AN: To the one reader who reviewed that last chapter, you the real MVP

PS: Is anyone else devastated about Zayn? I wrote this while blasting One Direction, hate on me! This one's going to be long I think hahah.

Disclaimer: Yada Yada

OO

Chapter 8

Diagon Alley is a mystical place. There's something fantastic about the cobblestoned streets lined with shops of all different calibers. Walking down the main road is always a trip; every time I go there seems to be something new going on, and new shops to explore. There's even a record store now that sells everything from the latest muggle boy band to the most obscure Weird Sisters album. But I didn't have time to explore too much.

After a long day of shopping, we're sitting at Flourine and Fortiscques Ice cream parlor. I'm digging into a cone of cookie-dough ice cream listening to Rose and Scor talk about the newest Nimbus model out, Al and I interjecting comments every once in a while. While not a fan of playing quiditch, Al has an encyclopedic knowledge of plays and stats. Anything you could possibly need to know, he could tell you.

Sitting a few tables away from us is James, lounging in one of the old fashioned chairs accompanied by his best friend and cousin Freddy Weasley. Freddy's back is to me, but he's talking animatedly with his hands, waving his spoon around dangerously. James laughs a something he says, and I'm taken aback by James's smile. I find the corners of my mouth turning up in response. Get it together mouth! I go back to diligently licking my ice cream, as it's started to dribble down onto my hand. I lick it off, and look up to see James looking over Freddy's shoulder, right at me. Our eyes meet in a charged moment. It's surreal; everyone keeps going on about his or her business around us but it feels like they're going in slow motion. I'm instantly reminded of the time during my fourth year when I got a seventh year Hufflepuff to ask me to Hogsmeade by maintaining eye contact in the library whilst seductively sucking on a sugar quill. He spilled a pot of ink all over his notes. His face was priceless.

James takes up his spoon and takes a bite of what looks suspiciously like cookie dough ice cream, all the while continuing to gaze strait into my soul. It appears Freddy has finally noticed that James hasn't been paying any attention to him and attempts to find the focus of his stare. He turns around in his seat just as James looks away from me. I look away before Freddy can see that I was looking back at him.

"Were you just looking at Raine?" I hear him ask.

"No, why would I look at her. She's staying at ours until school starts, I see more than enough of her."

Rude.

"She's looking fit this summer." I smirk into my ice cream. Freddy Weasley is a pretty cool guy, but he has absolutely no chill.

"She's always fit." James says. I stiffen. "Objectively." He adds belatedly.

"Whoa mate, finally admitting what we all know. " At this I looked up to see James sporting a confused expression that matched my internal thoughts. What on earth was that supposed to mean?

"What are you going on about?" James echoes.

"Its just that anyone with eyes can see that you two are into each other, always have been I reckon. You can practically cut the sexual tension with a knife these days."

James splutters. Personally, I'm affronted that Freddy would say such slanderous things. James and I can't stand each other. We have been getting along more lately; insults exchanged between us are made less out of malic and more out of obligation. And he did ask me to listen to his song.

There was that moment in his room when I though for sure he was going to kiss me. I can't even remember why I dislike him at this point. Sure he's a prat, but everyone has their moments. He's no worse than anyone else I know. He can be arrogant, but not excessively so. He treats his family well, and is loyal to his friends. Is this what an epiphany feels like? I really don't know why we aren't friends at this point. Sure we clash a little bit, but that's what makes life exciting. James looks to be experiencing the same feeling. He's looking at me like he's never seen me before, his eyes wide and his back strait. I look right back at him.

His face goes red all the way to his ears, and down his neck. The infamous Weasley Blush. I've never seen it on one of the Potters, as Al is rarely flustered and I don't really hang out with James or Lily. He looks quite fetching. Apparently he has come to the realization that I've heard his entire conversation, even the part where he said he thought I was fit. I snort into my ice cream and check back into the conversation going on at my table. Rose and Scor are discussing quidditch plays, and Al makes a face at me from across the table. We're chatting amicably when an odd shrieking from the direction of the entrance rings through the small area.

Every head in the shop turns to the door. Rushing into the shop is a mousy blonde girl wearing a cropped top and a denim circle skirt with heeled ankle boots. She's taking tiny, hurried steps towards James and Freddy's table. I watch James go from completely relaxed, to alert and uncomfortable as the girl hones in on him. She throws her arms around his neck and squeals again, never mind that he's still sitting and the position looks wildly uncomfortable.

The girl is Annabelle MacMillan, a Hufflepuff in James' year. They were dating on and off for most of last year. She's nice enough, just pathetically dimwitted. She fawns over James, and how I managed to forget about her until this exact moment when she's plopping herself right onto his lap, is actually quite a feat. A little spark of anger ignites in my stomach, and my grip on my ice cream cone tightens. I'm not mad at her exactly, but furious that he would take advantage of the poor girl's feelings. Any nice thoughts I had towards James Potter are sidelined.

"Oh Jamie, I've missed you so much this summer. Did you get my letter that I sent? We were supposed to hang out this summer, now it's nearly over and we've barely talked." She says all of this in the course of one breath and still manages to sound whiny.

So maybe I do hate her, just a little bit. Whatever.

"I've just been really busy with my family, you know. Last summer before real life, working on my music and stuff," James says with a shrug, looking for all the world like he'd rather be anywhere but here.

"That's my Jamie boo, working so hard," she coos. I think I puked in my mouth a bit.

"Hey Annabelle, it's good to see you too. My summer has been really great, thanks for asking. You look really nice today." Freddy says uncomfortably from across their table.

Annabelle looks up from where she was running her fingers through James hair, ignorant to the fact that he was subtly trying to pull his head out of her grasp.

"Oh hey Freddy."

"Ten galleons says that he dumps her on the train next week," Al says, slamming his hand onto our table.

"Nah, I bet he'll wait until school starts to drop her." Rose counters.

Freddy turns to us; "Lets hope it's for good this time."

O.o

AN: Ut Oh, Drama! Sorry for taking so long. Please review, let me know what you think!

-YCMF