*Italics, unless one word in the middle of a sentence (which means emphasis), means a flashback*
New Year's Eve's Morning
Hi. It's James again.
So…
Last night, after Ally made it abundantly clear that she loves me back – blimey that girl can kiss, I'm not entirely sure a fourteen year old should be able to kiss like that to be honest. But I guess it's all natural talent since she said it was her first kiss. I'm her first kiss! Merlin, I sound like a bird. Anyway! After all that, I refused to go back downstairs and she refused to leave me so we wiled away the time until midnight (when the party always ends out of tradition, despite it not actually being New Year's Eve anymore).
We were lying down on my bed. Her head was on my shoulder and I think I was the happiest I'd ever been. Then she looked at me and asked the question I'd been hoping to avoid. "How long have you been in love with me?"
Despite my best efforts, I can't think of a way to avoid it without outright lying to her. And I can't lie to Ally. I just see her face and I can't do it. "Since you first started at Hogwarts."
"That long? Really? Why didn't you say anything?"
"Let me list the reasons: 1. You were too young. 2. Your dad would kill me. 3. You're still too young. 4. Your dad would kill me. 5. You're three years younger than me. 6. Your dad would kill me. 7. I'm going to be graduating in six months and you still have three years left at Hogwarts. 8. Your dad would kill me. 9—"
"Okay! I get the picture. So basically, you're worried about the age difference and my dad."
"Well, when you say it like that" I mutter sheepishly, ruffling the back of my hair.
"I actually think it's kind of sweet that you're so worried about things working out between us."
I'm sweet? Well, guess it's better than being an idiot for not saying something sooner. I just hope she forgets about the part where I had to plans to ever tell her. Ever. "I told you. I'm in love with you. I don't want to mess this up."
Coming back to myself, I smile. Merlin. I'm not just smiling. I'm grinning like a bloody fool. But I don't care. Because Ally is mine. Finally mine.
Now I just have to get past her dad and deal with the age difference and me leaving Hogwarts soon and us being away from each other for ten months out of the year—
And I'm so totally screwed. I wish I could see those issues as as inconsequential as she does. But I will figure it out. Because after the ruddy amazing time I had last night, I'm not going to do anything to chance losing that, losing her. Hmm, guess I'm going to have to thank Louis and Teddy after all. Or not. Louis at least doesn't need his ego to be any more inflated than it already is.
I jump as I hear a knock on the door. "Who is it?"
"Lily."
Godric. I probably should have mentioned that Ally is best friends with my little sister and my cousin Hugo. She's going to bloody eat me alive. Why, oh why, did she have to inherit our mother's temper? Come on, Merlin! Do you have no love for me?
"James. Let me in or I'll find my own way in."
And she actually would and could if she tried. Well, better not to make it worse by letting her anger stew while she waits. I get up and go to the door. I pause for a second before swinging it open. "What do you want, Lily?" Okay… probably not the best way to get her on my side about this relationship, but I tired. I get cranky when I'm tired.
"I want to know why the bloody hell you didn't tell me you were in love with my best friend!"
And of course she has to be so damn loud this early in the morning. "Language Lily. And will you keep it down, you're going to wake up Mum and Dad."
"Maybe I'm trying to wake up Mum and Dad. I wonder what they'll have to say about you falling for someone three years younger than you! And an honorary cousin too!"
Let the placating begin. "Lily. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I didn't tell anyone." (Technically I told Teddy, but she doesn't need to know that.) "Louis didn't even know I liked anyone at all until this year. No one knew that she was the reason I never had a girlfriend—"
"Wait. She's why you never dated? I was honestly starting to think maybe you were gay."
"I can assure you I am not gay Lily. Not in the slightest. I've been in love with her since my fourth year. I just never did anything about it because of the age difference. And Uncle Neville. And I thought she thought of me as an older brother."
"You know, if you had told me, you two could have gotten together ages ago, right?"
"What? No we couldn't have. She's barely old enough now to be dating."
"I mean you haven't been the only one harboring a secret love for years."
Wait. What? "You mean…"
"She's been in love with you for forever too, you twat. But she thought you saw her like you see me."
"Never. At least, not since she started at Hogwarts."
"Well. I approve. You two will be good together."
"Really?" She nods. I can't believe my luck. "So you won't tell any adults yet?"
"Are you really that worried about Uncle Neville?"
"Yes, yes, I know. He's a sweet, loving bloke. Until someone dares mess with Ally. Don't you remember what happened to Al and Scorp when they played that prank on her? They each had detention for a month. And 25 points taken away. Each. And he was going easy on them. Imagine what he'll do if he hears about us dating."
"If? Don't you mean when? Because if you think Ally would keep something like this from her dad, you don't know her at all."
"I know." It's practically a moan. I sound so pathetic. "I'm just hoping to push it off as long as possible."
"Good luck with that one, big brother. You're going to need it."
For reference:
Teddy is 7 years older than James.
James, Louis, Lorcan and Lysander Scamander are all in their 7thyear at the moment.
Albus, Rose, and Scorpius are all in their 6thyear.
Ally, Lily, and Hugo are all in their 4thyear.