With nearly everyone off on the early winter vacation this year, due to the Yule Ball, Avery had the perfect peace and quiet in the common room to start her book. Or she did until...
"I swear, every time I see you, you're reading." James said as he walked down the stairs of the Boys' Dormitory and saw Avery on the couch of the Common Room.
"I'm bored." Avery justified, not looking away from her book.
"Well, how about some quality James time? I hear it's good for the soul."
Avery rolled her eyes and continued reading. James dramatically and raised his hand to his forehead like a damsel in distress, "Wow, I really thought our new co-captain would want a look at the plays I have planned out for the Ravenclaw match, but I guess not. Oh, is there no one who will double check them with me to make sure there not filled with mistakes or worse...grammatical errors?"
"Just sit your butt down and give me the playbook."
"I knew you'd come around, love." James said as he sat next to her on the couch and spread the papers and playbook on the coffee table, "Well to start, I think we should put Robinson and Phillips closer to the right side Defense while Ferguson goes down the middle on offense."
"No, no, no, you're underestimating their chasers, if we space our chasers out more evenly, and keep the beaters farther outside, they'll be able to cover more ground and have more of a chance to intercept or block the chasers and keep them from scoring too much."
"But then you'll have too much ground to cover."
"Are you underestimating my skills as a beater?" Avery asked jokingly.
"Only if you are underestimating my skills as a keeper?" James
"So thou are implying that, you flapdragon; I have a stronger arm than you give me credit for. Have at thee!" Avery said while punching him.
He playfully shoved her," I may be a flapdragon, though I have no idea what that is, Winchester, but I'm the only keeper you got. I don't think it'd do you much good for me to have a broken arm."
"Well, as the only keeper you need to handle the Seeker's strategy instead of salvaging his pride while I work of the chasers'." She said while handing him the playbook.
"I'm sure Lily has it all under control." He said nonchalantly.
Avery looked at him dubiously,''She nearly ran into three stands last time and managed to collide with almost every single player. And the ref."
"Yeah, maybe I should focus on her line of attack." He said as he began to be absorbed in the Quidditch tactics.
After a few minutes of James tapping his foot to a silent beat, Avery looked over to ask him to stop, but began to stare at him. He had started subconsciously biting his lip in concentration and tracing his tattoo that he had received from the Cup marking him as a Champion which Lily had proclaimed would most likely be the least of his worries once his parents found out about their son being in the tournament. It was no wonder he had declined form going home for Winter Break before the Christmas. There were bags under his eyes making it obvious that the stress was getting to him, yet here he was, as bright and cheeky as ever, showing her the ropes of being a team captain. Ever since when she had agreed to be team captain, her and James had gotten along as if they had been friends for ages. He was smarter and kinder than she had given him credit for, but she still isn't sure how close she wants to get to him. She couldn't help but feel as if she was setting herself up to be hurt.
"Did you need something?" James asked, not looking up from his papers.
"Uhh, no, just blanked out I guess." Avery said, trying to fight off the crimson on her cheeks as she tried to focus on her papers. However, once again, her attention was drawn elsewhere. Avery stared out the window for several minutes, as if entranced, before James noticed.
"Avery?" He waved a hand in front of her face, "Ree, are you in there?"
Avery suddenly started and looked him in the eye, her tone completely serious,"It' snowing. Like actually snowing."
"And this is significant how?" James asked.
"DO YOU NOT SEE THERE ARE A PILES AND PILES OF SNOW OUTSIDE HOLY MOTHER OF BALD EAGLES! (authors note: actual american person said this) " Avery shrieked, ecstatic.
"...I take it you don't have much experience with snow?" James asked.
"Nope. In Texas the only snow we get is frost on the grass and possibly tiny pinky sized icicles." She said, her green eyes lighting up in excitement as she scooted closer to the window.
"Wait, so you've never seen snow before?" James asked, flabbergasted.
"Well, I've spent all my winters in Texas, it's not my fault." Avery pouted.
"That's it. We're going to Hogsmeade and going to throw snow at each other for hours until out hands freeze off so you can have a proper childhood." James said with no room for argument while dragging Avery off the sofa and out the door of the Common Room.
"James..?" Avery started trying to asked, hesitantly.
He seemed to get what she was getting at,"There is no ulterior motive, I swear, I told you I really do want to be your friend." He said sincerely, smiling and scratching the back of his neck shyly.
"Can we at least eat first?" Avery whined as they passed the Great Hall.
"Do you not realize the matter of importance, woman?! WE'RE WASTING VALUABLE SNOW FROLICKING TIME THERE IS NO TIME FOR EATING!"
Avery gave him a pointed look,"Okay, five minutes, but that's it."
*Five minutes later*
As soon as they had stepped outside, tiny snowflakes started getting trapped in Avery's blonde hair. "This is amazing." She breathed, looking up at the sky and around her to see everything covered in white. It was just like a fairytale. That is, until she was hit on the side of the head with a very cold object. Quickly she whipped her head around to find James smiling innocently while hiding his hands behind his back.
"James, was that-" She was cut off as yet another snowball came her way, this time hitting her shoulder.
Avery gasped in indignation, "That's it, Potter, now you're going to learn not to mess with Texas." Avery took out her wand conjured snowballs before enchanting them to throw themselves at James.
"That's cheating!"
"All is fair in love and war!" Avery stuck her tongue out. After several minutes they both collapsed on the snow covered ground laughing.
"Truce?"
"Truce."
James started picking up some snow while Avery scrambled away. "I-I thought we said truce?"
"I'm not going to assault you, I'm building a snowman."
"Can I help? The only snowman I've ever built was about the size of my hand and I had to scrape ice off of my mom's car and grass and had to keep it in the fridge."
"Avery, you poor child, yes you can help me. That was not a snowman, that is a pathetic slushy midget.''
"...Fair enough." She grabbed some snow and compacted it into a sphere and started making the body of rhe snowman. After her and James made the head and used sticks for its arms,a carrot for its nose, and stones for its face, James smiled,"You know, what good is being a wizard if you can't enchant a snowman to be alive."
Avery shuddered, "No thank you, I've seen that Doctor Who episode, we are not making a snowman come to life."
James laughed, causing his turquoise eyes to brighten. Suddenly Avery was hit with the intense longing to do something she desired to do for a while now. Here, out in the beautiful snow with James, someone she had definitely grown closer to, was the perfect opportunity. She disregarded the possibilities of embarrassment and humiliation, she had waited far too long.
"Let it go, let it go, can't hold it back anymore." Avery sang, her voice growing stronger with each word,"Let it go, let it go; turn my back and slam the door!"
Unexpectedly, a heavenly voice joined in, "I don't care, what they're going to say. Let the storm rage on."
"THE COLD NEVER BOTHERED ME ANYWAY!" They sang in unison.
"Well, actually, I can't feel my nose." Avery said sheepishly.
"I guess the cold does bother you. Well, we could go get warmed up at the Three Broomsticks." James suggested
"Sounds good to me." Avery and James started walking towards the collection of buildings.
"So, how do you know that song? I thought your parents were both wizards." Avery asked.
"You made Lily become obessed with it and I may or may not of seen it with her a couple of times." James said, shrugging and stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"Oh, my god how many times have you seen it?"
"...Seven..." James trailed off, red coating his cheeks as he looked down.
"Don't say that like it's shameful," Avery laughed, "It's a good movie! The songs are pretty amazing, too. Idina Menzel's voice is so pretty."
"Speaking of which, you do know that other people aren't supposed to sound better than the actual singer." James said.
"Well I've always been a rebel," Avery joked, "If you like my voice so much you can catch me at the Sydney Opera house nect Tuesday, though I do imagine it will be hard to get tickets at such short notice, but I'll see what I can do."
"So modest." James laughed, "But, really, you're voice is bloody brilliant."
"Well, you have a pretty good voice, too."
"Not nearly as good as yours."
"Please, its nothing special."
"Please, everything about you is special, Ree, your singing voice being one of them. It makes me feel relaxed for the first time in weeks. It's a bloody miracle, I tell you." He said as he held open the door to the Three Broomsticks for Avery.
Before she could respond, the waitress looked at their drenched clothes and disheveled appearance before asking, "Will you be wanting some firewhiskey to warm you up?"
"That'd be lovely, thank you." Avery said politely through her chattering teeth.
"Hey, Ree, you okay there?" James asked as they sat down.
"Yeah, just not used to the cold."
"Well, I can fix that." James said cheekily.
"W-what are you doing?" Avery asked as he scooted closer to her. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer to him. Instinctively, Avery started relaxing into his warmth before her brain started screaming at her to get a grip and move away before she got too comfortable. Reluctantly, she pulled away and put at least a foot distance betwen them,"N-no really, I am completely fine, thank you."
"What's wrong?" He asked, seeming genuinely confused and concerned.
"Well..." Avery said, both her hair and cheeks turning crimson, "I thought we said you weren't going to-"
"Sorry, old habits die hard, I guess." James chuckled nervously.
Luckily, the waitress showed up with their drinks and somewhat eased the awkwardness.
"Thank you, mam." Avery said gratefully.
"Thanks."
After a few mintues of silence, Avery asked tentatively, unsure of how much stress he was feeling about the subject, "So, how are you and Albus?"
"Oh, we're fine. He visited me in the Infirmary a bit after you left and he and I managed to come to an understanding. He still hasn't stopped moping about you and Jessica, though, I think whatever you said really hit a soft spot."
"Yeah, Jessica has been the same way, she seems to be taking it pretty hard. I think she wants to apologize but, knowing her, she'll be to stubborn to."
"Well, we can only wait it out. The thing is, I don't think I've seen either of them made before, much less at each other. I wonder how they're going to get over it."
Avery just shrugged, "Me too."
She changed the subject, "Well, how has the research going for the clue for the next task?"
"Pretty good, I guess."
"You haven't got a clue, do you?"
"None whatsoever."
"You know I could help you out with research."
"Well, you do have a way with books."
"I probably wouldn't even know where to start. It's not as if they have alot of accurate records of the events of the tournament. Even so, each one is different, so we have no idea what the next task is like."
James suddenly brightened, "Well, I may have something that will help." He said as he patted his pockets, "Ah, here it is." He pulled out hornlike object out.
Avery poked it, "Is that a TOOTH?" She asked incredulously.
"Yes."
"And you just carry this around in your pocket?"
"Well, this is the clue I got from the last task."
"That's great and all, but I have no idea how this is suppose to help."
"Weeellll, Miss Smarty Pants," James said, "I've spent the last few months using just about every spell that won't destroy it to see if anything happened... sadly, nothing happened." Seeing Avery's look of irritation, he continued, "However, while I was strolling the corridors, my uncle's ghost, Fred, encouraged me to light it on fire.''
"Well, it's worth a shot," Avery drew out her wand, "Incendio!"
As James said, words slowly started appearing on the tooth:
Take heed of the words of this clue,
For we have stolen something dear to you,
We lay in wait, in the Crypt of Dark,
Hinding away your treasured lark,
We lay below dungeons with only statues as guards,
Long forgotten, but still quite able to debar,
Simply ask and ye may enter,
But, beware, the lurking sinner.
An hour long you have to look,
To recover what we took,
We urge you to release the bird from the Snake's throne,
Lest they fall victim to the Eyes of Stone.
"Why can't they ever just come out and say 'this is happening, and this, and this, so be prepared'; it's always some stupid riddle no one understands." Avery sighed in frustration.
"Because people suck."
"Well, I could've told you that without reading this," Avery said, "Well, how about this: We'llmeet up on Wednesday at the Library and we can look up anything about Snake's thrones and Eyes of Stone and Crypt of Shadows since those seem to have the most promise and go from there."
"It's a date," James paused, "Wait, not a date date, I mean the research thing...yeah, well. Yeah." He changed the subject, "We probably should get back to the castle, it's getting close to curfew."
"Okay." They left after James paid the waitress, dragging Avery off before she could even protest that she could pay for herself. Once they arrived at the Common Room they started to go to their Dormitories when James said, "Hey Ree?"
"Yeah?" Avery stopped halfway up the stairs.
"Today was fun. It was nice hanging out with you and not arguing every three seconds."
Avery bit her lip, "I do have to admit, Potter, you're not as irritating as I had imagined. That's about as much of a compliment as you're going to get. Good night.''
"Night, Ree." Avery clambered upstairs and went to bed, staring at the ceiling for several hours as she contemplated how many of her rules wasw she going to break before she ended up hurt.
(author's note: Once again, I apologize for the late update, this chapter was mainly fluff and I am REALLY awkward while trying to write lovey doveyness. Well, I hope you enjoy the JAvery while it lasts *Evil laugh* Also, I am so sorry for the riddle I literally did it at 3 in the morning when I was desperate for sleep. ^^ as bad as that was, I used two lines from J.K. Rowling's original riddle "An hour long you have to look,To recover what we took" is NOT mine. also, DISCLAIMER: IN ADDITION TO NOT OWNING ANY HARRRY POTTER CHARACTER'S OR SITES, I ALSO DO NOT OWN DOCTOR WHO NOR DISNEY (sadly). Hope you like this chapter, the next one is about 75% done, so it sohould be out soon. Love ya- Alex)