epiphany, james potter

26.

Lyla was ignoring James, she hid in her bedroom and didn't talk to him or Sirius.

She did that for the remainder of her holiday break, and that brings her to today, on the train.

A loud echoing came through her compartment, it made Lyla jolt from her sleep like trance.

It was Mulcifer, a Slytherin boy in Lyla's year.

He was formerly friends with Regulus, until he started being a sexist blood prejudice asshole.

He smirked at Lyla and shut the compartment door, "Hello Black."

Lyla rolled her eyes and got up from her spot, "Get out Mulcifer."

"No can do. Your daddy wanted me to check up on you." He crept closer to Lyla, to the point where it was uncomfortable.

Lyla just pushed past him, but he grabbed her arm with an iron like grip.

"Wouldn't do that if I was you." A calm voice enters the compartment.

Mulcifer didn't let go of Lyla, but she didn't care. Her eyes were focused on James.

"Get your filthy hands off my girlfriend." James stalks towards the boy, and grabs his hands so forcefully a wince comes from Mulcifer.

Lyla backed up instantly, and she stepped closer to James. Even though she was irritated at him, she still sought out his protection.

"Whatever Black." Mulcifer winked at Lyla, "I'll be talking to you later."

After Mulcifer left the compartment was silent, James and Lyla kept exchanging glances.

"I should-" Lyla begins but was interrupted, "Lyla-" James starts.

No one spoke after that, Lyla just gave him a look that told him, I forgive you.

"I'll see you later James." Lyla peers up softly.

James nods unsatisfied with the conversation, "See you Lyla." He mutters.

The train ride flew by, Lyla stared out the window. Thinking about what could have been.

Suddenly the train stopped, but Lyla knew something was wrong.

Lyla stayed in her seat, scared of what was coming.

A large shadow came through her door, she could barely recognize what it was. A dementor.

She cowered back in fear, but it was too late. The shadow trapped her, engulfed her into itself.

Lyla couldn't see, couldn't hear, couldn't do anything. It was blackness, pure blackness. It felt cold, like an ice bath.

A loud noise echoed in her ears, and everything came back to her.

"Lyla what the hell!" James's face came over Lyla's vision.

"James?" She asked groggily.

"What happened love?" James pulled Lyla's head so that it was on his lap.

"I d-don't know." Lyla felt dizzy and out of place.

"Come on." James pulls her to her feet, "Let's go find Sirius and Remus."

Lyla nodded and followed behind him, her hand was rested in his. She let him pull her behind him.

They got to the compartment, Sirius was sleeping. Remus and Blair were cuddling quietly in the corner.

It left basically just James and Lyla. He pulled her under his arm and she rested her head on his chest. It was warm, and she could feel his heartbeat. He also smelled like vanilla and musk.

Lyla felt herself drifting off to sleep, but James breathing pattern kept her awake.

A pair of soft lips touched Lyla's forehead, and she blushed. Even though he couldn't see her.