5th Year!
Four years I'd stood to the right of him, watching with fake apathy as he hit on Lily Evans... day after day he'd ask her out and day after day she'd turn him down. Four years I'd kept my crush on him to myself, four years I'd been one of the guys... wearing baggy clothes to fit in with them, this year though... it was time to get him to acknowledge me as a girl.
"What are you wearing?" Sirius asked as we passed through the barrier of Platform 9¾ and looked around for the other Marauders.
"New clothes," I replied simply.
"But they fit you," he stated in astonishment making me roll my eyes before catching sight of Remus stood next to James and his parents.
I shrugged at him before dashing off, jumping at my best friend and wrapping my arms around him. "Jamie!" I greeted happily.
"Angel," he greeted back, his arms wrapping around my waist as I buried my face in his collar, "Holy shit you look like a girl."
"Ooh," I heard three voices moan as I pulled away from James, glare set on my face.
"As opposed to usually looking like a boy?" I asked him defensively making him wince as he realised what he said.
"No, I mean..." he stuttered, "You just... usually wear baggy stuff. You look really nice in clothes that fit you properly."
"Nice save," I heard Sirius mutter to Remus as I pursed my lips at James before letting a mischievous grin cross my face.
"You were messing with me again, weren't you?" he asked me making me shrug innocently, he sighed in relief and ran a hand through his already unruly hair. "Why do you always do that?"
"Coz it's so easy," I replied with a shrug, "And you disserved it after not writing me this summer."
"I was really bu..." he started to defend.
"Busy?" I asked him, "You still have a lot of making up to do." I grinned at him again before turning to Remus and wrapping my arms around him. "Hey Remy."
"Hey Baby Girl," he replied, hugging me back, "Good summer?"
"With the Crows and the Magpie?" I asked him, "Be serious here."
"Fair enough," he shrugged with a chuckle.
"Hey watch it!" I heard from down the platform making me turn to see our younger brother Regulus walking down with the Slytherin Quidditch Team, Lucius Malfoy, Rabastan and Rodolphus Lestrange, Antonin Dolohov, Tom Avery and Amycus Carrow. Reg had obviously shoved a second year out of his way.
"This should be fun," James commented as he walked over to us again after saying bye to his parents. "What were they like this summer?"
"SSDD," Sirius and I replied together as we watched them walk closer. I turned around finally noticing. "Where's Wormtail?"
"With his Gran," Remus replied, nodding towards the small boy with his tall, strict looking grandmother.
"At least he's out of the way for this one," I muttered before turning back to where Reg had stopped half way, James and Sirius had gone to meet up with them. "Outnumbered, how fun." Sighing, I turned to see that Arthur Weasley was stood with his brother Bilius and Fabian and Gideon Prewitt. "Go get the guys."
Remus nodded before walking over to them as I made my way over to my brothers and best friend. "Ah, sister," Regulus greeted as I stepped up between Sirius and James.
"Brother," I greeted, my hands slipping into James and Sirius like usual. "Can we help you?"
"Mother told me to remind you that you have people to meet this Christmas," he replied, "She says she's going to find you a husband that will control that mischievous spark."
"I'd like to see them try," I replied simply as I felt someone move to stand behind us.
"I see you brought back up," Amycus commented as a familiar hand landed on my shoulder and Remus stepped up on the other side of James.
"Yeah well, I never did like having the disadvantage of being outnumbered," I replied as I glanced up at whose hand was on my shoulder... It was Gideon.
"Break it up," a commanding voice called to us all, making me turn to see the conductor of the train watching us all sternly. I turned back to the Slytherins and waited for them to leave, which they did, before shaking my head and turning to the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team.
"Nice timing boys," I grinned at them, letting Gideon pull me into a greeting hug.
"You sent for us," Fabian shrugged, "How you doing Baby Girl? Marauders?"
"Good," I smiled at him, hugging him before hugging Bilius and Arthur, "I heard you made El Capitan."
"You heard right," Bilius grinned, "And the team this year is awesome so we're gonna crush Slytherin again."
"That's what I like to hear," I chuckled, "We're gonna kick their asses, just like we always do."
We all started making our way to the train as we caught that the conductor was still glaring at us... it was perfect, me, the marauders and the Quidditch team... it couldn't get better. James' arm dropped around my shoulder as we walked down the platform making me smile up at him and lean closer... perfect.
"Milly!" a very familiar voice called across the platform making us all turn... and most of us groan... Lily Evans had arrived and the arm around my shoulder was removed before my best friend took off towards her making me clench my jaw and sigh in irritation.
I couldn't believe... wait, I could... I was always forgotten when Evans was around. Rolling my eyes at James, I turned to the others and shook my head. "Five, four, three, two, one..." I commented before...
"POTTER!"Evans screamed at him, "Get it through your thick skull! I will not go out with you!"
I smirked slightly before sobering up as James turned glumly and made his way over to us again. "How'd it go?" I asked sarcastically making him shake his head and wrap his arm around my shoulders again.
"Angel, sometimes I think you're the only girl I can stand, that can stand me," he sighed making me nod.
"Wouldn't surprise me," I replied simply before pressing a kiss to his cheek, he smiled down at me before helping me on to the train.
"Hey Potter," Bilius said as we all settled in to one of the biggest compartments. "Why do you keep chasing after Evans?"
"What do you mean?" he asked, giving him a blunt look.
"He means that you've got baby girl, why do you need Evans?" Fabian replied making me blush and glare at him.
"Me and Angel are just friends," he told them, making me clench my jaw slightly and look anywhere but at him. "Right Angel?"
"Mhm," I replied with a strained smile, Sirius gave me an apologetic look as I subtly moved away from James and planted myself between the Prewitt twins. "How was Egypt?"
"Aww babe, it was amazing," Gideon replied as his arm replaced James', I shot a small look at the boy I'd moved away from who sent a half confused/half angry look towards me and the twins. "We tried to lock Molly in a Pyramid but mum saw us."
"Drat," I sighed dramatically, punching the air making the others laugh, James' smile looked almost forced as he watched me interact with the twins.
"So what have we got planned for our Sorting prank?" Bilius asked as I leant my head against Gideon's shoulder.
"What do you mean 'our'?" I asked turning to look up at him, "You don't prank people."
"There's always a first for everything," Arthur shrugged with a mischievous smirk making me grin.
"And how does Molly dearest feel about you're interest in the pranking art?" Sirius asked teasingly making Arthur's ears turn red. "That's what I thought."
"Speaking of, where is Molls?" Fabian asked as he turned to Gideon whose chin was rested on the top of my head as he stroked his hand up and down my arm.
"With Alice probably," he shrugged, "Probably turn up at some point to kidnap baby girl like always."
"That is so... true," I started to deny before giving up my eyes flickering closed as the gentle rhythm of Gideon's heart calmed me and started lulling me into a sleep.
I was so close to being asleep when I heard a familiar yell from the isle of the train followed by a loud thump and a different, yet still familiar yell. "Oh great," I grumbled as I opened my eyes and pulled myself out of my seat. "I'll get him." James rose from his seat too, following me out of the compartment and down the train to Peter who was sprawled on the floor at the feet of Bartimus Crouch Jr. and my cousin Bellatrix Black, Bella's sister Narcissa was stood a little behind the two of them.
"And look at that, you make the fat one squeal and it's like ringing a bell," Crouch commented as we made our way over to them. James held a hand out to haul Peter to his feet before telling him to go to the compartment. "Potter, Black, a pleasure to see you again."
"I wish the feeling was mutual," I sneered at the older boy before my eyes locked on my older cousin. "Bella, Cissy."
"Sera," the two of them replied together, Bellatrix had a glare in place but Narcissa sent me a small smile. "Have you seen Andy anywhere?"
"I haven't," I replied before turning to walk away, my hand slipping into James'. "Now if you'll excuse us."
"Bye baby girl," Barty and Bella called together making me growl slightly but ignore them, my grip tightened slightly on James' hand making him sigh and pull me closer.
"Oh and Sera!" Bella called making me stop and turn, "Aunt Walburga said to let you know that she will be meeting with the Rosiers about yours and Evan's arranged marriage."
My face darkened into a glare at these words and I clenched my fist before turning from her and storming away. Once back in the compartment I let out an irritable growl and plopped into the seat I had first sat in as Peter had sat by the twins. "You okay sis?" Sirius asked cautiously.
I glared up at him before going back to my brooding, ignoring James as he entered, sending me a sympathetic look as he did. Once he'd taken a seat Sirius turned to him, "What happened?" he asked.
"Bellatrix happened," he replied, "She told Sera that your mum was going to meet with Rosier's parents about an arranged marriage." My eyes had started stinging at this point as my anger steadily calmed, being replaced by utter disgust and hopelessness. "Angel? Baby, look at me."
I let out a shaky breath making the whole compartment go silent, I'd never cried in front of them before, only Sirius and James. At the sound of my whimper, James turned me to him and pulled me into him, letting me bury my face in his collar and cling to him. "I won't do it, I won't... I..." I sobbed.
"Babe, he won't get anywhere near you," James soothed, "Your mum can't force you into anything."
"We're gonna go get changed," Bilius announced as James ran his hand through my hair, pressing his lips on the top of my head. There was a loud scuffle as the others in the compartment got up and left with him and once they were gone, James pulled away from me and tilted my head to look at him.
"James, you don't know my mother," I sighed, "I... I don't know what to do... if she says..."
"Even if she says you're to marry Rosier, it's not gonna happen," he told me firmly as he wiped my tears away, "Angel, you are way too good for anyone your mum chooses for you. Scratch that, you're way too good for anyone."
I let my eyes close as he rested his forehead against mine, "Any guy would kill to have a girl like you," he told me softly, "And I'd kill any guy that got too close to you for my liking."
My eyes snapped open at this and I gave him a confused look, "You're my best friend," he explained, "Every guy who feels anything towards you has to get through me first. I'm not sharing."
I felt my cheeks heat up slightly at his words making me pull away from him and turn to hide my face. "Don't hide your face," he said teasingly, "I like it when you blush," he placed a hand on my cheek, turning my head to face him again, "And I like knowing it was me that caused it."
Our faces were so close together that all it would take was for me to lean forwards just a little and we'd be kissing. I couldn't help my eyes from glancing down at his lips as I bit at my own. "Sera..." he started, his voice cracking slightly, "Can I...?"
My eyes snapped back up to his before I leant in and pressed my lips against his gently before pulling away. As I tried to move away however, his hand moved to the back of my head and he pulled me in again, his lips moulding with mine perfectly, his tongue tracing across my bottom lip asking for entrance.
As I parted my lips to grant him, I tilted my head slightly and moved even closer, my arms wrapping around his neck as his moved to my waist. It was like... bliss, my whole body tingling and it felt like we were the only two people in the world before...
"Hey Prongs, Baby Girl the food trolley's..." a familiar voice started as the compartment door opened, "Whoa."
I pulled away quickly and turned to see that the guys were back, all of them stood in the compartment doorway. Different expressions crossed each of their faces between confusion, happiness, slight annoyance (Sirius obviously) and complete and utter devastation... the last being on the face of Gideon Prewitt making me bite my lip and look down at my hands. "Uhm... not what I was expecting," Bilius finally spat out after a few minutes of awkward silence.
"But not completely unexpected," Arthur added as I felt an embarrassed groan building up, ready to escape.
"Excuse me," I muttered before getting up and walking out of the compartment, hearing James calling for me as I did.