A/n: Hi guys! I hope you all enjoy the new chapter, I know the pacing is still really slow but I'm trying to slowly build it up to get the results that I'm hoping I can accomplish. Thank you again for reading!
"We should try to start getting some of our ingredients for the potion today."
"Huh?" Diana had turned from her current potions assignment to see James staring at her expectantly.
"Jeez Harron, what's going on in that head of yours?"
"Plenty of things. Why is there not more going on in yours?" Diana didn't even bother keeping eye contact with the boy. Normally the girl was very relaxed and wouldn't snap at the boy, even though she was joking sarcastically, but the whole world seemed to hellbent on making the girl lose her mind and it made her cranky.
First it all began when the girl was doing homework with Amy in study hall when someone who had been practicing a spell accidentally sent in her direction. The spell was supposed to be a simple light spell but it went wrong and statically charged the girls hair for the rest of the day, being the laughingstock of her peers and friends. The boy who cast the spell all but cried out an apology so the girl couldn't hold it against him too much.
Next, Diana somehow wound up in the crossfire of a classic Gryffindor vs Slytherin fight and ended up getting points taken when the professor who came to break up the fight thought the girl had been involved. The only reason she didn't get detention was due to the fact that Professor Brummell, her charms professor, had cut in to put in a word about letting her go.
Most recently, the blonde girl had decided to hang out with James at the Black lake to discuss their project, which went well. Diana found herself enjoying the boys company more and more as she got to know him. His was loud and smart mouthed but was almost chivalrous, especially towards the younger years. The girl had saw the bespectacled boy stay late into one evening to help a first year work on their flying, this continued for almost a week and the boy always came back with a smile and a shrug when he realized he'd missed dinner yet again. He never made any complaints about it and never purposely teased the first year boy hurtfully.
After they had parted ways, Diana had been backed into a corner by two Ravenclaw girls. Diana was pushed into one of the candle sticks that hung against the wall near a window down one of the many halls. Diana had attempted to move with no luck as the two girls blocked her path. The first girl in front of her was a sixth year by the name of Jacklyn Bross, if her memory was right. The other girl Diana did not recognize, but still felt wary of both.
"Little miss Harron, you must think you're special that you get to spend time with James. Does it make you feel special that he's forced to work with some ugly pig like you?" The girl had held up a painted nail against her throat while her wand was gripped in her other hand.
"I'm sorry but I don't understand?" Diana wracked her head on what was happening but came back confused.
"Oh dear, don't play dumb. There are plenty of girls in this school who would do anything to get the chance to to talk to James Potter and you're obviously no exception. But know, he's mine." Jacklyn had sneered.
"I'm sorry to break it to you but that boy is too obsessed with Lily Evens to even pay you half a mind," Diana knew saying it wasn't very smart in her predicament, but she was getting irritated for being attacked for no reason.
"What's going on here?" A deep voice sounded, sending the two Ravenclaws away from Diana.
Turning to look, Diana sighed in relief to see if was Nico. The boy glared at the girls for a second longer before they scurried away. Finally the boy dragged the girl to the dining hall and let the blonde rant for the next two hours.
So all in all, Diana was ready for the week to be over.
"That's a little harsh Harron, I've got plenty of things going on in here." James rolled his eyes and just shoved the girls bag out of the chair next to her and plopped down. Noticing the dark mood, the boy silently handed the girl an orange, who glared before taking the offering.
After about ten minutes and one orange later, the blonde sighed in frustration before turning to the bespectacled boy." I'm sorry. It's been a rough week and it's been wearing down on me. You're not stupid and you are very smart especially when it comes to things you like. Forgive me?" Diana gave the boy her best puppy eyes.
"It's alright Harron, but let's not take it out on me from now on, okay?" The boy grinned, ruffling the blonde girls hair.
"Quit that! I got it okay?" Diana groaned, shoving the boys hand away. James just laughed even more at the girls pout. 'Cute' was the first word that came to his mind while he settled for a smirk at the girl.
"So are we going to start gathering the ingredients or no?" James asked, already itching to get out of his chair. His usually knee bouncing and twirling fingers the most obvious tell that he needed to get up and move around.
"Yes, give me just a moment." Diana rolled her eyes but started gathering her homework and charmed it into her bag. As soon as the girl stood to leave, James followed after, quickly taking the lead.
They made a pit stop at Slughorn's office first to grab the first bit of supplies. Diana had to pull James back after he tried to leave as soon as they got what they wanted. When he tried to pull away, the blonde girl just pinched his side, ignoring his yelp and spasm.
"Actually, Professor, could you maybe help us know where some of the places are that we can find the rest of the ingredients?" Diana tried to plead with her eyes.
"I suppose giving you a few hints won't make it too easy." Slughorn joked before going off on a spiel about the ingredients and where they might find them.
James tuned out the conversation quickly, trusting the blonde to pay attention. The bespectacled boy reached out to twiddle with the blonde girls fingers, slowly grabbing her hand and poking and prodding at her hand. Diana sent a quick glance in his direction but didn't say anything or even make a face, the girl even moving her fingers around or tightening her grip occasionally. Feeling his shoulders relax at the returned gestures, James felt warm and made sure to caress the girls hand every so often in thanks.
"If you have anymore questions, I don't mind giving a helping hand," Slughorn grinned happily at the girl. Nodding in thanks, Diana pulled James down the hall.
"Ugh! He talks so much! Why didn't he just give us the answers and let us go?" Diana groaned in frustration, dropping James hand to run her own down her face. James had to stop himself from reaching back out to grab the girls hand again, instead shoving his empty fingers into his trousers.
"I told you we should have waited until later. Save the worst for last." James rolled his eyes.
"Shut up James."
When they made their way back to the dining hall for dinner, Diana poked James to grab his attention." We can start de-riddling all the mess of information Slughorn gave us in a few days. You've got practice the the rest of this weekend, right?"
When the came upon the entrance, Diana noticed one Lily Evens chatting with her friends against the wall of the entrance. Diana nervously glanced at the girl and then James to see what his reaction to the girl would be. When James caught the girl looking to the side of him, he turned to look questioningly at where the girl kept glancing.
"Well, I guess I'll see you later," Diana tried to slip away, mumbling awkwardly. James gave her a weird face in confusion but just waved goodbye. Diana tried to ignore the small pang, focusing more on trying to find Amy and Nico. Why did she care if James tried to pester the red haired girl into dating him? It wasn't like this time was going to be any differently.
