REPUTATION • [j.p.] ✔️

[14]

Chapter Fourteen:
Just Friends

•••

JESSIE GROANED AT the pounding in her skull as she slipped back into consciousness. Even with her eyes closed, the light behind them was far too bright.

"Jessie!" a voice shouted.

She held up a hand. "Shut up."

There was a snigger of laughter and then Madame Pomfrey was forcing a nasty, sticky liquid down her throat. After a moment, the headache eased. She opened her eyes slowly. Sitting around the bed was Peter, Sirius, Remus and James.

"Bloody hell, Jessie," Peter whispered.

"I must be dreaming," Jessie muttered, "Peter Pettigrew just cursed."

The laughter of her friends around her was comforting and warm. As if a blanket of safety had been thrown over her. It was only then did she realize whose hand held hers. Her eyes lowered to her and James's hands. She tilted her head at their intertwined fingers. With a blush, James started to pull back.

Jessie gripped his hand firmly in hers.

Remus eyed their hands before looking back up at Jessie. "What do you remember?"

"Catching the snitch...and not much besides waking up here now." Jessie frowned. "How long have I been here?"

"You've been here since the game last night." Peter answered with a frown, his hand buried in a box of Berties Every Flavor Beans.

Jessie nodded, raising her free hand to rub her temples. She had to close her eyes for a moment, feeling vertigo wash over it. It was the oddest sensation to receive whilst laying flat on her back. She swallowed hard before opening her eyes again.

"Water," she breathed.

Sirius shot to his feet, hurrying to the pitcher of water across the room. Anything for little Jessie.

"Regulus was angry you were grabbing the snitch. He took the bat from his beater and swung the bludger right at you," Remus started to explain.

"And then," Peter said excitedly, jumping to his feet, "James zoomed in and saved you, carrying you straight to Madame Pomfrey and-"

Peter crashed into Sirius who twisted to avoid spilling the water all over them both. Jessie laughed softly at Peter's enthusiasm.

"If you can believe it," Sirius began, "I had to hold Remus back from hexing Regulus."

"Goodness, Remus. We've been such an awful influence in you, haven't we?" Jessie laughed softly.

"If it weren't for the money the Black family donates to the school, Regulus would have been kicked out already." Sirius explained, handing Jessie her unspilled water. Jessie carefully and slowly sat up. She slumped against the wall as she drank her water.