Enchanted | James Potter

Chapter 11: Give Me a Chance.

James knew this was gonna happen. He was not good enough for any of this but he was not gonna give it up easily. “Wait. Please stop.” He started following her and put a hand on her shoulder to stop her from running away. “Please. Don't leave. Not just yet. Give me a chance. Just one and I promise you won’t regret it.” he rambled. He had to convince her to stay or else he would lose something really precious.

Flora sighed. She knew this was gonna happen. She nodded her head a little. She knew she was gonna regret this later but too much was happening at once for her to make a wise decision. 

“Thank you!” James said, breathing a sigh of relief. “Do you wanna go outside for a walk?”

Flora would have loved nothing better than to go for a walk outside at that moment. It was too crowded and it reminded her of Karla’s parties. She said yes and took his arm.

“Do you even know who I am?” Flora asked when they got away from the chaos of the Ball. They were moving towards the garden which was very beautifully decorated according to her.

James felt ashamed. He could not recognize her at all. She was beautiful and that’s all he could think of. He racked his brain trying to figure out who she was, but he couldn't. “I am sorry,” he said. “I don’t.”

 Flora sighed. Of course, she thought. Why would he recognize her?

“Do you know me? I, uh, I mean, do we know each other?” he said and instantly regretted the question. 

“Yes.” Flora said, looking away from him.

Jmaes thought the conversation was going downhill. He had to do something to make it livelier. “I am sorry I don’t recognize you but in my defense, you did a good job masking yourself.” She laughed. James would start wars and burn cities for that laugh. It was music to his ears. 

“That was my intention.” she said.

“Were you disappointed when you found out that I was the stranger?” James asked nervously. He felt he knew the answer.

“No I…” She did not finish her sentence when James interrupted with a laugh. “You tried to run away when you saw my face.”

“I was not disappointed James. I just had a lot in my mind. I still do.” she said. She didn’t want to upset him. He had been nothing but sweet to her when they talked through the diary. Even now he was sweet and did not act his usual arrogant self.

“I’m relieved. I was so upset. I thought you hated me.” He said with a smile. Flora was too shy to look at his face but she thought he had a good smile.

“You can breathe now. I don’t hate you. At least , not yet.” She added with a laugh. 

They reached an area in the garden which was covered with flowers and beautifully decorated with fairy lights. It was one of the most romantic spots Flora had ever seen. James felt the same.

They could hear the music from the Great Hall still and James extended his hands. “Would you like to dance mlady?” he asked Flora.

“Why yes, good sir.” She took his hands. They Were dancing slowly to the music and both of them were equally excited and anxious about it.

“You are really beautiful, you know.” James said looking at her eyes. “How can I not recognize you?” He whispered. 

She shook her head. “ I don’t know.” she whispered back. They were standing very close now.

“Will you tell me who you are if I apologize profusely for not recognizing you?” James asked. He could not wait anymore. He touched her mask to remove it but before he could do something, Flora saw her friends getting out of the Great Hall. This could not be happening right now, she thought. 

“I am really sorry, I have to go.” She said and started running away before James could follow her. In her hurry, Flora didn't notice that she had dropped one of the chains of her necklace. James picked it up but she had gone before home could give it back but he was glad he had something of hers. 

 She had to leave before her roommates got to the room and saw her bed empty. They could not see her like this. They could not know that she went to the Ball when she had never done it before. They would ask too many questions and be suspicious. Flora did not want that. She knew that although her friends were out of the hall, it would take them at least ten minutes to actually reach their room since they often stopped on their way to talk to other people. Flora sprinted up the stairs and reached her room before anybody could see her. She got out of her clothes, took her normal clothes and ran inside the washroom. She was gonna pretend she took a long shower. 

She was in the shower when she realized a chain of her necklace was gone. The one with the left hand was missing. She felt sad. She had treasure that necklace and without one hand, it looked incomplete.

She got out of the shower when her friends came in. They started talking about the ball and telling Flora everything that happened. Evanna told her about her perfect time with Mathias and Flora was glad. She liked the both of them together. 

The girls soon went to sleep but Flora spent another sleepless night, thinking about James Potter.

After the mystery girl had left, James felt dejected. He thought it was going well. Why did she run away? He went to his room only to be bombarded with the marauders asking him where he was. James wanted to tell them everything, right there but he couldn’t. So, he too spent the night, sleepless, thinking about the mystery girl, still clutching the necklace she left behind.