Seventh Year

"Promise me you'll write," Ginevra Potter asked, hugging her youngest son tightly while Lily, forever a daddy's little girl, wouldn't let go of Harry.

Albus tried, in vain, to get out of her embrace. James, wiser, had understood long ago that trying to escape his mother's hug would only result in her holding onto him longer. He let his father ruffle his unruly dark hair and noticed with pride that he was now taller than the great Harry Potter.

"Harry," Ginny complained. "Look what you've done! I almost managed to make his hair stay still but you ruined it!"

"Come on, darling, we both know it's impossible to tame a Potter's hair."

James could only nod. He shouldn't have, as it brought his dad's attention straight back to him.

"Please, James, behave this year! I don't want Minerva to floo me while I'm at work! She started scolding me like a child in front of the whole Auror department!"

The loud whistle of the train brought them to attention.

"Sure dad! Gotta go! Bye mum! Bye Uncle Ron! See you, Aunt Hermione!"

As Lily got one last hug from her father, the Potter-Weasley clan hopped onto the Hogwarts Express. With sadness, James remembered it was his last year hopping on the train to Hogwarts. They waved at their parents from the window and when they were too far to really distinguish who was who, they started looking for a wagon while Rose left them for a prefects' meeting. Their prayers were soon answered as Scorpius Malfoy, Albus' best mate, raised his head from his book and waved at them from a wagon where he was sitting alone, saving them seats. Soon, they were installed and chatting about their summer as Scorpius left for the same meeting Rose was attending.

"So, James, I heard you're the Quidditch team captain for Gryffindor this year," Albus asked, looking too angelic for anything good to follow.

"Yeah. My greatest achievement!"

"Well, get ready to have your asses kicked by Slytherin this year," the Potter son said, wishing his best mate was here. The two had so much chemistry it wasn't surprising that they were both chosen as beaters.

"Yeah, right, keep telling yourself that," James snorted as Lily and Hugo rolled their eyes.

"Question, James. Do you know who the new Slytherin captain is?"

"Nope, and I don't really care! The bloke's gonna be sorry to cross me on the field."

"Good thing I'm no bloke then," they heard from the door.

It was like an icy hand had suddenly gripped James' stomach and started twisting it senselessly. Slowly, he turned his head around, dreading the view that would meet him. And there she was, in all her terrifying, smirking splendor: seventh year Slytherin, and apparently Quidditch team captain, Moire McLeoch.

For what seemed to be the thousandth time, James reminded himself that she shouldn't intimidate him, of all people. After all, he was the stereotypical Gryffindor: stupidly brave, rash, and kind of act-first-think-later, a philosophy of life that had cost him his previous relationship with his Ravenclaw girlfriend. However, when his eyes landed on the Slytherin girl, he felt small. Sure, Moire was tiny. Very tiny. He was taller than her by at least a foot, give or take. It was a wonder if the top of her head could reach his chin when she wore heels. But the way she carried herself, her icy glares, and her seductive manners made James' hair stand up more than usual.

Not Lily, though. The kid adored her. She was like the older sister she always wanted. And the feeling was mutual. As did the rest of his family. So much that she had spent a couple of weeks at the Burrow during the annual Potter-Weasley family get together, where the house was cramped but spirits were high, much to Molly's delight as she always looked forward to having a new mouth to feed. The third year Gryffindor rushed towards her role model and hugged her. The ice in Moire's chocolate brown eyes sprinkled with golden flecks – not that James had noticed she had golden flecks or particularly chocolate brown eyes – melted suddenly and she smiled at the young redhead. Albus and Hugo faked a gasp.

"What is this?"

"This isn't a frown!"

"Is this an actual smile, Moire?"

"The world is ending!"

She glared at them but instead of scaring them, it only made them laugh harder. James had to force himself to laugh along with them and not pee his pants instead. Yes, James Sirius Potter dreaded Moire Bonnie McLeoch. But thank Merlin's knickers she had no idea just how much.

"So, McLeoch, ready to lose epically against Gryffindor this year?"

"Oh, please, Potter, I don't know what kind of drugs you're on, but it's making you delusional," she mocked, her voice laced by a very faint Scottish accent.

"Moire!" Lily called, still holding onto her arm. "Mum told me to give you this!"

She rushed to her bag and got a wrapped box and short letter that she handed to the Slytherin.

"Is that mum's fudge?" James asked, almost offended. So that was why she didn't want him to eat more of it?!

"Yup!"

"Don't even try asking for some, none of you are getting any," she stated, clutching the box to her chest.

Much to James' dismay, Albus' amusement, and Lily's delight, Ginny had taken a particular liking in Moire, even making sure several times that Albus, Scorpius, and Lily had invited her to the Burrow over summer. Her temper matched exactly that of their mother, and the Potter matriarch had taught the young Slytherin the Bat-Bogey Hex for which she was so famous during her Hogwarts years, which was one of the main reasons James dreaded her. Her beautiful flamboyant red mane did not help.

"Hey, how's your boyfriend from Durmstrang doing, by the way?" Albus asked, smirking.

"Oh, I dumped him."

Until her fifth year, Moire had the reputation of being left heartbroken as her choice in boyfriends wasn't exactly the best. Even James could only describe any boyfriend she'd had up to that point as conceited assholes. However, she soon changed her ways, being the one breaking hearts with her relatively short skirts, her rather plunging necklines, and her smirks that could make a goblin blush.

Nope, James Potter wouldn't deny it. Moire was pretty. More than that, she was hot. He wasn't the only one to think so, which was proven immediately when two – rather stupid – sixth year Gryffindors whistled in her direction, not immediately realizing who it was. They had only understood their mistake when she turned around, her glare so petrifying that one of the two blokes tripped and nearly fell. Her death stare followed them until they hurriedly disappeared in their wagon. Satisfied, she straightened up and after one last wave she spun around and left for her own wagon.

"Well, too bad they chose the only person who actually scares you to be the Slytherin captain, right, James?"

"I am not scared of her!"

"Come again, Potter?"

Startled, he almost jumped from his seat. The poor Gryffindor turned around to see Rose, smirking, followed by Scorpius.

"Nice impression, Weasley."

"Thanks, Malfoy, I try."

"Oh, quit flirting, you two!"

oOo

"… And that's why I'm sure James is going to ask me out!" Olivia Thompson's shrilly voice kept saying while her equally shrilly voiced friends kept squealing of excitement as Moire was trying to enjoy her meal.

"Thompson, quit yelling in my ear, I'm trying to eat here!" Moire finally cried, at her wits' end.

"You're just jealous," the Gryffindor girl answered. "What are you doing at the Gryffindor table anyways?"

"Sorting's over, and I've also got friends at this table. And besides, no rules forbid me from sitting wherever I want."

After her second year of being headmistress, McGonagall had noticed the awkwardness at the Great Hall. She had started promoting inter-house friendship, including allowing students to sit at other tables. It had taken some time, but more and more students ate with their relatives or friends from other houses. Lily had been begging Moire to help her out with a potion she was struggling to understand. Classes had not yet started, but the poor third year was hopeless in Potions and needed to study whatever subject their Potion professor would tackle a day in advance. Thankfully for her, Moire's best subject was Potions.

"And just between you and me, you're not the kind of girl Mrs. Potter would enjoy having over."

"Oh, and you are? Like the Potters would invite a dirty, slimy Slytherin into their home."

Moire's hand grabbed her wand so tightly that her knuckles turned white. However, she kept her haughty mocking smirk on her face.

"That's not what Mrs. Potter seemed to think when I was over at her house, this summer."

"Hey! You show some respect for Moire, Thompson! My brother is Slytherin too. And having a dirty, slimy Slytherin over at our house beats being visited by a slutty tramp any time!" Lily furiously defended her, red in the face. Moire was so proud.

"Beat it, midget. Go back to sucking your thumb, or whatever it is you do."

Moire was on her feet a second later, wand drawn out, and her eyes ice cold once again.

"Ye talk tae Lily like that again, ye lose yer tongue. Do you understand me, or do I have tae repeat it for that slow brain of yers tae comprehend?" She threatened her voice perfectly calm and dripping of venom, her Scottish accent suddenly a lot heavier. Olivia carefully nodded. "Come on, Lily. The Slytherin table is quieter. And I'm sure Albus will be happy tae help as well."

Lily nodded and grabbed her books as Moire led the way to the Slytherin table.

"So, I heard you had a Scandinavian boyfriend over the summer, McLeoch," Olivia tried, using her last card against her.

This time, the entire room heard their exchange as every student froze. The professors' gaze was directed on them as they started noticing something was wrong.

"Heard you dumped him too. So, jumping to another guy, now, bitch?" The Gryffindor smiled, flipping her hair.

Moire turned around with a smirk on her lips.

"Oh, please. You call me a bitch like it's a bad thing," she answered haughtily, her accent carefully subsided as she tried her best to keep her temper in check, before walking towards the Slytherin table. When she reached it, however, she turned around, the room still deadly silent.

"Also," she added. "He was Slav, you dumb twat."

oOo

Her entire body relaxed as she sunk into the bath. Being Quidditch captain came with its privileges, mainly the prefects' bathroom. Oh, how she loved it.

"This week has been horrid," she complained to Rose, the Ravenclaw sixth year prefect Lydia, and Tammy, the Head Girl.

Rose and Moire had decided to don their bathing suits and go relax in the tub. Lydia and Tammy had overheard and has asked to join on their little impromptu spa day.

"Didn't Slytherin have their tryouts today?"

"Yup."

"How was it?"

"It sucked, especially when a bunch of second years who couldn't even stay on their brooms tried out."

"Hey at least you're done with that."

"Yeah, and I can focus on Lupin's homework. The bloke's hard. First week of school and he's already given out homework."

"But at least, Teddy's a good teacher," Rose smiled.

"See, you have to defend him because he's like family for you. Is he marrying Victoire anytime soon?"

"During the winter break. By the way, Aunt Ginny says you can't escape it and you must come or else she'll apparate in your house, snatch you from there, and drag you to the reception with no regard to what you are wearing at that moment."

"Your Aunt is terrifying. I love her."

"Wait… You know Lupin outside of school?!"

"Yeah. He's my Uncle Harry's godson so he's there like almost every day."

"And the Potter-Weasley clan seems keen on having me over any chance they get so I have to see my Professor in a social setting."

"And he's marrying my cousin Victoire."

"Awww, that's so cute!"

"Yeah, they're adorable. Too bad we can't all find love like them!" Moire said, rather cheerfully.

"Don't say that! You'll find someone!"

"Now where's the fun in that, Rosie?" She smirked.

oOo

"Merlin's knickers, McLeoch, get a room!" James yelled, covering his eyes. They would burn, he was sure. He would become blind. Watching Moire McLeoch snogging random guys was not exactly one of his favorite past times.

"Oh, grow up, Potter," Moire sighed, her lipstick smudged and her arms still around the Ravenclaw's neck. What was his name? Patrick? Percy?

"Umm… I think I'm gonna go. I'll see you tomorrow, I guess."

Peter?

"Yeah, see you tomorrow… Paul."

Damage avoided. He smiled before placing a kiss on her lips. James was looking at them with an expression of disgust on his face.

"What do you want, Potter?" She asked, irritated. With one flick of her wand, her makeup was back in place. "Also, how did you even find me?"

"McGonagall wants to see all the Quidditch captains so we can take care of the last few things before the season officially starts," he answered, pointedly ignoring her second question.

She shrugged and followed him.

"Who did you end up choosing?"

"I've got McLaughlin, Burke, and Jenkins for Chasers, obviously Malfoy and Potter Jr. as Beaters, Buchanan as Seeker, and me in the goals. You?"

"I have the Scamander twins as Beaters, my cousin Fred as Keeper, Creevey as Seeker, and Thomas-Finnigan, Wood, and yours truly as Chasers."

"Scamander twins, huh?"

"Yeah. They're only in fourth year, but they're pretty good. Though I was pretty shocked they ended up in Gryffindor, with their mother in Ravenclaw and their dad in Hufflepuff…"

"Well… I guess I'll see a certain redhead in the stands more often…"

"What?"

"Nothing."

"No, you said a redhead. Is that a Weasley?"

"Kind of…," she smirked.

Horrified, James looked at her.

"Is it Lily?"

"I don't know, is it?"

"The Scamander twins? Which one of them? I'm going to kill him."

"You're jumping to conclusions Potter, I never said it was your sister."

"Your smile says it all! Now which twin? Is it Lorcan? It's Lorcan, right? Don't walk away!"

She shook her head, walking ahead.

oOo

"You two look dead," Rose empathized as the twins stepped into the Gryffindor common room.

"James…"

"… seemed…"

"… really pissed…," Lysander finished. Both looked so exhausted they had to speak in turns. They immediately rushed to their room.

Moire, who was helping Lily with her homework, giggled.

"What do you know?" Fred asked, smirking, as he plopped down on the couch. "James was ruthless."

"Well… I might have led him to believe Lily would be at the games since she has a crush on one of the twins…"

"Moire!" Lily shouted, red. "I do not!"

"Yeah right. Don't worry, I didn't say which one. So, he'll make them both suffer instead of just Lysander. Gotta go, it's time for Slytherin to practice!"

She didn't miss Olivia Thompson's hateful look as she stepped out of the Gryffindor common room. She held her gaze and sent her a death glare that would've made both Ginny Potter and Salazar Slytherin proud accompanied with a smirk when her arch nemesis flinched.

"Fucking twat," she mumbled, walking down the stairs.

Hello all!

This story has been sitting around on the back of my mind for a while now so I hope you guys will enjoy reading it as much as I'll enjoy writing it!

Please leave a review if you guys enjoyed this chapter. The next one will be posted in about a week!

Enjoy :)