Pain shot through my skull as noise and light filtered into my perfectly black bubble of dreamless sleep.
I felt rough but warm fingers gently stroking my arm.
That feels nice.
Quite nice.
“I’m not waking her up.” Someone spoke. It sounded like a guy.
But that can’t be right.
Guys can’t get up the stairs to the girl’s dormitories.
“Come on man, we cannot get caught with a girl in our room. It’s not worth it, even if it’s her.” Another voice reasoned, sounding exasperated.
“I am not waking her up.” The first voice repeated, sounding slightly angry.
“Fine! I’ll do it.Tiff?” A voice quietly spoke above me.
A deep voice.
A very male voice.
Oh fuck.
Where am I?
What did I do last night?
I tried desperately to recall the events of the previous evening but I kept drawing a blank.
I just love traditions.
I groaned and rolled over, pulling the covers over my head. I didn’t want to think about anything.
Just sleep.
Lovely, lovely sleep.
The mystery man voice chuckled and gently pulled the blanket off my head.
Curses.
“Tiffany you really should get up. You need to get back to your own dorm.”
My own dorm?
Who’s dorm am I in?
What.
Did I do last night.
I shot up in the bed, banging my head against the mystery bloke’s since he’d been leaning over to get a closer look at my face.
“Fuck!” I yelled, clutching my forehead.
Hm. I’ve been cussing quite a lot this morning.
Eh, fuck it. My head hurts. And Merlin, I’m thirsty.
Ah, hangovers.
“Shit, Tiff!” Weasley cried, clutching his nose.
Weasley.
As in Freddy Weasley.
And why is James Potter in bed next to me.
And why is his arm around my waist.
And why is he stroking my arm.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT.
I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to stop the room from spinning. Once I’d somewhat succeeded, I took in my surroundings.
Gross.
I was in the boy’s dorm, presumably in Potter’s bed, and the room was ridiculously messy.
Crumpled boxers, sweat stained shirts, random socks.
And it smelled weird.
It smelled like guy.
I climbed out of the bed quickly, extremely pleased to find that all my clothes were still on.
Virginity still intact!
Jeanine would be happy.
Potter’s smirking at me and that’s exactly the last thing I want to see right now.
My gag reflex is greatly heightened at the moment.
So I shut the curtain closed around his fourposter, blocking out his face.
I heard an indignant ‘hey!’ but the curtains didn’t reopen.
I swallowed against the dryness of my throat. “Weasley. Why am I here?” I asked him in what I hoped was a calm and measured voice.
Can you blame me if I sounded a little freaked out?
I woke up in James Potter’s bed.
James.
Freaking.
Potter.
Freddy furrowed his brows, getting up as well, “You don’t remember?”
When I shook my head he grinned.
Oh god.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, breathing deeply, “What happened Freddy.”
“Your sacred virginity is still intact, if that’s what you’re wondering.”
Punch. Him. In the mouth.
Oh how badly I wanted to.
“I’m more curious as to why I’m in his bed instead of mine, actually. And where are my friends?” Stay calm. Stay calm.
He’ll just tease you if you get worked up.
Hangover cannot handle teasing this early in the morning.
He sighed dramatically, slinging his bag over his chest, “So many questions, so little time. You really should get to your own dorm. People are starting to get up.” And with that he opened the door and walked out without another word.
The nerve!
Well, might as well take advantage of the situation.
It’s not often I’ll get to see Noah all cute and asleep.
Yes, I’m aware I sound like a stalker.
No, I do not care.
I crept over and peeked behind the curtains of one of the beds.
Yuck.
Ted Oakwood. Drooling.
Definitely not Noah.
I tiptoed to the next bed and pulled the curtains back slowly.
Awww.
Noah’s hair is going every which way, adorably messy.
His face is buried in the pillow and a contented sigh escapes his lips.
It was almost a shame to wake him.
But I really need to know what happened last night.
I ever so carefully sat down on the edge of his bed, praying he wouldn’t wake up to see me just sitting and staring at him.
I reached out and gently prodded his arm. “Noah?” I spoke quietly.
His brow furrowed but he didn’t wake up.
“Noah.” I said, moving my head closer to his.
“Tiffany?” He mumbled confusedly, not opening his eyes.
“Yeah, hi Noah.” I greeted awkwardly.
He sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, “What are you doing here?”
“I’m actually wondering the same thing. I... I don’t really remember anything from last night.” I blushed.
He smiled at me, making me blush even more. He stretched and leaned back against his headboard, “Well I don’t know everything but I do know that you and your friends were really, really pissed last night.”
I laughed, “Yeah, it’s a tradition.”
He smiled crookedly, “You said that last night. You also passed out when James was walking you back to the common room. He carried you the rest of the way and I guess since guys can’t get up the girl’s stairs he shared his bed with you.” His tone was sour and he wouldn’t look directly at me.
Hm.
Curious.
Well, at least now I know I didn’t offer myself up to Potter last night.
Score.
I smiled at him, “Thanks Noah. Sorry to wake you up. Stupid Weasley wouldn’t tell me anything.”
He chuckled, “Don’t mind him. He just likes to have a bit of fun.”
“So I’ve gathered.” I muttered, “I should get back to my own dorm before breakfast starts.” I sighed and got off his bed, smoothing down my skirt and running fingers through my hair again.
“See you later Noah.”
I opened the door and was shutting it behind me as I heard Noah call, “Yeah, see you.”
Yeah so I fancy the pants off that boy.
What of it?
That’s what I thought.
I raced down the staircase but stealthily creeped down the last few steps, peering around to see if the coast was clear.
Red hair popped in my vision from a squashy armchair by the fireplace.
Rose Weasley.
What is she doing up so early?
Ah well. Guess I gotta risk it.
I took a deep breath and slowly made my way across the common room, careful not to make a sound.
I was halfway there and thought I was free and clear when,
“Walker! Wait up!” Potter shouted, throwing on a shirt as he raced down the stairs.
Well fuck.
Weasley’s head whipped around and she squinted suspiciously at my annoyed expression.
What? Did she think she could see the word ‘deflowered’ on my forehead?
Not that she would see that anyway.
The big V is still in play, thank you very much.
I turned to face him, “What, Potter?”
He stopped right in front of me, grinning down at me and running a hand through his messy morning hair, “What, not even a ‘good morning’ for your savior?”
I rolled my eyes, “I don’t have time for this. I’ve gotta go find-”
“Your friends are already down at breakfast. They told Freddy.” He interrupted.
“Well fantastic. After I’ve gotten ready I’ll go find them.” I turned to go but his arm shot out in front of me.
“You don’t need to get ready. You look great.” He smiled charmingly.
Merlin. Why is he still talking to me?
And complimenting me?
That just doesn’t happen.
I dislike him and he ignores my existence.
That’s the way it’s always been.
Did something happen last night that Noah didn’t tell me about?
I rolled my eyes again, “Yes, I’m sure I look simply smashing. Just curious, what exactly happened last night?”
His eyebrows furrowed, “You don’t remember?”
He and Freddy are exactly alike.
I sighed, “If I remembered would I be asking you?”
He grinned enormously and that’s when I knew I was in trouble.
“You know what,” I continued after a pause, trying to sound nonchalant, “I’ll just ask Jen and Addie. I’m sure-”
“I doubt they’ll remember any better than you do. Really, I’m your best bet at finding out the truth, so you might as well just come have breakfast with me.” He smiled smugly, like he knew he got me.
Dumb git.
“Potter, will you please tell me what happened?” I sighed, running my fingers through my hair.
Blimey I do that a lot.
Whatever.
Potter’s a tosser.
He pressed his lips together and squinted, like he was thinking really hard. And then he smiled brightly, “Nope.”
I gaped at him.
Can he just withhold information like that?
Is that even allowed?
It shouldn’t be.
Especially if you have a skull cracking headache like I do.
“You should tell her what happened, James. If it was me, I’d want to know.” Rose called from her seat by the fire.
I gaped even more. Rose Weasley, perfect Prefect, gorgeous red hair and soft brown eyes, object of many guys affections, especially Scorpius Malfoy’s.
They’ve been together since forever.
It’s nauseatingly adorable.
Anyway.
Rose Weasley does not stick up for someone like me. Sure, she’s a really nice person but we just don’t run in the same circles.
She’s miss perfect and popular.
I’m miss sarcastic and nobody.
What is going on with this day?
I do not wake up in boy’s dorms.
I do not wake up next to James Potter.
James Potter does not try to get me to have breakfast with him.
James Potter does not talk to me, period.
Rose Weasley does not stick up for me against James Potter, ever.
Especially since they’re cousins. Well, practically everyone in this school is a cousin of theirs, but still.
So why is all this stuff actually happening?
Potter rolled his eyes, “It’s nothing terrible Rosie. And besides, I like seeing little Walker here all worked up.” He grinned at me.
I want to poke him in the eye.
That’ll shut him up for sure.
I wish.
I took a deep breath and shut my eyes. Maybe if I wish hard enough he’ll just disappear.
Potter’s not here... Potter’s not here... Potter’s not here...
“Er, Walker? What are you doing?”
Rats.
I sighed and opened my eyes to see his amused expression, “Nothing. I’m going to breakfast.” I turned on my heel and Potter followed me like a freakin puppy dog.
Doesn’t he have any friends?
Oh yeah.
Everybody in this whole bloody school’s his friend, Mr. Big Man on Campus.
That’s just smashing.
I was determined to ignore him, walking quickly and not looking behind me even as he started to irritatingly whistle.
Ignore him... Ignore him...
Ignore him...
The whistling grew louder, like he knew it was pissing me off.
I turned around abruptly to confront him and he ran right into me, sending me ungracefully to the floor on my arse.
Fan-bloody-tastic.
I glared, “Thanks a lot Potter.”
“What did you stop for?”
He offered me his hand and I ignored it, getting up on my own, “I was going to ask you why you’re following me.”
He looked at me confusedly, “I’mnot following you. I thought you said we’re going to breakfast.”
I swear to Merlin I’m going to kill this poor boy.
I mean I’m sure it’s not his fault that he’s so unbelievably irritating I want to throttle him.
Maybe he was dropped on his head or something.
Poor baby.
“There’s no ‘we’ here, Potter. I’m going alone to breakfast to sit with my friends. Period.” I turned around and started to walk again, determined to ignore all the stares I was getting from people.
It had to look a little strange, though.
Me, stomping down the corridor in last night’s crumpled clothes, hair unbrushed and face unwashed with James Potter following me.
Me.
A nobody.
He ran in front of me, physically stopping me by grabbing my shoulders. It startled me so much I didn’t even think about fighting him off.
He combed a hand through his already crazily messy hair, making it stick up in even more directions. He gazed off in the distance for a long moment, his eyes glazed as he thought something over.
What is this guy on?
Seriously.
What drugs is this boy taking.
He cannot be this insane naturally.
Well, my mum is.
But Jeanine is special.
Potter is not.
“Right then,” he finally announced brightly, startling me out of my own reverie, “I guess you don’t want to know what happened last night after all.”
He grinned and walked away, strutting like the prat he is.
I slapped a hand to my face.
It hurt.
But it was out of exasperation and it helped a little bit with the decision I had to make.
“Potter!” I called after him.
He stopped and looked over his shoulder. “Yes?” He asked innocently.
I’m so going to regret this. “Wait up.”
He grinned, “Of course.”
“I cannot believe you’re bribing me with information just to have breakfast with you.” I grumbled as we started off towards the Great Hall again, this time walking together.
He pretended to be offended, “I am not bribing you, Tiffany. You came out of your own free will.”
I snorted, perfectly aware that it wasn’t a very attractive sound.
What do I care?
It’s just Potter.
“Oi! Tiff!” I heard someone call.
My my, aren’t I popular this morning?
I turned around to see Alex jogging up to us.
Great.
Just what I need.
“Oh, hi Alex.” I greeted when he got to us.
“Rough night last night?” He asked, grinning down at me, reaching out to ruffle my hair.
The nerve!
I glared at him, scowling, “I went to bed at a perfectly decent hour and had very pleasant dreams, thank you very much.”
“You’re a terrible liar, Tiff.” He smirked at me.
I shoved him playfully, “Not even! I’m a terrific liar. Like the time I told you it was Jen and not me who stole your boxers and hung them up on the gargoyles, and you believed me.”
He glared but smiled, “I’m so going to get you Walker.”
I rolled my eyes and started walking away, calling behind me, “We’ll see.”
Potter walked beside me silently for a bit before asking, rather stiffly, “Boyfriend?”
I scoffed, “Does it matter?”
“So he is, then.” His face was beginning to turn red.
Why does he look so hurt?
Why does he even care?
He doesn’t even know me.
“No actually, he’s not. I don’t see how it makes a difference anyways.”
His complexion returned to normal and his expression cleared and he smiled down at me gently.
Wow.
That was a big change pretty fast.
Was he jealous?
I scoffed. No fucking way.
James Potter doesn’t give a rat’s arse who I’m dating.
Why should he?
“It doesn’t make a difference. I just didn’t want things to be awkward between you two.” He kept smiling somewhat creepily.
What a creep.
“Why would things be awkward?” I asked, confused.
He smirked down at me, “Well it might have to do with the fact that you kissed me last night.”
Oh bloody hell.
I’m going to have to tell famous Harry Potter that I’ve killed his eldest son.
A/N: Sorry this chapter took a bit longer getting up! I hope you all enjoyed it and I absolutely adore all of your reviews :)
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