Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe was created by J.K. Rowling and I do not own the characters and places, I am just borrowing them for the story.
Authors note: Hi everyone! Welcome to my new story following James Sirius Potter and Maya Callie. The two are best friends (maybe something more?) and this is a story about their sixth and seventh years at Hogwarts! If you have any questions, comments, or theories, make sure to leave it in a review! Enjoy!
"Are you serious?!" James exclaimed angrily. "I'll kick his bloody-"
"James. It's fine," He shot me a dubious look. "Really! It's fine, I'm fine," I climbed off my bed and opened the door. "Can we go downstairs now?"
James put his hand softly on my wrist, which was currently resting on my bedroom doorknob. "Are you positive you're alright?" He kept eye contact with me, his hazel eyes trying the work out my inner thoughts.
"I'm- er, well...I'm- I'm okay," I sighed and stammered a bit while speaking.
"Are you sure? I mean, most people aren't okay after they discovered their boyfriend cheating on them," He paused, waiting for me to respond.
"I mean, I'd been happy with our relationship, I wasn't crazy for the guy,"
"So you're sure you're alright?"
"While I appreciate the concern, I'm over him. He was obnoxious anyways,"
"That's the spirit!" He said almost too cheerfully as he held the door open for me to exit. I shook my head, chuckling.
Even though I've known James Sirius Potter since I was six years old, it was still the slightest bit odd telling him that I had found out that my now ex-boyfriend cheating on me, that was usually something I would tell my older sister or my other best friend Ria.
My mum met James' parents at a junior quidditch league match and we were on opposing teams. To this day I will never let him forget that I, Maya Callie, beat him to the snitch. Thankfully, we don't have to compete for the snitch anymore, I have since switched over to watching from the stands. While James didn't catch the snitch in the junior league, he has certainly improved and now plays on the Gryffindor team. Anyways, from that match on, our parents had picnics and parties together almost every month and we saw each other every week. Right now, both families are at the our house for a barbecue because my mum insisted she try out a practically ancient muggle recipe she found.
We had grown to be the close friends and had told each other almost everything. However, I usually tended to talk about my- well, boy problems and what not with Ria or my older sister, Lauren. But seeing as Ria was in France for the summer and Lauren was working late almost every night, here I was with James. It's not that I don't trust James, it's just...he tends to be a bit, er, defensive. Last summer he hexed my old crush for calling me a prick (and a few other choice words). He also pushed a girl into the Black Lake after she had been insulting me for weeks in second year. See what I mean?
James and I laughed together as we walked down the creaky old stairs leading to the family room. When they had first gone upstairs, the parents had been there, but it seemed to be deserted at the current moment.
One of the reasons I loved when James' family came over was that usually my house was pretty quiet, even with all three of us kids and my mum were in it. My mum and dad had gotten divorced when I was young and I haven't really seen him since. You'd think this would make mum want to spend more time with us, but she tends to keep to herself. My mum is muggle born so I'm technically a half-blood because my dad was a pureblood, but I've been raised like a muggle born, I have an iPod and I listen to nineties and eighties muggle music.
Suddenly, we heard a crashing noise from outside. Laughing, James said, "That'll be Albus," I snorted, it had been very early on that I had learned to associate load noises with the Potter and Weasley families.
"This is absolutely delicious Mira!" exclaimed, looking at my mom, after taking a bite of the grilled chicken. The table had so much food on it that my mum had to use an extension charm on it. It was practically overflowing with everything from apple pie to zucchini.
"Why, thank you Ginny!" My mum replied with a smile on her face. "Don't you think so too Samuel?" She said, accentuating the last syllable of my younger brothers name, and she casted a withering look at him, while sulked quietly on the other side of the table.
Knowing my mother never used full names, James and I made eye contact and he raised an eyebrow. I mouthed the words: I'll tell you later to him and went back to serving my self some green beans.
Before the Potters arrived, I had been in my room listening to music on full blast. But unfortunately, of sound of dance music could not drown out the sound of my mum and Sam bickering, more like screaming their heads off to be honest. I wasn't completely sure of the reason but I had a feeling it had something to do with Sam crashing his Cleansweep 11 into the side of the house.
It was about an hour after dinner had ended and it was already pitch black outside. We were sitting in the family room, our parents having a separate conversation in the kitchen. While Lily was fighting Albus for the armchair near the fireplace, I was laying across the couch horizontally, resting my feet lazily across the side.
"What happened with your mom and your brother?" James inquired.
"They had a fight before you got here about Sam flying into the house or something," I said tiredly. "He'll probably get away with it though,"
James paused a second to ponder the idea but I quickly interrupted his thoughts. "That does not mean you should go fly into your house James!" I jokingly scolded him.
"Why not, Maya?" He replied with the same teasing tone.
"You'll get blasted out of your house, that's why," I replied with one of my signature eye rolls.
"Will not,"
"Will too,"
"Well I guess that means I'll have to come stay with you, doesn't it?"
I heard Lily say "I told you," to Albus. James seemed to have also noticed because he looked over at them as well, a puzzled expression crossing his face. Lily rolled her eyes and laughed, "You guys are so oblivious," She said before turning back to her conversation. James and I looked at each other with the same confused look on both of our faces. I shrugged and we both went back to our bickering.
Some time into the evening, the topic changed to Hogwarts. They were excited to head back to school, both for different reasons, and were amazed that they only had a month until their sixth year started. James paused before he looked as if he had just remembered something.
"Oh yeah!" James exclaimed. "Mum and dad wanted to know if you wanted to come to stay at the Burrow the last two weeks of summer, and the whole family is going to be there, so I'll need you to keep me sane," He joked as he playfully elbowed me in the arm.
"Of course! That sounds great!"
"Good, finally someone normal is attending," He said, grinning.
"Glad I can assist, but I would think first before calling me normal,"
"You're right, you're too much of an oddball,"
Rolling my eyes, I snorted, "Anyone else from school coming?"
"Nope, you're stuck with us Potters and Weasleys,"
I grinned.
I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. Summer holiday was so boring without James and Ria. Thankfully, I'm being picked up tomorrow morning and am heading to the Burrow with the Potters.
As a result of being such good friends with James, I've grown close to most of his cousins and siblings. The Potters and the Weasleys were all incredibly close to each other. While all the cousins poked fun at each other, they were also incredibly protective of each other; I could definitely see where James got it. Just being around such a big and happy family felt wonderful; it was much more welcoming than my own house is.
Opening my trunk, I threw in some of my clothes. Shorts, some of my nineties band tees, a couple plain solid color shirts, and a few other things. I also also added a sundress and a pouch of galleons, knuts and sickles for Diagon Alley. Latching the trunk closed, I heaved it to the foot of her bed. As I set the trunk down, I traced the golden painted stamping on the edges. The trunk had been a Christmas gift from James in fourth year.
I lay back on my bed, smiling sleepily as I thought of the two weeks I was going to get to spend with my friend and his family.
"Wake up Maya!" My mum pounded on the door. When I didn't move I heard her sigh and footsteps down the hall. Next, I heard louder, but more tentative footsteps heading to my bedroom. I suspected it was Sam, so, when there was a gentle knock on my door, I only groaned and rolled over in bed again, so I was facing away from it.
I heard the door creak softly open and shoved my head under my pillow with a resistant moan. "Go away Sam," I mumbled.
"Morning, Maya," I recognized the deep voice as belonging to James.
Shoot. I was supposed to be awake and ready by now.
"Warn a girl, will ya?" I said, sitting up and pulling the blankets over me so I was wrapped in them, somewhat like a burrito.
"Sorry," He mumbled quietly, as he ran a hand through his already untidy hair. I could see a blush creeping up his neck and ears. "But come on downstairs, yeah? We're leaving soon," And with that he briskly walked out of the room.
I exited my bedroom, closing the door behind me and dragging a trunk down the stairs. and James waited at the bottom of them. I guess noticed my struggling to lift the heavy trunk and he retrieved his wand from his pocket, summoning it and catching it swiftly in his hand when it zoomed towards him. I smiled and thanked him. "Sorry, I kept you waiting, I must not have heard my alarm," smiled kindly, "No need to worry, James insisted we take our time to get here. I believe his exact words were 'she'll probably still be sleeping'," He said with a chuckle.
James eyes glared at his fathers'. "Dad that is not wh-"
I snickered and jokingly nudged James in the arm, "Wow, your family must think I'm fantastic," I stated sarcastically, rolling my eyes.
"Nah, just slightly insane,"
A few minutes later was discussing something with my mum before we left and James and I were having our own conversation.
"You, well, um," James seemed to be fumbling for the right words. "You look nice," He settled on the sentence after thirty seconds of trying to get the sentence out.
I was caught off guard. Things were never this awkward between James and I.
"Oh! Er, thanks!" I said, as he smiled sheepishly. I was wearing a skirt and blouse that were showing a bit too much skin for my liking, but when Lauren got home late last night after work, she insisted that I wear one of her old outfits.
"Don't worry, tomorrow I'll be back to denim shorts and tee shirts," I joked, elbowing him in the side. A playful smirk was playing at James's lips. He knew I tended to dress down for the most part.
My thoughts were interrupted by who announced, "Alright, it's time we get going, let's go lovebirds," I'd assume that last part was directed at James and I. We both blushed almost instantly and James' eyes widened and snapped towards his fathers'.
"Dad-" James hissed.
"C'mon you know it was a joke, let's go," chuckled at his sons obvious discomfort. "Bye Mira,"
"Bye Harry, say hello to Ginny for me," Mum replied.
"Will do," answered as he stepped into the fireplace and was engulfed in green flames.
"See you, Maya," My mum gave me a tense hug, but at least she was trying.
"Bye mum," I replied, stepping into the fireplace. Much to my surprise, James stepped in as well. "Lovely seeing you Ms. Callie," He told my mum. And with that we were enveloped in green flames and disappeared.
Authors note:
I hoped you enjoyed that chapter! Please leave your thoughts, theories, and comments in the review section, thanks! See you next time!