Whimsical {James Potter}

Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Black

Cressida stares at her Transfiguration report. The mark in the top left-hand corner should not be what it is. Her scores are plummeting, and with the end of the year drawing closer and closer, the anxiety only continues to grow for the OWL examinations.

She's still in her Quidditch robes, having just returned from practice and slumped on her bed. James had drilled them to the ground. Their final game in a few weeks is against Ravenclaw again who bested Slytherin and Hufflepuff.

Marlene leans over her shoulder, her nose shrivelling at the mark Cressida doesn't even bother to hide. "That sucks." Cressida sighs, tossing the parchment to the side. "I thought Potter was helping you with Transfiguration."

Marlene lounges on her bed directly to the left of Cressida's. "He is," she answers. "I just..."

"Can't focus because you're staring too much and daydreaming about him?" she finishes flatly. Cressida opens her mouth to argue but closes it again. Marlene pretty much said the entire truth. The blond girl laughs lively, sitting back up on the edge of the mattress. "Maybe you should study with Lupin instead."

"No," she sighs. "He has too much going on. Besides, James is the top of the class and as long as I learn to focus again, I should be fine. This report was just a fluke."

"Whatever you say," she sings. "You're trying to get over him right?" Cressida nods, tucking her knees under her arms. There's no point doing anything else when he's in love with Evans. Marlene purses her lips, fingers drumming over her duvet. "What about Elias? I thought you said you liked him."

"I like him, I don't fancy him," Cressida corrects. "Besides, with these marks and Quidditch practise and other stuff, I don't really have time to date."

"But you have time for one-on-one sessions with Potter," she counters. "Look, I know he's your friend and it's going to be hard to get over him when you see him every day, but maybe limiting times when you're alone together might help."

Cressida regards Marlene through her lashes. The notion alone of spending less time with him is heartbreaking, but what else is it bringing her besides momentary happiness? "Elias actually offered to help me in Transfig. Maybe I could take him up on that."

Marlene nods approvingly. "There you go," she grins.

Lily and Mary enter the dorm at that moment. The girl with the dark head of coils strides through first, a proud grin donning her wide cheeks. "Lily has a crush."

Evans follows in second, shoving Mary's shoulder from behind. "I do not," she grumbles, though the bashful smile on her own face says otherwise. Cressida eyes the redhead as she marches to her bed. There is a soft blush on her cheeks.

"Cressida," Mary greets, eyes narrowed slightly. "You're not usually in here straight after practice."

Cressida shrugs off-handedly, folding up her report so the mark remains hidden. "The boys were knackered. Thought I'd come up and take the shower I desperately need."

Mary's eyes lighten considerably. "Ah, that's what I could smell," she remarks mirthfully. Cressida returns it with a quick tweak of her lips, but her attention stays on Lily. A crush? Who would Lily Evans take a fancying for? There's always a chance of it being James, but she doubts that Mary would be so chirpy about that. Would Lily date this person? That would tear James apart. Does she say something to James? Maybe Sirius would have a better idea of what to do.

"Black was asking if you were up here," Mary adds. Speak of the devil.

"Oh. Thanks."

Glad to leave the growing thickness of the room anyway, Cressida strips out of the top robes, leaving the black undershirt and red vest on. She leaves without a goodbye, feeling no need to and wanders back down to the main chamber. A quick glance around the tower reveals no sign of her friend. "Where'd Sirius go?" she asks both James and Remus who are leaning against the wall off to the far side.