A/N: I do not Own these Characters (Except future Children) I just get to play with them!

Chapter 10: Secret Heart

As the years passed at Hogwarts the Quints circles of friends grew, and while they were quite close to each other they had also grown as individuals and had close friends within their own houses and who shared their interests. New students had arrived and Left but Hogwarts was still wonderful for each of them. One thing stayed the same though, James Potter's need to torment Brenna Longbottom. Brenna seemed to despise him and he would do anything to get a rile out of her.

But in her 4th year Brenna was failing Potions, everyone in school knew it and she felt awful. She hated that she was actually failing a class. But what she hated more was when James went to Professor Dorskaff and offered to tutor her in potions. What was even worse then that was that professor Dorskaff though it was an excellent idea! Seriously? Was he out of his mind? There was no one in the school that Brenna despised more that James 'I am a Quidditch God and everyone must worship and drool at my feet' Potter. How he ended up like that when his brother and sister were Normal she would never know. But according to Professor Dorskaff she had no choice, she had to let James 'Bloody Genius at Potions' Potter tutor her.

And so that was why on a cold November evening she was walking to an empty classroom in the dungeons. She was half hoping he wouldn't show but her hopes were dashed when she walked in and there he was, relaxing against a desk with a lazy smile on his face and his stupid hair swept out of his eyes. Those Dark Brown eyes that seemed to watch her a little too closely sometimes, eyes that she wished she'd never noticed but somehow had sometime over the summer. She shook the thoughts from her head, took a deep breath and walked over to the stool next to him, "Lets just get this over with," she snapped irritably.

James chuckled at that and shook his head, "Brenna-Sweet silly Brenna- Potions can not be rushed," he said then pulled out his potions book, "So, Professor Dorskaff wanted us to work on your antidotes," he said looking for a good one, "How about this one? Its easy," he suggested as he gave her one of his winning smiles.

Brenna bit back a retort and looked at the book then nodded, "Ok, I guess that will work," she mumbled, still not liking this at all.

Two hours later Brenna was cursing as she saw her Potion turn bright Red instead of the Soft pink it needed. James was trying not to laugh because he could see just how upset she was but it was hard. Finally he managed to said in a fairly normal voice, "Do you know where you might have went wrong," he asked.

"No I don't Ok! I don't have your Bloody skills at Potions! So No I don't," she snapped, her face red from anger

"Brenna, you seriously need to chill out," James said, trying to calm her down. One thing he's learned since they began school together was you didn't want Brenna riled up, "Your being stupid right now," he said without thinking.

"If you think I'm so stupid then maybe you shouldn't tutor me," she snapped that grabbed her book back and stormed out.

"Brenna wait!" James yelled but she didn't listen. James sighed, this was not exactly how he envisioned this tutor session ending. He had hoped it would end with her hugging him in excitement for doing well instead of her storming out. Bloody Hell, Now he would have to get one of her sisters or her brother to get her to come back.

Their next tutor session, just a week later, didn't end much better. Brenna still stormed out when they were done but at least this time James hadn't said the wrong thing. That was just Brenna and her temper. By winter Holidays the situation definitely hadn't improved and James felt at his wits end. Whenever he tutored someone they always did well but he and Brenna had all this tension and he didn't know what to do to break it.

Over Christmas Brenna received a package by owl that had a book which was called 'The 1-2-3 Guide to Potion making'. There was no name on the owl but she suspected who it was from. That is until she was unwrapping her Christmas gifts and there was one with no name as to the sender. Inside was another book called 'Potions for Dummies'. This had to be from James! Brenna freaked and lost her temper and was about to go to the Potter's and Hex James Potter until he was unrecognizable until Connor admitted, through heaving laughs, that he was the one who got it for her. After that Brenna was grounded for what she did to her brother, something they never spoke about again.

After Christmas Holidays Brenna had to go back to the stupid classroom and let James tutor her. When she walked in he was reading a book then smiled when he saw her, "Hey, did you get the book I sent you," he asked

"Yes," she replied a little stiffly

"Aw, come on Brenna, what the problem today," James asked a little wearily, dealing with her temper a few nights a week for the last two months was taking it toll.

"I just don't want to be here," she told him, a frown on her face.

James was a patient guy, its why he was such a great seeker and potion maker, but his patience was done with, "Look, you don't want to learn fine. You know Brenna, you really are full of yourself," he said

"Full of Myself? Are you insane?" she asked, completely flabbergasted at his words

"You are! You think you are some Queen who doesn't want to admit when she has a problem. Well get over it, so you suck at Potions, you're not the only person who has issues. I mean take a look around you! Everyone had problems, so do I, and I don't have to deal with your constant attitude. And you know what, that's why you suck at potions. Instead of just trying to figure out what you did wrong and try get it right next time you just blow up at anyone and everyone. I honestly don't understand how your family puts up with you! I don't, And until you apologize for treating me like something that is stuck to your Bloody shoe, don't bother asking me for help!" he yelled.

"What! Apologize! What about everything you've done the past 3 ½ years! Huh? Always making fun of me and being a Bloody ass everywhere I went! You owe me an apology!" Brenna yelled back, her face red with shock and Anger.

'I'll apologize to you when a Malfoy Marries a Weasley!" he yelled before walking out.

Brenna stood in shock after he left, she couldn't believe he had walked out on her. Suddenly she burst into tears but for the life of her couldn't figure out why she was crying. Once she calmed down enough she sent an owl to Allie, asking her to come down to where she was. When Allie arrived Brenna sobbed as she told her everything that James had said.

Allie listened quietly then sighed, "Bren-You know I love you, you're my sister but…He kinda has a point."

"W-What?" Brenna asked, shock on her face as she tried to not hiccup.

"Well you have a temper, everyone knows that…and you tend to walk over people sometimes, even though you don't realize it," she said gently, "I mean, if something frustrates you then you just scream and…You can't deal with life like that. I mean….come on, don't you know why James offered to tutor you?"

"To rub in my face out smart he is," Brenna said wiping the tears from her eyes

"Oh come on, everyone knows that James has been tormenting you because he likes you. I mean this is James Potter! He could have any girl in the school, and from what I could tell, the only one he ever wanted was you. Not that I think he realized that when you were 11...But I've noticed how the way he looked at you changed in the last year," Allie said

Brenna looked stunned, "James? Like me? That's not possible, I'm not even his type, he likes girls who can play ride a broom and play Quidditch," she said, her eyes now puffy and red. It was something she hated, that she was so bad at being on a broom but loved Quidditch.

"No, He likes Red heads-All Potter boys like Redheads…well except Al but he's just weird," she said firmly.

Brenna shook her head, "I…I don't know what to even think about that," she whispered, confusion etched into her face.

"Well think about it and….figure out what you want to do," Allie said as she pulled her sister into a hug.

A month passed and finally Brenna decided that Allie and James were both right. She'd been self centered and wasn't letting him help her. Valentines day was coming up and Brenna decided that she needed to send him a note but didn't want him to know it was from her. Especially since after Allie's revelation, Brenna realized all the animosity she had towards James wasn't from what he'd done, but from her wanting him to like her back. That had been a hard pill to swallow which was why it took so long for her to admit to herself that they were right.

She sat down and rolled out a piece of parchment and thought for a moment, then began writing-

Dear James,

I wish I could tell you who I am but I can't. Because if I do then I have to let you see my heart in person. You seem so sad lately and I had to write. I hope you're alright and I hope you know that you can talk to me. All I can say to hope that you trust me is that I have feelings for you. Feelings deeper then I imagined. If you want to correspond leave your reply behind the 5th suit of armor on the third floor, left side corridor.

In Memory,

Your secret Heart

After finishing her note she charmed it so he couldn't know it was her handwriting then sealed it and went to the school Owlery. She gave it to one Owl with the Request that it be delivered at breakfast then left.

The next morning she was eating some kippers when the post arrived and she saw the barn owl drop next to James. He frowned at it but then took it. James unrolled the parchment and read the note and looked stunned. For three days there was no rely and then one day a reply appeared under her pilled. She had charmed the suit to send the reply directly to her. Once everyone was asleep she pulled out the note and opened in.

Dear Miss Secret Heart,

I have no idea who you are but your note seemed sincere so I decided to write back. I guess I have been feeling off lately. No one knows but my cat died over the winter break and then the girl that I used to have a crush on just pushed me so far I said some things I wish I hadn't. But maybe it was for the best. I know she'd never like me and its time I get over her anyway. So why can't I meet you?

In Memory,

James

James,

I can never let you meet me, I think you would be horrified to find out who I am. But I can tell you a little about me if you like. I love Quidditch and I have a secret love for muggle movies. No one in my family knows, Is that silly? To like Old Muggle movies?

In Memory,

Secret Heart

Secret heart,

No, I saw some muggle movies with my muggle cousins once and thought it was interesting. Maybe if we meet you could show me your favorite. What is your favorite?

In Memory,James

And so the letters went back and forth, becoming more personal and filled with more meaning. James would see Brenna and his heart would become conflicted. Because he was still attracted to her but…this Secret Heart girl had his heart. He felt ashamed for being attracted to Brenna when he knew his heart was captured by the sweet writings of this secret girl. He felt like this girl that he was writing to was The One. That one person that he would never be able to live without. Finally at the end of April he decided he needed to meet her, in person.

My Dear Secret Heart,

I need to meet you, see you in person. I know I have fallen in love with you and want to be able to hold you close and tell everyone what a wonderful person you are. I'll do anything you wish, Please tell me what I can do to get the honor of meeting you in person.

I love you,

James

When Brenna received the note she sat in silence and reread it several times. Trying to be sure that what he was asking was real. After sitting for awhile she smiled a little deviously and wrote her reply.

James Blinked when he saw her reply and shook his head in shock. How in the world would he get them to agree to that? But he had to try.

Three days Later a story appeared in the Hogwarts School Paper with a Blazing Headline that said 'Scorpius Malfoy Marries Rose Weasley!' with a picture of Rose and Scorpius looked sheepish in fake wedding clothes as they waved at everyone from the picture.

Brenna blinked in shock when she saw it but then began giggling like crazy as the Great Hall exploded with noise as people yelled and laughed and surrounded Rose and Scorp. In the confusion a note was left just under James plate. He opened it and smiled when he read it

'Meet me on the Quidditch Field at midnight tonight and you'll see who I am-I'll have a white flower in my hair'

Was all it said. That night James made sure he looked his best and pulled his fathers invisibility cloak over him and walked to the Quidditch Pitch. He waited in the center of the pitch with the cloak still over him and waited as the second ticked closer to midnight.

Then out of the darkness he saw her and was stunned. Because walking across the pitch to the center was the girl he had always wanted but had given up for this girl who'd been writing him. She was wearing a beautiful Amber colored dress and in her hair was a single white flower; a white Lily, the flower he'd once said in one of his notes was his favorite. His eyes drank her in as his mind raced, wondering why she had written. Now he understood her silly request to prove that he really wanted to meet her but he still didn't understand.

After a few minutes or watching her standing there he took off the cloak. Brenna gasped at the sudden appearance of him and swallowed, "How long as you been here," she asked

"Since before you got here….It was you? All along? Was this some time of Revenge Joke," he asked, shock and hurt showing clearly in his voice.

"No! It wasn't a joke!" she said and then bit her lip, "I…I was stupid. I was stupid James, You…You were right," she added softly.

"What was I right about?"

"Me…You were right about me. I was full of myself, My temper just overtook everything. And I realized…That I didn't like who I was. But I didn't know how to apologize. A-And I realized I…I've been in love with you and didn't realize it. I mean…How stupid was I? There you were-right in front me-and I was too blind and self absorbed to see it," she said, "I am so sorry-for everything…except the notes. I think that's the first time we really got to talk to each other."

James sighed, "I-I don't know what to say. So…where do we go from here. I mean….what happened in January…"

"It was a wake-up call. You told me the truth James. No one ever told me the truth that bluntly before. I needed it and I didn't know. And…I didn't even realize that you were hurting," she whispered softly and took a step closer to him, so they were just inches apart, "If you need to think….to be sure. I understand that. I wont try to influence you either way," she promised him.

Just as she began to step away James grabbed her arm gently and shook his head, "I don't want you to leave," he whispered, his brown eyes met purplish-blue and then without thinking he dipped his head down and brushed his lips against hers. Brenna slid her arms around his neck softly and kissed him back. That first kiss was gentle and sweet. But it was more then that it was the beginning of a life time together.

Connor Longbottom grinned as he watched them, hidden by a disillusionment charm. All he could think of was…It was about Bloody Damn time.

A/N: I figured signing 'In Memory' is the new things kids do then, that's why all the notes between Brenna and James are signed this way. Hope you enjoy it J