reputation | j.potter

9 | nice

chapter nine

nice

─── ⋆⋅ 𓆗 ⋅⋆ ──

DETENTION WAS BEGINNING TO BECOME less of a burden on Monroe and more a chance to breathe. Although she'd never admit that out loud of course.

She knew after the previous night James had seen more of her than almost anyone else had in the past six years she'd attended Hogwarts. She didn't know why suddenly she felt a kind of peace knowing James' knew her internal thoughts, but it was nice.

"You okay there, Taylor?" James asked with a small smile as he saw the blonde lay down flat across a desk in the corner on his eye, her eyes closed in a sign of contempt as her hair splayed out over the wooden panel.

The girl didn't respond with words, rather a small hum to show that she'd acknowledged James' as she continued to lay down.

To say she was exhausted would be an understatement. She hadn't slept a wink the past week with the worries for her brother and the nightmares that plagued her every unconscious thought. She hated it, but when she was with James the demons in her head stated at bay - since he'd protected her in the astronomy tower, he felt trust worthy.

Monroe heard James chuckle lightly followed by a light clatter that was probably Jake spitting something down before a shadow covered her eyes, darkening the dark even further as she peeled her eyes open to see James standing over her with a small smile on his face.

"Careful there, Potter. I'll start to think you don't hate me if you keep smiling." Monroe said, a small smile dancing in her own lips as she peered up at him through her lashes.

James smiled, his eyes flashing with something Monroe couldn't quite recognise as he tutted, "You're growing on me, Taylor," he muttered, rolling his eyes when Monroe laughed in his face, but the smile still stuck oh his lips was contrasting the action, "get up."

"I'm not helping you scrub cauldrons, Potter."

"Not to scrub cauldrons," James tutted, he stopped trying to get Monroe to do that after the first day after her blatant refusal, "we're going to the kitchens."

"Why?" Monroe asked, she still hadn't moved an inch.

"You look done, and I want tea - so, get up."

Monroe contemplated for a second, it was almost curfew and no one would be wondering the halls. No one would see her with James. No one would see the way she didn't hate him and anything to do with him anymore. And, she really wanted some tea.

She sat up, stretching her tight limbs as she did so, a small yawn involuntarily escaping her lips as she nodded, "Fine. But if anyone sees us I'm telling them you used the imperius curse on me."

James chuckled as Monroe began her exit of the room, "Whatever you say, Monroe." He muttered before trailing behind her.

─── ⋆⋅ 𓆗 ⋅⋆ ──

JAMES DIDNT KNOW WHAT WAS OVERCOMING HIM. He didn't know why he was smiling at Monroe, he didn't know why he found her lying down on a desk practically asleep in his presence so endearing, and Merlin, he didn't know why he invited her to the kitchens in his own free will.