Jemma Simmons and the Hogwarts years

It started somewhere during her third year.

Jemma Simmons was a focused girl. She cared about her studies, her friends, knowledge, her family - she didn’t care about boys very much. Well, that wasn’t quite true : she cared about Leo, and he was a boy, but the idea of having a boyfriend wasn’t very interesting to her. She didn’t need one, or want one.

And yet, during her third year at Hogwarts, what Skye liked to call “The Day the Crush Started” happened. Jemma hadn’t even expected it, herself. She knew him from afar, had even spoken to him a few times, in passing, but she had never given him much thought.

It started, as Skye, once again, called-it, by a “meet-cute”. She had bumped into someone in the hallway, and she had dropped her books. It was no surprise, given the fact that she had been carrying about eight of them at the time. Everybody was in such a hurry that, as she bent down to retrieve them, nobody stopped to help her - expect for him. He’d helped her pick up her books, and offered to walk with her to the library. She had refused, telling him he was too nice, but he had insisted. He had helped her reach the library, and had left her with a sweet smile and a “See you around, Jemma !”.

The encounted had left an impression on her. She hadn’t realized her crush for a while, until the moment Skye pointed it out, as Jemma had been talking about how nice and attentive he was.

- You like him, the other girl had remarked, smirking.

- I do not !

- You do. Oh. That is so cute, I’m going to die.

- I do not. Stop it.

Jemma did her best not to mention again, as to not give her friend more ammunition. But one day, after a game of Quidditch, Jemma, Leo and Skye found themselves together, chatting about it happily.

- Oh, and did you see the way he flew by that beater ? Jemma squealed, her eyes shining. It was quite impressive !

- It was something, Skye said, nodding.

- Yes, Quidditch is wonderful, Leo said blankly. Can we move on ?

- But that was a good match, wasn’t it ? Jemma said. It was thrilling !

- It’s just a game, Leo muttered.

- Don’t be so grouchy. It was a fun afternoon, wasn’t it ?

- Yes, yes, now can we stop rambling on about it ?

- Rambling on about what ?

Jemma looked up, and fought the urge to sigh. Skye grinned :

- Come sit by us, friend !

Jemma gave Skye a glance, but the other girl just shrugged. For the life of her, Jemma couldn’t understand how Skye could be such good friends with Grant Ward. She supposed he had some redeeming qualities, but he was always so… moody. She saw quite a bit of him, and she was always, always nice, mainly because of Skye, but he rarely talked to her when Skye wasn’t around. He didn’t seem to like her very much.

Well, the feeling was mutual.

- Hi, Grant mumbled. Did you come to the game ?

- Of course we did ! Skye said. Jemma was just saying how thrilling she found the game.

Jemma narrowed her eyes at Skye, who grinned even wider. Leo rolled his eyes - he wasn’t fond of Quidditch, at all, and he was obviously impatient for the topic of conversation to change.

- You did ?

Jemma glanced towards Grant. He was barely looking at her, even as he spoke to her.

Typical.

- Yes, she said, smiling as best as she could. It was a good game. You all played very well.

- Especially the captain, Skye remarked, smirking.

Sometimes, Jemma wanted to transform Skye into a cat : she’d stay adorable, but stop talking.

- Yeah, Grant said, oblivious to the tension. Steve’s a good player.

- Yeah, Skye said. What a nice guy, that Steve. Right, Jemma ?

Jemma flushed : yes, she thought Steve Rogers was very nice, sweet, kind - and she supposed he as quite good-looking, but that was hardly the point, was it ? She simply thought he was a person to be admired. He was always so nice to everybody - despite the fact that he was in his sixth-year, and that he hung out with those that were often considered to be the coolest kids at school.

- I didn’t know you knew him, Grant said, glancing at Jemma.

- Everybody knows him, Leo pointed out.

- That’s right, Jemma said. He’s nice to everyone, and talks to everyone.

Unlike some people, she thought childishly.

- Yeah, Grant said, shrugging in that neutral way that bothered Jemma so much. I guess.

- He was very good, today, Jemma said, despite herself. During the game. He scored a lot !

- I scored three times, too, Grant muttered, almost inaudibly.

- What ?

- I said “Yeah, he was”.

Skye gave Grant an odd look, but Jemma’s attention was already elsewhere. Further away, Steve Rogers was talking to a few people - some of them were girls, but he didn’t seem to notice the attention they were giving them. He started walking, followed by some friends. As he passed the table the little group was sitting at, he stopped :

- Hey, Grant. And… Jemma, and… Skye, and Leo. Right ?

As the others nodded, he grinned to himself, as though he was quite proud to have remembered it all. Jemma couldn’t help but smile : it was endearing, the way he made a point to be nice to everyone, wasn’t it ? Often, she had seen him standing up for the smaller students, those that got picked on. It was quite heroic of him. As he walked away, Jemma followed him with her eyes, smiling slightly. She turned her head when Grant got up.

- Leaving so soon ? Skye asked, raising her eyebrows.

- Yeah. I have… somewhere to be.

And just like that, without further ado, he was leaving. Jemma shook her head slightly, sighing, and Skye chuckled.

- Isn’t he something, she commented.

- He’s so… grouchy, all the time, Jemma commented, turning her attention back to her friends. I don’t know how he does it. Does he ever smile ?

- You know he does, Skye said.

- Yes, once a year, Leo remarked.

Skye laughed, and Jemma glanced up at Grant’s retreating back. She caught him looking back at them quickly, pausing for a moment, before disappearing into the castle.

Peculiar.