Book 1 - James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing

“That’s not the point son. You are so worried about living up to the myth of who I was supposed to
be that you aren’t giving yourself a chance to be even better. You’re defeating yourself before you even start.
Don’t you see that? No one can compete with a legend. Even I wish I was half the wizard the stories make
me out to be. Every day, I look in the mirror and tell myself not to try so hard to be the Famous Harry
Potter, but just to relax and let myself be your dad, and your mum’s husband, and the best Auror I can be,
which sometimes doesn’t seem to be all that great, to tell you the truth. You have to stop thinking of yourself
as the son of Harry Potter…” Harry paused, seeing that James had really heard him, perhaps for the first
time. He smiled a little again. “And give me the chance to think of myself simply as James Potter’s dad
instead. Because of all the things I’ve done in my life, raising you, Albus, and Lily, are the three things I am
proudest of. Got it?”
James smiled again, crookedly. He didn’t know it, but it was the same crooked smile he so often saw
on his dad’s face. “All right, Dad. I’ll try that. But it’s hard.”
Harry nodded understandingly and sat back. After a moment, he said, “Am I always that
predictable?”
James broke into a knowing grin. “Sure, Dad. You and Mum both. ‘You aren’t going outside
wearing that, are you?’” Harry laughed out loud at James’ impression of Ginny. James went on. “‘It’s cold
in here, put on a sweater! Don’t say that word in front of your grandmum! Stop playing with the garden
gnomes or you’ll get green thumbs!’”
Harry was still laughing and wiping his eyes as they said goodbye, promising to meet that evening at
the Quidditch match.
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