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“L/N!” you heard the shout of your name through the chatter as you made your way from the great hall. You turned around to see none other than James Potter pushing through the throng of people in a haste to reach you.
“Oh hey” you said when he arrived in front of you “what’s up?”
“Can I have a word?” he said and without waiting for an answer he pulled you to the side. You looked at him expectantly.
“I -” he faltered, running a large hand through his famously messy hair and you looked down to avoid looking at his stupidly handsome face. It was unfair, you thought, that James Potter got to walk around looking that attractive on a daily basis; it made you distracted whenever you spoke to him.
“I - I just wanted to -” he paused again looking behind him. You saw him catch eyes with Sirius Black who gave him a thumbs up and mouthed “go on”. You rolled your eyes, irritation replacing your prior thoughts of his cute messy hair.
“Potter” you said “whatever stupid prank you’re trying to play on me can you hurry it up? I’ve got charms.”
James’ soft hazel eyes widened “prank?” he said in a slightly panicked tone “there’s no prank!”
“What do you want then?” you asked.
“I - I just wanted to - to tell you that practice is at 6 today.” he said, shoving his hands into his pockets nervously.
“Oh” you said “I know Fabian told me yesterday, thanks though.”
“Right” he said grimacing slightly “course he did, Il just” he pointed behind him in the general direction of his friends, you noticed that Sirius was craning his neck not even attempting to hide the fact he was watching the conversation like a hawk. “I’ll just get back to the guys then.”
“See you at practise” you said before walking away, you shook your head slightly utterly perplexed by the conversation you had just had.
You caught back up with Marlene and she immediately grabbed your arm linking it through hers. “What did Potter want?” she said excitedly, she knew about your crush on him and was convinced for reasons completely unknown to you that it was mutual.
“Calm down, he was just telling me about practice,” you said.
“So he pulled you to the side just to tell you when quidditch practice was?” Marlene asked, puzzled.
“Yeah it was weird actually, it seemed like he wanted to say something else? I honestly thought he was gonna pull a prank on me.”
“Or he was gonna ask you out and he bottled it.” she suggested.
You laughed “don’t be ridiculous Marls, when has James Potter bottled anything? Remember last year when he asked Lily out in front of basically the whole school?”
“Ah but what did Lily say?”
“That she’d rather go out with the giant squid?”
“Exactly!” Marlene proclaimed triumphantly “rejection that brutal in such a public setting was bound to make him a bit nervous the next time he wanted to ask someone out.”
You rolled your eyes “you’re reaching Marls.”
“Keep being blind y/n/n” she teased “but when you find out I’m right I want to be maid of honour at the wedding.” She shrieked as you shoved her through the classroom door, giggling when Flitwick told you to settle down.
_______
“Well?” Sirius said as James slowly trudged back towards him.
“Well what?” James said, feigning nonchalance.
“What did she say?”
“Oh” James said, plucking a piece of toast off of the nearby Ravenclaw table to avoid meeting his friend’s gaze “I didn’t ask her.”
“You - you didn’t ask her?” Sirius said, disbelief lacing his tone “bloody hell James.”
“I don’t know what you expected” Remus said “he never asks her.”
“I don’t know how to!” James groaned, throwing his hands up in frustration.
“What do you mean you don’t know how?” Sirius said exasperatedly “you walk up to her and say ‘I like you, do you want to come to Hogsmeade with me?’ it’s not hard.”
“It’s impossible!” James said.
“But you never had any trouble asking Lily out when you liked her last year?” Remus said, arching an eyebrow.
“That was different, I didn’t like Evans as much as I like Y/N. I didn’t really know her to be honest I just thought she was fit, but I really like Y/N - what if she says no?”
“But what if she says yes mate?” Sirius said, patting James on the shoulder.
“I hate to say it” Remus began “But Sirius is right, you’ll never know if you don’t ask.”
Sirius grinned “I’m often right, in fact all of my ideas are great.” They heard a scoffing sound from behind them and turned around to see Professor McGonagall walking behind them trying to hide a smile.
“Yes Mr Black’’ she said although her tone poorly disguised her fondness “so great they often land you in detention.” Sirius grinned at her “The school just doesn’t appreciate my excellence Professor is all” he said before they all dashed off to class.
________
You arrived on the quidditch pitch at 6:05pm, tying up your messy hair as you ran down. Your day had been nothing but stressful and you couldn’t wait to release some of the tension in your shoulders with a good practice.
“Sorry i’m late” you panted, having finally caught up with James. He waved his hand “don’t worry about it, we only just started” he said “we’re starting off with a few laps around the pitch.”
You stood up straight from your slouched over position and noticed your teammates were jogging steadily around the field. You groaned “oh merlin, laps? I just did a bloody lap. I ran all the way from Gryffindor tower to here! Can I skip them today?”
“Sorry y/n” James said sympathetically, he tapped his captain’s badge with his index finger “can’t be seen to be playing favourites.”
You mock pouted, batting your eyelashes in an over exaggerated pleading way “pleaseee?”
James sighed “I wish but I can’t just let a pretty face sway my integrity.”
You felt your face heat up at his words “A pretty face?” you repeated coyly.
James scratched the back of his neck sheepishly but forced himself to keep your eye contact. He remembered Sirius’ words that morning and threw caution to the wind with his response. “Not just a pretty face, a gorgeous one. Now get running, beautiful.”
You raised a brow at his words, wondering if he was flirting or merely teasing you. Whatever his game was you decided that two could play it. Tapping into your Gryffindor bravery you turned to face him “Fine fine i’ll do laps but you don’t need an excuse like that to watch my arse next time, captain” you winked at him before taking off in a jog leaving a very flustered James to watch you go.
_____________
Practice was long and exhausting. James pushed all of you to the limits making sure you were all ready for the upcoming match against Slytherin. As the seeker you had managed to stay above most of the action, it was calming, hovering high in the air and scanning the pitch for the tiny fluttering ball. It gave you moments of respite amongst the chaos. However you did find yourself getting distracted at times from your task when watching James. He was a blur of red and gold as he streaked across the pitch scoring goal after goal. He was a marvel to watch and you really thought that after school he could easily go pro if he wanted to.
You caught the snitch 3 times that evening, practising pulling out of sharp dives and turning corners at speed. James was pleased with your performance and he decided to pull you aside afterwards to tell you so.
“Y/N” he called out “can I talk to you?”
“Sure” you said, passing your broom to Fabian Prewett “take this back for me would you Fabe?”
Fabian nodded “Course, you played great by the way.” You smiled at him “you too!” and James internally groaned. He was the one meant to be saying that to you. A terrible thought occurred to him then. If he didn’t ask you out soon someone else - someone like Fabain Prewett might do it before him and he couldn’t bear you going out with someone else if he hadn’t at least attempted to ask you out.
You sauntered over to him as he was putting the balls away in the thick leather case. “Alright James?” you said and he nodded. “Yeah, I just - I just wanted to say good job today. I reckon Mulciber has got no chance at getting the snitch before you, well done.”
You smiled sheepishly at his praise, looking down at the ground “thanks” you said suddenly feeling shy.
James thought you looked adorable in your flustered state, your hair windswept and your eyes bright like they always were after a good game. The words spilled from his lips in a tumble of letters before he could think them through or stop them. “Do you want to go to Hogsmeade with me?” he asked.
You looked up and titled your head slightly in confusion, his words too hurried for you to have deciphered them. “Hmm?”
James gulped, it was now or never. “I was just wondering if you wanted to go to Hogsmeade with me? On a date? I totally understand if you’re not interested.”
You couldn’t believe what you were hearing, James was asking you out? A wide grin cracked open your face as happy butterflies began to dance in your stomach. “I’d love to!” you said and James nervous expression changed to his characteristic lopsided grin. “Really?”
“Yeah on one condition” you said. “Anything,” he replied.
“We are not going to Madam Puttifoots” you said with a shudder “never again.” James laughed, “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
You and James walked back up to the castle together, laughing and joking the whole way back. You found that he was easy to talk to and you couldn’t wait for your date - which you agreed would happen on Sunday after the quidditch match. When you entered the common room neither of you noticed your respective friends were waiting for you as you were engaged in an intense conversation about your favourite quidditch teams.
“I cannot believe that you think the Magpies are better than the Harpies!” James protested loudly “the magpies don’t have Gwenog Jones for one!”
“The Magpies are way more inventive” you argued passionately “besides I reckon you just fancy Jones, she’s good but she’s got nothing on Katy Mulligan.”
James smirked at you “I do fancy Gwenog Jones” he said and you exclaimed “Ha, knew it!”
“But” he said “It’s only because she kind of looks like you.”
You laughed and pushed him on the shoulder “Oh give up” you said “you’re a terrible flirt Potter.”
James grinned cheekily “you love it” he said. You parted ways then to go shower in your respective dorms.
Once you’d both left Sirius walked over to Marlene “McKinnon have I finally lost it or did you see that too?”
“You never had it Black, but yeah I saw that too. I think our idiots are finally getting somewhere.”
“I hope so,” Sirius said “because the next plan is to lock them in a broom closet together.”
Marlene grinned wickedly “why don’t we just do that anyway?”
Sirius grinned back at her, “I like the way you think, McKinnon.”
“I think you’d like lots of things about me Black” she replied with a smirk before leaving to follow and interrogate you.
____________
Sunday had finally arrived and it was the day of the long awaited match between Gryffindor and Slytherin. You were a flurry of nerves as you attempted to eat breakfast. You loved your position as seeker but sometimes you wished you were a chaser or a beater so a little bit of the pressure was off of you. You hated feeling like you’d let anyone down if you didn’t catch the snitch.
To add to your nerves you hadn’t spoken to James much since the practise on Friday and your mind had begun to overthink. You wondered why James had asked you out so privately. He’d made his affections for Lily Evans very clear last year when he’d asked her out by the lake and the contrast to the way he’d asked you out made you nervous. What if he wasn’t as interested in you as you were in him? You didn’t think you could bear going on a date with him only for him to ditch you afterwards.
You didn’t have much time to dwell on your thoughts though as soon it was time for the game to begin. As soon as you mounted your broom and kicked off from the hard ground your mind instantly became focused on nothing but the golden snitch and the sensation of flying. If there was one thing you loved most in the world it was flying. It was your escape, as soon as you were in the air your fears and worries melted away like ice cream in the summer sun. You felt free on a broom, at one with the sky as the wind fluttered around like the dance of autumn leaves falling from the trees. It was peace and contentment. Today however, that sensation wouldn’t last long.
A bludger came soaring out of nowhere and you swerved sharply to avoid it. You were quite deft at avoiding bludgers by now. Yet quite unexpectedly the bludger didn’t choose a new target and swerved to follow you. Confused, you began to streak across the pitch trying to avoid a collision with the heavy led ball but you just could not get rid of it. Every sharp turn you did, it followed, every twist and dive it looped back after you.
Fabian, noticing the rogue bludger’s actions, attempted to help you, using his beater’s bat to try and swing it away but everytime it would arc back round to you.
“What’s going on with Y/n?” Sirius said, perplexed from the stands. “The bludgers been tampered with!” Marlene shouted in frustration “it must have been!”
You were starting to panic now, bludgers weren’t supposed to act like this. You’d never not been able to shake one off before. You began to frantically streak across the pitch, your figure a blur or the red and gold on your robes. It was hard while in constant motion but you searched desperately for a glimpse of the golden snitch hoping that you could catch it soon and end the game. The Slytherin seeker, Mucliber, didn’t quite know what to make of your erratic moves. He didn’t want to miss the snitch if you had managed to spot it but he also wanted to avoid the bludger that was sticking itself to you like the grease stuck to Snape’s hair. He tailed around you at a safe distance, looking himself for the little golden ball.
By this time James had noticed your predicament, he raced over to you shouting as he did so. “What the hell’s wrong with that bludger?”
“I don’t know!” you called out.
“Let me call half time” he shouted back and began to reach for his captain’s whistle. It was then that you saw it, the flash of gold glinting behind Mulcibers head. If he turned a fraction of an inch he’d have it.
“WAIT!” you shouted grabbing James arm to stop him blowing the whistle. James looked over where you were looking, his hazel eyes widening when he saw the snitch.
“I’ve got this” you said with a faux confidence you didn’t feel “don’t you dare blow that whistle.”
With that you streaked off, a look of determination settling over your features as you flew straight at Mulciber. Upon seeing your figure racing towards him with the heavy bludger not far behind he panicked and began to streak off in the opposite direction leaving you a clear path to see the snitch. However, he quickly recovered upon realising your agenda went beyond just flying directly into him, swearing colourfully under his breath when he realised the snitch had been right behind him. The two of you raced around the stadium, a whirl of red and green and all the while the bludger never let up on it’s sharp following of you.
With your slight head start you were almost there, reaching out to clasp the tiny ball when the bludger rose into the air and cracked down on your outstretched arm. You yelped in pain as you felt the white hot sear of the break. Despite playing quidditch for years you’d managed to never break a bone until now and the pain was more unbearable than you’d ever thought. You bit your lip hard enough to draw blood, white spots dancing in your vision as you pulled upwards sharply to avoid the bludger once again. Mercifully the snitch was still within reach and you dove up to catch it. Sighing in relief as you felt your fingers clasp around the cool metal.
You barely had a moment to celebrate, had just heard Remus Lupin’s voice as the commentator announce the win when the bludger in your distracted and disoriented state struck. It rose into the air, landing on your head with a sharp crack that had your hands slipping from holding onto your broom. After that, everything went hazy. Your eyelids fluttered closed and as though in slow motion you felt yourself slip off of the handle and begin to fall. You were high, high above the ground and you were falling with your hair fluttering out in the wind like a curtain and scarlett blood streaking out of your temple. You barely registered your surroundings, you heard someone screaming your name and you heard a loud bang that you would later find out was Marlene exploding the bludger with a spell before it could harm you further. You were just beginning to think that this was the end and what a tragic end it was to fall weightless from the sky when you felt strong arms enclose your body and hold you to their chest. With the last flutters of energy you opened your heavy eyelids and saw the blurry figure of James swimming in your vision. He whispered your name, so softly and his voice cracked with his clear panic. “Stay with me” he whispered and you sighed. In James’ warm arms the fear of falling was gone and you pressed your face into his chest breathing in his scent before allowing the pain to take over and blacking out.
_______________
You awoke although you didn’t know where you were. You could feel a heavy throbbing in the back of your head and when you opened your eyes you shut them quickly to avoid the painful light. “She’s waking” you heard a voice say and you strained to recognise it. Was that Madam Pomfrey? What on earth were you doing in the hospital wing?
“Y/N? Y/N?” you heard Marlene call and you croaked attempting to speak but no noise left your lips. Memories began to flood into you, the cursed bludger, the broken arm, falling and - James. James who’d caught you, James who’d made you feel safe. As your mind caught up with your body you suddenly became aware that someone was holding your uninjured hand. You’d have thought it was Marlene, having already heard her voice but the hand was much larger than Marlenes. It was big and warm and slightly calloused. You squeezed it and felt it squeeze you back gently. “Y/N” it’s owner said and you let your eyes flutter open, squinting to adjust to the light so that you could look at him.”
“James” you managed to say, although your voice was cracked and thick “you caught me.”
He laughed slightly although the fear of losing you was still evident in his anxious eyes “of course I did” he said “I wouldn’t have let you fall.” At this he reached out and tucked a strand of your hair behind your ear “somehow I think if you died I wouldn’t get that date.”
It was your turn to laugh even though the action made your head throb. You squeezed his hand tighter and he gave you his characteristic lopsided grin.
Marlene cleared her throat pointedly and you looked around. “Oh hey Marls” you said and she raised a brow at you. “Remembered I exist, have you?” she said teasingly “and what’s this about a date? Why didn’t you tell me?”
You groaned you hadn’t told Marlene because you knew she’d overreact and you wanted to see how serious James was about asking you out first. “I almost died Marly” you said, simpering for effect “let me off!”
Marlene glowered at you, teasingly pointing an accusatory finger your way “when you’re better young lady” she said in a mock motherly tone “you and I are going to chat.” She then turned towards James “have her home by 8 and don’t break her heart or i’ll break your face” she said solemnly at him and he gulped and nodded.
It was then that Madam Pomfrey came bustling into the room again “Stop bothering the poor girl, you’ve seen she’s alive now out. She needs rest!”
James squeezed your fingers again giving Madam Pomfrey a pleading look “Oh please Poppy let me stay, I won’t be a bother I swear.” suddenly it didn’t matter to you that James hadn’t asked you out in a grand over the top gesture. You knew he cared, he was here and he wanted to stay.
She narrowed her eyes at his faux angelic act “No Mr Potter” she said “everyone out.” They left reluctantly and Madam Pomfrey fed you several potions that put you into a deep slumber for most of the rest of the day.
When you awoke in the evening you felt completely fine and you begged the matron to allow you to leave and go for dinner. “No dear” she said firmly “you’re to stay here overnight.”
“But -”
“No buts” she interrupted you.
You sighed thinking about your date with James. It was supposed to happen after the match but now it looked like it wouldn’t even happen tomorrow if Pomfrey was planning on keeping you all this time. You’d likely miss the carriages out to Hogsmeade in the morning.
You ate your dinner in silence, brooding over your situation. You’d just finished when the door to the hospital wing banged open making you jump violently and spill pumpkin juice on the sheets. You and Pompfrey were the only ones in the hospital wing to witness this grand entrance. Sirius Black strode into the hospital wing like he owned the place, which frankly made him look ridiculous considering his skin was now a vibrant shade of periwinkle blue.
“Poppy” he called out “I’ve got a bit of a situation.”
Madam Pomfrey spun around and didn’t even blink at the strange sight before her, she’d seen far worse in this job. “And just how did you get yourself into this state Mr Black?” she asked drily.
“James is a bit rubbish at transfiguration” Sirius said casually “Shouldn’t really have let him practise transfiguring my eyebrows but we live and learn.”
Pomfrey sighed and waved him over, “Okay Mr Black, follow me. And Miss L/N” she said before leaving the room “eat your jelly you need sugar for strength.”
You suppressed an eye roll of your own, raising the jelly pot in a mock toast. Once she had left the room before Sirius followed her he called out to thin air “you owe me big time” before turning to you. “Have a fun date y/n” he said. You stared after him like he’d gone mad when suddenly in the spot where he’d been standing James materialised pulling his invisibility cloak off of his broad frame.
“Morgana’s tits” you exclaimed throwing a hand over your heart “you scared me shitless! What’re you doing here?”
James grinned at you, the sort of grin that made your face heat up. “You promised me a date” he said “almost dying is not an excuse to get out of it.”
You laughed as he moved to sit on the end of your bed “really?” you said “wow that’s disappointing.”
“Oi” James said and you chuckled. He grabbed another Jelly pot from your bedside table and tapped it against yours. “To first dates” he said.
You raised a spoon of jelly in the air “and to the next one hopefully not taking place in the hospital wing!” you cheered.
“The next one? I get another one?” he asked coyly, looking at you from under his lashes.
“If you play your cards right Potter” you teased.
“Does saving your life count enough for a second date?” he joked.
You shrugged “maybe if you buy me a butter beer as well.”
“It’s a done deal.”
Talking to James was easy. He flirted with you relentlessly causing butterflies to cartwheel around your stomach and your face to be permanently heated up. You summounded your Gryffidnor bravery and flirted back a little as payback. But it wasn’t just flirting, you had real conversations. A lot of your interests matched up and even when he spoke about things you weren’t interested in you loved to listen because of how excited James got, with that perfect glint in his eye.
After a while you asked the question you’d forgotten to ask at the start. “So was it really an accident turning Sirius blue?”
James barked out a laugh “Of course not, im brilliant at transfiguration.”
“So he agreed to go blue just so you could have some time with me? He’s a good friend.”
James nodded “he is, I owe him big time now though, I wonder how I can repay him.”
You smirked at a devious plan forming in your mind. “I have an idea,” you said. You’d noticed Marlene get a little more flirty around Sirius recently and when you asked James confirmed he thought Sirius might have a thing for Marlene too.
“So that’s how we repay him? Push them together?” James asked.
“Let’s lock them in a broom closet” you said deviously.
“I don’t think he’d see that as me doing him a favour.”
‘Not at first.” you agreed.
It was then that you heard the voice of Madam Pomfrey creeping closer to the room followed by Sirius’ voice. “Shit I better go” he said.
You looked at the door with the approaching voices “take me with you?”
“Miss L/N are you suggesting I break you out of the hospital wing?” James asked teasingly.
“That’s exactly what I’m suggesting.”
He grinned at you and pulled the cloak around himself “get in” he said and you leapt from the bed without hesitation, pulled against James warm chest as you struggled to fit under the fabric together.
Pompfrey and Sirius came back into the room, Sirius no longer blue. “Where? Where did she go?” Pompfrey exclaimed “Merlin these children, I give up!”
James chuckled behind you and you felt the warm tickle of his breath on your neck. “Let’s go,” he whispered.
You manoeuvred slowly so as not to disturb the cloak as you moved out of the hospital wing. Sirius had sauntered off somewhere so it was just the two of you. Once in the corridor you pulled the cloak off of yourselves and were just about to walk away when Pomfrey popped her head out clearly looking for you.
Without hesitation James grabbed you by the arm and dragged you into a passageway behind a statue. You peaked out, waiting until she’d walked past to let go of the breath you’d been holding in.
“That was close” James breathed.
You turned around and noticed the two of you were standing very close in the narrow passageway, James stooping slightly from the low height.
“This is cosy” you whispered.
“Yeah” James whispered back “it is.” he tucked a wayward strand of hair behind your ear and you stared at each other for a moment. The tension thick in the air, your faces close enough that your breath mingled.
“So” you said without breaking eye contact “are you gonna kiss me or shall I kiss you?”
James grinned not responding verbally and instead leaning down to capture your lips in a kiss. It took your breath away, his lips were warm although slightly chapped and he tasted like strawberry jelly.
You stayed in the passageway for longer than you’d admit alternating between kissing James and him whispering his plans for your next date in your ear. Finally you made your way back to Gryffindor tower, holding hands and grinning like lovesick idiots at each other. And if on your way back up the tower you ran into a certain Marlene McKinnon and a certain Sirius Black and shoved them into a room together before running off - well that was between you and James - and really who had proof?