The Great Wimbledom Tournament and Some New Attention
‘Potter, what is a Portaberto charm used for?’ Professor Flitwick asked.
James Potter didn’t look up from his notebook where his quill was flying frantically. ‘It’s used to splinter a lock from the door, sir.’
Professor Flitwick sighed lightly, ‘That’s great Mr Potter but I would really appreciate you paying attention in class.’
‘Sorry, professor,’ James lifted his head, his cheeks slightly flushed from embarrassment.
Flitwick turned back to the chalkboard, going back to talk about the side effects casting the spell wrong can occur in and how to reverse said side effects. It would probably be easier to just replace the door.
Amelia watched James from across the room. The son of the boy who lived had always fascinated her. She often wondered how he ever put up with the amount of people sticking their noses in the family's business.
She admired the familiarity and kindness displayed between the siblings and even more so how impressive it was that all the Weasley-Potter clan of cousins got along well, with few mishaps here and there.
He was clearly very kind, often helping others with assignments. He and Fred Weasley were always playing pranks, but they were kind natured and funny. He was brilliant, it wouldn’t surprise her if he could ace classes in his sleep.
James was tall with a slightly darker tint to his skin, his hair was messy, curling down his forehead slightly. If it wasn’t for his perfect vision, it was said he’d be easily mistaken as the younger version of his father.
In short, James Potter was the closest thing you could get to perfect.
Green eyes met her and she blushed, dropping her eyes back to her note book. She had been caught red handed ogling him.
‘Ms Goyle,’ Flitwick exclaimed, ‘Since you were definitely paying attention, what does the Somnambulist Charm do?’
Amelia eyed him carefully, ‘I’m not sure if you just want me to say we haven’t gone over that yet or actually tell you the answer but the Somnambulist Charm allows the caster to move an unconscious person by inducing somnambulism or sleepwalking.’
Flitwick raised an eyebrow, a slight grin crossing his face, ‘Impressive Ms Goyle, five points to Slytherin.’
Flitwick turned away but Amelia could feel eyes around the room on her; and no wonder why, that was a spell typically not learned until 7th year. However, Amelia spent most of her summer alone and had read all of the 6th and 7th year charms curriculum. It was her favourite subject and she hoped for a career in charms development after Hogwarts.
A harsh shoulder to her ribs knocked her breath out and she whipped her head to the left.
‘Don’t look now but James Potter is definitely staring at you,’ Imogen Bones whispered. Amelia met Imogen on her first day at Hogwarts, they shared a dorm in Slytherin and became friends quickly. Six years later and they were still inseparable.
‘Of course he’s staring at me, everyone is staring at me, I let my charms nerd show,’ she hissed back.
‘Um no, everyone is staring but he’s staring, if we weren’t in a classroom I’d go as far as to say he was checking you out,’ she muttered.
‘He’s probably just discovered our existence,’ she sighs.
Imogen pauses, ‘I hate that you could be right.’
She chokes back a laugh, ‘I am right.’
Honestly, Amelia wouldn’t blame Potter if he had no idea who they were. In her opinion the amount of people who try to attract and keep his attention daily would drive anyone insane.
Charms finished up quickly, Amelia’s love for the subjects dragging her attention back to Flitwick until class ended.
The two houses filtered out the door. Blocking up the corridor as they divided into friend groups and met up with friends from other classes.
‘Nice answer Amelia,’ came a shout. Imogen’s eyes widened as James Potter bounced up to their side, he was followed by Fred Weasley, one of the Scamander Twins and Lizzie Bell.
‘Oh thanks,’ Amelia shrugged, ‘It was nothing really.’
Imogen snorted, ‘That’s my little charms nerd.’
Amelia flashed her a betrayed look shoving her slightly with her hip.
‘Hey, charms is my favourite subject, maybe I’ll also take offence to that,’ James laughed, turning on his feet. ‘See you girls later.’
The two girls turned to each other.
‘That was weird right.’
‘He’s so into you.’
‘What?’
‘What?’
Imogen tutted, ‘Girl did you not see, his eyes didn’t leave you for the rest of the lesson.’
‘That’s ridiculous, he doesn’t know who I am,’ Amelia sighed. ‘Come on all the good sandwhiches are going to be gone.’
Imogen picked up pace to be walking beside her, ‘He knows your name. He might have only just realized you exist but he definitely likes what he sees.’
Amelia flushed, ‘Shut up.’
The girls entered the great hall, dropping down at the Hufflepuff table.
‘What’s going on?’ Phoebe Wood asked at their opposite expression.
‘James Potter has taken interest in our darling Amelia,’ Imogen said joyfully.
Amelia spluttered, ‘We had a three sentence conversation.’
Imogen grinned, ‘A three sentence conversation after he spent 20 minutes staring at you.’
A book slammed down on the table, “Matilda Dawlish”’ written across the cover in gorgeous cursive, ‘Why have I just heard that James Potter glued his eyes to Amelia during charms?’
Amelia’s jaw dropped, ‘What?’
‘Freya Crabbe came up to me asking if it was true,’ she exclaimed, dropping down onto the bench and snatching a sand which form the platter
‘What did you say?’ Phoebe asked, delighted.
Amelia and Melissa had been family friends for years and Melissa had always been rude and horrid to Amelia. Melissa had a huge parasocial crush on James and was definitely going to make her even more difficult.
‘That I don’t keep track of who Amelia fucks,’ Matilda shrugged.
Amelia slammed her head into the table as Phoebe and Imogen burst out laughing.
‘What are you ladies laughing at?’ A deep voice asked. Across the table, Imogen and Phoebe’s eyes froze, locked onto someone behind her.
‘Just how ironic it is that half of Hogwarts think you and Amelia are banging because you had one conversation,’ Matilda grinned at him.
He blinked. ‘Sorry?’
Amelia sighed, ‘You’re James Potter, everyone overanalysis what you do, they think we’re a thing because we had a three sentence conversation.’
His eye brows flew upwards, ‘Sorry?’
Matilda grinned wickedly, ‘There are going to be such juicy stories now that you’ve come over to the table.’
Imogen started laughing hysterically, ‘Today’s going to be interesting.’
James shuffled awkwardly, ‘I’m going to go.’
Amelia reached around and grabbed his wrist, ‘I’m sorry about them. They’re... special. I’ll see you later?’
‘Yea,’ James grinned, walking away backwards. ‘See you later, Mia.’
Amelia blinked, ‘Did he just give me a nickname?’
She turned around to see the other three ogling her.
‘Girl,’ Phoebe whispers, ‘He’s so into you.’
‘What?’ Amelia squawked, ‘No he’s not.’
‘I told you he was checking you out,’ Imogen squealed.
Matilda tilted her head slightly, ‘He definitely likes you. He literally lit up when you said see you later.’
‘Fuck,’ Amelia muttered, ‘Melissa’s going to be a right prick, isn’t she?’
Matilda smiled sheepishly, ‘Probably.’
The table fell silent.
‘Oh James, ignore them, they’re just being silly, James, see you later, James,’ Imogen snickered.
‘Shut up or I’ll tell Rosier you have a crush on her,’ Amelia snapped. Matilda barked out a laugh.
Imogen gawked at her, ‘You wouldn’t.’
‘She would,’ Matilda laughed. ‘That’s why it’s funny, she actually would.’
‘James Potter just makes her nicer,’ Phoebe muttered.
Amelia slammed her fork down onto the table, crossing her arms ‘I’m very nice.’
‘I’m very nice,’ Imogen mocked.
Amelia raised one eyebrow, paused for a minute and then pushed her chair out and stalked off in the direction of the nearly empty Ravenclaw table.
Imogen, who knew that Eleanor Rosier sat with her friends at the Ravenclaw table, jumped up and took off after her.
The great hall was well empty by now and Matilda and Phoebe followed the others to redirect them to their next class, laughing at Amelia’s attempt to scare Imogen.
* * * * *
James had stopped to talk to Amelia multiple times over the next few days and she had even built up the courage to say hello when they passed in the corridors. It was a Saturday morning and she was sitting in the library doing homework. She had woken up early and wasn’t able to get back to sleep, a problem due to the added anxiety of waiting for Melissa’s confrontation.
She was fourteen inches through her two foot paper for charms, proud to have made it over halfway in the bones of an hour. She got up, leaving her stuff scattered on the desk behind her and made her way over to the potions section.
Amelia scanned the shelf, pulling out a few books she thought might help her. She was flicking through one of these books to see if it had a section on the Angel's Trumpet draught.
A hand skimmed her head landing against the shelf to her right. Amelia turned around and found herself face-to-face with James.
From this close she noticed his eyes were a darker green than his father, they were murkier, swirling with a mix of darker shades of blue. His hair was messier today, she realized it was windswept, he obviously had just finished quidditch practice. He was grinning at her.
Amelia leaned back against the bookcase, it was hard to breathe when he was that close. ‘Who’s day did you decide to mess with this time?’
He raised an eyebrow, ‘I’d love to say yours but I don’t think that’s what you're referring to.’
She laughs. ‘Unless you plan to blow me up, I’d guess you were handling fireworks recently. And everyone knows Madam Prince is way too scary to mess with so you didn’t bring them here.’
‘Nice spot Mia,’ his eyes shone. ‘We decided Filch needed a bit of sparkle in his office, some exploding glitter fireworks did the trick.’
They stood for a second before Amelia cleared her throat, moving awkwardly to avoid touching him. She tapped her fingers against her book, it was a nervous habit of hers. ‘I secured a table for myself if you’d like to sit for a bit.’
James grinned, ‘I’d love to, what are we studying?’
‘I’m actually getting ahead of some homework, I’m hoping to watch the quidditch match later.’
‘I’m going too,’ James nodded, ‘Got to learn the other teams strategies and all that. Lend me some parchment?’
Amelia laughed, ‘That’s my house team you're talking about.’
He shrugged, ‘I’m your team now. Could I pretty please borrow some parchment?’
His team. Amelia swallowed.
‘Sure, I’ll tear some off, two seconds.’
James leaned back in the chair, his eyes not leaving her, ‘Take your time.’
Amelia started going to the library every Saturday morning. James joined her after every training session. He never brought parchment. She started packing an extra role.
* * * * *
Amelia and Matilda had long since given up on whatever homework the others were doing. They had started a tennis match using a crumpled up piece of parchment, using Imogen’s head as the net.
‘For godrick’s sake,’ Phoebe snapped, when a stray shot hit her for the fourth time. ‘You two need to go for a walk to burn off some energy.’
Matilda sat up with a mischievous grin on her face. ‘We should go find James Potter.’
Amelia blinked at her, ‘No.’
‘Please, they’re problem playing a prank or throwing around a ball, or something at least more interesting than this,’ she groaned.
Amelia shook her head, ‘I can’t believe you don’t appreciate our Wimbledon Tournament.’
‘Maybe I’d enjoy it if you didn’t have a stupidly good, paper ball aim,’ she exclaimed.
‘Why was your solution to finding James Potter? It’s not like you haven’t been a sore loser before,’ Amelia questioned.
‘Firstly, rude,’ Matilda said, sticking out her tongue. ‘Secondly, James Potter wasn’t an option before.’
‘But it is now?’
‘For you, yes. For me, no. For me if I drag you along, yes.’ She paused for a moment. ‘I think anybody could as long as they brought you along, James Potter is a little obsessed with you.’
‘He’s not obsessed with me,’ Amelia scoffed.
‘And I also talk to everyone I’m not obsessed with every time I see them,’ she deadpanned. ‘Come on, we’re going. It’s your duty as my friend to wingman me into making fun friends.’
‘We’re fun,’ Imogen protested.
"We're very fun Im, she’s just getting fussy, picture her to be like a toddler. You stop giving her attention for half a second and you're practically dead to her,’ Phoebe smirked.
Matilda jumped up, ready to start a fight.
‘Fine, we can go find James,’ Amelia chirped, grabbing Matilda by the arm and yanking her towards the door.
The girl’s headed out of the Hufflepuff dorm rooms, stopping to say quick hello’s as they passed through the common room.
‘Where do you think they'd be?’ she asked, head swivelling back and forth.
‘We’re not going to find them if they’re hiding in the castle mid-prank,’ Amelia sighed. ‘James loves being outside, why don’t we see if they’re hanging around the grounds to start, at least it’s a somewhat smaller area to search.’
They flew down the front steps of the castle, the crisp March air biting at their exposed faces.
They wandered the path down towards the quidditch pitch where a few players from different houses were having a friendly throw around.
A Gryffindor landed in front of them. It was the Scamander twin, Amelia saw with James.
‘Hey Lorcan,’ Matilda grinned. ‘Where’re your buddies?’
Lorcan glanced at Amelia and smirked. ‘James is down by the great lake.’
‘She asked where they all were, not just James,’ Amelia raised an eyebrow, she knew what he was trying to do.
Lorcan grinned at her response, ‘They’re all there. I’m just finished here, I’ll walk with you.’
The trio made their way back up the path towards the castle, skirting around the edge of the building.
‘So what drew you fine ladies out of the Hufflepuff common room,’ Lorcan asked, stretching his arms up above his head.
Matilda blinked but Amelia shrugged used to James randomly knowing where she’s been. They probably saw them heading over that direction together.
‘She got bored,’ Amelia huffed. ‘But she had too much energy and tried to fight Phoebe, so I had to take her for a walk, it’s like she’s a dog or something.’
‘For the last time, I am not a dog,’ Matilda exclaimed, dragging her hands down her face.
They walked along in silence for a minute.
‘Woof,’ Lorcan whispered. Amelia cackled.
Matilda groaned, ‘You guys are the worst.’ She stalked off ahead of them.
Lorcan stopped suddenly and turned to face her, ‘You have James Potter wrapped around your finger you know.’
Amelia blinked, ‘What?’
He shrugged and followed Matilda. Amelia ran to keep up, mind racing.
…sh and friend are mean and annoying,’ they heard at the end of Matilda’s sentence.
Amelia dropped down beside her, ‘I actually think Lorcan’s a comedic genius.’
‘Of course you do,’ Matilda said, arms flailing, ‘He was making fun at me.’
‘Duh, that’s why it was funny,’ she muttered. Matilda shoved her hard and she glared at her, scooting away from her.
She glanced around at the big group of people, ‘Didn’t realize we were interrupting a family reunion.’
James groaned beside her. ‘I wasn’t either,’ he muttered.
‘This is going to sound stupid but can you do a name run through,’ she whispered.
He blinked at her, ‘You don’t know whose who?’
‘I can’t say I make it a habit to track your family so I’m afraid I only know a few of you,’ she hisses defensively. ‘Albus is in Slytherin right? Fred sits next to you in most classes? And Rose is a year up in potions so she’s the same class as us right?’
He nods, ‘Hugo and Lily are second years, they’re sitting together over there. Lily and Albus are my siblings, the rest are just annoying additions.’
James had gotten closer to her. Her heart beat hard in her chest.
‘You guys should come to my birthday party,’ she heard Matilda exclaim. She glanced over at her friend who was in her full social butterfly element. ‘It’s colour themed, so everyone dress as a colour.’
The Gryffindors blinked at her but hastily agreed at the mention of supplied alcohol. Sometimes it helped to have shitty parents and big allowances. Imogen and her were contributing the alcohol as part of their present to Matilda. Amelia made a mental note to double the amount they planned to get.
‘Hold up, Imogen and I are buying for sure but how do you expect us to carry that much full stop, don’t mind past Filch and through the castle gates,’ she asked. ‘You can’t invite everyone, unless you get me help.’
‘We’ll get it in,’ James shrugged.
Amelia stared at him, ‘How are you planning to do that?’
"We'll show you later, there are ears around.’
The next Hogsmeade weekend came quickly. Amelia reminded James of his promise and quickly ended up with two sets of arms and a map of the secret passages leading out of Hogwarts.
James and Fred ended up doing all the carrying. Amelia blatantly stared at James. Fred spent the whole time snickering.
They piled it into the corner of the dorm room in Hufflepuff.
‘Are you going to come?’ Amelia asked James, ‘To the party.’
He paused, ‘Would that be okay?’
‘I’d like that,’ she whispered.
Fred snickered. Again.
James sighed, pushing Fred out the door of the Hufflepuff common room ahead of him. He turned suddenly.
‘Wait what colour are you wearing Mia,’ he shouted.
‘Blue, why?’
He winked, shoving Fred out the door and closing it behind him.