Parker

I had been recruited. At least, that's how James was phrasing it. He was mad at Louis for taking Gwen to Hogsmeade so he thought he would just follow them for the entire day and make sure nothing untoward was happening.

His word, not mine.

I'd had to look up that word. And I don't own a dictionary. Thankfully it hadn't been too hard as the cousin of my friends, minus Gwen, owned an excessive number of books and thankfully had had a dictionary on hand.

Apparently the word means inconvenient or awkward which made me question why James would use it in this situation. But when I asked Rose, the girl with the books, she had been able to explain that it could also mean unexpected and inappropriate which made a lot more sense.

The next question I'd had was how James knew that word. He wasn't book smart so why he knew this strange word was beyond me.

And that was how I, Parker Thomas Peterson, ended up stalking Gwen and Louis through their date in Hogsmeade with James Sirius Potter. We had followed them out of the castle and into the village.

"James, what do you think you're doing?" I heard Molly ask from behind us.

She had snuck up behind us. Clearly she was unimpressed with this stalking. I was too but someone needed to keep James under control.

"Making sure Louis doesn't do anything untoward." He told her.

There was that word again. I needed to ask him how he knew it. Molly just rolled her eyes at his use of the word. She must know what it means. She's really smart. She also probably knew how he knew the word. I was surprised that James had been so honest with her. Although maybe them being cousins had something to do with it.

"It's Louis and Gwen." She said. "Do you really think he's going to do anything? They've been good friends for three and a half years James. Leave them be."

"He might do something." James told her. "And if he does, I'll be ready."

I tried my hardest not to laugh. Anyone could see that Louis didn't actually fancy Gwen. It must be some ploy to get James to back off or something.

Molly didn't have anything else to say. She just turned and walked off. I saw James spin around quickly to the spot he had last seen Louis and Gwen. I'd be surprised if they got out of his sights at all today.

We watched as they walked along the street together. It honestly didn't look any different to how they would walk went they were with Molly. The only real difference was that Molly wasn't there. Okay, maybe I watch that group walk a little too much. But at least I can admit it, unlike James who seems to think his constant watching of Gwen is some cute romantic gesture.

We stood in the shadows watching them. James had dragged me over here claiming that we would be seen otherwise. I had pointed out that it wouldn't matter if we were seen as it's not like he was solo stalking them. It wouldn't matter if the two of us were seen together in Hogsmeade. James seemed to think it would be a problem hence the hiding in the shadows.

As we watched they walked over to Tomes and Scrolls, going inside.

"Gonna follow them in there?" I asked him.

I knew how much James cared for his reputation. I also knew how far a book store was from that image of himself he presented.

"Only they would go on a date to a book store." James muttered. "They are both such swots."

"You didn't answer my question." I told him.

"There is no way I am going to enter that book store." James told me. "Well, unless Gwen asked me to."

I laughed at his comment. I hadn't need that last comment. Everyone knew that. He would do anything for her if she asked him to. Even ruin his reputation.

"Spying on Gwen and Louis are we?" Fred asked as he joined us.

"What else was I going to do?" James asked in response.

"Very true." Fred admitted. "You are crazy."

"I resent that." James responded.

Okay, where was he learning these words.

"Ooh, he knows big words." Fred joked.

"Shut up." James muttered.

We stood in silence for moment before Fred turned to me.

"What are you doing here?" He asked me. "I thought you had more common sense than him."

"I got dragged along." I explained. "But someone needs to keep him in line. His stalking might go too far if we leave him alone."

"I'm not stalking them." James protested.

"Yes you are." Both Fred and I told him.

"Are we just going to stand here?" Fred asked after a moment of silence.

"They went into Tomes and Scrolls." I explained. "James cares more about his reputation than watching them in a book store."

"What if they're snogging behind a bookshelf?" Fred asked with a smirk.

I watched as James reached his hands up to Fred's throat. Strangulation was an interesting method to stop someone from making jokes. Fred grabbed both of James' wrists and laughed before the hands could reach his neck.

"Well, it was good seeing you two." Fred said to us after shoving James off him. "But I think I'm going to head off. I've got Kayla Burgess waiting for me at the Three Broomsticks."

I just rolled my eyes at Fred and he walked off. Guess I was stuck babysitting the stalker. Fun.

James had once again dragged me out of sight. Honestly this looked more suspicious than us standing in the middle of the street watching the store. Sometimes, most of the time, I don't understand how James' mind works. And I don't think I want to.

Pretty soon after Fred left Gwen and Louis left the store. I watched Louis hold the door for Gwen and as she stepped out of the store. Louis was carrying a bag. Gwen wasn't. I feared what was going through James' mind.

We watched them continue down the street. They were heading towards the Hogs Head. I'm not sure why they would go there but clearly James did as he made a strange noise upon realising what direction they were heading in.

"Come on, let's go say hi to Aberforth." James said grabbing hold of my arm.

"Who?" I asked not understanding what he was saying.

"The owner of the Hogs Head." James explained. "He's friends with my dad."

I rolled my eyes attempting to resist the force James was putting on my arm as he tried to drag me towards the pub.

"Gwen and Louis just went in there, didn't they?" I asked in an attempt to by them some time.

Of course I knew the answer but I wasn't going to let him know that I was watching them as well. He might start to think I'm enjoying this stalking. And while I have to admit that the way James is acting is rather amusing I still think it's wrong of him to be stalking them.

Eventually I gave in to his tugging on my arm. He hadn't answered my question but he'd realised what I was doing. I let out a sigh and followed him to the Hogs Head.

When we entered the building I noticed the man at the bar eyeing James strangely. James' eyes were fixed on Gwen and Louis. I indicated at them and the man nodded at me before continuing what he was doing.

James led us to a table. It was clear what he was doing. He wanted to be able to watch them. This meant I had my back to them as James stared over my shoulder.

"James, you really need to chill." I told him. "Louis is fifteen, Gwen is fourteen, it's not like they're getting married and you've lost your chance forever."

"I am here to make sure Louis doesn't do anything untoward." James said again.

"Okay, you have to explain to me how you know that word." I told him. "I had to look it up and I still didn't understand it. Your second year cousin had to explain it to me."

"Molly got me a word a day calendar for Christmas last year so I could sound smarter when talking to Gwen." He explained.

I just sighed and rolled my eyes before letting my forehead drop onto the table. Why Molly ever thought it a good idea to help this idiot I don't know.

"Somehow today's word was untoward." He continued. "It was the perfect word for today."

"James, don't you think that maybe you're taking this a little too far?" I asked lifting my head off the table. "I mean, sure Molly supports you now, but don't you think she's just trying to see how far she can push Gwen. And you'd assume that once Gwen reaches the point of breaking Molly will stop supporting you all together."

James just stared at me his face going completely blank. Okay, maybe he hadn't thought of that. But it was only logical. If Molly lost Gwen she would only have us guys. And we would be forced to choose between Gwen and Molly.

James would obviously choose Gwen. There would be no doubt about that one. I'm pretty sure Fred would choose Molly. They are cousins after all. There no way to tell who Louis would pick. While Molly is his cousin he seems willing to do anything Gwen, even make James hate him.

I wouldn't know what to do if I was forced to choose between them. I care about them both. They are both my friends.

As I contemplated what I would do if the friendship broke up I saw James jump up from his seat. Gwen and Louis were leaving them. As they exited the Hogs Head I saw Gwen lean into Louis. I could see James getting angry at this action so I placed my hand on his shoulder.

"Louis isn't doing anything." I told him. "It's all Gwen."

James just nodded in response however he did not relax.

"Hi James." I heard a girl say from beside me.

I looked over at who had spoken. It was Kendall Wood, one of the girls dorm mates.

"Hi Kendall." James said with a sigh.

This girl was rather irritating. None of us guys really liked her anymore after what she and Juliet did to Gwen last year. Gwen was still suffering from side effects of that prank. I felt bad for James. I could tell he didn't want to talk to her yet he knew he had to be nice.

We all knew Kendall and Juliet were obsessed with James, Louis and Fred. I'd heard Gwen and Molly complain that they would stay up late some nights just talking about the other guys. Honestly it really was quiet ridiculous.

"What have you been doing?" She asked James.

I could tell he watch itching to look at Gwen and Louis but he had been raised to be polite forcing him to continue to face her as he unwillingly conversed with her.

"Nothing much." He responded rather vaguely.

I could see a pained smile spread across his face. He really was trying his hardest to be nice. It was just so obvious he didn't want to talk to her.

"Oh, that's too bad." She said softly. "You wouldn't happen to want to come get a butterbeer with me at the Three Broomsticks?"

And there it was. Exactly what I knew was coming. Kendall seemed to think that because Gwen was with Louis, James would fall straight into her arms.

I rolled my eyes at her comment and as my gaze fell onto Gwen and Louis again my eyes widened. I was witnessing something I had never expected to see. Gwen had grabbed hold of Louis' collar and pulled his face down to lock her lips with his.

I knew I was staring at them. What else could I do? No one could have predicted that.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw James spin around. Oh no.

Gwen and Louis pulled apart, a mischievous smile across her face and a shocked expression on his.

"James?" Kendall asked putting her hand on his shoulder.

Give it a rest Kendall. He's probably hurting right now.

"I think I'll just go back to the castle." James muttered quietly not turning.

He quickly headed off in the direction of the castle. I wanted to call out for him but I was still too shocked after what I'd seen. I couldn't imagine how he was feeling.

I walked over in the direction of Gwen and Louis. I had to speak to them. I had to know what she was thinking.

"Gwendolen Grace Smythe what in heavens name do you think you're doing?" I yelled at her as I approached the couple.

"I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about." Gwen said with a shrug. "Surely you've seen how many girls Fred had kissed."

"That doesn't mean you had to kiss Louis in front of James." I told her.

"Well if it gets him to leave me alone then yes, I had to." She snapped at me before walking off in the direction of the castle.

Louis and I just stared after her.

When I got back to the dorm I noticed the drapes around James' bed were drawn. He must be wallowing in self-pity. I couldn't think of anything else he's be doing. He's just had his heart broken.

I'd worked out pretty quickly that James wasn't just being irritating on purpose. He genuinely liked Gwen and thought that all his ridiculous antics were the best way to get her attention.

"What's up with mopey in there?" Fred asked indicating towards James' bed.

"Gwen kissed Louis." I said. "James saw."

Fred just groaned. We sat down on my bed not wanting to disturb James' moping. Just as we sat down Louis entered the dorm.

"How was it?" Fred asked James with a laugh.

Louis was looking completely frazzled. Something was going on with him. There had seemed something a little off with him since the kiss.

"Fine, I guess." Louis responded.

"Gonna go out with her again?" Fred asked.

I elbowed him in the ribs. James was still in the room.

"No." Louis said lying down on his bed but looked over at us.

"Why not?" Fred pressed. "If you had a good time."

"Because I don't like her like that." Louis explained.

I was glad of that. At least with Louis not going out with Gwen I wouldn't be forced to stalk them.

"But you kissed her." Fred said.

"She kissed me." Louis corrected.

"I told you that Fred." I said.

Fred just rolled his eyes.

"But honestly, I don't like her." Louis defended. "I never have and I don't think I ever will."

"That's a big claim to make." I said.

"Gwen's like Vic or Dom to me." Louis explained. "The date only confirmed that."

I don't think Louis realised James was here. I wasn't going to be the one to tell him. Honestly it was a little amusing to watch Louis bury himself in a hole without even realising. With James hearing all this I couldn't see it ending well.

"Then why'd you go on it in the first place?" Fred asked.

I wanted to know that too. I'm pretty sure James was alert at this point paying close attention to what was going being said.

"Honestly?" Louis asked.

Both Fred and I nodded.

"It was all Gwen's idea." Louis explained. "She wanted James to leave her alone. Thought us going on a date would be the best way. But I feel like all I've done is destroy my own relationship with James."

I have a feeling that it is this moment that finally has James realising how he is affecting Gwen.

"Yeah, James might just kill you after what he saw." I joked.

Louis paled. He already knew that James had seen the kiss but I don't think he knew the extent of his cousin's stalker tendencies.

"Oh no, what did he see?" Louis groaned.

"Everything." I explained. "It's James. He thought it was a good idea to watch the entire date. Well, except in Tomes and Scrolls. He's not exactly the type to go into a book store."

Louis groaned again putting his hands over his face. I felt bad for him. But really, he had brought this upon himself.