x. Stalemate

Hogwarts Third Year

The one who pranked Slytherin git Marvin Flint was a genius, James thinks. Not only was the bloke who did it produced such laughter throughout the whole student body, they were also undetected and untraceable.

Most of the students and even the professors thought it was him that did it, but even James had to defend himself that it was (sadly) not him that did the ingenius laughable prank on Flint.

He even tried finding the bloke that he respected but it was no use. The trail has gone cold and clean. So, James had to brush off his curiosity aside for a while.

Other than that, he felt the rift he had with Albus. James had joked to Albus could get in Slytherin so many times throughout the Summer and yet he really did. It shocked James that his brother got into the wretched house of the snakes and he found himself distancing himself from Al, not wanting his brother to be heartbroken when he says things like how he was disappointed in him for getting into Slytherin.

James had saw how much of a toll it was on Al. The boy looked sullen and had been only hanging out with the Malfoy boy and occassionally his sister, the one that James frowned upon.

Yet, after the prank on Flint, Al could be seen slowly getting himself back together, and smiled more often. James was about to talk to his brother and their growing rift, but his attention was elsewhere now, as a Ravenclaw girl had sat next to him in Charms and had properly introduced herself as Marie Copperfield, batting her eyelashes prettily.

He had been noticing girls a lot more now, and he could say that he was very interested in maybe shagging one. Fred had commented that it was normal since they were growing teenagers with raging hormones.

Fred had been keeping an eye on a few girls in the beginning of the year. Danny, who was surprisingly the romantic out of the group, only gave them a shake of his head and said that he was waiting for 'The One'. Terrence on the other hand said he wouldn't deny if someone was to ever ask him out. James wanted to experience as much as he can as long as he was able.

But here he was, responding to Marie Copperfield. Marie had balls, and James had to give her that, since she was flirting obviously with James. She was giggling as they whispered through the lesson. When class was over, she had flirtily winked at him and whispered to his ear, "See you next class, Jamie!"

And James was left with a growing smirk. Fred had shook his head and patted James on the back.

"Ooh, you dog! A pretty bird that's clearly hitting on you. Tell me if something happens, yeah?"

It was not only Marie that he had flirted with. A shy Hufflepuff girl called Eunice Heffley and him had exchanged notes throughout Ancient Runes which James eagerly responded as he was bored in class. He thinks that if it weren't for him being late and sitting in the last available seat in the room which was next to Heffley.

James was bored, and he thought it was a good idea to talk with his seatmate, so he wrote in his parchment and slid it to her side. She had stared wide eyed at it and her cheeks blushed, and James knew he had her attention. Eunice's hand shook as she passed the parchment back to him, but started to confidently write back and forth as the class went on.

It is when Eunice face went red as James gave her a wink after class finished when James concluded that he had an effect on girls that made him attracted to him. It brushed his ego, and he couldn't wait to see his charm work on a few other people.

Defense Against the Dark Arts, or DADA for short, had to be James' favorite lesson, even if it was to be shared with Slytherin, and an equally excited Lyarra Malfoy. Tch.

The professor, Randolph Faraday, was a very fun professor and made the learning experience memorable. This was his second year teaching, and James noted how he broke the curse of the DADA professor's employement rate of only a year.

Professor Faraday was a Ravenclaw in his days, and he was truly smart as he answered unorthodox questions from one curious Slytherin, Lyarra Malfoy. She had quickly become his favorite student, not only being active in class yet also in her brilliant essays as well, which Faraday always praised each start of the class.

It irked James. But he loved the class so he had to deal with it.

Today was exciting though, as Faraday had a cupboard prepared and James knew what was coming.

It was the boggart!

The class were having their fun. All of them had laughed as they turned their fears into laughter. James had accidentally put himself in line just behind Lyarra Malfoy and her Slytherin friends, and wanted to switch places with his friends, but each of them didn't want to so James had to bear with it.

Fred, Danny, and Terrence had started a pushing game and eventually it made James bump into Lyarra who was in front of him. Lyarra had turned and met his eye, gave him a raise of her brow, then turned back to Jemma and Sarah in front of her with a dismissing shrug. James let out a breath he didn't know was holding, and tried to keep his distance.

Eventually it was one person until James' turn. The Malfoy girl in front of him shyly went forward in line to the front, where she waited for the boggart to change.

It changed into a medium sized white teddy bear that looked quite worn. On it's neck was a light blue scarf that also looked quite worn. It plopped in the ground sadly, it's head looking down.

James barely heard Malfoy's little gasp as she stood a step back, bumping into him. She quickly looked back into his face in panic as she bumped into him, and James could see the slight horror in her face before she snapped back to reality and held herself together. She muttered a small "Sorry..." and turned back to the boggart waiting.

With a confident rise of her hand, and small whisper, Lyarra uttered the spell.

"Riddikulus..."

"A little bit louder, Miss Malfoy," Professor Faraday advised softly, encouraging her.

"Yes, Professor," Lyarra nodded, and more confidently said the spell, "Riddikulus!"

The boggart reacted immediately, and the medium sized teddy bear came to life and danced around the floor. Lyarra had giggled as she saw the teddy bear dance freely.

"Good job, Miss Malfoy. You can go back in the line now," Professor Faraday gave her a gentle smile which Lyarra replied with a "Thank you, Professor,"

As she turned around her eyes met James again, but she quickly dismissed it and walked to the back of the class where her friends asked her how it went.

When it was his turn, he was surprised to find the boggart turning into a broken broom, and James' face had frowned in horror. At the back of the class, Lyarra Malfoy snorted as she found it ironic that James Potter's fear was a broken broom.

It was the first ever Hogsmeade outing for the third years, and a lot of them were very excited.

Lyarra and her friends had taken their time to visit the shops. Lyarra really liked going to Zonko's Joke Shop and Honeydukes, which both satiated her hidden desire to prank and her likes of sweets. She even bought several stuff to give to Scorpius and even Albus as they were still first years.

Lyarra, Jemma, and Christophe then separated to get new quills while Sarah dragged Blaise to Madam Pudifoot's. The three then went to Tomes and Scrolls where they bought new books. Jemma and Christophe were having the time of their lives in the shop reading books. Lyarra in the end separated with them to get new gloves for Quidditch and to see the infamous Shrieking Shack that her friends didn't even want to go to because they heard scary stories about it.

Meanwhile James particularly had scored himself a date with ever enthusiastic Marie Copperfield and had separated himself from his group of friends mid day. The two went on to Zonko's and Honeydukes to get some stuff, but after that went to a secluded place to snog.

At first they kissed normally, a peck or two, but it turned out Marie was quite... Experienced? No, she was more like... Enthusiastic, as she was very much sucking the soul out of James like a Dementor. It turned uncomfortable real quick and James found himself wishing for it to stop as it goes on. There was no connection at all. And his wish did came true, but it was in the form of a scowling Lyarra Malfoy.

"Oh Salazar, right in front of the Shrieking Shack?" Lyarra commented in disbelief as she frowned. "Merlin have mercy on me,"

The two broke the kiss immediately.

"Malfoy," James sneered, and breathed for air, a little bit thankful for the interruption, but annoyed by the new presence.

"I'm not surprised it's you, Potter." She scoffed. "But the Shrieking Shack, out of all places?"

"Um, it was my idea, not his--" Marie tried to comment with a sneer, annoyed at getting interrupted, but got cut off by Lyarra's cold glare as she recognized the girl, "Who are you again?"

"I-I uh... I'm Marie Copperfield. Ravenclaw third year?" The girl answered, a little bit shocked by Lyarra's straightforwardness. She hid slightly behind James who was busy glaring at Malfoy.

"Oh so that's your name."

"Don't antagonize her, Malfoy." James spat.

"Me? Antagonizing her?" Lyarra's eyes went wide, and then she actually chuckled. Her eyes turned to the girl who was all over him.

"Did you know that she called your brother a Squib?" Lyarra had crossed her arms as James' eyes widen in shock, head whipping to the girl in question.

"Well specifically, she called him that behind his back. And she called my brother the 'Demon Spawn' too. Like what Flint did." She added.

"What?!" James frowned.

"I did not--"

"Oh, yes you did. You think I didn't hear your gossiping after all those years in the library?" Lyarra had stepped closer to the girl, with fire in her eyes.

"W-Wait, I-- James, I--" Marie tried to deny, batting her eyelashes.

"Did you really?" James can feel his anger bubbling.

"No, I didn't--"

"Do you remember how you called me the slut? Just for hanging out with Nott and Zabini?" Lyarra's voice had dropped down low as she glared at Marie who was sweating bullets by now. The girl actually had the decency to look down.

"Marie, that was so uncalled for." James commented in disgust, pulling her hands away from him.

"James..." She begged, yet James had turned his back and tried to calm himself down. Marie then angrily snapped to Lyarra, her innocent front gone.

"You... You believe this Slytherin bitch over me? She's lying!"

Lyarra actually gasped at that.

"Wow, your true colors are showing! You called me a bitch! Congratulations." Lyarra had clapped her hands, not that bothered by the name calling.

"All of you Slytherins are vile!"

"My brother is in Slytherin," James had angrily spun to her with fire in his eyes, "Watch your mouth."

Marie had actually looked ashamed at that and deflated.

"Go, Marie. Before I say things that's unforgivable. Don't come near me or my family and friends ever again or you'll be on the end of one stray prank." James pointed to the castle. Marie had quickly nodded and ran away from the scene, leaving only James with Lyarra.

"That was..."

"Horrendous." James sighed.

"Oddly wise, I would say. I didn't expect you to handle it that well, Potter." Lyarra commented in honest. It was clear that James was holding himself from blowing off, yet now he had calmed himself down.

"Did she really call Al a Squib?" James asked as he ruffled his already messy hair.

"Yes, she did. To be exact, she called him the 'Slytherin Squib' and how he was a disgrace to the Harry Potter legacy." Lyarra explained. "I guess she has an agenda against Slytherin."

"I can't believe she called Al that,"

"I can't believe you believe me more than you believe her. You were even snogging her right in front of a historical site!" Lyarra huffed.

"She was horrible. Both in snogging and in personality. Can't believe I got stringed along so easily."

"I guess I stopped you guys at a right time?" Lyarra hummed.

"Yeah... Thanks I guess." James reluctantly uttered. "For that and for taking care of Al."

"He misses you, you know." Lyarra informed softly.

"I miss him too," James admitted. "I've been thinking of ways on how to talk to him but I can't."

"You can. Knowing Albus, he's open to listen. You just need to talk to him."

"Oh, as if that's so easy. 'Hi Al! I dislike how you got in Slytherin. I thought you were gonna go to Gryffindor with me! I'm so disappointed!' Like that?!"

"Potter... Do you really, hate Slytherins?"

"My whole family's been in Gryffindor--"

"Albus Potter got into Slytherin. I think you just have to accept that fact, and the other fact that maybe you don't hate Slytherin like you think you do."

"What makes you think that?"

"Would you be talking to me if you were?" Lyarra said pointedly. "When we first met at Madam Malkins I was so excited to have a friend other than my family friends. You looked excited as well. I thought you were going to be one, but I guess you're one of those who were judging the book by the covers, so I was disappointed. Just because I'm a Malfoy and got into Slytherin."

James was silent. That was exactly what happened. Lyarra then continued her speech.

"Then the start of this year, your brother got sorted into the very same house you detest. Believe it or not, I was shocked to see you not talk dirty names to the Slytherin house. Yes, you pranked some of us throughout these three years but the name calling stopped when you found people were name calling Albus instead. It was because of Albus you started pranking them more, right?" Lyarra stepped closer and looked into his eyes.

"I wanted to get to Flint but someone got to him first."

Lyarra snorted. "Dork,"

"But I can see you're actually a nice person Potter. You just hide it with that flamboyant attitude and ego of yours."

It was James' turn to snort. "You talk like you know me."

"I don't. It's because you actually helped me in the train earlier this year. If it weren't for that I would feel bad about myself until today. I guess a thank you is due." Lyarra gently smiled.

James rolled his eyes. "Teddy out of all people?"

Lyarra had frowned at that. "I don't like him anymore. I should be the one condemning you that you were snogging that girl in front of the Shrieking Shack."

"Yeah yeah, but it's still Teddy..."

"...You're getting on my nerves, Potter."

James laughed at Lyarra's annoyed tone and not long after, Lyarra softly laughed, following along.

"Hey Potter." Lyarra called out, making James focus on her curiously.

"Yeah?"

"Stalemate?" Lyarra offered a hand to shake, feeling hopeful.

"Yeah, we can do a truce." The two then shake on it.

"It's stalemate."

"Truce."

The two went back and forth as Lyarra glared at Potter. But eventually her smile grew and she actually laughed, making his heart warm. He followed along laughing at how funny this whole interaction was. He really did not expect his date to be two faced and Lyarra Malfoy defending his brother. He has a feeling like their relationship is now different with the two on a truce.

"Why is it called the Shrieking Shack when there is no Shrieking sound at all?" Lyarra asked in disappointment.

"Maybe it shrieks in the night?"

"Oh how funny you are, Potter."

Now, all he needs is to find Albus, yet the figure of Lyarra Malfoy laughing as she curiously assesses the Shrieking Shack roots him to stay.

A/N

It was tiring to write this chapter. But it was worth it, haha!

Reviews:

drew1998: I think I will, but it's just something like Lyarra's feelings to Teddy, a first crush. I just feel like it's necessary since I've already thought about the future chapters, and how every event will affect the other. Don't worry though, James is still the main love interest!

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