Chapter 1: The hardest things to say is 'I love you'

"What!?!" a girl named Laura Hope screamed loud enough to carry around the great hall.

"Laura, what is wrong?" her best friend James Potter asks. Instead of answering him she thrusts the letter into his hands, stands up and runs out of the great hall crying. James watched her blonde hair disappear around the door. He picked up the letter she had given him and quickly scanned it over. "Shit!"

"James, what was up with Laura?" his cousin, Fred, asked him.

"Never mind, I will see you guys later, I think I know where she is." With that he ran out of the great hall after her. The first place he thought of was the Gryffindor common room. Then he realised that she hardly spent time in there when she didn't need to think. She wouldn't go to the room of requirement because she didn't really like it. The lake was too busy and the grounds were just too unhappy in general, especially on a cold day like this. That only left one place.

This particular place happened to be in the forbidden forest. Not all the way in but far enough in so that no one would ever find it. James and Laura had accidentally found it in their second year after being chased by a unicorn. It's not like it was their fault they had stumbled across a baby and wanted to stroke it.

James followed his usual path, half way around the lake until you see a patch of gooseberry trees. Walk to the left of those then keep going until you get to a clearing with a small grassy hill and a lake that looks as though it was made of jewels. Sure enough, sitting on the grass hill and staring into the lake, was Laura. He could tell at one she had been crying and it hurt him to see her beautiful blue eyes so wet and glassy. She rarely cried so this came as a shock to him.

James knew that there was nothing he could say to cheer her up so instead he walked up to her and sat down next to her. Right now she needed a friend, not a councillor. He gently put his arm around her and leaned his head on top of hers. Being a good few inches taller than her he was able to do this. There was nothing going on between James and Laura, they were just the best of friends.

"James, I can't go, I just can't." Laura sobbed into his shoulder.

"Come on, Laura. Moving schools isn't that bad," James said trying to reassure her.

"Not that bad? It wouldn't be that bad if I was staying in England or maybe Europe but America? How am I going to be able to live in America when all my friends are here?" she continued sobbing, James's shirt was getting very wet now. "I mean, I have no siblings coming with me, I have no cousins- I hate being the only child of only children. You are so lucky to have a big family, James."

"Ahh, you think that now but trust me, if you lived with them you would want to go back to your old life any day," he said trying to lighten the mood. It didn't work.

"You forget one thing, I do live with them. Technically."

"Ha, that's true." He grinned. "Laura, there must be a bright side to this. You always said look on the bright side, what's the bright side?"

"There isn't one as far as I can see."

"Come on, that's not true. For one you don't have to live with my family anymore," he said cheerfully. This only made her cry more.

"Hey, come on. I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you." She looked at him with her tear stained face. "Okay, Erm… you will make new friends."

"I don't want a new friend. I am quite happy with you and your cousins and Holly."

"Okay, America is hotter than here. You know how you are always complaining about not having a tan." This was not going well, that was his last bright side playing card.

"Yeah, it also has more rain, snow and has a hurricane or tornado every couple of months." Damn, stop shooting down my bright sides.

"That's it, I'm done. I have no more bright sides," he says lying back onto the grass, taking Laura with him.

"Told you so. I really don't want to leave tomorrow morning I don't even get to spend the holidays in England. I wish I was 17 now instead of in two months, and then I wouldn't have to go. I don't get why I can't stay at Hogwarts and just go back when I want to," she said bitterly. She would much rather stay in England with the man she loved. The man that just so happens to by lying next to her.

"You just answered your own question. You are not an adult yet. Trust me, I would rather you stay here too but you have to go until you finish school. But, why don't we make your last day of Hogwarts a memorable one?" Laura looked up just in time to see that mischievous glint in his eye that she loved so much.

"What are you planning on?"

"Oh nothing, come on."

"James, where are we going?"

"Forget Friday lessons, I think we deserve a trip to Hogsmede."

"James, I see a major flaw in this plan," Laura said as they ascended the stairs in the old creaky house called the shrieking shack.

"Oh, and what would that be?" James asked looking out the window.

"A: we are in the most haunted building in Britain and B: Aberforth Dumbledore is always on the lookout for stray kids that are meant to be in lessons right now."

"Okay, this building was never haunted in the first place and who says Aberforth will see us? Do you not remember my dad's invisibility cloak?" He pulled a silvery cloak out of his bag. "Besides, we are going up to the mountains for a picnic. I know a great place with an amazing view."

"Oh, is that where you went every time I couldn't come to Hogsmede with you? The top of a mountain?"

"No, not every time. I just thought that I would make this special for you since you are leaving tomorrow."

Laura smiled. He was so thoughtful sometimes but this is not it and she knows it. That gleam she saw earlier was one that wanted to cause mischief, not take his best mate to the top of a mountain for a picnic. She somehow knew that was why they were here rather than at school. It was to give his cousins time to do something so that she would go out with a bang.

Laura knew something was going on as soon as she got back to the common room that night. Fred and Scott were edgy and, by the look of it, exited like hell. Holly was acting strange and not looking me in the eye while Charlie (Holly's boyfriend) kept exchanging looks with Scott and couldn't keep the smile off his face. They were all really bad liars, but just to humour them she played along. In her opinion James was the only good liar out of all her friends- then again he has had to be because he spent the whole day with her.

"So, what does everyone have planned for tonight?" Laura asked just to see what lies they could come up with.

"I think you can guess what Charlie and I will be doing," Holly replied. Yeah, if I didn't know any better I would say making out in a classroom or a broom cupboard.

"Scott and I are going down to the pitch to play quidditch before the end of term tomorrow because we won't get to play during the holidays. I really hate parents sometimes," Fred mumbled.

"What do you mean?" Laura asked politely. She could tell the last part was true.

"My mum grounded me because I was causing too much trouble at school. Dad couldn't give a damn but mum is really uptight. 'Why can't you be more like Victoire? Why did you have to take after your father and Tiffany?'" Scott did the best impression of his mum James had ever heard, accent and all. "I swear I could murder her if she asks me why I can't be like Victoire one more time! As if she hasn't noticed, I'm not Victoire!"

"Ahh, the joys of being the eldest child!" James said in a mocking way.

"Yeah, you guys are all lucky, you are all the eldest or only and you don't have to put up with three girls." Scott sat back in his chair and started to sulk.

"Cheer up Scott. At least you aren't moving to America with them, never to see anyone again!" Laura had tears coming back into her eyes again.

"Hey, don't cry again. I swear that I will come and visit. If I have to drag the whole family out then so be it." James grinned as Laura laughed slightly.

"I still don't get why dad couldn't get a new job in England. There are plenty at our ministry, why couldn't he work in their accidental magical reversal department? It's just so unfair!"

"Laura, remember what we said this morning? This is your last day; don't waste it by getting upset. Come on, we are putting on the DA tonight, don't worry and come along. Be remembered as the girl who kicked ass." James laughed with Laura.

"No, the girl who kicks your ass every time we have those meetings!"

"Whatever!" he bumped her shoulder in a light friendly gesture.

"I'm going upstairs I will see you guys at the meeting after dinner, see you later," Laura said standing up.

"Bye," everyone replied in unison as she walked towards the girls' staircase.

Once James was sure he was out of sight he turned to Scott. "Is everything ready?"

Scott grinned. "Yep, everything is in place, all you have to do is get her there."

James smiled and sat back.

"James, can I ask you something?" Holly asked.

"You just did."

Holly shot him a ha-ha-very-funny look before continuing. "When are you going to tell Laura you love her?"

James immediately snapped his attention to Holly. "I don't know what you mean," he said feeling a little uncomfortable.

Holly rolled her eyes at him. "Yes you do. James, it is obvious that you feel more than friendship for her, you have arranged a whole fun party tonight and you are constantly around her. Its obvious so why don't you tell her how you feel?"

"Well, now isn't exactly the right time. Besides, we are all leaving tomorrow for the holidays and she is never coming back! If I told her then I wouldn't be able to cope."

Holly smiled before exclaiming, "Ha, you do love her! I knew it!" James rolled his eyes at her as if to say, 'yeah, that isn't helpful!' "But this is what I am saying, it is the right time and as you said she is leaving tomorrow. Would you rather have one night with her knowing how she feels about you or go your whole life not knowing?"

"I hate that you are so perceptive!"

"No you don't, you love me."

"But not as much as Laura!" Fred said laughing.

James gave an annoyed growl before retreating to the boys' dormitories. Yes, he did love Laura but now she is leaving he couldn't cope with the rejection as well as her leaving to America.

"James, are you coming to dinner?" Fred asked almost two hours later. Now the guys were sitting down in the common room playing various games. Well, Scott and Fred were, James was just staring into the fire trying to find out whether he should tell Laura about his feelings. Finally after debating with himself for an hour he had come to a conclusion; he has to know.

"No, I need to talk to Laura and check on things, you go ahead."

"Okay, see you later mate. Good luck," he said with a smile before disappearing out the portrait hole.

"Thanks," James muttered to himself.

Just then Laura came and sat beside him in front of the couch on the floor.

"Hey, you not going to dinner?" she asked James.

"No, I'm thinking instead."

"What about? You should be care free, Christmas holidays coming up. You get to have a fun time in the snow with your cousins," she said bitterly.

"Care free? I'm never care free. Listen, can we go for a walk? Unless you want to go and have some dinner," he said nervously. He was going to have to tell her at some point. It was no use doing it tomorrow when he would never see her again, he had to know now.

"No, I will go for a walk. Give me a second to grab my coat."

James just nodded and watched her disappear with her blond hair swishing behind her as she climbed the stairs. James sighed as he thought that he might never see her again and they might never stay in touch with each other. As soon as she goes to America she will make new friends and might forget all about the people she left behind. 'No!' James thought. 'I can't let that happen!'

A minute later Laura came rushing back downstairs with her muggle winter coat on.

"I though you said you would be a second?" James said playfully. Laura laughed.

"Come on, let's go."

James smiled and led the way out of the portrait hole. They walked in silence through the castle and all the way up to the lake. It felt weird not talking to each other, normally neither would shut up long enough to let the other talk.

"Laura?"

"Umm?"

"Er, listen I have to ask you something. I know that you are leaving and all tomorrow and we will probably never see each other again. Which, after I ask you this it probably won't be a bad thing…" he rambled.

Laura giggled. "James, you are not making any sense whatsoever."

"Right, what I'm trying to say is…" he took a deep breath to steady himself. "Do you want to go to dinner?" 'Damn! Why couldn't I just say it?'

Laura gave James a curious look. "Dinner? Somehow I don't think that is what you wanted to tell me…"

"No, it wasn't." he sighed again. "I just don't seem to be able to get the words out. I guess I should just show you instead."

Laura gave him another curious look. This was not how James behaved… ever. He was usually so confident and sometimes a little cocky. But never nervous or scared. She was starting to worry about him.

"James what-"

She was cut off by James suddenly bringing his face closer to hers and kissing her sweetly on the lips. It was a very slow, sweet kiss but in her mind it was too short. Far too short.

"I'm sorry… I shouldn't have… oh god what have I done? It was not supposed to happen like that!" he rambled, not making full sentences.

"James… James…JAMES!" Laura was beyond confused now. What on earth was going on?

"What?" he practically shouted, his back still turned to her.

She ran to him and put a hand on his shoulder. She slowly turned him around and looked into his eyes. What she saw she did not expect. It was love, pure love and a little bit of… fear? What was he afraid of?

"James, what is going on?"

"I love you god damn it! There I said it I love you. Shit! Why can't I keep my tongue under control?" he was rambling again.

"James!" She grabbed his hand to stop him from running off. She looked at him again but he didn't seem to want to meet her eyes. "James, you have no idea how long I have been waiting to hear those words come out of your mouth." He looked back up at her with a questioning look. She smiled and whispered. "I love you too."

He smiled as she brought her lips back to his. They stood for several moments in a sweet kiss before Laura started to run her hand through his messy black hair and deepen their kiss. James mirrored her actions and backed her against the tree they were stood in front. She winced slightly as her back hit it. James noticed and stopped kissing her.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you."

"I'm okay; maybe we should take this somewhere a little more private, it looks like dinner has finished," she replied nodding towards the castle entrance. There were a few students going for a walk before curfew.

"Sure, how about the astronomy tower?"

"James… how many times have you been up there to make out?" she asked curiously.

"Who said I ever have?"

Laura thought for a moment. He had a point he had never told her about any of this before. "Have you?"

"That, Laura, is for me to know and for you to find out."

Laura smiled. "In other words, no."

i know i shouldnt have started any new stories considering i already have like fourteen unfinished ones but trust me they are getting written :)

anyway, this is the first chapter and i know that things are going a bit fast but they need to be because this is not my story its just more of an introduction to it all so you will have to bare with me on that :) i decided to post this because i already have the first three chapters done and i will post the next one soon :)

in the mean time could you review me and tell me what you think?