After the game, i was swept up in the tide of Gryffindors, all bypassing the great hall and going straight up to the common room for the obligatory post-quidditch win party. We'd won again, beating Hufflepuff for the second straight year by over 300 points. A 320 point win, in fact, which means, even if Marlene McKinnon hadn't caught the snitch, we still would've won. But even in that moment of glory, i barely noticed Marlene's grasping fingers. I'd been staring at the same person i'd fixated my eyes upon since the beginning. James Potter. Career-high of 13 goals in a single game. the 350-30 scoreline completely reflected our dominance, given that James completely outshone two of the best chasers in the school. It wasn't a coincidence that since he'd joined the side last year, the only game we had lost (which ultimately lost us the cup), last year's season ending game against Ravenclaw, was also the only game he had missed through injury.

As we all streamed through the portrait hole and assembled for Lara Atwood to make her speech and declare the start of the party, my eyes searched the crowd for a head of messy black hair that stood in all directions. Predictably, I soon found it next to a head of luscious black waves that belonged to Sirius Black, the new beater on the team who replaced Sam Gerald after he left last year and best friend of aforementioned, 13-goal star chaser. As the music started and people filtered towards the drinks table and others started gyrating on the dance floor, I found myself approaching the group, no. Approaching James.

"Hey James. Eva Sparks. Great game today!"

He smiles at me, all toothy grin and hazel eyes behind glasses.

"Thanks, Eva. Appreciate the support."

I giggle, fixating him with a look that would make any man melt under my fingers, "Wanna dance?"

"Well sure," he smirks, bids his friends goodbye and follows me to the danc efloor where i'm not ashamed to say, I essentially used him as a pole while i pole danced.

As I turn to face him, i giggle again, and whisper low, "You know what get's me hot and bothered, James? Someone who's ridiculously skillful in the air. Someone like you."

Without waiting for a response, I smash my lips to his and feel... fantastic. There was uncertainty in his touch, but a kind of feeling that was indescribable as his lips move against mine when they're suddenly gone.

"Hold on a second there, Eva." He steps away. "I just need to go ask someone something." I frowned, stranded on the dance floor as he picked his way across the room to a redhead in the same year as him. Lily Evans, i think her name was. James had asked her a couple of times before, and not always privately. I move over and i can just barely make out what he says, "Go to Hogsmeade with me?"

And I turn, shocked at the blatant rejection. It was the first time I'd ever been rejected by any man, least of all someone two years younger. I felt a tap on my shoulder as he returns to me, grinning like nothing was wrong.

"Sorry, where were we?"

I slap him. Hard.

'You actually interrupted a kiss to ask her out? And not just any kiss, your FIRST KISS?!"

"Yes, Sirius, for the 50th time."

"Are. You. Mental? Eva Sparks has the most amazing body."

"And the reputation that would make a pornstar blush."

"Shut up Remus, no one asked you."

"I dunno, James. I think that was really stupid of you."

"THANK YOU PETE. At least someone other than myself sees sense."

"And it was your first kiss."

"Alright! could all three of you shut up. Well actually just you two idiots. Merlin help my sanity if I have to put up with you lot for another three and a half years."

"You're still an idiot."

"Shut up Sirius."