#hogwarts school

stylized in art nouveau

James Potter x Fem! Reader

Word count: 3.4K

Summary: At a Gryffindor party James notices someone he hasn't before, when that someone doesn't even want to give him the time of day he spirals.

Warnings: Minors DNI!! Enemies-to-lovers (kinda), slowburn (also kinda). Characters aged up and are all appropriate ages (18+), no year is mentioned but its kind of implied. They are silly and don't understand anything (it will hit them at some point).

A/N: JAMESFIC! This is part one to a James series I'll be starting, I am so excited for this and I'm really happy with how it's turning out! as a pre-warning it will be long and im hoping to upload the entire thing to Ao3 when it's done! Also I am currently playing Hogwarts Legacy and I just couldn't help but envision that map while I was writing so some places might be describe from the game but imagine whatever you want!

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It was loud in the common room, which in itself isn’t unusual for a post quidditch party but it was seemingly louder this time. 

James was off in some corner finding some peace after all the praises seemed to die out. Of course he loved the appreciation but today it seemed suffocating, he didn’t feel like it was his best game, almost getting knocked off his broom more than a few times. 

“Alright mate?” Sirius clapped him on the shoulder catching him off guard as his cup almost slipped from his hands. Sirius, of course, had noticed his friends dismay. He had mentioned it after the match but James’ short replies told him not to push it any further. 

“Yeah.. fine” James replied as he shook his hand out attempting to dry it from the sticky liquid which had spilled over from the rim of his cup from Sirius’ movements. 

“You don’t seem fine” Of course, where Sirius was Remus was soon to follow, especially at a party like this and surprisingly Pete followed. James looked up at his friend sighing, Sirius would often push feelings aside choosing to ignore things and be blissfully unaware while it slowly builds, Pete does small favours, he senses unease but quietly brings snacks or simply his company to help you feel better but Remus, he was upfront and saw right through James, often forcing him to face his emotions without even lifting a finger, his face saying it all. 

“It wasn’t my best” James shrugged,  Remus rolled his eyes and chuckled softly as Sirius placed an arm around James’ shoulders. 

“You’re bein’ a bit harsh mate, you were brilliant out there!” Remus praised but something about the way he said it made it different, it definitely didn’t seem as empty as the ‘Well done mate’ and “great job” he had been getting all night and he couldn’t help but match Remus’ smile, just being with his friends lifted his spirits. “Come on, we have a party to enjoy”

- 

Later in the evening the boys were a bit happier (less sober) and were currently tormenting some poor Ravenclaw second years who decided to ‘sneak’ into the party. However, a high pitched feedback noise to cut through the air as the music was suddenly turned right down and off, everyone in the room turned to the source of the pitchy noise, a band in the corner of the room. 

“Ahem, hi, we are Cursed Skull” a tall boy with short beaded dreads and a brilliant, confident posture spoke into the microphone before him with a thick Irish accent. He turned to his left and nodded as Marlene stood beside him, her pink guitar strapped to her, before doing the same with the bass guitarist to his right. 

“1, 2, 3” With that, they were off. The room instantly exploded with music as they jumped (quite literally) straight into it, everyone else bouncing around with them, the room was electric, becoming a proper party. 

James was in awe, watching how the band had just shocked a party into the air quicker than any magic could. He was also in awe of the bassist, he watched her carefully seeing how her fingers moved across the instrument, the way she nodded to the music and how her brow creased as she kept on time and in tune. He recognised the band of course, he had met Marlene’s band mates before. But he hadn’t seen you before and he was struck. 

“OI! Moony!” He shouted over the music at Remus who was watching (a very obviously drunk) Sirius pull Pete up to prance about the open floor space in front of the band, joining the mass of people already moving in the space. Remus turned to James and nodded his head once, James simply pointed at you and his friend understood instantly as he leaned into James’ ear. 

“Y/N Y/L/N,” he didn’t quite shout but rather spoke loudly, enough for James to hear at least, 

He simply nodded, “I know her”

Remus agreed leaning into him once more, “We have few classes with her”

James decided that was all the information he needed. Not wanting to strain his voice any further, he took a sip of his beer and kept watching, completely entranced by you. 

By the end of the third song James had sat down on a sofa off to the side, probably on his fifth witches brew now? He watched as the song came to an end and the large group on the makeshift dancefloor paused their movement to applaud. The lead had taken a step back and picked up a guitar himself as the bassist had stepped up causing James to suddenly sit up in his seat, he hadn’t realised how far he slouched into it until he heard the sofa sigh as he lifted his weight. 

“Hello, this one is for all the twats out there” the crowd hollered as Sirius whooped loudly, “yeah yeah, fuck you guys” you giggled into the microphone as you started into the song, the others shortly following suit. Your voice was absolutely magical to James, he was utterly enchanted as he watched you sing into the microphone the meaning of every word conveyed with such intensity that it had nearly blown him back into the sofa. However, all good things must come to an end and before he knew it the lead was back and with a few more songs the set was over, the casual music resuming as the band began to pack away. 

You were giggling at Marlene as she struggled to untangle some wires from her feet, her excitement to perform got the better of her and she had fallen victim to the consequences of her previous jumping about, “Merlin! This has to be worse than devil’s snare” she joked causing you to laugh harder at her predicament. James decided to approach, he let out one big huff before taking step after step towards you.

You hadn’t actually seen him approach, only realising when Marlene’s conversation dimmed and her gaze had shifted to the figure behind you. You turned all at once to look at him, wondering who had the terrible idea to interrupt you and your friend. He stood tall, his curls messy like he had just been running his fingers through them, his glasses slightly askew on his nose and he was gripping his cup like it might fly out of his hand at any moment. 

“Hello” was all he had said yet it dripped with confidence, the grip on his cup did not loosen. Marlene chuckled softly at his stature before giving you a pat on the shoulder and continuing to help pack all your kit away. 

“Can I help you?” Your voice was sweet like honey in his tea, James had never felt like this before, your radiance was throwing him off and he needed to get his head in the game. Slowly he breathed out and loosened his grip on his cup, his shoulders slacked and he eased back into himself slightly. 

“I just wanted to say you guys were great, you created a really good atmosphere” He mentally facepalmed, ‘Atmosphere’ Really James?

You laughed slightly, no one had ever described your music like that before. “Thanks, that's a… unique comment”

James rubbed the back of his neck before sticking out a hand, “I’m - “

“James Potter” You cut him off short, not bothering to shake his hand. James slowly retrieved it and smirked, he didn’t seem bothered by the fact you knew him. You refrained from rolling your eyes. 

“You know who I am.” He seemed to phrase this more like a statement rather than a question. 

“I know who you are,” You repeated. ‘Your arrogance hit me before you even stepped in my direction’, you wanted to say but decided to bite your tongue, giving him the benefit of the doubt.

“And you are Y/N Y/L/N” James winked at you attempting to impress you with his recently learnt knowledge, you simply nodded once, it almost made you physically recoil, did he try this on with every girl? On the other side of things James found it increasingly difficult to keep this conversation afloat, it was almost as if you didn’t want to speak to him but surely that wasn’t the case? Who would not want to speak with head boy, quidditch captain, James Potter?

James smiled at you “Now that we are clearly well acquainted, how about you get a drink with me? Tomorrow. Hogsmeade” You scoffed at his tone, he was obviously someone who wasn’t used to being told no and you could hear it in the way his voice stated every sentence rather than asked. 

“No thanks”

“I thought maybe the three broomsticks or a walk around-...” He stopped short, “Wait… no?” 

You nodded to confirm, “Yep”

“So yes?” James smirked cheekily as you then shook your head.

“Its a no, Potter”

James was caught off guard by the instant rejection. “Are you busy?” the audacity of this man. 

You rolled your eyes, “No” you drawled out. You actually were busy but seeing the look on his face was worth the white lie. 

James blinked once again, “Right… well it was nice to meet you”. You nodded at him once with an almost cunning smile before he turned and walked away slightly unsure about what had just happened. He wanted to go back even just to get clarification but he couldn’t stop himself as he walked away towards his friends who were eagerly awaiting his triumph. 

“So what happened?” Pete asked as soon as he had reached them, he was sitting on the sofa next to Remus looking up at James as Sirius stood by the sofa engaged in a conversation which Remus could care less about, thankfully their conversation subsided as they noticed the confused look on James’ face.

“I’m not sure” James replied as he sat on the sofa next to Remus as Sirius placed himself on the armrest the other side of him. “She said no”

“Oh my god, don’t tell me she’s rattled you Prongs?” Sirius leaned into James’ shoulder nudging him playfully as he laughed at his friend. 

“I don’t think she likes me very much, it was… awkward.” Remus cringed slightly as James explained the conversation, their eyes all looked over to you as he spoke. 

You were back with Marlene, now untangled, who was questioning you in a similar style, “So what did he want?” she asked, her eyes shining with curiosity. 

“He asked me out” You replied as you bundled up some wires. 

“And…?” 

You shrugged, “I said no”

“No?!” The volume of Marlene’s voice surprised you as your head shot up to look at her, “HA! Brilliant, I bet he’s going crazy” she giggled.

“Come on Marls, surely girls have said no to him before” You said while you waved your wand to tie a band and secure any loose wires. 

Marlene snorted “Not bloody likely, what made you say no?”

You shrugged once more, “I just don’t like him, I guess, he’s a bit of a dick” Marlene rolled her eyes. 

“Okay, sure Y/N” She didn’t seem to believe you but it was true. James and his mates had tormented and pranked anyone in sight since their arrival at this school, sure they were mostly harmless but you found it hard to like them when they had set off purple firecrackers in the library during an O.W.L.s study session and you couldn’t get the stains off your school shirt for weeks! First year James Potter seemed to make it his personal mission to create chaos in your life from unleashing nifflers in your dorms, to ‘kindly’ baking you a cake which made your hair burst into a wild rainbow of colours and then falling off your head, you were mortified and had to suffer under a hat waiting for you hair to grow back fully for months while James got two weeks detention and a slap on the wrist. All the boys were pranksters but James seemed to target you. Half way through second year he’d move on to torture some other poor student, Lily Evans maybe? So you doubted he even remembered.  

The way James had reacted also told you everything you needed to know, you don’t know who had stroked his ego to make him so audacious but you couldn’t lie, it felt good to reject him and seeing his face drop caused something in your chest to flutter. Maybe it was sadistic but hey it was also quite funny. 

-

Later on, you were a few drinks down, the thrill of performance running through your blood (the firewhiskey was most likely a factor too), you were swaying to the music, a slow Bowie tune was echoing throughout the Gryffindor common room. You had tried your very best to grab up Marlene but she had adamantly refused, she was way too sober to be up and dancing with you especially with the way you were dancing.  

James watched you from the sofa he had seemed to sink into, having to adjust himself a few times as you swayed. His friends had left him now, Pete most likely off snogging somewhere and Sirius had finally gotten enough drink into Remus to drag him to dance. Luckily they stood quite close to you so if anyone questioned James’ obvious staring he could pass it off as watching his mates. 

“Has the James Potter been taken down by the first girl to say no?” James rolled his eyes as Marlene fell into the sofa, placing herself next to him as she sat propped up on one leg and leaned into the back of the sofa, mischief rampant in her eyes. 

“No,” James replied rather glumly. “She just didn’t even give me a chance, or reason, actually it was quite rude, she barely knows me and-” Marlene just watched in amusement as he rambled on, clearly humbled by the situation.

She placed a hand softly on his shoulder to stop his incessant word vomit, “James relax” He stopped to look at her. “If you want a tip, I don’t think you can rely on your ego or confidence with that one” She turned to look at you hoping her words managed to worm their way into James’ skull. 

James scoffed at her words making it clear that her help was not appreciated. “Thanks but I don’t need tips, I doubt Y/N likes any of us” Marlene chuckled at his words.

She gave James one last pat on his shoulder “I wouldn’t be so sure” she said as she stood up off the sofa.  James, alone again, furrowed his brow at her words as he turned his gaze back to you. 

He sat up abruptly as he had noticed you were no longer dancing alone. Remus who had seemingly been abandoned by Sirius had his large hands holding your waist, your hands were around his neck and a smile was plastered on your face as you both danced together and James couldn't help but feel the rage that was boiling inside him. 

He stood and beelined to Remus, he wasn’t thinking rationally when he grabbed Remus’ by his bicep and pulled him off you, and he definitely wasn’t thinking rationally when he dragged him to the quiet staircase by the dorms, ignoring your protests of losing your dance partner. 

“Prongs! What the fuck?” Remus slurred, the speed of James’ actions causing him to stumble slightly. 

“Me?! Remus what the fuck? Why were you dancing with her!” James exclaimed the betrayal evident in his voice.

Remus was certainly confused by the situation and he had no idea how to rectify it. “Um, James…” He started slowly, “I’m gay” James rolled his eyes. 

“Yes I know that but she hates us!” This did not ease the confusion in Remus.

“Whose us?”

“Us Moony! The marauders!” James gestured between them. 

Remus laughed a hearty laugh as James was taken aback, “She’s my friend Prongs, like Marls or Mary” James’ expression softened a bit as he realised how he had been acting he rubbed his eyes and sat on a step, Remus placing himself next to him, “You really like her?” 

James didn’t lift his head from his hands as he attempted to stop the buzz from the alcohol. “No, I think she’s a dick” He stated matter-of-factly. He doesn’t know why he was so consumed by rage, just an hour ago he thought you were the most exquisite thing to walk the earth. 

Remus laughed at his friend once again he was infatuated with her. “Okay Prongs, whatever you say” He knew this was either going to end fantastically for James or terribly with his heart smashed into a million pieces but either way he’ll be there for him. 

“Moony?” James lifted his head.

“Hm?”

“How do you know her?”

“We have our study sessions together”

“Oh” James didn’t know what to do with this information. 

“Right” Remus stood, “I’m going back out there, you should too, don’t let it get you down” He said, James simply nodded yet made no effort to move. Remus simply sighed as he left his friend, hoping he would get out of whatever slump he is in now. 

-

James didn’t realise how much time had passed before he decided to rejoin the party, he stood to reenter the heaving room but didn't take a step as he watched you stumble into the quiet area he was sat in, giggling slightly as you righted yourself before you had noticed the curly haired boy staring from the step in front of you.

“Oop Sorry!” You giggled as you attempted to squeeze past him up the stairs. Something about your demeanor enraged James, so casual as if you hadn’t just embarrassed him entirely, he turned abruptly to face your retreating figure. 

“What is your problem?!” He exclaimed, causing you to stop dead in your tracks as you turned slowly to face him. 

“Excuse me?” You asked calmly, your hand rested on the bannister as you stood above him. 

“You don’t know anything about me, so what is your problem?” James repeated, something about you singling him out angered him and he couldn’t seem to stop himself. 

You scoffed. “I think you’re arrogant” You said simply as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, the alcohol making you braver that you usually would have been. “The world doesn’t revolve around you James”. He hated the way he felt when he heard his name fall from your lips, he couldn’t help but gaze at them before snapping himself back into reality. 

“That’s not fair, you have to give me a chance” he took a step up toward you, “at least to be your friend”.

“I don’t have to do anything”

“And I’m the arrogant one” James mumbled and rolled his eyes. 

Of course you heard him, that was hardly a mumble. “What was that?”

James took a few more steps up until he was level with you, he was so close that you could smell the firewhisky on his breath and you could feel the banister at your back as he leaned forward to grip it at your side a little bit to stop you from walking away from him but mostly to steady himself. 

“You’re no better than me, you’re just as selfish and arrogant, thinking you’re above everyone else.” He said, his voice low, James knew better than to speak to you like this but you got under his skin just so that he couldn’t help but vomit it out. 

You raised an eyebrow slowly as you crossed your arms, unfazed by his words knowing that would just set him off more. He was just showing you what you had known all along, “You think you’re above everyone else?” 

James closed his eyes and breathed out slowly, he had seemingly forgotten what his initial point was, he just wanted you to give him a chance but as you infuriated him more he wanted to have that chance less and less. 

Eventually, he opened his eyes to face yours, already staring into his. “Fuck you”

Regulus Arcturus Black is a big fat freaking goth and nothing can change my mind on this.

Well, I find it funny how the saga keeps repeating that there's no place safer than Hogwarts, when honestly I think my kids would be safer in the middle of a forest surrounded by hungry wolves than in that school full of adults with pedagogical skills up their asses.

First of all, we're talking about a boarding school, meaning the teachers are not only responsible for educating the children, but also for taking care of them while they’re there. They're their guardians during the school year. In the absence of their parents, it's up to them to ensure the kids' safety, and the truth is, they don’t give a flying fuck. These are adults full of prejudice who project their biases onto the children without the slightest shame, and I find it amusing that everyone always targets Snape for this when it's actually a widespread issue across the entire teaching staff. Let’s not forget that Dumbledore judges Tom Riddle even before he sets foot in Hogwarts and already labels him a sociopath. Slughorn spends his entire career using children as tools to gain contacts with influential families. Hagrid is a complete idiot with the common sense of a rock, and he has a specific grudge against Slytherins from the very beginning, which he passes on to Harry before the boy even arrives at Hogwarts or meets Ron. I mean, we're talking about supposedly positive characters (not Slughorn, fair enough), who are portrayed by the narrative as “good people,” but are they really? Honestly, they’re just the same dysfunctional adults projecting their shit onto the kids. That’s all there is.

One thing that’s always struck me is how Draco is portrayed as this spoiled crybaby who keeps tattling to his dad, and how Lucius uses his influence to get his son out of trouble. And sure, I can criticize the Malfoys for many things, but I’m not going to criticize them for flipping out when their son tells them about the crap that goes on at that school. If my kid told me that he’d won the House Cup fair and square and then the headmaster arbitrarily changed the results last minute out of pure favoritism? I swear to you, I’d march into Dumbledore’s office and set his damn beard on fire. If my kid calls me saying they left a reckless werewolf who doesn’t take his potion around him and his classmates? I swear I’d burn the whole school to the ground. There are so many, so many things that happened at Hogwarts that if I were a mother and my kid told me about them, I swear I'd nuke the castle with all the faculty inside. Because yes, Draco wasn’t right about many of the things he complained about, and Lucius was corrupt—that’s true—but my point is, seriously, some dark shit went down at that school and the teachers allowed it. They allowed bullying, they allowed the formation of cult-like groups, they didn’t just allow but encouraged prejudice against one of the houses, fostering its ostracism and the radicalization of its students. They allowed—and FUELED—the competition between kids from different houses as if house identity were something worth dying for over a goddamn Quidditch match, creating sides, grudges, and conflicts between kids the same age who could’ve easily been friends if there weren’t such a classist division. The whole school was a pedagogical nightmare. Anyone with the slightest interest in child and youth psychology can tell you the problem at Hogwarts wasn't Snape. The problem at Hogwarts was all the adults who encouraged and promoted detestable behavior.

And all of this was allowed by Dumbledore. He was the highest authority and he didn’t give a damn. A cult is forming under his nose? No problem, kids, let’s marginalize and judge those students as harshly as possible because why intervene in childhood development, right? Why bother with psychology and care? Why put effort into difficult cases if we’ve got students who kiss our ass by default?? Someone’s getting bullied at school? Who is it? Can they be useful to me or not? Oh, okay, then never mind. I have teachers who are absolute nightmares to children, but hey, who cares, right? It’s all fine.

I'm sure some of you have heard of the infinitely iconic My Immortal, the fanfic that was the talk of the Harry Potter fandom in it's heyday. But here's a secret for you:

There was another fanfic, also during My Immortal's rise in 2006, that was also infamously talked about - the Hogwarts x Giant Squid fic.

I am not joking.