Thank you for favoriting/alerting!

EmilyFangirl: Thank you! Here's that update.

Disclaimer - I don't own HP.

Chapter 26: Dates Gone Bad, Fights Gone Worse

James walked to Hogsmeade alone as all of his friends had plans. He didn't much care though as he was incredibly excited to see Teddy. He had to physically stop himself from sprinting to the Three Broomsticks.

When he got there he realized he was slightly early as it was only eleven fifteen. He figured he could just grab a table and wait until Teddy got there. He wasn't looking forward to sitting alone so he checked the bar for someone he could talk to for a bit.

He found Meg.

James grinned. He hadn't know Meg was even going to Hogsmeade. She'd told him a couple weeks ago that Hannah and Layla already had plans. He'd felt bad about being unable to go with her, but she'd been very understanding.

"Hey!" He walked over to her table and stood in front of it. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh hullo!" She smiled at James. "I'm waiting for Marcus."

"Marcus Corner?" James' smile fell slightly.

Marcus Corner was another chaser on James' team and James wasn't crazy about him. Marcus was constantly late to practices and games. He always acted superior to James purely because he was year older. Sometimes he would attempt to help James captain the team.

"Yeah." Meg watched James face carefully.

"I didn't know you guys were friends." James pursed his lips.

"Well we aren't exactly. I mean we've talked a couple times and he asked me out and I had no reason to say no. Right?"

"Yeah, right." James grumbled his agreement. He was sure he could give Meg plenty of reasons not to accept a date with Marcus, but before he could say any of them Marcus himself appeared.

"Hey Meg! Sorry I'm late! I saw you were talking to Potter so I went and bought us drinks." Marcus scooted in beside Meg and placed a butterbeer beside her.

"Thank you! That was sweet of you."

"No problem." Marcus grinned.

"I guess I better be going." James said through gritted teeth.

"I'll see you later James! Tell Teddy hullo for me." Meg waved as James left to find his own table.

Teddy joined James a couple minutes later with a large smile. James should have noticed Teddy sooner what with his bright blue hair, but his mind had been focused on disliking Marcus.

Teddy sat and they began talking immediately. James slowly began to forget his anger and slip into their usual banter. James loved talking with Teddy, he always had the best stories from working with Uncle Charlie in Romania.

James told Teddy about the latest monkey and banana prank. Teddy laughed at the appropriate moments and then began to tell his own stories. James was nearly in stitches after Teddy's very enthusiastic telling of a baby chimera attempting to cuddle with a welsh green.

Their stories continued with avidity until at one thirty when Teddy stood up reluctantly.

"I better head out. Vic was going dress shopping with Dom today, so I'm supposed to go pick her up."

James groaned half-heartedly.

"Alright then. Bye Teddy." James and Teddy clapped each other on the back and Teddy left. James was ready to leave himself when his eyes flickered over to where Marcus and Meg still sat. They had desserts in front of them and more drinks and Meg was laughing loudly at something Marcus had said.

James' anger returned in a mere second. He almost stormed over to their table, but couldn't think of anything to say. He instead averted his eyes and attempted to distract himself by looking at all the people in the bar.

His eyes landed on a group of giggly fifth year girls. He recognised one as Marie Selwyn, Meg had pointed her out the other day to warn him of her huge crush on her. He suddenly had what was probably a horrible idea.

He charged over to the fifth year girls.

"Selwyn." The girls all glanced up at him, their eyes went wide and they began giggling at him.

"James Potter! Hi!" The girl looked star-struck.

"Join me for a drink?" It was almost a question. James knew that had Meg heard him she'd have chided him for such rude behavior, but Marie didn't seem to care. She stood quickly and shoved her friends out of the way and grinned way to wide.

"I'd love too!" She said it much too eagerly.

James dragged her first to the bar and ordered four drinks.

"Four?" She wondered aloud.

"Yeah we're gonna sit with some friends of mine. Is that okay?" He remembered to add on the last part to be a bit politer.

"Of course." She fluttered her eyelashes at him. He had to stop himself from rolling his eyes in annoyance with her. He took their drinks and went for Meg's table.

He scooched in cross from Meg and placed the two drinks down for them. Marie scooted in beside him and grabbed a drink as well.

"Do you mind if my date and I join you?" James asked.

Meg smiled at James. "Of course not. That's fine." Her smile faltered slightly as her eyes landed on Marie.

"I didn't know you had a date today. I thought you were with Teddy today?" Meg asked slowly.

"I was, but he left and Marie wasn't doing anything so…" He shrugged uncaringly, causing Meg to frown.

"I wasn't doing nothing." Marie chimed in quickly. "I was with a large group of my friends, but I wouldn't turn James down." She fluttered her eyelashes again. James did roll his eyes at her this time.

"Marcus were you planning on actually showing up to quidditch practice tomorrow. I'd like to know before I plan what we'll be going over."

Meg's eyes widened at James' rudeness. Marcus laughed it off though.

"Sure cap. I'll be there."

"Will you be on time because it seems like that's a huge problem for you."

"James!" Meg exclaimed in shock.

"It's cool. He's right, I'm late a lot." Marcus grinned at James. "But I'm a good player so he keeps me."

"I don't know if you're good enough to excuse the fact you show up late to every practice." James deadpanned.

"James Potter!" Meg exclaimed. "Quit it."

"Can we talk about something other than quidditch?" Marie whined.

James groaned. "You don't like quidditch? You do realize that's basically all I care about, right?" He glanced at the girl in disgust.

"That's not all you care about." She began. "I mean you have-"

"Yes it is." James cut her off. "Right now I even care for quidditch more than you." At these words Meg stood quickly, eyes blazing.

"Marcus I think we should leave." She said the words coldly. Marcus stood and shrugged.

"Alright."

James stood too, climbing over Marie to get out of the booth.

"Why are you going?" James asked with narrowed eyes.

"I think you know exactly why." Meg told him, crossing her arms.

"No I honestly don't." James crossed his arms too.

"You are being awfully rude to both my date and yours."

"So what?" James exclaimed. "Neither of us should be on a date with either of them anyways." The words spilled from his mouth before he could stop them. Meg's eyebrows rose up further than James thought was possible.

"If that's how you feel, then you shouldn't have invited Marie over here. Marcus and I were having a lovely time until you interrupted."

James snorted. "I'm sure you were."

"We were!" Meg's voice had risen and James could tell he was really getting to her. "Unlike you I only go on dates I want to go on."

James laughed at that. A hard angry laugh. "At least I don't date assholes who only care about my looks rather than my personality!"

Meg's face flashed hurt and James instantly regretted what he'd said, but he was too fired up to take it back now.

"You know what, next time ask me first if you like me." Tears were welling up in her eyes at this point. She pivoted and started towards the door.

"Meg." James started after, wanting to apologize. She stopped and turned.

"I can't believe you'd stoop so low." Her voice was so quiet that he could barely hear it, but once the words left her mouth they echoed loudly in his ears as if she'd screamed them. "Sorry Marcus." Her words were choked and she brushed fresh tears from her face. Then she ran out the door.

"What the hell Potter?" Marcus glanced at James in disgust.

James ran out the door after Meg. He said nothing to either Marie or Marcus.

"James! James!" Marie yelled after him, but she was ignored.

Marie wiped a tear from her face. She'd had the biggest crush on James forever and her chance with him was blown. In fact she doubted she'd ever had a chance with him in the first place.

She couldn't believe that he'd been so rude to her.

"Can I get you something to drink?" Marcus asked her kindly. She glanced at him. He had a strong smile and was very good looking.

"Uh sure." She said with a shy smile.

"Great!" He leaned forward a wiped away the tear on her cheek.

.

Please review because if you don't I may have to withhold the next chapter from you... Nah I'm not that mean. Or am I?

I'm hoping you all are invested in the next chapter considering how this one ended.

Hope everyone is having a lovely summer!

- Jenn-