Grace sat on the couch for a long time after Andreas left, brooding and picking at the blanket. She sat staring at the door having an internal battle with herself.
I cannot believe Andreas. How could he say such a thing? In what way was this my fault? James was the one who slept around. James was the one who-who did stuff with other people. Who am I kidding it is my fault. I'm just a pretentious stuck up snob. I need him I need to apologize. No I don't this is his fault he should be apologizing to me. But he has several times and I just ignore him because I'm too busy being on my high horse to pay attention to the fact that I'm a self-righteous bitch. Okay here's how it's going to go. I'll go to James's house, the one he bought for me. Oh Merlin, I need to grovel. No, I must be strong I'll go there and we'll have a mature discussion about our future. Yes we'll see where we'll go from here. Then I'll give in and have sex with him, then I'll wake up tomorrow morning with so many regrets. NO! I won't have sex with him I'll just see where it takes me. No I'll go with the flow, I won't be so high strung I'll just go over there and, and what Grace? I'll say sorry and probably cry. He probably hates me. No if you can still love him then he can still love you right? But does he still love me? I've been awful. I don't know what I'm going to do. Okay Grace you were put into Gryffindor for a reason. The hat saw this coming and that's why it put you there. You are going to march out of this building and apparate to James's house and apologize for being a horrid person. Then he will apologize for being a slag. We'll kiss and make up. It'll be just great. I'll promise to let him know when I'm pissed at him, and I'll say the break was a big mistake and he had no obligations to me during that time. And then he'll apologize for doing it anyway and promise to never leave me or give me reason to doubt. Okay here goes nothing.
She stood up from the couch and walked to the door. However before she could reach the knob the door opened smacking her in the face knocking her to the ground and seven witches ran into the room.
"What the bloody hell was that for?" Grace yelled from the floor holding her nose.
"Oh My God Grace you've gotten off the couch!"
"Yes Marcie I'm off the couch. I was just on my way out actually. So if you don't mind-"
"Out but where are you going? Marcie and Roxy said you haven't moved in days." Rose asked.
"Yeah I haven't but-" Grace began.
"It certainly looks like you haven't moved in days have you ever heard of the word shower?" Lily asked.
"Oh honey, have you been conditioning?" Dom asked.
"What made you want to move? Must have been something important to get your lazy ass up." Roxie said.
"Roxy don't be mean she's been having a rough time." Molly interjected.
"Well she can deal with it I've had to deal with Ben all day I'm not in the mood."
"Then why are you here?" Lucy asked
"Why are any of you here? Seriously I have something I have to do." Grace said.
"Like what you're honey moon time hasn't been used up yet so you don't have to go back to work."
"It's not work related Marcie. It's personal."
"Oh are you finally going to respond to your brother?" Rose asked.
"No he came by earlier."
"What? What did he say?"
"He said that it was mainly my fault James and I didn't work out –"
"Finally someone said it I've been sick and tired of all this back and forth and everyone blaming James. I was wondering when you were going to realize that men are stupid and don't know what they're doing is wrong." Victoire said exasperated.
"You thought it was my fault too?" Grace asked. All but Marcie and Roxie averted their eyes. "Why didn't any of you say anything?"
"Chicks before dicks?" Lily offered up. But then it seemed as if a light bulb went off in her head. "Wait if you already talked to your brother and you weren't going to go see any of us…that means you were going to go see James! OH MY GOD WE HAVE TO MAKE YOU LOOK PERFECT!" The realization dawned on the other girls, there was some squealing and some eye rolling (Roxie) and a proud smile from Victoire. From there the girls proceeded to shove her into the bathroom demanding she bathe properly and shave all necessary places. When she was done she barely had any time before Molly and Lily shoved her into an outfit. Rose and Lucy were curling her hair and Victoire and Dominique were doing her makeup. Roxie stood in the doorway of the bathroom torn between laughing at the uncomfortable look on her friends face or yelling at her stupidity.
"You know she should apologize to James." Marcie said coming up behind her.
"No she shouldn't, it's always the man's fault."
"Don't be bitter Rox."
"How can I not be bitter I'm a teenage mother. Stupid Barker can't even get a contraceptive spell right."
"Well apparently you couldn't get it either otherwise you wouldn't have Katherine."
"Shut up Marcie. It was his responsibility. And we're not talking about me we're talking about James and Grace and how stupid she is for giving in." Marcie rolled her eyes at her young friend and walked further into the cramped bathroom to see Grace being poked and prodded.
"James I don't understand why you insist on cleaning your house the muggle way." Benny complained.
"Well he tore it apart the muggle way seems only fitting he should restore it to its original splendor that way as well." Freddy replied.
"Will you two idiots shut up and help me." James said sweeping broken glass into a dust pan. Benny and Freddy looked at each other rolling their eyes and taking out their wands.
"Reparo." They said together. Glass shards and wooden splinters flew across the room. Couch cushions sucked the stuffing back inside and sewed themselves back together good as new. Windows and walls became whole again. The coffee table was no longer broken in half. The two moved on to the kitchen and dining room, and then on to the rest of the house. When they came back they found James sitting on the couch with his head in his hands.
"What am I going to do?" He looked up at his two best friends glassy eyed and conflicted.
"Mate, it's not the end of the world." Benny said sitting down next to him.
"But what if it is? I've really mucked things up." James said.
"Well yeah, but you weren't the only one at fault. I mean everyone played a part." Freddy said sitting on his other side.
"But if I just kept my distance from Regina everything would have turned out better."
"That's not necessarily true. Don't get me wrong I love Gracie and you were an idiot, but she can get kind of crazy."
"Wow you're a horrible friend, Fred." Benny said rolling his eyes.
"What Marcie and I talked about it. James you fucked up it's a fact of life. But so did Gracie. You were on a break that means for a period of time you were not tied down you could have screwed all of England and it wouldn't have been any of her damn business. James, cuz, what I'm saying is that you're both at fault so suck it up."
"Wow that was so nice of you." Benny said over their slumped friend.
"I know don't ya think?"
"Wow you're a screw up Fred."
"Wow can you begin a statement without the word wow."
"Wow I didn't think you cared that much about how I spoke."
"Wow I didn't know you thought that little of me."
"Wow I can't believe you-"
"WILL YOU PLEASE SHUT THE FUCK UP!" James's head snapped up and he glared at his friends. "You are not helping in the slightest." James stood up and began to pace around the room.
"What got his knickers in a twist?" Freddy muttered. Benny rolled his eyes.
"Wow you are such an idiot."
"Oi! Don't start that again you little poof!" Freddy exclaimed.
"I'm not a poof!" Benny stood up.
"Oh yeah prove it!" Freddy followed.
"I already have!"
"How so?" Freddy crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.
"I knocked up your sister." Benny smirked, but only for a split second before he was tackled to the ground and the two started punching one another.
"WILL YOU TWO STOP ACTING LIKE IDIOTS FOR FIVE FUCKING SECONDS?!" The two stopped rolling around on the ground and stood up.
"Well you just can't appreciate a bit of harmless fun." Freddy said popping his neck.
"Yeah James usually I'm the stuck up one." Benny said dusting off his pants.
"I'm going to strangle the two of you." James growled.
"What for?"
"You're an idiot."
"Am no-" Freddy was cut off by a hesitant knock on the door. "Who has the nerve to interrupt our male bonding time?"
"This is what you two call male bonding time?" James asked incredulously. Benny walked to the door and looked out the peep hole.
"Holy Shit!" he half whispered.
"What? What? What?" Freddy asked bounding over to the door. He looked through the peep hole as well and sucked in a large breath. "Holy shit you were right for saying holy shit."
"What the fuck are you two going on about?" James asked walking to the door as well. There was another knock this time louder.
"Uh well I think this is time we bid you adieu. Freddy how about we take the back door?" Benny said almost dragging Freddy to the kitchen.
"Come on mate I want to see this show down."
"No, bitch move!" Benny said shoving him out of the back door. James heard a distinct 'pop' of the two apparating away. James looked back to the door suddenly afraid. Cautiously he approached the large oak door and put his hand on the knob. Slowly James turned the knob and opened the door.
"Hi James." Said the quiet voice of Grace Ares. She looked like an angel, she always had, to him at least. Her hair and makeup were done up to perfection. But he never remembered her wearing makeup before. Must have been a byproduct of Fleeton. The thought made him see red.
"What do you want?" he spat. She seemed taken aback at his tone. But she shook it off.
"I want, no, I need to apologize to you." That just downright confused him.
"You what?"
"I came to apologize. I've been doing some thinking lately. Well actually I've been moping a lot recently. And some people have come along and slapped me with a heavy dose of reality. James I was wrong. I was wrong with so many things. I should have stayed with you that day. I was and idiot. But I know what I want now. And if you don't want me back I'll understand, because I really was an awful person, and I-"
"Stop talking."
"What?"
"Shh." She closed her mouth and stared at him. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "How do I know that you mean what you say? You tell me you love me yet you still planned on marrying Fleeton. You have ridiculous logic and are flakey."
"Hey You're no walk in the park either. You're egotistical and self-centered-"
"Self-centered! I'm far from self-centered I do everything for you. Always, always for you. Don't you dare call me self-centered, just look in the mirror and you'll see self-centered." Grace opened her mouth to retort but closed it, and lowered her head.
"You're right. I'm sorry I came." Grace turned away and walked down the sidewalk. James shook his head and slammed his forehead against the doorframe. Blinking back tears of stupidity he ran after her. With his hand on her elbow he turned her around.
"Don't go. Not again." She blinked up at him and half smiled. "Gracie I do love you, but we have got to work our shit out."
"I know."
"We are equally at fault here." He put his hands on her waist.
"I know." She wrapped her arms around his neck.
"And we love each other dearly." He pulled her closer so her feet were dangling off the ground.
"Yes we do." She gave a half smile.
"And for the joy of men everywhere, a woman just admitted she was wrong." Through their grins she slapped the back of his head.
"You are such a jerk."
"Aren't I though?" he put her down and took her hand. "Come on I'll give you a proper tour of the home I purchased for us."
"I love you James Potter."
"I love you too future Mrs. Grace Potter. Huh why does that sound so familiar? Wasn't there a singer called Grace Potter? Whoa that's weird."
"James. Shut up."
"Wow you're going to be difficult to live with."
"I am not. And who says I'm going to be living with you?"
"You're eyes, they say 'James I love you so much, I want to spend every waking moment with you. I want to jump your bones and never leave your bed because you're such a sex god and I love it. Bowchicawowow.'"
"You are ridiculous."
"Whatever you say Grace Potter. Hmm, that does have a nice ring to it. Maybe you should start a band. Well except for the fact that you're a horrible singer and can't play an instrument. OW! What was that for?"
"Tell me again why I put up with you?"
"Because I love you and you love me. And we're going to live happily ever after and all of my relatives will be completely jealous of how awesome we are."
"James are you really ready for this?"
"Gracie, I've told you before I'll follow you anywhere. I'll follow you to the ends of the earth." With that the pair walked back into the house and shut the door. And they didn't open it again for two days.