Chapter 14

I sat down groggily at in the Great Hall. I had already had two hangover potions and I was still knackered. Ugh, I was never drinking again.

How many times had I promised that to myself this year?

Too many to count.

I grabbed a roll and spread butter on it, crankily. I fucking hated being hung over. It was a blasted misery. Bugger.

I looked up and Charlotte walking with Ben toward me, his hand on her back and they were both chipper as birds in the spring. I felt like punching them.

No one, by law, should be allowed to be in a bloody good mood after a hangover.

They sat down across from me, and Ben pecked Charlotte on the cheek. Holy fuck. They were being so coupleish. They would stop using "I" and beginning sentences with "We think" or "We do". They would also engage in excessive amounts of PDA.

It was inevitable and invariable with all couples.

And it inevitably and invariably sucked if you weren't part of one.

Blast.

"You're too cheerful," I muttered moodily.

"Oh, Milla, do shut up for once," Charlotte said giddily.

"We're officially going out," Ben added unnecessarily.

Oh, joy.

"Congratulations!" I shouted effusively (and fakely – too early!).

I needed some good old cynicism and sarcasm. Who was my cynical touchstone?

MIRANDA. OH MY GOD. I needed her now, before I exploded in frustration.

Too. Many. Couples.

I chatted with them as we ate breakfast, itching to leave. I made an excuse to leave and ran for it. Before I died from drowning in gooiness.

As I rounded a corner, I ran into someone. A someone with a hard chest and unbelievable musculature and who was my supposed best mate.

But as I gazed at his face I noticed his hair was in its usual disarray and his jaw was set, and he seemed… upset. I felt concern wash over me.

"James?" I asked worriedly, grasping his hand tightly. "What's wrong, darling?"

His eyes flashed. "I found out something. When I was out with you and Luke yesterday," his eyes narrowed slightly here and I hit him, "It seems that Lucia decided to cozy up to someone else and snog them. I believe it was Carl Verbatte."

I gasped. "She cheated on you? That whore."

I couldn't help a huge smile from creeping onto my face. James noticed and gave a bark of a laugh.

"So I dumped her. Obviously. She was getting clingy yesterday. And there are more important things," he said meaningfully, squeezing my hand.

"Important things?" I asked breathlessly.

"Yes," he said looking into my eyes. "You."

My heart began to pound and I felt as if I were on cloud nine. Knots were building in my stomach and I felt breathless.

"You are, after all, my best mate, and she was interfering with that," he added casually.

My euphoria crashed. Oh, that was what he meant. Of course. I tried to sound upbeat as I said, "Of course."

James rested his arm around me and said, "Shall we?"

He gestured out a window to the Great Lake and I smiled. "Yes. Let's go."

Now that Lucia was out of the picture things improved drastically. All of James's time was not sapped by HRH. It was great. I was his priority ( I mean, I always knew I was, but it was obvious again).

After a grueling practice (during which Ben and Charlotte had to be told several times not to flirt and to concentrate on the damn game), James and I decided to go for a walk. I showered and dressed and waited for James outside on the pitch. He joined me and put a protective arm around my shoulders. I leaned gratefully onto him, fitting perfectly against him.

I opened my mouth to say something when a shrill voice interrupted us, "You dumped me for her?"

What the fuck. Lucia sodding Thomas was standing in front of us, hands on hips.

James glared at her, squeezing me closer to him. "No, Thomas, I dumped you because you snogged someone else and were being your usual horrible self," he drawled.

I smiled maliciously and said, inspecting my nails, "Now, you self-serving bitchy whore, kindly get the fuck out or I'll make you."

She gasped and cried dramatically, "James! Do something to that bint!"

James's face contorted with rage and he said, his voice hard with fury, "Don't you dare insult my best friend, the most intelligent, honorable, and beautiful girl. If you say one word that is disrespectful about her, you'll have me to answer to."

Lucia visibly blanched and I pulled out my wand, flicking it expertly and leaving her hanging upside down. I smiled smugly at my handiwork and said with a falsely saccharine voice, "Do enjoy your view. Have a lovely day, whore."

I pulled a stunned James with me.

"Well done, love," he said, grinning at me. "Knew you were brilliant, Milla."

"I know," I said, smiling happily.

It dawned on me that he had called me beautiful and I felt a happy glow spread inside me. I leaned further into him as we strolled.

News that James and HRH had split spread like wildfire throughout the school. Girls gave James coy glances in the hallways and openly fawned over him, whispering like mad to one another. This had never bothered me before, but now it irked me endlessly.

I hadn't had to worry about this when James was dating HRH. I suppose that was the only benefit of them dating. Now I scowled whenever a girl so much as glanced at James.

Meanwhile he and I were completely back to normal (except me fancying him) and the whole Lucia thing was all but forgotten.

That evening I sat in the common room with James's head in my lap. Char was sitting on Ben, and Luke was eyeing them in disbelief.

I think the idea of Ben and Charlotte dating hadn't quite sunk in yet.

"Charlotte, would you please get off my mate? And Ben, would you please stop fondling my twin sister?" Luke asked in disgust, making a face.

Char sent him a glare and snuggled further into Ben, who grinned apologetically at Luke. I laughed. James smiled up at me.

"Sorry, mate," called James from his spot. "Seems like they'll be getting married any day now."

Ben sent James a look and Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Shut up, you idiot," said Ben.

James grinned, his dark eyes flashing. I smacked James on the arm. "Dolt," I said affectionately.

"Speaking of which, it's your birthday soon!" James said.

"HEY! I am not an idiot," I said indignantly.

He gave a deep laugh and I punched him again. "But yes, it is my birthday. And we're doing Hogsmeade."

Charlotte laughed. "Okay, sounds good. By the way, where's Miranda?"

"Probably snogging Nate," I said with a gleam in my eye.

"She is not snogging Nate. She is about to commit murder," came an amused voice.

My head whipped round and I saw Miranda, folding her arms defensively and eyeing me with a raised brow.

I gave her the finger and smirked. James laughed appreciatively.

"So Ben, you loving the girlfriend?" asked Miranda with a smile as she sat down next to me.

Ben gave Char a light squeeze. "Yes I am," he said with a grin. "I'm one lucky bloke. Although she can be a bit annoying."

Char glared at him and said in a mock-angry voice, "Well, maybe you won't be having a girlfriend anymore!"

Ben laughed. Char smacked him. Hey, it was like me and James!

We really did abuse each other.

I wondered if James had suffered brain damage from all the hitting over the years and whether this would be an impediment to our future married bliss (hopefully). I looked down at him fondly. His dark hair was in its usual disarray, his brown eyes sparkled mischievously and there was a smile tugging at his lips.

He saw me looking at him intently and he glanced up at me questioningly from his spot on my lap. "What's up, Milla?" he asked with a quirked brow.

I smiled softly. "Nothing," I said happily. "Nothing at all."

Dear Milla,

Haven't heard from you in ages, darling. Tsk tsk. Your mummy has been worried. Oh, don't tell me that you're sixteen and don't need to write every week.

Dearest, it is your duty to assuage your mum's endless concerns for you by writing. And I also would like to know that Ian hasn't murdered himself yet by being his stupid self. Have him write me, would you?

It's almost your birthday, Milla! Seventeen. I can't believe it. Why, I remember when I was cradling you in my arms at St. Mungo's for the first time when you were born. Merlin, how time flies!

Have a lovely time on your birthday, darling, and we'll see you soon. Say hi to James for me, would you?

Dad says hi and he misses you (don't know why that blasted man can't write you himself. He is too lazy, I say.)

Love,

Mum

P.S. Check up on Ian! I mean it!

Ah shit. I hadn't seen much of Ian lately, had I? I'd spent some time with him last week but I'd been so busy with him (ahem: with James) and I'm sure he was happy screwing around somewhere and skiving off.

I saw a blond head in the distance and shouted after it. "IAN! Come here!"

The head wouldn't turn. I hurried after the rapidly retreating back and finally reached him. I grabbed his shoulder and turned him around and Scorpius Malfoy looked at me in confusion.

"Er, Hobbes, I'm not your brother," he said with a grin.

I smiled and patted him on the head. "Sorry, Malfoy, going to find Albus are you?"

He nodded with a smile. They were best mates (they'd gotten over that Potter-Malfoy feud thing ages ago) and Scorpius had been sorted into Gryffindor.

I waved at him as I turned to go. "Need to find Ian or my mum will kill me!" I shouted over my shoulder by way of explanation.

I finally located Ian in the common room, his blond head shaking as a boy in his year spoke to him.

"Ian! Hi!" I said with a smile.

He looked up at me and smiled. "Hi, Milla. What's up?" he asked genially.

Well, he was in a good mood.

Wait a second, the last time he was in a good mood he had orchestrated a huge prank … or he snogged someone.

"How many detentions?" I asked with a raised brow.

"What? I don't have any detentions," he said, looking at me confusedly.

"Damn. Who did you snog?" I tried to second option.

He made a face, his blue eyes flashing. "I'm not telling you, you lunatic! You'll tell Mum."

I hit him upside the head. "OW!" he cried.

I smirked.

"That's what you get for not telling me, Ian. So 'fess up and tell me," I said airily.

"No bloody way!" he shouted. I smacked him again. I really was quite violent.

"You'll be sorry!" I cried over my shoulder as I walked away from him. "And you're right, I WOULD tell Mum!"

I smacked into someone. Luckily it was James.

"Milla," he said happily. "Who are you yelling at?"

"Ian," I said casually.

James grinned. "You're so nice to your siblings."

"Oh, because you're such a good brother to Albus and Lily. You don't hit them, ever," I said sarcastically.

He laughed and then a yawn overcame him. "You want to come up with me?" he asked.

"Yes," I said. "It's been a while."

James guided me up the stairs with a hand on the small of my back.

"James, I need a shirt," I called from the bathroom door. He tossed me one and I changed for bed.

I sauntered out of the bathroom and jumped on his bed. James was peeling off his shirt, already in a pair of pajama pants.

Mother of God. He was gorgeous and completely fit. I had to catch my breath and school my breathing so I wasn't too obvious around him. It would be so embarrassing if he caught his mate staring at his broad shoulders or tanned skin or muscled chest.

Oh God.

Of course, Mr. Oblivious had no idea. And it had to stay that way.

He pulled the duvet over us and I snuggled into his chest, reveling in the feel of him.

"We haven't done this in a while," commented James lazily, his deep voice rumbling through his chest.

"Mmm," I said contentedly. "We haven't."

"That stunt you pulled at Quidditch yesterday was bloody brilliant," said James.

I smiled into his shoulder. "Thanks."

"And I wanted to thank you for being such a bitch to Lucia Thomas," James said, laughing.

I yawned and tried to smile but failed, another yawn overtaking me. "Of course. I would do that to anyone who mistreated you."

James squeezed me. "I love you," he murmured into my ear, causing me to shiver even though I tried to suppress it, and failed miserably.

"Me too," I said sleepily.

"You're the best mate a bloke could ask for," he added, almost as an afterthought.

I felt a wave of sadness crash over me, but I ignored it, instead burrowing my head further into his shoulder.

Maybe I wanted more, but we were mates. At least I had that.