It seems that Bagman wasn't the only one who the young reserve Beater made an impression on this weekend. Michael Anderson, second Chaser on the English team, met with the metamorphmagus at the club Puzzles and the two seemed to hit it off. We found them in the alley next to the club, far more interested in each other than apparation...

James grabbed the paper from Rose's hands and skimmed through the rest of the (admittedly short article), which went on to say Teddy's hair had turned from brown to red before he managed to get out of there. A few mentions of oddities due to a mix of magical blood – "Because half-werewolf metamorphmagi are the only ones who are gay," James felt the need to mutter – and some thinly veiled innuendoes about Beaters later, he glanced around the table at his family.

It was Hugo that broke the stunned silence – an achievement that would go down in history, the Potter-Weasley clan unable to respond – with a distinctly Slytherin-like smirk.

"Sorry, Jamie, I think you just got outdone."

"You know, I think I prefer my method," James cringed a little at the thought of his own photo being on the front of a national newspaper in that way. Around them, the volume of the chatter rose and they caught more than a few stray glances – though only a few would remember Teddy as a prefect (the ponce, he and Albus were proudly carrying on the tradition of Potters not being prefects), it wasn't like it was an unknown name. Teddy had been well known enough before becoming a national Quidditch player; now there wouldn't be a person in the Great Hall who didn't know Teddy Lupin's face.

"You should probably write him back, seeing as Google is about to devour the rest of your eggs and doesn't look like he's leaving any time soon," Rose pointed out.

"I still can't believe Teddy named his owl Google. I mean, really?" Albus pulled a face.

"He loves that barmy muggle shit," James said distractedly, shooing the black owl off his plate. He didn't actually want what remained of his eggs; it had another beak-ful before hooting disapprovingly at James and flying off. "He's got a washing machine and fridge and all that run off electricity, too, remember?"

"What did he say, anyway?" Lily asked, frowning. "That had to be sent to you and not us?"

"Oh. Um. That he was sorry for not telling us himself," he replied. He was grateful for the tap on his shoulder, in all truth, because he didn't want to deal with the quizzical look on Lily's face. "Oh! Morning, Gabe!"

Gabe gave a half-hearted smile, while Scorpius made kissy faces at Rose from behind him. The entirety of the table (including Rose) ignored Scorpius, as they were used to such inappropriate displays and had passed the desire to retch over it months ago, and instead focused on Gabe.

"Are you alright? With... y'know... this?" he asked after a moment, gesturing vaguely at the Prophet.

James blinked a few times. "Why wouldn't I be? It would be kind of hypocritical of me to be homophobic."

Gabe allowed himself a small smirk, to which the table responded in ways James tried to block out, including Al's splutter. "I suppose. I just thought... it's a bit odd, isn't it? Having your family over the news like this?"

"A little," James shrugged. "You just... Teddy knows that people are going to follow him around, he should know better. He probably got drunk and forgot himself. It's why Dad always takes us to Muggle holiday spots, and I've had the lovely experience of having a roadtrip through France with Al."

"Says the one who snores like a drunk sailor," Al tugged the front page of the Prophet off, screwed it into a ball and tossed it at James' head.

"Shut it, Al," James didn't bother glaring at his brother. "Anyway. Our family has had worse scandals before..."

"When Lily ran away from home," Rose chipped in, and Lily flushed red.

"When Hugo let out a Niffler in Gringotts," Lily added grumpily.

"That was amazing," Hugo grinned.

"Thank you, we needed a quick recap of embarrassing things my family has done in front of my new boyfriend," James rolled his eyes. "We'll deal with this one more than easily. Now, don't all of you lot have a Potions essay due?"

There was a collective groan and Scorpius turned his glare onto James. "Thanks, Potter, I was blissfully ignorant until you reminded me."

"Want to go for a fly, James?" Lily said happily, sticking her tongue out at Albus.

"Sounds good. Have fun in the library!" James grinned, but grabbed hold of Gabe's hand. "Come find me when you're done, yeah? Lil and I'll be down at the Quidditch pitch."

"Awww," Rose teased. As soon as Gabe had nodded in assent, James took his hand back to smack Rose over the head, and grabbed his younger sister's hand. "Let's go, dear Lils."

"Onwards, Prongs junior!" Lily declared, and for a moment, as they galloped from the Great Hall, they were kids once more.

- - -

James was surprised – he found himself falling for Gabe, more quickly than he could really comprehend. He found himself stealing kisses, pulling the Hufflepuff into empty classrooms, behind suits of armour, anywhere, really, where prying eyes couldn't see the surreptitious snogs. This wasn't, entirely, successful, as Gabe had these lips that, after a thorough snogging, were red and entirely too easy to continue kissing, and James, a holder of the famous Potter hair, looked like he had been snogged even before Gabe started running his hair through it. He was easy to talk to, and they were comfortable and rather – very – happy together. Rose, of course, teased him about it incessantly, because she had a long memory, and had caught them in the spots she and Scorpius liked to haunt more than once.

He couldn't quite believe, though, the words that came out of his mouth after they had been together for about two months. And, as it happened, apparently Gabe couldn't believe it, either, because he had rolled over from his spot on the warmed grass to stare at James.

"You want me to do what?"

James swallowed once. Twice. Tried a smile, which didn't fail too badly, because Gabe just kept staring at him like he'd grown a second head.

"I just thought you might want to come over during the holidays," he muttered, picking at the grass through his fingers.

"That's not what you said," Gabe raised an eyebrow and slid his fingers through James', stilling the fidgeting. "You want me to meet your parents."

It was a statement, not a question.

"Um. Maybe?" James risked a glance upwards, and Gabe's expression had relaxed – slightly – though he still didn't look entirely comfortable. "Do you want to?"

"The Potter-Weasley clan is a daunting prospect, James," Gabe pointed out, raising an eyebrow. "I've heard Scorp's horror stories."

James cringed. "My parents don't hate yours."

"True, but..." Gabe chewed at his lip and flopped back onto the grass. "I'm blaming you for any mental anguish that occurs and you're paying me back in sexual favours."

James let out a huff of laughter, the tension in the air immediately lessening. "Want to start a credit account?"

"Why Mr Potter, are you propositioning me by the Lake?" Gabe glanced up as James rolled on top of him, propping himself up on his elbows.

"Would you prefer me to throw you in it?"

Gabe's laughter could have been the best thing James heard, if the blonde hadn't slid his fingers though James' hair and pulled him down into a kiss to cut it short.

- - -

Teddy,

Gabe'll be coming to visit during the Easter holidays. I'd appreciate it if you were there when we spoke to Mum and Dad, you know, since when I bring it up he looks like he's going to hyperventilate. Cannot wait for a break from Hogwarts, everyone – except Al and Rose – is getting wound up about exams and it isn't even bloody April yet. I miss your letters.

James.

- - -

"I'm going to be killed," Gabe looked slightly green, sitting on James' bed, tearing at a piece of parchment in his hands. "Ginny Potter is going to take one look at me and throw me through the window."

"Reassuring, Gabe, thanks," James grumbled, smoothing down his shirt. Was it a nice enough shirt? Were the jeans okay? Who actually worried about their outfit when they were going to come out to their parents, anyway?

"They'll love you. You're the golden child. I'm the one in Albus' class who means he doesn't pay attention in Defence," Gabe muttered.

"No, that's himself. No amount of Galleons could make Al concentrate," James pointed out, and sat down heavily on the bed. "This will go fine. We'll be fine."

It was at that point that Gabe decided that kissing James was a better alternative than either of them speaking, and James, from his reaction, agreed with this sentiment. Teddy, however, who chose that moment to push open James' door without knocking – as he had done for the past seventeen years – did not seem so pleased.

"Oh, fuck, sorry," Teddy sighed, but knew he couldn't leave. "Look, I'll leave you two be, but Ginny asked me to tell you dinner's ready in five."

"No, Teddy, stay," James said immediately, trying – and failing miserably – not to redden under Teddy's gaze. "I guess that's one way of introducing you. Gabe, this is Teddy. Teddy, Gabe."

"Hey," Gabe glanced up at Teddy's bright blue hair for a moment, but returned his gaze to James, grabbing hold of his hand. James looked slightly confused – not unhappy, but confused – but squeezed Gabe's hand, looking at Teddy expectantly.

"Nice to meet you. If you ever try and pull the shit Rachel did on James, I'll hang you by your bollocks from the Astronomy Tower," Teddy said pleasantly.

"Teddy!" James hissed, but Gabe raised his chin defiantly.

"James knows exactly where we stand, what we both want from this, and I would never hurt him," he said evenly, his eyes flashing.

"Good to know. You're planning on telling them tonight, then?"

"Yeah," James exhaled slowly. "Yeah, we are."

Teddy shrugged, though the 'we' stung more than his pride would ever allow him to admit. "They didn't take my national coming out too badly. You'll be fine," he smiled. "They love you, James. And they'll love Gabe, too."

There was silence, and none of them quite knew what to say. After a long moment, Teddy raked a hand through his hair and gave a shrug.

"I better go before Ginny gets suspicious," he muttered. "You'll be fine. Don't stress out."

- - -

"...You're what?" Ginny's fork clattered to the plate, and Lily and Albus tried to hide their smiles between their hands. They failed, though, and Harry raised an eyebrow at them until they looked suitably mollified.

Teddy cringed. Trust James to put it as un-eloquently as possible.

"He's gay," Lily said helpfully, which made Teddy's cringe even more. "He and Gabe – ow!"

She glared at Teddy, who didn't look at all sorry.

"I was more concerned as to where James heard the phrase 'as bent as a tin foil sickle'," Harry said mildly. "Pass the gravy, Ginny?"

"Probably from Teddy – ow! Bugger, Teddy, you should have grown out of that by now!" Al joined his sister glaring at Teddy.

"Swear jar, Al," Lily said immediately.

"Sod off," Al scowled, and James swallowed, looking at his mother, who was yet to pick up her fork.

"This is nothing to do with Teddy, mum," James said softly. "This is just... me. I'm not trying to... follow him, or anything."

"They've been dating since – Gabe! Don't join in!" Lily yelped.

"I... well. I suppose," Ginny swallowed and picked up her fork, pushing her peas around the plate. After a long moment, there was another clatter and she pointed her knife at Gabe. "You're getting yourself a separate room while you're staying here, young man."

"Ginny, you're not forty yet. Don't use the phrase 'young man'," Harry sighed, and patted his wife's hand. "We're fine with it. Your mother is just a Weasley, and therefore has issues when sex comes up."

There was a collective cringe, but the tension was lessened as Ginny glared daggers at Harry. Gabe slid his hand under the table to stroke James' fingers, and Teddy pretended the grateful smile James shot him didn't make him ache, just a little.