𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐒, james potter

19. as if i would do that

May 1, 1975

NESRIN HAD BEEN minding her own business when Carl Stevenson, a sixth-year Slytherin, said to his friend, "Fuck that Potter kid. He's always running his mouth. Showing off during Quidditch games. He thinks he's better than everyone else."

Nesrin stopped walking.

She gritted her teeth, willing herself to just ignore them and walk away. They were harmless, anyway. Carl Stevenson was the type of guy who strived for attention all the time. He was probably just saying this to appear cool to his friends.

Taking a deep breath, she slowly calmed herself down. And she would've walked away too if it had not been for the next thing that came out of his mouth.

"I swear, man, the blood traitor thing fucked him in the head."

Turning on her heel, Nesrin strode up to him confidently, hiding her fury behind a look of indifference.

"What the fuck did you just say?" She glared into his eyes—which was easy to do given he was not even half an inch taller than her.

Carl turned his attention to her, his mouth twisting into a disgusting smirk. He leaned in closer to her. Nesrin resisted the urge to gag. He smelled like rotten cheese.

"My, my, what do we have here?" He dragged his eyes down over Nesrin's body, and she had to stop herself from coiling away. "Nesrin Fadel. How lovely. Have you come to ask me out? Because, darling, as much as I would love to, I've unfortunately got a girlfriend already."

If it was possible, Nesrin's glare grew even darker. She was sure she would give Idris a run for his money with how evil she probably looked right now.

"As if I would ever go out with a pathetic excuse for a human like you. How about you just shut the fuck up and stop talking about people behind their backs?"

His eyes narrowed. "You're talking about Potter?" He scoffed. "Aw, c'mon, love. You can do so much better. Fuck my girl. Let me show you a good time—"

Nesrin was not a violent person. She had never been a violent person.

And yet, she couldn't help herself when she reeled back her fist and sent it flying right at his face.

Carl yelped, clutching his nose in anguish.

"You bitch!" he screamed at her even though his eyes showed fear.

"Don't talk about girls as if they're objects, you dick. Next time, think twice before you go around running your mouth."

He and his friend both scrambled away. Nesrin nodded to herself, pleased. Even though her hand hurt like a bitch. Cursing under her breath, she walked back to the common rooms; there was no harm in missing one class.

And from where he was standing around the corner, James smiled to himself.

✧ ✦ ✧

SHE PLOPPED DOWN in her seat a little more forcefully than she meant to.

The day's events had completely ruined her mood. She was now ready to just get back to her dorm and sleep until the world ended.

As James was opening up their books, he gestured to her bruised hand.

"How'd that happen?" he asked discreetly, curious to know what she would say.

Instinctively, her other hand went to touch her bruised one, gently rubbing her thumb over the cuts.

She shrugged. "Had to put an asshole in his place."

"Hmm."

Nesrin raised a brow at him. "What do you mean 'hmm'?"

It was his turn to shrug. She narrowed her eyes.

"And what exactly did this asshole do to deserve your fist?" James questioned in a tone that Nesrin didn't like one bit.

"None of your business, Potter."

James grinned. "Right, of course. Thanks."

She frowned. "For what?"

He looked over her face, an amused look in his eyes. "For defending me."

Her eyes widened. Immediately, she let out an unconvincing scoff. "Are you joking? As if I would do that. I think you're going crazy, Potter."

James's grin grew even wider.

"Sure, Fadel. Sure."

"I'm serious."

"If you say so," he sang in an obnoxious tone.

Nesrin groaned. "You don't know what you're talking about."

He let out a chuckle. "You know, you seem to be getting really upset over this."

"I am not."

James held up his hands and said nothing, although he was trying hard to bite back his smile.

Nesrin rolled her eyes. "Alright, fine. So what if I defended you?"

James shot her a satisfied look. "Now that wasn't so hard to admit, was it?"

She grumbled incoherent curses at him. He stared at her, his grin dissolving into a content smile.

"Seriously, though. Thank you, Nes."

She looked into his eyes briefly before shoving his shoulder.

"Whatever, Potter."

𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿'𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 !

trying to get as many chapters out now because my family's leaving on saturday for vacation for 2 weeks so i won't be able to write