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James POV
For as long as I could remember I was in love with Veera Thomas, who was a beater for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. She had lovely dreadlocks and was as passionate about Quidditch as I was. In my eyes I couldn't see anyone else better for me. Fred and I often sought for her help when we were planning our next big prank. She was a prankster! She was all I thought about when the Yule Ball came up in fourth year but what would have been a perfect opportunity to express my feelings took a turn for the worse. That was the night that I found out she had a boyfriend (or so I thought). A Hufflepuff boy nonetheless, imagine how devastated I was! Feeling beat, I sat down on one of the round tables alone (presumably), prepared to drown my sorrows with whatever I could find. Unfortunately, all that was there was Butterbeer and water. I was about to get up and find something stronger when the folded chair to the left of me fell on the floor.
"Who's there?" I ask. The table was secluded in a corner, with fold-up dividers, which was probably why I chose to sit there in the first place.
"No one," a feeble voice replied back.
"And you expect me to believe that," I mutter.
"Who are you?" the voice asked.
"Depends who's asking," I reply, a small grin on my face.
"What brings you here? Of all nights?" the voice says sadly.
By now, I 've figured that the voice was a girl. Having little experience on sad and possibly crying girls, I tried my best to make conversation.
"Heartbreak," I say.
"That's fitting," she says.
"How about you?" I ask.
"Heartbreak," she replies.
"How original," I laugh, "Will you tell me who you are?"
"I'm sorry," she says, "Perhaps when the time is right?"
"Alright," I say. I wanted to continue, to tell her what happened. I wanted someone to talk to, someone who might understand.
"Will you keep me company?" she asks.
"If you keep mine," I return, pleased.
"So heartbreak huh?" she says, her tone changing slightly.
"Pitiful, isn't it?" I grimace.
"There's this boy," she says, a hint of wistfulness in her voice, "And he's incredible, he really is. He's what every girl dreams of. Smart, handsome, and polite. I fancy him, you know?"
"Yeah, I know," I say, "I really do but she... she's way past me."
"Who is she?" she asks.
"Veera Thomas," I say, without hesitation, "Stupid, I know."
"No, don't say that," she says softly, "I fancy Miles Montgomery."
We chuckle for a moment. It was weird how easily I bonded to this girl.
"Aren't they dating each other?" she says, with some hope in her voice.
"Nah," I say scoffing, "Are they?"
"Yeah I think so. They came to the ball together didn't they?" she says.
"Who are you?" I ask her once more.
She steps out from the darkness in a green knee-length dress. Her dirty blonde hair was in a high ponytail, glowing blonde as she moves into the candlelit space in front of the fallen chair. Emerald earrings were delicately placed on her ears and on her chest lay a small diamond, hung on a silver chain. It doesn't take a genius to know which house she belonged to. Her arms were crossed below her ribs; her hands holding onto her elbows. She blows a puff of air out of her lips, moving her sidebangs out of her eyes.
"Elaine Finnigan," I say, closing my mouth and smirking.
"James Potter," she says, grinning slightly as she met my eyes.
We would spend the next few months getting to know each other. She was my partner in the classes we shared with Slytherin and I was hers when Hogsmeade weekends came up. You could almost say we were best friends. Of course rumours popped up and everyone wondered if we were dating. We weren't. Both of our minds were still focused on the lack of attention we were getting from Veera and Miles. As it turns out, they weren't dating either; they just went to the ball as friends. With them being close however, I knew my chances were still slim to none. I would have to get through Miles first, and he seemed unapproachable. Not to mention, if anything happened to Veera he would probably have my head if I was involved. There was no need for that, sure I was a bit of a troublemaker and I often got myself into situations that were too much for me to handle, but this was one thing I always took seriously. At times, I've been told that I tease too much, and I give girls the wrong idea, so naturally the rumours started. How I treated girls and how girls who fancied me treated me were in question, but I was quite similar to my dad in this way. I only really had two serious girlfriends, all those other assumed relationships that I had were pure rubbish.
One spring afternoon Elaine and I were in the library studying for a Herbology exam. Elaine had just gone to ask Uncle Neville a question on Fanged Geraniums and I was reviewing the uses of Bubotuber pus. I looked up to stretch my neck and saw Veera walking towards me. My head dipped forward, desperately trying to avoid embarrassing myself as I leafed through the pages of my notes.
"Hey James!" she says happily.
"Hey Veera! How's it hanging?" I say, mentally face-palming myself. I swear I've never had a harder time talking to girls, as it usually came naturally to me. I found myself decently funny, but in all the times I've ever talked to her I really didn't feel like I had the charm of James Potter or Sirius Black, which was basically written in my name. I definitely have never asked a girl "how's it hanging" though, which is downright pathetic. I bet Grandpa is up there laughing at me right now. She didn't seem too bothered by my lameness though.
"I was planning on going out for a fly, with all this exam stress and such, but nobody wanted to come! It's a little bit of rain, not a hurricane!" she says, "Would you like to join me?"
Did I? Of course I did!
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Elaine coming back, her notebook clutched to her chest. When she saw Veera and I, she ducked behind a bookshelf, pretending to be absorbed in a particular section of the shelf about Ancient Runes. I smile at her. She catches my eye and grins shyly at me, before pointing at Veera and returning her attention back to the shelf in front of her.
"I think I'm good, you know?" I find myself saying to Veera, my eyes glancing at Elaine quickly, "Got a herbology exam."
Veera's face falls, but she recovers, "Okay. Maybe next time."
"Yeah," I say, forcing a smile, "Maybe."
Elaine returns to her seat a few minutes after Veera leaves. "What did she want?"
"She wanted to fly," I say simply.
"Did you say yes?" she asks.
"Nah," I say.
"Why?" she asks, skimming the notes that Uncle Neville scribbled on a small piece of parchment.
"I'm studying with you," I say casually.
"But you just gave up a date with Veera!" she says, shocked.
"But I have you," I say, "Come on let's get cracking. We don't have all day."
Elaine POV
But I have you.
James Stupid Potter. Stupid enough to get drunk right after Al told him they were going to play Quidditch and stupid enough to say oh Merlin you are beautiful, have I ever told you that? after falling ten feet unconsciously.
After I slapped his face on the field, I fled. It was embarrassing to say the least. I was cool. I was composed. I never acted out like that, ever. Al and Fred carried him to Uncle George's old room and Aunt Ginny had cried. I'd expect it to be scary if Lily Potter (usually quiet) came running into the Burrow with tears streaming down her face choking out that James had fallen off his broom and nearly died.
"You're so stupid," I whisper to him, shifting my body off the bed. Sitting beside him, my hand absentmindedly strokes his soft and messy black hair, brushing it off his forehead. His pine scent fills my nose as he turns to lie on his side, facing me. He had a slightly pointed nose and sharp jawline, toned arms and a small birthmark behind his right ear where it meets with his hair. I've seen and memorized nearly everything about him. It was home, in the sense of familiarity and comfort that is. Checking the clock on the wall, I let my hand fall as I get up to leave. It's time for the next hangover potion.
"Elaine," James murmurs, his hand finding mine. His fingers wrap around two of my own.
I turn to face him. His eyes were still closed and his hand gripped my fingers tighter.
"James!" I hiss in pain. Curse his strength.
His arm pulls me back towards the bed.
"James," I try to reason with him, "I'm getting the potion, let me go."
"No," he says, "No, no, no! Don't!"
My eyebrow rises. What is he dreaming about?
"Please," his voice cracks, on the verge of tears
I felt my heart sink, never realizing how much it hurt me to see him in pain. His perfect features crumpled, his expression was distressed and troubled. Using my free hand, I brushed his chin with my thumb and brought my lips down to the corner of his lips softly.
I had kissed him exactly twice before this, but it still felt new. I have never properly kissed him before, but there wasn't really a reason to. I just didn't think I could face that kind of confrontation with him, but it was so intoxicating. I wanted it to be innocent so badly, but I knew it never would be. There was this lingering between us that yearned for more, and I wasn't about to face it, that's for sure. It would definitely complicate things and it really didn't need to be.
The first time was when we were fifteen, right after the last Quidditch match of the season with Ravenclaw. It was a rainy game, and there were a lot of collisions solely as a result of poor visibility. He had scratched his arm up really badly when one of the Ravenclaw chasers accidentally bodied him into a pillar. Ravenclaw won that game by a matter of seconds, and James had said that he needed to see me.
"Elaine!" Lorcan yelled, as I walked across the field towards the castle after the game, "James needs you."
Most of the people have cleared the stands, and groups of people were scattered across the field, heading their separate ways.
I stop and turn to walk towards him as he catches up to me, "What's going on? Is he hurt?" I ask.
"He seemed okay, just exhausted, but he asked to see you," Lorcan said, "I think the only people left in the room still are Veera and Al."
My eyes widen slightly, "Okay yeah I'm headed right there, thanks!"
Lorcan catches up with his brother and some other friends, as I headed towards the changing room. Veera holds the door for me as I get there.
"Thanks! Great job today," I say cheerfully.
She smiles back kindly, "James is in the back."
Al had already left. I walked to the back to see James sitting against the wall, grimacing slightly as he tries to kick his socks off of his feet. He looks up and sees me, and I send him a smile.
"What's up?" I say, "Lorcan said you wanted to see me?"
James looks up, confused, "When did I say that?"
I walk to him and remove his sock from his foot, "So you didn't?"
James laughs, "Well I'm glad you're here, but no."
I sit beside him, but he moves away slightly. I gasp as I catch a glimpse of his arm.
"Is this what happened when you ran into the pillar?" I grimace, as I reach out to grab his arm. He winces and nods.
"Y'know I really didn't expect it to hurt as much as it did," he says in defense.
I laugh lightly, "Well let's get a move on shall we, we're gonna be in here for hours taking all of your equipment off if we don't patch that up a bit." I take my wand out and mutter whatever incantations came to mind to ease the pain cover the wound. As I get up, he also gets up and our foreheads bump against each other as we turn. My hand immediately flies up to my face and we both laugh. His hand was holding onto my forearm to steady himself and we were extremely close as a result. I rubbed my forehead with my hand and he released my arm, only to bring it up to my face. My hand fell as he placed his hand on my cheek, inspecting my face with a look I hadn't ever seen before. I hadn't realized that we had gotten closer until he leaned into my ear and whispered, "No damage done". As I pulled away slowly, my lips grazed his cheek. I could feel him tense up beside me, and my body was reacting on its own now. My lips pursed slightly and I gave him a small kiss, before moving away completely.
"Your forehead's not half bad either," I say, desperate to keep my cool. He was blushing slightly and ran his hand through his hair.
"Well miss, my arm thanks you," he says, smiling as he starts to pack his equipment.
James stirs, his face tense.
"What's wrong?" I say to him, as I pull away.
Immediately he stops moving. His face relaxes and his hold on my fingers loosen. I remove his hand from mine and pulled the limp blanket back up to his chin.
We were at the Burrow one summer between fourth year and fifth year, after one of the Weasley-Potter gatherings, and everyone had turned in for the night. I was gazing out at the fields through one of the windows when suddenly I feel a pair of hands on my eyes.
"Shush," the voice said, "I gotta show you something."
"Mmfph," I manage, before James comes to view and he grabs my hand, "What are you doing James?"
"Come on be quick, we're going to miss it," he whispers.
I follow him as he leads me upstairs to another room awkwardly balancing off of the stairs. Through the crack of the door, he shows me a boy and a girl, holding what seems to be a Pygmy Puff.
"Who is that?" I ask him, his arms around me as he pulls me off of the creaky floorboard.
"Albus," James says, grinning, "That's Candace with him."
"Really?" I say excitedly, "Is he asking her out?"
"I think so," he says, "I overheard him talking to Rose about Pygmy Puffs, and I couldn't imagine a reason as to why Albus would want one."
We walk away from the dimly lit crack of the door towards the room with the others, his hand still in mine. We don't really think anything of it, as it was normal for us. For me it felt like he was keeping me safe and leading me around. I wouldn't mind following him anywhere. After creeping around the others, we find a corner that hasn't been occupied yet and lay side by side, his hand caressing mine.
I rolled over so I was closer to him, but he was already half asleep.
"James?" I whisper. He murmurs something incoherent and scratches his nose.
The moonlight was shining through the window at our corner, and his face was lit up. I smile, taking the time to look at him. I get closer, and his body seems to sense me. His arm wraps around my waist and my face is just underneath his nose. I glance upwards at him, willing myself to not move so that he wouldn't turn away from me. Sliding upwards ever so slightly, I place a soft kiss on his lips. He always looked mesmerizing but this, this was when I liked him most. When it was just the two of us, and he was all mine.
"How is he?" a voice says from behind me. My hand flies to my mouth, stopping the scream from escaping my throat.
"Merlin Rose," I manage, "You scared me."
"He's lucky you know," Rose says, smiling at me.
"He's an idiot," I retort.
"He's lucky to have you," Rose clarifies.
My ears grow warm, "I'm sure his mother really appreciated what I said."
"Gave him a well-deserved slap too," she laughs.
My blush grows, "That was inappropriate, I apologize."
"Someone has to tell him," she says, shaking me off, "You just got to him with those heartwarming words before we did."
I look at James, now asleep peacefully. "Yeah, he's a piece of work."
Rose looks at me cheekily. "He can be your piece of work."
I laugh, "Oh no Rose, it's not like that."
"Who are you trying to convince with a kiss like that?" she asks.
"Roseā¦" I start, my face falling, "Please."
She gives me a look. Sighing at my unimpressed expression, she says, "Just don't wait too long okay? Don't regret not telling him."
I open my mouth to protest, but she smiles and shakes her head, "I know you don't think anyone notices, but we do. He really cares about you. He lights up when you walk into a room, and when he makes jokes, he always glances at you first to make sure you're laughing right along with him and everyone else. I know he's stupid sometimes, but part of me thinks he does it so you'll take care of him you know?"
She leaves, closing the door behind her. What would that mean for them anyway?
