Only A Matter of Time

Chapter 7

Fifth year.

In between studying sessions for O.W.L.S, Alice furiously memorized her script for Romeo and Juliet. She had snagged the lead and was absolutely thrilled about it- although she hadn't slept in several weeks due to her busy schedule.

"O speak again, bright angel!" Finn yelled out as Alice shushed him.

He was helping her rehearse, but more so distracting her. She covered his mouth with her hand, pulling him down next to her under the tree with her other hand.

"Finn, the whole school is going to hear you!"

Indeed, many students around the Great Lake were throwing confused glances over at the couple.

"They need to know that my girlfriend is the brightest angel around!" He threw his hands out, drawing more attention to the pair. She shushed him again, giggling all the while.

He tugged at one of her dark locks and as he pressed his lips to hers, she felt him smile.

"Oi, Longbottom! Did you finish your part of the potions paper?"

Alice rolled her eyes and looked up to find James Potter, jogging in place, a cocky grin decorating his face.

She also saw that he shirtless, glistening with sweat.

She blinked.

"The real question is if you've finished your part, Potter." Alice crossed her arms and leaned against the tree.

He merely smiled at her. That bloody smile.

"Potter." Finn nodded at him, putting an arm around Alice's shoulders. 

"McLaggen." He gave a nod back. "See you on the pitch." 

Alice outwardly cringed at the encounter. The two boys desperately tried to be civil with one another, but it got increasingly awkward every time they spoke to one another. 

"See you in Potions, Longbottom." He ran a hand through his hair and continued his run around The Great Lake. 

"Are you really friends again, or are you just tolerating him?" Finn questioned Alice, pulling her closer.

"Both." She grinned. 

* * * * *

Alice was pacing backstage, mumbling lines to herself. She had been in numerous plays, but she got nauseatingly nervous before every show, without fail. She peeked her head out the side of the curtain and saw Finn, front row, among the rest of the Hogwarts student body, so it seemed. Her stomach sunk. 

She ran to the nearest bin, hovering over it. 

"Ah, the classic Longbottom pre-show ritual." 

Alice pulled her head out of the bin.

"You shouldn't be backstage, Potter." Alice readjusted her headpiece in the mirror, trying to ignore his presence. 

"And you shouldn't be chundering before your big entrance." He caught Alice's eye in the mirror, she avoided eye contact and continued to fix her costume. 

"Come on, Longbottom, that was pretty funny, admit it." James gave her a poke on the shoulder, she gave him a stern look. 

"Bugger off, Potter." 

"I'm just teasing, come on, you know you're going to do great." He continued on as she turned to face him. "You always do great in every bloody production you're in." 

Alice rolled her eyes and tried to shove past him. He grabbed her shoulders.

"I've been to every production- I would know." A small grin played on his face. "You're amazing." 

Alice's breath hitched. She suddenly felt as though the two of them were ten again; best friends. 

She hugged him. 

She felt his body stiffen, then he wrapped his arms around her waist. 

"Thank you." She whispered. 

He chuckled lightly. "Anytime, Longbottom." 

The pair broke apart, smiling. Alice watched James run his hands through his hair nervously. She saw something poking out of his pocket.

"What's that?" She questioned. James fumbled and grasped a single rose from his pocket. He held it out, that boyish grin splayed across his face. Alice plucked it from his hand. 

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." She mumbled. 

"That was the idea." James pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "I read, too, you know." 

"You've changed so much." Sarcasm exuded from her voice. 

"Five minute call, Alice!" One of the stage managers yelled out. Alice nodded, straightening her dress. 

"I'll be off then." James turned to go. "What do people say before you go on, again?"

"Break a leg?" Alice suggested.

"That's morbid." James decided. "Well, break a leg, Longbottom." 

"Thanks, Potter." 

She placed the rose on her vanity, and stood in the wings, awaiting the curtain to go up. 

She no longer felt nervous.