4th June, 1887

James knew he should be excited. He knew he ought to have been giddy with seeing his sister and learning all-about her new job. He knew this and yet he couldn't help but feel nervous.

His stomach was aflutter with flies and he felt a sense of dread that he couldn't quite place his finger on. It was as if something bad was going to happen when logic told him that definitely wasn't the case. Perhaps it was due to how long it had been since James had last seen his sister or fear that she would abandon him again and not meet him.

He wasn't sure but he didn't like the feeling one bit.

James put on the best clothes he had and used the floo to get to Diagon Alley. He patted himself down and walked up the street when he saw, as true as the letter he'd received this very morning, his sister standing outside Ollivander's in a beautiful purple outfit.

He stood still momentarily and any sense of dread or anxiety washed away in a wave of pure joy: Rebecca Grey was here! He could see his sister again!

James hastily power-walked toward her before breaking into a small sprint. He almost pushed her over when he wrapped his arms around her and gave her perhaps one of the longest cuddles he'd given anyone.

He knew it wasn't proper to be acting like this and he should be acting a gentleman but he didn't care.

"I've missed you, Becky." James said as he pulled away from the cuddle with a soft smile, "You must tell me how it is being a potioneer."

  

Why was she so damned nervous, Becky wondered as she smoothed out the creases in her skirts for the umpteenth time. Of course, she knew the answer: she was meeting up with a brother whom she could not help but feel as though she abandoned—the person whose opinion of her mattered above all others. What if Jamie had only arranged this meeting to give her the tongue lashing she no doubt deserved? Worse still, what if her brother stood her up to teach her a lesson in abandonment?

Rebecca Grey knew she did her brother a great disservice by even considering such things, but nonetheless was anxious as she made her way down the crowded streets of Diagon Alley towards Fudge & Son.

When she saw him, all her worries evaporated and Becky's face broke out in a wide grin as she launched herself at her little brother, arms thrown about his neck in a hug.

"How good it is to see you—you cannot even imagine!" the witch gushed as she released him, hands sliding down to grip his arms lightly instead. "Goodness, you've grown!

---

  

---

— beautiful set courtesy of lady <3 —

James shook playfully from his sister's grip when she remarked about how he had grown, giving her an equally happy grin. Whilst he felt a strange sensation much akin to knowing that a storm is coming and not being able to avoid it, James wanted to enjoy being with his sister once more - even if she was to abandon him once again.

"And you're still short!" He quipped, smiling and looking down slightly at his sister - He didn't remember being taller than her last time they met. Perhaps he had grown, then.

"You look well, Beck." the younger brother began with a more serious tone, this time his smile had faded as if joy were slipping away from his grasp, "So much has happened at school since you... erm..." James looked to the ground and played with the stones on the ground by kicking them with his feet, "since you left me." He shrugged nonchalantly; his demeanour attempting to express apathy and a carefree attitude.

Truth be told, as it turned out, seeing his sister was confusing for James - at least emotionally. He didn't know whether to be happy, sad, excited, or furious. Perhaps all of them.

Right now, sadness seemed to be prevailing with his sudden shift in mood. Still staring at the floor, James tried to sound fairly casual about the situation, "Is it nice where you live now?" James asked, his foot still fighting with the small stones on the floor.

  

She shrank back slightly, feeling the weight of his accusation even as his very demeanour attempted to lessen it. Becky had known, of course, that James would not love her decision, but she had hoped—prayed—that he would not take it personally. Apparently those prayers had not been answered, at least not entirely. Fortunately for them both, the wizard promptly changed the subject.

“It’s…different,” she responded, after considering for a moment. “It’s comfortable, certainly, and we eat together just like at Hogwarts, but it’s all women who live there, which is strange to me.”

Even in a house full of females, James had always been there, the cock in the henhouse. But that was hardly even the start of it. The landlady, while well-meaning, was something of a warden; the accommodations were not at all akin to the middle-class lifestyle Becky had been raised in; the neighbourhood was (probably) safe, but so crowded…but Becky did not want James to worry, not on top of everything else!

---

  

---

— beautiful set courtesy of lady <3 —

Nodding at his sister talk about her new post in life, James feigned a slight smile. He was happy for her at the end of it all but ultimately, his eyes would suggest otherwise. He was hurt – still – after she had left to pursue her future. He didn’t blame her but he had wished she’d at least taken him with her.

“It’s like that at home,” James mused, “the twins aren’t much pleasant.” Not that they’d ever been particularly pleasant but it was abundantly clear – at least to the Gryffindor – that having Rebecca out of the picture meant they had to divert their attentions elsewhere. Recently, it had been in James’ direction.

“But that doesn’t matter. Are you enjoying yourself? Are you learning much?”

---

  

“I’m learning a great deal!” Becky answered with enthusiasm, deciding not to mention that it was a lot more menial work and a lot less potions than she had anticipated. James was already apprehensive about the situation, however much he might try to hide it—she would not give him cause to think she regretted her decision!

“One on one tutilege is very different to learning at school,” she continued. “You learn more technique this way, I think. Perhaps I can tutor you later this summer, if time permits!”

---

  

---

— beautiful set courtesy of lady <3 —

James nodded at her words though he picked up easily on her over-enthusiasm at her situation. He supposed that was better than her telling him she hated it though a white lie was still a lie even if it made things better.

"Perhaps," James said quietly, his gaze turning to the myriad of shops, "We'll see. Shall we get some ice cream?"

He didn't really want to talk more about his sister and her abandonment of him but he was glad to be in her company once again. He did miss her.

"I've gotten better at Wizard's Chess too."

---

  

“We'll have to play together this summer," she challenged slyly as the pair made their way towards Fudge & Son. "That is, if you think your 'better' is yet good enough to defeat me."

Wizard Chess was not something she'd ever been particularly skilled in, but Becky still clung to the days when James was first in Hogwarts and she had a bit of an edge in that regard.

---

  

---

— beautiful set courtesy of lady <3 —

“Defeat you?” James tried to hold back a loud chuckle, “I often beat everyone in Chess Club! You’ll be no match,” He stuck his tongue out and before long, the two were at Fudge & Son.

Opening the door for his sister and allowing her to order and seat, James sat opposite her and smiled a little. It was nice, really; to spend time with his sister.

“What is it you’ve been learning as a potioneer, then?” He asked simply as he started eating.

---

  

“To…brew…potions,” Becky answered, as if it was the most obvious answer in the world. Then, mentally, the witch kicked herself: how could her brother, with his induction into the magical world not as far along as her own, fully understand what that meant?

What Rebecca Grey was learning was countless uses for everyday ingredients she would never have thought of before, how to manipulate the attributes of several things to create one new concoction, to know instinctively when a cauldron had to be stirred or a fire stoked. She was learning to become a potioneer, yes, but only someone with a genuine interest—nay, passion—for the subject had a hope of learning what that meant.

“It’s a great deal more involved than anything I ever did at Hogwarts,” she added. “I wish that I could explain it properly—I’ve never been as good with words as Father was!”

---

  

---

— beautiful set courtesy of lady <3 —

James huffed at her answer. Of course he knew what a potioneer was but he was also smart enough to understand that brewing potions in a real world application was much different to an academic setting. He wasn’t going to kick up a fuss though – that would do no good. He didn’t want to argue with his sister when he hadn’t seen her in so long!

“Father was always good with words. What kind of potions are you learning? I’d imagine they’re far more practical than the ones in our potions class.” James said simply as he ate some of his food, “I imagine it’s a lot more in-depth, too.”

---

  

“It’s not specific potions, really,” Becky struggled to explain, “so much as the…the science and magic behind all potions. Anyone with a textbook and a brain can brew most things without an apprenticeship, after all!

---

  

---

— beautiful set courtesy of lady <3 —

Arching his brow, James struggled to understand just as she seemed to struggle with her own explanation, “What do you mean, the science and magic behind them? As in, how to invent new potions, or what?”

---

  

"...Yes," she settled on at last. That was as close to the mark, she thought, as her brother was likely to get without seeing it for himself. Perhaps when James had a bit more magical experience under his belt, Becky thought, he would better be able to grasp what in particular she had decided to do with her life. After all, a decade ago, neither of them had even known magic existed.

"Now," the brunette voiced, more brightly, "shall we go get that sundae? You still need to tell me all you've been up to!"

---

/wrap?

  

---

— beautiful set courtesy of lady <3 —