"Lace, can't we do something smart? I would've thought a Ravenclaw would like that."
"Jem, Gryffindors are about as smart as a bumble bee bopping about the castle. We are going to the Whomping Willow and that's that."
They were running down the stairs when James noticed the amount of people in the Grand Hall for breakfast that Sunday morning. He caught Lacey's arm and looked into her eyes, stony-faced, "Lacey, we are going to get ourselves killed." Lacey glanced at the floor then darted her eyes around the room looking for a way out.
"Okay." she pirouetted and fled into the hall
. . .
James Darcy was a 15-year-old, fifth year with brown hair, hazel eyes, and an athletic tan even throughout the winter months. He had a smart quality to him but when he was under the Sorting hat four years ago, his fondest wish was to defy his family's history and follow his idol: Ron Weasley. When his parents had found the Gryffindor banner stashed under his bed they introduced him to Lacey Dubois, a then 9-year-old blonde with intelligent, silvery gray eyes and a pixie quality to her. She was born to be a Ravenclaw with her clever way of getting into controlled trouble. She could do something she probably shouldn't but never get caught or grounded. James could never understand why his parents thought she would somehow convince him to join Ravenclaw, if anything she didn't want him to join just as much as he didn't want to. Lacey always commented on his 'stupidity' and it became a game between them. She hadn't changed much in the six years since their meeting except she excelled in her classes actually caring about her grades, unlike most of her Ravenclaw house mates. James' grades however were slacking with him trying in vain to get Lacey to ditch the Willow idea. They had heard stories that would put a chill so deep in your bones not even the ever hot and crowded Gryffindor common room could get it out.
This is why when Lacey approached James with the idea in double Herbology, later that following Monday, he changed the subject quickly.
"These aren't words, this is verbal regurgitation!" James exclaimed disgusted at his textbook. Lacey put her hands on her hips and pursed her lips looking at the page, "It clearly says that the dragon mint should be ripe when the leaves are purple, not chartreuse."
"What even is chartreuse?" James put his hand over his eyes, this was not his day.
"James, the leaves are chartreuse, leave it alone. The Whomping Willow should be perfect to hit tomorrow evening." she whispered animatedly. James saw the charm in her eyes but refused to give in. "Lace, we'd have to leave school after hours. That's against the rules, we could be kicked out!"
"For a little walk about the grounds? Besides aren't Gryffindors supposed to hate rules?"
"Aren't Ravenclaws supposed to follow rules?"
"Ravenclaws follow rules that would help them. That," she gestured with her hand to James but referred to the rule of "no walking on school grounds after dark" "is pointless. No one follows it!"
James was about ready to throw the dragon mint across the room. "No Lacey. I won't do it." Lacey frowned. "This isn't over." They spent the rest of class sticking to politely talking about dragon mint. It took two more endless weeks of encounters like that in classes, in between classes, just before lights out and even bathroom cornerings, for James Darcy- ever patient, well-behaved boy- to lose his head.
"FINE!" he roared at Lacey after she had sat next to him at breakfast. "We will go to your stupid Whomping Willow." People had turned to look after Lacey had sat down but when James yelled fellow Gryffindors and even students at the next table whipped their heads around for the spectacle. Lacey practically leapt into James' arms, which isn't easy sitting down. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Lacey was soaring with elation.
YOU ARE READING
Jem and Lacey's brilliant adventure
FanfictionFanfic of J.K. Rowling's work. Set at Hogwart's about a decade after Deathly Hallows