LOVERBOY
{JAMES FLEAMONT POTTER}
When she got to her dorm room, Maeve immediately went to her small wooden desk to look for the letter she'd received from Aidan earlier that day.
Hey Maeve,
How are things at Hogwarts? Sorry I haven't been writing, things have been mental at the moment. I feel like I'm never at home for more than 5 minutes. But, enough about me... tell me everything. Have you had tryouts yet? If so did you make the team? How's Eva? Have you made friends other than Eva? You're going to need to branch out at some point you know.
Mum told Mémé, I don't think you'll be getting a Christmas present but she'll get over it. The whole you going to Beauxbatons thing was ridiculous anyway, should've always been at Hogwarts with me and Con.
Love,
Aidan x
...
Hey Aidan,
Everything is great here, tryouts are tomorrow and I'm really nervous. I've done some practice with James Potter, you'll probably remember him from your time as Captain. Eva is doing well, I think Hogwarts is definitely where she was always meant to be and I don't like the insinuation that I need more friends. But, I have as you said 'branched out' and I've gotten quite close with the girls in my dorm. The difference between them and the snotty Beauxbatons' girls is ridiculous.
How come work is so busy? Is something big happening, or can't you tell me? How is Conor? The last time he wrote he said that pre-season was starting and I haven't heard back since. Mum keeps sending me jumpers, by the summer there won't be any space left in my trunk. Does she think there isn't any heating in the castle?
I hope Mémé isn't too upset with me, but honestly, that school was hell on Earth. How I got through my OWLs there I will never know. I might send her a letter to apologise and maybe say that I'm doing well at Hogwarts to soften to blow a little. What do you think?
Much love,
Maeve x
...
Maeve sealed the letter and tied it around Wingardium's leg, the owl swiftly flew out of the window. Maeve shut the window behind her and drew the curtains, the nights were drawing in and winter was swiftly approaching. The brunette girl grabbed her freshly washed pyjamas and made her way to the bathroom for a shower. Maybe it could wash away the day, or at least keep her mind off of it for twenty minutes. Was she completely overreacting? Was there another explanation for him not responding? Could he have not heard her? Clearly, the whole shower-to-forget thing was not working. When she came out of the bathroom, the rest of the girls were there. Lily was sat reading, Alice looked to be putting the finishing touches on an essay, Marlene was already half asleep and Eva was petting her cat, Astrid.
"How many times do you stir an elixir to induce euphoria?" Alice asked.
"Six, anti-clockwise." Maeve and Lily said in unison, causing them to giggle slightly.
"Thank youuuuu," Alice trailed off scribbling furiously until putting the final full stop on the page. "Done. I never want to hear about that stupid potion ever again."
"We're brewing it on Monday," Lily informed her.
"Why, Merlin, Why," Alice buried her head into her bed as a part of her dramatic display. Lily shook her head with amused disapproval, then her attention was brought to Maeve.
"We brought you a treacle tart from dinner as you didn't each much when you were down there," Lily offered the sweet treat apprehensively, hoping to not upset the Irish girl any further.
"Oh, thanks I was feeling a bit hungry." She grabbed the tart and took a large bite. With the girl's positive reaction, Lily felt like she could push a bit further about her abrupt departure from dinner.
"Is everything okay? You didn't seem yourself at dinner."
"Um, yeah all good. Just stressed about tomorrow." This response seemed to be enough to curb the redhead's questions for now, "I'm going to try and get an early night tonight if that's alright with everyone?"
"Oh, that's a good idea, me too." Alice chirped.
"That's fine, although, I think Marlene has already beaten you to it," Lily gestured towards the unruly blonde who was sprawled out across her bed.
Slowly, each girl took their turn in the small bathroom and eventually, they were all tucked in bed, the faint sounds of owls hooting in the night lulling them off to sleep. All except Eva Hansson, she could not stop thinking about her best friend and what happened that evening. She couldn't believe that James would blow her off, it was obvious that he liked her. Or at least that's what she thought. Did he not? She decided to go down to the common and sit in front of the fire for a while, it was evident she wouldn't be sleeping anytime soon. As she walked down the stairs, she could see the top of a head of untidy, ebony hair. She knew exactly who that hair belonged to and she had a lot to say to him. But as she came face to face with him, the sight she was faced with was extremely unusual for the speckled boy. His head was hung in his hands and there were pieces of parchment strewn across the small table in front of him. Eva cleared her throat to alert him of her presence.
"Hey Eva, what are you doing down here?" He quickly tried to pull the parchment into a pile, so that she wouldn't see what he had been writing, but not quick enough that she didn't see 'Dear Maeve' at the top of each one.
"I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd sit down here for a while, but I'll just go back upstairs." She turned to make her way back to the staircase.
"Oh no, it's fine. I've finished what I was doing anyway." He stood up, the pile of papers pressed tightly against his chest. Eva nodded and James made his way passed her.
"I can give her the letter if you want, save your owl the trip," Eva said.
"Give who a letter?"
"Don't play dumb with me, Potter, it's beneath you."
"Oh, uh sorry. There's not really a letter to give her, I have no idea what to say or how to say it."
"Sorry, is a start."
"But, I don't know what I'm apologising for." Eva guffawed at the outlandish statement.
"How about... sorry for waiting for the last minute to ask you to practice with me, or sorry I almost kissed you and then was such a slimy little toad I was too scared to speak to you afterwards."
"I don't think I've been called a slimy toad before."
"That's all you have to say. Bloody Merlin, you aren't one with words, are you Potter?"
"I- I- I-"
"I- I- Say something."
"I wanted to talk to her, but I didn't know what to say."
"That was pretty obvious."
"I've messed things up, haven't I?" He sat back down and placed his head in his hands once again.
"You're just lucky Maeve is a very forgiving person and will probably give you a second chance. Not that I think you deserve one, toying her around like this."
"I haven't been toying her around, at least not intentionally. I just get so nervous around her."
"Just promise me that if you do try for a second chance, you make this one count. She doesn't deserve to be messed around because you can't seem to tap into your Gryffindor courage."
"Promise."
YOU ARE READING
LOVER BOY || J. Potter
Fanfiction"I've never been in love." "Hopefully, that's about to change." ↠ ↠ ...
