summertime sadness

- MISCELLANEOUS CHARACTERS

- including Robbie Jennings (ataps), Drover (australia), Leopold Mountbatten (kate and leopold), Conrad Fisher (tsitp), and Kaz Brekker (shadow and bone), Joe Macken (albert nobbs)

- JAMES POTTER

- TANGERINE

- POLY MARAUDERS

- COUNT VRONSKY

- SERGEI KRAVINOFF

- DAVE LIZEWSKI

- PIETRO MAXIMOFF

- TOM RYDER

- LOGAN HOWLETT

- FRIEDRICH HARDING

- CLARK KENT

- PETER PARKER

- STEVE HARRINGTON

(Bonus, 4k Celebration) - MOODBOARD MASTERLISTS

PS: the aesthetic pictures on the mood-boards DO NOT reflect Y/n's descriptions! no physical descriptions of Y/n are given at any point in any fics UNLESS given in the warnings! i always want to make sure Y/n can be of any race/ethnicity/size since we humans are all beautifully different and amazing!!

"Freak," the taller girl with short blond hair had sneered as she leaned against the railing behind you and poured her half-finished apple-juice all over your head. You didn't flinch, instead you simply turned another page as the liquid slid down your hair and cheeks. The girl laughed, dropping the box on your head, and her friends cackled as it bounced off and landed near your hip.

Still, you never looked up or said a word. Eventually, the girls became bored of tormenting you and you were alone again. You huff, wiping juice from your forehead with your sleeve and then cleaning the book with a grimace. This is a library book. 

Your peace must only last another ten minutes because you suddenly hear the rustling of the shrubbery you're hiding behind. Then, a sweaty and disgruntled James Potter stumbles into your hiding spot. He crouches down, looking behind him as he presses his back against the shrubs. He's dressed in his Quidditch uniform, dirt and grass stains obvious on his clothes. 

"These birds are gonna kill me," he mutters under his breath, "and my broom—bloody 'ell they took my—AH, shit fuck!" James falls back onto his ass, clutching his jersey as if he'd just had a heart attack and stares at you in shock. You blink back at him. You haven't moved or made a sound. "Why the fuck are you lurking in here??!!" He accuses. Wrinkles grace the skin between his eyes as he gawks at you. 

"I'm not lurking. I'm reading," you say, shifting your gaze back onto your book. James is quiet for a moment. When you see a flicker of movement and you can't help but peek up at him again . You haven't properly had a chance to see him or speak to him in forever. You aren't even sure he knows who you are anymore. He's sitting across from you now, still catching his breath. 

He sends another look over his shoulder and then looks at you again. "Right, yeah, sorry," he mutters, finally relaxing. He pauses and looks you over. "Why the hell are you so sweaty?" He asks, raising a brow. 

You're now even more aware of the juice in your hair and plastered on your skin. "Apple juice," you state calmly. 

"Euh, you poured apple-juice on yourself?"

"A girl poured her apple juice over me," you clarify as if it's a common occurrence. 

James isn't calm about this news because his eyes widen and his voice rises. "Excuse me?" He waits for you to add more information but when you don't he continues in a quieter tone so as to not attract any attention, "Why?" 

You shrug, moving your eyes back on your book. "A prank, I think? You're familiar with them, aren't you?" You don't mean it as a quip and James can hear that in the way you speak. He groans and runs a hand down his face. He's always found you infuriatingly confusing but this- this is something else entirely. 

James remembers you. How could he not? You were the talk of the school: dead parents and no magic. He remembers how he heard about you joining his class in third year, and how at the smart age of thirteen, he was convinced the rumors were false and so, he had asked you to duel him. He didn't mean for it to be funny. He was being completely serious. But, he'd made you cry and that was that. 

Not knowing what to do, James had played along with the joke and then, it seemed, the girl he had spoken with once was long forgotten to him and everyone else. After the first months or so, your novelty simply became a passing joke to most students—or that's what he had thought.

James looks flustered. "I mean, yes, I have done my fair share of pranks but this," he points to you and you don't even look up. "Y/n? That's not a prank. There is nothing prank-ish about this, it's just mean…" he says, sounding concerned and your name gets your attention so you look up at him, your expression twisted with confusion.

"You know my name?" you ask. 

Knowing James's popularity, you didn't think he remembered you or the incident.

James turns his head, his breathing still a little bit harsh. "I do. Am I not supposed to?"

You stare at him and your curiosity wins over as you finally close your book. "Why were you running?"

James turns back to look at you, questions still burning his throat but he answers you anyways, "Gryffindor just won and some, um, some girls cheer me on a little too hard-" He sounds embarrassed. 

"Ha," you laugh, smiling at that image your brain is creating of the girls tearing James apart like rabid squirrels. James blinks at you as he watches you laugh at him. 

Merlin, you're really pretty.

"It's funny if you like hands grabbing at you from everywhere," James adds, shuddering dramatically. You hum, still smiling and still amused. James sees your gaze moving back to your book and he knows if he loses your attention now, he won't have the courage to ask for your attention again so he asks, "Does that girl bother you often?" 

You look at him confused. "What girl?"

James mirrors your expression. "The girl who poured juice on you?"

"Oh," you say, as if suddenly remembering the current state you're in. You look down at yourself and then shrug a little. "Yeah, sometimes. It's nothing new." 

Your words cause a sharp ache in his chest. Is he partly to blame for all this? It wasn't your fault you didn't have magic, and it certainly wasn't your fault your parents died– "Did you not have any muggle family members to take you in?" James asks without thinking. His question feels insensitive and so he panics. "I mean– just because–"

"Because I don't fit in here?" you finish for him.

James opens his mouth to protest but you continue, "All my family are wizards."

"Really?"

You nod. "It happens sometimes. A kid who's born without magic. I am not ashamed though, I like who I am," you tell him with a small smile.

James listens intently and then scratches his nape, his cheeks a little hot as he takes in your sentiment. He's impressed. Because of his popularity, he's always been aware of what everyone around him thinks of him. He's always wanted to please. He admires that you don't.

"That's really cool," he says earnestly, returning your smile. 

You look at him for a bit longer before you open your book once again, your attention pulled away from James. He doesn't say anything as he stares at you for a little longer, unwillingly entranced. You're so different from what he remembered. He hears Sirius call his name from somewhere behind him and he hesitates for a moment. 

You look done with his conversation so he decides to leave you alone for now. He stands and dusts off his uniform. "See ya around, Y/n," he says and you don't have time to even look up before he's calling after his friend and running out from behind the shrubs.

You glance sideways, replaying what he'd said in his head. See ya around. You ignore any embarrassing assumptions and return to your book. 

* * *

If James didn't know you had no magic, he would assume you put a spell on him. Your laughter keeps playing on repeat in his head and wherever he looks, he sees your face. It's as if you've enchanted him. 

One evening, after dinner, James decides he needs a break from his human brain. He stops by the black lake, the dusk sky illuminating the lake as he glances around to make sure he's alone. He strips his clothes and transforms, shaking his head as he adjusts to the weight of the antlers. When he's in this form, he can usually forget about all his human worries and just be. 

He'd wanted to have one moment where you weren't invading his thoughts, so why can he smell you now? 

He snaps his head around when he hears the crack of twigs under feet. James freezes as he makes eye contact with you. You're standing a bit away from him, shoes in one hand, skirt bunched up in the other as you walk around the shallow lake. James narrows his beady eyes and sees that you have a tiny twig-like creature sitting on your shoulder. The creature is staring at him with confusion as it makes a little sound.

He didn't know you got along with magical creatures. He didn't even think that was possible without your own magic. 

"Hello," you say, still looking at the animal in front of you. James's ears perk up and he realizes you'll see his clothes if you look this way so he bounces closer to where you are, and makes you look in the opposite direction. 

His plan works because you turn around, smiling. "You're so handsome," you say, your gaze raking over his antlers. If James was in his human form when he heard that, he'd be a complete mess. The creature makes another noise and you step forwards, the water sloshing against your calves as you carefully walk towards where James is.

James knows he should run away, but he's not strong enough. Instead, he allows you to approach him and he nuzzles his snout into your palm. "Good boy," you say, grinning as you scratch behind his ear.

James feels only a little bad for tricking you because your hands feel so smooth against his fur. It seems like all his emotions have been enhanced as he smells you near him. He nuzzles closer, antlers gently hitting you as you laugh. Your hand comes up too caress his nose and you say, "You know, you remind me of someone." You pause. "You both give off the same energy," you add with a hum.

James's ears perk up, twitching slightly. 

"He's a boy I met a while back," you begin, gently lifting the little creature onto your hand and placing it in front of James's nose. "I saw him again a few week ago and didn't think he remembered who I was, but he did."

James's heart is thumping and he ignores the creature as it prods at his fur. Do you mean him? 

"He made me feel like he understood me… or like he wants to understand me…" You say, almost speaking to yourself now as you stare past James and into the woods. Your attention snaps back in embarrassment and you laugh softly. The water wrinkles around your ankles. You caress James's ears. "It's stupid right? I mean, he's really popular and I'm…Ow!"

James had poked you with his antlers and grunts. Your eyes widen in confusion. "What is it?" You ask, confused. James grunts again, splashing some water around. You open your mouth to speak again but you hear a high-pitched laugh and a spell flies right near your nose. Frightened, you stumble back and fall into the water. 

Four first years laugh hysterically, clutching their stomachs, as James runs away. "Hey!" You shout at them angrily. "You could have hurt him!" You gesture to where James had run off to.

"Who cares. It's just a deer," a small brunette girl giggles before she runs away with her friends, practicing more spells around the forest. 

"Stag," you mutter, standing up on shaky legs as you find your balance. Your skirt had fallen back into the water the you fell and weight is weighing you down. You groan, lifting up your soaked shoes and grimace. "You okay?" You ask your bowtruckle, who nods as it clings to your shirt.

"I should be asking you that," James voice startles you and you stumble a little. In a blur, you feel his hand wrap around your arm as he pulls you upright. "Woah, hey." You clasp your hand around James's arm, staring at him with wide eyes. 

"James? W-where did you come from?" You ask, hoping he wasn't here for the conversation you'd had with the stag. If he knew you thought that way about him, you'd just die. 

James chuckles, smiling at you. "I was having a stroll when I hear a bunch of kids laughing and running around. I came to check on them and saw you in the water. What happened?"

"They just startled me," you say, standing on your own as you waddle your way back to shore where you drop your shoes and ring out your skirt. "Stupid kids."

"Woah, language," James laughs from beside you. "Who's your friend?" He points to the bowtruckle on your shoulder. 

"A bowtruckle," you say, still ringing out the lake water from you clothes, "I didn't name it because it might already have a name and it can't tell me." You don't hear James's answer so you look up. You're afraid you've said something weird but he's smiling at you with a look that makes your stomach lurch. 

"Did I say something wrong?" You ask, embarrassed. 

James shake his head, rubbing nervously at his nape. "Nothing. I just think that's really sweet of you." 

The compliment causes your brain to short circuit and you glance around, desperate to change the subject. "Oh," You exclaim softly, remembering, "Did you see a stag run by you? The kids scared him as well and I want to make sure he's okay." 

James's eyebrows flicker for a moment until he shakes his head. "Nope. Just me." James smiles easily.

You nod, looking past him and into the darkening woods. "I hope he's alright. He was adorable."

James cough into his hand, his cheeks darkening. "I'm sure he is okay," James looks up and answers quickly. You tilt you head, confused by how flustered he looks. However, you don't have time to answer because the bowtruckle suddenly chitters from your shoulder as it stares at James with narrowed little eyes.

James stares back and frowns. He wonders if it knows. 

"What's wrong with your twig-thingy?"

"Bowtruckle," you correct him, hiding a small smile. 

The small creature makes an indignant clicking noise and hides in your hair. You laugh quietly and bring your hand up to comfort it. James's expression softens immediately and this time you see it. He doesn't look at you like he normally does. You've stared at him enough to know what's normal and this, this isn't his normal. Your hands still on your wet skirt, letting it drop against your thighs.

James feels your silence and he clears his throat. "You should probably head back before you freeze to death."

"Yeah," you whisper, staring at him. It doesn't make sense. James Potter does not like you like you like him. It's absurd to even imagine something like that. 

However, neither of you move. The wind drifts through the trees and somewhere in the distance behind you, the giant squid disturbs the surface of the lake with a loud splash. James doesn't quite know what to say so he says the first thing that comes to his mind, "You know, you’re different than I thought you'd be." 

You blink and your face falls. You're expecting the worst.

When James sees your expression, he panics. "No! Merlin, it's nothing bad I promise! I just meant, like, before we actually talked."

"I know you thought I was strange." You smile faintly but James can tell the word clearly bothers you. You look back toward the dark water and sigh. "I already know what everyone thinks of me."

James frowns immediately and walks closer. He takes your hand without hesitation and you look up at him, surprised. "They don't know you. They don't know anything about you. I like you just the way you are."

The confession causes your heart to leap in your chest. You want to believe him. You want to so badly but you can’t. This all feels so surreal. "James. Popular boys like you don't like girls like me."

"Girls like you?" 

"Weird. Abnormal. Strange."

James scoffs loudly and places a finger against your lips, shutting you up. "If that's the word you want to use," James rolls his eyes sarcastically. "I think you're smart, kind, and probably the most interesting girl I have ever met. I think you're brilliant and although I want to know you better, I like what I already do know." He clear his throat, feeling a bit embarrassed but he adds, "Is that so bad?"

The compliment hits you so hard you stop breathing for a second. James notices immediately and he panics. He drops your hand as he realizes he must have really come on way too strong, too quickly. "Sorry," he mutters. "That was probably too much."

"No," you say quietly.

James's mind is racing and on instinct, that word makes him back up. "No. Don't leave. I like you too." The words are sudden and James almost looses his breath. He stares at you with surprise and it takes a another moment before the words you said finally sink in. 

"You do?" 

You nod slowly.

"Yeah?" James asks again, sounding like he still can't quite believe what you told him. His hands find yours as he moves closer to you. 

A nervous smile pulls at your lips and you say, "I do."

James stares. His hazel eyes pierce through yours and time seems to fall still. Then a grin breaks across his face, a faint hint of dimples gracing his cheeks as the excitement in his expression becomes obvious.

"Absolutely brilliant," he breathes, his hand cupping your cheek. He sees how nervous the gesture makes you so he drops your hand. His smile lingers as he asks. 

"Want to eat breakfast with me tomorrow?" 

Your eyebrows furrow. "In The Great Hall?"

James nods. 

"In front of everyone?" You voice cracks but James just shrugs. He tilts his head like a puppy, not showing any sign of doubt or embarrassment. His eyes roam your face and it clicks. 

"I'm not ashamed of being seen with you, love," he says, now a bit embarrassment by his admission. "I'd like to eat a normal breakfast with the girl I like. Is that's alright with you?"

Your heart calms and a smile curls your lips. It sounds like James Potter wants to be yours. And the worst part is, you'd like it.