𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 / James Potter x Reader

Ch10 ★ Pumpkin Pasties and Apologies

chapter song:
Francis Forever - Mitski

It was a week before the planned Hogsmeade trip that y/n would attend with James and his three friends and her own friends Regulus and Archie.

Lily and y/n decided their friend group needed a good study session.

The Gryffindor common room buzzed with the warmth of a late afternoon. Y/n found herself settled comfortably on a plush armchair beside Lily Evans, their heads bent over potion textbooks. Marlene McKinnon and Mary Macdonald sprawled out on the nearby sofa, their notes spread across the low table in front of them. Dorcas Meadows, the Hufflepuff with a knack for Charms, had joined them, flipping through parchment with a focused expression.

Every now and then, Marlene would spend a solid minute staring at the ever so focused Hufflepuff.

The room was filled with the aroma of freshly baked pastries and enchanted chocolates from Honeydukes, scattered among the various snacks they had amassed. An old record player in the corner played ABBA softly, lending a calming ambiance to the study session.

Y/n, usually not one to be found in the Gryffindor tower, had found a quiet acceptance among Lily and her friends. They welcomed her without question, focusing instead on their studies than their house rivalry.

Sirius Black lounged in an adjacent chair, ostensibly absorbed in his Transfiguration essay. His eyes, however, often wandered to y/n, catching glimpses of her focused expression as she debated a tricky potion ingredient with Lily. He noticed the ease with which she interacted with the Gryffindor girls, a pang of longing tugging at his heart. What he was missing out on. What he had given away.

James Potter, sprawled out on the floor with parchment and quill, observed Sirius through half-lidded eyes. He could sense his friend's discomfort, the unspoken ache that mirrored his own conflicted feelings.

"Everything alright there, Sirius?" James asked casually, breaking the silence that hung between them.

Sirius glanced up, a flicker of irritation in his eyes before it softened into resignation. "Fine. Just working on this bloody essay."

James raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Sure about that? You seem distracted."

Sirius sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. "It's nothing."

James didn't press further, understanding the fact that Sirius' emotions were complex. Instead, he shifted his attention back to his own work, stealing glances at y/n when he thought no one was looking.

Meanwhile, y/n flipped a page in her textbook, her brow furrowed in concentration. She felt a strange sense of contentment in the Gryffindor tower, surrounded by friends who had embraced her presence without question. The warmth of the fire was lovely, but still couldn't compare to the comfortable contrast of a burning fire in the cold dungeons of the Slytherin common room.

Lily occasionally offered her insights into tricky potion recipes, their conversation flowing naturally despite the differences in their houses.

"Seems like Potter has his eye on you y/n," Lily muttered for only them to hear.

Y/n was quick to her own defense, "What? No, we've just been working on our project that's it."

"Sure y/n, whatever you say. I'm just glad he's off my back. It's peaceful after four years of being bothered."

Across the room, Dorcas leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest. She caught y/n's eye and smiled warmly, a silent acknowledgment of their shared focus amidst the Gryffindor ambiance. They were the only two in the tower that did not belong there.