Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, I merely play in the sandbox.

Star Crossed Lovers 2019 Rewrite

I originally wrote this back in 2012, I had just finished at University and was looking for something to fill my time while I searched for a job. Originally posted on my old account on . The original draft of this makes me cringe! My writing back then was terrible, I am grateful that I have improved with time. I had been reading a lot of Next Generation Harry Potter stories at the time and this seed of a plot burrowed into my brain and demanded attention. I have expanded the original story to make it more flowy and to give the plot a better chance at standing on its own two feet. This is a James (II) Potter/OC story. Each chapter is from a different character POV and there is an insight to each character (how I wrote/interpreted them) at the beginning of each chapter. I realise I have more or less grouped everyone in the same year, though I don't actually mention it as such. I understand that they would be in different years but for the sake of this story I merged them together.

Insight into OC Kaitlin:

Hi, I'm Kaitlin. Life has been unkind to me but it's changing for the better. See, when I started at Hogwarts, it was really tough, and I was this little kid with no friends and no confidence. Then I met wicked cool people who made the bad stuff feel like a dream. I met Crystal Carr first, she's a real handful and the type of person who will tell you the honest truth, bluntly, all the time, even if you didn't ask for it. Then I met Rose Weasley, and I used to think she was just interested in books, but she's mellowed out recently. Finally I met the Potter's, Lily, Albus and James. Lily makes me laugh, she's so in your face and unafraid, sometimes I wish I could be more like her. Then there is Albus, he's incredibly loyal and friendly, he always tells me that I make his days better. Then there is James, he didn't notice me until a few years back but now he notices me all the time. There's a catch though…he only sees me as a sister. We used to be really close, then he discovered girls and I was no longer important to him. That's a problem because I'm head over heals in love with him!

Chapter One - Kaitlin

Staring up at the Hogwarts Express never got old. It always filled me with a sense of longing and excitement. I always found myself wondering at the magic around me and thanking my lucky stars that I was born with magic. I was going into my sixth year at Hogwarts and I couldn't wait to be back at the castle. Summer was…an all-consuming nightmare. I would have stayed in the castle if I'd had a choice, but they don't allow students to stay on through the summer, so I'd had to return to the hell of my home life.

I pulled my hair over my face as far as I could, nervously rubbing my arms with my hands. My hair had been cut this summer (not my choice) and it was cut badly, (on purpose.) I put cream on my hair and used a cheap spell to try and hide it, but I was really scared that someone would notice, someone like Lily. Lily had been trying to figure out my secret for years, not about me being in love with James (she's known that forever), but the other one, the where I spend my summers one…the one about my family. I don't want anyone to know and that suits me just fine. Lily can keep on asking questions and I'll just keep on ignoring them, like I'd been doing for years now.

You may be wondering why I hadn't told James I liked him, I mean my brain asks that question daily. See, James had a girlfriend and not a nice one that would be hard to hate. James dates a bipolar girl, I mean I don't think she has bipolar but it's in the way she acts so nice towards James but such a bitch to everyone else. Especially me, she doesn't like me at all.

I've learnt to block her out. Thing about James was that he was rather gullible. Whomever he was dating became the voice of knowledge. James was known for believing his current girlfriend over friends he'd known for years and even siblings. It was an unflattering trait. I knew that Lily was pissed off with the way James had changed in the last year. I mean, it had gotten worse and I didn't like it either, but he had a right to live his life and date who he wanted – even if it turned him into a total douche bag! If she made him happy then who was I to interfere? If she hurts him I'm not opposed to slitting her throat…

Still, as I gazed up at the Hogwarts Express, the red coat gleaming in the sunlight, I reminded myself that I was a good person. Like many creatures I've adapted to the life I lead. I had a sharp tongue (which I definitely put to good use over the summer), but I haven't been brave enough to use it much at school. I had always been more of a 'keep quiet and keep your head down' but after this summer I had decided that I needed a change. My normal approach to life was no longer working. So why bother. I should just let people see the real sarcastic me. If someone comes for me this term, they're going to regret it. I guess I grew a backbone over the summer or perhaps I just reached my limit and snapped.

I scanned the crowd, looking for familiar faces. I tried to portray the confidence I was not feeling inside. Clenching and clenching my hands, I tried to cool myself down.

"Kaitlin, Kaitlin, over here," came Lily's voice, shouting over the crowds of others.

I was drawn to her voice like a moth to a flame. It always confused me how Lily sounded so happy all the time, even when she was cross!

"Lily," I shouted in reply as I finally managed to push my way through the crowd and hugged her fiercely.

"I've missed you," she said while trying to squeeze all the oxygen out of me.

"Lily, I can't breathe."

She slapped me playfully on the shoulder. I winced, that girl had a hidden strength.

"How was your summer?" she asked.

"Alright, say old thing, you know?"

"What? That's it? No adventures or cute boys? Tell me you didn't spend all day indoors."

"Nope, I lived, just not as extravagantly as you," I replied and, hoping she'd stop interrogating me, I asked how her summer was.

"Same old. James had the nerve to invite that skank over, urgh! It didn't take Mum long to see her true colours. She said it was just like when Uncle Ron was dating this Lavender girl. It's funny though, I've never seen Mum have to pretend to like one of James's girlfriends. Granted, this is the first girl he's brought home but still, it was a bit of a surprize to us all. None of us thought they were serious," she said.

"Oh," was all I could think of to say and it fell flat as Lily's words.

I hadn't realized that James was serious about this girl, I had hoped that it was just a passing fling like all the others and that he would miraculously realize he had deep feelings for me – like he did in my dreams. It was stupid to think that way but my feelings for James went way beyond an ordinary girl crush. I was in so deep I was drowning.

"Speak of the devil and he shall appear," muttered Lily.

To my utter embarrassment, James Potter was heading our way. I wished I didn't get butterflies every time I saw him. I hoped he didn't notice my hair.

"Hey Kaitlin," he said in his ridiculously sinful voice that made me melt inside.

"Hi James," I replied breathlessly.

He smirked, that James Potter smirk of his that sent all the thoughts in my head into disarray and turned me into a bumbling idiot.

"Good summer?" he asked.

"It was alright."

"Lily here missed you loads and so did Al."

I wish you missed me I thought.

"How was your summer?" I asked, cringing in suspense over what he would say.

"It was great. Harmony came over and met the parents. I think she made a good impression, isn't that great?"

"Yeah," I replied lamely.

My heart panged with memories of our friendship that was now practically cockroaches in the dirt. I wished I had the confidence to speak my mind and not become so socially awkward.

James was looking at me, the look in his eye was intense and I found myself blushing under the scrutiny. I caught his eye for a moment and it was like we were in a different time and place. Lily broke our connection with her voice and I couldn't help but feel I'd lost something.

"Here comes Harmony," she said and then added in a mumble, "the she devil."

"Hi Jamesy, I've been looking everywhere for you," she said.

Harmony was one of those girls who was incredibly clingy and think that type of sugar sweet talk was attractive. She was a popular girl, a liar and a criminal – in my eyes only and I was happy to continue feeling that way. She was bad news and had somehow got her claws into James. I hated her.

"Sorry love, I've been talking to family," he replied, leaning in to give her a kiss.

If I have to put up with seeing them kiss all year, I'm going to need therapy.

"Oh how silly of me, I didn't see them there."

Really? Like I just saw you walk up to all three of us. I didn't know Harmony was blind as well as stupid!

Lily and I exchanged a roll of the eye. How James couldn't see past his rose-tinted glasses was beyond me. Then again, love does blind people, but I refused to believe that James was really in love with her. It was like saying Santa Claus was married to the devil. It just wouldn't happen.

"Why are you blind?" asked Lily.

Harmony's eyes darkened, "no, you're just too pathetic to notice."

This was usual Harmony behaviour, what wasn't usual was that she was doing it in front of James. Usually when James was present she was sickly sweet and kept up with her fake persona. She usually saved this ugly bitch persona for when she was away from James and could bully others to her hearts content.

This would be the part where James was supposed to step in and tell his girlfriend to shut up and not call his sister and friend pathetic, but he didn't.

"At least I'm not a first-rate bitch," said Lily.

I could see her shaking with barely concealed anger, he eyes were hard and dark, she was itching for a fight with Harmony. I could feel my own body preparing for things to get ugly. With every word Harmony said, I bristled with anger, my jaw tensing under the weight of my anger.

"Lily, that's enough!" said James firmly.

Lily shook her head, disappointed with her brother and I too couldn't believe he had let Harmony get away with insulting his own sister.

"James she's a bitch and everyone knows it. It's not my problem you're too blind to see it. She's also a bully and bullies one of your best friends, which FYI you completely ignore. So do me a favour big brother, stay the hell away from me till you've come to your senses. Oh and Mum was faking her happiness, she doesn't like Harmony either," said Lily in a furiously control voice.

It was scary to see her so. I wanted to bring the happy-go-lucky Lily back into place. Lily stormed off after saying her piece and left me to be the awkward wheel to James and Harmony. I should have walked away but I couldn't seem to move.

Harmony looked murderous while James was expressionless. I felt sick. Lily had just said what I wanted to say. Perhaps it was a good thing she'd said it instead of me because James probably would have exploded if I'd said it. I wondered how long Lily had kept those thoughts inside her over the summer. I was surprised she had lasted so long before she exploded.

"How dare she say that to me," screamed Harmony.

It was a horrible sound, like nails on a chalkboard.

"I am none of those things Jamesy, and your sister is a liar. Why didn't you stick up for me? Your sister is a bitch, she's trying to split us up. She should be locked away for her lies."

Through her entire tirade, James remained silent and eventually his eyes locked with mine. I wondered what had happened to the carefree, confident man I'd seen growing up behind those eyes. I'd never seen James so submissive before, it was both scary and repulsive. I couldn't believe how much he'd changed just for a girl to notice him.

I sighed, gathering my courage for what might be the last moment of my friendship with James.

"James, you're being a dick, not just to me but to your other friends and family. Grow up and stop seeing what you want to see and start looking at reality. Harmony, please don't lie, you really aren't that good at it. You're a bitch and a bully and frankly I've had enough of your vile attitude. The sooner James realizes who you truly are the better."

I felt strangely empowered for saying what I felt, until I tried to walk away and got caught by James's quick Quidditch reflexes.

"What the hell Kaitlin?" he snarled.

I just stared at his hand on my arm, the pressure he applied was causing me pain and I willed him to let go. This was not the James I knew, and it was scaring me.

"How dare you talk to me and Harmony like that! Where is this coming from? It isn't like you to speak up like this," he said.

I almost felt sorry for him. Six years and he still acted as if he knew me. He knew nothing.

Remember I spoke about reaching my limit and snapping? I snapped so hard here I became a different person. Well, I became the person I had always been but the person I had hidden from everyone else.

"Oh Jamesy," I said, adopting a sickly-sweet voice and one so often used by the vile girl standing before me. "You don't know anything about me. I can talk to you and Harmony however I like, after all she talks to me how she likes. How would you know what I'm like James? You've never bothered to ask me any personal questions in the six years that I've known you. I don't want to be your friend right now James, I mean, it's not as if we've been friends for a while. You seem to like denial so much that regardless of who tells you the truth, you'll always believe Harmony first. It makes me sick but none of us can make you drink the water, we can only lead you to it."

"I'm not in denial. Harmony is an amazing witch. I'm happy to be with her."

"Really? That's the line you're going with? What made you do it? What made you want to date the one girl whose made my life hell for six years? Did our friendship really mean that little to you?"

"I know lots about you," he said, deflecting.

"Prove it."

"Your favourite colour is read, and you love chocolate frogs," he said triumphantly.

I looked at him with disbelief, wishing with all my heart that I didn't love him as I did.

"You're wrong," I managed to say before walking away.

Weaving through the crowds and dragging my trunk behind me, I finally managed to get onto the Hogwarts Express and began searching compartments for Lily. It was always rammed in the corridor and difficult to get through without bumping into other people or gaining bruises.

I eventually found Lily after about fifteen minutes of jostling past people. She was crammed into a compartment with Crystal, Albus, Rose and Scorpius. James hated Scorpius but he and Albus were good friends. Besides, everyone knew that Scorpius and Rose liked each other. We'd all taken bets on when they would get together. Lily seemed to have calmed down since her outburst at James and no doubt she'd been moaning about it prior to my arrival.

"Where have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you," she demanded with her arms crossed over her chest and a stern look in her eyes.

Seriously.

"Thanks for leaving me after you'd said your piece. You left me with no way to dig out of the hole you'd made."

"Oops."

"Don't pout at me, I'm trying to be mad at you."

"Look I'm sorry alright? Sometimes I get so angry I just need to excuse myself. What happened when I left?"

"Harmony went off about how mean you were and why didn't James stand up for her etc. Oh and she also recommended that you should be locked up for your lies."

"What did James do?"

"What do you think? He did nothing of course, Harmony could poison him, and he'd still be singing her praises."

"What did you do?"

"I might have borrowed some of your sass and unleashed a fury similar to your outburst…"

"Wait, wait, wait!" said Crystal (my best friend ever!), she was smiling one of her big smiles that stretched from ear to ear.

"You unleashed fury onto James? Feisty!"

"I thought you weren't going to get involved," said Albus.

"I reached my limit."

"Yeah, out of all of us, Kaitlin has endured the most from Harmony Albus," said Lily.

"Look, I know he's your brother Albus and you want him to be happy, but I can't ignore the way Harmony treats me anymore. I'm not going to lie down and take her abuse just because James can't see who she really is."

"Wow," said Rose, peaking up from behind her book.

"You've changed," said Scorpius.

"I second that. What happened over the summer?" asked Albus.

"I snapped," I replied coolly.

I knew I should be kinder, these were my friends after all, but I couldn't risk them knowing about my secret – which was getting larger by the second.

"Ok," said Lily, staring intently at me. I felt myself shrink under her gaze.

The topic, thankfully, moved away from me and my newly grown backbone. I didn't mean to sound mean, but I'd kept this secret for the better part of six years and just because it happened to have gotten worse, didn't mean I was going to suddenly crumble down. I squeezed myself into a corner of the carriage, wincing in pain as my body was battered against the window.

The train ride went smoothly, all things considered. I left the carriage compartment halfway through in search of some food and a toilet break. I came upon them quite suddenly. I was going to continue walking, not wanting to hear more mushy love fool talking but then I heard my name and against my better judgement, I stayed to listen.

As I listened, my heart tightened in my chest, my eyes became sore with unshed tears and I struggled to control my breathing. It was as if the world had crashed down before me and I couldn't help but think of how foolish I'd been. Of course he didn't like me, I was nothing to him. I'd been living in a deluded fantasy for so long that I'd started to believe it was real. In reality he was only tolerating me because I was his sister's friend. Still the words stuck in my head; 'she means nothing to me, ' just using her, 'too blind to see,' 'I don't know her' and 'I don't like her.'

The words circled faster and faster in my mind until it was all just a blur. I couldn't see. Stars began to appear across my vision as I stumbled away. My recently acquired backbone crumbled from within and pushed me onto the floor like dead weight. I tried to heave myself up but too hard. Romeo and Juliet had it easy. I meant nothing to him. The darkness appeared, and I welcomed it like an old friend.