October 2019 – Fifth Year

I sense someone approach me and hear a body climb over the bench at the Gryffindor table and sit. I don't look up from my text book as I continue revising for our Potions test the next day. I've been sitting alone at the table during dinner tonight since the guys all had Quidditch practice. I didn't go tonight because I really need to study. I want to make sure I get an 'O' on this test.

They must have gotten out of practice a little early. I assume that James is the one that is sitting next to me, but I find it a bit odd that no one else has arrived… and that he hasn't said anything.

"Meredith Blount, right?" An unfamiliar voice with a startling American accent reaches my ears and I cautiously look up and see tall, cute, Sixth Year Hufflepuff sitting next to me.

"Yes…" I answer hesitantly. "Who are you?"

"I'm Peter Smith."

"Nice to meet you." Peter Smith smiles in return. What is he doing here? "Can I help you?" I ask skeptically.

"There's a Hogsmeade weekend coming up next weekend."

I nod once in response.

So?

Seriously? Does this guy think I don't know that? It's only been the only thing my roommates have been talking about for the last week and a half.

When I don't say anything, he clears his throat and says, "I was wondering, if you don't already have any plans, that is, if you would like to go to the village with me."

My eyes widen in surprise at his request.

I just got asked to Hogsmeade?

A boy actually just asked me on a date?

I look on my other side and all around wondering if this is some sort of joke.

"Really?" I ask, confused.

Peter Smith gives me a little awkward smile. "Well… yeah."

"Oh!" I smile, flattered. This is the first time anyone's ever asked me out. It feels nice. "Thank you, Peter. I'll have to think about it."

"Cool." Smith stands up and climbs back over the bench. "Just let me know. Send me a note or something, okay?"

"Sure. I'll let you know."

Smith gives me another smile and a small wave as he walks away. I try bring my attention back to my Potions textbook, but I can tell trying to do any additional studying will be fruitless.

I just got asked on a date.

By a guy.

Who is way cute.

The girly-girl inside of me that I didn't know existed is squealing in excitement and, had I been alone, I might have actually done so while hopping around like a five-year-old.

"Making any progress?"

I just about jump out of my skin as James's voice sounds behind me unexpectedly. My jolt starts him laughing and I blush as I try to remember how long I had been zoning out. A while, it would see, as James is out of practice.

"I bit," I lie, pushing the strands of hair out of my face that fell there when I jumped.

"Is that so?" James asks me with a smirk. "It looked to me like you have just been staring at the same page for some time."

I blush harder and slam my Potions book shut. "What are you doing here?"

"If I'm not mistaken, dinner is now."

I roll my eyes and pack my textbook into my school bag. "Where are the others?"

"They'll be along. Fred sent me ahead because I was about to beat Fletcher to a bloody pulp."

"Isn't that how most practices go?"

"Yeah," he admits, climbing over the bench and sitting in the same place Peter Smith just vacated. "But you weren't there to keep me in check, so I was getting a little out of control."

I watch James curiously as he loads his dinner plate with roast, mini Yorkshire puddings, and gravy. "Surely today had to be worse if you couldn't control yourself," I say as he fills his cup with pumpkin juice.

"Nah," he says after taking a drink. "Nothing different from what you've seen before. Fletcher is just a disgrace to the title of Captain and I've just about had it with his vague directions and his damn fawning over Dom." I give him a sympathetic look and he adds, "It really was awful not having you there, today. It's actually a bit of a stress relief to poke fun of Fletcher with you when he's not looking."

I smile and shake my head. "I still say the four of you should stage a coup and place yourself as Captain."

"I wish I could," James admits through mouthfuls. "I would, too, if I didn't think McGonagall would expel me. And if I didn't know for a fact that Mum would skin me alive."

I laugh lightly and reach for a roll. "I guess you're right. But, I can still hope you'll do it so you can kick Dom off the team and I can be Seeker."

"Ugh..." James moans hanging his head slightly. "That would be even better than being Captain."

"Really?"

James turns his head in my direction and nods seriously. "If we had any hope of actually winning a game, it would be better than being in charge. At least that way the five of us could ignore him and we'd still be in the top slot of the house cup."

We sit in silence of a few minutes as James works away at his dinner. A commotion near the entrance of the Hall signals the arrival of the remaining three of our group. They noisily approach and with many an "I'm starving," and "Yes! Yorkshire pudding," they climb over the benches and join us.

James's expression becomes suddenly mischievous as I notice him watching me twirling my hair around my finger (I didn't even notice I was doing that). My internal danger alarm goes off. Something in his face is making me uneasy but I'm not quite sure why. This isn't his I'm-about-to-pull-a-brilliant-prank expression.

"So Mer," he begins with a somewhat sinister smirk on his lips. "Who was that bloke you were talking to earlier?"

Fred, Phillip, and Roger all seem to pause for a moment as the words leave his mouth and then continue to fill their plates, though I know they're listening. All of their mouths carry a light smirk as well.

James is watching me carefully and I take a deep breath trying to fight off my returning blush. "No one in particular."

"Aw, c'mon. The Hufflepuff with the blonde hair and the athletic build…"

So that was his I'm-about-to-embarrass-Meredith look. Duly noted.

I'm not going to give him the satisfaction.

I straighten up and look him full in the face saying, "That was Peter Smith. He's a sixth year. He asked me to go to Hogsmede with him."

James's eyes widen slightly and Phillip drops his fork.

"Smith asked you to Hogsmede?" Fred inquires evenly.

"I thought you lot were busy pretending not to eavesdrop," I say turning my attention to him.

"It's impossible not to overhear when James speaks as loud as he does," Roger defends through a bite of his dinner.

"So Smith," James begins. "The American?" I nod and he continues, "Isn't he on the Hufflepuff House Team?"

"I think he's a Beater," Phillip offers.

James pulls a face. "Ugh. I would never date a Beater."

"Right?" Roger says in agreement. "Besides, Hufflepuff!"

James nods emphatically in response.

This is annoying. "Do you have a problem with Smith?" I ask, finally.

James turns back to me and smiles. "No! Not at all. I'm just looking out for you."

The memory of my mother saying something similar about my father stirs in my memory. "He's just trying to protect you."

My mouth sets and eyes narrow. No one thinks I can do anything or make any decisions on my own. I am so sick of it.

My expression stops James and his smile falters. "I don't need you to look out for me," I tell him icily. "I can take care of myself."

"Oh stop, Mer," Fred says, slightly exasperated. His brash interjection shocks me. "That's not what he meant." I shoot him a glare and he rolls his eyes. "Honestly. Sometimes you're as thick as he is," he adds pointing from me to James.

"And what do you mean by that?" James asks, mock-offended.

"Really, Meredith," Fred says to me, ignoring James. "We all know you can take care of yourself. We saw first-hand in Defense last year." Phillip and Roger nod in agreement as he speaks. "I'm not going to let you get all offended because we're being your friends."

"Yeah, Mer," Phillips says, throwing his arm around James's shoulder. "We all look out for each other. I mean, think about it. If James didn't have us around, who knows what kind of awful girls he would date."

"Probably the same kind he always has, considering he doesn't listen to you," I reply without hesitation.

"She's right, you know," Roger says to a crestfallen Phillip. "He only listens to Meredith, and even then, not really."

"So are you going to go with him?" James asks, turning his back to his snickering mates.

"I don't know," I say stiffly, still slightly ticked at him. I have to admit, though, Fred does have a good point. I guess I am overly sensitive about this. "Just drop it, okay?"

James looks me in the eyes, an unreadable expression on his face and says "Okay, Mer", before turning back to the table and heaping his plate with another helping of the food in front of him. I can usually read him very well. It's not hard since he's so expressive so I'm left slightly confused as I try to figure out what he could have meant just now.

"Haven't you covered every possible item to be tested, yet?"

I look up from my Potions notes at James's sideway bored face as he slumps over the pillows on the couch in the Common Room. "I'm being thorough," I explain. "It's better than you can say. Aren't you worried about messing up and being forced to quit Quidditch?"

"Nope." James rolls onto his back and intertwines his hands behind his head. "I covered all this during the summer. I'll just go over my notes tomorrow morning and I'll be fine. It's not as if I'm shooting for top marks or anything."

I roll my eyes at him. "You're insufferable, sometimes."

"I do my best."

I turn back to my notes and, after a moment, ask, "Where is everyone else? Why aren't you bothering them instead of me while I'm trying to study?"

"They're in the dorm. I think they're waiting for the shower."

"Aren't you going to take one?"

"No. I always shower in the morning."

"Isn't it gross to sleep in your bed after you got sweaty and dirty?"

James shrugs silently.

"Ugh. Boys are disgusting." I turn back to my notes. A few minutes pass with only the ambient noise of the Common Room between us.

"You know it's alright if you go, right?"

"Hmm?" I only half took in what he said. I'm currently in the middle of rememorizing the definition of a catalyst.

"You can go with Smith to Hogsmede. None of the rest of us would care."

I look at him with an eyebrow raised. "Thank you for your permission?"

James rolls his eyes at me and shakes his head. "That wasn't meant as permission. It was more of…" he stops and thinks for a moment, looking for the right word. "More of an encouragement."

"Encouragement? You want me to go with him?"

"Do you want to go with him?"

My mouth sets to a slight frown as I think about that. Do I want to go to Hogsmede with Smith? It hadn't really occurred to me to think if I actually wanted to go with him. I was still in shock about being asked when James showed up to dinner earlier and I hadn't given it my attention since then.

"I don't know," I finally answer lamely. "I did say I was going with you lot."

James shakes his head. "I think you should do what you want to do. Don't worry about us."

"Is this your way of getting me out of the way so that you can go snag a date of your own?" I ask with a smirk.

James heaves an exasperated sigh. "Do you really think I'm clever enough to come up with a ruse like that?"

"Your hidden abilities seem to know no bounds when it comes to the opposite gender."

James gives be a slightly annoyed look. "That was not my intent, thank you very much." After a pause he adds, "but now that you mention it, it would be very convenient."

I smile and shake my head. "I don't know him at all. I didn't even know his name before he came and talked to me." I stop and run my finger down the spine of my Potions textbook. "I think I would rather know someone before going on a date with them."

"You have time. The Hogsmede trip isn't until next weekend."

"A little over a week isn't enough time to really get to know someone," I retort defensively. I'm starting to feel like he's pushing me into this.

"You don't have to go with him," James states easily, "but you could get to know him on your date. A date doesn't lock you into a relationship for life or anything. If you don't like him after next Saturday, just don't see him again."

He has a point.

That's not something I say about James very often.

"And if I decide that I don't want to go with him before next Saturday?" I start. "What if I'm stuck spending a whole day with someone I can't stand?"

"I dunno."

Wow, James. That was so helpful.

Not.

"Ugh…" I lean back in my seat and look at the ceiling. Romance is way too complicated. "I guess it won't hurt to give it a go. I've never been on a real date before. It may be fun."

"That's the spirit!" James shouts encouragingly, shaking his fist in the air. This looks quite ridiculous considering he's still lying on the couch. "Plus now I can ask out Amelia Collins!"

I give James a look. He smirks and proceeds to mimic my expression. After a moment, I see the corners of his mouth start to twitch and, in spite of myself, I feel my own doing the same. Before I can stop myself, we both start laughing at the same time. I really am glad to have James as a mate even if he is an idiot.

We settle down after a bit and I try to return to my studying as James whines and moans about how boring I am. Between him and thinking about my date, I'll never get any studying done.

I wring my hands nervously as I stand waiting in the corridor. I stare at the door to the castle in an attempt to get my nerves in check. I've already been waiting a couple of minutes and each second adds another knot to my stomach.

What if he stands me up? I think to myself frantically. Was this all a sick joke someone is playing on me? Why would I even agree to this? I pretty much just walked right into it. I was just flattering myself thinking that anyone would ever want to go on a date with me. I'm not popular or pretty or social… Who would want to go on a date with me when they could go with-

"Hey Meredith." Peter Smith's baritone voice startles me out of my negative train of thought and I turn around quickly. Looking at him eases the knot that had built up in my stomach.

"Hey," I say, giving a lame little wave.

Smith smiles and motions to the door. "Shall we?" I nod and we exit the castle and make our way to the village.

"It's a really nice day, today," Smith notes as we walk. "I thought it may rain, but it looks like the clouds cleared out."

"Yeah. I'm glad it's not raining."

Silence falls between us.

"You look nice, today."

I look down at my outfit and blush. Rose had helped me prepare. Merlin knows the guys would have been absolutely useless. I don't own many nice things; mostly t-shirts and jeans. Rose let me borrow a flowy cream colored blouse and despite it being very pretty, I feel really uncomfortable wearing it. I'm wearing the shirt over a pair of jeans, but I still feel out of place.

"Thanks. "Rose Weasley helped me get ready," I say, trying to keep the conversation going.

Merlin, I am so awkward.

"Oh, cool."

Silence falls again.

I step around a puddle, looking at my feet to make sure I don't roll my ankle and fall and kill myself.

Not that it would be so bad if I did. At least then Smith and I might have something to talk about.

I misstep slightly and end up getting the toes of my left foot wet. Great. Now my foot is cold.

We finally make it to the village after several more awkward and forced attempts at conversation. "How about something warm?" Smith asks pointing towards the Three Broomsticks.

"That sounds good to me."

We walk to the busy pub and take a seat at the bar. There are no open tables. "I'll have a Butterbeer, please," I tell the barmaid.

"The same for me, ma'am," Smith says with a smile and a wink.

The young witch smiles pleasantly and summons two glasses of Butterbeer from down the bar.

I sip the warm beverage, trying hard to think of something interesting to say.

Smith breaks the silence first. "I heard you went out for Seeker for Gryffindor."

"Yeah," I reply, a hint of bitterness in my voice. "Didn't make it, obviously."

"I heard that, too. Fletcher must be daft to have picked Dominique over you."

"He is daft." I state angrily.

"Do you follow Pro League?"

I perk up for the first time on the date. Does he want to talk Quidditch? I can totally get behind that.

"Do you like the Kestrels?" I ask conversationally.

"Not a fan. I've rooted for the Finches since before I can remember. My dad has drilled Finches loyalty into me quite successfully."

"Good to hear. I'm not sure I could stand being around a Kestrels fan when I go for the Wasps."

Conversation starts to become easier and, before I know it, we are speaking freely and jovially. Maybe this date won't be a total wash.

We finish our drinks and Smith pays, refusing to even allow me to pull out my money bag. "Where to, now?" I ask, excited at the thought. I'm really looking forward to getting to know the bloke better, now that the ice is broken.

Smith gives me a secretive smile and grabs my hand. My heart leaps into my throat and I feel my face warm. "I have a good idea." He leads me by the hand down the main street of the village then turns suddenly down an alleyway just past Gladrags.

"Where are we going?" I ask with a laugh. I've never been to this part of Hogsmede and I'm hoping for an interesting adventure.

"You'll see."

Smith finally stops somewhere behind what I assume is Honeydukes. The smell of vanilla and chocolate is quite strong.

"What're we doing here?" I ask, still smiling.

Without warning, Smith leans his face towards mine. He still has a grip on my hand and I can feel him trying to pull me towards himself.

Instinctively, I pull my hand out of his and back up about a foot. "What are you doing?" I ask, flabbergasted.

Smirking, Smith steps closer to me again tries to put his arms around my waist. "Don't you want to have some fun?"

My smile is long gone. What happened to the fun guy from the pub? When did this wanker show up?

I twist away from him and step back once more. "I get the feeling you and I have different interpretations of the word 'fun'."

"Aw, c'mon Meredith. Don't be like that." Smith takes another step towards me and I frantically reach into my pocket and pull out my wand.

"If you try that again, Smith, and you'll be hexed faster than you can blink."

Smith backs up quickly with his hands up in surrender. "Just loosen up a bit, Blount," he says, an annoyed bite in his voice. "It's not like I was going to hurt you."

"I don't care what you think you were going to do, it's not happening." I lower my wand and straighten myself up to my full height. "Thank you for the Butterbeer, but I think I should probably leave." My heart is pounding. That is not what I want to say in this moment, but I'll likely be better off not going off on this guy or cursing him into next Tuesday.

With much effort to maintain my self-control, I turn and make my way back down the alley leaving a scowling Smith behind me. When I finally get far enough out of sight, I stuff my wand back into my pocket and flex and relax my right hand that had had a death grip on my wand ever since I pulled it out.

I breathe slowly a couple of times to steady myself to no avail.

What did he think he was doing?

What gave him the idea that that was worth trying?

I wish I had actually hexed him a good one.

Or maybe I should have slapped him.

Hexed him and then slapped him.

My clenched fists are shaking and my heart is racing. I feel tears of anger pricking in my eyes and I blink quickly in an attempt to keep them from running down my face.

I can't cry! My mascara will run and I actually took the effort to put it on for this sodding date.

Peter Smith better never cross my path, again, if he knows what's good for him. I don't have the title of Hogwarts's Number One Duelist Extraordinaire for nothing.

I take one more deep breath and continue my trek to the castle. I can't wait to get out of these ridiculous sandals. My feet are still cold.

"So, how did it go?" James plops down on the same Common Room sofa we'd shared a little over a week ago looking obnoxiously chipper.

I send him a glare and press down harder into the parchment I'm writing on.

My pen pokes a hole in it.

I glare at the parchment. I glare at my pen.

The world hates me today.

"Whoa," James exclaims, taken aback. "Calm down, there, tiger."

"Shut up. It's all your fault, anyway."

"What? What did I do?"

"If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have gone to Hogsmeade with Smith today and I would be in a significantly better mood."

"That bad, huh?"

I glare at him again.

"Alright, alright. No need to murder me with your eyes."

I drop my eyes and sigh, hopelessly. "It was a total disaster."

"I'm sorry, Mer." I glance up at James who is giving me a sympathetic look. "What happened?"

"Peter Smith happened," I say, a dangerous note in my voice.

James lifts his eyebrows. "That's a little ambiguous."

I glare down at the holey parchment again. Peter 'effing Smith. "Let's just say that he wasted no time in trying to know me better."

James eyes me curiously. "Isn't that a good thing?"

I roll my eyes at his question.

Idiot.

"Sure, James," I reply sarcastically. "Trying to snog someone on the first date is a great way to become friends."

"He tried to snog you?"

I roll my eyes and scowl. "Yes. I just said that."

"You didn't give it a shot?"

My eyes widen and I face him, shocked. "Are you serious?"

"What?" James is looking back at me, mouth turned downward slightly, one eyebrow raised. "Haven't you ever snogged anyone before?"

I continue to stare at him, shocked. My mouth dropped open at some point. I can't believe I'm hearing this from him.

Or maybe I can. I don't know why I expected helpful insight on relationships from the idiot that is James Sirius Potter.

"That's none of your business, Potter," I hiss as I crumple up the ruined parchment in front of me and toss it viciously into the fire. Well, tried to. I fall short about a foot. There's a reason I'm a Seeker and not a Chaser.

"Whoa," James says, again, leaning away from me with a real look of confusion. "I was just trying to help. There's nothing wrong with a good snog now and then."

I scoff at his words and try to return my attention to the homework that is likely not going to get done today, no matter how much I try. James doesn't even seem to consider the fact that I had no desire to snog the bloke on our first date.

Figures. The self-centered prat is probably thinking about a wonderful snog he just had with whatever flavor of the month he took to the village.

James sits silently for a moment as I carefully rewrite the title to my essay. His presence is really getting on my nerves right now. "Are you just going to ignore me?" he asks me with a cheeky smile.

"I'm doing my best to, yes," I tell him, gripping my pen tighter to hold myself back from jinxing him. He's not really who I'm angry with and I'll feel guilty if I do anything to him, but he's making it so hard. I swallow hard and take a deep breath. If I keep holding my anger in like this, I'm going to get an ulcer.

"Ouch, Mer," James responds, grasping at his chest, dramatically. "That's cold."

That's it. I'm done dealing with this prat right now.

I start gathering up my school things and stuffing him into my bag. James's smile falters. "Where are you going?"

"To my dorm. I just want to be alone right now." Without another word I turn my back on him and make my way towards the entrance to the girl's dormitories.

James doesn't understand anything. Why did I think listening to him about relationships was a good idea?

Some helpful friend he's been. What a waste trying to tell him anything. I won't make that mistake again. This is the last time I'll ever take relationship advice from James Potter.