I almost never write about James separately from Sirius, Lily or Sev. It’s not fair because there are many things about him worth writing about. And what better reason to do it than today, on his birthday 🥹
James might be one of those characters I came to understand very late. At first, 2 years ago, when I returned to the hp fandom after a long break, I just didn’t find him interesting — I thought he was barely a character, either a golden retriever or spoiled rich boy. Yet, when I dove into analysing the marauders, James fascinated me.
Some say he’s a flat character, but he’s actually one of the most realistic and interesting ones. He has duality, what I call the duality of “good should come with fists”. There’s something in him that doesn’t fit into the framework of perfectly fabulous christian virtues. James is a pure leader archetype, with all the good and bad that comes with it.
It was James who could lead people. It was James who could make hard but necessary decisions. It was James who could show compassion where it was needed and fists where they belonged. Sure, he had to mature, but he had something none of the other marauders did. And that’s what made him who he was.
He wasn’t perfect, but he was alive, proactive, he never stayed silent, never hesitated. And he never ever stopped caring.
That’s the essence of James Potter. A man who cared.
He had everything. A future wife he dreamed of, money to live on, a position that could keep him safe. But he made a choice, a dangerous choice that few people made — to risk everything for the ideals he believed in. Not for glory — what glory was there in fighting for a secret organisation when they were so obviously losing?
He did it because he cared.
Happy birthday, James Potter.
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