Seers Secret ✧ James Potter

~Chapter 34~

Alina gasps as she awakes from yet another vision. Her heartbeat seems to reverberate through her entire body. She closes her eyes tightly, willing her breathing to steady and her pulse to calm.

It isn't a terrible vision, just two people laughing in the courtyard before falling into the snow. She doesn't recognize them, but they seem slightly older, possibly seventh-years.

Alina lies back down, trying to focus on deep breaths. Maybe she can get a bit more sleep; she feels utterly exhausted. But her mind drifts to James Potter.

No.

She will not think about James Potter and his infuriatingly persistent need to be happy and kind all the time. She takes another deep breath, closing her eyes once more in a desperate attempt to fall back asleep.

Just then, the alarm clock beside her bed goes off.

Alina sighs deeply, sitting up to turn it off quickly. She needs to get ready. Allowing herself one more moment in bed, she finally slides out, the cool air enveloping her.

She takes a quick shower, does her hair, and applies a small amount of makeup under her eyes before putting on her uniform and shoes. She slides a black headband into her hair and sits on the edge of her bed to put on her shoes. Once they are on, she lingers for another moment.

She wonders if there is any way to get rid of her visions. Unlikely. If there had been a solution, her family would have found it by now, given how desperate they are to rid her of these powers.

Alina blinks at the floor before forcing herself up, grabbing her bag, and leaving her dorm. A few students are already up, some still coming down the stairs from their side of the dorms, speaking quietly.

She leaves her common room, her footsteps echoing down the castle halls as she makes her way to breakfast.

The halls are busy with students, all waking up for the day. Alina heads to the Great Hall, which is already bustling. She notes that James Potter and his friends aren't there. It has been three days since she last saw him.

Making her way to the Slytherin table, she sits near the end. Barty and his friends are absent as well. Her eyes narrow slightly at the food before she reaches for a pomegranate, placing it on the plate in front of her.

Someone sits down across from her.

Alina lifts her gaze and immediately glares. "What do you want, Sirius?"

Sirius's long hair brushes just past his shoulders, his dark locks framing eyes that glint with mischief. "I want you to come and sit with us," he says with a smirk.

"No," Alina replies bluntly.

Sirius grins wider. "If you sit with us, I won't prank the Slytherins this month."

Alina pauses. Some of his pranks are extreme, particularly those targeting the common room, which are especially annoying. "Actually?"

"Promise," Sirius raises his eyebrows. "Now, come sit with us."

Alina hesitates. "I really hate you," she mutters, standing and grabbing her pomegranate.

"You love me," Sirius teases, following her to the Gryffindor table.

"Hardly," Alina scoffs, but Sirius just smirks. James, Remus, and Peter are already seated: James and Peter on one side near the end of the table, Remus on the other with two open seats beside him.

Sirius takes the seat next to Remus, and Alina sits down beside him, directly across from James.

"Sunshine," James greets her with a bright smile.

"Potter," Alina replies, placing her pomegranate on her plate.

"Another pomegranate, I see," James observes with a smile.

"Of course, they're my favorite," Alina says simply, and James laughs.

Peter and Remus are quiet in the early morning, Peter propping his head up with his palm and staring off into the distance, while Remus reads a book.

Alina glances at the book Remus is reading. "Is that Little Women?" she asks.

Remus looks up with a small smile. "Yeah, I'm rereading it."

"It's a good book," Alina remarks, then looks back to her plate. It is then that she notices her nails.

Merlin, they are chipped. The black nail varnish is peeling at the ends, likely due to her constantly digging her nails into her palms.

"Merlin," Sirius mutters, staring at her nails. "Please let me paint your nails. Those are terrible." He looks like he wants to reach out but restrains himself.

Alina narrows her eyes at him. "What colors do you have?"

"Oh, don't worry, nothing bright," Sirius says with a wolfish grin as he opens his bag and takes out a few colors.

"That one," Alina says, pointing to the black nail polish.

"Classic," Sirius hums, opening it and beginning to paint her nails.

Alina notices James staring at them, a glint in his eyes. He is focused on their hands—Sirius painting hers. It almost seems like... anger?

Alina isn't sure what could make him angry, so she looks away, pretending not to notice as Sirius continues. Surprisingly, he is good at it, barely getting any varnish on her skin.

James is still staring, his head slightly tilted as if he doesn't like what he is seeing. Alina ignores him again.

Sirius soon finishes her nails, pulling his hands away with a smirk. "Perfect," he says, raising his eyebrows.

Alina lifts her hands, examining them with narrowed eyes. "Good," is all she says.

"They are perfect," Sirius scoffs.

"For a child, yes," Alina replies flatly.

Sirius gasps in mock shock, placing a hand on his chest. "Rude."

Alina rolls her eyes, turning slightly to face forward. At least the nail varnish will dry fast; it isn't a regular Muggle one that takes forever to dry.

James is no longer staring, just looking down at the table with a rather blank expression.

"We should leave," James suddenly says, looking up with a forced smile. "We'll be late for class."

Alina's eyes narrow slightly. "Fine, let's go." She grabs her bag, still mindful of her nails despite them likely being dry by now. She and James stand up, James only waving at his friends as they both leave.

She wonders why James looks upset.