Hey guys! so I wanted to get this one out nice and quick PLUS with lots of Jaddie!

To:

Cap92A: thanks so much for your support, I really appreciate it! this one is really hilarious with the date thing and I hope you like it! keep reading and reviewing!

Kattttiiieee: I think everyone agrees with Lily when she said that Jaddie should totally be a thing hahahaha! Keep reading and I hope you like this one! I love hearing from you so keep reviewing what you think!

Hp head: thanks for being so enthusiastic and I'm glad you're liking my story! I think you'll adore this one because it's super cute and filled with lots of Jaddie! Keep reading and reviewing because you're so awesome!

FanFicLover32: thanks so much for the kind words, it's always so great to hear from you! I know, I loved putting Lily in there saying 'team Jaddie' because I thought it was super cute! And trust me, you'll be loving James after this chapter hhahahaha! Keep reading and reviewing!

THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL THE FOLLOWERS AND FAVOURITES, I LOVE ALL YOU READERS SO MUCH! Now, on to the chapter…

(on a side note, I'm an Aussie so I may spell words differently, just letting you know in case you were a little confused : ))

Chapter 24: Reasons Why I Like James Potter

The rumour mill was absolutely running. After Al and Scorp had ditched me, I went off in a huff to find Roy but I was stopped numerous times and asked numerous questions about Roy, Alexia and James. Apparently, the whole school thought the four of us had this weird love-square going on. It was ridiculous! I was even more confused as to how everyone found out about the big fight so quickly… but I had my suspicions (I was willing to bet that Ellie or Jo had started the rumours). I held my head high and tried to ignore the stares and whispers as best as I could.

Trying to banish all thoughts of rumours, I walked into the common room to find Roy sulking in an armchair by the fire.

Sighing, I trudged over to him, thinking of the stupid agreement I'd made with James – that James, Alexia, Roy and I would all go out to Hogsmeade on the weekend.

I didn't want to. I didn't even like Roy all that much. At least… not like I liked James.

I couldn't stop saying it in my head – that I liked James.

I even made a little list as to why:

Reasons Why I Like James Potter:

His arrogance is seriously hot. I mean, sometimes it's annoying but it looks good on him

He thinks he's above the rules which is cute because when he gets caught for breaking rules, it's hilarious!

He's such a people person and I like how he's so social (but I don't like it when they basically worship him)

He's disruptive in class… but so am I and I like how we have things in common

I think James Potter is the most good-looking person in the world. His perfect face with the slightly crooked nose, the messy hair and the eyes like cut sapphires… and then he has abs too…

I like most of his friends like Rose, Hugo and Miranda (not Adam)

He likes to tease me (which I find really attractive and endearing when he's not being an ass)

He has the same sense of humour as me

And basically… everything about him

And I know, I know – I sound like a middle-school girl but James Potter will do that to you.

Of course, I know I'm acting like a bitch asking Roy out but I'm only doing it because I promised James…

Which is as pathetic as it sounds. So, in that moment, I made a promise to myself that I'd never do something I didn't want to do just because a guy asked me to.

But I still had to get through that one date with Roy. But the worst part would be convincing him to come.

I stopped right in front of him and heard him sigh frustratedly. I suppressed an eye roll – he was being such a drama queen.

I smiled sweetly and tried pleading. "Look, what happened out there… that was not what it looked like. I don't love James Potter! And what happened was that Ellie jumped to conclusions and then James was-"

Roy stood up and looked down at me, his eyes blazing. "You didn't even stick up for me when Potter was being ridiculous! You two 'can't stand each other' which is obviously an utter load of bollocks!" he shouted, his arms waving around and his face stoic. He was being ridiculous and stubborn and yet I only felt a cool annoyance – no burning, boiling or bubbling heat.

I shook my head and crossed my arms. "Look, you need to-"

Roy basically exploded. "No! I don't need to anything! Look, I really like you and you really liked me last term. But obviously that changed over winter break," Roy yelled, his pale blue eyes turning dark, blazing.

I sighed. Well, he got that right. "Ok! Fine! You're right! I really liked you and then over break that changed but not because of James!" Lie. "I just… I think going back to Australia may have disorientated me or something," lie. "And I'm trying! I'm trying with you because I want this to work between us!" Not a lie.

I really did want at least something to work between us, even if it was only friendship. I did actually enjoy his company… as a friend, that is. And as bad as it sounds, I was using Roy to try and get over James Potter – I knew I needed to at least try.

Roy shook his head. "You still didn't do anything when Potter was threatening-"

That was my que to explode. "That's because you were in the wrong!" I shouted, my eyes wide, finally getting really angry.

Roy's eyes widened in surprise and his mouth opened and closed a couple of times.

A minute of silence passed. He looked… like nothing I guess – I couldn't get a read on him.

He rubbed his hands together, his head down. "Oh. You were really mad at me for not believing you," he said finally. He looked up, pointing a finger at me. "But I was mad at you too!"

Just wanting this whole fight-thing to be over, I turned up the charm. "Our first fight," I said, my voice sweet. I giggled quietly, hoping he'd forget about the whole thing too. I felt completely awful about doing this to Roy.

Roy chuckled. "Only you could turn this whole mess into something good," he teased, his eyes returning to their normal calm and cool colour of pale blue.

"Well, I'm pretty special like that," I said, flipping my hair. Remembering the reason I'd come up to talk to him, I sobered up. "Does this mean that we both forgive each other?"

Roy cocked his head to the side. "Is that what just happened? Did we forgive each other that easily?"

I shrugged. "Are you still mad at me?" I asked, praying his answer was yes so that I could ask him to get that date over with.

Roy pondered this for a moment and then smiled. "Nah, I'm not mad," Roy said as he wrapped me in a huge hug and kissed the top of my head.

I snuggled into his open (and available) arms but I couldn't get comfortable. I mean, he was all skin and bone and he was too tall. I gave up trying to get comfy and pushed him away, smiling.

"Does this mean you'll go to Hogsmeade with me, James and Alexia this weekend?" I asked quickly and I smiled my best smile.

Roy's expression stayed the same happy and dazed expression. "Anything for you," he sighed happily.

I'll admit, I cringed a little at that statement but tried to hide it.

I'll admit, I was kind-of looking forward to the date because I had this weird vision of me seeing James and Alexia together that I'd have a realisation that I actually liked Roy and got over James. It was such a good thought that I actually fooled myself into thinking that would happen.

So, smiling, I didn't protest when he kissed me lightly on the lips.

But it wasn't exactly the pair of lips I wanted on mine…


"Hey guys," I said awkwardly as I waved to Alexia and James. After making the trek through the snow to the Three Broomsticks, Roy and I had finally found Alexia and James who were waiting for us, James looking a little uncomfortable and Alexia grinning like she'd won the lottery.

I nudged a seething Roy next to me who grunted and sighed.

"Hi Alexia," he said cheerfully. Turning to James, he scowled. "Potter."

Rolling my eyes I signalled to James to say something nice.

James sniffed like he smelt something bad. "Nice to see you, Roy," he said as if it physically pained him to say something civil to Roy.

Alexia shook her pretty head and beamed. "Boys," she said to me, laughing.

Joining in awkwardly, I smiled tightly.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Alexia broke it by clapping once loudly.

"Alrighty! Let's go inside! I'm freezing my buttocks out here!" she joked merrily. I glanced at James to see if he'd make some comment like 'your buttocks would still look adorable frozen' but he didn't say anything, which was unusual.

The four of us shuffled in and I was bombarded by the sudden noise and loud chatter.

We made our way slowly to our table and all piled in (it was a corner booth which sucked because they're usually best for the dates you wanna make out in).

It just so happened that Roy was on the end, I was next to him and squished up in the corner next to me was James. Alexia had snuggled in as much as she could next to James but he was slowly shuffling away, closer and closer to me until he was basically on my lap (not that I was complaining but still, it was weird).

All of us sat there, tapping our feet and picking at our nails and looking at the floor for what felt like forever.

James shifted in his seat and his hand brushed my arm and leg. Tingles and little shots sparked up my arm and suddenly, I was completely aware at how much we were touching. My arm, his arm. My leg, his leg. My shoulder, his shoulder. Our sides were pressing up against each other and I felt him stiffen. It was then that I knew he was suddenly very aware of me too.

I shifted. He coughed. I tried to fold myself in half. He tried to move farther away. I kept my gaze off his. He muttered something under his breath.

I 'accidently' brushed my hand past his. He leaned in closer to my ear to 'apologise'. I felt his leg start to move up and down. He felt my arm start to shiver.

It was both very awkward and liberating at the same time.

Finally, the waiter came over and asked for our orders.

"The waiter's here everyone!" Alexia chirped. James practically leaped onto Alexia and I slid right up next to Roy's side.

James coughed and sat up. "Uh, four butterbeers please," he said.

Roy frowned. "What if I wanted something else?" he challenged, his face defiant.

I groaned and looked at him with disbelief on my face. "Why are you being difficult?" I asked like I was talking to a misbehaving child.

Roy stuck his chin out. "I want Firewhisky."

The waiter looked him up and down. "How old are you? Fourteen?" he asked, an eyebrow raised.

Roy flushed while I had a giggling fit. "I'm sixteen."

"Well then. Four butterbears it is," the waiter said, walking off.

I was trying to keep my laughter in but I glanced at James pulling a funny face at me and burst out laughing. Soon, James joined in. It was like we couldn't stop and soon, I was in hysterics.

"Stop laughing. It's not funny!" Roy protested.

I nodded and made my face serious, though it was a struggle. "You're right. Sorry," I said in a formal and brisk manner.

When James said nothing, I turned to look at him and saw him silently cracking up, his mouth open in laughter and eyes closed.

My mouth shook and I trembled all over trying not to laugh at his ridiculous laugh. I thought I'd gotten it under control when James suddenly snorted and I just burst out laughing.

We were both shaking with silent fits of laughter and only stopped when Alexia slapped James on the arm.

"James," she hissed, her eyes wild. "What on Earth are you doing? You look like an idiot!"

So what if he looked like an idiot? We were just laughing!

"Who cares if I look like an idiot?" James drawled to an annoyed looking Alexia.

Alexia raised her eyebrows. "I do"

"Me too," Roy added randomly, his face cold.

"Same," I said, trying to keep a straight face.

James whirled on me. "Really? You care?" he asked incredulously.

I snorted and started giggling. "God no! Can't believe you believed me!"

And we started cracking up all over again.

Alexia rolled her eyes and Roy muttered something under his breath that sounded like 'baboons'.

I didn't care. I just laughed along with James.


"How about Bertie's Bots? I love those!" Alexia clapped excitedly as she pointed to a whole shelf of them. After a strained conversation over butterbeer, we decided to head over to Honeydukes to buy some lollies.

I knew James hated Bertie's Bots.

James shook his head. "I hate them. I can never tell whether I'll get a caramel one or a vomit one," James commented. I was pleased to remember that he hated them. He told me a long time ago, when we had to clean that broom cupboard and practised some Quidditch together. I realised with a jolt that that was the first day we were kind of friends.

"Oh. That's cool. I don't really like them either. I mean, they aren't my favourites or anything," Alexia said casually as she wondered around.

"Oh. Right," James said, his face bored.

I didn't want to judge her but did she really just change her opinion based on what James thought?

"I love them. The surprise and suspense is the best bit!" I said loudly as James chuckled.

His eyes sparkled as he turned to me. "How did I know you were going to say that?"

I shrugged, smiling. "How do I know you hate liquorice wands?" I said mysteriously.

James smiled knowingly. "That day we cleaned the broom shed," James said proudly. I'll admit, I was impressed he'd remembered.

I laughed and walked around to the next shelf, James following me.

"Ok… you like chocolate frogs?" I asked, holding up some packets.

James nodded and smirked. "You know, I was asked to be on a chocolate frog card one time when I was little," he boasted, picking through a shelf of random lollies.

"You were not," I scoffed, rolling my eyes.

James turned to me, his face serious. "I was too! They even asked for a shirtless pic. It was going to be a collectable," he said, not even blinking at the obvious lie he was telling.

"That is the biggest load of crap I've ever heard," I told him, smiling to myself none other the less.

"Excuse me, I'm actually very important and very famous. Plus, I'd make a great choc frog pic!" he told me, 'offended'.

"Please, no one would collect that card!" I retorted, still flipping through different chocolate frogs.

"I'd make a better card than you! Your face would be all weird and like, twisted and you'd look like a troll. Someone would pick up your card and think it was legitimately a troll," James stated like it was an obvious fact.

I threw the pile of chocolate frogs I was holding at him in response.

James flinched and swore at the onslaught. I started laughing and soon, James joined in.

Roy and Alexia rounded the corner and found us like that. Alexia smiled lightly and Roy frowned.

"Sorry. I'll pick them up," I said, giggling as we picked the chocolate frogs up and put them back. James looked up at me and smiled. I smiled back but frowned when I saw James's expression light up.

"Uh oh," I said, in regards to his expression that meant he had an idea. He looked at me and smiled evilly. He grabbed my hand and yanked me around to a new shelf.

"Ok. Here's what we're gonna do. You're gonna pick five lollies. And you'll buy them. And I have to eat them all, ok? And you can buy any types of lollies you want," James said, his expression happy with a hint of mischievousness in his eyes.

I smiled, liking the sound of the game. "You do the same for me?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"Obviously."

I ended up choosing Bertie's Bots, liquorice wands, a blood-flavoured lollypop, cauldron cakes and Honeyduke's salt water taffy (which tasted like the sea which tastes gross).

Gathering them up, I bought them and hurried to find James. I found him smiling on a seat by the door. I rushed over, sat down next to him and handed him the bag.

"Ok, lucky dip one out!" I said excitedly. James nodded. "One, two… three!" I said as I closed my eyes and grabbed a smooth lolly.

Pulling it out, I saw it was a Peppermint Toad. I scowled and almost dropped it. "Ewwww! I hate these! They jump around in your tummy after you eat them and are disgusting!"

James laughed at my expression but stopped when he saw he was holding a cauldron cake. "For some reason, I've always hated these."

I laughed at his disgusted expression. "That was my nice one! I thought you liked that one!" I giggled.

James sighed, but smiled. "Ok, on three we'll eat them. One, two, three!"

We both shoved the lollies in our mouths and both winced as we swallowed them down.

I felt the lolly go down my stomach and felt a jolt as it started hopping about. "Agh!" I screamed suddenly.

James didn't even laugh because he was gagging at his cake. I started laughing at his expression which was completely ridiculous! "If only that face could be your chocolate frog card…" I said wistfully.

James scowled and straightened up, wiping his face. "That was gross."

Once the hopping subsided, we pulled out the next lolly and the next. It was hilarious, but it was priceless when James pulled out the Bertie's Bots.

I laughed so hard, sherbet lemon flew out my nose. Soon, we were both cracking up. It was getting too warm in the crowded lollyshop, so we wondered outside and sat on a huge pile of snow. Together, we shared the Bertie's Bots.

"Ooohh! I got a lemon one!" I said, sighing into the sourness.

James popped one into his mouth and promptly spat it out. "Bogey one! It was a bogey one!"

I snorted and ate another. "I think it's… butter flavoured?"

"Vomit!"

"Orange!"

"Ewww, it was earwax!"

"Pumpkin was quite nice."

"Parchment, blurgh!"

"Have you ever had the tea one? Tastes like sugar!"

"Dirty grass!"

"Ohhh! Caramel!"

"How come you always get the good ones?" James asked indignantly.

I smiled sweetly. "Good luck?" I answered, laughing when James scowled.

We continued until we'd promptly finished off the packet, when we heard trudging footsteps coming up to us.

I looked up and smiled. "Alexia! Roy! Where'd you guys disappear to?" I asked, my mood too good to be spoiled by them.

Alexia frowned. "You guys ran off on us and we couldn't find you!"

Roy sighed. "Are we going to the Shrieking Shack or…?"

James head snapped up and he smiled a fake smile. It was weird how I knew which ones were fake and which ones weren't. "Right! Off we go! And sorry for running off. We played the best game! Alexia, we should try it! It's where you eat lollies the other person bought for you," James explained as Alexia reached down to grab his hand.

"Yeah! It's super fun!" I told Roy and Alexia.

They both nodded but said nothing more. Confused, I gave James a questioning look. He just shrugged.

Wonder what was up with them?


After a super awkward walk to the shack, we finally arrived. We looked around and tried to keep the conversation flowing but Alexia and Roy weren't even trying. Ended up with me and James just sharing spooky stories.

"What do you mean your dad jumped at Lily? How is that even scary?" I asked James who shook his head.

"Trust me, it was! She screamed so hard, I bet she wet her pants," James teased.

"She did not," I scolded whilst rolling my eyes.

"Ok, ok… but I was still asked to pose for a chocolate frog pic!" James argued, smiling.

"For gods' sake, not this again!" I said frustratedly, rolling my eyes.

Alexia smiled. "I believe you, James. I mean, you are Harry Potter's son, of course they'd ask you," she said reasonably.

Aha! That was the word to describe Alexia – reasonable. She was sweet and kind and pretty and didn't rock the boat. She was reasonable and sensible. Nothing wrong with that, of course.

James looked at her like she was dumb. "I was joking."

"Aha!" I screamed, grinning wildly. "So you admit it!"

James looked at me and smiled. "I admit it. But I bet they totally will ask me to be on a card once I save the world."

I nodded like it all made sense. "Ahh, yes. After you save the world."

"Don't believe me?" James asked, cocking his head to the side.

I shook my head. "Nope. Never have, never will!" I teased, smiling in his direction.

"Ok then. Calls for one thing… SNOWBALL FIGHT!" James screamed wildly as he bent down, gathered snow in his hands and threw it at me with perfect aim.

Of course, I'm a beater so I have some fast reflexes. I dodged and gathered my own snow and through it at him, knowing it would find its target.

The snowball flew into his chest and he smiled.

Soon, we had a full-on war going on. We were running around like crazy, laughing and yelling idiotic insults at each other. Snow was flying and I was having the best time of my life. I didn't even see Alexia roll her eyes, or Roy cross his arms. I didn't notice that Alexia had stiffened and that Roy was glaring fiercely. I didn't even hear them when they traded words about me and James.

I was too busy caring about hitting James with snow. I ran towards him but he surprised me by coming right at me and tackling me to the ground.

We went flying and landed in the snow, laughing and rolling around. We lay on our backs, next to each other, breathing deeply and laughing quietly.

"That was fun," James said after a while. And it was fun. It had been the best fun I'd had in ages.

"The sky is so blue today, isn't it?" I said randomly, staring at the bright blue sky that was speckled with little clouds.

I heard James sigh. "It's pretty. Kind of like the sky in Australia."

I giggled and spread my arms out. "Let's make snow angels!" I said happily, completely content with getting completely wet and cold.

I was waving my arms and legs in the snow and I could feel James doing it next to me.

After a while, we stood up and admired our artwork. James slung a casual arm over my shoulder and my head rested in the crook of his neck. He smelt the same, like pine trees and mint and musk – it somehow smelled so good and I was intoxicated by it.

James tilted his head to the side so it rested on mine. "Yours looks like a potato."

I elbowed him in the side and laughed. "It does not!" Even though it totally did. I pointed to his and smiled. "Yours looks like a fat fish."

James frowned. "Ok, I don't see that."

I shook my head. "You're just looking at it wrong. If you tilt your head another way, you'll see it differently," I explained, walking behind him, reaching over and grabbing his head lightly with my fingertips. "Like this," I said quietly, tilting his head slightly, his gorgeous black hair tickling my fingertips.

"I see it," he whispered, chucking quietly. I felt little tingles go down my spine and felt myself shiver at how close we were standing.

"Good," I whispered back, my hands dropping down slowly.

It was a moment.

A nice, amazing, tingling, romance novel-worthy moment… ruined by Roy.

"Ok, that's it. I have to say it," I heard him say. James and I turned around to find him and Alexia stalking over to us, obviously pissed.

Alexia looked… sad and a little disappointed. She turned to James and winced. "Look, I think it's not working between us James. You're obviously not feeling the same way towards me as I do you," she said sadly and I could tell it pained her to say that to her long-time crush.

Roy nodded. "And Maddie… same goes for you. I mean, I think we were both kidding ourselves when we decided to try and make things work," he explained, his voice steady and eyes clear.

Wait… what? Was Roy… breaking up with me?

But more importantly… was Alexia breaking up with James?

Where the hell had this come from?

James's smile faltered. "What… what do you mean?" he asked Alexia, confusion written all over his face.

Alexia smiled sadly. "Isn't it a bit obvious? You spent our whole first date avoiding me and hanging out with Maddie. And… you two are basically perfect for each other."

Mt stomach dropped. She thought we were what? I didn't dare look at James, lest he see the utter mortification on my face.

Roy nodded. "And Maddie… I always knew you liked James way more than you liked me. And I think it's best – for all of us – if we break it off," Roy said kindly and softly.

Whoa. Alexia was right. Me and James were hanging out this whole date… and I didn't even notice until she pointed it out.

And Roy was right – I'd always liked James better than him. I realised I'd been an idiot – instead of getting over James, like I'd hoped, instead this 'date' had the exact opposite effect. I knew I liked James way more than I did before and I knew getting over him now was going to take a long time. And I knew I had to get over him. I mean, why would James Potter like me? I mean, he had Ellie, Alexia… and possibly me to choose from and he didn't even consider me. Plus, even if he did like me, would he just use me and toss me aside once he was done? Everything was just shit.

But, on top of all of that, this was going so horribly wrong because Roy said that I liked James better than him in front of James. What the hell was I supposed to do now?

Alexia smiled sweetly and gave James a quick hug. Roy looked at me and didn't do anything but neither did I. I was frozen, stuck into place. My brain was on lockdown which was not helpful. Roy smiled grimly and turned to James.

"Don't be an idiot, Potter. Wake up and realise what you've been too dumb to realise before," he said before he turned and trudged back down to Hogsmeade through the snow, Alexia quickly following him.

WHAT. THE. FUCK.

"What… what just happened?" I asked slowly, as if scared of the answer. I didn't dare look at James in case the words 'I LIKE JAMES POTTER' were written all over my face.

I could feel rather than see James shrug. "I dunno."

I coughed and laughed nervously. "We… we aren't perfect for each other," I said, my voice shaking.

James nodded. "Pft, yeah! And… we don't like each other in that way!" he said, laughing but it sounded a little nervous. I felt gutted by what he'd just said but hid it well by laughing too.

Awkward silence. I wanted so desperately to just jump into his arms and kiss him desperately like we kissed at his family's Christmas ball… but I didn't. I mean, what if he rejected me? That was my biggest concern. I think that's everyone's biggest concern. Being rejected by someone you desperately like.

James coughed and turned to face me, his face slightly red. "Ok, I need to say something," his face looked nervous but a little happy at the same time. Was he going to say that he…? "Look… uhh… the thing is… I mean, Alexia is great and all but she's…" C'mon James! Spit it out! "She's not… I mean she's like… no, what I'm trying to say is that she's not yo-"

"JAMES! MADDIE!"

I mentally cursed every god in the sky. I cursed them because if James was going to say what I thought he was going to say… well, my life would be pretty good.

I looked around wildly for whoever called our names out.

I saw a figure running towards us in the snow and saw his gangly figure and messy black hair.

"Al?" I asked, confused. "You know, you have awful timing because-" I stopped in my tracked when I saw his expression.

James, alarmed, rushed over to him, me hot on his heels. "What happened?" James asked, his voice serious and authoritive.

Al breathed deeply and looked at us in the eye. "Hogwarts was attacked by the Pure's. And Teddy's badly injured."

Did you like the cliffhnager?

Well, review what you thought and I'll try and update sometime next week because I'm going away for the weekend.

Thanks for reading and I love you all!

Kat xx