Hard to get

"I'm gonna ask her" James muttered, eyes set on the pretty Ravenclaw witch sitting on the farthest side of the room from where he was watching.

"She's going to reject you", Fred sighed, allowing his eyes to drift to the older girl his cousin had been chasing that last month, "Just like she did last time."

"No" James shook his head, confidence flooding through his veins like fishes in a river, "Today will be different."

"How so?" Frank Longbottom, who had been quietly reading a book by their side a minute ago, joined the conversation with avid interest.

"She broke things off with Montague last week. I was prudent, didn't ask her out immediately. But it's been a week and soon someone else will ask her, so I must be quick. I have to do it now" he continued to examine her, taking into account every little detail of her appearance that day.

Her hair was always fixed on a braid, but today she had let it run loose over her shoulder. It was wavy, long and it looked like real silk. James would've given everything he had just to run his fingers through those soft, red hairs. The little freckles on the bridge of her nose made her look ten times cuter when she furrowed her brow over something her friend had said. The earring on the end of her nose was shimmery under the golden summer sun.

Her eyes, big and round, turned to him, her perfectly shaped eyebrow arching at the obvious attention she was getting from the third year. James looked straight into her piercing grey eyes and decided to get up on his feet and walk directly to his favorite witch.

"I'm gonna ask her", he repeated like he was waiting for permission.

"Go for it, mate", Frank patted his back, trying not to laugh at the solemn look on his friends' eyes. Fred, at his side, groaned; the dark-haired boy hated seeing his cousin make a fool of himself.

James took a breath before diving himself into a confident walk, the one he had copied from Victoire. She always got away with whatever she wanted, and James had figured a long time ago that he could learn something from the ease and trust his cousin managed herself with. As so, he took step after step, getting closer to the woman of his dreams, with his back straight and his shoulders behind his body, like launching himself into her. He didn't notice the eye roll she gave her friend, or the annoyed expression she wore when he finally faced her.

"Tiffany" he lets out, his voice sounding thicker than usual in a clear attempt of sounding more 'manly'.

"James" she replied, looking at him like he was a nuisance in her shoe.

"I noticed you broke up with Montague."

"Great discovery there, Sherlock."

"And well, I was thinking" he ignored her salty words and continued "Now that you're obviously single, you must be on the look out for a strong man. Someone to carry your things and give you the attention you deserve."

She tilted her face, eyebrow still arched.

"Are you serious?", Tiffany breathed out seconds later. She couldn't believe what he was saying.

"Well, of course" James made a face, confused. Why wouldn't he be serious?

"I think I'll pass, Potter. Again", the fifth year stood up, gathering her things while she motioned her friend to do the same.

"But… I haven't even finished making my proposal!" James squealed with horror, looking at her with unbelieving eyes.

"I think I've heard enough."

"But… but… Tiffany! Wait!" he ran after her, trying to follow the witch, but she started to move faster and lost herself through one of the many halls at Hogwarts.

James walked back into the great room a few minutes later, eyes fixed on the floor and making it look as if he was forcing himself to move forward. When he finally got to where his friends were sitting, he sighed dramatically and threw himself backwards, into the cold stone surface that covered their usual seat. Frank was hiding his chuckles against the book he had been reading earlier, and Fred was looking at his cousin with a sympathetic look. He only gave James ten seconds before leaning onto him, close to his ear and whispering: "I told you so."

Frank broke out in a loud laughter, uncapable of holding it inside much longer. Fred himself smiled a bit, going back to sitting against the wall and away from his mourning friend.

"I just don't get what I'm doing wrong!" the young Potter groaned, frustration marking every syllable he spoke.

"Maybe the part where you just can't get a bloody hint", suggested Frank, "Though I think telling her she needed a man so she can live right was the stupidest idea you've ever had."

"She just isn't into you, wazzock. Stop trying", Fred advised, starting to get bored at the topic they had been discussing those last weeks.

"But how could she not?! I'm bloody handsome, an excellent quidditch player and a Potter, for Merlin's sake!"

"You're also two years younger", pointed out Frank.

"And an arrogant prick", mumbled Fred, going unnoticed.

"So what? My mom's one year younger than my dad!"

Fred snorted, "It doesn't work that way, chap."

"Well, it should."

The boys rolled their eyes at him, but James didn't take notice. He was too busy dragging on his pity party.

"You know, my grandma hated my grandpa for most of their Hogwarts years…" he started after some minutes in silence. Fred could almost hear the thoughts in James' mind, and he sighed.

"Just give it up, James", he begged.

"No. Giving up is for losers! I'm just gonna have to keep fighting for her until she accepts to go out with me" James nodded at himself, like he was proud of having come up with that final decision.

"You and Tiffany are not your grandads. You know that, right? Starting with the fact that you aren't in the same year as Tiffany", Stated Frank

"Know what? I don't need all this negativity right now" James got up one more, determined. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go and start planning my next move, before Tiffany makes another mistake" He passed the strap of his messenger bag over his shoulder, "And by that I mean dating someone that isn't me."

Having said it all, James walked away. Fred sighed yet again and turned to Frank.

"Well there he goes, off to breaking his heart" the Weasley announced.

"Can't say I don't feel sorry for Tiffany", offered Frank as he continued reading.