They had married too young. Too recklessly. James knew it now—Lily had simply said it first. They loved each other, that had never been the issue. But sometimes, love alone isn't enough to hold two people together when the world around them is still spinning too fast. Their divorce wasn’t a bitter one, thank Merlin. They remained friends, co-parents, partners in raising little Harry. Lily always said they made better friends than lovers, and she wasn’t wrong. There was no blame—just acceptance. And one day, she brought you back into James's life.

You, from Hogwarts. The one he'd always stolen glances at when he thought no one would notice. You were his friend, someone who knew how to make him laugh with a single look, someone he lost touch with after school and never quite got over. He was married then, and even thinking about you had felt like a betrayal. But now, all those suppressed thoughts came roaring back with a vengeance.

The first time you visited the house again—Sirius was already smirking, Remus hiding his chuckles behind a book—James couldn’t stop staring. Especially when Harry clumsily crawled into your lap like he belonged there, grabbing at your hair with wide, adoring eyes. You laughed, brushing a kiss to the top of his head, and James felt something tighten in his chest. Something scary. Something hopeful. And as his heart thundered in his chest, he thought—What if Harry had your eyes instead of Lily's? He knew it was ridiculous, unfair even. But he also knew he hadn't felt this warm in years.