Thick of it : reboot

The attack on Mrs. Norris had left a lingering unease in the air, and James found his thoughts drifting deeper into the tangled web of Voldemort's dark machinations. Standing at the edge of the Gryffindor common room, gazing into the flickering embers of the dying fire, he couldn't help but reflect on the daunting challenge that lay ahead: the Horcruxes.

He had known for a long time that Voldemort's survival hinged on these fragments of his soul, scattered and hidden in objects of significance. The diary, the locket, the ring, the cup, the diadem, Nagini… and Harry himself. Each piece was a puzzle, tied to a timeline he had to carefully navigate. Acting too soon could disrupt the fragile balance of events, but waiting too long might allow disaster to spiral out of control.

James leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples as he thought about the timeline. His memory, though sharp, was not infallible, and he had spent countless nights trying to piece together the order of events. The attack on Mrs. Norris reminded him that the diary would soon come into play. But more importantly, he knew the time for action would follow Hagrid's arrest and brief imprisonment in Azkaban.

"Hagrid," James muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the crackling fire. The thought of the gentle giant rotting away in that wretched place made his stomach churn. He knew he couldn't let that happen. Hagrid's exoneration hinged on the discovery of the diary and the eventual revelation that Tom Riddle had been the true culprit behind the opening of the Chamber of Secrets decades ago. Without that, Hagrid might remain imprisoned, and the ripple effects could throw everything into chaos.

He exhaled deeply, his mind turning to the Horcruxes themselves. Each was a danger in its own right, a cursed object tied to Voldemort's essence. The diary would eventually destroy itself, thanks to Harry and the basilisk fang. But what of the others? The locket in the cave, the cup in Bellatrix's vault, the diadem in the Room of Requirement… and Nagini.

Nagini.

James's mind lingered on the serpent. The idea of directly confronting the snake was tempting. He could bypass years of waiting, track her down, and destroy her along with the Horcrux within. But then his thoughts turned to the prophecy, the one spoken by Trelawney and overheard by Snape.

"Neither can live while the other survives."

The prophecy wasn't just about Voldemort—it was about Harry. Harry was destined to face the Dark Lord, to be the one to bring an end to his reign of terror. If James stepped in too much, if he took on the burden that was meant to be Harry's, would he risk unraveling everything?

James closed his eyes, his thoughts spiraling. Was fate truly an entity, a master weaver of events, guiding them along a singular thread in a tapestry of countless possibilities? Or was fate merely a byproduct of choices, coincidences aligned so perfectly that they felt predestined? Perhaps the prophecy itself was never meant to be absolute, just one possible outcome glimpsed by Trelawney, turned into a reality by Dumbledore's careful manipulation.

He let out a frustrated sigh. The questions were endless, and answers elusive. If fate existed as an entity, it would not hesitate to eliminate someone like him—someone who knew too much and could disrupt its plans. If fate did not exist, then the prophecy was simply a tool, and his actions could drastically change the course of history. Either way, he couldn't afford to gamble recklessly.

"Let's not worry about what's out of my control," James muttered to himself. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Focus on what I can do."

One thing was certain: every Horcrux carried with it a dark influence, a malevolent aura that brought misfortune to those who interacted with it. The diary had possessed Ginny. The ring had cursed Dumbledore. The locket had sown discord among Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

James frowned, his fingers drumming against the armrest. To deal with the Horcruxes himself would mean subjecting himself to their dark influence, a risk he wasn't sure he was willing to take. He had seen enough of Voldemort's evil to know that these objects were not to be trifled with.

Perhaps the best course of action was to let Harry take the lead, just as he had in the original timeline. Harry was the focal point of the prophecy, the one destined to bring Voldemort down. James could act as a guide, a silent hand steering events when needed, but not interfering more than necessary.

"Support from the shadows," James murmured. "That's the best I can do."

He thought about the diary, the first Horcrux to come into play. Ensuring its destruction would be crucial. After that, he would have to bide his time, watching events unfold and stepping in only when absolutely necessary. The other Horcruxes would be trickier, but if Harry, Ron, and Hermione could handle them in the original timeline, they could do so again—with a little help.

His thoughts turned back to the prophecy, the words echoing in his mind. Perhaps fate wasn't some grand, omnipotent force. Perhaps it was simply a series of choices made by individuals, each one leading to the next.

James leaned back in his chair, staring into the embers of the fire. He would have to walk a fine line, balancing his knowledge of the future with the need to let events play out as they should. It wouldn't be easy, but then again, nothing ever was.

For now, he would prepare, plan, and wait. The diary was the first step, and after that… well, he would deal with the challenges as they came.

As the fire burned low, James felt a strange sense of calm. The path ahead was uncertain, but he was ready to face it.