Chapter 5: Chapter 3

"So Y/N. What's going on with you and James?" Marlene smirks.

"Oh yes, what's going on between you two?" Mary gives me an intrigued look, propping her elbows on her knees. I gave them a 'really?' look.

"Isn't it bloody clear that we're just friends? He just... plays around.. like always, nothing new." I wave it away.

"Didn't look like 'just playing around. We're just friends' to me" Marlene says, air quoting my words.

"That's what I thought! He never acts like this!" Lily lowers herself closer to the group. "Of course Y/N over here," she points towards me "is oblivious and thinks that James has no feelings for her."

"But it's true. We don't have feelings for each other!"  I take a deep breath. "We haven't said anything about you having feelings for him, you added this part in." Lily teased me. I feel my face getting hot. "I- I just... tried to.. defend myself! I don't have feelings for him!" I stuttered over my words, trying to explain myself.

"Yeah yeah, whatever helps you sleep at night." Mary shakes her head.

"Actually, I think that James himself hasn't realized that he has feelings for Y/N." Marlene pipes in.

"Okay, can we drop it? I'm sick of this nonsense." I huff, getting annoyed with them.

"Alright." Lily holds her hands in surrender.

"I think you're right, about him not being aware of his feelings. I mean, he has too much pride to admit it anyways." Mary whispers to Marlene. I think that I wasn't supposed to hear that. But I decided to drop it.

I don't need this rubbish gossip either way.

••••••••••

Currently we're in the great hall, enjoying our feast. The sorting has just ended. I decide that I should go and look where the boys are sitting. "Hey girls, I'll go look for the boys." I tell them while standing up from the table. I got a chorus of okays and byes.

I decide I would check the end of the table, they always try to get as far away from the teachers as they can.

Apparently Sirius had been incredibly loud on the train. Bunch of people have come up to me and asked about me and James, or just given me looks.

I spot the boys sitting almost at the end of the table, like I expected. "Hi guys!" I greet them, sitting next to Remus. On his other side is Peter, and across from us are Sirius and James.

"Hi y/n." Remus smiles warmly.

"Finally you came! I thought you left us forever." Whines James.

"Nah, she wouldn't. She loves us too much! Don't you?" Sirius mumbles over mouth full of food.

"First, it's not nice to talk with your mouth full," I remark. Sirius just rolls his eyes "second, yeah I love you and third, you better keep your mouth shut, Black, I don't need people spreading rumors." I threaten him with a glare.

"What? What rumors? For the first time, I swear I didn't start any!" He defends himself, actually looking confused.

I sigh. He's so stupid sometimes! "You bloody idiot," I shake my head "about me and James!" I say while I grit my teeth.

James and Sirius broke into grins and look at each other.

"It's not funny! Can you stop spreading lies?" I snap getting really frustrated.

"Well, we haven't actually said anything. I just said Y/N Potter." He shoves some food into his mouth and shrugs.

"Gits." I mumble standing up.

"Where are you going?" James askes.

"The common room."

"Want me to join you?" He offers.

"No." I answer simply. I'm too fed up to deal with him.

I start marching towards the Gryffindor tower, walking little bit faster in case James decided to accompany me. I had walked only about 30 seconds when I hear someone not far behind me. Please don't be James or Sirius. Please be one of the girls or Remus or anyone. Just not James or Sirius. "Oi! Wait up!" What did I do to deserve this? Of course it has to be James.

I ignore him and add speed to my steps. I'm really not in the mood for some more bullshit. But thanks to James's long legs, he caught up with me.

"So, why the rush?" He asks. I ignore him and keep on walking.

"Okay. Uh what are your plans for tomorrow?" He tries again. What are my plans for tomorrow? Really? I continue ignoring him.

"Still not answering are we?" He chuckles. "That will leave me only one solution." He sighs. I swear if he is thinking about what I think he is. "No." I warn him.

"Too late, you leave me with no choice." He smirks, stepping closer to me. Tickling. I hate when someone tickles me, even slightly. It's really not a pleasant feeling. James found out about it and always uses it against me.

"Don't you dare."  I warn him again. His smirk only grows.

I break into a run. I'm not getting tickled today.

James is tall and has long legs, he'll catch up. I run as fast as I can down the corridors, my footsteps echoing.  I look behind and see James close behind with a grin on his face. "You know that I'm faster than you!"  Yeah I know.

I wreck my brain quickly. What should I do? I see a turn on my left. If I take this way I'll still end up in the common room, it's a little longer way. But then again, James won't expect me to go this way.

I make a sharp turn to my left at the last second. I look back. Like I expected, James ran past it. I giggled gaining speed. I look back to see him back on the tracks. "Okay, that wasn't fair! I swear, when I catch you-!" He threatens me.

"If you catch me!" I giggle.

I start running towards the stairs. I take a turn and Filch is there. I almost run into him. "Watch where you're going!" He shouts when I pass him. I give him an apologetic smile.

I run a little and suddenly BAM! I look back and see James and Filch on the floor. I completely lose it and break into laughter. James's glasses had fallen off and he's trying to find them. As much as I would love to stay and laugh at him, I have to go. Can't risk James catching up.

I run up the stairs as fast as I can. I look behind me and see James has caught up again. I run on a another staircase.

Shit. James is so close.

I feel a shake and almost fall. I forgot. The stairs move. Luckily James got stuck below me. I stick out my tongue towards him. He replies by sticking out his tongue. He's adorable when he does it. Wait no. Don't you dare even think like that.

A little bit more and we're there.

I reached the fat lady's portrait. "Password?" She asks raising an eyebrow looking at me. My hair is a mess and I'm panting.

"Shit! What was it?" I wonder. How could I already forget it? "Uhh... chocolate frog!" I quickly shout out.

"Keep your voice down, young lady!" She hisses while flinging the portrait open. I mutter a quick sorry and run in.

I run up the girls dormitory stairs. I'm almost there, but the stairs turn into a slide. That means, a boy must've stepped onto the stairs. And who possibly could be that boy? Of course it's James.

I scream as I slide down. THUMP. I fall straight into James's chest.

"Got you!" He smirks. He pins me down on the floor. My heart started beating even faster, don't know how's it even possible. I tried to think of something to do. Got it!

"Professor McGonagall!" I make a surprised and a scared face looking towards the stairs. James got caught off guard and looks behind him. That gives me time to push him off of myself and run.

I ran up the boys dormitory stairs. 1st year, 2nd year, 3rd year and 4th! I slam the door open and shut it straight away, locking it. I hear James behind the door. "Oh, I'm not that dumb!" He brags. He mutters alohomora, I hear a click.

I slam my body on the door "NO!" I shout and laugh.

"Oh, you're so fucked now." He laughs. He pushes as hard as he can, I'm not strong enough and the door bursts open.

I run towards his bed squealing as he catches me. "Now I got you!" We fall on the bed.

"Please no! Have mercy!" I plead.

"Too late." He laughs and starts tickling me. I burst out laughing and moving uncontrollably.

"J-JA-JAMES P-PLE-PLEASE S-STOP!" I manage to say through laughter and kicking. "Not a change." He whispers.

The dormitory door opens. Sirius, Remus and Peter step in.

Edited 7/12/2022