The Challenge | James Potter

Prolouge

Meissa Ursula Black,  was born into one of the most prestigious families in London, she belonged to the Noble House of Black. Daughter to Walburga and Orion Black, Meissa Black was the oldest out of her siblings, by two minutes, and also the only daughter. Her brothers, Sirius and Regulus, share their names with famous constellations,  and Meissa is no exception as she happens to be the brightest star in Orion's constellation. Unsurprisingly her father named her, as her mother named Sirius, which inevitably created a special filial bond between Meissa and her father growing up. He taught her how to walk, talk, write, run, ride a broom extremely well, ride a horse to perfection, play the piano, and also cast non-verbal spells only at the age of ten. It's safe to say she was his favourite and it was no secret either, which over time put a strain on her relationship with Sirius, her once best friend and partner in crime.

Sirius and Meissa were each other's other halves growing up, at formal events you never saw one without the other, as they would sneak off away from the judgement, prejudices and most importantly away from their older scary cousins. They promised to stay by each other's side till death, as they lived freely playing pranks on their younger brother, playing quidditch and going horse riding on their grounds together. They fought like normal siblings would  but would make up in an hour with often acts of kindness, as Sirius became famous for the cakes he would make for her. They told each other everything. They discussed their futures,dreams and wishes and sometimes wondered about their parents harsh and cruel words, and what on earth they meant, they were curious about the muggle world and couldn't understand what made them so different to anybody else, but they were only eleven so what did they know? 

On the third of November 1970, Meissa and Sirius received their Hogwarts letters of admission. That was the happiest morning  Meissa can remember in Grimmauld place. Orion gifted Meissa with her own horse, Arion. Arion shared the same raven black hair as Meissa and showed the same fiery and courageous spirit as he was fabulously fast and divinely bred. Meissa was the happiest girl in the world day that morning , but Sirius however was not, as he was presented with a Black family broach from their  mother. A week later they arrived in Diagon Alley and Sirius went his separate way as he was still greatly annoyed at the unfair gifting of presents and when they both returned with their lists checked off to their parents, Sirius was not alone; he had made a new friend that wasn't Meissa. James Potter, was the new boy's name, so instead of spending the day with Meissa, Sirius spent it gallivanting about with this new boy, James. Meissa had never felt this much jealousy before and she decided there and then she did not like this "James Potter" boy, with his goofy smile and friendly attitude in fact she hated him. However she wasn't the only one with obvious distaste for the innocent lad, Meissa too focused on her own betrayed and jealous feelings, did not notice the steam coming from her mother's ears. Walburga Black was quite frankly livid. They did not spend another ten seconds with James, as their mother abruptly apparated them back home.

There it was,  the first ever time contact came to Sirius's skin.

Meissa was hysterically crying as her father dragged her out of the room where Sirius and Walburga were left,  and she briefly heard another sharp slap while being carried away. Meissa couldn't control herself as she began to hit and kick her father in desperate hopes of saving her younger brother, as all past feud evaporated from her as soon as she got home. Orion was six foot four, so Meissa may as well have been a bug to him, so her efforts were futile. Meissa eventually tired herself out and she decided to go mute as her parents would not let her see Sirius until he apologised, which knowing him would be never, so all she ever did was spend time with Arion and her parents barely even seen her anymore.

All respect for her parents became questioned as she longed to see Sirius and she eventually did on the day before Hogwarts, however the air was tense between them and Sirius seemed somewhat different and distant but Meissa didn't care in the slightest, she was just happy to be with her best friend again, as she blabbered on enough for the both of them, talking aimlessly about the fun they would have without their parents and how they would rule Hogwarts together. Sirius lightened up as the morning of the big day arrived,  as they were both basically bursting with excitement to go to Hogwarts. Meissa was most upset about leaving Arion and Regulus and almost felt guilty for her younger brother on his own, as she was never alone, but pushed these feelings past her as they arrived at platform nine and three quarters. She gave a quick hug to her mother unwillingly and a much longer one to her father but Sirius did neither and waited until she was done to board the train. Meissa remembered thinking that was odd but thought nothing more of it as she was met with loud noises of engines roaring, laughter and happy screams of joy coming from friends.

All of a sudden while walking down the train, Meissa couldn't see Sirius but she quickly found him laughing his head off in a carriage with none other than James Fleamont Potter, the boy who ruined it all. Meissa never understood why her mother didn't like James and why she got so furious with Sirius for being with him that day, maybe her mother was also annoyed that Sirius had made a new friend that wasn't her,but how could she know she was only eleven after all.

She was quickly pulled out of her quizzical thoughts when she was embraced in a big bear hug, given by James. Meissa was starstruck and spellbound as she stayed like a plank while James put his friendly, welcoming arms around her. He pulled away with his signature goofy smile plastered on his face,as she opened her mouth to speak,  no words came out and her cheeks started to become involuntary blushed. Sirius began laughing again as James began to become awkward and Sirius remarked laughing on Meissa, for once in her life had nothing to say, as he was unbeknownst to her muteness during their time apart. James sat down scratching his neck and introduced himself,  she did not offer the same courtesy and instead Sirius did it for her as she sat down beside him and directly in front of James with her eyes narrowed and arms crossed as she attempted to scare James away. It did not work.

About twenty or so minutes in, James asked Meissa what house she wanted to be sorted into, she finally gave a reply, the first one so far, and she proudly stated Slytherin. James was aghast, Sirius gulped and Meissa was beyond confused, what was wrong with Slytherin? Meissa then looked at Sirius as James continued to pretend to vomit and Sirius was awkwardly avoiding her eye.
"I hate hate hate Slytherins, it is by far the worst house in Hogwarts, don't you agree Sirius?" James now looked questioningly at Sirius waiting for an answer and Meissa couldn't believe her ears when she heard her brother say "Slytherin is for dirty snakes, obviously I want to be sorted into Gryffindor". Meissa's throat began to come tight as she was in disbelief as she did not recognise Sirius beside her, and this time James's goofy smile had changed into a smug smile on victorious face. Meissa felt even more betrayed when Sirius asked "Why don't you go make your own Slytherin friends and leave me and James  alone". Meissa looked at Sirius in such a hurt and shocked way as she felt her heart had been ripped out and trampled on but Sirius couldn't even face to look at her, she then turned to James with a look that could've turned him to stone, which caused him a visible gulp. Meissa felt tears welling in her eyes but did not them surface as she stood up and left but just before closing the carriage door she finally turned to Sirius and said "Sirius Black, you are a coward", she left and went off to do exactly what he said.

As she wiped away a single tear while on her way down the busy train, she bumped into another first year and accidentally fell on top of her. Meissa began to frantically apologise as she climbed off her and helped her up but the beautiful dark-skinned girl was in stitches laughing and Meissa began laughing too and the pair couldn't stop. 
Eventually they caught their breath and Meissa stated "I'm Meissa Black, do you want to  be friends?", the other girl gave her a dirty look and started to walk away and Meissa's smile dropped and her head began to sink until the new girl turned around again with a wide and playful grin on her face and laughed "Ha got you, of course I'd love to be your friend" Meissa knew right then and there that the two would be inseparable, and that maybe she might just be able to survive without Sirius.

They found an empty carriage and the other girl finally said before a long journey filled with more new friends, gossiping and lots more laughing; "I'm Dorcas Meadowes by the way."

—————————————————————————This was just the prologue, the first chapter starts when their in their seventh year.

Hope this was ok, don't worry it will get better I promise  this was just to set the tone. 🫶