Chapter Text
"So, I was talking to Stacy and she said the other day that she saw Ralphie with Gary in the broom closet on the third floor, the one near the boys' bathroom?"
Kagome smothered a snort as she flipped the page of her DADA book. With a quick glance up at their Professor, a witch with soft features and short, black hair streaked liberally with grey who was currently up front at her desk grading essays, she turned to Gracie and whispered in reply, "Poor Stacy," Kagome commiserated, but her lips were twitching. "Did she happen to see anything interesting?"
Gracie gave a devilish grin and shook her head, her hair, which she had done up in braids, whipping back and forth at her shoulders. "Not particularly. Apparently she interrupted before anyone had even loosened their tie. She did say they were pretty into it though—right up until she backed away and kicked a bucket trying to leave."
"No, I—"Kagome stopped short in an embarrassingly loud squeak and jerked in her seat when something hit the back of her neck, feeling the soft scrape of folded parchment brush against the nape at her neck. Laughing nervously at the curious look the Professor was sending her, she gave a quick, disarming smile and waited until she went back to grading before slumping in her seat, muttering darkly under her breath.
Gracie, blinking, reached over pulled a paper airplane from her hair and handed it over.
Annoyed, Kagome took it and turned to find the culprit. Almost immediately, her gaze caught that of one Lily Evans, who was currently sporting a sympathetic look and pointing her quill over her shoulder, to the left. Nodding her thanks as she followed her directions, Kagome nearly groaned.
Potter. Of course.
That explained Lily's look. Poor girl had to deal with his undivided attention for last few years—it was only after the incident after OWLs last year (she didn't hear much; just that she and Severus Snape had a falling out and James had a hand in it) that James finally decided to leave her alone.
And, joy of all joys, the opening in his schedule had left her the focus of his attention through a bit of captaincy rivalry. Though, thankfully, he hadn't been pestering her for dates like he once did to the redhead, so there was that silver-lining.
I get enough of that with Kouga's constant letters, she thought wearily, trying not to think about how perhaps she wouldn't mind as much if it was James. The recently graduated Durmstrang student was a friend of Inuyasha's half-brother, and even since she met him over the summer while she was over visiting her best friend, he'd been infatuated with her.
He was a nice enough bloke, she guessed; he just came on a bit strong and was relentless, and most of all, he had the annoying tendency to claim her as 'his woman,' which ha, no. A bit thick too, since her rejections had yet to ever quite sink in.
I'd much rather take James over Kouga — oh, Merlin curse it all. Kagome nearly smacked herself for thinking that and turned back to the situation at hand.
Said teen was smiling at her widely, all teeth and almost silly-looking — and kind of adorable, her traitorous mind whispered before she could put a stop to that train of thought, and, damn it, because she gave up, it was no use — before he began to point urgently at the parchment airplane currently in her hands.
Rolling her eyes, she unfolded the plane and both she and Gracie leaned in to read it over.
Halfway Gracie had to cover her mouth to smother her laughter and Kagome felt like murdering a certain messy-haired Gryffindor. Screw adorable, try bloody annoying! Oh, that arrogant, infuriating little git—
Not bothering to read the rest of it, Kagome crumpled it and, after a quick look to double-check if the coast was clear, whipped around and promptly lobbed it at James' face without any warning.
It smacked him right on the nose, sending him sputtering and his friends and the others students around him into a round of smothered snickers. Kagome then made a rude gesture with her hand before whirling back around, sending James into further shock and Sirius bursting out laughing.
Cross, Kagome roughly turned the page in her text, trying to ignore the words he had wrote in his little 'note'.
Congratulations on the win against the 'Claws, Higurashi! Not half bad! I was watching, though, and couldn't help but notice—Karpe still needs to work his formation and O'Leary is a bit of a quaffle-hog! Just four more months until our game so you better—
She had half a thought wondering about what the rest of it said, but knowing him, it probably had something to do pointing out some more of her team's flaws.
Stabbing her quill into her inkpot, Kagome practically carved her notes into her parchment.
Fucking prick.
"What," Kagome slowly enunciated, staring at the large, long box before her—it was, in one word, gaudy , wrapped with glittering pink paper and, if her eyes didn't deceive her, heart shaped snitches darted around it. A thick, silky bow sat atop it, draping over the edges. "No," she backtracked, shaking her head in open horror and wariness. " Why?"
Remus stood before her, cheeks a faint red but his expression was more… longsuffering and exasperated than embarrassed. "It's not from me," he saw fit to clarify.
Kagome sputtered. "No, I didn't think it was," she blurted out, and, mortified, she quickly added, "It's a bit…" she searched for the word, but made a helpless gesture. "Flashy?"
But Remus only snickered, not the least bit offended. "I tried to tell James you were more likely to appreciate sentiment over appearance."
Immediately, Kagome's eyes widened and she edged away. "It's from Potter?" It was odd, how that explanation both served to clarify and alarm her both at once. It made sense that Potter was behind it, but then again, Potter was behind this.
Remus bit his lip, obviously trying not to grin at her reaction. He reached up, scratching his scarred cheek "Well, yeah. It's not a prank, or anything though."
"O-okay," the dark-haired teen stuttered, relaxing. "But then why didn't he just give it to me himself?" And why is he giving me anything in the first place?
Remus raised a knowing eyebrow. "Would you really have accepted if he did?"
Kagome looked away, huffing. "Maybe," she retorted, even though she knew she probably wouldn't—she wouldn't trust anything that came from Potter's own hands. Everyone knew he loved his pranks, and it wouldn't surprise her one bit to see him try and prank her because of the little rivalry they've got going.
"Right," Remus said, not believing her either. "Anyway, I'm just delivering this because James promised to give me all the chocolates he'll get today if I did."
Snorting, Kagome grinned. "Nice. Best make sure you don't eat the ones laced with a love potion."
Laughing, the sandy-haired teen rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Yeah, we learned that lesson the hard way last year." And when Kagome raised an eyebrow, Remus said, "Sirius," as if that explained everything.
And honestly, it really did.
When later, after Kagome had returned to her dorms and was sitting on her bed, cross-legged and appraising the present before her, she gave a sigh and lightly tugged on the bow, unraveling it with ease. She peeled back the wrapping paper, wondering whether Potter had done it himself because it was wrapped rather nicely. Picking up the lid, a soft, floral scent hit her nose as Kagome peered inside and gasped.
There were roses, but these were charmed, the flowers themselves a medley of soft yellow and scarlet red, the stems black and gold respectively.
And that wasn't all, either. At the end was a pair of black gloves—they were leather, supple and soft to the touch, reinforced on the front for better gripping. Slipping them on, Kagome discovered they were a perfect fit and comfortable, if not a little stiff as all new gloves were.
Shaking her head softly, Kagome reached out for the flowers and brought them closer, a thoughtful look crossing her face as she breathed the scent of the flowers in.
The next time she and Potter had fought over who got to use the pitch for practice, James' eyes flickered to her hands, his grin widening at the sight of her gloves.
Kagome obstinately refused to blush and proceeded to call James an insufferable, juvenile prat.
It ended with her stomping off the field, ceding it to Potter—just this once, she swore—and the grin still plastered across his stupid face.
Next month and after some bribing of her favorite chocolate, Kagome managed to get Remus to spill when James' birthday was.
The morning of the twenty-seventh—a Saturday—Kagome strolled into the Great Hall with a box balanced on her waist. It was simply wrapped—no zipping snitches—in deep gold paper and scarlet bow.
Instead of heading towards her own table, she veered off toward the Gryffindor table and deposited her package in front of Potter—he was laughing as she walked up behind him, his hands flying wildly as he was explaining something to his friends. Remus and Peter saw her coming first, the former watching her with glittering amber eyes and a budding grin and the latter with a confused, but curious look.
Kagome didn't even pause as she slipped between Sirius and James and slid the present before the birthday boy with a simple and—Merlin please strike her down now—fond little, "Happy Birthday, you nerd," before continuing on to her own table.
It took all her will and biting the inside of her cheek not to look over and catch his eye or react to his startled and honest expression of almost childish delight.
She tried not to notice the looks turned her way as she made for her House's table, tried not to think about the boots that she had scoured the qudditch store catalogue for—dark brown leather, thick and sturdy, charmed to keep the player's feet warm in the cold, cool in the heat, and dry in the rain.
And as she snagged a couple slices of toasts before making her escape, because damn it, she could hear Black laughing from over where she was and Potter's protesting voice, she vehemently refused to think of the small, dark red pouch of chocolates she made herself and left along with the boots, either.
They were really nice gloves, alright?
As he did so many times, James slid into the seat across from her at her usual table at the library. "Big game's next week," he remarked by way of greeting.
"Really?" Kagome quipped, widening her eyes. "I'd never remembered—and after all those times you've reminded me the past month, too."
She had to bite her lip to keep from laughing as James coughed and looked away, ducking his head sheepishly. "Ah, right," he muttered. He recovered soon enough though, as always, straightening his shoulders and locking eyes with her. "You ready then?"
Her lips curled into a smile and she leaned forward, propping her chin into her palm. "Are you?" she challenged with a raised eyebrow.
James smirked. "We've been ready, Higurashi."
Kagome 'hmm'd and leaned back appraisingly. She watched as suddenly a curious look came across him; furrowed eyebrows, eyes narrowed behind his glasses, lips pursing then twitching. Kagome blinked as she also noticed something very faint across his cheeks—oh, Potter's got freckles —before she came back to reality when he opened his mouth.
"How about a bet?"
Kagome perked up once the words registered, interest lighting up her eyes. "What kind of bet?"
His eyes were almost sparkling now. "I win, you let me take you out."
Kagome breathed out a soft scoff. Her heart was suddenly pounding. Shit. "Why Potter, I didn't know you liked me like that," she commented, stalling to to keep her calm. Before he could reply, Kagome quickly asked, "And if I win?"
James stood there silently for a good moment, biting his lip and uncertainty warring in his hazel eyes. He opened his mouth, closed it, and then finally opened once more to speak. "Then—then, I'll leave you alone," he offered.
Kagome snorted. "A mighty incentive." She peered at him and raised an eyebrow at his uncharacteristically serious expression. "I actually can't believe you're willing to offer that up. I would've thought you enjoyed tormenting me too much to risk giving it up."
James flinched back like she had hit him, and Kagome couldn't help the ping of regret when he looked at her with shocked hurt. "I—Is that what you think I've been doing this whole time?" he said quietly, his voice hoarse. "I never meant—"
"James," Kagome cut in quickly, gentle, "James, I was only kidding. I mean, yeah, you're kind of a prat and annoying sometimes, but you're mostly okay." She felt the heat creeping up her neck and she hoped to Merlin he wouldn't notice.
James blinked, the hurt washing away in favor of a growing grin. "Just mostly okay?" He blinked wide hazel eyes at her.
Kagome laughed, desperately trying to ignore the way her heart tripped a bit. "If you want compliments to your greatness, you're better off getting them from your fangirls than from me. Or Black, for that matter. Always wondered if he's carrying a torch for you."
Chuckling, James waved a hand at her. "Nah, just Remus." He froze, eyes shooting wide, like he couldn't believe he just said that. "But don't tell them or anything! They think I don't know—I mean, it's not like I care, but what can you do?"
Blinking, Kagome shook her head. Sirius Black in love? Her lips twitched. "And there goes the hearts of half the girls and boys of the school," she murmured wryly. "Now about that bet…" Pursing her lips, she gained a thoughtful look that quickly turned devious. "I'll take that bet, but," she interjected when James' eyes widened and he opened his mouth, "These are the terms if I win..."
"Prongs—on your left!"
His gaze flickered over before he let out a startled, "Shit," before he yanked back on his broom's handle and shot up just as a bludger whizzed by underneath him.
"No hard feelings, right Potter?" Kagome cackled as she zoomed on by with a wicked grin, her ponytail whipping in the wind behind her.
James watched her go with a glazed look. Beside him Sirius pulled to a stop, shaking his head. "Bird's ruthless, ain't she?"
"I know," James murmured dreamily. "Isn't it amazing?"
Sirius shot him a crazy look before barking out a loud laugh. "Mate, you've got it bad."
As they were getting ready to start again, James paused on his way to pass Kagome, his teeth glinting in the sunny distance as he flashed her a grin. His normally flyaway hair was plastered against his forehead, damp with sweat. "You aren't nervous, eh Higurashi?"
Slinging her bat against her shoulder, Kagome cocked an eyebrow at her fellow Sixth year. "Better I ask you that, Potter. It's anyone's game now — best hope we don't find the snitch first."
James laughed but it did nothing for the way his heart tripped. He couldn't tell if it was because he was nervous—because he was, he really was—or because damn did Kagome look good with her windswept bangs, her cheeks flushed with exertion, and her eyes bright with her excitement. "May the best team win!"
Kagome blinked, before a genuine smile spread across her face. "May the best team win!" she echoed brightly, winking before she turned and flew off.
Sirius had to call him three times and threaten to shove his bat "right up your damn, freckly arse" if he didn't get back in formation.
In the end, the score came to be 270-110 in Hufflepuffs' favor.
With a wild grin, Kagome dived to the ground, leaping off her broom to run up to her seeker—a fourth year boy by the name of Shippo Tachibana—and sweep the redhead up in a tight hug. "You did it! You did it!"
Shippo threw his head back and laughed. "We did it!" he exclaimed, green eyes dancing.
Kagome grinned wildly as she gently let her seeker down on solid ground. "We did it," she breathed out, as if the realization had just hit her. She whirled on the rest of her team and punched the air with a loud, victorious, "We did it, guys! Yeah!"
Elated cheers and screams assaulted her on all sides and suddenly Kagome was being lifted into the air, Shippo bestowed the same honor just moments later, as their team relished their win.
It was mere moments later that she saw him approach, his team yards away, a little put out but still grinning their congratulations.
Kagome tapped her teammates' shoulders and they lowered her to the ground. Pushing through her rambunctious team, joined by the rest of their House who'd flooded the field once the game ended, she grinned and nodded as they clapped her on the back and shoulders. Moments later she was finally able break through the throng with a stumble and there he stood.
James ambled over, thumbs hooked in the pockets of his trousers and a small smile on his face. "Good game, Higurashi," he told her with sincerity, pulling out a hand to stick it out.
Kagome gave him a bright smile of her own, taking his hand and give it a firm shake. "You too, Potter."
As their hands broke away, James' smile seemed to falter for a split-second before it came back full-force. Kagome tilted her head, blinking, wondering if she was seeing things. "So about that bet…"
Kagome's lips twitched. "Now, don't think you can wiggle yourself out of that one," she warned, grinning.
The grin fell in place of a pout. "But Higurashi," he whined. "I'll probably have detention for the rest of the year!"
Kagome snickered. "Good thing there's only a little over a month left then, isn't it?"
James groaned. "Fine, fine! You're a cruel woman, Higurashi." He paused to peer at her wonderingly and with no small amount of admiration. "Where have you been my whole life?"
A wild snort escaped her and Kagome rolled her eyes. "Off you trot, Potter. A bet's a bet."
"Yeah," he replied quietly before his grin was back on his face. Kagome couldn't help but think it felt… forced. "I guess it is. Congrats again, Higurashi," he told her as he turned to leave. He waved at her from over his shoulder. "You've earned it."
The despondent tone in his words had Kagome's good mood dampening. They felt…final. As she watched James walk away, she couldn't ignore the pang in her chest any longer.
"Hey, Potter!"
James looked over, eyes alight in surprise.
Kagome bit her lip and offered him a shy grin. "How 'bout Hogsmeade next week, yeah?" Her grin widened. "If you're good, I might even let you take me to the quidditch shop."
James blinked in shock, before his face split into a wide smile. "And if I'm really good?"
Kagome laughed. "Then I might even kiss you!"
"Excuse me, everyone!" announced a voice the next night at dinner, before the students departed for bed. "I would like to make an announcement!"
Over at the Hufflepuff table, Kagome had a budding grin on her face as she leaned over to her neighbor and whispered under her breath. "You got the camera ready?"
Snickering, Shippo nodded eagerly, the device in his hand and ready to record what would probably one of the greatest moments of the year.
All eyes on him with only the faintest of confused whispers rippling through the Great Hall, James muttered darkly under his breath as he stepped onto the bench, ignoring the snickering of his supposed best friends. His cheeks were a dark red for what he was about to do.
Glancing over to the reason for it all, his lips twitched: Kagome was sitting at her table, leaning forward, eyes a bright, dancing blue and the widest grin he'd seen from her yet on her face.
That was when James decided it was worth it because even if he'd got detention and spent the rest of the year scrubbing floors, at least that grin was because of him, for him.
With that, James turned to his captive audience with a grin of his own, despite his blushing cheeks. "As you all know, yesterday saw the defeat of the mighty Gryffindor quidditch team by the Hufflepuffs, led by their stunning and talented captain, Kagome Higurashi!"
Cheers erupted from throughout the hall, but none louder came from but the Hufflepuffs themselves.
"As such, I shall bestow upon them congratulations and the public admission that I was wrong and Higurashi was right: consider my words properly and soundly eaten. I never should have doubted nor underestimated the amazingly awesome skills of your team and yours as a captain. You truly are a goddess amongst men and women."
Laughs and giggles tittered throughout the hall, and with a flicker of his eyes James saw the embarrassed flush gracing Kagome's cheeks. When there were a few catcalls though, James turned towards where they came with a narrowed-eyed look. "Oi, watch it! I'm that goddess's soon-to-be-boyfriend!" he warned, and laughter followed that declaration.
With that taken care of, he turned his attention back to his audience. "And now, I shall end this announcement—" Here, James closed his eyes and sighed, holding up his wand and pointing it to himself. "—with this. To the Hufflepuffs! To Higurashi!" Reluctantly, he muttered the spell under his breath.
There was a beat of silence. James grimaced as he felt a breeze brush against his unmentionables.
For there stood James Potter in just his pants, yellow with a black band and trim and a cheeky badger over his arse, charmed to wiggle its bum and give a rather saucy wink. He turned, just for her sake.
The silence didn't last long, broken by a squeal of laughter—Kagome, James picked up instantly, and fuck him because he couldn't help his grin at that—before the Great Hall roared with a medley of cheers, laughs and giggles, rounding off with a whole lot of whistling and hooting.
Turning back to Kagome he gave her a bow and winked at her. Behind him, he could hear his friends' choked laughter. Must have seen the badger, then.
"Oh my ."
"Higurashi is one lucky girl."
"Nice shorts, Potter!"
"Look at them abs!"
"JAMES POTTER!"
Cringing at his Head of House's outraged shout, James leapt off the bench and sped towards the doors, bare feet slapping against stone. "And with that," he shouted over the cheers, wand pointed his way with a Sonorus, "I bid you all adieu and a 'Hufflepuff rules'!"
The last thing any of them saw was the badger on his arse giving one last wiggle and wink.