The Better Chaser; James Potter

Chapter 39- Sectumsempra

After that night, Potter and I went back to avoiding each other. I'll admit I found myself staring at him from time to time, but I would look away anytime he would turn my way. Even hanging out with everyone we just stopped talking.

I mean we never really talked before but at least we insulted each other. Now we pretended like the other person didn't exist. The only time we had to interact was during potions. But even during potions we would only say what we need to say and work in silence. 

I caught Snape staring at me a few times- I don't even know where that came from. Why did Snape and Potter smell me in their Amortentia, and what am I supposed to do about it?

For now I opted to do nothing, and for a while that worked. Until one fateful Friday. We had potions that day and I felt Snape's eyes on me as I worked with Potter. It made me a bit uncomfortable, but I chose to ignore it rather than escalate the situation. Everything was going fine until I passed Potter a glass of water for the potion, and his fingers brushed mine. They lingered slightly and I felt a shock course through me which made me drop the glass, breaking it. Potter didn't even look at the glass but stayed staring at me wide eyed- clearly also feeling that weird shock again. 

It was the first time we came in contact since the night of Sirius' Party and we both froze up, his hand still on mine. Slughorn's voice brought me back to my senses, and I pulled my hand away abruptly, a blush creeping up my neck,

"No worries Watson and Potter, just clean it up and get a new one- everyone back to your stations!" He told the other students watching. I caught Snape's eye and he glared at Potter with such hatred it surprised even me. I knew they didn't get along but if looks could kill- Potter would be 6 feet under.

I cleared my throat and pulled out my wand from my boot, "I got this," I said as I waved my wand. The glass shards started to repair itself magically until it formed the glass again, "No need for you to bleed picking up another glass," I joked to Potter, trying to alleviate some of the tension,

He laughed when he recognized what I was referencing too. The first day of school last year when he was eavesdropping, "Here I'll mop up the water with this," He suggested as he grabbed a spare rag,

"I'll go get more water," I informed him before going to the area where Slughorn had the ingredients lied out,"

That was the most Potter and I had talked in a whole month, but I smiled slightly at our interaction. Things were slowly getting back to normal.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

So that same Friday I was doing a round when I heard some commotion coming from the 5th floor corridor- near the prefects bathroom. I thought it was a couple of third or fourth years messing around and trying to sneak in but when I entered the bathroom- I saw a sight I never thought I'd see. The bathroom was a mess- a pipe was clearly bursted and a sink crashed from a duel- and on the floor was Potter lying in a pool of his blood. I rushed to his side and crouched next to him grabbing his face in my hand,

"Oh it's you Watson- thought Snape came back," He coughed, "Weird how we always find ourselves in these positions," He joked,

"SNAPE?! Snape did this?! I will murder that boy- what- Let me take you-" I rambled,

"No!" He croaked, "If you take me anywhere the boys will find out and do something that'll get them expelled,"

"What about Madame Pomfrey! Potter you have a huge gash in your stomach! What happened?!" I asked

"No Madame Pomfrey, she'll ask questions," He told me, "Isn't it obvious? Snape hexed me- Merlin for a Slytherin Reigna you sure are thick," He joked, using my words against me.