PERFECT // JAMES POTTER

19. Good to be back

Scarlet's eyes lit up once she entered the Great Hall and breathed a big sigh of relief. Although both Euphemia and Fleamont were lovely and unbelievably welcoming, it was good to be back. As she sat down with her beloved friends, she caught Milo's eyes and gave him a small wave. In return, he gave her the smallest of smiles before turning back to his Slytherin friends.

Everybody became quiet and turned towards the door when McGonagall came out, leading the nervous first-years, each one whispering about Hogwarts or which house they'll be in. Scarlet smiled when she felt the feeling of nostalgia crawl into her stomach. One particularly scared first-year made eye contact with her and she gave a smile and wave of reassurance. Her eyes immediately brightened up and she stood a little taller.

After the sorting ceremony, the feast appeared in front of the student and Scarlet gasped with excitement.

"Merlin's pants, I've been so excited for this!" She squealed and began to fill up her plate.

"Yeah, we can tell." Remus laughed in amusement.

"Shut up, you." Scarlet playfully glared at him before digging in.

-=+=-

"Ugh, I think I'm seven months pregnant." Scarlet flopped onto one of the common room sofas before holding her stomach.

"Oh really? What the gender?" Sirius joined her, raising an eyebrow.

"He's a boy." She played along.

"I CALL DIBS BEING GODFATHER!" He suddenly yelled, making everyone look at him.

"Sirius, you prick! Now everyone in Gryffindor probably thinks I'm actually pregnant!" Scarlet smacked his arm and gave him a look.

"But you are! Anyhow, what are you going to call him?" Sirius smiled.

Scarlet rubbed her stomach and thought for a while.

"Harry."

-=+=-

"Girl time!" Scarlet marched into the girl's dorm, carrying the bundle of sweets that the house elves had kindly given her in the kitchen.

"Good, you're here! About time!" Lily said, jumping down from her bed and taking the sweets.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Next time you try carrying about 5 kilos of sweets up each moving staircase and corridor, trying to avoid any teachers under the judging stare of moving paintings!" 

"I've already done it!"

"Not on your own!"

There was a small silence.

"Touché."

Scarlet sat down on her bed with a victory smirk, allowing Cleo to crawl on to her lap and settle down.

"While that was entertaining, let's get down to business." Marlene smiled.

"Boys?" Dorcas suggested.

"SO, Alice, how's the Frank situation?" Mary said, making all eyes fall on poor Alice.

"Well, in the common room earlier, he may of may not of asked me to go with him to the first Hogsmeade trip." She blushed.

The entire room exploded with 'aww's while Alice buried her face in her pillow.

"Anyway," Lily moved on, "Scarlet."

"Oh God."

"James has matured lately."

Scarlet couldn't help but laugh, "He may have stopped asking me out every five minutes, but he still has a mental age of six. Besides, I think he may of lost interest in me."

"You sound disappointed." Lily rose a brow, smirking.

"Pfft! As if!" Scarlet dramatically rolled her eyes, trying to cover up the small blush that coated her cheeks.

"Whatever you say." Lily finally dropped the subject and Scarlet couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

-=+=-

The next day, Scarlet decided that she would take Cleo out for some fresh air. As she was leaving the dorm, Lily decided to tag along so both girls were sat by the edge of the Black Lake, watching Cleo sniff around chasing butterflies.

They stopped chatting when they heard boisterous laughter. Exchanging looks, Lily scooped up Cleo as the girls went to investigate. When they finally made it to the source, they saw a large group of people huddled around something. As they made their way through the sea of people they saw James Potter levitating a certain Slytherin boy, who seemed to be crying out. Next to him, Sirius was doubled over in laughter, tears almost streaming out of his eyes.

"JAMES!" Scarlet almost shrieked. 

James immediately stopped what he was doing after hearing her furious tone, leaving Milo to drop onto the floor.

"What do you think you're doing?! Do you think this is funny? Do you? No, James, I'll tell you what this is. This is bullying! I honestly though that you had finally matured. But I guess I was wrong about you." She shouted, poking him in the chest, "And I have nothing to say to you three." She turned to Sirius, Remus and Peter who looked ashamed. James watched her with guilty eyes as she walked over to her Slytherin friend.

"Are you okay?" She asked him, holding out her to help him get up.

Instead he pushed her away and stood up by himself, his eyes showing embarrassment and anger.

"I don't need help from a Mudblood like you." He said coldly, looking at her with nothing but disgust.

Scarlet felt her heart completely sink as tears started to pool in her eyes.

"Fine then." She mumbled, before running off, Lily following to go comfort her best friend.

The sound that followed in her wake was the sound of James' fist meeting Milo's face.

___________________________________________

Sorry if this chapter's a mess lol.

Also sorry that I haven't updated in a while, I wanted to get Christmas and New Years out of the way before publishing another chapter.

Thanks for all of you support, love you guys.

-lucyrose757