The Great Hall was buzzing with the usual cacophony of students chattering, the clinking of silverware against plates, and the occasional burst of laughter. James Potter sat at the Gryffindor table, his eyes sparkling with mischief. He had been planning this moment for days, eager to share his excitement with the whole school. Beside him, his friends Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew watched curiously, wondering what he had up his sleeve.
At the Slytherin table, Y/N L/N sat quietly, picking at her food. She had always preferred the background, content to let others soak up the attention. Her relationship with James was a precious secret, one that provided her with a sanctuary away from the prying eyes and judgmental whispers of her housemates.
James stood up, tapping his goblet to get everyone's attention. The hall gradually quieted, heads turning towards him with curiosity. Y/N's heart sank as she realized what was happening. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with a mix of dread and pleading.
"Attention, everyone!" James called out, his voice carrying across the hall. "I have an announcement to make."
Y/N's heart pounded in her chest. She wanted to disappear, to melt into the floor and avoid the impending spotlight. She knew James had the best intentions, but he didn't understand how much she hated being the center of attention.
James continued, oblivious to her distress. "I just wanted to let you all know that I'm dating the most amazing girl in the world. And she's right over there at the Slytherin table—Y/N L/N!"
The hall erupted into a mixture of cheers, gasps, and whispers. Heads turned towards Y/N, eyes widening in surprise and curiosity. She felt like a bug under a magnifying glass, every eye in the room trained on her. Her face flushed with embarrassment, her hands trembling as she clutched her fork.
Slytherins around her muttered among themselves, their expressions ranging from shock to disdain. "A Gryffindor?" someone sneered. "Really, Y/N?"
Unable to take the scrutiny, Y/N stood abruptly, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. She cast one last desperate look at James, who was still smiling proudly, and then fled the hall, tears stinging her eyes.
James's smile faltered as he watched her run out. He had expected some surprise, maybe even a bit of teasing, but he hadn't anticipated this reaction. He quickly excused himself and ran after her, worry etched on his face.
He found Y/N in the courtyard, her back against a stone wall, tears streaming down her cheeks. She looked up as he approached, her eyes filled with hurt and anger.
"Y/N," he said softly, reaching out to her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."
"James," she choked out, her voice trembling. "Why did you do that? Why did you put me on display like that?"
James's heart ached at the pain in her voice. "I just wanted everyone to know how much you mean to me," he explained, his voice earnest. "I didn't think—"
"No, you didn't think," Y/N interrupted, wiping her tears angrily. "You didn't think about how much I hate being the center of attention, or how my housemates would react."
James stepped closer, his eyes filled with regret. "I'm so sorry, Y/N. I was just so excited about us. I wanted to share it with the world. I didn't mean to hurt you."
Y/N shook her head, her shoulders slumping. "I know you didn't mean to, but you did. Now everyone's going to be talking about us. My housemates are already giving me a hard time for being with a Gryffindor. This is just going to make it worse."
James reached out, gently cupping her face in his hands. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I love you, Y/N. I'll do whatever it takes to make this right."
She looked into his eyes, seeing the genuine remorse there. She knew he meant well, but the damage was done. "I just need some time," she said quietly, stepping back from his touch. "I need to figure out how to deal with this."
James nodded, his heart heavy with guilt. "Take all the time you need," he said softly. "I'll be here, waiting for you."
As Y/N walked away, James watched her go, feeling a profound sense of loss. He had wanted to celebrate their love, but instead, he had driven a wedge between them. He vowed to find a way to make it right, to prove to her that their relationship could withstand the judgment and scrutiny of others.
Back in the Great Hall, the atmosphere had shifted. Whispers followed Y/N as she made her way . Her housemates eyed her with a mixture of curiosity and contempt, their whispered comments cutting through the air like knives.
"A Gryffindor? Really?"
"She's betraying our house."
"Guess she's not as smart as we thought."
Each comment felt like a dagger to Y/N's heart. She had always struggled to fit in with her housemates, and now she felt even more alienated. She reached her seat and sank into it, wrapping her arms around herself as if to shield against the harsh reality of her situation.
James returned to the Gryffindor table, his usual swagger replaced by a solemn expression. His friends looked at him with concern, Sirius giving him a sympathetic pat on the back. "She'll come around, mate," Sirius said. "She just needs some time."
James nodded, but he couldn't shake the feeling of regret that weighed heavily on his heart. He had wanted to show the world how much he loved Y/N, but he had done it in the worst possible way. Now, all he could do was wait and hope that she would forgive him, and that their love was strong enough to survive the storm he had unintentionally unleashed.
