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emf005 · 1 year
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Homecoming
Marauders Era/ non-magical
Marauders x Reader, Army brother x reader
Warnings: Mentions of death, anxiety, let me know if I missed anything else!
Summery: Y/N loves her friends and her brothers with all her heart. But, when one of her brother, who is in the army, doesn't send her a letter home, its hard to enjoy her birthday.  
You passed the common room, chewing on your already non-existent nails. The mail would be coming any second now. Any second Malcome, the mail deliverer for Gryffindor house, would be walking through that door to hand you two letters. One from Nigle at home and the other from Brent who was overseas fighting for your country.
Sirius and Remus watched you with uneasy faces. They knew how you got on mail day. You weren’t an openly expressive person, but once a week they saw your nerves just explode out of you. And if you didn’t get a letter that week… no one would see you for two days. No one knew where you went. You didn’t eat, they doubted you slept. But on the third day, you would walk into the great hall for food looking like you had gone to war yourself. 
James walked down the stairs just as you ripped off your index finger’s nail. He winced for you when you just moved on to your ring finger without hesitation. He sat down besides Sirius and Remus and watched your pace. 
“How long has she been…”
“Four hours.” Remus answered, no one taking their eyes off you. 
“At least. She was already like this when we got here.” Sirius added. James frowned. 
They all knew how important family was to you. And all you had left of the blood family was your two brothers. They practically raised you. Your mother had died in a car crash when you were five and your father in a war when you were seven. 
You had been friends with James since you two were in diapers and when you all went to Hogwrats, the boarding school for the Elite, you met Remus, Sirius, Lily, and Peter. They all knew of your situation. You were raised like a military daughter by your father. He hadn;t meant to be so harsh when he was home and it never bothered you. But because of the way you were brought up, you never showed emotion or weakness, if you could help it. You were scarily physically fit and you had a tactical brian. (You were the only one both Sirius and Remus lost at chess to). When he died it was really hard. You had James and your brothers, but after the funeral, Brent had to leave again and Nigel was barely ever around because he worked so much. But you all made do with what you could. 
The door opened and you stopped halfway on your partially ripped off nail as Lily Evans walked in. You tore the rest of the nail off and continued to pace. She frowned and sat down by the boys. 
“She looks worse than normal.”
“She didn’t get a letter last week from Brent, remember?” She nodded. 
“Right. I forgot. Should we-”
“No,” all three boys replied in unison. While Lily was your closest female friend, you were much closer to the four boys. Even Peter who was serving out a detention with Professor Flitwick, the geography teacher. She sighed and sat back into the couch and watched you with the rest of the boys. You had finished tearing apart your right hand and had started on your left when the door opened again. You paused and looked up. Black hair? Check. Brown eyes? Check. Tall and gangly? Check. Messenger bag? Check. 
Malcolm had arrived with the mail. 
Everyone dashed over to the man and he handed everything out, you waited in the back. Silently and what could have been mistaken as patients. The boys and Lily got they’re mail and walked back to the couch to wait for you. You always got your mail alone. You always insisted. You always made sure you got your mail alone. 
You walked up to the messenger boy and he smiled. 
“How are you doing, Y/N?”
“Alright, and you?” You looked in his back and back at him. He smiled gently and handed you a letter and a box. 
“I’ve been fine. Happy early birthday, Y/N.” He handed you the objects and left. You watched him go and stared at the door even after it closed. You swallowed and went back to your friends. 
“What did you get?” Lily asked with fake chipperness, earning glares from the boys. She tried too hard sometimes. She had the best intentions, but she didn’t understand that you had to be the first to speak. She couldn;t go out in search of a conversation. It was just how you functioned. 
You didn;t answer and set the letter and box down. You looked at the neatly wrapped box. It was from Nigel, as expected. Moment of truth. You held your breath, and so did the boys, as you flipped the card over. 
Nigel Y/L/N
You tensed at the name written. It wasn't from Brent. He never missed two weeks in a row. What had happened? Is he alright? 
You swallowed and silently stood, picking up the box. You nodded to your friends and disappeared up the stairs, not being able to control your shaking much longer. You were scared. So so scared. You wouldn’t be able to sit through your brother’s funeral. If that's what happened. James had to take you away from your fathers, but what would happen if it was Brent lying in that coffin instead of your father this time? 
Two weeks in a row. You couldn’t fathom it. You didn;t even care that it was your birthday week. You just didn’t care. You just wanted to know that he was alright.
You set the letter and the box down on your bed before grabbing your secret emergency bag and disappearing out the window and down the vines on the tower. You needed a minute. And by a minute you meant two days.
Two days passed and no one had seen you, as usual. On the third day, the boys were expecting you to walk in for breakfast, but you didn’t. The four of them exchanged glances. That had never happened before. It was always two days. No more, no less. Did they like it? No. Did they wish they could change it? Absolutely. But they could not. Three days in a row though? That had them even more worried. 
The breakfast bell rang, singling it was time to go to their first class. Luckily they had they’re favorite class. Literature with Professor Mcgonagall.She was not only the head of their house, but she was the only person who sort of put up with their antics. 
“Where do you think she is?” Remus asked James and Sirius. Peter and LIly were walking a bit ahead of the three. James and Sirius shook their heads. 
“I don’t know. But it can’t be good. I snagged her some fruit and a muffin incase we see her, though,” Sirius said. He was the one always looking out for your physical health. Making sure you were eating enough and not studying too hard or working down at the coffee shop in town for too long. Remus and James made sure that you knew all of them were there for you. Peter was the annoying little brother who could get you to roll your eyes with amusement and Lily would often distract you with gossip that you had no interest in hearing. 
“That's good. She always looks like she has lost twenty pounds when she comes back.” James and Sirius nodded in sad agreement. 
The five of them entered the classroom to see you sitting at your usual spot with your normal ridgid back, though you looked more stiff than normal. Lily and Peter greeted you before taking their seats, though all they got was a silent head nod. James sat down on one side of you and Sirius took the other side. Remus sat in front of you besides Lily. 
Sirius pulled out the food and sat it down beside you, wishing he had thought to grab some bacon before it had disappeared.
“Here,” he slid it over to you, but all you did was eye it before pulling your attention back to the front. “Y/N, you gotta eat.”
“Not hungry,” you grumbled out. He bit his tongue before he came back with a snarky comment. He was normally able to, but when you were like this, even the teachers walked on eggshells around you. Your temper was notorious around the school and you would most likely disappear for another few days. 
“It's not much, Y/N/N. I really think you should-”
“Not. Hungary.” He studied you for a second more. Your cheek bones were sharper and your eyes duller. He could see all the bones in your hand and your collar bone looked as if it were about to break skin. Not to mention you were paler than a ghost.  
“Then eat it for me?” You glanced at him and clenched your jaw. You two had a mini argument with your eyes, but you were too tired to continue fighting with him so you took the napkin and started nibbling on some of the grapes. 
You hated to admit it, but you were hungry.
Mcgonagall saw you eating but let you. She was normally strict about that sort of thing, but you were always the exception. Especially if it had been a rough weekend. You went through the motions of the day. You always had a class with either Remus, Sirius, James or all three. Sometimes your classes had one of those three plus Peter and Lily. Mcgonagall was the only one you six had all together, though.
After classes you went to the great hall, ate one thing and left without a word. No one was too happy with your actions, but they didn’t want to push you further away by arguing with you about it. Hopefully you would be better in the morning. 
You weren’t. 
You showed up for breakfast, which was good. You ate an apple and a piece of bacon, but that was it. You couldn’t stomach anything other than that. Sirius tried to get you to eat something else. A bit more, a chocolate chip muffin or one of those mini cakes, but you begged him with your eyes to stop. He nodded and stopped attempting to get you to eat more. 
The two of you normally knew what the other was thinking, which always freaked James and Remus out a bit. All it took was for you two to glance at each other sometimes and there would be some inside joke shared. You two were actually the reason charades were banned on game night. Not like you two didn't normally win anyhow when you were paired up. 
Yet again, that day you went through the motions. They all watched you do it. The next day was your birthday. Your sixteenth. They had all planned a surprise party, just you six, but you wouldn’t want to participate. They knew that. How they wished your brother had had a chance to send a letter back. It was actually painful to see you like this… 
The next day you woke up and immediately wanted to go back to sleep. But Lily made you get up and get dressed. The boys were waiting for you down stairs with soft smiles on their faces, which you appreciated. Normally they would be all over you and you would all laugh like maniacs. But you weren’t in the mood for laughing. 
“Happy birthday, Y/N/N,” James said and kissed your hairline. A thing he had done since you were kids. You two were exactly like siblings. He was a Y/L/N and you were a Potter. A bit weird when you thought about it, but also not weird at all. 
“Thanks, Jamie.” You said with a smile.Remus and Peter wished you a happy birthday and hug as well.
“Happy birthday,” Sirius said finally as you all headed out of the common room. He patted you awkwardly on the back which made you chuckle. You rested your head on his shoulder as you two walked, honestly about to fall back asleep. 
“Thanks, Sirius.” You said sadly. 
“He’s alright, Y/N. You know that.” You stayed silent. You really wish you did. 
You ate a bit more at breakfast that day, thanks to Sirius insisting that you have a small breakfast cake. You could use the sugar anyhow. But, despite your friends' best efforts, you felt the worst today. You just wanted to curl up in your blanket and sleep for an entire eternity. Until the war was over and your brother could come home. Until summer when you would be able to see them both. You just wanted your family back. That was the one thing you wished for that you knew could never happen.
“Now, who can tell me what we learned from Hamlet?” Mcgongall asked from the front of the class. You weren’t paying attention. Normally, you and Lily would be rivaling each other, playfully, to answer the question, but you just didn’t have the energy or the care to answer today.
The door squeaked open from behind the class and everyone turned in their seats to see who it was. Everyone but you. You were rolling your quill up and down the parchment with nothing but dull boredom. After a few minutes Sirius nudged your side. 
“Hm?” He nudged you again. “What?” You looked up at him, irritated, but then you caught something else. You looked past him and your whole body stopped. 
There at the back of the class was Brent. He was in his uniform pants and a plain white t-shirt and had a box in his hand. He had that stupid half, crooked grin on his face as he stared you down. 
Tears were in your eyes as you jumped up and ran to him. You leapt onto him and wrapped your legs around his waist like you did when you were a little girl. 
He hugged you tightly as you buried your head into the crook of his neck. You sobbed into his shirt and squeezed him tightly. 
The majority of your classmates were surprised by your reaction. They never saw you really show much emotion other than laughter. To see you actually leap onto someone like this and start to sobbing was something completely strange and forgin to them. 
But you didn’t care. For once in your life you didn’t care that they saw a weaker side of you. 
“I hate you so much. You're such a jerk.” You mumbled into his shoulder. He hugged you tighter and chuckled. 
“I know. I’m sorry. I’m so so so sorry.” You sobbed again. And he looked at his old teacher, silently asking permission to leave with you. She rolled her eyes and made a shooing motion with her hands. He smiled gratefully and took you out of the room.
He took you down to the “Black Lake”, still carrying you like a child. You two got a few weird looks but neither of you really cared. 
He set you down and you two sat across from each other. He wiped your face off. 
“Hey, no more crying for me. Ok? I’m alright. See?” He held his arms out, making you chuckle with a hiccup.
“Yeah. Ok.” He frowned and set a hand on your knee. 
“Hey. You gotta take care of yourself too. You look terrible. You actually get fed good food up here, and what do I get? Nasty surprise meat. I’d take advantage of that if I were you.” You nodded and hugged your knees. 
“How’ve you been, though? Your letters aren’t always very detailed.”
“I’m alright. I met a pretty girl over in America when I was stationed over there last month.”
“And you didn’t tell me?” You gasped, faking offense.
“I told Nigel.”
“Rude.” He laughed and shoved your knee. You smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind your ear.
“So why are you here? They wouldn’t let you out just for my birthday.”
“Actually I got stationed at the base close to home. I got the day pass.”
“So you have all day?” You asked excitedly.
“I do, you have class.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time I skipped. ALthough, the boys might be upset that I didn;t ask them to tag along.” He smirked, mischief glinting in his eye. 
“Well perhaps, since it is your birthday and all, we can have a break from school? You and the boys? What do you say?” You beamed. “I’ve been wanting to meet who you have been talking about. I mean, I know James, but the other three?”
“You’ll love them!” You started to ramble on and on about them and he just smiled. He never saw you this animated about much before. Even as a little girl you would hide your emotions a bit more than any other kid your age would. Especially after losing your mother. You were too little to really understand what was happening. You did understand, though, that a person you trusted and cared for was never coming back. That had broken you a bit. It only got worse with age. And then when money became an issue when your father died and Nigel started to work non-stop and then Brent joined the army, it was just so much for someone so young. 
The bell rang and you smiled. 
“Meet us at the football in ten minutes.” You ran off quickly. He rolled his eyes and shoved the present he had gotten you in the pocket of his uniform. He remembered a bit of stuff in your letters about the group of friends you had found. He hadn;t seen you since you had joined the school-what is that now?- four years ago, maybe? He nearly didn’t recognize you when he walked into the room. 
You had gotten taller, definitely, your hair was a bit (Darker/Lighter) and you looked almost exactly like dad, but more feminie. He couldn;t have helped but get a bit sad at the sight of you, though. He had missed so much of your life. So many Christmases, Birthdays, Halloweens. He missed them all. But at least you were able to get your school supplies and your uniform. Eat a proper meal, when you would let yourself
He walked down to the football stadium on campus but stopped by a payphone to give Nigel a ring. He hadn;t seen him yet, and although he would disapprove of you and your friends skipping the rest of your classes, he was almost positive that he would come meet you and spend your birthday with them.
You caught them as they were walking out of the classroom. They smiled at your smile and jogged over to you. Sirius slung an arm around your shoulder. 
“See. I told you he was alright.”
“And thank god you were right. Anyhow! He wants to spend the day with me and since he hasn;t met any of you yet, would you all like to come along?” “Ditch classes?” Lily asked disapprovingly. You gave her puppy dog eyes. She sighed in defeat. “I will not tag along, but I will not stop you nor will I rat you out.” YOU smiled, knowing that was the best you would get from her. You turned to the other boys. 
“Count me in! I haven’t seen Brent in ages.” James said happily. 
“I’m in too!” Sirius laughed. “Getting out of class is getting out of class!” he laughed. The three stared at Remus and Peter. 
“I just got out of detention,” Peter squeaked. “I don;t want to go back to helping Mrs.Norris de-ratify the dungeons!” You gave a pout, but understood. Then you turned all your attention on Remus. He opened his mouth about to decline the offer, but you mouthed a silent “please” to him and he gave up. 
“I suppose one day of skipped classes.” You grinned, wide.
“YES!” You yelled and pulled the three after you. “You two are going to love Brent! He's been dying to meet you!” They all laughed, glad to see you back to your usual self.
You took them down to the Football field where you saw two boys talking leisurely. You smiled and ran faster. 
“Nigel!?” The second boy looked up and smiled. 
“Speak of the devil.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Sargent Slacker was telling me about your plan to skip school and drag your poor friends plus James-”
“Hey!”
“-along for the ride.” 
“They willingly came, there was no dragging. Oh! Neither of you have met Remus or Sirius yet!” You shoved them in front of you, Sirius laughing and Remus stumbling a bit. “Sirius, Remus, these are my older brothers, Nigel and Brett.” You gestured to the two. “Nigle Brett, this is Sirius Black and Remus Lupin.”
“I’m James!” 
“We know!” All five of you called in unison.                                                                                                                                                     
“Nice to meet you, Remus, Sirius,” your brothers said and shook their hands. Nigel ruffled James’ hair as you all started to walk down towards town. It wasn’t far from school and was a nice quaint area with lots of places to hang out. None of the people that roamed or shopped there would rat you out to the teachers for ditching. Some had already tried to tattle on the kids early on in the school’s years but stopped after a few years realizing that it wasn’t going to do anything. And, honestly, it didn’t happen so much anymore.  
You were talking with Brent and Sirius upfront while Remus and James were in the back with Nigel. 
“So, what's been happening at school? How’s Mcgonagall?”
“Still teaching the same courses as when you were here.” You answered with a smirk feeling much more like yourself. Four years. It had been four years since you last saw your brother and now he was home for a little while. You laughed the whole way down to the coffee shop. Brent and Nigel slowly getting to know Remus and Sirius. 
When you finally got to the coffee shop you and Sirius went to find a seat while everyone else went to get the order in. You got the same thing everytime and Sirius had given Remus his order quickly and a few coins to get it. 
“So, having a good birthday I take it?” Sirius asked. You laughed and nodded, looking over at your brother who was messing up James’ hair. 
“It may sound selfish, but yeah. I really am.”
“Why would that sound selfish?” You looked at your friend with a small smile. 
“Well, to me, at least, it sounds like I don’t appreciate you guys. You have to deal with all my shit all the time and it's so not fair. I’m sorry, really I-”
“Hey. No. Don't be sorry. If we minded putting up with your shit every now and then we wouldn’t stick around you at all. Don’t ever be sorry though, alright? I couldn’t imagine Reg going off to war and leaving me stuck here, wondering if he’s alright or not. I’d completely lose it. You can at least function.”
“Barely,” you scoffed. Sirius chuckled. 
“Barely is still functioning.” You looked down at your lap, still slightly ashamed for the way you had been acting. Sirius grabbed your hand and squeezed it. You looked up at him. He smiled and you smiled back. He opened his mouth to say something when Brent came back with a tray of drink and food. He slid in besides you, handing you your (Favorite over the top sugary drink) and eyeing Sirius, though you didn’t notice. Nigel, James, and Remus appeared a a second later with the rest of the stuff and started to distribute the food. 
Back in the line a few moments earlier:
Brent ruffled James’ hair playfully and James laughed. 
“So how’s she been doing, really?” He asked James as they made their way closer to the counter. “She tells me my letters are vague but that girl knows how to skirt around a question.” James chuckled and nodded. 
“She sure does. When your letter comes in on time she’s normally pretty alright. Of course, she always gets a little tense around that time but when they’re late,” James shook his head, not knowing how to say it, but Brent got the picture. He glanced over and saw you and Sirius holding hands and narrowed his eyes. 
“Ok, and what's his deal?” James looked over and saw you and Sirius. 
“What? Sirius? What do you mean?” James asked, trying to play it cool, but getting very worried. He was Sirius’ best friend. Of course he knew of a few extra details about his personal life. One of those extra details was a crush that he had been nursing for a good two years. James noticed it first, being like a third brother to you. He asked Sirius about it and he denied it. But then about a year ago, Brent’s letter had gotten lost in the mail and didn’t show up for about a month. You had gone into such a frenzied state that you couldn’t move. You had scared the crap out of Sirius and that was when he realized that his feelings had altered towards you. James always told Sirius to go for it, but you had lost so much that Sirius didn’t want to jeopardize anything. 
“Yeah. Why’s he holding her hand? And why’s he been looking at her like that since he came to the field? Don’t tell me that-”
“Brent. We are in our fifth year now. You do remember what hormones are, right?”
“That is exactly what I’m afraid of. That they’re just hormones.”
“I really don’t think that's what it is.”
“So he does?”
“Well, yes, but-” Brent grabbed a tray before James could say anything else and marched over to the table. James watched, horrified. What had he just unleashed? 
You were all laughing at stupid stories from childhoods and school. Everything was right. For you, at least. Brent couldn’t get it out of his mind that someone close to you had a crush on you and you were, seemingly, completely oblivious. 
He had missed four years. Four whole years and now some teenage boy wanted to suck your face. That did not sit right with him. Especially because he saw himself in the boy that had been holding your hand a few moments ago. He was and remained to be a player. He knew one when he saw one. It was true, he had found a girl in America, a real nice one, too. And she made him want to settle a bit, not go sucking face with every girl in every country he went to. But it had taken him twenty four years to find that. You all were still young. And he saw how heavily you relied on your friends. Scarily enough, how much you relied on this one. 
“Brent?” He snapped out of his thoughts and looked at you. “Are you ok? You zoned out for a minute.” He smiled and ruffled your hair roughly. 
“I’m all good, kid. How’s sixteen feel?”
“Pretty good,” you laughed and shoved him off of you. “Though, havn’t gotten to try it out much.”
“Well, you’ll have a whole year to try it out.” You all left the coffee shop and started to roam the streets. You and the boys all wanted to go into the sweets shop and ran in, but Brent stopped Sirius and held him back. “I want to have a talk with you.” He had placed a firm hand on Sirius’ shoulder, not letting him move. Sirius swallowed but obeyed. 
They started to walk through town in silence and Sirius kept looking over his shoulder at the sweets shop. He wasn’t the biggest fan of candies. More of a cake and pastry type, but the candies were your favorite so he always made sure to go in with you. 
“So.” Brent said, stopping by the fountain. “How old are you, Sirius?”
“Seventeen, sir.” Sirius was never one to use “Sir” or “Ma’am”, unless it was in a mocking manner, this, though, was a situation that he knew he needed it in. He might be reckless, but he was also a gentleman and knew when to use what.
“And you know my sister is sixteen.”
“As of today. We had this party planned for her later, if you’d like to come. And Nigel. I bet she’d like that.”
“I bet she would, family and friends mean everything to her.”
“Yeah, they do.”
“And if something happens to the people she cares about, she doesn’t take it lightly.”
“Completely right,” Sirius said uneasily, not knowing how exactly to reply. 
“So what are your intentions with my sister, exactly?”
“I just want to be there for her. She’s done the exact same thing for me.”
“So you're just repaying her? Toss her out when your debt is paid in full?”
“What?” Sirius asked, alarmed. “No! No! Not at all!”
“Then what? What more do you want from her? She may not seem it but she’s openly trusting. Naive at times even. People could take advantage of that.”
“Yes, they could. I hope you don’t mean-”
“That you would? That's exactly what I mean. I may have been gone for four years, but I’m not blind. I see the way you look at her, she may not, but I do. And if you ever think about hurting her in anyway-”
“I promise, that's the last thing I ever want to do. She’s like family to me. I wouldn’t ever dream of hurting her one bit. I owe her so much and she’s just… the best.”
“Damn right she is. I’m warning you though. I know your type. And my little sister will not be hurt, understood?” He didn’t give Sirius a chance to reply before walking away, leaving him by the fountain not knowing what to do. 
Sirius had felt a burning hole in his chest for two years. He hadn’t realized it at first but now that he knew about it he knew he wouldn;t be able to get rid of it. The threats your brother, although valid, had just thrown his way scared Sirius half to death. He was twice his size in height and muscle mass but more than that, he spoke the truth. The only thing that had kept Sirius from not saying anything to you before about how he felt was all those fears. He didn’t want to hurt you. He wanted to be there for you. And if that was only through friendship- 
He sighed and kicked the ground, shoving his hands in his pockets and touching a box in his leather jacket he had gotten for you for your birthday. Lily and Remus and James had helped him pick it out for you. He was going to tell you how he felt tonight and give you your gift but all those fears were resurfacing now and he knew he wouldn’t be able to.
“Sirius!” You shouted. He looked up and saw you running at him with a large bag in your hands. “Sirius come on we were- hey, what's wrong?”
“Huh? Nothing. Why?”
“You don’t look good. Did you get enough sleep last night? Did you eat enough? Are you not feeling alright?” He chuckled and brushed off your concerns. 
“I’m fine. I’m fine. Why are you worried about me? Its your day.”
“Well, yeah, but the only reason I like my birthday is because I get to hang around you guys. And now my brothers are here and its even more perfect! Are you sure you’re alright? We can go back up to the school if-”
“What? No! Come on, James and Remus will be looking for us.” You pursered your lips but nodded and broke out into a smile before dragging him down the street towards the candy shop’s entrance where everyone was waiting. You spent a bit more time around town before deciding to head back up to the school for dinner. Your brothers, unbeknownst to you, were coming back later for the party you didn;t know was happening and you wouldn’t let Brent go when he said that he ought to be on his way. 
You James, Sirius, and Remus headed back up to the school alone. You and Remus up front examining all the goodies you had gotten from town and James and Sirius in the back. 
“James, can I ask you something?” SIrius asked, watching you and Remus a good ten feet ahead of you.
“Of course! What's up?”
“Should I really tell Y/N tonight? I mean, it would take away from her birthday and her brother and-”
“Woah woah woah, what did Brent say to you?”
“What?”
“Brent, he was the one who put this in your head, right? Listen, I love the guy to death, but he’s overly protective of her.”
“That's funny coming from you.”
“Yeah, but I’ve watched you with her, Sirius. It's different. I know you won’t do anything stupid. You care too much about her. We all do.”
“Right but what if-well, what is going to happen if she doesn’t feel the same?”
“She will. Trust me.”
“Or what if something happens. She can’t lose another person, James. She can’t, this entire plan is just stupid. I’m not going to do anything tonight. I’m not going to tell her.”
“Until when?”
“Ever! I’m never going to tell her.”
“What! Sirius, you’ve got to be joking!”
“No, I’m not. The only way I can ensure she won't get hurt is if I stay close as friends. There's no danger there.”
“Yes there is! Come on, Sirius, mate, please just tell her tonight! You aren;t going to-”
“Come on slow polks!” You yelled over your shoulder, smiling and waving. “Your supposed to be the athletic ones.” Sirius laughed. 
“ Wanna race then?”
“You’re on, Black!” You took off towards the school and Sirius ran after you before James could say anything else. Remus and James then walked slowly together after you two. 
“What was that about?” Remus asked. James shook his head watching you two run. 
“He’s not going to say anything.”
“WHAT!?”
“Brent got into his head and brought back all that shit we spent years getting out.”
“You have got to be joking!”
“I wish I was, Rem, I really wish I was.” 
Your brothers were enough to keep you distracted while the boys set up the grounds for your party. Sirius remained set on the fact that he wasn’t going to tell you, despite what Remus and James tried to tell him. They spent the last four hours trying to convince him but nothing was getting through to him. 
The sun had set and the lights were on as everyone waited for you to show up with your brothers. They had taken you out all day. Shopping and Milkshake hopping and just touring town. 
You and your brothers appeared over the hill a little less than ten minutes after everything was all set up for the party. Your brothers were in the same clothes but they had forced you to change into clean jeans and a maroon top with embroidered flowers along the neckline. Your hair was down but the front pieces were pulled back and you wore a pair of converse sneakers, the cleanest pair you owned(which isn't saying much since there were mud splotches all over them).   
SIrius smiled as you came speeding down the hill slightly ahead of your brothers. You beamed and tackled the four boys in a hug. Peter had shown up to help decorate along with Lily. 
“I can’t believe you all did this!” 
“How’d you know?” Sirius smirked and you rolled your eyes pointing up to the Happy Birthday Y/N  sign above your head. The sign he had created himself. “Oh, and here I thought I gave it away.” you pushed him jokingly and laughed. He smiled, happy to see how thrilled your were. 
Your brothers finally made it down the hill and the festivities began. Drinking and eating and laughing filled the air along with the bitter chill of night and early morning. 
By the end of the night you were sitting on the edge of the dock a few yards away from the party, dipping your feet into the lake. Sirius came up behind you and sat down. You smiled and leaned your head up against his shoulder, closing your eyes and breathing in his leather Jacket. He kissed your hair and leaned his head against yours. 
“Thank you,” you said after a minute. He looked at you and knitted his eyebrows. 
“For what?” you smiled and looked back at the party. 
“For this. For today. For everything.” You looked back up at him with huge eyes. “You really are amazing, Sirius.” He smiled and slid his jacket off, putting it around your shoulders. 
“I’m only amazing to those who deserve it. And you deserve it and so much more.” You grinned and stared at him. “What?” 
Your smile dimmed a minute as you looked back out at the lake. 
“Nothing.”
“Hey, don’t do that. What’s wrong?” You sighed and leaned back onto your elbows.  
“It's really nothing, Sirius. Just forget it.”
“No, this is your day. You tell me what you want and I’ll get it for you.” You rolled your eyes and chuckled. 
“Knock it off. Your such a dork.”
“I’m serious,” you opened your mouth to make a smart comment but he kept talking. “You want the stars? I’ll get you the stars. You want the moon? Its yours. You want the biggest diamond in the world? Consider it done. JUst tell me and I’ll get it for you.” 
You stared at him and took a large chug of your liquid courage. You licked the rest of the alcohol from your lips and looked at him straight past his eyes and into his soul, like you tended to do. 
“You.”
“Wh-what?”
“You. I want you, Sirius.” He swallowed. 
“You have me, Y/N/N.” You shook your head and slid up so you were on your knees.
“No. I don’t. I want all of you Sirius. I want to be yours and I want you to be mine. I can’t say that for once in my life I want to be selfish, because I always am. But, I’m ready to just take this time. I’m tired of waiting around. I. Want. You.”
“Wouldn’t you prefer the gift I got you?” You clenched your jaw and stared at him even more intensely. 
“Take it back.” You growled. He swallowed. 
His lack of response or interest broke you. You sighed and sat back on your heels, brushing the hair that had stuck to your face away. You shook your head and stood. 
“Forget it.” You started to walk away from him, back to the party. He knew once you stepped off that dock you'd be out of his reach forever.  
Unlike you, Sirius was never selfish, especially when it came to your well being. And just this once, he wanted to be. Just this once he needed to be. 
“Y/N!” he called and ran to you, but you kept going. It pissed him off that you didn’t listen to him. He clenched his jaw and grabbed you by the waist, making you squeal as he carried you back to the end of the dock. He set you on your feet and held you in place. 
“Sirius-”
“Listen. I love you, Y/N. I have loved you since the day I met you. But, I don’t want to hurt you. I refuse to be the reason you're hurt or the reason that you're crying. I can’t stand to see you sad and I want to be able to protect you from everything in this world, though I know you won’t let me. I’m terrified, but tonight, I don’t want to be. I just… Y/N, I-” you grabbed his face and brought him down to your lips as you rose to your toes. He eagerly kissed you back. Pulling you closer to him and deepening the kiss. You tasted like alcohol and wishes and light. Everything that you stood for and everything he loved about you. And, just like he thought, he was addicted. 
When you two pulled away you both knew you were screwed. That there was no going back after that. 
“Sirius,” you said hoarsely, but he just shook his head and pressed his lips to yours again.
“No.”
“You didn’t even know what I was going to say.”
“I don’t care.” he pressed his lips to yours again and you smiled into it as you wrapped your arms around his neck and he lifted you off the ground so you could wrap your legs around his waist. Happy birthday to you.     
Brent looked down from the party, crushing the cup in his hand as he watched you make out with the black haired boy. He was grinding his teeth as he watched you kiss him back. James came up beside him with a grin on his face along with Nigel. 
“Woah, Seems like little Y/N/N is all grown up.”
“You knew about this?” Brent asked angrily, turning to his brother abruptly. 
“Of course, those two have been making eyes at each other since, what did you say James, 3rd year?”  James nodded and took a sip of his drink. “Glad the guy finally had the guts to do it.” Brent turned back to the scene to see the two of you running up the hill, hand in hand laughing, you in his jacket. He clenched his teeth but Nigel just knocked his shoulder. 
“What?”
“She’s a big girl, Brent. Trust her. She’s not that little girl you left behind when you went to the war four years ago.” He turned back to you two and sighed. He knew you weren’t, but he couldn’t help but see you that way. He loved you so much, and to suddenly be back with you all grown up…
“Brent! Nigel!” You beamed and ran up to them. “You guys are the best. Brent hugged you tight and ruffled your hair. 
“Happy birthday kiddo.” You frowned up at him. 
“You aren’t leaving are you?” He smiled sadly. 
“Afraid so. I have to be headed back. But I’ll write, I promise, ok, kiddo?” You smiled sadly and nodded, hugging him tightly again. 
“Be safe,” you mumbled into him. He smiled and kissed your head. 
“For you, always.” He patted James on the back and looked at Sirius. 
He held out his hand which Sirius took nervously. Brent took a breath and calmed himself down.
“It was good meeting you, Sirius.”
“You as well.” He looked over at you and back at Siirus. 
“Take care of her.” He smiled and looked at you, who raised an eyebrow. 
“Always,” you rolled your eyes at him and went to start talking to Nigel, as you three walked away. 
“I'm proud of you,” James said, patting him on the back as Sirius finally breathed.
“Is he always that terrifying?” James laughed and pulled Sirius back into the party and despite him being terrified of Brent, all he could do was smile because he knew that as long as you and him were together, everything was just fine. 
And from that day on everything was. Even the days when Brent didn’t write, he helped make them slightly easier. When he had a nightmare you were there for him. And life moved on perfectly and happily for the two of you. 
Merry Christmas and a happy early New Year!
I hope you guys enjoyed this! I'm sorry I've been MIA for so long, life is absolutely disgustingly hectic.
As always please let me know what you think and anything you all want to read about!
Hopefully, with luck I'll be posting more in the New Year!
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emf005 · 2 years
Text
Looks of an Angle Voice of a Goddess pt. 2
Draco x Muggleborn! reader
Part 2 of 2
Warnings: bullying, uh, Diggory being a creep, Let me know if I missed anything else!
Hey guys! Have fun with this one! I hope you all enjoy it! I really hate Cedric Diggory, no clue why just do, lol.
It had been a few weeks since Draco and you had made your “deal”. You had enchanted a notebook that you could communicate back and forth in so that you could warm each other about when either Diggory or Pansy was headed their way or where they were on the move around. 
Well, that's how the notebook started out. It quickly started to be a cheat sheet for the two of you during homework or study sessions. A quick scribble what the answer to number four was or what the correct pronunciation of a spell or word was. And that quickly evolved into something entirely. 
Draco had continued to go to your performances, much to his disliking. No one had found out that he had been going, only you knew. You would meet him by the tree every time afterwards. Well, that was until a bad performance. You had missed the previous week because you hadn’t felt well, Draco knew it had been driving you insane being cooped up in your room while your friends got to perform. This week, you had been better but still not being at his best. You had insisted that you were going on. Draco hadn’t really concerned himself with it. But your friends and Diggory had made it a point that they thought it was a bad idea. 
He leaned on the tree as he normally did and waited, a bit apprehensive, as you took your place on the stage. There were a few whistles from around the stage and you grinned, though he could still see you sniffle from your runny nose. 
You began a low song that was slow and easy on your voice, but there was one section that you were particularly nervous about. You weren’t sure your voice could take it, but you were determined to do it. Well, determination isn’t everything. You cracked on the note but continued on with a smile. Nobody heard it, he had, but that's because when you two would talk outside of class all you did was talk about performing and singing. Everyone took their bow after that and he waited for you where he always did. But you never showed up. 
He pulled the little notebook from his bag and quickly scribbled in it. 
Are you ok?
Yes… no
Where are you?
There was a long pause as if you were thinking about telling him. 
Backstage
Stay there
He closed the book with a snap, ignoring the small light coming from the pages, telling him that you were writing. 
He snuck through the curtain and walked around the deserted area until he found you sitting at a table with a mirror with some pictures and lights decorating it. He sat in the chair beside you silently and waited for you to talk, but you didn’t. 
“Are you alright?”
You hiccuped and hid your face in your hands, shaking. He put a hand to your back and rubbed it awkwardly, not knowing what to do.
“I can’t believe I did that/ It was humiliating!” You stuttered out. 
“You did! How many other people did?” 
“That's because you talk about music non-stop and I can pick up on that, thank you so much for that,” said sarcastically, hoping to get a small smile from you, and it worked for a moment. But, you face fell yet again
“God, that was so stupid. It wasn’t even that bad of a note!”
“Hey! Knock it off!” YOu snapped up. Looking at him with wide eyes. “It was bloody brilliant, you should be proud. Stop whatever you call this and get off the pity train, huh? You still went out there despite being sick, cracked once. Some people wish they could do the things you could! So stop being so pathetic, because you are amazing!” You stared at him before cracking a smile. 
“You think I’m amazing?” he stared at you for a moment before standing and starting to walk away. 
“I’m done with you.”
“Draco!” You laughed and ran to him, grabbing his arm and hanging on it with a smirk. He let you, not one to push you away. “Hey stop for a second.” he turned and looked at you. You smiled up at him, and he swallowed, why was his stomach on fire? “Thank you. It really means a lot.” He nodded and pulled you after him, getting out of the backstage area. The two of you thought you were alone, but you didn't notice the older Hufflepuff seething at the sight of you on Draco’s arm. 
The weeks continued to move as fall froze to winter and winter melted to spring. You and Draco continued to become closer and used the notebook for a little more than homework and updates on people's movements. And with the seasonal changes, so were the emotional ones. Both you and Draco began to harbor tiny crushes on eachother which led to shameless flirts between the two of you. 
Draco was desperate to tell you his feelings, but was afraid that the little flirts between each other were only friendly, you knew Draco like you and you needed him to make a move soon. You saw it as a game and refused to break first, though it was getting harder by the day, especially since it had been harder to keep Cedric at bay. He seemed to pop everywhere, even before Draco could reach his notebook. You had tried to explain to him your disinterest, but he just didn’t seem to take the hint. Ever. 
It was nearing the end of the School year at that point and you had headed off to the Black Lake to meet Draco for a study session, though you both were definitely prepared to not study and fail Slughorn’s upcoming test. 
“Y/N!” You groaned at the voice and turned around with a pleasant smile. 
“Hi, Cedric. Can I help you with something?”
“Yeah, actually, I was hoping that you would actually go to Homestead with me this weekend.”
“Sorry, Cedirc, I actually have plans.” His pleasant smile fell into something darker. 
“What do you mean you already have plans. Can’t you cancel them?”
“Sorry, Cedric. I already promised to meet my one friend for a study session.”
“WHat about today? Can I hang out with you today?”
“I’m actually headed to a study session, so if you would excuse me,” you started to turn but he latched onto your wrist tightly and spun you back around. You let out a yelp at his tight grip. “Cedric! Ow, you’re-you’re hurting me!”
“Why are you always studying? Every time I ask you to hang out you deny me. Why?” He yelled. 
“Cedric! Please, stop!”
“Not until I-”
“I think she told you to stop.” Draco stood behind you with a scowl on his face, glaring daggers at Cedric. Cedric dropped your wrist, the force caused you to fly back into Draco. He easily caught you and you held your wrist, glaring at Cedric through your hair.
“This is who you’ve been denying me to hang out with. Him? That's just madness!”
“Well, it's better than hanging out with you!” you spat out. “Draco is at least nice!”
“You better get out of here before-”
“What? You make me?” Draco smirked. 
“No. before she does.” He nodded down to your seething figure. Cedric threw another glare at the two of you before scampering away, back to the castle.
Draco held you tighter and looked down at you. 
“Are you ok?” You sighed and fell into him more.
“As ok as I can be. Thank you, but you probably just ruined your reputation for me.”
“Your worth it.” You smirked and turned to face him, still in his arms. 
“You know, you’re still holding me.” He smirked, 
“And I don’t think I’m going to be letting go anytime soon.”
“Oh, really? And why’s that?” he leaned down and brushed his lips against yours. 
“Because I like you.” You reached on your toes and pressed your lips together. 
“Good. Because I would kill you if you liked anyone else.” He smirked wickedly. 
“I think I’ve been a bad influence on you.”
You shrugged and backed away from him, running away.
He smiled as you laughed and ran down to the lake. He chased after you, watching your perfect hair bounce off your shoulders and listening to your melodious laughter. 
You really were an angel with the voice of a goddess.
Hey! Hope you all enjoyed the little series! Let me know of any recommendations! I'm up for new things, so let me know what you all are thinking.
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emf005 · 2 years
Text
Looks of an Angle Voice of a Goddess
Draco Malfoy x Muggle born!Reader
Part 1 out of 2
Warnings: Mentioning of bullying, probably swearing, let me know if you find anything else
Hey everyone! I am so sorry for the long break. My life has been the definition of chaos at the moment. So, with out further ado, enjoy and let me know what you think!
“Come on, Draco! It’ll be fun! There’s this one-”
“I thought I said no, Blaise. You can all go out and waste your time watching some silly mudbloods and half bloods perform muggle music, but I prefer to actually make good use of my time.” Blaise sighed. 
“You honestly shouldn’t spend all your time here, Draco. And so what if it's muggle music and a few mudbloods? It's good music, and good voices. It could be fun and you might actually like it.”
“I said no.” Draco stood up and left the common room, headed for the library. He had more important things to do than watch a bunch of Mudbloods attempt to sing on stage with muggle songs. 
“I really think Cedric likes you! I mean he comes every week!” 
“Hailey I honestly- Oof!” Draco collided with someone as he rounded the corner. On instinct he grabbed their waist to keep them from falling. 
You swallowed and stared up at the Slytherin prince for a moment, both of you wide eyed. He stared back before sneering and helping you up all the way. He may have hated your kind, but he wasn’t that mean. 
“Watch where you're going, Mudblood,” you stared at him blankly and furrowed your eyebrows. 
“A tad bit hard to look around the corner before actually stepping around it, don't you think, Your Highness?” You and your friend brushed past him. You were completely unfazed by the slur. So unbothered that you actually shot back your own come back without hesitation.
He watched as you and your friend went down the hall and turned to head outside. Where were you headed in such a rush and looking so nice? Makeup, dresses. 
Curiosity got the best of him and he followed you and your friend. He didn’t know either of your names, but he did know your blood status. He didn’t know how he knew, he just did. Somehow he knew everyones. 
You and her went back behind a curtain behind a make-shift stage by the lake. He noticed Blaise and Pansy towards the middle of the crowd and it suddenly dawned on him. You were apart of that stupid musical group or whatever. 
It was a club that started his and your first year at Hogwarts. Muggleborns or half from any house or any year could join and once a week they performed muggle songs down by the lake for fun. He scoffed but inched around the crowd any how to the back. 
He was there, might as well see what all the fuss was about. Nearly the whole school was there. Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindors. The weird thing was that no one was fighting or arguing. He saw a few interactions between Slytherins and Gryffindors that were friendly, Purebloods and Muggleborns in the crowd excitedly bouncing up and down. He lent on the tree next to him. No way this could all be caused by one student run activity. 
“I can’t wait to hear Y/N!” One girl said excitedly from beside him. He looked over to see her talking to Cedric Diggory, who was beaming excitedly. 
“I know! She’s the best! I mean, the girl has it all!”
“She does! Her voice, her looks! Maybe you have a chance with her, Ced.” the girl teased and punched his shoulder. He blushed and looked towards the stage.
“Maybe,” he mumbled. Draco rolled his eyes at Hogwarts’ Golden Boy. 
“Ladies and Gentleman!” He looked back at the stage to see Lee Jordan standing with a mic in his hands and a smile on his face as the crowd cheered. “Welcome to this week's show! As usual I will not be singing because I absolutely can not.” Everyone laughed. “But here’s someone we all know can!” He placed the mic on the stand and ran off the stage as the stage got darker and a spot light appeared in the back. The crowd cheered again with anticipation. Then, all at once, everything got quiet and someone started to play a piano and a bass.
You stepped out of the curtain in a tighter floor length red dress. Your hair was teased in the back and was falling over your shoulders and your make up had obviously been touched up. Even Draco’s jaw dropped when you stepped out from behind the curtain. There was no question of whether you were pretty or not on a regular day, but here you were drop dead gorgeous. 
You walked to the center and wrapped your hands around the microphone with a smile. 
“You have plenty of money 1922,”You sang out slowly. Draco’s mouth dropped even further. “You let all the women make a fool of you. Why don't you do right? Like some other men do.” There were a few cheers, but it all went silent again when you started to sing again. You took the mic off the stand a bit into the song and came to the edge of the stage, playing around with the audience. 
He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Well, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing wasn’t making his ears bleed, first off. 
“Why don’t you do right, like some other men do. Get outta here. Get me some money too. I said, get outta here.”You started to back up towards the back of the stage. “And get me some money. Like some other men,” you stopped singing, leaving everyone waiting. “Doooooooooooo” you held it out and it slowly became quieter and you let the curtain envelop you. The crowd started cheering and more people in costumes came on. He was still just staring at the place you had been. Whatever he had been expecting… it wasn’t that. It wasn’t that at all. 
A few more people and groups performed before you came on in a black dress that hit your knees. Your hair was curly bouncy and some would even call it frizzy. A tall hat sat on your head and you had on long black gloves that only went around your thumb. 
“A child believes,” you started to sing slowly into your mic. “The best in you. And that belief always makes the darkest lies seem almost true.”
Your voice was low with the music. It seemed warning and gentle all at the same time and, once more, Draco was captivated by it. 
“A slight of hand. This almost truth can beguile the purest youth… To Wonderland.” 
The music picked up and a dangerous smile reached your face as you took the mic off the stand and pushed it aside. 
“Now every piece is in place And all that's left to erase before I take over all the power is every trace of dear Alice and the queen.” Your voice boomed and made everyone start cheering. Draco just stared at you. He had noticed you in the halls and this person in front of him was not her. The girl he saw was a kind Hufflepuff with a softer voice and sweet intentions towards everyone, even if she were throwing a snarky comment back at someone who deserved it. 
You had just done something not easily done. You had surprised him. 
“She's been a thorn in my side and can run, but can't hide.We're fast approaching the Witching Hour And settling score is my routine.” He continued to stare in shock at you. This was… well he wasn’t quite sure what this was, if he were being honest. “Oh well, all's well, ends well. Farewell Alice. Too late! Checkmate is your fate! It's over! I come alive when you're afraid. I write the ending of your tragic Fairy Tale. I will survive and you will fade. A withered flower, small and frail. While I prevail. This time it's gonna be me. The last thing that you ever see is an amrageded of my devising!” 
The whole song was powerful and nearly knocked him down. He honestly couldn’t believe it. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. And then, you hit the last part. Oh god. The last part. That last note….
“It's over! You die, I thrive. And so it goes.I am the ending of your tragic Fairy Tale. I will survive, and Heaven knows there is no way that I can fail.” You took a breath, Draco along with everyone else were on their toes waiting. “I will prevail!” 
Everyone burst out with applause and cheering. You took a bow and everyone who had sung came out on stage and bowed together a few times before leaving the stage and going back stage. Everyone began to file out. But Draco stayed where he was, watching the stage with a blank face and his heart beating loudly in his throat. His blood racing from your ending performance. 
What had he just seen? And why had it been so bloody good? 
He watched Cedric stick around and search anxiously for you while he stayed hidden behind the tree. Soon everyone was out from behind the stage, but no you. Odd.
“Who you lookin’ for?” A voice asked from over his shoulder. He jumped, smacking his shoulder off of their jaw. He heard the cringing SNAP of teeth against teeth and turned around quickly to see you trying to recover from his “attack”.
“Bloody hell! Don’t you know not to sneak up on someone like that?” He breathed out, forgetting to add his normal sneer in his voice. You just chuckled and shook your head rubbing your sore jaw from his shoulder's abuse.       
“Man, what do you do, work out your shoulders?” you chuckled. You smiled and leaned into your hip. “So, enjoy the show? Haven’t seen you around these parts.” 
He brushed his hair back and rolled his shoulders. 
“I tend to come down for,” he waved his hand dismissively, “this.”
“Oh? And what did you think?”
“A complete waste of my time.”
‘Liar.”
“Excuse me?” He asked, offended.  
“You heard me. Liar. You're normally pretty good at it too, but…”
“But what.” He practically growled, making you smirk a bit more. You pushed off the tree and folded your hands behind your back, walking away with a swing in your hips. He wanted to chase after you and demand an answer but Diggory caught him before he was able to get to you. 
“Malfoy! Have you seen Y/N? I was looking for her at the exit and she never came out.” He looked over to see performers coming out of one of the exits on the other side of the stage. He realized that there was no way you would be able to make it past Diggory. He smirked to himself, you were actively avoiding him. That was too funny. 
“I think I just saw her go towards the black lake. Maybe she went for a swim?” He nodded vigorously and dashed down to the black lake making Malfoy grin. This was going to be too fun.   
Later that day he saw Diggory marching back to his dorm drenched from head to toe and looking sour. Draco laughed so hard he nearly fell over at the sight. Everything, even his clothes were drenched. The poor sod must have gotten too excited and either fell in or jumped in after you, who wasn’t even there. 
A few days later Draco watched you come out of your rehearsal with a few other people. He caught your eye, making you smirk. You said goodbye to your friends and slid back into the classroom, but not before throwing him a glance over your shoulder. 
When the hallway was clear he followed you in. You were seated on one of the tables, swinging your legs while looking over some sheet music, humming to yourself. 
“I bumped into Diggory the other day.” He watched your feet freeze, but you didn’t look up at him. 
“Oh,” was all you said. 
“He asked about you.” you swallowed, but kept your eyes trained on your music. 
“Did he? Fascinating,” you tone was pure sarcasm and he could have swore he saw you roll your eyes. “What-what did you say?”
“That you were at the black lake.” Your head shot up and you met his smirking one. “Then our mutual friend went for a little dip.” 
You grinned up at him and leaned back on the desk, letting the music sit on your lap. 
“So, is this all you came to tell me, or did you just want an excuse to see your favorite Puff?” He rolled his eyes and folded his arms. 
“Of course not. I don’t have a favorite anything.”
My oh my, you really do enjoy lying.” He glared at you. 
“Why do you always accuse me of lying?”
“You definitely have your favorites.”
“Like what?”
“Favorite house: SLytherin. Favorite Blood STatus: Pure Blood. Favorite slur: Mudblood. Favorite color: Gray. Favorite drink: Fire whiskey. Favorite-”
“How do you know all this?”
“I’m observant. Like Pansy? Favorite person: you.” he cringed, making you smile. 
“That obvious?”
“Draco’s least favorite person: Pansy, though he’s not too fond of Harry Potter either.” He rolled his eyes, leaning on the table opposite of you. 
“Ok, so you’re observant,” you smirked. “Why’d you do that.”
“Oh nothing. Continue.”
“No no no, why did you do that little smirky thing.” 
“I didn’t do a smirky thing. Please continue.”
“So, you know all the ins and outs of Hogwarts.” You smirked again.
“And?”
“And that could make you an asset.” You chuckled. 
“Get to the point, Princess.” He sighed. 
“I know a lot but not everything, you-”
“Know everything, all the time, everywhere.” You grinned. “It's a curse, really,” you said sarcastically humble. 
“WHat else do you know?”
“What will you give me?”
“What do you want?”
“Protection.”
“Protection? From who?”
“Diggory. He is terribly annoying. I can barely get any of my school work done or practise for my next performance with him breathing down the back of my neck. And I know that you want protection from Parkinson. Her every move, her every thought,” you smirked, “well, maybe not those.” He shuddered at the way you said that. “Do we have a deal?”
“Deal.” You two shook hands, not knowing what you had just gotten yourselves into. 
Stick around for part 2! Coming soon!
118 notes · View notes
emf005 · 2 years
Text
Picture Perfect Part 2
Hey guys, here is the second part to Picture perfect! I hope you guys like it! If you missed Part one check out my page!!
Warnings: Running away, mentions of death, James being adorable, Draco being the sweetest father, lots of angst, lots of fluff, let me know if I missed anything
Let me know what you guys think!!
“James, stop it!” You laughed as you attempted to set up your prep again. You and James had grown even closer since that day over a year ago. He started talking to you in school and you two became nearly inseparable. But that only made you crush harder on the floppy haired boy. 
“But you look so pretty!” He defended, making you blush and look down and away. He smiled and brought his camera back to his eye taking a picture. 
“Jamie, don't you dare look at that!” You yelled, knowing how impossibly embarrassing it had to have been. You were sweaty and gross and blushing and you had to look terrible. He stopped and looked at you. 
“Did you just call me Jamie?” He smirked. You threw your hands over your mouth and gasped. You had listened to Lily talk about him so much that it must have just slipped out. She was the only one he let call him Jamie. It was either J or James to everyone else or the occasional Potter from you. 
“Oh my God! James I am so sorry! I just listen to Lily talk so much an-”
“It's fine. You can call me Jamie if you’d like.” You looked up at him with a shocked face only to have him snap a picture again. 
“Potter! I am trying to practise.” He smirked. 
“And I thought I said you could call me Jamie,” you smiled and shook your head.
“I’ll think about it. Now out! I’m going to be here till midnight if you don’t stop bothering me!” You laughed, shooing him out of the large studio.
“If you would just let me, I’d be finished.”
“No! Merlin, no! I look more disgusting than normal.”
“Aw, you look cute,” he teased. You blushed harder and shoved him out. 
“Out!” You laughed. 
“Alright, I’m going I’m going. I’m just saying. Let me take some pictures of you…”
“Never in a million years. Bye, James. I’ll see you later.” He smiled and waved bye. But today he had a plan. You never let him take pictures of you while you were dancing. He had started to work for the studio when you mentioned he was a great photographer and they offered him the position once they saw some of his pictures. He took it just to be able to bother you more. Even Lily had let him. But you were a no go. You didn't even dance with him in the room if you could help it. 
But today he had brought a specific item from his Father’s old stuff. An invisibility cloak. He would finally be able to get a few pictures of you. 
He threw it on quickly and snuck back into the room while you were setting up the music. A slow melody started to play. He recognized it from you humming it and doing small steps occasionally when you hung out. 
She must’ve choreographed this one.
You set yourself up and began to dance. He was so in awe that he almost forgot to take pictures. Almost. He had gotten at least fourteen from that run. He probably would've gotten more if he had remembered to actually take pictures. 
I wonder how I can convince her to let me take pictures of her?
The music stopped and so did you, he wasn't paying much attention until he felt a shoe smack him on the top of his head. 
“James Sirius Potter!” You screamed. He scrambled up and started running out of the room. “I swear if I see one picture of me anywhere I will turn you into a toad! Consequences be damned!” You could hear him laughing as he ran out of the studio. You sat on the floor and put your head to the wall. “What to do with that boy?” you laughed to yourself. You sighed, wishing he were your boy. 
“I’m home!” you called as you entered Malfoy manor. You didn’t get your normal answer so you assumed your dad was still at work. 
“Y/N. May I speak with you?” You mentaly groaned at the voice of Astoria in the parlor. You turned into the parlor and saw her seated on the couch.
“What can I do for you, Astoria?” You asked. She looked over your clothes and shook her head disappointingly.
“Well, you can change. These clothes are terrible.” You rolled your eyes. 
“I just got home from dance. And what's wrong with jeans and a t-shirt?” 
“Nothing I suppose. The thing I wanted to talk to you about though. Why do you spend so much time at that studio?”
To get away from you, bitch.
“I just enjoy dancing. It relaxes me.”
“Well, shouldn't you be off looking for a boyfriend? Or something more productive like preparing for a ministry job?”
“Actually I was thinking of working with magical creatures. It's my best subject. I wouldn’t be able to be stuck up in an office all day. And as for a boyfriend, I’m not sure how that's productive.”
“Well you don’t want to end up an old maid.”
“If I have magical creatures and ballet I think I would be just fine.” She huffed. 
“Just like your mother!” You clenched your fists.
“And what's that supposed to mean?”
“Stubborn and unruly! Never once actually thinking!” You laughed shortly. 
“I beg your pardon? I think everything through! My future and my career I take very seriously! Why are you asking me about all this? You never cared before!”
“Because I am your parent.”
“You are a woman who married my father. You are not my family!”
“And your mother was? You didn't even know her,” she scoffed.
“What is your problem? Why are you bringing my mother into this?”
“Because she didn’t raise you.”
“And neither did you! Do you know how hard I tried with you? But I just could never do it! It's impossible to! I’m not the golden child!”
“Are you bashing my son?”
“I love Scorpius to death. And I am simply saying that I am not him. He is your favorite because he is your own and I understand that. But that doesn’t mean you treat me like a misfit!”
“Maybe you are.”
“For fucks sake, woman! I am! You have made me that. Do you know that when you're in the room I’m afraid to speak? Because you're going to correct me no matter what I say! You have made me feel like such a misfit!”
“Then maybe you should just leave.” You stopped and stared at her. Before clenching your fists. You turned and went to your room.
You took a shower and calmly packed some of your things, leaving a  note for your father and Scorpius. You couldn’t do it anymore. You actually could not. That might have been a dialed back version of  your fights, but it was still one and you couldn;t do it. She had even brought your mother into it. You had often been told often how much you reminded everyone of her, but it had never been a bad thing. That got you thinking. 
What if your father didn’t like you being around? What if you reminded him too much of what he had lost? You shook the thought out of your head and picked up the suitcase, calmly walking down the stairs. Scourpis came walking into the main hall that moment and froze when he saw you. 
“Y/N? Where are you going?”
“Away. For awhile. I’ll see you, Scorpius,” you answered shortly. You brushed past him with your head up and he ran after you tugging on your sleeve. 
“Where? Does dad know?”
“There's a note on my bed, now please just let go, Scorpius,” you yanked your arm away from your brother and felt bad about it immediately. You hugged him tightly and sighed.
“Please don’t leave.”
“It won’t be for long. Maybe a week. I just need to clear my head. Alright? Don't cry. It's not forever. Just until I can get my bearings. Ok?” A few tears leaked from his eyes and you brushed them away with your thumb.
“O-ok. Please-please just come back.” He hiccuped. You kissed his head and left the mansion. 
You got halfway down the road to towan before you broke down crying. You sobbed and ran as fast as you could go. You had just run away again. 
Where were you going to go? Could you ever come back? Why did you do that? Would you be welcomed back? What would happen from here? 
You collapsed at a park you had never seen before. 
Great, now you were a run away and lost. That's just great! You sobbed into your hands as you sat on the swings. 
“Miss? Are you alright?” You looked up. A little redheaded girl stood in front of you. “Y/N?”
“Lily?”
“What are you doing here? Why are you crying?” You sniffled and cleared your face as best you could.
“I-I just-”
“Lily!” A boy came running over to you two and you quickly realized it was James. You tried to clear your face and hide your suitcase. “You can’t just run across the street without me. Ok?”
“But, Jamie. Y/N,” she pointed to you. James’ brow furrowed and he saw you and the state you were in. 
“Y/N? What's wrong. What-what happened?”
“Nothing I just got turned around. Uh, where-where am I? I didn't recognize any of the-”
“Stop lying you suck at it. Come here,” he pulled you up and into his arms, holding you in a hug. He noticed your suitcase by the swing and he swallowed. He hadn’t realized things were this bad with your step-mom. “Why don’t we go back to our place. Ok? You look hungry. Have you eaten yet?” You shook your head. 
“I-I’m fine, James, really I just need-”
“No. Come on. I’m forcing you. Lily, grab her hand. She did and he snagged your other one, your suitcase in his other hand. You swallowed. 
“James its really-”
“No, Y/N. Come on. I don;t want to hear another thing about this.” They pulled you away from the swing and in the direction of their home. Dread was curling in the pit of your stomach. 
“Mum! Dad! We’re back!” Harry came walking out of the kitchen. 
“Hi guys how was-” he stopped when he saw you. “What happened?” He asked slowly. James looked at you and down at the suitcase. 
“We found a stray,” he answered. You bit your lip and looked down. 
“I see. Well, are you hungry, Y/N?”
“I-I’m fine, sir. I really should get-”
“No.” James interrupted. “And she hasn’t eaten yet. Lily, wanna take her to the living room for me?” She nodded and pulled you away from the two. 
“What happened?”
“I think she ran away.” he glanced over his shoulder to make sure you weren't there. “No way her dad would’ve kicked her out. Had to have been Astoria. I knew things weren’t great but I didn't know they were this bad.”
“Yeah but there was no way Draco would have let her leave.” Harry argued. 
“Didn't you say he’s been at the office a lot longer than normal?”
“So he might not know.”
“Might not know what?” Ginny asked, walking out of the kitchen. “By the way, George is coming over for dinner tonight.”
“Yeah well so is Y/N.”
“What?”
“And by coming over she’s already here.”
“Wait I don’t understand. Fill me in, please.”
“We think YN ran away,” Harry explained. 
“And now she’s in the living room because me and Lily found her sobbing at the park.”
“We also don’t think Draco knows, because he definitely wouldn’t have let her leave.” Ginny nodded and glanced into the living room where you were smiling with Lily as if nothing was wrong, though she could tell. She never thought she would get that “mother’s intuition” her mom always talked about, but having three kids does change you. 
“Right. Ok. So, what are we going to do?” Harry took a breath. 
“You're going to either love me or kill me. Let her spend the night and send an owl to Draco letting him know she’s here and safe. But I think she just needs to get a grip on herself, that suitcase is definitely not big enough to actually be running away for good.” Ginny nodded. 
“She can stay in Lily’s room.”
“I appreciate the offer,” you said from the doorway, pulling on the sleeve of your jacket. The three jumped and turned around. “But you don't have to put up with me. I’ll be on my way. I already left my brother and father a note, and no. I wasn't running away indefinitely. I just needed a bit of time to get my bearings straight.”
“Y/N,” James said calmly. “Where are you going to go? I honestly think it's best if you-”
“My family owns a smaller estate a bit out of the way. I-I’ll just go there for a bit. Astoria won't come looking for me and dads out of town for a few days. Should be enough to get my head back on straight. Thank you for your hospitality though. I honestly didn't know what I was going to do when I left the manor.” you chuckled sadly. “Astoria was right I guess. I don't think before I act.” They just stared at you for a moment and you nodded, grabbing your suitcase from beside James' leg. “Um, thank you. Again.” You smiled and walked out of the house. Mumbling a quiet hello to Albus as you walked down the pavement.
“Uh, why was Y/N here?” Albus asked as he walked into the room. He looked at his family. “Uh, gu-”
“I’m going to get her.” James said and walked out of the room. 
“She’s a stubborn one, isn’t she.” Harry said, still in slight shock by how well you had composed yourself so quickly. 
“Is it just me or did that remind you of Y/M/N?”
“You're just noticing this? I’m the oblivious one and even I noticed.” Ginny glared at her husband before heading back into the kitchen.
“Albus come help me. Your uncle’s coming over and I still can't cook to save my life!” She called to her son. 
“What did I miss?’
“Y/N!” You kept walking, ignoring James as he came after you. You couldn't run or else you would break down again. You had to get your emotions in check before you apperated to the vacation home by the beach. It would be fine. “Y/N,” You heard James breath from behind you, he grabbed your shoulder making you stop. You took a shuddering breath as you continued to attempt to compose yourself. “Please don't go.”
“I've already bothered you and your family too much, James. Thank you for caring, but I’m fine,” your voice broke on the last word. He shook his head and walked around you so he was in front of you. 
“That was very convincing. I’m not letting you leave this up set. You're my friend, Y/N. Friends don’t do that.” You let out a pitiful laugh. “What?”
“I never thought I’d be able to call James Potter a friend,” You said with a smile, finally looking up at him. He smiled back. 
“Well, congratulations, you made it to the cool kids table. Now come on.” he wrapped an arm around you and took your suitcase off of you. “You're gonna spend the night.” You nodded and let him lead you down the sidewalk back towards his house. “Is your dad really out of town?” You shook your head. 
“I just thought that would get you guys to leave him out of it.”
“Well, that didn't work out in your favor, did it?” 
“I should really just go back now. I can probably make it before he gets back and then he doesn’t even have to know.” James tightened his arm. 
“Well, I think you need a break from Astoria. My dad’ll send him a letter.” You scoffed. 
“Yeah, already wrote him a run away note.”
“I can tell Albus to send your brother a letter to destroy it before you get home. It’ll be alright.” you nodded and looked up at the house you were about to walk into. 
“Are you sure I won’t be a bother? Didn't your mom say your uncle was coming?”
“Yeah, but as long as you can take a joke you should be fine. Plus if your friends are with us he should be fine.”
“Can we not mention my last name? Please? Just-”
“You're just a random friend.” he nodded and opened the door, letting you go in first. You walked in and he followed closely behind you. “Mum! Dad!” He called. 
“In here, James!” You two walked into the kitchen where Ginny was ruining a meal. Harry was stifling laughter as she ran around the kitchen and Albus stood, scared of the chaos, in the corner.
“Who let mum cook again?” He got a rag to the face, you smiled. Harry looked at the two of you and smiled.
“Hi, Y/N. Glad to see you’ll be joining us.”
“You have a persuasive son, Sir. Thank you for letting me.” He smiled. 
“You are the complete opposite of your father,” he laughed. You smiled, amused. 
“No no no no!” Ginny said, moving a pot and throwing it in the sink. You flinched at the charred piece of something in the bottom of the pan. “I give up! Can’t do it!” Harry rolled his eyes. He didn;t mind cooking but Ginny had insisted that day because they were making her mom's recipe for George. But she always forgot one thing: she couldn’t cook.
“Mrs. Potter? Do you need help?”
“Only if you can cook.” She huffed and you smiled. 
“I know a bit about cooking.” James furrowed his eyebrows at you. 
“Really?”
“Yeah, my dad taught me. Though he’s pretty much a wreck in the kitchen too. So I guess you could say I learned what not to do from watching him. I could help, ya know, since you have been so kind and stuff?” You started to mess with the ring you had on your hand. It was the only piece of jewelry you wore. It was your family’s symbol. The only reason you wore it was because of your father really. But you had also picked up on the habit of twisting it when you were nervous or thinking. 
“You don’t have to repay us,” Harry reassured you, grabbing a new pan from the shelf. “But if you’d like to help it would be very much appreciated.”
“Dad’s the only one with a semi-skill for cooking in this house. Everyone else is pretty much a disaster,” James shrugged. You laughed. 
“Finally found something you're not good at,” you nudged him and he sarcastically laughed. “I’d love to help.” James walked around the counter and sat on a stool grabbing his camera that was sitting there and began to play with it. 
Harry handed you the recipe card so you could look at it. You had never made anything this complicated before, but you didn’t think you could mess it up as bad as Ginny had. You handed it back and the two of you started cooking. 
You were in the middle of stirring the sauce on the stove when you heard the click of a camera. 
“James Sirius Potter! I swear to god, if you just took a picture of me!” You yelled at him. He smirked and leaned back. 
“I have no idea what you are talking about.” Harry’s eye flicked to the two of you who continued to bicker with each other. He smiled. 
“James, put the camera down!” You laughed and looked away as he held it to his eye, ready to take another one. 
“Fine, it's down!” You glanced back over at him and took just long enough for him to snap another picture. 
“Jamie!” You whined. Harry was surprised to hear you call him that and was waiting for James to correct you. He never did. He just laughed. Harry smiled. 
“Hey, James. I have to go check on something. Get over here and help her.” Harry said and walked out of the room. You smirked as James groaned and took the spot where his dad had been standing cutting stuff up. 
“So what do I do?” You glanced at him. 
“Seriously?”
“What? I don’t do this stuff!” He pouted. You rolled your eyes.
“Here, trade me. It's hard to mess up stirring a pot.” 
“Are you saying I am incapable of cutting up vegetables?”
“That is exactly what I was getting at, yes. Come on.” he traded you and started to stir the sauce. You cut up the vegetables, he snuck glances at you occasionally (Every five seconds), but would turn his attention back to the pot to make sure he didn’t mess it up. 
“Alright there’s that,” you hummed and wiped your hands on your jeans and grabbed the card from the counter reading over the instructions. 
“Ginny!” Harry whispered at his wife. “Ginny came here!” Ginny walked over to him. He was standing behind the corner watching you two.
“What are you doing?”
“Look!” He looked like an excited little kid (he was). Ginny leaned over her husband and looked at the two of you. 
You were shoulder to shoulder teasing each other and laughing while cooking. She smirked. It looked so natural between you two. She saw James’ camera sitting on the counter. 
“Accio Camera,” she whispered. The camera flew over to her without alerting either of you. “Here,” she handed the camera to Harry.
“What?”
“Take a picture.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so!” She hissed. He grabbed the camera and quickly took a picture of the two of you. Your face was beat red and James' head was thrown back in laughter. He looked up to see you throw a carrot piece at him.
“Sh! It's not that funny!” you giggled. He poked your side. 
“Yeah it is,” he smirked back. You looked right back up at him and smiled. Ginny poked Harry’s head and he took another picture. Knowing that's what she was getting at. 
Surprisingly, the meal didn’t turn out terrible. You looked at the pasta in the pot and smiled satisfied with your work.
“Did you steal my camera?” James asked, scratching the top of his head. 
“Why the hell would I steal it?”
“Because you don’t want me to take pictures of you,” you opened your mouth to retort, but it did sound like something you would do. 
“That would be an excellent motive, but no. Maybe Albus took it?” 
“Maybe,” he glanced over to where his parents were standing and talking, waiting for George to arrive. 
“Well, good news is, you can’t take any more pictures of me,” you smiled. 
“How is that good news?”
“Good news for me.” An owl came in through the window and landed on the chair. By the black feathers you knew exactly who’s it was and swallowed. Harry took the letter from the owl’s leg and, instead of flying out the window ,flew onto your shoulder. You pet Crystalline on her head before excusing yourself away from James and outside. “You tell dad I’m sorry. Ok?” She hooted in response and took off into the sky, which was changing from blue to yellow and oranges in a brilliant sunset.
Sighing you watched her until she was out of sight. You turned back to go to the house and saw James waiting for you at the door. A worried expression on his face. You smiled at him. 
“What's wrong? You look worried.”
“I am.”
“Well, that's a new emotion on you,” you joked. “What's wrong?”
“I’m worried about you.” You smiled gratefully at him. 
“Thank you. I’m alright.” you hugged him and he hugged you back, putting his head on top of yours. 
“Are you sure?” You didn’t answer, you had silent tears rolling down your face and you knew if you said something your voice would break. “Y/N?” He pulled back to look at you. He noticed the tears and frowned. “Y/N?” You shook your head. 
“Believe it or not these aren’t all for me,” you laughed and brushed them away. “Sorry. Let's go back in?” He nodded silently. Ginny was reading the letter now and you stood awkwardly waiting for her to finish. When she was done she looked up at you. “So, how mad is he?” She smiled sadly. 
“Surprisingly, it sounds like he’s not mad at you at all. Just worried.” Harry took the letter back and scanned it. 
“This is the weirdest I have ever heard Malfoy. No offense to you of course.” You shrugged. 
“My dad has a reputation, I know. Can I- can I read it?” Harry handed you the letter. 
Dear Harry and Ginny,
Thank you for informing me of my daughter’s whereabouts. I had come home to a very distressed Scorpius who wouldn’t stop rambling about his sister walking out of the mansion with her bags packed. Truthfully he was hyperventilating so I didn’t exactly understand what he was saying at first. When I finally got it out of him that she had walked off… I must say I was too hyperventilating. 
If she is with anyone I am glad it is you all. I know her and James have grown closer over the past year, and your family always seems to take in those who need help most. Please thank your son for me. If I know my daughter as much as I think I know it would have taken some persuading to get her to stay. He’s a good friend to her, despite their rocky start, to say the least. 
I hate to ask more of you, but she does, sadly, know how to apparate and can go anywhere she wants at a drop of a hat, so I would appreciate it if you let me know if she just disappears. Which I’m assuming she has at least thought about. I am always afraid she will not return once she’s gone. 
Thank you again, D.M
You stared at the letter for a solid two minutes after reading it. You nodded and handed the letter back to Harry who took it off of you cautiously. 
“Thank you, for letting me see it,” you spoke cautiously, reigning in your emotions. Your father was right, of course, about nearly everything. James being a great friend, the persuasion, the apparition, even you not returning. It was always a fleeting thought when all you could think of was Asotia and not your father and Scorpius. You always came back to your senses in the end. 
“You alright?” James asked. You smiled at him. 
“Yeah. I am. But I have a lot of apologizing to do when I get home.” you sighed. “Mrs. Potter, is there anything else you’d like me to help set up?”
“No dear and call me Ginny, please.” You smiled. 
That’s going to get some getting used to. 
Someone knocked on the door and Ginny ran over to let her brother in. Or at least that's who you assumed it to be and hid behind James slightly. It wasn’t that you were afraid of him. Just reputations. You actually loved his joke shop, going in there every year since your first.
The tall red head walked in, a cheeky smirk on his face, though you could tell it held pain. You saw a similar smile everyday in the morning and on your father’s face. 
“Uncle George!” Lily yelled and came running down the stairs, jumping on George. He chuckled and picked her up. 
“Hi, Lily!” He laughed. Albus came running down the stairs and hugged his uncle’s side, even James launched himself at him. Ginny batted her kids off of him and you slowly slunk off to the kitchen to hide yourself. 
You hadn’t been as sneaky as you thought because James noticed you missing and immediately went looking for you. He found you instantly in the kitchen leaning on the counter and playing with the ring on your finger.
“You disappeared quickly,” he smiled at you. You looked up. 
“It was a family moment. I was an extra.” You shrugged. 
“Well, I hope you aren’t planning on staying in here all night. You have to come out eventually.” You chuckled with him. He pulled you out of the kitchen. George looked up at you when you entered and you saw his smile falter a bit. 
“Malfoy?” He questioned.
“Wow, even he knew I was a Malfoy. You blind or something Potter?” You asked James quickly, referring to the first time you met. 
“Very funny.” He shot back. You looked shyly back at George, yet another person your family didn’t along with. 
 “Yeah, this is Draco’s oldest,” Ginny said kindly. “She’s spending the night tonight. How did you know her?”
“She comes into the shop every year. Always buys a few things.” You smiled. 
“Yeah, you have one of the coolest shops.”
Ginny rolled her eyes. “He knows, stop making his ego about it bigger.” you tried to suppress a smile as James yanked you down into a seat. 
You all started to eat, you eating the smallest amount you could because you felt awkward as a chicken dining at a chick-fil-a. 
“Ok, so who made this? Because I know it wasn’t my sister,” George asked, laughing as Ginny shoved him. 
“Rude! And Harry, James, and Y/N did.” George looked over at you, but you were too focused on awkwardly playing with your ring to notice. 
“Well, it's really good.” James nudged you and you looked up at him, wide eyed. 
“Pft,” he laughed, biting his cheek at your reaction. You smacked his shoulder. 
“Not funny,” you hissed. 
“Extremely funny. Thanks, Uncle George. Ignore Y/N, she's being awkwardly shy.” you smacked his shoulder again before turning your ring again. You glanced up. 
“Sorry.” you muttered and looked down again. 
“Wow, she’s the complete opposite of her father,” George smirked. James laughed and you glared at him. 
“Until you get to know her.” You crossed your arms. 
“Oh? And what do you mean by that?” You tried to be serious, but you couldn;t help a smirk. Albus rolled his eyes and Lily just stared at you two. 
“Nothing.” George smirked and leaned on his hands. 
“So can I interrogate her then?”
“George,” Ginny sighed. 
“Uh, I mean. Sure?” You said. He smiled. 
“Ok! How do you know James?”
“He bullied me for five years,” you shrugged causing James to choke on his drink. You smirked at him. “That's what you get.”
“Bullied?” Albus chuckled.
“Honestly, you should’ve seen him. He was a full on bully.”
“Thank you, Al, for bringing up those pleasant memories.” James sneered at his brother. 
“Moving on. How did you eventually become friends?”
“He called me and my entire family line murderers and monsters.” you shrugged casually, making him joke on his food this time. 
“Ok, not completely true.”
“Not completely false,” Albus butted in. 
“Albus, I swear to God if you butt in one more time with a sarcastic comment.” You chuckled and nudged James. “You're no help either.”
“Then he apologized and realized I wasn’t a heartless monster, better?”  James grumbled something under his breath, while Ginny and Harry found it painfully amusing. 
“Ok. Next question. How do you know the rest of them?”
“Well, I tutor Albus, and also my brother is friends with him and I teach Lily dance.”
“How long have you been dancing?”
“Since I was three,” you answered, gaining a bit more confidence and getting more comfortable. 
“What's the largest amount of trouble you got into at school and why?”
“Beating up a seventh year for calling a muggle born a few unsavory words. And I had three months of detention because I knocked out four of his teeth and had him turned into a fish.” George smiled and laughed. 
“That's impressive. Favorite class?”
“Anything that James isn’t in.”
“Offended.”
“You get me into trouble! And you never let me get my work done!” You argued. 
“How long have you and James been dating?” You froze and stared at the man. Oh he was tricky, you smirked. 
“Three months,” James choked again, Ginny and Harry smiled. Albus laughed, knowing it wasn’t true but knowing you both had crushes on eachother, and Lily just continued to eat her food. George smirked, knowing you were lying. You were a terrible liar. 
“Really? Have you gone public?”
“No. Too much fun to sneak around.” James stared at you. George laughed. 
“Really?”
“Yep.”
“James?”
“Ye-yeah?” his eyes never left you as he answered his uncle. 
“I think you got the better Malfoy.”
“Hey!” Albus said. “Scorpius is cool! Right Y/N?”
“You just asked his older sister if her little brother was cool. Are you seeing where you went wrong with that question?” You asked. 
“Yeah, alright.”
“But, yeah, Scorpius is far cooler than me.” you smirked. Conversation went smooth again, this time you felt more comfortable.
“So we’re dating?” James asked. You chuckled. 
“You couldn’t tell I was lying? Even Lily could see that. Why? Disappointed?” You asked, a blush rising to your cheeks. 
“Maybe.” You froze and looked at him wide eyed, expecting him to have a teasing smirk on his face. But he was completely serious. 
“Huh?” He chuckled and turned his attention back to the conversation, leaving you confused. Was he being serious? Was he teasing you? Did he reciprocate your feelings?
No. No way. James Potter had a type and you definitely weren’t it. 
Dinner ended and you and Ginny were cleaning the dishes as Geroge and Harry played with Lily and the boys. You would've been in there, but your mind was running wild with what James had said to you.
“So. You like James?” Ginny chuckled. You cringed. 
“Am I obvious?”
“To another girl who has experience crushing on a Potter? Yes. But, lucky for you, I know my son. He likes you too. Since first year.” You laughed. 
“That's impossible. He hated me until last year.” She smiled knowingly. 
“No he didn’t. He was scared because he liked you. The feud between the names got into his head. Like I said, he’s a Potter. They are stubborn and annoying.” You laughed.
“Well I agree with you there. James is utterly annoying.” Ginny hummed. 
“I’m sure. I think it's just a trait the Potter boys are born with.” You laughed. “So. Are you going to ask him out? I’m sure this is the last thing on your mind right now.” You blushed. “No. I’m not his type.”
“Oh? And what is his type?” You smiled sadly and looked into the sudsy water. 
“Not me.” you laughed, shaking your head. 
“He might just surprise you. I don;t think my son would follow you around with that camera if he didn’t like you or find you pretty in some way.”
“No, that's just him being annoying.” 
“If you say so. But I wouldn’t be surprised if you were his type.” You smiled at her gratefully. 
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“Why are you being so nice to me? I mean, it's not like I haven’t heard the stories about how my family treated you all in school.”
“Children are not identical to their parents. Draco might not have been the nicest, but you seem to be one of the kindest people I have met.” You laughed nervously and looked down. “You remind me a lot of your mother, actually.”
“You knew her?”
“It was hard not to. She was the opposite of a Slytherin, but that was the house she was out in. While most Slytherins got their way through trampling people, she made friends with everyone and made her way up that way. Just like you. James had told me how you two first met. Offering my son chocolate, that was smart.” You chuckled. 
“I just wanted to make a friend.”
“I remember when I met your mother. It was the first year and she waltzed into my compartment and offered me a licorice wand. She had a sweet tooth I remember.”
“Really?”
“Yep. She was, as well, determined to make friends. And I’m glad she was determined to stay mine even after we got sorted into the houses we did. She fought besides me in the battle of Hogwarts.”
“She did?”
“I’m assuming Draco doesn;t talk much of her?” You shook your head. 
“I look just like her, I’m surprised he can even stand the sight of me at this point.”
“If I’m being honest, Y/N. I think that's the reason he still can look at you. Because he’s not looking in a mirror, but like he’s looking at the girl he loved.” You had tears in your eyes again and you knew they weren;t going away this time. 
“Really?” She looked at you. 
“Oh, Y/N. Come here,” she wrapped you in a hug. It was a hug like you had never had before. It was motherly. You started to sob into her arms and she just hushed you. You couldn;t help it. You had cried so many times that day. Running away, your dad, being confused, talking about your mother who you had never met. 
You weren’t sure how long you stood there. She just held you. Was this normal for a mother and child? You knew you had your father but you also knew you couldn’t do this in front of him. You were almost certain his reaction would be as awkward as yours. 
“Are you alright?” she asked when you were finished crying. You nodded. She let go of you and you missed the embrace immediately. Was that supposed to be like that? She cleared the tears from your eyes and someone awkwardly cleared their throat. You both turned to see James. 
“Uncle George is leaving, he wants a goodbye from his sister and refuses to leave without one. He also wanted one from you, Y/N, but I think he would” he cleared his throat again. “Understand.” Ginny rubbed your arm. 
“I’ll be back, alright?” You nodded and she left, leaving you and James in an awkward silence. 
“How much did you-”
“Just the crying.” you nodded. “Are you alright? I know that's probably a stupid question but…” You swallowed. 
“I just… I never knew much about my mom. And the things I did know were miniscule and even used against me.”
“Against you?”
“When I ran away today, Astoria compared me to my mom, but in bad ways. Saying I was too much like her, and things like that. And then your mom did it and.. It was all good things. And then she hugged me and…” you drifted off for a moment. “Are all mother’s hugs like that?”He smiled and walked over to you. 
“Yeah. They’re great aren’t they?” you nodded and smiled. “I know mine aren;t as good but,” he opened his arms and you laughed. You hugged him and he squeezed you back. 
“You're wrong, you know.”
“Oh yeah? About what?”
“Your hugs. They are just as good, just different.” He smiled. 
“Really, how so?”
“They just are.” You looked up at him. He looked down at you. He kissed your nose and you blushed and couldn;t help a grin that spread across your face. “What was that?” 
“I now know how to make you smile when you are sad,” He stated proudly. He did it again and you couldn’t help but laugh. 
“James! Stop it! Couples do this weird shit.”
“Maybe I want to be a couple.” Your smile dropped a bit. 
“You-you what?”
“Maybe I want to be able to make you smile like this all the time.”
“May-Maybe?” You asked nervously. 
“How about I definitely want to be able to do this all the time? Y/N, I really like you. I know this probably isn’t, exactly the best time to say it, but if I had to keep it inside for another second, especially with all the teasing we do, I think I might’ve lost it.”
“You're not messing with me?” You asked, baking up, making him increasingly more worried. “You aren’t joking or-”
“Never.” you smiled and hugged him again. “Is that a ‘I’ll go out with you’?” 
“Yeah. Yeah it is.” he beamed and hugged you back. 
The next day James walked you back to Malfoy Manor, your suitcase in his hand and your hand in his other one. 
“Hey James.” 
“Yes, Love?” you exhaled and smiled, leaning on his shoulder.
“Are we going to tell my dad about this?” He thought for a moment. 
“We’ll see what happens when you go back.” You bit your lip. 
“Can’t I just apparate away? I’m sure-”
“No.” you sighed and hugged closer to him. “You're not scared to go back, are you?”
“A bit.” he kissed your head. 
The only two places he had kissed you so far had been your head and your nose and you had to be honest, you were grateful for that. He wasn't moving fast through the relationship with actually kissing you.  You walked up to the doors and walked in slowly. He squeezed your hand to let you know he was besides you.
“Dad?” You two heard two pairs of running feet from upstairs.You swallowed as you saw your dad and Scorpius running down the stairs of the manor, which looked slightly odd you had to admit and come running at you. James let go of your hand just in time. 
Draco grabbed you and hugged you tightly, like his life depended on it. You were slightly stunned but hugged him back almost immediately. Scorpius just stood and waited for your father to be done. 
“Don;t ever do that again. Please.” he begged. You swallowed. 
“O-ok. I’m sorry. I-I just needed a break. He nodded as he continued to squeeze you tightly. 
When he let go you were immediately engulfed by Scirpius’. You had only been gone for a day but they made it seem like you had been gone for weeks. You hugged him back as Draco walked over to James, you held your breath.
“Thank you, for looking after her and bringing her back,” Draco said to James. James smiled. 
“It was no trouble, sir. None at all, actually. “ Scorpius had just let you go and you stood behind your dad. You shook your head no, telling him not to say anything about it right now. “You have a great daughter, sir.” James nodded and stuck out his hand to your dad. You watched the exchange. “I hope the past can stay in the past with our families though.” You smiled, adn so did Draco. He shook the boys hand. 
“Absolutely. And yes, I approve of you and my daughter dating. James’ eyes widened and you started to laugh. 
“You knew about this?” Yu shook your head. 
“No. But your face!” he stuck his tongue out at you and you did the same back. Draco watched you two laugh, reminding him of a certain girl he had been in love with a few years back. 
While you always feared how much of your mother came out of you, Draco wouldn;t have changed it for the world. He had loved your mother with every part of his being. Nothing would ever change that. And having you as a daughter was like being with her again, but better.
“Um, dad?” You said nervously, looking around the house. “What about Astoria?”
“She won’t be a problem any more, sweetheart.” He glanced at Scorpius who just nodded with a smile. Him and Astoria had gotten into a fight about your running away again. She had called you a few things and stomped out. Sort of. Draco practically threw her out, but she was more than willing to “leave a place where they raised half bloods among purebloods”. 
Draco had then asked Scorpius what he wanted to do, and Scrpius had told him that he wasn’t leaving, which Draco was glad about. 
You sighed in relief. Maybe everything would turn out fine. You looked at your father and Scorpius and then at James. 
No. 
You knew everything would.
And turn out fine it did. 
Bonus: First kiss-
“James, put that camera-”Snap “down.” You sighed and set your book aside, looking at your annoying boyfriend who was smiling dorkly at his camera. “James. Get rid of it.”
“No way. You look so cute!”
“I do not! I look like the definition of a wreck!” He walked over to you and sat down in front of you with a smirk on his face. 
“No. You look adorable. Because you always look adorable.” You opened your mouth to say something, but he cut you off by placing his lips on your nose. You grinned and blushed. 
“Jamie!” You whine-laughed. He kissed your nose again. 
“What?”
“I’m trying to be mad at you!” You laughed, he pulled you into his lap and continued to kiss your nose. 
“Go ahead then, darling.” He cooed, pressing several more to the tip of your nose. “I’m not stopping you,” he smirked. 
“Jamie!” You laughed again and moved  your head, trying to diverge yourself so your nose wasn't being tormented by your boyfriend. But, instead of causing his lips to miss your nose, they fell onto your own lips. You two froze. Wide eyed and shocked that you two had kissed. Your lips quickly fell off of eachother’s and you both looked away shyly. Until James thought about it.
“Hey, Y/N/N.” He smirked. 
“Y-yeah?” you asked shyly, your face still beat red. You looked over at him and a moment later his lips were on yours. This time it only took you a second to respond. As soon as you realized that he wanted it you were quick to react. You two pulled away from each other. Your normally pale face was even redder than before and James had a huge stupid grin on his face. “What?”
“I have our first kiss in a picture,” he teased. Your eyes widened and you looked over, only to see his camera levitating in the air.
“James!” You laughed and shoved him slightly. But he just grabbed you and brought you in closer to him.
“Sorry, Darling, can;t let you leave without paying the fee.”
“ANd what's the fee?”
“Another kiss.”
“WIthout the camera?”
“I already got the picture perfect moment. Now I just want to kiss my girlfriend for the third time.” You smiled and put your hands on his shoulders. 
“Then what are you waiting for?” You teased. He smiled and placed his lips on yours. You smiled into the kiss and leaned into him, feeling the best you had in ages. And that picture sat on your mantle many years later. Being a true picture perfect moment. 
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emf005 · 2 years
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Picture Perfect Chapter 1
Hey guys! Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I've been working on a few different fics and also finals are coming up, so that' kicking my butt! Anyhow, I hope you guys enjoy this one, its a two-part series!
Warnings: Bullying, a bit of swearing, Draco being adorable. James being a ass hat. Mentions of death. Pretty much it I think. Let me know if I missed anything!
James Sirius Potter x Malfoy!reader
Summary: James Potter isn't one to be a bully, unless its to a certian Malfoy. But, what happens when his little sister starts dance classes and her teacher is the one and only Y/N Malfoy?
“Mommy! Come on!” A six year old Lily Luna Potter called, waiting for her mom, dad, and brothers at the doors of the dance studio. James ran up to his little sister and picked her up. “Jamie!” She giggled.
“What? Too old to be spun around? Is that what happens when you turn six?” he teased. She giggled.
“No.” James sat her down and looked up at the building, shoving his hands in his pockets. 
“This it?” He asked Harry and Ginny. Albus came up and stood besides his brother, looking at the large dance studio. Lily had been begging to go to dance classes since she was three. Lily and Harry had assumed it was a phase and never acted on it. But every year since that's all Lily asked for her birthday. 
“Yep,” Harry said looking up at the studio. It was a magical incorporated studio, said one of his coworkers who had sent his daughter there. Apparently a lot of magical students went for the summer. But it also had muggle students attending, so both magical and muggle money was accepted. “Ready to see what its like inside?” Harry asked, leaning down to his daughter’s level. She nodded and ran to the door throwing it open and running inside. James and Albus on her heels. James had his muggle camera strapped over his body in case his sister did anything or wanted a picture of anything. 
He had taken an interest in muggle photos back in his first year of Hogwarts when he found some stuck underneath his mattress that were old and faded. And, ironically, it was of his name sake. James Sirius, Remus, and Lily. There were a few with Peter in them, but he just ignored the man who got his grandparents killed. 
It had obviously been his grandmother’s camera that had taken them, since she was the only muggle born, but ever since then he had begged his parents for a vintage camera. Albus had taken up poetry, strangely. And James used to tease him about it until he actually read it. Now, apparently, it was Lily’s turn to get an art to pursue. 
“Hello,” a woman smiled from behind the desk. “What can I help you with?”
“We would like to sign our daughter up for classes,” Ginny answered, pulling her daughter off the desk. The woman smiled and looked down at Lily.
“Of course. A whole year or half?”
“Whole until she’s eleven,” Harry answered. The woman nodded. 
“Very good.” She leaned down towards Lily. “Would you like to look around? I’m sure one of our teachers would be pleased to show you around.” LIly nodded. 
“Yes please!” 
“See you, Margret!” You called, sliding your dance back higher up your shoulder and making sure your shirt was covering your whole body. 
“See you, Y/N!” She called back and you walked out of the back room. You had just finished four hours of vigorous dance training. You didn;t mind though. You loved to dance. You were headed to the back which was the fastest way home without apperating, which you weren’t legally supposed to do yet. But what's the harm in getting ahead of the game?
“Y/N!” You turned to see Miss Rosen calling you to the front. You smiled and walked up to her, braiding your Y/H/C hair as you went. It had been up in a bun for hours, but you didn;t want it to get in the way. 
“Hi, Miss. Rosen! Whats up?”
“We have a new student and I would like you to show her around.” You smiled. New students were your facvorite, although you did like working with the older ones as well. 
“Of course!” ou stepped into the lobby to see a little red haired girl looking up at you with bright green eyes, freckles decorating her face. You smiled. “Hi,” you bent down to her level. “I’m-”
“Malfoy?” 
Oh no. 
You looked up to see James Potter. The one person in the entire school who despised you. 
“James? What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” he spat. You sighed. Sadly, James Potter hated your guts, but you loved his. Everything about him. You couldn’t help it! But how could he ever love a Malfoy. Or even give you a chance. 
“Well, I dance here. And teach.” You glanced down to LIly and back at him and his parents. Harry and Ginny Potter. “I’m assuming this is your sister.”
“Y/N?” You looked over to see Albus walking in the door. You smiled and waved. Albus was a natural at potions, but not so much at transfigurations. You had been tutoring since his first year. He had slowly grown to like you, which you were grateful for. It also helped that he was friends with your half brother, Scorpius. 
"Hey, Albus!" You looked up at Harry and Ginny quickly tabdung and sticking out your hand. "Hello, sir, ma'am. I'm Y/N Malfoy. I mean, you probally already got that from your son's calling me by both," you laughed awkwardly. "Is it alright if I took your daughter round and showed her the studio? You can come as well if you'd like." You said polightly. You knew there was still tension between your families, still a lot of hate on the Malfoy name. You and scorpius had been trying to figure that out it, slowly, over the years. You were now in your fith year and Scorpius in his third. 
"Of course," they shook your hand and you could tell they were hesitant. Still, didn't blame them. "You two can go ahead on your own."
"Great! Wanna come back wit-"
"Can I come?" You looked up from Lily to see James standing there with his arms crossed. You noticed he had his camera across the side of his body, which wasn't unusual to see. "Can I go back with her to check it out. I want to make sure my sister has the best school she can," he narrowed his eyes at you, making you swallow. Why did he have to hate you? 
"Thats alright with me, just take off your shoes, the both of you." They nodded and took off their shoes, then the three of you headed back. You showed her the diffrent dance rooms introduced her to some teachers and some of your friends at the studio. 
"Hi! I'm Margret!" Your red haired friend introduced. She was one of the best in your studio. Also one of the kindest. If she was a which she would be a Hufflepuff you had decided long ago. "I see your going to be taught byY/N. She's one of the best in the studio. Don't worry, you'll see," she said excitedly to the little girl.  You rolled your eyes at your friend.
"Ok, yeah. Thanks for the encouragement, Margret." She bumped your shoulder and laughed before eyeing James. 
"Are you going to be joining too?" She asked, batting her eyelashes. Oh, did you mention she was a complete flirt? But, sadly, so was James. 
"No, but if you dance here I might just consider it," he winked, causing her to giggle and you and Lilly to gag. 
"Alright, Margret, she's already signed up, no need to flirt with her brother." She smiled sweetly at James. 
"Y/N/N, that wasn't the reason I was flirting," you nearly gaged again. 
"Disgusting. Alright. Theres one more studio I want you to see. It's the largest one in here," Lily grabbed your hand and you lead the two into the large. It was a studio as big as a stage with the wooden floors and folding mirrors that would some out or appear to be an audience. There was a balcony up top for parents and younger ones to whatch, which they always did often, pressing themselves up against the railing to watch the older girls dance. 
"Wow," she gasped when you lead her in. You flipped a switch and the mirrors folded to appear as if there were any audience and the lights hanged to resemble ones of a stage, even the heat was the same, she gasped again. You smiled at her reaction. It would never get old watching younger girls get excited over the first time they walked in. That's one of the reasons you had a camera in the corners. You would often go back and watch your first tape when you felt distraught. It reminded you why you got j to dancing in the first place. 
"I'm still not convinced. You haven't shown us if this studio teaches well enough for my sister to join," James scoffed. Lily's mouth fell open, halting at her. Brother and warning him to shut up and not ruin this for her. You just smiled. 
"Well, what would convince you?" You asked, no malece in your voice. I mean, you were talking to James Sirius Potter, could you even have malece in your voice?
He looked you up and downs nd smirked. 
"You dance." You raisrd your eyebrows.
"Pardon?" You squealed out.it was a known fact you didn't dance in front of audiences. Ever. Your father and half brother had tried to convince you, but you wouldn't budge. Your stage fright was to sever. And now you had your crush, yelling you to dance for him and his little sister to see if your good enough. Lily looked up at you with wide eyes. 
"Would you?" You swallowed and bit down on your lip. You sighed. 
"Fine. Fine. Here," you pulled your phone out of your back pocket, they were issued to all the girls for music and communication with muggle friends. Lily looked at the device curiously and James jus raised his eyebrows. 
"You have one of those?"
"How else am I supposed to have the music, record my various dances to study, and play the music out side of the studio and the ballroom in my home?"
"You have a ballroom in your house?" You shrugged. 
"Part time. Half the summer we live at Malfoy manor and the other half we stay at the cottage, which me and dad prefer but…"you shrugged as if saying it is what it is. You scanned your music until you reached the song you were looking for. "Could you hit play when I say so, please?" Lily nodded and grabbed the phone. You dropped you that and started to take off your shit. 
"What in the hell do you think your doing!" He yelled and covered your eyes. You crinkled your brow at him before it clicked. A coy grin spread on your face. 
"Something bothering you, Potter?" You teased and you slid off your pants as well, leaving you in your leotard and a pair of pink tights. His eyes were still covered and Lilly was stifling giggles. You tied a black ballet skirt around your waist and leaned on the bar. "For Merlin's sake, Potter! Do you really think I'd strip nude in front of you?" You laughed. He brought his hands away from his face and recomposed himself seeing as you were still covered,. It  matter how scandalous the outfit was. 
"N-no," he stuttered, still not looking. At you. He knew as soon as he did he would start to blush and he would not give you that satisfaction. You set yourself up and took a breath removing them from the world like you had to do in class. 
"Lily? Can you play it please?" Your voice came out shaky. The music began to play and you settled yourself before starting the routine you knew by heart. You had to make sure not to focus on the other two persons in the room. Yas soon as you took notice of them you knew your stage fright would over all of your senses and you would become a stuttering limp noodle incapable of doing anything. You were very careful with who you danced around. Your father watched you on a regular basis because 'he paid for lessons and for ficks sake he was goin to watch it'. You always laughed at him and then let him see. But your half brother and step mother never saw a lick of anything. Well, that's a lie, Scorpius' had walked in on you ounce, but you had caught him and broke your ankle. He had felt so terrible that he couldn't meet your eyes for weeks. 
You finished the dance with grace and let the last of the music settle in your bones before coming out of your finishing position and, shyly, face the two of them. You wrapped your hands around your body and ran back to your jeans and t-shirt. You quickly changed. 
"So, worthy of your sister?" James closed his mouth, still in shock something so beautiful could come out of a Malfoy. How a Malfoy could actually look beautiful. He snapped himself out of it quickly enough though and nodded. 
"I suppose it'll do. But if I hear one complaint I will march down here and demand a new teacher," he sneered. You smiled and slung your bag on your shoulder again, taking a drink of your water and ready to pass out. 
"Well, I'm glad you approve. How about you, Lily? Do you want to dance here?" She nodded vigorously and smiled. You couldn't help but reciprocate her smile. She was too cute.
You walked the two back out of the maze of studios and offices and back to the lobby where her parents were waiting. Ginny was looking at leotards and tights with a pained expression, like she didn't know what she was doing. 
"We're back!" You said. Lily ran from your grip and latched onto her mother's leg. 
"Is miss.Malfoy going to be my teacher? Please say yes! Please please pleeeeeease!" You chuckled and leaned against the doorway.
"I'm sure if you ask nicely," Ginny responded looking at her daughter lovingly and making you jealous. You had never had a loving mother look at you like that. You had a father who looked at you like that, but it was just different. 
"Miss. Malfoy, will you please teach me?" She begged. You smiled. 
"I think that can be arranged, Lily. And please, call me Y/N. I'm no one special enough to earn that much of a title," you laughed. She beamed and launched herself at you, hugging you tightly. You hugged her back and sent her to her mother and father again. Ginny walked over to you. 
"You wouldn't happen to know anything about… Apparel or anything would you?" You smiled at her. 
"I know a bit. What are you having trouble with? " Well, I'm not sure on what to buy or how much or hair or… any of it really," she shrugged guilty. "Quidditch I can do. Ballet?" She shook her head. You smiled. 
"You'll get the hang of it. You should have seen my dad when I started," you laughed. 
"Telling stories about me, sweet heart?" You looked up and saw you father step in. You ran over and hugged him. 
" No." You grinned cheekily. 
"Uhu." He poked your nose. “What did I tell you about lying when you can;t do it.” You laughed and pushed him out the door. 
“I’ll be out in a second. I just have somethings to finish.” He smiled and patted your head before walking out. “Sorry about that.” you walked back over to Ginny “As I was saying, you’ll get the hang of it eventually. But anything you need I’m here.” She smiled gratefully while Harry was eyeing you strangely. He had never seen Draco act like that. Not at school, not at work, not the few occasions he had seen him out of work. It was strange. 
“Harry!” Harry snapped out of his mind as Ginny yelled at him. “Stop staring at the poor girl! Unless you want to do this,” she offered and handed him a leotard. He backed up with his hands up. 
“No, definitely not.” You chuckled. “Sorry, I didn’t realize I was staring at you,” you brushed him off quickly. 
“It's no problem, sir. I get the death glare from parents a lot. Any how, what days work best for you? I am here everyday.”
“Wednesdays?” Harry just shrugged. 
“Why did I even bring you?” She sighed. 
“It's no problem, just send an owl here or just come down personally whenever you figure out the best day or times. Like I said, I’m here everyday from opening till closing.”
“And sometimes longer,” Miss Rosen scoffed. You sent her a smile. 
“You’d miss me if I weren’t here so much.” She grumbled something and collected her papers, heading to the back. 
“Lock up when you're done. You still have your key?”
“Yup, have a good night, Miss Rosen!”
“Uhu,” she called over her shoulder. You walked to the desk and started collecting some papers to start a file for Lily and for the Potters to fill out. 
“Are we here after hours?” Ginny asked. You looked up at her. 
“Not really. I mean, technically, yes. But I’m here after hours so much that I have a key and often lock up.”
“They gave you a key?” James scoffed. You faltered for a moment before putting the smile back on your face.
“It beats having someone stay with me here till ten.” You handed Ginny a few papers. “If you could fill these out and just give them back whenever you decide on a day and time. Its just a few questions and health information. Also, her first day, if she would just come in leggings in a t-shirt or a tank top that would be lovely. We’ll get her measured for a leotard and tights then, we’ll also get her shoe sizes in order.” Ginny took the papers. 
“Thank you, Y/N. We’ll be back when we get these filled out.” You smiled and started to sort things in order on the desk which had turned into a complete mess. They started to file out. 
“Oh! Mrs.Potter!”
“Yes?” She turned back around and you bit your lip. 
“I know your family and my dad don’t exactly get along but… if you see my dad out there, could you tell him to just go along without me? It's a mess in here and it’ll bother me all night unless I clean it up.” She smiled. 
“Of course, dear.” She smiled and they disappeared. You let your smile drop slightly and you quickly cleaned up the desk before triple checking all the rooms to make sure they were clean enough for the night. 
The Potters stepped out of the dance studio to see Draco leaning against the building. He stood up when he heard the door, expecting his daughter, but only saw the Potter’s. He leaned back against the building. 
“Malfoy?” He looked at Ginny. He hadn't expected to be addressed. “Your daughter said to go on without her. She’d be a few minutes.” Draco just chuckled and continued to lean against the building. 
“Wasn’t expecting her to walk out with you. She’s always late. I swear she’s here more than her actual house. Thank you for the heads up, though.” Harry eyed Draco suspiciously. 
“Did you just thank us?”
“I did, Potter. I wouldn;t get used to it though,” James scoffed and Ginny shot him a scolding look. Draco eyed James and raised his eyebrows. “I suspect your James?”
“I suspect your Draco,” James drawled. Draco rolled his eyes. 
“Looks like he has just as good of comebacks as his father was,” Harry went to say something but Ginny squeezed his arm telling him to keep his mouth shut for the sake of not proving the man right. Draco nodded to Albus who waved awkwardly. “I’ll be going to see if my daughter needs any help inside. Thank you for telling me my daughter's message.” he turned and walked into the building. Ginny watched the door for a moment. 
“How did he end up with a daughter as nice as she was?” She mumbled. 
“He didn’t,” James muttered. They all started to walk away. 
“What do you mean?” Albus asked. “She and Scorpius are two fo the nicest people in both our years. Just because you don’t like who her father is doesn’t mean she’s rude.”
“And how do you know how nice she is?” James shot back. 
“She tutors me in transfigurations. She had some of the highest grades in your year, ya know.”
“She told you that?”
“No, professor Mcgonagall did when she suggested I ask her for help.” Albus shrugged.
You walked out to the front again with your arms full to see your dad leaning on the door. You frowned. 
“Why are you still here? I’m going to be here for a while.” He smiled. 
“Think I’d leave you to suffer this work all by yourself?” You smiled gratefully.
“Isn’t Astoria waiting at home?” You asked, putting some of the flies away. 
“She’s not the most important girl in my life,” he kissed your head and put a file on the top shelf. You smiled at hearing that. 
Astoria Greengrass. Your step-mother. You were happy she made your dad happy. You wouldn't have asked for anything better for him. But, she hated you. She preferred her own child and would make that perfectly clear when you were anywhere near her. 
Knowing that your father still cared about you made you smile and feel welcomed in your home. Well, the manor wasn't your home. You had never felt at home there. It was too large for you, though the ballroom was extraordinary. You preferred the smaller house, which was still particularly a large place. But it wasn’t as large as the mansion, it also never felt dreary like the mansion. Both you and your father preferred the “smaller” place, while Astoria preferred the mansion. Scorpius was indifferent to the whole ordeal. He could make himself comfortable on a bed of spikes, you often joked with him. Normally earning a dry sarcastic laugh from him. 
“How was class today?” Draco asked, breaking the comfortable silence as you handed him a few more files to put on the shelves that you couldn’t reach.
“It was good. I got my grand jete a bit higher today,” you said excitedly, though you knew this was all forgien to him. 
“That's great!” You smiled. 
“Still have no idea what I’m talking about do you?”
“Not a clue, but you seem excited about it.” You smiled wider. “That Potter kid wasn't giving you crap was he?”
“Lily?”
“The other one.”
“Albus?”
“No the other other one.”
“James?”
“That's the one. Seems like a piece of work, that one.” You chuckled and blushed lightly. Yeah, a piece of work indeed.
“No, he’s just protective. Wants the best for his siblings and such,” you shrugged. Draco scoffed. “What?”
“I was a prick like that. That's not the only thing going through his mind.”
“Dad,” you warned. 
“What? I’m just saying. The other two seemed fine. He was an egotistical control freak who, let me guess, has a new girl on his arm every other week. Wait, and let me guess, it gets better, right? He also bullies the less fortunate.”
“You almost described what you were like as a kid.”
“That's because I know what they look like. And that kid was me, just different.” You rolled your eyes, your mind wandering back to the school year and the various jabs he made at you… the less fortunate…
It had been a few weeks since you had taken Lily on as a student. Since she was new to dance you had suggested twice a week and found that Lily was a very capable dancer. She caught on quickly and was very confident in her movements, though you could tell she got stressed when she wasn't able to get something right. 
“That was excellent, Lily!” You praised. She smiled brightly at your praise. How about we move to the large room if you’d like, maybe even get your mother and father to watch,” you suggested. Her face lit up. “I’ll go get them. If there's someone dancing just stand on the side like usual, alright?” She nodded and practically pranced off to the large room.
You smiled at her and quickly walked to the waiting area. Her lesson was nearly over and Harry and or Ginny were normally there already. Your smile dropped when you noticed James leaning on the wall looking down at his camera.
“Hey, Potter,” You smiled. He looked up and his gaze made your heart go mad. “Your parents here?”
“No. They sent me to pick up Lily. Is she done?”
“We were going to run her routine in the large studio. Would you like to watch? She’s very proud of it.” 
“Sure.”
“Follow me.” you walked him back to a door. “Just go up these steps and you’ll be on the balcony. I’ll send her up to you when she’s finished.” You left him to go up the stairs and to the balcony. 
The large room was emptying out from the previous class when you entered. You had class right after you taught Lily so there was a few minutes break in between. 
“Ready?” She nodded and ran out to the middle of the room. “I’ll jump in if you get stuck, ok? Just keep going if you forget a step.” She nodded and set herself up. You pressed play on the music and her music started. You watched her from the sidelines, making mental notes on what to work on with her next lesson. You jumped in on the new part and helped her through it, which she seemed grateful for. 
The music ended and you smiled. 
“That was great, Lily! Keep practising and I’ll see you next week. Your brother is up on the balcony if you want to go meet him. You remember how to get up there?” She nodded. 
“Yep! Thank you, Y/N!” She hugged you and ran up to meet her brother as your friends started to walk in. You joined them in center to begin to stretch for class. 
James was waiting for Lily when she came running up the stairs. He put his camera away and picked her up. 
“That was beautiful! I got a few pictures of you doing it as well,” She smiled brightly. 
“Can we watch, Y/N dance?” She asked. “She has class right now and I wanna see what the older girls do.” James forced a smile, hating the idea of being in the same room as you longer than he had to, but agreed for his sister’s sake. He carried her to the edge as they watched you and a group of girls warm up. You were talking to Margaret as you stretched. You had taken your shirt off so you were in a backless red leotard; he was slightly surprised that the leotard wasn’t green.
“Hey isn’t that the girl you're teaching and her adorable brother?” You looked away from your curly hair friend to see James and Lily watching the class. You waved and Lily waved back as James just glared at you. You slowly brought your hand back down and turned back to Margaret. “What was that about?”
“He hates me,” you shrugged. 
“Why?”
“We go to the same school.” Her eyes widened. 
“Wait, that's the kid who bullies you?”
“I wouldn’t say bully.”
“I would. Want me to beat him up?” You laughed. 
“Maggy!”
“What? I will.” You rolled your eyes and slipped into your split. 
“No. I don’t want to lose his sister as a student. She is very talented, and a joy to teach.” Margaret frowned. 
“Well, whenever you want me to beat him up I’ll be all over it.” You laughed and your teacher began class. 
You notice James pull Lily out half way through, which you didn’t blame him for. Class was about three hours, and that wasn’t even the end of your day. Lily looked upset, but let him carry her out without a fuss. Margaret nudged you and nodded up towards the balcony.
“What?” You whispered, pirouetting a few times. 
“They left.”
“She’s probably exhausted. She danced for a vigorous hour with me.”
“Or maybe he likes you and couldn’t stop his heart from beating at the sight of you,” She hummed. You glared at her. 
She and Scropius were the only two who knew of your crush on James. And now you were regretting telling her. 
“Or maybe he couldn;t stand the sight of me anymore because he hates my guts.” You whispered back. She rolled her eyes. 
“Probably hard,” she muttered. You smacked her shoulder and stifled laughs. 
“Margaret!” She smiled at seeing you laugh. You had looked so off when you noticed them. Your stage fright getting the better of you. Now that they were gone you seemed more at ease. 
“Y/N!” You looked at the teacher. 
“Yes ma’am?”
“Class has ended.” You smiled. 
“Sorry ma’am. Would it be a problem if I stayed here for a bit longer?”
“By a bit longer do you mean ten tonight?” You chuckled. 
“Is that your hint that my day is over and to get out?” you asked with a grin. She rolled her eyes. 
“Well, my day is over. Good evening, Miss. Malfoy.”
“Good evening.” You went to the player and set up your music. You had some routines you wanted to run, as well as throw some tricks. 
James was tearing his already messy room apart, mumbling how he could not believe he lost something or other. 
“Jamie?” Lily asked coming in. “What’s wrong?”
“I think I left the cap to my camera at the studio,” He sighed and flopped down on the bed with a huff. 
“Y/N might not have left yet. She normally stays after closing.” James scoffed. 
“Like I want to be in there alone with her.”
“Wouldn;t surprise me,” Albus smirked from the doorway. 
“Go away, Albus.”
“You like her, admit it.”
“Why would I like a stuck up Malfoy?”
“Maybe because she isn’t stuck up?” Albus offered. “Come on, James. You know that better than anyone.” James scoffed and stood. 
“I need my lid, so I suppose it's worth a shot. Tell mum and Dad I’ll be back later.” He slung his camera over his body and grabbed his jacket heading out of the room, grumbling angrily.
He walked slowly down to his sister’s studio, semi praying that it was closed and he wouldn’t have to see you. He even stopped and took pictures of random things on his way. But, alas, it was not to be. 
When he got to the studio he pulled on the door which opened with ease. 
Maybe he wouldn’t see you?
Wrong. 
He walked up to the balcony and immediately heard someone on the floor. Being the curious person he was he peaked over to see you in front of a mat, pressed up against the wall on your toes. You ran and flipped in the air, landing on your behind. He cringed, but you got out of it with another trick. Had you meant to do that?
“Are you going to just watch me all day or are you going to at least say something?” You called up to him, prepping for another trick. He scowled and leaned over the railing. You glanced at him, sending him a small smile before running again and doing a front aerial, landing it perfectly. Though, you went over everything you could've done better in your head. 
“I was just looking for my camera lid,” he grumbled down at you. 
“Is that why you were studying me do a suicide?” You asked. His eyes widened. 
“A wh-what?” You chuckled. 
“Don’t think I didn’t see you cringe. I have excellent eyesight. The trick when I-oof-” you pushed off the ground into a roundoff back handspring. You landed it and rolled your shoulders, turning to him. “Landed on my butt. Its called a suicide. And the trick afterwards is a valdez,” you informed him. He just glared at you. You nodded awkwardly. “Nice talk. Oh, and your camera lid is on the desk out front.”
“How’d you-”
“I make sure no one left anything around the studio. If they do I leave it on the deck. You just happened to label it. J.S.P. Kind of hard not to know who that is.”
“Oh.”
You stood backwards against the mat and did four back handsprings, grimacing when you came up from the last one. You really needed a rest day. But a rest day would mean not coming into the studio. And you weren’t going to stay home with Astoria. 
Walking back to the other end of the mat nearly every bone in your body cracked or creaked in some way, making james cringe. You smiled up at him. 
“Not a fan of cracking bone?” You chuckled. 
“There was just so much. Is that normal?” You smiled to yourself. 
“Yeah. For me at least. I’m not naturally flexible so I crack a lot and I have to stretch every day in order not to get back to point A.” You stood against the wall and ran into your Front Handspring, immediately going into your back handspring. 
“Will Lily be able to,” he waved his hand at you. “Do this?” You chuckled and sat down on the mat, needing to stretch for a moment. 
“She’s very flexible. Her split is already down and her straddle is close. I could work with her during her lessons with acrobats. It's best to get them started young when they're growing. It gets harder when you're a teenager. So, if she works hard, yes. She could do this.” It was quiet for a few minutes as you stretched. “Your sister is very talented like her brother’s. You should be proud.” You smiled at him, standing and doing a backbend, sitting in it for a moment before coming back up, groaning as you did.
“I am. She works very hard at it.”
“Well, like you saw today, she’s moving quickly. By the time we go back to Hogwarts she should be ready to join a group class.”
“Is that good?” You smiled. 
“Yes. Group classes are fun and though they don;t cover as much as a private lesson does they’re just as challenging.”
“Really?” You chuckled at his confusion. This family knew nothing about ballet or dance at all. 
“Yeah I should know. I take at least four a week.”
“Four a week, really?”
“Yep. I teach on all of those days, plus one where I don’t have a lesson. And I have two days off. But, I’m still here working on technique.” You shrugged. 
“So you practically live here,” he joked. 
“Yeah. This is more of a home than Malfoy Manor ever has been.”
“Why, don’t love your parents?” he scoffed. 
“My dad I adore. We’re surprisingly close. Me and uh, Astoria, have a… forced relationship.” He raised his eyebrows in shock at you using her first name. 
“Must be honest, from the stories I've heard about the Malfoys, I wouldn't expect him to be a good parent,” James scoffed. You smiled sadly.
“Yeah, a lot of people wouldn’t. But I wouldn’t ask for a different one, as cheesy as that sounds.” You backed up against the wall and sprang off into a roundoff back tuck landing on your head. “Ah!” You sat up and rubbed your neck and head. That was going to be sore tomorrow. “Dammit!” You swore, smacking the mat. You stood up and walked back over to the end of the mat, getting ready to do it again. 
“Are you alright?” You glanced at James, yoru vision swimming for a moment before focusing on him. You blinked a few times to clear the spots from vision. 
“Yeah. Not the first time I’ve landed on my face,” you chuckled. You felt a tear slip down your face and wiped it away quickly. 
“You're crying.”
“Thank you captain obvious,” you joked, laughing. “It just hurts a bit,” you snifled and willed the rest of the tears away, rubbing your face and neck. It was definitely going to bruise. “Yet again, not the first time. Gotta fall a couple times before you stick the landing." You got ready on the wall to push off again, but your vision fell to the side and you knew you weren't going to be able to tumble any more. 
Dad’s gonna be pissed that he has to fix my head again.
You quickly rolled up the mats and looked at James who was studying. You smiled. 
“Did you eat yet? I’m positively starved and I know a good pizza joint down the road.”
“Why would I want to join you?” he sneered.
Moment of being civil over. 
You shrugged.                              
“Just thought I’d offer. My treat if you decide to join.” You looked around the room making sure everything was in place and clean. 
You nodded and left the room, shutting off the lights. You checked the other rooms and grabbed your bag, changing into jeans and a black crop top with your jean jacket. You walked out and grabbed your key from your bag. You saw James bouncing awkwardly on his feet. You smiled at him.
“Change your mind?”
“You did say you were paying,” he defended. “And I am not one to pass up free food.” You laughed and double checked everything. You grabbed your notebooks from the counter and shoved them in your bag.
“Well, let's go then. The pizza place is about a block away.”
“Don’t you need to get home?” He asked.
“Worried about me, Potter?” You asked teasingly as you locked up the studio. He scoffed. 
“Just asking.”
“My dad’s used to me coming home late. Though he might have to fix my head tonight,” you laughed and touched your forehead.
“It hurts?” You shrugged. 
“I mean, I did land on it with full force. I didn’t jump high enough or use nearly as much power,” you chastised yourself. “It was doomed from the beginning.” 
“Yet you're walking straight?”
“You were walking straight after you took that bludger to the head last year,” you chuckled. He rolled his eyes.
“That's because you Slytherin’s play dirty.” You laughed. 
“I can’t control the bludgers! I’m not even a beater!” You defended yourself. 
You opened the door to the pizza place and a fresh whiff of oregano cheese and dough filled your senses. You sighed. 
“Donte!” You yelled. A teenager walked from the back with crossed arms. 
“Y/N! What do you think I am? Your personal pizza maker?” You laughed and batted your eyes at your muggle friend. 
“Maybe.” 
“Your usual?” You nodded. 
“Yeah, but my friend here has never been.” Donte looked at James.
“Well, take a look at the menu. I’ll tell Dominique to start making your order.”
“It's appreciated!”
“Uhu,” he called back, already headed to the back. 
“Come here often, then?” James asked. You smiled. 
“Is it that obvious?” You walked with him to the counter where they had a menu above the counter for ordering. 
“What's good here?”
“What isn’t,” you laughed. “What kind of food do you like? They have pizza fries, garlic knots, pizza, pizza bread. Everything, realy.”
“What is it you get?”
“Garlic knots and a half of a calzone normally. I think that's what they’re cooking up back there. To be honest though I never know. They surprise me some days.”
“Who knew a Malfoy would be friends with muggles,” he sounded surprised. You hummed, holding back a snarky response. 
“Did you decide? I’m Sure the little dancer over here wasn’t much help.” You rolled your eyes at his nickname. 
“She really wasn’t. What do you suggest?”
“Well, if you like pizzas we sell smalls that are about six pieces. Great for taking home. Our garlic knots are pretty well known, but she’s already getting those, so I assume you’d just share with her.”
“Why would you assume that?” You asked, offended.
“Aren;t you two, ya know, a couple?” You laughed and so did James. The only difference was you cheeks flushed, wishing you were. 
“No,” You answered. “He hates my guts. I just happen to teach his sister. And then he came back to the studio because he forgot something.” Dante’s confused look dropped into one of murder. 
“Oh. So you're the one who’s picking on her,” he crossed his arms. 
“Donte!”
“Want me to beat him up?”
“How are you and Margaret not an item yet? She offered the same thing, and no. Just-Just order him the same as me but with pizza fries.” you huffed and turned to a both near the corner. James followed you, glancing over his shoulder at Donte who was still glaring at the two of you. 
“What was that about?” He scowled at you. You kept your eyes on Donte’s back, ignoring James. 
“I’d be careful when he brings the food over. He’s not opposed to spitting in people’s food,” you warned before fiddling with your napkin and waited for your food. You weren’t joking. You were starving. You hadn’t had time for an actual breakfast or to pack a lunch that day. You only had an apple before you left the house and a granola bar for lunch and you couldn’t wait to get some actual food in your body.
“So are you ever going to answer me?” James asked after a moment. You looked up. 
“What?”
“About your… friend?... Threatening to beat me up. Like he could touch me.” You laughed. 
“Donte is the most bad ass kid in this town. I bet he could beat you in a fight.”
“That was cold, Malfoy. Saying a muggle could beat me up.” 
“Oh? Would you cast a few spells on him so you’d get the upper hand?”
“Possibly.” You rolled your eyes.
“Because that sounds fair.”
“Since when do Slytherins care about being fair?” You mouth parted, but you had no words. Yet again, civil and then your back to reality. You slumped in your seat. Donte came over and glared at James as he gave you your food. “Thanks, Donny. I haven’t eaten all day,” you sighed, smelling the spices and ingredients better now that they were even closer to your nose. 
Your friend pointed to you threateningly. 
“You better start eating.” You laughed. 
“I missed my alarm!” You laughed. 
“And you had to get to the studio before your first lesson because?”
“Because I needed out of the house.”
“Mansion,” he coughed. You threw a fry at him. 
“Get back to work, Ankenson!” You laughed at him. 
“Of course, Miss. Malfoy,” he sarcastically bowed and left to continue working. You rolled your eyes and pulled apart one of your garlic knots. James watched the scene before grabbing a fry and eating it. 
“What?” You asked when you caught him studying you. He shook his head. 
“Does he know about the wizarding world?” 
“Yeah. I honestly should've obliviated him but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. He found out my first year after I got home from school." You frowned and shoved the bread in your mouth remembering your first year. All the kids up to no good wanted to make nice and be your friend. Thinking you were the stereotypical Malfoy. You had no friends that year and got picked on by James like there was no tomorrow. 
“Ya know, you still never answered my question. Why did he want to beat me up?” You shoved a garlic knot in your mouth. 
“Becuas woo wick end e,” you mumbled. 
“Come again.”
“He found out I was getting.. Uh… picked on.. I guess,” you shook your head and shoved another piece of the knot in your mouth. 
“You can handle yourself though.” You looked away. 
“Yeah. He’s just over protective.” 
And for a good reason. You liked to think yourself strong, but you knew you weren’t. You could hold it together in the moment, but would completely collapse when you were alone. That's actually how you two met. 
You had gotten into another fight with Astoria when you were eight and had been packed and leaving the mansion. Scorpius was crying in the parlor because you were leaving and your father was still at work, so there was no one to talk the situation down. 
You had made it to the back of the pizza shop before completely collapsing and succumbing to sobs when a nine year old in jeans and t-shirt was walking by and saw you crying. He had taken you home after calming you down. He may have been a punk, but he was still kind. He had taken you back home and father was beyond furious at both you and Astoria. Mostly Astoria, though. You had just scared the crap out of him because he actually thought you would have gone through with it, and losing his kid was his worst fear. You and Donte had been friends ever since. 
The two of you finished in near silence. The only time one of you spoke was to see if the other could have fries or a Garlic knot. You had ended up paying, like you said you would. 
“I’ll pay you back in wizard money,” James said, his hands in his pockets as you two stepped out. 
“Nonsense! I told you I would pay. Besides, I'm pretty sure he gave me a discount.”
“How do you even have muggle money?”
“I work at the studio, so I get paid in both since I teach magical and non-magical kids.” You explained, hopping onto the curb and balancing like you always did. 
“Huh, weird. You’d think you didn;t even need to get paid.” You looked at him. 
“WHats that supposed to mean?”
“Well your family’s rich.”
“So is yours,” you countered. 
“Well, we don’t act like it,” he snapped back. 
“Oh? So just because I don’t dress down all the time and we throw a few parties with stuffy know it all pure blooded Slytherins that makes us act like it?”
“Yeah, actually. It does!”
“Fascinating, Potter. Your way of thinking is quite dizzying. A poor, simple minded Slytherin like myself is having a hard time keeping up. Should I bow down to the Gryffindor prince now?”
“Like you don't expect everyone to do the same,” He scoffed. 
“I don’t! You do understand that I hate the way people view me, right? I hate that my last name and all the little things that come with it! Having people look at me like I’m some monster! That I’m supposed to act like Slytherin’s princess!”
“Well aren’t you? You're from a family full of murders and monsters. Doesn't that automatically make you one to? A monster? A murderer?” You froze at the word murderer. Tears welled in your eyes and you turned away from the boy.
“Before you go around picking on people, James,” your voice cracked as you tried to keep your emotions in check, but obviously failing. “Try and get to know them first, they might just surprise you.” You bolted down the sidewalk and did not stop until you got home. Or, rather, to the manor. 
Tears were running down your face at this point and you were sobbing, the words murderer and monster ringing in your head. You slammed the door shut and pressed your body up against it, putting your hand over your mouth to quiet the sobs. But your father had heard you arrive and stepped out of the parlor, expecting a happy daughter who had just got back from dancing. This was not what he got. 
His smile fell when he saw you and quickly ushered you into the parlor where he had come from. You completely broke down and he just held you, worried about what happened. He rubbed your back until your sobs had quieted. He then sat you down on the couch. 
“What happened? What's wrong?” You shook your head, looking down at your hands. “Hey, sweet heart, what happened?” You sniffled and wiped the tears from your eyes.
“Dad, am-am I a monster? Because-because of mom?” he stared at you for a moment and shook his head. 
“Of course not, that wasn’t your fault. There were multiple compil-”
“But it was because of me,” you said sadly. “Because she had me. I killed mom,” you couldn’t look at him. James was right. Wherever your last name was, death happened. You had caused it last time. It was your fault that your mother died. Your real mother. 
“Look at me, Y/N,” he pulled your face up to meet his. “You did not kill your mother. Whatever put this thought in your head, get it out right now. Do you understand me?” You nodded and sniffled. “Where did this come from?” 
“It's-its just a thought, I've been entertaining for a while,” you mumbled. It wasn;t a complete lie.
“Possibly, but who brought this up?”
“He didn’t mean to, I don’t think.”
“Who?” He knew it couldn't have been Donte. He’d met him a few times and, though he was a rebel and got into fights every other day, he seemed to take care of his daughter and he was grateful for that.
“James,” you mumbled. He almost didn’t catch it, but he wanted to be sure before he went around throwing accusations. 
“Could you say that one more time?”
“J-James. But please don’t do anything!I don't want there to be more problems!”
“More?” He raised an eyebrow and you flinched back. 
Oops. 
Your father may or may not have known that you had been getting picked on at school. You didn’t want him to do anything rash, like you knew he was going to do now. 
“I-I mean any. Because there would have to be problems to begin with for there to be more. But-but there aren’t any problems. Ever. Nope. None.” you faked a yawn and looked up at the mantel’s clock. “Would you look at the time? I’m beat! I-I’ll see you tomorrow, Dad. And please don't say anything. To any one. Ever.” You rushed out of the room, hoping he wouldn’t say anything. 
But as Draco watched you scurry out of the room, he knew he had to. He didn't even know you were getting picked on. And by a Potter! How many times had a Potter made you cry and he was unaware there was even a problem? No way was this going to slide by him. Not happening. 
“Potter!” Draco called and jogged over to Harry who turned and looked at him suspiciously. 
“Yes, Malfoy? Can I help you with something?” Draco hesitated. 
“Can I talk to you in private?” Harry gave him a look but complied. They walked into an empty office. 
“What do you want?”
“I want to talk about your son and my daughter.” Harry furrowed his eyebrows. 
“I don’t understand.”
“Your son said a few… choice words that made my daughter upset the other night and apparently it has been going on for a while.”
“Like what?”
“I’m not sure exactly, but she came home in tears last night asking if she were a monster because of a…” He cleared his throat. “An accident that happened when she was born.” Harry understood immediately. He had known about Draco’s first marriage and how that ended. “I then asked why she was thinking this and she asked me not to say anything, but I care for her… a lot.” Harry nodded. 
“I’ll talk to James. I’m sorry she had to go through that. You as well.” Draco nodded and cleared his throat again. 
“Yes, um, thank you.” Draco walked past Harry and out of the conference room. Harry thought about how the tables had turned. But it still wasn’t right. No matter what happened in their childhood. 
“James! Can I talk to you for a second?” Harry called to his son who was playing with Lily in the yard as if nothing had happened yesterday. He had spent the night convincing himself that she had deserved it. That Malfoys and Slytherin’s like that didn’t have emotions. It cleared his conscience and took away his guilt.
“Yeah, dad!” He dropped Lily and ran into the house. Harry took him to the empty dining room, not wanting to rope Ginny into this. “Whats up.”
“Did you say anything that might’ve upset Y/N Malfoy yesterday?” James’ mouth dropped. 
“The snitch!”
“So you did?”
“She deserved it,” he grumbled. “I can’t believe she snitched to her father,” he scoffed. 
“She didn’t.” James looked up, confused. “Apparently she came home in tears the other night because of whatever you told her. What did you say exactly.”
“Uh-” James rubbed the back of his head. “Just that all Slytherin’s like her never had good intentions and uh- that her family was full of murderous monsters?” Harry stared at his son. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. 
“James, do you know about her at home life?”
“She lives in a grand old manor with a huge ballroom, and her parents.”
“Parent. Astoria isn’t Y/N’s real mother.”
“Ok? That sucks but-”
“Her mother died from complications of childbirth.” Harry clarified. James stopped. He hadn’t known you had an actual mother. Albus walked in and read the uncomfortable air. 
“What did I just walk in on?”
“Just talking about the way James treats a few of his classmates.”
“You told him you bully Y/N? Thank Merlin!” Harry’s eyebrows shot up and he glanced at his son who was glaring at his other son. “Oh. That wasn’t the conversation, was it? I’m just going to leave now.” He ran out of the room before James could grab him. Harry crossed his arms. 
“So you're also a bully?”
“She’s a bi-jerk. Thinks she’s better than the rest of us.” Lily came prancing in the room with Ginny, who was holding a bag. 
“Hi, Harry. Hi James.” She kissed the two on the cheeks and Lily jumped on the counter. 
“Daddy! You should come next time! Y/N taught me a new turn and asked if I had an interest in par-su-ing acrobatics!”
“Pursuing,"he corrected her with a smile "I thought you didn't have a lesson today sweetie.”
“I had to run to a few places and Lily didn't want to go. We stopped at the studio to pick up a few things and Y/N asked if she would rather take an extra lesson. So while I ran boring errands, she got a free dance lesson.”
Harry eyed James. 
“Jerk? Really? She sounds horrid. Have you even ever had a conversation with her?” James grumbled a no. Ginny looked between the two. 
“What happened?”
“James made her cry the other day.” Ginny raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms at her son. 
“Did he now?” Lily frowned at her brother. 
“Thats rude. Especially since she took you to a pizza place yesterday.”
“How’d you know about that.” Lily handed him his camera lid. 
“You forgot this again. She also told me to ask you to forgive her for whatever she said wrong. She seemed upset today,” Lily frowned.
“See! She’s using my family against me. Manipulative! She told her dad in, obviously fake, tears and told him to complain to you about a miniscule fight!”
“A minuscule fight where you called her entire family murderous monsters. And she told Draco not to say anything.”
“You called the Malfoys murderous monsters?” Ginny asked, looking at her son, half proud half disappointed.
“I-I didn’t think she’d cry about it! She never does!” Albus walked in, deciding it was a good time to stop eavesdropping. 
“Actually she does. Every time. Same spot by the lake. She’s fine until she’s alone. Scorpius and I saw her sobbing one day.” James’ mouth went dry. He had made you sob everytime he picked on you? How did you still have tears? “What did she even do to you?" Albus asked, actually curious. He remembered James complaining about you since the first summer after Hogwarts, though he had never given a reason why. 
Ginny and Harry gave him a disappointed look. 
“Yeah, I know. I’m sorry! I didn’t know!” James yelled in defense. 
“And that makes it better?” Ginny asked, disappointed in her son. 
“No,” he mumbled. “I’ll apologize.”
“You better bet your-”
“Ginny.” Ginny took a breath.
“Yes you will. Tomorrow. Go to bed.” James rolled his eyes and walked up to his room without complaint. 
James woke up late that day, dreading his task. Not only did he have to apologize to a Malfoy, but he had the strange feeling of guilt. Were you as terrible as he thought? He had only talked to you once before he found out you were a Malfoy. On the train. He had been utterly lost and you had wandered into his compartment asking if he wanted to share your bag of sweets, which was quite large. It was literally a duffle bag filled to the brim with all sorts of candies. 
“Mind if I join you?” An eleven year old you asked. He looked up from his wand to see you standing awkwardly at the door. Butterflies beat in his stomach. 
“Uh-yeah, sure!” he smiled. You smiled and slid into his compartment. You settled in front of him and sat the bag on your lap. You looked out the doors and back at him, motioning for him to come towards you. He leaned forward in his seat. And you smirked, making him nervous.
“Wanna see my stash?” He eyed you suspiciously. Before he could say no, you opened your bag to reveal it filled top to bottom and everywhere in between with chocolate. His mouth dropped open at the sight of it all. There was so much. 
“Wow. Where did you get all this?” You laughed and dug in it, pulling out a chocolate frog. 
“I have my ways. Want some?” 
“Can I?”
“Wouldn’t have offered if you couldn’t!” You slid the bag from your shoulder and sat it on the floor in between you so you could both eat it at your pleasure. You two talked the entire train ride. The butterflies in both of your stomachs were going insane. 
You were careful not to reveal your last name to him. Maybe if he got to know you first he wouldn’t hate you, like you assumed most people would when they heard your last name. But then you heard him say his last name.
“By the way, I’m James Potter,” he smiled. Your heart sank. The stories of your family history goes back centuries of Potters and Malfoys hating each other. Your father and his. Lucius and James. It went back even further than that. You smiled through the panic. 
“Y/N. So you like quidditch?” You had quickly changed the subject, not wanting him to ask more. Luckily, he didn;t seem to notice and he adored quidditch, just like you. But then it all just went wrong at the sorting Ceremony. 
He stared at his ceiling for a minute. Those same damn feelings rising in his chest when he thought about you. Not about how you were a stuck up Malfoy, but how you were an eleven year old girl on the Hogwarts express asking to share some candy with him and talk about his family and anything quidditch. 
“I’m just a jerk,” he mumbled to himself.”
“A big dumb jerk, yes,” Albus said from the doorway. He sat up and stared daggers at his brother. 
“What did I say about coming into my room?”
“And what did I say about you liking her?” He sneered at his younger brother.
“I don’t like her.”
“Lies.” Albus walked into his room. “You better get down to the studio soon. They close in about three hours. And don’t screw up. Just because her dad was a jerk to ours doesn;t mean she’s rude.”
“Yeah, thanks for the second lecture. Now get out of my room.” Albus held up his hands and walked out leaving James to get ready. He threw on a pair of jeans and a shirt, still half asleep and the other half of his thoughts were on you. “Merlin, I’m a mess,” he muttered as he slid his camera over his shoulder and headed downstairs. Harry was sitting at the dining room table with Ginny. “Morning.” He grumbled out and went into the kitchen to grab a drink before heading out. 
“It's afternoon!” Harry called into him. 
“So I see!” He chugged a water and looked towards the cupboard that had the chocolate stash. Without a second though he grabbed a small fabric drawstring bag from the shelf and filled it with chocolate. “I’m going down to apologize,” he muttered. Harry nodded in approval and James left the house, quickly making his way down the sidewalk and to the dance studio before closing hours.
He stepped into the building and walked past a bunch of girls who he knew were staring at him. He walked to the front desk and smiled at the woman working. 
“Hello, can I help you?”
“Yes, I’m looking for Y/N Malfoy. I have some business I would like to discuss with her.”
“She is currently teaching the new ones, but you can wait up in the balcony for her. I’ll send someone back to tell her you want to speak to her before she goes back to work on her other dances. She didn't look well today, probably landed on her head again and didn’t get it checked out,” she sighed. James swallowed. Had he made you so upset yesterday that you hadn’t gotten your dad to look at your head?
Why did he care this much? Maybe it was because since he found out that you had cried about it, he realized you weren't heartless like he had tried to convince himself. That you were actually kind and that he had wasted five years picking on you instead of talking to you. 
He sighed and walked up the stairs to the nearly empty sitting section. He went to his spot by the railing and looked over. You were helping itty bitty ones, looked around three and four. You cheered for them, teased them, and held them. He noticed how gentle you were with them. He frowned deeper. 
Merlin, I’m an ignorant jerk. 
You were helping Abby with her plie when Margaret walked in. You looked up at her and waved with a smile, but she didn't have the same expression on her face.
“What's wrong? Why are you still here?”
“I was heading out when Miss. Rosier stopped me. Apparently someone,” she glanced up in the balcony, “is here to see you." You followed her gaze to James. “Claims to have some business.” Your entire body tensed. Your heartbeat picked up and you looked down. “I can stay. This is the last class today so it would just be us thr-”
“It's fine, Maggy. Go home. Your mum must be ready to kill you for not being there already. She has four little ones to juggle,” you chuckled and went back to helping the little girl. 
“Are you sure?”
“I’ll be fine. Thank you, though.” Your friend eyed James before nodding and leaving. You swallowed. You weren’t emotionally prepared for this. 
Class finished up too quickly and the girls left the studio to go home and to their families. You stayed in the large studio and James stayed where he was up top. 
“Might as well come down here, Potter. No matter how much you think I’m not going to cast a curse on you.” James walked down and into the studio, you noticed he had his shoes in his hands and was grateful for that. It was one of your biggest pet peeves. “What was your business with me?” You asked, turning around to meet his gaze. 
“I wanted to say I was sorry. For what I said the other day.” You shook your head. 
“I know my father went to yours. You probably think me a snitch along with a murderous monster.” He swallowed at your words. He hadn’t exactly meant what he said.  
“I don’t think you any of that.”
“Then why did you say it?” He stayed silent. He couldn’t answer that question. You sighed and sat on the floor. 
“I’m also sorry for the way I’ve been treating you since first year. Since I found you were a Malfoy and all.” You smiled sadly. 
“Yeah, well, there was a reason I didn’t tell you my first name on the train. Especially after you told me your last name.” He sat down in front of you. 
“I-I shouldn’t have judged you based off of your last name. I know better. I knew better.”
“It's fine, really.”
“But it's really not.” He sighed. “I mean, my brother is friends with your brother and I don’t go picking on him. It's not fair and I really am sorry. I’m not just saying that. And I also didn’t know about your… your mom,” you swallowed. 
“It was a long time ago.”
“But you blame yourself and I didn’t help. You're not a murderer, and neither is your entire family. I really am sorry about that. And for the loss of her.” You looked him in his eyes and only saw sincerity. You smiled. 
“Thank you, James. It actually means a lot to me.” He smiled and handed you the bag of chocolate he had brought. “Whats this?”
“This is my stash. Wanna see?” He whispered. You smiled and he opened it up to reveal chocolate. You laughed and smiled brightly. Sadness was still laced throughout it, but it was happier. 
“You remembered our first meeting?”
“Considering I thought you were going to ask me to do drugs with you, yes.” Your eyes widened. 
“That is not what you thought! Did I really look like a drug dealer?” He smirked. 
“No. I just figured that's what the bag was about when you said it the way you did.” You laughed and looked at the bag. 
“Can I?”
“I brought it for you, a peace offering. Maybe to try and start again?” You smiled and took out two chocolate frogs, handing him one. 
“Hi, I’m Y/N. Want to share my chocolate?” He smiled and took the frog from you. 
“I’d love to.”
“Don’t you dare eat on this floor though!” He laughed and put the frog in his pocket. 
“I wouldn't dream of it.”
“No, he’s just protective. Wants the best for his siblings and such,” you shrugged. Draco scoffed. “What?”
“I was a prick like that. That's not the only thing going through his mind.”
“Dad,” you warned. 
“What? I’m just saying. The other two seemed fine. He was an egotistical control freak who, let me guess, has a new girl on his arm every other week. Wait, and let me guess, it gets better, right? He also bullies the less fortunate.”
“You almost described what you were like as a kid.”
“That's because I know what they look like. And that kid was me, just different.” You rolled your eyes, your mind wandering back to the school year and the various jabs he made at you… the less fortunate…
It had been a few weeks since you had taken Lily on as a student. Since she was new to dance you had suggested twice a week and found that Lily was a very capable dancer. She caught on quickly and was very confident in her movements, though you could tell she got stressed when she wasn't able to get something right. 
“That was excellent, Lily!” You praised. She smiled brightly at your praise. How about we move to the large room if you’d like, maybe even get your mother and father to watch,” you suggested. Her face lit up. “I’ll go get them. If there's someone dancing just stand on the side like usual, alright?” She nodded and practically pranced off to the large room.
You smiled at her and quickly walked to the waiting area. Her lesson was nearly over and Harry and or Ginny were normally there already. Your smile dropped when you noticed James leaning on the wall looking down at his camera.
“Hey, Potter,” You smiled. He looked up and his gaze made your heart go mad. “Your parents here?”
“No. They sent me to pick up Lily. Is she done?”
“We were going to run her routine in the large studio. Would you like to watch? She’s very proud of it.” 
“Sure.”
“Follow me.” you walked him back to a door. “Just go up these steps and you’ll be on the balcony. I’ll send her up to you when she’s finished.” You left him to go up the stairs and to the balcony. 
The large room was emptying out from the previous class when you entered. You had class right after you taught Lily so there was a few minutes break in between. 
“Ready?” She nodded and ran out to the middle of the room. “I’ll jump in if you get stuck, ok? Just keep going if you forget a step.” She nodded and set herself up. You pressed play on the music and her music started. You watched her from the sidelines, making mental notes on what to work on with her next lesson. You jumped in on the new part and helped her through it, which she seemed grateful for. 
The music ended and you smiled. 
“That was great, Lily! Keep practising and I’ll see you next week. Your brother is up on the balcony if you want to go meet him. You remember how to get up there?” She nodded. 
“Yep! Thank you, Y/N!” She hugged you and ran up to meet her brother as your friends started to walk in. You joined them in center to begin to stretch for class. 
James was waiting for Lily when she came running up the stairs. He put his camera away and picked her up. 
“That was beautiful! I got a few pictures of you doing it as well,” She smiled brightly. 
“Can we watch, Y/N dance?” She asked. “She has class right now and I wanna see what the older girls do.” James forced a smile, hating the idea of being in the same room as you longer than he had to, but agreed for his sister’s sake. He carried her to the edge as they watched you and a group of girls warm up. You were talking to Margaret as you stretched. You had taken your shirt off so you were in a backless red leotard; he was slightly surprised that the leotard wasn’t green.
“Hey isn’t that the girl you're teaching and her adorable brother?” You looked away from your curly hair friend to see James and Lily watching the class. You waved and Lily waved back as James just glared at you. You slowly brought your hand back down and turned back to Margaret. “What was that about?”
“He hates me,” you shrugged. 
“Why?”
“We go to the same school.” Her eyes widened. 
“Wait, that's the kid who bullies you?”
“I wouldn’t say bully.”
“I would. Want me to beat him up?” You laughed. 
“Maggy!”
“What? I will.” You rolled your eyes and slipped into your split. 
“No. I don’t want to lose his sister as a student. She is very talented, and a joy to teach.” Margaret frowned. 
“Well, whenever you want me to beat him up I’ll be all over it.” You laughed and your teacher began class. 
You notice James pull Lily out half way through, which you didn’t blame him for. Class was about three hours, and that wasn’t even the end of your day. Lily looked upset, but let him carry her out without a fuss. Margaret nudged you and nodded up towards the balcony.
“What?” You whispered, pirouetting a few times. 
“They left.”
“She’s probably exhausted. She danced for a vigorous hour with me.”
“Or maybe he likes you and couldn’t stop his heart from beating at the sight of you,” She hummed. You glared at her. 
She and Scropius were the only two who knew of your crush on James. And now you were regretting telling her. 
“Or maybe he couldn;t stand the sight of me anymore because he hates my guts.” You whispered back. She rolled her eyes. 
“Probably hard,” she muttered. You smacked her shoulder and stifled laughs. 
“Margaret!” She smiled at seeing you laugh. You had looked so off when you noticed them. Your stage fright getting the better of you. Now that they were gone you seemed more at ease. 
“Y/N!” You looked at the teacher. 
“Yes ma’am?”
“Class has ended.” You smiled. 
“Sorry ma’am. Would it be a problem if I stayed here for a bit longer?”
“By a bit longer do you mean ten tonight?” You chuckled. 
“Is that your hint that my day is over and to get out?” you asked with a grin. She rolled her eyes. 
“Well, my day is over. Good evening, Miss. Malfoy.”
“Good evening.” You went to the player and set up your music. You had some routines you wanted to run, as well as throw some tricks. 
James was tearing his already messy room apart, mumbling how he could not believe he lost something or other. 
“Jamie?” Lily asked coming in. “What’s wrong?”
“I think I left the cap to my camera at the studio,” He sighed and flopped down on the bed with a huff. 
“Y/N might not have left yet. She normally stays after closing.” James scoffed. 
“Like I want to be in there alone with her.”
“Wouldn;t surprise me,” Albus smirked from the doorway. 
“Go away, Albus.”
“You like her, admit it.”
“Why would I like a stuck up Malfoy?”
“Maybe because she isn’t stuck up?” Albus offered. “Come on, James. You know that better than anyone.” James scoffed and stood. 
“I need my lid, so I suppose it's worth a shot. Tell mum and Dad I’ll be back later.” He slung his camera over his body and grabbed his jacket heading out of the room, grumbling angrily.
He walked slowly down to his sister’s studio, semi praying that it was closed and he wouldn’t have to see you. He even stopped and took pictures of random things on his way. But, alas, it was not to be. 
When he got to the studio he pulled on the door which opened with ease. 
Maybe he wouldn’t see you?
Wrong. 
He walked up to the balcony and immediately heard someone on the floor. Being the curious person he was he peaked over to see you in front of a mat, pressed up against the wall on your toes. You ran and flipped in the air, landing on your behind. He cringed, but you got out of it with another trick. Had you meant to do that?
“Are you going to just watch me all day or are you going to at least say something?” You called up to him, prepping for another trick. He scowled and leaned over the railing. You glanced at him, sending him a small smile before running again and doing a front aerial, landing it perfectly. Though, you went over everything you could've done better in your head. 
“I was just looking for my camera lid,” he grumbled down at you. 
“Is that why you were studying me do a suicide?” You asked. His eyes widened. 
“A wh-what?” You chuckled. 
“Don’t think I didn’t see you cringe. I have excellent eyesight. The trick when I-oof-” you pushed off the ground into a roundoff back handspring. You landed it and rolled your shoulders, turning to him. “Landed on my butt. Its called a suicide. And the trick afterwards is a valdez,” you informed him. He just glared at you. You nodded awkwardly. “Nice talk. Oh, and your camera lid is on the desk out front.”
“How’d you-”
“I make sure no one left anything around the studio. If they do I leave it on the deck. You just happened to label it. J.S.P. Kind of hard not to know who that is.”
“Oh.”
You stood backwards against the mat and did four back handsprings, grimacing when you came up from the last one. You really needed a rest day. But a rest day would mean not coming into the studio. And you weren’t going to stay home with Astoria. 
Walking back to the other end of the mat nearly every bone in your body cracked or creaked in some way, making james cringe. You smiled up at him. 
“Not a fan of cracking bone?” You chuckled. 
“There was just so much. Is that normal?” You smiled to yourself. 
“Yeah. For me at least. I’m not naturally flexible so I crack a lot and I have to stretch every day in order not to get back to point A.” You stood against the wall and ran into your Front Handspring, immediately going into your back handspring. 
“Will Lily be able to,” he waved his hand at you. “Do this?” You chuckled and sat down on the mat, needing to stretch for a moment. 
“She’s very flexible. Her split is already down and her straddle is close. I could work with her during her lessons with acrobats. It's best to get them started young when they're growing. It gets harder when you're a teenager. So, if she works hard, yes. She could do this.” It was quiet for a few minutes as you stretched. “Your sister is very talented like her brother’s. You should be proud.” You smiled at him, standing and doing a backbend, sitting in it for a moment before coming back up, groaning as you did.
“I am. She works very hard at it.”
“Well, like you saw today, she’s moving quickly. By the time we go back to Hogwarts she should be ready to join a group class.”
“Is that good?” You smiled. 
“Yes. Group classes are fun and though they don;t cover as much as a private lesson does they’re just as challenging.”
“Really?” You chuckled at his confusion. This family knew nothing about ballet or dance at all. 
“Yeah I should know. I take at least four a week.”
“Four a week, really?”
“Yep. I teach on all of those days, plus one where I don’t have a lesson. And I have two days off. But, I’m still here working on technique.” You shrugged. 
“So you practically live here,” he joked. 
“Yeah. This is more of a home than Malfoy Manor ever has been.”
“Why, don’t love your parents?” he scoffed. 
“My dad I adore. We’re surprisingly close. Me and uh, Astoria, have a… forced relationship.” He raised his eyebrows in shock at you using her first name. 
“Must be honest, from the stories I've heard about the Malfoys, I wouldn't expect him to be a good parent,” James scoffed. You smiled sadly.
“Yeah, a lot of people wouldn’t. But I wouldn’t ask for a different one, as cheesy as that sounds.” You backed up against the wall and sprang off into a roundoff back tuck landing on your head. “Ah!” You sat up and rubbed your neck and head. That was going to be sore tomorrow. “Dammit!” You swore, smacking the mat. You stood up and walked back over to the end of the mat, getting ready to do it again. 
“Are you alright?” You glanced at James, yoru vision swimming for a moment before focusing on him. You blinked a few times to clear the spots from vision. 
“Yeah. Not the first time I’ve landed on my face,” you chuckled. You felt a tear slip down your face and wiped it away quickly. 
“You're crying.”
“Thank you captain obvious,” you joked, laughing. “It just hurts a bit,” you snifled and willed the rest of the tears away, rubbing your face and neck. It was definitely going to bruise. “Yet again, not the first time. Gotta fall a couple times before you stick the landing." You got ready on the wall to push off again, but your vision fell to the side and you knew you weren't going to be able to tumble any more. 
Dad’s gonna be pissed that he has to fix my head again.
You quickly rolled up the mats and looked at James who was studying. You smiled. 
“Did you eat yet? I’m positively starved and I know a good pizza joint down the road.”
“Why would I want to join you?” he sneered.
Moment of being civil over. 
You shrugged.                              
“Just thought I’d offer. My treat if you decide to join.” You looked around the room making sure everything was in place and clean. 
You nodded and left the room, shutting off the lights. You checked the other rooms and grabbed your bag, changing into jeans and a black crop top with your jean jacket. You walked out and grabbed your key from your bag. You saw James bouncing awkwardly on his feet. You smiled at him.
“Change your mind?”
“You did say you were paying,” he defended. “And I am not one to pass up free food.” You laughed and double checked everything. You grabbed your notebooks from the counter and shoved them in your bag.
“Well, let's go then. The pizza place is about a block away.”
“Don’t you need to get home?” He asked.
“Worried about me, Potter?” You asked teasingly as you locked up the studio. He scoffed. 
“Just asking.”
“My dad’s used to me coming home late. Though he might have to fix my head tonight,” you laughed and touched your forehead.
“It hurts?” You shrugged. 
“I mean, I did land on it with full force. I didn’t jump high enough or use nearly as much power,” you chastised yourself. “It was doomed from the beginning.” 
“Yet you're walking straight?”
“You were walking straight after you took that bludger to the head last year,” you chuckled. He rolled his eyes.
“That's because you Slytherin’s play dirty.” You laughed. 
“I can’t control the bludgers! I’m not even a beater!” You defended yourself. 
You opened the door to the pizza place and a fresh whiff of oregano cheese and dough filled your senses. You sighed. 
“Donte!” You yelled. A teenager walked from the back with crossed arms. 
“Y/N! What do you think I am? Your personal pizza maker?” You laughed and batted your eyes at your muggle friend. 
“Maybe.” 
“Your usual?” You nodded. 
“Yeah, but my friend here has never been.” Donte looked at James.
“Well, take a look at the menu. I’ll tell Dominique to start making your order.”
“It's appreciated!”
“Uhu,” he called back, already headed to the back. 
“Come here often, then?” James asked. You smiled. 
“Is it that obvious?” You walked with him to the counter where they had a menu above the counter for ordering. 
“What's good here?”
“What isn’t,” you laughed. “What kind of food do you like? They have pizza fries, garlic knots, pizza, pizza bread. Everything, realy.”
“What is it you get?”
“Garlic knots and a half of a calzone normally. I think that's what they’re cooking up back there. To be honest though I never know. They surprise me some days.”
“Who knew a Malfoy would be friends with muggles,” he sounded surprised. You hummed, holding back a snarky response. 
“Did you decide? I’m Sure the little dancer over here wasn’t much help.” You rolled your eyes at his nickname. 
“She really wasn’t. What do you suggest?”
“Well, if you like pizzas we sell smalls that are about six pieces. Great for taking home. Our garlic knots are pretty well known, but she’s already getting those, so I assume you’d just share with her.”
“Why would you assume that?” You asked, offended.
“Aren;t you two, ya know, a couple?” You laughed and so did James. The only difference was you cheeks flushed, wishing you were. 
“No,” You answered. “He hates my guts. I just happen to teach his sister. And then he came back to the studio because he forgot something.” Dante’s confused look dropped into one of murder. 
“Oh. So you're the one who’s picking on her,” he crossed his arms. 
“Donte!”
“Want me to beat him up?”
“How are you and Margaret not an item yet? She offered the same thing, and no. Just-Just order him the same as me but with pizza fries.” you huffed and turned to a both near the corner. James followed you, glancing over his shoulder at Donte who was still glaring at the two of you. 
“What was that about?” He scowled at you. You kept your eyes on Donte’s back, ignoring James. 
“I’d be careful when he brings the food over. He’s not opposed to spitting in people’s food,” you warned before fiddling with your napkin and waited for your food. You weren’t joking. You were starving. You hadn’t had time for an actual breakfast or to pack a lunch that day. You only had an apple before you left the house and a granola bar for lunch and you couldn’t wait to get some actual food in your body.
“So are you ever going to answer me?” James asked after a moment. You looked up. 
“What?”
“About your… friend?... Threatening to beat me up. Like he could touch me.” You laughed. 
“Donte is the most bad ass kid in this town. I bet he could beat you in a fight.”
“That was cold, Malfoy. Saying a muggle could beat me up.” 
“Oh? Would you cast a few spells on him so you’d get the upper hand?”
“Possibly.” You rolled your eyes.
“Because that sounds fair.”
“Since when do Slytherins care about being fair?” You mouth parted, but you had no words. Yet again, civil and then your back to reality. You slumped in your seat. Donte came over and glared at James as he gave you your food. “Thanks, Donny. I haven’t eaten all day,” you sighed, smelling the spices and ingredients better now that they were even closer to your nose. 
Your friend pointed to you threateningly. 
“You better start eating.” You laughed. 
“I missed my alarm!” You laughed. 
“And you had to get to the studio before your first lesson because?”
“Because I needed out of the house.”
“Mansion,” he coughed. You threw a fry at him. 
“Get back to work, Ankenson!” You laughed at him. 
“Of course, Miss. Malfoy,” he sarcastically bowed and left to continue working. You rolled your eyes and pulled apart one of your garlic knots. James watched the scene before grabbing a fry and eating it. 
“What?” You asked when you caught him studying you. He shook his head. 
“Does he know about the wizarding world?” 
“Yeah. I honestly should've obliviated him but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. He found out my first year after I got home from school." You frowned and shoved the bread in your mouth remembering your first year. All the kids up to no good wanted to make nice and be your friend. Thinking you were the stereotypical Malfoy. You had no friends that year and got picked on by James like there was no tomorrow. 
“Ya know, you still never answered my question. Why did he want to beat me up?” You shoved a garlic knot in your mouth. 
“Becuas woo wick end e,” you mumbled. 
“Come again.”
“He found out I was getting.. Uh… picked on.. I guess,” you shook your head and shoved another piece of the knot in your mouth. 
“You can handle yourself though.” You looked away. 
“Yeah. He’s just over protective.” 
And for a good reason. You liked to think yourself strong, but you knew you weren’t. You could hold it together in the moment, but would completely collapse when you were alone. That's actually how you two met. 
You had gotten into another fight with Astoria when you were eight and had been packed and leaving the mansion. Scorpius was crying in the parlor because you were leaving and your father was still at work, so there was no one to talk the situation down. 
You had made it to the back of the pizza shop before completely collapsing and succumbing to sobs when a nine year old in jeans and t-shirt was walking by and saw you crying. He had taken you home after calming you down. He may have been a punk, but he was still kind. He had taken you back home and father was beyond furious at both you and Astoria. Mostly Astoria, though. You had just scared the crap out of him because he actually thought you would have gone through with it, and losing his kid was his worst fear. You and Donte had been friends ever since. 
The two of you finished in near silence. The only time one of you spoke was to see if the other could have fries or a Garlic knot. You had ended up paying, like you said you would. 
“I’ll pay you back in wizard money,” James said, his hands in his pockets as you two stepped out. 
“Nonsense! I told you I would pay. Besides, I'm pretty sure he gave me a discount.”
“How do you even have muggle money?”
“I work at the studio, so I get paid in both since I teach magical and non-magical kids.” You explained, hopping onto the curb and balancing like you always did. 
“Huh, weird. You’d think you didn;t even need to get paid.” You looked at him. 
“WHats that supposed to mean?”
“Well your family’s rich.”
“So is yours,” you countered. 
“Well, we don’t act like it,” he snapped back. 
“Oh? So just because I don’t dress down all the time and we throw a few parties with stuffy know it all pure blooded Slytherins that makes us act like it?”
“Yeah, actually. It does!”
“Fascinating, Potter. Your way of thinking is quite dizzying. A poor, simple minded Slytherin like myself is having a hard time keeping up. Should I bow down to the Gryffindor prince now?”
“Like you don't expect everyone to do the same,” He scoffed. 
“I don’t! You do understand that I hate the way people view me, right? I hate that my last name and all the little things that come with it! Having people look at me like I’m some monster! That I’m supposed to act like Slytherin’s princess!”
“Well aren’t you? You're from a family full of murders and monsters. Doesn't that automatically make you one to? A monster? A murderer?” You froze at the word murderer. Tears welled in your eyes and you turned away from the boy.
“Before you go around picking on people, James,” your voice cracked as you tried to keep your emotions in check, but obviously failing. “Try and get to know them first, they might just surprise you.” You bolted down the sidewalk and did not stop until you got home. Or, rather, to the manor. 
Tears were running down your face at this point and you were sobbing, the words murderer and monster ringing in your head. You slammed the door shut and pressed your body up against it, putting your hand over your mouth to quiet the sobs. But your father had heard you arrive and stepped out of the parlor, expecting a happy daughter who had just got back from dancing. This was not what he got. 
His smile fell when he saw you and quickly ushered you into the parlor where he had come from. You completely broke down and he just held you, worried about what happened. He rubbed your back until your sobs had quieted. He then sat you down on the couch. 
“What happened? What's wrong?” You shook your head, looking down at your hands. “Hey, sweet heart, what happened?” You sniffled and wiped the tears from your eyes.
“Dad, am-am I a monster? Because-because of mom?” he stared at you for a moment and shook his head. 
“Of course not, that wasn’t your fault. There were multiple compil-”
“But it was because of me,” you said sadly. “Because she had me. I killed mom,” you couldn’t look at him. James was right. Wherever your last name was, death happened. You had caused it last time. It was your fault that your mother died. Your real mother. 
“Look at me, Y/N,” he pulled your face up to meet his. “You did not kill your mother. Whatever put this thought in your head, get it out right now. Do you understand me?” You nodded and sniffled. “Where did this come from?” 
“It's-its just a thought, I've been entertaining for a while,” you mumbled. It wasn;t a complete lie.
“Possibly, but who brought this up?”
“He didn’t mean to, I don’t think.”
“Who?” He knew it couldn't have been Donte. He’d met him a few times and, though he was a rebel and got into fights every other day, he seemed to take care of his daughter and he was grateful for that.
“James,” you mumbled. He almost didn’t catch it, but he wanted to be sure before he went around throwing accusations. 
“Could you say that one more time?”
“J-James. But please don’t do anything!I don't want there to be more problems!”
“More?” He raised an eyebrow and you flinched back. 
Oops. 
Your father may or may not have known that you had been getting picked on at school. You didn’t want him to do anything rash, like you knew he was going to do now. 
“I-I mean any. Because there would have to be problems to begin with for there to be more. But-but there aren’t any problems. Ever. Nope. None.” you faked a yawn and looked up at the mantel’s clock. “Would you look at the time? I’m beat! I-I’ll see you tomorrow, Dad. And please don't say anything. To any one. Ever.” You rushed out of the room, hoping he wouldn’t say anything. 
But as Draco watched you scurry out of the room, he knew he had to. He didn't even know you were getting picked on. And by a Potter! How many times had a Potter made you cry and he was unaware there was even a problem? No way was this going to slide by him. Not happening. 
“Potter!” Draco called and jogged over to Harry who turned and looked at him suspiciously. 
“Yes, Malfoy? Can I help you with something?” Draco hesitated. 
“Can I talk to you in private?” Harry gave him a look but complied. They walked into an empty office. 
“What do you want?”
“I want to talk about your son and my daughter.” Harry furrowed his eyebrows. 
“I don’t understand.”
“Your son said a few… choice words that made my daughter upset the other night and apparently it has been going on for a while.”
“Like what?”
“I’m not sure exactly, but she came home in tears last night asking if she were a monster because of a…” He cleared his throat. “An accident that happened when she was born.” Harry understood immediately. He had known about Draco’s first marriage and how that ended. “I then asked why she was thinking this and she asked me not to say anything, but I care for her… a lot.” Harry nodded. 
“I’ll talk to James. I’m sorry she had to go through that. You as well.” Draco nodded and cleared his throat again. 
“Yes, um, thank you.” Draco walked past Harry and out of the conference room. Harry thought about how the tables had turned. But it still wasn’t right. No matter what happened in their childhood. 
“James! Can I talk to you for a second?” Harry called to his son who was playing with Lily in the yard as if nothing had happened yesterday. He had spent the night convincing himself that she had deserved it. That Malfoys and Slytherin’s like that didn’t have emotions. It cleared his conscience and took away his guilt.
“Yeah, dad!” He dropped Lily and ran into the house. Harry took him to the empty dining room, not wanting to rope Ginny into this. “Whats up.”
“Did you say anything that might’ve upset Y/N Malfoy yesterday?” James’ mouth dropped. 
“The snitch!”
“So you did?”
“She deserved it,” he grumbled. “I can’t believe she snitched to her father,” he scoffed. 
“She didn’t.” James looked up, confused. “Apparently she came home in tears the other night because of whatever you told her. What did you say exactly.”
“Uh-” James rubbed the back of his head. “Just that all Slytherin’s like her never had good intentions and uh- that her family was full of murderous monsters?” Harry stared at his son. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. 
“James, do you know about her at home life?”
“She lives in a grand old manor with a huge ballroom, and her parents.”
“Parent. Astoria isn’t Y/N’s real mother.”
“Ok? That sucks but-”
“Her mother died from complications of childbirth.” Harry clarified. James stopped. He hadn’t known you had an actual mother. Albus walked in and read the uncomfortable air. 
“What did I just walk in on?”
“Just talking about the way James treats a few of his classmates.”
“You told him you bully Y/N? Thank Merlin!” Harry’s eyebrows shot up and he glanced at his son who was glaring at his other son. “Oh. That wasn’t the conversation, was it? I’m just going to leave now.” He ran out of the room before James could grab him. Harry crossed his arms. 
“So you're also a bully?”
“She’s a bi-jerk. Thinks she’s better than the rest of us.” Lily came prancing in the room with Ginny, who was holding a bag. 
“Hi, Harry. Hi James.” She kissed the two on the cheeks and Lily jumped on the counter. 
“Daddy! You should come next time! Y/N taught me a new turn and asked if I had an interest in par-su-ing acrobatics!”
“Pursuing,"he corrected her with a smile "I thought you didn't have a lesson today sweetie.”
“I had to run to a few places and Lily didn't want to go. We stopped at the studio to pick up a few things and Y/N asked if she would rather take an extra lesson. So while I ran boring errands, she got a free dance lesson.”
Harry eyed James. 
“Jerk? Really? She sounds horrid. Have you even ever had a conversation with her?” James grumbled a no. Ginny looked between the two. 
“What happened?”
“James made her cry the other day.” Ginny raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms at her son. 
“Did he now?” Lily frowned at her brother. 
“Thats rude. Especially since she took you to a pizza place yesterday.”
“How’d you know about that.” Lily handed him his camera lid. 
“You forgot this again. She also told me to ask you to forgive her for whatever she said wrong. She seemed upset today,” Lily frowned.
“See! She’s using my family against me. Manipulative! She told her dad in, obviously fake, tears and told him to complain to you about a miniscule fight!”
“A minuscule fight where you called her entire family murderous monsters. And she told Draco not to say anything.”
“You called the Malfoys murderous monsters?” Ginny asked, looking at her son, half proud half disappointed.
“I-I didn’t think she’d cry about it! She never does!” Albus walked in, deciding it was a good time to stop eavesdropping. 
“Actually she does. Every time. Same spot by the lake. She’s fine until she’s alone. Scorpius and I saw her sobbing one day.” James’ mouth went dry. He had made you sob everytime he picked on you? How did you still have tears? “What did she even do to you?" Albus asked, actually curious. He remembered James complaining about you since the first summer after Hogwarts, though he had never given a reason why. 
Ginny and Harry gave him a disappointed look. 
“Yeah, I know. I’m sorry! I didn’t know!” James yelled in defense. 
“And that makes it better?” Ginny asked, disappointed in her son. 
“No,” he mumbled. “I’ll apologize.”
“You better bet your-”
“Ginny.” Ginny took a breath.
“Yes you will. Tomorrow. Go to bed.” James rolled his eyes and walked up to his room without complaint. 
James woke up late that day, dreading his task. Not only did he have to apologize to a Malfoy, but he had the strange feeling of guilt. Were you as terrible as he thought? He had only talked to you once before he found out you were a Malfoy. On the train. He had been utterly lost and you had wandered into his compartment asking if he wanted to share your bag of sweets, which was quite large. It was literally a duffle bag filled to the brim with all sorts of candies. 
“Mind if I join you?” An eleven year old you asked. He looked up from his wand to see you standing awkwardly at the door. Butterflies beat in his stomach. 
“Uh-yeah, sure!” he smiled. You smiled and slid into his compartment. You settled in front of him and sat the bag on your lap. You looked out the doors and back at him, motioning for him to come towards you. He leaned forward in his seat. And you smirked, making him nervous.
“Wanna see my stash?” He eyed you suspiciously. Before he could say no, you opened your bag to reveal it filled top to bottom and everywhere in between with chocolate. His mouth dropped open at the sight of it all. There was so much. 
“Wow. Where did you get all this?” You laughed and dug in it, pulling out a chocolate frog. 
“I have my ways. Want some?” 
“Can I?”
“Wouldn’t have offered if you couldn’t!” You slid the bag from your shoulder and sat it on the floor in between you so you could both eat it at your pleasure. You two talked the entire train ride. The butterflies in both of your stomachs were going insane. 
You were careful not to reveal your last name to him. Maybe if he got to know you first he wouldn’t hate you, like you assumed most people would when they heard your last name. But then you heard him say his last name.
“By the way, I’m James Potter,” he smiled. Your heart sank. The stories of your family history goes back centuries of Potters and Malfoys hating each other. Your father and his. Lucius and James. It went back even further than that. You smiled through the panic. 
“Y/N. So you like quidditch?” You had quickly changed the subject, not wanting him to ask more. Luckily, he didn;t seem to notice and he adored quidditch, just like you. But then it all just went wrong at the sorting Ceremony. 
He stared at his ceiling for a minute. Those same damn feelings rising in his chest when he thought about you. Not about how you were a stuck up Malfoy, but how you were an eleven year old girl on the Hogwarts express asking to share some candy with him and talk about his family and anything quidditch. 
“I’m just a jerk,” he mumbled to himself.”
“A big dumb jerk, yes,” Albus said from the doorway. He sat up and stared daggers at his brother. 
“What did I say about coming into my room?”
“And what did I say about you liking her?” He sneered at his younger brother.
“I don’t like her.”
“Lies.” Albus walked into his room. “You better get down to the studio soon. They close in about three hours. And don’t screw up. Just because her dad was a jerk to ours doesn;t mean she’s rude.”
“Yeah, thanks for the second lecture. Now get out of my room.” Albus held up his hands and walked out leaving James to get ready. He threw on a pair of jeans and a shirt, still half asleep and the other half of his thoughts were on you. “Merlin, I’m a mess,” he muttered as he slid his camera over his shoulder and headed downstairs. Harry was sitting at the dining room table with Ginny. “Morning.” He grumbled out and went into the kitchen to grab a drink before heading out. 
“It's afternoon!” Harry called into him. 
“So I see!” He chugged a water and looked towards the cupboard that had the chocolate stash. Without a second though he grabbed a small fabric drawstring bag from the shelf and filled it with chocolate. “I’m going down to apologize,” he muttered. Harry nodded in approval and James left the house, quickly making his way down the sidewalk and to the dance studio before closing hours.
He stepped into the building and walked past a bunch of girls who he knew were staring at him. He walked to the front desk and smiled at the woman working. 
“Hello, can I help you?”
“Yes, I’m looking for Y/N Malfoy. I have some business I would like to discuss with her.”
“She is currently teaching the new ones, but you can wait up in the balcony for her. I’ll send someone back to tell her you want to speak to her before she goes back to work on her other dances. She didn't look well today, probably landed on her head again and didn’t get it checked out,” she sighed. James swallowed. Had he made you so upset yesterday that you hadn’t gotten your dad to look at your head?
Why did he care this much? Maybe it was because since he found out that you had cried about it, he realized you weren't heartless like he had tried to convince himself. That you were actually kind and that he had wasted five years picking on you instead of talking to you. 
He sighed and walked up the stairs to the nearly empty sitting section. He went to his spot by the railing and looked over. You were helping itty bitty ones, looked around three and four. You cheered for them, teased them, and held them. He noticed how gentle you were with them. He frowned deeper. 
Merlin, I’m an ignorant jerk. 
You were helping Abby with her plie when Margaret walked in. You looked up at her and waved with a smile, but she didn't have the same expression on her face.
“What's wrong? Why are you still here?”
“I was heading out when Miss. Rosier stopped me. Apparently someone,” she glanced up in the balcony, “is here to see you." You followed her gaze to James. “Claims to have some business.” Your entire body tensed. Your heartbeat picked up and you looked down. “I can stay. This is the last class today so it would just be us thr-”
“It's fine, Maggy. Go home. Your mum must be ready to kill you for not being there already. She has four little ones to juggle,” you chuckled and went back to helping the little girl. 
“Are you sure?”
“I’ll be fine. Thank you, though.” Your friend eyed James before nodding and leaving. You swallowed. You weren’t emotionally prepared for this. 
Class finished up too quickly and the girls left the studio to go home and to their families. You stayed in the large studio and James stayed where he was up top. 
“Might as well come down here, Potter. No matter how much you think I’m not going to cast a curse on you.” James walked down and into the studio, you noticed he had his shoes in his hands and was grateful for that. It was one of your biggest pet peeves. “What was your business with me?” You asked, turning around to meet his gaze. 
“I wanted to say I was sorry. For what I said the other day.” You shook your head. 
“I know my father went to yours. You probably think me a snitch along with a murderous monster.” He swallowed at your words. He hadn’t exactly meant what he said.  
“I don’t think you any of that.”
“Then why did you say it?” He stayed silent. He couldn’t answer that question. You sighed and sat on the floor. 
“I’m also sorry for the way I’ve been treating you since first year. Since I found you were a Malfoy and all.” You smiled sadly. 
“Yeah, well, there was a reason I didn’t tell you my first name on the train. Especially after you told me your last name.” He sat down in front of you. 
“I-I shouldn’t have judged you based off of your last name. I know better. I knew better.”
“It's fine, really.”
“But it's really not.” He sighed. “I mean, my brother is friends with your brother and I don’t go picking on him. It's not fair and I really am sorry. I’m not just saying that. And I also didn’t know about your… your mom,” you swallowed. 
“It was a long time ago.”
“But you blame yourself and I didn’t help. You're not a murderer, and neither is your entire family. I really am sorry about that. And for the loss of her.” You looked him in his eyes and only saw sincerity. You smiled. 
“Thank you, James. It actually means a lot to me.” He smiled and handed you the bag of chocolate he had brought. “Whats this?”
“This is my stash. Wanna see?” He whispered. You smiled and he opened it up to reveal chocolate. You laughed and smiled brightly. Sadness was still laced throughout it, but it was happier. 
“You remembered our first meeting?”
“Considering I thought you were going to ask me to do drugs with you, yes.” Your eyes widened. 
“That is not what you thought! Did I really look like a drug dealer?” He smirked. 
“No. I just figured that's what the bag was about when you said it the way you did.” You laughed and looked at the bag. 
“Can I?”
“I brought it for you, a peace offering. Maybe to try and start again?” You smiled and took out two chocolate frogs, handing him one. 
“Hi, I’m Y/N. Want to share my chocolate?” He smiled and took the frog from you. 
“I’d love to.”
“Don’t you dare eat on this floor though!” He laughed and put the frog in his pocket. 
“I wouldn't dream of it.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`~~~~~~~~
Let me know what you guy thinkin the comments I hope you liked it and stay tuned for chapter 2 next week!
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emf005 · 2 years
Text
Home Coming
Marauders Era/ non-magical
Marauders x Reader, Army brother x reader
Warnings: Mentions of death, anxiety, over protective over brothers
Hey guys! I hope you like this one! I've been working on it for a while and finally found out an ending. I hope you like it as much as I. Just for reference this is a non-Hogwarts story. Its a boarding school, so set in the muggel world. So, let me know what you think and requests are still open if any of you guys have any ideas!
You passed the common room, chewing on your already non-existent nails. The mail would be coming any second now. Any second Malcome, the mail deliverer for Gryffindor house, would be walking through that door to hand you two letters. One from Nigle at home and the other from Brent who was overseas fighting for your country.
Sirius and Remus watched you with uneasy faces. They knew how you got on mail day. You weren’t an openly expressive person, but once a week they saw your nerves just explode out of you. And if you didn’t get a letter that week… no one would see you for two days. No one knew where you went. You didn’t eat, they doubted you slept. But on the third day, you would walk into the great hall for food looking like you had gone to war yourself. 
James walked down the stairs just as you ripped off your index finger’s nail. He winced for you when you just moved on to your ring finger without hesitation. He sat down besides Sirius and Remus and watched your pace. 
“How long has she been…”
“Four hours.” Remus answered, no one taking their eyes off you. 
“At least. She was already like this when we got here.” Sirius added. James frowned. 
They all knew how important family was to you. And all you had left of the blood family was your two brothers. They practically raised you. Your mother had died in a car crash when you were five and your father in a war when you were seven. 
You had been friends with James since you two were in diapers and when you all went to Hogwrats, the boarding school for the Elite, you met Remus, Sirius, Lily, and Peter. They all knew of your situation. You were raised like a military daughter by your father. He hadn;t meant to be so harsh when he was home and it never bothered you. But because of the way you were brought up, you never showed emotion or weakness, if you could help it. You were scarily physically fit and you had a tactical brian. (You were the only one both Sirius and Remus lost at chess to). When he died it was really hard. You had James and your brothers, but after the funeral, Brent had to leave again and Nigel was barely ever around because he worked so much. But you all made do with what you could. 
The door opened and you stopped halfway on your partially ripped off nail as Lily Evans walked in. You tore the rest of the nail off and continued to pace. She frowned and sat down by the boys. 
“She looks worse than normal.”
“She didn’t get a letter last week from Brent, remember?” She nodded. 
“Right. I forgot. Should we-”
“No,” all three boys replied in unison. While Lily was your closest female friend, you were much closer to the four boys. Even Peter who was serving out a detention with Professor Flitwick, the geography teacher. She sighed and sat back into the couch and watched you with the rest of the boys. You had finished tearing apart your right hand and had started on your left when the door opened again. You paused and looked up. Black hair? Check. Brown eyes? Check. Tall and gangly? Check. Messenger bag? Check. 
Malcolm had arrived with the mail. 
Everyone dashed over to the man and he handed everything out, you waited in the back. Silently and what could have been mistaken as patients. The boys and Lily got they’re mail and walked back to the couch to wait for you. You always got your mail alone. You always insisted. You always made sure you got your mail alone. 
You walked up to the messenger boy and he smiled. 
“How are you doing, Y/N?”
“Alright, and you?” You looked in his back and back at him. He smiled gently and handed you a letter and a box. 
“I’ve been fine. Happy early birthday, Y/N.” He handed you the objects and left. You watched him go and stared at the door even after it closed. You swallowed and went back to your friends. 
“What did you get?” Lily asked with fake chipperness, earning glares from the boys. She tried too hard sometimes. She had the best intentions, but she didn’t understand that you had to be the first to speak. She couldn;t go out in search of a conversation. It was just how you functioned. 
You didn;t answer and set the letter and box down. You looked at the neatly wrapped box. It was from Nigel, as expected. Moment of truth. You held your breath, and so did the boys, as you flipped the card over. 
Nigel Y/L/N
You tensed at the name written. It wasn't from Brent. He never missed two weeks in a row. What had happened? Is he alright? 
You swallowed and silently stood, picking up the box. You nodded to your friends and disappeared up the stairs, not being able to control your shaking much longer. You were scared. So so scared. You wouldn’t be able to sit through your brother’s funeral. If that's what happened. James had to take you away from your fathers, but what would happen if it was Brent lying in that coffin instead of your father this time? 
Two weeks in a row. You couldn’t fathom it. You didn;t even care that it was your birthday week. You just didn’t care. You just wanted to know that he was alright.
You set the letter and the box down on your bed before grabbing your secret emergency bag and disappearing out the window and down the vines on the tower. You needed a minute. And by a minute you meant two days.
Two days passed and no one had seen you, as usual. On the third day, the boys were expecting you to walk in for breakfast, but you didn’t. The four of them exchanged glances. That had never happened before. It was always two days. No more, no less. Did they like it? No. Did they wish they could change it? Absolutely. But they could not. Three days in a row though? That had them even more worried. 
The breakfast bell rang, singling it was time to go to their first class. Luckily they had they’re favorite class. Literature with Professor Mcgonagall.She was not only the head of their house, but she was the only person who sort of put up with their antics. 
“Where do you think she is?” Remus asked James and Sirius. Peter and LIly were walking a bit ahead of the three. James and Sirius shook their heads. 
“I don’t know. But it can’t be good. I snagged her some fruit and a muffin incase we see her, though,” Sirius said. He was the one always looking out for your physical health. Making sure you were eating enough and not studying too hard or working down at the coffee shop in town for too long. Remus and James made sure that you knew all of them were there for you. Peter was the annoying little brother who could get you to roll your eyes with amusement and Lily would often distract you with gossip that you had no interest in hearing. 
“That's good. She always looks like she has lost twenty pounds when she comes back.” James and Sirius nodded in sad agreement. 
The five of them entered the classroom to see you sitting at your usual spot with your normal ridgid back, though you looked more stiff than normal. Lily and Peter greeted you before taking their seats, though all they got was a silent head nod. James sat down on one side of you and Sirius took the other side. Remus sat in front of you besides Lily. 
Sirius pulled out the food and sat it down beside you, wishing he had thought to grab some bacon before it had disappeared.
“Here,” he slid it over to you, but all you did was eye it before pulling your attention back to the front. “Y/N, you gotta eat.”
“Not hungry,” you grumbled out. He bit his tongue before he came back with a snarky comment. He was normally able to, but when you were like this, even the teachers walked on eggshells around you. Your temper was notorious around the school and you would most likely disappear for another few days. 
“It's not much, Y/N/N. I really think you should-”
“Not. Hungary.” He studied you for a second more. Your cheek bones were sharper and your eyes duller. He could see all the bones in your hand and your collar bone looked as if it were about to break skin. Not to mention you were paler than a ghost.  
“Then eat it for me?” You glanced at him and clenched your jaw. You two had a mini argument with your eyes, but you were too tired to continue fighting with him so you took the napkin and started nibbling on some of the grapes. 
You hated to admit it, but you were hungry.
Mcgonagall saw you eating but let you. She was normally strict about that sort of thing, but you were always the exception. Especially if it had been a rough weekend. You went through the motions of the day. You always had a class with either Remus, Sirius, James or all three. Sometimes your classes had one of those three plus Peter and Lily. Mcgonagall was the only one you six had all together, though.
After classes you went to the great hall, ate one thing and left without a word. No one was too happy with your actions, but they didn’t want to push you further away by arguing with you about it. Hopefully you would be better in the morning. 
You weren’t. 
You showed up for breakfast, which was good. You ate an apple and a piece of bacon, but that was it. You couldn’t stomach anything other than that. Sirius tried to get you to eat something else. A bit more, a chocolate chip muffin or one of those mini cakes, but you begged him with your eyes to stop. He nodded and stopped attempting to get you to eat more. 
The two of you normally knew what the other was thinking, which always freaked James and Remus out a bit. All it took was for you two to glance at each other sometimes and there would be some inside joke shared. You two were actually the reason charades were banned on game night. Not like you two didn't normally win anyhow when you were paired up. 
Yet again, that day you went through the motions. They all watched you do it. The next day was your birthday. Your sixteenth. They had all planned a surprise party, just you six, but you wouldn’t want to participate. They knew that. How they wished your brother had had a chance to send a letter back. It was actually painful to see you like this… 
The next day you woke up and immediately wanted to go back to sleep. But Lily made you get up and get dressed. The boys were waiting for you down stairs with soft smiles on their faces, which you appreciated. Normally they would be all over you and you would all laugh like maniacs. But you weren’t in the mood for laughing. 
“Happy birthday, Y/N/N,” James said and kissed your hairline. A thing he had done since you were kids. You two were exactly like siblings. He was a Y/L/N and you were a Potter. A bit weird when you thought about it, but also not weird at all. 
“Thanks, Jamie.” You said with a smile.Remus and Peter wished you a happy birthday and hug as well.
“Happy birthday,” Sirius said finally as you all headed out of the common room. He patted you awkwardly on the back which made you chuckle. You rested your head on his shoulder as you two walked, honestly about to fall back asleep. 
“Thanks, Sirius.” You said sadly. 
“He’s alright, Y/N. You know that.” You stayed silent. You really wish you did. 
You ate a bit more at breakfast that day, thanks to Sirius insisting that you have a small breakfast cake. You could use the sugar anyhow. But, despite your friends' best efforts, you felt the worst today. You just wanted to curl up in your blanket and sleep for an entire eternity. Until the war was over and your brother could come home. Until summer when you would be able to see them both. You just wanted your family back. That was the one thing you wished for that you knew could never happen.
“Now, who can tell me what we learned from Hamlet?” Mcgongall asked from the front of the class. You weren’t paying attention. Normally, you and Lily would be rivaling each other, playfully, to answer the question, but you just didn’t have the energy or the care to answer today.
The door squeaked open from behind the class and everyone turned in their seats to see who it was. Everyone but you. You were rolling your quill up and down the parchment with nothing but dull boredom. After a few minutes Sirius nudged your side. 
“Hm?” He nudged you again. “What?” You looked up at him, irritated, but then you caught something else. You looked past him and your whole body stopped. 
There at the back of the class was Brent. He was in his uniform pants and a plain white t-shirt and had a box in his hand. He had that stupid half, crooked grin on his face as he stared you down. 
Tears were in your eyes as you jumped up and ran to him. You leapt onto him and wrapped your legs around his waist like you did when you were a little girl. 
He hugged you tightly as you buried your head into the crook of his neck. You sobbed into his shirt and squeezed him tightly. 
The majority of your classmates were surprised by your reaction. They never saw you really show much emotion other than laughter. To see you actually leap onto someone like this and start to sobbing was something completely strange and forgin to them. 
But you didn’t care. For once in your life you didn’t care that they saw a weaker side of you. 
“I hate you so much. You're such a jerk.” You mumbled into his shoulder. He hugged you tighter and chuckled. 
“I know. I’m sorry. I’m so so so sorry.” You sobbed again. And he looked at his old teacher, silently asking permission to leave with you. She rolled her eyes and made a shooing motion with her hands. He smiled gratefully and took you out of the room.
He took you down to the “Black Lake”, still carrying you like a child. You two got a few weird looks but neither of you really cared. 
He set you down and you two sat across from each other. He wiped your face off. 
“Hey, no more crying for me. Ok? I’m alright. See?” He held his arms out, making you chuckle with a hiccup.
“Yeah. Ok.” He frowned and set a hand on your knee. 
“Hey. You gotta take care of yourself too. You look terrible. You actually get fed good food up here, and what do I get? Nasty surprise meat. I’d take advantage of that if I were you.” You nodded and hugged your knees. 
“How’ve you been, though? Your letters aren’t always very detailed.”
“I’m alright. I met a pretty girl over in America when I was stationed over there last month.”
“And you didn’t tell me?” You gasped, faking offense.
“I told Nigel.”
“Rude.” He laughed and shoved your knee. You smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind your ear.
“So why are you here? They wouldn’t let you out just for my birthday.”
“Actually I got stationed at the base close to home. I got the day pass.”
“So you have all day?” You asked excitedly.
“I do, you have class.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time I skipped. ALthough, the boys might be upset that I didn;t ask them to tag along.” He smirked, mischief glinting in his eye. 
“Well perhaps, since it is your birthday and all, we can have a break from school? You and the boys? What do you say?” You beamed. “I’ve been wanting to meet who you have been talking about. I mean, I know James, but the other three?”
“You’ll love them!” You started to ramble on and on about them and he just smiled. He never saw you this animated about much before. Even as a little girl you would hide your emotions a bit more than any other kid your age would. Especially after losing your mother. You were too little to really understand what was happening. You did understand, though, that a person you trusted and cared for was never coming back. That had broken you a bit. It only got worse with age. And then when money became an issue when your father died and Nigel started to work non-stop and then Brent joined the army, it was just so much for someone so young. 
The bell rang and you smiled. 
“Meet us at the football in ten minutes.” You ran off quickly. He rolled his eyes and shoved the present he had gotten you in the pocket of his uniform. He remembered a bit of stuff in your letters about the group of friends you had found. He hadn;t seen you since you had joined the school-what is that now?- four years ago, maybe? He nearly didn’t recognize you when he walked into the room. 
You had gotten taller, definitely, your hair was a bit (Darker/Lighter) and you looked almost exactly like dad, but more feminie. He couldn;t have helped but get a bit sad at the sight of you, though. He had missed so much of your life. So many Christmases, Birthdays, Halloweens. He missed them all. But at least you were able to get your school supplies and your uniform. Eat a proper meal, when you would let yourself
He walked down to the football stadium on campus but stopped by a payphone to give Nigel a ring. He hadn;t seen him yet, and although he would disapprove of you and your friends skipping the rest of your classes, he was almost positive that he would come meet you and spend your birthday with them.
You caught them as they were walking out of the classroom. They smiled at your smile and jogged over to you. Sirius slung an arm around your shoulder. 
“See. I told you he was alright.”
“And thank god you were right. Anyhow! He wants to spend the day with me and since he hasn;t met any of you yet, would you all like to come along?” “Ditch classes?” Lily asked disapprovingly. You gave her puppy dog eyes. She sighed in defeat. “I will not tag along, but I will not stop you nor will I rat you out.” YOU smiled, knowing that was the best you would get from her. You turned to the other boys. 
“Count me in! I haven’t seen Brent in ages.” James said happily. 
“I’m in too!” Sirius laughed. “Getting out of class is getting out of class!” he laughed. The three stared at Remus and Peter. 
“I just got out of detention,” Peter squeaked. “I don;t want to go back to helping Mrs.Norris de-ratify the dungeons!” You gave a pout, but understood. Then you turned all your attention on Remus. He opened his mouth about to decline the offer, but you mouthed a silent “please” to him and he gave up. 
“I suppose one day of skipped classes.” You grinned, wide.
“YES!” You yelled and pulled the three after you. “You two are going to love Brent! He's been dying to meet you!” They all laughed, glad to see you back to your usual self.
You took them down to the Football field where you saw two boys talking leisurely. You smiled and ran faster. 
“Nigel!?” The second boy looked up and smiled. 
“Speak of the devil.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Sargent Slacker was telling me about your plan to skip school and drag your poor friends plus James-”
“Hey!”
“-along for the ride.” 
“They willingly came, there was no dragging. Oh! Neither of you have met Remus or Sirius yet!” You shoved them in front of you, Sirius laughing and Remus stumbling a bit. “Sirius, Remus, these are my older brothers, Nigel and Brett.” You gestured to the two. “Nigle Brett, this is Sirius Black and Remus Lupin.”
“I’m James!” 
“We know!” All five of you called in unison.                                                                                                                                                     
“Nice to meet you, Remus, Sirius,” your brothers said and shook their hands. Nigel ruffled James’ hair as you all started to walk down towards town. It wasn’t far from school and was a nice quaint area with lots of places to hang out. None of the people that roamed or shopped there would rat you out to the teachers for ditching. Some had already tried to tattle on the kids early on in the school’s years but stopped after a few years realizing that it wasn’t going to do anything. And, honestly, it didn’t happen so much anymore.  
You were talking with Brent and Sirius upfront while Remus and James were in the back with Nigel. 
“So, what's been happening at school? How’s Mcgonagall?”
“Still teaching the same courses as when you were here.” You answered with a smirk feeling much more like yourself. Four years. It had been four years since you last saw your brother and now he was home for a little while. You laughed the whole way down to the coffee shop. Brent and Nigel slowly getting to know Remus and Sirius. 
When you finally got to the coffee shop you and Sirius went to find a seat while everyone else went to get the order in. You got the same thing everytime and Sirius had given Remus his order quickly and a few coins to get it. 
“So, having a good birthday I take it?” Sirius asked. You laughed and nodded, looking over at your brother who was messing up James’ hair. 
“It may sound selfish, but yeah. I really am.”
“Why would that sound selfish?” You looked at your friend with a small smile. 
“Well, to me, at least, it sounds like I don’t appreciate you guys. You have to deal with all my shit all the time and it's so not fair. I’m sorry, really I-”
“Hey. No. Don't be sorry. If we minded putting up with your shit every now and then we wouldn’t stick around you at all. Don’t ever be sorry though, alright? I couldn’t imagine Reg going off to war and leaving me stuck here, wondering if he’s alright or not. I’d completely lose it. You can at least function.”
“Barely,” you scoffed. Sirius chuckled. 
“Barely is still functioning.” You looked down at your lap, still slightly ashamed for the way you had been acting. Sirius grabbed your hand and squeezed it. You looked up at him. He smiled and you smiled back. He opened his mouth to say something when Brent came back with a tray of drink and food. He slid in besides you, handing you your (Favorite over the top sugary drink) and eyeing Sirius, though you didn’t notice. Nigel, James, and Remus appeared a a second later with the rest of the stuff and started to distribute the food. 
Back in the line a few moments earlier:
Brent ruffled James’ hair playfully and James laughed. 
“So how’s she been doing, really?” He asked James as they made their way closer to the counter. “She tells me my letters are vague but that girl knows how to skirt around a question.” James chuckled and nodded. 
“She sure does. When your letter comes in on time she’s normally pretty alright. Of course, she always gets a little tense around that time but when they’re late,” James shook his head, not knowing how to say it, but Brent got the picture. He glanced over and saw you and Sirius holding hands and narrowed his eyes. 
“Ok, and what's his deal?” James looked over and saw you and Sirius. 
“What? Sirius? What do you mean?” James asked, trying to play it cool, but getting very worried. He was Sirius’ best friend. Of course he knew of a few extra details about his personal life. One of those extra details was a crush that he had been nursing for a good two years. James noticed it first, being like a third brother to you. He asked Sirius about it and he denied it. But then about a year ago, Brent’s letter had gotten lost in the mail and didn’t show up for about a month. You had gone into such a frenzied state that you couldn’t move. You had scared the crap out of Sirius and that was when he realized that his feelings had altered towards you. James always told Sirius to go for it, but you had lost so much that Sirius didn’t want to jeopardize anything. 
“Yeah. Why’s he holding her hand? And why’s he been looking at her like that since he came to the field? Don’t tell me that-”
“Brent. We are in our fifth year now. You do remember what hormones are, right?”
“That is exactly what I’m afraid of. That they’re just hormones.”
“I really don’t think that's what it is.”
“So he does?”
“Well, yes, but-” Brent grabbed a tray before James could say anything else and marched over to the table. James watched, horrified. What had he just unleashed? 
You were all laughing at stupid stories from childhoods and school. Everything was right. For you, at least. Brent couldn’t get it out of his mind that someone close to you had a crush on you and you were, seemingly, completely oblivious. 
He had missed four years. Four whole years and now some teenage boy wanted to suck your face. That did not sit right with him. Especially because he saw himself in the boy that had been holding your hand a few moments ago. He was and remained to be a player. He knew one when he saw one. It was true, he had found a girl in America, a real nice one, too. And she made him want to settle a bit, not go sucking face with every girl in every country he went to. But it had taken him twenty four years to find that. You all were still young. And he saw how heavily you relied on your friends. Scarily enough, how much you relied on this one. 
“Brent?” He snapped out of his thoughts and looked at you. “Are you ok? You zoned out for a minute.” He smiled and ruffled your hair roughly. 
“I’m all good, kid. How’s sixteen feel?”
“Pretty good,” you laughed and shoved him off of you. “Though, havn’t gotten to try it out much.”
“Well, you’ll have a whole year to try it out.” You all left the coffee shop and started to roam the streets. You and the boys all wanted to go into the sweets shop and ran in, but Brent stopped Sirius and held him back. “I want to have a talk with you.” He had placed a firm hand on Sirius’ shoulder, not letting him move. Sirius swallowed but obeyed. 
They started to walk through town in silence and Sirius kept looking over his shoulder at the sweets shop. He wasn’t the biggest fan of candies. More of a cake and pastry type, but the candies were your favorite so he always made sure to go in with you. 
“So.” Brent said, stopping by the fountain. “How old are you, Sirius?”
“Seventeen, sir.” Sirius was never one to use “Sir” or “Ma’am”, unless it was in a mocking manner, this, though, was a situation that he knew he needed it in. He might be reckless, but he was also a gentleman and knew when to use what.
“And you know my sister is sixteen.”
“As of today. We had this party planned for her later, if you’d like to come. And Nigel. I bet she’d like that.”
“I bet she would, family and friends mean everything to her.”
“Yeah, they do.”
“And if something happens to the people she cares about, she doesn’t take it lightly.”
“Completely right,” Sirius said uneasily, not knowing how exactly to reply. 
“So what are your intentions with my sister, exactly?”
“I just want to be there for her. She’s done the exact same thing for me.”
“So you're just repaying her? Toss her out when your debt is paid in full?”
“What?” Sirius asked, alarmed. “No! No! Not at all!”
“Then what? What more do you want from her? She may not seem it but she’s openly trusting. Naive at times even. People could take advantage of that.”
“Yes, they could. I hope you don’t mean-”
“That you would? That's exactly what I mean. I may have been gone for four years, but I’m not blind. I see the way you look at her, she may not, but I do. And if you ever think about hurting her in anyway-”
“I promise, that's the last thing I ever want to do. She’s like family to me. I wouldn’t ever dream of hurting her one bit. I owe her so much and she’s just… the best.”
“Damn right she is. I’m warning you though. I know your type. And my little sister will not be hurt, understood?” He didn’t give Sirius a chance to reply before walking away, leaving him by the fountain not knowing what to do. 
Sirius had felt a burning hole in his chest for two years. He hadn’t realized it at first but now that he knew about it he knew he wouldn;t be able to get rid of it. The threats your brother, although valid, had just thrown his way scared Sirius half to death. He was twice his size in height and muscle mass but more than that, he spoke the truth. The only thing that had kept Sirius from not saying anything to you before about how he felt was all those fears. He didn’t want to hurt you. He wanted to be there for you. And if that was only through friendship- 
He sighed and kicked the ground, shoving his hands in his pockets and touching a box in his leather jacket he had gotten for you for your birthday. Lily and Remus and James had helped him pick it out for you. He was going to tell you how he felt tonight and give you your gift but all those fears were resurfacing now and he knew he wouldn’t be able to.
“Sirius!” You shouted. He looked up and saw you running at him with a large bag in your hands. “Sirius come on we were- hey, what's wrong?”
“Huh? Nothing. Why?”
“You don’t look good. Did you get enough sleep last night? Did you eat enough? Are you not feeling alright?” He chuckled and brushed off your concerns. 
“I’m fine. I’m fine. Why are you worried about me? Its your day.”
“Well, yeah, but the only reason I like my birthday is because I get to hang around you guys. And now my brothers are here and its even more perfect! Are you sure you’re alright? We can go back up to the school if-”
“What? No! Come on, James and Remus will be looking for us.” You pursered your lips but nodded and broke out into a smile before dragging him down the street towards the candy shop’s entrance where everyone was waiting. You spent a bit more time around town before deciding to head back up to the school for dinner. Your brothers, unbeknownst to you, were coming back later for the party you didn;t know was happening and you wouldn’t let Brent go when he said that he ought to be on his way. 
You James, Sirius, and Remus headed back up to the school alone. You and Remus up front examining all the goodies you had gotten from town and James and Sirius in the back. 
“James, can I ask you something?” SIrius asked, watching you and Remus a good ten feet ahead of you.
“Of course! What's up?”
“Should I really tell Y/N tonight? I mean, it would take away from her birthday and her brother and-”
“Woah woah woah, what did Brent say to you?”
“What?”
“Brent, he was the one who put this in your head, right? Listen, I love the guy to death, but he’s overly protective of her.”
“That's funny coming from you.”
“Yeah, but I’ve watched you with her, Sirius. It's different. I know you won’t do anything stupid. You care too much about her. We all do.”
“Right but what if-well, what is going to happen if she doesn’t feel the same?”
“She will. Trust me.”
“Or what if something happens. She can’t lose another person, James. She can’t, this entire plan is just stupid. I’m not going to do anything tonight. I’m not going to tell her.”
“Until when?”
“Ever! I’m never going to tell her.”
“What! Sirius, you’ve got to be joking!”
“No, I’m not. The only way I can ensure she won't get hurt is if I stay close as friends. There's no danger there.”
“Yes there is! Come on, Sirius, mate, please just tell her tonight! You aren;t going to-”
“Come on slow polks!” You yelled over your shoulder, smiling and waving. “Your supposed to be the athletic ones.” Sirius laughed. 
“ Wanna race then?”
“You’re on, Black!” You took off towards the school and Sirius ran after you before James could say anything else. Remus and James then walked slowly together after you two. 
“What was that about?” Remus asked. James shook his head watching you two run. 
“He’s not going to say anything.”
“WHAT!?”
“Brent got into his head and brought back all that shit we spent years getting out.”
“You have got to be joking!”
“I wish I was, Rem, I really wish I was.” 
Your brothers were enough to keep you distracted while the boys set up the grounds for your party. Sirius remained set on the fact that he wasn’t going to tell you, despite what Remus and James tried to tell him. They spent the last four hours trying to convince him but nothing was getting through to him. 
The sun had set and the lights were on as everyone waited for you to show up with your brothers. They had taken you out all day. Shopping and Milkshake hopping and just touring town. 
You and your brothers appeared over the hill a little less than ten minutes after everything was all set up for the party. Your brothers were in the same clothes but they had forced you to change into clean jeans and a maroon top with embroidered flowers along the neckline. Your hair was down but the front pieces were pulled back and you wore a pair of converse sneakers, the cleanest pair you owned(which isn't saying much since there were mud splotches all over them).   
SIrius smiled as you came speeding down the hill slightly ahead of your brothers. You beamed and tackled the four boys in a hug. Peter had shown up to help decorate along with Lily. 
“I can’t believe you all did this!” 
“How’d you know?” Sirius smirked and you rolled your eyes pointing up to the Happy Birthday Y/N  sign above your head. The sign he had created himself. “Oh, and here I thought I gave it away.” you pushed him jokingly and laughed. He smiled, happy to see how thrilled your were. 
Your brothers finally made it down the hill and the festivities began. Drinking and eating and laughing filled the air along with the bitter chill of night and early morning. 
By the end of the night you were sitting on the edge of the dock a few yards away from the party, dipping your feet into the lake. Sirius came up behind you and sat down. You smiled and leaned your head up against his shoulder, closing your eyes and breathing in his leather Jacket. He kissed your hair and leaned his head against yours. 
“Thank you,” you said after a minute. He looked at you and knitted his eyebrows. 
“For what?” you smiled and looked back at the party. 
“For this. For today. For everything.” You looked back up at him with huge eyes. “You really are amazing, Sirius.” He smiled and slid his jacket off, putting it around your shoulders. 
“I’m only amazing to those who deserve it. And you deserve it and so much more.” You grinned and stared at him. “What?” 
Your smile dimmed a minute as you looked back out at the lake. 
“Nothing.”
“Hey, don’t do that. What’s wrong?” You sighed and leaned back onto your elbows.  
“It's really nothing, Sirius. Just forget it.”
“No, this is your day. You tell me what you want and I’ll get it for you.” You rolled your eyes and chuckled. 
“Knock it off. Your such a dork.”
“I’m serious,” you opened your mouth to make a smart comment but he kept talking. “You want the stars? I’ll get you the stars. You want the moon? Its yours. You want the biggest diamond in the world? Consider it done. JUst tell me and I’ll get it for you.” 
You stared at him and took a large chug of your liquid courage. You licked the rest of the alcohol from your lips and looked at him straight past his eyes and into his soul, like you tended to do. 
“You.”
“Wh-what?”
“You. I want you, Sirius.” He swallowed. 
“You have me, Y/N/N.” You shook your head and slid up so you were on your knees.
“No. I don’t. I want all of you Sirius. I want to be yours and I want you to be mine. I can’t say that for once in my life I want to be selfish, because I always am. But, I’m ready to just take this time. I’m tired of waiting around. I. Want. You.”
“Wouldn’t you prefer the gift I got you?” You clenched your jaw and stared at him even more intensely. 
“Take it back.” You growled. He swallowed. 
His lack of response or interest broke you. You sighed and sat back on your heels, brushing the hair that had stuck to your face away. You shook your head and stood. 
“Forget it.” You started to walk away from him, back to the party. He knew once you stepped off that dock you'd be out of his reach forever.  
Unlike you, Sirius was never selfish, especially when it came to your well being. And just this once, he wanted to be. Just this once he needed to be. 
“Y/N!” he called and ran to you, but you kept going. It pissed him off that you didn’t listen to him. He clenched his jaw and grabbed you by the waist, making you squeal as he carried you back to the end of the dock. He set you on your feet and held you in place. 
“Sirius-”
“Listen. I love you, Y/N. I have loved you since the day I met you. But, I don’t want to hurt you. I refuse to be the reason you're hurt or the reason that you're crying. I can’t stand to see you sad and I want to be able to protect you from everything in this world, though I know you won’t let me. I’m terrified, but tonight, I don’t want to be. I just… Y/N, I-” you grabbed his face and brought him down to your lips as you rose to your toes. He eagerly kissed you back. Pulling you closer to him and deepening the kiss. You tasted like alcohol and wishes and light. Everything that you stood for and everything he loved about you. And, just like he thought, he was addicted. 
When you two pulled away you both knew you were screwed. That there was no going back after that. 
“Sirius,” you said hoarsely, but he just shook his head and pressed his lips to yours again.
“No.”
“You didn’t even know what I was going to say.”
“I don’t care.” he pressed his lips to yours again and you smiled into it as you wrapped your arms around his neck and he lifted you off the ground so you could wrap your legs around his waist. Happy birthday to you.     
Brent looked down from the party, crushing the cup in his hand as he watched you make out with the black haired boy. He was grinding his teeth as he watched you kiss him back. James came up beside him with a grin on his face along with Nigel. 
“Woah, Seems like little Y/N/N is all grown up.”
“You knew about this?” Brent asked angrily, turning to his brother abruptly. 
“Of course, those two have been making eyes at each other since, what did you say James, 3rd year?”  James nodded and took a sip of his drink. “Glad the guy finally had the guts to do it.” Brent turned back to the scene to see the two of you running up the hill, hand in hand laughing, you in his jacket. He clenched his teeth but Nigel just knocked his shoulder. 
“What?”
“She’s a big girl, Brent. Trust her. She’s not that little girl you left behind when you went to the war four years ago.” He turned back to you two and sighed. He knew you weren’t, but he couldn’t help but see you that way. He loved you so much, and to suddenly be back with you all grown up…
“Brent! Nigel!” You beamed and ran up to them. “You guys are the best. Brent hugged you tight and ruffled your hair. 
“Happy birthday kiddo.” You frowned up at him. 
“You aren’t leaving are you?” He smiled sadly. 
“Afraid so. I have to be headed back. But I’ll write, I promise, ok, kiddo?” You smiled sadly and nodded, hugging him tightly again. 
“Be safe,” you mumbled into him. He smiled and kissed your head. 
“For you, always.” He patted James on the back and looked at Sirius. 
He held out his hand which Sirius took nervously. Brent took a breath and calmed himself down.
“It was good meeting you, Sirius.”
“You as well.” He looked over at you and back at Siirus. 
“Take care of her.” He smiled and looked at you, who raised an eyebrow. 
“Always,” you rolled your eyes at him and went to start talking to Nigel, as you three walked away. 
“I'm proud of you,” James said, patting him on the back as Sirius finally breathed.
“Is he always that terrifying?” James laughed and pulled Sirius back into the party and despite him being terrified of Brent, all he could do was smile because he knew that as long as you and him were together, everything was just fine. 
And from that day on everything was. Even the days when Brent didn’t write, he helped make them slightly easier. When he had a nightmare you were there for him. And life moved on perfectly and happily for the two of you. 
36 notes · View notes
emf005 · 2 years
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Hey guys! I know this isn't my usual day to post, but I had a quick question! Would you all be interested in more marvel stuff or should I stick to mainly Harry Potter stuff? Also, I am open. To any other Fandom so throw a few ideas my way and let me know what you want to see!
Ok, that's it. Good night guys! Er, good morning rather😅
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emf005 · 2 years
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do you take requests?
Yep! Just tell me what you're thinking and I'll do my best! (Sorry, I'm new at this😅😅)
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emf005 · 2 years
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You Deserve better
Marauders era
Sirius x reader
Fake dating Au
Hey Guys, sorry for the mix up yesterday. I just realized that I had already posted that one. I hope you liked this one! Also, if you have anyone you want to read about let me know! I will gladly write about anything or anyone! I hope you enjoy and, as always, let me know what you think!
“Jamie,” you giggled as your “boyfriend” kissed your cheek in the common room. James Potter. Oh what a character. Nothing compared to your crush though. Sirius Black. Now that was a character. One who you were head over heels for. And it wasn’t that James had gotten to you first. It is that he asked you to be his fake girlfriend to make Lily jealous, which you could tell was working. The red haired girl stormed out of the room with a snap of her book. James smiled and sat beside you, putting his arm over the back of the couch and around you.
You nestled into his side and rested your head on his shoulder.
“I think you're winning,” you commented. He kissed your temple, that wasn’t unusual for the two of you. Actually, nothing you were doing was unusual. You two had always been touchy with each other, but it still came as a shock to Hogwarts when you two “went public”.
“I think you're right,” he mumbled. You turned so you were sitting on your knees, smirking at him.
“I think I’m always right.” He laughed and you booped his nose.
“Merlin help me,” Remus mumbled from his chair across the room. “Please get a room!” He was over you two being all touchy and feely and coupley. Oh, did I forget to mention? No one else knew you two weren’t actually dating.
James hummed.
“I think that is a wonderful idea. James scooped you up bridal style and started to carry you to the boys’ dorm. You were laughing so hard that you missed the dangerous glint of jealousy and hurt in a particular boy’s eye.
A few weeks ago:
“I’m gonna do it, Moony. I’m finally going to ask Y/N to Hogsmead!” Sirius declared for the eighth time that week. It's only wednesday.
“Sure you are, Padfoot.”
“I’m serious!”
“Yes you are.” Sirius kicked Remus. “Ow!” Remus put his book down and sighed. “Look, Sirius, we both know how popular she is. How beloved she is. And most importantly, how lusted after she is. You have to act now and quickly before someone else picks her up.” He advised. Remus was the only one that knew of Sirius’ crush on you. Well, it wasn’t a crush, actually. It was more of a.. Well he wasn;t sure what it was. You were his best friend. You might have been all touchy with James, but make no mistake, if you messed with one of you you messed with the other when it came to you two.
Remus happened to be the one to bring it up to Sirius. He had asked if he had a crush on you and, well, he said no at first. But after a bit. Watching you more. The way you brushed that one piece of hair behind your ear when it fell in your face. Or bit your nails when you were thinking. That stupid little crinkle your nose makes whe you laugh…
Yeah, he was still lost after realizing it all. So, he had decided that it was best to just ask you out and then go from there. But the thought of rejection from you, or a pity date, he couldn’t stand the idea. The idea of losing you…
He collapsed on the couch by Remus.
“What's wrong with me?” Remus, who had gone back to his book, just hummed. The portal opened and you and James came walking in laughing about something. His arm was draped over your shoulders and you were leaning into him more than usual. Sirius’ heart dropped into his stomach.
“Hey guys!” You said happily, resting your head on the boy’s shoulder. “Guess who got herself a boyfriend?” You had smirked. Sirius felt as if he was going to be sick. Why? Did he like you?
The answer was yes, and he couldn’t stand how long it taken him to figure it out.
Back to the present:
“You had to suggest they leave?” Sirius grumbled. Remus just rolled his eyes.
“I told you you should've asked her out sooner.”
“Its not like I like her like that,” he grumbled, and slid further into his chair. Remus laughed.
“You poor poor oblivious dog. Of course you're in love with her! The way you're pouting? Come on, common sense, Sirius!”
“I am. I just don’t like the idea of James and her being alone in our dorm. What are they doing anyhow?” He wondered, a few less than appropriate thoughts running through his head.
In the boys dorm room:
“Come on Potter!” You yelled at him on his bed. “If you think its a fair trade you're out of your mind! I give you a chocolate frog and you give me a fucking licorish wand? You're mad!”
“It's a fair trade and you know it!”
“I bloody hate licorice wands!”
“How do you hate licorice wands? I think you're the mad one here!”
Back to the common room:
“I highly doubt whatever scene that ran through your head is actually happening. They’re probably cuddling or doing something like that,” Remus mentioned going back to his book. For some reason, he hated that idea more. Whether which was going on, his hands were on you, and for some, completely unknown, reason, that made his blood boil. He had to grip the arms of the chair he was sitting on to hold himself from marching up the stairs and tearing the two of you apart.
Laughter drifted down from the boy's common room. Your laughter. It filled him with happiness, but then he remembered it wasn’t him electing it from you. It was James Potter. His best mate.
Not being able to take it anymore, he stormed out of the common room, not knowing exactly where to go. He pushed past Lily on his way out without a word.
“What was that about?” She asked Remus.
“Y/N and James are in the boys dorm. She laughed, he lost it.” Lily’s face paled.
“Wait, they're really together?” Remus looked up from his book.
“Now? Now you have a crush on him?” Her face turned as red as her hair and she looked down.
“I think I always have.” Remus slammed his own book shut.
“Then why haven’t you told him? Now Sirrius has gone completely mental over the fact that he won’t admit his feelings for her-”
“So he does like her? I knew it! I told her he did!”
“She has a crush on him?”
“Yes! And I think I know how to get a win out of all this, for both parties.” She smiled evilly. She had definitely been hanging out with James and the other Marauders too much.
Sirius was still angry when he got back to the common room that night. The fire was dying in the fireplace and all he wanted to do at this point was to just go to sleep. He didn’t understand why he was so angry. You were happy with James. Cuddling and holding hands and fu-
“Not even going there,” he mumbled, shaking the thought out of his head before it could even form. “I can be pissed over that tomorrow.”
He made his way up the stairs still thinking about how angry he was that you and James were together.
Maybe I do like her?
This is why he had one night stands. No emotions? No problem! Emotions got in the way of everything! He went to his bed and started getting changed out of his school clothes when he noticed something. He glanced back over at James’ bed where he and you were sleeping. He literally froze. His blood was boiling all over again.
James’ arms were wrapped around you and his head was on the top of yours. You were in a cocoon practically. Sirius swallowed at the scene. He clenched his fists and finished getting changed, the image permanently burned into his head. For some reason he would have rather found you fucking. But this? This was worse somehow.
That stupid little smile on your lips as James held you. You didn’t even know you had it on your face. I mean, you were asleep. But the fact that you were subconsciously smiling because of his embrace…
Sirius grabbed a pillow from his bed and went downstairs to the common room. He couldn’t sleep in the same room where you and James were cuddled up together like that. He couldn’t do it. He laid on the couch and stared at the ceiling, one of his hands on his forehead.
“Fuck,” he mumbled. “Why her? Why now? Just… why?”
He felt someone poke his shoulder. He groaned. They poked his shoulder again.
“Siri?” He slowly opened his eyes and was met with a pair of bright Y/E/C ones.
“Y/N?” He groaned. You smiled. You were the only morning person in all of Gryffindor tower. And no one was less of a morning person than Sirius Black. And you would’ve left him sleep, it was still relatively early, but he was on the couch.
“Hey, Siri. What are you doing down here?”
“Not sleeping anymore, apparently.” You chuckled as he brought a hand to his face to wipe the sleep from his eyes. You grabbed it and brought it back down.
“Don’t do that. You should go back to sleep, it's still early. Just go up to your dorm, ok? Your back’s gonna be killing you today.”
“Why are you up?” he grumbled. You smiled.
“Couldn’t fall back asleep,” you shrugged. He nearly shot back a comment about not being able to even with James holding you, but he kept his mouth shut. You looked at him for a moment with soft eyes that made his rage lower. “Hey, are you alright?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” He lied.
“You don’t look right,” he laughed and you smiled and shoved him. “You know what I mean. What's bothering you?”
You
“Nothing, love. I promise.” You frowned. Something was up.
“Are you-”
“Why don’t you wait for me and I’ll join you today?” You were shocked to say the least.
“Siri, it's still early.”
“I know. But I’m up, might as well.” You smiled.
“Yeah, I’ll wait.” He ruffled your hair and slid off the couch, grabbed his pillow and went up the stairs to get ready. He knew it was wrong to want to be alone with you, only for a few minutes. It was selfish and he knew it. But he couldn’t help it. Most people would detach themselves from their crush instantly, he wouldn’t survive that. As much as it hurt to watch you be with James, it hurt even more to be away from you. It was painfully selfish and he knew it. But he didn;t care.
“Hello darling,” James kissed the top of your head and sat next to you, making Sirius’ blood boil again. It had just subsided as you two had talked the morning away. You had practically been everywhere. The lake, the astronomy tower, down every hallway, the library, and finally retired to the Great Hall for breakfast.
You giggled and his heart skipped a beat.
Shit.
“Hi, Jamie.” You rested your head on his shoulder and he had to grip the table and look at his food.
“Pads?” He looked up.
“Yeah?” James furrowed his eyebrows. You looked concerned too, but he kept you out of his eyesight range.
“I’ve been calling you for five minuets. Where’d you go?” He shrugged.
“Lost in my head I guess.” James seemed satisfied with the answer, but it would take a lot more than that to satisfy you. James started talking to Remus a moment later and you turned your attention back to Sirius.
“Trouble in paradise?” You questioned jokingly. You all joked how James and Sirius were practically dating, or married, or whichever it was for the day.
Sirius offered you a small smile which made your own fall.
“Siri?” He stood up and slung his backpack over his shoulder.
“I’ll see you later, Y/N. Ok?” And he disappeared from the hall. You stared after him.
“Y/N?” James asked. “What's wrong?”
“What’s going on with Sirius? It's like he can’t be in the same room as you or me anymore.” You frowned. He looked towards where his best mate disappeared.
“Are you sure it's not just because you like him and you wish it were him you were dating?” He teased You elbowed him in the ribs.
“Shut up, you prat.” You laughed. He laughed and wrapped his arms around you making you squeal.
“What did you say?”
“Jamie!” You whined, still laughing.
Sirius made it his mission not to see you or James the rest of that day. A bit of a challenge since he had every class with you and the majority with James, but he made do. It hurt, though. He should’ve been sitting by you. He should’ve been telling you sarcastic comments about the class. Making you laugh.
Damn Remus and his inability to be wrong about anything.
He shoved his hands into his pockets and continued to sulk down the hallway. He had to go on another walk. His blood was boiling so much that he could hear it pounding in his ears. It was like that story you had told him by that one poet from America. What was his name? Edgar Allen Poe? Was that it? And the heart under the floorboards? Ok, so maybe it wasn;t exactly like the story. But the fact that he felt guilty about being in love with you and he could hear his own heart beating loud, that was close enough, right?
He heard a moan from down the hall. He looked up and saw two people snogging each other against the wall iby a classroom. He rolled his eyes.
If you're going to snog in private, make sure you're in a room first. He was about to turn around when he noticed the familiar red hair of Lily Evans.
Good for her. But I could’ve sworn she was having a thing for-
He stopped his train of thought as he noticed the person she was snogging.
James…
He stared for a moment. His blood pounding even louder. He was cheating on you? He almost stomped down the hall and punched his best friend. How could he do this to you? YOU! Of all people!
He turned and dashed to the common room. He’d beat James up later. He had to tell you. How did you even tell someone this? Let alone the girl he liked?
You were reclining on the couch with a book in your hand, reading in ignorant bliss. He swallowed.
“Y/N? Can-” he cleared his throat. “Can I talk with you?” You noticed the worried expression on his face and pulled him into the back corner.
“What's wrong? You look worse than you did this morning.”
“This isn’t about me. James he.. Well… I saw him… I mean-”
“Siri, take a deep breath. Whatever it is you have to tell me just rip off the bandaid.” He took a deep breath.
“IsawJamessnoggingLilyinthehallway.” He said in one fluent string of words. You stared at him for a moment and was about to say something about ripping the bandaid off a bit more slowly as the words slowly computed when the portrait opened and James came in looking disheveled. You pushed past Sirius and ran into James’ arms. He grabbed you by your waist, a smile huge on your face.
“Well I do like a warm welcome.” He chuckled and set you down. “But what was that about?”
“Sirius said you and Lily were snogging!” You said excitedly. James pouted and glared at Sirius.
“I wanted to tell her!” He whined. You punched his arm.
“Did you?” He nodded.
“Shoved me up against the wall herself and asked if we were really dating before snogging me,” he said proudly.
“Atta boy, Jamie!” You said happily, punching his shoulder.
Sirius just stood and watched the whole thing, utterly confused. You turned to him, beaming and noticed his confused expression.
“We didn’t tell him, did we?”
“Nope. You tell him.” He shoved you towards him. You glared at him and smiled at Sirius.
“Ok, so-”
“Why aren’t you mad? You shouldn’t be cheering-you-you-” he furrowed his eyebrows and you knew you weren’t gonna get him to stop if you let him continue. You grabbed his face and brought it to meet your eyes.
“We weren’t actually dating.”
“You… weren’t?” You smirked.
“No. Why? Were you jealous?” You laughed. “James came up with the idea. And it worked. So now we aren’t ‘dating’ anymore. He knew it would-” Sirius kissed you, cutting you off. You were frozen for a second before kissing back. Both of you panicking in your own minds.
“So can I ask a question?” he asked when he broke the kiss.
“Yes,” you croaked, your voice was hoarse.
“Wanna be in a real one with me?” You kissed him.
“More than anything.”
“About fucking time!” Remus yelled from the portrait. “Merlin! It took you two long enough!” You and Sirius laughed. He wasn’t wrong though.
You looked up at Sirius, who was already watching you. He kissed your head and tightened his grip on your waist. You were his girl now. And he had no intention of ever letting you go.
356 notes · View notes
emf005 · 2 years
Text
James II x Malfoy!Reader
Warnings: None, fluff, rivals to lovers
Song: A lovely night. Song Lyrics in Bold
Hey guys! This is one that hits pretty close to my heart and I'm sorta kinda proud of it, not gonna lie, lolol. I really hope you enjoy it and let me know what you think!
It was a party. Well, more specifically, your birthday party. Sixteen. It was about damn time, in your opinion, that you turned that age. The only problem with your party? Your dad, Draco I’m a fucking rich ass man who loves his kids Malfoy planned the whole thing. And invited everyone from school. Including the Potters. Which included James.
You shuddered even thinking of the boy.
It was a well known fact the two of you hated each other. I mean, how could you not? He was an arrogant prick who flaunced around the school. Like that boy flaunced. No strut in sight. He straight up flaunced. He thought he ruled the school just because he was a Potter. Well whoopty doo. Look at you. Just living off your father’s last name.
Merlin did that boy make your blood boil!
You had begged your father to not invite them. You would do anything! Anything at all! You would plead your undying loyalty to him if he would have just not invited them. But what did he say?
“He’s a part of your grade, Y/N/N. Him and his family are getting invited. It's the right thing to do.” You had pouted.
“I liked it better when you hated the Potters.” And then you left the kitchen. Done with the conversation and pissed off that you weren’t going to win.
Scorpius spun you on the dance floor and you laughed. Your brother had insisted on giving you at least one dance. And boy did he. He danced with you at least four times already. Though, you knew he was practicing to ask Rose Weasley to dance with him. You wished he would just tell her how he felt already.
The song ended and you kissed his cheek.
“Now go ask the girl you really wanna dance with,” you pulled back and ruffled his hair. He blushed and you laughed. You walked over to the punch bowl which was definitely (not) alcohol free. Because you had definitely known that this party wasn't going to cause you stress with James Potter around. So you had definitely not poured a bit of Fire whiskey into it. Nope. Never.
You took yourself outside and loved the way the wind bit at your exposed arms. Taking a sip of the drink you relished in the way the “non”-alcoholic drink bit your tongue and burned its way down your throat. You glanced inside and noticed your little brother taking Rose Weasley out onto the dance floor. You smiled and turned back around, leaning on the railing.
You gazed out onto the moonlit ocean.
Your father had insisted on having your party at your vacation house out by the beach for some reason. I mean, yes Malfoy manor was the description of the worst place on earth. But perhaps then the Potters wouldn’t have come. You didn’t mind Albus that much and you had never met their little sister, so you couldn’t hold anything against them. Harry and Ginny had always been nice towards you. So, you really didn’t hold anything against the Potters. Just the one son.
The stars were beautiful. Dazzling. The wind wiped a bit and you took another sip of your drink, now regretting not bringing a shawl or jacket of some sort. You looked down on your green dress. Green was your favorite color, and not just because of your house. It reminded you of the forest, where you actually felt at home.
The dress was by far your favorite. It was long and flowed out when you spun. It was off the shoulder so it revealed your collar bone. It was a darker green and had a black belt around the center of it. But the best part? The pockets. You loved pockets. It was honestly a problem how much you loved pockets.
Your hair was held up in a bun by a satin green ribbon. Well, it used to be held in a bun by a satin green ribbon. Now it was in a loose ponytail. It had fallen out so many times since the beginning of the night. But you never minded. Everytime your hair would become loose the ribbon had been charmed to find its way to your wrist.
“Well well well,” an annoyingly familiar voice rang out from behind you. “Her Royal Highness not at her own Sweet Sixteen,” he tutted and you heard the click of his dress shoes coming closer to you. “And why not?” You laughed.
“What's it to you, Potter?” You glanced at him. He was leaning backwards on the rail with his arms crossed. He shrugged.
“Perhaps I found this a perfect time to tourture the birthday girl.” You laughed.
“Perhaps your presence is enough.”
“Ouch. That was cold, Malfoy. You know you find me irresistible.”
“Ha! Perhaps it’s you who finds me irresistible.” He rolled his eyes and watched the last strangles of light fade in silence with you.
“The sun is nearly gone.” You hummed in response. “The lights are turning on.” You looked to see a few more lanterns turning on so yoru party would continue to rage on. “A silver shine that stretches to the sea,” he glanced over his shoulder to see the moon rising higher and the stars blazing their way across the sky and over the ocean. “We’ve stumbled on a view thats… tailor made for two,” you snorted and looked up at him, he was staring at the sky again. He brought his attention back to you. “What a shame those two are you and me.”
“Ha ha.” You sarcastically retorted, egging him on by accident.
“Some other girl and guy,” he turned away from you and headed towards the stairs away from the house. “Would love this swirling sky. But there’s only you,” he turned and motioned to you, prompting you to raise an eyebrow at his semi-deep mocking bow. “And I,” he gestured to himself and stood up again, brushing his messy black hair out of his face. “And we’ve got, no shot. This,” he gestured between the two of you, “Could never be. You’re not the type for me.” you scoffed and laughed.
“Really?” You asked, leaning sideways on the railing as you watched him hold onto the rail of the stair, about to go down.
“And there’s not a spark in sight,” you hummed and nodded as he slowly made his way around the ending of the stair, pausing to look at you for a moment. “What a waste of a lovely night.” he began to walk down the stairs. You waited a moment before the need to get the last word in and tease him a bit became unbearable. You walked to the railing and put your hand on the end looking at him on the platform below you.
“You say there's nothing here? Well, let's make something clear,” you smirked and picked up your dress and started down the dress after him. “I think I’ll be the one to make that call.”
“But you’ll call?” he teased, that stupid (Adorable) smirk on his face as you made it down to him. You ignored his comment and started to walk around him, looking him up and down.
“And though you look so cute,” you picked up his tie and played with it, “in your polyester suit.”
“Its wool.”
“You’re right,” you dropped his tie and walked to the railing again, wrapping your arms around yourself and glanced at him from over your shoulder. “I’d never fall for you at all. And maybe this appeals,” you gestured at the beautiful view in front of you. “To someone not in heels,” you lifted your dress up a bit to reveal a set of green heels that were shorter than most of the girls’ at the party, but still a pretty good height. You saw James cringe at the sight. “Or to any girl who feels. There's some chance,” you fell back onto James’ chest dramatically, causing him to pull his hands from his pockets and grab your arms. “For romance.” you shut your eyes and leaned into his hold, unaware of his own pleasure of holding you. Your eyes flew open and you pulled off of him. “But, I’m frankly feeling nothing,” you shrugged and leaned over onto the railing staring at the view again.
“Is that so?” he heard the click of his shoes and he hopped up onto the railing beside you, his back to the view.
“Or it could be less than nothing.”
He chuckled and nodded, looking at you watch the sky.
“Good to know. So you agree?”
“That's right,” you hummed and looked up at him.
“What a waste of a lovely night,” you both said in unison.
The two of you stared at each other and he smirked.
“Why do I get you in such a tizzy, Malfoy?” He cheekily grinned. “Perhaps you do fancy me a bit? Hm?” You scoffed.
“Ha! In your dreams, Potter.” You looked back at the view, but his gaze stayed on you.
“Come on, Malfoy,” he teased, hitting your leg with his foot. “Admit it, you wanna kiss my completely lovable face right now.” You began to laugh.
“Oh, Potter. You wish you could get a girl like me! But apparently,” you pushed off the railing and walked in front of him teasingly. “I’m not your type.” you went to leave, but his foot stopped you. You turned to him with a raised eyebrow. “Oh? Perhaps it's you who fancies me.”
“Come on, Malfoy.” He pointed to his cheek. “Give me a kiss, right here. You know I’m irresistible enough.”
“And why on earth would I do that?”
“To say you kissed James Potter.”
“Ha! Why would I want to?” You stepped closer to him.
“Because maybe you really do wanna.”
“Oh? Do I?”
“Or maybe you're scared.”
“Ha! Me? Scared? You’re out of your mind, Potter.”
“Perhaps.” he thought for a moment and looked down at you mockingly. You stood there with an amused smirk on your face and your arms crossed. “Maybe I’ll tell the whole school how you were too chicken to kiss me then?”
“Too chicken?” you rolled your eyes at his teasing, knowing he would never do something like that. “I am not to chicken to do anything.” You declared, smiling up at the boy who was swinging his legs, which were beside you, like a child.
“Yes you are. So completely chicken. You’re scared to-” you couldn;t take it anymore. Something just overtook you. You didn;t know what. You grabbed the boy's collar and smashed your lips onto his. He was surprised for a second before replying quickly. His hand moved to the back of your head to deepen the kiss.
But, OH MY GOD! This boy was ridiculously good at kissing. It was not even funny. And you found that the years of teasing and picking on each other and accidently unlocked something more. Something that you didn’t even know you could be capable of at this game.
You had fallen in love with James Potter. And as you two continued the kiss, him still sitting on the railing, you found how much that scared you. So, in a way, you were scared to kiss James Potter. Because now that you did, you didn’t think you’d be able to stop.
You two pulled away for air and he rested his head on yours smiling like a doof. You waited for the sarcastic comment. Something like “Didn’t wanna kiss me, huh?” but it never came. What did fall from his mouth, though, surprised you.
“I’ve been waiting to do that since second year,” he mumbled. You looked up at him, shock written all over your face. He got a smirk. “What didn’t notice, Malfoy?” He teased. Your face stayed blank and confused. His smirk fell and he leaned back. “You really didn't notice, did you?” You swallowed and shook your head. You hadn’t even noticed your own feelings for the boy! “Heh,” he laughed and ran his hand through his hair. “Wow. I thought I was painfully obvious. I mean, even my friends were saying how painfully obvious I was and if you hadn;t reacted by then… Godric, I’m sorry, Y/N.” Your name sounded strange when he said it. Had he ever not called you Malfoy? “I fucked everything up.” he chuckled sadly. You smiled and brought his face to meet your gaze.
“I don’t think you did, though. You see, Potter, I think I like you too. But I didn’t realize it until just now. And now that I think about it… I think I’ve liked you since second year, as well.”
“Really?” You smiled and nodded.
“Really.” He crashed his lips on yours again without a second thought. After a second, he somehow slipped off the railing and slid you onto it, so you weren’t craning your neck to kiss him. His lips were soft against your, and warm and he tasted like strawberries and lemon, which was an oddly fantastic combination.
Your heart was beating so fast that you thought it had been replaced with a ticking time bomb. You remembered your heart acting like this when he was around before, but you had always assumed it was in anticipation of what small battle you two would have. How were you supposed to know it is this? He pulled back for air again, and you both were heaving, trying to catch your breath.
“Hey, Malfoy.” You hummed. “I don't think this turned out to be such a waste of a lovely night.” You chuckled and looked up and then back down at him.
“No. I don’t think so, either.”
44 notes · View notes
emf005 · 2 years
Text
Insecure
Sirius Black x Reader
Warnings: Insecurities, self deprecation
Hey guys sorry to have taken so long for another update! I've been trying to write more on the weekends now, but school is kicking my butt! Anyhow, let me know what you think! I hope you enjoy!
Your face was too round. You weren’t thin enough. Your eyelashes weren’t long enough. Your hips were too wide. Your hair wasn’t straight enough. You didn’t have enough curves.
All thoughts that ran through your head each and every day, at least twice an hour. You knew you weren’t perfect, even as a child you weren’t the cutest. But your parents always told you you would grow into your big ears.
You had forgotten about that one.
“Y/N! You coming?” Your boyfriend called up to you from the Common Room. Sirius Black. The Sirius Black. You had no clue how it happened. One moment you two were playing a drinking game that Lily had introduced to you all, the next moment his lips were on yours and you two were dating. And it has been the best six months of your life. But you didn’t understand why he was with you. You never had.
You jumped down the stairs and onto him, making him stumble but catch your legs as you gripped his chest tighter from behind him.
“Hi,” you mumbled into his ear. He laughed and kissed your cheek.
“Hi. Quite the entrance.”
“I’ve learned from the best.”
“She’s talking about me, Padfoot!” James said walking over to the two of you with Lily, his and her hands intertwined.
“You wish, Prongs,” Sirius laughed. You got down from Sirius’ back and he gave you a questioning look. You glanced at Lily, and her fucking perfect body and hair and propurtions, and hid your face again. Sirius was still looking at you. Still studying your strange behavior.
“Padfoot?” Sirius looked up at James and shook his head.
“Yeah, sorry, what?”
“We’re still on for that double date today?”
“Leaky Cauldron at four,” Sirius said with a nod, slipping his hand into yours and gently squeezing it. You squeezed back twice. It was like a code between you two. The number of squeeze you gave on the other hand being a question or an answer. With one squeeze he was asking if you were alright, with two you were saying that you were. If you gave one back it would be a no, and three would be can we leave.
The two turned and sat together on the couch, talking quietly and making googly eyes at each other, making both you and Sirius roll your eyes. You two were never much for that, or any PDA in general. Hand holding, you jumping on his back and the very rare occasional kiss on the cheek outside of the common room, was about it. No googly eyes, no cuddling, it just really wasn;t what either of you did. Well, you really didn’t know. This was the first relationship you had ever been in. You didn’t even know what you were supposed to do in a relationship, you just followed Sirius’ lead, and you were completely fine with that.
“Are you alright, really?” He asked into your ear as you two made your way to the oversized chair by the fire you two liked.
“Yeah, of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” You asked cheerfully. You were lying, and he noticed that but decided not to say anything. “I actually have to finish getting ready for later today.” You said when you reached the chair. You smiled and kissed him on the cheek and slipped your hand out of his grasp. “I’ll see you in a bit, ok?” He nodded, not really having a say because you were already halfway in your dormitory.
James and Lily looked over at him, having witnessed the whole thing.
“What was that about?” James asked. Sirius opened his mouth to say something, but before he could Lily got up and rushed after you. The two of you had become friends on the train ride, and were inseparable ever since, it was how you and Sirius met. Nothing dramatic or anything, just through Lily. He could normally read you pretty well, but Lily knew you even better. For her to react like that, something had to be really wrong.
“Y/N?” You heard LIly and sighed, setting down your mascara brush, tears bubbling in your eyes as you stared at your reflection. She walked in and noticed what was happening. “Would you stop that!” she scolded. “Sirius is utterly confused and suspicious of your behaviour.”
“He shouldn’t even care, Lils,” you sighed and stared yourself down.
“What are you talking about?”
“I mean the difference between us. He shouldn’t be with someone who looks like me.”
“That is utterly redi-”
“You think I don;t hear people talk?”
“They’re jealous.”
“Of what?” You yelled and turned to face her. “Of this? I will gladly change them any day of the week!”
“You wouldn;t give up Sirius like that. You know that.”
“If it meant that he had a girl he made sense with,” you sighed and turned back around to face yourself in the mirror.
“You know he wouldn’t care about that even if it were true,” she placed a hand on your shoulder but you just sighed again and looked down.
“Lily, you just don’t get what it's like to be me. To look like I do. I mean, you’re perfect. You and James make sense together. Sirius is perfect, he belongs with someone perfect as well, if anyone can match Sirius perfect.” She rolled her eyes at that last comment. The two of you wouldn’t admit it, but you were both just as sappy as he and James could be, if not more.
“You are perfect, Y/N. And I shouldn’t have to tell you that. I mean, even Sirius thinks you're perfect. That should tell you something, shouldn’t it?” You ignored her and brought the mascara brush up to your eyes again. “Y/N.”
“No. It means nothing.” You answered in a monotone voice. She frowned and sighed, giving up on the battle for now. But, she was going to tell Sirius, hopefully he could get through to you.
It was three thirty and Sirius was waiting in the courtyard with his hands in his pockets as he waited for you. You were normally on time. Like, exactly on the dot on time. It was odd that you weren’t there. His mind drifted to what Lily had said earlier.
“Is she alright?” Sirius asked worriedly. Lily sighed and shook her head.
“Please tell me you know how to deal with people who have insecurities,” she pleaded. Sirius just stared at her. Lily sighed.
“Of course you don’t. Because nothing is easy! Just… figure it out, alright?” And she stomped off and sat next to James on the couch again.
You had insecurities? About what? He couldn;t process it. You were perfect. Beautiful, intelligent, sweet, brave, witty. You had it all. What was there not to love?
“Sirius!” You called running down the stairs as you adjusted your bag on your shoulder. “I am so so so so so so sorry I am late! I got caught up looking at something and I got behind on time, and please forgive me!” he just chuckled and slipped his arm around your waist bringing you closer. He kissed the top of your head.
“Nothing to forgive, Love. Better late than never, mmhp?” You let out a sigh as he mumbled into your hair and you leaned into him a bit more.
“Yeah. Better late than never,” you smiled and the two of you left for Hogsmeade.
“Do you want a butterbeer, Love?” He asked you. You were about to say yes. It was your favorite thing ever. It was delicious! But then you thought better of it.
“No thanks, I’m not that thirsty,” you shrugged. He creased his brow at you and hesitantly left to go get three butterbeers for him, James, and Lily.
Lily stared you down while you played with the hem of your shirt awkwardly. She opened her mouth to say something but Sirius walked back over and handed everyone their drinks. He set one down in front of you and kissed your head.
“Just in case you change your mind, ok?” You nodded and smiled up at him, keeping your hands wrapped around your stomach so they didn’t reach for the sweet drink. The four of you talked easily at your table before you excused yourself to go to the bathroom. You left your bag and your wand at the table. There had been an incident with your wand in a restroom once and it was not something you wanted to relive.
You just got into the stall when you heard two voices by the sinks.
“I still can not believe that that Y/L/N girl is with Sirius,” your heart sank.
“I know! I mean, there is nothing special about her! Bland hair,” your hands flew to the tips of your hair and you held it. “Thick legs,” you looked down at your legs that were indeed a bit larger. “And her hips! Dont; even get me started! She is not fit for someone like Sirius Black. I bet she slipped him a love potion, poor girl. So hopelessly in love.” They giggled.
“Maybe he will come to his senses soon. I mean, I know I’m no super model, but Y/L/N? Really? And it's not like he’s desperate. He can have anyone he wants. I bet your right. Has to be a love potion.
“Do you even think the stupid girl is cabable of brewing one taht strong?” The girls laughed and left the restroom. You stayed still, letting everything they said sink in. You quickly did your business and plastered on a smile leaving the restroom and reclaiming your seat besides Sirius. Lily eyed you as you sat back down, but you shot her a “Keep it quiet” look, before putting your smile back on and wrapping your arms around your stomach again so you didn;t reach for your butterbeer.
You started drifting off into your own mind and what the girls had said about you that you hand;t heard Sirius calling you.
“Love?” You looked up to see him looking worriedly at you.
“Sorry, are we leaving?” He nodded slowly and you stood up, pushing in your chair and leaving with him. Your untouched butterbeer left on the table. Lily and James wanted to head back to the castle while you and Sirius decided to stick around Hogsmead a bit longer.
After going into a few stores and Sirius seeing how strangely you were acting he attempted to address the situation while the two of you were looking at the shrieking shack.
“You know what?” You hummed in response, not looking away from the shack atop the hill. “You're beautiful,” he sighed out. You froze for a moment, not knowing how to react before blushing and laughed, bumping him with your side awkwardly.
“So are you, but you already know that,” you teased and looked up at him where your head was placed on his shoulder, nothing but adoration in your eyes.
“I’m being serious,” you almost made a comment about “yes you are sirius,” but saw that it wasn;t the time. You lifted your head and slid up onto the post in front of him.
“So am I. I mean. I was joking. But I was being serious. You’re beautiful too.” Your mind was running a hundred miles an hour. What did you do wrong? Did you say the right thing? Were you supposed to call your boyfriend beautiful? Why wasn’t there a how to date guide?
He stared at you, an unsatisfied expression on his Face,
“Siri, what's wrong? You're acting strange. Did-did I do something wrong?” His eyes widened.
“No, no of course you didn’t, love,” he kissed your forehead, letting it last a few seconds longer. “You’re perfect, you know that, right?” you remained silent. You didn't want to keep lying. You didn’t. “Love?” He looked up at you, you glanced at him and smiled.
“Y-yeah, of course. And you know that you are too, right?” he nodded and you smiled, hoping off the post and grabbing his hand. “Now that we got that settled, let's get back to the castle. I wanted some hot chocolate from the kitchens,” he smiled and followed you, picking up and putting you on his back. You laughed and held on tight as he trudged back to the castle.
It had been a few weeks and it seemed, despite his best efforts, your self esteem had begun to just get lower and he never really understood until one day in the hall.
You and him were talking to James and Remus about one of their upcoming pranks. Well, James and Sirius were talking about the pranks while Remus was there reminding them of how many rules they would break, though you all knew he was going to join in, if only to save their asses when the time came to it.
He had his arm draped over your shoulders, as usual, and he noticed you were hugging your body. It was a habit he was trying to get you to break. Now that it was brought to his attention, little things like that bugged him because he knew that you were being critical of yourself. He honestly couldn’t understand it. Why were you so critical of yourself? To him you were perfect. But everytime he told you a variation of that, you would just laugh it off and blush excessively.
“So, what if we bewitched the suits of armor to dance every time someone walked by?” You laughed at James’ idea. Sirius looked down at you.
“Please do that. I am actually begging you. There is a whole group of them by Mcgonagall’s room. It would be great!” Sirius smiled, laughing as he imagined Mcgonagall’s face when she walked past them and they all started to dance.
“Do you have a spell for that… Rem…” you drifted off. Remus started to go into his usual “Yes I have a spell but…” speech, but Sirius noticed you had zoned out, getting that little wrinkle in your forehead when you were focusing.
He looked over and saw two girls walking down the hallway whispering to each other, you were obviously eavesdropping, so he decided to as well.
“I know! They sooo don;t belong together. I mean… just look at her compared to him. What does he even see in her?” His jaw nearly dropped when he heard the one girl.
“I know. She’s not smart like… say… Evans. Now there's a pair that makes sense. She's gorgeous and smart and kind.”
“Exactly and James is the quidditch captain, enough said.”
“Right! And then you have the hottest guy and school and… her…” The two disappeared behind the corner. Sirius tightened his grip on you and brought you closer. He had a scowl on his face that was very similar to a dog’s snarl.
“Padfoot? You still with us, Mate?” He shook himself out of his state and looked around to see all three of you. He nodded and glanced down at you who had a worried expression on your face. He realized how tightly he was holding you and released some of the pressure he was holding you down with, but you stayed glued to his side.
“Yeah. sorry, got lost in my head for a minute. You said you had a spell, Moony?”
“Uh, yeah. I do. But-” Sirius put a smile on.
“Great! We’ll sneak out tonight then. You joining us, love?” You smiled and nodded quickly, not wanting to miss this. “Wonderful. I don’t know about you three, but I think I’m ready for lunch. Ready?” You nodded again and the boys nodded, following behind as he held you close and walked down to the Great Hall.
You had retired to your dorm early leaving Sirius just sitting in the common room with a bouncing leg. You had all decided to leave around one in the morning and he told you he would come get you, he had bypassed the charm that kept boys out of the girls common room ages ago.
“Wanna tell us what happened earlier today?” James ased, sitting next to Sirius. He opened his mouth to respond, but didn’t know how to state his concerns. James noticed his lack of words and got worried. “You're not going to break up with her are you?” He asked worriedly, snapping Sirius out of his wordless state.
“Why the hell would I do that?”
“You wouldn’t. It was the only way to bring you back to the present. What's going on?”
“How long have the girls in this school bad mouthed, Y/N?” James looked at him a little shocked.
“What do you mean? How can you bad mouth her? She is the definition of a cinnamon roll.” Sirius nodded, bouncing his leg a little harder and picking at his lip. Lily walked down and placed herself on the arm of the couch with a sigh.
“What's wrong Sirius?” James answered for him.
“He wants to know how long the girls have been talking crap about Y/N. I never realized they did.” Lily frowned and looked up at the dorm room she shared with you.
“Ever since you two started dating,” she said with a shake of her head. Sirius looked up at her sharply.
“We’ve been dating since the middle of last year!” Lily nodded sadly.
“She was never one to stick out in a crowd, you know that. You only knew her because of me. When you two went public she got a lot of attention, but it wasn’t the good kind.” He frowned even deeper. How had he never noticed this before? Lily seemed to notice the thought pass through his mind. “She hides it really well. But she…. She doesn’t exactly take it well.”
Sirius frowned deeper and continued to bounce his leg. You had been keeping this inside for six months? He stood and started to go towards your dorm.
“I wouldn’t, Sirius,” Lily advised, slipping onto James’ lap. But that didn’t stop him. He made his way up to the dorm, ignoring Lily’s advice. No one was in the dorm room, they were all either still at dinner or somewhere else in the castle. He knocked on the door and got no reply. He knew you knew it was him.
“Y/N? You in there?” He heard a sniffle and his heart broke.
“Uh, yeah. Did you need something?” He was silent for a moment.
“Can I come in?” He could feel the air tense on the other side of the door and realized you thought he was asking to talk about something different. And before he could tell you it wasn’t that, the door opened and you let him in.
You were sitting on your bed, still in your robes, and you were clinging to one of your pillows. You were sitting up with your legs crossed and looking at him. You looked guarded and he made his way over, he glanced at the bed and you nodded. He sat.
“Are you alrig-”
“Aren’t you breaking up with me?” You interrupted. He shook his head.
“No,” the tension was removed from your shoulders, but you still looked tense as you nodded.
“Thank god.” You sighed. “I was scared you came to your senses,” you semi joked, only making him frown deeper.
“Hey, stop that.” You looked up, furrowing your eyebrows. “That's actually why I wanted to talk to you.”
“About what?” Why was he at a loss for words? Has he ever had to reassure someone that they didn’t need to change? “Siri?”
“I-ah,” he cleared his throat, still not knowing what to say. You grabbed his hand and squeezed four times, reassuring him to take his time. He chuckled and held your hand up, examining it. “I just wanted to say… I love you,” You eyes widened as the words fell out of his mouth. And they didn;t scare him, like he thought they would. Because he actually meant it. He had known it for a while now.
“Why?” He was slightly taken by your response and so were you were for a moment. You were thinking it, not expecting to let it slip out. “I-I mean… um... “ You groaned into your pillow. You had been doing so well hiding your insecurities, or so you had thought. He smiled softly and pulled your head out of the pillow.
“Must admit, I wasn’t expecting that response,” you laughed sadly and shook your head.
“I’m sorry. I’m such a mess.” He kissed your forehead.
“Not really. You're just as mixed up as I am, just differently.” You smiled and hit him on his shoulder, your insecurities melting away for a moment.
“You're such a softy when you don;t have that bad boy act.”
“Who says it's an act, love?” he teased. You chuckled and brought your knees closer to yourself. He frowned at the act, you were receding again. “Want to tell me what's been bothering you?” You shook your head and looked away. “Then let me tell you something,” He adjusted on the bed so you were trapped between his legs. He took your face in his hands so you couldn’t look away. “Everything I have ever told you, were never just words.” You bit your lip and attempted to look away but he held your face a little more tightly, watching the blush creep onto your cheeks. “I do love you. And I have since I kissed you during that game last year. I just never really realized it until now.”
Your eyes flitted between his, trying to find some ounce of insincerity. You found none.
“I wish I would've told you sooner,” he smiled. “And I wish you wouldn’t listen to the girls here.” You bit your lip and lowered your eyes.
“You know about that?”
“I found out today and I wish I knew sooner. They are just jealous.”
“Of what?” You asked, exasperated. “They’re right,” you yanked your face from his grasp. “Lily and James make sense. They are perfect in both mind and body. You are perfect in mind and body. I am just a blob thrown together and then thrown on the sidewalk to be walked on.” His eyes narrowed as you laughed at yourself. “I do love you,” you smiled and glanced up at him, eyes shining. “I love you so much that it actually hurts. But I’m just… me.” he frowned. Why weren’t you understanding? How could he make you understand?
“You know what?” you glanced up at him. “I don’t care.”
“Huh?” He shrugged and leaned back on the post at the bottom of your bed.
“I don’t care what you think about yourself. I don’t care what the others think of you. You know why I don’t care?” He grabbed your face again. “Because I know you're perfect.”
You don’t know why, but his words made you smile and he smiled in return to that. He kissed your forehead again, before bringing his own down onto it.
“Please tell me when you don’t feel good about yourself,” he whispered. “Because I promise you I’ll tell you the truth.” you pulled back and smiled at him and he smiled back.
“Thank you.” he shook his head.
“No need to thank me, love. It's why I’m here.” you leaned forward and kissed him on the lips, taking him a bit off guard but he replied a second later, cupping the back of your head to deepen it slightly. Both your bodies were buzzing with energy.
“Yeah well,” you whispered hoarsely, pulling away. “I’m glad you are. Here, I mean.” He chuckled and pecked your lips again.
“Me too, love. Me too.”
308 notes · View notes
emf005 · 2 years
Text
CHUCKS
Charlie Weasley x Muggleborn! Reader
Note: Sorry I have been so inactive. My life is literally the definition of chaos. I hope this makes up for it! Enjoy and please let ne know what you think!
Warnings: Pretty fluffy, some confusion that leads to a bit of angst, talk of not really liking oneself because of your blood status.
You sat on the shore of the lake with your paints and a pair of white Chuck Taylors, as you called them. Everyone else called them Converse, but you called them Chucks for some reason.
Fall was here, making the world a masterpiece of itself. The colors of the leaves danced around the world as they fell from trees and got swept up by the wind, creating small tornados. The trees were dotted with the same bright colors, beautiful.
Smiling, you set down the brush you had been using and grabbed the purple one. Your parents had sent you a pair of white chucks so you could paint them for a friend of the families whose birthday was coming up. They had wanted music notes all over their shoes and her parents remembered that you had a knack for decorating shoes. So, your parents sent you up some white chucks. You already had the paints with you since it was common for you to sneak out and paint somewhere after curfew. How many times Filch caught you made you laugh. But you always got out of it by giving him some painting or other of something he requested. You had to admit, being muggleborn had its perks.
Regardless, you were so lost in your paints that day, that you didn’t hear the crunching of leaves as none other than Charlie Weasley made his way up to you. He leaned over your shoulder and examined in curiosity what you were working on so intently. You were humming an unfamiliar tone (I will Survive) as you worked, making him chuckle slightly.
“What are you doing?” He asked you quietly, making you jump and throw your brush at him on instinct. He caught it with ease, but not without its bristles touching his cheek, leaving a streak of purple. He laughed and you threw your hands to your mouth.
“Charlie!” You yelled, your emotions going between embarrassed and frustration. You shoved his shoulder, releasing a bit in the fact that he had a streak of purple on him from the scare he had just given you as he continued to laugh and plop down besides you.
“Nice to see you too,” you were about to say something when he grabbed the dry shoe next to you and examined it. “What is this?” You chuckled and rolled your eyes, going back to your work on the shoe.
“A shoe,” you answered plainly. He chuckled and lifted the shoe a little higher, examining the work you had done on the bottom of the shoe as well.
“What are you doing to the shoes?” He clarified.
“Painting them,” you shrugged. You looked at you strangely.
“Why?” You glanced at him, the look he gave you made your heart flutter in your chest, you looked back at your work before you messed up.
“Um, a friend of the family wanted a pair of music noted shoes. I’m known for my handy shoe work back in the,” you hesitated, honestly hating the fact that you weren’t from a wizard family. “Muggel world. I mean,” you quickly added, hoping he didn;t notice your hesitation. You two had gotten into actual fights about how you shouldn’t be ashamed of where you came from, but it always ended with you in tears and one of you storming away, each defeated and frustrated. ‘I’m known for my painting too, but since I wear the shoes out and about, I’m most well known for them.”
“Huh,” he flipped it back around, still examining them. “Does it play something?” he asked after a second, pressing the shoe as if expecting music to erupt out of it. You glanced at him in confusion, but then he motioned to the string of notes on a staff that he was now swishing his wand at.
“Oh! Yeah. It's the first half of happy birthday on the piano. I’m adding the second half on this side. She's really good at music,” you smiled. “She even got accepted to a prestigious school for the arts when we were eleven.” You tried to keep the bright smile on your face for her. Because you were actually supposed to attend with her for art. But then Hogwarts happened. And don’t get me wrong, you loved Hogwarts. It had gotten to the point where you dreaded going home because you loved the school and the teachers and everything. But you and her had planned to go to that school together since you were little. You were just a little bummed you missed out on that.
Despite your attempts at trying to keep your small, very small, disappointment hidden, he caught it, like he always did.
“What's wrong?” He set a hand on your leg, sending electricity through your leg.
You ignored the feeling and went back to your shoe.
“Nothing,” you tried to convince him, but he just gave you that look he always did. You sighed, knowing you weren’t going to get away with anything. “I was supposed to go too. We both got accepted, but that was also the same year I got accepted here,” you explained. “But don’t get me wrong! I love it here!” you looked out over the lake and then back up at the castle with nothing but love and admiration in your eyes. “But we just… we planned to go together since we could talk,” you shrugged and looked away from him, not wanting to see a sympathetic look on his face or him to see your sad expression. It had been three years since then, and you were still moping around because of it. How pathetic.
“Oh,” he said quietly. “What did you…”
“Art,” you shrugged and drew your attention back to the drying shoe. You only had a few more details to add before you were finished. But, then you had to work on your gift for her. Despite going to separate schools, you two had stayed best friends, she was also the only one talking to you about your crush on Charlie. He let out a chuckle.
“That makes sense.” He nodded. The air shifted a bit, it wasn’t tense but it wasn’t as relaxed as it normally was.
“I meant to ask you, what do you want for your birthday? With it coming up and all.”
“Nothing,” he layed back in the grass, putting his hands under his head. “I just want to hang around you all day…”
“And play with dragons,” you teased. He sent you a look, but had a smile on his face.
“Something wrong with that?” You laughed.
“Nothing at all. Just sounds like you’ll be hanging with Hagrid all day instead of me.”
“Ha ha ha,” he laughed sarcastically. “I’ll just be dragging you around with me.”
Conversation flowed easily between you two as you were trying to plan out what you wanted to get him. He did that to you every year since your first, making you rack your brain for something to get him. Then it hit you. He was very interested in the shoes. Maybe you could spice up a pair for him. Of course, you would need the help of a certain seventh year, that you were sure would help you.
“Bill!” You shouted, running down the hall, your bag slung over your shoulder and a box of white chucks in your hand. “Bill! Wait a sec!” the red head turned around and smiled at you.
“Hey, Y/N! Where's the fire?” he chuckled and you laughed along.
“Very funny. I need help.” he creased his eyebrows, inclining his head slightly.
“That's normally my line. Whats up?”
“Your brother.”
“Ah, your crush.” you blushed and walked with him towards the Great Hall for dinner.
“Shut up,” you grumbled.
“What can I help with?”
“His birthday is coming up, and I have an idea for a present but I need your help.” He looked at you with a smile.
“Well, let's get started.” You smiled wide and hugged him, continuing your walk to the great hall, unknowing of the jealous eyes from another red head following behind you.
“Fred! George!” You and Bill yelled to the twins who were hiding behind a corner looking over at whoever had fallen victim to their trap. They shushed you in unison before turning back around to watch. You and Bill peaked over the corner to the Filch and Mrs. Norris walked down the hall. You bit your knuckle to silent you giggles as the both waved their wands, releasing a bucket that swung in front of him, hitting the other wall, releasing something else and having a tarp slowly falling. Filch looked in the bucket and started to gag from the smell and the tarp fell directly on top of him and caused him to get tangled up in it.
The twins swished their wands again and water squirted him backwards. Cursing was heard from under the tarp and the twins laughed as they grabbed you and Bill, running away from the scene. You were laughing as well, and Bill was shaking his head, obviously very amused, but not wanting to really show it because he was a prefect.
Once you were away from the scene of the crime you all burst into uncontrollable fits of laughter. You adored the twin’s mischief, finding a good laugh was all you needed sometimes.
Once your fits of laughter died down, and Bill finally admitted to how funny the joke actually was, you got down to business.
“So, you need our help?” Fred asked.
“Yes,” you responded, finally getting your breath back. “It's for Charlie’s birthday,” you explained, they gave each other a sly look and then back at you.
“You mean your crush’s birthday,” George corrected. Yet again a blush colored your cheeks and you crossed your arms.
“Am I that obvious?” you muttered.
“Yes,” they all replied. You had expected that from the twins, but now that three of them are doing it in unison, it was just weird. Well, weirder than normal.
“What do you need us to do?”
“Trip him so he falls into you?” Fred teased.
“Very funny,” you joked with a sarcastic laugh. “No. I have a gift in mind, but I need time and some supplies. Bill’s already on board, but we need a little…”
“Pasaze?” the two asked in unison. You smiled.
“Yes.”
“What do we get?” Fred asked, and arched his eyebrow. You always forgot they would want something. They would do it, even if you offered them some stupid cheap thing from a dollar store in the muggle world, but they would want something.
“What do you want?” They smirked at each other and back at you two.
“You know those darling shoes you make?” Fred asked, taking you by the shoulder. You were scared where this was going. Especially since they were talking up your shoe art.
“Yeah,” you said slowly. George came around your other side and did the same thing Fred had done.
“Well, we were wondering if you could… whip us up a pair-”
“With some special features.” You were going to regret agreeing to this. Bill was going to kill you. But you were very curisoe and very desperate for their help. You couldn’t go to Percy; he was just… a stick in the mud. You sighed.
“After this works, deal?” They grinned and shook your hands.
“Deal,” they said in unison.
Three down, one to go.
“Hagrid!” You called as you knocked on his door. You heard shuffling and the familiar bark of Fang’s. The door opened to reveal Hagrid, Fang attempting to make his escape behind him.
“ ‘Ello, Y/N!” he said happily. “What can I ‘elp you with today?” He let you in and you smiled gratefully, removing your scarf.
“Well, Charlie’s birthday is coming up and I know how much he talks to you about dragons. I was wondering if you could give me a few of his all time favorites?” he looked at you skeptically for a moment.
“You’re not plann’ ta do something’ drastic. Are ya?”
“I wouldn’t say drastic. Just a small gift. But I need to know, you wouldn’t happen to know, would you?”
“Of course I know! ‘Ave yourself a seat, Y/N.” You smiled and sat down, Fang putting his head on your knees. You pet his head while Hgrid took a seat himself and started telling you about Charlie's all time favorite dragon, the Norwegian Ridgeback.
You sat at the top of the Astronomy tower, finishing up Charlie’s shoes for Saturday when his birthday was. You and Bill were going to work on enchanting them the next day so that the scales you were drawing on them would shine and feel like actual scales, while still being drawn. You had come up with a spell that would allow a small drawing of the Norwegian Ridgeback to move around the shoes on its own accord. Sleeping or hunting the birds that you had drawn on the shoe as well. You thought they looked pretty good.
The shoe that didn’t have the small sketch of the moving dragon and background scenery had piercing yellow eyes and a face of the dragon that would snort smoke and blink as of tomorrow which Bill had promised to help you with. You were proud of yourself. And you couldn;t help the smile that overtook your face as you watched the pair dry in front of you. Then you heard someone making their way up the stairs and hid the shoes behind your back, careful not to ruin the inscription you had written on the tongue of the shoes, which would take a bit longer to dry.
You slid over to the corner where the shadows completely over took you, and hid you from sight. And then you heard it. Bill and Charlie angrily discussing something.
That wasn’t like those two. They hardly ever fought. Charlie rarely ever fought with anybody.
“What are you getting at, Bill?” Charlie hissed, both of them standing on the balcony just far enough that she could see their flushed faces, and they weren't just flushed from climbing the ridiculous amounts of stairs that led up here.
“What am I getting at?” Bill asked, equally as frustrated. “Charlie, what is your problem? You haven't been acting like yourself and someone is going to end up getting hurt if you don’t knock it off!”
From the way he said someone it sounded like he had a specific person in mind.
“Yeah! Me! And it already happened, so drop it!” He shot back. He sounded angry. Like beyond angry. Beyond mad. Just beyond it all. Who had hurt him? What was happening? The thought of him being this upset made your heart tighten.
She saw Charlie lean up against the side of the archway leading to the balcony with his arms crossed and his head turned out towards the sky. There was a prolonged deafening silence as the two just stood there.
“What are you going to do?” Bill asked finally, seemingly exasperated. Charlie remained silent. “Charlie.”
“Why don’t you get off my case! I tell you that I like…” he faltered, not being able to say the name, “someone, and there you are the next minute snuggling up to her! Just leave me alone, Bill!” Charlie pushed off the archway and passed his brother, making sure to hit his shoulder as he left the astronomy tower.
Bill swore under his breath and rubbed his face before turning and leaving. Tears leaked from your eyes as you sat there. Disappointment surging through your body. He liked someone else. It wasn’t you. It would never be you. They were a pure blood family. And though that doesn't matter to them, Charlie wouldn’t have dated you. You just weren’t what some of the girls at Hogwarts were.
Clearing your throat you put the shoes back in the box and left the astronomy tower, far more upset than you were when you had started. As you walked back to your common room, you bumped into Bill who smiled at you.
“Hey! Ready for Saturday?” he asked. You nodded and rushed past him with tears in your eyes. Honestly you should’ve asked him if he was alright. But you didn’t want to clue him in on that you had heard. Him and the twins knew that you liked him. You didn’t want pity.
You made it to the corner before you burst into silent tears, sliding down the wall and then you heard voices again. Bill and Charlie again, but Charlie sounded calmer.
“Bill.”
“Charlie.”
“Listen I’m sorry. If you and… her … are together, good for you. I-I’m jealous, but if it's not me, at least your happy, right?”
“Charlie, its not-”
“And who needs the drama anyway, right?”
“Charlie, listen, its rea-”
“It's not like I even liked her anyway. Not that much to be honest.”
You held your breath. Did-did you have a chance?
“Charlie! Just stop talk-”
“I mean there's not that much special about her, anyway. Who in their right mind would like Y/N. I mean, I was just jealous that-”
You didn’t hear the rest. You stood and fled to the common room, shoes still in your hands. So he had apparently thought you were with Bill, but now apparently doesn’t like you? Not that much special about you?
He was right. There wasn’t. The thoughts flew through your head at full speed. You hated them, but couldn’t stop them. Tears, a broken heart, a shattered self esteem. A feeling of helplessness overcame you as you took the shoes you had worked tirelessly on and threw them across the room, then flying out of the entrance to the common room and into the hall. You ran to your dorm curled up on your bed and sobbed. If only you had stayed a little bit longer…
“Charlie!” Charlie stopped babbling, mostly trying to convince himself that he didn;t have feelings for you. “God, you're an idiot! She was asking me for help, not snogging me! And Merlin's Beard, you have had a crush on that girl since first year! Stop trying to convince yourself that you don’t like her!” Charlie’s mouth fell open.
“You're not dating her?” Bill set his face in his hand.
“No, Charlie. And, frankley, I am offended that you think I would do that to you.” Charlie opened his mouth to respond but Bill cut him off. “And have you not seen the way that she looks at you? Come on! She’s had a crush on you since forever and a day as well.”
“She has?” Bill was exasperated at this point, and wanted to shake his brother until the pieces just fell into place without him having to explain it all to him, but the way you had brushed past him earlier made him concerned that you had heard something up at the Astronomy tower. They both knew you went up there often, but it just happened to be the place they had to have a very conspicuous argument without people. You probably thought Charlie had a crush on some other girl in the school.
“Yes, but-”
Charlie ran a hand through his hair. “She does? She does! Oh my god! Why didn’t I see it? I really hope I’m not getting my hopes up. But she blushed constantly when I was around. And always ended up flustered. Especially when-” “Charlie! I’m worried about her!” Charlie stopped talking, panicked.
“Why?”
“She was acting like herself. I think she was at the Astronomy tower.”
“What would that have to-” and it hit him. He had just had an argument with his brother there. He swallowed and ran his hand through his hair again, swearing under his breath. “What am I going to do?”
“Check everywhere for her. I’ll check her common room. She is going to be so mad.” Charlie nodded and bolted towards the Astronomy tower. While Bill bolted towards your common room entrance.
He made it there in record time and saw the almost finished shoes in the hall, he sighed and picked them up, examining your work on them. They were very nice, even without magic they would've been perfect. But, he knew you had a plan with them. He put the spell on them for his end of the bargain, but he needed you to do the rest, him not being very good at the animation spell and would most likely mess it up.
He whispered the password, knowing every password to each house at this point, even Ravenclaw’s, he stepped in and saw you curled up by the fire, sobbing into your hands. You had been too cold in your room and moved to the common room for warmth, which did nothing.
“I think you should finish the shoes,” Bill said, you stopped sobbing.
“What's the point? I’m dull and uninteresting. He doesn’t even want me as a friend.” Bill sat next to you and watched the flames flicker.
So you had heard more than he thought.
“He didn’t mean it. He was just frustrated.” You laughed.
“You and the twins always told me he liked me back. And for a minute I believed it. I wanted to tell him. But now… Now I wish I had never met him.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“I do. I hate this feeling. Like I have lost something. He was such a major piece in my life, even more than my own parents. And now I don’t even have my best friend because I just feel empty every time I think about him.”
“At least finish your part of the deal on the shoes. If anything I can use them as a gift for Christmas,” he urged. Shrugging and not caring you flicked your wand making the dragon come to life. He breathed a bit of fire before curling up and going to sleep. Bill smiled and so did you. Wishing that you actually did feel empty instead of sinking.
“Think about what I said, Y/N/N.” He commented as he rose with the shoes in hand. “Please?” You shrugged and continued your study on the fire leaving him to make a new plan on how he and the twins were going to get the two of you together.
You had been avoiding Charlie since that night. You couldn’t act like everything was alright. As much you wanted to, you just couldn’t. The fake smile you had to put up, only to let it crumble when one of the twins or Bill touched your shoulder in private. It was just plain old torcher.
But today was Charlie's birthday. It was Saturday, so no one would notice if you just didn’t show up around the castle, right? No one would even give it a second thought. But apparently you were wrong.
“Y/N!” You groaned and sat up, seeing Fred and George inside the hole in the wall across the room from you. You had forgotten about that secret passage. “Y/N, come on. It’s Charlie’s birthday,” Fred said, a smile on his face. You frowned and flopped back in bed.
“I know perfectly well what today is, and I have no interest in moving from this spot.
Your head was already buried in the pillow, so you didn’t see the smirk that the two gave each other.
“We weren’t talking about that. Didn’t Bill tell you about the surprise?” You lifted your head and skeptically looked at the two.
“Looks like he didn’t, Freddy.”
“What a shame, Georgie.” The two shrugged and began to recede into the portrait, you hesitated for a minute but called after them, not being able to pass up a surprise.
“Wait!” The twins’ heads popped back into view with smirks that made you know you were going to regret this. “What is it?”
“It couldn’t be much of a surprise if we told you,” Fred said obviously.
“Just get dressed and meet us by the pitch,” and with that they disappeared, leaving you to get ready, which was something you had had no intent of doing that day.
“She won’t even look at me!” Charlie complained as he stared up at the sky on the bleachers at the quidditch pitch. Bill sat in front of him, hovering on his broom, shaking his head at the entire situation.
“Do you think she heard what I said?”
“Which time?”
“Both.”
“Yes.”
Charlie groaned.
“This is why I like dragons,” Bill slapped the back of his head.
“Saying stuff like that is what got you in this mess the first time!” He scolded him.
“I know I know!” He pushed his hand through his hair and sat up, leaning on his knees. “Just, tell me what to do!”
“I can’t!”
“Why?” he whined, making Bill sigh. He spotted the twins walking towards the pitch.
“Listen. It's your birthday. Just enjoy it and try not to mess things up more than you already have.” Bill took off towards the twins. He had never taken up quidditch, but that didn’t mean he didn’t enjoy riding, plus it was much faster than walking.
Charlie looked towards the pitch and groaned again. He had not only screwed up being your best friend, but also, potentially, being more than that. He heard someone walk onto the field and looked down assuming it was Bill, but it wasn’t.
You walked into the field where the twins had told you to meet them, only to find it empty. You huffed to yourself, and crossed your arms.
“Yeah. Nice prank you two,” you muttered. A small box to the side of the pitch looked semi-familiar and you walked over to clarify your suspicions. Which was correct thanks to a note sitting on top of the wrapping, obviously done by Bill. You crumpled the piece of paper and tossed it in your back pocket. You slumped against the wall with the box in your hands when you felt eyes on you. You looked up and saw Charlie watching you from the stands. You froze.
This was not at all how you want to spend today. Well, originally it was. Spending your best friend’s birthday, who also happened to be your crush, was just a given. But since you had overheard him and Bill in the hall and the Astronomy tower… you had a different idea.
Charlie made his way towards you and when he got about half way across the field your body finally unfroze and you began to leave the pitch, only making him run after you. He couldn’t go another week, or month, or year, or second with you talking to him. He would lose it, he knew it.
Before thinking, he grabbed your waist and pulled you around so that you, accidentally, fell into his chest, being much closer than he had expected. Yet again your body froze, and it seemed his did as well.
“Hi,” he finally, awkwardly, said. You were about to come back with the same amount of awkwardness, because those darn eyes and that stupid fluffy hair, and the freckles… so many freckles! But you reminded yourself that he didn’t like you. Not as a friend, and never as anything more.
“What do you want, Charlie?” You sighed exasperated and emotionally tired from fighting with yourself. His half smile fell when you spoke and he couldn’t help but feel his heart just throb.
“I-I, um…” He dropped your wrist and stepped back, running his hand through his hair, making you go between watching it and his face. “Well… I- I wanted to.. Um…” He glanced at you and saw you waiting, which made him panic. He was not good at this. Creatures he could do. This though? “I wanted to know wh-”
“Why I haven’t been talking to you?” You said dryly. The words filled with venom. He flinched at them, but nodded. “I don’t know, Charlie. Maybe I should actually ask you why you have been talking to me,” he stared at you confused. “If I’m so dull and boring, why would the best quidditch player want to be friends, let alone hang out with me?” He stared at you.
So, she had heard what I said that night. I hate it when Bill’s right.
“Y/N/N, I-I didn’t mean th-”
“Then why did you say it?” You yelled. You felt tears in your eyes and your vision blurred. You didn’t want to cry. But you also wanted to show him how much him playing pretend hurt you.
“Because I thought you and Bill were together!” He shouted, making you stop blubbering. It was a tense few seconds of silence.
“Wait, you thought Bill and I were… a thing?” He shrugged and put his hands in his pockets, rocking on his feet like the awkward dork he was.
“Well, yeah. I saw you hug him the other day and I-I don;t know I just-” he groaned and squatted down, burning his face in his hands. You stared at him for a second before kneeling in front of him, still staying silent.
“You thought I was Bill’s girlfriend because I hugged him?” You quietly asked. He nodded. “Charlie, we were hugging, not snogging.”
Didn’t Boll say that exact phrase?
“And you just looked so happy around him. You were practically beaming. And then I saw you with the twins and him and I mean, you looked really happy being around Bill then too. And I just… I-”
“Why did it bother you?” he looked up at you to find you already staring intently at him.
“What do you-”
“Why would it have bothered you if me and Bill were together?” This wasn’t the way he wanted to tell you that he liked you, but it looked like this was going to be the way it happened. The only problem? Words had escaped him. Every known and unknown word had become forighn to his mouth, yet so many crammed in his head yelling at him to tell him to tell you.
Sighing you handed him the box.
“I was asking for help on your birthday present. He had agreed to help and I got excited. Here,” he looked at the box and took it off of you a moment later. Carefully, he undid the wrap job, that he knew was obviously his brother’s. He was always more messy with it while you were always so clean with it.
Inside was a shoe box. He lifted the lid to the pair of shoes, and took them out. He smiled at them. His favorite dragon’s face was on the one shoe, it’s golden eyes shining up at him, blinking occasionally while snorting a puff of smoke in his face. He laughed at that and ran his fingers around the shoe, feeling the scales before examining the other one. A perfect look alike of the same dragon flew around the shoe while some birds flew away from it. He looked back up at you with nothing but childhood wonder in his eyes.
“You drew these?” You nodded and smiled sheepishly. He caught something black on the inside of the shoe and pulled the tongue of the shoe out to read it. Your eyes went wide and scrambled to grab it back but he held you back with your arm.
Happy Birthday Charlie! To the best friend I have ever had. Love ya
And to your utter moritifiction you drew a heart by love ya. It was something you were just so used to saying since it was a common thing to say to your friends in the muggle world that you hadn’t even thought twice about it. Well, that and the fact that you actually did love him and you were planning on telling him that when you have him the shoes.
Charlie froze when he read the inscription and so did you. A long, long, long string of profanities went off in your head as he stayed silent. He turned back to you and looked in your eye and you decided to ask him your question again.
“Why did you get upset when you thought I was dating your brother?”
He opened his mouth to answer but no words came out.
“Charlie. Why-” You went to repeat the question but were interrupted by a pair of lips on yours.You froze for a second before giving in. You had wanted this for a long time, and it was even better than the way you had thought it would be. His lips were soft and warm while you knew yours would be chapped and cold.
He pulled back and you just started back up at him. He was about to say something, but you cut him off with a laugh, leaving him completely and utterly confused.
“I guess that answers my question,” he cracks a smile and shakes his head, still holding you by your shoulders.
“You have no idea how long I have been waiting to do that.” You smile sweetly, placing a hand on his cheek.
“Same,” you whispered, bringing his lips back to yours again. You heard clapping behind you and, breaking from your kiss, you turned to see the twins and Bill. The twins were clapping and cheering while Bill just shook his head while leaning against the arch way to the pitch, a proud smirk on his face. The only was to describe their reaction, was the word finally. The only bad part was you had to make the twins converses with fireworks coming out of the back of them whenever they pleased.
But you had Charlie now. You looked back up at him to find him already staring at you. Shyly you smiled back and looked down at the ground.
“So you liked your gift?” he looked at the shoes and smiled.
“Yes, but I like the second one better,” You looked at him in confusion. The second one? “The one I asked for,” he prompted, but it didn’t do anything to clear up your confusion. “Spending my day with you. And now,” he gripped your waist and brought you closer in, making you stumble and fall into his chest. “Now I can kiss you whenever I want,” you smiled and glanced down at his lips, already wanting to capture them again.
“Then what are you waiting for?”
He chuckled and went to kiss them again, but stopped, frowning as you looked up at him, worried he changed his mind.
“Mum is going to be ecstatic.” You chuckled and put your hand and head on his chest while the two of you laughed. You couldn’t count how many times she had made subtle remarks at the two of you hooking up. His laughs died down and he captured your lips again.
Both of you happy that you could do something about that vice-like feeling that encompassed you whenever you looked at eachother.
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emf005 · 2 years
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The golden trio, Reader, and draco in hallway at Hogwarts
Harry: Ginny, I'm cold.
Ginny hugs Harry.
Hermionie: Ron, me too.
Ron takes off his jumper and hands it to Hermionie
Draco waits a second, eyeing y/n as she stuffs a banana in her mouth.
Draco: y/n, I'm cold as well. *waits excidely*
Y/n with a mouth full it banana: incendio
*painful screaming*
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emf005 · 2 years
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A Merry Surprise
Draco x Potter!Reader
Warnings: Pregnancy, a bit of angst, a bit of fluff(Maybe a bit more than a bit), Probably a swear word or two. Let me know if I missed anything!
Note:This takes place if voldy didn't win and lily, sirius, remus, and James
are still alive
I hope you guys enjoy! Let me know what you think.
Shit
Shit shit shit shit
You had noticed your mood swings the past few days. Also your missed period, but you didn't think much of it. At all. Actually you had just dismissed it.
But sitting at the counter at two in the morning eating peanut butter and watermelon wrapped in cold bacon, you knew something was up.
You snuck out of your house and scrambles down the street.
You slid into the 24 hour convenience store and brought what you had hoped not to buy for yet another few years… a pregnancy test.
Xx
You paced you room as you waited for the test to finish. It had to be wrong, right? You where In your last year of hogwarts, secretly dating, hiding your true plans from your family, you didn't have time to
Ding
You scrambled to the test and stares at it. As soon as you saw the mark, the test fell from your hand and clapped a hand over your mouth.
No.
No no no no no.
This couldn't be happening. You didn't know how to raise a child. You didn't know how to be that responsible. You could barely keep yourself alive! But more importantly what will he say. You couldn't loose him. But what if you do because of this?
You swallowed and slid to your knees. Tears slid from your eyes. That's were you stayed all night. Crying yourself to sleep.
Merry christmas to you.
Xx
That morning was Christmas eve. The party was in full swing, you nursing a glass of sparkling water and staring out the window as your parents and rather entertained your guests. You weren't in the mood for partying, you weren't much in the mood for anything at the moment.
"You look lovely but lonely. Why are you all the way over here?" You look up to see Harry, your brother. For being twins you two were very close and very rarely fought.
You sniffles and hid smiled at him pitifully.
"Harry, I need help." You rasped out. He could tell you were crying from how red your eyes where making him worry. He knelt by you and placed a hand on you knee.
"Of course. What's wrong?"
"How do you-um… how do you feel about being an uncle?" He chuckled.
"That's an odd question. I mean its not like it'll happen for a while but" He noticed you weren't laughing and his grin dropped. "Right?"
"Merry christmas?"
His mouth dropped open and he stares at you. His eyes moving between yours and your stomach.
"Y/n? Are you-is there?" You nodded. His face changed between shock, surprise, worry, anger, and happiness for about five minuets, as if he didn't know what to say. You didn't blame him.
"Do you know who the father is?" You nodded. "OK. Who?" You remained silent. "Y/n? Who?"
"Ummm… you won't be mad?"
"Who?"
"Draco?" Harry's face turned bright red, you could see steam coming out of his ears as his anger rose.
"I'm going g to kill him!" He stood and you latched onto his arm.
"No! Harry, please, don't!"
"He fucked my sister! Of courses I'm going to kill him!"
"I fucked him!"
Harry froze and stares at you.
"Wh-what?"
"I-I've been seeing him.. for a while… and we got super drunk and I got really horney and I just… I wasn't thinking and…"
"How long?"
"5th year.."
"5th year! Bloody hell y/n!"
"I know. But I knew none if you would approve and we wanted to say something but I was scared and I wanted to protect us cause I really love him and I couldn't loose Him and and and."
"You love him?" You swallowed, not realizing you had said it. You hadn't even told draco that yet. But heating Harry say it, you realized that you did. Would he feel the same? Especially after this?
"Yeah. I really do."He sighed and sat down beside you. You rested your head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry." He kissed you head and held your hand.
"Don't be. We'll figure this out. Why don't you invite him over tomorrow?"
"Harry!"
"I'm serious. You need to tell him. And if you really like him then, I guess I need to try and get along with him." You could tell he wasn't particularly pleased with trying to get along with his arch rival, but it was what you two did for eachother. You had to learn to deal with Ginny, so he would learn to deal with Draco.
"I'll go write to him." You stood and stares towards your room. "Um, Har?"
"Yeah?"
"What if he doesn't take it well? What if he wants to stop seeing me?" Yoir chest began to tighten again. You didn't want to loose him, but what is you did?
Harry stood up and placed his hands on you shoulders.
"If he breaks things off with you and leaves you stranded, he us a fool. And remebr you have me and sirius and mum and dad and Remus. Ok?" You smiled and nodded running back to your room to write to Draco.
Xx
Knock knock
Your stomach knotted at the sound coming from the hall.
You and draco had a notebook that led directly to the others so you didn't have to send letters and wait for a reply. He had answered back immediately that he would, needing to get out of the manor and away from his family.
You had told your parents you invited you boyfriend for Christmas day dinner. The look of shock on their face that precious y/n was dating the unholy prince of Slytherin would have been priceless is you weren't so scared.
You scrambled to the door and opened it up, finding a very put together, but also very nervous, looking Draco Malfoy.
"H-him." You breathed with a smile, butterflyes igniting in your stomach.
"Him." He smiled back.
"Oh come on! Save it for later, please." Harry begged as be walked down the stairs. You threw your shoe at him as he laughed and ran into the house. You chased after him, leaving draco at the door.
"Harry James Potter! You get your scrawny ass back here!" Draco chuckled at the door, blushing slightly as you chased and started to beat up your brother, Harry begging for mercy.
"Ah, you must be Draco." He looked up yo find a tall man with black hair standing in front of him. The man looked slightly familiar. "Sirius Black," he stuck his hand out. "Pleasure to meet you." Draco took his hand, nervously, and rightfully so. Sirius pulled him close and whispered in his ear, " hurt her and I hurt you. Got it? I promise, my bite is much worse than my bark." Draco swallowed as they backed away from each other and sirius smiled, pleasantly but also threateningly.
"Sirius! Stop torturing him and let him in! Y/n got destracted-y/n let go of your brother's hair! You're gonna tear it out! Wait! That's much worse!"
Draco smirked as he and Sirius walked in to see James holding you, kicking and clawing at your twin.
"Let me at 'iI'm! I can take him.!"
"We know, sweet heart. But I'm not sure if your brother can take it." He set you down on your feet and you huffed.
"Fine, but only because I'll need a punching bag later."James and Sirius smirked while Lily and Remus sighed.
Seeing Draco you smiled and blushed, walking to him. You grabbed his hand and intertwined your fingers, a reassuring feeling.
"Um… I guess I should introduce you all to my…" you stare at him, almost scared to say it out loud. You two had kept it a secret for so long. Never has your tongue spoke the word. What if he-
"Boyfriend." He said confidently, holding your eyes for a moment more before looking at your parents. "I'm y/n's boyfriend." You beamed and bit your lip.
Looking back at your parents you could see the reality settling in.
Surprisingly, James was he fist to recover. You father stretched his hand out and offered to Draco.
"Well, its a pleasure to meet you, Draco. Welcome to our little corner of the world."
Draco smiled, shaking his hand back.
"A pleasure to meet you too, sir."
The evening went well. Your parents even invited Draco to stay which he agreed upon, not wanting to return home. Now, came the hard part.
Everyone had gone to bed and just Draco and you sat on the couch, cuddled up together, watching the fire roar.you licked your lips, but it did not taking to add moisture. The reality of what you had to do was settling in.
"Um… Draco?"
He turned to you and smiled, making your heart melt.
"Yes, love?"
"I- I need to tell you something."
"Oh! I almost forgot!" He slipped a small box from his pocket, a red bow tied to a green box. Red was not a usual color to be in his possession, so you knew that it stood for Gryffindor "I never gave you your present."
With shaky hands you took the box and opened it.
A small delicate ring sat in the middle of the silver cushions. A beautiful ruby sat on a silver band, carved to look like a snake encircling the gem.
"Draco!"
"It's not a proposal, if that's what you think. Not yet anyway." His eyes fluttered between you and the ring. "I think the muggles call them promise rings, or something. But, I wanted to give you something that would reassure you that I'd be there for you, through everything and anything. Y/n, I love you." You were Quickly losing Air as he continued to talk. Everything you wanted to hear, but all at the wrong time. "I just," he took the ring and twisted it in his fingers. "I wanted to promise you that I'll always be here for you. And I know I'm no good with words, I'm better at actions and gifts and… Well, you know. But, now I'm just rambling and," he shyly looked up at you, his pale cheeks burning. "Do-do you like it?"
You swallowed, preparing yourself for him to take the ring back. You have to tell him.
"I love it," You croaked out, hating the Way his perfect face lightened up with joy. "But-i need to tell you something, before you do something you regret."
His face fell and his brows creased.
"Regret?" His voice cracked slightly and the worry in his face made you loose it.
"I'm sorry. I-i can't," you cried out, running out of the loving room and to the roof. You flew past Harry's room, knowing you woke him up, but not caring. You needed to be alone.
Cldraco sat in the loving room, tears blinding his vision as he held the ring in his hand.
What had just happened?
"Malfoy?" He looked to see Harry on the stairs. "What happened? Y/n just… wait, are you crying?"
Draco wanted to say no. To throw some snarky comment and storm out, but he couldn't.
He shook his head "no" as a tear rolled down his cheek and squeezed the ring so hard that it broke his skin.
Harry made his way to him and carefully sat down next to his enemy.
"What happened?"
"I-I down know. She-she said she had something to tell me and then she ran out saying she couldn't. She… she doesn't," he looked down at the ring, not knowing what to think. He loved you. He didn't 3ant to be with anyone but.
Harry sighed.
"Damn, y/n." He grumbled, catching Draco's attention. "Draco, y/n is… uh… dammit!" He ran his hands over his face, not knowing how to explain this and hating his sister for sticking him in this situation.
"What? Is she in trouble?" Draco became frantic, jumping out of his seat, his entire body going tense.
Harry studied him for a moment.
"You really care for my sister, huh?" Draco nodded. "Draco, y/nis… pregnant." Draco stares at him for a moment.
"That's it?" He watched relief wash over Draco.
"It? Draco, your kid is growing inside of my sister. How can that be it for you?" He floped on the couch, his mussels relaxing.
"I thoight… I thought she came to her senses."
"What?"
"Harry. Its not exactly a secret that I'm not a good person. Your sister is perfect. She beautiful and smart and kind and pure."
"Not anymore." Harry grumbled. Draco licked his lips.
"No. She still is." Draco looked at Harry and he could tell everything he said was the truth.
"She's on the roof. You better go talk to her. And give her… that." He pointed to ring.
Draco smiled and jumped out of his seat.
"How do I get to the roof?"
You stare over the town, your knees curled up to your chest. Tears fell down your cheeks as you looked over the roofs.
Slowly, you where Losing everything.
Freedom.
Life.
Love.
Someone sat beside you but you didn't care.
"Go away." You mumbled.
"But you never took your ring." You looked up to see Draco. Your heart clutched at the sight of him. He had a gentle smile on his face, so unlike the broken hearted expression you had run away from.
You opened your mouth but nothing came out.
“I know, Y/N.”
“Know? Know about what?” He flashed you a guilty smile. “Harry told you?”
“Quite politely actually.”
“I understand if you want to leave.”
“Leave? Why would I want to leave?”
“Becuase I ruined our lives? Because I had to go and get knocked up?” He snorted.
“Considering I am the one who, as you put it, go you ‘knocked up’, I’d say it's both of our faults.”
You sighed, not feeling any better.
“Y/n, I always planned on starting a family with you one day.” Your head wupped around to look at him.
“You-”
“Yes. To marry you and take care of you and start something with you. This wasn’t a fling to me. You were never like the rest. I have loved you since day one. It's just earlier than I expected and a bit out of order, but we can do it.” He grabbed your hand and intertwined your fingers. “Together.”
“You can be such a sap,” you laughed, a hitch still in your throat from crying. He smiled and kissed your head, letting his lips linger on your hairline.
“Only for you.” He breathed out. “Only for you.”
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emf005 · 2 years
Text
Hey guys!!! I know I I so terrible and have been so inactive😅😅😅... I feel like I'm constantly running all over the place... ANYHOW! I have this idea for a new fic with draco... hopefully it'll be up soon!!! Stay tuned!!!!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!! STAY SAFE OUT THERE!!!!
0 notes
emf005 · 2 years
Text
Defiance Is Key
Hey guys, I'm so sorry for taking so long to post! School and Nutcracker rehearsal have been INSANE. I hope to get more done over Christmas break, but until then...
Golden Age
George Weasley x Stubborn! reader
Warnings: Umbridge (Enough said), tourture
You met up with your favorite people in the whole world on the platform, attacking them from behind and latching onto their waists. They laughed at your childish antics and you stood to full height, which didn’t seem very tall thanks to the twins’ own impressive height.
“How was your summer, Y/N?” George asked as you three walked onto the train.
“Pretty alright,” you shrugged. “How about you two? Any new pranks lined up for this year?” They smirked at each other from over your head. “Oh no. It's the look,” you laughed. They squished you in between them, making you lose your breath for a moment.
You found yourselves an empty compartment and slid in. Laughing and joking about nonsense as the train went. You bought yourself and the boys treats from the trolley, knowing their favorites at this point and knowing they didn’t have the money to buy it for themselves. They then started to tell you how they would pay you back.
“No need, boys.” You brushed them off. Your muggle family was pretty good with money and the transfer between the currencies wasn’t painful, either.
“No really, one day we will!” Fred exclaimed.
“Yeah! We are finally going to open up that joke shop! We got the money last summer to really get it started!”
“You mean with that failed bet last summer?”
“Yeah, we finally got the money! It’s a huge step in the right direction!” You smiled.
“How huge are we talking?”
“We have it all now! We just have to get the supplies and the building!” You beamed.
“That's great, guys! But don’t worry about paying me back, maybe you could just offer me a partnership?” you suggested with a grin.
“Deal,” they said in unison.
You all walked into the Great Hall together and sat in your usual seats, joking and messing around as usual and then it all started. Finally the sorting ceremony was over and Dumbledor started his speech introducing some lady in pink as the new Defense against the Dark Arts Teacher.
“I’m sure we’ll all be great friends,” she said in a high pitched voice that made you cringe back with the twins you sat in between.
“That’s likely,” you three said together.
And how likely it was.
It was tourture! Horrid! The woman was a nightmare in skin! And, Merlin, that pink! You were so tired of the color pink at this point that every time you saw it you wanted to throw yourself off the Astronomy tower!
Your first class with her, which is your favorite class, was terrible! No magic? Was she insane? Actually, yes. You had convinced yourself that this woman was, indeed, insane.
You, Fred, and George were messing around with your wands before class making the class cheer at your antics as usual when she came in and cleared her throat. You looked at her with a raised eyebrow and then back at the clock. You still had five minutes. You smirked, not being able to control your tongue or actions.
“Morning, Profesor!” You said to her and then went back to playing with whatever you were doing with the boys. She cleared her throat. “Professor, do you need a cough drop? That is the second time you have cleared your throat,” you asked with fake concern. You knew she could see straight through your act and you were glad. You wanted the bitch to know you hated her. You just had this feeling in the bottom of your stomach.
“I would prefer it if you found your seat, Miss.Y/L/N.” You looked around the room before your eyes landed on your desk.
“Found it!” You pointed to the desk and then went back to the game you and the twins were in, the two of them snickering. You could hear her grit her teeth.
“Would you take a seat?” You shrugged and hopped off the desk you were relaxing on and picked up the chair over your head and started walking away, leaving the twins biting their tongues as you exited the room. You stuck your head back through the door a few moments later.
“Sorry, Professor. Where exactly am I supposed to be taking it again?”
“Would you bring the chair back here and then sit in it.” You shrugged and sat the chair back down by the desk. You then examined the chair and shook your head.
“I’m sorry, Professor, I don’t think it's possible to sit in it. I can sit on-”
“Then sit on it, Miss. Y/L/N!” She exclaimed. You smirked and sat on the chair putting your feet up on the desk. She gritted her teeth but turned back to the class. “Everyone sit on your chairs,” she was so very agitated and it was hilarious.
“Professor?” You could see her body tense at the sound of your voice as the twins sat on either side of you.
“Yes, Miss. Y/L/N?”
“We still have a few minutes till class I hope you know. And up until then, we have full range of the classroom.” You informed her.
“Are you incapable of stilling your tongue?”
“Why, it's funny you brought that up, professor. Because actually, I can’t control it. It's a disorder really, but aren’t I just darlin?” The twins started to laugh, earning a glare from her. “Oh! Would you look at the time, Professor!” You exclaimed. “Its time for class. Would you?” She pursed her lips and turned away from you and the snickering boys.
“You may put your wands away,” your jaw dropped.
“Wait professor, how are we supposed to-”
“I said put your wands away.”
“And I was asking how we are supposed to learn without them.”
“By the books of course.”
“We are going to be learning everything out of the book? How are we to protect ourselves?”
“Do you expect to be attacked in my class?”
“Considering Our first Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher had Vol-” George elbowed your ribs. “The dude with no nose,” you corrected since you couldn’t remember the correct term at the moment. “On the back of his head, Lupin, though I love that man he is the best, was a Werewolf, Gildrey Lockheart was just nuts. Yes, I do expect to be attacked in your class. Also, Cedric Diggory just died last year! He was murdered! And you expect us to sit here and read out of the book? Are you insane?”
“Cedric Diggory’s Death was a tragic accident!”
“Sounds like your birth!” The room went deadly silent as you two stared at each other.
“Detention!” She squeaked. You sneered at her.
“With you? Can’t fucking wait!” You plopped down in your seat seething, both of the twins leaned away from you, afraid they would get the bad end of your wrath next.
“I mean, who does she think is?” You yelled walking out of the room with Fred and George on either side of you. “That Pink Pampas is not the boss of me!”
“Actually she is,” Fred spoke up and you glared at him.
“Shut up, Wealsy, I’m trying to rebel here!” Fred snickered and you hit him with the side of your body, not being able to move him with your small chaser frame. The boy was a beater and was about four people taller than you. “Well, at least I have detention and not something horrible.” They laughed and you all headed to the Great Hall where you saw Harry practically seething, as well, but you all just passed him and his friends to find your own seats.
“See you guys! I’m headed to detention!” You yelled to the twins. It was such a normal phrase out of your mouth anymore that everyone in the common room waved you off. You jogged down the hall and into her office without knocking. The room was pink with plates of moving kittens on the walls. You looked around and your eyes had to adjust from the brightness of the pink.
“Ah, Miss.Y/L/N. Welcome. Have a seat.” You plopped down in the chair dramatically and looked at her with crossed arms.
“What are we doing today?” She slid a piece of paper in front of you. “Lines? You are making me write lines?” She just smiled, you rolled your eyes and pulled out your quill.
“No no dear. I would like you to use mine.” She handed you her quill and you eyed it suspiciously. You knew what this quill was. You had seen them in the restricted section. No inkwell needed. You were the inkwell. You eyed her and sneered. She just smiled and sat down.
“And what will I be writing?”
“I will not speak out of turn.” You clenched your jaw and went to put the quill to the parchment, stopping for a moment.
No. I am not going to take this.
You glanced up at her.
“And how many times?”
“Until the message… sinks in.”
Hardy har har. That's hilarious.
You started to write, your hand fidgeting on your lap as the words were carved into your arm. Slowly, letter by letter.
After what seemed like hours she told you to go and leave the parchment.
“I’m sure you learned your lesson.” You were at the door and smirked to yourself.
“I think I have, Professor. I think you’re about to get one from me.” You left the room with your head held high. She grabbed the parchment and read it.
I will not be silenced.
She stared at the paper, her gaze burning holes in it as you went back to the common room, energy completely drained.
“Hey!” George flew from his seat and walked to you, you nearly collapsed into his chest but had just enough energy to hold yourself up. Fred followed.
“What happened? You look awful.”
“Don’t get detention. Just don’t.” You brushed by them and sluggishly made your way to your dorm room. “Night guys. Thanks for waiting up but I really have to get to bed.” They nodded and you disappeared.
“What was that about?” Harry was sitting by the fire and looked at the two of them.
“Did she just get back from detention with Umbridge?” They nodded. He sighed and pulled back his sleeve showing them the mark, their eyes bugged out of their heads.
“This is her detention?” Fred asked. Harry nodded, equally as exhausted as you.
“And knowing her, she didn’t make it easy on herself.” George’s eyes never left your dorm door. What did you get yourself into?
You were called to perform a detention again that day. And the next. And the next. Each time you never wrote what she wanted. You wrote your own message to her. Then, you would neglect your robes, claiming it was too hot in the classrooms and proudly showing them off. While George admired your bravery, and his crush on you seemed to grow, he couldn’t help but worry. You looked exhausted. Deep purple bags under your eyes, your body shaking and near collapse, you skin looking frail and white. It was breaking him. He had to stop it.
“Y/N, can we talk?” He asked, pulling you away from his brother. You nodded happily and stood up walking to the corner with him. “You should stop.”
“Stop what?”
“Stop putting yourself in detention.”
“I’m not, though. I am simply standing up for myself. I am not going to let her continue to do this. I may not be getting anywhere with it, but-but it frustrates the hell out of her and-”
“It's frustrating the hell outta me!” You furrowed your eyebrows. “Merlin, Y/N! You're on the verge of collapse! You can’t keep doing this!”
“I’m fine, George.” You reassured him, but even now you were getting dizzy and swaying.
“You fell off your broom the other day!”
“I just lost my balance for a moment!”
“I can’t keep watching you do this to yourself!”
“George, it's fine! We have the DA and its-”
“You're hurting yourself though. I mean, look at these,” he yanked your arm up with almost no power and you completely fell forward onto him, your head spinning. “Look at you, Y/N,” he said quietly and more gently. “You're completely weak. This isn’t how you can make a difference. You are going to end up getting yourself killed, and I can't stand by and watch that, I care about you too much.” He mumbled into your hair. You relaxed into him and let him hold you.
Your father had always taught you to fight for what you wanted. Strive to make a change. It's one of the reasons you wanted to be an Auror. But, this was also what you wanted. You had had a crush on George since your second year. But too stubborn and scared to act on it. Which did you choose?
“Please stop letting her hurt you.” he mumbled, you closed your eyes and buried your head in his chest. “Because you're just hurting me too.” You looked up at him, and though his face was a little fuzzy, you could still make out the worry in his face. “Please?” You nodded into his chest.
“Ok. I’ll-I’ll write what she wants tomorrow.” Your throat started to close up as you were near tears. He kissed your head.
“Thank you.”
You entered through her door that day with your head held high as usual. And she had everything set up for you. Her lips pursed, she knew she was going to win today. She knew it. You could see she knew it.
“Have a seat, Miss.Y/L/N,” she gestured to the seat and you sat. “I would like you to write today: Nothing good comes from disobedience,” she smiled. You clenched your teeth and went to write it. But you couldn’t. It wouldn’t write.
I’m sorry, Georgey.
You began to write, you felt the letters etch into an empty place on your arm, you didn;t look at her, you kept your eyes on the paper, your energy dropping so fast.
“Thank you, Miss Y/L/N. I assume you have learned your lesson.” You left the room without a word. You stared at your arm.
Authority should be challenged…
You sighed and your legs began to shake. Tears pricked your eyes and you tried to hold them back.
“Y/N!” George called to you. You stopped moving and he touched your shoulder. You completely broke down in his arms. He was shocked to say the least and ushered you into an unused classroom, calming you down. “It's ok. It's ok. Hush, it's fine.” You shook your head.
“I-I’m sorry. I couldn-I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t. I’m sorry. I tried. I tried so hard.” You sobbed. He just held you and tried to calm you down, slightly disappointed you hadn't just complied, but it broke him even more to see you like this.
“Don’t be. Hey, stop the tears. It's ok. It’ll be alright.” He cleared the tears from your face but you just shook your head and sniffled.
“I tried so hard for you. I just-I couldn’t. I’m sorry.”
“It's alright. It's alright. Just stop crying. Please.” You nodded and wiped the tears away from your eyes, choking back sobs. He rubbed your back and you tried to catch your breath. You were so tired and couldn;t catch your breath. You felt terrible.
George brought your face up to his and looked at you worriedly.
“Let's get you to bed, alright?” You shook your head and leaned into him further.
“Just-just a bit longer. Please?” He nodded and held you while you composed yourself a bit more. “I really am sorry. I tried so hard for you and-”
“I didn’t want you to try hard for me.” You looked up at him. “I just want you to be safe. Merlin, that's all I’ve ever wanted. I know this isn’t the best time, but I’ve liked you since the moment I saw you, Y/N. And with you getting hurt, I just- I can’t watch it. Its tourture.”
“You like me?”
“Yeah. I do. I really really do.” You smiled and pulled back, looking up at him.
“I like you too.” His eyes went wide and he looked at you.
“You're not just saying that because you've lost a lot of blood and are exhausted right?” You reached up and placed your lips softly on his. He responded immediately and just as softly.
“Nope. I mean it. But I am about to pass out.” He smiled softly and picked you up onto his back; 8-inch rule be damned.
“That's ok. I got you,” he said to you. You smiled onto his shoulder before falling asleep.
End
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emf005 · 2 years
Text
Disguised part 3 (Finale)
Thank you all for reading and being patient over these past few months. It has been so hectic and over Thanksgiving break was the only time I've been able to write. I hope you enjoy the last part!
Warnings: swearing, beatings, blood, fluff
Please let me know what you guys think!!!
Over the past few weeks, kids slowly started to disappear. At first, Snyder didn’t notice. As long as he was getting paid and eaten well, he didn’t care. But then there were so few kids that it was hard not to notice. 
“Ok, ya rat.” He said to you one day, trapping you in the corner. “Where are they. How’d ya do it?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” You answered, forcing yourself to stop from shuddering. 
“Yes you do, you street urchin.” You grit your teeth. 
“I would appreciate it if you stop calling me-”
Slap!
Your head went whipping around. You saw stars in your vision and the room swirled from how hard Snyder smacked you. 
“Don’t talk back to me you foolish-”
You shoved him back and made a run for it. You couldn’t take him anymore. It had been two months of this endless tourture. After you escaped, you’d come back and get the last five kids. It would be fine. It would be. 
“Ahhh!”
You hit the floor hard, making your head spin faster. The Delcancies were on you in an instant and you were helpless to their fury. All you could do was lay there and take every single last punch. 
Xx
    Jack had done it. He had gotten the last few kids out. He hadn’t seen you in two months, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to talk you into leaving with all the kids still in there. But now he would be able to see you, for some reason that made him excited. He had literally ached to see you. He hadn't realized why until he was headed to see you that day.
"Excited, jack?" Crutchy had asked. Jack looked over at his friend from the roof top. 
"Crutch? How'd you get up here?"
"I'm not completely helpless. Headed to see Scab?"
"Yeah. Everyone is finally out. I'm bringing, Scab home."
"Home?" Crutxhy looked at Jack. "You do realize that this is the first time you called this place home." Jack fell silent and looked over the darkening city. "Jack, I'm not stupid."
"Huh?"
"You got it bad for Y/N. Not having her around has killed ya."
"I don't know what you mean cr-"
"Then why did you turn down Katherin?" Jack stopped and looked at his friend. "As soon as Y/N got caught you turned down Katherine. She became your main priority. Why do you think that is?" 
Jack didn't answer. 
That conversation has been the only thing on his mind since he left for the Refuge. There was no way he liked you like that, right?
He tapped on your window.
There was no answer. 
He tapped again. There was no answer again. 
Swallowing he opened it and squeezed in, landing on your floor quietly. It was darker here than it had become outside. 
"Scab!" He whispered. "Scab, you here?"
There was no answer. Why weren't you here? 
The door opened suddenly and he flew under the bed, luckily he was used to sliding inside tight places quickly. 
"There you go you scum."
Bam
 Thunk.
 "Maybe you'll be more cooperative tomorrow." The door slammed shut and a string of pitiful coughs sounded a ew feet away. 
Jack climbed out from underneath and crawled over to the body on the floor. 
"Scab?" He whispered, touching your shoulder carefully. You opened you eyes, obviously struggling, and looked up at her through blurry lenses. 
You were grateful for the darkness, you didn't want him to see you crying. No one except Crutchie had ever seen you cry, and you wanted to keep it that way. 
His hand traveled a bit until it came to a wet spot, you heard him swallow. 
"God, Scab, what did they do to you?"  
You let a sob slip. It all hurt so bad. Never had you endured a beating like this before. The Delancies really didn't hold back this time. 
"I'm getting you out of here."
"Jack, you're-you're never getting us out of here, without getting caught. I-i can't walk." He clenched his jaw and stood up. 
"No, I'm not leaving you again."
"Jack? Jack! What are you doing?!" He lifted you up, you grabbed onto his neck, not liking the feeling of being off the floor with no control. 
"I'm getting you outta here, you idiot."
"Jack you are going to get-"
"I'm not."
"You can't promise that!"
He watched you, this close to the window he could see the shine on your cheeks and the close in your eyes. But more than that, he could see fear, something he want used to seeing in you.
"Scab?"
"Jack, I can't lose you. I can't have you come here and-and-"
"And you think I'm fine losing you?"
"Wha-"
"Y/n, I'm getting you out of here. I'm not going to leave you behind again. Ever." 
You swallowed and nodded, seeing that there was no convincing him otherwise. The damn boy's head was just too thick. 
Xx
You woke up a week later sore and in pain. You looked around the room grogily and in much pain. 
It was empty other than you and…
Your breath caught in your throat. 
Jack. 
Swallowing you stared at him, pushing the blankets away from your arms. You wanted to stand, but your legs ached. You knew you wouldn't be able to. 
"Jack?" He stirred but didn't wake. "Jack." You tried again,  this time succeeding. 
His eyes opened and he stared at you for a moment before comprehending that you were awake. 
He leapt up and ran to you. 
"Y/n! Are you ok? How do you feel? What really happened?" The questions came by the hundreds and you could barley keep your head from spinning. Especially since he called you by your name. You liked hearing him say that. 
"Jack. Jack, calm down for a moment." He went silent and stared at you like you were an injured puppy. Pathetic and pitiful. "And stop looking at me like that. I'm fine." 
He sighed with relief. 
"Can I get you anything?" He asked.  
"How’d the strike go? We won. The only thing was we couldn't get the refuge shut down without an accuert back up plan." He looked defeated, old, worn. 
You smiled and put your hand on his head. 
"You did good." He smiled at you and leaned into your hand, something that shocked you both into silence. 
"Y/n, I-I gotta tell ha something." Your eyes widened in fear. The only thing that scared you more than him falling in love with someone else, was him falling in love with you , and by the look he was giving you that's exactly what happened. 
"Jack, please don't."
"Don't what?" His heart clenched in fear.
"Don't do anything you're going to regret." He stared at you before setting his shoulders. He grabbed you hand and stared you straight in the eyes. 
"Y/n, I think I fell in lo-" your other hand flew to his face. 
"What did I just say?" You hissed. He pulled it away. 
"This isn't something I'm going to regret."
"Yes it is, Jack. Get your head outta the sewer. I'm not what you want."
"You're not. You're more than that, I've realized. You're what I need. What I crave. Who I want to be with every single day. Y/n, I'm not going to regret this because… because I felt what it's like to lose you and I can't go through that again. I never felt like that before and now… I never want to again. I can't." He set his jaw and grabbed your face gently, staring at you intensely. "I won't." You stared at him and bit your lip. He pulled it from your teeth with his thumb, bringing your face closer to his. "If this isn't what you want, push me away."
Your lips were almost on his when you put your hand on his chest. He pulled back and stared at you, trying to cover up his heart break. 
"Kelly, you're not what I want." He looked away, but you pulled his face back up to yours, pressing a light, electric kiss to his lips. He stared at you in surprise. "You're what I need." 
He smiled and pulled you back in for a longer one. One that was so unlike what first kisses were supposed to be simply because this one was perfect. 
In the end, your disguise was blown and you became Jack’s girl and he became Y/n's boy, both if you too hard headed to ever be separated by anything again. 
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