Alice was quite anxious to bury the hatchet with James. And if it meant she'd feel more at ease around everyone she was willing to hear what he had to say.
James' POV/3rd person
I watched Alice as she left mum's old room. I noticed how she seemed curvier as of recently and her blonde hair had gotten longer. Words couldn't describe how badly I wanted to kiss her.
James thought she was the most beautiful girl in the world. Her eyes were always bright and lively, smiling even when she wasn't. It was hard for her to look upset or angry because she had blue-green gems that matched her spirit. She was tough too. At the end of term James had a bit too much fire whiskey at the celebratory Quidditch House Cup Party and had tried to kiss Alice in a corridor. Alice had managed to push him away from her. She had slapped James across the face while threatening to have him expelled. The scene was witnessed by Albus and Fred II who played seeker and beater respectively. They had followed James knowing all too well that he could get out of hand when it came to Alice especially if he was drunk. Albus had begged Alice not to go to her father who just so happened to be Head of Gryffindor house. In reality Alice had no intention to do so but she was majorly pissed and she advised Albus to tell James to back off. James had done so for the short time until term ended but he was going crazy inside and couldn't help himself, he just couldn't stay away.
He sprinted towards the exit needing to speak with her desperately.
"Alice, wait please. I have to talk to." He purposely positioned himself in close proximity to her. Just being near her drove him crazy. She promptly stepped away from him.
"Go on then." This was a reply James hadn't been expecting.
"I didn't think you'd give in so easily"
"Well I know how much you enjoy the pursuit so I thought I'd save us both the trouble."
James was a bit speechless.
"What's the matter Potter? Don't you want to invite me into your pants? Too bad Nick isn't here for you to start threatening"
"Alice! Can I get a word in edge-wise?"
Alice crossed her arms over her chest and slightly furrowed her brow allowing James to speak without interruption.
"You look so cute when you're trying to be serious," James commented with a grin.
"That's it." Alice turned and started moving towards the front door.
"No Wait!" James grabbed Alice's hand. Alice turned back looking down at their joined hands and then up at James.
"I wanted to apologize about what happened in the corridor. I was drinking fire whisky . . . and I know that's not an excuse but I'm sincerely sorry. I also wanted to thank you for not running to your dad or McGonagal."
Alice couldn't look away. From the moment James' hand wrapped around hers she couldn't help but notice how right it felt. As a result she zoned out a bit as James spoke. Catching the gist of his apology Alice feebly stuttered in response.
"I I—uh . . . Well then." Was all Alice could reply she looked down she suddenly had a hard time keeping eye contact with James.
"Always so much eloquence Alice."
"I'm going to head back outside now."
James slowly released her hand making sure to graze her fingers as he did so.
Alice hurriedly made her way outside. She didn't know what to make of the moment. So she decided to ignore it. She also decided not to return to her seat and instead joined into a Quidditch debate between some of the cousins. They were arguing which Quidditch team would make it to the Quidditch Cup. Alice liked Quidditch well enough which is what made going to games difficult. James who played Chaser was quite the show-off. He also frequently bribed the commentator to pay Alice a compliment on his behalf. While Alice argued her faith in the Chudley Cannons James kept slipping into her mind against her will. He could be a charmer all right but Alice was too logical to forget that he was also a ladies' man he had a reputation for it. James had never had a steady girlfriend rather he went casually from girl to girl. James was stupid in believing Alice didn't know the depth of his casual relationships. He also didn't know that Alice herself had spotted him snogging random girls in the corridors on more than one occasion. Alice knew James wasn't hers and so she shouldn't care or judge but it always made her feel a pit in her stomach. It also solidified to Alice how his infatuation with her was just that plain infatuation.
In fourth year before Alice and her current boyfriend Nick had become a couple she spent Valentine's Day feeling extremely lonely amongst the many couples. In her last class of the day she had found a red rose on her desk with a note simply saying "Love, James." The flower had managed to brighten her day and Alice thought she'd be polite enough to thank James. When she went to look for him she found him near the Quidditch Pitch snogging a fifth year girl from Ravenclaw. Alice was shocked. It was like her heart fell. She knew then that not only could she never give James a chance but they could never be friends. She didn't appreciate it when people played with her emotions. She let the rose drop from her hands and ran back to the castle. She eventually ran into her dad who noticed how upset she looked. Alice had shrugged off his concern and had never told anyone of the incident. The painful memory lived vividly in her mind though.
Lily Potter's insistence that the Holyhead Harpies would not only make it the Quidditch World Cup but also win brought her back to reality.
"No way!" Alice interjected. "I'm telling all of you the Cannons are taking it all."
"I always had a soft spot for you Alice." Ron Weasley remarked who was a Chudley Cannon fan since his youth. "Intelligent girl she is." He remarked.
"Thanks Uncle Ron." Alice said giving Ron a half-armed hug.
Suddenly piercing crying could be heard coming from inside.
Alice set her lemonade down. "The tykes are up! Be right back! Maybe we can have a friendly match of Quidditch later." She directed this comment towards Rose who like Alice didn't play Quidditch for Gryffindor. They would divide the teams with an even mix of Hogwarts players and non-Hogwarts players. Rose had become her biggest rival.
She jogged towards The Burrow but began walking once the crying seemed to decrease in volume. "Nan must be trying to calm the twins down," thought Alice.
Ginny's bedroom door was open.
Alice POV
By the time I made it to Ginny's room the door was wide open and I peaked inside before entering. I expected to see the amusing scene of Nan failing at getting the twins to stop crying. Instead I saw James sitting on the bed in-between the twins desperately trying to comfort them. They were red-faced and looked terribly inconsolable. I had to keep from laughing at the panicked look on James' face.
"I want Awice!" Cried Lysander.
James picked him up. Patting his back he said "I know buddy. I know how it feels. I sorta want Alice too."
