xxi. bookstore
-silks of heaven, chapter twenty one-
JASMINE SLEPT IN THE next day, way too tired to get up and unpack. James called her down for breakfast, but she just told him to shut up and went back to sleep.
When she finally dragged herself out of bed, she headed downstairs, where they started to put away their breakfast.
"Morning, dear," Euphemia said as Jasmine sat at the table, next to Fleamont. "We've got leftovers from breakfast, want anything?"
"Eh, not hungry," Jasmine said. "I'll make coffee for myself later, but thank you."
"Have you heard?" Fleamont said to Euphemia and James, but Jasmine listened anyway. "Dumbledore's recruiting for the Order."
"Of Phoenix?" James asked.
Jasmine tried to keep herself together — she still couldn't tell anyone.
"Yeah, he's even thinking about recruiting you seventh years," Fleamont said. "Didn't give me any details, though, the old hag."
"Monty!" Euphemia shrieked. "Watch your mouth! Dumbledore is a good man!"
"Hardly," Jasmine muttered. Fleamont laughed and patted her shoulder.
"That's my girl."
Euphemia entered the kitchen with a pile of plates and Jasmine followed, to help her keep everything in order.
"Why isn't Regulus here for the summer? I liked him," Euphemia said, as Jasmine enchanted the plates and the sink.
"Mum, it's a long story, but we're not on good terms," Jasmine said.
"Oh, dear. Well, Sirius and James always get over these silly fights, you'll be friends again soon."
"That's the thing," Jasmine explained. "We became more than friends over Christmas ... then, it turned into 'love'. But he couldn't commit, bloody idiot."
"I can only imagine how hard that's been, Jasmine," Euphemia said quietly.
"I've gotten over it," Jasmine lied. "It wasn't real love anyway. What you and Dad have is real. What we had was ..."
"You fell for your bestfriend and you couldn't go back to being just friends," Euphemia said. "So you forced yourself to stay? And convinced yourself it was love?"
"Basically," Jasmine said. "Wow, Mum, you know a lot?"
Euphemia laughed. "Jasmine, I had my days. I wasn't an old mother all my life."
They both burst into laughter and Jasmine's worries about Regulus faded. Maybe she could have a care-free summer, no thoughts about love at all. She felt lightweight, for once.
THE FIRST WEEK FLEW by quickly and Jasmine hadn't thought about her heartbreak even once since she talked to her mother.
Her and James spent their days outside in the garden, either helping their parents with the gardening, or reading the books from their personal library.
On the first day of the second week, Jasmine was roaming through the Potters' library, looking for any book that she hadn't previously read. James came down to put his finished book down and he spotted her.
He walked up to her, put his book back, and laid his head on her shoulder from behind her. She pushed him off her.
"It's too hot for hugs," she muttered. "I can't find a single book that I haven't read."
"Re-read them, then?" James suggested.
"I have," she said. "We need more selection ..."
James couldn't argue with that; the only good books that they had were read, and the rest were old non-fictions that their parents couldn't bring themselves to chuck out.
"Alright, then," he finally said. "As a treat, I'll go to that bookstore with you. The one we used to go to. Go, quick, get dressed."
Jasmine hugged him and ran back upstairs to her room. She put on shorts and a tank top, ran back downstairs, and waited for him by the door of their house. James got his wand and met with her. He left a note for their parents and they left.
"Got the money!" he said, shaking his pockets as they shut the door and started to walk down.
The midday sun was shining down on them — it was only the first week of summer and they both had become very tanned — and James put his old bucket hat on.
As they walked, Jasmine looked at the other houses, deciding which looked nicest. The houses near hers were all very different, but the colours had a perfect pattern that was satisfying to look at. The road wasn't made for cars, as the Potters lived in a magical neighbourhood, so the ground had a village-type pattern with uneven levels.
The bookstore was vintage and had old windows, old books, old decoration. Jasmine felt nostalgic as she entered it, memories from previous visits rushing back to her.
Regulus would love it here, she thought to herself as she and James looked around. Oh, gosh, don't think about that.
She couldn't help it. He was the one who got her into reading and she knew he would like the books in there.
James had picked out a few books and went over to pay for his while Jasmine continued to roam the store, picking all the ones that looked interesting. Eventually, she did join James and they left, making their way back to the house, just in time for lunch.
"You okay?" he asked her as they walked back.
"Yeah, just thinking."
"About him?"
"I can't help it. Everything reminds me of him."
Even though she said these words, which seemed like they hurt her, her tone was neutral and James wasn't even sure that she was still upset about Regulus.
"I'm fine, though," she said, nodding. "I'm doing better without him. I mean, bloody hell, look at this tan. I'm literally growing, James!"
James couldn't help but laugh. Even when Jasmine didn't feel like it, she made everyone around her happy.
"I'm happy about that," he said, still laughing.
That night, sleep wasn't an option for her. Not because of the fact that the bookstore reminded her of Regulus, but she got a sudden burst of nostalgia from the first time they kissed. It was over Christmas break and it was in her bedroom, the exact bedroom she was in now.
She covered her face with her duvet and forced her eyes shut, but memories kept flooding back. Instead of staying in bed, she slipped out of bed and went down to the kitchen. She filled a glass with water and stood by the open window in the living room.
A young boy, most likely her age, was riding a bike down the road.
At this time? Jasmine thought. Idiot.
Even if she thought he was stupid, she noticed that he was attractive. His hair covered the top of his face slightly and flopped in the night wind. He rode up and down the road as Jasmine drank her water and he winked at her as he went back down the road, causing her to choke on her water.
He stopped his bike and walked up to her window. She tried to silently shoo him away, but he just smiled.
"Don't drown, o'rite?" he said, flashing a smile. She couldn't help but blush over him, mentally cursing herself when she realised.
"Why are you up so late, then?" she asked him quietly.
"Could ask you the same thing."
She rolled her eyes, "Can't sleep, so I went to fetch water. But, hey, at least I didn't think to ride my bike up and down my street!"
"Sorry 'bout that." The boy ran his fingers through his hair. "What can I call you?"
"Potter — er, Jasmine Potter. Just call me Jas," she said. "You?"
"Oh, uh, Oli," he said. "Full name's Oliver, but no one ever calls me that anymore."
Jasmine nodded, "I like you. You smoke, Oli?"
"Yeah, sometimes," he said. "Nothing magic, I stick to the Muggle stuff. The magic shit is horrible."
Jasmine laughed, "You can say that again."
"I live down there." He pointed to one of the white houses. "You're welcome anytime, and your brother. I think we'd be good friends, me and you."
"Yeah."