epilogue

                                    

                                          
James sighed as he looked at the portrait in front of him.  It was amazing, as his paintings were, but it was lacking something, maybe a darker tint to the eyes.  
                          
He glanced around the room for a black paint, his hands covered in colors and his hair soaked with moisture from the stuffy, messy study.  His daughter's face was staring up at him from the canvas in front of him, her little pigtails and overalls captured from a long ago time when she was five years old.  She was fourteen now, all grown up and sarcastic as just as close with her uncles Sirius and Remus Lupin-Black as ever.  Their son, Atticus, and their daughter, Clementine, were the same age as James and Lily Potter's children, eighteen and fourteen.  Atticus and Harry, both their eldest sons, were going to university today.  Sirius would be a teary mess.  
                          
''C'mon, love.  Harry has to leave.  Ron just came to pick him up.''  Lily said from the door way, her white shirt untucked, her blue jeans taking James' breath away just as they did when they were young.  
                          
James smiled at his beautiful wife, her red hair like a halo in the bright morning sun.  ''I'm coming.  I can't seem to get Xavier's eyes right.  I think it's something to do with the fact that her's are blue and no one else's are.''
                          
Lily rolled her eyes at his expression.  'I know, sweetheart.  I've heard your 'swapped at birth' theory so many times.  Now, hurry up.  Hermione is impatient, you know.''
                          
James nodded and wiped his hands on his messy jeans, following Lily outside to the drive way, where Harry had just finished stacking boxes into Ron Weasley's car.  Ron, Harry and their best friend Hermione Granger were all going to be studying at the same university.   James was excited for him, and glad his friends were along for the ride. 
                          
Harry walked over when he saw his parents, his face red from the sun and his hair just as tousled as James'.  He adjusted his glasses and fixed them with his intense, green-eyed stare. 
                          
''Hey, guys,''  Harry said, ''try not to cry too much, yeah?"
                          
''Of course not!  Why would we?''  James said, his eyes already watering at the thought of his son leaving.  
                          
''Ignore your dad.  He's just a big, annoying child.  We'll miss you, darling, but we want you to have fun, okay?"  Lily said, wrapping her arm around Harry.  He nodded and hugged her, then exchanged one of those awkward bro-hugs with James, who shook his head and scooped Harry up like a mother bear.  
                          
''Not this time, kid.  Today is for huge hugs and tears, okay?" James said, and Harry laughed.  
                          
''See you, mum, dad.''  Harry said once James had let him go.  His friends walked up behind him, Hermione's beautiful bronze skin and her dark, curly hair, and Ron's long, lanky body and firey hair.  
                          
''Hello, Mr and Mrs Potter.''  Hermione and Ron said in unison, and James and Lily gave them a hug each, two.  
                          
''Have fun, you three.  But be safe, and remember to tell Atticus and Neville hello for me.  I love you, Harry.''  Lily said, and ruffled Harry's hair.  Even her eyes were wet, and Lily never cried.  Harry badly suppressed a sniff.  
                          
They all turned to James.  ''Be good, mate.  Remember to not drink so much.  And try out for the sports.  We all love you, and there's always a place here if any of you change your mind.''  He said, and Harry nodded.  Then, finally, the three friends crawled into the car, Hermione revved the engine, and they sped off, Harry waving from the backseat as they pulled away.
                          
James wrapped his arms around Lily as their son drove away, and Xavier pressed her petite face against James' side.  
                          
''Stop crying, dad.  You look like a wuss.''  She said, her soccer uniform on, ready for her game, her short hair around her chin.  Lily smiled at her.  
                          
''Soon you'll be going to university, too.''  She said.  Xavier shrugged and hugged them both instead of replying, and James couldn't help but think about how much things had changed since high school, but he was so happy where he was now.  He looked at his beautiful wife, his precious daughter, thought of his talented son.  He was so, so happy.  
                          


                          
End.