Marauders Imagines || Vol. 1

(Request) Love is Strange- James

Requested: annetterosier96

Imagine: James is betrothed to the reader (Anne) but has a change of heart upon entering Hogwarts and meeting Lily. This prompted Anne to focus more on herself, to build her character and to become a great duelist. As well as this she's in Slytherin which makes it even harder for James to actually accept her until for the umpteenth time Lily rejects him for a date when Anne saw him. She meets James sulking by the Black Lake and sits down with him, advising him. This turns into an everyday routine where they come down the Black Lake to talk until James realised that he fell for Anne without realising it. Whereas Anne had always been in love with James since their betrothal ceremony when they were young.

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Anne has always believed that she had her life planned out. To her it was the perfect plan. Go to Hogwarts, study magic, graduate, have the perfect career and, most importantly, marry the boy she loved the most. The boy she was betrothed to. However, the betrothal wasn't official as it was a fun little game the pair made up when they were younger. Although for Anne it was real to her.

That being said, this dream life was nothing but a plan. Her plan. So nothing was set in stone and anything could change it. For instance a certain red head who became instant friends with James.

Anne was one of the last to be sorted, so when the time came and McGonagall called out her name she reluctantly walked up and sat on the stall. Although Anne hated the idea of being in Gryffindor, a part of her wanted to be so she could be with James. Which of course the hat took into consideration but didn't act upon.

James watched as the hat went silent, thinking of the perfect house for Anne. Much like Anne, he wanted her to be in Gryffindor so they can be together but at the same time he was besotted with his newfound friend Lily Evans to really care which house she was put in.

A moment of silence later the infamous sorting hat came to its decision. "SLYTHERIN!" The Slytherin table roared with excitement and graciously welcomed their newest member. As she hopped off the stall, Anne looked to the Gryffindor table for her friend's reaction. However, all she got was a disappointed look before he turned back to Lily.

It was from that moment on that Anne knew her perfect plan wasn't so perfect anymore.

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As the years dragged on, James and Anne became further apart. She never stopped loving him however, but Anne just didn't see the point in trying to talk to him if he wouldn't even look at her. So instead she threw herself into her studies. Never missed a lesson and did everything to the best of her abilities. She refused to loose site on wanting to better herself. So when it came to dueling Anne was constantly asking her peers for their advice and criticism so she could perfect that as well.

James on the other hand wasn't so sure on Anne's new obsession since coming to Hogwarts. He couldn't deny it, he knew the reason as to why she was doing this but wasn't sure if he liked this version of her or not. Not that it should matter to him, not anymore at least. After all he had Lily to focus on.

"That was good Anne. You're improving quickly. At this rate you'll be able to best Lestrange." One of the prefects commented patting her back as they made their way from the dueling club to the corridor.

"Thanks." Anne beamed with a determined smile.

Parting ways, Anne met up with her friends before taking a slow walk to the courtyard. It was on the way there that one of her friends spotted James. "Anne don't look now but Potter's coming this way." Jess pointed out nudging her friend's arm.