𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐒, james potter

45. you can't resist me

NESRIN HASN'T SEEN Garrett since the day he and James got into a fight.

He hasn't come to class or the Great Hall at all. She hasn't seen him in the Slytherin common room either.

She can't help but wonder if this has something to do with Idris.

She'd rather not find out.

Idris has been acting weird these days. She can't quite place it, but in a way, he seems both happier and more wary. Of what, she isn't sure. All she knows is that he hasn't been acting like himself, and she is afraid to figure out the reason why.

Regardless, Garrett's sudden disappearance is more than welcome in her eyes. She can't deny the relief that has washed over her since the last time she saw him and the anxiety that has slipped away from her body.

Part of this is probably because of James.

She forgot the way he used to make her feel with his secret smiles and stolen glances. There's this constant happiness that buzzes around her, and it's almost as if anything could happen and as long as he is still with her, nothing can be wrong.

In Potions, they sit with their legs pressed fully against each other. The desks are positioned in a way that no one is able to see how close they are together.

Which also means no one can see when James places his hand right above Nesrin's knee.

Her breath hitches, but she keeps her face neutral.

"Quit it," she mutters under her breath as Slughorn continues his lecture.

James's mouth curls into a half-smirk in response.

She lets out a silent huff of breath, pressing her legs together.

"You're a bitch," she says quietly, making him release a soft laugh.

"A hot bitch," he counters.

She holds back a smile.

"You're fucking delusional—"

"Miss Fadel?" Slughorn's voice sounds from the front of the classroom.

Nesrin looks up, eyes wide and an embarrassed flush covering her face. Slughorn looks at her expectantly, but she hasn't been listening to him for quite some time now.

At her silence, he raises an eyebrow.

"What potions can one make from valerian root?" he asks for what seems to be the second time.

Her mind blanks as James's hand slides up her thigh. She swallows, squirming in her seat and trying to pry his hand off with no success.

"Uh," she stammers, her heart racing. "Well, with—with valerian root, you can make...a lot of potions. Such as—"

Her sentence is suddenly cut off when James's knuckle brushes over her heat. She clears her throat, her face getting impossibly hotter. She doesn't have to turn to know that James is smirking.

"Miss, Fadel," Slughorn frowns. "Are you quite alright?"

"Just—just fine. Um, valerian root..."

"Draught of Living Death," James mumbles quietly, amusement lacing his tone.

"It can make the Draught of Living Death as well as the Draught of Peace and Dawdle Draught," Nesrin says, both grateful and furious with James.

"Very good," Slughorn remarks, smiling and quickly forgetting about her.

He goes back to his lecture, and that is the moment James takes his hand off her thigh.

Without turning to look at him, she shoots him her middle finger under the table and says, "Fuck you."

James does nothing but grin in response.

✧ ✦ ✧

HIS MOUTH IS hot on her throat, face buried in her neck.

"James," she moans, clutching his shoulders, lacing her fingers through his hair.

He hums against her skin, leaving a trail of wet kisses in his wake. She drags his head back up so she can connect their lips.

"Go on a date with me," he murmurs, pulling away slightly.

She scoffs, a teasing grin pulling at her mouth.

"After that stunt you pulled earlier in class? I think not."

He chuckles, wrapping his arms tighter around her. He places his lips back on hers, and she immediately responds by tugging at his hair.

When he pulls away, she pouts. He grins back at her.

"You can't resist me."

His nose brushes hers, his mouth kissing the curve beneath her bottom lip.

She closes her eyes. "I hate you."

She feels his breath on her cheeks.

"You don't."

She smiles, opening her eyes.

"Yes," she says. "Yes, I will go with you."

He grins back, rolling over on his back to lay beside her in the grass in their secret spot. He leans his head on his hand as he stares down at her. His other hand rises to touch her face. He traces the curve of her cheeks, the length of her nose, the softness of her lips.

They are silent as they stare at each other, content in each other's presence.

She watches his throat bob once as he looks between her eyes.

"Nes," he whispers. She hums in response. "Did you...did you love me when we broke up?"

She sucks in a breath.

"I did," she answers truthfully. "I loved you so much that sometimes it felt as if I couldn't breathe. It still feels like that sometimes."

He pulls her closer to him, placing his head on her chest and wrapping his arms around her waist. She wraps her arms around his neck, one hand going to run through his hair.

He sighs, his breath fanning across her collarbone.

"Don't leave me again," he murmurs. "Please don't ever leave me again."

She holds him tighter.

"I won't."

And this time, she truly believes it.

𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿'𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 !

i finally finished queen charlotte.

i am broken.

the last scene was literally so heartbreaking i can't even rn

also question. i have an idea for a theodore nott book with the forbidden romance trope. would anyone be interested in reading that?? (it'll be kinda sad and ending is undecided lol)