That detention was most definitely worth it. As was the wrath of one Rose Weasley. And James was with me the whole way, Merlin bless his soul.
It had not been a good three days after my double detention, to say the least. For one, Albus still refused to talk with me. Or sit with me for that matter. Secondly, I could not for the life of me wash off James' precious "drawing." And what did that get me? More strife. Snickers, death glares, "I told you it was true"'s, you name it. It had washed away a bit, but it was still clearly visible what it said.
This particular day however, was infinitely worse.
Let me start by telling you that before this year, Rose and I were the best of friends. Sure she hated the fact that I was always getting in trouble, but at least she was there to keep me out of some of it. And then this school year rolled around, and that stupid prat of a Malfoy decided he was going to ask her out first day back. I kept telling her "Rose, you're wrong about him, he's as Malfoy as they come. He's no different from his psycho Father," but did the girl listen to me? No. Not one little bit.
Needless to say, we hadn't been spending as much time together as we used to, seeing as she sits with that sod every chance she gets.
And on this day, this terrible awful day, Little Miss Ginger decided to go on ahead and bring the Anti-Christ to OUR table for lunch.
That didn't fly well. With me or James.
Hell, even Lily was a little peeved.
I tried to ignore the arrogant little prat, I really did, but when he was sitting right next to me trying to engage me in some kind of High-class discussion, it was a little difficult to ignore him. Especially when every time he'd say something he thought was even remotely funny, he'd nudge me with his disgusting Slytherin elbow.
I swear Rose sat him next to me on purpose just to get me back for the not-so-accidental pineapple bombing.
And as pissed off as James was that he was at our table, he seemed to be getting quite a bit of enjoyment out of my extreme discomfort.
"So, Nikki, I hear tell that you and James got detention for what you did to us the other day. Looks like Potter had his enjoyment," Malfoy smirked as he shoved a piece of steak in his mouth and motioned to my arm.
"Sod off, you lanky git," I sneered as I quickly thrust my sleeve down.
I really need to stop forgetting to hide James' proof of mischief.
"What's with the hostility?" He laughed.
"That? That wasn't hostility. This," I growled as I Charlie-horsed him as hard as I could, "Is hostility."
And with that I stood up and stormed out of the great hall back to our common room, where I sat on the couch, crossed my arms, and tried to connive a way to get him back for all those damned elbow nudges.
And of course, I couldn't even do that in peace. Because when there's a Potter in your life, there is no peace.
"You know you practically made Malfoy cry, right?" James laughed as he jogged into the common room, "How hard did you hit him?"
"Is he still alive?" I grumbled.
"Well, yeah," James replied, confused.
"Than it obviously was not hard enough."
"Why are you pouting?" He asked as he sat next to me on the couch and threw his legs over my lap.
"I'm not pouting."
"Nik, your arms are crossed, and you have your 'Disappointed' face. You're pouting."
"No, I'm not." I snapped as I smacked him in the head, "I'm not pouting."
"Yeah, whatever you say. No need to deny it though, because you're completely adorable when you pout."
I hate- no, I abhor- being called adorable.
"Call me adorable... ONE more time, James Sirius Potter," I growled threateningly.
"Nikole Elexis Scott, you are A-DOR-A-BLE," he smirked.
Merlin, I hate it when he smirks. For the most infinitesimal second I forget what I was thinking about every stinking time.
I shoved his legs off of mine, leapt on him, and pinned his chest down with my knees while I grabbed a fistful of his hair and pulled.
"What did I tell you?"
"Don't stop Nikki, you know I love it rough," he grinned.
I scowled at him, yanked his hair out, and took my place back.
"OW! You are just having a blast causing people pain today aren't you?" He said as he rubbed the spot on his hair that was now missing enough hair to be noticeable.
Yes, I have a strong arm, and it causes alot of damage if used properly.
"I need to get Malfoy back," I said blandly.
"Charlie-horsing him wasn't enough, eh?"
I just gave him the "Are You a Bloody Moron?" look he had grown quite familiar with over the past six years.
"Right, Slytherin. Charlie-horsing would never be enough," he chuckled.
Damn him and his chuckle that resounds melodically off of any wall. I never knew a chuckle could be attractive until James Potter came around.
Damn me for thinking these things about James Potter.
"You're great at transfiguration. Top scores, if I remember correctly," He smirked as he sat up and moved in closer.
"James Potter you are bloody brilliant," I grinned as I leaned my forehead on his quickly and sped up to my room to get the humungous Transfiguration book that he had bought me the previous Christmas.
What? I happen to be very interested in it, so shoot me.
I skipped back down the stairs with the ridiculously heavy book in my arms to see James sitting in front of the couch, his legs extended out and his head leaning on the cushions.
I sat down next to him, startling his little daydream or snooze, whatever the hell it was.
"What do we transfigure him into?" I asked I flipped the pages directly to the small, furry animal section.
No it was not actually called "The Small, Furry Animal Section."
"Something stupid," he said as he leaned on my shoulder and peered at the pages.
"Again, your brilliance saves the day," I smiled as I pointed to the picture of a lemming.
"What in Merlin's name is that? A mutant gerbil?"
"It's a lemming, James."
"That doesn't look like any lemon I've ever seen."
"James, you idiot. I said lemming, not lemon. LEMM-ING."
"Oh. Right, I knew that. I was just, er, testing you."
"Sure you were," I chuckled.
"SO what exactly is a... lemming?"
"Only the stupidest rodent ever."
"How is it stupid?"
"Well, when they migrate, they tend to 'accidentally', um, well, fall off cliffs into the ocean. Things like that."
"So you're telling me you want to turn Malfoy into a rodent that's so retarded it drowns itself?"
"Precisely."
"Nikki, I bloody love you," he laughed as he kissed my forehead.
"Yeah, I love me too"
XXX
So, there James and I were, sitting under the big oak tree outside, waiting for Rose and Scorpius to go on their scheduled walk around the lake that Albus had oh so graciously told me about before our little tiff.
We had been sitting there for about thirty minutes, and I was starting to get immensely bored since James was leaning against the tree "resting his eyes" as he called it, when what did my wonderful eyes behold but Ginger and Blondie walking out of the castle.
"James," I whispered as I nudged him out of his little doze.
I don't know what on earth that boy does that's so damn strenuous it causes him to nap constantly.
"Huh... wha?" He muttered as he rubbed his eyes.
"They're coming."
"Hey, Nik, call me a moron, but do you really think turning him into something that is noted for drowning itself is the smartest thing to do by a lake?"
"They only do that in packs, or whatever it is they make when they're together."
"Yeah, but one of them has to be the leader. I mean, if there wasn't a King Lemming, wouldn't they all just scatter about? What if you turn him into the King Lemming or whatever?"
"James, the only thing that jerk will ever be king of is King of the Gits."
"Valid point to you. So how we gonna do this?"
"Well, I was thinking I'd just quietly hex him as he walks by."
"Then what do you need me awake for?" He whined.
"Oh shut it, you hate him just as much as I do, you know you don't want to miss this. Plus, you're here for moral support," I said quietly as I playfully slapped his leg.
"No, I am not here for your 'moral support', I'm here because you don't want to serve that detention alone," he frowned.
"Same difference."
"The things I do for you, woman," he said with a roll of his eyes.
"Shush! Now pretend like you're not paying attention to them, or Rose will figure it out."
"She's going to murder us with her Weasley rage. You realize this, right?"
"Duh."
"Well, at least I can't get in trouble with Mum and Dad for this one," he sniggered, "Dad'll be praising me for weeks."
"I'm sure your Uncle will as well."
"Uncle Ron won't praise me."
I looked at him skeptically when a huge grin broke out on his face.
"He'll be bowing and kissing my feet for the rest of his life."
I burst out into laughter, causing an awkward glance from Rose to shoot over at me as they inched closer.
I simply smiled and waved at her- making sure to scowl at Malfoy- and turned back to James.
Merlin knows, if I was to smile at him, she'd have us all figured out right away.
"In about... oh I'd say thirty seconds, turn around and pretend you're looking at the lake," he whispered with a smile as he looked up at the sky.
I'll give James that. He's exceptionally good at looking inconspicuous. That may have to do with the empty brain though.
Okay that may have been a tad harsh.
It's not empty.
Just completely filled with thoughts of Quidditch and ideas for pranks.
Hence the reason why there's no room for booksmarts.
"Now," he said awkwardly as he tried to pull it off as a yawn.
I turned slowly and glanced at the lake as I pulled my wand from behind my back slowly- so as to not draw attention- pointed it Malfoy from under my bent knees, and muttered the spell.
The look on Rose's face when she realized he was no longer holding her hand was the most bewildered look I have ever seen in my life.
And when she slowly looked down and saw a tiny, little, furry, blonde "oversized-gerbil"- as James like to call it- she screamed louder than I humanly thought possible.
I still think I'm going a little deaf from that, since my hearing has gone slightly down the tubes as of late.
She quickly picked up the new and improved Scorpius Malfoy, threw the dirtiest glance known to existence our way, and stomped into the castle.
To say the least, McGonagall was quite irritated with us after that little stunt. Although I can swear I saw the tiniest of smile on her face. Probably reminiscing about Mr. Malfoy, "The Amazing Bouncing Ferret."
At least I didn't make him bounce. His brain probably would've toppled out of that ridiculously big head of his.
Rose had told McGonagall it was James, supposedly she was sure of it, but my buddy Minnie knew otherwise. Seeing as I'm tutoring James in Transfiguration and all because he can't even turn a chair into a rabbit.
That will probably go down in history as one of my most memorable detentions ever.