian River Jordan]

“Oh is that what that was,” Viv asked sarcastically as James claimed his fumble was just a sign of how clumsy the other team’s Chasers were. She rolled her eyes good-naturedly but didn’t press the point anymore. Give it to James to always know the best way to spin a story in his favor – he had a bright future in entertainment if he ever put his mind to it. He’d nailed the haughty indignance too, and Viv chortled to herself again as she stroked Drizzle’s fur. It was no good trying to coax out the puffskein when she didn’t want to do something, but an annoyed little ‘hmph’ was better than the cold silence from earlier. “Don’t let it make you sloppy, mind you,” Viv warned as she rolled her shoulders, “Even dreamboats can make a mistake and cost their team a goal.” That word would probably be enough to puff up James for the rest of the day, even if he’d willfully ignore the fact that she’d used the rest of the sentence to insult him.

She scoffed at any indication that she was putting the cart before the horse in declaring Ravenclaw’s imminent victory so early. It was a rather gutsy move, but Viv had a lot of confidence in her House. “Leap and a net shall appear,” she told him matter-of-factly. It was a popular saying around Ravenclaws, but only a certain type. There was Type A (let’s call her Nova, just hypothetically) that had to plan everything in advance and micromanage until the job got done. But then you had your other kind of Ravenclaw that wasn’t afraid to take a risk in the name of science or magic or some combination of the two. The kind that knew you had to create your own opportunities in life. At any rate, Viv shot James some serious side-eye but lightened up with a smug smile soon enough. “Oh don’t worry JP, you’ll hear every silky smooth word I’ve got. And you can cry on my shoulder when the Ravenclaw team carries off the trophy. I'm just generous that way.” He did have a point about her voice, though – Viv had a habit of shredding her vocal chords when she got too excited. “That is,” Viv continued in an all-knowing tone, “If you won’t be too busy being comforted by half of Hogwarts to notice poor lil me.”

james sirius potter

[james sirius potter]

You got a new horizon

its ephemeral style

January 2022
Vivian River Jordan

James would never admit he’d almost lost the Quaffle in such a silly way. His mother had always warned him that showing off would come at a price. The bigger one’s ego, the less they focused on the match in front of them. But he couldn’t help it at times, especially when the opposing team was playing as if they had recruited all first years. Vivian gave a similar warning, but James let the words go in one ear and out the other. Well, except for one. ”Dreamboat, you say?” If Albus had been sitting there, he probably would have rolled his eyes so hard he would have fallen off the bench. ”A compliment from Vivian Jordan, I’ll have to tell everyone.”

He rolled his eyes. There was no way that Ravenclaw would beat Gryffindor. They were unstoppable and especially when James and Lily found their stride in the air. There was a fearlessness they possessed. In fact, Lily more than James. Was it worth the risk of approaching one of the towers that lined the pitch perimeter at that speed and wondering if you were turning sharp enough to avoid it while intercepting the Quaffle? Absolutely. He’d watched so many players turn and abandon their chase because of the risk. And Ravenclaws overthought before they acted, and split-second decisions required action first.

James scoffed. ”Isn’t it exhausting chasing after something that just won’t happen?” He shot her an easy side look. ”Ravenclaw couldn’t beat us last year. What makes you think they stand a chance this year?” The Gryffindor team at the moment was strong, though James tried not to think about how the next couple of years would progress. He and a few others would graduate, and losing even a few good players brought a team back a few steps. ”Your seeker plays about as well as you used to.” James added, remembering all the matches they used to play when visiting his grandparents. She was Lee Jordan’s daughter, alright. A noble and rare talent, but certainly not helpful when trying to play Chaser.

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[Vivian River Jordan]

As expected, James had a niffler-like ability to focus on anything that sounded like a compliment, and dutifully ignore the rest of what she’d said. It was honestly quite impressive and Viv was almost tempted to call up one of the Scamanders and get a footnote added to the next edition of Fantastic Beasts. As it was, Viv didn’t have the credentials to get her wayward sorta-cousin added to an encyclopedia of the most bizarre creatures in the world, so she settled for a good ole-fashioned eye roll and wagging a warning finger at James. “Oi, watch what you go chattering off to the others about!” She thought it over for a moment, then added in a contemplative tone, “Maybe I ought to charm your mouth shut. Do everyone a favor, ‘ey?”

But no, Albus would love something like that – and Vivian made it a general rule not to do or say anything Al might approve of. Merlin, she loved to bug the little twat and there was nothing he hated more than the undying adoration of his brother by most of Hogwarts. Viv didn’t quite see the appeal that led to girls swooning in the bathrooms, but it annoyed Al to no end so she did tend to play it up a bit when he was around. Still, she couldn’t afford to spark any rumors that might blow up her commentating career and the thin veneer of impartiality that the position was supposed to hold. She had a clear skew for Ravenclaw, that was only natural, but Vivian Jordan was famous for roasting anyone that did anything stupid on the field. And she’d take that reputation to the grave, thank you very much.

She shot him an unimpressed look as James continued to wax on about Gryffindor’s legendary abilities – at least, according to him. “We’re aces this year. It’s called training, which is what we mere mortals do while you preen yourself by the Black Lake.” Her tone was matter-of-fact, but the overall vibe was ruined by the ever-constant mischievous smirk on Viv’s face. A smirk that was subsequently wiped off her face in favor of an enraged gasp at his last little jab. “James Sirius Potter, you’ll regret that,” she announced haughtily, nose up in the air and hands tightly clasped around Drizzle to prevent the puffskein from jumping at James. “And ‘cause I’m a good sport, you even get a warning. Since I don't want to overload your wee little Gryffindor brain.” She always made good on her threats, too – sometimes an elaborate scheme that she cooked up instead of sleeping, sometimes a nice simple enchanted Fanged Frisbee that developed a taste for your socks. Viv wasn’t picky.

james sirius potter

[james sirius potter]

You got a new horizon

its ephemeral style

January 2022
Vivian River Jordan

”As if that would work.” James chuckled. The Potter children were all loud in their own way. Lily was a chaotic ball of energy, while Al’s sulking was far louder than any complaining he ever did. And James had that energy about him regardless of whether he was speaking. ”Don’t you remember a few years back when you bet me five galleons I couldn’t go a whole day without speaking?” James reminded her proudly. ”And then I won.” It had been the challenge of his life, and he even thought his throat would implode from his vocal chord’s lack of use. And yet, it hadn’t stopped his usual interactions though he had relied on his very expressive face to do the speaking for him.

James ignored the snarky comment. ”No, no you have it all wrong.” James began to correct his friend. ”I do that on my way through the Great Hall. Everybody knows that.” There wasn’t an audience at the Black Lake. ”Albus likes to mope around by the Lake. It brings down the mood.” His brother had always been the surly type. Perhaps that’s why he sorted into Slytherin instead of Gryffindor like most of his family. Not that it mattered, he had cousins in that house. But James kept his air of confidence as he raised his eyebrow, waiting for Vivian’s response to his comment on her flying ability.

Internally, he knew that she meant business. But the what, how, or even when would be utterly unknown until it occurred. Not that James would admit he was worried. No, he’d never give her the satisfaction, but his internal monologue immediately expressed his concern. ”Yes, well, just remember—you graduate soon. Clock is ticking.” Dramatically, he pointed his finger at his wristwatch to emphasize the point. Again his internal monologue asked him what the hell was he thinking. But James couldn’t help himself, he’d already created this grave for himself, and it wouldn’t hurt to make it a few feet deeper.

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[Vivian River Jordan]

Yes fine, he might have a point about one thing – if James Potter set his mind to something, he could usually accomplish it. Their interests tended to align, because Viv had always found a kindred spirit in James alongside the sheer nerve it took to pull off an elaborate prank. But they did occasionally find themselves on the opposite side of an argument (even one in good fun) and he was a worthy opponent. Not quite up to par to best a Ravenclaw, but it was a good showing nonetheless. “This is exactly why you’ll never be an Animagus. You looked alarmingly red from all that self-control it took to keep your tongue where it was for a day. Now imagine a month of it,” Viv shot back quickly, smirk turning suspiciously crafty. She almost thought it would be worth a lifetime of James bragging about having an animal form, if it meant she got to see a month of him struggling to keep a leaf in his mouth despite Quidditch and his other pursuits.

“And the worst part is, I’m still out a good few Galleons,” Viv groaned as she considered her new quandary, “If Caplan can afford a new broom, he can bloody afford to pay me back the four galleons he owes me.” But that was what she got for betting with a Gryffindor and then expecting him to pay her back after a sound defeat. Wounded pride was no little thing for the lions of the school. At any rate, she was quickly pulled back into the conversation and Viv made a face at the thought of Al moping around the Black Lake like a ghost in the middle of a pesky haunting. “Ah well, we know where he gets it from. HP knows how to pull off a good sulking.” It might be true that Harry Potter, all things considered, might have a thing or two to be drearily depressed about – but Viv didn’t believe in pity parties, especially if you were the host. So she was over it already.

She might have just started the next great pranking war of Hogwarts, but Viv still took a little satisfaction from watching the gears turn furiously in James’s head at the implications. It would be a good bit of fun, really, and she liked the idea of going out with a boom after her rather explosive time at Hogwarts. It was the only proper way to send off a Jordan, and after all - Vivian certainly knew how to take a hit, and she didn’t go down easy either. But then again, he was right that she was running out of time – and Viv was a little surprised at how heavily the fact seemed to hit her for a moment. But she shook it off and transferred Drizzle to her shoulder so she could offer a hand to James. “Come on, hotshot. If we don’t make it back before it starts to rain, I’m not fetching you a Pepperup.”

james sirius potter

[james sirius potter]

You got a new horizon

its ephemeral style

January 2022
Vivian River Jordan

When James set a goal, it was almost a singular focus for him. Everything else was slightly less important (minus a few things). His mother used to and probably still shook her head at the ambition and drive her eldest could display but never universally applied. A drive that stubbornly pushed forward and that bordered on arrogance. James did not have many enemies because, despite how he puffed his chest out when he walked, he was also very likable and charismatic. His father had quickly seen how he took after his namesake and tried his best to not let him make the same mistakes as the first James Potter.

With a frown, James shook his head. ”What a horrifying thought.” And that was not spoken sarcastically. He enjoyed talking to people. Being alone for too long was boring and drained his energy. ”Imagine if you had to go an entire day—let alone a month without letting everybody know your opinion.” They were so different and yet so alike. An equally loud partner in crime among his cousins with Lily in tow as a trainee of their destructive ways. Fortunately, James had no ambitions to walk the path of the Animagus process and not simply because of the leaf thing.

James had to stifle a small chuckle. His father was someone he admired greatly and strived to be like, minus the occasional sulking he’d been known to still do. His mother always pushed him out of it, whether he liked it or not. And his boys greatly resembled him, although James couldn’t manage the same level of humility. ”Yes, well, mum lets him, that’s why. She gives dad a hard time when he does.” Albus had quickly been marked as a momma’s boy, and the extended family and James never let him forget it. It didn’t help that he ran to their mother when he grew up with the teasing.

However, the idea that Vivian carried a vendetta against him was enough to make him sweat a little bit. She was always the one with the grander and more creative ideas. James didn’t know how she thought up some of these things, but he was happy to help with the execution. Brains and brawn had no match when working together. His eyes warily eyed her hand, and he did not accept it to stand up. Who knew when she would strike, but his brain rattled through their previous pranks to perhaps get a hint at what she might stir up. ”When has the rain ever brought me down?” James didn’t often get colds or end up in the Hospital Wing, and it surely wouldn’t start now.

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[Vivian River Jordan]

Merlin, sometimes James knew exactly how to stuff his foot in his mouth. All the Potter boys had that ability really – it was probably the only thing that Al was more talented at than his brother, besides looking like he’d been adopted from a vampire family and being seemingly allergic to broomsticks. But Harry could also be a rather colossal idiot and James sometimes fell into the trap too. The only difference was that he was by far the most charismatic of the bunch, so he could usually get away with just about anything. But the matter of the fact was – becoming an Animagus wasn’t in the cards for Viv. It would never be, and that had been the sad truth since fifth year. Because really, everybody knew that werewolves couldn’t be Animagi.

But Viv shrugged it off because if there was anybody with the best of intentions, it was James. Not like that pair of Slytherin girls the other day that had loudly speculated in the Courtyard whether there should be a separate dormitory for werewolves. And hey, Viv definitely didn’t have anything to do with the badges someone had used a Sticking Charm to attach to the back of their robes the next day (“Ask Me How Many T’s I Got In My OWLs”). But that was all besides the point. Viv tossed her braids over her shoulder and straightened her shoulders. “Well, you can thank all your crystal balls that you’ll always have a front-row seat to this,” she said, tapping the side of her head as she shot him a wink. “In fact, they’ll likely put it in a museum some day and then I’ll never shut it.”

That was actually a somewhat terrifying thought, but not more so than the inner workings of the Potter household. Viv had practically grown up as another one of the Weasleys, but she’d somehow been spared from seeing what the Potters were like when it was just them. She didn’t doubt that James was the exact same extroverted, carefree prankster at home, though. That kind of chaos wasn’t made, it was born. Vivian gave a rather disappointed sigh as James didn’t take her hand, but that was probably for the best. Most of her pranks were incredibly sophisticated but the glitter bombs were still temperamental. There was as of yet no way to control the damage.

So instead she just snorted, slipped the sweets-sized orb back into her pocket, and gave Drizzle a good pat on the head. “There was that rather spectacular flu that went ‘round a few years ago. Your whole class looked like a pack of drowned crups when you got back from Herbology,” Viv pointed out in a reminiscent tone. Yeah, she was going to miss this school. As nice and dandy as growing up sounded, there was nothing that could possibly replace Hogwarts. “Want to pop over to the kitchens with me? I’ve got a little surprise for my mate in Hufflepuff. It's his birthday, see?” Viv rubbed her hands rather excitedly as she pulled open the door to step outside, wrap the scarf more tightly around her, and expectantly wait for James to join her.

james sirius potter