Perfect Unity

Profile:
Name: James Potter a.k.a. Prongs
Primary Characteristic: Courage
Primary Element: Fire

"You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart."

Since I can remember, I have been taught that "courage is more important than strength". My parents, the wealthy, prominent, respectable Potters have always indulged and pampered me, some times even too much so, which led to me becoming the arrogant, self-centred, boastful, conceited and over-confident boy students usually know me as during my Hogwarts days, besides being dashingly handsome and outstandingly intelligent of course... Oops, I'm being cocky again, forgive me. I would have continued to be so, if it wasn't for my dearest, loveliest Lily. She was the one who opened my eyes, who brought me back down on earth, who lowered my self-confidence and deflated my "over-sized ego", as she puts it. I could never forget the lessons she so unknowingly taught me, that my pride is the worst failure of all. She taught me that no one deserves to get everything they want served to them on a silver platter simply because they can or because it has been so. We have to earn that right on our own, by our own capabilities. She have no idea how she has tortured me, the first time I asked her out, and the first time she refused. She is the only girl I ever truly desired, and she said no. It was such a terrible blow to me. That was the first time anyone had said no to me, me, James Potter! I was angry, sad and, inexplicably, extremely disappointed. "There goes the perfect life of James Potter, ruined single-handedly by a girl," I had thought bitterly. But she isn't just any girl. She is the one for me, I just knew it when I first saw her. And she, my angel, showed me how wrong I was to think like I always did, that being James Potter meant that I could get anything and everything I want. I came to realise that the fruit of something hard earned is sweeter than that which is gotten without sweat. The day when she finally said yes, I was so overwhelmed with happiness and joy that I jumped around the dormitory for an hour that night like a small child receiving his first Christmas present and hugged each of the Marauders at random intervals, till Sirius suggested that I have turned homosexual (which is not even true for an instant, do not ever doubt my masculinity).

Perhaps that is the reason I admire, respect, and love my dearest Lily so much: she had the guts to tell me what no one, not even Remus, could, that I was out-of-order. Not that I blame Remus, though. But Lily was the only one who stood up to me and made me, forced me even, to look straight at my faults and my inner conscience. It was a great change for me, and it took a great deal of pluck to admit my mistakes, but I did it. And I got her.

But I am straying from my main point. Where was I? Oh yes, my parents. Well, my parents have, perhaps, spoilt me because of all this only son and child, had-me-late-in-life-so-I'm-an-extra-treasure thing, but they have never failed to neglect teaching me my ultimate lesson in life. Courage and bravery, and standing for our own beliefs. "When all else desert you, son, so long as courage doesn't, you will succeed, no matter what," my dad used to tell me. "What is the use of living if you're afraid to do anything you want to, even to fight for what you believe is right?" mum would add. My natural Gryffindor bravery was nurtured, perhaps, because of them. I do not walk away from challenges, and sometimes, an overflow of daring caused me to start duels, particularly with one Severus Snape, or Snivellus as we call him. Again, I wasn't heartily ashamed of myself until Lily, who have had to scream at me to stop a fair few times, though, amazingly, she never took points off me for my stupidity. Because of her, I discovered and realised that bravery means to stand and finish a fight and not run from it, nor is it to start one unprovoked "just because you can", she said. There is a difference between being dragged into the arena and walking into it with your head held high. Some may suppose that there aren't any differences between the two, but I know, as well as my Marauder friends, and Lily, too, that it is the line that separates bravery and cowardice.

My Animagus form shows my fortitude more clearly than ever. The shape of the animal Animagi turn into is supposed to reflect your character, just like your wand. The wand chooses the wizard, and so does Animagi transformation. The stag, that proud, majestic animal, was my chosen counterpart. Many a time have those antlers kept Remus in check when we kept him company. I wasn't afraid of his attacks. I seldom am afraid of anything. It was, perhaps, this reckless courage which sometimes seizes me that I schemed with the others to escape from the Shrieking Shack and roam Hogwarts and Hogsmeade by night, during those full moons when Remus would be a full-fledge werewolf and each of us in our Animagi forms. We would prance around the school or the village, completely oblivious to the danger we were putting ourselves and the villagers and students under. Sometimes Remus gave us the slip, and we only caught up with him barely in time to distract him away from his unfortunate soon-to-be prey. There were many near misses, oh yes. It had to take all of us to keep our heads and stay safe throughout our schooling years.

And Lily. Merlin, it had to take all of my inborn courage not to give up on her. The first time she refused me struck me hard, the second time even less so, and before I knew it, I have been resolutely asking her out every single day of my existence. Sirius called it pathetic, and many times Peter asked me why I would not give her up when "there are so many more pebbles at the shore and fishes in the sea". No, Lily is worth it. She is the bravest, sweetest, smartest, kindest… never mind, if I continue I would be blabbing on and on about her wonderful, flawless character the whole day, or week, or month, or year, or decade, or century… well, she's basically the most perfect woman for me. It had to take all of my Gryffindor courage to ask her out again and again, even though I knew I might be turned down again and again and again… maybe forever. I got her in the end, thank Merlin for that.

But that was nothing compared to what I did for Snivellus. I almost forgot that incident that happened in sixth year. But who could ever forget it completely, really? Why did Sirius decide that it would be "fun" to play that stupid trick which almost cost all our lives put together? If Snivellus had died, Remus will surely be found out and expelled, even killed for being a werewolf, for Merlin's sake! And Dumbledore would surely be demoted as Headmaster of Hogwarts if the board of governors found out! Though I can sort of know why Sirius thought of doing Snivellus in. Anyone who knows Snivellus would be ticked off greatly by him. Sirius and I are living proof of it. I just don't know why Sirius didn't stop to think twice about the consequences before actually telling the bastard how to get through the Whomping Willow. It had to take all my nerve to go after my most hated enemy (and believe me, the feeling is mutual) to save him. Save him. And what did he say? "I wouldn't have needed saving if your pal Black hadn't put me in danger." So much for rescuing his greasy hair. But Dumbledore said that there might come a day when I would be thankful that I once saved him. "This is magic at its deepest." And he is Dumbledore after all. If I do not trust his judgement, whose should I trust? The last thing he said to me before I exited his office that day was "There are all kinds of bravery in this world, James. It takes a lot to stand up to your enemies, as well as your friends," his eyes twinkled at this, unconsciously reminding me of all the times I should have stopped myself and Sirius from hexing everyone in sight. "But… it took uncommon chivalry to save said enemies from an undeserved fate and certain death. You did a very noble thing, in saving Severus Snape's life. Perhaps he is only bitter because he now owes his life to you. You are a true Gryffindor, James Potter." And with those wise words, he bid me good night.

– Next Up: Sirius Black –