On the morning of the first trip to Hogsmeade, Katie Wallenby was losing her patience.
"Come on, Katie," Marie Thomas pled, "just let me do a little something extra for you."
Renee Haverford grumbled as she gave her best friend another once-over. "You really should listen to me," she warned. "If the girls he's dated before are any indication of what he likes…"
"Enough!" Katie shouted, sending her friends into stunned silence. "I can't take any more! All this week – wear this, do that, you have to have those – you're driving me mad."
"We've only been trying to help," Renee huffed.
"It is James Potter," Marie said quietly.
"I know bloody well who he is," Katie retorted.
Renee placed a hand gently on Katie's shoulder. "We're just trying to give you your best chance. You are going on a date with a boy who's been through his fair share of witches…"
"Stop, Renee," the brown-haired Gryffindor warned.
"Right. I know. It's just, being that the longest any–"
"Yes. I know. Three months," Katie said brusquely. "You've got your own dates to meet. I'll be down in a few minutes," she finished.
Exchanging a concerned look, the other two girls grabbed their cloaks and headed down the stairs.
Katie took a moment to look at herself in the floor-length mirror. She nodded, happy with her appearance. She was dressed simply and warmly. Her hair, her nails, and her face were neat. Despite much prodding from her friends to be more glamorous, she had also stuck with her usual understated use of make-up. She didn't think herself the type of witch to change herself to suit a particular wizard's fancy. Moreover, she considered herself an independent person, maybe a bit different, but happy with her choices and the person she was. If James Potter couldn't respect that, she reasoned as she started downstairs, she would just have to find a wizard who would.
After Remus and Peter had left the tower to pick up their dates, both Hufflepuffs, James found himself left behind with Sirius Black and his date, a blonde fellow Gryffindor, Shannon O'Donnell. They had planned on leaving the common room in a few minutes in order to heighten their chances of leading the line to Hogsmeade, but thus far, there was no sign of Katie Wallenby. As he waited, James made a conscious effort to keep a positive expression on his face. The inane topics his best friend and his busty companion had already taken to loudly discussing were incredibly irritating. Simply the way it was with Sirius though, James reckoned. The long-locked "Heartthrob of Hogwarts" as Sirius was known to many girls about the castle, tended to place an emphasis of appearance over substance. As Shannon continued to prove this point, James found himself incredibly pleased that Sirius had asked Remus to double with them as opposed to him. Suddenly James was startled out of his thoughts by a light punch in the arm.
"Prongs!" Sirius said in a loud whisper.
Looking up, James saw no need to ask the question that had been on his lips. Coming down the staircase from the girls' dormitories was his own date. James immediately met her soft blue eyes and smiled. He was happy to see that despite the date, Katie looked entirely herself. No glamour charms, no frills, or excessive jewelry. Her shiny brown hair was put up nicely in twin braids that started near her forehead and her freckles seemed to dance along her cheekbones as she returned his smile. Though she was dressed simply, James couldn't help noticing that her clothing still flattered her trim, athletic figure. The dark jeans she had chosen hugged her tightly in all the right places. Her chosen top, long-sleeved in scarlet and gold appeared comfortable, but didn't unduly diminish the outline of her breasts. A thin gold chain was all that hung about her neck and she was carrying a navy peacoat that James hoped fit her as nicely as her jeans.
"Ready then, Katie?" James asked, gesturing toward the portrait hole.
"Ready," she replied, finally exhaling as she allowed James to gently guide her through the exit with a hand on her back.
On the way to the village, the Marauders and their dates had traveled together, making light conversation about classes, Quidditch, and to both James and Katie's dismay, some of the latest articles in Witch Weekly. Mercifully, when they finally reached the village, James had his date all to himself.
"So where are we headed?" Katie started.
"Where would you like to go?" James answered quickly.
Katie's eyes narrowed. "Well, maybe I'm a tad too traditional, but I'd thought you'd already have something planned…you do have somewhat of a reputation for planning things after all…"
"Just trying to put the lady's wishes first," James replied, making a joking flourish with one hand.
Katie laughed at the gesture. "Really though," she chuckled, "where to?"
"I thought we'd start at Honeydukes. I can spoil you a bit before the walk we've got ahead."
"Spoil me? Think you know what sweets I like already do you?"
"If I remember correctly from the feasts and the trolley, you're rather partial to your crystallized pineapple and Pumpkin Pasties…"
Katie was pleasantly surprised that James already knew this about her, especially given their rather limited interactions on the Express or in the Great Hall before this year. At worst, he'd done the legwork to find it out. At best, he'd actually had his eye on her.
"Been watching me have you?" she joked.
"Maybe…or perhaps I'm good at guessing," James teased.
"You and that sharp tongue," Katie replied, shaking her head. "For that you can get me some chocolate as well. Every witch enjoys that now and again."
Having quickly navigated their way through the masses in the candy shop, the pair stepped back out into the street after a short time, laden with two small sacks of sweets. Katie immediately reached in for one of her precious pasties. James watched as she took a bite, noticing how her lips closed nicely as she took a moment to savor the flavor. Perhaps if he was lucky–
"Have I got some on my face?" Katie interrupted.
"What? Err…no. I was just watching you enjoy your first bite," James deflected. "I'm not sure I've seen anyone take such joy from a simple pastie before…"
"Berk," she retorted, playfully elbowing him in the side. "You said we had a walk ahead?"
"Right," James started. "I thought I'd be remiss if I didn't reveal to you one of my hidden talents."
"You hide talents?" Katie joked.
"As a matter of fact, I do," James answered, an amused smile crossing his face. "Anyway, there's a music shop down the other end of the street. I want to take you."
"Music? Well you are just full of surprises aren't you?" the attractive witch grinned.
"So I've been told," James answered with a smirk.
Having slowly progressed about halfway to the shop chatting about what they had done the previous summer, James decided he would have to take the initiative to move beyond their flirty banter and shared interests.
"So…I'm a bit embarrassed we've lived in the same town our whole lives and I don't know you better."
"Yeah. Strange isn't it? Not many witches and wizards in Stroud really."
"Exactly. My dad's mentioned having your family over loads of times–"
"Has he really?" Katie asked, sounding intrigued.
"Yeah. I mean, he's brought it up a dinner a bunch over the years. Have you over for dinner or some Ministry to-do…it's weird he's never followed through on it. Disappointing really." James replied.
"That's interesting. I suppose we travel in different circles though," Katie offered.
"What do you mean?"
"Well…it's just that your parents are prominent people at the Ministry. My mum mostly stayed home to raise me…runs a small catering and party business on the side for our folk and Muggles. My dad works at the Ministry, but he doesn't do anything important really, just sporting business. Got me interested in Quidditch though…"
James waited.
"…honestly, I guess I just didn't realize your family ever thought of us on the other side of Stroud."
"I'm sorry about that," James muttered.
"Forget it, James," Katie said pointedly. "It's hardly your fault."
"So then…where do you live exactly?"
"Outskirts really. Near Cotswold Edge."
"The brown cottage near the tree line?!" James asked, incredulous.
"That's us," Katie answered, surprised that he knew her house. "Not much around really. Though that's nice sometimes."
"I think it's brilliant," James enthused.
Katie regarded him skeptically. "Brilliant? You live on a massive estate."
James looked down.
"Ahh. I've said something."
"No," James quickly insisted. "It's just…I love the country. I know my family estate is still in Stroud, but…I guess I think of it as my parents' place. I don't think I'd want to live out my days there or anything."
"Why not?"
"It's mostly empty. Gets a bit lonely if my friends aren't around. And obviously my family and our whole situation makes life more comfortable, but aside from my broom and my banner…I'm simpler. I think a small cottage…such a beautiful view…I think it's brilliant."
"Hmm…" Katie mused as a silence filled the air between them.
After walking on like that for a few more minutes, they finally reached their destination.
"So there is a music shop after all," Katie chuckled nervously, hoping to brighten the mood again.
James rewarded her with the return of his smile. "Course there is!" he replied, opening the door. "After you."
As they entered the small shop, Katie was dazzled by the number of different instruments crammed into the space. In the windows were the standard fare – a piano, a trumpet, a trombone, and a saxophone. As they moved toward the counter at the back, she began to notice some more exotic looking instruments she couldn't even name.
"Oi! Dom!" James called out.
Hearing his greeting, an elderly gentleman emerged from what appeared to be a dimly lit stockroom. "Mr. Potter!" he happily croaked. "Good to see you again. Finally come to liberate the blatkessel?"
"Afraid not," James frowned. "I think we might be waiting on that one until I get my inheritance…"
"Oh…a shame…you've learned to play it well…"
"James," Katie whispered, "what in the name of Merlin is a blatkessel?"
"Pure wizarding instrument," James whispered back. "It's a sort of staff…notches separate the areas that play different notes. You use different movements and flourishes of the wand to produce the sounds and rhythm of the notes in that area. Dom's a flatterer, I'm dreadful at that thing."
The silence drew the old man's attention back to them. "What brings you in then my dear boy?"
"Well…I was hoping I could convince you to let me borrow one of your violins."
"You could…but whatever for? You must have your own…"
"Right. Afraid they don't allow them at school…but still I was hoping I could play a little something for my friend here," James replied with a wink.
Even at his age, the old man recognized the meaning behind James's signal. "Ahh yes…yes of course," he responded quickly, reaching above the counter to fetch one such instrument from the lowest shelf. Carefully, he handed it to James.
Looking around quickly, James noticed a chair in the far corner. "Miss Wallenby, if you would be so kind as to accompany me over here for a moment."
"Only if you drop the 'Miss' business, Mr. Potter," she teased, following him to where he had seen the chair.
"Well," James began, gesturing for his companion to sit, "I promised you a hidden talent, so here you are."
With that, James laid his head against the instrument and began to draw the bow deliberately across the instruments strings. Over the next twenty minutes, he proceeded to produce powerful deep melodies and sharp lively tunes from the Muggle instrument, ultimately finishing his miniature concert with a dramatic flourish of the bow before bowing to the impressed witch in front of him and returning the instrument to its owner.
Katie giggled at James's bow, but quickly rose to clap for his performance. "So there is a softer side to James Potter," she said, arching one eyebrow in his direction.
"I'm not sure about softer… I think I prefer refined," he said airily, raising his nose into the air.
Katie playfully smacked his arm. "Whatever makes you feel better," she smirked. "Where did you learn to play the violin like that anyway?"
"Perk of being left to my own devices during those lonely times I mentioned," James deadpanned.
As they left the shop, James gave a thank you to the owner and opened the door for his date. While they were inside, the sun had been blocked by gathering clouds and both students felt a new chill in the breeze that blew in their direction. As they headed back to the more crowded area of the village, James reached out and locked arms with Katie, drawing her closer to him. Unsure how she would react, James quickly looked down at her. He was delighted to see her smiling back at him, a decidedly increased brightness in her blue eyes and what he thought was a light blush on her freckled cheeks. James returned the smile and they headed off to the Three Broomsticks for drinks.
Some time later, having both warmed themselves with drinks and a wonderful conversation and enjoyed a visit to Spintwitches' Quidditch Supplies, James and Katie were walking comfortably hand-in-hand in the light of the setting sun. Each found themselves constantly smiling or laughing at the other's joke. As they neared the path back to Hogwarts, the couple's conversation and spates of laughter began to take their faces closer and closer together until finally, at the top of the hill leaving town, James turned his date to face him. Though a curious look played in the attractive young witch's eyes, he was rewarded with another one of her smiles, this one appearing to be nervous and expectant in equal parts.
"So…we're about to go then…anything important I've left undone?" James inquired.
"It's been a wonderful date," Katie said, looking upward for a moment as if to thank the heavens. "Thank you. And thank you for having the sense not to drag me to Madame Puddifoot's."
James laughed. "Yes, well I didn't think that was either of our cup of tea."
"Mmm…you are so funny…" she mocked, leaning her face forward and turning her eyes down.
James then took hold of both of Katie's hands and lifted her chin so their noses were almost touching. For the moment, silence fell between them. Katie could feel James's hot breath on her face and she licked her lips in anticipation.
"You know, James, I think there may be one very important thing you've forgotten…" Katie whispered suggestively in his ear.
That was all the invitation James Potter needed. Lifting one hand to the back of her head, he closed the last remaining distance between them and pressed his lips to Katie's. The collision was soft and warm and wonderful. He could feel a fire spring to life within him as he felt her press back, deepening the kiss. Breaking briefly for air, the couple exchanged several more short kisses through wide smiles before happily locking hands once again and turning to leave the village behind. As they made their way back to the castle through the fading mid-afternoon sunlight, James wrapped an arm around Katie, pulling her body tightly to him. They spent the remainder of the return trip enjoying their newfound closeness in happy silence, with Katie's head leaning comfortably against James's shoulder.
A/N: If you've been reading the Author's Notes thus far, James's choice shouldn't surprise you. Still, contrary to many of the other chapters I have written up to this point, this one actually began with a particular vision. I originally planned on including the re-emergence of Snape here, but I was unhappy with the first draft that incorporated that element. In my re-read, the experience felt too jarring and hurried. On top of that the way it would mesh with the rest of the chapter panned out better in my head than when I got it typed out, so I'm delaying it for another chapter or two.