Engraved Love | J. POTTER

3 | metamorphmagus and tipsy encounters

J A M E S P O T T E R

He shook his head slightly as the girl walked past him and toward the library. He was unable to help the smile that made its way onto his face as the door closed behind her off.

James started to walk away but stopped, glancing back at the library door for a moment. Maybe if he went back in, he'd actually figure out who she was.

He huffed, stuffing his hands into his pockets and making his way toward the Gryffindor common room. Maybe his friends were right. Maybe he spent too much time focused on the girl he never met.

He entered his room, running a hand over his face to find that they were already in there. "We know how to cheer you up mate," Sirius announced as soon as the boy had entered the room. James was taken aback. He wasn't aware that he needed cheering up or that he was that transparent.

"How do you propose we do that?" he inquired, not even bothering to tell them they were wrong. He plopped down on his bed with a huff. "I'm not really in the mood to go Stag."

"And you won't have to," Sirius pointed out as he rolled his eyes. "We're going to Hogsmeade."

"It's not a Hogsmeade weekend," he reminded the boy.

"Merlin," Peter muttered. "It's bad."

James sat up, "What's bad?"

"Since when does it have to be a Hogsmeade weekend for us to go to Hogsmeade?" Sirius inquired and James seemed to understand.

"What about Moony?" he asked. "He's in the infirmary still."

"It was his idea."

"Alright..." he trailed off, "Let me tell Ophelia I won't be able to patrol tonight."

"I do believe it's pronounced Loony," Sirius reminded the boy and he rolled his eyes.

"Have you ever actually had a conversation with her?" James asked as he stood up from the bed. "She's a lot different then what everyone seems to think."

"I blame the table chick," Sirius announced and James shut the door, silencing the remainder of the boy's comments.

"Ophelia," James greeted once the girl stepped out of the Ravenclaw common room.

She jumped, placing her hand over her heart to steady her breath. "Merlin, Potter," she huffed and he grinned at the girl, "Are you stalking me now? Should I call an auror and get myself a bodyguard?"

"She makes jokes," he mused as he fell into step with her. "I needed to tell you something."

"Go on," she suggested.

"I won't be able to patrol tonight," he informed her and she nodded.

"Okay."

"That's it?" he asked in confusion. "'Okay'?"

Ophelia stopped walking and he stopped walking as well. "Let's try again, then," she rolled her eyes. "Why can't you patrol tonight, Potter? Are you not taking this job seriously? I'll go tell the Headmaster right now and he'll have the title taken from you like-" she snapped her fingers together, "That." He watched her in amusement, "Is that what you wanted to hear?"

"It's what I expected to hear," he countered. "You really don't care?"

"Do you want me to care?"

"Well..." he trailed off in thought. If he said yes, he wouldn't have to go. "No, no I don't," he sighed. "I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Tomorrow it is," she agreed.

O P H E L I A L O V E G O O D

"How does it work?" Lily asked and Ophelia turned to her in confusion. "The hair and the eyes," she explained. "Is it based on emotion or is it whatever you're in the mood for?"