Never Give Up

Chapter Seventeen

‘Once again, sweet Amelia,’ James said, in a voice that was not like his own, a little posh perhaps and Amelia just rolled her eyes at him. He looked up with a cocky grin illuminating his face. James swiftly knocked her king off the chess board and chuckled, ‘I win, as usual.’

‘Of course you do, James! Why do I even bother?’ Amelia said and with a flip of her hand, she turned the chess board to the side. All the kings pieces tumbled off the chess board and hit the ground, ‘I’m not playing with you ever again.’

‘But then I’d have to play with Lily or Albus and even you can beat them,’ James chuckled as Amelia stood up, brushing herself off. Lily, outraged, threw a pillow from James bed and it struck the side of James’ head but he only threw it back, although it didn't hit her.

‘You’ll just win again,’ Amelia shrugged and then stifled a yawn behind her hand. James waved his wand and the chess set packed itself up in a quick motion, ‘there really is no competition, Potter. Maybe you should play with someone who matches your abilities?’

‘Like who? My friends don’t play chess and Albus here is terrible at it. Lily just won’t talk to me and you, now your leaving me too. Thanks, Amelia, thought we were inseparable,’ James said and stowed the chessboard away into his trunk. Amelia watched him, knowing he was joking and how much of a drama queen he could be. James turned to face her, ‘well, never mind.’

‘You should get to bed,’ Amelia said, frowning as Lily held the book she was reading over her mouth to stifle a yawn. Lily just shrugged and turned onto her stomach and resumed reading.

‘So should you,’ James said and then paused, leaning on his bed post. He stared at Amelia, making her uncomfortable until she frowned at him with a curt “what?”. James shook his head, ‘you still haven’t talked to your parents yet.’

‘It’s nearly the Christmas holidays, I can talk to them when I get home,’ Amelia shrugged as James seemed not to believe her. He just shook his head slowly; the guilt trip, ‘don’t start with me, Potter.’

‘You better not ruin Christmas by fighting with your parents,’ James warned her and shook his head. Amelia crossed her arms over her chest in a defensive motion as James looked at her with warning in his eyes, ‘I think you should talk to them before hand.’

‘What you think isn’t always right, James,’ Amelia said and then looked for a distraction so that they could stop talking about this, ‘where’s Albus? I hardly ever see him around here anymore.’

‘Albus seems to be infatuated with a particular blonde in his year,’ Lily said, sitting up and she glanced at James, ‘she’s really pretty but Albus doesn’t want me talking to her. James, you’ve seen her! Tell Amelia about how pretty she is!’

‘Yeah, she’s quite... um, pretty,’ James said, the word sounded unfamiliar to his tongue. He looked up at Amelia and a look passed between them. James raised his eyebrows although he knew what that look was since he had grown up with Amelia. She obviously thought that James had helped Albus get the girl he wanted but when Amelia liked a boy, James kept her away from him. He couldn't help it though! James shrugged, ‘what?’

‘Nothing,’ Amelia said coldly and shrugged. Her eyes glared at James while Lily’s eyebrows raised, looking between them like it was a tennis match, ‘I have to go now.’

‘Amelia...’ James whispered but she ignored him and hugged Lily goodbye instead. Amelia said a bye to James and then walked past him. The door shut behind Amelia and James stared at the door, ‘bloody hell. It was easier trying to get something out of her when we were younger and now...’