REQUEST: SiRiUsLyInLuV718 wanted a chapter where James thinks he's in love with Hermione
Episode 55
Unexpected Competition
Summary: In which James mistakes his feelings for Hermione, resulting in a fight between himself and Sirius
James and Sirius high-fived each other as the Slytherin ran off. Yet another day of successful pranking, and now they could unwind in the Great Hall with the other three members of their little "gang". What better way to spend Saturday when it wasn't a Hogsmeade weekend?
"I wonder what Hermione's doing," Sirius mused to himself. James frowned and glanced at his best friend curiously.
"Probably reading, why?" James' eyes widened when Sirius, the Sirius Black, actually blushed.
"N-no reason!" Sirius stuttered, and James wondered if this moment could get any weirder. His lips pursed in thought, and he gasped when realization hit him.
"You like Hermione!" he crowed. Sirius' blush darkened.
"I...So what?" he huffed, crossing his arms. He quickly dropped them from said position to clasp his hands against his chest as his eyes stared dreamily at the clear sky. "What's there not to like about her? She's beautiful, funny, smart, loving, beautiful--"
"You said that already," James interrupted.
"Perfect in every way!" Sirius continued, ignoring James' interruption. He sighed blissfully. "She's hard not to love."
James' eyes widened even further. He had never said anything about love! Damn, who knew Sirius felt that way about Hermione? Shaking his head, he chuckled and clasped his best friend on the back.
"Didn't mean it in a bad way, mate, I just can't believe I never noticed."
Sirius shrugged and smirked at James. "Oi, last one to the kitchen's a hippogriff's arse!" He took off, leaving James in his dust. The messy-haired Marauder blinked a few times before glaring and taking off after his runaway friend.
"Padfoot, you bloody wanker!"
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James was sure there was something wrong with him. Ever since his brief conversation with Sirius a few days ago, he had been noticing little things about Hermione he never had before.
The way her nose crinkled in thought – much like Lily Evans, and the way she always had a book open – again, just like Lily, or what about the intelligence she never hesitated to show off, just like – you guessed it – Lily! James had to admit, Sirius was right about Hermione. She truly was perfect.
Potter quickly shook those thoughts away. How could he think that about the only female Marauder? Besides the fact that she was one of his best friends, Sirius loved her, and he couldn't just go for the girl Sirius loved. It wasn't ethical!
There was no way in hell James Potter had fallen for his best mate's girl!
"Prongs, are you alright?" Hermione asked, her brown eyes sparkling with concern. James jumped at the sudden voice and looked into those chocolate orbs. He felt his heart stop at the intelligence and kindness he saw.
Maybe Sirius wouldn't mind if James had a little infatuation with Hermione. He hadn't actually told her his feelings or expressed any attraction to her, right? So, he could...No! He was not falling for Hermione J. Granger, one-fifth of the Marauders! There was no way in hell he could fall for her!
Right?
One more glance at those bright brown eyes.
Well, damn...
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"Prongs, mate, you won't believe the rumors this school puts out!" Sirius crowed, walking into the boys dorm. It had been a week since James' unfortunate revelation about Hermione, and lately he'd done nothing but stare at her or think about her. Sirius, thankfully, hadn't noticed, and he was pretty sure the rest of the Marauders hadn't either. At least, they never commented on it.
"What do you mean?" James asked, sitting up and putting the Quidditch magazine away for later. He crossed his legs when Sirius jumped on his bed and sprawled out, legs hanging off one end and arms crossed behind his head.
"Some birds actually said...said..." Sirius trailed off as laughter overcame him again.
"Said?" James asked curiously, eagerness in his expression. He wanted to be in on the joke too! Sirius wiped the mirthful tears away and cleared his throat. He sat up and stared James directly in the eye, his blue-grey orbs sparkling with amusement.
"They said that you like Hermione!" Sirius started laughing again while James blinked.
"I do," he said simply. Sirius' laughter stopped abruptly. "I wouldn't be friends with her if I--"
"No!" Sirius interrupted, amusement back. "They said that you like Hermione!"
"Oh...Oh! Oh." James gaped at Sirius, who nodded in agreement and started laughing again.
"I know, crazy isn't it?"
"Uh, yeah...real crazy." James tried to laugh it off, but Sirius had already caught the nervousness in his voice. Laughter stopped abruptly, shoulders straightened, and Sirius stared at James for several silent moments. Then...
"Oh. My. Merlin...YOU LIKE HERMIONE!?" his shout reverberated across the room, and James was thankful they were the only two present.
"Shh! Not so loud!" he whispered harshly. The doggish man glared at him, pointing an accusing finger at James.
"You...You...HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME!?"
"Sirius, would you SHUT UP!" James also shouted. "I haven't done anything to you!"
"But you know how I feel about her--"
"Which is why I haven't tried to flirt with her," James interrupted. Sirius stared at him silently for a few minutes, and James stared back. Finally, it seemed the former had come to a decision.
"This means war!" he shouted, raising a finger in the air.
"Excuse me?" James half asked, half yelled at his rash friend. Sirius glared at his so-called best mate.
"Hermione is mine," he said coldly, "I won't lose her to anyone. Especially not you!"
"Wha? What's that supposed to mean?" James asked harshly. He glared at Sirius. The latter, meanwhile, turned his back and crossed his arms, sticking his nose in the air. "Fine!" James growled. "I'll win Hermione's affections and make you look like a fool in the process!"
"You wish!" Sirius turned back to face James, the two glaring at each other with all the anger they could muster. That is, until the door opened and Remus and Peter entered.
The duo stopped short when they saw James and Sirius glaring at each other. Remus frowned in confusion.
"Did we miss something?"
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"Stupid Sirius," James muttered to himself as he tried to tame his hair for once in his life. "Thinks he can win Hermione with just good looks...Well, I'll show him!"
Deciding his hair would never be fixed, he instead ruffled it like usual and nodded in approval. He was extra handsome today, if he did say so himself, and there was no way Hermione would be abel to refuse him looking like this! Hell, she would probably fall head over heels for him with just one glance!
Satisfied there was no way he could lose to ex-best mate, he headed downstairs where Peter was waiting. Remus would be going with Sirius, as the two had ended up fighting over which one the duo liked best. In the end, it was decided they would be split up, and James took Peter since the other boy was always stroking his ego.
The rat sighed in relief when he saw his friend finally come downstairs. He wondered why James took so much time coming down when he looked exactly the same as he did every day, not one thing different about him, but he didn't comment on it. Perhaps it was something only someone as cool as James would understand, and he shouldn't question the amazingness of his much cooler friend.
"C'mon Petey!" James said, pointing towards the portrait hole. "We have to get to the Great Hall before Sirius!"
"Eh?" Peter watched as James ran out of the room, one eyebrow raised questioningly. "But he's already left."
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Sirius smiled, pleased with himself for making it to the Great Hall before James. Hermione was already at the table, having gone ahead of the boys, and was currently reading a particularly large tomb. Sirius frowned. Typical Hermione, reading when she should be chatting and laughing. Oh well, he would take care of that!
Plopping in the seat next to her, he ignored Remus who sat across from him, rolling his eyes at the eagerness Sirius was making obvious. Why was he stuck around such idiots again? Really, he and Hermione should find some different friends – smarter friends preferably. But then, if they did meet anyone smarter, they probably wouldn't hang around a werewolf. So, he was stuck with a lovesick Sirius and an acting-odder-than-usual James. Damn.
"'Mione, love!" Sirius greeted, placing his hands on her book to keep her from reading. Hermione sighed softly, but a small smile played across her lips.
"Hello Sirius," she replied, looking up into blue-grey eyes. Her breath caught at how close Sirius was to her, and she felt a blush spread across her cheeks.
"Wow, isn't it coincidental that I ran into you today?" Sirius asked. Hermione raised a brow and looked at Remus bewilderedly. He merely shrugged and shook his head, a sign that she didn't want to know. "So, I was wondering...would you..."
"'Mione!" James shouted, taking a seat on Hermione's other side. Both she and Sirius jumped at the sudden intrusion, the latter glaring at the messy-haired teen. "How are you this wonderful day?"
"I'm fine, James." Hermione smiled at her other best friend, silently wondering what the hell was going on. James had been acting weird lately, and Sirius...She blushed at the thought of her crush for the past several years. Sirius wasn't acting much better.
"You know how Hogsmeade is coming up?" James started, ignoring the glares and murderous intent rolling off of Sirius in waves. Hermione glanced between the boys and nodded, confused as to where this was leading. "I was wondering if you would like to go with me?"
"..." Hermione gaped.
"..." Remus gaped.
"..." Peter gaped.
"Bastard!" Sirius shouted, jumping up and pointing a finger at James. "You can't ask Hermione out, I was going too!"
"Well, you're too late!" James retorted.
"The hell I am!" Sirius growled. Hermione looked at Sirius in shock, wondering if he was really going to ask her out.
"Sirius..." she murmured, but her voice was drowned out by James.
"Why can't you just accept I like Hermione?" James asked angrily. Sirius pulled James from his seat by his collar, eyes flashing with anger.
"You know how I feel about her!" Sirius growled, punching James.
"I can't help how my heart feels!" James protested, pushing Sirius.
"Girl-stealing bastard!" Sirius shouted, tackling James.
The fight continued as the two boys rolled around on the floor; everyone, even the professors, were too shocked to do anything to stop them. Of everyone in Hogwarts, no one ever expected to see Sirius Black and James Potter fighting! There was a bigger chance of seeing McGonagall and Dumbledore duke it out than those two!
After several moments, Hermione couldn't take it anymore.
"ENOUGH!" she roared, hauling the two up and slapping their cheeks. The fighting stopped as they stared, shocked, at their female best friend. Glaring at Sirius, James turned and ran out of the room, leaving the Great Hall in silence.
"Star..." Sirius trailed off, his voice quiet. Hermione shook her head and left the Great Hall as well, chasing after James. She would set things straight before something bad happened.
Hermione entered the library, the last place she expected to find him, and spotted James immediately. It was kind of hard not too considering Madame Pince was glaring at him, and only him, harder than she had ever glared at anyone. Smiling at the librarian, who returned the smile before returning to glare at the troublemaker, Hermione sat next to said troublemaker. "We need to talk."
"Hermione!" James jumped and looked at the girl next to him. Innocently, though he knew what was coming, he asked: "About what?"
"James, you don't love me," Hermione stated simply. James frowned.
"What do you mean? Of course I do!"
"No, you don't."
"Hermione, I don't think you can tell me whether or not I love you!" James glared at the girl. How dare she not believe his feelings! Hermione sighed and shook her head.
"What exactly is it about me that you love?" she asked smartly. James didn't even hesitate to answer.
"You're smart!" he said. "Like Lily. And you love to read, like Lily, and you're really caring--"
"Like Lily?" Hermione interrupted. James nodded with a bright smile.
"Ri-- Oh." He looked at his hands, an embarrassed flush covering his cheeks. Hermione sat silently beside him for a moment, staring straight ahead. She turned to face the boy when a laugh bubbled up from his throat. "Haha! I feel like a total dunderhead!" he murmured. "I can't believe I didn't see it before! I'm so sorry to put you through all this, Hermione."
"Don't worry about it." Hermione shrugged it away. "You were just confused is all. It happens to everyone."
"Did it happen to you?" James wondered aloud. Hermione smiled amusedly.
"Ah, do you remember that time Remus and I tried dating?" Hermione asked him rhetorically. James laughed. Of course he would remember that! How could he forget? They broke up the next day saying they were too much like siblings for it to ever work out between them!
Come to think of it, Sirius had done nothing but sulk that entire time. James wouldn't forget how he looked like Christmas had come early, or Zonko's decided to hold a sale on all their pranking items, when Hermione and Remus announced they were breaking up. He really should have noticed the attraction back then, but why didn't he?
"Now," Hermione said, interrupting his reverie, "how about going to the Great Hall with me? I hear a certain redhead is there, in her usual spot."
Hermione didn't need to say anymore. James was already up and out the library doors, rushing to see his love. He stopped halfway down the hall and turned back to see Hermione walking at a steady pace behind him. Waiting for her to catch up, he smiled at the bushy-haired prankster.
"Thanks, Star."
Hermione grinned. "No problem."
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The next day, Hermione and Sirius announced the start of their relationship, James fainted when Lily actually agreed to accompany him to Hogsmeade, and it was as though the fight had never happened between Prongs and Padfoot.
END
A/N's:
Ne, those of you who haven't already checked it out should all go read The Almighty Cheez It's story MWSPP: Tales of the Five Marauders!
