Flower Crowns For The Broken

prologue

January 12th, 1972

James Potter had been shot down by Lily Evans, this was nothing new but this time her words hit him harder than normal.

"You're no better than those Slytherin purebloods that hex the muggle-borns. You're a horrible person Potter, cold and cruel."

Her words echoed through his head which led to his current position, alone and crying underneath a beech tree by the black lake. It was cold so the grounds were abandoned so the Gryffindor thought he could let out some emotions without anyone around to see it.

"Are you okay?"

James looked up to see a pair of auburn eyes looking down at him. He wiped his tears with the back of his hand and forced a smile.

"Yes of course."

The girl gave him a soft smile in return, her eyes swimming with kindness.

"It is okay to admit when you're not okay James."

He blinked in confusion at the fact that she knew his name and used it instead of his last name. He inspected her carefully, her dark brown hair was in two long braids that were tied with small pale yellow ribbons. She had a Hufflepuff scarf wrapped around her neck which did not shock him due to her warm exterior. After looking at her a bit longer he realized that he had seen her around. She was the puff that Lily, Marlene, Dorcas, and Mary had befriended the previous year.

The girl, with a smile still on her face, sat down on the cold ground next to him. "I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Celia Miriam Valencia," the girl held out her hand for him to shake.

"James Potter but you seemed to already know that," he replied as he clasped her hand.

"Yes, I do hear quite a bit about you."

James looked down sadly assuming she meant Lily complained about him. The redhead's previous words returning to his mind.

"I quite enjoyed your prank yesterday, the one where you covered the Slytherin table in glitter. I think their green robes looked rather lovely with the added sparkle but I guess I can see why they were upset."

James looked at her curiously, as that was not what he had expected to hear, "what?"

Celia looked at him in confusion, "the glitter prank? It was quite the topic of discussion in the Hufflepuff common room, we rather enjoyed it."

His mood increased greatly as he realized she knew him from his pranks and not her friend's distaste for him. "Well I'm glad someone enjoyed it... it didn't go over that well with the snakes or..." he winced remembering how Evans yelled at him earlier for targeting the house of her best friend. "...or other people."

She sent him a sympathetic look, "I heard someone say Lily yelled at you, and from your expression I assume that's true, yes?"

James didn't answer, only nodded his head.

"Well, I personally think your pranks are rather funny, even when they target my house. I also do not believe you are cruel nor cold. I think at times your sense of humor just doesn't match with others. You are certainly nothing like the purebloods that curse other students, I think she was just angry in the heat of the moment as I don't think she truly believes you are cold-hearted like them. I don't need to be your friend to know you are a kind person with a good heart."

James smiled at the brunette, "thank you, Celia, I really appreciate it."

The girl's soft smile turned into a broad one that made small creases under her eyes. "Of course, I've been told that I'm good for emotional support."

James mirrored her big smile, "I like you, I think I'm going to keep you around."

"I don't have many friends so I'd love to be yours," the excited Hufflepuff answered.

"Why not? You're very kind, I would think that people would jump at the opportunity to be your friend."

Celia's smile turned a bit sad, "I'm part veela and people find that a bit... unnerving."

"Well I think that is very cool and I know three boys that would agree with me. Why don't I go introduce them to you." James said excitedly and hopped up from the ground, extending his hand out to help her up.

"You think they won't mind?" She asked softly as she looked at the Potter boy's outstretched hand.

He grinned as if he knew something she didn't, "I know for a fact that they won't, come on."

She took his hand and let him help her to her feet. He led her back into the castle towards the great hall where he knew his friends would be. Upon approaching the three Gryffindor boys, James cleared his throat to get their attention. A pair of blue, grey, and brown eyes looked up at their friend who had brought a smiling Hufflepuff with him.

"Hey guys, this is Celia, my emotional support puff,"  James said proudly as he dramatically referenced the brown-haired girl that smiled at the three boys.

"Wait that's not fair, I want an emotional support puff!" Sirius whined.

"Well if you'll have me I'd be glad to fill that position," Celia replied happily as she sat down next to the thirteen-year-old boy.

"Well, in that case," James grabbed his wand and tapped both shoulders of the smiling girl as if he was knighting her."Celia Miriam Valencia, I herby dubb thee emotional support puff of the great marauders."

She giggled and the spectacle-wearing boy grinned broadly. All the boys silently agreeing that they were excited for their new friendship with the bow-wearing ball of sunshine.

yes this is a remus fic but i needed this backstory

to show how she became part of their little group.

remus content will be coming soon besties.

love you all and be sure to check out my sirius

fic called "when lemon meets smoke" and my

regulus fic called "cold hearts & warm bodies"

xxx

-sammy