REPUTATION • [j.p.] ✔️

[30]

Chapter Thirty:
Siriusly?

•••

"JAMES FLEAMONT POTTER!" Lily Evans shouted, charging through the Great Hall. She was red with fury, hands balled into fists. She was pure, uncontrollable anger. She hauled James to his feet pointing at the Great Hall exit. "You are going to go upstairs and talk to Jessie!"

"Why should I?" he scoffed pushing Lily away. Remus watched anxiously. James's brat-like attitude only bothered Lily further. They never would have made a good couple.

"Because she won't bloody get out of bed. Or talk. Or eat. James, please. I'm scared for her," Lily pleaded.

James rolled his eyes. "She kissed her cousin, Lils. She hurt me!"

"I don't think she did James. She wouldn't be so upset if she had. But I can't even ask her because she won't answer, you prat! Stop being a stuck up little arse and be serious!" Lily growled.

James turned to look at his arse: was it little?

Sirius snickered across the table. Lily's fire filled eyes turned to Sirius Black who's smile fell almost instantly.

"Yes, I know. He can't be Sirius, because you're Sirius. Ha, ha, ha!" Lily rolled her eyes. "Marlene wants to talk to you before potion's today. Remus, you're coming with me."

•••

Remus didn't hesitate to push to his feet. His concern for Jessie grew as they climbed through the tower. Whether or not she kissed Regulus, James was being horrible. Didn't he understand what he did to Jessie? Why would she go near him?

Remus was unsure how him and the other Marauders were able to get into the girls dorms, but he tried not to be too concerned with it. Especially not after seeing poor Jessie laying on her bed, staring out at the window, unmoving. Her eyes were red and puffy, dark bags underneath them.

"Jess?" he asked softly, heart aching.

She didn't move.

Remus glanced at Lily who sighed softly. She knelt next to her friend, but Jessie didn't even seem to hear her.

"She didn't cheat on him, not in the slightest," Remus decided.

He eyed the food next to her bed in a neat pile. He frowned at Lily in confusion.

"The elves worry about her," she explained quietly. "I do too..." she narrowed her eyes at Jessie who was completely unresponsive.

"We should get McGonagall. She'll know what to do, right?" Lily asked.

Remus nodded, the same panic consuming him as well. He stepped toward the door as Sirius came charging in. Remus fell over.

"Lily! Lily! I have the best—Remus? Mate? Get off the floor!—Lily she kissed me! She kissed me and—Jessie?" Sirius dropped to his knees next to his cousin.

Jessie didn't move. Fresh tears spilled from her eyes.

"Who kissed you?" Remus blinked at Sirius. "And why are you surprised?"

"That doesn't matter? What's wrong with her?!" Sirius demanded.

Lily shook her head. "She's been catatonic all morning. It's because of James."

At the mention of James's name, Jessie let out a sob before curling into a ball to cry. None of them were sure what to do. Jessie never cried like this, over something so horrible. Lily glanced at the boys for help. They just blinked at their friend.

"Let's go get Minnie," Sirius grabbed Remus's arm.

•••

"Oi! Sirius! Remus!" James called, running to catch up to his friends. James stopped dead when they glared at him. "What's got your knickers in a twist," he asked, his nose scrunched.

"You really upset Jessie, James. You're a real arse," Remus spat angrily.

"I upset her? She's the one who went off and kissed—"

"Transfiguration is canceled today if you were curious. Because Minerva is in the dorms trying to get Jessie to move because she's so heart broken she's hardly moved since eight in the morning," Sirius said angrily.

James blinked at his friends. No, he knew what he saw.

"Just admit that you can be wrong sometimes for Gods sake! You know how Jessie's dealt with sadness in the past. She almost died, James! You obviously care about her enough to upset at the thought of her cheating, but grow the hell up and realize that you can be wrong and that she loves you too much to cheat. Especially with that arse!" Remus shouted. "Godric, James do you want to lose her? Not just as your girlfriend but as a living, breathing human? Because she has not moved or eaten because she thinks she hurt you. The only reason she didn't die last year was you, James Potter and she's still recovering and you just shoved her back under the water! So for all the hope of humanity, go talk to her!"

Remus never shouted. Especially not at his friends. James stepped back half a step. Sirius stared at Remus in shock while the werewolf caught his breath and regained his composure.

James turned back toward the dorms. He was fast, outrunning Sirius and Remus with ease. He skipped stairs, even launching himself off the railing when the stairs moved. He shouted the password long before he was there, shoving his way inside, pushing others aside. She threw open the door to Lily and Jessie's dorm.

McGonagall sat on the bed next to Jessie who sat on the bed wearing James's sweatshirt, a pair of shorts. She was crying into the tub of ice cream she was eating. Minerva looked frightened. Then angry.

"James Potter! How ever did you manage to get up here?" she demanded, rising to her feet.

"Professor, I can assure you that if I knew, I'd tell you," James said, walking past her to Jessie.

She was just laying there with her eyes all red and puffy. She looked horrible, but beautiful all at once. James dropped on the bed next to her, cupping her face and kissing her. It tasted like mint chocolate chip. And James loved every damn second of the kiss.

"Jessie," James said softly, pulling back. "Jess. Listen to me. I'm the world's biggest idiot, okay?"

"No kidding," Minerva grumbled across the room.

"Not now, Minnie!" James hissed at her before turning back to Jessie. "Jess, I am so sorry. I just don't want to lose you. Please forgive my idiocy."

Jessie blinked at him. Her hands moved through the air: sign language. James frowned, unfamiliar with this communication. However, Minerva McGonagall seemed to understand.

"This is the most talking she's done all day," McGonagall said sitting on the bed. "She says that you hurt her—very badly. She just wants to be alone to think."

"Jess?" James said, heart falling.

Jessie moved her hands again, her expression blank. McGonagall translated: "Go."

In a furor, James was out of the room despite his Professor calling after him. He locked himself in his dorm, slamming the door shut right. He fell to the ground almost instantly, crying.

Of course, Remus had returned for some books and stood in front of his friend. He watched sadly before helping him into bed. James babbled trying to explain and trying to stop crying.

"Don't both, James," Remus said gently. "You don't owe a single explanation."

•••
[Published 03/20/18]
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