Enchanted | James Potter

Chapter 32: The Other Doe.

Edward’s heart broke when he heard about the patronus. Lily had gushed to Severus and him about James and Flora’s patronus. A stag and a doe. They were meant to be. She had said. Soulmates. Perfect for each other. Edward could not take it anymore. He got off his seat from the library and left. Lily turned to Severus asking if she had done something wrong. That’s when Severus, reluctantly, told her about Edward’s love for Flora. Lily was shocked. She had thought it was just a passing crush. That Edward would get over it but she never thought about the intensity of his affections for Flora. Lily had hated Edward after he called Flora a ‘mudblood’. She only hung out with him because of Severus. Now she felt sympathy for him. Flora would never like him back. Not just because of James but also because Flora had only hatred for Edward after the incident. Flora had said so herself. She had confided in Lily. Flora had trusted Edward but he turned out to be just like the rest of the bullies in her life. Lily knew Edward had no chance with Flora, not even of her forgiving her.

Edward’s patronus was a doe. That was his secret. For all everybody else knew, Edward was only capable of producing an incorporeal patronus. He could not let anybody know his corporeal patronus. His love for Flora was a secret he would die with, especially now that his oldest brother had told him over the holidays that he would soon be joining the death eaters.

Meanwhile Severus had started to put some distance between him and Edward. He was going down some dangerous path, Severus knew. He was being self destructive. Edward had told him about joining the death eaters and Severus was shocked. He knew Edward’s affinity for dark magic but even he couldn’t imagine being part of the death eaters. Severus knew Edward was doing all this to forget Flora. To occupy his mind with something else.

Flora felt like she was in a dream land. Ever since the patronus reveal, her love for James had doubled. James too had been extra affectionate towards her. She was glad she had found him and so was he. 

Soon the months passed away and they sat for their N.E.W.T.S. Flora had achieved her dream of winning the Quidditch Cup. The Gryffindor vs Ravenclaw match had happened in May and Gryffindor had won. The cup was theirs and Flora was elated. Her dreams of becoming a professional player was more near to her. Now she only needed to finish her N.E.W.T.S. 

The exams were as the name suggested, nastily exhausting. Everybody was pulling all-nighters and revising during breakfasts. Not a single moment was wasted on anything other than the exams. Flora was satisfied by her performance. It was not excellent but it was much better than she had expected. She didn’t need much high scores for Quidditchso she was relaxed.

The week after the exams, till graduation was spent with her friends. They spent all their last moments at Hogwarts together. By that time, Severus had entirely ditched Edward, who was unrecognizable now, always hanging out with Mulciber and Avery. Severus had in turn joined their friend group, albeit a little reluctantly. He had a big enmity towards the marauders but Lily and Flora both had put their foot down. If they were to be friends with them, they had to be friends with each other too. Flora had threatened James one night that if he ever troubled Severus ever again, she would leave him. That had frightened him tremendously and since then he had kept himself and the other marauders in check. It was a little awkward at first but Severus soon became comfortable with the Gryffindors. Much to everyone's surprise, Sirius had in one instance, defended Severus when Avery was taunting him. He had later called him ‘mate’. From then on, the group found another friend in Severus Snape.