There's something 'bout the way,
The street looks when it's just rained.
There's a glow off the pavement, you walk me to the car,
And you know I wanna ask you to dance right there
In the middle of the parking lot
There's always something about the rain that fascinated her to a certain degree where she would stop whatever it is she was doing just to admire the way the castle dim as the clouds starts to shadow over the sun, how the dewy smell of rain and grass starts to permeate everywhere, and how the air got slightly colder. Her friends would comment on her weird obsession but nothing and no one could ever stop her from enjoying the natural phenomenon.
Except James Sirius Potter.
Seriously (no pun intended), that boy seems to always show up in the rain, right in front of her tower, right at the one spot she could see him best outside her dormitory window, and mess the whole ambience with his loud voice and distracting figure, running around causing a commotion. She would probably get a minute or two of absolute peace before he came along and started shitting his bloody chaotic energy around, and normally she wouldn't take it personally. No, she was a calm lady, completely in control of her emotions. Nothing can sway her, not even when her ex boyfriend dumped her in the great hall right during breakfast or when a certain professor would criticised her exam answers in front of everyone, or, or when she absentmindedly stared at her crush for too long that he noticed and proceeded to inform everyone of the bluff.
No, she was calm, calm until he happened.
It started back in their sixth year. James was in Gryffindor, no surprise there, and she was in Ravenclaw. They weren't in the same house, nor do they have many intersecting classes, so it is a wonder how they managed to get acquainted. Anyway, it was during potions class, her friends were returning to their seats after comforting her about when she got obliterated back in the great hall a few minutes ago. During the whole interaction, she kept a nonchalant smile, acting as if everything that happened didn't bother her at all, and everyone except her friends bought it.
Don't worry, she said to herself, matters like this will blow over in a couple of hours. She wasn't totally wrong, in fact it would have blown over if it wasn't for a James Sirius Potter.
The moment he stepped into the room, he zeroed in on her and started bellowing in laughter. Note that they weren't acquainted at all, so herself and everyone included was wondering why the most popular guy in Hogwarts just started laughing out of nowhere, moreover to a girl he doesn't know at all. It wasn't until he started wheezing out some punchline about her failure of a relationship.
It was something along the lines of, "Quidditch matches last longer than a relationship with Ettner". Speaking objectively, it wasn't funny, wasn't even moderately hilarious or close to a punchline at all, what you need to know is that Potter boy has a hidden talent. He could say anything unfunny but make it hilarious that even Headmaster McGonagall would crack a smile too and it all has to do with his charisma and just who he is. So it was no wonder that everyone including her friends started laughing along with him, some boldly laughing aloud, but at least her friends had the decency to hide their laugh, but she could still see the way her lips would pucker and tilt upwards slightly.
That was it, a meagre issue that would've died down was instead doused with fuel, so much that she got burnt, and it was all his fault. She looked dumbfounded and it continued even after Professor Zabini entered and everyone stopped laughing. She turned her head to see her friends mouthing apologies one after another, but all she did was glare at them and mouth back, "I'll see to you later". Then she went back to focusing in class, obviously not in her best moods, and her need to look totally unfaltered by what just happened gained James' attention more, causing him to stare at her curiously, something she failed to notice.
"Does anyone know what Amortentia is?"
That brought everyone asleep and half-asleep back online. As if everyone was doused with the invigoration draught with their wide eyed expression. That potion is famous for its dangerous and attractive outlook, and as fifth years, they've only heard from older students or read about it but never had the opportunity to actually physically experience it, so it came to no surprise that everyone was highly awake then. More than half of the class raised their hands, excited to answer the million dollar question.
"Ms. Ettner, please explain to us what amortentia is,"
"Amortentia is, by far, the most powerful love potion ever created. It can greatly affect the drinker's emotional acceptance regarding love, lust and infatuation, and no matter how powerful the potion is, it can never truly create love in its entirety, just the empty shell of what love can feel like. It has a distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen, and it smells different to individual people according to what attracts said individual."
"Wonderful explanation, Ms. Ettner. Five points to Ravenclaw. Now if you would do the honours to come up to the front and tell us what you smell."
She did exactly as he instructed, she got up and went upfront. Her hand was jittery as she walked towards the cauldron. She took a big whiff and, "I smell my favourite lemon flavoured tea, cookies, parchment, and rain." She said the last with such a reminiscent smile that it blew away an unsuspecting victim.
After her trial, Professor Zabini allowed everyone to line up and smell the cauldron. By the time class ended, she was immediately hit by a wave of her most favourite smell. She quickly rushed out of the class and as she got closer to the ground level did she start hearing the drips. She peered out to the open hallway with glee in her normally stoic face. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths and she enjoyed the air around her. Little did she know, a certain someone rushed after her after seeing a strange expression she had.
James wondered what's on her head. Never once did he ever see a crack in that carefully crafted mask of her, heck, not even a breakup can falter her, but to his surprise all it took was something she loved and he found that it was the rain. A curious thing to love, yet it only further interests him, making him want to know more, more of her, her likes and dislikes.
From then on, that was all he did. He concocted a plan to start making her get used to him. Fred Weasley II, his cousin, was ordered to befriend her friends. Easy for him since he fancies a certain friend of hers. Next, he made sure to show up in places she would often go to, that means he has to enter the library 24/7. All students and staff alike were surprised by his shadow lurking around the library floor. He would sit at a table where he can see her best and vice versa, when this didn't work that well, he would go for the next best thing; the rain.
He would pay very close attention to the weather each day, whenever he caught the sound of drips, he would immediately rush outside, right where the Ravenclaw Tower inhabitants could see best, and start roughhousing there. By then, everyone in the castle was already used to his bizarre behaviour over the past two weeks, so they took one look, sighed and went back to whatever it is they were doing. Except for one person.
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"It's not working. She's literally not phased at all."
James slammed his head onto the table in frustration. He and Fred were down in the great hall for breakfast. After almost a month of dilly dallying here and there to catch her attention, it bore no fruit at all, rather it did him more bad than good. He looked like an actual idiotic buffoon in front of everyone, including her. How his grandfather and namesake managed to do this for years, he has no idea.
"Actually mate, I think your plan might be working after all,"
This immediately brought James back from his mopey state. Like an eager puppy, James eyed Fred to elaborate.
"Well, Stacey told me a certain friend of hers has been bad mouthing you for quite a while now. She wasn't exactly running around happy about the rain act you did."
Instead of being discouraged by the negative impression like he thought he would, he was rather giddy at the fact that she has been watching him all this time. For once in the whole process of this mission of his, did he actually think it might work.
Looking up, he tried finding her figure amongst the abundant number of students running, getting to their table. When he managed to do so, he saw her talking to another Ravenclaw guy. They were talking animatedly and at a certain point the guy said something that made her giggle uncontrollably.
"Mate, you got to loosen that grip on that poor fork,"
He didn't realise the pressure he was gripping his utensils with until Fred had to physically touch him for him to look away from that scene.
"What?!"
"Keep looking and everyone will find out about your humongous crush on Ettner."
"Keep your voice down" James quickly hushes Fred, fast enough to avoid his whole branch of family members sitting just on the other side of the table listening in, God knows he'll be in on it forever if they ever get their hands on this information. "Plus, I, James Potter, do not have a crush on Ettner. I was just curious."
Fred nods, not looking convinced at all. A distant laugh caught James' attention once more, directing his vision towards the couple. James felt the need to do something real quick before something can spark between the two, before that weird feeling in his stomach can return again.
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She woke up with a jolt. She noticed her roommates were down at breakfast already so she checked the time before jumping to her feet, realising it's already past 8. Quickly brushing her hair, Abigail rushed down the stairs where she happened to accidentally bump into a fellow Ravenclaw.
She was never really familiar with him even if they were in the same house, but as she got to talking with him, she found that they had a lot in common.
They continued to talk as they made their way to their house table.
"And she proceeded to dump the whole bloody gravy on me and that was with my whole family and hers watching. Bloody hell, I still get chills just thinking about it."
She gasped and laughed at the very animated story of his failed engagement dinner. Turns out his fiancee didn't appreciate him coming out during dinner. Then he started talking about his parents' reaction to his muggle boyfriend, whilst listening to him she accidentally landed her eyes on Potter who was weirdly putting both his hands on Weasley's lips. Weird.
"...rything was total chaos. My mother almost fainted, and my sister kept asking my father what gay is, you should see the look on my father's face..."
Abigail didn't want him to think she was rude, so she quickly laughed and smiled at the boy. Putting her absolute focus back to the boy who was wildly gesturing to his story.
"Oh, I think I'll see my friends there. See you sometime later, Ettner." Jeremy stood up and waved goodbye to which she was about to respond back to when suddenly he shouted to her,
"Watch out!"
She didn't manage to understand what he meant until she felt it. An extremely cold substance suddenly dropped on her, she looked down on the green slimy goo as it dripped down her hair onto the table and the floor. She went extremely rigid, even when she saw Jeremy trying to help her and she didn't know why but her eyes directly made contact with Potter's who looked extremely aghast.
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"I SWEAR THAT ARSEHOLE DID IT"
They are currently in the Ravenclaw common room. Stacey was trying her hardest to placate the rarely enraged Abigail. The latter was pacing around the room, arms wildly gesturing to the air, emphasising every reason she got after accusing Potter for the great hall accident. Everyone passing the common was watching or starting to watch, rushing Stacey to distract the unaware Abigail, who would later regret her actions, so she quickly said something that shut the frantic girl instantly.
"What did you say?" Abigail became calm, stressing each word, as she looked to her friend dead in the eye. Stacey gulped, braving herself after unleashing the pandora box.
"I think Potter was jealous."
"Of who??"
"You and Larsen obviously."
"Jealous?!" she scoffed, "Why on earth would he be jealous?!"
Stacey put both her hands up, to sign surrender. Abigail kept staring at her friend, trying to figure out what she was trying to imply. Apparently the shock managed to calm Abigail down, as it always does.
A few minutes passed by before Abigail spoke up.
"How was Weasley?" Abigail's attempt to change the subject was guaranteed a success when her friend immediately beamed as soon as she heard his name. As much as she hates having any of Potter's cooties around her, she can't ignore how happy her friend is, happier than she's ever been.
"Oh, he's amazing Ab. I used to think he's a twat, but ugh he was so much more once you get to know him, y'know." Blimey, if she had known how long this would take, she would've chosen a milder topic.
"You have to meet him, Ab. You just have to. You've got to believe me and meet him, yeah?"
One thing everyone should know about this friendship dynamic is that Stacey is the bubbly, energetic friend who wears her heart on her sleeves whereas Abigail is the silent, observant friend who lives vicariously through her adventurous friend. Another thing to know is that Stacey has this special ability to convince anyone to do just about anything and her puppy eyes are the most lethal of them all.
Right now, Abigail is trying her hardest to turn away from Stacey's invitational gaze. The first one to turn away loses, so when Abigail shifted her eyes a fraction of a centimetre, Stacey instantly jumped up in victory.
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It was Saturday. If it was any other Saturday, Abigail would've been gleefully jumping up and down with the idea of sleeping in, however today was no normal Saturday. Today is the Saturday where she would be introduced to Fred Weasley II, courtesy of Stacey Williams.
She and Stacey were about to announce the password of the Gryffindor common room, when the fat lady portrait opened on its own and Potter was seen about to walk out.
Both sides were shocked at each other's appearance. Neither showed their inner feelings of glee and distaste. The girls waited for him to move out of the way, and when he did, they both stepped in, not without Potter's shoulders brushing past hers.
They both stepped into the bright red common room. The Gryffindor common room was very different to the usual solemn blue common room the girls grew up in. It was warmer here, and more well-lit. Stacey quickly spotted Fred's figure and ran over to him while Abigail walked closely behind. She noticed that Potter, who was previously seen heading out, was following them back into the common room. Weird, and apparently Fred thought the same.
"Mate, I thought you were heading out."
"No, I just went out for a quick walk, that's all."
"But, you clearly sai-"
Potter, again, slammed his hands over Fred's mouth. James clearly tried his hardest to communicate telepathically to Fred using his eyes and it worked as Fred started changing the topic smoothly.
The talk was going great if she might say so herself. She quickly can see why her friend was so enamoured with Fred because he just has this boyish charm that reminds her so much of her little brother back at home. So it came as a surprise to everyone with how quickly she became in sync with Fred. The meeting would've been perfect in her eyes if it wasn't for Potter who kept looking back at her and Fred, especially the latter with an extremely betrayed expression. She bet it's because he doesn't want his cousin near his enemy, maybe that's why he chose not to go on his walk.
Abigail was about to call it a day when two redheaded children, who looked like they're in their second year, rushed in, in a screaming match, followed by another redheaded girl and black haired boy with green eyes who looked to be around their fourth year. The previously vacant and peaceful common room became ground zero for a pretty personal violent quarrel.
She felt like she was intruding and was about to head out when one of the redheaded girls, the young one, pointed at her and said,
"Hey, aren't you the girl James dumped green goo in the great hall."
If it was a normal situation, she would've poke her tongue out at Stacey but right now she found it hard to move when everyone's eyes immediately darted to her figure.
"Shite, she is, isn't she."
"Lily, it's not polite to point at peo- Albus, don't curse." The older redheaded girl reprimanded the younger redheaded named Lily and the black haired boy named Albus, to which she assumed were Potter's younger siblings.
"Hi, I'm sorry for their rude behaviou- Blimey, I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Rose, Rose Weasley. Fred and James' cousin."
"Oh, hi. I'm Abi-"
"Abigail Ettner. I'm familiar. Your research essay on the calming draught was brilliant and the way you carried that into its possible role in impacting the muggle health care system was absolutely splendid."
Abigail didn't know how to react to such a passionate and sincere compliment so all she could do was smile sheepishly. She decided she liked Rose Weasley. The latter was about to go on more but was hushed by her counterpart Albus, who was eager to ask a question.
"So, what happened in the great hall?"
Rose clearly wasn't happy being repressed but she quickly got over it when she looked to Abigail for an answer too.
"Well. Actually I'm not quite sure either." Abigail then turned towards the perpetrator, "Mind explaining to all of us why I was doused in goo, Potter."
The attention quickly shifts to the oldest Potter who has been silent the whole exchange. He gulped in nervousness after seeing so many eyes on him, especially hers.
"It wasn't aimed at you, I swear. It was supposed to land on the snakes behind you." James quickly spouted the first excuse that came to mind.
Abigail promptly scoffed while his cousins snickered with laughter at his poor attempt at an explanation. James blushed at himself and quickly excused himself,
"I,- I just remembered I've got- uhm- homework. See you later, Ettner." And with that, the eldest potter, known for his bravery, ran away like a chicken
.
James could feel his namesakes slapping their foreheads at him, heck, he could see himself doing it to his body in third person. James groaned as he started picking up his pace, knocking his head once every while.
While James was busy berating himself, the common room was silent. Its occupants, namely the Potter-Weasley gang, were stifling their laughter before releasing it when they heard that James was far enough away.
"Bloody hell, 'm never James like that ever. Ettner, what spell did you put him under." Albus wheezed out, trying to calm his hurting stomach.
Abigail, on the other hand, was dumbfounded. One, because everyone kept pushing Potter and her together and second, because she actually thought Potter was cute. Instead of her it might have been him jinxing her but she couldn't possibly say any of that stuff without major backlash.
Stacey saw the wheels turning in her friend's head and decided to cut her some slack, so she grabbed Fred to introduce his cousins to her, to which he readily did. Finally, it left some breathing space for Abigail to recollect her calm.
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Over the span of a few days, Abigail and Rose became unlikely but not surprising friends. Rose saw a big older sister in Abigail that she never had, and Abigail finally got the chance to experience what it felt like to have a younger sister. The latter can finally ask some of her academic enquiries without being ridiculed, so it didn't take long for Rose to find mental solace in the calm older witch. Abigail felt that Rose was extremely smart, if not smarter than herself, to which she mentioned several times, causing Rose to sport a blush most of the time.
Not only was she close to Rose, but she also found a sister with the youngest Potter. Growing up with two older brothers, Lily immediately took interest in Abigail as a role model that wasn't family (yet). Abigail found that the youngest Potter was extremely cheeky in an adoring way, she would find the time to talk with Lily about some girl problems she had or just anything really.
Albus Potter would also find himself asking the older witch for advice. Something he does more often now, especially when he accidentally took notice of his brother's sour face whenever any of them would get close to Abigail. He would go out of his way to talk to the older witch whenever James is present.
Throughout this whole affair, the only Potter-Weasley member who was quite conflicted with the situation was the oldest Potter. He was glad when he saw Abigail religiously appear in his house , but that happiness was quickly squandered when he saw his cousin and siblings' blooming relationship with her as opposed to his own diminishing one.
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It was another Saturday.
Many Saturdays have passed since their last meeting. Potter seemed to have been avoiding her, seeing that she never saw him or his shadow for the past weeks she's been in the Gryffindor house. So it came as a surprise when Potter would stand in front of her willingly.
The usually cocky boy became timid and his usual confident posture was replaced with a docile one. She's currently staring at him while he tries his hardest to avoid eye contact as he speaks up,
"Ettner, I would like to apologise for what happened in the great hall."
Out of all the things she thought he would have spoken about, this was the last thing on her mind.
She nodded before halting, "Is this why you've been avoiding me like 'm an ancient plaque, Potter?"
"No, I mean, a little bit, but it was all on me. I was too embarrassed to face you, y'see." James had been waiting for a reaction but the one he got was so unexpected.
Similarly, Abigail didn't expect to laugh. She also didn't expect to find Potter cute twice now, but somehow she didn't regret vocalising it.
"You're cute when you're like that, Potter."
Maybe it was the Weasley ginger genes, but James' face immediately flared up beetroot red. Never once in his life did he ever feel the extreme need to fan his flaming face, but all he could do was to cover his face, unable to face the witch in front of him.
Abigail snickered seeing the adorable behaviour before her.
"Alright, I've forgiven you already, so don't, you don't need to be in your tiptoes around me, okay?"
She didn't bother to wait for a reply as she found that she was cutting close to her appointment with Rose in the Library.
"See you later Pott- James."
The whole interaction, he barely said anything. All he could do is meekly nod.
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Afterlife POV
James F Potter: *slaps forehead*
Sirius B (Reminiscing): No, that's pretty accurate actually. Reminds me quite of you mate. Ah, the good ol days.
James F Potter: ...
Lily Evans: I second that
Remus Lupin: I second Lily's second.
Albus Dumbledore: Yes, I also second both Mr. Lupin and Mrs. Potter's second.
—-----------------------------------------
James started approaching Abigail more and more after their last embarrassing encounter. They hung out so much that both of them could list the other's habits. Abigail observed that James really likes to run his hands through his hair, hence why it's always messy. On the other hand, James noticed that she likes to bite her nails whenever she's nervous.
It was lunch time, James made his rare appearance at the Ravenclaw house table.
"Are you going home for Christmas?"
"No, I plan on staying here."
James was never an observant person but even an emotionally daft person like him can see that she never went home during the holidays, long and short term ones.
"Hey, do you want to come to the burrow for the holidays?"
"The burrow?"
"Oh yeah, it's my grandparents' place. Everyone would go there for the holidays."
"Ah, it's fine. I'm used to staying at the castle already. Thanks for offering though."
James saw how uncomfortable the topic made her feel, so he quickly changed the topic. He made a mental note to go talk with his female family members for a favour.
—----------------------------------------------
The sun was shining its brightest, casting an enchanting glow over the white snow coated ground of the castle. Students were packing their bags, saying goodbye to those staying. Abigail, who used to be amongst the latter, suddenly got promoted when the infamous Potter-Weasley gang emotionally blackmailed her into joining them for the holidays. Everyone knew she wasn't emotionally resistant to puppy eyes, but deep down she knew that she was just tired of pretending to be okay when in fact she was lonely.
As soon as she arrived in front of the burrow, she could immediately tell why one would spend many Christmases and other holidays in this place. The place reeks of home ,whatever home feels like. Even after its long history, the Burrow is still standing proudly crooked.
She met the Potter-Weasley older gang back at King's Cross Station. Safe to say, she, like many others, was in absolute awe when she saw the golden trio she heard so much of in history class. And for a second, her brain stopped functioning when they told her to call them by their first names.
She, then, met the matriarch of the family. She was as kind and warm as James had described, she was like a grandma she never had. Abigail was assigned a room with Rose and Lily. During the day, she would help around the Burrow. At night, they would lay in their own respective beds and just talk till one of them falls asleep to which the others would follow suit.
On the other hand, James and her barely spent time together, considering he was assigned different tasks from her. But when they do, they make the most out of it. One night she really remembered was on Christmas night. They had a large family dinner, with James' extended family joining in, and after dinner, the adults send the kids away to play while they catch up with each other.
At one point, everyone was socialising with each other, but as time passed on, the number started to dwindle down to just a few. Abigail and James were one of those who left, or it was more like she left and James followed her.
Abigail was about to sleep early but since James was with her, they decided to sneak out. James showed her to the barren land near the lake. She had no idea how long they sat there but with James, it felt like mere minutes. They talked about their memories of the past and wishes of the future.
There's this point of their conversation where it was quiet. Not an awkward kind of quiet but a warm kind of quiet. The kind that felt like laying on a cloud like mattress, engulfing one with everlasting hugs.
It was also the kind that made her realise just how important James, or Rose, Lily, even Albus are to her. Stacey is a very good friend, an irreplaceable part of her heart, but James, Lily, and Rose are like her family.
Maybe that was the reason why she felt like she could open up to James. She never truly did with Stacey, maybe this was her breaking point. Well, whatever it was, she knew it would happen one day, she was glad it was with James and not some stranger in a pub.
"My parents never liked me, being a witch that is." Her sad face, illuminated with the cool glow of the moon, caused distress in James' heart.
"I didn't notice it at first, but I became aware of how distant they became. They never made an attempt to contact me at school, even when they were dropping me at the station, I could see the relief in their eyes. No matter how hard they tried to hide it, I knew that they were glad to get rid of their disappointment in their daughter."
"I tried to get them to like magic as I came to do. I tried, I really did. My mother was more subtle whereas my dad was way more vocal with their dislike. Whenever I would try to talk about Hogwarts, fights would always immediately happen. It started small, with small bouts of disagreements but over time it just got worse. And from then on, I've always looked to the rain for comfort. It fills the unbearable silence and washes away my loneliness."
"Not to mention, they would always try to hide my brother, Andrew, from me. To try to keep him safe, they said. Safe from me. My brother.... We were so close before, before magic. Now I barely see him. He doesn't understand what's happening yet, but God, I'm terrified when that day comes. When-" Her voice cracked, her tears were waiting for the right moment to fall, "When he realised his founded hatred for me, and when that day comes, I'll be-, I'll truly be alone." She said, tears dripping, the last word a hushed whisper, a low hush that one could barely hear but even James could hear her heart and his breaking.
The previously warm silence was then replaced by sorrowful sobs. James never spoke a word even after she finished. All he did was pull her into his embrace. Silence has never felt so forgiving.
Two hearts beat that night.
They beat together.
—------------------------------------------------
It was now their seventh and final year at Hogwarts. She got kicked out from her house as soon as she came of age. To be fair, she's been expecting it ever since her last stay at her house. The only thing she was sad about was leaving her brother but there was nothing she could except say her final goodbyes to him. When Stacey heard of her familial situation, she was disappointed at first but after a lot of communication from Abigail explaining herself, the two quickly made up. As soon as she got disowned, the Potter Weasley family, that she had got extremely close to during the holidays, immediately adopted her as one of their own.
That meant James and her got more time, and after what happened on Christmas night, they both felt closer than ever. But even though everyone could see the sparks between them, the couple never felt the need to make it official. Well James never felt the need to, until he starts to notice the way some guys start to look at her in the same manner he did. Especially when he saw that Jeremy guy with Abigail, they were in the library doing assignments together. At one point, he made her laugh and smile at his joke, and James felt nervous for the first time.
He and Abigail barely had any lessons together, and he wonders in fear if those moments of separation might cause him to lose her. It wasn't that he thinks lowly of their relationship, he knew what they had was strong, but sometimes he doubts if she feels the same way as he did for her. Never had he ever felt more regret for their ambiguous relationship.
They were 17. Who knows what the world has in store for them. So all he could do now is to focus on what he knows. His feelings. And so Gryffindor pulled in several of his familial connections to create the best confession ever in the history of Hogwarts that even outshone his grandfather/namesake's 7 years worth of confessions.
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His plan was going wonderfully, if it wasn't for one thing that he forgot to plan for. Abigail was starting to worry when she saw each member of the Potter-Weasley gang avoiding her. She tried to recall any incident that might cause her to deserve this evasion. The worst started filling her head, leaving her in a very depressive state. She became numb from head to toe, unable to find the will to eat at the thought of another family abandoning her.
It took such a toll on her health that one day she woke up at the hospital wing. James was beside her bed, holding her hands while he laid his head on the little space left on the bed. It looked extremely uncomfortable to sleep in, but it certainly didn't show in his face when he felt that she had woken up. His face is marred with stress, clearly worried to death and her sudden sickness. He had been so focused on the confession that he forgot to pay attention to the person it was for.
James began his very long rant about her health but all Abigail could do was to stare at him blankly. It caused James to stop his rant and he was about to hold her hand one more time, but she quickly moved it away from his reach. It pains her to see the hurt in his eyes but she has to protect herself, she can't allow herself to hope anymore.
The silence was painfully hard on both of them.
"You should go, James."
It was as if his fears had materialised and the very nightmare he had been dreading finally came true. In his immense hurt, he couldn't find it in himself to control himself.
"Y'know, I thought we had a mutual understanding. About us."
Abigail tensed over his words.
"How dare you say that. I'm not the one avoiding the other like a plague for weeks."
James finally saw his mistake. He sat down beside her bed with such a dumbfounded expression. He sighed at himself before turning to Abigail with his most earnest expression, "Shite, It's not what you think it is. I had a plan- uhm, actually it might be better to show it to you."
James then took Abigail to the seventh floor when they stood in front of a bare wall.
Abigail was about to say something when suddenly a door started emerging on the wall. James guides her as they walk to open the door. Inside, every ginger Potter-Weasley, with the exception of Albus, was running amok. Rose and Lily were fittingly charming several flowers on the side, in the centre there were Albus, Hugo, and Fred charming fancy lights and banners while Stacey was guiding them.
Abigail looked at the scene before her in amazement and relief, she then turned to James who was looking at her, like she was his rain.
Well, you stood there with me in the doorway
My hands shake, I'm not usually this way but
You pull me in and I'm a little more brave
It's the first kiss, it's flawless, really something
It's fearless
Albus: Dammit, James, couldn't keep her out for a few more hours could you?!
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There was always something about the rain that fascinated her. Maybe it was the way it kept her warm even during the coldest days of her life, or maybe it was because it had given her a certain Gryffindor boy who'd eventually and unexpectedly became her everything.