PAPER PLANES ⚡️J.S.P

10| ten

| HOGWARTS HALLS |

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" I, UM, I, ER- WELL,

you see, um, because, er..." Were the only words James Sirius Potter seemed to be able to mumble out at the moment. Surely he had thought (or at least had a basic outline) of the things he planned to say to the obviously uncomfortable Hufflepuff?

Because in that moment the famous Weasley-Potter was at a lost for words.

" I don't want to seem stuck up or anything," Cassandra slowly said. She went out on a whim that James uttering something more than ums, ers, and wells would take a while, maybe whole decades." I mean, I'd hate for you to think of me as something I'm not..." She laughed quietly, at the irony of her words," But I think that the reason you took it upon yourself to walk over here was so that you could apologize for your earlier apology and ultimately clear up any, um, confusion that I might still have because, I mean," Cassandra rolled her eyes," once the prospective idea of James Potter having the teensiest crush on you comes to life and then ultimately finding out he doesn't happens, well...how can a sixth year girl simply survive? "

" Oh my god. I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not and I think I'm dying. "

It's called embarrassment, Potter, she thought- but didn't actually say. James looked like he was going to bolt or pass out at any minute and she genuinely wanted to hear what he had to say before he did either one.

"No but seriously, I've got snickering, bickering friends to attend to. Say what you have to say to get over that disastrous flirting attempt and I'll assure you it's ok and that it really didn't affect me at all. You'll forget, I'll forget, the whole of Hogwarts will eventually move on."

There was a long pause after her statement and the relatively awkward individuals just looked past each other, or studied their hands as if their lives depended on it. James Sirius Potter was not one for awkward long pauses and eye contact avoidance, though, so he sighed and tried to explain.

" Okay, again, I'm really really sorry. And not just because my mum or dad or sister or cousins or brother told me to be but because I genuinely feel bad about all the trouble and embarrassment I might've caused you. Merlin, the letter itself was a bloody tragedy and I can see now why the other Cassandra seemed so clueless whenever I brought up my other letters. I'm sorry for those too, if you've been receiving them. And I know I was really stupid for putting C. Lawrence instead of her full actual name but I really don't think I was thinking in that moment and I just...I wanted to give it that extra snazziness, you know?! An edge, against maybe all the other guys hitting on her..."

James looked at the girl who seemed to be biting her lip hard. It was obvious she was trying her best to conceal her amusement and the Gryffindor appreciated it as he continued on his long heartfelt rant.

"...And you're, obviously, not her no offense. But that doesn't mean you're not a cool, likable person! I mean, I would never know that considering we never talk like, at all unless forced to but you just seem like you are and...I'm so sorry if I made you feel like a less than deserving of joy and happiness and good memes kinda person just because I was an idiot who couldn't be bothered to spell out or spell right my crush's full name. Her name's Clarissa, by the way. And...I'm so glad you didn't like, bat bogey hex me or something. Thank you for that."

" Well I was seriously contemplating it actually..."

"What?!"

"I'm kidding, Potter."

"Oh, okay. I knew that."

He smiled, a goofy yet charismatic smile that he probably reserved for friendly apologies to random Hufflepuff strangers and Cassandra couldn't help but smile back.

"So..."

"I think that was it. Just please, for the love of all things good, holy, and ravioli, write her full name next time, yeah?"

"Yeah."

"So I guess I'm gonna go now..."

And then something unpredictable happened. Something totally unexpected and unnecessary.

The clicking and flashes of a camera.