Oblivious - James Sirius Potter

The Mistake

"But I had the satisfaction of telling her 'I told you so' hundreds of times over without having her punch me. At least she admitted she's in the wrong."

The word got around pretty quickly about Slytherin's little move. When Miraline came back from the Hospital Wing with James, she told everyone in the common room how Finnick put some kind of potion into her muffin. 

The Gryffindors weren't surprised and they didn't take it well. The Slytherins denied all of it, of course. They said Gryffindors couldn't take any more loss so they had to make stuff up to hide their wounded pride. 

The other two houses were split into two, some believed the Gryffindors, and others believed the Slytherins. Snide remarks were heard throughout the rest of the term. The teachers never took matters further because of the lack of evidence.

"Forget it, James. Stop staring at him," said Timothy pulling James away from his thoughts. James had been staring daggers at Finnick Brown every time he was in the same room. "Try to listen to McGonagall,"

They were in the Great Hall, trying their best to enjoy the atmosphere but find it very hard not to look back at the House Points. It was clear enough who won the House Cup. With the help of the Quiddicth Cup, the Slytherins managed to have the Great Hall decorated with the color green, with more than a hundred points lead.

Cheers from the Slytherin table erupted and James tried his best not to throw up or make serious damage to his surroundings.

+++

"James!" Elizabeth called out, trying to catch up with him, "James, I know you're in a bad mood. Just- Wait, James!"

"What?" James stopped and let his friends leave him with Elizabeth.

"I'm thinking we could brighten your mood a little. Camping over the summer? I'll bring my friends, you bring yours. We'll have a great time." said Elizabeth, giving him a smile. "Doesn't Jason like Ravenclaw girls? He'll agree in a heartbeat. Timmy has that tent, remember? It'll be perfect. Why aren't you saying anything?"

"I don't know, I have to ask them first," said James. In all honesty, it's not his friends James had to worry about. He would've like to go camping, but it would feel better if he won the Quidditch Cup.

"I know you get like this when you're sad. You have mood swings." said Elizabeth, "But you'll forget it soon enough. Didn't you always?"

"No, I don't," said James, with a  huff.

"Yes, you do. Look it's just bloody Quidditch, alright?" said Elizabeth,  "Not everything is about Quidditch,"

Those words sounded so familiar. Everyone always said that to him, but Elizabeth's tone is almost the exact same as...

"Kinley!" the dreaded voice James knew so well. The growing hatred in the bottom of James's stomach erupted as Finnick Brown approached the two of them. "Can I have a minute?"

"No," answered James abruptly.

"I wasn't asking for your time, your majesty, King James" Finnick answered calmly.

"Are you making fun of me? That's rich coming from you. Don't you remember who gave you that black eye, you cheat?" said James. He almost spits on the boy's face but remembered he was in front of Elizabeth.

"If you want to say something say it quickly," said Elizabeth, not even considering telling James off for his behavior.

"I had new books from Von Blisch, new editions. Madam Pince said you were looking for them, but the library won't have them until next year. I could lend it to you if you want. I thought we could grab a coffee after you finished reading it, tell me what you think?" Finnick was standing smugly in front of them, yet manage to ignore James completely and forgot he was still there.

"Are you asking her out in front of me?" asked James, almost laughing.

"You're not dating her, as far as I know," said Finnick.

"Well, after the whole show you pulled last game, which she believed to be true, I'd say you're bold enough to assume you have a chance. Elizabeth is smart enough to avoid that," James looked at Finnick as if he was some kind of dirt.

"What are you? her spokesperson? Elizabeth is smart enough to be teaching you in the back of the library, and I'm smart enough to be on top of the class and beat you at Quidditch." said Finnick smugly. He was trying his best to make James Potter mad and it's working. "Great match, don't you think? You see, James, even if-"

"Brown, stop it." said Elizabeth. "I know you're smart and all, but right now is not the time. I'm still taking with James, if you don't mind."

"Alright, I'll ask you another time." said Finnick leaving the two of them alone in the corridor. James didn't realize it, but Elizabeth didn't once get mad at him for being rough. In fact, she was waiting for James to tell her never to accept dates from Finnick.

"When did he get so bold and smug? I pranked him at the start of the term and he was nothing like that. I tell you, winning Quiddicth Cup brings smugness." said James, his face slightly red, "And you wonder why I don't want Miraline playing around with the bloke. Everything that I expected to happen, happened. If only Lynch listened to me this would never have happened."

Yet again, James mentioned the name. It's like Miraline Lynch had become a permanent name on his tongue, always on every conversation that involves James being mad. Like how he dislikes porridge and claimed he can see patterns of Miraline's face on the porridge bowl, how sickening. Her name was stuck in the air, and Elizabeth was sure James hated the girl, but she just had to make sure.

"You still hate her?" asked Elizabeth, hopefully.

James shrugged, "I heard she was devastated, felt betrayed, or somewhere along those lines." James waved his hand around the air as if it's a small matter, "But I had the satisfaction of telling her 'I told you so' hundreds of times over without having her punch me. At least she admitted she's in the wrong."

Elizabeth noticed the slight turn in the corners of his mouth, it was the first time James smiled today.

A/N: The grounds are settled. Two best friends, complicated love square. Try to map it out.