James Potter's Story

---

---

They were all such gluttons.

He was laughing by the time the bar was full of people, the magically induced euphoria kicking in quickly. He took another three for good measure, sliding that honey warm liquid down his open throat like a pro.

People were talking to him. Their voices came in like static through a TV, he was aware of his name paired with the different names of the drugs in front of him, but he didn’t care to get more information.

“Everyone’s yelling at once...” He mumbled softly. Far too softly for the crowd to hear. He grinned at someone that grabbed a pile of giggle water shots, his eyes glassy and happy and so far away.

Something cute and yellow popped into his vision and he instantly thought of sunflowers. Which made him think of that field on the way to Hogwarts, which made him think of the Express and how awesome trains are. He fucking loved trains, kind of wanted to live on one someday-

“Teddy!”

That was his name. Loud and clear. He could hear it through that warm tingling static. Oh.

Teddy glanced to his right and encountered Lysander, strung up over his shoulder like he belonged there. Well, he fucking did belong there, especially with all those dimples and smiling eyes.

He’d been asked a question, he was aware only because Lys was staring at him with his eyebrows raised and his mouth slightly open. Teddy let his eyes wander away from molten brown to soft pink, parted in a way that made him want to take advantage. Slid his tongue across them and feel hot breath against his.

“What was that?” Teddy’s voice sounded far away, but apparently not far enough for Lysander. The kid repeated his question, this time with a little quirk to his lips that made Teddy want to grab his face roughly. There was a lot of people around and he wasn’t sure Lys wanted that at the moment.

“Oh Lys” He purred, sliding his arm around a thin waist and tugging him closer, “Literally anything for you. Take your pick”. Teddy grabbed a couple different packets of pixie dust and pushed them into his companion’s hand, then untangled himself before he got too caught up. He wanted to tie himself up in that for the rest of the night, but it was still hour one and he had to make sure everyone was good and fucked before he got to do just that.

Some students felt comfortable enough to just grab and go, veterans of the practice. A couple stood their awkwardly, unsure what was safe, and it required Teddy to put on his warmest smile and explain that he wouldn’t provide anything unsafe.

”Live free, pick whatever you want.” If you feel nasty come let him know. But he promised everything would make you feel gooooood.

He’d wink, smile, toss a shot back with anyone that was still nervous. He was determined to get the entire party high tonight, one way or the other. If it required him being dragged back to the castle by Kingsley, James, or Scor, well be it.

Time came back to him when a familiar weight slid against his body. He was pulled away from the bar he’d been heavily leaning on and felt a warm chest on his back. Breath near his ear, hair tickling his face, arms wrapped around him in a way that made him feel comfortable and antsy all at the same time. Ted leaned back and grinned from ear to ear, a fresh wash of honey sliding through him from the warmth.

”Hey Lys” James voice was loud in his ear, drowning out the party. Ted remembered Lysander had been here (had that only been a moment ago?) and glanced sidelong at the small blonde. He saw him, but his brain was still all wrapped up in the body against his back that he didn’t really register. It wasn’t until James started pulling back that Teddy frowned.

Such a fucking tease.

“Here” Teddy grabs two vials of euphoria, turning his back to the bar to face James. He hands one to his best friend and grins, uncorking the other, “To the beginning of the end?”

“Beginning of the end,” James echoes, his voice a faraway dream. It hits Teddy that this was their last year, end of all this insanity and the beginning of reality. But for now, he could ignore that.

They knock back and Teddy’s mind rushes away from thoughts of Hogwarts. The euphoria hits James like the first shot of gin and a burst of happiness has James’s mind doing flips. Suddenly hyper-aware of the dozens of people moving around them, the music blasting in their ears, alcohol and weed smoke filling the air.

“Damn,” James laughs, tossing the vial onto the counter behind his lanky friend, “You didn’t even make me beg for it this time.”

Ted wanted to say something cool. He was all revved to go on their usual back and forth, but he was already six vials deep and feeling it hard. So, instead, he giggled madly and slid down the cabinet of the bar, throwing his full weight onto his knees.

“Oh mate, the image you of begging...” he let out a gust of air, his hair falling in his face in a wild way and streaming highlights of red sliding through his locks to frame a feral grin, “Don’t tempt me”

“Ok,” James hums, chest tight from holding back a laugh. It’s hard to be good when Ted’s voice takes on that narcotic stilt that he likes, already on his knees like they hadn’t gone through that scenario a couple times over.

James shouldn’t be enjoying this as much as he is. Or maybe he should. He’s high. James slides down next to his friend, runs a hand along the back of his neck until it's buried in Teddy’s crimson hair. Ted's shirt kinda smells like moondew and has his mind wondering. What if he just kissed him? The sweat pooling at the base of his neck is inviting enough.

James grips a little tighter, turning Ted’s head until they’re facing each other.

Teddy’s face withers a bit. Fuck, his hair was his weak spot, especially when someone throws a bit of force into. A little mental chant of pull harder, pull harder, pull harder starts up as he stares James down with burning green eyes.

James gaze was equally as intense and Teddy was captivated.... but not enough to stop his eyes from slipping down to his friend's mouth as he spoke.

“Not tempting you, am I?”

He swallowed, wished he hadn’t cause he looked so weak right now and looked back up quickly with a mild shake of his head.

“Your gonna have to try harder than that”

“Yeah?” James nods. All slow like. That raw, searching look to Ted’s face slits him open like a razor, and he doesn’t miss the way sharp green eyes meet his own.

James let’s go of his hair and wraps a hand around his neck instead. Shoves Teddy onto his ass, back pressed against the counter. He can’t help the smirk that creeps up as his thumb draws lazy circles around an artery, way to intrigued by the way the kids pulse quickens beneath his grip. “You want it harder, Teds?”

James was blocking out any lights, a looming silhouette of pure black. Teddy swallowed, the movement exaggerated by the grip around his throat.

Had there ever been a more erotic thing said? Teddy let slip a little grunt of pleasure and reached, grabbing fabric and tugging the black silhouette to him. He blindly gripped James jaw, forcing his face till they were breathing the same air. He couldn’t make out much, but he stared where he thought James eyes were. “Alright. Your move”

Something about the thrum of the music over the counter and hot breath on his face was making him want to play this game, even though he knew it was only going to end one way. James was so good at getting him to do whatever he wanted.

Teddy’s words barely register past the buzzing in Jame’s ears, the kind of feeling you can’t make sense of but you know it by its absence. _His move_. His way. It’s all he needs to hear, really. The hard floor feels like hell against his knees when James climbs on top, his vision going black around the edges when Ted’s shirt rides up and exposes the smooth skin underneath. Harder. The kid wants it harder.

Ted’s grip is strong enough to leave bruises and the anticipation has James’ heart hammering inside his chest, all too reminiscent of the way things usually are; James blurry eyed and pining after the liquors got him all too fucked up. He could get used to this, though. Tears Ted’s hand away from his face and closes the gap between them without missing a beat.

Then James’ mouth is on him. Biting. A mess of nails, teeth, and aggression, as if he’d lost the last shreds of his decency and the only place left to look was Ted’s mouth. Under his shirt. Against his neck. James’ whole body lights up from the search.

---

Thank ya Shud. This is a compilation of our words

---

---

Lys hadn't realised how much he'd been craving, how much he needed that contact, until Teddy slid an arm around his waist. He shoved something into Lys' hand, and then he was gone again, slipping away from Lys' arm to reassure somebody that it was safe, that it was all fine. Sometimes sober Lys had the sense to question it, but sometimes, he just needed a little... anaesthesia. A little distraction. A little freedom.

At first, he didn't even feel the pixie dust hit. He got distracted, a pretty face luring him away to dance to the pounding beats, another pretty face distracting him for a second, hands on his waist, his arms, around his shoulder. His world was a haze before he even knew it, too gradual for him to notice. And once he did, well, he was too gone to care.

He stumbled back towards the bar, having slipped his other packets of pixie dust to strangers, to friends, to whoever the hell he encountered because was there even a difference in a place like this? He was ready to go beg Teddy for more. He didn't want this to fade because damn.

James and Teddy. He'd looking at it for a few seconds before he even really processes what's going on. And then a jumble of feelings, ones that blur together like bleeding colours on paper. There's jealousy, but what place does that have here? There's confusion, there's a weird desire, there's just... who cares? Apathy but in the best way, taking the edge away from the negative emotions and enhancing the good ones, the pounding in his veins. He wants to say something, but out of nowhere, everything hits him again, making him a little dizzy and making him stumble towards them. Not intentionally. He knows he should say something, knows he should do something, but he can't quite get the words out, can't quite get the thoughts to line up right. So he just catches himself on the bar, for the first time wondering if maybe he should take it easy. But those thoughts don't line up quite right other, especially when he sees James and Teddy again, and now he just stares and doesn't dwell on the thoughts in his head.

One of the most important things that anyone had to know about Albus Severus Potter was that although he did not partake in the drugs that Teddy had to offer, and that he did not particularly get along with either Scorpius or Louis, he had never once missed one of their parties.

The Shrieking Shack was a special place to the Hogwarts students that attended the late night getaways. But it was not as special a place to them as it was to Albus. Long before the parties, long before James shared the secret passages with the others, Albus had been coming to the Shack in secret.

It had been a place to think, to reflect on the history kept within its walls. At the quietest, stillest of moments, Albus could hear the sounds, the whispers of the past, reaching through the folds of Time to speak to him.

The scratches on the floorboards spoke of a friendship so deep, Death could not destroy it. Torn sheets and curtains sang of the loyalty amongst friends, but wept at the betrayal of a dear one. The black blood stains that accented the interior whispered the loudest: family, family, family.

It took Albus a long time to come to terms with the presence of others in the Shack. First came James, stumbling through the passage from the Whomping Willow. Then followed Scorpius and Louis, Teddy and Kingsley. Orion had been the only one Albus had brought in of his own accord, back when things were still fresh, new, and lovely between them.

Then came the parties, the students, drunk and drugged, and unfortunate. Albus did not care much for the comings and goings of every student in Hogwarts, yet he could not allow himself to turn a blind eye when they needed it the most.

Safe rooms, clean clothes and water, and a secret deal between a Potter and the House-Elves provided the intoxicated adolescents with safe escorts back to their dormitories. Nobody had asked him to do it; Albus himself had not volunteered for the job. Still, it got done.

Putting out the last of his cigarette on the sole of his shoe, Albus checked on the charms on his clothing; there would be no point in trying to be sober if he succumbed to the stray fumes of the burning Moondew.

The scene on display was like all the others before it: dirty, sexual, drugged. Albus gilded around, sidestepping bodies and stopping to take an offered kiss every now and then. Only a light peck, nothing more. Whimpers and whines begged him for more, but he had no time for that.

Out of the corner of his eye, Albus noticed how a fellow Slytherin seemed to be forcing too much of himself into someone’s personal space. Exhaling with exasperation, Albus neared the antagonist in question and gave him a hard shove. “Come on now, man,” he said, “No means no.”

Much to Piper's surprise, another Slytherin stepped to her defense. She watched the boy who was harassing her fall back into his friends, his face a slideshow of surprise and aggravation. Once properly back on his feet he looked around for his attacker, ready to make heads roll....until his eyes landed on her rescuer. Piper took a moment to take in the scene. The boy, her rescuer, stood at odds with the Asshat Slytherin. In that frozen second between standoff and fighting, she saw Asshat's eyes flicker from Piper to him, assessing the situation, hesitation flickering across his face.

"Defending a Hufflepuff, Potter? You gonna hit that?" He sneered as he advanced on Albus.

Piper felt her face heat at his words. Her fists clenched, but she didn’t want to continue this scene, it was attracting too much attention.

Albus felt that curve in his lips that he sometimes let show; the one that so often got him in trouble.

“No,” he said. “I’m going to hit you.”

His fist flew fast, sharp, and true. The guy flew back, landing on his ass. Before he could do anything else, Albus spelled him unconscious. He kicked his feet out of his way, his glare daring anyone else to join in the fray.

“Round two?”

They scattered, leaving their fallen comrade behind. Albus scoffed, smirking devilishly. He turned to Piper and his grin faded.

“What are you doing here, Longbottom?”

Albus, good lord, it was A L B U S. How had she not recognized him immediately? Fists flew and Piper's brain scattered momentarily, as the fight ensued. How had she not recognized the dark haired boy immediately? His eyes landed on Piper and she almost took a step back, the full force of his gaze was somewhat disorienting for her. She realized he had asked her a question.

"Oh...ah...causing trouble evidently..." She said with a half hearted smile.

"Just came to...cut loose, I suppose. Drink?" She asked gesturing towards the bar area. Good lord, she needed a goddamn drink.

Albus raised a single eyebrow, taking Piper in with grave consideration. She looked unsettled, nervous. Clearly she had not expected what she’d found at the Shack. He shook his head slightly.

“I don’t drink.” He didn’t specify that he did not drink here at the Shrieking Shack. “But I’ll accompany you nonetheless.”

He motioned for her to go ahead, following at a safe distance behind.

"Oh, okay." Piper said mildly surprised by his words. She wasn't sure what surprised her more, the fact that he didn't drink, or that he agreed to come with her.

"Ah, well, I'll have to find some other way to thank you then." She said. Piper's face heated suddenly as her own words rang in her ears. A blush seared through her cheeks and for a minute she thought her face was on fire. Mortified, she turned away from him to hide her cheeks in the dark waves of her hair. As she moved through the crowd, she tried to gather her thoughts. Once at the bar she ordered two single shots of Beetle Berry Whiskey. She took them both within seconds of each other. The sweet burn took her mind off of the pitfalls of socialization.

"So what do you do?" She asked, curiosity coloring her voice.

Piper amused him. The way she tried to hide her face from him as she embarrassed herself unnecessarily, the way she wanted so much to “cut loose,” but still clung so desperately to sobriety.

Albus could feel a not so pleasant smile threatening to show. He leaned his back against the bar, elbows on the smooth surface. Surveying the scene that continued to play in the room, he said with an unidentifiable chuckle: “I’m the guard dog of this place.”

---

Thank you Em for your words!

---

Thanks for the words Finchy

---

---