Chapter 2
James had been sitting in the same compartment as Louis, Lucy, Lysander, Lysander's girlfriend Rachel Wood, and Tony Lea, who was ignoring his attempts to chat her up. At least, she was trying to. James could see the smile slip across her face whenever he complimented her or flirted with her in a new way. James smirked at Louis, who looked like he was entirely fed up with the situation. James couldn't blame him. He could sense the anger that Lucy was slowly radiating, and figured Rachel Wood was going to be yelled at very soon if she didn't stop whispering to Lysander. Taking a glance around the carriage, he decided to depart.
"Alas, my presence must leave you now. Don't miss me too much," he said with a roguish wink, before heading into the corridor, and knocking a girl onto the ground. He recognised her as the gorgeous Slytherin who hung out with Malfoy all the time.
"Excusez-moi, Mademoiselle," James said charmingly, offering her a hand. Glaring at it, she accepted it grudgingly, and allowed him to haul her up.
"You might want to watch where you're going next time, Potter," she informed him, before making her way down the hall.
"Wait!" he called. She turned, hands on her hips.
"What?" she demanded. James swallowed.
"Don't I get to know your name?" he asked.
She snorted. "What, so you can tell any Slytherin you want to shag that you're not prejudiced because you helped me up?" she asked sardonically.
"Why would I need help getting a girl to shag?" he demanded.
"You're right," she said, faux-innocently. "There's no shortage of brain dead cleavage-on-legs at this school. You'll do fine!"
"Excuse me," James said hotly. "I don't just go out with girls for their physical assets-"
"No, you shag them because of their moral substance," she interrupted with a snort.
James had to subside. "Fine," he said grudgingly. "You sound far too much like Cassie, in my opinion," he muttered. The girl laughed.
"Lewis? I sound like the girl who managed to hex you silent for a day? I'm flattered," she said with a grin. James made a face.
"She's so mean to me," he whined.
"Look, as lovely as this chat has been, I honestly can't be bothered listening to you moan about how some Gryffindor girl isn't falling at your feet, so I'm going to go," the dark haired Slytherin said brusquely.
"What's your name?" he called again as she walked away.
"Bella," she yelled back.
"You suit your name, Miss Bella," he called charmingly, receiving only the middle finger in return.
James stared after her admiringly. Maybe he should give Al and Lucy more credit for surviving Hogwarts if they lived with people like her all the time.
With a low whistle, he headed down the corridor, and popped into the compartment of a familiar redhead.
