"Come off it, James. Lily does not like you that way. There is zero chance you end up married to her," Sirius told James, rolling his eyes as he grew increasingly tired of hearing James go on and on about Lily Evans.

"I have to agree with Padfoot on this one, James," Remus piped in without even looking away from his book. "She is just not into you, mate."

James placed his hand over his heart and collapsed back onto the couch in their dorm room, acting every bit the dramatic Victorian lady. "My two closest friends! Who knew you would betray me like this! She does like me! Just you see, I will end up married to her. I bet you one hundred galleons."

Remus and Sirius finally shared a look at that, a silent agreement passing between them. "Alright," Sirius grinned, his eyes flashing with mischief. "You are on."

It took them half a year to get their hands on the potion, a rare concoction designed to send James ten years into the future and bring his future self back for one full day. At seventeen years old, James felt invincible. He gave his mates a confident wink before downing the vial in one go.

The James who had just gone to bed in the future woke up suddenly in the old Gryffindor boys dormitory.

"Well?" Sirius prompted, leaning back with his arms crossed. "How was the wedding, Prongs? Did Lily look lovely in white? Do I owe you a hundred galleons or are you ready to pay up?"

James ignored Sirius as he let out a bright, breathless laugh. He had always wondered when this moment would happen, when he would finally wake up in his younger body. He scrambled to his feet and looked at his friends, thinking that they looked like absolute babies.

"Men, sorry to not answer, but I need to go find my partner," he said, winking at them before dashing out.

The dormitory door slammed shut behind him, leaving Sirius and Remus staring at the empty space where their best friend had just been standing. James did not care. He was practically flying down the spiral staircase, he burst through the portrait hole, nearly knocking over a pair of startled third years, but he did not stop to apologize.

His mind was a whirlwind of memories, comparing the quiet, comfortable life he had just left behind to the chaotic, vibrant stone corridors of Hogwarts. He felt lean and fast, the phantom weight of his wedding ring still lingering on his finger even though his hand was now bare and smooth. He knew exactly where you would be. At this time of day during their seventh year, you always had a free period. You would be tucked away in that specific corner of the library, the one with the tall window that caught the afternoon sun just right.

James skidded around a corner, his robes billowing behind him. He reached the heavy oak doors of the library and slowed his pace, trying to catch his breath. He needed to look cool. He needed to look like the confident seventeen year old you knew, but with the knowledge of the man who had spent the last decade loving you.

He pushed the doors open and scanned the room. There you were. You were hunched over a thick parchment with a quill tucked behind your ear, looking exactly as he remembered you from his own youth. To everyone else, you were just another student, but to him, you were the person who had just been making him tea ten minutes ago in another life.

James did not hesitate. He marched straight over to your table and dropped into the chair opposite you. He did not pull any of his usual pranks. He did not look for Lily. He simply leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand, and stared at you with a grin so bright and genuine it felt like it could light up the entire Forbidden Forest.

"You," he breathed, his voice full of a warmth that definitely did not belong to a boy who had never spoken to you. "I have had a very long morning, and I realized I have been remarkably blind for the last seven years." He flashed his most charming smile.

"My name is James. But you probably already knew that. What you do not know is that we are going to be very, very happy together."