L. M. R Writer

You knocked on the door and waited. You weren’t going to simply let yourself in. 

Good news. You didn’t have to wait long. 

Bad news. The guy who opened the door was shirtless. 

Good news. It was Sirius, James’ best friend and someone you had already met. Not surprising, he had been shirtless a few of those times too. 

“Put a shirt on. I know you own them,” you told him, entering the house. 

“Here for James?” he asked as he closed the door behind you. 

You hummed. “I was told we have to study here for the month.”

“I hate getting new pledges,” Sirius said and waved for you to follow him. 

He led you through a large sitting room and then down a hallway. You passed various people along the way. You recognized a few from campus, but you didn’t really know anyone else. 

“Prongs! Your lady’s here!” Sirius announced to the room where James, among other members of Gryffindor, was studying. 

You rolled your eyes. “Not his lady,” you corrected him. 

“But a lady, nonetheless,” James said with a smile. 

“Fine. Then I’m a lady who is going to fail the Woods practical if we don’t study.”

Peter, sitting next to James, leaned over and whispered in his ear, “I’ve got some wood she can study.”

“Leave,” James said dryly to Peter. Then he smiled at you. “You won’t fail. I won’t allow it.”

You took your spot across from James as Peter left with Sirius. James put away the homework he had been working in favor of his Magical Woods notes and review packet. You got right to studying. Every once in a while, someone passed by the table and said hi to him. You weren’t surprised that he was popular among his housemates. He introduced you to a few, people he deemed some of his closer friends within Gryffindor. They either smiled at you or shook your hand with a “Nice to meet you” and walked away - all except one. 

“Potter!” a ginger said, walking up to the table. 

“Gideon, hey!” James said. He stood up and gave him some kind of handshake-hug combination. 

When he sat down, Gideon’s eyes landed on you. He was taller than James and broader. Based on the size of his arms, you knew that he worked out more than your average guy. In addition to that, he had a handsome face paired with deep brown eyes. 

You essentially swooned on sight. 

“Don’t think we’ve met before,” Gideon said. He held out his hand to you. “Certain I’d remember that. Gideon Prewett. I play quidditch with James.”

It took you a second to shake his hand; you were caught off guard by his simple compliment. And how attractive he was in general. The few matches you attended, James never introduced you to everyone on the team, and it was difficult to gauge how attractive someone is when they are zipping past you on a broom and covered in pads. 

Then, more shyly than you had hoped to come across, you told him your name. 

“What position do you play?” you asked. 

“Beater. Me ‘n’ my brother are the best pair on the pitch since Hufflepuff’s Johnson and Boot back in the ‘20s.”

You giggled lightly. James furrowed his brow; Gideon hadn’t said anything remotely funny. 

“I’ll have to make sure to pay better attention next match,” you said. “And that is when?”

“Saturday. I’ll see you there?”

“Yeah. Definitely.”

“Wicked. See you at practice tomorrow, Potter.”

Gideon walked away and you turned around in your chair to watch him disappear out the door. 

“What was that?” James asked. 

You blinked, coming back down to earth as you turned back around. 

“What was what?”

“I’ve sent you the schedule? And you just watched Prewett leave? Bit odd.”

You felt yourself blush so you looked down at your notes to avoid meeting his eyes. 

“Shit, I didn’t mean to embarrass you. Jus’ curious, I guess,” James said. 

“It’s not… It’s fine. It’s…” You laughed awkwardly as you tried to figure out how to word it. “You… you always made it sound like Sirius was the fittest of your friends.”

James frowned. “What d’you mean?”

“Sirius, always shirtless. Countless dates and one night stands. You say it’s not a party until he’s snogged two different people?”

“Yeah. That’s one way to describe him. So?”

“So… I, hah, I don’t think Gideon is short on dates either.”

James didn’t say anything. He was trying to understand what you were getting at. 

“Is he single?”

He coughed. Then he ran his hand through his hair.

“Don’t know. Never asked.”

“Could you? You know, for me?” you asked, giving him your best puppy-dog eyes. “But don’t say it’s me asking. That’d be embarrassing.”

“I-I suppose-“ he started to say. 

You reached across the table and grabbed his hands excitedly. “Oh, you’re the best!”

The two of you managed to study for another hour before you gave up and went back to your flat. James had walked you to the door of the house and then went back to his spot. He stayed there for a while. He was trying to study for another class, but he couldn’t focus. 

“Potter, why are you still up?” Marlene asked. 

She had been passing by the study room and caught a glimpse of his messy hair. Everyone knew that when the team had morning practice, James was the first to turn in for bed. Always. 

“Hm?” He raised his eyes from his paper to Marlene. “Oh, what time is it?”

“9:45.”

“Shit,” he mumbled and ran a hand through his hair before shoving all of his things into his bag. Then he paused mid-motion and looked at Marlene who was still standing in the door. “Do you know if Gideon is seeing anyone?”

She raised her eyebrows. “Gideon? Don’t think so. Why do you care?”

“Asking for a friend.”

“Uh-huh. You know it’s fine if you play for that team, although I’m positive he doesn’t.”

“Marlene,” James said sternly. “I don’t. I am asking for a friend.”

“If that friend is that cute little thing you had in here earlier, then I’m sure Gideon will have no problem entertaining her.” 

With that, Marlene was headed to her room, leaving James to think about that. He felt a little uneasy about her comment and it stuck with him. He couldn’t shake the uneasiness. Not when he went to bed, not when he woke up, not during practice, not during any of his classes before your first shared one of the day. 

As soon as you smiled at him, it disappeared. The two of you walked to your usual seats in the History of Object Animation lecture hall. 

A few minutes after the lecture started, he leaned over and whispered, “I think he’s single.”

You hummed in confusion. “Who?”

You hadn’t forgotten about Gideon. Merlin knows you couldn’t. He just wasn’t the only hot guy on campus; exhibit A was sitting right next to you. Gideon simply showed a little bit of interest and you weren’t going to turn him down if he actually was.

“The one you asked me to ask about. The one you think is hotter than Sirius,” James said, teasing more in the second sentence. 

“And you didn’t mention me?” you asked. 

“No. Jus’ said I was asking for a friend.”

You nodded. “Good.”

A minute passed where both of you attempted to pay attention.

“So Saturday, you’re coming more for him than me, huh,” James said.

“I guess we’ll see if he talks to me after the match.”

“If? If he doesn’t talk to you after the match, I’ll put itching powder in his gear. And his bed for good measure.”

“James,” you gasped quietly as you grabbed his arm. “Don’t be dramatic!”

“He’d be a deserving, right git. Getting your hopes up and all. I mean, look at you!”

You raised an eyebrow. 

“You’re trying to play it cool, love. Trying.”

“I’m cool.”

“Then why can’t I tell Gideon you asked about his relationship status?”

“James!”

“See? Trying.”

“Shut up.”

You were blushing furiously and James thought you looked adorable. He dropped the topic of Gideon for the rest of that class. 

He occasionally threw a teasing comment your way as you went through your days together. There was something about seeing you blush and get flustered. You never had to tell him when to stop. He never pushed you too far to where you were annoyed with him. 

That didn’t explain the distinct twinge in James’ chest when he spotted you Saturday before the match started. He flew over to the stands where you were. 

“Don’t you look lovely,” he said. “Dressing up for Prewett?”

“So what if I am?l

“Never dressed up for me.”

“Jealous, James?”

His immediate thought was yes, but he couldn’t say that. He had never flirted not shown any romantic interest in you since meeting you and you hadn’t either. So why did he hate that you put extra effort in for Gideon?

“It’s just a little unfair, that’s all. You barely know the bloke and I, your very good friend, haven’t gotten anything other than a jumper.”

You laughed. “Okay James. Go win the game.”

“I will for you,” he said with a wink before flying down to where his team was. 

Neither of you could believe that James winked at you. It was the flirtiest thing he’d done to you. He touched down on the ground. 

“That your friend from the other night?” Gideon asked once James reached the circle of players. 

He nodded. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten her name.”

“I haven’t,” Gideon said, and then he said your name to prove it. “Just noting where I have to go after the game.”

James nodded again. Have to go. That sounded wrong. Going to talk to you wasn’t something that he should feel obligated to do. Talking to you was just what he did. It wasn’t a chore; it was a delight. 

As the match started, you tried to pay more attention to Gideon. He was right that he and his brother were an excellent team as beaters, but James kept drawing your eye. There was something exhilarating about the way he played. He flew so naturally. His accuracy was simply unmatched. Even on his off days, he flew circles around the rest of the team. 

Gideon flew up to where you were after the match, hovering at the edge of the stands like James had before the match. 

“You actually came,” he said. 

“Said I would.”

“So, what’d you think?”

“Of the match? I mean, they weren’t much of competition.”

He laughed. “What about me?”

“You’re good. And you’re right, you and your brother work good together.”

“Obviously I’m the better one.”

“Obviously,” you said, smiling. 

“Not sure if Potter told you, but there’s a gathering tomorrow at Gryffindor. If you want to come that is.”

“A gathering?” you asked. “Is that a lame way to say party?”

“Not allowed to call it that in front of the pledges.”

You nodded and said, “I’ll see how much studying I have to do.”

“Aw, it’ll be better than studying.”

“I have classes to pass. We’ll see.”

“Alright. Well, I’ll see you there.”

Gideon flew down towards the lockers and you waited for James. Except he didn’t fly up to you. You didn’t wait too long, but enough to know that he wasn’t going to show up at the stands. You descended from your spot and by the time you reached the ground, you saw James leaving the locker room. 

“Potter!” you yelled. 

He stopped. He had watched Gideon go to you after the game and that made him feel sick to his stomach. He hadn’t considered that you’d want to talk to him after Gideon. 

“Hey,” James said once you made it to him. 

“How am I supposed to tell you that you were amazing if you don’t say hi?”

He hummed, like he was thinking of a real answer. “Telepathically?”

“We aren’t twins, so that doesn’t work,” you said. “But I mean it, you were brilliant out there. Like always.”

“Thought you were supposed to be watching Gideon?”

“I did. But I’m not going to come to your game and not watch you. You’re the best bloody player in the sky.”

Pride bubbled up inside of his chest. You thought he was better than Gideon? He’d take that win. So what if you didn’t watch him leave like you did with Gideon? 

Only he doesn’t know that you do watch him leave. You have for a while and it’s much easier to hide it when he’s not looking back at you. 

“Anyways,” you said as you walked with James, not caring where you would be walking to since you wanted to talk to him. “Gideon said there was a gathering tomorrow? How come you didn’t say anything about it?”

James ran a hand through his hair. 

“I didn’t think it was your scene. Never seen you at a party before.”

“He said gathering, not party.”

“There are no pledges around. Call it what it is.” James shrugged. 

“And what if I wanted to change my scene?” you asked. “I’ve never been invited to one before.”

He laughed and you gave him a rather insulted look. 

“You’re taking a piss, right?” 

You shook your head. James stopped walking and turned toward you. 

“We have to change that. Immediately. You’re coming tomorrow.”

James said he needed to drop his stuff off at the house but then he’d meet you in the library to make sure you got your work done. Why he could go to the library today and not a few nights ago, you didn’t know. You appreciated him coming. Studying felt less draining with him around. 

On Sunday, you spent the morning with your other friends. You had one of your textbooks open on your lap, which you had intended on skimming for review but got distracted. Your friend’s shitshow date was far more entertaining. You stayed with your friends until it was time to change and get ready for the “gathering.” 

You didn’t need to knock when you arrived. Some younger students, pledges you assumed, were walking in. 

Not calling what you walked into a party seemed like lying. There was music and dim lighting with a faint scent of smoke and you could already see a couple making out. You wrapped your arms around yourself. You needed to find one of the members you knew. 

Peter recognized you before you recognized him. He handed you a drink and you felt obligated to talk to him for a bit. He wasn’t your favorite of James’ friends. 

Luckily, you only had to stumble through a minute of awkward conversation. Gideon called your name and waved. 

“It was good seeing you,” you said before crossing the room. “You are a godsend.”

“Looked like a tough conversation. And you look darling,” Gideon said, giving you a dramatic once-over. 

“I didn’t want to do too much for a gathering.”

“It’s for the pledges. I told you.”

“The pledges. And those would be everyone who looks like they’re about to pee themselves?”

Gideon laughed. “As long as they don’t…”

One of Gideon’s friends got his attention. Gideon put his arm around your waist and pulled you in the direction of his friend. You went along easily. You tried to follow along with the conversation but they kept throwing out inside jokes and names of people you weren’t familiar with. You sipped your drink and tried to appreciate being held onto by someone who was into you. 

Then your drink ran out. You motioned to Gideon that you were going to get another and you’d be back. He nodded and pointed you in the direction of the kitchen. 

The easiest smile of the night spread across your face at the sight of James. He returned it. 

“Hey! You made it!”

“I’d never live it down if I didn’t.”

“That is true,” he laughed. “So when’d you get here?”

“Half hour, forty five minutes maybe? I’ve been with Gideon.”

“And how’s that going?” James asked, trying to sound interested and happy for you. 

“It’s been okay,” you said. You didn’t want to exaggerate your experience so far to James. 

“Just okay?” 

“I don’t know his friends all that well.” 

James noticed how you had set down your empty bottle and were now hugging yourself. He couldn’t let that slide. He was about to suggest that you spend some time with him and his friends to see if that made it any better, since you did know James’ friends. 

A pledge bolted into the kitchen and tripped over something. You didn’t see what. All you knew was that you now had his drink all over you. It must’ve been a full bottle given how drenched your front feels. The pledge was mortified when he stood up. 

“Oh, shit. Sorry! I’m so sorry! So, so, so sorry! I didn’t mean to!” he said, the words falling out of his mouth faster than you think should be possible. “James, I swear it was an accident!” the boy added. 

You didn’t let James answer him. “It’s alright. I’ll dry. But, maybe let’s have a water?”

James turned and grabbed one from the fridge to hand to the boy, who simply nodded and took the bottle. James was about to commend you for being overly polite. It was a pledge and you are a guest. He should’ve been watching where he was going and showed you more respect. Then he noticed the state of your clothes.

“Damn pledges… You might dry, but you’ll be sticky. Come on, you can borrow one of your shirts.”

He took your hand and led you down the hallway and up some stairs. You briefly forgot that James actually lived in this house and all of his things were just upstairs. The room he brought you to had four beds. A big party house apparently no one got their own room. You could recall someone mentioning rooming with James earlier. 

He went over to a dresser and pulled out a shirt. 

“Thanks, James,” you said as you stepped into the room. “But, um, can I get bottoms too? He kind of got it all over me.”

“Um, yeah… My sweats’ll be a bit big though?”

“I can roll them.”

He nodded. “Okay.”

James opened another drawer and grabbed a pair of his sweats. He also handed you a towel. He stepped out of his room and closed the door to let you change in privacy. You didn’t take long. 

“I’m not going to be sticky. Happy?” you asked once you were done changing and were standing in the hallway with James again.

“I’d be happier if you didn’t sit next to Prewett in my clothes.”

You stared at him in shock. He was looking at the floor; he was unsure how he let that leave his mouth. 

“Come again?”

He shrugged. “Just a little weird to sit right next to a guy in another bloke’s clothes, you know?”

“Would you rather I sit next to you?”

He shifted and ran a hand through his hair. “I mean, yeah.”

“I sit next to you every day.”

“I know.”

“So I can’t sit next to other people? Didn’t realize you owned me…”

“It’s other people who want to kiss you!”

Once again, you were staring at James while he looked anywhere but you. 

“Other people?” you repeated. “What do you mean other people? I figured I was lucky if I had one.”

“It’s, uh, more than one.”

“And am I understanding this right? You’re one of them?”

He didn’t say anything, which told you that you were right. 

“Then why did you go through the trouble of finding out if Gideon was single for me?”

“You know, I’d love to give you an answer,” he said, “but there isn’t one. I just-“

“Are you at least going to do it then?”

“Do it?”

“You don’t want me sitting next to other guys who want to kiss me while I’m wearing your clothes? Then you do it. Kiss me.”

James stared at you for a moment. It was a chance for you to say “Sike!” To say you were just kidding. To turn around and change back into your clothes. When you only stared back, waiting, he took the few steps he needed to before caressing your face and bringing his lips to meet yours. 

In the various times that the thought of kissing you drifted across his mind, something he had always dismissed as him being horny and you being pretty and nearby, he figured you would melt into him. If he ever shared a kiss with you, it’d be soft, gentle. 

Which to his credit was how the kiss started. 

Then you kissed him back and he knew he was doomed. One hand still holding your face, James pulled you close. He kept you close as he backed up until he hit the wall. As soon as he had pulled you in closer, you wrapped your arms around his neck. It took no time for your hands to get tangled in his hair, and even less time for you to forget about Gideon. If you had thought about him, you would’ve assumed that he’d move on pretty fast and it’d be no harm, no foul. 

As the kiss escalated with biting lips and tongues going where they hadn’t before, James got lost in the heat of the moment and the hand on your waist started moving upward, under your shirt. It didn’t register right away in your brain. You were too caught up in the fact that you were kissing James and he wanted to be kissing you. But you did pull back.

“James.”

He didn’t move his hand. You were having second thoughts about if you wanted him to remove it, or if he could keep it there. 

“We’re in a hallway.”

James hummed and smiled at you. “Observant. We could change that.”

“James!”

“Sorry…” 

You looked down, and that made him take his hand out from under your shirt. You were still standing incredibly close to him. You didn’t appear to be in any hurry to move, which James was pleased with. He liked having you in his arms more than he would’ve guessed had you asked him a week ago. 

“So where does this leave us?” you asked quietly. 

“Us?” 

You wanted to roll your eyes. Of course he would reply like he didn’t know what you were talking about despite just getting jealous of you being around Gideon. 

“Us. I’m wearing your clothes, we just snogged outside of your room, which you did just invite me into.” You paused. “I feel like we crossed out of ‘just friends’ territory.”

“That is an excellent point you make.”

You waited for him to say more. He didn’t.

“So?”

“You’ll have to meet my mum.”

“Your mum decides who you date?”

He laughed and kissed your cheek. “Course not. She just needs to know that she was right.”

You raised your eyebrows. 

“She knew I’d be wrapped around your finger after she heard I invited you to one of my matches. Something about being my father’s son.”

“Huh.”

“She’ll be thrilled.”

“So we’re-“

“Dating.”