The Stag and The Harpy | James Potter

Girls

Phoebe tries to wipe the goofy smile off her face as she climbs the stairs to her dorm, her lips still tingling from kissing James. James. Her boyfriend.

She was utterly giddy at the thought. She'd never had a boyfriend before, and the fear that threatened to creep in, the fear that she wasn't enough for James...that fell away whenever he was near.

Phoebe drifted into the dorm, light on her feet. She came to a halt when she saw Alice, Marlene, and Lily all sitting on their beds smirking at her.

"Phoebe," Alice says playfully. "So glad you could finally join us!"

Phoebe grins and shrugs.

"I was in the library."

"I didn't realize 'in the library' was another word for shagging Potter in a broom closet," Lily pipes up, smiling slyly as Phoebe blushes and flips her off.

"We were not shagging!" Phoebe defends, jumping onto her own bed. She lays on her stomach, propping her chin on her hands as she eyes them all.

"Those hickeys say otherwise," Marlene adds, snickering as Phoebe lets out a loud groan.

"Enough!" The Veela begs, hiding her face in her hands. "You lot are wankers!"

The three girls crack up with Alice saying, "Pheebs, we think it's lovely!! It's about time none of us were single!"

It's true. Phoebe was the last to have a steady boyfriend, even Marlene and Sirius were ahead. She figured it ended up being worth it though. Slowly she uncovers her face and asks, "Is it always this good in the beginning?"

Marlene smiles and nods, Alice and Lily joining in. Marlene adds, "Muggles call it the honeymoon phase. You and James are just enjoying finally admitting to wanting to snog each other."

Phoebe nods, slightly embarrassed by her question. It's not like she could write her mum. First of all, she was off the grid, secondly her mother would send back a howler at the idea of Phoebe dating someone instead of letting potential suitors come to her.

"Pheebs"

The girl startles from her musings, looking up to see that Lily had been calling her name. Her copper haired friend smiles a little and asks, "I take it that everything is going well? Besides the snogging."

The Veela grins slightly and says, "It's going quite well. He's sweet and funny and he's a major git but now if we're mad at each other...it goes away faster. Like I can't be nearly as irritated with him now. At least not yet anyway."

Alice wipes a tear from her cheek, laughing when her friends look at her in surprise, "Sorry! It's just that's how I feel with Frank. I bloody miss him!!"

Phoebe gets out of her bed and climbs onto Alice's. She pulls her into a hug and says apologetically, "I'm sorry, Alice."

"Don't be, it's not your fault. He's been far too busy with training and work to come to Hogsmead."

"Are you going to see him for the holidays?" Marlene asks hopefully, smiling when Alice nods.

"Yeah, we're going to start decorating the house we bought. It's kind of just been sitting there since no one is home," Alice says, cheeriness returning.

"How's his training?" Lily asks, curiosity written on her face. No one but the girls knew that she too was considering becoming an auror.

"It's tough and he'd never admit it...but I think he's scared," Alice confesses. "These death eaters just keep wreaking havoc. Frank had to tell a family that their son had been murdered. Said it was the worst day of his life."