"Prongs… James, I can't… there is nothing… I'm so sorry."
But the Potter merely huffed and shook his head before pouring two glasses of wine and handing one to his best friend, who he watched down it back in one gulp. "It wasn't your fault."
"Harry could have been hurt."
James let out a slow breath, doing his best to ease away the painful memories of previous years, of the start of the current one. "Yes, he could have but he wasn't. Lily and I are both relieved that he's okay, but also that Marie is unharmed as well."
"I'm surprised she remained that way." Sirius grumbled, earning a wide-eyed stare from the other man. "Not that I want her hurt but a spanking from her mother would probably have done her some good. Instead, she's just grounded until she has as many gray hairs as we do."
James made an obvious attempt at counting said hairs, reaching out to pick at the man's head and earning a swat for his efforts and a slowly returning smile.
"Why aren't you mad at me though, or at her?"
The answer was an eloquent shrug, "Because it isn't your fault, and she's a stupid kid who wanted to help someone. Yes, it was stupid and dangerous, but have you met my son?"
It was, obviously, the wrong thing to say but before he could take it back a strangled sob escaped from his friend, "He could have… he could have been hurt, killed, all because of what she did, because he wanted to help her." Sirius looked up, eyes pale and haunted, "How do you do it?"
A complicated question which meant the answer would be even more so. Still, James had an idea of what his best friend was asking and let out a deep sigh, "If you're asking how Lily and I got used to this? We didn't, we never will. Their first year was a bit rough and we didn't know about everything until after. Second year was worse, especially after Harriet was petrified and then seeing Harry on the bed, almost lifeless…" He trailed off, willing away the memories moments later. "This year has been bad, really bad, but I think we are starting to understand. If he hadn't been there for Marie, if something had happened…" He shook his head, "I hate that he puts himself into danger, but I would have been devastated if something happened to my niece. There is no 'better option' this time, usually there isn't, so we just worry and stress and give ourselves gray hairs trying to think of how to help him and keep them all safe."
"Let me know when you find the secret to doing that." Sirius prompted, and his friend would have laughed had he not heard the underlying urgency and desperation he had begun identifying in both himself and his wife.
"I will, promise."
A peaceful silence descended between them. Sirius repoured a glass of wine, and this time took his time with it, while the other continued on his first. Finally, the darker haired man spoke, eyes staring off into space and voice distant, "You know, they do seem to get along pretty well."
James was halfway through nodding before the words settled into his brain and his eyes snapped onto his friend, a glare already forming.
"No"
"I'm just saying."
"No, you aren't just saying."
"We always talked about it."
"We didn't talk about shit Padfoot."
With the mood sufficiently lightened the guest grinned, "Oh come on Prongs just think about it. Our families are already close, Marie usually has a good head on her shoulders and is doing well in school."
"Padfoot, I want you to think long and hard about the next words that come out of your mouth and whether you want to have a conversation with my wife about letting your daughter date her precious son."
Sirius flinched slightly, "You know she wouldn't hurt him, right?"
James sighed, running a hand over his face, "Of course I know that, but we aren't even considering doing the whole 'marriage contract' thing, and for your sake that better be the only conversation you were thinking about having with me." Seeing the man raise his hands in submissive surrender the father continued, "They barely even know each other Sirius. If this is something they are both considering, we can talk about it then."
"Fine fine… hopefully the kids will at least have my looks…"
"PADFOOT!"
****
It surprised no one when the Floo roared to life with a notably irritated professor's face wreathed in flames. Lily, naturally, allowed her through and promptly ushered her daughters and husband into another part of the house, glaring as Amy whined about wanting to be part of the excitement.
Riddle glared, Harry stared back.
She crossed her arms, he shrugged.
"Well?"
"Well, what?"
The young Potter was briefly worried he could cause the woman to have a stroke based on the anger evident in her eyes.
So, he took pity on her, "Look, it wasn't as if I said to myself 'gee, I wonder if I can wander around and find any werewolf looking folks to have a fun conversation with.' My parents, and the Rosiers, took us out to Hogsmeade, we overheard shouting, Marie took off, I chased after her to make sure she didn't get hurt, I stopped her from getting hurt, and then we left. That's it, I know it seems like I am looking for trouble but I'm not. I just know what will happen if I sit on my hands and let others throw themselves into danger."
"I will assume you have both been properly disciplined for your reckless actions."
Again, he shrugged, "No idea on Marie, but I imagine she's grounded for life or whatever. As for me, not really, I'm already in trouble and I think…" he trailed off, frowning a bit as he searched for the right words or feelings, "I think my parents are starting to understand. It's easy to say 'don't put yourself in harm's way, let someone else deal with it, it isn't your fight' if it is a nameless person who is involved. This time though know what could have happened, who could have been hurt."
His explanation didn't seem to appease the woman as much as he had hoped, instead she stepped closer to him, eyes sweeping his form in a way that set his heart racing, "I think we should continue this conversation somewhere more private."
Harry's pupils dilated, and Grace barely held back the urge to jump him then and there. "Well, have you ever seen my bedroom?"
Fuck
Not trusting herself to give a verbal response, Riddle instead shook her head and watched in awe as the boy took her hand and led her up the steps, listening to ensure none of the remainder of his family was nearby, before sneaking to his room and closing the door behind him.
They should probably set up privacy charms and spells but there was something deep in her mind that said no. It was an urge to be exposed, and specifically to expose him, to announce their time together, to gloat about it, to parade him about in such a way in which everyone could see him and know that if they wanted anything more then they would need to ask, to beg.
But she had never discussed such things with him, and knew the idea of his family listening to them shag, might not be as appealing in his mind as it was hers.
So she retrieved her wand and wove the spells about even as she glanced about his room, his bedroom.
It was so different then at Hogwarts, so much more private than even their shared quarters, more intimate then even when he slept in her apartment.
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