FIC: Joie (James Sirius/Teddy, PG-13)
Title: Joie
Author: leontinabowie
Prompt: #S49 by nerak_rose
Pairing(s): Teddy/James
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2,130
Content/Warnings: [Spoiler (click to open)]genderfluid Teddy
Summary: Snapshots of James and Teddy’s road trip in France
Author's Notes: This story contains genderfluid Teddy. Thank you nerak_rose for the excuse to write it :)
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the property of JK Rowling and associates. No copyright infringement intended.
“James, you prick, you better not be playing,” Teddy said faintly, eyes wide in shock as they stared at the VW camper - the hippie van, James affectionately called it.
It was pale blue with white rims, and she’d be all theirs for the next two weeks.
“Say hello to our new home,” James grinned, patting the side of the van fondly.
James and Teddy would be slowly making their way from the ferry crossing in Calais, going through rural France with no particular route in mind until they reached Saint-Tropez. Magic would only be used in emergencies - they were doing things the Muggle way from here on out. They were both long overdue a holiday, and James intended for it to be relaxing for them both.
They had been a couple for three years now, since James was eighteen. His parents were fine with it, but other family members had been quite outspoken about their disapproval - not just about their relationship, but about their lives in general, as well - and it was starting to take its toll.
James had quit Hogwarts at the age of sixteen, without getting any of his N.E.W.T.s. He had struggled at school for a long time; he found it hard to sit still and concentrate, and he had difficulty reading, and his behaviour suffered because of it. His dad and Aunt Hermione ended up taking him to a Muggle doctor who diagnosed him with ADHD and Dyslexia. It was too late for him to find interest in academics, though; he knew instead that he wanted to be a baker.
So after leaving school, James began washing pots at the Leaky Cauldron. When they finally promoted him to cooking in the kitchen, James had enough money to become Teddy’s flatmate - prompting the start of their relationship. James’s true passion was in baking, however, and he yearned to open his own cafe and bakery.
Teddy, on the other hand, was too ‘rebellious’ and ‘politically queer’ for James, according to Grandma Weasley. Teddy was genderfluid, meaning their gender - in Teddy’s case - moved between male, female, and agender - the latter meaning no gender at all. Teddy preferred ‘they/them’ pronouns for general reference or on agender days, but liked ‘he/him’ on male days and ‘she/her’ on female days. James and his family had accepted Teddy as they were, but a lot of his cousins and aunts and uncles were finding it hard to come to terms with. They got stuck on pronouns, and didn’t realise that there was more to Teddy’s gender identity than just deciding to wear ‘female’ clothes and long hair sometimes.
But James loved Teddy no matter how they looked or how they identified. It was Teddy who made James happier than anyone, and he hoped that this holiday would prove to Teddy just how much he loved them.
“So where to first?” Teddy asked, opening the door to the camper and peering inside.
“It’s late so we should set up camp somewhere, but after that we can go anywhere we want,” James answered, swinging an arm around Teddy’s shoulder. “Boulogne-sur-Mer isn’t far from here, and it’s on the coast. Fancy a trip to the beach?”
*She/Her*
As Teddy was a Metamorphmagus, they had the ability to change their body. Generally, though, Teddy had a handful of forms to switch between depending on how they were feeling.
Teddy was assigned male at birth, and sometimes experienced dysphoria towards what constituted their ‘male’ body, which left Teddy feeling uncomfortable and distressed.
James knew that Teddy’s current dysphoria must be quite intense, as Teddy had chosen to morph into the body that would be deemed more stereotypically female. She had made herself shorter with a plump body; thick thighs and curvy hips and an ample chest. James adored this form on Teddy, especially when she smiled that bright grin with lips glossed over with glittery purple lipstick.
Teddy was smiling now, as she walked hand-in-hand with James down the streets of Boulogne-sur-Mer. They weren’t talking much, but they didn’t need to, both taking in the sights of the classical French buildings. James didn’t know where to put his gaze next, eyeing up bakery after bakery, cheese shops, and cafes.
“Oh, that’s beautiful,” Teddy declared suddenly, pulling James over to a store window displayed with poshly dressed mannequins.
Teddy’s attention had been drawn in by a pink sun hat tied with a purple ribbon which finished in a bow. They entered the shop where Teddy tried on the hat, which went well with her currently lilac hair.
“We’ll have to get you a hat,” Teddy said, grinning at James through the mirror as she adjusted the brim of the hat. “How about a Beret? Very French.”
“You know I don’t do hats,” James pointed out, sticking his tongue out at Teddy which earned him a sharp glare from the shop assistant.
James often gloated to Al about how he had managed to avoid the dreaded ‘Potter hair’, but Al’s messy locks looked great under a beanie, while James had to hide in shame whenever he took his chef’s hat off after a shift.
“Yet you chose a job where a hat is part of the uniform,” Teddy laughed, having seen the horror of James’s hat hair. “I’ll take it, please,” she added, turning to the shop assistant.
They resumed their walk through the town, though this time with Teddy sporting the sun hat. They stopped along the way to buy brie baguettes and some éclairs, and finally reached the beach. There wasn’t much to it, just sand and sea, but it was warm, and the place was relaxing while also teeming with life. Children were playing games in the sand, teenagers were swimming, and families were eating picnics and building sandcastles.
James had made sure to bring his own bucket and spade, knowing he wouldn’t be able to sit still for too long. He found it dreadfully boring to be stuck in one place doing nothing, but he was happy to try for Teddy.
“These éclairs are delicious,” Teddy announced, leaning back and licking her lips innocently but looking incredibly sultry in the progress. “Not as good as yours, of course,” she added hastily, “but close enough.”
“Yeah?” James responded, leaning over to kiss Teddy’s lips lightly. “Not bad,” he grinned as he pulled away.
A child with a rainbow patterned kite ran past them, the fabric fluttering in the wind.
“I want one of those for Diagon Pride next year,” James said longingly. “That’ll beat those novelty sunglasses that Al and Scorpius wore this year.”
He looked back to Teddy, who was watching him with an adoring look on her face.
“You’re cute, James,” she said, smiling. “Don’t you worry; I’ll get you your rainbow kite.”
*He/Him *
On the days that Teddy identified as male, he would stick to the form that most closely resembled his natural body, though with a few subtle changes; he was tall and shaggy haired like his father had been, but Teddy had chosen to wear his hair in a shade of bright blue, and shaved closely at the sides but long on top in a typical undercut fashion. James always envied Teddy’s hair; because of his job, James couldn’t have his too long, though he got away with it a bit longer as he tied it up in top knot most days.
Teddy also had a habit of wearing James’s clothes on the days he identified as male. James’s wardrobe tended to consist of flannel trousers and jumpers which Teddy always complained were too itchy but gladly stole from James anyway. Irritatingly, Teddy would even go through James’s socks until he found a matching pair - James made sure that they didn’t match on purpose.
But even on days when Teddy was male, James would still happily hold his hands as they walked through the streets in their co-ordinated clothes. They would often get more dirty looks when people perceived them as a gay couple, but James didn’t care. He was happy, and Teddy was happy, and that was all that mattered.
They had stopped in a small commune called Marle, deciding to stop for a bite to eat at a cafe. The one they had found was a typical French bistro, with potted plants and seats outside the front. The waiter had glanced for just a bit too long at their joined hands, but waved them to a table without comment.
“You know, this is exactly the sort of place I’d like to own,” James commented, looking around the bustling street around them and the tables packed with people. “It’s so quaint and lovely.”
James could almost imagine his own place just like this one, with the smell of freshly baked bread wafting through the building, delicate pastries decorating the window, and people smiling over his food.
“What’s stopping you?” Teddy asked, rubbing his thumb in circles on James’s hand.
“Money,” James answered bluntly. After paying rent and living expenses, James just didn’t have enough money to buy his own place. He knew the Potter vaults were plentiful, combining ancestral funds with his parent’s own generous incomes, but he didn’t want to start his business owing someone. Even if he doubted his parents would ask him to pay them back, he would still feel like he had to.
The waiter returned then, pausing the conversation as they ordered their meals; Salade Niçoise for Teddy, and onion soup with freshly baked bread for James. James knew that Teddy was already eyeing up the pastries for later.
“Well, you know,” Teddy mused, “those cupcakes you baked the other week went down a treat at the shop.” The shop being Twilfitt and Tatting where Teddy worked. “Maybe you could start selling food to shop staff down Diagon; Lily and Al would help, and if Al’s doing it then Scorpius will, too. Don’t worry about it; you’ll get there.”
James smiled, leaning over the table to kiss Teddy softly.
“Thank you,” James said, the smile still lingering on his lips.
He could always count on Teddy to keep him smiling.
*They/Them*
Though Teddy’s gender fluidity confused some of their family and friends, they could at least understand Teddy’s presentation when he was male or female because Teddy’s Metamorphmagus abilities meant that he could easily fit into the binary that society had set. However, some days Teddy felt agender - like they didn’t have a gender - and that was the hardest for people to wrap their head around. It wasn’t everyone, of course, but James didn’t know how Teddy could hold their head high despite disapproving looks from Grandma Weasley, or ‘kind’ suggestions to tone it down from Uncle Percy.
It was their age, Teddy told James, that stopped Teddy from taking things to heart; they had six years on James, and in those six years a lot had been learnt. Whatever the reason, James could only admire Teddy even more, and he wished he could be as carefree as them.
Teddy was currently driving - they had taken over after one too many speeding incidents with James at the wheel. Their hair was shoulder length and bright pink, with a pink stubble on their chin to match. Teddy was on the shorter side but broader, and was wearing a blue dress with a cinched in waist, teamed with leather army boots and a leather jacket. James knew that sometimes Teddy would feel like they had to fit into a typical male or female look to combat their dysphoria, whereas on agender days they wore whatever they felt like wearing at that moment in time, regardless if they ‘matched’ or not.
Rain pounded against the windows of the camper, blurring the view of the green fields outside. Trees lined the roadside, the landscape getting rockier as they travelled closer to the Swiss border.
“I think we should do Switzerland for our next holiday,” James commented, moving his hand to Teddy’s thigh. “Imagine all the chocolate.”
Teddy made a hum of approval, glancing at James out of the corner of their eye.
“I like the way you think,” Teddy grinned. “No wonder I love you.”
Even though James had heard those words many times before, his heart still skipped a beat every time that Teddy said them.
“I love you, too,” James said. “Even if you do criticise my driving.”
Teddy laughed loudly, their face lighting up with glee. Teddy had a beautiful smile.
The ring James had in his back pocket seemed to throb in excitement. That would have to wait until Saint-Tropez, however - James was going to make sure that his proposal was perfect.
Of course Teddy said yes.
Author: leontinabowie
Prompt: #S49 by nerak_rose
Pairing(s): Teddy/James
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2,130
Content/Warnings: [Spoiler (click to open)]genderfluid Teddy
Summary: Snapshots of James and Teddy’s road trip in France
Author's Notes: This story contains genderfluid Teddy. Thank you nerak_rose for the excuse to write it :)
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the property of JK Rowling and associates. No copyright infringement intended.
“James, you prick, you better not be playing,” Teddy said faintly, eyes wide in shock as they stared at the VW camper - the hippie van, James affectionately called it.
It was pale blue with white rims, and she’d be all theirs for the next two weeks.
“Say hello to our new home,” James grinned, patting the side of the van fondly.
James and Teddy would be slowly making their way from the ferry crossing in Calais, going through rural France with no particular route in mind until they reached Saint-Tropez. Magic would only be used in emergencies - they were doing things the Muggle way from here on out. They were both long overdue a holiday, and James intended for it to be relaxing for them both.
They had been a couple for three years now, since James was eighteen. His parents were fine with it, but other family members had been quite outspoken about their disapproval - not just about their relationship, but about their lives in general, as well - and it was starting to take its toll.
James had quit Hogwarts at the age of sixteen, without getting any of his N.E.W.T.s. He had struggled at school for a long time; he found it hard to sit still and concentrate, and he had difficulty reading, and his behaviour suffered because of it. His dad and Aunt Hermione ended up taking him to a Muggle doctor who diagnosed him with ADHD and Dyslexia. It was too late for him to find interest in academics, though; he knew instead that he wanted to be a baker.
So after leaving school, James began washing pots at the Leaky Cauldron. When they finally promoted him to cooking in the kitchen, James had enough money to become Teddy’s flatmate - prompting the start of their relationship. James’s true passion was in baking, however, and he yearned to open his own cafe and bakery.
Teddy, on the other hand, was too ‘rebellious’ and ‘politically queer’ for James, according to Grandma Weasley. Teddy was genderfluid, meaning their gender - in Teddy’s case - moved between male, female, and agender - the latter meaning no gender at all. Teddy preferred ‘they/them’ pronouns for general reference or on agender days, but liked ‘he/him’ on male days and ‘she/her’ on female days. James and his family had accepted Teddy as they were, but a lot of his cousins and aunts and uncles were finding it hard to come to terms with. They got stuck on pronouns, and didn’t realise that there was more to Teddy’s gender identity than just deciding to wear ‘female’ clothes and long hair sometimes.
But James loved Teddy no matter how they looked or how they identified. It was Teddy who made James happier than anyone, and he hoped that this holiday would prove to Teddy just how much he loved them.
“So where to first?” Teddy asked, opening the door to the camper and peering inside.
“It’s late so we should set up camp somewhere, but after that we can go anywhere we want,” James answered, swinging an arm around Teddy’s shoulder. “Boulogne-sur-Mer isn’t far from here, and it’s on the coast. Fancy a trip to the beach?”
*She/Her*
As Teddy was a Metamorphmagus, they had the ability to change their body. Generally, though, Teddy had a handful of forms to switch between depending on how they were feeling.
Teddy was assigned male at birth, and sometimes experienced dysphoria towards what constituted their ‘male’ body, which left Teddy feeling uncomfortable and distressed.
James knew that Teddy’s current dysphoria must be quite intense, as Teddy had chosen to morph into the body that would be deemed more stereotypically female. She had made herself shorter with a plump body; thick thighs and curvy hips and an ample chest. James adored this form on Teddy, especially when she smiled that bright grin with lips glossed over with glittery purple lipstick.
Teddy was smiling now, as she walked hand-in-hand with James down the streets of Boulogne-sur-Mer. They weren’t talking much, but they didn’t need to, both taking in the sights of the classical French buildings. James didn’t know where to put his gaze next, eyeing up bakery after bakery, cheese shops, and cafes.
“Oh, that’s beautiful,” Teddy declared suddenly, pulling James over to a store window displayed with poshly dressed mannequins.
Teddy’s attention had been drawn in by a pink sun hat tied with a purple ribbon which finished in a bow. They entered the shop where Teddy tried on the hat, which went well with her currently lilac hair.
“We’ll have to get you a hat,” Teddy said, grinning at James through the mirror as she adjusted the brim of the hat. “How about a Beret? Very French.”
“You know I don’t do hats,” James pointed out, sticking his tongue out at Teddy which earned him a sharp glare from the shop assistant.
James often gloated to Al about how he had managed to avoid the dreaded ‘Potter hair’, but Al’s messy locks looked great under a beanie, while James had to hide in shame whenever he took his chef’s hat off after a shift.
“Yet you chose a job where a hat is part of the uniform,” Teddy laughed, having seen the horror of James’s hat hair. “I’ll take it, please,” she added, turning to the shop assistant.
They resumed their walk through the town, though this time with Teddy sporting the sun hat. They stopped along the way to buy brie baguettes and some éclairs, and finally reached the beach. There wasn’t much to it, just sand and sea, but it was warm, and the place was relaxing while also teeming with life. Children were playing games in the sand, teenagers were swimming, and families were eating picnics and building sandcastles.
James had made sure to bring his own bucket and spade, knowing he wouldn’t be able to sit still for too long. He found it dreadfully boring to be stuck in one place doing nothing, but he was happy to try for Teddy.
“These éclairs are delicious,” Teddy announced, leaning back and licking her lips innocently but looking incredibly sultry in the progress. “Not as good as yours, of course,” she added hastily, “but close enough.”
“Yeah?” James responded, leaning over to kiss Teddy’s lips lightly. “Not bad,” he grinned as he pulled away.
A child with a rainbow patterned kite ran past them, the fabric fluttering in the wind.
“I want one of those for Diagon Pride next year,” James said longingly. “That’ll beat those novelty sunglasses that Al and Scorpius wore this year.”
He looked back to Teddy, who was watching him with an adoring look on her face.
“You’re cute, James,” she said, smiling. “Don’t you worry; I’ll get you your rainbow kite.”
*He/Him *
On the days that Teddy identified as male, he would stick to the form that most closely resembled his natural body, though with a few subtle changes; he was tall and shaggy haired like his father had been, but Teddy had chosen to wear his hair in a shade of bright blue, and shaved closely at the sides but long on top in a typical undercut fashion. James always envied Teddy’s hair; because of his job, James couldn’t have his too long, though he got away with it a bit longer as he tied it up in top knot most days.
Teddy also had a habit of wearing James’s clothes on the days he identified as male. James’s wardrobe tended to consist of flannel trousers and jumpers which Teddy always complained were too itchy but gladly stole from James anyway. Irritatingly, Teddy would even go through James’s socks until he found a matching pair - James made sure that they didn’t match on purpose.
But even on days when Teddy was male, James would still happily hold his hands as they walked through the streets in their co-ordinated clothes. They would often get more dirty looks when people perceived them as a gay couple, but James didn’t care. He was happy, and Teddy was happy, and that was all that mattered.
They had stopped in a small commune called Marle, deciding to stop for a bite to eat at a cafe. The one they had found was a typical French bistro, with potted plants and seats outside the front. The waiter had glanced for just a bit too long at their joined hands, but waved them to a table without comment.
“You know, this is exactly the sort of place I’d like to own,” James commented, looking around the bustling street around them and the tables packed with people. “It’s so quaint and lovely.”
James could almost imagine his own place just like this one, with the smell of freshly baked bread wafting through the building, delicate pastries decorating the window, and people smiling over his food.
“What’s stopping you?” Teddy asked, rubbing his thumb in circles on James’s hand.
“Money,” James answered bluntly. After paying rent and living expenses, James just didn’t have enough money to buy his own place. He knew the Potter vaults were plentiful, combining ancestral funds with his parent’s own generous incomes, but he didn’t want to start his business owing someone. Even if he doubted his parents would ask him to pay them back, he would still feel like he had to.
The waiter returned then, pausing the conversation as they ordered their meals; Salade Niçoise for Teddy, and onion soup with freshly baked bread for James. James knew that Teddy was already eyeing up the pastries for later.
“Well, you know,” Teddy mused, “those cupcakes you baked the other week went down a treat at the shop.” The shop being Twilfitt and Tatting where Teddy worked. “Maybe you could start selling food to shop staff down Diagon; Lily and Al would help, and if Al’s doing it then Scorpius will, too. Don’t worry about it; you’ll get there.”
James smiled, leaning over the table to kiss Teddy softly.
“Thank you,” James said, the smile still lingering on his lips.
He could always count on Teddy to keep him smiling.
*They/Them*
Though Teddy’s gender fluidity confused some of their family and friends, they could at least understand Teddy’s presentation when he was male or female because Teddy’s Metamorphmagus abilities meant that he could easily fit into the binary that society had set. However, some days Teddy felt agender - like they didn’t have a gender - and that was the hardest for people to wrap their head around. It wasn’t everyone, of course, but James didn’t know how Teddy could hold their head high despite disapproving looks from Grandma Weasley, or ‘kind’ suggestions to tone it down from Uncle Percy.
It was their age, Teddy told James, that stopped Teddy from taking things to heart; they had six years on James, and in those six years a lot had been learnt. Whatever the reason, James could only admire Teddy even more, and he wished he could be as carefree as them.
Teddy was currently driving - they had taken over after one too many speeding incidents with James at the wheel. Their hair was shoulder length and bright pink, with a pink stubble on their chin to match. Teddy was on the shorter side but broader, and was wearing a blue dress with a cinched in waist, teamed with leather army boots and a leather jacket. James knew that sometimes Teddy would feel like they had to fit into a typical male or female look to combat their dysphoria, whereas on agender days they wore whatever they felt like wearing at that moment in time, regardless if they ‘matched’ or not.
Rain pounded against the windows of the camper, blurring the view of the green fields outside. Trees lined the roadside, the landscape getting rockier as they travelled closer to the Swiss border.
“I think we should do Switzerland for our next holiday,” James commented, moving his hand to Teddy’s thigh. “Imagine all the chocolate.”
Teddy made a hum of approval, glancing at James out of the corner of their eye.
“I like the way you think,” Teddy grinned. “No wonder I love you.”
Even though James had heard those words many times before, his heart still skipped a beat every time that Teddy said them.
“I love you, too,” James said. “Even if you do criticise my driving.”
Teddy laughed loudly, their face lighting up with glee. Teddy had a beautiful smile.
The ring James had in his back pocket seemed to throb in excitement. That would have to wait until Saint-Tropez, however - James was going to make sure that his proposal was perfect.
Of course Teddy said yes.