𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙎𝙤 𝙂𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙣 ―𝐣𝐬𝐩

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 - 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐬. 𝐍𝐨 𝐇𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐲𝐬.

James
(warning this chapter contains minor SA, in the sense that it's not explicit, because I'm definitely not qualified to define what is minor for someone's person)

The party has been going strong for hours now. The music is loud, the kind that vibrates through your chest, and the common room is packed with everyone from seventh-years down to the fourth-years. It's the kind of night where nothing matters except the next drink and the next laugh. I'm slouched on the couch, a bottle of firewhisky in my hand, Nate passed out next to me, his head leaning on my shoulder. Kid's out cold, too high to even notice what's going on around him.

Across from me, Freddie's in full story mode, a shit-eating grin plastered on his face as he talks about how he finally made a move on Ronny. I almost choke on my drink when he casually drops, "And then, after we kissed, she gave me a blowjob."

Luke and I exchange shocked looks, our eyes going wide. Luke's mouth falls open, and he lets out a low whistle. "Ronny? Ronny Lovelace?" Luke sounds as disbelieving as I feel. We're talking about Veronica Lovelace here—bookish, sweet, wouldn't hurt a fly Ronny. I mean minus the whole she is a werewolf part, but that's once a month. It's like finding out a unicorn ate someone. Then again that girl reads more dirty books than anyone I know. So maybe not that surprising?

Freddie just grins and shrugs like it's no big deal. "What can I say? I've got moves."

"Moves?" I laugh, taking a swig of my firewhisky. "Mate, you've been in love with her for years and now suddenly you're Casanova?"

Freddie rolls his eyes. "Jealous much, Potter? Not all of us take a century to make a move on a girl."

"Oi!" I smack him on the shoulder, but I'm grinning. "I dated the same girl for two years. I have moves too. Not my fault the ladies come to me." It's true. After the whole thing between me and Lu ended, girls started chasing me, not that they didn't before, but at one point they got so scared of Luella that they wouldn't get close to me. So when I got Lu Free it was like I was in that muggle show the Bachelor. Did that make sense? I only hear what Lily tells me, I don't really watch reality shows. Point is girls started hitting on me again, shamelessly.

Luke laughs, but Freddie gives him a mock glare. "Yeah, and you've been hogging my sister for the last three years, mate. When's Roxy gonna wake up and realize she can do better?"

Roxy, across the room, is laughing and dancing with Martha, Dom, and Ronny. She shoots a cheeky look our way and flips her hair, like she heard Freddie even over the music.

Luke raises his hands in mock defense, grinning. "Oi, don't drag me into this. Roxy's got great taste, obviously."

Freddie snorts. "Yeah, or terrible judgment."

We're all laughing, giving each other shit like always, when suddenly Freddie goes completely still. His face drops, and he stands up so fast he almost knocks over the firewhisky on the table. "What the fuck?"

I sit up, instantly alert, following his gaze across the room. That's when I see it.

Martha.

She's got a drink in her hand, laughing at something Xavier's saying—Xavier fucking Goldstein, her ex who's been a thorn in both our sides. Who by the way, she has been acting lately as if she is over him. But it's not Xavier who's got me seeing red. It's Ashton Kennedy, one of the guys on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. He's standing behind Martha, his hands sliding down her sides. Then, out of nowhere, he cups her tits. Just—bold as hell, like he has any right to touch her like that.