Alina Nightshade doesn't think much about James Potter. Only that he seems rather keen on being annoying.
James Potter thinks Alina Nightshade is a mystery all wrapped up in a very pretty girl. And he is keen on trying to be her friend.
James Potte...
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Alina glares at the boys' dormitory stairs, arms crossed as she slouches in one of the plush velvet green chairs in the Slytherin common room. She's waiting.
Apparently, Barty and his friends take fucking forever to get up and ready in the morning.
Her fingers drum impatiently on the armrest as a few Slytherin students drift past, muttering to each other. Some spare her curious glances before slipping out of the common room. Alina ignores them. Salazar help her, how much longer can they take?
She shifts in her seat, stretching her legs out before snapping them back under her. Maybe they're not coming. Maybe they've decided to stay in bed like the lazy gits they are.
Fuck, they're annoying.
The sound of footsteps finally reaches her ears, and she straightens up as Barty and Regulus appear at the top of the stairs. Barty pauses midway down, causing Regulus to bump into him with a scowl.
"Lia?" Barty squints at her, his steps slowing as he descends. His hair is a mess, falling across his forehead in a way that's either careless or intentional. With him, it's impossible to tell. "What are you doing here?"
It's not an unfair question. Alina rarely lingers in the common room for more than a few minutes—if that.
"I..." The word sticks in her throat. The common room is empty now. She could tell him. This is her chance.
Her lips part, but the words don't come. What exactly would she tell him? That she and James are... what? Together? Dating? Something in between? She doesn't even know herself.
Her brows furrow as her hesitation stretches into awkward silence.
"I'll tell you later," she says abruptly, standing up and grabbing her bag before Barty can say anything else.
"Wait, what?"
But Alina is already moving out of the common room. The cold dungeon air hits her as she steps into the corridor, her shoes echoing against the stone floors.
Her mind races as she climbs the stairs toward the first floor, weaving through clusters of students. She doesn't have time for their curious stares or the occasional muttered "watch it" as she pushes past.
Gryffindor Tower. That's where she needs to go.
Admitting she doesn't know what to do isn't something Alina is used to, and she hates it. Salazar, she hates it. But the truth is, she's never had feelings for someone before. And she sure as fuck hasn't been with someone before.
She has of course read both Muggle and wizarding books about romance, but none of them ever captivate her the way other books do.
Maybe she just... isn't made for relationships, for feelings, for any of it.
Maybe James will figure that out.
The thought makes her stomach twist. Merlin, she wants to throw herself off the Astronomy Tower. She's thinking too much, feeling too much, and she hates the slight wave of weakness that comes with it.
